Original subtitles

♪ Way back when in 1863

♪ Now part of the American lore,

♪ A young family must leave their home

♪ Because of the Civil War.

♪ Living their lives in a brand new town

♪ Doing the best they can

♪ Four little women are on their own

♪ Looking to make their stand.

♪ Fortunes of war can change their way

♪ We imagine our lives will be

♪ The March family all on their way

♪ Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy.

Marmee knew she was the best medicine

for father, but as she sat by his side

she was thinking of her children,

and hoping her letter would reach us soon.

Are you ready?

Here's what it says.

Dear Meg, your father's better.

I've been at his side every minute, day and night.

His fever's gone down,

and I'm certain that all your prayers

helped make father better and I'm grateful for them.

The doctors are cautiously optimistic,

and think he's on the road to recovery.

Oh good, great.

Despite the fact that father is still weak,

he always manages a smile when I talk about you, my dears.

Aw.

Does your mother mention me in that letter?

Uh, let's just see.

My best to Hannah.

The letter was addressed to Meg,

but everyone grabbed pages to read for themselves.

Marmee's sweet handwriting brought her close,

for we all missed her terribly.

You know Meg, I think I should write Marmee a letter.

Mhm, that's a very good idea Jo.

You could tell her all about the Hummel children.

That's kind of boring!

I suppose you have an idea for a more exciting subject?

What about my incredible artwork?

You mean that pile of orange glop?

What?

It just came to me.

I've got a perfect idea for pleasing Marmee.

We each write letters reporting our own activities.

You know what, those letters will help father

recover more quickly.

So we must think of amusing things to say in them,

and be sure to be imaginative but truthful.

That shouldn't be difficult, Amy.

In fact, I find your artwork most enjoyable,

and it just might be the perfect medicine

for cheering up father.

You and Beth might work on it together.

What do you think?

Mhm.

We all immediately set about the task of writing,

for it was getting late and we wanted to

post our letters in the morning.

We imagined how happy they would make father.

But I found it difficult to explain my artwork,

and I wanted my letter to be the best.

Hmm.

Hey, Beth!

What is it Amy?

I need some help with my letter.

Oh, what's wrong?

I'm having trouble with descriptions.

Read me what you've got.

I've been molding pieces of mud to make a pig sculpture

which I hope to give you as a present when you return.

I'm particularly pleased about the pig's tail

which is made from old pieces of straw off my bonnet

which I'm not wearing anymore.

Does that make sense?

I'm not sure you should mention

that part about the bonnet.

Say you're combining different elements.

Combining elements?

Yes, you're combining mud and straw to create

a realistic art form.

Well, maybe.

You'll be able to use a very impressive word.

The word is amalgamation.

Hmm, that word sure makes my pig sound special,

whatever it means.

Beth showed me how to spell it.

Here.

Thanks very much Beth.

Mr. Lawrence taught it to me.

Great.

Now.

I hope that's right.

A-M-A-L-G-A-M-A-

T-I-O-N.

Huh?

Well my goodness I sure hope you've spelled amalgamation

correctly because I've already put it in my letter.

Amalgamation is the process used to make my pig.

It's unusual.

I might be the first person in history to turn

mud and straw into a pig.

Should I say I'm still wearing my bonnet?

Mmm, I'm not so sure they'll believe you.

Most of my bonnet's alright.

I just need to cover up some holes.

You're not making little mud pigs as ornaments to

fill up the holes?

It seems to me it's a perfect way to show off my

amalgamation and prove that I'm really talented.

What?

It could become the big fashion.

Amy you're joking.

No I'm not.

I think I could become very famous with original

bonnet creations.

I can just see it now.

Bonnets by Amy, a true original amalgamation of her

own unique design.

Yup, let me see.

I'll need to get some money from Marmee

to start my business.

This will really delight father.

I was so busy working on my letter that I didn't

notice how late it was getting.

Milky Ann decided it was past her bedtime.

Meg and Jo stayed up late working on their own letters.

Beth got very quiet and tiptoed off to bed

shaking her head about something.

I felt certain that my letter would be the most

creative one of all.

Good morning Hannah, you're up bright and early.

Well somebody had to get up and get breakfast.

I'm sorry, I was up most of the night writing my letter.

Mhm.

Be sure and bring it with ya - Yup.

Everyone else is already at the table.

Good morning.

Everybody get their letters written last night I hope.

I did Jo.

Mine's in my pocket.

May I have it then please?

I'm very proud of you.

I am too.

Hope you can find it in those deep pockets.

Here it is.

I guess Beth helped you a lot.

Were you able to prepare your own?

Yes, my letter's finished.

Good work Beth.

Thanks.

Well I guess that leaves only me.

Apparently.

Now all that remains to be done is for me to mail them.

You should make sure there's no mistakes

before you send them.

I know Marmee won't care about that.

Are you sure you don't want to read them first Jo?

No, it's more important to get them right in the mail.

I'm sure Marmee will be thrilled.

But I'm sure it'll be better if

you take time to read them.

Well I'm planning to eat my breakfast now

because I'm really hungry.

Perhaps you have some reason for me to read them.

Well there might just be something

brilliant in one of them.

Aren't you curious Jo?

Amy.

Now what's up?

Sounds like some kind of secret.

It better be good cause I'm short of patience

and my breakfast is getting cold.

Of course it's good, read it.

I'm not sure that's such a good idea Amy,

Jo's hungry.

No problem, now I'm interested.

Um, ideas sometimes are better kept a mystery, Jo.

Why's that?

Well sometimes a notion is wonderful as it is to the

creator might be ahead of it's time.

And other people may not find it as clever as the

person who came up with it.

Mhm.

When you put it together you see flaws you can't

always see on paper.

You must take a long look in order to spot any problems

you might have.

That's my opinion.

Huh!

Marmee might just be the best judge of this.

We'd better let her and father decide.

Jo finally got a bite of a very cold breakfast

and then rushed out to post our letters.

I went to work on my mud pig designer bonnet

to prove to Beth their was no flaw in it.

But Beth was right, because during the next rain

I got a mud pig in the eye.

Good morning Mr. Brockett, I'd like to mail this please.

It's heavy.

Weighs almost ten ounces.

That will be six cents.

I don't think I have that much.

Miss Margaret March.

You oughta get your sister to pay for this.

Here I'll bring the rest tomorrow.

Okay.

Well hello.

Hello Anthony.

Mr. Brockett, I'd like to send this out.

Okay, let me just check the weight.

That will be 14 cents.

And I'm going to pay what Miss Jo owes.

This should cover both of them.

Here, hey Jo wait a minute, what's the hurry.

Where are you going, are you angry with me?

Did I do something wrong?

You are being most arrogant.

I am able to pay my own bills on my own

with out charity from you.

But I was just trying to help.

Jo realized she had misjudged

Anthony and apologized.

He cheerfully accepted.

It occurs to me we haven't seen much of you

around the newspaper office lately.

Are you writing something?

Yes I am.

Well I'm pleased because you have ability

though I missed seeing it at first.

I remember.

I'm sure cub reporters have strong opinions about other

people's work right?

I'm quite certain that I'm fair in my evaluations.

Sure.

There's probably a pile of work waiting

for your rejection now.

Wait a minute Jo hold up.

You can't still be angry with me after all this time.

I did get one of your stories printed in the paper

I mean what more do you want?

I might like more of my work to become known

to your subscribers.

Alright, just submit it to me.

Of course I'm aware that doesn't actually

mean I'll see my work in print.

I'm saying I'm willing to do it.

I almost believe you would.

Hey, what do you mean almost?

Are you implying I'm a liar?

You may take that any way you like,

but all the reporters I know are more interested

in their own news stories.

But I'm not.

Oh yes you are.

I am totally speechless, I don't know what to say.

It's about time.

Well, I've been blunt.

I must be going.

But Jo listen.

Upset?

Maybe now you'll be more polite .

I've been pulling your leg just to get even with you

for being so critical of my writing.

It must have worked.

I'm astonished.

I've been bamboozled by a little 15 year old girl.

By Jupiter how could this have happened to me?

Don't ask me that.

Anthony wisely decided not to pursue this

conversation any further.

He and Jo walked in silence for awhile,

but soon Jo was chatting away for she was in a jolly mood.

Anthony quickly gathered his wits and recovered splendidly.

Do you mean you're not wondering why

I was at the post office?

I presume you were mailing something, you did have a

package in your hand.

A very bulky one.

I was mailing some of my stories to a newspaper

office in New York.

I'm impressed.

I assume a publisher there has taken

an interest in your work.

Mhm.

I'm hoping they'll be excited by my brand of reporting.

I'm ready to move to a big city newspaper

where the stories are more exciting.

I hope it all comes to pass.

I'm confident it will happen.

Yours faithfully, John Brooke.

Yes?

Johnson said you wanted to see me grandfather.

I'm finished.

I thought the March girls might like to read this letter.

I believe they'd be interested since

John mentions their folks.

You'll probably eager to pay them a visit

and I'm sure this would be a perfect excuse for it.

My pleasure.

Laurie was sure the letter would delight us.

Especially Jo.

But Beth put a damper on his enthusiasm.

We received a letter from John, too.

Huh, you mean he posted identical

letters to both households?

I guess he must have.

He didn't mention that to us.

He was probably in a hurry to mail both letters

and just forgot to tell you about it.

That's possible.

Laurie returned home and explained to his

grandfather why it wasn't necessary to send John Brooke's

letter over to the Marches.

He must have been preoccupied, don't you think?

Yes, probably why he used his middle name.

Mhm, probably he meant to put his full name on it.

I wonder what Meg thinks about the name John Carl Brooke.

She seems smitten.

Better be careful because the old love bug is flying around.

Huh?

Mr. Lawrence was certainly right

about that love bug.

I'm looking forward to being home again.

And I'm missing someone special.

It gets personal.

I'm going to skip this part.

It's boring, so I'm gonna go past it and pick up

with the information everybody's been waiting for.

It's mild and breezy here, which is quite

unexpected at this time.

I much prefer hearing the personal part.

More wounded men appear everyday as evidence

the war is continuing.

I wish this were a part that could be skipped.

It's painful.

So your mother and I have been helping

to care for these men.

What about father?

Yeah.

He's making progress in his recovery John says.

So Marmee is being nurse to these other men

and father all at the same time?

Yes, the hospital staff needed extra help.

Oh I'm so impressed.

Marmee and John are doing their very best

to help the war effort.

That makes me very proud and I'm sure

father feels the same about it.

I wish we could help.

Can you think of anything we could

do for Marmee and John Meg?

Mmm, it seems to me the best thing is to keep writing

letters to cheer them up.

Miss Jo, are you in the middle

of anything important?

I'm not busy, come on in.

Good morning, what is it?

Did I disturb ya?

Not at all.

I've been thinking, Miss Jo.

I'd like to write a letter.

To Marmee?

Well yes ma'am.

Everybody else has been writin Miss March except me.

Mhm, I can help you, just tell me what

you'd like to say to her.

I never wrote a letter before and I was hoping

you might able to come up with something.

It's important you choose your own subject.

Yes, but I'm not sure.

Maybe I could talk about my cookin.

That'd be fine.

Thanks, appreciate it.

We can do it now.

Let me just get a fresh piece of paper and find my pen.

You can begin.

Dear madame of the home and garden.

Huh?

Whom do you mean madame of the home and garden?

Why Miss March.

Then why don't you just start off with My Dear Mrs. March?

A letter must sound like the person is present and

you're speaking naturally to them

like they were in the room.

My Dear Mrs. March, then what?

Let me think.

You could just say that things are going smoothly.

Mhm, yup I might be able to say that.

Of course I want to make sure I'm telling the truth.

Of course but you would be telling the truth.

Well Miss Jo, I'm not pleased about everything.

What's bothering you Hannah?

I'm plenty tired of picking up dirty clothes.

Might as well admit it, that bothers me some.

But you mustn't tell Marmee.

Why not?

Uh, it might upset her.

It would be better to talk about your excellent meals.

Well alright.

What dish should I describe?

Apple pie.

My pie is the best in Massachusetts.

Huh?

Maybe you should be more modest.

Why?

I'm just trying to tell the absolute truth Miss Jo

like you suggested.

I can't argue with that.

I'll put in how much we love it.

Massachusetts best apple pie has these ingredients:

nutmeg, cinnamon, apples mixed with my special flavoring,

and a tablespoon of orange rind.

That makes the mouth water in taste.

Wait a minute, slow up.

My pen needs ink.

All this mouth watering taste might make Marmee hungry.

Have you got anything less appetizing?

A mustard plaster recipe, it's pretty handy.

In fact, tell her I'm going to use it on you girls

this winter to ward off any chills.

How come?

Are you expecting a very bad winter?

Mhm, that terrible heat and putrid smell

is awful good medicine.

I'm convinced it's good for preventing all kinds of

different ailments, well maybe I'm just old fashioned

but that's how I feel.

Might be as good as my home cooking.

What?

I hope we never have to eat one.

I've about run out of gab.

Then let's just sign it.

Mhm.

Your humble Hannah, true and always faithful friend.

Yes Mrs. March I am indeed your humble servant.

And I'm ever so faithful.

I'm wearing myself to the bone picking up after your girls.

Huh?

What am I doing?

I put down everything you said?

John promised to write again soon and Laurie

hoped the next letter would be for him.

Johnson, is there a letter from John?

Yes sir.

May I see to whom it's addressed?

Of course.

I hope it's for me.

Here you are.

It's not for me.

He wrote it personally to grandfather.

I can't believe we got another letter

this quickly from John.

I hope nothing's wrong.

Let me see what he says.

My Dear Mr. Lawrence.

Miss Margaret March personally.

Hmm?

Well that sounds like a letter from a secret admirer.

Don't joke.

It's from John sent to me personally only the letter's

all about Mr. Lawrence's business affairs in Washington.

I'm not sure I understand.

There's been a dreadful mix up of some kind.

The envelope is addressed to me but the letter isn't.

I'm getting it now.

John must have made a mistake.

He must have sent Mr. Lawrence a letter that you were

supposed to have read I'll bet.

This is terribly embarrassing.

What can I do?

Well maybe he hasn't seen it yet and Laurie

and I can still exchange them.

Oh mercy.

This is awful.

Jo wasted no time in bustling off to see Laurie.

She was glad that Mr. Lawrence's carriage wasn't there.

Regarding your shipping losses I have met with

Edwin Stanton personally.

Gosh, Edwin Stanton.

Why he's Secretary of War in Lincoln's cabinet.

Why did John want to meet with him?

My grandfather must have set up the meeting

because he was having shipping problems.

Grandfather must have gotten Meg's letter.

Mhm, I hope he can cope with the intimacies

of a courting couple.

It's probably what he'll find in his letter .

Stop that right now Jo, I'm serious.

My grandfather might not think that's so funny.

Especially if this letter contains confidential

war information about the raids on my grandfather's ships.

Okay then he mustn't find out it's been seen.

But we have to first get his letter and find out

if it's for Meg.

Laurie thought about it for a moment

and realized Jo was right.

At her urging he quickly went to Mr. Lawrence's study

to get the other letter.

He knew his grandfather was due home any minute

and was relieved to see the mail had been

placed on his desk as usual.

I found it.

Uh-oh.

Thanks.

Theodore, ah there you are my boy you were so quiet

I didn't know you were home.

Yes, I've been studying.

That's good.

John would be pleased.

I hope Laurie got to that letter before Mr. Lawrence did.

Huh?

Here I am.

Where's the letter, were you able to get it?

Mhm.

Good.

But I'm not sure if it's really for Meg.

How are we gonna be able to determine that?

Can't you make out Meg's name?

Or at least peek at some of the words?

I can't read them.

The paper is too thick plus the writing on the

envelope is covering everything up.

We're going to have to steam it open.

That's the only solution to our problem.

Maybe I can see a couple of words.

Laurie, you've got to steam it right now.

The mailing glue seems pretty thick,

I hope the steam opens it up alright.

Well be careful with it.

My grandfather's downstairs.

I hope he doesn't catch me.

Laurie tiptoed down the stairs

dreading that he would run into his grandfather or Johnson.

He rushed to the steaming kettle in the kitchen

and not a moment too soon.

Mr. Lawrence came out of his study looking for the

letter which Johnson had told him was in the days mail.

Jo of course was on pins and needles waiting for Laurie

to return to his room.

Come in.

Jo, what are you doing here?

I'm so happy to see you again.

Where's Theodore, isn't he studying?

Oh, he must be taking a little break.

I didn't know you two studied together.

Oh yes.

Don't let me disturb you.

Oh, I almost forgot.

Have you seen a letter from John Brooke to me?

Johnson said it came in the mail today

but I can't find it anywhere in the house.

I'm sure it will turn up before long.

Mhm, you're a bright girl Jo.

Have you any idea where I might look?

Mmm, what a mystery, mercy me.

Yes.

Jo felt a little sheepish when Mr. Lawrence left.

But she knew they were doing the right thing.

Mr. Lawrence went back to his study as a very pleased

Laurie emerged from the kitchen admiring his

perfect steaming job.

Together he and Jo would discover what the envelope

contained, and Jo could hardly wait.

My dearest Margaret, I miss you so.

It's a mix up, this letter's for Meg.

We better exchange them immediately.

Mhm.

Now all I have to do is get the glue and seal this flap.

Should be easy if the paste is where it belongs in my desk.

Got it.

You see if I spread it on thin like this

no one can ever tell the envelope has ever been opened.

Mhm.

Huh?

Oh my word.

How did that happen?

I thought I was being so careful putting it on

but some of the past leaked through one of the seams.

Now don't panic, maybe your grandfather won't even notice.

My grandfather's sharp and he's bound

to notice the extra paste.

Maybe I can manage to be the one who opens it.

That's it, tell him you're just trying to be helpful.

You think that'll work?

Well sure.

Well I'm game, I'll try anything.

Jo felt she had done all she could

and now the rest was up to Laurie.

I'm counting on you and I'll be expecting to hear

a successful report very first thing tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow I expect you to call me Mr. Marvelous.

Bye Mr. Marvelous, I'll be talking

to you tomorrow morning.

Right, bye Jo.

Huh?

Come with me Mr. Laurie, your grandfather

sent me to fetch you.

He wants to talk to you about something.

I doubt that Laurie is doing that much studying with Jo.

Come in.

Excuse me sir did you want to see me?

I found some interesting books for you.

I think these might be something you would enjoy reading

while John is away in Washington.

Oh.

Hmm, the Boston Tea Party I remember reading this

when I was your age.

Uh-huh, that's very interesting, the good ol' Boston

Tea Party yes sir that certainly sounds like the kind of

book I would just like to sit down and read.

Oh I almost forgot, I guess Jo told

you I'm missing a letter.

I believe she did.

Well I've looked high and low for it and it hasn't

turned up, I was wondering if you might have seen

it by any chance.

Yes I think I did.

Oh maybe this could be it, I wonder how it got there?

Yes I see the envelope, under your chair.

Well what the devil is it doing there?

I guess I'm getting senile.

Not possible, you're as smart as they come.

Thank you my boy, let me have it.

I'm gonna open it for you first grandfather.

The letter opener is right here.

You're very helpful, thank you.

Mr. Lawrence finally began John's letter.

To Laurie's relief the exchange had been completed

so smoothly that it went unnoticed by his grandfather.

Meg never mentioned her letter which was very personal.

Soon Marmee sent us another letter that we all shared.

Everyday your father grows stronger and I'm sure

your letters have a lot to do with it.

He likes me to read them often.

And he's particularly intrigued with Amy's letter.

Although my now he thinks she may have discovered the

fact that her bonnet design is not weather proof.

Huh?

Well my dears I must close.

As I'm sure John wrote in his letter,

all the men need a lot of care and I hope I'm able

to be of some help.

I know I can depend on you to make Hannah's job easier.

You make each day bright with the love you give one another

and you bring us sunshine and smiles with each

letter you write.

I trust you to God's keeping.

With all our love, Mother and Father.

♪ Fortunes of war can change the way

♪ We imagine their lives will be.

♪ The March family are on their way

♪ Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy.