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 their lives will be

♪ The March family are on their way

♪ Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy

It was five days until Christmas.

We were all looking forward to having

a better holiday than last year.

Are you going off to school now?

Yep.

Must be nice out.

It sure is.

Take care, see you later.

Have fun, Amy.

Poor Beth misses going out in the snow.

We can make a snowman at school.

Get it, Milky Ann, come on.

Catch the handkerchief, Milky,

you can do it. - Beth?

How are you feeling, dear?

I'm much better.

Oops, in fact, I feel nearly well enough

to go out in the snow, Marmee.

Hmm, I like the sound of that.

In a month or two, we'll give that a try,

but for now, I'm just happy to see you

in good spirits, Beth.

I decided I want to be up and running

by the time Father comes home.

Take it one step at a time, dear.

You'll be running soon enough.

You look so well, Meg and I can go out

without having to worry.

To the Soldier's Aid Society?

Mmm, yes.

You know how busy they are this time of year.

They can use as much help as we can give them.

Can I get out of bed later this afternoon, Marmee?

Please?

Of course, dear.

Jo will be glad to bring you down to the living room.

Perhaps you can even try practicing your piano.

I'd like that.

It's been coming down like this the entire day.

Yes, it looks like it'll snow right through the holidays.

Yes, but Christmas wouldn't be the same

without a heavy snowfall, I guess.

I only wish Father could arrive in time

for Christmas morning instead of after the New Year.

I wonder why it's taking them so long to recover.

Huh, were you talking to me, Miss Jo?

Oh, I was just wishing Father and Beth

would recover, Hannah.

Both of them are well on their way, child.

But I long to hear Beth at the piano again,

playing all my favorites.

Huh, don't be in such a hurry.

Beth has had an extremely serious illness.

It's gonna take her some practicing before

she gets good on the piano again.

Oh please, God, make Beth strong and healthy

by Christmas time, and make her full

of vigor and vitality again.

Is he supposed to do all that by Christmas time?

Lord, that's only five days away, Jo.

You have to be more realistic about

what you ask God for.

Please, God, make Beth well as soon

as you realistically can.

And Father, too.

Amen.

We were all praying every day

that our brave Beth would be back to normal,

at least by the time Father came home to us.

Can I let go now?

I want to walk alone.

Mmhmm.

Now stop at the stairs.

Easy now.

Please, Beth, not the stairs.

No, wait for me, here.

I can do it myself.

Well, all right.

Just be careful.

Slowly, that's it.

Be careful now.

And wait for me.

Sure you can make it?

Yes.

All the way down, Beth?

Mmhmm.

I'm all right, let me keep going, Jo, please.

Mmhmm.

Go on.

Beth descended the whole

staircase without help for the first time

since getting out of bed.

Our prayers were being answered.

Let's sit by the fire, all right?

I want to go to the piano.

You'd better not practice today.

Haven't you had enough excitement?

Beth, the staircase was enough.

Marmee will have my head if you have a relapse.

Oh all right, go ahead.

Hey, that's very good.

Now then, don't you think that's more

than enough practicing for one day?

Oh, I'm all right, Jo, really.

I'm just fine.

But aren't you tired?

Marmee will have a fit.

It's against my better judgment, but okay.

Thank you.

Huh?

It's Beth.

She's at the piano again.

Ah, she's out of bed.

I want to go out and play in the snow.

Let's give that another month or two.

I'm going outside.

No, you're not.

I am.

It's like the snow's calling to me.

Please take me outside, Jo.

Sorry, but you'll have to be content

with opening the window.

Okay.

Oh, there's Laurie.

Hello Laurie, isn't the air lovely?

My gosh.

Huh?

What in the world are Jo and Beth up to?

I'm a lunatic for letting you talk me into this.

It's so wondrous to feel the

cold fresh air. - Are you sure

you're not too cold?

No, I'm fine.

You're trembling, Jo.

Am I too heavy for you?

Mm-mmm, you've lost a lot of weight

since you've been sick.

Have I?

Mmhmm, you certainly have.

No doubt about it.

Beth, I know you've enjoyed being outside,

but don't you think we ought to go in?

Just a little bit longer, Jo.

The fresh air feels so good and I'm

not the slightest bit cold.

Mmhmm.

She looks like an angel.

But I'd better get her back inside now.

What have you been doing?

Lord Almighty, Jo, have you gone mad?

Shame on you for taking Beth out of the snow.

She's all right.

Beth, brush off the snow and go warm yourself by the fire.

Here child.

Taking a sick child out in this weather.

Don't scold, I asked her to take me out.

I just had to smell the fresh air

and feel the snow, Hannah.

Well, you better do your smelling and feeling

inside for now.

I have to start doing things like

going outside sometime, Hannah.

I want to be completely normal by the time

Father gets home.

I don't intend to spend the holidays in bed, right Jo?

Mmhmm.

Mmm, and the air and the snow felt so lovely.

Well.

Mm-mm-mm.

It was obvious to Hannah

that she couldn't argue with that kind of reasoning.

Beth, I have to go over to Aunt March's now.

Give her my love, Jo.

- Uh huh, bye. - Bye, Jo.

With that done, Beth thought

about her next step towards full recovery.

Bullseye.

Darn.

Huh?

Aha.

Hey.

Laurie.

I see you hiding.

Stop acting like a little boy.

Well, don't come out then and see if I care.

Jo, wait.

Hey.

Didn't I see you and Beth outside awhile ago?

I don't seem to recall inviting

a snowball thrower to walk along with me.

But suit yourself.

Well, I missed you on purpose,

so there wasn't really any harm done, was there?

All right, I apologize.

I'm going over to Aunt March's.

Oh really?

Well I'll just walk along with you.

Say Laurie, I need your help with something.

I already told you.

I'll walk along with you.

Come on, Laurie.

What I mean is that I want to surprise

Beth on Christmas Day.

Oh, I get it.

Your annual Christmas play.

I guess you want me to substitute for Beth.

Well since I missed it last year,

I'd be more than happy to help you out this year.

That's not it.

Meg and I decided to postpone that a long time ago.

But I guarantee what we have in mind will be great fun.

Fun for me?

You want me to turn somersaults or something?

I'm your man, I'll keep clowning around

until Beth laughs herself well.

Of course not.

I want us to build the best snowman she's ever seen.

A snowman?

That doesn't sound terribly exciting.

Jo would get Laurie excited

about the project, you can be sure of that.

Meanwhile, Jo found herself assigned

to help decorate Aunt March's tree.

What a change from last year.

Your aunt certainly has the Christmas spirit

this season, doesn't she?

Why was Aunt March so indifferent to

celebrating Christmas before this year?

She'd no one to celebrate with.

But now that your family's here.

My family?

But we were here last year.

But you'd just come.

I suppose it took Aunt March a little while

to get used to all of you.

I'm awfully glad she did, though,

because she's been a happier person ever since.

It's easy enough to see that.

She finds Beth a joy and calls Meg her jewel.

And thinks the world of you and Amy, truly she does.

Now that's strange.

She's never mentioned that to any of us ever.

It seems that all she ever tells us is

the things that are wrong with our behavior.

You know, it appears as if we have created

quite a change in her.

But that can't be all there is to it.

Well, not entirely, Jo.

If I tell you a secret, will you promise to keep it?

Certainly, Esther, I can keep a secret

as well as anybody.

Good.

So, what's the big secret?

Who do you think is the person that

your aunt cares most about more than anyone else?

Mr. Lawrence?

Oh good golly, no, it's not him.

But there's another man that she cares

a great deal about.

Jo, haven't you noticed that lately,

when the doorbell rings, your aunt looks

as if she's expecting a special visitor?

Who do you mean, Esther, a former suitor?

Someone like that?

Oh no.

I'd better get that.

Esther, aren't you going to tell me who the man is?

Later, coming.

It's just me.

Hello David, come on inside, won't you?

Well, I most certainly shall.

A Christmas tree.

Ooh, I sure never thought I'd see

a Christmas tree in this living room.

Oh, I'm glad to see you, Jo.

It's not him.

What's not him?

Nothing, David.

If you're looking for your aunt,

she's upstairs talking to her lawyer.

Oh?

Can I get you something to drink perhaps?

No, thank you.

It could be him.

It isn't, is it?

No, it's not him.

Who is it then?

It's your own father.

Father?

Yes, your father, Mr. Frederick.

Huh, why?

Because by far, he's your aunt's favorite nephew

and she can't wait to see him again.

Beg, beg, beg, beg.

That's all you do, David.

It's not exactly begging, Auntie.

After all, isn't it true you gave money

as Christmas presents last year to Jo's family?

That's right, I did, David.

And I shall again.

Well then, what's the reason that I've

never received anything?

Don't I deserve equal treatment, huh?

Did I say something funny?

How old are you, David?

Hey, what's my age got to do with this?

Well, it's amusing to watch a man

who's going to be 30 complain, beg,

and get peevish about not getting

his silly Christmas present.

May as well tell them.

My bank account's just a little short this month.

Broke again, eh?

So poor, young David has to come to his

old auntie to bail him out another time.

Oh, I've suffered yet another terrible business loss.

I'm terribly ashamed to have to admit it, ma'am.

So, a nice cash Christmas present would

certainly come in handy.

David, you are so appalling.

You're right, Auntie, I am.

I just wish you were more like him.

My other nephew, Frederick, would never

burden me with such tripe.

I can't recall Frederick March ever asking me

for one red penny.

I must finally put my foot down.

You are done twisting my arm, get out.

Why have you become so intolerant, Auntie, really?

Christmas is approaching.

The celebration of our Lord Jesus Christ's birth.

And Christ taught tolerance and generosity.

I'm warning you, out, out.

No need to scream, I'll go.

And never come back.

I only need 50 dollars.

Aunt March, what's wrong?

Oh, are you all right?

Yes, just help me up.

Thank you.

You had me worried.

Perhaps I should go and call the doctor anyway.

There's no need, really, I'm fine.

He put you in quite a dither, didn't he?

That young man has no shame.

Auntie, I think you'd better take your medicine.

I'd forgotten that.

Top drawer.

The little white packets.

Aunt March, perhaps you ought to give

David the money just so he'll stop bothering you.

Otherwise, he won't ever stop bothering you.

I know, the man has no shame whatever.

50 dollars isn't that much and then

you'd be rid of him.

Yes.

I guess I would be.

There's a small burlap bag in the top drawer.

Would you get it?

Certainly.

Here it is.

I'm sure he must be skulking around somewhere downstairs.

Here Jo, take this to him.

The nerve of him talking about our Savior.

Give it to him and then kick it where it hurts.

David, oh David.

Huh?

Tell me, is Auntie still angry?

She most certainly is, but in spite of that,

she told me to give you this.

Congratulations.

Ah, there's my 50.

Yes indeed.

Tell me, Jo, how much did Aunt March

give you girls last year?

We each got one dollar.

A dollar, no more?

Mmhmm.

What is so funny about that, David?

Oh my, one dollar.

I'm sure you consider that very generous.

Leave immediately.

This year's Christmas gifts.

Two dollars each, here.

Oh!

Now I want you and your sisters to be sure

to spend this wisely, Jo.

Buy something nice.

We'll do that, Auntie.

Have you received more news about your father?

No.

Not since we received John's letter,

and I told you about that.

But I'm sure he would have written us

if his plans had changed.

Hmm, well that must mean he may be arriving

right after the New Year.

Do you realize we haven't seen Father

for a year and a half?

It's been 20 years since I've seen your father.

It's been so long, I just hope he knows me.

He will.

Are you sure, Jo?

20 years is an awfully long time.

I've grown a wee bit older.

I may seem different to him.

Don't worry, Auntie.

Golly.

You must tell Aunt March how grateful we are.

I remember how it was last year.

Jo said she wanted to forget Christmas

because we didn't have enough money.

Do you remember?

Well it's true, we hadn't.

But it's different this Christmas.

We do have some money for gifts.

That's right, but we shouldn't squander it, Meg.

I know, but I've been giving it some thought, Amy,

and I've come up with a wonderful idea

regarding what we should give Marmee.

You mean, we all chip in for one gift?

If we chip in, do we all have to pay the same amount?

Well, what's your idea?

While I was out, I saw this beautiful cameo.

It would go absolutely perfectly with the dress

that Mr. Lawrence gave to Mother last summer.

And that's not all.

It's a terrific bargain, it only costs 10 dollars.

I think she would be thrilled to get

such a present, so let's take a vote on it.

What do you say?

I cast my vote for the cameo.

Jo, wait a minute.

Let's see.

If we divide four into 10,

we get--

Oh boy, you're slow.

It's $2.50 each.

Uh huh.

Maybe we can get something for less.

Don't be stingy.

After all she's done for us, Mother deserves it.

And besides, we can afford it.

Yeah, but I only have $2.50,

so I won't be able to afford gifts for you.

Amy, you should have been saving your money.

How's this for an idea, Jo?

Beth and Amy will chip in $1.50 each,

you contribute three, and I'll make up the difference.

I like that idea.

Amy, you said last May that you were going

to save your money up for Christmas, don't you remember?

Well I tried, I really did.

Remember Jo, we're employed and have our own income.

We can afford to pay a little more.

Mmhmm.

Here.

Meg kept the peace,

as she usually does in situations like this.

The five days until Christmas brought

unusually mild weather to Newcord,

but not mild enough for the snow to melt.

Thank goodness, for Laurie and Jo

were on a mission to surprise Beth

with a magnificent snowman, and for that,

they needed snow.

Come on, Beth, look out the window.

A snow lady.

She's beautiful.

Amy, who made it?

Jo and Laurie did it.

Let me point out her features, Miss March.

That sheet music comes courtesy of Mr. Lawrence,

and the bowl of fruit comes by way

of young Master Lawrence.

It's a masterpiece.

So artistic.

It took them all night to build her.

I'm surprised you didn't hear

Laurie's grunting and groaning.

It kept me awake for awhile.

They're both still fast asleep.

We've received another letter from your father, girls.

Oh, what did he say?

Don't worry, it's good news.

It says here, I'm practically fully recovered

and am moving about quite well.

I'm chomping at the bit to see my loving family,

and have been driving John nearly mad

about leaving here.

By the way, we owe John a debt of gratitude.

Merry Christmas, your loving father.

Telegram for Mr. Lawrence.

Thank you.

Hmm, a telegram?

Yes, it's from Mr. Brook.

Well well, let's see.

Important, I'd better take this to Grandfather.

Our snow sculptress had

finally arisen and was checking on her masterpiece.

Huh, hey Laurie, Beth says thanks.

My pleasure, Jo.

Where are you going?

I'm off to play Santa Claus.

I'm delivering gifts to some people.

Where's his red suit and fat belly?

What is it, Laurie?

I'm happy to announce that Santa has arrived

with a very special present for you.

Oh my, I can't believe it's true.

Father.

Frederick.

Father's back.

Oh Father, I missed you so much.

Welcome home, Father, welcome home.

Oh Father, it's been so long.

So long.

I know, darlings.

I know, I know.

Marmee.

Oh Frederick, you're home at last.

Father?

Well, well.

- Oh, Father. - Beth.

It was the happiest Christmas ever.

Father's home, he's really home.

♪ Fortunes of war can change their way

♪ We imagine their lives will be

♪ The March family all on their way

♪ Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy