Original subtitles

Three children find their lives turned upside down

when their father mysteriously vanishes.

WOMAN: We're going to leave this house and go and live in the country.

Why?

Because we've got to play

at being poor for a bit.

But living near the railroad brings them adventures

they never dreamed of.

That tree over there, it's moving!

ExxonMobil Masterpiece Theatre presents Jenny Agutter

Michael Kitchen

and Sir Richard Attenborough

in E. Nesbit's classic family favorite

"The Railway Children."

Captioning sponsored

by THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING

and VIEWERS LIKE YOU

(Masterpiece Theatre theme music playing)

ExxonMobil Masterpiece Theatre has been brought to you

by a grant from the ExxonMobil Corporation

every year... for 30 years.

Once upon a time, and not so long ago, either

railroads were stuff that children's dreams were made of.

They were not just terrifying symbols of power

those huge, iron locomotives

thundering across the countryside

spewing fire and steam;

they were also subversive agents of discontent.

Trains could set you free from the humdrum confines of home.

The wail of a train whistle in the night

could start a child dreaming of escape to adventure

in glory and faraway places.

Railroads were romance.

The Railway Children

Edith Nesbit's widely loved family classic

is set in the early part of the 20th century

when the great age of railroading was well advanced.

If tonight's show

makes it look a bit more glamorous than it really was

it's because we're seeing railroad life

as the three children in the story would have seen it.

They're from a well-to-do family

and glamorous though railroads may have been at the time

proximity to steam locomotives and coal smoke

didn't make for prime real estate in the upper classes.

The story is about how they and their mother

wound up living down by the railroad tracks

and how it enriched their lives.

The cast includes

the celebrated British film director

Richard Attenborough, in a rare television appearance

playing a railroad tycoon in a Santa Claus beard.

The mother's role is played by Jenny Agutter

who scored a memorable triumph

in another movie version of this story 30 years ago.

In that one, she played the older daughter.

Now, "The Railway Children."

BOY: Phyllis!

Come on!

Go away!

Get off... Peter.

PETER: Sorry.

(children giggling)

(giggling)

Peter.

PETER: Oh, please, it's my birthday.

MAN: No, wait for Bobbie.

Can I open this one first?

Yes, you can, go on.

I think I know what it is.

Oh, it's really heavy.

It must be a rock.

Oh.

Oh, hello.

Oh, thank you.

It's wonderful.

Good choice, well done.

Is there anything to go with it?

Oh, don't be so ungrateful.

Under the bed.

Yes, here.

Open mine, it's pencils.

If you don't like them, I'll have them.

Come on, you can help.

Oh, thank you.

Come on, let's get it going.

Let's see how it works.

(children chattering happily)

BOY: You're "it" now.

BOY 2: You're still "it" though.

BOY 3: No, you're "it."

Phyllis, not too much lemonade, okay?

(children chattering)

(coughing)

Right... which child exploded?

Is there no hope?

Hope? Oh, yes.

Little bit of solder, new valve, perhaps.

Yes, we'll have this going again in next to no time.

You can all help.

Can girls help mend engines?

They can do anything boys can do

can't they, Daddy?

Yes, of course they can.

MAID: Two gentlemen to see you, sir.

I've shown them into the library.

Remind me to install a moat and a drawbridge, would you?

So that nobody can disturb us.

MOTHER: "The twins soon saw that he could run the faster

"so they climbed the spreading chestnut tree.

"The baker, his face the color of raspberries

"stood at the foot of the tree

"and wondered where the insolent twins had gone.

"A conker dropped on his head out of the tree

"whereupon his face turned from raspberry

to the darkest beet root."

FATHER (in other room): ...at the highest possible levels.

MAN: Nevertheless...

I wish we did have a moat and drawbridge.

MAID: Please, ma'am

the master would like for you

to step into the study.

I think he's had bad news.

My guess is

it's a death in the family

or the bank busted...

That will do, Ruth, you can go.

I'm afraid Father's been called away.

But why on earth...

Darling, go to bed.

Mummy, it wasn't bad news, was it?

I can't tell you anything tonight, my pet.

To bed, now!

(footsteps)

(laughing)

Ruth...

why has Mother gone to town?

Ask me no questions

I'll tell you no lies.

You'll know soon enough.

Peter, you mustn't ask.

Why not?

Mother will tell us everything we need to know.

Goody-goody.

Bobbie's right, and you're a twit.

Oh, don't.

I'm sure there's been some calamity.

Let's not make things worse

by being horrid to each other.

"I know from what I hear from the others

that he is in this house this very blessed minute..."

(door opens and closes)

My darlings, I want to tell you something.

The men that came last night did bring very bad news...

and Father will be away for some time.

But where...

Promise you won't ask me or anyone else

about this trouble.

It's about business

and you know how hard business is

to understand, don't you?

Is it something to do with Daddy's work for the government?

Yes-- now, it's time for bed.

And don't you worry, my darlings

it will all come right in the end.

I've asked Aunt Emma to come and stay.

I can hear somebody's shoes dragging on the ground.

I know what you're doing, Peter.

Dentata variegata.

(crying quietly)

Charles II.

1660 to 1685.

Edward IV.

(sighing ): Oh, I don't know.

I'm not sure it really matters.

Of course it does.

1461 to 1483.

Thank you.

You'll come to a bad end

you horrible little child!

If you don't mend your ways

you'll go to where

your precious father's gone!

Now, my little loves, everything is settled.

We're going to leave this house

and go and live in the country.

I know you'll love it.

Is Aunt Emma coming with us?

No, it'll just be us.

We're only taking a few things from here.

Just the useful ones.

Why?

Because we've got to play at being poor for a bit.

(mouthing silently)

MAN: Here we are, got it.

BOBBIE: I know things shouldn't matter but...

well, you get used to them, don't you?

Oh, why do they have to take that?

BOBBIE: You know what Mother said.

Well, I think a rocking horse would be very useful.

MAN: Mind the step.

There's another one coming up.

I like moving house.

We should do it every month.

Do you mind if we don't?

Wake up, loves.

We're here.

STATION MASTER: All tickets! All tickets!

STATION MASTER: Tickets, please.

Tickets.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Tickets.

(sneezes)

(man panting)

(grunts)

BOBBIE: Oh, Phil...

Why is it always you?

Come on.

Let's catch them up, okay?

All right.

MOTHER: There's the house.

I wonder where Mrs. Viney is.

Who?

The woman I employed to clean the place

and leave supper for us.

She's, uh, probably gone home--

your train was that late.

So... what are we expected to do now?

Yes, well, it's... it's a tricky one.

We can, uh...

we can use the key under the doormat.

That's what we do around here.

Nobody ever gets broken into...

unless they deserve it.

Come on.

What a horrid woman.

She's walked off with the money

and not left us anything to eat at all.

We'll have to open one of our own cases.

(clanking)

What's that?

It'll be rats.

If you're unlucky, it'll be big rats.

Right, well, I'll bid you good night.

Good night.

Oh, dear.

MOTHER: Oh, that's better.

The great thing is to be cheerful.

Nobody can be cheerful in the dark

except owls and bats.

I wish Father was here.

He'd get that packing case open just like that.

What are you kicking me for, Bobbie?

I wasn't.

It's very cold for this time of year.

Stop trying to be so grown-up.

MOTHER: Peter.

Well, you've often wanted something to happen--

and now it has.

I'm sure there aren't really any rats.

No.

BOTH: No.

(whispering): Wake up.

(in regular voice): Wake up.

(cries out)

There are no servants or anything--

we have to do everything ourselves.

I don't know how to do anything.

Shh!

Let's let Mummy sleep.

PETER: Oh, that's just the dining room.

Father's chair.

Another room!

The lady did leave a meal after all.

It just goes to show you should never...

PETER: Phil!

Come on, Phil!

(laughing)

Oh, it's cold.

Maybe not.

Coward.

(yells)

(squeals)

Peter!

Come on, Bobbie!

What are we going to live on?

Mummy's going to write stories

and try to sell them.

We could help by buying some.

Oh, no.

And we must make sure

she isn't interrupted

when she's upstairs writing.

Yes, except to bring her tea...

or stroke her hair.

I might want to.

What if Mummy doesn't sell any stories?

Perhaps Daddy could still get money.

I don't think so

or we wouldn't have needed

to sell off the nice furniture.

I think it's good that we sold it.

More room to run around now.

(distant chugging)

A train!

Peter!

Gosh.

(train whistle blows)

Hmm.

How do you do?!

Oh, how do you do?

You didn't get chewed to death

by rats last night then?

No.

Mother says it's probably just one mouse.

Ah-- bachelor, is he?

Lives alone?

(chuckles)

Just ignore me.

Half of everything I say

is more or less complete nonsense.

The trick is trying to guess which half.

Oh, Mrs. Ransome.

Off somewhere nice, or to your sister's?

The carriage was dusty last time.

Oh, was it?

Oh, I am sorry.

Although... (clears throat)

I have to say

the chief cause of dust on the trains

is actually dusty passengers.

Oh, and thank you

for carrying our things last night.

Oh, heavens, there's no need to thank me.

It's my job.

We've come from London.

Oh, London...

How is London these days?

We had to sell some of our furniture.

Oh...

What was wrong with it?

Don't listen, she just, um, says things.

Excuse me...

You getting on the train?

No, we're stuck here for the time being.

Well, go and sit somewhere, if you'd be so kind.

You're impeding free movement.

(sighs)

(whispering): You ask.

No, you ask.

You're the one who said you were cold.

Well, I am-- I'm freezing.

So you ask.

No.

Will you ask?

MOTHER: Hello?

Um, we were wondering

if we could light a fire.

No, loves, coal is so dear.

If you're cold, dress up more warmly.

I hate being cold.

I hate being able to only have

jam or butter at tea-time.

Don't go on, Phil.

I mean, you're supposed to have them together.

It's like... steak and kidney.

I'm going on a lone adventure.

BOBBIE: What?

I can't tell you what it is

because it may be wrong

and I don't want to drag you into it.

Can I be the damson in distress next time?

I'm always a savage.

"Damsel."

"Damson" is a type of plum.

Oh, and Peter, don't do it if it's wrong.

Or we should all do it together.

No, you can't come.

It's a lone adventure.

(coal clattering)

Oi, get off!

You little thief!

I'm not a thief, I'm a coal miner!

Tell that to the marines.

Come along to the station.

No, no, not the police station.

You're that boy from Three Chimneys, aren't you?

Is there anyone else in your gang?

No, honestly, I promise.

BOBBIE: Only us.

Right.

Look at you

so nicely dressed and all.

Haven't you been to church?

Don't you know it's wrong to steal?!

I didn't think it was stealing.

I only took it from the middle of the heap

so it counted as mining.

It'll take you thousands of years

to burn up all that coal.

Not quite.

Poorer folk scrimp and save for coal.

You lot can afford it.

But you think it's yours by right.

No, at our other house we always used to have fires

when it was cold.

Now Mother says

we're too poor to have a fire now.

Peter, don't.

(clears throat)

They, they actually had to sell all their furniture.

Thank you for your contribution, Mr. Perks.

Highly welcome.

Well, perhaps I was a bit harsh.

But remember, stealing is stealing

why ever you do it.

I'll overlook it this time.

Now, get along home.

Uh, thank you.

Thank you.

You're a darling.

(softly): That's all right.

BOBBIE: Peter.

PETER: Don't speak to me!

You're spies and traitors!

I'm not even sure, actually

that mining is a crime.

The Green Dragon's...

three and a quarter minutes late.

I wish it could take our love to Father.

I wonder why he doesn't write to us.

PHYLLIS: Mmm...

I really miss him.

Me, too.

I'm afraid he'll forget about us.

He won't, Phil.

He's probably terribly busy.

That's why it's called being away on busy-ness.

Is that true?

Let's all wave at the Green Dragon as it goes by.

It might understand and take our love to him in London.

Yes, why not?

(children laughing excitedly)

Why don't we go to the station anymore?

Because we might meet the station master.

I'm not scared of the station master.

Tell that to the marines.

(laughing)

(Bobbie continues to laugh)

At last, a sensible editor.

He's taken my story.

Well done, Mother.

Well, we could do with the money

and that's the truth.

Oh, let's buy a big... something!

Does this mean

we can afford to go back to London?

No... better than that

we can celebrate with buns for tea.

(sheep bleating)

Morning.

Good morning.

Excuse me.

I'd rather you weren't polite to me.

Beg your pardon?

I think you're being polite to me

because you don't remember that it was me who took the coal.

And it was.

I'm sorry.

Oh, don't you worry about that.

Let bygones be bygones.

What have you got there?

Buns.

Oh?

I thought you were all so poor.

Mother's sold a story.

We're going to have buns

every time she sells a poem or a story.

Oh?

Poems and stories, is it?

Well, you ought to be proud to have such a clever mother.

Yes.

Although we preferred it when she didn't have to be clever

and she could play with us.

Well, you should look in to the station

whenever you fancy it.

Yes.

We might well do that.

Thank you.

PHYLLIS: Stop! My bootlace is undone again!

(children panting)

(train chugging)

That's actually the sign

for the emergency cord on the train-- stop it, dead on.

"Two pounds ten shillings fine for improper use."

Well, what counts as proper use?

Don't know, being murdered, more or less.

Oh.

You know, there was this old woman once

and somebody kidded her on

that the emergency cord

was actually a refreshment room bell.

So she got up, she pulled the cord, the train stopped

the guard rushed in and she said:

"Oh, there you are.

I'll have a glass of stout and a pork pie, please."

(laughing)

STATION MASTER: Morning, children.

PHYLLIS: Tickets, please.

Why do all the trains have numbers on the front?

It's so as we'll know which one's which.

I actually knew a young gent once

that took down all the numbers of all the trains he ever saw

and he wrote them in a notebook.

Why did he do that?

Nobody knows.

(Mr. Perks whistling)

So the old lady pulled the little handle thing

and said to the train driver

or the guard or whoever the man was...

No, I've missed out a bit.

Anyway, it was very funny.

I've been meaning to ask you--

when you go down to the station

you won't walk on the line, will you?

Well, didn't you ever walk on the railway lines

when you were little?

Yes.

Very well, then.

But be careful.

Imagine how I'd feel if you got hurt.

(Peter and Phyllis shrieking playfully outside)

You know how much I love you all.

PHYLLIS: Come and get me, Peter!

How long can you remember someone you really love--

even if you're desperate to

if... you don't see them or...

hear their voice?

Forever, my love.

Forever.

(teacup and saucer clattering)

What's going to happen to us?

(footsteps approaching)

Your mother has influenza.

I'm sure she'll be all right

but we're going to have to look after her-- carefully.

You look rather solemn.

I think you should be head nurse.

Yes.

I'll send down some medicine.

Keep up a good fire.

Have some strong beef tea made for when her fever goes down.

She can have grapes now and beef essence.

Soda water and milk...

And a bottle of the best brandy.

I'll write it down.

I can't afford all this... rubbish.

But, Mother, you need all these things.

Ask Mrs. Viney...

(hoarsely): to boil up a scrag-end of mutton

for your supper tomorrow night.

I'll have the broth.

(sighs deeply)

(whispering): Well, we've got the shilling for the mutton.

We don't need that.

All we need is bread and water.

People have lived on less on desert islands.

That's true.

So Mrs. Viney can spend the shilling

on Mother's brandy and beef tea.

How are we going to buy all the other things?

I don't know.

But we've got to get Mother better.

(birds singing)

Come on, I'll do it.

(train wheels squealing)

I'm so sorry to disturb you in your train

but we feel we know you a little from waving so often.

Yes.

Please, take this.

Thank you, my dear.

(engine chugging)

STATION MASTER: Thank you.

BOBBIE: "Dear Mr. We Do Not Know Your Name:

"Mother is ill and the doctor says

"to give her the things at the end of this letter.

"But she says we can't afford it

"and to get mutton for us and she will have the broth.

"We do not know anybody here but you

"because Father is away and we do not know the address.

"Father will pay you,

or if he has lost all his money or anything,

Peter will pay you when he is a man."

Old gentleman asked me to fetch this up right away.

Oh, thank you very much, Mr. Perks.

Oh, I've carried a few hampers in my time--

especially during the hamper season.

The worst thing I've ever had to carry...

was a fish tank-- with the water still in it.

If anybody ever asks you to carry a fish tank

with the water still in it, just say to them, say...

Well, you can say anything you like because nobody's listening.

(Mr. Perks panting)

I'm very sorry, but I don't have twopence to give you like Father does.

Just drop that right now, young man.

I just wanted to say I was sorry

to hear your mother wasn't well and...

to bring her some... some sweet briar

because it smells so nice.

I'm not looking for any twopence.

I beg your pardon.

Right, well...

no offense.

Twopence from kiddiwinks, indeed.

BOBBIE: "Dear Roberta and Phyllis and Peter

"here are the things you want.

Your mother will want to know where they came from."

Two chickens!

"Tell her they were sent

"by a friend who heard she was ill.

When she is well again, you must tell her about it, of course."

"Ee-ore de kolog-nee."

PHYLLIS: Eau de Cologne, silly.

It's for dabbing on

in places you think you're going to be kissed.

MOTHER: You must never

never, never ask strangers to give us things.

Is that clear?

It's not right to go

telling everyone about our affairs.

Why?

There are lots of bills coming in, you said.

I know there's the doctor.

I know, we're poor, but we've got enough to live on.

Now, I'm going to write to your "Old Gentleman"

thanking him, but telling him I don't approve of what you did.

I still think we were right to ask

because otherwise...

No, Peter, there are some things

that people like us just don't do, no matter what.

Now, we won't talk about it anymore.

(sighs)

Because it can strike at any moment, illness

that's the frightening thing.

One minute you're standing up, the next minute

you're lying down.

Mrs. Viney...

From standing up to lying down

in as little as a minute.

Now, the doctor-- he'll be expensive.

I should know...

I've been under him several times.

(softly): Very warm hands.

Oh, you're throwing it all wonkily.

You do it then.

I can't bat andbowl.

Oh!

I want a brother!

(sheep bleating)

(spirited conversation and shouting)

(conversation not audible)

So...

nobody's ill?

No.

Good.

Makes a change.

I get a lot of illness.

Blurt it all out, then.

What's the trouble?

It's rather hard to just blurt it out

because of what Mother said.

What did Mother say?

That I wasn't to go telling everyone we were poor.

But you're not everyone, are you?

Not at all.

Well... (clears throat)

I know from Mrs. Viney that doctors are expensive

and you're a good doctor

so you must be very expensive.

You might think so, mightn't you?

So, sir, I asked her how she could afford you

because I know she's much poorer than we are--

I've been in her house.

Ah.

She said her doctoring only cost a twopence a week

because she belonged to a club.

And I don't want Mother to be anxious

and I thought I'd ask you, can we be in the club, too?

You're not cross with me, are you?

You're probably not very wealthy, either.

How could I be cross?

You're very sensible.

I'll make it all right with your mother.

Now, don't you worry

or you'll make yourself ill.

Then, I'll have to send you a bill

as long as that railway line.

(horse snorts)

Shall we wave at the people in the boat

like we wave at the old gentleman?

The problem is, we'd wave

and we'd still all be there, watching each other.

You really think you'll catch something?

Yes. Yes.

You haven't even got a hook, Phil.

Well, I don't want to hurt the fish.

(chuckles)

Come on, we should go and meet Mother off the train.

PETER: Hello, excuse me.

What's the time?

Only I dropped my watch in the water, but...

Mind your own business.

Posh bloody kids.

Stuck up.

Ow!

Girls: Hey!

Why did you say that?

That's horrible.

We're just normal... children.

We're not posh.

I've repaired this dress a hundred times.

And even if we were posh, we'd still care about you

and not despise you just because you were poorer than us.

Right--

next time, they'll be sorry.

Perhaps we should stick to the railway.

(train rumbling)

STATION MASTER: Tickets!

Tickets, please.

Thank you.

Tickets.

Can you see Mother yet?

No.

It's not her train.

Something's happening.

(man speaking agitatedly in Russian)

STATION MASTER: Now then, step aside.

I'll attend to this, if you please.

Well, what's the trouble?

Ya zaplatil za svoy bilet.

Nu, ya to... za... vchera!

No, don't understand a word.

Mother knows languages.

She'll be on the next train

from Maidbridge.

This way...

if you please.

(crowd murmuring)

Well, he's got no tickets

and no visible means of support.

I'm not sure I shouldn't send for the police.

CHILDREN: No!

Nyet, nyet.

Dlya politsii nyet ni kakue nyzhdi.

(train whistling)

(crying)

(slowly): Are you Welsh?

Look, we'll show him these foreign stamps

and he can tell us if he recognizes his country.

PETER: Norwegian--

that's a nice one.

PERKS: No, no!

He's not Norwegian.

He'd be wearing one of them thick jumpers

if he was Norwegian.

Smotrete.

Vot-- Russkaya!

Ya rodima tuda.

Eta moya rodina.

Oh, he's Russian!

Mais je parle francais aussi.

CHILDREN: Oh.

You can stay at our house.

Vous �tes tous tres gentils.

Spacibo.

Well, uh, bon voyage.

He's worn out...

body and soul.

He should go straight to bed and must be kept warm.

Thank you.

Zdravstvuyte.

That means "hello" in Russian...

or perhaps "good-bye."

I think he might need to join your club.

He's got nothing.

I saw him crying.

Please don't.

You wouldn't smile if you'd seen him.

I've never seen a man cry before.

I'm sorry.

(man coughs)

MOTHER: We must find you some clothes.

(coughing)

BOBBIE: Mother, why hasn't Father taken his clothes?

Daddy isn't...

he isn't dead, is he?

Oh, darling Bobbie.

No.

No, of course not.

Daddy's quite, quite well

when I heard from him last.

And he'll come back to us, someday.

Tell me about the Russian man.

He's a writer.

He wrote about how to make conditions better

for the poor in his country.

The tsar sent him away to a cruel and harsh prison for life.

How did he get away?

He escaped.

He heard that his wife and family had fled

and come to this country.

Does he know where?

No.

He has to find them.

My love...

when you say your prayers

ask God to take pity on all prisoners and captives.

"Prisoners and captives."

(bird calling)

But, if you have your cake, of course you can eat it.

Yes, but the point is

once you've had it, you can't eat it again.

I know.

So it should be.

You can't eat your cake and still have it.

Unless you only eat half.

I hate Mr. Szczepansky having to wear Daddy's clothes.

Yes, so does Mother.

I can see it in her eyes.

What's that noise?

(wood cracking)

Look at that tree over there.

It's moving.

(tree cracking)

It's magic.

I don't like it anymore.

Let's go home.

(trees cracking)

(crash)

That'll take some clearing up.

It's right across the line.

The 11:29 down hasn't gone by yet.

We must let them know at the station

or there'll be a terrible accident.

Run.

PETER: Wait!

Come back!

There's no time!

We should wave at the train to stop it.

They'll just think it's us waving as we usually do.

We need something red.

Let's take them off.

(trees cracking)

(crash)

Now.

You're not going to tear them?

Shut up.

It doesn't matter, Phil.

If we can't stop the train

there'll be a real accident

with people smashed up and killed.

Sticks.

We need sticks to put the flags on.

Stand firm and wave like mad.

When the train gets round the corner

step back but keep on waving.

(train chugging)

They can't see us, it won't work.

It's no good.

Keep off the line.

Stop, stop!

(train whistles)

Please, stop!

(brakes screech)

Wake up, Bobbie.

Bobbie?

Speak to me, Bobbie.

Good morning.

Good morning.

You sleep?

Yes, thank you--

like a log.

Um, I, um...

this...

blackberry.

Thank you.

Be better.

Thank you.

PHYLLIS: Listen, we got a letter.

"...when a small presentation will be made to you

on behalf of the Great Northern and Southern Railway..."

"...in commemoration of your prompt and courageous action

in warning the train, thus avert..."

"...averting what must, humanly speaking

have been a terrible accident."

Does this mean we get a present?

Not that it's important.

And so today we pay tribute to Roberta, Peter and Phyllis

for displaying great bravery

and presence of mind.

Hear, hear.

(applause)

(whispered): Make a speech and thank everyone.

Begin "Ladies and gentlemen..."

Nice and loud now, you can't be too loud.

(shouting): Ladies and gentlemen...

Too loud.

This is awfully good of you.

We don't deserve the watches

because what we did wasn't anything, really.

It's just...

I mean, it was terribly exciting.

(crowd laughs)

PETER: So, thank you all

very, very, very much.

(crowd applauds)

We meet properly, at last.

Yes.

As a director of the railway, permit me to say--

bravo.

Thank you.

Would you think it terribly rude

if I... if I have a favor to ask?

No.

Excuse me, sir.

Um, photographs?

Of course.

Afternoon tea.

Very handsome.

Oh, well, this is very thoughtful of you.

I had an accident with the lemonade.

A cup and a plate might be nice.

Perks always drinks it out of the can.

Yes, um...

Mmm.

OLD GENTLEMAN: Well, in a minute

I want to hear all about you

but what was that favor you wanted?

Um...

Do you know anything about Russia?

Russia?

(birds singing)

Anybody want to know the time?

GIRLS: No, thank you.

3:18.

This is a bit like the Victoria Cross really, isn't it?

When I'm very old

I shall show it to my grandchildren.

You have to be married to have grandchildren.

I suppose I'll have to get married, someday.

I'd like to marry a lady who had trances

and only woke up once or twice a year.

When I get married, I want him to be awake all the time

to tell me how nice I am.

(horse whinnies)

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

OLD GENTLEMAN: Good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

Thank you, Mr. Perks.

PERKS: Don't mention it.

Always a pleasure to carry a director of the railway--

if that doesn't sound too oily.

No, no, no, most, most gracious.

Good news.

You've found Mr. Szczepansky's wife and children.

And I couldn't resist the pleasure of coming to tell him myself.

Oh...

Well, on, on, on second thoughts you...

you run ahead and tell him.

These two'll look after me.

Come with us.

Thank you.

OLD GENTLEMAN: Well, I must say I think everything's

worked out very well, hasn't it?

Come on, Perky, you must come, too.

Don't call me Perky.

Sorry.

PERKS: Oh, it's all right

you weren't to know.

MOTHER: This is another one of the letters I wrote.

We know where your wife

and children are!

(gasps)

(breathing excitedly)

Khranemos Bog-- Ya vas prosil

shto vy priyekhali i posetril moi semyu.

Do svedanya.

Do svedanya, do svedanya.

I don't know how to thank you for... everything.

It's been a real pleasure to meet you.

I'm afraid we live rather simply

in reduced circumstances.

I'm so sorry I... I can't ask you

to come and see us again.

Oh, I consider myself fortunate indeed

to have been received once at your house.

I'm sorry, I must seem... so surly and ungrateful.

You could never seem anything...

but most gracious and charming.

SZCEPANSKY: Do svedanya, do svedanya.

Perks!

Thank you, thank you.

Good-bye.

Please, please, please, no.

No, the... the wife can get very jealous.

(chuckling): It can actually turn quite ugly, you know.

Thank you, again.

Walk on.

Bye.

Bye.

Szcepansky: Bye... bye.

BOBBIE: Bye.

I wonder if Daddy'll be that excited

when he comes home to us.

You look tired, Mummy.

Lean on me.

(sighs)

No, it's my place to give Mother my arm.

Now Father's not here

I'm the head of the family.

(birds singing, cawing)

All: ? Our darling Roberta ?

? No sorrow shall hurt her ?

? If we can prevent it her whole life long ?

? Her birthday's our fete day ?

? We'll make it a great day ?

? And give her our presents ?

? And sing her song. ?

Oh, happy birthday, darling.

Thank you.

This is my present.

It's pencils again.

(chuckling): Thank you, Phil.

This is my present.

Oh, Peter...

Not your own dear engine that you're so fond of.

That is so kind and generous.

No...

not the engine...

just the sweets.

Oh, of course, that's what I thought you meant.

I'll go halves on the engine if you like.

Oh, Peter, thank you.

It's a splendid present.

But it's broken.

(chuckling)

(steam hissing)

MAN: What's wrong?

You're gonna be late again.

Man 2: Yeah, well, we'll start running on time...

BOBBIE: Excuse me.

when you stop dropping luggage.

Man 1: You've got it all wrong.

Get that kettle out of here.

Man 2: It's going.

(steam hissing increasing)

If you please, Mr. Engineer!

(train begins chugging)

(train chugging grows faster)

What the bloomin'...?

What are you doing here?

Come on!

(shrieks)

Sit there!

(train rumbling increases)

Come on, then.

What's it all about?

I did call out but you didn't hear me!

Don't be cross, please.

We ain't cross as much as interested.

I only thought... you could mend this because you're an engineer.

Well, I'm blowed.

BOBBIE: I felt guilty

because my brother Peter gave it to me and didn't really mean it

so I wanted to make amends by repairing it.

We drive the engine, we don't mend her.

And how are we gonna get you back

to your sorrowing

friends and relations?

Well...

if you put me down next time you stop and...

lend me the fare for a third- class ticket, I'll pay you back.

BOBBIE: I'm not a confidence trickster, honestly!

(laughing)

Here, Nat, ain't you got a pal

who can use a soldering iron?

Yeah, I have.

That's what Father said it needed.

Gosh...

Who did you get to do it?

Nat, the fireman's second cousin's wife's brother.

Very good chap, very good chap indeed.

Oh, it's like having my birthday all over again.

Thank you, Bobbie.

When's your birthday, Mr. Perks?

The 15th of this month, if you really want to know.

But I gave up keeping birthdays years ago.

Before you were born.

Why?

Well...

I'm too busy...

looking after... looking after

the missus and the bairns.

His wife and children.

I know.

Perky...

Pete... Phil... porridge!

Good news.

I've sold another story.

You know something?

I'm getting good at this.

Buns for tea?

Mother, would you mind

if we didn't have our buns for tea tonight

but on the 15th, next Thursday?

No, of course not, but why?

It's Mr. Perks's birthday.

He's been really friendly to us

and we wanted to give him our buns.

Certainly.

Come on, we must think.

We could just give him the buns.

No... It's not enough.

I know...

Perks is so nice to everybody

there must be lots of people in the village

who'd like to help give him a good birthday.

Let's go round and ask everybody.

Mother said we weren't to ask people for things.

For ourselves, she meant, not for other people.

We should ask her first.

What's the point in bothering Mother for everything?

Given: pram, Mrs. Ransome.

Half a pound of tea from the grocer.

Woolen scarf, slightly faded, from the draper's.

A stuffed squirrel from the doctor.

Promised: a piece of honeycomb

and six bootlaces from the cobbler.

Uh, an iron shovel from the blacksmith.

Anything else?

A slab of meat from the butcher.

Ah, yes, we can pick that up on the way.

Oops.

Peter (annoyed): Oh, Phil.

Ooh!

Boy: Where are they going?

(knocking)

Mother's changing herself.

MRS. PERKS: Down in a minute.

She'll be down in a minute.

MRS. PERKS: Good boy, Arthur.

You put her in the cart.

Hello, hello.

MRS. PERKS: I'm a bit late, um...

changing 'cause I done an extra clean-up, it being...

well, it being Perks's birthday.

We knew it was his birthday

so we've brought him some presents.

PETER: What's the matter?

Don't you like them?

Like them?

Of course I do.

You're so kind.

Perks has never had a birthday like it...

not even when he was a boy.

I mean, look at it, Arthur

it, well, it's fit for a prince.

Not that he is a prince.

(man whistling)

Oh, bless us, he's early.

Let's hide in the washroom.

You tell him about it...

and then we'll come in

and shout "Many Happy Returns."

Righto.

(whistling grows louder)

Hello.

(door closes)

Oh, here's a pretty spread.

It's your birthday tea, Bert.

Where's the children?

Mrs. Parks: I couldn't say.

PERKS: Go on then, give us a big sloppy one.

(giggling)

What's that pram doing there

and all these... things?

Well...

Oh, no... I hope he doesn't think

it's all come from us

and that we're trying to be grand.

I... I don't care who it's from.

I'm not gonna start these charity goings-on

at my time of life.

Oh, Bert, hush, for goodness' sake.

They're in the washroom.

They can hear everything you say.

Well, I'll give them something to listen to.

Come out! Come out!

Come out here and tell me what...

what you mean by this?

Have I ever complained about being short enough

as to need charity?

We thought you'd be pleased.

I'll never be kind to anyone

as long as I live.

We didn't mean any harm.

It's not what you mean, it's what you do.

Oh, don't.

We thought you'd love it.

BOBBIE: We always have things on our birthdays.

From your relatives...

That's different!

And look at it all, look at it.

There's far too much.

It's not all from us.

We forgot to put the labels on.

It's from all sorts of people in the village.

Bert, please.

Have you been going round

telling the neighbors we can't make ends meet?

Well, you can take back this whole bag of tricks

to where it came from!

And I would rather not be acquainted

with you any longer--

if it's all the same to you.

Look... we'll go if you like

and you needn't be friends with us anymore

if you don't want to.

We'll always be friends with you...

however nasty you are to us.

Shh!

But before we go, let us show you

the labels we meant to put on the things.

I don't want to see any labels.

I see enough labels at work, on luggage.

We wrote down what everyone said

when they gave us the things.

Don't you upset yourself.

I know you meant it kindly, even if he doesn't!

(both sighing)

Mother's label first.

It says: "Little clothes for Mrs. Perks's children.

"I can't do much because we're poor ourselves

"but I'd like to do something

because he's so friendly to you".

Well, that's different.

Your mother's a born lady.

We'll keep the frocks and whatnot, Nell.

The pram's from Mrs. Ransome.

"It was bought for my daughter's first.

"But sadly he died and she never had another.

It would be a help for Mrs. Perks's little girl."

I'm not sending the pram back, so don't ask me.

I'm not asking you anything.

Mr. James made the shovel for you himself.

"You tell Mr. Perks it's a pleasure

to make something for a man who's so much respected."

I thought you'd love to know

how fond people are of you.

I've never been so unhappy in my life.

Good-bye.

All right... all right.

I take it all back.

Everything I said that you don't like.

Nell...

put the kettle on.

Arthur, stop

picking your nose!

I knew you'd like them

once you really understood.

I'm... I'm not unhappy about the presents.

I mean, well, they're an A-1 collection.

I'm... I'm just...

I'm just pleased at having the kind respect of our neighbors.

(Perks sniffles)

You are the most aggravating man.

A man must respect himself

otherwise no one else will do it for him.

So...

staying to tea?

(children playing and chattering)

PERKS: Right, well, good-bye.

CHILDREN: Good-bye.

(annoyed): Phil...

PHYLLIS: Peter, wait.

(door opens and closes)

(Peter and Phyllis playing outside)

Bobbie, dear...

Parting from Father was terrible.

Much worse than anything you can think of.

But it'd be much more terrible

if you children

were to forget him.

You aren't, are you?

No... why?

You never speak of him now.

Well, I...

I thought you were so unhappy

about Daddy not being here.

It made it worse when you talked about him

so I stopped-- we all did.

I promised myself I'd never ask you questions

and I never have, have I?

But the trouble... it won't last forever, will it?

No.

PERKS: What's this?

A pretty young girl on a swing.

I've, uh...

I've brought you some magazines

by way of a thank-you for my birthday presents.

Don't read them all at once now--

they rot your brain.

Thank you very much, Mr. Perks.

Oh, don't thank me-- people leave them on the trains.

I wish they'd leave something

a bit more useful like cakes, huh?

Oh, well...

would you like a cup of tea, Mr. Perks?

Uh, no, no, no, I'd best not.

No offense, but I hear your house

has a wee bit of a rat problem.

Good-bye.

Good-bye.

PETER: Brilliant!

Oh, Daddy, it's not true.

You never did it.

Never.

MOTHER: Oh, Bobbie, you don't believe it?

You don't believe Daddy did it?

Of course not, Mother!

They've shut him up in prison

but he's done nothing wrong.

He's good and honorable.

And we must be proud of him and wait.

Why didn't you tell me?!

Are you going to tell the others?

No.

Well...

So, how... how can this happen?

Don't be angry with me, my love.

But you didn't do anything.

You just brought us down here.

We should have...

stood outside Buckingham Palace in the rain and the cold

until they let him out!

(sobbing)

Tell me about it.

I want to understand.

I'll tell you, my love.

But then we won't speak of it anymore.

We must bear it and be brave.

BOBBIE: "My dear friend, you see what is in this paper.

"It is not true.

"Father is not a spy or a traitor.

"Mother says the man under him was jealous

"and put the stolen papers in Father's desk.

"Nobody listens to a word Mother says

"but you were good and clever, and you quickly found out

"about the Russian gentleman's wife.

"Can't you find out about who did the treason?

"Because Father is a true Englishman

"and incapable of doing such things.

"It is dreadful-- Mother is getting so thin.

"Please help me.

"There is just Mother and me who know,

and we can't do anything.

With love, your affectionate friend, Roberta."

(hammer blows echoing)

I like watching people work.

No, Phyllis.

Look!

Oi!

Workman: Naw, leave him, leave him alone.

Oh, yes, it's the boys from Maidbridge School

doing a paper chase.

Oh, that's really exciting.

But what's a paper chase?

That first boy, he's called the "hare"

and he has to leave a trail of paper

for the "hounds" to follow.

Go on, you hounds!

(footsteps echoing)

Let's cut across the top

and can watch them

coming out the other end.

Well, won't they beat us?

No, we'll be running on grass

they'll be running in the dark.

PETER: This way!

Follow me!

My boot lace is undone.

Phyllis...

Can you see them yet?

No!

Crouch down.

PHYLLIS: We must have missed them.

No, I don't think so.

Never mind.

We've never seen a train

from up here before.

Hey, look out, here he comes.

BOBBIE: There.

No, they aren't the last--

there's one in the red jersey to come yet.

I've got a pain in my front

from being so hungry.

Come on!

The one in the red jersey

must have been mixed in with the others.

No, I don't think so.

Let's go down.

I'll die if I don't have a sandwich.

Oh, give her a silly sandwich!

I think the boy in the red jersey's had an accident.

As we speak, he's probably lying

with his head on the metal

unresisting prey to any...

Oh, stop talking like a book.

Come on, Phil, keep close behind me.

If a train comes

stand flat against the tunnel wall

and hold your petticoats to you.

I will if you give me a sandwich!

I'm going first.

It was my idea.

(grunts)

I don't like it.

I want to go back.

(chugging approaching)

A train.

PETER: Stand back!

Quick, in here!

(roaring and rumbling)

Oh, if the boy in the red jersey

was in the way of the train...

PETER: Look!

He's got blood.

Has he been killed?

No... he's fainted.

What should we do?

Can we move him?

I don't think so.

He's big.

Hello?

Come on, wake up, speak to us.

Wake up.

Well, I think he's dead.

Stop that.

I knew he wasn't.

I'm all right.

(moans)

I believe I've broken my leg.

I tripped on one of those silly wires.

(breathing hard)

Who are you?

Your rescue party.

Do you think you

could move if we helped you?

I could try.

Come on.

Up, up you come.

(cries in agony)

Look, I'll stay with him.

You go and get help.

Go on!

Quickly!

(footsteps fading away)

(water dripping)

Hello again.

What's your name?

Jim.

Mine's Bobbie.

Weren't there more of you just now?

Yes, Peter and Phil, my brother and sister.

They've gone to get someone to carry you out.

F-funny names...

All boys.

(chuckles)

Mine's Roberta really.

I wish I was a boy.

I think you're all right as you are.

PHYLLIS: I'm never going in a tunnel again

as long as I live

even if there are 600 boys all inside

with all their legs broken.

There's never a grown-up around when you need one.

Hello?

Help!

(clattering)

Oh... hello.

Oh...

it's you.

(spits out seed)

So... sister still mending that old dress

over and over-- ha!

Look...

Where do you live?

I go to boarding school in Maidbridge.

I suppose I've got to get back there somehow.

Well, you could bring him to our house.

I'll go ahead and tell Mother.

Hey, what will your ma say

about your bringing home a sick stranger?

Doctor: That'll be fine.

They've done it before-- with a Russian.

Right.

(quietly): Night-night, Peter.

(whispering): Mother, as Jim's parents live in Northumberland

couldn't we keep him here

and not say anything to his parents

until he's better?

It would be such a surprise for them.

Yes, it would.

Now Father's away

there's no other man in the house apart from me.

That's why I want Jim to stay so much.

Do you miss your father very much?

Yes, of course I do.

Couldn't you nurse Jim?

I can't do that and write.

I've telegraphed his school, and his parents.

Don't worry

he'll stay with us till he's a lot better.

(pump squeaking, water splashing)

Oh, hello, my dear.

Hello.

I got your letter.

Uh, but it wasn't needed.

I had my doubts about your father's case

when I first read about it in the papers at the time.

And ever since I've known who you were

I've been trying to find out things.

All I can tell you is I have hopes, my dear.

I have hopes.

But I think we should hang on to

our secret a little longer.

It wouldn't do to upset your mother

about a false hope, would it?

You don't think Father did it, do you?

Say you don't.

I'm perfectly certain he didn't.

PETER: Wow!

PHYLLIS: Ready?

Brilliant!

(Phyllis squeals)

(whispering to herself)

I'll, uh, be off then.

Yes.

Excuse me.

Have... have you packed your, um, things?

My things?

Yes... they're...

they're all packed.

If you leave anything, we... we could probably...

Send it on in a parcel?

Yes.

So, um...

Good-bye.

Good-bye.

That's my address.

Lovely.

Let's write.

Yes, let's.

(meows)

I wonder if the railway misses us?

We never go to see it now.

We've had Jim to play with.

What I don't like is our not waving at the 9:15

and sending our love to Father by it.

All right, let's start doing it again.

Hurry up!

When you get married

your bootlace will come undone going up the aisle

and the groom will fall over it and smash his nose

and won't marry you and you'll have to be an old maid.

(passengers cheer)

What on earth does that mean?

I don't know.

PHYLLIS: Let's go and tell Mother.

Mother...

PETER: Guess what happened?

Hundreds and hundreds of people waved to...

No, about 50.

About 50 then.

And it started off from the old gentleman and...

No, it didn't--

It started off from the driver.

No, it didn't.

Yes, it did.

Okay, it started from the driver and it spread like wildfire.

Don't you feel well, my sweetheart?

I don't know.

Mother, would you mind if I walked down to the station?

Well... no, of course not.

Morning, miss.

Good morning.

Good morning to you, miss, and many of them.

God bless you, dear.

The 11:57 is right on time, miss.

Here you are.

You know, I don't think I've ever been so glad of anything.

One thing I must do, on a day like today, no offense...

You're not offended, are you?

I haven't taken too great a liberty?

No, no, of course not, dear Mr. Perks.

But on a day like what?

(train chugging closer)

Oh, my daddy... my daddy!

And they caught him, yes, they did.

And everyone now knows that it wasn't your daddy.

I always knew.

I thought you did.

Why don't you go in and tell Mother, quietly

that everything's all right.

(wind rushing through trees)

The notion of a softhearted railroad baron

will seem farfetched to people who know railroad history.

In America, at least, most railroad tycoons

from Commodore Vanderbilt on, were ruthless and piratical

and some, clearly criminal.

Railroading was a brutal business at the top

and at the bottom

where the owner's indifference to safety problems

produced an appalling toll of mutilations and deaths.

It engendered class hatreds

which expanded the socialist movement in America

and made a working-class hero of Eugene Debs--

onetime railroad worker

twice the socialist candidate for president.

Edith Nesbit never worked on the railroad

but like Debs, she was also a socialist.

She was a founding member of the Fabian Society--

a group of intellectuals whose ideas influenced the development

of British socialism and the birth of the labor party.

It's interesting to note that tonight's show

with its conventional children's-story morality

was written by a woman whose private life was as unorthodox

as her politics.

She and her husband, Hubert Bland

were married two months after the birth of their first child.

They had a second child-- Edith named him Fabian.

Then the Fabian Society's female secretary came to live with them

and within the year, gave birth to Hubert's baby.

Edith raised the child as her own.

She and Hubert remained married for 34 years.

When he died, Edith married again

and continued writing children's books

until her death, ten years later.

All together, she published over 40 novels.

I'm Russell Baker.

Good night.

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