All language subtitles for The Railway Children (2000)

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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