Original subtitles

Three children find their lives turned upside down when their father mysteriously vanishes.

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's him! That's my thing.

ExxonMobil Masterpiece Theatre presents Jenny Agater, Michael Kitchen, and Sir Richard Attenborough,

in E. Nesbitt's classic family favorite, The Railway Children.

The

The Railway Children.

The Railway Children.

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 stuffed 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 whale 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 Nesbitt's widely loved family classic, is set in a way that

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 Agater, 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.

There it is!

Come on!

Go away!

Get off!

Peter!

Sorry!

Peter!

Oh, please!

No, what's the thing? Can I open this one first?

Yes, you can, go on.

I think I know what this is.

Oh, it's really heavy.

Must be a box.

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.

I'll go to bed.

Thank you.

I put mine into pencils.

You don't like them.

I'll have them.

Come on, we can help.

Oh, thank you!

Come on, let's get it going.

Let's see if it works.

Come on, let's get it!

Move it now!

Go, you're it!

Go, go, go!

There's water.

Go, go, go!

No, I've got you.

I've got you.

I've got you.

I've got you.

Go, go, go, go!

Go, go, go, go!

Go, go, go, go!

Go, go, go, go, go!

Go, go, go, go!

Go, go, go, go, go!

Right.

Which child exploded?

Is there no help?

Help!

Oh, yes.

A 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 men, then, doots?

They can do anything boys can do, can't they, daddy?

Yes, of course they can.

Too gentleman to see you, sir.

I've shown them into the library.

Remind me to install a motor in a drawbridge, would you?

So that nobody can disturb us.

The twins soon saw that he could run the faster.

So they climbed the spreading chestnut tree.

The baker, his face, the colour of raspberries,

stood at the foot of the tree and wondered where the insolent twins had gone.

A conch had dropped on his head out of the tree,

whereupon his face turned from raspberry to the darkest beetroot.

I wish we did have a motor drawbridge.

Please, I'm at the master would like to 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 buster.

That will do, Ruth. You can go.

I'm afraid father's been called away.

Darling, go to bed.

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

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

To bed, now.

Ruth, why is mother going to town?

Ask me no questions. I'll tell you no lies.

You know soon enough.

Peter, you mustn't ask.

Why not?

Mother will tell us everything we need to know.

Goodie, goodie.

Bobby's right, near a twit.

Don't.

I'm sure there's been some calamity that'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 for this very blessed minute.

And then...

Oh.

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 they 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.

Don't you worry, my darling, 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 Verigata.

No, I'm not.

Charles the second.

1660 to 685.

Edward IV.

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 are a little child.

If you don't bend your ways, you'll go to where your precious father's gone.

Oh, 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.

We are?

I know things shouldn't matter.

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

Why'd they have to take that?

You know what Mother said.

Well, I think I'm walking home to be very useful.

Why are you saying something in there?

Yeah, I'm coming up.

I like movie house. We should do it every month.

Do you mind if we don't?

Wake up, loves. We're here.

Oh, my God!

Oh, my God!

Oh, my God!

The kids!

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Yes.

Oh, my God!

Oh, my God!

Oh, Phil.

Why is it always you? Come on.

Let's catch them up, OK? All right.

There's the house.

I wonder where Mrs. Fine is.

Who?

The woman I employed to clean the place and leave supper for us.

She's probably gone home.

Get trained without late.

So, what are we expected to do now?

Yes, well, it's a tricky one.

I don't know.

I don't know.

I don't know.

I don't know.

I don't know.

I don't know.

I don't know.

Yes, well, it's a tricky one.

We can use a key on the door, Matt.

That's what we do around here.

Nobody ever gets broken into it.

Unless they deserve it.

There's a horrid woman.

She's walked off with a mother, not left as anything to eat at all.

I love to open one of our own cases.

What's that?

It'll be rats.

You're unlucky, it'll be big rats.

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

Good night.

Oh, dear.

That's better.

The great thing is to be cheerful.

Nobody can be cheerful in the dark except owls and bats.

I wish Barnard was here.

He'd get that back in case open, just like that.

What do you kick me for, Mobby?

I wasn't.

It's very cold for this time of year.

Stop trying to be so grown up.

Peter.

Well, you've often wanted something to happen, and now it has.

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

No.

No.

Wake up.

Wake up.

Yes, I'm not.

There are no servants or anything.

We have to do everything ourselves.

I don't know how to do anything.

Shh.

Must let Mummy sleep.

That's just the dining room.

Father's chair.

Another room.

The lady did leave and they laughed at all.

You're just going to show you another.

Boo!

Oh, it's cold.

Maybe not.

Cowards.

Ah!

Oh!

Oh!

Peter!

Oh, Mummy!

Oh!

What's the answer, little gong?

Mummy's going to write stories and try to sell them.

We could help by buying some.

Oh, no.

We must make sure she isn't in the directive when she's upstairs writing.

Yes.

Except to bring her tea.

They'll stroke her hair.

I might want to.

Well, she's Mummy doesn't sell any stories.

Perhaps daddy can sell that money.

I don't think so.

We wouldn't have needed to sell off the nice furniture.

I think it's good that we sold it.

More in front of her now.

A train!

Oh!

Oh!

Gosh!

Oh!

Oh, my gosh!

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 my mouse.

Ah.

Bachelor, is he?

Glibs alone.

Just ignore me.

Half of everything I say is more or less complete.

Nonsense.

The trick is, trying to get a switch half.

Oh!

Mrs. Ransom, off somewhere nice, after your sisters.

The carriage was dusty last time.

Oh, was it?

Oh, I'm sorry.

Although, I have to say, the chief cause of dust on the trains is actually dusty passengers.

Oh, thank you for carrying our things last night.

Oh, heavens, no need to thank me.

It's my job.

They've come from London.

Oh, London.

Who 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 drink?

Nope.

We're stuck here for the time being.

Well, go and sit somewhere.

If you be so kind.

You're impeding free movement.

She's going to drive, you know?

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?

Hello?

We were wondering if we could light fire.

No, loves.

Cold 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.

Go on, Phil.

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

It's like staking kidney.

I'm going on a loan adventure.

What?

I can't do what it is.

Because it may be wrong.

I don't want to drag you into it.

Can I be the damson in his stress next time?

I'm always a savage.

Damson?

Damson's a type of plum.

Oh, Peter, don't do it if it's wrong or we should all do it together.

No.

I'm not sure.

It's wrong or we should all do it together.

No.

You can't come.

It's a loan adventure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

S coincidence.

The

The

The

The

The

The

The

Come on, the station.

And another police station.

You and that boy don't read chimneys, aren't you?

Is there anyone else in your gang?

I always knew from this.

Only us.

Right.

Look at you.

So nicely dressed and all.

I'm your being to church.

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

I didn't think you were stealing.

I only took it from the middle of the heap

so it counters mining.

They'll take you thousands of years to burn off all that coal.

Not quite.

Poor folks, scrimp and safe for coal.

You lot can afford it.

But you think it's yours by right.

No.

I thought other house we always used to have

far as when it was cold.

Now, mother says we're too poor to have a fire now.

No, don't.

They actually had to sell all the furniture.

Thank you for your contribution, Mr. Perks.

Hi, welcome.

Well, perhaps I was a bit harsh.

But remember, stealing is stealing

whatever you do it.

I know we're looking this time.

Now, get along.

Thank you.

Thank you.

You were darling.

That's all right.

Peter.

Don't speak to me.

You're spies and traitors.

I'm not even sure, actually, the 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.

Mm.

I don't know.

I don't know.

I don't know.

I don't know.

I don't know.

I don't know.

I don't know.

I don't know.

I don't know.

All right.

Hello.

All right.

It got to me.

All four years in the ground,

or at night, the opposite was Delete.

But how did you think about us?

Do it!

Do it!

No, it's not, Paul.

What are you?

I'm going here.

I love you.

audience!

Can I put it on.

Ibolt can you take it on us?

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.

At last, a sensible editor has taken my story.

Well done mother.

Well we can do 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.

Come on.

Hey.

Hey.

Hey.

It's all done.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Good night.

Excuse me.

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

Biggie of pargone.

I think you're being polite to me because you don't remember

that it was me who took the call.

And it was.

I'm sorry.

Oh, don't you worry about that.

Let buy you guns, be buy guns.

What are you got there?

Buns.

Oh, I thought you were all so poor.

Mother saw the 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 into the station whenever you fancy.

Yes.

You might talk to me that.

Thank you.

Stop!

My food makes some damage, Jack!

Absolutely!

A- rolls over.

Dust in brokensmiths.

No, £2.10, fine for improper use.

What can't this property use?

I've been bothered more or less.

You know, they're just all woman ones.

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, she said,

oh, there you are.

I'll have a glass of stout in the port.

Bye, please.

Ha ha ha.

I can't believe it.

Ha ha ha.

Ha ha ha.

Why do all the trains have numbers in front?

That's so well, no which one's which.

I actually knew a young jent once.

They 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.

So the old lady pulled the little handle thing

and said to the train driver,

or the guard, or whoever the man was,

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?

Didn't you ever walk on the railway line?

So when you and little?

Yes.

Very well then.

But be careful.

Imagine how I'd feel if you got hurt.

You know how much I love you all?

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.

What's going to happen to us?

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.

But I think you should be head nurse.

Yes.

I'll send out some medicine.

Keep up a good fire.

Have some strong beef tea made 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.

Mother, you need all these things.

Oh, Mrs. Vain.

To boil up a scragg end.

I'll have the broth.

I'll have the broth.

I'll have the broth.

I'll have the broth.

I'll have the broth.

I'll have the broth.

Well, I've got the sheening for the mutton.

We don't need that.

All we need is bread and mortar.

People have lived on this and this island.

That's true.

So Mrs. Vainy can spend the sheening 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 another better.

MUSIC

Come on, old David.

MUSIC

MUSIC

MUSIC

Thank you.

MUSIC

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 and he is a man.

MUSIC

MUSIC

Old gentleman asked me to face this up right away.

Oh, thank you, Mr. Doctor.

Oh, I've carried a few hands on some hot time.

Especially to him the hand for season.

The worst thing I've ever wanted to carry was a fish tank with a water still in it.

If anybody ever asks you to carry a fish tank with a water still in it, just shake them, say.

Well, you can say any of you, because nobody is listening.

MUSIC

I'm very sorry but I didn't have tubents to give you like Father does.

Just drop that right now, young man.

I just wanted to see how I saw it the year your mother wasn't where I went.

To bring her some sweet brag because it smells so nice.

I'm looking for any tenses.

I beg your pardon.

Right, well, no offence.

Tons of chilly winks indeed.

Dear Reversa and Philipson 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 her friends.

You had to use ill.

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

Eeawd the collabney.

Oh, de coll

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

You must never, never, never are 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 a doctor.

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

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.

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.

Miss Feining?

From standing up to lying down in as little as a minute.

Another doctor.

He'll be expensive.

I should know.

I've been under him several times.

Very warm hands.

You're through to Wonkley.

You do it then.

I can't bat and bowl.

Oh!

I want a brother!

I'm going to get a little bit of a drink.

So...

Nobody's ill.

No.

Good.

Makes a change.

I get a lot of illness.

Blurt it all out there, 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, I know from Mrs. Feining that doctors are expensive.

And you're a good doctor, so you must be very expensive.

You might think so, mightn't you?

So, so I asked her how she could afford you because I know she's much poorer than we are.

I've been in her house.

She said her doctor only cost her tuppence 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.

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.

I haven't even got a hook, Phil.

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

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

Hello, excuse me.

What's the time?

And I dropped my watch in the water butt.

And it doesn't...

Mine are on business.

Posh bloody kids.

Stack up.

Ow!

Hey!

Why did you say that?

That's horrible!

We're just normal children.

We're not posh.

I repaired this dress a hundred times.

And even if we were posh, we still care about you or not the spies.

You just because you are poorer than us.

Right.

Next time, they'll be sorry.

Perhaps we should stick to the railway.

Hello!

Come on, kids!

Please.

You.

Kids.

Can you see Mother yet?

Kids.

No.

It's not her train.

Someone's happy!

You see this, the nigga where you are.

She is the king.

No, Dad, step aside.

I'll attend to this if you please.

Well, what's the trouble?

You're so pretty.

You're so pretty.

No.

You're so...

You're so pretty.

No.

You're so pretty.

Nope.

Don't understand the word.

Mother knows languages.

She'll be on the next train from Maybridge.

This way?

If you please.

Well, there's got no tickets.

And no visible means of support.

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

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Are you well?

Shh.

Look, we'll show you these foreign stamps.

And you can tell us if you recognize this is his country.

Norwegian.

That's a nice one.

No, no, no, he's not Norwegian.

He'd be wearing one of them fake jumples if he was not Norwegian.

Spatritti.

What?

I'm a little bit older.

I'm a little bit older.

I'm a little bit older.

Oh, he's Russian.

Mr. Paul Franciosi.

Um, you can stay at our house.

What's up with the presentee?

Spassiba.

Oh, uh...

Bon voyage!

He's worn out body and soul.

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

Thank you.

Strazfeider.

That means hello in Russian.

Perhaps goodbye.

I think he might need to join your club.

He's got nothing.

I saw him crying.

Please don't.

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

I've never seen him home cry before.

I'm sorry.

I must find you some clothes.

Well, there wasn't further taking his clothes.

But he isn't...

He isn't dead, is he?

Oh, darling, Bobby.

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 czar 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.

I love.

When you say your prayers,

ask God to take pity on all prisoners and captives.

Prisoners and captives.

Prisoners and captives.

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. Shabak.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I hate Mr. Shabakak having to wear daddy's clothes.

Yes, so does Mother.

I can see it in her eyes.

What's that noise?

Look at that tree over there.

It's my thing.

It's magic.

I don't like cleaning more. Let's go home.

How to take some clearing up.

It's right across the line.

The 1,129 down hasn't gone by yet.

Mustn't know at the session or there'll be a terrible accident.

Run.

Wait! Come back!

There's no time!

These are way but the trains stop it.

They're just thinking us waving as we usually do.

We need something red.

Let's take them off.

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

where people smashed up and killed.

Stinks!

We need sticks to put the flags on!

The train gets round the corner.

Set back and keep on waving.

They can't see us at one point.

It's no bird to keep off the line!

Stop! Stop!

Please stop!

Stop!

Wake up, Bobby! Bobby!

Speak to me, Bobby!

Good morning.

Good morning.

You sleep?

Yes, thank you. Like a log.

I am this...

Blackbury.

Thank you.

Be better.

Thank you.

Listen, we got a letter!

When a small presentation will be made to you

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

...and the commemoration of your prompt and courageous action

in warning the train. That's a...

...a voting what must...

...humanly speaking, have been a terrible accident.

Does this maybe 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.

Yeah, yeah.

Make a speech and thank everyone.

Begin, ladies and gentlemen.

Nation load, no, you can't be too load.

Ladies and gentlemen!

Too load.

This is awfully good of you.

We don't serve the watchers because what we did wasn't anything really.

It's just...

I mean, it was terribly exciting.

So thank you all very, very, very much.

We meet properly at last.

Yes.

As the director of the railway,

they've made me to say, Bravo.

Thank you.

Would you think it terribly rude if I...

...if I have a favour to ask?

Excuse me, sir.

Uh, photographs?

No.

Of course.

Afternoon, T.

Hey, handsome.

Oh.

Well, this is a thoughtful of you.

I had an accident with an eliminate.

A cup and a plate might be nice.

Perks always drinks it out of the can.

Yes.

Um...

Well, any minute I want to hear all about you,

but what was that favour you wanted?

Um...

Do you know anything about Russia?

Russia.

Anybody want to know this time?

No, thank you.

3.18.

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

When I'm very old, I'll 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 transfers.

No new woke up once or twice a year.

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

Tell me how nice I am.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon, thank you, Mr. Pax.

Don't mention it.

Always a pleasure to carry our director of the railway,

if that doesn't sound too oily.

No, no, no, that's much gracious.

Good news.

You found Mr. Tupatsky's wife and children.

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

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

It's the pleasure of coming to tell him myself.

Oh, well, I'm on second fortune.

You run ahead and tell him.

These two look after me.

Come with us.

Thank you.

I must say I think everything is worked out very well.

Yes.

Come on, Paqui.

You must come too.

Don't call me, Paqui.

Sorry.

It's all right.

You want to know.

This is another one of the letters that I wrote.

We know we are wife and children, are...

And he was born.

He was born in a very old place.

He was born in a very old place.

You're just so angry.

He was so angry.

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 can't ask you to come and see us again.

I consider myself fortunate indeed to have been received once at your house.

I'm sorry, I'm the same.

So, surly and ungrateful.

You could never seem anything.

More gracious and charming.

Paqui.

Thank you.

Goodbye.

Please, please, please, no, no.

The wife can get very jealous.

Can I just wait until I'm quite ugly, you know?

Here we go.

Walk on.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

I wonder if Daddy will be that excited when he comes home to us.

You look tired, Mommy.

Me and on me.

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

No, Father's not here. I'm the head of the family.

A darling, Roberta, no sorrows shall hurt her.

If we can prevent it a whole life long, a bath is our fate day.

We'll make it a great day and give her a presence and sing a song.

We'll make it a great day and give her a presence and sing a song.

Happy birthday, darling.

Thank you.

This is my present. It's pencils again.

Thank you, Phil.

This is my present.

Peter.

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

That is so kind and generous.

No.

Not the engine. Just sweets.

Of course that's what I thought you meant.

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

Peter, thank you. It's a splendid present.

Then it's broken.

Oh, now I'm strong. You can be late again.

Yeah, well, we'll start running on time when you stop.

You've got an arm wrong. Get that kettle of me.

Let's go.

What the blooming? What are you doing here?

Come on.

Sit down.

Come on.

Come on.

Come on.

Come on, Anne. What's it all about?

I did call out what you didn't hear me.

Don't be cross, please.

We ain't cross as much as interesting.

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

Well, I'm blown.

I felt guilty because my brother Peter gave it to me and didn't really mean it.

So I wanted to make a mess by repairing it.

We drive the engine. We don't mend, huh?

And now we're going to get you better, you sorrowing friends in relations.

Well, if you put me down next time you stop it, you're going to be a good friend.

If you put me down next time you stop it, let me the bad for a third class ticket.

I'll pay you back. I'm not some confident strings that are honestly...

Here, Nick.

Hey, you got a pair of Luke and you used a soldering on.

No, I have.

That's what father said it needed.

Gosh!

Who did you get to do it?

Not the fireman's second cousin's wife's brother.

Very good chap. Very good chap indeed.

I was like having my birthday all over again. Thank you, Bobby.

When's your birthday, Miss Perk?

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

But I gave up keeping the musties years ago.

Before you were born.

Why?

Well, I'm too busy. Looking after the... looking after the missies and the villains.

His wife and children.

I know.

Pucky!

Pete! Fail! Porridge!

Good news. I sold another story. You missed something. I'm getting good at this.

Funds for tea?

Mother, would you mind if it didn't happen?

I don'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.

We kind of made me think.

We could just give him the buns.

No.

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 our soul, she meant. Not for other people.

We should ask her first.

What's the point in bothering Mother for everything?

Given.

Pram, Mrs. Ronson.

Half a plan to tea from a grocer.

Willard's got up slightly faded from the draper's.

Stuffed squirrel from the doctor.

I promised a piece of honeycomb and six bootlaces from the cobbler.

And iron shovel from the blacksmith.

Anything else?

A slab of meat from the butcher.

I guess. You can pick that up on the way.

Oh, sir.

Oh.

Thank you.

Let's go.

Mother's going.

Mother's changing herself.

No, no, no, no.

She'll be down in a minute.

You put her in the cart.

Hello, hello.

I'm a bit late.

Change her because I've done an extra clean up.

It being, with being folks is birthday.

We knew it was his birthday.

So brought him some presents.

What's the matter?

Don't you like them?

Like them.

Of course I do.

You're so kind.

But folks has never had a birthday like it.

Not even when he was a boy.

I mean, look at it, Arthur.

Well, it's a bit for a prince.

Not that he's a prince.

Oh, bless us, he's early.

Let's hide in the washroom.

You tell her about it.

Yes.

And then we'll all come in and shut many happier turns.

Right, I'll.

Hello.

Oh, here's our pretty spread.

It's your birthday tea, Bert.

Where's the children?

I couldn't say.

You're a big sloppy one.

What's that brand in 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 don't care who it's from.

I'm not going to start these charity going on in my time of life.

Oh, please, we're going to say they're in the washroom.

They can hear everything you're saying.

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

Come out.

Come out here and tell me what you mean by this.

Have I ever complained about being shot enough as to eat 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, young man. It's what you do.

Oh, don't.

We thought you'd love it.

We always have things on our birthdays.

From your relatives, that's different.

And look at it, all. Look at it.

It's far too much.

It's not all from us.

We forgot to put the labels on.

There are all sorts of people in the village.

Bert, please.

Have you been going around telling the neighbours 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.

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.

Have a nasty one to ask.

But before we go, let us show you the labels we meant to put on the things.

Want to see any labels?

See enough labels at what?

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.

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.

Mother's a born lady.

We'll keep the frogs from one note, Nell.

The prams from Mrs. Ransom.

It was bought for my daughter's first.

But sadly, she died and she never heard another.

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

I'm not sending the pram back, but 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 fun people are of you.

I've never been so unhappy in my life.

Goodbye.

All right. All right.

I'll take it all back.

Everything I said that you don't like.

Nell, put a kettle on.

Arthur, stop picking your nose.

I need, like, the ones you really understood.

I'm not unhappy about the presents.

There are only one collection.

I'm just pleased.

I'm the kind respect of our neighbours.

You are the most aggravating man.

A man must suspect himself, otherwise no one else will do it for him.

So, it's the entity.

No, no, no, no, no.

What? No!

Goodbye.

Phil, Peter, wait!

Peter, wait!

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 thought you were so unhappy about Daddy not being here.

It made it worse when he talked about him.

So I stopped. We all did.

I promised myself I'd never ask you questions and I never have, have I?

The trouble.

It won't last forever, will it?

No.

No.

What's this?

A pretty young girl on a swing.

Have brought you some magazines.

Bye, way of a thank you from my birthday presents.

Don't read them all at once. Now they rot your brain.

Thank you very much, Mr. Perks.

No, I don't think we people leave them on the trains.

I wish they'd leave something a bit more useful, like cakes.

Oh, well, would you like a couple of tea, Mr. Perks?

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

No offence, but I hear your house is a wee bit of a rat problem.

Goodbye.

Brilliant!

Oh, Daddy, it's not true.

You never did it.

Never.

Oh, 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 honourable.

And we must be proud of you.

I'm sorry, Mr. Perks.

I'm sorry, Mr. Perks.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

And we must be proud of him and wait.

Why didn't you tell me?

Are you going to tell the others?

No.

Well...

It's so wrong.

How can this happen?

Don't be angry with me, my love.

But you didn't do anything.

She just brought us down here.

We should have...

Still outside Buckingham Palace and the rain in the corner to let him out.

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.

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 was dreadful.

Mother is getting so thin.

Please help me.

There is just Mother in me who know and we can't do anything.

We'd love your affectionate friend.

But...

I like watching people work.

No, Phyllis.

No!

Oh yes, it's a boy from Maybridge School doing a paper chase.

Oh, that's really exciting.

What's the paper chase?

That first boy, he's called the hen.

He has to leave the trailer paper for the house.

Go on, you house!

Let's cross the top and we can watch them coming out in the other end.

But won't they beat us?

No.

We'll be running on grass.

They'll be running in the dark.

I'm going to go.

Fish way!

Sorry!

My big-ass is under the house.

You're nice.

Can you see them here?

No!

We've crouched out!

We must've missed them.

No, I don't think so.

Never mind.

You've never seen a train from up here before.

No, look out!

Here you come!

There.

No!

They are the last.

There's the one in Red Jersey to come yet.

I've got a pain in my front from being so hungry.

Come on!

One in the Red Jersey must've been mixing 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.

He's head on the metal.

I'm resisting pray to any person.

I'll stop talking like a book.

Come on, Phil, keep close behind me.

If a train comes down, flax gets a tunnel wall and hold your picture.

I really need to get me a sandwich!

I'm going first.

It was my idea.

I don't like it.

I want to go back.

A train.

A train.

A sandwich!

Quick!

Sit here!

Oh, the boy in the Red Jersey was in the way of the train.

It's that blood.

It's the old kill.

No.

He's fainted.

What should we do?

We'll tell him we move him.

I don't think so.

He's big.

Hello.

Come on.

Wake up.

Speak to us.

Wake up.

I think he's dead.

Stop that.

I knew he was.

All right.

I believe I've broken my leg.

I tripped him on those silly wires.

Who are you?

Your rescue party.

Do you think you could move if we helped you?

I could try.

Come on.

Look, I'll stay with him.

You go and get help.

Come on.

Quickly.

Hello again.

What was your name?

Jim.

Mine's Bobby.

When they're more of you just now.

Yes.

Peter and Phil, my brother and sister.

Yes.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I've got to get someone to carry you out.

Felling them all boys.

Yes.

Mine's Roberta really.

I wish I was a boy.

I think you're right as well.

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 grinder from around when you need one.

Oh.

Hi.

Oh.

It's you.

So.

Sister so many of that old dress over and over.

Look.

Where do you live?

I go to boarding school in Maybridge.

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

Well you could bring into our house.

I'll go ahead and tell Mother.

Hey, what were your marks say about you bringing it almost to stranger?

That'll be fine.

They've done it before with a Russian.

Right.

Right.

Night night, Peter.

Mother.

As Jim's parents live in Northumberland.

Couldn't we keep him in?

I'm not saying anything to his parents.

Do these better?

You'd be such a surprise for them.

It's so good.

Now Father's away.

There's no other man in the house above from me.

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

Jim and your father very much?

Yes, of course I do.

Couldn't you nurse Jim?

Well, can't you that unright?

I've telegraphed his school and his parents.

Don't worry.

It'll stay with us till it's a lot better.

I'm not going to be a good person.

I'm not going to be a good person.

I'm not going to be a good person.

I'm not going to be a good person.

I'm not going to be a good person.

I'm not going to be a good person.

I'm not going to be a good person.

I'm not going to be a good person.

I'm not going to be a good person.

Hello, my dear.

I got you a letter.

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.

Ever since I've known who you were,

I've been trying to find out if you were going to be a good person.

I was trying to find out how you were.

I was trying to find out how you were.

I was trying to find out how you were.

I was trying to find out 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 false hope, would it?

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

So you don't.

I'm perfectly certain he didn't.

I'm looking at all the good kids.

Wow! Ready?

Ready!

Okay,nothing.

It's going to be very avoidative,

but it's going to be okay.

My coerce Alicia is supporting his teacher,

so I take one hash here and put his on top.

Oh.

No boss.

Arlo, be off then.

Yes.

Excuse me.

Have you packed your, um, things?

My things.

Yes, they're all packed.

If you leave anything, we could probably...

Send it on in a parcel?

Yes.

So, um...

I'm sorry.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

That's my address.

Lovely.

That's right.

Yes, let's.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I wonder if the railway misses us.

We never go to see it now.

We've had gym to play with.

What I don't like is I'm not waving at the 915 and sending a love to father by in.

Alright, let's start doing this again.

Hurry up.

When you get married, your bootless will come undone.

Growing up the hour, and the group will fall over it and smash his nose.

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

MUSIC

What's that mean?

I don't know.

No.

Let us go and tell Mother.

Mother, just what happens?

Hundreds and hundreds of people wait until the...

No, about 50.

About 50 then.

And it started from the audience minute.

No, it didn't.

It started from the driver.

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?

Oh.

I think that would of course snud.

What's wrong?

Morning, miss.

Morning.

Good morning, dear miss.

There are many of them.

God bless you, Dean.

The 1157 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 in a day like today, no offence.

You're not offended, are you?

I haven't taken too great a living.

I know, of course not.

Dear Mr. Parks, but on a day like what?

Oh, my daddy.

My daddy!

MUSIC

And they caught him.

Just 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?

MUSIC

MUSIC

MUSIC

The notion of a soft-hearted railroad baron will seem far-fetched 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 owners 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, one-time railroad worker, twice the socialist candidate for president.

Edith Nesbitt 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 Labour 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 him, 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.

This is PBS.