Original subtitles

[theme music]

[poignant music]

[mooing and snorting]

-[Jenny] Aw! -[kitten meows]

The mother rejected it and I need someone to look after her.

As long as your dad doesn't mind another mouth to feed.

It'll not be a cat that pushes us over the edge.

Come in, James.

-[Alderson] Blast! -Need a hand, Dad?

No, I'll manage.

She'll need feeding every four hours

and you have to keep her warm.

You have to do as James tells you.

-I promise. -Thank you.

Thought you could use cheering up this morning.

We'll barely get anything for Clive.

I only wish I could have done more.

I couldn't live with myself if the sale went ahead.

Our name would have been muck round these parts.

It may not seem like it now, but you've done us a favour.

Helen! I'm sorry I'm late.

Your dad said they'd already taken Clive away.

Look what James brought me!

Oh, look at that. So tiny. Isn't it gorgeous?

She. I'm going to call her Poppy.

That's very good of you, Herriot.

Did you buy me anything?

Oh, um... You know, I don't think I did.

All I've got is this bar of chocolate.

There's no way you'll want that.

Thank you.

Cook over-ordered again.

-Don't want it going to waste. -She's making a habit of that.

-I should be going. -Thank you!

Let's get that kitten inside. Bye, James!

-[Hugh] I'll follow you in. -OK.

James!

I, uh...

I wanted to apologise.

I never should have put you in that position over Clive.

It was stupid of me.

I understand why you felt you had to do it.

I'm just relieved something good came out of it.

-What's that? -Well, I... I had to be honest.

About a great many things.

I can't help feel it's brought Helen and I even closer together.

See you again, I'm sure.

[doorbell rings, Jess barks]

[Siegfried sneezes]

Ah! Tristan!

Take your medicine.

I've no need of the old witch's brew.

I'm in the rudest of health. A-choo!

-Morning. -Oh, thank you, Joan.

[Siegfried sneezes] Ah!

-Mmm, Glasgow? -[Siegfried] Tristan!

Has he finished that exam paper yet?

For goodness sake! You should be in bed.

I'm fine.

I got up too quickly. A little light-headed, that's all.

Let go of that armchair then.

-I don't want to. -You can't!

Preposterous.

See?

Bed, now!

Out of the question.

I have surgery today, James has a full list.

No, I... I shall just have to... soldier on.

You're a grown man. I shall say this only once more.

You need to take your medicine and rest!

Which I will do once I've completed everything else that needs to be done.

-There's only one of me, Mrs Hall. -Thank the Lord!

Tell Tristan I will be testing him later.

[slow music on radio]

-Oh, what have I done? -Nothing, I suspect.

You've had the whole summer to revise. Time's come to show us what's in that head of yours.

You've not started.

Your brother's going to want to see that done by the end of the day.

-I've been doing a lot of thinking. -What about?

What he's going to do to me when I mess it up again.

Well, that's not the attitude.

It comes with experience. Failure is like a deep hole.

When you're stuck in it, very hard to climb back out again.

-So why bother trying? -Mmm.

Come on, Tris, you're better than that.

-[Jess growls] -Jess!

I don't believe it! Get out the way.

-Hello! -Oh!

What have we here?

Oh, it must be James' birthday.

Oh, it's his first one away from home.

What, today?

I've got his details somewhere.

-Tomorrow. -We should bake him a cake.

-Yeah, and get him a present. -Yes!

-A shindig. -Tristan!

-Just close friends. -Your exams!

Don't worry. I'm on top of it.

[door opens and closes]

Quick cuppa?

I'm not really here. I'm just picking something up.

Did you stop in to comfort Helen?

Hugh's managing that quite well by himself.

You know, so long as he's around you don't stand a chance.

Thank you for stating the blindly obvious.

What you need is something to take your mind off it.

What need... is a pair of hoof clippers.

A date, tomorrow evening.

You're not really my type.

[smirks] A couple of nurses.

Nurses?

Connie and Brenda. Lovely girls.

Bright, witty, wonderful bedside manner.

-In your dreams. -You don't know the half of it.

Come on, time to look to pastures new, hmm?

Why the hell not?

Outstanding! Leave all the arrangements to me.

James, is there any chance

you might be able to run surgery today?

Sorry. I've got to get to the Rudds and across to Dinsdale's to trim some hooves.

What's wrong with Siegfried, anyway?

Absolutely nothing.

Run along, Herriot.

You're determined to go through with this.

Mrs Hall, you have to understand, I have a constitution

far more robust than most.

Unlock the door. We are open for business.

Sorry to drag you up.

I know it's busy for you this time of year.

No problem, Dick.

-Morning, Edith. -Morning.

-Morning, wee 'uns. -[children] Morning, James!

-Thank you, sister. -OK.

[cow wheezes and snorts]

Good girl, Strawberry.

-[cow wheezes] -How long's she been like this?

The wheezing come on this morning.

She's been tippling out the milk though, hasn't she, Dad?

Aye, more than any of t'others.

Has she been gulping when she eats?

Like she's struggling to swallow?

-[cow mows loudly] -Now that you mention it.

-Should we be worried? -I'm not sure yet.

You checked her over when we bought her, Mr Herriot.

-You said she were a good buy. -Leave him be, Eddie.

I did. She was.

She "was"?

-[cow wheezes] -[James] Good girl.

Good girl.

I'm just going to have a feel of your throat.

I'm worried there might be something obstructing her throat.

-I could be wrong but... -Well, what is it?

I think she might have an abscess in her respiratory tract.

An abscess! Is that all? You had me worried.

Right now, it's small. The thing is...

if it grows, I'm concerned she might not be able to breathe.

I'll give her a shot of Prontosil. Hopefully, that'll get rid of it.

And if it doesn't?

It will continue to grow.

Breathing will become increasingly difficult.

There's no need to mince your words.

We want to know how bad this could get.

If the abscess grows large enough,

it'll block the windpipe and eventually it will choke her.

She'll die?

I'm afraid so.

If you channelled half the enthusiasm you have for women into your work,

you'd sail through those exams.

Rather good though.

Don't you think?

[cat meows, bird squawks, pigeon coos]

Goodness me!

We're popular today.

Don't seem that way from where I've been sitting.

Not seen hide nor hair of Mr Farnon for over an hour.

A-choo!

Turn that bloody light off!

Mrs Hall, I think I'm dying.

[Dick] Take her inside, Albert.

[James] I'll be back up tomorrow.

With luck, it will have started to down.

Now, I'll give you this salve.

Rub it in with hot water behind the angle of the jaw,

as often as possible.

It might help just break it up.

Thanks, Jim!

Cold day like this you need something to keep you warm.

Thank you.

Our dad told us not to worry.

-Didn't he? -Yeah.

He said, "Jim Herriot will have it sorted."

I'll do everything I can.

You back to your chores then, eh?

-[children] Yes. -Bye.

Bye.

-Bye, James. -Bye.

[poignant music]

You spend your life giving out medicine.

It's time for you to take some.

[Jess barks]

-Mmm! -Now...

To bed.

I'll just take five minutes.

I think you'll be longer than that.

[pigeon cooing, dog whining]

[bird squawks]

I admire your faith in me.

It's an entirely new experience.

[sighs heavily]

[various animal noises]

You can't expect me to treat all of those.

Tell them to be on their way then.

Either you climb out of that hole of yours

or they'll chase you out.

Right, who's next?

[all clamouring, various animal noises]

Next, please.

[cat growling]

So?

Next, please.

Incoming!

Tea won't be long.

I think I much just have a bath and an early night.

Thank you though. [coughs]

You're not coming down with the flu as well?

I'm fine.

What's Tristan doing with that rabbit?

He's running surgery today.

Mr Farnon's taken to his sick bed.

I should give him a hand.

He could do with the work.

And you look like you could do with a rest.

-[sneezes] -That settles it.

-I'm making chicken broth. -It's not flu.

Well...

What is it then?

Come on, spit it out.

She's hopping along with one foot in t'air and it's all scabby underneath.

Yes, interesting.

[chicken clucks]

Come on!

Oh!

A-huh!

Well then? What would you say it is?

If you'll excuse me for a moment.

There's a piece of equipment that I suspect that I'll need for this.

Ah, bumble-foot!

Special?

I think what we're dealing with here

is a simple case of bumble-foot.

A bath in warm water and Epsom salts should do the trick.

What's that in aid of then, hmm?

Oh, this? Yes, this is just for, um...

Thank you, veterinary.

Phew!

The Rudds invested their life savings into it.

It's that family's future. I checked it over, I told them it was fit and healthy.

Well, could you have known?

The abscess developed after they bought her.

-Well... -What's this?

I recommended a cow to the Rudds.

I think it might now have a postpharyngeal abscess.

-Ouch! -Maybe Mr Farnon could think of something.

It's my responsibility. He needs to know he can rely on me.

How did you get on?

[laughs] Rather well, actually!

Oh, the difference it makes to have someone believe in you for a change.

See if you can't approach your books with the same kind of attitude.

-Oh, must I? -Knowing things is a kind of prerequisite for passing exams.

Well, it's easy for you. You read something, you remember it.

Not really. I read something, then I read it again,

then I write it down, then it falls into place.

-Well, I do that. -And?

I fall into sleep.

Well, that's what I'm about to do now.

I'm going to bed.

-Goodnight, James. -Goodnight, Jim.

Goodnight.

Well done today.

But you're not finished yet.

Number one.

-[Mrs Hall talks indistinctly] -[James coughs]

Goodnight, Siegfried.

Night? What are you talking about? What time is it?

Where is everybody? What's going on?

We said five minutes!

Feeling any better?

Marginally. Still got a splitting headache.

What an earth was in that concoction you gave me?

Whisky, ginger, honey, garlic, thyme, but mainly whisky.

What happened to all the people? Do you realise how much money we'll have lost today?

-Tristan. -Yes, well, I'm not one to brag, Siegfried, as you well know.

What's this?

Oh...

-It's Greta Garbo. -I can see that.

What's she doing on the back of the exam paper I set?

It's a scene from "Grand Hotel".

Is that supposed to be me?!

Tristan's actually been rather tied up this afternoon.

Three days you've had to do this!

Three. And this is all you can bloody manage?

Look... No, I was busy.

From the look of it, you were anything but.

Your exams are one week away.

And this is all you can do? This is it?

How on earth do you think you're ever going to be a...?

I give up.

[sighs]

It's your life, Tristan.

[birds twittering]

Uhh!

It's James' birthday.

Oh.

I've organised a bash for him at the Drover's this evening.

Um, I should have this paper finished for you by this afternoon.

I'm going to lie down on the sofa.

May I take my breakfast there?

[sighs] He can't even bring himself to shout at me.

It's like I've broken something in him.

-Good morning, Siegfried. -[Siegfried groans]

How are you today? Sit yourself down.

I can't stop. I've got to get back up to the Rudds.

[Mrs Hall] Here.

Sausage bap.

No arguments. And good luck today.

We'll be keeping everything crossed for you, Jim.

On his birthday too.

The shame of it.

Where are you off to? What about your test paper?

-Hello, James! -Morning, Edith.

I think she's getting better. Dad's been with her all night.

[cow wheezing and snorting]

Dick, you must be exhausted.

[Dick] You said to do it as often as possible.

[Dick] Have a look.

Good girl.

Good girl.

[cow snorts]

She's no better.

In fact, I'd say her breathing has got a little worse.

We'd do anything to help her, Mr Herriot. I'll stay up with Dad.

-We'll keep rubbing it if that's what's needed. -If it'll make a difference.

-We're not shy of hard work. -I know that.

-We'll not stop. -Even our Maisy will have a go!

Aye, we'll keep going, whatever it takes.

-I only wish it was that simple. -Please, Mr Herriot!

She's our Strawberry.

Jim... What'll we do?

I've got a Kaolin poultice to rub onto the throat.

-And I'll give her another injection. -And then what?

We hope. I wish I could offer more.

Aye, well, I'm not ready to give up on her.

Come on, girl.

-That's it. -Neither I am.

James, you clever boy.

What are you up to?

Trying to save James' birthday.

[coughing]

Did the Prontosil work?

[James] No, Strawberry hasn't responded to it.

There was a book on otolaryngology.

Borrowed it.

Tris, are you...

It looks like you're actually studying.

I wanted to help. Come and look here.

-These are really good, Tris. -They're just tracings.

Overlaid you can see the different arterial structures tracing down to the windpipe.

Now, where would you say the abscess is?

Right around...

here.

What as big as that?

Poor thing, she must hardly be able to breathe.

It's tucked in right behind all these major blood vessels.

-Otherwise, we might be able to get in there. -And do what?

Well, burst it.

The only good thing about the abscess being that large

is that at least it's more of a target to aim for.

I've never read or heard of anyone doing that before.

Well, the one advantage of knowing nothing is that anything seems possible.

You're suggesting an operation?

I don't see any other way of reaching the abscess.

We'd have to make an incision.

Cut down through the muscle tissue through toward the windpipe.

But I don't see how we could do it without hitting one of these major arteries.

What have we go to lose?

-What are you looking for? -Answers.

Well, you won't find any in there.

[Siegfried coughs]

Are you out of your tiny cerebellums?

It can't be done. Look at the blood vessels you'll have to navigate.

One slip, the Rudds will have to watch their prize cow

drowning in four pints of its own blood.

You seem to have perked up.

Oh, full of vim and vigour.

I checked her over. I told them the cow was a good buy.

Which must feel terrible, but you can't allow that emotion to cloud

your professional judgment.

-The cow's going to die anyway. -You'd be giving them false hope.

Not to mention putting an animal through a needless and stressful operation.

I'm sorry, my decision is final.

Then what should I do?

I'm sorry, my decision is final.

-and put the poor thing out of its misery. -It'll break their hearts.

I'm sorry. I realise that having advised them to buy her you feel responsible.

But there is nothing else to be done. You must just be honest with them.

[knocking]

-You alright, Mr Herriot. -Oh! Hello, Edith.

[cow wheezing heavily]

Jim, didn't expect you to be back so soon.

[James] No better?

What is it, lad?

I'm afraid it's the end of the road.

[poignant music]

I'm sorry, James. Did they blame you?

No.

-Which made it worse in a way. -Mmm.

Come on, let's see if we can't cheer you up, eh?

[silence, clock ticking]

[all] Happy birthday!

[laughter]

-[Siegfried] Happy birthday! -[Mrs Hall] Happy birthday!

Hooray!

Ah!

Do you want to blow your candles out?

Eh!

Very good. That's lovely.

How did you know?

Your mother.

-Oh, no. -She sent you this.

-Sorry, Jess chewed it. -Open it.

-Do I have to? -Of course!

[Mrs Hall gasps] Oh!

-[Siegfried] Lovely. Beautiful! -Go on, put it on.

No.

After all the effort your mother went to?

-[Tris] Come on. -Oh!

[laughter]

Here. It's not much, but, um, there you go.

[James coughs]

Your own veterinary bible.

Thank you.

You spoke to the Rudds, I take it?

Good man.

Worse part of the job, but a necessary one.

That's enough of that! Music!

-From me. -[James laughs]

[jazz plays]

[sighs]

-Saint Nick! -I thought it were time you had your own.

Thank you.

Happy birthday.

[girl] Tris!

Hey!

This is Jim, Brenda. This, I assume, is Connie.

You assume correct.

-Hello, Jim. -Hello.

-I'm James. You're Connie. -I know.

-We did that already. -[they laugh]

I'm James. Sorry, sorry.

-Is he stuck on a loop? -It's been a long day.

Don't let the outfit fool you. He looks quiet, but he's a devil with women.

-Known far and wide as a great lover. -A-choo!

Drinks! Let's... Shall we go through?

-I'll just run in and get Jenny. -Why don't we stop for one?

-Didn't you say it was Herriot's birthday? -OK, but embarrass me.

-And don't say anything. -And break the habit of a lifetime?

I won't! I won't! No need to give me the look.

It looks like you're taking really good care of her.

Who's this then? New girlfriend?

Uh... No.

-[doorbell rings] -Good.

[they all laugh]

I think you've got an admirer.

[Tris] No, it's her older sister you want to look out for.

She's madly in love with him.

I told you, you want to snap him up quick.

Well, I think I might have to then.

Yeah, of course, I'm not short on offers either.

I'm going to go and freshen up. Connie?

Don't go anywhere.

And I won't go anywhere either, Brenda.

Good.

-Ooh! -These need paying for.

-Well, this is fun. -Isn't it?

Here, do you want another?

[sighs] I've barely started.

Surely not today of all days?

-I didn't think you'd be here. -Happy birthday.

-Hey! -Oh, don't get too excited.

It's Highland shortbread.

I thought it'd remind you of home.

You didn't bake them, did you?

[laughs] Ow! That hurt!

-It was meant to. -Thank you and I mean it.

Presents, drinks.

That beautiful woman hanging off your every word and you're still not happy?

What is it?

Are you upset because I'm here with someone?

No, I'm really not.

Well, what you said at the fair about me being not serious, why was that?

Because you're not serious.

Good for a giggle, nowt much else.

Is that how everyone sees me?

The Rudds are a lovely family. They don't deserve it.

No one does.

-Is there nothing you can do? -There might have been.

Siegfried put the kibosh on it.

If you could have done something for Clive,

even if there were just the slightest chance, I'd have wanted you to try.

-But Siegfried... -It'll always be Siegfried.

You need to be you.

Follow your heart.

That's what got you here in the first place, isn't it?

I'd better go. Happy birthday again.

-We need to do this operation. -I'm not giving up on Strawberry.

Siegfried will kill us.

Probably.

[they laugh]

I'm starting to feel a bit sick.

-Fear or excitement? -Maybe a bit of both.

[yawns] I think it's time I found my bed.

Oh, finally, he's listening.

I'll just get James and Tristan to take this lot to the Drover's. Where is James?

He may not have been in the mood.

-Or a bit distracted. -By what?

-That cow. -Oh, he's young.

He hasn't learnt that you can't save them all.

Now, what on earth could be more important to Tristan than women?

An operation?

We're going to try to drain the abscess.

But I won't lie to you, there's a good chance it might kill her.

And if we do nothing, she'll die?

Yes.

[James] It's your cow, Dick.

I'll only do it with your say-so.

I... I'd hate for her to suffer.

Are you sure there's no other way?

We need to get in and drain that abscess.

We'll operate in here.

We're going to need more light.

Let's use our headlamps.

[Siegfried] Because I'm ill, he thinks he can take advantage.

[Mrs Hall] He's only trying to do his best.

I am the boss. I am in charge.

-He knows that. -You should be in fourth.

[Siegfried] It's too late here. It's third here.

-Don't tell me how to drive! -I'm not, but don't keep dabbing the brakes.

Really, Mrs Hall, I don't know why I'm not allowed to drive.

Cos you're ill and full of whisky.

Has it ever occurred to you other people might know what they're doing?

-They might think they do. -Without you breathing down his neck,

Tristan cleared that whole surgery.

You've got to start giving them space, both of them.

You even listening to me?

-I was. -And?

I think you should be in fourth.

[she changes gear and revs the engine]

[tyres squeal]

[Siegfried] Yes, well, you seem to have got the hang of that.

-Herriot! -Siegfried.

I gave you an instruction.

I believe I can drain the abscess. Just trust me.

-[Tris] He can do this! -How would you know?

He's been helping me.

-[Tris] He can do this! -How would you know?

I'm sorry, Mr Rudd, Edith.

James shouldn't have raised your hopes like this.

[James] I stood on this same spot six months ago now.

I pleaded with you to let me keep the job.

-I remember. You insulted me. -But you kept me on anyway.

-I assume because you saw something in me. -I did. I do!

Then trust me.

It's my practice!

It's their cow.

-Mr Rudd... -Look, if Jim thinks he can do it, Mr Farnon...

then we say, let him try.

[Strawberry breathes heavily]

It'll be a moment for the anaesthetic to take effect.

Would you like to take over?

[he sneezes] Oh!

James has done the preparation. He knows what he's doing.

Your patient, Herriot.

Stretch her head straight out and slightly back.

[Strawberry wheezes]

Right.

[surgical instruments clatter]

Deep breaths.

Retractors.

Watch the carotid.

Just above the jugular should do it.

I can't see.

I'm pushing through the muscle.

It looks good.

I can feel it!

I can't use this.

If I catch anything, it'll be over.

It doesn't have to sharp to break the surface of the abscess.

Forceps. Less chance of slicing anything on your way through.

Just go straight through the muscle.

I'm in the abscess.

It's draining.

It's clearing! I've got it!

Oh, James!

-[Tris] Oh, you've done it! -Good girl!

-Well done, old chap! -[James laughs]

-[Dick] He's done it! -[all laughing]

Good girl! Good girl!

[Tris] No one ever in the entire world

has ever, ever performed such an operation.

-Steady on! -That cow was dead and you brought it back to life.

-Tristan... -This is up there with the water into wine.

Up there with Lazarus, up there with the feeding of the 5,000.

-Those are very kind words. -All of them true.

You pulled me through, you know that?

Well, make sure that gets around.

Be nice for people to think I've done something useful for a change.

Don't worry, I'm sure Brenda knows of your heroics.

Oh! Where are they going?

Brenda!

Brenda!

[they both laugh]

-[James laughs] -Come on.

[Tris laughs]

And these gentlemen and have one yourself.

-Very kind of you, Mr Farnon. -Not at all.

So, Mr Herriot thinks he'll have a go,

opens her up on the ground right in front of us!

-I've ever seen owt like it in my life! -Lad, you never did!

If I hadn't listened to him, that cow would be on its way to the knacker's yard.

-Oh, lesson learnt perhaps. -Yes.

Flu can certainly cloud the judgment.

I'm sure I would have come to the same conclusion as Herriot,

had I been properly compos mentis.

I don't doubt it.

Nevertheless...

James.

I wanted to say... I thought I should mention...

I wasn't completely in the right today.

As close as you'll get to him admitting he were wrong.

Yes, this is me showing my soft underbelly.

There's no need to stick the knife in.

I should have listened to you the first time.

It's not the animals that cause all the bother, it's the people.

Quite right.

I'm proud of you.

In anyone else's hands that animal would have died.

It reminded me why I do this job.

And perhaps I should recognise that other people can do it too.

That means you, Tris.

I'm promoting you to senior vet.

[Ms Hall] Oh!

Congratulations!

Are you serious?

I've watched you. You've turned into a fine practitioner.

-[he gasps] -And perhaps it's a good thing

that the responsibility of the practice doesn't rest entirely on my shoulders.

No more than you deserve, Jim.

That's fantastic! I mean... I mean...

-Thank you. -Not at all.

-Will I get a pay rise? -Absolutely not.

Do you think I'm made of money?

I heard what you did at yesterday's surgery.

It's the good stuff.

Happy birthday, Mr Herriot. Good lad!

Well done, James.

You're still here. I thought you'd be long gone.

-Struggling to drive Hugh away. -Yes, another round. On me!

Come on, Maggie! Everyone, who wants a drink?

[cheering]

Jim, pint? You want a pint? Bitter, yes?

I'm, uh... Actually, go on then.

-Yeah, why not? -Good man.

-It's awful generous of him. -Hugh loves to celebrate.

-James... -Didn't realise he even knew it's my birthday.

Helen, listen, I wanted to thank you, for earlier.

I wouldn't have had the confidence to go up to Rudd's if you hadn't said what you did.

-Oh, it were nothing. James... -No, it wasn't. It was something.

God!

-OI've probably had too much.. to drink and I probably shouldn't say this...

Congratulations, love!

-Thank you, love! Appreciate it. -Eh?

I were talking to our lass, not you! Hey-hey!

-I asked you not to say anything! -Sorry!

One sniff of the barmaid's apron and he's like budgie on trill.

I'm sorry, what's happening?

Hugh asked me today.

We're getting married.

Well done! Uh...

I mean, congratulations.

-That's fantastic news. -Sorry, I was just so desperate to tell everyone.

Bitter, wasn't it, James?

That's great. Really, great news, Hugh.

Cheers! Cheers, everyone!

[all] Cheers!

[poignant music]

[horses' hooves clicking]

-Evening, Mr Herriot. -Evening.

Shall we?

[Siegfried whistles a tune]

[theme music]