Original subtitles

♪ The Wind in the Willows

♪ Sang softly to me

♪ Follow my voice

♪ Wherever it leads

♪ From mountains, through valleys

♪ To deep rolling seas

♪ Born on the wings of the breeze ♪

It wasn't far from being spring.

True, only the bravest flowers were pushing through,

the celandine and the snowdrop in the moist hedge bottoms,

but somehow the air was different,

no longer cramping cold,

but carrying what was almost a taste of hope.

The willows by the river's edge were an "are they, aren't they?" green

with buds that showed a fatness full of promise.

Down in the snugness of Mole End, Mole felt the stirring, too,

and found the heart for baking.

But no sooner had the butter, flour and eggs and sugar been taken out of store

than Mole heard noises from above.

Hello? Was that a car?

Toad.

No, not Toad! There's no poop-poop and there always is with Toad!

Who can it be?

Well, one way to find out. I'll go and see.

Yes? What can I...

Oh, you!

What a wonderful surprise!

Oh, Cousin Mole. How kind you are. How good to see you, too.

Come in, come in!

I'm afraid the place is a mess as usual. I'm baking a batch of scones.

The place, my modest cousin, is perfect!

Well! Can you stay?

I wouldn't want to be a nuisance.

I'm not the best of company just now.

Oh, nonsense, Auberon. I'll make a cup of tea.

Then we'll get your bags and sit and chat...!

- Oh, it IS good to see you! - Oh, Mole!

What did you mean, you're not the best of company?

Well, I'm not.

I'm rather low. The fact is, Cousin, I'm a failure.

You? A failure?

It's my latest play. It WAS my latest play.

It opened in the West End last week. The critics absolutely hated it.

Audiences thought they wouldn't bother and it's coming off.

- Oh, Auberon. - Eight months' work down the drain.

It'll come back. You'll see!

No, Mole, it won't. I'm beginning to think the critics might be right.

"Lacks the vital spark." "Renowned playwright fails."

"A tedious evening was had by all."

Oh, I say!

- Just don't seem to have it in me. - Oh, dear.

- Aunt Alfreda's efforts haven't helped. - Your aunt? What's she been doing?

Giving dinners, throwing parties, trying to brighten my spirits.

Ohh! Nearly driven me out of my mind!

Oh, Cousin. What you need is peace and quiet.

And a scone and another cup of teal

Now, let me see...

A large country house in...

Oh, no.

That's rubbish!

Oh, come on, Auberon! Come on.

When the curtains open, we...

Where's my inspiration gone?

Concentrate, man, concentrate.

Now what comes next?

Cast List.

I haven't even got a cast. Oh, dear.

Well, no wonder you slept late, Auberon.

It must have been three in the morning when I found you.

- Oh, I must be a great nuisance to you. - Nonsense.

Besides, I'm glad that you felt like writing again.

If only I had been! But nothing came. No ideas, no lines. Nothing.

You mustn't expect too much, too soon.

Just a little peace and quiet and...

- Blow! Who's that? - One of your friends.

- Oh, dear. Do you mind if I...? - Of course not, Mole.

- Do go and let the poor chap in. - Oh, well.

Coming!

- Ratty! - Hello, Mole, old chap!

Come in, Ratty, do! My cousin Auberon's visiting.

Yes, I know.

- Delighted to meet you again. - Ratty. A great pleasure.

- You know, Ratty? - Otter saw the car outside Mole End.

Oh. Oh, well. Jolly nice to see you, Ratty.

- Would you like a...? - I've been scribbling some little songs.

Really only ditties.

I wondered if you'd be so kind as to look them over

and let me have the benefit of your literary experience?

- Well, the fact is that Auberon... - Of course I will.

That's very kind of you. I... Oh, dear. I must have left them in my coat pocket.

Oh, Auberon. You don't have to.

- I'll explain you need peace and quiet. - No, Mole.

Any friend of yours is a friend of mine.

- Ssh. - Here we are.

You see, I've written this little poem.

It's... Well, it's about the river, actually.

-Oh? - I's a favourite subject with me.

Well, look, perhaps we could sit down?

Ahh, so he IS visiting his cousin.

Good, good.

Ha ha! Always nice to have a fellow spirit to share a good book with.

"Begirt with British or Armoric knights,

"men all who since, Baptiz'd or Infidel,

"jousted in Aspramont or Montalban,

"Damasco or Morocco or Trebisond,

"or whom Biserta sent from Afric shore

"When Charlemagne with all his peerage fell

"by Fontarabbia!"

Ahh! What a way with words John Milton had. Eh?

Mmm? Oh, yes. Yes, indeed.

Sets me in mind of Marlowe with his mighty line.

You'll have a final cup of tea before you go, Badger?

Er...go, Mole?

Well, Auberon's been a little... off-colour lately.

- No! Really, Mole. I... - And he needs a lot of rest.

Oh.

Oh, I see. Well, I'm sorry.

No intention of forcing myself upon you.

- You haven't at all. - It isn't that.

Oh, no, no. I quite understand. Quite understand.

Don't want to be jawed at by an old badger.

- Oh, Badger. Do have a cup of... - No, thank you, Mole.

I really mustn't stay. I've got things to do myself.

So, well...I'll say goodbye, then.

Goodbye, then, Badger.

- I've enjoyed... - I'll see myself out. I know the way.

Good evenin' to you.

Oh, dear.

I'm afraid his feelings have been hurt.

-I only... - You only did it out of kindness, Mole.

And Badger's kind, too. He'll understand. In a day or two it'll all be forgotten.

I do hope so. And you do need peace and quiet.

Yes, I suppose I do.

Neither of us is getting much of that. Are we?

No. No.

- Mole! - Oh, no!

- What's that, old chap? - I think it's Toad.

Oh, dear. Three days you've been here now and every day someone...

Don't worry, Mole. I'm almost glad of it.

There's not a single line I want to keep. Not an idea.

- Oh, Auberon. - Hello? Hello?

- Hello, Mole! Can I come in? - Yes, do come... Oh, you have.

Hello, Mole! Auberon, my dear fellow! I heard you were here.

My dear Toad.

- How do you do? - That car could do with a wash.

- Really? - My Rolls Royce is gleaming!

Hmm. I must get my man to see to it.

Mmm. Oh, yes. I say!

I couldn't help noticing the reviews for your play.

- Ah, yes. -Toad...

Phew! They really gave it what for, eh?

-Yes... - "Lacks the vital spark."

- Toad... - "A tedious evening"!

By Jove! That must have set you back on your heels!

- Yes, Toad. It has, rather. - Toad! Will you have a cup of tea?

I say, Mole. No need to shout.

Will you have a cup of tea and a buttered scone?

A good idea, Mole. Thank you. You haven't got any upside down cake?

- I'll see. Tea, Auberon? - Please.

I reckon I could write a jolly good play if I set my mind to it.

- Oh, really, Toad? - Well, yes.

- I's only writing down what people say. -Well...

Yes, I suppose so.

Yes. And a chap with my abilities ought to be able to do THAT.

- I say, are you all right? - Oh, yes. Yes.

Yes.

In fact, I thought... Will you be here tomorrow?

Well, yes, I think so.

Good. I thought I might just knock off a little drama this afternoon.

And then you could have a look at it tomorrow.

Love to. Ahem. Love to.

Oh, good. I wonder which would be the best theatre for it.

- It would need to hold a lot of people. - Of course!

Mole, good job you've done that tea. Your cousin here has an awful cough.

Oh, dear. Auberon, are you...?

Oh, I see.

Em, look, Toad, do have a home-made cherry scone.

Ah, thank you, Mole.

I was just telling your cousin about my plans for becoming a famous playwright.

Oh, Toad...

Well, well, well. Good to hear that he's so much lifted in spirits.

Yes, isn't it? I never realised poor Auberon was so low. Stupid of me.

Oh, I'm sorry, Mole. Do go on. What else does he say about his new play?

Em, where was I? "Rehearsals have gone exceedingly well.

"The central character is a delight. I could walk on air."

Ah, here we are. "Little did I know when I fled to you for comfort

"just how much inspiration I would find

"among the peaceful joys of the river bank

"and your own warmth and hospitality."

- Hear, hear. Quite right, too. - I don't know about that.

Now, "Please remember me to Rat and Badger,

"those honest, sturdy companions.

"And, of course, to Toad,

"the sine qua non of all my new-found hopes."

Sine qua non, Badger?

Latin, Latin. "Without which, nothin'." The essential ingredient.

Really'? Why should Toad be a sine qua whatsit?

Well, no idea, Ratty.

No idea.

My apologies, Mole. Do carry on.

That's it, really.

"Always your grateful and twice as cheerful cousin, Auberon."

His stay has done him the world of good. Maybe it was your upside down cake!

Oh, speaking of upside down cake...

Speaking of upside down cake, here's Toad.

I'll go and let him in. I think I left the catch on.

Ah, well, it's been a peaceful mornin' so far.

Yes, Badger. Can't have everything we want, can we?

- Hello, you chaps! - Hello, Toad.

- I say, have you seen The Times? - Er, no, I don't think we have.

- Of course, I do like to start the day... - By reading the paper in bed.

Yes. No!

- Oh, I say, Badger! - What is it, Toad?

It's my old friend, Auberon.

- You mean Mole's cousin Auberon? - Well, yes.

- He is all right? - Absolutely. I's his new play.

- Oh, dear. - No, it's an absolute triumph!

- Triumph?! - Yes, listen to this.

"If Mr Auberon Mole's last play was a trough in his writing career,

"this new comedy 'Oh, Jeremy!' must be the peak."

Oh, how wonderful!

- Ssh-ssh-ssh! Do listen. - Sorry.

"This account of a bumptious provincial playwright

"received the accolade from the opening night audience

"and demands it from your humble critic."

Oh, Auberon!

"Above all, the richness of the central character deserves our admiration.

"Jeremy Scribbles is a conceited country squire."

I say, Badger. Who does that remind you of?

Country squire!

"Whose dilettante nature makes him now chemist, now racing driver,

"now photographer, now flyer.

"And, in a final attack of conceit, a playwright!"

It's jolly good.

"The consummately-crafted believableness

"of this unbelievable character is inspiring

"and makes one wonder if he could have been drawn from life."

I wonder!

That's hardly likely, is it?

Really.

"Oh, Jeremy!' brings to the West End a combination of hilarity, eccentricity,

"pure farce and yet affection that will not be matched for many a year."

- There! - Oh, that's wonderful.

- It certainly is! - Yes!

I mean, a conceited country squire!

How silly!

Now a photographer, now a flyer...

Oh, Jeremy!

Oh, Toad!

Oh, yes!

♪ Spin me a dream

♪ Woven silver and gold

♪ From sunshine and shadows

♪ And days long ago

♪ Where people are memories

♪ And stories unfold

♪ Willows

♪ The tales you have told me

♪ Wind in the Willows

♪ You just seem to know

♪ Who you can tum to

♪ And which way to go

♪ To unwind your wondrous mind

♪ Wind in the Willows

♪ Take me there ♪