Original subtitles

Gosh.

The Germans almost reached Paris.

They're doing terribly well.

They're not doing so well here.

I've had a letter from Daddy.

He's interrogated a captured German patrol near Voi,

who were furious that they were caught

because they were using a British map

and it was 7 miles wrong.

Serves them right.

Is Daddy quite safe?

Yes. I think he is.

Elspeth.

I think I really must do something

to help the war effort.

And they need volunteers urgently

in the hospital in Nairobi.

But what about here?

Well, the coffee's all planted.

Sammy can perfectly well cope.

It's what to do with you, really.

Oh, I'll be all right.

I can't leave you here alone.

I could sleep over at the Nimmos'.

Mrs. Nimmo's coming to the hospital, too.

Anyway...

we really must do something about your education.

And the Robinsons have kindly offered to have you.

Not the Pig Robinsons.

You mustn't call them that.

Mr. Robinson

is quite an important businessman in Nairobi.

-Boxwallah! -Elspeth!

They're really very nice.

And they've got a governess.

Don't want to go a bit.

Well, you must blame the kaiser.

It's all his fault.

Must I?

I'm afraid so, darling.

But it won't be for very long.

The war will be over quite soon. I'm sure.

Supposing the Germans win.

I don't know.

I mean, they won't, anyway.

Where was the Field of the Cloth of Gold?

Violet.

Um...

somewhere in Italy?

MISS RAYMOND: No.

Margaret?

-Anyone? -Calais.

It was where King Henry VIII of England

and King Francis I of France met in 1520.

Correct, Elspeth.

Which English queen put another queen to death?

Queen Elizabeth put Mary Stuart to death in 1587.

Correct.

I can see Elspeth is going to keep us all on our toes.

And now let us look for a moment at the 17th century.

A very different matter.

The Stuart dynasty.

Now, then. Susan.

Who was King James I's only son?

He was beheaded in Whitehall.

Oh. Charles I.

Yes.

-Good. -Excuse me.

Not his only son.

He had an elder brother, Prince Henry, who died in 1612.

Well! We are Miss Know-All, aren't we?

And when you address me, you refer to me as Miss Raymond.

Yes, Miss Raymond.

Now we'll see how good your Latin is.

I'm afraid I haven't done any Latin, Miss Raymond.

My mother does not think it's necessary.

Well, I consider it not only necessary, but essential.

Even mission-school children learn Latin.

We won't hold up the others now,

but perhaps you'd copy out the first declension

after your rest hour this afternoon.

And, Elspeth, don't loll about in your chair.

And before you come to class,

make an effort to tidy yourself.

Look at your hair.

And your hands!

We try to look like young ladies in this household.

Yes, Miss Raymond.

-SUSAN: Wasn't. -VIOLET: Yes, it was.

-Ask Margie. -Margie doesn't know anything.

Oh, shut up and go away, please.

Don't you talk to my sister like that,

stupid, dirty little beast.

First thing you do is to put Miss Raybum in a bate.

Miss Know-all.

She smells.

She stinks like a native.

Natives don't smell!

-Of course they do. -They don't.

-Most of my friends are natives. -No wonder.

You're just like one.

That's why her hair is all slimy and horrible.

Ugh!

-ELSPETH: Get off! -SUSAN: Shut up, you beast!

-Horrible little girl. -Come on, Margie! Help!

Oh! Quite vicious, isn't she?

Miss Know-all.

Get off!

-VIOLET: Shut up. -SUSAN: Ugh!

I don't like to touch her, really.

Skipping rope.

No!

ELSPETH: Get off!

SUSAN: Tie.

That'll teach you.

VIOLET: Go on, you little beast.

In you go.

Ha!

SUSAN: If you scream or anything,

we'll come back and kill you.

Oh, no, no, Lettice, dear. Not like that.

Well, let's get it straight, then.

Oh!

Oops.

Oh!

Oh, my goodness!

I'm not destined to be one of the world's great bed makers.

MATRON: Please! Ladies!

This is not a coffee morning at the club.

May I remind you that you have volunteered to come here

to help in the war effort?

When you have finished the beds, the floor needs doing,

and there are still plenty of mosquito nets

to be mended in the linen room.

Well!

I must say, I resent being treated like a dirty skivvy.

Me, who was a nursing sister in the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

We volunteered to nurse casualties from the front.

As there aren't any, or likely to be any,

why don't we un-volunteer?

We'd be much better employed on our farms,

growing vegetables and making jam --

things that are really short.

Hooray!

Matron! Here's your first un-volunteer.

-

Thanks.

You all right?

Where are they?

Gone riding.

What are you going to do?

Go and find my mother.

You mean run away?

Gosh. I wish I dared.

Good luck.

Thanks, Margie.

Bye.

Sorry I kicked you.

I didn't mean to.

upon this happy day

MARY: Come on along, then, you lovely lads!

-Come and get it. -MAN: And what's that?

Some lovely white bread.

-Is that all you're offering? -Ah, listen.

It's as clean and white as anything

was ever baked in my father's bakery in Wexford town.

MAN: And where the hell's Wexford town, eh?

MARY: Ah, I shut to you. That's fighting talk.

Come on, now. Come on.

-CONJURER: All right? -MAN #2: All right.

Say "stop."

MAN #2: Stop.

CONJURER: 10 of diamonds.

-MAN #2: How did you do it? -

Hello.

Do you always walk around with an egg behind your ear?

There is one.

Let's see if we can get it.

-IAN: Elspeth!

Ian.

Hello.

-Are you in the Army? -Yes, I am.

Corporal, Bowker's Horse.

On our way down south to the Kilimanjaro front.

-What are you doing? -Oh.

Just going back to Thika.

My father's down at Voi.

If you see him, give him our love.

Yes, I will.

Elspeth...

will you take this?

It's made from the hairs of a lion's tail.

He was a brave fellow.

One of the bravest I've ever come across.

MAN: Fall in, Three Troop Bowker's Light Horse!

Three Troop Bowker's!

-I must go. -MAN: Three Troop Bowker's!

Fall in!

Good luck.

MAN #2: Mary!

-How on earth?! -MARY:

Jambo.

Jambo.

Hapana. Asante sana.

Elspeth!

What on earth have you been doing?!

Sorry.

I've been absolutely frantic about you. Everyone has.

The Robinsons never stop telegraphing.

-I was just going to the police. -I'm sorry.

As if there isn't enough to worry about

with Daddy at the war.

I mean, why did you run away?

It was awful.

Why weren't you at the hospital?

TILLY: Have you been fighting?

You're all scratched and bruised.

I fell over.

What was so awful, then?

Oh, everything.

I hated it!

They made me do Latin.

Well, you'll have to do Latin when you go to a proper school.

But the Robinsons' wasn't a proper school.

No. Well?

Oh, need I go back?

Now you're here.

Go and get clean.

And write a letter of apology to Mrs. Robinson.

Oh, no. Better still, I'll telegraph.

What I'll say, Lord knows.

But you still write that letter!

MRS. NIMMO:

Mind you fingers with that knife.

"...quarters and boil for one hour and allow to cool.

When cool, remove pulp and shred the peel.

Then add 1 pound of sugar to every pound of puree

and boil for further half-hour."

Are you sure you need so much sugar, Maggie?

Oh, yes.

This recipe came to me from my grandmother,

who was famous for her marmalade all over Edinburgh.

She had it from her mother,

who was housekeeper at Abbotsford.

Sir Walter Scott himself loved the stuff.

He said it eased

-the cramps in his stomach. -Oh.

Well...

here goes.

That's it.

Do you think we're going to have enough jars?

Ah.

I read somewhere that you can make jars from old bottles.

You tie twine around the neck.

Then you set fire to it.

Then you plunge the bottle into cold water.

Let's give it a try, then.

What on earth is that?

How did that get there?

That is what I'm asking you, Juma.

Perhaps it fell from the ceiling.

Ew.

Is that the custom in this kitchen?

Do rats fall every day from the ceiling,

or do they jump up from the floor?

Rats come to sugar like brides to a rich man.

I have told the memsaab she must build a new kitchen

as big and fine as the stables she builds for her horses,

but she does not listen.

So how can I keep the rats out?

Well, you can get rid of this one, for a start.

And then throw away the marmalade.

Throw away all this good sugar?

Do as I say.

Ugh!

Oh!

Now pour the rest away.

-LETTICE: Oh! -Oh.

LETTICE: I've cut myself.

Throw away good marmalade?

-TILLY: Oh!

Lettice has cut her finger!

Well, it's those wretched bottles.

Look, look! You're bleeding into the marmalade!

You should add that to your grandmother's recipe.

It's very strengthening and improves the flavor no end.

Come in, Lettice, I'll tie it up for you.

Blood all over the place.

And rats!

-Most unhygienic. -Rats?

In the marmalade.

Oh.

May I have one of your cigarettes?

Of course.

-Oh. -Here. Let me.

Hereward left me pages and pages of things to do on the farm.

But I haven't done any of them.

I'm useless.

What am I to do, Tilly?

You know what I think.

I know.

It just seems so ridiculous.

Just a few short weeks ago,

I was all ready to run away with Ian and abandon Hereward.

Now Ian's off chasing Germans...

if they're not chasing him,

and Hereward's in France, determined to become a hero.

Of course, it's Ian I shall wait for.

But I know Hereward will pay us out.

Poor Hereward.

Life is nothing to him.

He will discard it,

and we will have him with us for the rest of our lives.

Every time we open a cupboard,

we will see this skeleton...

quietly standing there to attention.

Why do all the men

so desperately want to become soldier boys?

Don't know.

Alec Wilson's rushed off to Nairobi to join up.

Even Robin is busy being quite bellicose.

All this sword sharpening is most unlike him.

Once they hear the trumpets,

they seem to be drawn like a magnet.

Thank you, Tilly.

Without you, I couldn't stick it out here.

Oh, silly.

It's true.

Now all I have are my little dogs and my piano.

And Ian.

-ELSPETH: Hello, Alec. -Elspeth.

What are you doing?

Well, I'm going to have an orange shamba of my own.

Splendid!

Then you can sit at dusk,

with hummingbirds flying 'round your head.

And I will come and play the dulcimer.

Are you going to be a soldier?

No.

The idiots in Nairobi turned me down.

Said I was more use as a farmer.

The war's nearly over, anyway.

Isn't it?

Far from it.

The Germans have given us a good hiding

at a hill called Longido in the south.

I hope my father's all right.

Oh. I think so.

What is that you have made, memsaab ndogo?

It is a hill with Germans on it.

Germany?

Eh, they are bad men.

Have you no guns?

Yes, but I've run out of ammunition.

You must take your sword

and run over them and slit their stomachs,

and they will die like this.

Huh?

I think it would be best for you to tell her.

Oh, yes.

Yes, yes. Of course I will, Alec.

It's rather late tonight.

Time doesn't matter much anymore.

No. I suppose not.

Try not to fret.

All the king's horses and all the king's men --

I say.

What a delicious smell.

TILLY: I expect it's our marmalade.

ALEC: It smells just like a lovely liqueur.

-I hope I haven't distilled it. -

Chin up.

-Bye, Alec. -ALEC: Bye, Elspeth.

-Goodbye, Alec. -ALEC: Bye, Tilly.

Are you coming for our evening ride?

No, not today, darling.

Why don't you go without me?

Or sit down and read a book or something?

Go and see how George and Mary are.

Elspeth.

I'm afraid Ian Crawford has been killed.

Oh.

How awful.

TILLY: Yes.

On that hill?

Yes.

Longido.

It's horrid for us, but it's...

It will be even worse for poor Lettice.

Yes.

TILLY: You see...

Ian was really the Palmers' friend.

ELSPETH: Mm.

I think we ought to ask Lettice to stay if she wants.

Yes, of course.

Would you ask Njombo to get my pony ready?

I think I better go over myself.

He found you in Abyssinia.

He gave you to me.

Remember?

Well, she belonged to a ras, who is a kind of prince.

It's made from the hairs of a lion's tail.

He was a brave fellow.

One of the bravest I've ever come across.

MAN: Fall in, Three Troop Bowker's Light Horse!

-Three Troop Bowker's! -I must go.

Oh, well.

He was a hero, Moyale.

I shall go back to England as quickly as possible...

...and take the dogs with me.

And then bring them back again?

If I come back.

But you can't not come back.

This may seem like home to you,

but I don't really belong here.

It's a cruel country that takes your heart

and grinds it into powdered stone.

And no one minds.

But what will happen to your farm?

Stop asking so many questions.

If she doesn't ask questions, how will she find things out?

Anyway, it's past your bedtime.

Will you come and say good night to me?

Please, Lettice.

Yes.

Hello.

Would you like me to read something to you?

ELSPETH: No. Thank you very much.

You're too big to be read to, really.

Yes.

Well, good night.

Sleep well.

I've got something for you.

Me?

Not an animal, I hope.

It's not mine, really.

It was something I was given.

But if it was given to you, then it is yours.

But -- But I think it was really meant for you.

It's made of lion's hair -- from the tail.

-How did you... -Ian gave it to me.

I met him on the station in Nairobi.

Do you want it?

He was very happy.

One of his men was a jolly good conjurer.

Daddy!

And...

Oh, they're marvelous!

-I shall start a collection. -ROBIN:

How long have you got?

Till tomorrow.

-Tomorrow? -Yes.

You see, I've orders to join my old battalion in France.

This business out here is really only a sideshow.

My ship sails on Wednesday.

-What about the farm? -ROBIN: All organized.

And Elspeth and me?

You're on a waiting list for a passage home.

Shouldn't take too long.

And I saw Alec at the Blue Posts,

and between him and the major,

they're going to keep an eye on Sammy and the farm

till we come back.

How I hate this beastly war.

Who doesn't?

You don't -- not really.

You love playing soldiers.

No.

But it's better to face up to these things...

especially if they're inevitable.

But I do absolutely hate leaving you and Elspeth...

and this place...

...which we've made together...

...and put so much of ourselves into.

We must come back.

Yes, of course.

It seems so silly when they need food so badly,

they don't make you stay on as a farmer.

-What on earth's that? -

Oh, my God! It's the marmalade.

It must be fermenting.

-

Oh!

-

What a marvelous weapon.

Don't tell the Germans.

Keep them together!

It does seem unfair.

It's the same for everyone.

Everyone European, that is.

Half the cattle and all the riding ponies

to be requisitioned for the war -- government order.

All ponies?

Not Moyale.

Well, perhaps we could cheat with Moyale.

After all, she's much too fat to be of any use.

-She's not fat! -

I'll put her down as Robin's personal charger.

But Robin's already on his way home.

Yes.

But they're not to know that.

Have no fear, memsaab ndogo,

about your father's shamba.

We will look.

We will look...

until all the German are killed.

Then, about your white pony...

And Njombo will see to him.

When you return from Europe,

you'll see him big, strong,

like a buffalo.

Asante sana.

WOMAN: Asante.

-WOMAN: Mm-hmm. -KUPANYA:

You must take this to Europe and wear for us.

These beads, like our people,

are blue -- men -- and white -- women --

and, between white and blue, the children.

Eh?

Then when you go Europe and...

wear it, eh,

you -- Always, you'll come back to greet us.

-Deal? -ELSPETH: Mm-hmm.

Good!

Deal.

No. Thank you.

The traveler don't give the present for people who stay.

You traveler.

Asante sana.

-ELSPETH: Asante sana.

ELSPETH: Asante sana.

-ELSPETH: Asante.

-Asante sana.

Asante sana.

Eh?

Oh, Moyale, I do so wish.

Wish I could stay here with you and all my friends.

Which one's George, and which one's Mary?

I'm never quite sure,

but I think that's George there,

because he looks so smug and pleased with himself.

They're really no trouble.

You can talk to them for hours,

and they'll never get cross or answer back.

I'll be back. I promise.

If you want to be sure you'll come back,

you must kiss all the four walls

of the living room before you go.

-Really? -ALEC: Mm.

Sammy. What's this?

That is Juma's luggage.

Juma?

He is going with you.

Juma?

Check this for me, will you?

Yes, memsaab.

-Juma. -

Juma, Sammy tells me you think you're coming with us.

Yes, of course, memsaab. I'm your cook.

I'm sorry, Juma.

I'm afraid you cannot come.

You see, Europe is many...

It's thousands of miles away

and very cold.

I do not mind that.

I won't need a cook there so much.

We have cooks in Europe.

But I am your cook!

I'm sorry, Juma.

But everything's different.

The houses are different. I don't know where you'd sleep.

Are there not kitchens in Europe?

I don't even have a house in Europe.

I'm sorry, Juma.

Truly, you cannot come.

So, that's how you treat me...

because I'm black.

-Toothbrush? -Yes.

-Hairbrush? -Yes.

That's all right, then.

Now, don't you worry about the farm.

Thank you, Alec.

Dear Alec.

-Goodbye. -Goodbye.

-ELSPETH: Bye, Alec. -Mwah!

Goodbye.

You take care.

Say hello to England for me.

ELSPETH: Yes, I will.

Goodbye, Maggie.

-Come back soon, Tilly. -Take care of yourself.

I will.

ELSPETH: Goodbye, Mrs. Nimmo.

Be a good girl, dear.

-ELSPETH: Yes. -I shall miss you.

I shall, really.

Take care.

-Safe journey, memsaab. -Thank you, Sammy.

-Goodbye. -Goodbye.

Goodbye, Moyale.

Be a good girl, and I'll come back soon.

I promise.

Goodbye, Njombo.

No. No, I couldn't.

Thank you.

-Kwaheri, memsaab ndogo. -Kwaheri.

Kwaheri ya kuonana.

Goodbye, Njombo.

Goodbye, memsaab.

Well, now, are we all set?

Oh. Sorry.

I've forgotten something.

-

-MRS. NIMMO: Goodbye, Tilly. -TILLY: Goodbye, Maggie.

Alec.

Bye, Njombo.

Goodbye, Sammy.

All this luggage!

I can't find my hankie.

Mummy.

Mummy, Mummy!

Look over there!