All Creatures Great and Small (1978–1990): Season 6, Episode 8 - Mending Fences - full transcript

Goodbye, Mrs Stubbs.
Thank you, Mr Stubbs. It'll keep us going.

You're stupid. Anyone knows Flaxton line
is failing - it's diluted with racing blood.

- Good for speed, but no strength.
- You listen to the gossip you want to hear.

You'll get inbred foals that will break their
legs on their first cross-country fence.

If you considered for one moment
the real qualities of my Mallow…

- I have.
- In that case, you must realise

that King of Flaxton is the perfect stallion
to have covered her.

(woman) You're ignorant
as well as stubborn.

- Oh, good morning, Siegfried.
- Morning to you both.

Don't you think it's idiocy
for this man to have Mallow…

This woman, Siegfried…

And a very good morning it is
to be at peace with the world.

- I couldn't agree more. Shall we walk on?
- Why not?

What about your mare? Siegfried,
can you think of any rational explanation

for having her mare Jollity visit that
effete creature from Lord Halton's stud?

The wind's brought down a bough off
one of the oaks in the spinney down there.

Somebody ought to do
a bit of surgery on it.

You two should ride down and decide
whose responsibility it is.

- Everything in that spinney is mine.
- Is mine.

I refuse to be dragged into a quarrel
from the mists of time.

You made him angry.

If you jeopardised his willingness
to care for my horses…

It was I who first
introduced him to you.

Oh, yes? When he first arrived here
I distinctly remember your saying:

"Who can take seriously a vet
with a name like Siegfried?"

I haven't time to argue.
I'm going to look at my oak.

- My oak. I'm coming with you.
- All right.

Last one round the Sowerby Stump
is a sissy.

Ah, now that smells good. Not the first
of Kit Bilson's new bacon, is it?

- I'm surprised you can smell it after this.
- Fresh air, darling. Clears the tubes.

Ah…

Pig men get very sentimental about their
stock. You can taste it in the bacon.

All those titbits they put in the feed
comes out in the flavour.

The worms in Darrowby churchyard
will be saying that about you one day.

- Don't worry. Take it as a compliment.
- Charming. Put me right off.

You needed slowing down. You were
going at it like one of Bilson's best.

I have been up since five o'clock.

I've delivered twin lambs by Caesarean
on an empty stomach…

- You've been absolutely wonderful.
- Gosh, thanks.

Just don't give yourself indigestion
and suffer all through morning surgery.

For which I'll be late.
What else have you got for me?

Jack Scott rang. Said would you go up
after surgery. He thinks it's peritonitis.

Not likely to be wrong, is Jack.

And Jenny Garston would like you
to look at her pregnant mare.

Now, that's interesting. If her mare foals
at the same time her daughter gives birth,

which do you think she'll attend?

Sorry, darling. He's aggressive,
stubborn and relentlessly vindictive.

It's a blessed miracle that none of it
has rubbed off on Geoffrey.

You're talking about
a stranger to me, Mother.

I've never known David be anything but
kind, gentle and considerate.

Best thing Geoffrey ever did was insist
your uncle renovated that cottage

so you two could live in the house.

That was David's idea and you know it.

I don't trust him.
That's all. I just don't trust him.

Oh, thank you, darling.

Don't you think he might have grown up
since you were at primary school?

He may be able to give
the impression of maturity,

but, believe me, deep down… I know.

I did hope that when the baby was born
you might be able to bury the hatchet.

You're not a bad old Master, are you?

Take him in to cool off
before you take him out into the field.

- How's Jollity today?
- Oh. (laughs)

How the two pregnant mares
like to compare notes.

James is coming to examine her
this morning.

She looks a perfectly content
expectant mother.

- And so do you.
- I just wish it was all over.

Oh, darling. Now, don't worry.

Mrs Brown has brought most of
the Darrowby children into this world -

without too much trouble, so far as I hear.

David's convinced I'm going to foal
at the same time as his Mallow.

Oh, sentimental old fool.

She could make it triplets. (laughs)

You've ridden him into the ground, Uncle.

- We met your mother-in-law.
- What does her horse look like?

How that woman could have bred a
sensible girl like your Elizabeth beats me.

Oh, hell.

Oh, my God. What on earth happened?

We got to the gate at Sowerby Stump
simultaneously.

And you're both too pigheaded
to give way.

I'm afraid so. Poor old boy.
That's gonna need stitching.

I suppose I'd better telephone Siegfried.

Try James first, will you?

- But Mitch is Siegfried's patient.
- We ran into him up at Highbeck.

He witnessed the build-up.
He won't have much sympathy.

By God, James!

For the life of me, I've just been converted
to the survival of the village stocks.

- Oh? Why?
- David Rayner and Jenny Garston.

What on earth
does one do with them? Hm?

Two otherwise perfectly sensible people!

Who separately run admirable farms,

who each contribute handsomely
to the life of the community,

and yet - and yet! -

when they confront each other
they both behave like ridiculous children.

You'd put David and Jenny
in the stocks together?

James, desperate measures!
Something's got to be done about them.

For heaven's sake, they're going to share
the same grandchild in a week's time.

And the stocks will prevent them
from tearing it apart?

"Listen to the next instalment
of The Wisdom of Siegfried."

I'm going to Highbeck later.
I'll suggest it to Jenny.

She'll be happy
you're taking it all so seriously.

- I'm not in any mood for levity.
- (phone rings)

Are you in the mood for that?
I've got to start surgery.

(James) Good morning.

Darrowby 385.

No, Mr Herriot's taking surgery
at the moment.

Oh. Geoffrey.

Good morning, Mr Farnon.

Not much good about it any more, Geoff.
Still, that's not your fault.

Let's see the damage.

He caught the hinge spike on that narrow
gate at Sowerby Stump, apparently.

Racing with Mrs Garston, eh?

Where's the culprit?
Gone to ground, I bet.

Over at the cottage taking a bath.
Feeling stiff after his ride, he said.

Let me at him with a humane killer,
I'll give him stiff.

Hello? Jenny?

- Ah, James.
- Hello.

Sorry I'm late. Early call at Tom Maxwell's
turned into an emergency. Full operation.

- No problem, I hope.
- No. Twin lambs.

Safely delivered
by Caesarean section.

But ever since I'm late
for every appointment.

- Right. How is she?
- Come and have a look.

- I think she's fine.
- Good.

(horse whinnies)

Well, she couldn't be
anywhere better.

- This is still Tony Binns' work, is it?
- Mm.

What a boon he's turned out. When you
think what a tearaway he used to be.

Credit to you for spotting the potential
and for taking him on.

No, it was your idea, James. He's got real
purpose now. I'm teaching him to ride.

- Anything wrong?
- A bit pale. Anaemic, I think.

- She eating all right?
- As far as I can see.

She was out this morning looking fine.
I only brought her in for you to examine.

- I think you should keep her in.
- All right.

Monitor her feeding carefully.
Supplement it with bran mash.

OK. But there's no problem?

She's never been a problem before,
has she?

She's the perfect brood mare.

This will be number six,
and she's already given me Master.

Yes. Pulse is a bit fast.

I'll give her a vitamin injection for now,
but do keep her in…

- (carhorn)
- ..and keep her warm.

Mother!
We're going to be late!

Won't be a moment.
It's all birth around here today.

We're just taking the family crib
to the nursing home.

- Nurse Brown. Midwife in a million.
- Oh…

I spoke to Helen.
She's coming with us for old times' sake.

- She's probably feeling broody.
- What?

(both laugh)

- Jenny, you don't have to wait for me.
- Thanks.

By the way, James, I think I may have
helped upset Siegfried this morning.

It's nothing serious.

He is going to ask the parish to put
you and David in the stocks, that's all.

James, David's antipathy towards me puts
you professionally in a difficult situation.

No. No! We…
We cope in our own way.

I admire the way you look after
his farm animals

and Siegfried looks after
his unfortunate horses…

Shouldn't you and Elizabeth
be getting off?

But it's very difficult sometimes socially
with Siegfried when we're all together.

Normally we know where to draw the line,
but this morning…

That's what sparked off
the joke about stocks.

- Stocks! James, really…
- I have to get the vitamins from the car.

- Excuse me.
- James, you don't understand. Look…

James, I understand Siegfried has to be
careful for professional reasons…

Quite right. No room for favouritism.
Welfare of the animals comes first.

But I always thought that he knew me to
be the injured party, with right on my side.

But if the issue has become clouded,
which it must have done

if he can remark to you that I should be
set in the stocks with that lying…

(carhorn)

Have you done, Mother, or shall I drop
this baby here on your gravel?

She shouldn't be standing around.

This is serious
and we must talk about it soon.

Any time.

Any time I have a week to spare.

- I know what you mean.
- Where'd you spring from?

I've been in t'hayloft. Only thing to do
when she gets on about Mr Rayner.

Tony, you're a wise man.

There we are, then.

Aha. Mr Spick and Span.

I trust you're suitably refreshed
after your morning's exertions.

Siegfried, I must apologise.

Psychologically
out of the question, I'd say.

I keep telling myself
that I'm doing it for Mitch.

But since you're paying…

I'm half tempted
to charge you double.

My behaviour this morning
was… inexcusable.

Not much point in apologising
unless you mean to make amends.

All this began a long time ago,
before you even came to Darrowby.

Oh, yes, I know, I know.
I've heard the story. Bores me to tears.

All kinds of apocryphal variations
are bandied about from time to time.

Of course, of course.

Each new outburst of public lunacy
between the pair of you

makes people cast about
for some credible explanation.

But as far as I can see
there is none.

Each of you by yourselves
is likable, intelligent and civilised.

But the way you behave to each other
would shame a 12-year-old.

Those who do not remember the past,
Siegfried, are condemned to repeat it.

Those who are obsessed
with remembering it, David,

are condemned never to escape it.

I suppose it was young Peter Garston…

who was the worm in your budding
affection for Jenny, was he?

- Well…
- Well.

He turned out to be a war hero
whose memory we should honour.

Maybe. But at the time the man
was no better than a common cheat.

He wasn't a man at all, David.
He was a little boy.

You used to crib your answers
for spelling lessons from Jenny.

Then you were enraged when she allowed
young Garston to do the cribbing instead.

She perpetrated
a gross act of betrayal.

By marrying Garston
instead of you?

It all meant a great deal to me.
I was deeply wounded.

You were 12 years old.

To ordinary mortals,
I agree it sounds an unlikely tale.

But you, of course,
are a quite extraordinary…

romantic fool.

David, nothing can excuse
the sort of behaviour

that causes damage like this
to a fine horse.

- Did you take a look at Mallow?
- Yes, I did indeed.

She's doing fine.
She's still a week off foaling.

Has it ever occurred to you
to apologise to Jenny?

You offered an apology to me,
which I don't feel inclined to accept

unless you promise to buy
a large bunch of red roses,

put charity in your heart
and take them to Highbeck.

- I didn't know you were at Eastwood.
- I wasn't,

but that damn fool Rayner
did damage his horse this morning.

- You're running late, aren't you?
- I mentioned the stocks to Jenny Garston.

She locked me in the stable -
give me a taste of my own medicine.

- I suppose I'd better buy you lunch.
- Siegfried! My very thought!

- We're not far from the Black Horse.
- All right. On your marks and…

Iast one there's a sissy.

Tony Binns told me
all the gory details.

I see. Black Horse, then.

Russell & Rangham's.
Savour the words.

They're full of the flavour
they signify, don't you think?

You sound more like Tristan
by the minute.

Good chance to drink his health, eh?

After all, he introduced us
to this magnificent establishment.

- That's perfectly true. Little brother.
- Mr Tristan.

Yeah.

Russell & Rangham's.
Got to be the full words, Reg.

Aye. But when I heard this Yank -

it were down south in t'war and
I hadn't had a proper drink for months -

took me reet back, it did.
I could taste it.

Then it turns out he wasn't
referring to this at all.

- "Rest and recreation"?
- Tha's got it.

There's more rest and recreation
in Russell & Rangham's, I said,

than anywhere on God's earth.

- Did they believe you?
- No.

Yanks never could get t'taste
of English ale.

But it give me t'taste,
in me mind, like.

I were grateful for that.
I always remember it.

- Another thing I remember, Mr Herriot…
- What was that, Reg?

Years back. That time you was all in here
for wetting your babby daughter's head.

When we went on a bit after t'time
and had a visit from that copper.

Oh, Lord, yes. PC Goole.

He started all righteous and determined
to do his duty as an officer of the law…

- It was Mr Tristan as got round him.
- He ended up roaring fit to beat the band.

Never had no promotion though,
has Goole.

Reg, it was 3am.
He'd have been drummed out of the force

if we hadn't persuaded him not to tell
his superiors what he thought of them.

A skinful of your best illegals in him.

Aye! For one as couldn't drink,
he damn near drowned in it.

It's always the same thing, isn't it?

The reformed sinner or the fallen saint -
no sense of proportion.

(knocking)

Who the…

Good God.
Talk of the devil.

- (knocking)
- It's him. Get those emptied.

So this baby will unite
the interests of both families.

Boy or girl, he or she will inherit
Highbeck and Eastwood.

A good farm that'll make
if it happens.

It'll happen, Cliff, whether Mrs Garston
and Mr Rayner like it or not.

There's nothing like a baby
for getting people together.

Aye. We had good times with
your Jimmy and Rosie, didn't we?

We certainly did. Being here now
brings it all back so vividly.

You're not thinking of coming again
on your own account?

I don't think so, Cliff.
No, I'm thankful for what I've got.

(glasses clink)

(whispers) Sh…

- I must have their names, Mr Wilkey.
- (clinking)

Erm… I don't know
what you mean, Constable.

I'm all closed up nice and legal.

I were about to put my feet up
when tha comes knocking t'door down.

I see the cars out back and I think:

"Aye. They must be having
a bit of lunch with Reg Wilkey."

I don't know who you're referring to,
Constable, but…

I've got no customers in here.

I am referring to Mr Farnon
and Mr Herriot.

Sorry, Reg.

Well, you're infested all right,
and they're whoppers too.

Afternoon, Constable.

And what sort of whoppers
would you be referring to, Mr Herriot?

Rats, Constable.
Rats as long as your arm.

Running riot down there. Riot.

- Aye. I can smell 'em from here and all.
- (Siegfried shouts)

Like bloody alligators.
God help us, Reg!

How long have you been
running the gauntlet down here?

It's been getting a reet problem
this last month or two.

This morning as I was shifting t'barrels
one took hold of my arm, bold as brass.

- There you are.
- That's when I knew it were a job for you.

- Job for the rodent inspector.
- Job for t'magistrate, more like.

Good grief. Mr Goole.

Popped in for a pint after hours,
have you?

Like to tell me why the magistrate should
be interested in Reg Wilkey's giant rats?

You can say what you like. You were
breaking t'law and you know it.

Still…

- 'Tis thirsty work just the same.
- That's a capital idea, Constable.

The thought of those rats has dried
the spittle in my throat.

Reg, what about a pint of your Russell
& Rangham's best for each of us, eh?

- Make us forget all about it.
- Mm.

Good God!

May I come in?

If you think a bunch of flowers will help
you out of the hole you dug this morning,

then you're cracked as well as criminal.

Jenny, please.

I come in peace.

Haven't smelt fresh yeast like that
for years.

And I always liked this room.

Watching your mother making bread.

The flowers were Siegfried's idea.
Am I right?

- As a matter of fact…
- No, his order.

"I do not attend your horse unless…"
That's right, isn't it?

- Yes.
- Am I not always right?

Look, I've come here to apologise.
I've brought these bloody flowers…

They're not bloody, just insipid.

If you had any gumption in you
they would have been bloody crimson.

For God's sake, we're practically
members of the same family.

Your Elizabeth and my Geoffrey
are about to have a child.

- Not yourGeoffrey.
- My late brother's, if you're pedantic.

- Just accurate would be nice.
- I have stood in loco parentis

since he was 10 years old.

How Geoffrey's survived that
is a constant source of wonder to me.

Are you going to blind yourself
with prejudice all your life?

Or might you one day find it in your heart
to give credit where credit is due?

I just have.
To Geoffrey.

Look at this farm of yours. You've done
very well with it since Peter died.

But how? By following every move
I've made at Eastwood.

I built up this farm by myself in spite of
every obstructive move you've made.

Come on!
It's a standing joke,

the way you go round denigrating
every innovation I make.

They even ran a sweep at the Drovers

as to how long it would take you to buy
a Ferguson tractor after I bought mine.

- Oh? And who won it?
- Me.

I needed that tractor. You just followed
the fashion in the Farmers Weekly.

You spent 30 days ridiculing it
as a nine-days wonder

and then, lo and behold, on the 31st day

the nine-days wonder was actually
delivered to you at Highbeck.

And what about
my Simplex milking machine?

Out of kindness, I mentioned your name
to the agent after I placed my order.

You mentioned my name to that man
in the hope that I would waste my money.

When I'd taken the risk and you saw
its success, you did what you always do -

you copied me, just like you cribbed
your answers at school.

- Never right, were they?
- That's not the point.

It set the nature of our relationship. I was
the original and you were the copycat.

Oh, yes? When did you ever
send me flowers?

Oh! We've already established that
that was Siegfried's idea.

May I remind you it takes more than
mere imitation to make a real gentleman?

You're impossible.
You're obsessed with an image of me

that bears no relation to present reality.

I only hope that the birth
of Elizabeth's baby

will have some therapeutic effect
on your corrupted sense and sensibility.

- What's the matter? What have you done?
- Just snagged my thumb, that's all.

Oh! Those are nice, Mum.
I thought I heard David's voice.

Are they a present
for the prospective grandmother?

- What a sweet thought.
- Oh, darling…

Mrs Garston!
Mrs Garston, come quickly!

She's all waxed up like you said,
and she's been fretting and stamping.

Tony, I think you're right.

She's going to beat Elizabeth to it after all.

- Shall I telephone Mr Herriot?
- Listen to the anxious father.

You're worse than Geoffrey.

This must have been what was wrong
with her when Mr Herriot called today.

Just a few days ahead of schedule,
that's all.

She knows what to do.
We've done it all before.

Maybe the baby has finally
got through to him.

He was definitely trying to make it up.

I've a feeling he was got at
by Siegfried Farnon.

It doesn't matter who got at him.
The fact is, he did it.

He made the gesture

and my ungrateful shrew of a mother was
about to shove them back in his face.

Don't be too hard on her, darling.
There's ways and ways of making up.

I can't imagine Uncle David's
character's changed

after one dressing down from Siegfried.

But why can't she open her heart
just a fraction?

I've had to listen to him
tearing into her all my life.

Doesn't make any sense to me.

I know Jenny as a sensitive,
caring, capable woman.

I know her as a lovely mother
to a beautiful daughter.

Agh! Geoff!

- Hello, Jenny.
- Siegfried.

I was expecting James.

I'm afraid he's out on another call.

- Thank God one of you is here.
- Let's have a look at her.

Tell me about her.

She's sweating.
I think she's feverish.

She's been down, what,
six or seven times now,

then she just trembles, rolls her eyes
and scrambles up again.

And when James examined her
this morning?

- Bit anaemic. He gave her vitamins.
- Mrs Garston!

That were Geoffrey on the phone.
He's taking Elizabeth to Nurse Brown's.

Oh, my God. I ought to be with her.

- Comfortable?
- I'll never be comfortable.

Not till what's inside is safely outside.

- I hope that's not before you get there.
- Don't say it.

You'll manage it beautifully.

- Bye.
- Don't you stay there worrying to death.

Go and have a drink on me.

Good luck!

Hello, Mitch.

(neighing)

Good God!

Oh… darling.

- Darling.
- What? What's the matter?

It's all right.
You were sleeping.

You should have been in bed hours ago.
You're going now if I have to carry you.

(telephone rings)

Darrowby 299.

Yes, David.
Yes, of course. Straight away.

Uh…

- Darling.
- Hm?

It's David Rayner. Siegfried's already
out at Highbeck. There isn't anyone else.

His mare hasn't started too, has it?

Oh, thank you!

Have a drop of this.

Or perhaps I should.

What's the news?

Oh, God.

It's a malpresentation, as I feared.

And if that were all that was wrong
we could easily cope.

But… what you have to face, Jenny,
is that she's haemorrhaging internally,

which is why James found her
a bit anaemic when he examined her.

I've given her a sedative.
The foal's still alive.

And there's a chance I can save it.

But you're going to lose the mare.

(Jenny sobs)

(David) Siegfried was here this morning
and was sure she had another week.

(James) Right, I'll examine her.

I've put out warm water and towels
and there's coffee.

Unaccustomed luxury.
This is the Siegfried treatment, is it?

I'm very grateful to you
for coming out.

You should have a word
with your neighbours.

Explain to them how to treat a vet
who they're keeping out of his bed.

I'm not that happy about her.
She's sweated up,

she's been uneasy
and her teats are waxed.

And she's running her milk.

Won't be long now.

Mr Herriot persuaded him
they was here on business.

Looking for rats.

Then Mr Farnon got him to have a drink
and forget it.

- He would, wouldn't he?
- Aye.

But he might come back
and make a proper job of it.

So if you'll pardon
this temporary lapse in hospitality

and take yourselves off home,
I'd be obliged.

I'd like to get back,
see if there's any news.

When there's any news,
you'll hear soon enough.

You just get home and get some sleep,
cos, believe me, you'll need it.

Thanks for your company, Cliff,

but if there is any news
you'll phone, won't you?

Nay, lad, nay.
We'll just wait for t'rumour to spread.

Way gossip goes in this place
it could be just as quick.

'Night.

Hello again, Constable.

Has tha forgot summat?

I were just on my way home,
off duty.

I did hope I'd be in time
for a quick half.

All closed up here on time…
as always.

But you can have one on the house,
with pleasure.

Baby's heartbeat's fine and strong.

I want you to get some rest.
There'll be hard work to do in a while.

- How long a while?
- It's hard to say rightly.

'Appen waters'll break in an hour or two.

- I haven't come in too soon, have I?
- No.

It's your first baby
and you've done just right.

She's all right, isn't she?
Good, strong and healthy?

It's the foal I'm worried about.
I can't feel any movement.

It's not going to be stillborn?

- Am I bleeding?
- No, dear. It's just t'waters have broken.

- Won't be long now.
- Haven't made a mess, have I?

No one ever gave birth to a baby
without a bit of mess.

The leg isn't right back.

- I can't get it.
- She can't help you, poor darling.

I'm afraid she's getting weaker.

How was she when you left her?

Nurse Brown took her off upstairs
and that was it.

At least I could have held her hand.

Comforted her a bit,
like you're doing with Mallow.

She's going to need all the help
she can get. Her foal might be dead.

No. Why?

Won't know that till
we've had a chance to look at it.

I'm sorry to hear this.

Doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason.
It's been a perfectly healthy pregnancy.

- Is there anything I can do to help?
- Yes, get your head down and sleep.

Just as you've left Elizabeth
in the hands of Nurse Brown,

you can leave this job
to James and me.

Why is everyone telling me to go to sleep?
I've never felt more awake in all my life.

Good girl.
Good girl.

Now, when t'next pain comes
I want a really big push.

- Good girl.
- Here it comes.

Take a deep breath and push.

Push.

Push. Push.

Siegfried, I wouldn't dream of
offering you advice, but…

What is it?

I can't help remembering that when James
called round this morning, he'd…

He'd just performed a Caesarean.

- Do you think it's possible?
- Jenny, that was on a sheep.

A Caesarean on a mare is…
very rare. And very risky.

There's a chance of saving the foal,
but you'd lose the mare.

She has a ruptured uterus
and even if she hadn't…

Oh, God, I hope nothing like this
is happening to Elizabeth.

Go on, lass. Next one does it.
I can see its head.

Go on. Push. Push.

There's a leg.

Tony, will you come to my left
and be ready to help?

Give me your hand. Now put it
under my arm gently. Not too far.

That's the other leg.

Hold it steady.

Now… in one moment…

we'll pull together.
Steady. Steady.

Here she comes.
Here she comes.

You look after the foal.
I'll see to the mother.

I'm afraid she's gone, Jenny.

Why do we allow ourselves
to become so attached?

She's left you with a lovely foal.

It's going to be a full-time job
to rear him without a mother.

I'll be his mother.

(David) Come on, girl.

There's the head, David.
Can you get the caul off?

Just get that stuff off.
Thanks, David, very much.

Thanks. OK…

Yes. Yes.

Come on.

It is dead.

Go on, push. Push.

Go on, lass.

Go on, tha's done it!

Oh, tha's got a beautiful baby boy.

(baby cries)

What'll we do for milk?

I can still draw a first feed off the mare.

It's vital we do that so that he gets
his own mother's colostrum.

Now then…

Oh… He's beautiful.

Tha's a lucky lass.

Thank you.

I enjoyed it too, love.

Would you telephone
Geoffrey and my mother?

You should get some rest.

Then you can wake up to a new day
and a new baby.

Anyroad, seems to me some folk are
more interested in horses than humans.

Anyway, I would like them to know.

I am sorry, David.

Look, I suggest
you move the foal about.

Frequently at first, and then gradually
leave it for longer and longer periods.

Then round about 12 o'clock
you can stick it in the next box,

still move it from time to time,
making sure that she can always see it.

Not much fun for you, is it?

Still, we must make sure
we let her down gently.

- Should I try to milk her?
- She probably won't let you to start with.

Could you undo me, please?

Gradually she'll become
more uncomfortable.

When she starts to lose interest in the foal,
she may be more willing to let you near it.

(sighs) Thank you, James.
You've been great.

I just wish I knew why, that's all.

Can I offer you some breakfast
before you go?

Oh, thanks, but I have to go home
and get some sleep.

I'll talk to Siegfried later.
We may want to do a postmortem.

See if we can't get to the bottom of all this.

- (telephone rings)
- Oh! Excuse me.

Hello?

Yes.

Thank you, Nurse Brown.
Thank you.

It's a boy.

I'm sorry it happened like this.

- You must be dead on your feet.
- No more than you.

Now, when Tony wakes up, get him
to take Master out into the paddock.

And when it's time for
this little fella's next feed,

try and lead him into the next-door box,
away from the mare.

- What if he doesn't want to leave?
- Let him nuzzle her if he wants to.

He'll gradually lose interest
and then… he'll forget.

When he's really hungry,
you're the one with the bottle.

He's taking it well.

I suppose you realise this is your second
breakfast without any sleep in between.

When you finish this,
I want you to go to bed straight away.

- (bang at door)
- What's that?

- Siegfried! Good morning.
- Oh!

Helen, good Lord! What are you doing up
at this time in the morning?

Cooking breakfast.
Come in.

Right.

- It's Siegfried.
- I heard.

- Morning, Siegfried.
- Good Lord! James, morning.

- You're off out already, are you?
- Er… no. I've…

I'm only just on my way home. I was
passing, I thought I'd drop in a note.

I hoped I could
prevail on your good nature

and that you'd be able to take surgery.

Oh, Siegfried.

I've been up all night
with Jenny Garston's mare. She's lost it.

Poor thing. Now she's faced with
hand-rearing an orphan foal.

- Just a minute…
- James, I am utterly exhausted.

Oh, Helen, thank you.

I have just got in myself.
Rayner's mare?

I've been up all night
delivering a stillborn foal.

- Oh. Hell.
- Mm.

Well, sounds like
a case of adoption to me.

There was something on the wireless.
A woman on the farmers' programme.

She'd tried to hand-rear a foal
and was appealing for a foster mother.

So we get…

Rayner's mare to adopt Jenny's foal, eh?

Have you considered the implications?
How on earth will we get them together?

I know exactly where to find them
this morning.

What a clever girl you are.

I don't know if I feel clever, particularly.
Oh, but I do feel proud.

And so you should.

I don't suppose
you've thought of a name yet.

He's going to be Peter,
after Dad.

Oh, darling, thank you.

And Anthony,
after Geoffrey's father.

Oh, good.
I was hoping you'd do that.

And David, after… well, David.

Oh, really? Do you think
he needs three names?

In this case, yes,
and not a word from you against it.

Another visitor for thee, lass.

At this rate it might be easier to take
thee and t'baby down to t'flower shop.

- Hello, David.
- Elizabeth, dear, congratulations.

- You look wonderful.
- Tired, but very happy.

- I've brought you some flowers.
- Oh, thank you. They're lovely.

- What a marvellous colour.
- I wonder what gave him that idea.

Jenny.

And that's the baby.

Now, listen, you two. As far as
Geoffrey and I are concerned,

you both have equal shares in the baby
and we want you to share him gracefully.

He's very handsome.

May I?

If you must.

Mallow has suffered
a traumatic loss, David.

There's a real danger it could affect
her temperament permanently.

Making her a foster mother will give her
precisely the role that she needs.

If you insist on hand-rearing
Jollity's foal, Jenny,

you commit yourself to six uncertain
months of exhausting attention.

Whereas a successful adoption

would give the foal the nearest alternative
to her real mother.

What James and I are asking of you is…

your joint agreement

to share responsibility
for rearing the foal.

What we're offering you is a chance
to snatch a victory

out of the jaws
of your separate disasters.

What do you say?

The whole purpose of this
is to deceive Mallow

that her foal is still alive in the next box.

If we take these and do a bit of pretending
behind the bars between the two boxes,

It might just reinforce the deceit.

Come on, girl.

- This the sort of thing?
- It's ideal. Ideal.

A bit grisly, perhaps, but in my view
the only virtue in being dead

is to be of continuing service
to the living.

So I'll continue skinning the foal.

I'm sorry. Mr Farnon and Mr Herriot
are both out on an emergency call.

Is anybody here to collect
a supply of medicine?

- (doorslams)
- Sounds like one of them now.

Thanks for holding the fort, darling.

Well?

- I think it's gonna work!
- Oh!

This time, Jenny,
when he's strong on the teat,

fold the skin back
gently over his quarters here.

and let the mare have a sniff of his tail.

- What if she doesn't like it?
- No need to rush it.

Just put the skin back down again.

But if she does lick him,
we know she's beginning to accept him.

All right?

Count the number of times
he swallows, David.

He must do at least 25
if he's to get enough milk.

He's getting keener.

Now, Jenny, try folding that skin
back off his rear end.

Look, David.

Look.

(rings bell)

Come along, gents and ladies.
It's time.

Oh, the new baby
and a successful adoption - come on, Reg!

We said yesterday PC Goole
only bothers you once in a blue moon.

- He were here last night.
- Nothing happened, did it?

- No, I were all locked up on time.
- There you are.

He knows you're back on the straight and
narrow. He won't bother you for five years.

Tell you what.

I'll lock up. Then we can have
one or two on the house to finish up.

While it's still legal, Reg,
here's a contribution to the house.

Thank you, Mr David.

Look, just help yourselves, then we'll have
a round with closed shutters.

We've had a very successful day,
my friends,

and James… and I want to propose
one more toast.

We'd like you to raise your glasses…

- David, you got a glass?
- Coming.

- Come on, James!
- It's coming. On its way.

Raise your glasses to the united houses

of Eastwood and Highbeck,
both equine and human.

- The united houses!
- (knocking)

- He's never come back again, has he?
- (knocking)

All right, I'm coming!

You gave us a fright, lad.
Come on in, quick.

- Geoffrey!
- (all sing "ForHe's a Jolly Good Fellow")