Hetty Feather (2015–2020): Season 5, Episode 1 - The Return - full transcript

When have you ever been on the right
side of someone in charge?

That maid, with red hair.
I don't trust her.

If you tell anyone we're related...

You're sisters!

Miss Emily has the rare
determination to take

on the establishment to
become a doctor.

Good. Then that's the last we
shall speak of it.

Until I go to university myself.

At your service, Master Edward.

See? Secret door.

HUMMING



Oi, that's my song!

# The boy I love is... #

Saved you a fruit tart.
Thanks, Agnes.

Oh, now you two!

If like Hetty, then you need
to say something.

You can't just sit there gawping.

I just don't see the point in that
mushy stuff at my age.

That'll soon change, believe me.

Maybe we could have that walk
in the garden that you promised.

I'd like that.

It had been a different kind of
summer at Calendar Hall.

The family were travelling on
the Grand Tour in Europe.

Which meant for all of our servants,
while the family's away,

the staff will play.



Hetty! Tag!

Come on!

We just wanted to have fun.

But after a whole summer
of being free,

how would we go back to
doing chores?

Tomorrow.

In fact,

working hard was the last
thing on our minds.

And some of us might never want to
take orders ever again.

Hetty!

Lizzie?

Sheila?

The Calendars will be on their way.

They're coming back -

tomorrow!

Fancy a walk in the garden?

I thought you'd never ask.

Hold on.

There's dust sheets need removing,
and cutlery to polish.

One more game?

You've been playing all summer.
Inside!

It's our last day of freedom.

So, am I the only one working
round here?

You, maybe Sheila.

Sheila?

# The boy I love

# Is up in the gallery

# The boy I love

# Is looking now at me... #

All week, she's either been in
Emily's room or sneaking about.

And she's had two baths
since Sunday. Two?

If I know Sheila, I'd say she's
up to something.

Like what?

And with who?

Jack, Gid, keep an eye out
for visitors.

Hold on, what about our walk?

Well, it'll have to wait.

Agnes?

Count me in.

Wore that last week.

Ugh, who even wears pond green?

Oh, I like that.

Thought you were playing detective
with Hetty?

On the case of the mistress
Sheila Ormsby.

Would be, if the pantry
wasn't a mess.

Lizzie can do that.

She's clearing my dust sheets.

The house needs sprucing before
they all appear

and there's a cake to finish
and scones to make.

Isn't Sheila supposed to be doing
that? Instead of sloping off.

You're not her skivvy, Agnes.
You're worth more than that.

You deserve to have a bit of fun.

We're back to work tomorrow.

You always know always how to
make me feel better.

Do I?

Do you really think Sheila's
stepping out with someone?

Who could it be?

There's no-one in Calendar Hall
that would be that stupid.

That's what we need to work out,
isn't it?

I can't say I blame her.
Anything to skive off, I suppose.

Not that.

With Hetty and Jack going walking,
and me and you,

she's bound to feel left out.

Oh, right.
Surrounded by romance.

I would, if it was me.

Not everything's about romance
though, is it?

We'll have to wait and see.

You're right.

Bye, Gid.

I'll go to the East Gate, just in
case she goes the other way.

What if I see something,
or she sees me?

You're the temporary housekeeper,
Agnes. Use your initiative.

If Miss Emily can learn to be a lady
at her finishing school,

then so can I.

A lady?

Sheila, what are you up to?

If she wanted her fancy frocks,
she would've taken them with her.

I'm just giving them an airing.

Likely story.

Don't tell me you never wanted
to dress all fancy, Agnes.

Boys like it when their sweethearts
look pretty.

I should know.

What's a pretty girl like you doing
in a place like this?

Well, if you need any help,

Private Wilfred Sturgis,
from the Queen's own regiment,

at your service.

Hetty Feather.

Miss Emily? Met at Hampstead Fair.

She's been stepping out
on me ever since.

Miss Emily sent me with
a message herself.

High tea in the main hall,
and you're invited.

Along the lane and down
the main drive.

Wilfred?

We need high tea, and quick.

BOTH: Who's Wilfred?

Private Wilfred Sturgis.

Sheila's beau.

Or, should I say, Miss Emily's?
He's a right charmer.

Excuse me? Can I help you?

I'm here to see Miss Emily.

We're taking tea together.

Miss Emily? I'm sorry, there
must be some...

Gideon. Let me handle this.

You must be Wilfred Sturgis.

And you are very pretty, indeed.

I'm just Agnes. Just Agnes, eh?

Well, Just Agnes, you can
call me Wilf.

Nice to meet you, Wilf.

Hold on a minute.

Hetty told me we were expecting you.

Oh, the lovely Hetty.

Who is this chap?

I'll accompany you to
the drawing room.

Miss Emily will be along shortly.

Excuse me, Jack.

Miss Emily's in Switzerland.

That's not what Wilfred thinks.

Fresh lemonade, Private Sturgis?

It's Emily's favourite, Wilf.

Miss Emily insisted on it for her
16th birthday party.

I'm sure she's told you
all about that.

Lizzie, go and see how
tea's coming along.

And see if Miss Emily is on her way.

Miss Emily's told you that she wants
to be a doctor, of course?

More times than I can even remember.

Has Wilfred twigged yet?

Or is he too busy charming you?

Oh, he's a charmer now.

LIZZIE GIGGLES

Right, now, all we need is
Miss Emily herself.

No, what we need to keep our eye
Wilfred "Charming" Sturgis.

You fetch a ladder,
I'll do the talking.

Miss Emily did tell me she was
partial to a bit of baking, though,

the second day I met her,
she brought me a nice bun.

And as for her shortbread...
Baking?

That doesn't sound like
Miss Emily to me.

Does it to you, Lizzie?

Lizzie.

LIZZIE GIGGLES

Sometimes I have that effect.

Don't mind us.

Er, Gideon, wh-what are you doing?

Er, just measuring up
for winter curtains.

You keep talking amongst yourselves.

Go on, Agnes.

You were saying....

What are you grinning at, Feather?

You must know,
I was meeting my beau,

and the rotten toad stood me up.

No, he didn't.

Wilfred?

Where is he?

Private Sturgess? Wilfred!

Miss "Emily" Calendar to see you.

Emily.

Thanks for your kind invitation
to your beautiful home.

We've chatted so much about you.

You, your studies,

your talent
for baking, Miss Emily.

We had no idea!

Agnes, some matters are
meant to be kept private...

..for a young lady like me.

GIGGLING

Dismissed, the lot of you!

Oh! You mean, you don't want
us to stay and...pour tea?

Not even butter a scone?

I said get out!

Private Sturgess and
I would like some time...

..alone.

Fetch a fresh pot, Lizzie,
keep on serving.

I'll bring more scones, too.

SOUND OF HORSE AND CARRIAGE

Who's that? Are we
expecting someone? The Calendars?

No, it can't be.

I believe you have
prepared for my arrival.

Mr and Mrs Calendar
are expecting me.

I'm sorry, the Calendars
aren't back for another day.

I'm ahead of schedule.

I came straight from the ship.
And you are...?

Maharajah.

Luggage.

Really, all that nonsense
the staff have been telling you.

Oh, I don't know.

They seem to know you pretty well.

Isn't that right...

..Emily?

Oh, I never want to hear
that name ever again.

And I...suppose you don't
want to see me again, either.

Yes, I will.

Because let's face it -

what would a wealthy
young lady be doing

stepping out with
a lowly private like me?

Wait, what...? You
didn't think I was a toff?

What does it matter?

I thought you were lovely.

Just the way you are.

Sheila.

Sheila?

That was my auntie's name.

I always knew we were meant to be,
Wilfred Sturgess.

I'm sorry the family
weren't here to greet you.

Indeed.

Ah, my tea. Is it Darjeeling?

No, it's Earl Grey for...

Then I shall take tea with her.

But I want Darjeeling.

Upstairs and unpacked.

You should never have gone
along with your stupid plan.

I thought we were in this together!

So, how do we get out of it?
We have to warn her.

No.

My valise must be
carried on its own.

With great care.

Yes, Master Ashok.

And do not open it
under any circumstances.

Do you understand?

I do not want to dismiss you
on the first day I arrive.

Miss Emily... Not any more.

We're courting serious now,
aren't we, Wilfred?

All right. Sheila -
this has to stop.

We've got a visitor.

Yes, my beau.

No, not your soldier.

Maharajah Ashok Ram Chandra
of the Amber Kingdom,

the princely state of Jaipur.

Very...pleased to meet you.

Miss Calendar.

Not a prince of the
marrying variety, then.

I was just leaving.

Barracks curfew and all that.

Wilfred, the East Gate, tomorrow,
remember?

I'll be waiting.

Thanks for tea...Agnes.

Oh, huh!

You're welcome...

..Wilf.

Wilf?

He doesn't like me calling him Wilf.

Shh. Now, Miss Emily,
let me tell you about my plans

before you tell me
about Calendar Hall.

I'm here to be educated in England.

Can this get any worse?

Who is that?

My governess was English.

I learned so much from her.

Just as my grandfather,
the Maharajah Prasad Singh,

learned about this house
from your grandfather,

and now I will
learn about it from you.

Tea at last.

Now pull up my chair and plump
up my cushions.

But there's no time.

Small child, that is an order!

That small child has a name.

Please, listen to me...
And she is a servant?

Her name means nothing to me.
Well, it does to me.

I've never met anyone so rude.

I am a member of
a great royal dynasty...

I don't care who you are.

..whilst you sound like
a shrieking peasant!

A peasant!

How dare you?

Stop that!

Please, stop!

Let me go!

I do as I wish.

Not in my house - you hear me?

Your house?

Is there something
I should know about?

Ashok, I...

..see you've met Sheila,

who appears to be
wearing Emily's dress.

Sheila?

She fooled me, Mrs Calendar -

and insulted me. Quite.

I'm sorry, Mrs Calendar.

Not to mention entertaining
a soldier in the drawing room.

He must've thought
she was Miss Emily, too.

So, that's who it was sneaking away.

You brought a young man
into my house.

It's enough to tarnish
my family name,

not to mention Emily's
reputation.

But he's not just any young man,
Mrs Calendar.

He's my sweetheart.

I only borrowed a frock
for the Hampstead fair.

That's where I met him.
I had to keep it going.

Sheila, this is not the behaviour
I expect from our staff,

therefore the punishment
must reflect the offence.

As she deserves.

The way we used to treat
our servants back home.

Sheila,

what you did warrants
instant dismissal.

Therefore I have no choice.

No.

I resign.

This instant.

Because it doesn't matter what you
or anyone else thinks of me.

My Wilfred loves me
just the way I am.

I see. So from now on,
I'm going to be an Army wife,

not slaving in a kitchen.

I didn't realise you had
such plans, Sheila.

Well, I have.

We're getting married.

You're marrying Wilfred.

Since when?

Oh, earwigging, were we?

This is all your fault.

Sheila, I never
meant this to happen.

Well, I might be leaving this place,

but I won't miss you.

Yeah.

I won't miss you, either.

Not one stinking bit.

Right, then.

We need to crack on sharpish
tidying up these gardens,

borders for a start.
We can do it in the morning.

No, we can't.
The Calendars are back.

Well, Mr Calendar and Miss Emily
are still in Europe,

but the rest - I suppose they got
word that the Prince was arriving

and hurried home.

Agnes is going
to be in a right tizzy.

I told you that today should be fun.
Hardly.

Especially not for Sheila.

Why, what happened?

She got caught pretending
to be Miss Emily,

and now Sheila's resigned

before Mrs Calendar
could give her the elbow.

She's had enough today.

How does Hetty feel
about all of this?

Was she upset?
Wasn't Hetty who told me.

I saw Lizzie in the walled garden,
picking flowers...

..for Sheila.

She's getting married to Wilfred.

What?

Take this. You might need it.

What for? An army marches
on its stomach.

Take it.

We'll have marriage quarters
so we won't go hungry.

Is that what he said?

What about wanting
to be a cook, Sheila?

What's it matter?
Wilfred will give me the world.

This place won't be
the same without Sheila.

Maybe he's not as much
of a charmer as we thought.

He could be more the
settling-down type.

Doesn't look like it.

Wait - what if Agnes
thinks that about me?

Thinks what about you?
Settling down.

Now Sheila's getting married,

you know what girls
are like for romance.

Yeah. So, when she
does start to make you cakes,

then we really need to worry.

Ah, thanks a lot.

Anyway, Lizzie told me that Mrs
Calendar's looking for a new butler

now that the Prince is here,

which means we won't have
to fetch and carry for her.

At least that something. Mmm.

What's so important
about his valise anyway?

I don't know.

It's a suitcase, to you and me.

It's one that I nearly
got sacked over.

What's the matter with him?

He's been nothing but trouble
since he walked through the door.

George told me your late father
was a complicated man.

And his father.

We'll look after you well.

My husband is your guardian.

It's my duty, too.

Mrs Calendar, paying for my
education is most generous.

It's nice that we can help,
and while she's away,

you may take Emily's room,
the brightest we have.

Not as bright as the Indian sun.

We will try to make you feel at home

by serving you in the manner
you're used to.

You know, I left behind my mother
and three sisters to be here.

I've already put a notice
in the newspaper for more staff.

BABY CRIES

I'm sorry. I must go to William.

He's unsettled after his journey.

Mother, today's not fair.

I don't want Sheila to go
all because of silly, nasty Ashok.

Constance!

Edwin, hurry, she's leaving!

Bye, Sheila!

You're the best, best nursemaid
I've ever had!

And there's been quite a few
of those. Bye, Miss Constance.

Bye, Master Edwin.

You will be all right, won't you?

With my Wilfred to look after me,
I'll be just fine.

Well, if you need us,
we'll be right here.

Need you? When I'm living
happily ever after?

I think not, Feather.

Take care, Sheila Ormsby.

I wish we could see them
getting married.

There's nothing sweeter than the
sound of wedding bells, is there?

Well, I meant for other people,
of course.

I'm too busy keeping this place
in check.

These are for you.

You'll make a beautiful bride.
Thanks, Lizzie.

Will Wilfred be waiting for you?

I'll go straight to the barracks
and find out, won't I?

Bye, Sheila.

# Now, if I were a duchess
and had a lot of money

# I'd give it to the boy
who's going to marry me

# I haven't got a penny,
so I'll... #

She does know what she's doing,
doesn't she?

Yeah.

Course she does.

Right, then. Young Ashok's
welcome dinner needs preparing.

And we've lost our cook.

I'm sure he'll be expecting
a banquet.

I want a banquet, too.

Carried by an Indian elephant,

and served on the lawn!

Hetty, check on His Lordship.

Hetty...

I...was hoping for that walk
in the garden.

We'll have to keep on hoping.

What, because of some
jumped-up maharajah?

We'll find a way.

Master Ashok's arrival
was a surprise to all of us

and so was Sheila's departure.

What started as a childish prank
had ended in disaster.

Sheila made it look easy.

Now, Sheila's life
had changed forever -

and so would ours.

Little did we know,

Master Ashok was
hiding something, too.

KNOCK AT DOOR

Is your luggage unpacked
to your requirements, Master Ashok?

No. Get out.

Now, there were far bigger secrets

waiting to be unearthed
at Calendar Hall.

Like Sheila, we had no idea what
life would hold for us that day.

My old friend had left
and our newest visitor had arrived.

Our next great adventure...

..was about to begin.

I understand that you're
in love with Hetty Feather.

You'll have to win her.

Get this out of my sight!

Absent master. Easy picking.

CLEARS THROAT

And who might you be?

My father will be making himself
known to you in good time, so,

look sharp.

I bet you don't have secrets,
like we have.

If I tell you, would you help me?