Lark Rise to Candleford (2008–2011): Season 1, Episode 1 - Episode #1.1 - full transcript

There were always skylarks, their songs
hanging over the fields of dark gold.

As a child, it felt as though this quiet
old country life had always been so,

and would always be so.

My father used to say that nobody ever
came to Lark Rise, and nobody ever left.

But he was wrong on both counts.

Come on. Not long, not long.

Take a little breath.
Take a little breath. So close.

There we are boys and girls.

The girl I was, couldn't see how quickly
the world was moving away

from those slow summer days.

This is Annie.



Annie, this is Ethel... and Frank...

and Edmund... and Laura.

We'll have to get out of this
left behind place.

There's no room here for so many of us,
not when another one come.

I could only half sense that my own life
was about to be forever changed.

Episode 1

Transcript: Evarin
Transcript UK

Do you ever wonder why we were born
on this spot here, Alf?

Well, because we were.

But we might have been born
somewhere else,

and we wouldn't have had all of this.

- It's too soon.
- Robert Timmins, you agreed to this.

- A man can change his mind, can't he?
- Your mind?

It's your heart I can hear talking.



The truth of it is, Robert,
she's our daughter

but she doesn't belong here
at Lark Rise.

You've heard her speak, the way she
thinks, the way she sees the world,

she's not like
the other hamlet children.

I know you'll miss your girl,

but it's still the right thing to do.

Bees, bees, I'm back again.

Don't you ever get tired of
sitting there, Queenie?

Never!

Tending bees isn't work, that's a treat.

You keep your brother close,
young Laura.

Brothers can get lost
if you don't keep a careful eye on them.

Be warned.

Ethel, come back.

Stop that now! Ethel! Frank!

Stop that fighting!

Laura! Can you not tend to the baby?

Must I see to everything myself?

How can you have your head stuck
in a book when there's so much to do?

If you're no help to me, it's as well
l have found a place for you.

A place?

I was intending to tell you
when the moment was right, Laura.

Cousin Dorcas has kindly agreed
to take you on in the Post Office...

in Candleford.

Ma...?

I have never even been
inside of a Post Office.

- It's decided, Laura.
- But I'll help you.

- I'll look after the baby, I promise.
- It's good work.

You'll learn from Dorcas,

she's made something of her life,

a woman running
a Post Office on her own.

And a forge. Imagine it!

Ma... please don't make me
leave Lark Rise.

Come here.

When I was about your age, Laura,

some relatives came to visit us
from Australia.

And they persuaded me
to go back with them.

I was so excited.

It was going to be a whole new life.

It was all arranged,

till the night before I was due to go

They began to talk about snakes
that infested their garden. So,

I said, "I shan't go."

And I wouldn't.

But the truth of it is, Laura,

it was more than snakes I was afraid of.

And I still find myself
wondering, "What if?"

Do you see, my flower?

I've put a potato cake in a bag for you.

A little bit of sugar
can always be spared.

No child of mine shall go out into
this world without a good outfit.

For your writing, Laura.

Thank you, Edmund.

Walk on.

You go and get rich, little Laura!

Wrap up every penny stamp
in your best Lark Rise smile!

And don't take any nonsense
from that hoity-toity lot over there.

And don't ever forget
where you come from.

To my eyes, a hamlet girl's eyes,

it all seemed so new and so different
to the life I'd known.

Walk on.

Did I sense then that
this was what I wanted?

Perhaps I did.

Thomas, I believe we have a parcel

- for Mr Norcutt?
- Yes, ma'am.

I'm sorry, Mrs Glover,
we have nothing for you today.

Mrs Macey will cash
your postal order, Mr Pew.

Dorcas?

You remember our Laura?

- I picked these for you, ma'am.
- Thank you, Laura.

You've arrived at just the right time,
we've had the most terrible rush.

But it's all over now, so we can
have a little something to eat.

I can't say we lay on
such a spread every day.

It's a feast.

We thought it would be
a warm welcome for Laura.

Didn't we, Zillah?

Are you a Christian, Missie?

Even if that were any of your
business, Thomas Brown,

we should not discuss such
lofty matters at my table.

Laura, meet Matthew,
who runs the forge for me.

Perhaps tomorrow morning
Mrs Macey and Thomas Brown here,

can show you how we sort the mail
when it arrives from the head office?

Food is my one weakness!

Walk on.

So, Laura...

shall we begin?

Form AB55 - The Savings Bank Form.

K21 - The Postal Order Abstract.

XY15 - The Cash Account Sheet.

Don't worry, you'll soon
get used to them.

And the stamps here,

the one penny and the half penny.

Postal orders we'll come to later.

Thomas, telegram for Mrs Arless
over in Lark Rise.

Did you hear me, Thomas? Telegram
for Mrs Arless over in Lark Rise.

So it began.

One little telegram bearing
a few words of good news

was about to set hamlet against town,

rich against poor,

Lark Rise against Candleford.

Wouldn't it be splendid to have
your very own nine-gallon cask

of good ale in your pantry?

Turn on the tap and fetch
a glass for your husband.

Or better still,
he can fetch one for me.

And you'll have plenty of time
to pay for it.

Just put your instalment by each week
for me to come and collect.

Now, who's gonna to be
the very first in Lark Rise

to own their own cask
of best foaming beer?

What are you upto?

Ma! Ma! Wake up.

The little 'uns are after their dinner.

Argh, I'm burning!

- Who sleeps here?
- You do.

- Who else?
- No-one else. 'Tis your room.

My own room?

This is a home, not a farmyard.

You're in Candleford now, gal.

Go on! Over to Emma?s.

Put your best hungry faces on.
Just stand by the door.

Don?t say I sent you.

I know what you're thinking, I shouldn't
have spent your wages on the beer.

I was feeling in need of
cheering up. That's all.

I miss your pa more than you realise.

I've learnt my lesson.

See it in my face if l haven't.

Ain't you the beautiful one?

Don't you fret...
little Laura won't forget you.

We might fret about feeding
the little 'uns before anything else.

You got any more work
in the field tomorrow?

Some more ditches to be dug out,
another week or more.

Good lad.

Dorcas?

Timothy... Oh, how sweet of you.

- Are they from the manor gardens?
- Ah! this is, er,

this is rather difficult you see.
I, I've promised these to Zillah.

She dropped the most
enormous hint the other day.

Yes, there's no missing
Zillah's intimations.

I saw Thomas setting off just now
with a scowl from ear to ear.

He has a telegram to deliver to Lark
Rise. You know how he loves to suffer.

I take it from your dress that you
are not riding out with me today?

A new girl has arrived, Laura,
Emma Timmin's eldest child.

She's very spirited
and rather lovely with it.

I'd like to see her properly settled in.

I've left her to get acquainted
with Zillah's brand of welcome.

Well, tomorrow then?

Yes, I'd love to.

Telegram for Mrs Arless.

Telegram? Who from?

Three and six for the hire
of man and horse carriage.

Well, I can see the horse carriage,
but I can't see no man.

- I see you've not found Christ yet?
- No,

and I've not found
three and six neither.

In which case, in accordance
with Post Office Regulations,

- I cannot deliver this telegram.
- Oh,

don't be so heartless, man.

It might be from my daughter,
who's pregnant.

When the young 'uns begin,
it's about time the old 'uns stopped.

Well, it's a bit late for that now,
isn't it, Thomas?

Or that might be about my Walter...

- that might be news of his ship.
- That might indeed.

And if you hadn't wittered away
the earnings he sent you

on vices such as ALE,

you might have the means to find out.

You stay here a while.
I'll get your money for you.

Ma, what are you doing?

Well, we have to know
what's in that telegram, don't we?

That's well enough me lending it you,
how you going to find it to pay me back?

Please, Mr Paxton. They wouldn't
be sending me no telegram

unless it was terrible bad news,
would they?

Go on. Please.

This is the last time and I mean it.

They're charging hamlet folk what
amounts to a day and a half's wages

for a few words on a piece of paper.

They're charging for the distance.

Candleford Post Office say
we're outside their eight mile limit.

That's them getting paid twice!

They're taking the food off our tables
and the clothes off our backs.

They want to take us
for no more than country fools.

Right's right and wrong ain't right.

We're not outside of no limit.

Milestones might say we are.
Maps might say we are.

But we all walk to and from
and we know what eight mile is.

We ought to do something about it.

All I want is my money back
and a fair share of what's right.

You know, somebody ought
to ruffle their feathers

and let them know
they've been ruffled 'n' all.

We should write a letter,
to the Post Master General hi'self.

What do you think, Robert?

That's something about our Lucy.

Won't cost me another three and six
for you to read it, will it?

"Your daughter did give birth today
to a fine baby girl."

"Mother and child are both
in good health."

Thomas Brown, we should raise a drop
of ale in the blessedness of it.

If you ask me, the blessed thing to do
would be to abstain.

Well, the beer's here and this is
certainly something worth celebrating.

It may take a little while,
but she'll settle.

We'll settle too.

We're not the first family to send
their daughter out into the world.

It's done, Robert.

It is done, isn't it, Robert?

I suppose it is, if you say it is.

I wrote it all down,
everything I saw and heard.

My mother always said even small things
never passed unnoticed by me.

Are you all settled in, Laura?

- Yes, I am, thank you.
- Good. Then you need your sleep,

you have a big day tomorrow.

Was that Lady Adelaide
we saw today, ma'am?

It was, yes.

And impossibly beautiful,
don't you think?

Yes.

- I heard she was from London.
- Yes,

but now she is married to Sir Timothy,

whose family have given us our squire
for hundreds of years.

That means we must love
Lady Adelaide and cherish her.

She is one of us now.

And tomorrow you may meet her.

- Does she come into the Post Office?
- No.

I don't suppose Her Ladyship
has much need of a penny stamp.

She won't come to you, Laura,
but you will go along to the manor.

You must go to see Sir Timothy
and be sworn in.

No-one can work for the Post Office
until they have signed The Declaration.

It wasn't so much the words
she spoke about Lady Adelaide,

as the look in Miss Lane's eyes
as she said them.

I'm joining you today, Miss Lane.

I'm curious what it is
you two gossip about.

If only it was so diverting.

Timothy has engaged me in the same
conversation

since we were ten years old.

Well, I am no rider but, erm,

I promised Timothy that I would
make an effort after all this time.

The poor horse knows when
there's a city girl in the saddle.

Timothy, you talk such
back-wood nonsense.

You ride so well, Dorcas.

I have watched you, many times.

Walk on...

- How about a juicy little kiss then?
- I will NOT!

All we did was trot around
saying "hello" to your tenants

and yet you came back
from those jaunts so much sunnier.

At least now you know you're not...
missing anything.

And what have you been up to,
young lady? Poaching?

Rick-burning? Or is it petty larceny?
I look gravely upon petty larceny.

Forgive me, Laura. I couldn't resist.

You looked so full of dread
standing there. Come in.

Dorcas has, um...

Miss Lane has told me all about you.
Please...

Ah, there we are.

The Declaration,

which even the most humble of candidates
for Her Majesty's Service must sign

before a magistrate.

- I am the magistrate.
- Yes, Sir.

I know who you are.

Wait...

You must never put your name to anything
before you read it, Laura.

You might sign away your fortune.
Now, what does it say?

"I do solemnly promise and declare
that I will not open, or delay,"

"or cause or suffer
to be opened or delayed,"

"any letter or anything sent by post."

And do you?

Solemnly promise to be a servant
of Her Majesty's Post Office,

bound by its many codes and statutes?

- I do, Sir.
- Then now you may sign it.

Very well read it was, too.

You should do well with Miss Lane.
She is an excellent woman.

Erm, efficient, I mean...

and respected...

and kind to those of whom she approves.

Your eyes are young, Laura.

Let's hope they will never be dimmed...

by crying.

You tell him,
that letter's from all of Lark Rise.

Mr Paxton, I'm afraid
there are regulations

that govern even what the
Post Master General can do.

You ask him

how are folks
supposed to afford it, eh,

on ten shillings farm wages?

Right's right and wrong ain't right.

How can you be so sure Lark Rise
is inside of the eight mile limit?

There's folk in the hamlet
understands these things.

It's in their feet you might say.

And that's for certain
that ain't no eight mile.

I Well, I will certainly forward this
to the Post Master General for you.

We're being treated as poor relations
to Candlef0rd's jumped-up ways,

and that ain't right.

No-one can ever say that
Lark Rise is against Her Majesty,

God bless her. Can they, Laura?

It ain't Candleford's fault that those
country savages send each other

telegrams about
every silly something or nothing,

without a thought about
how it's going to be paid for.

Do you suppose you could
spare a crust of loaf, Emma?

I ain't got a morsel of bread
and the young 'uns is half starved.

You can't bring your children up
on borrowed bread, Caroline.

Oh, listen to you. Duchess of Lark Rise.

Well, I wouldn't be much
of a neighbour if I said nothing

and your borrowing landed you
in the debtors' prison.

I shall feather the foam.

The time to stop living is when
you're dead. Thank you.

- Thank you.
- Thank you, Miss Lane.

Laura, is there a letter
for Miss Midwinter?

- Thank you.
- There you are.

'Tis churning day on the farm
today, Miss Lane.

Thank you, Zillah. Then I should like
to take a bath tonight.

Like I said, you're in
Candleford now, girl.

That young lady who came in
to collect the letter...

- Miss Midwinter?
- ... she's a cousin of Sir Timothy's.

And the letter is from
a handsome farmer's boy,

intoxicatingly handsome.

It will never do, of course,

the poor boy doesn't have so much
as a penny to bless himself.

Love rarely crosses
the great divide of social class.

So, you see, Laura,

that Declaration you signed
before Sir Timothy,

it means that you and I
are the guardians of secrets

that even he may not know of.

- It's certainly less...
- Maybe under some lace?

I do think that

this would suit Your Ladyship.

The style is the new favourite
of Princess Louise.

I don't think so.

Perhaps the green satin does so suit
Your Ladyship's comely complexion.

Could I have a reel of blue cotton
for Miss Lane?

Ruby, would you?

Yes, now I know green
is not always your colour,

but this one is a very special blue...
It absolutely pinpoints your eyes...

- Aren't you the child from Lark Rise?
- Yes, ma'am.

Well, make sure you don't touch
anything in my shop, will you?

You wonder that Miss Lane could not
find someone more genteel

than a little country girl
to assist her in her office.

I can read, and I can count

and I was brought up
with proper manners,

which is more than can be said
for some people in Candleford!

Well... Well,

I can't see her lasting long
under Miss Lane's standards.

Mrs Arless...

Mrs Arless! Are you at home?

Sir, I'm looking for Mrs Arless.

I've travelled over special from Oxford
to collect her payment for the beer.

Do you know where I might
find Mrs Arless?

Alfie, has Old Monday
paid you your wages?

Yes, sir, he has.

Have a thought before
you hand it over to your ma.

Well, she'll be expecting something.

There's a fair chance she'll spend it
before the day's out.

It won't be easy to refuse her
but it might be the right thing.

- Yes. Sir.
- Good lad.

I am your ma!

You give your wages to me.

- But you will buy food with it?
- I'll buy food.

Course I'll buy food!

You see if I don't.

So how's your new girl,
Laura, settling in?

She's bright, spirited,
more afraid than she likes to show,

knows her own mind.

I hear she made quite an impression
with Pearl and Ruby Pratt.

Yes, and for that you should give her a
medal and I should raise her allowance.

Timothy, you are looking at me
in that disconcerting way of yours.

Am I?

She just reminds me of you at that age.

You are no good for me, Timothy.

You bring out the sentimental in me

and sentiment is
as unattractive as self pity.

I fear there's trouble
brewing with Lark Rise.

The letter to the Post Master General?

Oh, word is out I see.

I have a suspicion
Robert Timmins is behind it.

I wish I could wave the charge but

he's in the wrong, they're in the wrong.

They're outside of the limit
and that's the end of it.

If only life were so simple.

My father would never back down.

Not when he felt there was
an injustice against poor people.

But I felt torn.

I couldn't help falling in love
with the luxuries of Candleford.

Your bath is prepared, Miss Lane.

Then I shall take my canary dip.
Thank you, Zillah.

Baths are my one weakness!

A quart of buttermilk, I say.

A quart of buttermilk she has
to wash her face on churning day.

And warm rainwater for the bath.

Poor Queenie, her brother's ill.

You'd better fetch Thomas.

Mrs Turill?

Telegram.

Thomas Brown says
he ain't giving me the telegram

till he's got the three and six pence
in his hand.

No, I told them. I told
that Dorcas Lane herself,

"I ain't paying" and that's a fact.

I'm sorry, Queenie, but wrong is wrong.

If that's got our name on it,
then it's our telegram.

Ain't no Candleford muster
going to keep it from us!

Come on, lads!

Gentlemen there he is.

- Thomas Brown, that's our telegram...
- Thomas Brown...

Give us our telegram!

- Come back! Come here!
- I'm not standing for it!

There'll be trouble
about this telegrams.

Won't have to be no trouble if them
up the road do what's fair and right.

It's the Post Office Regulations,
Robert. It's not Candleford's doing...

even if that's what you want it to be.

Robert...

it was you who wrote
the letter to the Post Master

about the telegrams, wasn't it?

I give them a few tips
on the wording of it.

- Oh, Robert.
- It ain't my name on it,

- I made sure of that.
- It'll stir trouble, and you know it.

You couldn't leave it alone, could you?

It's the same man, the same horse,
the same cart

delivers telegrams to Candleford,
do they have to pay for it?

If you get yourself involved in this,

you'll not make it easy
for Laura at the Post Office.

If anyone's petty-minded
enough to use it...

Oh, listen to yourself. You think
this is about your principles

and the rights and wrongs
of the telegrams

and the distance, but it's not.

You just need something
to throw your sadness at.

Is that right? You know that, do you?
You know my emotions, my

- motives I better than do myself?
- Yes, I do.

- When it's about your daughter.
- Well, you're wrong.

You think I haven't turned my guts
inside out asking myself that?

It's unfair. I just want poor people
to get a bit of justice.

I'm asking you, please leave it alone.

Will you promise me that?

Thomas was unable
to deliver it, I'm afraid.

- But it's for Queenie.
- Yes.

Well, her brother's ill,
she should be told.

Why didn't he tell her?

Oh, because, Laura,
it isn't as simple as that.

The Post Office is built
on rules and regulations.

Can rules and regulations
be wrong sometimes?

And it is founded on these principles
for very good and honourable reasons.

You'll appreciate that when you're older

and more experienced
in the proportion of things.

I don't believe I will, Miss Lane.

I don't think I'll ever appreciate
what's cruel and heartless.

Laura, that is enough.

Your place is to work and
not to question what you don't

properly understand. And that's
exactly what you will do now.

Suppose I don't get the three and six?

Does that mean we never find out
what's in the telegram?

Well, that don't seem right!

Suppose it is something pressing?

Perhaps we could ask Miss Lane

if the Post Office will tell us
who it's from at least?

That might only add
to the mystery of it.

Suppose it's from someone
you don't like?

Or someone who don't like you?

Or someone you don't even know?

Well, I don't like the things.

Edmund! Ethel!

- Now, go on.
- Where are you?

Steak and onions?

Oh, Caroline...
How can you afford steak and onions?

Alf has his wages, and I ain't going
to squander it paying my debts.

But it's all gone on one meal.

Oh, I shall feather the foam.

I have before and I shall again.

Come and sit down, Emma,
have yourself a bite.

Whoever said no to red meat?

You haven't paid your rent,
haven't you, Caroline?

Life's for enjoying.

What's the use of worrying, I say.

Timothy, I thought we might ride out
Ingleston way. What do you think?

Well, to be quite frank, Dorcas,
we always ride out

in whichever direction
you to take a fancy for.

How can you say such a thing? It's as
much as I can do to keep up with YOU.

What is it?

Mrs Turrill's brother.

We had a telegram yesterday
to say he was ill.

Thomas was unable to deliver it because

Queenie couldn't afford
to pay the three and six pence.

Now it seems he has passed away.

Poor woman must have
lain awake all night,

wondering what it was
we were keeping from her.

Dorcas you were only the messenger,
don't punish yourself too much.

My father always impressed upon me
to put aside my feelings

and do everything according to
Post Office Regulations.

But it doesn't come easily when it means

I have to stand by something
I don't believe in!

Well, perhaps you and I could I ride
over to Lark Rise now. You could

deliver the news to Mrs Turrill
yourself, offer her your apologies.

I'm sure she would appreciate that.

And I hear she was unmannerly

to Miss Pearl and Miss Ruby
on her first visit to the stores.

You have to wonder what Miss Lane
was thinking of, bringing such a girl

under her roof.

Rain in the sky again...

I'd better have just one more tart
to see me through the second delivery.

I felt I did not have
a friend in Candleford.

And don't you make
the mistake of thinking

I'm here at the beck and call
of just anyone, my girl.

Cos I ain't having it.

And after the troubles with the telegram
about Queenie's brother,

I felt I didn't want one.

We're all sorry at the Post Office...

Sorry that you didn't
receive the message.

If I have added to you suffering...

He was such a beautiful boy.

My mother always said,

"Harry will even look handsome
in his coffin."

Mrs Turrill, if there is
anything I can do?

Such a beautiful boy.

Dorcas, is something the matter?

I just called on Mrs Turrill

because we had a telegram to say
that her brother had been taken ill

but, unfortunately, Thomas
wasn't able to deliver it.

And now the poor man has died.

I thought perhaps
I should tell her myself.

That's very considerate of you.

But if Queenie had known he was ill,
she might've gone to be with him.

Thomas should have told Mrs Turrill that
she could come in to the Post Office

- to collect her message.
- Yes.

If she'd walked the distance
she'd know it wasn't eight miles.

- I would hope that you know me...
- It shouldn't be at Candleford's favour

that Queenie finds out
if her brother's living or not!

Folk in Candleford don't pay
three and six, do they?

- But they don't live outside...
- It isn't eight mile!

Ladies, if I might suggest
there does seem to be

a fair and simple way to resolve
the dispute about the distance.

Erm, we'll measure it.

And I'll oversee the operation
to guarantee impartiality.

That might be a fitting way
to put this thing to rest.

How does next Sunday sound?

Measuring?!

Yes, to settle a dispute.
I had to do something. It was my idea.

You're measuring the distance
between Candleford and Lark Rise,

and that is why we will miss
the MOST stunning ball of the summer?!

Adelaide, I am the squire.

I'm sorry, but I must attend to this.
This as what I do.

But so far as I can see,
this is a Post Office dispute,

which doesn't really call for
"the squire" to resolve it.

Yes, I suppose it is a Post Office
matter. But these are MY tenants,

so it is MY duty to see justice done.
You can see that, can't you?

Adelaide, the more I give myself
to my obligation, the more I enjoy it.

You could join me.

We could do this together.

Thomas, I think that perhaps on this one
Sunday you might show a little pliancy.

You may call it pliancy, ma'am,
the Lord calls it dereliction,

and the dereliction
leads to degradation.

Keep holy the Sabbath Day!

We will have two penny stamps.

We just wanted you
to let you know, Miss Lane,

that we will be there
to stand behind you come Sunday.

I'm not sure that will be
necessary, ladies.

But it's our duty to defend
the town's good name.

It's a wonder you allowed
such a challenge

to your authority and integrity.

To the integrity of all of us,

it is a slight on the standards
of the whole of Candleford.

- We mustn't let this blow up into...
- We will be there. -

We have encouraged our friends
and customers to come to the cause.

We will ensure that the whole of
Candleford stands behind you, Miss Lane.

Pa!

- What are you doing here?
- Enjoying the sights.

My, don't you look the part.

How is it for you here, Laura?

I like having my own room,
and the meals and the baths

and there's books everywhere.

You would tell me if you couldn't
settle here, wouldn't you?

- Of course, I would.
- Well, it's all for the best.

- Here's to you in your new home.
- What is it, Pa?

I've walked that road I a thousand times

why is it today it seems
further than eight miles?

I feel as if I'm making
a fool of myself, Laura.

I said I knew things I didn't know,

made others believe me,
and now just don't know.

We'll all be fools, all of Lark Rise.

Now, don't you worry though.

If I'm wrong it might dent my pride,
but that's not what matters.

There's a chance we're right,
and we must take it,

so that what happened to Queenie
never happens again.

Hopefully they'll be there next week.

Laura?

I have some clothes
from when I was your age.

I thought you might like to have
them to wear in the Post Office.

I don't think I'll be
needing them, ma'am.

Do you feel that Candleford
is not right for you?

I feel as though I am
not right for Candleford

I know it can be difficult to settle
into a new home, a new town.

But I must admit I thought
you were doing rather well.

And there must be some things
about Candleford that you quite like?

So what is it that's
really troubling you?

I saw my pa today.

He walked back from Lark Rise.

And he is convinced that the hamlet
is outside the eight-mile limit...

that the measuring will certainly
prove Lark Rise to be wrong.

Perhaps that is just his fear talking.

Or perhaps your father is right.
Laura...

I know I had no right to be
so cross with you, ma'am,

but I just wanted to explain
that the cost of a telegram

- is such a great burden to poor people.
- Do you imagine I don't know that?

If respect the Post Office rules,

it doesn't always mean that I like them.

Don't be despondent.

My father used to say that we should
work with the regulations.

But I have always rather enjoyed
looking for ways to work around them.

- Are we ready, Matthew?
- Sir.

Then lead on.

William!

So as the church bells rang
that Sunday morning,

we set off to walk to Lark Rise.

I was heading homewards but somehow

I found myself on the wrong side
of this little war.

Thomas, did the Lord
give you the day off after all?!

It's not like this is work though,
is it, ma'am?

No-one can say that Thomas Brown
did labour upon the Sabbath Day.

Timothy...

I'd like to thank you for doing this
whatever the outcome.

I'm just doing what's right
by my tenants.

Yes, but you have been
a constant friend to me

and I cannot let that
go unmentioned today.

Sir Timothy.

Perhaps we could stop
for something to eat now?

Food is my one weakness!

Matthew! A luncheon break, I think.

Luncheon break.

Adelaide, what a wonderful surprise.
Come and have some lunch.

Your Ladyship, you've joined us just in
time for the conclusion of our odyssey.

Forgive me for arriving so late.

I imagined that you could get along
just fine without a "city" girl.

Matthew, can you predict the result?

I'd say by the time
we get to Lark Rise...

we'll be outside the eight-mile limit.

What's Dorcas saying to Matthew?

Right, time to bend the rules.

Laura, I need you to take
a message to your father.

What have they been
feeding you in Candleford?

I have so much to tell you.
I don't know where to begin.

You might begin
by sitting down beside me.

I can't. I have to talk to Miss Lane.
I'll find you later.

Excuse me, Sir, if I might ask?

Which way are you proposing to travel?

Only that isn't
the most direct way, Sir.

The road I always travel
is the main route.

I think you'll find
Post Office Regulations

say nothing about the main route,

or the safest, or most convenient.

Just the distance from the Post Office
must be no more than eight miles.

- You can't do this.
- What are you proposing, Mr Timmins?

We go round the rise that way
and into the hamlet there.

Matthew, lead on. Mr Timmins
will show you the way.

William!

Ma'am.

It's still gonna be close.

Well...

there are only a few yards in it,
but a result is a result.

Ladies and gentleman, I believe
that we have established today,

that according to Post Office statutes,

the village of Lark Rise lies within,

I repeat, within...
the eight-mile limit and,

therefore is not subject to charge
for the delivery of telegrams.

But I won't be delivering
across no field.

How can they say that's right?

I think the Lord would want us
to be magnanimous in defeat, Thomas.

Well, I think the squire could stand
a beer for those with a thirst

- after our seven-mile walk.
- What did I tell you.

Ain't no use in worrying, you see,
things always turn out somehow.

You keep your brother close,
young Laura.

Brothers can get lost if you don't
keep a careful eye on them.

Be warned.

One for the fiddler.

Miss Lane!

Erm, I hope you'llagree, ma'am,

that what's been paid out,
should be returned.

Right is right, Mr Paxton.

Which is why I have already returned
the three and sixpence to Mrs Arless.

Mrs Arless?!

Mrs... No, no, hold
hard there, Mrs Arless!

Mrs...

And anyone else who has paid, if you
will give your telegram to Thomas,

I'll make sure that you're reimbursed.

That still ain't right.
Candleford still come out on top.

Don't you dare start anything more.

They've got our Laura and I just want
to tell them how lucky they are.

But perhaps not today, eh?

# Twister Turrill is my name #
# England is my nation #

# Lark Rise is my dwelling place #
# And Christ is my salvation #

# When I am dead and in my grave #
# And all my bones are rotten #

# Sing you this song and think of me #
# And mind I'm not forgotten. #

- Miss Lane, I was wanting to say...
- I know, Laura.

Post Office Regulations
have their advantages, too, hm?

Miss Lane was certainly
right about that.

Life was infinitely more
complicated than I'd thought.

The little war of the telegram had given
me a glimpse of her love of mischief.

Sir Timothy had called her
"an I excellent woman"

and I was about to find out,
just what he meant.

I felt so proud of my friends
in Lark Rise

poor beyond imagining,

yet they had never lost the secret
of being happy on little.