Lark Rise to Candleford (2008–2011): Season 1, Episode 2 - Episode #1.2 - full transcript

Miss Lane once said that every secret

eventually sees the light of day
in Candleford.

We had no idea of the length
that Mrs Macey would go to,

to protect her son
from her own troubled past.

Oozin'! Simply oozin' with goodness.

Or what a Lark Rise son might do
to try and save his mother from herself.

She'll have a Sunday off soon,
now she's settled in.

- How much, Jerry?
- Penny each.

You'll need to fix your prices closer
to the size of a Lark Rise purse.

I tell you what I'll do. I'll give you
three whoppers for tuppence.

Mrs Caroline Arless?



I'm herself, and simply
oozin' with goodness.

I'm here on behalf of
Her Majesty the Queen

to serve you with a summons
for the non-payment of debts.

You took the beer, you drank it,
and now you're going to pay for it.

Well, since you're here,

can you lend me tuppence till I
treat my little uns to a fish dinner?

Mrs Arless, you are hereby called
to appear before Sir Timothy Midwinter

at Candleford Court in seven days' time.

And you won't step a foot
outside of the debtors' prison

till every penny is settled.

Episode 2

Transcript: Evarin
Transcript UK

Shock of it might've done
for a weaker man's heart.

What more can I say, but 'I'm sorry,'
Thomas? It was an accident.



Is it an accident the rascal
has no father to keep him in hand?

A gentleman's gentleman must go
where his master travels.

God intended for boys
to have fathers, Mrs Macey.

When there is none,
the devil gets to work.

Well, I say there ain't no husband

and there weren't one when she turned up
five years ago with that child in tow.

And no wonder with a face
as sour as that!

Lips like a hen's backside.

Struck down on the street
for the whole town to see.

hat's an affront tothe very uniform.

It was a child's prank, Thomas,
not an assault on the post office.

The boy's a miscreant,
something ought to be done with him.

Zillah, the counter has been spoiled
with you enough for today.

And Mrs Macey's face
isn't sour, it's sad.

Yes, ma'am.

And anyone who cares to look can see
that Freddy is not a miscreant...

He simply needs a little guidance.

Freddy!

- 'My dearest, dear Caroline'.
- Oh, 'Dearest dear' is good.

He always had a honey tongue
on him, my Walter.

It's no wonder I spend
half my life pregnant.

'The seas have been kind to us,
and we've made swift passage'.

Oh, just get to where he says
when he'll be home again!

'My darlin' dear, I've signed myself up
for another passage to Australia,'

'so I won't be setting eyes on you
for another six months and more.'

I'm sorry, Mrs Arless.

- Would you like me to continue reading?
- No, that's all right, little Laura.

I never let such things worry me before,
and I don't intend to start now.

Mrs Arless, I was sorry
to hear your news.

Well, you won't catch me with my face
under my feet about it.

I've a thing to tell 'em, which means
it won't come to no court.

There's a disturbed mind that can
dream up a creature like that, I say.

It's the Wood Tree Man.

It's boys for you! My brother's
always imagining such things.

That's for you, Laura.

To hang up in your room, by your bed.

Let's see how natural that is

looking down at you
in the dead of night, young miss!

Oh, Freddy, you haven't been
in the woods again, have you?

Come on, let's get you in the bath.

There's young Freddy, there.

There's no-one to keep that boy in hand.

A mother's a fine thing.

It's all too obvious Mrs Macey's
not up to the task.

What woman is?

The little man can only get worse
with no father around

to give him a proper steer on life.

Perhaps, Thomas...

you could do that for him?

Me? Nah,

that's not my place to go meddling in...
That ain't my responsibility.

I suppose I could be
an example to the boy.

'Tis a noble endeavour to pass on
some discipline and devotion to a child.

It's not everyone has the moral
character to impart it, is it?

I'll see what I can do.

Good morning.

If you're tied up, ladies,
perhaps I should call back later.

I was only after a few inches of lace.

Miss Lane, I wonder whether
I might ask your advice?

Which of these should I purchase?

Oh, blue!

I always seem to dream
more exotic dreams in blue.

But the blue is so plain.

I require something
altogether more alluring.

Then you must go for the purple,
Your Ladyship,

and leave myself and Miss Pearl
and Miss Ruby with our exotic dreams.

Isn't that so, ladies?

I can't read them.

What do they mean?

What it means, Alf, is that
when your ma goes to court,

there's a real chance they'll send her
to the debtors' prison.

What are we gonna do, Mr Timmins?

Her only hope is to take some money
along to the court with her,

offer a payment and promise
to keep the instalments coming.

But she ain't got no money.

You make sure you keep your wages
from her until you get to the court.

At least that's something.

My rheumatism don't like
this damp night air.

Couldn't we fetch the last few buckets
in the morning?

That needs to be collected
in the moonlight, you old duffer.

- Good night, Laura.
- Good night, ma'am.

Looking at Caroline's heartache
and Mrs Macey's troubles with Freddy,

both of them cos of the man
they married,

I don't think I should want
a husband at all,

like you, Miss Lane.

Who ever chooses to fall in love, Laura?

Now then, when we walk
down the street, Freddy,

what do we want people to think
when they look upon us?

Respect. They must say to themselves,
'There goes a man!'

So we must hold ourselves upright.

That's a good lad, yep.

Keep yourself up. Keep
your back straight. Not like that.

Nice and straight... Up, up...

Morning, ladies.

When your neighbours have
a nose for scandal,

the fear in your eyes is enough
to arouse the suspicions.

It's Dan...

my husband.

Come inside.
We'll discuss this in private.

Laura, please tell Zillah she is
to go upstairs and turn my room out.

It's from the prison authorities.

Dan has escaped.

Oh, this is a sorry kettle of fish.

It's unheard of to do upstairs work
in the morning.

I'm in a bit of a fix, Laura. Mrs Macey
won't be able to take her letters out.

I don't know what I shall do
about today's delivery.

Perhaps, if you thought
I could manage it,

- might I have a try, ma'am?
- What a good idea!

Mrs Macey will need our support.

As you heard, she has had
some bad news concerning her husband.

I thought he was abroad?

He may have been at one time,
but not any more.

Put this letter into Sir Timothy's
private post bag to take with you.

And Laura, I know I can count on you
to keep what you witness to yourself?

Yes, ma'am.

Right... There.

Yeah, that's grand.

There...

Mrs Macey's troubles had somehow
become a blessing for me.

I knew on that first morning
delivering the post,

that I had found my place in the world.

You get your dog away from me!

The sign there says, 'No trespassers'.

I can read. I meant no harm.

The blossom's so beautiful around here.

All the enclosures are barred.

You're not supposed to pick flowers
on Sir Timothy's estate.

I had no idea that picking flowers
was a hanging offence in these parts.

Let me give them back to you.

Well, it's just the pheasants
are still sittin'...

and it's my job,
as assistant gamekeeper,

to see that they're not disturbed.

Then I shan't disturb you
or your pheasants any longer.

Well, it's just...

There'sjust too much laxity round here.

Too much laxity?

No wonder you need such a fierce dog

I had to sever all contact.

I did it for Freddy's sake.

What would it do to the poor child
to know what his father had done?

Do you suppose Dan has escaped
in order to find Freddy?

No, that's not possible.

He had no idea we moved to Candleford.

You've had no contact with him?

- No-one in your family?
- No...

I have kept in touch with his sister.

Dan has escaped and put
himself into terrible trouble.

He must have a reason,

and I think we must believe
that the reason is Freddy.

You're quite a boy, Freddy.

Your father must be proud of you, is he?

My pa's a gentleman's gentleman and
he's travelling all around the world.

Is that right?

Where is he now, then?

Ma says he's catching tigers in Spain,
which is a very long way away.

That's right, it is.

Quite a man, your pa, ain't he?

Ma says he'll come home and tell me
all about his adventures

and bring me presents
from all over the world.

You're a lucky boy
to have such a pa as that.

Why are you hiding?

You get some strange folks
in the woods, Freddy.

Best to keep out of view
till you know they're not villains, eh?

I can't face telling Freddy.
I can't do it.

Perhaps you could think of it
as a kindness.

It s not easy, I know,

but under the circumstances,

it could be best to prepare him
for whatever might follow.

- Good Morning, Mrs Arless.
- That's a merry bit of luck, Sir,

you being on the road here
as I'm on my way to the post office.

- And why's that?
- Because of who I am, Sir,

and who you are. And me coming
into your court this next week.

- Mrs Arless...
- Only

since we've happened
to meet like this and...

you can see the way of things with me,
what the child coming and all...

I'm sorry, Mrs Arless, but if you were
hoping to discuss your case...

Oh, no, Sir!
Not discuss nothing, no.

But, as I'm so close to my time...

It would be improper of me to enter
into any conversation with you.

Yes, Sir, no Sir.
But now you've seen I'm expecting,

I can't go to prison, so there'll be
no need of a hearing.

Whatever you have to say
about the charges,

and any mitigating circumstance,
you will have your chance

to do so at the appropriate place.
The court room. Good day to you.

Walk on.

What I'm gonna pass on to you, Freddy,

is a priceless treasure.
Sit yourself down there.

Now then...

- That's the Wood Tree Man.
- Yes, yes.

The reason you're getting
yourself into fights,

and every manner of trouble,
is that you lack direction.

You have no faith to guide you...

- He hides in the woods.
- Are you paying attention?

We are hereto enlighten you,
not to waste time on such...

grim fantasies. Now...

prayer.

The Lord Jesus Christ
taught us how to pray.

It must be something quite terrible
since dear Mrs Macey came

hurrying into the post office
in such a...

Well...

... a hurry.

And looking so frightfully fearful
of whatever it was.

How considerate of you,
Miss Pearl, Miss Ruby,

to come enquiring after Mrs Macey
in such a...

Well, a hurry.

And her bringing up the boy all
on her own these past five years...

If we could be of any assistance...

With whatever the trouble was.

How neighbourly, indeed!

But we already have
all the help we require.

Was it stamps that you
wanted today, ladies?

Er, yes.

Miss Lane had taught me that the post
office was the keeper of local secrets.

I was about to learn that
some of them were our own.

Perhaps you would like
to go home on Sunday?

Can I?

I was going to suggest it anyway.

And I need you to continue with
Mrs Macey's round for a while longer.

You will have to ask
your parents' permission.

Is her husband ill, ma'am?

I'm afraid Dan Macey is not, and never
has been, a gentleman's gentleman.

He was a bookmaker.

I have Mrs Macey's permission
to tell you this, Laura.

These past five years,
Dan Macey has been in prison.

And we must tell anyone
who enquires about Mrs Macey

that her mother is unwell.
Do you understand?

Of course, Miss Lane.

What did he do?

That's the bottom and the top of it.

Caroline's going to jail
and ain't nothing to be done.

Well...

we'll see about that.

Ma, why does Queenie get her water
from the stream in the woods?

She'll be making her mead.

Beekeepers have secret recipes.

Why do they?

Because when Queenie was taught
how to make mead,

there were ways of concocting
the recipe that can put a spell on it.

Course, that's only superstition.

For a man to be locked away
in prison for nearly five years...

It must have been a most despicable
crime, mustn't it, Sir Timothy?

It's not the kind of penalty
I deal out at my monthly assizes.

It would have been the darkest of deeds,
wouldn't you say, Sir Timothy?

Miss Ruby, Miss Pearl,
why in heaven would you trouble

your unblemished minds with
such disagreeable considerations?

It seems our local churchgoers

have been plucking at
Mrs Macey's feathers this morning.

Yes, I'm afraid it's on
everyone's lips, Dorcas.

They've established that Mr Macey
is in prison, but that's all they know.

We should have realised that every
secret eventually sees the light of day

in Candleford.

How do you think word got out?

I've told no-one about it, only Laura.

Well, she is young.

You might like to add
a lemon there, Queenie,

or a few bay leaves for the taste.

Folk who add any old thing to honey
don't deserve to keep bees.

You just keep your eye on the lane,
make sure no-one comes.

I know what's to go in here.

just smelling that
makes a fella thirsty.

Do you suppose your last brew of mead
is ready yet, Queenie, my dear?

Oh! I only want a sup for my rheumatism.

No magic charm's going to waste
on a wastrel like you.

I know who's in need of that first sip.

Caroline!

Now, Lizzie...

... you know where Alf's
hid his wages, don't you?

You tell your ma where it is.

Your ma knows best.

A good dance always cheers me up.

This Wood Tree Man...

... he isn't make-believe, is he?

Bees, bees, look who's coming!

Boy! Ain't you grown, gal?

That'll be all that fine Candleford food
they're feeding you.

Good morning, Mrs Turrill.

I was Queenie before you left
and I'm Queenie now.

Ain't no call for airs
and graces here, gal.

- Pa!
- Why, Laura! Laura!

- Quite the prodigal daughter.
- Ethel!

- Nothing seems to have changed.
- Why should it change?

We haven't killed a fatted calf,
we hadn't one handy,

but your mother's cooked her best fowl
to a turn, especially for you.

I expect you're used to better
than a bit of poultry now.

Miss Lane is especially
fond of the best food,

so there's always treats on the table.

We sit and read together
in the evenings.

You wouldn't believe someone
could have so many books.

So is it all the bettermost people
that come into your post office?

One gentleman farmer asked Miss Lane,

'Where's that charming
young gal of yours today?'

'Charmingyoung gal',
now there's something!

And Miss Lane takes buttermilk baths,
and puts petals in her face water.

That must be pleasant for her.

And you'd say if the work
was hard on you?

I'm enjoying it so much, Ma.

I'm learning such a lot from Miss Lane.

I'm glad to hear it.

- And I've being doing a delivery.
- A postal round?!

One ofthe postwomen is unable
to work due to a family tragedy,

- so I took out the letters.
- On your own?

Miss Lane sent you out
with the delivery?

And I finished on time.

Miss Lane was very pleased with me,
so she said that I could continue,

but I'm to ask your permission.

Well, I don't think
that will be possible, Laura.

You're too young. You're just a girl.

She's helping Miss Lane out
in an emergency, Emma.

Yes, I understand that.

But you can't carry on with it
after the end ofthe week, Laura.

But I enjoyed it so much, Ma.

You're my daughter,
and I have given you my answer.

I've given you my reasons, and
that is what you will tell Miss Lane.

We don't need to sit here bickering.

I mean, listen to that!

You can fetch Alfie
and we'll have a bit of a tune.

- Bye.
- Bye, lad.

Alice?

You go away, and you leave us alone.

I shall tell them you were here.
Do you understand?

I shall send them after you.

Alice... Alice! Alice!

I can't bear what I did
to you and Freddy.

I can't bear not having the chance
to tell you how sorry I am.

Come on, Alfie.

You always love to play for us.

How's it going to help your ma

for you to be feeling
so downhearted on her behalf?

Where'd you get jumped-up
talk like that from?

And why are you snapping at me

when all I want is for you to join me?

I'm only home for today.

I'd enjoy it more if you were there.

Come on, Alfie...

for me?

Let's have some more beer!

There you are.

- More beer!
- What have you done?

- Oh...
- The money's gone, ain't it?

My wages...

... gone on beer!

- Well... y-y-you...
- They'll lock you away for certain.

Why couldn't you have just waited?

Why?

Why should I take a care, eh?

What have I got,

but a few words on a piece of paper?

I've got another little one on the way
and no man at my side.

Come on, Lizzie, come on.

That's not all lost.

Candleford might have
their modern laws and their courts,

but we Lark Rise folk have
still got the old country ways.

I can't say no more, but this,

your ma

will have the benefit of things beyond
this world working on her side.

I didn't know how much I missed
the feel of your breath on my face.

When I feel your eyes on me
it's like no time has passed.

Nothing else matters.

Being here with you...

I could forget our troubles...

for a moment.

It was always that way, wasn't it?

You talk and I lose sight ofthe truth.

But it does matter.

This moment isn't enough.

- Alice!
- No, no.

I must think of Freddy.

Why could you not just leave us alone?!

You think I haven't tortured myself
with that question

every morning when I open my eyes?

Freddy can't go his whole life
without knowing.

You fill his head with lies,

you tell him his pa is that man
in the photograph.

Well, I'm not, am I? Not any more.

Freddy was stood here
talking to his father,

and he didn't know who I was.

Now I've lost my son,

- so I might as well tell him the truth.
- No.

No, you must go.

You leave us alone.

She ain't got the money to offer the
courts now. That's likely the end of it.

But Pa, can't you go
down there with her,

explain the way things are
with Mrs Arless?

And you suppose I can afford
to lose a day's wages?

What's Caroline to lose? And Alf?

And the little ones?

You always brought me up to believe in
the importance of being folks together.

My own words coming back at me, huh?

I might've known you'd get
too smart for me,

all those books you've been devouring.

I'll talk to your ma about it.
That's all I can promise.

What've I done?
What have I ever done?

Oh, Laura, the most awful thing
has come about.

Poor Mrs Macey! It's all over
the town about her husband.

So I came here to warn you...
Well, ask you.

You don't know how this
might've happened, do you?

There you are.

So fresh he'll just about jump in the
pot and pull the lid down on himself.

Poor fellow. Did he make the mistake
of showing too much laxity?

I should have apologised for my dog
charging up on you like that.

Your dog wasn't nearly
as rude as his owner.

But since your peace-offering
is just about my favourite dish,

I expect I'll get over it.

Good. Well, I'll be sure
and tell Sir Timothy that.

Our squire regularly
sends one over for Miss Lane.

Jugged hare is her one weakness.

- Miss Lane, about Mrs Macey's round...
- Thank you, Zillah.

I did sleep well last night.

Feather pillows are my one weakness.

- I spoke with my ma...
- That will have to wait, Laura.

I have a somewhat more serious
consideration to address.

I've been waiting for your return
so I could raise this matter.

I would like to say that, unfortunately,

there is no longer any need for me to
keep up this pretence about Mrs Macey.

It seems her secret is out.

And I am sorry to say

that it can only have been revealed
by someone in this household.

Would any of you care
to comment on this?

Laura...

did you discuss this matter with anyone?

- No, ma'am.
- Ma'am,

I-I-I... I believe I may
know something about

how this unhappy circumstance
came about.

Go on.

Well, I... I overheard you
and the young miss

discussing Mrs Macey's
distressing circumstance.

And you happened to tell
half the town about it?

Oh, no, Miss Lane.

I wasjust having a word or two
with one of the neighbours,

and, erm, then it was on the lips of

every heartless gossip
in Candleford, ma'am.

You can take this food away.
I've lost my appetite.

I shall have to consider
what I am to say to poor Mrs Macey.

And I will need to decide
about your position here, Zillah.

Oh, Caroline...

The thing I can't seem
to get clear in my head

is, do I tell the little uns
what this all means?

It'll be a shock to them
if you just vanish

and Alf has to tell them
what's happened to you.

But that'll put fear in their
little heads, if I tell 'em.

And things might still turn out...

somehow.

No-one here will let your children go to
sleep without a bite to eat, Caroline.

Why do I do it, Emma?

Other wives have men who go away to work

and they don't go looking
for ruin round every corner.

Why do I have to do this to my babies?

Morning, ladies.

- Thank you and good day.
- Good day.

Miss Ruby, Miss Pearl,

I have come to ask for your assistance
on a rather delicate matter.

How can we possibly be of help
to you, Miss Lane?

What I was hoping was,

since Mrs Macey has been
suffering such a difficult time,

it occurred to me you might make
a show of friendship to her.

And why would we do that?

Your sensitivity, as esteemed
members of the community,

would make a very good example
to the rest of the town.

Do you think so, Dorcas?

I'm sure your respected position
would guarantee it.

And little Freddy will need
some compassion from all of us.

The child can hardly
be held to blame, can he?

You are right, to say we must consider
our good name in this matter, Miss Lane.

How would our clientele look upon us
publicly condoning a brutal criminal?

But Mrs Macey has committed no crime.

Her husband is locked up

and the woman has deliberately concealed
it from those of us who trusted her.

Perhaps she was afraid
her neighbours would not show her

the understanding
she and her child might need.

Or is it more likely she wished
to hide her own shame?

If there shame to be found
in Candleford,

I assure you it has not
been brought on us by Mrs Macey.

Is that so?

And is it something to be proud of,
marrying a murderer?

Manslaughter, if I may be
allowed to correct you.

It is my belief, ladies,
that the worse the crime,

the more dreadful the circumstances are,
the more Mrs Macey deserves our backing.

How much more respectful
it would have been

had you not turned your nose up at us

when we came to you
to you to offer our help.

I remember, ma'am,
when this was your room.

How many times have I sat here
to dry your tears?

It's Little Freddy's tears
that must concern us now.

Would you like me to get on
with the jugged hare, ma'am?

Zillah's jugged hare'll
put flesh on your bones.

I suppose it should be cooked.

Whether I have an appetite
for it is another matter.

Why do you think I made this life here?
Do you think I wanted this?

Do you think I wanted all the secrets
and the pretence and the constant fear?

I did it for Freddy.

But you've made it impossible
and our life in Candleford is in ruins.

There's no hiding it any more.

Freddy's gonna find out.

You're going to move away again.

Do I have a choice?

I can't let that happen,
I can't bear the thought.

I have to go.

I love my son.

And I love you, Alice.

Well, you threw away the right
to that love when you killed a man.

It's no wonder the boy's
always in trouble,

his father a criminal, locked up
for five years and more.

A murderer...

The boy's known nothing
of his father, Thomas, so, er,

how's he been an influence on him?

I'm only saying, I'm only thinking,
I'm only wondering...

Is it in the blood?

Well, maybe we should
run the boy out of town.

What do you think, Thomas?

Mud on your boots there, Freddy.

Come on, let me show you
how to clean them up good.

Miss Lane, I saw Mrs Macey
out in the woods today,

and there was something about her
that struck me as odd.

I just thought I should tell you.

Thank you, Laura.
You were right to tell me.

What is it, ma'am?

Whatever it is, I expect it will
come to light soon enough.

We must trust that, whatever struggles
Mrs Macey is going through,

- She will find a way out of them.
- Yes, ma'am.

Zillah has been with me for many years.

I would not care to lose her.

But it will do her conscience the world
of good to make her wait a little while

before I let her off the hook.

That's it. And spit...

Brush. Spit...

Brush. When we're done,
they're gonna shine like ninepence.

A man is not a man
without a polish on his boots

that puts the very stars to shame.

You're a good lad. Spit...

Brush.

Tell your ma she's to come now.
Queenie's waiting for her.

- Miss Lane?
- Come in.

Please, sit down.

I wanted to thank you for everything
that you have done for Freddy and me...

... but I have decided that
we must leave Candleford.

When will you go?

- Tomorrow morning.
- So suddenly?

I won't have my child pointed at,

or talked about like that.
I won't do it to him.

Of course.

You must do what's best for him.

If there's anything
I can do to help you...

That's not what you truly think, is it?

You have no idea what this feels like.

This could destroy Freddy.

What his father has done and what
the whole town is saying about him...

You have no idea what it feels like.

No, I don't.

I have no right to judge you.

But I know that you went out
into the woods.

I know that.

I know you are
in a great deal of torment.

But I believe with all my heart

that moving to another town will not
relieve you of your terrible burden.

I saw him, in the woods.

He's here.

I spoke with him.

He only wants to see his family.

It's all my doing because...

I broke off all contact, I...

I wanted to be done with the past,
but now it won't let me be.

What can I do now?

What can I do?

Face this.

All of it, as a family.

You must make Dan face this.

Whoever takes the first drink
from a new batch of mead,

there's no bad luck can touch you
for a whole day, the clock round.

And with you going
to court tomorrow, Caroline...

Here you are. Sup it up.

Look what you done, you duffer!

Is that bad luck now?

That's the charm of it gone
upside down, for certain it is.

Here, look.

There's still a few drops left in it.

Oh, you drink that up, Caroline.
That's better than nothing.

That's Macey!

That's him, all right.

It's her husband, the murderer!

Come through to the kitchen, Dan.

I dare say you are in need
of a hot drink.

Is the water boiling, Zillah?

Laura, run to the manor
and fetch Sir Timothy.

- Tell him Miss Lane said it's urgent.
- Yes, ma'am.

Laura, dear, who was that?
Is that poor Mrs Macey's husband?

Perhaps you would like
to clean up and shave, Dan?

Where's Freddy?

Thomas has taken
Freddy out on his round.

How are we gonna do this?
How are we gonna tell him?

It seems, ladies and gentlemen,
that the post office is closed.

Perhaps you could
call back this afternoon.

Mr Macey, am I correct to understand
you wish to surrender yourself

to be held here in Candleford

until the prison authorities in Dartmoor
can be notified?

I'm here, aren't I?

I will ensure they know
that you willingly gave yourself up

and ask for that
to be taken into account.

- Miss Lane, could you send a telegram?
- Of course.

There is a holding cell
at the court house,

if you would care
to walk across there with me.

But what about Freddy,
I want to see Freddy!

You WILL see Freddy.

Well, I don't want him to see me
in no cell!

As you saw, Mr Macey, there is
quite a crowd gathering outside.

We can't let him come here like this.
We have no choice, Dan.

And so Dan Macey did
as Miss Lane had asked.

He walked through our town,
he faced his shame.

And, for some,

nothing would ever be the same again.

I spied him first, you see? That's him.

Why have they taken him
to the court house?

Well...

a long time ago, er...

when you were no more than a baby,

your father got himself
into some trouble and...

... they put him into prison.

He hasn't been abroad as I told you,

he hasn't been in Spain.

I'm sorry I didn't tell you
the truth, Freddy. I...

I was trying to protect you.

It was wrong of me
to do that because I...

I've made things worse now.

Freddy...

your father has been held
in a prison for all those years,

but he escaped.

He came here because
he wanted to see you.

He put himself into great danger.

He must love you very much.

- He ain't my pa!
- Freddy...

He ain't my pa!

Give him a little while
to find his own way.

And how many payments
has Mrs Arless made, Mr Hales?

Not a one, Your Honour.

And I called on her no less
than on seven occasions, Sir.

And on the few times
I did manage to locate Mrs Arless,

she made vague excuses
about waiting for a postal order

and promised to make
a payment 'next week'.

He won't see you.

I've only made things worse for the boy.

I told myself I came back
to show you how sorry I was,

but the truth of it is, I only
concerned myself with what I wanted,

to see him...

to see you.

You're too hard on yourself, Dan.

A father's entitled
to want to see his boy.

What will you do now, Alice?

Will you vanish again
once they've taken me away?

I shall have to see
what this does to Freddy.

I just want to get his little head
on the pillow tonight,

that's as much as I can think about.

If I promise never
to look for you again,

if I could give you that,
if I could give you anything...

If I promise with all my heart,

and you could believe it...

Your father will be
taken away tomorrow, Freddy.

I think he deserves a chance
to ask for your forgiveness.

I believe that's why
he came all this way.

I know it's a lot to ask of a boy,

but could you give him that?

Mrs Arless,

why did you buy the beer if you knew
you could not afford to pay for it?

I was brought up
to respect my betters, Sir.

And this gentle fellow here
is a clever Oxford man

with an expensive suit of clothes.

Now if a man with all his schooling
in numbers and such

tells a simple gal like me, Sir,

that I CAN afford his beer,

well, who am I to tell him he's wrong?

Having taken the beer, you made no
attempt to pay the money that you owed.

That's cos they made it so tasty,
Your Lordship, Sir.

The deliciousness of it
had me coming back for more.

And the more I drank,
the more I forgot my worries...

Beer does that for you, Sir.

I only wish they hadn't
made it so enjoyable

and then I might've paid for it!

Did you not think it
irresponsible, Mrs Arless,

for a mother of so many children
to spend your money on ale?

That's why I didn't pay for it, Sir.

If my children see me worrying,
that has them worrying.

And no good mother would
want that, would she, Sir?

So, see, if the beer makes me happy,

that makes them happy, to see me happy.

What would you rather
my children had, Sir,

a downhearted mother, or a merry one?

I would rather they had a mother
at liberty to take care of them

and not locked up for bad debts.

What is it, Mrs Arless?

It's the distress of it all, Sir. It's
brought the baby on, Your Lordship, Sir.

I will not have you ridicule this court
with your sorry dramatics, Mrs Arless.

I no more believe your labour than
I do your reasons for buying the beer.

I'll wait for you upstairs.

Who started the fight?

He started it, Freddy.

But it don't make it
any better, what I did.

I could tell you what happened.

Tell you it all,

so that you know,
if that's what you want.

It was a public-house quarrel
that led to blows.

He struck me, so I took my fist to him.

I knocked him down.

I wanted to hurt him.

That's all I knew,
that's all that mattered to me.

I let my anger rule me, see?

I waited for him to come back at me,

but he didn't.

He couldn't.

He lay there, all blood and fear...

and I watched that man die before me.

That's my shame, Freddy.

I got to live with that.

I don't expect you to forgive me
or that you'll understand it.

I'm just glad that you know it all,

so you can decide whether
you want me as your pa or not.

Sir, may I be allowed to speak?

Those of us who know Mrs Arless, Sir,

believe that it's her big heart
that is her weakness.

She cares for her children, Sir,

sees them fed before anything else,

always has a fire halfway up
the chimney to keep them warm.

Yes, but the debts
before us today, Mr Timmins,

are not for coal. They are for beer.

Well, Sir, you see, Mrs Arless's husband
is away at sea and...

though she won't like to admit it,
she misses him sorely.

Her neighbours tend to think
this is the cause of her recklessness.

She's no rogue, Sir.

She means well.

Her son has managed to raise a few
pounds for her to pay today, and...

if the court were to write
to Mr Arless then...

the brewery could get their money.

It is not the business of the court to
manage Mrs Arless's domestic affairs.

My duty is to justice.

As far as I can see, Sir,
Mrs Arless's greatest crime

was to be born poor and simple.

Mr Timmins, I will decide what
the crimes are before this court.

And she was easily tricked, Sir,
by this salesman's slippery words.

And I will decide what is appropriate
evidence. You are dismissed.

I will now retire
to consider my judgment.

It's all right. It's all right.

I have made my judgment,
based on the facts.

I cannot allow myself to be manipulated
by the emotions in this case.

Mrs Arless, I find you to be
feckless and foolish.

You wilfully took on a debt
you could not possibly afford.

If you could not pay then I ask myself,
did you truly intend to pay?

But if Mrs Arless is wanton, then I find
the brewery to be still more careless,

indeed, more calculating than she is.

It will not wash for you to claim
the moral high ground here, Sir.

Any company with a conscience
would have a care

who it was they were pressing into debt

with their salesman's
slippery words to buy beer!

Such a seductive crutch
at a time of difficulty.

The slightest investigation on your part
would have revealed

that Mrs Arless was already
badly in arrears,

but that was of no concern to you.

I look poorly on those
who blithely take on debts,

but I look severely on these
modern sales-techniques

that weave a spell on the poor,
to buy goods they cannot afford.

I have decided that it is my duty
to teach the brewery a lesson,

therefore I reject your bid
to have Mrs Arless imprisoned.

I have not yet concluded my judgment!

Mrs Arless, you are fortunate

to have a son to raise a few pounds
for you at the eleventh hour,

and a neighbour to speak
so eloquently on your behalf.

You will pay nine pence a week
until the debt is cleared.

I strongly advise you take a care
what debts you take on in future.

You may consider yourself on parole.

If I see you before me again,
you will be punished... severely.

Court dismissed.

Thank you, Pa,
for speaking for Mrs Arless.

I wish I could say
that was the end of it.

I spoke to your ma about you
doing the postal round, Laura.

She has decided that I know best,
I agree with her!

You tell Miss Lane
you're ready to start.

For all her troubles and her failings,
no-one could dislike Mrs Arless,

however much she might
offend their taste.

She was so overflowing
with life and good nature.

Alf had given up
something so dear to him

to raise a few shillings
to rescue his mother.

But my father was right,

Mrs Arless's troubles
were far from over.

The hare is jugged whenever
your appetite returns, Miss Lane.

I don't know that I could live
without Zillah's jugged hare.

Bye, Matthew.

Mrs Macey and Freddy
left us soon afterwards.

- Goodbye. Safe journey.
- Goodbye, Miss Lane.

They went to live in Dartmoor,
to be closer to Freddy's father.

- Bye, Thomas.
- Good luck, now.

People still called it 'Mrs Macey's
delivery', but it was mine now.

Taking me out into the world every day,

so that I could come
to know these people,

and count most of them as my friends.