Lark Rise to Candleford (2008–2011): Season 1, Episode 5 - Episode #1.5 - full transcript

Ma'am?

Ma'am, 'tisn't him, 'tisn't him!

It's not Mr Drinkwater!

I would like to speak with
the Postmaster, Mr Lane.

There is no Master.

There is a Mistress. That is me.

Dorcas Lane.

My name is Rushton.

I am here to conduct
an unannounced audit.

Then, please, do come through,
Mr Rushton.

We usually have the pleasure
of Arnold Drinkwater.



So I see.

Mr Drinkwater is taken ill.

I'm not sure I can conduct a spot
check under these circumstances.

If you would prefer to come back
and surprise us tomorrow,

I could put all of the ledgers away.

A Post Office inspection is not
a cause for frivolity, Miss Lane.

Mr Drinkwater has been
inspecting us since my father's day.

I'm glad to say we've always
found a little time

for frivolity amongst
the serious business

of making sure that the pennies
were in good order.

Well, these days we must take a
more modern and efficient approach.

Since I am here,

I will go ahead with the audit.

Some nice hot tea, sir,



- after your tiresome journey?
- No thank you.

It might be considered an enticement.

I am paid by the Post Office
to come here for a purpose.

If I might be left alone
now to examine the books.

Miss Ellison.

There was some mail
you were anxiously awaiting?

No. It is you.

Would you consider... what I mean is,

I have my father's consent.

You speak so passionately.

What I mean is, perhaps you would...

Would you?

You must be wondering why
I am full of good cheer today.

It's no mystery.

There's only two things
make Thomas Brown chirp,

and that's God and cakes.

- So what is it, Thomas?
- The Lord has called me.

Well, that's a relief, cos I'm not
making any cakes today.

God has asked Thomas Brown
to carry His message.

Does Miss Lane know you're leaving
to take up the cloth?

- You're leaving us?
- You know full well what I mean.

I have been asked to lead a service
as a lay preacher this coming Sunday!

I ought to be finished work
on the school today.

Reverend Ellison pays in full
and on time,

even you have to grant him that.

And so he should, for a job well done.

- What's that for?
- You'll never know.

How's a man supposed to face a
three-mile walk with that on his lips?

There's your answer.

Do you have any post for
Sir Timothy this morning, Laura?

I have, but that's at
the end of my round.

We could walk together
if you go the other way round?

No. I can't!

I mustn't.

Come on!

Zillah said he called it
"an enticement". A cup of tea?

It's a slur on the good name
of Candleford.

It's an affront to your own
estimation, Miss Lane.

I take no offence, ladies.

It's only right and proper that an
inspector should remain untouchable.

How green they are...

... the fields.

It's like they're dreaming
in the sunshine,

waiting for a future
they know nothing of.

Don't mind me, Philip.

It's just my way.

I'd better deliver my post, or Miss Lane
will be giving me one of her looks.

- Oi, give that bag to me!
- You've got to catch me first!

- The rheumatism...
- Weren't no rheumatism last night,

when you was hopping round the Wagon
and Horses at the hint of a fiddle.

I'll take the nuts out tomorrow.

The sniff of a few shillings is more'n

I'll ever get out of you,
you slack critter.

Now, get to Candleford
and don't come home

till you've sold all them nuts!

You seem to be finished the work
we asked you to do, Mr Timmins.

To your satisfaction
I hope, Miss Ellison.

Yes, indeed, but...

the decoration...

I hope we have not misled you
about the extent of the assignment?

- I hear what you're saying.
- Because...

My father would never undertake...
If you follow.

You won't find me asking any
more than the price we agreed.

What can I do for you, Amos?

All I'm after is to see how lovely
you're looking today, Miss Lane.

And to pass a morning hour.

I'm sure Zillah will
have the water boiling.

You'll need to put it high.

That's it.

To the left. That's it.

Straight?

I'm not sure if this one is straight.

No, that one's not straight.

"For the fashion of this world
passeth away",

Corinthians, Chapter 7.

Morning cake.

My one weakness.

How did you come to be
Postmistress here, Miss Lane?

Do you mean how did a woman
come to be in charge?

It is rather... unexpected.

That very much depends
upon your expectations.

I inherited from my father.

I seemed to have a
natural instinct for it.

I'm not sure that what I've witnessed
here is a well-oiled business.

We are not highly trained
in order to waste valuable time

"passing a morning hour".

A Post Office is more than the

dispensing of stamps and postal orders.

It is the soul of the community.

You may want to write in the bottom
of your report that I love my work.

Do you suppose there will be room in
your report for love, Mr Rushton?

- Good morning, Laura.
- It certainly is not.

I'm sorry, Alf.

It's just I've lost a parcel.
I'm in terrible trouble

- if I don't find it.
- Well, then we'll have to find it.

It could be anywhere on
the whole of my round.

Then we'll look along the whole round.

If I don't get back, Miss Lane
will be asking where I've been.

Well, you get back and I'll look.

I'm all done digging ditches
for the day.

Oh, Alfie, what would I do without you?

Seems a fine purpose
to pass a fine morning.

Well, go on then.

And the next time you see me, I'll have
your parcel in my hands for you.

I hope you're not seeking to
provoke the man, are you, Dorcas?

He needs no provocation.

I can see it in his eyes that what he
objects to is a woman in my position.

He is one of those men who wants
a woman in her place,

Iooking after the food and her
dresses and decorating the house.

Well, the man's a fool
as well as a porcupine.

Sir Timothy, I wasn't aware
you were such a modern thinker.

I'm not saying I approve of a
woman running the Post Office.

I'm saying I enjoy it.

They are not at all the same thing.

As I am sure most of your
customers might agree.

But not nearly so convincingly.

All that Mr Rushton will achieve today,

is to miss out on Zillah's
prize-winning pastry.

You seem to be enjoying
this flirtation with danger.

There is something about him
which makes me want to vex him.

Your confidence makes me nervous.

Can't you show at least
a sprinkling of concern?

That would be quite pointless.
And false-hearted,

since I pay a private auditor
to check the books

Iong before a Post Office inspector even
thinks of coming from Oxford each year.

Laura!

I shouldn't have walked with
you this morning, Philip.

It was only a walk.

I had a parcel for the Pratt sisters
and I should have delivered it first

- and now it's gone.
- You must have dropped it, that's all.

We'll go back over your route.

If it was anyone else, I'd be
in trouble, but the Pratts...

I'm bound to lose my position
at the Post Office.

We won't let that happen.

I'll find it for you.

Thank you, Philip.

I'd best be getting back.

Hello, Mr McCarthy,

Mr O'Grady...

What you doing round here?

Passing the time of day.

What are you doing?

Just wandering about.

I hope you're not
straying on to private land?

- I ain't.
- Well, don't.

I won't.

Miss Lane is something
of a blithe spirit.

It's easy to misinterpret
her chaffing for animosity.

I am here, sir, to assess the lady's

performance and integrity, that is all.

You can't believe
there's anything untoward?

You can see the kind of woman she is?

What I see, sir,

is a woman who refuses
to take my authority seriously.

If I might offer a piece of advice,
Mr Rushton,

don't let Dorcas provoke you
into taking her on.

There's more to her
than the feminine charms

you see before you.

I appreciate your counsel, Sir Timothy.

Please don't concern
yourself on my behalf.

Whatever Miss Lane may get up to,

I will be a match for her.

We thought invitations to the finest
ladies from Bicester to Banbury would

enhance the anticipation.

Perhaps it might be best to
wait until your parcel arrives?

Oh, no, Miss Lane, there is no time.

The whole point is for us
to be seen to be exclusive.

And we have every faith in you,
Miss Lane.

Every faith!

Morning!

Nuts!

Nuts!

Roasted, toasted!

Tastier than a hung pheasant.

Nuts!

Robert,

why do you take such
dedicated care with your work?

A man can take pride
in his craft, can't he?

You may call it a man's pride,
but what I see

is Divine Love.

I don't doubt that you do, Thomas Brown.

"And let them give it
to the doers of the work"

"which is in the house of the Lord,"

"to repair the breaches of the house!"

Miss Ellison.

Have a good day.

I notice that you have yet

to implement the new Sunday collection.

We don't have the staff to do it.

You have the Senior Postman.

- What is he called?
- Thomas Brown.

Thomas has other commitments
on a Sunday, I'm afraid.

Has he refused to do it?

We discussed it when the
notification came through...

We make these initiatives in
order to improve our service.

We certainly don't want to be held
back by unenlightened attitudes.

If Brown objects,

then Head Office might consider it
a dereliction of his duties.

Thomas has worked for us for many years

and I have never had cause
to question his dedication.

I will speak to him myself,

get to the ABC of the matter.

The ABC of the matter
is right before our eyes.

He is a devout Christian.

Why must you continually
rub up against my authority?

I am the Inspector!

And I intend to impose my will here.

I warned the Mistress's
grandfather about that

and it's still a menace.

That well was never covered up properly.

There's a peril

awaiting some poor, unsuspecting soul

to vanish.

and go down and down and down.

I expect it'll be me!

I hear that you object

to taking on the new Sunday collection?

Yes sir, I do object.

Your colleagues across
the county have agreed.

It is your place to obey the duties
laid down for you by the Department.

That's true, sir.

Not when those duties

conflict with my calling.

Worship!

Another emotional crutch,
backwards thinking.

You'd be wise to join the
modern world and attend the calling

that provides you with your bread.

Before I leave today,

I want to hear from you that you
will take on the new collection,

this coming Sunday.

What is it, Zillah?

I been in the garden, ma'am, er...

Yes?

I think I'll go and hang out
the washing, ma'am.

I just thought you'd like to know that.

Thank you, Zillah.

Ah, Laura, we've been wondering
where you'd got to.

You're looking very pale.

Those long walks are supposed to put
some colour into your complexion.

I have something to tell you, ma'am.

- If I may.
- What is it?

I saw the Irish Labourers,

and they were wondering
if they might stop by tonight?

But of course.
They know it's all right.

Tell them they can come in
here if they like, day or night.

But if the Inspector's here...

Tell them to keep an eye out
for him leaving

and then come around the back as usual.

- If you're sure, ma'am.
- Why shouldn't I be?

Rushton will admit defeat and be
on his way before the moon is up.

Nuts!

Nuts!

Basalonies!

Basalonies, big as ponies!

Hello.

Thank you.

Basalonies!

Basalonies, big as ponies!

Thank you, sir.

I do appreciate a bit of help

from a gentleman, with the hard work.

I don't mind the heaving.

but it's the terrible back pain

I have had for the last 20 years.

Just tell me where you want it.

I'm so grateful I didn't have to ask.

Cos if Miss Lane knew
I was asking an inspector,

I'd be in her bad books.

Not that Miss Lane has got
anything bad in her books.

I's all neat and tidy,

as far as I can see. Come.

This way, sir.

Up there.

We just have to go to the

bottom end, sir, down there.
Across there.

I would like to speak with
the young Miss now.

Miss Lane is a fine example
to a young girl like you,

learning the ways of the Post Office.

I don't doubt

that she's come to rely on an apprentice

as bright and quick-witted
as you, Laura.

I am only just learning, sir.

Of course, yes.

But I imagine you will have your secrets

between you, don't you?

An intelligent girl like you, Laura,

you could do well as a learner
in the Head Office.

They are much sought-after positions.

I have the ear
of the Postmaster General.

I'm sure you won't always want to be

bogged down in a backwater
place like Candleford?

You do have secrets?

You and Miss Lane?

I'm not sure what you mean, sir.

I saw you whispering together.

Your loyalty to Miss Lane is
admirable. But you must be aware

that you owe your true allegiance
to the Post Office.

You were whispering
with the Postmistress.

If you keep something from me,

you are placing yourself
in a perilous position.

We were whispering, sir.

Go on. What about?

I'd rather not say, sir.

I am instructing you to tell me,

whatever it is.

It concerns you, sir.

You must tell me.

I demand it.

Miss Lane said we are
to be kindly to you, sir.

Because you have a lonesomeness about
you that can only be cured by love.

I will, of course, do everything
I can to protect your position here,

but it seems that Mr Rushton
has taken against us.

I'm afraid if we send him back to Oxford
with your refusal as his only prize,

he will go at it with a vengeance.

You said, ma'am...

- protect my position?
- Yes.

If it is considered a dereliction
of your duties,

then Mr Rushton could have a case
for your dismissal...

Ma'am, how many years
have I turned out?!

And the loss of your pension.

So, before he leaves,

I ask you to, perhaps, present
a more even-tempered response,

to give us some time
to gather our forces.

Are you saying, ma'am,

I should tell him that I
will do the collection

this Sunday?

I suppose I am, yes.

Perhaps now that you are satisfied

there are no hobgoblins in our books,

you might like to join us in some
refreshment before you leave?

There is still the unresolved matter
of this Sunday's collection.

Thomas?

It's not for me to decide, ma'am.

Tis the Lord

who dictates my obligations
on the Holy Day.

Thomas means no harm, Mr Rushton.

We place ourselves at
your mercy on this matter.

Mercy does not make for a
professional postal service.

If I discover

that this man has failed to take up
the collection this Sunday,

I will bring a dereliction charge and I
will not let it go until he is removed.

Good day to you.

We all knew that was not
the end of Mr Rushton.

He was more impatient to trap
Miss Lane than we dared imagine.

The Irish farm workers could not
afford to lose one daylight hour,

so Miss Lane bent the rules

and let them use the post office
after closing.

Where are you off to
with that lantern, Alf?

What's so important that you're
setting off at this time of night?

I'm finding something what's lost.
A parcel.

- Who would send you a parcel?
- Oh, no, it ain't mine. It's...

It belongs to the bettermost folk.

Tell us what's going on, Alf.

Laura's lost a parcel

and she'll be in terrible trouble
if she don't find it.

She told me as much
with tears in her eyes.

She fears for her poisition,

which is why I said I'd find it for her.

Mr Rushton. You're back.

And you are trading
outside of licensed hours.

You realise what this means,
Miss Lane?

I know too well.

It means that good men who
work every hour of daylight

are able to send home a little
something for their loved ones.

It is a flagrant disregard of
the statutes of your office.

You have forfeited
your right to practise.

I think it is rather undignified
for a man to threaten

a woman in such a brutish fashion.

I have watched you.

I know you. You think because you
dress so fine

and you talk so fine,
because you are born to it,

that you are above regulations,
above everything and everyone.

I am here to show you

that you are nothing compared to the
rule of Post Office command and decree!

If I have given the impression
of being aloof, I apologise.

I promise you, I have no such intention.

I merely consider it my duty
to be a human being

before a servant to my office.

I have watched you, too.

And what I have seen is a man

who has not exchanged a civil word with

anyone in the hours
that you have been here.

A man who does not even have
the grace to accept a cup of tea

without taking and giving offence.

You prop up your self-importance
with rules, rules, rules.

It is a sorry sight!

I will be reporting you in full.

Oh, I would expect
nothing less than "in full",

from a ticks and crosses
man like you, Mr Rushton.

Any man who must

puff up his own worth with the ruination
of others is not welcome in my parlour.

Now, if you will excuse us,

Mr McCarthy has the rather more pressing
concern of providing for his family!

And that goes for me, too!

Will that be all for today, ma'am?

I think that is quite enough
for one day, Laura.

You've no need to tell me what it is
that you spoke to Mr Rushton about.

That is between you and him.

Yes, ma'am.

Let me in, my darlin'.

Did you sell them nuts?

No, I ain't, but

I got something else for us. A parcel.

Did you get any money for food?

No, I ain't! But I got us a parcel.

Then you can sleep in the pig sty,

and that's all that you deserve.

Queenie. Queenie, my dear. Queenie!

Oh, all right, all right!

Hold up,

I'll show you what "Closed" means.

Straight? All right, all right!

Oh, Sir Timothy!

What a delight.

I was hoping to speak with Miss Lane

to enquire as to how
the inspection was concluded.

Oh, Miss Lane was inclined
to early retirement,

- Your Lordship.
- Ah, in which case I...

Oh, but I can't let you go

because I got a plate of pastries ready.

- No, I really...
- And a glass of Miss Lane's port?

Ah, Thomas,

how did the inspection
resolve itself?

Erm... Sir...

Hello, Laura.

Sir! Please.

I remember, sir,
when you were but a boy.

How you got under my feet.

I clipped your little ear
more than once, didn't I?

You did, Zillah. You did, yes.

I was always in the Post Office.

Must have been
the lure of your pastries.

- Matthew, please sit down.
- Sir Timothy.

Now we're all here.

Almost.

Just like the old days.

You, Thomas, remember
your first day as a postman,

in your uniform?

It was too big for you.

You were so proud!

You, Matthew, was there ever a time
when you weren't one of us?

There was. But then,
there was my father before me.

And you.

Growing up here as a...

child, a boy...

Did I ever tell you how grateful I was?

We gathered that by the amount
of pastries you put away, sir.

Thank you, my friends,
for indulging me.

I think my wife deserves

at least a little of what
is left of me tonight, so

if you will excuse me, goodnight.

Goodnight, sir.

Morning.

Beautiful morning.

Adelaide, what is it?

You're not to get excited cos it's, erm,

just a feeling but...

I've been looking
at the calendar and erm...

but don't make any assumptions
until I've seen Dr Ingrams.

And you must promise me,
you mustn't tell a soul.

So many things I'm not allowed to do!
Am I allowed to kiss you?

I think that might be
exactly what I need.

- You said you'd be finished yesterday.
- I said perhaps yesterday.

A job takes as long as it takes
if it's to be done right.

Well, at least we know they
will pay when it's completed.

So, what's your next job?

Miss Peeble's flint wall
needs repairing.

- When do you start that?
- When this one's finished.

Why do you keep going on about it?

It's not just this month's rent
we need to think about.

- Have we ever missed the rent?
- Robert,

I know that mending flint walls
is not what you want to be doing,

But it's work.

You're too quiet.

I know you.

What is it that you're not saying?

Go on, out!

Good boy.

Go on, say it.

I've worked hard to better myself,
give myself a skill, and here I am,

mending flint walls
and school buildings.

Oh, your usual story
of how we're stuck here

in this God-forgotten place...

- Well, it's true...
- Only concerned with yourself again,

when we have four children
to feed and clothe and raise...

- Five. We have five children to raise.
- Laura is gone.

And if you think I am
holding you back...

You see how it's always
turned against me.

I just want to feel
the blood in my veins,

pour myself into my work,
and you cast me as a villain,

selfish, ready to run away
from my responsibilities.

Robert... I'm sorry.

It was wrong of me to say that.

It's what I fear, that's all.

That this life is not enough for you.

I'm not enough for you.

You're supposed to say it is.

I am enough.

It is.

Then why don't I feel it?

Sunday morning came and no-one
could have been more surprised

than I, to find Thomas in his uniform.

He looked to be in such anguish.

Here it was, his great day.

Thomas Brown was to preach
to his own congregation.

Yet he was nowhere to be seen.

You saw him in his uniform?

Six days shall you labour.

But the seventh day is the Holy Day.

A man cannot claim to serve God,

unless he overcomes

all of his petty fears
and selfish desires.

I copied those sentiments
from the Book.

I can quote you any manner
of chapters and verses.

And I won't deny that I love that book.

But what if those fears...

don't feel petty?

Now, here, today,

what then?

What if a man's desire

is to do his work
and take his day of rest

and use that day in
whatever way he chooses?

I choose THIS place.

I know that I go about preaching
devotion and sacrifice.

Perhaps God...

saw fit to put me to the test.

My heart tells me that I have failed.

My courage snapped in the night
and I couldn't put it back together.

But I stand here now because

I want my devotion back.

If we believe, then we must live by

that belief, no matter what the cost.

Today...

is the Sabbath day,

and what I see before me...

is your faith.

You give me strength.

I thank you.

Why did I not simply tell Laura

to ask Micky McCarthy to
come back another night?

- I think you know why, Dorcas.
- Yes.

I was determined to take Mr Rushton on.

And look where it's got me.

- And that's not the worst of it.
- It isn't?

I have done something far worse
to him than he has to me.

I don't understand.

I crushed him, Timothy.

Quite deliberately.

I saw something in him...

a wound, a need.

And I taunted him at every opportunity.

I humiliated the man without mercy.

Well, he certainly seems
to have got beneath your skin.

And do you think that people were moved?

Oh, yes. I was moved.

It was very moving.

You don't realise how moving
you can be Thomas Brown.

Excuse us. Good morning.

I see you have an admirer, Thomas.

Miss Ellison?

It is the sermon
she rightly admires, ma'am.

I'm not so sure.

She was hanging on your every word
with that certain twinkle in her eye.

I can assure you, ma'am,
I gave her no cause to... twinkle.

You may not have intended it, Thomas,

but your passion seems to put some
colour in Miss Ellison's cheeks.

Yes, sir.

Sir, sir?

- Has she threatened you with dismissal?
- No, Ma.

Then what is the fear
I can see in your face?

I haven't told Miss Lane
about the lost parcel.

Well, I'll speak with Dorcas
if you're so worried.

What happened?

Ma, please don't speak
with Miss Lane on my behalf.

She's having a difficult time of it
and I don't want to add to her burden.

And you're hoping
Alf will find the parcel,

is that it?

Possibly.

Ma, let me speak with Miss Lane.

- Please.
- I have come all this way...

Please, Ma.

There was a time you used
to tell me all of your troubles.

Isn't she growing fast?

What are you doing?

I'm finding something that's lost.

What might that be?

I ain't minded to tell.

I'll tell you this much,
you'll know it when you see it.

Well, that might be something
I know something about.

- Are you sure you had the parcel?
- I'm certain.

I know it.

I think so.

I sort of remember it.

I could've imagined it.

- Philip, what happened?
- I found him in a ditch, ma'am.

Get him inside, quickly.

Take him straight up to my room.

Laura, quickly, fetch Dr Ingrams.

Tell me again, Philip.

It was the strangest thing, ma'am.

He was lying there.

It was his eyes, they...

they seemed to be open
but he made no sound

and no effort to get up. It was like...

Go on, say it.

Like he was wasting away
there in the ditch.

And he knew it.

Helena...

Helena...

It's beautiful.

But when did beauty ever pay the rent?

I am sorry, Em. I just got
caught up in the passion of it.

It was like it was waiting,
calling to me.

I suppose you can't leave
the poor thing unfinished.

- I can and I will.
- Oh, no, you won't.

If you think I'm going to have
the whole county

pointing at that thing
for 100 years and saying,

"Emma Timmins was the harridan
who had the..."

"charming angel
killed in the making... "

I'll finish it, then.

And have your children
eat cabbage for supper?

You've already killed the beauty of it.

So, go on, say some more.
Kill a bit more of the heart in me.

Why did you marry me, Em?

Why does a woman choose a man
for what he is -

his passions, his strengths

and then one by one
take these things away from him?

It's beautiful.

Please finish it.

Helena. Helena.

Helena.

I'm not Helena, Mr Rushton.

I'm Dorcas.

Dorcas Lane.

You are in the Candleford Post Office.

You had an accident.

Helena...

I tried... to stop loving you.

I can't, I can't do it.

If only you knew how I have been living,

every day is an agony of need for you.

I believed your promises.

I gave my whole life and soul

over to believing that you would
one day be with me, Helena.

Helena.

I can't stop wanting you.

Helena.

Miss Lane, I have something
I must tell you.

I have been waiting
for the right moment.

So much has happened.

And if I don't tell you soon, I fear
I will burst with the dread of it.

- About what you said to Mr Rushton?
- No, ma'am, it's the parcel.

The Misses Pratts'.

I took out their parcel.

It came two days ago.

I took it out and I lost it.

And I take full responsibility, ma'am.

And I've searched.

And I know it's unforgivable because
the Post Office's reputation...

The Pratt sisters will have to be told.

And I must tell them.

I have failed you, Laura.

You deserved more guidance
than I have given you.

Taking on a postal round
is more than learning a route

and knowing the names of your customers.

You deserved to be taught
the pitfalls that come your way,

just as my father taught them to me.

The thing of it is, you're young,

and young people do young things,
make young mistakes.

I should make my apologies
to Ruby and Pearl at once.

They need to know the parcel is lost,

so they can send out notices
to their customers.

Oh, Miss Lane... Miss Lane.

Thank you. Thank you.
You were as good as your word.

Delivered the minute it arrived.

We were most impressed
to find the parcel waiting for us

- on the doorstep at dawn!
- Supreme service. The best.

Yes, just as you promised.

Your reputation for dependability
is well-deserved.

Although the parcel did smell peculiar.

- It did smell.
- Those French...

They're like a different race.

A different race!

They're like a different race.

A different race!

Come along now, this way.

Mr Rushton.

Am I allowed to say
how well you look today?

You are.

If I am allowed not to believe you.

You are.

Perhaps we could have
a pot of tea in the garden.

Consider the water boiled, ma'am.

Tea in the garden
is my one weakness!

- Miss Lane...
- Dorcas, please.

Dorcas.

I want to explain. I think...

last night, in my delirium,
I made some...

deranged utterances.

When I was a young girl,

I fell in love with a man I had
no right to fall in love with.

I convinced myself that
a miracle was possible,

that love was enough
to overcome all difficulties.

You're telling me this to show me
it's possible to recover?

A broken heart can take on many forms.

Loneliness CAN wear a smile.

Dorcas...

it can be unappealing for a woman

to always be the fount of wisdom.

- What's that for?
- The parcel!

Ruby and Pearl were delighted
to find it on their doorstep.

You didn't even tell me you'd found it!

Because...

Because I didn't reckon that
needed any more fuss about it.

A month's work!

More than a month's!

At top wages!

- What are you talking about, man?
- Sir Timothy, the Manor.

He wants me to repair statues, carvings,

everything, and new ones.

He saw the angel. A month's work!

And fine work.

Erm, on the matter of the
Sunday collection, sir.

- Ah, yes...
- What I was going to say, sir, was...

- If I ain't broken every bone...
- Are you all right?

in my body, it's a miracle!

- Pull!
- Help, help. Get me out!

I knew it'd be me that would
land up down there.

I've known it half my life, I have!

And I ain't having it,
I ain't having it, I ain't!

I think, Thomas, that perhaps

we'd best review the Sunday collection
on another occasion.

I was... mistaken.

I'm sorry.

Please, sont be sorry.

Not for my sake. You mustn't feel
any need to apologise.

You... kept your promise to me,
didn't you, Timothy?

To tell no one.

It's humiliating enough
without everyone...

The joys of marriage
one shares with the world,

the sorrows one shares with
each other. Yes, I kept my promise.

How long will you wait?

There are rumours at Head Office

that this illness has put thoughts of
retirement in Arnold Drinkwater's mind.

Perhaps that will mean we will see
you next year then, Mr Rushton?

I will send a telegram in advance.

- If that is appropriate?
- That would be appreciated.

Zillah does need plenty of warning
to prepare a sumptuous table.

Philip teased me that I saved
a man's life by losing a parcel.

Perhaps he was right.

However it found its
way to the Pratts' door,

our reputation was restored

and Mr Rushton could file his report,

confirming the good name of
the Candleford Post Office.

Some visitors came back to us,

others never returned.

Perhaps we were all like those fields,

dreaming in the sunshine.

Waiting for a future we knew nothing of.