Lark Rise to Candleford (2008–2011): Season 3, Episode 10 - Episode #3.10 - full transcript

Bessie Mullins,the biggest gossip in Lark Rise, points the finger at Daniel when her daughter Emily gets pregnant and refuses to name the father. She has no proof and nobody believes her until Minnie sees Daniel give Emily money. Dorcas discovers he was only acting as agent for the real father, son of Emily's wealthy employers who have sent him abroad in disgrace. Bessie apologizes to Daniel and, although considering returning the money as a gesture of defiance, decides it is better for the baby if she and Emily keep it. Twister sulks when Queenie sells his chair to pay the rent and Minnie and Alf get close though a letter from Fisher Bloom to say he is returning to the area drives a wedge between Laura and Daniel.

LAURA: Hamlet folk often said that
you could see gossip coming out of

Mrs Mullins's mouth, like steam.

The local wives dreaded the sight
of her keys on her finger,

for if her door was locked,

it meant she was all set
for a morning's tittle-tattle.

Oh, Queenie.

If nothing worth reporting
had happened,

Mrs Mullins was quite capable
of inventing something.

Another one?

Now keep your eyes on the button...

The locals found gossip and scandal
mostly to be harmless entertainment.



Where's it gone?

Now...Emily,

it comes back...as a shilling!

Teach me that trick, Daniel.
I might never have to work again.

If I was 17, I'd be swooning
with the rest of them.

Ain't I glad
my swooning days are over!

But sometimes it could spill over
into something more dangerous.

I know it for a fact!
Two boyfriends!

Oh, Bessie!

Lord Strumpshaw he might be,
up in his big house,

but he cusses like a ruffian.
I know it for a fact!

He drinks like a ruffian an' all!
Falling down drinking.

Bessie, you do like to exaggerate.

He treats his servants
like they were slaves.



Shouting at 'em, cussing.

Poor Lord Strumpshaw.

I expect his gout
is tormenting him again.

Miss Lane, I ain't one to gossip,

but I heard they found him in the
garden, nose in the flower beds.

I wonder what you say about me,
Bessie,

after you have been
for a visit to the post office.

Do I gorge cake in the parlour?

Am I cruel and unforgiving
to my staff?

I wouldn't say a word about you,
Miss Lane, now, would I?

Oh, you do look heavenly in white.

I always say to my Emily, don't Miss
Lane look like the Angel Gabriel herself!

Gabriel was a man.

Perhaps I meant his sister.

One of them angels.

Oh, Mr P! Oh, I have something
you ought to know.

My Emily works up at the Strumpshaw
house, and the things she tells me,

the things that go on,
you ought to put it in your paper.

"Sir" he might be,
but he cusses like a ruffian.

Drinks like a ruffian an' all.

Mrs Mullins, I'm not sure
that I can print hearsay

about such a well-regarded
local family.

Regarded?
Oh, that's why you should print it.

There's poor scullery maids
bawled at the day long.

Poor family, his wife and children.
Such a father.

Now, Bessie,
I am heading over to the grocer's.

Walk with me and tell me all about
Lord Strumpshaw.

Miss Lane, where you lead,
I shall follow.

Ain't you at work today, Emily?
I heard you'd found a daily place

as a scullery maid up
at the Strumpshaw house.

I been feeling out of sorts.

Oh, Emily, you ain't too out of sorts
to admire your own reflection, are you?

Your mother coddles you, child.

Can't you see she needs you
to help her?

- Why, Emily, there's many a girl
out there would jump at the chance

of such a position.

Emma!

When Mrs Herring comes by,

you're not to say you've seen me.

I ain't asking you to lie -just don't tell
her what you don't need to tell her.

Have you no rent money to give her,
Queenie?

Ssh, ssh! And no way
of knowing where to find it neither.

Laura...what is an accountant?

He's the man who comes in
to look at Miss Lane's books

to tell her
how the post office is prospering.

Oh. Only, Miss Lane do look fretted
by what he is saying to her.

She does, doesn't she?

If things is bad, we'll all be
turned out and have nowhere to live.

Miss Lane might end up
in the workhouse.

Oh, Minnie, really!

Ask yourself, is that at all likely?

And that Dorcas Lane...

I know for a fact
she's ordered another new outfit.

The life of cakes and gooses!

She enjoys the luxuries
and who is it does all the work?

Oh, there's a sight. Queenie Turrill
toadying up to the tallyman.

Oh, she's likely just passing
the time of day, is all.

Queenie ain't the sort to have
dealings with the tallyman.

The need of a few pennies
can make folks do things

that ain't even in their own nature.

Our Emily!

Look at you sitting there when there's
tatties to scrub and floors to peel!

Oh!

How is it you're home so early?

Has the old Lord
been bawling at you?

I'll soon set him to rights,
Lord or no Lord.

I just been feeling out of sorts,
that's all.

Then you have a lie down, my petal.

I'll fetch you some supper.

Minnie, why have you given me
such a small portion?

Oh, I see that we all have
small slices.

It is half a portion of cake, ma'am,

which means the cake will last twice
as long, which means the ingredients

will cost half as much, which means
we'll be twice as well off.

Are we economising, Minnie?

We are, ma'am.
And cutting our clothes as well.

Cutting our cloth. But why are we?

For the books, ma'am.
For the accountant.

- So we don't land on the street.
- Oh, Minnie.

I saw your face, ma'am, so full of worries
at the numbers and the adding up.

Ma'am, if times are hard
for the post office...

Listen to the two of you!
Times have never been better,

which is what has so unsettled me.

I look around me and I see...
such struggle everywhere.

Yet post offices up and down
the country are thriving of late.

My problem is I have
all I could wish for in this world.

So perhaps the best thing I can do
is spread the boon around.

I have a small bonus here
for each of you.

Thank you, ma'am.

I shall buy a hat and a ribbon and
a frock and shoes and a petticoat.

I don't think it will go that far,
Minnie.

Well, perhaps not the petticoat.

No-one will ever see the petticoat,
only me.

Keep still, won't you?

Now a bit of salt.

Look after your teeth,
and they'll look after you.

What is it, my flower?

Is it a fever coming?

Or a pain or an ache or a sickness?

I ain't never known you so quiet.

You're like your ma -
talking makes the world go round.

Only time I ever went silent was when
I found out I was pregnant with you!

And I was in such a shock, I could hardly
open my mouth to make any sense.

Tell me it ain't true.

How could you?!

We can hardly afford to feed the four
of us on what I make in the fields.

Having children with no man,
it is hard.

Ain't your ma's own life enough
to make you see?

- Well, he shall marry you,
whoever he is. - He can't.

Can't? Can't, is it?

Oh, is he married?

Oh, Ma, stop this, please.

- He ain't married.
- Well, who is he, then?

- I can't say.
- It can't be no hamlet boy.

There ain't one you so much as
like the look of.

Oh, Ma, stop this, please!
Don't ask me.

I saw the lights on

and thought I'd find you here,
toiling away into the night.

I left the light on to entice you.

Am I so easily hooked?

I cannot shake off the fear that
you will find Candleford too quiet,

not exciting enough for you.

You will become restless and...

When will you see what is right
in front of you, Laura Timmins?

I am here
because I have found what I...

Don't say it.

Show me.

(DOOR OPENS, CLOSES, LOCKS)

My easy chair...

it ain't there.

That's because it's gone.

The tallyman took it.
He gave me two pounds.

- That'll see us through the winter.
- But...that is the seat I sit on.

- You can take my chair.
- I had my own dear chair all my life.

My chair ain't worth no money,
or I'd have sold that first.

We need food, Twister.

Winter is coming.

Look down the lane.

It's the old folk
who can't pay the rent

who get taken away to the workhouse.

Is that what you want?

Your chair is all we have
worth something.

We might have decided together.

You would have fought me,

resisted.

It had to be done!

Not even told.

Not even asked.

(DOOR OPENS, CLOSES)

Daniel. Daniel Parish.

Daniel?! Surely not!

Bessie, you can't throw around
such accusations.

- I know it for a fact!
- But Daniel's our Laura's boy.

Edmund, Ethel, Frank - upstairs.

- Go on with you.
- That is why I am here

to tell you the kind of man he is.

How can you stand there and say
such things in front of my children?

Is that all you can think of?!
What about my girl?

Her whole life is ruined! I will not
have him getting away with this.

Ain't we all seen how he is
such a charmer with all the girls?

- That means nothing.
- Do we know him?

Know him properly?
He ain't a local boy.

And neither am I.

We cannot damn the man on
the say of a girl like your Emily.

She hardly knows what day it is
half the time.

See how you turn it back?!
Blame us, blame Emily...

There's something wrong here.
I cannot believe this is true.

- But why would she say such a thing?
- Em...

Why would she say his name unless...?

Emma, hold your tongue.
You've said your piece.

I feel for you. It must be
a torment, your girl pregnant,

but you be careful where you throw
such charges, for your own sake, Bessie.

You don't want it to be true,
that's what.

Well, I must do right by Emily.

And I intend to.

(DOOR OPENS, CLOSES)

Em, I am sorry I snapped at you.

But we must stand together in this.
We cannot add our doubts to hers

until we know more, until Daniel
has had his chance to answer.

Our Laura...

what will this do to her?

Emily!

Why?

How could you say
such a thing about Daniel?

I ain't said nothing about Daniel.

But your ma came to our house
last night.

My ma has decided. I can't stop her,
no matter what I say.

Where is she? Where is your ma?
She's away to Candleford.

Nothing I say will hold her.

If you tell her,

if you tell your ma
who the boy is...

Don't you see what you're doing
to Daniel?

To all of us. Can you only ever
think of Emily Mullins?

It ain't your life in pieces,
is it, Laura Timmins?

Emily...

please...

Anyway, everything will be
just right.

Why will it?

I have an idea it will.

Emily, my dear, can you see?

If you hold this a secret, then your ma
is going to chase after her own notions.

It's the way your ma is.

She can't let something like this go.

Come on.

I must get back to Candleford.

Do you suppose Mr Paxton might
let me have the loan of his cart?

Did you hear what she said?
"Everything will be just right."

Whoever the father of her child is,
she is in love with him.

She believes in him.

Mrs Mullins will be there by now.

I ain't accusing, I'm asking.
Did you do this to my daughter?

- Mrs Mullins, I...
- Answer me. Is it your child?

I have done nothing wrong.

- I am not to blame for this.
- I knew you would deny it.

- That is the kind of man you are.
- Bessie...

wouldn't you rather come in
off the street to discuss this?

I wouldn't care if this was
Candleford or Windsor Castle.

- I shall stand here and say my piece!
- These are serious, damaging allegations.

If you make them before
the whole town and you are wrong...

Is this yours?

I...

It looks like...

It could be.

How did our Emily
come to have it, then?

It means nothing.

It's not as though...

I must have dropped it. I use it
in a silly trick I do sometimes.

- A trick. - How can you
stand there so heartless?

It is you! I know it! I can see
the guilt of it in your face!

Do you not have a care for my Emily?

How can you? How can any man?

Bessie, come on, with me, inside.
(BESSIE GASPS)

Alfie!

You must store my banjo away for me,
out of sight, hidden up.

Twister, there ain't no need
for you to think like that.

Queenie would never sell your banjo.

Would she not? A woman
who can do such a thing as she did?

I've known her all these years,
and now...

I don't know her.

You'll see. When the cold nights
come in, you'll see she was right.

A man ought to be able to come home
and find his easy chair where it should be.

Why must you make so much of it?

Because, if your chair is gone...

nothing is safe.

Queenie ain't doing this to hurt you,
so why must you take it so hard?

But that's just it, see.

She knew this would break my heart
and she went and did it anyway.

If that ain't the betrayal of a man,
then I don't know what is.

Betrayal is so...big.

I know.

I feel it.

But, Bessie, if Emily is telling you
that it is not Daniel's...

She is only saying that to protect
him. He has told her to deny it.

Emily will doubtless be afraid
of what might happen,

what you might say or do.

She is right to be anxious
if your first reaction

is to come to Candleford
to confront Daniel on the street.

If you can make Emily feel safe...

It is him. I know it.
He will not get away with this,

you will all see.

Bessie, please.

I have no vested interest
in this matter.

Can you trust
that all I want is to help you?

Can you?

Good.

That is a start.

This is a delicate situation,
which requires delicate unpicking.

Would you agree?

Miss Lane, where you lead,
I shall follow.

Bessie, if you fix on the idea that
Daniel is to blame, you might not...

It might prevent you from seeing,
well...

your daughter's...

How shall I put this?

Emily is an attractive girl.

There may be many boys
who take a fancy to her.

Didn't I know it! You are saying
my Emily is a flirt and a harlot.

I am saying no such thing.
I am asking you...

He is a charmer.

He's charmed you,
same as he's charmed all the girls.

But I ain't fooled by him.
I will hound him till he admits it,

till he is shamed
and ruined and made to pay!

You are determined
to make things worse.

I am alone.

I always have been.

I always will be.

But that ain't going to stop me.

- It ain't true, is it, Daniel?
- No, Minnie, it isn't true.

- I believe you, don't I?
- Thank you, Minnie.

No-one could do such a thing
to Laura, could they?

- Then why's she saying it?
- She's upset.

Mrs Mullins is the kind of woman
who needs to lash out.

But why is she saying it's you?

It's a mistake.

That is all.

It was kind of you to come, Minnie.

You know that no part of me
believes this, don't you, Daniel?

Yes, I see it. But the whole town
will be doubting me.

Daniel!

You're a journalist, ain't you?

So you could find out who the true pa is,
and no-one will blame you any more.

How could I do that?

Only one person knows - Emily.

Two persons knows.

The pa knows.

You're right, Minnie.
We must discover who it is.

Someone might have seen Emily
with a boy.

If Emily won't say, then all we would
achieve would be to make accusations.

- We'd be no better than Mrs Mullins.
- But if this foolish girl won't help you

by telling the truth, then you have
every right to try and clear your name.

Yes. Perhaps that's true.

Someone always knows something.

Then, of course, we must.

ROBERT: You read it, Frank.

Everyone at work knows about
Emily Mullins. They're all talking,

saying it must be Daniel.

Is that so?

And what do you believe...

Edmund?

I don't know.

- I want to believe...him, but...
- Look at me.

We must decide who we trust

and who we don't.

And once we have made that decision,

we must live by that
until we know different.

Life will bring along things
that will make us doubt.

But if we let our faith
in each other slip away,

then we are no more than weaklings.

Trust someone, hold on to it,

and it will give you peace.

Now, about Daniel...

you must decide.

Pa...

if you believe that...

don't you have to do
something about it?

(KNOCKING)

EMMA: Queenie! What's happened?

There is such a look
in Twister's face.

I ain't never seen
the like in him before.

I'm a stranger to my own husband.

Twister will come back to you.

He always does.

I can't bear what I see in his eyes.

It ain't anger, Emma.

It is such hurt.

I don't know how
I shall ever win his trust again.

I know Twister.

If he could get his chair back,

he would forget his ill feelings
the second his behind hit the cushion.

I was told that Emily was friendly
with one of the footmen

up at the Strumpshaw house.

And the baker boy's been flirting
with her for months.

It's all hearsay.

We might never know.

Ma says whoever it is,
she's still in love with him,

so likely she'll go to see him
or make some contact.

We can't have folks go on
wondering about you, Daniel.

I have you, Laura.

You believe me.

That is all I need.

Alfie!

I have an envelope.

So I see.

No. What I mean is,
the envelope is for you.

What I mean is,
there is money in it.

- For you.
- What money?

It is mine. Now it is yours.

Minnie, you ain't making no sense.

The post office is rich.

So Miss Lane give some money to me,
because I am deserving.

And I'm giving it to you,
because you're poor,

and I don't need a petticoat.

Who do you think you are
to pity me, to give me money?!

Yes, I am poor.

I am sick of being poor.

And I am sick of people barging into my life
as if they have the right!

You look as if you have had a shock,
Laura.

A shock? No, ma'am.

I saw you on the street with Daniel.

I was very proud of you.

Has something happened?

No, ma'am.

If you'll excuse me...

First I thought I'd buy a petticoat.

Then I thought, but I do love
the one Laura gave me for my best.

So then I decided
I would buy a dress

and I would go over to Lark Rise,

and Alfie would see me
in the prettiest dress.

But then I started to think,

what if he thinks I'm all hoity
in new clothes and he's so poor?

So I took up the idea
that I might give the money to him.

That seemed like the best notion,

because he has such a need
with his sisters and all.

So I did try to give it to Alfie.

But he was...

like he'd been struck.

Minnie...I'm sure Alf knew
you meant well.

Perhaps, for a working man,

the idea of charity from...

Ma'am, I am decided
I must give this money back to you.

Don't rush to such a decision.

- Consider...
- I'm afraid of it, ma'am.

- What are you doing out here, Emily?
- Alfie...

You love Patience, don't you?

Patience is the best thing
that's ever happened in my life.

- But taking care of a baby's hard.
- I have my ma.

You do. But still I have a man's wages,
and it's hard enough to keep us going.

People think I'm a foolish,
silly girl, but I ain't.

I don't think you're foolish, Emily.

I think you're afraid.

I'm thinking, but I ain't going
to tell anyone what I'm thinking.

And I'm waiting.

We're all waiting.

But what comes along ain't usually
what you're waiting for, that's all.

Emily, girl, you are the talk
on every gossip's tongue.

And it is thanks to your ma.

There ain't a soul I passed all day
wants to hear about my easy chair.

Ain't you going home to sit down?

A log is only a log.

Ain't no-one going to wait
till my back is turned

and give no lump of wood
to no tallyman.

This ain't one of your tales to take from
door to door to prove you are right.

I might expect such talk from Candleford,
but even in Lark Rise I am alone.

Soft words ain't no good to you,
Bessie. I'll tell you what I see.

You have no proof of anything,
no real cause,

but you go at it like you've been
bitten by the Devil himself.

Why is that, do you suppose?

I have three children,

and each man has left me
to struggle.

All I have is their sweet words
ringing in my ears -

promises.

I have had enough of believing men.

But not this time.

You might not admit it, Bessie,
but you are so angry.

A whole history of men, and now you
have someone to point your anger at.

Daniel Parish, a charmer. Handsome,
a man life has been kind to.

The injustice of it, in your mind,
makes you blind to what is true.

And you know what is true, do you,
Robert Timmins Almighty?

I know reason.

When I met Daniel Parish,
I doubted him.

But as I got to know him,
I believe him.

Let me ask you this -

did your Emma ever doubt you?

- The very man you are?
- Why?

Ain't a true man always a true man?

Ain't there a reason we have doubts?

Suppose you let go
of your own fixed ideas?

Suppose you took in the possibility?

I'll tell you why you are so
determined to prove me wrong.

Because if you stand still for long
enough, you will have to admit it.

You doubt.

Alfie,

I'll tell you what I know.

Emily Mullins ain't no more than
a foolish, feather-haired girl!

(BABY CRIES)

Let me tell you what I know -
she was waiting.

Gentlemen.

Emily, you might think you have
to protect him, but you don't.

Whoever the man is,
you owe it to yourself,

you owe it to your ma, to speak out.

You are young. Your whole life
hangs on this moment.

- You must find the courage to speak.
- You think it will help.

You all think it will mend
everything if I say.

It won't.

I know what this means.

I know what I am doing to my ma,

the pain I've caused.

Emily, you were seen
waiting up by the spinney.

Who were you waiting for?

I will never say who the pa is,
do you hear me?

I cannot!

And if you want me to leave, I will.

I will go.

No, my darling. No.
This is your home.

EMMA: What are you doing out here
at this time, Queenie?

I might ask you the same question.

Robert is turning in his bed
like a two-year-old.

I know I did the right thing,
selling that chair.

I had no choice.

But still I doubt myself.

When that tallyman comes by again,
I shall buy it back from him.

What about the rent?

What is she up to now?

I shall tell her ma
she is skulking about at night.

I shall go after her.

No, Emma. Emily is beyond reaching.

Only she herself can undo
this business. Leave her be.

- Money?
- I saw him give it Emily.

Ma'am, I asked Daniel, and he promised me
it weren't him, and I believed him.

It seems we have no choice but to accept
that Daniel has a charge to answer.

I ain't never going to believe
no-one ever again.

But it still doesn't make sense
to me.

It isn't quite clear.

Ma'am, if I may, it can't be much
clearer than money in the night,

in secret, from him to her,
in secret.

I think it could be clearer.

Something is missing...

still.

(DOOR OPENS)

Laura. What are you doing up?

I can't seem to sleep, ma'am.
I thought I might take a walk.

There is such a chill in the air,
I will not permit you to go out.

Sit with us and have some toast
with lashings of hot butter.

Why are you two up at this hour?

The money.

I mean, my money.

It has been keeping me awake
what I should do about it.

So I am going to keep it
until I am more wise.

Is it the shovel that's vexed you
or is it the earth?

I'd as well be on my own today,
Twister.

I've been thinking,

a person betrays you, the reason
it hurts so bad is because...

you love them...perhaps.

Twister, I ain't in the mood for you
to stand there and tell me

every little twitch of a thought you
might have about feelings or love or...

I ain't in the mood.

Ain't the shovel or the earth
that's nettled you, is it?

A kindness. A simple, well-meant
kindness from a kind person.

I snapped and I snarled.

Why is that?

So much emotion, and I have no
notion where it come from.

(TWISTER CHUCKLES)

What?

Would it be a girl?

Daniel, I have always considered
myself a good judge of character...

mostly.

Where my daughter is concerned,
I am so protective,

my wife says
I am impossible to please.

Is that the reason for your visit,
Mr Timmins?

Emily Mullins was seen waiting in a
quiet spot until she was disturbed.

Seems like she was...waiting for
someone.

Then you came along.

Well, I can understand how people might
make something of a coincidence like that,

under the circumstances.

Are you saying you were not there
to meet with her?

If I were meeting Emily, would I arrange
a spot where we could be so easily found

by Twister and Alf?

That sounds to me
like the answer of a man

who can turn a button
into a shilling.

I'm asking you to accept that I am
honourable in this, Mr Timmins.

Interesting word - honourable.

Not quite the same as innocent.

If you were the father
of Emily Mullins's child,

you would not sit before me now

without every bone in your body
shaking with fear.

You would not dare look me
in the eye as you do now.

But you do hold a secret
about you.

So I decided...
it must be something else.

- Am I right?
- I cannot say.

You must.

I cannot say.

Let me warn you -

I know my daughter.

If you lose her trust,

you will not get it back.

I realise how this must feel,
our Laura.

No matter how much
you believe in Daniel,

it creeps in -

fear and doubt...

Ma, I have no doubts about Daniel.

I know, I know that.

But still,
it can haunt the best of us.

It can be so disturbing.
I can see it in your face.

Ma, please, stop. Stop talking.

Stop saying, "Daniel, Daniel,
Daniel". I cannot bear it.

This is not about Daniel.
This is not what you think.

You all suppose you know me.

You do not know me.

I am more than Daniel's girl.

I am more than your daughter.

I am more than Miss Lane's
assistant. I have my own life.

My own emotions.

I cannot abide one more day
with you supposing that...

Well!

Where did that come from?

I received a letter.

From Fisher.

Fisher Bloom.
I know which Fisher.

There aren't many Fishers out there.
What did he say?

Oh, lordy!

Ah!

Lord and Lady Strumpshaw
have received a telegram.

Shall I fetch Laura, ma'am?

I believe I will deliver it myself,
Minnie.

Laura, your pa seems to think that I am
at risk of losing your trust in me.

I would never do anything...

I hope that you see that.

I don't know what your pa
might have said to you.

Has he said anything to you?

Because there is nothing
I cannot explain.

Laura, you have no reason
to doubt me.

I don't doubt you, Daniel.

I can feel something.
You're not the same.

Has your pa spoken to you about this?
It might be that you are concerned...

Why must it be? Why must
everything I feel be about you?

I am only trying to impress upon you

that whatever you might hear,
I am true to you in this.

Do you see?

In all of this,
I am always true to you.

I...

I must get back.

Please, tell me
what is troubling you

and I promise you,
whatever it is, I can answer it.

You are wrong, Daniel.

You cannot answer it.

Master Raymond is gone, Emily.

His parents have sent him abroad.

The carriage has taken him
to London.

He boards a ship tomorrow.

Raymond is hardly more than a boy.

He must do as his parents say.

It is him, isn't it?

I do not know why
you cannot tell your mother.

But it is not for anyone else,
certainly not for me to tell her.

Can't you speak with her about it?

What is Daniel's part in this,
Emily?

Why would you go to see him
in the night?

Child, the only way
to mend this is to talk.

Let those around you help.
(DOOR OPENS)

Mrs Mullins, excuse me intruding,
but I wanted to see how Emily was faring.

Is that so?

Well, you ain't never called in before
to see how we was faring, has you?

It occurred to me if there was
anything I could do to help.

Why do you suppose
we would want your help?

Sitting here in my cottage
like you own the place.

Mrs Mullins...Bessie.

It's all very well
for the likes of Dorcas Lane.

The life you live.

And you sit in judgement on us.

You have no idea what it means.

My wish to help is genuine.

But I cannot tell you
what is the truth of all this.

Only your daughter can do that.

You know something, don't you?

You know it is him. Is that
why you're here? Did he send you?

No-one sent me.
You know, I can see it!

Ma, stop this, please.

I hope your conscience torments you.

I can only repeat...

My wish to help is genuine.

How many years have
I done right by you?

Now I make one mistake.

I am 'uman. I have failings.

I never intended to hurt you.

The tallyman will come back this way

and we will get your chair
returned to you.

Then perhaps I can have your head
where it ought to be.

Next to mine.

MRS MULLINS: Emily?

What are you doing, our Emily?

Show me.

You show me, girl!

I know what this is.

So-called help.

- What is it, ma'am?
- A savings book, and it is yours.

And is my money in it?

It is.

Ma'am, a savings book is more
exciting than a petticoat, ain't it?

I wouldn't go that far, Minnie.

And I kept a little aside so you
might buy yourself some toffee.

Savings AND toffees?!

(BELL TINKLES)

We don't want your money.

I don't quite follow.

This is not my money.

It ain't for the likes of you
to meddle in my business.

It isn't money that we want.

It is a bit of justice.

Believe me,

much as it might
make me feel a little better

to use my own good fortune
to try to ease your burden,

giving money is not
what I meant by help.

It ain't from you?

I promise you it is not.

But this money might tell us
something.

How many people could afford
to do this? Not Daniel Parish.

Consider...

Who could afford this kind of money?

Someone who has been in contact
with Emily these past months?

(GASPS)

Oh.

Oh!

Twister, it's the tallyman.

Not gone once, but twice.

But you know
I'd have bought it back for you.

You do know that now?

Twister is hurting so much because
I didn't tell him what I was planning.

I kept him in the dark till it was
too late for him to do anything.

I felt I had to or he would stop me
from doing what was needed,

because of how he is.

I was right. He would.

(DOOR OPENS)

Then we'd have no money
to pay the rent.

And I was wrong,

because if you can't be true
to the one you live with,

and the one you love,

your ma,

if you keep this hid from her,

she will be tormented.

And how she is...

she will never let it be.

You could give her some peace

by telling her,

whoever the boy is.

There's no shame in this, Emily.

How could I say...

it were Master Raymond?

My ma would charge up to the big house,
rail at the gates, cussing.

Did you tell Master Raymond
about this?

There was such fear in his eyes
when I told him.

Truly terrified.

He said he would come
meet with me the next day,

but he didn't come.

I had to tell someone,

ask where Raymond was.

I knew Daniel was a friend of his.

He said he would speak with him.

But the message he came back with...

(SOBS)

...it was impossible.

His family insisted...

on denying everything.

So I realised

if I said that Master Raymond
were the pa and no-one believed me,

what would that be like for this child,
to live their whole life with that?

I couldn't let you do that
to the child, Ma.

If everyone knew,
I'd have had to run away.

I had to hide it from you in order
to stay here, to be with you.

Oh, my petal.

Look what I have done to you...

with my need to take on
the whole world.

Mr Parish.

I want to apologise to you

for saying the things that I said,

accusing you here on the street.

I know better now.

All you ever wanted to do
was help my daughter

and I caused you
nothing but woe and trouble.

And other folks too.

So, Daniel, it seems
Master Raymond has gone away.

Abroad, on a boat, I hear.

Quite...sudden, like.

I believe it is considered
good for his education.

You gave that money to Emily
from the Strumpshaws, didn't you?

The family wanted to help.

Without admitting responsibility,
that is usually the way.

It is something.

Yes, I can see that.

Daniel, come for a meal
at the End House.

Our children are keen to learn that
trick with the button and the shilling.

For once in my life
I have come to ask advice...

before I do what my temper
is telling me to do.

And what is your temper
telling you to do?

To take this money up to the big house,
and throw it through those gates.

- And why would you do such a thing?
- Because I feel bought.

My whole family, bought.

Nothing more than...
slop to be disposed of.

You'd be right.
You are being bought.

That's the way of things,
no denying it.

Come here.

Sit.

Listen...

If you decide to throw that money
back at them, Bessie,

I will stand beside you

and I will shout louder than you do

of all the wrongs in this.

Then what?

You've had your moment's glory.

What about Emily?

What about that child?

That little one's life, their needs,
what about that?

You keep the money
or you throw it back,

it won't make any difference
to them up in the big house.

It might...
stir their conscience for a while.

But their actions will remain
the same.

Swallow your pride, Bessie.

Hold your tongue.

Take the injustice

and don't let it taint your love
for that little one, one ounce.

If it helps, think of it
as the child's money,

not yours.

Twister, your chair is gone.

The whys and hows of it
might be right and might be wrong,

but for now...

it just is.

You ain't still angry with me,
is you, Alfie?

I only meant to interfere.

I mean, not to interfere.

I mean, to interfere
but not mean to interfere.

Minnie...

I'm sorry...

for saying what I said.

What... What I want to say is...

why did I speak so to you?

It was like my feelings...
was more than my reason.

Am I making sense?

No.

Because...

looking at you...

- Minnie...
- DORCAS: Minnie?

(KNOCK AT DOOR)

Laura...

Laura?

Minnie, are you in there?

(KNOCK AT DOOR)
Goodness!

Laura, aren't you supposed to be
going over to Lark Rise for lunch?

I thought that I could do it,
but I can't.

Daniel is knocking at the door
for you.

I cannot face it.

To walk over there with him,

to sit with him and my family.

I feel dishonest.

I am in such a confusion
of feelings.

And I am right to imagine it has
nothing to do with Emily Mullins?

"It seems Inglestone have lived too
long in the shadow of Candleford.

"They have decided
they want a town clock."

Oh.
(RAP ON DOOR)

Oh, dear.

"They so admire the Candleford clock

"that they insist on employing
the same clockmaker.

Fisher Bloom?

When?

He is on his way.

You know something about this,
don't you?

I wish I didn't.

LAURA: Hamlet folk often said

that you could see gossip coming out
of Mrs Mullins's mouth like steam.

Her own troubles weren't to stop her
from doing what she did best.

And she only went and sold his easy chair
without so much as asking him.

I know if for a fact!

Candleford was a small town.

In a small town, the slightest of
disturbances does not go unnoticed,

and this little world of ours
had surely been disturbed.

Hello, Fisher. Laura.

She's the reason you came back.

- Nothing matters more to Fisher than
the road. - Some things matter more.

- A challenge.

The railway on our doorstep?

I seen what happens to a town
when it gets a railway, Miss Lane.

I seen post offices die.

Miss Lane says Mischief Night is when
we should cast off all our cares,

- and enjoy some milk refreshments.
- Is that so?

Show me the world,
Laura Timmins ain't buttoned up.

Can you not see what Fisher
coming here has done to us?