Lark Rise to Candleford (2008–2011): Season 3, Episode 12 - Episode #3.12 - full transcript

LAURA: The railway had been spreading
across the country for many years.

Now it was coming our way.

WORKMEN: # Ri-fan, Ti-fan, mirth and
fun Don't you wonder how it's done

# Carriages without horses run On
the Oxford and Hampton railway. #

LAURA: It may not have
been on our doorstep yet,

but there was to be no avoiding it.

Only a few of the wisest foresaw

how much we might need to adapt
our lives to what was coming.

The choice would have to be made.

Miss Lane had tried to tell me that
those matters which seemed so great to me

were only a way of asking what
kind of life I wanted to live.



What her words of advice would not
teach me, the coming events would.

BIRDS SING

DOG WHINES

WHINING

And no word from my sister.

Miss Pearl, you did
have a letter yesterday.

But not today. It seems she's lost
interest in all things Candleford.

Minnie, may I say how well presented
the kitchen looks this morning?

I don't know how it happened,
ma'am, but I was up before dawn

and I just had it in me to clean and
rub and scrub and polish. Extraordinary.

Then perhaps you might like
to take the afternoon off.

Off?

Afternoon? Me?!

I have informed Ruby of the
return of the... (clock-maker).



I am deeply concerned for Daniel.

He ate all of his
breakfast this morning.

But surely it would be a matter of
concern if he had lost his appetite?

Oh, no, Miss Lane. Eating all
one's breakfast is excessive.

A clear sign of anxiety.

Miss Lane, Sydney's
progress is most impressive.

Industry married with discernment.

I would venture that any career
he chooses lies ahead for him.

I know what I want to do.

Thank you, Margaret.

I must confess, I harbour a secret wish

that Sydney might one
day be a famous lawyer,

renowned for championing
sympathetic causes.

Oh, no, Miss Lane. Law
is a dubious profession.

Sydney has such a pleasing manner.

I wonder if he might not
be suited to medicine.

You can't come in here.
It's a post office in here.

- Ugh!
- Forgive me, Miss Lane.

This tyke has followed
me over brook and dale.

I can't seem to shake her
off. Oh, but look at her!

She is the loveliest little creature!

She seems to think you
are her master, Thomas.

Who's a fine lady?

Who's a splendid lady?

Would you like a drinky
of water? Would you?

Drinky-drinky!

Shouldn't you be in Inglestone by now?

They have a delay
- anaccident of some sort.

So long as the job's done on time,
that's all that matters to them.

We will no doubt be seeing
plenty of you in Candleford.

It would be easier if I
didn't hold you in such regard.

When I came back, Daniel,

I didn't know.

And when I did learn about you and
Laura, my intention was to move on,

forget about Laura.

But then I caught myself thinking,

"Is it more important
to be decent and noble...

"or to be true to myself?"

Then we are rivals.

I wouldn't do this -
stay, hope, pursue Laura -

if I thought it was for nothing.

Are you trying to tell me she loves you?

I'm trying to tell myself that.

I deserve my chance, same as you.

I came here to tell you, man to man,

I aim to try and win her.

Don't expect me to
treat you with courtesy.

You deserve none, despite
your persuasive words.

Rivals, then.

Rivals.

SHOP DOORBELL RINGS

Miss Lane.

Mr Bloom.

What you told me about
the coming of the railway,

it seems you were correct.

I have been summoned to Head Office.

If they start talking about
improvements, you're in trouble, ma'am.

I have good friends in Head Office.
Our association goes back many years.

I am sure they will not
abandon the old values.

And how is your work in Inglestone?

It's grand enough.

The post office will be in the station.

The postmaster there has a swagger about him,
likes to think he's the king of all he surveys.

That is because Mr Blakestone
IS king of all he surveys.

Ma.

Laura.

I have a telegram for Pa.

He's at work. Ought I to open it?

I saw it come in. He'll
want to know right away.

It's from the Great Western Railway.

It seems the stonemason in charge

of building the arch at the
Inglestone station has broken a hand.

So Pa has been recommended for the job.

Well, ain't that a bit of
fortune falling from the sky?!

He will need to meet with them
today to discuss the business.

I'll take him a clean shirt.

Well, seems like your pa
is working with Fisher.

Why, is that a problem?

I ain't saying it is, Laura.

Just merely observing.

But I do notice how quick
you are to defend Fisher.

Am I defending him?

Oh, Ma...

..I can't sleep,

I can't think,

I can't put together a sentence.

Every thought is followed immediately
by another thought that contradicts it.

What does Daniel say?

Fisher is sweet and patient
and accepting of my confusion.

Daniel is angry.

I tried to be honest with him, Ma.

Was I wrong to be honest with him?

He would see it in you anyway.

You didn't say those things to hurt him.

Poor Daniel.

I never thought I'd hear
myself say those words.

Daniel said that if I truly loved him,

there would be no room
for confusion or doubt.

Is he right, Ma?

Is that how love is?

It is how Daniel sees love, Laura...

at least at the moment.

And Daniel is afraid.

I am, too.

I'm so afraid of the hurt I might cause,

that my confusion might
mislead or encourage...

Well, I'm glad to hear it.

If you weren't afraid of such things,
you would be no daughter of mine.

Yet I am constantly tormented
by selfish thoughts and emotions.

What we fall in love with as a girl

ain't always what we want as a woman.

What do you mean, Ma?

I could tell you a thousand times,

but you ain't going to know it
until you see it in yourself.

But surely Laura will
be eager to see you,

keenly anticipating your entreaties.

There'll be no entreaties, Miss Pearl.

Daniel, dear boy,
youmust fight to win her.

Laura knows what I offer to her.

I'm here. If I'm what she wants,
then she will require no persuading.

But love is not so simple.

Any girl would want you to pursue
her at this vulnerable moment,

in order to prove to her...

Miss Pearl, if I am to win Laura,
then she's not the girl for me.

If I am required to compete,
then I'm not the man for her.

If she has forgotten how
it is when we're together,

then our relationship does
not mean what I thought it did.

I ask you to consider this.

How will it feel to lose her?

What will it do to you? I
don't know how it will feel.

I imagine I'll be heartbroken.

In truth, I'm already heartbroken.

Bruised, perhaps. Donot say "broken".

"Broken" is too final a word.

What will I do if I lose her?

I will live my life.

In Candleford? Your newspaper is
sosuccessful, you cannot contemplate...

If I am to be finished with Laura,
then I am finished with Candleford.

Excuse me, Miss Pearl.

# My father he gave me an acre of land

# An acre of land

# An acre of land

# My father he gave me an acre of land

# And a bunch of bonny green ivy

# I ploughed it with a team of rats

# A team of rats

# A team of rats

# I ploughed it with a team of rats

# And a bunch of bonny green ivy. #

What's there to be so soulful about on
a day when the wind bites your bones?

Can't a man a lift his
voice without a reason?

I can't sing some of them notes.
Of course you can, my petal!

You put your mind at what is possible, and
them notes will come flying out of your mouth.

Things that seemed impossible
are right here in front of us.

How many folk thought you Arlesses
couldn't manage while your ma is...

not here?

That's all very well, my dear, but
ain't there things beyond possible?

I ain't going to "possible" away my rheumatism while
I have a day clearing ditches in the cold, am I?

But, Twister, today
things do feel possible

that were impossible yesterday.

And tomorrow they're as likely back where they belong
- impossible!

Listen to him!

See what the winter
does to his thinking?

Alfie, Miss Lane has give
me the whole afternoon off.

That's kind of her.

My work is so splendid.
She said so herself.

That's kind of her, an' all.

So I have come to see you.

So I see.

I ain't been given the afternoon off.

Me and Twister's clearing ditches.

Winter work while we can get it.

Ain't no colder work for a man tormented
with rheumatism than ditch work.

I thought all your working
days were done, Twister.

I am an old man

in a young man's world.

Minnie, I'm sorry for
what I did the other night.

I didn't mean to.

I mean, I did mean to. I just...

I wasn't thinking what it would mean.

Didn't I kiss right?

See how you make me laugh?

I can kiss better.

You kiss fine.

More than fine.

I ain't talking about how you look
or the way you are or any of that.

I have two sisters to look
after, a babe to care for.

I know.

I'm talking about what's possible.

Ain't kissing possible?

Kissing is never just kissing.

What is it, then?

I'm fond of you, Minnie.

Too fond of you.

Twister's right
- you're young.

You find yourself a boy who
ain't got so many burdens.

Alfie! Old Monday's coming up the lane.

I'd best go.

Me and you, Minnie...

it just ain't possible.

Minnie, we are going to bake
scones and ginger biscuits

and lay on herrings and sausages
and pastries for tea tomorrow.

I am inviting a guest, and
we must excel ourselves.

We surely will, ma'am.

Oh, Fisher...I mean...

I didn't mean to say Fisher.
I know you ain't Fisher.

That's all right, Minnie.

I hear you've been to Head
Office in Oxford today, Miss Lane.

It seems, if I may say
so, to have affected you.

Travel does not suit me.

Oxford has its own beauty,

but...I only ever long to come
back to our little wilderness.

I wonder,

was your visit something to do
with the coming of the railway?

I expect that the mail will be
more quickly transported by train.

You are ever the journalist, Daniel.

That will be all, Minnie.

I'm not here in search
of a story, ma'am.

I'm here because of what I saw
on your face as you returned.

I hope that what you see before you

is a friend.

I must confess, I...am in
need of someone to confide in.

I would be grateful if
you saw me as someone

you could trust with your troubles.

The situation is this.

Rather than coming by carriage
from Oxford to Candleford,

the mail will now go
by train to Inglestone.

The post office there will
become the sorting post office.

From there, letters and parcels
will come out to the rest of us.

It makes sense.

It is entirely rational.

That is not so bad.

But that is not all of it.

On my way home today,

I called in at several of
the other local post offices.

They have all been visited by Mr Blakestone, to
reassure them of how the new system will work.

Yet I have had no word from him.

Perhaps he is simply
leaving the best till last.

Perhaps.

But there is a history between us.

He has for many years been covetous
of the Candleford Post Office.

Only a few days after my father died,

he was on my doorstep making
generous financial proposals.

But that is out of the question.

He must know that this
post office is your life.

Yes.

I'm sure we have nothing to fear.

I will send him a telegram
to invite him to tea tomorrow,

so that we can discuss the arrangements.

All will soon be clear.

What have we here?

Butcher Bob's best bones.

Yes, we do.

And who are they for, eh?

I thought she might like a
blanket, for comfort's sake.

She will need a pillow.

Why do you suppose she followed me?

She might have taken
after any passer-by,

but she persisted at my
tail the whole day long.

She does seem so naturally at home here.

Margaret...

we must not say it.

We must not allow ourselves
to think such thoughts.

This dog will be returned to
her rightful master tomorrow.

If possible.

Yes, if possible.

But it does seem like a miracle.

A small miracle.

A small, four-legged miracle.

I will not think that this is
a God-given dog. I will not.

Do you suppose she might be
lonely down here all night long?

My dear, you are correct.

We will lay her basket at the foot
of our bed. It's only for one night.

Shall we?

Good girl! Good girl!

This is my father. He
wasn't nearly as stern

as this picture makes him appear.

I started out as a post
girl, just like Laura.

I would trek around our patch.

Oh, I loved it.

I have kept so many
papers and documents.

I wrote out a copy of the
declaration I had to sign.

Ooh, look at my handwriting.

Sydney, you mustn't laugh.

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

"or cause or suffer
to be opened or delayed

"any letter or anything sent by post."

You see that signature,
just beneath mine?

He is now a most important man -

the Southern District
Postmaster General.

Am I allowed to boast a little?

It is my one weakness.

He predicted I would be the first
postmistress in five counties.

I am embarrassed to admit

that I agreed with him,
which did make him laugh.

And this, Sydney...

this is my mother.

Oh, Thomas, she looks
so tired sitting there.

Are you sure she can
endure the long trek

of your delivery with you today?

And there is such a chill outside.

She does seem to feel the cold.

I couldn't live with myself if the
poor little darling caught a fever.

Oh, that would be unforgivable.

We have been entrusted with a
duty of care for this delicate tot.

We must be rigorous
in our consideration.

Perhaps tomorrow might
be a little warmer.

I could take her out then.

But we do have a moral responsibility

to seek out her owner.

Of course we do and so we will, my dear.

I propose that we put up a notice.

"Dog found." That will certainly attract the
attention of anyone who might know of her master.

Do you suppose she might care
for another bowl of warm milk?

Would you like warm milky-milky?

You would, wouldn't you?

Yes. Good girl.

If my eyes seem heavy today, ma'am,

it's because Margaret and
I hardly slept last night.

Every sniffle had my wifefixing the
little lady's pillows or her covers.

Thomas, how's a notice to
be noticed if it is so small?

Nonsense, Minnie.

You noticed it because it is small.

You could ask Daniel to put it in his newspaper that
you've found a dog, and then her master might read it.

That is a splendid idea, Minnie.

And as you go about your rounds, you could put
up notices all over the town and half the county.

Yes, thank you. I will consider that.

Thomas, you and Mrs Brown, when
you met, when she was Miss Margaret,

and you started to walk out with her...

why were you possible?

Possible?

Because...what if a boy meets
a girl, and a girl meets a boy,

and then...they like each
other, and then...after that...

But what if one of them
says it ain't possible?

Patience.

Yes. And Lizzie and Sally.

No.

Patience. Acceptance.

If what you feel truly matters,

then you will endure.

Life never stands still.

Wait...and see what unfolds.

I understand, ma'am.

Patience.

Persisterance.

I'm truly willing, ma'am,

because I know that you
always know what is right.

But what if it don't unfold soon?

Why, I'm yawning today, ma'am,

it's because Margaret and
I hardly slept last night.

I am sorry, Miss Pratt. We
have nothing for you today.

My sister's silence is ominous.

It is only two days without a letter.

It will simply be that Ruby is
engrossed in her life in Pontefract.

Exactly!

RINGING

Mr Blakestone has agreed
to join us for tea.

I never thought I'd see the day when you
entertained that manin your parlour, Miss Lane.

Something must be amiss.

I might as well tell you.

I did something which must
have sorely hurt Mr Blakestone.

I once agreed to sell
the post office to him

and I did not honour that agreement.

So I need to see him to
apologise and to explain why.

That is why we must
lay on a sumptuous tea.

Mr Blakestone is
renowned for his appetite,

andwe will endeavour to restore
some cordial relations, hm?

Your brother ain't singing
tonight, is he, girls?

Where's his singing humour gone?

Down them ditches.

Alf Arless.

Youth is the greatest of all blessings.

Do not deny yourself your young life,

or else your own
feelings will turn on you,

and all your humour will
go down them ditches.

You have no idea what is troubling me.

Don't I?

I can't marry Minnie, so
what is the point in me...?

Marry her?! You ain't even kissed her!

Alfie...you're their brother.

You ain't their pa. So be their brother.

Don't be a hero when there
ain't no call for one.

You have plenty of time to be
old, believe me. Be young now.

I hear tell

that the railway is
coming to Inglestone.

Who knows what that might bring?

Who knows where our lives might
be in five or ten years' time?

We can't stop ourselves from living
because we suppose we know what lies

around the corner.

A life can be taken away...

any life.

Will it be today?

Tomorrow?

We don't know,

that's what.

Ma'am, he is here.

Mr Blakestone?

No, it's Daniel. I mean, I didn't
mean to say you were Daniel.

I know you ain't
Daniel. Daniel is Daniel.

That will be all, Minnie.

Mr Blakestone's no
intention of coming, ma'am.

He seems to bear a mighty
grievance against you.

He seemed to enjoy the
idea of you waiting on him.

I felt it my duty tocome and tell you.

Thank you, Fisher.

That is most considerate of you.

I'm afraid that ain't all of it, ma'am.

Won't you have some tea?

It seems a pity for it to go to waste.

Thank you, ma'am.

Now that the railway will
take the mail to Inglestone,

as he's been given the status
of Area Sorting Post Office,

he proposes to deliver
the mail from there.

But only onto my patch.

Other local post offices
will not be so affected.

He says it's...rational.

If we have no mail to take out,

it will choke the lifeblood
out of us. He knows that.

He seems to have the power to do it.

And he intends to use his
position to destroy me.

Mr Blakestone's given me a message,

a proposal of sorts.

He wishes to buy the
Candleford Post Office from me.

He says that if you sell it to
him, he'll keep the staff on.

Their positions will be secure.

But I will be cast out of my own home.

I'll tell him the answer's no.

It cannot be pleasant for you
to bring such a message to me.

I volunteered myself
for the task, ma'am.

Did he hope that your charms
might help persuade me?

He might.

My own thought was...

perhaps I might use a bit of apple
sauce to soften him up a little.

Oh, I see.

So he did not conjure up this
humane proposition himself?

You must have dented
his pride sorely, ma'am.

He's bent on finishing you.

Fisher...

you stand outside all of this.

Tell me what you see.

The railway's changing everything.

And it should be to your
advantage, to everyone's advantage.

But he's turned it against you.

The railway will come to Candleford.

It will take two years to get here.

We don't have two years.

Blakestone will not move on this.

I can see it in his eyes.

He wants to set his son
up in this post office.

He thinks you'll submit, because
you'll not see your staff turned out

when you have the means to save them.

He's trying to bully
you into selling to him.

If I won't sell...

..and they are cast out...

..it will be my doing.

I'd say your position's
impossible, ma'am.

Can you wait in Candleford
until the morning...

..so that I can give you my...

answer to take back to him?

Minnie said she saw you
talking to Miss Lane.

Something about the
Inglestone postmaster.

I only had a message to bring.

He wants to buy the
post office, doesn't he?

Miss Lane will never sell to him.

Why would he ask you to talk to her?

Blakestone knows I've friends here.

Laura, it's just...

if some good can come from
me playing the go-between...

Why won't you tell me
what was said between you?

It's not for me to say.

You should ask Miss Lane.

Fisher, please.

That is not why I'm here.

How long will you be in Inglestone for?

The job will take me a week or so.

I love my life here.

Family on my doorstep.

I treasure that.

I know you do.

I could never leave Candleford.

I can't even imagine
leaving the post office.

I know that, Laura.

The seasons are all
the change that I need.

Laura...

I'll never be what you
might call a success.

I'll never be rich.

But I can look out across a
field and see the beauty in it

and how that makes me feel
alive, like...I can't describe.

And I know it's the same for you.

I lived the gypsy life because I didn't
care to see the same faces day after day.

But your face, Laura...

Fisher...

please...

I don't want to hear your declarations.

It ain't wooing that I'm here for.

But I don't know how to stop.

I want you to hear what
I'm trying to tell you,

what I mean by staying here.

Laura...

if I asked you...

..to marry me...

I'm not saying marry me now,

but in time...

I'm looking for a way to show you...

Fisher, you can't ask me that.

Not at all or...

just not yet?

Not yet.

I don't know... Don't say any more.

Not yet...

leaves me with hope.

Is she sleeping?

It would seem so.

Despite my earnest best
efforts to unearth...

(her master),

there's been no sign
of anyone to claim her.

If they cared at all, they
would be out searching for her.

It does make one wonder.

I think perhaps she is ready
to venture out tomorrow.

Though I am still quite concerned
about the chilly weather.

Do you suppose...?

Margaret, it occurs to me it might
be cruel to go on calling her "her"

or "it" or "she".

Do you know, I was thinking
just the same thing.

Of course, any name we might choose
to give her would only be temporary,

as at any moment we might
discover her previous master.

It occurred to me as I
gazed upon her this morning

that my mother's name suited her.

Amelia.

Ah! Well, as I went about my delivery
yesterday, I became increasingly fond

of the idea of calling her
after my grandmother, Cordelia.

Oh.Ah.

I have been in touch with...

Head Office in Oxford this morning.

It seems that what Mr
Blakestone says is true enough.

He has every right to deliver directly
from the Area Main Sorting Post Office.

My hand is forced.

I am left with no option
but to consider his offer.

Will you wait for me?

I wish to come to Inglestone with you

to speak with Mr Blakestone in person,
to receive from him in person...

particular assurances.

Of course.

He may wish to hide from me,

but I have no wish to hide from him.

For a man who has a clock to make in Inglestone,
you spend a lot of time in Candleford.

You're the city journalist
- I'd have thought you might figure that one out yourself.

If you want Laura to
take you... seriously,

you must want to
convince her you'll stay.

If you don't mind, right now, I'd
rather just keep my own company.

I've a job to do and I ain't
feeling too good about it.

What's going on?

What have you done?

Daniel, some days, even the
good things you do are bad.

Sydney? I will be home for tea.

Ma, will I one day be postmaster
of the Candleford Post Office?

Sydney...you are so bright.

You can go to university to
study for law or medicine or...

But I know what I want.

I know it like you did.

I find myself in an
impossible predicament.

If I do not sell, Mr Blakestone will
cut off the source of our income.

If I do sell,

I can secure your positions here,

but I will be betraying Sydney's hopes.

Ma'am, you cannot even consider it.

I must be clear to you -

it is your positions I
would be putting at risk

as well as my own if I turn him down.

I can only take Mr Blakestone
on with your full support.

I could not live with my own conscience

if I were to carry out one
parcel in that man's name, ma'am.

Ma'am, I'm not sure we could even
trust him to keep his word to employ us.

Ma'am, if you ain't to be here,
then there ain't no here...here.

And I ain't cooking and
cleaning for no-one but you.

And Sydney.

And Thomas.

Thank you, Minnie.

And Laura. And Mrs Brown sometimes.

Then we are united?

Good.

Mr Bloom, I will not be
accompanying you to Inglestone.

I wish you to carry back a
simple message to Mr Blakestone.

I will not sell to him.

I will not be bullied into
submission by his bribery.

I will fight him.

I do not know how,

but everything I hold
dear is right here,

and I shall defend it with every
ounce of cunning I can muster.

You have my best wishes, ma'am.

Mr Blakestone's man.

I'm my own man.

We must expect Blakestone to
launch a full-scale attack.

I've been investigating the man.
He's a truly political animal.

He has forged favour and built up
his position of strength patiently,

making friends at Head Office in Oxford.

They are convinced by him,

because he talks only of efficiency
and providing a good, rational service.

He appears unassailable and will
do all he can to undermine us.

We cannot outmanoeuvre him.

He holds all of the cards.

So, we must outwit him.

SHOP DOORBELL RINGS

Miss Lane! Surely there is a
missive from my sister today?

I'm sorry, Miss Pratt,
still nothing for you.

Then I am correct in thinking
that my sister has forgotten me.

But of course I can
expect no sympathy here,

however grave my predicament.

Daniel, I wanted to thank you for the
consideration you've shown towards the post office.

This Mr Blakestone... the power he has

and how he intends to use it, I
can't bear the injustice of it.

I feel compelled to do something.

When we spoke, Laura...

..I was driven by...

hurt and anger.

I was too, Daniel.

But what if it's true?

What if this wasn't meant to be?

Is that what you feel?

If Fisher had not come here, we
might not be asking any of this.

But he did.

And you reacted to that.

I don't know if it was...

jealousy and fury at
losing my trust in you...

..or...

a painful way of reaching the truth.

Isn't love constant?

I have been shaken.

So have you.

What does that tell us?

Perhaps you are right, Daniel.

I do not know.

Why are you so determined

to prove to Alfie that
he can't go courting?

I ain't! I ain't!

Twister Turrill, I know you
better than you know yourself.

I see it when the wintertime

gets into your thinking, and
you can't abide being old.

You're jealous of Alfie.

Jealous? Not I.

Never.

What's there to be
jealous of the young for?

Don't we have everything they have?

Perhaps a little less enthusiasm, mind.

Don't you see how I
look at you sometimes?

Ain't it cosy...

here...

together?

While we've still got
enough breath in us!

GIGGLING

Alfie! You listen now,
to a man who knows.

Never mind your difficulties
- a young man should set himself to courting.

What's made the tune
on your lips change?

Ma...you must gather Lark Rise folks
together. We must speak to everyone.

Morning, ma'am.

Miss Lane.

If I appear tired today, it is because my
wife and I have been kept awake half the night.

Thomas, Margaret...

..I have received a message.

Your notice was...noticed.

It seems the owner of
Amelia...Cordelia...

her master has identified himself

and wishes his dog to be returned.

Thank you, ma'am.

Stratton Audley.

And I will be going out that way today.

Then of course you must...

Good girl.

Good girl.

DOG WHIMPERS

RINGING

Oh!

Minnie!

Minnie!

Oh, we must cook.

We must prepare the finest
tea our table has ever seen.

It ain't Mr Blackrod, is it, ma'am?

It is someone far more
important than Mr Blakestone.

He is on his way already.

He is coming all the way
from London, by train!

I ain't never cooked for London before.

Miss Lane and the Candleford Post
Office have served you for many years.

Now she needs your support,
to stand beside her.

To protest against this attack on her.And to
save the post office, which we all hold so dear.

We shall! Of course we
shall! But how shall we?

We wish to create a show of opposition.

Make it known that people do not want
Mr Blakestone to push Miss Lane out.

If you cause a stir, I will print an article about
it. News will travel. It could get as far as London.

We have a song for the purpose.

A rousing song with justice in it

and a bit of ire and a bit of
fire and... Ain't that so, Alfie?

# When the roll is called up yonder

# When the roll Is called up yonder... #

Splendid! Splendid! Who will
come with me now to Candleford?

CHEERING

You're a fine speaker, Laura.

I have a fine teacher.

Thank you.

I meant my pa.

My ma used to always tease my pa
when he was at his most passionate,

said he looked so handsome
on his expounding plank.

Are you telling me that I'm handsome
or that I'm prone to expounding?

I'm saying, I'm glad to know a man with
such a passion for life, for people,

someone who will stand up
and fight for all that matters

to the folks around here.

I'm glad you're glad.

He...did not want her coat.

I hope she settled.

I do pray he is a kindly master.

I'm not so sure. He showed no affection.

Please. I would rather not know.

I took him to be a rather callous man.

Thomas, please.

Our conversation took
an unexpected direction.

The man could see how fond
I'd become of Cordelia-Amelia.

He called her Trixie.

Vulgar name for such a beauty.

Please, I find it unbearable.

He suggested that,

if we were to pay him ?4,

he might be willing to let her go.

?4?

But how could he land upon the
exact amount we have put by?

Well...

It is an exorbitant amount.

It would be unreasonable to pay.

To spend all of our savings on a dog.

It would take some considerable
thought and prayer to justify.

To even contemplate.

We couldn't possibly act rashly
and submit to the man's demands.

Well, we are agreed.

We will be sensible about this and
not be overcome by sentimentality.

Heavens!

Quite a gathering.

And it isn't even market day.

We're here to see you,
Miss Lane... if we may.

It ain't our business, perhaps, but...

That's our post office as
much as it is our...streets

and our...clouds and our...winter.

What we mean to say is, Dorcas...

..we wish to show our support.

We intend to march!On Inglestone.

We have a song for it.

# When the roll is called up yonder

# When the roll is called up yonder... #

Every man and woman and child and
goose and trumpet that can walk.

Candleford folk, as well as Lark Rise,

to make it known how we
feel about our Post Office.

You are part of us, Miss Lane.

And whatever harm comes to
you comes to us, as well.

How many times have you shown
us such loyalty and devotion?

Then, I am grateful, indeed.

We will be ready to set off for
Inglestone in an hour or so, Miss Lane.

We propose to provide many
Candleford folk to join us, ma'am.

Oh... An hour?

I see.

Very good.

Let's hope the train
arrives at Bicester in time.

We are expecting a visitor, who
might give you a glorious headline.

Minnie.

Minnie, while I was in
Candleford, I just wanted to say...

I know, Alfie.

I have my sisters to look after. I know.

I live in Lark Rise,
you live in Candleford.

I know. I know. I know we can't.

Minnie, I ain't saying we can't.

I'm saying we can.

If you...What?

Kissing?

Yes. Kissing.

And Sunday walks.

And tea at our cottage,
if you like pease pudding.

Nine days old is my favourite.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

GENERAL CHATTER

Fisher...

..I can't go back to the way
I felt last time you were here.

I can only tell you what I feel now.

You are such a romantic man.

You say such dreamy things,
I get swept away by them.

But what I feel for you now is not love.

It is romance.

What's the difference?

Ain't romance what we're
supposed to feel?It is.

To begin with.

I feel exhilarated when
I'm with you, Fisher.

Giddy,

so that I am lost in it.

But I come down again.

I don't know what
willhappen with Daniel.

But I know what I want.

I know what this is.

You think I'm Blakestone's man.

I was only trying to help, Laura,
do the right thing, for you.

And I know Daniel's been asking
questions around Inglestone about me.

And it's true, Blakestone did
offer me a position, to settle.

But I turned him down.

Whatever Daniel's been saying...

Daniel said nothing.

Quite a man.

See why you love him.

We're all done. Ain't we, Laura?

I am glad I've known you, Fisher.

I'll never forget you.

I won't forget Candleford.

I won't forget the pond, where the
yellow brandyball waterlilies grow.

Give it more volume.

Now I know what it was you
were trying to tell me, Ma.

What you fall in love with as a girl
ain't always what you want as a woman.

You can still have
sweetness and giddy joys,

just so long as that's not all there is.

BAND PLAYS

Please, excuse me, could we
wait just a little while longer?

What is it, Miss Lane?

When I realised I could not rely on
any support from head office in Oxford,

I decided I must appeal
to a higher power.

And then it struck me.

The declaration.

I signed it when I was a girl.

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

"or suffer to be opened or delayedany
letter or anything sent by post."

Even the most humble member of Her
Majesty's Postal Service must sign it.

So, Mr Blakestone will have signed it

and he is causing the
mail to be delayed.

Because it will take longer

to come out from Inglestone
than it will from Candleford.

Then he is in breach of
Post Office Regulations.

I'm sure he could argue a
case against me, but anyway,

I put this in the telegram to the
Southern District Postmaster General.

Lordy.

That's as high as high powers get...

..in the Post Office.

I had already invited the Southern
District Postmaster General.

He has rather a soft spot for me,

but when you told me of your protest,
I thought, "Wouldn't it be splendid

"if he were met here by your
outpouring of song and feeling?"

We shall outpour, Miss Lane.

But where is he?

BAND PLAYS

ALL: Not yet!

Yes! Now! Look!

# When the trumpet of
the Lord shall sound

# And time shall be no more

# And the morning breaks
eternal, bright and fair

# When the saved of Earth shall
gather over on the other shore

# And the roll is called
up yonder I'll be there

# When the roll is called up yonder

# When the roll is called up yonder

# When the roll is called up yonder

# When the roll is called
up yonder I'll be there... #

GENERAL HUBBUB

LAURA: 'Miss Lane was always a
stickler for Post Office Regulations,

'especially,

'when it suited her.

'Life in Candleford was
once more safely restored

'to the rhythms of ordinary life...

'..our own particular brand

'of ordinary life.'

I love you, Minnie.

So do I.

I mean...I know what you mean.

'Sometimes life offers us paths to take.

'The choices we must make...'

Wonderful news!

My sister is unhappy.

Oh, I'm sorry to hear.

Not at all, no. She
misses Candleford terribly.

Terribly, Miss Lane!

Terribly is wonderful!

I suspect, the slightest
nudge, she will come home.

'I often look back at the time

'when two very different
paths were open to me.

'But have any of us a free choice

'or are we driven by destiny

'along a path already marked out?

'Who can tell?'