"'Every year, the hamlet folk performed a play for our Squire." "'Each person had their role." "'Sir Timothy's role was to attend and to appreciate the drama 'and to congratulate the performers." "'But Sir Timothy had been gone from his patch for two years." "'And the reason for this was his duty to his wife, his family." "'This absence hurt the locals." "'They felt abandoned." "So they wrote to him, 'pleading for his return.'" "And who will take the part of the Turk?" "I am to be St George!" "I have the outfit." "I have the sword." "I can be the Turk, Mrs Brown." "I do enjoy a fine battle." ""Here stand I, St George," ""brave and bold, I shall slay the mighty Dragon..." ""I shall never spare a Turk." Twister, you do look handsome in your outfit, but, my dear, don't you think it's time to pass on the opportunity of being St George to one of the younger men?" "My pa gave me the part of the Great Knight." " A feller can't go against his pa." " But how many years ago was that?" "In't you had your turn?" "I in't doing it for me, no." "I does it for our Squire." "I just happen to be the best at it, that's all." ""I shall never spare a Turk!"" "Tom, in't we all seen how fine your heroics are often times over?" "Wouldn't it be true chivalry to pass the crown on?" "Is there still no word back from Sir Timothy, Ma'am?" "We have begun rehearsing." "The Lark Rise folk do like to have a squire to perform their play to." "At least he replied last year." "Does he know what a fiasco his drunken brother made of it last summer?" "Does he realise what is expected?" "I have never known a man more aware of his pastoral responsibilities than Timothy is." "I used to watch him riding by." "He did look handsome on his horse." "He did look handsome not on his horse." "Ma'am, it is not for me to cast accusations against my betters." " But?" " There can be no excuse, there can be no justification." "It seems that London has turned the man into someone who does not care enough to reply to a sincere entreaty from us all." "It makes you wonder if we want such a fellow for our Squire." "Thomas, that is close to rebellion and insurrection." "For you." "I am sure Sir Timothy meant to reply." "Perhaps he did not receive the letter, perhaps circumstances..." "More cream, Sydney?" "Perhaps he don't like the idea of coming back." "Oh, Timothy loves his patch." "He will come back if he can." "You have no intention of giving up St George." "Ever." "Have you?" "Have you?" "If you are sincere you will pass it on now." "Have you no feeling?" "If I am robbed of it, I might get a sorrowful mind." "Or worse." "I could have one of my spells." "Or worse." "I can feel them starting on me already." "Oh, ohhhhhhhhhh." "DISTRESSED BREATHING" "You think if you pantomime a bit of distress" "I will pity you, save you." "I feel I have been doing that for a hundred years." "Today I in't." "Today I can't be bothered." "I shall leave you to save yourself." "Come and find me when you decide to grow up!" "HE SIGHS" "I was greatly mistaken." "It won't be the first time, Thomas." " Mistaken about what?" " I should not have cast condemnation so readily." "I was too quick to judge, Ma'am." "What are you trying to tell me, Thomas?" "Miss Lane, I am so glad to be the one to bring such tidings, such rejoicing for us all." "Are you going to tell me, Thomas?" "Sir Timothy is back!" "Sir Timothy?" "The Sir Timothy?" "Our Sir Timothy?" "The family was seen arriving by the gardener." "And the gamekeeper." "The maids and cooks have been recalled to The Manor." "Then we must do everything we can to welcome him." "Thomas, you are right..." "Timothy is Squire to us all." "Your Ladyship." "I have the pouch, for Sir Timothy." "You can leave it there." "I also have a letter, addressed to you, from London." "Thank you, Mr Brown." "It is good to see you." "I am a married man myself, Your Ladyship." "Since you last saw me, since you went to London, to live in London." "Timothy is missed here." "I am aware of that." "And, erm," "I'm sorry." "And you, Your Ladyship." "You are missed." "It is kind of you to say so, but, erm..." "I took him away." "I'm aware that the locals want their Squire here amongst them, and how that must make them feel towards me." "How does married life suit you, Mr Brown?" "It suits me well, indeed." "And how does London suit you, Lady Adelaide?" "Suit you both?" "I trust you're settled there and contented there, in London." "You don't hope that at all." "But I understand." "Never too late to come home, Your Ladyship." "Your Ladyship." "Oh, my lord." "Boamer refuses to be the dragon." "He says you hit him too hard with your sword last year." "There in't a man willing to be the dragon" " if you are to be George." " That's as well." "Who wants a milksop for a dragon?" "I am the Turk." "If I'm to be the dragon then no one would be the Turk." "Where's Queenie?" " In't she at your cottage?" " I've seen nothing of her all day." "She'll be home soon." "I expect." "But your supper's always on the table by now." "Always." "Alfie, let me pass on to you what I have learned about women folk." "Never chase after 'em." "Never." "Hold firm." "They will bend." "It's in their nature." "Find you." "See how you like it when you find the door locked, woman." "The London letter seemed to discompose Her Ladyship." "She near fainted." "What does a man do when a Ladyship collapses?" "Should he catch her?" "Lay his hands upon... a gentry woman?" "And you didn't see Sir Timothy?" "He in't been into the Post Office, neither, has he." "No, Minnie, he hasn't." "I am enjoying Humes' A Treatise of Human Nature, well, at least I think I am." "I cannot understand what he means when he says we cannot justify the claim that nature is constant." "I think what he means is it is wrong to believe that things or people will behave in the future as they behave now." "So is he saying that we may not be the same person tomorrow that we are today?" "Human Nature, how fascinating, I must read it." "Or perhaps YOU could tell me all about it, Daniel." "I don't like it when he says that a promise is only an obligation established by convention." "Ah, we are discussing trust, now that is a topic worth deliberating." "Laura, won't Miss Lane be wondering where you are?" "Miss Lane knows where I am." "I mean the hour." "I wouldn't care that our neighbours thought I'd allowed any impropriety under my roof." "We were only discussing a book." "We might know that but I would be broken hearted if Miss Lane should think I've been lax." "I-I..." "I...shall show you to the door." "What's your hurry, Pa?" "I have to repair Thomas Brown's window sill." "I thought I could fit it in before I head over to do Mr Coulson's flint wall then, on to Cowman Joliffe's gatepost this afternoon." " In't that rather a lot, Pa?" " Work while the work is there, Laura." "Fill up your day, it'll fill you up." "Invincible!" "Mr Timmins..." "Minnie!" "Mr Timmins, could you fix any stones?" "Because I've seen you do walls," "I've seen you do the font, Lions Heads, clock towers." "And Mr Timmins, you always do it so fine." "Thank you, Minnie." "No offence, ladies, but I have to get on..." "I realise you prefer to do something with a little art in it, Mr Timmins." "You can put as much art as you wish into our window sill." "Thank you, Mrs Brown, I am grateful for the work." "Now, if you don't mind..." "And, Mr Timmins, how did you teach yourself to do all them things, chiselling and rubbing?" "And, Mr Timmins..." "Oww!" "THEY GASP Mr Timmins!" "I'm fine." "I'm fine." "Just let me get up." "Argh!" "Ah, my back!" " Thank you for bringing him home, Dorcas." " How is he fairing?" "Oh, chafing already." "Robert with an injured back is still Robert." "Plenty of rest and recuperation." "There is no way of knowing how long he might be laid there." "I'll see if there's some washing I can take in." "I believe I can get some cleaning work at the farm house while Mrs Gubbins is away." "We will need to keep the money coming in." "I in't never seen Pa so." "The pain of it is there in his eyes." "He says so little." "Emma, you have enough to tax you at the best of times." "You will need some help." "Why not have Laura stay with you for a few days." "Perhaps a week?" "That sounds grand." "Thank you, Dorcas." "But..." "I mean... who will do my round?" "Oh, I am sure we will find someone willing." "A round?" "With the postal bag?" " To houses?" "Me?" " A trial, Minnie." "Perhaps starting with just one street." "In order that you can help out." "Minnie, the point of this is so that you might come to the aid of the Timmins, since..." "I am not saying it was your fault that Mr Timmins fell." " I was only talking, Ma'am." " Exactly." "If you are to do this, Minnie, it will require you to be calm and considered at every step." " Do you understand?" " I do, Ma'am." "SHE GIGGLES" "I can't stay in bed like this." "I must work." "Well, get up." "Go to work." "Perhaps if tomorrow, you pull the strappings tighter on my back." " Argh." " Pa, how can you lift a hammer if you can't lift a spoon of soup to your mouth?" "I want it gone!" "Shall I read to you, Pa?" "I'm like an old man... spoon fed, read to." "You could let your daughter tend you." "It's good to have you home, Laura." "Since I left, I dreamed of this day, being at home." "Imagining how it would be." "With my family." "Read to me." ""Chapter Two." ""Of Pride and Humility..." ""It is evident that pride and humility, though directly contrary," ""have yet the same object." ""This object is self..."" ""And Mop got in and floated down." ""And Bevis walked along the bank." ""Giving him directions on how to pilot the vessel..."" "Ma'am, I used to see you out riding with Sir Timothy, didn't I?" "You did." "".." "Which as before was brought by" ""the willow leaning over the water..."" "Thank you, Minnie." "That will be all." "You was always out riding weren't you, Ma'am?" "We were." "Good night, Minnie." "What is he like?" "Was he handsome to talk to?" "Timothy is a true gentleman." "He loved life and he loved his patch." "Then why did he have to leave us?" "Timothy married and his wife preferred London." "Well, he married the wrong wife then, didn't he." "And I shall tell him if I see him." "Not really." "He married the right wife, Minnie." "She is a gift to him." "I have seen it." "He used to come into the Post Office, didn't he?" "Every day." "Then I expect he will come in tomorrow." "I'd better go and wash my apron!" "Where were we?" "#..braes are bonnie" "# Where early falls the dew" "# And it's there that Annie..." "# Laurie... #" "HE SIGHS" "SHE SINGS GENTLY" "BIRDSONG" "#..blackbirds and thrushes" "# Sang on every green tree" "# And the larks, they sang melodious" "# At the dawning of the day!" "#" "You sat there on the night before you left." "You did cry so." "Determined not to leave." "And look at you now." "What is it, our Laura?" "When I fetched the water from the well earlier... ..I passed our neighbours on the lane." "It felt so familiar." " And just now, lying on my old bed..." "I am a hamlet girl." " Laura, Daniel has settled in Candleford" " Ma listen, because he has decided." "why would a man like Daniel Parish want a simple hamlet girl?" "Miss Lane once told me her pa said" ""Love never crosses the great divide of social class."" "Love can cross what ever divide it wants to!" "THEY CHUCKLE, THUMPING" "Arghh!" "BANGING ON DOOR" " There's someone at the door Ma'am." " Yes, Minnie, I realise that." "BANGING CONTINUES" "Shall I open it for you, Ma'am?" "It's all right, Minnie." "Miss Lane, I am sorry to call upon you at this hour." "I thought I saw lights on and I wanted to make sure that you were not in distress." "Why would I be in distress?" "I was only showing neighbourly concern, Miss Lane." "Surely you see that." " It struck me as odd" " that Sir Timothy did not respond to the entreaty written to him and yet he's turned up at the Manor unannounced." "We are simply grateful that he is here." "I noticed he has not visited the Post Office as one would expect..." "What can be deduced by this?" "We might conclude that Sir Timothy has more important things to do at the Manor since he has been away for so long." "I was merely expressing concern for our Squire and for his wife." "Who I hear is fainting at every opportunity and has been seen unable to check her tears." "Tears?" "We women can weep for the least of reasons." " Morning." " Going out so early?" "I thought I might venture over to Lark Rise to visit Laura." "What a good idea." "But, dear boy, have you forgotten?" "Your fitting." "I have been up since dawn getting this jacket ready." "There is still much work be done on it." "If you would just let me see how it lies on you." "Daniel, it is not for me to say, but I feel compelled to offer my knowledge on romantic relations." "I see everything in here." "And it does not do to chase a girl." "She does not like it." "It will, in the end, repel her." "I thought I ought to show my concern for her pa." "That is just the kind of boy... young man that you are." "But think." "Won't Laura's family relish the time together?" "Might they not resent an intrusion?" "If you turn up, she will give you all of her attention and her pa will feel neglected." "Perhaps if I leave it until tomorrow." "Your absence will make her heart so much the fonder, I promise." "I will prepare a special dish for us this evening." "I have a recipe for crepes." "Splendid." "MINNIE GIGGLES" "Ma'am, I am in such a distress." "I did so enjoy taking out the first round." "Hardly a round, Minnie." "One street." "But, Ma'am, if I take out the second round" "I might miss our squire visiting us." "I can't decide which is the exciting-est." "You don't have to decide, Minnie." "I am your employer and you are instructed to take out" " the second delivery." " I surely will, Ma'am." "Sydney, how would you like to deliver a parcel for me?" "It's only two doors away, so I feel you won't get lost." "Can I, Ma?" "Ma'am, do you miss Sir Timothy?" "I do." "And, Ma'am, do you think of him fondly?" "What a thing for a maid to ask!" "We were the greatest of childhood friends." "So I do think of him fondly." "And when I see him, I can tell him that." "And tell him of my life now." "About Sydney." "How contented I am." "How my life is so full and..." "Oh, listen to me!" "I do like the sound of my own voice." "Minnie, you must imagine that your employer sometimes talks to herself and you are not to make any sense of it." "If I am honest, Ma'am, I have always known you are peculiar, but I have learned to just smile and think of you fondly." "Here stand I, a Turkish knight to admire." "The doctor and the dragon, come you near." "Where's old Cock Eye?" "He said that last year you promised him that next year he could be George, but when it come to this year you denied last year had happened." "In't there no man is man enough to set aside his pride in order we can put on a play?" "If there is no doctor and there is no dragon, I do wonder how we can put on something pleasing for our Squire." "Laura, you could present the doctor." "But it is the tradition, and it is expected, that it is for the men to perform." " I have my ma to help." " But with your words and the like," "I'm sure you could pick it up easy, and it'd mean we could present our play." "As soon as my pa is well, I must return to Candleford." "Int no girl can take on a part." "It in't in 'em." "They don't have the wind for it." "A drama needs wind or it in't nothing." "I have wind." "I mean, I can proclaim if proclaiming is all that's called for." "If I may..." "Perhaps, for the purposes of our rehearsal," "Laura, you might "stand in", and if a fellow should step forward..." "What does the doctor speak?" ""Here stand I, the Doctor on my rounds." "I'll heal those wounds." ""Medicine to sup, you are not yet slain" ""Rise up, stout dragon and fight again..."" "See, I been doing this play since I was nothing but a boychild." "Go on, Laura, you know you want to." "I see it in those eyes of yours." "Queenie?" "Everyone's been wondering where you are." "What are you doing out here?" "Are you staying out here?" "I am living here." "Twister might not like to admit it, but he is lost without you." "He is longing for you to come home." "Well, it in't about Twister." "Not altogether." "I've been feeling this...desire." "You can get lost in a marriage." "You can forget where your skin ends and his begins." "You can lose your own needs and your own thoughts." "I like it here because... it's me." "Me and Queenie." "I am getting to know myself again and that is most enjoyable." "I have discovered how cheery I am." "I laugh at my own jokes." "I wake up when I am ready to face the world, when the sun tells me the day has started." "I don't understand how you could want to be alone, Queenie." "Laura." "I have lived." "You're just at the beginning." "What is right for me in't right for you." "If you find the right man... ..give yourself." "Do you hear me?" "Give." "Daniel and I seem to go to and fro." "Lately it has felt so... involved." "But now I am stuck in Lark Rise." "Don't you want to know what it feels like to miss him?" "If I could just have word that he is thinking of me." "Why do you need that?" "Because he might..." "People don't always behave today the way they were thinking yesterday." "Where did you get such a thought as that?" "In his book, Mr Hume says that we cannot be consistent." "SCOFFS:" "Mr Hume!" "?" "Your problem, Laura Timmins, is that you read a book!" "You can't possess another person." "They are they and you are you." "Child, can't you just trust that all will be well?" "However it goes." "I think I would find the trust a little easier if his arms were around me." "THEY LAUGH" "Queenie, when will you come home?" "I don't know." "I don't know that I will." "And I don't want the world to know where I am neither." " Thomas, what is it?" " It's a letter, Ma'am." "Given to me by Lady Adelaide's footman." "From Lady Adelaide." "For posting." "To London." "What is so strange about that?" "It is addressed to a Mr Donald Carter, Ma'am." "Why is that something for you to report to me, Thomas?" "I don't know, Ma'am." "It could be to her physician." "No, it is a Mr Carter." " Her accountant." "Anyone." "Her piano teacher." " Yes, of course." "Have you mentioned this to anyone else?" "I have not, Ma'am." "Nor will I." "There is nothing untoward here." "And it is none of our business." "Yes, Ma'am." "When we heard you were returned to us, we were... the whole parish is so thrilled." "I just wanted to call in and express our gratitude since I was passing." "It is most kind of you to call in, Miss Lane." "As you were passing." "We were beginning to wonder if Timothy had received our letter." " Letter?" " Yes." "Isn't that the reason you are here?" "The play." "We wrote to Timothy saying how the tenants were so longing for him, both of you... to attend their performance." "Yes." "Yes, of course." "That letter." "We have missed the subtle charms of Candleford." "I hope we can spoil you with our affections whilst you are here." "Oh, I have no doubt you will." "Your affections have been sorely missed, Miss Lane." "Let me congratulate you at last in person, Lady Adelaide." "A girl!" "How old will she be now?" "Eighteen months?" "Yes." "Thank you." "Motherhood is the greatest of gifts." " Yes." "I myself..." " Miss Lane, forgive me but I had planned to go riding." "Will Timothy be riding with you?" "Timothy is not here." "Oh." "Not yet." "He will follow." "I see." "Will he be here in time for the performance?" "Timothy has a look." "A contented absence... a dreamy withdrawal." "When he gets like that I know that he is here, in his mind, he is back here." "So he will come soon, Miss Lane." "You can rest assured of it." "Then I am certain we will all enjoy the best of times, Lady Adelaide." "Now I remember." "Now it comes back to me." "Your optimism." "It is my one weakness." "I am sure that you have more than one." " If you must skip, skip outside." "Welcome to hell, Robert Timmins." " Lanes are for skipping." " Not where I am trying to cook!" "The world is going on out there happily without you." "SHE SIGHS HEAVILY Those children..." "There are days when I feel they can't grow up fast enough." "Robert." "I am beat, Em." "I admit it." "I am powerless." "I must remain here at the mercy of this pain." "Lie here until it is done with me." "I in't never heard you talk like this before." "I in't never felt pain like this before." "I lie on my back... a man with no work, no purpose, no role in this world." "And all I am left with is Robert Timmins and his thoughts." "Well, best you get yourself fit and up and at it." "What if... it don't go?" "What if this is it?" "The pain will go because it must go." "Because..." "And what you get to know in those long hours is... ..how small you are." "How unimportant you are." "Ma'am, you in't so happy, is you?" "I am sitting at the kitchen table past two am." "It is not exactly a mystery." "Ma'am, it is because you went to the Manor, in't it?" "Minnie, I think that sometimes you forget your role in my household!" "I am troubled, Minnie, because I sense something is sorely wrong in the life of a dear friend of mine." "Now, is that enough to send you back to your bed?" "It is, Ma'am." "Unless you would like two slices of bacon and a crust of bread." "I would." "Minnie, you are a magician." "Laura, can you not help?" "You in't changed one bit." "You're still with your head in a book." "Performing in a play." "You're supposed to be here to assist me." "That is your role." "You think only of yourself." "Oh, no I'm sorry, Laura..." "It's the tiredness speaking." "No, Ma." "You're right." "Mr Hume and his ideas." "I think only of impressing Daniel." "You have done your bit." "The washing." "Fetching the water." "But, Laura, you in't born to chores." "When will you be ready to come home, Queenie?" "If I can't find peace in my own home then I must go where I can find it." "Twister in't himself, that's why he has been impossible." "More impossible than he usually is." "He's fretting because there in't no dragon for the play and he does so treasure playing St George for our Squire." "I've told him." "When he can show me he's grown up." "All I want is a bit of humility from him." "If I had true humility" "I would help my ma and not imagine I'm above being a Lark Rise girl." "I feel a terrible anguish with it." "Them feelings, Laura, are no use to your ma nor anyone else." "Do the chores you are here to do and everyone will feel better." "No dragon, eh?" "Mrs Brown, we have someone that will play the dragon." "We can't have no woman." "But I am to play the doctor." "And since our Squire is to shortly arrive..." "I have made my own head!" "No one will ever tell she's a woman under that." "It in't right." "In fact, it's wrong." "Perhaps you're a feared to do battle with a woman dragon, Twister?" "And the play shall remain the same?" "George slays the dragon?" "I have no objection." "Then we must...think of our Squire." "He wants a play, we must perform." "AGREEMENT FROM OTHERS" "Lady Adelaide." "Lady Adelaide." "Lady Adelaide, how gratified we are to see you." "If I may, I do not wish to intrude." "Or impose." "Or burden, but, the play, St George." "As you may not know, or you may, since my father died, I have taken on the responsibility..." " The play." " We are truly delighted that you, and your husband..." "It promises to be the Event of the Year." "I hear congratulations are in order." "Your marriage to Postman Brown." "Oh." "Yes." "Thank you." " But, Ma'am, what concerns me..." " We will be there." "No." "Yes." "I only wanted to forewarn you... there may be vulgarity." "Vulgarity?" "And violence." "As Twister Turrell gets older, he seems to become more enthusiastic with his sword." "I would not wish to offend Your Ladyship." "Or your husband." "Fear not." "London is awash with violence and vulgarity." "May I say, Your Ladyship, how well you look." "And contented." "And blessed... with blessings." "Your Ladyship!" "Candleford can breath again." "We are restored to our rightful eminence." "Miss Pratt, you are one?" "Ah." "Yes." "My sister..." "It is a long story, which I will not trouble you with." "What matters is that you are here." "And your husband, is coming?" "How pleasing to find that nothing has changed in Candleford." "Lady Adelaide, far be it for a mere store keeper to venture, but you have friends in Candleford." "Trusted friends." "If you were ever in need of..." "Are you headed for the Post Office?" "I am going that way myself." "Miss Lane!" "Miss Lane!" "It's her!" "And she is so beautiful!" "Stamps." "Daniel." "Daniel." "She's here." "In the Post Office." "Lady Adelaide." "She's with Miss Lane." "Something is afoot." "Perhaps she is simply posting a letter." "They are ensconced in the Private Quarters." "I saw Her Ladyship's face... her cheeks trembled." "Trembling means something!" "We... you should wait outside." "And as she comes out introduce yourself," " in all politeness, of course." " I would prefer not to." "Prefer?" "What kind of reporter...?" "I want us to make the most of this moment." "I lodge with you, Miss Pratt, that is all." "That is all." "I will not permit you to domineer me." "I am so sorry." "I have been intruding, haven't I?" "You will soon tire of lodging with me." "Not at all." "I seem to have developed a taste for crepes." "I was mistaken, Miss Lane." "My husband will not be coming to Candleford." "I simply wish you to inform the villagers that Sir Timothy will not" " attend the performance in Lark Rise." " Then you must." "Must?" "It would be seen as a slight if you were known to be here and you did not attend." "There would be a reaction." "The locals are expecting..." " It is not something that I could..." " I can help you." "Stand beside you." " The parishioners feel...abandoned." "They would so welcome a sign that they matter." "If they cannot have Timothy..." "They will know that it is my fault he is not here." "It was for me that he went to live in London." "Perhaps some of them might think that way." " Still you have to be there for them." " Why must I?" "You married him." "You married our Squire." "It is your duty." "You will be our Squire's wife for the rest of your life." "They will see your courage." "They will see your caring." "Thank you, Adelaide." "I know that if Timothy could be here, he would." "Lady Adelaide, is there...?" "I hear the play will be full of violence and vulgarity." "Let us hope so." "I have news." "Rather sad news." "But tinged with consolation." "I have just received news from Miss Lane our Squire is unable to join us today, but... her Ladyship will bless us with her presence." "And I am sure we will give her a most kindly reception and a rousing performance, the memory of which she can carry back with her to Sir Timothy." "Queenie!" "I seem to have nerves, Laura." "A bit of mead might help." "Last time I sang for Her Ladyship I lost my voice and the whole world stopped still." "LADY ADELAIDE SIGHS It will be all right, I promise you." "You don't know." "You don't realise..." "I have hurt him so much." "I have lost him." " What have I done?" "How can I face them when I have broken Timothy's heart?" "CHEERING AND APPLAUSE" "Here stand I, a Turkish knight to admire." "To introduce our play to our Squire." "The Doctor...!" "CHEERING AND APPLAUSE" "And the Dragon!" "DRAGON GROWLS Come you near." "And now St George." "With a belly full of beer!" "For him let us cheer!" "CHEERING AND APPLAUSE" "Here stand I, St George, brave and bold." "And far too old if truth be told." "LAUGHTER" "I shall slay the mighty, fearsome, incredibly, fiery dragon with my sword...so bold." "No more will he feed on human food." "I'll cut him down." "Ha!" "Arrh!" "Arrh!" "Arrh!" "Oh!" "CROWD BOOS" "See his blood!" "Here stand I, the doctor on his rounds." "I'll heal those wounds." "And charge fifteen pounds!" "CROWD LAUGHS" "Medicine to sup, you're not yet slain." "Rise up, fierce dragon and fight again!" "CHEERING AND APPLAUSE" "Aah!" "DRAGON WAILS Oooh!" "Ahhh!" "AUDIENCE:" "Aww!" "Here stand I, the Turkish knight, once more." "Come to fight my foe St George." "Oh!" "I am cut down to my knees." "Spare my life, brave Briton, please!" "I shall never spare a Turk!" "More chance than doing some work!" "CROWD LAUGHS" "I ain't having it!" "I've had enough of you." "I should never of let my wife be the dragon." "Let's see how you like it." "Ain't so brave now, you old duffer." "CHEERING AND APPLAUSE" "DISTANT CHEERING AND APPLAUSE" "Most amusing." "And thrilling." "Such drama and amazement..." "You will tell our Squire it was ferocious, won't you, Your Ladyship?" "I will..." "About...two months ago," "I met a man." "Donald Carter." "I became infatuated with him." "I didn't want to." "He didn't pursue me." "He is a shy and kindly." "He is innocent in this." "But I..." "I could not seem to stop myself." "I did nothing so very wrong." "Except..." "I told Timothy how I felt." " That I had found someone." "That I loved this man." "You told Timothy?" "I think it was because, I was so absorbed in Donald..." "..and Timothy did not notice." "I felt..." "I realise how inside out this sounds..." "I felt betrayed." "And Timothy left?" "I felt sure he would run to..." "Candleford." "I see." "So you came here looking for him?" "Miss Lane..." "I have always felt like... ..second choice." " Second best." " LadyAdelaide." " Please, let me..." "It has always tormented me." "Did he ask you?" "Did Timothy want YOU to marry him?" "Yes." "And you refused him?" "I told myself..." "I told Timothy..." "it was because of my father." " Those words were said to me so often..." ""Love never crosses the great divide of social class."" "But in truth, it could not have been that." "Young people in love rebel." "Something was missing." "Incomplete." "But you remained...available." " As if..." " Lady Adelaide." "I saw it in your face, at The Manor." "That day you were "passing by"." "You were waiting for him, so eager to see him." "Full of a lover's fear." "What you saw was my anxiety." "Yes." "But not for the reasons you suppose." "It is time for you and I to lay the past to rest." "We are both mothers now." "Yes." "I tried to tell you earlier." "Sydney is my adopted son." "Being a mother... ..it fills me like nothing else ever did." "Let us be done with doubts and fear." "I have found the love that I have always longed for." "Do you see?" "Yes." "I do see." "Adelaide, please consider..." "You did not run off with this man." "You told Timothy." "I think..." "Please excuse me for supposing I know your mind better than you do." "I think you were demanding a response from your husband." "I knew it at the time." "What did you see?" "What was in Timothy's face?" "Such sorrow." "Such unbearable sorrow." "I see it now." "Go home." "To London." "Wait." "He will come back to you." "Tell him, show him in all the ways you can how you love him." "How he is the one." "And, Adelaide... ..all this fainting." "Perhaps you should see a physician." "Robert!" "Robert Timmins!" "Can you lift yourself?" "I'm in need of some of your fine words." "Twister?" "Queenie, he's pining for you." "You've made your point." "I have no point to make." "I in't out here for him." "I'm out here for me." "Queenie, believe me, you can only live with the sound of your own voice for only so long before it loses its fascination." "MAN CLEARS HIS THROAT" "If he is so lovelorn, how is it you are the one to make his entreaties?" "He's afraid he might get it wrong." "Say something that will upset you." "Queenie, you might not admit it, but you are a challenge." "You find fault, you chastise." "You chase him down the lane." "You never give the man a moment's peace." "I don't, do I?" "Well, perhaps my time out here has given me the chance to grow up." "I'll tell him you're coming home, then?" "I in't said that." "I in't ready yet." "But you can tell him that he can spend the night out here." "With me." "So, how was your pa?" "Much better." "Crepes!" "How wonderful." "You two must've missed each other terribly, I will leave you to talk." " Please join us." " Please, Miss Pratt." "I'm not sure my conversation will be up to Mr Hume and the science of human nature." "I did enjoy our battle." "Everyone enjoyed our battle." "Word will travel from Inglestone to Didcot." "'Each person had their role in our little world.'" "In't it marvellous out here." "The world sounds like the world ought to sound." "'They might fight it or resist it sometimes...'" "It is mighty peaceful." "'But they tended to come back.'" "But I do miss my kitchen." "'And when that role fits 'then it fills up your life.'" "My name is Enid Fairley." "You've walked all the way from Oxford in these?" "I feel like I have been walking forever." "Here is more work than you could wish for and this shop, my life's work, is dependent upon its completion." "You must choose your weapon, sir." "You find me armed and ready, sir." "Our friendship." "I do believe Miss Enid is an angel and has fallen from heavens straight into my parlour." "You lied to me." "I flaunted our friendship with no idea whom or WHAT I had befriended." "I have the most strange presentiment," "I think it may be Miss Enid."