"It's making for the village." "If we're quick we can head the bugger off." "It doesn't seem fair." "All those hounds and just one fox." "It's not meant to be fair." "Come on, or we'll lose them." "The doctor said you weren't to exert yourself." "Are you a student of medicine?" " No, Your Grace." "I'm a chauffeur." "Then let's stick to what we know." " Perhaps you should let me drive." "He's right, Grandpa." "The doctor said..." "Fresh air and light exercise." "That was the doctor's advice, and I'm taking it." "Come on, William." "Doesn't this thing go any faster?" "That's my girl." "Hang on!" "What's going on?" "Come on, Pomfert!" "Mushroom!" "Hey, come on!" "Would you mind controlling these animals, Sarah Carraclough?" "It might help us all if you'd mind your own..." "Edward Hynes." "Come on, Lass." "Urgh!" "Who threw this?" "Eh?" "Who threw this?" "I'll have the police on you." "Do you hear me?" "I'll have the police!" "Ruddy rabble!" "Come on, Pomfert." "Out of it!" "The er... the pack are in a bit of a tangle." "I'm just getting it sorted, Your Grace." "Never mind the hounds." "Did anyone see which way the damn fox went?" "Towards the mine, they say." " What are you waiting for?" "Well, I..." " This is a fox hunt, isn't it?" "Yes, Your Grace." "A fox hunt." "Right." "Come on, open this gate!" "Eh?" "Come on, you lazy swine!" "Open this gate." "All right." "Come on, boys!" "Come on!" "Come on!" "Your Grace, you can't come through." "It's impossible." "There are men working down there." "They may be down there, but they're not working - we both know the seam's exhausted." "Now get out of the way!" "There's still coal down there, I'm sure of it." "What the bloody hell was that?" "A fox, I reckon." " What's it doing down here?" "Sssh!" "Listen up!" "So... are we going to let them catch it?" "How can we stop them?" "It's just a matter of putting them off the scent." "Don't you think?" " You daft bugger!" "Right..." "Let's see what they make of that, then." "...goes 7, remainder 4." "Which gives us 8 into 40." "Anybody?" "Joe Carraclough?" "Yes, miss?" "What did I just ask?" "A question, miss." "Stand up." "And what question was that?" "Don't try and get the answer from somebody else!" "Well?" "Didn't hear, miss." "Come here." "Left." "Up!" "Right." "Three more for answering back." "But, miss, I didn't." "Are you asking for another three?" "No, miss." "Back." "Now 8 nto 40" "Quickly, anybody." "Yes?" "Ooh, is it time, Lass?" "I don't understand." "If they don't want to eat it, why do they want to catch it?" "Sport, my dear." "For the sport." "They love it." "They don't look very happy." "They don't like to lose." "Neither do I." "She does." " What?" "Look happy." "She's beautiful, isn't she?" "You've got a good eye." "You've got my good eye." "Hynes." "Hynes!" "Let's see if we can't catch something today." "It's all right, Lass." "They're not hurting so much now." "Come on." "Let's go home." "Snap!" " Blast!" "You're not concentrating." "You can't play Snap if you don't concentrate." "I suppose it's dull for you here." "After the excitement of London." "Dady says London isn't safe anymore, because it's going to be a war." "Nonsense!" "Snap!" "Now we'll see who's concentrating." "Daddy says everybody has their heads in the sand." "Are you contradicting me?" " Yes, Grandpa." "You dare say yes, you impertinent little scallywag." "If I said no, that would be another contradiction." "Snap!" "That's a draw so they go into the pool." "What do you mean?" "We both said "snap" together so that's a draw." "Now if you get a 7, you have to say "snap pool" instead of "snap"." "Who invented this idiotic game?" "You did." "Skipper." "Bo'sun." "Well?" "He wouldn't sell, Your Grace." " What do you mean?" "How far did you go?" "15." "He wouldn't sell for 15 pounds?" "Carraclough said the dog wasn't his to sell." "Probably stole the damn thing in the first place." "Well, we'll see about that." "Snap!" "Thought I wasn't looking, didn't you?" "My win, I think." "We don't need his money." "Not today, perhaps." "But for how much longer?" "Three hundredweight we brought up today." "And we worked a double shift." "The seam's dead." "Everybody knows it." "They'll find another seam." "You can't find something you're not looking for." "And no-one's looking." "Not any more." "Come on, Lass." "You know you're not supposed to be up here." "Good night." "Mam?" "Joe." "What did that man want?" " Nothing to bother yourself with." "Now, cohmoe on Go to s oeoep" "Dad wouldn't sell her, though, would he?" "Those big ears are going to get you into trouble one day." "But he can't!" "Lassie's my dog." "She's our dog." "And we're not selling." "Love you." "I want eight men round the back." " Yes, sir." "Give me a straight line for the gate." "Sarah, quick." "Get your coat." "Is someone hurt?" " It's worse than that." "Well, what's this, John Fordham?" "Are we not to be allowed in to see our men?" "You'll soon be complaining you see too much of them." "Here they come." "Look." "Come on." "Get back." "Back, please." "Come on." "Move back." "What is it?" "What's happening, Ma?" "Closing the mine down, Joe." "They say there's not enough coal." "What's the matter?" "Does he not see us?" "No, hoe soeoes us, Jooe oe soeoes us" "Come on." "Thank you, Patterson." "Daisy, my dear." "You look exhausted." "Charlie sends his love." "His commission just came through." "He's had to report to some barracks in the middle of nowhere." "Where is she?" "Just gone upstairs." "Oh, do you mind if I?" " Of course not." "I didn't tell her you were coming." "Just in case." "Nothing arrives on time these days." "Why couldn't Daddy come?" "Because he's a soldier now, darling." "He has to do what he's told." "Grandpa says there isn't going to be a war." "He says everybody's just playing silly games." "Well, let's hope he's right." "Hop into bed and I'll read you a story." "Oh, I've missed you so much." "Why don't you take me back with you?" "I can't." "Not yet, anyway don't know where Daddy's going to be posted." "It's all very last-minute." "They nearly wouldn't let him join up at all." "I wish they hadn't." "I know, my darling." "So do I." "It's not just me." "There's others talking the same." "What good will it do us if you get yourself killed?" "What else am I supposed to think of?" "I walked my feet off for 20 miles in every direction." "There's nothing in the whole county." "Lass." "Lassie!" "We can't." "I know we can't." "It's not fair on the boy." "Keep your voice down." "I don't want him woken." "It's not fair on you." "It's not fair on any of us." "But we have rent to pay." "Mr Grimes won't keep us on't slate for ever." "And how am I expected to put food on't table?" "We'll find a way." "There's a Mr Carraclough at the door, Your Grace." "Shall I send him away?" " No." "No." "I was expecting him." "I'll see him in the study." "Do you have to go today?" "Yes, darling." "I'm sorry." "But I'll be back as soon as Daddy's settled." "We have to find you a new school." "Why can't I stay at my old school?" "Because, darling, London's not safe." "I'm sure we'll find you somewhere nice." "Be brave, darling." "I'll be back before you know it." "Hm?" "Say hello to Charles for me." "Tell him I still think he's a blithering idiot." "I'll tell him." "Look after her for me." "Don't worry about us." "Young lady." "I've got something to show you." "Someone, I should say." "Where's Lassie?" "She wasn't at school." "I think something's happened to her." "Have you seen her?" "Someone has to tell him." "Isn't she something?" "I thought you said they wanted to keep her." "They changed their mind, didn't they?" "Couldn't get rid of her fast enough once the subject of money was mentioned." "She doesn't look very happy about it." " Nonsense." "Where is that dratted fellow hiding?" "Hynes!" " Just coming." "Yes, sir." "What's the matter with this dog?" "Erm..." "Matter, Your Grace?" "Look at her, man." "Well... you mean her not taking her food?" "Used to table scraps and all sorts, I should say." "They've no idea how to handle dogs down in that village." "Don't you worry your pretty little head about it, miss." "I'll have her eating kennel-style in a day or so." "What's her name?" "They never bothered to give her one." "Called her Lass." "Or Lassie." "It just means girl." "No feeling for animals, in my experience." "Don't worry." "We'll give her a proper name." "I like the one she's got." "Lassie." "See?" "She knows it's her." "Come on." "You can come back and see her later." "Why can't we take her up to the house with us?" "When she's settled." "Let her get used to us first." "I'll see you eat." "If I have to push your bloody food down your throat." "Yeah, that's right." "Take a good look at me." "I'm in charge now." "Good boy." "Thanks, Peters." "Lassie, I've got to have a bath before tea, but I'll be back straight after." "I promise." "5 sevens are 35." "6 sevens are 42." "7 sevens are 49." "8 sevens are 56." "9 sevens are 63." "Lassie!" "Lassie." "How did you get here?" "Come on." "I'll take you home." "Get in there!" "I don't want any more of your tricks." "Do you understand?" "You can't blame the boy." "You can't look after your own property." "You've no cause to talk to me like that, Sam Carraclough." "I know you've trained it to run." "It won't happen again." "Make no mistake." "Will you get them out of the way!" "Come on!" "Oi!" "Oi!" "Somebody stop her!" "What's going on here?" "It's your dog." "She ran away again." "Again?" " I'll deal with this, Your Grace." "I brought my lad with me." "To pen her up this time." "This'll be the last time." " It had better be." "Cilla." "Coming, Grandpa." "Let the boy do it." "It's him she runs for." "Go on, lad." "Get it over with." "Stay here and bide happy, Lass." "And don't come home no more." "You're a bad dog and we don't love you no more." "So stay here and leave us be." "You understand?" "Bad dog." "She isn't happy here." "That's why she runs." " Course she's happy." "She runs because they've trained her to do it." "Then they can steal her back and sell her to somebody else." "Bloody Yorkshiremen." "They're nothing but thieving vagabonds." "Scum!" "If they wanted to steal her, why did they bring her back themselves?" "Well, because... they're always up to tricks, aren't they?" "But we're too smart for 'em." "Hey!" "Don't try that with me, you little beggar." "You stay away from her, miss." "She'd bite you as soon as look at you if I know dogs." "You just want to go home, don't you?" "Well, that makes two of us." "So do I." "Don't even think about it." "You'll not get under that." "It's buried too deep." "We're going on a nice trip together tomorrow." "And it will be goodbye to Yorkshire, for you, my girl." "Oof!" "Get out of the way, you idiot!" "Where is she?" "Eh?" "I say, where the bloody hell is she?" " Well, she's not here." "Where's Joe?" " I don't know." "He's not back yet." "He won't have got far." "I'll find him." "I'll come with you." "We don't want any more funny business." "Just go right home, Mr Hynes." "Your dog'll be back to you, just as soon as I find her." "Yeah, well, she better be." "The Duke's going to Scotland tomorrow and he's taking the dog with him." "Joe." "You can't make this right by stealing her back." "It's not stealing when she comes by herself." "It is if we keep her." "She doesn't belong to us, Joe." "Not any more." "Come on." "Ass" "She'll come back again, you know." "They'll not keep her caged." "Not this time, she won't." " She will!" "They're taking her away tomorrow." "To Scotland." " Where's that?" "Long, long way, Joe." "Much farther than you'll ever travel even if you live to be 100." "So let it go, eh?" "Maybe when times are better, we'll get another dog." "I don't want another dog, do I?" "I never want another dog." "Yeah, I'm in all right." "Don't worry about that." "Eh, eh, keep your hands where I can see 'em." "Here." "Let me help you." "# Scotland The Brave" "Oh... she brushes up nicely." "Good posture." "Great energy." "A little lacking in confidence, perhaps." "Let's see what they make of each other." "Come on." "She could be what we've been looking for." "Good morning, Grandfather." " Morning, Cilla." "Good morning, Lassie." " Careful, miss." "She's a nasty temper on her." " No, she hasn't." "What do you think, Hey Hey?" "Huh?" "What do you think of her, boy?" "She's saying hello." "Best keep 'em apart, till she learns some manners." "Exercise is what she needs." "That will cheer her up." "Keep her on a lead, but I want her to get used to the other dogs as soon as possible." "Come on." "There's a kipper in the dining room with your name on it." "Come on, you get in here." "Oi!" "In here." "Joe?" "Come on, Joe." "You have to eat." "Please, Joe." "I love Lassie just as much as you." "And if I've done something wrong, it's loving you more." "We'd barely enough food for the three of us." "It would have been cruel to keep her." "Sometimes you have to let things go." "You can't hold on to everything." "Be happy that you knew her." "And that you watched her grow." "And that you helped make her strong and beautiful." "So beautiful that everyone who saw her knew it." "Think of it as an adventure for her." "And be proud of her." "Eh?" "You just want to get out, don't you?" "Go back where you came from, like you did before." "I'll be the same if they send me to some stuck-up boarding school." "Hey." "Get here!" "Oi!" "Come here!" "Get here!" "You go on." "Don't worry." "I'll deal with this one." "I think it's time we started your education proper." "That's it, in here." "Come on." "Oi!" "Get here!" "Right." "Come on." "I'm not going to hurt you." "See?" "Come here, will you!" "Stop her!" "Stop her, you stupid Scottish clods!" "Are you deaf or something?" "The dog, you idiot!" "Urhh!" "I'll do it." "Come back here!" "What's going on?" "I think Mr Hynes is playing a game with the dogs." "Well, he's no business to!" "Don't open the gate!" " What did he say?" "Don't touch that bloody gate!" "Nothing." "What did you say?" " I said, don't touch the bloody gate!" "Oh, sorry." "What's going on?" "The stupid girl's let the collie out." "What happened to your belt, Mr Hynes?" "Um..." "Were you using it on the dog?" "No, I was just teach..." " Mr Hynes, please do not say another word." "Never, under any circumstances, will I allow anyone to attack an animal of mine." "Collect what wages are due to you and leave my property immediately." "Otherwise, I will not be answerable for the consequences." "I'll look after this for you." "Into the car, young lady!" "But, Your Grace..." "Your Grace, you don't understand!" "Your Grace..." "Never mind that." "I want to talk to you." "Come here." "Have you lost your tobacco?" "No." "Just forgot I'd given up." "Because we're poor?" "Well, times are not what they were, Joe." "And your mother said I was smoking too much, anyway." "Listen." "I'm going to have to go away for a little while." "To fight in the war?" "No, not to fight, I hope." "Just to train and such." "It probably won't be any more than that." "I'm going to need you to look after your mother while I'm away." "But what about Lassie?" " Joe." "Joe." "You love Lassie, don't you?" "You know I do." "Then be happy for her." "She's better off where she'll get fed proper, with a grand kennel and a fine big run, with stable boys to wait on her hand and foot." "So let it go." "Eh?" "If she's not found quickly, she'll die." "She won't be able to survive on her own." "Why not?" "Because the instinct for knowledge has been bred out of her." "She's a pet." "She won't be able to fend for herself, so she'll starve." "And that's if she doesn't fall down a cliff first and break her legs." "Now, if you'll excuse me, I shall call the police one more time." "You don't mean that." "You're just saying that to make me feel bad." "And do you feel bad?" "Yes." "Good!" "Now go to bed." "Bloody..." "lunatic animal!" "Go on, get out of it!" "Before I do something I'll regret." "Go on!" "Get out of it!" "Hungry, are you?" " I always eat when I'm worried." "There's no time for that." "She's been spotted." "Where?" " On the road, ten miles south of here." "A farmhand saw her on his way to work and called the police." "What are we waiting for?" "Come on!" "What about your breakfast?" " I'm not worried any more." "Wait a minute." "There she is, by the postbox." "We've found us a dog!" "Come on, Nellie, you'll be late for school." "Isn't she bonny?" "Take it easy." "We don't want to startle her." "Young lady!" "Step away from the animal, please." " Come on, Nellie." "Step away, please." "I've got her." "Come on." "I'm not going to hurt you." "Keep that gate closed!" "We'll not catch her now." "She's frightened." "She'll come back when she's hungry." "I don't think she will come back." "She's trying to get home, like she did before." "M A W hat hmaodoe you so atoe?" "I got kept in." "What for this time?" "Nothing." " Nothing?" "Miss told me to sit down, and I didn't hear her." "Daydreaming, I suppose?" "I couldn't help it." " What do you mean?" "It were near four, and I heard a dog barking." "And I thought it were..." "Lassie." "Ass oe?" "Bloody Lassie?" "If I hear that dog's name mentioned one more time," "I swear I'll walk out and leave the pair of you!" "As if I haven't got enough to cope with!" "Who's there?" "Is somebody after my chickens?" "Go on!" "Go on!" "Go on!" "Go on, you filthy mongrel!" "You stay away from my chickens, or I'll give you a taste of this!" "236 against Surrey." "239, against Somerset, not Surrey." "I saw it myself." "Bowled leg stump for 239." "In '32?" " Summer of '33." "At the Oval." "Rained a bit in the afternoon." "Wait a minute." "I think I've just seen something." "I can't see anything." "Markland." " What?" "Name of the bowler." "I'll never forget it." "Yes, look." "There." "In those bushes." "No." "There's not a thing, old boy." "Give me those." "I think that's a dog you're looking at." "A dog?" "Don't be ridiculous." "Well, that's a dog, of course." "But what's it doing?" "It's acting very oddly." "Perhaps it's seen the monster." "Very sensitive, you know, dogs." "Wait a minute!" "That would be me, sir." "Yes, of course." "Well, what is she doing?" "I'm not sure." "Maybe she's wanting to cross the loch and cannae see how to do it." "But that's impossible." " Aye." "She would have to go round." "Go round?" "How far is that?" "You've 100 miles before she's back on this track." "Why would she want to do that?" "She has business on the other side, maybe." "Your collie's a Scottish breed originally." "And the Scots can be awful determined when they put their mind to it." "You know, I think you're right." "What about?" "It was the summer of '33 and Markland was the bowler." "I told you so, old boy." "There's not much you can teach me about cricket." "It's getting a bit choppy, isn't it?" "Come on, darling." "This is where Sarah will sleep." "All the beds are marked, dear." "So, if you find your number, you'll know where you're sleeping." "Off you go, dear." "Do you remember your number, darling?" "110." "Do I have to be a number?" "Of course, dear." "Every girl is." "Like the army." "Don't worry about me." "I know how to look after myself." "Know" "Joe..." "I'm relying on you, lad." "Don't let me down." "Goodbye, love." "See you soon." "Come along, girls." "No talking." "Lights out in three minutes." "And you, young lady." "Into bed." "I've got to do 100 strokes." "I promised my mother." "Well, hurry yourself up, then!" "Everybody out now!" "Lights out in two minutes." "Come along, everybody!" "Rise and shine!" "Oh!" "Thanks a lot!" "At last." "Don't even think about it, young lady." "You're in enough trouble as it is." "Withers, if you'd be so kind." "That's a definite." "I'll give you odds of 100 to 1." "No accohmpany ng aodu ts, poor appoearancoe, woeary odoehmoeanou r" "I think you're right." "Pincer movement, Mr O'Donnell, classic manoeuvre." "You drop off here, approach from the rear, I move ahead." "Halt, take up a covert position and, bingo, we attack from both sides, with maximum effect." "Right, sir." "Stand aside." "Come to the nice gentleman." "Steady." "Hold him, hold him." "You don't have to treat a dog like that." "Sorry, Mum, it's for the protection of the public." "There's a lot of mad dogs around." "Well, you don't have to do it like that." " She's right." "I beg your pardon, sir." "Well, you're upsetting the dog." "Oh, am I, really?" "I'm so sorry." "Am I upsetting diddums?" "Get up." "I'll put her in the van for you." "It'll get away from you, Mum." " Stop calling me "Mum" and stand up." "You should let her try." "We'll just have to go through it all over again." "Stand up!" "Hey, girl." "And take that away." "There you go, girl." "Please open the doors of your van." "I..." "Don't stand there gawping like a halfwit." "There." "You don't have to treat stray dogs like wild beasts." "Very grateful, I'm sure." "Thank you." "Thank you." "Show's over." "Can I just say, I thought you were absolutely brilliant?" "The rest of us just stood there and you did something." "I had a dog like that when I was a kid." "Same eyes." "What will they do with her?" "I'm not sure." "Keep hold of her for a while, I suppose." "If no-one shows up, they..." "Well, they..." "They'll kill her?" "It's quite humane." "Just put her to sleep or something." "No, you're right." "You're absolutely right." "Where is the pound?" " I don't know." "I'm sure we can find it." "No nonsense from you." "Shut up, the lot of you!" "You're not going anywhere." "Get in there." "Go on!" "Oh!" "Mind the door, lad!" "What are you doing, you stupid idiot?" "No..." "Watch out." "Step aside." "Step aside." "Mind your back." "Ah, hey... hey..." "All rise." "You cannot come in." "Court is in session." "My Lord, if I may respectfully..." "Mr McTaggart." "Is this the surprise witness the defence has promised?" "My Lord..." "I take it that is an answer in the affirmative." "And I can congratulate the defence on producing, finally, a witness who is capable of answering yes or no to a question without equivocation." "Have you lost a dog?" "Yes, we have." "Mr McTaggart, whom am I addressing?" "It's a dog, My Lord." "You confirm my own suspicions." "Well, well, well, a dog." "Sergeant of the court, what do I want done with it?" "You wish it removed, Your Lordship?" "May I congratulate you on your powers of deduction?" "Well, go to it, man." "There's two men outside." "Silence, everybody." "Please don't startle the dog." "She cannot jump from there, so please let the officers do their duty quietly and safely." "Come on, there's nothing to be frightened of." "Come on." "Come on." "I've told you already, we don't have a collie." "Not for a number of weeks, as a matter of fact." "I have a whippet and a couple of very annoying terriers if you're interested." "That's them all back... at last." "Fancy a cuppa?" " You were there." "The collie." "We've come for the collie." "We've brought money." "We'll pay for her, whatever it is." "She escaped." "Oh, brilliant." "Bloody brilliant!" "Now we've got to fill in a missing dog report." "A perfect record lies in tatters." "We don't have a perfect record." " Well, we haven't now, have we?" "You mean, she's gone?" "Yes, madam, she's gone." "Now, if you and your husband wouldn't mind doing the same, my colleague has a report to write." "What a couple of idiots." "Yes." "Husband, indeed." "Oh, that." "Yes." "Look..." " Yes?" "I don't suppose you'd like to..." "I mean..." "I'd love to." "You would?" "Most definitely." " Good." "I'm so sorry." "About the dog, I mean." "Sorry?" "Don't be." "She's free now." "That's all I ever wanted for her." "I think we've got company, Toots." "I wonder what she wants of us." "I think perhaps she vants to be alone." "Whoa!" "Let's see if Miss Garbo's hungry, shall we?" "Hey, it's not for you, you greedy beast." "You're not a film star." "Not yoet anyway" "You're no wild dog, are you?" "There's a tyke, she's shy and canny," "And she's slowly coming near," "She's as cautious as my granny," "But will overcome her fear." "Whoa!" "Ho ho!" "Ho ho!" "Now, we know a trick or two, don't we, Toots?" "Let's see what Your Majesty thinks of this, shall we?" "There's your dinner, Your Highness." "Eat up." "Come on, Toots." "We seem to have made a friend after all." "Put it down in the road and it's no good." "Too well trained." "Put it down in a bowl." "That was the secret." "That made it all right." "You'll have to come along with us if you want any more." "Hello, Joe." "How was your day?" "Miss Branson liked my poem." "Well, that's a surprise." "I didn't think she liked anything other than the sound of her own voice." "Did you hear from Dad?" "No, but he'll be home for Christmas, I'm sure of it." "We can't be beaten on our prices!" "Fresh eggs!" "Get your fresh eggs here!" "Hello, everybody!" "Hello!" "Has anybody seen my dog Toots?" "No!" "Well, are you sure?" "He's behind you!" "Where?" "He's behind you!" "Oh!" "Ohhhh!" "Roll up!" "Roll up, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, for the terrifying tale of Androcles and the lion." "What are you doing up there, Toots?" "Come down." "Were you looking after the children?" "W ho wants to soeoe a t r ck by oots t hoe wonodoer odog?" "Me!" "Up you go!" "There you are." "A round of applause, please." "And now, ladies and gentlemen, the terrifying tale of Androcles and the lion." "Your Highness, if you please." "You're doing fine, Your majesty." "You're doing fine." "So Androcles found himself alone in the desert, when suddenly he heard a strange sound." "The poor slave Androcles was very frightened by the lion, but then he noticed something unusual." "Looking closely, Androcles saw there was a thorn in the lion's paw, and that's why the lion was so unhappy." "So plucking up his courage, he took hold of the lion's paw and plucked out the thorn." "The angel Gabriel got a bit of a black eye last year." "This year he'll have a new head." "I reckon he'll be all right for Christmas." "What do you think?" "Beginning to feel the cold, are you?" "Winter's coming." "I think we're not going to make the Riviera this season, Your Majesty." "It's time to head back." "You'll like it at home." "Won't she, Toots?" "We best get tidied up." "Get an early start tomorrow." "What the hell is that?" "It's a bloody midget." "Is it, now?" "Or are we looking at a bloomin' dwarf?" "What?" "Dwarves or midgets." "You have to be sensitive about these things." "Dwarves are richer." "They dig for gold." "Then let's call it a dwarf." "Do you think he'll have it with him - the gold?" "Let's go and ask the little fella, shall we?" "Watch your dog, little fella." " It's all right." "We ain't doing nothing." "Quiet down, Your Majesty." "Quiet down." "Toots." "Thank you." "Thank you very much." "Are you having a cuppa?" "Isn't that nice?" "Could you spare a swallow for a couple of homeless chaps looking for work?" "We've got a fresh caught rabbit by way of exchange." "You're welcome, friend." "The water's almost boiled." "The tea's in the wagon." "I'll get it." "No hurry." "Is there, mate?" " No hurry at all." "Only sorry we missed the show." "Big audience, was it?" "Bet you make a killing this time of year." "Christmas coming and all that." "Come on, where is it?" "The gold." "Cos if you're nice and hand it over, we won't hurt you." "Will we, Mr S?" "No... we won't hurt you." "Afraid I haven't got any gold." "Just tea." "So you want it the hard way, do you, little 'un?" "Fair enough." "Don't just stand there, get in after him, you coward." "Argh!" "You little beggar!" "Stay out of this, Your Majesty!" "You want some of this, do you?" "Is this what you want?" "Come on, my little beauty." "Go home!" "Get out of it!" "What a dog!" "You see, little fella, even your best friend can't stand..." "You get underneath the wagon, I'll get the cash." "Get off!" "Snickers, where are you?" "There's no sign of him under here." "I'm aware." "No." "Argh!" "Oof!" "Argh!" "Toots!" "Get away!" "Toots!" "You bloomin' rat!" "Get it off!" "Get off!" "I hate dogs." "I always have." "Hello, there, my darling." "You put up a pretty good fight, didn't you, now?" "Quiet, Your Majesty." "She hasn't much time left." "Seven years we've been together." "And I couldn't have asked for better company." "With blessings He has to spare." "M ay Good g vvoe t hoehm to you now" "The Lord says his Father notices even the fall of a single sparrow." "So trusting in him, we commend our dear friend to his bosom." "(horse whinnies)" "Come on, then, Your Majesty." "Don't want to?" "Perhaps it's best that way." "Still want to go south, do you?" "Winter in the Riviera." "With all the other la-di-dahs." "I'd like to go with you but... winter's coming... and I'd best be getting back home." "Besides you'd always be reminding me of my Toots, wouldn't you, Lass?" "Hey..." "That's the pity of it." "You can understand my language but I can't understand yours." "And it's us that's supposed to be the most intelligent." "We had some pretty good times together, didn't we?" "Yeah." "Well..." "Off you go, then." "And may luck go with you." "Off you go." "Come on, then, old girl." "Time to head for home." "What was that?" "Some kind of animal, darling." "A fox, I should think." "It looked bigger than a fox to me." " Look, we're here." "Will grandpa have a Christmas tree?" " Of course." "It'll be the biggest you've ever seen." "Can we light them now?" "No, darling." "It'll burn down." "It's all we've got left." "We'll light them when we get back from church." "Come on." "You'll be late for practice." "# O come all ye faithful" "# Joyful and triumphant" "# O come ye, O come ye" "# To Bethlehem" "# Come and behold him" "# Born the king of angels" "# O come let us adore him" "# O come let us adore him" "# O come let us adore him" "# Christ the Lord" "Happy Christmas." "I knew you'd make it." "Is it snowing?" "Aye." "Aye, it's beautiful outside." "And inside too." "# Leaving their flocks draw nigh to gaze" "# In the bleak midwinter" "# Frosty wind made moan" "# Earth stood hard as iron" "# Water like a stone" "# Snow had fallen, snow on snow" "# Snow on snow" "# What can I give him" "# Poor as I am?" "Cricket, what's the matter with you?" "You're not supposed to be in here." "What are you doing?" "Where's John?" "I don't know." "He were right here." "Lassie..." "It's Lassie!" "She's come home!" "Listen for yourself, Joe." "The heart's very faint." "But it is there." "She's had a terrible ordeal and I can't say whether it's possible she'll survive it." "An animal doesn't know how to fight for life in the way a human often can." "It may be that, having got home and having achieved what she wanted, she'll be content to just go to sleep and... pass on." "Is there anything we can do?" "Try and get her to eat something." "Warm milk and brandy, I would suggest." "We haven't got any brandy." "I've got some." "We were saving it for the Christmas pudding." "We'll all see how she is in the morning." "I'll come round first thing." "This is for you." "I made it myself." "For me?" "At school I wanted to remind myself that it was still possible to escape." "Did you, indeed?" "I know she's here, so don't try and make any trouble." "I've got officers of the law with me just in case you do." "He can't take her, can he?" " This is a sick animal." "She can't be moved." "We have a certificate from the vet here, saying she's fit to travel." "Well, go on, then, get on with it." "Don't touch her." " Sorry, Sam." "We've seen the papers." "Everyone knows you sold her." "She's not going anywhere unless I take her myself." "That won't be necessary." "Officers..." "She's under my care." "I'm responsible for her." "What difference does it make?" "You want her back, he'll take her back." "No!" "You can cohmoe too, Jooe" "I'm not stopping here by myself." "I demand an escort in case they run off with her." "They've tried it before, you know." " Oh, shut up." "Right, you keep an eye on them." "I'll get it sorted." "That's it." "Your Grace..." "Your Grace!" "Mr Hynes is here, Your Grace, and he was most insistent..." "I've found her, Your Grace, I've found her!" "I've got her outside, just like you ordered." "Lassie!" "He's found Lassie!" "P oeasoe, oevvoeryboody stay hoeroe" "I told you she'd not get past me." "Detective work, Your Grace." "Months of it." "I knew it would pay off in the end." "She arrived here Christmas Eve." "Very poorly." "We were... just looking after her till she were well enough to bring back." "Mm-hm." "And what are these officers doing here, exactly?" "Well, Your Grace, Mr Hynes here says that this here animal is stolen." "Quite insistent, he was." " Was he, indeed?" "Well, let's have a look, shall we?" "Would you allow me to examine your animal, young man?" "Well, I'll be blowed." "All the way to Bermuda and back again, what?" "Please..." " Quiet, boy." "I suppose you think I'm an old buffer who's easily fooled." "This isn't my dog." "Any idiot can see that." "She must be some kind of stray you picked up." "Don't try palming her off on me." "The dog I bought was big and healthy." "Not a worn-out old mutt like this one." "And Mr Hynes here knows that very well." "Your Grace, look at these markings." "I'll stake my reputation..." " Reputation?" "Mr Hynes, I think we are both aware what a fragile little creature that is." "Don't be ridiculous, man." "How could a dog get all the way here from Scotland?" "It's nearly 500 miles for a bird, let alone for a dog, wandering about, trying to make its own way." "It's impossible." "Wouldn't you agree, Officer?" "Yes, Your Grace." "If you say it's not yours, then that's the end of it." "You keep her if you want her." "Nothing to do with me." "Nothing to do with me." "Come along, girlie." "That was kind of you." " Nonsense." "I'm not a kind person." " I'm not finished yet." " What do you mean?" "Your Grace..." "I swear that was your dog." "She knew me." "I could tell." "Mr Hynes, are you still here?" " Yes, sir." "I mean, Your Grace... sir." "I'm sorry, but you must excuse us." "We were in the middle of lunch." "Some other time, perhaps." "But I'm telling you..." " Skipper, Bo'sun." "Hello, boys." "Remember me?" "Now, then, let's not get too excited, eh?" "Stay... stay..." "Cor lummie." "I have a proposition to make to you, Mr Carraclough." "Since the sad departure of Mr Hynes, we have a vacancy at the Hall." "I wondered if you'd be interested." "Head kennel man, looking after my dogs." "When the army is done with you, of course." "The pay is fair enough, I should think." "How much would "fair enough" be, exactly?" "Ooh, I should say..." "Seven pound?" " Good Lord, no!" "Five and not a penny more." "Six pound ten shilling." " Shall we call it six guineas?" "Done." "You drive a hard bargain, Mrs Carraclough." "And what about the kennel man's cottage on the moor?" "As head kennel man, yes, the cottage would be yours." "You'd have to take the family." "And, of course, any animals you have." "Would that be acceptable?" "Thank you, Your Grace." "That would be most acceptable." "That mutt of yours is looking a little better, young man." "You won't be able to recognise her in a couple of weeks." "I don't doubt it." "(laughs) I don't doubt it." "Come on, girlie." "Now, don't wriggle." "I can't stand anyone wriggling." "See?" "You are nice after all." "Nonsense." "I swore I'd have that dog and now I've got her." "I just had to buy the man as well." "I think I've got a bargain, don't you?" "Good morning, Mrs Carraclough." "Is Joe here?" "Oh, hello." "Aye, he's inside." "Go on, in you go and see him." "Where are they?" " Ssh." "Under the stairs." "How many?" " Seven." "Seven." "They are so beautiful." "Are they still blind?" "No, they get their eyes open when they're ten days old." "They'll be running about on their own soon enough." "Come on!"