Hello. You and me had an arrangement, remember?
A nice walk, and then a good, long nap. Yes.
JIMMY COOS
All set? Sorry.
HORN HONKS SIEGFRIED: Hello.
Oh, hello.
I were one foot out the door when the telephone rang.
We'd best not be late.
Don't wanna keep Mr Bosworth waiting.
That rudder pedal's still sticking. Can you take a look?
Well done, Banerjee. That was much better.
Thank you, but it was as you said.
I needed to adjust more accurately for the wind speed.
Aye. Listen to the skipper, and you won't go far wrong.
Couple more practice flights,
and we'll be ready for our first long-distance run.
Come on, you two, better look lively.
Hotpot tonight.
Well done, lads. Let's go, Johnny.
Is that the one that contains dumplings?
Nah, if there's dumplings, it's stew.
They are remarkably similar.
MR BOSWORTH: As regards to knitted items,
the next collection will be on Thursday by 3pm.
That's 3pm sharp.
Now... Er, next on the agenda, the Victory Gardens.
BOSWORTH CLEARS THROAT
I'm afraid to say that since Dot Fawcett's operation
has put her out of action, they are looking decidedly untended.
So, I must ask our volunteer gardeners
to redouble their efforts whilst Dot is recuperating.
And we are still in need
of additional wardens for blackout duty.
So I would direct your attention to the sign-up sheet by the door,
but I must stress that this is a serious responsibility.
Time wasters need not apply. You know who you are.
Don't want a repeat of last time. Quite right, Mr Bosworth.
We certainly wouldn't want to waste anyone's time.
So, last item on the agenda.
Ah! Our first Land Girl has arrived safely with Farmer Danby,
so I'm sure we'll all want to do our best to make her feel welcome.
And that concludes the meeting.
Oh! Now... Thank you so much, Mr Bosworth.
SMATTERING OF APPLAUSE Oh, yes. Right.
M-Meeting adjourned.
DOG YAPS
How are you?
Did you know Dot had had an operation?
I'd heard she'd been under the weather,
but I didn't know it were anything that serious.
Well, I feel awful.
She were like a nan to me and Jenny when we were little,
and I didn't even know she was laid up.
Well, you've had a lot to be getting on with.
I know, but the world shouldn't stop just cos I've had a baby.
JIMMY COOS Should it, Jimmy? Hm?
PLANE ENGINE ROARS
Curtains shut, and there was light. MRS HALL CHUCKLES
This is the way the farmer's boy rides.
Hobbledehoy, hobbledehoy, hobbledehoy,
and down into the ditch.
Really shouldn't get him overly excited before bed.
Oh, he likes a bit of excitement, don't you, Jimmy?
Do you? Here we are.
Do you? Richard, will you join us?
Oh, no. No, thank you. Not while I'm training Hamish.
Oh, you've never taught him another new trick?
As a matter of fact - Hamish, sit.
Speak. HAMISH BARKS
Good boy. Hey?
Like that, did you? And shake. Good boy.
Oh, will you look at that? It's most impressive.
Though it does explain why there's never any cheese.
Thank you.
He's a remarkably intelligent animal.
I'm not surprised his owner was so sad to leave him.
Well, at least he knew he were going to a good home.
Hard enough for a lad going off to fight
without worrying about his dog. Mm.
To all our boys. May we see them soon.
Here, here.
Our boys. Our boys.
As you're aware, Herr Hitler is now sprawled over Europe.
France is out, Italy is against us,
and with our port cities under increasingly heavy bombardment,
we need to hit back... hard.
In light of this, the decision has been made
to expedite all flight training schedules,
which means that the first long-distance run to Scotland
will take place tonight.
MUTTERING
Now, I know that most of you have just finished a day's flying,
but I'm afraid it can't be helped.
Very soon, you'll be flying active missions,
and you need to be ready.
So the following aircrew will report at 2100 hours.
Herriot. Sir.
Hibbert. Sir.
Banerjee. Sir.
Fielding. Sir.
Murphy. Sir.
Good luck.
Right. It's time for us to turn in, I think.
All right, love.
I'll call in on Dot in the morning. See how she's doing.
That's a good idea. I wish I had some biscuits to send with you.
Perhaps I could find her a nice magazine.
Mm. Oh, blast.
Something wrong? Oh.
They've called an extraordinary meeting
of the North Riding Veterinary Society.
Some nonsense about members' voting rights.
And it's at 9am tomorrow morning, attendance mandatory.
Oh. Dear.
Well, that's what happens when you let the post pile up.
Good night. Sleep well.
It means I shall have to cancel yet another clinic,
which means more complaints, but what do they expect?
I'm down from three vets to two. Or rather, one and a half.
One and three-quarters, surely?
We're stretched to our limit just covering the farms.
And then there's the emergencies.
Despite my best efforts, I can't be in two places at once.
There is another option.
WHISPERS: Yes, good boy.
Hello.
JIMMY BABBLES
You sleep well, little man.
Have you seen Banerjee? I haven't, skip.
PHONE RINGS, TYPEWRITERS CLATTER
Everything all right? Yes. Just checking my calculations.
Look, I know this isn't what we expected.
But you're a fine navigator, Banerjee.
In theory, perhaps, but in practice...
under pressure...
I've never plotted a course of this length,
and it's over 400 miles, James.
I'm worried I will let you down.
Come on.
What you need is some fresh air. Come on.
You know, you and I have a lot in common, Banerjee.
We do? We both like to feel prepared.
And I'm guessing we both tend to worry too much.
I think sometimes, perhaps we have a reason to.
You might be right. The trouble is it doesn't help.
When I started out as a veterinary surgeon,
I was so nervous.
I read everything I could find about bovine and equine anatomy.
I was as prepared as I could possibly be.
But even so, the first time I attended a call on my own,
seeing an animal in pain and distress,
knowing a farmer's livelihood depended on my knowing what to do...
..I couldn't be more terrified.
But, you know, it's a funny thing,
when you have no choice but to focus on the job in hand,
there's a kind of clarity.
Suddenly, everything you've learned, all the knowledge,
all the skills you've acquired, they just take over.
And so, was the animal saved?
She was, and I delivered my very first calf.
It was quite a night.
It's only natural to feel daunted, but you couldn't be more prepared.
I know you can do this.
Good lad. BANERJEE BREATHES DEEPLY
All right, come on,
or everybody's going to think we've both gone AWOL.
THEY LAUGH, JAMES CLEARS THROAT
It's an enormous responsibility. I realise that.
Normally, I wouldn't allow it.
Not until you'd completed your training.
I can do it, Mr Farnon. I won't let you down.
Well, you'd better not.
Now, obviously, your skills are still a bit limited,
so anything you can't deal with, just make a note,
and I'll look at it on my return.
Perhaps a check list would be helpful?
Some sort of triage assessment form?
Yes. Yes, I suppose... something along those lines could work.
Excellent, excellent. Leave it with me.
Well, he's certainly keen.
HE EXHALES
SOLDIERS CHATTER
JAMES CLEARS THROAT
You all right there, skipper? Looking a bit red in the face.
I'm just overheating in all this gear.
Aye, well, you'll be glad of it later.
JAMES CHUCKLES
We all set? Aye, skip.
Training mission or not, you need to treat tonight as the real thing.
You run into enemy aircraft, they won't make allowances.
And there's heavy cloud cover forecast further north.
So, navigator, you need to keep on your toes.
Yes, Sir. All right, men.
Good luck.
Not much of a morale booster, is he?
You sure you're all right? I'm fine.
I think I just caught that damn cold that's going round.
Ready, Banerjee? Ready. Good man.
Skipper! We need a medical officer!
Please! Skipper!
Sorry, I don't understand. I thought it was just the flu.
Well, that was my first assumption.
But I ran some tests to rule out other possibilities,
and they came back with something rather unexpected.
I see from your file that you're a veterinary surgeon.
That's right.
Then I'm sure you're familiar with brucellosis.
Oh, yes?
And have you, to your knowledge,
been exposed to any cases in the last couple of years?
Yes. I treated a herd with it last year.
But you didn't have any symptoms at the time?
No. No, none.
My wife, she was pregnant, so we were worried about her, but...
Well, she was fine in the end.
There was no reason to think I caught it.
Well, unfortunately, it appears you had. Right.
Pain medication and bed rest will treat the symptoms
in the short-term,
but I'm afraid the fever may be recurring,
and there's a possibility of delirium.
The bouts will become milder and further apart with time, though.
And don't worry, there's no risk of anyone catching it from you.
No, I know. That's one good thing, at least.
Anyway, you should feel back to normal in a day or so.
When can I get back to active duty?
Well, that's really a question for your commanding officer.
It's just we were about to do a run to Scotland,
and my crew had to be stood down.
Well, there's not much you can do about that right now.
If I were you, I'd just enjoy the rest.
DISTANT PHONE RINGS
SHEEP BAA, BIRDS TWEET
Oh, well, it's a lot of fuss over nothing.
Hysterectomy isn't nothing.
Aye. Doctor said it were better to be safe than sorry.
JIMMY CRIES
Hey. Well, I'm just glad you're on the mend.
Well, they said I've got to rest for another three weeks,
but I can get about a bit if I go slow.
Are you in much pain?
Not any more. They've given me some lovely stuff.
I take it at bedtime, and I just float off to sleep.
Oh. Very nice. HELEN CHUCKLES
And I've got little Frisk here to keep me company.
I'll tell you, I thought after all these years
I'd be used to being on my own.
But if it weren't for little Frisk,
I'd have gone stark-staring mad these past few weeks.
DOT CHUCKLES
Did you say something about putting kettle on?
HELEN CHUCKLES, JIMMY GRUNTS
Ooh.
Well, these all look very good.
And you didn't run into any problems while I was gone?
No. As I said, the only tricky case was the budgerigar.
With the ulcerated leg. Well, that's fair enough.
We can drop in on Mr Bendix sometime this afternoon.
But, no, for your first time flying solo,
I think you've done very well.
In fact, I'm minded to dispense with the hand-holding from now on.
You are?
Well, these triage forms of yours could work rather well.
You do the preliminary assessment. I take the more complex cases first.
We'd see twice the patients in half the time.
Well, it would certainly speed things up.
Here he is. I was wondering where you'd got to.
HELEN: Here we go.
Now, then. Have you had a good morning, young Jimmy?
He has. So have I. Thanks for asking (!)
Dot's put you to work, has she? Oh, I did offer.
What have I got here?
Quite a good noise, isn't it? PHONE RINGS
I'll get it. Thanks, love.
Darrowby 2297. WOMAN: 'Good afternoon.
'I'm calling from RAF Abingdon. I've a call for Mrs James Herriot.'
This is Mrs Herriot. 'Hold the line, please.'
JAMES: 'Helen, are you there?'
Oh, God. James, I thought for a minute...
I know, I'm so sorry.
The nurse had to place the call for me.
What nurse? James, what's going on?
It's fine. I'm fine. I just had a bit of a fever and a headache.
But you're all right now? 'I'm feeling much better.'
Do you know what it is?
MRS HALL MUTTERS 'Yes.'
The thing is, they did some blood tests. 'Right?'
And, um... It turns out I've got brucellosis.
JIMMY COOS
Brucellosis?
Oh, James, no. It's not the end of the world.
You must've caught it from the Crabtree's herd.
I was so busy fussing over myself. I should have thought.
We should have done them tests on you too.
Oh, James, I'm so sorry. 'You've nothing to be sorry for.'
And, like I said, I'm fine.
They gave me something for the headache, and...
it's not like I'm infectious.
I should be back in the barracks tomorrow.
But it'll come back, won't it?
I remember it could take months to get rid of it.
'Oh, I don't know.'
For now, it just means I get a couple of days off.
SHE INHALES DEEPLY Right.
Well, that's something.
Herriot. Sir?
Look, I've been discussing your condition
with the Wing Commander. Um...
Well, to cut to the chase, he doesn't think you're fit to fly.
Well, no, not... not at the moment, but...
Not at all, I'm afraid. What?
That's ridiculous. Brucellosis isn't a permanent condition.
I mean, it isn't permanently debilitating.
Well. That's true. So, did you explain that to him?
I did, but the fact is you can no longer be classed as 100% fit.
But as Wing Commander Whiteley pointed out,
a pilot has to be classed as Grade One.
So... it would seem your flying days are over.
But if I can't fly, what am I supposed to do?
Well, normally, when an airman's grounded,
he would usually serve as ground crew.
Ground crew?
But that's not my decision to make.
I'm sorry, Herriot.
I don't know, Professor.
The lengths people go to to avoid an honest day's work, eh?
And the old bastard didn't even tell you himself.
Apparently, it wasn't worth his time.
Have they told you who's replacing me?
CLEARS THROAT It seems we've been assigned
Atkinson for the run to Scotland tonight.
It'll be fine. He only crashed twice in training.
I reckon he's got it out of his system by now.
I'm so sorry, lads. Don't be daft, skipper.
It's not your fault.
Sir, if you could spare a moment.
I know you've spoken with the medical officer,
but I'd like to ask you to reconsider.
Whatever the rules, I'm still a first-rate pilot.
That's not the point, Herriot. I think it should be.
I beg your pardon? I'm sorry, Sir.
I'm simply asking that I be considered fit for duty.
If you'd passed out half an hour later,
I'd have lost five airmen, not just one.
But Sir... There's a work detail in the morning. Digging ditches.
If you're fit, join it.
Mrs Tilbury?
Excellent. Now, we're testing a new system.
Did my colleague give you a form?
Oh, wonderful. That should speed things up.
After you, Beatrix. Come on.
MAN: Yes, of course. Thank you, Mr Carmody.
DOG YAPS
If you'd like to take a seat. I'll be with you shortly.
I'm not stopping.
I'm sorry? I'd like you to take this.
My cat, Frisk. He died in the night. Oh.
I'm very sorry to hear that.
Found him this morning.
Just lying there under the sofa, poor little thing.
I see.
I would bury him myself, but I've just had an operation, see?
So I was hoping Mr Farnon might take care of him.
Right. Yes. Of course. Um... Leave it with me.
Thank you.
Oh, Mrs Hall. Everything all right, Mr Carmody?
I've been given a dead cat. Oh. That's nice.
What should I...?
Well, Mr Farnon usually calls Mallocks, the abattoir.
He'll pick up when they're next passing.
Right. But for now? Well, just... put it out of the way somewhere.
Jolly good.
Would you like me to let Mr Farnon know?
Oh, no, no. That's quite all right. I shall inform him. Thank you.
Frisk. DOG BARKS
Terminal.
Call Mallocks.
Oh, good morning. Good morning.
Let's put you here, Tricki. BOSWORTH: No, no, no.
This in't right. These shouldn't be here.
Er, excuse me. Mm?
I had a separate pile of masks that had been damaged in transit.
And now look. I'll have to sort them out all over again.
Unfortunately, my ladies required the additional tables.
Well, that's all very well, but the WI and the AARP
agreed to share the space.
We did. We did. Um...
Might I suggest that you place your supplies on this far corner?
Use the fireplace if necessary,
and then I shall instruct everyone that from now on,
that entire area is off-limits.
Yes, I suppose that would be acceptable.
Good. I'll find a way to make it work.
I'm so glad (!)
Oh, that's an excellent haul. You must've been knitting non-stop.
Oh, it's the least I can do. Mm.
Brings back memories of last time, doesn't it?
I keep expecting to see Kitchener pointing at me.
That really did make one want to leap into action.
It was certainly effective.
Some of them were a bit misleading, though.
Like the one for the Wrens that said, "Never at Sea."
Turned out that wasn't strictly accurate.
Oh, you were a Wren? I was.
Mm. Wanted to do my bit.
Yes. One does feel rather superfluous this time around.
Tricki and I have been asked to vacate Pumphrey Manor.
I'm sorry?
It's being requisitioned by the army as a convalescent hospital.
Can they do that? Just... take it from you?
Well, in point of fact, I had already written to the War Ministry
offering the use of the house, but... simply hadn't anticipated
that I wouldn't be allowed to live there any more.
When are they coming?
They're moving their beds and equipment in even as we speak.
Poor boys.
At least they'll have a pleasant place in which to recuperate.
But where will you live?
Oh, we'll be perfectly happy in the little cottage.
Oh. At least, I shall be.
I do worry about Tricki.
I'm afraid he's going to find it terribly poky.
But then, as you say, we all need to do our bit,
don't we, darling? Even you. Yes.
Right. Mr Parker, if you'd like to take Remus
into the examination room while I... CAT MEOWS
Does anyone know where Mrs Morton went?
Right, Mr Parker, what seems to be the trouble?
Who does this belong to? MEOWING CONTINUES
Terminal?
MEOWS, PURRS
What were you thinking?
You can't go packing healthy animals off to be slaughtered.
I didn't. Well, what's this? "Terminal - Call Mallocks."
Mrs Hall said that was the usual procedure.
Why on Earth would you destroy a perfectly good cat
over a mild case of mange? It's the only ailment I can detect.
I very much doubt that's what killed him.
What are you talking about? What are YOU talking about?
The cat was dead when it arrived. It wasn't.
It most certainly was. Oh, for the love of...
I was reliably informed that the animal was deceased.
Is this the cat you're arguing about?
Yes. No.
That is Mrs Morton's Tibbles.
The cat in question, as clearly marked on the form, is called Frisk.
You mean Dot Fawcett's cat?
Well, if that's her name. So where's this Frisk now, then?
I don't understand.
So, now you've managed to lose a dead cat?
That's assuming it was actually dead. I take it you examined it.
Well, I took a quick peek.
A "quick peek"?
But why did they think it was dead?
I have no idea.
Audrey.
MEOWING
Which one of you's been smoking in my barn again?
I've told you before, you don't use bloody matches near hay.
You'll have the whole place up in flames.
And don't dump that earth in the middle of the yard.
It goes up by the vegetable garden.
I swear, I'd be better off digging the damn thing myself.
What? Think you're too good for this, do you?
No, not at all. Just because they gave you a uniform,
you've done a bit of marching?
I'm actually a trained pilot. Yeah? Well, you're here now.
What's happened, Sir?
The training mission last night came under fire from the Luftwaffe.
What?
They were halfway back when three German planes came out of nowhere.
It's likely they were returning from the raid on Newcastle.
Our boys were shot down over the North Sea.
Pilot didn't stand a chance.
Atkinson's dead?
Were there any survivors?
They pulled Banerjee out of the wreckage,
but it sounds like he's in a bad way.
And Hibbert?
It appears he died on impact.
I'm sorry.
I know they were your crew.
Will they be bringing him back? Banerjee.
Out of the question, I'm afraid.
Do you think he'll make it?
I'm sure they'll do what they can.
KNOCKING ON DOOR
What the hell do you think you're doing?
Banerjee and Hibbert were my crew.
Now Herbert's dead, and Banerjee may not make it.
Have you lost your mind?
They were shot down because you sent them up with a pilot
who had no idea what he was doing.
I begged you to let me fly with them.
If you'd listened, If I'd been there...
You really think you could have done better?
You're certain you could have brought them home?
I don't know, but I would have tried.
Every time I send a man up, I know the odds.
I do my best to improve them.
But I don't always have the luxury of choice.
They've got you digging ditches? 'I know.'
But you're a vet.
'It's a reserved occupation.'
They're not gonna let you fly.
I'm still an airman.
Yes, I know, but you were supposed to be a pilot.
If they're not gonna let you do that any more,
well, can't they just send you home?
It's not that simple. 'I don't see why.'
Well, because I have a duty, all right?
I owe it to these men.
All right.
So I can't just walk away. Not now.
James, is there something you're not telling me?
Look, I should go.
Kiss Jimmy for me, will you? Sleep well.
You too.
Helen?
Everything all right?
It's Dot's spring greens.
Must have been a frost overnight.
I thought it'd be safe to put them in cos it's been so mild, but...
I shouldn't have risked it.
Why don't you stop a minute?
I brought us some tea.
COW BELLOWING
I'm sorry. Is one of your heifers calving?
That's right. Well, she sounds rather distressed.
And you're an expert on cows, are you? As well as being a pilot.
Just get on with what you're here to do.
COW BELLOWING
My God, she's gonna break my arm before she's done.
COW BELLOWS
Can I help?
If she's not progressing, the calf's probably laid wrong.
Yeah, well, I know that. The bloody legs are stuck under.
We've been trying for an hour to pull them out.
FARMER GROANS Oh, let me have a look.
For God's sake, man, I'm a vet. This is what I do.
COW BELLOWS
You won't have any more luck. Do you have any binder twine?
I have yards of it, but I don't see how that...
Fetch me a length, and I'll show you.
Bert, fetch some twine.
So, you need to find the foot and slip this loop over the fetlock.
Easy.
COW BELLOWS Easy, girl.
Right.
There we go.
Now, you take this and pull steadily when I tell you.
COW BELLOWS All right.
I'm pushing on the hock, so now you pull.
Be careful. Don't jerk.
Well, I'll be damned.
COW BELLOWS
Another one.
COW BELLOWS Easy. Easy, girl.
Here we are. All right.
Ready? Now pull.
COW BELLOWS
Look at that.
Great.
Grab a leg, and we'll have him out in a couple of ticks.
Here we go. COW BELLOWS
OK.
Well done, that man. You are a bleedin' expert after all.
And you're a handsome little fella, aren't you?
Good man.
So, I signed up because I wanted to serve in the best way I could.
And the men here, the men I trained with,
men who've relied on me, I'd never want to let them down.
It's very laudable. But...
..if I really am no longer of use here...
Perhaps you might be of more use elsewhere?
Your discharge papers.
Sir? You're a trained vet, Herriot.
As I understand it, a very good one.
There aren't too many of you around right now.
I was waiting for you to make your mind up.
Good boy. Good boy.
Mr Bosworth, might I have a word?
Of course, Mrs Hall. Though if it's Women's Institute business,
you should really speak to Mrs Pumphrey.
Well, it's not.
I wish to volunteer to be a blackout warden.
Oh. Er, oh, no, I'm sorry. Erm... that's out of the question.
I beg your pardon?
Well, you can't possibly.
We can only accept male volunteers.
Why's that?
I can hardly send out unaccompanied females into the dark
in the middle of the night. Simple common sense.
I see.
Erm, did that man just turn down your offer of assistance?
He did.
Well, the Wrens I knew didn't take no for an answer.
No. No, they didn't.
SHE CLEARS THROAT
Mr Bosworth, I'll have you know
I were a female when I joined the Wrens in the last war.
And when I learned to fire a rifle and operate a wireless telegraph.
I suppose you would be, yes... And I were most certainly a female
when I were on the crew of a harbour launch
assigned to mine-spotting duties,
many of which, as I recall, took place at night.
I see. But the thing...
So I feel fairly confident I can manage to ride a bicycle
around Darrowby and tell people to close their curtains, don't you?
It would be most irregular.
Oh, come now, Mr Bosworth,
you can't deny she's better qualified than any other volunteer.
And a commanding officer needs troops he can rely on,
as I'm sure you remember from your own time in the services.
Er, well, I... erm, yes.
Erm, I'm sure I can, erm, make some accommodation.
I'll fetch my rota.
Attagirl.
Dot, whatever are you doing?
Well, it's Frisk. He's under here, and he's not moving.
It's just like before. Right, let me see.
Oh. He's gone. I know he has.
He hasn't. Not yet.
I can feel a heartbeat.
It's faint, but it's there.
Right, you wait here. I'll take you straight to Siegfried.
Well, I'm coming with you.
No, Dot, you can't. You're meant to be resting.
If you're taking my Frisk, I'm coming with you.
I'm not letting him out of my sight.
I'm getting something. Have a listen.
Come on, man, he's your patient.
Yes, yes, it's definitely there.
Still faint, but I think it's getting stronger.
Look there. He's breathing.
But he weren't before. I'm sure of it.
It was just like last time.
Most peculiar. It's almost as if he were under anaesthesia.
I mean, one minute, he's happy as Larry licking my saucer,
next minute, he's out like a light.
He's licking your saucer?
That's right.
Mrs Fawcett, you mentioned before that you've had an operation.
That's right.
And have you been prescribed any medicine by any chance?
They gave me something for the pain.
I take it last thing at night with my cup of tea.
Something quite strong, weren't it, Dot?
Well, doctor said it were "morpherine".
Morphine?
And after you take it, what do you do with the spoon?
The spoon?
I put it on my saucer.
Then I think we may have solved our mystery.
What dulls the pain in a human will put a cat out for hours.
No. I'm afraid so.
It seems Frisk here is in something of a narcotic haze.
From my medicine?
Oh, not to worry. There'll be no long-term ill effects.
But make sure to put the spoon in the sink from now on.
Would you credit it?
Seems you weren't the only one floating away.
The little devil. THEY CHUCKLE
Well done, Mr Carmody.
DOT GASPS Look at him. Frisk.
FRISK PURRS You're OK, my boy.
Excuse me. Is this Darrowby?
Aye.
Aye, it is.
Hello.
Who might you be?
Oh, you're a friendly chap, aren't you?
DISTANT CHATTING
BABY BABBLING
Hello there, little man.
Not so little any more.
BABY WHINES
All right, I'm coming.
James.
I don't... What are you?
I've come home.
Oh!
MRS HALL: Ellen, do you need help with these?
Oh.
I don't believe it.
Mrs Hall, do we have any clean towels?
Good lord.
Hello, there.
So then Dot says morphine.
No. Not seriously. Yes.
Turns out Frisk's quite the drug fiend.
Wait. This is the same cat you nearly had cremated?
Er, well, yes, but...
Oh, it were an honest mistake.
Talking of mistakes, you must have heard the story
of James's great cat mix up.
I don't believe I have.
Well, he'd only been here a day,
and he rolled home absolutely pie-eyed.
Actually, Siegfried, would you excuse me and James?
Oh. Oh, right.
I'll carry Jimmy up.
Come on, lad.
Well, Mrs Hall, it's a little early.
I think a celebratory postprandial...
Oh, good God. What's all this?
I decided I wanted to do a bit more for the war effort.
I see.
So I've signed up to be a warden.
It's only part time,
one or two nights a week to begin with,
and I'll make sure dinner's ready before I leave.
Don't worry about any of that.
I think it's marvellous.
You do? Absolutely.
Good for you, Mrs Hall. And I quite agree.
We must all try to play our part.
Right.
Well, good.
And I don't look too daft? Not in the least. You look...
..very smart.
Right.
Best be off. Good luck.
I left Helen to put him down.
She said I was getting him too excited.
Must have been thrilling to take to the air.
There's nothing like it.
What a skill to have. What nerve!
I trust that things were smooth for the most part -
well, training and such.
Well, for the most part, aye.
Well, we can discuss the finer points
when Helen isn't missing you upstairs.
Thank you for looking after her.
She coped admirably.
And for all you've done for Jimmy, too.
Mrs Hall and I spoilt him rotten.
Ruined him entirely, I'm afraid. Sorry about that.
Good night, Siegfried.
Good night.
Sorry, waylaid by Siegfried.
Are you a dream?
HE CHUCKLES
No. Definitely not.
Feels like it, though, doesn't it?
Come to bed.