HORSE NEIGHS
Hold, men.
Captain Farnon?
Sounds like it's in pain.
HORSE WAILS
Let's have a look.
The officer's bought it. Still holding the reins, though.
HORSE WAILS
It's all right, boy.
Sh.
Deep lacerations, some muscle damage.
Probably torn going through barbed wire.
He's a beautiful horse.
Captain!
Don't panic, Turner,
the front line's a hundred yards beyond that ridge.
Is that supposed to reassure us?
We'll be quick.
Come on, Maurice.
Let's get him patched up, see if we can take him back with us.
Gas, gas, gas! Mask on, Turner!
The horses!
Put your mask on, Turner!
Damn it! Put your mask on!
The animal always comes first!
Maurice, are you all right?
Fine!
Turner? Turner!
Mr Farnon?
Hmm?
Are we still in the land of the living?
It seems so, yes.
Major Sebright Saunders called. Got an horse needs seeing to.
Right.
Look at the state of this place. It's a bloody disgrace.
Long night?
Exhausting.
Take a seat. Audrey's left your breakfast in the oven.
Tristan!
I was never here.
Either of you seen that errant brother of mine?
Um, no. I've been out on call.
Helen?
He's hiding in the pantry.
Ah. There it is.
Good morning, Siegfried.
Do you know what this is?
I dare you to say a bottle. I bloody dare you.
Hydrogen Cyanide.
Enough to kill half the district.
And do you know what this is?
Antiseptic.
I found them together on the same shelf.
Your slap dash mismanagement of the dispensary could very well
have caused the death of countless innocent animals -
or people, for that matter.
And we're assuming this is my mistake because...?
There's no need for us to get to the who's and how-fors...
Oh, because it usually is!
Poisons are always to be kept correctly labelled and separately.
I want you to go through that dispensary from top to bottom and
get it into some kind of order.
Yes, Siegfried.
A proper inventory.
You really must start taking more responsibility.
I'm trying.
You're extremely trying.
Shall we not put the deadly poison on the breakfast table?
Everything in its proper place. Then there's no confusion.
And, James, I really wish you wouldn't clutter up the place
with piles of TB testing forms.
I grow tired of endlessly clearing up after you all.
DOOR CLOSES
You know, in this house, we tend to have a united front when it comes
to matters concerning my brother.
Where's the fun in that?
Your time will come. Then you'll see.
Here.
Before someone keels over.
Mr Cranford called. Dead cow.
Oh, dear. What did it die from?
I imagine that's what he wants you to tell him.
Eat up. I need to get up to the farm.
Mrs Beck, we can't do it for as little as that.
Mr Herriot, I never thought you were such an 'eartless man.
I can assure you I'm not being in the least bit heartless.
If you're worried about your cat getting pregnant again,
then the only course of action is to have her spayed.
Fair enough. We'll call it ten shillings.
I just cannot carry out a major operation for ten shillings.
I thought you would've done it for a poor widder woman like me.
We often offer reduced rates for people who can't afford to pay,
but this is what we call a luxury operation.
Luxury.
Our Georgina keeps having these kittens.
I can't sleep wondering when the next lot's coming.
And me a poor widder woman.
All right, ten shillings. Just this once.
How would tomorrow afternoon be?
Grand.
You can collect her at one o'clock.
No, Mrs Beck, you need to...
That told her.
Second night in a row you've been out on call.
Comes with the job.
With your job.
Tristan's not ready to go on night calls by himself.
You think I'm too soft.
Siegfried doesn't do half the night calls you do.
I'm the junior partner - I've got to expect to do more.
And Tristan doesn't do any at all.
You should speak to Siegfried about sharing the load a bit more equally.
Or you'll wear yourself out.
I know, and I will.
When the time's right.
Right.
I'll see you later.
Helen, have you asked your dad if he'll take us up on the TB testing?
Only I'm struggling to convince the farmers to go along with it.
When the time's right.
Major, how are you?
A little gouty, truth be told.
Can't be helped. The price of living well.
I suppose you heard about Sergeant Oliver.
Crying shame.
He was a good soldier.
And an even better man.
Mm.
Morning. This the patient?
Aye. That's the bugger.
Sired by Donard's Hill. His mother was Three Leaf Clover.
The finest breeding.
How long have you had him?
Three months now.
Goes like the proverbial off a shovel with no rider on him.
Soon as you try to get a jockey in the saddle,
well, you'll see for yourself. George, if you don't mind?
There's really no need... Nonsense. That's what he's paid for. Come on.
Go on, up you get.
I'll tell your mother you died a hero's death.
Go on. Get up there, man!
This really isn't necessary.
I don't know.
There's definitely something wrong with him.
With him too now.
Take the saddle off, please.
Where was he before you?
Ireland.
Brought him over about a month ago.
I saw him run Curragh. There was none of this trouble.
Did anyone make the journey over with him?
I did. Got a kick in t'back for my pleasure 'an all.
Easy boy. Easy, easy, easy.
I'm not going to hurt you.
What say you, Farnon?
He's absolutely wonderful.
And no problems on the boat over?
Not particularly. A tad rough perhaps.
Rough?
Ah, well, high seas don't agree with all these animals.
Maybe he lost his land legs.
I can't find anything physically wrong with him.
I suspect the problem is psychological.
As you know, I have some experience transporting horses overseas.
They need particular care.
Can he be fixed?
Animals, like people, cannot simply be tinkered with and fixed like
a wristwatch.
If he's no use for riding, I can't afford to keep him.
Look, you were always something of a horse man -
I thought perhaps you could break him?
I'd say he's already broken.
Our job is to put him back together again.
What's his name?
River.
Hello, River.
RIVER NEIGHS
I have to get to know the patient if I've any hope of treating him.
You're a braver man than I.
Shhh. Sh.
Easy now.
You're all right, fella. Come on.
I'm not going to hurt you.
River.
All I want is his eyes.
At the moment he's not looking at me.
He's not looking at anything.
Adrenaline's pouring into his veins.
He's in a state of absolute panic.
Fight or flight?
Well, this one chooses to fight.
It's all driven by fear.
It's what makes him lash out the way he does.
I'm not going to hurt you. You're all right.
You're all right. You're safe.
You're safe.
Look into my eyes.
Ow.
You tried, Farnon.
Good for nowt now but dog food.
Good morning, Madam. Always a pleasure.
I'd rather you kept your paws off my petunias,
if you don't mind, Mr Barge.
What on earth...
The only way to dig out the weed is to take hold of it by the root.
..right.
I half expected you to be feet up doing the crossword.
Something you wanted?
Mr Barge is here.
Oh.
Ah, good morning.
Good morning.
Now what medicinal wonders do you have for us today then?
Well, sir, if you'd like to peruse our brochure,
you'll find a cure for all ills.
Shouldn't you wait for Mr Farnon before you start?
Siegfried charged me with minding the stock, Mrs H.
And I'm more than up to the task.
Anything else?
Just holler
if you need a spade to dig that grave of yours.
She does have a sense of humour.
Bloomin' well need one to work here.
Well, we'd better have a couple dozen electuaries.
And we are running a little low on fever drinks,
so a few boxes of those.
Very good, Mr Farnon. Will that be all?
I believe so,
unless you've something new to tempt us with.
Funny you should say.
Introducing Cargill's SoothAway.
Available in pill or liquid form for injection.
It's a calming sedative,
mollifying the most irascible of patients.
Rendering agitated animals almost immediately amenable.
I don't suppose it works on humans?
No, Mr Farnon,
I'm sorry but my wares aren't licensed for human consumption.
No matter. We'll take two boxes.
Very good, Sir.
Thunderclap. Dead cow.
What was that?
It were lightning that killed her.
Not now. Last night.
There was no storm last night.
Aye, not down were you live.
But up here, terrible storm.
Thunderclap, lightning flash, dead cow.
Then there's the presentation.
It died in convulsions.
You can see where its feet kicked in the grass.
Aye, well, it were lightning that give it convulsions, won't it?
I have to say, I doubt it, Mr Cranford.
You see, one of the signs of a lightning strike is that
the beast has fallen without a struggle.
I really think we ought to do a postmortem to make sure.
Are you saying I'm up to summat I shouldn't be up to?
Not at all...
You know there's folk round here saying that you're trying
to get farmers to sign up to this 'ere TB test.
It's in everybody's best interests.
Well, maybe I'll bring that up next time I chair local Farmers'
Union then.
Listen, lad, just sign the certificate.
Insurance company'll pay up.
It were lightning.
I'm afraid I can't diagnose that as the cause of death at this stage.
We'll take her to Mallock's tomorrow for a postmortem and we can know
for sure.
Bloody stuff and nonsense.
James is struggling to get folks signed up for testing.
Oh, well.
When it costs them their herd and government won't pay what animal's
worth, what do you expect?
I know.
Is that it?
You're not going to bend me ear until I give in?
I said I'd ask. It's a tough one.
It is, aye.
But I'll think on it.
Come on, River.
I'm not giving up on you. Come on, then.
Good. You're seeing me now, aren't you?
Nothing to be afraid of here.
That's it. One step at a time.
That's it.
One step at a time.
That's it.
Will you try to get a saddle on him now?
Not today. He's tired.
The way he's moving his head tells me he's had enough.
He's deeply disturbed.
Undoing the damage will take time.
But we'll try.
Don't leave him alone tonight.
Find another horse, one of your most amenable,
and put them in together in one of the larger stables.
Did you get the chance to speak to your dad today?
He says he'll think about it.
It's hard for farmers.
They spend decades building up their herds.
One positive test and that could all be undone.
If infected milk's consumed, it can lead to people dying.
Surely you can see that's more important?
I just don't think it's as black and white as you see it.
I don't want to row about it.
We're not.
One more, sir.
I'll send you both a copy.
Easy, boy.
Easy.
How is Vonolel getting on, Captain?
Wound's healed.
Physically speaking, he'll make a full recovery.
No accounting for the damage we can't see.
Him and me both.
I was at the hospital.
Turner's bed's empty. He's gone.
I'll write to his mother.
I should do it.
You've done enough already.
Anything else?
No, sir. Major Sebright Saunders is here.
Fresh water for Orpheus.
Yes, sir.
I've just been informed that at five o'clock this morning,
Germany signed an Armistice.
At the toll of one o'clock, the war will be over.
I'm sorry.
It's over?
We're going home.
I'd like you to travel with Orpheus personally to make sure no harm
comes to him.
Certainly, sir, once I've organised everything here,
I'll make arrangements.
How soon can you and your men be ready to leave?
Oh, well, we'll need resupplying for the journey back.
Not just for the men.
We need adequate provisions for the horses too.
That won't be necessary.
Sir, we've hundreds of horses here,
tens of thousands more across the Front.
They'll need feeding and watering.
They won't, actually.
I'm not sure I understand.
It's an unnecessary cost.
They've been offered to the Belgians and the French.
I've arranged for our horses to be picked up tomorrow.
And they'd rather not have to transport them alive.
I'm sorry.
They need to be put down.
We're going to shoot them?
Order someone from your company to do it if you've no stomach for it.
Sergeant, horse.
They carried our men into battle. They fought at our side.
I sympathise with the sentiment, Farnon,
but the cost of bringing them back far outweighs what we'd get for them
at home.
Men died for them. My men.
We have our orders.
I brought you some dinner.
Oh, thank you, Mrs Hall.
Um, here, please.
Ooh, is that from your treasure chest?
Yes, just some notes I made when I was in the Army Veterinary Corps.
How'd it go with the Major's horse?
Well, he's obviously been through some fairly serious trials.
I hope that time will see him right.
It'll heal any wound.
Can't do away with the scar, though.
This looks delicious.
I'll leave you to it.
He took everything out. He were absolutely meticulous.
What's this?
My head felt like it had barely hit
the pillow last night before the phone woke me up.
Ouch. Three nights in a row.
Hard lines, Jim.
Did you not hear it, Triss?
Thankfully not.
I've always been blessed to have the sleep of the dead.
After several pints of brew.
All medicinal, Mrs H.
Care to explain?
Ah, yes, new sedative.
Mr Barge assures me that it'll calm even the most agitated
of animals.
So, now you're wasting my hard-earned money on snake-oil.
The accompanying literature was very persuasive.
And I thought it might come in handy with that horse of yours.
Yes, I took what you said about responsibility on board.
Chapter and verse.
Oh.
Something you wish to add, Helen?
Oh, I'm sure there's plenty.
Good, then.
And the dispensary?
Yes, surprisingly well-ordered.
Well done.
James, I'm back up at the Sebright Saunders' estate today,
so I'll have to ask you to do some extra farm visits,
if you wouldn't mind. Of course, Siegfried.
You know James was out on call last night?
There's really no need...
Well, couldn't Triss take on some of the work?
Oh, no, full surgery. All day.
Well, then, I'm sorry, but I can't see another way round it.
I have to attend this horse
and Tristan's got enough on his plate already.
I'll manage, Siegfried.
It doesn't really seem fair.
Fair?
I built this practice from the ground up.
What's fair is that I'll run it as I damned well see fit.
I think what Helen's trying to say...
I've no need of an interpreter, thank you, Mrs Hall.
Fair?
Fair!
DOOR SLAMS
Don't take it to heart.
I'm sure he's just got a lot on his mind at the moment.
He still shouldn't have spoken to you like that.
I'll speak to him this evening.
Give over, I can fight my own battles.
Mrs H, is everything all right with my brother?
He has seemed a bit off.
Don't let what's on his mind play on yours.
He does seem rather combustible, even by his standards.
You know what he's like. It'll blow over.
Until the next storm comes rolling in.
He's just preoccupied with this case of his.
Now, get out, so I can get cleared up.
I'd better get ready for surgery.
Give me your keys. I'll drive.
Don't you need to go up to the farm?
They'll manage.
We can drop in and let me Dad know.
Helen, I'm perfectly fine. I'm really not that tired.
You see it too, don't you, Jess?
JESS WHIMPERS
Feel better for it?
I was just resting my eyes.
Cranford's in there.
I'm just havin' me breakfast.
Come on.
Stagnation on lungs.
I can always tell by the look in their eyes
and the way the hair lies along the back.
Shut your stupid cake hole, Mallock.
It were lightning.
You can use all kind words you like. You can't change what's what.
I should be able to see bruising under the skin if she was struck.
I don't see anything.
Oh, so you're a vet an' all now, are you?
Wind it in, will you, Isaac?
Cut into the heart, would you please, Jeff?
Aye.
There you are - verrucose endocarditis.
See this cauliflower-like mass? It's blocking the ventricles.
Fiddlesticks. Them little things?
I'd still say it were t'lungs.
They're big enough to block the blood flow and stop the heart.
Listen, Mr Herriot.
You know the insurance company can afford to pay for this far better
than I can. No-one will know.
I'd know, Mr Cranford.
Well done.
That bloke'd skin a flea for its hide.
How'd he get on last night?
The stable lads checked on them about ten o'clock.
River was restless but not too bad.
I think he enjoyed the company.
Glad to hear it.
Hello, friend.
You remember me, don't you?
Excellent.
Now, then, River, you don't mind if I put this on you, do you?
Thank you. Very kind.
I'm just going to fasten this up under you.
Now, don't worry. I'm not going to sit on you.
Bag, please.
Now, then.
I've got an injection that might calm you down.
Just a little scratch.
It's a new medication, might help.
There we go.
There. That wasn't so bad, was it?
Afternoon, Mrs Beck.
I'm right glad to see you both.
Afternoon, Mrs Beck.
Good. You've got her in there, have you?
No. She's somewhere in the garden.
Georgina. Where are you?
There you go, love. I've summat on the stove.
Bring her back tomorrow, won't you?
It's just a cat.
CAT GROWLING
It could've gone worse.
She's out, Helen. The bugger's out!
Keep your eyes on the road!
Grab it! The cat! The cat!
What do you think I'm doing?
That's me! Ooh! She bit me!
Get it off me, Helen! I can't drive!
She's on the brakes!
Get it! Helen!
I'm doing, I'm getting it!
We need to make riding normal again,
teach him he's got nothing to fear.
What's this one's name?
Pegasus.
Crop?
Yes.
I think I'm beginning to understand the root cause of his trouble
a little better.
Thank you.
Open the gate, please.
Let's see how fast you really are.
Looks like you may have been wrong, Monkham.
Aye, we'll see.
Here you go, love.
Thanks, Mrs H.
Look at the state of you two.
Don't ask.
You wouldn't believe the answer.
Now, before you do anything,
I think she could probably do with one of your sedative injections.
Thank you, Jim, but I'm probably not
going to take advice on handling cats from someone who looks like
a human scratching post.
We're staying to watch, aren't we?
Oh, yes.
Summat bad's about to happen, in't it?
Run along. She's in safe hands now.
CAT WAILING
Right.
Let's see what we've got here.
Ah.
Hello, Georgina, you don't look too...
Arghh!
Arghh! Good God. Argh!
Damn thing!
Let's enjoy it a moment longer.
Georgina, get back here! Get back here right now!
Now River is rested, it's time to take the next step.
Just to be clear, Farnon,
if anything should happen to you, I shan't be held responsible.
You'll be paying your own doctor's fees.
Now, then, are we ready to have some fun?
Ten bob says he ends up on his arse.
Come on, then.
That's it.
Good.
That's it.
Good. Well done.
Happy horse. Happy horse.
Good lad.
Go on, go on.
Hmm.
Somewhat surprising.
Easy, easy. Easy boy.
Let me help you, Farnon.
I can manage.
Look like you've done yourself some damage.
It's just a graze.
You have done your very best.
There is nothing more to be done.
I can't afford to keep a horse that no man can ride.
Is there any decision you make that isn't measured against the weight of
a coin?
If there is a more certain yardstick then I'd like to hear it.
What about humanity?
When you've seen what we have, I'm not sure that exists anymore.
And now it looks like we're going to make the same mistakes all
over again.
I don't want you to do the deed, Farnon.
I'll have Monkham take care of it.
He deserves better than that.
I'll come up tomorrow.
This isn't right.
It can't be right.
Not after everything. Turner gave his life...
We have our orders.
We'll open the gates.
Let 'em escape, run wild.
Maurice, it would only prolong the agony.
They'd die on the road.
We've done everything we can.
Hello?
Good walk with Gerald?
A little blustery, but we didn't let that stop us.
Goodness, is that blood?
I fell off a horse.
Really, Mrs Hall, it's fine.
I thought we might play our word game.
So long as you don't try to use any of your funny spellings.
That's a letter from an old AVC friend.
Maurice Oliver.
I got it about a month ago.
He was the chap in the photo you found.
He had a practice up in Brawton.
He and I went through some things together.
Terrible things.
He killed himself last week.
Barbiturates.
I've been reading it over and over and over,
trying to see if there was anything I might've missed.
If I could've found something, done something to help him.
But he seems happy.
He talks about his plans for the summer.
Oh, Siegfried.
Well, I think we can safely say Cargill's SoothAway is not
the wonder sedative we were led to believe.
I'm sorry, "we?"
This is your mess. If anyone's getting it in the neck from
Siegfried, it's you.
Or we could just not say anything?
And pretend it worked.
Ahh, see, she's learning.
As I said, the only way of surviving Siegfried is if we stick together.
To surviving Siegfried.
Surviving Siegfried.
Something funny, is there?
No. Well, there was, actually.
We were just saying...
Jim. Don't.
Right.
Listen.
If these co-called experts come up offering you chance
of this testing malarky,
show them the bloody road.
Mr Cranford,
the TB testing programme only exists to help wipe out a dangerous disease
that kills tens of thousands of people a year. That's your children,
your brothers, and sisters. Your parents.
One sick cow and you could lose the whole bloody herd.
You'll have us out of business.
I think what James is saying is we all have to make sacrifices for
the greater good.
Oh, aye,
so you'll be having them up your place then, will you, Alderson?
Aye.
I will, Mr Cranford.
Thank you.
I just hope to God you don't end up putting down half the cows in
the district.
I have to say, I thought you were very impressive with Cranford
last night.
I almost wanted to get tested for TB myself.
Just my usual dedication to the profession, Tristan.
You should try it, Triss.
You take a long bath last night like I told you to?
I practically turned into a prune.
So long as you didn't use up all me salts. Like some people.
How did it go with Cranford?
I refused to endorse his fraudulent lightning claim,
so he's understandably furious.
Then you must be doing something right.
I see from our daybook that we spayed Mrs Beck's cat?
Yes, yes. All went very smoothly.
No complications.
That sedative you bought doesn't do much.
Judging by the scratches on your face.
No, no.
I'll be taking that up with Barge next time we see him.
Helen, yesterday,
if I was a bit sharp...
Siegfried, it's fine.
I've heard far worse.
Audrey told us you were thrown from a horse.
I really thought I would be able to help him.
Unfortunately, the damage is too deeply engrained.
Some things can't be undone.
Tristan, would you mind driving me up to the Sebright Saunders?
I'm still a bit sore.
Yes, of course.
Thank you.
Bring the humane kit, please.
You see, the Cranfords of this world are easy to stand up to.
It's the little old ladies that cause all the bother.
You don't believe me?
All right, then, you try and get the money out of Mrs Beck.
Oh, wonderful,
you brought her back. So good of you.
She's lively enough,
so we've no concerns about her recovery.
Oh, poor little Georgie.
What have these nasty people been doing to you?
You can give her a little milk tonight.
And then some solids from tomorrow.
I suppose you'll be wanting your money then.
Well, you've got your cat, so...
Ten shillings, weren't it?
That's correct, Mrs Beck.
Oh, Georgina, you are an expensive pussy.
Will she be needing a follow up appointment?
In a week's time.
How about I pay you when I pick her up then?
Well, Mrs Beck...
I'd rather leave you to it if you don't mind, Siegfried.
Actually, I do.
You'll stay this time.
I'm sorry, lad.
I'm so sorry.
Out.
Get out of here now.
Out!
All right, fella, all right.
None of it is this poor animal's fault.
Oh, Farnon.
Maurice needed help.
No-one was there to give it to him.
But we're here now.
Surely we don't need to repeat the mistakes and cruelties of the past.
And how many times are you willing to be thrown off?
As many as it takes.
A racehorse that can't be around a riding crop is about as useful as
a porcelain hammer.
We need to build up his confidence and trust.
And then, slowly,
we can start to re-introduce the crop.
It'll take time.
Now, then, shall we go for that ride together?
Have a word before he does himself a mischief.
Siegfried, this doesn't seem like one of your more sensible ideas.
Others have risked and given far more, believe me.
Now, listen.
You can kick me off again as much as you like.
I'm not going to give up on you.
Don't give up on me either.
Maybe we can help each other out.
Good.
Gate, please, Tristan.
All right, River, let's go.
Subtitles by Red Bee Media