01x05 - One White Foot Charley

[bunniefuu]

Down in the middle where the window will spring in the middle of a field. The lightning tree's old from the day it was born. For the tree was born in a

thunderstorm. Grow [music] grow the lightning tree. It's never too late for you and me. Grow grow the lightning tree.

[music]

Never give it too easily.

Down in the meadow when the window screens come true when you want them to, if you want them to, then it's up to you.

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Too easy. [music]

Hello. How are you this morning?

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You are a lucky girl. You know all the grass you can eat and a pretty girl to look after you.

Come on. What are you doing? You must have some breakfast. Come.

Come. Come on. I'll come to you in a minute.

There you are. Hello. You're up early.

It's Young Miss Trouble here. No one told her it was Sunday. You've been up long? No, I I was saying hello to the horses.

Yes, I heard you. Oh. Morning granddad.

How old is Charlie for heaven's sake?

About . Slugger tells people he's the oldest horse in the world. He must be.

He worked in a coal mine, lived down there. Can you imagine that? All your life in the dark. Well, the vet says you should have been put to sleep years ago.

Only Well, you've got to have some time in the sun, haven't you?

You know what they say, four white feet keep him not a day. Three white feet send him far away. Two white feet give him to a friend. One white foot keep him till the end. Have you heard that?

No. One white foot. Say it's to the end for you, old boy. Can they remember things, do you think?

Oh, yes. Special people, places.

I wonder who he remembers. Who's your special person, Charlie?

More tea. Dad, what? More tea. Ah, thanks.

Here.

He can get it. Doing good instead of sitting there all day. Oh, let him alone, love. He's like a stop clock.

Well, leave him. Want the paper, Dad?

No, thanks. I'm all right, lad.

Dreaming of that also of yours, aren't you, Dad?

I was all right with Jackie. Best friend I ever had any road.

I read a poem once where this man had a horse in the w*r pulling g*ns. I think it was he was always going on about wanting to see him again like your carry

on. Dad didn't have horses in the w*r. Which w*r? Which one are you talking about then?

Well, how should I know? It was only a poem. Feel like doing anything today, Dad?

You What about a run in the car?

What about the damn patch on the landing? Aren't you ever going to fix it?

I just thought D would like some fresh air, that's all. Ah, that would be nice. Right. Might have a drink at the pub, eh?

Well, get yourself wrapped up. I'll go and start a car.

[music]

Do you remember it? I should say I do.

Why the heck we shifted some stuff from here?

A good pit. This was that's where the ponies used to run. All green grass it were in them days.

You know what I'd like more than anything else. George, know what? To see old Jackie again. You know, I'd give my

right arm if I could just see him. You know, to see it all ring. Oh, come daddy. It was years ago. [snorts]

He'll be gone by now. Gone, Jackie. A Jackie won't be gone. Tough as nails with old Jackie. But we don't know where

he is. Well, we could find out. Can't be far, George. We We could try now, couldn't we?

All right. Come on.

[music]

Any old circulation going? You're doing great. Come on. Lovely. Yes. Yes. Slugger. Is Dora here?

She's on with Steve. Yeah. I wanted him to see my new gear.

Do you think it's nice?

Yeah, it's all right. It's a bit drafty out, isn't it? Morning, Charlie.

He looks positively ancient this morning.

Yeah. Oldest source in the world, ain't you? I reckon it won't be long now.

[music]

Will Dora be long, do you think?

Look, Steve, there's one of them. One of them that chased me that dreadful night in the woods. That's Louis from the hotel.

That or he's riding's lame. You stay here. Come on. Come on. No, Steve. No.

You shouldn't be riding that horse. Can't you see its name?

Well, if it isn't the horse k*ller himself. Get off. Get off her. Get off yourself.

[screaming]

Just you stay away from me, jailb bird, or you'll be sorry.

Are you all right? Yeah. Oh, boy.

He's horrible.

Alo is going to be crippled for life if he's not careful. Well, we've got to do something.

Yeah, that we'll think of something. Come on.

We both retired together, you know.

Jackie and me. The mine manager, he had a friend who wanted a nice quiet pony for his daughter. They chose Jackie.

Jackie was quiet, too. You know, as long as you treated him, right?

I took him over a nice place. I remember over at Riverdale. How far is that then? Hey, not far.

Yeah. Wouldn't it be something you know if he remembered me? Oh, the manager.

Oh, Jackie, of course. I do remember you all. Amazing memories, some of them. Oh.

Hey. Hey. Find your feet.

That's what you need. Something to put a bit of life into you. Yeah. Waste of time, really.

No, it isn't. It'll blossom. Dora said so. Hey, Slugger.

Do you like my goggles? Yeah.

Hi, Callie. What's all this?

Do you like it? I had to go to visit my aunt. I thought she'd like to see it first.

It's smashing. It really is. She looks so grown up.

Oh, this is Callie. She lives down at the bottom. Hello.

Dora, I've got an idea. Well, let's hear it. Your idea?

We're going to rescue Starlight from Louiswis. A rescue? How?

We're going down to Hammonds to smuggle her out. Steve, I couldn't. I'd be frightened.

Look, if Starlight goes really lame, they'll put her down. They sh**t her.

That's the sort of people the Ammons are. But we'd be stealing.

No, we wouldn't. We'd be borrowing her for the vet to look at. Oh, do, Dora. It is for Starlight. The colonel will be furious.

He won't know. He never comes down on Sundays.

And anyway, if the vet says that Starlight really is in danger, well, he'd be pleased we did something.

Steve, I can't. Look, I'd do it myself, but Lewis knows me. He may. He may remember me.

What in that? That's the whole idea. You go in disguise

in Callie's clothes. Look, I'll get the vet to come here for :. You go get changed.

Then we'll go down to Ammons. All you've got to do is to go in and pretend you want to hire a horse, but make sure it's starlight.

[music]

[music]

Hello. What can I do for you? I I want to hire a horse.

Sorry, love Sarah. They're all out. If you'd like to wait. No, no, I can't. You can if you want. Be a pleasure.

No, really. I'm in a hurry.

Can't ride like that. Nice shape. Wrong clothes, if you see what I mean. Haven't you anything?

You're pretty. There's one.

Haven't you a seen you somewhere before? Oh, please. I'm in a terrible hurry.

Well, you can't have that one. It's booked. Oh, please.

All right, love. Just for you.

[music]

Um, how much do I owe you?

Don't worry about it. See you when you get back.

[music]

Are you all right? Yes.

Come on, old fella. We'll soon have you fixed up. Oh, he's a louse.

Come on, don't worry about him. Let's get this horse back to Follyoot.

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Look, that's a place over there. I'm sure it is.

But Luke, Dad, it's empty. Hang on.

Uh, excuse me. Yeah.

Uh, those people across there, they used to have a pony. Jackie a pit pony. Oh, a nippy thing. I remember.

Oh, Jackie was never nippy. It's as quiet as they come.

Oh, maybe it name wasn't Jackie. I know they had a pony for children, but they give it away when they moved back to London.

Who did they give it to? Can you remember? Oh, there you've got me.

It's me dad. You see, he worked with Jackie in pits. Wants to find him again. It were a builder, I think.

Oh, no. No. A plumber.

Ah, that's right. Plumbers in talk with Stillwater, isn't it? Oh, Mr. Stillwater took it. Of course, he's dead now. It's

his son that runs business. Why don't you ask him, Jackie? No. What was his name, love?

That horse. Dad's horse. The one he gave to Susan. A chestnut, I think it was. Didn't he have one white foot?

Oh, that's right. A chestnut. Susan had him over at Crossgate. Susan Thatcher. Thank you very much.

Callie, any sign of the vet? Yes, there's a car coming now. Oh, thank goodness.

Slugger. Charlie, is he?

Whoa. Charlie down. It's one of his party tricks. Pretends he's dead. I'll show you. Charlie, there you are. See, it's all right now.

Good job the vet didn't see him before. He'd think he'd be done out of a job. Why?

Oh, he's always on about wanting to put him to sleep. Oh, no. Who's that coming with the vet?

Honey, it's the colonel. Dora, the colonel's here. Oh, no.

Steve. Steve, the colonel's coming. Oh, hello, Kelly. on it.

I don't know, Dora.

Old Charlie's gone, is he? Nonsense. He's good for years yet.

Why don't you give the poor old fellow a break?

I don't know. Every time you come up here, you want to k*ll something. Do it for you tomorrow if you like. Come on.

So, what's the trouble? It's a Follyfoot off her food. Off her food. Look, you don't call a vetted when a horse is off his food.

Don't worry about it. Come on, love.

Let's have a look at him in there. You going to a party or something?

No, it's Sunday. Yeah.

Look, why are you dressed like that? It's Sunday.

Yes, sir. You said you don't usually come up on on a Sunday. The vet picked me up. Said there was some trouble.

He didn't mean it, did he?

What about Charlie? He said tomorrow.

Oh, probably not before time. Anyway, we'll see.

This is one of the Hammond's horses, you see. They treat their horses like taxi cabs.

Well, they have to pay their own way, don't they?

That's what the Hammonds are like, you know. This is really an absolute disgrace.

Dora, will the vet put him to sleep? Do you think?

Well, I think he might. Poor old thing's near the end anyway.

Good night. Thank you. Follyoot Farm can't be far away.

Not tonight, Dad. You need a breather.

No, I'm all right, lad.

Luke, you've had enough excitement for one day. I'll best get you home. All right.

Yeah, I've heard of these places. You know where they take old horses. Now I said Jackie will find his way there.

They'll look after him already. You know, next Saturday, George. Polyfoot Farm next Saturday.

Ah, Dad. First thing Saturday. That's a promise.

Sit upright in those saddles. That's what I like to see. Chin in now. Chin in now. Let's sit have a bit of knife down.

Let's search grip with those knees. I'll have you all finishing up at bedminton.

Squash, table tennis, pingpong. I'll have you doing the lot. Bottoms out, bellies in, shoulders back.

Ah, who should that?

Hello, slug me old mate. Hey, what you preing for? Was it a year show?

Yeah, and if you don't get on with your work, you will be the first for the eye jump.

Oh, no. Don't laugh, mate. You're looking at a future Harvey Smith here.

Go on, get out of it. Take no notice, young ladies. Now, come along. Concentrate now. All of those sit upright.

That's right. Sit up right in the center. That's like your ch.

That's right. Lovely. Brace yourselves.

Slugger Saturday circus going well. I see. Yes.

Very well. I'll have you the pride of the valley before I finish with your

[laughter]

right. Ron, move the Land Rover, will you?

Dora, I've just been to see Hammond. You know he's livid with you for that trick you played on him.

But Starlight's foot was bad. The vet said so.

Yes, I know. But that's no reason for you to interfere. Yes, uncle.

Um, any more stolen horses you don't want me to see? No. Come on then.

Oh, morning Steve. Morning. How's Folly? Oh, she's fine. Never stops eating. Good. Old Charnie.

Uh, he's not so good.

No. Well, the vet's coming over on Monday. Well, maybe that'll give us room for Starlight. You mean?

Yes. Hammond's sending her over. Though, just until her foot's better, though.

Heaven knows you don't deserve it. And next time, young lady, you want to wear fancy pants, why not come and see me first?

You know, you might not find me quite as unsympathetic as you expect.

Come on, that's enough of it. Go and see who that is.

Well, if you want me, I'll be in the barn. Hello.

Hello. Uh, you want to see the horses?

Well, it's uh just one actually. He's called Jackie.

Jackie? I'm sorry. There's no Jackie here. Perhaps before we came.

What sword was he? Oh, he's a pit porn. You know, Chestnut, one white foot. We were told we might find him here.

Charlie? Well, we've got a pit pony called Charlie. Would it be him?

Well, I don't know. Would you mind very much? Yes. Come on.

All men. That's lovely, young ladies. Yes. Very good.

Well done. in there.

How old is that?

He remembers me. That's after all these years. I just had to come again, you know, to see him to see it was all me.

People who don't know, they don't understand.

He's just in time, you know. We think Charlie's Well, Jackie, well, we think he's near the end.

Look, I've got to feed the fo. You stay here. Well, I don't want to be a nuisance. Oh, you're not. Come on.

If I could just stay just a little while with him.

You could feed the fo. He's just here and then you wouldn't be in the way. Yes, I could do that. I like that. Yes.

You little lost of you. Hey, see you're folly. Are you [music] a grand blood?

You want your dinner? Eh, like that.

Like that. [music] Yeah. Nice. Come on now. That's it.

Lovely. My go. You've got the life, haven't you? See him come, see him go.

That's how it should be, isn't it? Yes. That's how it should be.

O you that says you had this uncor meet

come in with the wind in the west facing

[music]

it's never too late for you and me [music] grow Like a tree, never get in too easily.

Down in the meadow in the window, a whispering green in a lightning tree. Dreams come true when you want them to.

If you want them to, [music] then it's up to you.

In the life tree, never [music] too easily.

dream. [music]