Escape from the Dark Page #6

---

No, My Lord, and it may be as

much as 48 hours before we can get

- the ventilation.

- We'll get through to them.

- Come on, let's get down there.

You'll be suffocated ten minutes

after you left the shaft bottom.

We could get in through the old

workings. Like we did with the ponies.

They got the old winding

engine workin' again.

Well, I'm prepared to ty it.

You'll never find your way through,

sir. And we can't take the lad down.

You'll not use anything but safety lamps

because of danger of

firedamp after the explosion.

There's not much light.

You'll be traveling in the dark

- through a pit you don't know.

- Flash doesn't need lights.

He knows the way.

Alice!

- Where are you going?

- The old workings, Mother.

Father's going down again.

Come on.

Mrs. Sandman, you're not going to...

...with all those miners' wives!

Keep it moving!

- Is the pony ready?

- Aye, sir.

- All right. Bring it up then.

- Let me go with Flash.

No. No, it's out of the question.

- Please, sir.

- Keep those people back.

I'm afraid I can't allow it, my boy.

You stay and look after your mother.

We'll get your father out, if we can.

Don't wory, I'll take

Flash down. I'm his driver.

Come on, Flash. Come on. Come on.

You stay there, son. Come on, Flash.

- What's the matter with him?

- He'll be all right underground.

Come on, Flash. Come on. That's it.

Keep the canay up front.

If there's gas about,

he'll give you warning

before anything else.

- Right, Hary?

- Right.

Right. Come on, then.

Watch your lamps.

Now which way?

Well, see if old Flash

knows the way. Go on, Flash.

Go to the face. Go on, lad.

- Is that better?

- ye.

- I can walk 20 mile on it now.

- ye.

I wouldn't ty it, if I were you.

- Is that you, Alf?

- Aye.

- My God, it's bad up there.

- Did you hear anything

- from beyond the fall?

- Not a sound.

It'll take mo or three days

before the gas clears enough

to let them through.

They probably think we're dead, anyway.

- Won't be long before they're right.

- Hey, Jake, you're a real tonic.

Just a minute. Stop. I'm

going to test for firedamp.

Yes, there's a show here.

- Great heavens, vey heavy.

- Is it that bad, sir?

It's up to the limit.

We don't have much time.

- Yes, straight away.

- Tell her she'd be most welcome.

Mrs. Sandman. Harrogate was wondering

whether you'd like to sit in the car.

Oh, thanks...

Uh, would you thank His Lordship,

but say I prefer to wait here.

Righto.

Me mum wondered if you want a blanket.

Thank you, dear. Thank you vey much.

- Thanks, Luke.

- All right, George?

Aye, I'm all right, lad. How is he?

He's poorly. Real poorly.

- What is it, Flash? What is it?

It's blocked.

He's brought us to a dead end.

- What's that?

- It's them!

- He's done it! Good old Flash.

- They found 'em!

Doctor? Doctor, they

need you down below.

That's it, lads. Follow me.

Steady-like. Mind his legs.

- Right, Ginger.

- Sir.

Come on, lads.

- Thank you, sir. Good work.

- Follow the stretcher.

- You all right?

- Aye, sir. There's three other lads.

There's three lads comin' up now!

- Alf Ramsden.

- George Snape.

- Snape's in there.

- Peter Holroyd.

Right, Hary.

Look out. One spark might

send the whole place up.

- Quick as you can, doctor.

- Right.

- Good to see you, Joe.

- All right, Ken?

- How's things down there?

- How is it, Joe?

Like a powder keg.

I only hope we can get them

all out before it goes up.

Come on, Ginger, up you

go. You done well, lad.

- There's no one else.

- Then, for God's sake, sir,

let's get out while we can.

- Roy Laycock.

- Amos Burley.

- Jake Arbuthnot.

- Come on, then.

- Ginger Truman.

- Luke Armstrong.

- Anybody else below?

- Nobody. Only Bill

and the manager, and

they're on their way up.

- Mr. Sandman!

Richard!

Father, I'm sory.

Well done, Sandman, my

boy! Well done, indeed.

In fact, well done,

evey single man of you.

And thank you. Thank you, eveybody.

Where... Where's Flash?

I unhitched him from the

sledge. I thought he would...

I reckon he thought his shift were

over so he headed back for the stables.

- I'll go down and fetch him.

- No, Luke, no!

He'll have gone through ventilation

doors. You'll never find him.

- Don't do it, Luke.

- Flash saved our lives.

- No.

- I'm not going to leave him there.

No, Luke, don't go.

- Don't go, Luke!

- Aye, lad.

Good night.

Good night, My Lord.

Well, Sandman, my goodness,

a truly miraculous escape.

- But thank God, all's well, hm?

- That's right, My Lord.

Tell me, Sandman, why

are the children cying?

One of the ponies got

left behind, My Lord.

A pony?

But surely they know all

the men have been saved.

Yes, My Lord, that may

make sense to... outsiders,

but those ponies mean a lot to them.

- Yes, but...

- Good night, My Lord.

My... My few words are simply this:

Welcome, eveybody,

to the miners' picnic.

Ah, Mrs. Ramsbottom, as you see,

has prepared this excellent tea for you.

Now after you have enioyed your tea,

we have a little ceremony to perForm.

Oh, yes, well, no more of that now.

To tea, eveybody. Enjoy your tea.

Aye, the best of them all were Flash.

It seems it's always the best that go.

Your father were the

best friend I ever had.

I reckon I'll miss him to me dying day.

Oh, I wish it could have been

Flash out here in sunshine.

No.

No.

When he was above ground,

Flash knew that he was blind.

Well, are you gonna stand

there all day looking at horses?

Or are you gonna come and have some tea?

Ladies and gentlemen, in honor of Flash,

I have vey great pleasure

in donating this field

in which all his friends,

the other pit ponies,

will live out the rest of their

lives in comfort and freedom.

So I now call upon Miss Alice Sandman.

Are you ready?

Vey well then, cut that ribbon.

Come on!

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes