FairyTale: A True Story

Ready, Harry?

Sir, so glad you

were able to make it.

Mr. Houdini will be delighted.

He was hoping, you'd come.

Just around here, sir.

40 seconds.

Who's that?

The redskins are defeated...

and the boys are captured

by the pirates.

I'll rescue them.

Oh, that's just my medicine.

Poisoned?

Who could've poisoned it?

Tink... dear tink.

Are you dying?

Her light is fading, and if it

goes out, it means she is dead.

She says she thinks

she could get well again...

if children believed in fairies.

Do you believe in fairies?

Yeah!

- Say, if you do believe!!

Yes! Yes!

If you believe in fairies

clap your hands!

Elsie!

Elsie!

Stand by for the curtain.

- Now... to rescue Wendy!

You're not allowed down by the beck.

How many times have I told you?

Go wait in your room

fill your father gets back.

Incredible! If I hadn't

seen it with my own eyes,

I wouldn't have believed it.

- You believe everything you see?

Boys...

darling Jean,

a penny for your thoughts.

It was up your sleeve.

- Up my sleeve?

Ladies, gentlemen, be warned.

Never try to fool children.

They expect nothing,

and Therefore see everything.

At your service, your Highness.

Cake?

And for you...

And for you.

Wait your turn, Mr. Bandylegs.

And for you, your Highness. I'm sorry.

I do apologize for his bad behavior.

I smell the blood of an Englishman.

Be he alive...

or be he dead...

I'll grind his bones...

to make my bread.

Hello.

- Hello.

That dress looks pretty.

Mum says we're not allowed

to wear colors.

Mm, this needs a little work,

don't you think?

Maybe your cousin Frances

will give you hand.

Would you come with me to Bradford

and pick her up from the station?

She must be terrified. Traveling all

the way from Africa by herself.

Aye Corp,

your girlfriend's here.

All right,

keep it down back there.

Sir...

would you like

to help me with my game?

Why not.

On your holidays, eh?

- I'm going to visit my cousin.

Put your finger in here.

Got you!

My daddy's a soldier like you.

He's in France, and his name is Sergeant

Major Griffiths. Perhaps you've met him.

Back down.

I freed you.

- Thank you.

Except you couldn't now.

He's missing, you see.

He's going to bring me back

some real French perfume from France.

Look...

butterfly.

That way?

- Yes.

Frances!

Elsie!

Come on, the pair of you.

Let's be getting out of here.

All right, you two.

Show her in, Elsie.

- Come.

Mum, we're back!

On the boat from Africa,

the captain made me watch out for pirates.

They don't have pirates anymore.

- Do so.

Everybody had to watch out for them.

- I expect she's right.

Only nowadays they live on battleships

and salute the kaiser.

You're a lucky girl, Frances Griffiths.

- That's what my daddy says.

Come on!

Let's get you dry and into bed.

There are no pirates here

to frighten yourself with.

Which room?

- Top of the stairs.

No, Frances.

Whose room is this?

- Joseph's. Come on.

I thought he died.

- He did. Come on.

What's this?

- A crown.

But it's all mode out of keys.

Joseph gave it to me.

- It's beautiful.

How did he die?

Pneumonia.

We both had it.

Then why didn't you die?

- I don't know.

I'm glad you didn't.

Why does he have a room

of his own if he's dead?

Do you think he's going to come back?

- No.

Mother didn't wont anything to be moved.

So me dad built me this room up here.

He must be very clever.

- He knows about everything.

Don't touch it!

What is it?

- A doll's house.

Did your dad make it, too?

- No. Me and Joseph.

Mostly Joseph.

- Well, who lives in it?

Nobody.

Where are we going?

- The beck.

- The what?

You'll see.

- What is it?

It's on old word for a stream.

It's so green!

- Didn't they have green in Africa?

I don't think so.

Not like this anyway.

Look! A fairy ring!

- It can't be.

They appear overnight.

It's where fairies dance.

- I know.

What happens if you step inside one?

They can catch you and take you away forever.

Everyone knows that.

- Come on then, let's find them.

Frances, stop!

What's the matter?

- There aren't any.

They've gone.

- Gone where?

They went away when Joseph died.

But that's their ring, Elsie.

They have to be here.

Frances!

Have you tried cake?

- Course I've tried cake.

Don't you think I would've thought of that?

Anyway, what do you know?

Do they have fairies

in Africa?

I don't know, but they have books

and I've read everything about them.

I know more about fairies

than anyone else alive.

Then let's call them!

Do you know the chant?

- Yes.

Come out from your fairy bower,

Come upon this golden hour,

Come to us, we beg you please,

Fairies dancing on the breeze.

Come out from your fairy bower,

Come upon this golden hour,

Come to us, we beg you please,

Fairies dancing on the breeze...

Magical, isn't it?

Quite magical.

And it's all being carefully

worked out by Mr. Wright here.

Built the model yourself, didn't you, Arthur?

- Yes, Sir.

Well, go on, explain.

- It's the plan for the

electrification of Cottingley Mill.

Gentlemen, do you know, what time

we have to stop work in the winter months?

The electrification will transform

our profitability overnight.

I don't know that it's possible

to work a longer day, sir.

- Not longer, Arthur,

more shifts.

More jobs. More work.

If you look out of the window

here, what do you see?

You see a church,

a school and a mill.

There's no one in this village

that can sit on their own doorstep

and see a whole life of prosperity in front

of them from the cradle to the grave.

But we have to plan.

We have to look ahead.

We have to modernize.

How old's your eldest, Arthur?

- Elsie, she's 12, sir.

Six months time, she'll be able to work at the

mill safely knowing she'll have a job for life.

Now there's not many'll be able

to say that, when this war's over.

Well, children, today we have

a new member of our class.

My name is Frances Griffiths,

and I come from Africa.

Miss Thornton. Miss Thornton...

Yes... Lucy?

Miss Griffiths, if you're from Africa,

why do you sound so English?

'Cause I was born in England. We moved

to Africa because my daddy's a soldier.

Miss Thornton, Miss Thornton...

Yes, Julia?

- About Africa...

Is it true all Africans

are cannibals?

I've never met any.

Any more stupid questions?

Well, they started it.

- I know they did.

But if you don't try to be nice,

you'll never make any friends.

I don't care. I have you.

You like me, don't you?

- Yes.

And the fairies,

they'll be my friends.

Do you really know everything about them?

- Yes.

What do you call fairy magic?

- Glama.

What's a fairy's favorite thing to do?

- Dance.

What's their favorite drink?

- Honeysuckle dew.

What's their clothes made out of?

- Spider silk.

Don't get your dress wet

or Mum will be furious!

Look, there are sort

of caves here.

Careful!

Your dress! Look at you!

You're soaked.

They'll be furious when we get back.

- I saw one! Did you see it?

No.

- I can't believe that I saw one!

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