Greyfriars Bobby: The True Story of a Dog Page #5

They tell me that you're now

at Heriot's Grand school.

A boy like you from the tenements.

Mr. Traill persuaded

the master to take me.

Mr. Traill does a lot of interfering

into other people's affairs if you ask me.

Why would he want to get a bairn

like you into such a fine school?

He said my legs'll never be good,

so I have to learn to make

a livin' with my head.

Well, then, don't waste your time

playin' with dogs.

Be off with ya!

Tammy, bring Bobby out to play!

- Aye, I'll bring him.

- Whisht! Whisht!

This is a kirkyard.

Have ya no respect, ya young heathen?

Just goin', Mr. Brown.

Remember, don't bring that dog back

covered with mud to foul my kitchen.

Did ya hear me?

There's Bobby.

Are ya comin' to play with us?

Come on, Bobby!

What with Traill and the bairns,

the dog belongs to nobody.

Good riddance to him.

- Are ya talkin' to me, Mr. Brown?

- No, I was not.

- I was talkin' about yon wee dog.

- Aye!

I've been watchin' that dog runnin'

about the streets here for a long time.

But he's too quick.

I've never been able to catch him.

Catch him? For what?

Why? Is he your dog? Are you keepin'

a dog in the kirkyard, Mr. Brown?

He's no' my dog.

But why would you want to catch him?

He's got no collar.

Maybe he's got no licence.

And that's against the law.

Aye. And we all know

that the law of Scotland

couldn't last another day

without you, Mr. Maclean.

If he's no' your dog, whose is he?

I would no' know.

But why don't you ask Mr. Traill?

He seems to know everything

about everybody here in Greyfriars.

Aye. Ask him.

Mr. Traill.

Good afternoon to ya, Davie.

And how are you?

Finish with your tables, lassie.

He's no' come for you.

So you've got a wee dog here now,

John, eh? I did no' know.

Maybe there's still a few things

you don't know.

The wee dog's a customer o' mine.

- I'm not here for jokes.

- Away, man. Do no' be so pompous.

I'm here in the line of duty.

Are you Mr. John Traill?

What ails ya? You know my name

as well as you know your own.

It's a formality of the law

to make you admit your identity.

Here's a bit paper for ye.

You're summoned to appear before the

magistrate of the burgh court tomorrow,

to answer a charge of owning

and harbouring one dog,

upon which you have not paid

the licence tax of seven shillings.

Mind you, if the seven shillings

were to be paid in before tomorrow,

the charge would not be pursued.

Who says I own or harbour a dog?

I can use my eyes, can't I?

- Can ya use your head?

- Yes, I can!

I've been watching that dog

for a long, long time,

and now just this week

there's new rules about dogs in the city.

And you think you'll force me

to pay the licence for him?

And I think I know

who's behind all this:

That old fool in the kirkyard,

James Brown.

I'll see to this right away.

So you can take yourself off!

- You mean you'll pay?

- No!

Then you'll present yourself

to the court tomorrow.

Mr. Traill, what does it mean?

Is it no' a joke?

It's no joke at all, lassie.

The municipal court of Edinburgh

is very important.

The Lord Provost sits on the bench

when it's his turn to do so.

It's a serious matter.

And I have calls to make.

You and the laddie do your work

while I'm away.

Bobby! You come with me.

Mrs. Brown, I... I wish to have a word

with your husband...

...on a matter of business.

I'm afraid he is no'

very well today, Mr. Traill.

He's sleeping in his bed.

Can I give him a message?

No. It's a very particular matter.

I'll attend to it myself.

Hadn't you better take your dog inside?

Bobby! Bobby, my wee... my wee bairn.

Case against John Traill.

Is Mr. Traill in court?

I'm here.

John Traill, you are the landlord

of Traill's dining rooms in Greyfriars place.

I certainly am.

And everybody here knows I am.

You are required merely to admit

your identity. Read the charge.

You have been summoned here to answer

the charge that you, John Traill,

are harbouring a dog,

unlicensed and stray, in contravention

of the new orders and powers

invested in the burgh police

to apprehend such animals.

Do you plead guilty or not guilty?

- Not guilty.

- Very well. Call Sergeant Maclean.

I swear by almighty God

to tell the truth, the whole truth,

nothing but the truth, so help me God.

Sgt. Maclean, the deposition you made

to this court is correct in every particular.

Yes, sir.

I followed the said dog into Mr. Traill's

place and saw the said dog eating there

and being sheltered by the accused,

who did not deny the presence

of the said dog.

There's an awful lot of "said"

about this wee dog.

Did he no' say anything to you?

Order.

You will confine your observations

to the bench.

Are you denying

the sergeant's statement?

I'm no' denying the fact that he saw

that wee dog on my premises.

- Aye, that's what I said.

- The dog is not my dog.

I'm no' his master.

He does no' sleep under my roof.

Who is his master

and where does he sleep?

His master's in his grave

in old Greyfriars kirkyard

He sleeps on the mound.

Jim, wake up. This might be a story.

Do you mean to tell this court

a dog could sleep in the open,

all through the winter, in a graveyard?

This one has. He's a Skye terrier,

with a coat as thick as a roof thatch.

Have you any witnesses to prove

a ridiculous story?

The caretaker of the kirkyard, like

myself, has been a friend of the dog,

and no doubt would be pleased

to tell Your Honour so,

but for the misfortune he's so sick,

he can no' leave his house.

But no doubt, if necessary,

his deposition could be taken.

Do the Greyfriars kirk authorities

know about this?

I've been to inform the minister,

Dr. Lee.

But he's no' in Edinburgh.

He's away in France... for his health.

There are no witnesses

who are not in poor health.

Aye. Half a hundred children

in the tenements there

see him every day and have made

a great pet of the wee dog.

If you regard them

as competent witnesses.

Though most of them are over young.

Mr. Traill, are you being impertinent?

Certainly not! You asked me for witnesses

that Bobby sleeps in the kirkyard.

I don't know if you've consulted

a lawyer about this charge...

I think I've a good enough tongue

in my head to be my own lawyer.

Your tongue is certainly long enough,

Mr. Traill.

If this dog is ownerless it will

have to be taken up with the police.

- That does no' seem fair to me.

- Fair, sir? Fair? That is the law!

Masterless dogs have become

a nuisance.

Unless this dog's licence is paid,

it will be put away.

Now, sir, are you prepared to pay?

Or am I to make out an order

for this dog to be taken?

It's not a matter of seven shillings

for a dog's licence.

- This is a matter of principle.

- Principle? What principle?

I am no' responsible

for what is not my own!

The dog is no' with me for more

than two hours out of the 24.

The rest of the time he's

in the kirkyard working.

- Working?

- Aye, working!

He's employed in the kirkyard

killing vermin and the like,

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