Lassie Come Home

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Lassie Come Home is the story of a dog...

but it's also the story of a people...

as strong and enduring in peace

as they are in war:

The people of Yorkshire.

The county of Eric Knight's

birth and boyhood.

This man is a Yorkshireman.

Sam Carraclough, and his dog, Lassie.

Lassie is Sam 's only saleable possession...

in the dark prewar days

of unemployment, empty pockets...

and the dole.

- Hello, Sam. You here, too?

- Hello, Tom. Ron.

- Hello, Sam.

- Hello, Lassie. Good day to you, my girl.

She looks champion, Sam.

Tell the truth, Tom.

Have you ever seen anything better?

No. I was only talking to my missis

the other night, Sam.

That's just what I said to her. I said:

"If ever there was a better dog

in all Yorkshire than Sam's Lassie...

"then she must've died

before ever I was born."

That's what I said.

She's in pretty fair shape, she is...

but I do believe

her coat could be a wee bit shinier.

You know, Sam, they do say that...

cod-liver oil is good

to make a dog's coat shiny.

Some of these fancy breeders

give it to their dogs pretty regular.

If we could afford cod-liver oil

for our dogs...

perhaps we could get ourselves

a little bit of beef once in a while.

It's Joe she's thinking of, at school.

- Has she ever been late, Sam?

- Never.

There seems to be something inside her

telling her when it's time.

Go along, then.

Joe Carraclough.

Apply yourself to your lessons, lad.

Joe, lad! Must you always come in

like thunder off the moors?

Sorry, Mother.

Lassie and me, we want some

bread and jam. Don't we now, Lassie?

Bread you can have,

but jam you'll do without.

If there's no jam, honey will do.

Honey, is it?

There's some nice beef dripping I have...

and that's what you'll get.

- Thanks, Mother.

- Here you are, lad. Now run along.

- Have a good time with Lassie today.

- I will, Mother.

But why especially today, Mother?

Did I say today especially, lad?

I didn't mean to. Now run along.

Hello, Father.

- Did thou see the Duke today, Sam?

- Aye. He'll be by tomorrow.

Here you are.

Hello, Lassie.

All right, girl.

Downstairs. Come on, downstairs.

All right, I'll get up.

Why, Father!

Look, Father. Look what I've taught Lassie.

You seem worried, Father.

Is it about your work?

No, lad. It's not that.

But whatever trouble comes, remember:

We've got to be men together.

- Do you see?

- Aye, Father.

Make haste, now.

You'll be late for school. Come.

Thank you, Lassie.

What's the matter, Lassie?

Don't you want me to go?

I'll be out at 4:00, as usual.

Bide well, Lassie.

She's a beauty, Carraclough.

She's just come back

from seeing my lad to school, sir.

Fifteen guineas.

Wasn't that the price you said?

Yes, sir.

I got the best of it, Carraclough.

I am an honest man,

so I got to tell you I got the best of it.

- Are you quite sure you want to sell her?

- No, Your Grace.

- I have to.

- It's a fair price.

Put a collar on her

and lead her from the back of the cart.

- Yes, sir.

- Get a move on.

Good day, Mrs. Carraclough.

Good day, Carraclough.

All right, Rogers.

Happen we should be telling Joe?

He'll be finding this out for himself.

Mother!

Mother, something's happened to Lassie.

She didn't meet me at school today.

What is it? What's wrong?

You may as well know it right off.

Lassie won't be waiting for you

at school anymore.

Why not? What's happened?

Because she's sold, that's why not.

Sold?

Why did you sell her?

Lassie. Why did you sell her?

She's sold and gone and done with it.

Let's say no more about it.

- But, Mother...

- No more. Sit down and have your tea.

Sam, come and eat.

Now look what you've done.

Got thy father all angry.

I suppose you're happy now.

Come on, Joe. Eat up.

I don't want any.

Dogs.

If you ask me, I'm glad Lassie's gone.

That I am.

More trouble to take care of than a child.

Now it's done, I'm glad.

I'm glad, that I am.

Come here, Joe.

Look, Joe...

you're getting to be a big lad now,

and you can understand.

Lassie cost a lot of money to feed...

and we've got to have food on the table.

We've got to pay the rent...

and we just couldn't afford it.

And that's all.

These are poor times, Joe.

You mustn't upset your father.

He's worried enough as it is, and...

That's all.

She's gone.

Couldn't we buy her back someday?

No, Joe.

Lassie was a very valuable dog...

much too much for us.

But we'll get another dog someday.

Just wait.

Times might pick up...

and we'll get another tyke.

You'd like that, wouldn't you?

I don't want any. I only want Lassie.

Priscilla, I'm going down to the kennels.

Hynes.

Don't know what the world's coming to.

Servants no good.

- Country's going to pot.

- Nonsense.

- What's that?

- I said, nonsense.

I thought that's what you said.

Fine state the world's in

when the only person...

with courage enough to answer me back

is my own granddaughter.

That's 'cause you're like me, my dear.

Look, I'm glad you turned up.

I want to show you my new dog.

Finest collie I ever set eyes on.

- I've been after her for three years.

- Three years?

Three years. Last year,

I offered the fellow 15 guineas for her.

Told him it was my rock-bottom limit.

He didn't seem to think so.

Held out for another six months.

Then the other day,

he told me he'd take it.

Was she worth waiting for all that time?

Worth it?

You never saw another one as good.

Look at her.

She's beautiful.

Collie.

She doesn't seem well, Grandfather.

Nonsense. Nothing wrong with the dog.

Nothing at all.

Hynes! Where on earth

is that idiot hiding?

Coming, Your Grace.

Yes, sir, you called me?

Hynes, what's the matter with that dog?

She looks a bit off-color.

Sir, they spoil them

in them there cottages.

Treat them with a silver spoon,

as you might say.

But I'll see she gets over it.

She'll take her food kennel-way in a while.

You keep an eye on that dog, Hynes.

- Yes, sir, I will.

- You'd better.

If you don't, I'll tan your hide, my lad.

That's what I'll do.

- Yes, Your Grace.

- Come along, child.

I'll see you eat

before I'm through with you.

I'll see you eat,

if I have to shove it down your throat.

Lassie, you've come back.

Mother, I've got a surprise for you.

Lassie's come home.

I was coming out of school...

and there she was,

waiting for me right where she always is.

- I could see she was lonely for all of us...

- No.

But, Mother, she's come home.

- We could hide her. We could say...

- No!

Now get her out of here.

Before you know it, we'll have that Hynes

around here, that know-it-all Hynes.

Father, you might at least

say something to her.

It isn't her fault that she's happy

to be home. Just pat her.

You know, happen they don't know

how to care for her right up at the kennels.

I wonder if they understand

how to feed her properly.

The men in this village

think more of their tykes...

than they do of their own flesh and blood.

But truly, Mother, she does look thin.

I do believe they're not feeding her right.

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