National Velvet Page #2

...I feel fine.

No reason why you should go on

in the dark, Mr. Brown.

There's the bed in the stable

he could have tonight.

You'll find a blanket too.

It's castle pudding, Mi.

Father!

Good night, Ted.

Night, 'Dwina.

Good night.

Boys.

She's the age for it.

Don't say anything to her.

I don't fancy you working

at night, Mrs. Brown.

Let it go till morning.

You look tired.

I'm well enough.

It's you who must conserve yourself.

After all, there is more sheep

coming to market summer then winter.

There's small sense in hiring that boy.

Hiring? Never crossed my mind.

But you could do worse.

7 and 6 a week for a few deliveries...

10 bob would be more fair. Boy must

clothe himself and save a little.

10 bob? What for?

Because he's the son of Dan Taylor?

Did I ever ask a favor

because I'm the son of my father?

He won't get special favor.

I'll see that he earns his 10 bob.

Never fear.

See the girls get to bed, would you?

I am a little tired.

All right.

You're an odd one, Velvet.

This is my driving night.

I'm only allowed on Fridays.

I've got two minutes more driving.

Come on, Pie. Gallop!

What's that covering, Mally?

'Dwina's knickers

that she had for the party.

They don't look like knickers.

I always thought Jacob

had a little bird dog in him.

He'd better not, Father.

Down, Jacob!

It's wonderful how Edwina can

sleep through all this bedlam.

Easy now, Pie.

Oh, you're a sweet one, Pie.

What is this Pie business?

A new one?

Father, he's the loveliest thing.

You should see him.

He never puts a foot wrong.

Who?

Mr. Ede's new horse.

I'm in love with him.

You're a fickle woman.

You say that about other horses.

But this is the real thing, Father.

Now calm yourself.

You'll be losing your supper next.

But this is very different, Father.

It just skips a beat here.

Like 'Dwina!

- 'Dwina skips a beat?

- For boys.

Oh, for boys.

Come, Jacob,

I must take you for a walk.

Sleep, girls. Mother won't be in.

Why not?

She's just tired.

Edwina, you'd better

take your clothes off.

Skips a beat, does it?

That's the last time I take you

into my confidence, Velvet Brown!

May I come in, Mother?

Yes.

Are you angry, Mother?

I had to come.

Of course I'm not angry.

What's disturbing you, Velvet?

You're all lighted up.

Did you know Mi Taylor's father?

Perhaps when you were a swimmer?

When your pictures were

in the paper and all that?

Way back, I mean.

Way back.

Know how I came to swim the Channel

and have my pictures in the paper?

Mi Taylor's father showed me how.

Mi Taylor's father?

He was my trainer.

It was he told me what to do.

Worked with me for months.

Followed me in a boat.

Leaned over and fed me.

Breathed the spirit into me.

Made me do it when I was

ready to give up.

Why didn't you tell Mi

about his father?

It wasn't the time for it.

There's a right time for everything.

But he'd be so happy.

It'd give him something to go on.

He needn't go. He can stay.

Ten bob a week and his keep.

It's not charity.

He'll work his way.

I know he will.

May I go and tell him?

Only tell him he can stay.

He'll not trade on his father's name.

If the stuff is there, it'll show.

Yes, Mother.

You still up?

Yes, I'm still up. Come in.

I know something.

You do?

You can stay. Not just for tonight.

Mother did it. Ten bob a week,

food and keep to help Father.

Isn't it wonderful, Mi?

The room may look a little shabby...

...but you'll find it very comfortable.

The floor does that in places.

But the bed's good.

This yours?

Yes, thank you.

You can fix it up bit by bit,

in your spare time.

You can paint it, perhaps.

And you can raise this

and get a nice breeze.

And in the winter you can

put it down again.

- You can get a stove.

- I didn't say I'd stay.

I'm considering.

Considering? Don't you know

if you'd be happy?

It isn't the happiness I'm considering.

It's where it'll get me.

It's for the lack of considering

that people stay poor.

Have you ever been quiet

for a few hours, and just think?

All the time.

All the time, about horses.

All day and every night.

I want to be a famous rider.

I should like to hunt...

...ride to hounds.

I should like to race.

I'd like to have so many horses,

that I could walk between the boxes...

...and ride what I choose.

Do you feel all right?

That's Miss Ada.

Who?

Miss Ada. She pulls the cart.

Meet her yet?

She is a little old and tired.

We love her.

Don't you love horses?

I hate 'em.

I don't believe it.

You know too much about them.

You hate a thing when you know

too much about it.

Perhaps you're just scared by horses.

You will stay, won't you?

Yes, I'll stay.

Perhaps it's smarter.

I'm sure it is.

Better get to bed.

Father leaves early.

- She wants another carrot.

- One is her usual.

If we don't give her another,

she might whinny all night.

I'll get it myself.

See, Miss Ada?

He's ashamed to admit he likes you.

- Here you are.

- No, you give it to her yourself.

Why be ashamed of your feelings?

If you like Miss Ada,

why pretend you don't?

Because I told you I hated horses.

You'll have to get over that, Mi.

Why?

Because I love them so.

Every day I pray to God

to give me horses...

...wonderful horses.

To let me be the best rider in England.

- Hello, Velvet.

- Good morning, Miss Melbert.

- I brought Miss Ada, Mother.

- Good.

Miss Ada here?

Boy! Come, lad.

I've sluiced the runway.

I have an order for Mrs. Ede.

Velvet's brought the cart.

You know where the Ede farm is?

Past Table Gully, near the sea wall.

I'll show him.

He must learn by himself.

Please, let me.

You can get lost on those hillocks.

There's one road to Ede's

and one to Tupper's.

It's terribly confusing, Father.

The ride will sharpen her appetite.

Yes, it will, Father.

Sharpen my appetite!

Come on, Mi.

Mrs. Brown, I've been thinking.

Mind you, I'm not against this lad.

But not for him.

You'll allow tramping the road's

not a proper upbringing for a lad.

Would you guarantee there's not a bit

of lying and sharp dealing about him?

I guarantee there was.

But what's the meaning of good

if there isn't some bad to overcome?

What I figured.

Thought I'd get lost?

You could. You're a stranger.

Not to the ways of a woman.

Am I deceitful?

Why didn't you say you wanted to come

to visit a horse?

What have horses ever done to you?

Nothing.

There's got to be a reason.

I took a spill once.

You'd hate them if you had sense!

A horse is an animal

that breaks his back to earn his keep.

I'll be a horse till I use my head

again.

Again?

Thank you, Mi.

Jacob, come back here!

Stop it!

Pie! Get away from that wall!

He didn't do it!

I don't believe it!

Must be something wrong with my eyes.

He'll trample someone in the village.

He didn't!

But maybe he did.

We'll be generous, call it two feet.

Is that two feet?

Maybe it's a little bit more.

We'll call it two, anyway.

Do you know what that crazy horse did?

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