The Railway Children Page #5

- I wish you would say something.

Well then... it's about our Russian.

- Captive.

- A captive.

We want more than anything in the world

to find his wife and children for him.

Only we don't know how.

- What did you say his name was?

- I'll write it for you.

Um, would you have a pencil

and the back of an envelope?

Here, write it here.

This is how you write it.

You say... Szczepansky.

That man?

Bless my soul...

I've read his book.

So your mother took him in

like the good Samaritan.

I'll tell you what, youngsters,

your mother must be a very good woman.

- Yes, she is.

- And you're a good man.

You flatter me.

Now am I to tell you

what I think of you?

- Oh, please don't.

- Why?

I don't know why exactly,

only if it's something horrid

I don't want you to.

And if it's something nice

I'd rather you didn't.

Then all I will say is that I'm very glad

you came to me about all this,

very glad indeed.

And I shouldn't be surprised

if I don't find out something very soon.

Well now tell me something

about yourselves.

Tea first.

Who on earth?

Let's go and see.

- Hello.

- Hello.

Hello.

Good news, my dears.

I've found your Russian friend's

wife and children.

- Oh!

- And I couldn't resist

the temptation of having the pleasure

of telling him

No, you tell him, my dear.

And the other two

will show me the way.

Mother, Mr Szczepansky's wife

and children have been found.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye, sir.

Goodbye.

- Right away, Mr Mitchell.

- Thank you, Mr Perks.

Goodbye.

Excellent.

- Bye.

- Goodbye.

Ah! There, that's a likely

little brooch that.

I don't know as ever I seen a thing

more like a buttercup,

without it were a buttercup.

Mother gave it to me

for my birthday.

Oh, is that it?

I didn't see it close to.

It highly decorative that,

thank you.

- When's your birthday, Mr Perks?

- My birthday?

I gave up keeping my birthday

afore you lot were born.

But you must have been born

sometime, you know.

Even if it was 20 years ago

or 30 years ago or 60 or 70.

Yeah, well it weren't quite

so long as that.

If you really want to know,

it's my 42 years

come the 15th of this month.

Why don't you keep it then?

I've got other things to keep

besides birthdays.

Oh what?

Not secrets, Mr Perks.

No, the kids and bloomin' missus.

I've sold another story, darlings,

the one about the King of the Mussels

so there'll be buns for tea.

You can go and got them

the moment they're ready.

Would you mind if we didn't them tonight,

but on the 15th? That's next Thursday.

I don't mind, darling,

but why?

Well, it's Mr Perks' birthday,

he's 42.

He says he doesn't keep his birthday

any more, he's got other things to keep.

Not rabbits and secrets,

but the kids and the bloomin' missus.

- His wife and children, Bobbie.

- It's the same thing, isn't it?

Bloomin' missus is sort of a germ

of endearment, isn't it?

- Term of endearment, Phyl.

- Yes.

We thought we'd make

a nice birthday for him.

He's been very nice to us.

And we agreed that next bun day

we'd ask if we could.

It would be rather nice to write his name

on the buns in pink sugar, wouldn't it?

- Perks isn't a very pretty name.

- Albert's his other name, I asked once.

I think Albert's a pretty name.

What's the matter with that?

What about flowers?

He's got lots of flowers of his own,

hasn't he?

Yes, but it's always nice

to be given them.

Let's all just sit and think.

No one's to speak

until they've thought of something.

- I've got it.

- What?

- Perks is so nice to everyone, right?

- Right.

So there must be lots of people

who'd like to help make him a birthday.

Mother said

we weren't to ask people for things.

For ourselves, she meant,

not for other people.

I think we should ask Mummy first.

There's no harm in it,

it depends how you do it.

I only hope Mr Perks won't be offended

and think it's charity.

Poor people can be very proud,

you know.

It's not because he's poor,

it's because we're fond of him.

All right, I'll look out some things

that Phyllis has outgrown.

- Will that do?

- I'm sure he'd love that.

Come back tomorrow

and I'll see what I can do.

- Oh, thank you, goodbye.

- Goodbye.

Thank you, bye bye.

I've always liked Mrs Ransome.

- Oh, thank you.

- Of course.

Thank you very much.

Goodbye.

Bye!

Some people were kind

and some were crusty

and some would give

some would not.

It's Mr Perks' birthday on Thursday,

would you like to give him a present?

- No, I would not. I hate the man.

- Thank you!

That was pretty rude.

It's rather difficult work

asking for things, even for other people.

as you've no doubt found

if you've ever tried it.

Tobacco pipe,

half a pound of tea.

- Woollen scarf from the Drapers.

- A stuffed squirrel from Doctor Forrest.

There it is, you can have it

and good riddance to it.

- Oh!

- Thank you.

- Bye.

- Goodbye.

Thank you, Mr James,

he'll love that.

Goodbye.

Hello?

Hello, is anyone at home?

Me Mam's upstairs,

a- changing herself.

Mam, visitors!

Thank you Patrick,

just coming.

I'm a bit late changing, Miss,

owing to me having had

an extra clean up today

along with Perks happening to say

it's his birthday.

I don't know what put such an idea

into his head.

We keeps the children's birthdays,

of course,

but him and me... Well, we've no time

for suchlike as a general rule.

We know it was his birthday

and we've brought him some presents.

Oh, bring them in my dears.

Oh, don't, please don't,

Mrs Perks.

Whatever is the matter?

Do you mean to say

you don't like the things we brought?

Don't you like them?

Oh, there, there, don't mind me,

I'm all right.

Like them? Why it's a birthday

such as Perks never had,

not even when he were a boy.

Good, I'm glad you're pleased.

Could we wait and see

if Mr Perks is pleased too?

I won't say another word.

Could we have a plate for the buns,

Mrs Perks?

Oh, of course.

Fit for a prince, I'd say.

I never thought there'd be more for him,

except the ounce of his backie.

# I'm feeling right today

# Been a lovely day... #

Bless us, he's early.

Let's hide in there

and you tell him about it

but give him the tobacco first

as you got it for him.

When you've told him,

we'll shout "Many Happy Returns".

- How do.

- How do.

Hello, old woman.

- Well here's a pretty set out.

- It's your birthday tea, Bert.

And here's an ounce

of your extra particular.

Yes, she's a good old girl.

Eh, what's that pram doing here?

Hey, you're not...?

Well, what's all these bundles?

Eh?

And what's all this sweet stuff and...?

What's this squirrel

doing on the table, eh?

Oh, lor!

Whatever should we do?

I've forgotten to put the labels

on any of the things.

He won't know what's from whom.

He'll think it's all from us

and that we're trying to be grand and

charitable or something horrid like that.

Ssh, be quiet!

I don't care. I won't stand it.

I tell you straight.

But, it's them children

you make such a fuss about,

Rate this script:4.0 / 1 vote