The Railway Children Page #7

Do you suppose

I haven't tried everything?

No, my darling,

what we have to do, you and I,

and Daddy, is to be brave.

Where have you been?

Where have I been?

Down to the station.

Don't ask why, it's a secret.

Oh, please yourself.

- There's a paper chase tomorrow.

- Oh, whoopee!

- Who?

- The grammar school boys.

Oh zippee!

Perks says we can see them

going along by the line.

Oh really?

What's a paper chase?

Let me pass please

Hey! That's against by-laws.

- I ought to report him.

- They're only having fun.

Passengers is forbidden to cross the line

on any pretence.

He ain't no passenger.

He's out of sight now, anyway.

What the eye don't see the heart need

take no notice of, that what I always say.

Come on then.

He's gone in the tunnel.

Oh, it is dark in here.

They don't know

what they're in for.

It isn't easy running in the dark.

They'll take a long time

going through, won't they?

Aye, they will that.

- They went that way.

- Oh thanks!

I know! Let's cut across to the top

and see them come out the other end.

- We'll be there before they are.

- Good idea.

Yes, good idea!

- This way!

- No, this way. Come on, quick.

There, that's all.

What should we do now?

Not yet,

there's one in a red jersey.

He hasn't come out yet.

Come on, let's go to the tunnel mouth

and perhaps we can see him

from the inside.

It's dark in there.

- Don't worry, Phyl. I'll protect you.

- I don't like it.

Still no sign of him. I reckon

he must have had an accident.

Let's go and rescue him.

Come on.

Come on, Phyl.

Keep close behind me.

If a train comes along

get flat against the tunnel wall

and hold your skirts against you.

I still don't like it.

- I want to go back.

- Ssh, don't be silly. What is that?

It's another earthquake!

- It's a train.

- Oh, let me go back!

Don't be a coward, it's quite safe.

Stand back.

Come in, come on.

It is a dragon.

I always thought it was.

Come on.

Supposing that boy

was caught underneath the train...

- Oh!

- We've got to go and see.

Can't we go and get someone

from the station?

- Phyl, you wait here.

- No.

Hello?

Hey you two, come quickly!

Oh, is that blood?

Is that red blood?

- Is he all killed?

- Phyllis, please.

Hurry up you two, get help.

"It was on a hot summer's afternoon... "

Oh, do come down, we've found a hound

in a red jersey and he's broken his leg.

They're bringing him here,

I've sent for Doctor Forrest.

But you should send for a vet,

I can't have a lame dog here.

Oh, he's not a dog, it's a boy.

Well then he ought to be taken

to his mother.

His mother's dead,

his father's in Northumberland.

Oh, Mother, you will be nice to him,

won't you?

I told him I was sure you'd want us

to have him here.

- You always want to help everybody.

- Come along.

I'm glad you brought him here.

- Let's get him to bed.

- It will hurt a bit, won't it?

I hope you don't think I'm a coward if

I faint again. I don't do this on purpose.

I don't want to cause you

any more trouble.

Don't you worry, you're the one

who's got the trouble.

We'd love to have you here,

wouldn't we, Bobbie?

Yes.

That will be Doctor Forrest.

I'll go.

- That's not the doctor.

- I know.

I know that voice though,

at least I think I do.

I thought I recognised it too.

It's not the doctor, that's for sure.

Could it be that Doctor Forrest

has been attacked by highwaymen

and left for dead and this is the man

they've telegraphed

- to take his place?

- Perhaps he's gone mad.

Perhaps he's caught something awful

from one of his patients

and that man's come to tell her.

Nonsense. Mother wouldn't take the man

up into Jim's bedroom.

Why should she?

Listen.

The door's opening.

Now they'll come down.

It's rude to listen like this.

It's not listening, nobody in their senses

would talk secrets on the stairs.

Bobbie?

A relative of Jim's has come,

he wants to see you.

Wash your hands and faces.

We'll be in the dining room

when you're ready.

Yes, Mama.

There now!

Fancy not thinking of that, hm?

- Any hot water, Mrs Viney?

- Righto love.

You all right?

There we are, that's it.

Well I never did!

This, my dears,

is Jim's grandfather.

Our own old gentleman!

I'm so awfully glad it's you.

When I just think of all

the old gentlemen there are in the world

it could have been anyone.

You're not going to take

Jim away though, are you?

Not at present.

Your mother has most kindly consented

to let him stay here.

I thought of sending a nurse but your

mother said she'd nurse him herself.

But we won't have anything to eat

if Mother doesn't write.

That's all right, Peter.

I see you trust your children.

- Of course.

- Then I may tell them our arrangement.

Sit down, my dears.

Your Mother, my dears, has consented

to give up her writing for a while

and to become

a matron of my hospital.

Does that mean we'll have to leave

Three Chimneys and the railways?

No, no, my darling. No.

The hospital is here.

The Three Chimneys Hospital

and my unlucky Jim is the only patient.

- Will Mother go on writing again?

- We shall see...

Perhaps something nice will happen

and she won't have to.

- But I like my writing.

- I know.

Don't be afraid I'm going to try

and interfere but one never know.

Very beautiful and wonderful things

do happen, don't they?

And we live most of our lives

in the hope of them.

I got your letter my dear,

but it wasn't needed.

When I read about your father's case

in the papers at the time I had my doubts.

And ever since I've known who you were,

I've been trying to find out things

and I have hopes.

- Oh...

- Yes, I may say, great hopes.

But keep your secret

for a little while longer.

Wouldn't do to upset your mother

with a false hope, would it?

But it isn't false.

I know you can do it.

I knew you could when I wrote.

It isn't false hope, is it?

No, my dear.

You don't believe Daddy did it?

Oh, say you don't believe he did.

My dear, I'm perfectly certain

he didn't.

Life at Three Chimneys

was never quite the same again

after the old gentleman

came to see us.

Oh, please Phyllis.

The house became a hospital.

I give you three guesses

who that is.

Is everything all right?

Good luck. I'll curtain up.

Have you...

Have you noticed

the ship is sinking?

Yes I know,

but don't blame me.

Oh, no!

Oh, no they'll all get so wet.

You'll need some light

on the subject.

As your solicitor

I must advise you.

Don't worry.

Don't worry,

I've managed to get most of the survivors.

Right, curtain down.

Thank you, good evening.

I hope you enjoyed it.

Children, will you please be quiet.

Oh, the blood!

- Oh, is it over?

- Oh, thank goodness.

- Oh, you are a good doctor.

- Can I have that please?

There we are. How's that?

- Cheerio.

- Bye.

Jim's leg got better

and he went home.

- Right away, Mr Mitchell.

- Thank you, Mr Perks.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

- Bye, I'll write.

- Lor lummy, Pete!

- They'll have to marry now!

Lummy.

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