All Creatures Great and Small

WHITELY: You're a trained vet, Herriot.

Perhaps you might be of more use elsewhere?

I've come home.

Oh!

SIEGFRIED: Marvelous.

Seize the day.

While we still can.

Shall we?

CARMODY: It's not only the animals we need to consider, but the people, too.

Oh, it's good to have everyone back together again.

Now, you and me had an arrangement, remember?

A nice walk and then a good long nap.

(door closes) Yes.

All set?

Sorry.

(car horn honks) SIEGFRIED: Hello!

HELEN: Oh, hello!

MRS. HALL: I were one foot out the door and the telephone rang.

HELEN: We'd best not be late.

Don't want to keep Mr. Bosworth waiting.

JAMES: That rudder pedal's still sticking.

Can you take a look?

Well done, Banerjee-- that was much better.

Thank you, but it was as you said-- I needed to adjust more accurately for the wind speed.

Aye, listen to the skipper and you won't go far wrong.

A couple more practice flights and we'll be ready for our first long-distance run!

Come on, you two!

Better look lively-- hot pot tonight.

JAMES: Well done, lads.

(pounds truck cab) Let's go, Johnny!

BANERJEE: Is that the one that contains dumplings?

HIBBERT: Nah, if there's dumplings, it's stew!

BANERJEE: Ah, they are remarkably similar.

BOSWORTH: As regards to knitted items, the next collection will be on Thursday by 3:00 p.m. That's 3:00 p.m. sharp.

Now, next on the agenda, the victory gardens.

(clears throat): I'm afraid to say that since Dot Fawcett's operation has put her out of action, they are looking decidedly untended.

So I must ask our volunteer gardeners to redouble their efforts whilst Dot is recuperating.

And we are still in need of additional wardens for blackout duty.

So I would direct your attention to the sign-up sheet by the door.

But I must stress that this is a serious responsibility.

Time-wasters need not apply.

You know who you are.

Don't want a repeat of last time.

Quite right, Mr. Bosworth, we certainly wouldn't want to waste anyone's time.

(chuckles) So, last item on the agenda.

Ah, our first land girl has arrived safely with Farmer Danby, so I'm sure we'll all want to do our best to make her feel welcome.

And that concludes the meeting.

Oh, no, uh... MRS. PUMPHREY: Thank you so much, Mr. Bosworth.

(attendees applauding) Uh, yes, right, uh, meeting adjourned.

(applauding) (Tricki Woo barking) (cooing) Did you know Dot had had an operation?

I'd heard she'd been under the weather.

But I didn't know it were anything that serious.

Oh, I feel awful.

She were like a nan to me and Jenny when we were little, and I didn't even know she were laid up.

Well, you've had a lot to be getting on with.

I know, but the world shouldn't stop just 'cause I've had a baby.

(Jimmy coos) Should it, Jimmy?

Hm?

(coos) (plane flying past, people talking in background) Anything for me, Ridley?

Sarge.

(truck engine stops) Hey!

(chuckles) Is that your boy?

Aye, it is.

God, I can't believe how big he's getting.

You know, they can change very quick at that age.

Oh, aye?

Got a lot of kids, have you, Professor?

I, I have a nephew.

Though I haven't seen him since I left to attend the university.

All those years, just sitting around reading books.

Wouldn't be for me.

Aye, you prefer pictures to words, don't you, Hibbert?

Too right.

(chuckles) (plane passing) MRS. HALL: Curtains shut.

And there was light.

(chuckles) SIEGFRIED: This is the way the farmer's boy rides.

Hobble-di-hoi, hobble-di-hoi, hobble-di-hoi... (laughs) And down into the ditch.

(Hamish barking) You really shouldn't get him overly excited before bed.

Oh, he likes a bit of excitement.

Don't you, Jimmy?

Do you?

SIEGFRIED: There we are.

HELEN: Do you?

SIEGFRIED: Richard, will you join us?

Oh, no, no, thank you, not while I'm training Hamish.

Oh, you've never taught him another new trick.

As a matter of fact... Hamish, sit.

Speak!

(barks) Good boy!

Right?

Like that, did you?

And shake.

Good boy!

(Hamish barks softly) (gasps): Will you look at that?

SIEGFRIED: That's most impressive.

Though it does explain why there's never any cheese.

HELEN (chuckling): Thank you.

CARMODY: He's a remarkably intelligent animal.

I'm not surprised his owner was so sad to leave him.

Well, at least he knew he were going to a good home.

Hard enough for a lad going off to fight without worrying about his dog.

Hmm.

To all our boys.

May we see them soon.

Hear, hear.

Our boys.

Our boys.

(softly): Aye.

As you're aware, Herr Hitler is now sprawled over Europe.

France is out, Italy is against us, and, with our port cities under increasingly heavy bombardment, we need to hit back.

Hard.

In light of this, the decision has been made to expedite all flight training schedules.

Which means that the first long-distance run to Scotland will take place tonight.

(men whispering, murmuring) Now, I know that most of you have just finished a day's flying, but I'm afraid it can't be helped.

Very soon, you'll be flying active missions, and you need to be ready.

So the following aircrew will report at 2100 hours: Herriot.

Sir.

Hibbert.

Sir.

Banerjee.

Sir.

Fielding.

Sir.

WHITELY: Murphy.

Sir.

Good luck.

Right, it's time for us to turn in, I think.

All right, love.

I'll call in on Dot in the morning, see how she's doing.

That's a good idea.

I wish I had some biscuits to send with you.

Perhaps I can find her a nice magazine.

HELEN: Hm.

Oh, blast.

MRS. HALL: Summat wrong?

(exhales) They've called an extraordinary meeting of the North Riding Veterinary Society.

Some nonsense about members' voting rights.

And it's at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow morning, attendance mandatory.

Oh, dear.

HELEN: Well, that's what happens when you let the post pile up.

Good night, sleep well!

(music playing) It means I shall have to cancel yet another clinic.

Which means more complaints.

But what do they expect?

I'm down from three vets to two, or rather one-and-a-half.

One-and-three-quarters, surely.

SIEGFRIED: We're stretched to our limit just covering the farms-- and then there's the emergencies.

Despite my best efforts, I can't be in two places at once.

There is another option.

Hey there.

(Jimmy fussing) You sleep well, little man.

(people talking in background, planes flying) You seen Banerjee?

I haven't, Skip.

(phones ringing, typewriters clacking) Everything all right?

Yes.

Just checking my calculations.

Look, I know this isn't what we expected.

But you're a fine navigator, Banerjee.

In theory, perhaps.

But in practice...

Under pressure...

I've never plotted a course of this length.

And it's over 400 miles, James.

I'm worried I will let you down.

Come on.

What you need is some fresh air.

Come on.

JAMES: You know, you and I have a lot in common, Banerjee.

BANERJEE: We do?

We both like to feel prepared, and I'm guessing we both tend to worry too much.

I think sometimes, perhaps, we have a reason to.

(chuckles): You might be right.

The trouble is, it doesn't help.

When I started out as a veterinary surgeon, I was so nervous.

I read everything I could find about bovine and equine anatomy.

I was as prepared as I could possibly be.

But even so, the first time I attended a call on my own, seeing an animal in pain and distress, knowing a farmer's livelihood depended on my knowing what to do, I've couldn't have been more terrified.

But, you know, it's a funny thing.

When you have no choice but to focus on the job in hand, there's a kind of clarity.

Suddenly, everything you've learnt, all the knowledge, all the skills you've acquired, they just take over.

And so was the animal saved?

She was-- and I delivered my very first calf.

(chuckles): It was quite a night.

It's only natural to feel daunted, but you couldn't be more prepared.

I know you can do this.

Good lad.

(exhales) All right, come on.

Or Hibbert's going to think we've both gone AWOL.

(both chuckle) (clears throat) (engine idling) (hits cab) SIEGFRIED: It's an enormous responsibility.

CARMODY: I realize that.

Normally, I wouldn't allow it.

Not until you'd completed your training.

I can do it, Mr. Farnon-- I won't let you down.

Well, you'd better not.

Now, obviously, your skills are still a bit limited, so anything you can't deal with, just make a note, and I'll look at it on my return.

Perhaps a checklist would be helpful.

Some sort of triage assessment form?

Yes, yes, I suppose something along those lines could work.

Excellent, excellent-- leave it with me.

Well, he's certainly keen.

(exhales) (clears throat) You all right there, Skipper?

You're looking a bit red in the face.

No, I'm just overheating in all this gear.

Ah, well, you'll be glad of it later.

(chuckles) We all set?

Aye, Skip.

WHITELY: Training mission or not, you need to treat tonight as the real thing.

You run into enemy aircraft, they won't make allowances.

And there's heavy cloud cover forecast further north, so, navigator, you need to keep on your toes.

Yes, sir.

All right, men.

Good luck.

Not much of a morale booster, is he?

You sure you're all right?

I'm fine.

I think I just caught that damn cold that's going round.

Ready, Banerjee?

Ready.

Good man.

HIBBERT: Skipper!

BANERJEE: We need a medical officer!

Please!

Skipper!

(exhales) (breathes deeply) Sorry, I don't understand.

I, I thought it was just the flu.

REID: Well, that was my first assumption.

But I ran some tests to rule out other possibilities, and they came back with something rather unexpected.

I see from your file that you're a veterinary surgeon.

That's right.

(coughs) Then I'm sure you're familiar with brucellosis?

Well, yes.

And have you, to your knowledge, been exposed to any cases in the last couple of years?

Yes.

I treated a herd with it last year.

But you didn't have any symptoms at the time?

No, no, none.

My wife, she was pregnant, so we were worried about her.

But, well, she was fine in the end.

There was no reason to think I'd caught it.

Well, unfortunately, it appears you had.

Right.

Pain medication and bedrest will treat the symptoms in the short term.

But I'm afraid the fever may be recurring, and there's a possibility of delirium.

The bouts will become milder and further apart with time, though.

And don't worry, there's no risk of anyone catching it from you.

No, I know-- that's one good thing, at least.

Anyway... You should feel back to normal in a day or so.

When can I get back to active duty?

Well, that's really a question for your commanding officer.

It's just, we were about to do a run to Scotland, and my, my crew had to be stood down.

Well, there's not much you can do about that right now.

If I were you, I'd just enjoy the rest.

(phones ringing in background) (breath trembling) (birds chirping, animals bleating) Oh, well, it's a lot of fuss over nothing.

HELEN: A hysterectomy in't nothing.

DOT: Aye.

Doctor said it were better to be safe than sorry.

Hey-- well, I'm just glad you're on the mend.

Hey!

(shushing) Well, they said I've got to rest for another three weeks.

But I can get about a bit if I go slow.

Are you in much pain?

Not anymore.

They've given me some lovely stuff.

I take it at bedtime, and I just float off to sleep.

Oh!

That's very nice.

(both chuckle) And I've got little Frisk here to keep me company.

(purring) I tell you, I thought, after all these years I'd be used to being on me own.

But if it weren't for little Frisk, I'd have gone stark staring mad these past few weeks.

(chuckles) (Frisk purring) Did you say something about putting kettle on?

(chuckles) (exhales) (music playing in background) Well, these all look very good.

And you didn't run into any problems while I was gone?

No.

As I said, the only slightly tricky case was the budgerigar... With the ulcerated leg-- well, that's fair enough.

We can drop in on Mr. Bendick sometime this afternoon.

But, no, for your first time flying solo, I think you've done very well.

In fact, I'm minded to dispense with the hand holding from now on.

You are?

Well, these triage forms of yours could work rather well.

You do the preliminary assessment, I take the more complex cases first.

We'll see twice the patients in half the time.

Well, it'll certainly speed things up.

Here he is!

I was wondering where you'd got to.

(chuckles) HELEN: There we go.

Now, then... Have you had a good morning, young Jimmy?

He has.

So have I, thanks for asking.

Dot's put you to work, has she?

Well, I did offer.

(bottle rattling) What have I got here?

Quite a good noise, isn't it?

(phone rings) I'll get it.

Thanks, love.

(phone ringing) Darrowby 2297.

NURSE (over phone): Good afternoon.

I'm calling from R.A.F.

Abingdon.

I've a call for Mrs. James Herriot?

This is Mrs. Herriot.

Hold the line, please.

JAMES (over phone): Helen, are you there?

Oh, God, James, I thought for a minute...

I know, I'm so sorry, the nurse had to place the call for me.

What nurse?

James, what's going on?

It's fine, I'm fine.

I just had a bit of a fever and a headache.

But you're all right now?

I'm feeling much better.

Do they know what it is?

(murmurs) JAMES: Well, yes.

The thing is, they did some blood tests.

HELEN: Right.

And, um, it turns out I've got brucellosis.

(Jimmy fussing softly) Brucellosis?

Oh, James, no.

It's not the end of the world.

You must've caught it from the Crabtrees' herd.

I was so busy fussing over meself, I should've thought.

We should've done them tests on you, too.

Oh, James, I'm so sorry.

You've nothing to be sorry for.

And like I said, I'm fine.

They gave me something for the headache, and it's not like I'm infectious.

I should be back in the barracks tomorrow.

But it'll come back, won't it?

I remember, it could take months to get rid of it.

I don't know.

For now, it just means I get a couple of days off.

(inhales) Right.

Well, that's something.

(phones ringing in background) Herriot.

Sir.

(door closes) Look, I've been discussing your condition with the wing commander.

Um, well, to cut to the chase, he doesn't think you're fit to fly.

Well, no, not, not at the moment, but... Not at all, I'm afraid.

What?

That's ridiculous.

Brucellosis isn't a permanent condition.

I mean, it isn't permanently debilitating.

Well, that's true.

So did you explain that to him?

I did, but the fact is, you can no longer be classed as 100% fit.

And as Wing Commander Whitely pointed out, a pilot has to be classed as Grade 1.

So...

It would seem your flying days are over.

But, but if I can't fly, what am I supposed to do?

Well, normally when an airman's grounded, he would usually serve as ground crew.

Ground crew?

But that's not my decision to make.

I'm sorry, Herriot.

I don't know, Professor.

The lengths people'll go to to avoid an honest day's work, eh?

And the old bastard didn't even tell you himself?

Apparently it wasn't worth his time.

Have they told you who's replacing me?

(people talking in background) (clears throat): It seems we've been assigned Atkinson for the run to Scotland tonight.

It'll be fine.

He only crashed twice in training.

I reckon he's got it out of his system by now.

I'm so sorry, lads.

Don't be daft, Skipper.

It's not your fault.

(dog barks) Sir, if you could spare a moment.

I know you've spoken with the medical officer, but I'd like to ask you to reconsider.

Whatever the rules, I'm still a first-rate pilot.

That's not the point, Herriot.

Well, I think it should be!

I beg your pardon.

I'm sorry, sir.

I'm simply asking that I be considered fit for duty.

If you'd passed out half an hour later, I'd have lost five airmen, not just one.

But sir...

There's a work detail in the morning.

Digging ditches.

If you're fit, join it.

(engines running, people talking in background) (gate creaks) (birds chirping) Ah, you'll have him growing spuds before he can walk.

It's never too early to start.

You got your work cut out for you down here.

Hm, there's a fair bit to do.

Not to mention the frost damage, and Alice Dinsdale's snails.

Have they not been putting down ash?

Doesn't look like it.

But it's nowt a bit of elbow grease can't fix.

(door opens) SIEGFRIED: Mrs. Tilbury?

Excellent, uh, now, we're testing a new system.

Did my colleague give you a form?

Ah, wonderful, that should speed things up.

After you, Beatrix.

Come on, Beatrix.

(people talking in background) (dog barks) Uh, if you'd like to take a seat, I'll be with you shortly.

I'm not stopping.

I'm sorry?

Uh, I'd like you to take this.

My cat, Frisk, he died in the night.

Oh, I'm very sorry to hear that.

Found him this morning.

Just lying there under the sofa, poor little thing.

I see.

I would bury him meself, but I've just had an operation, see?

So, I was hoping Mr. Farnon might take care of it.

Right, yes, of course.

Um, leave it with me.

Thank you.

Uh, Mrs. Hall.

Everything all right, Mr. Carmody?

I've been given a dead cat.

Oh, that's nice.

What should I... Mr. Farnon usually calls Mallock's.

The abattoir-- they'll pick up when they're next passing.

Right, but, for now.

Well, just...

Put it out of the way somewhere.

Jolly good.

Would you like me to let Mr. Farnon know?

Oh, no, no, that's quite all right, I shall inform him.

Thank you.

(dog barking) Frisk.

Terminal.

Call Mallock's.

Ooh!

Good morning!

Morning.

Let's put you here, Tricki.

BOSWORTH: No, no, no, this in't right.

These shouldn't be here.

There we are.

Uh, excuse me.

Mm?

I had a separate pile of masks that had been damaged in transit, and now, look, I'll have to sort them out all over again.

Unfortunately, my ladies required the additional tables.

Well, that's all very well, but the W.I.

and the A.R.P.

agreed to share the space.

We did, we did.

Um, might I suggest that you place your supplies on this far corner, use the fireplace, if necessary, and then, I shall instruct everyone that from now on, that entire area is off-limits.

Yes, I suppose that would be acceptable.

Good.

I'll find a way to make it work.

I'm so glad.

Ooh, that's an excellent haul.

You must've been knitting non-stop.

Oh, it's the least I can do.

Hm.

Brings back memories of last time, doesn't it?

I keep expecting to see Kitchener pointing at me.

That really did make one want to leap into action.

It was certainly effective.

Some of them were a bit misleading, though.

Like the one for the Wrens that said "Never at Sea."

Turned out that weren't strictly accurate.

Oh, you were a Wren?

I was.

Oh.

Wanted to do me bit.

Yes, one does feel rather superfluous this time around.

Tricki and I have been asked to vacate Pumphrey Manor.

I'm sorry?

It's being requisitioned by the Army as a convalescent hospital.

Can they do that, just take it from you?

Well, in point of fact, I had already written to the War Ministry offering the use of the house, but...

I simply hadn't anticipated that I wouldn't be allowed to live there anymore.

When are they coming?

They're moving their beds and equipment in even as we speak.

Poor boys.

At least they'll have a pleasant place in which to recuperate.

But where will you live?

Oh, we'll be perfectly happy in the little cottage.

Oh.

At least, I shall be.

I do worry about Tricki.

I'm afraid he's going to find it terribly pokey.

But then, as you say, we all need to do our bit.

Don't we, darling?

(cooing): Yes.

Right, uh, Mr. Parker, if you'd like to take Remus into the examination room while I, uh... (cat meowing) Does anyone know where Mrs. Morton went?

(cat meowing) Right, Mr. Parker, what seems to be the trouble?

(cat meowing) Who does this belong to?

(cat meowing) (cat meowing) Terminal?

(meows) What were you thinking?

You can't go packing healthy animals off to be slaughtered.

I didn't.

Well, what's this?

"Terminal, Call Mallock's"?

Well, Mrs. Hall said that was the usual procedure.

(door opens) SIEGFRIED: Why on Earth would you destroy a perfectly good cat over a mild case of mange?

It's the only ailment I can detect.

I very much doubt that's what killed him.

What are you talking about?

CARMODY: What are you talking about?

(cat meowing) The cat was dead when it arrived.

It wasn't!

It most certainly was!

Oh, for the love of...

I was reliably informed that the animal was deceased.

Is this the cat you're arguing about?

Yes.

No.

That is Mrs. Morton's Tibbles.

The cat in question, as clearly marked on the form, is called Frisk.

You mean Dot Fawcett's cat?

Well, if that's her name.

So where's this Frisk now, then?

(exhales) CARMODY: I don't understand.

So now you've managed to lose a dead cat.

That's assuming it was actually dead.

I take it you examined it.

Well, I took a quick peek.

A quick peek?

HELEN: But why did they think it was dead?

I have no idea.

Audrey.

(exhales) (Frisk meows) (Mrs. Hall sighs) You nearly cremated the poor woman's cat while it was still alive.

As I said, it was a genuine mistake.

Mistake?

It was unforgivable!

Dot absolutely dotes on this cat.

She must be in a terrible state.

Yes, and thanks to Carmody's incompetence, she's spent an entire day thinking it was dead, when the briefest examination would have proved otherwise.

I shall return Frisk to his owner and explain the unfortunate situation.

With abject apologies.

Of course.

I have to say, Carmody, I am very disappointed in you.

I trusted you with greater responsibility, and you have failed me.

(Frisk purring) As I say, I can only apologize.

(James grunting) Which one of you's been smoking in my barn again?

I've told you before, you don't use bloody matches near hay.

You'll have the whole place up in flames.

And don't dump that earth in the middle of the yard.

MAN: Right.

EDWARDS: It goes up by the vegetable garden.

I swear, I'd be better off digging the damn thing myself.

What?

Think you're too good for this, do you?

Not at all.

Just because they gave you a uniform and you've done a bit of marching?

I'm actually a trained pilot.

Yeah?

Well, you're here now.

(grunting) REID: Herriot.

What's happened, sir?

The training mission last night came under fire from the Luftwaffe.

What?

They were halfway back when three German planes came out of nowhere.

It's likely they were returning from the raid on Newcastle.

Our boys were shot down over the North Sea.

Pilot didn't stand a chance.

Atkinson's dead?

Were there any survivors?

They pulled Banerjee out of the wreckage, but it sounds like he's in a bad way.

And Hibbert?

It appears he died on impact.

I'm sorry.

I know they were your crew.

Will they be bringing him back?

Banerjee?

Out of the question, I'm afraid.

Do you think he'll make it?

I'm sure they'll do what they can.

(knock at door, door opens) What the hell do you think you're doing?

Banerjee and Hibbert were my crew.

Now Hibbert's dead and Banerjee may not... Have you lost your mind?

They were shot down because you sent them up with a pilot who had no idea what he was doing.

I begged you to let me fly with them.

If you'd listened, if I'd been there... You really think you could have done better?

You're certain you could have brought them home?

I don't know, but I, I would've tried.

Every time I send a man up, I know the odds.

I do my best to improve them, but I don't always have the luxury of choice.

They've got you digging ditches?

JAMES (over phone): For now.

But you're a vet.

It's a reserved occupation.

If they're not going to let you fly...

I'm still an airman.

Yes, I know, but you're supposed to be a pilot.

If they're not gonna let you do that anymore, well, can't they just send you home?

It's not that simple.

I don't see why.

Well, because I have a duty, all right?

I owe it to these men.

All right.

So I can't just walk away, not now.

James, is there something you're not telling me?

Look, I should go.

(inhales) Kiss Jimmy for me, will you?

Sleep well.

You, too.

(gate closes) (birds chirping) Helen?

(chuckling): Everything all right?

It's Dot's spring greens.

There must've been a frost overnight.

I thought it'd be safe to put 'em in, 'cause it's been so mild, but I shouldn't have risked it.

Why don't you stop a minute?

I brought us some tea.

(birds chirping) If he can't even fly, why shouldn't he come home?

Like he's deliberately choosing to stay away.

He's had a shock.

He probably just needs some time to think things through.

(inhales) I just... (sighs) I just feel so powerless.

I know.

I sometimes think it's easier to be out there doing than sitting here worrying.

(chuckles, sniffs) I'm sorry, I know it's just as hard for you, with Edward.

And then there's Tris.

Across the other side of the world.

Yeah, there's a lot of sacrifices being made all round.

(inhales) You know Pumphrey Manor's being requisitioned?

Mrs. Pumphrey's not going to like that.

Well, as a matter of fact, it were her idea.

Well, partly.

Blimey.

Talk about going above and beyond.

I know.

Makes me think I could be doing more than just knitting.

(cow bellowing) I'm sorry-- is one of your heifers calving?

That's right.

Well, she sounds rather distressed.

And you're an expert on cows, are you?

As well as being a pilot?

Just get on with what you're here to do.

(bellowing continues) EDWARDS (straining): My God, she's going to break my arm before she's done.

(cow lowing) Can I help?

If she's not progressing, the calf's probably laid wrong.

Yeah, well, I know that.

The bloody legs are stuck under.

(cow lows) We've been trying for an hour to pull them out.

(Edwards groans) Then let me have a look.

(cow lows) For God's sake, man, I'm a vet.

This is what I do.

(cow lows) (grunts) (panting) You won't have any more luck.

Do you have any binder twine?

I've yards of it, but I don't see how that'll help.

Fetch me a length and I'll show you.

(cow lowing) Bert, fetch some twine.

JAMES: See, you need to find the foot, then slip this loop over the fetlock.

Easy.

Easy, girl.

(cow bellowing) (James gasps) Right.

There we go.

(cow lowing) Now, you take this, and pull steadily when I tell you.

(cow lowing) All right.

I'm pushing on the hock, so now you pull.

(cow lowing) Be careful, don't jerk.

(snuffles) Well, I'll be damned.

(cow lowing) Now the other one.

(cow exhales heavily) (lowing) Easy.

Easy, girl.

That's it.

Here you are.

All right.

Ready, now pull.

(cow bellowing) Will you look at that?

Right, grab a leg and we'll have him out in a couple of ticks.

(grunting): There we go.

(cow bellowing) (calf slides, thuds) EDWARDS: Well done, that man.

Guess you are a bleedin' expert, after all.

(James panting) And you're a handsome little fella, aren't you?

(James exhaling) (panting) Good man.

JAMES: Sir, I signed up because I wanted to serve in the best way I could.

And the men here, the men I trained with, men who've relied on me, I never want to let them down.

That's very laudable.

But, if I really am no longer of use here... Perhaps you might be of more use elsewhere?

Your discharge papers.

Sir?

You're a trained vet, Herriot.

As I understand it, a very good one.

There aren't too many of you around right now.

I was waiting for you to make your mind up.

Good boy, Norman, good boy.

(inhales sharply) (bike bell rings) Mr. Bosworth.

Might I have a word?

Of course, Mrs. Hall.

Though if it's Women's Institute business, you should really speak to Mrs. Pumphrey.

Oh, it's not.

I wish to volunteer to be a blackout warden.

Oh!

Uh, oh, no, I'm sorry, uh... That's out of the question.

I beg your pardon.

Well, you, you can't possibly.

We, we can only accept male volunteers.

Why is that?

I can hardly send out unaccompanied females into the dark in the middle of the night.

It's simple common sense.

I see.

MRS. PUMPHREY: Um... Did that man just turn down your offer of assistance?

He did.

Well, the Wrens I knew didn't take no for an answer.

No.

No, they didn't.

(clears throat) Mr. Bosworth, I'll have you know I were a female when I joined the Wrens in the last war.

And when I learnt to fire a rifle and operate a wireless telegraph.

I suppose you would have been, yes.

And I were most certainly a female when I were on the crew of an harbor launch assigned to mine-spotting duties.

Many of which, as I recall, took place at night.

I see, but the thing...

So I feel fairly confident I can manage to ride a bicycle around Darrowby and tell people to close their curtains.

Don't you?

It would be most irregular.

Oh, come now, Mr. Bosworth.

You can't deny she's better qualified than any other volunteer.

And a commanding officer needs troops he can rely on.

As I'm sure you'll remember from your own time in the services.

Uh, well, I, um, yes, um...

I'm sure I can, um, make some accommodation-- I'll, I'll fetch me rota.

Atta girl.

(birds chirping) Dot, whatever are you doing?

Well, it's Frisk-- he's under here and he's not moving.

It's just like before.

All right, let me see.

(sighing): Oh, he's gone.

I know he has.

He hasn't.

Not yet.

I can feel an heartbeat.

It's faint, but it's there.

Right, you wait here.

I'll take him straight to Siegfried.

Well, I'm coming with you.

No, Dot, you can't!

You're meant to be resting.

If you're taking my Frisk, I'm coming with you.

I'm not letting him out of my sight.

I'm getting something-- have a listen.

Come on, man, he's your patient.

Yes.

Yes, it's definitely there.

Still faint, but I think it's getting stronger.

Look, there.

He's breathing.

But he weren't before, I'm sure of it.

It were just like last time.

Most peculiar.

It's almost as if he were under anesthesia.

DOT: I mean, one minute, he's happy as Larry, licking me saucer.

The next minute, he's out like a light.

He's licking your saucer?

That's right.

Mrs. Fawcett, you mentioned before that you've had an operation.

That's right.

And have you been prescribed any medicine, by any chance?

DOT: They gave me something for the pain.

I take it last thing at night, with a cup of tea.

Something quite strong, though, in't it, Dot?

Well, doctor said, uh, it were morpherine.

Morphine?

And, after you take it, what do you do with the spoon?

DOT: The spoon?

Well, I put it on me saucer.

SIEGFRIED: Then I think we may have solved our mystery.

What dulls the pain in a human will put a cat out for hours.

DOT: No!

SIEGFRIED: I'm afraid so.

It seems Frisk here is in something of a narcotic haze.

From my medicine?

Oh, not to worry.

There'll be no long-term ill effects.

But make sure to put the spoon in the sink from now on.

(exhales): Would you credit it?

Seems you weren't the only one floating away.

The little devil.

(all laugh) Well done, Mr. Carmody.

DOT (gasps): Look at him!

Frisk!

(Helen chuckles) You're okay, my boy.

(brakes squeak and hiss) Excuse me, is this Darrowby?

Aye.

Aye, it is.

(car approaching) (softly): Hello.

(door closes) And who might you be?

(chuckling): Oh, you're a friendly chap, aren't you?

Hm?

(Siegfried talking in other room) (Carmody and Siegfried talking in other room) (Jimmy squealing) (cooing) (babbling) Hello there, little man.

(babbling) Not so little anymore.

(cries) All right, I'm coming.

James.

I don't... What are you...

I've come home.

Oh!

(Jimmy cooing) MRS. HALL: Helen, do you need an hand with these?

(laughs): Oh!

I don't believe it.

(door closes) SIEGFRIED: Mrs. Hall, do we have any clean towels?

Good Lord.

(Jimmy cooing) Hello there.

(James and Helen chuckling) So then Dot says... Morphine!

No, not seriously?

Yes.

(chuckling): Turns out Frisk's quite the drug fiend.

(laughing): Wait, and this is the same cat you nearly had cremated?

Uh, well, yes, but, um... MRS. HALL: Oh... (laughing) It were an honest mistake.

SIEGFRIED: Talking of mistakes, you must have heard the story of James's great cat mix-up.

CARMODY: I don't believe I have.

Oh, my God.

SIEGFRIED: Well, he'd only been here a day, and he rolled home, absolutely pie-eyed... Actually, Siegfried, would you excuse me and James?

Oh.

Oh, right.

JAMES: I'll carry Jimmy up.

Come on, lad.

(Jimmy cooing) (babbling) Oh, Mrs. Hall!

It's a little early, but I think a celebratory post-prandial-- oh, good God.

What's all this?

I decided I wanted to do a bit more for the war effort.

I see.

So I've signed up to be a warden.

It's only part-time.

One or two nights a week to begin with, and I'll make sure dinner's ready before I leave.

Don't worry about any of that.

I think it's marvelous.

You do?

Absolutely.

Good for you, Mrs. Hall.

And I, I quite agree, we must all try to play our part.

Right.

(chuckling): Well, good.

And I don't look too daft?

Not in the least, you look...

Very smart.

Right.

Best be off.

Good luck.

(flames crackling) JAMES: I left Helen to put him down.

She said I was getting him too excited.

SIEGFRIED: Must've been thrilling, to take to the air.

There's nothing like it.

What a skill to have, what nerve.

I trust that things were smooth for the most part?

The training and such?

Uh, for the most part, aye.

Well, we can discuss the finer points when Helen isn't missing you upstairs.

Thank you.

Mm.

For looking after her.

She coped admirably.

And for all you've done for Jimmy, too.

Mrs. Hall and I have spoiled him rotten.

Ruined him entirely, I'm afraid.

Sorry about that.

(chuckles) Good night, Siegfried.

Good night.

(whispering): Sorry.

Waylaid by Siegfried.

(whispering): Are you a dream?

(chuckles) No.

Definitely not.

(exhales) Feels like it, though, doesn't it?

Shh, come to bed.

JAMES: A day with Daddy.

First day on your own with him.

JAMES: We'll get on famously.

Are you quite sure about this?

Hello.

Any chance of a lift?

I need you to come quickly.

I don't know what's wrong.

I'm on my way.

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