Stumpy's Brae

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BIRDS SCREECH

EERIE SUSPENSEFUL SCORE

RUSTLING

Are you lost, man?

Not as lost as our friend.

We'll give him a home.

NARRATOR: Have you not heard of Stumpy's Brae?

Sit down, sit down, young friend

I'll make your flesh to creep this night

and your hair to stand on end.

You get all your messages done?

I did.

And before you ask, I sold all the wee hens for a decent price.

I don't doubt it.

Did you settle for the flour? I did.

And the oats? Them and all.

And there was money left over? There was.

You done well.

Have you the price of a ticket yet?

Near to half of one fare.

John! John!

What's wrong?

A letter from Donald.

He says they're giving parcels of land to they that will go out west.

Well, they do say fortune favours fools,

so Donald should have nothing to worry about.

Did you mind my dinner?

He's sent us two dollars for the tin.

That's powerful good of your brother.

I hope he hasn't left himself short.

Hello, Mrs Campbell, is your husband home?

He's not. He's out at his work.

Well, you'll not take it ill if we hang on for him?

What's it about?

If it's all the same to you, Mrs Campbell,

I'd prefer to talk business with the man of the house.

You have no business with us.

We paid our rent a fortnight back.

The landlord has decided to raise the rent.

He can't do that.

He can do what he wants. It's his land.

Well, he'll have to hold on.

We can't give you what we don't have.

I know times are hard. And no-one has anything to spare.

COINS RATTLE

Yet there's always folks that hide their meat and ask for more.

HE CHUCKLES

Ah, no, John!! You'll get us put out.

No! They can't take it. No!!

Keep a tight hold of your wife, man, or she'll land you in jail.

John!!

JOHN COUGHS VIOLENTLY

HE GROANS AND COUGHS

We can always save more money.

Do you know how long it took us

to scrape together what was in yon tin?

We could sell some of your mother's belongings.

We can...

We can do nothing, John. It's over.

Our money's gone, along with our chance. We left it too long.

THUNDER RUMBLES AND RAIN FALLS

DOOR OPENS

That's rough weather.

Is everything shut tight?

Aye, all's battened down.

HE RUBS HIS HANDS

RATTLING AT THE DOOR

HEAVY KNOCKING

Who's there?

An honest traveller. I'm looking lodgings for the night.

Well, you may continue looking.

Would you see a gentleman founder for want of the right road?

I'd be willing to pay.

Well, maybe we could find a dry corner for a man of means.

I'm obliged to you.

Yon's no night for man or beast.

Come in, come in. You'll let the heat out. Aye.

Man, but yon's a grand fire.

Now... how does two shillings for the night sound?

Sounds dear.

Of course, we would have asked for three or four, but...

seeing as how you're lost...

As you say.

I see you have broth on the boil.

Could you spare a bowl?

We've none to spare, but...

..for six pence more you can have my own bite...

though I'll go empty for it.

Good sir, you have a deal.

WIND HOWLS AND RAIN PELTS

SCRAPING AND SLURPING

Yon was great broth.

I'm glad you thought so much of it.

I've seldom had finer.

Would you like some tobacco?

Well, as a rule I don't partake of such fineries

but I'll not affront you, as you're a paying guest.

Aye, finest Bright leaf.

I've seen it growing...

..from the Mississippi Delta

to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Tennessee.

America?

Aye, but yon's a dry tale for such a wet night.

HE SWALLOWS AND SIGHS

HE SNIFFS Aye, America...

..with its endless rolling prairies..

..like great seas of grass.

Where a body might walk for a week

and not catch sight of another critter.

And at night the stars are so bright

they look to be no more than a dozen yards above your head.

What took you there?

Dealing, good sir.

I have treasures the likes of which you've never dreamt.

In my pack are knives from Louisiana that are so sharp

they could cut iron like green wood.

Don't all tinkers carry a sharpening stone?

I'm no tinker, sir.

But for good people like yourselves that has took in a poor soul

lost on the road...

I'd be willing to part with one or two articles of rare value

for next to nothing.

What would you say to a bonny brush for the lady, or maybe a...

..gentleman's pipe for yourself.

I'd say we have no need for such geegaws.

But you will remember the money you have promised.

Don't worry...

you'll have your money in the morning.

I suspect our lodger might leave us with a slater or two.

I think we should have asked him for a few more shillings.

Don't fear. I plan to ask for plenty in the morning.

Yon codger has no notion of parting with money.

He has done nothing but hoodwink and gull us

since he landed at our door.

He will not set foot back over that door unless he pays.

What if we were to take what we're owed, and maybe a bit more as well?

Instead of having to beg for it.

That's daft talk.

He would know something is wrong as soon as he lifts his pack.

Not if we put something in.

What about when he opens it?

By that time he'll be long gone.

Anyway, no-one'll take heed of that old man.

We could get rid of gear in town and in a few days be gone.

Where? The Carolinas.

I don't know.

That's your trouble, John, you know nothing.

DOOR CREAKS

SCORE RISES

GROANING AND CHOKING

PEDLAR GROANS

JOHN COUGHS

PEDLAR GURGLES

SHE SCREAMS

THUD AND SQUELCH

PEDLAR CHOKES AND GROANS

PEDLAR STRUGGLES FOR BREATH

Ahh!!

DOOR SWINGS IN THE WIND

We have to get him out.

Ahh!

He's too long!

He's too long!

SHE WHIMPERS

HE GRUNTS

THUDS AND SQUELCHING

HE GRUNTS

HE PANTS HEAVILY

Gather up the legs and knife, and put them in the sack.

Stitch the top and I'll get the cart.

Where are you going to bury him?

The far side of the brae.

HE GRUNTS

HE GRUNTS

HE GRUNTS

It's done.

We can put it behind us.

There's a new start here.

I hope you're right.

It's all rubbish.

It was all for nothing.

We could get a few shillings for the brass and copper.

Nothing...

It would be something for the tin.

Leave it alone, Sarah.

There's folks will set up tickets for those without the means to pay.

I hear they're willing to give passage for indenture.

Maybe we could...

For the love of God, woman, hold your wheesht!

There'll be no more talk of America in this house.

BIRDS SCREECH

SCREAMING

SPOON CLINKS

Will you not take a few mouthfuls?

John... I was down at the burn today.

There was a bag in the water.

What kind of bag?

A sack. Stained with blood.

You've not been yourself. None of us have.

But we'll get through.

Aye.

Are you for coming to bed?

I'll not be long. Go you on.

WOOD SHIFTS

RATTLING NOISE

Sarah. Do you hear that?

It's the wind, man. Go to sleep.

John?

John?

John! John!

John, John, what are you doing?

There were tracks!

Tracks?

It's all right... We're not near all right!

John, we have to put it behind us!

It'll not let me!

It'll have to let you!

We're not on our own anymore.

Is there nothing you should be doing?

FURNITURE SHIFTS

John?

John?

John!

SHE WEEPS

John...

We have ships leaving every other week for New York.

Passage is seven pounds.

I'm told you can set up a ticket for someone without the means to pay.

Perhaps a way could be found. For someone not afraid to work.

I'm no stranger to work.

If you're willing to sign a contract,

there'll be a ticket waiting for you on the next ship out.

Mind, it will be a seven-year contract.

And the work will be hard.

BELLS TOLL

Mrs Campbell?

Aye.

CHILDREN CRY

It'll be all right.

In the wild woods of America, her weary feet she set...

But Stumpy was there first, they say...

and haunted her to her dying day...

WOOD CREAKS

SHE GASPS

And he haunts her children yet.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd