Words from Home Hetty Feather

Hazel could go there.

You're my borrowed sister.

I'll never forget you.

I could send a letter with her,

and Peg and Jem could tell her everything.

I could ask them

about my mother too.

Judd, we are not trading for grub!

I want a football.

You want a football for this?

Do you know what trading is?

"Dear Jem, I need to find my mother.

"Ask Peg if she knows anything, find out what you can.

"You are my only hope. Please write back soon."

'Ever since I sent my letter to Jem asking about my real mother,

'I've been desperate for his reply.'

The post, Nurse Winterson?

Yes, Matron.

You're needed in the junior dormitory.

There's been a hygienic situation.

Yes, Matron.

Get on with your work.

'Now I had to get my letter without Matron finding out.'

They found fleas in the junior dormitory!

They are doing a spot check of all the dorms.

'Foundlings weren't supposed to have possessions,

'but everyone had something that was important to them.

'I had my journals, my old letters from Jem

'and my token from my real mother.

'I had more to hide than most...and more to lose.'

Come along in, juniors, as quick as you can.

Collect new sheets from the linen cupboard

and then go straight to your bed.

-Hetty, Hetty!

-Eliza.

-What are you...?

-Our dorm is full of fleas, so we're staying with you.

What are you hiding?

I'll tell you later, but you have to keep it a secret, all right?

Cross my heart and hope to die.

Who sleeps next to you?

No-one...now.

Clara, get off!

This is my bed.

I'm sleeping next to my borrowed sister.

Eliza!

Hetty.

This can't happen again.

Thank you.

-You got a letter.

-Shh.

Who's it from?

Jem.

-Jem! Our Jem?

-Yes.

Be quiet.

I want to read it.

BELL RINGS

Hetty, we'll be late for needlework.

We'll read it later, I promise.

-Pass it, pass it! Let's go, just pass it forwards.

-Come on!

-Nick, give me it!

-I want a go!

-Give me the ball!

-Yes! Come on.

Judd, I'm not the only one on this team.

Boys, what are you...? Oh, good tackle, that, man!

Foul, you're not even playing!

Come on, lads, let's go.

Mr Cranbourne.

BOYS SUDDENLY QUIET

Matron, to what do I owe this...pleasure?

This was addressed to you, eh, personally.

Oh.

Thank you, Matron.

It appears to be from a person of some substance...

..a wealthy patron, perhaps?

No, no, it's a personal matter.

Personal?

Hm, my uncle, the Earl of Ellerslie.

Your uncle is the Earl?

Of Ellerslie, yes.

Hm.

Was there anything else, Matron?

Games are not to be played in the dormitory.

Please do not permit the boys to mistreat their uniforms.

Yes, Matron.

No more jackets to be used as footballs.

Now, let's get those beds back, lesson time. Come on, quickly!

If only we got that football from Stan.

We'd be the kings of this place.

-Jem is coming today.

-Today!

And he said, "Meet me by the gates at noon."

I'll sneak off after lunch.

Cover for me?

Girls.

Cook has had an accident. She's scalded her hands quite badly.

-The doctors says she'll make a full recovery, but...

-But!

She will be unable to work for the next few weeks.

So I've instructed Ida to manage the kitchen

with the help of two girls.

Make your choice.

-You.

-Sheila Armsbury, miss.

And you.

Me?

Oh, I hardly think Hetty Feather is worthy of such a privilege.

Well, begging your pardon, ma'am, but it's hardly a privilege.

I mean, we're so behind already.

We'll be flat out all day, with no time off at all.

Please pick somebody else.

Hm, maybe a bit of hard work will do this spoilt girl the power of good.

-Eliza!

-What are you doing?

Hetty is my family, if you want jam ask your own sister.

I don't have a sister.

-Exactly.

-Eliza! Clara's meant to be your friend.

-Is there a problem, Hetty?

-No.

By the left turn!

Left knee, raise. Hop, down.

Right knee, raise. Hop, down.

Hop and down.

Gideon, what are you...?

I'm all right, sir.

What's going on?

He looks like my brother Jem.

Right, come along, boys.

And again. Right knee raise. Hop, down.

-Left knee, raise...

-Fall over.

-What?

-Make it look good.

-Urgh, my arm! Urgh!

-Oh, for goodness' sake!

Er, permission to take him to the infirmary, sir?

Granted, but come straight back.

Come on, Judd.

Eyes front.

Right knee, raise. Hop, down.

KNOCKING Enter.

Good afternoon, Matron.

I do not wish to alarm you, but earlier today, during drill,

I spied a ruffian lurking outside the hospital walls.

I chased him away, but I fear he may return.

Well, we shall be on our guard.

Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention

and for your presence of mind and quick thinking.

It was nothing really.

By the way, Mr Cranbourne, I trust that your uncle's letter

brought happy news?

Sadly, no. He is far from well.

Well, then, I wish the Earl of Ellerslie a swift recovery.

Thank you, Matron, but I'm afraid there is no hope of that.

We can only pray that he lasts until my cousin Jasper is found.

Found? Why, is he lost?

Nobody has heard from him in a dozen years or more.

And Jasper is your uncle's heir?

His only heir.

So, were your dear cousin not to return,

the earldom would pass to...?

My father.

And then...to you?

Yes.

Hm.

Mr Cranbourne,

I've been thinking.

What if this ruffian were to return?

We need to undertake a thorough review of hospital security.

Perhaps tonight over dinner?

It would be my pleasure, Matron.

And mine.

And who knows, perhaps it may, um, may help you to confide in me

about your families' troubles.

Until tonight.

Oi!

-Are you Jem?

-Who's asking?

You here to see Gideon?

Do you know him? Do you know Hetty Feather?

-'Course.

-Please tell her where I am.

I'll be here till four.

The thing is getting messages to the girls ain't that easy.

Cost you a shilling.

A shilling?

I've only got eight pence.

We'll take it.

Good work, Sheila.

I've done most of Hetty's drying too.

She's really slow.

What do you two want?

Is Stan coming in again today?

Yes, and if you see him, tell him he's late

and his first delivery was two pints short.

-Hetty.

-What?! Can't you see I'm busy?

Leave her alone.

Come on, Judd.

Are you going to the foundling place?

What's it to you?

I need to pass on a message.

That'll be six pence.

-I've no money left.

-Shame.

Give me your address. I'll pay you when I get the money.

Wasn't born yesterday, country boy.

Please, I paid eight pence to two foundling boys.

They said they'd tell her, but they tricked me.

The message is for my borrowed sister, Hetty Feather,

she's got red hair.

Hetty Feather?

All right, I'll pass it on just this once.

Don't tell nobody, I've got my reputation to keep.

Stan, my man.

What's it this time, lads?

Here, first payment for the football.

Eight pence.

Was you supposed to give a message to a young lady?

I tried to tell her.

Ah, you made a deal, you didn't come through, that's not good business.

All right! We'll give her the message.

No, you won't, I will. You've had your chance.

Seeing as I'm doing the job, I might as well keep the money.

What about the football?

I tell you what.

If you really want to do business,

there's a butcher's delivery today.

Baskets of steak and chops and stuff.

They'll never miss a few.

He wants us to steal from the kitchen.

-You're not scared, are you?

-No.

That's very good, Sheila.

Hetty, your pastry needs to be much more even.

Why did you have to make me do this?

Afternoon, ladies.

Am I right in thinking I'm addressing Miss Hetty Feather?

Yes. That's me.

Your Matron has been asking for you.

She says she's got an important job and it can't wait.

Why would Matron ask Stan to..?

It's not for the likes of us to question Matron, is it, Sheila?

-No.

-No, so get on with your work.

I've just seen him at the gate, so you have to be quick.

-Hurry now.

-Thank you.

Tell you what, tell your brother he can have four pence back.

-Jem.

-Hetty.

Where did you go?

The infirmary, like I said.

Liar!

No, you're the liar.

No, you're the liar.

-Liar!

-I'm a liar?

-Yeah.

-You're the liar.

-JUDD:

-Gideon, I've got something to tell you.

Where's Hetty?

With Matron, but you shouldn't be in here.

It's recreation.

Yes, and you should be in the junior yard.

-MATRON:

-Ida!

Ida, I shall be dining with Mr Cranbourne tonight.

We will require four of your finest mutton chops.

Yes, Matron.

Where is Hetty Feather?

She's just running a little errand for me.

Fetching flour from the cellar.

Hm, keep her busy. The devil makes work for idle hands.

Yes, Matron.

You said Hetty was with Matron.

Where is she really?

She went with Stan, the dairy lad.

I can't believe you're really here.

How is baby Hazel?

She's doing very well.

Jem, did you ask Peg about my mother?

I'm really sorry, Hetty, she doesn't know anything.

But you said there was news,

you said it was urgent.

-Hetty, father had a bad fall.

-Is he...?

He'll be all right, but for now, he can't work,

so I'm the man of the family.

And today was the only day I could manage to get away from the farm,

and I don't know when I'll be able to see you again.

I'm so sorry, Hetty, I've brought you nothing but bad news.

But you came, that's the most important thing.

Jem!

-Are you Stan?

-Shouldn't you be in class?

I need to find Hetty. You can tell me, I'm her sister.

I hope you find your real mother, I really do.

But if you don't, remember, you've always got your borrowed family.

I love you both, remember that.

Look after each other, OK?

Bye.

-So when you last heard from your cousin...?

-Hm.

He was on a ship bound for Australia.

-Australia.

-Hm.

Home to so many dangerous breeds of creature,

not to mention the natives.

Indeed.

Oh.

To your dear cousin Jasper. And your uncle.

I pray that the matter of your family inheritance is soon resolved.

Thank you, Matron. You are most kind.

Eliza.

I saw you and Jem.

Oh.

Eliza, I'm sorry.

You kept a secret from me.

Now you don't have any secrets any more.

My letters from Jem, what have you done with them?

I burnt them.

You burnt them?

My mother's token was in there!

Where? Where did you burn them?

In the kitchen, and it serves you right.

The token's made of metal, it won't have burned.

We'll get it back, Hetty, I promise.

Pantry's all locked. So is the cellar door.

-FOOTSTEPS

-Someone's coming!

-WHISPERS:

-What are they doing?

Jem's letters, she really burned them.

Your mother's token must be here somewhere.

Pennies don't burn, Hetty.

Follow my lead.

Girls.

Vince and you, I might have known.

Suppose you're raiding the kitchen.

I was trying to. Doors were all locked.

But we did find this.

What? What have you got?

I don't suppose you know anyone who's lost a penny token.

You found it? Please give it back, Vince.

-What's it worth?

-It's the only thing I've got from my real mother.

In that case, let's talk.

Right, better get these sheets to the boys' dorm.

There's so much to do.

Let me help you with that.

Haven't you got sewing to do?

I'll be back in time if we hurry.

Very well.

-What does she want?

-She loves you!

Get them! Hold them.

-Gideon!

-Why are we doing this?

-Search his pockets.

-For what?

We are looking for a penny with a heart-shaped hole in it.

Hetty's token?

They stole it. They're making her raid the kitchen to get it back.

-They don't have anything.

-I told you.

All right, where is it?

Tell Hetty she can have it back when she brings us what we need.

Don't make her do this. She'll get put in the tent.

-I have to talk to Hetty.

-You can't just walk off.

She's my sister!

Going somewhere, Smeed?

Privy break, before class, Nurse.

Be quick.

Off somewhere, Feather?

To the recreation yard.

-Wait, your hat's not straight.

-It's fine, what are you doing?

Thief! Thief!

She's not a thief. They made her do it.

-What's going on in here?

-Hetty and her brother have been stealing.

-Look!

-Gideon didn't!

There's steak in her apron, her clothes are full of meat.

That's enough, Sheila. I'll deal with this.

-But they stole.

-Enough!

This is my kitchen.

There's plenty of other girls who want your job, understand?

Yes, Ida.

Now, the dining room tables need scrubbing. Go.

You stole from the kitchen?

-It wasn't her fault.

-I was being blackmailed.

You what?

It's true, Vince and Judd took her mother's token.

They said if I didn't steal, then they'd never give it back.

Thank you, Gideon, you better get back.

If anyone asks, you've been cutting herbs for me in the garden.

I'll look after Hetty.

Hetty, what exactly is this token?

It's a penny with a heart-shaped hole.

I see.

It was the only thing my mother was allowed to leave with me.

Then, I think we should get it back, don't you?

Afternoon, boys. Waiting for Hetty?

No, just helping with the deliveries.

Really?

Hetty?

Hetty won't be stealing anything for you,

and you better give her back what you took from her.

Unless you want me to tell Matron everything?

We don't have it.

It's true, we never took anything.

We just pretended.

Did you now?

And why would you tell a wicked lie like that?

We wanted a football.

I think they're telling the truth.

-Please don't tell Matron.

-As if I'd do that.

You've already made me a thief,

you're not going to make me a snitch.

All right, but the next time you mess with...

with one of my girls, Matron will hear about it, and that's a promise.

Come on, Hetty.

I'm never going to find it.

Hetty...

Listen to me,

it's only a token.

But...it's all I had to remind me.

Remind you of what?

Sometimes I used to think I could remember her.

I could picture her wrapping me up in a white shawl.

But it's nonsense, isn't it?

No-one can remember being a baby.

Well, you should hold onto your memories, Hetty, they're important.

Even if I've just made them up?

Well, especially then.

Imagination is a very special gift.

Hope so, it's all I've got.

Well, that's not true, is it, Hetty?

Well, your brother took a big risk for you today.

We both did.

Well, you see? Your family loves you and they care about you.

People, Hetty, people matter so much more than things.

I just wanted something of my own.

You had so much and I had nothing.

You've got me.

'I had my token back, but somehow it didn't seem quite

'so important any more.

'We hold onto things because they remind us who we are,

'who we used to be, or even who we'd like to be.

'But we don't really need them.

'Not in the way we need other people.

'I had my friends,

'and they were more important than anything in the world.'

LAUGHTER AND CHATTER

-Where's she going?

-It's not our place to speculate.

He didn't give a name. Matron's not going to like this.

Your sister isn't here now.

There is no need to be nervous.

Why are you covering for that nobody?

-Where is she?

-But...

-Now, Feather!

-Gideon!

SHOUTING