Dreams Hetty Feather

-To your dear cousin Jasper.

-Thank you, Matron.

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

-What does she want?

-She loves you.

Monica is gone and we cannot change that,

and at times like this we must look to each other for love

and forgiveness.

Thank you.

'Losing Monica had affected us all.

'As foundlings, we had no choice in where our lives would lead.

'It made many of us realise that we only had one life...

'..and we should try to do everything to make it count.

'But with our lives already mapped out for us,

'what could we do?'

Quieten down, girls. I have an announcement.

Lady Asquith's butler will be paying us a visit today.

He will be setting you a number of tasks

and the girl who shows the greatest aptitude

will be awarded a testimonial.

-A what?

-Testimonial.

It will help you get a better position

when you are placed into service. Goodness knows, you need it.

I expect you all to try your best

and behave.

Great. Boring butler, boring test.

We are all going into service, Hetty. Let's try and do well.

Or I could get married and have five beautiful children

and wear a hat just like Lady Asquith.

Matron.

What is it?

I don't think I want to see the butler today, thank you.

I don't have time for this.

I'll take it I'm excused, then?

-MATRON SIGHS

-Just stay out of the way.

Sheila.

I'm sorry about me and Harriet earlier.

Monica wasn't your friend and it doesn't matter.

HETTY SIGHS

HORSE WHINNIES

Who's that?

Ah. Mr Cranbourne. Matron.

I hope you are ready for a fascinating talk.

-Oh, indeed we are, Colonel.

-Dr Webster is wonderful.

-So full of stories.

-I'm sure.

And here we are.

Marvellous chap, Dr Kate Webster.

Hello, Dr Webster. I... I'm... I, er... I...

Matron Bottomley. Welcome.

Matron, eh? So good of you to let me come.

Now, I really have to get back to my club.

Matron, I trust you will take Kate to her classroom?

-Of course.

-Good luck.

This way, is it?

Lady Asquith's butler is said to be one of the finest in all of London.

I think Hetty's more interested in the boys' visitor.

He's an explorer and he's a she.

So I heard,

but this testimonial could mean the difference between a good job

and being in the workhouse.

Hetty.

What?

Hurry up, then.

And pay attention.

You need this.

-Come on, boys.

-Are we going to be learning about the Empire, sir?

Amongst other things.

Bet it's another soldier with another talk.

-Whoa.

-Amazing.

-Look at this.

I've never seen anything like it.

-Oh, look at the snake.

-Oh, my gosh. I've never seen this before.

-Is that a giraffe?

-What even is that?

Shut your mouths, boys.

You look like a bunch of Venus flytraps.

Either side of the table, please.

Hetty.

Girls, it is good to see you all again.

I'd like to introduce you to my butler, Mr Collins.

Good morning.

Cranbourne, old chap, shall I start?

If you would. Boys, sit down, please.

I'm Dr Kate Webster

and I'm so very pleased to be here.

Many of you boys will leave here to be soldiers.

You will travel across the Empire for Queen and country.

Us girls don't normally get that opportunity, do we, Matron?

No, Dr Webster. No, we don't.

In front of you is a tray

and over here, everything you will need for the perfect afternoon tea.

Lay the tray correctly.

And careful,

not a thing out of place.

We will be checking your work very closely, girls.

You've all been trained on how to do this.

Off you go.

And it was on the island in Lake Tanganyika

that I enjoyed the most terrible pain

I have ever experienced in all my travels.

I assume there's been no news of your cousin?

Jasper. No.

No improvement in your uncle's health?

Sadly not.

I fear we must look to a future without either of them.

Oh, I am so very sorry.

But I was thinking,

if anyone deserves to become an earl, then it is you.

You are one of the finest gentleman I know.

And if any good would have come of such a tragedy, well,

then it is God's work.

"And it was digging."

Thank you, Matron.

"It was trying to get in further and deeper and further."

Would you care to join me for a light supper this evening?

Perhaps a small chook.

I would like that very much.

"There was only one thing for it."

I had to get the beetle out of my ear

-and to do that I had to cut it out.

-BOYS GASP

So, I got my knife,

I put it in my ear...

Dr Webster, I think perhaps we should leave that story there.

Oh, very well.

Of course, it was in Africa

that I found my little pet.

Boys...

THEY GASP

..meet Sir Isaac.

That's incredible.

Well, gather round. You won't see anything sitting behind a desk.

Quietly. We don't want to startle him.

-What sort of snake is it?

-Is it dangerous?

He's a royal python and he can be quite, quite dangerous.

You just have to treat him with respect and you will be fine.

If he goes for us, we hit him.

Oh, good gracious, no.

If a snake comes towards you, you stand perfectly still and quiet.

If he doesn't think you are going to attack him, he won't attack you.

Most snakes are just looking for cover, for shelter.

Does anyone want to touch him?

-And what's your name?

-Mathias.

Well, go on, then.

-He's scared.

-I'm not scared.

-You're always scared.

-I am not!

Boys, remember what I said about starting him.

You ran away and came running back because you were scared.

-You don't know what happened!

-Boys!

What are you doing?

Get back to your seat.

Sit down!

Right, well, if we're all quiet,

I've another story about my pet spider.

Florence.

I think you'll like her.

And here she is.

No. No.

Nearly.

No.

Quite good.

Very good, you two.

Yes.

What in the name...?

I couldn't find a fork.

Girls, this is the perfect example of what not to do.

NERVOUS LAUGHTER

Nurse Winterstone, the teapot, please.

And place it on the best tray.

Well?

-I just...

-No cake fork. How on earth did we miss that?

Good grief.

It will have to be this one, then.

Thank you, sir.

I'll take the tea to the boys' visitors, sir.

Lady Asquith. Ma'am.

-Um, perhaps I should take it to Dr Webster.

-I don't think...

I know I did terribly, but I do so want to impress you.

-I think that's a wonderful idea, don't you, Collins?

-Mm.

Straight back. No dawdling.

And now, girls, onto our next task.

Cleaning and polishing glass. This is one of my favourites.

I tried to swim against the current but it was too strong,

so over I went, hurtling down the waterfall towards my certain... Yes?

Have you killed anyone, Dr Webster?

Because you have to kill people, don't you,

-if you're going to teach them about the Empire?

-Oh, I don't hold with that.

-I believe that trade...

-I thought perhaps you might like some tea.

-Oh, what is she doing here?

-Oh, that's jolly lovely of you.

-There doesn't appear to be a cup.

-I dropped it.

-Never mind.

I much prefer drinking out of this anyway. No fancy china for me.

Let me pour it for you.

-So, are you really an explorer?

-What are you doing?

The Empire built up a trade, remember?

Just think what Stan would give us for this.

She'll notice it's missing. She's not stupid.

-She's got a pet spider called Florence.

-Yeah.

-Matron will put you in detench.

-..I want to see tigers and lions and bears.

-I want to see everything.

-Even snakes?

Snakes don't scare me. Have some more tea.

I've not finished this one yet.

I once saw a butterfly come out of its chrysalis...

She'll just think she left it at home.

All we need to do is go outside later and pick it up.

That is enough, Hetty Feather. Back to your lesson.

Lady Asquith's butler would not tolerate this nonsense.

-Does she have to?

-A woman's place is in service.

Unless she has money, of course.

-Well, maybe I can stay and help clean.

-Now.

Now...it's time for my magic lantern show.

The room needs to be a little darker so you can see the slides.

Very good, very good. Now, let's start. Let me see.

I have some fascinating slides of my travel, which I'm sure you will find fascinating.

Cairo in Egypt.

Land of the Pharaohs.

These pyramids are almost 5,000 years old.

That's even older than Queen Victoria.

Egypt's a fascinating country.

It helped form so many civilisations -

the Greeks, the Babylonians, the Romans. A magical place.

I remember this terrible disaster once.

One of the maids scratched not one, not two, but three glasses.

And who do you think Lady Asquith had for dinner that evening?

Only Mr Arthur Conan Doyle.

I have never been so mortified.

Now, can anyone tell me why the Goliath birdeater is so-called?

-Because it eats birds.

-Precisely. Clever boy.

But it doesn't just eat birds. It eats worms and toads as well.

-ALL:

-Ugh!

And the female Goliath birdeater lays eggs, between 100

and 200 of them at a time.

And they hatch into little spiderlings within two months.

But don't worry, they're only found in South America, mostly.

-And my Florence is a tarantula.

-(Say hello to Florence.)

SCREAMING

He's got a spider!

SHE SCREAMS

-What spider?

-You pig!

-You're coming with me.

-Sit down!

I thought it was dramatic in Borneo.

Boys, boys, quieten down now.

The spider is safely in its case, so we can continue with...

-Yes, Walter, what is it?

-The spider...

-Is safely in its case, we know.

-But the snake.

-The snake...

It's gone! It has gone!

THEY YELL

Everyone remain calm.

Sir Isaac will panic if we make too much noise and startle him.

Sir, it could be outside, it could be loose in London, sir.

Cranbourne, you and I will lead a party each on an expedition outside.

This is highly irregular. I think perhaps we should call for Matron.

These boys are trained to be soldiers.

They can't do that in a classroom. They need experience, man.

Do get down. Right, who's with me?

-To find the snake, we have to think like the snake.

-Exactly. Let's go.

..as well as kitchen duties.

-(What did you do?)

-I saw snakes, spiders and pyramids.

-I saw the world.

-Get polishing, Hetty.

And don't distract Harriet.

She's doing very well.

GLASS SMASHES

-Oh, no, I am sorry.

-Hetty Feather!

I heard it scratching and it startled me and I dropped it.

Give me your glass.

-You want this testimonial thing, I don't.

-Well, keep going.

-Nurse, please clean that up, would you?

-Yes, Mr Collins.

Well, we need to start looking in the bushes at once.

A couple of you...

-Distract her, I'm going to get the statue and hide it inside.

-How?

-Get her to tell you a story. Go on.

-Snakes are very cunning. And you...

Excuse me. Dr Webster, where else have you been?

-Have you ever been to France?

-Yes, I've been to Paris.

Now there is a story. They are building this huge tower.

The foundations were magnificent.

-Harriet, isn't it?

-Could I speak to you, ma'am? In private.

It was me. I scratched the glass. Hetty took the blame. But it was me.

I see. Return to your place.

-What's that?

-Nothing.

You stole this from Dr Webster, you thief!

-Give it back! Give it back!

-It's not yours.

You don't want to do this.

-It doesn't belong to you.

-Get off!

Vince. The snake is behind you.

Yeah, because I'm going to fall for that.

HE SCREAMS

Remember what Dr Webster said. It will only attack if it's afraid.

-Just don't make any more noise.

-Boys, don't move, stay very still.

Have you been crying?

-It's all right to be scared, Vince.

-I'm not scared.

I'm not crying. I'm just angry.

He's a thief!

I can only apologise once again for this appalling behaviour.

-I can assure you, it's never happened before.

-Oh, no, no.

No harm done.

And you will be put on extra gardening duties for two weeks.

-You may leave.

-Thank you, sir.

Mr Cranbourne.

A telegram's arrived for you.

Thank you.

Girls, you have all done extremely well.

Sadly, only one of you can receive the testimonial.

Sheila.

Sheila, could you tell us some of the qualities

that are considered important for girls going into service?

Erm...

Working hard.

Diligence.

And being clean.

And what about honesty?

Honesty is possibly the most important quality.

Now, Sheila, would you say you behaved honestly today?

Erm...

I saw what you did to Elizabeth, and to Harriet.

You'll not be receiving the testimonial.

Please return to your place.

Skills can be learned.

Quality of character is quite a different thing.

The girl, therefore, that impressed me most today...

..was Harriet.

She told the truth. She owned up.

Come on, Harriet.

The testimonial is yours.

And not just a simple testimonial.

When you leave here, there will be a place for you in my household.

Thank you, ma'am.

Hooray for Ha...

Today was so important and you both wasted it.

I didn't waste it, I know exactly what I want to do.

What?

I want to tell stories. You should have heard her!

Don't be silly. You'll be in service.

I don't want to be a servant like you.

A servant like me?

Do you know how hard I've worked to get here?

I worked and I worked and you...

And maybe that's enough for you, Ida, but it isn't for me.

I want to travel the world and I...

I want to tell stories.

SHEILA SOBS

And don't think crying will change anything.

What you did today was wicked.

Oh, Sheila.

Oh, come here.

Come here, come here.

Hey, what is it?

I don't want to be in a workhouse.

I don't want to be nothing.

I don't want to be like Monica.

Oh, hey.

-I'm scared.

-Hey, shhh.

Hey, you'll be all right. I'm here.

Hey, come on. Come on.

-Hello, Kate, how did you get on?

-Oh, it was such fun.

-Good.

-You're doing marvellous work here, Brigwell.

-Thank you.

But don't forget, there's a world out there.

Remember all the things we've seen.

Yes, one day I might get a chance to travel again,

especially now the hospital is in such safe hands.

-Shall we?

-Give me a moment.

You didn't steal that statue.

-I...

-I consider myself to be a good judge of character,

and you are not a thief.

It's against the rules, isn't it? You don't tell on others.

Rules can be broken. Look at me.

That other boy, he said you ran away from here but you came back.

Yeah.

It was a con. We were being sold.

And...

-The bloke, he...

-He hit you.

It was horrible.

It was horrible when my parents died.

I was scared of everything.

But I went out there and I did it, and you can too.

But I'm going to be a soldier.

You don't have to be.

The world's changing, I've seen it.

Soon we'll need men who think before acting.

We'll need men like you - brave men who stand up to the world.

Really?

You stay strong, Mathias.

The world will change because of people like us.

Excellent.

Right, shall we get going?

Let's meet up with the boys. I want to know what happened.

And I can tell Mathias my news.

Oh, where are the others?

They're, um...

..asleep.

Ohhhh.

Oh, right, I just, erm, I just need to...

-I've got some news.

-Me too.

-You first.

-I know what I want to be.

I want to see the world but not as a soldier.

-And I want you...

-I got the testimonial.

Sorry, it's just, I got it.

In a few years, I'm going to be working for Lady Asquith.

-So you'll be staying in London.

-Why would I go anywhere else?

I mean, they need to realise that no rich man is just

going to come in and sweep them off their feet.

Mm, indeed.

-KNOCKING

-Oh, er, thank you, Ida.

Hello.

Please.

Well...

It has been quite a day.

Yes, it has.

I received a telegram today.

Oh?

From my cousin, Jasper.

They found him in Australia.

And he's coming back to become the earl as he should.

My place is here at the school.

With you.

That is excellent news.

-Shall we start?

-I suddenly, erm...

I'm afraid I don't feel very hungry.

Excuse me.

We learned that day that we couldn't always have the life

we'd imagined for ourselves,

but that didn't mean we couldn't dream.

For some of us, that meant bigger dreams for our lives still to come.

For others, smaller dreams of the here and now.

As for me, I knew now that I had hope.

I knew now that I would have a life.

-Could you take a message?

-Dear Harriet?

-No, then I'd have to say...

-Love, Mathias!

Your secret place, it's not so secret any more.

We go back as conquerors, nothing less.

You made Matron wear a feather. You can make her do anything.

You are, if I may say so, looking especially, um, resplendent.

What are you girls gawping at?

-Move along!

-Matron finds out, we're in big trouble.

-I've got a letter for you.

-Oh, no, I must have dropped it!

I will find whoever did this and they will pay!