Farewell Service Hetty Feather

We will be married. I love you.

We must discuss the roof, there are leaks springing up everywhere.

If your plans for leaving were to advance

and there was space for one more...?

One ticket to New York.

-Where's all that from?

-For the new roof, of course.

Of course it is.

There was a feeling of uncertainty in the air.

Life was about to change for all of us.

Even Matron.

This was the moment I'd been waiting for, a chance to get my revenge.

Little did I know that Matron had something

far more treacherous in store.

Feather, wake up.

Come on, get dressed, your carriage is waiting.

Why? What for?

You're going to Highgate to be with your mother.

-I don't believe you.

-Believe what you like.

I'm sure there are plenty of other girls

-who'd be happy to take up the position.

-Hetty...

This isn't a trick?

Do you think I have time to play silly games?

I'm going to be with my mother?

Not if you continue to dawdle, come on!

Everyone out of bed.

-I'm going to be with my mother.

-I know!

My fellow comrades, as today's our last day at the hospital,

I hereby declare we break as many rules as possible.

-Who's with me?

-ALL: Yes!

Boys! Everyone downstairs to the chapel, please.

Mr Cranbourne needs help setting up for the farewell service.

And just because it's your last day

doesn't mean there will be any tomfoolery.

Do I make myself clear?

ALL: Yes, Nurse Macclesfield.

Off you go.

-Friends forever.

-Friends forever.

Go on, don't keep Ida waiting.

Say goodbye to Hetty Feather, girls.

ALL: Bye, Hetty.

-Bye!

-Come on, Hetty.

Stay safe.

SHE MOUTHS

Anyone would think you didn't want to be with your mother. Come on!

I do, it's just... I left my bonnet in the dorm.

Nurse Macclesfield, please accompany Hetty to the dorm

and make sure she's returned to me immediately.

Yes, Matron. Come on, the quicker you are,

the quicker you get to see Ida.

Matron, I took myself off to the library the other day,

looked up America in that big atlas.

-Is that right?

-Yeah.

Shan't be long now, eh? Me and you in the land of opportunity.

Cannot come soon enough.

Yeah, anyway, I'll...

Mabel.

Nothing.

-Where's Harriet?

-She's in the laundry room, why?

I need to tell her something.

What is it?

It's Matron, she has a ticket to America and all this money.

So? The ticket's probably for Harriet.

That doesn't explain the money.

Hetty! We haven't got all day.

You have to do something.

Go and be with Ida, Matron's not your concern any more.

Hetty!

Go.

He's out there, wearing me floor out with his pacing.

Don't mind me, I've got a pan that wants scrubbing.

I was hoping to get an answer from you.

-I should be with the children.

-Please.

I could barely sleep last night for the nerves.

I'd make a good home for us. You wouldn't want for anything.

My life is here at the hospital.

And what about us?

The children need me.

I need them.

If I could have you both in my life, I would.

But we both know that's not possible.

So this is goodbye?

I'm so sorry.

Come along.

You need a new dress if you wish to impress the lady of the house.

I don't understand.

All you had to do was abide by my rules.

You couldn't resist having a little snoop, could you?

So that ticket to America?

That is my chance for a new life,

where ambition is celebrated, not thwarted.

You stole that money, didn't you?

I took what is rightfully mine.

So what's going to happen to me?

Oh, my good friend Mr Brunsden will escort you to his mill.

-No.

-Where you will live out the rest of your miserable existence,

where you will learn what a trivial little person you are.

Please, Matron, I won't say anything, I swear.

Life could have been so much easier for you, Feather,

but you continued to deny me.

Now, if you don't mind, I have some packing to finish.

Get off of me!

You started this war, Feather, and now I am finishing it!

Go on, Vince!

Come on, Vince.

Working hard, I see.

I've just had word from the barracks.

One of their officers will be here to collect you

directly after the farewell service.

What about me, sir?

Cook needs a volunteer in the kitchen, Judd.

WATER DRIPS

-Sir?

-What is it?

The roof's leaking again.

Leave it with me.

Privy, sir.

Now, I must welcome the governors.

I trust I can leave you boys to finish up here.

Sir.

Did you get it?

Last one outside's in goal!

Don't look so downhearted, there'll be plenty of time for goodbyes.

Harriet, Lady Asquith's carriage has arrived to take you to Southampton.

What about the farewell service?

You'll have to miss it, I'm afraid.

But Mathias.

I'm sorry, but the carriage is waiting and the boys are busy.

You shall pick up your ticket at the shipyard.

I thought Matron had the...

Doesn't matter.

Don't worry, I'll say goodbye to Mathias for you.

Come on.

Oh, they sent you.

Go and fetch a tray from Matron's office, and straight back.

-Understand?

-Yes, Cook.

Cook.

Your friend the butcher's boy,

tell him I need a carriage within the hour.

I'll see what I can do.

And can we keep this between ourselves? It's a personal matter.

I just do as I'm told.

And my friend Mr Brunsden will be along shortly

to collect a package from the linen store.

Tell him the key's on the shelf.

Whatever you say.

BANGING Can anyone hear me? Please!

HORSE NEIGHS

Harriet. Harriet, please!

Harriet!

Harriet, Harriet, please!

DOOR CREAKS

Can I help you?

-Cook sent me to fetch your tea tray.

-Not so fast.

I want you to take my trunk to the yard.

-But Cook said...

-You can return for the tray later.

KNOCKING

Ah, Matron, there you are.

Colonel Brigwell, punctual as ever.

-Judd?

-Oh, a donation of blankets for the local poorhouse.

It seems that your philanthropy knows no bounds, Matron.

Yes.

Thank you, Judd, that will be all.

The governors will be arriving shortly.

I trust you will be on hand to greet them.

Actually, Colonel, I am feeling a little off-colour.

It is always such a wrench to say goodbye to the children.

Nonsense, a good old singsong and you'll feel right as rain.

Well, if you could just allow me a moment to fetch a glass of water.

-Yes, of course.

-Oh, Matron...

Not now, Nurse Macclesfield.

Mr Cranbourne, could you?

Colonel, I'll meet you in the chapel.

Very good. Carry on.

-Is everything all right?

-No.

No, it's the boys, they've scarpered.

Nurse!

Why, those little...!

THEY CHEER

Mathias, you all right?

We're never going to do this again, are we?

I want to see the world.

You will, but as a soldier.

I want to find it by myself.

Not fighting some war.

So what's stopping you?

It's too late.

Only if you say it is.

Walter.

Chapel, now.

-Sorry, sir.

-Mm. And perhaps when you're done,

one of you can explain how you managed to

sneak this out of my cupboard, hm?

Come along.

Ah, Matron, there you are.

I thought it was only right that we should invite Mrs Calendar

-after her generous donation.

-Of course.

-Matron.

-Mrs Calendar.

Mortimer, let me show you where you're sitting.

I don't want to be here any more than you do,

but I had to be sure we'd reached an understanding.

I've worked hard to get where I am,

I'm not about to see that undermined.

And you think I have not?

People have underestimated me my entire life.

Today, that changes.

What does?

The service is about to start. Shall we?

Consider yourself lucky you're in a place of worship.

One more snigger out of you and I'll kick you from here to Marble Arch.

Yes, Nurse Macclesfield.

THEY SNIGGER

Have you seen Harriet?

-She's gone.

-Where?

To New York, dummy, where do you think?

Did you see Hetty leave?

I think she's in trouble.

Attention, please.

When you all first came here to this hospital as young infants...

..we all took the solemn vow to give you the best possible start in life.

Now look at you.

Young men and women, about to embark upon an exciting new chapter.

WATER DRIPS

So without further ado, I'd like to hand over to Matron Bottomly,

who I'm sure has some parting words

that she'd like to share with you all. Matron.

Hetty?

And as all of you know,

I have worked tirelessly to make sure

that each and every one of you has the best possible start in life.

So, I would like you all to go out there

as ambassadors for this hospital...

WATER DRIPS

..and show the world that even those from the humblest beginnings

can achieve great things.

And I hope that the kindness and the generosity we have shown you

will stay with you for the rest of your lives.

-Is Matron about?

-She's in the chapel.

Oh, not to worry, I'll see her another time.

Where are you going?

The linen store, not that it's any concern of yours.

At the bottom of the stairs, on the right.

This is no time for your silly jokes, Judd.

I'm sorry, sir, you need to go that way

and it's by the top of the stairs.

That's not the right way. What did you say that for?

We have to save Hetty.

I will end with a quote from Caecus.

"Faber est suae quisque fortunae".

Every man is the architect of his own fortune.

It is your future, make it count.

Hear, hear.

Hetty, are you in there?

LOCK RATTLES

-Hurry, please.

-It won't open.

Just keep trying.

Stop whining and let me concentrate.

Come on, Sheila. Keep trying to handle, come on!

Hurry up, keep trying!

You'll never guess what happened.

This isn't time for one of your boring stories, Feather,

someone's here for you.

Does this mean we're friends now?

You're still a fuzzy-haired pest.

Enemies forever?

Enemies forever.

Right, let's do this.

CHORAL SINGING

Stop!

ROOM FALLS SILENT

What on earth is going on?

Matron's running away to America,

that's what all this fundraising's been for.

That is slander.

Have you any evidence to back up these claims?

I've seen the ticket myself.

Uh, the ticket was meant for Harriet.

No, it's not, her ticket was being kept at the shipyard.

Ask her where the money is.

In my office safe, ready to be banked first thing.

Must I be interrogated by two children?

Matron, please deal with your girls.

-With pleasure, Colonel.

-She was going to send me to a mill.

Mr Brunsden's mill will seem like a holiday compared to what I have

in store for you. And as for you, Ormsby,

you can forget about your job at the Calendars.

I saw her trunk!

It's full of her clothes.

I think we've heard enough.

This trunk, where is it now?

It's in the yard.

Then I suggest we go and find it,

and put an end to these allegations once and for all.

I have nothing to hide, Mr Cranbourne.

In that case, you won't mind Colonel Brigwell joining us, will you?

Look.

Everybody move out of the way, please, move out of the way.

I'm sure there's absolutely nothing to worry about...

COUGHING AND SPLUTTERING

Everybody stay calm.

Think about it as training for the battlefield.

Everybody back to their dorms, please. Come along, nurses.

Come along, step this way. Step this way, boys, out you go.

Is it true what Feather said?

Mabel...

I promise I will send for you just as soon as I've sorted myself out.

SHE SNIFFS

-Get a move on.

-Stop!

HORSE NEIGHS

Get out of the way!

What are you doing?

What are you doing, you stupid girls?

We're not going anywhere.

If I get trampled, I'll never forgive you for this.

Matron! I think you owe us an explanation.

Colonel...

My sister Annie has been taken ill suddenly, I must get to her.

Check her bag.

Can you not see that this girl is a compulsive liar?

There's only one liar here, Matron.

Mr Cranbourne, would you be so kind?

How dare you?

You're only making things more difficult for yourself.

I was merely keeping hold of it until I could pay it into the bank.

Wait! She's been planning this for months.

I was supposed to be going to New York with her.

That is a lie.

I have been a fool, trusting you.

Nurse Winterson, would you please call the constable?

It seems that we have a thief amongst us.

I'm sorry, Matron, but you leave me with no choice.

Take your hands off me!

Hetty Feather, you are a vindictive, spiteful little brat!

All I did was tell the truth.

A quality it seems Matron lacks.

Lock her in her office until the constable gets here.

Don't worry, Colonel.

I shall ensure that order is restored.

I never stood a chance with you people, did I?

All my years of devotion.

SHE SOBS

And for what?

I have always treated you with the utmost respect,

despite your position.

And this is how you repay me?

Take her away!

Be on your guard, Hetty Feather.

I will come looking for you!

It's all right.

It's over.

The man from the barracks is here.

Five years today, we all meet up outside St Paul's.

Deal.

If you're lucky.

-Brothers.

-ALL: Brothers!

I'm not going.

This is your future, not mine.

Where are you going to go?

I'm going to see the world.

Well, you best go before Mr Cranbourne finds out.

-Five years today.

-I'll be there.

I promise.

Good luck.

Yeah, you too.

Mr Cranbourne! Mr Cranbourne!

SHE ROARS

-Hetty, are you coming?

-Just a minute.

Hetty...

I'm not going with the others.

-What are you going to do?

-I'll get a job.

Save up for a ticket to New York.

Maybe you don't have to.

The key to matron's office.

-Thank you.

-I do hope we will be seeing more of you

over the next few months.

I think some rules are in need of modernising, don't you?

Thank you.

Erm, I'll make a start on sweeping up that floor.

I wouldn't dream of asking you to perform such a menial task, Nurse.

We have a difficult few months ahead of us.

I will be counting on you to step up in Matron's absence.

-Me?

-Mm-hm.

You know me, Mr Cranbourne, anything for the children.

-Yes.

-Yes.

What happened to Matron?

The constable is here to arrest her.

All thanks to Hetty.

I'll miss you.

You'll always be my brother.

SHE SNIFFS

Gideon.

I can peel potatoes, and if I try really hard,

I can make porridge without lumps in it.

I risked everything to make sure Matron paid for what she did.

That's got to be worth something, hasn't it?

It just so happens my husband is rather fond of lumpy porridge.

You won't regret it.

You have got to be joking.

You'd better get your things.

Mind out.

Does madam need help with her bags?

Come on, then, if you're coming.

Matron's gone.

HETTY: I'd finally done it.

Matron's reign of terror was over.

It was time to bid farewell to the Foundling Hospital.

But the most exciting adventure was yet to come.

This is Calendar Hall.

Welcome to your life in service.

Your work starts now.

BELL RINGS

I saw him sneaking about with someone.

I think it was the daughter of the house.

If you ever see anything I ought to know about,

you will tell me, won't you?

Alf! Alf!

What are you doing here?

If I get caught...

What might I find myself telling the police?

Who's there, I said?

DOOR HANDLE RATTLES