Episode 2 The Village

Mildew! The whole crop is ruined!

Poor Joe.

BRASS BAND PLAYS "Land Of Hope And Glory"

Look, it's a German dog! Get it!

Stop!

This programme contains some scenes which some viewers may find upsetting

What was your childhood like?

Short.

What made it short?

Being poor, being hungry.

I said to my father, "What about a change? What about dairy farming?"

"What with?" he said.

"Maybe we can sell you so that we could buy a cow."

I knew he didn't mean it.

But I also knew that if we were going to survive, we had to do something.

And what really mattered was what Joe said to me before he went.

He said it was down to me to look after everyone.

He made you responsible.

I... he... he sent us a postcard.

Would you like to see it?

Stay away from my hands, they shake because I'm old.

That's all it is.

There you go, Grace.

Thank you.

"I am quite well."

Is that all?

It's enough.

I'll go and see to Peggy.

There you are, young man.

Thank you.

DOOR CLOSES

The doctor never comes.

Just issues the certificate, that's all.

Are you dying?

What if they bury me and I'm still alive?

Swear.

It's supposed to be one part water to three parts beer.

There's a war on.

See you at chapel, mother.

Baby!

Baby!

Baby!

Baby!

Is she all right?

Baby!

Baby!

You'll need to hurry.

I'm not coming.

Hmmm?

I'm going to chapel.

How's Joe?

Off the face a little, perhaps?

Oh, no.

There's too much looking at the ground

and closing one's eyes in our worship.

An open face turned upwards is a true Sunday face.

Is your husband here?

No.

I thought I might walk with him to chapel.

He some...

He...

Would you like one of these?

Please?

Sorry.

You go on.

I know what the sermon is, I've heard it a dozen times this week.

I'll wait for him.

Baby!

Baby!

Baby!

TWIG BREAKS

Baby?

RUSTLING

Caro!

CHURCH BELLS RING

Where's baby?

I don't...

Where's baby?

ORGAN MUSIC PLAYS

# ..may thy presence

# With us ever more be found. #

Look.

Jesus Christ with a machine gun

mowing down German farmers and factory workers.

God is on our side.

And look, St Peter thrusting a bayonet into the belly

of a German coal miner.

Does he care if his victim is saved or not?

Why should he?

God is on our side.

Where have you been?

The Lamb?

What do you want?

What do you think the answer to that is?

Don't be afraid.

-No.

-I'm here.

I'm here now, John.

Get away. Get away from me.

Give me your hand.

Come unto me.

Don't you touch me!

I won't take no for an answer.

What is the preacher in his pulpit in Berlin saying?

In Hamburg?

In Frankfurt?

In Frankfurt, and Munich,

and up and down the Rhine?

What is he telling his congregation?

Gott mit uns.

God is on our side.

It's in your hands to put yourself in God's hands.

Make the journey from pew...

..to penitent bench.

From lost to found.

Oi!

There was feeling in your singing.

The words go up.

And they are heard.

What is it? Are you embarrassed to be seen with me?

You don't know me.

I know that despair is easier than hope

and that self-pity feeds despair.

Breathe in.

Below despair. Smell it.

-Smell me.

-Step back, Middleton.

Grace. Have you met George Allingham? George Allingham. Grace Middleton.

What were you doing at the house this morning?

You must be mistaken.

John Middleton was in chapel this morning. But he'd been here first.

Eh?

Lloyd George said it better than I can.

We're fighting Germany, Austria and drink.

You are destroying a man's life.

It's his choice.

He drinks, he doesn't feed his family, they suffer.

It's not Bert Middleton's choice, is it?

He wasn't here.

So you were open.

The Defence of the Realm Act states that opening hours

are strictly limited to...

Oh, it's Dora! We love Dora, don't we, boys?

There's nothing we wouldn't do for Dora.

# 3 and 6 to 9, Dora, we love you

# Get 'em in and get 'em down

# Dora, we love you

# We'll drink and drink in half the time

# An open throat is not a crime

# Cos Dora, we love you. #

ALL CHEER

Why are you so interested in helping a man like John Middleton?

We're wondering why you would do that?

Doing the devil's work now?

We'll pray for you. Won't we, boys?

Our Father, which art in heaven.

Hallowed be thy name!

Thy kingdom come...

You've got them praying in the pub?

Why were you at chapel?

Have you converted to Methodism?

I was impressed with what your father had to say.

Did you have advance notice of his sermon?

No.

Then your answer to my question makes no sense.

I came to chapel to see you.

Morning.

Please be honest with me.

Is my case hopeless?

May I know his identity?

He doesn't know my feelings.

I see.

I'm sorry.

Is it Joe Middleton?

I'm sorry I hit you.

Give me your shirt.

I said I'm sorry.

"Step back, Middleton."

"George Allingham. Grace Middleton."

"What were you doing at the house this morning?"

Nothing.

Would you?

Oh, Miss Caro.

Caro?

Caro?

You'll catch your death. Let me take that from you.

Caro?

Take this blanket.

Wrap yourself...

Thank you, Mrs H. Would you see to our guests?

Baby, erm...

Sssh.

WOMAN SCREAMS

Sit down.

Sit, sit down. Thank you, Jane.

Stay there.

Polly, what on earth is the matter with you?

What?

A maid saw a mouse.

Anyone would think the world was ending.

And what is it you thought you saw, Polly?

She was in her nightdress.

You do not speak about this to anyone. Do you understand?

Don't you want to know who was coming out of the woods behind her?

Mrs H?

And the family should know, shouldn't they?

Spot of advice.

Don't be caught with your trousers down.

Uh. No.

Sorry, what?

Kitchener.

Kitchener has promised the French we'll have 75 new brigades

in the field by June.

That's 35,000 men a week.

The number of men volunteering is falling.

Ergo...

Conscription.

Round the corner.

35,000 new pairs of boots a week.

The Department Of War is looking for factories

that can cope with a huge increase in demand.

But if what you're saying is right,

I'm going to be losing my workers to the army.

Do women go to war?

Hello, George.

-What's the matter?

-Hmm?

Polly looked like she'd seen a ghost.

No, not a ghost. A mouse.

Then who is the doctor for?

Ah, Doctor.

She's fine. That is to say, she's not unwell.

Your daughter is five months pregnant.

Look, we must all work very hard

at making sure that nothing else happens.

There is too much happening.

Sacrifice, duty, loyalty, the other cheek, the blind eye.

What are you talking about?

What do these have in common?

They're passive, mother. They're passive!

I don't understand.

They want things from us. They want to take from us.

I mean, I don't blame them,

and I'll even admit that their cause is sometimes just,

but when they come into our lives and behave like animals,

I will not, for the sake of our name or anything else...

Don't speechmake at me, Edmund.

You're not in the House of Commons now. I'm your mother.

I've seen you mewl and puke and defecate.

Words are the least honest thing that come out of you.

What have you done?

-I've sent for a man.

-A man?

-He's coming from Chesterfield.

-What man?

What man?

A detective, the best.

He pulled her back by the arm.

You saw that?

Yes.

Did you see her go into the woods?

No.

Right.

Did you hear what was said?

She was calling out.

Well, what did she say?

Come on!

You won't say because you can't,

because she didn't call out, did she, Polly?

Did she, Polly!?

Oh, for God's sake!

SHE HYPERVENTILATES

Caro, you can tell me.

Middleton?

Why was he here this morning?

Hmm?

Did you tell him about...?

When it happened...

..did he, did he force himself...

..on you?

Caro, I know that this must be really difficult...

It's not him.

When I...

Middleton?

Joe...

Don't tell. You promise.

Caro.

Just help me, George.

Yes?

Just a small loaf.

It's a tiny bit under.

Do you want the makeweight?

Yes, please.

Tuppence.

Erm, I'm sor... but I thought..?

Go on, say it!

Hey, Bert, what's that?

It's from my brother.

It's for men who can't write!

-It's not.

-What is it, then?

It's special.

How?

He can't write!

He can't write!

BOYS: Fight! Fight! Fight!

Move!

Move! Leave them alone, leave them alone.

Middleton, come here, stand up! It's pathetic!

You know that, pathetic!

Into class, into class. All of you! Get to class. Move!

Give me the card.

Hmmm?

Who do you think you are?

My name is Bert Middleton.

-And you're trying to be funny, are we?

-No.

-You must think I'm a complete fool.

-Yes.

I'll give you yes.

I'll give you yes!

So damn hard!

You won't bloody well know what day it is!

Monday, sir.

What?

Today is bloody well Monday, sir.

I can pour my own tea.

KNOCK AT DOOR

Can I talk to you?

-Your leg. Is it from..?

-Yes.

The timing of the pregnancy...

What was your response when you saw your sister running out of the wood?

What?

Well, concern, I suppose.

You suppose?

All right, concern, yes.

Why?

It didn't look right.

In what way?

She was running.

Is that all?

What did you think had happened?

Don't know.

What did you fear had happened?

I don't know, I...

Did you run?

I think so, yes.

Then you know what it is you were afraid of.

Just because he was in the grounds at the same time as my sister

on one occasion doesn't mean he has anything to do with...

Er...

With?

Her becoming pregnant.

So you think he was molesting her.

And now you think it wasn't the first time?

You're putting words into my mouth.

I can assure you everything you've said is your own.

Did you see him lay hands on her?

No.

Are you sure?

Yes.

Have you spoken to John Middleton?

Well, it's my practice to build up a picture of a character of a man

before I speak with him.

Character is everything, wouldn't you say, Mr Allingham?

Mmm.

He meant to pull her back. It was more than just stopping her.

That's not what George Allingham says.

That doesn't worry you?

He's been speaking to me about it.

Alone?

Yes.

Saying what?

He made it clear he doesn't like my account.

Don't think I'm on your side just because my father and your father

were both working men.

I don't really believe in them and us anymore.

The rats in the trenches eat any kind of dead meat.

They're not particular.

You give us a sixpence. If Ingham canes you, we'll pay up.

How much?

It depends.

On what?

How many strokes, how big the bruise is.

But a lot. We'll pay you handsome.

I'll do it.

Sixpence.

That's a very good deal.

-How much?

-Sixpence.

Sixpence.

There you go.

This is for me and him.

You're always getting caned. We'd be paying out the whole time.

The answer is no.

We'll have your farm by the end of spring. You watch.

I can't take money off him.

Why not? We need all the money we can get.

Just one penny.

Thanks, Tommy.

How much is a pig? No. How much is a cow?

Do you know the Middleton family?

A little.

Who? Joe?

Yes.

Why?

I don't understand your question.

Yes, you do.

He was our waterman.

Didn't you know that?

Anything else I don't know, Mr Allingham?

Are you the policeman?

Yes.

Are you on duty?

Yes.

Against the law. I could report you for that.

But that's not why you're here.

You've come to tell me that John Middleton was in here

on Sunday morning before chapel.

A little less zeal helps me with my work.

It might help you with yours.

..going well.

I want you to give a man a job.

-I can't do that.

-Why not?

He's employing women.

Any suggestions?

Grace Middleton.

Any others?

Martha Lane?

I've found you work. For Arnold Hankin at the boot factory.

I'm not sure.

Why not?

John wouldn't like it.

Too busy doing what he does like.

And what's that, Polly?

He were like a devil going after her.

Half undressed, he were. And drunk.

She's pregnant.

Hello, Bert.

They come out when it's raining. Snails. It saves on feed.

I've come to see your father.

I thought you should know.

Sit down.

Sit down.

Please.

You don't have to...

Yes!

I do.

Grace was pregnant with Joe...

..and her sister was here...

..often...

..to help.

I started to notice she were, erm...

..looking at me.

At first I thought it was just concern.

It had been a bad winter and the farm was...

Anyway.

What's her name?

Catherine.

One night, Grace had gone to bed...

..and she came up behind me...

..and she stood very close...

..and she said, "Is there anything more I can do for you?"

"Anything at all?"

Her breath was on my neck.

I said there was.

Where is she now?

It was only once.

I couldn't help it. I'm sorry.

Where is she?

She kept coming back!

She kept...

Grace had Joe, so she was here to help, but she kept on.

I said no after that first time.

I said no every time.

But she wouldn't stop.

And then one night.

"Put your hand here," she said. "Feel," she said.

She took my hand and she put it on her belly.

I told her she was never to come back.

I said, "Don't ever come back here, not ever."

And she smiled.

And she left.

I don't understand.

Why had she smiled?

They found her body...

..in the reeds up by the dew pond.

She had drowned herself...

..and the baby inside.

Died with her.

The village blame you.

And they are right.

No words?

COMMOTION OUTSIDE

It's happening again.

-Did you?

-No.

-Have you?

-No, no.

I have forgiven you once. I cannot...

I haven't, haven't. I couldn't.

I swear.

-Get out!

-Come here!

Get out!

He's my husband!

Get him out!

-He wants our farm, mother.

-Get him out!

He told me. Come on, Alf!

Come on, get him out!

Say it!

What is this?

Come on!

Hey! Who do you think you are?

Are you deaf?

Get home.

-Get home!

-Next time!

I don't think I took hold of her.

I have a witness who says you did.

Do you have a Bible?

Hand on the book.

Have you been unfaithful to your wife?

I have forgiven him.

She committed suicide?

Yes.

How do you know?

Were you there?

Where were you?

Here.

Can anyone verify that?

Wait, wait. Wait!

What happens now?

I forgive you.

Not enough.

See to Peggy.

Sixpence.

Probably just be a rat, or something.

She made me promise.

Dead?

-BOYS:

-Yes.

You will not see her. I forbid it!

I will see who I want to see.

How dare you touch me!

Did John Middleton force himself on you?

Only the truth.

I can see myself out.

John! John!

John! John! John!

John! John! John!

Help me!

Help me!

Daddy! Daddy!

Daddy!

Daddy!

Oh!

Oh, oh.

Oh!

Oh!

Oooh!

Oh!

Oh!

I'll get the doctor.

No, no, Herbert, no. Please, don't go.

Don't go.

Oh!

Oh!

WOMAN GROANS

SHE GROANS

BABY CRIES

Get me the knife, please, Bert.

Thank you.

John.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media