The Tripods (1984) s01e09 Episode Script

France - September, 2089 A.D.

They really want to stop me, Beanpole.
The way this Tripod's been following us.
Free Men must give much trouble to the Tripods.
The Tripods would do a lot to find out about them.
-That's right.
-HENRY: Beanpole, come here.
I would prefer it if you went quite soon.
Will, this thing under your arm.
It is small.
I don't believe it goes far into your flesh.
It's clear of the big vein.
-But it would hurt if we cut it out.
-Not me.
We haven't got a knife sharp enough.
-Do you think you can? -You must make the decision.
I'm not doing anything.
Anyway, that knife should be boiled or burned first.
Henry, I shall be as quick as I can but you must hold Will's arm steady for me.
I can't.
I can't do it, Beanpole.
Will I'm going to explore the tunnel.
I'll try and hold steady for you, Beanpole.
I'll be as quick as I can.
Find something to bite on.
Do you wish to study this? Throw it away.
Henry? I found this on the way through this hill.
There is a metal door at the other end.
People have been there.
A sort of storeroom full of bottles.
And there's a house in a valley with vines, but I didn't see anyone.
Is it far? No.
We can help you.
Are you all right, Will? Where's the button? We must throw that away.
I've had an idea.
Very good.
-Now.
-Come on, boy.
(GIRL SINGING IN FRENCH) (SPEAKING FRENCH) (SPEAKING FRENCH) Say we're sorry, Beanpole.
Tell them we can pay for some food.
Tell them we don't mean to scare them.
It would take a great deal more to scare me and my girls than three despondent young tramps and one of them injured.
Please.
Our friend, he's badly hurt.
I have eyes in my head.
Shelagh, would you go heat the water in the outhouse? (RESPONDS IN FRENCH) Kirsty, make up the big bed in your room and then carry in the mattress from the room at the inn.
Make that one up also.
Fiona, fetch me here the medicine box then lend a hand to Kirsty with the beds.
The table, Helen.
We're late as it is.
You'll need three extra places.
No Two extra, lay the third on a tray.
Jeannie, your father at once, please.
He'll be in the vineyard.
Lucy, you shall help Helen with the table.
And listen, your English is in sad need of improvement.
From this moment we must all speak in English.
-Oui, Maman.
-"Oui, Maman, "indeed.
-Yes, Maman.
-"Yes, Mother.
" Now set your friend here in this chair by the fire.
And then the two of you must use the pump outside.
Your hands and faces are a disgrace.
There'll be hot bath water after supper.
(SPEAKING FRENCH) I understand, madame.
Et merci.
Thank you.
The pump, if you please.
You are blesse, oui? "Hurt", Lucy.
"Blesse"is "hurt".
You are hurt.
Yes.
Papa! Papa, viens! Fresh water, hot food and a bed.
I can't wait.
HENRY: And I've never seen so many girls.
(GIGGLING) (SLURPING) (MONSIEUR VICHOT MUTTERS IN FRENCH) Lucy? Mais I'm taking bread to Monsieur Will.
My unfortunate husband has never mastered the English tongue in spite of my best endeavours.
All of my girls are, of course, bilingual.
More or less.
Where do you come from? Please.
Have you never heard the Scots accent before? No.
You have heard of Scotland, I suppose.
(GIRLS GIGGLE) -In school.
-Mother was a girl in Leith.
Do you know Leith? It's in Scotland.
Mother's father was a trader with a ship.
-Mother's father -MADAME VICHOT: Your grandfather, dear.
My grandfather brought skins and cloth to France.
-And whisky.
-Do you know what whisky is? -No.
-HELEN: Never mind.
And he'd sell all that and buy wine to take home to Scotland to sell there.
Mother used to come to France with him when she was a girl.
-Oh, not only France.
-Mother's been everywhere.
More years ago than I care to recall, I met a dashing young Frenchman whose family had a small farm and winery here in the Jura.
-He was tall and strong.
-And very handsome.
Simply swept her off her feet.
(MONSIEUR VICHOT PROTESTING IN FRENCH) Now it's myself who does any sweeping that has to be done, eh? (SPEAKING FRENCH) You'll stay a while, I hope.
Your friend here shouldn't travel for three or four days.
-And you'll do us a favour by staying.
-How, madame? Well, not only would it improve my girls' English, and convince them that it is a language actually spoken by real flesh and blood, but we have a grape harvest to gather.
And, well, two and a half extra pairs of hands would be a great help.
And of course, with the six girls to marry off and only the one of them spoken for Well, Vichot and I, we're not anxious to let any good prospects slip away through our fingers.
(CLEARS THROAT) Some more wine for me please, Fiona.
(MADAME VICHOT LAUGHING) We'll stay and help any way we can.
(HUMMING) No.
Like this.
Perhaps there is a better way.
I will find it.
(GROANING) Do you see anything, Will? -No.
-That's what I said.
The Tripods don't come this side of the hill.
-How do you know? -I asked Kirsty.
-You asked her what? -I asked her whether Tripods came here.
Well, that was stupid.
We agreed, we've got to be careful.
If they were gonna give us away they would have done so by now.
Don't you ever learn? We can't trust anybody.
Will is right.
We must show caution.
Well, what did she say? Your great friend.
She said no, and she's not my great friend.
WILL: Not much.
You two argued about a girl once before.
It was bad then and it's bad now.
If we can trust them so perfectly, what have they done with our things? They took everything.
You saw yourself.
They were washing our clothes.
-And the rest? -Those metal eggs, they were dangerous.
Don't tell me! I know! Tell him! -You're just jealous! -I've got nothing to be Please, leave this.
And keep your voices quiet.
What's this? HENRY: It's a night shirt.
It's a dress.
I do not wear a dress.
I'm too tired to care what I wear.
Will you listen? What are we going to do about the rest of the equipment they took? Listen, I told you.
(SHUSHING) (BEANPOLE SPEAKING FRENCH) We have brushed the mud away and mended the bags.
There are things we've not seen before.
But we were careful.
-You're tired, Henry? -Yes.
(BOTH SPEAKING FRENCH) We work again early tomorrow.
-Sleep well.
-SHELAGH: Sleep good.
-Sleep well.
-SHELAGH: Sleep well.
-Come.
-Bonsoir.
-Good night.
-Good night.
They've even ironed the maps.
Is everything there, Will? -Yes.
-I told you.
Don't forget the City of Gold is very close.
It's dangerous.
-That's all.
-I want to say something.
We've all had a rough time.
Perhaps you've had the worst.
You've actually been caught by a Tripod.
-Don't blame me -Listen.
I know there's danger wherever we go, but we can trust this family.
You've seen that.
We're getting to the end of the journey now but the hardest part may still be ahead.
Go on, Henry.
I think we should stay here.
(EXCLAIMING) Yes, then we can rest and be strong.
And when we set out again, the Tripods would've stopped looking for us.
If we spend the winter here.
-The winter? The whole winter? -Yes.
Then we can be really fit and ready for the last part.
-Beanpole? -There is some sense in what Henry says.
It's Kirsty.
That's all he cares about.
-Oh, don't be stupid.
-Deny it, then.
There'll be no more talk tonight.
We're all tired.
We shall think of Henry's suggestion, and we shall watch for danger.
But first we shall get to know this family better.
Then we shall talk of this subject again.
(CHUCKLING) Yes, Grandma.
(LAUGHING) I can see nothing of amusement.
(WILL AND HENRY LAUGHING) At last.
One is ready.
-Good, Henry.
Yes? -Hmm.
Come.
-Come where? -It is our task.
-What is? -Shoes, Henry.
Your trousers.
What? The others will soon be here with more grapes.
-What are you doing? -Come on.
(GROANING) Oh, it tickles.
(SINGING IN FRENCH) Oh, you've some colour back in your cheeks.
Oh, it's the rest and your food.
Why don't you take a walk up to the vineyard this afternoon? I don't doubt Lucy will give you a guided tour.
-Yes, I will.
Thank you.
-Would you care for a bath tonight? I think that arm of yours could stand some hot soapy water.
-So could the rest of you.
-Yes, please.
Oh.
You'll see Jeannie's young man this evening.
He's coming over to meet you.
You'll like him.
What's the matter with you? Nothing.
The opposite.
I had a big tear here.
Or here.
I don't know.
-Et voila! -Me, too.
-They're really treating us well.
-And they ask no questions.
They like us.
It's good, very good.
Well, at least we can help them out gathering the grapes.
-Will? -It's been a good day.
I have an idea for gathering the grapes off the tree.
-The vine.
-The vine, yes.
-I shall invent a machine.
-Poor grapes.
Well, it's good to have our own clothes back again, yes? -What did you do today, Will? -Oh Talked a lot with Madame Vichot, went for a walk.
(MUSIC PLAYING) -What's that? -It's a sort of an organ.
Monsieur Vichot makes music with it.
He's really good.
-Well, me, I shall enjoy tonight.
-Me too.
Come on.
What's the trouble, Will? -Nothing.
I'm ready, are you? -Yes.
Let's go down, then.
Maybe Henry was right.
Maybe we should stay.
I mean, they treat us well and like us.
My arm's probably not perfect yet.
-I'm sorry.
It's just that I -Jeannie's boyfriend's coming round.
-Sensationnel! -Come on.
Let's go and enjoy ourselves.
LUCY: Monsieur Will.
(ALL CHATTERING) (ALL CHATTERING) (MUSIC STOPS) -It is Jeannie's fiance.
-Betrothed.
We use the same word, "fiance".
(MUSIC STARTS AGAIN) Yes, yes, yes.
We'll be eating in a minute.
I hope you're all very hungry.
JEANNIE: This is Daniel.
We're to be married.
He does not speak English.
-Bonsoir.
-ALL: Bonsoir, Daniel.

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