The Tripods (1984) s01e04 Episode Script
France - July, 2089 A.D.
What can you see, Beanpole? No people and no Tripods.
Is there any sign of the White Mountains? Oh, they're miles away still.
Well, they are too far to see for many days yet, Henry.
How many days? Thirty days, if we are fortunate.
Thirty days.
I thought we might be halfway.
We're making good progress.
Are you going to carry the food today? All right.
Not much of it to carry.
Your friend, Ozymandias, his map is not very well made.
He was killed helping us escape.
The map's got us this far.
The map doesn't have to work well.
It only has to work.
Ozymandias, he was very brave.
He had a mesh cap taken from a dead man.
I think it would be possible, yes.
If he hadn't have found me and Henry, well, we'd never would have known about the White Mountains, or the Free Men.
That is certainly true.
My parents were dead when I was an infant.
And mine.
Henry lived with us at a water mill.
There is an uncle which I have, and an aunt.
But they gave me to the innkeeper to work.
That is why it was me that served you with food in the prison.
-And you're an inventor? -Yes, that's right.
I observe many things.
I observe that air which is hot rises, so I make a big balloon -Balloon? -Of course.
With a basket of fire underneath.
-What was the balloon made of? -Oilskin.
But it would not rise.
It is why I am here with you now.
I know when I am captured, it will be the end of inventing.
-What else have you invented? -Oh, many things.
I am most interested in the steam that comes from a kettle.
-It has power.
-Power? Yes.
I just can't see it.
Can you? Once I made an affair of springs beneath my boots to help me jump better.
-Well, what happened? -I broke my leg.
(LAUGHING) This is the farm of my uncle and aunt.
When I was younger, I'd come here every summer and stay in their house, and help them with their work.
I was here two years ago.
We laughed very much.
We talked of times when my parents were alive.
It is too dangerous to talk with them now.
I never thought then that I would never be capped.
Do you think all schoolchildren get doubts about being capped, Henry? Maybe, yes.
We are lucky, then.
We've been able to do something about it.
Are you missing home? A bit.
I wouldn't go back.
I'm like Beanpole.
I can't really remember a home of my own.
I'm glad we met him.
We should go now.
That's our course.
-No.
-Yes, the map says keep southeast.
No, I think we should go more this way.
-More east.
-But the map definitely says Look, Beanpole knows what he's doing.
But why go out of our way? He knows the country round here.
Beanpole, why can't we just follow the map? You see this line? It is the chemin de fer.
-I do not know your name for it.
-What's the chemin de fer? It is famous.
When I am here, my uncle told me of it.
I've always wanted to see the chemin de fer.
What is it? It is too hard to say.
But you will see.
Come on.
There are metal lines like these near Wherton.
-Where? -Behind Stone Farm.
I never knew what they were for.
What are they for, Beanpole? My uncle told me, a wagon without horses.
You'd need a big kettle to push a wagon.
(WHISTLE BLOWING) It comes! It comes! Come on.
(WHISTLE BLOWING) You see? You see? It goes with steam.
A big kettle.
(WHISTLE BLOWING) (SPEAKING FRENCH) We're miles off our course.
Well, it was worth it, for the chemin de fer.
It was good fun, yes.
And it was safe and fast.
It doesn't matter how fast it was, if it's taken us days out of our way.
-Will, there is a reason -There'd better be! What do you mean, there'd better be? You sound just like some stupid teacher.
Henry Will, you trust me, yes? -All right.
-Have patience.
You will see.
(TRIPOD SCREECHING) Are there more Tripods in France than in England, do you think, Will? I think so.
-Henry? -Mmm.
Yes.
BEANPOLE: They're everywhere.
WILL: Who gave them the right? BEANPOLE: They have no right.
How many people lived here, do you think? Thousands? Hundreds of thousands.
Places! For men to sit.
And wheels.
So, a carriage of some sort.
-There's nowhere to harness the horses.
-Well, I expect the shafts rusted away.
No, look at them, they're both the same.
No shafts, carriages without horses, I'm sure.
Hey.
(LAUGHING) (CLANGING) What's that? An animal? Cat, perhaps? I don't like this place.
Hey, candles! Look! Pots and pans.
Hey, clothes! Bags! To put things in.
What's in these bottles, Beanpole? Wine, but it will be bad, I think.
Well, try some, Henry.
Ugh! (LAUGHING) What have you got there? It's even smaller than Ozymandias's watch.
This bit looks like a strap or a belt or something.
Pity it's broken.
Eh, voila! Come on, Henry.
These will be useful.
How long have we been here? About two hours.
Come on.
Why don't we rest up here for a few days? No, we must leave the city before dark.
But why? It's great here, and there's so much to see.
Such a place could be dangerous.
We ought to get out of here, by dark you said.
Bring the candles and light.
Come on, you've got the candles.
I know.
WILL: Is it a house? No.
I think it's a kind of chemin de fer.
Yes, Henry is correct, I think.
Well, where does it go? Into that tunnel.
Men made this.
What for? Hey, what are these? -Hey, I found something else.
-Don't touch it! Goose eggs, made of iron.
-Now you've broken it.
-Oh, no, I haven't.
Anyway, there's plenty more.
(COUGHING) What happened? Where's the candle? Are you all right, Beanpole? Yes.
I think so.
Where are you? I'm here.
Henry, if you hadn't thrown it away You pulled out this ring? Maybe they are safe until then.
Protect the candle.
That way.
Well, that was stupid.
The cabin will protect us.
Oh, Beanpole, please.
-These might perhaps be useful.
-What use? They're dangerous.
I shall take two.
-I'm not taking any.
-But (THUNDER ROLLING) -Nobody about.
-I think not.
Let's call it a day, then, my feet are killing me.
Hey, look! Oh, beds.
That one's mine.
(LAUGHING) I think I need a bath.
(HENRY HUMMING) End of water.
We'll have to leave the city tomorrow.
This water seems all right.
All right for bathing but not, I think, for drinking.
Doesn't smell too bad.
Oh, hurry up, we want a go.
Pity there's no soap.
It's probably around somewhere if you look.
Don't think I'll bother.
Vagrants! We must find some shelter, Beanpole.
We've got to find some trees.
Stop here.
-He's shivering.
-We must find a better place.
Will! We're going to look for somewhere.
You'll be all right.
You go that way.
We'll meet back here.
We can't leave him.
We must find a better place.
All right, but let's not be too long.
Count to 500, right? He'll be safe.
-Count to 500 -I understand! -and then come back.
-I understand.
(THUNDER ROLLING) Henry! Henry.
Henry.
Henry.
(GROWLING)
Is there any sign of the White Mountains? Oh, they're miles away still.
Well, they are too far to see for many days yet, Henry.
How many days? Thirty days, if we are fortunate.
Thirty days.
I thought we might be halfway.
We're making good progress.
Are you going to carry the food today? All right.
Not much of it to carry.
Your friend, Ozymandias, his map is not very well made.
He was killed helping us escape.
The map's got us this far.
The map doesn't have to work well.
It only has to work.
Ozymandias, he was very brave.
He had a mesh cap taken from a dead man.
I think it would be possible, yes.
If he hadn't have found me and Henry, well, we'd never would have known about the White Mountains, or the Free Men.
That is certainly true.
My parents were dead when I was an infant.
And mine.
Henry lived with us at a water mill.
There is an uncle which I have, and an aunt.
But they gave me to the innkeeper to work.
That is why it was me that served you with food in the prison.
-And you're an inventor? -Yes, that's right.
I observe many things.
I observe that air which is hot rises, so I make a big balloon -Balloon? -Of course.
With a basket of fire underneath.
-What was the balloon made of? -Oilskin.
But it would not rise.
It is why I am here with you now.
I know when I am captured, it will be the end of inventing.
-What else have you invented? -Oh, many things.
I am most interested in the steam that comes from a kettle.
-It has power.
-Power? Yes.
I just can't see it.
Can you? Once I made an affair of springs beneath my boots to help me jump better.
-Well, what happened? -I broke my leg.
(LAUGHING) This is the farm of my uncle and aunt.
When I was younger, I'd come here every summer and stay in their house, and help them with their work.
I was here two years ago.
We laughed very much.
We talked of times when my parents were alive.
It is too dangerous to talk with them now.
I never thought then that I would never be capped.
Do you think all schoolchildren get doubts about being capped, Henry? Maybe, yes.
We are lucky, then.
We've been able to do something about it.
Are you missing home? A bit.
I wouldn't go back.
I'm like Beanpole.
I can't really remember a home of my own.
I'm glad we met him.
We should go now.
That's our course.
-No.
-Yes, the map says keep southeast.
No, I think we should go more this way.
-More east.
-But the map definitely says Look, Beanpole knows what he's doing.
But why go out of our way? He knows the country round here.
Beanpole, why can't we just follow the map? You see this line? It is the chemin de fer.
-I do not know your name for it.
-What's the chemin de fer? It is famous.
When I am here, my uncle told me of it.
I've always wanted to see the chemin de fer.
What is it? It is too hard to say.
But you will see.
Come on.
There are metal lines like these near Wherton.
-Where? -Behind Stone Farm.
I never knew what they were for.
What are they for, Beanpole? My uncle told me, a wagon without horses.
You'd need a big kettle to push a wagon.
(WHISTLE BLOWING) It comes! It comes! Come on.
(WHISTLE BLOWING) You see? You see? It goes with steam.
A big kettle.
(WHISTLE BLOWING) (SPEAKING FRENCH) We're miles off our course.
Well, it was worth it, for the chemin de fer.
It was good fun, yes.
And it was safe and fast.
It doesn't matter how fast it was, if it's taken us days out of our way.
-Will, there is a reason -There'd better be! What do you mean, there'd better be? You sound just like some stupid teacher.
Henry Will, you trust me, yes? -All right.
-Have patience.
You will see.
(TRIPOD SCREECHING) Are there more Tripods in France than in England, do you think, Will? I think so.
-Henry? -Mmm.
Yes.
BEANPOLE: They're everywhere.
WILL: Who gave them the right? BEANPOLE: They have no right.
How many people lived here, do you think? Thousands? Hundreds of thousands.
Places! For men to sit.
And wheels.
So, a carriage of some sort.
-There's nowhere to harness the horses.
-Well, I expect the shafts rusted away.
No, look at them, they're both the same.
No shafts, carriages without horses, I'm sure.
Hey.
(LAUGHING) (CLANGING) What's that? An animal? Cat, perhaps? I don't like this place.
Hey, candles! Look! Pots and pans.
Hey, clothes! Bags! To put things in.
What's in these bottles, Beanpole? Wine, but it will be bad, I think.
Well, try some, Henry.
Ugh! (LAUGHING) What have you got there? It's even smaller than Ozymandias's watch.
This bit looks like a strap or a belt or something.
Pity it's broken.
Eh, voila! Come on, Henry.
These will be useful.
How long have we been here? About two hours.
Come on.
Why don't we rest up here for a few days? No, we must leave the city before dark.
But why? It's great here, and there's so much to see.
Such a place could be dangerous.
We ought to get out of here, by dark you said.
Bring the candles and light.
Come on, you've got the candles.
I know.
WILL: Is it a house? No.
I think it's a kind of chemin de fer.
Yes, Henry is correct, I think.
Well, where does it go? Into that tunnel.
Men made this.
What for? Hey, what are these? -Hey, I found something else.
-Don't touch it! Goose eggs, made of iron.
-Now you've broken it.
-Oh, no, I haven't.
Anyway, there's plenty more.
(COUGHING) What happened? Where's the candle? Are you all right, Beanpole? Yes.
I think so.
Where are you? I'm here.
Henry, if you hadn't thrown it away You pulled out this ring? Maybe they are safe until then.
Protect the candle.
That way.
Well, that was stupid.
The cabin will protect us.
Oh, Beanpole, please.
-These might perhaps be useful.
-What use? They're dangerous.
I shall take two.
-I'm not taking any.
-But (THUNDER ROLLING) -Nobody about.
-I think not.
Let's call it a day, then, my feet are killing me.
Hey, look! Oh, beds.
That one's mine.
(LAUGHING) I think I need a bath.
(HENRY HUMMING) End of water.
We'll have to leave the city tomorrow.
This water seems all right.
All right for bathing but not, I think, for drinking.
Doesn't smell too bad.
Oh, hurry up, we want a go.
Pity there's no soap.
It's probably around somewhere if you look.
Don't think I'll bother.
Vagrants! We must find some shelter, Beanpole.
We've got to find some trees.
Stop here.
-He's shivering.
-We must find a better place.
Will! We're going to look for somewhere.
You'll be all right.
You go that way.
We'll meet back here.
We can't leave him.
We must find a better place.
All right, but let's not be too long.
Count to 500, right? He'll be safe.
-Count to 500 -I understand! -and then come back.
-I understand.
(THUNDER ROLLING) Henry! Henry.
Henry.
Henry.
(GROWLING)