Hetty Feather (2015) s02e01 Episode Script

My name is Hetty Feather.
Don't mock.
It's not my real name.
But not much about me has ever been real.
Welcome to the Foundling Hospital - Call me Matron, Matron Bottomley You were abandoned here as babies by disgraced and sinful mothers And duly sent out to be nurtured by a kindly foster family.
Hetty, we're you borrowed family, it's time for you and Gideon to go back.
This is where you both belong.
Goodbye.
And so began my time at the Foundling Hospital.
It was a tough and cruel life As for you 25629.
- Matron! Matron was my enemy.
And she wasn't the only one.
- Get off me! But there were good times too, Thanks to my friends.
And together we made our own family.
To our den, our very own place.
But what I wanted more than anything was to find my real mother.
All I had to remind me of her was a penny.
A token she'd left here when she gave me up as a baby.
It was Foundling Admission day the day poor mothers brought their babies to the hospital hoping that this place would give their children a better future.
Just like my mother had before them.
Maybe today will hold some clues about my past.
Even about my real mother.
Could I ever find her? It was the senior Foundlings' duty to help.
The boys escorted the mothers to stand before Matron, the governors and their guests.
Then, they decided the baby's future.
If you'd like to follow me.
Matron chose which girls were on duty to see it all.
As long as I behaved myself, I could still be chosen too.
Perhaps I could see what information they had written down.
Keep it up, Feather.
- Yes, Matron.
Come.
Were there other lists as well as our records? Like the names of our mothers, maybe even our real names.
Today was my chance to find out more about who I really was.
First candidate, please! Name? Miss Agnes Didcott and this is my baby, she's such a good girl.
Why have you brought your child here today? - We're on the street, sir.
It's either here or the workhouse and I know which place I'd rather choose.
Miss Didcott, are you of good character, may I ask? Upright and honest.
I had hoped to marry her father, but he's a wheeler by trade.
Rolled off to work one morning and never came back.
Call themselves 'ladies'? They're nothing but gossips.
Feather - these are paying guests.
And is the child in good health? - Perfect.
Strong lungs, rosy cheeks.
Give her a crust of stale bread to suck and she's happy as a songbird.
Lady Asquith? The child's future has to be here, Colonel.
Matron - I must agree Your baby is accepted as a Foundling, Miss Didcott.
Foundling 37951.
She can't even write Say goodbye to the child.
No, not yet, I'm not ready.
You don't even know her name.
You save personal details for the records.
Well, her name's Hazel! And you need to stroke her cheek to get her to sleep.
And a lullaby.
You don't even know her favourite one.
Hazel! This would have happened to all of us.
Our mothers would have cried for us too.
Hazel! - No! Let her say goodbye properly! She's her mother.
Calm down, Hetty - 25629 quiet.
Sorry Matron.
Straight to the Nursery, now! Hazel! Wait! Please wait! I need to take you to Mr Cranbourne.
Please Miss - Mama loves you, Hazel.
And when you look at this, you'll always think of me.
Will you make sure she keeps it? - Mr Cranbourne takes all tokens.
I'll come back for her, I will.
As soon as they let me and I'm married and I've got enough to support us.
I never want her to forget me.
There must be something you can do.
Me? Her name - don't let them change her name.
Please.
I've no one else who can to help.
Next! Promise you'll try.
- I promise Goodbye, Hazel.
Hetty.
Go.
I promise There you go.
Come on Judd, Cranbourne's coming.
Are you sure about this? They promised us high-tea leftovers, if we're good.
Steak and kidney pudding.
Forget steak and kidney, I can get us something much better.
Now! My nose is runny! Good heavens boy! Vince take him to the infirmary at once.
I'm feeling a bit peaky myself, sir.
- Both of you then and stay there.
There are infants about.
I do apologise, ladies.
Go on.
They're up to something.
If they get in trouble, we all do.
That means no high-tea rewards.
Mathias, pork pies And scones with jam No, we've got to stop them.
- No, Walter.
Ned you go.
You're the keen-eyed one round here.
No stone unturned.
I'll find out what they're up to.
She's quite pretty, I suppose.
Maybe.
If she had more hair.
- Who cares? Wish it'd shut up crying! 'It'? Her name's Hazel and she likes a lullaby to get her to sleep We have to sing to them as well? Hazel, it's all right.
Did the mother cry? Thank you, Hetty.
Sheila, the baby needs washing and numbering Hazel Didcott.
That's her name.
You know, Hetty, from today, she's going to be baptised with a new name.
She's one of us now.
But Nurse you don't understand - Straight back to the Governors' office please, Hetty.
You and Harriet need to serve cups of tea.
Girls baskets need preparing.
Her name's Hazel and I made a promise.
Come on.
What's in here that could be better than meat pudding? Whatever we nick, we trade with Stan the dairy lad.
He reckons he can get his hands on anything.
Let the pilfering begin! Vince - snot rag do? - Hand embroidered Got to be worth something.
Check under the mattresses, see what else we can find.
- Like what? - Stuff that's worth something.
Just keep searching.
- What have you got there? - That will do.
Now hurry.
What is it with girls and dolls? - Who cares! There has to be more.
Check over there! Toffees.
Christmas pennies! Four penny buns! - Judd - we're not trading for grub.
I want a football.
- Really? But where can we play with it? How can we hide it? Let's just get it first.
What was that? Scarper.
Stash this 'til tomorrow.
And you are? - Ida.
Ida Battersea.
New kitchen maid.
And not a minute too soon.
Where do you hail from Ida? Up North.
But I've been in London since - For a while now.
My last job was a private household.
Well Stick to the rules.
Don't cross Matron and never fraternise with the Foundlings.
You can't even talk to them? - Not unless work demands it.
And the kitchen is my domain.
Yes of course, Cook.
Fetch potatoes, then scrub the pantry floor With the Governors' high-tea to do, I'm rushed off my feet.
Yes Cook, I'll put my belongings in my room, And get cracking right away.
Polly! I need to go to the baptism.
- You can't.
We can't get in trouble today.
- Polly, I made a promise, to her mother.
Cover for me? All right, I'll tell Nurse Macclesfield a baby was sick over you and you've gone to get changed.
But be quick.
Baptismal name.
- Errr How about Patience Smallbone.
No You can't.
That's not her name! Goodness me! Her real name's Hazel Didcott! - Which name is it to be? She deserves to know who she is - like we all do.
Stop this at once! - It's what her mother wanted! She's Patience now! I do apologise Minister - I'll deal with this.
No.
Don't change her name! Whatever is the matter with you? You know the rules.
Her name's Hazel, not Patience! Foundling names are changed to protect them.
Patience is just the same.
But Nurse, please - - Otherwise anyone could turn up and claim to be her parent.
Then what would happen to her? She might never find her real mother.
Now I don't ever, ever let me see you behave like that again.
If Matron was to hear about this - Hear about what? Hetty? Er, erm, I I just wanted to see a baptism, Matron.
The babies are so lucky and I wanted to hear their new names.
But I should never have left my duties.
I'm sorry, Nurse Winterson.
Is this true? - Hetty meant well, Matron.
It's all been set straight now.
Any other misdemeanours today Feather, will be dealt with firmly.
If you want to see babies, set to work in the nursery.
Yes, Matron.
What took you so long? Well, the good news is I've learnt how to unjam a door using my specs.
What's the bad news? - Vince and Judd have nicked stuff from the girls' dorms to trade with the dairy lad for a football.
- Where are they now? I kind of got stuck.
No stone unturned you said.
If they've been thieving, we need to get it back.
Yeah.
Next! They changed Hazel's name to Patience and she's going to a borrowed family tomorrow.
She won't come back for years and I promised I'd help her.
Hetty, you did your best.
Polly - What? Peg Cotton.
Havenford.
That's Peg and Jem.
My Foster family.
If I can get baby Hazel to go there I could send a letter with her and Peg and Jem could tell her everything.
Her name, all about her mother.
And I could ask them about my mother too! Finish up now girls, it's almost time for tea.
Stop feasting and admit it.
- What you on about? Nicking from the girls' dorm.
- We want their stuff back.
We didn't take anything from the girls, We didn't do anything.
You know us, we're always innocent.
Anyway, you'll have to prove it.
Doors closed at last, Matron.
And a most successful attendance.
Those less fortunate have given their children a future.
All in a day's work, Lady Asquith.
And as a mark of thanks, Matron, you're yearly increment is restored.
As of now.
A wage increase? - Mmm.
Congratulations, Matron.
Much appreciated, Colonel Brigwell.
A well run hospital is both my duty and my pleasure.
Guess what? You're going to Peg and Jem's.
They looked after me and now they'll look after you.
I made a promise to your mother.
And now you can help me find my mother too.
Dear Jem, this is baby Hazel Didcott.
That's her real name.
Her mother Agnes is pretty with dark hair.
Tell Hazel she loves her and she's going to come back for her.
She left an acorn tied with a red ribbon.
Do this for Hazel, Jem.
And do something for me too I need to find my mother.
Ask Peg if she knows anything - find out what you can.
You're the only person I know out there.
You're my only hope.
Please write back soon.
Hetty! What are you doing here? I just wanted to see Patience one last time, Nurse.
She's with the other babies, waiting to go to her borrowed family.
And you need to go, Hetty.
Dressed! Before I inform Matron.
Yes, Nurse Winterson.
Oh my! Sorry.
- Oh, no need for sorry.
I'm new.
Don't suppose you could take me to Matron's office, could you? That way.
Foundling 37951.
Destination Mrs P Cotton.
Surrey.
Oh! - I'm sorry Matron.
In a hurry Feather? Don't want to be late for chores.
Feather! You're going the wrong way for laundry duty.
Of course, Matron.
Silly me.
Silly indeed.
Oi.
You boys are meant to help the dairy boy not just hang around Stan was early, Nurse - He started without us.
Is that right, Stanley? Never a truer word, Miss.
You're looking well.
Thank you.
You two - work hard.
What you got there? - You wait and see.
When the coast's clear Gid, we follow.
We've got 'til the end of rec.
All this.
For a leather football.
What do you say? There's fourpence here.
And this hairslide, genuine tortoiseshell This is all girl stuff.
You want a football for this? D'you know what trading is? - No! That's our stuff.
You stole it, you should be ashamed.
We didn't steal it, we found it.
In the cupboard.
- That's right.
You're always innocent.
So If you found it, how about Hetty returns it to its rightful owners Stanley! - Run! Oi! Ah, there you are.
Bring the milk.
If Matron's tea's late Cook will be in a bother.
I need your help.
I made a promise and I need to keep it.
You watch out while I plant this letter.
- What letter? Baby Hazel Didcott.
She's going to Peg's.
And she's taking a message for me.
Distract her.
- But how? Gideon, use your imagination.
Go.
Nurse, the diary lad found this in the basement.
Contraband it looks like.
Well I never put it here.
My hairslide! I wondered where that had gone.
What else is there then? Thieving little blighters Nurse! Let me.
What was that? Goodbye, Hazel.
And thank you.
I'm warning you, if I find out There's going to be detention for every single one of them.
Ah, toffees.
Is there a problem? No, Nurse Macclesfield.
- Glad we could help.
Mh, good off you go.
Back to your lessons.
Have a good journey, Nurse.
I'd done it.
I'd kept my promise.
I'd got a message out.
Baby Hazel would soon know all about her mother Now could Jem and Peg tell me something about mine? All I needed was a letter back.
My mother had to be out there somewhere.
At last was this a way to find her? Was this a way to bring her back to me.
You mean your stupid tower's haunted? Just the child.
We do not wish to merely see the child.
We want to adopt her.
Adoption is against hospital rules.
Dunce! I would make you such a wonderful daughter.
Not bye.
Just see you soon.
Let's show them a real spook.
- Then we'll see who's scared.
Boo!