Hetty Feather (2015) s02e07 Episode Script

To your dear cousin, Jasper.
Thank you, Matron.
I pray that the matter of your family inheritance is soon resolved.
What does she want? She loves you! Monica is gone, and we cannot change that.
And at times like this we must look to each other for love and forgiveness.
Thank you.
Losing Monica had affected us all.
As Foundlings, we had no choice in where our lives would lead.
It made many of us realise that we only had one life and we should try to do everything to make it count.
But with our lives already mapped out for us, what could we do? Quieten down, girls.
I have an announcement.
Lady Asquith's butler will be paying us a visit today.
He will be setting you a number of tasks and the girl who shows the greatest aptitude will be awarded a testimonial.
A what? - A testimonial? It will help you get a better position when you're placed into service - goodness knows you need it.
I expect you all to try your best and behave.
Great, boring butler, boring test.
We're all going into service, Hetty, let's try and do well.
Or I could get married and have five beautiful children and wear a hat just like Lady Asquith! Matron.
What is it? I don't think I want to see the butler today, thank you.
I don't have time for this.
I take it I'm excused then.
Just stay out of the way.
Sheila I'm sorry about me and Harriet earlier.
Monica wasn't your friend, and it doesn't matter.
Who's that? Ah! Mr Cranbourne.
Matron.
I hope you're ready for a fascinating talk.
Oh, indeed we are, Colonel.
Doctor Webster is wonderful.
So full of stories.
I'm sure.
And here we are.
Marvellous chap.
Doctor Kate Webster.
Hello, Doctor Webster, I am I Matron Bottomly.
Welcome.
Matron, eh! So good of you to let me come.
I really have to get back to my club, so, Matron, I trust you'll take Kate to her classroom.
Of course.
- Good luck.
Which way is it? Lady Asquith's butler is said to be one of the finest in all of London! I think Hetty's more interested in the boys' visitor.
He's an explorer! And he's a she! So I heard! But this testimonial could mean the difference between a good job and being in the workhouse.
Hetty - What? Hurry up then, and pay attention.
You need this.
Come along, boys.
Are we going to be learning about the Empire, sir? Amongst other things.
Bet it's another soldier.
- Another talk.
Amazing! - Look at this! I've never seen anything like it.
- Oh, look at the snake! Oh my gosh, I've never seen this before.
Is that a giraffe? - What even is that? Shut your mouths, boys.
You look like a bunch of Venus Fly Traps! Either side of the table, please.
Hetty.
Girls, it's good to see you all again.
I'd like to introduce you to my butler, Mr Collins.
Good morning.
Cranbourne, old chap, should I start? If you would.
Boys, sit down please.
I'm Doctor Kate Webster and I'm so very pleased to be here.
Many of you boys will leave here to be soldiers.
You'll travel across the Empire for Queen and country.
Us girls don't normally get that opportunity, do we Matron? No, Doctor Webster.
No, we don't.
In front of you is a tray and over here everything you'll need for the perfect afternoon tea.
Lay the tray correctly.
And careful, not a thing out of place.
We will be checking your work very closely, girls.
You've all been trained on how to do this.
Off you go.
And it was on the island in Lake Tanganyika that I endured the most terrible pain I have ever experienced in all my travels.
I assume there's been no news of your cousin? Jasper? No.
No improvement in your uncle's health? Sadly not.
I fear we must look to a future without either of them.
Well, I am so very sorry.
But I was thinking If anyone deserves to become an Earl, then it is you.
You are one of the finest gentlemen I know.
And if any good were to come out of such a tragedy, well then it is God's work.
Thank you, Matron.
Would you care to join me for a light supper this evening? Perhaps a small chop? I would like that very much.
I had to get the beetle out of my ear, and to do that I had to cut it out.
So, I got my knife, and I put it in my ear Doctor Webster, I think perhaps we should leave that story there.
Oh.
Very well.
Of course, it was in Africa that I found my little pet.
Boys Meet Sir Isaac! Well gather round.
You won't see anything sitting behind a desk.
Quietly! We don't want to startle him.
What sort of snake is he? - Is it dangerous? He's a Royal Python and he can be quite, quite dangerous.
You just have to treat him with respect and you'll be fine.
If he goes for us, we hit him? Oh, good gracious, no! If a snake comes towards you, you stand perfectly still.
And quiet.
If he doesn't think you're going to attack him, he won't attack you.
Most snakes are just looking for cover, for shelter.
Does anyone want to touch him? And what's your name? Mathias.
Well, go on then.
He's scared.
- I'm not scared.
You're always scared.
- I am not! Boys, remember what I said about startling him.
You ran away, then came running back cos you were scared! You don't know what happened! - Boys! - What are you doing?! Get back to your seat.
Sit down.
Right, well if we're all quiet, I have another story about my pet spider, Florence.
I think you'll like her.
And here she is.
No.
No.
Nearly.
No.
Quite good.
Very good, you two.
Yes.
What in the name of? I couldn't find a fork.
Girls, this is the perfect example of what not to do.
Nurse Winterson, the teapot please.
And place it on the best tray.
Well? I just No cake fork.
How on earth did we miss that? Good grief.
It'll have to be this one then.
Thank you, sir.
I'll take the tea to the boys' visitor, sir.
Lady Asquith, ma-am, perhaps I should take it to Doctor Webster.
I don't think I know I did terribly but I do so want to impress you.
I think that's a wonderful idea, don't you, Collins? Mm.
Straight back, no dawdling.
And now girls, onto our next task.
Cleaning and polishing glass.
This is one of my favourites! I tried to swim against the current but it was too strong so over I went.
I tried to swim against the current but it was too strong so over I went.
Hurtling down the waterfall towards my certain yes? Have you killed anyone, Doctor Webster? Because you have to kill people, don't you, if you're going to teach them about the Empire? Oh I don't hold with that.
I believe that trade, both eh knowledge and I thought perhaps you might like some tea? What is she doing here? Well, that's jolly lovely of you, but there doesn't appear to be a cup.
I dropped it.
Never mind, I much prefer drinking out of this anyway.
None of your fancy china for me! Let me pour it for you! So, are you really an explorer? What are you doing? The Empire's built up of trade, remember? Just think what Stan will give us for this! She'll notice it's missing.
She's not stupid.
She's got a pet spider called Florence.
Yeah, Matron'll put you in the Tench.
I want to see everything! - Even snakes? - Snakes don't scare me.
Here, have some more tea! Ha, I've not finished this one yet.
She'll just think that she left it at home.
All we need to do is go outside later and pick it up.
That is enough, Hetty Feather! Back to your lesson.
Lady Asquith's butler would not tolerate this nonsense.
Does she have to? A woman's place is in service.
Unless she has money, of course.
Well, maybe I can stay and help clean.
Now.
Now! It's time for my magic lantern show! The room needs to be a little darker so you can see the slides.
Very good, very good.
Now, let's start.
I have some fascinating slides of my travels which I'm sure you will find fascinating.
Cairo in Egypt, the Land of the Pharaohs! These Pyramids are almost five thousand years old! That's even older than Queen Victoria! Egypt's a fascinating country.
It helped form so many civilisations.
The Greeks, the Babylonians, the Romans a magical place.
I remember this terrible disaster once.
One of the maids scratched not one, not two, but three glasses.
And who do you think Lady Asquith had for dinner that evening? Only Mr Arthur Conan Doyle.
I have never been so mortified.
Now, can anyone tell me why the Goliath bird-eater is so called? Because it eats birds? Precisely! Clever boy! But it doesn't just eat birds, it eats worms and toads as well.
Eww! And the female Goliath bird-eater lays eggs between 100 and 200 of them at a time.
And they hatch into little spiderlings within two months but don't worry, they're only found in South America.
And my Florence is a tarantula.
Say hello to Florence.
He's got the spider! - Hetty Feather! What spider? You pig! You're coming with me! - Sit down! And I thought it was dramatic in Borneo.
Boys, boys Quieten down now.
The spider is safely in its case so we can continue with Yes Walter, what is it? The spider - Is safely in its case, we know.
But not the snake - The snake It's gone! It's gone! Everyone remain calm! Sir Isaac will panic if we make too much noise and startle him! Sir, it could be outside! It could be loose in London sir! Cranbourne, you and I will lead a party each on an expedition outside.
This is highly irregular.
I think perhaps we should call for Matron? These boys are training to be soldiers! They can't do that in the classroom! They need experience, man! Do get down.
Right, who's with me? To find the snake, we have to think like the snake.
Exactly.
Let's go.
What did you do? I saw snakes, spiders and pyramids.
I saw the world! Get polishing, Hetty, and don't distract Harriet.
She's doing very well.
Oh no, I am sorry.
Hetty Feather! I heard it scratching and it startled me and I dropped it! Give me your glass.
You want this testimonial thing, I don't.
Well, keep going! Nurse, please clean that up, would you? Yes, Mr Collins.
Well, we need to start looking in the bushes at once.
Distract her.
I'm going to get the statue and hide it inside.
How? Get her to tell you a story! Snakes are very cunning, and you.
Excuse me, um, Doctor Webster.
Where else have you been? Have you ever been to France? Yes, I've been to Paris, now there is a story.
They're building this huge tower.
The foundations were magnificent.
Harriet, isn't it? Could I speak to you ma-am? In private? It was me.
I scratched the glass.
Hetty took the blame, but it was me.
I see.
Return to your place.
What's that? Nothing.
You stole this from Doctor Webster, you thief! Give it back! Give it back! It's not yours! You don't want to do this Mathias! - It doesn't belong to you! Get off! Vince! The snake, it's behind you! Yeah, because I'm going to fall for that Remember what Doctor Webster said.
- It will only attack if it's afraid.
Just don't make any more noise.
Boys don't move, stay very still.
Have you been crying? It's alright to be scared, Vince.
I'm not scared! I'm not crying, I'm just angry! He's a thief! I can only apologise once again for this appalling behaviour I can assure you it's never happened before.
Oh no no, no harm done.
And you will be put on extra gardening duties for two weeks.
You may leave.
Thank you, sir.
Mr Cranbourne, a telegram's arrived for you.
Thank you.
Girls, you have all done extremely well.
Sadly, only one of you can receive the testimonial.
Sheila.
Sheila, could you tell us some of the qualities that are considered important for girls going into service? Erm Working hard.
Diligence.
And being clean.
And what about honesty? Honesty is possibly the most important quality.
Now, Sheila, would you say you behaved honestly today? Erm I saw what you did to Elizabeth, and to Harriet.
You will not be receiving the testimonial.
Please return to your place.
Skills can be learned but quality of character is quite a different thing.
The girl, therefore, that impressed me most today was Harriet.
She told the truth, she owned up.
Come on, Harriet.
The testimonial is yours.
And not just a simple testimonial.
When you leave here, there will be a place for you in my household.
Thank you, ma-am.
Hooray for Ha Today was so important and you both wasted it.
Today was so important and you both wasted it.
I didn't waste it, I know exactly what I want to do.
What? I want to tell stories.
You should have heard her! Don't be silly! You'll be in service.
I don't want to be a servant like you! A servant like me? Do you know how hard I've worked to get here? I worked and I worked and you And maybe that's enough for you Ida, but it isn't for me.
I want to travel the world and I want to tell stories! And don't think crying will change anything.
What you did today was wicked.
Oh Shelia, oh come here! Come here, come here, what is it? I don't want to be in a workhouse.
I don't want to be nothing.
I don't want to be like Monica.
Oh, hey! I'm scared! Shh, you'll be alright.
I'm here.
Hey, come on.
Come on.
Hello Kate, how did you get on? Oh, it was such fun.
- Good.
You're doing marvellous work here, Brigwell.
- Thank you.
But don't forget there's a world out there.
Remember all the things we've seen Yes, one day I might a chance to travel again, especially now the hospital is in such safe hands.
Shall we? Give me a moment.
You didn't steal that statue.
I - I consider myself to be a good judge of character.
And you are not a thief.
It's against the rules, isn't it? You don't tell on others.
Rules can be broken.
Look at me.
That other boy said you ran away from here but you came back? Yeah.
It was a con.
We were being sold.
And, the bloke, he He hit you.
It was horrible.
It was horrible when my parents died.
I was scared of everything.
But I went out there and I did it.
And you can too.
But I'm gonna be a soldier.
You don't have to be.
The world's changing, I've seen it.
Soon we'll need men who think before acting, we'll need men like you.
Brave men who stand up to the world.
Really? You stay strong, Mathias.
The world will change because of people like us.
Excellent.
Right, shall we get going? Let's meet up with the boys, I want to know what happened.
And I can tell Mathias my news! Oh, where are the others? They're asleep.
Ohhhh.
Oh, right, I just I just need to I've got some news.
- Me too.
You first.
- I know what I want to be.
I want to see the world, but not as a soldier.
And I want you - I got the testimonial.
Sorry, it's just I got it.
In a few years, I'm going to be working for Lady Asquith.
So you'll be staying in London? - Why would I go anywhere else? I mean, they need to realise that no rich man is just going to come in and sweep them off their feet.
Mmm, indeed.
Oh, er, thank you Ida.
Hello.
Please.
Well, it has been quite a day.
Yes, it has.
I received a telegram today.
Oh? From my cousin, Jasper.
They found him in Australia.
And he's coming back to become the Earl as he should.
My place is here.
With the school.
With you.
That is excellent news.
Shall we start? - I suddenly, um I'm afraid I don't feel very hungry.
Will you excuse me? We learned that day that we couldn't always have the life we'd imagined for ourselves.
But that didn't mean we couldn't dream.
For some of us, that meant bigger dreams for our lives still to come.
For others, smaller dreams of the here and now.
As for me, I knew now that I had hope.
I knew now that I would have a life.
Could you take a message? Dear Harriet? No, then I'd have to say Love Mathias! Your secret place, it's not so secret anymore.
We go back as conquerors, nothing less.
You made Matron wear a feather? - You could make her do anything.
You are, if I may say so, looking especially resplendent.
What are you girls gawping at? Move along! If Matron finds out, we're in big trouble.
I've got a letter for you.
Oh no, I must have dropped it.
I will find whoever did this, and they will pay!