All Creatures Great & Small

Could I have the...

Thank you.

We'll keep her in overnight.

Her owner can pick her up tomorrow.

I'll get cleaned up.

- (knocks on door) - (door opens)

Finished up already?

Being able to visualise the break before I operated

certainly made life easier.

Looks like a clean fracture.

- She's a young healthy cat. - (cat meows)

Should heal well.

Every practice in the country should have an X-ray machine.

Well, unfortunately, it doesn't come cheap.

- (James) Mm. - (cat meows)

We shall be sorry to see you go,

we've got used to having you around these last two weeks.

- Haven't we? - Aye.

- It's been lovely. - (James chuckles)

Glad to help out.

Good vet is hard to find.

I hope your boss appreciates how lucky he is.

- In his own special way. - (cat meows)

Deep down.

If you ever get the yearning for home,

the lad you're covering for is joining up.

Six months' time there's a job if you want it.

That's a very kind offer, Bill, but...

Veterinary practice isn't all about farm animals.

Pets is where the future lies.

I, uh... I don't need your answer right away.

Take time to think on it, eh.

Taxi!

- (man 2) First addition please. - (vendor) Thank you.

Czechoslovakia problem.

Chamberlain's hopes...

Read all about it.

Read all about it. Yes, pal...

- (James) Thanks, Craig. - Thanks, James.

- (car horn honks) - (Craig) Read all about it.

Czechoslovakia problem.

- (Stephen) Pint, Jim? - I can't stop.

Ma'll string me up if I'm not home for my tea.

You always were a mammy's boy.

Put a pint in the till for me.

Oh, you're hanging around long enough to drink it then?

You're not going anywhere, are you Stevie?

Not likely.

- (bus driver) Get in! - Hold on.

Dunbarton Road, please.

James?

Haggis and tatties.

Now you can't get grub like that down where you've been, can you?

I don't know, Mrs Hall cooks a...

No...

nothing like the taste of home.

And here's a pot of tea to go with it.

- Thanks mum. - And maybe,

we won't have to wait until next Easter

for you to show your face again.

Hopefully not.

That practice of Bill's is always busy.

It's a lovely wee business he's set up for himself there.

It's not too far away,

and you don't have to go traipsing out in the cold

at goodness knows what time in the morning.

- Bill's been talking. - (Hannah laughs)

I'm so happy for you, love.

How's dad doing?

Soldiering on,

but at his age, he struggles to get picked out the line.

I'm doing the odd bit of needlework.

But don't worry, we get by.

Haggis, neeps and tatties, eh?

Somebody wants to keep her boy home.

Well, he needs a decent meal in him for the journey.

It'll be six months before he has another.

You're taking the job then?

'Course he is.

I thought you'd made a bit of a life for yourself down there.

Aye.

But home is where the heart is,

- is it not, James? - Aye Mum. It is.

Hi. Good lad.

Good lad.

How's things goin' with you then?

Good grief.

Two weeks away and I can barely understand you.

The place rubs off on you.

Well, if you want any of the farmers to understand a word you're saying,

you'll have to rub it off again.

Is that chocolate?

Hm? What?

No. No. No, don't think so.

That reminds me. A present from Mrs Hall, an Easter egg.

I'm afraid Jess got at it while her back was turned.

Where are we going?

Oh, Benson's got a load of ewes lambing.

So, he's letting you off the leash a bit more?

Uh, happily, still tethered to the dispensary in the main.

Siegfried's meeting us there.

Good afternoon, Mr Farnon.

- (Siegfried) Isn't it, Rob. - (sheep bleats)

I see my gallant crew have arrived, clearing the decks for their captain.

Where's your tie, man?

Uh, I, uh... Um, I left in the car...

- A well-tied tie is the mark... - (James) Mark of a well-made man.

- (sheep bleats) - Good to see you again, Siegfried.

Yes. You too.

I had the fortitude to deal with the case load in your absence.

Lesser men would've failed.

- I'm sure that's true. - (Siegfried) What've you got?

Big lamb. Stuck right in the birthing canal.

My great mitts were no use bringing her around.

It's a good job we got those little lady hands of yours, Mr Herriot.

The head's stuck fast.

I can barely get a finger inside.

Now have you got hold of the leg yet?

I'm trying to.

Come on, old man. There's no need to make such a meal of it.

We're not getting paid by the hour.

I'm just trying to bring it around now.

She should come out after that.

I can always take the reins if it would help, James.

I'm happy, Siegfried. Thank you very much.

- (lamb bleats) - Oh, hello. Whose this little chap?

Herbert?

Poor little youth's mother won't have him at any price.

She took spite to him at birth.

Though she thinks the world of her other lamb.

Sounds very reminiscent of my upbringing.

You were given the love you deserved.

He's been fending for himself.

He goes from one to another, chancing his arm.

- (sheep bleats) - Hey.

- (James) Herbert... - (lamb bleats)

mind yourself.

- You might get a kick. - (Rob grunts)

They don't always let him have it. It's a crying shame.

But you've got to let nature run its course.

- (James) Here we go. - (bleats)

It's coming.

- (sheep bleats) - (James grunts)

- (James grunts) - (Rob) Aww. There she is.

- What a grand'un. - (James chuckles)

Hey.

There we go.

Hello, little one.

Hello.

That's good,

a healthy wee lamb.

We got there in the end.

Is that one of yours?

No.

It belongs to Alderson.

That'll be the second time he's been over.

Oh, it's only you.

Only, Mrs Hall?

Only?

How far I've fallen in your estimation.

- What's this? - (inhales deeply)

It's a bag.

- Yes. I see what it is. - Then why'd you ask?

- I meant... - I got it for Triss.

I see.

We can't have him filling his pockets

with scissors and goodness knows what.

The holes they make I'll be darning night and day.

- (chuckles) - You shouldn't've done this,

- Mrs Hall. - I didn't.

- You didn't? - You did.

- Did I? - I took the money out the pint pot.

I knew you'd want to get him something special

in recognition of all his hard work.

I thought you might give it to him on his birthday.