Magnificent animal.
It's a horse.
Yes, I know. It's good to see it.
You know, that not all of them have gone, driven out by the tractor.
Have you ploughed with horse and tractor, then?
Uh, well... Not exactly.
I thought not.
-Do you know Darrowby well? -Aye.
-Big place, is it? -Not as big as Leeds.
Well, I meant, will I have any difficulty finding my way about?
To the vet's, for example.
You won't get lost if you've owt about you.
Excuse me, could you tell me where Traingate is, please?
You want Skeldale House.
Oh, no, not really, I want the vet's.
Skeldale is where the vet lives.
Thank you.
(DOORBELL RINGS)
(DOGS BARKS)
Shut up!
Good afternoon. My name is Herriot.
Mr Farnon is expecting me, he wrote asking me to come today.
Mr Herriot?
Surgery is from 6:00 till 7:00.
If you wanted to bring a dog, that'd be your best time.
No, no, I'm applying for the position of assistant.
Mr Farnon said to come in time for tea.
-Assistant? Well, now. -Yes.
I'm Mrs Hall, I keep house for Mr Farnon. He's a bachelor, you know.
-Oh, yes? -He never said owt to me about you.
Oh!
Never mind. Come in and have a cup of tea.
Thank you.
It shouldn't be long before he's back.
I suppose Mr Farnon is out on a case.
No, he's gone through to Broughton to visit his mother.
I don't know when he'll be back, really.
-(DOORBELL CLANGING) -(DOGS BARKING)
Quiet!
Hello, hello. Is Mr Farnon in?
I'm afraid not. Can I help you?
Could you give him a message when he gets back?
Tell him Bert Sharpe from Barrow Hills has got a cow what wants boring out.
-Boring out? -That's right.
She's nobbut going on three cylinders.
Three cylinders?
Aye, and if I don't do summat she'll go wrong in a ewer, won't she?
Very probably.
And we don't want felon, do we?
Certainly not.
Don't forget, then. You tell him. Ta-da.
(MAN COUGHS)
Biggins is t'name.
Good afternoon. Anything I can do?
-I've a cow grunting a bit. -(DOG BARKS)
Well, um, someone better come out and have a look at her.
Aye, well... I don't know.
She might not be as bad as all that.
-Whatever you say. -No, it's what you say.
You're t'vet.
Well, it is a bit difficult.
After all, I... We haven't seen her.
I think perhaps someone should pay her a visit.
It's all very fine, but it's the expense.
It costs 10 bob every time one of you lot sets foot on my place,
and that's afore you start.
Then there's medicines and everything else on top of it.
Yes.
Well...
Perhaps you'd like to take something away with you, a tin of stomach powder perhaps?
How do you know it's stomach?
-I don't. -It might be summat else.
That's very true, yes.
Now look here, it's a damn good cow, this is.
And I paid £50 for her at Scarborough market.
I'm sure she is.
Consequently, I really do feel she'd be worth a visit.
How about this afternoon?
Aye, ah, but would it be just one visit?
No, happen you'll be coming again tomorrow and maybe day after that
and before we know it, we shall be landed with a clonking great bill.
I'm very sorry, Mr Biggins, but everything is very expensive these days.
(LAUGHS) Yes, by God.
Sometimes it'd be cheaper to give you t'cow at t'end of it all.
Well, hardly. (CHUCKLES)
But I do see how you feel.
How about taking a fever drink as well as a stomach powder?
That'd be safer.
You still couldn't be sure, could you?
No, not quite sure. Not absolutely sure.
-She might even have a wire in her. -Yes.
Yes, she might.
Well, shoving medicine down her neck then is not going to do any good, is it?
No, it isn't. You're right.
Now look here, I think a lot of this cow, tha knows, and I can't afford to lose it.
I realise that, Mr Biggins, that's why I think she should be seen.
I did suggest that, if you remember.
-Ah, well, maybe that's best, then. -Yes.
Look, hadn't we better leave her while t'morning and see how she is then?
That's a very good idea.
You have a look at her first thing in the morning,
and give us a ring before 9:00 if she's no better.
What if she doesn't last till t'morning?
Well, there is always that risk, of course.
-Huh... No good ringing you if she's dead, is it? -True.
-Might just as well ring Mallock. -Mallock?
-Yeah, knacker van. -Oh, yes, afraid so, yes.
Ah! That's no bloody use to me, is it?
£5 from Mallock, for a good cow!
-I do see how you feel, Mr Biggins. -I think a lot about this cow.
-Yes, I'm sure you do. -It'd be a very big loss to me!
-Hmm. -Right, then. What do you propose to do about it?
Well, let's see. Suppose you leave it until tonight,
to see if she recovers, and if she's not right, say by, um, 8:00,
you could give someone a ring and they would come out and have a look.
-You'd come round then? -That's right.
(BIGGINS SIGHS)
Aye...
Last time you came out at night, you charged extra for it, I know you did.
Well, that is usual in veterinary practice.
Yeah, well, I shall be worse off than I were afore then, won't I?
Well, if you put it like that, yes, I suppose so.
-I'm not a rich man, tha knows. -No, I realise that.
It takes me all me time to pay t'ordinary bills without getting a lot of extra on top.
-Yes, I'm sure. -So that's a bad egg of an idea, isn't it?
-Yes. -Right then. Well, I'll be off.
Yes.
-Grunting a bit, she is. -Erm...
It's a good cow. I can't afford to lose her.
(SIGHS)
(DOG BARKING)
(DOOR OPENS) (FARNON HUMMING)
(DOOR CLOSES)
(DOG BARKS)
Herriot? Herriot?
-Hmm? -I'm Siegfried Farnon, sorry you've had to wait.
-Oh! How do you do? -Very well indeed, thank you.
Oh, there was Mr Biggins here about a sick cow.
He wanted us, um... You to visit.
No, I mean, he didn't want you to visit, he just wanted a tin of stomach powder.
-Except that he... -Was Mr Biggins well?
Oh, yes.
-His cow sounds in a bad way, though. -Ah, yes.
Oh, and there was Miss Brompton here. She came for tea,
and I explained that you'd been called away.
Ah, yes. Well, never mind about that,
but I am sorry I wasn't here when you arrived, I've a shocking memory.
I just forgot. Come on, I want to show you the place!
Very conservative folk, farmers.
And the Dales farmers are more conservative than most.
Well, there you are. The surgery.
-What do you think of it? -Looks very good.
Excellent. Seem to have everything.
Yes, well, of course, it was very old-fashioned when I took over.
This sort of thing, you know.
I had to introduce a lot of new stuff.
Oh, look at this, Herriot. Adrevan.
The remedy, par excellence, for red worm in horses.
Bit expensive, though. 10 bob a packet.
And look at this. Gentian violet pessaries.
Shove one of these in a cow's uterus after a dirty cleansing,
turns the discharges a very pretty colour,
really looks as if it's doing something.
Do you know this trick?
A few crystals of resublimated iodine.
-Like that. -Mmm-hmm.
A few drops of turpentine.
(WHISTLING)
(SINGING TO HIMSELF)
It's like witchcraft, isn't it?
I use it for wounds in horses' feet.
The chemical reaction drives the iodine deep into the tissues.
-It does? -Well, I don't know. That's the theory.
Anyway, you must admit, it looks wonderful. Impresses the toughest client.
Ah, there is my latest purchase. A wonderful thing.
-Oh. -Here, take a peep at my retina.
-Very pretty. -Huh?
Yes, I think I could write you a certificate of soundness.
I'm glad to hear that.
Always thought I had a touch of cataract in that one. (CHUCKLES)
And here is... The theatre.
Not much small animal work in this district.
I'm trying to encourage it.
Makes a nice change from lying on your belly in a cow house.
Of course, a lot of the old hands wouldn't look at a dog or cat.
But the profession has got to change its idea.
Oh, yes.
Well, what do you think of it all, hmm?
-Really first class. -Hmm?
(HUMMING)
Oh, there was another caller while you were out. Uh...
-A Bert Sharpe? -Bert Sharpe, yes.
I think he thought you may have been a garage.
-Something about boring out a cow going on three cylinders. -(CHUCKLES)
And he talked about ewer and felon?
Yeah, he wanted Hudson's operation!
Doing out a blocked teat.
Here, hold that.
Ewer is the udder and felon is the local name for mastitis.
Well, I shall soon learn the local terminology.
Um... Yes.
You know, if I'm... Well, if I'm successful enough to get the job.
-Look, I wasn't assuming... -No, no. That's all right.
Well, we'd better be getting out to Sharpe's.
There are one or two other visits after that.
Now, look, why don't you come with me, and I'll show you a bit of the district?
-I'd like that. -Good. Come on!
Come along. Come on, boys. Come on, come on.
(DOGS BARKING)
Come on, girl, get in there. Go on, Christie. Go on.
Get in there. Go on, go on, go on.
Good boy. Go on.
Oh, I am sorry! That sometimes happens, I should've warned you.
Seat's a little loose. Here, take that.
(DOOR SLAMS)
(ENGINE STARTS)
Lame mare, where we're going.
Yes, I saw some horses as I came.
-Still using them. -Yes, but they're going fast. Pity.
-My favourite animal, the horse. -Yes. Fine animals.
Still, if I was going to plough a field, I reckon I'd take a tractor.
Why? Don't you like horses?
Oh, yes, they're fine. It's just, you know, the work.
Hmm.
Well, I prefer working with horses to anything else.
-They're interesting... -If I should take you on,
I suppose I could do most of the horse work myself, but...
-Obviously, there won't be time. -I like horses very much.
I was just thinking of the labour of ploughing.
Done much ploughing, have you?
-Brought up in a farm? -Er, no.
No, I was just, you know, imagining what it would be like.
Ah.
-Hello, Mr Farnon! -Hello there!
-I'll get her. -Okay.
(DOG BARKS)
Let's see her walk, then.
Which leg d'you make it?
-Near fore. -I think so, too.
-Would you like to examine it? -Mmm.
-This one's hotter than the other. -Mmm-hmm.
Have you a hammer?
Thanks.
Up, girl, up! That's it.
Thank you.
Looks like pus in the foot to me.
I bet you're right. They call it gravel here.
Well, what do you suggest we do about it?
Well, open up the sole and evacuate the pus.
Right! I'll watch your technique.
-Try that. -Thank you.
Damn! There's several places it could be...
I'll try... This one.
The mare likes you! She prefers to lean on you than her bad foot!
(CHUCKLING)
(CHUCKLES)
There it goes. She'll get relief now.
HERRIOT: Phew!
-Oof! -FARNON: Well done, Herriot.
Just isn't funny when the horn's as hard as that.
A shot of tetanus antitoxin.
Come on, lady.
There you are, old girl.
Now, then, Mr White, if you hold up the hoof, I'll just disinfect the cavity.
Come up, lass. Up, lass. Come on, now. Up, lass.
All right. Thank you.
-(HISSING) -(COUGHING) By God, Mr Farnon.
I wondered what the hell had happened here for a minute.
Ain't it wonderful what science can do nowadays?
Got here, then? That's good.
Afternoon, Mr Sharpe, hear you've got a blocked teat.
Aye. That's about it. I thought you'd better see her.
All right. Let's go.
-There she is. -Mmm-hmm.
Blocked. Hudson's.
Uh-huh.
Here.
SHARPE: Ey up! Ha, ha, ha!
I'm sorry, young man. I ought to have told you.
This is a very friendly cow and she always likes to shake hands.
-(SHARPE CHUCKLING) -(CHUCKLING NERVOUSLY)
-She'll be all right now. -Yes, but will you be?
(ALL LAUGHING)
Capital! She's going on all four cylinders now.
Good.
MAN 1: Is that the best you can do there, then?
MAN 2: It's a double four.
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
There you are. Thanks.
-Good health. -Good health.
Aah!
Well! You can have this job if you want it.
£4 a week and full board, okay?
-Thanks. I accept! -Good.
Let me tell you about the practice.
I bought it from an old man of 80 a year ago.
Still practising, mind you.
Marvellous, tough old character.
But he'd got a bit beyond
getting up in the middle of the night, which isn't surprising.
And in other ways, too, he'd let the practice slide.
You know, hanging on to all the old ideas.
Some of those ancient instruments in the surgery, you saw them, belong to him.
Well, what with one thing and another there wasn't really much practice left.
And I'm trying to build it up again now.
Well, from those visits this afternoon I'd say you were being very successful.
Yeah, it's coming on.
Well, farmers do like to see a younger man about,
with new treatments, new operations, that kind of thing.
They're not too conservative, then?
Well...
They are about one thing. Money.
I'm having the devil of a job trying to educate them
out of the old three and sixpenny treatments.
They're marvellous people, the Dalesmen.
You'll like them but they don't like parting with their brass,
unless you can prove that they're getting something in return.
-Oh, come on, sup up! -Hmm.
-I'll get you another. -Well, I'll get these!
No, no, my night.
Same again, Jack, please.
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
You're looking pleased with yourself.
Yes. Do I look so smug?
Yes! (CHUCKLES)
Well, I must admit to feeling very relieved.
Most chaps at college haven't found anything.
Yes, I know. It's a bad time, isn't it?
All those pathetic advertisements you can see in the Record.
"Veterinary surgeon, fully experienced. Will work for keep."
Very bad, shouldn't be allowed, bad for the profession, you know,
offering services for nothing.
Still, we're all right here as long as we work hard, aren't we?
-Yes. -Look, there's a chap over there
I want to have a word with. Extraordinary fella.
He never can make up his mind whether to call us in or not.
Back in a moment.
Eh, useless these days. They don't take the trouble.
I was repairing Old Colton's dry stone wall t'other day,
you know, where it comes down to t'beck.
Aye, some daft sod run his car into it, didn't he?
That's right. Any road, I was setting it up again,
and one of these walking chaps come along, you know, all socks and walking sticks.
-Aye. Dales is full of 'em. -Uh-huh.
And he says to me, "This making a good job of that wall."
So, I said to him, "Of course I am.
"I've got to look at bugger for next 30 years."
(BOTH LAUGHING)
A pint, please.
-You're new round here. -Yes, that's right.
-Came in with Mr Farnon? -That's right.
-I'm his new assistant. -A vet?
That's right. I expect you'll be seeing a lot of me around here.
Aye. But when you come here to tap the fluid off our beer barrels, you pay us.
Aye, here's your new boss wanting his pint.
Yes, of course. Take for two, would you?
Oh, James, that's kind of you. I see you have introduced yourself.
Aye, he has, that.
He told us he came up to stop you killing off all the local cows.
Oh, come on!
Well, if the local cows are anything like your two miserable pigs
it'd be the only thing to do with them.
There's nothing wrong with our pigs.
No, no, no, nothing... That a good square meal wouldn't put right.
(ALL LAUGHING)
-Thank you. -Right, Mr Farnon.
-There you are. -No, no, no.
Oh, you're doing that, aren't you? That's very good of you.
-Are you all right? -Fine. Sorry.
-Thank you, Mr Sharpe. -Good evening, Mr Herriot.
Oh, Mr Sharpe. Good evening.
I don't pack a punch like my Violet does when I shake hands.
(ALL LAUGHING)
This young man here t'day met my Violet t'first time.
She's been going on three cylinders.
Well, she don't like people taking liberties until she shakes hands.
Well, she missed his hand, and caught him right in the bread basket! (LAUGHS)
You should have seen his face!
You ought to have that cow of yours put down. Worse than any bull.
No, it's just friendly, that's all.
Still, young fellow, it's just as well she aimed high,
otherwise you might have been have become the first gelded vet we've ever had in Dales.
(ALL CHUCKLING)
You can always tell an experienced vet.
He sets himself where the cow can't kick him.
Hast thou ever worked on a farm, young man?
Well, no. Not exactly.
So all thy knowledge is out of books, is it?
-No, at college we used to go out on practise on farms. -Oh, aye.
Learning on some poor farmer's stock.
Under supervision, of course.
Oh, will thee be working here with Mr Farnon keeping his eyes on thee?
I'm now qualified.
Ooh, aye.
-Set him another one up, come on. -Actually, I...
Now then, young man, I've summat to tell thee.
I've been among beasts all me life. I want to tell thee something.
-Oh, yes? -I don't go with them chemicals
-but I know how to cure beasts. -Oh, that's excellent.
If I had time, lad, I could tell thee so many cures tha'd never believe it.
Really?
I've seen a cow left for dead by a vet, not Mr Farnon, of course, you know,
after giving her just a touch of summat special, she got up and walked away.
-That's very remarkable. -Aye. It is that.
Many's the rogues that's trying to get the secret from me but I kept it to meself.
Well, I'm sure. It must be worth a fortune. Well, I must be off.
Afore you go, young man, I want to tell thee summat as nobody knows but me.
I could have made a lot of money out of this.
Folks has been after me for years to tell 'em, but I never have.
It's t'cure for malanders and salanders in horses.
Not... You can't mean it? Not malanders and salanders?
But I do mean it. All you have to do is rub on this salve of mine
and t'horse walks away, sound.
And you're really going to tell me the name of this salve?
I am, young man, but only on one condition.
Thou must tell no one.
Thou must keep it to theeself, then nobody'll know but thee and me.
Just thee and me, lad.
All right, I promise I won't breathe a word.
Marshmallow ointment.
FARNON: Come on, James, time we were off.
Night, Ted, thank you very kindly.
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
-Evening, Charlie. -Evening.
(ENGINE STARTING)
(DOGS BARKING)
FARNON: Come on, boys. In you go.
Come on, then. Come on.
That was a very good night.
-Glad you enjoyed it. -Oh, I'll say I did.
This morning, I was in Glasgow, out of college and out of work.
And tonight, I'm in Yorkshire, in a job.
I'm very grateful.
Not at all.
You know, if you hadn't found that infected spot in the mare's hoof
or if you hadn't gone back to that cow after she'd shaken hands,
you'd be in Yorkshire but still out of a job.
-Well, thank you anyway, Mr Farnon. -Siegfried's the name.
-Siegfried. -Hmm.
A nightcap, I think.
Mmm.
Yes, it was a good night. And pretty valuable for you, too, wasn't it?
Oh, indeed, I have to get to know the people.
No, I mean, uh, professionally.
Didn't you learn of a cure?
For malanders and salanders?
Ah, yes. The Panama hat.
-He told me it was marshmallow ointment. -Yes!
Though come to think of it, the Panama hat did look as
-though it had been eaten by a horse! -(BOTH CHUCKLE)
-Good health. -Good health.
Yeah, you know, the trouble is
some of the time
marshmallow ointment or
Panama hats or burying a dead cat at midnight,
would do just as much good as we can do.
-Come on, Christie. -Surely there are lots of new treatments.
Oh, yes, there are. Some of them are damn good.
But you're gonna find time and time again
you know exactly what the trouble is but there's nothing you can do about it.
Specific remedies is what we need, James. Specific remedies.
Something we can
give them that'll really go right to the seat of the infection and kill it.
-And often we just don't have it. -No.
And we need vaccines, too, for all the common infections, tuberculosis,
contagious abortion and so on, so on.
Yes.
Of course, our surgical methods are marvellously sophisticated.
We can do things with a scalpel that would have astonished our fathers.
-Mmm. -But we still need new vaccines and drugs.
Come on, then, baby.
Like, take horses.
Well, I rather pride myself on being an expert with horses.
I mean, if you get a call to a horse, check with me first, will you, hmm?
Oh, yes, yes, of course.
Now what can you do about a really bad laminitis?
Well, keep her moving, of course.
But that inflammation under the horn is the very devil.
Now why can't we give the horse something
that'll really go to the root of the trouble and cure it?
Like you can inject Arecholin for a intestinal spasm.
I mean to say, I've always thought...
I'm sorry, James. I am rattling on and you must be dead beat.
Yes, you're right. We do need new vaccines for contagious abortion.
(FARNON CHUCKLING)
Time for bed, I think. You've had a very long day.
Yes, perhaps we'd better.
-What time in the morning? -There's a small animal clinic, 9:00.
Very keen to build that up.
Right.
-Good night. -Good night.
Sorry to trouble you. Where do I sleep?
Good Lord. Didn't Mrs Hall show you?
Well, no. She didn't know I'd be staying, did she?
Uh, no, no, no, of course not, stupid of me.
-This way. -Thank you.
Well, there you are.
I hope you'll be comfortable here.
I'm sure I will.
-Good night. -Night.
Well done.
James Herriot.
Assistant veterinary surgeon in private practice.
(KNOCK AT DOOR)
(KNOCKING CONTINUES)
(CLEARS THROAT)
Good morning.
Want to see the vet?
This way, please. Thank you.
Now, what have we here?
Ah!
A tortoise.
What's his name?
Mr Tortoise, then.
And what's wrong with him?
Is he poorly?
We'll have a look at him.
Mmm-hmm.
Does he walk about?
Ah, well, perhaps he hasn't been walking about very much before.
Yes, he looks fit enough.
I tell you what, you keep him in a very warm part of the garden.
And next time you bring him in,
you bring your mummy, too, and then she can tell me what's wrong with him.
All right?
-There we are. -Thank you.
Thank you.
Hello.
My God. You've got a job on here.
Will she ever go again, do you think?
She'd better or you're gonna do a lot of walking.
-I'm going to do a lot of... -You're to have this car.
-This is my car? -That's right.
-Admirable little beauty, isn't she? -Well, yes.
-(CHUCKLES) Yes. -Right, hop into mine.
You'll have plenty of time to enjoy yourself riding around in that.
-I'll show you some more farms. -Righto.
-How was morning surgery? -Not very busy, really.
-How many? -Only one.
I don't think we're gonna make our fortunes out of that one.
There's a great future in dogs and cats. You mark my words.
-This was a tortoise. -Oh! Sally Garth.
-Um... -Did she say anything?
-Not a word. -That's Sally Garth. She never does!
(BOTH LAUGHING)
-It's been a right warm day, James. -Yes.
Don't mind looking forward to a nice, quiet evening.
I wonder. Do you mind holding the fort alone tonight?
I want to pop over... And see my mother.
-Of course not. -Good.
I'm sure you're dying to get started on your own.
There's plenty of time. In any case, I started this morning.
Oh, yes, of course! You saved that tortoise's life!
Good.
Oh, there'll be nothing this evening.
(SCATTING)
-Mr Herriot? -Yes.
Phineas Calvert for thee.
He's got a bull that sounds right badly.
Hello, yes?
That's right, Herriot.
Oh, well, I'll come out and see him. Where are you?
Yes, got that.
I'll come out as quickly as I can.
Wish me luck, Mrs Hall, this one sounds really bad.
Here he is. Cush, then, lad.
Cush, baba.
Cush, there, lad.
Poor bugger. Is there owt tha can do?
We'll have to see.
He's a good bull, an' all.
Only started a couple of hour ago.
Since then he's got worse. Much worse.
Puffing like a bellows, he were. Bit like pneumonia, you know.
Worse 'un I've ever known.
He's in 'ell of a state, ain't he?
Does tha think he's gonna peg out?
Oh, I'm sure he'll be all right once we find out what's wrong.
'Ee, and he has cost me a lot.
I were expecting t'best cows I'll ever gonna have out of this chap.
And he's as quiet as a sheep.
-Is it bad? -110!
-That's hard to believe. -What is it, then?
-Have you any sheep on this farm? -Aye.
-And they're all right? Nothing wrong with them? -No, nothing.
You passed them coming up, don't ya remember?
-Oh, yes. -You thinking of anthrax?
To be honest with you, I'm thinking of anything I can.
(BULL BREATHES HEAVILY)
He's breathing so bad he can't swallow his saliva.
Well, I hate to see him suffering like this.
Look, just tell me, if you can't do no good,
then I'll go get the gun out.
-This is his hay? -Aye.
(SNIFFS)
Ah, he's suffering badly.
I'll go and get the gun. I'll not let him suffer.
Has he been out today?
Aye, he's been out on grass on t'tether all morning, it was so warm.
Get that hose up here, quick.
-Hosepipe? -Yes, come on, as quick as you can.
He's got sunstroke!
We have to be quick. He could drop down dead at any minute.
Right. Turn the water on, please.
-All right, my beauty. -Good job, lad.
-Cush, then. Cush, then. -That's it, that's the way.
(BULL GRUNTS)
He swallowed! Did you see that? He swallowed!
He has! I think he's gonna be all right.
Right, now you take the hose and I'll take his temperature.
And keep the water on his head and shoulders, please.
Cush, then. Cush, then.
There's no doubt, he's getting better by the second.
He is that. It's 105!
Now, give me that.
Yes, we can leave him now. He'll get out of the water when he's had enough.
Eh, my lad.
Well, he may not be dry any more, but by God, I am.
Come on, young man.
(BULL GRUNTING)
Mother! Get us two brown ales, lass.
-This here's Mr Herriot. -How do you do? Is t'bull better?
Yes, Mrs Cavert, he's quite well now. He had sunstroke.
Oh! (LAUGHING) Who'd have ever thought of it?
-Get us that ale, love. -Aye.
By gum.
Well, I'll tell you, you right flummoxed me, lad.
I don't know what to say to you.
Good lass.
-Here we go. -Thank you.
Well, thanks to this young man, or we'd have a dead bull by now.
-Cheers! -Aye. Cheers, lad.
Well, at least me bill should be reasonable.
We only used cold water and I supplied that.
I shouldn't be too long, I'll leave right away.
I am terribly sorry, Mrs Hall, but I've got to go out again.
Well, surely, you can have your tea first!
I've got to treat a horse with colic.
Minutes could count, besides, which is Lord Hulton's favourite hunter.
Fickle things, horses' digestions.
Wouldn't want to have to put him down for the sake of a few minutes.
And what about your digestion? You've got to have your tea.
You can't go without your baggin.
Look, pop it back in the oven, would you?
And, uh... I'll take it out when I get back.
Aye, well, when you get colic, we shan't have to send to have thee put down.
(DOOR SLAMS)
Tha'll just fade away.
-Mr Soames? -Yeah, I'm Mr Soames.
My name's Herriot.
-I was expecting Mr Farnon. -Ah, unfortunately he's with another client.
Hmm. Clever man, is Mr Farnon.
We're old friends. Yeah, great friends.
-I understand you have a horse with colic. -In there.
One of His Lordship's best hunters.
In need of expert assistance, I'd say.
(HORSE WHINNIES)
How long has he been like this?
Began with a bit of a belly ache this morning.
I've been giving him black draughts all day, or rather, this fellow has.
I wouldn't be surprised though if he's messed it up like he does everything.
Well, I've got the draughts down him all right, Mr Soames,
but they don't seem to be doing him no good.
Call yourself an horseman? I should have done the damn job meself.
I reckon he'd have been all right by now.
He needs more than a black draught to help him.
May I have a bucket of hot water, soap and a towel, please?
What the devil for? You've done nothing yet. You wanna have a wash?
I want to make a rectal examination. Please may I have the water?
God, I've never seen anything like this.
All right! Just don't stand there, go and get him his water.
Maybe we'll get something done.
God, it would be while Mr Farnon's away.
-This is no ordinary colic. -What the hell is it, then?
Well, I can't say without examining him, but continual severe pains
as like this could mean a torsion, a twisted bowel.
Twisted bowel, me foot! He's got a bit of belly ache, that's all.
He's passed nothing all day. He just wants something to shift him.
You did bring some Arecholin, didn't you?
If this is a torsion, Arecholin would be the worst thing you could give him.
He's in agony now but that would drive him mad.
It acts by contracting the muscles of the intestines.
God damn it! I don't want a bloody lecture, I want that horse cured!
(HORSE WHINNIES)
Everything points to the same thing, I'm convinced that horse has a torsion.
All right, have it your way. He's got a torsion.
But for God's sake, do something, will you?
Are we gonna stand here all night?
There's nothing anybody can do. There is no cure for this.
We must put him out of his pain as quickly as possible.
No cure? Put him out of his pain?
What the hell are you talking about?
I suggest you let me put him down immediately.
What do you mean?
I mean that I should shoot him now straightaway.
I have a humane killer in the car.
Shoot him? Are you stark raving mad?
D'you know how much that horse is worth?
Mr Soames, it makes no difference what he's worth.
He's been going through hell all day and he's dying now.
You should have called me out hours ago.
-He may last a few hours... -(HORSE WHINNIES)
...and that's all.
And he's in continuous, agonising pain.
Why does this happen to me?
His Lordship's away on holiday, otherwise I'd have him out here
and try and make you see a bit of sense.
If your boss was here, he'd have given that horse an injection
and he'd have been all right in half an hour.
Look, why can't we wait till Mr Farnon comes back tonight? Let him have a look at him.
(GUNSHOT)
Mr Farnon will come round in the morning to carry out a post-mortem.
I'd like Lord Hulton to have my diagnosis confirmed.
I'm gonna inform His Lordship about this, and Mr Farnon.
Well, ring him up. He'll be home later tonight.
Yes, I will. And I'll let him know what sort of assistant he's landed himself with, too.
And I'll tell you something else.
I'll be at that postmortem, and I'll see you proved wrong!
And then I'm gonna sue you!