SEVEN LITTLE AUSTRALIANS - Episode 2 - "What Are Fathers For Anyway?"
SEVEN LITTLE AUSTRALIANS - Episode 2 - "What Are Fathers For Anyway?"
Originally broadcast 2nd September 1973
SEVEN LITTLE AUSTRALIANS was a 10 part television mini-series based on Ethel Turner's best selling 1894 novel that aired on ABCTV in 1973 between 26th August to 28th October 1973 winning a Gold Logie for Best New Drama in 1974.
Story synopsis - Klassic 1880s Australian drama concerning a strict army widower taking on a new wife & attempt to control difficult situations caused by seven mischievous children.
Cast - Barbara Llewellyn as Meg Woolcot
Mark Clark as Pip Woolcot
Anna Hruby as Nell Woolcot
Jennifer Cluff as Judy Woolcot
Tania Falla as Baby Woolcot
Mark Shields-Brown as Bunty Woolcot
Christian Robinson as The General
Leonard Teale as Captain John Woolcot
Elizabeth Alexander as Esther Woolcot
Ruth Cracknell as Martha
Produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in association with ETHEL TURNER PRODUCTIONS and the AUSTRALIAN FILM DEVELOPMENT PRODUCTION
Television soundtrack composed by Bruce Smeaton
Arranged by Geoff Hales and Bruce Smeaton
Played by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Original story by Ethel Turner & Adapted by Eleanor Witcombe
Executive Producer - Charles Russell
Directed by Ron Way
Originally broadcast 2nd September 1973
SEVEN LITTLE AUSTRALIANS was a 10 part television mini-series based on Ethel Turner's best selling 1894 novel that aired on ABCTV in 1973 between 26th August to 28th October 1973 winning a Gold Logie for Best New Drama in 1974.
Story synopsis - Klassic 1880s Australian drama concerning a strict army widower taking on a new wife & attempt to control difficult situations caused by seven mischievous children.
Cast - Barbara Llewellyn as Meg Woolcot
Mark Clark as Pip Woolcot
Anna Hruby as Nell Woolcot
Jennifer Cluff as Judy Woolcot
Tania Falla as Baby Woolcot
Mark Shields-Brown as Bunty Woolcot
Christian Robinson as The General
Leonard Teale as Captain John Woolcot
Elizabeth Alexander as Esther Woolcot
Ruth Cracknell as Martha
Produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in association with ETHEL TURNER PRODUCTIONS and the AUSTRALIAN FILM DEVELOPMENT PRODUCTION
Television soundtrack composed by Bruce Smeaton
Arranged by Geoff Hales and Bruce Smeaton
Played by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Original story by Ethel Turner & Adapted by Eleanor Witcombe
Executive Producer - Charles Russell
Directed by Ron Way
Category
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TVTranscript
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01:00♪♪
01:10Saturday afternoon, after the embarrassing, disastrous
01:14dinner party of last night, there was an awful quiet
01:17about Miss Rule.
01:19I think the children felt that missing out on a pantomime
01:22was an excessive and unfair punishment.
01:25I had pleaded all I could,
01:27but their father had been adamant.
01:30He'd ridden off to the barracks, leaving behind a quietness
01:33which in this household was distinctly ominous.
01:37♪♪
01:45Nice and clean, lovey.
01:46Megsie washed my face and hands and knees as hard as hard.
01:51Good girl.
01:52What am I going to do?
01:54I hate to think.
01:55The devil soon finds work for idle hands.
01:58But there's nothing to do.
02:00I thought of cleaning out your bedroom carpet,
02:02or minting a pin or four or two,
02:04or tidying them books in the nursery.
02:06It's Saturday afternoon.
02:08That's right, my afternoon off.
02:11Where are you going?
02:12As far away from this mad house as the ferry to Parramatta will take us.
02:16I'm hungry.
02:17Too bad.
02:18Can't I come too?
02:19You were told to spend the afternoon in your room,
02:21without any luncheon.
02:22It's not fair.
02:23If it hadn't been for the missus calming him down,
02:25your father would have skinned you alive.
02:27Count yourselves lucky, both of you.
02:30Wouldn't do any harm to let me come too.
02:32Oh, wouldn't it?
02:33Where you go, miss there goes trouble.
02:35You promised the missus you'd buy the general this afternoon, remember?
02:38Oh, he's asleep.
02:39Why can't I come?
02:40Now, listen to me, young girl.
02:42It don't take much imagination from anyone to work out
02:44who was behind all that go on of last night and today.
02:47I didn't.
02:48Oh, no.
02:49You weren't the one who went in and asked for the roast fowl.
02:51You weren't the one who spilled the varnish all over his best uniform.
02:54But it don't take a genius to work out where the trouble started.
02:57You got the devil in you, my girl.
02:59Too fancy believing in devils.
03:01And if I were you, I'd mind my Ps and Qs for a while while your father's about.
03:04Here comes a point where not even the missus can calm him down,
03:06and he's just about reached it.
03:08Now, you take my advice.
03:09If you don't want the heavens to fall,
03:11you just sit here quiet as a mouse at home
03:13and try to behave like a little angel for once.
03:15Not that that's possible.
03:17Why couldn't we go to the pantomime after what you lot did?
03:20Come on, baby.
03:24You two, git.
03:43I know what I'm going to do.
03:45I'm going to run away and be a missionary.
03:47Won't the cannibals be pleased?
03:49She's not fat enough.
03:51You were ordered to stay in your room.
03:54Pig!
03:55Pig yourself.
03:57When I think of it,
03:58those six beastly little Digby Smiths
04:00watching our pantomime from our seats
04:02with their six beastly little eyes.
04:04Twelve beastly little eyes.
04:07What's the use of fathers anyway, I'd like to know.
04:09Oh, Judy.
04:11If it wasn't for him,
04:12we could be stuffing ourselves on roast fowl three times a day
04:15and going to pantomime every night.
04:17Except on Sundays.
04:20We could have a sort of religious pantomime
04:23with hymns and angels and gorgeous little sheriffs,
04:26but no collection and no liturgy.
04:28Oh, Judy.
04:30And terribly holy.
04:32And I hope those nasty little Digby Smiths
04:34fall over the balcony and get squashed flat.
04:36Judy, really.
04:37And I wish you'd finish that stupid book
04:39and stop being Lady Isabel.
04:41You are too childish.
04:45Where's Esther?
04:46Meg, you're in a dream.
04:48She left to visit Aunt Maud's ages ago.
04:50Oh.
04:51Don't you remember?
04:53She said you had to fix Father's uniform.
04:55Oh, Meg, don't say you've forgotten.
04:57And Pip's gone to get the dog cart to take her to the barracks.
04:59And Father's waiting.
05:01I didn't hear.
05:02I didn't.
05:03What was I supposed to do?
05:04Meg, you must have heard.
05:06You were to clean with benzene,
05:08iron while wet,
05:09put in a cool place to keep warm and bake till brown.
05:11She told you.
05:12Oh, Margaret.
05:13Surely you heard.
05:15I didn't.
05:16Why didn't you tell me?
05:18Father will be curious.
05:22Judy, you beast.
05:24Megsie, darling, she's only teasing.
05:26Bake till brown.
05:28Esther cleaned it ages ago.
05:30It's all wrapped up ready.
05:31Judy, honestly.
05:33You go too far.
05:35Poor Lady Isabel.
05:37Oh, how she suffers.
05:45Oh.
05:53Hi, Judy.
05:55Whoa.
05:57Whoa.
05:59Fetch us the coat, will you, Fez?
06:01You lucky thing's going to town.
06:03It's no pleasure, jaunted miss,
06:05and it's high time we were leaving.
06:07I'm coming back by ferry.
06:09Look here, why don't you come too?
06:11There's enough room,
06:12and I've got just enough for the Fez home.
06:14Why not?
06:15Oh, I can't.
06:16I promised Esther I'd mind the general.
06:19Could we bring him too?
06:20He wouldn't cost anything.
06:21No, Miss Judy.
06:22What harm would it do?
06:23It'll be all right.
06:24We'd be back before Esther gets home.
06:25Hours.
06:26Oh, you better put something over that dress.
06:28It's pretty awful.
06:30Wait for me.
06:40If the captain finds out,
06:41this'll cost me my job.
06:42Oh, go and eat coat, Pat.
06:43It'll be all right.
06:44You're a wicked lot,
06:45and that limousine was the worst of you.
07:07Yeah!
07:13Yeah!
07:32Whoa!
07:34Now, the two of you,
07:36mind you go straight in,
07:37and then straight to the ferry,
07:39and straight home.
07:40And no shenanigans.
07:42Ah, yeah!
07:48You do look a bit peculiar in that rig out.
07:50Pooh, it's not what you wear,
07:51it's how you wear it.
08:04Oh, bless my soul, it's young Philip.
08:06Oh, good afternoon, sir.
08:07And which is this one?
08:08Young Helen, called Judy?
08:10Hello, Colonel Whitmore.
08:11Must be General Walcott himself.
08:13Good afternoon, sir.
08:14Continue to grow like that,
08:15you'll soon be a field marshal.
08:17We're taking a parcel to father, sir.
08:18Well, I won't stop you, my lad.
08:20Got a busy day ahead of me.
08:21Got a new commanding officer.
08:23Regimental dinners, all that stuff.
08:24Oh, here.
08:26There's something for you
08:27to make yourselves ill on the way home.
08:29Golly, thank you, sir.
08:31Thank you very much.
08:32Thank you.
08:37Half a crown each.
08:39Coconuts, tarts,
08:40and save the rest for football.
08:41Where do I come in?
08:43I vote jujubes, ice cream, and a wax doll.
08:46Wax, grandmother.
08:47You're the only girl I know
08:48with enough stints to hate dolls.
08:50Fizz, what'll we do?
08:52I know, and we're almost half there.
08:54Where?
08:55Bondi Aquarium.
08:56We couldn't.
08:57We're halfway there,
08:58ten minutes in a tram,
08:59merry-go-round, switchback, skating,
09:02and only a penny a go.
09:03Good iron,
09:04and enough left over for some bonzataka.
09:06Oh, we can't.
09:07Why?
09:08There's a kid, just like a girl.
09:10What did you bring him for?
09:11Well, I didn't know, did I?
09:14Couldn't we get someone to mind him?
09:16Who?
09:18What are fathers for, anyway?
09:20Eh?
09:21Isn't it right and proper
09:22that fathers should look after their sons?
09:24You're not serious.
09:25And doesn't he deserve it
09:26for giving away our pantomime ticket?
09:28Now, Fizz, hold on.
09:29And isn't Bondi Aquarium too good to miss?
09:32Look, we could leave the general in father's office.
09:34He'll sleep for hours.
09:35What's the harm?
09:36We couldn't.
09:38Look, there he is.
09:39He'll be there for hours.
09:43Hey!
09:44Judy!
10:09Fizz, I'm not sure.
10:10He'll be safe.
10:11I've shut the door.
10:12We'll only be gone an hour.
10:13We'll get into an awful row.
10:15Oh, come on, Pip.
10:39Turn round!
10:53Row!
11:08Hut!
11:09Hey!
11:38Hut!
12:09Fizz, you'll be in a fearful wax.
12:11I hope the general behaved himself.
12:13You go.
12:14I'll stay here.
12:15Oh, no, you don't.
12:16Twenty kicks divided by two
12:17is only ten each.
12:18Come on.
12:39The general's gone.
12:41Father must have him.
12:42Unless he's wandered away.
12:43We'd better look for him.
12:55Nice hole we're in.
12:57It's the awfulest thing we've ever done in our lives.
12:59Father will be too angry to hear excuses.
13:02Look, you got us into this.
13:03Now you'd better get us out.
13:04Oh, I didn't think it would turn out like this.
13:06Come on, let's go over here.
13:28You shouldn't have seen old Wolcott.
13:30His face was purple.
13:31I can imagine.
13:32The kid was a jolly lad.
13:33Jam and dirt all over him.
13:34And you know our split and polished wool
13:36is good as a circus.
13:38Is that my father you're speaking of?
13:40You're Miss Wolcott, aren't you?
13:42Miss Helen Wolcott.
13:43Is my father here?
13:45He left about half an hour ago,
13:46with the little fellow.
13:47Your father was most annoyed.
13:49Oh, Lord.
13:50We'd better get home.
13:54He couldn't work out how he got up onto the couch.
13:57He couldn't work out how he got up onto the couch.
14:19It'll be best to take our punishment
14:21without making any excuses.
14:23Great help you are.
14:25I didn't mean father to be laughed at.
14:56He's here!
14:57What?
14:58In the stern.
14:59Angry?
15:00As glum as a boar wallaby,
15:01hanging on to the general as if he'll fly away.
15:03We're in for it now, Pippin, no question.
15:25Thank you, my man.
15:55Come here!
16:25Come on.
16:55Come here!
17:04Come here!
17:12You contemptible cur!
17:13Go to your room at once!
17:16And you, young lady,
17:18wait for me in my study.
17:26But father, Pipp didn't have anything to do with it.
17:29I'm to blame.
17:31Then his punishment was earned.
17:33He is too easily led by you.
17:36In point of fact, they are all led by you.
17:41Why?
17:44Why do you force me to punish you?
17:47I'm sorry, father.
17:48Are you?
17:49Do you know you are a bad influence
17:51on the rest of the children?
17:54You have certain unusual traits.
17:57Your mother recognized this before she died.
17:59I am forced to the same conclusion.
18:02I assured your mother that I would
18:05take special care with you.
18:07There seems no doubt that you are highly intelligent,
18:10perhaps more so than the others.
18:12It is therefore necessary to make a special provision for you.
18:15You will understand that the course I have decided to take
18:18is for your future benefit.
18:20Yes, father, but what...
18:23But that's all for now. You can go to your room.
18:40Have you decided?
18:41Yes.
18:44Don't do this, John. Please.
18:46Esther, I told you, I have made up my mind.
18:48There is no other course.
18:49Please, John, don't.
18:52What do you suggest?
18:53That I ignore it?
18:55After all, you persuaded me to practically ignore it
18:57when she made an idiot of me in front of my new commanding officer.
19:00Why should I worry about appearing a fool before the entire barracks?
19:03You know she didn't mean...
19:04That is hardly the point.
19:07You are very severe with Pip.
19:09Don't you think that's punishment enough for her, too?
19:12You fail to understand.
19:14I am doing this not as a punishment, but as a corrective.
19:18Her behavior shows a complete lack of a sense of responsibility.
19:21But she's such a...
19:22Joan has unusual qualities.
19:25I promise to take a special care with her.
19:28That is simply what I am doing.
19:31Well, I think you're being quite... quite cruel and heartless.
19:34Esther, you're speaking like a child.
19:37If I'm a child,
19:39then perhaps I can feel more than you what this will mean.
19:49Still in there?
19:50Yeah.
19:51Nobody's shouting, either.
19:53That's a change.
19:55Are you all right?
19:56Of course I am.
19:58I'm sorry, Pip.
19:59He didn't hurt much.
20:00He never does when he's really waxy.
20:02I tried to tell him it was my fault.
20:05I wish he'd just beat me and get it over with.
20:07I told him he could beat me twice instead.
20:10I'm sorry, Pip.
20:11I'm sorry, Pip.
20:12I'm sorry, Pip.
20:13I'm sorry, Pip.
20:14I'm sorry, Pip.
20:15I told him he could beat me twice instead.
20:18He didn't.
20:19Wish I was brave.
20:21Can't you see I cannot afford to risk anymore?
20:23This entire household depends upon my extremely meager pay.
20:26Its future will depend upon my advancement.
20:28Surely you can...
20:29John, please.
20:31Please.
20:32You said only this morning you knew how difficult it had been for me.
20:36Don't please make it any more difficult.
20:38Don't you see?
20:39If you do this to the children...
20:41One day, just once,
20:43will you try to see my side?
20:45Will you take my part and not the children's?
20:47Will you stop seeing me as they obviously do,
20:49as some sort of tyrant and oppressor?
20:52Can't you appreciate the position I am in?
20:55A large family.
20:56A captain's pay.
21:00Dear heaven, we have little enough time together.
21:03Nowadays it seems taken up entirely with
21:06arguments, pleas, recriminations, tears,
21:08and always the children, the children!
21:10Surely your first duty is to me.
21:15As to what is happening,
21:18I can't lose you.
21:21Our marriage means more to me than anything.
21:26Now let there be an end to this.
21:41I did hear.
21:44I think he said something about
21:47sending you away.
21:49Oh, Meg, he wouldn't.
21:51But he mustn't, he mustn't.
21:52He couldn't be so cruel and horrid.
21:54I'll come with you, Juju.
21:56I want to come, too.
21:58Oh, don't be idiotic.
21:59Of course he wouldn't send me away.
22:02I'm sure he wouldn't.
22:04I'm sure he wouldn't.
22:06Oh, don't be idiotic.
22:07Of course he wouldn't send me away.
22:10The whole place would just fall to pieces.
22:13He wouldn't.
22:14He couldn't.
22:17It would be like dying.
22:21The Mrs. Burton Boarding School for Young Ladies,
22:24Mount Victoria.
22:26He's only trying to frighten me.
22:28I know.
22:30The Mrs. Burton Boarding School for Young Ladies,
22:33Mount Victoria.
22:35He's only trying to frighten me.
22:37I know.
22:59Hello, beautiful.
23:19You shouldn't come here, I told you.
23:22Can't keep away.
23:23Come on, give us a kiss, eh?
23:24Oh, perfect.
23:26The afternoon tea is over.
23:39Children will be finishing lessons soon.
23:40Ah!
23:41Why can't I catch you?
23:42Fish, bye, fish, bye.
23:43Heave, heave, heave yourself.
23:44Heave, heave, heave yourself, heave.
23:45Heave, heave, heave, heave yourself.
23:46Heave, heave, heave, heave.
23:47Ah!
23:48I've caught you.
23:49I've caught you.
23:50Oh, you're so beautiful, that I'm going to kill you.
23:53I'm going to kill you.
23:54Here, that's enough of that. Now, Bunty!
23:56Oh, scratch your eyes, Eleanor!
23:58Did you hear me?
23:59Let me go! He pulled my hair!
24:01Miss Eleanor, I am surprised, and you planning to marry a duke?
24:04Not for ages, Martha, I told you.
24:06Yeah, yeah, I know, I know, you big fat bird!
24:08You left one trouble of Vicky for me!
24:13Really, how does one make them behave?
24:16Oh, Martha, my coat, please.
24:19Oh, dear me, my head just throbs.
24:22One is supposed to find teaching a rewarding profession,
24:25but really, sometimes it seems the pity of the captain
24:28is unable to send them all away to school.
24:31But then, of course, I wouldn't have...
24:34Thank you, Martha.
24:36We'll miss the really first-rate intelligence of young Helen.
24:41Thank you, Martha.
24:43She will be going to boarding school?
24:46Couldn't say.
24:48Oh, an excellent establishment, you know.
24:51Most select.
24:52The Mrs Bolton are very strict, but kind.
24:57Oh, good afternoon, Miss Marsh.
24:59Good afternoon, Philip.
25:01And how are you liking the grammar school?
25:03Very well, thank you.
25:04Well, that is excellent, yes.
25:07Well, goodbye.
25:09Goodbye, Miss Marsh.
25:11Oh, thank you, Martha.
25:13Dear me, the days are growing chilly, are they not?
25:21Hail, great Caesar.
25:23It's from the school.
25:24An address to your father.
25:28Thank you.
25:43Martha, you will prepare Helen's clothing.
25:45She will be leaving for Mount Victoria next Monday.
25:51Thank you.
26:21Thank you.
26:51Thank you.
26:53Thank you.