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FADE IN:
TITLE CARD: "A GAINSBOROUGH PICTURE"
The camera moves along a set of train tracks, entering a tunnel.
UNKNOWN
I want
MAN IN TOP HAT
to go to Birmingham and they're taking me on the
UNKNOWN
cruise. Oh, Mr. Porter, what a funny man you are.
TITLE CARD: "International Film Renters Ltd. PRESENTS WILL HAY in 'Oh, Mr. Porter!' MADE WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF THE SOUTHERN RAILWAY AND THE LONDON AND NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY COMPANIES Original story by Frank Launder FULL-RANGE RECORDING SYSTEM RECORDED AT ISLINGTON LONDON"
The camera continues to move along the tracks, exiting the tunnel and entering another.
TITLE CARD: "SCREEN PLAY J.O.C. Orton Val Guest Marriott Edgar PHOTOGRAPHY Arthur Crabtree EDITING R.E. Dearing CUTTING Alfred Roome SETTINGS Velchinsky RECORDING W. Salter MUSICAL DIRECTOR Louis Levy"
TITLE CARD: "Directed by Marcell Varnell"
TITLE CARD: "CAST William Porter Will Hay Jeremiah Harbottle Moore Marriott Albert Graham Moffatt Mr. Trimbleton Sebastian Smith Mrs. Trimbleton Agnes Lauchlan Superintendent Percy Walsh Grogan Dennis Wyndham The Postman Dave O'Toole"
EXT. TRAIN STATION - DAY
A new train, the SILVER LINK N° 2509, sits on the tracks. A crowd of people are gathered on the platform.
MAN IN TOP HAT
And as the managing director of this railway, it is the great pleasure in asking the wife of the Minister of Public Communications to christen our new engines. I
WOMAN IN HAT
now christen you the silver link.
MR. TRIMBLETON
As Minister of Public Communications, speaking on behalf of my wife and myself, we would like to please the record of the prize
MR. TRIMBLETON
We feel that you should have selected us
MR. TRIMBLETON
to perform the ceremony. In all the years I've been in office,
MR. TRIMBLETON
I can recall
MR. TRIMBLETON
no happier occasion.
MAN IN TOP HAT
No, no, no, no, no, no.
MR. TRIMBLETON
Don't stop him. The work of the railway must go off.
A MAN in a cap is tapping the wheels of the train with a hammer. He looks up at the commotion.
MAN IN TOP HAT
Oh, that's all. I can wait. I'll
MR. TRIMBLETON
listen to you.
MAN IN TOP HAT
Willie, what's our Willie doing here?
MR. TRIMBLETON
Come here, my man.
MR. TRIMBLETON
So you're the wheel tapper, eh? That reminds me of a story they used to tell about a wheel tapper on the line. He'd been tapping wheels for 40 years. And one day somebody asked him why he taps wheels. And what do you think he said? He said, I'm blown if I know.
MR. TRIMBLETON
He'd been tapping wheels for 40 years and didn't know why.
MAN IN TOP HAT
Louis,
WOMAN IN HAT
think me a little stupid. But why do they tap them?
MAN IN TOP HAT
Ah, well, er... Well, you see, it's like this, madam. If I tap the wheel with this hammer and the wheel goes clang, then I know the wheel's there, you see? Yes, but suppose the wheel doesn't go clang. Well, then I know the train's gone.
The woman christens the train by smashing a bottle of champagne against it. Water sprays everywhere, drenching the MAN IN TOP HAT.
MAN IN TOP HAT (CONT'D)
That's the lock. Thanks.
A young man in a white uniform hands the MAN IN TOP HAT a towel.
MAN IN TOP HAT (CONT'D)
Hold on.
The young man helps the MAN IN TOP HAT remove his wet coat.
MAN IN TOP HAT (CONT'D)
Pair of dark trousers with white pink stripes. Here.
He hands the trousers to a WOMAN in a train compartment.
MAN IN TOP HAT (CONT'D)
Ditto, cleaning number 1349. Those are made.
INT. TRAIN COMPARTMENT - DAY
The MAN IN TOP HAT is now in a different compartment, wearing a white shirt and waistcoat. He looks distressed.
MRS. TRIMBLETON
I've never been so humiliated in all my life to think that I should live to see my own brother working as a common wheel sapper. But, my dear... What's the good of being managing director if you can't get Willie a better position than that? But we've tried him in everything. Well, if that's the best you can do, I should insist on Willie resigning from the railway altogether. You mean leave us altogether? Certainly. After all, there's no need for him to work on the line.
MAN IN TOP HAT
No, there must be other things he can do. Exactly.
MRS. TRIMBLETON
He can come and live with us. What? In our house? Why not? Better that than tapping wheels. But, my dear... My mind is made up. Either Willie gets a decent job or he comes to live with us. Yes, but... Undo that thing and don't argue. Don't be
MAN IN TOP HAT
hasty, my dear. I'll see the superintendent at
MRS. TRIMBLETON
once. That's more like
MAN IN TOP HAT
it. I'll go and fetch Willie.
INT. OFFICE - DAY
The MAN IN TOP HAT is speaking to a SUPERINTENDENT. The MRS. TRIMBLETON enters the office.
MAN IN TOP HAT
I can, sir. He should be fired. You know the board's attitude towards incompetence. No, you don't understand, old man. If he's fired, my wife's going to have him live with us. Oh,
MAN IN TOP HAT
life wouldn't be worth living. I wouldn't have a sock to call my own. Oh, you have my sympathy, sir. Sympathy's no good. What I want is help. Well, have you any special position in mind for him? No, no. So long as it has the semblance of promotion.
MAN IN TOP HAT
Well, would it matter if we sent him very far away? The farther the better. Well, now let me see.
MRS. TRIMBLETON
Come on, Willie. There's nothing to be nervous about. Oh,
WILLIE
I'm not nervous. I've been here before.
WILLIE enters the office, looking nervous. He is wearing a cap and overalls.
MRS. TRIMBLETON
I hope you've explained the situation, Charles. Well, my dear, I was just... You see, Mr. Young, we don't think it conforms with our dignity to have a relative of ours tapping wheels. We've never had a tapper in our family, have we, Willie?
WILLIE
Well, there was Uncle Joe.
MAN IN TOP HAT
I thought we'd taken you off tapping. You were supposed to be sorting parcels. What were you doing on the line, anyway? Well, after I'd checked 200 Stilton cheeses, I needed some fresh air.
MRS. TRIMBLETON
You've never given the boy a proper chance. We've trained him in many capacities, my dear. What positions has he held?
MAN IN TOP HAT
In 1934, we made him chief coupler at Miggleswick. And you know what you did there.
WILLIE
Yes, I coupled. Yes, you coupled the Coltrain to the Scotch Express. I did nothing in the short. You deny it. Certainly I do. I did not couple the Coltrain to the Scotch Express. I coupled the Scotch Express to the Coltrain.
MRS. TRIMBLETON
Fancy putting anyone with Willie's intelligence to couple trains.
MAN IN TOP HAT
On Derby Day, 1935, we put you on the indicator board. Yes, that's quite right. And you sent 12,000 race-goers to a temperance convention in Wales. Did you hear about that too? Hear about it? Yes, from 12,000 race-goers. Charles. Yes, my dear. Either Willie gets promoted or... What vacancies are there?
MAN IN TOP HAT
There's a vacancy for a sleeping car attendant.
MRS. TRIMBLETON
No, that would keep him up too late.
MAN IN TOP HAT
Does a guard want it for a milk train? No, that'll get me up too early. Oh, well, that's all there is.
MRS. TRIMBLETON
Right, come on, Willie.
MAN IN TOP HAT
Surely there must be something. Well, we've already offered him two posts. What does he want? Just a minute.
MAN IN TOP HAT
Have you got any station masters? London Main Line Terminus, I suppose. Oh, no, no. Start me Manchester, Birmingham. I'll work my way up. Well, there aren't any station master vacancies. Ah, there you are, sis. See what I'm up against. Victimization. The one job I know I can do, and they won't give me a chance. What's this? Oh, that must have just come in. There's a place in Ireland called Buggleskelly. Oh, that's nothing. There's a place in Wales called... They want a station master at Buggleskelly. What? Excuse me one minute.
MAN IN TOP HAT
Mr. Ledbetter, about that vacancy for a station master at Buggles, Kelly, I thought we filled there a month ago. Yes, sir, but it's vacant again. Don't know, sir. Local conditions would appear to be peculiar. We've sent them five station masters in 12 months. What happened to the last one? I'll read you his letter, sir. Sounds a bit queer to me. Dear sir, since coming to this district, I have discovered I am Napoleon Bonaparte, and since you refused to transfer me to Waterloo, I resign. P.S. Please forward all letters to Moscow. I intend to retreat there.
MAN IN TOP HAT
And the one before him, why did he leave? I've no idea, sir. But I remember we sent a reef.
MAN IN TOP HAT
So is the very place. Can I have it? You've got it. It's a country station, rather off the beaten track. Oh, I don't mind. As long as it's near the railway. Let me see.
The SUPERINTENDENT points to a map of Ireland on the wall.
MAN IN TOP HAT (CONT'D)
Here's our line running through Northern Ireland. And here is Buggles, Kelly.
The Superintendent points to a specific spot on the map.
A train is superimposed over the map.
INT. TRAIN CARRIAGE - NIGHT
The train is moving, and the wheels are visible. It is raining outside.
A sign outside the window reads "BALLYDRUM RATHEND & BUGGLESKELLY"
The window is covered in rain, obscuring the view.
Inside the carriage, several people are huddled together. A WOMAN IN SHAWL is holding a basket.
MRS. TRIMBLETON
Would
MAN IN HAT
you mind?
The MAN IN HAT helps the WOMAN IN SHAWL with her basket.
UNKNOWN
Thanks.
MAN IN HAT
That's a grand coffee you have there, mister.
WILLIE is holding a large, ornate clock.
WILLIE
Oh, this? Just a little present from my staff when they heard I was eating lunch. But what might the inscription be? To William Porter, that way, from his fellow workers on the occasion of his promotion to the station master at Buggles Kelly.
WOMAN IN SHAWL
What's that he said? This gentleman is the new station master. Poor man. And him a stranger.
WILLIE
Why, what's wrong with it?
WOMAN IN SHAWL
It's a brave
WOMAN IN SHAWL
man, the child. No chicken child a man will walk abroad there after dark.
MAN IN HAT
Is it damp or something? Did you ever hear a tale of One-Eyed Jewel, the Phantom Miller? No, I didn't follow greyhounds. Follow, is it? Follow. You'll be a lucky man if One-Eyed Jewel never follows you. He was murdered by the railway. In the old days, he was a rich man, and a man too. He owned the hill and the mill that stands on top of it. You should be able to see it from here.
The view outside the window is dark and blurry.
MAN IN HAT (CONT'D)
Then one day the railway came along, and what did they do but start to run a tunnel right through the heart of the hill without buying your labor or nothing? Well, that was hardly sick transit law there, was it? He should have sued them. He did better. He put a curse on the line and swore that any train that entered the tunnel should never come out again. Well, that would match up the time tables a bit, wouldn't it? The first train that came along there in the mouth of the tunnel stood one-eyed Joe, with his arms upraised. Go back, go back, he tried. But the engine driver drove straight on. What, over cock-eyed Joe? And the next morning, his body was found on the line.
WILLIE
And every night when the moon gives light, the ghost of the miller is seen. As he walks the track with the sack on his back down to the black porhine. And the middle wheels turn, though the night is still. And the old lights flash from the ruin mill. He haunts the station. He haunts the hill and the land that lies between.
MAN IN HAT
Bugglers,
WILLIE
Kelly. Oh, man.
WILLIE
Oh, that's your problem. Thanks.
The train stops. The passengers begin to exit.
Willie tries to open the window, but it is stuck. He struggles with it.
EXT. COUNTRYSIDE - NIGHT
Willie is walking alone in the rain, carrying his clock. He looks lost.
WILLIE
Hey, it says two miles to Buckleskelly from here. I can't help it. Well, how do I get there? You walk. Follow this road round the Puttapooka Hill. Pass the Witch's Oak. Drop down into Hell's Hollow. Well, I only asked you a simple question. And the station's right in front of you. You can't miss it. Oh, well, thank you very much. Good night to you. Good boy to you. Yes.
WILLIE
Oh, you're the funny-looking bird.
Willie looks up at an OWL perched on a sign that reads "BUGGLESKELLY STATION TWO MILES"
WILLIE
Why, you, you flat-faced bullet.
Willie continues to walk in the rain.
He stops at a sign that reads "SOUTHERN RAILWAY OF NORTHERN IRELAND"
Willie opens a gate and walks through.
Willie walks along the tracks.
He passes another sign that reads "BUGGLESKELLY"
Willie walks into a dark building.
INT. BUGGLESKELLY STATION - NIGHT
Willie enters a dimly lit station office. He looks around nervously.
He sees a note on the wall that reads "give half A Pint"
Willie looks out a window.
WILLIE
The next train's gone. What do you mean, next train's gone? There's no sense in that. It's like saying the last train that came in hasn't... Hasn't what? Well, hasn't gone? Don't argue with me. Come out, let me in. Come out? What, at night? Not me. Aye, aye, aye.
Willie is talking to someone through a small window.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Oh, there you are. What, are you here again? Again? I haven't been away yet. What's the idea of keeping me out of my own station? Come out.
Willie enters the main part of the station office, which is cluttered with various items. JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE, an old man with a long white beard, is sitting at a desk.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Oh, what a station.
WILLIE
Look at that. A bit of fish, ain't you? I don't want any of this from you. Who are you, anyway? Me? I'm Arbottle. Porter, Shunter, Signalman. Deputy Station Master when there isn't a Station Master, which is more open than not. Oh, well, there's one now, see? Where? Here, I'm the Station Master. Where's your clock? What clock? Your presentation clock. How did you know I got one? Ah, they all bring them. Bung it with the others.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
They look lovely when they knew, don't they?
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
William Porter. Another William. That was William O'Shea. Poor Bill. Why, what happened to him? They put him away. Had to. Oh.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
Mick McGuire? Well, why did he leave? Nobody knows. He went out after dark. Where to? I don't know. Never saw him again. But we heard him. At least Albert did. Albert? Who's Albert? He functions for me when I'm not here. Oh. Well, which is his clock? He hasn't got a clock. He's still alive. Hey, give me that back. Well, aren't you going to put it for the others? What amongst them? There are a lot of tombstones.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
What's that? If it gives two owls, owls and a toot, it's Albert.
WILLIE
Well, he's not afraid of the dark, anyway. Oh, he plays with the pixies. Oh, does he? All that's going to stop from now on. Here's the subject here, Ma. Mine ready? Yep.
A WOMAN enters the office, carrying a basket of eggs.
A young man, ALBERT, enters the office. He is wearing a striped shirt and a cap.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
What's he want? New station, master.
WILLIE
Go and ask the cough, hurry. Never mind about my cough. You show a little more respect to your superiors. And put that back where you got it from.
WILLIE
And take your cap off. And you. What have you got there? My supper beer. Have some? Certainly not. This place is far too free and easy altogether. I don't know with a man in my position and hobnobbing with his staff. You keep your place and I'll keep mine.
WILLIE
What is it, bitter?
A painting of a pastoral scene is shown.
INT. TRAIN CARRIAGE - NIGHT
Willie is sleeping in a train carriage, covered in hay. A COW is next to him.
WILLIE
Hey, move over. I want to come out. You have to wait. I've got to empty this cow.
Willie is now dressed in striped pajamas. He looks out the window.
MR. TRIMBLETON
Hey, who does she belong to?
Willie throws hay out of the window.
Willie climbs out of the window.
WILLIE
The where? Here. She's Alice.
MR. TRIMBLETON
Oh, yes.
WILLIE
I suppose that's her name, is it?
Willie holds up a sign that reads "LOST IN TRANSIT"
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Something burning somewhere?
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
That'd be Albert cooking her breakfast.
WILLIE
Smells more like somebody cooking Albert.
Willie and Jeremiah walk away from the train.
Albert is cooking something in a pan over a fire.
INT. BUGGLESKELLY STATION - DAY
Willie, Jeremiah, and Albert are sitting at a table, eating breakfast.
WILLIE
Ah, I think I'm going to like Bucklef Kelly. Yeah, in the daytime.
WILLIE
Well, you've got a big cheese here. Yeah, this is where you sit. Thank you.
WILLIE
Where did this come from? Don't it say?
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
No, it just says where it's going to.
WILLIE
What's the idea of this? Tell me you're eating food that doesn't belong to you. We haven't had any places since we came to Ireland. We can't starve, so we borrow things. Borrow? You mean you steal things from the railway? I wouldn't call it stealing. Call it stepping off the country.
WILLIE
Danish? Not particular which country either, are you? That's all right. We paid for that. What did that cost you?
UNKNOWN
A
WILLIE
ticket to Belfast. A what? A ticket to Belfast. Yes, that's how we get everything. Good, ain't it? So that's it. You've been getting goods by giving away the company's tickets. Well, I've never heard of such a thing. It's absolutely dishonest. Do you understand you're in a position of trust here? The company came along and started checking up on their tickets. Wasn't it where they'd gone to? You'd be in a fine mess, wouldn't you? That's right. Well, this isn't right. In future, you'll make sure those tickets come back. How? Well, give them return tickets.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
Nice piece of bacon, this. Danish, too? No, this is home-grown. Yeah, some sauce.
WILLIE
Oh, go on, some of your shop. This time.
WILLIE
But don't keep the customers waiting.
Jeremiah gets up and walks towards the door.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
It's Murphy, called for his pigs. Well, give them to him. Can't, not now. What do you mean, not now? If there is probably he can have them any time he likes. Well, not all of them. Not all of them? Well, why not all of them?
MAN IN HAT
Where did you get this baiting?
WILLIE
That's right. Well, that's a nice state of affairs. You don't want to steal the company's goods and pawn their tickets, but you actually pinch things from a customer. Well, who's going to tell him? You are. You're the station master. I'll do no such thing. That's not part of a station master's duties. A man comes here, leaves his pigs with the company. When he comes back, what does he find? Finds you beating them. Well, how was I to know?
WILLIE
Well, somebody better tell him before he knocks that door down. Well, I'll tell him. I should report this to the company. Absolutely disgraceful sitting there like a couple of pigs eating. Well, you're a pair of cannibals, that's what you are.
A man with a large beard, MR. MURPHY, enters the office.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
What can I do for you, Mr... My name's Murphy and I want my pigs. Have you got your voucher? Is this what you mean? Are you sure you left them at the station? Of course, I'm sure. Come on, let's have them. They've been here a long time, you know. They used to come sooner.
WILLIE
We've had a rather cold spell. Pigs are only human after all. I couldn't come sooner. My wife had Quincy's. Like that woman in Canada. Have you got two pigs of mine here, or haven't you?
WILLIE
As a matter of fact, I... I won't give you a moment.
MR. MURPHY
We've
WILLIE
got them. What, here? Yes. Mine?
UNKNOWN
Yes.
WILLIE
Where are they? In there. Oh,
Willie leads Mr. Murphy to a pen where two pigs are kept.
WILLIE
well, would you come and identify your property, Mr. Murphy? I will.
Two pigs are in a pen.
MR. MURPHY
Hey, it's just two here. Who's the other one belong to?
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
Him. We're six.
WILLIE
Ah, yes.
WILLIE
Well, Mr. Murphy, let me congratulate you. Your pigs have had a visit from the stock. Looks as if they had a visit from the butcher, too. Where's the rest of them? What about the litter? Oh, don't worry about that. We'll clear it up. I mean the litter of pigs. Oh, there
UNKNOWN
it
WILLIE
is. But you don't call one a litter, do you? Pussy Jane never furrows less than semen. Well, you can't expect her to keep it up all the time, can you?
WILLIE
I wants me property. Oh, take it. Two pigs, that's all it says here. I wants me litter too. It is the law of nature. Ah, but it's not the law of the railway. What doesn't go in can't come out. I mean, what you can't do, what you don't put in, you can't take out, can you? I mean, it's here for yourself. There you are. The company should be reliable in the aggregate for misdelivery, detention, misdelivery, negligence, occasionally, more separately, if it's left on the premises. There you are, left on the premises. You left two pigs. You can't get there on that plane. It's a pig staff. He has stolen me litter rights through the company. I'm sorry, Mr. Murphy, but rules are rules, litter or no litter, and I'm acting stupid. strictly within the letter of the law. Yes, I'll settle with you. In the meantime, you might just settle this bill, will you please? A bill? What for? A keep of two pigs for one month, 15 shillings. What? Well, I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll take the small pig in full settlement. So you not only steal me pigs, but you charge me 15 shillings for the privilege. It's a rule of the company. You can't break it. Oh, no. Well, here's where I break something belonging to the company.
WILLIE
Hello. Has he gone? No. This is the station. What can I do for you? What's that? A fire? Where?
WILLIE
At the farm? Whose farm? No, good gracious. What are you talking about? What? The haystacks gone? And the barns. Whose barns? Oh dear me. And the house. Whose house? Yours. House Mrs. Murphy and the Quincy's.
WILLIE
Hey, what was all that about? Never you mind. You send those pigs back to Murphy's Park before they'll cause me more trouble.
WILLIE
And if you see a stock flying about here, throw something at it.
A bell RINGS.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
What's that? Oh, that'll be the express. What, a train? Could have happened. When is it due? Ten minutes, but it won't stop. What do you mean, it won't stop? It will. I know it won't. It only stops at important stations. Yes, well, in future, this is going to be an important station. It's going to stop today.
EXT. BUGGLESKELLY STATION - DAY
Willie, Jeremiah, and Albert are standing on the platform. Albert is sweeping the platform with a broom.
WILLIE
Well, I... Hey, come on. Don't you dare do nothing. There's a train coming through. Go on, do something. Stand up in the face of it. Go on. Hey, get those things off the line. It ain't a thing. It's a mallet.
UNKNOWN
I
Clothes are hanging on a clothesline across the tracks.
WILLIE
would say the washing off the line. Of course, it's not dry. Well, who cares? There's a station, not a laundry.
WILLIE
See? Oh, you one-half cop it, stop me in a train for no reason. You mind your own business. I'm station master here, and if I want a train to stop, it
UNKNOWN
stops.
WILLIE
Oh, the gate! Where's the wheel that opens that gate? Over there.
Willie runs to a large wheel next to the tracks.
UNKNOWN
Is
WILLIE
the gate opening?
UNKNOWN
Yeah.
Willie struggles to turn the wheel.
WILLIE
Opening now?
UNKNOWN
No.
WILLIE
Well, you ought to outturn this wheel four times. That wheel don't work.
WILLIE
What do you mean, Jimmy? Let me break my back, Jimmy. You have to open it by hand. Well, why don't you say
WILLIE
so? Albert, come on and do this padlock. Can't. We lost the key. Well, how do you open the gate? You have to lift it off the hinges. Oh. Huh?
Willie walks towards the gate.
Willie talks to Albert.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Now, you go down to the
WILLIE
other one.
Albert runs off.
Willie and Jeremiah run through a garden.
UNKNOWN
Oh, the signal. Here, here, here, here,
WILLIE
here, here. Give me my tomatoes. Well, in fact, everything's down at a place like this. What do you think of
UNKNOWN
it?
WILLIE
Skew gardens? Here, here. I brought these up by hand. Yes, when they're coming down by foot. Oh, no, they're not.
A signal flag is raised.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Well, what did I get out of the dog?
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
This is a distress signal, I think.
Jeremiah is looking out of the train window.
The clothesline is still across the tracks.
Jeremiah is still looking out of the train window.
A train approaches, emitting smoke.
Willie waves a flag frantically.
The train passes by.
Willie continues to wave the flag.
The TRAIN CONDUCTOR exits the train.
TRAIN CONDUCTOR
What are you stopping my train for?
WILLIE
Well, I'm the new station master here.
TRAIN CONDUCTOR
Well, what about it?
WILLIE
Well, I thought I'd give you a chance of making my acquaintance. What?
UNKNOWN
Do
WILLIE
you think I want my train held up every time some dirty little hall changes its staff? Dirty little hall? Don't you talk like that about my station? Station, do you call it? It's a nice ordered dump, that's what it is. You don't think any decent train to stop here, do you? Ah, well, they're going to stop here. I'm not going to have my station ignored. Dirty little dump indeed. It seems it's your train anyway. Take your hands off my train. Well, you take your feet off my platform. Now listen, you're wasting me time. Go on away. Can't you move up a bit? No. Can't you move up a couple of yards? Oh, go away.
UNKNOWN
Well,
WILLIE
a couple of inches then. Get away with you. What's the trouble here? Yeah, what's all the noise about? Goodbye, Ben.
The train conductor and another man are talking to Willie.
The train emits smoke, blowing the clothes off the line.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Yeah, and nearly as dirty as when he took them off.
Albert exits the train, carrying a crate of ducks.
Ducks are in a crate.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Right away, Mike. Hey, wait a minute. Here. You can't tell him I don't wait like that. I'm the station master here. All aboard for Ballyhooley, Ballycarrie, Ballybubbion. Go ahead, Mike. Hey, stay where you are, Mike. You run along and play. When I'm ready. All aboard for Ballybuggles and all the other Ballyplaces. You don't even know where the train's going to. Why should I? When it leaves here, I'll wash my hands of it. All right, Mike, push off.
WILLIE
He goes when I tell him. Go ahead, Mike. I don't want any impregnance from you.
WILLIE
You big, sloppy-looking misfits. Why don't you get a proper hat?
UNKNOWN
What
WILLIE
do you mean, a proper hat?
TRAIN CONDUCTOR
Your station smells like a backyard dustbin.
WILLIE
It isn't even on the map. Why, you guard you! Blackbeak! Fall-eyed! And you mind you stopping? You come here next time and there'll be trouble if you don't. Be back!
WILLIE
Not on the map, is
UNKNOWN
he? Oh,
WILLIE
sauce. Oh, well, maybe it could do with a coat of paint.
Willie looks around the station.
ALBERT
Hey, you knock those up. No, I made a mistake and got out of the wrong station.
WILLIE
Oh, well, that's all right,
ALBERT
then. Well, don't stand there. Go on. Shell some peas.
Willie and Albert are standing next to a sign that reads "BUGGLESKELLY"
WILLIE
It's my thinking another with the station master. What are you doing to the station? Putting it on the mat. Got this idea. All right, no answer.
Willie is kneeling on the ground, arranging white stones to spell out "BUGGLESKELLY"
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Our model. Eh?
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
That's another way to spell it. There are two L's in Kelly. Count of that, 13 letters. Unlucky. Oh. Well, take one of the K's out. Nobody'll notice. Eh?
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
You're wasting your time. What's that? You're wasting your time. What do you think you're doing there? Just watching you wasting your time. All right, well, you waste your time and I waste mine. What are you burying? I'm not burying anything. I'm planting lobelia. You're wasting your time. Why?
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
You won't be here when they come up.
WILLIE
Hey, can't you get rid of him? Is he a relation of yours? No, but we both go out with the same girl. Oh, well, let's ignore him.
WILLIE
Here, you go and wait for the office in case my bell pass call comes through.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
You're wasting your time.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
All right, I'll buy it. What's the answer? There wasn't a breath of wind last night. Well, what's that going to do with me? Yet the sails of the windmill went round and round and round. Good day to you.
Jeremiah walks towards a chocolate vending machine.
WILLIE
Hey, what are you doing to that machine? Taking a bit of chocolate. What's the idea of kicking it? What do you think the slot's for? To blow down if the kick don't work. To blow down if the kick don't work? Here, I'll tell you
MR. MURPHY
something.
INT. BUGGLESKELLY STATION - DAY
The telephone RINGS.
UNKNOWN
What? Telephone's ringing. Get out of here.
Willie picks up the phone.
WILLIE
Hello?
INT. BELFAST OFFICE - DAY
A WOMAN is speaking on the phone.
WOMAN ON PHONE
Belfast speaking. You wanted us. Who is that?
INT. BUGGLESKELLY STATION - DAY
WILLIE
This is Buckles Kelly. What's that you said? Buckles Kelly.
WILLIE
B for basket? Eh? What? Who did? I did not. I said this is Bungles Kelly.
WOMAN ON PHONE
That's the name of my station. Oh, it's you again. Well, what is it this time?
WOMAN ON PHONE
All right, I'll put you through to Mr. Brock.
WOMAN ON PHONE
Mr. Brock.
INT. BELFAST OFFICE - DAY
MR. BROCK is sitting at his desk, speaking on the phone.
MR. BROCK
Yes?
WILLIE
Porter? Where? I'm not a railway porter. I'm Porter the Station Master. No, not both, only one. I'm Station Master Porter at Buggles on your railway. What the devil do you want now? I've already sent you 200 posters and 50 gallons of paint. What have I got down there, a circus?
INT. BUGGLESKELLY STATION - DAY
WILLIE
Oh, you want to run an excursion. Where to? Well, I don't know yet, but there must be a lot of nice places in Ireland. I mean, there's Kilkenny, where the cats come from, and Connemara, where they have all the bogs. Then there's Limerick, the home of poetry. Limerick. You know, there was a young lady of Gloucester. How many tickets could you sell? What shall I say? Who's sweetheart double-crossed her. Who's sweetheart double-crossed her? What are you talking about? The young lady from Gloucester. She said... Listen, I'll kick that one tooth of yours out and leave you stark naked, you old fool. No, not you, no, no. Listen, how many people can we get to go to Connemara?
MR. MURPHY
Well, there's the
WILLIE
old party from the church. There's the church party. And the girl at the post office. And the post office staff. And my bird. And his bird. Listen, get out of it. Get out!
Willie pushes Jeremiah and Albert out of the way.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Well, I can't give you the exact number at the moment, but in rough figures, I should say quite a lot. Oh, I should think two carriages would be enough with what we've got. Oh, just one other little thing we shall want, an engine.
Willie hangs up the phone.
Willie walks towards Jeremiah and Albert.
EXT. BUGGLESKELLY STATION - DAY
Willie, Jeremiah, and Albert are sitting outside the station.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
What are you doing to the station?
WILLIE
Putting it on the map.
Albert points to Willie's nose.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Got this idea. All right, no answer.
Willie walks towards the chocolate machine.
Willie kicks the machine.
EXT. TRAIN YARD - DAY
Willie, Jeremiah, and Albert are walking through a train yard, looking at old train carriages.
WILLIE
Here you
WILLIE
are.
WILLIE
Well, all we've got to do is to get it up from amongst those trucks. That's right. What's right? All we've got to do is to get it up from amongst those trucks. Well, I just said that. I know, I heard you. Well, get your coach up and get to it. Come on.
WILLIE
We should need Gladstone. What are you talking about? Of course, you don't know who Gladstone is, do you? What do you mean, the man who made the bags? Gladstone's our engine. Well, why'd you tell me we've got an engine? He never asked us. Oh, come on, leave me to it. I'll bet you stay here in all those wheels. Haven't gone, I can. Well, get one out of the crew.
Willie, Jeremiah, and Albert walk towards an old train engine.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
There she is.
Albert and Jeremiah are trying to move the train engine.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Isn't she a beauty?
EXT. TRAIN STATION - DAY
WILLIE and JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE are in the engine of a train. Willie is wearing a cap and overalls. Jeremiah Harbottle has a long white beard, wearing a cap and dark clothes.
WILLIE
What is it, the rocket? That's Gladstone. Lovely lines, ain't she?
Willie and Jeremiah Harbottle are outside the train. Willie is now wearing a white shirt and waistcoat.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Where does it go? How do you think it got here? I thought maybe that stalker brought it. Here, wait a minute. Let me go first. She knows me. What's all the decorations
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
for?
WILLIE
We leave for mappity. Blimey, you just heard of it. Well, where's the soft starter? Well, you can't start it till you get it on the boil. Well, come on, do something about it. Come on. All right.
WILLIE
Oh, good morning. Got a match? Yes.
Willie and Jeremiah Harbottle are in the engine. Willie is trying to light something.
A close up of a nest with an egg in it. Willie lights the nest on fire.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Now I'll start it. You
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
can't start it, it'll have hand
WILLIE
points to
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
80.
WILLIE
How do you get it to 80? You soak it. Where's the coal?
UNKNOWN
In the
WILLIE
scuttle. There's no coal there to boil an egg. It's been put in the tender. That's all right. You can't destroy these. They're company properties, destination boards. Look, Belfast, Tipperary, Dublin, Cheltenham. Oh, you can burn that one. I've hauled it, but I don't see how you're going to get the carriage out in the middle of those trucks. We're going to shun it out.
ALBERT, a young man in a striped shirt and cap, stands next to the train.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
No, what? Those trucks never would have been put there in the first place. Well, I know that, you old fool. The point is they've got to be shifted. Come on.
Willie, Jeremiah Harbottle, and Albert are kneeling on the tracks.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Now, look here. Look, there's the carriage there, you see? Now, turn out your pockets, Albert. Come on. That's right. Now, that'll be the line of trucks there.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
You
WILLIE
see? This is the side in here, isn't it? No, that's the station. You're on the wrong side. Get over here. Now, see,
WILLIE
where were we?
WILLIE
Now, there's Gladstone. These are the trucks, and that's the carriage. Now, the problem is to get it out. Well, if we had a crane, we could lift it out. If we had a crane, with some dynamite, we could blow it out. And you shut up, too.
WILLIE
Now, I'm Gladstone. No, I'm Gladstone. Well, we can't have two Gladstones. Here, you can be the rover carriage. If I can't be Gladstone, I'm not going to fly. That's the, uh... You've
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
got me all mixed up now. All
WILLIE
right, if you're too clever, you show us. Well, I say Gladstone's here. How can Gladstone be there? I'll tell you where Gladstone is. Let's go! Whoa!
The train starts moving. Willie, Albert, and Jeremiah Harbottle run after it.
WILLIE
That's it. We've got to stop dancing too. Come on.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Go on, stop her! Albert will run on the sleepers! Albert, get ahead of it and head it off! Go on!
Willie runs on the tracks.
Willie, Albert, and Jeremiah Harbottle are at the train station. Willie is now wearing a station master's uniform.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Well, good morning, gentlemen. Just a little staff drill in case one of our engines ever got away. You'll be the new stationmaster, I'm thinking. I am, and... We represent the tradesmen of Buggles Kelly, and we want some trades.
Willie is talking to three men in hats.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Oh, trains. Oh, yes. Well, we've got plenty of them here. But it didn't have one of them stopped. What? You mean didn't stop? Why, will the trains stop here on Tuesday? Well, where do you want to go to? Just to the place as mentioned, on them tickets. What? All of them? No less. We've supplied goods to the value of them tickets.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
And you've either got to provide us with trains or give us our goods back.
WILLIE
Oh, that's absolute nonsense. We don't go to our customers and demand our journeys back. I hold on there. We'll hear what your head office has to say. Good day to you.
WILLIE
Oh, gentlemen, wait a minute. Wait a minute. Don't go. I didn't say I wouldn't do it. As a matter of fact, I'm making up a special now. I'm just waiting for the OK from Belfast.
WILLIE
Oh, excuse me, my engine.
WILLIE
Could you come back tonight? What? Here? At night? We will not. Oh. Well, I'm very busy just now. Where could I see you? You know Barney's Bar. I know Barney's Bull. Oh, Barney's Bar. Yes, of course, the local. Well, I can see you there. But just now, I've got some shunting to do, so if you don't mind, I'll shunt off.
Willie is talking to the men in hats. Jeremiah Harbottle is in the engine.
Albert is on the tracks waving a flag.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
There's a signal. Outside!
The train is moving.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
Funny, how did
UNKNOWN
that
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
happen?
WILLIE
Do you know where you sent those fucks? Yes, down there. You've done it.
A shot of a cliff.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Well, we've got the carriage anyway. Yes, but if you want to keep it, you'd better get it off the main line. Why? Expect to be here any minute. Well, what are you waiting for? Go on!
WILLIE
Why didn't it start? Do something, force them to leave us.
Steam comes out of the train, covering Willie and Jeremiah Harbottle.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Now you've done it. You've got to let all the steam out. Well, we'll have it. We can always make some more when we want it. Yes, but we want it now. The carriage is still on the main line.
WILLIE
Don't stand in there. Get up and push.
Willie and Albert push the train. Jeremiah Harbottle gets out of the train.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Here, wait a minute. Wait a minute, I'm coming.
UNKNOWN
Here, half a
WILLIE
month,
UNKNOWN
half a month.
WILLIE
Here, wait a minute, wait a minute. Here, here, what day is it? It's our last if we don't get this thing shifted. It's the 19th. Here, see what it says here? On April the 19th, summertime will start. Clock should be adjusted accordingly. See, I think we've got last time. Yeah, that's quite correct.
WILLIE
Hey, that's addressed to me. Yeah, that's right. What's the idea of opening my letters? Well, I couldn't have told you it was wrong if I hadn't opened it. Well, if you should, you leave my letters alone, will you?
WILLIE
To adjust the service to the new time, the 11 o'clock express on this day will run at 12 o'clock summertime. Well, what are we hurrying about? We've got two hours. I can make out we've got two hours. Well, if we put the clocks back an hour and the train's an hour late, then it's two hours, isn't it? Well, you put the clocks forward and the train back. Well, what do we get then? We've got the express coming any minute. What are you talking about? Listen, if the train's an hour late, how can it be coming now? It's summertime. Summertime. The old fool's potty. Summertime or wintertime if a train's laid it's late. Yeah, that's right. I thought you'd put the clock forward. Well, if the clocks go forward, then the train's already gone. No, no, no, no, you put the clocks back. Of course you do. You lengthen the day by taking an hour off the end and sticking it on the beginning. No, no, you take an hour off the beginning and stick it on the end. That's wintertime. No, wintertime, you put them back. Well, that's what I said. No, you said you put it back for summertime. Yes, that's right. It ain't. You put the clocks forward if you make the train early. Oh, would you believe it? Listen, I know what I'm talking about. You don't put the clocks forward, you put them back. You put the train back. I see. You put everything back. Yes. I'm sorry. You all right? Well, of course I'm right. The train won't be here for another two hours.
WILLIE
That's awful. I said we should have put the clocks forward.
INT. BAR - NIGHT
A group of men are sitting around a table. One of them, MR. MURPHY, has a large beard, wearing a hat and dark clothes. He is drinking from a mug.
WILLIE
Hey,
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
what
WILLIE
are you doing?
UNKNOWN
A
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
trick. Fill them up again and I'll show you another.
WILLIE
I'll bet you would. Hey, what about the excursions? Only tickets? No. Oh, give me to you and sell some. Nobody wants to go to Connemara. That's because you haven't tried to sell them in the right way. All right, you have a go. Double one to
UNKNOWN
get.
WILLIE
It's been a nice day. It has that. It's one of those days when it would be nice to be at Connemara. It would, that. Do you know Connemara? Indeed I do. You have an uncle there. Oh, have you? Have a drink, will you? Thanks. I'll have a point of thought.
Willie is talking to a man with a pipe.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
This grand old place, Connemara. It is that. Pine salmon in the river. Yes. Grouse on the moors. And here on the hills. There's Miss Chief of the town. Here. Oh, your help. Thank you. Good help. So you've an uncle in Connemara? Well, I'm on an excursion there tomorrow. How would you like to pay your uncle a surprise visit? That wouldn't surprise him. Why not? Sure, he's in the cemetery.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
You're wasting your time!
WILLIE
You frozen-faced old... Oh, good evening, gentlemen.
WILLIE
Now, what about it? Oh, yes, yes. Well, gentlemen, I've been going into the matter with these tickets of yours, and I think I've got a solution. We don't want a solution. Have you got old trains? Yes. Well, in a way, perhaps not trains, but I've got a train. Well, gentlemen, I've arranged an excursion for you. And all you've got to do is to give me your old tickets, and I'll give you these new ones in exchange. An excursion, is it? And will it be after visiting all the places mentioned on our list? Oh, well, I couldn't guarantee that. You see, I've arranged the excursion to go to Connemara. Connemara? Where's that? What, Connemara? Well, it's, um... You go down the line and you take the first tunnel on the left. How about my ticket to Tipperary? Oh, it's a long way to Tipperary. Now, the reason I'm sending you to Connemara... It's my point about Connemara. It's Barry Bunyan who wants to be at. Well, perhaps I can arrange that later. Now, Connemara... Listen. If you come to my shop and ask for turnips, I give you turnips. I don't try to give you carrots. I'm asking for Tipperary, and it's Tipperary where I want to go. Don't get excited. Don't get excited. I mean, if you set your heart on Tipperary, well, that's I can arrange towards the excursion. Well, that sounds reasonable. Reasonable indeed. And me with a ticket for belly bunion. Well, I'm only trying to be. Kelly, did you not hear the gentleman say we were going to Tipperary? That's a blazes with your Tipperary and your Ballybunion. What am I going to do with my cock? We're going to Ballybunion. Ballybunion is the finest place in Ireland. What? You're not going to stand for that, are you? No, you're not. Ballybunion is the finest place in the world. And that's on your throat. Well, what are you going to say to that? Ballybunion. I'd sooner go to Connemara, and that's bad enough. What's that you're saying about the hometown Connemara? You keep out of this and mind your own business. He can't talk to you like that, can he? And neither can you. What is that of your beer? Would you mind stepping this way for a minute? I'd be delighted. Go on, flit on the tail of me coat. All right, knock that off.
WILLIE
And I come from Dublin.
UNKNOWN
Get down.
A man throws a dart at a dartboard. Mr. Murphy falls to the ground.
A fight breaks out in the bar.
Willie is standing in the dark.
WILLIE
Oh, I'm sorry, I can't... Sit down.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
I
WILLIE
was about to send to you, Mr. Porter. Take a drink. Oh, well, as a matter of fact, I... Take a drink.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
Yes.
WILLIE
He has
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
long life to you, Mr.
WILLIE
Stationmaster.
WILLIE
Same to you, mister. I didn't catch your name. Call me Joe. Joe, yes.
WILLIE
What's this train you got running tomorrow? Oh, that? Oh, it's a little idea of my own. It's a special excursion, non-stop saloon. Going east or west? It's going both ways. East going and west coming back. It's going to Connemara. Connemara? The very place. How many ticks do you sold? Oh, let me see now.
WILLIE
Have you sold any? No. Right. I'll take the lot. What, the whole 200? Why, you must have a large family. Oh, no. It's a football team I'm taking. The Buggles Kelly Wednesday. The who? The Buggles Kelly Wednesday. We're playing a match. Well, on a Tuesday. How funny. Well, what about the money? What? Oh, it's just a little formality, that's all. I'll tell you when I come back. Win or lose. Win or lose. And I want that train at six o'clock in the morning. Oh, no, that's impossible. My excursion's not running till 10. Well, that's just too bad. The deal's off. Oh, don't say that. I'll see that it runs early for you. And how about the doings? That'll be all. And don't forget, six o'clock in the morning. Six o'clock, yes. Good night.
UNKNOWN
Good luck to the Thursday, Tuesday, the Wednesday.
WILLIE
Oh, my
UNKNOWN
God.
Willie is talking to Albert and Jeremiah Harbottle. Albert is holding Jeremiah Harbottle.
WILLIE
Hey, hey, come on, come on, what's all this? He's drunk and he's out. Oh, that's a nice thing. What do you do with my station trolley? He always brings it, that's how he gets home. Albert pushes him. Oh, does he? Who's gonna push him tonight? It looks like you are.
UNKNOWN
Pop.
Willie is in the station office. Albert and Jeremiah Harbottle are asleep on the floor.
WILLIE
Hey, Albert. Albert, get up. Get up. You've got to help me get this train away. Hey.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
Is it right what Pat tells me? You're starting the
WILLIE
train now. Of course it's right. Go on, hurry up. The passengers will be here any minute.
EXT. TRAIN STATION - DAY
Willie, Albert, and Jeremiah Harbottle are at the train station. Willie is in his station master uniform. Albert is in his striped shirt and cap. Jeremiah Harbottle is in his dark clothes and cap.
WILLIE
Get a move on. Get into your cab. Ah, good morning, gentlemen. Morning. Tickets, please. Morning. Tickets, please. Good morning. Tickets, please. Good morning, sir. Tickets, please. Good morning. Oh, good morning, sir. Tickets, please. Thank you. All aboard for fast, non-stop special express. Dining, car, saloon, train to Collymour. All aboard. Tickets, please. Oh, I've got... Hey, what's that? You can't take long as bad on an excursion. Oh, those are the gold posts. We all must take our own. Oh, I see. Oh, that's all right. Say, what's in that? Oh, those are lemons for half time. Oh, I see.
WILLIE
You won't put that on the rack, will you? All ready? Sure. Hey, you, come here.
Willie is sitting on a bench, clipping tickets.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
What are we waiting for? Have you got to do all that? Oh, yes, very important. Still, if you don't know how they, perhaps you wouldn't mind taking them and clipping them on the way. Thank you.
Willie falls to the ground.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Hello, Blackham. This is Buckles Kelly reporting excursion away. What excursion? There's nothing under my schedule for four hours. I don't care about your schedule. Expect my excursion any minute.
Willie is in the station office. Albert and Jeremiah Harbottle are asleep on the floor. Willie tries to wake them up.
WILLIE
Hey, hey, come on, get up! Get out of it! Come on! Get
UNKNOWN
up!
WILLIE
They're lying in bed at this time!
WILLIE
Get up! What do you think it is, a rest home? What's the idea? I'll show you what the idea is. Think I want to run this station by myself? Look at this block, look it! What a nice state of affairs, sleeping till this hour. Come on, get up.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
Come
WILLIE
on.
WILLIE
Now, day don't start till 8 o'clock. Your day starts where mine starts. Your, your hours have got to conform to the prescriptive, the... You've got to get up and I tell you.
WILLIE
Here. What are you doing? What are you doing? It looks like I'm doing anything around here. I've just had to go and get that train off by myself. Huh? What train? Here. What train? Well, the train's just gone out. There's been no train out of here since last Tuesday. You should be saying I don't know what I'm talking about. Well, I'm saying it now. I never heard no train go out. Or me. Well, you weren't in a fit condition to hear anything, either of you.
WILLIE
I'll attend to that.
WILLIE
Hello, station master Buckles Kelly speaking. What's this special train that you say has just left your place? It has not. It left here at six o'clock. I know, it was six because I looked at our clocks. Are you sure you haven't seen it? Oh, well, maybe it's had a puncture or something. What do you mean, am I sure it left? Of course I am, I saw it off myself. Don't you talk to me like that.
WILLIE
You let me tell you that it... Hello, hello.
WILLIE
Oh.
UNKNOWN
Hmm.
WILLIE
Yeah, it's funny. Bracken Junction says the train hasn't come through yet. Course it hasn't. There never was any train. Hey, do you think I don't know a train when I see one? I see some funny things after a night at Barney's Bar. I suppose you didn't think you saw any passengers on this train you think you saw? Of course I did. They were the whole of the Buggles-Killy-Rensley football team. They're gonna play a cup tie. There's only one football team here, the Swifts, and they won't go without me. Why not? I'm their centre-forward. Listen, will you do me a favor? Well, tomorrow, just before the express comes, go to sleep on the rails. If it's one of your trains, it won't hurt him. So you still don't believe me? Well, listen, I clicked all the tickets, and the clippings will be on the platform now. I'll go and get them to prove it to
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
you.
WILLIE
Hello? Look here. I've held the down express for four minutes. Has that special trade of yours come back, or what's happened to it?
WILLIE
He's holding up the express. What shall I tell him? Tell him they let it through.
WILLIE
You tell him.
WILLIE
Hello, is that Bracken? That's the expert's room. I heard the excursion isn't leaving until 10 o'clock.
UNKNOWN
I
WILLIE
heard the old man. Oh, he had a thick night. Been seeing things. Yeah. OK, sits us.
WILLIE
He says he's going to report
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
him.
WILLIE
Poor old governor. Yeah, he's going like the others. There'll be another clock here soon. Yeah.
WILLIE
We'd better humor him.
WILLIE
The clippings are not there now. Of course they're not. What do you mean, of course they're not? They were there. Of course they were. Well, the wind must have blown them away. Of course it must. What's the matter with you two? Do you think I'm balmy? Of course we don't. Now understand this. I clipped those tickets, the train left at 6 o'clock and I saw it off. And don't say of course you did. Then where is it now? Between Hill and Bracken. I will soon know. Why? Well, go on now, but you tell him. Well, it's like this. If you had a drain and a rabbit went down it, and you weren't sure the rabbit went down it or not, what would you do? Same for the plumber. What's this got to do with my train? Well, come into that, you bung a ferret in. A what? A ferret. What, in my train? Yes, in the drain. If it comes out the other end with blood on its nose, you know that... You know that somebody's punched it. That's what's going to happen to you.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
No,
WILLIE
you know that the
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
rabbit's
WILLIE
there. And
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
if it comes out the other end
WILLIE
with no blood on its nose, well, then you know that the rabbit isn't there. I understand what you two are talking about. What rabbit is this? An allegorical rabbit. A what? Allegorical rabbit. I don't care if it's an Austin rabbit. What's it got to do with my train? Because your train's a rabbit. Well, where's the parrot? For down expressing it a bear any minute, he let it through. What? You let the express through with my expression? Listen, my lad, if there's any blood on my train's nose,
WILLIE
You see any blood? Tap and drop.
Willie, Albert, and Jeremiah Harbottle are in the station office. Willie is talking to a man with a bandage on his head.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Now you tell them. They don't believe me. Oh, tell them about the football team. Did they or did they not leave here this morning? What football team? Well, the one the man bought the tickets for. What man?
WILLIE
Well, that's my private room. But
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
there's nobody in there.
WILLIE
Nobody? What's the matter with everybody? Listen, you know very well... No, I can see that you don't. Listen, actually, I went in there and we fixed up about sending away the Buggles Curry Wednesday. I suppose you could tell the next there's no such team. I never heard of it. But they went away on my excursion to Connie Mara. You remember me trying to sell the gifts for Connie Mara. I do not. Was anybody here last night?
WILLIE
I can see you were. You must have seen me. But I was busy with two other fellows.
Willie is talking to a man behind the bar. A woman is in the background.
WILLIE
He'll admit there was a fight here. Well, there was a bit of an argument. Yeah, well, it was then I went in the back room and met this man. He got one eye. One eye? Yes. Did he say who he was? No, but he told me to call in Joe.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Glory be. One eye, Joe, the miller. Well, I don't know what his trade was, but that's the man who went with the party on the train this morning. The train? He seen that too? Well, of course I have. I waved it out. Why, what's the matter? Seen the miller? You're no company for the likes of us.
WILLIE
What's the idea of all
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
this?
WILLIE
The milk wheel turns, though the night is still, he haunts the station, he haunts the hill, and the land that lies between. Oh, he's a house agent, is he? Well, I want his name and address.
UNKNOWN
He
WILLIE
was took my train 10 years ago. Yes, well, he was took to my train this morning and I won the next to the nation. No, like a good man, don't be talking about such things in this house. No, let sleeping ghosts alive. Listen, I'll stand for ghosts with their heads tucked under their arms, but he's had goalposts. All I know is somebody's bothered to train for me and I'm going to find out what he's done with it. Come on. No, we're not coming. They're opening half an hour. Help!
WILLIE
I know, I'm wasting me time.
INT. STATION OFFICE - DAY
Willie is on the phone. MR. BROCK, a bald man in a suit, is on the phone at his desk.
WILLIE
Hello? What's the matter with your station? Doesn't anyone answer the phone? I'm sorry, I've just been to the local, the local signal box. Where's this excursion? Why, haven't you seen it? No, and nobody has. Oh, well, that's funny, isn't it? There's nothing funny about it. Are you dead certain you sent it off? Well, are you dead certain you sent it to me? Of course I am. Well, I'm dead certain I sent it off. Then where the blazes is it? I don't know. Who had it last? What are you babbling about, man? The train was sent to you and it hasn't been heard of since. Well, I can't understand it. Are you sure your driver knows the way? There hasn't been an accident, has there? Not according to my ferret.
WILLIE
Hello? Just a moment, please. This is Bracken. Where is your train? Have you or have you not sent that excursion off? Yes. Well, where is it? Well, we've missed it for the moment. Excuse me. It went off at 6 o'clock. When? What? It was scheduled for 10 o'clock. Is that a different one to the 10 o'clock one? No. Are you contradicting me? No, not you. You. Yes? No. What do you mean by changing those schedules? It's shooting my customers better. Customers? What customers? I'm not talking to you. Will you pull yourself together, man? I am together. Well, where is it?
WILLIE
Get off the line, ring off. Ring off? Do you know who you're talking to? Yes, I'm talking to him. I'll report this to Brock at head office. Oh, yes, well, you're too late. I'm talking to the old fool now. What old fool? What are you gibbering about? I can't hold up the whole service. Can I stick me signals off? Yes, if it'll give you any pleasure. Let me tell you something else, too. I'm going to ring off. Oh, are you?
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
Well, let me tell you something. You can pack up your
WILLIE
things and go back to England. And if you're not out of that station by tonight... Tonight? Why, take me all day to pack. What's the hurry? You're fired. Fired? Yes.
WILLIE
Oh.
WILLIE
Well, I've been thrown out of better stations than this.
Willie is packing his belongings. Albert and Jeremiah Harbottle are with him.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Hey, what you packing for? I'm leaving. What, tonight? Have you told the head office? They told me.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
What's the matter?
WILLIE
He's got the push. Poor old guy. Hey, you can't go like this. Have a bit of bacon. No, I wouldn't deprive you of it. He won't keep much longer. No, thanks. I thought you wouldn't stay with us very long. He never did like Station Master. Who? One-eyed Joe the Miller. Listen, I've had enough of him.
WILLIE
Remember, that's such a lot of rubbish. It ain't rubbish. Every night when the moon gives light, the Miller's ghost is seen. He walks the track with a sack on his back. And his ear all painted green, I know. He haunts the
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
tunnel. He haunts
WILLIE
the hill and the
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
land that lies
WILLIE
between. Ah, it's all me eye. Here,
WILLIE
I'll give you this.
WILLIE
It's a tunnel. There's no tunnel on our line. Oh, not on the new line. But on the old loop line, there's one. Loop line? Well, first I heard of a loop line. He runs through Pookahill. Tank use now. Through Pookahill? Where does he lead you? Across the border. Border? Loop line? Tun... I've got it! Go on! Where are we going? Find my train!
Willie, Albert, and Jeremiah Harbottle are in the train engine. Willie is holding a lantern.
WILLIE
Are there any more arguments? We're going. I shouldn't. Besides, we might overwork Radson. She was out yesterday, you know. I warned you. It's haunted. Oh, shut up. Come on. Let's have a look at the map, Albert. Here. Hold that, Jerry. Now, there's Pruger Hill, and there's the mill on the top. Here's Buggles Kelly, and there's the line that runs the Bracken Junction. There's where the line crosses the border, and there's the border. Now, here's where the old line branches out here. That's right. And one-eyed Joe was killed right there.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Banshee! Banshee. It's Radson on the boil. Come on.
WILLIE
Whoa! What's he say? He said, whoa. I thought he said, Joe.
Willie, Albert, and Jeremiah Harbottle are on the tracks. Willie is looking for something.
WILLIE
This is the branch line, all right. Now, where's the point lever?
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Be quiet. Shh! I've got it. Yeah, I've got it first. Oh, look, look, fresh oil. Hello.
WILLIE
Ah, take a look at that. What does that prove?
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
There's been a cattle show.
WILLIE
Cattle show? That's a football favour. Well, it shows we're on the right track anyway. Well, we'll see where it leads us. Go
UNKNOWN
on. Right.
UNKNOWN
Look, there's
Willie, Albert, and Jeremiah Harbottle are in the train engine. They see a tunnel.
WILLIE
the tunnel.
WILLIE
Well, there's something across it. I told you, they don't use it. He pulled it up. Oh. Well, slow down. You'll hit it. Right. Slow down. Put your brakes on. Right. Brake! Brake! Brake!
UNKNOWN
Broke.
WILLIE
Now see
UNKNOWN
what you've done.
WILLIE
Why don't you stop it when I told you to? When I asked of. Well, you couldn't have yourself with that thing, Rick.
WILLIE
Look, there it is. My excursion. Now who's potty?
WILLIE
Well, I wonder where everybody is. Ah, that's they're playing football. Now, who plays football in the dark? Night school. Don't be silly. They haven't even unpacked the goalpost. Now we've found the train, let's go back. Well, after them messing me about, piecing my train, leaving it lie about in a strange tunnel, not me. Besides, they haven't even paid for the tickets.
Willie, Albert, and Jeremiah Harbottle are in the train engine. They are looking for the football team.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
Hey.
WILLIE
Look, my tickets. They haven't even clipped them. Some more over there.
WILLIE
Blimey, they chucked him away. Oh, what a nerve.
Willie, Albert, and Jeremiah Harbottle are in the tunnel.
WILLIE
Hey, follow me. Now, I'm not going in there. Oh, yes, you are. You're going to do as you're told, and you too. It's not my business to poke me loads in other people's tunnels. That's right. You mean you say you're going to let me go in there alone to face whatever there is to face? Yes. All right. I'll get inside.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
It's all right, I'm behind you.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
Would you like to come in front?
WILLIE
No, I can see fine from here.
WILLIE
What was that?
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
Voices.
WILLIE
Must be somebody there.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
No.
WILLIE
Yes.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
What's that growling?
WILLIE
My stomach. Oh, keep it quiet.
WILLIE
Hey. Guns. Funny that state of a football match. They're not footballers. They're gun runners.
Willie, Albert, and Jeremiah Harbottle are in a dark room. They see guns.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Come on, boys, get that lot down. Oh, what's your hurry? No one's gonna find it here. Oh, if we're not over the border before sunrise, we'll all be finding ourselves in the jail. Go on, get that lot down, boy. Get the other one down from upstairs. Come on, Mickey, what's the matter with you? Can't you get
UNKNOWN
that...
WILLIE
Come on, hurry up.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
We're gonna be here all night or what?
Willie, Albert, and Jeremiah Harbottle are in a dark room. They see a windmill.
WILLIE
This is a funny-looking place, isn't it? Cracky, we're in One Eye Joe's Cock-Eyed Mill. Oh, dear. Hey, quick, behind this.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
If
WILLIE
we go to the left. If we go to the right, we'll be wrong. It's the left.
UNKNOWN
It's
WILLIE
the left? No, it's the left. Of course it's the left. I go to the right. Listen,
UNKNOWN
if
WILLIE
we go to the left, we turn round and get to the other road. Good evening. If we go to the right...
Willie, Albert, and Jeremiah Harbottle are hiding behind some sacks. They see the gun runners.
WILLIE
All of you.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
What are you doing here? Oh, you dropped a ticket. Don't you start anything. Three of us. How do? One.
WILLIE
Follow me.
WILLIE
Come
UNKNOWN
here.
WILLIE
Come on downstairs. And hurry.
WILLIE
Bullshit!
Willie, Albert, and Jeremiah Harbottle are locked in a room. They try to break down the door.
UNKNOWN
Let's
WILLIE
break the door. We can't get out. They can't get in. It's all coming up. Open it yourself.
WILLIE
They're not here. They must have got out some other way. Let's get back to the frame.
Willie, Albert, and Jeremiah Harbottle are in the room. The gun runners are gone.
UNKNOWN
It's
WILLIE
Hey, hey, what's the matter? I thought you were gone. The trouble with you is you think too much. Tie him up. Tie him up, you can't do that. I'm a busy subject.
UNKNOWN
What
WILLIE
are you going to do? You'll know soon enough. You can't do that, I said. Yeah? And who's going to stop us?
Jeremiah Harbottle is covered in flour.
WILLIE
Flory B,
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
the ghost.
UNKNOWN
The
WILLIE
Phantom Miller.
WILLIE
What are you,
UNKNOWN
Joe?
WILLIE
That's not a ghost.
Willie, Albert, and Jeremiah Harbottle are in the dark room. They see the gun runners escaping through a trapdoor.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Daylight's here, Grogan. All right. They can't get away. We'll get them when we come back. Flip that boat!
Willie, Albert, and Jeremiah Harbottle are at the top of the windmill. The ladder is gone.
WILLIE
They've taken the ladder away. Now what are we going to do? We can't get down.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
We can tie a bit of rope to that rope and slide down. That hook wouldn't bear our weight. We'd
WILLIE
have to tie it this tight to that beam. That goes round when the wind blows, wind us up again. Never mind. It's a good idea. We can try it. Go on, give us a rope. Oh, we haven't got a rope.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
Well, what are we
WILLIE
arguing about then?
UNKNOWN
What
WILLIE
was that? I don't know.
The windmill starts to turn.
A shot of the windmill turning.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
You touching something? No, I'm holding on. Come in, we lost you, lady. I shall be sick in a minute. Haven't we got enough trouble? He's got sticky fingers in your ears and can't up to a hundred.
WILLIE
Hey, what's this? Oh, look.
WILLIE
Oh, the,
WILLIE
the, the, the, uh, preparer. Now, all we're going to do is to pull up one of these, uh, sails and make it to the bottom drop off. Anything going on? Well, something's holding it. Must be a break somewhere.
WILLIE
Ah, perhaps this is it.
UNKNOWN
Can
WILLIE
he stop? Yes. Well, there you are. We've got it under perfect control. Come on, Harvotten. Yes, what is it? We're going down on the windmill sails. Come on, you're first. What, right down there? No, no, go along this horizontal sail. Which? Well, this one, point to three o'clock. We'll lower you down. Then when you get to six o'clock, you can drop off. You understand? Yes, six o'clock. What time is it now? No, no, six o'clock at the bottom. All right.
WILLIE
Oh, dear, oh, dear, oh, dear. Come on, come on.
WILLIE
You all right? Can I along here? Yes, go on.
WILLIE
Oh, it's a long way down. Never mind, you'll soon be there. Yes, that's what I'm afraid of.
WILLIE
You all right? Oh, dear, oh, dear. Just a minute.
WILLIE
Oh, dear, oh, dear.
WILLIE
I'm back again.
WILLIE
Hurry up.
WILLIE
Are you nearly there? Nearly.
WILLIE
I'm ready.
WILLIE
She's
UNKNOWN
ready.
WILLIE
All right, you don't take more, do it. Stop with the engine.
WILLIE
Oh, dear. The blood's running to me act.
UNKNOWN
Bending.
UNKNOWN
Hey?
WILLIE
Bending. Well, look at the weight on it. Can't you float a little? Go on.
WILLIE
I think I ought to go to the end. Yes, but don't go past the end.
UNKNOWN
All right, I'm ready.
WILLIE
You all right down there? Up up here. What
UNKNOWN
are
WILLIE
you doing up there? Up 12 o'clock. Well, why don't you try? You'll spoil everything. Come on, give it a damn.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
You'll have to climb out on the other way.
WILLIE
I can't. I can't think of the steamer. Oh, yes, you can. I'm balancing him. You climb out on the other one and you'll bring him down. Oh, all right. Hold on.
UNKNOWN
Hurry
WILLIE
up. I'm cold up here.
WILLIE
Go on. I know what
UNKNOWN
I'm doing.
WILLIE
Hurry up. We're hurrying up.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
I can't hold on that younger.
WILLIE
I'm coming as fast as I can.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE
Hurry up.
The windmill turns. Willie, Albert, and Jeremiah Harbottle are on the sails.
WILLIE
I can't hold up back
EXT. WINDMILL - DAY
WILLIE is clinging precariously to the sail of a windmill. He struggles to hold on as the windmill rotates. He is silhouetted against the sky.
WILLIE
longer. I can't stay up
The windmill continues to turn. WILLIE is upside down.
WILLIE
here all day for the picking.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Stop someone, Bobby. When are you going to get off?
The windmill spins. Willie is still clinging to it.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
I'm slipping!
WILLIE
Oh, shut up! I'm going to be sick!
WILLIE
I'm going! I'm going!
Willie falls into a haystack. Another MAN IN A CAP AND OVERALLS is already in the haystack.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
All right, down!
The man in the haystack looks up at Willie.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
We need a good job of fodder the hay carp. Yes, well, you might have thought of taking the fork out, too.
UNKNOWN
Here, look.
INT. TUNNEL - NIGHT
Willie and the other man are in the tunnel, on the tracks. Willie is wearing a train conductor's uniform. They are pushing a small train engine.
WILLIE
Now, let's get away. What, without my train? Not likely. We'll come and glance into it.
TRAIN CONDUCTOR
There's an engine on the other end.
WILLIE
I'll attend to that.
WILLIE
All right, Mike, on time. We're almost ready. Now, you start when I tell you. You'll go and drive until I tell you to stop. You understand? You think you'll get away with this? I hope so, for your sake. Hurry up. Jump to it. Get moving. No funny business.
Willie is now in the cab of the engine, talking to the TRAIN CONDUCTOR. The other man is also in the cab.
Other men are trying to get into the train carriage.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Right away. Start, fellow.
A man looks out of the train window.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Take down them. If we don't keep moving, they'll do what? We'll get up on the carriage loop. Do what? Get up there. Don't argue. Take this with you. If any of them stick their
UNKNOWN
heads up,
Willie climbs on top of the train.
UNKNOWN (CONT'D)
slough
INSERT - SIGN: "BEWARE OF TRAINS"
WILLIE
them. What about that station mark? We collect them on the way back. We're none too soon as it appears. Hey, what's this? We're going the wrong way.
A man looks out of the train window again.
Willie is on top of the train, holding a shovel.
The Train Conductor and another man are in the cab.
INSERT - SIGN: "SPEED NOT TO EXCEED 10 MILES PER HOUR"
INSERT - PRESSURE GAUGE: "S.R.N.I."
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Hey, look! Under bars are now. Let me see who can do
WILLIE
it. That's the pressure gauge. I know. I was dragging
UNKNOWN
the speed by the telegraph pole.
WILLIE
Don't touch anything.
UNKNOWN
We're coming
WILLIE
to Douglas Kelly in a minute. Never mind. Keep going. I
UNKNOWN
can't
WILLIE
get
UNKNOWN
a
WILLIE
touch. Tell me now. If we keep going, they can't get out.
WILLIE
We're home.
Willie is on top of the train. He looks down into the train.
A man in a top hat is in the train cab.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Douglas Kelly.
Willie throws some sacks into the train cab.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
Are they cold? No, no, they're lying. Well, they're lying
UNKNOWN
in anyway.
WILLIE
Here, here, don't take it,
UNKNOWN
Mr.
WILLIE
Cole. We can run out and get on like that.
The train enters a tunnel.
UNKNOWN
Oh, shut
UNKNOWN
up. Ah!
Willie is on top of the train, holding a shovel.
UNKNOWN (CONT'D)
We're
WILLIE
getting there!
The train conductor looks out of the train cab.
The man in the top hat looks out of the train.
The train conductor looks worried.
The train conductor is holding a shovel.
The train conductor looks worried.
Willie is on top of the train, shoveling coal.
The man in the top hat is in the train carriage.
The train conductor and the man in the top hat are in the train cab.
UNKNOWN
Hey!
A small object falls from the train.
UNKNOWN (CONT'D)
Hey! Hey! What's the matter? You're making
Willie is on top of the train, shoveling coal.
The train conductor looks at Willie.
WILLIE
all the steam out! Who is? You are! Look, he's got enough to boil! Where is it?
UNKNOWN
You tell me that! Hey!
The man in the top hat looks out of the train cab.
The train is moving fast.
INSERT - SIGN: "WHISTLE"
The train conductor blows a whistle.
WILLIE
Use your gun. I can't get the gun. Give me your rifle. We haven't got
Men are struggling inside the train carriage.
Willie is on top of the train, shoveling coal.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
any ammunition. Keep it, please.
Willie looks into the train cab.
WILLIE
Whoa!
Men are struggling inside the train carriage.
UNKNOWN
Whoa! Whoa! Okay. What is
Willie is on top of the train, shoveling coal.
A man is in a signal box, looking out of the window.
WILLIE
it? Don't look down, but there's another
The man in the top hat looks out of the train cab.
UNKNOWN
train coming. Oh! Hey!
The train conductor and the man in the top hat look worried.
The train is moving on the tracks.
JEREMIAH HARBOTTLE is in the train cab with the train conductor. Jeremiah has a long white beard.
WILLIE
Oh, it's fixed.
UNKNOWN
We can't
WILLIE
walk forever. This is the last bit of car we've got left.
WILLIE
Here, here, here. You can't burn, lads. No, if we don't get any help too, you'll go any next. That might as well go to the scout. Well, how do we get them? Well, when they're seeing they want help, they put a message in a bottle and she'll get overboard. Yeah, put it in that bottle. Yes, lads, it's my mention. Oh, come on, come on. No waste time. They'll
UNKNOWN
chuck
WILLIE
it away. Ah. Here, here. That's my mention. I'm as ill as you are. I'm going to want a couple of trains on the
TRAIN CONDUCTOR
engine.
WILLIE
How are you going
TRAIN CONDUCTOR
to
WILLIE
do it? Give us
TRAIN CONDUCTOR
your hat. Here. Now, you stick it out that
Men are struggling inside the train carriage.
Willie is on top of the train, shoveling coal.
UNKNOWN
side
UNKNOWN
when I
A hat flies off the train.
UNKNOWN (CONT'D)
get out of this.
A man looks out of the train window.
A man in a top hat is in the train carriage.
WILLIE
There's a bottle.
UNKNOWN
Give
WILLIE
it to me.
The train conductor and Jeremiah Harbottle are in the train cab. The train conductor is holding a bottle.
A man in a top hat is in the train carriage.
The train is in a dark tunnel.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
No, not there, you fool. We're in the
TRAIN CONDUCTOR
tunnel. Where's Cole? I'm
Men are struggling inside the train carriage.
UNKNOWN
in
WILLIE
the
WILLIE
danger.
The train conductor and Jeremiah Harbottle are in the train cab. The train conductor has soot on his face.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
It's not Cole. It's your
A man looks out of the train window.
Willie looks out of the train cab, his face covered in soot.
WILLIE (CONT'D)
pants. It's going to a
UNKNOWN
station. I'm going to throw it.
INT. STATION MASTER'S OFFICE - DAY
The station master's office is visible through a window. The TRAIN CONDUCTOR is at a desk, eating. He has soot on his face.
The train conductor is holding a piece of paper.
INSERT - NOTE: "Have got gun-runners aboard stop what shall we do stop will escape if we stop stop Porter, Stationmaster (Retired) P.S. Tell a policeman."
WILLIE
Calling Belfast, Argent. Calling Belfast.
INT. TRAIN CAB - DAY
The train conductor is in the train cab, looking out of the window. He has soot on his face.
TRAIN CONDUCTOR
Belfast, standing by. Go ahead, please.
The train conductor looks out of the window.
TRAIN CONDUCTOR (CONT'D)
Station, stand by for all the schedule.
The train conductor looks at the man in the top hat.
TRAIN CONDUCTOR (CONT'D)
Stand by for all the schedule. Stand by for all the schedule.
The man in the top hat looks out of the window.
TRAIN CONDUCTOR (CONT'D)
Side track 24, good.
WILLIE
Side track 24, good. Right.
TRAIN CONDUCTOR
Pole 16, express. Pole 16, express. Right.
WILLIE
Diverge on the way to West Yard.
The train is moving.
UNKNOWN
All cars proceed to West Yard Terminus. All
The train conductor is in the train cab.
UNKNOWN (CONT'D)
cars proceed to West Yard Terminus. All cars proceed to West Yard Terminus.
The train is moving on the tracks.
The train conductor is in the train cab.
The train conductor looks at the man in the top hat.
The train conductor looks at the man in the top hat.
The train conductor looks at the man in the top hat.
A man is in a signal box, looking out of the window.
The train is moving.
Willie is on top of the train.
The train conductor and Jeremiah Harbottle are in the train cab. They both have soot on their faces.
The train is moving on the tracks.
The train is moving.
The train conductor and Jeremiah Harbottle are in the train cab.
The train pulls into a station. People are on the platform.
WILLIE
They're all in there. Well, Drogon, we've got you
Steam comes out of the train.
Willie is on top of the train, holding a suitcase.
UNKNOWN
at last.
Men are being pulled out of the train carriage.
WILLIE
Congratulations. Good, thank you. Good busy work. Thank you. All in
Willie, Jeremiah Harbottle, and the train conductor are on the platform. Willie and the train conductor shake hands with a man in a suit and bowler hat.
SUPERINTENDENT
a day's work. I'll see that you get recognition in the proper quarters.
WILLIE
Oh, don't thank me. Grand old engine, Matt. Ninety years old. Yes, and good for another night.
Steam billows around the men.
The men are still on the platform.
The screen fades to black.
TITLE CARD: "THE END Oh, Mr. Porter!"