- 4 weeks ago
Ep 2: Fearnot. A carefree, absent minded young man named Fearnot is sent out on a quest to learn what fear is. Along the way he meets a traveling tinker called McKay who vows to lead the boy to frightening places, but nothing on their path seems to put the shivers into Fearnot...
With John Hurt as the storyteller, this story features Reece Dinsdale, Gabrielle Anwar, Willie Ross, Frederick Warder, James Donnelly, Peter Jonfield, Mark Williams, Lucy Hart, Michael Cookson, with Brian Henson and Michael Kilgariff providing voices to characters. An unusual German story, this features both Gabrielle Anwar and Mark Williams (he of Father Brown and The fast Show fame) in only their 3rd ever screen appearance, while it is also directed by Anthony Mingella.
With John Hurt as the storyteller, this story features Reece Dinsdale, Gabrielle Anwar, Willie Ross, Frederick Warder, James Donnelly, Peter Jonfield, Mark Williams, Lucy Hart, Michael Cookson, with Brian Henson and Michael Kilgariff providing voices to characters. An unusual German story, this features both Gabrielle Anwar and Mark Williams (he of Father Brown and The fast Show fame) in only their 3rd ever screen appearance, while it is also directed by Anthony Mingella.
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00:00When people told themselves their past with stories,
00:12explained their present with stories,
00:15foretold the future with stories,
00:18the best place by the fire was kept for the storyteller.
00:30THE END
01:00I came with us and with several revolting...
01:03Black...
01:04What you going on about?
01:05You don't being this little spider.
01:08Hey, come back.
01:12Have ya killed it?
01:14Yes.
01:16Promise?
01:17Promise. I popped it between my fingers.
01:21Come and see.
01:22It's quite a mess.
01:24Good. Yuck. They're foul. They don't even know the meaning of the word bone.
01:30What a noodle you are. Frightened of a little thing.
01:36You're frightened of rats.
01:38Everyone's frightened of rats. They're rattish. It's normal.
01:43Why? You seen a rat?
01:46You're shuddering.
01:48So are you?
01:49Mm-hmm.
01:50But now it's getting dark. Don't like the dark either.
01:56Come here and bark a bit.
02:03What should we do until morning?
02:09Well, I could tell you the story of the boy who set forth to learn what fear was.
02:14You mean he didn't know?
02:15No.
02:16He wasn't frightened of rats or bats or cats or things beginning with this?
02:21Oh, a rare boy.
02:23The second son of the second cousin of my second wife's second niece, who died and left her husband, a tailor, two sons.
02:32The one good, the other good for nothing.
02:36And he was called, fear not.
02:48Me off with you, you good for nothing!
02:50What time do you call this?
03:05Don't know, Dad. What time do you call it?
03:08Lord, give me patience.
03:10Well, have you got the buttons?
03:12What buttons?
03:13The buttons I sent you out for.
03:17Do you know, Dad? I completely forgot them buttons.
03:19Tell the truth, I stood and played under my sweetheart's window.
03:24Oh, she's a lovely...
03:25Did you hear that? He forgot!
03:28Never fear. I'll go back.
03:30And forget again?
03:31No. You go, son.
03:34I'll go in the morning.
03:35The morning's no use. Go now.
03:38I would.
03:39But the dark comes and I don't like the forest.
03:41It's all shadows. There's trolls in there and dragons.
03:44Let me go.
03:45I don't mind shadows.
03:47I never saw a dragon.
03:48Be off with you, then.
03:50What are you going for?
03:51Uh, don't tell me to see dragons.
03:53No, uh, ogres.
03:55Buttons!
03:57Buttons.
03:59So off goes Fear Not to fetch Buttons.
04:02But the village bull is watching,
04:04his skip and his gormless grin.
04:06He's ripe for ragging.
04:08Oh, yes, they'll fetch him a fearful fright.
04:11Hello.
04:30Are you a troll?
04:31I am a wordle.
04:33Only twice as bad.
04:36Never mind.
04:36I want your bag of buttons.
04:39Sorry.
04:40They're for my dad.
04:42Give them to me, or I'll mutton you.
04:45Mutton me?
04:46I'll give you a right flummox.
04:48That doesn't sound very nice.
04:50Give me the buttons!
04:52And back he goes, our boy, to his dad's house.
05:02Full of tales of a wordle.
05:04Only twice as bad.
05:05I'm sorry about the buttons.
05:06And did you know a wordle has three voices?
05:09And the father sets him outside with 40 shillings in a purse
05:12and tells him to go off and learn something.
05:16Fear considers this.
05:18He's always wanted to know how to shudder.
05:22The knack of it's eluded him.
05:25He'll set forth to learn what fear is.
05:28With nothing to guide him but a bag of shillings,
05:31a fiddle and a fool's errand.
05:34Good day, old man.
05:36Now, isn't this a lucky meeting?
05:38Good day, sir.
05:39I can tell by the gleam in your eye you have a sweetheart.
05:43I do, sir.
05:44And what's your name?
05:45I don't know.
05:46Ah, well, what's her name?
05:48Mine's Mackay, but I don't mind it.
05:50Mine's Fairnut.
05:51And there you go, as me poor mother would say.
05:54Have you got a mother?
05:55I'm afraid I don't.
05:56Ah, well, we all had one once and that's the main thing.
05:59Now, your sweetheart, is she dark or fair?
06:02Oh, dark, sir.
06:04Like Arabia.
06:05Like Arabia.
06:06Oh, happy day.
06:07And a happy day it is for you, young man.
06:09For in this bag I have a scarf of silk, direct from the shores of Arabia.
06:15Here, I insist you take it and may you learn a name with it.
06:19Thank you, mister.
06:21And it's because you're such a fine fellow, I'm only going to ask you to pay me what I paid for it.
06:27A double Persian.
06:29How much is that?
06:30How much you got?
06:31Forty shillings.
06:32Nothing like that.
06:33Barely half.
06:34Less than two turds.
06:37I'd like the scarf because I've set forth to learn things, you see.
06:40And to learn a name is something.
06:43But I'll give you all I have if you could learn me what fear is.
06:47You will give me forty shillings if I can frighten you?
06:51Gladly.
06:51I see, said the blind man.
06:54Let me think.
06:55Shut your eyes.
07:01Is something the matter?
07:05No, no.
07:06Just give me a minute.
07:10What do you reckon that is at your throat?
07:13I don't know, sir.
07:14A knife?
07:15And a sharp knife.
07:17Slit a hair clean and do.
07:18That's marvellous.
07:19Slit a throat without touching this out.
07:22That's a good knife, then.
07:23Certainly is and will do for you, young man.
07:26Unless you part with your bag of shillings.
07:29I can't do that.
07:31For I must learn what fear is.
07:33And I'm not frightened of you, Mr Mackay.
07:35You're a friend.
07:38Oh, no.
07:39No, no.
07:40We're friends.
07:42Goodness, I'm sure we are.
07:44Let me take you down the lane.
07:46Where I think I can arrange a little case of the shudders for you.
07:50Follow me.
07:52Where do we go?
07:53To a pond.
07:54By a hedge.
07:55By a field.
07:56By a mill.
07:57By a town.
07:58And in that pond is a fearful sight.
08:01So fearful.
08:02Think what fearful is.
08:04An anti.
08:05And shall I shudder?
08:07No question.
08:08If you survive.
08:12And off they went to most fanciful peregrination.
08:17Until they came to a pond.
08:18By a hedge.
08:19By a field.
08:20By a mill.
08:20By a town.
08:22And as their ride were day ending.
08:24They saw folk rushing from the mill.
08:27Still dusted with flour.
08:29And would not stop to swap words.
08:32But shouted.
08:33Be clear before dark falls.
08:36Beware the pond.
08:39And other such unwelcomes.
08:45Here.
08:46Is this where I'll learn to shudder, Mr Mackay?
08:49The trick is you must plunge into the pond.
08:52And fear will swim up to greet you.
08:55Splendid.
08:58Ah.
08:59It's a treat.
09:01Will you join me?
09:02No thanks.
09:03I must retire and get us beds for the night.
09:05You must sleep after a good fright.
09:09Good luck.
09:12Now this green pond is not all welcome cool and water lilies.
09:17Deep in its green deep is a terrible thing.
09:21And it peers up through the green and sees a pair of feet.
09:25It's a man.
09:26Oh dear, oh dear.
09:33So there he is, our man fear not, dangling his feet in the pond, waiting to shudder, wondering
09:40how, when all of a sudden, and who would believe it, the water begins to gather and froth and
09:45swirl.
09:46And below me, if a ring of sad beauties don't appear, eyes closed and melancholy.
09:54These are the sisters of the deep, and their dance is a welcome to drowning.
10:01Come in, come in, they seem to say.
10:04And fear not looks on enchanted by their loveliness.
10:08Then he does what he always does when this moon takes him.
10:17Now why do the village folk avoid this pretty scene?
10:21Why do men tremble as night falls and the moon gleams its silver on the pool?
10:26Because, my dearios, my darlings, these are the daughters of the terrible thing.
10:34Water in their veins, water in their eyes.
10:38They have but two tasks, to drown men and to drown women.
10:44Come in, come in, they seem to say.
10:47Come in and sip our bitter beer.
10:50Come in and meet our master.
10:56Do you know who I am?
11:04I don't think so.
11:06You're not a wordle, some sort of terrible thing.
11:10Exactly.
11:12These are my british.
11:15They tempt you men like you, and I drown them.
11:18Why?
11:21Because, at first, give me your bird.
11:26Kids are so beautiful.
11:28I can't do that.
11:29I have to make it.
11:31Look.
11:31Where does the singing come from?
11:57It's home.
11:58Let me try.
12:03Hurry.
12:05You must learn to play.
12:07That's your bird.
12:09Where does its song come from?
12:12The song?
12:13Oh, far away.
12:14Ireland.
12:15Which direction?
12:17Over there.
12:18Many lefts and many rights.
12:21Ireland.
12:22I'll go there.
12:24That way, you say?
12:26That's it.
12:27Make it sing some more, and then I'll go.
12:32Ireland.
12:36And our boy plays some more, until the creature leaves his daughters and his green pool and
12:42his endless drowning and heads off in search of Ireland and the bird that sings.
12:47And he lives there still, for all I know.
12:50What a hero.
12:53What a hero.
12:54What a hero.
12:56Not one feast, but 20.
12:5978 gifts.
13:00Four offers of marriage.
13:02And much playing of the fiddle.
13:05By morning, Mr. Mackay, self-appointed manager of heroes and historian of fear not exploits,
13:11has noted details of the whereabouts of trolls and terrors and dragons and demons and untold,
13:17unsolved mysteries.
13:19Thus commissioned, the two companions set off.
13:22And it isn't until late, the following afternoon, head still, muddled by cider, that fear not,
13:28remembers to clap the tinker's ears, retrieve his 40 shillings, and ask him where they're heading next.
13:34Well, I have the root to a fine terror, but I must have the reward.
13:39I have promised you my shillings when I shudder.
13:41But give me only a fist, which I like not.
13:44One little misunderstanding and I'm trash for me pains.
13:48Compare us.
13:49You are blessed with great courage.
13:52I am cursed with a little cunning.
13:55I cheat for trifles, while you can move mountains.
14:00Is that fair, I ask you?
14:02I'm sorry.
14:04Take my money.
14:05I've offended you.
14:07No, no.
14:08I shall struggle on for nothing.
14:10We go to yonder castle where none survive a night.
14:14So I will learn to shudder at last.
14:17Now this castle they approach is a graveyard of hopes.
14:22The king driven out, the rooms abandoned.
14:26Only fools seek shelter there.
14:28For this is a troubled land and bad holds court.
14:32Look, there it is on the horizon.
14:36A place brooding.
14:42Wait here.
14:44I should take things with me.
14:46Take a sword.
14:48Take two.
14:50These three things are enough.
14:51Or not, as the case may be.
14:54And they leave 75 of my gifts should I not return.
14:58Do not leave them here, for you know how it is with me.
15:00I'll be forced to steal them and desert you.
15:04Have a little courage, Mr. Mackay.
15:08Godspeed.
15:09Fear not.
15:10A little courage, Mr. Mackay.
15:23A little courage, Mr. Mackay.
15:27A loader's only half here.
15:43Where's the rest of me?
15:44That's more like it.
16:03Now, how about a game?
16:05Why not?
16:09I have all night.
16:12He has all night.
16:22Can you play Skittles?
16:24I'll try.
16:26You try?
16:27He better have.
16:29So definitely not my legs.
16:33Too short by half.
16:36You better win, precious.
16:39Or you'll find yourself half the man you were.
16:42Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
16:44What size legs are those?
16:47I don't know.
16:49No gout?
16:50Calls?
16:51Blisters?
16:52Foot rot?
16:53Oh, good.
16:54I can do with those.
16:59Me first, I reckon.
17:11Eight!
17:12Not bad on borrowed legs.
17:16Bow well, precious.
17:21Careful.
17:23You don't want that pegs damaged.
17:25You won't mind, sir.
17:29But your ball's not smooth enough for me.
17:41Knight!
17:43You cheated!
17:45No, sir.
17:46I swapped a little courage for a little cunning.
17:48That's all.
17:50Oh, look at me!
17:52Oh, very well, my friend.
17:56But it doesn't help me with the shuddering.
18:03Lovely.
18:07Ah.
18:08Lovely.
18:09Lovely.
18:14Fear not, for lack of a fright, settles down for the night.
18:19But what's this?
18:22Mr. McGay.
18:24Oh, mister.
18:26Is it all up with you?
18:30So cold.
18:33You were my first and only friend.
18:36My friend, and now so cold.
18:40Let me warm you a little.
18:42That's better.
18:47See?
18:48Have I not warned you?
19:07Fear not.
19:10Fear not.
19:11fear that come nearer demon and i'll cut off your head and then there'll be three parts to marry
19:20what i know it's not you it is me dead again are you no come closer please i'm terrified i came with
19:30my little courage to find you and it's quite used up how many gifts did i leave well i only counted
19:37seventy four to begin with and i ate two well two and a half but there's still plenty what's the name
19:44of my true love well how can i know if you don't then it is you but of course it's me and you came
19:53in to find me it's my lot i try to break the mold and be decent and i get a knife with shut up and
19:59come here and hug me no no but hug him he did and full of glee they searched the castle from
20:07top to toe and behind the farthest door of the highest floor they found a room and in that room
20:14was gold such golden as they might have thrown it out of the window for a week and still be swamped
20:20and they shared it half and half and a bit for luck and never have two men dance more nor merrier
20:26and from a distance you would have seen the castle shake off its gray drab and sunday
20:36so he never learned to shudder
20:40well the fact of the matter is that fear not are such questions of the tinker all the way home
20:47why haven't i learned to shudder what can i tell my father and so on and the tinker pointed to their
20:53gold and said are there not sufficient riches that you must be frightened as well and so they
20:59went on fear not complaining of fearing not him muttering until they arrived at last at the gate of
21:06fear not's house we must say goodbye then you must meet my family no families don't like me of course
21:15they will you're my friend you must come in as me dear old mother used to say leave them while they
21:20want you to stay no thank you who's this for you must give that to your father that's right
21:32i have not learned to shudder goodbye mr mckay goodbye friend
21:38it's you at last come quick come quick she swoons she heard you've gone nothing will revive her
21:53i don't know her name lydia lydia lydia
22:09look would you look at that my sweetheart
22:27what's happened you've done it you taught me i've been so far so long and all it needed was the
22:43thought of losing you to teach me what fear was
22:45and so the boy who set forth to learn what fear was learned it at home and he married his sweetheart
23:01with a name and all and never left again mr mckay told me that story a long time ago when i was very
23:08young and i didn't know the half of it
23:22so
23:24and so
23:36and so
23:38and so
23:40and so
23:42and so