The Bridge Builder is one of the most important episodes, in my opinion, of series three. It introduced a character that put a cat amongst the pigeons and made all of them take stock of their lives. It also opened a window for Dora into having a female friend for the first time. It also starred one of the prettiest actresses of her time, Lynne Frederick, and had a small, curly blonde headed boy, Simon Roebuck as a guest star. You can read in interview with Simon on the index page. As a special treat, I have screen capped the episode as well as transcribed the script. I have broken the episode into parts,which I have then put on seperate pages, the links to them are below. Jump to the next Part (there are five in total) of the story, or use the "next" button for the following scene of the same Part.(and if you understand that, well done *LOL*) Enjoy. The transcript under each scene is specific to the images above it.



click on an image to enlarge.

Please note - I have created larger than usual screen caps because the original quality of the episode is not of the best, and the images look better in a small format. You can still bring up the larger, original screen cap, but they are not really up to par.

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The Bridge Builder - the transcript

(DO)= Dora (ST)= Steve (CO)= Colonel (SL)= Slugger (MP) = Miss Patience
(TI) = Tina(gypsy girl) (SI) = Simon (JA) = Jacqueline(older pupil) (RO) = Ron

Opening credits


Scene One.

Dora is walking across the yard towards the gate.
In the middle distance, Steve rides up to the stone wall on the back of Hercules.

DO: There's a strange horse out there. Must be a fence down.

ST: I'll have a look.

DO: Okay.

Steve rides off to investigate. More credits roll.
You see a young, beautiful girl hiding in the rickity shed in the paddock. Steve spots her.

ST: Hi. He's yours, is he?

TI: Yes.

ST: Do you want me to get him?

TI: Can you keep him? It won't be for long.

ST: What is it? What's the matter?

TI: We've five horses – well, four and Dado. They're ill and we don't know what it is.

ST: But that's Dado there?

TI: Yeah, but he's alright – it's the others – they're, they're terribly ill.

ST: Well, we'll get him in – the vet'll be here in a bit. You take Hercules, I'll get Dado.

Come on boy(Steve urges Hercules onwards) What sort of illness is it?

TI: It's like colic, you know? Over and over again.

ST: Have they eaten something?
TI: No. They – they don't eat anything.

ST: Alright, alright – we'll get Dado fixed, and then we'll go and have a look, okay?

(they walk off together towards the black horse grazing nearby)


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(A woman in a tweed coat and hat rings the cow-bell at the front door of the cottage)

SL: O' cor blimey now what?

(he hurries out of the dining room to answer the front door)

MP: Good morning. I'm Miss Patience, Head Mistress – the school in the village.

SL: Good morning.

MP: These are some of my pupils. Say good morning....

(the children chorus “good morning” to Slugger)

SL: Oh, yeah – stand at ease.

MP: You the owner?

SL: No, no – I'm just – er – come in (they all surge forward) no, hang about – yes, you

(he gestures to Miss Patience) no the – (he gestures at the children) er – I'll see if she's in.

Slugger rushes back into the dining room where Dora is waiting, clutching a large, blue and

white vase to her chest.

DO: What is it?

SL: What is it, she say's – it's a head mistress in it! I mean, they're like dentists – or bank

managers.

DO: Coward. (Dora leaves the room still clutching the vase)

MP: Oh. (on seeing Dora) are you the owner?

DO: Yes.
MP: Miss Patience. I want you to take on my pupils – ah – give them riding lessons.

DO: Oh. We don't give riding lessons.

MP: Sir John said I was to insist – he's on the school board.

DO: We've too much as it is.

MP: Mustn't be afraid of a little work.

DO: Well, I'll have to ask Steve – he'll have to help.

MP: Where is he?
DO: Out!


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Steve and the gypsy girl are approaching FF, leading Hercules and Dado. They see the children, and

Miss Patience come out of the cottage.

ST: What's this?

MP: Come along children.

DO: Steve?

MP: Who's that? Jacqueline? It's one of the those gypsy children.

JA: Yes, Miss Patience.

MP: We're forced to take them into our school. Backwards, dirty, lazy – tell her to come here at

once – go on! She won't hurt you.

(the older girl walks forward)

JA: Tina?

TI: Take Dado will you – please (to Steve before running off)

JA: Tina – Miss Patience wants you.

ST: Just a minute(to Tina) where are you going?

(in exasperation)come on Dado, come on.

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Back inside FF stables, Dora is looking through their store of medicines.

DO: How is he?

(Steve is further down the stalls with Dado)

ST: The vet says he's fine.

DO: What did he say about the others?

ST: Haven't a clue.

DO: It must be the water.

ST: Takes a lot to upset a horse.

DO: (sighs)Where are they? Four horses – they may be dying Steve.

ST: If that blasted woman hadn't frightened her off....still – she'll be back.


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Dora is in the kitchen reading a big book about horse ailments.

SL: Come an' get your breakfast girl – it'll be all frizzled.

DO: Why don't we tell Uncle to teach the children.

SL: Now don't you go tiring him.

DO: He's bringing them over for me to try them out. I don't want to teach Slugs. We've too much

as it is. I think Uncle should......

(a horse neighs, Slugger goes over to the window and looks out – he sees Dora run out to the front

gate and greet Steve, who's riding Hercules again.)

DO: Any sign of Tina?

ST: No.


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