Season 3, episode 1/27: ‘THE DISTANT VOICE’

In the yard, Dora is seeing to the horses. She opens Ladybird’s stall and tells her room service is here. Ron roars up on his motorcycle, and as usual makes a lot of noise, and rams the gate open with the front wheel. Steve angrily asks him if he has to make such a blasted racket. “Pardon me I’m sure” retorts Ron sarcastically. Steve tells Ron he will have to fix it himself if he breaks it. Ron snaps to attention, “Sah” he replies in his best parade ground voice. He approaches Dora with a cheery “Good Morning your Ladyship, peasant number nine nine, nine reporting for duty”. “About time too!” snaps Dora angrily. “You’re only two hours early, you’ll have to do better than that”. “Dora” asks Ron, somewhat worried, “are you kidding, or is that for real?” “It’s for real” Dora shouts. “Hang about, why?” replies Ron, really worried. “Because” says Dora, softening her voice, “I like having you around”. Ron goes all coy. “Cor, do ya?” They start chasing each other about, yelling and laughing. Steve is not amused. “What the hell do you think you’re playing at? haven’t we enough to do without you two fooling around”. Ron and Dora look crestfallen for a few seconds, then start laughing. They carry on with their work. Later, Ron is watching Dora schooling the twins. “Don’t they get giddy?” he asks Dora. Dora tells him she will miss them when they go, as they are birthday presents for Mr Carlton’s daughters. Mr Carlton arrives, Steve greets him respectfully. He has come to check on the twins. Mr Carlton thinks Dora is too young for the job, but Steve tries to allay his fears. Mr Carlton seems impressed, and suggests she ought to take up training full time, adding there is a position open with the Colonel giving up. Major Lewis was asking. Steve tells him Dora is too busy with her dropouts. Mr Carlton repeats that she should think about it. In the farmhouse, Slugger is figuring feed bills, while Dora makes coffee. Slugger is not doing too well, so Dora tells him. Slugger is shocked to find that he has been undercharged, not overcharged as he had thought. “I’ll stick to making coffee, I’m not much of a hand at this”. Slugger gags on the coffee Dora has made him. “Something wrong?” asks Dora. “No”, replies Slugger, “I like salt instead of sugar, makes a nice change”. Mrs Padgett is surprised to learn that the Colonel is not there anymore. Dora tells her that he has to rest. Mrs Padgett is worried about her late husband’s horse, Tansy, saying that the Colonel had promised that he would give Tansy a home. Tansy is pining, and will not eat. Steve advised her to call the vet. Dora says that they must go take a look. Steve rather curtly tell her to keep out of it, to which Dora angrily replies “No!”. She tells Mrs Padgett that she will come, and asks Ron to follow, so that he can bring Dora back. “You been a naughty boy then?” Ron chides Steve. “Orders is orders mate!” He mounts his motorcycle and follows Dora. Mrs Padgett explains that her husband did a milk round, when the new floats came along, he used one, but kept Tansy anyway. Tansy has been coughing, for about a week, and will not eat. Dora tells Ron to get the horsebox. Tansy will go back to Follyfoot. Mrs Padgett and Dora talk about the Colonel, and how he promised Tansy A Day In The Sun. Mrs Padgett asks Dora if she is carrying on the Colonel’s work. When the horsebox arrives, it brings Steve, and the vet. Steve tells Dora she is not taking Tansy to Follyfoot, and the vet is going to give her a quick check. “Better to be safe than sorry”. “What’s the betting it’s flu” asks Steve. “Every horse in the place will get it”. “It’s not flu Steve” explains Dora. “What is it then?” asks Steve. “Strangles” murmurs Dora. The vet asks Dora if she noticed the symptoms, and doubts if the Strangles has been caught soon enough, and does Dora know the risk to the other horses. “I think we’re in time” says Dora. “Oh, you do, do you” asks the vet. “It’s not a risk” exclaims Dora. “I know what to do!” “Of all the daft things, that takes the biscuit” says Steve to Dora, “You try telling Carlton that” Steve adds angrily. “You should have left her there” “What, and let Mrs Padgett watch her die? Dora retorts. “Oh!” replies Steve, “so you haven’t caught it in time?” Dora asks Steve, “How would Mrs Padgett have felt? a few weeks after her husband died? she would have failed him!” She goes on to explain that the Colonel is still here, after thirty years, in every stone, in everything they do. A Distant Voice. Ron and Slugger move the donkeys into the field, to make room for Tansy. “Help me Steve”, asks Dora. “I’ll get Tansy” he replies. Ron is busy cleaning out Tansy’s stall with disinfectant, and tells Slugger that he has just killed a germ, a “whopping great hairy one”. Slugger responds by threatening to give Ron a “whopping great hairy one in a minute ’n all”. Dora stays up all night with Tansy. Next morning, Ron arrives with bad news. Mr Carlton is on his way. “Oh, Heavens” exclaims Dora. Mr Carlton is very suspicious, and says “It looks like you’re isolating one of the horses” “We are”, replies Steve, “it’s just a precaution”. “What have you got?” asks Mr Carlton. “It’s Tansy”, explains Dora, “she’s ill”. “Something infectious is it?” demands Mr Carlton “don’t you keep the place clean enough?”. “She didn’t catch it here” Steve says defensively, “we brought her in” “What?”, exclaims Mr Carlton, “an infected animal” “We know what we are doing” says Dora. “Do you?”, responds Mr Carlton, then he angrily tells off both Steve and Dora for being so irresponsible as to bring in an infected horse, then demands to know where his are. “Over there, well away” says Steve. Mr Carlton tells them he will collect his horses as soon as he can, stating he has never met such stupidity before, and wait till the Colonel hears about this. Dora tries persuading Tansy to eat, but with no success. Mr Carlton takes his horses away. Dora tells Slugger she thought all she had to do is what the Colonel would have done, but it is not as easy as that. “Marvellous bloke, the Colonel. I never thought there’d be another like him” says Slugger. “There’s so much of him in you. It’s like starting life all over again”. “Colonel not here yet?” asks Ron. “What’s he going to say about Tansy?” asks Dora. “How’s she doing?” enquires Ron. “Because if she pulls through, not guilty, if not...” Ron makes a strangling motion. “You feel that too?” asks Dora. “Yeah, I’m on trial”. The Colonel’s car arrives, and he gets out. He greets Steve and Slugger. Dora runs to hug him. “Am I that frightening?” he asks Dora, “You look like judgement day has come”. “Hasn’t it?” asks Dora. “We’ll see shall we?” replies the Colonel. They discuss Tansy’s condition. The Colonel observes how quiet it is. Steve tells him it’s because all the horses save Ladybird are in the fields. He adds that the twins have gone. “Ah yes, the twins” exclaims the Colonel. “Carlton telephoned me you know?, said you were negligent and irresponsible and should not be allowed a budgerigar”. “And?” enquires Dora. “I think you can manage more than that. Negligent...no, you have done everything possible”. “Irresponsible?” asks Dora. He does not answer, but asks Slugger to bring tea to the study, then asks Dora what she uses it for. “An office?” “No”, says Dora, “I feel like a trespasser. it’ll still be there when you come to see us” “Use it Dora, it’s yours” the Colonel replies. Slugger brings in their tea. “Just like old times” he says, “except we have salt in our coffee now”. “How is he?” asks the Colonel. “I lean on him” answers Dora. “I love him”. “Should I have brought Tansy here Uncle?” asks Dora. “Why did you?” asks the Colonel. “Because Steve said no, and I’m Mistress of Follyfoot” replies Dora. “Was that the only reason?” asks the Colonel “And because Tansy was ill, and you had given Mrs Padgett your word” answers Dora. “And which counted most?” asks the Colonel. “I don’t know” replies Dora. “Then I can’t answer you, can I?” said the Colonel. Mrs Padgett comes to see Tansy, and asks after her. “She’s trying” said Dora, “come and see”. They walk over to Tansy’s stall. “Just a minute”, says Dora, “don’t disturb her, she’s eating”. Mrs Padgett is pleased. “She is going to be alright?” “Yes” said Dora “The Colonel did promise” said Mrs Padgett, “such a kind man. Bless him, he’s come to see her”. Dora apologises to Steve. “It’s not just because you said no, seeing Tansy eating, that’s what really matters. She’ll have her day, her roll in the meadow, just as Uncle promised, and I’m not irresponsible”. “You’d better not be” replied Steve, “Major Lewis is bringing two horses over, for schooling”. The Colonel had phoned him, saying that Dora was a chip off the old block, and if he’d liked what the old block had done, the young chip would do it just as well. “He said that before he came over” remarked Dora. “You must have said something Steve, what did you say?” “Oh, just that Follyfoot will never change, we believe he is still here keeping a watchful eye on us, that the voice may be younger, and prettier, but it was still his voice all the same” replied Steve gently. Lightning Tree, End credits. The synopsis for this episode was kindly summarised by: Larue.

Season 3, episode 2/28: THE FOUR LEGGED HAT

Dora is in the town’s saddle shop, paying off an account (it’s a Tuesday). The proprietor says her blanket is ready and brings it out, it has Copper’s name on it. Dora looks longingly and the man says she can pay for it next month. Outside Dora passes another shop and stops, gazing at a beautiful blue hat in the window. Ron comes up beside her and teases her about it, saying it’s what every smart stable lady should wear. He has a new broom. They watch as a small pony pulls a firewood cart owned by Clem Barrett up a steep hill. Later Dora asks Slugger about the man. Next day Dora is out riding Copper and sees Clem fishing in a stream. She says that Ron knew where he’d be and offers to replace Domino with Hercules. Clem agrees but asks for ten pounds as well as compensation. Dora goes back and asks Slugger for the ten pounds out of the housekeeping as she has spent all her money on horse tack. Slugger agrees until Steve points out that it must be an expensive horse. Slugger withdraws the money as they know it’s not sensible to buy any more horses. Ron intervenes and says the money is for a hat which Dora wants, Steve laughs at the idea but Slugger is a softy and gives her the ten pounds. Two days later Dora takes Hercules around to Barrett and offers him the ten pounds. Clem says the price has gone up to twenty pounds. Dora agrees and leaves Hercules with Clem. Back at Follyfoot Slugger and Steve and dancing around the yard wearing straw hats. Dora is in the stalls and blames Ron for the teasing, she tells him about Clem and the price being 20 pounds. Ron isn’t surprised. Steve enters and asks where Hercules is. Dora explains that she’s lent him to someone. Steve is cross because he’s been out looking for him and accuses Dora of not letting on to the hired help, that she’s Mistress of Follyfoot and wants to wear a hat. Dora gets angry and tells him to leave her alone. After she leaves Ron intervenes and suggests to Steve that Dora wants the hat to make her pretty for him, and that the price has gone up another ten pounds. Steve finds Dora in the barn and hands her the ten pounds and apologises for his harsh words. He admits it’s only a loan for her to get her hat. Dora goes off with Ron and catches up with Clem, still using Domino. She offers him the twenty pounds but he claims that Hercules has run away and now the price is 30 pounds. Ron is not surprised. Dora is in the kitchen when Steve comes in and sees she’s upset, he still doesn’t entirely believe the story about the hat but asks if the price has gone up again. Ron has gone to visit Clem and finds him gone but his mother is at home. She’s blind and Ron realises that Clem has been lying to her about a lot of things. Ron finds a poster about a horse sale at Tockwith and he figures Clem is trying to sell Hercules. Ron and Dora go to the sale looking for Hercules and a suitable horse to replace Domino for Clem. They see one and arrange to buy it for 25 pounds. Then they go into another shed and Ron spots Hercules, Lot no.7. He goes off to search for Clem and finds him and Domino. Dora stays with Hercules but Steve and the Colonel arrive. The Colonel explains that he’s the RSPCA officer for the day. Steve asks about the hat, saying she should wear it and look a knockout, which surprises the Colonel and irritates Dora. Steve and the Colonel go to watch the sale with Steve still suspecting something. Ron returns with Domino and they swap Hercules for the pony. Then Ron tells Dora to go and make sure the Colonel buys the pony for 30 pounds. At the sale no-one wants Domino so Ron ‘seeds’ the audience and Dora bids up to 30 pounds, paid by the Colonel. Ron takes the money to pay for the new pony for Clem, and takes Hercules and Domino back to Follyfoot. Clem tries to bluster but Ron warns him off and reminds him about his mother. Back at the farm Slugger asks about the hat, so Steve explains that it has four legs and spots. Ron tells Dora to come with him and shows her how they managed to pay for everything and still have two pounds left over. Then he presents her with the hat, which he paid a two pound deposit on. Dora tries the hat on and admires herself. Steve wolf-whistles and admires Dora, along with Slugger. Dora takes off the hat and returns it to Ron then turns to pay off Steve and Slugger. End credits.
Cryometer: No tears this ep.

Season 3, episode 3/29: BARNEY

Steve is taking one of the horses out to exercise and asks Slugger where Dora is. Slugger tells him she’s off on Copper. As Steve leaves a car pulls up. Slugger thinks they’re getting rid of a horse but they are actually looking to buy one so he lets them in. The man is Mr. Buckly with his daughter Angela (13 or 14). Angela goes to look at the horse when Dora arrives. The father mentions Lockwood’s and Dora warns him off going there. The father asks that Dora go with them to help choose a horse. Later at Lockwood’s the Buckleys are watching Lockwood’s son, Chip, show off a horse. Dora and Steve arrive and join the Buckleys after introducing themselves to Lockwood. Dora says the horse is too strong for Angela so Lockwood brings out another that appears to be very quiet. The Buckleys love him but Steve voices his reservations only to be put down by Lockwood who derides Follyfoot and their work. The mother agrees with Lockwood that the horse, Barney is just right. Dora and Steve ride away and Steve suggests that the horse was drugged as Lockwood is a second rate horse dealer of the worse kind. Two weeks later Buckley returns to Follyfoot and speaks to Dora, asking her to come and see Barney as they are having trouble with him. Steve overhears and reminds Dora that they agreed not to take anymore horses and not to bring Barney back. Dora arrives at the Buckley’s and agrees to catch Barney for them. She manages to put a halter on him but he fights and takes a while to calm down. When she has him in the stall the mother startles him and he bolts. The Buckleys decide to have him put down but Dora offers to take him instead. Back at Follyfoot Dora has just stabled Barney when Steve rides into the yard to be met by Ron. Steve stalks over very angry, calls her pigheaded, Dora tells him that Barney would have been shot and Steve says let them which shocks Dora, but he qualifies it by saying that it’s better to have 15 horses well cared for than 50 that are neglected, he reminds them of their agreement, tells her she has to stop. Dora retaliates and tells him to stop telling her what to do (putting him in his place). Dora justifies herself by saying there are too many Barneys, Lockwoods and Buckleys and that is causing the overcrowding and she can’t just do nothing. Steve gives up. Sometime later Dora is mucking out Barney when Steve approaches and asks if he’s the only horse. Dora explains that she’s already done the others by getting up early. Steve is still not happy. Later when Dora is grooming Barney Steve snaps that he didn’t realise that Follyfoot was a place for personal servies, but only for favourites, Dora tells Barney to ignore silly Steve but she is annoyed. Later again Dora is trying to get a bridle on a reluctant Barney and Ron helps, it takes both of them and Steve sees, prompting him to comment sarcastically that Barney takes two of them now. Dora can’t understand why Steve is so against Barney. Dora tries to explain that Barney only needs someone to love and care for him but Ron understands, even if Dora doesn’t realise her comments could apply to Steve as well. Dora takes Barney out to ride him and Ron helps but Dora is thrown the first time. She gets back on and this time wins. Later Dora rushes into the kitchen and enthuses about Barney to Slugger but Steve is not impressed. Dora is upset that she’s quarrelled with Steve. Slugger explains that Steve is having a hard time with coming to terms with Dora as his boss. She should try subtler approaches on Steve. Steve is in his loft looking out as unhappy as Dora. Slugger takes a tray up to Dora’s room and suggests she goes over and apologises, but Dora isn’t sorry about Barney and can’t understand why Steve isn’t also. Steve tells Slugger that if only Dora had explained, he didn’t mean the crack about having him shot. He also says that whatever Dora wants, he wants and whatever she believes in he does. He just can’t back down this time because something stupid gets in the way (pride, love). Next morning the Buckleys arrive to visit and see Dora riding Barney and now want him back. Dora thought she had Barney for good and doesn’t want to part with him. The father explains that they have bought another horse, Darksong, but would gladly send him back to Lockwood’s in exchange for Barney. Dora can’t bear it and runs off sobbing. Steve sees and steps up to Barney, coughing to startle him which scares off the daughter and sends the Buckleys packing.
Dora is in the kitchen, convinced she’s going to lose Barney and that Steve will say “I told you so” but when Steve does come in he says she can keep Barney, as well as school Darksong for the Buckleys. (major shippy moment). Dora apologises and Steve asks they don’t quarrel again, then asks Slugger to help him catch Barney. End credits.
Cryometer: Just once when she realises the Buckleys expect to take Barney away from her.
Comment: Steve sports some wicked sideburns.

Season 3, episode 4/30: MISS HIM WHEN HE’S GONE

Opens with a man selling vegetables off the back of a cart. He appears to have a heart attack and collapses. He’s taken home obviously ill. At Follyfoot a truck arrives and Dora says it’s Darksong that Mr. Buckly wants her to school. Steve tells Dora that the horse is wilder than Barney. Dora thinks the horse is beautiful and takes it out of the horsebox and into the yard to introduce it to its new home. Steve complains to slugger that it nearly kicked him to death and that Dora gets too fond of the horses. Back at the grocer’s home his two sons are having tea, the eldest expects to take over the father’s grocery run with the cart but the father won’t let him. He’d rather see the horse, Bobby, dead first. The younger son takes off and walks to Follyfoot. He meets Dora and asks if he can bring Bobby to the farm for a few days to hide him. Dora agrees. Very early the next morning Dora is woken by the boy outside the cottage, to leave Bobby with Dora, then he takes off. Dora leads Bobby in and meets Steve ferrying water to the stalls. He asks about the horse and cautions Dora not to get too attached. The boy returns home in time for breakfast and says he’s been out looking for Bobby. The mother suggests they call the police. Back at Follyfoot Slugger is trying to get Bobby to eat, asking Dora to help but she refuses, not wanting to like the horse too much. She agrees that Steve is right, and that this way she won’t care when Bobby has to go home. At the grocer’s house the eldest son hears the father abuse the mother and throws a bowl to smash against the wall. Back at the farm the Colonel arrives and asks if they’ve seen a missing horse because the police called him. Dora says no, after the Colonel leaves Steve queries Dora and doesn’t believe that she won’t get attached to Bobby. Later Dora is trying to get Bobby to eat as it’s been three days. Ron comes in and tells Dora the Colonel wants to see her and he has a policeman with him. Dora greets her Uncle who asks her how it’s going and about the overcrowding while Steve sends her dark worried looks. The policeman searches the stall where Bobby was but Ron has slipped him out the back door and turns up round the front claiming Bobby just wandered in. The Colonel guesses the truth and tells Dora and Ron to return the horse. When they reach the address in the town, Dora goes inside but her appearance precipitates an argument and she leaves, shocked by the son’s disrespect for the sick father. Outside they put Bobby into the stable and the eldest boy remarks that he knows that Dora is shocked, but explains that he has no reason to respect his father as he doesn’t respect his mother. The eldest son wants to be able to buy things for his mother that his father never did. Later at Follyfoot Dora is sitting up late in the kitchen cleaning tack when Slugger comes in and tells her it’s her bedtime. She comments that everyone is concerned with Bobby and not where they should be, the sick father. That night the father goes out and releases Bobby before firing the stable and cart, then collapses while Bobby stands by him. Next morning Slugger takes a call from the police about the fire and for them to go and collect the horse as the father is now dead. Dora and Ron go again and find the older son glad that his dad is dead, but the younger son is clearly distressed. When they get back to Follyfoot the horse still won’t eat and Dora wishes she had treated Bobby differently. Steve is there and he asks if she blames him, she says not but then asks if she should have followed her head, instincts or heart. If she’d followed the heart and clung to Bobby the father might not have died firing the stables. While Steve hangs his head she leaves, blaming herself. A few days later she joins the younger son at the graveyard for the funeral of the father, she tells the boy that Bobby is still not eating and the boy says that Bobby loved his father. They walk to the funeral where there are very few people to mourn the father. End credits.
Cryometer: at the end when she angsts over her decision to not love Bobby, thereby contributing to the tragedy.

Season 3, episode 5/31: THE DREAM

During the night, Nightriders steal horses from Lockwood’s riding stables, chasing them on motorcycles. Dora has a premonitionary dream where she sees the horses as well as Steve with blood and bruises on his face. She tells Slugger in the morning but he dismisses it as a nightmare. They learn that Mr. Clegg is angry with Lockwood because he won’t sell Clegg his land for a building project. Dora and Steve find the injured horses and Lockwood arrives to collect what remain, threatening Clegg, despite having no proof that Clegg is responsible. Dora goes to Clegg, tells him of Lockwood’s threats in an attempt to stop the violence. Next day, Dora receives a subpeona to appear as a witness in a slander case against Lockwood, brought by Clegg, the Colonel is furious. That evening, Steve, Slugger and Dora hear a motorcycle and Steve goes outside to investigate, despite Dora’s fears that he will be hurt. It turns out to be Chip Lockwood, coming to plead with Dora to not appear at the court case against his dad. Next day the Colonel approaches Lockwood to get an apology but he refuses. Later Clegg’s son, Johnny corners Dora in the stables and warns her off, threatening her horses. When she tells Steve and Ron, Steve decides to go and settle the matter with Johnny....with his fists. Dora tries to stop him, upset that she hadn’t been able to stop the events she’d seen in her dream but he won’t listen. When they arrive at the builder’s yard, Steve prepares to confront Johnny, telling Ron to take Dora into the office, just like in her dream. Dora is hysterical, fearing for Steve, but Ron manages to bundle her into the site office while Steve tackles Johnny and they exchange blows outside. Ron tells a distraught Dora that Clegg’s son had tried to get Ron to join in the horse running, Mr. Clegg overhears, while Steve and Johnny battle outside, Steve finally winning but getting a bloody nose in the process. Mr. Clegg explains that the Colonel had organised a compromise, and that he would agree, seeing as his son had killed the horses. Dora follows Steve outside and hands him a hanky to mop up the blood, glad that he’s not more hurt. Steve is ashamed that he’d resorted to violence, feeling shabby. Unable to face Dora, he thinks himself lucky that Dora is still talking to him, which gives him hope. They leave the yard together. End credits.
Cryometer: After telling Slugger about the dream – When Steve goes to confront Cleggs son – When she sees the blood on Steve’s face.

Season 3, episode 6/32: THE CHALLENGE

(set two weeks after ‘The Dream’)
Dora decides to take a day off. While out riding on Copper she encounters Chip Lockwood riding Brigadier. Chip tells her about a crosscountry race sponsored by his father. Back at the farm, a Major Lewis arrives with another horse for Dora to school, Murphy’s Bar. She agrees under the proviso she can ride him and jump him anytime, thinking that she can ride him in the race and win the 100 pound purse. While out riding Murphy’s Bar, she meets Chip again, he gives her an entry form. Later Mr. Lockwood is not impressed with the prospect of Dora beating his own horse, Brigadier and tells his son that Follyfoot cannot be allowed to win. On another ride, Chip chats Dora up, telling her she’s pretty in an attempt to pursuade her to drop out of the race. When Dora returns to Follyfoot, Steve argues with her because he’s jealous of her spending time with Chip. Chip has invited Dora out for the evening to a disco. Ron happens to see them there but they don’t see him. When they finally return to Follyfoot, Steve has waited up and confronts them, telling them that Murphy’s Bar has been injured. When Dora leaves them, Steve threatens Chip to back off. Later Dora pursuades Steve to take her to Lockwood’s to confront Chip as she doesn’t believe he had anything to do with crippling Murphy’s Bar. When they arrive Steve leaves Dora with the Landrover and investigates the darkened yard. He encounters Chip and they watch as his father unloads a truck of New Forest ponies into the barn. Chip tells Steve not to tell anyone about the ponies. Next day Major Lewis arrives and Steve offers to tell him about Murphy’s Bar. Dora is very upset so the Major comforts her. Steve mouths off at Ron, who confesses that is was him not Chip that let the horse out and injured him. Steve takes Ron to the Major to confess, Dora is ecstatic as it clears Chip, which angers Steve. The day of the crosscountry arrives and Dora has entered, on Copper, expressly to see Chip, to Steve’s chagrin. Dora speaks to Chip, but he tells her that if Brigadier doesn’t win the race his father will dump the New Forest ponies and starve them. Dora is horrified, but Chip remains loyal to his father. Convinced that Chip means it, Dora drops out of the race after only riding a few yards. End credits.
Cryometer: When the Major comes and finds out about Murphy’s Bar.

Season 3, episode 7/33: ‘THE LETTER’

(set directly after ‘The Challenge’)
Dora, on horseback, and Steve, in the Landrover, are out searching for the New Forest ponies. Back at the farm, they learn that the local baker, Mr. Plum, has lost out to a new consortium, Pilkington’s Bakeries. Mr. Plum brings his horse, Georgie, to retire at Follyfoot. That night Dora dreams about Chip. Over breakfast, Dora proposes that she, Ron and Steve carry on the deliveries for Mr. Plum. They get his customer list and canvas them to see if they want his baked goods. During a visit to one of the customers, Steve finds out that Lockwood knows that they are still looking for the ponies. Next morning Ron, by mistake, visits the Pilkington owner’s house, then he visits Lockwood’s and speaks to Chip. Chip writes a quick letter to Dora for Ron to pass on, unfortunately his father arrives and threatens to dump the ponies. Ron tells Steve and Dora, giving the letter meant for Dora to Steve. Steve tells Ron to go to the police the spy on Lockwood’s to find out where the ponies go. Dora pursuades Ron to go straight to Lockwood’s and not tell the police in an effort to save Chip. Ron sees the ponies loaded onto an unmarked truck but he gets kidnapped by Mr. Pilkington, who wants to know why he was canvassing for Mr. Plum. Ron gets Pilkington to follow the truck but they lose it in a back country lane. The truck is parked deep in the woods and left. Later Pilkington’s daughter is out riding and literally falls over the truck.
Mr. Pilkington arrives at Follyfoot, with the daughter and the truck containing the ponies, explaining that they had been dumped on his land. He also explains that he’s opening a string of shops and employing Mr. Plum as his baker. Later that day Steve and Dora are by the lake. Steve gives her the letter from Chip, which is the only proof they have that Lockwood had the ponies. Dora reads the letter, in which Chip professes to love her, but will not betray his father, and that he is in fact going away. Dora isn’t prepared to give the letter to the police so Steve prepares to destroy it, but Dora forstalls him, preferring to keep it in case Lockwood tries anything else and they can use it as leverage in the future. End credits.
Cryometer: No tears this ep.

Season 3, episode 8/34: THE BRIDGE BUILDER

(missing this ep on VHS)
Thanks to Moggy for the following-original ad from the TV Times and Moggy’s original transcripts of the episode.

Season 3, episode 9/35: UNCLE JOE

Two young children are dropped off at Follyfoot for riding lessons on their pony, Champion. The parents are killed in a car accident. The children are put into care as there are no known relatives except an Uncle Joe but the children don’t know his full name or address. Steve attempts to find out with the help of Tina, a gypsy girl. Dora is upset, feeling left out and jealous, so Ron tells her he’ll find out for her. Later that day Ron returns and explains that he’s found the Uncle, only 20 mins away, by using his nouse. He’d gone to the vet and asked about Champion’s twin. They arrive at a big house that Ron tells Dora belongs to a former Olympic medallist, Joe Rimmington. Dora is instantly smitten despite Joe being a few years older in years and experience, and they take Joe back to Follyfoot. They discover that the children have run away from the orphanage and are expected to make their way back to Follyfoot. Dora and Joe get close, making Steve jealous. Joe decides to sleep overnight in Champion’s stall to wait for the kids. They arrive shortly afterwards to everyone’s relief. Next morning Dora is even more in love with Joe as he romps with the children, and he is enchanted with her as he watches her with the kids over breakfast. Later he agrees to ride Copper to see what he thinks about the horse’s problem with jumping. The Colonel arrives and Joe announces that he’ll ask his fiance for advice about Copper. Dora’s heart breaks. Steve laughs in relief, but Tina, the gypsy girl, sees Dora’s pain and comforts her, telling her that she also has a fiance, wiping the smile of Steve’s face. After packing the kids into the car, and loading Champion, Joe watches Dora and comments that he thinks she is the loneliest girl he has ever met, which puzzles Steve. Later Dora and Tina ride to the top of a hill, Tina tells Dora she’s leaving, despite there being no fiance. The girls part friends.
Cryometer: when she finds out about Joe’s fiance.
Special Guest: David Hemmings as Joe

Season 3, episode 10/36: ‘THE HELPING HAND’

Ron is smoking in the barn and overhears Steve complain to Dora about the amount of work to do. Ron tosses the butt carelessly and leaves the barn as Slugger arrives with morning tea for Steve and Dora. Steve asks Ron where he’s been. Minutes later Steve notices smoke coming from the barn and they all go to fight the fire with buckets and rakes. After the fire is out Steve lays into Ron but Dora stops him and goes to see if Ron is alright (he’s deeply ashamed). Steve suggests getting rid of Ron and hiring some real help, Dora says no. A car pulls up, it’s Bernard Fox a friend of the Colonel’s. He says he’s been asked to help Dora, and bustles in, very scathing on how the farm is being run and the horses inside, even suggesting that someone else should school the foal, Folly, other than dora. Fox says he’ll send someone to help despite Dora not wanting any. While out riding together Steve says the stable needs a boss, that they need proper help. They see a man loading a van, he has a tiny pony with a saddle on, called Lollipop. He offers to sell when he sees Dora’s reaction to him saying he’ll ride the tiny horse (he’s a BIG man), and they find out that the saddle has never been taken off. Dora beats him down to 25 pounds, Steve comments about where they are going to keep Lollipop, Dora replies he’s only little to Steve’s disgust. Back at Follyfoot Slugger is kneading dough when a woman arrives, Phyllis Willoughby who annouces she is the new manager of Follyfoot, sent by Mr. Fox. Slugger is very surprised. When Steve and Dora arrive back they see Phyllis getting into her car complaining about a spider in the bath and bad food, Slugger looks smug. Dora and Steve are both surpised when Phyllis announces she is the new manager. At dinner Ron and Dora want nothing to do with Phyllis but Steve supports their need for proper help, to get them straight. Next morning Dora asks Ron for the 25 pounds, she’s run out of her allowance on stuff for the horses. She can’t ask the Colonel as he’s away (not told why or where) and she’s not supposed to get any more horses. Ron says he’ll think of something. Phyllis returns and Dora prepares to do battle but stumbles at the first hurdle. Phyllis inspects the horses and says they have to sort the good from the bad, suggesting they get rid of the donkeys altogether (silly beasts) and put Lancelot down as he’s too old. Dora says no. She gets Slugger to clean out the cobwebs in the stalls. That evening Dora vows that Phyllis won’t stay, Ron supports her. Steve comes in from having a bath and says Phyllis is needed to get them straight, but Dora argues with him. Steve tells her there’s a proper way to run the farm but Dora says that Phyllis’s way has no love in it, that she likes each and every animal in the farm and won’t let Phyllis change that. Next morning Phyllis is at work before everyone else, Dora questions whether her Uncle has lost trust in her. Phyllis catches Ron smoking in the barn again and dismisses him. Steve watches and when Dora objects reminds her that Ron is lazy and not worth the effort. Later Steve is down by the lake when Dora approaches. Dora asks for his help, Steve says that Ron is useless, to get someone else but Dora says she wants Ron, which makes Steve jealous. Dora insists that she’s Mistress of Follyfoot, Steve tells her to be Mistress of Follyfoot, to run the farm properly and learn to command and have authority. Dora asks what about loyalty and love. Steve says Ron has never been loyal and as for love, don’t bank on it. Dora has a lot to think about. That evening Dora reminisces about a childhood trip to the sea, she feels that she’s out of her depth with no helping hand. Next morning Ron arrives late, he’s collected two horses from Major Lewis for Dora to school and charged him 25 pounds for Dora to buy Lollipop. Ron leaves to collect Lollipop and tells Dora he’ll leave when she tells him to, which incenses Phyllis. Later Dora is schooling one of the new horses when Ron returns and calls her over urgently. He has Lollipop but tells her she needs to get into the stable quickly and that now is the time to be The Boss. Inside she finds the vet looking over Lancelot with Phyllis looking on. She wants to put Lancelot down but Dora says no, not while she lives. Steve listens and when Dora says she’ll manage he asks her if she will. If the Colonel was worried about Dora then so was Steve, that she was taking on too much and wouldn’t be able to give all the horses her special love plus wearing herself down. He tells Phyllis that her way isn’t necessarily the right way, and he’ll go with Dora’s way. Phyllis leaves. End credits.
Cryometer: When she tells Slugger about her childhood and the sea.

Season 3, episode 11/37: RAIN ON FRIDAY

In the farmhouse, Ron predicts rain. Dora, concentrating on her accounts, shushes him. Slugger tells him he should be giving Steve a hand. Ron counters with a complaint about rain making his back hurt. Steve enters, and asks Dora if the accounts can’t wait. Dora refuses, as the Colonel is coming and he likes to pay it all in a lump sum. Steve asks “How much is it going to cost him this month?” He then adds “Tansy’s ill. It could be Laminitis”. The telephone rings, Steve snaps at Dora, “I’ll get it!” Dora moves to go out, but Slugger tells her “Not now, I’m getting breakfast”. Dora replies that she wants to see Tansy. Steve angrily says “That’s the second person this week that has nowhere to keep their horse in the winter. Someone will have to tell me what to do with ours”. Dora asks his reply. Steve says “A couple of yearlings need schooling and wintering. Ten pounds a week each”. They go outside. Steve says “Another month, and all our horses will have to come in. Where are we going put them?” He then suggests that a fellow named Chadwick is willing to stable some of the horses. Dora asks if Steve has talked to him without asking her. He replies he has, and then wishes the rain would stop. “Makes little things seem big and black”. Dora tells him “We don’t farm horses out”. Steve asks “Where are they to be kept, upstairs?” He then accuses her of being a dreamer. Dora is adamant, “We don’t farm them out!” Later, in the farmhouse, Dora is shelling peas but not doing it too well. Slugger, watching her efforts, asks “Why should Steve say you were not practical?” Dora replies “For wanting to stable our horses in the winter, but it’s OK for Steve to bring in two new ones”. Slugger retorts with “They’re for schooling. He wants Follyfoot to pay its way. No more bills for the Colonel. He says it’s living off charity”. Dora replies that she knows what to do about wintering the horses, she just needs to talk to the Colonel. Slugger warns her to be careful, telling her “Steve’s ambitious, and proud, he doesn’t like the Colonel keep dipping into his pockets all the time”. Dora replies that Uncle doesn’t mind. Slugger tells her to “Think about it, or you’ll lose him”. The phone rings, Dora leaves the kitchen to answer it. Ron who has been reading the Beano sat at the top of the stairs, sneaks down and opens and closes the front door without going out. Ron says “It’s chucking it down!” Slugger responds “Missed you though didn’t it?” There comes a knock at the door, Slugger opens it, and is surprised to see Bill Chadwick standing outside. They exchange greetings, Slugger invites him in with, “It’s been a long time. You er... been back long?” Chadwick replies “Last week”. Slugger asks if it was not too bad. Chadwick replies “Well, it’s not like home you know”. Slugger introduces Bill Chadwick to his boss, calling her Miss Dora, Mistress of Follyfoot. Chadwick tells Dora that he came to see the Colonel. Dora replies “He’s coming over, he won’t be long”. Then asks Ron to pick up a horse, she’s expected. Slugger tells her “Steve’s got the horsebox, collecting the other two”. Dora responds “They’ll have to go back, there’s no room!” Slugger again warns her to be careful. Dora responds with “This one was going to be shot Slugger, that’s what we’re here for!” Later, the Colonel is looking at the accounts, then sits down by the blazing fire, “Ahhh. I wish I didn’t have to go out”. Dora asks him if he saw Mr Chadwick. The Colonel replies “No, I got Slugger to push him out. His application for a trainer’s licence is being considered. Wouldn’t do, us meeting before the hearing”. Ron asks Slugger if Steve will leave, to which Slugger observes “Don’t miss much do you?” Ron states that he is a below stairs man himself, and knows his place, and has no big ideas. Slugger replies that he knows when he’s on a good thing. Ron replies “Doesn’t Steve?” Steve enters, and the Colonel asks him to tell Slugger he and Dora will have lunch in the study. Steve replies “Right”, then hesitates. The Colonel asks “You want me?” Steve snaps “No! I just work here!” The Colonel asks Dora “What’s up with Steve?...a Tiff?” Dora replies “He wants to make Follyfoot pay, run it as a business”. She wants Follyfoot to be as The Colonel made it. Half an hour ago a woman rang. Her husband died and she wanted his horse shot. Someone has to protect them. She then asks if they can build more stables. Plans are discussed, and the Colonel suggests she gets an estimate from the local builder. Dora goes up to the loft, to discuss the yearlings, but the conversation gets heated, with Steve, the Realist, and Dora, the Dreamer not finding any common ground. Steve tells her that “This place was a rich man’s folly, I want you and me to create something of our own”. Dora angrily retorts with “Out Tansy, there’s money to be made”. Steve asks “Then what do we do?” Dora tells him about the new stables. Steve loses his temper, “I’m not spending the rest of my life begging from your Uncle, whatever we do, let’s please, please do it on our own. If we can’t do that then I’m sorry, you will have to beg without me!...God, I wish it would stop raining!” In the barn, Ron strums on his guitar. Dora enters and sits down. Ron tells her of Steve’s plan to farm out horses at five pounds each per week, while bringing in horses that need training, for ten pounds each per week. He then indulges in a bit of trouble making, telling Dora that Chadwick is a jailbird. Just come out. Big race swindle. Banned from racecourses for life. Training licence taken away. “Hardly the bloke to look after old Ladybird eh?” Dora calls the local builder, and asks for an estimate to build more stables. Steve and Slugger are talking about Chadwick. Steve does not know about Chadwick’s criminal past. He is shocked when he finds out. He goes into the hall and answers the phone. It’s Clegg, the builder. Steve angrily tells him to “Forget it”. He turns on Dora, “You called Clegg in spite of what I said. If you wanna get rid of me girl, then tell me to my face”. Dora replies “The Chadwick idea won’t work! He’s just come out of prison, we don’t know anything about him”. Steve replies “Except that he’s been in prison, well that makes two of us. We jailbirds shouldn’t touch your horses, is that it? If he can’t, I can’t. Which way do you want it girl?” Dora stands by the yard gate in the pouring rain watching Steve walk back to the stables, when Slugger comes out of the farmhouse. He offers Dora a waterproof, and tells her to come inside. Dora shrieks “Leave me alone!!! What can I do? they’re my horses, it’s their home. Why does everybody want to change everything?” Later in the barn, Dora sighs, “Oh I wish it would stop!” Ron then indulges in his troublemaking again, “He won’t go you know. He’s on to a good thing, and he knows it. You think he cares what you want? Work it out. He’ll be the boss, instead of you”. Steve hears this and attacks Ron, asking Dora, “Don’t you know his game girl?” Ron tells Steve “It’s time you were told, you’re a hired hand, same as me”. Steve asks Dora “Who’s that talking, Ron, or you?” Steve and Ron face up to each other and a fight breaks out. Steve is seriously angry and out for Ron’s blood, Ron starts to panic. The fight continues, getting more serious by the second, till the Colonel enters, and demands to know what’s going on. Dora tells him “I was chasing a rainbow Uncle, trying and trying to keep Follyfoot as it’s always been. But I can’t”. The Colonel asks her “Why keep it as it’s always been?” Dora replies “It’s the way you made it”. Steve says to Dora “You said you wouldn’t do anything he didn’t, well just for the record, nor would I”. The Colonel asks if he means farming out the horses? Steve replies sharply “Yes!! I wish you’d tell her. I can’t, but until she’s told, I’ve got to take her insults, and her anger, told I’m trying to be boss, told I’m just a hired hand, she goes around with her head in the clouds chasing some second hand rainbow”. The Colonel tells Dora, “Steve’s only suggesting something that I used to do”. Dora angrily retorts “I don’t want to hear!” The Colonel asks Dora, if she remembers “those rather grand stables up at my place? Well that’s where the Barneys and the Ladybirds of twenty five years ago used to live. That’s where all this started. You see, I wanted to run a training establishment too, so I packed them all off down here. Steve’s only suggesting you do what I did”. Steve says “Same footsteps Dora. Different direction, that’s all”. The Colonel asks Dora to come and meet Chadwick, “He’s a good man, and Steve’s idea is just what he needs to set him up again”. Ron apologises to Steve. Steve asks him about the things he said, “Was it you? or has Dora said something?” Ron replies “It was the rain”. Steve replies “Oh God it’s been a terrible day” Chadwick examines Tansy. “That’s never Laminitis. Too many oats I’d say. She’ll be alright. I’ve been wondering if you’ve made up your mind, about me stabling some of your horses for the winter?” Dora replies “Thank you”. She then tells Steve “You got what you wanted” and asks if it was fair. Steve replies “It’s stopped raining. It’ll be alright tomorrow, you’ll see”. Lightning Tree theme and credits. The synopsis for this episode was kindly summarised by: Larue.

Season 3, episode 12/38: HAZEL

Slugger calls Dora to the phone, it’s the Colonel, Dora tells him about Lancelot who’s dying. The Colonel wants Dora to meet someone and asks her to tea at 4pm. At the Colonel’s they wait for the visitors, the local probation officer, Dorothy Corbett and her problem case, Hazel Donnelly. They meet Mrs Corbett while Hazel is outside, they learn that Hazel was dumped at an orphanage and fostered to the Donelly’s before ending up in reform school, Mrs Corbett says Hazel needs to start again – like Steve. Dora doesn’t want to take on another ‘Steve’. She sees Hazel feeding cake to her horse, Copper and gets upset. She races home on Copper but she’s angry and takes it out on the horse, he fights her. Finally back at Follyfoot, Dora finds that Copper has a thorn in his leg, Steve tries to help. They hear a car, it’s Hazel and Mrs Corbett, Steve goes to welcome them but Dora wants him to stay with her. He goes anyway, greets Mrs Corbett who obviously knows him from the past, he invites Hazel to go and look around. He goes back to Dora but finds out the thorn is broken off in the leg and Dora complains about him leaving her. She snaps at Steve but he says she’s just tired, Dora asks him to call the vet straight away. She refuses to see Hazel. In the house Slugger is polishing, Steve tells him Hazel will be at Follyfoot till 3pm. Slugger hands him the picture he’s been polishing, it’s of Steve’s mum. At lunch Steve tells Slugger that Dora doesn’t want anything. Steve sympathises with Hazel about reform schools, he was at Doncaster, Hazel at Willoughby. The vet arrives to see Copper’s leg. Steve takes his mum’s photo into the stables and leaves it on the stairs to his loft. Hazel watches Dora with the vet, says that Dora is avoiding her, doesn’t like her. Steve says Dora’s not well, works all hours. Hazel says she hates Dora then picks up the photo of Steve’s mum and turns it over, the frame was a present to Steve from Dora for his birthday. Hazel looks back at Dora and asks why she doesn’t look at her, Steve explains it’s not the girl, Dora is worried about Copper. Later Ron and Hazel are sitting by the lake, Ron tells her about the farm, Ron asks if Hazel will decide to stay. Steve and Dora approach leading some horses, Hazel calls Dora a stuck up bitch. Steve is asking Dora why she won’t talk to Hazel, that she’s not being fair. Dora just says no. Hazel runs back to the stables. Soon after Dora and Steve arrive back to find Hazel has run off. Mrs Corbett has called the police which Steve thinks is extreme. Ron calls Steve over to take a look at something – it’s his mother’s picture all smashed to pieces. Ron says it’s with love from Hazel. Hazel is hiding, sees a police car go by. Back at the farm Slugger tells Steve he saw Hazel with a shovel smashing the picture, Ron suggests she would have used it on a horse next, Steve says no. Hazel has run into the woods and sees some horses in a paddock. She starts to remember her earlier life when she saw some horses while playing football with the local kids. Later she asked her foster father for a pony for her birthday, the father agrees as long as she dresses like a girl and helps her foster mother. Hazel tries and gets ridiculed by her playmates. During her reminiscences a storm comes over, Steve worries about Hazel when Dora only worries about getting the horses in. Slugger is fitting padlocks and bolts to the stables, Steve tries to reason with Dora that Hazel isn’t a threat. Back with Hazel and she’s remembering her birthday where she only got a hairbrush set. The father says they can’t afford a pony, despite the new car sitting in the driveway. Hazel tells him to look at her. That evening Hazel returns to Follyfoot, Steve wakes up and sees her enter the yard. She goes up to his loft and they talk. Hazel asks him not to show a light, she likes the dark. Hazel says she’s cold and looks expectantly at Steve who wraps her in a blanket. He asks if she’s eaten. They sit on the bed and talk, she wants someone to love her – specifically Steve which makes him really uncomfortable given their age difference. (Hazel is about 14/15, Steve would now be atleast 19/20).. Steve tries to deflect her by relating his own experiences at Follyfoot. Hazel asks if Steve will help her, he rejects her, he explains that the people at the farm don’t love each other, they keep to their own worlds, Hazel doesn’t understand, only Steve’s rejection of her. Steve goes on to explain that he has ambition, Dora has Copper. Hazel remembers a vision of her father’s new car. Steve says that they’re all a family of strangers. Hazel runs off down the stairs, locking Steve in the stable. She goes and picks up a crowbar and breaks the lock to Copper’s stall. Steve is yelling and banging on the door, he breaks a window. His cries wake Dora. Hazel is now approaching Copper in his stall remembering how she smashed her foster father’s car headlights.. Dora rushes to wake Slugger before running out of the cottage. She runs into the yard and hears Steve calling, unlocks the door. When she learns that Hazel is nearby Dora immediately thinks of Copper. They find Hazel crouched in the straw crying, the crowbar in her hand. Copper is fine and Dora goes to Hazel at last and takes the crowbar from her, then she speaks to her. Back in the cottage Dora is with Mrs Corbett and the Colonel, Dora thought that Hazel would be another Steve, full of anger and self pity, but Hazel was Dora all over again, she needed someone to love her. Dora suggests that Hazel take Dora’s place at Follyfoot to the Colonel’s dismay and surprise. Dora says she’ll explain in the morning but for now she wants to spend time with Lancelot. End credits.
Cryometer: No crying in this ep.

Season 3, episode 13/39: WALK IN THE WOOD

(FINAL EPISODE – directly after ‘Hazel’)
It’s the morning and Steve is taking out the horses as builders have arrived to start on the new stables. Dora is in with Lancelot. Steve tells her that he has the eight horses ready to send to Chadwick’s, he tells her he’s seen the stable and they are fine, Dora doesn’t want to see them go. Back in the cottage Slugger remembers when Lancelot arrived twenty years ago. Ron mentions about Steve sending the horses away, he states that Dora doesn’t have to like it even if it is necessary. Dora has saddled Copper for a ride. Slugger goes to see her, Dora tells him it’s all changing, slipping away. Slugger says it isn’t, says it’s only an evolution, not change, he comforts her. Ron goes up and wakes Hazel with her breakfast, she asks if Dora is really going, because of her. Ron says it’s not about her. In the yard Steve is talking to Slugger and suggests it’s because of him, he says they all need her, Slugger says she must decided for herself. Steve retorts how can she, Dora only sees what she wants to, a dream world. Dora is riding through a wood and hears some boys, she sees them throwing stones at a pony beside a derelict house. Dora dismounts and scares them off, except for one small boy. The boy’s older brother bullies Dora and runs off Copper. Unseen by Dora the little boy follows the horse. Back at Follyfoot, Ron and Hazel are watching the Colonel with Lancelot. They don’t know where Dora is, afraid that Lancelot will die without her being there. Dora is in the woods calling for Copper, she stumbles across two lovers making out and disturbs a woodsman. He tells her he’s worked in the wood for forty-seven years, planted the trees and seen the renewal. He tells her how he had to cut out the strongest sapling to allow the others to thrive, to cut out the strong to aid the weak. Further into the wood she meets a tinker, she hears the boys again and the man tells her they’re from the estate. Dora finally finds a phonebox and calls her uncle to bring help to find Copper. When they arrive they unload a horse for Dora to ride back to Follyfoot to see Lancelot, but when she gets there she finds he’s already died without her, Hazel was with him. Dora tells Hazel about Lancelot, how he was ridden by a man all the way from Scotland to see the Queen, but Lancelot got so far and stopped and the man caught a train the rest of the way only to find the Queen was in Australia. There is a shot of the Lightning Tree which is miraculously showing green shoots on its branches. Dora is in the cottage waiting for her uncle and Steve to return from the search. Slugger says she’s not in a fit state (tired out) and asks her if she knows what she wants to do, did she find what she was looking for. Dora explains how she clung to Follyfoot to keep out the world because she was scared, but what was she really scared of. Slugger tells her to spread her wings and see the world and go far away. Steve and the Colonel arrive with the truck but no Copper. Before going over Dora tells Slugger she will miss him the most of all of them. Steve tells her they didn’t find Copper and have contacted the police. Steve asks her what happened in the wood. Dora tells Ron that Hazel stayed with Copper which surprises him as she’d formally stated she couldn’t do it. When Ron walks off Steve remarks what a right pair Ron and Hazel will make. Later on horseback, Steve and Dora search for Copper, they find the tinkers’ camp but no sign of them or Copper, Steve is sure they would have taken him, Dora doesn’t think so. Back at Follyfoot Steve suggests to the Colonel that they tell the police about the tinkers, the Colonel agrees but Dora rounds on Steve and tells him she’s not naive to trust people and believe that people will care as she does. She accuses him of always taking the uncharitable way which takes Steve aback. He reacts defensively and blames the tinkers, unable to understand how Dora can believe the best of everyone despite his experience of the opposite. The police are there and say they have to leave to look for a missing boy, Steve also leaves, irritated by Dora’s attitude. Later in the stable Dora speaks to her uncle. He says he’ll be sorry to see Dora go that he was flattered to have someone young to carry on after him, renewal not change. Dora tells her about cutting out the strong to help the weak. Soon after Steve arrives and Dora immediately attacks him about the tinkers. Steve retorts that she’s determined to see the world as a nice place when it’s not. Dora says she thought that Steve could love, but she sees he can only hate, that dreams are only cobwebs to be ripped away. She tells him that people need dreams, Steve replies with rainbow chasers of the world unite. Dora retorts by saying that people need to aim for the sky, if they only aim for the mountain then they are in Steve’s world, aim for the sky and they are in Dora’s, she says that in Steve’s world love is a weakness, a lie but it’s not that way in her world. She tells Steve that she will stay, to which Steve replies thank God, but she goes on to say that it’s for the others, as they are weak, Steve is too strong. Steve finally starts to understand what she’s trying to tell him, Dora is asking him to go. Steve replies with “go where?”, he doesn’t think Dora is serious, he doesn’t believe her and reacts defensively, lashing out that she despises him because of his view of the world, he tells her to open her eyes to the real world then tell him she doesn’t need him. Dora weeps as Steve goes up to his loft. Next morning Dora is asleep in Copper’s stall, Slugger shouts that they’ve found the horse, she hugs him. Ron arrives first and says the police have Copper, the woodsman found him and the little boy, waiting for Dora in a shed by the derelict farm. The boy looked after him, hid him in the hut to keep him safe from his brother. Dora hugs the boy then walks back into the yard. Ron follows her and tells her to run for her life, but Dora says no. Steve approaches her and asks what she wants him to do, that he needs her more than he’s needed anyone in his life, that she’s the strong one, he says he was wrong, that she does weave miracles and that he’d give anything to do the same. Dora nods to indicate he can stay then walks to the tree. Steve asks her to bear with him and give him time. Dora leans against the Lightning Tree and tells it never to grow up, that she’s been for a very long walk and the Queen was in Australia. End credits.
Cryometer: When she’s about to go out on Copper and she talks to Slugger about change, when she finds that Lancelot is dead, when she tells Hazel Lancelot’s history, through her whole speech with Steve asking him to go, when she hugs Copper on his return to Follyfoot.