Albert Can’t let him go ta them. I’m gonna try ta teach ’im ta plough – I’m gonna do it – ’n you can’t stop me.

Rose … All right, you try it. One week. He’s a good lad too, really. You’re not a bad lad, are you? I know how ya feel, Joey. I could kick Ted Narracott. Next time, Joey, kick him in the head, see if it sorts him out.

Albert Mum?

Rose Yes, Albert?

Albert If we win the bet, can I keep Joey?

Rose That’s a big ‘if’.

Albert But if I did it, could I keep him? He wouldn’t be fer sale any more. He’d be mine.

Rose Perhaps.

Albert And you’d get Dad to agree to that?

Rose I have ta get him ta agree ta let ya plough, first.

Albert Promise.

Rose I promise I’ll talk ta him, all right? I really envy you, Albert – your ability ta dream.

Exit Rose.

Albert That was divilish stupid. If you want to survive, Joey, you’ll have ta learn that you’re never to kick anyone ever again. Mum was joking about next time ya kick vather – no next time! Never kick anyone ever again! Now, I – am going – ta teach you – ta plough – and you – are going – ta learn. Understood? Then we can be together, which is how I believe things are meant ta be. What do you think of that? You believe that, too, don’t ya? We got seven days, Joey.

Seven days.

Day one. The collar.

Song: ‘Brisk Young Ploughboy’ (p. 96).

Joey shies when Albert tries the collar on him.

Stop that! You’re just going ta have ta take it. I’m talking ta the draught horse part of ya – the calm, sensible part. Let’s try and leave the thoroughbred part of ya out of this.

Joey reluctantly accepts the collar from Albert.

(Some use of whip.) Day two. Ploughing bridle and reins. Day three. Today you’re going ta pull me, Joey. Now back up? Back up? Day five. The plough. Day seven. You still haven’t ploughed yet …

SIX

A field. Dawn, 5 August 1914. War was declared by the Prime Minister and Cabinet in London at 11 p.m. on the previous day.

Enter Ned, spying. Goose begins to stalk him.

Joey messes up again.

In a foreshadowing of the episode that occurs later when Joey inspires the gun team, he finds the resources from deep inside to pull the plough.

Albert That’s it, dig in, dig in, and pull! And pull! You’re getting it, you’re getting it. Good boy, Joey! Good boy, Joey! Good boy!

Joey suddenly loses his footing and slips over.

Get up! Get up, Joey! You’ve got to get up! Joey, you don’t know, so I’m going to have to do the knowing for you, that the rest of your life depends on this. So get set to pull straight.

Goose flushes Ned out of hiding.

Albert Spying?

Ned Waiting vor vather.