Saturday, November 13, 2010

A lesson from Lark Rise to Candleford

It was movie night last night, another chance to watch Lark Rise to Candleford, and a brief bit of dialog in this episode hit me hard. It was a conversation between two people who live in different social spheres, and rather than making them strangers, it frees them to speak boldly to one another in a way those closer cannot.

Ruby Pratt (to Walter Arliss, recently returned home from many months at sea): Why must you always run away?

Walter: It ain't running away. It's the call of the ocean.

Ruby: Well, perhaps that's what you believe. But I know, you see. I am the child of a father who took to the road. I don't think anybody runs away TO. I believe we run away FROM. That's what I see in your face now...

Walter: I don't know how to be with them. I ain't got the legs for it. The soul for it. I fail them every time. I go because I see they're better off without me.

Ruby: Go home. Go and be with your family. Don't tell them about your tales of the sea. Ask about them. Their day. Their lives. Meet them. Try to see them.

I know I'm intruding, but I could not live with myself if I did not tell you what I know to be true. What goes on in a child's heart when her father runs.


Please. Try. For one day. Surely we can do for one day that which seems impossible for a lifetime.

3 comments:

The Autumn Rain said...

I love the last part of this quote. I think I need it printed in capital letters above my study carrel.

Love, love, love.

Di said...

I feel the same way, Allison. I want it somewhere I can see it each day. Good words to live (write, study, clean, parent, love) by.

Love to you,
Auntie Di

Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooks said...

I watched a few Lark Rise episodes and this was in one of them.

I, too, thought it an amazing conversation. Beautiful!

I had the books on my "to read" list but life got in the way. Hopefully I can read them this winter.

I hear the series is not exactly like the books.

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