Mrs. Hall Takes A Chance to Heal Her Family in 'All Creatures Great & Small's “Edward”

All Creatures Great & Small opens with Mrs. Hall on a train to meet her estranged son Edward. It’s been some time since we heard about Edward and his no-showing to Skeldale House’s annual Christmas party, but he represents a particularly painful part of Audrey Hall’s life. She’s nervous and agitated, clutching a tin of his favorite shortbread. The damage goes back several years to when Edward stole from her employer, and she reported him to the police. But with the war coming, Edward is in training with the Navy. Before he ships out on the HMS Repulse, his last leave period is to say goodbye to their families, and it’s his idea that they should meet.

The meeting place, Keighley Railway Station, is teeming with young men in uniform. As Audrey leaves her carriage, another train pulls in on the opposite platform, and a young man in naval uniform gazes out of his window at her, who looks like Edward (Conor Deane). But he stays on the train as it pulls away, and Audrey makes her way to the station waiting room. A couple of women running a refreshment stall on the station offer Mrs. Hall tea. Still, she initially declines until the siren call of a nice cuppa finally tempts her. She tells the friendly woman, Penny (Lara Steward), that she’s changed her mind.

However, Penny is deaf, Audrey is standing out of her sightline, and the request goes unacknowledged until Penny turns and communicates with a combination of speech, sign language, and lip reading. Penny, nudging her companion, asks if Mrs. Hall has a romantic assignation. Mrs. Hall explains she’s meeting her son, Edward, and learning sign language for the word son. She waits as the day wears on and people come and go.