"Broodiness" is in the Air for the Season 4 Premiere of 'All Creatures Great & Small'
The fourth season of All Creatures Great & Small opens in the Spring of 1940, and James Herriott whistles as he drives through the gorgeous Yorkshire spring countryside, narrowly missing a boy and his dog standing at the side of the road, and slows down to apologize. The boy throws an egg at the car and runs off. Meanwhile, at Skeldale House, Siegfried Farnon is not happy. First, he has given up his pipe for Lent and spends a lot of time trying to find his tobacco, which housekeeper Mrs. Hall has helpfully hidden. He’s also missing his younger brother Tristan, who’s on active service with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps (and most likely absent for the season, sorry, Callum Woodhouse fans).
Seigfried claims there’s nothing sentimental about his feelings; he is merely frustrated at the additional, routine work he’s had to do. James’ wife, Helen, is helping Siegfried take inventory of surgical supplies before she puts in an order, and they are both getting very annoyed with each other. Murder is averted by a call from farmer Clifford Slavens (Paul Hilton), who’s dealing with a problematic lambing, and Siegfried leaves to help. When James arrives, he and Helen go outside to supervise the duck race, and she’s touched by the children’s happiness and enthusiasm.
Teasingly, James accuses her of being broody, and although she gives an equally light-hearted response, it’s a serious issue for them. With the country at war and the possibility of James being called up for military duty at any time, they can’t delay the decision to have children indefinitely. To cheers and laughter, the children release their ducks in the stream – wooden ducks, not live ones, which would be even more chaotic – and rush to the bridge, which is the end line of the race. But the scruffy, sullen boy with the dog is back and throws stones at the ducks. James chases him and finds the dog tied up under a tree; it is clearly not healthy. The boy, Wesley Banks (Billy Hickey), refuses to listen to James and hits him. When James gets to his feet and tends to his bloody nose, both dog and boy disappear.
