Lark Rise To Candleford – Series 3 – Episode 10
When the local Lark Rise gossip, Mrs Mullins, discovers her daughter, Emily, is pregnant, she jumps to the conclusion that Daniel is the father.
Everyone rallies round to defend Daniel, even Robert and Emma, refusing to believe Mrs Mullins’s accusations. Laura, too, is supportive and pleads with Emily to reveal the true identity of her baby’s father. But Emily seems determined to keep the truth to herself, despite it fuelling the gossip about Daniel. Daniel is heartened by Laura’s faith in him but, when she receives a mysterious letter, Laura becomes pre-occupied and distant, and he wonders if she has begun to doubt him.
Meanwhile, at the post office, Dorcas is handing out bonuses to her staff. Minnie is delighted by her windfall and decides to offer the money to Alf, believing it will help to relieve his burdens. Instead, he angrily refuses her offer, his pride hurt. Later he wonders at the intensity of his reaction.
Mrs Mullins is telling anyone who will listen that Daniel is the baby’s father, and when he starts to behave suspiciously and is seen giving money to Emily in the newspaper office at night, even Dorcas starts to wonder if Daniel may indeed have a charge to answer. When she sees a telegram to Emily’s wealthy employers, confirming travel arrangements for their son, she goes to see Emily, who confirms her suspicions that Master Raymond is the father.
Despite Dorcas’s efforts to persuade Emily to tell her mother the truth, she is still scared of what her reaction will be. Mrs Mullins is furious at Dorcas’s interference, and when she finds Emily in possession of a large sum of money, she assumes it has come from her. When Dorcas denies it and points out the most likely source, Mrs Mullins finally realises her mistake about the identity of the baby’s father. With Queenie’s help, Emily at last finds the courage to explain the whole story to her mother – that she had hopes of Master Raymond marrying her, and had used Daniel as a go-between.
After a public apology from Mrs Mullins, Daniel’s reputation is restored in Candleford, but Laura is still acting strangely. When Dorcas questions her, she reveals that the letter she has received is from her former love, Fisher Bloom. He is writing with the news that he is returning and it has shaken Laura to the core.
Daniel is played by Ben Aldridge, Robert by Brendan Coyle, Emma by Claudie Blakley, Laura by Olivia Hallinan, Dorcas by Julia Sawalha, Minnie by Ruby Bentall and Alf by John Dagleish.
Comment from QueenMab
Time March 8, 2010 at 9:21 am
I love Lark Rise so much. I will be pleased if Fisher blue comes back as he’s great. Ive not really ever warmed towards Daniel.