A vocal subset of All Creatures Great and Small fans has long insisted there’s something special between Mrs. Hall and Siegfried Farnon. Anyone with eyes can see their companionable rapport. Siegfried’s admiration for Audrey has been increasingly obvious, culminating in his irreverently reverential toast in “On A Wing and A Prayer.”
It’s been ages since Siegfried has had any romantic entanglements. Audrey has worked up the courage to file for divorce in “Broodiness,” to break things off with Gerald and commit to life at Skeldale House in “The Home Front,” and to remove her wedding ring at the end of Season 4.
As we start Season 5, fans might well think: “Now is their time!” Scenes like Audrey and Siegfried’s gentle teamwork as they try to save poor Bingo in “Holding the Baby” are likely to stoke both hopes and frustrations about their relationship.
“The Animal Always Comes First“
Audrey summons Siegfried to a picturesque roadside location in the Dales after discovering a dog in agony. As soon as the vet arrives, the pair get down to the business of treating the animal. Both ask questions and make observations in hopes of saving their critical patient. We learn the dog’s name is Bingo, his owner is unknown, and he’s spasming after ingesting a strong poison.
In this brief scene, the frame shifts constantly. Director Brian Percival uses close-ups of Bingo laying on the bare ground, frontal shots of Audrey and Siegfried shoulder-to-shoulder attending to the dog, and frames of Audrey’s or Siegfried’s face as each addresses the other. These alternating angles create a sense of urgency. Side shots of the pair with the Rover in the middle of the road in the background remind viewers of Siegfried’s need to improvise. This is field care far from the comfort of the surgery.
Siegfried seems determined to do all he can. He administers an injection in hopes Bingo will expel the poison. He declines, however, to give false hope when Mrs. Hall asks if Bingo will recover. After a merciful cutaway, the scene resumes with Siegfried’s soothing voice reassuring both Bingo and Audrey that the dog’s retching is over. Feeling, perhaps, helpless, Audrey asks Siegfried if he can do more for Bingo. In response, Siegfried prepares a sedative to ease the tremors and the pain. Audrey’s face shows that she understands it’s not a cure even before Siegfried says it.
“Consider the People, Too“
Audrey’s concern is evident as she gently strokes Bingo while Siegfried gives the second injection. He seeks to soothe her anxiety by suggesting they’ll soon be able to whisk their patient back to the surgery. Siegfried, then, intensifies his compassionate care transforming his own jacket into an emergency blanket for the dog.
It is only when Bingo appears to be resting comfortably that Audrey exhales. Her emotions flood to the surface. When she confesses that discovering Bingo gave her “such a scare,” Siegfried shifts from caring for the animal to caring for Audrey. The front view of their relieved faces with Yorkshire nature in the background almost allows us to forget the circumstances. A shot of Bingo’s head peacefully peeking out from the tweed suggests the worst may be over.
Perhaps still smarting from hearing her role reduced to “my housekeeper,” Audrey doubts how useful she’d be in a “real emergency.” Siegfried seizes the opportunity to make amends for his earlier gaffe. Samuel West adopts a gentle gaze — some might say a loving look — as Siegfried reassures Mrs. Hall that her reaction is impeccable. The camera lingers on Anna Madeley as Mrs. Hall’s face shows appreciation for Siegfried’s recognition.
Finding the Owner
Viewers can only guess at Mrs. Hall’s response because Mr. Bosworth makes an ill-timed appearance. As the French would say, he arrives “like a dog in a game of lawn skittles” (a humble ode to Maxine Alderton’s masterful wordplay throughout the episode). The frame brilliantly shows Siegfried holding Audrey’s gaze even as Bosworth parks his bicycle in the background. Siegfried breaks away only after several beats. Audrey’s face shifts from delight to disdain as he resumes his tirade against Bosworth’s rules campaign. Siegfried’s soft eyes turn remarkably cold as he grits his teeth and clenches his fist, readying for another face-off.
Unfortunately, neither Audrey nor Siegfried notices the panicked tone of Bosworth’s question: “What on earth are you doin’?” Instead, they turn back to Bingo, who sadly has stopped breathing. Poignant music by Alexandra Harwood and the tight framing of Audrey and Siegfried show their sadness and disarray at arriving too late to save the dog. Only a side shot as Siegfried removes his stethoscope after failing to find signs of life reminds us that Bosworth is still there.
As Audrey composes herself to choke out the words “what a terrible shame,” viewers might chafe at Bosworth’s presence during this tender moment. Siegfried attempts to soothe his and Audrey’s — and our — shared grief with a gentle tone and a tranquilizing phrase. Both appear willing to linger to process the events and pay their respects. Audrey, however, breaks the spell by cutting her eyes at Bosworth. We share Siegfried’s visible annoyance as he jumps up and hardens his voice to address the looky-loo.
Again, neither has noticed Bosworth’s unusual silence during this scene. Even as Siegfried barks out his questions, Bosworth’s wordiness and combativeness do not return. Instead, he musters only five feeble words. When he identifies himself as Bingo’s owner, the expressions of Madeley and West perfectly show the mortification that Audrey and Siegfried must feel. They’ve failed to comfort, even excluded, the mourner most distressed at Bingo’s death.
In an episode where everyone is moonlighting, Mrs. Hall and especially Siegfried have not imagined that Mr. Bosworth can be anything more than a hard-headed “tyrant.” The twist at the end of this scene is a reminder that In All Creatures Great and Small, soft hearts hide in even the most “stubborn beasts.”
All Creatures Great and Small’s “Holding the Baby” is now streaming on PBS.
First Featured Image Credit: ©PBS