Two friends had left home to find their way in the world and see what they could become.

John, I'm headed for the city.

I'm headed over those mountains to the land beyond.

Then we meet here at this spot in ten years and see what we've made of ourselves.

Ten years it is. Good luck. Good luck.

The friends parted ways and ten summers went by.

Finally, it was the day when they were to meet.

John was the first to arrive.

John? Patrick? Oh, this is quite an entourage you got there.

May I introduce His Lordship Sir Patrick Sullivan.

His Lordship? Enough, Henry. I'll take it from here.

John, I'm the chief treasurer of the kingdom.

Your royalty now?

A member of the king's court, yes.

Oh, I knew you would make it big.

And what about you? What did you find beyond the mountains?

My passion, playing with fire. I'm a blacksmith.

Come on, I brought a picnic lunch.

But only for you, not your entourage.

Believe me, I am famished.

Henry, why don't you head back to the city now?

Yo, coach, leave a horse here.

But...

But...

Henry, leave.

Yes, yes, your lordship.

Mmm, potatoes cooked in their jackets with butter.

Oh, how I have missed this.

Huh, I'm sure they serve you much more interesting things in the palace.

John, your hands?

What would you expect?

You handle gold and silver and gems all day, while I handle coal and iron and fire all day.

My hands have to be like this.

You know, why don't you come back with me to my place for a few days, and then I can come back to yours.

Let's really see the kind of life each of us is leading.

What say?

Hmm, but is it okay for a commoner like me to stay with a royal nobleman like you?

Why not? Come on.

I need to pack some stuff, so...

I'll have you picked up tomorrow morning.

What say?

Done.

What is wrong with his lordship?

Excuse me?

Excuse me?

Sorry, what?

His lordship sent me to...

Oh, yes, of course. Give me a few minutes.

Ooh, what?

Can I borrow the carriage for you?

Sure.

Exactly how many carriages does Patrick have?

His lordship, if you please. He is a very important man.

His lordship it is.

His lordship is paid 15,000 gold coins a month.

Enough to not just buy your entire village, but also to renovate it 12 times over.

Okay, my friend is a rich man.

A very important man, and one of the richest in the entire kingdom, sir.

Please, call me John.

Here we are, his lordship's mansion.

Oh, um, welcome, sir.

Sir John, his lordship had to rush to the royal palace.

In the meanwhile, we have orders to make you comfortable.

This way, sir.

Uh, these handles are pure gold.

Which perfume would you prefer, sir? Rose, lavender, rosemary, citrus?

Citrus? Certainly.

Hot towel, sir. Thank you.

We didn't know what you would like, so we have a choice of teas.

Hot as well as iced, lemonade and juices if you will, cakes, pies, exotic cookies and sandwiches.

What may we serve you, sir?

I haven't seen so much food in my life.

What would you like, sir?

Thank you, I shall serve myself.

John, I am so sorry.

We just got this message about a trade delegation from the kingdom of Rotterville coming the day after.

What is that? Is it for me?

It's, it's nothing.

You made this?

Yes, some wrought iron art, but it won't go with all the gold and crystal here.

It will go very well in my office. It's beautiful.

I could do with some tea. Let's eat.

Your lordship, Lady Riva asked you to have a look at this.

She said His Highness wants your opinion on this by morning.

Let me see.

Oh, you know what? Henry, call everyone for a meeting in my office in one hour.

John, I'll have to, the future of our kingdom depends on this trade agreement.

I know, go on.

This is his lordship's private brook. He had it specially made.

This brook, this hillock is exactly how we had it in our village.

It is a real engineering marvel to recreate nature like that, and very expensive too.

He loved to swim, he must be having quite a blast here.

He hardly gets time. He's a very important man.

Some fruit? What fruits are these? I've never seen them before.

They are all from foreign countries.

Gifts they send me every now and then. My favorite is this one, with honey and cream.

Tonight we have a banquet in honor of the trade delegation arriving this afternoon.

You have to come.

I don't even have a suit I can wear.

Henry, we'll be taken care of.

Breakfast? I have to be at the palace in ten minutes.

I'll see you in the evening.

Make sure the suit is a perfect fit.

And while they take your measurements, sir.

Why don't you look at these designs and fabrics?

Silk, velvet, satin, gold buttons, diamonds, rubies, whatever you wish.

You get to pick gems just like that?

His lordship loves a combination of amber and gold.

Whatever Mr. Taylor likes.

Our king never fails to dazzle.

Sparkle and dazzle. Yes, but no time to eat, sleep, or swim.

What a life. I thought all this luxury made life easy, but it doesn't, does it?

It's almost as if his responsibilities take his luxuries away. I'm so proud of him.

Your highness, John, my childhood friend.

Oh, which department do you serve?

Sir, I am not a government officer. I'm a blacksmith.

Very important profession, John. Glad you could make it.

In fact, once this delegation goes, maybe we could all have breakfast together?

Certainly, your highness.

If I thought there was no further luxury possible, your king really dazzled me.

Breakfast aboard a ship three miles out in the sea, prepared by ten chefs from ten different countries?

But what I can't wait for is potatoes and butter. I would love to see what your life is like.

Ready?

Oh, come on. To my humble home beyond the mountains.

How about you spending the afternoon sleeping here while I take care of some work?

I can ask for a proper bed for you, your lordship.

You have no idea what a perfect bed this is. Now go away and let me sleep.

John, how did this hammer break? What kind of work is this?

This is not the one I made for you.

Of course it is.

All my stuff has my mark. This one doesn't. Plus, I can feel it.

This one is my brother's. He cannot afford to buy a new one. Sorry.

Tell him not to worry. I'll make one for him.

I can't pay.

Just never again raise doubts on my work. Okay? I'll have this hammer ready by this time tomorrow.

Patrick, you're soaked. Come here by the fire.

I had the best sleep in a long, long time. What's for dinner?

I have sent for your chefs, sir.

John, what are we having? I'm famished.

Broth, bread with cream cheese and onions, with potatoes cooked in butter.

I want to make some pie, but there was too much pending work.

Mr. Henry, would you please join?

I'd rather not.

Come on, Henry, join us. This is a vacation.

I'll get that.

Hey, hi, Eva.

Our kettle is broken, and I cannot make tea for father. And father has a cold.

You know what? You take mine for now, and I shall have yours repaired by morning, okay?

And here, I'll put in some broth for him, too.

Okay. Thank you.

How long now?

Sorry, bro, I started eating. This is so good.

John, John, coming for a swim.

Sure.

Hey, John, where have you been, man? Work was getting impossible. Thanks to you, I'm way behind.

What's up?

I saw it. It's so wobbly. Repair it. I have to finish those cabinets by tomorrow.

I'll do it.

And make me a fresh batch of size 2 nails, please. 500 for now. I'll pay you when I get paid in a few days.

Better get on it, John.

Done.

You go on for that swim, brother. I want to see you work.

And anything I can do to help?

I don't know. Can you fill this trough?

Sure.

Thank you.

You're an important man, John.

What?

This village, this system cannot run without you, your tools.

Whether in the fields, on farms, in kitchens, everywhere.

And John is really the best blacksmith in seven villages around here.

Nobody makes sturdier and sharper tools. Don't know what we would do without him.

Yeah.

John, don't you think you deserve more money for all the work that you put in?

Honestly, I wouldn't mind, but the people I work for are no kings.

I get only what they can afford to pay.

Plus, I do not want so much money that I get scared to get my hands dirty on coal and iron.

What if you work for the king?

How? And what about here?

Stay here. We need daggers and swords for the army and horseshoes, stuff for our ships.

If the general approves of your goods, then you can make things for the army, have enough money to hire assistants, and keep helping the people in seven villages around.

We always need great blacksmiths, John.

The kingdom needs craftsmen like you, sir. You are a very important man.

Everyone is important, Mr. Henry.

As long as we do the very best of what we do.

John, I'm sure the general will love your work.

It's neither money nor status that makes us important.

It is how best we do what we do that makes us important.