diff --git a/es.pyx b/es.pyx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b6759e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/es.pyx
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+"""es.pyx -- Pyrex bindings for es.c
+
+Whilst starting, "compile" with::
+
+    pyrexc  es.pyx -o es.pyx.c
+"""
+
+# If we're going to use definitions like this in more than one pyx file, we'll
+# need to define the shared types in a .pxd file and use cimport to import
+# them.
+cdef extern from "stdio.h":
+    ctypedef struct FILE:
+        int _fileno
+
+cdef extern from 'es_defns.h':
+    # The reader for an ES file
+    struct elementary_stream:
+        pass
+    ctypedef elementary_stream  ES
+    ctypedef elementary_stream *ES_p
+
+    # An actual ES unit
+    struct ES_unit:
+        pass
+    ctypedef ES_unit *ES_unit_p
+
+cdef extern from 'es_fns.h':
+    int open_elementary_stream(char *filename, ES_p *es)
+    void free_elementary_stream(ES_p *es)
+    int find_and_build_next_ES_unit(ES_p es, ES_unit_p *unit)
+    void free_ES_unit(ES_unit_p *unit)
+    void report_ES_unit(FILE *stream, ES_unit_p unit)
+
+# Is this the best thing to do?
+class TSToolsException(Exception):
+    pass
+    
+cdef class ESStream:
+    """A Python class representing an ES stream, readable from a file.
+    """
+
+    cdef ES_p stream
+
+    # It appears to be recommended to make __cinit__ expand to take more
+    # arguments (if __init__ ever gains them), since both get the same
+    # things passed to them. Hmm, normally I'd trust myself, but let's
+    # try the recommended route
+    def __cinit__(self,filename,*args,**kwargs):
+        retval = open_elementary_stream(filename,&self.stream)
+        if retval != 0:
+            raise TSToolsException,'Error opening ES file %s'%filename
+
+    def __init__(self,filename):
+        # The __cinit__ method will already have *used* the filename,
+        # but it may be useful to remember it for later on
+        self.filename = filename
+
+    def __dealloc__(self):
+        free_elementary_stream(&self.stream)