Original subtitles

Clarissa Carter? One for you. Thank you.

And Connie and Ruth, a parcel.

Mother's ginger biscuits.

They're seriously scrummy.

Is that your pony?

Isn't he sweet?

Daddy sold him.

He sold Merrylegs.

Why would he do that?

Because...

..I'm not well enough to ride.

Oh, poor Merrylegs.

I didn't even get to say goodbye.

Gwen, do something. You're Clarissa's mentor. She's upset.

Irene, voila!

Let's talk about the wedding.

Jette un oeil.

C'est tres excitant.

It might help when we talk later.

Oh, have you chosen my other bridesmaid?

Me? Surely it must be me.

Sorry. I already asked Jean.

Oh, Jean,

you and Irene will be perfect.

Excellent.

Clarissa's a bit more important.

It's ponies.

Bill, you go, you'll know what to say.

Gwen's right.

I'd be in bits if it was Thunder.

Leave Clarissa to me.

Clarissa!

CLARINET MUSIC IN DISTANCE

No problem. See you at teatime.

Oh, there you are.

Bridesmaids, hey?

I'm not sure I'd be any good.

Well, we can be useless together.

Can I see it?

It's my mother on their wedding day.

She looks so happy.

We're smiling.

That's what Papa said, his sunbeam.

Do you remember her?

I was a baby when she died.

Does your papa ever talk about her?

Mm, not much.

Wish he did, though.

I wish I knew her better.

Must be a bit odd, going from no mother

to Mam'zelle.

Quelle horreur!

It's fine, I want Papa to be happy.

But it's Mam'zelle.

It would have been odd with anyone.

It's always been Papa and me.

We like the same things.

What sort of things?

Music.

Er, eating together.

And when we're together, we have this big meal every Friday

and I suppose we won't once he's married.

Mam'zelle does eat, you know.

She's not Jewish.

We're not strict on it, but it's tradition.

Every Friday at sunset we light candles to welcome in the Sabbath

and my mother used to do it

and now it's me.

That sounds lovely.

Papa says it's his favourite time of the week.

I really miss it.

So tell Mam'zelle.

Oh, you have to.

Can't be easy for her either,

and she'll want to understand you two better.

Yeah, you're right.

Thank you.

FRENCH ACCENT: Do not worry, Irene.

It'll all be all right.

THEY GIGGLE

It sounds like her.

Poor thing, she's so upset.

You know, she has quite a weak heart.

She must not overdo it.

Roger that, I'll keep an eye.

I'm very sorry to hear about your pony, Clarissa.

It was quite a shock.

It's not very fair,

not giving her the chance to even say goodbye.

They won't even know him!

What he likes,

what he dislikes.

Well, you could write and tell them.

I wish I could just see him one last time.

Please.

SHE SIGHS

I'm afraid that's quite impossible.

Two lessons, then the beach.

Double lesson first, though.

Clarissa, Susan told me about your pony.

I'm so sorry.

Thanks.

But I really do need to say goodbye.

It's cruel not to.

Maybe if your father asked?

Actually, um...

..Daddy sold him to Tivots farm

and he says so in his letter.

Tivots? Isn't that just over the valley?

Yes, and there's a bus.

I could be there and back by...

..this afternoon.

Matron will never agree.

Well, she won't know.

You'll be at the beach for half day.

What? Can I not tell her?

Felicity, I know it's a lot to ask,

but...

..will you cover for me?

FELICITY SIGHS

Please?

You'll be careful?

You're an absolute brick.

Girls.

We're waiting.

Yes, sir, Mr Parker.

GIGGLING

Ah, Felicity, have you seen Clarissa?

I want to check on her.

It was her turn to put fresh flowers around, and she's forgotten.

I think perhaps losing her pony has upset her greatly.

Er, honestly, don't worry.

She's sorting out the flowers now.

But while the rest of you are at the beach?

Absolutely.

Clarissa loves flowers.

She says it's a treat

and she's not one for swimming.

You know, her heart and all that.

Best I find her.

See how she is.

I will find a seamstress to make the dresses.

She will have ideas

and ideas for a pretty pattern too.

Yes, Mam'zelle, I actually think you need a designer,

not a seamstress.

We can't all have designers, Gwendoline.

My dress can be simple.

Papa wouldn't care.

You could wear a sack.

No, no, I really don't think you should do that.

Don't worry, I will not wear a sack

and neither will my bridesmaids.

Well, come on,

I think Irene wants to talk to Mam'zelle.

Bonne idee. Irene, I want to talk to you, too.

Yes, but I really did want to show her this...

Um, the wedding is going to be ever so special, Mam'zelle.

Oui, bien sur, mais...

Irene, this must be,

how you say?

Peculiar?

Juste un peu.

You and your father, you have a special bond.

You know I never want to change that.

Thank you.

I actually wanted to talk to you about that.

Papa and I, we have things we like

and...and...

Music, of course!

I have been thinking, too.

I have a French song for the wedding.

Will you teach some girls?

It would mean so much.

Um, that's a lovely idea.

Bien, now I must find a seamstress.

Your dress - elle doit etre parfait!

Um...

SHE SIGHS

Oh.

SHE PANTS

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

SHE SNIFFS

SHE SNEEZES

Merrylegs!

HORSE NEIGHS

Oh, I missed you, boy.

Look at you.

Need a good brush.

I've brought your treats.

Your favourite.

BUCKETS CLANK

HORSE NEIGHS

HORSE GRUNTS

Stop that.

HORSE NEIGHS LOUDLY

I said, stop it, you brute!

WHIP CRACKS, HORSE WHINNIES

Useless lump.

Don't you dare play up.

Merrylegs.

Sh.

I can't believe she hits you.

It's all right.

I won't let her do it again.

I won't.

MATRON HUMS

Oh, Felicity.

Back already?

I haven't found Clarissa yet.

Oh, I've just seen her.

She's finished the flowers.

She seemed pretty chipper.

Oh, well, that's good.

Tell her to come to see me, would you?

Yes, of course,

although she's probably starving.

Could I tell her to come once we've eaten?

Straight after, no later, thank you.

Mm.

Is that Merrylegs?

You went out of bounds

and you shouldn't be riding, you know that.

I couldn't leave him.

I couldn't.

Honestly, you should have seen.

So they just let you take him?

No, and I don't care.

You just took him? Clarissa!

We'll hide him, we have to.

You will do no such thing.

Look at the state of you.

You promised me you would never ride.

I'm sorry, Matron, but he was...

There's no but, Clarissa.

Felicity was covering for you, I suppose.

Put Merrylegs in the stall, Bill.

Give him some feed and water.

HORSE GRUNTS

Come here.

You take a few deep breaths.

I'm fine.

Nothing about this is fine.

You are under strict orders not to ride.

She was hurting him.

His owner, she hits him.

You actually saw that?

I heard it.

I'm not making it up!

You have left school without permission

and you have stolen a pony.

Merrylegs is mine.

He's my pony.

Not any longer.

Clarissa, this is serious, what you've done.

This is theft!

I'm sorry.

Sit down.

SHE SIGHS

GIRLS SING: # A la claire fontaine

# M'en allant promener

# J'ai trouve l'eau si belle

# Que je m'y suis baignee

# Il y a longtemps que je t'aime

# Jamais je ne t'oublierai. #

Mam'zelle has magnificent taste.

You don't like it, do you?

It's pretty.

It's just...

Well, it's not very Papa.

You should say something. Music's your father's life

and it's his wedding too. You're right.

It is his wedding too.

I have an idea.

Clarissa.

Do you think Matron is calling the police?

I hope so.

Then I can tell them what that beastly woman is doing to Merrylegs.

Your eyes look a little sore.

It's because I'm tired

and it's happened before.

It's happened before?

Does Matron know? No.

Don't tell her.

Felicity, it'll just make everything worse.

But you can't ignore it.

Right now, Merrylegs is what matters.

Clarissa!

You rest.

I'll try and figure out what Matron's up to.

I'll be straight back.

That song is so lovely, Irene.

Really, it's just joyous.

Yes, but no-one will understand the words.

Papa will. It will mean a lot to him.

Parfait! Then I must hear it.

We're not quite ready yet.

Juste un peu.

Irene!

Um...five, six, seven, eight.

# Hevenu shalom aleichem

# Hevenu shalom aleichem

# Hevenu shalom aleichem

# Hevenu shalom, shalom Shalom aleichem. #

Thank you, girls.

That was...

..truly beautiful.

Um, I should explain.

It is a favourite of your father's?

And we sing it on Fridays, on Shabbat.

We always celebrate it if we're together and we sing the song

and my mother taught it to him, so...

That really is special.

Your mother's song.

I understand, Irene.

That wasn't very tactful of me, was it?

Hmm, I suppose you've come to apologise.

Um, yes.

Sorry.

About?

The flower nonsense?

Covering for Clarissa like that?

Yes, I'm sorry.

I really am, honestly.

But, Matron, I'm worried about her.

Why? Is she feeling worse?

Well, no...

She's asked me not to tell you, so I can't really.

But I was thinking I could phone my father. Did you know he's a doctor?

You tell me what this is about right now or I will take you straight to Miss Grayling.

Would you like me to count down from ten?

DOOR OPENS

I'm so sorry, Clarissa.

She made me tell her.

She certainly did. You two need your heads knocked together.

Let's take a look at you.

Mm, a rash?

Mm, yes.

Is your neck sore as well?

It doesn't matter.

Stop talking nonsense, child.

Keeping symptoms from me could be dangerous.

I'm taking you straight to the san.

We'll talk when I get back from the stables.

What's happening at the stables?

Turns out you are a lucky girl.

I've spoken to Mrs Crossley.

She's agreed not to call the police.

Oh, but what does she say

about being so cruel?

Oh, no, she explained all of that.

She was just swatting a fly,

and Merrylegs got caught in the crossfire.

That is not true.

You said yourself you did not see her hit him.

Yes, but I heard her.

She's a brute.

Clarissa wouldn't lie about it.

That is enough.

Mrs Crossley is coming to take Merrylegs, and then it's done.

You can't send him away, you can't!

Clarissa,

you stole from her.

It's a good thing she's so understanding.

Come along.

Mrs Crossley is waiting.

Look at this.

Spotted it when I was grooming him.

Well, he could have knocked into something.

But what if Clarissa is right?

Matron.

Thanks for calling.

What a to-do, eh?

HORSE WHINNIES

Ah, pleased to see me, old friend? Get away from him!

Leave him alone!

Clarissa, what did I just tell you? Bill, take her back.

I'm pretty sure she won't go.

You should take him now.

No, I won't let you take him, I won't!

Dear, oh, dear, quite the hysteric.

No, she's not. I heard you hit him.

Such an imagination.

I did explain to Matron,

swatting a fly and poor Merrylegs just got in the way.

That's not what's happened. You did it on purpose.

Clarissa, that is enough. Bill...

No!

Why won't you listen?

Being so mean. Come on.

Back to school, please.

Come on, beast!

SLAP

Had enough yet? Merrylegs!

Now, come on. What are you doing? Come here!

Get away from him, you bully!

Get off, you stupid girl.

You step away from that pony!

You heard her.

No. I meant you.

Yes, you, give me that rope now.

He's mine and he needs to learn.

Not like that, he doesn't.

There is never any reason to hit.

Clarissa,

take Merrylegs back to the stall.

Bill, help her.

I'm going to have a few words with Mrs Crossley here.

A heart-to-heart.

Really well done.

Don't worry about Clarissa.

I'll make sure I'm there for her.

Did you hear that, Gwen?

I know you were worried.

Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, Jean.

Gwen, you were right. Bill was the best person to help Clarissa,

which means you're no longer her mentor.

Clarissa's nobility.

She needs someone who understands her class,

not some horse nut.

Decision made, I'm afraid.

Irene, Mam'zelle asked me to give you this.

She wants us to meet tonight.

All of us, you seniors too.

Is that all it says?

I wonder why.

Do you think your father will be cross?

He adores animals.

I think he'd be more upset.

Well, Merrylegs is safe.

You did that.

MATRON: Thank you.

PHONE RECEIVER CLICKS

Right, then,

telephone calls are done.

Most importantly, I have spoken to the doctor.

Oh, hiding symptoms like that.

You first formers will be the death of me.

But it doesn't matter.

It absolutely does.

And the doctor agrees with me.

Clarissa, irritation around the eyes,

and earlier I felt a swelling in the neck.

These are all vital clues.

They indicate Graves' disease.

What's that?

Well, the doctor will check on you, but if it is Graves,

it has been causing all your other symptoms as well

and you do not have a weak heart at all.

Is, er, Graves' disease serious?

Well, now, it affects the immune system,

which is the body's natural defence.

But it is treatable.

I'll explain later, but first things first.

Clarissa, put on your dressing gown.

Felicity, it's time for you to go back to the dorm. Say your goodbyes.

Bye, Clarissa. See you in the morning.

Well, hurry up.

Um...

..where are we going? You'll see.

Come in, girls.

Irene, do you know what this is?

Is it for Shabbat?

What's Shabbat? It's the Jewish Sabbath.

The day of rest?

But it's already the evening.

This is just the start and then it runs through Saturday.

Irene, I want you to teach me your traditions.

And when we've eaten, perhaps you can all teach me that song, too.

You don't want the French one?

Irene's is so much better.

Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu, Melekh ha'olam

asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu

l'hadlik ner shel Shabbat.

What now?

Now eat.

Thank you.

This is so lovely.

I agree, it is lovely.

You, your father and I,

I hope we will have many more Shabbat meals together.

THEY GIGGLE

Allez, allez.

Come see, he's all settled.

Fresh straw, water, feed.

Aren't you a lucky boy?

Welcome to Merrylegs' new home.

First formers aren't allowed horses.

Well, your father can be very persuasive.

He spoke to Miss Grayling and

she has made an exception on health grounds.

Merrylegs will help you get your strength back.

But I'm not allowed to ride.

That was when we were worried about your heart.

If it really is Graves,

and only once your treatment is sorted...

..you two can have a fine old gallop.

I can ride Merrylegs? Really?

If the doctor confirms his diagnosis, yes.

That's brilliant!

No more hiding anything from me, Clarissa,

and no riding until I say you are ready.

Even then, only with Bill's say-so.

Is that understood?

Absolutely, yes.

Darrell's made me your mentor.

When Matron is sure you're strong enough, we could ride together.

We'd love that, wouldn't we, Merrylegs?

Thank you, Matron.

Thank you so much.

HORSE SNORTS