Original subtitles

You're doing well today, Jo.

With some more practice, you'll get the hang of it.

I'll miss you.

The riding stables at Malory Towers won't be the same without you.

I'll miss it, too. I'd stay forever if I could.

As long as I didn't have to do any more homework!

THEY LAUGH

Oh, yes. Have a look at this.

There's some riding tips and things for sale. Mm. What's for sale?

At least we've got you, boy.

We'll ride into the big wide world together.

This sounds like a perfect horse.

I could ask Daddy to put in an offer.

"Smashing piebald cob, friendly and well-trained.

"Currently stabled at a boarding school."

Funny, this sounds exactly like Thunder... Thunder!

"Contact Hillary Robinson."

That's my mother!

I-I don't understand! Thunder can't be for sale.

I'll speak to her.

THUNDER NICKERS

Don't worry, boy.

You're not going anywhere.

HIGH-PITCHED SCREAM

ALL: We are Malory Towers!

Miss Grayling!

Miss Grayling! There's been some muddle.

Erm, an advert has gone out saying Thunder's for sale.

May I bring it home and talk with Mother?

There has been no muddle, Bill. VEHICLE APPROACHES

What?

A possible buyer is coming to view Thunder today...

CAR DOOR SLAMS ..along with your...

Mother! Billie! Oh!

How marvellous is this?

Seeing you again in term-time.

Lucky old me. MRS ROBINSON CHUCKLES

Hello, Miss Grayling. Hello, Mrs Robinson.

Well, I'll let the two of you catch up.

Do come to see me in my study before you go.

Now, I've planned a little surprise for after the sale.

Mother! Thunder's my best friend.

How could you sell him,

and without even discussing it with me?

Darling, term's almost over, we've got to get organised.

Debutante season is about to start.

What's my being a debutante got to do with Thunder?

You'll have no time to ride.

The season's nonstop -

party after party in London,

people to impress and, most importantly, a husband to find.

Thunder has been my closest companion since I was ten.

Your husband will be your closest companion soon.

Cinderella, your invitation

to the first ball of the season has arrived.

It's time for real life to begin.

What a scorcher already.

How rotten it is to be stuck inside all the morning.

Rotten? It's our first day with a Hollywood star.

I could barely sleep last night.

We're going to boil alive.

Maybe we can sway Miss Vernon to teach us drama at the pool.

Good morrow, girls!

ALL: Good morning, Miss Vernon.

Mr Parker is on a school trip,

so, I'll be taking all your classes today.

You'll be teaching us maths? And geography?

Heavens, no!

We'll have a day of Shakespeare.

Yes?

My daddy took me to see the play Midsummer Night's Dream in London.

Oh, how marvellous!

This term we'll be studying my favourite...

..The Tempest.

Miss Vernon, have you seen our pool?

Maybe you could teach us outside?

Like Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.

Inspired!

The Tempest takes place on a desert island.

The sea view will set the scene perfectly.

DOUBLE CLAP Lead the way!

Come on - to these yellow sands!

Wonderful! Such a voice.

Oh, Miss Vernon...given that it's your first day,

I thought you might appreciate a...co-star.

Oh. How kind, Matron.

Please, join us. We're off to the pool.

Oh, now, Miss Vernon,

you may conduct business poolside in California

but, at Malory Towers, lessons are indoors.

Sit down, girls.

Very well.

Us actors must embrace our ever-changing fortunes.

Come, come, Matron, and sit you down.

You shall not budge.

MATRON GIGGLES, SNORTS

Girls...

..push your desks aside.

Darrell! You have to cover for me.

Mother is selling Thunder and the buyer will be here any minute.

What? Bill, slow down.

What, you're going to be a debutante?

It's what's expected.

What, did you know about this? Of course!

I'm my mother's only daughter.

It's her dream for me to do what she did.

But why did you never say?

Because I thought I'd go to some parties,

pretend to look for a husband,

and then, once that was out of the way,

carry on doing what I love and riding with Thunder.

But now... HER VOICE QUIVERS

Look, I have to find a way to fix this.

Can you cover for me, please? Of course. Thank you.

Act one, scene two.

Now, who shall be my Prospero?

Ooh!

Time to shine, Susan.

And I shall be Ariel.

The rest of you have the most vital role of all - the audience.

Approach, my Ariel. Come.

DRAMATICALLY: All hail, great master.

Grave sir, hail!

I come to answer thy best pleasure,

be it to fly, to swim,

to dive into the fire,

to ride the curled cloud of thy strong bidding task...

..Ariel,

and all his quality.

Any questions?

MATRON BREATHES EXCITEDLY

How do you remember all of those lines?

MISS VERNON CHUCKLES

I have been known to sleep with a script under my pillow.

Josephine? Can I go now?

In good time.

The best actors value the art of observation.

Matron! Sit. MISS VERNON CHUCKLES

MATRON BREATHES HESITANTLY

All right. Breathe in...

Breathe out... MATRON EXHALES

Lunch isn't for hours. Breathe in...

It looks like we'll be clock-watching, not acting.

MATRON BREATHES HOARSELY

Clock-watching? That's it? After me.

Ma! Ma!

Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma! Ma-ma...ma-ma-ma-ma!

Brrrrr! Buhrrrrr...rhhhh!

THUNDER NEIGHS

Bill, I was expecting a groom.

Well, I had to be here to see who was wanting to buy him.

MR CALLAGHAN CHUCKLES Jolly sensible.

There are some dreadful owners out there,

and some terribly trained horses!

MRS ROBINSON LAUGHS POLITELY

He likes you, Charlotte.

Let's see what...Thunder can do, then, shall we?

Actually, I should...warn you, he's been playing up a bit recently.

Come on, boy, let's show them how terrible you are.

BILL CLICKS HER TONGUE Come on.

Oh, look. There we are.

He's great.

THUNDER SQUEALS

Careful! Thunder, please!

Ah!

That's not good at all.

Well done, boy.

THUNDER SQUEALS What is happening?

Whoa! Thunder! That horse is uncontrollable.

Whoa! Charlotte, this isn't the right horse for you.

No, boy! Other way, other way!

Unbelievable. He's not trained at all.

Refusing to jump.

This horse is disobedient, quite unlike the description.

How could I put my Charlotte on that?

I...

I don't know what to say.

What a waste of our time.

Come on, Charlotte.

That's so disappointing.

THUNDER NICKERS

Thunder has acquired some awful habits.

That's not good at all...

It won't be easy to find a family to take him now.

Well, we'll have to keep him at home

and then, when I'm back from London, we can still ride together.

You must look forwards, not backwards.

Thunder is young and healthy.

He could still have a useful life.

We could donate him to the local quarry.

To be a working horse?!

Mother, you can't, it would destroy him.

I'm fond of Thunder, too, but it may be our only choice now.

The sooner he's gone,

the sooner you can get on with the rest of your life.

THUNDER WHIMPERS

DRAMATICALLY: Feel it in your diaphragm.

Approach, my Ariel, come!

Excuse me, Matron, but isn't it time for your medicine rounds?

Huh? Medicine rounds.

Ah, that's a shame.

Oh...no, because...

It's such a shame to miss your soliloquy.

Next time. Next time.

Can I have a go now?

SNIFFLING

Yes? I can't find my book, so, I'll just...get another one.

Erm, Miss Vernon, where's my diaphragm again?

Place your hands on your stomach.

Perfect, everyone.

MISS VERNON GRUNTS

DRAMATICALLY: Speak from your bellies!

ALL: Approach, my Ariel, come!

Achoo!

Miss Vernon, please, would you sign my textbook?

Of course. Mine, too, please...erm, first.

Oh. No problem.

Erm, can you write "To my best friend Jojo",

because that's what my father calls me.

Right now, I might just put... Thank you. Thank you so much.

Perfect. Your turn.

"Love, Lily Vernon." Thank you. Mm.

Ah, Miss Vernon, it's lunchtime.

Already?

Yes. See? 12.30.

So it is!

How time flies! Oh, very well, girls, off you go.

Bye, Miss Vernon. Bye, Jo.

THEY CHUCKLE

Time just flies.

We're going to have fun with her!

A workhorse.

But that's a death sentence.

I've been so selfish.

I should have put Thunder first

and the Callaghans would have given him a good home.

Talk to your mother.

When she sees how upset you are, maybe she'll understand. She won't.

I'm not a high-flying academic like you, Darrell.

Being a debutante is my only option.

It's the same in my family.

"You must find a husband to marry and rely on and raise his children."

Meanwhile, our brothers get to do what they like.

There must be another option.

What if you got a job? A job?

How would that help?

Prove your independence, show that you can support yourself

and you could keep Thunder.

Whatever would I do?

GENTLE KNOCKING

Ah, come in.

I need to get a job, Miss Grayling! Oh...? As soon as possible.

Come, come in, come in. Sit down.

Let's discuss your next steps.

Now, your mother has told me of your plans to become a debutante.

Well, I can't do that now.

I have to earn to save Thunder from being a workhorse.

But if Thunder weren't at risk,

would you still want to be a debutante?

Well, I just love my life as it is.

Why can't things stay the same?

Change is part of growing up.

It can feel big and frightening,

but it should also be exciting.

I don't feel excited.

I feel sick to my stomach.

At the idea of being a debutante? Mm?

If you could do anything, what would it be?

All I know is I'm...my happiest when Thunder's by my side.

But now... Please, help me, Miss Grayling.

Oh, Bill.

This is something you need to discuss with your mother -

for your sake and for Thunder's.

Miss Vernon, where are your class?

Oh. Hello, Matron. Well, lunch, of course.

We worked up quite an appetite.

Lunch is at 12.30. It isn't for another ten minutes...

Yes, I know, that's why...

Excuse me?

Miss Vernon, you've been had by the oldest trick in the book.

A trick?

The speeding up of time! They've changed the clock.

Well, I never.

I'm sorry they've shown you such disrespect.

Hm. SHE CLICKS HER TONGUE

I underestimated them.

Wait. No, don't.

Don't change it back.

Why don't we keep it an hour ahead?

Why?

An act of foolery is afoot.

It's a shame to end the performance so soon.

Matron, we're going to need all of your acting skills.

PUPILS CHATTERING

HAPPY CHATTER

CHATTER STOPS ABRUPTLY

Chop chop! Class is starting.

Erm, not yet, I don't think.

Oh, well, it's 1.30, isn't it, Matron?

On the dot, Miss Vernon.

Come.

We are time's subjects, and time bids be gone!

MISS VERNON CACKLES

BIG BAND WALTZ PLAYS

I planned to celebrate the sale.

Well, that didn't go to plan,

but there is still much to celebrate.

Darrell...tiara.

Oh! Sorry. THEY CHUCKLE

Done.

Give us a twirl, darling.

Ta-da! Oh, come on, Billie, admit it.

You know you look utterly divine.

You really do look beautiful. But I look like a dressage horse.

It's not really me, is it?

You'll need to grow your hair out.

It's time to say goodbye to Bill Robinson.

You'll be Miss Wilhelmina, the debutante

and, hopefully not too long after, take your future husband's name.

Mother.

Being a debutante, it's... It's not...

Oh, Billie. Nerves are normal.

Once upon a time, you didn't want to come to Malory Towers.

And look at you now.

You'll discover a new side to yourself.

I don't want any new sides.

I like being me.

And I love you as you are.

But you need a man to support you.

And this is the best way to catch one.

Couldn't I support myself and get a job like some of the other girls?

I'm hoping to be a doctor.

Oh, of course.

Your father's a doctor, isn't he?

Yes.

See - children follow after their parents.

You'll love it in the end.

But didn't you ever want to do anything else?

I suppose I never thought about it.

Marriage and motherhood...has been the greatest joy and honour.

I want the same thing for you.

VOICE FALTERS: Excuse me.

DOOR CREAKS AND SLAMS

TEACUP RATTLES

Maybe I could learn to love it.

I've coped with science and school uniform, haven't I?

It's a bit more than that.

Bill, it's your life, not your mother's.

Maybe she knows what's best for me.

I have to grow up at some point, Darrell.

Yes, this feels...right.

DRAMATICALLY: Now on the beak,

now in the waist, the deck...

I'm so hungry.

..in every cabin...

I am famished!

I flamed amazement...

What do we do?

Excuse me, Miss Vernon.

We went for a swim and missed lunch by mistake.

We're terribly hungry.

Well, maybe we could always...

We know what you did!

SOFT GASPS

Changing the clock, taking advantage of your new teacher.

The culprit will lose swimming privileges for the rest of term.

No more swimming?

MISS VERNON CHORTLES

Look at your faces!

Of course we won't punish you.

Bravo! A daring stunt!

SHE GIGGLES

Girls, go to lunch.

Miss Vernon, a word.

Letting the girls off like that, what could you be thinking?

Well, it seemed awfully mean to punish them

for such a marvellous trick.

Mean? You are their teacher!

You have to set boundaries.

This is a school, not a theatre.

Thank you.

I'll take a leaf out of your book next time, hm?

Next time?

Miss Vernon, there will be no next time.

These girls must be punished.

SOFTLY: Good boy.

You'll be happy with Charlotte.

She'll take good care of you.

It's time for us to part ways.

Now, let's give them a real show.

THUNDER WHINNIES

Yes.

It's like a different horse.

It was me who misbehaved before, not Thunder.

Thank you for giving us a second chance.

You clearly have quite the bond.

I wasn't ready to let him go... BILL SNIFFS

..but I am now.

And I want him to go to a good home.

And I can promise you he will.

It's a deal, then.

Welcome to your new family, Thunder.

Charlotte and I will be back tomorrow with a horsebox

and we'll settle the paperwork.

Fantastic. I'll show you to the car.

That was a very grown-up thing to do.

Come on, boy, you must be hungry.

You're a talented equestrian.

Best of luck for your future.

I'm sure it'll be fine... Josphine, that's not fair.

GENTLE KNOCKING

Was my class so very terrible?

Not at all. I'm sorry, Miss Vernon.

We were longing for a swim, that's all. I'll own up to Matron.

Actually, it WOULD be nice to get to act more.

Duly noted.

And I accept your apology.

But I'm under strict instructions to punish you.

So...

MISS VERNON LAUGHS

..ah, these... Ugh! ..need a thorough clean.

Costumes from my time on the road.

Well, come on, then! Feel free to try them on as you go.

Wow!

GIRLS CHATTER EXCITEDLY

I recognise this one. The stories my wardrobe could tell.

Oh, my. This is so heavy! Oh, my goodness.

Miss Vernon, you really are the most wonderful teacher

we've ever had. GIRLS CHATTER

Wonderful! Clarissa, you look amazing. Ooh!

GIRLS CHATTER

Wait! Mother!

I need to talk to you.

What is it, Bill?

Being a debutante...

..it's your dream, Mother, but it's not mine.

You both told me to not be afraid of change.

Well, I want to change my path.

I want to be a teacher.

A teacher?

But you're not academic.

A riding teacher.

Miss Grayling, I was thinking that maybe I could be

a riding mistress here.

Malory Towers isn't a riding school, Bill, it never has been.

I know, but...maybe it could be.

I've been working with Josephine

and the other girls to help improve their riding.

Well, if you agree, Mrs Robinson,

I would happily trial Bill part-time as a riding mistress

for the rest of the term alongside her studies.

And, depending on how that goes,

consider a full-time position next year.

Oh, Mother, please say yes!

Does it seem awful to you,

this life I've lived?

Have I let you down?

Not at all.

You've always let me be exactly who I am.

But we're not the same.

Things are so different for you modern girls.

The world has changed greatly since our time, Hillary.

But Bill would be well supported here at Malory Towers.

I know she would.

And I know you can do anything you put your mind to.

It's always made me so very proud.

All right.

Thank you, Mother. Thank you.

Miss Grayling, I won't let you down.

Oh, I have to tell Darrell!

And Clarissa and Thunder.

Speaking of Thunder, we must address the sale, Mrs Robinson.

Oh, poor Charlotte.

I suppose there will be other horses.

But there's only one Thunder.

THUNDER NEIGHS

THUNDER WHINNIES

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