Original subtitles

Last call for Malory Towers.

I'm here!

Darrell. Rivers.

Sorry!

Sorry.

The 10.30 to Penzance will be leaving in one minute.

Darling, you're going to get such a lot from this new school.

Make sure you put a lot back.

Don't forget to write. Of course I won't.

WHISTLE BLASTS

Chop chop, young lady.

Just in time.

Have a seat. I'm Alicia, by the way.

Sally's a new girl too.

There's a third one somewhere.

LOUD CRYING

Look, there.

Poor girl.

Bet you half my tuck she's faking it.

That's waterworks.

Which reminds me, introductions.

Jean - good egg.

Irene, and Mary-Lou.

Would you like the window seat?

This is Gwendoline Lacey. Gwendoline Mary Lacey.

And I'm afraid I'LL need the window seat.

I get awfully travel sick. Darrell, your hat!

Darrell! Felicity?

Darrell? Sorry.

Darrell! No!

Oh!

Where are they going?

Who IS that girl? Watch out! What is she doing?

She'll fall.

She's got it! Great. Hurray!

LOUD RIPPING

Did Darrell tear her dress?

ALL GIGGLE

Good show, Darrell. You will have to mend that rip.

She's just the sort of girl Mother warned me about.

A tomboy.

All abroad!

TRAIN WHISTLE BLASTS

Woo!

Off we go!

LAUGHING AND CHATTERING

How come you're all changing schools anyway? Gwendoline?

Mother says I need to be stretched.

Darrell?

Oh...

I love swimming. There wasn't a pool at St Hilda's.

St Hilda's?

My cousin's there.

Apparently they asked a girl to leave last year.

Did you know her? Get ready - Cliff Corner's coming up.

Who's that? It's Pamela, head girl.

Marvellous.

Look, Malory Towers! Wait for me, Alicia!

TRAIN HORN BLASTS

GIRLS SING: Four tall towers

Teach us how to strive

Be women the world can lean on

Women who will thrive.

THEY ALL APPLAUD

It's huge! I shall never know my way about.

I'll soon teach you - come on.

It's just like a castle.

I shall feel like a proper lady staying here.

You wouldn't say that

if you knew what happened to the real Lady of Malory Towers.

What? No-one told you?

We've a ghost here, you know.

Come on, follow me.

Oh, are we lost? Where did Alicia go? She said to go to the san.

Let's try this way.

Oh! Excuse me.

Science labs.

We have to do science?!

Daddy took me to visit one of his old medical schools once.

I'd love to be a doctor when I grow up. You mean a nurse.

Girls can be doctors. Why shouldn't girls do everything boys can do?

Why would you want to work, anyway?

Mother says, a woman needs a room and money of her own

to be truly happy.

MY mother says girls only need jobs

if they're too plain to catch a husband.

LOUD SCREAM

What do you think you're doing?

Sorry - we were going to find Matron.

I'm Matron.

What on earth has happened there?

Er, it... It was an accident.

An order mark for you.

Follow me.

Thank you so much for taking us to our dormitories.

You're not going to your dorm.

I'm taking you straight to the headmistress, Miss Grayling.

It's not fair! I didn't do anything.

It was all her.

You're not here because you're in trouble.

I see all the new girls on their first night.

You do?

It's one of my favourite moments,

seeing you all the day you join us.

Imagining what you might achieve.

What would you like that to be?

Passing our school certificate?

Exams aren't our only measure of success.

A Malory Towers success is someone

good-hearted and kind,

loyal and trustworthy.

Good, sound women the world can lean on.

Women unafraid to forge a new future.

You will all gain tremendously from your time with us.

See that you give a lot back.

That's exactly what my father said.

Hm.

Well, perhaps one day he and Malory Towers will be equally proud of you.

GIRLS LAUGH

52, 53, 54...

Everyone, it's almost time for lights out.

..56... New girl, what's your name? Gwen...

Gwendoline Mary Lacey.

Get into bed. But I promised Mother I'd brush my hair 100 times a night!

Katherine's head of form - you have to do what she says.

Oh, now I've forgotten what number I've got to!

56. Bed, now.

58.

59... Lights out.

SQUEALS

A long time ago, when this was a private mansion,

a girl lived here.

Her name was Lady Jane Malory.

Alicia! Not the ghost story.

I've been wanting to ask about the ghost.

One day, out riding, she met and fell in love with a highwayman.

What was that? SCRABBLING

Lady Jane's ghost. She wants to come in.

It's inside! Get it away from me.

It can't be her. Ghosts aren't real.

GWEN SHRIEKS

Careful, Darrell.

HIGH-PITCHED SQUEAKING

Ha! Got you, little one.

It's just a mouse. Squirming now.

What is going on? Darrell Rivers!

MATRON SCREAMS It's just a little mouse, Matron.

GIRLS LAUGH

It's getting away!

You, Darrell Rivers, are a trouble-maker.

I know your type. But... No pudding for a week.

Now, everyone, back into bed!

Thank you, Gwendoline. You did the right thing in coming to me.

DOOR CREAKS AND CLOSES

BIRDSONG

The mouse was yours?

He's probably happier roaming free anyway.

You were a brick, not telling Matron about the cage.

I'll make it up to you. Come on, let's go. Where? Shh!

You're going to have to tie that back, you know.

Mother says it's my crowning glory.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

Also, it was pretty nasty of you to tell on us last night.

You said you love swimming? Wait till you see this.

Ready?

Now!

It's so beautiful!

Race you in?

Come on, I asked the lifeguard to meet us here early.

THEY LAUGH

I can't believe we missed breakfast. I'm famished.

Don't worry - we'll make up for it tonight.

Midnight feast with the West Tower girls. Want to come? You bet!

Gwendoline.

Your hair. I brushed it 100 times.

Well, tie it back before my class, please.

Quick - you'll be late for class.

GWENDOLINE SIGHS

I knew I'd hate it here!

I thought we new girls would stick together.

But Sally never talks, and you're off with Alicia the whole time.

Why are you friends with her?

She's...fun. She gets you into trouble.

You got me into trouble last night.

I'm sorry.

I'm terrified of mice, and I thought you were in on it.

SCHOOL BELL RINGS

I can't plait my hair.

Here, let me help.

You look lovely.

Thank you so much.

Make up?

Make up.

Will you be my friend?

I want you all to write down three adjectives.

I'll assume you all know what an adjective is.

Much better hair, Gwen.

Darrell, why are you late? I... She was helping me.

Off to your seats, then.

Write three adjectives that best describe your personalities.

Not just one sentence, not just two... Best friends.

..but as much as you'd like.

DARRELL: Dear Mother and Daddy, Malory Towers is amazing.

My form mistress expects a lot but I'm going to work so hard.

There's a wonderful pool that we can use whenever we want,

and I can't wait to try out for the lacrosse team.

Tonight, I've been invited to my first midnight feast.

I've made...

..a wonderful new...

..friend.

Frei...?

Friend.

Called...

Hey, over here! Over here. Mine!

WHISTLE

Aren't you going to come play? I'm... I'm cold.

You know, that's the exact spot Lady Jane met her love

the night they died.

Could we, er, maybe invite Gwen along to the midnight feast?

Not likely. Shall we have a game?

Let's go.

Alicia?

CLOCK CHIMES

FLOORBOARDS CREAK

OWL HOOTS

Was that you creaking? No - must have been the ghost.

Now, come on, it's midnight.

OWL HOOTS

DOOR OPENS

CLOCK TICKS

RADIO: Here is the midnight news.

Today has been a turbulent day in the House of Commons.

Who brought the Turkish Delight?

RADIO PLAYS MUSIC

EVERYONE CHATTERS AND LAUGHS

Ssh, keep the noise down. Come on, Darrell, let's dance.

I'm afraid I must insist, as it's your first midnight feast.

DISTANT CHATTERING

Alicia! Coming swimming?

Are you crazy? I've just got to bed.

SHE READS: I've made a wonderful new friend called...

..Alicia.

I know where you were last night.

Leaving me out isn't a very best friend thing to do, is it?

What are you doing with my letter?

It's not very interesting. Your parents won't miss it.

I expect they're glad to be rid of you. Take that back!

Dowdy Darrell,

and your ripped dress,

and your stupid bobbed hair.

Still, your mother's just as bad.

I thought the dreary old lady in the photo was your grandmother!

Give it back!

GWEN SHRIEKS

I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have done that, it was completely wrong!

Yes, it was! Oh!

I am so sorry, I shouldn't have done that. Please.

Miss Grayling needs to know about this. That was a deliberate push.

You're going to be expelled, Darrell Rivers.

Oh, no, please! I've said I'm sorry.

Please don't tell!

I do need help with my French prep.

It'll take me ages otherwise.

We could go to the library after tea.

I don't mind when you do it.

Just as long as it gets done.

Gwendoline, wait!

SCHOOL BELL RINGS

What are you doing with Gwen's prep?

WHISPERS: I have to do it. No, you don't!

J'espere que vous avez toutes bien etudie votre francais.

I thought you were smarter than that, Darrell Rivers.

..Portrait D'un Oiseau, un poeme de Jacques Prevert.

Do you know what "un oiseau" is?

You'll need it for your prep, which is due tomorrow.

I expect it on my desk at the beginning of class.

Bonsoir, Darrell. No spelling mistakes, I hope.

So I knew I had to confess, Miss Grayling.

Do you think physical violence is acceptable, Darrell?

No, never.

Except perhaps in self-defence?

And was pushing another pupil into the pool self-defence?

Er, I was defending my mother.

Mother was very ill last year - that's why her hair's grey -

and I just couldn't bear to hear her being called dreary.

I think of grey hair as a sign of strength.

The war brought terrible pain and suffering.

Even to those of us who survived it.

Would you like to tell me who this other girl is?

Please don't ask me to leave.

A temper isn't only a negative.

It shows spirit and fire.

But you must learn to harness it for good.

Are you willing to attempt that?

Yes, yes.

I want to.

Then let's put this behind us.

Thank you.

GIRLS LAUGH

Come on, let's go and play cards in the dorm. I'm not playing.

And you shouldn't be either. My prep's late.

I'll go to Miss Grayling.

Already been. You can't threaten me any more, Gwen.

Come on, Darrell.

HIGH-SPIRITED CHATTER

Guys, guys, guys. Don't forget to pay your respects.

Evening, Lady Jane.

You and Alicia are welcome to each other.

I bet your last school was glad to be rid of you.

Your last school?

Was it...? Was it you?

The girl asked to leave St Hilda's?

What?

I bet it was.

I'm going to write to my cousin and ask.

Why would you do that?

Because I think the whole class

should know what sort of girl you really are.

Don't you?