Original subtitles

We have a thief in our midst.

What's been taken?

My kippers.

Sounds very serious.

I'd been looking forward

to eating those perfectly smoked fish all week.

I turned my back for one moment, and they'd vanished.

Oh, no! Did they swim away?

Oh, Alicia, thank you for volunteering to mop this floor

instead of playing lacrosse with the other girls.

You're joking.

Ellen Wilson, you are not wearing that.

Those are not even Malory Towers' colours.

It's the only kit I've got.

Did you borrow those huge plimsolls off a clown?

Oh, well, I suppose it will have to do.

Now, come along girls

except for Alicia, of course.

Mop's over there.

I want to see the rest of you on the lacrosse pitch right away.

You're taking lacrosse?

Yes. Miss Osborne is unavailable.

Darrell.

Ellen, are you all right?

And star jumps. Jump, jump, jump.

Run on the spot.

And wave about like a tree in the wind.

And lovely big high kicks.

My plimsoll!

Ellen. We do not have time for you to play the fool.

Hurry up. You're holding up the class.

Ellen, come back here this instant.

I will not ask again.

Hello little fellow.

Enjoying Matron's perfectly smoked fish?

Ellen is going to be in such trouble.

I hope she's all right.

I wish there was something we could do to help her.

Who do you think drew that?

I don't know, but I'm going to find out.

Thank you.

Are you coming to remedial, Irene?

Yes. I need the extra help with English and science.

Religious education, needlework, and French.

- So basically everything? - Not music or maths.

Alicia, you missed a bit.

Ha ha, very funny.

Why do you look so miserable?

You didn't have to spend the past half hour mopping the floor.

I'm worried about Ellen.

I think we should do more to help her feel like she's one of us.

Surely it's up to her to make the effort?

I mean, we may be best friends but...

She doesn't even have the right gym kit.

It's not her fault. That's all she brought with her.

Well then she should send out for the correct one.

Why don't we help her?

We must have some spare things we're not using anymore.

It pains me to say it, but that's a great idea, Sally.

Yes, I understand it's a difficult situation.

Can you hold a moment, please?

Come in.

No, Mr Spires, we need to talk about this further.

You said I could have til the end of summer

not the end of term.

I know, Mr Spires. I really have to go

but perhaps we can meet and discuss this in person?

Thank you. I will.

Sorry girls, I need to prepare for something.

We'll have to move remedial to this afternoon.

Of course, Miss Grayling.

Oh, before you go

I have something that could help with your word blindness, Darrell.

If you keep a diary everyday, it may help organise your thoughts.

It can be very beneficial for people with your condition.

Thank you, Miss Grayling.

Close the door on your way out.

I've never seen Miss Grayling so worried.

I wonder what that letter was about.

Maybe she's a spy, and they're her new orders.

I doubt spies would be using headed letter paper.

Ron, do you know who Mr Spires is?

The only Spires I know is a solicitor in the village.

- So he deals with legal things? - 'Course.

- Why? - Doesn't matter.

If Miss Grayling is talking to a solicitor

do you think that means she's in trouble?

Ellen, Matron is on the warpath. She's wondering where you've got to.

I'll go and see her.

Is that a cat?

I found him eating Matron's kippers.

What are you going to do with him?

I don't know.

Keep him safe until I can find out who he belongs to.

We're not allowed pets on the school grounds.

So, I'll have to keep him hidden.

I could help.

Really?

Thanks.

Ron thinks there's a trunk in here from last year's school play.

I don't see what use an old trunk is unless it's full of treasure.

We're going to make it beautiful, Gwen.

Is this it?

Must be.

- I don't understand. - Ellen doesn't have a trunk.

We're going to give her this one and fill it with our old equipment.

And if we all chip in, we can ask Ron to go to the village

to buy some ribbons to decorate it with.

I am not giving you money to decorate a horrid old trunk.

Ellen already gets a scholarship.

If she wanted a nice trunk

then she'd have just brought one with her.

I don't think she can afford it, Gwen.

- They're hardly expensive. - They are to her.

If she wants to go to school here then she has to be willing

to make sure she's kitted out properly.

No, she has to work hard. That's what's important.

I just think there are certain standards

everyone expects from a Malory Towers girl.

I'm sure Ellen finds it hard enough to fit in here

without you looking down your nose at her.

You know

her scholarship isn't just a reward she gets for being clever.

It pays her fees

but her family doesn't have enough money to pay

for all the other things she needs.

You mean she's poor?

This is just til we can find out who you belong to.

Where shall we keep him?

Someone's coming!

- What's going on? - Nothing.

I left my chemistry prep.

What's that?

You got one too.

It's brilliant.

What's going on?

The secret artist has struck again.

Is that Matron?

First Mr Parker, and now this. Amazing.

- Not bad. - I wonder who drew them?

Ellen Wilson.

What do you have to say for yourself, young lady?

Your behaviour this morning was appalling.

When you are at this school you will...

Gwendoline, a young lady uses a handkerchief.

Sorry, I don't understand. I only usually get like this when...

When what?

When I'm around cats. I'm terribly allergic to them.

First my kippers go walkabout, and now this.

Are you sure none of you have brought a pet into school?

Sally, it is your duty as Head of Form to tell the truth.

Is there a cat here?

I don't think so.

Let me be clear.

You will tell me where it is

or I will hold the whole class responsible.

Jean?

Ellen? Please.

We have to.

Whose is it?

It's mine.

You come and see me after school.

We will discuss your punishment for this

and also for leaving games without permission.

What will you do with him?

I'll dispose of the filthy creature, of course

- No! - Ellen, don't.

Ron, get rid of this vile creature.

Yes, of course, Matron.

- Ellen. - She can't do this.

She'll get you thrown out of school.

Is there a problem, ladies?

No, Matron.

You can't win. Not like this.

No, Matron.

Then get to class.

I'm sorry.

Don't worry. I'll make sure nothing happens to him.

Mary-Lou, can you keep a secret?

Good. I'm going to find out who our mysterious artist is.

Why?

Think of the fun we could have if we knew someone

- who can draw like that. - Really?

What are you going to do?

I'd give everyone in the dorm a different coloured pencil.

- Right. - That's where you come in.

You have to remember who I gave each colour to.

Well, then what?

Then I'll challenge the artist

- to draw another picture. - Really? I...

When we see what colour pencil they used

- then we'll know who did it. - Well, maybe...

- Come on. Let's go. - But Darrell, I...

Darrell, wait!

- Just the person. - I'm... I'm looking for that boy.

The one who was polishing the banisters earlier?

Ron? What do you want with him?

Do you know where he went?

He's probably in one of his sheds, playing with plants.

He has a most tedious existence.

Anyway, Ellen, Ellen, I wanted to speak to you.

I understand...

I understand you come from poverty?

I didn't have a governess at home, if that's what you mean.

Same thing. Anyway, I wanted to let you know that

I'm still going to be your friend, despite that.

That's good of you.

It is, isn't it?

So, friend, perhaps after lunch we could do our French prep together?

I have too much to do without also trying to explain it all to you.

I have sweets. It'll be my treat.

Gwendoline, I earned my place at Malory Towers by working hard.

I already helped you with your science.

If you're too lazy to do your own prep

then that's not my problem.

Lazy?

The whole lot of you seem to spend more time

playing pranks on each other than you do studying.

Being here means something to me, even if it's a jolly lark to you.

Sally. Look what Ron got for us.

We could use some more gym kit.

I think I might have a spare skirt that was too big for me.

Sounds good.

Gwendoline, is there anything you want to put in this trunk?

No.

I thought she was your best friend?

She most certainly is not.

Do you need any help?

We just need a few more things, but we're getting there.

It's going to look amazing.

But do you know what it really needs?

Whoever drew these is clearly very talented.

So, I think whoever the secret artist is

should draw another picture of Ellen with the whole lot of us.

I'm going to leave these here

so that the artist has everything that they need.

If no one rushes back after Geography

it will give them the time to work undisturbed.

Tell the others when you see them. And Mary-Lou, hand out the pencils.

Stop! Please don't get rid of him.

You heard Matron. I have to.

We can keep him here until we can get him home.

He belonged to the Hendersons, but they've moved away.

Must have forgotten to take him with them. He's a stray now.

That's all the more reason we should help him.

How? What are we going to feed him?

Scraps from the bins behind the kitchen.

- I don't know. - Please.

I can get them. You won't have to do anything!

You know we could get in serious trouble for this.

Oh, thank you Ron.

Truly. Thank you.

Mr Spires is here.

Carry on with your work, girls.

Yes, Miss Grayling.

How do you spell "medicinal"?

I think it's with a "c".

I'll check in the dictionary.

Darrell, you mustn't. That's...

If Miss Grayling were here, she'd let me look it up.

What's that?

Nothing.

Irene, it was a "c". You were right.

Your behaviour today was totally unacceptable.

Walking off during games, speaking back to me.

I'm sorry. It won't happen again.

You brought a cat into the school. What were you thinking?

That if I didn't look out for him, then nobody would.

How have you found being here?

I'm getting used to it.

The other girls come from very different backgrounds, don't they?

Yes.

Please.

Sit.

They have lives where they don't have to worry about money.

Where they can be what they want to be.

I know. Oh, I would've found that strange.

But you can still have a good life here, you know?

You just have to work hard

and show everyone what you're capable of.

How am I supposed to do that when I don't even play lacrosse?

I've never even done Latin before.

You can learn.

And I hear your science work is excellent.

But what if these people never accept me.

My old form teacher, Mr Freeman, was the only one who believed in me.

He thought I could do more with my life

than just looking after my aunt as she gets older.

Did he help you get a place here?

Yes, and he arranged the scholarship.

He thought there were things I could learn here

I wouldn't be able to back at home.

How did your family feel about that?

They warned me I wouldn't fit in.

That the others would always just see me as "the poor girl".

And now my friends from home think I've gone all posh coming here.

I can't win.

You should get back to the dorm.

You're not gonna punish me?

No, you have enough on your plate, but...

if you disobey me again, you will be in serious trouble.

Understood?

Yes, Matron.

I wonder if the secret artist has struck again.

Let me see.

They used all the colours.

But it's a wonderful picture. I thought that was what we wanted?

What's going on?

I... I gave you each a different coloured pencil

so I could tell who'd drawn it.

Sneaky. I approve.

Well, someone here must have done it. Gwendoline?

Why's that funny?

I've seen your pictures, Gwen.

My mother says I have a very distinctive style.

Well, Mother says a lot of strange things.

There's someone missing.

There's me, you

Jean, that's Irene, Sally and Gwen, and of course, Ellen.

Did the artist forget to draw herself, Mary-Lou?

Where did you learn to do that?

From my grandmother, over the summer.

She taught me to really look at people

and see what makes them special.

I thought a picture might cheer Ellen up.

But why didn't you tell us you'd drawn them?

I didn't want anyone to think I was being mean about them.

But they're brilliant!

Positions.

What's going on?

- Surprise. - Surprise.

- What's that? - This is your trunk.

We wanted you to have the same things as we do.

Take a look.

I... I don't understand.

It's our old stuff. We thought we'd give it to you.

- I can't accept this. - Of course you can!

Poor people are so ungrateful.

I can't believe you all did that.

- What were you thinking? - We just wanted to cheer her up.

She already feels like a charity case

this is just rubbing it in.

How would you feel if you were given the things

your friends were going to throw away?

But we're not bothered that she doesn't have as much money

as the rest of us.

Well, she is.

Ellen.

Ellen. There you are.

Leave me alone.

I didn't know they were going to do that.

- It was humiliating. - I know. I'm sorry.

What are you doing in here?

Ellen, Matron told Ron to get rid of him.

I twisted his arm.

- You can't keep a cat in here. - Why not?

I'll come in every day, bring him food, make sure he's happy.

- That's a lot of work. - He's worth it.

And he doesn't have anybody else.

Do you want to stroke him?

What's he called?

I don't know.

But I was thinking

I had a friend back home called Kenny.

His dad was a baker

and so he used to bring me a sticky bun on Saturday mornings.

Kenny is a good name for a cat.

You know, the others' hearts were in the right place.

They meant well even if it was a clumsy show of affection.

Maybe.

Ellen, will you give them another chance?

- Can I say something? - Actually...

can I say we're really sorry? We didn't mean to upset you.

I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, Ellen.

It was so kind of you to give me all those things. Thank you.

- This is really good. - Mary-Lou drew it.

Miss Grayling would be ever so impressed.

Sally.

We need to talk.

What about?

Earlier today, when I was in Miss Grayling's study,

I accidentally read a letter she received this morning.

"Accidentally?"

Yes. What does "arrears" mean?

It's when you're behind in paying for something. Why?

I was afraid it was something like that.

I think Miss Grayling owes the bank a lot of money.

Are you sure?

Well, I couldn't understand most of the words

but the letter seemed to be saying

that if she doesn't repay it, then the bank will take over the school.

What does that mean?

Malory Towers will have to close.