Original subtitles

Recovering from the mumps is such a bore.

I know, I do wish you could play.

Why don't you help us train?

We could do with your coaching.

Let me get dressed.

Good morning, girls.

From Alicia Johns.

Oh, she replied already?

You are aware of the new rules?

Miss Johnson asked me to make sure there was nothing untoward.

So I've read it and...

My word, biscuits and cake.

Sweets, too.

Seems like Alicia's accidentally packed her darning as well.

Tinned peaches, delicious,

I haven't had these since I was little.

I love drinking the syrup.

Apparently it helps with laryngitis

so you might want to share some with poor Mavis,

help speed up her recovery.

That's a brilliant idea.

Don't worry, Matron, I'll make sure she gets them. Very good.

Well, I shall be taking the cake for now.

But don't worry, it'll be safe in my office.

And, Gwendoline, do not forget to collect

the subs for everyone for the school trip.

These head of form duties are never-ending.

You two, change into your school uniforms.

We've got the lacrosse county trials,

we were going to get some extra training.

Absolutely not, you'll be late for breakfast.

Please, Matron, there's a chance me

and Jean can make the county reserves.

The extra training would really help.

It is not up for discussion.

Come along.

Well, have you read it?

It doesn't say much.

I know what these are for.

Hurry, they're coming.

Right. Remember what you need to do?

Yes.

Bonjour, mes filles.

CLASS: Bonjour, Mam'zelle.

I hear that you have your trial today.

SPEAKS FRENCH

Thank you, Mam'zelle. Thank you, Mam'zelle. No, uh-uh.

Merci. Merci.

SHE GASPS

What was that?

I think it was a mouse. A moose?

Une souris, Mam'zelle.

Une souris? A mouse?

SPEAKS FRENCH

There!

I just saw it!

ALL SCREAM

Where did it go?

I think it went under your desk!

No, it was under the table.

But it looked so sweet and fluffy.

Sweet? Oh, you English are very strange.

They carry nasty diseases.

That's rats, not mice.

All nasty little squeakers!

On your foot!

ALL SCREAM

Calm, oh so calm!

Step outside for a moment. Allez.

I really don't like this.

No need to panic.

Everybody, it's just the sock Alicia sent.

Is that why she sent it?

I've hated les souris since I was a little girl.

I saw one on my mother's dressing table, and I...

..I thought it was a powder puff.

SPEAKS FRENCH

I will not tolerate vermin.

Irene, Mary Lou,

tell Matron I need her help.

The rest of you go outside.

I will try and find it.

Can we play lacrosse, Mam'zelle? It's just a sock.

Very good idea. Get some fresh air

away from this rodent infestation.

Thank you. Merci.

Adieu, go on.

Miss Rougier, I really must get back to the san.

If it runs out, I will try and hit it.

But why is it in the cupboard?

It could be hiding.

These little creatures are very smart.

Huh? Now, s'il vous plait.

Of all the blessed things.

GIRLS SCREAM

Sorry, I thought I saw one.

What is going on?

Miss Johnson, we have an invasion of mice.

And where are all the girls?

They're outside. Outside?

Oui. I sent them just in case they

catch any nasty disease from the rodents.

How many mice did you see?

Well, only one - this time.

But one mouse is worse than no mice.

And they will have a family

hidden in the walls. N'est-ce pas?

What did this mouse look like?

BOTH: Um...

It looked like a mouse.

Furry little nose...

..tail...

MATRON SCREAMS

Right. Well, let's get this room cleaned from top to bottom.

Call the girls back in.

No. Ladies, if you... Stop.

How marvellously clever of Irene to pull this off.

She only wanted to cheer you up, this is a bonus.

Catch in the cradle. Well done.

If you play like that later, the scouts will be utterly impressed.

Imagine if you both made the team. That would be super.

But there's no chance they'll pick two third years.

All those older girls from other schools to compete with.

But if we make the reserves this year, next year it's the team.

Come on, let's practise some shots.

Yes.

Ouch! Darrell!

Well, it was good while it lasted, Irene.

You did Alicia proud. We'll have to write and tell her.

Oh, and tell her about Darrell hitting Gwen with a lacrosse ball

when she stomped off to get out of the sun.

What? She left. She didn't.

Oh, can we read what Alicia wrote us?

I'm afraid not a lot.

She must have been worried it would be confiscated.

"Hello, girls, I miss you all so much, even Gwen.

"I'm keeping myself busy ice skating

"and baking, would you believe?

"I can't wait to see you all again

"And I'm especially excited to meet Bill.

"Lots of love, Alicia.

"PS, know your onions."

"Know your onions?"

What does that mean?

Is that it?

She completely missed our code.

Doesn't even really sound like her.

Let me take a look.

It stinks of onions.

And why does it say, "Know your onions"?

Probably just another one of Alicia's jokes.

It's not a joke, she's trying to tell us something.

I've got it.

Come on!

Sorry, this...

Come on!

It's invisible ink.

Onion juice oxidises and turns brown when heated.

Good job, Ellen.

When you write with the juice, it's invisible

until you warm it up.

Oh, wizard old Alicia.

"Miss Johnson sounds awful."

"I've sent you some tools to get the better of her.

"I've baked them into the cake,

"So I hope they haven't melted.

"Use them wisely."

I knew Alicia wouldn't let us down.

I can't wait to go and tell Darrell and Jean.

Wait!

Matron has the cake.

Gwen?

Leave me alone, you've done quite enough.

Gwen, I'm sorry, truly I am.

Gwen, I really didn't mean it.

Mavis, how are you feeling?

Better, thank you.

The cough mixture seems to be doing its job

but I'll be glad when I don't have to take it twice a day.

Didn't Matron tell you? We've got peach syrup to save your throat,

so you'll be singing from the rooftops in no time.

Stop encouraging her to talk, child.

She needs to rest her voice.

Sorry.

Matron, will Mavis ever be able to sing again?

Let's hope so.

There's every chance, if she rests her voice.

She needs to keep taking that syrup.

I'll make sure she does. Good.

So what are you three doing here, anyway?

We came to ask for the cake back, please.

Did you now?

It was so nice of Alicia to bake it for us,

so we want to try it.

Oh, we promised to save you a slice.

Fine, seeing as you asked so nicely.

Thank you so much, Matron.

But I will be taking my slice now.

Oh. Sorry.

Oh! Oh! What is in this?

Oh!

Ooh!

Prunes!

I hate prunes!

And the silly girl forgot to remove the stones.

Ugh! It's all yours.

But you are not to eat it until after teatime.

Yes, Matron, understood.

And no crumbs left around to

encourage those marauding mice.

Thank you, Matron.

Well, if she wasn't standing

behind the goal that would have never happened.

Where's Gwen? Collecting the subs for the trip.

Good. I don't want her telling tales.

Well, what's going on? Read this.

You got the cake back?

Alicia is a genius. She must have known Matron hates prunes.

I can't believe it. What's inside?

What a clever piece of smuggling.

A wire. What's it for?

Ah.

And what does the key open?

Must be somewhere useful, otherwise she wouldn't have sent it.

Well, let's try some more.

Is there anything left?

No.

That is really good cake.

Alicia is a clever baker.

Matron. I'm just collecting my history prep.

Traps? No, you can't.

I can. We do not want another plague of vermin on our hands, do we?

Is there not another way?

I mean, my granny and I, we set out small boxes of cheese

and then we just let the mice out into the field.

But if we let them out into the grounds,

they will just find their way back in

so this will put an end to them for good.

TRAP SNAPS

Argh!

What on earth could this be for?

Why a wire and a key?

Darrell, I saw Matron,

she's setting traps.

What if there really are real mice?

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

Someone's coming.

Under the bed. Hurry, go, go.

Girls...

..as you are aware, we may have

an infestation of rodents.

We will need to get rid of them.

Has anyone seen any mice in the dorm?

Any droppings, any of your items nibbled or gnawed?

No, Miss Johnson, definitely not.

What are all these crumbs?

It's no wonder there could be mice.

Do you have something to say, Irene?

Oh, no, Miss Johnson, definitely not.

It's just the cake...

..the one Alicia Johns gave us.

We'll clear it up, though.

I am sure there are no mice around here.

I see we have found our mouse.

I assume you all knew about this.

I should have known to check that hamper myself,

I won't be making that mistake again.

I have no doubt who was behind this.

You thought you could trick Mam'zelle Rougier

into letting you outside so you could practise?

No.

Come with me, young lady.

Miss Johnson, I can explain.

I played the trick, not Darrell.

Darrell was the one who was trying to hide it from me.

No, it's not like that. Quiet.

My study. I've got to get ready for the trials.

The bus will be here soon.

Now.

And bring that hamper with you.

Miss Johnson, it wasn't Darrell, I swear.

Miss Johnson confiscated the hamper.

We don't have time to worry about that now, the bus is here.

Yeah, quick or you'll miss it.

Um, Darrell...

Miss Johnston said I can't go,

I have to stay back and reflect on my actions.

What?

She can't do that. She can't take this opportunity away from you.

I'll go and talk to her.

No, Jean, she's not going to change her mind.

There's no point in ruining your chances too.

I'll be fine.

Go on, you can do this.

I can't wait to hear all about it.

Can you put my things away in the changing room for me?

Of course.

Thank you.

I think I've seen one of these before,

I just can't remember where.

How's Darrell?

Miss Johnson said she couldn't go.

It's all my fault.

It was careless of me to leave the mouse out.

Alicia would have never made that mistake

and Darrell must be so upset with me.

No, of course not, it was just a bit of fun

and you tried to tell the truth.

I think this is a skeleton key.

It usually means you can lock and unlock most doors.

A skeleton key?

Irene, why don't you try it?

It works!

I wonder if this is to use with the tinned peaches.

If we attach tins to the wire,

when you talk in one end the

other person can hear you at their end.

Yes, but Miss Johnson won't give the hamper back.

I already told Mavis about the syrup

and I promised Matron I'd make sure she got it.

I wish Miss Grayling were here, she would have listened to us.

KNOCK AT DOOR

FROM OUTSIDE DOOR: Hello?

It's Gwen. Hello? Hurry or she'll call Miss Johnson!

Why is the door locked?

Um, ooh, it seems to be jammed.

One second, Gwen, let me try.

Very, very stuck, Gwen.

One second, Gwen. Just a moment, hold on.

Welcome.

What are you all up to? Nothing.

I think you should get Matron to take a look at that door.

I have enough to do.

Oh, don't worry, I'll speak to her for you.

Hmm.

Darrell?

Jean. How did it go?

All the girls were asking about you.

They were?

And the scout was looking forward to seeing you play again.

I told her about the trick and she actually found it funny.

She said it was unfair for you to

miss out over a harmless prank.

Honestly, there wasn't a single midfielder

as decent as you out there today.

You never know, you might still make the reserves.

Really?

Really.

That's genius. She sent a key to open all doors.

Alicia came up trumps.

I can't wait to meet her, she sounds like such fun.

She really is.

What's going on?

Has the list for the county team gone up already?

Looks like some of the Malory Towers girls made it.

Come on. Let's see if you're one of them.

Can you check the reserves for me? There should be three.

Yeah.

Geraldine Brooke, St Hilda's.

Jean Dunlop, Malory Towers. Yes. Super.

Diana Peterson, Sherendon College.

I'm so sorry, Darrell.

Darrell Rivers!

What are you doing?

It's cruel to use those traps.

These traps will be collected in the morning.

I told Matron you wasted her time and she is not happy.

You need to start putting more effort into changing your own

behaviour than caring for

nonexistent rodents.

You might run rings around the staff

in this school but you can't fool me.

Now, tidy all of this up.

It seems missing your trial wasn't punishment enough.

There will be no circus trip for you next week

after your behaviour today.

Very well.

And no supper for you tonight.

When you're done here, get back to the dorm.

Are you not coming down for supper?

Miss Johnson confined me to the dorm.

Biscuit?

Thanks.

I am really sorry about today.

Oh, don't be, it wasn't only your fault. I...

..I don't know why I thought I'd make the reserves this year.

Darrell, you are super at lacrosse

and you've practised so hard too.

Look, here she is.

We've been looking all over for you.

Haven't you seen the list?

Yes, of course.

Congratulations, Jean, I'm glad at

least one of us made the reserves.

Wait, do you mean to say you only looked under the reserves?

You didn't check the team list?

Why would I?

Of all the donkeys.

You didn't make the reserves list...

..because...

..you're in the actual team.

Goodness! How did that happen?

I told you, the scout was so terribly impressed

with how you played the last time she was here.

See, after everything, you still made it.

Congratulations, Darrell. Well done, Darrell.

What?

Um...

..I, um...

..I...

..I let my temper get the better of

me and I did something silly.

I covered a mousetrap and...

MARY-LOU CLAPS

But Miss Johnson caught me

and now I'm no longer going to the circus.

She's absolutely horrid.

I say we use the skeleton key to sneak you out of school

so you don't miss the circus after all.

Actually, where is the skeleton key?

I think perhaps missing the circus...

..is a good thing.

Miss Johnson can't get away with how she treats us

and she won't be here all day but I will.

And thanks to Alicia, I now have a

key that unlocks every door to the school.

So, this is the plan.

DARRELL WHISPERS