Original subtitles

You're supposed to wait for the others to turn up, you know?

Not just charge off and do your morning run alone.

I'll let Miss Johnson know what you said. Jolly good.

Matron. Good morning, Mr Hampson.

Is he the vet? And a fine one, too.

Has he been to the stables? Ron!

Now is not the time for idle chatter.

What's wrong? Why was the vet here? It's nothing to worry about.

It's Thunder, isn't it?

He was off his food this morning, a bit restless.

I have to see him. Absolutely not.

You're to get changed and go straight to lessons.

The vet says it's indigestion. It should just sort itself out.

He'll stop by again this evening, just to be sure.

There, you see? There's nothing to worry about.

BELL RINGS

Is something wrong, Wilhelmina? I'm worried about Thunder.

I telephoned the vet as soon as I was informed he was off-colour.

I gather all is in hand. Please let me see him.

I know him better than anyone else.

I'll be able to tell if there's something wrong.

You know the rules - you're only to go to the stables at weekends.

Well, then, the rules are wrong. I'll go anyway. You can't stop me.

I will not be spoken to that way, Wilhelmina.

I'm sorry, Miss Johnson.

Gwendoline? Yes, Miss Johnson? As head of form,

I would like you to take responsibility for ensuring

Wilhelmina concentrates on her schoolwork.

As such, you're to ensure

she doesn't go to the stables at any time from now on. No!

Not at all? That is what "any" means.

Do you understand? Yes, Miss Johnson.

Gwen, we all think it's important that Bill gets to see Thunder.

After all, she's been very good lately,

and she only sees him on weekends, just like she was told.

So? There's absolutely nothing I can do. Well, yes, there is.

You can look the other way for the next quarter of an hour

so she can check on him.

No, I'm not going to get in trouble so Bill can see her pet.

Thunder's not a pet. He's part of my family.

Yes, and I can see the resemblance.

So, have we all got our French essays ready to hand in?

Yes. It was a difficult one. What essay?

About the Malory Towers mermaid. What mermaid?

I thought everyone knew about the Malory Towers mermaid -

the one that used to live in the pool.

Mademoiselle asked us to write a page in French about it.

Didn't you know?

Oh! Oh, no, yes, THAT essay.

Erm, I'll just have to go and get it.

Quick, Bill. While she's gone,

you'll have time to nip to the stables and back before class.

Thank you.

Oh, Gwendoline, you are early.

Erm, Mam'zelle, I came to talk to you about my essay.

Erm, I have written it, you see -

it was a very good essay, one of the best I've ever written -

but one of the other girls wanted to borrow it and...

Erm, what was this essay about? The Malory Towers mermaid.

Vraiment?

There was no essay. Non.

You're so mean, all of you.

We're sorry, Gwen, but you know how much Thunder means to Bill.

You know Miss Johnson forbade her from going in there.

I'll just have to say that you all tricked me

so Wilhelmina could sneak off.

Bill is your friend. She really isn't.

We all look out for each other in this dorm.

Except when you're all trying to trick me, I suppose.

Wouldn't it look bad for you?

You WERE supposed to be keeping an eye on her after all.

Well, don't worry. She won't be long now.

And nobody will notice she's missing.

Where is Wilhelmina?

I have her laundry. Where is she?

Gwendoline?

I think she's at a trumpet lesson.

Really?

Yes.

It's a shame she forgot her trumpet, then, isn't it?

Would she be at the stables, by any chance?

No, I don't think so.

Don't think so. We'll see.

Thanks a lot, everyone.

I'm going to be in such trouble now. I need to warn Bill.

How will you get past Matron?

With help. Come on, Mary-Lou. Come on. Come on!

SHE SIGHS

Right, wait till I'm right behind her.

Then get her attention. But what do I say?

SHE CHUCKLES "Strongest man on Earth."

Matron?

Matron.

Matron! Yes?

Can I help? Doing what?

Finding Bill...erm, Wilhelmina.

I, erm, can help carry...something.

What? Get back to the dorm at once!

You need to go right now.

Matron's on the warpath and she's looking for you.

The way he was pawing at the ground when I came in, it's not right.

He's been doing it more often since the vet left.

Why is no-one listening to me?

Wilhelmina! Too late. She's here. What?

Matron! Wilhelmina! Hide! I'll keep her busy.

Where's Wilhelmina? You mean Bill? I don't know.

Shouldn't you be attending to the horses in the field?

You're not paid to stand around.

BUCKET CLANGS

You know you're forbidden from being here.

Thunder really isn't well.

He's worse than when the vet saw him.

You'll receive an order mark for this.

Back to class right now, or I shall write to your parents.

Well, now...

Poor boy. What's the matter with you, then?

Bill, did Matron catch you? Yes. Worse luck.

Where's Darrell? Buried under a pile of hay.

Permanently?

Poor Thunder just isn't himself. I know him, and he's not right.

Is Matron going to tell Miss Johnson that you sneaked off?

Don't worry, I'll take the blame if she does.

I don't want you to get into trouble.

Really? Because I've already been tricked once today. I promise.

Beautiful horse, aren't you?

Best in the stable.

Let's hope it's not colic.

You think you can hold on until the vet comes back, old boy?

This horse needs plenty of fresh water.

You let me know if his condition changes.

Yes, Matron.

She's gone. Where's Bill?

Matron caught her. HE CHUCKLES

You look like a scarecrow.

Just help me get this off. I'm supposed to be in class.

Ou est le poisson?

ALL: Ou est le poisson?

Ou est le poisson, Darrell Rivers?

Erm, where is the fish? Oui.

Erm, le poisson est dans la mer, Mam'zelle.

In the sea. Oui, tres bien.

Don't be late again. Assieds-toi.

Le poisson peut effectivement etre dans la mer...

Are you all right? Yes, but it was so strange,

and Matron seemed to really know what she was doing.

She said something about colic.

Colic? I've heard my dad talk about it before.

It's just something babies get. It's not serious.

It is in a horse. It can kill them.

Come.

Thunder needs a vet right away.

If he's got colic, it's very dangerous.

That wasn't the vet's diagnosis this morning.

Well, he could be wrong.

Mr Hampson will be returning this evening.

You have nothing to worry about.

But your obsession with this horse is unhealthy

and it's affecting your schoolwork.

He's my best friend. No, he's an animal.

Just because you don't have any friends!

I will not tolerate this continued insolence and disobedience.

Matron tells me that she gave you another order mark

for sneaking off to the stables this morning.

You were warned.

Both you and Gwen will go to bed an hour early

and have no pudding for a week.

It wasn't Gwen's fault.

I sneaked out when she wasn't looking.

You were her responsibility. I made that perfectly clear.

It's not fair! Well, you should have thought of that

before you got her into trouble.

Please, just get Thunder a vet before it's too late.

I'm not wasting any more of Mr Hampson's time.

He is due back this evening, and in the meantime,

he has other genuinely sick animals to take care of.

Thunder is...! You may go.

Oh, and send Gwendoline to see me.

Do you think Bill is all right? She dashed off straight after lunch.

I think she felt bad about getting Gwen in trouble.

Well, I think Gwen deserved it.

She chose to be teacher's pet

instead of helping her friends, as usual.

Hello, Gwen.

Gwen, I...

Don't worry, Thunder. I'll get help somehow.

Did you get in trouble?

Miss Johnson said I should reflect on

whether I'm the right person to be head of form or not.

She said she had her doubts after today.

I'm sorry. I just can't win.

I let Miss Johnson down and the other girls don't trust me.

It's all because of your stupid horse!

Surely you must have had an animal you cared about.

I'm allergic to cats, I'm afraid of dogs,

and I just don't see the point in hamsters.

There doesn't need to be a point.

Anyway, we'd all be in a lot less trouble

if you stopped worrying about this wretched horse.

Thunder's not well. I just know it.

I'd do anything to make him feel better.

Well, if the vet won't come,

then why don't you just take the stupid animal to see him instead?

Gwen, you're a genius!

Ugh, no. Please say I haven't given you an idea.

You might have just saved Thunder's life.

Well, we all make mistakes.

Aren't you going to try and stop me?

Would you listen to me?

No.

I hope your horse is all right.

Thanks, Gwen.

What are you doing? Riding Thunder to the vet.

Bill, if Thunder needs a vet urgently,

then he's too ill to ride.

But I can't do nothing.

Maybe there's someone who can help.

Yes? What are you two doing here? Is someone poorly?

Yes, and it's very important that they need to get help straight away.

Who is it? Thunder. SHE LAUGHS

I don't think he'll fit in one of these beds.

He's awfully ill,

and we can't wait for the vet to come back this evening.

Well, you'll have to speak to Miss Johnson about this.

I've tried, but she won't listen.

You were worried he had colic earlier.

No, I said I hoped it wasn't colic.

How do you know that?

You are in such trouble, young lady.

I shall be discussing this with Miss Johnson, spying on me!

Do whatever you like to me, but for now,

we really need to think of poor Thunder.

If it is colic, then it could kill him.

Call the vet now while there's still time. Please!

Right.

Ah, good afternoon. Please may I speak to Mr Hampson?

Ah, I see. Do you have their telephone number, please?

Oh. Very well. Thank you.

Sorry to have troubled you.

SHE SIGHS

I'm afraid the vet has had to go to help with the lambing

at Mr Raglet's farm.

Raglet's Farm? But that's miles away!

And they do not have a telephone.

Then at least come with us to the stables.

When you see how poorly he is,

you'll realise we have to do something.

Absolutely not. Now, it is more than my job's worth

to let you go over there when you should be in lessons. Please!

I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do.

How will you feel if he dies and you could have done something?

Please.

Both of you, straight back to lessons.

Come along.

Cover for me.

What? Where? Bill!

There, there, boy. Hold on till I can go tell Matron...

Tell Matron what? Matron, you're here.

Evidently.

How is he? Much worse than before. Oh.

Is it colic? Yes, I think it might be.

We need to get him walking. Why?

He mustn't lie down. That's very important.

Not till the vet gets here. You know so much about horses.

I have a lot to learn.

Ah, they used to graze in the fields near where I grew up.

I'd sneak them apples over the fence until the owner caught me.

Were they angry at you? No.

No, she saw that I was interested, so she taught me all about them.

Right, come on, boy. SHE CLICKS

We can't keep him walking till the vet gets here.

There's nothing else we can do. He'll be tired out.

We'll be tired out. We can take it in turns, Ron.

Bill! Wilhelmina, I told you to go to lessons!

I'm more use getting help.

Take care of Thunder till I return. You get down this very minute!

Wilhelmina, no! THUD

Matron!

No, you mustn't let him lie down, whatever you do. Up! Up!

THUNDER NEIGHS

Good luck, Bill.

HORSE NEIGHS

What do you think has happened to them?

Perhaps we should tell someone they're missing.

And get me into trouble again?

Typical! This could be serious, Gwen.

SHE CLEARS HER THROAT

Take your places, please, girls.

Where are Wilhelmina and Darrell?

Gwendoline?

I don't know.

I was so busy reflecting on whether I was the right person

to be head of form or not, like you told me to,

that I didn't see where they went.

Silent reading, please, girls. Chapter seven.

I'll be asking you questions about it when I return.

I can't believe you spoke to her like that, Gwen.

I'm fed up with her.

Actually, I'm fed up with all of you,

and I am especially fed up with that stupid horse!

We should all cook it and just have sausages!

Now, silent reading, or I'll report you all.

Darrell, where's Bill?

Erm, Thunder isn't very well at all, and Bill's raced off

and I have no idea what happened to her.

SHE SIGHS

We can't keep this up.

He'll collapse from exhaustion.

We just have to hope Wilhelmina can get help in time.

Matron, this is a surprise. This horse is very ill.

I'm doing what I can to help him.

Remind me how any of this is your concern.

And where, dare I ask, is Wilhelmina?

I'm not sure.

We'll discuss this in my study.

Ronald, take this horse back to the stable and get on with your work.

With respect, but we can't do that.

Thunder won't make it if we let him lie down. Now!

She's here!

Mr Hampson, I hope you appreciate

that pupils don't have the authority to call you out.

My word, this horse has deteriorated.

I'm so sorry that this girl has wasted your time,

but I will have to ask you to leave until your next scheduled visit.

But this is an emergency.

Earlier today, you assured us that this horse was perfectly well.

Colic is like that. It can come on very suddenly.

Thank goodness this enterprising young lady came to fetch me.

The horse looks fine to me.

I can assure you his problems are very real.

Or is that just what you say

to justify an extortionate call-out fee?

SHE GASPS

Yes, definitely something up with his stomach.

SHE RETCHES

Why wouldn't Mr Hampson let me stay and help?

I can't bear this waiting.

He knows what he's doing.

Matron. Sit down, Wilhelmina.

You need to try and calm yourself. But Thunder...?

Is out of the woods.

But you should not have ridden off like that.

I would have thought you would know better

after what happened to Miss Grayling.

But Bill did save her horse. That's no excuse.

Now, you have a slight fever.

I'm going to keep you here, keep an eye on you. Yes, Matron.

And thank you for helping save Thunder. Yes, thank you.

There's been quite enough excitement for one day.

Thunder deserves a good rest tonight.

And so do I.

BOTH: Yes, Matron.

SHE SIGHS

HORSES NEIGH

METAL CLINKS