Original subtitles

CHOIR SINGS

It's too low on the right side!

No, it's too high on the left side.

GIRLS LAUGH

Careful, girls!

The Hundred Yard Dash always draws the biggest crowd.

I hope I can beat my time. I hope I win! And beat you.

THEY GIGGLE

We'll salute those tall towers

These golden days as girls

Your clifftop days and your golden hours

Will guide us through our future years

Hand-in-hand we'll lead a legacy

Of promise and vitality...

TRAY RATTLING

THEY GIGGLE

We came here as girls

To be women in the world

And we'll do so with prosperity...

THEY GIGGLE

With Open Day upon us,

step forward all those whose parents will be in attendance today.

These are your half-term results.

The rest will go out in the post.

We have to give our results to our parents today?

It saves on stamps.

What if I haven't done well? Then you'll have a jolly awkward picnic!

Don't fret. You've worked harder than any of us.

I really have tried.

I can't wait for you to meet my parents.

Mother's bringing cold chicken and pickles for lunch.

Two weeks' rations! Lucky you. Lucky us, you mean.

We're taking you out for lunch. Oh, did I forget to tell you?

Tell me what? Betty's parents have decided to come.

I'm spending the day with them instead.

She's my best friend, after all.

But what if you joined my family for the picnic

and then Betty's for the concert? I promised her the whole day.

Why don't you just ask someone else?

Mother so wanted to meet my one particular friend.

It's ever so important to her.

Ta-dah! Steam, a spy's best pal.

And awfully useful for schoolgirls too. Your results?

Not bad. At least I won't end up in dreaded Remedial.

What's "dreaded Remedial"? It's for girls who aren't up to task.

They give you piles of extra work.

Katherine's cousin did it and she said it was horrid.

Gwen, you're up.

It seems rather underhand,

but technically you're the one doing it, so...

You should ask Mary-Lou to your picnic, Darrell.

Her granny's ill and can't come.

She'll faint with joy if you do that!

You're right. She would be pleased.

You know, I think I will.

Oh...

SHE SOBS Gwen!

Darrell?

I don't want to go behind my parents' back.

And you're right. I tried hard, I did my best.

I just want today to be perfect.

PIANO PLAYS

CLAPPING SHE GIGGLES

You know we're one girl short?

Helen got whooping cough and now she sounds like Humphrey Bogart.

Would you sing with us? Me?

Me?!

Oh! Mary-Lou, there you are...

PLAYS OMINOUS PIANO MUSIC

I heard your granny isn't coming.

She's been sick. Oh, poor thing. I can't bear for you to be alone.

You must keep with me and Mother all day.

How kind but I thought I might sing in the concert. Marvellous!

GWEN LAUGHS Don't be silly!

A little mouse like you?

Now, how are you going to wear your hair?

Gwendoline, I really don't think...

Because Mother will notice. Go upstairs and brush it out.

Take this.

Well, go on.

I look like a French poodle.

Mary-Lou, I've been searching everywhere for you. Have you really?

I'm sorry to hear your granny can't come.

How would you like to join me

and my family for a picnic on the beach instead?

Oh, yes! Oh!

Oh... Gwendoline wants me to go with her. What?

But she knew I was inviting you.

I would much rather go with you. Wizard. Go, tell Gwen. I can't.

She'd be so angry. For goodness' sake, Mary-Lou.

What's happened to trying to be just a little bit braver? I'm sorry.

You were quite hard on her. I know.

I'm just in a stew. My family will think I'm awfully lonely

if I can't find a friend to bring and Mother will worry so.

At least your family are coming.

Yours aren't any more?

How would you like to join me and my family? How sweet.

Was I your first choice?

CAR HORN BLARES The parents. Sally, please.

I'd honestly love to have you there. I can't. I'm going for a walk.

You can walk with me and my... Alone.

Sorry! I'm sorry. Foolish place to sit.

Shouldn't you be outside with the others? The parents are here.

Er, my mother, well, she works long hours. She works?

I say, would you like to join me and my family? I'd be delighted!

Mother! Darling!

You simply must meet Mary-Lou.

It's so lovely to have a best friend.

Welcome to Malory Towers.

Daddy! Mother!

THEY LAUGH

I've missed you so much. I can't believe it's been six weeks.

We've got a surprise for you.

Felicity!

What are you doing here?

Daddy's got a conference at the Truro Grand this week

so we thought we'd make a weekend of it.

Who's this? I'm Emily. Good to meet you.

Mother said that Darrell was bringing her best friend.

Are you her? I don't quite think I'm...

We're all good friends here. It's lovely to meet you, Emily.

Is that Sally Hope? I've just had tea with her mother and baby Daphne.

How strange. She says she doesn't have a baby sister.

Darling, you must have misunderstood.

Sally! Sally Hope!

Oh, come on, then. I'll show you all the secrets of Malory Towers.

Everyone agrees I'm a natural on the field. Pitch.

But I'm not on the team. What?

Well, I'll speak to that Potts woman immediately.

No, no. It was my decision.

I'll join next year when the others have reached my level.

Right, Mary-Lou?

Now, there's a nice athletic girl.

Let's speak to her.

No, Mother. She's... Darrell! Darrell!

Mrs Lacey wants to meet you.

I'm Sylvia Louise Mary Lacey,

Gwendoline's mother.

I'm Darrell.

Are you taking part in the athletic display? Yes, 100 Yard Dash.

Hoping for second or good third.

Lucky you that Gwen focused on swimming this term instead

or you'd have a real race on your hands.

DARRELL LAUGHS

Focused on swimming? It takes her two hours to get one toe wet!

I beg your pardon?

SHE STUTTERS

But she's very good at other things, aren't you?

Lovely to meet you.

Now, let's not waste another moment.

To the beach. Super. How lovely.

Oh, Darrell, are these your results? Don't touch, they're not for you.

I'm the top of my class in French and second in Maths

and soon I'll be a Malory Towers girl just like you.

And you'll learn Malory Towers girls don't boast.

I'm sorry, Fe. Come on. Our picnic awaits.

And, of course, I adore their clothes.

If only I could get the fabric to make dresses like theirs.

It seems to me that Margaret may be prettier,

but Elizabeth is the one to unite the country.

A woman on the throne. Queen Elizabeth. Imagine that.

Now, we've covered history, politics, the royal family -

what's left? What do your parents do, Emily?

Oh, mine? My mother's...a nurse.

Which hospital? I might know her.

Well, she's at... She's with...

Goodness, I've gone blank.

Are you all right, darling? Of course.

I'm just nervous about the race. But you're the best runner in the form.

She's marvellous at lacrosse too.

Darrell's always been good at sport.

Her fire serves her well on the field.

And in the pool, right, Darrell?

She gave the most exasperating girl exactly what she deserved.

Oh, dear. It wasn't her fault, Mrs Rivers.

You see, poor Mary-Lou had been dunked under the water

and Darrell... Emily saw a ghost.

A real one?

I... Yes, I think I did.

Lady Jane herself.

She visits our dormy at night.

Whoooo!

THEY LAUGH

Um, Mam'zelle is very pleased with me, of course.

Ow!

Sorry. I, erm...must have bitten my tongue when I ate the...

Pickled crab in aspic, dear.

I see.

So wonderful about your French, my darling Gwendoline.

Oh, and top of the class in English, too.

SHE GIGGLES

Sorry.

So the window in the dormy was banging open?

Yes, but I put a ghost trap and it's never been sprung.

Don't worry, Fe, ghosts aren't real but it is the mystery.

If anyone can solve a mystery, it's Darrell.

She's like a dog with a bone, that one. She's certainly determined.

She works ever so hard at her prep. Does she? Oh, yes.

I'm sure her results will reflect that. Felicity!

Want to skim some stones? Yeah.

I'd forgotten all about your exam.

Do the marks arrive in the post?

They... Oh, Mother, they're in...

In the dormy! I left them there. Didn't want them getting wet.

Come on, Emily. Let's go.

Eat your prune flan, dear. Aids the digestion.

How rude of that girl to make fun of your swimming.

Nobody likes Darrell Rivers.

She thinks far too highly of herself.

She hasn't even got a best friend.

Isn't that right, Mary-Lou?

MARY-LOU MUMBLES

That's all right. We'll wait.

I have to go. I can't bear to... Yes?

..to have my hair in such a mess.

I must go and redo it.

That's the first sensible thing she's said all day.

WHISTLE BLOWS

CHEERING

That's it, Rosie! Lovely motion.

Bravo. Well done, Tabitha.

Don't go pulling a Sally on me now.

I want to beat you fair and square.

Is it your turn soon, darling? We don't want to miss it.

I think we'll just have time before our meeting with Miss Grayling.

You're meeting Miss Grayling? First form 100 Yards.

Johns, Rivers, Cunningham, Bradley, Winlow.

Come on. That's it.

Miss Grayling meets the parents of all the new students.

Nothing to worry about.

On your mark. Get set.

WHISTLE BLOWS False start. Oh.

MUTTERING Goodness.

Take your places. Darrell, do that again and you'll be disqualified.

On your marks. Get set.

WHISTLE BLOWS Come on, Darrell.

SHOUTING ENCOURAGEMENT

APPLAUSE

She did it!

THEY LAUGH

Well done, Darrell.

APPLAUSE

And first place in the 100 Yard Dash goes to Darrell Rivers!

Good on you. Giving it your all.

And aren't your parents sensible sorts?

They know that exam results aren't everything.

Darrell.

Darling?

I'm sorry. I am so sorry.

What do you mean? You won, you wonderful girl. I'm not wonderful.

I lied about not having my results.

I've got them and they're awful.

Miss Potts just said as much.

I'm sure they're not.

Well...

Emily's lovely but she's not my one particular friend

because I haven't got one.

I just wanted today to be perfect for you

and it's all gone so wrong.

Perfect for us?

Today is about you.

Darling, you go to the meeting. I want to talk to Darrell.

I'm sorry. I promised that I wouldn't let you down and I have.

And you haven't. I lied to you.

Yes, and then you told us the truth.

You mustn't be so hard on yourself.

And as for best friends,

do you know, I didn't have a best friend until I was 18?

Really? Really.

It can take time to find someone who truly knows you

and truly puts you first.

Four tall towers teach us how to strive

To be women the world can lean on

Women who will thrive

The games of our girlhood will stand in good stead

The lessons we learn today will forge our lives ahead

And with faded eyesight we'll look back across the years

We'll salute those tall towers

Those golden days as girls

Your clifftop days and your golden hours

Will guide us through our future years

Hand-in-hand we'll lead our legacy

Of promise and vitality...

Don't you have a lovely voice?

To be women of the world

And we'll do so with prosperity.

Mother, wait! I didn't know you had a meeting with Miss Grayling.

That's not the point, Gwendoline.

You've always said results don't matter

so long as I'm ladylike and pretty.

They matter to your father.

ENGINE STARTS

I made this for you. Look.

"DR" for Darrell Rivers.

For you to keep all your special things in.

It's so lovely and thoughtful.

Oh, Fe, you'll make wonderful Malory Towers girl some day.

What did Miss Grayling say?

That you're talented, spirited and clever. She did?

However, your results were lower than expected

so there are some changes to be made.

You'll be sitting away from a distracting young lady

called Alicia. That makes sense.

And since sport has been interfering with your studies

we've agreed you'll give up lacrosse.

SHE STUTTERS

But I can't. Please.

We're so proud of you darling.

It's just about striking a balance.

Life will always put up obstacles.

You have to find your own way through.

What a day!

Did you hear Gwendoline's "dear Mama" tearing a strip off?

Great job at the race by the way. You finished like a rocket.

Darrell? DARRELL SIGHS

Look...

Oh, no. Did she put you in dreaded Remedial? No.

Well, there's a blessing at least.

Imagine all that extra work.

SHE SHUDDERS I can't think of anything worse.

Ever since Miss Potts gave me a talking-to,

I have been waking up two hours early to do my prep.

I know there's a problem but giving up lacrosse isn't the answer.

Sport helps me work through my temper. That's very observant.

What do you propose as an alternative?

I'd like to be put in dreaded Remedial. Just "Remedial" will do.

I can improve my results. I know I can.

I just need a little help.

It's quite an uncommon request.

But I accept your terms.

I'll let your parents know that you'll be continuing with lacrosse.

I won't let you down.

Darrell... It took a great deal of courage to come to me today.

I'm proud of you.

Thank you, Miss Grayling,

but I'm just finding my own way through the obstacles.

Oh, no. I can't.

Shall I help you down? Yes, of course.

Darrell?

Pamela.

Super race today. Simply super. Oh, thank you.

Miss Grayling has asked me to be

your student teacher for the rest of term.

I've been through the Remedial programme myself and now I run it.

You were in Remedial?

Yeah, and it really helped.

I hope I can help you half as much.

I wish I were in Remedial. Oh, Mary-Lou. Come on. Sit down.

How was your picnic? Dreadful. They made me eat prunes and crab.

Not together, I hope!

Next year you must come with my family instead. No fair.

I bagsy Darrell next year. I told Betty already.

Oh, I was going to ask Darrell. I heard your mother brings pickles.

Budge up. You won't fit. Course I will.

You'll all roll on the floor and I'll fit just fine!

THEY ALL LAUGH