Original subtitles

O-B-L-I-Q-U-E. Oblique. Spot on. Obstinate.

O-B-S-T-I-N-A-T-E.

Obstinate.

Correct! Morning, Mary Lou. What are you two up to?

Practising Gwen's spelling. I heard Potty likes to surprise

everyone with a spot test towards the end of term.

Aren't surprises meant to be a good thing?

Now, that's a good surprise, if I ever saw one!

It's just a box. Not just any box. See the ribbon?

The crepe. That's a couture dress,

or I'm a Dutchman!

It's the season.

Malory Towers must have a debutante. What's a debutante?

A girl taking her first steps into society.

Coming of age.

Meeting the King!

King George?!

The actual King?!

At Buckingham Palace?! What are we waiting for? Let's go see who it is!

A debutante at Malory Towers!

Are you worried about the test?

I could help you practise, if you like.

No point. My spelling's appalling.

A-P-A-L... Actually, it's double P.

Not helping, Mary Lou!

Thankfully, Pamela's tutoring me for spelling!

SHE HUMS GREENSLEEVES

I told you, West Tower. They'll have gone to the art room with it.

He went that way. No, it was this way.

Don't be ridiculous! The art room's the last place anyone would...

That's a ball gown. It's stunning!

Margaret, is it Dior?

It looks like Dior. No, but it is couture. Beautiful, isn't it? Can I?

No-one is going anywhere near it till the final fitting.

Look at those pearls. It is for a debutante. Who is she?

Not my place to tell, is it?

Now, grubby fingers off. Scoot.

Bet you anything it's the Right Honourable Camilla in West Tower.

Or Lady Sarah in upper sixth.

Just try one more time. You're so close.

I'll never be able to do it!

And now I have word blindness, what's the point?

Getting a diagnosis is a positive thing.

It means we can start to remedy it - that's why it's called remedial.

Well, I thought I wanted to be a doctor, but how can I?

Just look at my writing.

Doctors have famously terrible handwriting.

If anything, yours is too good.

Well, I'm awful at exams and I'll need to pass my school

certificate and then my university entrance.

Darrell Rivers, you can do anything that you put your mind to.

The important thing is not giving up. Follow your dreams.

I... I suppose, if you got through the remedial process

and got a place at university, I think I can, too.

Breakfast, as ordered.

Gwen, forgive me, but I don't think this is your best, as monitor.

Actually, I was hoping to have a word.

I...

There's a debutante in sixth form

and I think my skills would be better used on her.

I'm not going to force you to be my monitor. You're such a sport,

it's been an honour, but I think it's time to move on.

Shall I make you some more? Well, there's a position going.

Yes, please!

Would you like butter or jam? Both, thank you.

I love teaching art - it reveals so much about the artist's mind.

Nice detail to that gown, Gwendoline.

Were you a debutante, Miss Potts?

Goodness, no!

I went to teacher training college - marvellous opportunity.

I recommend further education to any girl.

The only further education I want is finishing school.

What's that?

It's where you learn to be a lady.

I can't think of anything worse than more schoolwork.

Well, you're lucky to have a choice.

Girls, fold up your easels and pack your things away.

We have the lower sixth coming in here next.

Why is Pamela's name on this one? She gave it to me.

We're discussing options for the upper sixth.

This is my old college.

Pamela would make a marvellous teacher.

I agree, Darrell.

But her plans have changed. Pamela's leaving.

She isn't staying for upper sixth form.

DOOR SHUTS

CREAKING

Mary Lou! Oh! Did you hear that?

Yes. I thought it might be you sleepwalking again.

Were you sleepwalking?

No. Whoever it was just went out the door. Come on! Let's go!

What if it's a ghost?

I'm not going anywhere. Fine.

Stay, then.

Be careful!

And pay your respects to Lady Jane, Irene,

just in case!

Right.

FOOTSTEPS

CREAKING

SCREAMS

Emily. What are you doing here? I... I was following you.

Why? I thought there must be a midnight feast.

Why else sneak around in the middle of the night? I heard footsteps.

They just disappeared. I think it's the ghost.

Don't tell me you still believe in all that nonsense.

And I was so hungry!

Evening, Lady Jane.

Miss Potts, if there was someone, let's say a friend of mine, who

started off in remedial but is doing well and showing lots of promise...

Who is this friend, who's tongue-tied,

who can't speak for themselves?

I think Pamela Worthington's family are having financial problems.

She shouldn't have to leave school because she can't afford it.

Darrell. I think I need to show you something.

Come with me.

Excuse me. Excuse me.

What a frock! Who is she?

Girls! This is not a spectacle! Everyone, please leave.

How come Darrell gets to stay? It's my understanding that helping

with the dress fitting falls within the remit of monitor.

That's why I'm here. I want to be the debutante's monitor.

Until today, I thought you were.

You're the debutante?

This is never going to stay put. We need a hair pin. Darrell.

Please could you pass me...? No! Don't worry, Darrell. I will.

I've got an antique one you could borrow - with a pearl.

It would match perfectly. That's very nice of you, Gwen,

but it's my monitor's job to fetch me things.

And a plain hair pin will do fine. Darrell.

You never said you were leaving this term.

The truth is, I only found out myself very recently.

I'd hoped to stay for upper sixth, but why prolong the inevitable?

This dress is to die for!

It really is magical.

What about Gosworth College?

What about it?

Well, I saw a clipping with your name on it.

It was a nice idea, but... But what? Why did you change your mind?

College can't be for me, not now, anyway.

But if you want it, you should fight for it.

You've always told me to follow my dream.

Maybe I don't want it. Maybe it's not my dream.

I don't believe that's true. I have responsibilities, Darrell,

to my family.

A debutante's job is to find a husband and provide an heir.

If she's a debutante, she's not poor.

So, she could stay on. She could go to college.

She's just choosing not to. Well, maybe she doesn't have a choice.

Maybe her family are making her. I'm not sure if she wants to.

All we really know for sure is that it's not what you want.

What do you mean?

She's been so good to you, you'd love for her to stay another year.

It's not about me. We know she was looking into teacher training,

we know she's a marvellous tutor. Yes.

Yes, but instead, she's stuck in a frilly frock,

practising her curtsies. I wish there was a way to help her.

She might be perfectly happy with it.

She might be a Gwen, not a Darrell, have you thought about that?

Put me through to Gosworth College, please.

Do you really believe it was the ghost we heard last night?

Debutante season is a very traumatic time for her. Why?

She was madly in love. She didn't want to have to marry someone else.

On the night of her first ball,

her highwayman crept in and tied a love knot to her door

to show that his heart was hers, no matter what.

That's actually quite a sweet story. I was expecting something creepy.

And now the ghost in her debutante dress returns at the same

time every year to look in vain at the love knot at her door.

Yes, that's the sort of thing I was expecting.

Wait.

What if there was a way to put the ghost

of Lady Jane Malory to rest forever?

How?

What, if this year, the love knot was there? What?

We tied it onto the door ourselves? Exactly.

That might be all she needs to find peace

and to stop haunting Malory Towers. Brilliant!

Do you think it might work?

It's worth a try. We'll do it tonight.

I've got a ribbon in my trunk.

Argh!

What are you doing in here?! I'm Pamela's monitor, remember?

She asked me to fetch her shoes.

What are you doing here? I...

I just wanted to feel it. Careful!

I'm not going to do anything to it.

Satin's so flattering to the skin.

It makes you glow. It's just a dress.

It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen!

I can't believe you don't want to try it on.

I do. I don't.

You saw what it did to Pamela.

One minute, she was a school girl and the next...

She's the same old Pamela.

She was a princess.

Don't you want to know how that feels?

To be grown up?

You wanted to see me, Miss Potts? Ah, yes, Pamela.

I thought we agreed you wouldn't be pursuing Gosworth,

given the circumstances. We did, I'm not.

Then why did the college call about your place on the open day?

My what?!

If you go, another young lady,

who perhaps desperately wants a place, may lose her chance.

I know that. I haven't booked... I spoke to the head directly.

She said you called this morning. I didn't, I swear to you.

Then who did?

Well?

It's...

I... I suppose it's pretty.

Rainbows are pretty. This dress is breathtaking!

Well, I don't know. It's just not very me.

That's the whole point. I shouldn't have put this on.

Quick, help me out of it before someone sees.

What on Earth?!

I'm sorry... Take it off!

Right now! I need that for tomorrow!

I trusted you, Darrell.

I'm deeply disappointed in both of you!

It was you, wasn't it, Darrell?

You called the college and booked me a place on the open day.

I'm sorry, I was only trying... How dare you!

Do you really think you know better than I do

what I want for my own life?

What's she talking about?

Just help me out of this. I need to apologise and explain.

Stop! Wait!

Now look what you've done!

But that was you!

It certainly was not!

It was both of us.

Now, we need to find a way to fix this before Pamela finds out.

Emily. Emily, we need you.

Quickly, your sewing kit.

Come on.

Where are we going? Doesn't matter.

Yes! Oh, no!

Please say you can fix it.

It's getting crumpled.

I'll put it on.

It'll be much easier and quicker that way.

Golly, it's beautiful.

Ooh. Ouch. Gwen?

Yes, yes, perfectly fine back here.

THUMPING

All right, now read this as we walk. What is it? A message to the ghost.

This better not be one of your pranks, Alicia.

How could you think that? I'm trying to help you.

Go on, before Matron comes back for lights out. Read.

THEY RECITE: Lady Jane Malory, hear us we implore,

find peace in the other world with your love forever more.

Now...do it like it you mean it.

Lady Jane Malory... Sh!

..hear us we implore,

find peace in the other world with your love forever more.

Forever more.

Maybe try singing it.

We're not singing it. We're not singing it.

It must be there somewhere.

Well, if it is, I'm not seeing it.

Isn't there anything you can do? Not without the last pearl.

DARRELL SIGHS

Wait. Gwen...

..didn't you say you had a pin with a pearl on it?

Yes.

A pearl like the one we're trying to find?

So?

A pearl, Gwen.

GWEN GIGGLES

If it matches, I can fix it.

Six, seven, eight.

SING TUNELESSLY

Lady Jane Malory Hear us we implore

Find peace in the other world

With your love forever more

Mo-o-o-o-o-o-re.

It's not working.

Maybe we got the wrong door.

Maybe we need more knots. Maybe...

Well, maybe...

..I made the whole thing up.

That's not funny, Alicia.

Why would she do such a thing?

To teach you two a valuable lesson.

Don't believe everything you're told.

You two are so gullible. DOOR CLOSES

What's that?

ALICIA SCREAMS It's the ghost!

Hold on.

Is that Gwen?

THEY CHUCKLE

Here.

It does match, it's perfect.

Oh, Gwen, could we use it, please, to save the day for Pamela?

It's very special to me.

You do realise I'm never going to get it back?

I know, but... Oh, all right.

I'll make the sacrifice. Oh, Gwen, I could hug you.

I'd rather you didn't. Hmph.

If it's all right with you two,

I have to go find Pamela to explain everything.

Yes, yes, off you go.

Everything's under control here.

It suits you.

Hm. Most dresses do.

Hello, Darrell.

I know I'm the last person you want to see right now,

but I just have to say I'm sorry for everything.

I shouldn't have interfered.

I'm sorry, I shouldn't have snapped at you like that.

I shouldn't have called the college.

I thought that's what you wanted

and I thought you were being forced to give up your dream.

Dreams can change.

There was a time when I thought I might like to teach,

but my mother was a debutante.

She met my father in her first season.

Well, you don't have to be one just because your mother was.

It's not just about being presented at court,

it's a whole tradition in high society.

What do you mean? I have no brothers.

The family estate will pass to me

and I'll need to run it with my husband by my side.

It's a way of life and it's one that's dying.

But do you want it?

I love that there are girls out there, you know,

breaking with tradition,

who'll make new paths for the rest of us to follow.

We can't all be pioneers, Darrell Rivers.

It's what I want -

for my family and myself.

I hope I don't let you down.

You won't.

I, I don't know what I'll do without you next year.

Miss Potts and Miss Grayling will get you through -

they know a lot more about word blindness than I do.

I wasn't talking about schoolwork.

Write to me next year, we can stay friends. Can we? I'd love that.

So, I heard a rumour about a spelling test.

It's late, but we might be able to squeeze in one last lesson.

Pass me that.

We're going to do the hard ones.

I can't believe you thought Gwen was the ghost.

Wait, Alicia thought Gwen was the ghost?

We'll tell you all about it later. No, you won't. Sh!

She's coming.

THEY ALL GASP

Have fun at the ball. I want to hear all about it tomorrow.

Good luck with your curtsey. Thank you.

You're going to be head girl one day.

CAR HORN HONKS Hurry, the driver's waiting.

All right, girls, back to class.

She's wearing my pearl, do you know?

Come on.

My pearl is going to see King George -

it's almost as if I'll be there.

All right, Your Royal Gwendoline, give it a rest.

CHATTERING

Oh, did you see her dress?

Girls, do you like surprises?

It's such a lovely day out, I thought perhaps we should have...

..a spelling test.

Pencils and papers out.

You've got this. I know.

Number one - appalling.

Miss Potts, could you put it in a sentence for context?

A doctor's handwriting can be appalling.