04x09 - The Strong Heart

[bunniefuu]

Clarissa Carter? One for you.
Thank you.

And Connie and Ruth, a parcel.

Mother's ginger biscuits.

They're seriously scrummy.

Is that your pony?

Isn't he sweet?

Daddy sold him.

He sold Merrylegs.

Why would he do that?

Because...

...I'm not well enough to ride.

Oh, poor Merrylegs.

I didn't even get to say goodbye.

Gwen, do something.
You're Clarissa's mentor. She's upset.

Irene, voila!

Let's talk about the wedding.

Jette un oeil.

C'est tres excitant.

It might help when we talk later.

Oh, have you chosen my other bridesmaid?

Me?
Surely it must be me.

Sorry.
I already asked Jean.

Oh, Jean,

you and Irene will be perfect.

Excellent.

Clarissa's a bit more important.

It's ponies.

Bill, you go, you'll know what to
say.

Gwen's right.

I'd be in bits if it was Thunder.

Leave Clarissa to me.

Clarissa!

[CLARINET MUSIC IN DISTANCE]

No problem.
See you at teatime.

Oh, there you are.

Bridesmaids, hey?

I'm not sure I'd be any good.

Well, we can be useless together.

Can I see it?

It's my mother on their
wedding day.

She looks so happy.

We're smiling.

That's what Papa said, his sunbeam.

Do you remember her?

I was a baby when she died.

Does your papa ever talk about her?

Mm, not much.

Wish he did, though.

I wish I knew her better.

Must be a bit odd, going from
no mother

to Mam'zelle.

Quelle horreur!

It's fine, I want Papa to be happy.

But it's Mam'zelle.

It would have been odd with anyone.

It's always been Papa and me.

We like the same things.

What sort of things?

Music.

Er, eating together.

And when we're together,
we have this big meal every Friday

and I suppose we won't
once he's married.

Mam'zelle does eat, you know.

She's not Jewish.

We're not strict on it,
but it's tradition.

Every Friday at sunset we light
candles to welcome in the Sabbath

and my mother used to do it

and now it's me.

That sounds lovely.

Papa says it's his favourite time of
the week.

I really miss it.

So tell Mam'zelle.

Oh, you have to.

Can't be easy for her either,

and she'll want to understand
you two better.

Yeah, you're right.

Thank you.

[FRENCH ACCENT]
Do not worry, Irene.

It'll all be all right.

[THEY GIGGLE]

It sounds like her.

Poor thing, she's so upset.

You know, she has quite
a weak heart.

She must not overdo it.

Roger that, I'll keep an eye.

I'm very sorry to hear
about your pony, Clarissa.

It was quite a shock.

It's not very fair,

not giving her the chance
to even say goodbye.

They won't even know him!

What he likes,

what he dislikes.

Well, you could write and tell them.

I wish I could just see him
one last time.

Please.

[SHE SIGHS]

I'm afraid that's quite impossible.

Two lessons, then the beach.

Double lesson first, though.

Clarissa,
Susan told me about your pony.

I'm so sorry.

Thanks.

But I really do need to say goodbye.

It's cruel not to.

Maybe if your father asked?

Actually, um...

...Daddy sold him to Tivots farm

and he says so in his letter.

Tivots?
Isn't that just over the valley?

Yes, and there's a bus.

I could be there and back by...

...this afternoon.

Matron will never agree.

Well, she won't know.

You'll be at the beach for half day.

What?
Can I not tell her?

Felicity, I know it's a lot to ask,

but...

...will you cover for me?

[FELICITY SIGHS]

Please?

You'll be careful?

You're an absolute brick.

Girls.

We're waiting.

Yes, sir, Mr. Parker.

[GIGGLING]

Ah, Felicity, have you seen
Clarissa?

I want to check on her.

It was her turn to put fresh flowers
around, and she's forgotten.

I think perhaps losing her pony
has upset her greatly.

Er, honestly, don't worry.

She's sorting out the flowers now.

But while the rest
of you are at the beach?

Absolutely.

Clarissa loves flowers.

She says it's a treat

and she's not one for swimming.

You know, her heart and all that.

Best I find her.

See how she is.

I will find a seamstress
to make the dresses.

She will have ideas

and ideas for a pretty pattern too.

Yes, Mam'zelle, I actually think
you need a designer,

not a seamstress.

We can't all have designers,
Gwendoline.

My dress can be simple.

Papa wouldn't care.

You could wear a sack.

No, no, I really don't think
you should do that.

Don't worry, I will not wear a sack

and neither will my bridesmaids.

Well, come on,

I think Irene wants to talk to Mam'zelle.

Bonne idee.
Irene, I want to talk to you, too.

Yes, but I really did want
to show her this...

Um, the wedding is going to be
ever so special, Mam'zelle.

Oui, bien sur, mais...

Irene, this must be,

how you say?

Peculiar?

Juste un peu.

You and your father,
you have a special bond.

You know I never
want to change that.

Thank you.

I actually wanted to talk
to you about that.

Papa and I, we have things we like

and...
and...

Music, of course!

I have been thinking, too.

I have a French song
for the wedding.

Will you teach some girls?

It would mean so much.

Um, that's a lovely idea.

Bien, now I must find a seamstress.

Your dress - elle doit etre parfait!

Um...

[SHE SIGHS]

Oh.

[SHE PANTS]

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACH]

[SHE SNIFFS]

[SHE SNEEZES]

Merrylegs!

[HORSE NEIGHS]

Oh, I missed you, boy.

Look at you.

Need a good brush.

I've brought your treats.

Your favourite.

[BUCKETS CLANK]

[HORSE NEIGHS]

[HORSE GRUNTS]

Stop that.

[HORSE NEIGHS LOUDLY]

I said, stop it, you brute!

[WHIP CRACKS, HORSE WHINNIES]

Useless lump.

Don't you dare play up.

Merrylegs.

Sh.

I can't believe she hits you.

It's all right.

I won't let her do it again.

I won't.

[MATRON HUMS]

Oh, Felicity.

Back already?

I haven't found Clarissa yet.

Oh, I've just seen her.

She's finished the flowers.

She seemed pretty chipper.

Oh, well, that's good.

Tell her to come to see me,
would you?

Yes, of course,

although she's probably starving.

Could I tell her to come once
we've eaten?

Straight after, no later,
thank you.

Mm.

Is that Merrylegs?

You went out of bounds

and you shouldn't be riding,
you know that.

I couldn't leave him.

I couldn't.

Honestly, you should have seen.

So they just let you take him?

No, and I don't care.

You just took him?
Clarissa!

We'll hide him, we have to.

You will do no such thing.

Look at the state of you.

You promised me you would
never ride.

I'm sorry, Matron, but he was...

There's no but, Clarissa.

Felicity was covering for you,
I suppose.

Put Merrylegs in the stall, Bill.

Give him some feed and water.

[HORSE GRUNTS]

Come here.

You take a few deep breaths.

I'm fine.

Nothing about this is fine.

You are under strict orders
not to ride.

She was hurting him.

His owner, she hits him.

You actually saw that?

I heard it.

I'm not making it up!

You have left school
without permission

and you have stolen a pony.

Merrylegs is mine.

He's my pony.

Not any longer.

Clarissa, this is serious,
what you've done.

This is theft!

I'm sorry.

Sit down.

[SHE SIGHS]

[GIRLS SING]
♪ A la claire fontaine ♪

♪ M'en allant promener ♪

♪ J'ai trouve l'eau si belle ♪

♪ Que je m'y suis baignee ♪

♪ Il y a longtemps que je t'aime ♪

♪ Jamais je ne t'oublierai. ♪

Mam'zelle has magnificent taste.

You don't like it, do you?

It's pretty.

It's just...

Well, it's not very Papa.

You should say something.
Music's your father's life

and it's his wedding too.
You're right.

It is his wedding too.

I have an idea.

Clarissa.

Do you think Matron
is calling the police?

I hope so.

Then I can tell them what that
beastly woman is doing to Merrylegs.

Your eyes look a little sore.

It's because I'm tired

and it's happened before.

It's happened before?

Does Matron know?
No.

Don't tell her.

Felicity, it'll just make
everything worse.

But you can't ignore it.

Right now, Merrylegs is what
matters.

Clarissa!

You rest.

I'll try and figure out
what Matron's up to.

I'll be straight back.

That song is so lovely, Irene.

Really, it's just joyous.

Yes, but no-one will understand
the words.

Papa will.
It will mean a lot to him.

Parfait!
Then I must hear it.

We're not quite ready yet.

Juste un peu.

Irene!

Um... five, six, seven, eight.

♪ Hevenu shalom aleichem ♪

♪ Hevenu shalom aleichem ♪

♪ Hevenu shalom aleichem ♪

♪ Hevenu shalom, shalom
Shalom aleichem. ♪

Thank you, girls.

That was...

...truly beautiful.

Um, I should explain.

It is a favourite of your father's?

And we sing it on Fridays,
on Shabbat.

We always celebrate it if
we're together and we sing the song

and my mother taught it to him,
so...

That really is special.

Your mother's song.

I understand, Irene.

That wasn't very tactful of me,
was it?

Hmm, I suppose you've come to
apologise.

Um, yes.

Sorry.

About?

The flower nonsense?

Covering for Clarissa like that?

Yes, I'm sorry.

I really am, honestly.

But, Matron, I'm worried about her.

Why?
Is she feeling worse?

Well, no...

She's asked me not to tell you,
so I can't really.

But I was thinking I could phone my father.
Did you know he's a doctor?

You tell me what this is about right now
or I'll take you straight to Miss Grayling.

Would you like me to count
down from ten?

[DOOR OPENS]

I'm so sorry, Clarissa.

She made me tell her.

She certainly did.
You two need your heads knocked together.

Let's take a look at you.

Mm, a rash?

Mm, yes.

Is your neck sore as well?

It doesn't matter.

Stop talking nonsense, child.

Keeping symptoms from me
could be dangerous.

I'm taking you straight
to the san.

We'll talk when I get back
from the stables.

What's happening at the stables?

Turns out you are a lucky girl.

I've spoken to Mrs. Crossley.

She's agreed not to call the police.

Oh, but what does she say

about being so cruel?

Oh, no, she explained all of that.

She was just swatting a fly,

and Merrylegs got caught
in the crossfire.

That is not true.

You said yourself you did not
see her hit him.

Yes, but I heard her.

She's a brute.

Clarissa wouldn't lie about it.

That is enough.

Mrs. Crossley is coming to take
Merrylegs, and then it's done.

You can't send him away, you can't!

Clarissa,

you stole from her.

It's a good thing
she's so understanding.

Come along.

Mrs. Crossley is waiting.

Look at this.

Spotted it when I was grooming him.

Well, he could have knocked
into something.

But what if Clarissa is right?

Matron.

Thanks for calling.

What a to-do, eh?

[HORSE WHINNIES]

Ah, pleased to see me, old friend?
Get away from him!

Leave him alone!

Clarissa, what did I just tell you?
Bill, take her back.

I'm pretty sure she won't go.

You should take him now.

No, I won't let you take him,
I won't!

Dear, oh, dear, quite the hysteric.

No, she's not.
I heard you hit him.

Such an imagination.

I did explain to Matron,

swatting a fly and poor Merrylegs
just got in the way.

That's not what's happened.
You did it on purpose.

Clarissa, that is enough.
Bill...

No!

Why won't you listen?

Being so mean.
Come on.

Back to school, please.

Come on, beast!

[SLAP]

Had enough yet?
Merrylegs!

Now, come on.
What are you doing? Come here!

Get away from him, you bully!

Get off, you stupid girl.

You step away from that pony!

You heard her.

No. I meant you.

Yes, you, give me that rope now.

He's mine and he needs to learn.

Not like that, he doesn't.

There is never any reason to hit.

Clarissa,

take Merrylegs back to the stall.

Bill, help her.

I'm going to have a few words
with Mrs. Crossley here.

A heart-to-heart.

Really well done.

Don't worry about Clarissa.

I'll make sure I'm there for her.

Did you hear that, Gwen?

I know you were worried.

Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, Jean.

Gwen, you were right.
Bill was the best person to help Clarissa,

which means you're no longer her mentor.

Clarissa's nobility.

She needs someone who understands
her class,

not some horse nut.

Decision made, I'm afraid.

Irene, Mam'zelle asked me
to give you this.

She wants us to meet tonight.

All of us, you seniors too.

Is that all it says?

I wonder why.

Do you think your father
will be cross?

He adores animals.

I think he'd be more upset.

Well, Merrylegs is safe.

You did that.

- MATRON: Thank you.
- [PHONE RECEIVER CLICKS]

Right, then,

telephone calls are done.

Most importantly, I have spoken
to the doctor.

Oh, hiding symptoms like that.

You first formers
will be the death of me.

But it doesn't matter.

It absolutely does.

And the doctor agrees with me.

Clarissa, irritation around the
eyes,

and earlier I felt a swelling
in the neck.

These are all vital clues.

They indicate Graves' disease.

What's that?

Well, the doctor will check
on you, but if it is Graves,

it has been causing all your other
symptoms as well

and you do not have a weak heart
at all.

Is, er, Graves' disease serious?

Well, now, it affects
the immune system,

which is the body's natural defence.

But it is treatable.

I'll explain later,
but first things first.

Clarissa, put on your dressing gown.

Felicity, it's time for you to go
back to the dorm. Say your goodbyes.

Bye, Clarissa.
See you in the morning.

Well, hurry up.

Um...

...where are we going?
You'll see.

Come in, girls.

Irene, do you know what this is?

Is it for Shabbat?

What's Shabbat?
It's the Jewish Sabbath.

The day of rest?

But it's already the evening.

This is just the start
and then it runs through Saturday.

Irene, I want you to teach me
your traditions.

And when we've eaten, perhaps
you can all teach me that song, too.

You don't want the French one?

Irene's is so much better.

Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu,
Melekh ha'olam

asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav
v'tzivanu

l'hadlik ner shel Shabbat.

What now?

Now eat.

Thank you.

This is so lovely.

I agree, it is lovely.

You, your father and I,

I hope we will have many
more Shabbat meals together.

[THEY GIGGLE]

Allez, allez.

Come see, he's all settled.

Fresh straw, water, feed.

Aren't you a lucky boy?

Welcome to Merrylegs' new home.

First formers aren't allowed horses.

Well, your father
can be very persuasive.

He spoke to Miss Grayling and

she has made an exception
on health grounds.

Merrylegs will help you get
your strength back.

But I'm not allowed to ride.

That was when we were worried
about your heart.

If it really is Graves,

and only once your treatment is sorted...

...you two can have a fine old gallop.

I can ride Merrylegs?
Really?

If the doctor
confirms his diagnosis, yes.

That's brilliant!

No more hiding anything from me,
Clarissa,

and no riding until I say
you are ready.

Even then, only with Bill's say-so.

Is that understood?

Absolutely, yes.

Darrell's made me your mentor.

When Matron is sure you're strong
enough, we could ride together.

We'd love that,
wouldn't we, Merrylegs?

Thank you, Matron.

Thank you so much.

[HORSE SNORTS]