01x07 - The Open Day

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It's too low on the right side!

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

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.

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...

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.

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...

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!

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?

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!

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.

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

I beg your pardon?

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!

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.

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.
A*DS 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?

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.

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.

False start. Oh.

Goodness.

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

On your marks. Get set.

Come on, Darrell.

She did it!

Well done, Darrell.

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.

Don't you have a lovely voice?

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.

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.

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?

Look...

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

Well, there's a blessing at least.

Imagine all that extra work.

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!