01x09 - The Letter

[bunniefuu]

Hello?

Who's there?

Margaret!

Margaret! Margaret!

Wakey-wakey, rise and shine!

The early bird catches the worm.

Yeah, but the early worm gets eaten.

Can't I stay in bed?

Interesting you see yourself as
the worm in this, Alicia.

My mother always said, "Slow but
steady wins the race."

"More haste, less speed."

Less talk, more action.

Now, attention.

I need you to help pack up Sally's
trunk and tidy her things away.

Oh, no! Is she going into hospital?

No, it's not that.

She's very much on the mend.

Then what's happened?

Sally's parents have decided
she'll be leaving the school.

Do you mean for good?

I'm afraid so. Why?

That's between Sally and her
parents.

Maybe her father went bankrupt?

Maybe they just miss her.

Maybe she wants to go.

She's never been terribly happy.

Poor Sally.

But I wrote to her mother.

It can't be because of the letter
I sent, can it?

Oh, no, what if this is all my
fault?

Matron! Has Margaret said? I saw
someone in the San last night.

What's this?

She went in there.

She must have been dreaming.

I wasn't! She was real!

A girl in a hood, like the portrait
of Lady Jane.

Maybe her fever's back.

I'm fine!

Open it, please!

Nothing.

There must be. I've been watching
the door.

Normal, and you had no morphine
last night.

You have to believe me.

Yes. My suspicion, Miss Sally Hope,

is that you are getting better.

You're bored,

and you're making things up

to scare your elders and amuse
yourself.

You are quite ready to get out of
bed, which is just as well,

because I have news for you,

your mother is on her way.

Mother's coming to visit me?

Not to visit, to take you away.

What?

Bricks, tricks...
What else rhymes with appendix?

I need to get to the San.

That doesn't rhyme at all.
Concentrate, Darrell!

This is for Sally's goodbye song.
Sh!

What is up with you today, Darrell?

Stand up and read aloud.

Maybe that will help focus you.

The Charge of the Light Brigade
by Tennyson.

"Half a league,
half a league,

"Half a league..."

"Half a league, half a league,."

"Half a league..."

So many leagues.
Yes, how many, Darrell?

I seem to remember there's only
three.

Sorry, may I...?

Sorry, the words are doing that
jumpy thing again.

That's the worst excuse
I've ever heard.

Are you quite all right, Darrell?

No, actually, my eyes are really
sore.

Maybe I should go to Matron
and have them checked.

Erm, they do look a bit swollen.

Very well, but hurry back.

Right, time's up, pens down.

Now, girls, as Sally is leaving,

Pamela will need a replacement
monitor.

Oh, Darrell would love to.

Oh, me, please. I'll do it!

Goodness, Gwendoline,

I've never seen you so enthusiastic.

What do you know about the role of
monitor?

I've had a lady's companion.

It's not quite the same.

I assure you, I know exactly what is
required!

Well, as you're so keen.

Oh, Darrell will be so disappointed.

She adores Pamela.

Oh, what a terrible shame.

Is that the main reason you wanted
the job - to get at Darrell?

How mean-minded of you, Alicia!

Why must you always think the worst
of people?

There's nothing wrong with your
eyes!

I can see the letters, Matron,
it's just sometimes they jump.

I suggest you stop fooling around
and wasting everyone's time.

Miss Potts will hear of this.

Now, back to class with you.

Have you heard what's happening?
Potty told us.

You didn't ask to leave, then? No!

Why would I do that?
I love it here.

It's my home.

Well, maybe your mother's worried
about you.

Why would she be?
She knows I'm getting better.

What if, perhaps, someone wrote to
her about other things?

Darrell, did you write to my mother?

What did you say?

Just that you swore you didn't have
a little sister

and you often seem unhappy.

Only when you bring her up!

So you DO have a sister?

And? Why do you care?

Because I don't understand why you
keep denying it.

Because!

Because...

everything changed when she was
born.

Things always change when
a new baby comes.

Not like this.

I was sent away to boarding school
the day she and Mother

arrived back from hospital.

They don't want me any more.

But that's terrible.

Still here? Off with you!

And you, up and dressed!

Matron... What now?

May I speak to Miss Grayling?

She's still away. Miss Potts, then?

She's not to be bothered unless
absolutely necessary!

What is it?

I don't want to go home.

Oh!

I don't want to leave Malory Towers.

My stars, girl, you do not get
a say.

When will you girls learn it is
your elders and betters

who know what's best?

Hello, Pamela!

Gwendoline Mary Lacey.

Yes. What can I do for you?

No, what can I do for you?

I'm your new monitor.

Anything you need?

Thanks, but I've got to finish
marking.

I could tidy the dressing table
in your room?

Actually, a cup of cocoa would be
lovely.

Right, of course.

Gwen, does Miss Potts ask you to
write out your homework in rough,

then copy it into neat? No.

That would take twice as long.

Why do you ask?

No reason.

Eurgh! Gwendoline!

I'm sorry!
I haven't made cocoa before.

Why didn't you say?

I...

I didn't want you to think
badly of me.

Honestly, Gwendoline, there's no
shame in not knowing something.

Only not wanting to learn.

Now, tidy this up, and yourself.

You look like a panda!

Oh!

Sally?

Sally?

Sally?

Sally Hope!

Here's a song for Sally, for later.

Oh!

Gwen, get up and help.

I can't, I'm exhausted!

Pamela's had me working like a
carthorse!

Oh, no! Have you actually had to do

something for someone else
for a change?

I signed up to be an assistant,
not a maid.

Poor old Gwenderella!

It's very selfish of Sally's
parents just to take her away.

Don't they know it's a disaster for
the lacrosse team?

Sally leaving is a disaster for me!

Girls, has anyone seen Sally Hope?

She's vanished from the San.

Maybe her mother turned up early.

She couldn't have gone far on her
own.

Jean, Darrell, MaryLou,

go search the grounds for me.

Yes, Matron.

You others, set up tea for Mrs Hope
in the common room.

She'll be here any minute.

Poor Matron, a patient escaped.

Would it help if I told Mrs Hope
for you? No! Not a word.

We don't want to worry her.

Alicia, this isn't what Matron
wanted us...

What's more important, finding Sally
or making tea?

Well, I'm searching, even if you're
not.

Irene, you go and get things ready
and look out for Sally on the way.

I'll get Alicia back.

Sally! Sally!

Alicia, come back in!

She would never have come this far!

What's that?

Uh!

Sally?

Gwen? Gwen!

What are you doing out here?

I'm looking for Sally, of course!

Just like you.

Gwen, stop hiding and give us some
help.

Inside, both of you, come on.

Eurgh!

I'm afraid Miss Grayling's
away this week.

Family reasons.

Oh, dear, I was hoping to speak
to her.

Are you all right?

I'm just a little faint.

It's been a long day's travel and I
didn't get much sleep last night.

Is the first time I've left
Baby Daphne.

It must be very stressful.

It is, and now this trouble with
Sally.

My daughter was in your care,
Miss Potts!

I expect to be informed immediately
of anything is wrong.

We telephoned the moment we realised
she was ill.

Not the appendicitis,
the unhappiness.

But...

Sally is thriving here.

That's not what this says.

Sally?

Sally!

Sally! Irene?

Oh. Hello, Miss Potts.

Hello...

This is Sally's mother.

Mrs Hope. Ah. How do you do?

Why were you calling Sally's name?

Because I'm looking for her.

She's in the San.

Oh, she's back.
Good show, who found her?

What are you talking about?

Nothing.

I'd best be off. Anyway...

Irene!

Sorry, but...

Matron didn't want to worry you.

What's happened?

Sally! Sally! Sally!

She couldn't have gone far.

She'll still be weak from the
operation and all those days in bed.

Right, um...

Hang on.

Wouldn't it make more sense
if we split up?

We'll cover more ground.

I'll circle the building, you take the
lacrosse pitch and you go to the pool.

Sounds good.
Shout like banshees if you find her.

"Sally is still sad even though her
appendix is better"

"and she still says
she doesn't have a little sister."

"I wondered if seeing you
might make a..."

Oh, sorry!

I was actually looking for you. Well,
thank you, but it'll have to wait.

I think I know why Darrell's timed
work looks so different to her prep.

It's the same!

In a way.

Oh, my goodness,


Darrell writes everything
out in rough first.

The first time round,
so much of it is back to front.

Pamela, you really are
an excellent remedial tutor.

Sally?

Sally?!

Everyone's looking for you!

I don't want to leave Malory Towers.

But, Sally, what can you do?

I can hide until Mother goes.

She won't leave without you.

She will.
She'll need to get back to baby.

Go back to the others
and pretend you haven't found me.

I can't, that's a downright lie.

You owe me, Darrell.

Your letter got me into all of this.

The girls have packed her
things away for you.

All that remains is to bring
the trunk downstairs.

I won't have to lie
if they can't find me either.

You are not to worry, Mrs Hope.

Sally is a sensible girl.

Thank you, Matron,

but I think I know my daughter
better than you and I am worried.

It's quite out of character.

Which is Sally's bed?

Ah, here are her friends.

Any sign of Sally, girls?

No.

Are any of you Darrell Rivers?

Certainly not!

I just thought she might know
where Sally's gone -

she seems to be her one particular
friend. Oh, no.

Darrell doesn't have one
particular friend.

Darrell wrote me a letter suggesting
Sally hasn't been very happy here.

Does that ring true to you?

Sally is a brilliant
lacrosse player.

She is one of the cleverest
in the class.

She was monitor to the head girl
and I'm sure

she could step back into that role
in a jiffy if you'd let her stay.

Gwendoline!

Be quiet.

But is she happy?

Thank you, girls.

If I could have a moment alone
with Mrs Hope, please.

Matron? Mm?

Miss Potts.

I think I've let
Sally down terribly.

You can't blame yourself for what
has happened. I do, though.

We should have come to Open Day.

The letter said Sally was upset
we didn't come.

We wanted to -
it was Sally who insisted we didn't.

Why would you do that?

Why would she do that?

We thought she was being
considerate,

giving me more time
with baby Daphne.

That would make sense,

especially as you've been so ill.

What?

But she doesn't know I was ill.

We never told her.
You didn't tell her?!

Why ever not?

We didn't want to worry her.

I was so weak,

I could barely look after myself,
let alone Daphne and Sally.

Poor Mother! I never knew.

We wanted her to have the
opportunity of a fine education.

I did not want my brilliant girl
trapped looking after me and Daphne.

Mrs Hope, we can only
make sense of our world

through the information we're given.

Sally may have had to create a story
to fit the only facts she had.

What do you mean?

When you and baby Daphne
returned home,

Sally was sent away.

She knows we love her.

Maybe she got herself in a muddle.

Oh, my goodness! Sally!

Mother.

Darrell! Oh, my word!

Is there anyone else under there?

This is my friend Darrell, Mother,

the one who wrote the letter.

I'm sorry if I caused any trouble.
I was only trying to help.

You have helped, Darrell, thank you.

Darrell...

a word.

I feel so silly, Mother.

I thought you didn't care about me,
but you've been ill.

I should have talked to you
and explained.

I thought you didn't want me
any more now you have Daphne.

All we wanted was the best for you.

I thought that was school, but of
course you're welcome back at home.

Really? Home?

You wouldn't send me
away to another school?

Ow!

I would happily take you home today,

but I think it wise
we get you quite better first.

It was a good impulse to alert
an adult to Sally's upset.

Keeping her problems and worries to
herself wasn't doing her any good.

We actually wondered if

you might have any problems or
worries of your own, Darrell.

Is there anything you'd like
to share with us?

Are you sure?

Jumping letters?

Dancing words?

Writing things out so many times

must take a lot of extra effort.

I get up early or I work in break.

You're covering up quite
how hard you have to work.

I'm just slow, that's just how I am.

Sorry.

Nothing to be sorry for.

We think you have a condition
some people call

word blindness.

You'll need to get a proper
diagnosis, of course, but...

Word blindness?

That sounds dreadful.

Not at all. It's just something that
needs the right kind of attention.

There's a reason
behind your problems.

But I don't want to have problems,
I want to be normal.

Having problems IS normal.

No-one gets through life
without them.

You, Sally,

all of us.

And overcoming them
can only make you stronger.

We can help you.

♪ Sally, Sally,
this is what you should do

♪ Sing this song
and you won't feel so blue

♪ You had a pain in your tummy,
it wasn't very funny

♪ But Darrell's dad fixed it
and now you're good as new

♪ Sally, Sally,
things have been quite tough

♪ You braved it out
until it got really rough... ♪

What in the devil's name?

♪ Darrell's dad fixed it
and now you're back with us. ♪

What is this caterwauling?

Sally, back to the San!

Get away with you!

Now! Out you go!

Come in, come in, don't worry.
Matron's gone.

Oh, you're cold. I'll go
get a blanket from the cupboard.

Listen here, Sally,
you just can't leave.

I won't let you.

The lacrosse team won't survive.

Nor will Pamela.
Gwen's a dreadful monitor.

She needs you back.

Oh...

my word.

It's the cloak.

I knew it. Oh, my five wits.

So there really is a ghost?

No, it's not a ghost.

Ghosts don't wear real clothes.

Someone is wandering
the school at night in this cloak.

Our ghost is an impostor.

Girls, I am at the end of my tether.

This is not a playground.

We won't be a minute, Matron. We
were just saying goodnight to Sally.

Oh, really?

And I thought you'd all
come up for a...

dose of cod liver oil.

Line up!

It's quite all right.
We were just on our way out.

So, what are you going to do?

Mother says she'd love to have me
back home.

That's wonderful. I'm happy for
you, but...

I will miss you.

No, you won't.

Yes, I will.

You really won't.

Mother also wants the best for me

and I know
and she knows that's Malory Towers.

Really?

Besides, they tell me

that the lacrosse team can't survive
without me

and you and I have got
some serious ghost detecting to do.