01x02 - V.C. Andrews' Pearl in the Mist

[bunniefuu]

♪♪

Beau!

You know I have to leave in a minute.

Fifteen seconds is all I need.

God, am I going to miss you.

It's k*lling me.

So don't go, Ruby.

Stay here with me.

PIERRE: Ruby!

Uh, I'll be down in a second, Daddy.

[WHISPERS] You go out the back.

Ten seconds?

What, am I supposed to roll myself

down the front steps?

Gisselle, my love.

Try to keep an open mind, my darling.

I'm sure you'll grow to love it there.

I'm sure I won't.

And you'll have Ruby to help you along.

Did you say that to make me feel better?

PIERRE: There she is.

- So, Gisselle's already in the car.

- Mm-hm.

Are you nervous?

I'm excited.

Going to a school like Greenwood

was something I never even

dared dream about

when I lived in the Bayou.

If you weren't going

to the greatest school

in Louisiana,

I wouldn't let you leave here.

Shall we?

We shall.

Goodbye, sweetheart.

Chin up.

Don't get too used to me

being gone, Mother.

Goodbye, Daphne.

Good luck, Ruby.

You went to a voodoo queen

to put me in a wheelchair.

You couldn't pay her a visit

to get us out of this?

[SIGHS] Will you ever

forgive me for that?

Yeah.

When I can walk again, so never.

[ENGINE RUMBLES]

Thank god, they're gone.

♪♪

RUBY: What do you think?

GISSELLE: I think if boredom is a major,

I'm gonna get straight As.

What are we, in the army?

It looks completely

comfortable, Gisselle.

Yeah, maybe to you.

You grew up sleeping in the mud.

Welcome ladies.

I'm Mrs. Penny. I'm your dorm mother.

You must be the Dumas sisters.

What gave it away?

You can pick any room you like

since you're the first here.

I'm not rooming with her.

I'll bunk with literally anyone else.

Excuse me.

What's your name, girl?

Uh, Samantha.

You and me are going to be roomies.

Can you grab my bags for me?

[BAGS THUMP HEAVILY]

I'm handicapped.

Good afternoon, girls.

I'm Mrs. Penny.

You'll want to hurry

and get yourselves settled.

We have an assembly at 1:00.

Your uniforms will be here shortly.

Uniforms?!

I would like to welcome

all of you to Greenwood.

You are joining a small elite

group of scholars and athletes,

and we expect you to make us proud.

At Greenwood, unerring

respect for your teachers

and staff is expected without fail.

We do not have time for,

nor will we tolerate insubordination

inside or outside class.

In addition, the possession

of any alcoholic beverage

or any drug on campus

will result in your immediate expulsion.

Loud music, smoking,

or any act of vandalism,

carries severe punishments

and a high number of demerits.

In other words, no fun

at all in this dump.

[STICK SLAMS]

I will have quiet when I'm speaking.

However, your school experience

is not all books and homework.

We have a wide variety of campus

activities for you all to enjoy,

and we have several

supervised social events

with the Willowdale School for Boys.

Sounds like a real orgy.

Can't wait.

- Shh!

- It is incumbent upon

each one of you to remember

that you are all Greenwood girls now,

and Greenwood girls are

the elite of the elite.

[APPLAUSE]

All you have to do is

just let a boy think

he's got a sliver of a chance,

and he's basically your sl*ve.

Even if you just let them go to second,

you'll never get rid of them.

[LAUGHING]

Which, um, which one is second?

Goodnight.

What, am I trapped in here

with a pack of virgins?

Hi, I'm Abby.

I'm not really sure where

I'm supposed to go.

Hi.

I'm Ruby, and the only bed

left is in with me,

so I guess we're roomies.

Here, let me help you.

Wow, you really got great

colour this summer.

I never even got to the beach once.

I guess I tan easily.

Lucky.

I burn easily.

Redhead, you know. Come on.

It's my first year here too.

Why'd you pick Greenwood

for your senior year?

Well, my parents didn't like the

school I was supposed to go to.

Oh, yeah?

What was the matter with it?

Oh, there was just a whole "thing".

Who's Prince Charming?

My boyfriend Beau.

Talk about a dreamboat.

[GIGGLES]

He was my dreamboat before

Ruby stole him from me.

Nice sister, huh?

It wasn't like that.

[WHISPERS] I'll tell you later.

[SIGHS]

When a non-artist looks

at our subject here,

all they see is an old boot.

It is an old boot, but

you need to do more

than just render what's in front of you.

You've got to breathe life into it.

It's got a story to tell,

and that's what's got to come

through in your drawings.

Really great work here, Ruby.

Although I'm not surprised.

You know your father made a

point of being in touch with me.

He said that your work hangs

in a New Orleans gallery.

Oh, I didn't know he spoke with you.

I wasn't sure if he was

just a proud poppa

or if we had a real prodigy

on our hands.

It looks like the latter.

Thanks.

Excuse me, Miss Stevens.

Mrs. Ironwood sent me for Ruby Dumas.

I want you to know, Ruby,

that I have been made

familiar with your history.

I'm sorry, my history?

Your mother Daphne and I

had a very long telephone conversation.

You spent most of your life in the Bayou

with the Cajun people, I'm told.

Daphne does like to say things

about me, doesn't she?

You are suggesting she spoke falsely?

I grew up on the Bayou, yes.

I want you to know from the outset

that I will be watching you more closely

than I will the other students.

[LAUGHS QUIETLY]

You find that funny?

I find it curious.

I suppose I'd like to know

what I've done to deserve

this extra scrutiny.

Whether you deserve it is my decision.

I've had many dealings

with swamp people,

and I never met one that I could trust.

I know your kind, your type.

Your bad behaviour is insidious.

You learn quickly who

is the most vulnerable,

who has certain weaknesses, and

you play to those weaknesses.

But I do believe people

can change their behaviour,

if not their nature.

So it is your behaviour

I will be judging.

You are dismissed.

[SOBBING QUIETLY]

Ruby.

What's the matter?

[SNIFFS]

Careful Abby.

You're in the presence

of a swamp creature.

I wouldn't have guessed.

Oh, yes.

I am a Cajun from the Bayou.

Come on.

Walk with me.

What happened?

I thought when I came here,

people would stop looking

at me like an outsider.

But it's the same thing wherever I go.

It's it's like I'm branded.

I know that feeling.

The reason I enrolled here

instead of the other school

is because they found out

something about me.

I'm what some people call half-breed.

I'm part n*gro.

It is 1962, for god's sakes.

Why do people still care

about nonsense like that?

Well, they do.

Anyway, my parents sent me here,

hoping that having me immersed

with the creme de la creme,

it would rub off?

No one would suspect that

a Greenwood girl was impure.

And Greenwood shall wash us both clean.

God, have mercy.

[LAUGHS]

What are you two doing down here?

You know you can't be here after dark.

So go on and get back up to the school.

You're the groundskeeper or something.

Yeah.

I'm a lot of things around here.

- What's your name?

- Buck.

But it'll be "Mud" if I get seen

with a student after dark.

Get a look at those muscles?

[LAUGHING]

MRS. PENNY: Mrs. Clairborne's

family started the school,

and she's still the largest donor.

You told us this twice back

at the dorms, Mrs. Penny.

And I may tell you once more, dear.

It's very important you're all

on your best behavior.

We are lucky to be invited

to her home for tea.

RUBY: Hi.

Good afternoon, ladies.

I'm so pleased to make

your acquaintance.

Oh, Mrs. Clairborne.

Thank you, as always, for inviting us

into your marvellous home.

Oh, it's my pleasure.

Please everyone, sit.

I like to make a point of

meeting all the new students.

Your home is just lovely,

Mrs. Clairborne.

Thank you.

Abigail, is it?

Well

Let's get to know each other, shall we?

I should probably start

with the Dumas twins,

so I know one from the other.

I'm the crippled one, hmm.

Ah. I hope only physically.

You must be Ruby then, yes?

Yes ma'am.

I understand you're

the artist of the two.

Yes.

I paint and draw.

Then you must be familiar

with Renoir and Van Gogh.

Of course.

Two of my absolute favourites.

I have one of each hanging in my foyer.

You don't mean originals?

My dear, I only have originals.

Please, go have a look if you like.

Thank you.

♪♪

- [BEAUTIFUL PIANO MUSIC]

- ♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

Who's there?

Oh, I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to disturb you.

I just heard you playing.

And who are you?

My name is Ruby Dumas.

I'm a student at Greenwood.

Do you play?

No.

I paint.

Well, ladies don't paint.

You'll learn that from my Aunt Martha,

or as you know her, Mrs. Ironwood.

- We've met.

- Yeah.

If you even have an ounce

of independent spirit,

she'll take care to knock it

right out of you.

I guess we'll see about that.

You're from the Bayou.

How can you tell?

You have a little bit of an accent,

even though you try to cover it.

[SIGHS]

My ears miss nothing.

They make up for my eyes,

which obviously see nothing.

I'm very sorry.

Yeah.

You know, I get that a lot.

You should probably run back

to Grandmother's tea

before she thinks you're sneaking off

stealing ashtrays or something.

It was nice to meet you, Mr

Louis.

Louis Clairborne.

You as well, Ruby Dumas.

- [BEAUTIFUL PIANO PLAYING]

- ♪♪

♪♪

[SIGHS]

That was so boring I wanted

to wheel myself out a window.

I thought it was very interesting.

That's because you were

gone half the time.

You didn't have to listen

to that lady go on

about her days as a Greenwood girl.

I think it was nice how much

she misses her school days.

Actually, I ended up

meeting her grandson,

Louis Clairborne.

You what?!

He's blind, but you should

hear him play the piano.

Ruby, you had no right to wander off

in Mrs. Clairborne's house like that.

I wasn't.

I just peeked in to see who was playing.

Oh, dear! Oh, dear!

Mrs. Clairborne hasn't allowed people

in that side of the house

since the tragedy.

What tragedy?

Her daughter and son-in-law died.

That's all I'll say about it.

Were they m*rder*d or something?

I am not discussing it.

Well, there you have it.

They were m*rder*d.

- I'm psychic.

- Gisselle, that's enough.

Ruby, I'm very disappointed in you.

I'm sorry. I didn't know.

What happened is the

Clairborne's business,

and not for us to gossip about.

That poor boy Louis was left an

orphan and blind from his grief.

Isn't that gossip, Mrs. Penny?

♪♪

How does someone go blind from grief?

Maybe it's psychological?

I guess.

So was he good looking?

Very.

[GIGGLES]

Good looking and mysteriously blind.

I'm dying to know

what happened up there.

Well you won't get it out of Mrs. Penny.

The keeper of the Clairborne secrets.

[LAUGHS]

I can do without knowing theirs

as long as they don't find out mine.

GISSELLE: Oh?

And what is your secret, Abby?

Don't you have something better to do

than eavesdrop, Gisselle?

I wasn't.

I was just coming in to tell you

I got the dirt on this

Clairborne tragedy.

You going to tell us, or what?

Well, I'll tell you my secret

when Abby tells hers.

Fine. Never mind.

You might as well tell me, Abby.

If you don't, I'll just

make something up.

[SIGHS]

Okay. I'll tell you.

Abby.

You tell her, you're telling everybody.

Don't say a word.

[SIGHS]

The reason I transferred to this school

is because I got kicked

out of my last one.

I got caught with a boy.

Nude, right?

It didn't go that far.

But he was in my room and I got caught.

You happy?

Thrilled.

All right. Gisselle. So now you know.

What did you learn about Louis?

[SIGHS]

Maybe I'll tell you

when Abby learns to be a better liar.

That's nice.

One thing I've learned to do is,

um, cheat a little bit.

See here on my tree how I've

added those subtle highlights

to sort of capture the sun

a little bit better?

Yeah.

I didn't get that on mine.

I will commence cheating.

[LAUGHS]

We're studying landscapes today, Ruby.

Not the human form.

[CHUCKLES]

This is Saturday.

I'm allowed to daydream

when I'm not in class.

I thought you had a fella back home.

Who I'm totally faithful to.

Besides, Buck's way too old for me.

But not for you.

[SIGHS]

He is not my type.

That's not your type?

RUBY: My god, what is?

[LAUGHS]

Not that.

Okay.

Well, I know a beautiful blind

pianist I can introduce you to.

You met Louis Clairborne?

Mm-hmm.

What a sordid bit of

business all that was.

Hold on now, you know what happened?

Of course. Everybody does.

Gossip is the faculty sport.

[CLEARS THROAT]

I'm waiting.

Okay.

Louis Clairborne's mother

was having an affair

with a younger man.

A much younger man.

He was her dirty little secret.

She would sneak him into

the house while he was at work.

But it didn't remain a secret

from Louis' father for long.

Get out!

You cheating wh*re!

You no good tr*mp!

[CRYING] No! No!

After a while, he convinced

her all was forgiven.

But that was far from the case.

He wanted her out of his life, for good.

[MUFFLED SCREAMING]

[STRUGGLING GRUNTS]

Neither one of them was going

to be leaving that bedroom alive

early that morning.

[OUT OF BREATH] I love you.

Of course he knew he was

also sealing his own fate.

[g*n CLICKS]

[g*nsh*t]

What he never knew

was there was a witness.

Louis went into a coma from the shock,

and he didn't come out of it

until weeks later.

And when he did, he was

completely blind.

Oh, Miss Stevens. That's horrible.

You wanted to know.

Now I kind of wish I didn't.

Did you get a look at the

clocks up at the house?

Yes, I did.

They're all set to 5:02.

The time of the killings.

Ruby!

I've got exciting news.

You, my dear, have been invited

back to the Clairborne Mansion

for dinner tonight!

That's big news?

Why and how are they inviting her?

I'm the interesting one.

Ruby, my goodness,

hurry and get yourself ready!

♪♪

You do like to snoop, don't you?

Oh. I'm I'm sorry.

I was just curious.

Well please, in the future

look with your eyes

- and not your hands.

- [CHUCKLES]

Oh, the irony.

Good to see you again, Louis.

And thank you so much for

the invitation Mrs. Clairborne.

Actually, the invitation was mine, Ruby.

You see I'm afraid I was rather

rude to you the other day,

and I'm sorry.

I would like to demonstrate to you

that I'm not such a bad fellow

for a blind recluse.

I'm smiling, by the way.

Good.

So Ruby, tell me about the Bayou.

[WHISPERS] Thank you.

I don't know.

I've just always found it

so peaceful there.

I actually visited the Bayou

when I was much younger.

I can still see it in my mind,

it's very beautiful and

mysterious as I recall.

Louis?

Hmm?

Do they think there's any hope

that you might see again?

You mean, is the problem

in my eyes or in my brain?

I don't think this is suitable

dinner table discussion.

They call my condition

an emotional trauma.

In other words, my eyes

are completely healthy.

I'm sorry.

I only ask because my grandmère

was a healer in the Bayou.

She fixed people who everyone

else thought were beyond hope.

With respect dear,

I don't think witch doctor

con artists are the answer.

Also with respect, ma'am,

my grandmère never conned

a penny out of anyone.

She never accepted

payment for her gifts.

Hmm.

And how much money have we spent

on so-called "respectable

doctors", grandmother?

Ones who haven't restored my

eyesight by a single rod or cone

in all these years?

Yes, but who are the

charlatans, I wonder?

- [PIANO PLAYING "CHOPSTICKS"]

- ♪♪

Transports the soul, doesn't it?

[LAUGHS]

Okay.

- [PLAYING "CLAIRE DE LUNE" BEAUTIFULLY]

- ♪♪

♪♪

That is so beautiful.

- [PLAYING FALSE NOTES]

- ♪♪

What's the matter?

Sorry, sorry.

It's actually, uh, just you

leaning against me like that

for some reason, um

Oh.

I didn't realize.

I was just so taken with your playing.

This may sound a little bit ridiculous,

but I've actually never been

alone with a young woman before.

Not all that scary, am I?

I wonder, Ruby.

Um, maybe you'd allow me

to touch your face.

You you could absolutely say no.

Uh, sure you can.

As long as you don't poke me in the eye.

Okay.

♪♪

You look so nervous. Don't be.

So.

What do you think?

Marilyn Monroe?

I wouldn't know.

- Oh, of course not.

- Yeah.

What am I thinking?

I mean, of course I've never

even kissed a girl, so.

You ever heard anything so pathetic?

Sorry, I shouldn't have brought that up.

Louis, it's okay.

I mean, that's an easy thing to fix.

Really?

You would kiss me?

Sure.

I mean, it's really not such a big deal.

And, and if I can help you

Okay.

Three, two, one.

[LAUGHS]

I'm sorry, what's funny?

Nothing.

It's just that you need

to relax a little more.

Don't be so stiff.

I shouldn't have invited you here.

Louis, I'm not laughing at you, really.

We can try it again, okay?

She returns.

How was the big dinner?

How familiar are you with

the works of Franz Kafka?

That bizarre, huh?

There's a lot more to tell.

But not here.

♪♪

♪♪

[READING] "Dear girls.

You can't know how much

your mother and I miss you,

and how much we're looking

forward to Christmas

when we'll all be together again.

I hope you haven't been too homesick,

and that you're making lots

of friends at Greenwood".

Ruby!

[GIGGLES EXCITEDLY]

GISSELLE: Beau!

Gisselle.

Good to see you.

No kiss hello?

Is that the best you can do?

[CHUCKLES]

So, did Ruby tell you about

her big date the other night?

It was scandalous.

I had dinner with some

big school donors.

A blind man and his grandmother.

GISSELLE: A good looking,

suave blind man.

And she looked awfully guilty

when she got back.

She's right, Beau.

I don't know how to tell you this,

but I let the blind man

touch my whole face.

We're through, Ruby!

Oh!

Nice try, Gisselle.

There's a big school

dance coming up too.

There's a whole school

full of boys going to be there.

Well, they can touch your

face, but no dancing.

You guys are gross together.

Let's go Samantha, god.

♪♪

Oh god, Beau. I've missed you so much.

Me too.

Oh, I've missed your touch.

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

What's the matter?

Nothing.

I'm just getting a little overheated,

and I kind of already know

where this is going.

Or rather, where this isn't going.

Maybe we should just head back.

♪♪

I think we've waited

long enough, don't you?

Abby!

We want you to know we all took a vote,

and we've decided that

you're the prettiest girl in the school.

So we think you have the best chance

of being voted queen of the fall mixer.

Um, thank you?

Queen of the mixer?

Is that something they do?

We're planning on making it a tradition.

Samantha?

This represents our school colours.

We'd hoped you'd wear it to do us proud.

Thanks guys.

[CLEARS THROAT]

Well, it's not ticking.

It'll look pretty. Come here.

Wow.

You two look so gorgeous.

You clean up pretty well

yourself, Miss Stevens.

I hardly ever see you

without a smock on.

Well, I'm chaperoning,

so I'll be the one to tap

you on the shoulder

- if you're dancing too close.

- Oh.

[GIGGLING]

You two be sure to give

all the other girls

a chance with the boys tonight, huh?

[LAUGHS]

- ['60S ROCK MUSIC]

- ♪♪

All right, everyone.

We are happy to welcome

the boys of Willowdale Prep.

[APPLAUSE]

Now, I want to remind you all

to behave appropriately.

Perfect ladies and perfect gentlemen.

Yes, ma'am.

Have fun!

- [ROCK MUSIC]

- ♪♪

Oh, would you look at that.

My grandmother's favourite song.

♪♪

[WHISPERS] Is he coming over to me?

[WHISPERS] Don't be nervous,

he's not that good looking.

♪♪

Go.

♪♪

♪♪

- [SLOW DANCE MUSIC]

- ♪♪

Thank you.

I'm going to take a break

and go powder my nose.

♪♪

Hi Buck.

Don't tell me there's some rule

you can't talk to students here too.

Why do you want to talk to me?

All I said was hi.

I was brought up to be polite.

I'm sorry.

I'm not trying to be rude,

but you understand that this

is an all-girls school

and the rules are pretty

strict around here?

Yeah, well between you and me,

I could do without one

or two of their rules.

I guess I could too.

Until next time, Buck.

♪♪

What's going on?

I'm sure I don't know what you mean.

There's no way that none of the

boys want to dance with Abby.

They are avoiding her like

she's a nest of hornets.

Is that so?

What are you up to?

Why do you assume I have

anything to do with it?

Maybe the boys just get a sense

that Abby's a little off,

if you know what I mean.

♪♪

Time to announce the queen.

♪♪

Okay, everybody.

This is the big moment.

In this envelope I have the name

of the queen of the fall mixer.

Wow, everybody.

Looks like history's about

to be made tonight.

Our very first queen is part n*gro.

Let's give a big hand

to Miss Abby Tyler.

[CLAPPING POINTEDLY]

Well Abby, aren't you going

to give us a speech?

[EXHALES]

I'd like to tell you

what an honour it is to be

chosen your queen.

But clearly honour is not a word

any of you are remotely familiar with.

Spoken like a true half-breed.

GISSELLE: Here we go!

I knew you wouldn't be able to

hide your true colours for long.

Putting a hand on you

is beneath me, Gisselle.

Not me!

You dummies have already

chosen your queen.

She's right there,

crawling on the ground.

All hail

You are on thin ice

as it is, Miss Dumas.

Do not damage yourself further

for the sake of a mixed blood

that does not belong here.

[SCREAMS] Help me!

[CRIES]

Gisselle went too far this time.

It isn't just Gisselle.

It's the entire institution, Ruby.

[SIGHS]

You're really going to leave

me here all by myself?

You know they're going

to kick me out anyway.

This way at least I get to

do it on my own terms.

[SOBS]

I'll always be your friend, Abby.

I'll always be yours, Ruby.

♪♪

♪♪

I think maybe you've forgotten

what's important

about being a Greenwood girl, Ruby.

I'll tell you what isn't important.

Money. Lineage. Skin colour.

Blood.

All the things you idiots

put so much value on.

Just tell me how you

found out about Abby.

She should thank me.

I did her a favour.

I'd give anything to get kicked

out of this crappy school.

Besides, what makes you think

I'm speaking to you

after what you did to me?

Right.

All those chivalrous boys

rushing to the aide of

poor helpless Gisselle.

You loved it.

They do all love me so, don't they?

[GIRLS LAUGHING]

And if little Abby didn't

want me to read her letters,

she shouldn't have left them

unattended in a box

behind her underwear

with a lock that was

ridiculously easy to open.

But I guess you know

all about lock and key,

since you're basically

a prisoner in this dorm

for what you did to me.

Just kills me when I think about it.

I'm sure it kills you to think, period.

[GIRLS LAUGH]

You take that back!

Ruby, I've just got a message.

You've been invited back up

to the mansion.

Why the hell does she always

get to go up to that nice house?

Ruby's on lockdown anyway.

Tell them she can't go.

I'm afraid the Clairbornes

have the authority to override

Mrs. Ironwood's punishments.

Louis Clairborne sent for her.

What if I don't want to

see Louis, Mrs. Penny?

I'm overriding the override.

Ruby.

It's just that Louis Clairborne

says he's regaining his eyesight.

He says he thinks it's because of you.

♪♪

Hello, Louis.

Ruby.

You came.

I was so afraid you wouldn't.

I wasn't going to.

You know, you really have

to work on your moods, Louis.

Don't snap at me anymore, okay?

I um, I promise.

Okay? I'm very, very sorry.

Is it true?

Can you see?

I can see shapes now.

It's not just blackness anymore.

That's fantastic.

You know, Ruby?

I really can't believe

that this is coincidence

that this is happening

so shortly after I met you.

Perhaps some of your

grandmother's abilities

rubbed off on you a little bit.

That magnolia tree over there.

I can almost see it.

You know, I used to climb that

thing every day as a little boy.

I'd spend more time up there

than I would in front of the piano.

My bedroom, just up there,

so the garden was always

just outside the window.

I could see the whole campus,

the lake and the stables

from up there too.

I'd like to see that.

Can we go up there?

I don't know if that

would be exactly proper

for me to bring a Greenwood

student up to my room alone.

Oh, come on.

I think you can learn

a lot about a person

from what their room looks like.

Okay.

Although, you might not want

to learn too much about me.

The woman in the painting?

It's my mother.

I don't keep pictures of my father

since he was the one who

smothered her to death.

Can I ask you why he did it?

I'm sure you've heard the rumours.

Oh, I don't trust rumours.

I've been on the bad end

of too many of them.

And the truth always gets distorted.

I don't think you want

to know the truth.

Louis, are we friends?

I would hope so, yes.

Well then, you should trust me.

I only want to help you

if I can, in some way.

My mother and I were always very close.

Some nights I'd lie here, scared.

She would hear me whimpering.

I remember hearing her

come into the room,

and I would reach out my hands,

and she would take it.

Please.

I want you to know how it was with us.

She would lie beside me on her back.

She would take my hand,

and she would press it against her chest

so I could feel her heartbeat.

Then she would take her

other hand and place it here.

I'm not asking you to do that.

My hand would travel from

her heart to her breasts.

Till one night my father

found us like this.

My god, he was furious.

He

And every time after that,

he thought I was crying for my mother

when I would lie here, scared.

And then it was him

who would come see me.

He would lay his belt to me.

It's okay, Louis.

After that, my mother found another boy.

He replaced me.

My father snapped.

I stood across the hall

and I watched him m*rder her,

and I did nothing.

- [SOBS] Nothing.

- Shhh

I'm sorry, Ruby.

I'm sorry, I I don't mean to

make things awkward between us.

[WHISPERING] It's okay.

I understand now, Louis.

You can trust me.

It's okay.

Ruby?

Mrs. Ironwood sent me to get you.

She needs to see you right away.

[SIGHS]

Because what else is new?

[SLAMS DOOR]

Let's just get to it, okay?

What lies is she telling you now?

[SOBBING] Daddy had

a heart attack, Ruby.

He died.

I want you girls to know

that things are going to be

different around here.

I'm not going to end up

like your father, dying young,

worrying more about others than myself.

To begin with, I'm replacing

the house staff,

and Nina is gone.

Now, you'll get your inheritance,

but not until you're both 21.

[SOBBING]

Your father's business

partner, Mr. Bristol here,

will be working with me to make sure

all your financial matters

are handled properly.

Everything will remain in

a trust until you're of age.

Have you told Uncle Jean about Daddy?

Your father's deranged brother

is no longer my concern.

But Daphne, you have to tell

That is enough, young lady.

Furthermore, the days

of your indulgent father

spoiling you are over.

Is that understood?

Yes, ma'am.

Mostly.

You bear the Dumas family name

now more than ever.

And I expect your behaviour

moving forward

to be irreproachable.

♪♪

♪♪

Uncle Jean?

It's me. It's Ruby.

Do you remember me?

I have no idea why you've been moved

from your private room to here, but

I'm going to find out, okay?

Your brother Pierre has died.

Do you understand what I just said?

My father, your brother, is dead.

[GASPS]

It was very sudden.

Almost immediate, I'm told.

He couldn't have felt any pain.

[SOBS]

[SCREAMS IN AGONY] Nooooo!

I'm so sorry.

How could you be so cheap?!

Excuse me?

You put Uncle Jean in a communal ward!

The man's a vegetable.

He doesn't even know where he is.

How would you even know?!

You never even go out to see him!

Are you quite done?

He knows what's happening to him!

You should see where they put him!

Don't you shout at me in this house.

I'm the one who makes

the financial decisions

from here on out. Do you understand me?

No, Daphne.

I do not understand you.

Uncle Jean is in very bad shape.

He's only going to get worse.

Well, I wasn't aware you earned

a degree in psychiatry.

I don't need a degree.

I have compassion and human kindness.

Not that those words

mean a thing to you.

You don't have your father

to run to anymore.

It's just me.

And talking to me that way

will only bring you regrets.

As a punishment,

you are not allowed to attend

your father's funeral.

What?

You can't do that!

Oh, you'll be surprised at

the breadth of things I can do.

[CRYING]

[DOOR OPENING]

How'd you get past the dragon?

What did Daphne do?

Beau, could you lock the door please?

[SIGHS]

I have to go back to Greenwood

the day after tomorrow,

and I just need something nice

to happen while I'm here.

♪♪

I'm beginning to think you

want us to get caught together.

Oh, hi Buck.

[SNIFFS]

I'm sorry, I didn't realize

it was getting dark.

[CLEARS THROAT]

I'm just trying to be careful.

You understand that, right?

Yes.

Those pesky Greenwood rules

we can't change.

I'll leave in a minute.

It's probably for the best.

But I guess I'll see you later?

Not if I see you first.

- [PLAYING "CLAIRE DE LUNE" ON PIANO]

- ♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

Have I told you I started

seeing a psychiatrist?

You mean you haven't been all along?

[LAUGHS]

Well, of course, because

why would someone like me

need a psychiatrist, right?

I didn't mean it to sound like that.

Yeah, well.

He seems to think that the

reason my vision is returning

is because I finally have

someone who I can trust

in my life.

That's you, Ruby.

♪♪

Honestly, I can't tell you how glad I am

that you came into my life.

Louis, there's something

you should know.

I should've said something before.

Oh, Ruby.

I always assumed you had a boyfriend.

I mean, how could you not?

Marilyn Monroe.

[LAUGHS]

- [RESUMES PLAYING "CLAIRE DE LUNE"]

- ♪♪

♪♪

I've only been back for a couple

of days, Mrs. Penny.

What crime am I supposed

to have committed this time?

Don't pretend you don't know

what this is about, Ruby.

I can't tell you how

disappointed I am in you.

Okay. This should be good.

Don't you dare be

so flippant about this.

Don't you know this is certain

to get you expelled?

[SIGHS]

You sent for me?

Again?

[HARSHLY] Sit down.

As you may have guessed by now,

you have been found out, Ruby.

I figured something was up

when I was hauled out of class.

Don't make it worse for yourself

by talking smart to me.

Mrs. Ironwood, isn't

it customary to at least

tell the accused what

the fuss is all about?

You are not talking your way

out of this one.

That, in your hand, is a signed

confession from the handyman,

Buck Jenson, recounting

all the disgusting details

of your tryst last night.

Multiple trysts, I might add.

Your expulsion hearing will be

this afternoon at 1:00.

Mrs. Ironwood, I can

understand you being upset,

but every word of this is a lie.

I don't understand why he

would make such a thing up.

You were seen, Ruby.

We have an eyewitness who

saw the two of you together.

So do not play me the fool.

You can expect to be on

your way home by day's end.

Congratulations, I heard the news.

Why are you packing?

Well, if you're getting kicked out,

I'm sure Mother's not going to let me

rot up here all by myself.

You don't really think I slept

with Buck, Gisselle?

I don't see why not.

He's awful damn easy on the eyes,

and let's face it,

the pickings at an all-girls

school are pretty slim.

Unless you're Miss Stevens.

What are you talking about?

Come on, Ruby.

You're not that stupid.

Miss Stevens?

You think she's

[LAUGHS] You're such a bumpkin, Ruby.

You're crazy.

Anyway, you may as well unpack.

This story is total nonsense.

Why should that matter?

You're accused. You

may as well have done it.

I'm not taking this lying down.

[LAUGHS] What a choice of words.

Ruby, don't waste

your time fighting this.

Can't you see this is

our way out of here?

Just button your lip,

and before you know it

we'll be back at our own school

with our friends again.

And you won't be so far away

from your precious Beau.

Don't you want that?

It's nothing to you, Gisselle.

It's not your reputation at stake.

They can kick me out if they want,

but it's not going to be

because of a lie.

Can you get my other

suitcase down for me?

[SCOFFS]

And then what happened, Mrs. Grey?

I looked through the boathouse window.

And tell us what you saw, Mrs. Grey.

I saw skin.

Ruby and that man were

in the heated throes of

I'll just say whoopie.

[LAUGHS INCREDULOUSLY]

Compose yourself, Miss Dumas.

Was I giving him his

money's worth, Mrs. Grey?

I, I think we have heard enough.

[GAVEL SLAMS]

My defence is pretty simple.

I couldn't have been

at the boathouse at 7:30

because I was at the

Clairborne house then.

You can confirm it with Mrs. Clairborne.

Mrs. Clairborne left town this morning.

Well, that's convenient for you.

The problem is, her grandson

Louis also knows I was there.

[LAUGHS]

Louis is blind.

Yes, I noticed that too.

How could a blind man testify

as to what time it was?

Buck Jenson's detailed confession

about your multiple trysts.

Sworn to and signed.

I want him to repeat

that lie to my face.

Mr. Jenson was fired,

and escorted from campus this morning.

[SIGHS]

Well

I guess you have nothing else to say.

Any last words?

I know Mrs. Grey believes

she's telling the truth.

But I was not there.

- I was

- I'll tell them where you were, Ruby.

This is a school matter, Louis.

Yes, and I have information

pertaining to that matter, Martha.

I take it that some people

here are saying

that Ruby wasn't at my house

last night at half past seven.

I'm saying she was.

Court adjourned?

Louis, your testimony about

the correct time is doubtful,

for reasons that are obvious.

Well see, there's blind and then

there's not so blind anymore.

Take the clock on the wall,

for instance.

I'm reading 1:37.

Yes, fine!

But but that does not matter!

The evidence against

Ruby is overwhelming.

The butler knows exactly

what time she came and left.

His eyes are top-notch, I might add.

I think we can assume a

case of mistaken identity

on the part of Mrs. Grey, and

throw away the paper confession

from a man who's either unwilling to,

or has been prevented from allowing Ruby

to face her accuser because

I believe that is not the kind

of railroading the Clairborne Foundation

would like to be associated with.

Nor is it in the tradition of

the Greenwood School for Girls.

Is it, Martha?

I thought I was finished for sure.

When she said "case dismissed",

it sounded like it was her last breath.

Yeah, I'm kind of having a hard time

breathing myself right now, thank you.

I had no idea your sight

had improved that much.

Well, I mean, the thing about that is

Now Ruby, I don't encourage cheating,

but I figured they'd test him,

so I told Louis what time it was

before we barged in.

Everything else I said was true.

[GASPS]

You're a true friend.

You both are.

I'll never forget this.

And I can't wait to see

the look on Gisselle's face

when she learns she's

not going anywhere.

[LAUGHS]

Mrs. Grey?

I just want you to know

that I don't blame you

for anything you said,

and I don't think you lied.

But I promise you, you were mistaken.

Ruby. You got away with it.

Please, don't insult me

on top of everything.

I saw you plain as day.

I saw your face, I saw your dress,

I saw your shoes, I saw everything.

I know it was you.

What did you say I was wearing?

MRS. GREY: Blue suede shoes.

- [KNOCKING]

- GISSELLE: Samantha?

Where are you, dummy?

Gisselle!

Oh, my god! Are you trying

to give me a heart attack?

You can walk?!

Keep your voice down.

What are you doing anyway, spying on me?

Everybody thought your injury

was permanent.

Yeah, well, it wasn't.

This is a new low, Gisselle.

Even for you.

You let everyone keep thinking

you were disabled and helpless.

Stop making such a big thing over it.

I get treated better

when I'm in the chair.

I guess I should be surprised, but

So you were the one who was with Buck.

I had to find something fun

to do up here in snooze city.

He was the only game in town.

I only slept with him

three or four times.

And you should feel flattered,

he thought I was you.

Well, the fun's over, Gisselle.

I'm going to tell everyone

what a fraud you are.

Oh, I don't think that's such

a good idea, Ruby.

No kidding.

You rat on me and I'll have no choice

but to spill the beans

about your g*y art teacher

to Mrs. Ironwood.

Wha?

Oh, my god, could it be

any more obvious?

Ironwood's got to be more

blind than her nephew.

There really is no limit

to the depths you'll sink to.

You better believe it, sister.

Oh, ease up.

I'm not going to roll around

in this chair forever.

In a couple of weeks it'll be Christmas,

and my present to the world

will be me miraculously rising up

onto my two healthy legs again.

Leave it to you to outshine

Jesus on his birthday.

You're the one who always

wants to be on the cross, Ruby.

Just keep your kisser zipped until then,

and everything goes back to normal.

Can you handle that?

♪♪

♪♪

Oh!

[LAUGHS AWKWARDLY]

The day I wear puce.

Ruby, you can have this one.

[FLATLY] Men's shirts and ties.

Daphne, how did you know?

I bought them for your Uncle Jean.

I thought it would be nice

if you could bring them to him.

I think he'd much prefer being

taken out of that horrible ward

and put back in his private room.

I think you're right.

I'll call the hospital today.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

Okay Daphne. What's going on?

Gisselle and I can do whatever we want,

out of nowhere you care

about Uncle Jean.

I have to believe something more

than the Christmas spirit's

gotten into you?

h*, h*, h*.

Merry Christmas, ladies.

DAPHNE: Bruce come, sit next to me.

Ruby asked me a question,

and I thought we could answer together.

Girls.

I have been very joyful

these last few days.

Bruce and I have decided to marry.

Since your father's passing,

Bruce has been a pillar of

strength and support to me,

and when I didn't think

I'd find any comfort,

he's been especially caring and

I've come to love him very much.

Mm, and me you, my sweet daffodil.

Gee, Daphne.

I don't know what to say.

What has it been, two months

since Daddy died?

This isn't a rash decision.

As much as I will always

mourn your father,

life is for the living.

And I'm hoping you can

both be happy for us.

I'm actually hoping that

we can all come together

as one big happy family

and I'm hoping that it can be

apparent to everyone.

Don't worry, Mother.

We'll all show up smiling big

in the society pages.

I'd appreciate that too.

Well, I have a little bit of

an announcement myself,

but I don't want to

reveal it sitting down.

Oh, my god, Gisselle!

[EXHALES]

Merry Christmas.

[GASPS]

- [UPBEAT VERSION OF "JINGLE BELLS" PLAYS]

- ♪♪

♪♪

Look out, boys. Gisselle's back in town.

- [INSTRUMENTAL OF "THE FIRST NOEL" PLAYS]

- ♪♪

I have something for you.

♪♪

Beau, you realize this is

a very big deal.

What are you talking about?

Me giving you my school ring

only means I'm yours forever.

Or, until you no longer want me.

I guess if that's a big deal.

I love you, Ruby.

If that's okay.

What do you think, lunkhead?

You better say it back.

[LAUGHS]

I love you too, Beau.

♪♪

[GIGGLING]

I know, I know. They

tell me I'm a miracle.

GISSELLE: Can you believe it? I'm back.

[GIGGLING]

Happy New Year, Miss Stevens.

I think you'll be impressed

with what I got

Ruby, I'm sorry.

Miss Stevens is no longer here.

No longer? What do you mean?

She resigned just before the break.

Ruby, how dare you barge

in here like that?

Why did you fire Miss Stevens?

Miss Stevens resigned.

I don't believe you.

As ever, that does not matter.

Miss Stevens loved it here.

She would never resign.

Loved it a little too much, I think.

I won't go into details with you,

but there was a credible

accusation levelled at her

by a student.

She resigned, rather than face

the blemish of a hearing.

Miss Stevens turned out to be a person

of questionable moral character.

This whole school is of

questionable moral character.

You have just earned

yourself 10 demerits

for insubordination.

And if these outbursts continue,

the end result will be exactly

what you narrowly avoided

at your hearing.

The fact of the matter is, Ruby Dumas,

you are simply not Greenwood material.

You have no idea what

a relief it is to hear that.

Gisselle!

Gisselle!

It was you! I know it was!

Probably.

What are we talking about?

You told Ironwood about Miss Stevens.

[GIGGLES]

Jeez, you think I'm the

only one in this school

who was onto her?

[GIGGLING]

[VOMITS]

NURSE: Unfortunately,

the morning sickness

is likely to continue for a while.

That's just your body reacting

to the pregnancy.

Of course, we will need

to inform your parents.

If you'd like to call them first

to tell them the situation

yourself, you may.

But there will also have

to be an official notification

from the school.

I understand.

Good.

So.

It was morning sickness.

Well, this is definitely one way

to get us sent back home.

I'm glad this works

out for you, Gisselle.

It's not for sure they'll

kick you out for this.

That's where I put my money.

Well, my money would've gone

on me getting pregnant

way before you ever would.

[SIGHS]

Jeez, Ruby.

Didn't you and Beau ever think

about using protection?

Not everyone is as

wise as you, Gisselle.

[DOOR SLAMS]

I could've guessed this was coming.

How you ever made it to 17 in the Bayou

without any children is miracle enough.

And how I ever thought

that decent society

would have any influence

on you is beyond my capacity.

[SIGHS]

Nevertheless, we must

have this taken care of

before word gets out.

Do I have any say in this matter?

You absolutely do not.

It's bad enough that I have to

deal with you and your sister.

If you think I'm going to let

some b*stard child

in this house, you are

out of your mind.

Anyways, it's all arranged.

Tomorrow, you will be taken to

a special doctor outside of town.

I'll also have you know

that I'm going to do everything I can

to make sure you are removed

from your father's will.

And speaking of that,

if you have any plans of ever

seeing Beau again,

you might as well put those

thoughts out of your head.

His parents informed me

that they would disinherit him

if he ever so much as

mentions your name.

[CRIES]

♪♪

[SIGHS HEAVILY]

Ruby, I want us to run off together.

With what?

You're not being practical.

What's practical, Ruby?

My parents want me to go

to school in France,

and, and you

I'm not taking that back.

Not unless it means you really

don't want me anymore.

Of course I want you.

I love you.

I love you too.

But they will never let us be together.

I don't accept that.

♪♪

Beau, you have to leave.

You can't be here.

♪♪

[SOBBING]

DOCTOR: The procedure

shouldn't take long.

If there's any profuse bleeding,

we'll suture it and make sure

it's completely stopped

before we send you on your way.

[PANICKED BREATHING]

This isn't right.

I'm sorry?

I'm not doing this.

Miss Dumas.

I promised your mother,

you would not leave here

until it was completely done.

Well, you're going to

break that promise.

Miss Dumas, you come right back here.

Stop, I'm not going back to New Orleans.

When you see Daphne, tell her

she's finally rid of me.

[SIGHS]

Thanks for coming to get me.

I didn't know who to turn to.

I'm always here for you, Ruby.

Especially now with the baby coming.

If you know anything, you know that.

Your grandpère Jack died

right out there.

He didn't ever stop looking

for some secret stash of money

he was sure your grandmère hid from him.

Everybody told him he was

chasing a fantasy,

but he didn't listen.

Mule-headed, right to the end.

Yeah, he was digging by

the water's edge, stumbled in,

I guess he was too drunk

to get himself out.

[SIGHS]

Yeah, I tried to get in contact with you

to let you know what had happened,

but no one let me through to you.

Thanks for bringing me home, Paul.

You should get going.

I've got a lot of cleaning up to do.

Ruby. Ruby.

Stop for a second.

There's no reason for you to stay here

in this dirty old shack.

Come home with me.

Let me take care of you.

That's all I ever wanted to do.

My place is here, Paul.

♪♪

- [UPBEAT ACOUSTIC GUITAR]

- ♪♪

I wish for my baby ♪

A pretty and simple life ♪

♪♪

I wish for my baby ♪

A belly that's full ♪

♪♪

When she sleeps ♪

I pray angels protect her ♪

♪♪

May her heart never know ♪

A brittle winter ♪

♪♪

[THUNDER CRASHES]

[KNOCKING AT DOOR]

It's open.

It's cats and dogs out there.

On the radio they're saying

it's going to be a hurricane coming on.

What's that you have there?

A letter from Gisselle.

I picked it up from

the post office for you.

[THUNDER CRASHES]

It's getting real bad out there.

It's time for you to come.

I've ridden out worse

storms in this house.

Why would you put the baby at risk?

The baby's in the safest place

it's ever going to be.

[THUNDER CRASHES]

The sirens are on!

"Dear Ruby, bet you never dreamed

you'd receive a letter from me.

Well, here it is".

Ruby, it's stuck!

Guess what?

Mother gave in and let me come home.

Someone spread the word

all over Greenwood

that you had a bun in your oven.

I wonder who?

Boy, you really stuck it to her good.

I guess I really should also

tell what's going on with Beau".

[THUNDER CRASHES]

[GASPS IN PAIN]

That's it, we're getting

out of here now.

I can't leave, Paul.

No, come on, we're both

getting out of here now.

Paul! The baby's coming!

Now?

I'm sorry, I didn't plan it this way!

Hold on.

Please, just hang tight.

I'm going to try and seal

this place up, okay?

[CLATTERING SOUNDS]

[MOANS IN PAIN]

[HAMMERING]

[SCREAMING IN PAIN]

Hang on!

[HAMMERING]

Paul, it's coming!

[HAMMERING]

[SCREAMING]

[GLASS SHATTERING]

[SCREAMING]

How you holding up?

[SIGHS HAPPILY]

I'm doing great.

[BABY COOS]

Oh, she's a beauty.

She's perfect.

Have you settled on a name yet?

Her name is Pearl.

Hi, Pearl.

I'll never stop loving you, Ruby.

I'll never stop asking you to marry me.

I know, Paul.

No one has to know the truth about us.

I don't expect anything

but a no right now.

But just do me a favour.

Tell me you'll think about it.

I'll think about it.

I'll go check on the roof.

Okay.

♪♪

Shh.

"I guess I really should also

tell what's going on with Beau.

He's still in France,

and he'll probably even go

to some French college.

And get this,

he's super serious with

some rich French girl.

If he marries her, he'll become

a Duke or something.

I don't know why you didn't

just do what mother wanted

and get rid of the baby.

Think about all the things you gave up.

On the other hand, I do enjoy

having a notorious sister.

I even miss you sometimes,

if you can believe it.

And I just love reminding old Daphne

that she's going to be a grandmother.

She gets sick to her stomach

every time she hears it.

I wonder if we'll ever see

each other again.

Your darling twin sister, Gisselle".

♪♪

[GIGGLES]

Welcome to the Bayou, Pearl Landry.

Dumas?

Tate?

♪♪

[SIGHS HAPPILY]

♪♪