Malory Towers (2020–…): Season 2, Episode 11 - The Quiz - full transcript

PURRING

BELL RINGS

I have to go.

You behave today.

BELL RINGS

I've been thinking,
whoever the thief is,

they're going to keep stealing
from us,

so we need to do something
about it. Like what?

We should go to the village jeweller

and ask who sold Gwen's brooch
to him.

Good morning, girls. Good morning.
Good morning, Mr Parker.



So glad you could join us, Ellen.

Uh, sorry, Mr Parker.

So, while I wait for the others,
are you all looking forward

to the quiz tomorrow?

Last year, Malory Towers got
thrashed by Thackerton Boys

in a local derby, so I hope we're
not looking at a repeat performance.

Not a chance. But be warned.

Um, I did some teacher training
at Thackerton College,

and they take this very seriously.

They'll try to intimidate you,
undermine you in any way

that they can.
That is why we need a captain

that is quick-witted, hardworking
and a real all-rounder.

I believe there's one girl that's
really demonstrated these qualities

and more this term, which is
why I've decided



that this year's captain will be...

Darrell. Oh!

Congrats!

Oh, thank you!

Your team-mates will be Alicia,

Jean and Ellen.

Me? Well, your name IS Ellen,
isn't it?

GIGGLING

The other questions
won't be that easy.

But I have faith in you.

Over the past few weeks,
you've really demonstrated the kind

of academic excellence
I know you're capable of.

But this isn't an essay.

I'm no good
when I'm put on the spot.

You're a super-smart scholarship
girl. You'll be great.

Uh, Ellen, where are you going?

I-I need to prepare.

We haven't had class yet.

GIGGLING

Oh.

Ron?

Do you want something?
You know that brooch

you took to the jeweller's?
Yeah.

I wondered if you could get it back
for me.

I've realised I can't bear to part
with it. So many happy memories.

I thought you needed the money
to buy treats for your next trip.

My pocket money's finally come
through, so I'll use that.

Well, I can't go today. I've got
too much to do in the garden.

Can't it wait?
I could go tomorrow.

Very well.

But remember not to tell anyone
anything about this.

Not a word.

I told you I wouldn't, didn't I?

Ah, there you are.
I was just saying I think we should

practise the quiz at lunchtime.
Uh, how do you practise a quiz?

Er, revise topics likely to come up.

Capital cities, highest mountains,
things like that, so we can split

them up evenly between us.
Sounds like a good plan.

You're all going to be brilliant.
I'm sorry you're not on the team.

It's probably for the best.

Unless there's a question
on Gregorian chants,

I'd be pretty much useless.

Gregory, who?

Gregorian chant.
Oh, sacred song sung in Latin.

It's usually credited to Pope
Gregory I, but...

Thank you, Irene.

Um, where's Ellen?

I'm not sure. She vanishes a lot,
doesn't she?

She just likes studying
without distractions.

Nobody studies THAT much!

Ellen does. Perhaps that's
what she wants us to think.

Sometimes she has to feed the cat
too.

Oh... What? I thought Matron
told Ron to take him away.

Ellen persuaded him to keep it
hidden instead.

She's been looking after it.

She should have told us.
We could have helped.

I think she needed somewhere private
she could have some time on her own.

Just cos she's got some cat
hidden away

doesn't mean she's not on the way
to the jeweller right now.

Probably planning to bribe him
to keep quiet about Gwen's brooch.

I hope you're not suggesting
Ellen is the thief.

Things have only started
going missing after she arrived.

Coincidence? Yes! She is a good,
honest person. Well, if it's not

her, then it's somebody
else from our dorm,

and I don't think anybody else is
capable of something like this.

I'm not going to sit here

listening to you pick on my friend.
Jean, please.

You can't go around throwing
accusations like that.

I want to find out who's been doing
this, and...

..I just want us to go back
to the way we used to be.

Picking on Ellen isn't helping
anyone.

Then, let's work on this together,
Darrell, we can find out

what's really been happening.
We can and we will. But right now

we need to concentrate on the quiz,
support the school.

Stop staring at her. You know,
she wasn't there when we went

swimming, the day
Irene's hairclip went missing.

Yes, she was. No, she came late.
BELL RINGS

Very well, girls, you can go
to lunch, but I hope the quiz team

is already prepping for tomorrow.

They prepare some tough questions,
but I have every faith in you.

I wonder where she was when
Georgina's mirror went missing.

Why don't we check my diary?
I always write down what I did

and who with. Then, if I can prove
that Ellen WAS with us,

then we'll be able to get on
preparing for the quiz. Deal.

Ellen.

I wonder if I might be excused
from the quiz team.

We've been through this!
Your class needs you.

Well, I just think it would be
better if you ask someone else.

I'm still weak in Latin,
French and history.

Let me be candid with you.

When I was training at Thackerton
College, the boys there were...

..an arrogant little bunch
of...so-and-sos.

Oh. They had no respect for me,
a trainee,

they pushed the very limits
of acceptable behaviour.

But my point is that I want
Malory Towers to thrash them.

They'll be expecting to walk
all over you,

but you're every bit as smart
as the best of them. Really? Yes!

And you won't be alone.

The other girls will look out
for you.

I'm sure you're going to do
this school very proud.

So was I right?

Ellen didn't come
to the pool till later on.

It was a lovely day, but she just

sat on the side with her feet
in the water.

What's going on?

Have you noticed how Ellen
is always sneaking off alone?

She likes her own company.

Darrell's got proof that whenever
things go missing, Ellen is nowhere

to be seen. But that doesn't
make her a thief.

She's always up here revising,
or so she says.

Do you believe this, Darrell? I
don't know. It's not like we follow

her around all the time. I just want
us to get ready for the quiz.

I think we should ask Ellen to
explain where she was

the days things went missing.
Alicia, as Head of Form,

I forbid you from talking about this
until I've had a chance

to look into it.

So, the rules. Once you ring
the bell, you have to answer

the question. Do it before Mr
Parker's finished asking, and

he won't complete it.
Give the wrong answer,

and the other team wins a penalty.

We wouldn't want them
stealing our points.

You can confer, but only
before you ring the bell.

What if we disagree on what the
right answer is? Then, as captain,

I will make the final decision.
But we're a team -

we have to trust each other.
Yeah, right!

Just leave her alone, will you?

What are you all talking about?

You're stealing from us.

You think I'm the thief?!
She's being silly, ignore her.

Is this because I don't laugh
at all your pranks, Alicia?

No, it's because we trusted you
when we shouldn't have.

I wouldn't do something like that!
I swear, I never stole anything.

I know you didn't.
That's not what WE think.

Is it, Darrell? Alicia,
Sally told you to be quiet

because it's not fair
to accuse anyone without proof.

So, for now, Ellen is still part
of this team.

I'm not feeling well.

That was mean. I just wanted us
to hear what she had to say.

KNOCK AT DOOR

Come in.

Ellen! How can I help?

I can't be on the quiz team.

Why ever not?

Because the girls hate me.
They know I don't belong there.

If I let them down tomorrow,
it will just prove them right.

You've just as much right
to be there as any of them.

You're one of the smartest,
hardest-working students we have.

This quiz will be the perfect way
for you to win the respect

of the other girls.

Please give my place on the team
to someone else.

Why don't you sleep on it?

I'm sure once you've had a good
night's rest,

you'll feel differently.
Come and see me in the morning.

Ellen, what are you doing?!

You ARE the thief!

No! This is not what it looks like.

I didn't want to believe Alicia,
but she was right.

I'm not the thief. I promise,
I wouldn't steal your things.

Then, what are you doing
going through Mr Parker's drawer

in the middle of the night?!

I—I was just... Just what?

Just...
You have to tell Miss Grayling.

I can't! If you don't,
then I will!

Darrell...

KNOCKS QUIETLY

SHE SOBS

Ellen?

What are you doing out of bed?

I need to see Miss Grayling.
It's the middle of the night.

She's not there.

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

Come on, let's get you to Matron.

Please, Ellen, what's the matter?

Ellen?

What time is the quiz?

I don't think Ellen's coming.

Perhaps she's been arrested?

Can we just focus, please?

Where did she sleep last night?

Ah, here you are.
I have a message from Miss Grayling.

Unfortunately, Ellen is unable
to attend the quiz.

Is she all right?

I'm afraid I can't discuss
her personal situation with you.

So I've decided that

Irene will replace her
in the quiz team.

Uh, that's not a very good idea.
What nonsense!

You have a unique way of looking at
the world, which you can bring

to the team. I'd rather bring not
being there to the team,

for their sake.
She's got no time to practise.

The boys will be here any minute.
Oh, details, details!

Good luck, girls.

What happened to Ellen?
She must be ill.

I know what's going on.

I caught her going through
Mr Parker's drawer

in the middle of the night.
What? What did she take?

His pen. I caught her red-handed,
and I insisted that she go

to tell Miss Grayling about it.

I just wanted to find out
who's stealing from us.

It wasn't personal.
Sorry?! Ellen is the thief?!

It can't be true.

Sorry! Mustn't be late!

Rickety old pile, isn't it?
It's really very shabby.

No wonder they're putting it
out to pasture!

Well, well, boys,
look who it is!

Boys, come on.

We are in so much trouble.
Good luck.

Look, for the next couple of hours,

we have to put what happened
with Ellen aside. Agreed?

Agreed.

I hope she's all right.

Ha, it's old Nosy Parker!
Boys!

How good to see you again.

We would have thought you'd quit
this teacher lark,

after all the fun and games
the Thackerton boys had with you!

Teaching here is very rewarding,
as it happens.

Right. Oh, right.

If you could take your seats.

Who's in charge here?
Me - Darrell Rivers.

Sebastian Fairweather.
Good luck. May the best man win.

Shame you're just a boy, then.

CHUCKLING

Huh, Malory Towers! We have this.
MR PARKER CLEARS HIS THROAT

Thank you, all,
for coming to this local derby.

The boys from Thackerton College
are the reigning champions...

As always. ..but perhaps this year
they've met their match.

We start with a general knowledge
round, so ready on those bells.

You press it AFTER I've asked
the question, Irene.

Sorry. Sorry.

It's all right.

Who painted the Mona Lisa?

BOY: Leonardo da Vinci.
Correct.

What element does Ca denote...?
Calcium.

VOICES OVERLAP

..was the battle...? Correct.

How long is...? Correct.

1066. Correct.

Athelstan... The correct answer
is Mary Shelley.

That's another penalty point.

Arachnophobia is the fear of what?

Spiders?

Henry VIII's first wife...

Catherine of Aragon. I'm afraid you
didn't ring the bell, Jean. Ugh!

Victor. Is it Catherine of Aragon?

Correct.

For pity's sake.

ALL: Yes!

How many...?

A very early ring there,
Darrell.

I can't complete the question,
so...how many?

Seven.

The question was,
how many loaves in a baker's dozen?

The answer was... 13.

That's another penalty point.

Great work, team.

Maybe you could try answering
some questions

instead of criticising
the rest of us.

Name a secondary colour.

What is a young swan called?

Cygnet. Correct.

Who wrote Jane Eyre?

Charlotte Bronte.

Correct!

Um...

Next question. Which Shakespeare

play did Ariel appear in?

I know this! Great! What is it?

IRENE HUMS

What are you doing?
What is she doing?

WHISPERS: I know it, I know it...

It's how she remembers things.

She links them to a piece of music.

ANy answers?

Irene.

Hamlet. No.

Oh, possibly Romeo And Juliet.
I have to take your first answer.

A Midsummer Night's Dream.
The horse has already bolted, Irene.

That's another penalty point.

The correct answer was The Tempest.

It was on the tip of my tongue.

So, our final question

before the break. We have this.

Which is the longest river

in the world?

WHISPERING

Please.

The Amazon. The Nile.

The Amazon.

The correct answer is the Nile.

So, the scores at half-time are

39 versus 19, to Thackerton College.

They're never going to win.
They can't keep up with us.

Did you get it?

"Hello, Ron. It's good to see you.
How are you today?"

I don't have time for niceties.

I managed to get into the village
this morning.

Here you go. And you promise
you won't tell the others,

even if they ask or make up a story
to try and trick you?

They'll think me so silly.

I've got better things
to talk about.

Be seeing you, then.

Uh, yes. Have a good day doing...
whatever it is you do.

We need a new strategy.
We could start

by answering some questions
correctly.

The first new rule is no criticising
each other - it's not helping.

If Ellen was here, she would have
known those questions about trees.

Well, she's not, so we'll just
have to focus on what we CAN do.

Giving away penalty points
all over the place.

If we're going to win,
we need to be much more disciplined.

So I propose that we confer
on every question, but I'll press

the bell and answer for everyone.
Agreed?

They're coming over.
I heard this school is closing.

I wouldn't believe the rumours.
Pater told me, and he's never wrong.

Well, this time your father is.

If the school is closing, maybe
you can spend your time doing

something more suitable,

like cooking or sewing?

And you can carry on being smug
for no good reason that I can see.

If you could take your seats,
please, teams.

Boo!

BOYS LAUGH

We've GOT to beat them. For once,
I completely agree with you.

So we move on to a round about
the natural world.

Which is the only country
lemurs are found in?

BELL

Darrell.

Madagascar. Correct.

What is the name given
to the berries on a rosebush?

WHISPERS: Rosehips.
Rosehips.

Correct. Well done, Jean!

Yes!

How many ribs...? 24.

VOICES OVERLAP

Correct! What...? Correct.

..chestnut tree? Conkers.
Correct.

The Titanic. Correct.

What is the capital of Canada?

Ottawa. Ottawa.

Correct.

How many symphonies did Mozart...?
BELL

41. Correct!

Mozart did indeed write
41 symphonies.

Final question.

We end the music round with
a question on Gregorian chant.

Gregorian chant? Who is usually
regarded

as the founder of Gregorian chant?

Irene, this is a question
in your specialist subject.

Yes, I know.

SHE HUMS

Not this again.

What is it? If there are no takers,
I will have to ask

a different question.

WHISPERS: Pope Gregory I.
Pope Gregory I. Pope Gregory I.

Yes!

Pope Gregory I.

Is the right answer!

I declare Malory Towers

this year's winners.

Well done!

CHEERING

Excellent work, girls. Well done.

Well, that showed them!
It certainly did!

Sebastian?

Well played.

You too.

Well, a team full of girls.

Who'd have thought?

Who'd have thought?!

You saved the day!

It was great!

Gwen, you got your brush back.

It was so important to Mother, so
I asked Ron to buy it back for me.

Did he ask who'd sold it? He did,
but the jeweller couldn't remember.

Was it a Malory Towers girl? Alicia,

as far as I'm aware, this is an end
to the matter.

We found the thief,

so I really don't want to hear
another word about it.

If you're sure.
Um, everybody, come.

I just want to say,
well done, Malory Towers!

Hip, hip...
ALL: Hooray!

Hip, hip...
ALL: Hooray!

Jean, are you all right?

I haven't seen Ellen since
yesterday.

Do you think
they could have expelled her?

Does that mean
we'll never see her again?

Come on, let's get ready for class.