Malory Towers (2020–…): Season 2, Episode 12 - The Heroine - full transcript

Come on. We'll be late.

I feel so bad about Ellen.
It's awful.

Like she's just disappeared.

Can she really have been sent home
without even saying goodbye?

It's practically the end of term.
We'll all be going home soon.

If she is the thief, Miss Grayling
would be right to expel her.

And she was found with Mr Parker's
pen in her hands.

If she stole anything, her trunk's
the most obvious place to hide it.

Look now before anyone comes.
They're bound to send it off today.

We shouldn't normally go
through people's stuff, but...

Apart from her blanket,
there's almost nothing here.



Why's she taken all her things
with her already?

This is all she has.

She doesn't get pocket money
or presents like the rest of us.

Which would explain
why she's stealing ours.

Poor Ellen! I understand
she may have been tempted,

but it's not an excuse for stealing.

We haven't always made it easy
for her.

We're so lucky.

I really don't think she did it.

But even if she did,
given the circumstances,

don't you think
she deserves a second chance?

No! Maybe she does.

You're right, Jean.

Everybody deserves a second chance.



Perhaps the three of us should go
to Miss Grayling at break.

You tell her your side of the story
with the pen,

I'll explain how we feel,

and you put a good word in
for Ellen's character.

Good plan. Count me in.

Me, too.

SHE SIGHS

BELL RINGS

Oh!

Gwen?

Come on, slowcoach,
you'll be late for class.

What are you doing?

My last brown envelope ripped.

It's a disaster! You...

you don't happen to have some brown
paper, string and stamps, do you?

Oh, who's the parcel for?

It's my mother's birthday tomorrow.

BELL RINGS

Come on, second bell!

Gwen?

Why can't you give it to her
tomorrow?

My governess is collecting me.
I'm with her for a few weeks,

but I've already told my mother
I'd posted it.

I'll be in such terrible trouble
if she finds out I lied.

Poor Gwen. I don't have stamps,
but I have paper and string.

Would you leave it on my bed
at break? Of course.

I just wish I could do more to help.

I'll have to borrow money
for postage.

It's bound to be pricey.

Would you mind excusing me to
Mr Parker?

Just say I went to speak to
Matron or something.

Thank you so much.

You're my only real friend,
Mary-Lou.

Is that the report schedule?

No lessons after the break, packing,
tidying and individual critique.

Check your times.

Any luck?

Collecting for the orphanage.
Nearly at a guinea already.

Mam'zelle put in
a ten shilling note.

Oh! So generous, Mr Parker.

Of course, Mr Thomas,
business is business,

but education
and youth are also worth developing.

KNOCK AT DOOR

One moment!

Just before you go, Mr Thomas,
I am begging you to reconsider.

Invest in the school,
not in tearing it down.

KNOCK AT DOOR

Come in.

Girls. What can I do for you?

We've come about Ellen,
Miss Grayling.

We feel terrible that
she's been expelled and I think

it's partly my fault
for handling things badly.

Who told you Ellen was expelled?

We weren't told as such,
but after what happened,

when she wasn't in the dorm
this morning...

We put two and two together.

Perhaps you should put what happened
into your own words.

Well, um...

People's things have been
going missing all term.

And there have been theories
and accusations.

This is the first I've heard of it!

We didn't want to bother you,
not until we had proof.

But then, when I found her rummaging
through Mr Parker's drawer

and taking his pen...
You caught her doing this?

Yes, and I lost my temper and said

that she must do the right thing
and own up to you.

Indeed.

And so, you have concluded
she came to me and confessed,

and I expelled her for thieving?

And what have you come to ask me?

We wanted to put in a good word.

She is a good person, she truly is.

Thank you, girls.

I will look into this further.

I wish she hadn't been expelled,
even if she did it.

She was my friend.

It was really brave of her
to turn herself in.

She can't be all that bad.

I will give this thought.

No-one is ever all bad.

MATRON HUMS A TUNE

SHE SIGHS

Now...

Where is that note?

Gwendoline? Mam'zelle!

Vraiment! Qu'est-ce que tu fais?

You're late for your report!

Could I possibly swap with someone?

I have an errand
I really need to run.

No, no, no, no, no, no.
We are waiting. Allez. Allez, allez!

Allez!

Allez.

Gwen, are you upset?

Probably nervous for her report,
no doubt.

Good luck. It won't be so bad.

Oh, poor, Gwen!

That's why she was unhappy.
She'll be late for the post.

SHE SIGHS

Someone did lend her the money.
What a brick!

I just need an address.

What are you doing?

Gwen needs to send this to her mum.

I'm doing poor Gwen a favour
and taking it to the post myself.

You know, she doesn't deserve
your loyalty.

Well, actually, I'm the only person
she calls her real friend.

I feel sorry for her.
Her parents are horrid.

But you're going to be late
for your report slot.

Well, I'll take the cliff path.

You know that's not safe alone.

Those cliffs are dangerous!

That's why it's not allowed.

You'll get into lots of trouble
if they find out.

Don't do it.

Gwen's not worth it.

Where's my parcel?

Mary-Lou was talking about
taking it to the post office.

Along the cliff path,
if you can believe that!

She couldn't post it anyway,
I hadn't addressed it.

She knew it was for your mother.
She addressed it for you.

But she'd never get permission.

Exactly. It's probably
in the postbox in the hall.

GULLS CRY

You asked to see me, Matron?

Yes. As head of the second form,

I need your help
with a very serious matter.

There is a thief in the class.

Don't worry, Matron,
we looked into that yesterday.

It won't happen again.

Yesterday?
What are you talking about?

Money was taken from my charity tin
this morning!

Are you sure?

Yes, of course I'm sure, Miss Hope!

It's a disgrace!

So you need to find out who it is
and get that money back. Go on!

Ah, do come in, Miss Grayling.

Before I talk to her, Matron,

please, take me through
exactly where and how

you and Mr Parker found her
last night.

Of course. Well, you should have
seen the state of her.

GULLS CRY

WAVES CRASH

Mary-Lou.

Mary-Lou!

How are you feeling today, Ellen?

A little better.

Good.

Matron explained you came to her
in a terrible state the other night

with the same symptoms you had
the time before,

the day of the class test.

Can you describe how you felt?

My chest went really tight.

My head pounded.

I-I panicked.

I got pins and needles
in my hands, and...

..I felt as if I was going to faint.

Sounds like a further attack
of the nerves.

It can happen sometimes,
before stressful events

like tests and exams.

But why yesterday?

Miss Grayling, I've tried so hard!

I'm not sure I'm the right sort
of girl for Malory Towers.

Perhaps I shouldn't come back
next term.

Why would you think that?

Your teachers are very pleased
with you.

It's not the teachers...it's
the girls!

They think as I'm a thief.

Goodness!

Why would they think that?!

All term, people's special things
have been going missing.

And now Darrell has told the girls
that I stole them.

Did you? No!

Then why would Darrell come up with
a story like that?

Miss Grayling,
I did a terrible thing!

I sneaked out of bed.

I-I...

..I tried...

..I tried to look at the questions
for the interschool quiz.

I see.

Darrell caught me.

Alicia already accused me
of thieving

and it looked like
everything she said was true!

I was too ashamed to explain myself.

Why did you try to cheat?

Because I'm rotten at quizzes

and everyone expects me
to be a clever scholarship girl.

With everyone already so angry
with me,

I couldn't mess the quiz up, too.

And let them all down.
It would have been the last straw.

Sounds like you put yourself
under an awful lot of pressure.

But...cheating is wrong.

I'm afraid this is a serious matter,
Ellen.

I know. I've failed myself!

And you, too.

I don't know what to do!

Oh, my head is pounding!

Sh-sh-sh.

It's all right. Breathe deeply.

ELLEN BREATHES DEEPLY

Good girl.

That's better.

Do you promise me you have not taken
any of the girls' belongings?

Of course! I'm not a thief!

Then I will help you clear your name
with your classmates.

Are you ready to do that?

How?

You've admitted to trying to cheat
to me,

now you need to find the courage
to tell the girls.

GULLS CRY

Argh!

Oh, no!

Oh, dear.

Mary-Lou!

SHE SIGHS

Mary-Lou!

Help! H-e-e-e-elp!

Oh! Mary-Lou! Help! I'm here! Here!

Mary-Lou! Oh, Gwen!
Oh, I'm so happy to see you help!

Help! I can't hold on much longer!

Gracious, Mary-Lou,
whatever happened?

I tripped and your parcel went over,
but I've got it safe now!

Gwen, I'm so sorry!

It wasn't your fault.

The only important thing now
is getting you to safety.

Here, take my hand.

MARY-LOU GRUNTS

I can't reach!

I'm going to have to run for help!
Gwen, don't leave me!

I can't hold on much longer!
Gwen, please! Please!

You have to.

You have to!

Gwen!

Gwen!

MARY-LOU SOBS

You must be excited to see
your family again.

Yes, definitely!

Um...how do you do this packing
business?

Oh, I just shove it in and hope,

but try sitting on it
if it doesn't close.

Where's Mary-Lou? She missed her
report slot. Mr Parker's furious.

What? That's not like Mary-Lou.

Er...Gwen was looking for her.
Maybe they're together?

I haven't seen Gwen in an age
either.

Mary-Lou was going over the
cliff path to post Gwen's parcel.

No, she wouldn't.

What if she did?!
Anything could have happened!

If she did, she ought to be back
by now.

You don't think Gwen
went after her, do you?

Darrell, where are you going? To
find them. They may be in trouble.

You'll be in trouble, too,
if you go after them.

Tell Sally or one of the teachers.

There's no time.
They may be in real danger.

ALICIA SIGHS

I think you're right, Alicia.
Honest to goodness,

if Darrell isn't going to get
the teachers, we should.

Mary-Lou, quick, hold this!

Gwen, you came back!

Loop this around your wrist!

Well done! Then I'm going to
pull you up on three.

One...two...three.

Wait! Gwen, wait!
My hand's slipping.

I can't do this!

I think it's better to wait
for someone to find us.

Does anyone know we're out here?

This way, Sally.
There's someone I want you to see.

Ah! Miss Grayling. Do you know
where Mary-Lou might be? She's...

Ooh! Sorry! Mais, Alicia, attention!

This is why it is forbidden
to run in the corridor!

But it's an emergency.
Gwen and Mary-Lou have gone missing!

What? We think they went over
the cliff path,

but they should've been back
ages ago!

They could be in real danger.

Darrell went to find them, but...

A second former is not enough
if something's gone wrong there!

I'll call the Coastguard,
but they may be some way off.

I'll go out there now.
There's no time to lose.

You can't go alone. I'll come!

Someone with medical training
is more useful.

I'll go.
You stay here and keep order.

Very sensible, Matron. Thank you.
Sorry, Sally.

Please, make your own way
to the sanatorium.

I trust you to resolve this alone.

GULLS CRY

Mary-Lou?

Gwen? We're here!

Help! Please!
It's Mary-Lou! Down here!

Coming! Hold on,
I'll be right there!

Mary-Lou! Gwen!

Darrell, help! My hand's slipping!

It's all right, I'll hold on, too,
Gwen.

We'll keep Mary Lou safe
till help arrives!

I did a very stupid thing.

A wrong thing, but I'm not
the thief, I promise you!

I never thought you were,
I swear it.

I know you,
and you wouldn't do this.

I just wish there was a way
to prove it.

I think I have one!

Sally, really?

Mary-Lou, just keep on holding
tight, help will be here soon.

How soon? I should have gone
for a teacher!

Yes, you damn right should!

Oh, Matron!

I've never been more pleased
to see you in all my born days!

What on earth possessed
you to endanger yourself like this?

I'll take it from here, girls.
We'll get you all back safe.

Praise be!

Girls, thank heavens, you're safe!

What were you doing?!

I'm so sorry, Mr Grayling,
it's all my fault.

I was trying to get to the post.

Well, you're safe and sound, and
for now, that's all that matters.

Straight up to the dorm
for a wash and a lie-down.

Cook's already making cocoa.

Were they on the cliff
like we thought?

Hanging half off of it.

Thank goodness you went out
after them!

Thank goodness you got the teachers.

I couldn't have brought them back
alone.

I've been kicking myself.

I didn't for a moment think she'd
go against the rules.

Be so rash, or so brave.

Lucky Gwen realised.

Who'd have thought she'd be such
an incredible friend to Mary-Lou?

Puts me to shame.

I've not really been a great friend
to you this year, have I?

Well, it has been a bit tricky
between us.

I suppose when Betty left,

I'd hoped you'd be
my one special friend.

I can be close to more than
one person, you know.

You'll always be my friend,
no matter what.

Really?

I know I didn't react
in the right way

to you being best friends
with Sally,

and to her becoming head of form.

I'm sorry.

Thanks for apologising.

It's impossible to say cross
with you.

You're always the best fun.

GULLS CRY

OWL HOOTS

Gwen was an absolute heroine.

She was gripping so hard,
her arms went numb. Huh!

Ellen! Ellen?

I thought you'd been expelled?

I was ill, in the San.

She's not the thief,
and we can prove it.

Because there were still thefts
today whilst Ellen was in the San.

What? What?

Money went missing from Matron's
collection box this morning,

right by our classroom.

Ellen, I'm so sorry.

It was utterly unacceptable
for me to accuse you like that.

Please accept my apology.

I was the first one to blame you.

Sally, I should have listened
to you. I'm sorry.

To the both of you.

I believe we all owe Ellen
an apology,

not just Darrell and Alicia.

We all believed the worst.

Sorry, Ellen. Apologies.

Gosh, I'm so sorry, Ellen.

I never believed the worst.
I always knew it wasn't you.

She's right.
She always stood up for you.

I'm so sorry you've been
put through this.

There is still one question, though.

If Ellen isn't the thief, who is?

The truth is, it doesn't matter.

we're all together.

We're all safe. That's what counts.

Now, please,
can we put this behind us?

I'm sure there'll be no more thefts.

And the culprit's learnt
their lesson.

Gwen's right, and I think there's
something we're all forgetting.

This might be our last night
ever here together.

I don't want the school to close.
Nor do I.

Today has been the most awful,

and yet also,
the most wonderful day.

I can't imagine a life
without you all.

I can't imagine not being
at Malory Towers.