Malory Towers (2020–…): Season 2, Episode 5 - The Caricatures - full transcript

GIGGLING

Ssh! Ssh!

THEY WHISPER

Hello?

Happy birthday, Alicia.

THEY WHISPER

ALL: Happy Birthday!

THEY LAUGH

You guys had me there
for a second.

Oh, thank you.

Wow.



It's just something silly.

Oh! Mary-Lou!

What is it?

This is your best work yet.

Wouldn't you just love
to see their faces

if they actually saw this?

No, you absolutely mustn't.
No-one can see it.

If Mademoiselle thinks we're making
fun of her, she'll be furious.

Yes, please, promise you won't.

OK, I won't show Mademoiselle.
But it is my birthday.

Aren't I allowed a little fun?

THEY GIGGLE

I can't believe I thought we found
Lady Jane's box of jewels.

You heard Miss Grayling, Darrell -
there is no treasure.



We just have to come up with a new
plan to save the school.

Look, as much as we want to help,

we must trust Miss Grayling
will find a way.

And she will.

Gwendolyn, remember, we have
rehearsals this afternoon.

Please make sure everything
is in order before I arrive.

And I hope you've practised
your lines.

Yes, of course.

Also, I didn't have time to make
the bunting, so can you?

Of course. Oh, you're a star.

You have to help me learn
my lines after breakfast.

I'm sorry, but I have to finish my
essay on the Battle of Agincourt.

Oh, how tedious.

Please, Mary-Lou,
this is far more important.

You can't use people
as and when you want to, Gwen.

I'm not.

It's just, I have a lot on my plate
at the moment.

Gwen, I can help you.

No, thank you.

Mary-Lou.

I promised Gwen I wouldn't tell
anyone, but I know I can trust you.

It's Gwen's father. He's not very
well, and she really wants

to make him proud of the school
play if he can make it.

I had no idea.

Poor Gwen. Of course,
I'll help her with her lines.

Irene?

Jean.

Darrell Rivers.

Er, what about my hamper?

My birthday hamper.
My parents send me one every year.

Well, not this year.

Now, come on, you should be grateful

for the gifts
you've already received.

They forgotten my birthday.

I'm sure they haven't.

Your hamper is probably
held up in the post.

Where are you going?

I left something in the dorm.

I'll see you girls in class.

How awful.

Imagine your parents
forgetting your birthday.

I must find a way to make
her day special.

She'll never admit it, but I can see
she misses her family terribly.

I have an idea.

Spit it out.
I haven't got all day.

We'd like to bake a cake for Alicia
in our house craft lesson.

A cake?

Yes, I'd like to marry Cary Grant,
but we can't have it all.

Please. Alicia thinks her parents
forgot her birthday

because she didn't receive
her usual hamper.

A cake would really cheer her up.

Very well.

BOTH: Thank you.

You can bake the cake if you can
find the ingredients.

Ingredients?

Eggs, flour, sugar, butter.

What?

You think I have them all stored
in the pantry?

We are living off rations.

No ingredients, no cake.

Now, run along.

How are we going to find
the ingredients?

If only we could buy some, I know
the girls would pitch in.

That's a great idea, but there's no
time to go to the village and back.

BOTH: Ron!

THEY LAUGH

I don't understand
how I'm meant to learn my lines

and make the bunting.

It's unfair that Georgina's
expecting so much from you.

I know you don't want to cause
a fuss, but if you told her

about your father, I'm sure...
My father?

I, er...

Darrell told me
about him being ill.

What?!

She promised
she wouldn't tell anyone. I...

She, she meant well.

Meant well?!

Listen here, Mary-Lou,
don't breathe a word of this.

Of course, I won't.

Please, Gwen,
don't be cross with her.

She was only trying to help.

I don't need Darrell's help.

Please! I need to finish this book
by tomorrow and write up a critique.

Sorry.

Goodness! I wish I could be as
relaxed about work as you two -

playing music and learning lines -
but some of us need to study.

Yes. Sorry.

She just finds it difficult
to concentrate.

It's not the only thing
she finds difficult.

She's awfully rude.

I was going to turn it down.

Ellen will have no friends with
such an attitude.

JAZZ MUSIC PLAYS

Jean, you seem to have cheered up.

Has your hamper arrived?

Hamper or not,
it's my birthday.

I'm going to have fun,
one way or another.

Alicia, fun is great,

but promise me nobody's
going to get in trouble.

She's up to something.

Bonjour!

Mademoiselle?
Er, where's Mr Parker?

There's been a change in lessons
this morning.

You lucky girls have French first.

Now, hand over your prep,
s'il vous plait.

Mr Parker would've found it funny.

Mademoiselle isn't supposed
to see it.

Merci.

Merci, Alicia.

Quick, take it down.

Er, Mademoiselle...

Oui, Darrell?

It's Alicia's birthday today,

so we'd love it if you could
teach us Happy Birthday in French.

But of course.
What a wonderful idea.

Sorry, Mademoiselle,
I seem to have dropped my pencil.

Wait.

Come join me at the front.

Allez.

Merci.

Allez, allez. Merci.

Mary-Lou.

Here.

Alors...

Joyeux...

..anniversaire.

Come on.

Girls, repeat after me.

# Joyeux anniversaire

# Joyeux anniversaire

# Joyeux anniversaire, Alicia

# Joyeux anniversaire. #

Alicia. Alicia, we can't leave.

What if Mademoiselle finds it?

She'll be mortified to learn
I'm the one who drew it.

Don't worry,
I'll come back and get it.

Oh... Mary-Lou, I promise,
I won't let you get in trouble.

Ron's family must be really good
friends with the grocer

to get us butter and sugar
so quickly.

We must be sure to save him
a slice.

Right, girls, we are going to pick
up where we left off last week.

May we bake a cake now?

We were thinking a vanilla sponge
with chocolate buttercream, Matron.

Well, I suppose a deal is a deal,

and I wouldn't want
all of this to go to waste.

Thank you, Matron.

Where's Alicia Johns?

Mademoiselle kept her back
to do her prep.

She'll be here soon.

Well, that girl could do
with some life skills,

but I will excuse her for today.

My goodness, I hope she
realises how lucky she is.

Oh, you girls are spoilt.

When I was your age, my mama
used to make us cakes

out of beef dripping.

Right,

sift this into a bowl.

Are those supposed to be triangles
Gwendoline?

At your great age,

you really ought to learn
how to use a pair of scissors.

Look at this butter.

HUMMING

SHE CONTINUES HUMMING

SHE STOPS HUMMING ABRUPTLY

SHE GASPS

Quelle horreur!

Oh, can I smell it?

Yes, you can smell it,
but do not...

Ah, Miss Johns,
so good of you to join us.

Hide it! Don't... Let her...
Where is the drawing? I tried to...

Desole, Matron,

but I need the girls back
in the classroom.

All of you now.

Excuse me, Miss Rougier, but
we are just in the middle of...

Tout suite!

Allez.

You heard her. Off you go.

I'm sorry.

Well, I suppose we'll
finish baking the cake later?

It seems you're in trouble, child.

Do you really think
you deserve treats?

Close the door on your way out.

Allez.

Mam'zelle...

..whatever the matter is,

I can assure you that
I've had no part in it.

So, please may I be excused
for rehearsals?

Asseyez toi.

Allez.

Qui a dessine ca?

Irene, was this you?

Did you do this because
I played a little prank myself

with Mr Parker's note?

Huh?

Very well.

No-one is to leave until
the coupable confesses.

Oh.

Oh!

Ah...

SHE SIGHS

Mm...

C'est de toi?

You?

Tell her.

Silence!

Mettez vos mains sur la tete.

Allez!

You English girls have no respect!

Unless one of you confesses,
I will punish all of you.

Starting with detention for a week.

Is that what do you think of me?

That I spend all my days running
away from spiders and Matron?

No, of course not.

I foolishly thought
you all respected me.

But to see you have been mocking me
all this time!

No, Mam'zelle, we really haven't.

Well, one of you has!

Just give me a name and
I won't punish the entire class.

I see.

I have to teach you to respect me.

You will now have a French test.

French test? I'm not ready
for a French test!

Actually, no, no.

You will have a test
in all of your subjects.

I will speak to Miss Grayling
and make sure of it.

Oh, and...and I will write to
each of your parents about this.

Write to our parents?

Please, Mam'zelle, you mustn't.

I didn't draw the caricature.

Please... Mam'zelle, it was me.

It was meant to be a joke.

A joke!

You think I am a joke?

And Matron - you want to
make fun of us?

Let us see if Miss Grayling
finds your joke funny.

Come with me. Mam'zelle, please,

I'm sorry.

I am disappointed in all of you.

Out of my class! Allez!

SHE SIGHS

Oh!

SHE CLEARS HER THROAT

I agree this is disrespectful,

and I second your decision

for an impromptu mid-term test...
Hm!

..especially for the girls
who knew this.

Although...

..I must say, Alicia,
I didn't realise you were

such a gifted artist. Artist?

This is not art.

I shall commend your art mistress
for the progress you've made.

I would love to see more
of your drawings.

In fact,
why don't we see right now?

Draw me.

I really prefer to work in private.

Don't worry,
it'll be for our eyes only.

Please.

If you insist.

You're late.

It was Alicia's fault.

She decided to play
the most awful prank.

Is that the bunting?

I haven't finished it yet.

Oh, Gwendoline, you know the set
is just as important as the acting.

Now, take your position
and let's start from the top.

Um...one moment. Um...

Do you not know your lines?

No, no, I do.
It's just...I've had a lot to do.

Making the bunting,
learning my lines,

and Mam'zelle Rougier's
just set us tests.

Georgina, it's not easy for me
to say this, and...

please don't tell anyone.
It's just...

..my father -
he's not very well at all,

you see, and I'm ever
so nervous about him.

I don't have time for melodrama,
Gwendoline.

My papa says excuses
are for the week.

Do you realise how fortunate
you are to have a part in my play?

Now, pull yourself together.

Otherwise I will have to
replace you.

GIRLS LAUGHING

KNOCKING ON DOOR

What are you doing here?

Oh, I, uh... Miss Grayling, I...

Alicia... Oh, for goodness' sake!

I found this one loitering outside,
Miss Grayling.

It was me, I drew the caricature.

Come in.

Let's sort this out.

I'm so sorry, I...I drew
the picture, not Alicia.

If anyone should be getting
into trouble, it should be me.

She's lying to protect her friend.

I know Mary-Lou and...
..and this is not her.

It seems it's not Alicia, either.

Mary-Lou, my fille preferee!
How can you do this to me?

Mam'zelle, please.

We didn't mean to upset you.

As I said, we only meant
for it to be a joke.

Yes, we can see that.

An unfortunate joke that was
played on the wrong person

and for which there
will be consequences.

You girls may leave now.

Ah, I beg your pardon,
but what have I missed?

This!

Oh!

Little Mary Lou drew this?

She and Alicia
have made fools of us.

I am shocked that Mary Lou let a
pencil run away with her.

Oh, but do you not see
the funny side?

What is this funny side
that the English speak of so much?

It is not funny!

Oh, come on.

Look at me.

SHE LAUGHS

I do swear by a good dose of
cod liver oil!

And I think you look
rather impressive, Miss Rougier.

I think a test is enough
to teach the girls.

They must realise
that they represent one another.

What about Mary-Lou and Alicia?

Extra prep, perhaps?

Ah. Have no fear, Miss Rougier.

I will arrange something suitable
for Mary-Lou and Alicia to do.

I know Alicia was in the wrong,
but no-one deserves to be punished

on their birthday. I mean, we
don't even have a cake for her now.

I've got some cola cubes
we can share.

I have some ginger snaps.

Can you please be quiet?

I'm trying to learn my lines.

Georgina was furious with me
earlier.

Just come, let me read with you.

Don't you think you've done enough?

Telling Mary Lou about my father
when you promised you wouldn't?

I'm so sorry, Gwen.
I know I shouldn't have, but...

..I know she wouldn't say anything,
I just wanted Mary-Lou to help you.

Fine. Seeing as you want to.

I do not want to see any creases.

Matron, I'd like to apologise again.

I'm truly upset
to have caused offence.

Let that be a lesson to you.

Oh, before I forget, Alicia,
your parents sent a telegram.

There's been a delay but your
hamper will be arriving soon.

Oh, that's great news!

It doesn't really matter now.

This has been the worst
birthday ever.

SHE SIGHS

I'm glad this day is almost over.

I owe you all an apology,
especially you, Mary Lou.

Apology accepted,
but no more tricks.

That's a big ask.

I'll think about it.

Are you all right?

I heard what Gwen said about me
in the common room earlier.

I didn't mean to be rude.

No-one really listens to Gwen.

She's a fine one to talk anyway.

Come on. Let's go over some maths.

Oh!

A birthday cake!

I really should not be bringing
this to you at bedtime.

But... Thank you so much!

Um...

Matron. Yes? Well,

obviously, I had to grade
your efforts.

THEY LAUGH

You baked this for me?
That's what you were doing.

Thank you. You really are the best.

Make a wish. Come along now.
I don't have all evening.

Blow out the candle, please, Alicia,
before I have to leave.

ALL: Happy birthday!