Malory Towers (2020–…): Season 2, Episode 6 - The Runaway - full transcript

What are you doing?

Have you been revising all night?

My history dates!
Oh, no!

Let me help. Sorry.

Leave them.

Where's the fire? There is no fire,
Alicia, just a beautiful day

with a challenging test
to look forward to.

And against my better judgment,
Miss Grayling has decided

that the half term dance...

..WILL go ahead later.

Matron, can we play this? It's super
snappy, so even you'll be dancing.



Hmm.

I think a sedate bit of waltzing
will do for you, madam.

Ellen, come on.

You must know it all now.

Poor you. It must be rotten
being a scholarship girl.

Excuse me?

Only you have to come top.

One bad result, and, well,
it's bye-bye, Ellen.

Breakfast? Uh, one second,
can you look at this?

"How to save Malory Towers."
One, find Lady Jane's treasure,

"2, write to parents asking them
to donate."

That's a great idea. Except
it's still a secret, so we can't.

And then Gwen told me...
Told you what?

Gwen, diaries are private.
Not if they're about me.



Anyone could read it and find out.

Find out what?
Gwen, I was winding you up.

Come on, Sally.

Ellen, buck up, you can't miss
breakfast, it's not allowed.

But the test. History dates
are bound to come up.

Can you cover for me, please?

I have to do well.

My aunt said I'd never get
a scholarship here, but I did.

I got here.

I can't go back.

If I do, I'm stuck looking
after her forever.

She doesn't even like me.

I'll cover.

I'll bring some toast back. Thanks.

"Richard I - 1189 to 1199.

"King John, 1199 to 12...

..16."

OFF-SCREEN: Ellen's looking terribly
dead. She must be really tired.

I told you about my father
in the strictest confidence.

And I only told Mary Lou
because I thought it would help.

And now you've written it
in your diary.

Will you stop going on about
my diary. The only people I know are

me, you, Mary Lou - nobody else.

Oh, Gwen, I've managed to mislay
that half crown Miss Grayling

gave you for costumes and props.

There's a sherbet Dip Dab
for whoever finds it.

Spread the word. Will do.

Oh, how's your father? Any news?

Ever so sweet of you to ask, but I'd
really rather not talk about it.

Understood. Chin up.

Well, let...let's run lines
after class, and you'll need to get

started on the posters, too.
They really should be up by now.

Oh, and programme notes?

Good luck with the test.

Who's that for?

Who's what for?

Ellen Wilson, I have not seen her
eating breakfast, where is she?

She came down really early.

You must have passed her
in the corridor. Mm.

You're bound to ace this.
You've worked so hard.

So, the moment of truth.

If everybody's ready,
you may turn your papers

over and start the test.

SHE HUMS TO HERSELF

SWING MUSIC PLAYS

# Doo-doo! Doo-doo-doo-doo! #

SHE CHUCKLES

SHE SIGHS

OK, we have just a few
more seconds left.

Time's up, pencils down, please.

Did you finish it?

No.

I really thought I'd flunk it,
but I even had time to check it all.

What did you get for the question
about Newton?

The one with G and acceleration?
Yeah.

I think the G meant gravity.
I put 32 feet per second.

Well, at least I got the gravity
bit.

Actually it's 32 feet
per second per second.

Acceleration is equal to twice
the distance travelled

by the square of time.

You took the words right
out of my mouth.

So, what did you put for the
question on the Trojan War?

What? You know, the same page
as those hideous trig equations?

Trig equations. There weren't any.

Could you have missed a page?

I must have...

..failed. I've actually made...

Oh, it was a mistake - that's all.

I'm sure Mr Parker will understand.

That test was ridiculous. Who cares?
We're free now until the dance.

Gwen? What?

I wasn't doing anything.

You'll be better off
learning your lines.

Come on, let's celebrate.

Miss Rivers, may I request
your hand for a dance?

Gwen, it's private. Hands off.

Gwen, are you ready to rehearse?

Of course. But did you find that
half crown for the costumes?

No, not yet.

Well, we must.

I suppose you're right.

Let's look in the dining hall.
I definitely had it there.

Actually, you make a start
in the classrooms.

Sorry.

Watch it. Sorry.

Everyone, Ellen ran off after the
test. I can't find her anywhere.

Why? She aced it.
Except she didn't.

Poor thing.
She somehow missed a chunk.

That sounds like the sort
of thing I would do.

Oh, should we tell Mr Parker?

No, we should find her first.
She can't have gone far.

Ellen's always wound up tight.
Maybe she just needs some time.

You didn't see how upset she was.

Darrell, Alicia and I will check
outside,

the rest of you,
search the school.

Gwendolyn, what are you doing?

I'm looking for something.

Well, could you look later? I need
some quiet to mark your tests.

Yes.

About that test.

The questions - they just...
They didn't go my way.

Hmm. It's funny how often that
happens to you.

That half a crown?

Is it yours? Only, that's what I've
been looking for.

It was on the floor.
I found it earlier.

It's Georgina's. She's been looking
for it everywhere.

May I take it to her?

OFF-SCREEN: You sure,
we looked everywhere?

OFF-SCREEN: Oh, we haven't tried the
changing rooms. You sure?

Yes, let's try.

She's not here.

Maybe we should check outside again.

Perhaps she's just got her head
stuck in some book.

I hope she doesn't run away. That's
the last thing Miss Grayling needs.

Why?

What's wrong with Miss Grayling?

Uh, maybe, maybe we should just try
the tennis courts again?

Count me out. I've got better things
to do than look for Ellen.

Really, Gwen, you could have started
on the posters.

What are you doing?

I'm looking for the missing money.

Georgina, look. There I found it.

Oh, that's brilliant, Gwen.
You win the sherbet Dip Dab.

Now, we can rehearse.

I can't possibly rehearse.

The dance is soon and Miss
Grayling was most insistent

that we looked our best.

You understand.

I can't possibly let her down.

Well, I suppose
if Miss Grayling said,

but we'll really have to motor
tomorrow.

Absolutely.

Is this yours?

You know, you don't want
to leave a diary around.

Anyone might read it.

You're right. Thank you.

Don't worry. When they make me leave
I'll try and take you, too.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

I could get someone?

I mean, if you want?

No, don't.

I came to see the cat.

I'm fine, honestly.

Ron? Oh, Darrell.

Is everything all right?

I'm not sure. There's a girl.
She's in your year.

She looks really upset.
Wait, is Ellen?

Yeah. We're looking for her.
She's in the potting shed.

Don't worry - we'll sort it.
You're a total brick. Thanks, Ron.

Ellen?

Where have you been?
We've all been looking for you.

Please, just leave me alone.

Well, you really can't stay here.

I failed.

Don't you see? I failed the test.

I can't lose my scholarship.

They'll make me leave.

That would be really rotten
and unfair. We'll speak up for you.

Darrell's right. We will.
Come on.

We really need to get you inside.

"How to save Malory Towers."

Ellen Wilson, why are you shaking
like that?

Maybe she's got a temperature?

Darrell, you're father may well be a
doctor, but you certainly are not.

Everything's gone wrong. Everything.

Well, now, it's the san for you.

Now, don't you worry,
I'll keep an eye on you.

Well, we could come and keep
her company?

Well, she's got me, doesn't she?

Now, you two go and get ready for
the dance.

Now, then, Ellen.

Little bit of quiet time tucked up
warm in bed.

You'll soon be right as rain.

Oh, dear. Come along now.

OFF-SCREEN: No, I was going
to say that.

Someone looks serious.

I'm afraid I am.

There's some terrible news.

We found Ellen.
She was in the potting shed.

What? She's safe now.

We left her with matron.

Give that back.

I will not.

How dare you dabble with us.
Keeping a secret like that.

What secret?

Are you going to tell them,
or shall I?

If it was in Darrell's diary,
you shouldn't have looked.

You'll be pleased I looked
when you hear. Gwen, please stop.

No! I won't!

It was utterly disgraceful
of you to keep this from us.

Seems like we need to know. Gwen?

Miss Grayling's run out of money.

Malory Towers is going to close.

HE CLEARS HIS THROAT

Matron?

SHE GASPS

I think you were resting your eyes.

That's it. That's the thing I
do, cos it focuses my thoughts.

I'm just going to have a word
with Ellen.

I've been speaking to Miss Grayling
about you.

We're both of the same mind.

How could I tell you? I shouldn't
have known, let alone all of you.

You see, there it is.

Darrell was only worried about
getting herself into trouble.

How selfish.

That's not fair, Gwen. I knew, too.

You told Sally?!
We both agreed.

We didn't want to scare you all.

That's a lot of worry to carry
around.

You can't feel sorry for them.

You shouldn't have read Darrell's
diary in the first place.

Well, I thought she was writing
about me.

Even if she was, you still shouldn't
have read it.

Of course, take Darrell's side
as usual.

Quelle surprise!

I've let you down.

You and Miss Grayling and Matron
have all been so kind.

Ellen, you need to listen.

Scholarship girls can't fail tests.

You want me to leave, don't you?

Ellen, what did Mr Parker just say?

No-one will ever
take your scholarship.

Really? Miss Grayling and I are
concerned about you, though.

You've had an attack of the nerves.

We understand why you've
concentrated on your classwork,

but being here isn't
just about being clever.

Do you mean sport?

I'm not great at that,
but I will try.

You don't need to get into a team,
Ellen,

but we would like you to be open
to new experiences.

There's far more to Malory Towers
than the classroom, and there's

far more to you, too.

Now, there's to be no more
school work until Matron says so.

You need to get better,
and you need to stop worrying.

And enjoy being here.

The treasure hunt.

It was real, wasn't it?

It really mattered. Well, we
thought if we find the treasure,

we could give it to Miss Grayling.

And save the school.

If it's really as bad as you think,

we'll have to go to new schools.

We'll never see each other.

Don't say that. Miss Grayling
will fight for this.

We just have to trust her.
Darrell's right.

We've still got the dance.
I don't feel like dancing now.

Let's go and see what snacks
they've got.

We need cheering up.

Come on, Jean.

It might really happen, and, then,
unless there's a miracle...

..no more Malory Towers.

SHE SNORES

Pick it up with two fingers.

DOOR CREAKS

DOOR OPENS

Ellen, how are you feeling?

So much better now.

That's why I sneaked out.

Mr Parker says they won't take my
scholarship.

See, we did try to tell you.

I really did think I had to be
the best.

Well, I'm the best, obviously.

Er, I thought it was me.
What did I get in French again?

Oh yes, D minus.

From now on, I want to be part
of everything.

What is it?
Did I...did I say something wrong?

We've had some bad news.

The school's run out of money.

It might close.

Is that why you're not dancing?

Well, we didn't feel like it.

Well, I think we should.

We deserve to enjoy ourselves even
more so now.

OFF-SCREEN: I have just the thing.

I sneaked into Matron's room
and took this back.

Come on, Darrell.

SWING MUSIC PLAYS

Come on, Ellen.

Come on, Gwen. Who knows when we
might get to dance again?

That's it. Yeah.

THEY GIGGLE

Are we ready?

ALL: Woo!

Again! ALL: Woo!

What in heaven's name?

MUSIC STOPS

I told you to stay in bed.
You need rest.

You should not be galumphing
about with the rest of the dorm.

Isn't this the one I confiscated?

Er, I have a copy, too.

It really is quite the thing,
Matron.

Here, Matron, you simply must try
one.

They're really good.

Matron, I promise I'll rest.

And Miss Grayling was terribly
keen on the dance.

Well, I suppose a bit of dancing
is fine,

as long as Ellen stays on the sofa.

You see, when we work together,
we can do anything.

MUSIC STARTS

Good show!

THEY GIGGLE

THEY LAUGH