MALORY TOWERS

SERIES 2

ELLEN CASTING SCENES

From EPISODES 1 and 3

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ELLEN WILSON

New girl Ellen is nervous and serious and often looks

worried. Compared to the other girls, her uniform is a bit
shabby uniform (it’s obviously second hand) and she brings
her clothes to the school in huge canvas bag rather than a
trunk. She initially seems keen to keep herself to herself
and avoid the spotlight. She’s watchful and shy (the girls
initially misinterpret this as unfriendly), but she can be
surprisingly fierce and determined if under pressure.

Ellen is a scholarship girl - which means that the school

pays her fees because they believe she is a good student who
would not otherwise be able to go to Malory Towers. Ellen is
a very bright girl and a good worker. She would do very well
in her exams given the chance and if she can only overcome
her nervousness about life at Malory Towers.

Ellen has worked hard to fulfil her dream of getting a good

education and escaping from her drab life. Her parents are no
longer alive and she lives with, and looks after, her aunt
who is poor and kind but doesn’t understand why Ellen wants a
good education – and even though Ellen’s got a scholarship,
her aunt has struggled to get the full list of uniform
together and fund the other requirements for the school.

During the series, we see Ellen wear herself out and feel
under a lot of pressure about keeping up with all the school
work and wanting to make friends, but finding that hard. She
is soon under huge stress and suffering from anxiety. She
feels like a fish out of water around all the other girls who
seem so confident – and so talented at things she’s never
even tried. Ellen has never been taught Latin or French, she
has never played lacrosse and can’t swim. She seems to think
she’s “no good” at these things – but actually she’s just
never been given the opportunity to learn them.

When Ellen first arrives at Malory Towers she is befriended

by Gwen, the glamorous and spoilt very rich girl. Gwen,
however, doesn’t really want to be friends with Ellen: she
wants Ellen to help her with her school work. After all,
scholarship girls like Ellen are very clever.

The other girls see how Gwen dominates Ellen and would like
to make Ellen more part of the group.
Scene 1
1

It’s Ellen’s first day and the girls go to the outdoor

swimming pool. Gwen, who hates swimming, has grabbed Ellen
and gone to the pool with her. Gwen hopes that Ellen will
share her dislike of the water and of all sports. None of the
other girls know that Ellen has never learnt to swim.

1 EXT. SWIMMING POOL - DAY 2 1

The girls head to the pool - Gwen is guiding Ellen towards a

seat on the rocks at the side. Darrell is in already!
Start DARRELL
Come on in, Ellen! You’ll love it.

GWEN
(to Ellen)
It’s not. It’s ghastly! Freezing
cold and SEAWEED - and CRABS!!

Jean and Alicia are just behind Gwen and Ellen and hear this.
Alicia thinks Gwen is cramping Ellen’s style and is
determined to help her. Alicia hurries to Ellen and before
Ellen can protest is pulling her towards the water -

ALICIA
No! Let go, Gwen. Ellen - this way!

ELLEN
Wait a sec. I - er...

ALICIA
Come on -

ELLEN
Thing is - I...

ALICIA
Don’t let Gwen talk you out of it.

Alicia takes her hand and pulls her -

ELLEN
But I can’t -

ALICIA
Yes you can! Follow me!

Alicia’s grabbed Ellen’s hand and is running with her - they

jump off the edge and SPLASH into the water -

Alicia rises laughing but Ellen splutters and struggles.

 2

ELLEN
Help! Help!

Alicia immediately responds and grabs her - as does Darrell

who is right by her -

DARRELL
Are you all right?

ELLEN
(nods)
I - I can’t swim -

ALICIA
Why in heaven’s name didn’t you
SAY?!

ELLEN
I tried!

Gwen stands on the side triumphant. End

CUT TO:
Scene 2
3

Earlier in the day, Ellen had walked off a lacrosse pitch

during games because she was feeling different to the other
girls. She realised that her sports uniform was old and faded
compared to them. She also felt awkward because she had never
played Lacrosse before. The pressure of trying to fit in but
feeling as if she wasn’t succeeding made Ellen tell the
teachers she was unwell and had to leave. Some of the other
girls, especially Jean, are starting to worry about Ellen and
they feel that she needs more of their support.

When the next scene starts, Jean has found a stray cat in the
school grounds and wants to keep it for herself.

2 INT. DORMITORY - DAY 1 2

Jean is alone in the dorm, trying to find somewhere to hide a

small basket. She tries beside the cupboard but it doesn’t
fit. Ellen comes in, moody and preoccupied. Jean looks
guilty.
Start ELLEN
What’s going on?

JEAN
Nothing.

ELLEN
What’s that?

JEAN
I don’t want to get you in trouble.

ELLEN
Show me.

Jean hesitates, decides she can trust her. She puts the
basket on her bed. Opens it.

Jean has put the cat in it the basket!

Ellen’s heart melts. For the first time we see a warm,

genuine smile. She looks like a different person.

ELLEN (CONT'D)
Hello little fellow.
(she strokes the cat)
What are you doing with him?

JEAN
He ate Matron’s kippers.
 4

ELLEN
(delighted)
Really?

JEAN
Yes. I need to find somewhere to
hide him.

ELLEN
Oh, I’ll help.

JEAN
Thanks.
End
Ellen smiles at her. The beginning of a friendship?

CUT TO:
Scene 3
5

Ellen is feeling happier after seeing the cat and feeling as

if Jean might be a friend. It has given her more confidence
to face up to Gwen, who is always asking for help with her
school work but not offering Ellen true friendship.

Later that day -

3 INT. CORRIDOR. OUTSIDE CLASSROOM - DAY 1 3

Various pupils are heading back to their dorms. Gwen hurries

to catch up with her. Ellen keeps walking.
Start GWEN
Ellen, wait! I need to tell you
something.

Ellen reluctantly stops.

ELLEN
What?

GWEN
I want you to know that although
you come from poverty, I’m still
going to be your friend.

Gwen thinks she’s being gracious.

ELLEN
Goodness, thanks.

Her sarcasm is lost on Gwen.

GWEN
That’s alright. So, I thought
perhaps we could do our science
prep together?

ELLEN
I don’t think so.

GWEN
I’ll bring sweets!

ELLEN
Gwendoline, I have enough trouble
doing my own work. I don’t have
time to explain everything to you
as well.
 6

GWEN
I don’t understand. You’re a
scholarship student - that means
you’re practically a genius!

ELLEN
No, I just work really, really
hard. That’s how I got the
scholarship. You’ll have to do your
own prep.

She strides off. Gwen watches her go, dismayed. End

CUT TO:
Scene 4 7

Matron has discovered the cat and told Ron, the handyman, to
take it away from the school. This really upsets Ellen, who
is once again feeling the pressure of not fitting into the
school with the other girls. She tries to calm herself by
taking her books into a quiet room on her own and
concentrating on her school work.

4 INT. CHANGING ROOMS - DAY 1 4

Ellen is hunched up on a bench, frantically trying to read a

text book. But she’s frustrated and can’t focus.

She hears the door open. Her heart sinks. She just wants to
be left alone.

Matron enters, doesn’t see Ellen. She sighs when she finds
some muddy plimsolls discarded on the floor. As she gathers
them she finally notices Ellen.
Start MATRON
Why aren’t you upstairs getting
ready with the others?

ELLEN
I just wanted some peace and quiet
so I could try and concentrate.

MATRON
We never finished our conversation
about what happened during games.

Ellen braces herself for trouble. Matron goes to speak... and

catches herself. To Ellen’s surprise, Matron sits next to
her. Warm and sympathetic.

MATRON (CONT'D)
It’s hard fitting in, isn’t it?

Ellen is wary, suspecting a trap.

MATRON (CONT'D)
Most of the other girls come from
backgrounds people like you and me
can only dream of. But you, you’ll
have a good life. Just do your
work, show people what you’re
capable of.
 8

ELLEN
What’s the point? My whole family
know that I’m just going to end up
looking after my aunt as she gets
older. My brother, he might have a
life of his own. Marry who he
chooses, get a job. But me...

She shrugs her shoulders - it’s hopeless.

MATRON
There’s a lot of satisfaction to be
had helping other people.

ELLEN
But who’s going to help me? When do
I get a life?

Matron has no answer.

ELLEN (CONT'D)
I had to leave all my friends so I
could come here and get an
education I’ll never be able to
use. I wish I’d never won that
stupid scholarship.

Matron looks at her with sad eyes. End

CUT TO: