Reliving History Dead Gorgeous

# Some things have changed

# Some things have stayed the same

# Life and death are not so far apart

# Hopping through the walls

# And I wouldn't have it any other way

# Life and death are not so far apart

# From where we are

# Some thing have changed

# Some things have stayed the same

# Life and death are not so far apart. #

Breathe in, guys, the rich history.

If only the walls could speak, tell me what life was like back then.

I can, Mr Doyle! Ask me anything. I will gladly assist.

How do you know, Rebecca?

Um, Rebecca is obsessed with history.

Not all history. Specifically this place, 150 years ago.

It's great!

All classes will be involved in a living history day this Friday.

Wonderful! We...

The girls were expected to change outfits at least three times a day.

-It was a resplendent time.

-Indeed it was.

You will be the people who lived and worked here 150 years ago.

It's going to be marvellous. I, myself, will be lord of the manor.

Rebecca, you can be the eldest daughter.

-Well, my sisters could be...my sisters.

-Good.

And Miss Sinclair can be your governess.

It is my understanding that the eldest sister

had many suitors that would call on her and tell her how very pretty she was.

Ah, yes. Who can be Rebecca's suitors?

David.

And...Jonathan.

You three can be Rebecca's servants. LAUGHTER

- Seriously? - Yes, seriously.

All the rest of the students will be the convicts.

-Or maybe Rose.

-Rebecca!

Relax and breathe!

I am a little excited.

Though Haiwyn is no more like our darling Milfred

than Mr Griffith is like Father.

Nevertheless, it is a cause for celebration.

Especially for Sophie.

Oh, no. I would rather we forgot about that.

How could we forget? You're turning 14.

Actually, I'll be 164. Far too many candles to squeeze onto a cake.

On the other hand, your skin is amazing for 164!

Still, my last birthday was truly wonderful!

I think I would rather ignore this one.

Sophie, I realise that receiving Splendour, such a perfect pony,

is a gift that cannot be matched.

Yet, if we wish to resume living, we must age.

Even...if we...don't?

I would give anything to ride Splendour again.

Yet, I cannot, so please,

no celebrations?

You simply must celebrate. Do not worry. It will be special.

Agatha?

Hello! I've been with Buddy at his high school reunion.

It pays to weigh nothing when they throw you over their heads.

It would do us a great honour

if you could attend Sophie's 164th birthday pyjama party.

I wouldn't miss it for the world.

-Presents. What does she want?

-One thing would make Sophie happy.

A last ride on her pony, Splendour. Can you find his ghost?

Animal ghosts are not really my area but I will ask.

Thank you.

Welcome back, Pentonvillians. Let's get these costumes sorted.

Convict girls, come and grab your nighties and shower caps.

Convict boys, here are your new PJs. Enjoy.

Oh, and no make-up or jewellery.

Mr Doyle, me Piper and Danni, we're way more suited to looking good.

It's comes naturally.

Role play is not just about what comes naturally.

My name. So I can, like, court you.

-Mr Griffiths told me to do it.

-Yeah. Me, too.

You expect me to take

these poor approximations of visiting cards seriously?

I wrote my name down. I spelled it right.

Visiting cards should be both heartfelt and eloquent.

-What's an eloquent?

-I can do you a heartfelt eloquent visiting card.

Still don't know what an eloquent is.

Sophie, I do not want to be myself 150 years ago.

I've already been myself 150 years ago!

I want to be something different.

I want to be a convict.

Hazel! Goodness! And Rebecca wishes to wear red. In the morning?

Listen up. I've decided there'll be no technology from midnight

for living history day.

No phones, no computers,

no hairdryers, no MP3 players for 24 hours.

I mean no offence, Mr Griffith, but...may I be a convict, too?

I wish dearly to run around in pyjamas and bare feet.

What an odd request! I thought you'd prefer a more ladylike costume.

It is clear you've never worn a corset.

Neither have I. >

They look terribly uncomfortable and interfere with a desire to eat.

If that's what you really want. Catch.

"My advice to you, as your best friend,

"is stop obsessing about David and consider obsessing about me.

"He's better looking, in an obvious way, but..."

"Dear Rebecca. You're dead and I'm not."

"My love for you is as strong as death."

BOTH: Six, five, four, three,

two, one!

-Happy...

-Birthday!

164 years old! You don't look a day over 14.

And...

I cannot believe you went to this trouble.

My darling Sophie. It was no trouble at all.

Thank you.

LAUGHING AND VOICES >

Where are you?

I can see you! You can't see me!

Sophie, where are you going?

SCREAMS

-Haiwyn.

-Did she see you?

-I do not know.

Haiwyn, the paramedics will take care of you.

We've upset the spirits. The blind one tried to kill me.

There are others in the rafters, laughing like lunatics. >

It's a warning!

-We have to abandon living history day.

-Haiwyn, you're concussed.

I can't believe you survived such a terrible fall!

What possessed you to climb onto a dangerous ladder at night? >

Spirits! No!

I have to stay here and issue instructions.

I mean, protect the children!

She needs total rest. Haiwyn, take care.

Don't call tomorrow. The phones will all be off.

Everyone, back to bed. Living history day starts at dawn!

Pretty good birthday present, not having to put up with Hagwyn!

A-hm.

Don't open it till tomorrow.

-Will we be in trouble with the ghost council?

-Not if I don't tell them.

Have you managed to enquire about Splendour?

Ghost ponies roam far and wide, which is a tad annoying.

They do have a fondness for bananas. Always stealing them.

Grendall is scouring the banana fields of the great beyond.

We'll know more soon. Ta-ta.

How perfect is it for Jonathan to propose before David?

How perfectly romantically stupid!

Works better if you stand the logs on their heads, sir.

Feel free to help out.

The rest of you keep foraging. We're going to need plenty of wood.

Hazel, Mattie, get squeezing!

These just need to be filled. And there's muffins to bake!

May I help too? I adore muffins.

-And chocolate and crisps and pancakes and doughnuts!

-Yes.

But you swapped roles. See that pot boiling?

That's your convict oatmeal.

I do not think I entirely thought this convict thing through.

Christine?

The flowers for my hair, please.

Take your flowers. Here.

I should have been the sister.

Perhaps you would be well suited to telling people what to do.

Your manners are a little coarse for the period.

Shut up! My manners are amazing!

Did you roll your eyes at me? You can't!

-That's what

-I

-do to you!

I absolutely must look my best today.

Good morning. You're all looking resplendent.

I trust you have hearty appetites for an auspicious day.

You are taking this seriously, aren't you, headmaster?

Absolutely, Mrs Miller.

Although, we're married now.

Darling.

Um, I might see where the lemonade is.

This is the perfect breakfast for my birthday. Thank you.

-I trust you're expecting friends to pass the day?

-Can I be your friend?

I mean, I think she's weird, but for living history day.

Me too. As long as I can change outfits. Please?

Fine.

Traitors!

I do not want them. I would rather spend my birthday alone.

At least you have the opportunity to wear your clothes again.

I do feel a great deal happier, now my calves are no longer exposed.

Eugh. This porridge tastes remarkably like cardboard.

-You've tasted cardboard?

-Once!

This stuff's good for something else.

- Hair gel. - What an excellent idea!

-You guys are so nuts.

-You're looking for "stylish".

We look terribly stylish!

Hazel, what's up?

That horse and cart. I must do something terribly urgent.

I see the first of your suitors has arrived.

He's not supposed to see me in the green.

-I planned on restyling my hair.

-May I please pat the horse?

Girls, sit. Both of you. Your guests should be properly received.

Properly, he would not dare call when I'm wearing green.

I love this show! He's a psychic, and they're all dead.

They tell him their unfinished business.

He tells the studio audience, who can't hear them...

-Sorry, Agatha, but I came to talk about Splendour.

-Yes, of course.

Well, I have some wonderful news.

He died of a broken heart for Sophie.

-How is that wonderful?

-Because he has unfinished business.

Just like the ghosts on the television.

Hey. How's it going?

That car ride thingy was kinda fun.

-Want to hang out?

-You have not found your inner eloquence, have you?

I have, though. Found my eloquence.

And my research, too.

Here.

Tis far too hurried, Jonathan.

I must retire to gather my thoughts.

-Christine.

-Do not worry. My sister will assist.

Is it the same as being told that you're beautiful? It does not feel the same.

-You're working your fingers to the bone!

-Why did you volunteer?

Actually, I'm having fun.

Yet, clearly, you are not.

What about you, Sophie? How's your birthday?

There is a horse here and I truly want to pet it.

Instead, she must receive Piper and Danni as her friends.

He reminds me of Splendour. I miss him so much.

Do not worry, Sophie. I will create a diversion.

I must change.

Those dresses belong to me!

Surely servants were not permitted to steal dresses.

So? We're not your servants any more.

I really need that rose dress back. Tis terribly important.

-Tough.

-We'll see you at the rear terrace.

I will do that!

Thanks. That's the one good thing that's happened to me all day.

-I hate being a convict.

-I love it!

No shoes. Nobody telling us how to behave.

Everyone expects us to behave badly!

Surprised you haven't realised that.

You're right. I've been being way too nice.

Really? I did not think that was possible!

Well, it is. Now I'm going to behave badly.

Really badly.

I have come to ask for your consent to walk out with Rebecca.

Why would she want to walk out? Shouldn't she walk in?

Thank you, master Jonathan.

That level of courtship may be premature.

I'm supposed to be her suitor. No-one wants me to do any suiting.

Gather round, all. Mr Doyle, care to explain?

Sure. Thank you, Mr Griffith. Dating was elaborate then.

The boy would write, offering the girl his visiting card.

Then he'd visit, hoping it would lead to walking out together.

-Why didn't he just ask her?

-Maybe she didn't have a choice.

She did. Holding her fan half open showed she ranked him as a friend.

Had she had the fan fully open, I would have offered my consent.

-How long do they walk around for?

-At least a year.

They would be escorted, and never held hands.

A year?

That'll leave no time for football.

I don't want to be a suit man.

The correct word is "suitor". Not that it matters now.

But can I back out?

No offence, just to me, 150 years ago seems weird.

The buggy thing was kinda fun.

At least everyone understood how to behave, and people's feelings were treated with respect.

-Ow!

-Ssh.

-What?

-The word you're trying to pronounce is "ouch".

What do you do for fun, besides correcting each other's...

..English?

-Well, it's been wild, but got to go.

-Party hard.

Now you can pet the horse!

Oh, thank you, Hazel! Will you come?

-I wish to watch the rioting.

-Rioting? Actual rioting?

-Will the property be vandalised?

-Hopefully.

Do not worry. Just go.

Oh.

You're not the only one whose feelings

haven't been treated with respect.

-Did I hurt your feelings?

-Yes, Rebecca. You did.

Jonathan, I am so sorry. I cannot comprehend my behaviour today.

I enjoyed watching Christine, Piper and Danni squirm far too much.

I wanted today to be a day where everything was as it used to be.

But I was wrong.

After all, 150 years ago, I did not know you. Can you forgive me?

Course. But now I have to go back to my croquet.

This stall was Splendour's.

He wasn't dark like you, but pure white.

I wish I could tell him why I stopped coming to ride him.

HORSE WHINNIES >

That is strange.

I can almost hear him.

-CHRISTINE:

-Convict freedom! >

Living history, living hell! >

CROWD: Convict freedom! Living history, living hell.

It's child labour, and it's against school rules.

I want to wear lipstick and eat chips!

-What do we want?

-Food!

-And what else?

-EVERYONE: Lipstick!

BOYS: Er... Football.

-And when do we want it?

-EVERYONE: Now!

-How do we get it?

-EVERYONE: Riot!

I want chips, too!

-BELL RINGS

-Is that...?

Hazel. She's got a bit carried away.

This is so unfair. I want my lipstick and I want my chips.

-What do we want?

-EVERYONE: Chips! We want chips!

- We want chips! We want chips! - No more work!

-What exactly are you doing?

-Protesting. We're hungry.

-You should think about our rights.

-CROWD: Yeah!

-You are doing this for everybody?

-Yes.

-If you could swap roles, you would not be interested?

-Swap to what?

As Hazel would like to be a convict, I am short a sister.

But you would not want that, as you were protesting for everybody.

They can fight their own battles. Sure. I'll be your sister.

CROWD: We still want chips! We still want chips!

I could not agree more so, to thank you for all your hard work,

I am declaring this day a day of rest for all convicts!

CHEERS AND WHOOPS

A picnic will be provided of tea and cucumber sandwiches, prepared by myself

and my sisters.

I have also arranged for you each to be paid

what you would have been paid 150 years ago, by the estate.

-Isn't that right, Father?

-Agreed.

CHEERING

Here you are.

I love being your sister.

-You did really well.

-Oh.

Even though David did not call me beautiful.

-How are you? This has not been a perfect birthday.

-I do not mind.

It's not over yet, Sophie.

Oh!

OK. Stay there.

-Are you ready?

-Yes.

< WHINNIES

Oh, Splendour!

I missed you SO much today!

Thank you all, for the best birthday present ever!

How did you find him?

We didn't. He found her.

Go on, Sophie. One last ride.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

# Some things have changed

# Some things have stayed the same

# Life and death are not so far apart. #