A New Dawn The Worst Witch

I have a petition here demanding Miss Cackle be removed

-from the school.

-WHISPERS: What a traitor.

-This place is really scary.

-Go home, then.

-I can't.

My mum's even scarier.

I am no longer your headmistress.

Miss Hardbroom will continue as acting head

until a replacement can be found.

CAT MEOWS

SHE SCREAMS

CAT MEOWS

THUNDER RUMBLES

CAT MEOWS

WATER DRIPS

DRIPS HIT CUP

RAIN GRADUALLY STOPS

What is it? What's going on?

My room's just dried itself out.

-ENID:

-Miss Pentangle!

-CLARICE:

-Who's Miss Pentangle?

Only the coolest head teacher there is.

BEATRICE: What do you think she's doing here?

Isn't it obvious? She's here to take over.

Miss Cackle hasn't even moved out yet.

Maybe there's still a way to change the Great Wizard's mind.

-ETHEL:

-I think you've done quite enough, Mildred Hubble.

Don't blame Mildred.

It was your mother who stirred up all the trouble.

You went to the Magic Council to speak up for Miss Cackle,

and what happened? She got dismissed.

Good job, Mildred Hubble.

You always did like to make an entrance, Pippa.

Oh, Hecate - no harm in giving them a show!

What about the time when you materialised

in the middle of the school leavers' ball

in that silver gown and hat?

I'm quite sure that wasn't me.

SHE SCOFFS

To what do we owe the honour?

The Magic Council just wanted me

to pop by and put on some modern witching workshops.

M-Modern?

So here I am.

It is somewhat irregular.

I really should have been informed as acting headmistress.

Absolutely, dear Hecate. And, believe me,

the Council has every confidence in you.

They are well aware that your reputation as a strict

disciplinarian, stuck firmly in the past, is...

complete fiction.

Sorry, Miss Hardbroom, but some of the girls are wondering if...

if Miss Pentangle's going to be the new head.

MISS PENTANGLE LAUGHS

Nothing would make me leave Pentangle's.

Miss Pentangle is simply here to run some modern witching work...

-Shops.

-..shops.

-GIRLS:

-Yes!

Let's make a start, shall we, girls?

THEY CHAT HAPPILY

Modern witching might be cool.

It's not that.

My parents are visiting Miss Amulet's Academy today.

Mum says Miss Cackle IS the school.

Without her, they don't see the point of me staying.

But Amulet's is miles away.

And it's one of the places I got expelled from.

I bet they don't take anyone from non-witching families.

No.

We could all end up at different schools.

I do apologise, Ada.

No, no. It's your office now, by rights.

And, er, you really don't need to squash yourself away up there.

Please, stop tormenting yourself.

80% of the parents have signed a petition

calling for my dismissal.

It doesn't make them right.

I do not understand this appetite for change.

Even now, we have Miss Pentangle in the building

to teach modern magic.

Miss Pentangle?! Here?

Doesn't that worry you, Hecate?

I know, Pippa. And she says she would never leave Pentangle's.

But maybe she wouldn't have to.

I know that here at Cackle's you are

well aware of the power of the old chants,

thanks to Miss Bat.

But there are new ideas in chanting that can also be fun to explore.

-For example...

-Miss Pentangle. A word, if I may.

Well, we're right in the middle of some...

What about...the modern chanting?

You know I've always hated that.

Well met, Miss Cackle.

Well met, Miss Pentangle.

May I say, I'm sorry for how things have worked out.

CAT MEOWS

That is very easy for you to say, Pippa,

and I'm sure you wouldn't dream of leaving Pentangle's.

But perhaps in modern witching,

you don't have to leave one school to run another.

OK, I should have told you before I arrived.

I've heard the Council rumours.

A super head?

It's a silly title, really.

It just means I'd be head teacher of...

..both schools.

Is one not enough for you?

I-I really haven't made any decision yet. I...

Would you excuse me?

I have packing to do.

You weren't hoping to take over yourself, were you?

I am hoping that someone sees sense

and that Miss Cackle is reinstated.

You and Ada made a great team.

Maybe we could be, too.

Once more, girls. Give it plenty of zip!

OLD-FASHIONED MUSIC PLAYS

# Eye of toad, ear of bat

# Tooth of wold, tail of cat... #

-MUSIC STOPS

-Thank you, Miss Bat.

Now, girls, as I was saying,

old chants can be...

wonderful, can't they?

But they could use a little more...

..colour.

# To witching we bring

# This chant that we sing... #

-WITH HARMONIES:

-# Moving along

# Together we're strong... #

-FURTHER HARMONIES:

-# So all of us here

# Have nothing to fear. #

-Wow!

-I could never do that!

-Thank you.

-Wow! So crafty.

Now, over to you.

-Oh, I don't...

-You can make your chants about anything you want.

And don't worry yet about producing the harmonies by yourselves.

Feel free to work in groups.

But what if we can't, Miss Pentangle?

"Can't" is old-fashioned thinking.

Modern witches CAN.

But if you could just talk to your mother,

and then she could speak to the council.

There's a petition. Nearly all the parents signed it.

-Mine didn't.

-Uh, neither did mine.

-Or mine!

Girls, enough bickering.

Miss Pentangle will be here any...

Ah! I...

..wasn't sure whether to start or not.

Oh, Mr Rowan-Webb, I wouldn't dream of stepping on your toes.

Today is just about boosting morale and building confidence.

With my hand I cast my spell,

and bid you now a fond farewell.

-THEY GASP AND LAUGH

-Awesome!

And not a potion in sight.

Ah, an Arcadian invisibility spell.

Oh, you know your spells, Mr Rowan-Webb.

I...

Now, girls, in order for this to work,

you need to focus on an object of your choice.

-MR ROWAN-WEBB:

-How about Mildred's cauldron?

Fingers spark and fingers rise,

cauldron, now materialise.

We're meant to use potions.

Some girls simply aren't strong enough for this kind of magic.

Mildred Hubble? Would you like to try?

Oh, I'm not sure that's a good i...dea....

All about confidence, remember?

With my hands I cast this spell,

and bid you now a fond farewell?

I did it! I really did it!

I could never do that the old way!

# Flying east and flying west

# We are witches at our best... #

-Potions.

-Potions.

-And spells...

-and smells?

-One, two, three...

# Yes, we are young

# But our chants can still be sung... #

-WITH HARMONIES:

-# As we fly up on high

# Near and far, 'cross the sky... #

-HARMONIES BREAK:

-# Searching for our frogs and toads... #

It's no good. It's too much for me.

Don't give up. Let's give it another try.

One, two, three...

# Yes, we are young

# But our chants can still be sung... #

-WITH HARMONIES:

-# As we fly up on high

# Near and far, 'cross the sky

# Searching for our frogs and toads... #

Oh!

Oh, dear.

I did try to tell Miss Pentangle.

Break time, girls.

And where is Miss Pentangle?

Thanks for earlier.

Why did you do it?

We all need a little boost sometimes, that's all.

I don't think Miss Hardbroom would approve of enhanced powers.

CAT PURRS LOUDLY

SHE LAUGHS

Well, Miss Hardbroom and I agree to disagree on many things.

It'll all wear off by tomorrow anyway.

How come you two are sitting on your own?

I need to think of a way to prove

Miss Cackle should still be head teacher.

The Magic Council weren't listening.

And if she goes, Maud's parents are going to send her to Miss Amulet's.

I know it seems unfair.

Because it is! Mrs Hallow's got it in for Miss Cackle,

-and Miss Cackle's the best.

-I know.

I think the Council know, too.

But they can't ignore the parents' petition.

Though giving it to her as a keepsake seemed cruel,

even for Ursula Hallow.

I didn't just say that.

You should go to chanting.

And try not to be too gloomy.

Who knows what next year will bring?

GIRLS SING IN BACKGROUND

Years studying the old ways,

and now it's going to be drivel forevermore?

Thank you, Mildred.

Your parents signed the petition against Miss Cackle, right?

No way. They love Miss Cackle.

-Your parents signed it, though?

-No.

-No.

Mildred Hubble, will you please focus on...?

Oh, never mind, do what you like.

I suppose that's the modern way.

WHISPERS: I want to see this petition.

It must be in Miss Cackle's office.

Millie, I'm not so sure that's a good i...

I'm being sent to another academy - what do I care? Go for it.

With my hand I cast this spell,

and bid you now a fond farewell.

Uh...were you lacking a tiny bit of confidence this time, Millie?

No.

I don't want to faint again.

No-one'll notice if you sit this one out.

With my hand I cast this spell,

and bid you now a fond farewell.

It's not happening.

Here, try something smaller.

This is so unfair.

Don't worry - today's about having fun.

It's not much fun when you can't do it.

WHISPERS: It has to be in here somewhere.

Come on, puss - where is it?

-Pippa.

-You look cross, Hecate.

I think. It always was hard to tell.

MILDRED WHISPERS: Come on. Where is it?

-MISS HARDBROOM:

-Would you step into my office, please?

Oh, no.

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

MILDRED GROANS

I expect you mean well, but the girls simply aren't strong enough.

There are some very talented witches in this school.

It can lead to all sorts of problems.

They should not be doing magic they aren't ready for.

Sybil Hallow fainted.

Oh! Poor Sybil.

Well, she didn't say anything.

SINGING PRACTICE CONTINUES

Where's she gone?

Who?

Don't treat me like a bat brain.

She's...right here. We're just messing around.

Fingers spark, fingers rise,

Mildred Hubble, materialise.

-MISS HARDBROOM:

-Sybil has enough self-confidence issues

without you adding to them.

Well, well, what a surprise.

She's interfering again, isn't she?

She's going to be in so much trouble

when Miss Hardbroom finds out about this.

-MISS PENTANGLE:

-I appreciate some of the girls will need some support

whilst they adjust,

but my ways work, Hecate.

I know your ways of old.

All very well me...

-CAT MEOWS

-..turning up in a silver gown

to the dance - you had to turn up in a gold one.

Oh. Did I? I...

..don't remember.

Why was it always so important for you to be better than me, Pippa?

Is that why you want to run this school as well as your own?

Well, actually, I've come to a decision about that, Hecate.

What on earth?!

-Oh! Poor little thing was startled.

-CAT MEOWS

So would you be, if you suddenly had to look for a new home.

-KNOCK ON DOOR

-Enter!

Sorry to interrupt, Miss Hardbroom,

but Mildred Hubble has disappeared.

She used the invisibility spell to get out of chanting.

This is exactly the sort of problem I was referring to.

Thank you, Ethel!

-You're a good witch, Sybil.

-It's not enough.

I'm a Hallow - I should be able

to do modern magic standing on my broomstick.

I realise I no longer teach here...

..but do you think I might be of assistance?

We got your message.

Miss Pentangle is here to take over.

She's going to run both schools.

This'll be a Pentangle's, too?

I'll be expelled in a week.

And I'll be at Miss Amulet's.

Yes, but it got me thinking - who stands to gain from all this?

The petition - you found it.

"Bella Twigg, Lucian Twigg...

"Fenella Foxglove?"

Felicity's mum.

But Felicity said her parents didn't sign it.

"Mavis Spellbody.

"Gordon Spellbody." My mum and dad!

MY mum and dad!

That thing is full of signatures from people who never signed it.

Either they're all weasels, or something's very wrong.

Aha! I knew there was one.

True author spell.

"To uncover cheats and tricksters."

It sounds perfect.

But it's level seven.

And Miss Pentangle boosted my powers for the day,

so it's got to be worth a try.

THEY GIGGLE

I see. So when you tried to do it,

you couldn't make things vanish like you usually can?

All right.

Let me show you how it's done.

What shall we...vanish?

Ah.

Magnet, magnet on the table,

let me vanish you if I'm able.

SHE GIGGLES

Oh, dear, I don't seem to be

very good at modern magic, do I?

That makes two of us, Miss Cackle.

Try this instead.

But, Miss Cackle, I thought we were supposed to do it

without potions.

The old ways may not be stylish,

Sybil, but they work.

Now, remember your potion classes.

Thistle dull,

lung wart bright,

hide this object from our sight.

Yes!

Thank you, Miss Cackle, for everything.

-CLARICE AND BEATRICE:

-Thanks, Miss Cackle.

You're a wonderful teacher, Miss Cackle.

I think maybe you've taught me a thing or two.

It's a pity the parents do not share your feelings, Miss Pentangle.

And how, precisely, did you come by that petition?

Please, just watch, Miss Hardbroom.

Write anew, make it true!

Mildred, wait!

No! Put it out!

What just happened?!

Mildred, you used powder with enhanced powers.

Whatever you were trying to do, it was way too much for it.

New magic, same old faces in detention.

I'll see you after school, Mildred Hubble.

Modern witching.

It certainly does bring change.

Mildred. I'm sorry.

Coming here has reminded me that newer isn't always better.

If I hadn't given you those extra magic powers...

We could have saved Miss Cackle.

We could have proved that the petition was faked.

What? Are you sure?

Yes, and I think I know who by.

Mildred, you're certain you know who faked that petition?

Miss Pentangle? How are you finding Cackle's?

Much old-fashioned thinking to overcome?

Your Greatness, this is an academy that understands what

witching is all about - remembering who we really are.

I'd officially like to take my hat out of the ring.

I cannot be considered

when the only true headmistress of this academy is Ada Cackle.

The Council have made their decision.

But what if new evidence had come to light?

But, Miss Hardbroom, I really worry that with Miss Cackle gone,

Mildred Hubble will be allowed to go unchecked. Chaos will reign.

Great Wizard!

Well met.

-This had better be good.

-Oh, it is. You have been wrongly ousted,

Miss Cackle. Mildred Hubble has a theory.

I think somebody faked all the signatures on the petition.

You dragged me here because this girl...?

We shall solve this...the old way.

Bottled mists of time.

MILDRED: The petition.

-ETHEL:

-It's going back in time.

Mildred was right - only one person signed the petition.

Ursula Hallow?

Sorry, Ethel.

Do you mind?

Oh!

How do you explain this?

-Ah.

-SHE CLEARS HER THROAT

The parents have made their feelings known, and...

Mother. You're embarrassing yourself,

and me.

Well...

Well, Miss Cackle had to go for what she did to my Esmerelda.

Mother, what about MY education?

Does that not matter to you one bit?

I have a non-magical daughter at home -

do you think I have time to think about anything else?

Obviously your place on the Council is revoked.

What? No, please.

And there will be further punishments.

Your Greatness...

would you go easy on her...

for the sake of Ethel and her sisters?

I will take it into consideration. In the meantime,

you are owed an apology. And...

a reinstatement.

Your Greatness?

Will you resume headmistress duties with immediate effect?

Of course.

Nothing would please me more.

This is all your fault.

Goodbye, girls. I should get flying.

Miss Pentangle? I was hoping to get an interview.

-You're such an inspiration.

-Perhaps next time.

And your head teacher is a greater inspiration than I could ever be.

Hecate?

I never wanted to be better than you -

I wanted to be LIKE you.

You're the witchiest witch I ever knew, and you always will be.

Goodbye, Hecate.

Goodbye, Pippa.

And thank you.

What you did took real courage.

It's Mildred you should thank.

Thank you, Mildred.

Your instincts were spot-on.

So you're definitely staying?

Yes, Mildred, I am.

And for a long while yet.

I may have accidentally given all the teachers a love potion.

-What...a majestic creature.

-Me?

-Do you lack personality?

-What is wrong with everyone today?

This might be how Miss Hardbroom flirts.

-Algernon?

-Oh!

Stay back, all of you!

I can definitely get you your powers back.

Oh, no, Ethel. What have you done?