Hollow Wood The Worst Witch

-You're the funny one from selection day.

-Am I?

You two might be fine, but Esmerelda is anything but.

Is Esmerelda Hallow your big sister?

You've heard about her?

People are saying she lost her magic.

She was tricked into giving it away.

I freely gift my witch's powers...

Oh, excellent. Well done, Felicity.

I can tick that off. It's yarrow root,

another useful thing for potions.

Ugh! Look at the state of me!

Hm, what's up next? And who wants to volunteer to get it?

This whole sorry business has nothing to do with me.

Only Mildred Hubble could devise a secret competition

that meant we used up all the ingredients.

This is child labour!

Pentangle's wouldn't send their witches out like this.

And if they did, they'd send out a proper teacher to help us,

not Miss Mould.

She hasn't got a clue about potions.

Maybe that's why HB sent her.

She knew we'd have to do it ourselves, like proper witches...

I've got some grimly grass!

I don't think that's grimly grass, Mil...

It's Egg Pong Plant! Stupid!

-Is that on the list?

-No.

Oh.

So, what's left? Apart from grimly grass.

Raven feathers and mandrake truffles,

found in...Hollow Wood.

Er... Why all the weird looks?

Don't you know anything? Hollow Wood is enchanted.

Yeah, right. If you believe that, you'll believe anything.

Every witch gets warned about going into Hollow Wood.

But, of course, you're not a proper witch.

Felicity...

Come on, don't be such wimps, it's just a wood!

Wait for me.

Why can't I be out with Mildred and Maud?

Because this is a punishment, Enid. Miss Hardbroom wants the

second-year ring leaders separated after last night's potions fiasco.

Miss Drill, that's not fair.

So that means you're with me.

Stock checking. Everything.

Come on, it'll be fun.

Kitchen's first.

And that is how you duplicate.

Are there any questions about the potion?

Erm... Miss Hardbroom?

I prepped for a lesson on duplicating a small animal.

But you give us...cheese!

The second year's used up the main ingredients for animal duplication.

They'll have everything replenished by the end of the day.

whereupon you'll be able to do double the work,

Clarice Twigg.

Great!

Miss Hardbroom did specify you had to collect everything.

But Hollow Wood is enchanted.

Absolute nonsense, you silly witches.

Enchanted? No.

Enchanting? Yes! Look at all that dappled light.

It's wonderful.

You must remember - there's nothing out there stronger

or more powerful than what is in here,

or what is in here.

You see, being a witch isn't just about the magic.

It's about who you are.

What's inside you.

Your imagination, compassion, selflessness.

It's about being brave

and overcoming your fears, no matter how afraid you are.

OK, Miss Mould, we get the picture. We're going.

OK. Well, chop-chop, get to it and we'll all be home in time for tea.

I'll follow along soon enough.

-Off you go.

-Right. Woods it is.

THUNDER CRACKS

Are we playing witchball later?

Wild horses couldn't stop me!

-Esme!

-Syby!

Well met, Esmerelda.

Well met, Miss Hardbroom.

To what do we owe this pleasure?

I came to see my sisters and, hopefully, Miss Cackle.

Ethel is off-site at the moment doing a task I've set.

-But I shall tell Miss Cackle you're here.

-Thank you.

So aren't you going to introduce me to your friends?

This is Beatrice, that's Clarice. She's head of year.

I-I can't believe it.

You're such a hero - everyone knows what you did.

What you sacrificed to save Cackle's.

She's the best.

Yes, but since you no longer have any magic,

are you actually allowed to be here?

Pardon?

I just thought non-magical girls weren't allowed

-in witching academies.

-Clarice...

-What? I'm just saying...

You're not saying anything!

She's the best sister, the best witch,

the best head of year this academy's ever had.

-Or ever will ever have!

-But...she's no...longer mag...ic...

How dare she! How dare she!

I'm sure she didn't mean it.

She's just a bit...blunt.

I don't care, she's not my friend any more...

Of course she is, Sybil.

But you should still be here...

Well, maybe I'll be back sooner than you think.

What do you mean?

Miss Cackle will see you...now.

What's wrong with all of you?

This place is...

Don't say creepy.

It's not creepy.

It's just trees and a bit of wind.

Have none of you ever been camping?

I used to go every holiday with my mum.

She was a girl guide, she taught me

everything I know about the countryside, trees, tracking...

This, for example, is called a badger's sett.

Oh, and look... I've found some grimly grass!

Definitely grimly grass.

Yay! Another item ticked off the list.

This place is about as enchanted as a multi-storey car park.

Come on, Felicity, we'll get the raven feathers.

Really? Shouldn't we stick together?

No. I want to get home before dark.

THUNDER RUMBLES

Esmerelda! How nice to see you. Well met.

What brings you here?

Well met, Miss Cackle.

I was just visiting.

You've been on my mind.

How are you finding things?

-Esmerelda?

-I'm fine.

Oh, Esme...

No, really, I'm fine.

Everything's fine.

Oh, dear, tell me all about it.

I just don't fit in in the non-magical world.

I don't understand how anything works.

You'll learn, Esmerelda.

These things take time.

And it's all so boring,

like...life with all the colours drained away.

Come on, Sybil, you know what Clarice is like,

she's just being, you know, Claricey.

-She didn't understand what she said was...

-Offensive?

-Yes.

But, can't we just be friends again?

Please? No harm done?

I'll think about it, if she apologises.

Sure. We can fix this.

To me, and my sister.

Sure, easy fix.

Very easy.

Raven feathers!

Yep, can we hurry up here?

Are you going to go up and get them, then?

-Are you?

-I found them.

I identified them. No point us both getting filthy.

I'm the hurly and you're the burly.

What does that even mean?

We all have roles, Felicity.

I'm a thinker, a problem solver, a leader.

You're a do-er, so you get up the tree.

Felicity?

-She wants me to say sorry to her and her sister?

-She's upset.

All I did was ask a simple question.

But, sometimes, that's not always a good thing.

Sometimes we need to not say things.

-What do you mean?

-Please. Just say sorry.

-Of course I'll say sorry.

-Great.

As soon as she apologises to me.

Come on, Maud.

I think we've got enough already.

Nearly there!

Oh, sorry!

Let's go back to Miss Mould.

It's getting late.

I'm gonna stay.

I've nearly got this.

I'll see you in a bit.

OK, yeah, see you in a bit.

-I don't think I'll ever fit in.

-What can we do to help?

Might there be a role for me here, at Cackles?

With all my skills and everything I've done,

I could make a contribution.

You want a...job?

If it were down to me, the answer would be yes, in a heartbeat,

but...

..there are rules and a magical tradition we adhere to.

I understand.

Why don't you catch up with Sybil,

and I'll discuss it with Miss Hardbroom?

Oh, thank you so much!

You know she can't work here.

There might be a precedent. Something.

Ada, I'm not talking about statutes and rules,

I mean it would be torture for Esmerelda.

That girl gave up her magic for me, and all I've done is let her down.

The only person to blame for this is Agatha.

Miss Mould! Miss Mould!

Miss...Mould?

Hey! Esmerelda!

If anyone can help me get Sybil and Clarice back together, you can.

Oh, Beatrice, I'm not sure I'll be able to help you.

Clarice never meant to upset or offend anyone.

She just comes out with stuff.

And Sybil knows what she's like.

But neither of them will apologise until the other does.

OK, well, what do you need from me?

We usually play witchball in the afternoon,

but they haven't shown up.

Maybe we can coax them out?

I've got no powers any more.

Don't they play a game called netball in the non-magical world?

I don't really know much about it.

See? You're a natural. Stay here. I'll go get 'em.

Right.

Miss Mould? Felicity! Where's Ethel? Have you seen Miss Mould?

Fliss? Felicity?

Hellooo? Felicity?

Come on, Felicity, stop messing around.

It's true! This place is enchanted!

-What do you mean?

-Miss Mould's gone and Felicity's in some weird trance.

-Something's got her.

-I'm sure there's an easy explanation...

Follow me.

It was this way.

CROW CAWS

Mildred! It sounded like a monster.

It's not a monster.

It can't be.

I mean, it's probably just a...

LEAVES CRUNCH

-Ethel?

-So, sort of a monster.

Have you seen Felicity? She's disappeared.

Yeah, I've seen her, she's been turned into...

..something.

I told you this wood was enchanted.

This is all your fault, Mildred Hubble.

Agatha might listen to reason.

Surely it's worth a try!

Esmerelda gave up her magic for me.

Agatha would never restore Esmerelda's magic.

It would end in disaster.

This school, and all the witches in it, is your life.

I won't let you risk it.

Not even for Esmerelda Hallow.

You're right, Hecate.

Yes!

Sybil, catch.

Now try and get it through the hoop.

-What? Throw it? With my hands?

-Yes, throw it, go on.

Oooh, so close.

What do we do?

Find Miss Mould.

I'll use my outdoor skills to track her down.

If your outdoor skills are anything like your indoor skills,

we are in big trouble.

Come on.

Hopefully, having Sybil and Ethel

here will make it easier to break the news.

Speaking of Ethel, aren't the second years a little overdue?

-Where did you send them?

-Only to Hollow Wood.

Hollow Wood?!

It's full of ingredients

and there's been no trouble for 100 years.

-Well, if you're sure...

-Quite sure.

OK, footprints, broken branches, we're close, really close...

Look!

Oh, well done, Mildred Hubble, you've discovered a paintbrush bush.

Top marks.

It's Miss Mould's.

And there she is! Miss Mould!

Are we glad to see you...

Miss Mould? Are you all right?

Miss Mould? Helloooo?

What's done this?

Maud, what d'you think?

A hypnapillion.

A what-nap-allion?

It's supposed to be extinct. It feeds off people's minds,

fears, imagination.

Whatever you do, you mustn't look at one.

It's sent Miss Mould into "a semi-conscious dream-like state".

She's an art teacher, how can you tell?

"If the trance isn't broken within two hours,

"the dream-like state becomes...

"..permanent."

Maud, if there's anything in that book about how to get

out of this, now would be a good time to share.

Ah! There is a potion to break the trance.

We need grimly grass, yarrow...and, oh,

raven feathers, the one thing we don't have.

Come on, Ethel, lead the way.

I'm sure they'll be fine for a bit, Millie.

Be careful, silly girl!

Mr Hallow?!

-What are you doing here?

-Looking for my daughter.

Ethel? She's off collecting ingredients somewhere.

Showing her coven who's boss, I expect.

SHE CHUCKLES

Lovely girl.

No, Esmerelda.

Esmerelda?!

For reasons I cannot fathom, she's come here!

And my wife has sent me to fetch her.

I haven't seen her.

Oh, dear.

This is...good.

A bit weird, but good.

The non-magic life might just be all right.

Don't say that. I'd do anything for you to stay.

Anything.

Would you lose all your friends?

You know, sometimes a good friend says what's needed,

not always what's wanted.

I think Clarice is a good friend.

I'll always be your big sister. Won't I?

It won't always be this tough, Syby.

But when it is, being with friends makes it all so much easier.

-I'm sorry.

-Sorry!

I don't have a sister of my own.

I should have tried to understand that sororal dynamic better.

Sororal - it means...

..that unique sister thing we have.

I...should've been more understanding.

-I'm a lousy friend.

-No, you're not!

Duplication?!

What in the wide world of wizardry...

I can't get up there.

Levitation spell?

There's too many branches, it's never work.

I've got an idea.

Oh, brilliant, Mildred Hubble's got an idea.

How about we get that creature to knock the feathers out?

-What creature?

-Up there.

It's kind of enchanting...

Or we could just use this?

And to think you doubted my outdoor skills...

Ethel?

It's the hap-nop, the hip-hap, the...the magic butterfly!

Don't look up.

Whatever you do.

Come on, Maud, we need to get this potion made, and quick!

Who would've thought netball was so crafty?

Go, team Hallow!

Esmerelda?

I'm so sorry, I really have tried everything,

but I'm afraid you cannot work here.

That's OK,

Miss Cackle, I shouldn't have put you on the spot like that.

I love this place but...

..I need to look forwards, Miss Cackle.

And I have a feeling I'll be OK.

I know you will.

-Esme? What is the meaning of this?

-Dad?

-Dad!

Mr Hallow, well met.

Well met indeed! I shouldn't need to cast

a finding spell to locate my daughter.

I assumed Esmerelda told you where she was.

I thought I'd make a quick trip just to see Sybil and Ethel,

and Miss Cackle.

Why? Is she giving you your magic back?

-Of course not.

-Of course not.

What is going on here, Miss Cackle?

You've duplicating cheese in the potion lab.

CHEESE, Miss Cackle. Cheese!

Mr Hallow, we were running a little low on ingredients

and the second years, including your daughter,

are doing a fine job of replenishing them.

Where have you sent them?

Hollow Wood.

Oh, I didn't think it could get any worse, but it has.

It really has!

I'm not sure about this, Millie.

-What if it doesn't work?

-It has to. Come on.

ALL: From deepest wood and darkest glade

Do not flee or be afraid

Take this thing that feeds on fear

Make the hypnapillion disappear!

What did we do wrong?

FLUTTERING

What are you doing, Millie? Don't look at it!

It feeds off our fear.

Well, I'm not afraid of it!

Remember what Miss Mould said?

A witch is about being brave and overcoming your fear,

no matter how afraid you are.

You did it!

I shall expect to hear from Ethel as soon as she returns.

I don't want another traumatised daughter courtesy of Cackle's.

Come on, Esmerelda. Bye-bye, Sybil.

My wife will be very interested to know what's been going on

-around here.

-There's really nothing worth troubling her for.

You think so? Ha!

Have you ever met Mrs Hallow?

Oh, I can assure you, I have.

Then you'll know you haven't heard the last of this.

Not by a long chalk.

-They're just empty threats by a hot-headed Hallow.

-Hold tight.

Esmerelda! Wait! Wait! No.

No! Please wait! Come back!

Esmerelda!

It's going to be all right, Ethel.

Esme's going to be OK in the non-magical world.

I needed to see her.

I could've helped her.

This is your fault, Mildred Hubble!

If we'd left when I said, I wouldn't have missed Esmerelda!

I'm sorry, Ethel.

You have no idea what you've messed up.

Millie! Maud! I've been stock-taking all day.

It was awful.

I wish I could've been there.

You didn't have any trouble, Miss Mould?

We had a very productive trip.

All ingredients collected and some wonderful sketches...

You've drawn a creature that's been extinct for over a century!

What a vivid imagination you must have.

Good job you didn't bump into one.

Nothing that a brave,

clever and brilliant witch couldn't have got us out of.

-What is it?

-It sounds like a baby.

-Uh... You were...

-Unforgettable?

The time has come for me to pack up my room and move on.

Where's Mildred Hubble?

-Felicity, Gloria, you're on!

-This isn't going to go wrong, is it?

When have I ever let you down?

Subtitles by Red Bee Media