More info about this movie on IMDb.com
FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY
The RKO TITLE and CREDITS are SUPERIMPOSED over a tall stained glass window as shown from the inside of a building. There are two maidenly figures worked into the stained glass window: one, older and slightly taller, dressed in van colored garments, leads by the hand a younger and smaller girl, dressed in a simple flowing, white robe. Through the lighter colored pieces of glass in the window the branches of a tree can be seen stirring in a light wind. The last credit FADES from the screen. INT. STAIRWAY - HIGHCLIFFE ACADEMY - DAY The CAMERA HOLDS ON the stained glass window. Beneath the painted figures is a scroll, and on the scroll, a part of the stained glass window, is an inscription: I RUNNE TO DEATH AND DEATH MEETS ME AS FAST, AND ALL MY PLEASURES ARE LIKE YESTERDAY. - John Donne, Holy Sonnets VI. As the CAMERA CONTINUES TO HOLD, the jumbled sound of classroom recitations can be heard. GIRL'S VOICE (o.s. from classroom above camera level) Amo, arias, amat, amamus, amatis, amant. SECOND GIRL'S VOICE (o.s. from classroom below camera level) One times nine is nine. Two times nine is eighteen. Three times nine is twenty-seven. Four times nine is thirty-six THIRD GIRL'S VOICE (o.s. from classroom above camera level, singing) Do, no, mi, Pa, sol, la, ti, do. These classroom sounds, although they can be heard clearly, should not disturb the serenity of the stairway or of the painted figures on which the CAMERA IS LEVELED. Suddenly, from overhead, a gong rings with a harsh, jarring noise. Doors are heard opening, feet scuffling over the floor and the light, high sound of girls' voices chattering. A moment later a cascade of uniformed schoolgirls of all ages pours down the stairs past the camera. Against this tide one single girl makes her way. The CAMERA PANS WITH her up the remainder of the short flight of stairs and across the hallway to a door marked, PRINCIPAL. The girl knocks and from inside an over cultured woman's voice is heard in response, MRS. LOWOOD'S VOICE Come in, please. CLOSE SHOT - Mary Gibson at the door. She hesitates before opening it. She is young and her youth gives her prettiness, but something in the quiet serenity of her face and the clear candor of the eyes show the innate niceness of the girl; a quality of character which will give her real beauty as she grows older. At the moment she is somewhat perplexed by her unexpected summons by the Head Mistress. MED. CLOSE SHOT of Mary as she opens the door and looks expectantly toward the desk. No one is there. MRS. LOW0OD'S VOICE Here we are, Mary. MED. LONG SHOT as Mary walks into the room. It is a large room and every effort has been made to invest it with authority. A large Sheraton desk with side trays stands at one end. On the wall behind this desk hangs a gloomy, dour visaged portrait of the founder of the school. The wall opposite the door is pierced by a large window. There are several bookcases with dull-looking volumes; books of reference and encyclopedia. On top of one of these cases is the white, plaster head of Athena. The walls are covered with enormous framed, sepia-tinted prints of the Acropolis, the Colosseum, Trajan's Column and other celebrated ruins. Mrs. Lowood, the Principal, a solidly built lady with iron gray hair and her assistant, Miss Gilcrist, a slim, frail lady of indeterminate age, are at a small table at the end of the room. They are cutting out paper hearts. As Mary comes up to them, Mrs. Lowood finishes cutting out a paper heart and lays down the scissors with an air of satisfaction. With Mary close behind her, she starts toward the desk. Miss Gilcrist follows. The CAMERA PANS WITH them as they cross the room. MRS. LOWOOD I have a most painful matter to discuss with you, Mary. Mary looks concerned. Mrs. Lowood has reached her desk, while Mary stands wondering what might come next. Mrs. Lowood deliberately seats herself and puts her fingertips together firmly. Over this Gothic arch s1?~IMtKյp!zhI <\T#4%,,lYr=i?iWU6[Bg#!Qkl;d2g`b0> -ރT] @vуII7=^˿8\4Y#W J,e⯗ ٕW)MisfP ,QNm\Y0z~m8?!8~C<=??$6HP(ާɧ[HAS\NÓN4B?b2(bC(J\mD$ɵ Ѩ0Vu(xeT]0aa*B-;RޏKe+rG߆I u9xTtoPj26A*N; .P&H=骠 Mu浼#O[!$ 쿑2LcEA˵thW1)vGIveؾ̬":*$Zeby=e,> c7ޡ~t>Mٍ(l("]Ru- clJ/ M#mNFK1:RPTE%6a] l{o/T T7RvA WPx 2^%*U9D_jB!%uK r9i+K)JA+p4!U%i=\nV0yV?fe4oP$UמdG87;Nw$C-uxinvA#CiVh)S`XpIkS$L@y5l6+_ >Q[bլ!|O9M3lfa"DB;w17(nJWe3]WjE&*/#s[禥f2ˇUX^] H`P¡OguOt (m֬|," lxe9,}ػe8yBڱ)w_|j[!xH\ךS RVKO0Q/_O'Ǐ j)GYяFl\_-*AeVvlHkkF$/btULbD-=T