" What's your name?" " Iris." "Hello, Iris." "This is Nadia," "Rose," "Vera," "Alice, and Selma." "And I'm Bianca." "Rose, Vera, come here." "Come here!" "You too, Selma." "Come on!" "Change your ribbons." "See, Iris?" "We each have our own colour." "Red is for the youngest, violet for the eldest." "No, violet's Natacha's colour!" "She's gone, I'm violet now." "Liar!" "Don't worry, she'll calm down." "You'll sleep here, Iris, and I'm there." "Bianca, where's my little brother?" "There are no boys here!" "Why?" "Because." "What is this place?" "Home." "You'll learn to swim too." "Move your arms." "Your legs too." "Keep your legs up!" "You're doing well!" "Did you arrive today too?" "Yes, but I won't stay long." "Laura!" "Can I stay with Iris?" "You're not in her house." "You'll see her tomorrow." "There are 5 houses in the park, one for each group of girls." "Laura's in House number 1 and you're with us in number 3." "That's Madeleine, she's here to serve us." "If she disobeyed, she'd be punished." "I want to go home." "This is your home now." "Someone will fetch me." "No, they won't." "Yes, my little brother will." "He won't." "Iris!" "Iris!" "Come on." "I'll show you the house." "Where's Bianca?" "Bianca!" "Bianca!" "Where are you going?" " I can't say." " Why not?" "Because." "I want to go with you." " You can't." " Why not?" "Because." " Let her go, she'll be late." " No." "Let her go." "I promise to be here in the morning when you wake." "It's always the same, the eldest leaves at 9." "Bedtime at 10." "We get up at 7." " Breakfast at 8." " Work at 9." "We work?" "Yes." "Can you tell time?" "It's very important here." "Can you count?" "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight." "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight." "Bianca?" "Iris!" "Get up." "Morning, Iris!" "Bianca?" "Will you stay with me today?" "This way, Iris!" "Watch the way, always follow the lamps." " Where are we going?" " Over there." "Hello!" "See you later, Iris." "Good morning." "I'm Miss Edith." "Follow me." "I hope you'll be happy here and learn to love all the park animals." "Come with me." "We all come from the same force that brought life, first in the sea... then in the air, and then on earth." " What's this?" " A deer!" " And this?" " A rat!" " And this?" " A fox!" "And you're here." "You are the most evolved species, but creation keeps improving and tomorrow's children will doubtless be very different, when many generations have reproduced." "Alice?" "Will I stay here long?" "Yes." "Do we get visits?" "Nobody ever comes, except the Headmistress." "The Headmistress?" "She comes every year to see us dance." "You won't see the Head for ages." "She only comes for the blue-ribbons, once a year." "When can I go out to see my brother?" "You can't, it's forbidden." "But you go out at night!" "No, I don't, it's forbidden." "So what do you do?" "Carry on like that and you'll be punished!" "Hello!" "These are your things." "You'll see, Miss Eva is very nice." "Welcome, girls." "Come in." "You're lucky to have been chosen to live here, but you're still just ugly little caterpillars." "You'll have to work hard." "Hurry up, missy, you're late!" "Hi, Laura!" "Stand at the barre, girls." "Watch closely while I show you, then you'll repeat after me." "Seven... eight." "One... two... three... four... five... six... seven... eight." "Sadly, not all caterpillars become pretty butterflies." "But in a few years I hope you'll do me proud." "Bianca?" "Where do you go at night?" "To see boys?" "No." "What, then?" "Ready?" "I'm counting." "One, two, three, four..." "Hide!" "Bianca?" "Don't resist, my dear." "Iris!" "I'm here." "We looked all over for you!" "I wanted to follow Bianca." "Did you try to leave the grounds?" "No." "You know the punishment for that?" "No." "You have to stay here forever and work for the girls." "I can't see anything!" "I see something." "What?" "Hush!" "What's there?" "Run!" "See?" "This wall runs round the park." "Come on, I'll show you other secrets." "Look." "There are strange people outside, you know." "That's why we're not allowed out." "Do you know what Bianca's secret is?" "Of course." "Come with me." "So what's Bianca's secret?" "Let's play a game." "If you don't move, I'll tell you." "You lose!" "Start again!" "Nosey little Parker!" "Bianca?" "What are you doing?" " I want to sleep in your bed." " It's forbidden." "What happened to your legs?" "I hurt myself playing." "That's all, girls." "Iris, stay behind please." "Are you happy here?" "Yes." "You get on with the others?" "Yes... especially Bianca." "I imagine you obey her, then." "Yes." "It may be hard to understand, but obedience is the only path to happiness." "What are you doing?" "Do you ever want to get out of here?" "Yes, but the wall's too high and there's no door." "Wall schmall, I know how to get out." "How?" "Can't you guess?" "No." "Are you coming?" "It's forbidden." "You won't tell on me?" "No." " Swear?" " I swear." "Can you help untie the string?" "Is it true that Miss Edith tried to run away as a girl and the Head broke her leg to punish her?" "These punishment stories are just meant to scare us." "They can't make us stay here if we don't want to." "Iris?" "Iris!" "Iris!" "What are you doing there?" "Frightened of the storm?" "Laura took the boat." "I'm not allowed to tell." "Were you with her?" "Will she be punished?" "Will I be punished too?" "Did anyone see you?" "No." "Have you told anyone else?" "No." "Will I be punished too?" "No, I promise." "Come in." "Laura won't ever be with us again." "I know you're sad, so we'll hold a ceremony in memory of her." "Good evening, girls!" "In we go." " Is it good?" " Yes." "No fingers, Fanny!" "Eva?" "Calm down." "It's alright." "Pull yourself together." "Come on, you can't." "Calm down." "Calm down!" "You'll be alright." "Happy New Year!" "Happy New Year, girls!" " Did you make a wish?" " What is it?" "To stay with Bianca forever!" "I'd like to be chosen by the Head." "It wouldn't surprise me." "It's not just about talent." "I'm sure she'll be chosen." "What does "chosen" mean?" "Every year the Head comes, chooses a blue-ribbon girl and takes her away." "That way you get out faster." "We were scared when the Head came to see us." "I won't be scared." "Please choose me!" "Two have grown very pretty." "It's a good year, I think you'll be satisfied." "Goodbye, Headmistress." "Alice?" "Why are you here?" "It's not your day!" "I'm here to rehearse with Miss Eva." "Really?" "She told me to come." "Why do you long to be chosen?" "You want to leave early?" "Aren't you happy here?" "Yes, but I want to know what's outside." "Listen, Alice..." "I don't think you'll be chosen." "What do you know?" "Stupid cripple!" "You shouldn't encourage Alice." "Outside may not be what she expects." "What do you know?" "If she's disappointed, she'll suffer." "She'll learn." "Learn what?" "I don't want her to become like us." "What does that mean?" "Hurry, you're late!" "Raise your chin." "Turn round." "Good." "Smile for me." "Come." "Turn." "Stand still please." "Long neck." "Very good, poised." "Thank you." "Now you." "Don't be scared." "What's this tummy?" "Hold it in!" "Profile." "Demi-pointes." "Hold." "Very good, thank you." "Come." "Are you shy?" "No, you're very pretty!" "Profile." "Wait, I want to check." "Slightly short." "Turn." "Turn back, let me see." "Wait, don't move." "Demi-pointes." "Hold." "Hold still." "Now down." "Thank you." "Come." "Now, let's see." "Look straight ahead." "Raise your chin." "Very good." "Very pretty neck." "Very pretty, look!" "Very pretty." "Turn." "Good!" "Very sweet." "No?" "You." "Show me your hand." "Now the other." "Show me your teeth." "This one." "This one?" "Excuse me." "Congratulations, you've worked the girls well." "Alice!" "Take me with you!" "Alice!" "You said I'd be chosen!" "I never said that!" "Will she die?" "Where are you going?" "We can't find her." "Alice has been very bad." "You won't see her again, and we'll never mention her again." "You girls metamorphose too." "The first time you lost your baby teeth, age 7." "The second will happen soon." "Your whole body will change." "For a few days each month, you'll lose some blood." "Now he must find a partner and ensure his descent." "Hurry, Bianca, we'll be late." "Coming." "Rose?" "You'll look after the girls tonight." " Okay." " Why?" " I'm going with Bianca." " That's forbidden!" "From now on she's allowed." "Coming?" " Why her?" " She'll replace Bianca soon." " Good evening, girls." " Evening, Miss." "Welcome, Nadia." "It'll be fine, you'll see." "Good evening, Nadia." "Let's go." "What are these?" "Your costumes." "Why are there only four?" "You'll see." "Leave us alone!" "Rehearse your leg moves, you two." "Stand on the stool." "You must take care of your legs." "Good." "Girls." "This is where we dance." "Come and rehearse." "Good, Nadia!" "Keep going!" "Carry on, Nadia." "What's that noise?" "Opening the curtain is strictly forbidden." " What is it?" " The audience." "The audience?" "Where are you off to?" "Let me go." "Calm down." "Nadia... don't be scared." "You won't see them, even once you're on stage." "Take your places." "Bianca, look after her." "You'll see, they laugh and clap all the time." "Go back on!" "Now!" "What's wrong?" "I don't want to go back there." "You'll be less scared next time." "I don't want to go back." "You have to." "That's enough for today." "I hope you'll concentrate more tonight." "Bianca?" "Come with me, please." "It's her turn!" "Miss Edith has told you about bleeding soon." "When it happens, use these towels." "You know, Bianca... a new cycle is about to start." "You violet ribbons will leave the school soon." "And tonight's your last night at the theatre." "The last?" "Bravo!" "You're the prettiest!" " I'm very proud of you." " Thank you, Miss." "Did it go well?" "Come along!" "Come on." "Come on!" "What are you doing here?" "You've found something." " Find any money?" " Money?" "Look!" "What did you think?" "The shows pay the school's costs." "Who else would pay for you?" "You... you'll know how to make the most of your legs outside." "I don't want to go!" "Bianca!" "Bianca?" "What's wrong?" "Leave me alone!" "Is it true you're leaving?" "I don't want you to." "I want you to stay with me forever!" "Iris." "Iris!" "Leave me alone." "Bianca!" "Bianca!" "You won't forget me?" "No, and you?" "Never." "We'll meet up outside." "Outside?" "It's time, Bianca." "Girls." "Come along." "Come along!" "All aboard, girls." "Miss?" "What will happen to us?" "One thing's certain, you'll soon forget us." "Go on."