Samantha: An American Girl Holiday

It all began one day last April.

I was living with my Grandmary in Mount Bedford, New York...

...and she was determined to teach me to become a proper young lady.

But that day in particular, I was more interested in getting away...

...from my next-door nuisance, Eddie Ryland.

Samantha!

You're so dumb, you probably think three times four is 12.

Three times four is 12, Eddie. Now, if you don't leave me alone...

...I'll find your money jar and empty it in the river.

-You're too dumb to find it. -Eddie Ryland, you--

Come back here, Eddie Ryland.

And that was the day I met my new friend, Nellie O'Malley.

-Who are they? They're our new servants.

-The big one is my new maid. -But she's too young to be a maid.

Maybe her mother is the maid.

It's grand, Da. Look at that water. It is that.

Come along now, Bridget.

-I'm tired, Da. I know. It won't be long.

And I know you're hungry, Jenny, but you'll just have to wait.

This is beautiful. Do you think we can ride in it?

It belongs to the Rylands. Don't touch.

Right through here, Mr. O'Malley. There's one room for all of you.

This'll be fine. Thank you kindly.

I'm really hungry, Nellie.

Are we going to eat soon?

Look, Nellie, next to the pump.

Oh, Nellie.

-See what you did. -I didn't do nothing.

You threw a rock and broke the window.

And I'm gonna tell unless you pay me a penny.

I don't have a penny.

She is not paying you a cent, Eddie Ryland.

And if you make any more trouble, I'll tell your mother...

...that you took her good petticoat and made a kite's tail out of it.

Oh, I'm really scared, Samantha.

Edward!

Edward!

I have an errand for you. Edward!

Edward, I'm waiting.

-Thank you, miss. -I'm Samantha.

I live next door.

I'm Nellie, and this is Jenny and Bridget.

Pleased to meet you.

Hmm. Don't pay any attention to him.

Have to pay some attention, miss, if we wanna keep our place here.

Nellie girl, come along now.

Are you going to Mount Bedford School? Maybe we'll be in the same class.

I don't go to school, miss. We're here to work.

Ah.

-May I see you tomorrow? -Like I said, I'll be working, miss.

From the size of this place, from dawn to dusk.

Samantha!

Oh. Goodbye, Nellie. Goodbye, Bridget. Goodbye, Jenny.

Goodbye.

These are lovely.

-They should do nicely in the parlor. They're beautiful.

The Rylands have new servants. A father and three girls.

And one of them's my age.

Samantha, look at those stockings.

Your grandmother won't like that. No, she won't.

-Yes, Mrs. Hawkins. -Be sure to wash your hands now.

Yes, Mrs. Hawkins.

-Hello, Samantha. -Hello, Grandmary.

I trust you have a good explanation for that tear in your stocking.

I fell. I'm sorry.

-You weren't running, were you? -Not when I fell, no.

-Haste makes waste, Samantha. -Yes, Grandmary.

-Did you know there are three girls--? -You can tell me over tea, dear.

Begin practicing.

-Three girls are moving next door-- -Samantha, please begin.

Afternoon mail, Mrs. Edwards.

Thank you, Jessie. You can just leave it on the table, please.

-Is there anything from Uncle Gard? -We'll open the mail later, dear.

But he's coming back when he said? He didn't miss the boat, did he?

Samantha, please. Just finish your practice.

Hello, miss.

-Please don't call me "miss." -Get in trouble if I don't, miss.

Oh.

Where did you come from? Before Mount Bedford, I mean.

New York City.

-My Uncle Gard lives in New York City. -Da and I worked at a factory there.

-You worked in a factory? -Yes...

...but Da thought we'd be better off living in the country now.

-Is your mother--? -She died, miss. Last winter.

If you don't go to school, would you like to borrow some of my books?

Wouldn't do no good, miss, unless they're all pictures.

My mother was going to teach me to read, but...

I could teach you. Every day beside the hedge.

-Oh, I wish I could, miss. -You can.

You can bring some work with you, like darning or mending, can't you?

You have to sit down some time. And I could sit with you. It isn't hard to learn.

Thank you, Jessie. Uh, just leave it on the table, please.

-Jessie? -Yes, miss?

How old were you when you first started to work as a maid?

Would you like anything else, ma'am?

No, thank you, Jessie. That will be all.

-Samantha. -Yes?

We do not discuss personal matters with the servants.

-In the kitchen, we talk about all sorts of-- -This is not the kitchen.

The secret to a happy household is for everyone to know their place.

Do you understand?

-Yes, Grandmary. -Good.

Are you enjoying your needlepoint?

Yes, Grandmary.

Then I'm sure you'll have no interest in that package that's addressed to you.

Oh, it's from Uncle Gard!

How could it get here before he did? He's not due for three weeks.

-Oh. -What is it?

It's a stereopticon.

Oh.

He says, put in the first slide and I will see where he is right now.

The first slide.

Oh, my!

It's Paris. The Eiffel Tower.

As if we were really there.

Uncle Gard always gives me the best presents.

He's taking me to the exposition in St. Louis...

...for a whole week in July.

We're going to see Japanese pagodas and temples...

...and eat peanut butter and fairy floss and everything.

-They make butter out of peanuts? -That's what Uncle Gard says.

And what's fairy floss?

Uncle Gard says it's made out of pink sugar and comes on a stick.

-Uncle Gard is the best person I know. -Better than your ma and da?

Did I say something?

Maybe we should start your reading lesson.

I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings, miss.

My parents are gone.

Like your mother.

Only, in an accident on the river.

Both of them?

That's awful.

I don't know what I'd do without my da.

You want to see them?

She's beautiful. And he's so handsome.

She used to sing to me.

Sometimes I try to hear her voice.

But it just slips away.

I know.

I wish I could ask Grandmary...

...but speaking about Mother hurts her too much.

I keep them close this way.

I like that you're here, Nellie. I think we'll be great friends.

I've never had a real friend outside the family.

Well, you do now, Nellie O'Malley.

-Friends forever. -Forever.

Come on.

Okay. It helps...

"Long ears...

-"Are." -Are..."

"T-H" sounds like this:

The, that, this.

Then, those, these.

There, thorn, Thursday.

Thanksgiving.

"A roaming cat with a lily fair sat on a rose-blossom mat...

-...with a--" -Mm.

-Stop your fidgeting, Jenny. -Bridget.

You're pulling too hard on her. Wind slower.

Now stretch your hands out. There you go, Jenny.

-Why doesn't Jenny speak? -Hasn't said a word since Ma died.

-Did she talk before that? -Some.

Ha, ha. And she talks in her sleep.

-That looks like fun. -It does?

Can I try it? Here.

I'll beat the rug while you read.

"Cat, sat, mat.

Good. Go on.

Fat, rat, hat."

Ha, ha. Cat, fat, rat.

You girls about through killing the rug?

I'm sorry, Mr. O'Malley. It was my fault.

There's no fault to it.

-You almost done here? All done, Da.

Good, then. Move on inside. Mrs. Ryland was calling for you.

Yes, Da.

-Tomorrow, Samantha? -Tomorrow.

I wanted to thank you, Samantha, for your kindness toward Nellie and the girls.

No thanks needed, sir. Nellie and the girls are my friends.

It's Uncle Gard! That's my Uncle Gard. He's come back from Europe.

-Goodbye, Mr. O'Malley. -Goodbye.

Goodbye, Jenny, Bridget. My Uncle Gard is here.

Goodbye.

Well, here we are.

Thank you.

Uncle Gard! Uncle Gard!

My angel. Ha, ha!

Oh, I missed you so much.

-Did you get my present? -Yes, I love it. It's wonderful.

-I have an even bigger surprise for you. -What is it?

Ha, ha. If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise.

Will you take me for a ride now?

First I want you to say hello to someone.

-How are we coming along then, my dear? -Fine, thank you.

Samantha, you remember Miss Pitt, from Christmas?

Please, call me Cornelia.

Hello.

-Can we go now? -In a moment.

Your Uncle Gard says you love to read, Sam.

-My name is Samantha. -Very well, Samantha.