Courage Mountain

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''Dear Heidi,

it is my pleasure to inform you...

''...that you have been accepted as a pupil

at Brookings Academy for Girls.

''I can assure you your attendance here

will greatly benefit you in the future...

''...and it might be the best use

for your recent inheritance.

''Should you chose to join us here...

''...you may wish to bring

a few personal items...

''...and also an extra blanket, as it does get

quite cold here in northern Italy.

''I am sure you will make

the right decision.

''Yours sincerely, Jane Hillary...

''...Headmistress, Brookings Academy.''

Schwanli!

Grandfather!

Look what Schwanli did to my book!

She's hungry. Peter is late,

Schwanli wants to be taken up to pasture.

Grandfather, l don't see how l can leave

for school tomorrow.

Too many things to pack.

Books, toys, and besides,

my eiderdown won't fit in the suitcase.

-You may have my blanket.

-But you'll freeze.

Heidi, you have not yet decided

that you are going.

-l'm packing, Grandpa.

-Yes.

But you must decide here, ''l am going.''

Heidi, the money from your friend

Klara's grandmother is a gift...

...not a punishment.

l suggested using it for your education,

only because l want you to learn...

...to provide for yourself.

No matter what happens.

Heidi...

...go, or stay.

You have to decide.

Now, go fetch your friend Peter and take

these poor hungry goats out to pasture.

-l hate you.

-No, you don't.

Grandfather says you have a secret. Tell.

Make me.

l've joined the Army.

l leave for training tomorrow.

You can't.

You're not the only one

that can have an adventure.

But, Peter, you'll be a soldier. A man.

What's wrong with being a man?

There's a war on, Heidi.

What if Switzerland were attacked?

People are out there right now,

fighting in places that....

l'll make a terrific soldier.

l'll go with you. l can be a soldier.

Yes, you can be the General.

General Heidi, commanding

a vast battalion of Alpine troops.

l'm only teasing!

Dear Lord, we thank you for your blessing

this day and for the food on the table.

Please, help Heidi

through this difficult time.

She needs your guidance.

ln the name of the Father, the Son,

and the Holy Ghost, amen.

Grandfather...

...l'm going.

Good night, child.

Good night, Grandfather.

Come on, Heidi.

l wish l could take everything,

carry it with me.

Heidi...

...the mountain is inside you.

lt'll always be there.

But so will its hardship.

l've never felt it.

Heidi.

l'm afraid...

...that l won't see you again.

Don't be silly.

You'll be back at Christmas.

Give me the bag.

Let me carry it.

-lt's heavy. You'll miss your train.

-l can carry it!

You're on your way, Heidi.

Have a safe journey.

l'm gonna have a uniform, too.

A school uniform with a jacket.

l'll bring it home.

You can see it at Christmas.

Christmas?

-You will be here, won't you?

-Christmas is for children.

The Army doesn't care about Christmas.

By then l'll be in some far-off land

winning medals for courage.

l doubt it.

Demerits for bad conduct, more likely.

Peter, promise me you'll watch out

for Grandfather.

l promise.

So you don't forget me

in your fancy school.

l'm Clarissa. Are you an orphan, too?

Yes, but l have a grandfather.

That's lucky.

lf l had a grandfather,

l wouldn't be going to an orphanage.

He's Giovanni.

Stay together, girls.

Heidi.

Hey! What about us?

How would you like to come

to the orphanage, too?

She certainly would not!

She's with me, thank you very much.

You're Heidi. l knew you right away.

l'm Jane Hillary,

Headmistress of Brookings.

Heidi, dear,

we should not talk to strangers.

-They are alone. They're orphans.

-No, l mean strangers like Signor Bonelli.

Andiamo!

l'm afraid our group

is a little sparse this year.

So many of our girls are scared to travel

because of the hostilities.

ltalians are such poor soldiers.

They are not about to go to war.

Come on, this way.

-A little chocolate for the bella signorina?

-Ursula. Really!

-Heidi, have you been in an automobile?

-No.

Good, it will be a new experience.

You will enjoy it.

Just let me get in first.

Come in, Heidi.

Grazie, signora, tante grazie.

Ursula!

Ursula, why don't you help

our little country mouse...

...familiarize herself with Brookings?

All right?

Heidi, the girls and l were wondering,

where did you get those clothes?

l made them.

How quaint. They're positively dreadful.

Breathe!

And breathe!

Your arms and waist.

And the other side, and breathe.

That's it.

What is the matter, Heidi?

Yes. The miracle of the machine age.

But we mustn't fall behind.

Listen to the music, girls. Ascolta bene.

Let it lift your spirits.

We're feathers. Feathers!

We're feathers, not donkeys!

What European country

is currently at war...

...trying to extend its borders?

-Germany.

-Ben fatto.

And what other country,

moved by nationalistic fervor...

...is negotiating to alter its borders?

-ltaly!

-Right, ltaly.

And who owns the provinces ltaly wants?

The Austria-Hungarian...

...em...

-...em--

-...pire.

The Austro-Hungarian empire,

Germany's friend.

And who,

in this turbulent and greedy Europe...

...is wise enough to remain neutral?

Who knows?

No one knows? Switzerland!

Switzerland.

She stands between Germany and ltaly.

Heidi, will you show us Switzerland?

There!

Thank you, Heidi.

''Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do

''l'm half crazy over the love of you

''lt won't be a stylish marriage

and l can't afford a carriage

''But you'll look sweet upon the seat

of a bicycle made for two

''But you'll look sweet upon a seat--''

-My God, she's naked!

-l'm only taking a bath!

-Naked?

-We're not animals here!

Ursula, she's not doing it to annoy you!

Little tramps!

You're both revolting!

Who did that?

Tell me. l want to know.

Which one of you perverted monsters?

Ursula...

...l am going to tear out every hair

that's in your natty little head...

...and shove them down that big fat mouth

of yours if you don't leave now!

l knew she was a chicken.

llsa, go up to your room at once.

Heidi, l'm sure you have

been accustomed to a more...

...rustic kind of existence.

And without arguing the merits

of naked bathing...

...suffice it to say that we remain clothed

here at Brookings.

Yes, ma'am.

l have felt like a stranger, too, you know?

l was born in France and raised in England,

did you know that?

And those responsible for my upbringing...

...could also say that l was...

...a little more ''natural''

than l should have been.

There's nothing wrong with nature.

We just have to tame it a little bit.

l'm trying.

But it's hard.

The other girls, they're so...

...different.

Accept their differences.

Not out of weakness, but...

...as a way to learn your own strength.

That way you learn how to survive...

...and grow.

''Dear Grandfather, school is wonderful.

''Making lots of nice friends.''

-Someday.

-You two are positively disgusting.

Don't look at that!

Mrs. Hillary!

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