The Chalk Garden

Sixteen-year-old Laurel (Hayley Mills) has been the ward of her wealthy maternal grandmother, Mrs. St. Maugham (Dame Edith Evans), for four years, since Mrs. St. Maugham's estranged daughter, Laurel's mother Olivia (Elizabeth Sellars), re-married. Laurel's father has since passed. Laurel, who has not seen or heard from her mother since, believes her mother deserted her and her father. As such, Laurel has grown into a rebellious and rambunctious teenager, her actions and words, such as her threat to burn down the house, meant to shock and provoke. Because of her behavior, Laurel has had a series of governesses who she has been able to scare off, some upon first meeting. The latest governess that Mrs. St. Maugham hires is Miss Madrigal (Deborah Kerr), despite Miss Madrigal having no references and admitting that she has never done such work before. Conversely, Miss Madrigal feels compelled to this job, Laurel, who Miss Madrigal believes she can help, unable to scare her off upon her job interview. Outwardly, Miss Madrigal is an open book in that she leaves her bedroom door open and thus unlocked most of the time. However, she is short of information about her past. Laurel is determined to do to Miss Madrigal what she has been able to do with all the rest: get her to quit. To do so, Laurel knows she has to find out what Miss Madrigal is hiding about her past. Thus begins a battle of wills between the two, Miss Madrigal who tries to discover the entire truth behind Laurel and her mother, so that she can better help her. That battle has the potential to break wide open as Olivia returns wanting her daughter back, resulting in Mrs. St. Maugham consulting with her old friend, Judge McWhirrey (Felix Aylmer), for legal advice.