Rosalie Wells was an awful little ninny.

I love this movie; I watch it every time it comes on. But there is one little thing that always nags at me. There can be no doubt that Mary is a master manipulator; she's a spoiled and selfish little bitch who cares nothing for anyone but herself. And almost all of the other girls at the school see this in her; as a result, she is not exactly popular; in fact, the other girls are constantly making snide remarks at her and about her: kids often see through façades more readily than even adults do.

All the girls, that is, except one: Rosalie Wells (well-played by the one of the great child actresses, Veronica Cartwright). Rosalie is absolutely TERRIFIED of Mary and as a result Mary has her way with her whenever she pleases. Mary has discovered that Rosalie has a habit of "borrowing" other people's possessions without asking (in this case another girl's bracelet), and she uses this knowledge to blackmail Rosalie into backing up her lie about the two teachers. And when I say "blackmail," I don't mean she threatens to tell the teachers; she threatens Rosalie with the police and jail. And Rosalie inexplicably swallows it.

Veronica Cartwright is so convincing as Rosalie that it is easy to miss, at first glance, the indisputable fact that none of the other girls are afraid of Mary; in fact, none of them will believe a word she says. Why Rosalie is so easily manipulated is, unfortunately, never explored; it is merely a plot device.



Never mess with a middle-aged, Bipolar queen with AIDS and an attitude problem!
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