Things In Jars

Eleanore Delalune moved from her downtown, upper-class life at a prestigious private school in England across the Atlantic to the troubled teenage suburban life she now calls home. With her father travelling to rid his depression and her "nanny" cluelessly kept out of the way, Ella becomes the perfect prey to her shallow stepsisters, her verbally abusive stepmother, and the terrifying world of high school. But what she didn't count on was the good-looking Charmont Princeton to swoop in and save her day.

Char and Ella may just be perfectly flawed enough to fall in love.

LIKES: collecting band-aids, writing poetry, watching movie trailers, Monty Python's Flying Circus, sunsent, storms, James McAvoy
DISLIKES: the Alucards, centipedes
ACTRESS: Emma Watson

Ella, as she is more commonly called, is a seventeen-year-old, Monty Python-loving Brit. She was born in London, raised out of the city, and has -- since her mother's untimely death -- lived with her mute father Leland and her caregiver, Anastasia.

When her father remarries the witch Driselda Alucard, Ella is forced to leave her beloved England for the plain, dry suburban North America she now calls home. Not a day goes by where she misses her home (and her mother, after whom she was named), especially when her father leaves once again and she remains with her abusive stepfamily.

When Ella starts her senior year at Castleview Collegiate, nothing seems to change. She's is still bullied, alienated, and homesick. The only difference is; now there is Char Princeton, the reluctantly popular, easygoing musician who has a penchant for saving damsels in distress.

Ella feels something more than friendship for Char, and maybe she is just what he needs to save.

LIKES: songwriting, learning new instruments, classic science fiction, The Simpsons, the colour red
DISLIKES: Crystle Alucard and her mother (secretly)
ACTOR: James Kirk

Char tends to feel like your average high school senior -- despite being held back a year and then continuing a fifth year of high school, both thanks to his dad. Now nineteen, Char doesn't want to be the overachiever his dad wants him to be; he'd rather sit in his room and teach himself how to play the guitar.

Char has a problem, though. He's tried to keep it under tabs, but every once in a while he gets into trouble. Char has what Ella calls a "hero complex" -- he feels a pulling need to save someone, anyone. From rescuing the rodents in the science lab to nearly being hit by a car, Char's put his complex above almost all else, causing a general assumption that he's a selfless, kind individual. It is the truth, no one is more selfless or kind than Char. But sometimes he wonders; is he naturally a nice guy, or is it because of his problem?

Popular at Castleview Collegiate mostly due to his laid-back personality and charm, Char becomes fascinated with the quiet, layered individual that is Ella. It is a fascination that quickly becomes more for Char, but he senses that she's been hurt in the past. Char is determined to break down Ella's walls and show her that he can and will save her, even if she won't let him.

LIKES: partying, clubbing, shopping, gossip, being the leader of her clique, Char
DISLIKES: attempts to dethrone her, her mother, Ella, lots of other people
ACTRESS: Brittany Snow

Crystle has it good. A former pageant winner and child beauty, she rules as queen of Castleview Collegiate even though she's only been attending a year and a half. Like Char, she too is repeating a year -- however, with Crystle it is more a reason of poor marks than desire to get enough courses and do well in university. Crystle knows she has it made anyway; her mother has enough money to let Crystle do whatever she wants, wear the clothes she'd like to, and go to the places she wants to see.

Underneath her perfect glitter and glam is another story. Crystle hates her mother, who's subtle criticisms caused her to once develop anorexia. She feels as though Driselda has driven their father away, and hates Leland even more for his role in her life. She hates her younger sister Hattie, her new housekeeper Anastasia, the moderate clothes she wears, and most of all Ella. In fact, the only person she doesn't hate is Char -- unfortunately, he doesn't like her, and that just makes Crystle hate Ella even more.

Crystle keeps her feelings no secret from her friends, defiantly acting out against Driselda. Being the favourite child, she recieves none of the attention she feels she deserves. Crystle always gets what she wants, and right now, she specifically and expressly wants Char. And she will get him in the best way she knows how -- sex, lies, and blackmail.

LIKES: having money, spending money, looking beautiful
DISLIKES: Eleanor Delalune and everything assosiated with her, especially Ella
ACTRESS: Michelle Pfieffer

Driselda was once a beautiful top model who's face shows the ravages of plastic surgery and her attempts to stay young. She has distanced herself from her children, loving Crystle and Crystle alone. She dislikes Hattie as much as a mother could dislike her daughter, believing the younger girl the reason for her loss of beauty.

Driselda does not realise Crystle's feelings toward her, believing that by creating a modest young woman she is doing the best she can for her daughter. She is disappointed easily and hides it well, but is not afraid to show it. Driselda has been known to be physically violent; for this reason, her former husband left her.

Driselda absolutely despises Ella for some unknown reason. She intensely dislikes Ella's presence in her house, and has vowed to return it to the purity she felt it once had, no matter what it takes.

LIKES: movies from the 30's and 40's, a good Agatha Christie, jewellery
DISLIKES: being bossed around
ACTRESS: Naomie Harris

Ana has been a long-term member of the Delalune household since Eleanor Delalune passed away. An old friend of Eleanor's and Ella's god-mother, she has known the family for a very long time and is no stranger to Ella. Ana is the solid rock in Ella's life and has been since she approached them at Eleanor's funeral with a proposition.

Ana advises Ella on many of her problems, whether she asks for it or not. And, being her god-mother, she has looked out for her and cushioned her during the rough times in Driselda Alucard's household. Unfortunately, Driselda sneakily injects barrier after barrier between Ana and Ella, preventing her from fully protecting her god-daughter as she would have. Of course, sneaky witches like Driselda have never stopped high-spirited Ana before, and they're not about to.

Ana has a secret, one that not even Ella knows. One day she feels she may reveal it to Ella, but it won't be for a while yet. Ella will just have to wait and wonder.

Harriet "Hattie" Kennedy Alucard

Crystle's younger sister appears at first to be a mean, dim-witted brute whose sole purpose is to hurt and humiliate Ella. But, like everyone else, Hattie has a secret; a bizarre way of coping with her abusive mother and hateful sister.

Carmen Velasquez

Carmen is, on the surface, your typical black-haired, pierced, dark makeup and skinny-jean wearing teenage girl. She is much, much more though; Carmen has never truly found a niche for herself, and so she creates the illusion of an outcast, unpopular girl. Deep down inside she's a bright young girl who just wants to belong; too bad she harbours a secret that could destroy her.

Leland Alucard-Delalune
(Benjamin Bratt)

After the death of his beloved wife, coupled with the sole parenting job of a daughter he doesn't understand, the once celebrated photographer takes a vow of silence. In his unclear state of mind, it is not hard for Driselda to convince him to marry her. As the events of the story progress, Leland slowly begins to wake up from his self-imposed dreamworld.

Eleanor Delalune
(Romola Garai)

Eleanor is the mother of Ella and wife of Leland. A ballerina, she was disowned from her family for illegitemately having Ella at the age of eighteen. Her teachings and spirited words of wisdom have become the foundation in Ella's life, and she strives to be like the woman her mother was.