Atonement Page #2

You must be the cousins from the north.

- What are your names?

- Pierrot.

- Jackson.

- What marvellous names.

JACKSON:
Do you know our parents?

PAUL:
Well, I've read

about them in the paper.

- What exactly have you read about them?

- Oh, you know. The usual sort of nonsense.

I'll thank you not to talk about this

in front of the children.

Your parents

are absolutely wonderful people,

that's quite clear, and they love you

and think about you all the time.

Jolly nice slacks.

We went to see a show

and I got them at Liberty's.

- What was the show?

- Hamlet.

Ah, yes. "To be or not to be."

I like your shoes.

Duckers in the Turl. They make

a wooden thing, shaped like your foot.

Keep it forever.

PIERROT:
I'm starving. When's dinner?

Well, I might be able to help you there,

if you can guess what I do for a living.

- You've got a chocolate factory.

- Everyone knows that.

Then it wasn't a guess, was it?

There'll be one of these in every kit bag

of every soldier in the British Army.

Sugar casing, so it won't melt.

JACKSON:
Why should they get free sweets?

'Cause they'll be fighting for their country.

Our daddy says

there isn't going to be a war.

Your daddy is wrong.

- Calling it the Army Amo.

- Amo, amas, amat.

Top marks.

It's boring how everything ends in "o."

"Polo" and "Aero."

- And "Oxo" and "Brillo".

- Sounds as if you don't want it.

Then I shall just have to give it

to your sister.

PAUL:
Bite it.

You have to bite it.

BRIONY:
The Princess was well aware

of his remorseless wickedness.

But that made it no easier to overcome

the voluminous love she felt

in her heart for Sir Romulus.

The Princess knew instinctively

that the one with red hair

was not to be trusted.

As his young ward dived again

and again to the depths of the lake,

in search of the enchanted chalice,

Sir Romulus twirled his luxuriant moustache.

Sir Romulus rode with his two companions,

northwards, drawing ever closer

to an effulgent sea.

So heroic in manner,

he appeared so valiant in word

No one could ever guess at the darkness

lurking in the black heart

of Sir Romulus Turnbull.

He was the most dangerous man

in the world.

"Dear Cecilia, I thought I should write

to apologise for my clumsy

"and inconsiderate behaviour."

"Forgive me if I seem strange but I'm..."

ROBBIE:
Dear Cecilia, you'd be forgiven

for thinking me mad,

the way I acted this afternoon.

The truth is I feel rather lightheaded

and foolish in your presence, Cee,

and I don't think I can blame the heat.

"Will you forgive me?

"Robbie."

Off out then?

ROBBIE:
Yes, Leon's asked me

to join them for dinner.

So that's why I've been polishing

silver all afternoon.

I'll think of you when I see my face

in the spoon.

You're not a bit like your father.

Not in any way.

That's because I'm all yours. I'll be late.

Your shirts are hanging upstairs.

- Son.

- Yes?

Nothing.

Briony! Is that you?

Are you all right?

Do you think you could do me a favour?

Could you run ahead

and give this to Cee? I...

- Feel a bit of a fool handing it over myself.

- All right.

Briony.

Briony!

- I suppose he's what you might call eligible.

- Rather.

He certainly seems to think

he's the cat's pyjamas.

Which is odd, considering he has pubic hair

growing out of his ears.

I should imagine he'd give you

a lot of very noisy, boneheaded sons.

- He's quite a good egg, actually.

- You say that about everyone.

- Leon!

- Rummy, if it ain't my little sis!

I wrote you a play, Leon.

I wanted to do a play for you.

- The Trials Of Arabella.

- Well, there's still time.

- Doesn't have to be this evening.

- No, it's impossible.

CECILIA:
Briony.

LEON:
Tell you what. I'm good at voices,

you're even better,

so we'll read it out after dinner.

- Briony, did you read this letter?

- Yes, let's. That's a wonderful idea.

- Briony!

- Here we are. My choc-tail.

I insist you try it.

Wasn't there an envelope?

Do you mind if I come in?

LOLA:
I've had the most appalling evening.

The twins have been torturing me. Look.

How awful.

Chinese burns.

That's right.

They want to go home.

They think it's me that's keeping them here.

Lola.

Can I tell you something?

Something really terrible.

Yes, please.

What's the worst word

you can possibly imagine?

- He's a sex maniac!

- That's right.

- What's Cecilia going to do?

- I don't know.

- You ought to call the police.

- Do you think so?

He said he thought about it all day long.

All you have to do is show them the letter.

- You won't tell anyone, will you, promise?

- I promise.

Good. If he found out,

there's no knowing what he might do.

You're right.

You better tidy your face.

I've still got to change.

Thanks, Briony. You're a real brick.

BRIONY:
Cecilia!

- It was a mistake.

- Briony read it.

My God, I'm so sorry.

It was the wrong version.

Yes.

- It was never meant to be read.

- No.

What was in the version

I was meant to read?

I don't know. It was more formal. Less...

- Anatomical?

- Yes.

It's been there for weeks,

and then this morning by the fountain...

I've never done anything like that before.

And I was so angry with you,

and with myself.

I thought if you went away to medical

school, then I'd be happy, but...

I don't know how I could have been

so ignorant about myself, so...

So stupid.

You do know what I'm talking about,

don't you?

You knew before I did.

Why are you crying?

Don't you know?

Yes, I know exactly.

Robbie.

Cecilia.

I love you.

I love you.

Someone's come in.

Cecilia!

LEON:
People were sitting out

having dinner on the pavement.

It was always the view of my parents

that hot weather encouraged loose morals.

In high summer, my sister and I

were never allowed out of the house.

They thought the villagers would be

unnecessarily provoked.

What do you say, Cee? Does the hot weather

make you behave badly?

- Good heavens, you're blushing.

- It's just hot in here, that's all.

Lola, wipe that lipstick off.

You're far too young.

What about you, Briony?

What sins have you committed today?

- I've done nothing wrong.

- EMILY:
Have you seen the twins recently?

They didn't look very happy

last time I saw them, poor little chaps.

- BRIONY:
You know nothing about it.

- Briony. I can't imagine what's got into you.

- I've never known you to be so rude.

- BRIONY:
Well, they're not poor little chaps.

- Just look what they did to Lola.

- What are you talking about?

BRIONY:
Jackson and Pierrot

bruised her arm. Gave her Chinese burns.

I'm afraid she's quite right.

I had to pull them off her.

How I got my war wound.

The twins did that, Lola?

PAUL:
Yes, it all turned

into a bit of a wrestle,

I'm afraid. Still, no harm done, eh, Lola?

EMILY:
Would you go and find these boys,

please, Briony?

Tell them dinner's ready,

and where are their manners?

- Why do I have to go?

- Briony, you'll do as you're told,

or you'll go straight to your room.

- BRIONY:
It's a letter!

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