Being Julia Page #5

Mmm.

they're so bloody

mean, these managements.

I said, "give me 18

pounds and I'll do it."

And he said, "18 pounds? 18

pounds!" Cheeky little sod.

What are you doing tonight?

I don't know.

Do you know that girl's name?

Which girl?

Oh, that's Avice Crichton.

"You couldn't have her for 80 pounds,

never mind 18 pounds."

I thought that was witty.

Don't you think that was witty?

Hilarious.

Well, they're not

number-one dates, darling.

Oh, not at all.

Lowestoft, bournemouth and chesterfield

and Christ knows where else.

6 months...

Mummy, we're going to London to have

supper and do the clubs, all right?

No. No, really not,

you've all had too much to drink.

Tom hasn't. He's driving,

and one of the girls has a car.

[Laughing]

[Brakes squealing]

[Crickets chirping]

(Tom) Yeah. Yeah, we had a great time

[Roger groaning]

[Roger chuckling]

[Car doors closing]

(Roger) Good night, old man.

Good night, pal.

[Door squeaking]

[Door closing]

Are you-- are you crazy, what

do you think you're you doing?

I was about to ask you the same thing.

Go back to your room.

I've hardly seen you

since you've been here.

You've seen Roger more than me.

We haven't been alone.

What's wrong with you?

You haven't held me,

you haven't kissed me.

Shh.

[Sobbing] Can't you

see the state I'm in?

And-- and tonight-- tonight,

going off like that,

not a word to me, with that little tart.

Oh, Avice Crichton is not a tart.

Avice Crichton certainly looks like one.

I'm going back to London tomorrow.

Good. I hope you remember

to tip the servants

or do you want me to

give you the money, hmm?

These are yours, take them back.

Don't be such a bloody little fool.

You think I like being a kept boy?

You think I like being

humiliated like this, huh?

I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm

sorry. I didn't mean it.

That makes it even worse.

I should never have let

you give me these presents.

I should never have let

you lend me that money.

By the end of the

month I'll pay you back.

I've apologized.

Don't go to London tomorrow, please.

[Sniffling]

I love you, Tom.

Please.

I'm tired. I want to go to bed now.

[Sobbing]

(Jimmie) Now, that's

the real thing, Julia,

or my name's not Jimmie Langton.

but I've got some notes.

You're still going over the top.

You've got to learn restraint.

And for Christ's sake,

stop crying, will you?

We all know you can turn your

tears on and off like a tap,

so turn them off, will you?

[Sobbing]

Well, bugger me,

you really are crying

this time, aren't you?

I can't say I wasn't moved,

but you've got to learn to do it

so that it seems real.

seems to be real,

that's the art of acting.

Hold the mirror up to nature, ducky,

otherwise you'll become a nervous wreck,

take to drink

and end up a piss artist

playing gin-sodden whores

all over Scotland on number-3 tours.

Technique, that's what

I want you to learn.

Technique.

[Knocking on door]

I saw the light on. can I come in?

- Yes, of course.

- Is something wrong?

- No.

- You've been crying.

No, no, just a bad dream.

What is it, sweetheart?

We picked up a couple of girls tonight.

Who did?

Tom and me.

Oh.

Tom made me promise I wouldn't tell you.

He said you'd be furious.

Were they tarts?

No, they're on the stage.

Joan asked me if I could get her

an understudy in your next play.

Yes, tarts.

I just had to tell you.

Tell me what?

I thought it was about time

I found out what it was all about.

Roger, what do you mean?

Love.

Love?

It's not that great, really.

I don't know why everybody

makes such a fuss about it.

Mummy, what's the matter?

You are upset.

Why are you crying?

Oh, because you're such a little boy.

Don't cry.

Hmm.

I needed to tell you.

It had to happen sooner or later.

It makes me feel so old.

"Age cannot wither her,

nor custom stale her infinite variety".

If I'd been Cleopatra,

I'd have put whoever said that to death.

[Laughing]

To tell you the truth,

I didn't enjoy it much.

Oh, you're so very, very young.

I'll grow out of it.

Hmm.

[Laughing]

I may go abroad for a while.

Oh, where?

I don't know. Italy, France. abroad.

I say,

about-- about

that under study,

is there any chance for Joan?

Tell her to write to me.

Thanks. Good night.

Good night, darling.

An understudy, my foot.

[Exhales]

[Footsteps approaching]

Wait. Hold it.

[Door creaking]

It's from you know who.

I don't want to be disturbed.

Good matinee?

All right,

but I'm not feeling very well.

Draw up a chair. Sit down.

What's the matter?

Nothing. I haven't been sleeping.

I had a post card from Roger.

He's in Naples.

Says he's having a great time.

Yes, but you haven't come

here just to tell me that,

have you?

No, it's something else. I, uh...

I can't pay you back

the money that I owe you.

I know I said at the end of last month.

But I just don't have it.

I could pay it off.

I hate having to ask

for more time. But...

Don't be such a bloody

little idiot, Tom.

It's so humiliating, Julia.

Geez, when you said

you'd pay my tips for me,

how do you think that made me feel?

I said I'm sorry, I didn't mean it.

I was jealous of you

spending so much time with Roger.

I was jealous.

I was jealous of you going out

and having a good time without me.

Is that so horrible?

I should never have

accepted anything from you.

You're everything in the world to me.

You know that.

I love being with you.

I don't want to lose you.

I have few friends. Real friends.

And you're the only person in my life

with whom I can be entirely myself.

[Gasping]

Let's... let's go...

[Exhales]

Let's go on seeing each other. Please.

Oh, Julia.

[Giggling]

(Evie) Well, I've always said,

you're lucky you can cry

without your eyelids swelling.

Go to hell.

Well, you're looking a lot happier,

I'll say that for you.

I hope with good reason.

If you're thinking what

I think you're thinking,

then stop thinking.

All the same, Evie,

you know what I think?

No, what do you think?

What mugs men are.

Well, they can't keep

it in their trousers,

[Julia laughs] that's for sure.

You're a revolting hag.

[Julia giggling]

Yes, I am happier.

Everything will be all right now.

[Sighs] I can't help feeling...

I wish I didn't.

Deep down, I can't help feeling...

What?

A certain contempt for that boy.

He's so transparent.

Life is just a bowl of cherries

don't make it serious

life's too mysterious

you work, you save, you worry so

but you can't take your dough

when you go, go, go

so keep repeating...

Are you dancing with

me or with someone else?

I'm sorry,

I-- I-- I, uh,

I can't get over what her

royal highness just said to me.

What? What did she say?

She said I ought to come

and see them in the country.

And I was just thinking,

you think it's ok if

I asked her to dance?

Oh, you're such a dreadful snob, Tom.

I know. That's why England's

the best place for me.

I'm glad we quarreled.

We're closer now than we've ever been.

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