Heavenly Creatures Page #11

TRACK IN TO her intense face as her V.O. continues . . .

PAULINE:

(Diary V.O.) l wish I could die. This is not an idle or temporary

impulse. I have decided over the last two or three weeks that it would

be the best thing that could happen together, and the thought of death

is not fearsome.

CUT TO:

INT. RIEPERS' HOUSE/LOUNGE - CHRISTMAS DAY 1953CLOSE-UP . . . a

Christmas present is torn open . . . followed by several more, in quick

cuts. Typical 1953 presents.

Honora, Herbert, Wendy and Pauline are sitting on the floor, amidst

presents and discarded wrapping paper. Grandma Parker is sitting in a

chair.

HERBERT:

waves a pair of new socks around. The family laughing and talking.

Pauline is not participating. She is leaning back, looking morose.

HONORA:

looks at her with concern.

HONORA:

(Concerned) Is it hurting, dear?

Pauline looks blank.

HONORA:

Your leg . . . have you got pain?

Pauline shakes her head. She rips open a present . . . a new diary.

INT. RIEPERS' HOUSE/PAULINE'S BEDROOM - NIGHTCLOSE-UP of the Jan. 1st

page. Pauline's pen starts to write . . .

PAULINE:

(Diary V.O.) My New Year's resolution is a far more selfish one than

last year, so there is more probability of my keeping it. It is to make

my motto:
"Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow you may be dead."

Pauline looks up from her diary as the CAMERA RUSHES IN toward her

face.

I NT. SCHOOL CORRIDOR - MORNING

TRACKING with Pauline as she walks down the corridor past classmates,

head down, shoulders hunched.

EXT. CRANMER SQUARE/SCHOOL - DAYA PHOTOGRAPHER is peering through his

camera in Cranmer Square.

The 33 girls of 4A are posing for their class photo. They are giggling

and joking. Pauline is perched in the top right corner and is sullen.

PHOTOGRAPHER Ready . . . smile!

Pauline bows her bead.

CLICK!

CUT TO:

THE BLACK & WHITE PHOTOGRAPH. PULL OUT from Pauline's bowed head to the

full shot of the smiling class.

CUT TO:

INT. RIEPERS' HOUSE/PAULINE'S BEDROOM - DAYPauline strolls into her

bedroom and drops her school bag down. She plucks out an opera record

to play on her radiogram.

HONORA:

walks in, waving a letter.

HONORA:

This arrived today, Yvonne . . .

Pauline looks at her mother with distaste.

PAULINE:

My name is Gina!

HONORA:

It's a letter from the school . . . from Miss Stewart.

PAULINE:

What does old Stew want?

HONORA:

She says the standard of your work is slipping. At this rate she

doesn't think you'll get School Certificate.

PAULINE:

Who cares!

HONORA:

I care . . . your father cares . . . we want you to have a good

education.

PAULINE:

I'm educating myself!

HONORA:

You're failing English . . . you used to be top of the class- PAULINE

I'm doing my own writing!

HONORA:

snatches up an exercise book from a large pile.

HONORA:

These stories are not going to get you School Certificate! You don't

seriously think anyone's going to publish them?

PAULINE:

(Scornful) What do you know? You wouldn't know the first thing about

writing. You're the most ignorant person I've ever met!

HONORA:

is very angry.

HONORA:

You're rude . . . rude and insolent! I don't see why I should keep a

horrid child like you at school a minute longer.

PAULINE:

(Shouting) I don't wanna be in bloody school!

HONORA:

(Shouting) All right! You go out there and get a job and you damn well

pay your own way!

HONORA:

storms out of the room and slams the door.

INT. DIGBY'S TYPING SCHOOL - DAYOPEN ON . . . SIGN ON DOOR:

Digby's Commercial College

Pauline sits amongst rows of young ladies, typing. MISS DIGBY patrols

the aisles. Pauline looks bored and morose as she stabs dejectedly at

the keys.

INT. ILAM BATHROOM - NIGHTPauline and Juliet are lying in a steaming

bath - facing each other from opposite ends. Pauline is very upset.

PAULINE:

I think I'm going crazy.

JULIET:

No, you're not, Gina-it's everybody else who is bonkers!

PAULINE:

Let's go overseas . . .

JULIET:

You mean travel by ourselves?

Pauline nods.

JULIET:

Where shall we go? Not the Bahamas; it's bloody awful!

A few moments of silence as the girls contemplate.

JULIET:

(Excited) Of course! It's so obvious!

CUT TO:

INT. ILAM/CORRIDOR - NIGHTHenry is walking down the corridor in his

dressing gown, carrying a glass of milk.

He pauses as he overhears giggles and splashes coming from the

bathroom. He puts his ear to the door . . .

JULIET:

(O.S.) I know . . . I'll lean back and put my hair on my shoulders-then

I'll look just like Veronica Lake!

Sound of a camera clicking.

PAULINE:

(O.S.) Stay still or they'll be blurry . . .

JULIET:

(O.S.) Hurry up! I'm freezing!

PAULINE:

(O.S.) Just a couple more . . .

JULIET:

(O.S.) I know, I'll lean forward and show more cleavage!

Henry frowns. Sounds of a camera clicking.

INT. ILAM/HILDA'S BEDROOM - NIGHTHilda is preparing for bed.

Henry opens the door and enters.

HENRY Those girls are up to something in the bathroom! I think they're

taking photographs of each other!

HILDA Just leave them alone, Henry.

HENRY I'm prepared to tolerate that Rieper girl's presence but I will

not stand for any . . . hanky-panky.

HILDA I'm sure it's all perfectly innocent.

INT. ILAM/LOUNGE - NIGHTTRACKING ALONG . . . a mantelpiece of

knickknacks. Juliet's hand grabs three pieces.

Pauline and Juliet hurry around the darkened lounge, lifting various

bits of silver and china. They are dressed their nighties.

PAULINE:

(Whispers) I'm sure they'll notice things missing.

JULIET:

(Whispers) They'll blame the bloody housekeeper. She nicks stuff all

the times!

INT. ILAM/JULIET'S BEDROOM - NIGHTPauline and Juliet are lying in

Juliet's bed, their booty spread around them.

JULIET:

This lot's got to be worth 50 quid!

PAULINE:

I can try my father's safe. I'm sure I can get the keys to his office.

JULIET:

That's great! We'll have the fare in no time!

RIEPERS' HOUSE - DAWNSunrise over 31 Gloucester St.

INT. RIEPERS' HOUSE/KITCHEN/DINING ROOM/LAUNDRY - MORNINGSERIES OF VERY

QUICK SHOTS . . .

Pauline doing housework: sweeping floors, ironing, hanging washing,

folding, dusting, cleaning bath . . .

PAULINE:

(Diary V.O.) I rose at 5:30 this morning and did housework before 8

o'clock, including taking Wendy her breakfast in bed. I feel very

pleased with myself on the whole and also the future.

Pauline spins around and stares straight into the CAMERA.

PAULINE:

(Diary V.O.) We are so brilliantly clever.

ILAM GROUNDS - DAYWHACK! A tennis ball is hit by a racquet.

Hilda and Walter Perry are playing mixed doubles on the court laid out

in the Ilam grounds, behind the house.

SUPER:
"Two Weeks Later"

It's a sunny, festive afternoon. Picnic blankets are laid out around

the tennis court. Tables of food and colourful awnings have been

erected around the lawn.

Henry is chatting to some friends beside the tennis courts.

Thirty cars are filling the drive in front of the house. People are

wandering around, admiring the gardens.

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