Heavenly Creatures Page #13

HENRY Your mother and I are getting divorced.

Juliet is in shock. She clutches Pauline's hand.

MOVE IN . . . to CLOSE-UP of Pauline.

PAULINE:

(Diary V.O.) The shock is too great to have penetrated my mind. It is

so incredible. Poor Father. Dr. Hulme was absolutely kind and

understanding . . .

Pauline's V.O. continues over . . .

A conversation between Henry and the two girls. The large lounge at

Ilam is dark and cold. The mood is bleak.

PAULINE:

(Diary V.O.) He said we must tell him everything about our going to

America. He was both hope-giving and depressing. We talked for a long

time and Deborah and I were near tears by the time it was over.

INT. ILAM/HALLWAY - MORN I NGPauline's V.O. continues over . . .

Henry ushers Pauline and Juliet out of the lounge. He walks Pauline

toward the front door.

PAULINE:

(Diary V.O.) What is to be the future now? We may all be going to Italy

and dozens of other places, or not all. We none of us know where we are

and a good deal depends on chance.

EXT. ILAM/DRIVEWAY - MORNING

Pauline's V.O. continues over . . .

Pauline rides her bicycle down the drive in the rain.

Dr. Hulme is standing at the door, watching her go . . . a stoney

expression on his face.

PAULINE:

(Diary V.O.) Dr. Hulme is the noblest and most wonderful person I have

ever known of.

Henry shuts the door.

INT. RIEPERS' HOUSE/PAULINE'S BEDROOM - NIGHTPauline's V.O. continues

over . . .

Pauline is lying in bed, writing in her diary.

PAULINE:

(Diary V.O.) One thing Deborah and I are sticking to: through

everything, we sink or swim together.

INT. ILAM/JULIET'S BEDROOM - NIGHTJuliet is propped up in bed, looking

sick and pale. Hilda is sitting by the side of the bed. Henry stands at

the foot of the bed, hands behind his back.

HENRY Your mother and I have talked things over and we've made some

decisions . . . I am resigning from the university and will be taking

up a position back in England.

Juliet looks horrified.

JULIET:

(Vehemently) But Daddy, you can't just leave me with Mother!

Hilda looks hurt.

HILDA We thought it best that you accompany your father. . .

JULIET:

(Worried) Is Gina coming, too?

HENRY (Annoyed) Of course not!

JULIET:

(Angry) I'm not going to England without Gina!

Hilda and Henry exchange an awkward glance.

HILDA You're not going to England, darling.

Juliet looks confused.

HENRY I'm leaving you in South Africa with Auntie Ina.

Juliet starts to tremble.

HILDA That chest of yours isn't getting any better. The warmer climate

is just what you need . . .

HENRY For the good of your health.

Juliet opens her mouth and screams.

CRASH CUT TO:

INT. RIEPERS' HOUSE/PAULINE'S BEDROOM - NIGHTPauline is crouched on her

bed, hugging her knees. She stares intensely ahead.

PAULINE:

(Intense) The Hulmes will look after me. They want me to live with

them!

HONORA:

Don't be so ridiculous. You're our daughter, you belong here with us.

PAULINE:

I belong with Deborah! We're going to South Africa!

HONORA:

You're not going anywhere. You're 15 years old!!

PAULINE:

(Intense) You have to let me go!

HONORA:

stands and walks toward the door.

HONORA:

We'll talk about this when you've calmed down.

HONORA:

pauses at the door. Pauline is slowly rocking on the bed, staring at

the wall.

CLOSE-UP . . . Pauline's face as we hear her diary V.O.:

PAULINE:

(Diary V.O.) I felt thoroughly depressed and even quite seriously

considered committing suicide. Life seems so much not worth the living,

death such an easy way out.

HONORA:

Love, you can still write to each other.

HONORA:

softly touches Pauline's cheek. Pauline winces, averting her face.

MOVE IN . . . to EXTREME CLOSE-UP of Pauline's eyes.

PAULINE:

(Diary V.O.) Anger against Mother boiled up inside me as it is she who

is one of the main obstacle in my path. Suddenly a means of ridding

myself of this obstacle occurred to me. If she were to die . . .

CUT TO:

INT. UNIVERSITY HALL - DAYCLOSE-UP . . . a cloth is whipped away

revealing a portrait of Henry painted by Rudi Gopez.

Henry is on stage for the unveiling. He shakes hands with PROFESSOR 2.

Hilda is sitting amongst various dignitaries on the stage.

PROFESSOR 1 is at the podium.

PROFESSOR 1 I can not begin to attempt to measure the inestimable value

of Dr. Hulme's contributions to Canterbury College, both social and

official. We wish both him and Mrs. Hulme all the best for the future.

On sound of large audience clapping:

CUT TO:

INT. RIEPERS' HOUSE/HALLWAY - DAYCLOSE ON . . . black & white newspaper

photo of large audience in the hall.

PULL OUT . . . to reveal newspaper story entitled "Canterbury College

Bids Farewell to Rector Today."

PULL OUT FURTHER . . . as the CAMERA rises vertically above Pauline.

She is slumped on the hall floor, holding the phone to her ear. The

newspaper lies open beside her.

JULIET:

(O.S.) (Through phone) Everything's going to be okay, Gina. Mr. Perry's

promised to give me 50 pounds for my horse . . .

INT. ILAM/HALLWAY - DAYJuliet is in the Ilam hallway, talking into the

phone . . . Walter and Hilda are visible in the lounge beyond.

JULIET:

(Hushed) That's a hundred and twenty! It's another 30 pounds and we've

got the fare!

INTERCUT WITH:

INT. RIEPERS' HOUSE/HALLWAY - DAYPauline looks very upset.

PAULINE:

(Upset) It's no bloody good . . . I went to the passport office today.

They won't give me one till I'm 20.

CUT between Pauline and Juliet . . .

JULIET:

But that's not true! I've got one.

PAULINE:

(Choked up) I need my sodding parents' consent.

Tears well in Juliet's eyes.

JULIET:

(Sobbing) Don't cry, Gina . . . We're not going to be separated. They

can't make us . . . they can't!

Hilda quietly looms up behind Juliet. She gently takes the phone out of

Juliet's hand and puts it back on the receiver. Juliet struggles in

Hilda's arms, pushing her mother away, screaming.

Pauline stands holding the dead phone.

HONORA:

Yvonne.

Pauline turns and faces her mother.

HONORA:

Please don't be like this, love.

Pauline gives HONORA

a cursory glance and walks past her, up the stairs. HONORA

looks after her, a hurt expression on her face.

PAULINE:

(Diary V.O.) I did not tell Deborah of my plans for removing Mother. I

have made no decision yet as the last fate I wish to meet is one in a

borstal. I am trying to think of some way.

CUT TO:

EXT. RIEPERS' BACK GARDEN - DAYTHWACK! . . . An ax chops into a log,

splitting it in two.

HERBERT:

is chopping firewood in the back garden. HONORA

approaches him.

HONORA:

I've just had Hilda Hulme on the phone.

HERBERT:

What now?

HONORA:

She says Juliet's in a terrible state . . .

CUT TO:

INT. RIEPERS' HOUSE/LOUNGE - DAYHONORA

and HERBERT

are sitting with Hilda in the lounge.

HILDA She's uncontrollable. I've told her that Pauline is not going to

South Africa, but she refuses to accept it.

HERBERT:

and HONORA

exchange a glance.

HILDA I expect you've heard the same from your own daughter.

HONORA:

shakes her head.

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