Heavenly Creatures Page #6

Pauline and Juliet walk about in wonderment.

PAULINE:

(Diary V.O.) Today Juliet and I discovered the key to the Fourth World.

We have had it in our possession for about six months, but we only

realised it on the day of the Death of Christ. We saw a gateway through

the clouds. Everything was full of peace and bliss. We then realised we

had the key . . .

CUT TO:

INT. HULMES' CAR/COUNTRYSIDE - DAYAs Pauline's V.O. continues . . .

CAMERA TRACKS IN SLOWLY, past Henry and Hilda, to a SHOT of Pauline and

Juliet sitting quietly, staring ahead, blissfully.

PAULINE:

(Diary V0.) We have an extra part of our brain which can appreciate the

Fourth World. Only about 10 people have it. On two days every year we

may use the key and look into that beautiful world which we have been

lucky enough to be allowed to know of . . .

EXT. COUNTRYSIDE - DAYWIDE SHOT . . . the Hulmes' car, a small speck at

the BOTTOM OF FRAME, winding over the hills.

Above . . . billowing cumulus clouds fill the sky.

PAULINE:

(Diary V.O.) . . . on this Day of Finding the Key to the Way through

the Clouds.

CUT TO:

INT. ILAM/JULIET'S BEDROOM - DAYCLOSE-UP . . .Juliet's face twisted

with pain. She gasps as if in labour. Short, harsh panting. Pauline

look panic-stricken.

PAULINE:

Push! . . . Breathe! . . . It's coming! . . . Oh, God!

PULL OUT . . . to reveal Juliet lying on her bed, in childbirth pose.

Her pregnant stomach is pushing at the seams of her school dress.

Juliet wails . . . Pauline pulls out a pillow from between Juliet's

legs, her face a mixture of surprise and elation.

PAULINE:

It's a boy! Deborah . . . we've got a son and heir!

Pauline hands Juliet the pillow. She cradles it in her arms.

JULIET:

I shall call him Diello.

PAULINE:

You're such an incredible woman.

JULIET:

I couldn't have done it without you, Charles.

INT. SCHOOL/ENGLISH CLASS - DAY"THE ROLE OF THE ROYAL FAMILY TODAY" -

written on the blackboard. Mrs. STEVE

ns is presiding over Form 4A.

Juliet is standing at the front of the class, reading from an essay.

JULIET:

. . . the Empress Deborah has the difficulty fending off her husband,

who tries his way with her morning, noon and night . . .

The class titters . . . they clearly want to I STEVE

ns s glare deters them.

Pauline sits at the back, smirking.

MRS. STEVE

NS (Icy) Thank you, Juliet!

JULIET:

. . . However, the Queen's biggest problem is her renegade child,

Diello. He has proven to be an uncontrollable little brighter, who

slaughters his nannies whenever the fancy takes him . . .

MRS. STEVE

NS That's enough, Juliet!

Juliet stops and stands quietly. Mrs. STEVE

ns rips the essay out of her hand and waves it under her nose.

MRS. STEVE

NS I suppose this is your idea of a joke?

JULIET:

No, Mrs. STEVE

ns.

MRS. STEVE

NS I suppose you think it's witty and clever to mock the Royal Family .

. . to poke fun a the Empire, with this . . . rubbish!

Pauline leaps to her feet.

PAULINE:

It's not rubbish!

MRS. STEVE

NS Sit down, Pauline!

JULIET:

I really don't understand why you are upset, Mrs. STEVE

n. I merely wrote an essay on the Royal Family as requested.

Pauline points at the blackboard.

PAULINE:

It doesn't say it has to be the Windsors!

MRS. STEVE

NS (Yelling) Sit down!

Pauline sits down, looking victorious.

MRS. STEVE

NS (To Juliet) A girl like you should be setting an example! To your

seat!

Juliet starts coughing. Mrs. STEVE

ns's face darkens.

MRS. STEVE

NS Stop it, Juliet!

Juliet continues coughing. She sits heavily. Pauline snorts, trying not

to laugh.

Juliet slumps over her desk, coughing . . . globules of blood splatter

her exercise book.

Pauline's smile vanishes.

CUT TO:

INT. RIEPERS' HOUSE/HALLWAY - NIGHTPauline is standing in the hallway,

holding the phone to her ear. She slowly lowers it, her face shocked.

PAULINE:

(Diary V.O.) Mrs. Hulme told me they had found out today that Juliet

has tuberculosis on one lung. Poor Julietta. I nearly fainted when I

heard. I had a terrible job not to cry.

CUT TO:

INT. RIEPERS' HOUSE/PAULINE'S SLEEPOUT - MORNINGPauline is lying in her

bed looking depressed. She writes her diary.

PAULINE:

(Diary V.O.) I spent a wretched night. It would be wonderful if I could

get tuberculosis, too.

HONORA:

comes in with a breakfast tray: bacon and eggs, tea and toast.

HONORA:

Come on, sit up.

PAULINE:

I'm not hungry.

HONORA:

You've got to eat, Yvonne. You hardly touched our dinner. I'm not

having you falling ill.

PAULINE:

I just want to be on my own for a while.

HONORA:

starts to cut up a slice of bacon and offers it to Pauline.

HONORA:

You may have forgotten that you were once a very sick little girl, but

I haven't!

HONORA:

holds up a loaded fork. Pauline reluctantly takes it.

PAULINE:

Do you think Juliet could stay here while her parents are away?

HONORA:

Juliet's infectious . . . she'll be going to hospital.

PAULINE:

But she'll have no one to look after her!

HONORA:

Her parents won't be going overseas now . . . they'll have to cancel

their trip. Don't worry about Juliet.

MATCH CUT TO:

INT. CASHMERE SANATORIUM/JULIET'S ROOM - DAYThe back of Hilda's head

rises through SHOT, revealing Juliet lying in a hospital bed, looking

weak. Hilda has just kissed her on the forehead. Juliet is upset.

HILDA It's not too late to cancel our travel arrangements . . . if

that's what you want?

Juliet tearfully shakes her head. Henry is standing at the foot of the

bed, hands behind his back.

HENRY I'm sure you'll like it here . . . it's very tranquil.

HILDA I've spoken to the Matron, and she promises to take special care

of you.

HENRY And you can carry on with your studies while you convalesce.

Hilda touches Juliet's hand, and leans forward . . . a concerned look

on her face.

HILDA It's for the good of your health, darling.

Juliet looks at her mother, eyes filling with tears. Henry pats her

feet.

HENRY Cheer up, old thing . . . four months will fly by in no time.

CUT TO:

INT. SANATORIUM/CORRIDOR - DAYHenry and Hilda walk up the corridor past

sick patients in wheelchairs.

EXT. SANATORIUM - DAYJuliet's POV through the window . . . as her

parents' car disappears down the road.

INT. SANATORIUM/)ULIET'S ROOM - DAYJuliet watches them drive away,

tears streaming down her face.

HONORA:

(V.O.) Juliet won't be allowed visitors for at least a couple of

months.

INT. RIEPERS' HOUSE/DINING ROOM - NIGHTPauline is unenthusiastically

picking at her dinner.

HONORA:

I've booked you in for a chest X-ray . . . just to be on the safe side.

HONORA:

pops a couple more potatoes on Pauline's plate. HERBERT

glances at Pauline.

HERBERT:

Thought I'd have a go at building the birdhouse on Saturday . . .

anyone want to give me a hand?

Pauline remains silent.

HONORA:

You used to love making things with Dad, Yvonne.

MOVE IN . . . on Pauline, who has not been listening.

PAULINE:

(Diary V.O.) This evening I had a brainwave: that Juliet and I should

write to each other as Charles and Deborah.

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