Heavenly Creatures Page #7

INT. RIEPERS' HOUSE/PAULINE'S SLEEPOUT - NIGHTPauline is lying on her

bed, furiously writing a letter.

PAULINE:

(Diary V.O.) I wrote a six-page letter as Charles and a two-page letter

as Paul.

INT. SANATORIUM - DAYJuliet lies on her bed, writing to Pauline.

PAULINE:

(Diary V.O.) She has entered into the spirit of the thing greatly!

As we listen to Juliet's V.O., we see SCENES of TB hospital life . . .

the meals brought around . . . the dayroom . . . the DOCTORS.

JULIET:

(Letter V.O.) My dear Charles, I miss you and adore you in equal

amounts and long for the day we will be reunited, but as I languish

here, in this house of disease and decrepitude, my mind turns-with

increasing frequency- to the problem of our son . . .

INT. SANATORIUM/JULIET'S ROOM - DAYJuliet sits at a desk. sculpting and

painting a Plasticine figure of Diello.

As her V.O. continues . . . TRACK INTO a CLOSE-UP of Diello's fierce

little face . . .

JULIET:

(Letter V.O.) Although only 10, Diello has thus far killed 57 people

and shows no desire to stop . . . it worries me, Charles.

CUT TO:

INT. RIEPERS' HOUSE/KITCHEN, LOUNGE - DAYCLOSE-UP of Pauline's hand,

writing a letter to Juliet.

PAULINE:

(Letter V.O.) My dearest darling Deborah. Affairs of state continue to

occupy my time.

Pauline washes a pile of dishes in the kitchen.

PAULINE:

(Letter V.O.) I have to report that the lower classes are terrifically

dull.

Pauline is sitting in the lounge, looking very boring during a game of

Lexicon with Herbert, John and a ROSS. Pauline is waiting for her turn,

unaware that John is studying her from across the table. Her

word PUTRID spelled out.

PAULINE:

(Letter V.O.) Only yesterday I was compelled to execute several

peasants just to alleviate the boredom . . .

CUT TO:

INT. SCHOOL/ART CLASS - DAYPauline is hunched over a painting in the

art class, daubing great strokes of red paint onto a violent medieval

carnage.

PAULINE:

(Letter V.O.) . . . Diello insisted on coming along . . . in fact, he

made such a fuss that I had to let him yield the ax himself. Heads did

roll! Not just the prisoners, but the royal guard, my valet and several

unfortunate copped it as well . . .

IMAGES of Pauline's painting: people being run through with swords,

heads coming off, etc.

CUT TO:

INT. SANATORIUM/DAYROOM - DAYJuliet is sitting, writing in the sunny

dayroom.

JULIET:

(Letter V.O.) Oh, Charles . . . I am despair enough to put Diello in

the hands of the Cardinal, in hope that a good dose of religion will

set the young chap on the right path.

REVEREND NORRIS Hello again . . .

Juliet peers up at a DOG-COLLARED VICAR. She eyes him coldly.

REVEREND NORRIS How are you getting along? It must be awfully hard

being away from your school chums . . . I've got something here you

might just like to have a look at.

He hands Juliet a leaflet featuring a thin, withered figure in a great

deal of pain. "JESUS LOVES YOU" is printed across the top.

Juliet's face hardens.

REVEREND NORRIS Unfortunately, modern medicine can only go so far in

combatting an illness like TB. And that's why I'm here . . . because

with the power of God, miracles can happen. The Lord has said that

those who have faith will be saved! Reach out, Juliet! Reach out for

Jesus!

During Reverend Norris's speech . . . CAMERA closes in to BIG CLOSE-UP

of Juliet's face. Reverend Norris's voice fades away. . .

SUDDENLY!!!

A silhouetted figure rises up behind Reverend Norris . . . a lumpy hand

closes around his throat!

REVEREND NORRIS Aaaaarghhh!!!

Diello - the Plasticine figurine, now life-size - drags Reverend Norris

off his feet and across the room.

Reverend Norris kicks and struggles as Diello hauls him through the

doorway onto . . .

EXT. BOROVNIA CASTLE COURTYARD - DAY. . . a scaffold in the town square

of Borovnia. A medieval fantasy kingdom. NICHOLAS watches from a street

corner.

Reverend Norris is grabbed by two BURLY PLASTICINE GUARDS. They hold

him down, his neck on a chopping block. Diello grabs a huge ax, swings

it up above his head, and brings it crashing down onto . . .

REVEREND NORRIS'S NECK!!!

CHOP TO:

INT. SANATORIUM/CORRIDOR - DAYCRASH! . . . swing doors burst open.

Pauline hurries into the hospital corridor. HONORA

follows behind her. Within sight of the dayroom, Pauline breaks into a

run, nearly bowling a NURSE over.

HONORA:

Yvonne!

INT. SANATORIUM/DAY ROOM - DAYPauline rushes over to Juliet, who is

seated by a window, knitting. They hug tightly.

JULIET:

I'm so happy to see you!

HONORA:

hurries over.

HONORA:

It's best not to get too close. Juliet's still not a hundred percent.

Hello, Juliet! We've bought you some fruit.

JULIET:

Thank you so much!

Juliet sits back in her chair. She holds Pauline's hand. HONORA

admires Juliet's knitting-a red cardigan.

HONORA:

That's coming along well!

JULIET:

(Pleased) I'm the Matron's favourite patient and she's shown me her

special stitch!

PAULINE:

I love the colour!

Juliet smiles at Pauline.

JULIET:

It's for you.

Pauline squeezes Juliet's hand.

INT.JULIET'S ROOM - DAYHONORA

is looking at some mail on a small table. Pauline is sitting at

Juliet's bedside.

HONORA:

Goodness me! What a lot of letters. Are your parents enjoying their

trip? Oh . . . there's a couple of unopened ones, dear.

JULIET:

(Sarcastically) I'm saving them for a rainy day.

HONORA:

gives her a sympathetic look.

HONORA:

I know it's hard for you being in here, but it is for the good of your

health.

JULIET:

(Bitterly) They sent me off to the Bahamas "for the good of my health."

They sent me to the Bay of bloody Islands "for the good of my health."

HONORA:

looks startled at the outburst.

JULIET:

I'm sorry, Mrs. Rieper. I'm feeling quite fatigued.

HONORA:

We don't want to tire you out, dear.

HONORA:

stands and picks up her handbag. Pauline stands and Juliet grabs her

hand.

JULIET:

Can't you stay a bit longer, Paul?

Pauline looks at Honora.

HONORA:

We've got a tram to catch, Yvonne.

Pauline hugs Juliet and reluctantly takes her leave.

CUTTO:

INT. RIEPERS' HOUSE/PAULINE'S SLEEPOUT - EVENINGCLOSE-UP . . .

Plasticine figure of Nicholas. John's hand comes into SHOT and picks

the model up. Pauline looks on anxiously . . . the face of Nicholas

bears more than a passing resemblance to John, but he doesn't seem to

notice.

JOHN This is quite something . . . you're damn clever.

Pauline beams.

JOHN So . . . Deborah is married to Charles, and this chap Nicholas . .

. is her tennis instructor?

PAULINE:

Yes, but there's nothing between them. Deborah would never go for a

commoner. Nicholas has got his eye on Gina, an amazingly beautiful

gypsy.

She gestures to a Plasticine GINA figure that is sitting or the shelf.

JOHN Looks like you, Yvonne.

Pauline beams.

PAULINE:

Juliet made it!

John smiles.

JOHN This is really quite incredible. l bet you girls know the entire

royal lineage for the last five centuries.

PAULINE:

Oh, yes! It's all worked out!

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