Heavenly Creatures Page #8

John returns Nicholas to the shelf, placing him amidst whole family of

beautifully sculpted Plasticine figures. Pauline self-consciously

returns to her sculpting, aware that John is watching her keenly.

EXT. SANATORIUM/GARDEN - DAYPauline is sitting cross-legged at the foot

of Juliet's bed.

PAULINE:

(Whispers) You'll never guess what's happened!!

JULIET:

What??

PAULINE:

John has fallen in love with me!

JULIET:

That idiot boarder?

Pauline beams.

JULIET:

How do you know? Did he tell you?

PAULINE:

Well . . . no. But it's so obvious.

Pauline giggles. Juliet turns away.

JULIET:

(Sullen) Is that why you haven't replied to my last letter?

Pauline's smile disappears.

PAULINE:

No, silly. I'm just teasing. He's only a stupid boy!

CUT TO:

INT. RIEPERS' HOUSE/PAULINE'S SLEEPOUT - NIGHTPauline is lying in bed

asleep. Her door opens and John stands tentatively in the door way. He

is wearing stripey pyjamas.

JOHN (Loud whisper) Yvonne!

Pauline sits up, groggily flicking on a bedside light.

PAULINE:

Whaddya want?

John puts his fingers to his lips to shush her.

JOHN (Whispers) l can't sleep . . . can l borrow a book?

PAULINE:

(Whispers) Shut the door.

John tiptoes across to the bookshelf He pulls a book out . . . "Girls'

Own Annual 1951."

JOHN This looks interesting.

Pauline gives him a dubious look from her bed.

John stands shivering, flicking through the annual.

JOHN These knitting patterns look damn complicated. Have you tried the

tea cosy?

Pauline shakes her head and looks on as John continues to thumb

awkwardly through the book, his shivers increasing.

He glances at Pauline nervously.

JOHN It's damn cold, isn't it? Do you think I could hop into bed for a

moment . . . just to warm up? My feet are like iceblocks.

PAULINE:

You should have worn your slippers.

JOHN Come on, Yvonne, I'll catch me death!

Pauline rolls to one side.

PAULINE:

Just for a minute.

John climbs into bed beside Pauline and pulls the blankets up around

his chin.

CUT TO:

EXT. RIEPERS' HOUSE - NIGHTMidnight at 31 Gloucester St. All the lights

are off.

PAULINE:

(Diary V.O.) To think that so much could happen in so little time,

caused by so few. A terrible tragedy has occurred . . .

INT. RIEPERS' HOUSE/PAULINE'S SLEEPOUT - NIGHTPauline is lying in bed.

The lights are off.

PAULINE:

(Theatrical voice) "Now, gels . . . it isn't ooo, it's eee," and she

goes . . . "eeeeee" as if someone is jabbing a pin into her! Silly old

trout!

PULL OUT during Pauline's V.O.... to reveal John lying in bed beside

her. He cuddles up to her.

JOHN I love you, Yvonne.

Pauline continues, oblivious to his attentions.

PAULINE:

And then in history, we've got this senile old bat, who goes . . .

(Squawky voice) "And Charles the Second met Nell Gwynn aboard a boat

and he was a prince and she was a pretty young thing and these thing do

happen . . ." (Normal voice) God! It's no wonder I don't excel in

history!

JOHN Do you love me as much as I love you?

PAULINE:

0f course, my darling Nicholas.

John can't contain himself . . . he starts pressing himself against her

body.

JOHN (Panting) My . . . my name's John.

Pauline lies on her back, not responding to his caresses.

PAULINE:

I like Nicholas much better!

John climbs on top of Pauline.

JOHN You can call me anything you like . . .

John fumbles around beneath the sheets.

PAULINE:

What are you doing?

JOHN Nothing . . .

SUDDENLY!

The outside light flicks on. Sound of footsteps stomping down the path.

THE DOOR OPENS!

PAULINE:

Bloody hell!

John desperately tries to conceal himself beneath the bedcovers as . .

.

The light flicks on . . . HERBERT

stands in the doorway. He surveys the situation with a grim expression.

John rolls out of bed and staggers toward the door fumbling with his

pyjama cord.

HERBERT:

Go to the house.

John scuttles out of the sleepout. Pauline lies still in bed, peering

at her father.

HERBERT:

(Upset) You have broken my heart, Yvonne.

HERBERT:

turns and leaves the room. Pauline stares at the ceiling.

PAULINE:

(Diary V.O.) I lay there mesmerised. It was just too frightful to

believe . . .

CUT TO:

INT. RIEPERS' HOUSE/DINING ROOM - MORNING BREAKFAST . . .A plate of

Weetbix bangs down on the table in front of Pauline. Milk sloshes over

the side of the bowl. HONORA

looks thunderous and stomps off.

PAULINE:

(Diary V.O.) When I got up I found Father had told Mother . . .

CAMERA PULLS BACK to reveal STEVE

, Ross, a new boarder, LAURIE, and HERBERT

seated around the table. The boarders are clearly oblivious to the

tense family vibes.

LAURIE Coming to Lancaster Park on Saturday, Mr. Rieper?

HERBERT:

shakes his head, sullenly.

Wendy hurries into the room, grabs a piece of toast, pulling on a coat.

WENDY Where's John? He said he'd walk with me.

HONORA:

stands in the doorway.

HONORA:

John's no longer staying here.

Wendy looks surprised.

LAURIE Shot through, this morning . . . said his old Mum had taken

sick.

INT. RIEPFRS' HOUSE/KITCHEN - MORNINGPauline is washing dishes, up to

her elbows in soapy water. Behind her HONORA

tidies up, glowering at her daughter.

PAULINE:

(Diary V.O.) I had a nasty foreboding feeling at first, but now I

realise my crime was too frightful for an ordinary lecture.

HONORA:

(Angry) From now on, you're sleeping in the house, where we can keep an

eye on you.

Pauline bangs a dish into the rack.

HONORA:

(Angry) If you think for one minute that your father and I will

tolerate this sort of behaviour, you've got another thing coming!

You're only 14!!! You're a child! What on earth's the matter with you,

Yvonne? You know what can happen with boys . . . Don't you have any

self-respect?

HONORA:

sighs.

PAULINE:

Can I go now?

HONORA:

grabs Pauline by the shoulders.

HONORA:

You think you're such a clever little madam! You had your father in

tears last night!

Pauline flinches.

HONORA:

My God, what a disgrace you are! You shame me, you shame the family.

You're nothing but a cheap little tart!

PAULINE:

Well, I guess I take after you then!

HONORA:

whirls around and slaps Pauline on the cheek.

PAULINE:

You ran off with Dad when you were only 17! Nana Parker told me!

HONORA:

steps back.

HONORA:

(Softly) You're going to be late.

Pauline triumphantly walks past her mother. HONORA

barely reacts as Pauline hurries out.

CUT TO:
EXT. RIEPERS' HOUSE - NIGHTMidnight at 31 Gloucester St. All

lights are off.

PAULINE:

(Diary V.O.) I am terribly cut up. I miss Nicholas terrifically. Mother

thinks I will have nothing more to do with him, but little she knows .

. .

The front door quietly opens and Pauline sneaks out.

Pauline pedals her bicycle furiously along dark streets.

EXT. BOARDING HOUSE - NIGHTPauline climbs up a fire escape.

John comes out onto the balcony and hugs her.

PAULINE:

(Diary V.O.) Nicholas was pleased that I was so early.

John and Pauline disappear into his room . . .

WIDE SHOT of the house, as Pauline's V.O. continues . . .

PAULINE:

(Diary V.O.) We sat around and talked for an hour and then went to bed.

I declined the invitation at first, but he became very masterful and I

had no option. I discovered that I had not lost my virginity on

Thursday night. However, there is no doubt whatsoever that I have now .

. .

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