Notes On A Scandal Page #6

staff room whispers and so on.

You might know the boy in question.

Um...

Steven Connolly.

Year 10?

I think the kettle's boiled.

[ Barbara Narrating ]

You say the words, and it's done.

- Easy.

- [ Whispers ] Night, darling.

Judas had the grace to hang himself.

But only according to Matthew...

the most sentimental

of the Apostles.

Is this the last night

ofher old life?

I wonder how long

my messenger will take.

Thank you.

People like Sheba think they know

what it is to be lonely.

But of the drip, drip...

oflong-haul,

no-end-in-sight solitude...

they know nothing.

What it's like to construct an entire weekend

around a visit to the launderette...

or to be so chronically untouched...

that the accidental brush

of a bus conductor's hand...

sends a jolt oflonging...

straight to your groin.

Of this...

Sheba and her like...

- have no clue.

- [ Beeps ]

[ Phone Rings ]

- [ Answering Machine Beeps ]

- [ Sheba ] Bar, I'm so sorry about today.

It was an impossible situation.

Richard's really sorry too.

Poor you.

But- Look, why don't you

come for supper?

Actually, I write quite quickly.

It's the thinking

that takes an eternity.

Well, you're never satisfied.

When you're lecturing,

you long for time to write...

and when you've got it,

you yearn to be back with your students.

- [ Sheba ] More coffee, anyone?

- [ Richard ] I'll have a slug. Thanks.

Barbara?

Uh, no, thank you.

[ Loud Knocking ]

[ Knocking Continues ]

Yes?

- Are you her husband?

- What? Whose?

- Don't you dick with me, mister.

- Sorry.

- Don't dick me around. Where is she?

- I don't-

Tell her Steven Connolly's mother

wants to see her right now!

- Excuse me!

- Get-

- [ Mr. Connolly ] Maggie!

- Slut!

- [ Mr. Connolly ] Maggie!

Whore! Whore! How could you?

- Maggie! Maggie!

- How could you? He's only a child!

A sweet boy!

He's a child!

- What the hell is going on?

- You ask your wife what's going on!

- Ask her! You perverted... b*tch! B*tch!

- Maggie!

- Come on. Leave it. Come on.

- [ Shouting ] Get off me.

- [ Mr. Connolly ] Leave them alone.

- [ Maggie ] B*tch!

- Leave them alone, Maggie.

- You f***ing-

Leave them alone, eh?

There's nothing for us here.

It happened.

Itjust happened.

Things don't-

P- People make things happen.

Do you think you're the only one

who's ever wanted someone who's young?

Everyone sometime- Everyone thinks ab-

But they... deal with it!

[ Barbara Narrating ]

By the time I took my seat in the gods...

the opera was well into

its final act.

- [ Richard ] You're his teacher!

- And you were mine!

- Oh!

- But I'm not justifying!

- I'm not trying to justify it!

- You are so full of sh*t!

- I am just saying-

- It's totally different!

- You were 20!

- Well, he's 16 in May.

- He's not some innocent.

- Of course he's innocent!

He's f***ing 15!

Are you insane?

If you- If you meant to destroy us,

why not do it with an adult?

That's the convention.

It's worked for centuries.

It wasn't about us. It-

- W-W-Why?

- I j-just wanted him.

Why?

- I don't know!

- Well, find out!

[ Car Doors Closing ]

[ Chattering ]

- Sheba?

- Yeah.

- And- No.

- Connolly. Yes. Yes. Honestly.

[ Barbara Narrating ]

My guilt is tempered with relief.

She assumes the boy cracked

and told his mother all.

Who am I to disabuse her?

Oh, Brian. Brian.

Brian. Brian,

do stop a minute, please.

Today St. George's School

is a solemn place.

A source close to the school

has indicated that another member of staff...

may have known of the relationship.

This, however, is categorically denied

by the local authority.

I've told you, Headmaster, had I known anything,

I would've informed you immediately.

My only loyalty is to the school.

- Brian thinks you've known for months.

- Brian "thinks"?

- And then there is Sue Hodge.

- Will you be running through

the entire staff room?

If you knew and turned a blind eye,

you have enabled a crime.

I didn't, so I haven't.

Your point?

You're due for retirement next year.

I think it would benefit everyone...

if you take it early,

with immediate effect.

So it's a witch hunt.

Salem comes to Islington.

The stress of the job, you know.

Uh, radical new ideas in teaching not to your taste.

Well, I've got a radical idea.

Your school, your disaster. Why don't you resign?

Because I am not

the confidante of a criminal!

Now, tell me about

your friendship with Mrs. Hart.

I think you'll find that a close friendship

between consenting adults is perfectly legal...

even under your regime.

My record here is beyond reproach.

The majority of the staff

regard me as a moral guardian.

I've just spoken to

an ex-member of our staff.

Another of your close friends.

Jennifer Dodd.

As you are aware,

Jennifer became unwell.

That's why she had to

leave the school.

- Jennifer threatened you with

a restraining order, didn't she?

- That's nonsense.

A fax from her solicitor.

She didn't want you within 500 yards of her...

- by law!

- [ Slams Table ]

You call that a friendship?

She told me that

you sent her fianc a wreath.

Now, we wouldn't want all this

to come out, would we?

A lifetime of-

of dedicated service...

ending in shame and humiliation?

It's your choice, Barbara.

[ Chattering ]

[ People Murmuring ]

[ Vomits ]

[ Grunts ]

[ Banging ]

[ Barbara Narrating ]

He knows it was me. Does she know too?

More than I can bear.

Is that why she's

not returned my calls?

[ Phone Rings ]

[ All Shouting ]

[ Woman ]

Miss Covett!

- [ All Shouting ]

- [ Man ] Barbara, have you

spoken to Sheba Hart yet?

- [ Shouting Continues ]

- [ Man #2 ] When's she coming out?

[ Man #3 ]

Barbara, tell us why you're friends with-

[ Woman ]

Miss Covett, did you teach the boy at all?

[ All Shouting ]

[ Man #4 ]

Barbara, how is Sheba's husband taking all this?

Barbarians.

Sorry about your job.

You see, the headmaster

thought I knew.

- Did you?

- No.

- [ Man ] When's she coming out?

- [ Woman ] Come on out, Sheba!

Where is she?

In her lair.

[ Polly ]

Your boyfriend is younger than mine!

- [ Sheba ] He's not my boyfriend.

- You slept with a child!

[ Sobbing ]

Oh, Jesus wept!

The specter at the feast!

- You watch your tongue, madam.

- Frigging freak!

Oh. There, there.

[ Sighs ]

Thanks for coming.

I'm so sorry about school.

Was he-Thank you.

Was he awful to you?

Listen. You could say no-

l- I'd completely understand-

but Richard-

He needs some time alone.

He's asked me to leave.

Can I come stay with you

just for a few days?

You're welcome

for as long as you like.

[ Reporters Shouting ]

[ Woman ]

When's she coming out?

[ Man ]

Are you the chauffeur, Barbara?

- [ Woman ] When's she coming out?

- Is Ben at school?

[ Man ] Barbara, don't be shy, love!

You gotta come out sometime!

Does he know what's happening?

It's really none of your business.

[ Door Closes ]

[ Woman ]

What about the kids?

[ Man ]

How's her husband?

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