Testament of Youth Page #4

Roland, on the other side, is very still too -

A rustling noise - she looks down. He’s pushing a piece of

paper under the door - a poem. She picks it up and reads:

“Untitled” by Roland Leighton -a soft smile.

Vera waits, listening - to his presence retreating down the

corridor.

21 INT. HALLWAY/LIVING ROOM, MELROSE - MORNING 21

Vera is in front of a hallway mirror, checking her appearance

- she’s made more effort than usual with her dress.

Satisfied, she walks on down the hall when she hears voices

in the living room. She stops to listen.

EDWARD O.S.

It’s just three years of study,

father. You know women don’t even

get degrees at Oxford?

Vera peeps through the crack in the door, sees Edward pacing

in front of her father.

MR.BRITTAIN

Three years of extra expense!

EDWARD:

I’d share my allowance with her,

that would help.

MR.BRITTAIN

What if she doesn’t get in? Don’t

you need tuition for such a thing?

EDWARD:

You could let her have a shot at

it.

(MORE)

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EDWARD (cont'd)

I wouldn’t feel right about going

myself if she didn’t have the

chance. She’s always been so

bright.

Vera watches Edward, feeling grateful, as her father ponders.

He looks up, catches sight of her. She ducks quickly out of

sight.

MR. BRITTAIN’S VOICE

Vera!

She winces - turns and enters the living room. Comes and

stands before her father.

MR. BRITTAIN

Very well. You can sit the wretched

thing if you want to.

Vera is overjoyed - she hugs her father.

VERA:

Thank you Daddy!

MR. BRITTAIN

You’re just sitting it, mind! Then

we’ll see. Now play me some of that

piano!

Vera laughs. Edward watches, smiling.

22 INT. STAIRCASE, MELROSE - DAY (SPRING) 22

Vera is pinned to the staircase wall, making way for Edward

and Victor as they clatter past with suitcases and boxes - on

their way back to school.

Vera follows them downstairs as Mr. Brittain, dressed to

drive his car, strides into the hallway.

MR. BRITTAIN

Come on, you’ll miss the train!

Vera pursues Edward into the hall, glancing up the stairs

every now and then, wondering where Roland is. Outside, Mr.

Brittain and Victor are loading up the car.

VERA:

I don’t want you to go.

He gives her a smile and a quick hug.

EDWARD:

We’ll have the whole summer.

Victor comes back in and shakes her hand, as Mrs. Brittain

appears.

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VICTOR:

Good bye.

VERA:

Victor...

He acts cheerful - but she sees the hurt in his eyes.

EDWARD:

We’d better be off...

Victor turns to say goodbye to Mrs. Brittain, as Vera sees

Roland finally coming down the stairs. She hurries over to

him.

VERA:

I wish you weren’t going so soon!

ROLAND:

Did you read the poem?

VERA:

(slightly caught out)

Of course.

ROLAND:

And?

VERA:

(hesitant)

It’s well crafted.

ROLAND:

But -?

VERA:

It was a little - dry. As though

you were holding back. And

possibly slightly derivative.

ROLAND:

(stung)

Derivative.

VERA:

I couldn’t find you in it.

ROLAND:

Well I can assure you it’s mine!

VERA:

Of course, I didn’t mean

EDWARD:

(calling)

Roland, Come on! We’re already

late!

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Vera watches in dismay as Roland throws her a final, tight

smile, and heads out. She joins her mother at the doorway as

Roland runs to leap aboard the car, already creeping along

the drive. The atmosphere is jovial

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20

But Vera is worried, upset with herself -

VERA’S VOICE

Edward, send me news of Roland

Leighton. Tell him - how much I

enjoyed meeting him, will you? You

know I can be my own worst enemy -

23 INT. VERA’S BEDROOM, MELROSE - DAY 23

A happy Vera falls back onto her bed, holding an envelope;

she opens it, takes out a letter and starts to read.

ROLAND’S VOICE

Edward assures me you won’t mind me

writing direct. You set me a

challenge, you see, and I’ve done

my best to meet it.

A piece of paper floats out - she sees it’s a poem.

ROLAND’S VOICE

I hope you find more feeling in

this one.

Vera reads the poem, emotions flitting across her face.

ROLAND’S VOICE

Down the long white road we walked

together

Down between the grey hills and the

heather,

You seemed all brown and soft, just

like a linnet..

24 INT. VERA’S BEDROOM - LATER 24

Vera sits at her desk, eagerly writing a letter back to

Roland.

ROLAND’S VOICE

Your errant hair had shadowed

sunbeams in it...

And there shone all April

In your eyes.

25 OMMITTED 25

26 INT./EXT. TRAIN/OXFORD - DAY 26

A smartly-dressed Vera, accompanied by her chaperone AUNT

BELLE - a small, round, warm but flustered woman - is sitting

in a train compartment looking out of the window;

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21

on the horizon, the beautiful, sunlit spires of Oxford

shimmer into view, redolent with promise....

27 EXT. BROAD STREET, OXFORD - DAY 27

Vera is walking down Broad Street as Aunt Belle hurries to

keep up with her, chattering away like background noise.

Vera drinks in the sights - students cycling around on

bikes, or engaged in animated conversation, the Radcliffe

Camera - it all looks wonderful.

28 EXT. SOMERVILLE COLLEGE, OXFORD - DAY 28

Vera steps inside Somerville college, gazes around in awe

at the emerald lawns and elegant buildings, female

undergraduates passing by, as Aunt Belle witters on.

AUNT BELLE:

(rapid)

I know you’re only here for two

nights but Oxford can get chilly

you know, it’s in a basin-

VERA:

Aunt -

AUNT BELLE:

I bought you an extra nightie

just in case

VERA:

Aunt -

Vera has noticed two plainly-dressed female dons standing

nearby, gazing at her in puzzlement. One of them, Miss

LORIMER - glasses, youngish, clever, dry - approaches.

AUNT BELLE:

I promised your mother to keep a

proper eye on you, she does worry-

VERA:

Aunt, please!

AUNT BELLE:

Bedsocks! (Seeing Vera’s face) My

final word!

Miss Lorimer is looking Vera up and down, taking in her

attire.

MISS LORIMER:

I’m sorry, are you lost?

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VERA:

I’m here for the exam.

MISS LORIMER:

(clearly surprised)

Oh. Well, the porter’s lodge is

that way, they’ll direct you.

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22

VERA:

(flustered)

Thank you.

Aunt Belle smiles at Miss Lorimer.

AUNT BELLE:

I’m her Aunt Belle, I’ll be

staying nearby!

Miss Lorimer manages a patronising smile. As Vera and her

aunt turn to walk away, the other don approaches.

MISS LORIMER:

Is it an entrance exam we’re

holding or a debutante’s ball?

Vera hears - and winces inwardly.

29 INT. DINING HALL, SOMERVILLE - EVENING 29

Dinner-time. We move along a row of women, all dressed in

serious black or grey, all scoffing heartily and talking.

We reach Vera, who stands out in a blaze of coloured silk,

like a provincial fashionista. She stares glumly at her

plate of rather grey food, half-listening to an animated

conversation.

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