Testament of Youth Page #6

37 EXT. SCHOOL APPROACH, UPPINGHAM - LATER 37

Groups of people are scattered across the court yard, chitchatting,

Mr. and Mrs. Brittain among them. We find

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Vera and Edward, in his officer cadet uniform.

She pulls the Oxford letter from her pocket and shows him.

Edward sees it, and her nervousness. He takes her hand.

EDWARD:

Come on.

Edward leads her towards a secluded corner.

38 EXT. SCHOOL APPROACH, UPPINGHAM - CONTINUOUS 38

Edward sees her nerves.

EDWARD:

No one’ll disturb us here.

Vera holds out the letter in a trembling hand.

VERA:

I know what it’s going to say!

EDWARD:

Shall I...?

He gently takes the letter from her. She nods. He braces

himself, nervous too, and opens it.

She watches his face as he scans the contents, his expression

neutral.

He looks up at her for a beat - his face blank. She fears the

worse. Then he breaks into a gentle smile -

EDWARD:

You got in.

Vera’s face - total SHOCK. Then she LIGHTS up - with

disbelief, with delight. Edward puts his arms round her,

LIFTS her up - they laugh and jump like two excited children -

Then - as he sets her down - referencing the letter

EDWARD:

But you have to work on your Latin.

Vera scans the letter, laughs.

EDWARD (CONT’D)

You better tell Roland.

VERA:

(unsure)

Do you think...?

EDWARD:

Go on!

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She smiles, shy and excited at the thought - then turns and

runs off, he watches her go with a smile.

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39 EXT. SCHOOL APPROACH, UPPINGHAM - SECONDS LATER 39

Vera moves through groups of people, until she spots Roland,

in his cadet uniform, standing talking to his parents, Mrs.

LEIGHTON, a tall woman in flamboyant dress, both sharply

bright and playful, and Mr. LEIGHTON, older, sophisticated,

with a walking stick and a limp. Victor is with them. He sees

Vera first, gestures her to come forward.

As she approaches

ROLAND:

Mother, father, this is Edward’s

sister Vera.

MRS. LEIGHTON

Oh! I didn’t know Edward had a

sister, how nice to meet you, dear.

Vera flashes a look at Roland, but his expression is

unreadable. She shakes hands with his parents, then greets

Victor.

VICTOR:

You look happy about something.

VERA:

I just heard, I got a place at

Somerville!

VICTOR:

Wonderful! Congratulations!

MRS LEIGHTON:

(playfully sly)

Ah, now suddenly she’s becoming a

very intriguing young lady, don’t

you think Roland?

Roland’s smile is reserved. Vera interprets this as

disinterest.

VERA:

Excuse me, I must tell my parents

She hurries away. Roland immediately excuses himself, and

follows after her.

He quickly catches up with Vera as she strides through groups

of people, standing chatting.

ROLAND:

Vera! Wait!

VERA:

What for?!

He knows....

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ROLAND:

Can we talk alone?

She hesitates, he gestures ahead.

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ROLAND:

Please?

Vera looks reluctant, but nods her agreement. As they

disappear, we see Victor watching them...the disappointment

palpable in him. Mrs. Brittain also clocks them.

39A EXT. WOODLAND PATH - CONTINUOUS 39A

Roland and Vera walk silently through the garden. Roland

wants to find them a more secluded place, he looks around,

then guides her round a corner, towards a half-crumbling

Greek folly covered in richly foaming roses.

40 EXT. GREEK FOLLY - CONTINUOUS 40

As they enter the folly

ROLAND:

It’s such good news about Oxford.

VERA:

You don’t have to say that.

ROLAND:

I know

VERA:

(blurting)

Look, if it’s friendship you want

that’s fine with me!

Vera winces at herself - was that too much? - but she ploughs

on.

VERA:

I prefer clarity, that’s all!

ROLAND:

No, it’s been a busy term, exams

and - ending school is quite a time-

consuming business, as it turns

out.

A beat. Awkwardness in the air.

VERA:

Your mother didn’t even know I

exist.

ROLAND:

No, that - that is self-protection.

He smiles his charming smile - then - sincerely now -

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ROLAND (CONT’D)

It was wonderful seeing you at the

parade, more than I could’ve

imagined.

VERA:

I’m unsure about this too, you

know! It’s not exactly what I had

planned!

Roland reaches into an inside pocket and takes out the letter

she sent him.

ROLAND:

I’ve been carrying it around with

me.

A beat.

VERA:

So why didn’t you write back?

ROLAND:

Not good with words...?

VERA:

(glimmer of a smile)

For someone who wants to be a

writer...

A warmer beat -

ROLAND:

We’ll be able to see each other

every day.

VERA:

(shaking her head)

I’ll be concentrating on my work.

ROLAND:

You’ll need fresh air, surely. And

a chaperone? (Off her look) Lap

dog? Humble slave?

He wants to get her to smile - she does. He takes her hand,

softly - pulls her towards him.

ROLAND:

(intimate whisper)

Vera...Let’s agree. No more fear.

They look into one another’s eyes

VERA:

No more fear...

as Mrs. Brittain’s voice CRASHES in -

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MRS. BRITTAIN O.S.

VERA!

They turn to see her mother descending on them.

MRS. BRITTAIN

What do you think you’re doing?!

This isn’t proper at all!

Roland steps forward.

ROLAND:

I’m sorry, I’d like permission to

see Vera again, Mrs. Brittain.

Fully chaperoned, of course.

Vera and Roland smile at one another.

41 EXT. TRAIN, COUNTRYSIDE - DAY 41

A train chugs through Derbyshire countryside.

VERA’S VOICE

The days feel like weeks, and the

weeks like years. Mother keeps

expecting me to drop Oxford, as

though it’s some sort of whim...

41A INT. TRAIN CARRIAGE - DAY 41A

Vera sits in the compartment gazing at the view outside, full

of anticipation.

VERA’S VOICE (CONT’D)

...and Daddy’s depressed about the

Europe situation, he wants to talk

endlessly about it...

42 EXT. TRAIN PLATFORM, CHARING CROSS - DAY (SUMMER) 42

Vera strides along a train platform, full of eager

anticipation, followed by a huffing and puffing Aunt Belle.

VERA’S VOICE (CONT’D)

...but terrible as it sounds, as

long as I get on that train to

London I just don’t care!

Up ahead, she spots Roland waiting, an apricot pink rose in

his hands. She hurries over, stops before him.

They’re both suddenly tongue-tied.

Awkwardly, he hands her the rose. She opens her coat and

fixes it in the waistband of her blue satin dress.

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On Roland’s face - his pleasure. As Aunt Belle reaches them,

huffing -

AUNT BELLE:

I won’t get in your way! I know

what young love is!

Vera and Roland share a look.

43 EXT. LONDON STREET - LATER 43

Roland and Vera are walking fast down a London street, as

Aunt Belle struggles to keep up.

AUNT BELLE:

Slow down you two! Your mother

was very particular that I

They round a corner, disappearing from view. She sighs.

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