MARJORIE
( playfully)
Shall I book us some tickets?
JACK
(still smiling)
No.
Beat.
Have her back by ten, David.
DAVID
Well, I was hoping she might come with me afterwards for a spot of supper with my aunt Helen.
JENNY studies him carefully. Suddenly his friends DANNY and HELEN have become ‘Aunt Helen’.
JACK
Oh, well, er . . . No, she’s usually in bed by then.
JENNY winces.
DAVID
What if I promise to have her back by eleven thirty?
JACK
Well, it’s Friday night. And you are going all the way to the West End . . .
DAVID
Thanks, Jack. I appreciate it.
They exchange warm handshakes. He turns to MARJORIE, who extends her hand. DAVID takes it, but kisses it suavely, leaving her a little flustered.
JENNY
Bye.
JENNY and DAVID leave.
17 EXTERIOR: ST JOHN’S, SMITH SQUARE - EVENING
JENNY and DAVID run in the rain toward the beautiful hall. JENNY suddenly looks young in the dress that looks too old for her - other adults are milling around outside, and the women don’t look like girls dressed up. DAVID makes for an incredibly glamorous and attractive couple in their late twenties who are waiting outside - DANNY and HELEN. HELEN is as far from anyone’s idea of an aunt as one can get.
She’s no more beautiful than JENNY, but she’s dressed both appropriately and spectacularly, in early-’60s, pre-hippy Bohemian gear. She turns heads in a way that JENNY is not yet able to. DANNY, too, is attractive, but soberly so. DAVID and JENNY are, in a way, paler, less striking versions of these two.
DAVID
Hello, hello. Are we late?
HELEN
No, I thought we were going to miss the beginning, and then it wouldn’t be worth going in, and we could all go off dancing or something.
DANNY
Helen is one of the more reluctant members of tonight’s audience.
JENNY and DAVID laugh politely.
DAVID
Jenny, these are my friends Helen and Danny.
JENNY shakes hands with the two of them.They both give her fascinated and clearly appraising looks.They have heard about her.
Shall we?
They walk into the hall.
18 INTERIOR: ST JOHN’S, SMITH SQUARE - NIGHT
It’s a beautiful hall - JENNY is dazzled by the surroundings and the company. She’s particularly bowled over by HELEN.
The girls walk over to the cloakroom where they join the queue. Almost involuntarily, JENNY touches the sleeve of HELEN’S fur jacket. She stops herself. HELEN notices.
JENNY
Sorry.
HELEN
(amused )
That’s all right. It’s nice, isn’t it?
JENNY
It’s beautiful. Where did you get it from?
HELEN
Oh, I don’t know, Chelsea somewhere.
HELEN looks at JENNY’S outfit, her frumpy ‘smart’ dress, apparently wanting to return the compliment.
(nodding at the dress)
This is . . . Well, it’s good for this sort of concert, isn’t it?
JENNY
(quietly)
Thank you.
HELEN is now at the front of the queue and hands her coat over imperiously.
HELEN
We should go shopping together one day, if you want.
She takes a ticket from the cloakroom lady.
JENNY
That would be nice. But Chelsea . . . C’est beaucoup trop cher pour moi.
They stare at each other. HELEN is bewildered, JENNY embarrassed.
HELEN
Sorry?
JENNY
I just said . . . It’s too expensive for me.
HELEN
No you didn’t.You said something completely different.
JENNY
I just . . . Well, I said it in French.
HELEN
In French? Why?
JENNY feels humiliated; she is yet to realise what we can see - that HELEN is simply very dim.
JENNY
I don’t know.
JENNY looks away. HELEN stares at her.The performance bell rings, and they make their way back to the men.
To JENNY’S surprise and pleasure, HELEN links arms with her as they walk.
HELEN
Well, Chelsea’s too expensive for me, too, really. But we don’t have to worry about that. If you want something in Chelsea, get David to take you shopping.
JENNY
Why would David want to take me shopping? HELEN makes a knowing face.
19 INTERIOR: ST JOHN’S, SMITH SQUARE - NIGHT
DAVID, JENNY, DANNY and HELEN in a row in the middle of the auditorium, watching the stage and listening to the music. JENNY can’t concentrate - she’s too excited by the occasion and the company. JENNY sneaks a glance at HELEN, who stares straight ahead, unblinking and enigmatic. DAVID is smiling, as if he’s trying to communicate enjoyment; DANNY’S eyes flicker across the stage - he understands the music, its component parts, which musicians are contributing what. JENNY takes it all in.
20 EXTERIOR: ST JOHN’S, SMITH SQUARE - NIGHT
JENNY, DAVID, DANNY and HELEN emerge with the other concert-goers.
DAVID
I booked a table at Juliette’s. Will that kill the mood, do you think?
HELEN
Oh, I do hope so.
The others laugh.
I always think I’m going to my own funeral when I listen to classical music. (tentatively) That was classical, wasn’t it?
DANNY
Yes. Very classical. As classical as you can get.
HELEN looks pleased.
DAVID
Juliette’s it is, then. Heaven forbid that we should end the evening reflecting on our own mortality.
JENNY smiles in delight. She’s never met people like this.
21 INTERIOR: JULIETTE’S - NIGHT
A singer in the Julie London mould is singing while cigarette girls and glamorous waitresses patrol the tables. JENNY is sitting with the others at a table in the club, eating and talking. She looks about twelve, but she’s thrilled to be there.We know now that her life can never be the same again, and there will be no going back to fish-paste sandwiches with pimply GRAHAM.
DANNY
(mid-conversation)
. . . Miles Davis, Sartre, extraordinary woman, Greco. (aside) Just like you, Helen.
DAVID
What about Chante Françoise Sagan? Have you heard that one?
JENNY shakes her head. Her eyes are wide - she’s clearly awestruck. DAVID offers her a cigarette - a Gitane - which she takes. He lights it for her while she’s listening.
DANNY
Oh, it’s wonderful.
JENNY
I’ve only got . . . Well, I think it’s just called ‘Juliette Greco’. The one with the eyes on the sleeve. I saved up and got my French conversation teacher to bring it back after Christmas.
HELEN
You’ve got a French conversation teacher?
JENNY
Yes.
HELEN
Is that why you suddenly speak French for no reason?
DAVID
(to JENNY)
Have you never heard her sing?
JENNY shakes her head again and smiles.Where would she have seen Juliette Greco? DANNY, meanwhile, is baffled.Who hasn’t seen Juliette Greco?
She’s marvellous.
DANNY
You should see her in Paris, though, not here. David will take you.
DAVID
I’d love to.You’d fit right in.
HELEN
(sympathetically)
Better than here, really.
DAVID
It’s wonderful to find a young person w
ho wants to know things. There’s so much I want you to see.
HELEN and DANNY exchange glances and they all sip their drinks pensively, possibly to allow time for the double-entendre to disappear into the smoke.
Are you still all right to come and have a look at that Pembroke Villas place with me on Friday, Danny?
DANNY
Oh. No. Can’t do it. There’s a Burne-Jones coming up at Christie’s on Friday. Desperate to get my hands on it.
JENNY
(laughing in disbelief)
You’re thinking of buying a Burne-Jones? A real one?
DANNY
I just have a feeling that the Pre-Raphaelites are going to take off.
JENNY
I love the Pre-Raphaelites.
DAVID
(excited by her education)
Do you?
JENNY
Yes, of course. Rossetti and Burne-Jones, anyway. Not Holman Hunt, so much. He’s so garish.
DANNY looks at her.There’s clearly more to this schoolgirl than he thought.
DAVID
Absolutely! Why don’t we all go to the auction together?
JENNY
An auction. Gosh. How exciting.
DANNY
Next Friday morning.
JENNY
(crestfallen)
Oh. Friday.
DANNY
You’re busy?
JENNY
Well.Yes.
She doesn’t want to explain why.
DANNY
Tant pis. Quel dommage . . .
HELEN looks at him aghast.Why has he started speaking French?
DAVID
Are you sure you’re busy?
JENNY hesitates.
JENNY
No. I’m sure I could . . . re-arrange. That would be lovely.
The nightclub singer begins another song, ‘Wrapped AroundYour Little Finger’. DANNY and HELEN know this one and sing romantically along with one another. JENNY watches them entranced, then turns and smiles at DAVID.
22 INTERIOR: JENNY’S HOUSE - NIGHT
JENNY lets herself quietly into the house.The hallway is dark, but she can hear noises from the kitchen. She pokes her head round the corner and sees her mother doing the washing-up.
JENNY
What are you doing?
MARJORIE
I can’t get this casserole dish clean. We had hot-pot tonight, and it’s all burnt round . . .
JENNY
It’s twenty-five to twelve. We finish tea at seven.
MARJORIE
I know what time it is. How was your evening?
JENNY
Best night of my life.
JENNY looks at her. She doesn’t seem to have heard what JENNY has just said.
Goodnight, Mum.
MARJORIE carries on scrubbing, turning to look at JENNY as she leaves the kitchen.
23 INTERIOR: CLASSROOM - DAY
JENNY, HATTIE and TINA are sitting on their desks, waiting for the start of a lesson. Nine or ten classmates are scattered round the room, talking distractedly, but
JENNY’S group is much more animated: TINA and HATTIE are leaning forward, listening to JENNY, their eyes bright.They are clearly awestruck by JENNY’S tales of the outside world.
JENNY
I think there were two violins, one cello, two violas, a harp . . .
TINA
(to HATTIE)
I don’t want to know about Ravel. I want to know what else was on the programme.
Laughter.
JENNY
There was nothing like that. He was the perfect gentleman. He just said he wanted to take me places and show me things.
HATTIE/TINA
Things! Plural! Oh my Gawd!
More laughter. MISS STUBBS enters and picks up on the excitement of JENNY’S coterie.
MISS STUBBS
I knew that in the end Jane Eyre would work its magic upon you. I’m assuming that’s what you’re all so animated about.
The students start to sit down at desks in a more conventional arrangement.
JENNY
Of course.
TINA
Jane Eyre and Jenny’s new boyfriend.
JENNY
He’s not my new boyfriend. God.
TINA
That’s true. He’s more of a man-friend, actually.
HAT TIE
He’s got a sports car, Miss Stubbs. It’s maroon.
MISS STUBBS
Ah. So we could call him a Mr Rochester figure.
TINA
I think he must be as blind as Mr Rochester.
Laughter. JENNY pulls a face at her.
MISS STUBBS
You may or may not have noticed, I’m trying to steer the subject away from Jenny’s lurid love-life and towards the matter in hand.
She starts to hand out essays.
And it’s quite clear on this evidence that most of you know far too much about the former, and next to nothing about the latter. Reluctantly I have to admit that Jenny is clearly an expert on both. Excellent as always, Jenny.
MISS STUBBS slaps an essay down on JENNY’S desk.We can see that it’s marked ‘A+’.
24 EXTERIOR: DAVID’S CAR - DAY
DAVID leaning against his Bristol, waiting.
25 EXTERIOR: SCHOOL - DAY
We see JENNY rush out of the school entrance, stuffing her school uniform into her bag and trying to avoid being noticed. She walks up to DAVID, parked on the opposite side of the street.
DAVID
Hello.
JENNY
(laughing)
Hello.
26 INTERIOR: CHRISTIE’S - DAY
DAVID and JENNY hurry into the hall where the auction is taking place.
At the back, DANNY is intent on a catalogue and HELEN is gazing dreamily into space, as DAVID and JENNY make their way through the auction room.The AUCTIONEER burbles on in the background.
DANNY
You’re late.
JENNY is in awe of the surroundings.The AUCTIONEER clears his throat.
AUCTIONEER
We now turn to Lot 41, The Tree of Forgiveness , by Sir Edward Burne-Jones. This is a rare opportunity to purchase a key work of the Pre-Raphaelite movement. Who will start me off at one hundred guineas?
JENNY glances at DANNY. He makes no move at this price. Neither does anyone else. He’s poised and listening hard.
Fifty guineas? . . . Twenty guineas?
A middle-aged lady, the epitome of the middle-aged contemporary Sloane - twin-set, pearls and a lot of face powder - raises her hand.
Thank you, madam. Forty?
A man raises his hand.
Thank you, sir. Do I hear sixty?
The middle-aged Sloane nods.
Eighty guineas? Thank you. Any more, sir?
One hundred guineas . . .
DANNY continues to sit there. JENNY is confused.The middle-aged lady bids a hundred. DAVID, standing next to DANNY, whispers something to him. DANNY nods.
DAVID
(whispers to JENNY)
Your turn.
JENNY looks at him.
JENNY
(whispers)
What?
AUCTIONEER
Any further bids?
DAVID
(whispers)
Your turn.
AUCTIONEER
Any more?
DAVID
Quick!
JENNY raises her hand high, just as she’d do at school.
AUCTIONEER
One hundred and twenty guineas from the very eager new bidder.
People look round and smile when they see who has come in. JENNY blushes, but stares fixedly ahead.
One hundred and forty, madam? Thank you.
JENNY looks at DAVID, who nods.
One hundred and sixty guineas.
JENNY gestures more economically.
One eighty? Thank you, madam. Two hundred . . .
JENNY is almost insou
ciant this time.
Two hundred and twenty? Another one, madam?
The middle-aged lady shakes her head and purses her lips.The AUCTIONEER looks round the room for any last-minute bidders, then: