An Education (7 page)
Authors: Nick Hornby
DANNY
(
mid-conversation
)
mid-conversation
)
. . . Miles Davis, Sartre, extraordinary woman, Greco. (
aside
) Just like you, Helen.
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.
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)
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?
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
)
sympathetically
)
Better than here, really.
DAVID
It’s wonderful to find a young person who 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.
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
)
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
)
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.
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
)
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?
looks at him aghast.Why has he started speaking French?
DAVID
Are you sure you’re busy?
JENNY
hesitates.
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.
22DANNY
and
HELEN
know this one and sing romantically along with one another.
JENNY
watches them entranced, then turns and smiles at
DAVID.
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.
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.
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.
23carries on scrubbing, turning to look at
JENNY
as she leaves the kitchen.
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
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.
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)
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
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.
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.
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.
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+’.
24slaps an essay down on
JENNY’S
desk.We can see that it’s marked ‘A+’.
EXTERIOR: DAVID’S CAR - DAY
DAVID
leaning against his Bristol, waiting.
25leaning against his Bristol, waiting.
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.
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
)
laughing
)
Hello.
INTERIOR: CHRISTIE’S - DAY
DAVID
and
JENNY
hurry into the hall where the auction is taking place.
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
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.
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?
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.
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.
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)
whispers to
JENNY)
Your turn.
JENNY
looks at him.
looks at him.
JENNY
(
whispers
)
whispers
)
What?
AUCTIONEER
Any further bids?
DAVID
(
whispers
)
whispers
)
Your turn.
AUCTIONEER
Any more?
DAVID
Quick!
JENNY
raises her hand high, just as she’d do at school.
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.
JENNY
blushes, but stares fixedly ahead.
One hundred and forty, madam? Thank you.
JENNY
looks at
DAVID,
who nods.
looks at
DAVID,
who nods.
One hundred and sixty guineas.
JENNY
gestures more economically.
gestures more economically.
One eighty? Thank you, madam. Two hundred . . .
JENNY
is almost insouciant this time.
is almost insouciant 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:
AUCTIONEER
looks round the room for any last-minute bidders, then:
Sold for two hundred guineas. Thank you.
He brings down the gavel, and a murmur goes round the room.
JENNY
is excited and giggly.
DAVID
pats her on the back.
JENNY
is excited and giggly.
DAVID
pats her on the back.
Your name, please?
JENNY
looks at
DANNY,
then back to the auctioneer.
looks at
DANNY,
then back to the auctioneer.
JENNY
(
too loudly
)
too loudly
)
Mellor.
Murmurs from the room.The auctioneer moves on to the next Lot, while
DAVID
and
DANNY
turn to
JENNY.
DAVID
and
DANNY
turn to
JENNY.
DANNY
Thank you. Couldn’t possibly have bought it without you.
JENNY
beams. She’s thrilled.
27beams. She’s thrilled.
EXTERIOR: LONDON STREET - DAY
The Bristol pulls into a smart Regency terrace.We hear their conversation from the car.
DANNY (
out of sight
)
out of sight
)
A couple of years ago you could pick one of them up for fifty quid, you know. Nobody was interested.
JENNY (
out of sight
)
out of sight
)
I would have been
so
interested.
so
interested.
INTERIOR: DANNY’S FLAT - DAY
A beautiful, large, airy sitting room inside the terrace apartment.The flat is unusually and tastefully decorated, opulent and indicative of Bohemian good taste.
JENNY
is sipping a glass of white wine and walking around the room enthralled, looking at
DANNY’S
collection. Suddenly
JENNY
sees a cello in the corner of the room - a good one.
JENNY
is sipping a glass of white wine and walking around the room enthralled, looking at
DANNY’S
collection. Suddenly
JENNY
sees a cello in the corner of the room - a good one.
JENNY
That’s not a Lockey-Hill!
DANNY
There aren’t many people who come in here and say that.
HELEN
Certainly not me.
JENNY
It’s beautiful. Do you play?
DANNY
I used to. I vowed to myself that one day I’d own one of these. And now that I do own one, I never touch the bugger. It’s vulgar to put it on show, really.
HELEN
Give it to Jenny.
DANNY
That would be even more vulgar.
DAVID
Play for us, Jenny.
JENNY
Gosh, no. One day. When I’m good enough.
DAVID
She’s good enough now.
JENNY
Oh, David.You’ve never seen me play.
DAVID
I shall come to hear you in Oxford, when you get there.
DANNY
We should all go and spend a weekend in Oxford. Straw boaters -
HELEN
(
cutting in
)
cutting in
)
Boats!
DANNY
- punting, cream teas, antiquarian bookshops . . . Bit of business, if we can find it. What about next weekend?
DAVID / HELEN
Yes!
JENNY
I wouldn’t be allowed to do that.
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