An Education (13 page)
Authors: Nick Hornby
MISS STUBBS
looks at
JENNY
more in sorrow than in anger -
JENNY’S
behaviour now is something new in their relationship.
JENNY
stares back at her defiantly. Suddenly
MISS STUBBS
notices something glinting on her hand: an engagement ring.
looks at
JENNY
more in sorrow than in anger -
JENNY’S
behaviour now is something new in their relationship.
JENNY
stares back at her defiantly. Suddenly
MISS STUBBS
notices something glinting on her hand: an engagement ring.
MISS STUBBS
Oh, Jenny.
She is, as she promised she would be, heartbroken.
JENNY
What?
MISS STUBBS
Take it off.
HATTIE,
who is sitting behind
JENNY
, notices the ring, too, for the first time.
who is sitting behind
JENNY
, notices the ring, too, for the first time.
HAT TIE
Oh my God. Is that what I think it is? I’M GOING TO BE A BRIDESMAID!
There is an excited susurration in the classroom.
MISS STUBBS
You know the school rule on jewellery.
JENNY
Half the girls in this room are wearing jewellery.
MISS STUBBS
Yes. But none of it is going to ruin their lives.
JENNY
(
coolly
)
coolly
)
We have a difference of opinion about that.
MISS STUBBS
stares at her.
JENNY
can only just steel herself to stare back.
76stares at her.
JENNY
can only just steel herself to stare back.
INTERIOR: HEADMISTRESS’S OFFICE - DAY
HEADMISTRESS
How far advanced are these ridiculous plans?
Have you set a date? Have you decided on a church?
JENNY
We won’t be getting married in a church. David’s Jewish.
The
HEADMISTRESS
stares at her, dumbfounded.
HEADMISTRESS
stares at her, dumbfounded.
HEADMISTRESS
Jewish? He’s a Jew? You’re aware, I take it, that the Jews killed our Lord?
JENNY
(
beginning to feel less intimidated by her surroundings
)
beginning to feel less intimidated by her surroundings
)
And you’re aware, I suppose, that our Lord was Jewish?
The
HEADMISTRESS
snorts scornfully.
HEADMISTRESS
snorts scornfully.
HEADMISTRESS
I suppose
he
told you that. We’re all very sorry about what happened during the war. But that’s absolutely no excuse for that sort of malicious and untruthful propaganda.
he
told you that. We’re all very sorry about what happened during the war. But that’s absolutely no excuse for that sort of malicious and untruthful propaganda.
JENNY
smiles to herself.
smiles to herself.
Anyway, I can see you’re far more in need of responsible advice than I realised.
The
HEADMISTRESS
moves closer.
HEADMISTRESS
moves closer.
Nobody does anything worth doing without a degree.
JENNY
Nobody does anything worth doing with a degree. No woman, anyway.
HEADMISTRESS
So what I do isn’t worth doing? Or what Miss Stubbs does, or Mrs Wilson, or any of us here?
JENNY
doesn’t say anything.The headmistress takes her silence as an admission of defeat.
doesn’t say anything.The headmistress takes her silence as an admission of defeat.
Because none of us would be here without our degrees, you realise that, don’t you? And yes, of course studying is hard, and boring, and . . .
JENNY
can’t contain herself any longer.
can’t contain herself any longer.
JENNY
Boring!
HEADMISTRESS
I’m sorry?
JENNY
Studying is hard and boring. Teaching is hard and boring. So what you’re telling me is to be bored, and then bored, and then finally bored again, but this time for the rest of my life. This whole stupid country is bored. There’s no life in it, or colour, or fun. It’s probably just as well that the Russians are going to drop a nuclear bomb on us any day now. So my choice is to do something hard and boring,
or
to marry my . . . my
Jew
and go to Paris and Rome and listen to jazz and read and eat good food in nice restaurants and have fun. It’s not enough to educate us any more, Miss Walters.You’ve got to tell us why you’re doing it.
or
to marry my . . . my
Jew
and go to Paris and Rome and listen to jazz and read and eat good food in nice restaurants and have fun. It’s not enough to educate us any more, Miss Walters.You’ve got to tell us why you’re doing it.
She has never had to answer this questions before.
HEADMISTRESS
It doesn’t have to be teaching, you know. There’s the Civil Service.
JENNY
I don’t wish to be impertinent, Miss Walters. But it is an argument worth rehearsing.You never know. Someone else might want to know the point of it all, one day.
JENNY
leaves the office.
77leaves the office.
EXTERIOR: SCHOOL - DAY
JENNY
is half-walking, half-running, towards the school gates. She’s scared, of course, but exhilarated, too. All that pressure, and all those years of education, suddenly over, unexpectedly, and certainly unceremoniously. She looks neither left nor right, but other girls, younger girls, watch her through the windows as she leaves.
JENNY
doesn’t even look round when she goes through the school gates.
78is half-walking, half-running, towards the school gates. She’s scared, of course, but exhilarated, too. All that pressure, and all those years of education, suddenly over, unexpectedly, and certainly unceremoniously. She looks neither left nor right, but other girls, younger girls, watch her through the windows as she leaves.
JENNY
doesn’t even look round when she goes through the school gates.
INTERIOR: DANNY’S FLAT - NIGHT
DANNY, HELEN, DAVID
and
JENNY
are in
DANNY’S
flat.
DANNY
has a large stuffed armadillo on his lap, which he is using as a ventriloquist’s dummy.The armadillo is at his ear, and
DANNY
makes a squeaking sound. The others are laughing.
and
JENNY
are in
DANNY’S
flat.
DANNY
has a large stuffed armadillo on his lap, which he is using as a ventriloquist’s dummy.The armadillo is at his ear, and
DANNY
makes a squeaking sound. The others are laughing.
DANNY
(
to
JENNY)
to
JENNY)
I think he likes you. Do you like her? . . .Yes, I do like her.You don’t remember? It’s Jenny. You remember her from last time. No, I don’t . . .Yes, you do. Naughty thing . . . Pardon? . . . That’s revolting! You stick to your own species. (
whispers
) He wants to kiss you, I think. Is that naughty?
whispers
) He wants to kiss you, I think. Is that naughty?
DAVID
(
suddenly, out of nowhere
)
suddenly, out of nowhere
)
We’re engaged.
The atmosphere changes.
JENNY
looks embarrassed.
HELEN
and
DANNY
look at her, and she holds up her ring.
JENNY
looks embarrassed.
HELEN
and
DANNY
look at her, and she holds up her ring.
HELEN
That’s . . . Gosh. That’s fantastic news.
JENNY
Thank you.
DANNY
isn’t so pleased.
isn’t so pleased.
DANNY
(
cool
)
cool
)
Congratulations.
There is much chinking of glasses.
HELEN
I knew you’d see sense about university.
JENNY
smiles.
smiles.
You’ll stay pretty now.
Laughter from
DAVID
and
JENNY.
DAVID
and
JENNY.
JENNY
Can I still read?
HELEN
(
firmly
)
firmly
)
Yes, but it doesn’t have to be books, now does it? Magazines will do just as well. And you learn more from them anyway.
Laughter.
DAVID
Oh, Helen.
HELEN
You won’t be laughing, David, when she goes all speccy and spotty.
HELEN
is bemused by their mirth.
DANNY
watches
DAVID
thoughtfully.
79is bemused by their mirth.
DANNY
watches
DAVID
thoughtfully.
EXTERIOR: DANNY’S FLAT - NIGHT
DAVID
and
JENNY
come out of
DANNY’S
flat and approach
DAVID’S
car.
and
JENNY
come out of
DANNY’S
flat and approach
DAVID’S
car.
JENNY
Danny didn’t seem very pleased about our engagement.
DAVID
I noticed that, too. I thought he might be a bit jealous.
JENNY
(
trying not to be pleased
)
trying not to be pleased
)
Jealous?
DAVID
We’re going to keep him away from you.
They both smile.
DAVID
opens the door for
JENNY
and she gets into the car.
80DAVID
opens the door for
JENNY
and she gets into the car.
INTERIOR: JENNY’S HOUSE - EVENING
JENNY
and
MARJORIE
are in the hall, all dressed up and waiting for
DAVID
to come and pick them up.
JENNY
looks great, as usual; her mother looks smart, if somewhat old-fashioned.
and
MARJORIE
are in the hall, all dressed up and waiting for
DAVID
to come and pick them up.
JENNY
looks great, as usual; her mother looks smart, if somewhat old-fashioned.
JACK
comes in from the sitting room, pulling at his tie, looking apprehensive. He appears to be wearing Brylcreem. He looks like a little boy who has been made to put on his Sunday best.
comes in from the sitting room, pulling at his tie, looking apprehensive. He appears to be wearing Brylcreem. He looks like a little boy who has been made to put on his Sunday best.
JACK
I mean, what is one supposed to order as a starter, anyway? And how will I know what is a starter and what isn’t?
JENNY
We’ve been through this, Dad. It’ll be quite clearly marked on the menu.
The doorbell rings.
JACK
stiffens.
JENNY
goes to answer the door.
JACK
stiffens.
JENNY
goes to answer the door.
JACK
Can’t the three of you go on your own and leave me here? I’d be perfectly happy with a tin of salmon.
DAVID
enters the room. He is relaxed, happy. He has worn a tie, possibly because he knew that
JACK
would wear a tie.
JACK
and
MARJORIE
exchange greetings.
enters the room. He is relaxed, happy. He has worn a tie, possibly because he knew that
JACK
would wear a tie.
JACK
and
MARJORIE
exchange greetings.
DAVID
Ready? I think you’ll like this place, Jack. Their wine list is as good as anything I’ve seen in London.
JACK
Yes, someone told me that.
JENNY
David, probably. Who else would it have been?
EXTERIOR: STREET/JENNY’S HOUSE - NIGHT
JACK
and
MARJORIE
approach
DAVID’S
Bristol.
and
MARJORIE
approach
DAVID’S
Bristol.
DAVID
(
holding the door for
MARJORIE)
holding the door for
MARJORIE)
Madame.
JACK
I was hoping you’d take us in this.
DAVID
Oh, you won’t want to drive in anything else after tonight. Mind you, it drinks petrol. I’m afraid we’ll have to stop on the way in to town.
He opens the back door for his future father-in-law.
82EXTERIOR: DAVID’S CAR - NIGHT
The Bristol drives away down
JENNY’S
street.
JENNY’S
street.
JACK
I feel like Eamonn Andrews.
DAVID
Is that a good thing?
MARJORIE
Eamonn Andrews is the poshest person that Jack can imagine being.
Everyone laughs.
83INTERIOR/ EXTERIOR: DAVID’S CAR/ STREET - NIGHT
The Bristol cruises down a London road.
84EXTERIOR: PETROL STATION - NIGHT
The Bristol pulls into the garage.
DAVID
gets out of the car as the attendant comes over.
DAVID
gets out of the car as the attendant comes over.
ATTENDANT
How are you tonight, sir?
DAVID
Very well. Might as well fill her up.
DAVID
leans in through the open car window.
leans in through the open car window.
I’m just going to make a quick call. I’ll be two ticks.
INTERIOR/EXTERIOR: DAVID’S CAR/ PETROL STATION - NIGHT
JENNY
watches him walk towards the garage office.
watches him walk towards the garage office.
JACK
Do you think I should offer to help pay for the petrol? Would he be insulted, do you think?
JENNY
watches
DAVID
as he picks up the phone. He notices her and waves from behind the glass.
watches
DAVID
as he picks up the phone. He notices her and waves from behind the glass.
I know he said tonight was his treat, but does that apply to the petrol, do you think?
MARJORIE
I’m sure it does, Jack.
They lapse into silence.
JACK
starts to fiddle with the features in the car - a piece of the window handle snaps off in
JACK’S
hand, much to his alarm.
JACK
starts to fiddle with the features in the car - a piece of the window handle snaps off in
JACK’S
hand, much to his alarm.
JACK
Oh, no.
MARJORIE
Jack!
JACK
It just came off.
JENNY
opens the glove compartment, looking for the cigarettes that
DAVID
always keeps there. She finds the cigarettes and closes the glove compartment. But she has seen something in there, so she opens it again. She takes out some letters and papers and starts to look through them.
86opens the glove compartment, looking for the cigarettes that
DAVID
always keeps there. She finds the cigarettes and closes the glove compartment. But she has seen something in there, so she opens it again. She takes out some letters and papers and starts to look through them.
EXTERIOR: PETROL STATION - NIGHT
DAVID
has finished his phone call and is walking towards the car.
has finished his phone call and is walking towards the car.
DAVID
(
to attendant
)
to attendant
)
Put it on my bill.
AT TENDANT
Thank you, sir.
He sees
JENNY
looking through letters and papers, sees the open glove compartment and leans in through the passenger window.
JENNY
looking through letters and papers, sees the open glove compartment and leans in through the passenger window.
DAVID
(
desperately
)
desperately
)
Jenny!
It’s too late.We see
JENNY’S
stricken face, gleaming in someone else’s headlights.
87JENNY’S
stricken face, gleaming in someone else’s headlights.
INTERIOR/EXTERIOR: DAVID’S CAR/ PETROL STATION - NIGHT
DAVID
gets into the car.
gets into the car.
DAVID
Jenny, I . . .
JENNY
(
as cold as ice
)
as cold as ice
)
Take us home.
JACK
What’s wrong?
DAVID
I’m afraid there’s been . . . Jenny’s had a bit of a shock.
JACK
What’s happened?
JENNY
It’s just another one of David’s little muddles and misunderstandings.
DAVID
I . . .
JENNY
I don’t want to hear another word from anybody. Take us home. NOW.
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