Heavenly Creatures

HERBERT: This story of yours-maybe the school newspaper will print it when it's finished.

JULIET: Actually, Mr. Rieper . . . it's a novel, and we'll be sending it to New York. That's where all the big publishing houses are based.

HERBERT: Is that a fact! You'd better put me name down for an advance copy!

HERBERT: I've never cottoned on to Plasticine like you girls, but I enjoy making things out of wood.

JULIET: Are you a carpenter, Mr. Rieper? HERBERT shakes his head.

HERBERT: I work at Dennis Brothers Fish Supply.

JULIET: I adore anything to do with the arts.

HERBERT: We're pretty handy with model making, too, eh?

JULIET: Mummy has a special technique called "Deep Therapy."

HERBERT: What's that?

JULIET: I'm not sure . . . but it's proving to be very popular!

HERBERT: wanders out. HONORA turns to Pauline and Juliet.

HONORA: Well . . . I better make myself a bit more presentable.

HERBERT: I'd better be getting back. Bye, love.

HERBERT: pulls his coat on. HONORA gives him a peck cheek.

HONORA: Bye.

HERBERT: Have a nice outing, you lot.

HERBERT: accompanies Hilda into the hallway.

HONORA: breaks down into heavy sobs.

HERBERT: is chopping firewood in the back garden. HONORA approaches him.

HONORA: I've just had Hilda Hulme on the phone.

HERBERT: What now?

HONORA: She says Juliet's in a terrible state . . .

HERBERT: waves a pair of new socks around. The family laughing and talking. Pauline is not participating. She is leaning back, looking morose. HONORA looks at her with concern.

HONORA: Is it hurting, dear?

HERBERT: No arguments there, Dr. Hulme! All that time inside working on those novels of theirs. They don't get fresh air or exercise!

HONORA: frowns at Henry.

HONORA: Yvonne hasn't been herself, either. Locking herself away in her room . . . endlessly writing.

HERBERT: sits down next to Honora, glass of sherry in hand.

HONORA: I've booked you in for a chest X-ray . . . just to be on the safe side.

HONORA: pops a couple more potatoes on Pauline's plate. HERBERT glances at Pauline.

HERBERT: Thought I'd have a go at building the birdhouse on Saturday . . . anyone want to give me a hand?

HONORA: Come on! Sausage rolls.

HERBERT: Come on through.

HONORA: and Pauline hurriedly work together, setting out plates and cutlery.

HERBERT: Look who I've found!

HONORA: whips off her pinny as HERBERT leads Juliet into the dining room.

HERBERT: Let's have 'em now, while they're fresh, eh, Nora?

HONORA: playfully shoves his hand away.

HONORA: I'll think you'll find our Mr. Bayliss is not keen on seafood. I've got lamb chops in the 'frigerator.

HERBERT: sighs as HONORA puts the frying pan on the stove.

PAULINE: Look, Mother!

HONORA: looks down at the ground in front of her.

PAULINE: You have it.

HONORA: Oh, no. I'm watching my figure.

PAULINE: I bet he pitches a tent in the middle of their bedroom, and they have to pretend to be on some mountain!

HONORA: That's enough, Yvonne!

PAULINE: I felt thoroughly depressed and even quite seriously considered committing suicide. Life seems so much not worth the living, death such an easy way out.

HONORA: Love, you can still write to each other.

PAULINE: The Hulmes will look after me. They want me to live with them!

HONORA: Don't be so ridiculous. You're our daughter, you belong here with us.

PAULINE: I belong with Deborah! We're going to South Africa!

HONORA: You're not going anywhere. You're 15 years old!!

PAULINE: You have to let me go!

HONORA: stands and walks toward the door.

PAULINE: I'm bloody dressing as fast as I can, for God's sake!

HONORA: Open this door!

PAULINE: My name is Gina!

HONORA: It's a letter from the school . . . from Miss Stewart.

PAULINE: What does old Stew want?

HONORA: She says the standard of your work is slipping. At this rate she doesn't think you'll get School Certificate.

PAULINE: Who cares!

HONORA: I care . . . your father cares . . . we want you to have a good education.

PAULINE: I'm educating myself!

HONORA: You're failing English . . . you used to be top of the class- PAULINE I'm doing my own writing!

HONORA: snatches up an exercise book from a large pile.

HONORA: These stories are not going to get you School Certificate! You don't seriously think anyone's going to publish them?

PAULINE: What do you know? You wouldn't know the first thing about writing. You're the most ignorant person I've ever met!

HONORA: is very angry.

HONORA: You're rude . . . rude and insolent! I don't see why I should keep a horrid child like you at school a minute longer.

PAULINE: I don't wanna be in bloody school!

HONORA: All right! You go out there and get a job and you damn well pay your own way!

HONORA: My God, what a disgrace you are! You shame me, you shame the family. You're nothing but a cheap little tart!

PAULINE: Well, I guess I take after you then!

HONORA: whirls around and slaps Pauline on the cheek.

PAULINE: You ran off with Dad when you were only 17! Nana Parker told me!

HONORA: steps back.

HONORA: If you think for one minute that your father and I will tolerate this sort of behaviour, you've got another thing coming! You're only 14!!! You're a child! What on earth's the matter with you, Yvonne? You know what can happen with boys . . . Don't you have any self-respect?

HONORA: sighs.

PAULINE: Can I go now?

HONORA: grabs Pauline by the shoulders.

PAULINE: I had a nasty foreboding feeling at first, but now I realise my crime was too frightful for an ordinary lecture.

HONORA: From now on, you're sleeping in the house, where we can keep an eye on you.

PAULINE: I spent a wretched night. It would be wonderful if I could get tuberculosis, too.

HONORA: comes in with a breakfast tray: bacon and eggs, tea and toast.

HONORA: Come on, sit up.

PAULINE: I'm not hungry.

HONORA: You've got to eat, Yvonne. You hardly touched our dinner. I'm not having you falling ill.

PAULINE: I just want to be on my own for a while.

HONORA: starts to cut up a slice of bacon and offers it to Pauline.

HONORA: You may have forgotten that you were once a very sick little girl, but I haven't!

HONORA: holds up a loaded fork. Pauline reluctantly takes it.

PAULINE: Do you think Juliet could stay here while her parents are away?

HONORA: Juliet's infectious . . . she'll be going to hospital.

PAULINE: But she'll have no one to look after her!

HONORA: Her parents won't be going overseas now . . . they'll have to cancel their trip. Don't worry about Juliet.

PAULINE: He's the manager!

HONORA: leads a young man-JOHN-into the dining room.

PAULINE: Got an A, Mum!

HONORA: glows with pride. STEVE is emptying his pockets on the bench. HONORA pats STEVE's hand.

PAULINE: Hello!

HONORA: Well? Tell us! How'd it go?

JULIET: But you're not fat, Mrs. Rieper!

HONORA: I put on a lot of weight over Christmas.

HONORA: is bending down, pulling a tray of sausage rolls into the oven. Both girls look at HONORA silently.

HONORA: turns around and Juliet presents her with a brown paper bag.

JULIET: Fruit.

HONORA: Oh! I'll pop them in a bowl.

JULIET: Hello!

HONORA: Hello, Juliet. Juliet take off her jacket.

HONORA: Oh-what a nice outfit!

JULIET: Thank you. I bought it especially, Mrs. Rieper.

JULIET: I'm saving them for a rainy day.

HONORA: gives her a sympathetic look.

HONORA: I know it's hard for you being in here, but it is for the good of your health.

JULIET: They sent me off to the Bahamas "for the good of my health." They sent me to the Bay of bloody Islands "for the good of my health."

HONORA: looks startled at the outburst.

JULIET: I'm sorry, Mrs. Rieper. I'm feeling quite fatigued.

HONORA: We don't want to tire you out, dear.

HONORA: stands and picks up her handbag. Pauline stands and Juliet grabs her hand.

JULIET: Can't you stay a bit longer, Paul?

HONORA: That's coming along well!

JULIET: I'm the Matron's favourite patient and she's shown me her special stitch!

JULIET: I'm so happy to see you!

HONORA: hurries over.

HONORA: It's best not to get too close. Juliet's still not a hundred percent. Hello, Juliet! We've bought you some fruit.

JULIET: Thank you so much!

HONORA: I wouldn't want my private business being discussed with a complete stranger!

JULIET: Oh, no . . . Mummy's awfully good at it.

JULIET: And so, in a blazing fury, Charles runs Lancelot Trelawney through with his sword . . . leaving Deborah free to accept Charles's proposal of marriage!

HONORA: and HERBERT exchange a glance. HONORA smiles at Juliet.

HONORA: I've heard your mother on 3YA. The Woman's Session has lots of lively debate.

JULIET: Well, actually, Mummy's left that programme now . . she's far too busy with The Marriage Guidance Council.

JULIET: Isn't it beautiful!

PAULINE: Let's go for a walk down here . . . come on, Mummy!

PAULINE: Bye, Dad.

JULIET: Goodbye, Mr. Rieper.

PAULINE: It's a three-act story with a tragic end.

JULIET: Your mother is a rather miserable woman . . . isn't she?

PAULINE: I thought for hours about whether Carmelita should accept Bernard's marriage proposal . . .

JULIET: I think she knows what's going to happen . . . she doesn't appear to bear us any grudge!

PAULINE: Let's go upstairs, Deborah. I wrote the last 10 pages of my opera last night.

JULIET: All right, then.

JULIET: Mummy!

PAULINE: Mummy!

PAULINE: I'm coming with you.

JULIET: Yes . . .

PAULINE: I know what to do about mother.

JULIET: But that's not true! I've got one.

PAULINE: I need my sodding parents' consent.

PAULINE: Poor Father . . .

JULIET: Don't worry, Gina! Mummy and Daddy love each other.

JULIET: Poor Mother was completely taken in.

PAULINE: Do you think Bloody Bill's trying to get into her draws?

JULIET: Too right . . . but he doesn't have a show! Nobody gets into Mother's draws except Daddy!

PAULINE: I thought he was supposed to be terribly ill.

JULIET: That was what we were led to believe . . .

JULIET: This lot's got to be worth 50 quid!

PAULINE: I can try my father's safe. I'm sure I can get the keys to his office.

JULIET: That's great! We'll have the fare in no time!

PAULINE: I'm sure they'll notice things missing.

JULIET: They'll blame the bloody housekeeper. She nicks stuff all the times!

PAULINE: Stay still or they'll be blurry . . .

JULIET: Hurry up! I'm freezing!

PAULINE: Just a couple more . . .

JULIET: I know, I'll lean forward and show more cleavage!

PAULINE: I think I'm going crazy.

JULIET: No, you're not, Gina-it's everybody else who is bonkers!

PAULINE: Let's go overseas . . .

JULIET: You mean travel by ourselves?

JULIET: How do you know? Did he tell you?

PAULINE: Well . . . no. But it's so obvious.

PAULINE: You'll never guess what's happened!!

JULIET: What??

PAULINE: John has fallen in love with me!

JULIET: That idiot boarder?

JULIET: I shall call him Diello.

PAULINE: You're such an incredible woman.

JULIET: I couldn't have done it without you, Charles.

PAULINE: What?

JULIET: It's so beautiful!

PAULINE: What???

PAULINE: He flings open the door and launches himself at the bed, ravishing her!

JULIET: God, yes!

JULIET: That.

PAULINE: That . . .

JULIET: This.

PAULINE: This . . .

JULIET: Him.

PAULINE: Him . . .

JULIET: To be known as He!

PAULINE: He . . .

JULIET: James will be there . . . and Mario! Only they'll be saints.

PAULINE: Saint Mario!

PAULINE: But, we're all going to Heaven!

JULIET: I'm not! I'm going to the Fourth World! It's like Heaven, only better because there aren't any Christians.

PAULINE: I wish James would do a religious picture . . . he'd be perfect as Jesus!

JULIET: Daddy says the Bible's a load of bunkum!

PAULINE: I think I'm dying . . .

JULIET: Don't . . . please! Please, don't!

JULIET: 0h, God . . . I'm so sorry!

PAULINE: It doesn't matter.

JULIET: Of course it matters! It's Mario!

PAULINE: She's terribly hurt . . .

JULIET: Somebody's got to help us!

JULIET: Mummy!

PAULINE: Mummy!