An Education Read Online Free PDF Page B

and waves the money away.
    No? All right . . . Up to you.
    DAVID gets out of the car to help Jenny with the cello.
    I’m David, by the way.
     
    JENNY
    ( hesitates )
    Jenny.
    DAVID
    Very good.
    He gets back in the car.

7 EXTERIOR: STREET, NEAR SCHOOL - DAY
    Moments later.The cello is in the backseat of the Bristol. JENNY is trotting alongside the car, while DAVID leans nonchalantly across the passenger seat to talk to her while driving.
     
    DAVID
    How did the concert go?
     
    JENNY
    It was a rehearsal. The concert’s next Thursday.
     
    DAVID
    What are you playing?
     
    JENNY
    ( making a face )
    Elgar.
     
    DAVID
    Ah, Elgar. I think it’s a shame he spent so much time in Worcester, don’t you? Worcester’s too near Birmingham. And you can hear that in the music. There’s a horrible Brummy accent in there, if you listen hard enough.
    JENNY looks at him and smiles. She hadn’t expected him to be able to make Elgar jokes.
    Anyway, Elgar and the Jews don’t mix very well.
     
    JENNY
    I’m not a Jew!
     
    DAVID
    ( laughing )
    No. I am. I wasn’t . . . accusing you.
     
    JENNY
    Oh. ( She smiles awkwardly .) Can I sit in the car with my cello?
    DAVID stops the car.
     
    DAVID
    Jump in.

8 INTERIOR: DAVID’S CAR - DAY
    JENNY shuts the door and sinks approvingly into the leather seat. DAVID regards the dripping girl with amusement.
    JENNY
    I have never seen a car like this before. C’est très chic .
     
    DAVID
    It’s a Bristol. Not many of ’em made.
    JENNY struggles for something to say.
     
    JENNY
    Oh.
     
    DAVID
    Where to, madam?
    JENNY makes a face.
     
    JENNY
    I only live round the corner. ( She pauses .) Worse luck.
     
    DAVID
    I’ll see what I can do.
    DAVID changes gear to slow the car down.

9 EXTERIOR: DAVID’S CAR/STREET NEAR JENNY’S HOUSE - DAY
    The Bristol is crawling along the road at walking pace.

10 INTERIOR/EXTERIOR: DAVID’S CAR , JENNY’S HOUSE - DAY
    DAVID
    I suppose cellists must go to a lot of concerts.
     
    JENNY
    We don’t go to any concerts. We don’t believe in them.
     
    DAVID
    Oh, they’re real.
     
    JENNY
    So people say.
     
    DAVID
    Smoke?
    DAVID reaches across JENNY while driving slowly, opens the glove compartment and takes out a packet of cigarettes.
     
    JENNY
    I’d better not. ( indicating )
    I live just up there.
    DAVID pulls over near JENNY’S house.
    DAVID
    Why don’t we believe in them?
     
    JENNY
    He’d say there’s no point to them.
    DAVID lights a cigarette.
     
    DAVID
    Your father, this is?
     
    JENNY
    ( darkly )
    Oh, yes. They’re just for fun. Apart from school concerts, of course, which are no fun at all, so we go to those. The proper ones don’t help you get on.
     
    DAVID
    Which, of course, is what is so wonderful about them. Anyway, you’ll go one day.
     
    JENNY
    ( heartfelt )
    I know, I will. If I get to university, I’m going to read what I want and listen to what I want. And I’m going to look at paintings and watch French films and talk to people who know lots about lots.
     
    DAVID
    Good for you.
    JENNY
    ( laughing )
    Yes.
     
    DAVID
    Which university?
     
    JENNY
    Oxford. If I’m lucky. Did you go anywhere?
     
    DAVID
    I studied at what I believe they call the University of Life. And I didn’t get a very good degree there.
    JENNY smiles.
     
    JENNY
    Well . . . Thank you for driving me home.
    She gets out of the car and takes the cello. DAVID stares after her for a moment, then drives off.We start to hear . . .

11 INTERIOR: JENNY’S BEDROOM - DAY
    . . . Juliette Greco ‘Sous le Ciel de Paris’.The sound of the French music plays as we pan across JENNY’S bedroom to find her singing along, next to her Dansette record player.
    Suddenly there’s a thumping noise - someone underneath her is banging on the ceiling impatiently.
    JACK ( out of sight )
    I don’t want to hear French singing. French singing wasn’t on the syllabus, last time I looked.
    JENNY sighs and reaches for the volume control. She turns the music down so low that she has to