Testament of Youth Page #5

VERA (CONT’D)

Please, I’d rather be by myself.

ROLAND:

(playful)

It’s the books I’m worried about,

I’ve never seen anyone beat them up

that way!

Roland finds a few battered books. Then picks up a piece of

paper, glowing white in the dusk. He sees it’s a hand-written

poem, and makes the snap decision to pocket it.

ROLAND:

(looking at the books)

Wordsworth, Shelley. Poor Byron.

All these romantics aren’t good for

you, you know.

She snatches them from him, examines them for damage, then

leafs through the pages, as though looking for something.

VERA:

Don’t worry, they have very little

influence.

ROLAND:

(a smile)

So I saw earlier.

She flashes him a look. His self-confidence both riles and

attracts her.

ROLAND (CONT’D)

(more sincere)

I’m sorry about the badly timed

arrival, by the way.

VERA:

(defensive)

Why should I care?

She starts to head back inside, then stops, turns to him -

VERA (CONT’D)

I can see this is all highly

amusing for you -

ROLAND:

No

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VERA:

Yes, you’re polishing up the

anecdote already, for your friends

back at school! (Raw) But it’s my

life -!

Exasperated with herself, and embarrassed, she heads back

inside. Roland thinks for a moment - touched by her. Then

produces the poem he pocketed. He reads, his expression

moved.

14 INT. VERA’S ROOM - LATER THAT NIGHT 14

Vera is up with some open text books before her, studying.

There’s a knock at the door. Startled, she gets up, goes and

opens it. Roland stands there.

VERA:

(thrown)

What?

ROLAND:

(smiling)

You’re studying.

VERA:

What of it?

ROLAND:

(more vulnerable)

Nothing, I - Look, I’ve done the

Oxford entrance exams, it’s all

about technique. I could help you.

Once you’ve learnt it, you’ll sail

through I’m sure.

VERA:

Like a masonic secret, passed from

teacher to boy.

ROLAND:

Actually my teachers weren’t that

good. I worked it out for myself.

She looks at him - the reaching out to her beneath the

smooth, confident surface.

VERA:

(softly)

Then so will I.

She closes the door in his face. Taken aback by herself, she

leans against the door with a smile.

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15 INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE VERA’S ROOM - SAME TIME 15

Roland is also taken aback. But after a moment, he turns away

with a smile.

15A EXT. COUNTRYSIDE, BUXTON - DAY 15A

The three men and Vera are walking up a beautiful, gently

sloping green hill, talking and laughing together. The boys

are ribbing Vera, who takes it in good humour - she teases

Edward back, giving as good as she gets.

16 EXT. HILLSIDE OUTSIDE BUXTON - LATER 16

Vera, Edward, Roland and Victor are lying or sitting on the

hillside, gazing at the countryside stretched out before them

in the green beauty of spring. The atmosphere is relaxed.

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