An Education by Nick Hornby Read Free Book Online

reluctant members of tonight’s audience.
    JENNY and DAVID laugh politely.
    DAVID
    Jenny, these are my friends Helen and Danny.
    JENNY shakes hands with the two of them.They both give her fascinated and clearly appraising looks.They have heard about her.
    Shall we?
    They walk into the hall.

18 INTERIOR: ST JOHN’S, SMITH SQUARE - NIGHT
    It’s a beautiful hall - JENNY is dazzled by the surroundings and the company. She’s particularly bowled over by HELEN .
    The girls walk over to the cloakroom where they join the queue. Almost involuntarily, JENNY touches the sleeve of HELEN’S fur jacket. She stops herself. HELEN notices.
    JENNY
    Sorry.
     
    HELEN
    ( amused )
    That’s all right. It’s nice, isn’t it?
    JENNY
    It’s beautiful. Where did you get it from?
     
    HELEN
    Oh, I don’t know, Chelsea somewhere.
    HELEN looks at JENNY’S outfit, her frumpy ‘smart’ dress, apparently wanting to return the compliment.
    ( nodding at the dress )
    This is . . . Well, it’s good for this sort of concert, isn’t it?
     
    JENNY
    ( quietly )
    Thank you.
    HELEN is now at the front of the queue and hands her coat over imperiously.
    HELEN
    We should go shopping together one day, if you want.
    She takes a ticket from the cloakroom lady.
    JENNY
    That would be nice. But Chelsea . . . C’est beaucoup trop cher pour moi .
    They stare at each other. HELEN is bewildered , JENNY embarrassed.
     
    HELEN
    Sorry?
    JENNY
    I just said . . . It’s too expensive for me.
     
    HELEN
    No you didn’t.You said something completely different.
     
    JENNY
    I just . . . Well, I said it in French.
     
    HELEN
    In French? Why?
    JENNY feels humiliated; she is yet to realise what we can see - that HELEN is simply very dim.
     
    JENNY
    I don’t know.
    JENNY looks away. HELEN stares at her.The performance bell rings, and they make their way back to the men.
    To JENNY’S surprise and pleasure, HELEN links arms with her as they walk.
    HELEN
    Well, Chelsea’s too expensive for me, too, really. But we don’t have to worry about that. If you want something in Chelsea, get David to take you shopping.
     
    JENNY
    Why would David want to take me shopping? HELEN makes a knowing face.

19 INTERIOR: ST JOHN’S, SMITH SQUARE - NIGHT
    DAVID, JENNY, DANNY and HELEN in a row in the middle of the auditorium, watching the stage and listening to the music. JENNY can’t concentrate - she’s too excited by the occasion and the company. JENNY sneaks a glance at HELEN, who stares straight ahead, unblinking and enigmatic. DAVID is smiling, as if he’s trying to communicate enjoyment; DANNY’S eyes flicker across the stage - he understands the music, its component parts, which musicians are contributing what. JENNY takes it all in.

20 EXTERIOR: ST JOHN’S, SMITH SQUARE - NIGHT
    JENNY, DAVID, DANNY and HELEN emerge with the other concert-goers.
    DAVID
    I booked a table at Juliette’s. Will that kill the mood, do you think?
     
    HELEN
    Oh, I do hope so.
    The others laugh.
    I always think I’m going to my own funeral when I listen to classical music. ( tentatively ) That was classical, wasn’t it?
    DANNY
    Yes. Very classical. As classical as you can get.
    HELEN looks pleased.
     
    DAVID
    Juliette’s it is, then. Heaven forbid that we should end the evening reflecting on our own mortality.
    JENNY smiles in delight. She’s never met people like this.

21 INTERIOR: JULIETTE’S - NIGHT
    A singer in the Julie London mould is singing while cigarette girls and glamorous waitresses patrol the tables. JENNY is sitting with the others at a table in the club, eating and talking. She looks about twelve, but she’s thrilled to be there.We know now that her life can never be the same again, and there will be no going back to fish-paste sandwiches with pimply GRAHAM .
    DANNY
    ( mid-conversation )
    . . . Miles Davis, Sartre, extraordinary woman, Greco. ( aside ) Just like you, Helen.
     
    DAVID
    What about Chante Françoise Sagan? Have you heard that one?
    JENNY shakes her head. Her