Read Online An Education by Nick Hornby - Free Book Online Page A

stats.
    JENNY
    Please explain what stats are.You’re always going on about them.
     
    DAVID
    It isn’t very interesting.
     
    JENNY
    But you two are interested.
     
    DAVID
    That’s because we’re not very interesting, either.
     
    HELEN
    Oh, no, they’re not really.
     
    DANNY
    It’s true. That’s why we need you here. To save us from ourselves.
     
    DAVID
    ( laying it on with a trowel )
    Yes, to put some intelligence and culture into our brutal lives.
     
    DANNY
    Sing to us, sing to us.
     
    JENNY
    Please don’t make me sing to you.
    DAVID
    Please don’t make us talk about work.
    JENNY and HELEN laugh.
CUT TO:
    Later.They’re standing by the pub fireplace. DAVID has a pen in his hand, and he’s holding a book - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
     
    DAVID
    Now. Is he Clive, do you think? Or C. S.?
     
    HELEN
    I’m confused now. I thought you’d made him up?
     
    DANNY
    ( attempting, briefly, to be patient )
    No, we . . . Never mind.
    DAVID walks over to the nearest table and writes in the book.
    DAVID
    There.
    He stands up, hands the book to Jenny.
    JENNY
    ( reads )
    ‘To dear Jenny.
    With the pleasure of meeting you. Come and see me again soon. Clive.’
    HELEN
    Dirty old man.

48 INTERIOR: B & B BEDROOM - NIG HT
    A rather grotty and certainly unromantic B & B bedroom - so unromantic, in fact, that it even has the same fusty curtains from JENNY ’ S sitting room. DAVID is in bed, his hands behind his head, waiting for JENNY . As far as we can tell - he’s wrapped up in the sheets quite tightly - he’s in his underwear.The bedroom is lit unromantically by the 40-watt overhead light. JENNY comes into the room wearing one of HELEN’S nightdresses, a glamorous satiny item quite inappropriate for the occasion or the surroundings. She looks nervous.
    JENNY
    We’ve got these exact same curtains at home.
     
    DAVID
    Let’s not talk about curtains.You look beautiful.
    JENNY was about to get into bed, but his tone makes her pause at the edge of the bed.
    JENNY
    There’s something you should know, David. I’m a virgin. And I want to stay that way until I’m seventeen.
    DAVID
    I think that’s good. I think that’s right. We can still be romantic, though, can’t we?
     
    JENNY
    Well, yes. Of course we can. As long as it’s not actually . . .
     
    DAVID
    Minnie . . .
     
    JENNY
    Is that me?
     
    DAVID
    Yes.You’re my Minnie Mouse, and I’m your bubbalub.
     
    JENNY
    OK. If that’s what you want to do . . .
     
    DAVID
    Minnie.
     
    JENNY
    Yes, David?
     
    DAVID
    ( prompting )
    Bubbalub . . .
    JENNY
    Bubbalub?
     
    DAVID
    May I have a look? Just a peek?
    His eyes stray to her breasts. JENNY stares at him.
    JENNY
    You just want to see them?
    JENNY, awkwardly, looks down at her nightgown, then one by one pulls the straps down. It fall from her shoulders.
    DAVID stands up and lovingly lifts the straps back up.
    DAVID
    Thank you.
    He smiles at her. Relieved, she smiles back. He puts his arms around her and they embrace.

49 INTERIOR/EXTERIOR: DAVID’S CAR/ COTTAGE - DAY
    The Bristol, containing DAVID and JENNY in the front seats and DANNY and HELEN in the back, passing through a pretty Oxfordshire village.
    DAVID
    I think there’s a house for sale around here.
    DANNY
    Really?
    The Bristol pulls up outside a country cottage with a ‘FOR SALE’ sign outside.

50 INTERIOR: DAVID’S CAR - DAY
    DAVID
    Might be worth a look.

51 INTERIOR/EXTERIOR: DAVID’S CAR/ COTTAGE - DAY
    DAVID, DANNY and JENNY get out of the car, and JENNY heads after DAVID and DANNY towards the house. HELEN stays in the car.
    HELEN
    ( calling from the window )
    Jenny!
    JENNY turns around.
    JENNY
    Aren’t you coming?
     
    HELEN
    We don’t go in.
    JENNY
    What are you talking about?
     
    DANNY
    Why don’t you get a nice cup of tea somewhere? Helen will look after you.
    JENNY is mystified.
    JENNY
    I don’t need looking after, thank you very much. David!
    DAVID ignores her and walks off arm in arm with DANNY.
    DANNY
    I’m not going to