Bliss (2011) - full transcript

JAUNTY PIANO MUSIC

DOG BARKS

DOG BARKS

BANG! BANG!

ROOF BANGS

DOG BARKS

(GROANS)

Oh, the chrysanthemums!

Chaddie, can you save them?
Il'try, Mama.

WIND ROARS, DOOR BANGS

(GASPS)



(GROANS)

TENSE CLASSICALMUSIC BUILDS

WIND WHIPS

Not at the table.
Vera's reading.

What's that extraordinary smell?
It's the porridge buming.

MUFFLED BANGS

CLASSICAL MUSIC BUILDS

PHONE RINGS
Can I, mother?

But your breakfast.
Nellie won't get it.

She's not fast enough.
PHONE CONTINUES RINGING

JAUNTY MUSIC

PHONE CONTINUES TO RING

Ohl

< Mother! It's the butcher!



That you, Kathleen?

You're not to go without a What
on earth have you got on your head?

It's just my old tam.
Well, it looks like a tea cosy.

Goand change it.
I cant, I'l be late.

You're not leaving the house looking
like that. Kathleen! Come back here!

Kathleen!

If I have to speak
to your father,...

Goto helll

CLASSICAL MUSIC BUILDS

Captions were made possible
with funding from NZ On Air.

Copyright TVNZ Captioning 2011

BEETHOVEN'S ‘PIANO CONCERTO
NO 1 IN C MAJOR OPUS 15' PLAYS

(BANGS KEYS)

(SIGHS)
What is it?

It's just Beethoven...

and another year dragging by...
(SIGHS) thinking about London.

Does your father still say no?

He's completely opposed to the idea
- says there's no point me going,

because when it comes to musical
ability, I'l never be first-rank.

Do you think that's true?
Very few will be truly great.

That's what he says. He says the best I
could do would only ever be second-rate,

and he's not having any daughter
of his scratching out a living
in atravelling orchestra

or slumming it in
theatrical boarding houses.

Hmm. That is a realistic assessment
of what you might expect.

It's a harum-scarum sort of
life, especially for a girl.

Atleast itis a life. This isn't.
It's not even a real city.

It's just a jumble of tin-roofed
shacks 12,000 miles from anywhere.

No concerts, no parks,
no theatres, no shops.

There are one or
two shops. (CHUCKLES)

Yeah, selling vegetables.

A colony will never be able to offer
what the great cities of Europe can.

Well, then, why did
he send me there?

Why did he pay for me to be
educated in London

when all I have to come
back to is this?

Playing tennis and waiting for
a husband - it's disgusting.

No more Beethoven today. Come on,
let's hear your arpeggios.

Anyhow, it doesn't have to be music.
If 'm not good enough,

- there are
lots of other things I could do.

Miss Beauchamp, these items -

Vignettes.

They're not the type of writing
I enjoy - the sex-problem story.

Your readers might enjoy them.

Possibly, but they're not
suitable for a newspaper.

What about the poems?

They're very feminine.

I'm hoping to publish a collection.
I'm working with a friend of mine.

She's doing the illustrations.

Yes, well, there might be a market.
(CLICKS TONGUE)

But again,
not our thing.

You could try a magazine
for those. Harpers, maybe?

And if you did want to persist with
the other material,

you could try
the Native Companion.

In Australia?

Worth a go. They like a sex story.

Has your father read those?

< Edie, how's this?

READS: Dear Mr Brady,

I herewith submit for publication
three vignettes of Wellington life

on the recommendation of Mr Mills
of The Evening Post-

aleading
NZ newspaper.

In the event of publication, I wish
to use the pseudonym K Mansfield.

Yours etc, etc, etc.

Have you signed your real name?

Of course.

So he'll know you're not a man.

Why on earth would I want
him to think I'm aman?

PAPER RUSTLES
I'm just being prudent.

You know, people we know
take The Native Companion.

George takes it.

(LAUGHS) There you are.
What would George think?

George would be very surprised.

(CHUCKLES) I like alittle fringe.

Attack. Defend for Britain.

Can you keep a secret? Cross
your heart and hope to die.

Your sister's going
to be rich and famous.

Why?

Because I have a brain, and
I have the inventive faculty.

What's worse than finding
a worm in your pear?

Finding half a worm.

(CHUCKLES)

Look out. She-yal

Kathleen, the Geddis
girls are here -

Clara, Una and Esme. I did
tell you they were coming.

When?

Make yourself tidy
and come down, please.

Bugger.

There's such an awful lot to do
before a wedding. I never realised.

Certainly more before than after.

I'm sure you have your
preparations well in hand.

Well, Mother is masterminding
the operation.

As one would expect.
And father pays the bills.

ALL CHUCKLE
I simply had no idea.

There isn't time to tum around -
ordering the trousseau

and choosing the china..

and the silver and the crystal
and the patterns of the wallpaper.

Whereas afterwards, dearie me,

just managing the servants and
enforced childbearing.

(CHUCKLES) It's hardly enforced.

Really? How does one prevent it?

That's enough.

Well, at least, it ought to be
a paid occupation,

seeing as it
does appear to be compulsory.

If you're not paid for labour,

you're nothing but a slave
turning out a baby a year

until you have a boy and you
can stop. (CRUNCHES NOISILY)

You may leave us.

I've only said what is true.
(CRUNCHES NOISILY)

(SIGHS)

We all know it, but we mustn't say.

I want you to speak to her.

I won't have her upsetting you.

Hmm, sometimes I think
it's what she lives for.

Oh...

damn and blast -

fiddly little hook.

Well, it's your eyes, Hal.

Ohl

HOOKS SNAP

Oh.

(SIGHS)

Hal.

Ill speak to her, I promise.

BED SPRINGS CREAK FAINTLY

HAL MOANS PASSIONATELY

HALMOANS CLIMACTICALLY

Sit down.

I am aware of your
feelings, Kathleen.

Believe me,

there is not a single person in
this house who is unaware of them.

But I will not allow you to take
your frustrations out upon your
mother.

Her health is fragile. You know
it's fragile!

And she's not to
be agitated in any way!

What?

I didn't say anything.

You looked at me, Miss!

Well, may I not look?

Not in that fashion!

I repeat, you must do nothing
to aggravate your mother!

Well, then, I am to
lead a very dull life!

Would that be such
aterrible thing?!

These ideas you have - these notions
of your future - are nonsense!

Now,
I want them to stop!

Oh! Beg your pardon, sir.
Um, Miss Kathleen told me

to tell her
when the post arrived.

What is it? A proposal
of marriage (7)

All your boasting about half
adozen-

not one of the poor chaps
has ever presented himself to me.

READS: 'Dear Miss Beauchamp,
I read your stories with interest

and accept them for publication.

‘Enclosed is a cheque
for the sum of £2.

Good lord.

Has he taken all of them?

So it would seem.

£2

You'll be needing an account.

Shall I open one for you?

(PANTS)

Thank you, father.

His eyes popped out of his head
when he saw the cheque. ‘Ah, money.'

It's a language he speaks.
It's the air that he breathes.

BOTH LAUGH

If I could sell three stories
a week...

that'd be £100 a year,
and I could live in London on that.

Three a week would be a stretch.

Well, then, I'd have to be very
industrious - no gadding about.

Are you coming in?
Nah, it's too cold.

How do you know?
You haven't even tried.

Have you ever swum naked?

Have you?

Come on, then, there's no one about.

Someone might come.

(CHUCKLES) Yes, they might.

Don't look.

BOTH LAUGH

Oh. Are we really going to?

Yes.

All the way under.

(SQUEALS)

BOTH LAUGH

UPBEAT FIDDLE MUSIC

BOTH YELL

Miss Putnam, before you go...

Yes, sir?

My daughter gave you
some stories to type.

Yes, sir, she said it's
unprofessional

to send
out handwritten stories.

What did you make of them?
I'm not sure.

Well, are they good?
Good?

Quality? Worth publishing? ♪

I wouldn't like to say.

No, no, I don't know much about
that sort of thing myself.

Anyhow, I can return them to
her now you've done the copies.

Yes, sir.

It was a funny feeling reading them,
because everything happens here in
Wellington.

There's the Botanical Gardens and
Thistle Hotel - places I know, but
in made-up stories.

I've never seen that before.

Thank you, Miss Putnam.
Goodnight, sir.

GENTLE CLASSICALMUSIC

GENTLE CLASSICALMUSIC BUILDS

READS: ‘Silently, we walked
back to the Thistle Hotel.

‘Down the white pathway fringed
with beautiful golden lilies, up
the amethyst-shadowed staircase.

‘She told me, as we walked along
the corridor to her room, that
she was glad the night had come.

'I did not ask why. I was glad too.
So I went with her to her room to
undo those troublesome hooks.

‘Like a sleepy child, she
slipped out of her frock,

‘and then suddenly tuned to me
and flung her arms around my neck.

‘Every rose upon the tattered
wallpaper budded and formed
into blossom.

"Yes, even the green vine upon
the bed curtains twined around
usin a leafy embrace,

held us with a thousand
clinging tendrils.

Kathleen wrote this?

And signed it. And my secretary has
read it, and this chap in Australia
has bought it.

And by next month, it'll be in the
hands of half of the people we know!

Why? Why? Why? Why does she doit?

You seem determined to humiliate
your entire family. Why else would
you expose yourself in this fashion?

It's a story.
A depraved story.

A depraved story of
unnatural passion!

I made it up.

Did you?

What is between you
and Edith Bendall?

She's my friend.

Is it a wholesome friendship?

Of course it is.

Well, how can we take
your word for it?

Ask Edie if you want to.

Well, she would naturally
deny anything... untoward.

But we want the truth!

Edie is getting married -
that's the truth.

It's all she's interested in.
She's not like me.

What do you mean by that?

She doesn't want what I want!

Oh, for pity's sake. What
the devil do you want? ♪

Freedom. I don't want to moulder
away daring stockings till
someone marries me.

And making calls and receiving
calls and talking about nothing
till the life drains out of me.

I feel so old.

Oh, don't be absurd. You're 19.

I might as well be 90! It's not
living! I want to see things and
do things. I want experience.

From the sound of that filth
you wrote, you've had plenty!

It's a story.

Why on earth would you
put your name to it?

I didn't.

You signed it!

I signed the typescript to say it
was mine,... but in the magazine,
I will have a pen name.

What have you called yourself?

K Mansfield.

No Christian name,
just the initial K.

Mansfield? My... My mother's name?

Before she was married. She lived
in Australia. No one knows it was
her name.

But...
I know it!

I wanted to protect you.

Oh.

By publishing smut
under an assumed name?

Family name.

Mr Brady says my stories are
striking and that they remind
him of Oscar Wilde.

That sewer? I won't have his
name spoken in this house!

He says I have talent,
and maybe I have.

Look, let me go to London.
Let me try.

Ayearisall I ask.

Look, if I fail, I'l- I'l come
home, I'l be quiet. I promise.

Ayear?

Board and lodging in London
would come to, uh,...

..£100.

You can't wait.

You can't wait to be rid of us.

(SIGHS) Her heart is not strong.

You know that, and yet you persist!

I war you, Kathleen,fl agree
to this, there must be no further
trouble of any kind.

CLASSICAL MUSIC BUILDS

DOOR SLAMS

Now she's late.

Find Pat, will you? He'll need
to load this lot when the cab
gets here.

Anyone seen Chummie?
Isn't he with you?

Chummie?

Chum?

(GROANS) You don't
fit in here any more.

(SNIFFS)

(PANTS) Oh, darling,

you'll come and see me... soon.

When you do, we'll pitch a little
tent in Trafalgar Square, and we'll
camp there - just the two of us.

Passersby will throw in the odd
whack of cake, and we'll live on
that - just cake and ar...

and the leaves of the sugar
tree that the wind blows in.

You remember the tree?

You must remember.

No.

You were just a little chap, and
I was turning 8. And you said you
had a surprise for my birthday.

(CHUCKLES) And I tried to tickle it
out of you, but you wouldn't say.
You just hummed and walked away.

And that night, it rained.
And I woke, and I heard you crying.

And when I asked you what the
matter was, you said, 'l planted
two lumps of sugar in the garden

‘because I know how much
you love it, Katie.

‘And I thought there'd be a whole
sugar tree for your birthday,
and now it will all be melted.

(LAUGHS)

What a duffer.

(LAUGHS) What a sausage.
You're a complete sausage.

You know that, don't you?

Absolutely.

(LAUGHS)

Come on, then, sausage,
or [ll miss the boat.

PLAYFUL CLASSICAL MUSIC

PHONE RINGS

Straight up the top on the right.

Don't get a shock when
you see the wallpaper.

It's hideous. It's
enough to kill someone.

The rooms on the
first floor have it. ♪

Perhaps the first
floor was a mistake.

No, no, it's much nicer than
downstairs. I looked at everything.

It costs a hit more,
but you've got a balcony.

Hmm.

I've never had a room of my own.

That can't be everything.

Cant it?

Well, where's my cello?

Oh.

Well, don't let them drive off with
it. It's the only one I've got.

Don't look, mother.

Oh.

And now, for the second time on
the London stage, we are proud
to present,...

Katie!

Oh!
I told you I'd come back.

Oh, we missed you, Katie.
All of us have.

We've missed you so much.

Let the girl breathe.

You remember Ida Baker from school?

Not really.
(CHUCKLES) That's not what you say.

You say, ‘Charmed to meet
you again, Miss Baker!

Oh, Amold, stop it.
She doesn't like it.

Come and dry out, dear.
Look, you're soaking.
We only had one umbrella.

We were running for our lives
from a hall full of suffragettes.

Lord, did you go to a meeting?
You're going to be those awful
creatures?

CELLO MUSIC PLAYS
There's sense in what they say.

I agree with all they say. I just
wish they didn't look like badly
upholstered armchairs.

Is that Garnet?

He only comes out for meals.
He's got an audition next week.

He's awfully good.
(CHUCKLES)

Not as good as me.
Not as modest, either.

How did you convince your
pater to let you come back?

I told him I'd live on kippers out
of atin, and I'd make my knickers
out of newspaper to save on laundry.

You'd rustle when you sat down.
ALL CHUCKLE

I'd hardly cost him a bean, and
when I'm a published author and
very rich,

then Il pay him back
with compound interest.

Hello, Katie.

Game, is that you?

I know. He just shot up last
year like a yard of pump water.

You must be taller than Amold.

He only looks taller
because he's so thin.

Il always be two minutes older,
no matter how tall he gets.
ALL CHUCKLE QUIETLY

They're like a family out
of a book - a real family.

I wish they were my real family.

I liked the quiet boy.

Really? I thought you didn't
care for that sort of thing.

What sort of thing?

You know what I mean - fooling
about in comers, kissing, the
sex impulse.

(CHUCKLES) No, not at all.
I'only meant I liked him.

But you do know what
I'm talking about?

No.

You must know.

I-l don't. I really don't.

(CHUCKLES)

Passion, desire, .. longing. (PANTS)

Is it like love?

Not at all. You're supposed to
pretend itis, but it's not. It's...

It's more like a hunger...

< ora madness.

No, I've never felt that.

Poor you.

MYSTERIOUS MUSIC

Katie? (CHUCKLES) I thought
it was. What are you doing here?

Making it out. It's the third time
I've been. It's extraordinary,
don't you think?

I don't know, but from what I've
read in the papers, a lot of people
seem to think it's absolute tosh.

No, there's something in it.

Is there?

It looks almost childish, but
it's... not. It just wants you
to see things in a different way.

Life doesn't look like that.

But it feels like that, and that's
how it feels to me - moving all the
time.

(SIGHS)

I see them moving.

That's life - that's the
thing that's flickering.

What's the point of showing what
something actually looks like?

We know that. We can see the
outside of things, but the inside?

We can't see it, but it's where
everything interesting happens.

Look - there itis.

It's shaking free. It's...

utterly new.

(PLAYS VIOLIN)

Was I all right?

Oh, more than all right. Marvellous.

It's at least six months work if
I getit. Sol can send money home,
and Amold could keep on studying.

Where will you go?

All over the place - Edinburgh,
Birmingham, Liverpool, Newcastle.

It's a big company - principals
and a chorus and the orchestra.

Sounds wonderful.

It's not what I'd choose,
but... Il be lucky to get it.

Oh, you'll get it. I know you will.

If you do, can I come with you?

It's such good material - chorus
girls and footlights and broken
hearts. I know there's a book in it.

Well, I... I don't know. You'd
have to pay for your own room.

Would 17

GENTLE MUSIC

BUTTONS CLICK SOFTLY

(BREATHES HEAVILY)

(SWALLOWS)

You look beautiful
without your clothes.

Let me see you too.

GENTLE MUSIC

I've only ever seen statues.

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

GENTLE MUSIC BUILDS

Cold sheets.

(BREATHES HEAVILY)

Oh, you're cold, too.

You're so soft.

Oh God.

Oh God.

Don't goin.

(BREATHES HEAVILY)

(GRUNTS)

(GROANS)

BOTH GROAN, CHUCKLE

(PANTS)

(GROANS)

(GROANS, BREATHES HEAVILY)

BOTH CHUCKLE

(PANTS HEAVILY)

How can I repay you?

(PANTS)

I know it's not what he wants
and, oh, I'l miss him if he goes,

but the wages would be a godsend -
an absolute godsend.

I had to let Maisie go.

I don't want to think about
how Il manage Christmas.

Oh, you're a far better cook
than Maisie - far better.

You're a sweetheart to say so.
You have to watch your pennies
too, though.

You shouldn't have bought me those.

If I only had sixpence left in the
world, I'd buy flowers with it.

< DOOR OPENS

Oh, please.
Please, please, please.

Are you in or out?

I'm in. (CHUCKLES)

(GASPS, CRIES)

(LAUGHS)

Ohl (PANTS)

(SOBS HAPPILY)

If anyone knows a girl whois
looking for a room, I might be
leaving in the new year.

Going back to Australia?

NZ. No, actually, I'm going on tour.

(CRUNCHES NOISILY)

Who with?

Moody-Manners Opera Company.

They're awfully hard
to get into. Orchestra?

No, chorus.

Oh, do you sing?

Well, obviously she sings
if she's in the chorus.

Miss Beauchamp, I'd like
a word when you're finished.

Do you have a teacher?
I'm only asking, because
if you're interested

I've found a really good chap...
for singing. He does elocution, too.

Really?

He's handy and very reasonable.

It's been mentioned to me that
you had a guest in your room -
amale guest.

This is not something I allow.
You may use the downstairs
sitting room for entertaining.

But if I wish to have
a private conversation?

This hostel is run with minimal
supervision - you have your own
key, there is no curfew.

With most of our residents
studying for or engaged in
the performing arts,

there needs to be a freedom
to come and go, to be out late
and so forth - that's understood.

However, in return for this
freedom, I do expect discretion.

We don't wish to become known as an
establishment where men are received
in bedrooms.

And if that's the sort of lodging
you'd prefer, perhaps you should
look elsewhere.

I may be making other
arrangements in the new year.

OMINOUS CLASSICALMUSIC

BRANCH SNAPS

< She's crooked.

No, she's not.

< (CHUCKLES) Yes, she is.

Do you know anyone who
wants to buy a cello?

Why? Are you chucking it in?

There's no point in taking it any
further. It's not going to be my
career.

It's not the sort of thing you take
to parties in case somebody asks you
to play.

And my allowance is going absolutely
nowhere, so if I can flog off my
fiddle,

Il have alittle bit extra
to go travelling with, which
is what I really want.

I can ask at work if you like?

I would like.

There.

No, she's still wonky.

Come and tell Arnold he has to have
another go at the fairy. She looks
as though she's drunk.

What's the matter?

My niece - she's got whooping
cough. She's only 6 weeks old.

Jane says she looks like a little
grey rag - keeps making this awful
noise.

Jane's nursing her, but she needs
to look after the other children.

She's asked me to go, and I would,
but it's contagious. And I-
I couldn't take Dolly. (SNIFFS)

I can look after Dolly.

Could you?

Of course, for as
long as you need me.

(SIGHS) Thank you. Oh,
you're a darling. (SNIFFS)

It's funny, isn't it?
With no mother.

Like a ship without a captain.

I'm the captain.

I'm the captain.

You give me an order,
Il do anything you say.

(GIGGLES)

Marry me.

That's mad.

Is it?

We can't get married.

Why can't we?

If we were married,
I could come with you.

We could live together and sleep
together, and nobody could tell
us that we couldn't.

It's so much warmer with two.

And you'll be going north -
it's cold up there,...

husband.

Wife.

Travelling, working -

we'll be free.

What are you doing?

Did you have a bad dream, Dolly?

I heard noises.

Well, they weren't real.
It's all right.

Go back to bed.

GENTLE CLASSICALMUSIC

WHISPERS: It was gonna be for
Christmas, but I want you to
have it now.

With this ring...

I thee wed.

With my body,...

I thee worship.

And with all my worldly
goods, I thee endow -

not that there are
any worldly goods.

(CHUCKLES)
But if there were...

JAUNTY MUSIC

JAUNTY MUSIC

Ooh, someone's been having fun.

I know - both sides of Bond St.

Keep an eye on them for a tick.
I've got to get some things.

We haven't seen much of you
lately. Where are you hiding?

Staying with friends. Probably
won't be back till after Christmas.

You've got a lot of mail.

I mentioned you to my teacher.
He's full up at the minute, but he
said to give you this, just in case.

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

Lily, is the baby all right?

Did she die?

(SNIFFS) No, she's mending.
The danger's past.

< Oh, thank heavens.

Get up. Take all of this and gol

Don't come back.

Dolly asked me why Katie and Garnet
were in Mummy's bed without their
pyjamas.

(SIGHS) We were going
to tell you at Christmas.

We want to get married.

He can't marry you. He's 18.

That's old enough.

No, it's not. He's a boy with
no fixed income and no home.

He lives here.

Do you think I would have you
under this roof after the way
you've disgraced yourself?

I don't know what you've done
to Game, but you've betrayed
me shamefully.

Can't bear to look at you.
Get out of my house.

Get out of my house!

Take it away! I don't
want any of it!

THUD!

Is Garnet here?

He's gone, love. Left in a real
hurry. Said you'd be keeping his
dinner for him.

Bet you keep it nice
and het. (SNIGGERS)

Please, let me speak to him.

Dolly?

Dolly?

Dolly? Are you there?

HAUNTING MUSIC

23,24, 25.

I've got a nice surprise for you
today. Your father's feeling rather
munificent.

Along with your quarterly allowance,
he included a Christmas bonus.

COINS JINGLE

There we are. So you'll be able
to treat yourself to a slap-up
Christmas dinner.

SOMBRE MUSIC

CROW CAWS

SOMBRE MUSIC CONTINUES

# Should old acquaintance
be forgot

# and never brought to light.

# Should old acquaintance
be forgot