The Stormcock Community

Scene 3 [cont]

The staffroom door opens and Ben Lovett, the caretaker, enters. He is mid twenties and deeply, ruggedly handsome. We see him as Helen sees him - in a shimmery golden haze, moving in slow motion and accompanied by that Diet Coke music. Helen's eyes follow him as he comes up.

HELEN   [To cam] And then I realise - I stay for the kids obviously.

BEN      [He has a lovely attractive burr] Morning Helen.

[Helen gulps] Would you be Miss Youngblood?

WENDY   I would, yes.

BEN    Ben Lovett, caretaker. I understand how as you was telling your class how God calls people to do things.

WENDY  [Pleased] That's right, God called me to be a teacher you see.

BEN   I got a lad outside says God's calling him to go home. I caught him getting on the bus.

WENDY   Ah, the poor child's misunderstood the_

BEN   And when I stopped him he told me to eff off and said God called him to say it.

WENDY   I'll speak to him right away

BEN   So I clipped him round the ear and brought him back.

WENDY   You struck a child?

BEN   God called me to do it.

Wendy looks at Ben uncertainly.

WENDY   Right. Right.

She goes.

HELEN   [A reproving look] Ben

BEN   It was only a tap. Anyway Jesus said it's ok to hit children.

HELEN   Did he???

BEN  Yeah, he talked about making children suffer.

HELEN   No. No, that's 'suffer little children'. It does not mean that at all.

BEN   Oh. I thought it did. Well he caught me at a bad moment. I'm a bit wound up.

HELEN   Oh. I'm sorry.

BEN   You know my girlfriend, Lucy? How devoted I've been. I mean I haven't so much as looked at another woman in the last two years.

HELEN [With feeling] No, I know.

BEN   Well - she's walked out on me.

HELEN   [trying to sound convincing] No! Oh God. Ben. That's awful. You poor thing.

BEN   I did everything for her. She wanted me to be super fit so I got super fit. I mean you have to work to get pecs like these.

He flexes his muscles.

HELEN   [Staring at them] I'm sure you do.

BEN   They don't come easy. Have a feel go on.

[She is reluctant] Go on, have a feel.

HELEN [tentatively feeling them] Mm. Yes I see what you mean.

BEN   That is solid muscle, that is. That is hours of training. That is me in the bedroom in nothing but a pair of Y-fronts doing pressups till my entire body is aching and glowing like it's on fire.

HELEN   [almost breathless] I can imagine.

BEN    And it's not just the pecs either. There's this as well.

[He taps his abdomen] And this. [He turns so she can admire his bum]

She wanted a bloke with a great bum so I got a great bum. I mean, tell me this ain't a great bum.

HELEN   Well er....

BEN   Go on have a feel, then tell me it isn't.

Helen looks around to see if anyone is looking but they've all gone.

BEN  Go on please. I need to know.

Helen places her hand tentatively on his bum and moves it up and down.

HELEN   .....Yep.....seems pretty great to me.

BEN    Yeah but not to my Lucy.

[We cut to his face as he remembers] No, she'd rather run off with some sodding farm hand when it comes down to it, leaving me high and dry. I don't know what to do, Helen. I mean, what do you think I should do?....Helen?

Another angle shows that Helen is lost in a reverie with her hand on his bum.

HELEN   [Removing her hand] Sorry, I was miles away. What did you say?

BEN   What should I do?

HELEN Well  - you've been hurt, you've been wounded...you should hurl yourself into another relationship at the earliest oppotunity.

BEN   Should I?

HELEN   Today if possible.

BEN   Today?

HELEN   Yes. With an older woman. Preferably someone you know and like.

BEN   Blimey. Who?

HELEN   [Tossing her hair] Ooh I don't know. Let's think.

[She licks her lips seductively]  ...Erm....

BEN   There's Clare I suppose.

We see Clare enter and get her bag from the chair.

BEN   She's pretty.

HELEN   Yes. If you like that sort of vacant air-heady prettiness.

BEN   Yeah I love it.

HELEN   Right. Right.

BEN   But the thing is I don't really know her.

[Thinking] Come to think of it, the only person I really know - and like - is you. I don't suppose you'd consider... erm...

HELEN   Me? Good Lord Ben. I wasn't expecting this.

BEN   Sorry I shouldn't have suggested it. It's only because I'm desperate.

[Helen gives him a look]

No. Not desperate. Obviously I mean confused. Lost. Insane.

HELEN   Shut up!

BEN  What I mean is I like you, but I would never normally have a _

HELEN   I know what you mean. And - well - as it happens I'm not seeing anyone at this moment in time...so....

BEN   You're desperate as well.

HELEN   No. Of course I'm not desperate, don't be ridiculous. I'm just happy to be a comfort in times of need.

BEN [Nods] You are desperate aren't you.

HELEN  More desperate than you can imagine.

She kisses him. They clutch at each other furiously as they disappear into a corner of the room behind some shelves.

HELEN   [Between kisses] Not now. I'm teaching in three minutes.

BEN   Where?

[Kiss] When?

HELEN  Year Four. In three minutes. I just_

BEN   No, I mean....

HELEN  [Realising] Oh. After school. Anywhere but my place.

BEN   Why? What's wrong with your place?

HELEN   [Looks to cam] It's also my mother's place. She's an invalid and I just don't think she wants me to meet anyone and leave her. Last time I took someone home - two years ago - she kept banging her stick on the wall shouting "stop it, stop it, you dirty girl".

[To Ben] I live with my mum. She'd get in the way.

BEN  [Alarmed] She'd want to join in?

HELEN   No.No. She'd just get in the way.

BEN  How about my cupboard, four pm?

HELEN   Perfect.

BEN   I'll get the mat, and shift the mop and bucket I use to...

HELEN   Too much detail.

The bell goes.

Four it is.

 

 

<TBC...>