Beat Girl

Well, Mrs Linden, and how do you find England?

Like France. There are cows in the field.

And sheep in the meadows.

Who is Meadows?

Oh, Paul, you are terrible!

People will expect confetti to fly out of my hair.

Oh, of course.

Most undignified for an old married couple, isn't it?

Well, five days is long enough to...

- To cool down? - Paul, don't be vulgar!

And don't dare cool down.

Tickets, please.

How long should we be?

London in 20 minutes.

Oh.

Are you worried about something?

I'm just wondering.

About Jennifer?

I want to love everything that is yours.

Your work, the houses you build,

the cities you plan.

But most of all I want to love your daughter.

Do you think Jennifer will like me?

How can she help it?

Well, a stepmother, an intruder, it is not so easy for her.

Nor, perhaps, for you either.

Nichole, I'll be perfectly frank with you. I find Jennifer a puzzle.

A puzzle? How do you mean?

Well, I don't understand her anymore.

When she was a baby we were such good friends,

but now we...

- Well, she's not a baby anymore. - Well, she's only 16.

She needs the understanding and affection of another woman.

Well, I'm sure you'll be wonderful for her.

She'll absolutely adore you.

Oh, Paul, I am a lucky woman, so lucky.

All at once I have a husband, a family, a home.

Here we are, sweetheart, your new home.

Oh, darling! How nice.

I'm glad you like it.

It's been waiting for you since the day I built it.

Six and six, sir. Thank you very much, sir.

You know, your house is like you.

How do you mean? Austere?

With a twinkle behind the façade.

Come and meet your new family.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

- Well, hello, Martha. - Oh, Mr Linden.

Welcome back.

And this is Mrs Linden.

Oh, Mrs Linden, ma'am. Welcome home.

I should kiss you for that. You see? I am very French.

Oh, Mrs Linden, ma'am, you are most welcome.

- But where's Jennifer? - Oh, she was just getting dressed, sir.

Yes, I can hear that.

Jennifer?

She must have heard us come in.

Jenny?

She's probably shy of meeting me, thinking I am some sort of dragon.

Then she's got a big shock coming.

I'll go and fetch her.

Jenny...

Hello, Jenny, darling.

You look wonderful.

Three months, the longest I've ever been away.

- Seemed like years. - Yes, it did.

Well... how's the art school?

- It's school. - Studies going well?

Fine.

Congratulations on your marriage.

Thank you, Jenny. Come and meet her.

Admire my taste?

Perhaps now the house won't seem so... What was the word?

Dreary.

Dreary, yes.

Perhaps now it will seem more fun for you.

Hm?

Do you think so, Jennifer?

Nichole, this is Jennifer.

I am so happy to see you at last, Jennifer.

Hello.

I am sure you two will have a lot in common.

I hope we have everything in common, Jennifer.

Everything? That's a lot, isn't it?

Oh, what I mean is, you won't be so lonely any more.

- How does that sound? - Fine.

When would you like dinner, sir?

Oh, from now on you'll have to ask Mrs Linden questions like that, Martha.

What do you think, Jennifer? In half an hour?

That's OK.

- Would that you be all right for you? - Oh, yes, ma'am.

Well, what about a drink?

There's ice in the sitting room and I put out the champagne.

Wonderful idea. See? I told you, she thinks of everything.

After all, it's a special occasion.

Oh, Martha, you are making me feel really at home.

How about your having a glass, Martha?

Oh, not if you want any dinner!

Come on, darling.

Well? What do you think of it?

It's wonderful, very impressive.

This is the living room.

- Living room? - Ah, but it hasn't been lived in yet.

It needs the feminine touch.

We call it organised disorder.

Yes, it would help.

- Don't you think, Jennifer? - Maybe.

Well, you've made a good start.

Looks human. I like it.

I only use this place for the hi-fi.

It's a morgue.

We'll soon deal with that between us.

- Champagne? - I don't drink. I'm too young.

16? Of course you're not.

Is she, Paul?

Well...

as Martha says,

it is a special occasion.

Very special.

There you are, Jenny.

To us, all three of us.

To us.

What are you reading, Jennifer?

It's all about jazz, not your stuff.

But it is. Let me see.

Let's look at it.

This is all double Dutch to me.

"Blue Blues & Dixie" by Buller Montgomery.

Oh, I know him. He was the father of it all.

But who is this? She's beautiful.

Hm?

Where did you get this from?

What are you trying to do?

- It's a picture of... - It's my mother.

- She's beautiful, isn't she? - I suppose so. I don't remember her.

That is where you get your looks from.

Not from this monster.

- Jennifer, why can't you sit up properly? - I like floors.

You know, I think Martha's really quite taken to you.

- Don't you, Jenny? - I suppose so.

Hadn't thought about it.

- What is the name of your school? - Saint Martin's.

- One of the best, isn't it? - Rumour has it.

Jenny's always had a talent for illustration.

She really draws very well indeed.

It must be fun, doing something you like and are good at.

Fills in the time.

Darling, what is in that huge box over there?

- A body? - That's just about it.

Only that's more like a skeleton in the cupboard.

It's my toy, and Jennifer's jealous of it.

Jealous? Of a stupid city?

- A city? - Super mad stuff.

- And then some. - What are you both talking about?

Well, now, you wouldn't say I was exactly old-fashioned, would you?

- But Jennifer thinks I'm too modern. - Strictly as an architect.

In every other sense, a square.

A square?

A little while ago, I was a creep.

- Show me the city, please. - You'll be sorry.

She may be right, you know.

If I get my city out, you'll be up till dawn.

It's my life's work. It's meant more to me than anything in the world.

Hasn't it, Jenny?

Yes, that's true.

Come, I'll show it to you.

- But what is it? - Ah.

It's a model. I call it City 2000.

Grime, filth, poverty, noise, hustle and bustle,

these things will be unknown.

An almost silent place,

soundproofed with the use of flying, bevelled walls of concrete,

which also serve to cut wind and rain.

Jennifer says it will be like living in a tin can, but...

I don't think that's really true.

You know, psychologists think that most human neuroses

come from too much contact with other humans.

- In my city, a man can be as alone... - Darling...

...as if he were 10,000 miles from anywhere in the country.

- Paul. - Hm?

- I'd like to see Jennifer to bed. - Oh, she can put herself to bed.

I'll be right back. I want to know every street by heart.

All right, darling. Don't be long.

What is it?

I came to say good night.

Good night.

- You've been crying. - Crying?

I should think not.

Jennifer, what is it?

Why have you taken such a dislike to me?

I'm not to blame for your father's divorce.

It was long before he ever met me.

I didn't say I didn't like you.

Don't be childish.

Why not?

- I am a child. - You know perfectly well what I mean.

Your father calls your behaviour deplorable.

I prefer to think you're just upset.

Naturally I'm upset. All young girls are upset