Diamonds
1 INT. EDITH’S LIVING ROOM - EVENING 1
A ring tone plays as a conference call loads. The call connects.
EDITH (77) is too close to the camera. She has her ear to it as though she is taking a telephone call.
EDITH
Hello?
SKYE
Hello, Edith.
EDITH
Hello? Who is it?
SKYE
Edith, you’ve got to move back, love. It’s a video call. Look at the screen.
EDITH moves the device away from her face and holds it beneath her. The camera is angled awkwardly below her chin, looking up.
SKYE (CONT'D)
Edith, why don’t you put me down on the table so you can see better.
EDITH
Okay. Just a second.
EDITH places the camera down. She is sitting at a dining table in her living room, wearing a pink cotton night dress. The camera is positioned in the centre of the table. There is a silver food cloche in front of her and a full champagne flute to her right.
A photograph hangs in a large frame on the wall behind her.
It is of EDITH and ARTHUR standing in front of the Eiffel tower in 1960.
EDITH notices SKYE on the screen and is startled.
EDITH (CONT'D)
Oh! Skye, is that you?
SKYE (25) is wearing a blue nurses’ tunic and a surgical mask which she has pulled down under her chin. She is standing in front of a white interior door and is holding her device out in front of her at arm’s length
SKYE
Yes, Edith, it’s me. Hello.
SKYE waves. EDITH chuckles.
EDITH
Oh, I can see you! Isn’t that clever?
EDITH notices the smaller video square in the corner of the screen.
EDITH (CONT'D)
Oh! Hang on - is that me?
EDITH waves her arms around and watches to see if the woman on the screen moves with her.
SKYE
(laughing)
Yes, Edith, that’s you. I can see you too.
EDITH throws her hands over her mouth in shock.
EDITH
Good lord, Skye. I’m in my nightie!
SKYE
Don’t worry about that, Edith. You look as beautiful as ever.
EDITH squints as she examines herself on the screen.
SKYE (CONT'D)
Well done on following all of those instructions, Edith. Even I would have struggled with those.
EDITH’s attention returns to the conversation.
EDITH
It’s lucky I was awake. I was just getting into bed when the buzzer went.
SKYE bites her lip apologetically.
SKYE
Sorry about that, Edith. I meant to get it all to you earlier, but we’re a bit snowed under here with everything that’s going on.
EDITH raises a hand and bats the apology away.
EDITH
No, no. Don’t you apologise for anything. This is a lovely surprise. It’s all been a bit glum here, sitting by myself at the window. Especially today.
SKYE
I know, Edith.
EDITH
I’m just so glad to see a friendly face. And all of this...
EDITH gestures to the cloche and champagne in front of her.
EDITH
Wonderful. Can I open it?
SKYE
Not yet, Edith. But I see you’ve already cracked open the champagne.
EDITH chuckles.
EDITH
If I’d known I’d be having a fancy dinner tonight, I’d have put on my Sunday best.
SKYE
Well, Edith, you’re perfectly dressed for the occasion, actually.
EDITH frowns, confused.
EDITH
Whatever do you mean?
SKYE
Well, I’ve got one more little surprise for you, Edith.
EDITH
Oh?
SKYE
We know how upset you have been that you aren’t able to visit at the moment, especially on such a special day. You’ve always looked after us lot here, and we love you both to bits. We thought it was only right that you get to celebrate in style.
SKYE pulls the mask up over her mouth with a gloved hand. She opens the door and walks with the camera into a small bedroom. The camera stays on her face as she walks. She places the camera down on to an over-bed table.
ARTHUR (80) is sitting up in the bed, wearing striped flannel pyjamas. On the table in front of him is a cloche and champagne flute, identical to EDITH’s. On a bedside table beside him is a smaller version of the photo on EDITH’s wall.
EDITH
Oh, Arthur!
ARTHUR does not respond.
SKYE (O.S.)
(loud and slow)
Look, Arthur. Look who’s come to see you.
ARTHUR leans towards the screen.
ARTHUR
(slurred)
What’s that?
EDITH holds a hand to her chest, beaming.
SKYE (O.S.)
Arthur, it’s Edith. She’s come to have dinner with you.
ARTHUR ponders this. He leans in towards the screen again and stares at it for a couple of seconds.
EDITH is disappointed, but she smiles.
ARTHUR’s eyes light up.
ARTHUR
Is that my Edith?
EDITH is overwhelmed.
EDITH
(choked)
Yes, it’s me, Arthur - your Edith.
ARTHUR is overjoyed. He reaches for the screen, knocking his glass over. Liquid spills over the table.
SKYE rushes into the frame and gently stops ARTHUR from disturbing the camera.
SKYE
Whoops! Never mind, Arthur. You can’t touch the screen, darling. You just have to look with you eyes, okay?
ARTHUR sits back, dazed. SKYE cleans up around him.
SKYE
Don’t worry, Edith. It was just a bit of apple juice.
EDITH leans from one side the other in attempt to look past SKYE on the screen.
EDITH
Arthur? Arthur, it’s me - Edith.
SKYE steps back out of the way. ARTHUR looks back at the screen. He laughs, clapping his hands together.
ARTHUR
My Edith.
EDITH
Arthur, we made it. We’re officially a diamond duo!
ARTHUR slaps his hand on his thigh repeatedly.
ARTHUR
(singing)
Diamond...diamond...diamond.
EDITH laughs through tears.
EDITH
That’s right, Arthur. Sixty years strong. We said we would make it, didn’t we?
ARTHUR looks blank. He pulls at his collar and makes incomprehensible noises.
EDITH
Arthur?
ARTHUR looks back at the screen. He grins.
ARTHUR
Is that my Edith?
EDITH covers a quivering lip with her hand and steadies herself.
EDITH
Yes, dear. It’s your Edith. Your diamond, Edith.
SKYE pulls up a chair next to ARTHUR. She gives EDITH a sympathetic look.
SKYE
Why don’t we have some dinner?
EDITH nods in agreement.
EDITH
Yes, let’s eat. I can’t wait to see what’s in here.
EDITH places a hand excitedly on the handle of the cloche.
SKYE
There’s a bit of tape around the bottom. Peel that off and then let me know when you’re ready.
EDITH peels off the tape.
EDITH
Okay. Done.
SKYE attaches a large adult bib to ARTHUR’s front. She turns to the table and grips the handle of the cloche. She pauses and looks into the camera at EDITH.
SKYE
Okay, we’ll do this together. Ready? 3, 2, 1...
EDITH lifts the cloche lid, revealing a bowl of French onion soup and a side of garlic bread. EDITH bursts into laughter.
EDITH
Oh, Skye. How did you know?
SKYE
I might have had a little help from your sister.
EDITH
Of course - Joan. I should have known.
SKYE peers into the bowl in front of her. She picks up a spoon, dips it into the soup and swirls it around a little.
SKYE
I’m sorry, Edith. It’s probably stone cold by now.
EDITH slurps a spoonful of the soup. She shudders but she sticks her thumb up at the camera.
EDITH
It’s perfect. Thank you.
EDITH picks up her garlic bread and begins dipping it into the soup and eating it.
SKYE spoon feeds ARTHUR, who opens his mouth mechanically to receive it.
EDITH
It’s just like our honeymoon, Arthur, do you remember?
ARTHUR does not respond. SKYE continues to feed him. ARTHUR dribbles soup down his front. SKYE mops it from his chin.
EDITH puts the remainder of the bread down. She looks concerned.
EDITH
How’s everything going there, Skye?
SKYE is delivering a spoonful of soup to ARTHUR. She stops half way. She looks at ARTHUR, who waits - open-mouthed - for the soup, and then into the camera.
SKYE
I think we’re winding down, Edith.
EDITH’s lip quivers. She closes her eyes and breathes deeply. She opens her eyes and clears her throat.
EDITH
He promised me a honeymoon in Paris when he proposed - didn’t you, Arthur? He used to joke that that’s the only reason I said yes. Do you remember that, Arthur?
ARTHUR does not respond. He rocks back and forth, babbling.
EDITH
Of course, I’d have gone anywhere with him and he knew it. Cheeky devil.
SKYE continues to feed ARTHUR.
EDITH
We went, of course, for the honeymoon. Oh, Skye, it was ever so wonderful. The most beautiful place I’ve ever been. Have you ever been, Skye?
SKYE puts down the spoon and shakes her head.
SKYE
Not yet. I need to find myself a strapping young fellow like Arthur first.
EDITH
We swore we’d go back, but we never did. It’s too late now.
SKYE
Ah, well. At least you’ve got your lovely memories.
SKYE looks at ARTHUR and cringes as she realises her mistake.
SKYE
I mean-
EDITH throws up a hand.
EDITH
No, no. Not to worry. You’ve given me an idea.
EDITH stands and moves off-screen. There are sounds of movement in the background.
EDITH (O.S.)
(muttering)
Where are you? There is the sound of rummaging.
SKYE squints curiously at the screen.
EDITH (O.S.)
Aha!
“I’ll remember tonight” by Pat Boone plays on a record player.
EDITH moves back into position on the screen.
EDITH
Can you hear that, Arthur?
ARTHUR stops, listening. His mouth moves, but his words are inaudible.
EDITH
What’s he saying, Skye?
SKYE puts a hand to her mouth over her mask. She sobs.
SKYE
Edith, he’s singing.
ARTHUR continues to sing. His voice grows louder and clearer.
EDITH watches for a while, crying silently. She touches the screen.
EDITH
(whispering)
Goodbye, Arthur.