As Teenie Alexander made her way to the sea hut, she had no idea that she was part of something much much larger. How could she have known that eons ago an ancient turtle had foretold her birth. That she would be the last girl on the planet who could speak the Language of the Heart. The thing of it is, we just never know what we are going to grow up into, do we?
Teenie walks down the beach to the sea hut as the ocean brims with sea creatures dipping and diving, alive. She stops to collect shells along the way, marvelling at the sea glass.
Teenie parts the seaweed curtain, climbs in and sees that Devlin has left her a red rose on top of the abalone shell.
TEENIE
(opens Dev’s note)
He wrote the word LOVE, just like I did
(presses the rose to her heart)
Close in on her hand writing these words:
If I thought of something that could show the language of the heart what would it look like?
Teenie begins to draw in her journal, and decides to write Devlin a special poem
TUT
(floating offshore watching)
(Close in on his ancient eye and flippers moving, as he watches Devlin walking down the beach)
They are the last two humans who know the secrets of the heart
(for Walter Halsey Davis, of SB Writers Conference, my teacher)
by Adrienne D. Wilson – adapting her novel Heart of Clouds for film.
INT. TEENIE APT BATHROOM. SILVERY LIGHT
Teenie while pie is baking and filling the apt. with scent, goes to the bathroom mirror, thinking of the boy who left her the abalone shell. She recalls the other teen girls at school, talking about pretty, and putting on make-up.
TEENIE
(asking mirror)
What is pretty? Is it like that abalone shell and all the colors that he left for me?
Devlin is the first boy she has ever thought about, on this cusp of her 14th year.
She goes to her bedroom, after trying on a bit of lipgloss, and wondering. Sitting crosslegged on her bed, she takes out her notebook again and draws a picture of the pie, while waiting.
She writes a note to leave at the driftwood hut, as if Devlin is an imaginary friend.
Close in on her hand and handwriting:
boy of the dunes
boy who was running like a wild horse
boy who wears plaid shirts and flannel
boy who I wish was my friend
what can I do to make you see me like I’m pretty?
CHRISTINA
Teenie what are you doing in there
TEENIE
Just writing Mom, I’m waiting for the pie to cool
CHRISTINA
It looks nice honey
TEENIE
Mom, I told Mr. Honeygarten I would take him some
CHRISTINA
That’s nice of you Teenie
TEENIE
He’s a really nice man
CHRISTINA
I know he is honey
TEENIE
Can you help me cut him a piece
CHRISTINA
Come on, let’s cut a piece of that beautiful pie and taste it
Teenie runs to her mother’s side and hugs her tightly
TEENIE
I love you Mom, I really do
CHRISTINA
(tenderly smoothing back her daughter’s hair)
I know you do
TEENIE
I just want you to feel better Mommy
Teenie and her mother taste the pie, then wrap a piece in waxed paper for Mr. Honeygarten.
EXT. HONEYGARTEN HOUSE. GOLDEN SATURATED LIGHT. DAY.
Teenie rides her bike through the village to his house. Melloman greets her at the fence, tail wagging and barking around, sniffing her hands carrying the pie.
TEENIE
(laughing)
Mello, it’s not for you but maybe you can taste some
Mr. Honeygarten waves at her from a second floor window with old fashioned lace
curtains.
HONEYGARTEN
(calling down to her)
Teenie dear whatever do you have in that basket
TEENIE
(smiling up at him)
The pie! You knew I’d be bringing it
HONEYGARTEN
Well, I was hoping so my dear. It isn’t often that I get to have such a wonderful piece of pie, now is it? come in and let’s have a seat in the parlor.
Mr. Honeygarten goes to his special china cabinet and takes out a beautiful tea set with old fashioned flowers and gilded rims. The silver had different fairies carved on the handles, a gift from his grandmother when he had been a boy.
HONEYGARTEN
Oh what a lovely piece of pie that is my dear. I’ll just put the kettle on for tea, dear and you serve the pie why don’t you?
Teenie carefully arranges the tea set, and slices the pie.
*this pin from my “pleinairella” storyboard space on Pinterest for Mr. Honeygarten style. Formal, Victorian, a gentleman, the tea set. I have props for the teaspoons.
Teenie and Mr. Honeygarten settle in comfort to have pie and tea.
TEENIE
Mr. Honeygarten?
HONEYGARTEN
Yes, my dear
TEENIE
Am I pretty?
HONEYGARTEN
Why Teenie whatever makes you ask that?
TEENIE
Am I?
HONEYGARTEN
Why of course you are my dear
TEENIE
Are you sure?
HONEYGARTEN
Why, Teenie I do believe what I can see with my own two eyes, dear
TEENIE
(sigh of relief)
Oh good
HONEYGARTEN
(kind eyes, smiling, close in)
Why on earth would you ask such a question?
TEENIE
Well, I just wasn’t sure whether I was or not
HONEYGARTEN
Well you are dear, and prettiness is something women grow into. It takes a very long time, by the way. I suppose you are just at the beginning of that rather long journey, yourself.
Mr. Honeygarten and Teenie sit sipping the tea. Silence, as they taste the pie.
HONEYGARTEN
Is there a boy, my dear? Is there a boy involved in all of this asking about prettiness?
TEENIE
(utterly blushing)
There is
HONEYGARTEN
You know my dear, when I was a boy, there was a certain girl I thought was the most beautiful girl in the world. Her name was Claire.
*the character Claire is based on the looks in the image above. It is from very old Hollywood, Mary Pickford.
*to page 39 in my novel, the chapter is Secret Smile
Adrienne Wilson 