First Great Train Robbery, The Page #5

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- I knew it was not cholera.

- Cholera?

He was a quack to say it. I knew it! Hurry.

- Five days I've waited to hear that bell.

- You say cholera? Five days?

Richard!

Oh, no!

How can it be? I heard the bell.

Did you not?

I heard it plain.

The bell rang.

No, missy.

A gust of wind or a tremor on the ground.

I'm sorry.

But I heard it.

Load this on. Sharp now.

Steady.

Careful.

Over here. A little to your right.

Set it down.

- There's more colour to you now.

- Yes, I feel much better now, thank you.

- Goodbye.

- Bye-bye, miss.

- All right for you. I'll be in here with it.

- Rather you than me, mate.

Oh, the stench!

- Can you do it?

- I think so.

It's a long way back there.

Five carriages, 30 feet each,

that's 150 feet altogether.

I'll manage.

- You're not going to get killed, are you?

- Oh, I'd rather not.

Edward!

- Edward Pierce, my dear fellow!

- Damn. Henry Fowler.

He cannot travel in our compartment.

Henry! What a surprise.

- Fancy seeing you! Are you on this train?

- Yes.

As a matter of fact, so am l.

Oh, forgive me.

Miss Bridget Lawson, Mr Henry Fowler.

Miss Lawson is accompanying

her deceased brother,

but due to the new regulations

she's not permitted in the guard's van.

Therefore she is seeking a compartment.

Well, mine is available.

Henry, you're so kind.

You won't join us, will you?

As a matter of fact,

I've... made other arrangements.

Oh, I see.

- You're quite sure?

- Oh, yes.

You carry on, Henry.

Miss Lawson.

- You're in capable hands.

- You're too kind.

Not at all.

Open up.

Open up, damn you!

Are you alive, then?

Of course I am, you damnable flat.

- Good God, he's alive!

- Open it! Hurry up. I must be quick.

Lift up!

Oh, mother of God.

Oh, the smell!

The things I must do.

Do you have... many gentlemen friends?

Oh, why sure enough.

Gents are ever so friendly to me, they are.

- Me mum said I was a heartbreaker.

- I'm certain you are.

Me mum was a heartbreaker herself.

Had many a caller, she did.

Many a caller.

And always with some little token.

Me mum says a man loves you,

he shows you proper.

- With some little token.

- Quite so.

If you will permit me, I should be

delighted to give you a ''token'' myself.

- You're a bold gent!

- I'm most serious, I assure you.

- What, here on the train?

- Why not?

Have you not heard of

the 50-mile-an-hour club?

I'm told it's beneficial to the circulation.

- But the van's locked from outside.

- It's taken care of.

- How?

- You'll see soon enough.

My friend will come over the top of

the train between Redhill and Ashford.

That's the fastest part of the run.

I suppose it is.

What about all them bridges?

Your friend, mate, he's mad.

- What's going on?

- Take the rope.

- Is he up there now?

- He is.

He's lucky to be alive.

- Hold on.

- All right.

Now let it go easy.

Go on.

I can't get over the feeling...

You look very familiar.

- Are you sure we've never met?

- Oh, no, sir.

What does your mum do?

Me mum?

She's a seamstress.

An honourable trade.

Me mum's made dresses for Lady

Eversham herself, I'll have you know.

I'm acquainted with Lady Eversham.

- All done?

- Done.

Good. We've got less than a minute.

Bloody hell, you look a sight.

I look a sight?

No, but you're all covered in soot.

It's the smoke.

- I haven't brought a change of clothing.

- That's brilliant!

What are you going to wear

coming off Folkestone station?

Oh, no!

Bloody hell! You paint me green,

make me lie in a coffin with a dead cat,

and now you strip me bollock-naked. No!

- Shut up.

- Bloody hell!

Let's go.

He'll take the river road

and meet us in Folkestone.

Take hold of the rope.

We'll be through Ashford soon. Pull it.

We'll pass Ashford soon.

Best lock me up.

- Sweet dreams.

- Not bloody likely.

Me mum told me the best gents were the

ones to watch. Full of tricks, they are.

I knew of one caller, wanted me to come

to a room he had, full of whips and such.

Whips?

Can you imagine!

- Well, me mum, she told me...

- My dear, my dear, my dearest!

What a man you are!

What do you take me for?

lmpossible woman.

Robbery indeed. The very idea!

Arrest that man!

The court thanks you for providing us

with so clear an explanation

of your manner in committing the crime.

I'm glad to be of help.

The police seemed to be confused.

Do spare us your impoverished

witticisms, Mr Pierce.

Your presence here

attests to their efficiency.

You know, you are a very unusual man.

Mr Pierce, I put it to you directly.

Did you never feel at any time

some sense of impropriety,

some recognition of misconduct,

some comprehension of unlawful

behaviour, some moral misgivings

in the performance of these

various and sundry criminal acts?

- I don't understand the question.

- Evidently not.

Sir, it is a recognised truth

of jurisprudence

that laws are created by men

and that civilised men,

in a tradition of more than two millennia,

agree to abide by these laws

for the common good of all society.

For it is only by the rule of law

that any civilisation holds itself above

the promiscuous squalor of barbarism.

Now, on the matter of motive, we ask you:

why did you conceive, plan and execute

this dastardly and scandalous crime?

I wanted the money.

He'll get 20 years for that.

What the hell are you waiting for?

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