Hands of the Ripper Page #4

to say it for you?

As you know, our dear

Queen Victoria herself...

Really, Dysart, the beliefs of that

dear lady have no interest for me.

- What have you found out about Anna?

- Nothing whatsoever.

I've checked newspapers,

police files, all without success.

However, I have contacted

a certain personage.

The Royal Medium, Madame Bullard.

Please, Dysart, not a seance.

Madame Bullard has kindly consented

to give you an interview tomorrow.

I advise you to go. You have no

idea what you're dealing with.

I know very well what

I'm dealing with.

Unless you keep that appointment

tomorrow, I'm going to the police.

Now, Anna, we're going

on a voyage, you and I,

back in time to when you

were a very little girl.

I want you to try and remember as

far back as you can. Back in time.

Try and search in your mind for that

time when you were very, very small.

Do you remember you mother,

Anna? What was she like?

She wore a silk dress... with

a frill around the bottom.

Mm-hm...

There was a fire in the

grate, and it was warm.

'Sometimes...'

'Sometimes?'

'Sometimes?'

'Sometimes I'd sit on her lap by

the fire. Sometimes on the rug.'

- There were bars.

- Where?

Around my bed. There

were bars around my bed.

There were bars around my bed.

And it got very cold. The

fire died away very slowly.

It got very, very cold.

My mother kept...

kept lying there so still...

for a long time...

staring at me.

Yes, Anna. Go on.

Rest, Anna.

Rest a moment.

- I can't let you go.

- We'll be all right.

Oh, Doctor. I'm sorry

if we disturbed you,

but Mr Michael and Miss Laura,

they're being very rebellious.

We're only going out to dinner.

I can hardly chaperone them and look

after Miss Anna and yourself as well.

I'm only a singular person.

Yes, you're quite right.

Go with them to dinner.

Anna and I can manage.

Now, if you'll excuse me.

Hurry up, Nanny.

Anna?

Anna!

- What are you doing?

- Get out of here!

You're a bit young for

this game. Get off home!

'Ere you. What are

you doin'? Go on!

Hello, there. You lost

yourself, have you, my dear?

You're a bit young for

this game, aren't you?

Them old bags up there'll

have your hair off

if they catch you on their beat.

Let's look at you.

Nice little thing.

Anna?

Anna?

Anna?

When I started, it was a

different kettle of fish.

Every girl for herself. None of this

business of having your territory.

Ooh, there was lovely houses in them

days, all crystal and silk hangings,

and lovely gentlemen to tip

you a guinea just for luck.

Beautiful, it was.

Anna?

Come on, dearie. Come on!

Anna.

No, it's all too

regulated now, dear,

what with the police on you and

the price of gin what it is,

and how even so-called

nice ladies act!

You can't tell the professionals

from the amateurs! Just a minute.

Oh, now... Bloody key.

Oh, there we are.

Now, watch your step, dear.

Now. There. That's it.

There you are. Wait there, dear.

Nice little thing, she is.

There. That's put some

light on the subject.

Now, a pretty young

girl like yourself,

you've got to start out right.

And the right way isn't by tramping

up and down on some street

what's already being solicited on.

Now, I'll just take a little drop

of this, dear... for my throat.

No, you see, that's what could have

put all those girls in such a temper.

But don't you worry, dear.

Long Liz is gonna look after you.

Anna?

Anna?

I'm looking for a girl, this tall,

in a cloak. Have you seen her?

- I've seen many girls pass.

- Have you seen this one?

- Round by the Crown and Trumpet.

- Crown and Trumpet?

- Anna!

- If it's a real woman you want...

No, even though the good

days is gone for all of us,

there's still good

pickings to be made.

Especially for the likes

of you... at your age.

You're quite a pretty little thing.

'Ere. Stand up, m'dear.

Let's have a little

look at you, then.

Come on, then.

Oh, you're a bit modest there

for most gentlemen's taste,

but not to worry, they'll

get plumper in time,

and a few little tricks I know.

Oh, poor little thing,

shivering with the cold?

It's a wonder you didn't freeze.

'Anna...'

Time you and I...

Oh, my God!

I'm looking for a girl wearing

a cloak. Have you seen her?

- I'll pay you well.

- That must be the new one.

Yeah, we saw her. She'll remember

us, too. Right little grabber.

I shouldn't have thought she

was enough woman for you.

- Where is she?

- Where's that money?

- Liz took her back to her place.

- Oh, yeah.

- Who's Liz? Where does she live?

- Liz likes the little girls.

- Where does she live?

- Not so bloody hard!

Hands off me! Don't squeeze the

fruit unless you're buying it.

- Tell me where to find this Liz!

- Blimey! There she is now!

Who the bloody hell done this?

Somebody get the police!

Anna?

Cab?

You bastard! We'll

have you! Over this way.

Hey, you! Stop!

That bloke's all right. He was

with us when we found Long Liz.

'In sickness and in health...'

In sickness and in health...

- For better and for worse...

- For better and for worse...

- Till death us do part...

- Till death us do part...

And even then,

I plight thee my troth.

And even then,

I plight thee my troth.

If anyone here assembled

knows just cause

why this couple should not

be joined in holy wedlock,

let him speak now or

forever hold his peace.

- I know of one very just cause, sir.

- What?

If you go any further, they'll be

properly married at their rehearsal.

Quite right, Doctor.

It's true, you know.

Once when I was a very young

curate, I got so carried away

that I prematurely

spliced the couple

right on the spot.

- When do we rehearse the kissing?

- I was wondering the same thing.

Laura, I believe you'd like a little

practice finding the register?

- Yes, please.

- The rest of you may stand easy

while we sort out the

stroll to the vestry.

Step up now. That's it...

That's good.

Why are you crying, Anna?

Because it's all so beautiful.

They look so lovely and happy.

I don't know what I'll

do at the real wedding.

Come, Anna.

- Dr Pritchard, do you think...?

- Anna...

I want you to think of me

as a friend, to trust me.

Would it help if you

called me John?

- Oh, no, sir. I couldn't.

- Well, I won't have "sir",

and Dr Pritchard sounds

much too formal.

- Dr John.

- Hmm. All right.

- You were going to ask something?

- Yes, I was wondering...

"Even then, I plight

thee my troth."

Do you think we know each other

in that other world, Dr John?

- What do you mean?

- Well, at Mrs Golding's sometimes,

I know I was only pretending...

but sometimes I got

into their world.

They were so mad,

so full of hate...

unhappy.

- Last night...

- That was just a bad dream, Anna.

- I told you, a bad dream.

- No.

No, I felt them coming

to me so clearly.

Anna, there are no such things

as spirits. This is nonsense.

- I want you to meet a certain lady.

- Is she a doctor, too?

No, she's not a doctor. Trust me.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes