House of Whipcord Page #3

No...

No!

(Ann-Marie sobbing quietly)

Move the prisoner, Walker.

Bates, remain here with me.

Non!

Enjoy displaying your naked body

in public, de Verney?

Do you gel a thrill out of it?

I think you pretend to be

terribly blas about it

but you'd talus any opportunity

of having a man leer at you.

I'm fight, aren't I?

You'd think I wouldn't guess that.

I can read you like a book.

(Keys jangling)

- That's your bunk. Get... up!

- (Sobbing)

You will lie on it until otherwise directed.

We're the only people

who can help you, de Verney.

There's nobody to aunt yourself at here.

Nobody to tease.

I'm going to make you

ashamed of your body.

I'm going to see to that personally.

Talking is at all times strictly forbidden.

Except when answering a prison officer.

(Keys jangling)

- How many are here?

- Shhh.

But she has gone.

Please, tell me why.

(Ann-Marie sobbing)

All fight, Bates. But there are too many

vague suspicions in your reports.

There's no smoke without fire. It's probable

the Vaughan girl is smuggling food.

- Bring me evidence tomorrow

- Yes, madam.

Ah, Walker. I intend to relieve Justice Bailey

of some of his responsibilities.

There seems little point in going on

reporting new prisoners to him.

He remembers nothing, ifs a waste of time.

In future, bring the details to me alone.

- Yes, madam.

- Good.

Is everything under control?

Yes, madam, I think so.

- Think so?

- De Verney could be a problem, madam.

She will not be a problem, Walker

She will not.

I do not want a repetition

of what happened before.

If there are problems, Walker -

and you, Bates -

- I shall want to know the reason why.

- (Both) Yes, madam.

Good.

Oh, Walker...

I want Bates here with me tomorrow.

We haven't finished the inventory.

You go into town and gel the provisions.

Yes, madam.

- Good night.

- (Both) Good night, madam.

- Margaret?

- Yes?

- Would you like a drink, my dear?

- I'll do it.

(Clock chiming)

I told Walker and Bates that I shall be

handling new admissions in future.

Make things easier for you.

I find it very difficult to tell the king

from the queen. They feel exactly alike.

I dare say one is taller than the other.

- Do you hear me, Desmond?

- Yes, my dear.

What was the name of the girl

I sentenced today?

Oh, you've been told three times already.

She reminded me of the Hansen girl,

Claudine Hansen.

She was French too.

That was a long time ago.

A long time? Oh, no. Five years.

It's nearly 30, Desmond.

I remember it distinctly.

It was 1946. You were a High Court judge

and I was in charge of Coswell Grange.

Oh, yes, yes, of course.

Oh dear, is it that long ago?

It seems so clear.

I can remember your very words

on the telephone.

'Desmond, you've got to help me.

It's all gone wrong.

"They're blaming me for the girl's suicide "

That's what you said.

Yes, you can remember that, can't you?

You can remember things from

You can't remember that you failed

to get me reinstated.

I was doing my duty.

The stupid girl was unstable.

But you can't remember that,

or the days of the week,

or the names of prisoners

you met five minutes ago.

What did you do that for, Margaret?

I'll never remember where they were.

There are pieces all on the oor.

Desmond, I'm convinced

that no useful purpose is being served

by your remaining in office at this prison.

Don't speak to me like that, Margaret.

While you remain here, so will I.

It is no more your prison than it is mine.

We started it together because we believed

in the same things. And we still do.

Justice for those on whom

justice has not been served.

But justice must be seen to be done.

You pitiless woman.

Do you think I am blind from choice?

Do you think that for one minute in 25 years

I have become reconciled

to this miserable darkness?

You have no feelings,

no idea of how I suffer.

No more than I do, I'm sure.

At least I'm spared the anguish

of gazing at your poor tormented fa.

If thine eyes offend thee, pluck them out.

- Margaret?

- Pluck them out, I say.

Sorry, madam, I thought

you were about to fall.

I thought I'd steady you. I'm sorry.

It's all right, Walker. It's quite in order.I

Well, don't stand there, woman.

You may retire if you wish.

Leave the knife, will you?

Thank you.

(Wind howling)

(Woman sobbing)

(Footsteps)

(Keys jangling)

(Sobbing continues)

(Tony) My God, ifs like a prison at home.

I must go, I'm expected.

I don't want to sound my,

but you can't go on like this.

I know, I know.

- Don't look at me for advice

- You're a good adviser.

- That's what Ann-Marie always says.

- Yeah, wall, great minds.

Would I be fight in saying

that you fancy her a tiny little bit?

I've only bumped into her a few times.

Times enough.

What about you and that gigolo that picked

her up at that party on Tuesday?

You must be joking. I only saw him on.

- Across a crowded room...

- Yes. I don't even know his name.

- You keep on talking about him.

- He was attractive. I mean, really.

But I find myself worrying

about everyone she goes out with.

- Why?

- Well, she's young. She's, what, 19?

And it was me that got the agency

to bring her over here.

- I feel responsible for her.

- Well, don't.

I'm sure she can look after herself.

- (Gasping)

- (Slap)

- (Sobbing)

- This is the girl.

She takes food from the tables to her ll.

Why should she do a silly thing like that,

an intelligent girl like Vaughan?

Why did you do it, Vaughan?

Hmm? Don't we feed you well enough?

- (Sobbing)

- Well, me on, tell me.

- Don't we feed you well enough?

- Yes, madam.

- Then why do you steal?

- I can't help it, I gel so hungry.

So we don't feed you enough, then?

You don't know

what you're talking about, do you?

- Third time, isn't it?

- Yes, madam.

(Sobbing continues)

What is this noise?

A fine way to start the day.

I caught the Vaughan girl, madam, stealing.

Selfish and despicable.

By taking this communal bread

to satisfy your gluttony, you deprive others.

- I will not tolerate stealing.

- Third time offender, madam.

- Really?

- (sobbing)

- You know what this means?

- No!

- Take her away.

- (Screaming) No! No!

(Wild screaming)

No! No!

(Wild shriek)

(Whispering) This is

the only way we can talk.

Look down towards that end of the corridor

I'll check this end.

If you see or hear anyone coming,

anyone at all,

get over to the Bible sharp. OK?

Yes.

I'm in for shoplifting, so-called. You?

(Whispering) Well, I am a model.

I did some, er, nude work

in Kensington Gardens

- and they fined me.

- Pretty typical.

But how did they bring you here?

Same way as you, dear.

- Mark.

- He's Wakehurst and the judge's son.

(Gasps)

- Shut up, you silly c.

Look down the corridor.

I don't believe this is happening.

Take it from me, they're all mad,

every one of them.

We just have to go on playing their game

of prisoners and warders.

The risk just isn't worth it.

But when the people leave here,

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes