House of Whipcord Page #4

surely they must go to the police.

Oh, you don't gel it, do you?

Nobody leaves here. Nobody.

You just try and do as you're told

for as long as you can.

They give you three chances.

The first time you step out of line,

they put you in solitary for two weeks.

The second time, they og you.

And the third time, you're finished.

- They hang You

- (Gasps)

Oh, God, no.

Like Karen this morning, it was her last chance.I

You mean...you mean...they will hang her?

Tomorrow, most likely.

No, this cannot be.

- It will be.

- No.

They'll probably kill me too, love.

We must save her.

- (Knocking)

- Come in.

Vaughan's death warrant, madam.

Yes.

Yes, that's all in order.

I'll sea that it's passed on

to Justice Bailey as usual.

Execution is set for dawn tomorrow.

See that the scaffold is prepared.

I'll inspect it with Walker after lunch.

Miss Walker is on rations duly

this afternoon.

Yes, of course. Then it will have to be you.

Oh, thank you, madam.

(Karen sobbing) I won't do it again.

I promise I'll never do it again.

(sobbing)

I'll eat one meal a day.

Bread and water.

I'll be whipped. Just mu her I'll be whipped.

I'll do anything. Please, I'll do anything.

Sit down!

(sobbing)

(Screaming)

(Distant screams)

I don't know. I don't know, Ann-Marie.

It would be my second time.

If we fail, you will be whipped, yes,

and I will be put in solitary confinement.

This is know. But we will not fail.

We will save Karen.

We must save Karen.

Then she will save us all.

Walker does the ogging,

and I don't think I could take it.

We must look for the first possible chance.

(Vehicle approaching)

(Crow cawing)

It could be sooner than we think.

It's Walker going into town

to buy stuff for the week.

That's lucky. Usually Bates goes.

Look, she's handing over the hays.

She'll be gone about an hour.

Oh, what are we even

talking about it for? It's hopeless.

(Ann-Marie) But we try. yes?

(Claire) If anything goes wrong

- Please, Claire.

- All fight, we'll do it.

(Door shuts, keys jangle)

Standing about, eh? Taking it easy?

You'll be in trouble if them Bible passages

aren't learnt.

First offender, aren't you?

Tonight you'll be...

(screams)

Miss Walker!

- It's no good, Batesy, she's miles away.

- (Choking)

O Lord our God,

we thank Thee for this mercy,

that having graced ourselves with Thy food

we may make it our meat and drink

to do Thy gracious will.

- Through Jesus...

- I have work to do.

If Walker returns, tell her I am with Bates'

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Muffled shrieks)

(Keys jangling)

- Now we must find the death ll.

- We must be quick.

(Tuts and sighs)

Bates---

(sighs)

(sobbing)

Ohhh...

Bates!

Bates!

Bates?

Ba...

(Running footsteps)

- We're in the wrong part of the building.

- We must be quick.

Here! Here!

(Keys jangling)

- Come on, quick.

- No, I'll be caught. Please leave me.

(sobbing)

- We have the hey. We're going to be free.

- No, we'll never gel away from here.

(Hinges squeaking)

(Bolts sliding)

(Gasps)

You're not going to disrupt my prison!

Not again, Hansen,

I shan't let you disrupt this prison.

Cross me again and I'll finish you.

- All right, Walker?

- Everything's ready, madam.

You're gonna cop it this time. You're

gonna be sorry for what you done to me.

(Whip cracking,

Claire screaming and whimpering)

(Crow cawing, bell chiming)

(Door opening)

- Sign this, will you?

- What is it?

- Karen Vaughan's release.

- Oh, good, good.

- Er, where do I...?

- There.

- When is she leaving?

- Now.

Oh, that's most encouraging nevus

She's learnt her lesson, I am sure.

May I see her before she goes?

No, she's just on her way out.

(Karen sobbing)

Bring the prisoner.

(Sobbing continues)

(Sobbing and murmuring)

(sobbing)

(Rope creaking)

- You're a sadist.

- I know, I know. I'll tell her tonight.

What do you think she must feel like?

If you want me to tell her tonight, I will.

It's not a case of what l want,

it's your decision.

I made the decision,

I've just got to carry it out.

- What are you doing?

- Sony, I was just checking something.

I was right. Ann-Marie went away

on the 27th. Nine days she's been away.

- Not all that again.

- It's strange.

She hasn't phoned or written. It's funny.

She's having an affair.

Would you phone if you were away with me?

- Course I would.

- Thank you.

- Don't worry about it.

- I think I ought to tell the police.

Julia, you're behaving like a Jewish mother.

It can't do any harm. We n ll in

on the way back to the office. Please.

Well, you can do it, I'm not. Come on.

- Well?

- 'Well, we'll do our best, madam.'

She wasn't found mutilated in a pond, then?

- No. I felt a bit of an idiot.

- What?

What could I say?

'Her name's Ann-Marie de Verney

and she's somewhere in England.'

Mark! Mark!

- (Tires squeal)

- What is it?

Mark Desade. The one from the pally.

- (Horns blaring)

- How could I forget?

That's who she's gone away with. I n

ring up the agency and gel his address.

- Simple as that.

- Sounds suspiciously like spying to me.

OK, Ted, thanks a lot. That's all right. Bye.

- Well, I didn't imagine it.

- What?

You wouldn't believe this,

but nobody at that party

knows anything about Mark Desade,

not even Ted, though he was pissed.

I don't like it, Tony, I really don't.

Well, I've got my own problems

to sort out tonight. Wish me luck.

Good luck.

(Dialing)

(Claire) 'And David

judgment and justice...

'onto all his people.'

(Walker) You've got until six

to learn it properly. You too, Jennings.

You will be asked questions.

- Take them to their cells.

- Get along.

- (Whispering) You OK?

- Think so.

- Hows Ann-Marie?

- Don't know. Another four days to go.

Did I hear talking?

(Water dripping)

(Bolt sliding)

(Hinges creaking)

(Rats squeaking)

(Whimpers)

(Hinges squeaking)

- (Smashing)

- Damn!

(J' Organ playing)

That girl's intimidating me.

- Which girl?

- Which, what, why, whom. Hansen.

- Hansen?

- Oh, de Verney.

I fail to see how, my dear,

if she's undergoing solitary confinement.

Because she's French,

and she's a troublemaker.

If not for her, I'd still be at Coswell Grange,

so would Walker and Bates.

Methinks the lady doth protest too much.

I see only facts.

- You and me and this prison...

- (Organ playing stops)

...and the danger ifs in.

De Verney will destroy us, Desmond.

I know it.

We must get rid of her as soon as possible.

Get rid of her?

Get rid of her.

But she has committed only one offence

We may yet be able to save her.

(Bolt sliding)

(Water dripping)

(Keys hitting oor)

Ann-Marie?

Oh, don't touch me.

What have they done to you?

(Murmurs)

I must gel you away from here.

Why? You brought me here

for your mother and father to torture me.

No, that's not true.

I brought you here, yes, but I didn't know.

Oh, Ann-Marie.

I don't know where to start.

Let me try to explain. Please.

A long time ago.

My mother mas a prison governess,

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