House of Whipcord Page #5

one of the youngest in the country.

There mas some trouble,

reports of brutal treatment, and a girl died.

There was an inquiry. I don't know much

about it but somehow my father -

he was head of the prison commission - he got her exonerated.

But she was dismissed

from the prison service.

'My father left his wife

and bought this place for my mother,

'just like people buy railway stations

or windmills to live in.

'They set up home together

and I was born a year later, 1947.

'I think I was an embarrassment to them,

being illegitimate,

'and I mas sent to boarding school

and than university.'

- (Desmond praying)

- 'I'd come to visit every six months.

'Then I found they'd got these crazy ideas

about the courts being ineffective

and the country going to rack and ruin.

'They wanted to lecture young offenders

on the principles of right and wrong.

They'd find names in the newspapers

'and asked me to find them

and bring them down.

'I thought it would all be a bit of a joke

with my father quoting the Bible at them.

'I warned them they'd get into trouble

but it seemed to make them happy.

'And the months went by

and nobody complained,

'so I went on doing it.

'I thought they must actually be

doing some good. I never knew.'

Until today.

This part of the building

has always been locked, deserted.

I found out everything.

I can never forgive myself.

Never.

For what I've done to you.

For what I've done to all of them.

All of them.

L...l can never forgive you, Mark.

But you must go to the police now.

But they're insane. Don't you see that?

They're not criminals,

they need treatment.

They should be locked away

where they can do no further harm.

But I must gel you away from here

as soon as possible.

- What about the other girls?

- They as well, one at a time.

This evening, I will unlock your door.

I'll have some transport waiting for you,

than after you're all gone, I'll...

I'm sorry, Ann-Marie.

Perhaps one day you'll...

I was going to say perhaps one day

you'll understand but that's stupid.

May I kiss you?

(Mark) Thank you,

What for? The kiss or...

Everything.

(Wind howling)

(Lock clunking, bolts sliding)

(Hinges squeaking)

(Squeaking)

(Hinges creaking)

(creaking)

(Rain falling)

(screams)

How fortunate I was passing.

(screams)

(Whip cracking)

(Ann-Marie gasping and moaning)

(Whipping and gasping continue in distance

(Whipping and screaming)

- You thought I overdid it, Bates.

- No, madam.

I was told to make her remember it.

I've seen the look in Mrs Wakehurst's eyes.

The girl won't last the week.

She may not.

(Ballad)

it's getting late. I don't think

there's anything else we can do.

- I'm not giving up.

- Julia, what else is there?

Mark Desade doesn't exist.

There's nobody else to phone.

The NUJ have never heard of him...

...and he gave Jo phoney references.

- And an unobtainable phone number.

- Right.

- You're not going to find him.

- Why go to all that trouble?

- Why pretend he was a writer?

- He was a gatecrasher

with a phoney name. 'Mark Decade'!

No, it's more than that.

First he makes sure no one can trace him,

then he disappears with Ann-Mane.

You don't know

that he's the one she went away with.

No, I don't know. Am I being silly?

No, just being you.

(Keys jangling)

(Lock clunking)

Where is your uniform, de Verney?

Uniforms must be worn at all times.

Where is Claire, madam?

She mas a bad influence on you,

de Verney. We had to move her.

I... I was so afraid.

I thought I was going to die.

I think you are dying, de Verney.

Little by little.

First we will kill your vanity.

Then the rest follows of its own accord.

But not yet.

Not tonight.

De Verney?

Ann-Marie. Ann-Marie.

(Claire) Shift, now.

Where are you going with that?

Who's Mummy's little teddy, then, eh?

Oh, you're a good boy, aren't you?

- Please, Estelle, we'll all be flogged.

Shut up!

It's our only chance to get away

Wakehurst wants her dead.

(Whispering) Eight, nine, ten.

All right - now! Now!

No, no!

(Crashing)

(Rain falling)

(Walker) She may be inside.

(Wakehurst) She's out here.

Madam!

It's impossible, she couldn't have done.

Go on, Bates.

(screams)

(Thunder crashing)

(splash)

(Ann-Marie whimpering)

- (Thunder)

- Hang on, love.

All right, darling, me on. OK, I've got you.

Come on, round the other side.

You can't stand about in this lot.

That's it. Soon have you in the dry.

- (Thunder)

- Hang on.

There we are. That's it.

(Engine starts)

(Throbbing echoes) Can't you say anything?

(Driver) Can't you say anything?

(Echoing stops)

' can't Yo!-I say anything, darling?

- (Moans and groans)

How are you feeling?

- (Panting and whimpering)

- Can't you say?

(Meaning)

I'm taking you to the hospital.

(Meaning)

Where?

Hey! Hey. male!

- Do you know of any hospital round here?

- Er, hospital?

I think I passed one back there. Hospital,

nursing home, something like that.

- Anything the matter?

- Yeah.

I've got a girl here not feeling too good

Whom is this place?

Keep going a couple of miles, it's on the left.

- Right, cheers.

- Cheers.

There you go.

Hello?

- Spooky bloody place, this.

- (Ann-Mane moaning)

(Bolts sliding)

(Keys jangling)

Er, I'm sorry to trouble you, lady,

somebody told me this was a hospital.

- I'm afraid it isn't.

- Well, listen, I...

I wonder, could I use your telephone?

I found a girl on the road,

she's in a bad way.

(Meaning)

This is a private clinic

but...it looks very serious indeed.

I think you'd better bring her inside.

Sure. Thanks a lot.

(Thunder rumbling)

Poor child. Did she... Did she tell you

what had happened to her?

Couldn't gel any sense out of her.

She was babbling, delirious,

but she never said a word.

- That's why I was worried.

- I'm sure. Are you all right?

- Yes, I've got her.

- This way.

Is this yours?

Here, careful. Her backs red raw.

- Walker?

- A girl, madam.

She was found...er...where?

About five or six miles down the road.

This gentleman found her. He has

no idea what could have happened to her.

She must've been beaten up

by some pervert.

Good gracious.

How lucky you were to find us.

Well, erm...you must, erm...

Well, we must prepare

a bed for her immediately.

She's not really bad, is she?

I think she'll be all right, thanks to you.

We'll put her in ward three.

Will you see to that at on?

Please?

- And than we must phone the police

- Yes, madam.

Well, I expect we've held you up

long enough, haven't we?

Oh, no, no, no, that's all right.

I just wanna make sure she's OK.

She'll be all right, Mr, erm...?

- Kind.

- Kind? Oh.

Kind in name and nature.

Don't worry, Mr Kind, just leave

your address with one of my nurses.

I'm sure the girl will want

to contact you when she's better.

Oh, please forgive me

for not coming to the door.

I must go and prepare a bed for her.

A good night's sleep

will melee all the difference.

Yeah.

Yeah, OK. Cheers.

Night.

I'll, er...hear from you, then?

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