House of Whipcord Page #6

Yes.

Yeah.

Funny old place, this.

It's old.

Yeah.

Cheers, then.

Goodbye.

- (Slap)

- You thought you could outwit me.

I suppose it was Claudine Hansen

who taught you to creep up

behind people and attack them.

- (Sighs)

- You've burned your boats this time.

- Hasn't she, Walker?

- She's beyond redemption.

- (Thunder)

- Quite beyond, quite beyond.

Prepare the death ll.

She'll be executed tomorrow.

(Meaning)

(Rock and roll)

'Ello, lads, how's it going?

- All right, Jack? Going north?

- Yeah.

You're lovely.

Ban, two eggs, sausage, chips,

large coffee, four lumps,

delivery to my place later, eh?

- What you got on?

- Nothing, I'm picking up.

'Owned rocks Spurs', eh?

Two in the first half

and another five minutes from time.

- That's funny.

- What's funny?

That is. I know that bird.

Yeah, that's her fa all fight.

- What is it?

- No. No, it can't be.

- What's up with you?

- I thought I recognised her.

Your missus, is it? Making a bit on the side?

Jack! Tea, sausage and chips.

Right.

I think Jacks fancying

a bit of the extramaritals.

(Laughs)

Come on, you lot, let's have some room.

- On, bloody...

- Watch it.

- I'll gel a cloth.

- It's only a newspaper.

It's gone all over your friend.

Lot's have another look.

Yeah, help yourself. Do you really know her?

I picked this girl up last night.

- Yeah?

- She'd been beaten up.

I drove her to some clinic a couple of miles

outside of Penlaunce.

I let her there to be taken care of.

Yeah, well?

Unless I'm going blind or soft in the head,

this girl is her.

- Go on.

- I'm certain of it.

Where you going?

I'm gonna phone this paper for her name.

Well, this kid was in a bad way last night.

She was babbling, only half-conscious.

Supposing they can't identify her?

Find out the name, next of kin.

I reckon the paper will know who she is.

Get in touch with the people

and tell them she's in dock.

It's not your problem, Jack.

Oh, I know.

But you just can't leave it, can you?

(Ringing)

- Oh, Christ.

- (Ringing continues)

- Hello?

- The deed is done.

- So I'm gonna need a bed.

- What do you mean?

- Sony, that's marvelous.

- Is it a chore?

No, it's not that.

Ann-Marie's been found in Penlaunce.

She's had an accident but she's OK.

A lorry driver took her to a clinic.

- 'How?

- He saw her in the paper,

phoned the paper, who phoned the agency.

Where?

- I don't know, I couldn't find the number.

He didn't know the name of the place.

l was on my way to catch a train to see her.

I'll be back tonight.

Come round after work,

I'll leave a hay under the mat.

- See you later, Tony.

- Bye.

(Horn blaring)

Oh. Could you tell me where the clinic is?

- The what?

- Apparently there's a private clinic here.

A big old building, about a mile from town.

There's a place up there,

high wall around it.

- Yes, that's it.

- I don't think it's a clinic.

I think so. Thanks a lot.

Thought it was the old jail.

(Crow cawing)

(Lock rattling)

Is this the clinic?

Who do you want?

I believe a girl named Ann-Marie de Verney

was brought here.

- I wondered if I could see her.

- There's nobody of that name hero.

This is a clinic? I was told it was.

Wail there, would you?

Since you asked so nicely.

(Sound blocked by glass)

(Lock turning)

- Do sit down.

- Thank you.

- I'm sorry, I wasn't told your name.

- It's Julia King.

I'm afraid I've used you a lot of trouble.

I'm not even sure if I'm in the right place

I couldn't ascertain

whether this mas a clinic.

It is, yes, but private patients only.

I think the lorry driver I spoke to was sure

he brought Ann-Marie here last night.

Last night?

Oh. What does your friend look like?

Young, long fair hair, about five foot, pretty.

Oh, but surely that was...?

What was her name?

Phillips. The Phillips girl.

Now I wasn't here myself last night

but I think a girl was admitted.

Nurse, er, Johnson dealt with it.

Er, yes, here it is. Rosemary Phillips.

Mmm, usual thing, hitchhiking,

attacked on the road.

She wasn't hurt badly.

Yes, that mas the girl I saw this morning

Her parents collected her.

- She didn't have a French ant?

- Oh, no. Quite obviously another girl.

It seems as though

I've me all this way for nothing.

- Not too far, I hope.

- Yes, London.

How maddening.

May we drive you to the station?

No, thank you. I'm grateful for your help.

I'm sorry you had such a long journey.

Never mind. Oh, there is one thing.

Could I ring my boyfriend?

He might pick me up at Paddington.

- I don't think the phones...

- I'll pay, of course. It's long-distance.

- (Dialing)

- Why not?

(Ringing)

- (Ringing tone)

- No reply.

(Ringing)

Hello?

Oh, Julia. Yes, I've just got in.

Dead end. Yes, I thought

it mas too good to be true.

- Still, I'm coming back now

- (Door creaking)

Mark!

Trouble, Tony! Terrible trouble! Help me!

The clinic...

Julia? Julia!

- Hello?

- (Clicking)

- You have abused your privilege.

- Where's Ann-Marie? I want to see her.

Do you now? Well, then, you shall.

Well? Do you want to see her or don't you?

(creaking)

- Ann-Marie?

- (Creaking)

(Shrieks)

(Gasping)

Cut her down! Cut her down!

For what purpose?

She's been dead for some hours.

How did it happen?

Now, really, my dear.

What's been happening here?

What made her do it?

Young woman, you appear to be

fully aware. This is a prison.

Those locked in it are criminals.

De Verney did not commit suicide, she mas

justly executed for breaking the law.

You mean you've...you killed her?

I do not propose to enter into a discussion.

- You murdered her!

- Quiet.

- I'm going for the police

- You will not!

(Gasps)

You challenge my authority to overthrow

me as governess? You must be insane.

You'll be tried for conspiracy.

Lock her up and prepare the courtroom.

(Shrieks)

Conspiracy... conspiracy.

There can be only one penalty.

Let me go, damn you!

Get your hands off me.

(Indistinct ranting)

You misunderstand.

We only want you to keep your mouth shut.

I'm not giving you that satisfaction.

- I'll stand here and scream the place down.

- Walker!

(Shrieks)

- Gel on with it.

- This is wrong, Margaret.

Gel on with it or I'll do it myself.

Julia King, you are charged with

conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

How do you plead? Guilty or not guilty?

That woman is a murderess! She killed

Ann-Marie de Verney in cold blood.

Shut her up, Walker.

- What did she say?

- Pass semen, Desmond.

She's a dangerous psychopath

and must be hanged.

Excuse me. ls there a...clinic round here?

A private clinic, something like that?

Not that I know of, no.

OK, thanks.

Is there a clinic round here, a hospital?

No, no.

Prisoner at the bar, have you anything to say

before I pass sentence?

- (Mufed shrieks)

- This is a travesty, a travesty of justice.

All right.

Let her say one thing. One thing only.

(Gasps) I'll play your game.

I want to see my lawyer.

- Denied.

- (Julia) That's illegal!

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