Suffragette Page #7

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On MAUD, eyes stinging with tears, holding his look with

quiet desperation. STEED stands to leave.

MAUD:

They lied to us.

STEED, momentarily wavers-

STEED:

(close to)

They didn’t lie. They promised

nothing, they gave nothing.

INT. ANTEROOM. CELLS. HOLLOWAY PRISON. LONDON. 1913. DAY.

MAUD stands as two FEMALE PRISON GUARDS yank off her clothes.

Behind her, EDITH, her head bloodied, and a second WOMAN wait

in line watching.

Coat.

FEMALE PRISON GUARD

MAUD’s petticoats are pulled off and folded and placed down

on a table next to a jacket, a coat, a blouse. A THIRD FEMALE

PRISON GUARD records details of the clothing in a ledger.

FEMALE PRISON GUARD (CONT’D)

One set of stockings. Hole, right

foot.

MAUD hesitates, then goes to roll down her stockings - too

slow. The FEMALE GUARD YANKS them down-

EDITH:

Do not be alarmed, Maud. Stay calm.

It will be over soon.

MAUD trembling, looking back seeing EDITH.

EDITH OOV:

We’re political prisoners. We have

the right to wear our own clothes.

PRISON GUARD:

(to Maud)

Arms up.

EDITH, arms locked to her side as the FEMALE GUARDS pull at

her clothing, roughly trying to remove it. EDITH remains

resolute and defiant, fists clenched.

EDITH:

We have the right

MAUD is led away, naked, shivering.

INT. MAUD’S CELL/ATRIUM. HOLLOWAY PRISON. LONDON. 1913. DAY.

MAUD curled up on a hard iron bed, her knees pulled into her

chest. She looks up at the ceiling, afraid and fighting back

tears.

MAUD:

(almost to self)

Sorry Georgie.

INT. WASHING ROOM. LAUNDRY. BETHNAL GREEN. LONDON. 1912. DAY.

SONNY pushes a cart full of sheets through the laundry.

MALE LAUNDRY WORKER

(calling out)

Oi! Your wife is a f***ing disgrace

Sonny.

MALE LAUNDRY WORKER 2

You should be keeping her under

control.

SONNY hesitates, then moves on.

LAUNDRY WORKER 2

Police are bringing these b*tches

to their knees.

(louder)

At least Maud’ll be used to that.

SONNY pushes on, head down, humiliated.

INT. FRONT ROOM. MAUD’S HOUSE. BETHNAL GREEN. 1912.NIGHT.

SONNY paces, tense, angry.

I/E. ELLYN PHARMACY. BETHNAL GREEN. 1913. DAWN.

HUGH opening up the shop, hesitating on seeing-

‘FILTHY PANKS’ painted across the window boards. He quickly

begins to pull them down.

EXT. YARD. HOLLOWAY PRISON. LONDON. 1913. DAY.

A freezing cold morning- A WIDE GRAVEL YARD-

On MAUD, exhausted, still reeling, she takes in this new

world of the prison yard. SEVERAL WOMEN stand in clusters.

EDITH, a thin shawl draped around her shoulders.

VIOLET:

(To MAUD)

Come on Maud.

VIOLET darts a look to EDITH.

VIOLET (CONT’D)

She’s missing her boy.

EDITH catching on VIOLET’s words.

EDITH:

We all get separated from those we

love, Maud. My mother... When I was

a child I barely saw her. She

worked day and night, fighting for

me to be educated as my brother

was, but that didn’t come without a

sacrifice.

Close by a small group of WOMEN in conversation with EMILY.

VIOLET:

There’s Emily.

EMILY nods to VIOLET who smiles and nods in return.

VIOLET (CONT’D)

(following MAUD’s gaze) She’s

done more time in here than

any of us.

On MAUD watching Emily as the women move off.

VIOLET (CONT’D)

She’s on hunger strike now.

EMILY, opening a prayer book, warm breath clouding in the

cold as she mouths the words silently to herself.

EDITH:

Orders from Mrs Pankhurst are we’re

to follow. If they will not accept

us as political prisoners then we

will strike until they do.

VIOLET furtively nods.

VIOLET:

(close to)

Not Maud. It’s her first time.

A whistle sounds. The women begin to move back towards the

prison door.

Emily-

(nods)

Violet-

VIOLET (CONT’D)

EMILY:

VIOLET:

(nodding to MAUD)

We’ve got a new member. This is

Maud.

EMILY smiles.

EMILY:

(hushed)

Welcome, Maud.

On MAUD, she nods, eyes catching on EMILY - emaciated and

wan. On MAUD hurrying on, falling into line.

PRISON GUARD:

Faster. Move.

INT. MAUD’S CELL/ATRIUM. HOLLOWAY PRISON. LONDON. 1913. DAY.

MAUD curled up on a hard iron bed, her knees pulled into her

chest. She looks up listening to the thumps and clangs of the

prison.

CUT TO:

MAUD, more composed, ties her shoelace. Straightens her

shirt.

EXT. STREET. HOLLOWAY PRISON. LONDON. 1913. DAY.

The turn of a key-

On MAUD, with EDITH, VIOLET and OTHERS emerging from the

prison gates all equally battered and broken. EDITH and

VIOLET clearly weak. HUGH already waiting. EDITH falls into

his arms.

Oh Hugh.

EDITH:

On MAUD watching HUGH gently helping EDITH into the van.

A group of ELEGANT SUFFRAGETTES stand with bouquets ready to

greet MAUD and the OTHERS.

ELEGANT SUFFRAGETTE

Welcome, Mrs Watts. Please come

with us.

MAUD:

I’ve got to go. I’ve got to see my

son.

One of the ELEGANT SUFFRAGETTES smiles at MAUD. Then one

discreetly reaches into her handbag, taking out a medal. MAUD

looks to VIOLET as the ELEGANT SUFFRAGETTE goes to pin it on.

VIOLET:

(hushed)

Everyone gets one their first time,

Maud.

MAUD peering down at a green, purple and white ribbon with a

silver disc hanging from it, now pinned to her lapel.

ELEGANT SUFFRAGETTE

Your first incarceration.

MAUD:

Thanks.

MAUD nods, moving off. The ELEGANT SUFFRAGETTES nod to VIOLET

in passing. She discreetly passes them letters from her

skirt.

ELEGANT SUFFRAGETTE

(hushed/to VIOLET)

Mrs Miller - The escalation of

violence from the police will be

met with force. You’ll receive

word.

VIOLET nods, hurriedly moving on.

EXT. TENEMENT. MAUD’S HOUSE. BETHNAL GREEN. 1913. EVENING.

DARKNESS.

MAUD hurries up to the house - she hesitates, unpinning the

suffrage medal and sinking it into her pocket. She goes to

the windowsill, searching for the key under the pot. It is

gone. She looks up. The house quiet. She turns, sees MRS

GARSTON taking out the rubbish.

MAUD:

Are they in?

MRS GARSTON turns her back on MAUD, ignoring her-

MAUD (CONT’D)

Mrs Garston-

MRS GARSTON closes her door on MAUD, a look of disgust on her

face.

MAUD (CONT’D)

(hammering on the door)

Sonny?

SUDDENLY the door opens, SONNY grabs her, pulling her in-

INT. FRONT ROOM. MAUD’S HOUSE. BETHNAL GREEN. 1913. EVENING.

MAUD stands, loitering by the door, unable to gauge SONNY yet-

MAUD:

How’s George?

SONNY:

He’s asleep.

MAUD:

I’m sorry Sonny. I tried to get

back as quickly as I could but they

kept me there.

SONNY:

I can’t look at you-

MAUD:

You don’t know what they did to us-

Us?

SONNY:

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