Original subtitles

(dramatic theme music)

* Pale hands I love

- Rouge is for silver, not hands.

It costs money, you know.

Ruby?

-[Ruby] Yes, Rose.

- You done yet?

-[Ruby] Nearly, Rose.

- Nearly, that girl's all nearly.

- Nearly all there, eh?

(laughing)

I don't know.

We work harder when they're away

than when they're blooming well here.

- Gives us a chance to get straight.

Oh, this curtain.

Oh my God, Edward.

- Don't touch me.

- Not all at once.

If Mr. Hudson had seen that,

he'd have had a fit, and quite right.

Have you dried them?

- Washed and dry, Rose.

- Well get some mutton cloth and give them a good polish.

You know where it is.

That girl.

- Why is Miss Elizabeth not away like the others?

- It's Elizabeth.

Might as well ask why water don't flow up hill.

She knows I want to get into her room

and give her a good turn up, but will she let me?

Elbow grease, mind.

And don't tear it.

You know what Mr. Hudson's like about his mutton cloth.

What's she doing up there anyhow?

- If you are ready to join us,

you could provide the perfect rendezvous.

- Rendezvous?

- Our battle headquarters, here in this house.

You said your parents were away.

- They are, and the receptions are all shut up.

- Not the basement, surely.

- The servants hall?

Well no, but what about the servants?

They're not all away.

- Can't you send them out?

- On what pretext?

- Well, you'll have to think of something.

I'll tell Mrs. P our group's got a secret base in Belgravia.

She'll be delighted.

- The time!

I really must ring down for lunch or Rose will sack me.

I ordered something cold, I thought we'd have it here.

- Not me, my dear, I must fly.

- But Ellen, you must.

- A sandwich and cocoa at headquarters.

- Headquarters?

Can I come?

- No dear, only committee members.

Oh, here, you have it.

It's the list.

It's your house so you have it.

What a night it's going to be.

We shall make history!

- That's what I want to do.

Make history.

(loud knocking)

- Until tonight then.

- Tonight.

- And I must hurry.

I'm late for the coordination meeting.

- There's luncheon for two, Miss Elizabeth,

like you ordered.

- Thank you.

The time, we got carried away.

- Never mind, you can eat it all.

- No, I'm not hungry.

- She's an odd one.

- Ellen Bouverie is my oldest school friend.

- Oh?

And you haven't seen her since then.

Come on, eat it up.

- No, thank you.

What's that for?

- Edward can take it away.

- Would you bring me my writing block?

I should have asked her what to wear.

- What to wear, Miss Lizzy?

- When we ...

I mean, suppose we all wear the same color.

- Where to?

- Anywhere.

(knocking)

- Take that tray downstairs, pour out a glass of milk

and bring it up with a slice of the Madeira cake

that's in the tin with the butterfly on it.

- I don't want it, Rose.

- Well get along with you!

- My Rose has thorns today.

- That's just 'cause I'm in charge of this great place.

I'm no cook nor butler but I've got it all to look after.

- Including me.

- Aren't you gonna go out and see your family at all?

- I detest Scotland.

- Well, Swindon?

See the baby.

- The baby gets along very well.

Life for me is one long boring holiday anyway.

Oh, I wish it were otherwise.

Not for you of course,

you've a right to complain with all you have to do.

- Eh?

- Fetch me my purse.

You shall have a holiday.

- Oh, no.

- You and Edward and the girls, here.

- No.

- Take it!

I shan't go out again today.

Oh, Edward, how kind of you.

So tonight, Rose, you'll take Edward and Ruby

to the bioscope in Wilton Road.

- I will not.

- I know you'll enjoy it so, and so will Edward.

You're to go there and not to spare a single thought for me

and enjoy yourselves.

See it twice and there's enough there for supper afterwards.

- Miss Elizabeth, I've got--

- I insist, Rose.

You'll look after them, won't you Edward?

- Oh, yes, madame.

- Thank you, Edward.

Thank you, Rose.

Just one lamp, all of the house is dark.

- That's better.

Put it on the table and sit down.

Elizabeth Kirbridge, our new recruit who lives upstairs.

- Well my parents do-- - And kindly allowed us

to congregate down here.

- Good girl.

- Our group.

Bessie Purdoe,

Lady Jessica Barnstaple,

Dr. May Lindsay

and Miss Culforth who teaches.

- Good evening.

- Now.

You all understand tonight is to be the

greatest in the history of the Union.

At precisely half past 10 o'clock, we

(door knocking)

- The last.

- That'll be Mabel Tompkins.

You're late.

- I'm losing money as it is.

- Won't that boa show up?

- It'll go in me bag.

- You weren't followed?

- No, I went twice round the block.

- And if anyone is watching,

it won't look odd, people coming in and out this way.

They'll think the servants are having an evening

while upstairs are away.

- Where are your servants?

- I sent them to the bioscope.

- Sent mine to the Riviera.

- I must say, I thought we'd have met upstairs.

- I prefer it here.

- You don't surprise me.

You're new.

- Just joined now be quiet.

I was saying, tonight is to be the finest

in the history of the Union.

For too long, men have made the shoddy argument

that women are too volatile and too passionate

for political life.

There are members of parliament,

men's parliament, who will sponsor votes

for women's suffrage.

But we know, we've learned in a long hard school

that it's all a waste of time,

because no party will support it.

(mumbling in agreement)

- Right. - And to the newspapers

we're fun, like drunken undergraduates in

Piccadilly on Boat Race Night.

And so, the time has come to prove we are in earnest.

Tonight, a bomb is going off.

- Bomb?

- The like of which is new in the wide world.

- I don't relish a bomb.

- She doesn't mean a real one.

- Oh, but I do, Elizabeth.

At half past 10 o'clock precisely,

precisely mind,

every single member of the government

and every single senior civil servant

is to be attacked.

Well, not only our group is involved,

but every group in London and all over the country.

Think of it.

Every man at the same moment.

Isn't that a bomb?

- Yes!

- Our target is Mr. Arthur Granville, MP.

- The home office?

- He lives quite near.

- Number 66 Digby street, Westminster.

That's why we're assembling here.

- Will he be home?

- I hope so.

- The bag, Bessie.

-[Bessie] Here.

Take what you fancy.

What you can do the most damage with.

(mumbling)

- Now, leave one by one,

walk naturally, and assemble very discretely

at five and 20 past.

Bessie you leave first,

make sure the coast is clear.

- Oh no you don't!

-[Elizabeth] Rose!

- You can go, the rest of you and good riddance.

But not Miss Elizabeth.

- Who's she?

-[Bessie] Get out of my way.

- Rose, you don't understand.

- I heard!

It's wicked.

What would your father say?

I mean, I never believed it of, you, a suffragette.

-[Elizabeth] I'm old enough to have my own opinions.

- We'll see about that, you'll not budge.

- It won't go in. - Use the carpet bag.

- Let us pass!

- You common thing!

- How could you, Miss Elizabeth?

Such people.

- One by one and no noise.

- You disobeyed me.

Where are the others?

- Out.

I knew something was up.

Oh, Miss Elizabeth.

- Oh, Miss Elizabeth, can't you stop grizzling?

- I'm not letting you out with this lot, and that's that.

- No?

Then wait and see.

- You don't know what'll happen.

I've heard stories.

- So have I, dear.

- Best of luck one and all.

- Elizabeth, I must go next.

- Go, you're not needed here.

- You must do as you think best.

- I know what's best.

I'm with you.

- No! - Yes!

My life's not like yours, limited--

- Not like a servant's, you mean.

- Yes, I do!

You can't understand, Rose, the world's changing.

- Why do you want it to change?

- I'll be there, Ellen.

- A suffragette.

- Yes!

It's exciting!

- Haven't you had enough excitement?

Is this your new toy?

Today's *show.

- I thought you were my friend.

- No, I'm your servant.

- Then behave like one and do as your told.

You let go of me!

- No.

- Let me go or I shall--

- Or you'll what?

- Or I shall sack you.

I can and I shall, Rose.

(gentle piano music)

(soft chattering)

(soft clapping)

- Them windows are a fair height.

Who's got the bricks?

- I have.

- Are you a good thrower, dear or shall I?

- I played cricket with my brother.

- That's the ticket.

- What time is it?

- We'll hear Saint George's clock, don't worry.

Think of it, all over London, every home.

- I wish we had Downing Street.

- Mrs. P has that.

- Stands to reason.

(soft chattering)

- That's a lovely murder view Lady V

- Yes, lovely.

- It's so hot.

- You're nervous.

First time out.

- That girl,

- Rose?

- Suppose she tells your parents?

- Oh, she won't.

Anyway, I wish you wouldn't coddle me.

You're as bad as she is.

- Shhh.

- Must you go so early?

- I regret so, I hope the evening has been useful.

-

- And an excellent dinner.

- As for those copper shares

- First thing in the morning.

I'll see you in on that.

Give my regards to Marshall at the Treasury.

- You can count on it.

Good night, Julius.

- Good night.

(clock chimes)

(screaming)

-[All, screaming] We want the vote!

We want the vote!

(crashing and banging)

- Do you know whose house this is?

- Why else are we doing it?

You will listen to us!

- Votes for women!

Votes for women!

- We will be heard!

- Votes for women!

- You will listen to us!

- Votes for women!

(windows breaking)

(police whistle)

- Hurry, they're coming!

- Let go of me!

- Miss Lizzy!

Leave her be, you

- Oh, rose, go home!

- Votes for women!

- Oh, a pretty one, eh.

This way my beauties, come on.

(shouting)

- I told you not to.

- And I told you, now look what you've gone and done.

- 165 Eton Place.

- Morning, Mrs. Bridges.

Now, then, Ruby, my girl, have you got that range going?

Yes, Mrs. Bridges.

Well, Ruby, I hope you used no paper.

Oh, no, Mrs. Bridges, we don't want *.

What's that you're making then, Ruby?

Egg cake, Mrs. Bridges, like you taught me.

'Cept it'd be better than yours, you silly old cow.

- Oh, what's up with me tea, then, did she turn her nose up?

- She's not there.

- Well then you best find her, she won't want it cold.

- She's not anywhere.

- I'm making a cake for this afternoon.

What do you think of that then?

- She's not in her room, she's nowhere.

- What?

- Rose, nowhere.

- Don't be daft.

- Well, I knocked on the door and went in,

and her bed's not been slept in.

- Edward, do you mean to say that you and me have

been alone all night.

After bioscope, we come back here and

- No, she went out last night and didn't come home.

- It's a man, I bet it's a man.

- Oh, not Rose.

Here, who's gonna take up Mrs. Kirbridge's breakfast

when she rings?

- Oh, not me, not upstairs.

- Well, I can't!

What has happened to her?

(chattering)

- *, Marks, Tippet, *, court three.

Babcock, *, #, Jones, Lewis, court four.

*, #, Culforth, court five.

Bouverie, Barnstaple, Purdoe, Tomkins, *,

Kirbridge, court six.

- This way, ladies.

- What's this?

- You expect the Old Bailey?

- I don't call it trial in a blooming cupboard.

- It's a court as long as that's up there.

There's too many of you.

Flooding in from every police station in London.

(chattering)

- Now, come on, get into line.

Into line, into line.

And you.

(chattering)

- This is even smaller than Mr. Wilson's court.

- He was here first, sir.

- Oh, was he?

- We want a proper court.

- You have a proper court, madame, and a

proper magistrate, so hold your tongue.

- And please, sir, the bailiff will be vastly obliged

if you can keep all cases to ten minutes.

- Summary justice indeed.

- Her Lady Jessica Barnstaple of Beckhampton and Wiltshire

- Here.

- You don't respond.

- Then I beg your pardon.

- Lady Jessica Barnstaple of Beckhampton and Wiltshire.

Miss Ellen Bouverie of Sutton and Surrey.

Miss Bessie Purdoe of

- Bessie, Elizabeth surely,

- Bessie I was born and Bessie I'll die.

- Miss Bessie Purdoe of Salford and Lancashire.

Miss Mabel Tomkins of Lyle Street in

the City of Westminster.

Mistress Elizabeth Kirbridge of Eton Place

in the City of Westminster.

Miss Rose Buck of Eton Place in the

City of Westminster.

You are charged with conduct provoking a

breach of the peace by causing willful

damage to property in, um,

- Digby street.

- Ah, Digby street.

Property of Digby street.

And committing certain illegal and wrongful acts

at 10:30 PM on August the fourteenth last.

- We break laws to make laws.

- Silence.

I've seen some mischiefs in my time,

but this a new and special one.

It must end.

And I shall end it.

- The cake's not rising, though it smells a treat.

- Miss Elizabeth's not there either.

- Perhaps it was too wet.

- She's not in her room and her bed's

not been slept in.

- Oh, never both of them.

- What are we gonna do?

- Well, you're in charge, Edward.

- Police?

Oh.

- I'll give 'em time eh.

- Aye, Edward, that's best.

- Give 'em time.

- It settled we're guilty before we're tried.

- You will not say that.

I will not have it.

- You do as your masters tell you.

- I don't call it tried in a blooming cupboard.

- It's a star* chamber.

- I will have silence.

Yes, yes, be that as it may.

Now, which of you was your spokeswoman?

- I

- No, me

- No, I'm

- That will be enough.

- Ellen Bouverie

- The rest of you may sit down and be quiet.

As a husband and a father, I have long found

it is better for one woman to speak at a time

rather than several.

Now then, we've heard from the police,

what have you to say?

- My father is a guardian of the poor.

My mother a member of the school board.

- Your parents are not before me, Miss Bouverie

- From them I learned how many of my own sex

find themselves in dreadful situations

because of the state of English law as it effects women.

You must have had women before you who would never

have been in court if the law gave them a

better claim to justice.

You know how unjust the marriage and divorce laws are.

Even that a married woman has no rights

in her own children.

- I should prefer if you spoke of the events of last night.

- We've presented petitions, held meetings greater

than any in history, faced mobs in the streets,

because we've been told we can't have political

power until the whole country supports us.

- Well, the whole country does not support you.

- It can be lead to it.

It's our duty to make the world a

better place for women.

When we get the vote, we can create vast changes

for our less fortunate sisters.

The average wage of women workers is seven and six a week.

Seven and six a week.

Can you wonder so many of them are driven

to an immoral life?

Legislation must come about, but it won't until

we have the same electoral power as men.

We stand by what we did last night.

We put our protests, our determination,

in a form which cannot be ignored.

We think our action moderate.

- Moderate?

- Be upstanding.

Now, what have we found to be good behavior

- No.

- And so say all of you?

Very well then.

Mrs. Elizabeth Kirbridge, for your part in this

disgraceful affair, you are fined 40 shillings.

- Stand down.

- But where do I pay?

- Outside.

- Now, for the rest of you, you should know better.

- You came to see me hung, sir?

How forty shillings must annoy you?

- Not at all, I would deplore to see you hung.

As for your fine, I paid it for you.

There's your receipt.

- You are impertinent, sir.

- You don't have 40 shillings.

- You dare to look inside.

- How else was I to identify the owner?

- You will be repaid, sir.

- I can't have it.

- I must have your card, sir.

I shall send what I owe the moment I get home.

- I could not call for it?

- What is it?

What's happened?

- Now then, Miss, stand clear.

- Please, what?

- They gave us two months.

- Oh, no.

- In prison.

- Not all of you.

- Oh, Miss Lizzy.

- You have a friend in court, Davis

- You see what you've done?

- Saved you from jail.

- I don't want to be saved.

I want to be with them.

- Remember that in your comfortable bed in

Eton Place tonight.

- I wish I hadn't hit you.

- I was waiting for an apology.

- I wish I'd killed you.

- I gave them my card, said I knew you.

Mentioned your father, your connections.

- You know a great deal about me, sir.

- Convinced them you could hardly be a villain

like the others.

- I am.

You saw me.

I was there and, prison, which prison, I must ask if

- * without a doubt.

- Who are you?

- You have my card.

- Julius Karekin, your name, where you live,

but who are you?

- Tell me I have been of service.

- You haven't.

Oh, god what am I to do?

- We shall go for refreshment and discuss the matter.

- I shall do nothing of the sort.

If you had to save me, why could you not

save Rose, as well?

- Who is Rose?

(chattering)

- Don't be a goose, you're better with us,

you know us.

- Look around, dear.

- If I appear less angry with you than I was,

it is entirely due to exhaustion.

A night in Rochester Road police station

is far from beneficial.

- A night with a pack of suffragettes

can hardly be beneficial.

- I am one, Mr. Karekin.

- I have my doubts.

- Then little you know me.

If only I were with them now.

Thank you, no.

- Thank you, Loris.

I cannot abide China tea.

- I cannot abide chocolate.

- My aunt Kate drinks nothing else,

the family have been expecting her

to turn yellow for years.

- That would be the Marchioness of Castleton?

- Are you a snob, sir, or a detective?

- A connoisseur of handsome women.

- Well, then I shall leave a once.

- How vain to assume I include you.

- Every woman is precisely aware of her

degree of handsomness.

To most women, it is all that matters.

- But not to suffragettes?

- You are a Jew, I think.

It is well known that all Jews wish to ingratiate

themselves, or so my mother says.

- Lady Marjorie.

I thought Jews were greedy only for money.

- That also.

- I have Jewish friends.

Most of them are every bit as greedy

for money as my English friends.

I wouldn't mind being Jewish.

- Then what are you?

- I was born in London.

- And your parents?

- My father was Armenian.

- As I said.

- You said a Jew.

Which is quite different.

- I confess to an astonishing lack of interest.

I'm here because you said you might help

Ellen and Rose.

- Your house parlor maid?

- Rose has been my friend for as long as I can remember.

- How bizarre, perhaps I'm less English than I think.

- She's loved me and looked after me

and understood me ever since I was a child.

Oh, why did she involve herself?

- Because she believes in the cause?

- No, not Rose.

But prison, the shame of it.

Well not to me, of course, but for your

interference, I should be reveling in it.

But, Rose, if my mother ever finds out,

- I believe there's less cause for concern

than you fear.

Prison is a lesson, a token, you women don't eat.

It's almost routine.

- Don't eat?

- Do, have a cake.

You should read the newspapers.

- What do you mean, don't eat?

- They refuse to eat for a few days, they're released.

- A few days?

How few?

- It varies.

But I hope I comfort you.

- If it's the truth.

- I never lie to a woman until I've

known her at least two weeks.

- You won't know me two weeks, sir.

Now, I must go home.

- I shall escort you.

- No, no I can take *.

Good day.

- And thank you?

- I must have me pins.

- There's no one to admire you in here.

- And then get dressed.

All of you.

Quick.

(sobbing)

Quiet, you!

Stand away, you.

- Should giver her one back.

- Would you leave me alone?

I won't be here long.

Not even all day.

Miss Lizzy'll come for me.

Elizabeth?

Elizabeth betrayed us.

Come on, come on.

- I'll have to telegraph Mr. Hudson in Scotland.

- You wouldn't dare.

- Oh, what then?

I've gotta do something.

Anything might've happened.

- Hey, someone's coming.

- Rose, where on

- Good day, Edward, and um

- Ruby, madame, we're all here, madame.

- All?

- All here, yes madame.

- Doing this and that.

- Rose was going to give your room a good

but, oh, madame.

- Something most unfortunate has happened, my dear.

- I don't want to hear.

- Yes, madame.

- It's Rose.

I have no choice but to tell you.

But if you ever so much as breathe a word

of it ever to anyone,

Rose, owing to an unfortunate mistake

has been taken to

- She never come home?

- She didn't come home because Rose is in prison.

- It's better than Winston Green

- All you're used to I dare say.

You come near me, Bessie Purdoe,

- Bessie!

- My line of business we learn to take care of ourselves.

- What is your business?

- I'm in the entertainment line.

- Actresses is no better than trollops.

- Not so good, dear.

- Your pots.

- Yes, miss.

- No, miss.

- Same as all the others, eh?

- Put all the pots on there, you.

Hurry up.

- Wish it was a cup of tea.

- Leave it.

- But we've got to eat.

- No.

- We don't, Rose, we all refuse to eat.

- Look, if I'm gonna be in here I'm gonna

- You won't eat.

None of us eat.

- I'm starving.

- Starve, you will.

- Look at least let her eat.

- No, my dear, it's alright.

- We might die.

- It's better than giving in.

- Yes, Rose.

- She's right, Rose.

- Very well, if you say so my lady.

- But the shame will kill her.

- I know about that, your class is ridiculous.

- I don't reckon your mother and

father would laugh at it either, madame.

- They won't know, not ever.

I won't tell them, and you've given your sacred word.

- But that won't be worth the cinder

unless she's here when they get back.

- I have it on the best authority that

she'll be released.

They'll all be released.

And when you come to think of it,

it's another victory over the system,

making the law look foolish.

- What would that be, madame?

- Prison's a token, a lesson.

They don't eat.

They refuse to eat and in a few days they,

- A few days.

- How few?

- I don't know, but it must be true, it must.

- She's dropped off.

- You've got bony shoulder blades.

- You'll be bony before we get out of here.

- What's Miss Bouverie doing then?

- Writing her life story.

- Speech for Caxton Hall on Saturday.

- Saturday, you'll be lucky.

- Has anyone heard how long they're letting us starve?

- The last lot was three days.

- Oh, this pain.

- Who was that man, the one what got Miss Lizzy?

- I didn't notice.

- He was the one she bashed.

- Never.

- One what came out the house, right?

- He came to tell on her, beast.

- Then how did she get off?

He's after her.

- Not Miss Elizabeth.

- She's not bad looking.

Do you think that Miss Bouverie?

I'm worried about her.

- Oh, why don't you shut up?

- I wonder if she's worried about us?

- About me, yes.

- You know, I've seen him,

now I come to think about it.

That toff.

He lives down * where I, Albany, yeah.

He's one for the ladies, I've seen

em going in and out with him.

- Oh my god.

- Nice classy women, never looks at me, course.

But I suppose he gets it for nothing.

- Here, who's had the corner off this?

- Not me.

- Let's have a look then.

- Perhaps she's ate it.

- It wasn't for me.

It was for her, cause she's old

- Bessie!

- She must keep the rules as we do.

This is democracy.

She ain't used to it.

- Visitor for Buck.

- That's Miss Lizzy, I told you she'd come.

- Miss Lizzy

- She doesn't know we're here.

- No, we shouldn't have left.

- Why didn't she come?

- Rose, you look horrible.

- That's a proper shiner you got there, Rose.

- And your hair.

- Why don't she come?

- Brought this, it's a cake.

I made it.

- They won't let me eat.

Why don't she come?

- Well, she said a few days and you'll be out.

- Though, what you did, breaking a window,

oh, Rose, it was awful.

- Why don't she come?

I can't stand it no more.

Why don't she come?

- Visiting's cancelled.

Out, out.

- I'll tell her, Rose.

I will tell her.

(chattering)

- Are they letting us out?

They letting us out?

- We don't know, not from the looks on their faces.

(chattering)

- It's never torture.

- Not in England.

- God in heaven.

- You won't be let out this time, ladies.

Oh, no, because you will eat.

We're feeding you with this.

And the more you resist, the worse it is,

they tell me.

This end goes down your throat.

Or if you're very bad, up your nose.

- Oh no, please god, no.

- I don't want to wake up.

- Are you alright?

(mumbling)

- Come on, not again.

- Rise and shine.

There will be a nice breakfast.

Unless you want a repeat of yesterday.

- No, miss, I'll eat, miss

- The same as yesterday.

- Suit yourselves.

Where is our friend?

She fainted and we ain't seen her since.

- What have you done with her?

- Don't ask me.

- Was she fed as we were?

- Not so many questions.

- Whatever is it?

- There's someone coming up, madame.

Ruby, is that you?

- Yes, Edward.

- Ellen!

- Elizabeth!

- Thank you, Ruby, make us some tea?

- Yes, madame.

- You're out.

Are you all out?

Rose, where's Rose?

Why isn't she with you?

- Only me.

Oh, Elizabeth.

- Come, only you.

Now there will be tea in a minute.

Now why only you Ellen?

- When I fainted, they examined me,

the doctor says my heart is weak.

- Oh dear, how dreadful, but he may be wrong.

- It's the other what happened,

what they're doing in there.

- Well, tell me, my dear, you must tell me.

- Oh no, Ellen, no they couldn't do anything

so brutal, not women to other women.

- They are.

I can't describe it to you.

I'm lucky.

- Have they released any others?

- I don't think so.

- So no one will know.

Oh, if only my father were here,

I think even mother would be angry.

God in heaven, is this England.

You wait there a moment.

I'm getting dressed.

- Dressed?

- We're going out.

No, no if I'm to play the woman I'll do it properly.

- But where, Elizabeth, what can we do?

- We must see Mr. Karekin at once.

- I'm sorry madame, but it's not possible.

- I'm sorry, but I must see him.

- But madame, at this hour, I must insist.

- Who disturbs me Loris, oh, Mrs. Kirbridge

and Miss, uh,

- We realize it's early, but

- What time is it?

- Eight

- Eight!

God in heaven I never rise before 10, Loris

- Mr. Karekin

- Do you think I'm interested at eight o'clock

in the morning?

You overestimate my goodwill, Mrs. Kirbridge.

- But surely you

- Surely, you have shown the arrogance I expected.

You may turn.

I rise at 10.

Besides which it is a well known fact that

I have no truck* with ladies before noon.

It's my unfixable rule and why I have never married.

- But you were kind yesterday.

- Goodness, you sound almost feminine.

You haven't introduced your friend,

though I saw her the other night.

- Ellen Bouverie.

She's been in prison.

- You see, I said they wouldn't keep them long.

- Only she is out, the others are, please help me.

You must hear what's happening, it's dreadful.

- Anything dreadful at this hour would spoil my day.

- But there's no one else.

Ellen, tell him.

- Because we won't eat, they're using a tube.

They have this long rubber tube and a funnel.

Four of the women hold you down, each arm, each leg,

they put a block in your mouth to keep it open.

And force the tube right down your throat,

right down into your stomach.

If you vomit, most can't help it,

they push the tube up your nose.

It's some kind of hot liquid they pour in.

It's quite frightful.

- The law of the land is frightful.

- I'm sorry, Ellen, it's a waste of time.

We'll leave you to your decadence, Mr. Karekin.

I'm sorry to have troubled you.

And I hope I never see you again.

Come, Ellen.

- What did you expect me to do?

- Rose is in there enduring that horror.

- Rose, yes, Loris.

Do sit down, ladies, we are none of us at our best

at this hour of the morning and Miss Bouverie

looks quite, Loris, a bottle of the * and three glasses.

- Oui, monsieur.

- Champagne at such a time.

- It is ideal at any time.

In the evening, it smooths the way to love.

At midday, it is an excellent aid to the digestion.

At this hour, I'm not sure but it will offer some benefit.

You look most charming, Mrs. Kirbridge.

- I find the thought of alcohol as

degrading as I find you, sir.

- I have lost ground with you.

- You never gained any.

Come, Ellen.

- A bargain.

You will drink champagne with me when

your Rose is free.

- When?

- As soon as your Rose is free.

- Perhaps.

(phone rings)

- Should I?

- Well, I'm not.

- Hello, the Bellamy residence.

Oh, Mr. Hudson, are you still in Scotland?

Yes, oh, oh, everything's fine, Mr. Hudson.

Oh, right as rain.

Rose?

You want to speak to Rose?

Oh, Mr. Hudson, she's out at the shops at the moment.

Yes, I know, it's early Mr. Hudson,

but you know what Rose is.

Yes, Mr. Hudson.

I'll tell her, Mr. Hudson.

- Edward, you lied to Mr. Hudson.

- Madame's back.

- Are you off up?

- No, she'll ring if she wants something.

- The thing for us to do now is to go out

and chain ourselves to some railing with a placard.

- What good would that do?

Oh, really, you're so stupid.

It's all stupid.

- Elizabeth!

- Well, it is.

Women are weak, if we weren't we'd be

helping Rose and we're helpless.

Well, aren't we?

- A glass, Arthur?

- It's too early for me.

- This new development is disturbing.

- Development?

- Yesterday the women convicted in Holloway

were fed by force.

By stomach tube.

- May I ask how you know?

There can be no secrecy in public life,

but yesterday.

- I heard of it from Sir Gilbert Tufton,

the president of the Royal College,

he and I are old friends.

- You're paying towards his new charity clinic?

And eventual knighthood for yourself.

- Oh, you're wrong, sir, I seek no knighthood

merely to help my friends.

- And you think I need help?

- Sir Gilbert is most upset.

He regards force feeding as barbaric and dangerous.

- His Majesty's government does not.

- The government does know about it.

- It's for the women's own good.

If they won't eat, they must be fed,

it's hospital treatment.

- Not a punishment?

- What is that you're holding?

- This, a letter, a draft of a letter, Sir Gilbert sent

it to me for my opinion.

He knows I have so many friends in Fleet Street.

It's a letter he proposes sending to the Times.

They'll publish, of course, Sir Gilbert being

- What does it say?

- It's confidential until it's published.

But then you and I have known each other for a

- I don't have all day Julius.

- No, well,

Dear Sir, he says where he's heard about

- Go on, man,

- And I submit that such treatment when the

patient resists is attended by the gravest risks.

- When the patient resists?

- As resist they must.

I submit that accidents are liable,

even likely to occur, and that the health of the

patient may be permanently damaged.

In my opinion, and I have no doubt many

of my colleagues will agree with me,

the treatment is unwise and inhumane.

And to try labeling it hospital treatment,

is a gross libel.

Hospitals in this country hold no place for brutality.

There is more.

- He's sending that to the Times?

- If I advise.

- And will you?

There'll be an outcry.

- Without a doubt.

Sir Gilbert can muster big

those people who find the suffragettes laughable.

- Which I do not.

Irritating and dangerous, but not laughable.

- A wave of sympathy at least.

- I can't help wondering, Julius,

if you have a personal interest.

- That's impossible, I already have the vote.

I only want to help my friends.

If you would like to modify your point of view,

for the good of the party,

finish it today.

You'll hardly look heroic,

but you will reduce your value as a target

for a lot of criticism and ill will.

- You know I cannot say, I must consult my masters.

- I don't think you have masters.

- Good morning, Julius.

- Such an impatient man, Loris.

Now I must go out, must I not?

The day is beginning.

- Offer her a bit of me cake.

- What have I done?

It's all my fault, every bit of it.

I should be in prison not

- I was not sure your servants would be here

so I took the liberty.

- What have you done about Rose and the others?

- What I can.

Leave us, please.

I have wasted my power for you,

and man has so much power here,

so much influence there.

He hoards them, people may owe you one favor,

rarely two.

- With what result have you wasted your power Mr. Karekin?

- Who knows?

- You must know.

- Then you are ignorant of the real world, Mrs. Kirbridge.

You strike a match, throw it down,

who knows to what it will set fire.

- I must know.

- You must know.

Patience.

It's important for a man, essential for a woman.

- Patience?

Must women always be patient?

- You are not a suffragette, Mrs. Kirbridge,

you're not the type.

Miss Bouverie, perhaps, and I raise my hat to her.

But you are a very selfish and somewhat spoiled young lady.

Oh, very charming, the selfish ladies often are.

Ah, they're right on time.

- Someone's coming.

- The cab is paid for.

- Rose, oh my dear, Rose.

My Rosie.

- I'd be very much obliged, my Lizzy.

- Yes, Rose, what?

Anything?

- If I could have a cup of that tea.

- Yes, come come, have mine.

- I have to thank you, sir.

- Well, I don't know what he done, but we're all out.

- I warned you I stored up favors

and you made a bargain with me.

- Yes, Edward, do you have the key for the wine cellar?

- Yes, madame, but I'm not supposed to use it.

- Go down and fetch a bottle of my father's very

best champagne wine and serve it in the morning.

- You just go up and lie down now, Rose,

I'll come up and see you later.

You must be, oh, it's all my fault.

Rosie, I'm so sorry.

- Look, just leave me be Miss Lizzy, leave me be.

Another cup of this tea and I'll be right as a trivet.

- If you'll come this way, sir.

- It weren't right, whatever it's for, it weren't right.

- What they did to you?

- And what you did.

All that shouting and hurting, it's not right,

whatever it's for.

- I know, Rose, I really do.

- And you're not gonna do it anymore.

- Well,

- No, Rose, she isn't.

- Well, that's alright, then.

- Here, Rose, is it alright about the cellar?

- Don't keep asking questions,

just do as you're told.

- Yes, Rose.

- Ruby?

- Yes, Rose?

- Has this floor seen a scrubbing brush this morning?

- Oh, no, Rose, what with all the fuss

- Well, you can get about it now then can't you?

- Yes, Rose.