Suffragette Page #3

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MAUD crossing the street, passing a NEWSPAPER BOY cutting a

bundle of newspapers open, MAUD’s eyes rest on the newspaper

stand, the board reading- WANTON DAMAGE BY SUFFRAGETTES. MRS

PANKHURST GOES INTO HIDING.

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

The wide laundry floor. MAUD at the vats, transferring

steaming piles of sheets.

TAYLOR (O/S)

Oi Mrs Miller! Mrs Miller.

Don’t you ignore me.

MAUD’s distracted by TAYLOR reprimanding VIOLET, caught by

TAYLOR as she crosses the laundry floor.

VIOLET:

Sorry Mr Taylor.

TAYLOR:

Late again?

VIOLET:

Oh I’m barely late it’s only just

gone the hour.

TAYLOR:

Shut your mouth. You listen to me.

That’s the second time you’ve been

late and you’ve only been here

three weeks, Mrs Miller.

VIOLET:

I ain’t been late...

TAYLOR:

Don’t answer me back Mrs Miller.

I’m telling you.

VIOLET:

Sorry.

TAYLOR:

Do you want me to dismiss you, is

that it?

VIOLET:

No, no Mr Taylor. No, sir I don’t.

And I won’t be late tomorrow nor

the day after that, I swear.

TAYLOR:

Well you pull your finger out.

MAUD tenses, caught between staying silent and-

MAUD:

(calling over)

Drive belt’s loose again.

TAYLOR distracted, with obvious irritation.

TAYLOR:

(moving off)

It was checked Friday.

TAYLOR peering at the machinery by the ironing work station.

MAUD:

You can smell burning. I’d check

‘em all.

TAYLOR disgruntled, yells to a FOREMAN.

TAYLOR:

Bert! Get your toolbox. Check the

drive belt on the machine.

BERT:

Will do boss.

VIOLET’s eyes dart to MAUD, her relief palpable.

Ta.

VIOLET:

(hushed/to MAUD)

TAYLOR, disgruntled, moves on.

VIOLET (CONT’D)

(hushed/sudden)

We meet Monday and Thursday if

you’re interested. The Ellyn’s

pharmacy.

TAYLOR:

(interrupting)

Here Maud. That package get to

Buckley’s yesterday?

MAUD:

George had his chest again. Sonny

took it up for me this morning.

INT. CHANGING ROOMS. LAUNDRY. BETHNAL GREEN. 1912. DAY.

A half empty changing room, lined with hooks and benches, the

walls are peeling, the sinks chipped-

MAUD changing amongst the OTHER WOMEN. Their clothes are all

stuck to them, wet through from hours of standing in steam.

Most of the women have sores of some kind from wearing damp

clothes all day. VIOLET stands, somewhat removed, she catches

Maud’s eye and smiles, pulling on her skirt, shivering. MAUD

seeing this-

VIOLET:

(to MAGGIE)

You ready?

MAGGIE nods.

VIOLET (CONT’D)

This is my eldest, Maggie.

MAUD:

Hello Maggie.

MAGGIE MILLER[12] VIOLET’s daughter, smiles.

EXT. YARD. LAUNDRY. BETHNAL GREEN. 1912. DAY.

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