ACT 2, SCENE 5

LOCATIONS SIGNAGE: THE MARTYR’S MEMORIAL, OXFORD, 1912

A kerfuffle.

TILDA is mounted on a podium, speaking to the crowd at Speaker’s Corner.

TILDA: Three suffragettes, I say, were forcibly fed in Winson Green Gaol after several days on a hunger strike! Tubes down their throats! Forcibly fed!

CROWD: Y’ troublemaker! A scold you are! Where’s y’ scold’s bridle?!

TILDA: Are you deaf as well as stupid, sir? I’m a woman, not a horse!

CONVENOR: Time’s up! Next speaker.

TILDA: One moment! I would like to give notice that there is a public demonstration here – tomorrow! – in support of the female right to vote. I hope that many of you will join us to make known your views. If you do, you will know the joy of joining the sisterhood – (sees ESME – waves) That is to say – the sisterhood – ‘the state or condition of being a sister!’ – and of adding your voice to the cry!

WORDS SIGNAGE: SISTERHOOD

ESME: ‘Sisterhood’, Tilda Taylor. 1912.

TILDA descends from the podium.

TILDA: Esme! My sweet friend! And Lizzie, isn’t it? Hello, Lizzie. Don’t worry, I won’t bite.

LIZZIE: How do, Miss Taylor. Please don’t worry that I’m worried about what you might say. I am more worried about what you might do.

TILDA: And rightly so! Look. We both love Esme. We should be friends.

LIZZIE: I’ll see you at Sunnyside, Esme.

Exit LIZZIE.

TILDA: Well! She told me! I’m impressed! My darling, you will come to the procession?

ESME: Definitely.

TILDA: Mrs Pankhurst is not really in approval – it’s too tame for her, and perhaps for me. But all voices for the cause are welcome.

ESME: Too tame?

TILDA: You heard about the force-feeding.

ESME: I certainly did. You sent me postcards!

TILDA: That’s what we are facing when the chips are down.

ESME: Yes. It’s shocking. Unspeakable.

TILDA: Sweet friend. It is indeed. Lizzie is not the only one who’s been doing some growing up.

ESME: Oh. I’ve been growing up.

TILDA: Well. Me as well. I have given up the theatre. After I lost Bill –

ESME: Bill? He’s not hurt?

TILDA: No, no. He just got some silly girl knapped and now he’s working hand over fist to –

ESME: ‘Knapped’?

TILDA: You are still collecting words! ‘Knapped’. Pregnant? Oh, sweetheart, look how shocked you are! You are probably still utterly virginal yourself. Bill has undertaken enforced parentage.

WORDS SIGNAGE: KNAPPED

TILDA: You want me to write that down?

ESME: I’ll remember.

TILDA: So Bill is working day and night to provide for his progeny. Not me.

ESME: Well. That is an honourable thing to do. Bill keeps his promises, it seems.

TILDA: I should hope so. Anyway, my change of direction leaves me free for the struggle. Holla, Mrs Pankhurst, your avenging angel calls!

ESME: Indeed. Though …

TILDA: Esme?

ESME: It does seem to me that we are not all struggling in the same way.

TILDA: Oh?

ESME: Isn’t it true that Mrs Pankhurst is willing to negotiate for women with property or education – women like us, perhaps? – to get the vote, but not women like Lizzie, or old Mabel, whom I used to see at the market?

TILDA: (beat) Correct. Dear heart.

ESME: (beat) Are you here for a while? Do you need a place to stay?

TILDA: I’ve made my own arrangements. But I’ll see you at the procession on Sunday?

ESME: Yes. Indeed. But. My address (writes address on slip) – Observatory Road, Jericho, we’re halfway down the street – in case you ever need it.

TILDA: Ta. Where to now?

ESME: The Scriptorium and then to Sunnyside. The cook, Mrs Ballard, is indisposed so Lizzie and I have some work to do.

TILDA: Real work? Or domestic slavery?

ESME: All work’s real, Tilda. It’s just that some of it’s invisible.

TILDA: Don’t lecture me.

ESME: Don’t patronise me.

TILDA: How I love your quick mind!

ESME: See you Sunday.