ACT 2, SCENE 9

LOCATIONS SIGNAGE: OXFORD, 1913

Outside ESME’S house. GARETH has walked ESME home at the end of an evening’s meeting.

GARETH: Good night.

ESME: Good night.

GARETH: Sleep well.

ESME: I will. I couldn’t have imagined it six months ago, but I’ve become used to … this quiet house. And Lizzie stays from time to time. No more sleepless nights, I promise.

GARETH: Essy, before you go in?

ESME: Yes?

GARETH: I wanted to give you this for your collection of words.

ESME: Oh. My (quotes) ‘dictionary’?

GARETH: That’s the one. It’s something my mother used to say. It’s just … sort of sweet.

WORDS SIGNAGE: CABBAGE

ESME: ‘Cabbage’?

GARETH: Definition: An endearment. Quotation: ‘Come here, my little cabbage, and give me a hug’, Derryth Owen, 1885.

ESME: Gareth … I do like it. Very much.

A scuffle.

ESME: What’s that?

TILDA: Don’t panic. It’s just. Me.

INSIDE THE HOUSE

ESME: Show me.

TILDA: My hand. It’s taking sisterhood a bit far – but now I, too, have a badly burnt hand. Like you, almost-sister.

ESME: Doctor?

TILDA: No doctor, Esme.

ESME: Gareth. Would you please go and get Lizzie and bring her here? It’s very late but she trusts you. She’ll come. Tell her to bring her medicine pouch – something for burns.

Exit GARETH.

ESME: (getting bowl and water) What happened?

TILDA: La. La. And La.

ESME: I’d disapprove.

TILDA: My word you would!

ESME: (lifts TILDA’S hand over a bowl of water) This will hurt.

TILDA: Right. Yes. Oh my!

ESME: Was anyone else hurt, Til?

TILDA: I … ow … oh. Look at the blisters! Ahhh!

ESME: The pain’s probably a good sign. Mine didn’t hurt at all straight after. Tilda. You must tell me. Was anyone else hurt?

TILDA. Actually. Esme. I honestly don’t know!

ESME: How can you say that?!

TILDA: How can I not say it if it’s the truth?

ESME: Then how on earth do you justify it?!

TILDA: The obvious way. That the government won’t listen to all the eloquent, sensible arguments of all the eloquent, sensible suffragists like you. But they can’t ignore what we – suffragettes like me – do!

ESME: I want the same things you do, Til, but this is not the right way to get them!

TILDA: Esme, there is no ‘right’ way! Sometimes you make the best choice you can, given who you are and what you want or need, and then you live with the result! (a moment) Do you want me to go? I can. I will.

ESME: Don’t be silly.

TILDA: Look. Esme. This would not have been your choice. That’s clear. But it’s not that clear for me. Yes. I don’t want to hurt anyone.

ESME: Tilda –

TILDA: Sometimes you just – must – force a change. Did you hear me? ‘Force’. ‘Change’. Because it won’t happen any other way. I won’t be coming back here, Esme, so listen to me now. There’ll be a moment when you must make a choice. Do something that you’re frightened to do. In a circumstance where you could lose the lot. You’ll have to force something onto life. Instead of letting life force things onto you.

ESME: Really? Is that so?

TILDA: Are you offended?

ESME: Yes. I am.

TILDA: Well. I don’t care.

ESME: No. I can see that.

TILDA: And, oh my god, this hurts.

ESME: Here’s Lizzie.

Enter LIZZIE and GARETH.

LIZZIE takes TILDA’S hand.

LIZZIE: It might look worse than it is. Blisters usually mean there’s good skin beneath. (gets ointment) This will sting.

TILDA: You’re not wrong!

LIZZIE: Shhhh now, Miss Taylor. We’ll take it carefully. There. And there. (works away) That’s it.

TILDA: Thank you.

LIZZIE: I take it you’ll be leaving on the first train to London this morning, Miss Taylor?

TILDA: You are correct in your assumption, Miss Lester.

LIZZIE: Good. Now. You need a bandage over the burn, and then we’ll cover that with a scarf. Hold still if you can. Still, I said. And you’ll need to change the dressing when you get to London. Find a doctor. Someone –

TILDA: Discreet. (beat) Lizzie? Thank you? I know you don’t like me. But I’m so very grateful.

LIZZIE: You’re right. I don’t like you, Miss Taylor. But Esme loves you. And that’ll do me.

TILDA: Are you Catholic?

LIZZIE: Yes.

TILDA: Then the Mother of Mothers be with you.

LIZZIE: (beat) Thank you. And with you.

GARETH: I’ll see you home, Lizzie. And I’ll come back to take you to the station in the morning, Tilda.

TILDA: I don’t need a chaperone!

GARETH: This … one time. You do.

TILDA: (beat) Yes. You’re right, I do, Mr Happenstance. This once.

TILDA shuts her eyes.

LIGHTS DOWN

DAWN CREEPING THROUGH

ESME is in the kitchen chair. TILDA has gone.

A knock on the door. Enter GARETH.

ESME looks up.

ESME: All done?

GARETH: Tilda’s safely on the train to London.

ESME: Do we know what happened?

GARETH: She wouldn’t tell me, but first news is that there was a fire at Rough’s Boathouse at Long Bridges.

ESME: Ah. ‘Male sporting bastion’. Usual target.

GARETH: That’s it.

ESME: Was anyone hurt?

GARETH: It seems not. There’s £3,000 worth of damage, however. Four women seen. Three fleeing on a punt. One on foot.

ESME: Oh my. Tilda, Tilda …

GARETH: I’ll go now. Let you sleep.

ESME: In a minute. (beat) Please, Gareth. I need to speak with you.

GARETH: What is it? (beat) Take a chance. Whatever it is. Tell me.

MONTAGE #2 – Physicalises her story from Bill, to Mabel, to Mrs Smythe, to Sarah and the giving away of baby Megan.

He leans over. Kisses her. Very gently.

TRANSITION TO …