Play for Today (1970–1984): Season 2, Episode 2 - Edna, the Inebriate Woman - full transcript
Edna is a drunk, and a homeless one. The play follows her through the streets, the police station, the psychiatric ward and a hostel, which for a while looks like it may become somewhere she can stay.
(WIND BLOWS)
Yes?
I want a bed for the night.
(KEY CLATTERS IN LOCK)
Alright.
Name?
Edna.
Edna O'Casey.
Let's see your cards.
I ain't got no cards.
Sorry, you can't come here
if you've got no cards.
Yes, I can. You've got to let me in.
- It's me right.
- Sod your "right".
No cards, you don't come in here.
You any other way of
identifying yourself?
I got a right to come in here!
And I got a right to
put right me right to...
sock you in the ear 'ole.
Sod off.
- (SHE MUTTERS)
- (EDNA STAMPS)
Where are you from?
From around.
From round about.
Just from the roundabout.
Yeah, before you got to the roundabout?
I was in a psychiatric...
No!
I just been around, round about,
around and round about.
You used to be on the road
once long ago, wasn't you?
Always popping in
from some different direction.
Yes.
I used to be on the road at one time
but I'm more settled down now.
Use number one.
I'm in regular work.
'Ere, why have they moved this place?
Used to be in the centre of the town.
Administrative difficulties.
- (SHOWER RUNS)
- They moved it cos they wanna
stamp out us people!
Stamp us off the face of the Earth.
It was thought to be
better to put it here.
You sure you're skint?
Know you've got to be
skint to come here?
I'm sure!
Well, I know you say you're sure,
but are you really?
EDNA:
Yes!
Well...
You know you'll have to leave tomorrow.
EDNA:
Yes.
I'll have to de-infestate these clothes.
Blah-blah-blah-blah.
An old fella says to me
says, "I've given up gambling,
given up swearing and drinking."
"Bloody hell," says he
"I've left me playing
cards down the pub!"
(SHE LAUGHS)
(WOMAN COUGHS)
(WOMAN MOANS QUIETLY)
(WOMAN COUGHS)
Are you in work now?
Yes.
What are you doing?
I... I work here.
I, uh...
I do the buckets
outside the bathroom
and I, I swill down the tiles
outside the...
the, you know, the "how d'you do".
Did you ever try to get work outside?
- Yes, sir.
- Where?
Yes, sir.
MAN:
Mm.
Ah.
They... they says I was too old.
You know, aged.
You know, the teeth.
You know, sir. Yes, sir.
MAN:
Yes.
Would you like to stay on here
throughout the winter?
Oh, yes, sir.
Alright.
We'll keep you here
throughout the winter
and we'll turn you out for the summer.
- Alright?
- Oh, thank you very much, sir.
I've shrunk. Dunno why.
I've shrunk.
(HE COUGHS)
I feel better when I've drunk.
Take a deep breath.
That's it.
Weren't you the Lightweight Champion
of England once?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Please, sir.
Yes?
Can you take me in, sir?
Can I be tachy to the house?
Take me in for the winter, sir, and...
(SHE COUGHS)
Something for the cough.
And I want to complain about the dreams
I've been getting. Terrible dreams, sir.
Oh, Edna.
I've got nowhere for you to go.
They're closing all the beds
in the women's wing
except for the one-night casuals.
I'd take you in if I could.
I'm sorry.
Thank you very much, sir.
EDNA (VO):
I haven't had a meal since yesterday.
I didn't have a meal today.
I kept going on apples.
On the tramp all night and I've kept on
tramping after the day's broke.
I've kept on tramping.
(MILK BOTTLES TINKLE)
(CHILDREN CHATTER AND GIGGLE)
(SCHOOL BELL RINGS)
EDNA (VO): People are getting up.
The caffs are opening.
You can smell the breakfasts.
(SHE CHUCKLES) I ain't got
any money to buy me breakfast.
You can't stop, the shades won't let ya.
You go on.
So you say, "Alright, I'll go on."
So you've got a target
and you say,
"I'll go on to the next town"
and from there...
it's only a short step back home
to where you come from.
Come along, Edna.
You can't stay here.
We're closed.
Haven't I told you that?
I was only trying to
stamp out the beetle.
Never mind the beetle.
They won't harm you no more anyway.
You're going, remember?
I was only trying to
stamp out the beetle.
- Why?
- Cos I don't like 'em.
That's why.
Well, they won't worry you no more.
You're going.
Edna.
You're going, remember?
G-O-I-N-G spells going.
Goodbye.
Bye-bye, beetle.
Any beds?
Any beds?
I dunno.
What's it like in there?
Cold.
You know anybody would care
to publish some drawings?
No, dear.
Wayfaring is a very funny thing.
Sometimes you're happy in it,
sometimes you're not.
You feel cut off. Do you find that?
Oh, yes.
It's not that I dislike people
what's more settled.
I watch 'em and wish
I could be like 'em.
I sometimes think I once knew something
of very great importance.
Then other times I don't.
(SHE COUGHS)
I'm in regular work.
Got a very good job,
as a matter of fact.
I've got a very good memory.
Oh, yes.
I'm sure you're right.
I'm in work too, same as you.
It seems as I drank the tea
and I drank the tea leaves as well.
I drank the tea leaves, see,
so I don't no more like the tea
and so...
flitter, flitter.
(SHE COUGHS)
But I did...
learn something about life
only I...
(SHE COUGHS)
...don't know how to tell it.
So...
(SHE COUGHS AND WHEEZES)
Excuse me.
(SHE COUGHS)
(SHE COUGHS AND CHOKES)
Oh...
I think I'll...
I'll go to bed now.
Get bedded down.
(HACKING COUGH CONTINUES)
Yes.
(SHE GROANS)
Ooh!
(SHE COUGHS)
Oh, yes.
I like to sleep out.
That's what keeps me in good health.
(SHE COUGHS)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
EDNA:
Could have been, um...
I think it was three weeks ago
but you see, I haven't got no money.
Three weeks ago.
Yeah, well, look, look.
Perhaps you could help me by giving
the details from the beginning.
Now, where did you lose it?
If I knew that,
I wouldn't have lost it, would I?
What colour was it?
Primrose.
And or pink.
Ah, yeah, well, that is not the colour
of the allowance book in question.
I did report it last week,
but not here.
- Yeah, well...
- I need a quid!
Well, I can't do anything, can I,
Mrs Morrison?
The only place that could help you
is Broad Street.
I can't get there, can I?
No, well...
I'm going upstairs, get a grant.
Being in dire need.
MAN:
Alright.
One was in the first department...
I'm in dire need.
Please don't come in here
until you've seen the receptionist!
Oh...
- EDNA: Soup, please.
- You can't have just soup.
I only want soup.
- Your breakfast ticket is worth three soups.
- Yes.
What do you mean, "yes"?
Three soups or no soup.
Three soups.
Thank you very much.
(MEN CHATTER INDISTINCTLY)
(TRAIN WHISTLE SOUNDS)
(HE SIGHS)
Drop the bloody H-bomb
before the winter comes.
(HE GRUNTS)
What did you say?
Oh, I'm an Irish man.
Twenty-five years in this country.
Of that 25 years, I spent 15 in prison.
Oh! Wag off.
Double runt, you!
I'll get you a ruddy stick
for your ruddy flies.
(HE CACKLES)
Does your m...
Does your mind get clouded sometimes?
All clouded up?
Oh, yes. Mine does.
But I go round the
doctor, get some drugs.
Doesn't help.
I'm sick, you see.
- EDNA: Oh...
- I'm sick.
- EDNA: Mm.
- Mind you, people take an interest.
It doesn't help.
I let them down.
One tip I'll give you.
Have you got a friend?
No.
I did have one once.
Not anymore, now.
Ah, yeah. When you lose them,
you'll never get them back.
Anyway...
Nerves bad?
Are your nerves bad?
- Mm.
- Phanyl is very good for that.
It's very good for the nerves.
Now you write that down.
Phanyl.
My mind gets cloudy.
Phanyl.
It gets so cloudy sometimes
that I have to walk
all the way to the north to clear it.
Seven days, it takes.
When we get there, I'm...
so bloody fed up,
I walk all the way back again.
Phanyl.
You a deserter?
Oh...
You look like a deserter
out the bloody Army.
I'm not.
No, I'm not that.
But I find it hard in
the world to belong.
Do you find it hard?
- Mm.
- Oh, MPs find it alright
but ordinary people find it hard.
They're ostracised because they stand up
and speak true facts.
That's what I say.
Oh, I did volunteer.
In the Army, they sent me up to Wales.
And in the war, I met the soldiers
and I said, "Don't."
Do you want to do square bashing?
Do you want to do fatigues?
Don't. Don't.
"Oh," they said,
"you can build the roads."
"You can go on building the roads
if it eases your conscience."
But I said, "A concrete road is a road
you can carry guns on, isn't it?"
"We'll segregate you," they said.
"You can segregate me
if you like," I said.
- What I say...
- Hey!
SLURRED SPEECH:
This is Tiny Nick
the most famousest
character around here.
He thinks he's God.
(HE CHUCKLES)
Hey, hey. Tell her why you think that.
I was saying my prayers to the Lord
and I found I was talking to myself.
(HE LAUGHS)
You see what I mean?
W-when he goes to the public toilets
he does number two all over the floor.
(HE LAUGHS)
Hey!
Tell her, tell her why you do that.
God made number two
so God can drop it where he pleases.
(HE LAUGHS)
Well done.
You see what I mean? He's a lad!
MAN:
Hey, darling.
'Ere, look, you wanna...
you wanna break that
and then stuff it up your nose
and then, like, really sniff it,
get it right back
and, uh, you should get a buzz off that.
(SHE LAUGHS)
You doing a skipper
cos you have to?
Or just for a rave?
(THEY LAUGH)
- (LOUD CLICK)
- (HE SNIFFS)
Ooh, look!
He's started off.
(SHE LAUGHS)
Oh, that is beautiful, that is.
(HE CHUCKLES)
Too much, that is, phew.
Oh, that's a real buzz, that's like...
(HE MUTTERS)
- (TINNY PIANO PLAYS)
- (WOMEN SING)
(INDISTINCT SINGING)
♪ Hope and joy ♪
♪ While we may ♪
♪ Oh, the beauty ♪
♪ Oh, the beauty ♪
♪ Oh, the beauty of the day ♪
(SINGING CONTINUES)
♪ Oh, the beauty of the day ♪
♪ Here, only the shady walls... ♪
Cos I'm half and half.
They turned me like that, you see.
Really, I just want to be a girl.
Eh? What?
You're half and half?
But you want to be a woman?
That takes some sorting out, don't it?
I wasn't born half and half.
I mean, I dress and I live like a girl
but I'm half and half.
My girlfriend, she got pregnant.
Well, that does take some sorting out.
Ah...
(SHE LAUGHS)
Get away! You're having me on!
(SHE CHUCKLES)
Tend to drink some though.
Cos people think I'm likeable.
But legally...
See, legally...
Well, you know.
They took me into the psychiatric
and they cut me breasts off.
Me breasts!
Me breasts.
Oh, well.
No good crying over spilt milk.
(SHE LAUGHS)
I've got that. That's good, that is.
Can you tell me the way to Torrington?
Torrington? Well, yeah, I can show you.
Can you give us a lift?
Whoa.
I can tell you, I've been
in some of the roughest places
and in some of the best places.
Yes, I can see that.
I know me hair looks lovely,
but it's got nits underneath.
Uh, excuse me,
you couldn't spare half a quid
for a good time with two naughty girls?
It says "No beds", but I can help ya.
Help a friend in trouble.
Nothing else!
You think I'm a les, don't ya?
But I'm not.
Nothing else wanted. Nothing else!
(SHE MOUTHS)
I suppose she'll want
sandwich and a tea.
She generally has one and five.
Put her down then.
Ah, yes.
She comes up. One and five pence
for Miss Lightfoot.
WOMAN:
Can I have a sandwich, please?
What we got, Jean?
I got cheese or spam.
- What would you like, love?
- Spam, please.
- Spam.
- And a tea?
And a tea, please.
WOMAN 2:
That'll be one and five.
- Put it down, shall I?
- Yes. Put it down here.
WOMAN 3: Two little bits of beef,
three little baked potatoes
and about a spoonful of peas.
Six and six, they charged at the caff.
WOMAN 4:
Where's the sugar?
No sugar.
WOMAN 5:
What have you got?
WOMAN 2:
Uh, we've got spam.
JEAN:
Spam or cheese.
Oh, haven't you got any egg?
- No.
- JEAN: No eggs.
Oh, my good God.
Alright, I'll have a spam then.
On the book, yes, please.
- How many, Miss Jones?
- Only one, thank you.
WOMAN 2:
One and five.
JEAN:
That's not right, is it?
There you are, m'lady. Thank you.
WOMAN 2:
Spam's going very well, isn't it?
WOMAN:
Very nice, very nice.
(THEY CHATTER INDISTINCTLY)
Have you?
(SHE CHUCKLES)
Drop of whiskey.
Yeah, very nice.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
WOMAN 1:
I enjoyed my dinner, did you?
WOMAN 2:
Yeah, it was very nice, my dinner, yeah.
Very nice dinner.
I'll cook you something good.
You can't come here.
Only paddies allowed.
This one is a paddy.
The kitchen is closed!
I'll speak with the manager.
I am the manager.
WOMAN:
I've had my sandwich and my tea.
- (INDISTINCT CHATTER)
- Back under the bed.
Strips the bed there.
I've had it. I can't move then.
Can I really sleep under the bed?
Yes, yes.
And nothing wanted in exchange?
Nothing else. Nothing, nothing, nothing.
- OK.
- (WOMAN CHUCKLES)
Hey, I show you something.
This is my husband.
And this was my childrens.
This was me man's car
and this was my elkhound.
I took them with my own camera.
And this was my man's speed boat.
EDNA:
Hey, is that you?
WOMAN:
Yeah.
EDNA:
Is it?
Oh! This takes some sorting
out, don't it?
I mean...
(SHE CHUCKLES)
Quite a change, isn't it?
Eh?
Mm.
(WOMEN COUGH AND CHATTER)
- Goodnight, Jane.
- Goodnight.
Goodnight, Ida.
MAN:
Oi, you. Come on, out!
Come on, out!
- Come on.
- What?
MAN:
What? Come on. Out, I said.
- Oh!
- Come on.
Ah, come on, now. Out you go.
Go on! Get out on the bleeding street,
your bag and all.
- Go on!
- EDNA: Yes.
Go on!
And I've had you here before,
go on, get out!
The last amount we advanced you was
the result of your being in dire need.
But we can't continue making these
payments while you remain a vagrant.
Now, if you would...
While I remain a what?
While you remain a vagrant.
- But if you...
- The vagrant?
I am not the vagrant!
I'm not, I'm not, I'm not the vagrant!
And I want money!
I want money, I need money!
Kindly lower your voice.
- If you don't, I'll have to...
- Alright!
Send for the bloody old shades!
And shut up!
- Keep your bloody old money!
- (WOMAN YELLS)
All this has happened before!
I am not the vagrant!
I'm not the vagrant! I am not!
- I am not the vagrant!
- (WOMAN SHRIEKS)
I am, I am, I am!
She was causing a disturbance
in the Ministry of Social Security.
- I thought it advisable...
- Can you speak up, please?
I can't hear you very well.
She was causing a disturbance
in the Ministry of Social Security...
EDNA:
No, I was not, sir! No, I was not!
Well, I'm only putting my point of view
cos they called me "The Vagrant".
Yes, well...
Either I write here you're disturbed
and recommend you be admitted
to our psychiatric hospital
or I say you're sane
and send you back to the court for them
to deal with you as they think fit.
Now which would you like?
- (INDISTINCT MUTTERING)
- (WOMAN CHATTERS HYSTERICALLY)
- (WOMAN CONTINUES CHATTERING)
- NURSE: There you are.
WOMAN SOBBING:
No! No!
(WOMAN CONTINUES SOBBING)
- Got any pills?
- Eh?
Got any pills?
Pills?
You don't eat all the pills
the nurses gives ya, do ya?
Oh, no. I've got a few
but I need 'em for meself, see.
Go on.
- Why?
- Go on, give us some.
Well...
How do you know them pills
will agree with ya?
What's your name, dear?
Mind your business.
'Ere...
why do you want them pills so bad?
Oh, everybody wants pills, dear.
(SHE MUTTERS)
(SHE SNIFFS)
That seat's taken.
Sorry.
Oh.
All those seats are taken.
You can sit over there though.
This is no good, I want fish!
I don't eat this. I only eat fish.
Fish! Fish! Fish! I only eat fish.
Bleugh! Argh!
(SHE SPITS AND GAGS)
Poison! Urgh!
I can't eat this! This is...
This is snot, this is.
This is snot from out your nose! It's...
This is snot!
This is fish.
Sent off specially
from the diet kitchen.
It's fish.
- Flat fish.
- It's snot!
It is snot!
(WOMAN GIGGLES)
(WOMAN CHUCKLES)
(WOMAN CHUCKLES LOUDLY)
(LAUGHTER CONTINUES)
(SHE YELLS)
NURSE:
Come along now, Edna.
- Open.
- Mm-mm.
Everyone takes a pill after a meal.
Mmm!
NURSE:
Come on. Good girl.
Nurse, hold her nose.
Mmm!
NURSE IN A SING-SONG VOICE:
Come on, open. Open.
- Open.
- (EDNA YELLS)
NURSE:
Swallow it down. Swallow it.
Good girl.
(SHE SPITS)
(MUSIC: "I SEE YOU" BY ELECTRIC BANANA)
♪ As misty shadows chase the sun ♪
♪ The sky, he says, "My day is done" ♪
♪ Through the dark forests of my mind ♪
♪ A bright light shone,
it's you I find ♪
♪ I see you ♪
♪ I see you ♪
♪ I see you ♪
♪ In a crowded windswept street ♪
♪ The faces I see of the people I meet ♪
♪ With their eyes they build a shrine ♪
♪ That takes me back
to the forests of my mind ♪
♪ I see you ♪
♪ I see you ♪
♪ I see you ♪
♪ Silent shadows creep on silent walls ♪
EDNA:
Don't mind me asking.
What's a nice young girl like you
doing in a place like this?
You're much too young and beautiful
to be in here, dear.
(SHE SCOFFS)
Them that's most beautiful
can be sickest in their mind, my love.
EDNA:
Are you sick in your mind, dear?
Oh.
(EDNA TUTS)
It's them pills what the doctor give me.
My nerves had got so terrible,
kept taking more and more pills
to quiet 'em down.
In the end, I was taking 60 or 80 a day.
EDNA:
Oh.
Well, let's hope your stay in here
won't be long then.
I hope it will be.
Very, very long one.
♪ I see you ♪
DOCTOR:
Hello, Edna. You know me, I'm Dr Austin.
I want to give you a little injection in
your arm. It's nothing to worry about.
But when I give it to you,
I want you to start counting up to ten
and round about eight,
you'll find that you'll go to sleep
and you'll wake up
with a cup of tea later on.
- Alright? There's nothing to worry about.
- No.
ORDERLY:
Just a little prick. That's all.
DOCTOR:
Now start counting, Edna.
ORDERLY:
Start counting after me.
- One, two...
- Yes, one.
- ORDERLY: Two...
- Two.
Three.
- ORDERLY: Getting tired.
- Four.
ORDERLY:
There, you're sleeping.
Lovely.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
- I think she's quite relaxed now.
- DOCTOR: Yes, she's alright now.
ORDERLY:
OK?
DOCTOR:
Yes.
(FAINT BUZZING)
(SHE GRUNTS)
ORDERLY:
That's quite a nice convulsion.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
ORDERLY:
She will not need much.
- DOCTOR: I think she's breathing already.
- Yeah.
She's fine.
- She's OK.
- Yeah, fine.
DOCTOR:
Turn her on her side, please.
(SHE SNORES)
That'll do for today, Anne.
You can go now.
Ah.
Ah, it's, uh... Edna, is it?
- Yes.
- Good, sit down.
Now.
Can you please try...
Can you please tell me
if you know the date?
The date?
Oh, uh...
Let me see, um...
Thirty-second?
Mm.
Alright, you can stay in another week.
You can go now.
Ah, it's uh... Katherine, is it?
(SHE GROANS)
(WOOD CLATTERS ON FLOOR)
Where's Clara?
You know, one what goes round
collecting pills.
Clara?
Where's Clara?
(SHE SCOFFS)
She's dead.
She took too many.
You listen.
(WRIST CLICKS)
(WRIST CLICKS)
I can wrench me bones, see.
I do it in the wards, do it all the time
till it drives 'em mad.
- (TELEPHONE RINGS)
- Phone!
Thank you.
Lodge.
Who?
No, I'm sorry. She's not here.
Is that phone call for me?
You?
Why should I have a call for you then?
Yes, and I weren't here
so you said I weren't here.
I didn't tell anybody you weren't here.
It wasn't for you.
Yes, I'm sorry. Who was it?
I don't know, a man.
- It wasn't for you.
- A man?
Well, listen. I wanted to speak...
Why didn't...
Why didn't you let me speak to him?
You are Mrs Edna Johnson, aren't you?
No! I'm Mrs Edna O...
Forget it!
You're cured, Mrs Rogers.
Oh, you still have problems, it's true
but basically,
yours is not a psychological problem.
You may still have problems like housing
but as regards your mind,
you're as right as rain.
You'll have to go, Edna.
I do think I have got some problems.
(DOOR CLUNKS)
(GAS HISSES)
(SHE SNIFFS)
(SHE COUGHS)
(HACKING COUGH CONTINUES)
Why did you do it?
To show you I wanted to stay.
Stay another week.
After that, you go.
I'm not staying in this stinking dump.
EDNA SINGS: ♪I was never bitter,
though my life was sad ♪
♪ For broken friendships litter
the road of life so hard ♪
♪ Blow! Savage winds ♪
♪ And bring the slashing rain ♪
♪ There's a sweetness in her sorrow ♪
♪ Glory in her pain ♪
♪ I left the city,
with its artificial lights ♪
♪ Away from the wiles of wanton men ♪
♪ The sensual delights ♪
♪ I wander through the country ♪
♪ Free from every care ♪
♪ I sit by the streams
and breathe in deep ♪
♪ Of freedom's air ♪
(KNOCK ON DOOR)
POLICEMAN:
OK, out!
(ROCK MUSIC PLAYS IN KITCHEN)
Thank you very much...
(SHE GRUNTS)
(SHE GROANS)
(SHE GROANS)
Oh.
I gets drunk very easy.
One Red Biddy
and I'm drunk out of this world.
Well, look, love,
that's not my problem, is it?
- (TELEPHONE RINGS)
- If you got no money, go and beg for it.
MAN:
Hello.
I think that phone call's for me!
How could it be for
you, you silly old cow?
Go on, piss off out of it.
Go on, get out!
- (EDNA YELLS)
- Go on, get out. Get out!
(CAR HORN BLARES)
(EDNA SINGS A TUNE)
'Ere, can't you read?
It says washing other than
face and hands is not allowed.
Piss off, dirtbox!
Only a pound or two, but it comes to you
with the sincere good wishes
of everyone concerned with this charity.
Now, how about clothing, hm?
Oh.
- Yes, sir.
- (HE CHUCKLES)
Yeah. Here, the boots, sir.
- Boot?
- Yes, uh, what about the boots?
I could... I could do with some boots.
Oh, yes, of course. I see.
Yes, yes, we can fix you up with boots.
Over here.
Uh, those are the gents, I'm afraid.
Our ladies department
is on this shelf here.
Yes.
I do, uh...
a certain amount of
strolling around, sir.
Mm?
- Wears 'em out quick.
- Yes.
These?
Yes, those.
Jolly good.
- Jolly good.
- And a coat, sir?
Oh, yes, yes,
we can fix you up with a coat.
Now, um... do you fancy
the green and mauve?
Uh...
Yes, I do.
Let's try it on.
- May I?
- Oh!
That's it.
Now then... Oh, whoops.
As they say.
Mm.
Have a look over there.
That's splendid.
It almost fits, doesn't it?
Well, now, will you leave your old coat
- with me to dispose of?
- No. No, sir. No.
- Never throw away old clothes.
- (HE CHUCKLES)
Very sensible.
Well, now, here's the address of a room
we've found for you.
I'll find me own place.
Hey, you.
What number were you last night?
Well, uh, number 34.
No, you were number 62
and you wet your bed, didn't you?
Out.
- At least have another try!
- Out.
Can you give me a name
and your permanent address?
I ain't got no permanent name.
Sorry?
No, ain't got no permanent name,
it varies.
No, I mean,
I ain't got no permanent address.
The name is, um... McLean.
Well, I'm sorry, Mrs McLean,
but you see...
there's nothing can be done
till you've got a permanent address.
Well, something bloody well must
be done. I ain't got no money.
Just a minute.
Excuse me...
(SHE WHISPERS INDISTINCTLY)
Go to Stockville Department
of Health and Social Security.
That's in Broad Street
during office hours.
Or in the hours of darkness,
go to Digbeth Police Station
and on furnishing proof of destitution
they'll give you a chit,
entitling you to a bed
in our local par three accommodation.
MAN: Do you have any proof of identity,
like a National Insurance card?
Yes, yes.
Here's me address and, uh,
here's me permanent name.
Mr Robert Tute?
IN DEEP VOICE:
Yes, yes, yes, that is my name, yes.
Are you sure that's your name...
Mr Tute?
Come on out, darling.
You can't sleep here all night.
- EDNA: What? What's going on here?
- Come on.
- Why don't you leave me alone?
- Come on, you can't sleep here.
Oh, you leave me alone!
You're a bloody shade!
(SHE YELLS)
POLICEMAN (VO):
Accused of shouting
striding backwards and forwards
causing a considerable
amount of annoyance.
Uh, complaints have been received
from neighbours.
I informed her that, in my opinion,
her behaviour was drunk and disorderly
and that she was causing
a breach of the peace.
What have you got to say?
Well, I'm very sorry, sir.
I didn't seem to do it
and I don't know what come over me,
that I didn't do it.
All I say is...
that it didn't seem
as how I was doing it, sir.
No.
Not at all.
See, the fact is, I drank the liquid
intending just to have a
drop, sir, but...
Well, I...
I drank more
than just one drop, sir, didn't I?
But I've got me pound, sir.
Got me pound saved up to pay the fine.
- Anything known?
- Yes.
In 1917, aged...
- Just the last three.
Two convictions for drunk and disorderly
and one for two years for larceny.
(Whispers) From what I hear, this is clearly
a case for short-term imprisonment.
Yes, I think so.
I'm afraid we're going to need more
than a one pound fine.
It's quite nice in here, innit?
Quite nice doings.
(SHE SIGHS)
I'll say, it's nice in here.
It's nice and warm.
Yes... warmer than outside.
Look at that, lovely.
Always did say, prison's not as bad
as it's cracked up to be.
Better than some hotels.
Whoo!
Oh!
(SHE SIGHS)
(DISTANT BELL RINGS)
Of course, if you come to Jesus Saves,
we can't have you getting drunk.
I'm not gonna take a drink.
Oh, really?
- Really?
- Must be saving me money.
Won't be spending it all over the place.
- Very good, very good indeed. Excellent.
- I'll be getting up in the morning, alright.
Very good. Excellent.
And I shall be taking the bath,
two or three times a day.
Oh.
Well, I would have said it was enough,
two or three times in a week.
Alright.
Of course...
life at Jesus Saves may not be
quite like you think it'll be.
I'm changed.
I won't have no trouble at all.
I'll behave myself.
No. No matter what people say,
I'm changed.
No more.
No more we'll have no funny ways.
Well, you'll not only have to get up
in the morning
- you'll have to go to work.
- Oh, that's no trouble to me, guv.
I've been a good worker in the past.
And the other thing is,
if you get drunk on Friday night
- we'll have no alternative...
- I never drink.
Well...
I begin to wonder what such a virtuous
person's doing inside prison at all.
Unless they happen to be
the governor or the chaplain.
Thank you very much, sir.
Now then, are you sure there's nothing
else you'd like to tell me about yourself?
Like, um...
where you were born,
or what your background was?
Who your parents were?
Thank you, miss.
Right.
(SHE CLEARS HER THROAT)
Dunno why they done it.
Why didn't they let me stay in the nick?
In the nick.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(CROWD CLAMOURS)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
WOMAN:
Oops!
- (NOISY CHATTER)
- One at a time.
That's the old, uh...
the old skipper over there now.
Captain in the Army.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
- (MAN COUGHS)
- Where'd you sleep last night?
Uh...
Over the Scrubs.
MAN:
What did you do before this, Hamlin?
I was a road sweeper for seven years,
Hammersmith Borough Council.
Yes.
- Would you like some soup?
- No, thank you.
I don't need charity.
I'm down but I'm not out yet.
- I'm sorry.
- Oh, that's OK.
But I'm not down and out yet.
Good evening.
Oh, ah...
Ooh, my knee!
My knee!
Ooh, they run me down.
They run me down, the bastards.
Oh, God!
(SHE GROANS)
Are you alright?
Oh...
Oh... I'm Irish, I am.
I'm Catholic!
I've sinned! Sinned!
Please, sister, here.
- Here's money for you, look, here's...
- No.
We don't want your money.
- Have you been to the hospital?
- Yes.
But all they done, they dressed my knee.
That's all they done
and then they threw me out.
Feel it, sister. You feel my knee.
(EDNA WINCES)
- Have you anywhere to go tonight?
- No.
I've nowhere to go.
No one'll have me.
There's nowhere for me.
I'm Catholic, I am.
Irish. I've sinned.
I have, I've sinned, sister.
NUN:
You hold onto your money.
Let me in, I say!
I've been sent here!
They know about me!
Call yourselves "Jesus Saves"
when you leave me out in the night?
You've got a nerve!
Jesus Saves?
Oh, piss off!
Jesus Saves, indeed!
Oh, you call yourselves...
bloody Christians!
And you leave me out in the cold?
Poke off, all of you! I hate ya!
MAN YELLS:
Shut up!
- What?
- Shut up! Learn some behaviour!
- Piss off!
- WOMAN: Shut up!
Shut up, else I'll call the police.
- What did you say?
- I said if you don't shut up
- I'll call the police...
- You poke off to bed, madam!
(EDNA JEERS)
MAN:
Shut up, you bloody vagrant!
Vagrant?
Me?
- Did you call me a vagrant?
- Yes!
I am no vagrant!
I am not a vagrant!
I've lived in houses, yes
and I've got every
right to live in houses.
The only trouble is they always seem
to get condemned.
Pulled down over me head, that's all.
Can I help that?
I don't like living like I do!
I don't like sharing dormitories.
So you want to come in.
Yes.
Come on then.
EDNA:
I didn't...
- Didn't mean to make so much noise.
- Shh.
- There we are.
- I say, you...
SHE WHISPERS:
Goodnight.
Oh, my dear.
Ooh.
Ooh...
(SHE CHUCKLES)
Now, let me see.
Oh, yeah.
(SHE LAUGHS WHEEZILY)
(SHE COUGHS)
Oh.
Ooh...
Oh!
Whoo-hoo-hoo!
(SHE LAUGHS)
Oh, yes!
Knees up, Mother Brown.
(SHE LAUGHS RAUCOUSLY)
Oh, yes!
Oh!
Oh, shut up!
EDNA:
Don't make me laugh.
Belt up with your bleedin' row!
(EDNA SIGHS)
Ooh, I'm sorry.
(SHE COUGHS)
Whoa... There.
Oh! Oh!
I'm being tied up.
I'm tied up. Oh, let me go!
Let me go! Take these things off me!
Oh, bleedin' 'ell.
EDNA:
Oh, am I being tied up?
I'm tied up! Oh!
Oh, I'm a piece of machinery.
I was wrongly connected.
Leave me be, leave me be.
You're not a piece of
machinery, darlin'!
EDNA:
Piece of machinery, oh!
Oh! Oh! Ooh, me asthma.
Come on, you old bag.
- Let me make your bed.
- Oh!
Get away! You get away from me!
- Oh, come on.
- No, look at you! Disgusting!
- You're half naked!
- Oh, sod you then.
- Don't you... Oh!
- JOSIE: No, Edna.
- I can...
- Now shut up.
Shut up at once and go to sleep.
EDNA:
Oh, alright.
Yes. OK.
- (WOMEN LAUGH)
- WOMAN: Good morning.
(LAUGHTER AND CHATTER CONTINUES)
Morning, Paula.
Hi, Vicky.
- It's gone all...
- That's not bad.
Nice, innit?
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
WOMAN:
What's the other one like?
Other arm?
WOMAN:
I didn't think nothing of it.
I thought that's how it always was.
As I got older, I got as
I didn't like so much of it.
It was after me real mum died.
Then one day, when I was 12,
when my new mum
that's me step mum,
was going out shopping
I said to her,
"Please Mum, take me with ya
cos I don't like me dad taking me to bed
with him every time you go out."
Then it all come out.
She sent for the police.
And then this policewoman,
she come along and she said
"You said you've had
intercourse with him?"
And I said, "I don't know,
what's intercourse?"
So she said, "You must know
what intercourse is, girl"
and I said no.
So she said...
"Well, did he get his thing out
and stick it up ya?"
I thought she meant his tongue, cos
he had been kissing me, so I said yes.
So then we went to the court
and my dad, he got a priest
to come to the court
and say that my dad
wouldn't do a thing like that.
So then they got a doctor to examine me,
and he said I was not a virgin.
So they said, well, if it wasn't my dad,
it must be someone else
and I was in need of moral protection.
So, there was no room
in the children's homes
so they sent me to the remand home.
And that's about it, I suppose.
I don't think my dad wanted me, really.
It upset me when they
didn't trust my word.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER AND LAUGHTER)
Can you feel that?
No, go easy now.
No, you can press.
- But don't poke.
- Don't poke.
(CHATTER CONTINUES)
Oh, look. I'm on your arm!
(SHE LAUGHS)
I had a little baby once.
I loved her.
But they took her from me.
I took too many Aspirins.
Police took me to the institution.
Ain't I seen you before somewhere?
- Give us the kettle, Lil.
- I don't think so.
Want some baked beans?
Hey! Hey, Edna?
Then there's Mavis.
She drowned her daughter, aged two.
Day after she was refused an abortion
for the second child she was expecting.
Who else is there?
Oh, yeah, there's Rosamund.
There was a newborn baby girl found
strangled, wrapped in a brown paper parcel
dumped inside some woman's public bog.
Here, Jonesy, this meat's all bone!
- Look!
- We live on what we're given.
Hey, Terri, bring that milk, will you?
There was one time we had only
veal and ham pies, two feet long
thirty of them.
We had to live on veal and ham pie
till we were sick of it.
(THEY CHUCKLE)
Another time, a supermarket
dumped 300 eggs on us.
Most of them were on the point
of going off.
Yes, I remember that time!
We've got a very good relationship
with our butcher now.
Any meat that falls on the floor or
something like that, he gives it to us.
See, my idea...
was of a society where people,
instead of fighting
helped each other.
Well, this house was the first step
and I hope we can turn
it into a whole street
then a town,
and into bigger and bigger units.
The barriers that most social workers put
up, you know, desks, that sort of thing
completely wrong.
I always felt you could draw an analogy
with somebody who'd...
who'd fallen into a well.
Now, the usual approach is to sling in a
rope and say, "Hang onto that and I'll...
I'll pull you up."
My view is that you should get down into
the well and help push from alongside.
This place is a palace.
I've tried all the others.
This is a nice place.
This place is very, very, very nice.
(THEY LAUGH)
Well, you know.
But a lot of them hostels...
It's like in a tank, see. Like fish.
Close the doors and hope for the best.
That's not the best way to treat
them sort of people.
Well, I'm prepared to work.
Yes? But when I go
they say to me, "How old are you?"
And I say, "How old?"
And they say, "Are you a good
timekeeper?" and I say yes.
And I'm in good health.
Then she says,
"Can you work without supervision?"
I say yes.
I think, "This is getting interesting."
But then...
Well, it often happens,
then sort of look me over and...
sort of flitters out.
It's not that they isn't genuine.
It's just I s'pose them sort of persons,
they don't have very good memory.
Well, I think you should
get into bed now, Edna.
You can't talk all night.
Oh, I have to.
Must be able to talk, my doctor says so.
Most important, he says,
"Talk all the time."
No, you must go to sleep now, Edna.
'Ere you are, Edna, have a look at this!
What?
(SHE SCREAMS)
Oh! Damn you!
- (WOMAN LAUGHS)
- Stop it, get off my bed!
And there's Paula Smith,
she leaves next week.
- She's the one who's having the baby?
- That's the one, yes.
(DOOR CLATTERS)
Well, what you all looking at?
What you staring for?
Not now, Trudi, we're having a meeting.
What for, eh?
A bleedin' meeting, what for?
Well, go on then, kill me!
Kill me! Kill me!
- Kill me! Kill me!
- Come on, Trudi, off you go.
- Oh, kill me, kill me!
- Off we go.
- Kill me!
- Come on.
Kill me!
- We really ought to turn her out, you know.
- No one else will take her.
- But it's not our...
- Not even the psychiatric hospital.
I phoned them again last week.
They said, "We can't take her,
she's absolutely mad."
- (MAN CHUCKLES)
- So she is.
And according to our constitution
they're only supposed to stay here
for two weeks.
Well, after this, it really is the
gutter. We can't just turn them out.
(TELEPHONE RINGS)
What are we to do then?
Hello?
Yes, speaking.
A girl like that will drain you dry,
if you let her.
She's been on the streets, you know.
Exposing herself.
Yes, she even came up to me and said,
"Hey, you're taking me out, aren't you?"
I must say, it really turned me off.
She still gets lots of guys though.
- Yes, but where does she take them?
- Doorways mostly, backs of cars.
Good. Bye-bye.
(LOUD THUD UPSTAIRS)
- Goodness me!
- What on Earth's that?
Oh, just Edna cleaning up.
- She's a dab hand with a broom.
- Well, anyway. Trudi...
I tell her she has to go
and she immediately indulges
in a fit of screaming.
Well, it isn't as if these
were the only ones.
I understand that every day,
you're turning people away.
Yes, every day.
- All the time.
- Then why do we discriminate
in favour of those we've got
and against the others?
(EDNA SINGS A TUNE)
(DOOR SLAMS)
Hi, Edna.
I've just been up the dilly.
Everybody's there and...
and they're all just lying around,
smashed.
It's crazy!
Do you know, I don't know
what this country's coming to.
Everybody's smashed.
I think we're gonna be overwhelmed.
Admit it.
You don't want me here.
You want me to go.
Alright then, I'll go.
Alright then, Trudi, go.
There's some roses for you, Josie.
Let me co...
Oh! Let me in, I say!
Oh, alright then.
Piss off, the lot of you!
Go on then, poke off!
Poke off!
Josie!
Josie!
I want to come in, Josie!
I want to come in!
Thank you.
I thought you was gonna throw me out.
Oh, no, Edna. We wouldn't do that.
Will I be here for always then?
Well, not for always, but...
Is there any in the world like me?
I mean, many in the world like me?
What? People who tramp?
Well, you know, us no good ones.
I don't think you're no good.
What they call the "inadequates" one.
Yes, but inadequate for what?
Inadequate to cope with a society
that is, in itself, inadequate?
You hate that stuff, don't ya?
- Of course I don't hate it.
- Yes, you do.
You do. Why do you always chew
that bloody chewing gum
when I give it you,
even though you hate it?
(THEY CHUCKLE)
Well, Edna, I'll admit
I don't really like it.
No, but you chew it.
I chew it for the sake
of our friendship.
- Our friendship?
- Mm.
Our friendship!
Ooh!
Wahey!
- (EDNA LAUGHS)
- I believe I ought to chew it
because of the intense joy it gives you
to see me chew it.
Even though at the end,
you're gonna touch me for five bob.
"Our friendship." Ooh, well then!
(SHE CHUCKLES)
Josie!
Have you got a couple of bob on ya?
EDNA:
I haven't had a drink for three weeks.
Very good, Edna.
Yes, that's my pride.
That's my pride and my boast.
Nothing to drink for three weeks.
Going out to celebrate.
Oh...
- Is that the best...
- Ha!
(SHE LAUGHS)
Got you! Didn't I?
- (THEY LAUGH)
- Go on, April fool!
Sir, I represent the interests
of the local authority
and the inhabitants of Wye Street,
who welcome the opportunity
of this public enquiry
to put forward their point of view.
The, uh... the street is the seat
of considerable amenities
for solid, respectable people.
It was built in Victorian times
as a residential suburb
for the business classes
and for retired people
and the inhabitants like to think
that it has retained
certain of these
excellent characteristics.
So, without planning permission,
there has been set up in the street
a hostel for homeless
and inebriate women.
The effect of this on the neighbourhood
can be all too easily imagined.
What was formerly a highly respectable
residential neighbourhood
now, it turns out, runs the risk of
changing with grave attendant risks
into something very different.
It was mainly, sir, nuns that did this.
They were offered this house
for a few years by a well-wisher
and they, having no particular use
for it, lent it to a Miss Josie Quinn
for her to carry out in it her...
experiments with women.
JOSIE:
This is a clean population.
The drunken population of these parts
is a very clean population...
on the whole.
They're very clean folk...
on the whole.
But, uh, if there is no hostel provided
for these people?
JOSIE:
They have nowhere to go
except to the mental hospital,
or the street, or to prison.
(CROWD MUTTERS)
Going there, not because they're really
criminals or mad, but because...
there's nowhere more suitable for them.
These people are listed in
official reports as inebriates
alcoholics, psychopaths, drug addicts...
layabouts, the disabled...
failures.
These words are alibis to help us to
forget why they're really like they are.
Stack the cards against us.
These people are the same as us.
Just you and me in a mess,
and they can live fulfilled lives.
There should be hostels like ours
everywhere, every four or five streets.
Huge institutions so
vast, so impersonal.
There's no answer.
What they need is a small place.
A place to be a typical home.
The sort of home that most of them
have never had.
A home in a house like any other
in a decent street.
These are people, not monsters.
People who have been damaged
through being "helped"
through being helped
with the wrong kind of help.
Their need is desperate.
Sometimes, the street
is filled with drunkards.
They fall down in the gutter.
I've been stopped in the street
and asked for coppers.
These people should be somewhere else.
In a large hostel,
or a large hotel.
They're nothing but vagrants.
Vagrant?
I am not the vagrant!
Are the doors kept locked?
The doors aren't kept locked
because we want the residents to look
upon the place as their own home.
- Are they let out?
- Well, yes.
And when they're out, they have a drink?
We hope they won't be slipping back
into the state of mind
when they want a drink.
But some do relapse?
Very occasionally...
they relapse.
- Well...
- (CROWD CHATTERS)
How many of those you're housing
could be described as vagrants?
EDNA:
Listen, I've told you this before!
I am not the vagrant!
No! I am not!
I am not the vagrant!
You think I'm a nothing, don't you?
You think I'm nothing!
Well, I am!
Well, I... Well, I'm not!
Here, let me tell you something.
I've had money and men...
I've had women and my own house
and I wasn't satisfied!
Because they trap you,
always, they have!
You think I'm nothing!
- Don't you "how do you do" and never...
- Come on.
Cos I'm not!
- I'm not!
- Come on.
- I'm not!
- That's it. There we go.
(EDNA RAMBLES INCOHERENTLY)
- The bloody old shades!
- (CHURCH BELL CHIMES)
- (EDNA SHOUTS)
- (INDISTINCT CHATTER)
EDNA:
No!
(EDNA YELLS)
- Let go of me! No!
- Come on...
(INDISTINCT CLAMOUR)
Don't you...
Don't you put me out! Don't you...
(EDNA SOBS)
No!
NUNS:
Now, come along.
I can't...
It's not my fault...
Mummy!
Mummy! Mummy!
Mummy!
Mummy, why did you...
(BABY CRIES)
MOTHER (VO):
I love you, Edna.
You're mammy's little baby bird.
What do you think of your daughter?
FATHER (VO): Doesn't matter to me.
I didn't want her.
I wanted you, Mummy. I wanted you...
(EDNA SOBS)
MOTHER (VO):
Oh, you're lovely, Edna.
Mammy's own and lovely little girl.
Bless you.
There's no dinner tonight.
No dinner tonight.
I'm sorry. Nothing.
Why have you got no money?
- (FATHER MUMBLES)
- Cos you drunk it all! That's what!
Jesus, I'm gonna kill you!
(THEY MOAN)
- (HE YELLS)
- (BABY CRIES)
(HE YELLS)
(THEY MOAN)
(BABY CRIES)
- (MAN YELLS)
- (SHE SCREAMS)
CHILD:
Don't go out, Daddy. Don't go out.
(SHE SOBS)
Mummy, Mummy, Mummy.
MOTHER (VO):
I'm just going out for an hour.
I've left your food on the table.
POLICEMAN:
Where's your mum?
CHILD:
Out at a party.
Uh-huh. When did you last see her?
- CHILD: Last night.
- POLICEMAN: Last night?
I'm going to take you
off to a lovely home.
CHILD:
This is home.
MOTHER:
Don't you take my children from me!
Don't you dare take my children
from me! No! No!
JUDGE:
You left your children alone all night.
MOTHER:
I left them with food.
I sentence you to three
months' imprisonment.
MOTHER: That means the poor dears
will be alone for 90 nights.
MAN: May I apply for a custody order
for the children to be placed in care?
NURSE: Yes, the bed is hard and lumpy,
isn't it?
That's because you wet it.
It's pebbles and marbles.
Each time you wet it, there'll be more.
Here's a basin,
as you see it's filled with urine
I'm going to wash your face in it!
You know why!
VOICE ECHOES:
You know why...
(SHE SOBS)
MOTHER (VO):
She's absolutely uncontrollable.
It's best if she were
taken back into care.
Would you care to say anything else
about your daughter?
I have no daughter.
Come along, we'll find a bed for you.
I think she's one of the women
from the hostel.
Yes, she is.
It's alright now.
Soon be better.
(NUNS CHATTER SOFTLY)
EDNA: I don't expect you'll
want to see me again.
You expect me to say
that, don't you, Edna?
You expect me to be a...
a rejecting father figure to you.
I'm not going to.
I'm not going to say
you've been a dreadful failure
and you've let us down dreadfully.
I'm going to say...
well done.
You've done a jolly good job
going straight and keeping sober
for the length of time you have.
Let's see if next time
it can't be for even longer.
"Dear Miss Quinn...
I'm instructed to inform you
that the minister has given
every consideration to your petition
that Jesus Saves should be legalised
and permitted to operate as a hostel
in Wye Street.
Having taken into account the views
of all relevant parties
expressed at the public enquiry...
he is regretfully forced
to take the conclusion
that it is not in the public interest
to operate a hostel in
this particular area.
You have one month from this date
to cease operations."
Oh, no!
(SHE SOBS)
Mummy, Mummy, Mummy.
Mummy, why did she...
(SHE SOBS)
Why did she let me?
Why me?
(SHE SOBS)
He didn't want me, weren't there ways...
to stop me to be?
(SHE SOBS)
Mummy...
Why did...
(SHE SOBS)
Hello.
No.
No.
No.
Well, the hostel's closing.
I'm sorry, I can't take you.
I've just told you, we've got to close.
Yes.
Goodbye.
- That, that, that phone call...
- No, Edna, it wasn't for you.
- What d'you say?
- Really, Edna, it wasn't for you.
It was for me. That phone call!
It must have been this time!
Edna.
Your wrist.
So...
where are you going, Edna?
Don't worry about me, I'll move on.
I'll be alright.
I feel so set up after this place.
I'm quite looking
forward to sleeping out.
Well...
if you're sure you'll be alright.
I'll be the restless type, see.
Always was restless.
Never could stick anything for long.
(TRAIN RUMBLES OVERHEAD)
EDNA:
Anyway, there was this fella I met.
Long time ago.
And I really did love this fella.
He was the one,
as far as I was concerned.
He was me fairy prince.
When I thought of him...
when I see the trees with the clouds
in their branches
when I heard in the papers about
her dream's come true,
Prince Charming, all that.
That's when I get to thinking...
thinking about him
cos he was the only
one, really, you see?
I thought he was my Prince
Charming, but...
he was that to some others as well.
Other ladies.
(SHE CHUCKLES)
Anyway, it seems
that he never thought about me
the same way as what I thought
about him, sort of thing.
And I still do think of him sometimes.
And I wonder what it
would have been like.
Love's funny, innit?
I mean...
why him?
Didn't you never have no children, Edna?
Yes, I had one, but it was a prem
then I had another, but it was...
it was took away.
Well...
Bye-bye now, dear. Cheerio.
But ain't we...
- I thought we was going on.
- No.
Bye-bye now, dear,
cos I go this way, see?
It's like I say.
Flitter, flitter.
Cheerio, dear.
(EDNA MUTTERS)
Flitter, flitter.
"Move on", they say.
I say, "Right!
I'm moving on.
No one keeps me around."
(MUTTERING FADES)
(INDISTINCT MUTTERING CONTINUES)
Yes?
I want a bed for the night.
(KEY CLATTERS IN LOCK)
Alright.
Name?
Edna.
Edna O'Casey.
Let's see your cards.
I ain't got no cards.
Sorry, you can't come here
if you've got no cards.
Yes, I can. You've got to let me in.
- It's me right.
- Sod your "right".
No cards, you don't come in here.
You any other way of
identifying yourself?
I got a right to come in here!
And I got a right to
put right me right to...
sock you in the ear 'ole.
Sod off.
- (SHE MUTTERS)
- (EDNA STAMPS)
Where are you from?
From around.
From round about.
Just from the roundabout.
Yeah, before you got to the roundabout?
I was in a psychiatric...
No!
I just been around, round about,
around and round about.
You used to be on the road
once long ago, wasn't you?
Always popping in
from some different direction.
Yes.
I used to be on the road at one time
but I'm more settled down now.
Use number one.
I'm in regular work.
'Ere, why have they moved this place?
Used to be in the centre of the town.
Administrative difficulties.
- (SHOWER RUNS)
- They moved it cos they wanna
stamp out us people!
Stamp us off the face of the Earth.
It was thought to be
better to put it here.
You sure you're skint?
Know you've got to be
skint to come here?
I'm sure!
Well, I know you say you're sure,
but are you really?
EDNA:
Yes!
Well...
You know you'll have to leave tomorrow.
EDNA:
Yes.
I'll have to de-infestate these clothes.
Blah-blah-blah-blah.
An old fella says to me
says, "I've given up gambling,
given up swearing and drinking."
"Bloody hell," says he
"I've left me playing
cards down the pub!"
(SHE LAUGHS)
(WOMAN COUGHS)
(WOMAN MOANS QUIETLY)
(WOMAN COUGHS)
Are you in work now?
Yes.
What are you doing?
I... I work here.
I, uh...
I do the buckets
outside the bathroom
and I, I swill down the tiles
outside the...
the, you know, the "how d'you do".
Did you ever try to get work outside?
- Yes, sir.
- Where?
Yes, sir.
MAN:
Mm.
Ah.
They... they says I was too old.
You know, aged.
You know, the teeth.
You know, sir. Yes, sir.
MAN:
Yes.
Would you like to stay on here
throughout the winter?
Oh, yes, sir.
Alright.
We'll keep you here
throughout the winter
and we'll turn you out for the summer.
- Alright?
- Oh, thank you very much, sir.
I've shrunk. Dunno why.
I've shrunk.
(HE COUGHS)
I feel better when I've drunk.
Take a deep breath.
That's it.
Weren't you the Lightweight Champion
of England once?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Please, sir.
Yes?
Can you take me in, sir?
Can I be tachy to the house?
Take me in for the winter, sir, and...
(SHE COUGHS)
Something for the cough.
And I want to complain about the dreams
I've been getting. Terrible dreams, sir.
Oh, Edna.
I've got nowhere for you to go.
They're closing all the beds
in the women's wing
except for the one-night casuals.
I'd take you in if I could.
I'm sorry.
Thank you very much, sir.
EDNA (VO):
I haven't had a meal since yesterday.
I didn't have a meal today.
I kept going on apples.
On the tramp all night and I've kept on
tramping after the day's broke.
I've kept on tramping.
(MILK BOTTLES TINKLE)
(CHILDREN CHATTER AND GIGGLE)
(SCHOOL BELL RINGS)
EDNA (VO): People are getting up.
The caffs are opening.
You can smell the breakfasts.
(SHE CHUCKLES) I ain't got
any money to buy me breakfast.
You can't stop, the shades won't let ya.
You go on.
So you say, "Alright, I'll go on."
So you've got a target
and you say,
"I'll go on to the next town"
and from there...
it's only a short step back home
to where you come from.
Come along, Edna.
You can't stay here.
We're closed.
Haven't I told you that?
I was only trying to
stamp out the beetle.
Never mind the beetle.
They won't harm you no more anyway.
You're going, remember?
I was only trying to
stamp out the beetle.
- Why?
- Cos I don't like 'em.
That's why.
Well, they won't worry you no more.
You're going.
Edna.
You're going, remember?
G-O-I-N-G spells going.
Goodbye.
Bye-bye, beetle.
Any beds?
Any beds?
I dunno.
What's it like in there?
Cold.
You know anybody would care
to publish some drawings?
No, dear.
Wayfaring is a very funny thing.
Sometimes you're happy in it,
sometimes you're not.
You feel cut off. Do you find that?
Oh, yes.
It's not that I dislike people
what's more settled.
I watch 'em and wish
I could be like 'em.
I sometimes think I once knew something
of very great importance.
Then other times I don't.
(SHE COUGHS)
I'm in regular work.
Got a very good job,
as a matter of fact.
I've got a very good memory.
Oh, yes.
I'm sure you're right.
I'm in work too, same as you.
It seems as I drank the tea
and I drank the tea leaves as well.
I drank the tea leaves, see,
so I don't no more like the tea
and so...
flitter, flitter.
(SHE COUGHS)
But I did...
learn something about life
only I...
(SHE COUGHS)
...don't know how to tell it.
So...
(SHE COUGHS AND WHEEZES)
Excuse me.
(SHE COUGHS)
(SHE COUGHS AND CHOKES)
Oh...
I think I'll...
I'll go to bed now.
Get bedded down.
(HACKING COUGH CONTINUES)
Yes.
(SHE GROANS)
Ooh!
(SHE COUGHS)
Oh, yes.
I like to sleep out.
That's what keeps me in good health.
(SHE COUGHS)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
EDNA:
Could have been, um...
I think it was three weeks ago
but you see, I haven't got no money.
Three weeks ago.
Yeah, well, look, look.
Perhaps you could help me by giving
the details from the beginning.
Now, where did you lose it?
If I knew that,
I wouldn't have lost it, would I?
What colour was it?
Primrose.
And or pink.
Ah, yeah, well, that is not the colour
of the allowance book in question.
I did report it last week,
but not here.
- Yeah, well...
- I need a quid!
Well, I can't do anything, can I,
Mrs Morrison?
The only place that could help you
is Broad Street.
I can't get there, can I?
No, well...
I'm going upstairs, get a grant.
Being in dire need.
MAN:
Alright.
One was in the first department...
I'm in dire need.
Please don't come in here
until you've seen the receptionist!
Oh...
- EDNA: Soup, please.
- You can't have just soup.
I only want soup.
- Your breakfast ticket is worth three soups.
- Yes.
What do you mean, "yes"?
Three soups or no soup.
Three soups.
Thank you very much.
(MEN CHATTER INDISTINCTLY)
(TRAIN WHISTLE SOUNDS)
(HE SIGHS)
Drop the bloody H-bomb
before the winter comes.
(HE GRUNTS)
What did you say?
Oh, I'm an Irish man.
Twenty-five years in this country.
Of that 25 years, I spent 15 in prison.
Oh! Wag off.
Double runt, you!
I'll get you a ruddy stick
for your ruddy flies.
(HE CACKLES)
Does your m...
Does your mind get clouded sometimes?
All clouded up?
Oh, yes. Mine does.
But I go round the
doctor, get some drugs.
Doesn't help.
I'm sick, you see.
- EDNA: Oh...
- I'm sick.
- EDNA: Mm.
- Mind you, people take an interest.
It doesn't help.
I let them down.
One tip I'll give you.
Have you got a friend?
No.
I did have one once.
Not anymore, now.
Ah, yeah. When you lose them,
you'll never get them back.
Anyway...
Nerves bad?
Are your nerves bad?
- Mm.
- Phanyl is very good for that.
It's very good for the nerves.
Now you write that down.
Phanyl.
My mind gets cloudy.
Phanyl.
It gets so cloudy sometimes
that I have to walk
all the way to the north to clear it.
Seven days, it takes.
When we get there, I'm...
so bloody fed up,
I walk all the way back again.
Phanyl.
You a deserter?
Oh...
You look like a deserter
out the bloody Army.
I'm not.
No, I'm not that.
But I find it hard in
the world to belong.
Do you find it hard?
- Mm.
- Oh, MPs find it alright
but ordinary people find it hard.
They're ostracised because they stand up
and speak true facts.
That's what I say.
Oh, I did volunteer.
In the Army, they sent me up to Wales.
And in the war, I met the soldiers
and I said, "Don't."
Do you want to do square bashing?
Do you want to do fatigues?
Don't. Don't.
"Oh," they said,
"you can build the roads."
"You can go on building the roads
if it eases your conscience."
But I said, "A concrete road is a road
you can carry guns on, isn't it?"
"We'll segregate you," they said.
"You can segregate me
if you like," I said.
- What I say...
- Hey!
SLURRED SPEECH:
This is Tiny Nick
the most famousest
character around here.
He thinks he's God.
(HE CHUCKLES)
Hey, hey. Tell her why you think that.
I was saying my prayers to the Lord
and I found I was talking to myself.
(HE LAUGHS)
You see what I mean?
W-when he goes to the public toilets
he does number two all over the floor.
(HE LAUGHS)
Hey!
Tell her, tell her why you do that.
God made number two
so God can drop it where he pleases.
(HE LAUGHS)
Well done.
You see what I mean? He's a lad!
MAN:
Hey, darling.
'Ere, look, you wanna...
you wanna break that
and then stuff it up your nose
and then, like, really sniff it,
get it right back
and, uh, you should get a buzz off that.
(SHE LAUGHS)
You doing a skipper
cos you have to?
Or just for a rave?
(THEY LAUGH)
- (LOUD CLICK)
- (HE SNIFFS)
Ooh, look!
He's started off.
(SHE LAUGHS)
Oh, that is beautiful, that is.
(HE CHUCKLES)
Too much, that is, phew.
Oh, that's a real buzz, that's like...
(HE MUTTERS)
- (TINNY PIANO PLAYS)
- (WOMEN SING)
(INDISTINCT SINGING)
♪ Hope and joy ♪
♪ While we may ♪
♪ Oh, the beauty ♪
♪ Oh, the beauty ♪
♪ Oh, the beauty of the day ♪
(SINGING CONTINUES)
♪ Oh, the beauty of the day ♪
♪ Here, only the shady walls... ♪
Cos I'm half and half.
They turned me like that, you see.
Really, I just want to be a girl.
Eh? What?
You're half and half?
But you want to be a woman?
That takes some sorting out, don't it?
I wasn't born half and half.
I mean, I dress and I live like a girl
but I'm half and half.
My girlfriend, she got pregnant.
Well, that does take some sorting out.
Ah...
(SHE LAUGHS)
Get away! You're having me on!
(SHE CHUCKLES)
Tend to drink some though.
Cos people think I'm likeable.
But legally...
See, legally...
Well, you know.
They took me into the psychiatric
and they cut me breasts off.
Me breasts!
Me breasts.
Oh, well.
No good crying over spilt milk.
(SHE LAUGHS)
I've got that. That's good, that is.
Can you tell me the way to Torrington?
Torrington? Well, yeah, I can show you.
Can you give us a lift?
Whoa.
I can tell you, I've been
in some of the roughest places
and in some of the best places.
Yes, I can see that.
I know me hair looks lovely,
but it's got nits underneath.
Uh, excuse me,
you couldn't spare half a quid
for a good time with two naughty girls?
It says "No beds", but I can help ya.
Help a friend in trouble.
Nothing else!
You think I'm a les, don't ya?
But I'm not.
Nothing else wanted. Nothing else!
(SHE MOUTHS)
I suppose she'll want
sandwich and a tea.
She generally has one and five.
Put her down then.
Ah, yes.
She comes up. One and five pence
for Miss Lightfoot.
WOMAN:
Can I have a sandwich, please?
What we got, Jean?
I got cheese or spam.
- What would you like, love?
- Spam, please.
- Spam.
- And a tea?
And a tea, please.
WOMAN 2:
That'll be one and five.
- Put it down, shall I?
- Yes. Put it down here.
WOMAN 3: Two little bits of beef,
three little baked potatoes
and about a spoonful of peas.
Six and six, they charged at the caff.
WOMAN 4:
Where's the sugar?
No sugar.
WOMAN 5:
What have you got?
WOMAN 2:
Uh, we've got spam.
JEAN:
Spam or cheese.
Oh, haven't you got any egg?
- No.
- JEAN: No eggs.
Oh, my good God.
Alright, I'll have a spam then.
On the book, yes, please.
- How many, Miss Jones?
- Only one, thank you.
WOMAN 2:
One and five.
JEAN:
That's not right, is it?
There you are, m'lady. Thank you.
WOMAN 2:
Spam's going very well, isn't it?
WOMAN:
Very nice, very nice.
(THEY CHATTER INDISTINCTLY)
Have you?
(SHE CHUCKLES)
Drop of whiskey.
Yeah, very nice.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
WOMAN 1:
I enjoyed my dinner, did you?
WOMAN 2:
Yeah, it was very nice, my dinner, yeah.
Very nice dinner.
I'll cook you something good.
You can't come here.
Only paddies allowed.
This one is a paddy.
The kitchen is closed!
I'll speak with the manager.
I am the manager.
WOMAN:
I've had my sandwich and my tea.
- (INDISTINCT CHATTER)
- Back under the bed.
Strips the bed there.
I've had it. I can't move then.
Can I really sleep under the bed?
Yes, yes.
And nothing wanted in exchange?
Nothing else. Nothing, nothing, nothing.
- OK.
- (WOMAN CHUCKLES)
Hey, I show you something.
This is my husband.
And this was my childrens.
This was me man's car
and this was my elkhound.
I took them with my own camera.
And this was my man's speed boat.
EDNA:
Hey, is that you?
WOMAN:
Yeah.
EDNA:
Is it?
Oh! This takes some sorting
out, don't it?
I mean...
(SHE CHUCKLES)
Quite a change, isn't it?
Eh?
Mm.
(WOMEN COUGH AND CHATTER)
- Goodnight, Jane.
- Goodnight.
Goodnight, Ida.
MAN:
Oi, you. Come on, out!
Come on, out!
- Come on.
- What?
MAN:
What? Come on. Out, I said.
- Oh!
- Come on.
Ah, come on, now. Out you go.
Go on! Get out on the bleeding street,
your bag and all.
- Go on!
- EDNA: Yes.
Go on!
And I've had you here before,
go on, get out!
The last amount we advanced you was
the result of your being in dire need.
But we can't continue making these
payments while you remain a vagrant.
Now, if you would...
While I remain a what?
While you remain a vagrant.
- But if you...
- The vagrant?
I am not the vagrant!
I'm not, I'm not, I'm not the vagrant!
And I want money!
I want money, I need money!
Kindly lower your voice.
- If you don't, I'll have to...
- Alright!
Send for the bloody old shades!
And shut up!
- Keep your bloody old money!
- (WOMAN YELLS)
All this has happened before!
I am not the vagrant!
I'm not the vagrant! I am not!
- I am not the vagrant!
- (WOMAN SHRIEKS)
I am, I am, I am!
She was causing a disturbance
in the Ministry of Social Security.
- I thought it advisable...
- Can you speak up, please?
I can't hear you very well.
She was causing a disturbance
in the Ministry of Social Security...
EDNA:
No, I was not, sir! No, I was not!
Well, I'm only putting my point of view
cos they called me "The Vagrant".
Yes, well...
Either I write here you're disturbed
and recommend you be admitted
to our psychiatric hospital
or I say you're sane
and send you back to the court for them
to deal with you as they think fit.
Now which would you like?
- (INDISTINCT MUTTERING)
- (WOMAN CHATTERS HYSTERICALLY)
- (WOMAN CONTINUES CHATTERING)
- NURSE: There you are.
WOMAN SOBBING:
No! No!
(WOMAN CONTINUES SOBBING)
- Got any pills?
- Eh?
Got any pills?
Pills?
You don't eat all the pills
the nurses gives ya, do ya?
Oh, no. I've got a few
but I need 'em for meself, see.
Go on.
- Why?
- Go on, give us some.
Well...
How do you know them pills
will agree with ya?
What's your name, dear?
Mind your business.
'Ere...
why do you want them pills so bad?
Oh, everybody wants pills, dear.
(SHE MUTTERS)
(SHE SNIFFS)
That seat's taken.
Sorry.
Oh.
All those seats are taken.
You can sit over there though.
This is no good, I want fish!
I don't eat this. I only eat fish.
Fish! Fish! Fish! I only eat fish.
Bleugh! Argh!
(SHE SPITS AND GAGS)
Poison! Urgh!
I can't eat this! This is...
This is snot, this is.
This is snot from out your nose! It's...
This is snot!
This is fish.
Sent off specially
from the diet kitchen.
It's fish.
- Flat fish.
- It's snot!
It is snot!
(WOMAN GIGGLES)
(WOMAN CHUCKLES)
(WOMAN CHUCKLES LOUDLY)
(LAUGHTER CONTINUES)
(SHE YELLS)
NURSE:
Come along now, Edna.
- Open.
- Mm-mm.
Everyone takes a pill after a meal.
Mmm!
NURSE:
Come on. Good girl.
Nurse, hold her nose.
Mmm!
NURSE IN A SING-SONG VOICE:
Come on, open. Open.
- Open.
- (EDNA YELLS)
NURSE:
Swallow it down. Swallow it.
Good girl.
(SHE SPITS)
(MUSIC: "I SEE YOU" BY ELECTRIC BANANA)
♪ As misty shadows chase the sun ♪
♪ The sky, he says, "My day is done" ♪
♪ Through the dark forests of my mind ♪
♪ A bright light shone,
it's you I find ♪
♪ I see you ♪
♪ I see you ♪
♪ I see you ♪
♪ In a crowded windswept street ♪
♪ The faces I see of the people I meet ♪
♪ With their eyes they build a shrine ♪
♪ That takes me back
to the forests of my mind ♪
♪ I see you ♪
♪ I see you ♪
♪ I see you ♪
♪ Silent shadows creep on silent walls ♪
EDNA:
Don't mind me asking.
What's a nice young girl like you
doing in a place like this?
You're much too young and beautiful
to be in here, dear.
(SHE SCOFFS)
Them that's most beautiful
can be sickest in their mind, my love.
EDNA:
Are you sick in your mind, dear?
Oh.
(EDNA TUTS)
It's them pills what the doctor give me.
My nerves had got so terrible,
kept taking more and more pills
to quiet 'em down.
In the end, I was taking 60 or 80 a day.
EDNA:
Oh.
Well, let's hope your stay in here
won't be long then.
I hope it will be.
Very, very long one.
♪ I see you ♪
DOCTOR:
Hello, Edna. You know me, I'm Dr Austin.
I want to give you a little injection in
your arm. It's nothing to worry about.
But when I give it to you,
I want you to start counting up to ten
and round about eight,
you'll find that you'll go to sleep
and you'll wake up
with a cup of tea later on.
- Alright? There's nothing to worry about.
- No.
ORDERLY:
Just a little prick. That's all.
DOCTOR:
Now start counting, Edna.
ORDERLY:
Start counting after me.
- One, two...
- Yes, one.
- ORDERLY: Two...
- Two.
Three.
- ORDERLY: Getting tired.
- Four.
ORDERLY:
There, you're sleeping.
Lovely.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
- I think she's quite relaxed now.
- DOCTOR: Yes, she's alright now.
ORDERLY:
OK?
DOCTOR:
Yes.
(FAINT BUZZING)
(SHE GRUNTS)
ORDERLY:
That's quite a nice convulsion.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
ORDERLY:
She will not need much.
- DOCTOR: I think she's breathing already.
- Yeah.
She's fine.
- She's OK.
- Yeah, fine.
DOCTOR:
Turn her on her side, please.
(SHE SNORES)
That'll do for today, Anne.
You can go now.
Ah.
Ah, it's, uh... Edna, is it?
- Yes.
- Good, sit down.
Now.
Can you please try...
Can you please tell me
if you know the date?
The date?
Oh, uh...
Let me see, um...
Thirty-second?
Mm.
Alright, you can stay in another week.
You can go now.
Ah, it's uh... Katherine, is it?
(SHE GROANS)
(WOOD CLATTERS ON FLOOR)
Where's Clara?
You know, one what goes round
collecting pills.
Clara?
Where's Clara?
(SHE SCOFFS)
She's dead.
She took too many.
You listen.
(WRIST CLICKS)
(WRIST CLICKS)
I can wrench me bones, see.
I do it in the wards, do it all the time
till it drives 'em mad.
- (TELEPHONE RINGS)
- Phone!
Thank you.
Lodge.
Who?
No, I'm sorry. She's not here.
Is that phone call for me?
You?
Why should I have a call for you then?
Yes, and I weren't here
so you said I weren't here.
I didn't tell anybody you weren't here.
It wasn't for you.
Yes, I'm sorry. Who was it?
I don't know, a man.
- It wasn't for you.
- A man?
Well, listen. I wanted to speak...
Why didn't...
Why didn't you let me speak to him?
You are Mrs Edna Johnson, aren't you?
No! I'm Mrs Edna O...
Forget it!
You're cured, Mrs Rogers.
Oh, you still have problems, it's true
but basically,
yours is not a psychological problem.
You may still have problems like housing
but as regards your mind,
you're as right as rain.
You'll have to go, Edna.
I do think I have got some problems.
(DOOR CLUNKS)
(GAS HISSES)
(SHE SNIFFS)
(SHE COUGHS)
(HACKING COUGH CONTINUES)
Why did you do it?
To show you I wanted to stay.
Stay another week.
After that, you go.
I'm not staying in this stinking dump.
EDNA SINGS: ♪I was never bitter,
though my life was sad ♪
♪ For broken friendships litter
the road of life so hard ♪
♪ Blow! Savage winds ♪
♪ And bring the slashing rain ♪
♪ There's a sweetness in her sorrow ♪
♪ Glory in her pain ♪
♪ I left the city,
with its artificial lights ♪
♪ Away from the wiles of wanton men ♪
♪ The sensual delights ♪
♪ I wander through the country ♪
♪ Free from every care ♪
♪ I sit by the streams
and breathe in deep ♪
♪ Of freedom's air ♪
(KNOCK ON DOOR)
POLICEMAN:
OK, out!
(ROCK MUSIC PLAYS IN KITCHEN)
Thank you very much...
(SHE GRUNTS)
(SHE GROANS)
(SHE GROANS)
Oh.
I gets drunk very easy.
One Red Biddy
and I'm drunk out of this world.
Well, look, love,
that's not my problem, is it?
- (TELEPHONE RINGS)
- If you got no money, go and beg for it.
MAN:
Hello.
I think that phone call's for me!
How could it be for
you, you silly old cow?
Go on, piss off out of it.
Go on, get out!
- (EDNA YELLS)
- Go on, get out. Get out!
(CAR HORN BLARES)
(EDNA SINGS A TUNE)
'Ere, can't you read?
It says washing other than
face and hands is not allowed.
Piss off, dirtbox!
Only a pound or two, but it comes to you
with the sincere good wishes
of everyone concerned with this charity.
Now, how about clothing, hm?
Oh.
- Yes, sir.
- (HE CHUCKLES)
Yeah. Here, the boots, sir.
- Boot?
- Yes, uh, what about the boots?
I could... I could do with some boots.
Oh, yes, of course. I see.
Yes, yes, we can fix you up with boots.
Over here.
Uh, those are the gents, I'm afraid.
Our ladies department
is on this shelf here.
Yes.
I do, uh...
a certain amount of
strolling around, sir.
Mm?
- Wears 'em out quick.
- Yes.
These?
Yes, those.
Jolly good.
- Jolly good.
- And a coat, sir?
Oh, yes, yes,
we can fix you up with a coat.
Now, um... do you fancy
the green and mauve?
Uh...
Yes, I do.
Let's try it on.
- May I?
- Oh!
That's it.
Now then... Oh, whoops.
As they say.
Mm.
Have a look over there.
That's splendid.
It almost fits, doesn't it?
Well, now, will you leave your old coat
- with me to dispose of?
- No. No, sir. No.
- Never throw away old clothes.
- (HE CHUCKLES)
Very sensible.
Well, now, here's the address of a room
we've found for you.
I'll find me own place.
Hey, you.
What number were you last night?
Well, uh, number 34.
No, you were number 62
and you wet your bed, didn't you?
Out.
- At least have another try!
- Out.
Can you give me a name
and your permanent address?
I ain't got no permanent name.
Sorry?
No, ain't got no permanent name,
it varies.
No, I mean,
I ain't got no permanent address.
The name is, um... McLean.
Well, I'm sorry, Mrs McLean,
but you see...
there's nothing can be done
till you've got a permanent address.
Well, something bloody well must
be done. I ain't got no money.
Just a minute.
Excuse me...
(SHE WHISPERS INDISTINCTLY)
Go to Stockville Department
of Health and Social Security.
That's in Broad Street
during office hours.
Or in the hours of darkness,
go to Digbeth Police Station
and on furnishing proof of destitution
they'll give you a chit,
entitling you to a bed
in our local par three accommodation.
MAN: Do you have any proof of identity,
like a National Insurance card?
Yes, yes.
Here's me address and, uh,
here's me permanent name.
Mr Robert Tute?
IN DEEP VOICE:
Yes, yes, yes, that is my name, yes.
Are you sure that's your name...
Mr Tute?
Come on out, darling.
You can't sleep here all night.
- EDNA: What? What's going on here?
- Come on.
- Why don't you leave me alone?
- Come on, you can't sleep here.
Oh, you leave me alone!
You're a bloody shade!
(SHE YELLS)
POLICEMAN (VO):
Accused of shouting
striding backwards and forwards
causing a considerable
amount of annoyance.
Uh, complaints have been received
from neighbours.
I informed her that, in my opinion,
her behaviour was drunk and disorderly
and that she was causing
a breach of the peace.
What have you got to say?
Well, I'm very sorry, sir.
I didn't seem to do it
and I don't know what come over me,
that I didn't do it.
All I say is...
that it didn't seem
as how I was doing it, sir.
No.
Not at all.
See, the fact is, I drank the liquid
intending just to have a
drop, sir, but...
Well, I...
I drank more
than just one drop, sir, didn't I?
But I've got me pound, sir.
Got me pound saved up to pay the fine.
- Anything known?
- Yes.
In 1917, aged...
- Just the last three.
Two convictions for drunk and disorderly
and one for two years for larceny.
(Whispers) From what I hear, this is clearly
a case for short-term imprisonment.
Yes, I think so.
I'm afraid we're going to need more
than a one pound fine.
It's quite nice in here, innit?
Quite nice doings.
(SHE SIGHS)
I'll say, it's nice in here.
It's nice and warm.
Yes... warmer than outside.
Look at that, lovely.
Always did say, prison's not as bad
as it's cracked up to be.
Better than some hotels.
Whoo!
Oh!
(SHE SIGHS)
(DISTANT BELL RINGS)
Of course, if you come to Jesus Saves,
we can't have you getting drunk.
I'm not gonna take a drink.
Oh, really?
- Really?
- Must be saving me money.
Won't be spending it all over the place.
- Very good, very good indeed. Excellent.
- I'll be getting up in the morning, alright.
Very good. Excellent.
And I shall be taking the bath,
two or three times a day.
Oh.
Well, I would have said it was enough,
two or three times in a week.
Alright.
Of course...
life at Jesus Saves may not be
quite like you think it'll be.
I'm changed.
I won't have no trouble at all.
I'll behave myself.
No. No matter what people say,
I'm changed.
No more.
No more we'll have no funny ways.
Well, you'll not only have to get up
in the morning
- you'll have to go to work.
- Oh, that's no trouble to me, guv.
I've been a good worker in the past.
And the other thing is,
if you get drunk on Friday night
- we'll have no alternative...
- I never drink.
Well...
I begin to wonder what such a virtuous
person's doing inside prison at all.
Unless they happen to be
the governor or the chaplain.
Thank you very much, sir.
Now then, are you sure there's nothing
else you'd like to tell me about yourself?
Like, um...
where you were born,
or what your background was?
Who your parents were?
Thank you, miss.
Right.
(SHE CLEARS HER THROAT)
Dunno why they done it.
Why didn't they let me stay in the nick?
In the nick.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(CROWD CLAMOURS)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
WOMAN:
Oops!
- (NOISY CHATTER)
- One at a time.
That's the old, uh...
the old skipper over there now.
Captain in the Army.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
- (MAN COUGHS)
- Where'd you sleep last night?
Uh...
Over the Scrubs.
MAN:
What did you do before this, Hamlin?
I was a road sweeper for seven years,
Hammersmith Borough Council.
Yes.
- Would you like some soup?
- No, thank you.
I don't need charity.
I'm down but I'm not out yet.
- I'm sorry.
- Oh, that's OK.
But I'm not down and out yet.
Good evening.
Oh, ah...
Ooh, my knee!
My knee!
Ooh, they run me down.
They run me down, the bastards.
Oh, God!
(SHE GROANS)
Are you alright?
Oh...
Oh... I'm Irish, I am.
I'm Catholic!
I've sinned! Sinned!
Please, sister, here.
- Here's money for you, look, here's...
- No.
We don't want your money.
- Have you been to the hospital?
- Yes.
But all they done, they dressed my knee.
That's all they done
and then they threw me out.
Feel it, sister. You feel my knee.
(EDNA WINCES)
- Have you anywhere to go tonight?
- No.
I've nowhere to go.
No one'll have me.
There's nowhere for me.
I'm Catholic, I am.
Irish. I've sinned.
I have, I've sinned, sister.
NUN:
You hold onto your money.
Let me in, I say!
I've been sent here!
They know about me!
Call yourselves "Jesus Saves"
when you leave me out in the night?
You've got a nerve!
Jesus Saves?
Oh, piss off!
Jesus Saves, indeed!
Oh, you call yourselves...
bloody Christians!
And you leave me out in the cold?
Poke off, all of you! I hate ya!
MAN YELLS:
Shut up!
- What?
- Shut up! Learn some behaviour!
- Piss off!
- WOMAN: Shut up!
Shut up, else I'll call the police.
- What did you say?
- I said if you don't shut up
- I'll call the police...
- You poke off to bed, madam!
(EDNA JEERS)
MAN:
Shut up, you bloody vagrant!
Vagrant?
Me?
- Did you call me a vagrant?
- Yes!
I am no vagrant!
I am not a vagrant!
I've lived in houses, yes
and I've got every
right to live in houses.
The only trouble is they always seem
to get condemned.
Pulled down over me head, that's all.
Can I help that?
I don't like living like I do!
I don't like sharing dormitories.
So you want to come in.
Yes.
Come on then.
EDNA:
I didn't...
- Didn't mean to make so much noise.
- Shh.
- There we are.
- I say, you...
SHE WHISPERS:
Goodnight.
Oh, my dear.
Ooh.
Ooh...
(SHE CHUCKLES)
Now, let me see.
Oh, yeah.
(SHE LAUGHS WHEEZILY)
(SHE COUGHS)
Oh.
Ooh...
Oh!
Whoo-hoo-hoo!
(SHE LAUGHS)
Oh, yes!
Knees up, Mother Brown.
(SHE LAUGHS RAUCOUSLY)
Oh, yes!
Oh!
Oh, shut up!
EDNA:
Don't make me laugh.
Belt up with your bleedin' row!
(EDNA SIGHS)
Ooh, I'm sorry.
(SHE COUGHS)
Whoa... There.
Oh! Oh!
I'm being tied up.
I'm tied up. Oh, let me go!
Let me go! Take these things off me!
Oh, bleedin' 'ell.
EDNA:
Oh, am I being tied up?
I'm tied up! Oh!
Oh, I'm a piece of machinery.
I was wrongly connected.
Leave me be, leave me be.
You're not a piece of
machinery, darlin'!
EDNA:
Piece of machinery, oh!
Oh! Oh! Ooh, me asthma.
Come on, you old bag.
- Let me make your bed.
- Oh!
Get away! You get away from me!
- Oh, come on.
- No, look at you! Disgusting!
- You're half naked!
- Oh, sod you then.
- Don't you... Oh!
- JOSIE: No, Edna.
- I can...
- Now shut up.
Shut up at once and go to sleep.
EDNA:
Oh, alright.
Yes. OK.
- (WOMEN LAUGH)
- WOMAN: Good morning.
(LAUGHTER AND CHATTER CONTINUES)
Morning, Paula.
Hi, Vicky.
- It's gone all...
- That's not bad.
Nice, innit?
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
WOMAN:
What's the other one like?
Other arm?
WOMAN:
I didn't think nothing of it.
I thought that's how it always was.
As I got older, I got as
I didn't like so much of it.
It was after me real mum died.
Then one day, when I was 12,
when my new mum
that's me step mum,
was going out shopping
I said to her,
"Please Mum, take me with ya
cos I don't like me dad taking me to bed
with him every time you go out."
Then it all come out.
She sent for the police.
And then this policewoman,
she come along and she said
"You said you've had
intercourse with him?"
And I said, "I don't know,
what's intercourse?"
So she said, "You must know
what intercourse is, girl"
and I said no.
So she said...
"Well, did he get his thing out
and stick it up ya?"
I thought she meant his tongue, cos
he had been kissing me, so I said yes.
So then we went to the court
and my dad, he got a priest
to come to the court
and say that my dad
wouldn't do a thing like that.
So then they got a doctor to examine me,
and he said I was not a virgin.
So they said, well, if it wasn't my dad,
it must be someone else
and I was in need of moral protection.
So, there was no room
in the children's homes
so they sent me to the remand home.
And that's about it, I suppose.
I don't think my dad wanted me, really.
It upset me when they
didn't trust my word.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER AND LAUGHTER)
Can you feel that?
No, go easy now.
No, you can press.
- But don't poke.
- Don't poke.
(CHATTER CONTINUES)
Oh, look. I'm on your arm!
(SHE LAUGHS)
I had a little baby once.
I loved her.
But they took her from me.
I took too many Aspirins.
Police took me to the institution.
Ain't I seen you before somewhere?
- Give us the kettle, Lil.
- I don't think so.
Want some baked beans?
Hey! Hey, Edna?
Then there's Mavis.
She drowned her daughter, aged two.
Day after she was refused an abortion
for the second child she was expecting.
Who else is there?
Oh, yeah, there's Rosamund.
There was a newborn baby girl found
strangled, wrapped in a brown paper parcel
dumped inside some woman's public bog.
Here, Jonesy, this meat's all bone!
- Look!
- We live on what we're given.
Hey, Terri, bring that milk, will you?
There was one time we had only
veal and ham pies, two feet long
thirty of them.
We had to live on veal and ham pie
till we were sick of it.
(THEY CHUCKLE)
Another time, a supermarket
dumped 300 eggs on us.
Most of them were on the point
of going off.
Yes, I remember that time!
We've got a very good relationship
with our butcher now.
Any meat that falls on the floor or
something like that, he gives it to us.
See, my idea...
was of a society where people,
instead of fighting
helped each other.
Well, this house was the first step
and I hope we can turn
it into a whole street
then a town,
and into bigger and bigger units.
The barriers that most social workers put
up, you know, desks, that sort of thing
completely wrong.
I always felt you could draw an analogy
with somebody who'd...
who'd fallen into a well.
Now, the usual approach is to sling in a
rope and say, "Hang onto that and I'll...
I'll pull you up."
My view is that you should get down into
the well and help push from alongside.
This place is a palace.
I've tried all the others.
This is a nice place.
This place is very, very, very nice.
(THEY LAUGH)
Well, you know.
But a lot of them hostels...
It's like in a tank, see. Like fish.
Close the doors and hope for the best.
That's not the best way to treat
them sort of people.
Well, I'm prepared to work.
Yes? But when I go
they say to me, "How old are you?"
And I say, "How old?"
And they say, "Are you a good
timekeeper?" and I say yes.
And I'm in good health.
Then she says,
"Can you work without supervision?"
I say yes.
I think, "This is getting interesting."
But then...
Well, it often happens,
then sort of look me over and...
sort of flitters out.
It's not that they isn't genuine.
It's just I s'pose them sort of persons,
they don't have very good memory.
Well, I think you should
get into bed now, Edna.
You can't talk all night.
Oh, I have to.
Must be able to talk, my doctor says so.
Most important, he says,
"Talk all the time."
No, you must go to sleep now, Edna.
'Ere you are, Edna, have a look at this!
What?
(SHE SCREAMS)
Oh! Damn you!
- (WOMAN LAUGHS)
- Stop it, get off my bed!
And there's Paula Smith,
she leaves next week.
- She's the one who's having the baby?
- That's the one, yes.
(DOOR CLATTERS)
Well, what you all looking at?
What you staring for?
Not now, Trudi, we're having a meeting.
What for, eh?
A bleedin' meeting, what for?
Well, go on then, kill me!
Kill me! Kill me!
- Kill me! Kill me!
- Come on, Trudi, off you go.
- Oh, kill me, kill me!
- Off we go.
- Kill me!
- Come on.
Kill me!
- We really ought to turn her out, you know.
- No one else will take her.
- But it's not our...
- Not even the psychiatric hospital.
I phoned them again last week.
They said, "We can't take her,
she's absolutely mad."
- (MAN CHUCKLES)
- So she is.
And according to our constitution
they're only supposed to stay here
for two weeks.
Well, after this, it really is the
gutter. We can't just turn them out.
(TELEPHONE RINGS)
What are we to do then?
Hello?
Yes, speaking.
A girl like that will drain you dry,
if you let her.
She's been on the streets, you know.
Exposing herself.
Yes, she even came up to me and said,
"Hey, you're taking me out, aren't you?"
I must say, it really turned me off.
She still gets lots of guys though.
- Yes, but where does she take them?
- Doorways mostly, backs of cars.
Good. Bye-bye.
(LOUD THUD UPSTAIRS)
- Goodness me!
- What on Earth's that?
Oh, just Edna cleaning up.
- She's a dab hand with a broom.
- Well, anyway. Trudi...
I tell her she has to go
and she immediately indulges
in a fit of screaming.
Well, it isn't as if these
were the only ones.
I understand that every day,
you're turning people away.
Yes, every day.
- All the time.
- Then why do we discriminate
in favour of those we've got
and against the others?
(EDNA SINGS A TUNE)
(DOOR SLAMS)
Hi, Edna.
I've just been up the dilly.
Everybody's there and...
and they're all just lying around,
smashed.
It's crazy!
Do you know, I don't know
what this country's coming to.
Everybody's smashed.
I think we're gonna be overwhelmed.
Admit it.
You don't want me here.
You want me to go.
Alright then, I'll go.
Alright then, Trudi, go.
There's some roses for you, Josie.
Let me co...
Oh! Let me in, I say!
Oh, alright then.
Piss off, the lot of you!
Go on then, poke off!
Poke off!
Josie!
Josie!
I want to come in, Josie!
I want to come in!
Thank you.
I thought you was gonna throw me out.
Oh, no, Edna. We wouldn't do that.
Will I be here for always then?
Well, not for always, but...
Is there any in the world like me?
I mean, many in the world like me?
What? People who tramp?
Well, you know, us no good ones.
I don't think you're no good.
What they call the "inadequates" one.
Yes, but inadequate for what?
Inadequate to cope with a society
that is, in itself, inadequate?
You hate that stuff, don't ya?
- Of course I don't hate it.
- Yes, you do.
You do. Why do you always chew
that bloody chewing gum
when I give it you,
even though you hate it?
(THEY CHUCKLE)
Well, Edna, I'll admit
I don't really like it.
No, but you chew it.
I chew it for the sake
of our friendship.
- Our friendship?
- Mm.
Our friendship!
Ooh!
Wahey!
- (EDNA LAUGHS)
- I believe I ought to chew it
because of the intense joy it gives you
to see me chew it.
Even though at the end,
you're gonna touch me for five bob.
"Our friendship." Ooh, well then!
(SHE CHUCKLES)
Josie!
Have you got a couple of bob on ya?
EDNA:
I haven't had a drink for three weeks.
Very good, Edna.
Yes, that's my pride.
That's my pride and my boast.
Nothing to drink for three weeks.
Going out to celebrate.
Oh...
- Is that the best...
- Ha!
(SHE LAUGHS)
Got you! Didn't I?
- (THEY LAUGH)
- Go on, April fool!
Sir, I represent the interests
of the local authority
and the inhabitants of Wye Street,
who welcome the opportunity
of this public enquiry
to put forward their point of view.
The, uh... the street is the seat
of considerable amenities
for solid, respectable people.
It was built in Victorian times
as a residential suburb
for the business classes
and for retired people
and the inhabitants like to think
that it has retained
certain of these
excellent characteristics.
So, without planning permission,
there has been set up in the street
a hostel for homeless
and inebriate women.
The effect of this on the neighbourhood
can be all too easily imagined.
What was formerly a highly respectable
residential neighbourhood
now, it turns out, runs the risk of
changing with grave attendant risks
into something very different.
It was mainly, sir, nuns that did this.
They were offered this house
for a few years by a well-wisher
and they, having no particular use
for it, lent it to a Miss Josie Quinn
for her to carry out in it her...
experiments with women.
JOSIE:
This is a clean population.
The drunken population of these parts
is a very clean population...
on the whole.
They're very clean folk...
on the whole.
But, uh, if there is no hostel provided
for these people?
JOSIE:
They have nowhere to go
except to the mental hospital,
or the street, or to prison.
(CROWD MUTTERS)
Going there, not because they're really
criminals or mad, but because...
there's nowhere more suitable for them.
These people are listed in
official reports as inebriates
alcoholics, psychopaths, drug addicts...
layabouts, the disabled...
failures.
These words are alibis to help us to
forget why they're really like they are.
Stack the cards against us.
These people are the same as us.
Just you and me in a mess,
and they can live fulfilled lives.
There should be hostels like ours
everywhere, every four or five streets.
Huge institutions so
vast, so impersonal.
There's no answer.
What they need is a small place.
A place to be a typical home.
The sort of home that most of them
have never had.
A home in a house like any other
in a decent street.
These are people, not monsters.
People who have been damaged
through being "helped"
through being helped
with the wrong kind of help.
Their need is desperate.
Sometimes, the street
is filled with drunkards.
They fall down in the gutter.
I've been stopped in the street
and asked for coppers.
These people should be somewhere else.
In a large hostel,
or a large hotel.
They're nothing but vagrants.
Vagrant?
I am not the vagrant!
Are the doors kept locked?
The doors aren't kept locked
because we want the residents to look
upon the place as their own home.
- Are they let out?
- Well, yes.
And when they're out, they have a drink?
We hope they won't be slipping back
into the state of mind
when they want a drink.
But some do relapse?
Very occasionally...
they relapse.
- Well...
- (CROWD CHATTERS)
How many of those you're housing
could be described as vagrants?
EDNA:
Listen, I've told you this before!
I am not the vagrant!
No! I am not!
I am not the vagrant!
You think I'm a nothing, don't you?
You think I'm nothing!
Well, I am!
Well, I... Well, I'm not!
Here, let me tell you something.
I've had money and men...
I've had women and my own house
and I wasn't satisfied!
Because they trap you,
always, they have!
You think I'm nothing!
- Don't you "how do you do" and never...
- Come on.
Cos I'm not!
- I'm not!
- Come on.
- I'm not!
- That's it. There we go.
(EDNA RAMBLES INCOHERENTLY)
- The bloody old shades!
- (CHURCH BELL CHIMES)
- (EDNA SHOUTS)
- (INDISTINCT CHATTER)
EDNA:
No!
(EDNA YELLS)
- Let go of me! No!
- Come on...
(INDISTINCT CLAMOUR)
Don't you...
Don't you put me out! Don't you...
(EDNA SOBS)
No!
NUNS:
Now, come along.
I can't...
It's not my fault...
Mummy!
Mummy! Mummy!
Mummy!
Mummy, why did you...
(BABY CRIES)
MOTHER (VO):
I love you, Edna.
You're mammy's little baby bird.
What do you think of your daughter?
FATHER (VO): Doesn't matter to me.
I didn't want her.
I wanted you, Mummy. I wanted you...
(EDNA SOBS)
MOTHER (VO):
Oh, you're lovely, Edna.
Mammy's own and lovely little girl.
Bless you.
There's no dinner tonight.
No dinner tonight.
I'm sorry. Nothing.
Why have you got no money?
- (FATHER MUMBLES)
- Cos you drunk it all! That's what!
Jesus, I'm gonna kill you!
(THEY MOAN)
- (HE YELLS)
- (BABY CRIES)
(HE YELLS)
(THEY MOAN)
(BABY CRIES)
- (MAN YELLS)
- (SHE SCREAMS)
CHILD:
Don't go out, Daddy. Don't go out.
(SHE SOBS)
Mummy, Mummy, Mummy.
MOTHER (VO):
I'm just going out for an hour.
I've left your food on the table.
POLICEMAN:
Where's your mum?
CHILD:
Out at a party.
Uh-huh. When did you last see her?
- CHILD: Last night.
- POLICEMAN: Last night?
I'm going to take you
off to a lovely home.
CHILD:
This is home.
MOTHER:
Don't you take my children from me!
Don't you dare take my children
from me! No! No!
JUDGE:
You left your children alone all night.
MOTHER:
I left them with food.
I sentence you to three
months' imprisonment.
MOTHER: That means the poor dears
will be alone for 90 nights.
MAN: May I apply for a custody order
for the children to be placed in care?
NURSE: Yes, the bed is hard and lumpy,
isn't it?
That's because you wet it.
It's pebbles and marbles.
Each time you wet it, there'll be more.
Here's a basin,
as you see it's filled with urine
I'm going to wash your face in it!
You know why!
VOICE ECHOES:
You know why...
(SHE SOBS)
MOTHER (VO):
She's absolutely uncontrollable.
It's best if she were
taken back into care.
Would you care to say anything else
about your daughter?
I have no daughter.
Come along, we'll find a bed for you.
I think she's one of the women
from the hostel.
Yes, she is.
It's alright now.
Soon be better.
(NUNS CHATTER SOFTLY)
EDNA: I don't expect you'll
want to see me again.
You expect me to say
that, don't you, Edna?
You expect me to be a...
a rejecting father figure to you.
I'm not going to.
I'm not going to say
you've been a dreadful failure
and you've let us down dreadfully.
I'm going to say...
well done.
You've done a jolly good job
going straight and keeping sober
for the length of time you have.
Let's see if next time
it can't be for even longer.
"Dear Miss Quinn...
I'm instructed to inform you
that the minister has given
every consideration to your petition
that Jesus Saves should be legalised
and permitted to operate as a hostel
in Wye Street.
Having taken into account the views
of all relevant parties
expressed at the public enquiry...
he is regretfully forced
to take the conclusion
that it is not in the public interest
to operate a hostel in
this particular area.
You have one month from this date
to cease operations."
Oh, no!
(SHE SOBS)
Mummy, Mummy, Mummy.
Mummy, why did she...
(SHE SOBS)
Why did she let me?
Why me?
(SHE SOBS)
He didn't want me, weren't there ways...
to stop me to be?
(SHE SOBS)
Mummy...
Why did...
(SHE SOBS)
Hello.
No.
No.
No.
Well, the hostel's closing.
I'm sorry, I can't take you.
I've just told you, we've got to close.
Yes.
Goodbye.
- That, that, that phone call...
- No, Edna, it wasn't for you.
- What d'you say?
- Really, Edna, it wasn't for you.
It was for me. That phone call!
It must have been this time!
Edna.
Your wrist.
So...
where are you going, Edna?
Don't worry about me, I'll move on.
I'll be alright.
I feel so set up after this place.
I'm quite looking
forward to sleeping out.
Well...
if you're sure you'll be alright.
I'll be the restless type, see.
Always was restless.
Never could stick anything for long.
(TRAIN RUMBLES OVERHEAD)
EDNA:
Anyway, there was this fella I met.
Long time ago.
And I really did love this fella.
He was the one,
as far as I was concerned.
He was me fairy prince.
When I thought of him...
when I see the trees with the clouds
in their branches
when I heard in the papers about
her dream's come true,
Prince Charming, all that.
That's when I get to thinking...
thinking about him
cos he was the only
one, really, you see?
I thought he was my Prince
Charming, but...
he was that to some others as well.
Other ladies.
(SHE CHUCKLES)
Anyway, it seems
that he never thought about me
the same way as what I thought
about him, sort of thing.
And I still do think of him sometimes.
And I wonder what it
would have been like.
Love's funny, innit?
I mean...
why him?
Didn't you never have no children, Edna?
Yes, I had one, but it was a prem
then I had another, but it was...
it was took away.
Well...
Bye-bye now, dear. Cheerio.
But ain't we...
- I thought we was going on.
- No.
Bye-bye now, dear,
cos I go this way, see?
It's like I say.
Flitter, flitter.
Cheerio, dear.
(EDNA MUTTERS)
Flitter, flitter.
"Move on", they say.
I say, "Right!
I'm moving on.
No one keeps me around."
(MUTTERING FADES)
(INDISTINCT MUTTERING CONTINUES)