A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story (2025) s01e02 Episode Script

1
(ominous music playing)
(lock clicks)
(keys jangle)
I want to look my best
for David.
(muffled clamouring)
(journalists and
bystanders shout)
(crowd clamours)
(Bickford) The defence rests
on a single word, "provocation".
We all know that's risky.
Not a single applicable precedent
in an English murder trial.
Blakely beat Ruth black and blue.
He humiliated her,
took her for every penny she had.
I believe, if we can show that,
then this isn't murder.
It's manslaughter.
You must get the Crown's witnesses
to reveal what they know,
like Cussen, who, by all rights,
should be a witness
for the defence.
They may have got to him somehow,
may have some rabbit in a hat.
You must push him in the cross.
Well, if that's all, Mr Bickford.
Ruth, this is Mr Stevenson QC,
lead counsel.
He'll take you
through the defence strategy.
I just want those malicious snobs
to pay for what they did.
- Malicious snobs?
- The Findlaters.
If it weren't for them,
David would still be alive.
Dr Whittaker's theory, the effects
of jealousy on hysterical women,
I think we should lean on it.
Ruth isn't hysterical.
She shot Blakely
because he was unfaithful.
You heard her,
her anger at the Findlaters
because they tried to tempt him
with other women.
She was consumed
by sexual jealousy,
which provoked her, uncontrollably,
to murder.
She was provoked
by Blakely's violence.
She She miscarried a child.
She has hardly mentioned that.
Because she's traumatised.
It's a question of
what the jury will understand.
(footsteps approach)
You should never have let her
bleach her hair.
Does she look like a beaten woman
to you?
(crowd chatters)
(spectator) Blonde tart!
- (music concludes)
- Ooh!
Hold it still, for Christ's sake!
Oi! Stop looking up her skirt, you!
- Vicki!
- (Vicki giggling) Hello!
- (giggling)
- (upbeat music playing faintly)
- Hello.
- (Vicki) Hello!
What do you think? Bit vulgar?
- Bloody ridiculous!
- (Vicki groans)
- I love it!
- (Vicki giggles)
Been reading all about you
in the gossip columns.
Oh, yes.
Snotty bastards can't believe
a girl from Staines
could marry a prince! (chuckles)
There's a revolution coming, girls.
Class, and what school you went to,
no one will give a toss,
long as you know
how to have a good time.
- Look at you and David. Ooh.
- (Jacqueline) Oh, yes!
(both chuckle)
(sighs) What's he doing here?
He's restful compared to David.
Hmm, one of those
who just wants a cuddle?
It's not like that.
We haven't actually
He probably follows you upstairs,
watches through a crack
in the door.
- Creepy old bastard. (giggles)
- Shh! You're terrible!
- Someone's coming up.
- Ooh!
That'll be David. Quiet.
Everyone, positions. Quickly!
(Humphreys) Mrs Ellis
is a woman of 28,
- divorced.
- (music fades)
(Humphreys) And the story
you are going to hear is this,
that in 1954 and 1955,
she was having simultaneous
love affairs with two men
David Blakely, the deceased,
and another man called Cussen,
whom I shall call before you.
Blakely was trying to break off
the connection,
and the accused woman
was angry at this,
even though she had another lover
at the time.
She, therefore, took a loaded gun,
found David,
and shot him
by emptying that revolver at him.
- (gunshot)
- (sombre music playing)
Now, you are not, here,
in the least concerned
with adultery or sexual misconduct.
You are not trying her
for immorality
but for murder.
(guests) Surprise!
Oh. (chuckles softly)
Aren't you sweet?
(sighs) I'm so sorry, darling.
David asked me
to let you know he can't make it.
He's tied up with work.
(tuts) Well, it's about time
he bloody did some, hmm?
- (guest chuckles awkwardly)
- (Vicki) More cake for us.
(Carole) Oh, darling.
Look, I'm sorry.
I'm sure if he'd realised
the effort you'd gone to
We both know he's not working.
Were you with him?
(Carole inhales) Of course not.
Look, David's engaged
to be married to Mary Dawson.
(scoffs) He's been living here
with me for months.
You've been a lovely friend to him.
Bless you.
(clerk) The prosecution calls
Desmond Cussen.
I'll give you a hand clearing up.
(breathing heavily)
(music fades)
(Humphreys) You had known
the accused, Mrs Ellis,
for around two years?
Did you become a close friend
of hers?
Y Yes.
You will not mind
if we use plain words.
Were you her lover?
For a short time, yes.
On Sunday, the 10th of April,
the day of the alleged murder,
did she and her son spend most
of the day at your flat with you?
(Desmond) Yes.
(Humphreys) That evening, did you
drive her back to Egerton Gardens?
Yes.
- (Humphreys) About what time?
- (smacks lips)
Er, about half past seven.
About 7:30 on the Sunday night.
And that
is the last you saw of her?
(ominous music playing)
Yes.
Thank you.
(whispers) They're trying
to convict her of immorality.
That's why they've called Cussen.
They want the jury
to see it in the flesh.
He instructed them not to consider
sexual misconduct.
That's why he raised it,
to draw attention to it.
(Judge Havers) Mr Stevenson.
Mr Cussen, were you very much
in love with this young woman?
Yes.
(Stevenson) At the time,
you were begging the defendant
to marry you if she could?
(child cries)
Do you need to go to her?
George wants to take her.
(Desmond) George, your husband?
(child continues crying)
Some rich, childless colleague
of his, a woman dentist,
wants Georgina to go
and live with her.
Wants to adopt her.
George says he'll give me a divorce
if I say yes.
You don't need
to give up your child, Ruth.
Let me look after you all.
Marry me.
Or don't marry me.
I don't care.
- What about David?
- Forget him.
I can give you
everything that you need.
Just let me be with you.
Please, God, let me be with you.
(Stevenson) Have you ever
seen marks or bruises on her?
(tense music playing)
- (Desmond) Yes.
- (Stevenson) Were they bad bruises?
Yes.
I do not want to press you
for details,
but how often did you see
that sort of mark on her?
It must be on
half a dozen occasions.
Thank you, My Lord.
Thank you, Mr Cussen.
You may step down.
I heard two bangs, shots.
And then what did you see?
I saw David lying on the ground
and Mrs Ellis pointing a gun
into his back.
Why did you have to kill him?
No questions.
Leslie Davies,
Detective Chief Inspector, My Lord.
You saw the accused woman detained
at Hampstead Police Station?
(Davies) I did, My Lord.
Did you form any impression
of her emotional condition
at the time of the arrest?
I did, My Lord.
I was most impressed by the fact
she seemed very
composed.
No questions.
(music concludes)
Why aren't you
cross-examining them?
I didn't see there was
anything useful to be added.
He broke her down piece by piece.
You must get Findlater to
to reveal what he knows,
what he and his wife
saw her suffer.
Mr Bickford, my job is to show
what made the accused
so morbidly jealous
that she was provoked to kill.
Now, if Blakely was
merely a nasty thug,
she'd hardly mind if he went off
with another woman, would she?
It won't work.
As a defence, it's not enough.
- I know who gave her the gun.
- (Stevenson sighs)
She didn't carry out
this crime alone.
She instructed me
not to mention it,
but we must overrule her,
in her own best interest.
Keep your voice down,
for Christ's sake!
Drag someone else into it now,
and it becomes
premeditated conspiracy to murder.
No hope of manslaughter.
But what if she was persuaded,
coerced even?
We have a defence!
She was provoked
by uncontrollable sexual jealousy.
And you should never breach
your client's confidence again!
Is that understood?
Yes, Mr Stevenson.
The defence calls
Anthony Findlater.
I swear by almighty God,
that the evidence I shall give
shall be the truth,
the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth.
(tense music playing)
- (Andre) Nee-ow!
- (Carole) The case, darling,
- Hello, you two.
- (Georgina) Give it here!
- It's my turn.
- (Carole) Perfect timing.
- Oh, no.
- (Georgina groans)
Watch out!
(indistinct chatter)
(Carole) David, how are you?
(David)
I'm so sorry about last night.
I was humiliated, David,
in front of everyone
by your friend, Carole.
Yes, well, I think she was
a bit upset.
Why?
I told her I was breaking it off
with Mary.
I'm not marrying someone
just because they approve of her.
I don't care what they think.
I don't care
what any of them think.
I want to be with you.
Well, poor Mary.
You might have chosen
a better day than your birthday,
you heartless bastard.
(snickers)
I wondered if I might get
an advance on my wages.
(Morris) Been sponging again,
has he?
I'm gonna have to start
charging you rent on the flat.
You can't do that!
(Morris) That flat is a place
of business, not a love nest.
You think he'll make you happy?
I'm not asking him to leave.
Rent will be £12 a week, then.
(MUSIC: "I Still Believe"
by Ronnie Hilton)
# I still believe
# We were meant for each other
What's this?
The children are asleep,
and dinner will be served
in five minutes.
# I still believe
# That you're mine
and no other's #
What are we having?
The only thing I know how to cook.
- Egg and soldiers.
- (Ruth) Ah.
- Nanny taught me.
- (Ruth) Course she did.
And I always serve
my boiled eggs
with Pol Roger.
(chuckles)
What will your mother think
about you breaking it off
- with Mary?
- (David sighs)
- Not very happy, I shouldn't think.
- (Ruth) Mm.
She likes to pretend
we're a model family,
which is frankly delusional.
Are your parents divorced?
Mm, I was 11.
What happened?
Er, my father had an affair
with a waitress half his age.
And she got pregnant,
had an abortion,
and she died.
Christ!
They accused him
of procuring the drugs.
You know, he was a GP.
They tried him for murder.
He was acquitted.
The judge said
there was no case to answer.
Yeah, he went back
to his medical practice, his golf.
But our family
it was poisoned.
I'm so sorry.
Are these lovebites?
- Who? Who is she?
- (David) Jealousy
- doesn't suit you, darling.
- For God's sake! Carole?
(David)
She's married to my best friend.
Which is exactly why
you'd both do it.
(David) You've got it in for her,
haven't you?
Because you're an imitation
and she's the real thing.
When you're cross,
the accent slips, darling.
I used to think
your sort had manners.
What a fool I was!
(scoffs) There's nothing going on
with me and David.
Hasn't been for years.
You expect me to believe that,
the way you are with him?
Both of you, actually.
- Now, look here
- Stay out of this, Ant! Take her.
(baby cries)
You're like leeches, both of you.
The way you follow him around,
fawning over him.
- It's embarrassing.
- How dare you
come to my house
with my child here!
Now, you might have dragged David
into your seedy little world,
but you will not drag me.
And to talk about leeches!
You have been a parasite on David
since the day you met him,
thinking you could drag yourself
up in the world,
drag your whole squalid family up.
David is naive.
I'm not, his friends are not.
We know what you're up to.
It is not It is not like that.
Look, you know what he's like.
You know what he does.
- (thuds)
- (grunts)
He never did it to me.
This is of your own making, Ruth,
all of it.
And you will be stopped,
before you destroy David, too.
Sooner or later, I
I will make him see
who and what you are.
That you are
well, a predator,
and this is all a trap.
Then you will have my blood
on your hands.
Don't come here again!
(suspenseful music playing)
(Stevenson) Mr Anthony Findlater,
in the days
before Mr Blakely's death,
while he was staying with you,
you received several
telephone calls from Mrs Ellis.
Yes.
(Stevenson) Was it quite plain
to you, when you spoke to her
on the telephone, that she was
in a desperate state of emotion?
No.
(Stevenson)
Did you observe no indication
that she was a very desperate woman
at the time?
(hammering on the door) David,
I know you're in there! David!
No.
(Stevenson) Was it obvious to you
that she was in a state
of considerable
emotional disturbance?
(Ant) I didn't get that impression.
She might have been.
(Stevenson) On the Saturday night,
did you and Blakely
come out of the house
with a young woman?
I believe it was your nanny.
I do not remember.
You will appreciate
what is being suggested
that there is some reason
for Ruth Ellis being jealous
of some new woman on the scene.
I did not even know
that Mrs Ellis knew we had a nanny.
Mr Stevenson?
No further questions.
(Ruth) So, that's it?
That's all they're going
to ask him?
Put Carole up there.
It's too late.
Put Carole in the witness box
and ask her about the weeks
leading up to David's death.
Ask her what she did to my baby.
(Bickford) What did she do?
We can't call Carole,
but you can tell them.
This jury, they
they want your blood.
To them, you're not a person.
You're a character in a story.
A cold-blooded murderess
in a cheap thriller
they've read before.
And they know the ending.
Change the story.
Give them a different ending.
Make them want to save your life.
(Stevenson) David Blakely
was living with you in a flat
which you occupied
above the Little Club?
Yes.
Were you, at that time,
doing your best to build up
the, er, business of the club?
My one concern was
to build up the business,
which had been a failure
beforehand.
And at that time, were you
very much in love with him?
(groaning, kissing)
(Stevenson) Did you tell him
that you wanted
to break off the relationship
with him?
- David.
- (kissing, groaning)
Yes.
- Stop. Please, stop.
- (kissing, moaning)
- (kissing, moaning)
- I want you to go.
I want you to pack your things
and go, tonight.
Stop!
God, it's not even the cheating
and the violence.
That's nothing new. It's the fact
that you let those malicious snobs
think that I'm the one
taking advantage of you.
(Stevenson)
How did he treat you physically?
I want you to leave.
I want you to get out, now!
He was violent on occasions.
I found this
in your bedside table.
It's his
isn't it?
- (thudding)
- (Ruth exclaims)
(Stevenson) And how
did that violence manifest itself?
(Ruth) He only used to hit me
with his fist and hands,
but I bruise very easily.
What effect did all this have
on you?
I began to feel ill
about the whole thing.
(sobbing)
(Stevenson)
While this was going on,
what was happening
to your own earnings at the club?
(Ruth) David?
They were deteriorating,
and so was the business.
(Morris) Don't you ever come
down here looking like that again.
No wonder
this place is bloody empty!
(Ruth) David!
David! David!
Step away from the road.
I'll do it, I swear.
If you leave me, I'll do it.
David, step away from the road.
Please! Please!
(Stevenson)
Now, all this time you and he
were living together at the club,
had he any money?
I had to give him money
all the time.
Bought his clothes and things.
I paid his drinks bills and things.
My stepfather's threatening
to cut me off.
It'll be over for me, the racing.
(breathes shakily)
There's nothing else I can do.
It's not like I haven't tried.
I'm just I'm just useless!
- (sobbing)
- It's all right.
- My father's inheritance is gone.
- It's all right, it's all right.
My family are gone.
- It's all right.
- My mother hardly speaks to me.
(Stevenson) How did David
then behave toward you?
He was possessive and jealous.
He seemed
I thought he seemed devoted to me.
Please don't leave me.
Oh look at you.
(Stevenson) What happened
to your feelings from then on?
He was a very likeable person,
and I got very attached to him.
- Marry me.
- (both breathing heavily)
- I'm already married.
- Then divorce him.
- What about your family?
- I don't care about them.
I will never have any happiness
unless you marry me.
(Stevenson) This is a photograph
that Blakely gave you.
Yes?
Yes.
(Stevenson) Did he write on it
in your presence?
(Ruth) Yes.
"To Ruth"
"all my love David."
(stifled sob)
My Lord,
I wonder if she might sit down?
(Judge Havers) Yes, certainly.
- I'm quite all right.
- (Judge Havers) Do, by all means.
I don't need to sit down.
(Stevenson) And then,
two weeks before David's death,
did you find
that you were pregnant?
Yes.
(Stevenson) What happened about it?
Well, we got into a fight
and David got very violent.
He thumped me in the tummy.
I do not know if that's what caused
the miscarriage or not, though.
You, er
had a a miscarriage?
Yes.
(Stevenson clears throat)
And we've heard the evidence
about you taking a revolver
and getting a cab to Hampstead
and shooting him.
Is that right?
Quite correct.
Why did you do it?
I don't really know,
quite seriously.
I was just very upset.
(Judge Havers) "I do not
really know why I shot him."
Is that right?
Yes.
Mrs Ellis, when you fired
that revolver at close range
into the body of David Blakely
what did you intend to do?
It's quite obvious when I shot him,
I intended to kill him.
(spectators gasp, murmur)
(music fades)
I hope they appreciated the suit.
It's real astrakhan, you know.
What was that?
What was what?
(Bickford) In the witness box.
You looked embarrassed. Y
You looked You looked bored.
It became perfectly clear none
of this is going to do any good.
What were you going to tell them
about what the Findlaters did
about the miscarriage?
Thank you for securing
my hair appointment.
I know the prison
were rather difficult about it.
I think they thought
I was going to drink the bleach.
No chance, not least before I got
my roots done.
Oh, for God's sake, Ruth!
Make these people understand
what you've been through.
Tell them about whatever it was
the Findlaters did, or
or tell me at least.
No one wants to hear
about my insides.
The jury don't.
Stevenson certainly doesn't.
And you, I know you think you do,
but you don't.
No one wants to hear
about women bleeding
and what men do to make them bleed.
It's all a little bit embarrassing
for everyone.
It's certainly not going
to get me off a murder charge.
(sombre music playing)
They believed Ant,
you see, and his lies.
(Bickford)
We should have told the police
about Cussen's involvement.
You've perjured yourself
in the witness box
and I allowed it.
You've condemned yourself.
(rapping on door)
(door opens)
(door clangs shut)
(Stevenson) So, what follows,
Dr Whittaker, as to the effect
of infidelity by the male partner
on the female mind?
Well, women are more prone
to hysterical reactions than men.
They are inclined to lose
some of their inhibitory capacity
and solve their problems
on a more primitive level.
(child cries)
(crying continues)
George Ellis, please.
(Stevenson) In your view,
had the accused considered
the consequences
of what she was doing?
Well, I asked her if she thought
about her children.
She said she did not think of them
at all.
(spectators gasp)
Right. Now,
you be good for Daddy, okay?
I'll call tonight
to see how she's settling in.
Give it a few days, eh?
My solicitor will be in touch
about the divorce proceedings.
(Judge Havers) Thank you,
Dr Whittaker. You may step down.
That is my case, My Lord.
(Judge Havers) Before you address
the jury, it would be as well
if we had a short discussion
as to the law.
You may release the jury
until tomorrow morning.
I gather you wish
to address the jury
as to the question of provocation.
I do, my Lord.
(Judge Havers) There has to be
some conduct, has there not,
on the part of the deceased man
which caused
this unfortunate result?
What is the evidence of conduct
on Blakely's part
which is considered to amount
to provocation?
(Stevenson) May I be
absolutely frank about that,
My Lord, the answer is that
(exhales sharply)
there is no authority,
no authority that has ever
considered the effects
on the female mind of infidelity.
(Judge Havers)
Does your proposition come to this?
If a man associates with a woman
and then leaves her suddenly,
and she is a jealous woman,
emotionally disturbed,
and goes out and shoots him,
that is sufficient grounds
for the jury
to reduce the crime of murder
to manslaughter?
(spectators gasp, murmur)
(sighs)
Mr Bickford.
A single day to hear
all the evidence in a murder trial?
Why did nobody ask about the gun?
I'm sorry?
Well, I know she lied
about how she got it.
There was never any gun left
at the club as security.
I told the police,
but nobody seemed to care.
And what about that black cab
that was never found?
You know Desmond Cussen used
to drive a black cab for fun?
- Is it him? Did he help her?
- (hesitates)
I don't know.
(Desmond) It's not true, is it?
It's not too late.
You can get her back.
The three of you, you can all
live with me.
I know you think you can save me,
but it's just a sweet fantasy
to distract from the sordid truth,
which is that
you are a lonely drunk
and I am a hostess
whose company you pay for.
(Desmond)
Why are you doing this, Ruth?
Because I love him.
I will save you
whether you want me to or not.
(music intensifies)
(music quietens)
It is my duty as a judge,
as a matter of law,
to direct the jury
that the evidence in this case
does not support
a verdict of manslaughter
on the grounds of provocation.
(Stevenson) My Lord, in view
of that ruling, it does not seem
that it would be proper for me
to address the jury at all.
It does not seem to me
that there is any issue left
on which you could
address the jury.
No, My Lord. I am obliged.
In the circumstances, My Lord,
I have nothing more to say.
(music concludes)
(sighs deeply)
Members of the jury
according to our law,
it is no defence for a woman
who is charged
with the murder of her lover
to prove she was a jealous woman
and had been badly treated
by her lover,
and after he left her
without warning,
she became furious with him
and formed an intention
to kill him.
None of these facts,
individually or collectively,
afford any defence.
Shame on you!
All of you!
Get off me!
(scoffs, mutters in French)
(door opens)
(dial tone beeps)
(police switchboard)
Hampstead Police Station.
I need to talk to you about
Ruth Ellis and Desmond Cussen.
(footsteps approach)
(official) Jury's back.
(Bickford) Fourteen minutes.
Members of the jury,
are you agreed upon your verdict?
We are.
(clerk) Do you find Ruth Ellis
guilty or not guilty of murder?
(foreman) Guilty.
- (spectators gasp)
- (ominous music playing)
(sobs)
(clerk) Prisoner at the bar,
you stand convicted of murder.
Have you anything to say
before judgement of death
is passed, according to law?
Ruth Ellis, the jury
has convicted you of murder.
In my view,
it was the only verdict possible.
You will be taken hence
to the prison
in which you were last confined,
and from there
to a place of execution
where you will suffer
death by hanging
and thereafter your body buried
within the precincts of the prison.
And may the Lord have mercy
on your soul.
(chaplain) Amen.
Thanks.
(indistinct chatter)
Thank you, Edward.
It went better than I expected.
- See you outside.
- (Humphreys) Thank you.
Is that man
your Junior Treasury Counsel?
That's correct.
Edward Cussen.
Is he related to Desmond Cussen?
Mm, they are cousins. Hmm!
That's why you called Desmond
as a witness, isn't it?
To protect him
from other accusations
such as conspiracy to murder.
Do you know much about Buddhism,
Mr Bickford?
I've practised it for 30 years.
And one of its teachings is
that we are all responsible
for our own liberation.
Ruth Ellis knows this.
No one else,
no judge or jury, no friend,
has put her
in her present position.
It is her own actions
that have done so.
That is karma.
(Bickford) I shall be starting
the reprieve case immediately.
Well
we did the best we could for her.
No. No, we did not.
This whole process has been
a disgrace, a sham.
I'm going to fight for her
to be reprieved,
do things differently,
as they should have been done.
Desmond's cousin is in the same
chambers as Christmas Humphreys.
He's a bloody silk!
You knew
about Desmond.
Edward Cussen and I worked together
during the war.
Jesus Christ.
You were all in it together.
Of course! That's why
you didn't cross-examine.
- They asked you to protect him.
- (Stevenson) No.
No, they didn't.
Look, dragging somebody else
into it wouldn't have helped.
Wouldn't have helped at all.
A woman like her
they were never gonna let her off.
(Bickford) She deserves clemency
for what she's suffered,
and I will fight for that.
(door opens, keys jangle)
You're to be moved.
(sombre music playing)
(lock clicks)
(music intensifies)
(music concludes)