The Confessions of Frannie Langton (2022) s01e03 Episode Script

If they point the finger at
me, who's going to believe
someone else could have done it?
I found your little Laddie.
- He's here as my guest.
- I go by Olaudah now.
Unless I'm in the ring.
A toast, George,
to your singing,
dancing, smiling subjects.
This is science, Frances, we're
doing important work in here.
- Ah!
- I should have been the one to kill you.
And I should have done
it LONG before now!
I have been many terrible things.
I was hers, also.
They said it was all in my head.
That a woman like her
could never love a woman like me.
Hm! No, no, no, no.
- I won the trick.
- Oh.
- Thank you.
- Sorry.
They say it didn't happen.
Only because they would
never believe it could.
"I have love in me the likes of
which you can scarcely imagine
"and rage the likes of
which you would not believe."
When we were alone together
we were simply two women.
Never woman and maid.
Frances.
Frances!
I was listening!
I was listening with my eyes closed.
- Do you want more?
- Yes.
You can't have it.
You have to stay here all morning.
It's good to see you fit again, Meg.
Two days of you claiming megrims.
A man expects to have a sighting
of his wife from time to time.
I am lucky you have
such low expectations.
Are you actually going to
eat that or just play with it?
For God's sake.
Eat!
It has been on the floor.
We should leave.
Let's just leave here.
I'm curious to know why you
make such a fuss about this.
Laudanum?
Try yourself.
It takes everything away.
It was one of those moments.
A pinch of happiness,
like salt into a cake.
Which meant, of course,
that it couldn't last.
We were surrounded by people
who would have wanted us punished
if they knew the whole truth.
It's just a drop more. No harm in that.
Her, for breaking their rules
I should not.
Why not? Why not?
- We must be our own women. We must please ourselves!
- Shh!
Me, for not knowing my place
Spoilsport.
and not staying in it.
We should leave.
Run, run away.
If only.
Meg!
Oh, God. What's she doing here?
Meg, darling, I've
just been to the house.
George said he thought
you might be out here.
Oh, he's back, is he? What does he want?
What are you doing walking
around out here in the rain?
Honestly, you'll get a chill.
Come along, let's get you home.
You can't stay out here.
Home, Meg. Come along.
We'll talk privately when we're there.
And then Hep Elliot came to stay.
You don't need to be here, Hep.
You're indulging again, Meg.
And George says you're not eating.
I'm fine. I'm well. I-I've been
preoccupied recently, that's all.
It's the damned drug.
One of these days, you'll embarrass
yourself in some irretrievable way.
It's for your own good that I'm here.
My own good!
You can't do this again,
Hep. Tell him no, it's cruel.
I'm worried, Meg.
And besides, it
seems to be the only
way I can see you nowadays.
We used to be so close.
- What we shared
- Hep.
We shared nothing.
You call it nothing?
Well
I wish it were different, Meg.
You really don't give us any choice.
Come along.
That woman has been in here all
day as if she was guarding the door.
What are you doing?
- This is your manuscript.
- Yes, I know!
All that work wasted.
Ashes to ashes.
Has she said something that has
caused you to carry on like this?
I missed you this afternoon.
I was relegated to the
kitchens, as you know.
Is she staying here?
At my husband's pleasure.
As we all are, I suppose.
Except she will be about as pleasant
to have around as a guard dog.
I'm to be under her
supervision at all times.
This is madness.
They're downstairs now,
planning God knows what.
Frances, maybe you can help me?
Of course, I'll help you.
I've gotten hold of a rather
excellent doctor recently.
A new discovery on the
recommendation of Winnie.
Why don't we send for him?
I'm sure that's not necessary.
I'm sure it is.
I see no need to depart from the
usual arrangements, Hephzibah.
Just keep her quiet. Keep her inside.
Make sure her misbehaviour
doesn't scale the walls.
Clearly the usual
arrangements won't be enough.
I'm more concerned than ever.
She seems worse than ever, doesn't she?
Well, something isn't
right. She's not herself.
She hasn't been herself since
we returned from Longreach.
Perhaps you should
blame yourself for that.
Though, in point of
fact, one could argue
that she is currently very much herself.
This is who she is.
Sadly.
This is who I married.
She needs a doctor.
Is he
is he discreet, this doctor?
Better than that, he's competent.
Which I find is a far more useful
skill when the patient is ill.
Very well. But I expect you to
deal with all the arrangements.
That is what you're here for after all.
I don't expect you to
be down here every moment
bothering me with minutiae.
Minutiae?
That's quite a novel way for
a man to describe his own wife.
Just get on with it.
You're lucky Percy lets you keep hold
of the family purse strings, George.
Which is the only reason you
can play the puppet-master to me.
If only money really did make the man.
Well?
They're bringing a doctor.
Of course they are.
Just tell them no.
It's not that simple, Frances.
If I do not comply, he
will threaten the asylum.
I must convince him I am calm again.
Her condition has severely worsened.
I think she may be
suffering from exhaustion
on top of everything else.
Let's take a little look, shall we?
Hm
I do see what you mean, Miss Elliot.
These female ailments
can strike rather fast
and be very debilitating.
What have you told him, Hep?
So, you do think bloodletting
would be advisable, Dr Pears?
It is usually the fail-safe method
in calming a case of hysteria like this.
No, I don't need it!
Going to be a good
girl, are we, Mrs Benham?
- Meg, Meg!
- No, I don't want it.
Shh, shh, shh.
Thank you, Miss Elliot,
you'd make a capital nurse.
She doesn't want it. Can't
you see you're torturing her?
Be quiet, Frances, and
let the doctor do his work.
Shh.
For once, we are actually better placed
to take the lead on
something in the West Indies.
Not all knowledge is born in Europe.
Benham might have the name
but I have the specimens.
Frances?
Frances!
Are you deaf, girl?
Show the doctor out.
Has it not formed part of your duties
to tidy up in here
every once in a while?
I simply do not know how Meg
can abide these piles everywhere.
What have they done to you?
Please leave us.
You're not needed here.
Go, Frances.
There you are.
You managed a little rest.
Are you looking for Frances?
The two of you are always searching
each other out, aren't you?
She'll be sleeping in the
attic again from now on.
You don't need two nurses.
Mr Benham agreed to that?
Well, I think he would, wouldn't he?
If he were in possession
of all the facts.
It's just that you've become so
agitated, ever since
she joined your staff.
I think you need to be
careful with this, too.
You know what they say
" The dose is the poison."
I'll, erm keep hold of it.
I'll measure it out for you from now on.
They do this sometimes.
You mustn't worry.
It's just until she's right, and
then it's all back to normal again.
It's not right.
They've locked her in. She
hasn't been out in days.
She'll be all right, Fran.
But you need to worry about yourself.
It had been days, but then
she managed to steal away.
She said she had no choice
Frances.
but to do as she was told.
- Are you all right?
- Don't.
But what she meant was
Someone might come.
she wasn't brave enough to choose.
And then she asked me to deliver
another message to Laddie.
Please.
A small act of resistance
against her husband, she said.
And so
I did as I was told.
Miss Langton.
I'm bone-tired, Miss Langton.
I'll be asleep in 15 minutes,
so you have five to do
whatever you came here to do.
Mr African Genius.
What would they say
if they could see this?
Whatever they would have to say
is of THEIR concern, not mine.
Another one?
She's got you well-trained.
And on the laudanum,
by the looks of things.
"Since we met at Longreach,
I've been thinking about what
you said about your childhood.
My husband will not allow
himself to see the truth.
But I can.
I think you should
write to the newspapers
before his proposals go to parliament.
Someone should tell
the truth about him."
Has she gone mad?
"I offer you my assistance,
though it is imperative
that I am not discovered.
My involvement must never be known."
What is she playing at?
She cannot help.
And yet, apparently, she
offers to do so freely.
While you, who actually
could help, stay silent.
Is there a reply?
No.
I beg your pardon?
Tell your mistress, no.
Some of us may be happy
to make sport of themselves
for her entertainment.
But not me.
What did he say?
He said to the Devil with you.
He did?
Well, that is to his credit, I suppose.
I'll have to write again.
You'll take it, won't you?
Frances?
I'm tired of being your errand girl.
And I am tired of being your secret.
But, Frances
it cannot be another way.
What do you want from me?
I don't want to be in the dark any more.
I want you to be proud to be with me.
I want to be proud with you.
I want to touch you
when you want me to.
I want all of those impossible things.
Don't you?
What are you doing here?
Someone might come.
Then I will hide under the bed.
Playing the man of the house?
Do you want something?
Meg has been carrying on with
the girl right under your nose.
I've seen them.
How long?
I've suspected since Longreach.
Since
Since Longreach?
You-you kept it to
yourself all this time?
You, who have never kept a secret
in your entire miserable life.
You would have seen it for
yourself if you paid her attention.
But instead, you're too
busy yourself sneaking around
doing God knows what.
Don't you dare.
Society may forgive the
man who is debauched.
It may even forgive the man
whose housemaid is debauched,
but it will destroy the man
who allows his wife to be.
You are a vile hypocrite, Hephzibah.
Talking to me about morality.
Are you threatening me?
I have done nothing.
We should be allies in this.
There are books hidden
under the girl's bed.
Hoarded.
Taken from your library.
We can put it about
that she was stealing.
So no-one will blame you.
Not a word leaves this house.
If it does, not only
will you be deprived
of every single penny of your allowance,
but the world will learn
something of your own
What was the word that you used?
Debauchery.
Rouse the servants.
Fetch Frances.
Mrs Linux!
Mrs Linux, I need your
assistance at once!
- Frances.
- Sir?
You're dismissed.
What?
Why?
You're to leave this
household immediately.
I don't understand.
- Where will I go?
- That is entirely up to you.
You're free. This is a free country.
But we are not in the habit of
giving characters for thieves,
and so YOU will get none from me.
What are you talking about?
- I didn't steal anything.
- You stole these.
Valuable rare editions
that belong to your master.
This is ridiculous.
Madame lent me those books.
You think I care about the books?
You've stolen my trust.
I took you in. I gave you sanctuary,
and you seek to repay me
by taking what is mine.
You can't do this.
And there'll be no tender
goodbyes with your mistress.
Please don't do this.
Madame! Madame!
Get your hands off of me!
- Get her out of here, for God's sake.
- Madame!
Miss Langton, must I call the watchman?
Madame!
Get away from here, or
I will call the watchman!
You'll soon learn that
thieves are transported.
It's late, Hep.
I need to warn you.
George knows. About you and the girl.
I'm sure I don't know what you mean.
The one good purpose served by the truth
is that you no longer have to waste
your energy on this facade, Meg.
It's making you ill.
- How would he know?
- She told him.
I don't believe that.
Not for a minute. I
have to speak to her.
She's been turned out
already, she'll be long gone.
It was you.
You told him!
Oh, Hep, what have you done?!
I did what needed to be done.
She has brought you nothing but trouble!
Why can't you see that?
- You scheming bitch.
- Meg, please.
Just forget about her.
I'm trying to help you. Why
are you always doing this?
Going somewhere, Meg?
You turned Frances out? Hep told me.
Apparently, several months too late.
Were you going somewhere?
No.
Madame.
That woman did nothing to stop them
from turnin' you out empty-handed.
What kinda love is that?
How you can't see that she
was just like the rest of them?
If you find your hand
stuck in the Devil mouth,
you have to yank it out!
I saw it all, but she was
You saw not'ing!
You can't see not'ing!
You always have your nose
turned up so damn high,
you're tripping over your own damn feet.
But the trouble wit you,
you couldn't leave the people dem alone.
Them now have nuttin' for you.
Hello? Thank you.
Well, not every ting from
on high is a blessing.
Gwaan, stay there. You stay there.
Tan deh fretting about love, about her,
when I'm standing right
here trying to help you.
Why you can't see that?
Sal
After they threw me out
I didn't know what to do.
I had never been outside before
without a destination of
someone else's choosing.
I was on the street for days.
Sick. Starving.
Desperate for that damn drug.
And then I met Sal.
Ladies.
You can dry out in here.
Where am I?
Come now.
Louder!
- Shut it! Come on!
- Again.
Oh, you're up and about at last.
Gyal, you were in a bad, bad way.
You feeling any better now?
Thank you. I might have died.
Stand up now!
Is this place what I think it is?
Depends what you tink it is.
- You ever whip anybody?
- What?
Two tings white coves
can't get enough of.
Mulattas and flogging.
Them get a taste for that in
school and forever afterwards
them either got to be giving
a whipping or getting one.
Ladies.
They used my time at the School
House against me at my trial.
Said that what happened
there just went to show
that I was a savage character
The whip.
and an unrepentant whore.
Did I give you permission to speak?
But it was just work.
The first work I ever got paid for.
I stayed for five months.
It came to feel like home.
Small threads of happiness.
I even started writing this manuscript,
my own confessions.
- Almack's.
- Almack's.
Wh'appen?
This is who I used to work for.
- George Benham.
- That son of a bitch.
- You know him?
- Of him.
Word gets around.
Any sensible house
knows not to let them in.
Benham or him no-good brother.
Benham and Lord Percy?
- They come round here?
- Not all money is good money.
Some of the punters
make a name for themself.
Benham is one.
The kind of man that don't
take no for an answer.
Him crippled a girl once.
Went too far. Wouldn't stop.
One of her friends called the Watch,
but the constable
wouldn't pay them no mind.
Benham or him brother, one of
them, had bought him off already.
Everybody knows
the two of them just pay
whoever them need to pay,
and then nobody can
say a word against them.
Or listen to a word the
likes of us have to say.
You're better off out of there.
Gent downstairs for you, Fran.
Urgent, he says.
How did you find me?
You're developing quite the reputation.
Who's in charge of you?
- I am.
- Well, that makes things simple.
I came thinking I was going to have
to argue to take back what's mine.
- What's yours?
- In any event, I can't find any decent help.
Can't afford any, you mean.
Pack your things.
Did you hear me? I
said pack your things.
Come back here!
- Martha?
- Yes, Fran?
See this person out.
I left you with Benham, not to
whore yourself out for guineas!
I'm not whoring myself out.
Like mother, like daughter, I suppose.
Well, thank God I didn't
take after my father.
Seeing him again brought it all back.
All the things I couldn't
bear to think about.
You can tell me any ting, Frannie.
Any ting. You know that.
Remember, you and me
comin' from the same place.
The boy
Phibbah.
What happened that night.
Whatever it is
maybe you're going to
have to forgive your own self.
But that was easier said than done.
I had found a measure
of happiness with Madame.
But when I lost it, I
kept thinking that it was
because happiness was
much more than I deserved.
You still have fret 'bout
your white woman, Fran?
You need to stop moping
and live your life.
But all that time I
stayed at the School House,
some part of me always strayed
backwards anyway, towards her.
Thank you, Martha.
And then one day, my wish came true.
I am unwell.
And I fear only you can make me better.
I miss you.
Please come back to
me, Frances. Come back.
I hope you know you're a damn fool.
I'll come back after she's well.
The type of ill she is
doesn't get better, Frannie.
But ya goin' anyway.
When you do come back,
we goin' be right here.
Thank you, Sal.
For everything.
You.
- Madame sent for me.
- I am well aware of that.
The master says we're
to tolerate your return.
For reasons known only to himself.
Madame?
Frances!
Is it truly you?
- Are you ill?
- I dreamt you would come.
I dreamt it so often, I can't
even tell if you are real.
You need to stop taking that poison.
This is not the drug.
Frances
Frances, I don't know how to tell you.
What's wrong?
I'm sorry, I
- You were gone
- You are not ill.
and so I was taking
so much, too much,
and it sent me quite mad and I needed
Oh, I don't know what I
needed, I needed something.
So So I went to see him one night.
- One night and
- See who?
- I knew it was wrong, but I had no-one.
- Who?
Olaudah was a friend to me once.
Why?
Please, can you not forgive me?
Why am I here?