No.
lf I'd have been 11 and not 12 when Mom died,
I'd have had to go in an orphanage, like Frank.
l know. You went straight out to work.
l had to fend for meself, didn't l?
- Still. lt did you no harm. - Ah, well.
- Look at everything you got now. - Yes.
I'm a lucky man.
You telephoned for an ambulance this afternoon,
- is that right? - Yes.
Now, why did you do that?
She was having a miscarriage, weren't she?
- A miscarriage. - Yes.
Mr. Walsh has told us that somebody came round to your house
to perform an operation on your daughter.
Well, there you are, Mr. Walsh just told you.
Doctors know everything. why don't you ask him?
l want to hear it from you, Mrs. Barnes.
He's the one what phoned you. l never phoned you.
lt ain't got nothing to do with me.
Keep your voice down, Mrs. Barnes.
Who was it that performed this operation?
A woman.
- Do you know her name? - No.
How did you get in touch with this woman?
l don't know. You just ask about.
- Who did you ask? - People at work.
Where do you work, Mrs. Barnes?
Allied Laundries--Clerkenwell Road.
- Who did you talk to at work? - What does it matter now?
Your daughter's just nearly died, Mrs. Barnes.
lt would be in your best interests.
You do realize this is a criminal matter.
All right.
- Vera. - Vera?
- Vera Drake. - That's who you talked to at work?
No, sir, she's the one what come round. She's the one what done it.
Vera Drake is the person
that performed the operation on your daughter?
- Yes. - So you do know her name.
Yes.
Had you met her before?
We both worked in a laundry in 1931.
- Have you seen her since then? - No.
- Do you know where she lives? - No.
What does she look like, Mrs. Barnes?
Um, small-- small hands. l ain't going to get
- in to trouble for this, am l? - lt's a bit of a coincidence, isn't it?
Somebody you haven't seen for years
just suddenly turns up on your doorstep.
Well, I ain't lying!
You're twisting my words. That's not fair!
- lt's all right, dear.
I'm not suggesting you are lying, Mrs. Barnes.
I'm just trying to get to the bottom of things.
- There you are, Sid. Grab here. - Coming in.
That's better. Where we always have it.
- Gives us more room, don't it? - Oh, yes.
Got the Christmas cloth.
We want it to look nice, don't we, Mom?
- Yes? - Good afternoon.
Are you Mrs. Lillian Clark?
- Why, who wants to know? - D.l. Webster, metropolitan police.
There we are!
- Hello! Hello, Joyce! - All right, Stan?
- Just catching my breath. - Hello, Joyce!
Oh, doesn't she look lovely?
- All right, my darling. - Hello, dear.
- Hello, Auntie Joyce. How are you? - Hello, Sidney.
- Look at the inside of this! - How are you doing, Uncle Frank?
- All right, Sid. - Ain't seen you for ages.
You look like a film star.
Congratulations, Ethel, it's lovely news.
- Do you like it? - Yes, I do!
- I sewed the lining in myself. - Did you?
- lt's leopard print. - Leopard print.
Come on, you make yourself comfortable--
Blimey, look at that, eh?
Here, I hope you left your rifle at home, Auntie Joyce!
Do you know Mrs. Edna McKenzie?
What if I do?
Just give us a straight answer, please.
l might.
Are you familiar with the standard tearooms
- on the Holloway Road, Mrs. Clark? - Yes.
- Were you there last Wednesday? - I can't remember.
You're really not helping yourself, Mrs. Clark.
What's this all about, anyway?
Do you know Vera Drake?
Quite a grocery shop you've got here, love.
lt's for the old people-- for Christmas.
How much you charging for a bag of tea?
Did you take two guineas off Jessica Barnes last Wednesday?
l don't know what you're talking about.
l think you do, Mrs. Clark.
Nice living you're making for yourself.
Have you got a little bit of lipstick on, Ethel?
Don't she look lovely in that top and all?
Did you knit that yourself?
No, we got that from the market, didn't we?
How's the house coming along, Uncle Frank?
I've been keeping Frank busy, ain't l, Frank?
Been up a ladder the best part of six months.
- The neighbors have just got a tv. - Have they?
- ln the front room. - Have you seen it?
- Only through the window. - You'll have to get one now, Frank.
- That's next on my list. - Dear though, ain't they?
- Only ¡ê36.00. - ¡ê36.00.
- A bit steep, that. - They must have a few bob.
Oh yes. Got lovely color and all, ain't they, Frank?
- V-8 pilot. - He's doing rather shifty at the job.
l was hoping for a little spin round the block.
You can see it out the window.
Oh, that ain't the same thing, is it?
Will it be all right out there, Frank?
- I've already told you. - lt'll be fine.
Of course it will.
Well, you can't be sure, can you?
There he is!
Let him in, Ethel. Talk of the devil-- the man himself.
- Hello. Come on in. - That you, Reg?
Yeah, Reg, in you come.
- Here he is. - Afternoon.
Hi, hi. How's your luck, pal?
Reg, this is my brother Frank.
- Pleased to meet you, Reg. - How do you do?
- Congratulations. - And his wife Joyce.
- Hello, Reg. - How do you do?
Here, take your coat off. We can eat now. I'm starving.
Didn't hold everybody up, did l?
Oh, don't be so silly. Go on, sit yourselves down.
- Where do you want me to sit? - Looks smart, don't he?
- Yeah, he does. - You sit there, Reg.
- Here, Uncle Frank. You're next to me. - Well, don't make trouble.
- Now come on, everyone. Tuck in. - Fill your boats.
Ethel, thank you.
- This is nice. - Aw.
Ayup. Ayup.
Here's to Ethel and Reg.
Welcome to the family, Reg.
And all the very best to the both of you. Cheers.
- Cheers. - To the happy couple.
- Here's to you. - Ta very much.
And if you're half as happy with your wife
as I've been with mine, you'll be a lucky man.
- Quite right. - lt's the truth.
Well, there's no turning back now, Reg.
You'll be coming to us for your Christmas dinner, won't you, Reg?
Yeah, you don't want to miss Christmas here.
Well, Frank and Joyce, you'll be here, won't you?
- Of course we will. - We ain't made no plans yet.
- Wouldn't be the same without you. - We'll be here, don't worry.
- We have a laugh, don't we? - Yes, we do.
And you want to get your name on the housing list, Reg.
Yes, you want to get yourself somewhere nice.
We'll be all right at my place.
Mind you, we was in one room after we got married, weren't we, Dad?
We was in one room for years, yeah.
- Yeah, had some good times in there. - Christmases.
But one of these days you might find that...
one room ain't enough. I'm being a bit previous.
- He knows what I mean. - Take no notice.
Yeah, I'll be an uncle.
We've-- we got a bit of news to tell you ourselves, me and Joyce.
- Yes. - Oh, yes? What is it?
I've had to keep me trap shut all week.
- Oh, dear. - Come on, Frank. Spit it out.
- Well? - Well, go on then.
Joyce is going to have a baby.
Gonna have a family.
Congratulations, Frank.
I'm really pleased for you.
Congratulations, Uncle Frank.
- Congratulations, Auntie Joyce. - Thank you, Sidney.
Well, blimey, this is a double celebration, isn't it?
Here, Joyce. You'll have a little top-off wouldn't you?
Hey, you kept that one quiet, didn't you?
I'll go. Hey, Sid--pour the drinks.
Here, pass 'em over.
Good afternoon, sir.
- D.l. Webster, metropolitan police. - Oh, yes?
Does Mrs. Vera Drake live here, sir?
Yes, she does. Yes.
Would you be Mr. Drake, sir?
Yes.
- ls Mrs. Drake at home now? - Yes.
We'd like to have a few words with her...
if we may.
Oh, well, we're having a party.
My daughter's just got engaged--celebration.
I'm sorry about that, sir, but we do need to talk to your wife.
- What about? - I can't tell you that, sir.
But it is a serious matter.
Well she's good as gold. She's never done
- a dishonest thing in her life. - Yes, sir.
May we come in?
Hold up, hold up. lt's the police.
Eh?
Good afternoon.
Sorry to interrupt your celebrations,
but we need to talk to Mrs. Vera Drake.
This is my wife.
- What's going on? - Could you sit down please, sir?
Do as you're told, Sid.
May I speak to you in private please, Mrs. Drake?
This way, Mrs. Drake.
What is it, Dad?
Hold on, Sid. I'll come with her.
lf you don't mind staying in the parlor please, sir.
- What's all this about? - We will keep you posted.
I'm her husband, I've got a right to know.
l appreciate that, sir.
lf you'll just do as I've asked.
Close the door. Thank you.
Mrs. Drake.
I'm Detective lnspector Webster.
This is Detective Sergeant Vickers and W.P.C. Best.
l know why you're here.
Beg your pardon?
l know why you're here.
Why are we here?
'Cause of what I do.
Because of what you do.
Yes.
What is it that you do, Mrs. Drake?
l help young girls out.
You help young girls out?
That's right.
How do you help them out?
We're having a party today.
Can I sit down, please?
Yes, of course.
l don't want to spoil it for my family.
Can't you come back tomorrow?
I'm sorry, Mrs. Drake.
But we have to deal with this matter today.
Oh, do you?
Yes.
What are they taking so long for?
l don't know, Sid.
Someone might've been murdered.
- Oh, my godfathers, Sidney! - All right, Sid.
No, in one of the houses she cleans in.
l mean he said it was serious, didn't he?
Someone's pinched something, that's all.
But there were a couple of detectives.
Plainclothes, aren't they?
Can you answer my question, please?
How do you help them out?
When they can't manage.
When they can't manage?
That's right.
You mean, when they're pregnant?
So, how do you help them out?
l help them start their bleeding again.
You help them to get rid of the baby?
I've spoiled their day for them now, haven't l?
You perform an abortion.
ls that right, Mrs. Drake?
You perform abortions, don't you?
That's not what I do, dear.
That's what you call it,
but they need help.
Who else are they gonna turn to? They've got no one. I help them out.
Did you help Pamela Barnes in this way?
Pamela--
yes, I did.
- On Friday? - That's right.
ls she all right?
She nearly died, Mrs. Drake...
last night.
She'll live.
- Thank you. - She's in a hospital,
but she'll live.
Mrs. Drake, I'm arresting you
for carrying out an illegal operation
on Pamela Mary Barnes,
of 37 Flixton Street, London, N1...
on the 17th of November, 1950.
You're not obliged to say anything,
but anything you say may be given in evidence.
Do you understand?
l think so, dear-- yes.
l must ask you to accompany me to the police station.
Mrs. Drake...
does anybody in that room know why we're here?
No. No.
You won't tell them, will you?
No.
Now, the equipment you used
to perform these operations...
is it here on the premises?
Can you get it for me, please?
- Can you manage? - Thank you, dear.
Pop it on the bed for me, please.
Would you mind showing me what's inside?
Sorry, dear?
l need to see the contents of the bag.
Take your time.
Can you open it up, please?
Thank you.
- Go on. - Ask him, Dad.
lt's your house, Stan.
Could you stay in the room, please?
- I want to know what this is about. - I don't know, sir.
Mr. Drake.
Could I have a word with you, please?
What's going on?
I'm afraid I'm going to have to take your wife to the police station
- to help us with our inquiries. - Well, I wanna go with her.
You're free to do that, sir.
- You'll have to make your own way. - Will l?
She's got to go to the station.
- This is a mistake, ain't it? - Yes, it is.
- How we doing? - Ready, Sarge.
Follow the sergeant.
You'll be all right, Vera.
- You know where the station is, sir? - Yes, I do.
- I'll just get my coat. - I'll take you.
- You stay in. - I've got the motor.
- Be better if you stayed - Go with her, Dad.
- What are you doing? - Having a look.
- Sid. - Frank!
Ethel, come back inside. You'll catch your death.
Mom!
Don't worry, love. I'm coming with you.
Let us see, Vera, this is just procedure.
lt's nothing to worry about.
We'll look after everything we've taken from you here today.
Just have to put them on for me.
Sit yourself down.
Thank you.
Now, Vera, do you have any jewelry?
No, dear.
Your wedding ring.
I'm going to have to take that off you, I'm afraid.
l can't.
l know this is difficult for you.
l never took it off.
l know.
... 27 years.
We'll take extra special care of it.
lt's regulations.
Thank you, m'love.
I'll just hand this over to the station sergeant.
Do you know how long this is going to take?
l have no more information than you, sir.
Take a seat, please.
Excuse me.
- Excuse me. - Sit down, sir.
Don't get up, Mrs. Drake.
Now, Mrs. Drake...
you help women who are in trouble.
How long have you been doing this?
l don't know, dear.
Well... roughly speaking.
Five, 10 years?
A long time.
20 years?
Maybe, yes.
About 20 years.
No--
l don't know.
Mrs. Drake, you're in a police station
under arrest for a serious criminal offense,
- do you understand me? - Yes, I'm sorry.
lt's very important that you try
to answer my questions truthfully.
Yes.
ls my-- is my husband in yet?
Yes, Mrs. Drake. He is.
How did you start...
helping girls in this way?
l can't.
Don't worry, Vera.
Just answer the inspector's question.
Mrs. Drake...
did it happen to you, when you were a girl?
Now...
as far as you're aware...
have any of the other girls
you've helped over the years become ill?
What did you say, dear? Sorry.
Have any of them gone to the hospital?
No.
Are you sure?
Yes.
Do you always use the syringe?
You don't ever use knitting needles or hooks...
- No. - or any other metal objects?
No, no. l wouldn't do that.
How much do you charge, Mrs. Drake?
What?
How much do they pay you?
l don't take money.
l never take money. l wouldn't--
That's not why--
You do it for nothing.
Of course I do.
They need help.
Do you know a Mrs. Lillian Clark?
Yes.
How long have you known her?
l think it's when we was kids.
She puts young girls in touch with you, doesn't she?
Sometimes.
Did she put you in touch with Pamela Barnes.
Did you know that Lillian Clark was paid two guineas by Pamela's mother?
No.
She never gives you any money.
No.
- You telling me the truth? - Yes, I am.
Can I go home now, please?
No, Mrs. Drake. I'm afraid not.
My children will be worried sick.
They won't be long now.
Well, we can't stay here all night, can we?
lt would be all right, if you want to get off.
We don't mind.
He told us to stay, so stay is what we'll do.
l don't like driving in the dark.
lt's already dark anyway.
Well can we have the wireless on, please?
So now, Mrs. Drake. I'm going to invite you under caution
To make a statement in your own words
which I shall write down and then read back to you.
lf you agree it to be a true statement, you shall then sign it. ls that clear?
Yes.
So if I can begin by asking you how long you've been helping girls out?
A long time.
Can you be specific?
Exactly how long?
Um.
You previously stated to the inspector,
"about 20 years."
Oh, did l?
So if I put...
"l have been...
helping girls out...
for 20 years."
- For about 20 years. - Yes, sir.
What's wrong with climbing a wall?
Well, it depends what's on the other side of it, sir.
You are charged that you, Vera Rose Drake,
on the 17th day of November, 1950,
at 37 Flixton Street, North 1,
with the intent to procure a miscarriage,
did unlawfully and feloniously use an instrument
on Pamela Mary Barnes,
contrary to section 58
of the Offenses Against the Person Act, 1861.
Do you wish to say anything in answer to the charge?
You are not obliged to say anything unless you wish to do so,
But whatever you say will be taken down in writing
and may be given in evidence.
No.
Thank you, sergeant.
Very good, sir.
This way, Vera.
Mr. Drake--
What's going on? What's all this about?
Look, I'll tell you what, could you bear with me for a minute?
Have a seat.
Sir.
Mrs. Drake, I've just been talking to your husband.
He doesn't know why you're here, does he?
No.
He's going to find out, you know?
Why don't you tell him yourself?
l can bring him through, now.
l think it's for the best, don't you?
Yes, dear.
Myself and the W.P.C. will have to be present, do you understand?
- When you're finished. - Sir.
That's it, Vera.
I'm sorry.
What do you got to be sorry about?
What is it, love?
Look at the state of her, she don't deserve this.
You're going to have to tell him, Mrs. Drake.
- l-- - What?
Your wife has been charged...
I'm afraid she's going to have to spend the night
here in the police station.
We will take good care of her, sir.
She'll be appearing before the magistrate in the morning.
lf you'd like to come with me, sir.
Don't tell Ethel and Sid.
Promise me.
- Where's Vera? - Where's Mom?
Dad?
They're going to keep her in there overnight.
What for? Dad, what's going on?
Let your dad take his coat off.
Let me have a word with your Uncle Frank. lt'll just be five minutes.
- Why can't you tell-- - Five minutes.
- She's in serious trouble, Frank. - Why, what's happened?
What am I gonna do?
What is it?
- Tell me. - I can't.
She's been helping young girls out.
How do you mean?
What find themselves in the family way.
You mean--
l don't believe it.
She told me herself in front of the cops.
She asked me not to tell the kids.
What shall I do?
- You got to tell them the truth. - I know.
What's gonna happen to her?
She's got to go to court in the morning.
Copper gave me the name of a solicitor.
- Gonna go around there first thing. - I'll come with you.
- Yeah? - 'Course, I will.
Thanks.
Joyce, get your coat.
Thank God for that. Excuse me.
I'll see you tomorrow.
Ethel, where's my hat, please?
lt might be better if you just get off home, Reg.
Yeah, 'course.
- Nice to meet you, Reg. - Nice to meet you.
- Cheerio, then. - Cheerio.
Night.
You still got your hat and coat on, Dad.
- Pop round tomorrow. - After work.
All right.
- Thanks for the do, Stan. - You're welcome.
- Look after yourself, Reg. - And you, mate.
Here.
Tea?
How 'bout a sandwich?
- No, thank you. - Are you sure?
Well, good night then, Vera.
Thanks, Arthur.
l don't believe it.
How could she do that?
She was trying to help people out, Sid.
She wasn't, though.
Well, whatever she done, she's done it out of the kindness of her heart.
- She's let us down-- - No.
Mrs. Drake.
- Yes? - My name is Mr. Lewis.
I'm your solicitor.
Stanley came to me this morning to ask me to represent you.
- Oh. - He's waiting outside with Frank.
ls Frank here?
Yes, they're taking care of each other.
Now, I have a number of questions
l need to ask you, but I would imagine
That you have a thousand and one questions that you'd like to ask me.
So why don't you go first. Hmm?
This is case number five on the list, Your Worship.
Vera Rose Drake.
Good morning, Your Worship.
lt is my privilege to appear for Mrs. Drake this morning.
lt is my intention to make an application for bail,
subject to Your Worship's views in this matter.
l understand from the inspector,
the police will raise no objections to this application.
Thank you, Mr. Lewis.
Are you Vera Rose Drake?
Yes.
What is your address?
- 82-- - Would you speak up?
82, Essex Buildings...
Oslow Street,
North 1.
You are charged for that you,
on the 17th day of November, 1950
at 37 Flixton Street, North 1
did unlawfully and feloniously
use an instrument on Pamela Mary Barnes,
contrary to section 58 of the Offenses Against the Person Act, 1861.
Sit down, Mrs. Drake.
lnspector.
Detective lnspector Earnest Webster,
G-division, metropolitan police.
l swear by almighty God
that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
As a result of a telephone call
from Ward Sister Coombes,
Detective Sergeant Vickers, W.P.C. Best and myself
went to the North London General Hospital--
"l know why you are here.
l help young girls who are in trouble.
l help them to start their bleeding."
l said, "You mean you perform abortions?"
She said, "That's not what I call it. l just help them."
She admitted performing an illegal operation on Pamela Barnes
and on hearing of the girl's critical condition, became distressed.
l arrested and cautioned her
and at my request she produced the equipment used in the operation,
which included a Higginson's syringe and a cheese grater.
Mrs. Drake accompanied us to the police station,
where she made a voluntary statement under caution.
Mrs. Drake was cooperative throughout
and is not previously known to the police.
We will not be opposing bail for this defendant.
Mr. Lewis.
Thank you, sir.
My application for bail
ls based on the grounds...
that Mrs. Drake is gainfully employed
as a domestic in several households.
Um, she has a permanent residence
and is married with two children,
in addition to which, there is an aged mother,
all of whom rely upon her for domestic duties.
l understand that she has cooperated fully
throughout the police investigations
and-- and has not received,
nor sought to receive any remuneration
for performing this operation.
She has no previous convictions.
Um, however, she is unable to provide a surety.
Yes, I shall grant bail.
Much obliged, Your Worship.
Stand up, Mrs. Drake.
l shall admit you to bail in your own recognizances
in the sum of ¡ê50.00
to appear in this court
three weeks from today...
on December the 18th, sir.
That is at 10:00 A.M.
on the 18th of December.
Thank you, inspector.
l don't think I can go to prison, Stan.
I'd better be getting off.
Gonna do a bit of work?
l think I should.
Let's get your coat off.
Sid?
Hello, Sid.
l didn't think you'd be here.
Come here and sit down, Sid.
I'm going to go up to me room.
I've known her since I was six.
She's been like a mom-- she was me mom.
The two of them...
- paid for me apprenticeship. - Yes, I know all that, Frank.
All their savings...
When I left on me own, l spent all me time round there.
She taught me how to waltz in the front room.
She always made us laugh.
Stupid cow.
How can she be so selfish?
So now you both know what we know.
l wish I didn't know any of it, Dad.
Well, we all wish that, Sid.
I'm ever so sorry.
How could you do those things, Mom?
l don't understand it.
l don't expect you do, Sid.
Why'd you do it?
l had to.
lt's wrong though, ain't it? Eh?
- I don't think so. - of course it is!
That's little babies.
l mean, you hear about these things,
you read about it in the papers, but you don't expect to come home to it
on your own doorstep with your own mom!
- You ain't got no right! - That's enough, Sid.
Of what?
So what are we supposed to do then, eh?
Sit round, playing happy family,
pretending like nothing's happened?
- I said that's enough! - You lied to us.
- No, she never-- - She did.
- She never told us, but she never lied. - Same thing!
No it ain't!
lt's dirty.
- All right? - Come on in.
lt don't seem fair.
Look at my own mom.
Six of us in two rooms.
lt's all right if you're rich.
But if you can't feed 'em,
you can't love 'em, can you?
- Poor Sid. - I know.
Everything's black and white for Sid.
He's young.
l can't blame him.
He'll come round.
- I don't know, Stan. - Here, come here.
l don't think I can tell mother.
She don't need to know.
lt's all right.
lt's all gonna come out, Sid. Everyone will know.
Some people won't be able to look us in the eye--
- cross the road to avoid us. - Can you blame 'em?
You wanna be one of them people?
Can't look your own mother in the eye? Eh?
You know when you went off into war,
You turned round to me, you said, "Sid, you're the man of the house now,
you've got to look after things." And I did.
l was only 13
Me and Mom, we pulled together-- and Ethel...
- she must've been doing it then. - I know.
So how many has she done over the years then, eh?
Dozens? Hundreds?
And all right, fair enough--
she's kept it from me and Ethel, but she didn't even tell you.
lf she'd told me, I'd have put a stop to it, wouldn't l?
l don't get it, ain't you angry?
Of course I'm bloody angry, you silly bugger.
- You're asking me to forgive her. - Yes.
You can forgive her, Sid. She's your mother.
She'd forgive you anything, wouldn't she?
l know you think she's done a bad thing...
but God knows, she's going to get punished enough for what she's done.
We can't let her down.
l don't know what to say to you, Mom.
You don't have to say nothing, Sid.
I'm scared for you, that's all.
You'll have to look after your dad.
'Course. 'Course I will.
l love you, Mom.
Stand up.
Vera Rose Drake.
l commit you for trial
at the central criminal court
of the next session commencing...
the 10th of January, 1951.
l shall admit you to bail in your own recognizances
in the sum of ¡ê50.00,
and I shall grant a defense certificate.
Much obliged, Your Worship.
l don't want to see that woman, Frank. l can't be near her.
- lt's Christmas. - I won't sit round the dinner table
With her, eating food.
- I'm sorry, I can't help it. - He's me brother.
- What am I supposed to say to him? - I don't know.
We ain't never going to have a Christmas by ourselves!
Just you and me.
All right, I'll go.
For you.
l ain't staying though.
We'll have a quick drink and then we'll leave.
All right?
Now I have received a reply from
three of Mrs. Drake's four employers.
Mrs. Wells has not even had the decency
to respond to my second letter, I'm afraid to say...
and whilst they all speak very highly of Mrs. Drake,
I'm afraid that none of them, under the circumstances,
feel able to appear as a character witness on your behalf.
Uh, Miss-- uh, Miss Kitchener uh, does, however, send her blessing.
On a more positive note,
l have secured the services of Mr. Hampton Ward,
who is an excellent barrister,
and will present our case in the best possible light.
Now, the judge may see fit to give us the minimum sentence,
which could be as little as 18 months.
I'm afraid I'm unable to offer you
any more hope than that.
I'm sorry.
You been feeling all right, Joyce?
Yes, thank you.
You gonna have one of your chocolates?
Oh, yes.
I'll have one of these.
Frank?
No.
Ethel?
No, you're all right, mate.
This is the best Christmas I've had in a long time.
Thank you very much, Vera.
Smashing.
ls your name, Vera Rose Drake?
Yes.
Prisoner at the bar,
you are charged with using an instrument
with intent to procure miscarriage,
contrary to section 58
of the Offenses Against the Person Act, 1861.
The particulars of the offense,
are that on the 17th day of November, 1950,
in the county of London,
you did unlawfully use an instrument
with intent to procure the miscarriage of a woman
named Pamela Mary Barnes.
How say you?
Are you guilty, or not guilty?
I'm guilty.
Could you please speak up, Mrs. Drake,
that the court might hear you?
- I'm guilty. - Thank you.
Please be seated.
...and cautioned her.
on being asked to surrender
the equipment used for the abortion,
the defendant produced nine objects
from the top of a cupboard in the bedroom.
My Lord, they were: a Higginson's syringe--
that is exhibit EW-1.
A cheese grater--exhibit EW-2.
A nail brush--
exhibit EW-3.
A bottle of disinfectant--
exhibit EW-4,
wrapped in a towel--exhibit EW-5.
A piece of carbolic soap
wrapped in a dishcloth--
they are exhibits EW-6 and EW-7.
Those last two objects
were both enclosed in a tin.
Which is exhibit EW-8.
All the aforementioned items
were kept in a cloth bag,
which as Your Lordship can see
is exhibit EW-9.
Vera Drake is not concerned with riches.
She simply helps people
as and when she's asked. She's always helped people.
Her solicitude for others
has led her to commit
one of the most serious offenses
in the calendar,
but her intention...
was to help the young girl
and not to harm her.
l may assure Your Lordship
That Vera Drake is more relieved than anyone
about the recovery of Pamela Barnes.
l submit that Your Lordship would have little doubt
that this...
unfortunate woman is now ever likely
to reoffend...
and that is the case for the defense, my Lord.
Thank you, Mr. Hampton Ward.
Prisoner at the bar, please rise.
Prisoner at the bar, you stand convicted of felony.
Have you anything to say
why the court should not give you judgment according to law?
No.
Please remain standing.
Vera Rose Drake,
you have committeda crime, the gravity of which
cannot be overestimated.
The law is very clear
and you have willfully broken that law.
And furthermore,
in so doing,
you have put at risk
the life of a vulnerable young woman.
And but for the timely intervention
of the medical profession...
you might have been before me on an even more serious charge
than the one that has brought you here today.
Now...
l have heard your plea of guilty,
and I have taken that into account...
and I have listened very carefully
to the submissions of your council.
But nothing has been advanced me today
on your behalf which would persuade me
to take any course
other than to impose a custodial sentence.
lndeed...
the extreme seriousness of your crime
is bound to be reflected
in the sentence that I am about to pass.
And that must serve as a deterrent to others.
l therefore sentence you
to a term of imprisonment,
which will be two years and six months.
Take her down.
All rise.
She won't be able to come round and see you.
Not for awhile.
Why not?
Ethel will come over.
- She ain't dead, is she? - No.
No, she ain't dead.
How long did you say you got?
Two years and six months.
First offense?
Oh, yes.
- Did she die? - No, dear.
l don't know what I'd have done if she had.
My girl died.
- Did she? - So did mine.
Oh, dear.
What'd you use?
- A syringe. - There you are.
Hundreds of times--safe as houses.
Yes, I don't know what happened.
We just do our best, love.
- How long you in here for then? - Three years.
- Four. - Second time for us.
Oh.
Cheer up. You'll only do half.
You'll be out before you know it.
Yes.
See you later, then.
Mind where you're going, Drake.
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