Harlots

I'm soon taking a fine new house,

in Soho, Greek Street.

This move is too much risk.

Is your master in?

Mr. Lennox is my husband.

Harriet knows all about us.

You want me to invest in your house, and I shall.

I am in need of a girl.

A sweet, untouched hanging risk.

‐Hello, sprat. ‐I'm not a sprat anymore.

Have to keep myself pure for Lord Reptile.

Tell Dame Death Mary Cooper's dead.

Under normal circumstances,

the Crown could fall, Christ could rise,

and a gentleman would still find himself well met

at the door of Margaret Wells,

but today, we are closed.

Closed?

Tomorrow we re‐open in Greek Street.

But I must warn you.

Mrs. Wells has tweaked the tariffs in accordance.

More money for the same girls?

Way of the world, Mr. Armitage.

You can flog a sweetmeat for twice the price

if it's in a pretty paper.

There'll be no "twice the price"

coming our way.

Mr. Armitage is exactly the breed

we don't want following us.

I like him.

He's got lovely thick arms.

Better than Lord Repton's.

Weak and flabby from a life of opulence.

Better than his pintle.

It's crooked.

Poor old wonky.

You're just jealous I'll be off gallivanting in splendor.

You're almost a proper lady, Lucy.

And you're almost a proper whore.

Can I not rely on you for better?

Do want the other girls to piss in your supper?

I was just joking, Ma.

There is an art to joking

without putting yourself above 'em.

Am I not above them?

You make yourself the toast of the Reptons

and they will catapult you to the heavens,

just as they did Charlotte.

I don't want a life like Kitty and Fanny.

You...

you are gold

and they are pinchbeck.

Won't prove that by gloating.

The carriage!

Mrs. Lennox?

Nathaniel was stricken last night.

The doctor says his heart is failing him.

I'm sorry to hear that.

He wants you.

You must ride back with me now to see him.

You visit for more than the amusements,

Justice Cunliffe?

The beast requires feeding again.

If I knew the nature of the beast,

how much better I could nourish it.

And procuring unused girls is perilous.

Are they worthy of the risk?

Oh, most certainly.

If this is you...

who are they?

‐Hmph. ‐Closer.

Though they are without heart.

I will depart, madam,

before a stench like the fleet ditch reaches me.

Our business is not concluded.

You vile wretch!

You're more repulsive than the blackening corpse

left on my doorstep.

It wasn't deliberate, Mumma, I think her belly is unsettled.

Then today you will fast

so as not to upset your stomach further.

Forgive me, gentlemen!

"I support my right honorable friend's assertion

that the cost of war has been grave."

This will be my first speech in Parliament

and you're not even listening.

I'm hanging on your every word, my love.

I can't help thinking your wife would make

a better audience.

Lady Caroline's a passionless shrew.

She wouldn't understand an artful performance

if it fumbled her cockle.

I'm not asking you to understand the politics.

I understand that Parliament wants to tax

the natives in the colonies

to get back what was spent fighting them.

You make it sound unreasonable.

Then perhaps I do not understand it

as well as I thought.

There a more straightforward performance you could show me?

Don't scratch it,

or they'll dump you on the church steps.

Up.

You look so handsome, Lucy.

You won't be a bit out of place at the Reptons.

Old wonky.

I shall have to mount with care.

The men at the new house will love you, Fanny.

Master Benjamin is with him now.

The children!

Mama, Mama!

Shh!

Come to me.

‐I'm so sorry. ‐ls Papa with angels?

No!

Ohh...

Our faces will not always fit as well as they have done here.

Hm?

I won't mind moving to Greek Street.

I could use some luxury.

There'll be plenty of pockets to lighten.

Off you go, then.

Goodbye!

Be seeing you!

Goodbye!

Come visit us!

Excuse me.

Excuse me!

Uh, yes, miss?

This is not the way to the Reptons'.

We're going to their country estate.

Stop!

Do you hear me, I want you to stop.

I wasn't told I'd be leaving London.

If you will not take me home,

then I will get out and make my own way.

And become the plunder of footpads?

It won't just be your purse they shove their fingers in.

I want to go home.

Then I will take you.

But you will have to make good with me.

My mother will pay you as soon as we return.

You can take me in your mouth, if you prefer.

I'm a guest of your master.

You are not his guest, you are his doxy.

And you won't even be that once you've jilted him.

Have to drag 'em out their cannons.

All right, here we go.

I think you're on the wrong street, friend.

I'm sure I'm not, friend.

I said leave her alone!

Don't touch her!

Hay!

Get your grubby fingers off her!

We've not come looking for trouble.

Well, then take your rancid bitches

and your rabid little picaninny...

and fuck off.

Filthy beast!

‐We're going. ‐Yeah?

Next time, we won't be so merciful.

Fuck you, dead boy!

‐You're disgusting. ‐You are a trollop.

Go!

‐Fucking oaf! ‐You're a maggot boiler.

You're a maggot boiler, that's all you are!

You should be ashamed of yourself!

They are retreating.

They are.

Then our undertaking is accomplished.

By organizing a few mischief makers

and a sack of slops?

They will return,

and you will attach yourself to that house

like a dog on a rope.

The gentlemen should be scared to pass you.

I am no dog, Mrs. Quigley.

I do hope you are not too proud for the task.

Because there are others I could install

in this house.

And you could be back in your hovel.

You have not been born rich or fortunate enough

to enjoy congress with the likes of me.

I do hope your journey was not too torturous, my dear.

I'm sure you'll want to bathe.

Scrub London from your skin.

Come on.

What will I do now?

What will become of us?

I'm not really his wife.

His children are bastards.