Harlots

This baby's almost ready to be born.

For her children.

Your mongrels are mine by law.

She cannot be seen.

The Spartans are in for some very fine sport.

How did you find me?

Your dear friend Margaret Wells.

I found a treasure.

- I want Lucy. - You'll be Lucy's keeper?

I'm now your master and your lord.

You may not ever refuse me!

Lucy will be damned.

Her soul will burn for murder.

It's my murder now.

The whole street will witness him leave.

We'll hang for this.

Where are you going?

Pa and Jacob didn't come home last night.

I'm going to go and find them.

I'm coming with you.

No.

I'll not be cosseted.

Not anymore.

What are you doing?

I'm going to Ma's house.

Charlotte, you can't.

I need to know what happened after I left.

No, makes no odds what happened.

Whether your man lived or died,

your neck's in the noose; We need to leave.

Why must I run when I haven't done anything wrong?

Because it looks like you have

and that's all that matters.

I need to know that Lucy's safe.

Let your mother plot to keep Lucy safe...

and we'll do the same for us.

Charlotte.

Do you have brothers or sisters?

Many.

But not two of us within a hundred miles of each other,

that's what happens.

Fate scatters you like seed.

I won't just leave her.

What if I go to the house?

Once I've arranged passage; Will that satisfy you?

You'll tell me truthfully what you find?

Have I not done enough to earn your trust?

Mrs. Quigley, please!

Oh, please, I'm begging you!

Shh-shh-shh-shh.

Charles was destined for the foundling hospital

but when they came to take him away,

he grabbed a handful of my hair and wouldn't let go.

"This one's a fighter," I thought.

But instead, he's as pliable as dough.

At the mercy of every hard-nosed jade

that would misuse him.

He has a big, kind heart.

And it pains me that I've hurt him.

The true pain awaits.

No, Mrs. Quigley.

No!

No, Mrs. Quigley, no, no!

No, please!

Please!

Help!

Where are the family?

Are we expected to pretend

nothing happened here last night?

I don't know what you mean.

If Mrs. Wells has fled then we deserve to know.

Mon Dieu, even Madam Quigley,

she does not murder the gentlemen.

That's the constables come for us all.

It'll just be a caller.

Hold your nerve.

And do what she pays you for.

Nance!

Will didn't come home last night.

I thought you'd both been taken.

If I'm forced to look at your wicked face

I might be inclined to break it.

Why?

You distracted the wolf by throwing it a babe.

Emily.

Get in.

You stay there, Lucy Wells, there are things

you don't need to hear.

I'll stay with my mother.

You may have grown an inch since you stuck a man,

but you'll still do as you're told.

What choice did I have?

I did it for Lucy.

If you had... children then you'd understand.

It isn't motherhood that's addled your morals.

It's greed.

You're only a hairpiece and a powder pot away

from being everything you despised.

- Where are Will and Jacob? - They walked into the night

covered in blood and mud and shame!

If he's left you then good on him!

Everyone else will follow.

In time.

They said it was thieves.

Poked him in the guts and then dumped him in a pond.

Rich bastard.

I hope the fishes ate his worm.

Whose worm?

Your Ma gave Emily Lacey up to bitch Quigley.

- Come on. - Oh, there she is,

Margaret Wells, the big-hearted bawd.

My ma does nothing without good cause.

This is not the work of common thieves, Constable.

His courtesan came here last night

with a ruffian in tow.

When I interrupted their robbery,

they set upon me.

Charlotte is a cockish moll, no doubt,

but... slaying her master?

They were smeared in blood and filth.

I knew they were fleeing from villainy

but I never imagined this.

Sir George and Ms. Wells

quarreled two nights ago.

She made the most outlandish accusations.

She is a fiend

dressed as a damsel.

You'll need to repeat all this to the magistrate.

If it will see justice done.

Where have you been, Mumma?

Charles.

I expected to find you convalescing.

I came to look for you in the night

and you weren't there.

I was searching for Emily Lacey.

But she has disappeared into the gutter

and I am left with her debt.

And a lesson.

- Lesson? - Kindness is a cruelty.

In trying to protect you,

I have made you soft.

- Mumma. - It's time you learned

there's more to our business than tableaux and taffeta.

I have deprived this house

of its master for too long.

Sir, I must speak to you about a troubling occurrence.

A young girl has been kidnapped.

And Sir George Howard has been slaughtered,

so everything else will have to wait.

We were visited by Sir George Howard yesterday.

He dipped his biscuit, got as drunk as a lord,

and left late in a hackney carriage.

What happened after that we can only surmise.

His pickled carcass was dragged

from St. James' pond early this morning.

Anyone knows something different,

now's the time to say.

Where is Mr. North?

- I don't know where he is. - Oh, Mr. North.

He's already in chains and we will follow.

If they'd been caught we would have heard about it.

Then where are they?

Kitty?

Mrs. Wells, I need to confide in you.

And I must also speak with you.

Lucy!

Lucy!

You must not blame yourself,

he was a gutless wretch.

What did you do with him?

They dragged him out the pond near his house this morning.

Oh, Ma, could you not have made him disappear?

And have the last time he was seen

be his arrival at my front door?

No, this way's better.

It's not better for me.

Howard and I fought in front of half the town

two nights ago.

And I was seen at his house last night.

- Why did you go there? - To take what is mine.

You're a fool.

You have incriminated yourself.

Are you blaming me?

No.

What will you do, Charlotte?

- I'll have to leave. - No!

She risks hanging if she stays.

You kill a man but it's me who has to run?

It wasn't Ma that killed him.

Yes it was!

She didn't wield the knife but she forced your legs open

for any letch with a fortune.

She let them fill your belly with anger and disgust.

You did this!

Then I'll turn myself in.

- Ma, no! - I will leave.

For you've left me no choice.

Maybe it's better this way.

Just for a while.