The Doll Factory

Gideon Fletcher.

I'm in need of a new dissection partner.

- I'll be there. - Good.

I've had an offer.

I'm going to do it if he agrees to teach me.

A model is no better than a prostitute.

You set foot outside that door,

you're never coming back.

The Imprisonment of Guigemar's Queen.

I think both pieces will do well

in the zoological section.

The best day. The best.

We are... friends.

She's all yours, Mr. Frost.

To Iris Whittle.

Don't laugh at me.

Silent, starey Silas.

Where did your last model go?

Oh, my God, Bluebell, I'm so--

Fucking pricks, every last one of them.

This is where she was alive.

When you want to remember her, come here.

Don't bother with that bit of stone they put her name on.

She'd want us raging, not mourning.

Here is where we'll remember her.

Not in a gruesome alleyway at the hands of some pathetic man.

How dare he steal a whole life away?

Bluebell.

I'll find the bastard that did those things to her

if it's the last thing I do.

It won't be.

Good day, Reed.

Good day.

I don't suppose you have a little dog

that is looking for a new owner.

I'm in need of something sort of...

I don't.

Oh, might you be able to rustle

something up within the month?

It's not a small job.

I hope you haven't been stewing, Reed.

We were all drinking.

Spirits were high.

I only meant to speak up for Miss Whittle's honour.

I'm sure.

And besides, everything else that happened

that night puts our little disagreement into perspective.

Don't you agree?

Surely you heard?

I haven't been back to the Dolphin since.

But you must have read about it in the papers.

Bluebell...

she was murdered that night two weeks ago.

Found by Lamplighters in an alley off of Charlotte Street.

I didn't know.

Oh. Now you do.

Perhaps you can light a candle

for her next time you're at church.

Mm. Sure.

I'll have the dog ready for you by the end of the month.

Thank you, Reed. Truly.

How many you got?

Two.

How many more to go?

He says he needs 150?

What?

He doesn't know I can't count past ten.

Oh, it seems a shame

they've gotta die.

Yeah.

I should head home. Get back to work.

Alright.

I'm going to become a lawyer.

This isn't a profession, this is torture.

This...

it's Guigemar!

He's a man kneeling at a woman's feet.

- It's just so-- - Derivative?

Air. We need air. Come on.

It's actually your fault, you know?

That rubbish you were sprouting about idealized love.

Well, yes, because it's insincere.

Insincere? Thank you.

Why don't you paint something true?

Like what?

You could paint all of her hope

and her suffering and her desire.

No, no. It's all wrong. It's all wrong.

Frame her differently.

You don't need Guigemar.

Well, of course I do.

How else would we know she's been rescued?

Tell a different story.

And she's been captured by her jealous husband.

Moments before she breaks free.

Mm?

Have her hand reaching for the bird,

a door open, reflected in the mirror.

She hasn't seen that yet, no doubt.

You're a genius. You're a genius!

That's a shilling, sir.

Thank you.

It's not quite an iris, but it'll do.

Miss Iris!

- Albie! - Hello.

Hello. Hi.

You have to meet Mr. Frost.

What a smile.

I'm saving for a set of sea cow ivories.

Why would you bother?

And who's this?

Just started following me around.

He'll scarper when he finds someone with food.

Won't you? Good boy. Good boy.

So how's Rose?

Always saying I smell.

Next time you're in the shop

will you tell her that I miss her?

I don't think she'd hear it.

Don't you think he would make the perfect shepherd boy?

Yes.

How much you paying?

I love London this time of year.

It's very beautiful.

I've been studying it from my window.

It's a real sense of possibility.

There was a man.

Where?

It could be a mad man with a knife come to accost us.

- Don't. - Oh, Iris, I was joking.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you.

I'm not one of those damsels in distress you like to paint.

Iris, where are you going?

I'm going to explore.

It's getting dark.

What about all the mad men?

I can only see one.

Would you paint this?

First one to the heart wins!

Iris?

Louis? Louis?

Louis?

Ah, stop. No, Louis. No.

Iris.

Please stop following me.

You're ridiculous. I'll walk you home.

- I'd rather you didn't. - You'd rather I didn't?

Well, do you honestly think I'm gonna force my way

into your lodgings because of one silly nighttime romp?

I heard the music.

Um, I'm not usually a devote man.

Thank heavens.

You could have told me about him.

I -I met your sister.

You went to the doll shop?

I was looking for you.

What did she say?

It's alright.

I know what she would've said.

Don't need to feel ashamed, Iris.

Not in front of me.

No matter what choices you've made,

I-I know you've got a good heart.

Louis Frost, I know he's colourful.

They all are, those men.

But you should know there have been so many girls.

I don't mean to offend you, but...

you are one in a very long line.

I tried to warn you.

I know.

Is it because he's a gentleman?

Money?

Of course not.

No, I--of course I shouldn't.

I needed--I needed an escape.

I'm sure you can understand that.

Like I did.

Exactly. And like your friend.

Flick, her name was Flick.

Did you ever find out what happened to her?

I like to imagine that she escaped somewhere too.

I -I picture her happy.

Stuffing herself with blackberries,

like the ones we used to forage together in the woods.

But then I think of how her father was

prone to outbursts and extreme cruelty.

And I fear that her father went too far one day.

I'm so sorry.

It's good to remember people.

It's good to remember her.

I doubt many do.

I went to the doll shop looking for you

because I wanted to tell you that I've been accepted

into the Great Exhibition.

- Two pieces. - Oh, my goodness.

I-I knew you of all people

would appreciate the acknowledgement of my work.

I am so happy for you.

You truly deserve it.

I'm afraid I-I need to close up.