The 306: Day by Oliver Emanuel

Author:Oliver Emanuel
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oberon Books

NELLIE What?

POLICE 2You have ten seconds.

NELLIE hesitates before unlocking the door. Four POLICEWOMEN in identical long black cloaks and red-rimmed hats burst in and begin to search the room.

NELLIE is rocked on her heels.

NELLIE What’s going on? What do you want?

POLICE 1Are you Nellie Murray?

NELLIE Who are you?

POLICE 2Answer the question.

NELLIE I’ll not answer anything until you tell me what you’re doing in my bedroom.

POLICE 3This is not your bedroom.

NELLIE What?

POLICE 3As an employee of the Ministry of Munitions, you, this bedroom and its contents are the property of the government.

NELLIE Are you insane?

POLICE 4We are here to question you and search for any illegal material you may possess.

NELLIE On what grounds?

POLICE 4Under the Defence of the Realm Act of 1914, no person shall by word of mouth or in writing spread reports likely to cause disaffection or alarm among any of His Majesty’s forces or among the civilian population.

NELLIE How does that give you the right to invade my bedroom?

POLICE 2There are serious penalties for committing an offence of this nature.

NELLIE You don’t frighten me.

POLICE 1Are you Eleanor Murray born Eleanor Byers on 11 August 1896 at the Royal Infirmary, Glasgow.

NELLIE Who’s asking?

POLICE 3We are members of the Women’s Police Service seconded to the Ministry of Munitions.

NELLIE Stop kidding about.

POLICE 4If you don’t answer us honestly we are empowered to take you down to the station.

POLICE 3What will your neighbours say if you’re marched along the street in handcuffs?

NELLIE You wouldn’t dare.

POLICE 3Wouldn’t we?

POLICE 1Can you confirm that you are Eleanor Murray?

NELLIE considers. Nods.

POLICE 1Can you further confirm that you are a member of the so-called Women’s Peace Crusade?

NELLIE Aye what of it? Oi! Those are my clothes. What are you doing with my clothes? Get your filthy hands off.

One of the policewomen has been ransacking NELLIE ’s closet, chucking clothes on the bed. NELLIE picks them up.

POLICE 2Are you the author of this leaflet?

The POLICEWOMAN holds up one of the leaflets from the public meeting. NELLIE shakes her head.

NELLIE Never seen it before.

POLICE 2Oh no?

NELLIE No.

POLICE 3That’s unfortunate. You were seen handing out this leaflet at an unauthorised public meeting.

NELLIE Seen? Who by?

POLICE 3Witnesses.

NELLIE Bloody lies.

POLICE 4Can you prove it?

NELLIE Not up to me to prove it. I know the law. If you want to arrest me, it’s up to you to prove I was somewhere else.

POLICE 1Evasion won’t get you anywhere. Better to speak now before you get yourself into worse trouble. (Turns to the others.) Any sign of a typewriter?

The other POLICEWOMEN shake their heads.

POLICE 4Where do you hide your typewriter?

NELLIE (Laughs.) What? Why would I have a typewriter?

POLICE 4Then who publishes your leaflets? Do they have a printing press? It’s against the law to print this kind of material without a licence.

NELLIE Didn’t you hear me tell you I’ve nothing to do with any leaflet?

Another POLICEWOMAN holds out a photograph.

POLICE 1Take a look at this photograph.

NELLIE What about it?

POLICE 1Do you recognise this woman?

NELLIE shakes her head.

POLICE 2Are you certain?

NELLIE Oh hang about. Is it Vesta Tilley? Or the Queen?

POLICE 4This is no joke.

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