All language subtitles for A.Cruel.Love.The.Ruth.Ellis.Story.S01E03.1080p.WEB.h264-CODSWALLOP[EZTVx.to]

I've been doing this
for a week

and not making any headway.

Should've started
with the corners.

Thank you, Joy.

Morning News.
Get your news here.

Morning News.

Morning News.
Get your news here.

Morning News.

They've given us a date.

For Mr. Pierrepoint's
little visit, yes.

12 days.

And we can expect
the Home Secretary's decision

a-a couple of days before.

-Decision?
-On whether
to reprieve,

postpone, or even cancel
your death sentence.

Now, a letter from you
would be an enormous help,

requesting compassion,

expressing, if not remorse,
then at least regret.

I don't regret.

I won't lie,
and I certainly won't beg.

Nothing will be sent
to the Home Office.

No appeal,
no attempt to reprieve.

"And thine eyes shall not pity,

but life shall go for life,

eye for eye, tooth for tooth."

All I want is justice for David.

I'm due
at the Home Office in 72 hours

to submit her case.

The Secretary of State will make
his decision over the weekend.

What are you using?

For the appeal?
Her alcoholism...

and, uh, mental breakdown,
perhaps.

You're not thinking
of using him?

Ah, yes.

Desmond Cussen.

Look. Dragging him in now

will just makes it look
even more premeditated.

Not if he solicited her
to murder.

Desmond Cussen
was an RAF bomber pilot.

You know the casualty rate
of bomber crews.

Only one in four
made it through the war.

So we let him get away
with murder

because he was a war hero?

No doubt he made mistakes --

getting too close
to a woman like Ellis for one.

Not that I'm judging her. But...

The world is the way it is,
John.

I could take this
to the Home Office right now.

And tell them what?

That you allowed your client
to perjure herself?

I could take it
to the newspapers.

And what a sheer,
bloody spectacle that would be.

You're like me, John.

We're both scholarship boys.

We both know the price
of admission for boys like us.

Ah.

I know alright.

Discretion.

And never, ever
frighten the horses.

That's why you brought me here,
isn't it?

To show me what I could win

if I'm a good little chap
and don't rock the boat?

But your problem is I don't care
about being part of the club,

one of the chaps.

You think this is all real,

that it matters.

This is nonsense!

That trial was a pantomime.

All of you
in your costumes and wigs --

absolute meaningless nonsense.

Steady, Bickford.
-Right now I feel like

I could blow
this whole thing up

and damn the consequences.

You really think you can take
them all on and win?

You concealed material facts.

You made yourself
an accessory to murder.

Now, you can destroy yourself
and her,

or you can take her one chance
at a reprieve.

For her sake and yours,

go for madness.

But she isn't mad.

Mental strain
exacerbated by the miscarriage

and her alcoholism.

She won't like it.

It's the best case we have
for mercy.

What about Desmond Cussen?

I think Ruth herself

is where we should concentrate
our efforts.

Jackie Dyer's
gone to the police.

She's made a statement
about the gun

and the -- the cab
that Desmond used to drive.

Why aren't we using that?
-Don't badger the man, Muriel.

Well, there's something
he's not telling us.

I can assure you,
it's all been looked into.

Now, if you'll excuse me.

Why aren't we using Cussen?

Mr. Cussen?

DCI Davies, Met Police.

Can we have a word?

So you've no idea

why this woman, Jacqueline Dyer,
has made these claims?

I suppose
a-a misguided attempt to...

help Mrs. Ellis.

Who's made no effort whatsoever
to help herself.

Mrs. Ellis has made our job
extremely easy.

It's as open and shut a case
as -- as I ever saw.

And she hasn't fought it.

Why?

She's a young mother.

No criminal record.

Every reason to ask for mercy.

But she hasn't.

She is going
like a lamb to slaughter.

I know you've been letting
Blakely drink for free

for months.

You let him destroy this club

and make fools of both of us.

I'm gonna need the flat back.

You're sacking me?

I'll give you
till the end of the week.

I've got nowhere to go.

We can work something out.

You know I'll always
look after you, Ruthie.

Aah!

You will never touch me again.

I'm afraid the divorce
settlement from George Ellis

leaves you with...

Bugger all. I know.

Unless you want to take
Mr. Ellis to court,

which I would still
strongly urge you to consider.

No. Thank you, Mr. Mishcon.

Well...

...one signature...

and you are very nearly
a free woman.

So...

what are you going to do
with your liberty?

Look for a place to live,
find a job.

Thank you.

Mrs. Ellis...

do you have somewhere to stay?

I have a friend.

Ruth...

...you have a little boy.

Mrs. Ellis?

Are you alright?

Can you please
turn the light off, Joy?

I can't sleep.
-I'm sorry.

You know I'm not allowed
to do that.

No more hostessing.

I'll get a job in an office.

I've already taken up a course
of French lessons.

I've always wanted
to talk dirty in two languages.

I'm moving in with Desmond.

What?

Temporarily,
just while I look for a job.

Why didn't you ask
if you could move in with me?

-What happened?
-I said...

why didn't you ask
if you can move in with me?

Because you live
with your parents.

Since you're too spineless
to admit my existence --

Is it any wonder I lose my rag
when you push me like this?

Take your hands off me.

I said take your hands off me
now.

I'm moving in with Desmond

because I have a son
who needs a roof over his head

and I've already given up
one child for you.

Let me know
when you've got the balls

to introduce me to your mother.

Excuse me.
May I have the bill, please?

Sleep with him again

and I swear
I'll kill both of you.

Thank you.

Reprieve Ruth Ellis!
Reprieve Ruth Ellis!

Sign the petition to prevent
a miscarriage of justice.

No. No, thank you.

-Reprieve Ruth Ellis --
-No, no.

-I'll sign it.
-Oh, thank you.

It's barbaric
what they're doing to her.

I just want to save my friend.

I might be able to help.

I understand you've given
a new statement to the police.

You're a journalist.

Jayveer Sethia.

I heard they've taken
someone in for questioning

about the black cab
and the gun.

Have they made an arrest?

The people
are on her side, Mrs. Dyer.

If we make enough noise,
we can stop this.

But I need to know
who she's keeping out of this.

Whoever it is, the police
knew about him already.

They took a statement from
Ruth's French teacher weeks ago

who said she knew
who gave Ruth the gun.

I've been looking for her
so I can get his name.

But the police...

They've known all along.

Ruth?

I hope you like lamb chops
and new potatoes.

Bollocks to love.
You're not in love.

How would you know?
You've never been in it.

No, thank God.

Biggest con ever pulled.

Bit of pillow talk,

then 60 years
of ironing his pants.

What about you and Cooch?

A diamond like that,
he wants something in return.

Yes, and he gets it --

My body.

My smile.

But not my soul.

He knows that.

Your trouble is,
you let them in here.

David's passionate.

And I give as good as I get.

-You deserve better.
-I'd die of boredom.

If you could be anywhere,
doing anything right now,

what would it be?

Driving a big "fuck off"
silver Cadillac

down Sunset Boulevard.

Oh! Hello, Hollywood!

Always fancied America --

big cars, big, open roads.

Well, we could do it, you know?

We should. Why not?

Let's just book the tickets,
and let's do it.

Right. Well, at least
screw someone, then.

-- Hey, hey!
-- Whoo!

Hmm?

Christ, you're pretty.

It's fine.

Here she is.
Good morning, Ruth.

Your French tutor's here.

She's been here
for half an hour.

So sorry.

If you just give me
one minute --

just one minute -- sorry.

Is everything alright?

Fine.

I stayed at Jackie's.

you know
what the girls are like.

Terrible racket.

We have the same problem
at home.

Filthy pigeons.

You need to borrow this.

Ruth's French tutor
saw it on his desk

and gave a sworn statement

that she could identify the gun
in court.

I believe she saw
a starter pistol

that Mr. Cussen kept
in his flat.

She saw a large revolver.

A starter pistol

that Cussen surrendered to us
freely for examination.

As to the taxi cab,

he said he gave that
to his brother last year,

months before Mrs. Ellis
committed the murder.

Couldn't possibly
have driven her to the Magdala.

Have you verified that?

We interviewed Mr. Cussen
at length

as to your claims.

Everything I told you,
you already knew.

I understand
you want to help your friend.

And that is admirable.

But nothing you can do
can change the fact

Mrs. Ellis murdered
David Blakely in cold blood.

Hey. You want her dead.
All of you.

I want justice
for Blakley's family.

It stinks, Ruth.

The whole thing stinks.

The police
have covered things up --

evidence
that would have helped you,

that linked Cussen to the gun.

I said I didn't want you going
to the police.

If his involvement was known,

it would mean a retrial
at least.

Desmond is innocent.

Then why hasn't he visited you
once since the trial?

Jackie...

If it came out,
everything would change.

People are on your side, Ruth.
They're getting angry.

All the people I've spoken to
agree.

What people?

I've been campaigning for you.

A petition.
-What?

And these are letters
of support.

Jackie, I told you.

I told I didn't want this.

I didn't want people out there
begging for me.

People feel for you, Ruth.

They feel --
-They feel pity.

I would rather them think I was
a cold-hearted, murdering bitch

with no regrets.

-But that's not who you are.
-Isn't it?

Perhaps it's just easier
for you to think that.

Oh, poor, little Ruth.

David mistreated her
so terribly.

She lost her mind.
She had no choice.

I chose to make him die
on the ground in front of me.

Maybe it's easier
for you to think that,

to make yourself believe
you deserve it.

But that's the coward's way out,

to give up
rather than fighting.
-Get out.

Get out,
and don't visit me again.

They're going to kill you, Ruth.

And you're just as bad as them
for letting it --
-How dare you!

Get out! And take those fucking
things with you!

Get out!

This is bigger than her now.

It's about Timothy Evans
and Derek Bentley.

It's about the whole business

of whether the state should go
on merrily hanging people,

only to later discover
that maybe they weren't guilty.

The government is nervous.

They've promised law and order.

But the abolitionists
are knocking at the gates.

And then what's next?

The homosexuals?

The abortionists?

So that's why
they want her dead.

I just need a name.

But if no one will help her
and she won't help herself...

Then you have to.

Desmond Cussen.

Ruth Ellis' lover?

Gave her the gun,

drove her to the scene
of the murder in a black cab.

Her friend, Jacqueline Dyer,
is certain.

Yeah, well, our libel lawyers
are busy enough, son.

-She hangs in 10 days.
-Bound to be reprieved.

90% of women are.

And what if she's not

and Desmond Cussen
gets away with it?

30 million newspapers bought
every Sunday in this country,

bought for two reasons --
sex and hanging.

You're not here to fight crime.
You're here to sell it.

Come back to me with proof
and we can talk.

Hello, yes.

I'm calling about my son,
Andre Ellis.

I want to check his school fees
for the term had been paid.

Right.

Thank you. I'll make sure
a cheque is sent

as soon as possible.

Ruth...

let me look after you all.

He will look after him.

He promised, whatever happens,
he will look after him.

I swear it.

He will look after him.

-- I swear it.
-- He will look after him.

He promised.

I swear it.

I was thinking...

about a holiday.

Get Andre out of London.

Scotland, I thought.
I could teach him to fish.

David would lose his mind.

Let me deal with him.

It's a Christmas present.

Since you got me
this exquisite tie.

-Same again?
-Please.

Merry Christmas, Ruth.

What are you doing here?

I haven't slept with him,

if that's what
you're worried about.

Look at you.

Drunk...

whilst your son is alone at home
on Christmas night.

You're an embarrassment.

What are you doing here?

I'm wishing Merry Christmas
to my fiancée.

Mm.

Let go of her.

You have no idea, do you...

...what she really thinks
about you...

the contempt she feels for you?

Stop!

You little bastard.

Outside.

Now.

Outside?

How about hitting a man
instead of a woman for once?!

It's over, you and Ruth.

You lost.

I know you're bored
out of your skull with him.

This is what you need.

This is who you are.

Please.

Please, turn the light off.

Is it true that you have all
been campaigning for me?

I told you,

no begging, no pleading!

You've seen
what they've written about you.

I don't care what they write!

I want my sentence
to take its course!

You will not go
to the Home Office.

I will not die
with this world thinking

I am some beaten, little fool!

-Well, that's it, then.
-That is justice.

An eye for an eye,

as I have said from the start.

"An eye for an eye."

Yes.

You know...

...I was in Austria
just after the war.

I was a prosecutor
in the British Zone,

and I prosecuted
a young German soldier.

His unit had been moving
Hungarian Jews

in what later became called
the death marches.

And these prisoners
were exhausted,

barely able to walk.

And he was ordered
to shoot anyone that fell.

And at first he refused,

but eventually,

he shot two men.

And after the war,

we tried him for murder,
and we hanged him.

One week
after he committed those crimes

in March 1945,

the Soviets liberated Vienna.

They were out for revenge,
mainly drunk,

terrorising the city.

Perhaps a hundred-thousand
women were raped.

Not one single charge
was brought against any of them.

Because they were on our side.

Justice isn't real, Ruth.

It's a story written
by the winners.

I'm not certain of much, but...

I know you don't deserve
to die for what you did.

You will look after him.

You promise. Whatever happens.

I swear it.

John...

He made certain promises.

Desmond?

He promised to look after Andre.

And I don't think he's going to.

I told you he gave me the gun.

Perhaps it's time to use that.

We can't.

You know we can't.

It's too late.

You told me
you wanted me to tell them.

Ruth, a better way...

is to go for the violence,
your miscarriage --

what David did to you,

the -- the child
you would have had.

I think I'm pregnant.

Only a couple of weeks
but I can feel it.

Christ.

I'll call Dr Jameson.
Make an appointment.

It's really no worse
than getting a tooth out.

I don't want you
to get rid of it.

Don't you?

But no more Desmond Cussen.

We find somewhere to live.

As a family.

And we visit my mother

and tell her
we're getting married.

Alright then.

I still don't understand
why you can't stay here with me.

Well, if you and I are
to have a future together,

I need to build up
my own life first.

My independence.

A home for Andre.

I've found a bed sitting room.

It's cheap.

Look, I know how much
I've already asked of you...

How much do you need?

We would like
the Home Secretary to consider

provocation
in the case of Ruth Ellis.

She was suffering enormously
at the time of the offence.

She had had a miscarriage
caused by Blakely's violence.

It wasn't fully explored
at trial.

And there's a petition.

50,000 signatories,
from Australia,

America, France, Germany.

And, err, hundreds of letters.

I hope the Home Secretary
will consider them.

Well, they are not all
in Mrs. Ellis's favour.

"I am married to a woman
similar in nature

to Ruth Ellis -- eaten up with
jealousy through and through.

I greatly fear that my
future safety would be at stake

if you granted a reprieve".

And many women express concern

that clemency should
not be granted merely

because she is female.

I hope the Home Secretary
will concentrate on the facts.

The facts are simple.

Mrs. Ellis committed
a firearms murder in cold blood.

There may have been
other factors.

Such as?

She will not act
to save herself.

She will not let me act
to help her.

She practically wouldn't let me
to put her case in front of you.

She's determined to die

because she feels like
her life is not worth saving.

You must act now,
in the name of justice.

In the name of mercy.
She will hang in five days.

I just need more time.

For God's sake, a -- a --
a bit more time.

Forgive me, sir.

I'm sorry.

I will speak
to the Home Secretary.

He's not without compassion.
Quite the opposite.

Have you heard of a woman
called Sarah Lloyd?

Who?

She's a woman on death row
at Strangeways.

She was convicted for the murder

of an elderly neighbour
with a shovel.

Due to be hanged in two days.

But Lloyd George has
just reprieved her.

Provocation over time wasn't
a factor in her conviction

but it has been a factor
in her reprieve.

So that's good, isn't it?

It could be bloody brilliant.

God.

And it all
belongs to your parents?

Yes, all theirs.

It's a bit suburban, really.

Still it's nice
to have the tennis court.

You nervous?

A bit.

Well, I tell you what.
Let's go grab a drink first.

Hm?

Alright.

Your friends are here.

Oh, we often drink here
on Sundays.

Then roll up at my parents'
demanding roast beef.

Look, just a quick one, promise.

-- Oh, here he is. Hello.
-- Oh, David.

Well, I thought I'd come
a bit early.

Hello.
How was the drive?

Oh, it was alright.

And the maître d' says to him,
"I'm sorry, sir,

these tables are reserved
for the race car drivers",

and Ant just looks at him and
says "Now look here, old chap,

we are the bloody race.

-Now bring us some champagne".
-Bring us some champagne.

You would have been
so proud.

Have you been to Le Mans?

No, I've never been to France.

I've never actually been abroad.

Perhaps he'll take you.

For your honeymoon.
Well, he told us.

Congratulations.
Come on, a toast.

For the soon-to-be Mr.
and Mrs. David Blakely!

-Cheers.
-Cheers.

Mr. and Mrs. David Blakley.

And you'd better make sure
you take the bins out on time.

Or she'll sending the gangsters
round to make sure you do!

What?

Come along, we should go.

We don't want to keep
your mother waiting.

Yes, quite right,
mustn't keep Annie waiting.

No, I tell you what.
Why don't I go and get her

and bring her back for a G&T
before lunch.

Well, no, I'll come.

No. You stay.

Have fun.

I'm sorry about all that.
They can be so childish.

What did they mean?
About the gangsters?

When David was attacked,
he had this idea --

perhaps it was just a joke --

that you'd sent the men
to do it.

-It wasn't me.
-David's no angel.

God knows he deserves
a black eye now and then.

He'll never introduce you
to his mother, you know.

We're getting married.
We're actually --

We're actually having a baby.

No, you're having a baby.

It's not a judgement,
simply a fact.

David will never truly know
if the baby is his.

Did he say that?

I'm not trying to be cruel.

What you and David have,
it isn't love.

It's a trap, for both of you.
And my advice is get out now.

David! Didn't your
mother fancy a drink?

No, she was --
she was busy.

You're a cruel little coward,
David.

I'll drive you back to London.

Thank you.

Least I could do.

I've got a bottle of gin inside

if you want to come in
for a drink?

How far along are you, anyway?

-About six weeks.
-Gosh.

The taste of gin would
have made me heave at six weeks.

Strong stomach.

Ruth, Ruth,
the evening paper's in.

I'm so sorry.
It's your friend Vicki.

Mrs. Ellis. The decision's in.

From the Home Secretary.

On your reprieve.

"I have been pressed
from many quarters

to exercise clemency
in this case,

on the grounds of the prisoner's
sex and of her yielding to

jealousy, which is alleged
by some people

to be stronger in women
than in men".

Are you going to get up today?

It was Vicki's 13th
accident in 4 years.

When your time's up, it's up.

Where've you been?

If you must know,
I stayed at Carole and Ant's.

Course you did.

You haven't
been to the Doctor

about your pregnancy yet,
have you?

Not yet.

You should be, what,
10 weeks now?

I spoke to Carole about it all.

She said your symptoms
are all wrong.

That it's all very convenient,
forcing us to get married.

And I think she's right.

It's not just the accent,

the hair that's fake, is it?

You're not really pregnant,
are you?

What?!

"There may be
circumstances in a capital case

where special conditions apply
to a woman

which would not be applicable
in the case of a man.

One recent example is that
of Mrs. Sarah Lloyd.

I can find
no such circumstances, however,

in the present case".

After everything
I've done for you.

Brought you into my world.

Loved you.
Fucking worshipped you.

And all along you were
working out how to trap me.

-That's not true.
-Hmm. You had me beaten.

-I didn't --
-To scare me into thinking

I could never leave.
-I didn't do that --

And then you went to work
on my honour.

Knowing I'd never abandon you

if you were having a child.

David, I am pregnant.
I swear --

"The crime
was a deliberate one

and was carried out
with premeditation.

The prisoner has expressed
no remorse.

I can find nothing

to justify my taking
a less serious view than

of other cases of such a callous
and calculated nature".

Oh, God. Oh, God.
Don't let me do it.

Oh, God, don't let me do it.

"The trial judge has told me

that he can suggest
no mitigating circumstances,

and that he himself
was not able to find any grounds

for proposing that
clemency would be appropriate".

"After much anxious thought,

I have come to the conclusion

that the law should
be allowed to run its course".

One of these days
I will kill you.

You've already done that.

The sentence
will be carried out.

Two days from now.

Well, I bet Mummy
has really missed you.

Andre, go and play.

Go on.

It's all I could do.

Maybe now you can
get some sleep.

I don't want to die.

I don't want to die.

I don't want to die.

I don't want to die.

I know what you want to ask.

Why don't I
just bloody leave him.

I don't have to ask that.

Not after Dad.

George.

You've never known
any different.

Don't think you deserve
any different.

You said
it would be enough.

The violence. The miscarriage.

You told me it would be
enough for a reprieve.

The game is rigged, Ruth.

Why did you tell me
to keep quiet?

-Because it was too late.
-For who?

For you?

You chose to perjure yourself

and make me an accessory
to murder.

You promised
that you would help me.

But you haven't.

Every step of the way,
you have made it harder

and harder
for me to help save your life.

And I've never understood why.

Do you know about
what George used to do?

He used to get blackout drunk.

And when he would come home,
it would always be my fault,

and he would belt me.

And people would always say
to me,

"What do you do
to drive him to it?

What do you do
to drive them all to it?"

Because you know every man
I have ever been with

has turned out the same.

Drunk. Violent.

And it must've been my fault
because it kept on happening.

Different man, same thing.

I tried so hard to escape it.

I changed my voice,
changed the way I look.

I worked and I worked.

The youngest club manager
in London.

And I thought I'd done it.

And then David turned up.

And he was worse
than all of them.

And I thought there must be
something in me

that is pulled towards them,
towards men like him.

I just didn't know what.

And then when he was dead...

...the police and the papers
and the lawyers,

they all made sense of it
for me, at last.

I had my answer.

The reason I couldn't escape it

was because it was
what was always meant for me.

A common little tart,

worth nothing to anyone
except the price

she can charge for a night

finally getting what
she had coming to her.

And I would still believe that,

if it weren't for you.

But you gave me hope.

Hope that I could live.

That I didn't deserve to die.

You're scared of them,
aren't you?

All those men you talked about
that could destroy me.

You never really believed
you could save me, did you?

I'll be appointing
a new solicitor.

Goodbye, Mr. Bickford.

You found your husband
in the marital bed

with a lady who goes by
the professional moniker

"Madame Feather".

-That's right.
-He has agreed to a divorce.

You say you only want
what's rightfully yours.

Yes.

Mr. Mishcon's office.

We'll get you
the whole bloody lot.

Thank you.

Telephone for you, sir.

It's Holloway prison.

Bickford?

I'm Victor Mishcon.
I handled Ruth's divorce.

I believe she's asked for me.

Why has she fired you?

I've been carrying
a bomb in my briefcase.

And I didn't have the guts
to detonate it.

Try to get her to tell you
about the gun.

Mrs. Ellis.

I believe you have
something to tell me

that might save your life.