Stories from Parliament
Votes for Women– Part Two
1. Constance:
As Lady Constance Lytton, with influential friends, I’d been given
special treatment in prison. Would I be treated differently if I
changed my appearance and my name? I decided I would join the
suffragettes’ next march of protest disguised as an ordinary working
woman – a woman by the name of “Jane Warton”.
2. Constance:
I went to buy a pair of glasses and the plainest, least fashionable
dress and coat and hat, and had my hair cut short. I could tell my
ugly disguise was a success.
3. Gentleman:
You know ladies- I think she’s actually bought that hat!
FX:
Men and women’s laughter.
4. Constance:
I felt embarrassed as well as pleased by my disguise.
But this was nothing compared to what my fellow suffragettes were
going through in prison. Many were now on hunger strike – refusing
to take food – and being forced to eat in the cruellest way. So I
travelled by train up to Liverpool to join the protest outside the
prison, where we knew this cruel treatment was in force.
FX:
Sounds of a crowd milling outside of a prison.
5. Constance:
In front of the prison governor’s house Miss Emily Davison spoke to
the assembled crowd:
6. Emily Davison:
If there are no men in Liverpool who’ll stand up for these prisoners
here, let the women do their part! Stay and blockade the governor’s
house ‘til the prisoners are released!
7. Constance:
Two policemen seemed to have their eyes fixed on me. I was
determined to get arrested and imprisoned, so I began to throw the
stones I was holding – though I didn’t throw them at the governor’s
windows. All I did was drop them over the hedge into his garden!
But that was enough!
8. Policeman:
Right! That’s it!
9. Constance:
The two policemen grabbed me by the arms and marched me off to
the station. Miss Davison struck one of them on the back:
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10: Emily Davison:
Let her go! She’s done nothing! Let her go, I say!
11. Constance:
So she was arrested, too.
FX:
Sounds of a cell door being slammed and locked.
12. Constance:
I was sentenced to fourteen days’ hard labour. And thanks to my
disguise, Jane Warton – as I now was – received none of the special
treatment that had been offered to “Lady Lytton”. Now I learned
exactly what my fellow suffragettes were subjected to.
FX:
Cell door opens.
13: Constance:
Each day a wardress brought me all my meals but as each meal was
brought to my cell...
I don’t want any, thank you.
14. Wardress:
(unsympathetic) Very well.
FX:
Cell door shuts.
15. Constance:
Then, on the fourth day, a doctor entered my cell, with five
wardresses.
FX:
Cell door opens.
16. Medical Officer:
So, then...
17. Wardress:
This one’s Jane Warton.
18. Medical Officer:
Jane Warton – and this is your fourth day without food. You must be
fed at once. But I would urge you to take food willingly – you’ll find it
much more pleasant.
19. Constance:
When our government gives votes to women, I shall eat.
20: Medical Officer:
[impatient and annoyed] This is absurd behaviour! All started by that
Dunlop woman!
21: Constance:
Miss Wallace Dunlop began the hunger strikes and all imprisoned
suffragettes now follow her example!
22. Medical Officer:
Very well. Let’s lie her down on her bed.
FX:
Sounds of forcing her down onto her bed, and her resisting.
23. Medical Officer:
Why must you women resist, this is no way to help your cause.
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24. Constance:
Then he thrust a tube down my throat I choked as it reached inside.
Down and down it went. Then the sloppy liquid food was poured in
It made me sick in seconds. It seemed an eternity before they took
the tube out.
I knew that “Lady Constance Lytton” would not have been treated
like this. But ordinary “Jane Warton” was a despised, helpless
creature, and when she was out of prison, no one would believe a
word she said! There were so many Jane Wartons in our land; we
had to help them, by winning votes for women.
FX:
Sounds of struggle in the next cell.
Before long, through the wall, I heard the sounds of forced feeding
in the next cell to mine. It was almost more than I could bear. But
at last the ghastly process was over and all was quiet.
FX:
Sounds fade out.
25. Constance:
Then I tapped on the wall...
FX:
Sounds of tapping.
26. Constance:
And called out...
No surrender! Votes for Women!
And there came an answer from beyond the wall.
27. Emily Davison:
(muffled) No surrender! Votes for women!
28. Constance:
I think it was Miss Davison – I couldn’t be sure. But now as I think
back I am quite sure of her most famous deed...
FX:
Sounds of a horse race, and an excited crowd.
29. Constance:
On June 4th, 1913, Emily Davison was at the front of the crowd at the
Epsom Derby. With the horse race in full flow, she stepped under
the barrier and on to the track. Two horses thundered past her, but
as another – the King’s horse – galloped round the bend, she lunged
towards it and was bowled over and trampled under its hooves.
FX:
Sounds of thundering hooves, whinnying horses, and cries of shock.
30. Constance:
Some said it was suicide, to bring attention to our cause. But Emily
had bought a return ticket to the race: I believe that she had no
intention of dying as she did. I believe that she was trying to hang a
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suffragette flag on the passing horse, so that when it crossed the
finishing line the King’s own horse would be flying the slogan:
“Votes for Women”.
Perhaps it was a turning point – I don’t know. It had taken years,
but in 1918, women were given the vote – [dissatisfied] if they were
over 30. Perhaps in time women will have the vote on the same
terms as men. Perhaps one day they will even be elected
themselves. I hope for this at least: that anyone in future times who
has the right to vote will use it and will remember the struggles of
the suffragettes. Deeds, not words! Deeds, not words!
Credits
Cast:
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Constance Lytton (Narrator)…………………….…..Rebecca Saire
Mrs Pankhurst/Emily Davison………………….……Jane Whittenshaw
Policeman/Prison Chaplain and all male parts......…Daniel Weyman
Suffragettes to be played by staff from the Houses of Parliament.
Other parts to be played by members of the cast.
Sound technician:
Mark Oliver, The Soundhouse Studios
Music by:
Dave Cooke
Studio Director:
Jeff Capel
Written by:
Nigel Bryant
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