The Escape, Part 1 Hetty Feather

'My name is Hetty Feather.

'Don't mock. It's not my real name, but...

'not much about me has ever been real.'

Not even my family, who brought me to this place.

We're here, Hetty. Look...

I want to go home.

Please, Jem, take me home!

Please, Mother.

Please, Jem, take me home!

Hetty!

Hetty, you're upsetting Gideon.

If you were my own flesh and blood then of course you could stay.

But we're your borrowed family.

It's time for you and Gideon to go back.

'From that moment, I realised, this was it.

'From now on, nothing was going to be the same.'

Your mother's left you here at the Foundling Hospital

and we brought you up.

Now you're old enough, you have to return.

This is where you both belong.

'But I knew it wasn't. Not where I really belonged.

'I belonged in the barn and on the haystacks

'and helping Jem on the farm.'

Your foundling numbers. So they'll know exactly who you are.

I love you both.

So much.

SHE SOBS

Remember, when you grow up, I'll be waiting for you.

You promise?

On my word. You're my borrowed sister, I'll never forget you.

I'll look after you, Gideon. I promise I will.

Go now, my little lambs.

Goodbye.

'This was it,

'the start of a new chapter in the life of Hetty Feather.'

Well, my new foundlings. Delighted to meet you.

Numbers 25629 and 24734?

Um, my name's Hetty Feather and this is Gideon Smeed.

Call me Matron. Matron Bottomly.

Welcome to the Foundling Hospital, a place of charity,

which from this day forth you will call home.

Come. Come.

You were abandoned here as babies by disgraced and sinful mothers.

Then sent out to be nurtured by a kindly foster family.

Now you are of an age to return, your training must begin.

Suffer the little children who come unto me.

Foundling girls are prepared for a life of domestic service.

Boys are drilled to be infantrymen who serve Queen and country.

A far better life than the rigours of the workhouse.

This is your future.

DOOR OPENS

Ah, Mr Cranbourne. A boy.

Thank you, Matron, most kind.

Come on, children. Come on.

-Come with me, boy!

-And you are coming with me.

No! You can't!

-Hetty. Hetty!

-I said I'd look after him!

You can't take him away from me!

Boys and girls live quite separately here!

You abide by the rules and do as we say!

No! Please!

'I was a foundling and this was my life.

'Scrubbed clean, hair chopped off.

'It was the hospital's way.

'My past was meant to be just that. Gone and forgotten.'

You won't be needing this any more.

No! That's my doll! My dress!

You fiery-headed little imp! I'll teach you!

Mother made it especially!

I am the only mother you need. You'll soon forget.

No, I won't! I'll never forget!

Surrender yourself to the rigours of the hospital

and life will be easier that way.

I know what's best.

Never! Never! Never!

'There and then,

'I decided I wasn't going to be just another foundling.

'I might have to wear the same uniform as everyone else...

'I might have to do my chores every day...

'and always obey the dreadful rules...'

-I'm Polly.

-Hetty.

'..but I was still Hetty Feather...

'..the girl who was brave...'

Ow!

'..who stood up for what she believed in.

'The girl who ran in the fields...'

Here!

'..and liked being free.

'I was determined never to forget her.'

No, please!

No, Matron, please!

DOOR SLAMS

-No, please!

-DOOR LOCKS

'There was nothing I could do.

'The hospital's horrid ways had finally taken hold.

'There was no turning back.'

SHE SIGHS

'I wasn't me any more.

'A foundling like all the rest.

'I was just a number.'

Is this all we've ever got to look forward to, Harriet?

Growing up to be a servant.

We are foundlings, it is how it is.

It's not like we can do anything about it.

Of course we can't, Polly, we'll get put in the Tench.

'Matron was right, I did forget.

'My past had faded into a distant foggy memory.

'It was the only way to survive.

'Every day, head down and get on with it.'

Hetty, are you all right? You're burning up.

Harriet's right, Hetty, it looks like a fever!

There's nothing wrong with me. I'm fine.

Stay away from me, Feather!

Urgh, Hetty's got the lurgy!

-No, I haven't.

-Leave her alone.

Bleurgh! Don't go near her.

Who wants to go near her anyway? Sweaty Hetty!

-Leave me alone.

-Don't worry! We will!

Sweaty Hetty.

ALL: Hetty's got the lurgy! Hetty's got the lurgy!

Hetty's got the lurgy!

Foundlings, what is all this noise?!

Hetty, wake up!

Doctor! A collapse in the laundry.

The same as yesterday's casualties, Doctor, I am quite sure.

It's all heat and hard work.

Yes, it's a fever, like all the rest. This is influenza.

I am sorry, Matron.

I did say yesterday the hospital needed to be on shutdown.

Nurse, this child's in danger. We must hurry.

Matron, I am afraid we've just lost two boys.

Oh, my goodness. This is an epidemic.

Cancel all lessons.

Return every child to their dorm.

-Put the hospital on confinement.

-Yes, Matron.

Company, halt!

By the left, left turn.

(Left, Gideon!)

Left for loopy, idiot boy.

You know what they say - takes one to know one.

Good work, Walter.

Don't worry about them. They'll soon be yesterday's news.

Boys! Confinement this instant! Return to your dorm!

(No? Confinement?!)

Now we'll never escape.

The entire hospital is confined, Doctor.

-This outbreak will be contained.

-I am afraid this one is fading fast.

What? Will we lose her?

She needs cod liver tonic and water at quarterly intervals.

Yes, Doctor. I'll stay with her.

You do the right thing, Nurse. Make her drink.

I'll send for clean water, Matron.

Cleanliness and hygiene's the modern way.

It prevents further infection.

It's confinement. The same as when there was smallpox.

That was three whole days locked in a dorm!

We'll never get out now.

So what are we going to do?

Use the situation to our advantage.

Ned, what would I do without you?

What?

Why pick a lock when we don't have to?

Come along, boys, keep moving!

Stage one, complete. Next up, stage two.

ECHOEY: 'Matron, I am afraid we have just lost two boys.'

'Gideon... Gideon...'

'Stay with us, Hetty.'

'I want to go home... I want to go home.'

'This is your home, Hetty.'

'What? Are we going to lose her?'

'She is fading fast...'

'# One Monday morning, I went... #'

'I want to go home, please, Jem.'

'Hetty, can you hear me, Hetty?'

'Gideon...

'Gideon...'

'Rest now.'

'Matron, I am afraid we have just lost two boys.'

'Hetty? Hetty?'

'Don't take him away from me!

'I will look after you, Gideon, I promise.'

Where am I?

Jem? Gideon?

It's all right.

-Where am I?

-The infirmary. You have got influenza. You need to drink.

Here you go.

Lots of children are down with it.

It's our job to get you better.

Lie back.

What about Gideon? Is Gideon all right?

Hush now. Quiet.

But I remembered. It all came back. What if Gideon's got flu?

What if he's one of the boys who died?

Hetty, lie down. Come on!

I'll check my list.

Gideon, you say?

Not even in the infirmary. He must be fine.

You need to rest.

'How could I rest?

'My memories of Gideon were vivid again.

'And to me, that was all that mattered.'

Hetty! You're better!

Full of contagion. You only have to look at her.

What?! Say that again!

Hetty! What's the matter with you?

I need to find Gideon.

Your foundling brother?

Gideon's in the boys' wing. You won't get near to him.

He might not even remember you. I had a foundling brother once.

Now I don't even know his name.

That's the problem - being here makes you forget.

Well, not any more. I need to find him.

So, what will you do if you meet him?

-What will you do then?

-I'll look out for him.

Being ill taught me it's never too late.

For goodness' sake! Will you stop dreaming?

You'll never even make it to the boys' wing.

Harriet, I've made up my mind. I'm going to find him.

Look.

If there's one here...

there has to be one their side, too.

She's a genius.

You'll never get up there.

Watch me.

Matron'll put you in the Tench! She'll destroy you.

Matron will have to catch me first. Keep watch.

Here, Hetty, you'll need this.

Now, traps shut till I'm back.

-Oh, my.

-She's gone mad.

What? How did you manage that?!

The name's Hetty. I need to see my foundling brother.

By breaking into the boys' wing? Are you mad?

Gideon needs looking after. I promised him.

-Gideon? He's doing fine.

-Since when?

From the moment I stopped him getting bullied by the big boys.

-We're mates.

-Who are you again?

-Mathias.

So, Mathias...

If you're Gideon's friend, you'll help me.

Sorry. I've got more important stuff on my mind.

Like what? Writing letters to your sweetheart?

-Give that back!

-Why should I?

What is this?!

"Dear Mr Grace...

"Please take the best foundlings boys we have into your home."

That letter's private!

What are you trying to doing? Fix yourself a little apprenticeship?

-Give it!

-Does Matron "stinking" Bottomly know about this?

It's our way out of here.

Mr Grace, he takes in runaways, street kids, all right?

He trains them to go to sea.

All we need is an official letter of recommendation.

Look, I nicked it from Cranbourne's newspaper.

He fell asleep at his desk during writing practice.

You're going to sea?

Me and the boys reckon anything's better than being

stuck in this place.

Tonight. Gideon's coming with us.

Where's Feather?

Tell us where Hetty is!

Or we'll shout for Matron.

Matr...

Hetty's on an errand.

Matron chose her especially!

What is she doing?

Straight after dorm patrols, our gang's getting out of here.

You can't, I need to see Gideon.

Too late.

Tomorrow's the last day to apply. Our escape's all worked out.

-How? This place is a fortress.

-Simple.

After checking the dorms, the night watch always takes the same route.

He opens the side entrance and leaves it unlocked.

Then follows the path. He goes this way.

We sneak out and come this way. It's timed to the minute.

You've studied this.

Me and Ned planned it from my dorm window.

That's why I'm certain. Getting over this wall tonight

is as good as guaranteed.

Out and straight off to sea.

You really think Mr Grace will take you - with a letter like that?!

Why not?

Because it looks fake - like you've written it, not Matron.

I could do a much better job. Writing's my thing.

Prove it.

"My dearest Mr Grace,

"please accept the best foundling boys I have to offer

"as I am concerned for their welfare after a recent outbreak."

Meet me here, straight after the girls' end-of-lunch bell.

-I'll have your letter.

-That gives me three minutes till roll call.

On one condition. You bring Gideon.

If he's getting out of here, I need to see him first.

You need me, remember.

This was it. I was going to see Gideon and I couldn't wait.

I'd remembered my past and, suddenly, I had a future.

There was everything to play for.

Mathias wanted to get out of here.

I would be reunited with Gideon, we would all be winners.

It was the perfect plan.

All I had to do was make it happen.

One girl down?

Hetty Feather, where is she?

Gone to the privy, Matron. Still feeling a bit monk.

But she will be back.

I told her. Quick as she could, Matron.

I should think so.

When she returns,

tell her the whole corridor needs a really good scrubbing.

Guess what.

I made it!

-Into the boys' wing?

-No-one's ever done that before!

And I met a boy, Mathias.

Write a letter for him and I get to meet my foundling brother.

I'll see you at lunch.

Hetty! We've got a corridor to clean!

And I've got a letter to write.

The trip and push scenario.

-Ready?

-As I'll ever be.

-Boys! What are you doing?!

-Sorry, sir. I tripped.

All present and correct!

What?

As long I get to see him, that's all that matters.

Hetty, please. Think of the consequences.

Straight after lunch, I need you to cover for me.

Us?

What are you up to, Feather?

Disappearing during chores, cosy chats with your friends.

-What's it to you?

-It's called intuit...

Intuit...

Intuition.

She's hiding stuff.

Now spill, or your food's mine for a week!

Yeah? Just you try.

Oi! Half for me!

Give it back!

Fight! Go on!

Go on, Sheila! Pull her hair!

Do you want it, Feather? You have it!

Who threw that?

It was Hetty, Matron.

What?!

Hetty Feather?

No, Sheila stole her meat!

-She threw it, Matron!

-It was Hetty.

SCHOOL BELL RINGS

Hetty Feather? What on earth has got into you?

Lunch over, clear your places, please!

Dorms, then fresh air and exercise! As for you, 25629...

Matron! Matron, please. No!

..a spell in the storeroom should restore your senses.

It wasn't me!

Matron! Please, I swear it wasn't me!

DOOR LOCKS

'And just like that, my plan was slipping away!'

She isn't coming, Mathias.

We need that letter.

One more minute.

The escape. It's back on.

Boys, stage four.

-It's Hetty, Matron.

-She's trying to escape!

-Escape?

With her foundling brother, Matron.

SHE BLOWS WHISTLE

-FABRIC RENDS Hetty!

-Gid, no!