Longford (2006 TV Movie)

Samantha Morton: Myra Hindley

Quotes 

• Myra Hindley : I'm trying Frank, to know the God that you know. But if you had been there, on the moors, in the moonlight, when we did the first one, you'd know, that evil can be a spiritual experience too.

• Myra Hindley : It would be a nice place to be.

  Lord Longford : Where?

  Myra Hindley : Inside your head.

  Lord Longford : Oh, I'm not sure about that.

• [On his first visit to Myra Hindley in prison, Lord Longford is looking aimlessly around the visiting room trying to find her. He approaches a woman with bleached blonde hair, then discovers that this is not Hindley. Suddenly a woman with jet-black hair stands up] 

  Myra Hindley : I think it's me you're looking for.

  Lord Longford : Myra Hindley?

  Myra Hindley : I got rid of the peroxide before the trial. I was blue at the trial, for most of it. And then red for the sentencing. Apparently it counted against me - showed I had no remorse.

  Lord Longford : I wasn't aware of a correlation between hair colour and contrition.

• Lord Longford : Hello Myra, is this the nightie you wanted, I couldn't remember what colour you asked for.

  Myra Hindley : It's great thanks

  [quietly] 

  Lord Longford : Now the business.

  Myra Hindley : Frank.

  Lord Longford : I have a friend on the parole board

  Myra Hindley : _Frank.

  Lord Longford : ...who tells me your application will be considered next month, now if that goes well and all things being equal the national

  Myra Hindley : _Frank enough.

  [Inhales cigarette slowly] 

  Myra Hindley : The police have been to see me. Brady's talked to the press about the other bodies. I'm saying, that i'm going to give a full confessional to all five murders.

  Lord Longford : What other bodies?

  Myra Hindley : Pauline Reade. And the Bennet boy. He hasn't given them any details yet, but he says he knows where they're buried, and before he grabs the initiative i'm going to come clean and tell the prison "I know".

  Lord Longford : but you know nothing about the bodies you've told me as much yourself.

  Myra Hindley : [Stares blankly] 

  Lord Longford : What are you saying?

  Myra Hindley : I'm saying, that i'm going to make a confessional to all five murders.

  Lord Longford : Dear girl... I asked you specifically if there was anything that you hadn't told me. I've staked my name on this, my reputation.

  Myra Hindley : I know. And i'd perfectly understand if you never wanted to see me again. It's what my new solicitor suggested anyway.

  Lord Longford : Your new solicitor...?

  Myra Hindley : He feels, and if i'm honest i'd agree with him, that the campaign you have conducted on my behalf has hurt me, more than helped me, and that we should make this our last meeting.I see...

  Lord Longford : I see... if that's what he feels... that you feel.

  [Looks down] 

  Myra Hindley : [pause]  Goodbye Frank.

  [Walks off] 

  Lord Longford : [Sits for a bit, and then apprehensively walks towards the door] 

• [last lines] 

  Myra Hindley : You know, we only missed it by a few weeks.

  Lord Longford : What?

  Myra Hindley : The death sentence. They abolished it while we were on remand. Looking back, don't you think it would have been better for everyone if they'd just hung us?

  Lord Longford : Certainly not! Only God has the right to take human life.

  Myra Hindley : Would He not have wanted to give the families that comfort?

  Lord Longford : [staring off into space]  None of us knows the true purpose of our lives on earth... Besides,

  [gallant again] 

  Lord Longford : had you been hanged, I would never have had the privilege of getting to know you!

  Myra Hindley : [gazes at him with sadness in her eyes]  You really believe that, don't you?

  [he smiles at her shyly, and says nothing] 

  Myra Hindley : Must be a rather nice place to be.

  Lord Longford : [he glances around them]  Where?

  Myra Hindley : Inside your head.

  Lord Longford : [grins awkwardly and wags his head from side to side as if to dismiss the thought]  Oh! I'm not so sure about that!

  Myra Hindley : [taking another cigarette from her pack and pulling out her lighter]  A fine pair we are, then.

  [long pan on the two chatting on their bench, so close they are almost touching. Credit sequence rolls] 

• Lord Longford : [they meet for the last time on a bench on her prison lawn. He is 92 and struggles to walk; she is 60, ill-looking, and muffled up in overcoat, shawl, and headscarf]  Goodness, how well you look!

  Myra Hindley : [smiles fondly]  Rubbish! My hair is falling out, and I'm dying of emphysema.

  Lord Longford : Well, you still look wonderful to me!

  Myra Hindley : Well, you're blind.

  Lord Longford : Nearly, yes.