(There’s a knock on the door) Come in. (Enter SALLY carrying some letters) Ah Sally. Sit down. I’m glad you’ve come. We seem to have a serious problem. Many of our first patients have stayed with us for six months. They should have made a considerable improvement by now. Despite the best of care, they are making very little progress.

Most of our patients are Governesses. It is the cheapest lodging they can find. They also have the benefit of regular medicine and attention.

They appear to have no incentive to get well. The Institute is becoming very overcrowded. We will have to make a new rule. Everyone must go at the end of a two month stay, except those who are dying.

Who will tell them to go?

I doubt whether the medical men will do it and I don’t think the Committee will have the courage. This unpleasant task will have to fall on my shoulders. No one else seems capable of making decisions.

Many of our previous problems seem to have been solved. The builders were here earlier and repaired the gas flu for the second time.

The last time it collapsed it nearly killed a patient. It was lucky I caught it as it fell down.

Oh... I nearly forgot. Here’s another pile of thank you letters.

We still continue to receive many letters. Remember that poor Governess who I sent to Eastbourne...

... at your own expense!

She recently wrote to me. (She reads) ‘I know not how to thank you my, dear, dear Miss Nightingale. I cannot even express how indebted I am to you’.

They are all very grateful.

I wanted to speak to someone about my recent visits to other hospitals. The nurses are nothing more than lowly servants. The general training of nurses remains very poor. I need to establish a training school to produce a supply of respectable, reliable and qualified nurses. The other day I was with Doctor Bowman, one of our best surgeons. I was his nurse as he performed a most difficult cancer operation under the new anesthetic, chloroform. I doubt whether any nurse would be capable of taking part in such a complicated operation. Nurses will be lifted to their right and proper place in society. We must create a new type of nurse. (Urgent knock on door) Come in.

(Enter MARY very worried)

Sorry to burst in on you like this Miss Nightingale.

Well, what is it Mary?

It’s happened! England and France have declared war on Russia! (Blackout)