(Enter HELEN) Excuse me.

Yes misses.

I came here a few months ago and your stall was full of Florence Nightingale souvenirs. Have they all gone?

Yeah madam, I’m rather afraid they ‘ave. We ‘ad loads brought in when she was proper poorly but since she recovered, they all went over night, like. The ‘ole country’s gone bloomin’ berserk... cleaned me out of everythin’... not that I’m complainin’ or anythin’.

It was an extremely worrying time. Her illness seems to have been uppermost in a lot of peoples’ minds.

Yeah... me misses was prayin’ regular.

(Making to leave) Oh well, that’s a shame. My niece will be disappointed. Her birthday is next week and she especially wanted a little something to remind her of Miss Nightingale. My husband met her personally, you know.

(Extremely impressed) Goodness gracious!
He was injured out of the war and Florence Nightingale helped to look after him whilst

arrangements were made to transport him home.

(Even more impressed) Thass somethin’ to tell the grandkids, ain’t it! (Slight pause as he dashes to the back of his stall) ‘ang on a mo... think I might of got somethin’ to oblige. (Holds up a small figurine in each hand) Some says the likeness is very good!

Oh, I say. That’s jolly decent of you.

Well... I was savin’ ‘um for the misses, but I s’pect I’ll be able to lay me ‘ands on another load shortly.

(Enter CHARLOTTE, HELEN’S friend)
(Over HELEN’S shoulder as she pays for the figurines). Gosh... they’re marvellous. I’d like one of those. I’ve looked everywhere but can’t find a thing.

(Handing HELEN her change) Last two I’m afraid, madam. Pop back tomorra. You never know your luck!

(Pulling away from the stall with HELEN) Yes I might just do that. I was on my way to Madam Tussauds Helen. They’ve created a new scene of Miss Nightingale caring for the sick and injured. Everyone’s going to see it. They say one has to queue for absolutely hours to get in.

Would you mind awfully if I came along too?

Please do. Not at all. Show me those figurines again.

(Admiring the figurines as they walk off) I’m told they’re a perfect likeness. (They disappear into the crowd. Enter a NEWSPAPER SELLER calling over musical introduction)

​

WAR IS OVER/DAUGHTER OF A RICH MAN (Reprise)

Extra! Extra! War’s over. (Crowd cheer) 

Read all about it. Troops comin’ ’ome. War in Turkey’s over...

Extra!... Crimea war over... Troops comin’ ‘ome... War in Turkey’s over...

Extra! Crimea war over. (Repeat)

​

HOORAY, THE WAR IS OVER, THE TROOPS ARE ON THEIR WAY

SOUND OUT THOSE CHURCH BELLS, LET’S CELEBRATE TODAY

NO MORE FEAR AND SADNESS, IT’S A HAP-HAP-HAPPY DAY

THIS IS MARV’LLOUS NEWS. WHAT DO THE PAPERS HAVE TO SAY?

​

(Brief musical link into reprise of ‘Daughter of a Rich Man’)

​

FLO MAY BE THE DAUGHTER OF A RICH MAN

(Shout) Rich man!

BUT SHE HAS PROVED THAT SHE IS ONE OF US AS WELL

SHE KNUCKLED DOWN ROLLED UP HER SLEEVES
SHE CAME TO OUR ASSISTANCE
WITH PERFECT GRACE AND CHARM

SHE ACKNOWLEDGED OUR EXISTENCE

SHE BELONGS TO US AS WELL AS TO THEM

WE FEEL PROUD SHE’S ONE OF US, WE WORSHIP HER NAME

WE’RE NOT WORLDS APART

OUR LIVES BEAT WITH ONE BIG HEART. YEAH!

FLORENCE IS A HEROINE

SHE SAVED MEN’S LIVES
SHE RESCUED OUR MEN, SHE HELPED THEM SURVIVE

(An instrumental version of the ‘reprise’ from Letter ‘B’ continues until FLO enters)

(FLORA rushes in breathless and addresses the crowd) A big ship ‘as just arrived at the ‘arbour. There’s a rumour flying ‘round the docks that it’s the one bringing Miss Nightingale ‘ome. There’s people pourin’ down there by the fa’sand. (To the crowd, as FLORA exits) You comin’ or what?

(The noise of the crowd cheering continues in the background as PARTHE and FANNY enter, slightly panicked as they rush to meet FLO at the harbour)

We must hurry if we are going to be on time to meet Flo at the harbour.

Everything is happening so fast Parthe. Gosh, I’ve completely forgotten to pick up the flowers.

If we don’t get a move on, we’ll miss everything.

(Rushing around in a panic) Don’t panic me child.

We‘ll have to leave the flowers if we‘re to get to the port on time.

But Flo does so love them and I wanted her home coming to be perfect.

(The music stops. Enter FLO unseen by PARTHE and FANNY. A chilled stillness and silence engulfs the stage, as a lone figure emerges from the shadows)

Hello Momma.

(Turning round, in muted pauses) Flo? It can’t be. Flo, is that really you?

Yes... it’s me.

Flo!! (She rushes to FLO and hugs her) We were just on our way to meet you. Everyone’s at the harbour.

I was told they might be. I arrived by another route this morning. I didn’t want to have to face the crowds.

But you’re so famous, everyone will want to meet you. You will not be able to keep your arrival secret for long. You cannot hide forever.

Oh well. Let them catch up with me. How have you both been whilst I have been away?

Extremely busy. We’ve attended many meetings in your honour.
I’m just glad to have avoided the publicity.
I think the whole country must have contributed to the Nightingale Fund.

Excellent! With that money I will be able to realise one of my dreams by opening an institute for the training of nurses.

(Enter NORA, DOT, LIZZIE and HILDA, the original stallholders, as the strident basses pound 'Song 18: Saluting Florence Nightingale' musical introductory bars)

Miss Nightingale! You’ve arrived. Welcome back ma’am.

(Exit LIZZIE in an excited dash)

Nora. How nice to see you.

I’ll ‘ave to let everyone know you’re ‘ere. Another ten minutes and I’d ‘ave left for the docks wit all the others. I can’t believe it’s really you... T’as been such a long time.

It seems as if I was here only yesterday. Nothing appears to have changed.

Oh my... To think that even Her Majesty ‘as ‘eard all about your good work Miss Nightingale. I told me fam’ly where you lives.

(Enter a breathless but excited LIZZIE as we hear a crowd coming)

Oh Miss Nightingale. I really can’t believe you’m ‘ome.

It sounds as if you’ve told everybody Lizzie.

You’m worth it though ma’am. I’m sure they'll want to say a very big “Thank you”. There’s some of the soldiers ‘ere in person too... they you sent ‘ome to recover.

(Enter the crowd, waving banners etc. during the singing of the song)

​

SALUTING FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE - The Finale

​

AT LEAST ONCE IN EV’RYBODY’S LIFETIME
THERE COMES ALONG ONE PERSON
SO OUTSTANDING THAT THEY SHINE ABOVE ALL OTHERS

AND IT’S BEEN OUR PRIVILEGE
TO WITNESS THE RISE OF SUCH A CARING LADY

​

YOU HAVE REVOLUTIONISED, SINGLE HANDED
THE OFFICIAL ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE SICK AND THE MAIMED

AND FOR THAT WE ALL SAY
WE ARE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL
TO THE LADY WITH THE LAMP, WHO HAS

​

PUT THE LIVES OF OTHERS WELL ABOVE HER OWN, WHO HAS

WORKED FOR HOURS AND HOURS
WITHOUT A SINGLE SELFISH THOUGHT
WE ALL SAY, LONG LIVE THE LADY WITH THE SOOTHING LAMP

​

YOU HAVE FOUGHT AUTHORITY AGAINST APPALLING ODDS
YOU HAVE SUFFERED OUR DISEASES AND OTHER ACTS OF GOD

WHAT CAN WE SAY?
THERE AREN’T ENOUGH WORDS TO SAY THANK YOU

​

WE SALUTE YOU, FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE
WE ALL OWE YOU ONE HUGE DEBT OF GRATITUDE

WE LOVE THE LADY WITH THE LAMP
NO TIME NOR TIDE WILL FADE YOUR NAME

​

WE’LL REMEMBER YOU, FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE

YOUR NAME WILL FIRMLY BE ENGRAVED IN HISTORY

WE STAND UP FOR THE LADY OF THE LAMP
AND OUR SONS OF SONS WILL DO THE SAME

​

OUR FUTURE WELFARE’S BEEN SECURED
THERE’LL BE NO SQUALID MEDICAL CARE
AND WE ALL OWE IT TO THIS LADY
WITHOUT HER THERE WOULD STILL BE NOT MUCH HOPE FOR US

​

ONCE IN EV’RYBODY’S LIFETIME
THERE COMES ALONG ONE PERSON
SO OUTSTANDING THAT THEY SHINE ABOVE ALL OTHERS

AND IT’S BEEN OUR PRIVILEGE
TO WITNESS THE RISE OF SUCH A CARING LADY

​

YOU HAVE REVOLUTIONISED, SINGLE HANDED
THE OFFICIAL ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE SICK AND THE MAIMED

AND FOR THAT WE ALL SAY
WE ARE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL

YES, MA’AM, WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL

ONCE IN EV’RYBODY’S LIFETIME
THERE COMES ALONG ONE PERSON
SO OUTSTANDING THAT THEY SHINE ABOVE ALL OTHERS

AND IT’S BEEN OUR PRIVILEGE
TO WITNESS THE RISE OF SUCH A CARING LADY

​

YOU HAVE REVOLUTIONISED, SINGLE HANDED
THE OFFICIAL ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE SICK AND THE MAIMED

AND FOR THAT WE ALL SAY
WE ARE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL
TO THE LADY OF THE LAMP, WHO HAS

​

PUT THE LIVES OF OTHERS WELL ABOVE HER OWN, WHO HAS

WORKED FOR HOURS AND HOURS
WITHOUT A SINGLE SELFISH THOUGHT
WE ALL SAY, LONG LIVE THE LADY WITH THE SOOTHING LAMP

​

YOU HAVE FOUGHT AUTHORITY AGAINST APPALLING ODDS
YOU HAVE SUFFERED OUR DISEASES AND OTHER ACTS OF GOD

WHAT CAN WE SAY?
THERE AREN’T ENOUGH WORDS TO SAY THANK YOU

​

Whilst TREBLES sing counterpoint as:
WE SALUTE YOU, FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE

WE ALL OWE YOU ONE HUGE DEBT OF GRATITUDE

WE LOVE THE LADY WITH THE LAMP
NO TIME NOR TIDE WILL FADE YOUR NAME

​

WE’LL REMEMBER YOU, FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE

YOUR NAME WILL FIRMLY BE ENGRAVED IN HISTORY

WE STAND UP FOR THE LADY OF THE LAMP
AND OUR SONS OF SONS WILL DO THE SAME

​

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, MISS NIGHTINGALE

THANK YOU, FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE

​

                                               (Song ends)

​

                                             THE END