Oh there you are Doctor Lawson. Thank goodness I’ve found you. I don’t believe what is happening.

What do you mean? (Exit the patients)

Remember the conversation we had earlier... about that wretched society woman. What's her name?... Florence Nightingale.

Yes.

They are here... they’ve just this minute arrived.

They?!!

She’s brought nurses with her.

I thought we made it clear to the authorities that nurses and soldiers have proven to be a very unhappy combination.

Yes... well. Apparently she has powerful backing. If you can believe it, she has very influential friends in the Cabinet in London. She also has a great deal of money behind her... mostly raised by The Times newspaper appeal.

Yes. I’ve heard about this fund. It’s supposed to have raised several thousand pounds. (Smirking) The money would be useful.

I refuse to accept any money from civilian sources. As far as I am concerned everything here is satisfactory. I’ve written to England and suggested Miss Nightingale spends the money on building a church in Constantinople.

Are you saying that we have no option but to accept her and her nurses?

I’m sorry to say it but, yes, that is the case. I have prepared their quarters.

You don’t suppose she’s been sent as a government spy?

I doubt it. She’s most likely well intentioned... but she’s bound to be a nuisance. Women and war do not go together. We’ll all just have to do our very best to ignore her.

Is that wise?

I’m not accepting help from civilians, full stop! She is plainly an interfering old busy body who...

(DR MENZIES is interrupted suddenly by DR PINCOFF, FLO and nurses carrying bags)

Gentlemen. May I present Miss Nightingale and her nurses. 

Miss Nightingale.

Gentlemen. It's a pleasure to meet you.
You managed to find us without too much difficulty?

Yes we did, thank you. Doctor Pincoff here very kindly came to escort us from the harbour.

(Hypocritically) Can I say how very pleased we are to see you. I am Doctor Menzies the Senior Medical Officer and this is Doctor Lawson. (Mutual exchange of polite smiles)

We were only just saying, how fortunate we are to receive such distinguished guests at the hospital. I trust you had a pleasant journey from England and have not been too delayed by the recent storms?

Unfortunately I suffered from severe sea sickness and was forced to spend much of the voyage lying down. The journey from Constantinople by rowing boat was very uncomfortable. Having miraculously arrived at your rickety landing stage, we were forced to fight our way through a sea of mud and rubbish. However, we are here now and that is all that matters.

With winter fast approaching, conditions do tend to get worse.

We are wet, tired and dirty. Perhaps you would kindly show us to our quarters?
Certainly. This way everyone.

(Exit DR PINCOFF, FLO and the nurses)

So... what do you think?

I think Doctor Lawson... that we are in for a difficult time. I still stand by what I said. The sooner the authorities realise this is no place for women, the better it will be for everyone. (DR MENZIES storms off, followed at a pace by Dr LAWSON)