(Grimacing) Caw, make a stuffed bird laugh. Tis more than about time these clothes ‘ad

a good wash. (Enter EMMA) What you got there Emma?

Another pile of filthy shirts Marge.

Did you ‘ave as much trouble collectin’ those as the last lot?

Well... Mister Ward didn’t exactly do us any favours. The man he used to employ to wash ‘um sent ‘em back to the soldiers as dirty as when they took ‘um off! T’was so bad the men decided to ‘ang onto ‘um dirty. They told me they preferred their own lice to other people‘s.

‘Ave you ‘eard about the woman who arrived this mornin’? All posh and lady like... blessed if I can remember ‘er name.

Lady Stratford.

Thass it. Thass the name. She apparently ain’t got a clue wass goin’ on ‘ere. She didn’t want to come into the ‘ospital in case she caught some’ink and Miss Nightingale didn’t want anythin’ to do with ‘er, but she insisted on ‘elping. So Miss Nightingale asked ‘er to get twelve wagons to bring ‘eavy goods up to the ‘ospital. You’ll never guess what?

No!

You’ll never believe this... She only went and bought seven glass coaches and five other strange lookin’ vehicles (Laughter) Miss Nightingale went ballistic... she was furious. She ‘ad to pay for the coaches out of ‘er own money.

‘Ere ‘ave you noticed ‘ow some of the beds seems to ‘ave a curse on ‘em. Be a man ‘alf dead or fully alive, they all seem to die within a few ‘ours of being put in certain, particular beds.

It’s got somethin’ to do with the sewers, thass what I say.

Miss Nightingale will sort it out. Be sure of that. Do you know, she’s been on ‘er feet all last night and all today. She ain’t ‘ad no sleep. She don’t look at all well.

(EMMA screams and leaps onto a stool. Over incidental Music 13a)

What is it?

A rat jumped out of the shirts!

What’s all the fuss? We’ve all seen rats before.

But this one was huge! There it goes!
(A rat moves quickly across the floor. All nurses scream and dash in different directions)

Where did it go?
Somewhere over near you.
There it goes again. (A rat is briefly seen) Chuck summut at it.

What do you suggest?
Anything!
Quick. Grab a scrubbing brush. First one to see it, shout out!

I thought I saw it go under one of those sacks.

You lot stand by and I’ll creep over and lift ‘em up. (Music starts to fade and nurses freeze in position as DAISY lifts sacks) Take aim ladies... here goes.
(Scrubbing brushes are hurled from all directions at the lifted sack. Enter FLO, unseen by the nurses)

(Music 13a stops abruptly as FLO shouts) What is going on? (Nurses scream and freeze) Have you all taken leave of your senses? This is not a circus ring!

Please Miss Nightingale...

Enough! I need no explanations. It’s nearly time for me to visit the wards. It’s getting late. Finish washing the mens’ clothes and I will see you all later, on the hospital round. (Exit nurses, as FLO sits at a table. Music 13b quietly accompanies FLO, as she reads aloud the letter)

(FLO reads aloud her letter) ‘Dear Mister Herbert. We have achieved much since we arrived. It was difficult at first. I have rigidly obeyed the instructions, not wishing to interfere with the authority of the doctors. I feel I am winning their confidence. The kitchen for extra diets is now working to full capacity. We have made a start on cleaning the wards. I have supplied mops, scrubbing brushes and brooms. For the men, I have purchased two thousand shirts and have organised the washing of their clothes. The best of the nurses have begun to attend to the dressing of complicated fractures.

(Pause, stands and thoughtfully moves) I am forced to ask if there are any men here who really care for the good of this hospital. I do believe that of all those who have been concerned in the fate of these miserable sick, you and I are the only ones who really care for them. I have recently met a man of little feeling and whose only objective is to keep himself out of blame. His name is Doctor John Hall, Chief of the Medical Staff. He is a strict disciplinarian who does not believe in chloroform. I fear I shall meet further with this selfish man.

(Pause and returns to sit at the table) I must close now as it is time for the evening visit to the wards. Yours very truly.’ (FLO takes a pen and signs the letter) Florence Nightingale.
(FLO places the letter in an envelope. The music ends as FLO lights her lamp)