Florence Nightingale Page #6

---

so earnestly desire.

You do look tired, Florence.

So much work, it drains the system.

After two years fretting about the health of our

army, isn't it time you took care of your own?

What we need is a miracle

A miracle down here right now

Then God sent his angel to succour the brave

Ten thousand she saved

from an untimely grave

The wounded, they love her

As it can be seen

She's the soldier's preserver

They call her their queen

Hello, Queenie!

What we got was a miracle

A blooming, human miracle

We got a lady when all else did fail...

- What's going on?

- What's happened?

Not to worry, ladies and gentlemen.

She will be fine.

There's attendants round her now.

Stay where you are. She will be all right.

She's faced worse things than this.

She'll be all right.

Please keep your seats.

Keep your seats.

Look! She's coming round already.

Rule Britannia

Britannia rules the waves

Britons never, never never shall be slaves

Rule Britannia

Britannia rules the waves

Britons never, never, never shall be slaves

Rule Britannia

Britannia rules the waves

Britons never, never, never shall be slaves

That is heartening news, Prime Minister.

Yes, ma'am, thank you.

And when does this Commission of ours

expect to start hearing evidence?

Next week, l believe.

And will Miss Nightingale appear before it?

Ah, no. lt was decided to submit her evidence

in writing, through me.

l see.

And how is the dear girl?

Somewhat indisposed, ma'am,

after her Herculean efforts.

l believe she's taking the waters in Malvern Spa.

Tell her we wish her a speedy recovery.

l'll convey that sentiment to her father

when l see him next.

- Excuse me.

- Mr Nightingale.

Excuse me, please.

She gave strict instructions

not to be disturbed.

- Where is my daughter?

- Especially by her family.

l have to see my daughter.

l've been told she hasn't eaten for a week.

We can't exactly force her to eat.

- You didn't even call a doctor.

- l'm sure she's fine, sir.

Mr Nightingale!

(Knocking)

- Florence?

Florence!

Flo?

l'm aware that we need to talk.

We haven't always done that, have we?

l'm also aware that there've been times in my life

when l've been too distant.

Too much in my books, my thoughts.

But you know l always loved you.

Don't you?

Yes, Papa.

Yes, l do.

And yet, in a way,

l feel l was always a little afraid of you.

You, of me?

Well, you were... are so independent,

so headstrong.

Well, l had to be, didn't l?

Yes.

Of course, you know, l had ambitions, too.

Politics.

''William Edward Nightingale, MP.''

l thought that had a nice ring to it.

Better than ''good old Wen, decent chap,

but not much good at getting the vote out''.

Well, it wasn't to be.

l've been left behind in the race,

a lot of races.

Whereas you, on the other hand...

Papa,

l'm sure if there's a House of Commons

in the next life, you'll be a Member.

Perhaps my real calling in life

was to be your teacher when you were little.

Except, you see,

one can be wrong about one's calling.

Oh, Flo, be patient with yourself.

Haven't l always said

that the world needs pioneers?

Yes. Many times.

And you are just such a pioneer.

But if you're a pioneer

and you lead others into a swamp, into death,

how can you not blame yourself?

What if it's all part of a plan?

What is?

The mistakes.

So when God called me,

he called me to make mistakes?

But you don't believe in my call, do you?

l believe in you, my little genius.

No.

You think the call was just my own voice,

don't you?

Nothing more.

Well, l think once l did.

But now l...

What?

- Does it matter?

- lt matters to me.

- What l think?

- Yes, Father.

Then l think that you are human.

And that God is God.

He teaches us all through our mistakes.

And all we common mortals can do

is work through trial and error.

And for my errors l'm now on trial.

And what about Jesus?

What do you mean?

l heard you in the church,

when you were praying,

when you thought you were alone.

''My God, why hast thou forsaken me?''

l meant,

l once felt so close to God

- and now...

- l know.

And l meant that you're

not the first to feel that despair.

And yet, when you look back on it,

that suffering led to great good.

- But l'm not Christ.

- Precisely.

Flo, let God be the judge.

He is in charge, not you.

Come on.

Well, my dear, what now?

Do you know, if l had my health,

l think l should like to see what's going on

in our English hospitals.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes