I feel the bestowal of this honour
is rather belated, don't you, Sir?
Perhaps it is.
A distinguished member of Parliament told
me yesterday he thought she was dead.
We forget our national heroes while
they're still alive very quickly.
When she does die, I suppose
she will leave behind her
the greatest record of
individual achievement
of any English woman.
Yes, she will indeed.
Achievement wrought of real sacrifice,
for she was no recluse you know, Nugent.
She loved life passionately and fully.
At Broadlands, the home of
her friends the Palmerston's,
she often danced the night through.
Thank you Mr. Herbert.
That was delightful.
May I return the
compliment Miss Florence?
I uh, presume you're
engaged for the next dance?
Yes, I have promised it
to Richard Monckton Milnes.
Oh, as usual I see your card
is promised for the whole evening.
Yes, I'm afraid it is Mr. Herbert.
I am sorry.
Flo my dear, my Waltz I believe.
Yes Richard.
I'm afraid you'll make
yourself ill my dear.
Oh Sidney dear,
Parthenope's very distressed
about her sister.
Oh?
What's the matter with Miss Florence?
She does not seem to be happy
or able to enjoy her life.
Well, she's doing
quite well at the moment.
She's just danced me to a standstill.
She's doing the same to Richard
and her card is promised
for the entire evening.
But there's another
side to her Mr. Herbert.
It's so bewildering.
It makes me so nervous and Mama.
The best remedy for nervous
young ladies Miss Parthenope
is a cool drink of claret cup.
Thank you dearest and
I should enjoy one too.
Now Parthe, you must not
worry about Florence.
Pleasant evening Palmerston.
Thank you Herbert.
I've just been asking Liz to try
and persuade you to stay on a few days.
Oh, I shall need little persuasion.
There's nothing we enjoy more
than our visits to Broadlands.
I rather hope the Prime
Minister may be joining us.
I think this situation in Russia wants
a little quiet reflection, don't you?
The situation in Russia
my dear Palmerston needs
a great deal of quiet reflection.
I danced this Waltz a great
deal when I was in Rome.
I would've given my eyes
to have been with you.
Oh!
How absurd you are Richard.
When one is in Rome, eyes are essential.
Flo my dear, I want to talk to you.
It's important and very urgent.
Will you come out on the terrace?
Can we not talk here Richard?
Please Flo.
Very well.
At last Lady Palmerston.
At last what Mrs. Nightingale?
At last Mr. Milnes
has got Florence alone.
Will you excuse me my dear?
Lady Palmerston.
My husband would be content
is Florence never married.
Oh, I do hope something comes of it.
At all events, Richard will
make a very patient husband.
Flo my dear, I cannot wait
another day for your decision.
I wrote you from Egypt, Richard.
Did you not get my letter?
Yes, indeed I did.
You told me of the places you had visited.
You told me that you
had again been dreaming,
dreaming of what you believe God
has called you to do in this world.
That is true.
You told me of your visit
to Kaiserswerth in Germany,
and of how much your experience
as a nurse there had meant to you.
You told me of the bitter opposition
of your family to your own plan.
You see?
I remember every word.
But you did not answer my question.
It is over four years
since he first proposed.
Florence is a great problem to us.
I could name 20 men who
are dying to marry her,
but she seems to have no more
than a friendly interest in any of them.
It must be very disappointing for you.
It is more than disappointing.
We have given her an excellent education,
we have allowed her to travel extensively
and at the end of it all
what does she want to do?
Become a nurse in a hospital at Salisbury.
Do you not want love dear Flo?
A home, children?
My heart cries out for them.
Then why not?
Is not my love for you
stronger than any cause?
Marry me, Flo.
Or have you no feeling for me?
Richard, I love you.
I love you dearly but I cannot marry
you and I have told you why.
Please, do not ask me again.
Is that irrevocable?
Yes, irrevocable.
May you not regret
the step you're taking,
and may you find happiness
which apparently I cannot give you.
Richard.
Dear Richard, please let us return.
Miss Florence?
Who is it?
It's me Miss Florence, George Winch.
Oh, it is all right Richard.
He is one of our under gardeners.
I'm sorry Sir, to speak to
Miss Florence like this but I...
What is it George?
It's me mother Miss Florence.
She's hurt.
I didn't know what to do, I...
- Find Austin.
Tell him to bring the carriage
and I will come with you at once.
Yes, Miss Florence.
But surely you and
your mama do not object
to Miss Florence nursing
the sick in the village?
Oh, but they have proper persons
for that kind of work Mr. Herbert.
And who are they?
Well, not one of our class like Flo.
Oh yes.
I hope I'm not being
profane Mr. Herbert,
but Flo once told us that
she'd had a call from God.
You can imagine how worrying
that was to Mama and Papa.
Very worrying but probably the truth.
Mr. Herbert, I do
believe you approve of Flo.
I do indeed.
I think I know exactly how she feels.
There she goes.
And I suppose we shall not see
her again until dinner time.
She's the most unnatural girl.
Where does she get these
ideas from William?
She has a comfortable home.
Why cannot she be happy in it?
But no, everything must be
changed, altered, reformed.
We are like two ducks who are brought
into the world of wild swan.
William, you must speak to her.
How can I speak to ger my dear?
She's no longer a child.
Well, she has a duty to her
parents, child or no child.
She's becoming so outspoken Papa.
Some of the things she says
are on the fringe of immodesty.
No doubt she picks them up
from associating with those common nurses.
But on that point I am adamant.
On which point?
Nursing of course.
Oh, I don't mind her giving
the little normal comforts
as Parthe and I do,
like, well, like port wine
to Mrs. Cribbage or gruel to her husband,
but the other day a farmhand fell off
a hayrick and broke his thigh.
Oh yes, this is scandalous Papa.
Florence wanted to
make a splint for the man
but I absolutely refused to allow her.
Flo I said, you may bandage
a man below the knee
or above the shoulder but nowhere else.
Now, you are to stay in bed and rest,
and I shall ask Dr. Trotter
to come and see you.
I'm grateful to you Miss Florence.
Real grateful.
Well, show it by getting
well Mrs. Winch and quickly.
And do not spill boiling
water over yourself again.
This window will not open.
Oh, that's nailed up.
I reckon that hasn't
been open for 10 years.
George, have you anything I
can take these nails out with?
Yes, there's
hammer here Miss Florence.
Oh no.
Let me have it please.
Oh, I shall die of cold, I know I will.
You will die of something
far worse Mrs. Winch
if you go on sleeping in this atmosphere.
God's good fresh air is what
you need and plenty of it.
There now.
That is better.
Leave it like that day and night.
But the night air Miss Florence.
That is all old fashioned nonsense
about night air not being good for one.
Now good day Mrs. Winch.
Good day Miss Florence.
Is there anything I can do
to help Mother, Miss Florence?
Yes George, there is.
I would like to speak to you.
George, your mother tells me you want
to be head gardener at Embley Park.
Oh, one day Miss Florence.
That I do, surely.
Now, what would happen to all the plants
if they were deprived of fresh
air and choked with weeds?
Well, I reckon they'd die Miss Florence.
And that is exactly what may happen
to your mother if this
cottage is not cleaned out.
Now get some hot water and disinfectant
and start scrubbing at once.
Floors, furniture, every bit of it
and see that the windows are kept open.
Yes, Miss Florence.
Here is half a sovereign.
Go and buy your mother
some calf's foot jelly
and a bottle of port wine
and when I come tomorrow,
I want to find the cottage spotless.
It will be spotless.
Spotless.
But why should we have
to fight the Russians
just because the Czar
does not like the Turks?
Or the Turks do not like the Czar?
Yes, it goes a little deeper
then that Mrs. Nightingale,
but Herbert's the man
to give you an opinion.
For my part I, I hate
the very thought of war.
I'm not saying that Turkey should accede
to Russia's demands but
everything must be done
by our government in
the role of peacemaker.
Don't you agree Palmerston?
That my dear Herbert is a question
you must put to the Prime Minister.
I'm only Home Secretary.
But we both share responsibilities
as members of the Cabinet and war
is not a gamble that I
personally am anxious to take.
But the people are for war.
They want it.
I do trust that nothing
has happened to Florence.
I trust not.
One of my tenants had accident
Lady Palmerston so I understand.
Yes dear, but that is no reason
why Florence should be late for dinner.
Please sit down.
I, I was quite unaware of the time.
I do apologise Mama.
I apologise Papa.
How is Mrs. Winch, Flo?
I had to call in Dr. Trotter.
She was in considerable pain this...
You were saying Lord Palmerston?
I um, I'm not sure now
what I was saying.
No thank you.
Now Florence, are you not eating?
No, I'm not hungry Mama.
I will wait for dessert.
You wear yourself out
with this ridiculous nursing
and then refuse to keep up your strength.
Appetite for work so often
destroys appetite for food,
don't you find Miss Florence?
Thank you Mr. Herbert.
I uh, I hear your cousin was cut out
of the colonel's will Bracebridge?
Yes, most unfortunate.
Cut out without a shilling.
My niece has had to go out
to work as a governess.
It is the only profession
for a lady is it not Mr. Bracebridge?
If she's without means.
Why should it be the
only profession, Mama?
Why should not a woman,
if she has the brains
become a doctor or even a lawyer?
Oh, don't be ridiculous Florence.
How would any woman
possibly become a lawyer?
Portia made rather a
good one Mrs. Nightingale.
Oh, that was Shakespeare, Mr. Herbert,
but in real life women have their place
in the home and there as I
tell Florence continually,
is where they should remain.
The status of women is changing.
We have women writers now.
The Bronte's, Jane Austen,
whose work has reached
a very high standard.
I see the day when women will enter
not only the professions,
but politics as well.
Why stop at politics?
Perhaps Miss Florence would like
to see the ladies joining the Army?
That is an absurd
remark Lord Palmerston.
Florence!
Apologise to Lord Palmerston immediately.
Not at all, not at all Mrs. Nightingale.
Your daughter has great spirit
and I enjoy an argument,
but you did tell me the other day
that we ought to employ
ladies in military hospitals
which is almost the same thing.
I made that suggestion Lord Palmerston
because at the present time the state
of our military hospitals is a disgrace.
A sick soldier is treated as a malingerer,
little or no attempt is made to find
out why he is ill, nor
to get him well again.
Mr. Herbert has listened to my point
of view most sympathetically
but what chance has he
of making reforms when
the rest of the Cabinet
cannot see their noses
in front of their faces?
Hm, I wonder if it's
going to rain tomorrow.
It, it seemed quite
cloudy before dinner Papa.
The suggestion you
made to me Miss Florence
was that the male orderlies should
be replaced by female nurses.
Now that seems to me to be
a most dangerous policy.
Why Lord Palmerston?
Because the common soldier
is quite debauched enough as it is.
Quite frankly, to employ
female nurses in hospitals
would merely be providing
him with fresh temptation.
But Lord Palmerston, these women must
be selected with the
greatest possible care,
and months spent in training them
in the fundamental duties of nursing.
I agree with you.
To employ the kind of women who today
call themselves nurses
would be disastrous.
Not only have they no knowledge whatsoever
of how to care for the sick,
but nine out of 10 of them are drunkards
and most of them are prostitutes.
Florence!
Shall we, shall we ladies
retire to the drawing room?
Will men never
understand that some women
want to use their own brains
and direct their own lives?
Athena, you are a wise owl.
Tell me what I am to do.
Perhaps my work does not matter.
Perhaps I flatter myself and I'm
being punished for false pride.
And yet, yet I cannot go on living here
in luxury while all around
me I see so much suffering.
Dear God, help me please.
Please, help me.
How much longer must I struggle?
Who is that?
Me Flo, dear.
Please, may I come in?
Of course.
Oh, how can you?
How can you make us so unhappy?
Do you think I want to?
Poor Mama, she's gone to bed in tears.
I know I make you all unhappy and it
is like knives in my heart because I do.
But why?
Why must you?
How can I explain?
When, when we were children,
we loved each other so much.
I love you now but our lives
have taken different paths.
Oh, darling Parthe, I would give anything
in the world to save you pain,
but I do not interfere with your life.
Why should you wish me to change mine?
It has become such a strange life, Flo.
To you yes, because
you do not understand
what is in my heart and mind.
You were ashamed of me when I went
to Kaiserswerth to train to be a nurse,
and when I worked with the
Sisters of Charity in Paris.
You were ashamed of me this evening
at dinner because I spoke my mind.
If I am destroying your
peace and happiness,
I can only plead your forgiveness.
I cannot alter my nature.
But why must you be so different?
Why must you go on blowing
a trumpet for humanity?
But Parthenope, struggle
has always made some noise.
We have been brought up in surroundings
where struggle is unknown.
I hate to wound all
your beloved hearts but,
but if I am out of harmony with
the things that interest
you is that my fault?
Are you dreaming again?
Not dreaming, cursing.
You've caught me in a bad
mood I'm afraid, Mr. Herbert.
What brings you to
Broadlands, Miss Florence?
I have come to apologise
to Lady Palmerston.
About the little scene
at dinner last night?
Yes.
Oh, I was hoping that
might've cleared the atmosphere.
On the contrary and there
was a dreadful quarrel
at breakfast this morning because
I said I still want to go to
Salisbury Hospital to nurse.
Mama alternated between fits of weeping
and calling for sal volatile.
Your poor mama makes
herself suffer a great deal.
Well, Parthenope has retired
to her room in hysterics,
and poor Papa sought
sanctuary in the library.
Oh, wise Papa.
So to relieve their distress,
I have decided to give
up the idea entirely.
Of Salisbury or of nursing?
Salisbury.
I'm glad of that.
Why are you glad Mr. Herbert?
Because I have something
in mind which I think
may be of interest to
you but not in Salisbury.
This would involve your leaving home.
Liz as you know is on
the Committee of the
Hospital for sick gentlemen.
They are seeking a
superintendent to take charge.
May I recommend you?
This is the answer to all
my prayers, to all my dreams.
I would say myself that
it may be the beginning.
This is a hospital for
gentlemen Miss Nightingale,
and I hope I am as broad
minded as any of us here,
but I do draw the line at
admitting Roman Catholics.
I want all you ladies of the Committee
to understand that this
bigotry is meaningless to me.
Unless we open our doors
to all denominations,
to Roman Catholics, to Jews and
if necessary to Mohammedans,
I must ask you to accept my resignation.
Oh, but my dear Miss Nightingale...
But you cannot resign Miss Nightingale.
As the Lady Superintendent
you've done so much.
You've reduced the daily expenditure
from one and 10 pence to a shilling
a head and the cost of jam making
from seven pence to four pence a pound.
Ladies, I insist upon a ruling.
I think it would be
better to allow Miss Nightingale
to run this hospital as
she feels it should be run,
and I'm sure Miss Nightingale
is very busy so shall we?
Yes, I think we'd better.
Miss Nightingale.
Good afternoon.
Good afternoon,
Good afternoon ladies.
Everything possible has
been done to avoid war,
but we are all agreed that we must have
a friendly power at the Bosphorous,
holding the keys of the
Mediterranean from the West.
We are not bound by treaty
to enter this quarrel,
but in the interest of Europe,
we cannot allow Turkey to
be overborne by Russia.
Hear, hear!
A fine body of men Mr. Herbert.
They do you credit.
I hope the government
does credit to them.
Hey, we're packed up
to the gunnels now.
How many men have you got there?
62 Sergeant.
All right, get 'em onboard.
Where are we going Serg?
Barrack Hospital, Scutari.
God help us.
Hear that Mr. Russel?
God help us.
God help us is the cry of the men,
when they know they are going
to the Scutari Barrack Hospital.
The "Times" says the wounded
are being treated like savages.
It's a disgrace to the nation.
Why ain't we got no Sisters
of Charity like the French?
It's murder, that's what it is
and is the government's responsible?
The whole ruddy lot of them.
What the devil do these journalists
want to interfere for Gladstone?
They're not running the war, we are.
Apparently they do not think
we are running it very
well Lord Palmerston.
Change the government!
Why won't somebody help us?
That's him.
Sidney Herbert, Minster for War.
The Duke of Newcastle
is Minister for War.
Sidney Herbert is Minister at War.
And what's the difference?
I haven't the slightest idea.
Have you seen your "Times"
this morning Herbert?
Yes, I have indeed.
It would appear the entire
populous has seen it.
This fellow Howard Russel
is confounded nuisance.
"The manner in which the sick and wounded
"are treated is worthy only
of the savages of Dahomey.
"Surgeons are not to be had
"and the male nurses and
orderlies are useless."
Sending a newspaper
reporter to the seat of war.
What are we coming to?
I happen to know Howard Russel.
I don't believe he'd
written those articles
nor would the "Times" have published
them if the facts were not true.
Are you trying to say
that he knows better
than our own own own ambassador
and the Inspector General?
Why, only last week Stratford reported
that the hospital situation
is perfectly satisfactory.
Why they've just taken over the
Turkish barracks at Scutari.
Russel's on the spot
Palmerston and we're not.
We must take action ourselves at once.
The action has already
been takin' my dear Herbert.
Lady Forester is organising a band
of nurses privately of course,
and at her own expense to go
out to Constantinople forthwith.
I'm afraid I must entirely disagree
with that proposal Gladstone.
Why?
It cannot succeed.
It won't cost the government a penny.
There is no question of pounds
and shillings and pences as matters.
Have you any suggestion
to offer Herbert?
Yes, I have.
In my opinion, such an
expedition needs someone
with nursing experience and one
who is fully supported by the government.
Mrs. Nightingale, Sir.
Mr. Herbert, I have
interviewed 128 women
out of which I have managed to find
only 14 who are reasonably suitable.
I shall now approach the
religious institutions.
Oh, you will find them.
I have no doubt about that.
Come and sit down while I tell
you some of the arrangements.
When do we leave?
In four days.
I've asked Mr. and Mrs. Bracebridge
to accompany you if you agree.
I do indeed.
Salina will be of great assistance to me.
And Charles can take care
of the financial side of the expedition.
You will go on by train
Boulogne to Marseilles
where you'll spend two or three days
before going onboard the Vectis.
Excellent.
It will give me an opportunity
for purchasing equipment
and medical supplies.
You have little faith I
notice in the government.
I have infinite faith
in one member of it.
Thank you.
I will do my utmost to
support you from London.
But sending women to the seat of war
is something quite new and voices
out there may be raised against it.
Yes, I'm afraid so.
Yeah.
Listen, myself I have
no doubt whatsoever
as to your ultimate success.
Thank you.
My success does not matter but,
if your plan succeeds Mr. Herbert,
we shall have broken down
such a wall of prejudice
that will multiply the good for all time.
Yes, I quite agree.
I've written to Lord
Stratford our Ambassador
and Dr. Menzies with
the chief medical office
of the Barrack Hospital.
Now, is there anything
else you wish to discuss?
No, I do not think so.
As there so little time
perhaps you will excuse me.
You will please write
to me from Scutari?
Oh, I shall write officially
and I shall write privately.
I shall keep nothing
from you, good or bad.
In our dealings with
people Miss Florence,
you have the great advantage
of being unemotional.
Oh, make no mistake Mr. Herbert.
I have all the emotions of a woman,
but if I have learned anything
so far it is how to control them.
Well, now I say goodbye.
Goodbye.
God bless you Florence.
Godspeed your journey.
Goodbye Sidney.
I, I shall rely on you always.
They're here Sidney.
Salina.
Charles, it is such a comfort
to know that you will be with me.
Flo, dear we're delighted
aren't we Charles?
We are indeed.
I know Turkey well.
You know I think you'll need someone
like me to take care of
38 ladies eh, Sidney?
Yes Charles, you'll make
an excellent chaperone.
Come along ladies.
Black nuns to the fore,
white nuns to the rear,
and nurses to the centre.
Charles, is this absolutely necessary?
Yes it is my dear.
I learned the value of discipline
when I was in the Militia and now
I'm going to put it into practise.
I'm not at all happy with the reports
I've received from Constantinople.
Lord Stratford seemed rosy enough.
He was busy being diplomatic.
And Raglan's?
Too busy at fighting.
Miss Nightingale ought
to be there by now.
Just about, yes.
You worried?
Not on her account no,
but the public are gonna expect miracles.
We'll have to give all the help
and support we can Palmerston.
Yes, I wonder how she'll be received.
I wonder, yes.
I hear Miss Nightingale is
a high-faluting society creature.
Oh, a politician.
Mr. Sidney Herbert is
responsible for this novel idea.
This government has done
some deuced silly things
but sending 40 women to this
hospital is quite the silliest.
Give them a chance
Sir, give them a chance.
If they can make this place any less
of a hell than it is it might
be better for all of us.
The men are...
I'm sorry, Sir.
That young
man's losing his nerve.
I shall have to be sending him home.
It might suit us better Sir
if you sent Miss Nightingale home.
Yes?
Lady by the name of
Nightingale to see your Honour.
Oh.
Show her in.
Am I smart enough
gentlemen to meet a lady?
Dr. Menzies?
At your service Madame.
I am Miss Nightingale.
Oh, thank you gentlemen.
Welcome to the Barrack
Hospital, Miss Nightingale.
I feel sure that your presence here
and that of your ladies will
bring great comfort to our men.
I trust so Dr. Menzies.
No doubt you would like to retire
to your quarters and
rest after your journey.
Thank you.
My uh, party has already
gone to their quarters
but if it is not inconvenient to you
I would like to see around the hospital.
Oh?
I fear you will see
many distressing sights Miss Nightingale.
I am a nurse Dr. Menzies.
This is not exactly a hospital,
but the Turkish barracks
utilised for our purpose.
Yes, I was aware of that.
Then I take it you are aware that
we have male orderlies to look
after the sick and wounded
and that they attend to such things
that no lady of course could do.
I would like to assure
you Doctor Menzies
that among my group of women there
are no ladies in your sense of the word.
We are all nurses and ready to help
in any way you may decide.
News has just come through
of another great battle,
so there'll be plenty of
work for willing hands to do.
But I want you all to remember
one very important thing,
and that is discipline.
You're under the direct
orders of Miss Nightingale,
and every instruction you
receive must be obeyed instantly.
Now, is that quite clear?
Yes Mr. Bracebridge.
All right.
Now then, any questions?
Yes, Mr. Bracebridge.
As Constantinople's only just over
the other side of the water,
I suppose you should be able to go
there and see the sights,
when we're off duty.
I have no doubt Nurse Johnson.
When you are off duty you will find
this part of the world very interesting.
There's plenty here to see.
Now, any other questions?
Yes Sir.
I've seen bugs in this bed, Sir.
That is not
a question Nurse Turner,
that is a statement.
Well, I warned you Miss Nightingale
you would see some very
distressing sights.
You did indeed and I trust
our presence here may alleviate
some of the suffering of these poor men.
I feel sure your ladies
can do quite useful work in attending
to the last wishes of the dying.
I am more interested in attending
to the living Dr. Menzies.
Only God can help the dying.
Quite, quite.
Now, I am naturally under your orders,
so when you want us my
nurses are at your service.
When I need them I will send
for them Miss Nightingale.
Well, we are here.
You will be I know, anxious to get to work
but you must all clearly understand
that until I receive
orders from Dr. Menzies
we must occupy ourselves with work other
then nursing the sick and wounded.
For the first few days
I think it more likely
we shall be scrubbing floors
then tending the sick.
But Mr. Bracebridge says that 400
more wounded are arriving any minute.
Our services are needed in
the wards Miss Nightingale.
Surely that is our first duty?
Your first duty Sister
Wheeler is to obey orders.
Miss Nightingale?
Yes?
I'm Dr. Anson.
I must apologise but I have
40 men down with cholera
and I can't deal with them
unless I have your help.
Can you let me have
some nurses immediately?
If you'll get Dr.
Menzies permission, yes.
He won't give it.
Dr. Anson, what do the
other doctors feel about us?
Most of them want
your help too and they...
Well, then why do they not ask for it?
If they all demand our assistance
then something will be done.
It is impossible to make demands
to a superior officer here.
It is impossible for us to help
unless Dr. Menzies sends for us.
I am sorry Dr. Anson.
Gangrene, you'll have to lose it.
Bite on this belt my man.
Bite hard.
Hold him tight.
Help!
Help!
Help!
Dr. Menzies, I would
not force myself upon
you like this were it not for the fact
that I have seen with
my own eyes men bleeding
to death for want of the
most elementary attention
which my nurses could give them.
Oh, Miss Nightingale.
But, but it is over three days since
I and my party have arrived and it was
the whole essence of Mr. Herbert's plan
that we should nurse the sick and wounded
and not just act as kitchen maids.
But your ladies are doing
quite useful work Miss Nightingale.
They are not doing the
work they came out to do.
We are, we are trying to clean up
some of the indescribable
filth of this hospital
but beyond that we are doing nothing.
As I have already told you Ma'am,
we have orderlies to tend
to the wants of the men.
I, I assure you Madame, the
soldiers would be embarrassed
if your ladies undertook
such personal duties
which are necessary in the
case of serious illness.
My ladies as I persist
in calling them Dr. Menzies
are all experienced nurses and they
will undertake any duty
no matter how unpleasant.
But I see no necessity
to call in female nurses
to perform the duties of Army orderlies
are carrying out under
Army regulations Ma'am.
Army regulations.
Red tapism.
The orderlies are totally
unfit to do the things...
- If you'll please forgive
me Ma'am I have all this correspondence
to attend to as you see.
Estimates, reports, indents, a whole pile
of stuff from the War Office, look at it.
While you are reading it Dr. Menzies,
men are dying in their hundreds.
This is not a hospital for
gentlemen Miss Nightingale.
This is war.
Well, what are Miss
Nightingale and her nurses doing?
This plan of yours doesn't seem
very successful Mr. Herbert.
Out of 2,349 men admitted
to the Barrack Hospital during
a period of three weeks, 1,405 have died.
Good heavens, that's nearly 60%.
There'll be questions
in the House tomorrow
which I shall have to answer.
What have you to say Mr. Herbert?
I would say that the
policy of the Treasury
over the past three years
has been so niggardly
with regard to the requirements
of my medical staff,
we are in everyway totally unequipped
to take care of our wounded.
I resent that remark Mr. Herbert.
You may Mr. Gladstone
but the fact remains
I've been handicapped at every
turn through want of money.
With the result, we're short of surgeons,
short of equipment and our men
out there are dying in thousands.
But Miss Nightingale has
a private fund of her own.
Which up to now she's been unable
to use owing to officialdom.
My dear Mr. Herbert,
we have our prevails.
Who spend of their time
multiplying correspondence
between the different departments.
This is no time for sticking at forms.
Men's lives are at stake.
Much mischief has been
done to the countries
by the stickling for dignities
and precedence between departments.
But if the Prime
Minister and is it appears
the Army do not want Miss Nightingale,
so would it not be
wiser to bring her home?
I agree Lord Palmerston.
What have you to say to that Mr. Herbert?
If we withdraw our support now,
and if we do not give Miss Nightingale
the fullest opportunity to justify
both herself and our decision to send her,
then we shall as the government
of this day and hour merit
the utter hatred of every wife and mother
with a man serving in the Crimea.
And all and all
We are 100 Pipers
We'll up and we'll give
them a blow, a blow
We are 100 Pipers and all
Water?
Hey?
Water.
Ah, away.
We are hundred Pipers
and all and all
Water?
We are 100 Pipers and all and all
We are 100
Here,
what's the matter with you?
Two gallons of negus
and 14 pounds of rice.
96 pounds of arrowroot,
two gallons of negus, 14 pounds of rice.
I can't stand it Ma'am.
I can't stand it any longer.
What is it you cannot
stand Sister Wheeler?
He won't even let us give a man water,
and he's dying I tell
you, he's dying.
Stop making that noise.
Now sit down.
You don't care do you?
You don't care that these
men are suffering torment.
I can't go on.
Sister Wheeler you must
learn to control yourself.
Now listen very carefully.
I understand just how
you are feeling my dear,
and I am suffering as much as you are,
but until I receive permission
from Dr. Menzies I can do nothing.
It would endanger our whole plan if I did.
Will you try to understand that?
Yes.
I'm sorry.
Now, I think you should go back
and get on with your scrubbing.
She's a good nurse that girl.
One of the best we have but too emotional.
It's hard for them to learn,
especially the young ones.
If only they knew how I really feel.
Now, will you try and rest?
You haven't slept for nights now.
Yes, Salina.
I will try to get some sleep.
And there services of Miss Nightingale
and her nurses are being fully utilised?
Yes Mr. Russel.
You can say that Miss Nightingale
and her ladies are
rendering useful service.
But are they actually nursing the men?
Sir, over 300 new
cases of asiatic cholera
and fever have just arrived.
We simply must have some nurses.
Well uh, Dr. Anson
go to Miss Nightingale.
Let her know your requirements.
Yes, Sir.
But we must have beds and we understand
there are no other
suppliers in Constantinople.
I'm very, very sorry Madame but only
with the Purveyor am I
allowed to sell beds.
If it's a matter of authorization,
Miss Nightingale has a fund
at her disposal...
- The authorization must
come from the Purveyor.
That is the arrangement.
If you'll excuse me.
Come Charles, we must
not waste more time.
Miss Nightingale?
Yes?
How do you do?
My name is Trevors.
My ladies see to Lord Stratford,
the British Ambassador.
This is Mr. Charles Bracebridge.
How do you do, Sir?
Is there any way in which I can help?
I think not.
I have already written the
Ambassador but thank you.
Your servant, Ma'am.
Lord Stratford might
be a great help, Flo.
Charles, I have written twice.
He has not even acknowledged my letters.
I do not think the Ambassador
has the slightest idea what
is happening at Scutari
but the Purveyor has.
Come, I shall see him at once.
You are the Purveyor and
the Turkish contractor
says that he has an
arrangement to supply only you.
That is so Miss Nightingale.
Then will
you please have delivered
to me immediately 200 hot water bottles,
2,000 towels and 1,000 beds?
The beds are vital.
The goods are not in store.
All I get from you Mr.
Purveyor are excuses.
I never make an excuse
and I never accept one.
Look at your last return.
10 plates, none, bolsters, none,
slippers, none, flannel shirts, none.
Knives, forks, mugs none.
Do you know what I have supplied
out of my own private fund?
I have no idea Ma'am.
Of course you haven't.
11,000 shirts, 2,000
Turkish dressing gowns
and over 7,000 knives, forks,
spoons and drinking mugs.
These are not regulation
pattern you know?
I see.
So the patients are to tear their food
with their hands and drink
out of their hats are they,
until you Mr. Purveyor obtain
the regulation pattern?
The men are supposed to bring
their kit with them when they come in.
Do you suppose a man who
has had his arm shot away
is gonna carry his pack all
the way back from the Crimea?
Well, I cannot make a second issue.
It's against War Office regulations.
Perhaps, you as a woman do not understand
the necessity of
conforming to regulations.
I understand rules and
regulations as well as you do.
I have the strictest
regulations for my nurses
but they are drawn up with an idea
of promoting efficiency and saving life.
Not to put a premium on stupidity.
Army regulations should be
a matter of common sense.
Well, of course if you think
that Ma'am you don't know the Army.
I'm glad to see that you have
some trace of humour Mr. Purveyor,
but when your inability to produce
the goods affects the
lives of British soldiers
then I do not think that is very funny.
Besides, look at the
cost of these things.
The board would never pass them.
I do not care whether the
board passes them or not.
Rats are running over the men as
they lie on the ground and their
palliaces are full of lice.
I want those beds within three days.
I happen to know that they are available.
I am sorry Miss
Nightingale, I cannot do it.
Mr. Purveyor, I order you to do it.
I only take my orders
from the Treasury, Ma'am.
Of course, if you change
the regulations...
It will be quicker for
me to change the Purveyor.
Now, that is funny.
Unless I get those beds
within three days I shall inform
the government that if
you are not relieved
of your post I must be relived of mine.
I must meet her sometime.
Would you like me to arrange it?
No, not just now.
I'm too busy.
I had a letter from her this morning.
The second since her arrival.
More sheets, more blankets,
supplies of all sorts.
She must think the British
Embassy is a kind of shop, Sir.
Yes.
I do wish she'd content
herself with reading
to the soldiers and
whatever her ladies do,
not trying to interfere
with the organisation.
I sent her letters on to Dr. Menzies.
These things must go
through the proper channel.
Yes, Sir.
I've just been reading
Mr. Gladstone's speech.
I think it's the most pompous
even he has ever made.
You were lucky not to
have to listen to it.
Every suggestion I make either in
the House or out of it is met
by Gladstone with continued obstruction.
Wars may be fought without money
but they cannot be won without it.
A fact that Gladstone fails
entirely to comprehend.
I am sick and tired of
this endless battle Liz.
I am sick and tired of it.
Are you writing to Florence?
Yes.
Give her my love.
Oh, I've already done so.
I'd like to send her that
letter from the Queen.
I'll go and get it for you.
Oh, and I've asked to go
and see Lord Stratford personally
about the "Times" fund.
She has some very good thoughts about it.
Poor Sidney.
He's been shot at from all quarters.
Yes, it's monstrous.
One would think he
was solely responsible
for this ghastly war.
Salina, I pray for our success
so that we may throw these criticisms
back in the face of the critics.
Knowing you Flo, I've no fears.
You will succeed.
I have a letter here
from Mr. Sidney Herbert.
In it there is a message from the Queen
which I would like to read to you.
Her Majesty says, "I wish Miss Nightingale
"would tell these noble
wounded and sick men,
"that no one takes a warmer interest,
"feels more for their
sufferings or admires
"their courage and heroism
more than their Queen.
"Day and night she thinks
of her beloved troops.
"So does the Prince."
I thought you would like to hear that.
Thank you Madame.
Sergeant Burchel.
Oh, Private Twist, how are you tonight?
Much better Madame.
Corporal Wood, I wrote
to your wife today.
Oh, thank you Miss Nightingale.
I told her that you would soon be home.
Now, how is the leg tonight?
Well, it's a funny thing Ma'am.
The one that I've got's all right, lovely,
but the one that's gone tickles like hell.
Oh, Miss Nightingale, the man who's just
been brought into my
ward says you know him.
What is his name?
I didn't hear it.
Is he wounded or sick?
Badly wounded, shot in the stomach.
I don't think he'll last tonight.
Where is he?
Over here.
Miss Florence.
It's me Miss Florence, George Winch.
George Winch.
He is from my home, Embley.
George, my father told me in a letter
that he had seen your mother quite lately.
Ah.
She's kept the cottage clean
and spotless Miss Florence, after you...
Can I hold your hand Miss Florence?
It makes it easier.
George you will see
Embley Park before I will.
Oh, I'd like to.
Daffodils will all be out now won't they?
Yes, the park must be
a whole blaze of yellow.
Tell me mother I, I did me best.
They made me a corporal after Inkerman.
Well done George, well done.
I'd like to have been
head gardener at Embley.
Them, them rhododendron bushes
need cutting back a bit.
I'm glad the daffodils are out.
I can see 'em now.
I'll stay with him, Doctor.
There's no
need Miss Nightingale.
Miss Nightingale, this
is an unexpected pleasure.
Have you brought any of your young ladies?
I am not here to dance.
I wish to see the Ambassador.
Oh, well I'm afraid at the moment...
Will you please inform his
Excellency that I am here at
the request of Mr. Sidney Herbert
on a matter of importance?
Yes Ma'am, I'll tell him.
Miss Nightingale?
I am delighted to make your acquaintance.
I apologise for
disturbing your Excellency
at this hour but my time is limited.
Then uh, be seated.
Thank you.
Lord Stratford, I have
come to ask your help.
I have had your letter
but quite honestly,
I cannot see what help is needed.
And the "Times" fund which is
quite a considerable amount
could I feel be used to better purpose.
What better purpose?
I have advised Mr.
Herbert that I would like
to build an English church in
the centre of Constantinople,
and if the Sultan agrees to this proposal,
it will be quite a diplomatic plan.
I am not a diplomat Lord Stratford,
but I should've thought that the service
of God included the service of man.
I, I have advocated that the fund be used
by houses in Constantinople
where recreational facilities
can be provided for the
convalescing soldiers.
Rooms for reading,
writing and a good canteen
to help keep the men away from
the bazaars and the brothels.
Really?
And do you believe that the men
would appreciate such facilities?
If I did not Lord Stratford,
I would not have suggested it.
Then I am afraid I
must disagree with you.
You see the pampering of these young...
Excuse me Ma'am.
Your Excellency, word has just come
that General Omar Pasha
has left the palace.
Oh.
Well then I'm afraid I,
I must ask you to excuse
me Miss Nightingale.
Of course.
Perhaps your Excellency would
care one day to come over
to Scutari and meet some of our soldiers.
I think you would find it illuminating.
Yes, I would like to do that,
but at the present moment
I am extremely busy.
And as you know,
the political situation
here is most delicate.
I understand your difficulties.
Captain Trevors, will you
take care of Miss Nightingale?
Miss Nightingale, goodnight.
May I escort you to the
Embassy carriage, Ma'am?
Thank you, I have made
arrangements for my own transport.
Goodnight.
Do you know that 118
men died last night?
All in the same ward.
Who told you that?
One of the orderlies.
Just because they don't get enough food.
I've asked Miss Nightingale
again and again...
But you've got to get
a doctor's permission Sister Wheeler.
You know that.
The doctors are just
as careless as she is.
Are you going out?
Yes.
I'm going to Constantinople.
See if they do anything else there
besides scrubbing floors
and rolling bandages.
Don't you know
Miss Nightingale's orders?
Yes, I know them as well as you do.
Well, if you are going to
Constantinople Nurse Johnson,
will you please post this for me?
But why can't Miss
Nightingale control her nurses?
Coming at a moment like this that letter
may undo all the work she's so far done.
This is going to provide
plenty of ammunition
for the supporters of Mr. Roebuck.
Yes, I'm afraid it is.
What's the actual wording of
the Roebuck motion Lord Palmerston?
That a select committee be appointed
to acquire into the condition of our Army
before Sevastopol and into the conduct
of those departments of the government
whose duty it is to administer
to the wants of the Army.
Did you suggest to your aunt that she
should send your letter to a newspaper?
Oh no Ma'am, it was a private letter.
You told your aunt that
on December the 20th,
118 men died in one ward.
Where did you get that figure?
From an orderly Ma'am.
As a nurse you had no right
to repeat such information,
and it is completely untrue.
These were the casualties
throughout the whole hospital.
And when have you seen men starving?
Never Ma'am.
Then why did you tell
your aunt that you had?
I wanted to make it look so bad
so that then my aunt would send me
out a parcel for me own patients.
You have caused immense
harm both here and in England.
Oh, I am sorry Ma'am.
I'm so terribly sorry.
Sister Wheeler, this is
the second time upon which
you have allowed your emotions
to get the better of you.
And in my opinion you are no longer fitted
to remain here as a nurse.
Oh, please don't send me home Ma'am.
Please don't send me home.
She's acted foolishly Florence,
but not with any intent to
do harm, of that I'm sure.
Oh thank you Mrs. Bracebridge.
That is true Ma'am, that is true.
But for the fact that you wrote
your letter to a relative I
should dismiss you here and now,
but Mr. Herbert has asked
that you shall remain
to appear before a commission of inquiry
so that your statement published
in the "Times" may be officially refuted.
I have been accused of incompetence.
Hear, hear!
To that I can only reply
that I've given everything
of which I personally am capable.
Hear, hear!
I've been accused of indifference.
If that is true then I can claim
only indifference to the attitude
of certain honourable
members of this house.
Shame, shame!
Who have done their utmost to frustrate
the work I have tried
so hard to accomplish.
Hear, hear.
I can say little more,
but I have attempted
to vindicate the government against
the charge that has been made.
The charge that we have knowingly
and as it were with our eyes wide open,
suffered our gallant armies
in the field to perish.
And so Sir, with these feelings
I express my intention of voting against
the motion of the honourable
and learned gentlemen.
The battle I can assure
you is being fought
not only along the
shores of the Black Sea,
but at home as well.
Sidney and Herbert's defence
was very sound I thought.
That letter in the "Times"
about the Scutari hospital,
that's what started the debate.
The whole country's up in arms.
I'd sling 'em out neck and crop.
Another pint Charlie!
It would be madness to
change the government now.
Madness.
Order, order!
Aye's, 305.
No's, 148.
Aye's 305, no's 148.
The aye's have it.
You were defeated?
Yes.
Heavily.
Oh, I am so glad.
Glad?
That's a curious thing to say.
Yes dearest, I am glad
because now you can go to Spa.
Why should I go to Spa?
You know very well why.
You should've gone months ago.
Dr. Ferguson told you.
Yes.
I knew you were ill but I did
not know it was so serious.
Ferguson had no right whatsoever to...
I know dearest.
It was my fault.
Well, perhaps it's as well you know.
We'll go up to Spa just as soon as I've
made arrangements with my
successor at the War Office.
I don't want Florence to know about this.
She has enough to worry about out there.
I'm afraid I can't go on any longer Flo.
I'm absolutely exhausted.
We've been in the saddle nearly 10 hours.
Yes, I too am fatigued Charles
but here are the hospital huts.
We will return as soon as
I have seen Mrs. Roberts.
Who is it?
Miss Nightingale.
You have done excellent
work here Mrs. Roberts.
I'm very pleased.
Thank you Ma'am.
Being so near the field of battle
must have made everything
extremely difficult for you.
There's still a great
deal to be done Ma'am,
particularly in the cholera house.
Yes, yes I must let you have more help.
Have the sisters I sent
proved satisfactory?
More than satisfactory Ma'am.
They're magnificent.
Yes, I'm glad to hear that.
I...
You're ill Ma'am.
No, no.
Thank you, thank you.
I'm quite all right.
Just a little close here is it not?
If I sit down for a moment
I.
Oh!
Sister!
Parthenope.
Struggle always makes
noise, always Parthe.
Oh, you may say it cannot
be done Lord Stratford
but I say it must be done.
- She's been delirious
for days Dr. Sutherland.
It must be done.
It will be done.
- The Crimean fever
that she has.
- There was 300,000 beds that,
- There's no doubt about that
and badly too.
Sidney Herbert ordered them.
Herbert ordered them...
- Has the family been told?
Yes, by telegram.
And I wrote to her mother myself.
Good.
300,000...
Oh, it's a pity but I'm afraid
I'll have to cut this off.
Pair of scissors Mrs. Roberts, sharp ones.
The news of Florence is very bad.
Yes, I know.
I'm just writing to her parents.
If she dies I feel I must
take the responsibility myself,
for I sent her out there.
She will not die Sidney.
The prayers of the whole
nation are with her.
Then God grant that they be answered.
We must bear in mind
that Mrs. Roberts letter
was written three weeks ago,
and Flo was passing
through the crisis then.
If anything should have happened to her,
we would have heard by now.
If anything happens to
her, I shall die myself.
No you will not Mama.
I shall.
I shall not want to live.
It's the Commander in Chief.
What's he doin' here?
Is this where Miss Nightingale is?
Quiet man!
Don't make so much noise.
How is she?
She's better.
Good, good.
Pray, who are you?
Merely a soldier.
She knows me well.
I've come a long way, I must see her.
You cannot see her.
Huh?
Mrs. Roberts, who is that?
Lord Raglan.
You must not come near me.
I have a bad fever.
It will be dangerous for you.
I am not afraid of fever Ma'am.
I've come to tell you you've
done a magnificent job.
Every soldier out here owes
you a debt of gratitude.
Now, you're warn out and now I'm going
to send you home to recover.
I'm sorry Lord Raglan,
but when I am well enough
to leave here I shall go back
to Scutari to continue my work.
Miss Nightingale, are
you disobeying my orders?
Flatly Lord Raglan.
Oh, this is rank insubordination Ma'am.
Rank insubordination.
Oars!
Now steady, go very steady.
We must take great care of our heroin.
For an intelligent man Charles
you sometimes talk the
most arrant nonsense.
In a letter I've just
had from my sister,
she said you were a national heroine.
Well, your sister must've
taken leave of her senses.
Miss Nightingale, lady?
There are two soldiers
outside with an owl.
With an owl?
I'll tell them you
can't see them just now.
No, no Charles.
Please ask them to come in.
Miss Nightingale will see you.
Corporal Wood and Private Simmons.
Well lady, we know you once
had a pet owl and it died.
We thought you might like to
have this to remind you of it.
Oh, that is most kind of you both.
She is very like Athena.
It was at Athens I found Athena.
She was a baby owl.
She had fallen out of her nest
and some children were teasing her,
so I rescued her, put her in my pocket
and took her back to England.
Oh, we became great friends.
When she died I was very sad.
It is most kind of you.
How have you all been at Scutari?
Oh, all right lady.
But we've missed you
coming round at nights,
didn't we Woody?
Yes, we missed you like hell.
Oh, I'm very touched Corporal Wood
that you should have missed me like hell.
I'm going back home to
England tomorrow lady.
I'll get me self a good wooden leg.
I will write to the War
Office about your case
and see that you are credited
with all your back pay.
Thank you lady.
And will you give my
remembrances to your wife?
I will lady.
I'll ask her to keep my
informed of your progress.
You ought really to be
going home yourself you know?
You're right there Woody.
No.
No, I shall not return to home until
the last soldier has left
Scutari and the war is over.
Follow me.
Private dispatch from
headquarters for you, Sir.
My Lords?
My Lords, ladies and gentlemen,
create silence for his Excellency
the British Ambassador.
My friends, I have just
received this dispatch.
"The victory of our forces in the field
"now being complete and
the Russian's vanquished,
"a treaty of peace has
just been signed in Paris."
God save the Queen.
God save the Queen!
Hip hip...
Hooray!
Goodbye, George Winch.
Your life was plucked like
the daffodils you love so much
and in the very spring of your years,
but you and all those around here
have not sacrificed your lives
for little or no purpose,
because I for one will
never, never forget.
Goodbye my children.
I can do no more for you who have suffered
and died in your countries service.
Your spirits are with God who gave them.
But so long as I live, I
shall fight your cause.
Of early years when life was fair
Our faces sweet and pale
They poke the angel bending there
Was Florence Nightingale
I say Woody, what are we gonna
give her when she comes home, eh?
What are we going to give her?
Why, the biggest bleeding
welcome anyone's ever had.
She may probably be thinking
how to escape as best
she may on her return.
The demonstrations of
the nation's appreciation
of the deeds and motives
of Florence Nightingale.
Yes, yes Mr. Gladstone.
We all remember Lord Ellesmere's tribute
and we're all anxious to
accord Miss Nightingale
full honours on her return
from the seat of war.
The question is what are we to do?
On behalf of the Army Panmure
have you any suggestions?
I think Prime Minister,
that every regiment
of the British Army
would like to be there.
But as that is impossible,
at least the grenadiers
in Coldstream can send their bands
to meet her at the station.
And uh, on behalf of the Admiralty, Sir,
we'd like to bring her
home on board a man of war.
Most gratifying, most gratifying.
The government must not
fail to take the lead.
With her name on the lips of everyone
and her praises sung even
in the public houses.
And then William,
when we return to Embley
we must arrange a reception there
and we must as the Palmerston's and...
Don't you think it might be wiser
my dear if we waited to hear
what Flo wished to be done in her honour?
Mama?
Yes?
When she arrives the villagers want
to pull the carriages
themselves up from the station.
Oh, won't it be exciting?
No one don't seem to know
when she's a 'comin' Mr. Jenkins.
Don't you worry, as
soon as gets to Dover
on that Man-of-War the
whole of England will know.
Bigger than royalty,
that's the welcome they're gonna
give her and so are we in Derbyshire.
So we must get all these flags out
and the carriage is gonna
be drawn by the villagers.
It's her Mr. Jenkins, it's her!
Why, Miss Florence.
How are you Jenkins?
I'm very glad to see you again.
But we were going to put the flags out
for you Miss Florence and...
- Oh, were you?
That was too kind, too kind.
Will you have my luggage
sent up to Lea Hurst please?
Oh, yes Miss Florence.
I'll get the carriage for you.
No, no thank you.
I wish to walk.
Oh, yes Ma'am.
The very thought of it
is already giving me a
retched headache.
Florence!
- Parthe.
- Flo.
Oh, my great heart, Flo!
Mama.
Florence.
We didn't expect you.
I know Mama.
But we are so unprepared.
Nothing is ready.
Dear Papa.
So, you've come home
my child in your own way.
Yes Papa, in my own way.
Now Parthe, go and get the rug
and my paisley shawl for Florence.
Yes.
William dear, ask Watson to
bring the calf's foot jelly.
Mama, I am not an invalid.
Oh yes you are, and
now it is our opportunity
to show our appreciation
of our wonderful daughter.
Come along now and sit down.
That's right.
There now.
Put your feet up.
Mama!
That's right.
Your hair, your beautiful hair.
They had to cut it off Mama.
And your thin little face.
You are ill.
No Mama, I was very ill but
there is no need to worry.
I am better now.
Oh no.
You must not do a thing for yourself.
Your work is finished.
No Mama.
My work, my real work has just begun.
This is excellent.
We will compile in these notes
so of the greatest reforms
ever to come by...
- What's the use
of reforms Mr. Herbert
is the War Office refused
to put them into operation?
Although I am no longer Minister at War,
I still feel I can steer
many of these through.
Meanwhile Miss Florence,
you must carry out Dr.
Sutherland's instructions.
You must rest.
I cannot rest.
I cannot rest because I cannot forget.
While the war was being fought,
people here at home lived
on the fat of the land,
dressed their children
in velvets and silks.
My children had only a filthy blanket
or a blood stained coat when
they lived on raw salt meat.
I cannot forget that 9,000 of them lying,
and from causes which might
well have been prevented,
in their lone forgotten graves.
I stand at the alter of
murdered men Mr. Herbert.
Day and night their voices cry out to me.
Do not ask me to rest.
I promise you, anything
I can do I will do.
Now let's see.
Completely reconstruct the
Army medical department.
All barracks to be put in
sanitary or both at home in India.
Formulate a new warrant for the training
and promotion for medical officers.
Formation of soldiers clubs
and institutes in India.
You know, the only way
to get these things done
is to have a Royal Commission appointed.
I think I have it.
You have what Mr. Herbert?
Why don't you go and
spend a few days in Scotland
with your old friend, Sir James Clark?
Well what has this to do
with the Royal Commission?
Sir Jame's house is
very close the Balmoral.
The Queen would I am sure be sympathetic
but she has no power to act.
The Queen can I know act only
upon the advice of her minsters,
but it is quite amazing how often
she suggests something to them
which they in turn put
forward as their own idea.
Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness,
may I present Miss Florence Nightingale.
We have long wanted to meet
you personally Miss Nightingale,
and to thank you for all you've done
for our noble, sick and wounded soldiers.
Oh, your Majesty, what I have done
for the soldiers has been a privilege.
I am grateful indeed to have
been given the opportunity.
We have been kept constantly informed
of your activities Miss Nightingale.
We, we can imagine nothing worse
then your experiences in the late war.
The well being of the soldiers Sir,
pertains not only to war but
even more to times of peace.
Pray, explain.
We're very interested.
Oh Ma'am, there is so much to be done
to overcome to red
tapism of the War Office,
the cold indifference and the prejudice.
She'll be as frank and forthright
with the Queen as she has been with us.
Of that I'm sure.
The Queen of course will return
to the Prince for counsel.
So much the better.
He too has the interest
of the soldier at heart.
If only you were still at
the War Office instead of Panmure.
The Bison is not likely
to be as enthusiastic
about Miss Nightingale
and her reforms as you.
I agree that the Royal
Commission is very necessary
if the defects presented to us
by Miss Nightingale are true.
You may rest assured
they are true Albert.
I was much impressed by
her honesty and sincerity.
Yes, and she has a
mind very comprehensive.
Her views on the Indian Army when
made known will cause consternation.
Albert?
I wish we had her at the War Office.
And to recommend that all windows
in hospitals show be kept
wide open during the heat
of the day so as that Miss
Nightingale knows nothing
at all about the climate
conditions of this country.
And I cannot agree with her
that conditions in India are insanitary.
The whole question of
sanitation being raised
by a lady is indelicate to say the least.
I call it downright indecent.
Miss Nightingale will
not let criticism stop her.
She faced and fought criticism
from the moment she landed in Scutari.
Oh, a
friend of hers no doubt, huh?
I should be privileged
if I could say yes.
I merely worked with her
during the Crimean War.
How jolly interesting.
Tell me, what's she like?
Some sort of Amazon?
Yes, I suppose she must be an Amazon.
Who else would nurse cholera
and fever cases fearless
of contagion for 12 to 18 hours on end?
Who else would hold patients in their arms
whilst we amputated without anaesthetics?
Who comfort the dying
and pray for the dead?
No offence meant doctor.
Just a figure of speech on Vanchoe's part.
I'm afraid the Amazon
and Sidney Herbert have had their way.
The Royal Commission of
India has been fed up.
Well, who wants to borrow money?
A soldier's widow.
It's the same story in every detail.
I'll send her two pounds.
Lord Herbert Ma'am.
Good afternoon, Sir.
Good afternoon Sidney.
Congratulations.
Was it difficult addressing
the house of Lords for the first time?
Difficult?
It was like addressing shrouded
tombstones by moonlight.
Oh.
And how is Florence today?
Extremely impatient.
Oh.
Sidney, it almost four years since
the Royal Commission was set up
and what have we accomplished?
Not as much as we'd
have hoped for I admit
but after all a medical
school is an operation.
Army pay and allowances have
been raised by Parliament.
We're also trying to...
We cannot sit back
with smug satisfaction
because during the past few years
we have carried through a
mere half dozen reforms.
The barrack position is scandalous.
I see.
Well, your listing of recommendations
was very good and clear.
I made one or two additions.
But Florence, I really came to tell you
that I'm afraid I shall be unable to give
you as much help as I have in the past.
My doctor's ordered me away to Spa.
He tells me I'm a sick man.
Sidney, you have no time to be ill.
Do you realise that the rate of mortality
in the Army and time of peace is double
that of the civil population?
In Kensington, the
civil death rate is 3.3.
A stone's throw away in night's
bridge barracks, it is 17.5.
Our soldiers are enlisting
to death in the barracks.
You cannot go away.
You, you must do something and at once.
Yes, you're right Florence but perhaps
I'm not really ill just weak and washy.
I'll do a little lobbying
with Panmure and Gladstone.
You want to go too fast Herbert.
After all, much has already been done.
That I admit, but many reforms
are useless until barrack
conditions improve
and that's my whole point Lord Palmerston.
We should sell those
barracks already condemned
by the sanitary condition with
the money obtained to build new ones.
I cannot see why the British soldiers
should be pampered at the
expense of the tax payer.
What do you say Mr. Gladstone?
Herbert, when he was in the Cabinet,
and I crossed swords on
that point many times,
but I don't think he understands that
I am the custodian of the nation's coffers
and of every penny spent
for the public good.
Surely obsolete condemned properties...
I am quite prepared to sell
what is useless for it's own purpose.
But I contend that the money earned,
should be paid into a consolidated fund.
But the Army must
have better living
conditions Mr. Gladstone.
There are other matters of equal
and even greater importance.
Don't you agree?
I agree most heartedly with
the Chancellor my dear Herbert.
It does not do to pamper
the British soldier.
How little you know of the men
who fought at Balaclava and Inkerman.
We owe those men a debt and
those who come after them.
The people like Miss Nightingale
and I in my own way are
doing our best to repay.
But if you cannot see that better
living conditions is not pampering,
if you will not try, try to...
Forgive me I can argue no more.
Florence is quite right.
Plans for the Netley
Hospital are all wrong.
The Pavilion Plan is the...
Do not talk my
darling, it exhausts you.
Oh, Gladstone would resent such advice.
Yes.
He wrote to me today.
A most touching letter.
He asked me to read it to you.
Is it very long?
No darling.
"My thoughts are ever with you,
"and you and he must know that
"if not mine alone but universal grief
"and love could prevail you would
"have no cause to be anxious about him.
"Give him my most earnest love,
"and ask him to forgive me if
"I have ever torn his tender spirit."
He's so kind outside the House
and so difficult inside it,
but he has the courage of
his convictions, Gladstone.
He is a good man.
Yes.
Rather like a lobster.
Good but disagrees with you.
Poor Florence.
Our work, our joint work is unfinished.
But she must go on Liz.
She must go on.
She will go on my darling.
You must not worry.
You know Miss Nightingale,
I've often wondered how it is
that you have such a wonderful
love for the lives of others,
and yet care so little
about your own life.
Dr. Sutherland, I have
obeyed your orders implicitly.
I do not walk, I do not
put my feet to the ground.
To conserve my strength for my
work I have become a hermit,
cut myself off from the world.
Miss Nightingale, I
feel I must tell you,
but unless you stop work at this pressure,
you will not live six months.
Do you imagine that I have not known
that ever since I returned to England?
That is why I must go on.
Each day may be the last in
which I have the power to work.
Smithers, I may want you
to go for Dr. Sutherland.
He's in there with Miss
Nightingale now Ma'am.
Oh.
Ah, Salina.
I have just received the report
for the first year's progress
of the Nurse's Training School
at Saint Thomas's Hospital.
It is really excellent.
I'm sure this will be the means...
What is it?
Sidney Herbert he, he
died early this morning.
Dead?
Sidney Herbert, dead?
I wish I had not been
the one to tell you Flo.
And I made light of his illness.
He will be a grievous
loss to you I'm afraid.
Few people will know what
the loss of my master means to me.
You must sit down Miss Nightingale.
This has been a great shock to you.
My work, the object of my life...
The means to do it, all
in one depart with him.
But your work will go
on Flo, it must go on.
I was too hard on him.
I, I drove him when he needed rest.
Don't blame yourself.
Sidney Herbert worked with you
and for to because he
too loved all humanity.
No two people every pursued
the same object as I did with him.
As for our friendship, I doubt if
the same will ever occur again.
I loved him and served him as no one else.
So much to do, so little time to do it.
Oh, please God give me the
strength to carry out thy work.
It's odd that a woman
who always expected
to die young should have lived
to such a venerable age, Sir.
Yes, really odd.
Let me see, she must be uh,
approaching her 90th year.
What a great lady she is.
A very great lady, now in the twilight
of her years slowly fading from life.
Ah, here we are.
Will you tell Miss Bosanquet
that Sir Douglas Dawson is here?
She is expecting me.
Will you wait
in here Sir, please?
Thank you.
Good morning Sir Douglas.
Good morning Miss Bosanquet.
I hope my call is not inconvenient.
I can see you're very busy.
I'm trying to do a little tidying up.
Please sit down.
Thank you.
Uh, how is Miss Nightingale today?
She is just the same, thank you.
Was she too ill
to read His Majesty's letter?
Miss Nightingale is not ill.
That is to say she's not ill in
the accepted meaning of the word.
She's just very old and very, very tired.
Oh yes, I understand.
I think she has right
to be tired now don't you?
Every right.
But I think she realises
that a great honour
is being paid to her and is pleased.
Oh good, good.
You know Miss Bosanquet, I
used to have a china figure
of her on my nursery mantle
piece carrying her lamp.
How little people know
about Miss Nightingale
who only know about the lamp.
Uh, yes that's very true.
The Crimea was only the beginning
of her mission as she
so often says herself.
That was her own plan for the
building of Netley Hospital.
When the government disagreed
and built it their way,
it nearly broke her heart.
Yes, I was in it once.
It nearly broke mine.
That is the Nightingale
Training School for Nurses
at Saint Thomas's Hospital.
As her secretary Sir Douglas,
I'm trying to sort all these things out
into some kind of chronological order.
Are all these her own writings?
Yes, and eight of them
are government publications
based on her reports.
All this, all this represents
40 years work Sir Douglas.
40 years of fighting to get things done.
And what a fighter she was.
She and Sidney Herbert
between them changed
the whole status of the British soldier
from being regarded as
the scum of the Earth,
he has now become a hero and a gentleman.
Well, I mustn't delay
the purpose of my visit,
I have an important ceremony to,
I don't find it easy Miss Bosanquet.
I can quite understand how you feel.
I am commanded by his
Majesty Kind Edward the Seventh
to bestow upon Miss Florence Nightingale
the insignia of the Order of Merit
in recognition of invaluable services
to the country and to humanity.
His Majesty deeply regrets
that Miss Nightingale
is unable to receive
this honour in person.
I will see that Miss
Nightingale receives
it at once Sir Douglas.
Thank you.
We have had a visitor from the King.
You have been given the Order of Merit.
You are the first woman to be so honoured.
Too kind, too kind.
I only did my duty.