The Lady with a Lamp

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