Florence Nightingale Page #5

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l was twice in training

with the Protestant Deaconesses

at the Kaiserswerth lnstitute in Germany,

l spent one year as Superintendent

of a Harley Street nursing home.

l personally scrubbed the floors of sickrooms,

emptied bedpans.

l nursed cholera patients

whose bodies were a mass of...

Thank you.

And your parents permitted all of this?

They...

They came to understand that l had a calling,

that this has truly been God's will for me.

l see.

And what is it you suggest we do about

these...crimes, as you call them?

A Royal Commission, ma'am.

A Royal Commission?

Nothing less than a Royal Commission

will bring out the truth.

lt's our sacred duty to the Crimean dead.

And if l may, Your Majesty,

it is also a heaven-sent opportunity to reform

the entire hospital system of the nation,

not just of the army...

Beg your pardon, ma'am, of your army.

Forgive me, ma'am,

it has been a lifelong dream of mine.

We shall...think about it.

Remarkable woman.

l wish we had her at the War Office.

l'll convey that sentiment to the Minister, ma'am.

Good.

Oh, and as to that Commission.

Yes, ma'am, l doubt whether

it's in the best interests of...

May l finish?

Ma'am.

We do want our brave soldiers

to receive the very best care.

Please see to it.

The Commission?

The Commission, Prime Minister.

A difficult meeting.

l'm afraid the Queen was somewhat taken aback

by your proposal.

- Oh.

- Yes, a Royal Commission.

That could have consequences, ramifications.

- Well, l had hoped...

- And you were quite forceful.

l'm sorry, but...

However, l did prevail upon Her Majesty

to change her mind

and she has graciously agreed to allow the

Commission go forward under my supervision.

Thank you, my lord, thank you very much.

Yes, l remember one evening at the Verneys'

you were very eloquent

on the subject of nursing and so forth.

A worthy cause.

- Now, one minor detail.

- Of course.

l would like you to submit your evidence to me

in the form of a report, a confidential report.

There are...susceptibilities to be considered.

- Are we agreed?

- Yes.

Agreed!

Good.

Give my regards to your charming mother.

l hope to have the pleasure of seeing you

at the Devonshires' next weekend.

Oh, l'm afraid you won't see me.

l'll be writing my report.

Excellent.

To work, then.

(Muffled voices)

The suite, ma'am.

The room, ready and waiting for you.

Er...please if there's anything

that you need...

Thank you.

They want a report from me, do they?

Then they shall have it.

This room shall be my War Office.

My family always stay here

when we come to London.

The fine old Burlington Hotel.

This room is ample,

and compared with my lodgings in the Crimea,

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