"I suspect Sister Shepherd's offence might be of a different kind." "Isn't that right, Mrs. Cook?" "Fit for active duty - return to unit." "Thank you for the lift, Lieutenant." "Harry, Harry Moffitt." "Elsie, where are they all from?" "Gallipoli." "At times like these, men make rash declarations." "I was wrong." "I didn't mean to take advantage." "I just need a friend." "What shall we drink to?" "Your safe return from ANZAC Cove." "Fate willing." "High Command want a general hospital closer to ANZAC so they're setting one up on Lemnos Island." "Where's the hospital?" "You're looking at it." "Sisters, get your personal supplies together." "Antiseptics, bandages, anything you have - quickly!" "Go!" "Orderlies!" "Get down to the supply ships, tell them Matron Wilson of No. 3 has asked for all drinking water, food and utensils they can spare." "Hurry!" "How long have they been here?" "Two days." "Ohh." "Sister." "There's no more water." "Sister!" "Just lie back." "I'm here, just lie back, that's it." "Where's the other orderly?" "Major Woolf had a job for him." "What?" "That's all they gave us?" "Do they know how many soldiers we have here?" "They said their orders were to give no more than two gallons." "Perhaps they were worried we'd get carried away and build a swimming pool." "Thank you, Sister Haynes." "Few sips each - that's all we can do." "Come with me." "Can I get some water?" "Just a couple of sips." "Alright, alright." "They're in agony." "It's something." "Sit up." "There you go, that's it." "I'll get you some more soon." "Lay back." "Keep your eyes open." "Can you see me?" "This man - he needs water." "Alright, OK, a couple of sips." "Tell me what you make of this." "Dear Alice, the slopes of the peninsula are sprinkled white as a shrub the boys call the Gallipoli rose bursts into flower." "It's as if a giant has shaken snowflakes over these grim, green hills and the bees, swarms of them, all abuzz around us, even as we go about our dreadful business." "It's a lovely letter." "Harry writes beautifully." "He writes about bees, Elsie." "He writes about landscapes and insects and sunsets." "He writes about everything under the sun except how he feels about me." "Do you really think his feelings have changed?" "I'm not even sure I knew what they were." "Surely he wouldn't write so eloquently to just any women?" "Hmm." "I suppose not." "At least I know he likes bees." "'Spirits were high on the voyage from Egypt, my girls full of pride to be serving so close to the gallant men of Anzac." "But the situation when we arrived yesterday was just too awful for words." "No equipment, no beds, no surgery, no water." "a good many died, they were beyond hope when they arrived." "If only we could do more and had more to give." "As for our circumstances... ..hmm." "Our CO, Colonel Fiaschi and his contingent have been here a week." "And while they have their own quarters erected, there is still... much to be done." "Colonel." "Excuse me, Colonel... ..it's rather urgent I find out where our supplies are." "They were sent from England in different ships so we are getting things bit by bit." "I counted 167 patients, is there someone from the War Office I can contact in London, see where they've got to?" "We're doing all that we can." "Are the engineers sinking wells?" "Given the condenser never arrived and we haven't any fresh water." "There will be." "But we need permission from British High Command." "But the two-gallon allowance works out at less than half a cup per patient." "Colonel, there is nothing here." "Sanitation - the nurse's latrines are swarming with flies." "And we need a screen to shield them from the men." "Matron, we have a lot to do today." "And frankly, a powder room is not high on the list." "I never asked for nurses in my unit." "And if it were up to me we wouldn't have women in a forward zone at all." "And yet here we are." "The medical orderlies are as competent as any nurse and far more resilient." "So if you're looking to change the army's opinion of your profession," "Lemnos is your challenge." "They've opened a second typhoid ward." "It's rife in the trenches, apparently." "You and I are on the venereal disease ward." "It's highly contagious, you know." "Be sure you practice the utmost sanitation." "Sister Cook has nursed before, Sister Halliwell." "But I'm sure she appreciates your advice." "It was kindly meant." "She was trying to be helpful." "The women could complain for her country and you know it." "Sister Cook, you're wanted on the telephone." "In my office." "Sister Elsie Cook speaking." "I see." "Yes, yes, I see." "Thank you." "There's been a battle at Gallipoli, a place they're calling Lone Pine." "Lieutenant Cook - Captain." "He's been made a Captain." "He's been shot... ..in the head." "But he's alive?" "Yes." "Yes, he's alive." "Where have they taken him?" "Alexandria." "British No. 19 General." "You want to go to him?" "Oh, yes." "Yes, right now." "This minute, if I may." "Now?" "Sister Cook, your ward." "I-I have to see him, miss, please." "We are so short staffed nurses are already working 14-hour shifts." "I'll cover Sister Cook's shift." "I'm at the dressing station, but the orderlies can take care of that." "I can be assigned to the VDA ward." "Very well." "A week's leave." "Ah, thank you, Miss Gould." "Sister Cook." "God speed." "You'll make the 11:30 if you hurry." "I have to go back to the lodge, I haven't any clothes." "I'll send you some clothes." "And here." "I can't." "Don't be silly." "Thank you so much." "Telephone when you get there and you've seen him." "Oh, God, Alice." "Stay strong." "Excuse me, a single second class to Alexandria, please." "Oh, please... um..." "Please!" "Ugh!" "This rotten fly." "Olive!" "Sisters, I'll see to it that your quarters are erected today." "It's a bit of a shaky start but we must do our utmost for our brave boys on the Peninsula who are... ..contending with far fewer comforts than we." "Ow." "That's our convoy." "Olive, will you look out for the others?" "Just try to keep their spirits up." "You're all great nurses but it's important that we all rise to the challenge together." "As a team." "I know just the thing." "# Are we downhearted?" "# No!" "# Then let your voices ring and altogether sing" "We've run out of bandages." "What about our personal things?" "That's what I mean, we've got nothing left." "There are just too many." "It's alright, Sister Daley." "What about the supply ships?" "They gave me all they could spare this morning." "Sisters, follow me, please." "We need to improvise." "Make strips three inches wide." "We should be able to get 40 or so together." "Come on, Agnes." "No time for mock modesty." "They'll need to be sterilized." "Sister Daley... ..I have to find the CO, so you'll process the last few patients." "Oh, if any from the 2nd Light Horse come in, could you let me know?" "It's my brother's regiment." "I'll tell the other girls." "This one to S Ward, I think there's room." "Excuse me, I'm looking for a wounded Australian officer," "I believe he may have been taken here." "Follow me." "Cook, you say." "He's 2nd Battalion, AIF, Officer Commanding D Company." "You must have a record of him." "He was wounded at Gallipoli on the sixth." "They were ALL wounded at Gallipoli." "Aw, Jesus." "My head." "That's another convoy." "Try the officer's ward." "Where's that?" "Who are you?" "Have you a Captain Sydney Cook on this ward?" "How did you get in here?" "He's my husband." "He must be here." "You're Australian." "1st AGH in Cairo, I got a message." "Have you permission to be in this hospital?" "From my matron-in-chief, yes." "But not from the IMPERIAL Matron-in-Chief." "You colonials." "I'm sorry but you can't just turn up." "You'll have to leave." "Please, I must find Syd." "He's 29, he's tall with fair hair and very blue eyes." "The chap in bed 12 has blue eyes." "Syd." "It's me, darling." "It's Elsie." "I'm here." "What... what's his injury?" "Major trauma to the Broca's area." "Left motor cortex." "Is the bullet lodged?" "No." "But he's been unable to speak since he got here." "But with rest and care he may recover." "May I sit with him?" "Oh, sorry." "Sorry." "I'd like permission to transfer." "I'd like to work here at No. 19 and care for my husband." "Sister Cook, I understand your desire but specialling of patients isn't possible, I'm afraid." "We simply don't have the staff for one-on-one." "If you could just place me on his ward" "I'd pull my weight with all the patients." "I've done surgical nursing, medical, dressing stations, post-op." "How long have you been in Egypt?" "Since January." "The whole campaign?" "You're quite experienced." "Very well, Sister Cook." "I shall write to your Miss Gould and square the transfer." "Thank you very much." "I'll start ward work right now." "You look quite done-in, my dear." "Why don't you start in the morning?" "'Dear Olive, since you left for Lemnos we have been very much down to it." "So many new wounded from Lone Pine." "And with Elsie away caring for Syd, we are pretty well flat-chat." "I hear that your new No. 3 Australian General Hospital is getting your share of Gallipoli casualties too." "Though, of course, you only receive the lightly wounded." "The worse come to us here in Egypt." "Lucky you." "I can picture you enjoying your island in the Aegean, luxuriating in your trusty deck chair.'" "Luxuriating?" "!" " Anyone in here?" " Helen of Troy!" "I can't hold on, it's Lemnositis!" "Alright, I'm coming." "Clearly it's not just we Canadians who are coming down with Lemnositis." "I don't have dysentery." "Only this time every day." "Well, I hope you don't mind us here, our latrines had a queue three yards long." "Lucky hygiene isn't important in our profession." "I wonder what they're lining up for." "Agnes!" "Is that were they're hiding the lemon pudding?" "I heard there was a transport coming." "So I've signed up to nurse invalids back home." "You should both apply." "You can't leave." "I'd come back to Egypt on the next transport." "Yeah, but you'd still be leaving Lemnos." "The men on those ships need care too." "We are desperately under-staffed, you really musn't leave." "'I solemnly pledge myself before God to practice my profession faithfully and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.'" "The Florence Nightingale pledge." "Agnes, we all took it." "I'd like to know how we're to uphold it here." "What about the nursing services one?" "'I pledge to do all in my power to alleviate the suffering of the sick and the wounded sparing NO EFFORT to bring comfort of body and peace of mind.'" "Don't preach at me, Olive." "You made a pledge, Agnes." "No." "We made a promise... ..we made a promise to these boys signing up that we would care for them." "I didn't sign up to be humiliated." "To strip off my underthings and sleep on bare ground?" "I didn't sign up to watch men suffer and die." "And to just stand by, useless." "So you're running away." "Don't you care... ..what they'll think of you back home?" "Your family." "No." "Colonel." "Supplies." "I thought the officers had fresh fruit?" "I eat the same as the men in the trenches." "When is this order likely to arrive?" "A week." "Maybe more if the weather turns and the ships can't land." "Given our situation, could your superiors get this expedited?" "Do you think we are the only hospital in the Allied forces?" "No, but we're the closest general hospital to Gallipoli." "The closer to the front, the stricter the rules." "This is your first war, correct?" "Yes, Colonel." "I fought in the Abyssinian War and the Boer War." "We cannot - and we will not - save everyone." "But the sooner you come to accept military regulations, the easier your job will be." "A disciplined approach - it's the only way." "How is Mrs. Fiaschi?" "We met on the voyage over from Australia." "Hope she's keeping well in Egypt." "I stayed till evening rounds." "And the MO seemed hopeful?" "Hopeful, yes." "Well, that's good." "Of course, there's the concussion and the brain bleed." "The threat of infection." "But..." "What's the wound like?" "I... ..I haven't seen it yet." "Are you alright?" "I'm staying strong." "'Dear Father, well, here I am on my barren little Lemnos with its beautiful ocean views." "We now have a very nice mess and we're getting plenty of fresh air." "Father, I know you feel my being here is foolish, that you and Mother had different hopes for my future." "But doing whatever my 'bit' is in this war is a duty." "A duty as serious to me as is my duty to God and to you." "I hope you'll understand." "As for your concerns for my well being," "I'm very well and getting quite fat on the quality grub they're feeding us." "No mail from home since I arrived on Lemnos, but I'm hoping for some bonzer letters soon." "Heaps of love from your loving daughter, Olive.'" "You'll be fine." "Oh!" "Right." "We need to get her to Major Sherwin." "You should have come sooner." "Dysentery can be fatal, as you well know." "How long do I have to stay here?" "It depends how many days you ignored your symptoms." "We'll start you on twice daily emetine injections and fluids every two hours." "# Are we downhearted?" "# No..." "# Then let your voices ring... #" "At this rate, the sick will soon outnumber the wounded." "Major, come quickly!" "Matron Jaggard's not breathing." "Roll her over." "Griggs." "We've lost the matron." "I'm so sorry." "Ready?" "It doesn't appear to be closing." "His level of consciousness has improved." "Should we..." "Is there more we could be doing for him?" "We're doing all we can." "Keep up the current treatment regime." "What is the current regime?" "12-hourly foments." "12-hourly?" "We haven't enough staff to do it more often." "I could have seen off Sister Cook's luggage on my own, you know?" "It's very nice of you to come with me." "What are friends for?" "Shoe shine?" "Shoe shine?" "Besides, I imagine I need a breath of fresh air as much as you." "How are things at Luna Park Auxiliary?" "Busy" " I was hoping I might lure you down there, actually." "We have a few newly-arrived nurses who could do with someone of your experience." "I don't think Miss Gould would let me go." "Especially now with Eslie - Sister Cook, away." "Of course not." "Are you keeping well?" "Very well, thank you." "What ward have they got you on?" "VD." "Ah, another losing battle." "Merci beaucoup." "Merci beaucoup." "Matron Wilson." "Good morning, Colonel." "I heard about the Canadian matron." "Jessie Jaggard." "Mm." "I know you have a large number of nurses out of action and I wanted to make sure you know there are places on the next transport to England." "Fresh food and better sanitation would go a long way in lowering our morbidity rate." "Unfortunately war does not allow for luxuries and you need to accept that." "Half of your nurses will die before this war is won." "But not on this island." "And not while I'm in charge." "I hope you're feeling well, Colonel." "I know a large number of officers have fallen ill as well." "It is a thorny path we are traveling." "But those with the right disposition will prevail." "The flies are the limit." "I wouldn't be surprised if there was a colony of them in my hair." "They say we've taken Achi Baba." "That hill we've been aiming for?" "Oh, I wish I was doing something useful." "Sisters." "There's a transport in." "Would anyone like to apply for duty in Egypt." "Or be invalided home?" "I will, Miss." "And me, Miss." "I will." "Yeah." "You've been very ill, Sister Haynes." "Better now." "I'm ready for the four-minute mile." "You've improved but the sanitation on Lemnos hasn't." "If you get sick again..." "you mightn't bounce back so easily." "Let the delicate ones go first." "Clarice!" "I thought I heard the mail bugle." "Sister Watson." "Thank you." "Three for you, Sister Tait." "Sister Denton, news from Ontario." "There must be a stack of unsorted mail in Cairo." "# Nobody loves me Everybody hates me" "# Think I'm gonna eat some worms" "# Big ones, small ones Round ones, skinny ones" "# Watch them wiggle and squirm. #" "Are you hungry?" "Bed three has been asking for a drink." "Actually... can you do them all?" "There you go." "Syd..." "Again." "No appetite?" "Excuse me." "Well, Matron, it looks like you're doing a splendid job here." "Thank you, Colonel." "How is the Brigadier?" "Very well, thank you." "Miss Oram, may I have a moment?" "You'll have to wait, Sister." "I'm afraid I can't." "Excuse me." "I trust you have a very good reason to interrupt." "I want to special my husband." "Sister Cook..." "He needs four-hourly foments, not 12." "He needs more frequent dressing changes." "He needs help with eating." "And I have already explained that we don't have the staff for that kind of intensive nursing." "I'll do it." "You're already here as a special dispensation." "Miss Oram, without thorough going nursing, my husband will die." "His wound will become infected and he'll die." "If he's specialled, he stands a chance." "Please, let me give him that chance.." "Eat up now... that's better." "There." "Now let's have another go." "What are you doing?" "I want to be discharged." "My temperature hasn't been above 99 in four days." "I'm back on solid food and in terms of movement " "I take it you didn't apply for a transport?" "Matron Wilson has a hard enough time staffing these wards as it is." "It's too soon for you to go back to work." "I feel better." "If you work a 16-hour shift you'll be back before you know it." "What am I supposed to do here?" "Just look at you all day?" "Well, I can't be that hideous?" "What if I was to take you to one of the local villages?" "I'd need a chaperone..." "but Sister Daley has the day off." "Dooley, get three donkeys ready." "Yes, Major." "So your father's a clergyman?" "That would explain why you're such a martyr." "They must be proud of you becoming a nurse." "My parents weren't enthusiastic about it." "But they didn't try and stop me, either." "Story of my life, really." "'Don't encourage her." "She'll give up eventually.'" "Hmm." "I've been curious since I got here..." "Where in the Bible would I find out about St Paul's visit to Greece?" "'Cause I'm sure he came to Lemnos." "I don't think I know." "Well, you ought to know." "I'll tell your father on you if you don't." "Acts." "St Paul's visit to Greece." "It's Chapter 20, Verses 2 to 3." "You read the Bible, Mr...?" "Dooley." "Yes." "I was taking holy orders in the Church of England before all this." "Has it always been your calling?" "Oh, well, no, I was... ..part way through law at Melbourne University when war was declared." "So you traded in the Church to work for the Devil?" "It's time to be getting back." "You need to rest." "Dooley, could you bring the donkeys?" "Yes, Major." "Anyone for the last fig?" "See that star up there?" "The real bright one?" "It's rumored to be the star..." "The Star of Bethlehem." "I know." "Where have those wise men got to, anyway?" "Look, I know you're still too ill to have it, but... ..you must try the horse flesh." "Horse flesh?" "Mmm." "Oh!" "Turkish delight?" "Thank you." "Uhh..." "You didn't think I'd make you eat that one?" "I'm hungry enough to most days." "I've never seen a sunset like it in Australia." "Me either." "You've been ill, Sister Haynes." "We should get you back before another storm hits." "You should call me Olive." "I'm Norval." "But everyone calls me Pat." "Come on." "Ohhhh!" "Have you still got pain passing urine?" "Make sure to drink plenty of water." "I hate the stuff!" "Fish poop in it!" "Milk, then." "Or have a mate bring up a jug of Evian." "That's a fancy drink for a pretty girl like you." "Well, handsome men can drink it too, you know." "I haven't got the dosh since the army stopped my pay." "Withholding the wages of men who contract venereal disease is a deterrent, Private." "A deterrent from what, Sister?" "Immoral behavior." "Immoral behavior, hey?" "I reckon they'd do better to deter us from breathing." "They do, Bob." "Only that deterrent comes out the end of a Turkish gun." "You should be ashamed, making jokes!" "What would your wives and your mothers think when they hear you're unfit for service from dallying with the French girls in the red light district?" "Hello there." "From your friend at Gallipoli." "How is he?" "Fine." "As far as I can tell." "Seems you and I are ploughing the same field." "I'm giving the new recruits a lecture on the dangers of VD." "Oh..." "Didn't realize you had an interest in the subject." "Oh, well..." "High Command's keen to reduce the number of non-efficients." "But they're stuck on the moral, rather than the medical aspects of the problem." "I felt I could contribute some science." "Well, I think that's marvelous of you, Xavier." "Yes." "It's important that the medical corps pulls together on this." "Oh and how!" "Those boys need to realize that VD is not the common cold." "You're working a VD ward." "Don't suppose you'd been interested in helping with my class?" "If you think I'd be of use, I'd be happy to." "Really?" "That'd be marvelous." "Thanks." "It's a bit of a sea of faces." "Hello." "Good evening." "Sister Cook is who I was telling you about." "From the Australian army nursing service." "She's specialling her husband." "I hope he is improving?" "Ah... perhaps, I think." "Thank you." "Sister Cook, your Australian Army Nursing Service..." "It's a reserve service?" "It is, yes." "So you're not members of the regular army?" "Suppose not." "Yet you wear the scarlet cape." "All nurses do in Australia." "Oh, I see." "In Australia..." "In England, only Imperial regular nurses may wear the scarlet cape." "Civilians, reservists and VADs don't wear them." "At all." "Please get better." "Please come back to me." "And so if the malady sufferer seeks medical advice swiftly upon contact with the gonococci bacillus, provided the subjective symptoms are slight, treatment can be limited to an abortive application of a 5% solution of protargol." "If, however, treatment is deferred, anterior urethritis can evolve into the more critical posterior urethritis - Swallowed a dictionary, mate?" "These are the proper terms, Private." "I advise you to listen." "So, the great difference between acute anterior and posterior urethritis rests in the fact that " "Speak English!" "Major Leopold, perhaps at this point, you might like me to display some of the equipment used in the treatment of venereal disease?" "The hypodermic for injections of hydrogen peroxide and potassium iodine." "Ow!" "Three times a day." "The catheter, which is inserted into the penis so that a solution of various chemicals... ..can be sluiced up urethra for a complete bladder wash-out." "Four times a day." "The syringe..." "For a daily, deep urethral cleansing." "Thank you, Sister." "Yes, and we use this for lancing penile gonnorheal abscesses." "You were most inspiring." "They'll all think twice before heading to the French girls now." "Your lecture was the thing, Xavier." "Very educational." "That's not true." "You're very kind." "Though we do make a rather good team, don't we?" "We do." "Yes." "Sure you can't use me in the wards?" "You're on light duties, Sister Haynes." "Doctor's orders." "Only on Lemnos could clearing out a tent be classified as light duty." "What we have here is a modern design." "A rustic, yet harmonious, blend of canvas and rope." "Stepping onto the porch, one is immediately struck by its spaciousness and its commanding harbor views." "This is undoubtedly the finest dwelling on Lemnos Island." "Why, this island's no place for sisters." "Specially one as pretty as you." "Ernest!" "You're here." "I'm with the 1st Light Horse - at the rest camp." "We'll be back to the peninsula after the spell here." "Ah!" "Beg pardon." "Sergeant Lawrence, Sister Haynes." "We were pals back in Melbourne." "Looks like you could use a hand." "Thought we'd never get here!" "Did you see all those warships?" "It's a lovely view." "Wonder if we'll be stationed here?" "His father's a mechanic." "Must have been terrible to give him up, but I suppose one must abide by one's parents' wishes." "Well, listen to you!" "Ernest is a nice enough fellow, but he is no Major Sherwin." "Hey?" "He seems rather keen on you." "He's kinder than most MOs, but that is NOT what we're here for!" "Mr. Dooley seemed nice." "The orderly?" "!" "Good evening, Sisters." "Please welcome the NZANS." "New Zealand's Army Nursing Service has officially come on board." "Matron Cameron and her staff will be billeted with us for a few nights." "Please, sit down." "Sit down, sit down." "Thank you." "But I'm afraid that's where the good news ends." "Due to the rough weather, we haven't been able get a boat out to the supply ships." "Consequently..." "we're at half rations." "I ask you to remember the men in the trenches." "Remember with what high ideals of service you started out." "We're all part of the army now, be it Australia's or New Zealand's." "We're all working for a victory that will come." "Excuse me, I wasn't expecting..." "Lime juice, to prevent scurvy." "Certainly lucky to have a dentist on the island." "What's happening?" "All sisters to the wards!" "There are 200 wounded coming from the harbor." "You don't have to - you're not in our unit." "We're helping." "Mmm." "What do you intend to do here?" "This will require a transverse incision so the wound can drain as freely as possible." "But we'll see that in the operating theatre, sir." "Alright, look at me." "That's it." "Suspected brain injury." "If his pupils dilate or you notice any other changes, notify a sister." "Are you inoculated for typhoid, Poppy?" "Yeah, on the way over." "Matron!" "Yes." "Watch him closely." "Matron Wilson." "Yes." "Thank you." "The copper's out." "Who's not doing anything?" "Griggs, you." "I'll light the fire, sir." "Go on, then." "Miss Wilson." "He's labeled as a head case but the wound is healing." "I think it's typhoid." "Right." "Yes, we'll move him to the infectious ward." "Are you alright?" "I'm fine." "Mr. Griggs..." "I asked you to stay with him!" "I sent him outside." "That boy's life could have been saved if Mr. Griggs had followed my direction." "Nurses do little toward the actual saving of life in war, though they may promote a more rapid recovery." "My nurses rank as officers." "They don't act like it." "Half of them can't tell the difference between the call to attention and the call to mess." "I know the orderlies have other responsibilities." "But I need to know where they are so in situations like that, I can redeploy my resources." "The medical orderlies must stay under my and my nurses' command." "Mr. Griggs, you will not leave your post again unless the order comes from myself or the sister in charge." "Yes, Matron." "My word, those tommies drill well." "We couldn't do it like that." "And I'm not going to try." "I'm sorry?" "I said those tommy soldiers." "They put us rough-house Aussies in the shade." "Right!" "Left!" "Right!" "Left!" "Miss Wilson?" "Yes?" "Can I make you a cup of tea?" "No, thank you." "I'm fine." "I feel terrible." "I didn't even know she was upset." "Imagine losing your brother." "She just kept going." "Excuse me, Sister Halliwell?" "It's Sister Ross-King." "Sister Halliwell's in the stores." "Oh... righto, then." "Is there something I can do?" "I-I was just wondering if you might have time to do my eyes now." "But I can wait." "Let me have a look." "She's been real busy." "I can wash them, if you'd like." "Would you?" "That'd be bonzer." "It's Jimmy, isn't it?" "Mmm." "What part of Australia are you from?" "Townsville, Sister." "You've been there?" "Yes, I have." "When did you last clean his eyes?" "Jimmy's your patient." "When did you last clean his eyes?" "Sister Halliwell?" "Do you know how infectious gonorrhoeal conjunctivitis is?" "The slightest transfer of matter and my own eyes could be at risk." "He could lose his sight." "The orderlies should work this ward!" "I mean, we shouldn't have to risk our health for these filthy men, their filthy habits." "Jimmy's not filthy." "He's a nice, clean boy who contracted VD from using his tentmate's towel, as you could've discovered if you'd bothered to talk to him." "Yes, well, we're not all of us coquettes with the patients," "Sister Ross-King." "I beg your pardon?" "I've seen you being familiar with the men, glad-eyeing every officer." "I've seen you playing the field." "Keep your beady eyes closed, then." "Lorna!" "Did you get your marching orders?" "New Zealand command wanted us here on Lemnos but we've heard British High Command have a different plan." "We're off to Alexandria on the morrow." "Then, after that, who knows?" "You'll have to excuse the lack of milk and saucers... ..and sugar spoons." "You'll find shabby is in vogue." "The Shabby Sisters." "Not at all!" "I just hope the cake hasn't turned." "We pinched it from the ship so I'm not sure how fresh it is." "Any baksheesh is good baksheesh." "Mm-hm." "What's baksheesh?" "Now I really feel ancient." "I wish we could just stay here with you lot." "No, you'd rather be anywhere but here." "It must've been hard adjusting to camp life." "It's nothing compared to what those boys at Gallipoli are going through." "I just hope I can be as strong as you, wherever we end up posted." "That's what you've gotta be worried about - a tentmate that snores like a trumpet." "I'll miss you." "Don't miss the food too much." "I mean, I know that you will." "But, you know, we'll be keeping some for you." "I'll miss you terribly." "Are you absolutely sure there's no room for a stowaway?" "Not even if you really tried to squeeze..." "In the meantime, I want you to have this." "Oh, Poppy!" "Come here!" "Write straightaway, won't you?" "I'm starved for mail." "Speaking of being starved..." "Got you some more baksheesh!" "Thank you!" "N-nineteen..." "Syd?" "Did you say something?" "Nnnn... ..nnnineteen." "Today's the 19th." "Do you want me to read the paper to you?" "Ssss... ..eleven months." "That's right!" "It's our anniversary." "We've been married 11 months today." "What did you say to make her do that?" "Good evening." "Thank you." "Would you mind passing the salt?" "Harry." "Alice." "I need to sit now, dammit!" "My husband isn't just anyone." "He's the son of the Honorable Joseph Cook, former prime minister of Australia." "I know Harry's a good man." "But is he the right man for you?" "Sister, will I lose my feet?" "Prep him for surgery now." "Our boys are getting slaughtered at Gallipoli and the ones that pull through get sent straight back to be killed." "I feel like a chewed-up piece of string most days."