Original subtitles

Remember ladies, the London expects the impossible - and gets it!

(THEY GIGGLE)

(SHOUTS AND GUNFIRE)

Stay out of our manor, Jew boy!

Understand?

Let's go! Let's go!

Dirty Jew!

(WOMEN SCREAMS)

(GUNSHOT) Argh!

(GUNFIRE)

(MAN GRIMACES)

This is your first day on the wards, ladies.

And over the coming weeks, some of you may fall by the wayside.

Those of you who succeed, however, will prove worthy of the trust

that the hospital and the patients have placed in you.

Just remember, ladies, the London expects the impossible - and gets it.

(THE NURSES GIGGLE) To your stations!

(COUGHING)

-Can I help? -I'm Ethel Bennett, Doctor.

Are you indeed?

I'm a new probationer. I'm supposed to report to Sister?

She's with my colonial colleague, Dr Culpin, in that room - over there.

Thank you, Doctor.

Don't mind if I do!

Good morning, Sister.

One in 500 Biniodide of merc...

Theatre two - I'll catch you up.

Marry me.

How do, all?

Stand aside, please!

(MAN GROANS)

Scissors.

(HE GROANS)

Oi, Doc! That's a nice bit of tweed, that is!

How am I supposed to walk home without my trousers?

You won't walk at all if you don't let me see to you.

Mind the crown jewels!

(HE GROANS) Sponges, please.

(LOUDER GROANS)

You've had a stroke of luck, Mister?

Call me Nobby. Well, Nobby, it looks to have missed the bone and major vessels .

Care to explain how you came by it?

It's the Derringer, see?

Went off in me pocket.

Contortionist, are you, Nobby?

What's that supposed to mean?

Exit. Entry. You were shot from behind, 10, maybe 15 yards.

And this... hasn't been fired.

And it's a lady's gun. Wouldn't leave a wound as neat as that.

You see how the exit wound is slit-like

and the edges aren't contused? That's the work of a high-velocity bullet.

How come you know so much about it?

Cape York, Queensland, Australia

We all carried guns. I mean, real guns. We had to.

I could shoot the dew off a mosquito's eyelash at 100 yards!

But not with this.

Mosquitoes shoot back round here, mate.

I need to explore, check for fragmentation. Make sure it's clean.

Morphine and ligatures.

NOBBY YELLS

This is going to hurt, Nobby.

Do you want to bite down on something?

Little tighter. And tighter. That's it.

(NOBBY YELLS)

Bastard!

Is this what you need?

(YELLING AND COMMOTION)

You give that kike what for, Charlie!

(YELLING, BELL RINGING)

What the hell's going on?

I will not tolerate thuggery of this sort in my hospital! Quiet!

You will either behave like civilised human beings, or you leave the premises now!

Do I make myself clear?

Yes, ma'am.

Good morning, Wellington!

ALL: Good morning, Sister.

For those of you who do not know me, I'm Sister Russell.

And as of this morning, Wellington falls under my charge.

This ward is subject to a new discipline - mine.

Are there any questions? ALL: No, Sister.

Good. To details, then.

These curtains are dirty. Take them down and send them to the laundry.

The replacements are to be pleated properly.

When were the reds last washed?

And when was this floor swept?

Sloppiness of this sort is no longer acceptable. Do I make myself clear?

ALL: Yes, Sister.

Now, to work.

-Probabationer Veveers? -Yes, Sister?

We have this much in common at least - we are both starting today.

The only difference is, you're going to learn and I'm going to teach.

-Now! -Nurse...

-I'm in pain, here! -Ah!

Mister...

Gould.

He will need an enema.

There we are, Sir.

Tidy bit of stitching, that. Even if I say so myself!

Is there going to be a scar, Doc?

Yes, I'm afraid there will.

Topper!

I was watching you earlier...

You can handle yourself, you can.

I'd rather not talk about it, if you don't mind.

You'd do alright down the old Blackfriars ring.

I could put a word in. And snip.

Thank you, Probationer. See if you can find our friend a bed on Men's Surgical.

No, I ain't hanging about. I got business.

And besides, there's some dirty sods up there.

You never know what you're going to catch.

Post-operative distension is normal, Mr Gould.

There's nothing to worry about.

Turpentine and enema solution.

Three parts to one, Probationer.

Have you greased the buttocks and anus? We don't want any burning.

Yes, Sister.

And hard soap under your nails?

Very good. Carry on.

Ready when you are, Nurse.

Place your finger just inside the opening.

And...

Insert. (MAN GROANS)

Ah!

(MACHINE HUMS)

Now, you are not to be nervous, old man.

And this patient is suffering from?

Erm, Lupus Vulgaris, Doctor?

Very good! Tuberculosis of the face. It's caused by the same bacteria

that spread consumption in the lungs. Nasty.

Do you know what the largest organ in the human body is, Probationer Goodley?

-Erm... -It's the skin.

What a wonderful thing it is.

I used to employ sunlight to treat conditions such as these.

It kills the bacteria, of course.

But there's never enough of it. Not in London, at least.

The Finsen is a new sun - a more reliable one.

70 volts at the flick of a switch!

Ah-ah. Goggles, Probationer.

Stay still.

Don't let the light go in his eyes. Now!

Let there be light!

(MACHINE BUZZES)

Don't be afraid.

Let me explain how it works.

Have you ever seen light shining on oily water?

How it shows up in different colours?

Well, what we want is the blue light.

Blue-violet light.

It's par excellence for killing bacteria.

Just water. Keep the machine cool.

One hour exposure.

Work on a small area, the size of a sixpence.

-If you need me, you know where to find me! -Thank you.

He's ever so nice, isn't he?

How are we getting on?

It's all bit scary, isn't it?

I'll be alright, Miss!

Long as you're here with me.

10:03. Her Majesty should have reached the gates.

National anthem. The band will be a little way over there.

She'll then deliver a short address.

I'll respond with a few words of my own.

Further variations on, "Spare us a farthing, Guv," no doubt!

-Ah, Bedford! Sorry I'm late, Mr Holland. -No, no, no, no.

Dr Bedford Fenwick, gentlemen.

He's kindly agreed to help us with the formalities.

And very glad we are to have him along.

Good morning, gentlemen.

Bedford, we've just heard that her Majesty will be accompanied on the day

by her cousin, the Dowager Empress of Russia, no less.

-Dagmar? -I beg your pardon?

Dagmar - that's her name. The Empress of Russia.

Is it?

Is it? Well, Inspector Tomlinson here of Scotland Yard...

Inspector...believes we should be especially vigilant.

The East End, as we're always being told, is full of Russian immigrants

plotting outrages of various imaginative sorts.

It's been suggested we place members of the constabulary about the place, incognito.

A patient, a painter...

-I see. -Still, better safe than sorry, I suppose. Onward!

What about some bunting, Norris?

On some of the railings behind us and along here. Nothing too gaudy.

And the banners should hang from the archway.

Borough of Stepney, Salvation Army.

And the Railwaymen's Association.

And forward and back...

-Morning, Herr Koch! -Morning!

Eccentric, but brilliant. Swedish.

Now, this gentlemen, this is where the main party will line up.

I want Her Majesty to meet the patrons,

Lord and Lady Derby, the Rothschilds.

And a selection of staff.

Just about here. All in subfusc, of course.

And the nurses.

Our life blood.

Would you liaise with matron on this?

-Well yes, of course. -Jolly good.

And then I think she should meet one or two of the patients.

You still haven't answered my question.

How did you get shot?

Bit of a misunderstanding with some Russians.

I ain't going copper.

For the notes...

"a misunderstanding".

Couldn't have put it better myself, Doc.

-Keep an eye on him. -Oh, he won't be going anywhere.

Seven, eight, nine... ten and another five this way.

One, two... Good day, Miss Luckes.

..four, five...

..thought the residents' quintet could set up shop here.

Tunes from the shows, that sort of thing.

I saw the Girls of Gothenburg last week - very good. Very good stuff.

Dancing - we could arrange...

Will I be allowed to watch the Queen from here, Miss?

Yes, of course, Oliver!

Mr Koba.

Twenty six.

Abdominal section to remove a pyogenic abscess.

Just keep him in the dorsal position for now.

Thank you, Doctor. We know what to do.

I'm sure you do.

That's... That's very good.

(KNOCK ON DOOR) . Enter!

Ah, Dr Sequeira, thank you for coming.

We've received a memo from the palace.

There are two or three of your patients Her Majesty would like to meet on her tour.

Including Oliver Blaine, I suppose?

Hard to refuse, after her generous support, don't you think?

That won't be possible, I'm afraid, Mr Holland. Surely you can see that.

Well...

Surely you can appreciate that leaves me

-in something of a spot. Sherry? -No, thank you.

After all, the light department wouldn't exist without her.

Nonetheless, the boy is a patient, Mr Chairman, not an exhibit.

Yes.I'm appealing to your better nature here.

Don't have one - this is the best I've got.

I have to balance your scruples with practicalities.

I have to balance the books.

And the coffers are empty.

Do you want to operate on the Mile End Road?

Think about it.

Now, are you sure you won't join me?

It is an Oloroso.

"Misunderstanding, see?

"With some Russians.

"I ain't going copper!"

And...snip!

"Here, mind the Crown Jewels!"

"Good day's work, Probationer Bennett! Well done.

"Give yourself a pat on the back!"

Ah! Don't mind if I do!

It's the longest day in the world!

I'm dead on my feet! I haven't had a moment's rest all day.

Hello, Ethel. And the patients!

I mean, this is one boy - he's quite a dear, actually -

but he's got this...

I mean, you've never seen anything like it in your life!

It's like apple jelly all over his whole face.

Couldn't look at him at first.

-But Dr Sequeira, he's a real sweetie. -Well, you're lucky, then.

The Sister on Wellington is a complete dragon!

You know why though, don't you?

She was friends with a probationer who died of pneumonia.

So she's been an absolute shrew ever since. How about you, Ethel?

-Good day? -I'm still here!

-We're closed! -My friend! She's having a baby!

Congratulations! No - she's not well!

Well, go and see the midwives in Ashfield Street.

-I've tried. They're all out! -Call your local doctor, then.

He won't come down our street!

-She's dripping like a tap down there! -I'll go.

You don't want to go down that neck of the woods, Culpin, it's not safe.

I'll come with you. He'll be all right with me.

I'll fetch a bag.

What a hero!

(WOMAN SCREAMS)

Who's that?

Nobby Clark. Blind Beggars.

Let him pass - he's a doctor.

It's 'ere. Second floor.

(COUGHING)

(WOMAN SCREAMS)

(DOG GROWLS)

I'm Doctor Culpin.

I'm here to help you.

No! No!

There's no point in my being here if...

(SHOUTING THROUGH WALL)

That's it, Bill! Give her what for!

I'm close now. I can feel it coming down.

(SHE GASPS)

What's this child here?

Leave that one - it's dying.

Let me take it to the hospital. We might be able to do something.

I said leave it!

I'm close now!

(SHE GASPS)

(BABY CRIES)

Looks like you need a snifter!

Do you know that family, Nobby?

There's a child up there, can't tell how old it is,

but it needs to come into the hospital.

-Still alive, is it? -Just.

Nothing doing. It's none of my business, Doc.

They're all at it. Letting them die for the insurance.

For the 'oof, you see.

Go on!

(SHE COUGHS)

No! Not like that, like this!

-My aunt taught me. -Here, let me!

Good evening, Sir Charles!

How good to see you!

Shall we have a drop more?

Remember your commandments, girls!

Thou shalt honour thy chairman and thy matron.

Thou shalt do no flirting.

Thou shalt not become engaged to a doctor.

Thirteen days shalt thou labour.

The fourteenth is thy day off, but thou shalt be in by 10pm!

It's true!

(MUSIC PLAYS DISTANTLY)

I had to make do.

Sorry.

You shouldn't have!

You needn't have gone to all this trouble.

It's no trouble, Ada.

I'd do anything for you, you silly old stick!

You know that.

To us.

What if someone comes in?

Let them. What's wrong? We're in love, aren't we?

-You are a fool! -Anyway, it doesn't matter.

Not any more.

Of course it matters!

What if Matron were to...?

-I'm leaving the London. -You?!

Well, one of us has to.

You know the rules.

But...where?

They want me at Harley Street. Bart's.

I don't know.

Look, I know you need time to come to a decision. I'm giving you that.

Time.

Time to look a gift horse in the mouth!

You... You're right.

I am a fool.

I didn't mean...

No. I've made demands of you that were unfair.

But you see, I couldn't help myself.

I'm a fool.

Thank you.

For understanding, I mean.

I shall be on tenterhooks, of course.

But at least I shan't be making a nuisance of myself!

Come on then!

Nuisance!

(SHE GIGGLES)

(KNOCK ON DOOR) Come in.

So...if this represents the hospital gardens...

-What? -What?

No, what does? What represents the hospital gardens?

-Oh, this. -Oh, I see!

Sorry! Go on.

So... Sidney thought your nurses should be positioned here.

There's the staff nurses, of course.

The sisters.

And perhaps some probationers.

Oh.

Yes, probationers.

Neat as a new pin.

(EVA CHUCKLES)

Oh, and Her Majesty herself will enter from here.

I hardly think that's appropriate.

-I'm sorry? -Well, I ask you!

Eva...

You forget yourself.

No, Eva, please.

What right have you to touch me?

Look, I am sorry.

But I...You would rake over embers, Bedford.

Now you won't make a fuss, will you?

-This might just sting a little. -What is it?

I just put chloride to clear up the...

On your trouble.

There you are.

Stay still.

(ELECTRICITY BUZZES)

Right...

Size of a sixpenny piece.

Even with one eye, I can see you're the prettiest nurse in the room.

But you can't see me behind these goggles.

You can't see me behind this.

Lie still now.

(TELEPHONE RINGS)

(COUGHING)

Receiving room.

I understand.

Accident at St Catherine's Dock.

All hands!

(BELL RINGS)

We'll need full muster immediately.

Probationer!

Back to your ward, ask them to send everyone they can to the receiving.

-And fetch Mr Fenwick, will you? -Yes, Matron.

Look sharp, but don't run.

We'll need as many beds as possible.

Mr Frobisher can be moved to Harrison, likewise Mr Perry.

See if you can find space on Raphael for Mr Salter.

-Yes, Sister. -Clean sheets and dressings.

Bandages, dressings, splints, syringes, morphia, got that?

I think so, Dr Carpenter.

Come on!

Me?

(BELL RINGS)

-Frightened? -I'm not supposed to be here.

-You're supposed to be here if I say you are. -No, I'm not.

I'm a probationer. It says in my standing orders...

I don't give a stuff about standing orders.

Standing orders won't save lives. You will.

Quick as you can!

Quick as you can, Doctor, please!

There's six or seven of 'em trapped down there.

They're awful bad, Doctor.

They're trapped underground.

We're trying to clear away through.

This way. Straight down here.

It was in the lift, Doctor.

The cable snapped, I think.

-How far did they fall? -60ft must be. Maybe more.

Clear the way, the doctor's coming.

They weren't supposed to be in there,

but it's the quickest way out at meal break.

COUGHING

Get that beam out the way!

-What is this? Rum? -Yeah, shipment just come in.

One spark and the lot'll go up.

COUGHING

My name's Culpin, I'm a doctor. How many of you are in there?

There's... There's seven of us.

But two ain't moving.

All right...

Too many for the ambulance.

We need a cart. Something they can lie on.

Come on!

Get us out of here.

Hold on!

For God's sake, get us out of here.

-Get us out! -You heard the man!

Over here.

Let's go.Come on.

There's another one.

Are you all right?I'm still here.

Put your backs into it.

Clear this stuff off the top now.

Ooh! Whoa!

The rest is gonna come down.

For God's sake, get us out of here!

-What's your name, sir? -Jim.

Where does it hurt?

-Jim, where does it hurt? -My arm! Ah!

He's got a fracture here. Splints. Splints.

So sorry, I forgot them.

Newspapers, broom handles, anything.

Get him back.

Jim?

Jim?

-Ammonium spirit. -Yes.

Ahh.

-Keep him awake. No morphia. -There's another one here, Doc.

Use the clovers if you have to. Ah!

(MAN GROANS)

Morphia.

Morphia!

Morphia!!

Another one!

As quick as we can.

Keep them coming.

It's gonna come down!

Stay with me, Bill, hang on.

Gotcha, you're next.

I think he's going. Come on, give me your hand.

You're next.No. Bill first, I'm all right.

There are no more stretchers.

Hurry!

Hurry up!

That's the last.

Give me your hand.

-Come on boys, lets get Tom out. What's your name? -Hooley.

Thomas Hooley.

CRASHING

SCREAMING

Come on.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! Ahhhh!

Come on, move it.

-We've got to move them now. -What's wrong?

That's all we've got.

Get those on the cart.

Are you all right?

I'm...

I don't know, I'm...

Excited?

Is that wrong?

It's good.

You're safe.

Look where you're going, you silly girl.

Examination room quickly.

Swabs.

Saline infusion, quickly.

The pulse is fading. Come on. Come on!

Troubles?

Puncture wound to the sterner mastoid.

He's lost a quantity of blood,

but there's no sign of arterial damage... Well, none I can see.

Compression fracture to the skull, I think,

but I can't find any sub-conjunctival haemorrhage.

Scratches.

All right, all right.

Colour?

Red.

Red. What does that mean? Crimson, cardinal, scarlet, vermillion?

Diagnosis is detail man, be precise.

Red. This is scarlet. Rubies and pillar-boxes.

Arterial blood is much darker.

The spleen is perforated - get him up to theatre.

I... I missed that.

Easily done, easily done.

Bloody student.

Damn.

How's this chap? Thomas Hooley.

Comminuted fractures to both legs.

Crepitus but not too much blood loss.Theatre.

You are a brave man, Hooley.

Gown.

He calls for his pipe, he calls for his bowl,

he calls for his fiddlers three.

I've been told this man put the lives of his friends before his own.

Is a hero's life worth more than a coward's? Hm?

Probably not.

I suggest we do our damnedest for this fellow.

Let's get to work.

Dr Laws, can you take over for me in here, please?

I'm not one of your precious nurses, Culpin.

I'm the receiving room officer.

Concentrate on your patients and not on your position.

I'll pretend you didn't say that.

Keep a civil tongue in your head or it's back to Botany Bay for you.

And with a little pressure...

There.

Well, they're in accurate enough a position.

I've done the best I can.

There are still some splinters around the condyles of the tibia,

but it would do more harm than good to go fishing about.

His soft tissue is damaged enough as it is.

We'll close up

and keep a careful watch on him.

Sutures.

BELLS PEAL

Everything's in order.

This one's only just come up from theatre.

Thomas Hooley, both legs splinted.

I've put them under a cradle.

Check the dressings hourly.

Can I help you?

I was hoping to see Mr Hooley.

I was with him at the site of the accident.

Mr.Hooley is resting after an operation and not to be disturbed, as you should know.

Yes, Sister.

Ah, Sister Russell, I wanted a word with you.

Dr Laws.I understand congratulations are in order.

I saw Dr Walton last night and he spilled the beans...

Just to me of course. On the QT.

You must be thrilled.

Why?

Jolly good.

Jolly good, you had me then.

He's a damn good egg that one.

He'll go far, mark my words.

You've done very well for yourself, my girl.

Yes, I have, haven't I?

Have you set the date yet?

(CHUCKLES)

'Sister, I have the other party on the line.

'Connecting you now.'Thank you.

'Ada?'James.

Is anything wrong?

Well, actually, yes.

'I ran into Dr Laws this evening...

I know. I know, I know.

The thing is I've been positively bursting to tell someone for days.

I'd had a couple of whiskies...

'I'm sorry.

'Are you terribly angry with me?'

No.

Yes.

Is the idea of being Mrs James Walton so dreadful?

James, don't. It's...

If you'd only make up your mind.

It's more complicated than that.

How complicated can it be, Ada?

James...

LAUGHTER

'I'm sorry, Ada, I have to dash.'

Goodbye...

James.

Sister, I brushed the reds with carbolic

and prepared milk jellies for the convalescents.Hmm?

The reds and the milk jellies.

Oh, yes. Very good.

Well, carry on.

With what, sister?

Whatever you're doing.

# ..All things bright and beautiful All creatures great and small

# All things wise and wonderful

# The Lord God made them all

# He gave us eyes to see them

# And lips that... #

It's so dark in here.

I can't see. I can't see.

No!

Mum.

# ..All creatures great and small

# All things wise and wonderful... #

Terribly sorry, old chap. Get him ready, would you?

'Dear Lord.'

We pray for the sick and the dying.

'We pray especially for the men who lost their lives in the accident at St Katharine's Docks

'We pray for their families, we pray for the men who were injured.'

Dear Lord, in your mercy. Amen.

Amen.

Thank you.

I prefer what's known as the flap method...

Since it avoids the scar forming opposite the end of the bone spur, here.

Neat little peg. Now we need to maintain a decent flow of blood through the flap,

so the posterior muscles are transected thus at the level of the bone cut.

Irrigate, please.

Ensure you've got rid of any debris, bone, so forth before closing up.

Yes. Thank you.

..before closing up and using what type of sutures?Figure of eights.

Good, excellent, well done.

Right, one down, one to go. Sutures.

There remains the question of the tradesmen's bills. Butchers, bakers, candlestick makers.

We owe a considerable sum of money.

Then we'll find a considerable sum of money.At the end of the rainbow?

Morris, you are such a hand-wringer.

The Lord will provide.Which Lord?

Blasphemy, Morris.

There's only one Lord. Rothschild.

We are nurses now.

Can you believe it?

Yes, I can believe it...

But not for ever, not for me.

What do you mean? I want to be a doctor.

All right then, if I can't be a doctor, then I'll be a surgeon like Mr Fenwick.

Morning, Mr H. Good day today? Morning, Tommy.

Blimey, I feel like a right toff.

And so you are, Tommy, so you are.

That's not straight.

Where are the other hangings, the streamers - have they not arrived?

We need something here, some flowers.

Morning, you're going to be meeting Majesty in person I understand.

15 minutes everybody - come on.

All hands to the pumps.

Ready for parade, Miss Luckes?

SHE LAUGHS

Chop chop, sister.

A little bit to the left. That's good. Now, very still, please.

But what if I get, you know, caught short?I'm sure you'll be fine.

I never learned my letters, miss.

D'you mind?Of course.

It's from the Clydeside Shipping Company.

Oh, right.

"To Mr Thomas Hooley of 3 Mansell Passage. We would like to take this opportunity

"to offer you our sincere condolences for the loss of your colleagues.

"At this sad time, our thoughts are with you and your family."

Morning, Inspector Tomlinson.

Nice clobber(!)

"Following instructions from our solicitors,

"we regret to inform you that, by being present in an unauthorised location,

"you were acting contrary to company regulations and therefore... "

Go on.

"..are ineligible for compensation."

I wonder if I could ask you to stand a little more to the right?

Excellent.

CHEERING

Perfect.

Mr Hooley.

Mr Hooley...

And hup, hup, hup.

And hup, hup and hup.

He's Swedish, ma'am.

And turn and hup, hup, hup, hup, hup, hup, hup.

D'you know what?

I wish I'd died with me mates.

What good am I to anyone without me legs?

The missus, the little 'uns.

Look on the bright side, mate, you can always sell your slippers.

At this point, I feel I must say a few words, with your permission, ma'am.

Your Majesty, my lords, ladies and gentlemen,

without your generous, unstinting support

there would be no London Hospital.

We rely on your goodwill,

perhaps now more than ever.

I don't have many opportunities to say this in public

and never before such an august company,

but I'd like to offer a heartfelt thank you.

Thank you.

London, three cheers for Her Majesty the Queen.

Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

I wanted to thank you, James, for allowing Blaine to be photographed.

Against my better judgment.

I know Her Majesty will be grateful.

She's an ally, James. We need allies.

Thank you so much.

I don't suppose this will be on the Queen's tour.

I've been looking for you. There's something I wanted you to have.

Here. I thought you might find it interesting.

That's it. Very still now, please.

That's it, Your Majesty. Thank you.

Blind Beggar, I think.

My round, boys.