Encore Theater - White Angel

Shenley Laboratories, producer of penicillin. Shenley and Shenley Pharmaceuticals presents the Yon Core theaterre Beyond Core Theater play Tonight, White Angel.

Our star is Virginia Brooks.

To Night.

Shenley Laboratories presents another and a new series of great dramatic programs.

Some of our.

Stories are fact the struggles and accomplishments of great men of medicine.

Others are fiction stories.

Of devotion to an ideal individual.

Heroism or courage.

By these programs, Shenley Laboratories would remind you that medical science and progress is not cold in personal research or pages of statistics, but a warm human story told in living terms, whether it's the life of one of medicine's immortals or the everyday record of service rendered by your own physicians. Now, White Angel, starring Virginia Bruce as Florence Nightingale.

Lawrence, where are you in here in the library? Mother? Lawrence? You aren't dressed.

You forget about the land of dinner?

Father? How can you go to dinner parties with all these terrible problems in the hospitals?

Lawrence?

You haven't been reading those reports.

I've brought home.

Yes, I have father. What's the cause of these appalling conditions?

Well, for one thing, it seems to be impossible to get enough nurses.

Now, Florence, we all know that there are aspects of life that we must all regret. Fortunately we don't have to encounter them. Now, run up and change your dress, dear. We're going to be terribly late. Mother. There's a tragedy on every one of those pages. People are dying for lack of care. An't you any imagination? Doesn't it call on you for service and help. I'm only thankful, Florence, that I lead a well ordered life in pleasant places

Now, my dear, you are just a little upset. To night, things will look differently in the morning.

I'm never going to marry any one. Charles is a very desirable husband. He's handsome, well educated, good family. Charles is much more than that. Mother. Charles is all the things I used to dream about when I was a little girl, all the things any woman would want a man to be. And if I could limit my life to the confines of one small world, I would marry Charles, and I'm I'm sure i'd be very happy. But I can't.

Why not, Florence, Because I want to.

Do something bigger, something really worthwhile. I want to feel, when I'm ready to die, that I've contributed something to the world. You could be a wife and a mother. What more could any woman be? I'm going to be a nurse. I'm going to Sweden next week to train. Well, miss, how do you like scrubbing floors? So I've done things I like, Feather, I can't make you are coming all the way to Starkholm to do this. Are there any training schools for nurses in England? No minna in England.

Ladies, you're forgetting the rules of the institution. Work must be done silently. Come my probationists. I'm wanted by my patient in room twenty.

I want you to come along, Minna. We just sat down to eat. You can't eat if your patients need you.

Come girls, This is no time for dardling.

Let me make the bed for you. Missus Arnold, certainly not.

All you've got to do is look on and learn all you can.

You're not ready yet for practical work, or we're ready for us chambermaid works, scrubbing and cleaning and everything else that's disagreeable.

A very important rule in nursing is not to chatter.

I carry these sheets downstairs? When may we take charge of patients.

After you've learned your ABC's A course of dirty work makes the best nurses.

Do have some of our comforts, lady.

I am no, thank you, mister Herbert.

As I was saying, I'd deplore all this revolutionary spirit on the continent. I do hope that Florence will get home safer from Stockholm.

Missus Nightingale tells me that she's expected back tomorrow.

How her mother must be looking forward to her settling down, settling down.

Hadn't you heard Florence is determined to become a hospital nurse.

A hospital nurse. Oh, you're not serious.

I certainly am, and so is France.

If she were my daughter, I'd give her a good gripping.

Will imagine mixing with women of the lowest order.

So far as I'm concerned, I shall cease to know Miss Nightingale from this moment onwards.

I'm sorry to hear you say that, my dear, because I shall admire her more than ever. She sets us all an example by her courage and independence. Any intelligent doctor will go out of his way to get hold of her. Particularly with war brewing on the continent, we need nurses more than ever. Florence, my dear, what are you doing here in the law office? Not thinking of joining the army?

Are you hello, mister Herbert, Yes I am, if i'll have me. Father is in with the army board now he took my application.

Don't be too disappointed if they turn you down.

Why should they do me, Domin, they need me.

Sometimes it's a little hard to get men to admit that they need women.

Well, father, I'm sorry, Florence.

What did they say?

They said that the medical staff at Scutare was quite satisfied with the male nurses that they had. They said the females were appeal to the Frenchman, but not to Englishmen wouldn't even consider the idea of sending you to Scutari, Florence.

Are they're just being obstinate and out of date.

Perhaps it's just as well, Florence. Think of the hardship you'd have to go through to get to the Crimea. It's a long way from London.

They don't need you, Florence, but they thank you for your generous offer.

Don't need me father? Look at this article in the Times. Paula says the sufferings of the sick and wounded are indescribable. There are no dresses and nurses. There are not sufficient surgeons. There's not even in linen to make bandages for the wounded. The wounded were led to believe that everything was ready which could ease their pain, But it was found that the commonest appliances of a workhouse sick ward were lacking.

I don't know how much weight I can swing with a board, but I'll be glad to talk to them for you. If you like, Florence, how would you do that? If they will send you, It'll mean reorganizing the entire Army medical system. You would be under the Minister of State and also under Lord Raglan, who was Commander in chief. You'd have to work in cooperation with his medical officers.

Are you sure you'll be willing to do that.

I'm willing to do anything to help you.

Will see what I can do.

Here.

Have you done any nursing by Miss Nightingale?

Lineup over here?

Please? Have you done any nursing? Well, I should think I have. I've nursed three husbands on their deathbeds, and I've worked at Saint Thomas's Hospital and the Middlesex Hospital and charing Cross Hospital. Sorry, you've been in too many places for me. Next, yes, Miss Nightingale. But nursing have you done none? But I've worked hard all my life. I've looked after a husband and several children. Oh. I know I'm not really experienced, but I can soon learn.

I'm not a nurse. I'm a cook. I'm a Shepherd of perform Club. My name is Alexis Swyyeik, and I would like to join your expedition. I know that for me also, there's work at Scutari.

I accept your offer most thankfully. You shall be in charge of the hospital kitchen.

May I speak to you for a moment, Florence.

Of course, mister Hervey, please.

Florence, here is your letter of introduction to Colonel Hunt. He's the commanding officer at Scutari around the military discipline. Now, Lawrence, I understand Colonel Hunt has been advised already that you're coming. I can't tell you whether he's pleased or not.

I'm sure he isn't.

Read that communicator, Doctor Scott, did you ever hear of such impertinence? What the office it's thinking of sending a woman here to STI.

Time who is this miss Nightingale, Colonel.

Harm who knows some female busybody?

I imagine she's here mainly in an advisory position.

What you can advise me about I can't imagine, and I'm not gonna worry about her. I've always hope while there's the English channel, she's probably won't get further than Boulogne.

Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, colonel, that her vote is doing this morning.

What what hospital.

You are signing?

This Nightingale too? This one? But we have typhoid cases here. She wants to be a nurse here.

That counts to prove it.

Why don't you assign her to my hospital until this typhoid epidemic is over?

We can never tell her this kind of infection. You'd better tell that to miss Nightingale, so you'll go home and stay home. I think you're treating her outrageously.

If you're forgetting yourself softer, Scott, I think NASA leave for the front immediately, Yes, sir.

Orderly, please open those windows. We need some air in here.

Don't do that, mister smell for all of the ve's coming.

When we've cleaned up everywhere, there will be no more smells or vermin? Are you the storekeeper?

Yes?

What can I do for your miss?

To begin with? I want a dozen mops, a dozen buckets, and all the soap, sponges and flore cars you've got. I want five hundred night shirts, and I'll send the nurses offer for them in five minutes.

Give me your requisition and I'll see that in due course it reaches the board of directors.

A board of directors for a hospital store. Can't you give me these things yourself? The manner in such hideous discomfortate? They can't wait another minute.

I'm not allowed to issue anything till it's being fast by the board.

I can't go beyond my regulation.

I command you to give them to me.

I've got my orders and I'm going to obey them.

I've got my orders too, And when my nurses arrive here, you'd better give the nurse supplies.

I've come to make a complaint against miss Nightingale.

Sir, what's she's done?

She's stolen five hundred churchs and a good many other things.

Sir.

He was broken with a bunch of nurses and took them, and you let her. I can't fight women, sir, Well, I can't.

I'm glad you came in, Miss Nightingdale. I wanted to talk to you.

I wanted to talk to you. You've avoided me since the moment of my arrival. I hope what I'm going to say maybe for the good of the common cause we both serve.

You don't have a stand.

I'm an army officer, I know, and I'm a nurse.

But I think it would be for the benefit of a sick and wounded if we could talk openly to one another.

What is it you want to say, Colonel Hunt?

What makes you show this animosity towards me?

It's Nightingale.

I appreciate the frankness of your question.

I not opposed to you as a person, but.

I object to the idea of women nurses to the army. And why do you object? You make the men soft. Soldiers don't need to be cuddled by a lot of women.

We don't cuddle the soldiers. We try to make their pitiful state easier to bear.

There's nothing the pity. It's part of a soldier's.

Life, Colonel Hunt. Have you ever been sick or wounded?

Yes?

And I know what a man can stand.

Is there no possibility of an understanding between us none whatever.

I warn you that if you show any further insubordination, I shall have you court martials.

Colonel Hunt, I'm here to work simply and solely for the benefit of the soldiers. I shall continue to do so in any way that it is necessary.

Most of us are familiar with the miraculous result from the use of penicillin and serious infection. But did you know that penicillin is now used in preventive medicine as well in cases of minor surgery. For instance, your doctor may administer penicillum in any one of several forms to prevent secondary infections. Naturally, increased uses to penicillin compose a demand to increased quantities. Chanley Laboratories is geared to do

Now.

The second act of White Angel, starring Virginia Bruce as Florence Nightingale.

Man.

During the weeks that followed, she became a legend. The soldiers that she nursed idolized her, and so did people all over the world who read and.

Heard of her work.

In America, a man named Longfellow wrote her poems and in the writing gave her a title that would live forever, The Lady with the Lamb. She became a goddess of life and healing. To Officer Infantryman, Drummer boy.

A snighting Chale, here I am, Tommy. I'll sit by your better moment, shall I? Oh my? What's the matter, Tommy? You're usually in much better spirits.

The doctor told him that he won't live until tomorrow.

Miss I shan't find dying it here with me? Tommy? Have you got a mother and a father?

Sure?

I have?

Well?

Then you think about them and how much they'll all want to see you again. I'll tell you what we'll do tomorrow. You and I will write them a letter tomorrow tomorrow.

Good morning, mis Nightingale.

He's still sleeping.

You been here all night?

Yes? No, because Feaver's gone down. He's much better. I don't understand. He didn't think he could live until morning. He's going to live. He's going to be all right. Her little care goes a long way, yes, and a little love goes a long way further. I'm glad he's better. I wouldn't like to leave for the Crimea as long as anyone still needed me here.

Well s Nightingale, Welcome to the Crimea.

Oh doctor Scott, I'm so glad to see you. I need your help. The officials here won't supply my staff with any food. Who gave him such an idiotic order?

I did you who? Those were Colonel Hans's instructions. I had no choice but to obey them.

Colonel Hunt is going out of his way to be vindictive. You can't be expected to obey him.

I don't dare fall follow him again. I was sent here because I told him what I thought of him. For putting you in the typhoid ward. If I disobeyed Hi now, it would mean a court martial. I comfished that I.

Should think not. Indeed, it doesn't matter about me. I can always get along with a cup of tea. But I must do something about my nurses that they're famished it, Miss Nightingale. Yes, what is it? We've been refused admittance to the hospital. What we are certainly not ordered here? Did you give that order to doctor Scott?

You don't understand.

I'm part of this miserable system.

Your system may starve me, but it will never succeed in keeping me for my sick I shall go to the hospital at once and demand admittance once, Nightingale, I'm.

Sorry, Miss, I can't pass you into the hospital.

Why not orders?

I hope you'll go quietly back.

Miss.

If you try to come in here, I should be obliged to restrain you.

Orders are orders.

Then I shall wait out here till they're canceled.

In the snow, Miss in the snow, Doctor Scott, Lord Ragland, I've been informed that Miss Nightingale has been refused admission to the hospital.

Was this done by an official order? Yes? Where is that order, Doctor Scott. Pick it up. Yes, now, tear it up. That's sir.

I am Commander in Chief of the British Army. I said to tear it up, Yes, sir, Miss Nightingale, Yes, sir, I am Lord Ragland, Commander in Chief of the British Armies, my arm Madam. I will escort you personally into our hospital. Gentlemen of the medical staff. I am deeply ashamed that such a thing could have happened in the Army to

Thank you, gentlemen. That will be all.

I beg your pardon, sir, Yes, Doctor Scott, what is it?

It's Miss Nightingale, sir. She's ill, she has the cholera.

How do you feel today, Miss Nightingale?

Better, Lord Raglon, be.

Not too soon. I wanted you to know that letters had been pouring in from all parts of the world concerned for your well being, and this morning we had a letter from her Majesty the Queen sending her good wishes for your recovery.

Thank you, thank you.

You're going home for a visit as soon as you're well enough. Her Majesty wishes to meet you. In her own words, she wishes to have the honor of meeting you. Crying, Miss Nightingale. That's not very soldierly of you, I know, Oh, but how very lovely it is to see that someone so much a soldier can also be so.

Much a woman.

Thank please, Miss Smith, anything to declare?

No?

Shall I open my suitcase ahead?

Did you see what it says here in the Times of Water.

Yesterday Miss Nightingale.

Returned as Miss Smith to her home at Embley, without anyone being aware that she'd even landed in England. Miss Nightingale wishes it to be known that she desires no reception celebrations in her honor. She would prefer that the money for such a purpose should be the nucleus of a fund for building training schools for nurses in England.

A fine woman, God bless him.

For Florence. I could just cry. I spent weeks planning a gown for you to wear to see the Queen. I'm sorry, mother, isn't that I don't appreciate it. But I'm going as I am in that old uniform. I'm going to meet her as a nurse, wearing the uniform that symbolizes my work. It's my work in executive at Lantis. Now, I'm sure the Queen mon't hear your views on nursing. She'll likely be pleasant. One or two anecdotes about the war, perhaps, but no opinions.

Herbert is waiting for you in the carriage, Florence.

I'm coming far from Florence. At least do one thing for me. Please let the Queen speak first.

This is Her Majesty's audience chamber in here, Florence. I'll take you in and I'll wait for you downstairs.

I think I'm a little scared.

If you don't need to be, I think you'll find you and the Queen see eye too. I have about a good many things.

Miss Nightingale.

I presume, yes, I know, mister Bullock, Laura is may I present mister Bullock, the Permanent Undersecretary to.

The War Office.

Indeed, well, this is an unexpected pleasure the Bullock. It is always interesting to meet and add the same. You are one of the men who has been fighting me for two years, aren't you.

I'm afraid you're mistaken on only one point. I'm still fighting you. Why because you are a dangerously progressive woman.

Then, mister Bulleck, you are not fighting me but the ideals for which I stand.

Ideals but will inevitably undermine the system I represent if they are ever allowed openly to be put into practice.

What do you do?

We cannot afford.

Experiments, and we cannot afford to wait.

Whether you wait or not will depend largely upon the decisions of a Majesty the Queen. It seems only fair to tell you that I have already spoken to her regarding the war of his his attitude.

In this matter.

I am sorry to hear that, Bullick. It seems to me that it will be only common curtesy to allow Miss Nakingale to see her first.

Miss Nightingale has chosen to enter a man's world. She need not therefore expect any quarter, because she's a woman.

I don't expect any quarter, nor shall I give any I have been fighting a long time now, mister Bullock, and I know how to fight.

There's no doubt about that.

Well, Miss adding Gil, it's been most interesting to meet you and to have this opportunity of talking with you.

Good day, good day.

It's almost time for your appointment. I'll leave you hearing her Majesty's audience chamber. She'll be in in a moment.

That's a fine portrait of her. I think i'll practice my speech. I won't get stage fight in front of a portrait flow.

I wait for you downstairs.

Good luck, Thank you, Uh, your Majesty. I expect that Colonel Hunt has told you about the defects in my work at Scutari, and no one knows them better than I. But the difficulty is that my loyal nurses had to face were at times almost insurmountable. Whatever else I may have done during the war, I have shown beyond doubt that nursing is woman's highest vocation. It is for the future of nursing that I am pleading all over the civilized world. The development of every branch of science as

It was a fine speech, and I want you to know that not only do I appreciate the fine work you've done, but I shall do everything in my power to see that it continues. Thank you, your majesty, Miss Nightingale. It is with great pleasure that I present to you this brooch, the form and emblem of which commemorate your great and blessed work Saint George's cross, and underneath are these words Blessed are the merciful.

May I pin it on your uniform.

Your Majesty England is most proud.

Wislating In a moment, we'll bring our star, Virginia Bruce back to this microphone, but first, may we leave this thought with you. Unlike most of us, a doctor can never forget business completely.

Even when your.

Physician is enjoying an evening away from home, he is previously left word as to where he may be reached in case of emergency. Yes, doctors are on call any hour of the day or night, and they're noted for responding to that call. Always. Schenley Laboratory salutes in this series of programs the spirit of constant service to mankind which characterizes the medical profession. Now Here is the star of tonight's play, Virginia Bruce.

Women of America today, the need for nurses is desperate. If you were a high school graduate between the ages of seventeen and thirty five in good health, apply at the hospital nearest your home. Remember, nursing is one of the highest vocations a woman can follow. Won't you apply now? And may We invite you to listen again next week at the same time when Shenley Laboratories presents Now Voyager with Loretta Young, a great star and a great story.

White Angel was produced and directed by Bill Lawrence and was presented through the courtesy of Warner Brothers, who this year is celebrating the twentieth anniversary of Sound Pictures.

It was a Gene Holloway adaptation.

This is Frank Graham speaking for Shenley Laboratories, producer of penicillin, Shenleigh. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System