ANZAC Girls

Olive Lilian Creswell Haynes, will you be my wife?

I know you played it down to get him into surgery,

but it still is a nasty wound.

He won't be seeing action again.

- Matron Wilson! - Sister Steele.

You're back from London?

A death list came out. Harry was on it.

It was only a matter of time

before the army sent Syd back to the war.

Then I heard the Red Cross were asking for nurses

for the French military hospitals.

I'm not much of a romantic hero,

but I have other qualities.

My family can trace its history to William the Conqueror.

Alice, I think we should volunteer

for the casualty clearing station.

Alright. - A change would be good for both of us.

Oh.

Checkpoint. Redcaps.

Passes.

Fritz must be about.

We'll be blackout from here, then.

He'd love to drop a whiz-bang on our heads.

I'd love to repay the compliment.

All clear.

"My dear Elsie,

"When Hilda and I left No. 1

"to do our stint at the casualty clearing station,

"the patients gave us flowers.

"So I imagine a few rosebushes in Rouen

"are strangely bare now."

Sister Steele, Sister Ross King,

you're to come straight onto duty.

You men too.

"Do you know where Syd is?

"I suppose moved up and down the front

"as suits the powers that be.

"Give him my best love, won't you?

"As for me, I am getting on well in my work, I think,

"though I'm feeling Harry's loss more than I ever have done.

"But somehow I go dumbly on."

Slip of a girl like you after some good honest porridge?

Sounds delightful. Thank you, cook.

Be with you in a mo.

He's at it again! He wakes half the camp most mornings.

A new parishioner.

Do you... Do you sing?

Very poorly.

Oh, well, that never stopped me.

Are we hit?!

There's no need to worry yourself, my dear.

The enemy's only interested in the railway,

which is...well, it's over 100 yards away.

Do you harmonise?

"My dear friend,

"Though I know it's frowned upon to say such things,

"this does seem to be the most depressing neck of the war,

"and I can't help wondering if it's all worth it."

Fraser!

Dear God, Elsie! Is it here? Is it us?

Come on!

Allez! Allez!

Vite!

Madame Girard?

The cellar!

Hurry, Elsie! Hurry!

Couldn't get by without our cook, now, could we?

Comfy?

Tipsy-topsy.

"Dear Alice, You wouldn't believe

"how adept my French is these days.

"I am a veritable native speaker.

"We are moving the wards to the cellars

"because of the air raids,

"and Fraser and I have dozens of patients between us,

"though one's workload can increase at a moment's notice."

Another migraine?

I'm sorry, but... would you fill in for me?

Of course. You go and lie down.

"This is, of course, an entirely French hospital,

"though when the push comes, we shall take all comers.

"The nursing itself is very interesting.

"We are using a new method for treating septic wounds,

"the Carrel-Dakin."

"There's been no formal training,

"so I've just muddled through."

"But our médecin-chef, a very nice old thing,

"seems pleased enough with my efforts.

"I hope things are well with you at the CCS.

"I haven't heard from Syd for some time

"but believe he's at the front, somewhere to the east.

"I miss him constantly, of course,

"but mostly in the quiet of the evenings,

"which have not been all that quiet of late."

"Though it seems that tonight, at least,

"the Kaiser has turned his attentions elsewhere."

The Germans! Do you hear them?

I think they've quietened down at the front just now.

- Here you go, Sister. - Thank you, Wilson.

- Bit het up? - Pneumonia.

His temperature's over 100.

Last CCS I worked at,

we had a bloke so hot, we toasted muffins on him.

Don't worry, Private Gilmore.

I won't let them treat you with so little respect.

Boys of the Bulldog Breed!

We mustn't let them beat us, Sister!

Shh!

Oh!

Have you had supper yet, Sister?

Off you go, then.

Cook's really outdone himself

with the Yorkshire pud.

I closed my eyes and chewed,

it was almost as if I was back in Otago.

Thank you, Wilson.

Keep sponging him.

If he gets any worse, fetch me and I'll give him a sedative.

Sure thing.

That's the last of it.

- Everything alright, Sister? - Blood pressure's steady.

Great. Let's get him sewn up, get to supper.

Thread.

I do hope there's some Yorkshire pudding left.

Cook's last one was very tasty.

See, it's all in the eggs.

You need plenty of eggs to ensure sufficient rising.

Now, a Yorkie that ain't at least four inches high

ain't a real Yorkie.

My mother's are always rather rubbery and flat.

- Gilmore? - He's delirious.

Can't keep him in bed, and he's waking the other blokes.

I'll pop it by the stove, keep it warm for you.

Thank you.

Oh, look at that, Sister!

Isn't he pretty?

Heading for the railway line again, I suppose.

- Wilson, what are you doing? - Get down! Get down!

Quick!

Wilson?

Arggh!

Wilson, where are you?!

Help me, please!

- Are you alright? Boys! - I can't hear!

Where's the night sister? Where is she?

Here.

Sister Earle, are you hurt?

We must get them under the beds in case there are more bombs.

Some of them may already be concussed.

Don't leave me. Please.

I have to check the other wards. You'll be alright.

Wilson!

Wilson!

Stay over him.

WILSON, I NEED THE LIGHT!

Wilson!

- They've put me bloody fire out! - Have the wards been hit?

- Stay under fucking cover! - But the wards!

Cook, come back!

Help, somebody! My ward's been hit!

Wilson!

Ohhh! Wilson!

Come on.

Come on!

Private Gilmore!

Are you alright?

Help! Help! My ward's been hit!

My ward's been hit! Help me, please!

- I can't shift it. - I need help now!

- Help me, please! - The door's blocked.

We can't get out.

We have to close this man up. Get me some light.

No, don't! The free ether. It could explode.

- Have to make do, then. - Pull off those curtains.

Keep your fingers on his pulse.

Yes, sir.

Wilson?

Oh, Father! Are you alright?

The ward's collapsed.

If you just help me lift the other side.

- Leave it to the Lord, Sister. - What?!

Leave it...to the Lord.

I NEED HELP NOW!

Are you alright? Are you alright?

God!

Shit.

- OVER HERE! - Coming!

- Anyone hurt? - We must get the tent up now!

- What's been hit? - Ready. One, two, three!

Get the stretchers! We need to get them out of here.

Private Gilmore!

I need stretchers up here now!

Gilmore. Gilmore.