Download - Her War Full Libretto - tete-a-tete.org.uk
![Page 1: Her War Full Libretto - tete-a-tete.org.uk](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022081700/62d32628494c561f01454520/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Itwasnoscalpelslippery,itwasshrapnelspinningToreNurseTrent'shandintotendonandjellyNowmyhand'snotholding,helpingorgrippingReportingthesesymptoms,Iwastreatedforinsanity.
Somecravenlinesbetweenyourlines––Youcannothave,Isay:InjusticemeansmypainmustbulgeOutofyourboxesnow.Perhaps,inpreviouspeacefulFranceNightfightingair-bombersblightedwards?Ofcoursetheydidn't!TheirdeadlyrepetitionMeantIwasstrongandhelpful,nowcan'tsleeporsmell.
Makenomistake,myDearestSirIamJoanGrace,anurseJoinedupforwarinlateFourteen.Resignedbeforetheend.Resigned?WastoldIhadtogo.Youshallnotshedmenow."Pleasenotesuccessfulclaimswillhaveshown,toThesatisfactionofthisofficethat
Mypen'srefilledagain.
There'spriorcauseinme.Youdon'twantanswers,youwantproof
BlunttoolwithjustoneaimCaresnotwe'refemaletwoyearson,Seehowitstarts?"DearSir"!
YourdisabilitywascausedormadeWorsebyyourGreatWarservice".Answers,please--
SixweeksI'vehadthisclumsyformThecatisfed,mother'sasleepBasedonthepensionrecordsofseveralnursesandV.A.D.’sfromthe National Archives’ collection. With thanks to Dr. DenisePoynter, Dr. Christine Hallett and Amanda Gwinnup for theirinput.PartI
HerWarLibretto:JonathanRuffleMusic:EdwinRoxburgh
![Page 2: Her War Full Libretto - tete-a-tete.org.uk](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022081700/62d32628494c561f01454520/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Aleaf.ToAnne,Isay,'thisdeadlyplaceWherealliswrong,canitbewrongtofeelSoright?Wewillnotcomethiswayagain.'Annewelledupso:couldonlycough.PoorAnne.
NurseAnne,sixhours,faceraw,threwhers.
Somemodestgiftsuponthebenchleftby
Shouldnothavejoined,welaughedThatwasmyC.C.S.NurseGrace,Ijudgeawardsofpensions,soAnecdotesandcharmingtalesarelegion.Simply,wasyourulcermadeworseorcausedMendedmen,goneupthelinetofight.A
Ifyoucan'ttakeajoke,wellthat
"Don'tbeafraidnownurse!"whileheshooklikeByyourwarserviceintheV.A.D?JOAN(HEAD):Rose,apencil,chocolatebars.Thepencil-chap,Iseehimnow,criedoutinbombingraids,Shiftdone,wedragtobedourachinglegs.
Part2AttheTribunalCHAIRMAN:
Webellowedovernear-missshellsWedideachother'sjobs.Merewillinghelper,notanurseStillsentofftothefrontACasualtyClearingStation:ThePadreclosedmoreladsthanmeThenormforC.C.S.KnownasaC.C.S.The"VictimAlwaysDies".NurseGracebringherevidencetobeheard.JOAN:VoluntaryAidDetachmentOrV.A.D.forshortTheladswouldcrackthatitstoodfor
ThatdaywechokedonMustardGasStillclingingtotheirclothesSomuchweworeourmasksourselvesBegoggledC.C.S.
AsIamchairofthistribunal,may
CHAIRMAN:
![Page 3: Her War Full Libretto - tete-a-tete.org.uk](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022081700/62d32628494c561f01454520/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
CHAIRMAN:Perhapsyou'redeaf,NurseGrace?YourulcermustBebornbefore,orbornofthisGreatWar?JOAN:YoucannotknowthecarnagewithoutendTheykeptoncoming,crammingeverywardBedsbetweenbeds,bedsoutintherainTheBigPushontheBoschebatteredusthemoreAnuglyunderliningofmyuniversalignoranceTonotknowwhatneededtobedoneTransfixingmeinterror,turningmetostoneImpatientdeathdodgedroundme,damningallItried.JOAN(HEAD):TaptapTaptap.JOAN:Bedsheetstornforbandages,bluntedneedlesusedagainIdeclinethefood,don'tdrink,leastIhavetobeexcused.Eatingjustforenergy,existingnotaliveInastandingstupor,deepsleepawistfuldream.Letters,lotsofletters,butmightwellbefromMarsSayingdon'tspeakwithsoldiersunlessmatronisthere.OnlyslowlygainingskillstospotwhendeathSlipstweenthesheetstosqueezeoutthelastoflife.Onfaces,Ipickoutaparticularpallidshade,orThattwitch,orthosetightenedpinched-innostrils.Andthechill,notthecoldofcheerlessnightButthecunningcold,thestealthycoldofdeath.CHAIRMAN:Insigningform3548,Yousaidyou'dserveabroad.JOAN:IwenttoFrancetodosomegood,notpeerBeyondlife'srim.Forwhenyouknowtheywon'tSurvive,youpostyourselfbeside.BecomeTheirmother,sister,wife.InroleassumedYousayandhearthethingsthetwoaliveCouldneverhopetofind.AftersixmonthsIhadtorest.Hospitalbedthistime.IturnedtostoneandIcouldnotfeelmybodyWastoldIwasn'tnormal,andtreatedforinsanity.JOAN(HEAD):Taptap
![Page 4: Her War Full Libretto - tete-a-tete.org.uk](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022081700/62d32628494c561f01454520/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Yourmilitaryservice.Thatwasyourchance
Iwastoldtosignthat.CHAIRMAN:JOAN:
YousayyouwerenotsufferingHere,clearlyinform22,Anydisabilitydueto
Ifwecouldgobacktoyourulcer–JOAN:
JOAN(HEAD):TaptapTaptap.
YearsofserviceandIneverReceivedagratuity.JOAN(HEAD):TaptapTaptapCHAIRMAN:No-onewhoresignsisgivenagratuity.Yousaidyouresigned"tonurseyoursister,Whoisinverydelicatehealth."
Andutterlydevoidoftact.Indiscreet.Exaggeratedthings.
TosayitWasitnot?
MylifewasthenmadeCHAIRMAN:ThematronsaysyouweredifficultUnhappybythematron.CHAIRMAN:NoInsanityonthereport,Just"vaguesymptomsofillness".JOAN:
![Page 5: Her War Full Libretto - tete-a-tete.org.uk](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022081700/62d32628494c561f01454520/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
WhatIthoughtI'dneversay-Pre-datesthewarsonowThenyoumustwishtohearDoyouhaveanythingtosay?Thex-rayshowsyourulcerJOAN:Wecannotgrantyouapension
Irecognisedmysister'sfaceinyours,miss.ShewasaV.A.D.,shecamebacktoherjobatthebutchers.Butshecan'tlookatrawmeat.She'sallaloneandshecan'tstandit.
Out,outintotheairShakefreeoflurkingdemonsDraggingmebackthere.Youlookaskanceatmyuniform?
Thepencil.Thechairman'spencil.
CHAIRMAN:
CLERK(SPOKEN):CLERK(SPOKEN):
JOAN(HEAD):Outintotheshoutingstreet,Remindsyouofthewar?I'mgladitdoes,IhopeitdoesOfwhatwedidbefore.Madam,madam,pleasestop,please.IwastheclerkinthereandIhadtofollowyouout.Yourface.Yourface,yourvoice,whenthechairmantappedhispencil.JOAN(HEAD):
JustadmityouoweustoomuchAndletmerestinpeace.Responsibility.WhatyougladlyrentfrommeDon'tcallmemad,ortrytoshirkMymenstruation'sstopped,you'vedeniedmemotherhoodAdesertofdespairdownwherethereshouldbejoyYourpettyformcanneverpayForcedintoframingmymostfundamentalsecretMymedicinemeansIhavethewordstosay
Part3IntheStreet
![Page 6: Her War Full Libretto - tete-a-tete.org.uk](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022081700/62d32628494c561f01454520/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
AndfindwhereImightbe?Digpastthisanger?WhatifIFindanger'sallIam?Angercontainedbyself-controlButcontrolcouldnotsaveCanitbethatIcanreachinsideAnne'slife.ControlcouldnotmakeMetheperfectchild.NorcouldthatperfectchildPutmaandpabacktogetheragain.CanItakethisstep,Thisstepfromtheiceof"I"
JOAN:
Intothewarmthof"us"Theholdingus?Imust.Imust.
CLERK(SPOKEN):Thenyouknowwhatshefeelslike.Canyouhelpher?JOAN(SPOKEN):Whocanhelpus?CLERK(SPOKEN):Maybeyoucanhelpeachother.
JOAN:Wesleptlikelogsthatnight.IwokeTogaspingAnne,themustardgasHadwormedinsideandpoisonedherChokednowwithclottedblood.I'dseenthemcutbelowthelumpSoplaininmen'stoughnecks.PaleAnne,whereshouldIcutyourthroatAndwhatwastheretouse?Iknewtocall,keepcallingout"Haemorrhage!Haemorrhage!"Thesharpestthinginthatbareplace.Apencil.Apencil.Toolate.