The stage is divided in two, with separate scenes playing alongside each other. One side of the stage is an office with two women making calls to warn of an unscheduled power stoppage. The other is a matron's room at a private hospital where a male patient is in a critical condition. The office women cannot get through to the hospital as a nurse tries in vain to telephone the wife of the patient. The power goes out, and eventually the patient dies.
Characters
In the office:
Lana: a young girl, the senior receptionist-typist-telephonist.
Coral: a young girl, receptionist-typist-telephonist.
In the hospital:
Nurse: a young, untrained girl, probably a nursing-aide.
Mrs Henshaw: about 20, in advanced pregnancy.
Dr Craig.
Dr Robertson.
Set
The stage is divided into two, showing sections of two different rooms, each one having a door to off-stage, and a window.
The first room is furnished as an outer-office, with two desks, chairs; telephone on each desk; perhaps a filing cabinet. The whole place is shabby and unattractive.
The second room is the sitting-room and office of the Matron of Buroka Private Hospital. The desk placed to get good light from the window. An attractive, chintzy room. A fireplace with mantelpiece, a kerosene heater burning brihgtly instead of a fire. Couch and armchair, etc.
There is dull grey light outside both windows - early morning in winter. Lights are on in the Matron's room; the office is unlit.
Presented by Twelfth Night Theatre Company. Performed at Twelfth Night Theatre, Brisbane: 4 June 1967.
