Dominican College of San Rafael - Firebrand Yearbook (San Rafael, CA)

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your recreation inside instead of outdoors getting some exercise. Henry: I ' m inclined to disagree with you, my dear Miss Scott. One never ruins one ' s eyes doing what is right and . . . Nurse: And I suppose you ' ll disagree with me that your bottle of cod-liver oil is also missing? Henry: Not so hasty, my good woman. (He pro- duces the bottle) You see, I followed the instructions quite rigidly, and it is empty. (He gives her a com- placent smile.) Nurse: Now aren ' t you the good boy! Just for that I have a surprise for you. (She goes out the door on the right.) Harry: Apple polisher, that ' s what you are. Henry: Elementary, my good fellow. I threw the stuff out of the window this morning. The result of a well-rounded education. Nurse: (Coming back in) Here you are, Mr. Kline, a brand new bottle. Noav sit up and take it like the good boy you are. (Gives it to him. He chokes and gurgles, and Mike and Harry laugh.) The next time you throw stuff out of the window, by the way, make sure you know where you are throwing it. That was the second change I had to make this morning. Henry: (Sliding into his blankets) Oh, dear me . . . 107

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(Nurse pays no attention and walks briskly around to Mike ' s bed. Mike ' s eyes follow her with a sheepish look. Nurse looks at him quizzically.) Nurse: And what ' s the matter with you? Now what have you done? You look mighty sheepish to me, son. Let ' s have a look. Mike: Nothing ' s wrong, honest. Miss Scott. Nurse: Hm . . . we ' ll see. (Takes his pulse and tem- perature, and examines the bottles on his table.) Well, young man, I don ' t see that bottle of cod-liver oil. You don ' t by chance know where it is now, do you? Mike: C-Cod-liver oil? No, sir, I mean, ma ' am. Nurse: Oh, is that so! Well then, what is this? (She pulls the bottle from imder his pillow.) I ' ve been here a mighty long time, son, and I know all the tricks. Now (in a stern voice) sit up and take it. (She puts a spoonfid in his mouth, and puts her hand over his mouth until he swallows it.) Harry: (With the thermometer still in his mouth) Female beast. Henry: (Complacently) Heh, heh, a just recom- pense if I ever saw one. Cards and story telling, yes, indeed, a just recompense. Nurse: (In a loud voice) And what is it you ' re mut- tering about, Mr. Kline? I hear tell that you ' re ruin- ing your eyes reading all those history books, taking 106

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Nurse: Now you boys turn out your lights. (She goes over and takes the thermometer from Harry ' s mouth) Hmph. I still think you should be out o£ here instead of babying yourself along; just an over-grown baby. (She turns off his light.) Now get to sleep. Harry: (Mumbles) Heart of stone, that ' s what she has. (He turns over on his side.) Nurse: And you two do the same. I ' ll go over and take care of Number Four. Mike: (Catching her skirt) Oh, please, Miss Scott, leave him alone. He doesn ' t feel so good. Harry: Yeah, leave him alone. Don ' t you go bossin ' that kid around, you female, you. Henry: (In a small voice) I ' m afraid I have to agree, Miss Scott. Nurse: (In a very stern voice) MR. Blain, MR. Davidson, MR. Kline . . . Who do you think yoti ' re talking to? Turn oft those lights. (Lights are turned quickly off. Nurse walks over to the fourth bed and turns on the bed lamp. The three men sit up in their beds and watch her. She goes to the end of the room, takes a bed screen, and puts it between the fourth bed and the others. The men in the other three beds lie down. The stage is now in complete darkness except for the lighted scene around the last bed.) 108