Play@YSDC

“Onwards and Upwards, Mr Thompson!” Phyllis leads the way out of the ward, “The sergeant and Mr Thompson are walking out for some air in the courtyard.” She tells the duty-nurse. “I do hope we bump into the others so that we can tell them our plans.” She says to Eugene quietly.

Eugene gives a subtle nod. "I suppose we could leave a note saying we're at the church - they'll know which one we mean. Or would that give the game away?"

Phyllis ponders, “That would be a good idea. I could write, Have decided to visit Giles for a cup of tea. P Cruckshank. Hopefully that will be convoluted enough that only our friends can understand it, should the note fall into the wrong hands. Just in case the Steadmans guess it’s the church in Bethnal Green; what do you think?”

“Perfect! Oh, perhaps Charles should join us too; we’ll need him to set up flashbulbs in the church,” replies Eugene.

“Excellent, I’ll just write the note at reception and tell Charles and then meet you in the courtyard. I must say, this is all rather exciting; it’s almost like breaking out of prison!” She hurries ahead and begs pen and paper from the reception:

Dear all, we have decided to visit Giles and have tea with him, yours, etc etc, P Cruckshank.

And she hands to the receptionist. “If anyone asks for me please could you give them this?”

While Mrs. C makes the necessary arrangements, Eugene escorts the Sergeant outside, as if going for a casual stroll.

After the receptionist accepted the note, Phyllis went with Eugene and the sergeant into the courtyard. While it did provide them with the privacy to discuss their plans, it was soon evident that they could not escape from there. The courtyard was a completely interior one, surrounded by the building itself on all sides. There were lovely trees and plants, as well as benches on which to sit and the occasional bird.

The sergeant looked up and smiled. "It's a bright, sunny day," he said. "I like being in the sun."

Phyllis smiles, her eyes closed in the warm sunshine, “Moments like this one can almost forget the chaos and horror outside.” Her eyes flash open, “But that isn’t helping us any. It seems it’s the front door or the tradesman entrance; assuming there is one. Unless you can think of another idea.” She looks at Eugene and the sergeant. “By the way, Sergeant, what’s your first name, if you don't mind me asking?”

"Angus is my Christian name, ma'am," he said. "Angus MacDonald."

“A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Angus MacDonald. Now, Catherine Exeter managed to escape from here and I’m determined we should not be outdone by her! I wonder if we could disguise you as a tradesman and smuggle you out the back.” Phyllis looks around the courtyard.

"I'm sure we can find some clothes from somewhere. Perhaps the hospital laundry or a locker room?" Eugene suggests.

"Aye, that might do," said Angus. He was a tall man, and well-built, but some of the orderlies were of similar size. "I...hope it's not dark in there."

“In my experience, laundries are generally bright, better to see the dirt. Come along then, maybe we can find you orderly or porter clothing and then load you up with a bundle to carry out.” Phyllis bustles out to the ‘below stairs’ part of the hospital.

Phyllis crosses her fingers...

luck,65 [dice]0[/dice]

Phyllis made her way into the basement and found the laundry room without being noticed. She even found a couple of orderly uniforms that looked like they'd fit Eugene and Angus nicely.

“Here you go, gentlemen, put these on.” Phyllis looks around for any old sheets Or clothes And makes two piles of them. “We can say you are taking these out for repairs. Now, if I could just find a clipboard, that will give me official business status.”

For the first time in a long while, Eugene smiles genuinely.

“You’re a marvel Mrs. C.”

He turns to Angus.

“Imagine a dozen Mrs. Cs in the army; we’d be marching through Berlin in no time!”

The salesman changes into the uniform (either over his own clothes, or somewhere private to spare Mrs. C’s blushes).

"Well done, ma'am," said Angus. He and Eugene ducked into the nearest water closet, and when they emerged, they were dressed in the orderly uniforms. "Now what?"

While they changed, Phyllis gathered some dirty sheets in a wheeled bin, and it was not hard for her to find a clipboard.

Phyllis smiles modestly, “It’s all in a days work for the W.I.! Now, let’s put these torn sheets on top and you take a big bundle each so you can hide your faces in them.
Now, if anyone asks, I will do the talking but we are taking them to A Stitch In Time in Marylebone for repair. If it all goes wrong, run; I’ll try to make excuses for you. Shall we meet outside the underground station?”