Play@YSDC

Maxwell's Sanitarium - London, England
12:00 PM - Tuesday, September 10, 1940

At around lunchtime, Archie and Anna returned to the sanitarium, where they rejoined the rest of their group. Story, Elizabeth, and Brook had left to do additional research, and Benjamin had gone on an errand to his tailor's shop.

Phyllis is very pleased to see Archie and Anna, “How did you get on? Did you have any luck?”

'Any luck with what? I thought we agreed someone would follow us and observe what Mrs Steadman got up to?' seethes Anna.

“I thought we were staying behind to prepare for tonight,” replies Eugene. “If the creature is going to emerge from me or Angus here, then we can’t really be running around town. Besides, we’re patients here - it’s taken us this long to work out a plan to get out of hospital so we can make ready in the church, away from innocent bystanders.”

Phyllis bristles, “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean. Eugene and I were always going to stay here. I thought you were following the Steadmans. What about that young chit of a girl and her odd companions, where did they disappear off too; I thought they went with you!”
“And Eugene is right, he and Sergeant McDonald aren’t safe here so we are going to spring them as soon as Mr Klein gets back from the tailors.”

Anna looks incensed, 'A breakout, from the sanatorium where I work. We'll that is just perfect!

Eugene shrugs. “The alternative is to endanger the lives of everyone else in this hospital.”

“You don’t have to have anything to do with it if you’d rather not. We do understand your position of course. And we could meet you later.” Says Phyllis.

“Why don’t we have some lunch while we are waiting. Is there a canteen here? I’d like to keep an eye on the sergeant at all times. And Eugene here of course.”

Anna spends a few minutes huffing before eventually saying 'Oh, bother this, you can go to the cafeteria for some food, I'll go and talk to Dr Stoddard about getting the sergeant discharged into the care of Mrs Cruckshank. Eugene can check himself out whenever he likes, he is a voluntary patient!'

"Fair enough, I'm famished!" Eugene says cheerfully.

While everyone else ate lunch, Anna went up to Dr. Stoddard's office, where his secretary Megan admitted her. Dr. Stoddard looked up from the paperwork on his desk. "How can I help you, Dr. Jerkins?"

Breezily Anna says, 'Ah, Dr Stoddard, I'm glad I caught you. I wanted to talk about discharging Sergeant McDonald into the care of his aunt Mrs Cruckshank. He's been doing very well and seeing her visit him today he has brightened up considerably. I think it will be quite therapeutic for him.'

"I'm glad you're taking an interest and that you and Mrs. Cruckshank have been able to help him," said Dr. Stoddard. "Unfortunately, the Home Guard officer who brought Sergeant MacDonald in was very clear in his instructions that the sergeant was not to be discharged without his permission."

'Oh well, I'm sure that won't be a problem' says Anna. 'Could you give me his details and I will see if I can have a word with him. It would be a shame for the Sergeant if he couldn't go and stay with his aunt.'

"He was a Group Commander Frye," said Dr. Stoddard. "Tall chap, bald, about fifty. I'm sorry, but that's all I know about him."

Anna heads back to the others to see if they've heard of Commander Fry.

Eugene shakes his head.

"I don't recall hearing the name miss."

“I’ll ask Sergeant MacDonald where his commanding officer is based but I’m not sure it will be worth tracking the gentleman down- what if he says no? Then we’d be in a right pickle and no mistake!” Says Phyllis.