Play@YSDC

St. Bartholomew's Hospital - London, England
9:30 AM - Wednesday, September 11, 1940

After Story, Phyllis, Eugene, and Anna left St. Bart's, Elizabeth, Brook, and Maggie remained with Archie in his hospital room.

Archie:

"Right-o. Do you three want to have a scout about, see if you can find Mrs Steadman while I get dressed?"

"Sounds like a plan," said Brook. She, Elizabeth, and Maggie vacated the room while Archie put on his clothes. They came back not long after he was done.

"We found her in a room down the hall," said Elizabeth. "I could see the resemblance. She's lying in her bed now, but she's awake."

Archie:

"Right, how is there somewhere we can set up to watch her door? Somewhere that won't get us into hot water with the hospital staff. And is there any other way out?"

"There's nowhere to watch that isn't out in the open," said Elizabeth, "which would be the from hallway outside. All the other hospital rooms nearby are occupied. The air raids have been pretty bad. There is a fire exit at the end of the hall, though."

Archie:

"Right, so this fire exit might be the way she would escape perhaps? I assume any other exit would take her past a nurse's station or the like?"

"Perhaps we should set up camp in the fire exit?"

"Why would she need to escape?" asked Brook. "She's not a prisoner, just a patient. She can leave any time she likes, right out the front door."

Archie:

"Hmm, you are right of course. We really need to know if Mrs Steadman leaves or her mother, Mrs Exeter, arrives. Neither is breaking any law by doing so but we should stop try to stop them. Or convince them of the error of their ways? Not that I hold a lot of hope on that count."

"We need someone watching the entrance to see if the mother comes to visit. Perhaps we could take shifts at the entrance to the hospital?"

"Then is Mrs Exeter does visit, we must bear in mind they could leave via the fire escape."

"I'll watch the entrance," said Maggie, leaving the room.

"Would her mother even know she's here?" asked Brook. "If she does show up, she's seen me and Elizabeth before."

"Maybe you're right," said Elizabeth. "Maybe we should try talking to Madeline, while her mother isn't around. She might not be too far gone yet."

Archie:

"No, I don't think approaching her is a good idea. We lose the element of surprise. And I've spoken with her. She is committed to her insane cause."

"Maggie, you watch the entrance. I'll come out and relieve you every so often. Brook and Elizabeth, be ready to act."

"We can take turns looking out into the hall and see if anyone comes or goes from her room," said Brook. "I'll take the first watch." She stands in the doorway and observes the hallway.

"Her insane cause is a lost one now," said Elizabeth. "She's lost her husband and the Shining Trapezohedron."

Archie:

"Sounds like a good plan, let's do it." To Elizabeth, Archie adds, "I feel that Mrs Steadman and her mother, Mrs Exeter, particularly are still very dangerous. Don't give them any opportunity to hurt you."

Elizabeth nodded. "I know they can still kill," she said. "Catherine Exeter is definitely too far gone. I just feel bad about Madeline, is all."

Archie:

"As do I. Yet she and her husband seemed perfectly willing to sacrifice - literally - a teenaged boy. Not to mention all the other people who have been killed or maimed by their efforts."

"We can hope that somehow she comes to her senses, but in the meantime be absolutely in our guard."

"Aye," said Elizabeth. "They brought it on themselves."

"A doctor just went into her room," Brook reported.

Archie:

Archie nods. "We can't really interfere with the hospital's normal running without drawing attention. As long as she doesn't try to kill the doctor..."

"When she tries to kill people, it's where she isn't expecting any witnesses," said Brook. "I doubt she'll do it in broad daylight in the middle of a busy hospital."

"She just left her room with the doctor," reported Brook after a while. "She's wearing her clothes and carrying her handbag, and they're walking toward the front entrance. I think she's leaving."

Archie:

Archie sighs. "Come on, let's see what she's up to."

Elizabeth and Brook went with Archie out into the hall and followed Madeline and the doctor to the lobby.

"Thank you, Doctor," said Madeline, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief.

"If there's anything you need, Mrs. Steadman," replied the doctor, "don't hesitate to call."

OOC, [b]Archie[/b], please roll Hide if you're trying not to let her see you.