Summary

The Prologue takes place in the NHS Royal Free Hospital Hampstead in 1960. Labour politician Nye Bevan is a patient in the hospital wearing pyjamas. The hand of death takes hold of Nye and he calls out to his sister Arianwen asking for help.

Scene 1 continues in the hospital. Nye’s wife Jennie and close friend Archie anxiously await news of Nye’s condition. As Nye is wheeled onto the ward, staff and other patients pause what they’re doing and watch him go by. Nye wakes up dazed and unaware of his surroundings. Jennie and Archie remind him that he has had an operation to treat a stomach ulcer. Archie tells him he’s in a hospital that Nye built. Nye looks around at the work going on around him on the ward. Archie leaves to fetch a doctor. Jennie tries to...