[Light piano and pizzicato strings] [ST3] All I want is one small room, Far away from clinic gloom, No one knocking—boom, boom, boom— Wouldn't that be loverly? Just one room that's calm and bright, Where the slit-lamp works just right, And the bulb stays on all night— Wouldn't that be loverly? [Soft ensemble] Loverly... Loverly... [ST3] No one saying, “Doctor, please, Could you squeeze in three of these?” No more patients multiplying Every time I sneeze! Just a chair, a desk for me, Maybe even time for tea, And a clinic list of three— [Dreamily] Wouldn't that be loverly? [Small orchestral flourish] This morning started twenty-two, Then they squeezed in two more too, Then another “urgent review”— Now we're thirty-seven. One needs drops and one needs scans, One arrived without their plans, One has brought a carrier bag Of fourteen different cans— [PATIENT – offstage] Doctor? [ST3] Not here! [Music resumes] Give me one examination room, A little ophthalmic hiding room, Where nobody can find me Till approximately noon. [REFRAIN] Oh, wouldn't that be loverly? Wouldn't that be grand? A functioning computer Obeying my command! No spinning little circle, No password gone astray, No message saying “SYSTEM ERROR— PLEASE TRY AGAIN LATER TODAY.” [ENSEMBLE] Loverly! [ST3] And my slit-lamp! Oh, my slit-lamp! Both oculars aligned! The joystick moves precisely! The table doesn't grind! The illumination's brilliant, The beam is crisp and fine— [Almost overcome] And someone cleaned the forehead rest... Before it became mine. [ENSEMBLE – reverently] Loverly... [Music becomes dreamy and lush] [ST3] I'd close the door so gently, I'd dim the lights down low, I'd sit upon my little stool With nowhere else to go. My computer would remember me, My clinic would disappear, No bleeping phone, No “quick review,” No consultant calling— [CONSULTANT – distant] Can you come in here? [ST3 freezes] [ST3] No. [CONSULTANT] What? [ST3] Nothing! [Dream music resumes] I'd make myself a cup of tea And drink it while it's hot. [ENSEMBLE gasps] [ST3] Yes! Hot! Not found at half past five Beside a clinic note, Forgotten and congealing With a film of something floating— [ENSEMBLE] Ugh! [ST3] Exactly. [Music rises into final refrain] Oh, wouldn't that be loverly? One quiet afternoon, A working slit-lamp, Working screen, And no one coming soon. No extra clinic patients, No “Could you just see one?” No OCTs appearing When I thought that I was done! [Music suddenly stops] [Knock at door] [NURSE] There you are! We've been looking everywhere. [ST3] Have you? [NURSE] Consultant says Could you just see Two quick patients? [Pause] [ST3] Two? [NURSE] Well... Five. [ST3 closes her eyes] [Quiet piano returns] [ST3] All I want is one small room, Far away from clinic gloom... [Looks towards the door] Maybe... In another life... [Softly] Wouldn't that be loverly? [Gentle orchestral cadence]
