Marion Steed

Silence and Slow Time Marion Steed

Maude, retired scientist, trips and hits her head. She wakes in a geriatric ward, far from home, without speech, her world upside down, with memories of Uncle Harold. As she recovers, long walks into the nearby sand dunes, hospital staff, suggest transfer to The Knoll, a public mental health unit - an economy which her cousin Gerald and his wife, Poppy welcome. Maude joins group therapy for women victims of sexual abuse. Leaders, Susan and Lavender, their charges: anorexic teenager, Silvie, her complaint of assault dismissed; Carmel, dissociative/suicidal, empty nest and the rest of the women's group meet daily. Down the corridor a men's therapy group for gender transitioners and other court referrals begins. Maude sneaks in, enjoys the session; the men help her discover that she has forgotten more than a decade of memories. And some key technological advances, too. The Registrar keeps an eye on Maude's memory issues, her preoccupation with Uncle Harold. The visits from her relatives, Gerald and Poppy. Long lost objects which reappear: her string of pearls, handbag... The beach hut key. In the men's group, former priest, Nifty, is recognised by Silvie as her discharged assailant. He becomes the unwitting catalyst for healing: for Silvie's scorn, for Carmel's obsession. For Maude to rediscover her career, Uncle Harold's story, cousin Gerald's secret and to accept her new life in Australia.