Lady Jane Franklin and Sir John Barrow in “Unfinished Business”

Gentlemen, no doubt most of you were in London for that light snow that we had last month. One evening after dinner I stepped out into our courtyard. I was without a coat and even a muffler and I stood in that snow to see how long I could bear it.

Lady Jane, there are two years of provisions -

One hour and a quarter before I was desperate to get back indoors again. But I made myself stay. And what's more, I took off my shoes and I stood in that wet snow. Two minutes more. Two minutes, and then I was done. Our men have been out there in unimaginable temperatures for more than a million minutes! No one can convince me that optimism or confidence is warm enough.

One's sense of cold is relative to one's experience. I would remind you, madam -

I suspect therein lies the problem. Most of you gentlemen have written your memoirs. I've read them. The past tense is a very sturdy thing. It's earned, but it does take for granted that one has survived. The present is a different case entirely. And so I've come here to ask you, what is your plan, and when will it begin?