| 72. ONE FINAL REQUEST Edith Cranston is dying, her last request is that she be buried alongside her husband, 2 sons, and dog in the family graveyard on her farm. Geoff wants to take her to Hospital, Edith does�nt want to leave her farm. Edith: I never got you out here to take me anywhere, I just wanted someone to take care of my last request. Geoff: Come on, (Geoff lays her down) Edith: (to Kate) Promise, you�ll let me die here, PROMISE! Kate: I promise. (Geoff is not pleased) Kate, Sam and Geoff outside discussing things. Geoff: We may not have any alternative. Kate: There�s no harm in letting me stay with her, until you get back. Geoff: But it she makes it through the day, we�ll have to take her back with us. (Kate says nothing, Sam and Geoff leave to finish off Clinic Run) ****************************************** Edith in bed, Kate and Geoff sat either side of her, Geoff listening to her heart. Edith: Don�t reckon I�ll be keeping you out here long. Geoff: You keep us out here as long as you want. Edith: If you�d tried getting me on that plane I�d have died just to rile you. Geoff: Kate promised did�nt she. (glancing lovingly at Kate) ****************************************** Kate and Geoff sit down to supper, Edith gets out of bed to talk to Kate and Geoff. Kate: Edith. What are you doing out of bed? Edith: Too many things on me mind, (to Geoff) Are you any good at Wills, Legal Papers? Geoff: Do you want to make out your will? Edith: No had that done years ago, just want you to go through �em see if I left anything out. (looking at Kate) Might need you to give him a hand, men are no good on little details. Kate: Only if you go back to bed. Kate tries to help her back to bed. Edith: No, no, there�s a bottle of wine there too, I won�t be needing it, (winks at Geoff) Seems a shame to waste it. Edith goes back to bed, glancing back at Kate and Geoff smiling at each other. ****************************************** Later Kate and Geoff sit together checking Edith�s papers. Geoff: Edith�s left everything to the RFDS. Kate: She�s got permission to be buried out here, she�s even got her coffin. Kate very upset, Geoff puts arm around her. Kate: Thanks. Geoff: What for? Kate: For staying, understanding. Geoff holds her close, knuzzles his face in her hair, kisses her forehead. Edith: You going to marry the young Dr.? Kate: Edith! Edith: Just good friends, eh, I�ve heard that one before. Edith beckons Kate back to her bed. Edith: You love him don�t you, Kate? Kate: Maybe� I don�t know. Edith: Katey, You never replace the joy of having someone special, and they don�t come along too often, so take it from me you don�t snap someone up when you love them, you�ll end up wearing black all your life, and I reckon red would suit you too. Kate puts her head on Edith�s shoulder. ****************************************** Later Edith sat in garden watching Kate and Geoff planting shrubs around her little dog�s grave, her last request. Geoff see�s she is failing, takes her arm to walk her back to the house. Geoff: Come on Edith. Edith: Does Katey know how you feel about her? Geoff: Well there are some things you don�t need to talk about. Edith: You love someone, you need to talk about everything. Even the best of us run out of time Dr. A little later as Kate has finished planting the shrubs, Geoff comes out to tell her� Geoff: She�s gone Kate. (Kate very sad) Geoff kneels down behind her, holding her close. Kate: I�ll prepare her. Geoff nods. Kate: I think there�s a red dress she�d like to wear. Geoff holds her even closer. Later they stand hand in hand at her graveside reciting the Lords Prayer. ****************************************** |