solo

                                                59. OPERATING SOLO.

Sam, Emma, Chris, Kate and Geoff flying to Para Gas Fields for a dinner-dance.
A pilot (Mike Lancaster) flying another aircraft asks Emma to meet him at the dance, Sam tells him she is a married woman. At the dance they are met by the boss of Para Gas Fields.
Geoff stays with him to talk to friends, Chris, Kate, Sam and Emma go to their table, Kate remains standing, the others sit down. Ted, one of a group of gas workers stood opposite their table, is looking across at Kate.
Ted: I�ve got $100 that says I�ll end up with her tonight. Anybody on?
(one of his friends takes the bet)
Geoff arrives at the table, takes Kate�s arm, pulls out her chair so she can sit down.
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Sam dancing with Chris keeps standing on her feet. Sam apologises but Chris says it�s not his fault, she keeps putting her feet under his!
Geoff and Emma dancing together, passed by a laughing Kate and Mike Lancaster.
Emma: He�s a regular Fred Astaire.
Geoff: (looking jealously at Mike) And she thinks she�s Ginger Rogers.
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Later Kate sat alone at the table, looking fed up, is approached by Ted the gas worker who made a bet on her earlier in the evening.
Ted: Hey Kate, it�s about time you had a dance with one of the blokes.
(Geoff approaches the table, unseen by Kate)
Kate: Oh, No thanks, Ted.
Geoff: Sorry mate, she�s promised.
(Kate looks up surprised at seeing Geoff, takes his offered hand, to be led onto the dance floor, They smile at each other)
Kate: Thanks.
Geoff: Anytime.
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Next morning, ground testing, at the gas fields, Ted sets off an explosion badly injuring Mike.
The RFDS team not yet returned to Coopers Crossing are called in. Running down a slope to where Mike lays injured,
Geoff slips and injures his knee. They attend to Mike who has a broken arm and internal injuries, then all return to Coopers Crossing.
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As Geoff is limping around Mike�s bed, (he is Geoff�s patient)
Chris tells him to go home and rest his leg, she will attend to Mike.
During the night Geoff in extreme pain calls DJ. at the Base and asks him to bring over some codeine.
In Geoff�s bedroom, Chris and Kate tending to Geoff, Chris giving Geoff an injection.
Geoff: I�ll tear strips off that DJ. for getting you two up in the middle of the night.
Kate: You already have.
Geoff: Argh, (Chris giving him an injection) This is humiliating.
Kate: (gently turning Geoff on his back) How would you have got through the night on codeine? (strokes his arm)
Geoff: Look, it�s just a slight tear to the arterial ligament.
(Geoff screams in pain, Kate and Chris look at each other)
Chris: The amount of pain, and the extent of the swelling, points to a full tear, third degree.
Geoff: I hate second opinions.
Chris: You�ve got to see an Orthopaedic Surgeon.
Geoff: I don�t wanna go to Broken Hill.
Chris: You�re going to Broken Hill tomorrow. (pause) Is that helping at all? (injection)
Geoff: Yeah, it is. (Kate brings frozen food packs and towels)
Kate: He�s out of ice. (hands Chris the food packs)
Chris: Oh these�ll do, thanks.
Geoff: There�s some pillows on top of the wardrobe. (Kate gets the pillows down, puts them around leg to support knee.
Sits on bed beside Geoff, wipes his face and neck with wet cloth.
They look at each other, Geoff grateful for her loving care)
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Boarding the Nomad. Geoff sits on one of the seats, Kate closes the Nomad door, turns to see Geoff sat in a seat.
Kate: Coughs, and points to the stretcher.
Geoff: I�m not getting on that thing, I�m, I�m sitting here.
Kate: You�ll do as you�re told.
Geoff: (points to stretcher) I�m not getting on THAT thing.
Kate: Yes you are, your leg�s got to be elevated.
Geoff: Look I know more about orthopaedics than you�ll ever learn.