THE BEACH
BRODIE sits on the beach. MILES is walking along the beach.
BRODIE’S work begins to blow around.
MILES
Is this you’re last work, is it?
BRODIE
No, no.
MILES
Roman Empire, uh.
BRODIE
Ah, yeah, that’s right.
MILES
Rise or fall?
BRODIE
Em, the transition from the em, republic to the
empire, sorry.
MILES
Well, this is em, this is a great introduction.
What courses are you doing?
BRODIE
Courses.
MILES
Yeah, at Uni.
BRODIE
I’m not at Uni. I’m still at school.
MILES
Wahl, you don’t look like you’re still at
school. Oh, man, that sounded so bad. I just meant, you know,
because this is really good and everything.
BRODIE
Yeah, it’s OK. I didn’t think that you meant.
MILES
Good, because I wasn’t.
BRODIE
Good.
MILES
Anyway, I’m just going to shut up now before I
say something really stupid.
BRODIE
Yeah, all right.
MILES
Actually, there is one more thing I need to ask
you.
BRODIE
Oh, OK, sure.
MILES
Which way to the Diner?
BRODIE
I can show you actually. I’m going anyway.
A ROAD
NOAH and SEB are in a car.
SEB
Must have gone out pretty early this morning if
he ever came in.
NOAH
That girls done some damage all right.
SEB
The way I see it. We just act like nothings
happened at least until he wants to talk about it.
NOAH
Wo, wo, wo, hey, look at this.
SEB
Looks like someone’s had a prang.
NOAH stops the car and he and NOAH get out. A bike lies on the
ground.
NOAH
Oh no, looks like Jude’s bike.
JUDE is lying on the ground.
SEB
Oh no.
They run over to JUDE.
NOAH
Oh no, Jude. Can you here me?
THE BEACHSIDE DINER
MILES walks in. ALEX and LEAH are there.
MILES
Hey dude. I’m sorry I’m late.
LEAH
Hey, Milo, hello.
ALEX
You didn’t get lost, did you.
MILES
Well, yes, I did take a slight unscheduled
detour.
ALEX
Miles, you were on the beach. You follow the
sand.
MILES
I tried to a take a short cut.
ALEX
Unbelievable.
MILES
Mate, it was the most fortuitous thing to have
serendipitously.
ALEX
Can we speak English around here.
LEAH
He is speaking English.
MILES
I met a girl.
ALEX
Really. What’s she like?
MILES
Well, she was gorgeous and smart too.
ALEX
Smart, of course. You always go for the ones
with the minds, eh.
LEAH
Who is she?
ALEX
Do I know her?
MILES
Well funnily enough I didn’t ask her whether
she knew your name
ALEX
Well what’s hers? Miles, as usual. Too busy
talking. You forgot to ask her name, nice one mate.
A ROAD
SEB gets a blanket from the car. NOAH tries to take JUDES helmet
off.
NOAH
OK.
SEB
No, don’t touch him.
NOAH
It’s going to be all right mate. We’ll get you
to hospital. It’s going be OK.
JUDE
It really hurts. I stuffed up big time.
SEB
Noah, don’t move up.
NOAH
Shut up, OK. Sorry man, but I’ve just got to
get your mobile phone, OK. We’re going to call an ambulance, all
right.
SEB
Call Flynn too. He’s a doctor. He’s just down
the road. You see this. This is all Shauna’s fault. It is all her
fault.
SARAH MCKAY DROP-IN CENTRE
FLYNN and SALLY are there.
FLYNN
I understand from a certain perspective it
looks like I lied.
SALLY
You did lie to me. That’s from any perspective
you want to look at it.
FLYNN
OK, I didn’t put that very well. What I’m
trying to say is, there were special circumstances.
SALLY
Oh, now you’re really starting to worry me.
FLYNN
No, no, hear me out. I mean, the truth is not
absolute. In perfect world maybe. This is not a perfect world.
That’s why I have this job.
SALLY
Oh, come on. You’re not going to try and tell
me that this is some kind of example of professional
confidentiality.
FLYNN
She asked me for help.
SALLY
Yeah, and you should have said no. I’m a
trained councillor to Flynn. I know that when you’re part of the
problem you can’t be part of the solution as well.
FLYNN
She called me. She was drunk. She was
distraught. She asked me for help. Was I supposed to say no?
SALLY
You didn’t have to take her back to the
caravan.
FLYNN
She needed to sober up. She knew that if you or
anyone else her, you’d start to ask questions and it would get back
to Jude. Sal, I hated lying to you. I was actually trying to save
your friendship.
The phone starts to ring.
SALLY
Oh, all right, so what I don’t know won’t hurt
me right.
FLYNN answers the phone.
FLYNN
Hello, Sarah McKay.
Wo, wo, mate slow down.
Where? Have you called an ambulance?
OK, I’ll be right there.
FLYNN puts the phone down.
FLYNN
Jude’s had an accident.
FLYNN and SALLY leave.
THE BEACHSIDE DINER
MILES, ALEX and VINNIE are there.
MILES
So the guy next door has just laid concrete for
his driveway right. Smooth as silk, not a mark on it. Then genius
here gets it in his head that we should ride our BMX’s over, what
like a thousand times.
ALEX
It seemed like a really good idea.
MILES
The guy just lost it. Totally.
ALEX
The worst bit was when dad found out.
MILES
Aw, Mr. P. must have chased us down the road,
for what, a kilometre.
ALEX
You should have seen him, like dodging bins,
jumping over dogs.
MILES
It was the one time I wished he didn’t treat me
like one of the family.
LEAH walks up behind them.
LEAH
Vinnie, do you reckon you should get going.
You’re kind of late. Come on.
VINNIE
Yeah, yeah, I’m on to it babe.
MILES
Which reminds me. I’ve got to go check out the
caravan park so I’ll leave you guys to it.
VINNIE
What? Caravan Park. I thought you were stating
with us?
MILES
Yeah. No, not for me. I’m on the committee at
the Uni. scuba club. We’re going to come down one weekend and do a
dive of the old Spanish wreck.
VINNIE
Aw, scuba diving. I’ve always wanted to be a
scuba diver.
MILES
Well, I’ll get the guys to take you out while
they’ll here. I’ll see you there.
ALEX
See you mate.
MILES leaves.
LEAH
Vinnie.
VINNIE
Oh, yes, I’m going. Otis, you be good.
VINNIE leaves.
A ROAD
NOAH and SEB look at JUDE.
NOAH
Aw, don’t do this. Aw, come on hang in there
mate. He’s not breathing. I can’t feel a pulse.
SEB
Where the hell are they? You’ve got to do
mouth-to-mouth or something.
NOAH
Hey, there’s a pulse.
FLYNN and SALLY draw up in FLYNN’S van.
SEB
He’s stop breathing. You’ve got to do
something.
FLYNN
OK, guys, we’ve got to get him on his back.
He’s get a blocked airpath. Get over here now. Seb, I need your
help. Get down here. OK you brace his bottom part and hold it very,
very still. Guys really careful here. We could paralyse him. On
three, OK, one, two, three.
SARAH MCKAY DROP-IN CENTRE
ALEX and HAYLEY are there.
ALEX
Oh, I come back to finish some electrical work
that I was doing, but there was no one here when I got here.
HAYLEY
Aw, I don’t even know if Gypsy’s supposed to be
on today.
ALEX
Well somebody’s supposed to be here surely. I
mean, they don’t leave this empty, do they?
HAYLEY
No, I don’t think so.
ALEX
So, anyway how was England?
HAYLEY
Good. Yeah, really, really, really cool.
ALEX
Glad to be back though.
HAYLEY
Yeah. There’s no place like home.
ALEX
Yeah, I know someone who was hanging for you to
get back. So, what’s happening with you two anyway? Are you getting
back together or what?
HAYLEY
So what’s happening with you and Brodie? Are
you getting back together or what?
ALEX
In other words, mind my own business, right.
HAYLEY
No, in other words, I’m getting sick and tired
of everyone asking me that same question.
ALEX
Hayley, people are asking you the same question
because they think you and Noah, belong together, you know.
HAYLEY
You know what’s the funny thing about that.
Sometimes two people are practically perfect for each other, but
then again there not.
ALEX
And you think that’s the case between you and
Noah.
HAYLEY
To tell you the truth, I honestly don’t know.
A ROAD
SALLY, JUDE, FLYNN, SEB and NOAH are there.
SALLY
Is he breathing?
FLYNN
Yes. OK, get rid of that blanket.
SALLY
I’m going to go and wait up on the road and
show them where we are.
FLYNN
Seb, get down here. Come on, come on. Hold on
to his neck. Whatever you do, you do not move him. Good man. Noah,
grab some of those gloves. Get some gauze. Push down on that wound
as hard as you can. We’ve got to stop that bleeding. Jude, it’s
Flynn here mate. You’ve had a bit of an accident. Squeeze my hand if
you can hear me. Jude, it’s Flynn. Good man, great. OK, mate, I’m
going to have a little feel around your tummy. Just let me know if
it hurts.
JUDE calls out in pain.
NOAH
You’re hurting him.
An AMBULANCE OFFICER comes over.
FLYNN
OK, OK. I’ve just got him breathing. There’s
barely a pulse. I’m sure there’s internal bleeding.
AMBULANCE OFFICER
Right, lets get him stabilised.
FLYNN
You’re going to need a cannula. I’m Flynn
Saunders, I’m a doctor. Unless we get him into hospital mate and
into theatre he’s not going to make this.
AMBULANCE OFFICER
The medical population and all the paramedics
are down the coast attending a chopper crash.
FLYNN
Call ahead to the hospital mate. Get them ready
intrubate as soon as we get there. OK, mate. Step back, let me have
a look at that. Good on you.
SALLY’S HOUSE
SALLY and SHAUNA are there.
SHAUNA
Aw, I knew, I shouldn’t have let him go on that
motorbike.
SALLY
Well, let’s face it Shauna. You’ve done a lot
of things lately that you shouldn’t have. Bottom line is he’s on his
way to the hospital, so if you want a lift there or not.
SHAUNA
I think I’m the last person he’d want to see
right now.
SALLY
Shauna, he’s hurt badly. He could die. Fine, if
you want to hang around here feeling sorry for yourself, you go
right ahead. I just thought I’d offer.
SHAUNA
Wait, of course I’m coming.
SUMMER BAY HOUSE
MILES knocks on the door. BRODIE is inside.
MILES
Hello. Anyone home?
BRODIE
Coming.
MILES
Ah, hi. I didn’t realise you lived here.
BRODIE
Em, yeah, we run the place. Do you want a van?
MILES
Eh, no, not right now, but I have a group of
friends who are coming up in a couple of weeks and I was wondering
if you might have a brochure or something I could take back with me.
BRODIE
Em, no, not really sorry. I could show you
around if you like.
MILES
Yeah, yeah, I think I would like that.
THE HOSPITAL
CHARLOTTE and a NUM are there.
CHARLOTTE
He’ll be here any second. Any word on Dr.
Carlingford.
NUM
At least an hour away. The traffics all been
diverted because of the helicopter crash
CHARLOTTE
This can’t be happening.
FLYNN and the AMBULANCE OFFICER come in with JUDE on a
stretcher.
CHARLOTTE
Flynn, what are you doing here?
FLYNN
He’s got a GCS at eight, heart is rigid, find
out where he’s bleeding from. You’re going to have to intrabate
straight away. OK, on three when we’re ready. One, two, three.
What’s your problem?
CHARLOTTE
I’ve only intrabated once and that was under
supervision. I’ve never dealt with something like this.
FLYNN
Well get someone in here who has.
NUM
We’re ringing around now.
FLYNN
Aw my god. Unless we get this guy into theatre
we’re going to lose him. Come on, it’s you and me.
CHARLOTTE
I can’t let you operate.
FLYNN
Well we’re going to lose him unless one of us
does. OK, I’m a registered doctor. I’ll do the anaesthesia and walk
you through the operation. I’m not going to let this guy die because
your hung up on protocol. Please take some blood for group and cross
match.
CHARLOTTE
Get theatre to set up.
FLYNN
Thank you. I need a size eight DT tube.
THE BEACHSIDE DINER
ALEX and LEAH are there.
LEAH
Honestly Alexi, any excuse to stop work.
ALEX
Leah, I went there. There was no one there.
It’s not an excuse, it s fact.
MILES walks in.
MILES
It’s fate. I’m a believer. Definitely.
ALEX
Yeah.
MILES
Yeah, I ran into that girl I was telling you
about again
ALEX
Aw, really.
MILES
And I don’t care about what you say about there
being no good looking girls around here. She is drop dead gorgeous.
Her family run the caravan park.
ALEX
Aw, that girl. Yeah, yeah, she’s a babe. Miles,
forget it OK. I tried it when I came here and I didn’t get anywhere,
so really, what chance do you stand.
MILES
Is that a fact?
ALEX
Absolutely.
MILES
Oh, well, just as it happens. I’ve got a date
with her tonight.
ALEX
No way.
HAYLEY and DON sit at another table.
DON
Ah, you can keep these. I ran some copies off
for myself.
HAYLEY
Oh, thank you.
ALF walks over to them.
ALF
Morning all.
DON
Hello Alf. I was just showing Hayley the
reviews of the Letter to Byron in the English. My publisher e-mailed
me last night. Yep, sorry, sorry, our publisher.
ALF
Oh, yeah, what do they reckon?
DON
Like all good publishers, she’s probably kept
all the bad reviews for herself.
VINNIE runs in.
VINNIE
Jude’s just been in an accident. It sounds
pretty serious.
THE HOSPITAL
JUDE is on the operating table. FLYNN, an NUM and CHARLOTTE are
there.
NUM
BP’s dropping.
FLYNN
Yeah, I know, I know.
CHARLOTTE
Can’t find a helicopter that’s unavailable.
FLYNN
That’s it. Get scrubbed.
CHARLOTTE
If we stuff this up.
FLYNN
Yes, I know, yours will be the shortest medical
career in history, I know.
CHARLOTTE
That’s not what I was going to say. I was
thinking about him. You better know what you’re doing, that’s all.
FLYNN
Can someone get me pulse set and blood water.
Have those cross matches came back yet?
NUM
We’re still waiting.
FLYNN
Right, someone get on the phone and find out
where they are. Thank you.
SEB and NOAH stand in a corridor. LEAH, DON and HAYLEY all walk
in.
DON
Have you heard anything?
NOAH
No, he’s already in there by the time we got
here.
SEB
He’s bad. He’s really bad.
NOAH
He’s going to be all right.
DON
Yes, of course he is.
LEAH
Everyone’s pulling for him Noah. With all that
positive energy he has to make it.
HAYLEY
Yeah, that’s right.
SHAUNA and SALLY walk in.
NOAH
What’s she doing here?
SALLY
Noah, she’s worried about Jude too.
NOAH
She’s worried about him. You’re the one that
put him there.
SHAUNA
I never meant to hurt him.
SEB
Aw, yeah, what did you think was going to
happen when you cheated on him?
SHAUNA
I never cheated on him. That’s not what
happened.
NOAH
Only because Flynn wasn’t interested and you
shouldn’t even be here, you know, if he dies, it’s legal.
SHAUNA leaves. JUDE is operated on by CHARLOTTE, FLYNN and a
NUM.
FLYNN
He’s going to need a needle-eye of incision.
CHARLOTTE
Yes.
FLYNN
Can you make sure that suction working when you
open it up. There’s going to be a lot of blood.
CHARLOTTE
Someone plug in the diaphragm for me. Sponges
and keep them coming.
SEB, NOAH, SALLY, HAYLEY and DON are all out in the corridor.
FLYNN, CHARLOTTE and the NUM operate on JUDE.
CHARLOTTE
Come on, suction. I can’t see what I’m doing.
FLYNN
Can you see where the bleedings coming from?
CHARLOTTE
Not yet.
FLYNN
You’ve got to find it.
CHARLOTTE
I think I know that.
FLYNN
Where the hell are these blood results? I can’t
keep his fluid up.
CHARLOTTE
It’s the spleen.
FLYNN
Is there any clamp on it?
CHARLOTTE
I can’t see. Come on, suction. I can’t round
the back of the damm thing.
FLYNN
You’ve got to get a clamp on it.
Somebody comes in carrying blood.
FLYNN
Aw, thank you.
THE WHARF
SHAUNA walks along it and sits down. She hears her voice.
SHAUNA
I promise I will never stop caring about you.
JUDE
You’re promises don’t mean much anymore, do
they Shauna?
THE HOSPITAL
DON, LEAH, SALLY, SEB, NOAH and HAYLEY all wait. FLYNN,
CHARLOTTE and an NUM all operate on JUDE.
CHARLOTTE
Got it, the clamp, got it now.
FLYNN
You’ve got to get it stitched tight on
avicentic artery and then the vein.
CHARLOTTE
Double tie.
FLYNN
Keep your eye on the BP and keep that blood
pumping. OK, yep, double. Now wash out the abdomen with saline and
then pick up the spleen.
CHARLOTTE
Are you kidding me?
FLYNN
Sorry, I wish I was. Don’t worry; you’re doing
OK so far. Long scissors please. OK, leave the clamps on. Don’t go
near the limiter. Just go a bit above the ties.
NOAH and HAYLEY are in the corridor.
NOAH
What the hell’s taking them so long?
HAYLEY
Noah, they know what they’re doing.
NOAH
Aw, you reckon. You haven’t even met her
Hayley. You know, she’s hardly any older than us, she’s never
performed an operation before and Flynn’s been out of limb for ages.
Look, have you heard anything about my brother at all?
RECEPTIONIST
No, sorry.
NOAH
Can’t stand this.
HAYLEY
Noah, just wait.
NOAH
Just leave me alone Hayley.
HAYLEY
No.
FLYNN and CHARLOTTE come out the theatre. SEB, DON, SALLY and
LEAH all gather around him.
HAYLEY
How is he? Is he going to be al right?
DON
Is he all right? What’s happening?
FLYNN
All right, well ssshhh, everyone, everyone,
please. Doctor.
CHARLOTTE
He’s in intensive care. He’s not out the woods
yet, but, yes, he’s clear.
NOAH
Thanks.
CHARLOTTE
You’re welcome.
SALLY and FLYNN cuddle.
FLYNN
Hey, there’s no point in you guys hanging
around. It’s going to be strictly family, when he wakes it up.
NOAH
I’m not going anywhere.
SEB
Me neither.
FLYNN
Anyone like to give us a lift back to the
drop-in centre if anyone’s going?
SALLY
Yeah, sure.
DON
Ah, Sally could you give Hayley and Leah a lift
back as well. I’ll stay here for a while.
HAYLEY
Yeah, I guess I could go.
NOAH
Yeah, thanks, you know thanks.
SALLY, LEAH and HAYLEY all leave. FLYNN is talking to CHARLOTTE.
FLYNN
How are you feeling?
CHARLOTTE
Ask me that again tomorrow.
FLYNN
You did a great job in there. You’re going to
make a hell of surgeon.
THE WHARF
SHAUNA sits at the end. SALLY walk down it.
SALLY
Jude’s going to be all right. I’m never going
to forgive you for this Shauna.
SHAUNA
I tried to fight it.
SALLY
Well you didn’t try hard enough. We don’t have
a friendship anymore.
THE HOSPITAL
SEB, DON and NOAH all sit in a corridor. CHARLOTTE come out a
room. They all stand up.
CHARLOTTE
Jude’s awake now Noah. You can go in, but don’t
stay t long.
SEB
What about me?
CHARLOTTE
Sorry, but we really do have to keep it to
family for the moment.
SEB
I’m family.
NOAH
I’ll tell him you’re out here, OK.
SEB
I am family.
NOAH goes into the room. JUDE is lying on the bed.
NOAH
Aw, man, look at you.
JUDE
I don’t think I want to.
NOAH
Take it about those motorcycles. They’re an
accident waiting to happen.
JUDE
Just going to stand there and give me grief all
day.
NOAH
Yeah, you’ve got me right bro, have you. I’ll
give you heaps.
THE BEACHSIDE DINER
LEAH and VINNIE are in the kitchen.
LEAH
Shauna’s my friend, Vinnie. She must be going
through hell right now.
VINNIE
There’s probably a few people around here
reckons she deserves it, though. Hey, look, she’s my friend as well.
I’m just telling it like it is.
LEAH
I know, I know. If I was any sort of real
friend right now, I’d be over there supporting her too, but I just
couldn’t. She’d take one look at my face and she’d know how I feel
about what she’s done.
SEB, DON and NOAH sit at a table.
NOAH
I really appreciate you buying for us Mr.
Fisher.
DON
Ah, you’re welcome.
NOAH
But I’m not all that hungry.
DON
Understandable.
NOAH
And there’s something I’ve got to do.
SEB
Do you want me to come with you?
NOAH
Ah, no, I’ve got to handle this on my own. I’ll
catch you later, OK.
NOAH leaves.
DON
Ah, Seb. I was hoping to have a word with you.
Please don’t think I’m trying to run your life or anything, but, em,
well if you find it difficult to manage while Jude’s in hospital,
you know you’re always welcome at my place, don’t you.
SEB
I reckon we’ll be all right.
DON
Oh.
SEB
Thanks for the offering though.
DON
Well, it’s an open invitation.
MILES and BRODIE walk in.
BRODIE
Here we are.
MILES
Do you want to sit here?
BRODIE
Ah, yeah, it looks good.
ALF walks out of the kitchen. VINNIE and LEAH are in the
kitchen. ALF walks into the kitchen.
ALF
I think you better get a load of this.
VINNIE and HAYLEY see BRODIE and MILES together.
THE BEACH HOUSE
NOAH and HAYLEY are there.
NOAH
Anyway, I just want to say thanks for today at
the hospital so.
HAYLEY
You’re welcome.
NOAH
Yeah, anyway, I better get going.
HAYLEY
Em, do you want to come inside for a while?
NOAH
I don’t want you to do that because you feel
sorry for me Hayls.
HAYLEY
Noah.
They kiss.
NOAH
I’ve missed you so much.
HAYLEY
Yeah, I’ve missed you to.
THE BEACHSIDE DINER
VINNIE, ALF and LEAH are there.
VINNIE
Well he did say he was going out with the girl
from the caravan park.
LEAH
Well Alexi thought he meant Dani, not Brodie.
It’s not funny. Come on, we’ve got to warn them.
ALF
Hey, don’t look at me.
LEAH
Vinnie.
VINNIE
Why me? What do I say?
LEAH
Aw.
VINNIE
What do I do?
LEAH
You’re better at this sort of thing, please.
BRODIE and MILES sit at a table.
MILES
I don’t know. I just, don’t know, I always
wanted to do languages. I think it was growing up near the west.
Everyone I went to school with spoke at least one other language
naturally so I hated not knowing what they were talking about.
VINNIE sits at the table.
VINNIE
Hey, Brodie, Miles.
MILES
Hi Vinnie.
BRODIE
Do you know Vinnie?
MILES
Yeah, yeah. Didn’t I tell you, the mate I’m
staying with, his sister runs this place.
VINNIE
Oh, yeah.
ALEX walks in.
ALEX
Well, this is a very cosy get together, isn’t
it?
BRODIE
I knew this was too good to be true. I’m really
sorry Miles, but I just have to go, I’m really sorry.
BRODIE leaves.
THE HOSPITAL
SHAUNA walks up to CHARLOTTE.
SHAUNA
Em, excuse me, I was looking for Jude Lawson.
CHARLOTTE
I’m afraid it’s immediate family only at the
moment.
SHAUNA
I’m his fiancée.
CHARLOTTE
Oh, right, I’ll tell him you’re here.
JUDE lies on a bed. CHARLOTTE comes in.
CHARLOTTE
Jude, you’re fiancée’s here. Are you up to
seeing her?
CHARLOTTE walks out of the room.
CHARLOTTE
I don’t know what’s going on here, but he says he doesn’t have a
fiancée. I’m sorry. |