Reach for the Sky Page #3

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Crashed in an aeroplane.

I broke both my legs.

Ahh!

There, the dressing's off.

Right... see you later, old chap.

All right, nurse, you can re-dress the leg.

Well, sir?

I'd better have a word

with the mother, I suppose.

She's in here.

This is Mr Joyce, the surgeon.

I'm Bader's uncle. This is his mother.

How do you do? Your son came through

the first operation very well.

The first operation?

He needs another.

The other leg's infected.

I'm sorry... but I must have

your authority to amputate.

Oh, no!

No! (sobs)

What's the alternative?

There is no alternative if he's to live.

But he can't lose both legs, not both!

I think I can save the other

below the knee.

Couldn't we wait a little while?

- 'Fraid not.

- It's his only chance, my dear.

If you do it... are you sure

you'll be able to save him?

I can't be sure, he's very ill,

but I would like to try.

Very well.

Now, if you'll excuse me.

Give him my love.

Yes, I will.

Mr Joyce will do everything possible.

I'm so afraid that Douglas

will hate me for ever...

...but I couldn't let him die.

- Of course not.

(Sanderson) Knowing the danger...

...Joyce did the second amputation

at top speed...

...and they wheeled Bader

back to his room.

Every ten minutes, day and night...

...they took his pulse.

It was there, but only just.

Douglas was like a man hanging on

the edge of a precipice by his fingertips.

Would he have the strength

when the anaesthetic wore off...

...to face the terrible weight of pain

that would fall on him?

Can't we give him more morphia?

He's had as much as we dare give.

It seems to have no effect.

(Douglas groans)

He lay there... fighting...

...fighting...

...for two days and two nights...

...but there was no relief

and no defence...

...until his body could stand no more.

Then came the morning

when the pain had left him.

He felt warm and peaceful.

He was, in fact...

...slipping away from life.

- (nurses laughing)

- Shh! There's a boy dying!

Dying?

We'll see.

In that moment, the pain started again.

- Send Mrs Williams home.

- Yes, sir.

- How's Bader today?

- I think he's a little better.

- He's still in terrible pain.

- Let's take a look at him.

The morphia seems

to be having some effect.

I think he'll pull through.

Some of the nurses

are in quite a state about him.

Well, you know young nurses...

...and he is good-Iooking.

I'll see they keep their minds

on their work.

There's life in the patient yet.

How's your pulse rate, sister?

(Sanderson) Hour after hour,

for four endless days...

...the devoted nurses fought for his life...

...and, in the end, they won.

I came as soon as I could, sir.

How is he?

You can see him today.

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