Last Cab to Darwin Page #5

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I can't do it!

Rex!

Rex!

You gonna let me drive now?

Then you need a break, my brother.

Yep.

It's beautiful. No doubt.

Hey! You mob! Look at this.

There's a crocodile down here

and he's wearing a T-shirt

with my name on it.

He is a lunatic, isn't he?

Yeah.

He's married too.

- Kids?

- Couple.

Hey, brother boy. You made it.

Not what I imagined.

Doctor's not here.

- Where is she?

- Got an appointment?

- Well... no, but...

- Your name?

Rex MacRae.

I'm a cab driver.

No one is allowed to legally kill anyone.

You don't get it.

Hello. I'm Dr Farmer.

I'm Julie.

I'm Tilly.

Then you must be Rex.

That the only colour it comes in?

Yeah.

Was it you that splashed

my face all over the papers?

Why didn't you call me to tell me

where you were, how you were?

I'm here! Like I said I would be.

How's the pain?

- Pretty constant.

- Okay.

Well, if you had called, I would've told you

that even though the bill is now law,

there are still some hurdles to clear

before we can actually use it.

There are three people we need

to convince before we can legally do this.

A psychiatrist, to confirm

you're of sound mind.

That might be tough.

A specialist in your particular

form of cancer.

To confirm I'm cactus.

And both of those

have to come from the Territory.

You've got these people lined up, right?

You know who they are?

No. Not yet.

But you made it sound like

it was a deadset f***in' certainty.

It's not easy, Rex.

The Federal Government, the church,

the AMA. They don't want this.

It takes power away from them

and gives it to ordinary people

like you and me.

They're gonna fight like hell.

Why didn't you tell me

all this on the phone?

I tried to, Rex.

But you wouldn't f***ing listen.

You're gonna be a difficult patient.

More than likely.

You should try driving

2,000 K's with the bastard.

So, I've got work to do.

But first, you need proper care.

Sonya, ring Karen at Darwin Hospital.

- See if there's any beds in Palliative.

- No!

No hospitals. That's why I'm here!

There's a hospital in Broken Hill.

Just tell me the truth.

Am I gonna get to use

that bloody thing or not?

Well?

Not yet.

Then I'm driving home.

- Hey, Rex, hold your horses.

- I'll do it. I'll care for him.

But we'll need somewhere to stay.

Somewhere that's not a hospital.

Four years' neonatal at Royal London.

The past two years, I've been APRN

at West London Emergency.

You can stay at my place until...

You can stay at my place.

It's small, but there's a spare room.

I'll sleep here at the surgery.

I often do that anyway.

Here's my address and phone.

That's so I know where you are.

My place is a bit of a mess.

And I'll be a while.

I've still got patients to see.

That's alright, Doc.

We've got a few things to do ourselves.

Let's go, guys!

- Who are you?

- Tilly Johnson, sir.

Tilly from Oodnadatta?

You been training, Tilly?

Nah, but... I wanna.

Sorry, it's too late.

Season starts in three weeks.

I've got no time for bullshit. Come back

next year and do a pre-season with us.

Hey!

The kid was drafted by Essendon

a couple of years ago.

He's the best full-forward

in the history of Oodnadatta!

He's not coming back next year.

He's gonna play this year.

And if he's not gonna play for your mob,

he's gonna f*** off right now

and play for that mob over there!

And after he kicks

a bag of 10 against you,

you can tell your supporters

how you could have had him

but you wouldn't give him a go

'cause you don't have time for bullshit!

So you vouch for him?

Drove him all the way

from Oodnadatta, didn't I?

Alright, Tilly. Go and see the ladies

upstairs, grab some gear.

You can have a run tonight

and you and I will talk after training.

Yes, sir.

Go, boys!

Is there a mob over there?

Yeah. That's the Tigers.

These here are the Saints, brother.

Thanks, Rex.

- Meet me back here after?

- I can't, Tilly.

Why not?

You're his girlfriend now.

Well, he does have one quality

I look for in a man.

He's not married with kids.

Well, the fascinating witches

Who put the scintillating stitches

On the britches of the boys

Who put the powder on the noses

Of the faces of the ladies of the harem

of the court of King Caractacus

Was just passing by.

Right! Who's not here?

Who's already on their way home?

Hello?

Yeah, hold on. Dougie. It's for you.

It's Rex, you stupid prick!

Rex? How is ya, mate? Yeah?

Good on ya. Yeah, you don't sound too bad.

Yeah, I'm alright, Rexie.

Yeah, the missus is alright.

She wanted me to join

Alcoholics Anonymous, but...

I said, "Alcoholics Anonymous?

"How the f*** are you supposed

to stay anonymous in this town?"

Dougie!

What? Yeah. Yeah, I will.

Alright, Rex.

Well, good talking to you, mate.

See ya.

Well? What did he say, you dopey prick?

He made it.

The bastard's gonna f***in' do it.

Press the red button.

Yeah!

Are you alright?

I've never seen the sea before.

- You can change your mind, you know.

- I know.

There goes the sun.

Dr Farmer. Dr Farmer. Dr Farmer.

The president of the AMA

has accused you of attention-seeking.

And he's right. I'm seeking attention

for a patient's right to die with dignity.

- What about Rex?

- Where is he?

Where is he now? Where is he?

He's trying to stay alive long enough

to die. Make sense of that if you can.

- Rex. Rex.

- ABC News, Rex.

Alright, alright. One at a time.

One at a time! You.

How are you feeling, Rex? Are you scared?

- What, about dying?

- Yes.

Yeah, I suppose I am.

I'm always scared of things

that I've never done before.

Rex, how hard has it been

to convince your loved ones

that the decision you're about

to make is the right one?

There's no one else. It's just me.

- No one at all?

- No.

What do you do if Dr Farmer

doesn't get the signatures you need?

I don't know. Go home, I suppose.

- Alright. Alright.

- But if you go home...

That's it. That's it!

Thank you! Show's over!

Show's over. Show's over...

Julie, you're in the spare room

at the end of the hall.

Mine's the one next door.

And you, Rex, will be centrestage

on the sofa bed.

It'll be cosy.

A bit early with the flowers,

aren't you, Doc?

Call me Nic.

I think I might stick with Doc,

if you don't mind.

Alright. Let's deal

with your pain management.

Start with 10ml. See how we go.

Doc, you said before that we needed

to convince three people.

Well, you've told me two of them...

but who's the third?

You?

You.

I want to help you, Rex.

But I want to be able to help

a lot more people after you.

That machine... is not a gimmick.

You and I have to be 100% sure

that this is what you want.

I've never been more sure

of anything in my life.

Good.

Then I've got a lot of phone calls

to make on your behalf.

- Really?

- No.

I don't want to be the first.

- This one is chocolate.

- Thanks.

I designed it myself.

There's a three-part questionnaire...

Do you have any pets?

- Got a dog.

- What's its name?

- Dog.

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