Reach for the Sky Page #4

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Oh, thank you.

It's a pleasure.

How did you get on, Douglas?

I'm going to ask that girl out one day.

- No time like the present.

- Go on, Douglas.

Oh, I don't know,

I don't suppose she'd want to...

You just wait till I find my feet.

(Desoutter) Bring the other leg.

Get this foot firmly on the ground.

Let's get moving, boys,

I'm going to a dance.

Try and stand on this one.

Can I have the crutches, please?

Thank you.

Feels good.

Much better than the peg leg.

Right, we'll try a step, shall we?

Right, here goes.

Lift your leg a little higher

to keep your toe clear.

Right.

- How's that?

- Well done.

Now let's have a shot at the right leg.

Thank you.

Take those.

- All right, Walker, you'd better slip it on.

- Very good, sir.

I didn't expect all this harness,

Mr Desoutter.

You'll feel a bit like a parcel,

but your right stump's weak...

...after doing nothing for six months.

You need all the support you can get.

- That's it. Pass those crutches.

- Try standing without them.

All right.

Good. Now let's have a go, shall we?

Good Lord, this is impossible!

That's what they all say the first time.

I thought I'd walk out tonight,

be running about in a fortnight.

I think you ought to face it,

you'll never walk again without a stick.

I'll never walk with one!

No-one with your disability has...

- What's that got to do with it?

- All right.

Let's try a step or two.

What do I do? It's impossible!

Try kicking the right stump forward

as if you were cracking a whip.

Very good.

Come on.

My God, I can't move!

Don't panic. You've no toe or ankle muscles

to spring you forward.

You must learn to do without them.

Pull me over this damn leg.

Pull me again, for God's sake.

Now let's turn.

Push harder on my right side.

Again.

You'd better have a rest now, sir.

- I'll never get it.

- Yes, you will.

It'll take time.

See what six months will do.

Six months?

You know... you'd find a stick very useful.

No stick, not me, never.

- Come on, let's have another go.

- Take shorter steps, it's easier.

A bit better.

Shorter steps seem to be the secret.

Taking half an inch off the right leg

might make it easier.

- How long will it take?

- Half an hour.

I've got to see a girl in a few days.

I want to be walking by then.

All right, we'll make it 20 minutes.

- Haven't you done enough, sir?

- Good idea, that half inch off.

That'll do for today.

You'd better be getting back.

I'm not going home

until I can walk on my own.

All right, if you think you can.

Now let me go.

Now stand back, all of you.

I want to do this on my own.

You know what you can do

with your damn sticks!

- You did tremendously well.

- Can I take them?

You'd better come here to practise.

They're expecting me at Uxbridge

on my own two feet.

You'll get your legs soon enough.

Come on, let's give him a cup of tea.

(Thelma squeals and laughs)

- Wasn't that awful!

- I must go, I'm terribly late.

See you on Thursday. Bye-bye.

- Don't forget your coat.

- Bye.

Bye.

- Hello.

- Hello. Is that your boyfriend?

- No, my cousin.

- Ahh!

Um... do you ever go out in the evenings?

- Well, I do sometimes.

- Oh.

How would you like

to come out with me one night?

I don't know you.

I don't know you, but I'll take a chance.

I'm getting new legs -

I must have somebody to dance with.

- I don't know your name.

- Douglas Bader.

- I'm Thelma Edwards.

- Join me?

- I don't...

- There's nobody about.

All right.

- Will you take tea?

- Thank you.

Cream or plain?

You're going to be about an inch shorter.

My new girlfriend's not very big.

If you get a change of heart, come back.

We'll make you taller!

It's still difficult, but it's easier

than it was three weeks ago.

You're making wonderful progress.

Now away you go, boys,

let's have another go on my own.

Done it!

How the devil do I turn?

It's something you have to practise.

It's the hardest one of all.

We'll see about that.

There you are, they're all yours.

You've found your feet again.

It's a bit soon to let you have 'em

but you'll only complain if I don't.

- Shall I wrap them for you?

- No! I'm walking out on 'em!

Ah-ah.

It not only looks good, it feels good.

You look fine.

Mr Walker, put that back in the cupboard!

Now, what about a stick?

No, I'll go on the way I've started.

Don't expect too much.

You've done darn well.

- Thanks for putting up with me.

- Car's waiting.

Goodbye, sir.

- Goodbye, Mr Walker.

- Good luck, sir.

Mr Tullitt.

- Come back if you have any trouble.

- I will.

Goodbye.

Thank you.

Hello, Douglas! Let's give you a hand.

- I can manage!

- Don't be so touchy.

Sorry, Peely,

I've got to work this out for myself.

Long John Silver's

got his undercarriage back!

(babble of voices)

- How goes it, Douglas?

- I've got 'em.

- I look normal if I don't move!

- Do a circuit, Douglas.

Well, I'm flaked out,

I've just climbed the stairs.

Bet you five shillings

you don't make your own bed.

You're on!

- Hold those, Peely.

- Come on!

- Come on, Douglas, you can make it.

- (shouts of encouragement)

I'll take the boy with the tin legs!

- Slow.

- That's it, boy, you'll make it.

- Don't weaken, Dougie, come on!

- Watch it.

- Yes, steady.

- I get my leg next week.

There goes my five bob.

- Come on, try, man, try!

- Dougie's coming up.

(cheering)

You can go and pick up that five bob!

- You all right, sir?

- My stumps hurt like the devil.

- I must've rubbed the skin off.

- You're overdoing it.

If they're going to chafe,

how can I walk very far?

I'll put some sticking plaster

on the stumps.

- Good idea. Then I'll try again.

- That wasn't what I meant.

Never mind that, I'm telling you

what I want. Get that plaster.

- Where's your boyfriend these days?

- What boyfriend?

- The boy who had the accident.

- I hardly know him.

- I thought he asked you out.

- That was some time ago.

Maybe he can't get around much.

(# jazz on gramophone)

Oh, blast!

- Are you all right?

- That's enough, Douglas!

- You've been at it all afternoon.

- Let's sit down.

Let me go, boys,

I've got to get the hang of it.

Don't bust yourself, she'll wait.

I can't go and see the girl like this.

(Douglas whistles cheerfully)

Look, boys, no hands!

- Is this the big day?

- It is.

Change your socks.

It's getting noticeable.

- I've had my shoes on for two weeks.

- Send your legs to the laundry!

- John, what news of the leg?

- It'll be stiff for good.

There you are, what did I tell you?

Have it off, old boy, have it off!

Ah, here we go.

- All ready for you, sir.

- Good.

Be careful. They can't put a tin head

on you. Hang onto the wooden one!

- Wish me luck.

- Give her my love.

Fat chance of that!

- Blimey, he'll take off in a minute.

- That's one thing he'll never do.

Not any more.

Hello.

I'll bring it straight away, madam.

- We've had our tea.

- Oh, I'm sorry.

- You look wonderful.

- I was going to say that about you.

Thank you.

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