Ride Along Page #6

Miller:

Alright we’re going to the apartment

buildings up on West Chester.

Thompson:

We’re is that?

Miller:

Take 100 east and then we get off at

exit 22. We follow that road for about

2 miles and make a left.

Thompson:

That’s right next to that Target,

right? Alright I know where we’re

going.

They pull out of the lot, sirens flashing hot. It is very loud,

and bumpy in the back. Kevin leans to the left and turns his

head around so he can see out of the front windshield. Thompson

honks his horn several times before they approach a red light,

and then he runs it.

Miller:

You alright back there?

Kevin:

Yeah. It’s just my first call so there

are a little butterflies.

Miller:

That’s right, you didn’t get a call

when you were here with us last. (To

Thompson) Do you remember your first

call?

Thompson:

Ha. Mine was an old, fat drunk that

fell down the stairs. We could barely

lift him on the ambo, and he puked

halfway through the ride.

Miller:

How very Irish. (To Kevin) You’ll be

fine. Chances are it’s nothing. We

rarely run anything too exciting. My

first call was a lady that thought she

broke her arm, so she thought calling

911 would get her seen quicker. As soon

as we got to the hospital we wheeled

her straight to the waiting room. The

look on her face was priceless when we

asked her to get off the stretcher and

take a seat.

A radio between the two seats started making static.

Dispatch radio:

Ambulance 96, do you copy? I repeat,

ambulance 96, do you copy?

Miller picks up the walky.

Miller:

Yes, ambulance 96 here.

Dispatch radio:

Right, so we got a call about a woman

in labor at your destination. Engines

92, and 22 will be right behind you,

along with Medic 56. Over.

Miller sets the walky down.

Thompson:

A childbirth? I don’t want to do a damn

child birth.

Miller:

(To Kevin) You’re in luck. We got a. .

. unique call.

The ambulance enters the parking lot of a 5 story apartment

complex.

32. EXT. APARTMENT COMPLEX PARKING LOT- DAY.

Miller and Thompson get out the front. Kevin unbuckles and grabs

gloves from a box hanging from the door. Miller opens the back

hatch of the ambulance and grabs the stretcher handle. On top of

the stretcher is a big RED BAG. Miller unhooks the stretcher

from the ambulance, pulls, and then lowers the stretcher to the

ground. Thompson is gaining access to the building.

33. INT. Apartment complex lobby. Day.

Thompson enters the building first and sees a few people

crowding the elevator in the lobby. He briskly walks over, Kevin

and Miller trailing closely behind. A man, mid 20s, handsome and

well-built, RUNS to Thompson. You see panic on his face and

dried tears on his cheek

Mr. Prestman:

Come! Quickly! My wife is about give

birth. Please you have to do something!

Mr. Prestman runs towards the elevator.

34. INT. ELEVATOR- DAY.

It is wide-open, emergency alarm sounding. On the floor of the

elevator is KATE PRESTMAN, in a nightgown and panicked. A random

female tenant is also in the elevator comforting her.

Mr. Prestman:

Her name is Kate Prestman

Thompson:

Kate, can you hear me?

Kate looks up and nods her head. The random female tenant gets

up and leaves.

Thompson:

Can you tell me what happened?

Miller starts taking vital signs on Kate. Kevin watches from the

door of the elevator, alongside Mr. Prestman. Both look white as

a ghost.

Kate:

I woke up very early this morning and-

um, I had to go to the bathroom badly.

Nothing out of the ordinary, but once I

was on the toilet I couldn’t go, even

though it felt like I had to. I get a

lot of UTIs, so I thought it might be

one of those. So I thought nothing of

it and went back to bed. Then I woke up

several hours later with my sheets

soaked and in pain. I told Phil to get

everything ready. I got out of bed and

had a contraction. Phil helped me to

the door, but I had another contraction

in the elevator, only about two minutes

later, and it hurt a lot. Phil then

called you guys… I think the baby is

coming.

SWITCH TO:
POV Kevin.

Thompson checks underneath the nightgown.

Thompson:

Oh yes he is. Head is already starting

to crown.

Miller places a folded towel under Kate’s butt. She turns to

Kevin.

Miller:

Can you set up a nasal cannula?

END POV Kevin. Kevin looks startled. He takes a second to

compose himself and walks out of the elevator to the red bag on

top of the stretcher.

35. INT. APARTMENT LOBBY- DAY.

There are several more fire engines and ambulances outside and

people are starting to walk in. He opens the red bag, digs

through it, and grabs the oxygen cylinder and nasal cannula. He

sets it up and walks back into the room.

36. INT. ELEVATOR- DAY.

Kevin very slowly walks towards the action. He offers the set up

N.C. to Miller. She just stares at it and then back at Kevin.

Kevin retracts his offer and then kneels down to Kate.

Kevin:

(Voice crack) Alright Mrs. Prestman.

I’m going to place this oxygen mask on

you. It will smell funny at first but

then you’ll feel better.

Kate:

(Panting) Okay.

Kevin tries to place N.C. on Kate but struggles. His hand is

shaking and he can’t seem to get it around her ears. Miller

quickly snaps it from Kevin and puts it on quickly and

perfectly.

Thompson:

Alright Kate. Are you ready to be a

mother?

Kate:

Oh god yes!

Thompson:

Alright on three I want you to push as

hard as you can. 1..2..3!

Kate pushes and lets out a scream of pain. Her face goes red.

Kevin grabs Kate’s hand.

Thompson (cont’d):

Alright again! 1..2..3!

Kate pushes again, screams again, and squeezes Kevin’s hand

hard.

Thompson (cont’d):

One last time. Give it your all.

Alright, 1..2..3!

Kate pushes once more, screams much louder, and squeezes Kevin’s

hand white. You see Thompson pull a baby boy out. Miller cuts

the umbilical cord. Thompson goes to his feet, baby in hand. It

has not cried yet. Miller suctions the baby’s nose, eyes, and

mouth. Still no cry. Miller and Thompson walk out of the

elevator. Mr. Prestman walks in to be with his wife. Kate turns

to Kevin.

Kate:

What’s happening? Why hasn’t my baby

cried?

Kate starts to tear up.

Kevin:

Uh… They are working on your… baby.

Kate:

What does that mean? Is he going to be

alright?

37. INT. APARTMENT LOBBY. DAY.

The baby on the stretcher. Miller is wiping it down with a

towel. Thompson has a stethoscope to its chest.

Thompson:

Faint heartbeat. Very shallow breaths.

Pulse ox is only 87. We don’t have

oxygen masks that fit him. (A beat)

What we need is a blow by mask.

Miller takes a second to think than says this:

Miller:

We can simulate one.

She reaches in the red bag and brings out a children’s NON-

REBREATHER MASK. She quickly hooks it up and turns it on. She

holds the mask about six inches from the babies face so the

oxygen blows on its face.

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