Summerfield Page #3

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About that recital Jenny.

I think you should go.

You'd enjoy it.

When David and I were very young

we'd walk up here and sit and...

and look out across the water.

We used to argue.

Whether that land over

there was England or America.

Sometimes it was Africa or India.

But it was always the world.

The world beyond our world...

Summerfield.

I've had a lovely

evening Simon, thankyou.

Well perhaps we can

do it again sometime?

We expect Sally to be back

at school in a week or so.

Oh. So there won't

be any need for you

to come and give her more lessons.

The work she has

will see her through.

But I don't mind. Really I don't.

No? We've been burden

enough for long enough.

But I don't mind I tell you.

Look. I'm not being

entirely selfless.

You must know that.

No. There's no need.

It would be best if you didn't.

Thank you again Simon.

Goodnight.

How's young Sally Abbott going?

Oh, quite well really.

She could've been back

at school days ago.

They had a nasty fright

with her you know.

When she was about a year old.

Thalassemia major.

It's a blood disease.

Used to be called

Mediterranean anaemia.

Thalassemia literally

translated means

salt water in the blood.

I'd just arrived.

My previous preactice had

been in a tobacco growing area.

Lots of Italians, so i'd

seen something of it already.

Otherwise it would probably

have passed unrecognised.

In some countries, in the

more primitive areas...

as soon as they say the symptoms...

they'd take the baby

out into the hills and...

leave it to die.

Fortunately, although Sally

has Thalassemia major, not minor

it was in a mild form, so it's

effects have been minimised.

Still, I suppose

Jenny feels guilty.

It's hereditary of course.

Peter Flynn's things,

from the draw in my room,

they've gone.

Oh really.

Just a moment, i'll get Jim.

Yeah,

wondering what happened

to Flynn's stuff?

Yes.

I shifted it into the office.

I thought it'd been under

your feet long enough.

Was there something

you especially wanted?

No, of course not. I was

just curious, that's all.

Goodnight.

See you in a few days

then Sally. Goodbye.

By Dr Miller. Thanks David. Um...

By the way, when you

bring Sally over...

I'd rather like to

take a blood sample.

Um, you not her.

Just a matter of interest.

Remembering Sally's problem.

Talking to Robinson you know

the new teacher,

bothered me actually.

He's obviously very interested

in problems of heredity.

Blood...

it's funny damn stuff.

It's been estimated that one

in every twenty people

in the countries around

the Mediterranean

have Thalassemia minor.

That is they're carrying

it in their blood.

In its minor form

there are no symptoms...

it's only detectable

through blood tests.

However, when two Thalassemia

minor carriers marry

there's a one in four chance

that the child of that union

will have Thalassemia major.

Is that the only way the

disease is transmitted?

Yes.

So Jenny Abbott is

a Thalassemia minor.

That's right.

Who was Sally's father?

I've really no idea.

Hello Simon.

Ah, g'day.

Jenny tells me you had a

pleasant time the other night.

Yes.

Yes well I certianly

enjoyed myself.

Yeah, so did Jenny.

We thought...

you might like to come to dinner...

out at Summerfield...

this coming Friday.

Well yes of course, I'd love to.

Good. About 7 then.

Well look who I found

down at the gate.

Good evening Simon. Jenny.

Come and sit down.

Well this is... magnificent.

Sorry to rush you Simon

but you're just in time

for the big surprise.

Well... all new again.

Careful, alright.

I would like to propose a

toast, to Sally's new legs.

Now you stay there.

Sally's new legs.

And to you Simon, thankyou.

That's enough.

A warning.

That lighthouse

has been flashing...

a warning for over a hundred years.

And five generations of us...

have watched it.

Summerfield has always been

a kind of haven I suppose

but even an island can't

keep the world out forever.

You realise you'll be in trouble on

Monday Simon, with Sally back at school.

Well I enjoy trouble.

-Yes, I think you do.

Well goodnight Jenny, it

was a most enjoybale evening.

Goodnight Simon.

Goodnight.

You're obviously very

fond of children Simon.

Yes I suppose so, I don't

really think about it.

The responsibility, doesn't

it weigh heavily sometimes?

Well I don't let it get me down.

You're a lucky man.

Simon!

Simon!

Simon!

Jesus.

Sorry I...

Is this your room now?

Well I used to live here.

I left a while lot

of stuff somewhere.

I'm Peter Flynn.

Don't worry, I don't

want the job back.

I just had to split. Nothing

to do with the school.

Well, it's all yours.

zoneyoutwonk@karagarga.net

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