The Lady Is Willing Page #8

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Temperature one minute,

gone the next.

What's wrong with Butch?

You're the father?

Don't worry about

that bouncing boy.

He'll grow up to be

president one day.

I'm a Republican.

Doctor McBain has

a peculiar sense of humour,

Doctor Jones.

Oh, yes. Very funny.

Uh, Doctor McBain, did you say?

That's right.

Not Doctor Corey T McBain?

Yes. Liza...

I'm very proud to attend the baby

of such a well-known colleague.

A slight temperature, restlessness

at night, a cold coming on.

Wouldn't you say, Doctor?

It wouldn't be ethical

for me to give an opinion.

He has a very odd

sense of humour.

Nothing to worry about.

I've seen thousands

of these upsets.

Thank you, doctor. Good day.

Good day.

He's seen thousands...

Liza, let me take a look at Butch.

If we need you, we'll call you,

Doctor Casanova.

Let me look at him!

No, get out!

If you want to look at something,

go and look at your second-hand wife!

That isn't fair. I'm no criminal.

Get out of here! It's not our agreement.

This is my apartment,

you live over there!

If you won't let me examine him,

let me call a doctor I know is good.

No!

Let that be a lesson to you.

Liza!

Liza!

Myrtle?

Myrtle?

Liza?

Hello, this is Doctor McBain.

Can you tell me

where Miss Madden is?

Oh. No, I didn't know that.

What hotel in Boston?

Er, thanks.

Give me long distance, please.

No, sir. She ain't. Doctor,

I know we shouldn't have come.

And now the baby...

He's... He's...

Mary Lou, stop crying, I can't

understand what you're saying.

What time?

Had Miss Madden

left for the theatre then?

Do you know what's the matter?

Mary Lou, what hospital?

Mary Lou, stop crying

and tell me what hospital.

Yes, as soon as I can.

Hello. Hello, get me

the airport, please.

I'll take it

in the other apartment.

If you drink this, Liza,

you'll feel better.

Why does it take so long?

Why can't I see him?

They're taking

blood tests, Liza.

What for?

What is it, doctor?

It's the mastoid, Miss Madden.

It's serious, isn't it?

Not necessarily.

But it's a good thing

it didn't go any longer.

We've checked the blood count

and the x-rays.

The infection is acute.

We should operate immediately.

No. No, you can't operate.

Liza, this is a little out

of my line, but they know

what they're talking about.

It's not a difficult

operation these days.

The greater risk

is not operating.

No, I won't let you operate.

Ken, tell him I won't let them.

Not here. Let's take

him to New York. Maybe...

A delay might mean

something more serious.

You must decide now.

I can't decide.

If something happened...

He's so helpless

and so little.

If I'd only let...

Buddy.

Doctor, I want to talk

to my husband in New York.

Where can I telephone?

Didn't Doctor McBain

know the child was running

such a high temperature?

I'm sure he'd want

us to go ahead, if...

Please keep trying

Doctor McBain.

Miss Pierce, Mr Corbett.

Thank you.

Doctor McBain,

flight 24, runway 16!

Doctor McBain? We're

holding the flight for you.

Here, buy yourself a drink.

Thanks, pal!

Doctor McBain?

Yes.

Take seat number five, please.

Thank you.

I'm Doctor McBain.

What room...?

McBain.

Hello, Golding.

We've been trying to reach you.

You're on the third.

Corey!

Oh, Corey! I've been

such a fool!

Oh, Corey! They want

to operate on Butch.

You won't let them, will you?

No, of course not.

Not unless you say so.

Let's take a look at this

and see what's what.

He doesn't wake up at all.

Any eighth?

About an hour ago.

They've given him something

to relax him and help him sleep.

You won't let them

operate, will you?

Right mastoid

swollen and tender.

What's the white count?

Rechecked just

before you got here.

I administered

sulfanilamide, but...

No affirmative result, huh?

How extensive is the area?

Large, but still localised.

I'll show you the x-ray.

What's the pulse?

Very rapid.

Corey, look at me.

I don't know what

all this means.

Tell me. I can't stand it.

We're not hiding anything

from you. I had to know

these things in a hurry.

I just thought it was a cold.

That's how it all started.

It's worse than a cold.

Butch is very sick. We can help

him, but we have to operate.

No. Corey, no.

No...

No...

We've got to.

Nurse, tell Doctor Golding

we're ready.

And ask him if he'd

like me to assist.

No, Corey, I thought you...

Golding's one of the best

in the world. Liza, can't you

understand? I couldn't do it.

Butch is my kid. Our kid.

I'd be scared to death.

Every second I held the knife,

I'd be thinking if...

If something goes wrong,

the look in your eyes would

stay with me all my life.

Corey, I know you're scared.

And I know Golding's

a good doctor.

But I couldn't stand the awful

minutes while he's in there

without you doing it.

You're his father.

If something goes wrong,

don't worry about

how I'd look at you.

I'd know that not Golding and nobody

in the world could've done more

than you did for him.

And I'd love you even then.

Even then?

OK, Momma.

OK, Pop.

We're ready, doctor.

Corey.

No change yet.

It's too early to tell.

But it has been so long.

I know.

When?

We may be be able

to tell more in a few hours.

Liza?

It's after 8.

Yes?

It's time to go to the theatre.

I'm not going.

I'm not going.

But, Liza, you must.

Why must I?

Do you think I can go

down there without knowing?

Darling...

You made me do my job

this morning. Now I'm going

to make you do yours.

There's nothing

you can do here.

I'll take care of Butch.

Any change, I'll let you know.

No...

I think it's better if you go.

Corey...

Liza, I want you to go, dear.

You'll let me know?

Yes. I'll let you know.

Strange thing

You linger in this heart of mine

Strange thing

You're something that I can't define

What means this lilting song

My heart would sing?

Is it a passing thing

Is it a touch of spring

Stay now,

everything will be all right.

If only love will tell

Strange thing, I know you

You're my heart's desire

Love's lonely longing

Of a heart afire

Read, then, my future

In the stars abo...

The stars up above

Read and foretell

All shall be...

He's all right.

All shall be well

All shall be well

And I find love

All shall be well today

Well today

And this eternal

Oh, Corey!

He's all right, darling.

He smiled at me.

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