Episode 4: Thaïs becomes a mother

IN THE STABLE - there is a storm outside
Uncle Dimitri: Lie quiet Thaïs, it can't be many more days.

IN THE HOUSE - Julia is trying to answer the phone
Julia: Hello? Lipizzaner Stud Farm. Hello? Hello? Hello? Hello?
(the phone rings again - the line is disrupted by branches blown about by the wind)
Julia: Hello? Is anyone there? Hello?

IN THE STABLE
Uncle Dimitri: What are you doing out of bed?
Julia: I haven't got a temperature, I've just taken it. How far along is she? Is it bad?
Uncle Dimitri: It's not going well. The worst is her fear, and that's made worse by the thunderstorm.
Julia: Poor Thaïs and you didn't reckon on everyone being off. Stanko, Dinko, Andrej and the others.
Uncle Dimitri: They have all rushed off to the circus, it doesn't come every day to Sezana.
Julia: Stanko wouldn't be happy to be away now.
Uncle Dimitri: Not if he had known. Thaïs is too early by five or six days.
Julia: It's such a worry, she can't be already there? Do you think that Thaïs will be a good mother?
Uncle Dimitri: We hope she will
Julia: Do you think that in some way Boris will feel like the father?
Uncle Dimitri (laughing): No, not at all. Definitely not.
Julia: A fine family life then!
Uncle Dimitri: You shouldn't be here with the animals. Go to bed!
Julia: Please can I stay a little longer. I don't want to be alone.
Uncle Dimitri: Well, all right.
Julia: It's funny, but - simply put - a Lipizzaner foal comes into the world black and gets lighter from year to year until it becomes white.
Uncle Dimitri: Yes, a Lipizzaner in not an albino. Its coat is white but it has dark skin underneath. I'm not really happy with her. Julia, run and phone Doctor Kozina and ask him to please come at once.
Julia: I can't, the phone is not working.
Uncle Dimitri: That wretched phone never works when you need it!
Julia: Do you think - I mean - could Thaïs die?
Uncle Dimitri: That's silly. You must go back to the house and try the phone again. Perhaps it was a temporary fault.
Julia: And if it's not, then I'll ride Boris there.
Uncle Dimitri: You'll stay here! Do you want to catch your death?

LATER IN THE STABLE
Julia: No, no, no. We're not smooching now. Don't you know that Thaïs is having a foal and we have to quickly fetch the vet?
(Outside the stable he rears when there is lightning and thunder, nearly throwing her. She rides him through the rain, jumping a descending barrier to cross the railway line - a train passes soon after.)

AT THE VET'S
Julia: Doctor Kozina!
Dr Kozina: Julia! What brings you here?
Julia: Please come quickly Doctor Kozina. Thaïs is having a foal.
Dr Kozina: Isn't it going smoothly?
Julia: No, there are complications. Uncle Dimitri is with her, but everyone else is away and the phone doesn't work. Please come quickly!
Dr Kozina: How is it that you aren't properly dressed for this beastly weather?
Julia: I was in such a mad rush to get over here.
Dr Kozina: Quick, I'll give you some drier things, you'll be soaked to the skin.
Julia (to Boris): Stay! Wait!

IN THE STABLE
Stanko: I would have stayed here if only I'd have known.
Uncle Dimitri: I don't like the look of her. I feel so stupid.
Stanko: Always the same, a murky pool. I got here Boss, but I'm not much use.
Uncle Dimitri: Try the phone, it might just be working again after what Julia said.
Stanko: Where is Julia then?
Uncle Dimitri: I sent her to bed. I must get the doctor for her when I've sorted Thaïs out.

AT THE VET'S
Dr Kozina: There, Boris. You've been very patient.
Julia: Tell me Doctor, have you got everything that anyone needs in your syringe?
Dr Kozina: I've always got what everyone needs, I've got a bag full of instruments.
Julia: Oh Doctor, please don't tell my uncle that I was here, he thinks that I'm still lying in bed.

ON THE ROAD
Stanko: Did Julia get you to come?
Dr Kozina: Yes.
Stanko: Where is she then?
Dr Kozina: She's taking a short cut home.
Stanko: Thanks.

ON THE ROAD
Julia: Ah, Stanko. What are you doing here?
Stanko: I'll ask you the same when the Boss finds out.
Julia: He doesn't have to find out does he?

IN THE STABLE
Stanko: Just like his mum, only black.
(uncertain who is speaking): This is what Thaïs has been waiting for. I don't know how many births I have already seen, but for me it is always a miracle.
Uncle Dimitri: It is a miracle, Stanko. Look how she is looking after him. So the days of his life begin.
Stanko: Though that's the same for all life.
Uncle Dimitri: Recently I discovered what someone had meant in what they said.
(uncertain who is speaking): What was it he said?
Uncle Dimitri: I think I've got it about right, he said that the best people on the earth are dogs and horses. Oops. Try again. Good, go on. Yes. Yes. A Lipizzaner's life isn't the easiest of lives for a horse. First you have to get up on your legs. Well, well, at last! Now you've managed it! Yes Stanko. I'm not needed here anymore. I'll go and see how Julia is doing.

IN JULIA'S BEDROOM
Uncle Dimitri: We have a son Julia! A strong and healthy colt. Four legs, ears and a muzzle. It's all there.
Julia: Oh, that's good.
(he sees the clothes that the doctor has lent her)
Uncle Dimitri: What's this telling me? You've been out? You went to Doctor Kozina's? Now I understand how he got here so quickly. You're hot. Where is that thing? Here. Take your temperature.
Julia: Yes.
Uncle Dimitri: What do you do these things for my Julia? You actually weren't here? How can you do that to me? You really don't know ...
Julia: Please don't be cross with me Uncle Dimitri, I went because Thaïs would die ...
Uncle Dimitri: You know what the horses mean to me, but you mean more. And you are my family.
Julia: Don't worry about me, Uncle Dimitri, just because I have a little temperature. I'm as strong as a horse, I'm tough!
Uncle Dimitri: Tough? You?
Julia: I really am tough. Believe me.
(he puts his hand on her heart)
Uncle Dimitri: It's racing, just like a fever.
Julia: I've forgotten my pills, they're in the other room over there. Could you please get them for me? And a glass of water please?
(she shakes the thermometer to try to get it to go down)
Uncle Dimitri: There you are.
Julia: Thank you.
Uncle Dimitri: Now let's see. Well, your temperature has gone down thank God, it's only 37.8 degrees. But you still have to stay in bed tomorrow, understand?
Julia: Yes. What are you going to call the foal?
Uncle Dimitri: As it is Thaïs' first foal his name must begin with an "A" of course. Can you think of one that suits?
Julia: I've already come up with one. Arabello.
Uncle Dimitri: '-la' not '-lo', but that can't work, it's a girl's name!
Julia: I'll call him '-lo'. "Arabello", I just invented it!
Uncle Dimitri: All right. Arabello it is then. Now rest and get better.
Julia: Good night.

UNCLE DIMITRI IS RIDING BORIS ON THE TRAINING GROUND
Uncle Dimitri: He's being silly again today. He's already been out with Julia, that's why.
Uncle Dimitri: Let him have a break for now and cool off, I'll work with him later. OK Boss.
Uncle Dimitri: I really don't want to make him any madder today.
Stanko: Who isn't mad today, everyone is. So we have to tiptoe about.
Woman: Who's mad? The little one is going to die in your care! She's hardly breathing at all.
Uncle Dimitri: But yesterday she was getting better - I was with her - her temperature was getting back to normal.
Woman: Well I know what's happening today. She's running a high fever. I've seen in before with my sister-in-law and she had pneumonia!
Uncle Dimitri: It's a dangerous situation. I'll try and phone again and if it's not working I'll go and get the doctor at once.
Stanko: The doctor is between towns today, you could be out all day and not see him. Boss.
(Boris runs off to see Julia and puts his head through the window of her bedroom)
Stanko: There you are! Boris, you mustn't. She's too poorly. You old rogue.
(Stanko takes him back)
Stanko: So, too much of a stallion for stable lads. Stanko will show you how to hold on to a horse. You'll be laughing on the other side of your face.
(Boris runs off again)

AT THE VET'S
Dr Kozina: Have you run off again? Did you want to get more sugar? You need to make friends with the owner of a sugar factory, that would be lucky, eh? Now, Boris. I'm going to have to take you back home, be good I'll be back in a second. Come. Come. Come. You old escape artist you! That's good.

THE VET DRIVES HIS CAR SLOWLY WITH BORIS 'IN TOW'
Dr Kozina: Good day, Stanko.
Stanko: Good day, Doctor. You wanderer you! This Boris wears me out. I only have to let my attention slip and he's off.
Dr Kozina: I think I'll see Thaïs while I'm here. How is she?
Stanko: Thaïs is OK, but Julia's got a fever. The boss has gone to get the doctor.
Dr Kozina: She certainly caught a cold. I'll have a look at her too.
Uncle Dimitri: It's as if everything is cursed. First I ran out of petrol, and when eventually another car came along I was too late. Doctor Branic had left to go on his rounds. Nothing that I could do. Excuse me. It's been such chaos. Has Stanko been looking after you?
Dr Kozina: That's why I'm here.
Uncle Dimitri: Now the stupid phone works! Hello Lipizza Stud Farm. What? No! We don't have any cakes for sale. Lipizza. We have stallions. Idiot.

IN JULIA'S BEDROOM
Uncle Dimitri: Well? What do you think?
Dr Kozina: It is pneumonia. Hardly breathing and it will get worse from hour to hour.
Uncle Dimitri: And what shall we do?
Dr Kozina: A creature is a creature. I've got streptomycin with me. It works for both those with four legs and two legs. Shall I?
Stanko: Go on. You must give her an injection, Doctor. Mustn't he, Boss?
Uncle Dimitri: You know that you have to do what's needed naturally.
Dr Kozina: Then we need to move quickly.
Uncle Dimitri: Julia. Little Julia.
Julia: Boris!
Woman: Is she still alive?
Stanko (to the woman): Take your stupid potion away!
Uncle Dimitri: Now, now, now.
Dr Kozina: Here is my smallest. It's for rabbits and small dogs. Hold there please.

IN THE WELL
Dinko: So Boris ran over to the vet's to get some more sugar!
Man: Don't think only that. He understands more than you know.
Dinko: Well if not, he certainly took a message.
Man: In any case he brought a doctor home with him.
Another man: And hopefully he stayed there.
Dinko: That Julia is as lucky as a Sunday's child!

IN JULIA'S BEDROOM
Dr Kozina: That'll do for now.
Julia: Are you here to see Thaïs?
Dr Kozina: No, you. Yesterday you caught a very nice little cold
Julia: Thaïs had her foal?
Uncle Dimitri: She did. Arabello. You thought of the name yourself, you know.
Stanko: I'm so happy I could dance the Fandango!

END OF EPISODE FOUR