For context please be sure to read the previous chapter, Gillian and Caroline Go to Hebden Women’s Disco – Last Tango in Halifax Fan Fiction 1.7
The full list of this Last Tango in Halifax fan fic episodes can be found in Last Tango in Halifax Fan Fiction.
Three months later…
CHARLIE’S MINI COOPER. MORNING.
Charlie is driving with Caroline to Manchester
What are you so nervous about?
Erm…meeting your father.
What’s so frightening about that? You had me meet your entire family including your ex-husband.
I’m not as brave as you are.
It’s not like we’re getting engaged. (discomfited at having raised a subject she’s not ready to discuss) It’s just dinner.
Maybe it’s that. The last time I’ve had to meet a parent was when John and I got engaged.
You didn’t meet Kate’s parents?
Well, her father has Alzheimer’s and her mum lives in New York. We got married quickly for Flora. I’ve only met Kate’s mum at her…funeral. (pensive)
(holds Caroline’s hand) Gosh, you really are nervous. Your hand’s sweaty.
I should’ve put deodorant on my hands. (scours inside her handbag)
What are you looking for?
Protection.
Relax it’s just my dad. He’s only a dentist.
No one ever looks forward to seeing a dentist.
What can he do to you?
An unanesthetized root canal comes to mind. What do I even call your dad? Dr. Gallagher?
Call him Sir.
Sir Gallagher. Seriously?
Yeah, he was knighted for exceptional achievement in pulling teeth. (chuckles)
You’re not helping.
Just call him Richard. (glances at Caroline, and notices she’s tense; she holds her hand) You’re going to be fine. Just stay away from dad’s dental chair at all costs. (laughs)
ALAN AND CELIA’S HOUSE, SUNROOM. MORNING.
Alan and Celia are drinking tea in their sunroom. You could hear Flora giggling in the living room where she’s watching an animated film.
Did you say Caroline and Charlie are driving to Manchester to meet Charlie’s parents?
Just Charlie’s father. Her mother died when she was twelve.
Oh, poor girl. (drinks tea) Driving all that way to meet the father. Do you think they’re getting engaged?
I don’t know. Caroline hasn’t said anything.
Charlie’s a lovely girl. I can see how happy she makes Caroline. I just hope she doesn’t break Caroline’s heart. It was excruciating seeing her lose Kate.
It crushed her heart into smithereens, but it’s more likely for Caroline to break Charlie’s heart.
Oh, how so?
Kate’s death was devastating. How does one work through it?
We both lost our spouses. We moved on.
I’d like to say we’re special (smiles at Alan, gives him a kiss), but Caroline and Kate were only together five minutes. They never got past the honeymoon stage.
Literally. I see what you mean.
Charlie has her work cut out for her.
Indeed. How did I ever end up with a clever wife?
It was fate.
Celia and Alan kiss and hold hands.
CHARLIE’S FATHER’S HOUSE. NOON.
Charlie rings the doorbell of her father’s house. While waiting, she leans to kiss Caroline who demurs.
No! Not in front of your father.
He’s not here yet, and he wouldn’t mind.
Richard Gallagher, a man in his mid-sixties, opens the front door.
Charlie! My prodigal daughter returns.
Richard hugs her daughter tight. Caroline is taken aback at how young he looks; he doesn’t seem much older than her.
You must be Caroline!
How d’you do, Dr. Gallagher?
Call me Richard! (gives Caroline a warm hug) Come in! Come in! You must be famished. I hope you like Indian food. I made chicken vindaloo.
Vindaloo?
Yeah, I saw it on YouTube.
YouTube? Are you going through a crisis of some sort?
Ha-ha! That was a decade ago.
So, we’re not having my favorite dish?
We have a guest, peanut. I don’t think Caroline would appreciate me serving black pudding. It’s an acquired taste even for us Northerners.
And vindaloo isn’t? I guess we’ll be drinking more milk than wine today.
Not to worry. This is the authentic Goan version. It’s not supposed to be too spicy. It’s just vinegar, garlic, and some spices. (turns to Caroline) You’re not allergic to anything are you?
Me? Oh no, no, and I like the sweet and tangy vindaloo. I also find the Portuguese influence fascinating.
Brilliant!
TEACHING FARM. NOON.
The farmhands and staff are having lunch. Gillian spots Adrian.
Dr. Murray! (sits beside him)
Please call me Adrian.
You know I was just kidding about the doctor stuff the first time we met.
Don’t worry about it. What can I do for you, Gillian?
I was thinking about using AI on me ewes. I’ve got a sheep farm.
Oh, you do?
Yes, in Halifax. This gig is just something I do to help ends meet.
I see.
It beats working at t’supermarket. So…how do we start breeding? (she manages to make it sound like something else)
(oblivious) Are you sure about this?
Uh-huh.
We can’t go about it lightly. We need to be careful.
I’ll be prepared.
I have a strict routine.
I’ll follow your lead.
First, I need to take blood samples.
We hardly know each other.
Adrian looks lost.
That was a joke.
CHARLIE’S FATHER’S HOUSE. NOON.
Caroline, Charlie, and Richard are in the middle of their meal.
Caroline, Charlie tells me you’re a headteacher at a state school.
Yes, I am, Dr. Gallagher.
Just call me Richard. She’s the doctor in the family.
(perplexed) Huh?
Richard (to Charlie): You didn’t tell her?
It’s irrelevant.
Caroline (to Charlie): You’re a physician?
Only by training.
A decade’s worth of training only not to practice.
Dad, we’ve been having the same discussion since I was twelve. We agreed back then you’d let me be a paramedic if I’d go to med school. I even agreed to do the core training.
I know. I know. I was only teasing. You know I’m proud of you, peanut. (touches the tip of Charlie’s nose just like a father does to a small child)
Now, you’re just embarrassing me.
Sorry, I’m not used to meeting your friends. The last time you introduced me to one was decades ago.
(nervous) Huh? (defensive) I don’t recall introducing you to a friend.
Caroline’s intrigued.
I remember it like yesterday. You said you have a boyfriend, and dragged Mike from the sand pit. You were five. You two were so cute! (pinches Charlie’s cheek)
Argh! Stop embarrassing me! This is why I don’t bring friends over.
(laughs) Caroline, I’ve been told you have kids. You’d know how I feel.
Oh yes, yes.
Would any of your kids like to take over my dental practice?
Whoa! Aren’t we getting ahead of ourselves here?
It’s just a desperate plea from a father wanting to leave a legacy.
Well, let’s see, William, my eldest is squeamish. My second son, Lawrence, is more likely to pull all your teeth just for laughs. Which leaves us with Flora.
She’s your daughter with your late wife?
Yes. Flora’s only five, but of the three, she’s your best bet.
Let’s hope I live until 90 then. How’s your vindaloo?
It’s delectable! I can lick the sauce off the bowl. (scoops the last piece of chicken with ample sauce, takes a bite, there’s a perceptible cracking sound) Ow!
Are you all right?
Caroline nods unconvincingly.
You don’t look all right. I must have missed one of those cloves; little buggers. Not to worry! I’m a dentist. Let’s go to my office and take a look.
(her hand on her cheek) No, I’m fine, really.
Come, come, no guest of mine is leaving my house with a toothache. It’s bad for business. (chuckles, leads Caroline to his office)
Dad, would you like me to assist you?
No, but it would be great if you clear the table. I’ll get Caroline fixed in time for dessert.
Caroline looks at Charlie helplessly.
RICHARD’S DENTAL OFFICE. AFTERNOON.
Richard holds the door for Caroline.
Take a seat. Make yourself comfortable.
Richard starts washing his hands. Hands Caroline a cup of mouthwash.
You can rinse your mouth with this. There’s a button on that spittoon if you want to dilute it with water.
Caroline does as she has been told. Richard dons his gown, mask, and gloves then attends to Caroline.
Okay, let’s take a look. Say aaah!
Aaah!
It looks like your filling fell. Hmmm…when was the last time you went to see a dentist? And I don’t mean when you brought your kids.
I can’t remember.
Let me do a bitewing. See if any of your other teeth need filling.
Is that necessary?
Not to worry. I won’t charge you.
It’s not thaaa…
Before Caroline knows it, Richard has the plastic sensor in her mouth. He positions the X-ray unit near her face, and takes an X-ray.
(speaks unintelligibly) Why do they make these things so uncomfortable?
Caroline, don’t move. We’d have to redo.
(mutters) Sorry.
Richard repositions the plastic sensor in Caroline’s mouth.
No harm done. Let’s do that again. Don’t make any movements. (takes X-ray) You know Charlie’s very fond of you.
Caroline is about to answer but remembers she’s not supposed to move. Richard removes the plastic sensor and places it on another side of her mouth before Caroline could speak.
I’ve never seen her so happy. (takes another X-ray, repositions plastic sensor in Caroline’s mouth, becomes serious, and looks Caroline in the eye) You are not to hurt her. (takes X-ray, removes plastic sensor from Caroline’s mouth)
I would never hurt her. I think the world of Charlie.
Caroline is surprised and troubled by her admission.
Good. She’s the only one I got. Now, let’s fix your tooth.
A drill makes a whirring sound. Caroline looks horrified.
Read continuation in the next Last Tango in Halifax fan fiction episode: Gillian and Caroline Go to Hebden Women’s Disco – Last Tango in Halifax Fan Fiction 1.9
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