Episode 43 - Ricardo
/ROSLYN: This episode of Love and Luck contains discussion of homophobic violence. Please, take care of yourself.
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ROSLYN: You've reached the Love and Luck Podcast.
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JASON: Kane, don't freak out when you get this message, okay? Listen all the way to the end before you have a panic attack.
I'm fine, but I'm at the hospital. I went outside to get some fresh air before I went to bed, and found this poor guy bleeding on the ground outside our bar. He wasn't super responsive, but I got his name - it's Ricardo - and he managed to tell me that some fucking arseholes starting beating him and shouting slurs and shit.
He got gay bashed, Kane. And the fuckers left him on our doorstep for us to find.
I called the ambos and sat with him till they arrived, trying to keep him awake, and now I'm here at the hospital waiting to see if he's going to be okay. He didn't want his family called, or any friends or boyfriends or anything so I just... I couldn't leave him alone. I couldn't. So I came with him.
I am fucking fuming. As if what happened to Michael wasn't enough... now this. These fuckers are clearly not going away with some gentle thoughts from us. This can't go on.
Can't do much about it right this second... I really want to make sure Ricardo's okay before I head home. So if I'm not there when you wake up, I'm probably still here at the hospital, okay? Don't worry, I am fine, I'm just sticking around to support Ricardo for a while. I love you.
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KANE: Jesus fucking Christ, Jason, you could have woken me up for something like this! I nearly had a fucking heart attack when I listened to your voicemail! Look, just... I'm glad you're okay, but... fucking hell.
Do you want me to come to the hospital and bring anything, or something? Call me back as soon as possible, okay?
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JASON: Shit, missed your call, sorry. I was taking a nap. Hospital chairs and floors are not super comfortable, and then on top of that there's a thousand beeping noises.
Don't worry about coming here. Stay at the bar and take care of people there. I've got this.
Oh, I gave Victor a call and asked if he could cover me tonight if I'm still here and he said yes, so, he might be around later today if it looks like that might happen.
I'm really sorry I scared you. I... you're right, I should have woken you. I wasn't thinking very clearly. I'm really sorry. I love you.
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KANE: Hey... fuck, figures that the one time when we actually want to answer each other's calls we keep missing each other.
Sorry for snapping at you. I'm just... I was just scared. It makes sense that you weren't thinking clearly. Sorry.
I'll stay here, but keep me updated on the situation, okay? I love you.
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JASON: Hey. It's okay. This is an upsetting thing... it's okay that we're both kinda fucked up about it.
I love you too. Ricardo's in surgery right now. The doctor said he should be okay though, so that's really good news.
Normally I wouldn't be allowed to stick around for him, since I'm not family or whatever, but... I'm the only person here for him, and he really doesn't want to call anyone. He got really upset about the idea of me leaving, when one of the nurses mentioned it. He had a panic attack, actually. I helped him through it okay, it wasn't exactly like when you have them, but I think having seen you go through them a lot it made it a bit easier for me to help him calm down.
Worst job experience ever, by the way. If I ever get good at this magic shit I'm going to figure out how to magic panic attacks away, and then I'm going to figure out how to bottle that spell and I'm going to sell it and become a zillionaire while making the world a better place all at the same time.
[sigh] Anyway... I'll try calling you again in an hour or so if I don't hear back from you soon. I love you so much. Hug Helen and Victor for me. Stay safe.
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KANE: [Sighs] Missed you again. I've taken my phone off silent, hopefully I'll hear next time you call. Oh, and hugs delivered to Victor and Helen. It made them both smile pretty damn big, which was a nice pick me up. They miss you too.
I hope Ricardo's surgery goes okay. Let me know how things go.
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JASON: Fucking hell. We're really having the worst luck with catching each other right now.
Ricardo's still in surgery, but I'll let you know when he's out.
Hey, you know that voicemail we got at the bar from Eileen? She said she might know who vandalized our bar? I'm guessing that whoever did that is the same group of shitheads who bashed Ricardo.
I know she said she'd drop in on Thursday, but I'm going to give her a call today and see if she can help us out. Text me her number when you get this?
We need to know who did this. We need to know who to hold responsible.
I love you. We'll talk soon.
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JASON: Hi, Eileen? It's Jason Flint from the Best of Luck Bar, on my mobile. I'm just returning your call about the vandalism. We think the people responsible for that are also responsible for a gay bashing that happened just outside our bar. Anyway, if you can help us out at all, please return this call. My number is 0456 038 767. Thanks.
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ROSLYN: Love and Luck is written by Erin Kyan, and produced by Passer Vulpes Productions. Kane is voiced by Lee Davis-Thalbourne. Jason is voiced by Erin Kyan. Credits spoken by Roslyn Quin. Recorded by Kermie Breydon.
For more information about Love and Luck, check out our website, loveandluckpodcast.com. You can also find us on facebook as Love and Luck Podcast, and follow us on twitter, at @LoveLuckPodcast.