Bloodlines Doctors

What else can I be when I live in such a world of fools as this?

And then...

I hereby curse anyone who darest

uses the word Christmas in my presence.

Miles off. It's, "Merry Christmas! If I could work my will..."

Yeah, I know what it is. I'm not saying that.

I don't see why Dickens has to use 50 words when 15 will suffice.

If you change it you'll mess up the cues for everyone else.

And if I don't, the play will be six hours long.

Why should I say what Heston's copied out of

a book when I can think of something better off the top of my head?

OK, fine. But, please,

just stick to the script in the scenes you have with Joe.

I think I've already knocked his confidence trying to teach

him how to project.

I imagine the Zara Carmichael School of Speech and Drama is

an unforgiving place.

I'm just trying to make sure he can

be heard by the people in the cheap seats.

-Very egalitarian of you.

-Yes, it is very good of me,

to be considering those who are less fortunate than us.

I've got patients to see.

I suppose it could be worse.

I've got an idea for a new dance!

You have to stop saying that. You know it summons her.

It's a guaranteed showstopper.

Are you insane? We can't learn a new dance by tonight.

It's very simple - even a dog could pick it up.

-Can we test that?

-I promise you,

this will leave the audience wanting more.

So meet in reception at lunchtime and I will teach you how to...

bust a move.

We are so doomed.

-Is it the same handwriting as the others?

-Mm-hm.

And you've no idea who's sending them?

No.

It's hard enough having to re-take my first year, without this.

Perhaps the person who sent it genuinely wants you to have the money?

I'm not a charity.

And why don't they say who they are?

I don't know.

The man who attacked me, he has friends at this university.

You think it might be one of them?

Maybe it's the start of some sick joke.

I'll go and have a word with them.

Don't worry, I'll get to the bottom of this.

Thanks.

-Ah! Sergeant Hollins.

-Barry.

-What are you doing here?

Is there a security matter I should be aware of?

No. I'm here on very important business.

Karen asked me to pick up this scarf if I came near the campus.

It's been in lost property for months.

Our new foster kid wants to borrow it.

Actually, while you're here,

I'd like to update you on my investigation.

What investigation?

Someone has been sending money to one of the students.

Sounds all right to me.

This student is actually finding it very upsetting.

She got caught in the middle of a fight in a pub last year.

She was stabbed in the back -

it damaged her spine and left her in a wheelchair.

I remember.

She thinks someone might be playing a trick on her.

By sending her money?

I've spoken to some of the friends of the young man who attacked her.

They claimed not to know anything.

Well, no surprise there.

If you do think it's serious and you need any assistance...

I have your number. But don't worry, I'm on the case.

I just wanted to give you a heads up in case things escalate.

Thank you, Barry.

Don't ask.

PHONE BLEEPS

Hello, father.

Yep, all is good.

I'm getting ready to give Olivier a run for his money.

OK. No, I understand.

The lane closures can be a real problem.

No, honestly, I don't mind. I understand.

Look, I'm just going to make an idiot of myself anyway.

OK, look I've got to go.

I've got a patient waiting.

OK, bye.

Any other questions, just get in touch.

How can I help you?

Please, Miss Pitman. Everyone will be here.

Stop fretting.

They would not put up with this kind

of tardiness if we were at the National Theatre.

It is almost as if we've got other jobs to do.

-At last!

-I'm only two minutes late.

Yes, but that two minutes could spell the difference between

being a smash hit and a flop that closes at the interval.

We should be so lucky.

Shall we get started?

Yes, that's the sort of attitude I'm looking for.

The sooner we get started, the sooner this farce will be over and done with.

That's not the sort of attitude I'm looking for.

OK, everyone, could we just inhabit the space.

And, Fred Astaire, we require your services.

-I need to go over my lines.

-There'll be time for that later.

That's blatantly not true.

I'm don't think that kind of attitude is very helpful, Al.

OK, shall we start by limbering up?

Can we go straight to the dance? The clock is ticking.

Zara Carmichael, come on down!

Perhaps you had forgotten that we have a rehearsal for Miss Pitman's

-dance routine?

-Oh, she remembered.

I owe you one.

OK, are we ready to do-si-do?

Do-si-don't would be nearer the mark.

Picture the scene - we are in the Scottish Highlands.

We've just built a barn and are quite pleased about that,

so we'd like to celebrate.

We express our happiness through dance!

Sorry, what's that got to do with A Christmas Carol?

They have Christmas in Scotland.

All right, this dance is meant to be in Mr Fezziwig's warehouse in

-Victorian London. I don't think...

-Can we just get on with it?

OK. Mr and Mrs Fezziwig, to begin with,

you're going to do a gallop on four...

Goes like this, a one, two, three, four.

And back, two, three, four.

OK.

One, two, three, four.

-One, two, three, four.

-Perfect.

So you want to keep your room throughout the holidays?

-Yes.

-Even Christmas day?

You won't be spending it with your family?

I've got friends, foreign students who'll be here.

Oh. That's good.

What's your room number?

Block C, room 127.

Miss Mertens?

Will your parents come and visit you?

They...they haven't dealt with this very well.

I just need some space to sort

my own head out without worrying about them.

We'll require payment for the room at the start of the holidays.

Fine.

I think I read about you on the university website.

Possibly. I've been getting involved with the Student Union.

You seem to be coping well.

Considering what happened.

Could we just get this done, please?

Of course. Sorry.

And one, two, three, four, and back two, three, four.

And turn, two, three, four, go to your next person.

One, two, three four, and change, two, three, four.

Round two, three, four.

Coming to the centre, and stop!

Good. Right.

Something to build on.

I think you have done a wonderful job in such a short amount of time.

Aw, thank you.

Heston, with the turns in the middle, you were in the wrong place.

No, no, I was do-si-doing, you went off into the sunset.

-Because you went the wrong way.

-I didn't go the wrong way!

Don't dwell on the details. It's just important that we commit.

Better to do the wrong thing with gusto than do the right thing

half-heartedly.

Is that your personal mantra?

Right, so now we've got the basics,

this time I'd like you to really sell it to the audience.

If the audience have left by now, can't we just skip this?

-Good idea.

-No, even if you're just playing to the mice who live in

the theatre, you have to give it 110%.

Which is mathematically impossible.

No. Only in here.

If you dance from here, then numbers have a life of their own.

Erm...I don't think they do.

I really need to learn my lines.

OK. This time with music. First positions.

MUSIC PLAYS

And one, ready...

-ALL SHOUT

-Heston, you're early.

-No, you're all late.

-One, two, three...

..five, six, seven.

This is where the turn comes...

Now change, two, three...

Wait!

ALL SHOUT AT ONCE

There.

It'll be all right on the night.

And again!

I can get a room in Block J for the holidays if you like?

I'm fine where I am.

The rooms there are bigger. I won't charge you any more for it.

I don't want to have to move all my stuff.

And I'd rather stay with my friends.

Good afternoon. Miss Mertens.

Have you found anything?

What do you mean?

It's just an internal security matter.

Some crank has been sending me letters.

We believe the last letter was sent from University House,

-so I'm just going around talking to the staff.

-Oh.

Have you seen anyone behaving suspiciously?

No. Nothing springs to mind.

What did these letters say?

They contained money, and a note.

Today's one told me to enjoy Christmas.

Isn't that a nice thing? Being sent money.

No, it's creeping me out.

I saw Sergeant Hollins earlier, made him aware of the situation.

You got the police involved?

When it comes to student safety it's always better to be safe than sorry.

I'll go and continue my enquiries.

Thanks.

Can I have a word?

Gosh.

COCKNEY ACCENT: How did little Tim behave?

It's your line.

I know. It's, um...

"As good as..."

...gold and better.

For pity's sake. He told me coming...

Coming home.

He told me coming home, etcetera, etcetera.

Just give me a chance!

Oh, Tim, sometimes you say the strangest things I ever heard!

Just give me the first word.

But.

I might need the second word as well.

"But he's growing strong and hearty."

Hearty.

Strong and hearty, aren't you, Tim. Strong and hearty.

If you're just going to say all my lines for me,

what's the point me being here?

Funny that, I was just thinking exactly the same thing.

This isn't helping!

We are beyond help.

This should help.

Can't you feel it at all?

No, I don't... I don't think it was that hot,

and it probably won't leave a mark.

I think we should have a doctor check on you, just to be sure.

Especially if you can't feel it.

I'm so sorry.

The lift's out of order at the surgery at the moment.

If you fetch a doctor, she can wait here.

It'll be fine.

Please. For my own peace of mind, if nothing else.

I won't be long.

How long do we wait?

I don't know, we'll see.

He's got to come over sometime.

-That could be hours, though, right?

-MESSAGE ALERT

-Bad news?

-No, no - Karen,

making sure I've got this scarf.

Adam, our new boy, he wants to put a show on.

What kind of show?

I have no idea.

-You all right?

-Yeah! No, it's just....

I don't know what I make of him.

He's... He's very flamboyant.

-What's wrong with that?

-Nothing.

It's just that I wasn't expecting it.

All the other kids we've had have been damaged, difficult.

I wasn't expecting singing and dancing!

Isn't it nice he's happy, though?

Yeah.

And I hope that he doesn't spend his life

getting in and out of trouble.

But still...

-What?

-Well, I bet all the other kids make fun of him.

In my day, if you were that camp, you wouldn't stand a chance.

The world's changed.

I'm glad it has, for his sake.

I think it's nice you worry about him, you know?

It's what you do when you're a parent.

Even as a foster parent.

I wouldn't know.

What do you mean?

Thanks for this, Dr Granger.

No worries. Lead the way.

Anything else I should know?

I didn't know you were in care.

Mum fell apart when she found out about Dad's second family.

I can't blame her, really.

She'd built her whole life around him,

-then he did that to her.

-Do you ever see 'em?

Not for years.

Dad used to visit the care home,

but all he'd ever talk about was his new family.

It made me feel sick.

Half the time he didn't even show up, anyway.

-Look how well you turned out, considering.

-Hmm.

Got fed up in the end.

Not knowing when he was going to show up,

getting upset when he did.

Had to cut off ties in the end.

How old were you?

17.

I've not seen him since.

What about your mum? Do you see her?

Not really.

It's best for both if we don't, you know?

Do you ever resent it, being put into care?

Better than staying with my family.

I think, you know, Adam's lucky -

he's got a proper family to stay with.

Well, I hope so,

although I don't know what we can really do for him.

Just cos he's from a better background than you expected

doesn't mean he doesn't struggle with who he is, where he's from.

I think all teenagers do.

I'm just a bit worried that he's playing things up a bit,

that this extrovert behaviour is him trying to prove something.

Or maybe he finally feels like he can be himself.

After work...

Yeah?

..can I come?

To the show?

-I mean, it's fine if not. I've got...

-No, no, no, it's fine.

You're very welcome.

Cool, it sounds good.

I can't believe I did that. I'm so clumsy.

Accidents happen.

I take full responsibility, of course,

-if you want to complain.

-I don't.

Will you tell your parents about this?

I don't know. Why?

They must worry about you.

Especially if they won't be seeing you at Christmas.

Why is it that sitting in a wheelchair

means everyone feels they can pry into my private life?

I'm sorry. It just makes me sad.

It must be very hard for you.

Here she is.

-Hi, can we have a bit of space?

-Of course.

-Thank you.

-All right, so it just hit you here?

-Yeah.

OK, let's have a look.

All right, that's not too bad.

All right, well...

I think you've been very lucky,

it doesn't look like there's any serious damage.

But if it starts blistering, do come to the surgery or call us, better,

and the nurse will come out and see you.

-All right?

-OK, thank you.

How are you otherwise?

I'm fine.

Barry tells me you were sent another letter.

Yeah.

That must be worrying.

It's just ever since I lost the use of my legs,

everyone keeps telling me how well I'm doing.

If I hear one more person say the word "inspiration",

I'll strangle them.

It must make it hard to admit when you are struggling.

I don't want to be that helpless person that everyone pities.

-But I am worried they're being sent from one of

-his

-friends.

Like, maybe one of the lads who was in the pub that night.

I don't know what I can do about it.

-KNOCK ON DOOR

-Come in.

Hey, how you doing?

If I'm honest, absolutely terrified.

All right, well, I can help.

I know some techniques that can relax and, you know,

-get you more focused.

-Really?

Yeah. I could pop back at the end of surgery.

If we can get you in a better frame of mind, it might even,

dare I say it,

you might even enjoy the performance.

I'll settle for just getting through it alive!

Yes, please.

She's been very lucky, she's going to be fine.

So, Kim, I'm done here. Good luck, all right?

-OK, thanks.

-OK.

Sorry again.

Please stop apologising.

You're all right, that's the main thing.

Looks like some of these will need printing out again.

Don't worry about it. They'll be easy enough to replace.

Well, I better get off, then.

What is it?

-ROB:

-Hi, love.

-Ooh, did you get it?

Fabulous!

And I brought a visitor to see the show, if that's all right.

You won't hear any complaints from me.

-Hiya. I'm Tyler.

-Adam.

Right, I'll go and get myself ready for the show!

'I can explain.'

You sent the letters?

I don't even know you.

I went back to using my maiden name over the summer.

Before that, it was something else.

It was Colthorpe.

He's your son.

It wasn't bad enough that your son paralysed me -

you felt you also had to frighten me?

I didn't think that was how you'd react.

I saw you'd come back to university and I wanted to do

something to make your life easier.

Money was the only thing I could think of.

The last thing I want is a penny from you.

Sam didn't mean to hurt you.

Then he shouldn't have brought a knife to a pub!

I know, I know.

How many nights I've laid awake wondering why

that stupid idiot, my child...

I should tell the police what you did.

I swear, I didn't mean to upset you.

Are you that stupid that never to think how it would look to me?

I just wanted to help. To apologise for raising a monster.

Did you know what he was like?

The sort of people he hung around with?

I disapproved... but I didn't know what to do.

I tried hard to bring him up well - I really did.

We organised extra tuition for him after school.

I told him I was always here to talk if he needed to.

So, what went wrong?

How often have I wondered that?

Maybe I tried too hard -

pushed him away.

I have to live with what he did.

I don't have a choice about it.

The only way I know how to deal with it is just to get on with my life.

SHE SIGHS

I have to accept that I can't change what's already happened

and just think about the future instead.

You won't hear from me again.

Thank you.

It was his decision to get the knife out.

Not yours.

Ladies and gentlemen, sit back and relax.

Today, your living room. Tomorrow, the West End.

Introducing the one, the only...me!

Cue music.

# Tonight, I'm gonna have myself

# A real good time

# I feel ali-i-i-ive

# And the world's

# Turning inside out, yeah

# I'm floating around in ecstasy

# So don't stop me now

# Don't stop me

# Cos I'm having a good time, having a good time... #

-RELAXING MUSIC PLAYS

-Expel the air.

Feel it leave your body.

Good.

Did I just step through a doorway into Narnia?

Sh.

OK, concentrate. Concentrate, Sid, on your breathing. Slowly in.

And out.

What are you doing?

We're using hypno-birthing techniques

to help Sid prepare for tonight.

Um, hypno-birthing?

Congratulations. Have you thought of a name yet?

They're relaxation techniques, OK?

Anyone can benefit from them - you don't have to be pregnant.

Just gullible.

Do you feel any calmer?

-Actually, yeah, I do.

-Good.

Eyes closed.

And focus on your breathing.

Slowly in...and out.

You know, we should put THIS on stage tonight.

Perhaps madam would care to join us?

I would rather die.

# Don't stop me now

# I don't wanna stop at all. #

Yay!

That was brilliant, wasn't it?

Very impressive. Well done.

I cannot believe we're going to have to sit through Heston's pile of

old toot after a performance like that.

Thank you, guys. Thank you so much.

I'd better go and get changed back into my civilian clothes.

I'll see you in two ticks.

So, what do you think of him?

He's very talented.

I told you he was different.

Yeah. Well, I think he knows exactly who he is.

The way he is around you guys - that's cos he's comfortable here.

I think he's going be fine.

Especially with you two helping him.

Feel your lungs expanding.

That's right.

And then, slowly, let the air back out again.

Good.

When you're ready, feel yourself come back into the room.

-Thank you.

-My pleasure.

How do you feel, Zara?

I feel...

We will NEVER speak of this.

-Clear?

-I'm glad it helped.

I feel so much calmer.

Good...because we have a terrible show to perform.

Where's Valerie?

She's outside, waiting for the bus.

And you don't think that you should be out there with her?

I would advise the best way to deal with an excited Valerie is to keep

as much distance as humanly possible.

-Why don't you sit down?

-Why don't YOU sit down?

Here they are, dragging their heels.

What do you mean? We weren't doing anything...were we?

No. Er, sorry.

How are you doing?

SHE SIGHS

I don't usually say this,

but I should have listened to Daniel.

The whole idea of this show is insane.

Wow! I think we finally found something we agree on.

I'm worried about the effect it's going to have on poor Joe.

This was supposed to be for his benefit, but I fear we're going to

keep therapists in business for years trying to undo the damage.

No! It won't be that bad.

I don't mean the play, obviously -

that really is going to be that bad.

But Joe...

-I

-can stand the humiliation.

He should not have to go through this.

You just want him to be happy - there's nothing wrong with that.

I'm not going to be winning Mum Of The Year any time soon.

He's lucky to have you.

My parents have never cared about anything I was interested in.

Not my chemistry set or Gameboy.

Not even my career as a GP.

Why am I doing this play, again?

Because you're a masochist.

They think I'm eccentric.

They think I'm odd...

and I don't care.

This must be what sitting on Death Row feels like.

The bus is here. Showtime!

Scrooge!

Bah, humbug.

You will be haunted by three spirits.

I think I'd rather not.

Are you the spirit whose coming was foretold to me?

I am.

Come, Ebenezer Scrooge.

Merry Christmas to us all, my dears.

Lead on, then, spirit. Lead on.