Tangled Webs Doctors

Good morning, Dr Vere.

I need to speak to you.

Oh. Is everything all right?

I'd like you to arrange a meeting with the partners for me.

The partners?

And you. I need to speak to you too.

Well, as you know, Dr Clay is still away

and Dr Carmichael is on a course.

You and Daniel will do.

Can I ask what this is about?

I'd rather not say.

That sounds serious.

It is.

How serious?

On a scale of one to ten?

Ten.

Morning.

Sid?

What's wrong with him?

I have no idea.

You haven't had a go at him, have you?

Do you know of any reason why he might be upset?

No, although he has been quite funny recently.

What do you mean funny?

Anxious. Well, more than normal, which is saying a lot.

Has any of the patients said something to him?

No. He'd tell me if they did.

He tells me everything.

Well, something is very wrong.

Maybe it's personal life.

Relationship problems.

Why would he want to speak to me about that?

Mind you, I haven't seen him with a girl recently.

Maybe he's decided he's gay.

That is hardly likely.

Well, it happens.

I mean, you think you're something and then one day, bang,

you wake up and you realise you're something else.

Look at Emma.

Dr Vere's personal life is none of our business.

Well, it is if it affects his work.

I am sure it will not. He is very conscientious.

Maybe he fancies one of the other doctors.

Miss Pitman, please!

I wish I had not said anything, and please do not spread

malicious gossip!

-Morning.

-Morning.

Oh, I was just wondering if...

If you...

Miss Pitman.

Miss Pitman, back to work, please.

Where do you get your energy? I'm exhausted.

Are you complaining about having too much sex?

No.

But if we keep on like this, I'm going to start falling asleep

at work.

Then our baby will have two stay-at-home dads.

Regular sex prevents the natural build up of DNA damage.

The more we do it, the healthier the baby will be.

You're obsessed.

Aw, you're not seriously going to wear these?

The website recommends a daily jog.

What happened to the Lycra ones?

Too tight.

-At least they had some style.

-I have to keep my bits cool.

Obsessed!

I've waited forever to have this baby.

-Forever?

-And I'm going to do it right.

You're 30, Lenny.

My Aunt Alice used to say I was the only broody 13-year-old

she'd ever met.

You certainly are unique.

The website also said we should use an American surrogacy agency.

It would, wouldn't it? Advertising is how they make their money.

Cynic.

These agencies, they prey on desperate people like you.

Desperate?

All they do is find someone who's willing to get pregnant

and give you the baby.

-That's not all.

-We've already found someone.

And that money can be much better spent on the baby.

Fine.

Hey! Get your own.

-Are we still having lunch with her?

-Yep.

I did say she can be a bit of an acquired taste?

-Once or twice.

-But she's totally reliable.

Hey.

I trust you.

You must have some idea why he wants to come and talk to us.

No. Miss Pitman seems to think it is a personal problem.

Don't pay too much attention to what she says.

I cannot imagine what is troubling him.

You know how obsessed he gets. It's probably nothing.

Right.

What are you doing?

-I told Tom I quit.

-You thought I was Tom?

I'm just jumpy.

I promised him I'd stop smoking for the baby.

Does he know how many times you've tried to quit?

Yeah. Well, I've given up junk food, late nights.

-This is the one vice I've got left.

-What about sex?

-I'm not giving that up.

-Good.

As long as Tom doesn't find out, what harm can it do?

It's not like I'm the one getting pregnant.

It would be pretty weird if you were.

Can you get your cousin to have a look at this?

What is it?

Just a questionnaire.

It's all the stuff they say you should know about

a potential surrogate.

Who says?

Some American surrogacy website.

Tom downloaded it from the website.

He'd get them to do everything, if he had his way.

You know how much they charge?

-80 grand.

-For having a baby?

I think that's extra.

This's just for the lawyers, insurance companies, the shrinks.

Total rip-off.

Do people actually pay that?

There's one born every minute.

I mean, how hard can it be to get pregnant?

The hard part is NOT getting pregnant.

Have you lost your mind?

-No.

-You can't be a surrogate.

Why not?

Do you have any idea what's involved?

Getting pregnant?

And?

And it's never been a problem.

There's a lot more to it than that, Kayleigh.

Look, if you're going to get all snooty, I'll leave.

I just need you to sign this question thingy.

-I can't.

-Why not?

-For a start, I'm not your GP.

-So?

You've not even mentioned the abortion.

I was 19.

Or all the morning after pills, or the recreational drugs use.

I haven't taken anything in years.

It still counts.

The only people who are going to read this are the two dads,

and all they care about is if I can get pregnant.

You really don't get it, do you?

Eesh, a guy looks at me, I get pregnant.

Because you refuse to use birth control, except for condoms,

and you forget them half the time.

-Well?

-Well, what?

What are you always telling me?

Stick to what you're good at.

You're unbelievable. I'm not signing that.

-Why are you always making everything so difficult?

-Me?!

Oh, sorry!

So sorry, although I am so glad I bumped into you.

Literally.

-Just wondered what you're doing for lunch.

-Why?

Well, I thought it would be nice to catch up.

Oh, a catch up?

Yeah, you know, to have some girls' time.

You could tell me all about Cornwall.

Cream teas, caravans, little tiny pottery rabbits, a gift from Truro.

What?

Memories.

I wasn't in Truro.

We could pop over to the Icon.

Maybe even have a sneaky glass of wine.

-I'm sorry, I'm busy.

-Share some gossip?

If you're going to do this, at least go through an agency.

I don't need some posh div telling me how to do it.

-That's not what...

-It's easy.

Lenny and I have it off a few times, I get up the duff.

-Job done.

-You're going to sleep with him?!

Duh. It's how it usually works.

Um, not with surrogacy.

Oh, what?

You want me to use one of them disgusting squeezy bottle things?

An insemination kit, yes.

Way too creepy.

Kay, you can't sleep with him.

Why not?

-Isn't he married?

-So?

-And gay.

He wasn't always.

We had a thing once. You were away.

Oh, my...

He's an ex?

Yeah. And seriously hot.

So that's why you're doing this?

So you can sleep with your ex?

No, of course not!

There's no harm in having a bit of fun, though,

-for old times' sake.

-Kayleigh!

And for him, it's better than doing it with a complete stranger.

Don't get all sensible on me.

-I'm doing it for the right reasons.

-Which are?

I want to bring a new life into the world for

a lovely couple who can't have a baby.

Oh, very noble.

And I love the idea of a tiny piece of him growing inside my tummy.

You do realise you have to give the baby up when it's born?!

Lenny's a mate. It's not like I'll never see him again.

-Or the baby.

-That's exactly what it means.

I know that there have been some issues with my performance.

Well, at first, yes, but...

And I know that the figures aren't good.

You do?

So you're going to have to make some cuts.

Who told you this?

Obviously it's going to be last in first out.

I know that's the way it has to be.

-Sid, no-one is...

-Please.

I appreciate that you don't want to hurt my feelings,

but this is hard enough as it is.

Dr Vere...

Look, the uncertainty is killing me.

If you could give me one last chance.

To do what?

OK. Fair enough. I had to ask.

Sid, no-one has any problem with you.

We are very pleased with what you are doing.

You're not making me redundant?

-Redundant?

-No.

Where did you get such an idea?

I can't believe I let you talk me into this.

-You owe me.

-For what?

If you're not going to sign that question thing, the least you

can do is tell them I'll be a great surrogate.

You won't, and I'm not going to lie.

Since when did you care so much about the truth?

Since I might lose my job.

-You are so boring.

-Thanks.

At least promise not to mention anything about the alcoholic gene

-in the family.

-Don't start all this again.

-In fact, don't mention genes at all.

-I wasn't planning to!

Just say good stuff about me.

I can't do this.

Eesh, this is really important.

They're paying me twice what I earn at Mason's.

-They're paying you?!

-Of course.

And before you get all snippy again, there's nothing sleazy about it.

They're just paying my expenses.

That's it?

Mind you, I've got a lot of expenses.

I thought you said this bloke was a mate?

They were going to pay some American agency 80 grand.

I'm doing them a favour.

How very generous of you.

Although, I might put my prices up.

I don't want to sell myself short.

Well, I heard you talking.

When?

A few weeks ago.

You were eavesdropping?

No.

I mean, I didn't mean to, but yeah, sort of, and then Valerie said

my name came up in the meeting.

What, Miss Pitman told you that?

Yeah, she said it came up a lot.

And that's it? That's all it was?

No, no, there were other things.

The way people were treating me and looking at me.

What people?

Valerie and others.

Who?

Well, Valerie, mainly, actually.

And?

I just thought that everyone knew I was finished.

They seemed to, at least.

You know, now I've said all this out loud, it doesn't sound

-very convincing, does it?

-No.

You are a valued colleague, Dr Vere.

And I have had lots of patient feedback on you.

You have?

All good.

Really?

Why does that sound so surprising to you?

Actually...

..what else did Miss Pitman say?

I can't remember exactly.

But she did give me the impression I was in trouble.

You should know better than to listen to Valerie.

Why did you not come to me with your concerns?

Sorry.

Valerie? Can I have a word?

-Not now, Sid.

-But I really need...

-Later.

And her cousin's a nurse.

So if we've got any problems, all we have to...

What's wrong?

Nothing.

I know that look.

Come on. What is it?

I know how much you want to be the baby's father.

We'll both be fathers.

I mean the biological father.

It doesn't matter who the donor is.

Actually, it does.

Why?

You'll be spending all your time with the baby.

The way you are, you'll bond with it in five minutes.

So will you.

I'm not like you, Lenny.

And I'll be at work most of the time.

Only cos you earn more.

What if I start feeling it isn't really mine?

You won't.

If it's got my genes, I won't.

What about my genes?

-The next one will be yours, I promise.

-The next one?

I was an only child.

-I do not want our kids growing up like that.

-Kids?

At least two.

We're really doing this, aren't we?

We're going to be a family.

I do not understand how he got so confused.

It's like he needs constant reassurance.

But he is a good doctor.

He has low self-esteem, no matter what I say to him.

He needs a good kick up the backside, is what he needs.

No, no. It is a serious lapse of management from all of us.

True, true, and we'll look at that, but you know what,

it's mostly down to him.

I will have to try to sort him out.

No. You've got too much on your plate already.

Leave it to me.

PHONE RINGS

Have you thought about using an agency?

They don't need to. They've got me.

-We did consider it.

-Way too expensive.

And I'm cheap as chips, but not in a bad way.

Money is a bit tight for us at the moment.

And the things they say about the cost of raising children...

-You shouldn't let that worry you.

-I need to use the loo.

Lots of people who don't have money do all right by their children.

Yeah, I'm sure, but it's still a worry.

So do I.

I'm sorry?

The loo, I need to use the loo.

I agree with you and, honestly, if it were up to me,

I'd go with an agency.

I think you should.

But Lenny handles all our finances.

And he swears that Kayleigh is the perfect surrogate,

healthy, trustworthy.

He says that?

And I trust him.

-But I'd really like to know what you think.

-Me?

She is your cousin.

What can I say?

-(What are you doing?)

-Shh!

-You want to do it now?

-What?

Isn't that a bit risky, cos he's downstairs?

-No, that's not what...

-We'll do it at my place.

-With candles, like we used to.

-No.

Why not?

I'm not sleeping with you, Kayleigh.

But you agreed.

No, you agreed. I couldn't get a word in edgeways. I never can.

I don't get it.

It doesn't matter. Look, Tom's decided that he wants

-to be the donor.

-Tom?

Yeah, he thinks it will help him bond better with the baby.

It doesn't matter, it doesn't change anything.

No, it doesn't, does it? We can still do it.

What?

We'll just say we used his stuff. He'll never know.

Yes, he will.

How?

When the baby's born?

-Oh, yeah, that's true.

-Yeah.

Anyway, I'd never go behind his back.

Urgh!

Emma?

Oh, what a coincidence!

I was just on my way to lunch.

-Really?

-Would you like to join me?

-No.

Oh, go on.

I hate eating alone and I really do want us to catch up.

Valerie, what are you doing?

Or we could just sit here.

A bit of fresh air, do us both good.

Your cousin and I were just talking about you.

Oh, yeah?

I had some doubts, at first.

But I told him we could trust you.

And after talking to Ayesha...

..I'm totally reassured.

You are?

And we want to go ahead, as soon as possible.

Yeah, well, there's a couple of things we need to get straight.

Fire away.

The agreement was to have his baby, not yours.

Does it make a difference?

-It does to me.

-Kay.

-That's not what we agreed.

-It was.

-It's up to them who is the donor.

-And it's my body.

Why does it matter?

I lost his baby once. I'm not doing it again.

What?

-What baby?

-What are you saying?

Why is it so hot in here?

What is she talking about?!

I don't know how they managed without me.

They don't know how to run a meeting,

I had to show them everything.

-They must be thrilled.

-I am invaluable.

Mind you, Mrs Tembe keeps trying to do my job as well as hers.

Things I have to put up with.

You must be exhausted.

Well, I'm worried sick half the time.

About what?

Oh, you name it. Al, for starters.

Have you seen how much he's drinking

since his father died?

Well, more than he usually does?

Way more.

And that is never good.

No.

And that headache he had the other day?

-I was really frightened.

-You were frightened?

Yeah, Ayesha said she thought it was just a hangover.

But I know hangovers, that was not a hangover.

She could be right.

No, I think there's definitely something really wrong

with him. I'm sure of it.

Mind you, at least he's got people around him who care.

Has he?

Yep, us.

Oh, right, yes.

Imagine going through that on your own.

Mmm.

Mind you, not everyone is as sensitive as I am.

You know, the other day, a patient had a right go at me

just because I was thinking about Al and not listening to her drivel.

-She could see how worried I was.

-Well, maybe not.

Oh, no, she knew.

She was just deliberately trying to wind me up.

Valerie, not everything is about you.

Do you think I'm self-obsessed?

A little bit.

VALERIE'S STOMACH RUMBLES

Oh, sorry. That was me.

You sure you don't to go for lunch?

Oh, all right.

So the abortion you had.

It was his baby?

Kayleigh?

And you never told him?

-Why do you always think the worst of me?

-Did you?

No.

So that's why you're doing all this?

I wanted to make it up to him.

So why does it matter if Tom's the donor then?

-Have you seen Tom?

-Kayleigh!

I wouldn't be able to look at it.

You won't have to.

Once the baby's born, you'll never see it again.

-What if I decide to keep it?

-You can't.

Legally, it would be mine. I've looked it up.

OK, we need to get a few things straight.

Why didn't you tell me?

Because I didn't know. She didn't tell me she was pregnant.

Really? Or is this just another one of your secrets?

I don't have secrets, not from you.

What about the smoking?

How did you know?

Your clothes stink every time you come back from jogging.

I am trying to quit! It's just not easy!

I don't care about that, Lenny. I care about you lying.

I would never lie about anything that mattered!

You lied about her!

When we first met, I told you I'd slept with women

and I told you about Kayleigh.

You said it was a one-night stand.

A few nights.

It wasn't anything serious.

Just friends, that happened to sleep together.

-Do you still fancy her?

-No!

-Don't lie to me.

-I'm...

I'm not.

I've not looked at another person since I met you.

I didn't see anyone when I was away.

Oh, that's not good.

Actually, it was a bit of a relief.

This has all been so confusing.

I'm not surprised. Waking up to find out you're a lesbian?

That has got to be a bit of a blow.

I've often wondered how I'd feel if it happened to me.

It does get quite a few middle-aged women, doesn't it?

Was it a shock to Lena, too,

or do you think she'd dabbled before?

What?

To be honest, I don't really know what lesbians do.

Obviously, I know some things are going to be the same,

but it must be a whole new world.

What are you going to do about it, now Lena's gone?

What am I going to do about what?

You know, the other.

I only ask because a patient the other day told me about

this new gay bar that's opened.

I could give you address if you need to, you know, scratch an itch.

-Valerie!

-You don't mind me asking?

Actually, I do.

I'm only trying to help.

You have no idea how bad this is, do you?

But that's all right, isn't it?

As long my sad little story gives you a cheap thrill!

I don't think it's sad.

I think what you're doing is wonderful.

And it is not some inspirational, personal epiphany either!

Can't you see that this is destroying me?!

I can't think about Lena without feeling the pain I've caused her.

Obviously.

She is a real person and I care about her.

-And I care for you.

-No, you don't, Valerie!

The only person you care about is yourself.

I'm going back to work.

Don't follow me!

I'm sorry about Kayleigh. She's just a bit...

confused.

What made you think she was suitable?

Because I've known her my whole life.

Even when we broke up, she was like my best mate.

At least, I thought she was.

Look, at least you found out how risky it can be

before it's too late.

Right. We are going to use an agency.

The American one.

-It would be safer.

-They cost a fortune.

UK agencies don't.

We were told they aren't taking on any new parents anyway.

-They haven't got enough surrogates.

-We've done a lot of research.

There are online surrogacy groups.

Are you serious?

Well, at least have a think about it.

I could get one of our doctors to talk you through it, if you like?

It couldn't hurt.

Then you'll have all the facts.

Fine.

Is she coming in?

I don't know.

What are you doing?

I have to find out if the baby was really mine.

And I will have the chicken sandwich.

No, sorry, wait, I'll have the soup.

Sorry, no, the chicken...

Or, maybe the...

Yeah, definitely chicken sandwich.

Sorry.

I can never decide.

Sid.

-You need to get a grip.

-Sorry.

You're bright, you're young, people like you.

For some reason, you don't have any confidence.

I know.

The only thing stopping you is you.

It's true.

You know, I got so paranoid, I tried to get another job.

What?

It's OK, I didn't get it.

Complete disaster.

Good.

What?

We don't want to lose you. Can you not understand that?

I guess.

You get so nervous you can't see the woods for the trees.

When are you going to learn to calm down?

Didn't have the guts to tell you.

Why?

-I knew you weren't serious about me.

-You weren't serious about me.

And when I did get up the guts to tell you, it was too late.

Why?

That's the night you told me you were gay.

Like I was supposed to be happy for you.

You still should have told me!

I could hardly speak to you.

And after I got rid of it, there didn't seem much point.

All these years.

The longer it went on, the harder it was.

Is that why you wanted to be our surrogate?

I still can be.

Are you serious?

-Please, I know I've made a mess of things, but...

-No!

I admit, I was very harsh on you when John died.

You bit my head off.

Yeah, I was in a very bad place.

Yeah, you were.

But I pulled myself together, which is exactly what you've got to do.

I'm not sure I can.

Then learn.

OK, you are a good doctor, Sid.

Trust yourself.

And if you're worried about something, come and speak to me,

or speak to Mrs Tembe or Zara.

OK.

I can't believe you went to Valerie.

Why would you believe anything she says?

-Well, I was desperate.

-Well, you've no need to be.

Why can't you see that?

We thought this might help.

It should work.

But you're going to have to do the heavy lifting.

Otherwise, there's no point.

Did you actually think this would work?

It might have.

-Kayleigh.

-Look, I figured we'd do it a few times,

he'd remember how good we were back then and we'd get back together.

You are kidding me?

Why not? He's changed his mind once.

What planet do you live on?

Can we really afford an American agency?

We can't afford not to.

I'm really sorry about her.

You should be.

I don't know what you see in me.

A very sexy man?

And a wonderful father.

You're still in love with him, aren't you?

I wouldn't mind if his boyfriend wasn't such

-a total minger.

-What?

I've seen better looking dogs.

Unbelievable.

What? What did I say?

So he's looking into the positivity course info.

Good.

I'm not convinced how much good it will do.

Oh, no, it is an excellent scheme. I am sure he will be fine.

Maybe.

Still leaves the elephant in the room.

-Yes.

-She's gone way too far this time.

What on Earth are we going to do with Miss Pitman?

Horleywood Haven.

You're over there, pitch nine, by the facilities block.

Where shall we put this tent? North-south or east-west?

I don't think it particularly matters.

What do you think? It's all part of my new image.

Well, you have failed.

How?

I thought you were supposed to be my friend.