High Tide Casualty

I can't choose who I work with, but I only drink with mates.

She said she doesn't want to die here.

-If you really want to help, then get out.

-It's fine.

-Just go.

There is a sick patient in there in need of medical attention.

And you said "Clear"? You had checked everyone had done so

before you pressed the button?

She's dead, Dylan, and it's all my fault.

My daughter died here today.

I could ring around the local hospices

and see if I can get her a place somewhere nice.

Ben, what happened was a tragic accident.

What are you saying?

I'm saying I didn't have time to check

before I gave the order to clear.

Right, there we are.

I've told the hospice you'll be up about one-ish.

Bye-bye, Emilie.

Bye, Charlie.

And thank you.

I know you pulled strings to get her in there.

Well, they have beautiful gardens and they do a mean G&T, so...

Right, your first day can be tough.

You'll feel like the new boy at school, but follow my lead,

you should be fine.

Please tell me she's coming.

Jez Andrews.

New paramedic.

On his first shift. Trial shift.

Mrs Beauchamp. Clinical lead.

All set?

Yes.

Make sure Cal talks to you.

About what?

Let's get this show on the road.

Thanks, guys.

Road trip!

We did the right thing, letting them go, didn't we?

Yeah.

Managed to get us an early check in.

Day off?

Grace is being looked after by the child-minder.

-So, go.

-OK.

Did you get any sleep at all?

Not really.

I was on the rota for today.

I thought I should come in.

-Well, you haven't been suspended, Lofty.

-Not yet.

The board are having a meeting this afternoon

and we're going to know more then, all right?

Lofty? What sort of a name's that?

I used to live in a... loft.

I've bust my wrist.

And I feel a bit...

Can I get some help here, please?

-Thanks.

-Let's get you to triage.

This way.

You know, whatever happens with him today, it's not your fault?

There's nothing you could have done.

I might be able to do something now, though.

I'll be DJ. Any requests?

Er, no, thank you.

How old did you say you are?

22.

-When did you qualify?

-Last month.

Right, so this isn't just your first shift here?

It's your first actual shift?

Exciting, isn't it?

Hey, what did Charlie mean?

He said you needed to talk to me about something.

No idea.

Where's that?

Conleth Bay.

You look beautiful, Mum.

Because I was happy.

Will you do something for me?

Of course.

Will you scatter my ashes there?

I'd give anything to go there one more time.

-Iain, can you pull over for a sec?

-Yeah.

Mum just needs some air.

So, the hospital panel will already be making their decision,

but I thought we might do something informally.

Something supportive.

Solidarity. Raising awareness. I like it.

We could do a gig. Like a Free Mandela type thing.

I was thinking more of a card.

Great. A card and a gig.

I don't know. Messages of support, that sort of thing.

No, it's a lovely idea.

Tell you what? You do doctors. I'll do nurses.

Oh, where would one buy a card?

LAUGHING

We should just take her to Conleth Bay.

It's too far. There's no way we can take the ambulance.

It's off-rota for the rest of the day.

It'd just be sitting in the station doing nothing.

She's far too sick, Cal.

Which is why we have to do this now.

Come on.

Just drop it.

There is no way we would persuade Iain to let us take her.

Iain, mate. I think Mum dropped her blanket on the path back there.

-Couldn't go and get it, could you?

-Yeah.

I'll give him a hand looking.

Good lad.

I'll drive.

Come to give you a hand, mate.

AMBULANCE STARTS

Oi!

Cal!

OK, let me know if it feels tender when I press like that.

OK, or there?

OK. How much have you had to drink?

Not enough.

Let the good times roll.

I don't think so.

Thank you.

How old are you?

19.

What's your date of birth?

2nd September '96.

I don't think that's true, is it?

Would you prefer it if I was younger?

OK, shall we get that X-ray as soon as possible, please?

Is there a nurse here called Ben?

No.

Mate, I can't believe they've done that.

Hang on. When they sent me off for that blanket, you were in the back.

-You knew what they were doing, didn't you?

-No, mate!

You let just let them drive off!

Right, my phone and my wallet's in the cab.

-You better have got yours.

-Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

It's in my locker.

Guess we'll just have to hitch.

I knew this would happen.

Will you just shut up for one moment, please.

I think we should go back.

Nibbles...go and breathe into a bag, or something.

Nibbles?

Oh, don't ask.

Where you headed to?

Almost certain disaster.

No...erm, Conleth.

Really? Why?

"Spontaneous fun", apparently.

Oh, the horror!

Ha. Thank you.

You missed a turning back that way. Signposted to Hetham.

Right.

Why don't you come with us? Show us the way.

Sorry. My tolerance for spontaneous fun is very low.

Right.

You know what, I still have no idea what road we're on.

Hi. Er...

-Sorry. Can you just...?

-Pretty girl.

Was she?

I...need...to...ask...you... something.

Yes.

Will...you...have the test...done?

The test?

Survival rations. In case you get really lost.

VIOLENT CHOKING

-Emilie?

-Mum?

Cal, she's choking.

-Mum. OK! Cough.

-Emilie, cough!

-Cough!

-Cal, slap her back!

-Mum!

No.

She's getting cyanosed, Cal. Come on.

Oh!

SHE GASPS LOUDLY

Breathe! Just try and relax. Try and calm down.

What were you thinking, giving her a sweet?

Just breathe.

Seriously? You've not made up yet?

I'm not the one in the wrong, am I!

Everyone is just a little bit bored of this now.

And I am bored of doing all the work while you mope around,

eating beige food, listening to Bonnie Tyler,

and crying over your failed bromance!

Maybe it was a bromance once. Now he's just a stranger to me.

This cannot go on!

ED, how may I direct your call?

Oh, Ben. Cubicle three.

Young lady. Drunk and possibly underage.

Hasn't really taken to me.

Would you mind having a chat?

-Course.

-Thanks.

Just try and relax.

It's OK. You're OK. Just breathe.

SHE MOANS AND GASPS SOFTLY

Just try and stay calm.

Is there anything I can do? Call someone, or...

No. It's fine.

Oh. Thank you.

Listen, er...

I'll get the test done.

Hello again.

Sorry about all the...puke.

Not my first time.

Lana, how come you were up all night?

Having fun.

Your parents didn't know you were out?

Oh...

When I was 15,

I killed my cousin's hamster.

I trod on it accidentally.

I was so terrified that I ran away from home for three days.

Uh, I guess what I'm trying to say is,

sometimes we feel so bad about something

that we can't tell anyone about it.

But you've come to the right place.

I can keep a secret and...

-I would like to help.

-Your name's not Lofty.

Lofty's my nickname.

Ben's my first name.

Chiltern.

Lana. Can I take a look at your knuckles?

I won't be a sec. All right?

How's the pain?

Oh. All right.

Let me see if I can find something to help.

How we doing back there?

Yeah. We're all right just trying to find the painkillers.

-They're not in there.

-They are somewhere.

No! They're in the paramedic bag, Ethan.

I think you put them in yours.

No. I didn't!

-Cal, I watched you put them in here.

-Seriously, they're not in there.

I said they're not in there

Cal!

BRAKES AND TYRES SQUEAL

Oh! Hello? Paramedics uniform?

You know, the people who save lives?

-I don't think real paramedics hitch.

-I am a real paramedic.

As of today, you're a question mark.

I can't believe they've done this.

-I know. Pretty cool, right?

-What! No, not very cool at all.

Ah come on! She's, like, 60, but she's fun.

Wish my mum was more like that. My mum is a dragon.

Still locks me out of the house if I come home late.

It's deep.

You still live at home with your mother?

This one time she caught me in bed with this girl.

Burst in, started screaming, woke all the neighbours up.

Next thing, she's chasing me down the street with a slipper.

Don't give me ideas.

What about your parents?

What are they like?

Sorry, man.

What were they like?

What?

I mean, they can't be still with us, right? Not at your age?

What you on about, not at my age? I'm 32!

Whoa! What you doing?

HORN BLARES

Argh!

Oh, mate!

Lucky you got me now, eh?

Argh!

Lucky we didn't dent it.

Lucky? What were you doing driving like that?

She's seriously ill!

I know she's seriously ill.

I'm the one that's trying to help her forget it, unlike you.

How, exactly?

I'm not the one who crashed, am I?

Your sense of responsibility is pathologically stunted.

I just don't think the world's going to end any minute I leave the house.

You're like one of those nutjobs who walk around holding placards

predicting the apocalypse.

You're a disaster fantasist.

ENGINE FAILS TO FIRE

You were saying?

Lana, I'm concerned about the calluses on your knuckles.

I need to ask. Have you been making yourself sick?

I'm getting out of here.

-No. We haven't finished treating your wrist yet.

-It's all right.

That's just it, Lana.

It really isn't your wrist that hurts at all, is it?

It seems to me you've come here

because you need to speak to someone.

Am I right?

Shall we call your parents?

Or your guardian, if that's more appropriate.

I'm sure we can find a number?

We can call them together.

Ben.

Hi. This is Diane.

Sorry I can't take your call. Please leave a message.

I was going to take pictures of you.

Put 'em on Twitter, put your address up.

Make sure you get what you deserved.

But you're not like I thought you'd be.

I'm so sorry.

-Get off me!

-No, no, no! Calm down.

You get out of my way. Get off me!

-OK.

-Let's get her to Resus.

-OK.

-What are you doing now?

-Trying to open the bonnet.

Why? I mean, you don't know what you're looking for.

You'll literally just be staring at pieces of metal!

Everything all right up there?

Yeah, Mum. We're fine.

Won't be long.

This is so predictable.

We could be in the garden at the hospice right now

if we'd left this to me.

But you had to make the big spontaneous gesture, didn't you?

And now Emilie might die on the side of a road.

Well, at least I'm trying something.

Oh, and by the way, the side of the road is much better

than some hospital trolley, covered in drips and monitors,

Oh, hang on, you'd prefer that, wouldn't you,

cos then you could control it like you love to control everything?

Antiseptic Ethan bubble.

Never taking a chance...

like a selfish... misanthropic little baby!

-What did you call me?

-You heard me.

Officer.

She's bradycardic.

She must have her father's surname. You weren't to know.

Can we get someone to call her grandmother? Not you, Lofty.

She'll need an ECG.

Let's get 500 micrograms of atropine on standby, please,

and we should check her potassium - she might need an infusion.

Right, you're going to be fine, Lana.

Lofty...go.

So what exactly happened here?

It's just a minor bump.

No damage but the ignition won't start so...

And you're, what, a paramedic?

No, I'm a doctor, actually.

Shouldn't you have a paramedic with you?

Yes, er, they've just gone to call for, er, help.

How about I call the Ambulance Service,

-let them know what's happening?

-No, that's...

Hello, officer.

Is she all right?

Yes, yes, she's stable but her resps aren't great

-so we would really like to get going.

-Yeah.

Your colleague said the engine won't start?

Er...yes, that is correct.

-I'll call for another ambulance.

-No! No!

-I-I was going to...

-It's fine.

Sorry. If I get the right side...

Right.

-It's probably just a loose connection.

-Yes.

Um, yes, OK.

I can take a look if you like?

Oh, um...

..that would be brilliant.

Mate, calm down, OK?

It's not healthy to get so wound up. Not at your age.

Still laughing? Seriously?

Let me tell you something,

them idiots have never driven an ambulance before.

They're not insured to. Emilie is critically ill.

For all you know, they've already been pulled over,

and she's dying alone in a strange hospital bed.

Still think it's funny?

-No, mate.

-No.

You're supposed to be professional.

You're nothing but an immature kid. You're a liability, mate.

ETHAN LAUGHS

THEY ALL LAUGH

Whoo-hoo-hoo!

Yeah!

That helmet is a stroke of genius.

Yeah, it was rather good, wasn't it?

Cal...

..this is a private genetics clinic.

You've had the test done, haven't you?

You went through this alone?

It's all right, Ethan.

It's not though, is it?

SHE BREATHES HEAVILY

Emilie?

The low potassium is causing her heart to beat slowly.

We're keeping a close eye on her, though.

Diane did say she sometimes made herself sick,

but I didn't think it was bulimia.

-What did you think it was?

-A thing girls do.

Something they grow out of.

How's she been since her mum died?

She hasn't shed a tear. Not one.

There's something's wrong with her.

Why don't you go and talk to her, see if you can find out?

Charlie, the grandmother is here.

OK, good.

Go on.

Why don't I go to the vending machine, get you some sweets?

Mrs Stuart.

Get out.

-Lana, please.

-I said get out!

Come on.

She's not making much respiratory effort.

We can't afford these sats to drop any more.

What is it, like a fractured rib or..?

Without an X-ray, I-I don't know.

-She needs intubation, doesn't she?

-Then we'd have to take her back.

Maybe we should.

Or maybe to another hospital.

No, there's still nothing.

Come on, Mum. Hey, can you hear me?

-What did she say about resuscitation?

-I don't know.

She said she just doesn't want to die in a hospital,

but we can't let her die on the side of the road.

No.

Then we don't.

We don't let her die at the side of a road.

It's a football injury.

I know, don't say it.

I shouldn't be playing football at my age.

Go on, you should carry on without me.

Come on, mate.

Here.

Here you are.

OK, she's just about breathing on her own.

Cal, it's good.

She's going to die today, isn't she?

I think she is, yeah.

You were right.

We should have taken her back.

If we'd gone back when I wanted...

..she'd be on a hospital trolley by now surrounded by strangers.

Why do I always do this?

Why do I never think things through?

No, Cal, listen to me.

It's me that hasn't been thinking.

You know...

I pretended that none of this was happening.

You looked after her.

You...faced up to taking the test.

When were you planning on opening it?

HE SIGHS

I don't know.

Well, when you do, I'm going to be here right next to you, all right?

From now on, we do this together...

as brothers.

You all right?

Never leave a man down.

Two secs, mate.

You boys OK?

We are trying to get to a male stripper convention.

That's my manager, obviously.

You lovely ladies couldn't give us a lift, could you?

Yeah, go on, then.

Thank you.

You coming or what?

OK, sats are definitely improving.

Yeah.

-Are you OK to drive?

-Yeah, yeah.

Great...

then let's get Mum to the seaside.

Thank you.

Lana, I'm going to refer you to somebody that you can talk to.

-A psychiatrist?

-Yeah.

-I'm not talking to anyone like that.

-Yes, you are. You need help.

-Professional help.

-I SAID I'm not talking to some shrink.

Yes, you are or you're not coming back to my house.

I've been talking to the doctor.

There's somewhere you could go, it's residential,

and they'll help you make you feel better.

That's very much a last resort.

Can you leave me alone, now, please?

OK.

Lana, I'm so sorry.

You want to help me?

Then help me get out of here.

You're not well enough to leave.

They're trying to make me talk to some counsellor.

-Maybe you should.

-I don't want to talk about it. I can't fix it.

Did something happen between you and your mum?

We had a row...

..before she left for work about what time the bus was leaving.

You know what the last thing I said to her was?

That I hate her.

And now, because of you,

I'm never going to get to take that back.

Sorry, Lofty? Rita called.

They're ready for you upstairs.

What are you doing here?

I wanted to find you before my boss does.

Jez, maybe you'd should explain.

Well?

I can't believe you've never watched this film.

I don't have time to watch films,

performing ground-breaking cardiac surgery.

-Obviously I'm going to have to educate you.

-Yeah, you are.

MOBILE PHONE BUZZES

No. Leave it.

No, give me the phone.

Please don't do that.

PHONE MUFFLED

I do that.

I've spoken to the mental health team. We'll be transferring her now.

Um...sorry, one moment.

Isn't Ben meant to be at his hearing?

Ben.

I'm going to have to report it to control.

They'll be able to track them by GPS.

This is Cal and Ethan we're talking about.

They're your friends.

Yeah, and I came to you because they're my friends.

Charlie, I want to help them just as much as you, pal,

but they're driving without insurance.

The sooner we find them, we can limit the damage.

Charlie, we need you. It's Lofty.

-What?

-He's gone up into the ceiling.

Lana?

Lana, it's all right.

Um, I can try his phone again.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Senior Staff Nurse Chiltern has been, um, unavoidably delayed.

I just want to say one thing.

He did his very best to save a patient's life

under very difficult circumstances.

Did he check that everybody was clear before he shocked her,

I don't know?

I don't think he knows

and I'm pretty sure that you're not going to find out.

But I do know that the patients here value him.

Well, so do the staff,

more than we can say.

OK.

I know you don't want to talk to a counsellor

or me or anyone...

So get lost then.

I thought you might want to talk to your mum.

What?

'Hi, this is Diane. Sorry, I can't take your call.

'Please leave a message.'

I'll start.

Diane, it's Lofty.

Ben Chiltern.

I know you didn't really know me.

Wish I could change that.

I've got Lana here.

She said something to you that she didn't mean.

You know that already, don't you?

Course you do, cos when we have an argument with someone

and we're angry and try and cause a reaction,

you don't mean it.

It doesn't matter.

It's feelings that matter.

If you love someone, they know it.

You can't hide it.

She's got a big mouth, Diane.

She's got a heart the same size.

You must be so proud of her.

You must love her very, very much.

I know she loves you.

I've got her here with me now.

I know she wants to talk to you.

I don't.

It's all right.

Mum?

I'm so sorry I shouted at you. I didn't mean it.

I was right, though. The bus was at half past, not 20 past.

I knew I wasn't late.

I don't hate you.

I wish I'd never said it.

He's right, you know that, don't you?

I miss you so, so much.

I love you, Mum.

It's OK. It's all right.

How you doing?

Your brother's...

a dreadful driver.

We're here.

Let's go and find the beach.

-All right, Lofty, nice and easy.

-I'm OK, I'm fine.

Enough heroism for one day.

Lana, can you hear me all right?

Let's get an ECG please, can we, if we haven't already done one?

You missed your hearing.

Unofficially, I can tell you, you'll have to retrain in defib safety,

but it isn't going to be escalated.

-Lofty, you're not going to lose your job.

-Yeah.

That's great. Thanks, Rita. Um...

-It doesn't matter now.

-Why?

A friend of mine's doing a charity walk for a few months

from Land's End to John O'Groats.

I was thinking about it last night after everything that's happened.

I want to do it.

Take some time off, you know.

I've got a lot of leave left

and I was hoping you'd waive the last bit.

And after that?

I've got the inquest.

But after the inquest, I won't come back.

Sorry, say that again?

I know you've all been there for me and I'm so grateful of that.

This girl's mum died because of me.

And I know it is not my fault, but it was on my watch.

I can't live with myself until I find a way to say sorry.

You can say sorry by staying here and treating patients.

Thanks...

for the support.

This is where we came

when you were children.

I sat here and watched you.

You still scared of crabs?

What? I wasn't scared of them.

Yes, you were.

They have pincers. They can nip!

-Race you.

-Oh...

Charlie?

Any word on where they are yet?

Not yet.

Give it a couple of hours.

They're not back by then, I'll report them myself.

Right, we're already losing one, mate.

If you don't want to lose another two,

you'd better find them before my boss does.

You don't have to do this, you know.

We both know I'm never going to be the world's best ED nurse, Charlie.

Too disorganised. Too chaotic.

Too good at breaking things.

We all have our strengths and weaknesses.

What are my strengths?

Helping people who can't see a way out.

That's why I want to retrain after the walk.

As?

As a bereavement counsellor. Palliative care.

-Oh.

-I'll still be a nurse.

I'll always be a nurse.

If I was lost,

I can't think of anybody else I'd rather talk to.

THEY YELL AND LAUGH

That was the line, that was the line!

Just prove to me you're not scared, all right?

Don't, please, please, please! It's not actually funny.

He just wants to make friends.

-Just wants to make friends, that's it.

-I will look at it.

-Yeah, but all it wants is to make friends.

-Cal...

-Just have a look.

NO! Seriously, seriously!

Whoo!

I've come to say goodbye.

Right, well, goodbye.

Going for a drink with Max and Robyn in the pub.

It's not much of a leaving party, but will you come?

No, I've got work to do.

Guess I'll be off then.

I'm sorry about earlier.

No, you were right.

She's a sick woman.

One last day with her lads, you can't deny her that,

but I'm afraid that doesn't get us off scot-free.

Your behaviour today has been completely unprofessional.

You've left me with no other choice...

-Jez, I've had to call your mum.

-Get lost.

She's on her way in. She'll be about 20 minutes.

You're joking?

Mate, call her back. Say you were wrong.

Iain, please, you don't know her.

-I'll never be allowed to leave the house again!

-It's too late.

She's already set off.

Reckon she's bringing a slipper with her.

HE LAUGHS

I want this place ship-shape by 21 hundred hours

and don't call me an old man again.

You do realise you're leaving The Lodgers without a bassist?

You'll find another one. Maybe one who can actually play bass.

-Well, when we make it, you'll never forgive yourself.

-I know.

-ALL:

-Surprise!

Everyone signed your card so they can sign your sponsor form as well.

-We'll bleed 'em dry.

-I'll miss you so much.

You going to open it?

Mum wants to know.

I wish you'd told me.

We should have done this together.

We did.

What is this?

Remember that sample I took from you

when we were trying to persuade Isaac Sandison to have blood taken?

Well, I sent yours off to the clinic with mine.

Just rip it up and throw it away, Ethan, if you want.

(I had to.)

Oh, have you said bye to Lofty then?

Yes, I have, yeah.

I know how close you two got

and how much you'll miss him.

He was just a nurse and not a particularly competent one.

Bam!

Take care, Lofty.

Keep in touch.

Bye!

THEY LAUGH

I don't believe it!

THEY CHEER

I can't breathe! I can't breathe!

Yeah?

Yeah, I'm fine.

Well done.

-Statistics.

-Screw the statistics, OK?

-Do you want me to do it?

-No, no, no, I'll do it.

I'm clear as well.

Mate, that's brilliant.

-Come on, let's put this back on.

-No, no.

-What's that?

-(Ethan.)

Told you she liked you.

There you go, bro.

Get in, mate.

-BREATHLESS:

-Tell me a story.

You and Kate.

What happens?

Um...

on the first date, she suggests they go and see a three-hour movie

with subtitles...

ETHAN LAUGHS

..and he knows she's the one.

And he proposes on the third date.

We get married in a registry office. Nothing fancy.

Just friends, and the pub afterwards.

Who's the best man?

Oh, the... Cal's the best man, of course.

-Yeah, he is.

-And he makes a terrible speech.

But he redeems himself afterwards when he tells everyone about you.

About us all meeting Kate in the cafe.

Go on.

OK, er, well, we buy a house in Holby,

and then we have a little girl.

And we call her Emilie.

And the day she's born is the most incredible...

..and terrifying day of my life.

She goes to med school.

She becomes a doctor.

And, eventually, she gets married...

..and she has kids of her own.

And Cal and I are doddery old men by then.

Cal's on his fourth wife.

But we come back here every year,

all together to this bay...

..and we look out at the sea...

and we make a toast to you and we say...

.."This is where it all began."

Mum?

What?