Bring Me the Ted of Albert Garcia Doctors

FOOTSTEPS

DOOR CREAKS

Morning, Mrs Tembe.

-Good, good morning, Dr Tyler. Dr Carmichael.

-Thanks.

I'm sorry, Dr Tyler.

Sorry about what?

You have no patients.

They have cancelled.

-All of them?

-At least you'll be up to date with your paperwork.

-Don't worry. It's probably only temporary.

-And if it isn't?

You could see Miss Mathison for me. She wants a home visit. I won't get there this morning.

-Are you sure?

-You'd be doing me a favour.

-Thanks.

This can not go on.

Hi, Cherry. Punctual as always.

Hello, Iris. What treat has he got today, then?

I had to pop into town to pay his electric, so he's getting a late breakfast.

How's his appetite?

Oh. Comes and goes. But I usually get something down him.

-Sure your home cooking helps.

-We've got to get his strength up again, haven't we?

He struck it lucky living next door to you.

You know what they say, "Love thy neighbour as thyself."

Albert? Visitor.

Albert? Albert?

Oh, no! He's not...?

No, it's OK, he's still with us.

Albert? Albert, can you hear me? It's Nurse Malone. It's Cherry.

Did you fall out of bed?

-Ch-Cherry?

-Albert, are you in pain?

It's OK. We're here now. You're going to be OK. He's freezing.

I should have looked in on him earlier.

-Albert, can you lift your arms for me?

-Yes. Yes.

That's it. OK. Can you do this one?

HE GROANS It's OK.

We'll have to call an ambulance.

Hospital? But he hates them.

-It looks like he's had a stroke.

-Oh! He was doing so well.

HE GROANS Can you, um,...?

Oh. Yes, of course.

-Ambulance, please.

-Albert? I don't understand what you're trying to say.

-20, Dunmore Avenue.

-Are you hurt?

-No.

-No?

-Mr Garcia.

The nurse is here. She thinks he's had a stroke.

Do you want something? What do you want, Albert?

HE MUMBLES Water? Do you want some water?

No? Glasses? Do you want your glasses?

HE MUMBLES

-This old boy?

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

HE MUMBLES

-She-she...

-I-I don't understand.

HE MUMBLES

-You want me to have him?

-Yes.

I was hoping once we were off the front pages, this situation would...

-What? Go back to normal?

-Well...

You can't blame people for panicking when they see, 'Serial Killer' and 'Doctor' together.

I know, I know! But how do you convince them the practice had nothing to do with it?

-I'd go for the direct approach.

-Which is?

A letter to every patient explaining that Dr Tyler has been cleared.

Once they know the facts, they'll have to behave rationally.

I don't know. In my experience, those letters make patients nervous.

-It would just add fuel to the fire.

-It's up to you.

But if we don't do something, the problem could turn into a crisis.

Please, come in, Dr... Tyler.

You're new?

Relatively, yeah.

Would you...like a drink?

Well, I don't want to put you out.

Kettle's just boiled. I might even be able to rustle up some carrot cake.

Well, I did skip breakfast.

Coffee and cake it is, then.

I should have seen the signs.

Well, at least we got to him in time.

-He's not been himself lately.

-How do you mean?

He's become more confused, and he's had a couple of falls.

There's nothing about that in his notes.

He wouldn't let me phone the doctor.

You know how stubborn he is.

I should have insisted.

If he doesn't get better, I'll never forgive myself.

It's OK. Albert's a fighter.

I'll take him in some fresh pyjamas, his washing things.

I'm sure he'll be happy to see a friendly face.

It's not like he's got anyone else. Not since his daughter died.

-What about his grandson?

-That leech? You only see him on pension day.

He stays long enough to squeeze some money out of him, then he's straight to the pub.

I don't know what I should do with this.

I only noticed it the other day.

-So, you've not seen it before?

-No.

Could it be a sign of dementia?

First his forgetfulness, now this sudden interest in his childhood?

I hope not.

He's got enough to worry about.

You could sleep on a line drawn on the wall.

That's what my mum used to say.

The insomnia started immediately after the mugging?

Mugging doesn't sound too bad, does it?

Gives no hint about the flashbacks,

how you can't walk down the street

without constantly looking over your shoulder,

how every car door slamming makes your heart stop.

When was the last time you left the house?

Two weeks ago.

Have you spoken to anyone about it?

I kept hoping the fear would go away,

but it's getting worse.

I have to turn the news off.

It's just violence everywhere.

I can't remember the last time I read the paper.

Is that...?

-It's you!

-I can explain that.

-I let you in.

-It was all a mistake!

Leave me alone! Get away from me!

-What's going on?

-How did you get in?

-Gramps gave me his spare.

-You took it, more like.

-So, where is he, then?

-Hospital.

-What?

-He's had a stroke. And whose fault is that?

-What's it got to do with me?

-You've been a weight on his shoulders.

-You can't talk to me like that.

-Well, he won't tell you.

Too soft when it comes to you, but I don't know why. What have you done for him?

I don't need to do anything. We're blood.

But who are you? You're not family. You're nothing!

In fact, get out! Go on, get out!

Please...! Look, Miss Mathison.

You're having a panic attack, OK?

You need to calm down, you need to control your breathing.

Jill, please!

Yeah, ambulance, please.

You promised no more fluffy toys.

This is a special case. And you can hardly call it fluffy.

I thought the edict from on high

was that we weren't supposed to accept any gifts from patients.

I suppose a tatty old toy doesn't count.

I'm not sure it was meant as a gift.

It was more like he wants me to look after it.

And he's not tatty, he's well loved.

Full of fleas, more like.

I'd get it fumigated, if I were you.

Don't listen to the nasty lady.

Nurse Malone, there is a gentleman in.... Excuse me!

I need to speak to you.

-Lee.

-I told you to wait.

-It's about Gramps.

-It's OK, Mrs Tembe. I'll sort it out.

-Good manners cost nothing, young man!

Do you want to come through?

That busybody next door told me Gramps is in St Phil's.

So, how is he, then?

I don't know.

-So, you haven't been to see him?

-No. I was going to call in later.

Don't you think he'd want you to be there?

You're right. I should go. I'll go straight after.

Look, I know I've not been a model grandson.

With Mum dying all of a sudden, I guess I just went off the rails.

But Gramps needs me. It's time I stopped thinking about myself and looked after him.

-He's going to need proper care.

-I know. I'm ready. Whatever it takes.

I want a chance to make things right.

OK. But what's this got to do with me?

I, er, I noticed something missing from the house.

Fred Bear. Nosy Parker said you had him.

It's good of you to look after him, but I'll take him home now.

So, you could have gone to see your grandad,

but instead, you came looking for a teddy bear?

I-I know how much he means to Gramps.

I just thought it would cheer him up if he sees him when he wakes up.

Gramps always said he was like part of the family.

He must have been confused when he gave him to you.

I'll look after him.

It's not yours, so you might as well give me him!

Why don't we wait till Albert's recovered to see what he wants to do?

Ah, Dr Tyler. A successful visit, I hope.

Yeah. It took about 15 minutes to put my patient into hospital.

Is that a new record?

Why would Lee Garcia be so keen to get his hands on Fred?

Fred?

Perhaps it is a family heirloom.

He hasn't got a sentimental bone in his body.

He could be a rare bear.

Oh! Like the ones you see on Antiques Roadshow.

They look a bit shabby and turn out to be worth thousands of pounds.

Hm. Yeah, maybe.

-KNOCK AT DOOR

-Yeah?

Are you OK?

What's our prime objective?

First, do no harm.

It's easy, unless the mere sight of your face

sends patients into a panic attack.

I'm sorry.

Well, at least we can call it a truce.

The job's obviously yours.

Come on. None of the partners will hold any of this against you.

Get real.

I'm single-handedly responsible for decimating the patient list.

Besides, even if they offered me the job, I couldn't take it.

But you want it so much.

There's no future for me at Letherbridge.

I need to find a place where people haven't heard of "Dr Death" Kevin Tyler.

So, do you want to know what I've found out?

Yeah, of course.

Fred is a very ordinary, mass-produced bear.

-Worth?

-In monetary terms? Nothing at all.

Thank you.

What's it all about, Albert?

When did you do this?

Who did this to you, Albert?

Look, one unfortunate home visit isn't the end of the world.

She was the only patient willing to see me,

and that's because she didn't recognise my name.

I'm sure we've got lots of back office jobs we can find you.

For how long? A year? Two?

People have very long memories when it comes to killer doctors.

This defeatist attitude isn't helping.

I've tried carrying on like normal. That was a disaster.

I don't know what else to do.

Quite frankly, I don't think I care any more.

-And there's no doubt?

-It can't be anything else.

-It's abuse.

-'And the stroke?'

It might have been brought on by being attacked.

But some of the bruises are old. It could have been going on for weeks.

Why didn't I see it?

-You can't blame yourself.

-'Why not?'

I had a duty of care to Albert,

and I suspected that Lee was stealing from him.

You can't make the leap to physical abuse.

-Why didn't Albert say?

-'Why has he protected Lee all this time?'

Maybe he thinks he's protecting his only relative. You going to call the police?

The hospital are already onto it, but they can't do anything until Albert says that it's Lee.

-'But if he's protected him all this time...'

-I know.

One shout and I'll call Security.

For what? Taking what's mine?

-For abusing your grandad.

-What?

I've seen the bruises.

-He's old. He bumps into things.

-Things don't leave finger marks.

I could never hurt him. I can't believe you'd even say that!

This from a man that would steal his grandpa's pension money.

-He helps me out sometimes.

-Yeah. After you've twisted his arm.

I don't need to. He does it cos I'm his only family.

So, why all the interest in Fred?

You can tell me, or you can tell the police.

Gramps was so protective over him. It got me wondering.

-He's not valuable.

-Yeah, I know.

So, why all this effort?

He used to have some nice stuff.

Gold fob watch, granny's rings. I don't know where they are.

-You searched the house?

-It'll be mine one day. Yeah.

So, you think he's hidden his valuables inside Fred?

He went mad when I went near the stupid old thing.

Feel him. Go on.

There's nothing!

All this abuse of a defenceless old man for nothing.

You can't prove anything, can you?

What?

Fear not, Mrs Tembe. I'm not turning into a dipsomaniac.

It's for my vocal cords.

Dame Kiri swears by a little gargle before every performance.

Oh! And do you know who will be attending your first performance?

I've been somewhat shy in the area of self-promotion.

Dr Carter, you must not hide your talent under a bushel.

Under the circumstances, I don't think I'd be a priority.

And Gilbert and Sullivan is not everyone's cup of tea.

I can see how it may be a little highbrow for most of our colleagues,

but never fear, I will be sitting on the front row,

applauding loud enough for the whole of Letherbridge.

Thank you, Mrs Tembe. As always, a veritable rock.

Ah! Thank you.

HE GARGLES

-Gently.

-I know. More light, please.

There's definitely... something.

Got it!

What is that?

If I'm not mistaken, it looks like a miniature camera

attached to some kind of storage device.

It looks like Albert was trying to record the abuse.

That explains why Lee was so keen to get his hands on Fred.

Yeah. Let's hope for Albert's sake this has worked.

KNOCK AT DOOR

Yes?

Oh! Sorry, Immie. Thanks for coming.

-Sounded urgent. What's the problem?

-We've got to do an emergency mailout.

OK. How much are you paying per hour?

It's not a bad picture.

There you go, loving grandson caught in the act.

I knew it.

-What are you doing?

-Where did you dig this up from?

-Leave him be!

-All right, keep your hair on.

-Oh!

-What's he done?

He's dropped the bear.

Try fast-forwarding it.

-So, we've got to print 500 letters...

-And sign them.

-Stuff the envelopes.

-And get them in the last post.

-Do you think this will help?

I have spent ten years building the practice's reputation.

I am not about to let it be destroyed.

Well, we're wasting time talking about it. Let's crack on.

I've got a digital version of your signature we can use.

Oh, no! Nanki Poo!

-Problem?

-Oh!

-Heston's opera. I forgot to get tickets!

-Go. Do what you have to.

-Are you sure?

-It's fine. I can manage.

-Thanks.

There's something wrong with the camera.

Don't keep doing this.

Please! No more!

It can't stop there!

Sorry, looks like that's all there is.

-Lee will get away with it?

-Um, talking about Lee,

I had a chat with a police colleague.

-And?

-You said some of Albert's bruises looked a few weeks old.

Lee left jail last week. He's been inside for three months.

But you just saw...

No. What I saw was Lee stealing money.

Whoever's abusing Albert, it's not his grandson.

I've got a tennis elbow waiting.

I've got somewhere to be.

Good. In which case, I will make it quick, so please pass this on to the others.

I have taken the initiative of block booking

tickets for the first night of the Mikado.

No. I would rather stick hot pins in my eyes.

I'd empty the theatre.

-Me and Cherry are house hunting.

-I've got a spin class.

Guys, we're talking about supporting a valued colleague and a friend.

Besides, a whole team evening out is exactly what we all need.

Oh, I'm sorry. Didn't you understand?

This isn't a request, it's an order!

I like your style, Miss Parsons.

I suppose I could do with some light entertainment.

Yeah, I'll take two tickets, then.

So, he won't be coming home anytime soon?

No.

And, Iris, I've got some bad news.

Albert's being abused.

Here, in his own home?

Didn't I always say that Lee was a bad 'un?

Whoever's done this won't get away with it.

-Oh?

-Albert managed a few words. He'd set up a video camera.

-Where?

-I don't know, but it must be small, hidden somewhere.

Book, clock...

I could help you look for it.

I'm just going to go to the bathroom first.

I, er, I just thought I'd make a start.

Is that right?

Why are you looking at me like that?

There is no camera, is there?

There was a camera.

I've already found it.

That's why you were here when I made house calls, wasn't it?

You weren't being friendly, you just didn't want Albert to tell anyone what you were doing.

When his daughter died, um, he needed help.

I enjoyed his company.

I asked for nothing in return.

But...when he said he wanted to show his gratitude in his will,

well, no-one could say I hadn't earned it.

So what went wrong?

He got a letter from Winson Green.

Lee was coming out of jail, again.

Wanted somewhere to stay.

Said he'd seen the light.

So, everything would go to his grandson?

Albert left the new will on the table.

He must have meant for me to read it.

Too much of a coward to tell me to my face.

I don't know where the anger came from.

I've never hit anybody before!

He was such a strong, vital man,

but he didn't do anything to stop me

and...that just made me more angry!

So, you just kept on hitting him?

-Not every day.

-You abused a helpless old man for the sake of a few quid.

I'd earned it!

Five years of running errands

and cooking and washing and shaving him and...!

He promised that I would be looked after and...!

How dare he treat me like that?

You just wanted to trick me!

Well, it won't work.

I'll deny everything. It'll be my word against yours.

And Albert's.

Even if he does recover,

who's going to believe the word of a confused old man?

-And what about the testimony of a police officer?

-What?

Hello, Miss Hardwick.

I'll do everything I can.

Cleaning, running chores.

-Hi.

-Hello.

Gramps says I should thank you.

I wish I'd realised what was going on sooner.

I should have been looking out for him.

Too busy thinking about myself.

Things are going to be different from now on. New leaf and all that.

Promise.

Right, I'd better go. See you later.

-See you.

-Bye.

You're looking a lot better, Albert.

I want you to know something.

You don't need to worry any more.

She's not going to hurt you again.

You'll get me started.

I've brought something for you.

Um, sewing's not really my thing,

but at least he's back in one piece.

# Sang willow, titwillow, titwillow

# And I said to him Dicky-bird why do you sit

# Singing Willow, ti... #

Oh! I thought I was the last one here.

Um, I've got a dress rehearsal.

The old butterflies.

Well, if it helps,

I think you should know we'll all be there for you.

I will redouble my efforts not to disappoint.

I'm sure that your Ko Ko will be the talk of the town.

It's been good to have something to take my mind off poor Lauren.

But, um, if it means I've been distracting my duties as a partner,

putting everything on your shoulders...

No, no. You've done the right thing. Life goes on.

In the shadow of death, we must embrace life.

Yeah.

That doesn't really address our haemorrhaging patient lists.

If there was something I could do...

I don't think there's anything anyone can do, Heston.

Julia...

We'll get through this.

We've weathered many a storm before.

Mrs Tembe, could you try and think before you speak?

-Perhaps you would prefer me to do something else.

-No, no.

Police!

I've got thieves on my property.

-Do your duty, officer!

-Stop that!

You have no backbone today!

If she can't tell a murderer, how is she going to be able to discover a disease?

Maybe I can help you with that.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

E-mail [email protected]