Static Doctors

DRAMATIC OPERATIC MUSIC

Yes! Wha-ho-ho!

Was that you?

Tell me! Tell me!

Where is it?

No!

Let me help you.

Oh, dear.

It's back.

Come on, baby, come on.

Come on, baby. Come on, baby!

MOBILE PHONE RINGS

RINGING STOPS

Zara? What's happened?

You've got to help me, please! I can't find it. I can't feel...

We're going to do this properly. I want you to lie back and take deep breaths, OK?

Sometimes it takes a while to find the heartbeat.

Thanks, nurse, for informing me(!)

-What happened exactly?

-Nothing. Nothing.

Is that grass in your hair?

Just find the damn heartbeat, will you, before I have a heart attack?!

Shh. You need to calm down.

I can't. Find it! I can't.... I can't... Cherry....

I can't bear it if...

Ssh! Just calm down.

Baby's a tricky one,

couldn't find the little bugger.

"Little bugger" is right!

Strong and regular, wouldn't you say?

Yes, yes, strong and regular.

Do you want to tell me what happened?

Oh, it was silly.

I fell over in the park.

Zara?

Thanks, though.

I've got to get on, I'm meant to be helping Freya

and I'm sure you've got patients.

Thanks.

I need to see someone. My AF is back, I can't...

Please, come, come and sit.

Nurse Malone, Cherry, she knows me.

I will see what I can do.

Are you sure you do not need an ambulance?

Just an ECG. Now I'm here, it's already making a difference.

Honestly.

Very well. But I will keep an eye on you.

Thank you, that's very kind.

'Hi, this is Daniel Granger, please leave a message.'

You all right?

What's happened?

Come in, Cam, it's warmer.

I've gotta stay under cover, they're out there today.

I seen 'em, Doctor Jimmi!

OK, I believe you, but why don't you come inside?

Only cos it's you. I don't like it.

I know, but you'll be more protected, four walls.

That's what you think, they can go through 'em easy.

Good man, Toby. You OK today?

So?

It looks fine to me.

But it can't be!

Well, I can get a doctor to take a look at it,

but honestly, it's a normal heart rate.

It's elevated, but it's a normal rhythm.

But I was so sure.

What happened this morning, Nonnie?

-It was nothing.

-They're back. I told you they would be!

-You won't believe me.

-I saw something.

Something awesome.

It was God Himself.

It was an alien.

They're back! The demons are back!

I don't know what it was.

-But you saw something?

-Yes! I don't know...

Do you want to tell me what happened?

MOBILE PHONE RINGS

What is it?

No.

All right, just shut up!

Can't do it, can't do it.

Don't care what JoJo says, at least the babe's with her.

Bus stop now, stupid to go back now, so put up and shut up.

192? I don't like the yellow one.

If it's the yellow one I'm not getting on, and it's not racist!

We'll see which one comes, then we'll decide.

I've got your badge number in my mobile.

I will ensure you never work again.

You can join the great unwashed in the dole queue!

Collect your P45, you ghastly little man.

Badge 14-32, your time is up!

Is this some kind of bus stop?

Er, yes.

Does it go anywhere near Selly Heath?

The 192 does.

Looks like I'm roughing it then. Pleb transport.

This day just gets better and better(!)

Rude bitch.

NONNIE: 'And then it came.'

TOBY: 'Just floated towards me.'

CAM: 'The White Demon!'

Well?

Nothing? Nothing at all?

I thought you people have all the answers?

-I've never heard anything like it

-Me neither.

Serves me right for using public transport.

But baby is fine and that's all that matters.

-Is it?

-Of course.

This, whatever it is, has clearly shaken you.

Yes, well, such is life.

I've got to get on.

Isn't seeing God supposed to be wonderful? A revelation?

I, I don't know

I felt doubt.

Which is why I went to the church, I dared to question Him.

Maybe that's it, I doubted Him which is why...

Gordon would know, he understood this kind of thing

much better than me.

Why did God do that, if I don't know what it means? What was the point?

I don't know, Nonnie, I don't have any answers.

Aren't you a Christian?

You think I've lost it.

It does sound rather extraordinary. Aliens at a bus stop.

But it's true! I saw it.

-You don't think it could have been...?

-I'm so stupid!

My phone. My phone! Why didn't I take a photo? Or a video?

-Shock?

-I've got no evidence. I've got no evidence!

No-one's going to believe me, are they?

Cam!

-Did you take your medication this morning?

-Yes!

Margaret got us a box with the days on and JoJo counts them

and I definitely had them cos I got water from the stream.

You living in the woods?

-Only a couple of days.

-Why? What happened?

JoJo's took the babe and went to see that good-for-nothing in prison and it's all going wrong!

But she's your sister, she wouldn't desert you.

Margaret lied. They don't work. All those pills in little boxes.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday... I don't like being in the house on my own.

I prescribed the pills with Margaret's help,

so you think I lied to you too?

No. You wouldn't. No, no, no.

OK, OK, so...

They're getting in my head! They're confusing me.

Usually it's the little red ones, but this is the White Demon,

he's come for me and he's going to keep on until he gets me.

Do you want to hold my hand?

Mrs Tembe, I need to finish my drop-ins but I'm a bit worried about Mrs Wynne.

If I ask her to wait here, would you keep an eye on her for me?

-Of course.

-Thank you. She's worried about her AF.

She's fine, but she just needs to calm down.

Actually, she says she's seen something.

Something?

God.

At a bus stop.

Well, your peak flow is fine, but even if it wasn't, I've never

heard of asthma affecting one's perception quite so dramatically.

-So, apart from...

-The aliens?

-Precisely.

-So it's not all in my head?

-Could it have been a weather balloon...?

-That's what they said at Roswell.

-Did they?

It was all a conspiracy, a cover up.

FBI, CIA, Homeland Security, this is what they do,

-so the truth becomes so confused...

-Toby...

And now you're coming out with the same old thing!

-Toby, calm down.

-OK, sorry.

Whatever happened this morning has affected you greatly.

-You're different.

-Different how?

This is it, the start. Soon the bombers will come out again

-and the White Demon will lead them this time.

-Cam, the bombers stopped.

And the riots...

Disguised as hoodies, you can't see their faces...

You're making connections that don't exist.

The riots are over and the bombing was years ago. Margaret explained all this.

She's a liar. Mental health worker, my arse! She's always lying to me.

She's one of them, a White Demon in disguise!

No, Cam.

JoJo's left me and the house isn't safe any more

and the drugs aren't working.

I took them this morning and it's not better.

IT'S GETTING WORSE!

If I was a saint, I'd know.

They always had some kind of revelation, divine grace.

Like St Paul?

Exactly! I'm not worthy of this.

It must be a mistake, but how can God make mistakes?

Most saints were not saints until after they saw Christ.

Oh, my goodness! You don't mean...?

Maybe I'm going to be a saint!

I'll be sitting at home, eating cauliflower cheese, and suddenly,

I'll have a revelation! St Nonnie of Letherbridge!

Oh, what must you think of me?

Mrs Wynne? I'm Dr Cassidy.

I've checked your ECG and it's perfectly normal. No AF.

-Thank you.

-You're on beta blockers?

-Yes.

Well, they seem to be working. Try to get some rest, OK?

Thank you, Doctor.

How can I rest now?

So, any thoughts?

Some kind of weather phenomenon?

Why are you wearing my scarf?

What? I thought it was Daniel's.

Yeah, like he could pull off those colours!

-Ooh, static.

-I'm waiting.

I saw this crappy documentary, but I thought it was an urban myth.

-What?

-Ball lightning.

Weird, eh? Is that what you saw?

No.

I'm sorry but morning surgery is over now.

And I'm still cluttering up your corridor.

No, not at all.

I was thinking I should get back to St Catherine's.

Mrs Peploe will be worried.

Perhaps you could talk to your reverend?

Priest. Yes, that might be wise. It's just I...

I'm a little scared and I don't know why.

-But surely...

-Would you come with me?

I've seen you for a number of years, not just asthma.

-My Mum fusses...

-Normally, I get grunts and groans.

This is the most animated and articulate I've ever seen you.

Do you remember when your mother thought you were going deaf?

And that summer you told me you didn't have any friends?

-What's that got to do with anything?

-Well, you're changing, you're maturing.

Or maybe it's because of what happened this morning.

Probed by aliens. I'll probably start to spore.

So that'll give you something to examine!

Too High Church for you? False idols and incense.

It's the house of God.

The power of faith always reassures me.

Yes, me too.

Usually.

Father Gary will be having his lunch now, but he won't be long.

Oh, goodness!

Mrs Peploe's arrangement.

Apparently it's called Spring Awakening.

Well, it's certainly, um...

She's a kind woman, but I don't think she's ever going to win any competitions.

Not with a plastic daffodil.

SHE LAUGHS It's absolutely dreadful!

Father Gary's going to have to say nice things when he sees it.

And he's a terrible liar.

All I'm saying is, don't retreat back into yourself again.

Use what happened this morning to come out of your shell.

And become some kind of freak? I thought it was bad, you know, just being some spotty kid,

invisible, with nothing to say. But that's better than this.

-Is it?

-Going on about aliens all the time,

everyone will think I'm a complete mental case. You do.

No, I promise you I don't.

I was not exactly the coolest kid on the block.

Well, bow ties are cool. Dr Who wears one.

Not back then he didn't. No, I was a bit of an oddball.

In time, I sort of got used to it and realised...

better to be a freak than a nobody.

Better?

It's just words.

It is never just words when you are talking to God.

Gordon used to say that.

Oh, I miss him so much.

He would've known what to do, he would've understood all this.

How long since...?

Three years, two months, six days.

Since he died, I've just been clinging on to the wreckage.

Frozen. Frightened of everything.

That is understandable

What is God trying to say to me?

Is he trying to drive me mad?

No, I do not believe that. Neither do you.

God's wonders are not always easy to perceive.

Stop trying so hard, let Him speak to you in His own way.

Just listen with your heart.

The meds do work, Cam.

It took a while to get the balance right, but they work.

No, no, no!

You remember all those months ago? When you said to me and Margaret that the demons never quite go away,

but they were being quiet, so you could get on with your life.

-Yes, but now...

-The pills help, Cam, they act as a shield.

Protection from whatever from the demons take.

You came out of the woods, but they haven't got you, have they?

-Not yet, I'm watching for them.

-So the shield works.

Are you having me on, Dr Jimmi?

Today you got scared,

and you saw something that really frightened you. What did you do?

I came here.

Exactly. You didn't do something bad, not like last time.

You came here to see me for help which is exactly right.

I'm so proud of you, Cam.

Really?

Yeah. We're not going to let them win.

No. Because you've got me, you've got Margaret, you've got JoJo,

you've got the shield for protection.

And it'll get even stronger when you go back to JoJo's.

I think the shield is made of diamond.

Me too.

This is surprisingly comfortable.

So how are you feeling now?

Exhausted. I should never have come in.

Freya doesn't need me breathing down her neck.

Only a month to go. I'd take the opportunity and rest.

Is it really only two o'clock?

You had a shock this morning, it's bound to have an effect.

An electric shock.

It was ball lightning. Kevin found some footage online.

-You were struck by lightning?!

-No, not exactly. I...

I saw it.

That's all. It was nothing.

You keep saying that. So why are you here?

What do you mean?

-You just plonked yourself down!

-Pardon me for being sociable.

I thought you'd be happy, now you've got a rational explanation for what happened.

What's that supposed to mean?

You thrive on certainty, Zara.

Everything must have meaning, or you dismiss it as irrelevant.

You just can't tolerate the unexplainable, can you?

That's ridiculous. There's lots of things I can't explain.

Women who wear flat shoes. Jimmi's hair.

The Eurovision Song Contest.

-If you're just going to be flip...

-What do you want from me?

Honesty. Admit it, you're scared because you can't explain what happened to you this morning.

So you're clinging to an explanation that doesn't really match

what you saw, but it's better than the alternative.

Which is?

The inexplicable. And that's something you can't ignore.

Or make fun of. You're about to become a mother, Zara.

What is that supposed to mean? It was a ball of lightning.

OK.

Now you're just being deliberately provocative,

-how you help any of your patients is beyond me.

-So, why are you here?

I'm stuck.

CHORAL MUSIC PLAYS

It's Gordon!

Oh, I can feel him,

smell him! He's here!

He is here now?

That was him this morning, at the bus stop.

He's looking after me.

Oh, Lord be praised!

Oh, thank you, Lord. Thank you!

So, I've spoken to the photographer, the caterer

and Mr Honeychurch at the Chateau,

I think that's everything on the list.

Daniel's picking up the suits, but I'll text him to remind him, he's been out all day.

Cherry?

We're getting married in a couple of days,

I thought you'd be more excited.

-I'm supposed to be a Christian.

-Right...

We're not even getting married in a church.

I thought we decided...?

That poor woman this morning. She really wanted to believe she'd seen God.

And I didn't know what to say to her.

It's not your job, Cherry. You're not always going to have the answers.

Yeah, I know.

Something out of the ordinary happens

'and people cling to an explanation like their life depended on it. However bizarre.

'You think seeing God is bizarre?

'Depends, doesn't it? Depends what you believe in.

'Or what you're willing to believe.

'Cam Lewis, he thought he was seeing demons,

'and he went away quite happy,

'once he believed in his diamond shield made out of his medication.

'Cam's got learning difficulties and he's schizophrenic - it's a bit different.'

Is it? We lie to our patients all the time.

We lie to ourselves.

Including people who have faith?

Well, you've got me there. Haven't got a clue.

Everything OK?

It is now.

Something happen?

-Kind of.

-What?

It was nothing.

Do you think I'll be a good mother?

The best. Why?

Cos I don't have all the answers.

Who does?

Mmm.

We're fine.

We're all fine.

They hang around on the street and the park by the Millennium Estate

but it come to something when you find them in your own garden!

-Kampai!

-Kampai!

She looked just like me at that age, didn't she?

Uncanny.

The curse of all daughters. Ending up like their mothers!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd