A Thin Line Doctors

# Twinkle twinkle little star

# How I wonder what you are

# Up above the world so high

# Like a diamond in the sky

# Twinkle twinkle little star

# How I wonder what you are. #

SHE GIGGLES

You got the message out as best you could.

Ash kept butting in...and playing music over what I was saying.

He said it was too depressing and that the students would turn off.

Well, you know, if only one person listened and stopped taking it,

it's cos you rammed home how dangerous it was.

Yeah, well, it's a nice thought, mate,

but it's too little too late for that poor lad.

Why young people take stuff they know nothing about

is completely beyond me.

Well, it gives them a buzz.

So does sticking your finger in a light socket.

I mean, when I think of that boy's parents... What a waste.

Well, I hate to say it,

but I think there'll be a lot more wasted lives before others change.

HESTON SIGHS

You still being sick?

Don't get too close, I don't want you or Lily to get it.

Might be too late.

She's got a bit of a temperature, but it could just be teething.

Let's hope so.

You OK?

The manager's called for the doctor.

Anything I can get you?

No, thanks. I'm fine.

Claris...

do you miss him?

My husband?

What do you think?

PATIENT SNEEZES

Erm... Dr Haskey will see you now.

Any sign of Liam yet?

No. Not to my knowledge.

Well, you know the youth of today will be late for their own funeral.

Dr Tyler, that that comment was totally inappropriate.

I must apologise.

-Kevin, if you'd like to talk about what happened yesterday...

-No, ta.

I've got to get on.

Ah, Kevin. How are you?

-Fine, thanks.

-Good.

Very sad news about Mr Holmes. I can arrange cover, if you like?

What for?

Well, the death of a young patient can be very traumatic.

Forget the cover. Patients die, it comes with the job.

HE BREATHES RAPIDLY

HE EXHALES DEEPLY

RAPID BREATING, WATER SPLASHES

HE EXHALES

How many times have you been sick?

I've lost count.

It's OK, Julie, you don't need to stay.

I've seen Dr Granger before.

When did you last eat?

Yesterday morning. I just can't keep anything down.

Well, there's a nasty bug going around.

It usually lasts between four and five days.

So drink plenty of water

and I'll see if I can get Julie to pick this up for you.

Thank you.

If the stomach cramps get any worse, then have someone call me.

Erm, while you're here, would you mind seeing Sarah?

She's just two doors down, room eight.

She's worried about her baby.

OK, I'll check on her. Get some rest.

SHE RETCHES

If you were a doctor, you'd have a surgery full of patients.

I know. I'm sorry.

Late night? Drink?

No.

If you start the day late, you are for ever trying to catch up,

and that's when mistakes happen.

Yes, sir.

SPEECH ECHOES: I've invested a lot of time and money in you,

because I thought you'd make a good doctor.

Now I'm beginning to question my judgement.

OK. Task for today. Help Dr Tyler.

SPEECH SLOWS: He needs some statistical information

drawn from patients' files.

Liam?

Yeah, yeah.

Sorry, er... I promise I won't be late again.

You may go.

FINGERS CLICK

BABY GURGLES

Yes! Now, no biting.

Is she all right? She's not got what Claris has got, has she?

No. I'd say she's teething.

A little chesty, but nothing to worry about.

She's been like this a few times.

Our doctor prescribed a spacer and a mask,

but I forgot to bring it with us.

Ah, well, I've got a new one you can have.

However, it must be in the car.

Have you been here long?

About a week. We've not been out since we've been here.

I'd like to see my mum, but I can't, not allowed.

It won't be for ever.

They're really nice, the people here. I'm not complaining.

I just get a bit down. Sorry for myself.

Well, that's understandable.

Is Claris going to be all right?

Hopefully. Hopefully she's over the worst. Are you two friends?

Yeah. She's nice.

I'll go and get that spacer.

"Local student, Edward Holmes, 21,

"collapsed unexpectedly at lunchtime yesterday

"while dining with his family at the Savoureux Restaurant.

"He was taken by ambulance to St Phil's

"but Mr Holmes died later in hospital.

"Police are investigating the cause of death."

Does it mention Kevin?

"Mr Durrel, the restaurant owner, said Mr Holmes had hardly eaten,

"and hoped the unfortunate incident would not put diners off."

Probably doesn't want people thinking they poisoned him.

Yeah, or that kids can go there to get quack.

They'll ask for quack, and get duck.

THEY LAUGH

How can you make jokes?

Eh? What's so funny? He's dead.

Well, we're all sad about what happened,

but in our line of work, we've got to get through it.

We mean no disrespect to the patient,

and there's nothing funny about his death.

MANIC LAUGHTER

Liam?

Liam?

Erm...

Yeah... I just, um, guess I've got a lot to learn to...

MANDY SIGHS

He must be the same age as Edward.

Well, he needs to toughen up, like we all do.

Yeah. Listen to granddad.

Oh, there've been two burglaries inside,

just down the road down from me.

Mmm, you need to take care, lady.

Why should she?

Go on, tell him.

Tell him what? What, that?

That was a one-off.

I was in a rush, and accidentally left my keys in the car.

And she left her back door unlocked all night.

Onset of dementia.

Look. This is serious. You're asking for trouble.

I'm a big girl, I don't need to be nagged.

What you do need to do is take your security more seriously.

SHE SIGHS

OK, OK. I'll be more careful.

Excuse me?

I'm sorry to bother you,

it's just I saw you coming out the centre.

Well, this is a bit awkward.

My girlfriend, Sarah Langham, she's in there with our baby.

I'm sorry, I can't help.

My girlfriend's in a refuge centre, so I know what you're thinking.

I did hit her.

Only the once, but I know that's once too much.

Nobody can hate me more than I hate myself.

Sorry.

I'd been up all night with Lily crying.

And then Sarah got up and started having a go at me.

I thought I'd be able to cope on my own, but...

..it just got to me, and...

I hit her.

For the first time ever, I lost control.

Yeah, well, having a baby is a lot harder than any of us can imagine.

You can say that again.

Getting by with just a couple hours of sleep.

Yeah.

It's Lily's birthday tomorrow.

She'll be one.

And it breaks my heart to know that she's in there,

knowing that I can't see her.

Look, I mean, I know it's my fault, but it still hurts.

One silly mistake.

Just shows you how easy it is to lose everything.

Yeah.

For Lily's birthday. It's the only present she'll get.

Sorry, no.

-Please, mate?

-I can't.

Hey!

Great, thanks.

Is Julie about?

She's in with Claris.

What did he give you?

I saw Dean talking to you.

For your own safety, I'm going to have to tell Julie

that Dean knows where you are. OK?

Sarah?

Jas?

Have you changed your locks yet?

Not this again. They're not broken.

Yeah, but someone else might have a key.

You know, previous owner, estate agents, builders or a neighbour.

You know, a lot of people get broken into

after they've just moved into a new place.

-Is that a fact?

-Yes. It happened to me.

-Really?

-Yeah. I'd only been there about a week.

There was no sign of forced entry, they must've had a key.

I learned my lesson.

I'll call out a locksmith when I get paid.

Oh, well, there's no need to do that.

I've got the afternoon off, I could pick up some locks

and head over to yours.

I can't ask you to do that.

I know what I'm doing. I promise you.

It's one of my special skills.

-Are you sure?

-I've offered.

I've got a couple of hours to kill before I've got to meet Jackie.

It's fine.

Oh... I'll need your keys,

and then, when I'm done, I'll bring the new ones back to you, yeah?

Thanks, Al.

PHONE RINGS

Sarah?

Sarah, it's me, Dean.

'What do you want?'

I love you, babe. It's breaking me up not seeing you.

'I want you home.'

I'm not coming home. You need to leave me alone now.

'But you and Lily mean the world to me.'

Without you, I'm nothing.

I didn't mean to hit you.

'It just got to me.'

I need help.

You can help me. I know you can, babe.

When you've got a drink inside you, you don't listen to me, Dean. You know you don't.

But I will. I'll change.

You said that last time.

'This time it's different.'

You know? And I never thought you'd leave me.

It's been a big wake-up call.

I'll be good this time, I promise.

'Sarah?'

Sarah, are you there?

I'll think about it.

'Don't forget, babe...'

I know where you are now,

and I want you home.

Love you.

I'm warning you now, this is going to take for ever.

A statistical analysis of out-of-hour work call-outs.

I don't mind.

Then, my dear boy, you're a glutton for punishment.

Do you mind if I ask you something?

Fire away.

Erm... Your patient yesterday, the one who, you know...

Well, was he in a lot of pain when he died?

Honest answer, I don't know.

Hopefully the drugs numbed the pain.

I know you said he was, erm, taking quack,

but what was it that actually killed him?

Was it liver failure? Heart? What?

That'll come out in the postmortem.

Was he...?

Liam, can you change the subject?

Sorry, it's just not something I like to dwell on,

especially when the victim was just a kid.

Sorry.

I expect that to be done when I get back.

You all right?

Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Just feels a bit stuffy in here.

Right, well, er, ask Mrs Tembe if you can borrow her fan. Laters.

HE SIGHS, THEN COUGHS

Do you want anything to eat?

SHE GROANS

You still not feeling any better?

No.

Julie got my prescription, but I can't keep it down.

I can't keep anything down, not even water.

You do look awful.

Thanks(!)

PHONE RINGS

Does Julie know you've got that phone?

Someone dropped it off.

Who?

Dean?!

Is he threatening you?

No, of course not!

He wants me back.

Oh, Sarah!

Oh, you know what it's like. How many times have you gone back?

Too many! And never, never again.

He says he's changed.

CLARIS SIGHS

And that he loves you, and that he won't do it again,

and that he doesn't know why he hits you,

and he's sorry.

That is, until the next time.

My husband used to say the same thing to me.

SHE RETCHES

You can't go on like this. You're really ill.

RAPID, LABOURED BREATHING

HE WHEEZES

Do I need to go to hospital?

'Fraid so.

It should only be a day or two.

I want to be back in time for when my flat's ready in Norfolk.

My sister's there, and it should be far enough away.

Well, I hope it works out for you.

I just wish Sarah would do the same, but she's going home.

Why is she?

Dean's sweet-talked her.

Somehow he managed to find out she's here,

and he's given her a mobile phone.

He's been pestering her all day.

Is it Lily's birthday tomorrow?

No, I don't think so.

The ambulance will be here soon.

Dr Granger...

would you please talk to Sarah?

She mustn't go back to him.

Well, if she's made her mind up already, then...

He's made it up for her.

She's only 20, and he's already put her in hospital four times.

He'll promise her the earth, and she'll fall for his lies.

Ooh.

Hey.

-She's fine, thanks.

-I'm not here for Lily.

I came because Claris told me about the phone.

It's got nothing to do with her, or you.

I shouldn't have come here. I knew he'd find me.

My brother-in-law must've told him.

I told my sister.

I couldn't help it, I wanted her and me mum to know I was all right.

But you're not all right, are you?

I can't keep running away.

It's not fair to Lily.

He's not all bad.

Dean can be really nice when he wants to be.

Deep down he loves me.

I know he does.

He doesn't mean to hurt me, he just...

He just can't control his temper.

If he can't control himself, what's to stop him from hitting you again?

PHONE RINGS

That Dean?

PHONE CONTINUES TO RING

I don't know what I've done wrong, honest.

I tried agreeing with him on everything,

but then he'd just pick on the way I looked,

saying I embarrassed him.

Look, stay a while longer, OK? Think things through.

He may know you're here, but at least you're safe.

I'll only be putting it off,

and that'll only make it worse when I do go home.

I've no money, no qualifications, and a baby to look after.

I can't cope on my own.

Yeah, but you're not on your own.

He promised he wouldn't hit me again.

Do you believe him?

He'll be here soon.

You know, you say you're doing this for Lily,

but you're about to take her back to a house where her father can't control his temper.

He wouldn't hurt Lily.

HE SCOFFS

He wouldn't.

LILY CRIES

Thanks, Doc.

I owe you one.

You all right, babe?

Hello, my little princess!

Are you and Mummy coming home with Daddy?

I need you to get Lily's pram, it's round the back.

Yeah, sure.

You go get in the taxi, all right?

Best of luck.

I don't want Lily growing up in a house where we're both scared of her dad.

I've asked Julie to get us into another refuge.

It's a long way away this time, so he'll never find us.

OK. Take care.

ENGINE STARTS

You're joking?!

HE WHEEZES

PHONE RINGS OUTSIDE

PHONE RINGS LOUDER

WHEEZING CONTINUES

Gah! If I knew who put this here, I would post it back to them.

Ah, Dr Haskey left these for you.

Oh, bless him! He's done the locks. Is he still here?

No, he could not stay, he did not want to be late for his girlfriend.

Ahh! Al is so sweet.

Al, sweet?!

Right. Oh, er, can I help you?

HE STRUGGLES TO BREATHE

Liam?

Liam? What are you doing?

Liam? Liam? This isn't funny.

Liam? Liam? Mrs Tembe!

MRS TEMBE!

There is no need to sh...

Call for an ambulance, and go get someone else!

Can you remember what happened?

-GASPING:

-Can't... I can't breathe.

Have you taken something?

Liam, talk to me. I said, have you taken something?

Kevin, what's happening?

I don't know, I came in here and found him like this.

OK. Liam, it's Dr Carter.

It's Heston.

It's no use, Heston.

-He's taken the same filth as Edward Holmes.

-Don't be ridiculous.

No? What's this then?

Oh, you fool! You are a complete idiot!

His pulse rate's dropping.

His tongue is swollen.

HE GASPS FOR AIR

OK, he's completely blocked.

Um, is there a scalpel there?

Some tube...

You all right?

Scalpel. Some tube...

-Are you ready?

-Just a minute.

Fine. Take... OK.

Tube. Tube

Hang on. Hang on.

And...

we're in.

There we go.

He's breathing.

OK.

TV SOUND BLARES

STATIC CRACKLES

Ay! Ay!

Oh, so you're not police, then?

Why would you be worried about the police?

Heston, have you been here all weekend?

He is your son.

That doesn't make me any sort of father.

You...you can't pin that on me!

No, but the police might.

-No, no, you... You can't!

-Just watch me.

There's something you need to know.

I've been trying to tell you.

I've been too scared.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd