The Call of Duty Doctors

What are you looking at?

Have you got a problem?

MUSIC PLAYS

Eh, eh! When will you be back?

As soon as my session's finished.

PHONE RINGS

Mill Health Centre, how may I help you? Yes, Dr Tyler.

I will look up his...

Dr Carmickey.

-Right, the number is 0-7-7-0...

-Doctor Carm...!

I am on the phone. Just give me a second.

0-7-7-0-0 9-0-0-8-6-1.

Mh-mm. And his name is Gary Webster.

Did you get that, Dr Tyler?

Good.

You have an appointment with Dr Carmichael?

Yeah. Ten.

-That is in 15 minutes.

-Can't she see me now?

-This gentleman is before you.

-Can't I go before him?

Absolutely not.

-What is your name?

-Jade Jackman.

Look, you don't mind if I go first, do you?

Mrs Jackman...

Miss. It's miss.

No, you cannot go first.

Now sit.

MOBILE PHONE RINGS

-Hello?

-Hi, Mr Webster?

Yeah?

It's Dr Tyler from the Mill Health Centre.

I've got an appointment to see your parents at their home,

but nobody's answering. Do you know anything, have they spoken to you?

'No. I haven't heard anything.'

With my dad in his condition, they don't get out much.

If they do, I usually drive them.

Well, it's just I can hear music playing inside the house.

-Do you have keys?

-Do you think something's happened?

I don't want to worry you, I'm sure it's nothing, but at their age,

I'd rather make sure everything is OK.

Yeah, um...I'm coming.

You going to lecture me?

I'm a doctor not a lecturer.

Why is it doctors and posh people

always think they can tell you what you should be doing

and how you should be behaving?

Talk to the hand? How retro.

What?

So, this appointment is to keep up with your asthma.

How's it been going?

The same. I didn't even want to come.

Nobody made you, but, hey, you're here now.

So, loosen your top, please, I'll listen to your breathing.

Look...the attitude... it impresses no-one.

And yours does?

Listen, Lady Muck, you think I was too stupid to not get knocked up?

You think you can talk down to me?

Well, I'm not having it.

You know nothing about me, right?

This is a no smoking building.

I can see that we have a lot of work to do.

Yeah, I spoke to them last night,

if they were going somewhere, I thought they would've said.

Mum? Dad?

That's their song.

It's been on repeat since I got here.

They did it...

They actually did it.

Did what?

Call an ambulance.

Is that their medication?

I need an ambulance, please.

Your mum's still alive. Come here.

I need you to keep an eye on her pulse for me.

Hello, hi...just a minute.

-Feel that?

-Yeah.

-Count out for me.

Hi. This is Dr Tyler from the Mill Health Centre.

I need an ambulance, please.

..three...

-Yeah, two patients...

-..four...

-..one in cardiac arrest.

-..five.

I'm at 19 Wallsend Terrace. OK, thank you.

Your dad's heart's stopped.

I need you to help me get him to the floor.

Slowly!

You need to understand why you shouldn't be smoking.

Firstly, there's your chronic asthma. Secondly, there's the baby.

Now, let me reassure you that I would not think twice

about wasting your time, but I do not waste my own.

This is important. For both of you.

Smoking can damage the placenta and the umbilical cord,

so that there is less oxygen in both your and the baby's blood.

The poor little thing's heart has to work so much harder.

-You done?

-What?

I don't need an old, stuck up doctor bint

telling me how to look after my baby.

Keep counting out loud for me.

KNOCK ON DOOR

I'm in here! In the living room!

Two patients, one male, one female.

The male's been in cardiac arrest

and receiving CPR for at least five minutes.

The female is still alive.

I think she's tachycardic. About 115.

She's also hypovolaemic. I think she might have an internal bleed.

Give them some space.

I'm going to go with them.

OK, well, let them do their thing. I'll take you to the hospital.

-Wait!

-You want more?

A girl has every right to stick up for herself.

I know I do.

Come back in here and hear me out.

If you think I'm talking down to you, you can just say.

I still get paid. So, you're not getting one over on me by going.

You're just missing out on things

that are going to make your baby healthy.

And you don't want that, do you?

I'm sure your mum will be fine.

What...

what about my dad?

How much had your parents told you about their medical conditions?

Dad's got mid-stage Alzheimer's, and Mum...

she was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

How was she bearing up?

Did your dad know about her condition?

Yes.

Some prescription medications can't be taken

with over-the-counter drugs.

It's dangerous. I have told your parents that.

I'm sorry. It's just that...

We'll talk about it later.

Uh, OK...

I'm really sorry, but your... your father's passed away.

When they got him into Resus, he had an advanced decision in his pocket.

Saying he didn't want any further treatment.

Do you know anything about it?

Yeah, he did that last year. I should've said, you know...

Sorry, with everything that was going on, I didn't, um...

He always said he didn't want to be a burden.

Your mum's still alive and fighting.

I know this is a really difficult time for you,

but I have to get back to the Mill.

Are you going to be OK?

Yeah, I'm going to be all right.

If you need to see him, or your mum, the staff will take care of it.

-OK?

-Yeah.

Once again, I'm really sorry, mate.

What I heard is smoking doesn't do that much damage.

So what if the baby's a bit smaller?

That makes being born easier. For me and the baby.

-That's good, isn't it?

-You heard?

Yeah. My mate Shaznay, she's had babies.

She knows what she's talking about.

OK... I... I see where you're coming from.

Look, I've had a baby, so I'm not just a doctor.

I do actually know what I'm talking about.

Firstly, your body, it's built for this.

Especially someone as young as you.

The baby being smaller, it's going to make no difference.

Secondly, there just is no upside to smoking while you're pregnant.

Because the baby's heart is smaller, it has to work that much harder.

Its lungs are small, its organs are small...

Smoking while pregnant can lead to miscarriage,

it can cause premature birth, illness after birth.

I don't mean to scare you, but this is the reality.

There is a proven link between smoking and cot death.

But it is not too late to do your baby good by quitting.

I was going to chuck it anyway.

-Have you seen the price of fags lately?

-Extortionate.

Think of all the vodka I could buy with the money!

Kidding!

OK, let's settle down and get started, shall we?

Karen? Are you all right?

You're not looking terribly relaxed. Has something happened?

Um...I want to talk about something different today.

OK, what?

My children.

Are you all right, Dr Tyler?

Yeah. I'll be fine.

Ah, Dr Tyler. I heard what happened. Do you need any time?

No, patients worrying themselves sick

when there's nothing wrong with them are exactly what I need right now.

The Mill Health Centre. How may I help you?

Uh...who is speaking please?

Gary Webster.

Hi.

Talking about your children would be a big breakthrough.

But it's a huge step.

-Are you absolutely sure that you want to?

-No, I don't want to.

It's difficult and it's all stuff that I don't understand,

but I need to talk about them, I need to understand it all.

I'm not sure how many parents feel

that they really understand their children.

Some very happy families can feel

as if they've got an alien in the house.

I know that not facing this,

and hoping it'll all sort itself out...it isn't working.

Ignoring them...

is making things worse.

Can I, please?

It's your session.

'This is so hard...'

'..but it's the right thing to do.'

Here you go.

I need to know what you saw back there...

at the house.

Erm... well, I guess you nailed it.

I think your parents decided for reasons I can only guess at

-to take their...

-It was an accident.

That's what you have to tell the police.

Gary, I'll tell them what I saw.

I'm not going to lie.

With your mum's metastatic cancer and your dad's Alzheimer's,

it's easy to understand why they wanted dignity and control.

And the advanced decision in your dad's pocket

tells us all we need to know.

Mum and Dad had a lot on their plates.

They made a big mistake.

They knew what they were doing.

-And there's the music.

-It was an accident.

The one song, their song, stuck on repeat?

They wanted it to be the last thing they heard.

I'm sorry, I understand that you're upset, but...

Mum's still hanging in there. She's got a gastrointestinal bleed.

They're operating on her.

I don't want her living the time she has left

with a manslaughter charge hanging over her.

-They wouldn't...

-I spoke to them at the hospital.

-DS Cooper?

-Yeah.

He said a charge is a possibility if they think that she killed Dad.

-Look, you're just going to say what you saw, yeah?

-Yeah.

Well then, you didn't see anything

that makes it look like it wasn't an accident.

Exhale.

-SHE COUGHS

-Right.

Does your asthma disturb your sleep?

I like my sleep. It's this little pest that disturbs it.

He's just like his dad.

Likes to make things difficult for me.

Is he around?

He wants to be. For now.

But I'm not going to wait till he decides to do one.

So, you think he's going to walk out on you?

Well, his brother did the same to his girl and baby.

And whatever big brother does, Marley does. We're always fighting.

He'll get sick of it, and "whoosh."

So, you don't wait for people to let you down?

Problem with that?

No, just getting your retaliation in first.

Sometimes you can be your own worst enemy.

Just saying.

Anyway, as I expected, we have to keep an eye on your asthma,

especially once the baby comes.

But quitting smoking will have really helped.

Are you planning on breast-feeding?

Not a chance. Once he's here, I want my body back.

I'm not having saggy boobs.

Well, you're not necessarily going to get...

Of course, it's your decision.

For a young woman like you, your body is important,

but of course for a young woman like you, it's going to be

much more likely that everything snaps back into place.

But not at your age, eh?

Well, not necessarily.

Let's just say I'd have to put a little more work in.

I've got more than 20 years to pick up with the kids...

and I don't know how.

I mean, it's...it's one thing dating Rob, because we can...

-Rediscover each other?

-Yes.

I mean, we can fall for each all over again...

-if the things that made it happen in the first place are still...

-Mm-hm.

..and that makes me feel...

Cos Rob is...

is like a rock, an anchor.

And with everything else, I feel lost, but when Rob is there...

I think I'm falling in love with him.

-Again.

-Again. Yeah.

Do you need to resolve things with your children

for the sake of you and your children,

or for the sake of you and Rob?

Both, I think.

Cos it's, um... Its starting to click with Rob

and I'm just waiting for the moment when it...

Clicks? With Jack?

And Imogen? And you have all those feelings again?

It doesn't happen all the time, but there was, um...

There was this thing with Immie.

There was a moment when I almost felt that bond.

And then it was gone.

Sometimes, our relationships with our children...

they're based on a shared history.

But there is no history. It's gone.

Does that mean I can't pick things up with Jack and Immie?

No. No, not at all.

-FIRE ALARM RINGS

-Ugh...

You just know that someone's gone and burnt toast or something.

Look, we are going to continue with this.

Karen?

If I tell the police the truth that they knew the dangers,

and if I mention the music, then they're going to know

it wasn't an accident and they might charge her.

Well, it's clearly a very difficult situation.

Are you sure it was a joint enterprise?

I think so. I think it's what the father wanted.

Well, the poor woman is going to have to live with the consequences.

Even if she survives the operation, she hasn't got much time left.

So, what is the point in putting her through this?

Let her live and die in peace.

So, you think I should lie and not tell them what I know?

It's not our decision to make.

If this is a potential criminal case...

Daniel, why are you taking the moral high ground?

Because I don't think Kevin should lie to the police.

I don't think he'll be very good at it, for one.

And I'm sorry, Kevin, if this woman killed her husband

with or without his informed consent, that is a crime.

False alarm. You can all go back to your offices now.

'Hi, it's Rob Hollins, please leave a message. Thanks.'

Karen!

There you are. I thought you'd left.

Ugh, can you believe someone tried to sneak a cigarette?

Anyway, we're not finished.

We have to try to understand where we'd got to.

Um, where we'd got to is, um, I can pick things up with Rob,

but I don't know my children.

It's like I gave them away when they were babies,

and now, I don't know what to say to them.

I'm scared.

-Good. Because it is scary.

-No, you don't...

Look, let's go back. We'll carry on.

But first, why don't you tell me

what it is you're holding back from this session.

Yeah, OK, got that. Cheers.

Dr Tyler! How are you?

-Fine.

-DS Cooper, we met when...

-Yeah, I remember you.

Good. Must be a nice change not being a suspect.

Yeah, something like that.

That was St Phil's.

It looks like they've moved Mrs Webster to ITU.

-They've turned off the tap, they think she's going to survive.

-Good.

The son, fair enough, he's grieving but he's a pain.

Well, look, the situation is, um, well...

the investigation's going to continue.

Worst case, the CPS may push a murder charge on Mrs Webster,

but that would be difficult.

I mean, no-one wants to put a sick, elderly widow through this.

I mean, by the time we've completed all the due process,

the old biddy may be dead or too sick to prosecute anyway.

Unless I've got any concrete reason not to,

I'm inclined to treat this as a tragic accident.

I just want facts. What you saw and what you did.

So, Dr Tyler, I've had a look at the scene and...

I haven't seen anything that rules out an accidental overdose.

Have you? Based on what you saw.

-I...uh...

-Take your time.

No.

OK. Well...um...

We'll get a formal statement from you in due course.

Cheers.

Listen, if you don't want to tell me, that's OK.

The important thing is that you feel ready to say it.

But the thing is, whatever it is looks to me like it's...

an obstacle to progress.

The fire alarm's over. Nothing's going to interrupt us now.

An observation... Is it Jack?

When we met, I didn't know who he was.

I just thought he was a nice looking lad...

and he was friendly.

I kissed him.

And this was just after your accident?

And he didn't identify himself as your son?

No, he must've been freaked out by everything that had happened.

This sounds like a misunderstanding, nothing more.

Possibly, there were emotions there,

seeing your son that you didn't fully understand.

But you were very ill and very confused.

Do you feel better for getting this out?

Do you think I should forgive myself?

No.

There's nothing to forgive. It's really nothing much.

It's awful, it's gross.

It's nothing.

And calling it gross and awful just empowers it. Can you see that?

You can overcome this, if you take control of it.

Have you met with Jack since?

No.

Then, what do you think the next step is?

Meet him?

I'd suggest with Rob and Immie, not alone.

Not because something might happen,

but because you need them to be part of this.

Has Jack made any attempts to stay in contact?

-Yeah.

-Good.

Go on in, yes? Go on in.

I...I'm sorry about earlier. I panicked a bit.

I didn't want Mum to suffer any more than she already has.

You were out of order.

Well, um, thanks for everything that you did, you know.

I've spoken to the police.

You can relax.

-You did the right thing.

-Really?

Look, if you want to help your mum,

stop telling everyone it was an accident.

All that does is make people look more closely, all right?

Yeah, you should, um, come in, see what it means to the family.

Thanks, but I've got to get back.

Good, I think that's the strategy we need to work on for now.

Focusing on a shared history that you can't access

is just a brick wall.

Yeah, but that's the thing we've got in common.

I think it'll help if you and Rob

only talk about the children as they are now.

Take it gradually.

Focusing on a future that you can all share is far more fruitful.

You have to be committed to this.

And then, I think the next step

is to get you and me and Rob together for a session.

And then the children.

Is that a problem?

Yeah.

Um...I'm not sure there is a Rob and me any more.

I'm going to get pregnant again. As soon as possible.

You're not an easy girl to find, Jade.

Couldn't have looked hard enough. Look at the size of me!

I talked to Mandy about getting pregnant!

Did Mandy actually say it would be OK?

I breast-fed my son. And I can assure you that my boobs

-are not down to my knees.

-Whatever.

Why did you do it?