The Good Doctor Doctors

There you go, Dad.

Rabbit food. Lovely.

And I've made your green tea.

I thought you could have this now, then we can go shopping later.

Thanks, love. Are you going to eat something?

Bacon sarnies.

I'll be back on real food soon.

With any luck.

What are you doing?

Nothing. Just checking the tyres.

That is Dr Clay's car.

I know! But it looked a bit flat.

It's fine, though. No problems.

So I'm at the top of the ski-lift, I'm trying to impress your mum,

and I say, "Wait here.

"I know how to do this," I push off and fall flat on my back.

Er...Mr Stanfield? Peter. And...Rebecca?

Bex.

Hello, Dr Haskey. Lovely day.

You're looking well.

Yeah. I'm feeling great.

You've missed quite a few appointments.

I don't need to see you any more.

I've been cured.

I just don't want to do evening classes. Anyway, it's summer.

They're going to be finishing.

They do summer classes. There are lots of things that we can do.

We could learn a new language.

I manage perfectly well with English and profane.

Look, the point is what I was trying to explain all day yesterday,

it's something new that we can do together.

There are lots of things we can do together.

And they don't involve sitting in a dreary classroom listening to a teacher droning on.

It's so suburban. So...middle-aged.

Not necessarily.

And keeping every Thursday night free, or whatever...

It takes away all the spontaneity. I want to be able to jump on a plane and have a holiday whenever we want.

Oh, yeah. All we have to do is ask Howard to give us leave at the same time, and ask weeks in advance(!)

I work hard all day.

In the evenings, I want to have fun.

I want to be together with you and Joe.

I'm glad we made up after yesterday,

but I've given it lots of thought and I just...I don't fancy it.

I'm sorry.

So this miracle cure, how does that work?

It's not a miracle cure.

We found this wonderful doctor, David Clarkwell.

He's a radical oncologist.

Yeah, he fights cancer on all fronts, he uses everything at once.

How's he do that?

First there's the diet - raw veg and green tea,

that's to boost the immune system.

Then he's got this amazing new drug.

It treats the cancer and there's no side effects.

Then there's meditation, positive visualisations...

I've been on this regime for a month now,

and, the last few days, I've felt great. It's worked!

David doesn't like his patients seeing other doctors, or having

any other kind of treatment - he says it'd conflict with the regime.

-So...

-Hang on a minute. You do know this is a scam, right?

You're deluding yourselves. It's not real.

It seems pretty real to me.

You can't meditate cancer away!

You don't cure it by drinking green tea!

What else does he prescribe - does he give you a coffee enema

while you sit in a dark room listening to whale music?!

There's thousands of crooks out there just waiting to pounce

on people like you - people who are desperate, people who are...

excuse the phrase...gullible.

We're not stupid!

-How much is he charging you?

-That's none of your business!

Look, Dr Haskey, we didn't just choose some random bloke.

-He was recommended.

-By who?

Friends. Well, friends of friends.

They said David was marvellous, knew someone he'd cured.

Then, obviously, we researched him. He's got a website.

Oh, I take it all back - he's obviously legitimate with a website!

They told me the leukaemia was terminal. What have I got to lose? So we agreed I'd give it a try.

I was never into any of this stuff before,

meditation, and suchlike, but it works.

-No, it doesn't.

-With respect, I'm the one who's ill.

I know how I feel, and I feel better.

Even you said you were surprised how well I looked.

That's evidence, isn't it? That's scientific.

Yeah, it is scientific. It's something called the placebo effect.

You expect to feel better, so you do,

but it's not going to last. What you don't realise...

Don't patronise us, you arrogant...

-Bex.

-Why should I be polite? He isn't!

Look at you - you've got no right telling other people how to be healthy!

I'm a doctor. I am medically qualified.

-So's Dr Clarkwell.

-No, he isn't!

He is.

Come on, Bex. There's stuff to get ready.

Yeah. We're having a get-together to celebrate now that Dad's better.

These pills he's given you, what are they?

I can show you.

Do you think that I could take one?

I've got a friend who could examine them.

If they're that great, surely you want to know what they are.

Dad, don't. It's none of his business.

We don't need to prove anything to you.

There you go.

Come on.

Yay, Bugsy! Bugsy, it's Haskey.

Yeah... Bugsy, I'm going to cut you off there. I need a favour.

What about something a bit more active, then, like pilates?

Or keep fit. Or ballroom dancing.

It's dead trendy now, with all the TV shows.

Daniel suggested that, but you know I hate all that "Strictly" stuff.

Can you really see me in one of those ridiculous dresses?

Yeah...

You two. We need to have a meeting.

-Emma's had an accident... she's broke her ankle.

-How?

She was visiting Mrs Lanchester yesterday, and tripped over one of her dogs.

Aw! Is the dog all right?

Never mind about the dog! It's a bad break.

We don't know how long she's going to be off for, so we need to arrange cover.

My office, five minutes?

It's not funny!

There is a charlatan on our patch ripping off terminal patients!

He doesn't specify on his website how much he's charging them,

so it's obviously an awful lot of money.

And get this, he recommends that people undergo his treatment

for at least three to six months... These are terminal patients!

What's his name?

"Dr" David... You know what, I refuse to call him doctor.

His name is David Clarkwell.

-Ah. Yeah, right. He's back again, is he?

-Again?

He keeps coming back, like cockroaches.

Is he still claiming he can cure cancer?

-What's he advocating this time - healing crystals, or drinking your own urine?

-Yeah, that sort of thing.

But it's illegal! You can't prescribe if you're not a qualified doctor.

Yeah, but he is. He's got all the qualifications.

He just doesn't use them.

-There must be some way of stopping him!

-No.

If people want to come and hand over their cash voluntarily,

it's all above board. It's not breaking any laws.

He's charging people literally thousands of pounds!

Yeah, of course he is. The more people charge, the more people believe the treatment's working.

There's loads of quacks around. I met one last year - bloke doing live blood tests, of all things.

There was no way we could prosecute him.

Why don't you go to see him

and film him undercover, like in those hidden camera shows?

Yeah, and that way I get charged for entrapment or something?

Can you think before you speak, please?

No, I'll just have to sort it out my way, won't I?

-Have you guys heard about Emma?

-No.

MUSIC PLAYS

Right, I'm making a brew. Does anyone want one?

Niamh?

Niamh? Do you want a cup of tea?

No, thanks.

Are you all right?

Yeah. I'm just worried about Emma. I'll catch you later.

Jimmi, have you noticed anything strange? About Niamh and Al?

Like what?

Well, he's being really off with her,

and she's... Do you know what's going on with them?

No, no idea, and I don't want to know, it's nothing to do with me.

I've got a new policy of not getting involved.

They're noisy, smelly and incontinent.

Heston, that is no way to talk about our patients.

She has more dogs every time you visit her!

Can we focus? Right, what are we going to do about Emma?

I'm sure we'll muddle through. We always do.

Yes, well, I don't want to keep muddling through.

This is not going to be easy. Emma runs a lot of clinics,

one of them being the Well Woman clinic - which should be run by a woman doctor.

OK, well, right, that means we need to get a locum in.

Brilliant, just what I was thinking.

No, surely we have spare capacity.

-Howard, are you going somewhere?

-Yeah, down the station.

-I've got a shift as a special constable.

-Keeping the streets of Letherbridge safe.

-Yeah, something like that. Can I leave the locum with you?

-Yes, of course.

Heston, we don't have much spare capacity.

We can't just take on Emma's entire workload.

You mean, you don't want to do the clinic.

OK, what I mean is, we spend little enough time with Joe as it is.

I don't want to spend even less.

We should get a locum.

Who would you suggest?

You're lucky.

I can't normally see people at such short notice,

but someone's cancelled.

I have time for an initial consultation.

Alisdair, isn't it - with a "D"? Do you mind if I call you Alisdair?

Yeah, it's Al, not that it matters.

I know patients find this hard, talking about their condition,

especially if they've just been diagnosed.

Often, they're still in shock.

But you have come to the right place,

and I promise you I can cure you.

Now, if you'd like to tell me about your...

Just save it, will you? I'm not here as a patient.

Oh? Then I misunderstood.

Yes, you did. I'm a GP.

I know that you rip off terminally ill people,

and that your so-called treatment regime is a load of old hogwash.

So, exactly how many people have you conned?

If you mean how many have I treated...

No. No, you don't treat people!

You just delude them into believing that they've been cured.

I see.

Like most conventional medical practitioners,

you have a closed mind.

No. I'm just not sick or scared enough to be gullible!

I use techniques from all over the world - proven techniques

that have been used for thousands of years.

This is win-win for you, isn't it?

If people go into remission, then you get the credit, and if they die,

the family's too grief-stricken to come after you!

I treat the whole person, harnessing the body's natural defences.

What do you advocate?

Chemotherapy, radiotherapy - pumping the body full of poison.

Making people feel so wretched that they want to die,

and give up fighting?

Is that what you call curing cancer?

It's the best option we have at the moment.

No. You're just prejudiced against anything else.

Fascinating as this discussion is, I'd like you to leave now.

I have real patients who need my time and attention.

Yeah, places to go, people to con...

This ends today. I'm putting you out of business!

Yeah - go ahead, call the police,

because I want to tell them all about your racket.

Hello, police, please.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Come in!

-Hi!

-Hello.

We need to consult about Mrs Bennett. When's good for you?

-Give me half an hour?

-Great. OK.

Oh, Niamh?

Yeah?

How are things going, generally?

Great. No problems.

Good.

What about you and Al? Are you two OK?

Of course we are! Why would you ask that?

We're fine.

Just asking.

KNOCK ON DOOR

-Come.

-Here we go.

Dr Clarkwell.

Thank you for coming round so quickly.

As I said, I want this man arrested.

He stormed into my office...

Actually, I made an appointment.

I'll talk to you in a minute. Sir?

He pretended to want a consultation,

then he became verbally aggressive and threatening towards me.

This man is a fraud! He needs arresting!

As I said, I'll talk to you in a minute.

Would you escort this gentleman outside, please? Thank you.

There must be something you can charge him with, surely?

-Threatening behaviour.

-Yes, of course.

I'm afraid we'll have to take this down the station.

-Can't I do that here?

-I'm afraid not.

As I'm sure you're aware, the police are overstretched,

and they don't really see this type of thing as a priority.

You mean I'd have to wait at the station for hours?

I can't tell you how long it'd take.

I'd have to reschedule patients!

It's going to be more trouble than it's worth.

Well, if that's your decision,

if you don't want to take it any further...

What's going to happen, then - you're just going to let him go?

Oh, no. I'll be having a word with him.

Rest assured he won't bother you again.

OK. I'll drop it.

But I expect you to read him the riot act!

If you have any further problems, please do give us a call.

Don't worry, I will.

I'll leave you to the rest of your day.

I wasn't threatening anyone.

It's all right, Jane, I'll have a word. I'll catch you up.

What do you think you're playing at?!

He's a crook. He's taking money off people who are dying!

I don't care what he's up to. It's not your job to go after him!

Do you want to be arrested? Charged?

As usual, you haven't thought about the consequences for everyone else.

You're lucky I was the one dealing with this,

otherwise you'd be down the nick!

Fortunately, I've managed to talk Dr Clarkwell

out of bringing charges.

All right.

Well, thanks for that.

I didn't do it for you.

I'm trying to protect the practice.

If you've got any sense, you'll stay away from Dr Clarkwell in future.

Is that clear?

Now get in your car and clear off.

Go on!

See you soon.

Might even make it along to the quiz night at the pub.

Thanks for coming.

Ooh.

I'll give you a hand, love.

Maybe you should rest. You don't...

I don't need to rest!

I'll help.

What?

Your nose is bleeding.

-Oh.

-Sit down, Dad.

Tilt your head forward and pinch your nose.

I really am all right.

PHONE RINGS

The Mill Health Centre?

How may I help you?

Er, Stanfield?

Is that Pete Stanfield?

No, his daughter. She's very worried about him.

Tell them I'm on my way.

Miss Stanfield? One of our doctors is on the way.

So, this is the staff room, and you already know Daniel.

Toni!

How are you?

You look fantastic.

I've got a call that I've got to make now,

-but we'll catch up properly later.

-It's good to see you again.

So let's finish the grand tour, then we can come back

-and have a drink and a chat later.

-OK.

Oh. It's you.

How's your dad?

Hello, Dr Haskey.

What's been happening?

It's just a nosebleed.

It won't stop. We've tried everything.

Let's have a look at you.

Hm.

How are you feeling?

Not brilliant. I've just been overdoing it.

If I rest...

I don't understand. This shouldn't be happening!

I tried Dr Clarkwell, I've left him loads of messages

-and he hasn't rung back.

-There's a surprise.

Don't worry, love. It's just a blip.

No, it's not just a blip.

Look, Pete, we need to get you into hospital.

No. There's no need.

-I say there is.

-I'm feeling better.

Thanks for coming out, but Bex shouldn't have called.

I had to do something! I didn't know it was going to be him!

You know what Dr Clarkwell said. No other doctors.

I've have to stick to his regime.

-But it's not working!

-I'd like to call an ambulance.

Now, I can't force you - it's your choice.

Do I have your permission?

Dad, please!

PHONE RINGS

Bugsy. Talk to me. What did you find?

You are kidding me?

How is he?

Stable.

You mean, he's dying.

Yeah. That's what they think.

I'm sorry.

You should be. It's your fault.

How do you work that out?

He was getting better, and you ruined it.

You told us that it wasn't real,

that it was a placebo effect and we were deluding ourselves.

He was fine till then.

If we hadn't met you, he would have been all right.

No. It's not possible at this stage.

How can you know that? No-one can.

We'd started to hope again, and you destroyed that.

OK.

Do you know what was in those tablets

that...Mr Clarkwell had been giving your dad?

What?

Aspirin.

It's the cheap brand, the kind you buy in a supermarket.

No.

Remember your dad gave me that tablet?

I had a friend of mine analyse it.

Do you know what aspirin does? It thins the blood.

That's why your dad was getting so many nosebleeds.

Tablets weren't curing him. If anything, they were making him worse.

All this time...

Yeah - Clarkwell's been lying to you. Can you see that now?

But he really cares. He's been so kind!

Yeah, course he has. Considering all the money you've been giving him!

No wonder you couldn't get in contact with him.

As soon as the confidence trick fails, you can't see them for dust.

Bex.

But who is she,

I mean, apart from being an old mate of Zara's?

She's a really good doctor.

She's had a hard time.

She was in a practice that was dissolved, recently divorced.

She's been doing locum work here and there.

She'd be the perfect replacement for Emma. Temporarily.

That's reassuring - we can all be replaced.

You know what I mean.

I'm sure you'll make her feel very welcome.

-Good! So, this is Mandy Marquez, head of our nursing staff.

-Lovely to meet you.

Now you've met everyone.

So it's definite, then? You're Emma's replacement?

Only till she's back on her feet.

Oh, sorry, that sounds awful.

So I guess the last thing to do is agree a start date.

Well, as soon as possible would suit me.

I'm sure Howard's got some standard contracts knocking around.

-Let's go and make it official.

-Great.

-I've only just picked up your messages. I got here as soon as I could.

-You came.

Of course. Pete's my patient.

Bex, he shouldn't be here.

This is disrupting his treatment regime.

Enough of that. We're keeping him comfortable here.

Don't listen to Dr Haskey. Bex, you're 18, aren't you?

You're his next-of-kin.

You can get your father discharged,

if he's not well enough to make that decision himself.

Bex, we have to get him home.

You know he doesn't want to die here.

Do this for him.

And if he comes home...

We'll get him back on the proper treatment regime and he'll be OK.

What, back on the aspirin?

I'm sorry?

That's your miracle cure, isn't it, aspirin?

Yeah.

So you can get stuffed.

I beg your pardon?

Go. Just get out. I don't want you anywhere near him.

You're making a terrible mistake!

You're putting your father's life at risk!

Like you care!

Just get out.

As you wish.

What are you looking so pleased about?

It's your fault we went to him in the first place!

How is it my fault?

All the time you were dealing with my dad,

you treated us like we were stupid, treated me like I was a little kid!

You acted as though you couldn't care less.

That's why we went to someone else.

David... Well, at least he seemed like he cared.

I care!

No, you don't. Even now.

You just wanted to be proved right.

And you have been.

We were scammed, we got ripped off. Dad's dying.

Are you happy now?

Rebecca...

Go away.

Look, you're right. I have been treating you like a kid.

I'm sorry.

Are you going to stay here?

Obviously.

-You should get something to eat, then.

-I'm not hungry.

You need fuel if you're going to stay here all night.

How about I get you a hot drink, a coffee or a hot chocolate, yeah?

You asked how much we paid him.

£20,000.

All the money Dad had saved to put me through uni,

some from family, friends...

You should sue. Get that money back.

I'm going to report him to the police, to the GMC.

Get him struck off. Selling aspirin as a cure for cancer

is outrageous - we can do him for fraud.

I can't think about that right now.

No. Well, when you can, I can help you.

Make sure he can't do this to anyone else.

I dunno. It seemed to work for a bit.

No.

Dad got better. Even you noticed the change.

I got my dad back, the way he used to be, before he got ill.

How do you put a price on that?

If you love someone, and they're dying, and you get them back,

even for a day...

Never mind. You wouldn't understand.

It wasn't anything that that conman did...

How do you know?

Because I have seen it many times before.

When someone is dying,

they often get a respite just for a few hours or a day, even.

A chance for them to say goodbye. That's not the medicine,

it's nothing I've done, or the consultants, it's all your dad.

He is fighting his cancer right to the bitter end.

Not all the savings in the world can buy that.

No. You can't get it on the NHS.

Look, is there anyone I can call?

Your mum, maybe?

Mum walked out when I was five.

Dad talked about getting in contact with her,

when he was diagnosed, but we've lost touch.

I don't need her. I'm going to be all right.

Your dad must be so proud of you.

Nan and Grandad are coming.

They're getting a flight - they live in Spain.

Thank you, but I'd like you to go now.

I'm sick of all the doctors.

None of them can do anything.

I just want to be on my own with him.

What has happened to Toni? I wouldn't have recognised her!

I know. It's called being married to Ben

and then going through a nasty divorce from him.

Frankly, I don't know which is worse.

-Anyway, is that all you can think of - her looks?

-No, of course not.

Well, I hope not, because she's saving our necks.

OK, she may have let herself go a little bit, but it's not a crime.

Why are you doing this?

I'm being pragmatic.

We need a locum, she needs a locum job.

It's a perfect fit.

And also I do think it would be good for her.

Yeah. It also conveniently gets you out of doing the Well Woman clinic.

Oh, yes, there is that too, yes.

I knew you had an ulterior motive.

Hang on a minute, has it not occurred to you that I might be helping somebody?

I do help people occasionally, you know!

I know you do. I didn't mean to be...nasty.

Just give her a break, all right?

She's been through a horrible time, so be nice to her.

I'll be the soul of niceness, especially to Toni.

Let's go home.

There's a lurgy going round.

Poor you. You should be at home, tucked up in bed.

She's not been very well.

OK. Can you be a bit more specific?

Is everything all right?

It's as all right as it ever is.

What's wrong with her?

Kelly might have scurvy.

-It's the last time I tell you anything.

-Niamh!

I have a weapon!

Show yourself or get out of my house.