Unsolved Mysteries Doctors

A shoemaker once agreed to run a race

from Leamington Spa to Coventry.

His friends followed him in a cart, watching all the way,

all the time that he was running.

He ran and ran and ran and then, suddenly, he tripped,

and fell with a terrible scream, and vanished in mid-air,

without ever hitting the ground.

He was never seen again.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Lois?

Lois, come on.

It's time to wake up.

I need to finish my dream.

It's the same one...

Don't tell me. Nothing more boring than hearing other people's dreams.

What do you dream about?

You, getting up and getting dressed.

We've got a busy day ahead of us.

Do me a favour, jump out and pop that in the post?

No.

Go on! It's on your side.

No.

Yes!

What is that?

The Hundred Greatest Movies Quiz.

I've hardly seen any of them.

Well, I've probably seen loads, but...

No.

No.

Oh, that one looks good.

Let me have a look.

Yeah, we've seen that one.

We've seen that one.

Well, actually, you fell asleep, but I've seen it.

Give it back!

Dirty Harry. You've got to see that again.

I bet I could get at least 90%.

Good for you!

Go on, you read them out and I'll tell you

whether they made the top 100 or not.

You know what? I'm going to walk.

Don't be like that.

Bye. Bye!

Oh, Karen, the post!

HE BANGS ON THE WINDOW Karen!

I got Maths, English, French and science for starters.

I can get more later when we've been into the school,

seen where we need to focus, OK?

I thought we could do a bit this morning, before we go in.

Just to get those synapses started. What do you think?

Lois?

What? Which do you want to start with?

Can I go outside? Lois, I am not doing this for me!

I'm trying to help you catch up.

Didn't I give you a plate?

Oh, sorry.

PHONE RINGS

Choose one of the text books and make a start.

I'll be back in a sec.

"You have scored seven out of 100. Have you been living under a rock?"

SHE CRIES OUT

Oh! Are you all right?

What happened?

Nothing. I just landed funny.

Not from up there. I was running.

Is it bad? Have you broken something?

It'll be fine. I've got to keep going.

Lois?! What the...?

You DID jump from up there!

I've got to go. Give me a hand, please?

Is something the matter?

No, it'll be fine. I've got to go!

What's your name?

I've got to go.

Lois! What were you thinking?

Thank you for your help. I can take it from here.

I'm Karen from the Mill Health Centre,

if you want a doctor to look at her? Are you hurt? No, I'm fine.

How do you think it would look if you got hurt?

You weren't thinking, were you!

Do you want to come with me?

She's said she's fine.

Come on, let's get you indoors.

Ah, just the man!

You're on a paperwork day, aren't you?

Yes, but I've got a lot of other stuff planned.

It'll have to wait.

This is all the info for an audit for the usage of the walk-in centre.

Well, not all the info, but close enough.

I have a vast array of superpowers,

but I do not count auditing as one of them.

Yes, but Emma does.

That's why I need you to get all this over to her

and get her set up with a laptop so she can access our system remotely.

Now, that is one of your superpowers, if I'm not mistaken?

So I don't have any paperwork to do today?

It won't take you long, if you get cracking.

Captain IT to the rescue!

Wait!

What?

Oh.

Ah, you must be Dr MacPherson.

Call me Toni.

And you must be Howard, the practice manager?

Howard Bellamy, yes. How did you know that?

Zara's been filling me in on everyone.

She said you were ex-military.

Oh. Is it that obvious?

Just a certain neatness.

Are you a dancer at all?

No!

Why, what has Zara been saying? Oh, it was just a wild guess.

Have you ever even tried?

No, no.

There's something in your demeanour.

It's elegant.

No.

Um...I, I...

I'm sorry, I need to make a phone call.

Ah, Daniel! Would you be able to show Dr MacPherson the ropes?

Thank you.

Oh, dear. What have you been doing to Howard?

I'm not sure.

We'll get there early, but that won't do us any harm.

Better to be early...

Does it hurt, your foot?

No, just these new trainers.

I thought you liked them. Don't you like them? Lois?

Can we go in there a sec?

We've got an appointment.

We're early, you said. We can get some more books.

History. You've not got any history.

We don't know what's on the curriculum.

It won't take five minutes.

We'll go on the way back from school.

One thing at a time, that's the only way we'll get through this. Focus.

Good morning.

What did I tell you?

What? I don't know.

You said you'd behave. Didn't we have that discussion?

I'm looking for a book I used to have.

It got lost and nowhere online has it.

But somewhere like this might. It won't take long to look, please?

Go on, then. Be quick.

Have you got any history books, appropriate for Year 9?

History section's cleared already, but I can look out the back for you.

I didn't think you were really closing down.

I thought it was something to make people come in.

If it was, it hasn't worked!

I saved you some of these.

I was hoping you'd be coming back in.

Thank you, Hywel.

You get through them so fast. Not at the moment.

Got my hands full.

I didn't know you had a...

I assumed...

You should sell your stock online.

Lois was just saying, that's where she's been looking for her book.

Nah, reckon I'd go mad.

Stuck at home, alone, sticking things in envelopes.

He's got it! He's got the book.

Ah, yes, that's a very rare one.

Does it cost a lot? No, just a quid.

It's only rare because no-one wants it. I want it.

You can get all these kinds of stories on websites now.

But it's not the same. You can keep hold of a book.

Exactly.

This is what I mean. Someone comes in the shop, out of the blue,

finds just what they were looking for.

You can keep reading it over and over again

because there's no end to the mystery. Have you read it?

About the shoemaker who vanished?

It happened nearby, on the old road. From Leamington Spa to Coventry.

There was another guy, a magician in the States,

faded away, then came back again.

That's different.

I haven't got a quid.

Is that how you ask for something?

Can I have it?

Please?

I tell you what, you can have it as a reward,

if you promise to behave at the school.

I already said I will.

And you already disobeyed me.

Now prove that you can be trusted,

and we'll get it for you on the way back. But...

We're going to be late. Come on.

You forgot your...

DOOR CLOSES

You're not on your own, are you?

Chance would be a fine thing, I've got Auntie Barbara staying with me.

How do you survive with so few sockets?

I don't even think you've got surge protection.

I want all the gossip from the Mill. What's going on?

You broke your ankle. That's it.

Well, what about the locum who's standing in for me? What's she like?

I wasn't really paying attention.

What about Niamh?

What about her?

How's she settling in?

She's a nice girl, don't you think?

Excellent! You're all hooked up to the Mill.

You may now call me Genius.

Genius, you don't have to rush off, do you? Cup of tea, bit of cake?

Well, it's probably best to make sure the connection's secure.

Good, then you can pop to the shop and get the tea and cake.

There's a few other things you can get for me too, while you're there.

ALARM BLARES I've never been so embarrassed!

It wasn't my fault.

It was him. He was going on and on.

He was telling us about the school. We need that information.

I needed to get out of there. I couldn't breathe, and my foot was killing.

Not so much that you couldn't kick a fire exit open!

There was me thinking you really wanted that book.

Ow!

Really?

Because you said it was fine before.

It was. But now it really hurts.

Toni seems nice.

Mmm. He's got a nice suit on.

Like Zara's, but not as glamorous.

What?

Where is Zara? Is she at the nursery?

Worse. She's picking up a present for some kid's birthday party.

Last-minute invite.

Sounds nice.

It'll be hell.

Soft play and screaming tots. Our glamorous days are over.

Is it not killing any more? Why?

Listen, Lois, this can't continue!

I'm a straightforward person.

When I ask a question, I expect an answer,

not another question or an "I don't know".

It still hurts, but not as bad.

Hey, Lois, I thought it was you. How are you doing?

She says her foot hurts. Right. Come on in.

It's drop-in today. I'll get somebody to see you.

I hope we're not wasting your time.

Not at all.

Just want to fill that form in?

Thank you.

I'm doing this online quiz - hundred greatest movies?

I only got seven right. Do you want to do it with me?

I won't have seen any.

If your foot's hurting, you should stay off it. Come and sit down.

Nice glasses, Karen. It's a good look on you. Jimmi...

They're filling in a form, and they won't be two ticks.

Can I ask you about another patient?

Yeah.

(She's come in because she's hurt her foot.

(But can you take a look at her arm? It's covered in bruises.)

How am I supposed to look at her arm if she's come in about her foot?

I don't know. Make something up. Ask for a general check.

I think there's something wrong

and I think her mum is keeping her prisoner.

She jumped off a wall, mucking about.

Said it didn't hurt at first,

otherwise I'd have taken her straight to A E.

Hmm. Yeah, it's pretty swollen. It might be a fracture.

I can't confirm anything without a bone scan,

so you might have to go to A E after all. It's not that bad.

OK, then for now, rest it, keep it elevated, ideally with an ice pack.

Minimise weight-bearing activities,

and no high-impact sports till it's better.

Does that include running? Yes, that includes running.

If it doesn't improve or it gets any worse, you will need to go to A E.

Could you pop your jacket off, so I can check your blood pressure?

Why would you need to do that?

I can explain.

Would you like to speak to me on your own, Lois?

Lois? You know, there's no need...

Could you wait outside, Ms Hardacre? I'll come and get you.

DOOR CLOSES

So you were telling me about Niamh?

Was I? You said she was fine,

but haven't you noticed she's been a bit down lately?

It's nothing to do with me. Al...

I think we should mind our own business.

Even if we have people's best interests at heart?

No-one has my best interests at heart. How can you be so sure?

I have conclusive proof of it.

Remember all that stuff with Dr Khella?

You can't let that cloud the way you relate to people for ever. I'm not.

I'm over it. Look.

I popped into the hardware store on the way back from the shops,

picked you up some surge protectors and extra socket extensions.

Optimise your outputs, minimise your risks. Won't take me a minute.

I'm so sorry. Lois has explained.

Apologies for the misunderstanding.

What misunderstanding? I know what I saw.

I knew it was you. You've no idea what you saw.

Would you like to go through to my room? Please?

I'll be through in a minute.

Did you see the bruises?

Nettie is a foster carer.

Lois has only been with her a week. The bruises are from before.

They're the reason Lois was taken off her real mum.

Part of the reason. She won't go into it

but I've spoken to the caseworker. Lois has been through hell.

Nettie - this is her first time foster caring. She's in at the deep end.

No-one else would take on such a difficult case. Oh.

Uh... OK. I'll talk to her and explain. Apologise.

Good. I hope you can.

Because Nettie is Lois's best chance at a fresh start

and Lois thinks she's close to quitting.

This could push her over the edge. She's gone.

What? She can't have. I just left her there.

Well, she's not there!

I'm ever so sorry. I was just trying to help.

I was trying to help. That's all I'm trying to do.

She must have gone out the back. She can't have got far on foot.

Any idea where she might have gone? I don't know.

I don't know her at all.

You go back to your place. See if she's gone to collect her things.

Me and Dr Clay, we'll...

We'll find her. We will.

KNOCK AT THE DOOR

Come in.

Sorry, me again. Osteopath referrals?

Dealt with by Howard. Give him the details and he'll sort it.

Do you think I messed up with him this morning?

Just, he's been "on the phone" whenever I've knocked.

Don't worry about it. He's probably just busy.

I know, I'm being silly.

It's just after what happened at the old practice,

it can make you a bit paranoid.

Yeah. Zara told me that one day

they just announced that everything was changing. "Go big or go home."

Yeah. Which is why I wanted to do locum work.

Come in, see the patients, not get too involved.

Never quite that simple, though, is it? Hmm.

It just all seemed to happen at once. The practice falling apart.

The divorce.

Suppose I'm not as tough as I thought I was.

Not if you care about what Howard Bellamy thinks of you, no.

SHE LAUGHS

It was a genuine misunderstanding. I should've waited, asked him later.

I just need a man who can dance.

What for?

I've signed up to these ballroom dancing classes.

Kick-start my life again. I had it all lined up,

but the guy I was going with suddenly got a new job in Edinburgh.

He was gay, but it's not a prerequisite.

Any able-bodied man will do.

What about me?

You? Why not?

I've been looking for a new challenge, get me out of the house.

Won't Zara mind? Why would she?

I don't know. Staying at home with Joe...

It's fine, I'll find someone.

No, I really want to do it. I'll speak to her.

And in the meantime, have a chat with Howard.

Tell him he's off the hook.

OK.

Thanks, Daniel. All right.

Zara'll be cool.

Lois... Lois!

Hey! Get back.

It's all right! I know her. I'll get her.

'She ran after him as fast as she could.

'If she could only run fast enough, she might just catch up with him

'and they could vanish together, for ever.'

You have to stop. No, let me go!

Where to? Back home?

No! Then where?

Ow!

You're not going anywhere.

It doesn't hurt when I'm running.

You have to stop.

THEY PANT

Lois? Lois, are you in here?

I know this story. It's from round here, isn't it? Leamington.

Leamington Spa to Coventry.

He never got there.

I always thought they made it up.

The friends did him in.

No! He vanished.

It's a mystery.

Is this your favourite book?

My dad had one just like it. He left it behind.

Where did he go?

Mum said she didn't know.

I think it was a clue. That book.

The page was folded over.

He wanted me to follow him to Coventry, but I couldn't. Why not?

Mum wasn't safe to be left drinking alone.

And her boyfriends...

..even worse.

It was like I couldn't get away.

Except in your head and with this book?

I kept it safe, hidden for years.

Till she found it and tore it up.

That's when I lost it.

It's when I escaped.

Except I haven't, have I?

Do you really think he's in Coventry?

Really?

I don't know.

He could be anywhere, if he fell through a hole like that man.

But wherever he went,

there was no-one stopping him, was there, if he wanted to find you?

God, I'm sorry. That was horrible.

It might not be true, he might be ill or d...

You're not going to find him like this, Lois.

You're just hurting yourself.

What do you know? You don't know me. You don't know anything!

I... I vanished, kind of.

I fell through a hole.

I lost my mum.

I lost everything I thought was real.

It nearly sent me crazy, but the people who cared for me clung on.

They showed me what was real and what was just in my head.

That's all Nettie's trying to do.

She's not trying to trap you. She's trying to find you.

Only cos it looks bad.

She'd love it if I vanished.

You sure about that?

Best to be sure,

if you've had to be good at imagining things.

See this? Good, solid ground.

Think you can walk on it?

Lois, thank God. Are you all right?

How did you get that?

Tell me you didn't pinch it. I told you to wait.

It was only a quid. It's the principle of the thing.

You've got her back now, that's all that matters. No, I haven't.

I never had her.

I don't think I can do this any more.

I thought I could make someone an OK kind of mum.

Show them what a good home was.

It's right that you have rules.

She needs that. But you can't then expect her to be grateful.

She's going to kick off, run to her room, slam doors. All kids do that.

Even the nice ones.

She needs someone who knows what they're doing. I haven't got a clue.

You're it! She hasn't got anybody else.

The last thing she needs is to fall down another hole.

She fell down a hole?

Not a real one. Like in the book. The man who vanishes.

Man who vanishes? What's that got to do with anything?

You haven't got any idea what's going on in her head, have you?

SHE ZIPS UP THE BAG

NETTIE KNOCKS

You didn't try to escape out the window, then?

My foot hurts too much.

And I'll be going anyway now, so... Do you really want to go?

Do you want me to go? Another question.

What's the answer? Go on.

You've got all the answers, don't you? The answer is...

Honestly, Lois, I don't know.

I don't know if I want you to go or not.

I don't even know you.

How do you think I feel?

Why don't you have a hug?

Go on. You don't have to know each other to make it feel better.

Solid ground.

The job is a good'un!

Thanks, Al, but you didn't have to do the whole house.

That's always been my problem. I'm just too good.

I've saved your universe

and I've still got time to go back and finish my paperwork.

I'm sorry if I hit a nerve earlier.

What? No, I told you, I'm over it.

I just think you should know

that the reason Niamh is down is because she really likes you

and she thinks you don't like her. What are you talking about?

Come on, I know what you're doing.

You're just putting up barriers because of what happened with Jas.

But this is different. She really likes you.

Will you stop saying that!

But it's true. Please, just stop it. I know what's going on.

You've hurt your leg and you're bored,

you're looking for a bit of gossip

so you thought, "I know, I'll play a trick on Haskey.

"He's always good for a laugh." I do not think that.

I don't care what you think about me, OK?

I don't care about any of you.

I'm going.

Hello! Hi. Erm...

I brought the police.

But you don't have to press charges. I've got a pound for Lois's book.

Thank you.

And I'll take all of your classic movie DVDs, please?

There was nothing in your case notes about any of this.

I never told them. If they'd locked me up in the loony bin,

I'd never be able to get out and find him.

We can try to find him, if that's what you want?

I don't know.

Maybe he's better off in my head.

If you get the feeling like you need to run again, will you let me know?

You said dreams were boring.

Mine are.

But I've had a boring life, till the last week, at least.

DOORBELL RINGS

That's probably the police.

Or the case worker.

What are you going to tell them?

Do you want to stay here or...?

DOORBELL RINGS AGAIN

Hope you don't mind. Karen said it'd be OK to bring these over.

Figured they might as well be going to a good home.

How come you're not shopping me?

Well, anyone who loves books enough to nick them

can't be all bad, I reckon.

I got some for you, too.

Oh, thank you.

And these history books...

if you still want them?

Do we still want them, Lois?

Do you fancy Nettie?

Eh...

I'm not her real daughter. I'm just staying here.

She hasn't got a boyfriend.

I'll just tidy these away.

Have you got time for a cup of tea?

Yes, please.

I'm glad you're staying.

You sure?

Perfect. Naturally.

I left the wrapping paper in my room. Back in a minute.

Oh. Just one thing. I was talking to Toni before

and I'd like to try this dance class she's going to.

It's ballroom dancing. What do you think? What do I think?

Rather you than me.

You don't mind? Why would I?

It would mean me leaving you at home with Joe.

No, believe you me. I will be having my own night out.

And I'll be doing something much more fun than ballroom dancing.

I'll probably hate it.

Actually, it'll do you good to lose some weight.

It'll do Toni some good as well. Great, I'll tell her.

I'll get the wrapping paper. Meet you at the car.

And then soft play hell! You really think she doesn't mind?

What?

You going dancing with Dr Hot Legs.

Come on, it's Toni.

Nothing wrong with Toni, mate.

Look, Toni is Zara's friend. I'm doing her a favour.

Zara's not going to mind.

If you believe that, you'll believe anything.

Oh!

THEY LAUGH

# Doo doo-doo-doo... #

ELECTRONIC VOICE: Good night!

No!

Yes! You can't take them to a restaurant.

They're human remains!

No-one will know.

I thought Mrs Barker was on today.

She's got some kind of stomach bug. Will I do?

ELECTRONIC VOICE: Call me!

Fair enough. Roger that.

# Be my, be my baby... #

I just feel like my whole body's been taken over by an alien.

# ..Say you'll be my darling... #

She's my age. She's four years younger than you, Mum,

and she's eight months pregnant.

Rick? He left.

Nine of 'em made redundant. What?

How long were you going to leave it before you told me?

I thought I'd get another job. I was a successful businesswoman

before I met you. What have I got now? Nothing!