The Good Neighbour Doctors

# ..Wanting change

# But loving her just as she lies

# Is the burden of a man

# Who's built his life on love

# You told me life was long

# And now that it's gone

# You find yourself on top

# As the leader of the flock

# Called to be a rock

# For those below. #

Chris, sit down.

No, I...

Please, Chris.

Wow.

Thanks, Mum.

You're welcome.

Ah, Mrs Tembe. How are you this morning?

I'm fine, thank you, Mr Bellamy.

All ready for the day ahead?

I believe so.

-Well, if there's anything you need, feel free to let me know.

-I will.

Yes, we're all in this together.

All in what?

The delivery of high-quality health care.

Yes, everybody aboard the good ship Mill,

from the captain to the cabin boy,

or girl, or woman, whatever...

Yes, all of you are vital.

Have you been on another course?

As it happens, yes I have.

Yes, Inclusion - Value and Practice.

-What?

-What it means, Mrs Tembe, is that you are vital.

This business cannot function unless every stakeholder,

even a patient, knows that they are vital to our continued success.

Oh.

Hi. Roy Marlin, from across the road.

-We're neighbours.

-Oh. Hello.

Um, I baked you something. A little housewarming gift.

-Thank you.

-MAN: Who is it?

-A neighbour.

Sorry about that. Habit.

Not a problem. I come bearing gifts.

-You shouldn't have.

-It's my pleasure.

-The name's Roy Marlin.

-Philip Hays. Phil.

This is my wife, Amy.

Pleasure to meet you both.

Well, thanks for these.

If there's anything you need to know about the local area,

145, just come and ask me.

Will do.

We're still unpacking.

Always a chore.

Certainly is.

I expect you could use a break.

So...a nice cup of tea?

-Is this all there is?

-Yeah. Were you expecting something else?

Yes, I was expecting some test results for...

Post.

What was that about?

Don't know. Nothing.

Have you lived here long?

27 years next month.

-You must like it.

-They're good people around here.

-What do you do?

-Retired.

-Oh.

I was a copper. They let you go after 30 years.

That's why I still look so youthful.

HE CHUCKLES

Sugar?

Oh, three, please. My one vice.

Are you married?

My wife passed.

Nearly ten years ago.

I'm sorry.

You don't have any boxes?

The rest of our things are coming down in a van.

-In the next couple of days.

-It's just that your husband said you were unpacking.

We've got some stuff upstairs.

And we need to get the place ready.

Yeah, of course. Just the two of you, is it?

Where did you move from?

-Up north.

-It's a big place, up north.

Newcastle.

Oh. You don't have the accent.

Well, that's a relief!

Thank you. That was nice.

-I'd better make a move.

-Chris, I was thinking...

Maybe you just need to get away.

Living in this house can't be easy after everything that's happened.

-Mum...

-You've always wanted to travel. You could go to Europe?

Or you could go to Australia, you could see your grandmother.

-Maybe now's the time...

-I've made my decision.

Please try and accept that.

-Do you want me to come with you?

-No.

Thank you, but I need to do this on my own.

I'll see you soon.

Well, thanks for the scones.

There's more where they came from. My baking is famous around here.

Lucky us.

-When are the rest of your things getting here?

-What things?

Well, belongings.

-Oh, we don't have much.

-Really?

Well, we wanted a new start.

Seemed a good chance to get rid of old things we'd been holding onto.

-Old books and what have you.

-Sure.

Where was it you moved from?

-Manchester.

-Oh, a nice city.

Well, good to meet you.

I'll be seeing you again soon, I'm sure.

There you go. See you in a month's time, Miss Clarke.

-Mr Phillips.

-Oh, Doctor Carmichael?

-What?

-I just got a message from Mrs Peel.

She's sorry but she can't make it in today.

-Oh, come on, Karen, 'fess up. What did you do?

-Nothing.

-Rob.

-Roy.

-How's it going?

-Yeah, not bad.

Good to see you.

I saw you this morning.

-Really?

-You were in my road. I've got new neighbours.

And?

What were you doing with them?

-You know I can't tell you that.

-I'm a colleague. One of you.

Roy, we've been here before.

I spoke to them earlier. It doesn't add up.

Their stories contradict each other.

-You've questioned them?

-It was a neighbourly cup of tea.

I've got the right to know who's living on my own doorstep.

Listen to me, you've got nothing to worry about.

So why don't you do yourself a favour and leave them alone?

They are not going to cause any trouble.

Then why can't you tell me who they are?

I'm going to pretend that we've not had this conversation.

And you are going to go home and get on with your life.

Don't you patronise me.

I'm not some idiot member of the public.

This couple turn up out of nowhere, they have no belongings,

they're escorted to their house by coppers.

They can't even agree on where they came from.

You can't tell me that's normal.

What I can tell you is, it's none of your business.

Just got out the nick, have they? Being rehoused for their own safety?

-Never mind the safety of us who have to live next door to them.

-Roy, just calm down

and go home. Stop jumping at shadows.

I made the mistake of doing nothing once before. Never again.

-You don't have...

-You know what?

I remember a time when we looked after our own.

Daniel and Zara walked in on them.

-No!

-Yes.

How far had they gone? Second base?

Oh, no, I think they got a lot further than that.

I think I'm going to be sick.

You only had to take a message. It's not rocket science.

I did take a message, and I gave it to you. You weren't listening.

I was probably trying to block out the sound of your voice.

-After last night I don't ever want to hear or see you ever again.

-Prude!

-Prude?! Me?

-Better than being a...

-Hey, hey, hey!

Will you two keep your voices down.

We don't want patients coming in, hearing what you got up to on the sofa last night.

How do you know about this? Have you been bragging, you ridiculous woman?

If I wanted to do that, I'd do something really worth bragging about.

Let's just calm down a little bit, shall we?

I don't know what the fuss is about.

It was only a bit of fun.

Hello, Tom? Tom, it's Roy Marlin.

How are you?

Yeah, it's been a long time.

Listen, mate, I wonder if you could do me a favour.

I've been doing a bit of private work on the side.

So I wondered if you could check a few things out for me.

Good man.

Would you like a private room to do that in?

-I beg your pardon?

-I just thought you'd be more comfortable

taking you and the little one into a side room.

Every patient has an important stake in the running of the health centre.

This place is yours as much as ours.

-You must be joking.

-Come on. No problem at all.

Mrs Chadwick? Would you like to come through?

Oh!

-Hello again.

-Hello.

Did I just see your husband go out?

He won't be long. He's just getting some food.

There's a great butcher's I must tell you about.

Tucked away down a back street, but the meat is top notch.

Oh. Nice.

-I wonder if you could do me a favour.

-What?

My plumbing is on the blink. The toilet won't flush.

I've called a plumber to come and fix it,

but he won't be out for another couple of hours.

I know it's an imposition, but...

Could I...please? Cos that tea has gone straight through me.

Thank you.

I'd like to talk to someone.

Actually, Chris, can I have a word?

-Not right now, no.

-It'll only take a minute, mate.

What are you doing?

Who are you really?

What do you mean?

Put that down.

Who is this boy? Is he your son?

-Where is he?

-If you don't get out of my house, I will scream.

Where did you say you were from?

Was it Newcastle or Manchester?

Put that down!

Didn't practise your alibis well enough, did you?

I had a word with a friend on the force.

He said there's no record of the pair of you

in either of the cities you pretended to come from.

You see, I'm police, I know how it works when someone gets out the nick,

there's a risk of reprisals, they get given a safe house.

-A new identity.

-What are you talking about?

What happened to the boy, what did you do to him?

-Get out!

-We look after our neighbours around here.

We don't want your sort living on our doorstep.

SHE SCREAMS

All right, just calm down. SCREAMS

-Stop screaming!

-Don't you touch me.

I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to know.

-Get out of my house.

-Be careful.

No! Get off me!

-Are you all right?

-Get out, get out, get out!

SHE SOBS

Aren't you going to try and talk me out of it?

-Is that what you want me to do?

-No.

-Really?

The other day I felt you wanted to drag me into it.

I'm sorry you see it that way.

I resent it. I resent you laying this at my door.

Then why did you want to talk to me?

I can't stand by and watch you throw your life away.

It's got nothing to do with you.

Your dad was selfish.

He was manipulative.

Don't you dare talk about him like that, he was a good man.

Maybe he was, but in the end...

he asked you to do something and he didn't think about the consequences.

He was desperate.

If you do this...

..you won't just go to prison, you will NEVER work as a nurse again.

Maybe that's a good thing.

-Now you know what I'm capable of.

-Come on! Those were exceptional circumstances.

You're no danger to other patients.

Maybe. But I still have to live with myself.

Are you sure he wanted to die?

Absolutely.

Why did he have to drag you into this?

-Why didn't he wait, he could have found another way.

-How?

He could barely move.

He FORCED you to do something he knew was morally wrong.

It was my choice to help him.

Now I need to be punished for it.

You're doing a good job. Getting seven shades beaten out of you every night.

What more do you need?

Well, I can't keep doing that, can I, cos I'll end up dead.

I can't do that to my mum because it will destroy her.

Now get out of my way, Jimmi.

Go on then. Go, go, I wash my hands of you. I wipe them clean. Go.

Good.

-What are you waiting for then?

-Nothing.

You could have handed yourself in a long time ago, but you didn't.

Why?

I don't know.

Everything all right, Mrs Tembe?

I wondered whether you were applying

what you had learnt on the course with a little too much vigour.

I'm sorry?

When you speak to patients, perhaps you could be a little more...

..tactful.

And what is wrong with the way I talk to patients?

You dinosaur!

-I beg your pardon?

-I can't believe the way you spoke to me earlier.

Breastfeeding is perfectly natural.

-I know that.

-Then why did you try and lock me away out of sight?

Really? I meant no offence.

If you want to breastfeed in public, then be my guest.

-Pop yourself down and carry on.

-What?

You don't even need an appointment. We'd be happy

-to see you do that here anytime.

-Unbelievable!

You are like something from a bygone era.

People should not have to put up with your attitude.

This isn't the last you've heard of it.

Now, wait...

I suppose that was the kind of thing you were talking about?

I knew you'd come to your senses eventually.

We always help out one of our own.

I'm here officially, mate. There's been a complaint.

-About you.

-Me?!

I gather you tricked your way into your neighbour's house,

-scared her half to death.

-No, it wasn't like that.

Roy, can I come in?

It's only me.

Amy?

Love, where are you?

Are you all right?

-What's happened?

-Your phone was switched off!

-I needed you.

-I'm sorry, sorry. The battery was dead.

What happened?

Was it them?

-They can't have found us.

-No.

It was that neighbour.

-You should've known better.

-I'm looking out for my neighbourhood.

It's not your job. You're not on the force any more!

You can't just start playing detective every time someone new moves in.

I got it wrong once before, remember?

Huh? Didn't see the scum that was living under my nose.

-And look what happened.

-He had no previous.

How were you to know what he was capable of?

I'm police, of course I should have known!

It wasn't your fault.

He had strangers coming to his house, day and night.

I should have read the signs.

Should have known he was into something crooked.

KNOCKING

No, no, I'll get it.

KNOCKING CONTINUES

-Where is he?

-Whoa! Whoa!

-Phil, no. Please.

-You come into my house, threaten my wife.

-Phil!

I know your sort. The lives you destroy!

For pity's sake, Roy, they're not offenders. They're victims.

They're in witness protection.

What?

Come on.

No, I didn't mean...

-I thought you...

-You didn't think at all, did you?

Come on.

I lost my wife.

It was one of the neighbours.

She got into an argument with him. He...

What's going on?

Have you...

-Have you changed your mind?

-No.

Jimmi, say something? Stop him.

It's not my decision.

Look, this is all me and your dad's fault.

If I hadn't been thinking so much about my career, my ambition...

Mum...

This past year, you've proved yourself a hundred times over.

I'm sorry I've been difficult.

I know you've always just wanted what's best for me

but I don't deserve it.

Not after the way I've treated you.

I should've done it.

It should have been me.

I should have been the one to help him die.

For pity's sake! If he gave a damn about either of you, he wouldn't have let you do this.

-What!

-He took the easy way out.

And he didn't give a thought for anyone he left behind.

He loved us, I wanted to help him.

-That doesn't give you the right to take a life.

-He was suffering.

If you'd given him time to recover some movement, he'd have been able to end it himself.

He was my dad. He was in pain!

Now you're going to go to prison because of him.

-You wanted to get beaten up, there's plenty of that where you're going.

-Jimmi!

-No, I'm sick of this!

You're playing the noble martyr, it'll soon wear off pretty quickly.

So it's your decision, mate.

You want to hand yourself in, go to prison?

-Desert your mother?

-I didn't have a choice!

-Because he manipulated you?

-Yes!

-Yes!

So why do you want to throw the rest of your life away?

Because I don't know how to forgive myself.

I can't do it.

I cannot be in that house kicking around where my father died.

You don't have to.

I told you, there are a million other things that you could do.

Places that you could go. Anything but this.

Walk away.

Chris...

..walk away.

Just walk away.

Was it their boy?

Yes.

And they saw it happen.

It was a gang.

They were toying with him, but it got out of hand.

I was just looking out for my neighbours.

There's women and children out there.

I know.

The other times that you've done this, I let it slide.

But...it's been going on too long and this time you went too far.

-I scared her.

-Yes.

I should have been protecting her.

No, Roy, you should have been getting on with your life.

Leave this kind of thing to the police.

I AM police.

Not any more.

Not any more.

-What's she doing here?

-You said she could come back anytime she wants.

I was just trying to be inclusive.

Don't tell me you've morphed into Suburban Man?

All I'm trying to say...

I'm not in hock to criminals. I'm not in...

-Australia.

-Wow.

He's hardly left Birmingham, what will he be doing?

-When did all this happen?

-He said he decided last night.