Free Doctors

BANGING ON CAR WINDOW

Morning.

Suppose coffee's out the question?

Come on. I think you'd better come with me.

One set of car keys. I have to ask you, are these yours?

Yeah, like I could afford a car like that!

No, they're not hers.

And apparently you refused to give a breath sample,

is that right?

Actually, I didn't refuse, I'm asthmatic and this one here

wouldn't believe me, cos I've lost my inhaler.

Asthmatic? Are you? That's a new one on me, Lizzy.

Right, what we got in here?

A purse, with bank cards...

Oi, watch out, there's money in there. I know what you lot are like.

Yep. 58 pence, to be exact.

Don't you worry, this is all going down on your form.

What else we got? Sunglasses still with the security tag on them.

One piece of women's clothing still on the coat hanger.

Have you got receipts for any of these?

Nope. Didn't pay for none of it.

Shock horror(!)

There's a couple of DVDs in there n'all.

I can write you a list if you like, where I got them all from.

It's Liz MacWhinnie, she's three sheets to the wind as usual.

She refused to give a breath test.

She's saying she's asthmatic but there's no sign of an inhaler.

If you could do the honours, please?

Yeah, no problem. You think she's playing for time?

Well, who knows?

She's already stuck her hand up to nicking a car

and volunteered a few other thefts as well,

so why she wouldn't just take a "drunk in charge", I don't know.

Sounds pretty prolific.

-Don't you know Liz?

-No.

I'm surprised you've managed to avoid her.

She's been in and out of here for years,

had a problem with drinking for as long as I can remember.

Only time we don't see her is when she's inside.

She an aggressive drunk, or is she harmless?

She's gobby but harmless.

We just go through the motions, don't we, mate?

And then leave it to the magistrates.

But it's all cut and dry anyway.

Any trouble, you know where I am.

OK.

Hi, I'm Dr Clay, I'll be taking your bloods.

Yeah, I know, the other idiot explained.

OK. Could you take off your cardigan

and roll up your sleeve for me, please?

Sounds like you've had a busy day already.

Just cos I'm unemployed don't mean I can't be productive.

See, that's the problem with our society. Everyone assumes

we're all lazy scroungers.

You were just arrested for taking a car and whatever else.

You're hardly providing an alternative viewpoint.

Well, exactly.

For a homeless, unemployed alcoholic,

there are no alternatives.

Sharp prick.

Sounds pretty extreme.

It is extreme, it's a political statement.

How is stealing a car a political statement?

I wasn't stealing it. Just borrowed it for a bit.

It's a bit cold, early mornings.

Right, just give me a second.

Just pop your finger on that for me, hold your arm.

So you were just staying warm?

And having a kip.

It's hard trying to get your eight hours

when you're on the lookout for weirdos.

Wouldn't have thought weirdos would bother you that much.

You couldn't get me a puffer, could you?

For me asthma.

Oh, what, they telling you I'm pulling a fast one?

Where's your inhaler?

I lost it.

I feel OK but I don't like not having it with me.

OK, I'll see what I can do.

Listen, if you weren't taking the car,

why don't you just tell the police that,

you might get away with a rap on the knuckles?

A rap on the knuckles ain't going to get me banged up again, is it?

The government doesn't give a monkey's about people like me.

Only chance of a hot meal and a roof over my head is prison,

which, ironically, costs the tax-payer more than putting us

in a proper home.

So you'd rather be in prison, than homeless?

Prison's not that bad. Barfield's the best.

Stretton Hill's OK, especially the mother and baby unit,

but Barfield's got this massive library.

Taught myself fluent French there.

Est-ce que vous pouvez m'aider avec mes bagages, monsieur?

Do I even want to know what that means?

Oh, you're going to have to look it up.

Sorry, Nell. Can't start the day without a cuppa.

Fine with me, any excuse to put my feet up.

Now, what can I do for you?

I've got really painful hips

and I know it's common during pregnancy

but I just wanted to put my mind at rest.

Can you roll your sleeve up for me?

It's probably just the joints

loosening, getting you ready for labour.

Are you sleeping with a pillow between your knees?

And under the bump, and a hot water bottle.

But it's not just at night,

and now my knees are starting to ache as well.

Just worried it might be a sign.

Yeah, it's a sign you're pregnant.

Your hormones cause your tendons to loosen,

so aching joints is par for the course, I'm afraid.

Majority of women reckon they feel better

when they're pregnant. Sod's law I'm in the minority.

I haven't had a flare-up for over a year, but...

Sorry, flare-up of what?

Rheumatoid arthritis.

Sorry, I assumed you'd read my notes.

Right.

No wonder you're joining the dots.

So you do think it's a flare-up?

Oh, that's just what I need. The cot

hasn't arrived yet, I haven't even painted

the nursery, and I don't want to go back on drugs while I'm pregnant.

Whoa, let's not jump the gun,

your blood pressure's fine.

These are all fairly normal symptoms of being pregnant.

Fairly normal? Not completely normal?

Yes, actually, completely normal.

Oh, thank God for that!

Sorry, you must think I'm a raving idiot.

-I'm sorry!

-Don't apologise.

It's normal to have concerns about your pregnancy, especially

if there are other factors.

I just want to do everything

I can to assuage those concerns, so...

And you have, thank you.

To be honest, I feel a bit silly,

letting my paranoia get the better of me.

Nonsense, you don't have to rush off.

No, you've... I've taken enough of your time.

Thank you, Doctor.

Any news on the Liz MacWhinnie blood sample?

Ah, yep. She's over. 105 mgs.

She probably had a top-up for breakfast, knowing Liz.

She told me she had no intention of driving the car.

Doesn't matter. Keys were in the ignition, engine was running.

Yeah, but the engine was running because the heater was on.

You know she wants to go back to prison?

She reckons it's a form of protest, taking up a cell to prove

a point about lack of support for the homeless.

Of course she wants to go back to prison. She's institutionalised.

Can see her point.

Probably would be cheaper to help her off the streets

and into a home, than it would locking her away again.

Just because she needs help it doesn't mean she can go round

breaking the law.

You know, deep down, she likes being in the system.

She doesn't want any help.

Thank you.

All right, I've checked your medical records and I've got you an inhaler

but I'd like to examine you first, if that's OK?

Could you lift your top up for me?

I'm just going to listen to your back first.

Breathe in.

Again.

When was the last time you had an asthma attack?

Don't know. Months? A year?

Yet it was bad enough to stop you being breathalysed?

Yeah, but imagine if I'd done the test, had an attack

and I didn't have my inhaler with me.

Police'd be accused of all sorts.

I was doing them a favour.

Can I listen to your chest, please?

Sounds fine.

Is there anything else you need to tell me?

No, no, that was years ago.

We all have different ways of coping, but I'm over all that now.

Thought you were getting here early?

I've made a start on the cakes but there's not a lot I can do until...

Oh, sorry.

I was expecting Trevor.

Trevor couldn't make it. I offered to swap.

You don't mind, do you?

No, why would I mind?

Yeah, he had to take his daughter to the dentist, his brother was

going to do it but he had this thing at work he couldn't miss,

so...

So, I can be your sous-chef if you like? What do you need?

Well, maybe if you start on the sandwiches?

All the stuff's over there.

Right.

I'm not sure if it's something the church would help with directly,

or if there are any other charities who might...

That sounds perfect!

Yeah, thank you, thank you, Mrs Tembe, I owe you one.

Mrs Tembe? What's all that about?

Getting one out of the system.

And, with a permanent address, you stand a better chance of being

bailed instead of put back inside.

Did I ask for your help?

No, but it is perfect, and it's got an onsite warden,

large communal space for meetings and stuff

which are a condition for residents who have a history of substance

abuse. But then once you're settled,

you could have the kids over to visit.

Who mentioned anything about kids?

You mentioned a mother and baby unit so I just presumed.

I did have a kid.

But they don't like you keeping 'em in prison.

So what happened?

You get a choice. Either a family member looks after it

or you get it adopted. I ain't got a family, so...

You still in contact?

Why would I be? Didn't want her in the first place.

Sorry, I thought you'd be pleased.

I am. Sounds perfect.

Listen to this bit -

"Corticosteroids exert anti-inflammatory

"and immunosuppressant actions, while oestrogen can decrease

"the stromal cell production of interleukein-1 and TNF-alpha..."

SHE GROANS

Why is it, when we become doctors, we stop speaking English?

I mean, I know the words but...

Come on!

I suppose it is a little bit dense.

Dense? It's impenetrable is what it is!

Would you look at what you've written!

What, don't tell me it gets worse?

It doesn't matter, just more blather.

It's enough to make a girl feel stupid.

That's what our resident geek's for.

He does all the hard work so you don't have to.

It's my patient, I couldn't ask another doctor...

Al Haskey's offered to help, with no incentive or personal gain.

That's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

I would take him up on that if I were you.

Actually, I was going to go to the Icon for lunch.

What, with your sandwiches?

Or I could stay here.

Great.

Your hearing's set for ten o'clock tomorrow morning. You don't

need me to tell you that failure to appear will

result in a warrant being issued for your arrest, OK?

Yeah. Doc?

I just want to say cheers. You know, for taking the time.

I appreciate it.

Good luck, yeah?

Can you pass the ham?

Thank you.

And tomatoes, thanks?

You know what this needs?

My kids are mad for anything with mustard in it.

Oh, me too when I was a kid.

My husband used to reckon it was too spicy for them

but they can't get enough of it.

Does he do the cooking at home?

You're kidding, aren't you?

Even when he was still around, he was never the hands-on dad type.

MICROWAVE PINGS

I was only 17 when we got together.

A very young 17.

I idolised him, thought he knew it all.

So did he.

We all make mistakes.

Yeah, but not all of us have to live with the consequences.

When my parents died, he used my inheritance to set up

a business, property development.

Easy way to make money, he said.

Easy way to lose money as well.

Careful, it's hot.

So had you no idea?

Well, every time I mentioned it, he was like,

"No need for you to worry about it, you don't understand finance."

It's my own fault, I should've been more persistent

but he had this way of making me feel stupid.

I was stupid.

Don't be so hard on yourself.

No, it's true.

He only got away with it cos I let him.

And then he ran off, the house got repossessed,

and I had these massive bills I couldn't pay.

So how did you manage?

Well, I had to, for the kids' sake.

All that time he made me

feel like I was completely useless.

It turns out he was wrong.

I'm not brilliant, but I can manage.

It's lovely. So what about you?

What about me?

Well, I've told you my sob story, what about yours?

What's your skeleton in the cupboard?

Nothing to tell. I've no wife or kids,

no job and no prospects!

I wouldn't say that.

Oi, you, come here!

What do you think you're doing? I'm warning you.

DULL THUD

KNOCK AT DOOR Come in.

Got another one for you. Had a barney with a store detective.

Good right hook, bruised knuckles.

Show him in.

Her. Come on.

Thank you.

Show me your hand.

Can you move your fingers?

Doesn't look like it's broken.

I'll clean and dress it for you, but it'll need some rest for a while.

All that about using crime as a protest,

just to get a roof over your head...

Now you've got somewhere to live, you're still breaking the law.

I never asked for your help.

So what are we talking about, worst case scenario?

Well, it's nine months without medication, isn't it?

You've got the additional stress on

the joints with the added baby weight.

She could be looking at long-term joint damage.

But we find her the right medication, she'll be fine.

Thanks, Al.

I've never had a pregnant patient with RA before.

Been through it on paper but it's different in practice.

Just paranoid I missed something.

Ah, paranoia. It's what keeps us on our toes.

And tea.

And fags.

And bacon sandwiches.

So have you got any plans for the rest of the week?

Not really.

Me neither.

My sister's staying as well, so I've got a baby-sitter on tap.

Do you know what?

I realised the other day that I haven't been out to

the cinema in years.

Apart from with the kids, but an hour of, "Who's he?"

and, "Why's she doing that?"

It doesn't really count as going out.

Yeah, I'm not really a big fan of the cinema.

I prefer to watch films at home. You don't have to put up with

people texting and rustling sweet wrappers.

And what is it with people speaking with their mouths full?

Maybe we could do something?

I mean, not the cinema, obviously, but...

A meal?

Well, maybe not a meal, that's a bit...

We could go for a drink, if you like?

I just think it might be nice,

to get to know each other better.

I don't know.

Where does all this washing-up come from?

Why don't I crack on with this, while you go and serve out front?

Don't take it personally.

I had it all sorted, she didn't even give it a day.

She doesn't want help.

You do know, according to her prison records, that

she was offered counselling several times and turned it down?

Why was she offered counselling?

Problems with confined spaces, ongoing disputes with other

inmates resulting in broken bones, a stab wound, regular beatings...

You'd think that you would want counselling after all that.

To be honest, my understanding of rheumatoid arthritis

isn't as in-depth as my colleagues,

I wanted to make sure I wasn't overlooking anything

and I'm really sorry I've had to bring you in twice.

OK. GPs can't be specialists at everything, I suppose!

I've got a leaflet for you, actually.

It's funny, of all the things I miss about my ex, the biggest one

is not having someone there to tell me when I'm being neurotic.

You should count yourself lucky!

My friends take it in turns to tell me when I'm being an idiot.

Who needs boyfriends when you've got good mates, eh?

-That's right.

-Thanks.

Take care.

Why're you so keen to go back inside?

Maybe I like it.

You like being beaten up, stabbed?

You liked it when they broke your leg?

Not exactly the cushy picture you painted for me, is it?

So who in their right minds would want to go back to that?

There's your answer. I'm obviously not in my right mind.

There we go then(!) That's why we have the self-punishing?

What do you care?

When you finish here, you go back to your cosy little home,

with your cosy little wife and kids,

and you'll switch off and forget all about me.

No, I won't.

Yeah, well you should,

because I don't need your help and I didn't ask for it.

Save it for someone who deserves it.

Look, we've all done things we're ashamed of.

Acknowledging it,

facing up to it, sometimes that can be the hardest part.

Acknowledging what I've done, facing up to it...

That's not going to change anything.

I'll still've done it, I'm still worthless.

No-one's worthless.

You don't know what you're talking about!

You know, if I died, no-one would care, no-one would mourn me,

no-one's lives'd change and that's exactly how it should be,

cos I don't deserve it.

Whatever you've done, nothing can be that terrible.

She'll be scarred for life because of me.

She'll grow up thinking no-one's loved her.

You know, I created her, I gave birth to her, then I rejected her.

What's worse than that?

You gave her a chance.

I gave her up!

What was the alternative?

Foster care when you were inside, living on the streets

when you weren't? What sort of life would that've been?

Any other mum would've kept her, regardless.

They'd have loved her. Properly.

Just because you give up a child for adoption it doesn't

mean you don't love them.

Doesn't it?

I didn't even name her, I couldn't even look her in the face, I...

They tried to make me but I closed my eyes.

I didn't even want to picture what she looked like.

I can't imagine her growing up, getting older.

I don't wonder what the sound of her laughter is.

I just don't want to know any of that.

They send me photos, every year for her birthday.

Her social worker gives it to me.

I just rip it up or burn it,

I can't even look at it.

What you did was completely understandable.

We all have different ways of coping.

But this isn't coping, Liz.

This cycle of alcohol abuse, breaking the law,

the self-punishment.

None of that's coping.

Do you really want to spend the rest of your life like this?

-Claire.

-I'm just going to start clearing up in the kitchen.

Can that wait? Please?

I like you so I'm going to level with you.

I'm not very good at relationships.

Neither am I...

No, no, no, no, I mean, really.

I've done...

I've done things in my past which I'm not proud of.

My childhood was...

It was difficult,

which has meant that I've really struggled to form...

It's OK.

No, no, it's not, because you're really nice and the last thing

I want to do is hurt you but you shouldn't be around someone like me.

From what I can see, you're kind, you're thoughtful...

I've been to prison.

OK.

Can I ask what for? I mean...

..is it for anything...violent?

Yeah.

How violent? I mean, are we talking fight in a pub or worse?

It's worse.

How worse?

Armed robbery.

Guns?

Trust me, I would never do anything like that again...

I just think you deserve to know.

And I completely understand if you don't want anything to do with me.

This is ridiculous.

The magistrates will remand her and she'll be back to square one again.

Probation services might be able to sort out a bail hostel.

Yeah, but you and I both know the chances of that.

Listen, how do you feel about her having a visitor?

Here's the thing.

We get on, right?

Right.

And just because we've had a few crossed wires,

doesn't mean we don't get on any more.

We do.

We do.

I know we haven't known each other that long, but I reckon

when you click with someone, you just click.

And I miss our click.

I want our click back.

I think you're absolutely right,

I've been feeling all...

And I didn't know how to say it and I thought you felt differently.

Course I don't, I feel exactly the same as you do!

Well, in that case, I think that we should...

Forget all about it and pretend it never happened. Friends?

Friends?

Friends.

Good then.

Er, there's someone to see you. If you want to.

Your social worker.

What's she doing here?

I asked her to come.

She's got copies of the old letters

and photographs your daughter's parents have sent.

Look, I know it's hard.

If you want me to I can come with you.

Just say the word.

Can't have been easy, telling me that.

It's brave, really.

I've always been so cautious, worry too much to take risks.

Look, it's fine, you don't have to explain.

Being scared, it holds you back.

I don't want to be held back any more.

None of us is perfect.

Maybe your past is a bit more...extreme.

But I'm not interested in the past.

It's who you are now that matters.

And if you feel the same...

I mean, we don't have to rush anything,

we could take it slowly and see what happens.

If you like?

I'm going to be taking over Marcus' life.

Don't stop on my account.

Dr Tyler. I know.

Ah, my reputation precedes me.

Is running away really the answer?

What are you, Jeremy Kyle?

Tango.

I will teach you the basics. You will not deviate from them

until I feel you are ready.

Yes, sir.

Show-offs will not be tolerated.