All in a Day's Work Doctors

Yeah, go on.

You've heard about Howard?

Yes.

I can't get my head round it.

How old was he? 50?

What's that got to do with anything?

OK, will do, thanks.

I don't know how you did it, Mrs Tembe, and at such short notice.

Yes, it was very short notice.

But I think it is important to have experienced

staff on reception at this difficult time.

KNOCK ON DOOR

That will be her.

Mrs Tembe.

Heston.

Words cannot express...

I was so shocked,

so, so shocked when I heard, distraught...

But when Mrs Tembe asked for my help, I thought,

"Valerie, you must put your grief aside.

"The Mill needs you.

"Your ex-colleagues and friends - they need you.

"No matter the personal cost in lost commission."

-Sorry?

-I'm in Medical sales these days,

with a side-line in kitchen equipment.

Not for the same company, obviously.

We are very grateful.

Yes, excuse me.

I will be in Mr...

In the practice manager's office if you need me.

Are you two heading to the shopping precinct?

-Yes, Sarge.

-We've had reports of a vagrant

harassing members of the public.

-Great(!)

-Sounds like Gerald Higgins by the description.

Really? He tends to steer clear of people.

Till he needs a hand-out.

He's probably blown his welfare on that

brain rot he pours down his neck.

I'll leave you to look into it.

Sarge? Do you know what's happening with Howard's funeral?

I'd like to go.

It's tomorrow, Saint Bernadette's.

If you need time off, have a word with the Duty Sergeant.

Thanks. I really want to be there.

He was a good bloke.

Yeah, he was.

It doesn't feel real.

Ready?

And, of course, we were colleagues at the PCT.

I'm devastated.

Not as devastated as Emma.

I don't see why Emma should be more upset than me.

I knew Howard much longer.

You weren't in a relationship with him at the time he died though.

Howard and Emma...?

Oh.

Oh, I had no idea.

Oh, how tragic.

Dying just as he found true happiness.

I always knew there was something between those two.

Miss Pitman!

There are patients waiting.

PHONE RINGS

Hi.

Hey, are you OK?

Not really.

I'll come home.

No, you don't have to.

No, I want to. As soon as my morning surgery's done, OK?

Thank you.

Bye.

Morning, Gerald.

-Co, co, co, co...

-Cocoa?

-Gerald, what's the matter?

-He's had a skinful.

He doesn't normally start drinking this early.

-Something must have upset him.

-Listen to me.

DON'T make me arrest you.

If I get any more reports of you harassing people,

I'll be back and you'll spend the next 24 hours in a cell.

Do you understand?

Now get back to your pit

and sleep off whatever it is you've drunk.

Do you think it's safe to leave him?

Maybe we should call an ambulance. He's in a right state.

He spends most of his waking hours in various degrees of intoxication.

He's not sick, he's wasted,

in every sense of the word.

Oh, I've interrupted your lunch.

No, It's been sat there for half an hour.

I just can't face eating it.

OK, please try. It's really important

-after what your body's been through.

-Maybe later.

I called Amelia.

I know, I know. You were right.

-What did she say?

-Not much.

She was cold, distant.

She's not coming to the funeral.

You can hardly blame her.

He was her father.

Can't she forgive him even in his death?

I just wanted something good to come from all of this.

-Give her time, you know.

-The funeral's tomorrow!

I'm sorry. It's just everything feels so hopeless.

You know, Saskia is waiting for me to select some hymns,

and organise the readings, contribute to the eulogy...

I can't even believe that he's dead,

never mind talk about him in the past tense!

OK, all right, OK.

We will do all those things together, OK?

First things first...

KETTLE CLICKS

Cup of tea.

We were here last week giving security advice.

It's such a shock when someone you know dies suddenly.

His poor family.

I mean, how do you come to terms with that kind of loss?

What are you saying?

A long slow death from some hideous disease is better?

Oi!

Oi!

What you doing? Get off me!

I am arresting you for threatening behaviour under section 5

of the Public Order Act. You do not have to say anything,

but it may harm your defence if you do not mention, when

questioned, something which you later rely on in court.

Anything you do say may be given in evidence.

-You're arresting him?

-Got a problem with that? Get his bike.

And if you change your mind about the party, you know where I am.

Hello?

Is anyone there?

Hello? Hello?

You're not the nurse.

No...

Can I help you?

Get back.

Help, help!

It's all right, I'm not going to hurt you.

-Get down.

-What?

Lie on the floor. I'm arresting you.

-What?

-I know what you're after.

-What, paper towels?

-Do I look stupid?

No, you seem distressed. Would you like to talk about it?

-I'm a very good listener...

-No, you can't distract me

with idle chitchat. All the drugs are locked up.

You want drugs?

Help!

I can help, OK? I'm a doctor.

You are a juvenile delinquent!

No...

Dr Vere.

Help!

Miss Pitman, Dr Vere,

what on earth is going on?

Look who's here.

Heston.

I don't know what to say.

If there's anything I can do to help, anything at all, just...

Thank you.

I've got a book of condolences from The Mill. Very touching comments.

Can I get you a cup of tea?

That would be lovely.

This is ridiculous! This is harassment!

I'm pretty sure you can't do this!

-Button it. You're in enough trouble as it is.

-Everything all right?

Fine. Dominic Jennings.

I've arrested him for threatening behaviour.

He was cycling on the pavement.

When I challenged him, he was abusive.

-Yeah, you pulled me off my bike.

-Shut up.

Dominic, have you been in trouble before?

-No.

-I'll check.

-No, No.

-And you're at university?

Yeah.

Come on.

Owen.

Close the door.

You didn't seem very happy out there.

What happened? Did she pull him off his bike?

She may have been a bit heavy handed.

She's not normally...

What? She's not normally what?

Owen?

Sorry. It's just I can't stop thinking about Howard,

and she's so unmoved.

It's like her hackles rise every time I mention his name.

If she doesn't want to talk about him, don't push it.

It seems so heartless, like he didn't mean anything. He was a mate.

It's probably just her way of dealing with it.

Everyone reacts differently.

She has been on edge all morning.

Well, there you go.

But you do know you can talk to me.

Thank you, Sarge.

Dr Vere, please accept my humble apologies.

I've never arrested a doctor before.

It was an easy mistake to make.

I should have realised you were a member of staff.

It's quite small. Can you even read it from there?

Just about. But a visually impaired person might struggle.

Oh, that will never do.

I mean, we could be breaking all sorts of EU regulations.

I'll do a size comparison with the checkout girl at Sainsbury's,

because they're a big national chain.

They're bound to have their dimensions right.

Wait, where are you going?

To get something to eat.

My turkey wrap is no longer fit for human consumption.

No, that was my fault. Please let me buy you another one.

Absolutely not. I wouldn't hear of it.

-Miss Pitman, Dr Vere...

-PHONE RINGS

..I'm going to need you both to work tomorrow.

Morning, Mill Health Centre.

What about the funeral?

Love Divine and Morning Has Broken. Excellent choices.

We think so.

Thank you.

We're struggling a bit with the eulogy.

You're giving the eulogy?

No, no, one of his army friends,

but the family have asked me

to say something about his time at the Mill.

Everything I come up with sounds so trite.

Heston's good with words. You know, he'll help.

Oh, yes, I mean, if you're looking for inspiration,

how about the book of condolences?

Here we go...

"Truly a man of integrity - he ran a tight ship."

Stick to the carriageway in future.

Cheers.

Well, I don't think he'll be doing that again.

You worked a fair bit with Howard, didn't you?

DCI Driver, she's going to say a few words at the funeral

and she's collecting anecdotes from his colleagues.

I haven't got any. Sorry.

Will you be attending?

-I'm on duty.

-We can sort something out if you want to go.

-That won't be necessary.

-It might help.

-No, it won't.

Nadia, a close colleague has just died.

Nobody comes out of that unaffected.

What are you trying to say?

Pulling a young lad off his bike? That's not like you.

Excuse me.

Neither rhyme nor reason...

Neither rhyme nor reason... He had an aneurysm.

I mean, something must've made it rupture!

There's no point tormenting yourself with the whys and the wherefores.

It's my fault. He was stressed, he was stressed about me.

We've been through this, Emma.

It was not your fault.

Well, who, then? The woman in the car park who blocked him in?

Does she know what she did? I mean, she should be prosecuted.

-Emma.

-His blood pressure must have been sky-high.

We were stuck in traffic forever.

And then there were the road-works.

I mean, whoever put those in place, they were incompetent.

There should have been diversion.

Emma, you're not thinking rationally.

I am perfectly rational.

OK, let's be logical about this.

The aneurysm could have happened at any time

for the most innocuous of reasons.

Blowing his nose, for example.

The fact that he had it in hospital

meant he had the best chance of survival.

But why did he have an aneurysm?! Ask yourself that!

Was it a lifetime of stress in the army, serving his country,

and then a career in NHS administration?

You above all people know how difficult it is to run a surgery!

It was too much for one man to bear!

Howard made his choices as we all have to.

Oh, so now it's his fault!

I'm not saying that.

You're wrong, you're wrong!

Emma...

Got any plans for the weekend?

Why don't you keep a look out for our flyposting friend?

I'll just go check on him.

Gerald?

Gerald? Gerald, it's PCSO Kitson.

What did you wake him up for?

-I think he needs help

-He doesn't want help.

What if he's got alcohol poisoning?

He's been poisoning himself for years.

He's not bothering anyone - just leave him to sleep it off.

They won't thank you in A&E.

It's funny how drunken deadbeats like him

outlive decent people who actually contribute something to society.

-Just to be on the safe side?

-Oh, there he is!

Oi!

BRAKES SQUEAL

Stop right there!

Hey, Officer! Hey!

You're under arrest!

Oh! Ow!

SHE GROANS

Gerald? Gerald?

Gerald, speak to me.

Gerald, can you say your name for me?

-Gerald!

-You're supposed to back me up.

Instead you're faffing about with some drunken dead beat.

I'm sorry I wasn't there.

I think he's had a stroke.

And if anyone needs a lift there'll be plenty of room in my car.

I'm sorry.

Oh, there's no need.

I'll be back in a bit.

Subject to your approval of course.

Thank you.

Heston, would you do the reading?

I'd be honoured.

A poem or something. Nothing too preachy.

Is there anything else I can do for you?

Well, the family want to know the numbers of mourners

from the Mill and the PCT.

I'll look into that.

What about Howard's police colleagues?

I think Rob's looking after that.

I think they're doing their own special tribute.

I didn't realise how popular he was.

Well, Howard wasn't your average Special.

No.

Do you think Mrs Tembe would sing?

I'm sure she will. Would you like me to ask her?

-Please.

-Do you have a particular in mind?

SHE SIGHS

We'll sort something out.

Thank you. I'm afraid I'm barely functioning.

You're doing fine.

I just...

don't want to let him down.

You won't.

What's the latest on our friend Gerald Higgins?

He's undergoing assessment in St Phil's.

Alcohol related, I assume?

Looks like he was sober when he collapsed.

The paramedics reckon it was a stroke.

Sober? You're saying he wasn't drunk while he was harassing pedestrians?

He was trying to get help.

That was five hours ago. You did speak to him?

-Yes.

-So how come it's taken so long?

His symptoms mimicked intoxication.

We made a mistake.

PCSO Kitson wanted to call an ambulance this morning.

I refused.

Because he's an alcoholic vagrant?

Are you injured?

It's nothing. I fell over.

You couldn't ride your bike back.

Get it checked out with the doc.

I would show you my tribute,

but Heston's gone off with the condolences book.

Has anyone mentioned a dress code?

Not to me.

Oh. Black's safest, I suppose.

But these days you can never tell.

I have seen mourners decked out in all the colours of the rainbow!

Did you hear about that funeral in Brighton

where the mourners all came dressed as furry animals?

-Really?

-Yeah, it was on the news.

There was an unfortunate incident at graveside.

Squirrel Nutkin head-butted Jemima Puddleduck.

Some issue over the final resting place of a first edition Peter Rabbit.

Apparently the deceased was a big Beatrix Potter fan.

So, how are things at the campus?

You must be really busy with all those freshers registering.

It's winding down now. Most of them signed up last week.

You do get stragglers though, don't you?

So, what are you doing over here?

Oh, er, Mrs T called me in for a briefing.

You'd think she'd realise the importance

of decent cover on reception at the beginning of a new academic year.

I think Al and Ayesha can cope till I get back.

Yeah. She must have a lot on her mind.

Stepping into Howard's shoes - that is a big ask.

It is, but she's doing a grand job.

Mm, for a grieving receptionist

promoted beyond her capabilities at a moment's notice.

No, she really is.

She's calm, considerate, organised...

And she does relish the extra authority.

The doc wants me to have an X-ray.

Get Owen to drive you.

Erm...

I'd like to apologise for my conduct today.

It's been...

I've been out of order.

And I would like to attend Howard's funeral, if possible.

Of course.

And make a donation.

Come in, come in.

There's no shame in getting upset.

No, it's not that, it's just that...

Giving in to any emotion at the moment,

it's a slippery slope.

In some ways I envy him.

Not that he's died, of course not.

I envy the way he went.

Quickly.

Not knowing anything about it.

Not suffering.

I had some... I had some bad news recently.

My mum's been a bit wobbly on her feet for a couple of years.

A bit worse these last few months.

And she's started behaving oddly,

having some problems with her memory.

She's just been diagnosed with Huntington's Disease.

Oh, Nadia.

I am so sorry.

It gets worse.

It's hereditary.

I've got a 50% chance of developing it, too.

But you don't know?

I can have a genetic test to see if I carry the gene.

What are you going to do?

If the test shows I carry the gene...

..I'm not sure I could live with that.

But, of course, you could very well be perfectly healthy.

Yeah, and if I refuse the test, I spend my life needlessly worrying

I'm developing symptoms every time I drop a spoon

or forget why I walk in the room.

And that's me at the Sales Person Of The Month Awards.

I suppose you won?

Oh, I'd forgotten about that dress.

I could wear that for the funeral.

I mean, there is bit of bosom showing,

but not enough to cause offence.

Not unless you're really religious.

-Miss Pitman?

-Maybe I should wear a suit?

There will be a lot of military types there, and police men.

Wall to wall gold braid.

No, I think I'll stick with a dress.

I don't want to be mistaken for a WPC.

I wonder if Barry will be there?

-About the funeral...?

-Accessories, accessories...

Oh!

If it's good enough for Royal Ascot,

it is good enough for Howard's funeral.

I am going to need you here tomorrow.

We cannot all go to Mr Bellamy's funeral.

Well, can't you get a temp in?

You are the temp.

Yes, but I'm a close friend.

And that is why I must ask you to make a great sacrifice.

Mr Bellamy kept this surgery open through thick and thin,

through fire and pestilence.

Who better to keep the show on the road

than a dear and treasured friend?

And he'd be ever so proud of you, putting the patients first.

It is what he would have wanted.

I'll do it for Howard.

Excellent. Come please?

How's the shoulder?

Nothing broken. Just torn a muscle.

How is he?

There's some brain damage,

but the consultant reckons he'll pull through.

He'll need a lot of support.

I should have listened to you.

I should have been more insistent.

I'm sorry about today.

All of it.

Ready?

Give me five minutes.

I'll meet you in the car park.

Sure.

I'm sorry, Gerald.

Dr Wheeler?

Yeah, I'd like to go ahead with the counselling

with a view to having the test.

Yes, I'm sure.

If something's waiting for me around the corner then...I want to know.

Thanks.

What about this?

It's perfect.

-Really?

-Oh, it's the one. We're done here.

Promise.

Which is good timing, cos dinner's ready.

Bit of comfort food.

Yeah. It's a shame Heston couldn't stay for dinner,

after everything he's done today.

What are friends for?

Come on, I'd really like to see you eat.

Yeah, yeah. I'll be down in a minute.

Not that you knew him.

I did. He hired me.

Well, he came back for me.

An honest man here lies at rest.

You think I should be in there, don't you?

Like I was with Sam, sitting in the front row.

Why aren't you?