Valiant Doctors

Selina!

-Hi, Becks. You off to the library?

-Yeah.

I see he's been in action again. Our very own caped crusader.

-So, he saved some freshers from getting beaten up in town.

-Oh.

-He can rescue me any time he wants.

-Oh...

Wakey, wakey.

HE CLEARS HIS THROAT I wasn't asleep.

I could hear you snoring from down the corridor.

-Really?

-Ah, so you WERE having a crafty five minutes.

TELEPHONE RINGS No, just...a power nap.

Big night, was it?

-No, I was working.

-Yeah?

Yeah, following up on the Antibiotics Awareness Day.

Come on, who is she?

It's one of the most important issues facing the NHS.

-Oh. You're actually not joking, are you?

-No.

Dr Vere, there is a journalist on the phone,

-got a few questions about your press release.

-See?

-Is, um, Jimmi in yet?

-I haven't seen him.

Wonder if he's uploaded those photos yet.

I could ask, if you're busy.

Thanks, but, um, I'd rather handle it myself.

Oh.

Who knew you could get so excited over a few pills?

Stop it!

Here you go! Fetch!

DRAMATIC MUSIC I'd think again, if I were you.

That really isn't your colour.

Yours, I believe.

-Thank you.

-Are you OK?

-I think so.

Oi! You!

Bloke in the cape! Hold it right there!

What just happened?

Follow me.

DOORBELL RINGS

Amelia.

I should be halfway back to Lancaster by now.

Well, I'm very glad that you're not.

Honestly, I don't really care what you think.

I'm only here to draw a line under this, once and for all.

Right.

Well...

He's not a hero...

he's a vigilante, a public menace.

Aren't you both on the same side?

This robber has been hunting on my beat.

In light of the police failure to stop him,

it's down to me to bring him to justice.

The last thing I need is some costumed do-gooder

mucking things up.

OK.

Do you reckon he's like one of us? A student?

Imagine if he's been in one of my lectures.

-Could've been sat right next to him!

-Maybe he's making you a cup of tea.

Good one, Danny.

I don't think MY hero would have chickened out

of that bike ride last weekend,

or insisted on having the ground floor bedroom

cos he'd be first out in a fire.

SELINA LAUGHS

-Oh!

-Sorry. I'll get a cloth.

What have you done?

-That finger's really swollen.

-It's fine.

-You should get it checked out.

-It'll get better on its own.

Look, I haven't got any lectures till this afternoon.

-You'd come with me?

-Course.

Can't have you spilling hot drinks all over the place, can we?

Danny Cullum?

COUGHING IN BACKGROUND

Er, actually, I'm feeling much better.

I'm sure you weren't waiting there for nothing.

Honestly, I don't want to waste your time. Come on, Selina.

I thought you were going to be brave for once?

Come on, it won't be anything I haven't seen before.

This way.

-You're sure I'm not hurting you?

-Not at all.

Well, it does look like a fracture.

-I'm going to send you to St Phil's for an X-ray.

-Any infection?

Is this just normal bruising or could it be sepsis?

Well, the skin isn't broken, so there's very little risk of that.

SHE GASPS

My notes.

Quite a big file by now, I imagine.

I've read about this in books, but I've never met a real case.

Why didn't you say anything?

I just want to be treated like any other student.

How did this happen again?

Vodka promotion in the union. Fell over in the gents.

You sure it wasn't some thug stamping on your hand?

-I don't know what you're talking about.

-Was it you?

Were you my knight in shining armour?

Please don't tell me you've been playing superheroes,

with this condition.

Look, this has got to be our little secret, OK?

You know the risks!

-Have you got any other injuries?

-A few.

Well, these are YOUR memories.

They don't mean anything to me.

Well, um, didn't your mum have any photos of him?

Just one old army photo.

His whole company lined up.

She pointed out a man.

Third row, fifth in from the right.

That's all he ever was to me, just a blurry face in a crowd.

Stuart was my dad.

He was the one who picked me up when I fell down,

he helped me with my homework,

dried my eyes when my first boyfriend dumped me.

How old were you when you found out he wasn't your biological father?

Wasn't till I was 13.

I came home from school one day.

My mum and Stuart were sat there, serious faces on.

She just started telling me about this man, this stranger.

I couldn't take it in.

I mean, if it was true, then why hadn't he ever been to see me?

He didn't write, he didn't phone,

there was never a single birthday card.

-Did you ever think of looking for him?

-What for?

We were a very happy family.

I was loved.

I forgot all about Howard Bellamy,

until you had to bring him back into my life.

When did your parents realise you weren't just a tough little kid?

When a hot coal rolled out of the fire. I picked it up.

And I could smell my skin burning, but I couldn't feel a thing.

I couldn't understand why my mum was screaming so much.

I was seven before they came to a diagnosis.

Congenital insensitivity to pain.

A mutation.

Structural abnormalities in the peripheral nerves.

Which means, young man, that you could be walking around

with a broken bone or internal injuries and not have any idea.

My parents wrapped me up in cotton wool.

No more school sports, no more playing with my friends in the park.

It was a real battle to persuade them to let me come away for uni,

but I wanted to be treated normally.

So, how's dressing up like Batman helping you out with that?

A couple of weeks ago, fate played its hand.

-'I was heading back to my digs.'

-Give it back! Let go!

'Thinking about the essay I had to deliver the next day.'

Oi, leave her alone! 'I wanted to help.'

-Mind your own business!

-Back off!

'But it had been drummed into me for so long,

'avoid any situation where I could get damaged.

'But I couldn't just walk past.'

-You OK?

-Yes. Thank you.

'All my life, I've had to watch from the sidelines.

'I was tired of being afraid.

'Now I knew why I'd been born different.

'It wasn't a curse, it was a gift.

'One that I could use to help other people.'

I don't think any ribs are broken.

Your liver's not enlarged

and there's no swelling to suggest internal bleeding, so...

Infection's the silent threat.

Could be something going on inside me

and I wouldn't know anything was wrong until it was too late.

But you know the warning signs to look out for.

I check my temperature three times a day.

Before I go to bed, I check my body for hot spots or swellings.

Sounds like you're taking all the right precautions.

I won't have to do that any more. Not now I've found someone like you.

Someone who can monitor for signs of infection,

patch me up when I get damaged.

Danny, absolutely not!

I'm your GP. It's my job to keep you well,

not encourage you to take more risks!

SHE SIGHS

Look, when I was younger...

..I used to steal my brother's Superman comics.

And I would lie out in our back garden and look up at the sky

and hope that he would come and swoop down and whisk me away.

I wish superheroes were real...

but they're not.

And what you're doing is brave and kind,

but it's stupid!

And it's got to stop.

I know.

It doesn't mean you won't lead a lovely, healthy, happy, full life,

it's just about finding a balance.

I didn't even have time to come up with a superhero name.

All the good ones are taken.

I still need you to go to St Phil's.

And no throwing yourself in the path of runaway trains on the way there.

-Everything all right?

-It's busted.

Didn't need X-ray vision to know that.

I've just got to pop to A&E.

-What's that?

-Valiant in action.

-Valiant?

-Name fits, don't you think?

I wonder where he got his powers from.

Radioactive spider, or exposure to gamma rays?

Maybe he's just a kid in fancy dress.

-Well, at least he's standing up to The Lurker.

-You admire that?

What girl wouldn't want

to be swept into the arms of a costumed crime fighter?

Yeah, but what if you were to be disappointed by the reality?

How could I be? He's brave and strong.

What I wouldn't give for a peek behind that mask.

Is Dr Donoghue available?

Let me check for you.

Actually, that won't be necessary.

(Game's up, Clark Kent.)

Why don't you and I have a little chat?

What's going on, Danny?

Er...it's just routine, Miss. Nothing to worry about.

I'll see you back at the house.

Um...do you know what that's about?

No idea.

Thanks.

You know what? I feel sorry for him.

I had a wonderful childhood, a loving family.

He didn't have any of that.

He would have been so pleased to know that you'd been happy.

And if I hadn't? If I'd have been miserable,

do you think he would have come charging in on his white horse

and rescued me?

No, I don't think so. How would he have known?

He had no idea what was going on in my life.

It's easy to attack people who aren't here to defend themselves.

Nah, he chose to walk away.

He thought he was doing the right thing. For you and your mother.

Oh, and you bought that, did you?

God, the world is full of these deadbeat dads

and their pathetic self-justifications!

-He was young!

-He was selfish!

-He was young!

-That's not an excuse!

-No, you're right.

The Howard your mother knew was a coward.

Yes, he was brave enough to be a soldier and to fight in the army,

but he wasn't brave enough to be a father.

That was too big a challenge for him!

Now you're going to say it was all a long time ago, he's a changed man?

No! When I found out about you,

I tried to persuade him to make contact.

-And he didn't.

-No, he didn't!

And that was the wrong decision!

And I told him it was wrong at the time and I still think it was wrong!

There's no telephone boxes to change in nowadays.

Why am I here, then, and not in the cop shop?

I am the officially sanctioned guardian of Letherbridge Campus.

You are a costumed vigilante.

However, we might have different methods,

but we are on the same side.

I won't expose you, as long as you promise to hang up your cape.

-I can't do that.

-Why not?

The Lurker's terrifying the whole university. Someone has to stop him.

That's what campus security's for.

Yeah, and you're doing such a great job(!)

What's the score now, six robberies and counting?

If I condone your behaviour, it'll only encourage others.

Soon, we'll be up to our ears in costumed copycats!

Do you have any idea who The Lurker might be?

-No.

-Any idea where he might strike next?

-Not exactly.

-If we team up...?

-No way.

I'm the fully-trained professional,

you are just a well-meaning amateur.

If you want this Lurker caught,

then you are going to have to give me

any information you have about him.

I lied.

-What?

-When I said I never thought about him.

That's not true.

How could it be, when sometimes I look in the mirror

and I see something I don't recognise?

Something around the eyes, or maybe the way I smile.

And I know it's not Mum and I just think, "Did I get that from him?"

Well, there is an echo of Howard.

OK, so I've got some of his genes. That was the easy bit.

What is it they say?

Any fool can make a baby, but it takes a man to raise one.

Maybe it's just as well he never had any more kids.

-What makes you say that?

-Well, men like that don't change.

I don't agree.

-I think Howard was ready to take on more responsibility.

-Nah.

First missed period and the panic would have started.

As soon as he saw that scary blob on a scan, he'd have run again.

-But he didn't.

-What?

Just before Howard died, we found out that I was pregnant.

Then two days ago, he struck at the sports centre.

-Time?

-3:00.

-Maybe the timings are the key.

-Go on.

If he's a student at the university,

then maybe he strikes on his way to or from particular lectures.

Yes! Yes, I was just thinking the same thing.

-What?

-Just wondering.

Why the mask and costume?

-I need it.

-To hide your identity?

To help become someone else.

This is me, Danny Cullum.

Mild-mannered humanities' student.

Shy, weak, scared of his own shadow.

Now I'm a hero!

Fearless, bold. I can do things that Danny's too frightened of.

Hm. Who else knows your secret identity?

Just you and Dr Donoghue.

What about your girlfriend?

-Young lady at the surgery.

-Selina?

She'd not look twice at me.

But she does have a crush on my alter ego.

-Then why not tell her you're one and the same?

-I couldn't risk it.

She's fallen for a fantasy.

I couldn't stand it if I did this...

..and all I saw in her eyes was disappointment.

I've had personal experience of a woman becoming besotted

with the costume, rather than the man beneath.

-What happened?

-It didn't end well.

So, we've, um...logged all the robberies, times, places.

There must be a pattern. So now it's just a case of working it all out.

Then we can predict when The Lurker will strike again.

Only this time, we'll be waiting.

No. I'll be waiting.

You'll be getting back to your lectures.

-Yeah, but...

-No buts.

Off you trot.

Yes, that's right, Danny Cullum.

Suspected fractured index finger.

No?

OK, thank you.

Oh!

Now I get it! Why you were so keen for me to take his money.

It was to make you feel better.

What? Don't be ridiculous.

Oh! Take it, leave it, I don't care. This isn't about the money.

No, this is about you trying to rewrite history.

Why would I want to do that?

Because you can't live with the idea

that you made a baby with a liar, a coward.

A man who was capable of deserting a young mother and child.

Look, I hate what he did, but it's in the past!

And now history's repeating itself.

He abandoned my mother and now he's abandoned you, too.

He didn't abandon me, he died!

It's the same difference!

Because one day, you're going to sit there

waiting for your child to come home from school,

ready to have that talk,

and what are you going to say about Howard Bellamy?

What, that he was a hero, that he would have made a wonderful father?

-No.

-No, because you know it's not true!

-I'm never going to have that conversation.

-You can't avoid it!

One day, your child is going to demand answers!

Amelia, we lost the baby!

What?

Oh!

The day that Howard died...

I had a miscarriage.

Oh, I didn't...

I'm sorry, I-I didn't...

-It's OK.

-No, it's not!

-It's not!

-Amelia, wait! Please!

EMMA SIGHS

PHONE RINGS

Hello?

Yes. Yeah, I can do that for you. No problem.

OK. I'm just emailing that over to you now.

Lovely. If you have any questions, you've got my contact details.

-Thank you.

-You're still alive, then?

-What?

-I haven't seen you all day.

I was going to have a break as soon as I got on top of all this.

I thought that's what you'd say, so I brought you some food.

-Thanks, Ayesha.

-Don't want you wasting away.

PHONE RINGS Sorry, I really need to get this.

Sid Vere. Yes. Yeah, I've got it.

Yep, I'm just emailing that to you now. There we are.

Stupid boy!

-Where is he?

-Back of the science block.

-Oh!

-I told him to jack it in!

He didn't listen to either of us.

Danny!

You're going to ruin everything!

I thought we talked about this!

You agreed that your DIY detective days were over.

-I couldn't give up my powers.

-You're not a superhero!

Bullets won't bounce off you!

If something happens, you won't come back in the next issue.

I know the risks, but this is my life. I want it to mean something.

What about your parents?

It must have been so hard for them to let you go.

How do you think they'd feel if they knew

you were deliberately putting yourself in harm's way?

You don't need a mask to do good things, Danny.

Aye-aye. Looks like our prediction was spot-on.

Right, call the police.

No, no. There's three of us, there's only one of him.

Barry, you're on your own! Call 999!

Selina!

INTENSE INSTRUMENTAL

SHE GASPS

Leave her alone! Are you all right?

Danny, look out!

-Oh!

-No, you don't!

-Get off!

-Sit down. Call an ambulance!

HE GROANS

-That's it, that's it. OK, how are you feeling?

-OK.

-You could have been killed.

-Ambulance, please!

Letherbridge University!

-Oh!

-Um...science block.

Someone's been stabbed!

-How is he?

-Oh, I don't think it was deep enough to hit any organs.

I'm sorry, I should have listened.

No more superhero shenanigans, OK?

Stay with him, keep the pressure there.

I'm going to check on the ambulance.

Barry?

Ah! The elusive Dr Vere.

I'm sorry to sound like a stuck record,

but I really do need you to sign off on those repeat prescriptions.

I'll, er...I'll do it now.

Are you OK? You do look a bit peaky.

Dr...?! Oh! Dr Vere!

Um...help! Anyone? Anyone?

Help! Help! Oh, Dr Vere! Help!

-What has happened?

-I don't know!

I just...and then he just... and then he just went and... Oh!

Oh! Oh! It's Mr Bellamy all over again!

Miss Pitman, breathe!

-Now, calmly.

-I was just standing here

and then I asked him if he was all right and then he just...

Dr Vere? Sid?

VALERIE BREATHES HARD

SID COUGHS What happened?

I was about to ask you the same question.

DOORBELL

Hi. Um...come in.

I can't, my train.

-I just wanted to apologise.

-What for?

If anyone should be saying sorry, it should be Howard.

All my life, he's just been a shadow.

And hearing what his friends and colleagues thought of him

has added a few pieces to the jigsaw,

but I'll never get the full picture.

-Not now.

-Amelia.

What is the full picture, hm?

I thought I knew him inside out and then I found out about you.

And the more he tried to justify what he'd done,

the worse it seemed.

But he was human...you know?

He made mistakes, just like the rest of us.

I think him leaving you the money

was his way of trying to make amends.

Please, will you reconsider?

-SHE SIGHS

-As long as you understand,

I never wanted his money.

I just wanted to find out who he was.

OK. I'll tell you.

Howard Bellamy was proud,

kind, generous.

And sometimes he could be funny,

even if he was the only one who got the joke.

He was...loving...

..and stubborn.

Petty.

He used to make my blood boil

to the point where I would want to throttle him.

And then at other times...

Well...I loved him.

Very much.

I'm just sorry I didn't get the chance to know him.

Are you going to be all right?

Yes. Yes, I think I am.

Go, go. Don't...don't miss your train.

Are you sure you don't want me to call an ambulance?

-Positive.

-I have put extra sugar in.

I know you're young and fit,

but you never know what's going on on the inside.

Look, I'm very grateful, but really, I'm OK.

What did I tell you about working too hard?

You've not even touched your sandwich.

Perhaps we should just give him some space.

When are you going to stop being such an idiot?

Being keen is admirable,

but you have to learn how to pace yourself.

It's just been a couple of hectic weeks, that's all.

What if you're busy next week? Week after that, month after that?

You're no use to your patients if you're exhausted.

It won't happen again.

You won't be the first young doctor

whose career has been snuffed out by overdoing it.

Look, I appreciate your advice, Heston. Really, I do,

but I just want to get back to work.

Not a chance!

Right, you're going to stay here and rest

and have something to eat and drink.

-Yeah, but...

-No arguments.

Oh, Lydia Randall.

I'm sorry, you just look so, um...different.

May I take your name? Your name?

Valerie...Pitman.

Take a seat, I'll be with you in a...

Hello!

Bring it on, Big C. Time for round three.

SHE GIGGLES