Favourites Doctors

Now, here we are. And there's plenty more if you want it.

This looks lovely, thank you.

-And here's Dave's.

-Wonderful. Thank you very much.

Morning. Sleep better?

What do you think?

Do you try counting backwards?

Waste of time.

No-one beats your breakfasts, Mum.

Not going into work today?

-I'm taking some time off.

-Now that makes sense.

Does it?

-I can't concentrate, so what's the point?

-It might distract you.

My marriage is over, mate, you think I can forget that?

Work my guts out for 20 years.

Oh, it's upsetting, of course it is.

Why does she want a divorce when I've done nothing wrong?

I don't know, love. He needs time.

It's been weeks.

I didn't know she was serious. She never has been before.

How come I have to move out?

Cos Jackie and the girls, they're settled there.

I was settled there!

Well, you're here now and your breakfast's getting cold.

I'm not hungry any more.

MUSIC ON HEADPHONES: Bad by Michael Jackson

Not you.

Heston, have you decided on who your icon's going to be yet?

Well, I'm looking for someone who is quite, um, quick-witted?

-Sharp as a pin. Excuse me.

-Sorry.

Who's that poncey French detective? Hercule Poirot!

-He's from Belgium.

-Perfect.

What about Patrick...? Patrick Moore, with the monocle.

He was highly intelligent.

-What have you come as?

-Peaky Blinder.

-Peaky, meet Poirot.

Al, it's not your turn to be photographed.

Yeah, I'm perfectly well aware of that. Thank you, Heston!

Yeah, it's Sid's. 2pm, staffroom.

Can we make it quarter past? I've got referrals I need to chase up.

-I am looking forward to it.

-Give me some more ideas?

Were you doing a police shift last night?

I did want to ask you about your police work

-Still recovering, catch me later.

-OK, yeah, sure.

So?

So what? I just thought I'd accessorise a bit, that's all.

Is this for real?

Al, ignore them. It's a big improvement. Well done.

"Big improvement", what's that supposed to mean?

-No, it is!

-It so is!

You all consider yourselves ex-friends.

Keep busy, love.

How about taking me up the Mill for my appointment?

You usually get a taxi.

You paying?

Shouldn't he be at work?

Yes, go on, son. Quickly now.

Aww.

See you soon then, Mum, yeah?

What's that all about?!

He's just a big softie, that's what he is.

One word for it.

Well, off you go, Sam. And have a great time.

Day, day.

Well, we've got to go shortly, so get yourself ready.

All right. No point dwelling, I suppose.

No, no point at all.

What's the special occasion?

You having another bash at the partnership?

Should I be?

Uh, well, we've got a full house, unfortunately.

Don't you worry. This has an entirely different purpose.

Ah. Posh restaurant with Mo?

No, boring lunch at the boring Icon.

Sorry to hear that. I thought things were going well for you.

Oh, no, it's over,

or at least it will be once she sees how boring I am.

When we're alone, she can be quite persuasive,

but she hasn't seen how boring I can be.

-All right, good luck.

-Cheers, mate.

Oh, the new medication's great, doctor.

Plus I've got so much to look forward to.

-Oh, is there anything on the horizon?

-Christmas!

Oh, I love it! It's my favourite time of year, isn't it, Dave?

My mate Beryl's got the most fantastic place on the high street.

Well, it's a pound shop, really,

but it's packed with festive trimmings from September.

There's stockings and crackers - the lot!

From September?

I love Christmas as much as anyone,

but I usually try and keep a lid on it until December.

Your reception's looking very bare this year, doctor.

Now, if you need more decorations, I can get you a discount.

That's very kind of you but I think we're all set.

Now, your blood pressure is a little high, Angie.

Is there anything that you're stressed about at the moment?

It's me who's stressed.

He's a bit down.

My marriage has crashed and burnt.

He's taking time off cos he can't concentrate.

That makes sense.

I've got a good team, they'll manage.

I dunno if I will.

Have you considered talking to your GP?

Sometimes it can be...

Well, what they going to do?

OK.

Right, I'm going to ask the nurse to keep an eye on your blood pressure,

but can I also ask, are you all right coming to the surgery,

or is it too tiring?

No, no, no, I'm fine in the mornings.

I'm shattered.

Right, it's just that MS can cause severe fatigue.

Yes, it does get worse later in the day.

She slept OK last night, snored for England.

Oh, I didn't keep you awake?

Nah, I just couldn't stop thinking about stuff.

It will get easier, love.

Angie, are there any other symptoms you want to discuss?

You can wait outside, if that's easier, while I talk to your mother.

No, no, no, I'm fine, doctor.

Like I say, with Christmas on its way, I'm happy as Larry.

The car's this way.

We've run out of tinsel.

Oh, Mum!

-Hoo-ee!

-Hello.

-Hello, Beryl. Here, give him a basket!

Oh! Ha-ha-ha!

Oh, great, there you go, Dave, put it in there.

-Mum.

-Oops! I'm sorry, Beryl!

Oh, dear, oh, dear.

-Where you going now?

-Beryl's going to show me her new stock.

Not now, Mum, we've no time.

-You're not at work.

-Sam can bring you at the weekend.

-Oh, I won't be long.

-No, I only put half hour on the car.

I said to put an hour.

Well, I didn't, so I'm not risking a parking ticket,

so come on.

-Sorry, love.

-Dear, oh, dear.

Sam'll bring her Saturday - he's got loads of time. Come on.

Sorry, Beryl.

I'm sorry, Mum, I haven't got the patience for shopping.

Give me your hand.

Don't rush me, love. My balance's not so good.

Thought you were at work. You going somewhere?

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Come on, Mum. Let's sit down.

Thanks, love.

-I'm OK, love.

-Come on, Mum, let's get you sat down.

What's going on?

-Oh, that's better.

-Mum, you look knackered.

Stick the kettle on, love.

It weighs a tonne.

-Sam?

-I haven't had a holiday in years.

Holiday? You're joking me. You can't leave Mum!

I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself.

No chance. And what about your precious magazine?

Aren't you their star writer?

Where were you off to?

New Zealand! Mum!

New Zealand!

Did you know?

Unbelievable!

It's only three weeks and I'm writing some features while I'm there.

Three weeks?! You never said a word!

-I knew you'd kick off.

-What did you say?

I told him to slip away quietly.

I know his flight's not till later but I didn't want a fuss.

Is this why you dragged me in that stupid pound shop?

Mum, Mum.

-You thought he'd be gone by the time we got back!

-Shut up! Mum, you OK?

-It's nothing.

-No, something's wrong.

My eyes are a bit blurry, that's all.

What did Dr Donoghue say?

I was going to mention it but I thought what with Christmas...

She didn't tell the doctor?

No-one mentioned eyes.

For goodness' sake, Mum, you've got to tell the doctor everything,

otherwise what's the point?

What are you doing?

You might need urgent treatment.

No, no, no, please, Sam. Please, don't. There's no need.

Oh...

-OK, here we go. I look completely ridiculous, don't I?

-Mm.

Here he is.

Oh...wow.

What have you done with Al?

Al's here, he's just trying a new look.

What do you think?

You look like you've lost a bet.

-SHE SCOFFS

-Sorry.

You all right, Niamh? Do you fancy joining us for lunch?

Oh, that's really kind of you, but...

I have a Mr Sam Sanderson on the line.

Mrs Sanderson has a problem with her eyes and she is exhausted.

Can you tell them that I'll call them in a bit?

Actually, on second thoughts, I'll nip round there.

Yes, tell them I'm on my way.

Thanks for the offer, Mo.

Niamh, come out with us. Three's company.

Shall I get us a table while you get changed?

No, no, I'm not getting changed.

This...is the new me.

Yeah, right! Come on, I'm starving.

Why did it have to be three weeks? Why couldn't it be three days?

This is precisely why I didn't want to tell you in the first place.

I knew you'd react like this.

You should have told me, we could have worked something out.

But you're here now. Plus, you're off work, so what's the problem?

You didn't know that when you booked your flight!

You can pull your weight for once.

-You listening to this, Mum?

-We're trying to concentrate.

It's not me that's been looked after by Mummy since I was in nappies.

Some of us leave home and make our own lives.

-Then come crawling back when it goes wrong.

-What did you say?

She's been shopping and cooking and cleaning

and washing your underpants for 35 years!

One whiff of a holiday and you're off!

OK, can we have some peace please?

-I'm sorry, doctor.

-Don't worry, I have brothers.

It's honestly not like that, Dave.

You cook him breakfast every morning!

That must be difficult with the stiffness in your hands.

I haven't cooked for months.

Eh?

I do it...and everything else.

But Mum washes her own whites, don't you, Mum?

After I dyed everything pink.

We've all done that!

Why didn't anyone tell me you were getting worse?

You never asked.

I'm going to refer you to a neurologist at St Phil's

-and they'll decide a course of treatment.

-Thank you.

You're lucky to have such an attentive son, Angie.

Oh, Sam's ever so good. He's done all the research on MS,

he knows more than I do!

What about researching carers for Mum?

How is she supposed to cope?

You're here and Beryl's going to check in.

Dave, love, it's fine.

No, it's not. I'm not having it!

Who was going to cook for you? Or were you supposed to starve?

Well, come on!

Jackie.

My Jackie? Who's just kicked me out?

She knew about this?

She knows I haven't had a holiday in ages. She said she'd lend a hand.

Jackie, that absolute cow who won't answer my calls,

she knows and I don't!

She listens!

Doesn't just talk about herself.

What else has she said?

Quite a lot...over the years.

About our marriage? About me?

She's been unhappy, love. She couldn't take it any longer.

What?

You knew she was kicking me out?

If you're always at work and never at home, what do you expect?

Oh... I'm sorry. He's got a lot on his plate at the moment.

It's all right.

Um, I think I'll have the burger with the lot, please, extra cheese.

Yeah, I'm going to go with the

cranberry, feta and walnut salad, if I may.

Just a light lunch, man's body is his temple.

OK, thanks, love.

I understand how important food is to our health and wellbeing.

A doctor's got to practice what he preaches.

Have fun, die young is what I say.

You see, that's the gulf between us. I am all about careful planning

and taking life seriously. We only get one of them after all.

True that, I suppose.

I'm considering abstaining.

Abstaining from what?

Animal products.

Oh.

Well, uh, aren't they leather?

-Aren't what leather?

-Your shoes.

It's a good point, they'll have to go.

I think I'm going to do a 5K tonight.

-Sorry, what now?

-It's a kind of run,

probably throw in a few yoga shapes as I go.

Wow.

KNOCKING

-Hello.

-Dr Donoghue, have you got...

It's an emergency.

What's happened?

I will leave you to it.

Thank you.

You need to sort things out.

OK, take a seat and we'll talk about it.

Mum needs respite care for Christmas.

That's what it's called, temporary care?

I thought you were taking time off work.

We've had a rush of orders, so I've got to work round the clock.

Can't risk losing customers, not nowadays.

So you had a rush of orders today, this morning, in the last hour?

-Why I had to leave earlier.

-Not because you were annoyed?

I thought you had a good team at work.

I do but it's Christmas, and people want time with their families.

Yes, they do.

Work's all I've got left, I'm not risking that,

so can you sort the respite care or not?

Social services has a list of approved agencies,

but also, isn't your ex-wife willing to help out?

She's not setting foot through the door.

OK. You don't think you're being just the tiniest bit childish here?

You've got a nerve!

I'm not moving till you've got respite care for my mother.

You can't stay here!

Watch me.

You're shocked by the new me, aren't you?

Just a little bit, yeah.

See, I'm really not that fun-loving...

..unpredictable, sex-mad, stallion I first met?

No, I'm not.

What's changed?

Well, I've been having an ongoing discussion with my GP

about making a few changes

and this is the new me.

You take it or you leave it.

I suppose I'll get used to it.

OK, that's one option.

Another one would be to say that me and you have had a grand time,

but, what with Christmas on its way...

You're not dumb, Al, I know that. So...

If you think this guff's worth trying then we'll do it together.

No! What? No!

Y-you love life in the fast lane.

I'm pretty much a practising vegan -

you can't get any more slow lane than that!

I'm having to do yoga.

Hey! Don't you knock it.

Yoga gives you freakishly supple joints.

You can get into any position!

Trust me, I went out with a guru once.

Oh, happy days!

That...

Did I tell you that look really suits you?

It's choking me a little bit!

Finally! Where's the rest of your outfit?

Sorry, five minutes.

I've just got to do a quick e-mail.

PHONE RINGS

Hello?

Angie Sanderson? Yes, put her through, please.

Hi, Angie. I've got Dave here.

-My Dave?

-He's with me now.

Well, that's something. Is he OK?

He's fine. More importantly, how are you?

The thing is I'm going to have to go into hospital.

-Into hospital? Are you unwell?

-Is she OK?

-No, no, no, I'm fine, but...

-She's fine.

I can't afford carers and I certainly can't afford to go into a care home.

Hospital is for when you're really poorly, Angie.

I don't want our Sam cancelling his flight.

He's upstairs now unpacking.

Sam's cancelling his holiday?

I can't bear it, Doctor.

What can I do?

Well, there is another option.

Oh, no.

No, Dave's still in shock.

He genuinely didn't see this coming with his wife.

I mean, we warned him, me and Sam, but he doesn't listen to us.

I don't think he's listening to anyone at the moment.

He's done his best over the years.

I mean, everything he does is for family and look where it's landed him.

SHE SIGHS

He was such a loving, bright little boy.

This is all my fault.

-Angie, this is not your fault.

-Oh, it is, Doctor!

I mean, you're busy, so...

Look, what I'm going to do is I'm going to tell Sam

you'll sort out a hospital bed for me so he can catch his flight.

No, Angie, you know I can't do that.

Yes, well, that's what I'm going to tell him, Doctor.

So, thank you.

-Bye.

-No, Angie...

She's hung up.

She wants Sam to go anyway?

She thinks this is all her fault.

I have to decide soon because I need to find the right outfit.

What?

Sorry, I was just...

Heston, are you boring on again about what icon you're going to be?

I beg your pardon?

You know, I've got the perfect thing for you.

Right, you want something that's theatrical and dramatic,

and musical, and full of charisma and panache, right?

I'm not sure I really want your...

Demis Roussos.

Yeah, you just, you know...

Get yourself a poncho, fake beard and fake chest hair.

Demis would fit you like a glove. Am I right?

Thank you, Al.

Maybe you should be Mrs Doubtfire.

Yeah! Or Tootsie.

Why?!

Go and have a look in the mirror.

Good thinking, Batman.

Why would your mum think this is all her fault?

She mentioned your childhood.

We had a hard time when Dad died.

Mum had a bit of a breakdown, I suppose.

How old were you?

Sam was nine. I was 16.

Smack in the middle of my GCSEs, so they were a waste of time.

It was...

I don't know. Bad times.

Really bad.

How did you cope?

Sam was just a kid.

Mum couldn't work.

She just kept staring into space.

So, I got a job.

Breadwinner at 16.

All the hours I worked.

It was worth it cos I knew, deep down inside...

-This is going to sound silly.

-I don't mind silly.

I thought I was Mum's...

..favourite...

..and I deserved to be.

What's Sam ever done?

He's doing a lot for her now.

And even when Jackie asked me for a divorce, I mean,

that killed me, it really did.

I kept thinking, "I'll be OK...

"..cos there's still Mum."

She loves you. She loves both of you.

No. When she was talking about Jackie, I realised,

I mean, she knew that my marriage was over before I even had a clue.

They both did. Sam, too.

I come from a large family...

..and we always wanted to be the favourite,

and I was for years,

and then really not.

For what it's worth, I think you're underestimating your mother.

She'd rather go to hospital than put you or Sam to any more trouble.

That's stupid.

She's blaming herself for everything

-and that's not going to do her any good.

-None of this is her fault.

Well, you need to tell her.

And you need to listen to her, and to Sam.

Really listen. OK?

I've got to pop out for a little bit, but I've got an idea.

Is this any good?

Uh...

Just...

Just try and relax, Sid.

What about that move you did this morning?

-I was just messing about to my music. I didn't realise anyone was watching!

-That's all right.

Just put your music on. Enjoy yourself.

MUSIC: Thriller by Michael Jackson

Let me just change this lens.

-Shall we carry on then?

-There's no need.

-They're all terrible, aren't they?

-No, this one's great, look!

She's right.

Crikey!

I actually kind of look like him.

Amazing! Well done, guys.

Nice one, Jimmi, I'm impressed.

So am I! More luck than judgment.

Sorry, I'm exhausted after last night.

Oh, yeah, I was meaning to ask you - is there any way or any chance

that I could maybe, er, shadow you during your police shift?

You want to shadow me?

Yeah, I'd love to.

All right, I'll look into it.

Cool! Thanks, Jimmi.

She's absolutely obsessed with tinsel.

-OK, well, then we need to get her lots of it.

-Thank you.

-Does she like blue?

-Yes, she loves blue.

-Blue it is.

-I'm not wearing that!

-You are!

-I'm not putting that on.

I'm a doctor, you have to do what I say.

Come on.

-That's right!

-No!

-Right?

I don't want to look silly.

No, you don't look silly.

OK, I love that. That's going in.

-You're worse than she is!

-You need a star.

I'm kind of the queen of Christmas, I'll be honest with you.

It's a huge deal in my family.

-I think we're going to need another basket.

-I'll carry these.

What do you think?

Yes!

I'll be fine in hospital, love.

Nice try, Mum, but you don't need a hospital bed

and they're not going to give you one.

It was a stupid idea, all of it, I must've been mad.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

-Ho, ho, ho!

-Oh!

Oh, my goodness!

SHE LAUGHS

Can we put it up now?

That's my job for today.

Might help me get my head together.

Come on, you'll be all right.

Dave, you're the most generous, warm-hearted man we know,

isn't he, Sam?

If he stops sulking.

Thanks!

Oh, I'm so proud of you both.

Why can't you appreciate each other?

I mean, when I'm gone, you're going to have to look after each other.

You're not going anywhere, Mum!

Come on, let's get these up, shall we?

You've no time.

Your taxi's due any minute.

What?

For the airport.

Seriously? I can go to New Zealand?

So long as you come back!

Oh, that's brilliant!

-Thank you.

-Oh, great!

Dave, oh, thanks so much.

You and me, we're going to have the best Christmas together.

What you got? Oh!

How do I look?

You had a good day?

It was all right in the end.

-You?

-No, it was dreadful. It was spiralling out of control, dreadful.

OK. Haskey, what's going on? What's up with this?

I need some advice.

I have this...friend

and he needs to work out a way to get his girlfriend to dump him.

-Why can't your mate just dump his girlfriend?.

-He can't do that.

He came up with this really clever scheme where,

if he kind of acted and behaved and dressed in a way,

that she would find unattractive,

then she would be the one to do the dirty deed.

But let me guess,

the girlfriend really went for this whole new look and attitude.

She went crazy for it.

Help me, Niamh.

-You're really good at breaking up with people!

-Whoa, whoa, whoa!

I mean that in a good way.

You have to help me to find a way

for my mate to break-up with Rob's cousin.

OK, I think your mate has to figure this out for himself.

He's on his own.

Thanks.

Good luck.

Hi, Mum?

Are you all right?

Yeah, no, no, I'm fine.

I'm just seeing how you are, if you're ready for Christmas.

What? You've the presents wrapped already?

OK, Mum it's not a competition.

No, everything's really good. Really good.

I was just thinking about you, so I thought I'd give you a ring!

I suppose, if I'm honest,

I do miss sharing my life with someone.

OK, now I'm getting mixed signals.

So, what's your problem now?

He's being German.

Sounds like he's being generous to me.

Actually, we're going to be deciding the shortlist

for the practice manager's job today.