Perennial Doctors

CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYS

Cantata 61. "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland."

That's easy for you to say.

Tea?

Oh, thank you.

It's very nice, but we don't have to have Bach for breakfast.

The channel you had on the other day was rather jolly.

1Xtra?

Lots of pep and energy.

If you're sure.

UPBEAT POP MUSIC PLAYS

Thank you.

You must be dreading the kids coming back and spoiling your peace?

No, not at all. It's a chance to get to know them better.

Too much pep?

Maybe. I like to ease myself into the bustle.

SHE LAUGHS

Can't be growing at this time of year?

Winter pruning.

Helps the plant keep its shape when it does start growing.

Well, you know a lot more than me.

I told you I wanted balls!

What difference does it make?

If I'd wanted icicle-shaped lights, I would have asked for them.

Do, you seriously want me to take them back?

Yes.

You do realise that it might not be my main priority today?

-Balls.

-And icicles to you!

Sorry. Just a slight communication problem.

They happen.

Oh, what are you doing? They bloomed lovely in the summer.

We were instructed to clear the bed.

Asked if they preferred perennials to annuals and,

when they wondered what the difference was,

told them about 300 quid a year.

Well, I'm glad somebody's got a sense of humour.

Helps the day go by.

Yeah, I'll tell that to the other half.

-Have a good one.

-You, too.

Already in need of coffee, Dr Clay?

Yeah, with Sid off, I've seen seven patients today.

It would have been difficult for him

to conduct consultations with no voice.

Oh, I don't know. Could have held up cards, pictures.

Patients could have just picked the one their symptoms were closest to.

You OK?

Er, yes, I am fine.

Thinking about tomorrow?

The interview?

Well, I am trying not to, but...

But, you can't help it?

I wish I could have done a little more preparation,

but, what with Christmas coming fast and changing the rotas and

so many consultations because of flu...

You know, you can be over-prepared for an interview?

Yes, well, I would have settled for being adequately prepared.

Fortunately, I have some time, this evening.

I will collect my thoughts and jot down anything that might...

..that might come up.

You know, if you're having doubts, then you shouldn't be.

You've been fantastic standing in.

That's why I said you should apply.

Thank you.

And your encouragement has been a deciding factor.

But there are candidates who are very strong.

They are more experienced and more qualified than I.

You've got lots of experience, when it comes to this place.

And I know lots of people with qualifications.

They couldn't get a sponge wet in a bath.

Just go in and be brilliant.

You are very kind, Dr Clay.

Hopefully talented, too.

I've got a preview copy of the calendar arriving sometime today.

You must be very excited?

Yeah. I'm looking forward to it.

Sexi.

Sorry?

In Spain.

It's Almunecar today, but it's Latin name was Sexi Firmum Iulium.

It's where we're excavating.

Oh, right, so the tetanus boost was for cuts and grazes from trowels

and bits of ancient weaponry?

If there are any.

Finds from the site have been mostly coins, from the Phoenicians.

It's my second year fieldwork. We're flying on Boxing Day.

And that explains why you're here after term?

I'm also doing some waitressing, business conferences.

You know, a bit of extra money.

Let's hope they don't tip in Phoenician coinage, eh?

-Hopefully not.

-It's probably worth a fortune.

Well, I wish.

Thanks.

Thanks.

Ahem.

Is that the calendar?

Well, it's from the printers.

Are you going to open it?

Yeah, the cover's good.

When are you going to show us the rest of it?

Ah, well, I was just going to have a private glance, first.

Photographer's privilege.

I've never, ever had a good picture of me taken in my life.

Oh, I wish I was heading off for some sun in Spain.

It's not exactly bikini weather there, now.

It'll be cargo trousers and a fleece for me.

If you want December sunshine, it's got to be Australia.

Going, next year.

Wow. University must be doing really well

out of those business conferences.

No, it's a private visit. My boyfriend's in Sydney.

I wish my husband was in Sydney.

It's not exactly ideal, but...

he's nice.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

OK, Miss O'George, I fully expect you to come back having found

at least one Phoenician astrolabe, or some proto-computer device.

I will...

try my best.

THEY LAUGH

Happy trails.

Wow. Imagine maintaining a relationship over two hemispheres.

Imagine just maintaining a relationship.

If that's pertaining to me, Hollins,

I believe it is I who is the injured party.

I suppose so.

Once more, with feeling.

Mo should have told you about long-distance Lonny.

Indeed, she should have. I was used.

I hear that the calendar has arrived for Dr Clay?

Yes, it did.

It will be quite something, to see how it has turned out.

I cannot help noticing that you are a little preoccupied.

Am I?

I know that your chemotherapy session starts tomorrow.

I hope you are not too worried.

No, no. I mean, there'll be lots of people there

in the same position and we'll share a common bond.

I expect we'll just be chatting away,

helping each other through,

linking hands, in adversity.

It is perfectly normal to feel a little apprehensive.

Perhaps you would like to join me for supper, again, this evening?

No, but you've got your interview tomorrow.

I have done ample preparation.

One can be over-prepared, you know.

And I think tonight that we could both do with a little company.

How lovely.

I mean, I'll look forward to that.

Pruning the whole campus?

Try to get a lot done, out of term.

Yeah, university runs a whole lot better without the students.

Actually, some of them work really hard, don't they?

Yeah.

Probably too hard, some of them.

Don't overdo it yourself.

Got a way to go yet.

SHE LAUGHS

Oh, what?

You are absolutely joking me!

Hey.

How does it look?

-Oh!

-Yeah, like a bunch of naked farmers.

No, thank you.

-Ooh!

-Oh!

-So, we'll cover this next time if that's OK.

-No, that's fine.

-Of course. Yeah.

-Thank you. See you soon. Cheers.

I'm all good.

Ah! Oh!

Ooh, that looks nasty.

It's OK. It's my fault. I shouldn't have left my gloves in my pocket.

You should go to A & E.

It doesn't warrant that. I don't want to take up...

-How about the surgery?

-I can just get a plaster.

-I think you need it looked at.

-No, really. Oh...

-Do you feel faint?

-I'm just not very good with blood.

Come on, I'm walking you over.

-You can't.

-I can.

-Here.

-I'll make a real mess of that.

It's just a handkerchief.

It's absolutely terrible.

You're telling me. Eight pages of naked agriculturalists!

No, I mean my picture.

I look like I'm asleep.

-I'm not sure about that lighting, Jimmi.

-What?

I spent ages on that lighting. It's supposed to be flattering.

Do I need loads of flattering lightening, is that it?

It's not what I said, was it?

Ooh, now that doesn't look like Heston.

Well, it's not Heston. It's a farmer who's very proud of his taters.

The publishers have obviously mixed up the photos.

Well, that is a strategically placed turnip.

-Oh, now, is this the..?

-No, no, it's not our...

Some of it. No. Do you know what? I'm just going to phone them.

Mr November.

That is a substantial piece of equipment.

My husband, Rob, was scraping wallpaper a while back

and got distracted by Crimewatch. I think some robber he recognised

and the scraper slipped, and it nearly took his little finger off.

Thank you, Karen for that charming

and medically appropriate recollection.

Fortunately, this didn't need stitching.

But, it was good to get it looked at.

So, are you going home or are you going back to work?

Oh, no. There's still quite a lot to do.

And, like Dr Haskey says, it's just a little nick.

Yeah, and your tetanus is up-to-date, so well done.

Always wise.

MOBILE PHONE RINGS

Boyfriend.

Hey, you, what time is it there?

Missed me?

That's a coincidence, because I was just thinking about you.

Do you not think that you should just go back home

and just maybe rest the hand?

It's not life-threatening.

Yeah, but he's got to take care of himself.

There's no need to worry about me.

I'll call you back at a sensible time.

Got another shift today?

Oh, tonight. Dinner for conference guests.

So, it'll be nap time for me, meanwhile.

I'll be getting along, too. Thank you, Doctor.

Prune the trees, not you hand.

I'll try.

PHONE TEXT ALERT RINGS

Oh, wow.

Text from Donaghue.

Apparently, they've mixed up Jimmi's photos

with those of a load of nude farmers.

So, like doctors and nurses dressed up as icons,

except they're farmers

and they're nude!

What you doing?

Erm, I'm trying to put up a Christmas tree.

A real one?

Yes.

Is that so unusual?

Well, we never had one. Mum said they drop needles all over the place.

Ah, well, you need a Nordmann fir. They're drop-free.

If only I could get it in.

How about a saw or something?

Good idea.

Do you think you could help. Are you busy?

Not really.

OK. Just hang onto that and I'll get a saw.

Erm...

Al, I'm just going to pop out for a bit.

Would you mind keeping an eye on the desk?

Yes, if you insist on slacking.

Hi, Al. Could you do me a favour?

Yeah, this is serious.

Renata O'George. Could you get me her room number, please, from patient records?

Hey, look, real Christmas tree!

Alia, would you like to help us with the ornaments?

-I, er...

-He's got millions.

We don't have to use all of them,

but we must have a bell.

Why?

It's A Wonderful Life.

It's a what?

It's A Wonderful Life. The greatest Christmas film ever made.

Clarence the angel tells James Stewart

that every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.

Who's James Stewart?

I'll show you the DVD. Anyway, we'd better get on.

Your mum's going to be back soon and we haven't started supper.

-She said we were having pasta.

-Yeah, we're making it.

What, the sauce?

The pasta, man. Heston's got this mad machine.

-Don't you just buy it?

-No, it's always better freshly made.

Durum wheat, eggs, water, salt.

Simple ingredients, but the very essence of La Dolce Vita!

Excuse me.

Iain?

-Um...what are you doing?

-I'm just seeing Sarah.

I told you, I'm not...

Um...Iain, I think there's been a mistake. This is...

Sarah. Her name is Sarah. She's my daughter.

She's just pretending not to be.

It's a game we had when she was little.

She'd pretend not to know her name.

OK, Iain. Um... Well...

We... Er...

We can play the game. We...we can ask her.

Iain, my name is Renata.

-I'm not...

-You are Sarah. This is your room.

It was Sarah's room. She lived here.

But that was before last Christmas.

There's a room ballot at the end of every year and I got this room.

-But I didn't want this one because...

-You loved this room!

The gardens, the...the views.

I'm sure Sarah did, but...

You haven't opened your present.

I kept it for you from last year. Go on.

Go on. It won't bite.

-It's very pretty.

-It's your favourite colour.

Iain, I'm not Sarah.

Huh!

I'm not Sarah because Sarah's dead.

HE CHUCKLES

You're here.

-Iain?

-Don't you say she's dead!

She's here. Look! She's here.

What do you mean, you can't tell the difference?

I mean, it's full of naked guys in wellingtons with tractors.

Do you honestly think I shot those pictures for our calendar?

Of course I want a reprint! And this time, I want you to check it!

I can't imagine they're too happy either.

There's probably people waiting excitedly

for pictures of naked men wearing bobble hats!

Ooh! This might not be a good time.

What for, to book me for a photoshoot

for the centrespread of Farmers Weekly?

Um...no.

I was wondering if I could see the proofs.

Proofs?

Yeah. You know, the contact sheet thingy with all the...

The camera's digital.

-Oh.

-Maybe Rankin with his large-format camera

had a contact sheet thingy, but this is all on a card.

-It's a good point.

-Mm-hm.

Um...well, have you printed any more out, of me?

-Why?

-It's just the one in the calendar.

I was just wondering if there just might be a better one.

-I went through them. That was the best.

-You sure?

-Absolutely sure!

OK. Thanks.

It was an accident.

At a party at the end of term last Christmas.

She came back here, she passed out

-and she was sick. And nobody...

-No!

Please don't say that!

You're too beautiful, you're...you're too...

MOBILE PHONE RINGS

Can I answer that, Iain?

Dr Haskey.

Dr Haskey, a message for, er...my husband.

He's to go to that address that you found.

Er...it's a work thing. His work.

Do you understand?

That was Dr Haskey. You, er...you met him earlier.

He's a colleague. He...he treated your hand.

When I came here last year, they wouldn't let me take you home.

We spent every Christmas together, right from when you were born.

Except the last one.

So, you want Sarah...

Want me to come home for Christmas?

Yes!

I want you to wake up and find your stocking

and then come downstairs and open the rest of your presents.

I've kept them for you. All of them.

And the decorations.

I haven't taken them down.

It's all there waiting for you.

They won't stop me taking you home this time.

I know the photos got mixed up, but I do think the ones of us

could have been a bit more sympathetic.

Well, Dr Clay is not a... Well, a professional photographer.

Because a professional wouldn't put people in poses like that.

Or make a hash of the lighting.

Right.

What are those?

Er...those are the proofs.

Or, at least, they're copies of all the other pictures.

I apologise in advance for my poxy lighting,

my framing and my composition.

I don't apologise for the pictures getting mixed up with naked Wurzels.

That was nothing to do with me, that was not my fault.

But since everything else seems to be my fault

and since you all have a better idea of how you'd like to look,

then there you go, you can choose!

Let's have a look.

-Oh! That's worse!

-Yeah, they are.

Oh!

What is going on?

You bought it in the market. You were five.

With your own money. Huh!

It always had to go on the tree.

-Near the top?

-Yes, always!

And the little carriage. The one with the broken axle.

And the silver apple.

The apple? Yes, the silver apple.

We'll put them all on the tree. We'll do it together.

-Are you OK?

-Yeah.

-Right.

-What's wrong?

-What, is she...?

-Iain, this is Rob, my husband.

And, Rob, this is Iain.

Hi, Iain. We're here to help.

This was...this was Iain's daughter's room.

It IS her room.

And there's been some confusion about Sarah

and a girl called Renata.

We're good, we're all fine.

OK. Well, that's fine. OK, that's all good.

-You're going to need to come with us, Iain.

-Why?

To clear up some misunderstandings.

-What misunderstandings? I don't understand...!

-It's OK.

-I'll come with you to the car.

-Ah.

Is that OK, Iain?

Hang on.

Huh.

All right. OK, OK.

I changed those lights.

KAREN CHUCKLES AND SOBS

That was lovely, Mrs Tembe.

Although I would've preferred a glass of wine, or three.

Alcohol dehydrates you. I read about it.

It does not work well with the chemotherapy.

All the good stuff.

That's why I'm not looking forward to Christmas.

You shouldn't have your favourite things when you have chemotherapy.

It can put you off for life.

-Ah, well, the chemotherapy will not last for long.

-Mm.

A few more weeks and then it will be margarita and lobster all the way.

Not that I really like lobster. Not after the one I had in Marbella.

Or was that spider crab?

Anyway, you know what I'd really like to do?

I would like to learn to snorkel.

Well, er...maybe you should be a little less... Well, ambitious.

-You are going to be very tired after your course of treatment.

-Yeah.

Scale back. Yep. Message received.

Well, scaling back does not mean...

..we should not enjoy the finer things in life.

I thought we could do with a little pampering.

Oh, that...that's a really nice surprise.

There are lots of different colours.

And the glittery one.

I think readymade pasta might have been cleaner.

-Not as much fun, though.

-This is great!

Anything done con brio will always be better.

-How was school?

-History was good.

Oh, I was a big fan of the Hanoverians at school.

-We're doing the Cold War.

-Oh, I lived through that.

Got 90% for my assessment.

90? You slipping?

Alia likes facts.

-We could play a general knowledge game after supper.

-That sounds good.

Do you know, I wouldn't normally choose such a dark shade.

Actually, it's another thing I have read.

The nails can become a little discoloured

with the chemotherapy. A darker colour will conceal it.

You've read a lot about it.

Well, I am an irreducible researcher.

That's very touching.

-Even if I don't know what irreducible means.

-Hm!

I'm a bit worried about my hair, though.

It's always been a bit troublesome because it's quite thick,

but after chemotherapy...

Well, it is not a given that your hair will fall out.

But we both know that it is likely.

-And if it happens and you need an expert in wigs...

-Hm.

Lots of changes coming.

Yes. And you will ride those changes and be stronger for it.

"Cry God for England, Harry and St George!"

-Henry V?

-Brilliant! Alia wins!

Alia, it seems you shine at English Literature.

School says I should focus on English Language

if I want to take it forward for an A Level.

A-huh. What other subjects are you thinking of taking?

Maths and a science. They say that's a good combination

if I want to get into medical school.

You want to be a doctor?

I was going to ask Heston about it.

My pleasure, but I'd take two science subjects

if you want to get into medical school.

I really like Biology, but do you think Physics might be better if...?

I think you should pick Heston's brain in the morning.

-Thank you. Goodnight.

-Night.

-Night.

Goodnight.

Thank you.

For what?

A nice family evening.

-Was it?

-Yeah.

Bye.

DOOR CLOSES

SHE SIGHS

SHE SIGHS

I am so sorry that I cannot be with you today.

Well, there'll be plenty of opportunities.

I'm not letting you sacrifice anything else.

The offer's there if you need it.

Joe!

Dr Donoghue, I can't wake him!

KNOCK AT DOOR

Mrs Winifred Tembe.

Come in and sit down.

Thank you for coming, Mrs Tembe.