Peanut Doctors

KNOCKING

Miss Ellison?

KNOCKING

Sorry I'm a bit late.

They said to come straight in.

Yeah. You're, er, Caroline Ellison?

-It's Caz.

-All right.

Wouldn't call me Caroline unless you want me to drop this one right here.

-Please, sit down. So you normally see Theresa, don't you?

-Yes.

She's had to rush out. There's been a bit of an emergency.

Oh, is she OK?

Yeah. Burst water pipe.

So, I'm Ruhma and I'll be looking after you.

I'm just going to pull up your notes.

OK. The computer's been playing up all day.

-Have you got your hand-held notes with you?

-N...

It's all right. We're going to go old-school.

So, tell me, how many weeks are you?

I'm 38. I can't believe it.

Peanut could be here any day.

Peanut - that's a good one. I'm guessing scan picture?

Got it.

We nicknamed my boy Mr Blobby.

Word of warning, name stuck around for a long time afterwards.

Mind you, he was a bit blobby.

So do we know if Peanut is a boy or a girl?

No, I don't want to.

Surprises are good.

I'm going to give you the once-over in a minute,

but in general, everything's OK?

-Fantastic, yeah.

-Good.

I have varicose veins in some unlikely places,

but apart from that...

I've been reading up on how Peanut's growing,

you know, week by week. Fingernails and everything now!

Organs fully formed. It's amazing.

But I guess you've seen it all before.

I never tire of it. I think it's fantastic.

Every baby is different. Really special.

Is Peanut moving plenty?

Specially with the right music. This one is a proper R and B fan.

Was there anything specific you wanted to ask me?

I'm assuming you've got your birth plan nailed?

Good luck prising me off that gas and air!

PHONE RINGS

Do you need to get that?

OK. So, gas and air...

Anything else?

Any thoughts about who you might want there?

Caz?

So, I went to see my mum yesterday.

Ah. And how was that?

Well, I'm going to take charge of her money, make sure she buys food and not drink.

That's a really good move.

Yeah. It's been tough on her, and I think since Sierra left,

it's really hit home that she needs to make some changes.

Just be careful.

Yeah, but it's never too late for family.

No. Of course, Niamh's right.

Anyway, whatever happens, you know we'll support you.

Right, I better get on. I'll see you later.

Whatever it is, we can help.

We really can.

But not if we don't know what's wrong.

I can't... It's too... I don't want to say it.

Caz. Caz, look at me.

Believe it or not, I'm really old.

There's nothing that you can tell me that I've not heard before.

Is it about the baby?

They're going to take Peanut away!

OK. Hey, hey, hey!

Deep breath. That's it.

The moment my baby is born,

it's going to be taken away and put into care.

Go on.

You know, I was only 16.

I didn't even notice it at first.

Life getting darker. Blackness seeping in, more every day.

Till one day it swallowed up everything else.

And they locked me up. Doped me up.

Are you saying you were sectioned?

Oh, Caz, that must have been difficult.

They said I was suicidal

because I used to walk in the middle of the road

and cars had to swerve around me.

-Caz.

-I don't remember wanting to die.

I just didn't care either way.

So the section was to keep you safe?

Yeah. It's all so long ago now.

You know, I worked so hard to get out of that place.

Sort myself out.

Put that stuff behind me.

And now they're saying they're going to take my baby away!

Have you got a partner, or family or friends?

KNOCKING

I'll be with you in a minute!

I'm sure you've loads of people to see.

Yeah, and at the moment I'm seeing you.

You look exhausted.

Have you got a designated social worker?

Huh, her. Helen high and mighty Bourne.

-The phone call?

-Hm.

OK. Here's what we're going to do.

We're going to find an empty room for you.

-You're going to rest up for a bit.

-Yeah.

I'm going to try and swing you a cup of tea.

I have got a busy clinic,

but I'm going to try and make a few calls as and when, so bear with me.

I'm going to find out what's going on, OK?

Thank you so much, Ruhma.

You don't even know me and you're being so kind.

I'm your midwife. You and Peanut are my number one priority.

Outside work, I'm a complete nightmare.

-Hey, Jimmi, some advice?

-Hm.

It's about a patient. Mid forties. Alcoholic.

Family's really keen to get her into rehab ASAP, so where's best?

That has to be the Greenaways Recovery Centre.

There's a guy there. Ben Lyons, in charge.

Gets great results.

-You know him?

-Kind of.

We were on a course together a few years back.

You need to tell your patient to be realistic, though.

It's pretty much impossible to get into Greenaways.

Waiting list is months long. And, Ayesha?

Hm?

Is Bren really ready to quit drinking?

Otherwise it's just a waste of time.

I think so.

If she could get the right help from the right person.

No promises, but I'll see what I can do.

Thanks, Jimmi.

According to Caz, she's going to lose the baby

because of her mental health illness.

I can't believe that's the whole story.

Caz can be volatile at times.

But you're right, that's not our main concern.

She's back with her boyfriend, Luke.

He's got a history of violence. He's not been out of prison long.

A couple of weeks ago they had a row so intense

the neighbours had to call 999,

but maybe Caz didn't tell you that.

Well, being in a bad relationship doesn't make you a bad mum.

Taking the baby - there must be another way, Helen?

Caz hasn't shown up to any of her meetings -

she won't answer the door.

No decision's been made yet, but if she doesn't talk to us,

it doesn't help us help her.

Well, she's terrified, she's very upset and she's confused,

not to mention totally worn out.

There's a child involved, Sister Hanif.

We can't just stand by and do nothing.

OK. OK. What do you need Caz to do?

Get in touch. Co-operate.

I really need to talk this through with her before it's too late.

Right.

Hi.

Caz.

PHONE BLEEPS

'You have one message.

'Caz? It's Ruhma. Again.

'I know that you're scared but running away never solved anything,

'so please talk to me!'

OK in there?

Oh, Peanut, not now. Please.

PHONE RINGS

Hello?

Sister Hanif, it's Helen Bourne.

Oh, hi.

I just wanted to update you.

The police have been round to the flat.

Police? Isn't that going to make her more scared?

It's just a precaution, if they've run off together... Anyway, Caz wasn't there.

There was no sign of Luke, either.

-Right.

-If you hear from her, I need to know, straight away.

Right?

-Catherine Wyatt.

-Yes.

Hello. Do you want to come in?

Thank you.

So, how're you doing?

Caz? You in there?

Luke!

I wasn't sure if you got my message.

It's been awful.

Everything's OK. I'm here now. I got everything that you wanted.

What's going on, Caz? What's wrong?

It's a contraction.

-Do you want me to do something?

-No.

-Caz, what can I do?

I'm going to call an ambulance!

No!

No ambulances!

-But look at you!

-No ambulances.

It'll pass.

-Please, Luke! It's going off now.

-What if something happens to you?

Something has already happened. I should have told you.

What's happened, Caz?

What's happened?

They're going to take Peanut away!

What do you mean? Who?

Social workers.

No, they can't do that!

So you can't call anyone, OK?

Nobody can know I'm in labour.

Or they'll take Peanut. They'll take our little baby away.

Look at me, Caz.

Caz, look at me!

No-one's taking Peanut, OK? Not as long as I'm around.

-All right?

-OK.

KNOCKING

Come in.

Thanks for the contact - you were right about Greenaways.

Ben's great but there's a six month minimum on the waiting list.

I did everything to try and get her on. I even begged!

Sorry.

Don't be. It worked!

She's on the list.

Ah. You know this is just the beginning?

You don't say.

It could be a very long wait, and if Bren isn't ready...

-I know, I know.

-Just don't want you to waste your time or theirs.

I'm not going to sit around and wait.

I'm going to make sure she is ready!

I'll get on to local drug and alcohol services now,

-see what they've got going on.

-Ayesha?

Hm-mm?

Good luck.

Do you want anything else? I got cereal bars, your iPod.

-Everything you asked for it's all in there.

-What about the nappies?

Of course. And...look!

I can't believe Peanut is really going to be here.

We're going to be OK, aren't we, Luke?

I told you, I'm here now. I'll look after you.

Both of you.

Where are we going to go? We can't go back to your place.

They came there again this morning looking for me.

I don't know.

We can go to my mate Jason's.

He lives in Wales, middle of nowhere.

Nothing but a few sheep, and a shed. No-one will ever find us.

How will we get there, though?

Maybe they'll be watching the trains.

Caz, you're being stupid now.

I'm going to call Jason, he's going to come and pick us up.

When I say I'll sort it, it means that I'm going to sort it, right?

Yeah.

OK, well, you've got my contact details if you do. Thanks.

Thanks for nothing.

KNOCKING

Come in!

Hey, you coming to the Icon? It's special pizza day.

Reckon you could use one.

I can't. I'm snowed under. And I'm going to my mum's later.

-Got some good news to give her.

-Oh?

I only got her on the waiting list for the best rehab around!

Oh, that's fantastic!

I've got to find her something local short term. I've been at it ages.

Not much going on.

Groups like that have really suffered from the cuts.

There's got to be something.

Are the waiting lists really that long?

-You've no idea.

-Ah.

SCREAMING

Shut up - someone's going to hear you!

I can't do this!

-You are going to wreck everything.

-I can't do it!

They are going to take Peanut away and it is going to be your fault!

No!

Ssh, shhh.

SHOUTING AND CRYING

Mum?

-SLURRING:

-Eeessshhhh!

Caz?

Hello?

Are you in here?

Caz, it's Ruhma.

I've spoken to Helen.

I know what's going on with you and Luke.

Please, don't be scared.

Ruhma!

Stay right where you are. You're not coming anywhere near her.

-Luke, we can trust her.

-No-one tells me what to do.

OK. Listen, I'm a midwife, all right?

My job is to look after Caz and the baby, that's all.

I'm not a social worker.

Caz, are you OK?

Breathe through it. Don't fight it, go with it, just breathe through it.

That's it.

Listen, I need to examine her!

No way! You're all in it together, what do you do,

get your kicks taking people's kids away?

Why do you get out of here and leave us alone?

Yeah? You want me to leave?

If I leave, I've got to tell social services where you are

and they'll tell the police.

She's in advanced labour. I need to stay with her.

Think you're so smart, don't you?

Luke!

You can stay, but you're not coming any closer!

OK, that's fine.

Caz, just keep breathing. Listen, you're doing a great job.

Hello! So you're here.

Yep. Wasting my time.

Look at the state of her.

What do you expect?

What?

Turning up every once in a blue moon.

Hang on, I was here...

Last night? Yeah, and look at the results.

The results?

You give her money, she'll waste it on booze.

Any idiot knows that, Eesh!

Me, give her money? What are you on about?

Luke? I'm going to check on Caz.

I promise I'm not going to do anything.

You said she was doing great?

She is, she is, but she's under a lot of stress, and Peanut is coming early.

You want Peanut to be safe, don't you?

Luke, let her. Please!

Come here. What have we got?

We've got each other.

That's right. We don't need anything else.

I can see that you've got really great ideas about being a dad.

What are you saying?

You're protective and you want to be here, no matter what.

How hard can it be? Being a dad, being there?

Was your dad not around?

Ooh, you're good.

Luke, please!

SHE MOUTHS

Like I'd give her money!

Quite the opposite!

In fact, I'm going to be taking charge of her money,

so things like this don't keep happening.

Then how did she get the vodka?

Probably nicked it.

That's all we need.

Hang on.

40 quid in there yesterday.

Oi! I was drinking that.

Not any more, you're not.

Mum, I need to talk to you, sober.

I'll get rid of this.

Put the kettle on. I'll get her in the shower.

Just like old times.

SCREAMS

You said you wanted to be the best dad,

so let me help Caz, let me help the baby.

Get back!

They're the most important things in your life, yeah?

You don't want anything to happen to them.

Nothing's going to happen to them! You watch your mouth.

Do you want Caz to give birth on this dirty floor, in this basement under these flats?

Luke!

What's going on?

Caz? She's in transition the baby's coming.

OK, listen. Caz, listen to me. Focus, listen and breathe.

Come on.

BANGING

MAN: Police! Open up!

Better?

What do you think?

Mum, I've got some really good news for you.

This place is great.

Tried to make me go to rehab - I said no, no, no.

Mum, listen to Eesh.

I've got you on the waiting list!

But you've got to prove you want to stop.

-Cheers to that!

-Mum, please!

Caz, you're nearly there, but you need to get away from him!

You and Peanut. I can help you!

You're my ticket out of here.

Don't do this, not if you love her.

-She's going to lose that baby for ever.

-Get over here, Caz!

No, you stay put. That baby's coming.

She's lying to you!

This morning, you were so happy.

You're going to make a great mum.

If you leave now, you're going to lose everything for ever.

Caz, come on, get up!

-Up. Good girl. Good girl.

-Leave her alone!

Police!

So what are we supposed to do?

It's not what we do. It's what she does that counts.

Alcoholics have to want to quit.

And she doesn't.

I've spent all day trying to tell myself something different.

So what are we supposed to do?

Just watch her drink herself to death?

KNOCKING

Hey.

How're you doing?

The birth plan was pretty straightforward in the end.

I messed up and Peanut's gone, that's the end of it.

Yeah, pretty straightforward.

You've got a beautiful baby daughter. So, is that it?

What are you going to do?

Nothing I can do. I'm a nutcase with nowhere to live.

This isn't anything to do with your history.

Your breakdown was years ago!

No. Luke is going to jail...

Forget about Luke!

You're no good for each other and you know it.

But he's the dad!

Peanut, think about Peanut.

Think about being the best mum for her.

Whatever that might mean.

Nobody... Nobody is going to listen to me. Not after today.

You have got a lot of fight in you. So use it!

How can I?

This might be your last chance.

Stop feeling sorry for yourself and start fighting for that baby.

I'll be back in a minute.

So?

It's going to be a long road for Caz. Even more now.

Look, if there's anything that I can do...

She's a good kid, deep down.

She's going to be monitored to make sure

she's coping all right,

but we're going all out to find them a place somewhere.

It's not easy, though. Cutbacks.

Them?

Luke was our biggest concern.

If she can keep him out of the picture...

Is that...?

Yeah. Why don't you take her to her mum, bring her up to speed?

-But early days, remember, yeah?

-Yeah. Thank you.

Let her sleep it off.

Till the next time.

Debs, we're in this together.

I'm going to help any way I can.

I'll come round, clean up, make sure she eats,

sort her money out.

She's never going to stop, is she?

Maybe. Maybe not.

But whatever happens, I'll be here.

Promise?

Promise.

Yes, Mum, I know. 6:00 am.

Tomorrow?

It's ideal for Tuesday's race as we can ratch it as high as we like

while remaining stationary.

You've been so grumpy lately.

I'm just tired.

How about we make it a bit more exciting?

You beat me to a grand by the end of the day

and I will sponsor you £200.

Raise you 100.

300 it is.