Melting Point Doctors

What on earth...? I locked all that away!

Broke the lock, didn't she?

Oh! That was the last of my duty-free.

I think she's took all the cooking brandy, too.

I'll get the lock fixed, and I'll replace everything.

-I promise.

-Ayesha...

Look, I know she was a state at Mrs Tembe's leaving do.

But she went a whole day last week without booze.

My mum's been drinking for as long as I can remember -

stopping was never going to be easy.

I just need to get her back on track, that's all.

I'll put these in the recycling.

She has no intention of quitting.

And she knows just how to play Ayesha.

-I don't know how she copes.

-And what about you?

You shouldn't have to be dealing with this.

BREN COUGHS

Rough night?

Nothing a little hair of the dog won't sort out.

You've drunk the place dry.

You must have something?

Not much of a housekeeper, this one, is she?

And you're the perfect house guest(!)

Well, when you eventually do make it to the supermarket,

get us a bottle of vodka, will ya?

Make that two?

She's quite the charmer.

I'd better get a shift on.

I've arranged to work from home today.

The last thing I'm going to do

is to leave that woman alone to run amok.

Good morning, Mill Health Centre, how can I help?

If you could just sort out the clinic rotas when you've got a sec.

Hang on a minute, Mr Jenkins. I'm on my own!

Mrs Tembe's gone, there's no Valerie...

Obviously I'd do them myself if I could, but I've got a never-ending

conference call and the doctors need them by the end of the day.

You're a life-saver, Karen.

So sorry, Mr Jenkins. Where were we?

Yes, it is, it's 1.30 tomorrow.

OK, we look forward to seeing you, bye.

Have you seen what he's given me to do?

The rotas, on top of everything else!

Mrs Tembe had her faults but she would never off-load work like that.

I'm going to miss her.

Me and all.

Just tell him to sling his hook.

Oh, don't worry, I will.

Hey!

How was your mum after Friday night?

She must have had the hangover from hell.

-She's getting there.

-That's...

good?

Steve!

Hiya, Mrs Hollins.

What you doing here?

I need to see a doctor.

Oh, erm...

How was your weekend?

Erm, busy.

Is that why you didn't answer my messages?

No, not really.

You're annoyed. Look, what I said on Friday...

What, when you suggested I might relax and unwind by having a drink?

I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything.

It's fine, forget it.

Can I make you a drink?

What would you suggest, a double G&T,

maybe a cheeky bottle of tequila, pint of cider?

That'd really relax me.

I didn't know you'd moved.

Few weeks ago now.

I will update your record and I've put you with Dr Carter,

he's on the drop-ins.

Thanks, Mrs Hollins.

Don't call me that, you make me feel like I'm 100.

HE SNEEZES

Oh, dear, I haven't got a tissue.

How long have you been feeling like this?

Couple of weeks now.

I can't concentrate for it and my thesis is due Friday.

Why'd I ever do engineering?

I can't believe your mum's letting you burn yourself out like this.

Haven't seen her in a while.

I know Jack said you weren't getting on with your stepdad...

I just needed my own space.

Mr Parker? If you'd like to come through.

PHONE RINGS

Yeah, so as I was saying, the rotas...

Don't you think you should get that?

Yes, I should.

Well?

I can discuss the rotas, or I can answer the phone. I can't do both.

I'll do them myself.

Good morning, Mill Health Centre, how can I help you?

Alcohol intake?

Few beers at the weekend, something stronger if I'm feeling flush...

but that's about it.

Smoke?

Nope. I'm pretty clean-living, really.

I've never had a cold like this before.

If it is a cold.

I'm going to book you in with the nurse for some tests.

Do I have to? I'm sure it's just some kind of bug.

Can you just give me something to help me sleep?

Best to make sure.

Fighting talk, my man, fighting talk.

I always thought you were a white wine spritzer kind of guy.

See you later.

Is it manners to knock?

I can't find the order sheets.

Mrs Tembe always kept them at reception but they're not there.

What do you need?

Mrs T always trusted me to do my own ordering.

Well, she's not here because she got a better offer.

-Lucky her.

-Sorry?

We all miss her.

Mrs Tembe must've been something of a mother figure for you.

And why would I need one?

Sorry, I didn't mean anything by that. You needed stock?

No. I want to know what you meant by...

Forget I said anything.

E-mail me what you need and I'll see what I can do.

I'm sorry, Mrs Wilson, can you just hold?

How did it go? Did you get it sorted?

No, and I don't have time to wait around for blood tests.

-They don't take long.

-All I wanted was something to help me get my thesis finished,

-I just need to...

-Steve, if the doctor said you need blood...

I'm on a deadline, I just don't have the time.

Thanks for everything, Mrs H.

HE SNEEZES

Oh, so sorry! Mrs Wilson, where were we?

GLASS SMASHES

Just to say, I smashed that bottle of posh perfume that was

left on the edge of the bath.

The one that Chris bought me for Christmas?

Bit of a daft place to leave it, if you ask me.

Still, there's a stall on the market,

does quite decent rip-offs - I'll get you some.

No, thank you.

Borrowed your dressing gown as well, and nabbed a bit of your face mask.

Hope you don't mind.

It's antiageing, not really my skin type.

But I had to use something. I was so dehydrated.

Well, if you hadn't had a litre of vodka...

You know I can't talk really talk to you about a patient.

I know, but I've known Steve since he was a kid.

His parents split up a while back.

I think he's fallen out with his mum.

Shame he didn't go for his blood tests.

He looked awful.

He didn't look like that at Christmas

when he was hanging around with Jack.

He seemed...absent.

His concentration was all over the place.

You think it's drugs?

I'm not necessarily saying that.

No, it's just not Steve.

You saw the state of him.

Are you on your own today?

Yeah.

Who's manning the fort?

I noticed you seemed hungry earlier so I thought I'd...

What's the brown stuff?

Oh, it's an olive tapenade.

Got any salad cream?

Mmm, better.

Bren, Ayesha was very upset this morning.

Yeah?

Yeah. Your...behaviour on Friday...

I got a bit lairy, so what? Everyone had a few.

It was more than just a few, wasn't it?

And you have been drinking all weekend!

How has this got anything to do with you?

Ayesha's my friend

and I just don't want to see her get hurt.

Snooty cow, sitting there, judging me.

Bren, please...

My daughter's none of your business.

I know that things have been... difficult for you.

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

With your shiny hair and your posh blouse

and your minging olive stuff!

All right, attack me all you want.

But please, don't drag Ayesha down with you.

And where's your boy, eh?

Couldn't get far enough away from you, could he?

Don't go telling me about my daughter.

You're hardly mother of the year yourself!

Looks nice.

What is it?

Stuffed paratha.

Looks delicious.

I wonder how Mrs Tembe's getting on.

My mate's the practice nurse at King's Green,

she says she's a big hit already.

They're lucky to have her. She was a great asset.

And a good friend.

We once spent an evening under the stars.

Yeah?

She helped me change the lens on my telescope.

Is that a euphemism?

It gave me a wonderful perspective on the Pleiades...

..and on so many things.

I'm going to miss her.

Yeah, the place is really different without her.

She's a big loss.

It's a shame she felt she had to go.

I can't stop thinking about Steve.

-Is that the guy who swerved the bloods?

-Mm-hm.

I mean, Heston thinks he's a junkie.

But I just saw him at Christmas and he was fine.

He seemed all right. Maybe he was covering, though.

I would've thought I'd have noticed something.

Just to let you know, I've done the rotas.

Oh, great.

Didn't take me long at all.

Well, that bodes well for the future then, doesn't it?

I've e-mailed you some spreadsheets.

Valerie made a start on them, didn't quite get them finished.

Be great if you could get them updated.

No rush, as long as they're done by the end of the day.

Anthony, erm, I'd love to help but something urgent has come up

-and it's my lunch.

-But...

I'm really sorry.

What?

Oh! It's a bit whiffy.

Is it? Open a window if you like.

Can't remember the last time I had a chocolate eclair.

Hey, no skipping to the treats. Ham and pickle first.

I haven't really got time for lunch.

Everybody's got to eat.

You're doing me a favour - I couldn't wait to get away.

My new boss is a bit of a twonk.

Anyway, we didn't catch up over Christmas, did we?

Maybe just as well, state me and Jack were in. Carnage!

"We've drunk seven pints so now we need some shots."

Perfect Jack logic.

You looked after him.

If holding the bowl while he puked his guts up is "looking after"...

You know what I mean. You're, erm, the sensible one.

Sensible? Who wants to be sensible? Not me.

I've just been so busy with my thesis

and then I started feeling ill, I let the cleaning slip a bit.

Hm.

-I can put the heating on.

-No, I'm fine. I'll, erm...

I could, erm... Maybe not.

I can't afford it anyway.

I've been pretty skint since I moved in.

-You should talk to your mum.

-No!

I'm sorry, I... It's just, I don't want to ask her for anything.

Why don't I make us some tea to go with this lot?

It's just the luck of the draw, I'm afraid.

Four consecutive family planning clinics isn't luck!

I did ask Karen to sort it out but...

So Karen's responsible?!

Heston, obviously I would change things if I could.

The needs of my doctors always come first.

But I can't start changing things now.

Not without causing major disruption to the others.

How can changing a few clinics be a major disruption?

I have to think about what's best for the practice as a whole.

It'd be a total upheaval to start changing all the rotas now.

On this occasion it is beyond my control,

but you have my personal assurance that it will not happen again.

I really am so very sorry.

What are you doing?

-Nothing.

-You were snooping.

No, no, no, the cushion...

I'm not stupid, Mrs Hollins.

It's just...

You just look so unwell.

That's why I came to the doctor's.

I know, but if there's anything else...

Sorry, I'm not with you.

It's you leaving home, this...place.

You're not sleeping and you've let yourself go a bit.

And if there was something you couldn't tell your mum...

Is it drugs?

What?

I'd like you to go now.

-Steve...

-Please, Mrs Hollins? Just go.

I'm sorry.

HE COUGHS

What? No, everything's fine, Ayesha.

She probably didn't hear it.

Yes, yes, of course.

Of course I'll get her to call you.

OK, bye.

Oh!

PHONE RINGS OUTSIDE

Oh!

You're back. Did you manage to make a start on those spreadsheets?

Actually, I'm still on my break

and to be honest, I'm not feeling terribly well.

Well, I'm sorry to hear that but I would appreciate it

if you managed to get at least some of them done.

If you start now, you've got an hour before we open.

On second thoughts, perhaps wait till you're feeling a bit better.

Best not to overdo it.

We're already two receptionists down,

the last thing I need is you calling in sick.

Why did you put me on the family planning rota for

four consecutive weeks?

-I didn't.

-Well, you did the rotas.

-No, I didn't.

-Anthony said you did.

Well, I didn't!

If you cast your mind back, I didn't actually say that Karen did them.

I said they'd already been done

-and there wasn't time to change them on this occasion.

-Right.

I'll make sure you get a better range of clinics next time, OK?

You really should do something about that cold.

I'm sure he said you did.

That's so I'd cop for the blame.

He's a right one, that one.

SHE SNIFFS

You should see a doctor.

I'll make you a cup of tea.

It's only come on since I went round to Steve's.

-Patient Steve?

-Mm.

No wonder he's poorly, he lives in a right dump, the poor thing.

I just wish he'd make it up with his mum and go back home.

Nobody should live like that.

It was damp and cold and mouldy.

Mouldy?

Yeah. Disgusting.

Grey-green furry stuff climbing up the walls...

Oh, didn't know that.

Oh, that's it! Toxic black mould.

That sounds scary.

-Are you sure that's what you saw in Steve's flat?

-Yeah.

Right, well, that gets in the air, any food that's lying around.

I told you his place was minging.

Bits of rotten-looking food everywhere.

That'll explain the redness around his mouth and why you're sneezing.

What?

I touched it and I didn't wash my hands after.

I wouldn't worry. I don't think you were exposed long enough.

But Steve's been living in that place for ages.

He needs to get tested as soon as possible.

What will happen to him?

It will seriously compromise his immune system...or worse.

Oh! Leave me, get your hands off me.

I'm all right! I just want to sleep.

Get off! Steal my ruddy shoes, would ya?

I'll get the coppers on you.

SHE SNORES

Hi, Steve, it's Karen again.

I know you're annoyed but, please, would you call me back?

It's really, really important.

If anyone's looking for me, I've had to leave a bit early.

Parents' evening.

Anthony, there's been a bit of an emergency with one of the patients.

I've been trying to contact him but he's not picking up. I think I should go...

We really shouldn't be leaving the reception unmanned.

I could do it. I could cover. I'm only doing paperwork.

It's just answering the phone and dealing with patients, isn't it?

And it's only an hour before closing.

There's a patient here right now - we need to think about how it

looks to them. They want your reassuring presence, Karen.

Any issues, urgent issues, I'm on my mobile.

Steve? It's me, Karen, can you let me in?

Hey, listen? I think I know what's making you poorly...

Please, you've got to get out of that flat.

It's going to make you properly sick.

So that's 11 o'clock on Thursday, Mrs Davies.

OK, thank you. Bye.

What are you doing here?

Covering for Karen. Calmly and quite competently, I might add.

So I can see. Who's going to lock up?

-Don't tell He Who Must Be Obeyed.

-I wouldn't tell that man anything.

-PHONE RINGS

-Ruhma...

Hello, Mill Health Centre, can I help you?

Can I just take your name, please?

OK, how do you spell that?

This, see?

It's nothing, just a bit of damp.

No, it's not, it's mould and it's toxic.

-Wh...what?

-It's in the air that you're breathing.

It's on the food that you eat.

You're going to need tests to confirm it,

but I reckon that this is making you feel like this.

But how would you know?

HE COUGHS

Heston, come on.

Yeah, I'm at Steve's and he's really poorly, he's not...

Erm, he's coughing blood. I'm going to call an ambulance.

Everything OK?

A man I saw earlier has been taken to hospital.

The one Karen knows?

Yeah, I thought I'd pop over.

And since you ask, everything is not OK.

I apologised this morning about the party and I really shouldn't have.

-Right.

-Maybe I shouldn't have told you to have a drink.

It wasn't just that. You're being too touchy-feely.

I like touching you. I'm an affectionate person.

-What's wrong with that?

-Heston, I don't want...

Ruhma, I think the world of you but if you don't feel the same way...

I'm not saying that, I...

Hey. How are you?

Felt better.

About earlier, I'm really sorry, I...

Hey. No need to apologise.

The way I spoke to you.

If anybody should be apologising, it's me for thinking you were...

And you were bang on, I can't resist a rummage.

Good job for me.

It could have been really serious, you know.

So, I know what you said, but I called your mum.

-Oh!

-You're going to need looking after.

What did she say?

That she really missed you

and they're looking forward to having you home.

SHE MOANS

What are you doing?!

WHAT are you doing?!

Whoops!

She's...

She's just...

She's just peed on the rug!

-She's peed on the rug!

-What?

-Mum!

-OK, we're going to get this rug up. Let's go.

How did she get the money for the booze?

She stole it from my bloody purse!

Emma, I'm so sorry, I...

She moves in here, trashes the place, steals from me...

I'll watch her 24/7.

I don't care what you do, but I have had enough.

-Out!

-Please don't say that.

Get her...

out of my house...now.

She's got nowhere else to go.

Not my problem.

Oh, you look...well.

-I look terrible, is that what everyone's saying?

-No!

I didn't... No!

Your boyfriend's better off dead than being stuck with you!

Now, Mum!

There is going to be an inquiry.

I could lose my funding.

If and when Nurse Lee calls in, put her through to me.

Is there a problem?

I've had two calls from patients saying she hasn't shown up.