In Dark Corners Doctors

Oh, we only have two volunteers.

Really?

Oh, this is very disappointing.

Well, I'm sure the others will sign up eventually.

But this has been here for a week.

Why don't I help you with the summer fayre?

I can get people signed up.

-Would you?

-Hm.

-That would be wonderful. Thank you, Dr Clay.

SHE SIGHS

HE SIGHS

Stuffed with almonds or garlic?

You back for lunch?

Yeah, I took the rest of the day off. I swapped patients with Al.

-Why?

-So I could spend the afternoon with you.

Oh. Lovely.

-You did say you didn't have any plans.

-No.

But I was having a duvet day.

You know, pottering around, watching daytime telly.

Which is why I thought, "Lunch, and then we can get down to it."

-Get down to what?

-Deep-cleaning the house.

Is that your idea of an afternoon off?

I was thinking of Monday, getting ready to welcome in Ramadan.

SHE SIGHS

Now, I want you to stop worrying about everybody else.

Concentrate on getting yourself better.

I want to see you back doing the foxtrot. OK?

Thank you, Dr Granger. Thank you.

'Hello, Mill Health Centre. How may I help you?'

Valerie, it's Daniel. Yeah, listen, it's probably nothing

but I've just seen Mrs Clancy on Spencer Road...

-Oh, how is she?

-Yeah, she's fine.

She's just a little worried about a neighbour. Mr Redman?

Redman.

TYPEWRITER KEYS CLICKING

Yes, yep, he's one of ours.

Listed as a vulnerable patient.

And there's a note asking for a doctor to check on him.

Ah. OK, I'm a bit busy now, but...

You haven't got any more house calls and it isn't lunchtime yet

and you are right outside his door, so...

OK, thank you, Valerie.

-Ideal situation, don't you think?

-Yeah.

No. Those are real and those are fake. How can't you tell?

Well, they all look pretty good to me.

The silicone implant.

That's good science abused in the name of vanity.

-Just the people I was looking for.

-Whatever it is, the answer is no.

You owe me, Haskey. Especially after the foot clinic yesterday.

-Good point.

-Mrs Tembe needs our help. She's snowed under.

-OK, how can we help?

-If someone could take on the survey analysis...

-Yeah, I'll do that. It'll take me ten seconds.

-Thank you, Al.

The real problem is that Valerie and I are the only ones

who put our names down for that.

Come on! We do enough without having to give up our spare time as well.

It would be more interesting if there was a liquor licence.

-Yeah, we've got one.

-What? Why didn't you say?

I see it now - a pop-up tavern. "Mr A Haskey" on the tent flap.

I will serve the finest of ales.

Mrs Tembe wants summer punch.

I'm really sorry, Jimmi. But I've got a mate coming that weekend.

I haven't seen him for ages and we've got loads of stuff booked, so, sorry, can't do it.

What's summer punch when it's at home?

Oh! Mr Redman?

Hello. It's Dr Granger, from the Mill Health Centre.

Um, we're concerned about you.

I can't leave until I know you're OK.

DOOR UNLOCKED

Hi. I'm looking for Jeffrey Redman. Does he still live here?

Why?

Are you a relative?

-Lucy. Daughter.

-OK.

I'm Dr Granger, your father's doctor.

Um, I was wondering if I could have a word?

Not here.

OK. Do you know when he'll be back?

Rough idea?

What happened there?

Accident.

You might want to get that seen at a hospital.

No hospital.

OK. Well, I can have a look at it if you like.

You just... You don't want to get that infected.

DOOR CHAIN RATTLES

Great, thank you.

-Scourer.

-Scourer.

-Cloth.

-Cloth.

-Rubber gloves.

-Rubber glove...

Don't you clean like this every year?

No. Me mum used to.

From the attic to the basement. I always got roped in.

House used to smell of bleach and polish for weeks.

Welcoming the holy month with spiritual and physical cleansing.

I keep my house tidy all year long.

I don't need to do crazy cleaning once a year.

Don't you make an extra effort?

What? I've been through the wardrobe.

I've donated my clothes to charity. I do voluntary work, maybe...

Why am I even defending myself? You're not even a Muslim!

Yes, but I only want to embrace your culture.

By cleaning?

We did try and ring.

-Oh, it hasn't worked for ages.

-Ah.

Land lines are so last century.

Er, living room?

Shall we?

HE SNIFFS

OK, your hand.

I'll be gentle.

OK.

Just loosen this.

OK, that's nice and clean. Not too deep.

You won't need stitches on that. I'll just... I'll go and get my bag.

We've got a first aid kit.

Well, it's just in the car, so...

-No. Wait here.

-OK.

Candles.

Lavender.

Very fragrant. So...

Let's have a look, Let's see what you've got.

OK. Surgical spirit. Dressings.

Yep, this should do the job.

I could do with a bit more light. Could you turn the switch on?

Not working.

-What, the bulb?

-The electricity.

Oh. Right. How long?

Weeks? Months? It just stopped working after the gas went off.

Really? Did you contact your supplier?

Daddy handles things like that. Besides, I like candles.

Yeah. Um, how do you... How do you cook?

Plenty of fuel for the Aga.

Right, OK. Perhaps we could open a curtain, then.

Maybe get a bit of light and some fresh air?

No.

You don't like fresh air? What?

I don't like out there.

Oh.

What's your name?

Er, Daniel Granger.

Dr Daniel Granger.

Daniel.

Dan-iel.

Daniel Granger.

Yeah. That's...

That's me. Shall we have a look at your finger?

-SHE SIGHS

-Hey.

You missed a bit.

What time are you expecting your father back?

He had to go away. For work. London.

Oh. Will he be long?

Do you like potpourri?

It's OK.

Cutting roses. That's how I hurt myself.

Ah. It's so nice to meet a young person

who isn't glued to a smartphone.

Smartphone?

Yeah. Gaming apps,

photo sharing, all sorts.

Get this...baby on.

Yeah, um, so you've just got to tap any one of those.

-Thank you.

-There we go, a copy for each of you.

-MRS TEMBE:

-Thank you, Dr Haskey.

-As you can see,

overall, satisfaction rates were consistently high across the board.

83% had a satisfactory interaction with the reception staff.

There is still 17% room for improvement.

-Who got the highest score?

-It is not a popularity contest.

But it would still be interesting to find out.

The survey doesn't distinguish between members of staff.

Although satisfaction levels did go up on Tuesday.

Well, they would, wouldn't they? That was the day Sid was on fire.

Didn't take a break, on time for every appointment.

-It can't have been down to just me.

-Course it was.

They're always asking for you, the patients.

It's, you know, that puppy dog charm.

They all want to tickle his belly.

Personally speaking, I didn't need no survey to tell me

that I am equally loved and loathed by all my patients,

which is exactly how it should be.

Well, thank you for this, Dr Haskey.

While there is still room for improvement -

waiting times, and car parking -

but 76% of our patients

are very satisfied with the service here. So, please,

keep up the good work.

Now, on to the job of the summer fayre.

Yeah. That's under control.

Ah. I knew that I could count on you, Dr Clay.

Sid.

Summer fayre.

I'm sorry, Jimmi, but I haven't seen my mate for ages.

-Bring him along.

-I can't. We've booked paintballing

and he's really keen. I'm sorry!

-I...

-You're going about this the wrong way.

-What do you suggest?

-Blackmail.

Didn't hurt, did it?

Like you promised.

When was the last time you had a tetanus?

What?

Tetanus? An injection you have to...

Which GP practice are you registered with?

When was the last time you saw a doctor?

A man came when I had chickenpox.

How long ago was that?

Hm, I would have been...

seven or eight.

So you've never seen a GP?

Er, or had to go to a hospital?

No.

Wow, you don't like doctors, do you?

Why go out there? I'm safe here.

Lucy, when was the last time... um, you left the house?

I don't know.

Is it months?

Years?

How many?

OK. What was the last film

you saw in the cinema?

Um...

that one with the mammoth and the funny squirrel thing.

Ice Age?

Yes, of course. Um, OK...

-Which one?

-There's been more than one?

Yeah. So what would have been 2002.

Yes. That would be about right.

Right.

Right, that's the bedrooms done.

And dusted. Oh!

I need a little pick-me-up before we do the bathrooms.

You have earned your Lapsang.

Oh, not for me, thanks.

Are you coming down with something?

I'm trying to wean myself off caffeine before next week.

As you know, withdrawal can be worse than fasting.

Are you giving up your precious tea for me?

A glass of water will suffice, thank you.

-Have you had any help?

-With what?

-With not being able to go out.

-I don't want to go out.

-Sugar?

-Er, no.

Thanks.

Is that your mum?

But she's not around?

Daddy doesn't like to talk about it.

About what?

She looks like you.

She wasn't much older than I am now when...

When what?

She was always there, waiting at the school gates.

And then one day something happened?

W-W-We were walking home...

crossing the road...

The man was green but the van was going too fast.

One minute she was holding my hand, and the next minute...

Somebody screamed.

She was still breathing, but there was a lot of blood.

I held her hand till the ambulance came.

But it was too late.

I'm so sorry.

Is that when you started to have problems leaving the house?

Daddy tried to get me to go to school,

but I couldn't cross the road.

So...did your dad home-school you?

I did my exercises between cleaning the house and getting tea ready.

Don't you want to get a job? Travel?

I love my home. Why would I want to leave it?

What about friends?

I have everything I want here.

Hm, that is such a shame.

What's that?

Hm. The summer fayre. Or summer flop as they're going to call it.

You don't think it's going to work?

How can it? I've volunteered to run the tombola.

-That's going to be a disaster.

-Why are you saying that?

It's a tombola. You know, it's the heart of any fayre.

In the right hands, it's a crowd-pleaser, a real money-spinner.

I haven't got a clue where to start.

Well, you know, it's not an easy stall to run.

You can't just go out and buy a load of cheap booze

and expect to make your money back on ticket sales.

No, no, you cannot do that,

and really it needs someone with a common touch.

Oh, do you know anybody round here with a "common touch"?

No, I don't think I do, you know. Um, but someone

who is used to facing the public on a daily basis with

confidence and with warmth...

You mean, like a doctor?

Ah, hm, well...

Jimmi!

I will sign up to shut you up.

Thank you, Karen.

Yeah, yeah.

Who knew you were such a silver-tongued devil?

Well, it worked, didn't it? And now what is going to work on you?

Oh, there is nothing like a deep clean.

Hm. It doesn't mean I want to do it every week.

What are we going to do with the rest of the day?

Well, kids aren't back till four,

and we've got a freshly made bed upstairs.

Yes, but if we have a nap now, we won't sleep later.

-SHE CLEARS HER THROAT

-Oh. Yes.

Of course. Why not? Especially as we're going to have to

-restrain ourselves from next Monday.

-Why?

Renouncing worldly pleasures.

You ninny!

Why? Is there some nuance that I've misunderstood?

It's not a nuance. The restrictions only apply

until the sun goes down.

After that, everything is allowed.

-Everything?

-Everything.

Oh, good, because that was one nuance I wasn't looking forward to.

Mind you, if we are going by the letter of the Koran,

we shouldn't even be fornicating outside of wedlock.

Yes, but as you said yourself, I'm not a Muslim.

Come and get me.

'Ah, there's no Lucy Redman on our files.'

Any idea what Mr Redman does for a living?

'Supermarket warehouse assistant.'

So, not the kind of job you need to go away for?

Do you think he's abandoned her? How awful.

'I mean, she's not a child,'

but whether she can look after herself or not, I don't know.

Mrs Tembe phoned for you earlier. When can I say you'll be back?

Cos you do have drop-ins at four.

I'm not leaving here until I get to the bottom of what's going on.

-Oh, OK, got to go.

-'Bye.'

-Bye.

-So, I wanted to ask about your dad.

-Won't you sit down?

Er, yeah, sure.

Um, so..I'm confused.

What... Oh, what's this?

Daddy's favourite.

Oh...

-Um...

-I carved the cucumber myself.

Well, that's lovely, but I'm just not hungry.

I...I wanted to ask, if you don't go outside,

how are you managing to feed yourself?

Daddy always keeps the pantry well stocked with tins.

Yeah. But you can't go on with your gas and electricity down.

At least let me help get you reconnected?

Daddy will fix it.

Right, but you're not sure when he's coming back.

-He won't let me down.

-No, of course he won't.

But I'm here now, so please let me help you?

Good. OK.

Um...

Whoa! Whoa-whoa! What are you doing?

Just making you more comfortable.

Well...

Oh...

Don't waste your breath, Jimmi.

Come on, hear me out.

Tell you what, I'll give you till the end of this rollie.

It's one afternoon of your time.

An afternoon I could happily fill with any number of activities.

So I can't appeal to your sense of community spirit?

HE LAUGHS

Um, two puffs.

-I've got two words for you.

-One puff.

Designated driver.

-I'm listening.

-You know all those country pubs you want to visit?

Yeah. The Plough at Feckenham. The Fox and Badger real ale festival.

Right. So for one whole weekend

you can count myself as your personal taxi service.

You can visit as many pubs, drink as much beer as you like.

-You'll take me anywhere?

-Within a 30-mile radius.

-40.

-Done.

-Where do I sign?

-Just pick your stall.

I am going to go with the tailless donkey.

Good choice. Nice doing business with you, Al.

Heston. It's Jimmi.

Urgent? No. It's not urgent. I just needed a chat with you

about the summer fayre.

What, you're happy to do anything? OK.

Heston, are you OK, mate?

Because your breathing sounds really laboured.

Is that Ruhma?

Oh! Sorry, listen, why didn't you just tell me I was interrupting?

Um, no. Sorry, listen, you just get back to it. On it. To it. With it.

Oh. Sorry. Bye.

I'm going to have to get back to work.

But I will put you in contact with the people who can help you.

-What else do you like to eat?

-Sorry?

That was the last can of luncheon meat,

but there's still corned beef, pilchards...

Tell me what time you'll be back and I'll have dinner waiting.

Lucy, I have my own home to go to.

But you don't need to go back there now.

I'm sure Daddy's things will fit you.

Wait. No. I think you've got the wrong end of the stick.

-You said you'd look after me.

-I said I'd help you.

-You didn't mean it?

-I said I'd help as a doctor.

-You lied.

-You misunderstood.

What's wrong with me?

Nothing.

I must have done something very bad

and that's why everybody leaves me. You, Mummy, Daddy...

What, you're saying that your father isn't coming back?

-What do you care?

-How can I get in touch with him?

-You can't.

-It just doesn't make any sense.

The man who's looked after you all of your life

ups and leaves you with no power and a few tins of food?

-Lucy... Talk to me.

-Shhhh.

He's here, isn't he?

OK. Take me to him.

I don't... I can't! Not up there.

Lucy, now.

Please don't.

HE SIGHS

He's not been well.

Hello? Mr Redman?

We should go back down.

How long has he been ill?

I made him soup. I kept him warm.

I'm sure you did your best.

He said he didn't want to anything to eat.

Please!

HE KNOCKS AT DOOR

INSECTS BUZZ HE COUGHS

Lucy...

You've got some medicine. In your bag.

That's all he needs. Pills or something.

Why don't you tell me what happened?

And then you'll help him?

How long had he been unwell?

A long time.

And...do you know what his symptoms were?

Um, his breathing was funny.

He said his chest was tight.

One night I tucked him in as normal,

but the next morning... he wouldn't wake up.

I didn't know what to do.

Tell me he's going to be all right.

Please, Daniel.

He's been gone for some time.

No!

You can do something. You can make him wake up.

I wish I could.

But he can't be...

I'm... I'm sorry.

What am I going to do without him?

He was everything.

My daddy!

OK.

Er, er, yes.

-KNOCK AT DOOR

-I am ready.

Right. That is... that is most satisfactory.

Right, well, thank you for that. I will be in touch.

Goodbye.

Good news?

That was the estate agent with a valuation on my house.

Did it match the figure you had in mind?

It was more than I expected.

Great. That's one less thing to worry about, isn't it?

Yes. Yes, it is.

And if you would like the cherry on top of that,

then just follow me.

INDISTINCT POLICE RADIO

Exactly. Yeah. See how she's doing.

So, Zara is going to be in charge of

"guess the number of olives in a jar".

She thought that was healthier than "guess the number of sweets".

She has a valid point.

Karen's going to be doing the tombola. I'll be on the coconut shy.

What has happened to "pin the tail on the donkey"?

Al changed that to "pin the organ on the human".

Yes, well, just try to make sure that he doesn't use real organs.

-Hm!

-I see that Nurse Lee is doing face-painting,

which is appropriate.

The amount of time that young woman spends in front of the mirror, it...

I thought that Dr Vere had a previous engagement?

Yes. I... I reminded him that everyone would be disappointed

if he didn't show up, because he was everyone's favourite doctor.

Hm!

This is very impressive.

With this level of commitment

-the summer fayre will be a resounding success.

-Yeah.

And the patient satisfaction survey was positive,

you had the valuation you needed, So, panic over?

Panic? Me?

Oh, Dr Clay!

PHONE RINGS

Excuse me.

Yes, yes, this is she.

Er, right.

Yes. Yes, yes, that will be fine.

Thank you. Goodbye.

That was the estate agent.

Problem with the purchase?

No. No. Far from it.

The Richardsons, well, they are ready to move out.

-That's good, isn't it?

-No, not really.

I have not even put my own house on the market yet.

Take a few photos, stick them on the website.

But there is so much work still to be done!

The ceiling that needs painting.

There is a tile that is wobbly...

Take a breath.

I was going to do a tidy-up and...

SHE SIGHS

Stop! Stop her!

-She's got my money!

-Oi, stop! Police!

I'm playing up the student angle.

But the students are the problem!

You crossed a line saying those things in front of a suspect!

Go into the corner and have a little cry.

Emma, what are you doing here? I thought you'd finished.

Look, don't go in there.