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GIRL'S VOICE: Amber?

Amber?

CRASH AND SHRIEK

Amber?

Get up.

I heard a crash.

What on earth...? She fainted.

Careful... All right! Get off me, Dad!

Right, Mrs Irving, I will see you next week. OK?

Hey. How you doing? Good thanks. You? Yeah.

Well, she's definitely back to normal.

D'you reckon?

What do YOU think? You did the survey with her last week.

About what? Doesn't matter.

Excuse me.

Ooh...

"A dynamic young team requires an energetic addition

"with a cheerful outgoing personality."

I've got that, haven't I?

A dynamic what?

"Young team."

Well, it's all relative, isn't it?

You think I'm too old. I didn't say...

Oh, well. Here's another one. "Exciting opportunity,

"must have excellent customer service skills." Bingo.

What's the exciting opportunity?

Oh, I've always wanted to do that.

"The emergency exits are here, here and here."

I'm going to apply.

An air hostess? Why not?

Oh, Miss Horwich. Would you like to come through?

When did I get too old for exciting opportunities?

Good morning, how can I help?

It's my daughter. We don't have an appointment, I'm afraid.

Oh, that's fine. What's the name? Amber.

Amber Wallingden.

She blacked out this morning.

Oh, dear. I can get you in with Dr Carter if you don't mind waiting.

Good. Good. Er... And is Dr Carter...?

That was Dr Carter just then. Very experienced.

The one with the bow tie?

Yes, he's very well presented, isn't he?

Well, if you'd like to take a seat.

Zara...

What?!

Look, I don't want to argue,

but you're taking Joe out of playgroup later?

Yes, I am. Since it's my only free afternoon before he starts school.

So I'd appreciate it if you didn't broadcast it to your mother.

Here we go again. I'm sorry?

Joe loves having his grandma around. Can't you even do it for HIM?

After what happened on "Grandma Day" when she deliberately baited me?

OK. You...

(You are so...)

So WHAT, Daniel?

Forget it.

Urrrgh!

And breathe. SHE CLEARS HER THROAT

What do they want from me?

Joe starts school in a couple of days. Is it too much to ask

not to have Marion breathing down my neck and plying him with sugar...

Families, eh?

Designed to infuriate.

Certainly have that effect.

In the end, though...

What?

Would we wish them away? I mean, I still...

What are you saying...? Why does everybody take Marion's side?!

I'm saying...do we appreciate what we've got?

It's a huge milestone for you, isn't it? Joe starting school.

Yes. It is.

Well, I'll bet Marion still remembers

leaving Daniel at the school gates.

SHE SIGHS

VALERIE: So that's 10:20 tomorrow morning.

Yep. OK, bye.

Dr Carter won't be long now.

Right. Good. Er...

I was wondering if perhaps there were any, erm...

Yes?

..female doctors that we might... Possibly younger.

No offence meant towards, er...Dr Carter.

It's the first time Amber's had an episode like this -

number of causes possible... Really sorry,

but we haven't got any female doctors available this morning.

Right. No. But Dr Carter is actually quite down with the youth.

He is? Yeah, he's all...Snapchat and Zoella these days.

Ha...

He will be terribly sensitive.

Of course. Yes. Er...

No, I just thought that if it were, erm...

(..er, delicate - you know, women's troubles or something of that...)

I'm not deaf.

And I'm not pregnant - if that's what you're on about.

I wasn't for a moment suggesting...

DOOR OPENS

Amber Wallingden?

She, er...blacked out earlier.

Oh, I see. Only for a second.

And those headaches...

I can speak for myself. Of course...

Get back to your study. I'll get the bus home.

Amber... If you'd like to come through...?

Do you want me to...?

No. Right.

Kids. SHE LAUGHS INEFFECTUALLY

Riding her pink trike one minute ...

Drinking cider in the park the next(!)

Ooh - not that your daughter... I mean...

I don't have any kids myself, but...I remember.

Snowballs were my tipple!

But your daughter's a lot more sensible, I'm sure.

You didn't bang your head?

No.

And this is the first time you've had a blackout?

Can you remember what you were doing beforehand?

Not really, I'm afraid.

I think you said you were upstairs with a friend.

Yes.

OK. Erm...your eyes are quite bloodshot,

so how are you feeling generally?

Fine.

Maybe a bit tired.

Any particular reason for that?

Mm-hm. Do you smoke?

Nope.

Drink alcohol?

Don't really like it.

How about drugs?

I'm not an idiot.

That's good. OK, you're 15, I think you're moving into Year Ten.

A lot of students are getting very anxious about GCSEs, and...?

Always had good grades.

Excellent.

And your father mentioned headaches...

He doesn't know anything.

I get heavy periods.

Maybe I'm anaemic.

We can certainly test for that. MOBILE BEEPS

What were you saying?

Oh - periods, yep.

Fire away, Doctor.

I'll take on the vaccination claim returns

if you can document the cervical cytology DNAs.

If we can take all that away from her without offending.

Yeah. I'll have a word with her

and say that we've developed some capacity,

stress the importance of delegation.

We've got to stop her from burning herself out.

Exactly. Well, at least Emma's looking better now.

Yeah. Best keep an eye on her, too. Softly softly, I think.

What, you mean like Zara's little chat?

What, you think she went in too hard?

She's had a lot on her plate.

I'll have a word with Mrs Tembe later.

Thanks for talking that through.

So Joe starts school soon?

Er... Yeah. Thursday.

Big day.

First day going through those gates. How's he doing with that?

Yeah, he's fine. It's just us -

you know, with the development stuff,

we worry he's not going to keep up, you know?

I still remember MY first day through the gates.

Oh, well, they don't make you sit and recite your times tables any more, do they?

Next you'll be telling me they don't chalk algebra on slate, either.

Joe's going to be in the sandpit

dressed like a pirate, playing all day - He's going to love it.

Yeah, you're right. Yeah. Thank you.

It's a walk-in service at St Phil's, and the times are all here.

OK. In the meantime,

make sure you eat properly and get plenty of sleep.

Right.

Now, Amber, erm... How are things at home?

SHARPLY: Fine.

I noticed with your dad -

I mean, it's perfectly normal that there are tensions

between teenagers and their parents...

Do you think?

How do you get on with your mum?

She works away a lot.

Oh. That must be very...

MOBILE RINGS Sorry - I need to get this.

Hi, Bex.

Yeah. I'm just at the doc's now.

Fine. Probably anaemia.

SHE GIGGLES

Right here.

No. Don't worry about that. See you.

Sorry. Of course, we don't know for sure that anaemia IS the cause.

Sure. Are we done then?

Yes, but you must come back. Absolutely.

Don't forget your phone...

Thanks so much.

Bye, Doctor.

Amber...?

DOOR SHUTS

Hey. Thanks for getting those referrals through so promptly.

No problem. Oh - and Emma, I...

I know that Zara carried out the Baby Nicolas review last week.

And I hope she didn't...

It's just that I know that she's not the most erm...sensitive.

Well...she did try.

Actually I found her intervention very useful.

Great.

Yes. On reflection I think it's just what was needed.

It was calm, evidential and no-nonsense.

OK. So...do you feel better?

Well - there's no point moping, is there? No.

Mrs Tembe mentioned some counselling.

Yeah... Daniel, really, there's no need.

It's been an unpleasant experience,

but I've processed it and erm...I'd like to move on.

All I'm saying is

are you confident that German and French are the right combination?

Yeah.

Always thought Spanish would be more your thing.

Not really.

Well - German should see you right at A level, er...

if you're still considering Bath.

And er...the placements there certainly look interesting.

And you've got Manchester to fall back on, of course.

HE CLEARS HIS THROAT Amber. Er...

You-You're sure you're...?

I'll just be...

Yeah.

Oh - Dr Carter, I typed up that report.

Oh, already? Thank you, Valerie.

See, I do have my uses.

Might even miss me when I'm gone. Mm-hm?

Might dawn on you how much I do around here.

Sorry?

You see - that's my point exactly,

nobody appreciates what I've got to offer.

We value you, of course we do.

Name one thing. What?

Name one thing you value about me.

Is this about the air hostess thing? It's just, I was thinking...

You've got nothing, have you? Nonsense! You are...

..extremely enthusiastic and hard-working, for starters.

That's exactly what it said on my school report.

There you go, then. Well, it turns out they were talking about Sonya who sat three rows back.

I was in that class for four years, the teacher never noticed me at all.

I find that very hard to believe. Really?

Anything else out there?

Well, there's receptionist at an accountant's. Good T, but...

Oh, it's a bit drab for me, though. Well, that's an excellent company

and I think you'll bring a certain...vibrancy with you.

Do you think so? And we'll be sorry to lose you.

Thank you, Heston.

Valerie - did you notice anything strange about Amber Wallingden?

Ooh - is this a test? Observational skills? No, not really...

Well, you're the teenage expert these days.

Yes. Er, Mr Harris, would you like to go through?

PHONE RINGS

SHE GRUNTS IN MILD EXASPERATION

Zara?

Just wanted to say, I hope you have a nice afternoon with Joe.

If you're trying to make me feel guilty, it's not going to work.

That's not what I meant.

SHE SIGHS

Marion, hi. I think I missed a call from you...?

Bex? It's Amber. Where are you?

You'd better be on your way. Call me!

SHE PANTS

Oh, isn't Mummy kind to let Grandma tag along?

Because you've only got the one, haven't you, Joe?

Only the one Grandma.

SHE COOS OVER HIM

Oh, I think you're getting a little bit too big for swing...

Here we go. One...two...

BOTH: ..three! Woo-hoo!

But not on anything too high, Joe. Seriously...

Oh, as if you never worried about Daniel.

Of course. But children need to play.

You've got to let go SOMETIME, Zara.

Why are you here? I'm sorry?

Why do you persist in hanging around,

if you blatantly disapprove of every single aspect of my parenting?

Oh... Clever boy!

SHE CHUCKLES

Shall we sit down?

Well...this is relaxing.

Isn't it just?

Did Daniel make you invite me today?

Sort of.

No, Joe, darling. Slow down!

Hard to let go. I do remember.

Do you?

I might have overindulged my baby.

When his father died,

I tried to make it up to Daniel somehow.

Maybe it was spoiling.

Maybe that's the reason for his wild patches.

You were a single mother.

A constant hamster wheel of mothering and working

and trying to make it all...

Perhaps I...am too tough on Joe.

I have thought that. Sometimes.

Oh, but look at him...

Look...about what I said before...

It's not that.

Zara...

What is it?

I don't know how to tell you.

So, Mrs Shipton, I'll see you in six weeks.

Good.

PHONE RINGS

Yes?

Um, it's not a very good time, actually.

OK. Right, thanks. Bye.

Come on.

Come on!

Just answer the...

I'm, er...

I'm too scared to go back to Crete.

What are you scared of, Marion?

That community can be very conservative -

take the ex-pats out of suburbia...

What crime have you committed, Marion?

I have been...

I have been having an affair.

With a married man.

ZARA LAUGHS It's not funny.

Oh. I'm sorry.

Is that all?

Someone told his wife.

It went round like wildfire.

That's why I had to leave.

I had no idea it was so Desperate Housewives out there.

I should have known better than to have trusted you with it.

I'm sorry. Marion!

It seems crazy to be worried about just idle gossip.

It's my home.

Now I'm an outcast.

You've no idea.

You think I've never had fingers pointed?

Oh, come on. It'll be forgotten before you even know it.

They'll be bitching about next door's pool tiles by now.

SHE LAUGHS

Oh, it's been horrible, Zara.

You're not going to seriously let small-minded idiots ruin your life?

Those small-minded idiots are my friends and...neighbours...

SHE SOBS

Doctor Carter?

Is Amber here?

She's upstairs. She's got a friend. Is it Bex?

What's this about?

GIRL SCREAMS

She's not breathing! Quick!

Amber? Is she...?

She's not breathing.

Her pulse is very weak. Call an ambulance.

Right. Yes.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Come in.

Fancy some lunch at the Icon?

That's sweet of you, but I'm snowed under.

You sure you're all right?

Have you come to suggest that I have counselling too?

No. Bit of company, that's all.

Yes, well, I'm sure I'll never be lonely

while I'm ruining the reputation of the Mill.

I'm joking, I'm sorry.

But, look, I really am snowed under.

Well, if you change your mind... Thanks.

She's breathing? Yes.

How long was she unconscious? I don't know.

Amber?

BEX CRIES

She's fitting.

Seemed like an ice creamy sort of day to me.

Mine's biggest. Treat for my baby.

Oh...I should have asked. I apologise.

Well - at least you said no to sprinkles.

Aren't you lucky to have such a generous grandma?

Even if she is just a tiny bit naughty.

Oh...

Mmm!

We have the results of Amber's MRI.

And?

There's no obvious evidence of any brain damage.

Thank God. She was very lucky.

This time.

If you hadn't been there...

I called your parents, Rebecca.

Unbelievable. What? They can't spend two minutes in the same room

without World War Three breaking out - now look at them.

Is that ice cream on Zara's face?

Yeah. They're having a ball.

Can't imagine what brought her round.

Why would you do it, when you've everything ahead of you?

Survived, didn't I?

Because the doctor was there!

My brain's OK. The scan thing said.

Who knows what the long-term damage might be?

Neurological damage? Is that what you mean?

You're a clever girl. Why would you do it to yourself?

Yeah, so clever.

All you care about is grades and unis!

That's not... Amber, it isn't true.

You wanted to be found out?

Maybe not...consciously, but...

You did this in your own home, in your own room...

I don't know.

I don't know what it was.

Your...your mum's on her way. I'll just go and see if she's...

Can I get you a cup of tea? Or hot chocolate?

Machine stuff, so it'll be revolting...

Mr Wallingden.

Yes. Right.

I'm no good at this emotional stuff.

When you were little, it...seemed simpler.

These days I've no idea how to...

But if you can't tell us what's up,

if you're driven to...

You've just got to get better, that's all.

Got to.

You are actually rubbish at this.

Appalling, yes.

I'm sorry, Amber.

You'll give the poor child a complex.

They're all different at that age.

HE SPEAKS JAPANESE

Must be really lovely to be able to waste money on toys

when some people can't afford to pay their mortgage.

I feel sick.

She's gone limp. Clio? Sorry, sorry, sorry...

She's tachycardic and hypotensive. It looks like shock, Al.