Veiled Doctors

Whoa! That is...big!

I thought if you were feeding the five thousand,

all you needed was some bread and some fish?

Five loaves, two fish.

I have taken on board some of the robust views expressed yesterday

and I have been looking for recipes.

Where's this one from, the Hulk's Guide to Fondant Fancies?

It is from the internet.

Sugar-free recipes.

You've made a cake with no sugar?

100% sugar-free.

-Sweeteners?

-Only natural.

I have to admit, I may have overcompensated

with some of the other ingredients.

It does look a bit overcompensated.

Yeah, but it is very nice.

I had a tiny sliver of it fresh out of the oven.

I cannot wait to see everyone enjoying it.

-What is that?

-It's a cake.

It's a lot of cake.

Nurse Lee, would you mind taking it into the staffroom for me, please?

Sure.

Mrs Hollins, I will be off-site at a meeting at lunchtime.

-PHONE RINGS

-And the student who is with us for the day,

she has phoned in to say that she's going to be late.

-No probs.

-Not on the table, Nurse Lee.

Good morning, Mill Health Centre.

Hello, Mr Dickson.

Yeah. It's... Hang on. Thursday at 10:30.

OK?

-Hi, I'm the student who's spending a day here.

-Two ticks.

Bye...bye-bye.

-Wafa. Wafa Aziz.

-Hello!

Well, it's larger than your average cake.

Well, there will be plenty for elevenses.

-And twelvses.

-TEXT ALERT

-What?!

-Bad news?

No. I just don't get why people send messages one line at a time.

Why don't they just say it all in one go?

Well, this cake will cheer you.

With this one, a moment on the lips means nothing on the hips.

I forgot my purse and only had enough change to get me to two stops away.

Did you tell the driver?

Yeah, but he wouldn't let me stay on.

I'd have given him a piece of my mind.

Don't worry, I did!

So, what are you doing here today?

Observing how the practice advises patients on nutrition.

Mrs Tembe said that I could spend time with them.

Psst!

This is Valerie. I don't know why she's dressed like that.

I am from ze Sugar Resistance!

So give me your orders for pastries or chocolat

and I will bring zem to you via the underground railroad.

THEY CHUCKLE

I can't.

Not even your usual doughnut de jam?

Is this something you do every day?

No. Mrs Tembe's trying to get us to cut out sugar.

By placing it under a complete embargo.

Which is lovely for your teeth and waistline,

but for morale, c'est une catastrophe!

-Can I get you anything?

-Oh, I'm OK.

If it's money, I can shout you.

No, really. But thanks.

Ooo, hey, Val, um...would you mind popping into the butcher's

and getting me a nice couple of rib-eyes?

I'm going to give Rob a treat tonight.

Certainly. And remember, you ain't seen me!

THEY CHUCKLE

Hey. Morning, Karen.

-Ooo! You must be Wafa?

-Yes.

Mrs Tembe says I've got first dibs on you,

-so, um...let's start with a drink.

-Great.

-OK.

-While you're in there, have a look at the cake.

Oh! Well, this I've got to see.

-Mrs Tembe's sugar-free delight.

-Nice!

-KNOCK AT DOOR

-Come in.

-Ayesha...

-Seb texted me to confirm our date tomorrow night.

Oh! That's good, isn't it?

Don't know. Is it? You tell me. You're the one who said yes.

Well, I just thought that you needed a little encouragement.

He seems like a nice man.

And, well, with that face and body...

Well, it's not always about looks and body, is it?

Really?

I'm not completely shallow

and I'm capable of making my own decisions, thank you very much.

Well, pardon me for daring to take an interest.

-Hey.

-Oh, hello.

Right, this is Wafa, she's spending the day with us.

-This is Dr Haskey.

-Hello, Wafa.

Um...shall we shake hands?

-Very nice to meet you.

-And you.

It may be a mirage,

but is that a three-layer sponge cake I see before me?

No, that is a three-layered sponge cake,

but it's got no sugar in.

It's got no business calling itself a cake, then.

-Never mind.

-No, no, no, no.

Hands off until Mrs Tembe gives the nod.

AL SIGHS

Always have a Plan B.

You haven't seen this.

SHE CHUCKLES

Er...Mrs Tembe is not...

Yeah, whatever, Mrs Tembe,

my patients prefer me when I'm in the midst of a sugar rush.

Maybe our budding nutritionist should spend time...

Whoa-whoa-whoa!

You're a nutritionist?

I shook your hand!

THEY CHUCKLE

Hi, I've got an appointment with Dr Granger.

I registered last week. Janet Sully.

-Janet?!

-Karen?!

KAREN LAUGHS

It's been flipping yonks!

And the rest! Look at you!

Life must be treating you well.

I can't complain. How about you?

They say 15-20% of all pregnant women are now classified as obese.

That's more than I would have thought.

We're talking in terms of having a BMI of 30 or more.

So most women react very badly when we tell them

and nearly all of them want to try and lose weight immediately.

-Which is what they shouldn't do.

-Especially if they're pregnant.

So we try to provide them with a healthy-eating plan.

And how do they respond?

Well, most of them want to try and do what's best for their baby

and the few that haven't got any other problems,

well, we work very closely with them,

doctors and other agencies.

-Mm-hm.

-We also say to them, "You don't have to give up on all treats".

-I'd hate to give up samosas.

-Oh, yeah, me, too!

Yeah, well, we have got Mrs Tembe's sugar-free cake to look forward to.

Hm-hm!

And then we went straight from the last exam...

Into the pub!

Oh, that scrumpy gave me a headache!

Do you know, I think...I think I only scraped a C.

I failed.

Still, never been without a job.

And you married that bloke, um...from Wolverhampton?

Yeah. Colin.

And have you got kids?

Yeah. We had two.

-Excuse me.

-Sorry.

-Appointment for Johnson?

Mr Johnson, we're aware.

If you'd like to take a seat, I'll give you a call when we're ready.

"The nutritional challenges facing Muslim women."

Yeah, we took part in the research project with St Phil's.

-Do you want me to print you the report?

-Oh, that would be great.

-OK.

Ah, it's out of ink. I'll send it to the one in reception.

-Bonjour!

-Bonjour!

Listen carefully, I will say this only once.

Have you got any orders for pastries, chocolate,

any other forms of sugary contraband?

-Ooo! Well, you know my fave choccie.

-Yorkie!

Thick and chunky, just like your men.

-Rude.

-Oh. When I say thick,

I mean dimensionally, not intellectually.

KNOCK AT DOOR

Ooo! What about you, Dr Reid? Any orders for confectionary?

-Oh, no, no, no, I'm fine. Thanks.

-Perfecto! Adios!

-I'll just get that printout.

-OK.

Um...I just wondered if you fancied lunch?

So you can give my number out to some other random geezers(?)

As if I would.

Kim lives in Nottingham.

Two little ones, Shane and Amanda.

Oh, grandchildren! You're so lucky!

-Your kids?

-No, not yet, but in the future maybe.

How's your son?

Oh.

Ooo, hello. Are you all right?

Ayesha sent something to the printer for me.

Oh, let's have a look.

"The Nutritional challenges facing Muslim women."

That's the one. Thanks.

This is my old schoolmate, Janet.

-Pleased to meet you.

-You work here, too?

No, just on a day's research.

Er...so, who are you going to go and see next?

-Dr Haskey.

-Oh! Haskey and nutrition.

That'll be interesting(!)

-Right, see you later.

-OK.

Good thing she isn't working here.

-Why?

-With that veil thing.

How are you supposed to trust someone when you can't see their face?

Oh! Dr Reid! Would you like a slice of cake?

Oh, that's very kind, Mrs Tembe,

but, actually, I'm going to be having lunch at the, er...

-Just a little slice.

-Right.

Mmmmmm!

Yeah, well, I-I don't like to use the term, but, er...moreish?

-Mmm!

-Yeah, well, I am going to distribute it.

It is just my little contribution to our healthy-eating programme.

And now that it has your personal recommendation,

well, it is going to fly around this building.

Mm.

-She's really nice.

-Well, they can all seem like that, can't they?

-They?

-Them lot. Muslims.

-I don't think that you...

-Even the ones who don't wear veils,

you don't know what they're thinking.

I mean, nice enough to your face, but...

I'm sorry. Er...some cake.

I know it is against policy to eat on reception,

so a little discretion.

-PHONE RINGS

-Thank you.

Will do.

Dr Granger will see you now.

Oh. See you in a bit.

So Mrs Tembe sent us all this e-mail

saying that you were going to be dressed traditionally.

And in a way, I'm a bit disappointed you're not a Morris dancer.

WAFA CHUCKLES

That would explain why you didn't do a double-take.

She's very keen on instilling sensitivities.

I mostly don't care what people think, anyway.

You and me both.

Now, on the subject of your project, now, I've got a great pal,

Professor Zubzar of Karachi, who has published articles

on the causes of diabetes in older women of the Islamic faith.

Oh. Could I have those?

It just so happens, I have already printed them off for you. There you go.

-KNOCK AT DOOR

-Hello?

-Ah!

-Sorry.

Er...now, would you like some cake?

-Ah.

-Dr Reid said it is very moreish.

Well, in that case, I'll have a second opinion.

Er...Miss Aziz?

-Maybe later.

-Oh. Well, I have some more to distribute.

I hope you are having an informative day.

-Oh, very.

-Oh, good. Excuse me.

Right, my final word on the subject,

if it hasn't got sugar in it, it ain't cake.

It's very possibly a side-effect of the new medication you're taking

for your hypertension.

Have you experienced any drowsiness, swelling in the feet?

-Drowsiness.

-OK. Well, it should settle down now,

but if it persists, we can always investigate further.

I'll prescribe you something for the rash.

I see your previous GP had you on a course of antidepressants.

Yes. I need a new prescription.

Right. It's just that some antidepressants cause drowsiness.

I need them!

OK.

As a practice, we like to try to use other methods of treatment.

For example, have you tried counselling?

Counselling won't bring him back!

-Bring...?

-My son. They killed him.

Sorry, who...?

Muslims. They killed my boy!

-Al, you can't!

-Ah, I can!

I know you think it's minging, but she put a lot of work into it.

Well, they put a lot of work into the Berlin Wall,

which, incidentally, probably tasted quite similar.

Can't we all just say we enjoyed a slice?

That would be diplomatic.

All right, fine.

This monstrosity can remain as a monument to our sugar-free folly.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have chocolate biscuits to attend to.

-WAFA LAUGHS

-Yes, he is always like this.

Right, I've got a patient. You going to be OK?

-Yeah.

-Great. I'll see you later.

Afghanistan. Helmand.

It was his second tour.

He was a lance corporal.

And they were on patrol.

Was it an IED?

It was a woman. A girl.

She was walking past when they were going through a village,

carrying a water container.

But it was a bomb.

When she detonated it...

..Darren was nearest.

If he was looking at her,

it would have been the last face he saw.

IF he could see her face.

I can't think how deep your loss must be, but not every...

They are!

The religion of peace, they call it.

But I've read about it.

It's all blood and conquest and death to the infidel!

-Mrs Sully...

-Making a difference!

That's what they told them they were doing, making a difference!

But what difference?! Nothing's changed!

It's back to how it was!

What did he die for?!

-I wish I could say, but...

-That's why I need those pills.

I can't work, I can't concentrate.

I can't DO anything.

I just see my Darren.

I see her.

I understand, but I'd still like to go another route.

Oh! I'll just have to go to another surgery.

-Mrs Sully...

-I need them, don't you understand!? I need them!

Mrs Hollins?

Oh, I was just looking for Mrs Hollins.

-What have I done with...?

-Are you OK?

Oh, no. It's just that £20 Karen gave me, I can't find it.

Ah! I suppose I'm going to take the hit for two rib-eyes now.

I know you took the money.

Some of these gym types can be a bit aggressive.

I think it's more to do with the person they are.

Anyway, Seb doesn't strike me like that.

-Could be hiding it.

-I doubt it. He seems lovely.

Yeah, a real charmer(!)

And what's wrong with that?

Apart from sizing up who he wants to nail in his gym class

and then sweet-talking them into bed?

-You don't know that.

-Get off!

He probably needs a chainsaw to put the notches on his bedpost!

No, I think he's more decent than that.

I mean, look how he behaved with that awful racist woman, Jen.

He got there before I knocked her out.

He threw her out in front of a whole class. Now, that says something.

-I saw her take the money.

-I haven't taken any money!

I know what I saw!

-Janet...

-Then where did that lot come from?

I thought I'd get some samosas for everybody.

Yeah, paid for by the money you stole!

-You did say that you...

-I met up with my sister.

There we go.

You don't believe her, do you?

You can't believe any of them!

-Any of who?!

-You lot!

-I've had enough of this.

Is everything OK?

She's the one I called you about.

-Hello, Wafa.

-Sergeant Hollins.

-You know her?!

-Yeah.

-What, you've nicked her before?

-No.

Then you can nick her now. £20, she's pinched!

-I don't believe she has.

-Are you protecting her?

I'm saying what I think!

You've got them around here and working and you think they're...!

-Will you stop saying, "Them"?!

-Muslims!

You think they're the same as you and they can't even show their face!

This is my face!

It was my brother.

I was shopping.

I'd been married to Karim for six months.

I came out of the shop and then I heard a noise behind me. I turned.

I thought it was water.

I remember thinking, "What's Sean doing, throwing water over me?"

And I shouted.

He just looked at me and smiled.

Then my friend said, "It's acid. He's thrown acid."

It didn't really hurt.

I didn't know that meant the burns were really deep.

They washed the skin over and over to get the acid out.

But it was already deep into the layers.

I was a pretty girl.

Still might be, if you hadn't married him!

Oh, that's a terrible thing to say. You ought to be ashamed!

I'm not, and it's true.

If she'd married one of her own kind, it wouldn't have happened.

-What have you become?!

-Let's keep it civil.

So, what is my own kind?

You weren't brought up dressing like this.

-And that isn't your name.

-I chose my name.

But what's your real name, the one you were born with?

-Diane.

-And that wasn't good enough for you?

It wasn't who I was any more.

-What, when you converted?

-Reverted.

We believe that everyone is born Muslim...

We're not all born Muslim!

-OK, calm down.

-Why don't you just do your job and arrest her?!

-KNOCK AT DOOR

-Sorry.

Valerie, not a good time!

It's your money. It must have got into the lining of my mac.

I don't need a relationship.

Who said anything about a relationship?

It might just be a nice evening.

Look, come on, you need to find something for yourself.

You spend too much time buried in other people's problems.

Mine, your mum's.

That's just...life.

Yeah, but it's not yours, is it?

That's why I've been trying to put a fire under you.

If you play with matches...

Mm. You might find something really hot.

AYESHA CHUCKLES

Sean's coming out next week.

Yeah, I know.

Those few years don't seem enough.

What about the extra precautions that we...?

-I don't want to move.

-OK.

Has Karim come back?

His parents have been good. They're angry that he left me.

Didn't really want him to marry me at first.

You know, I could report what Mrs Sully told my inspector.

-Racial aggravation.

-Same race, though, aren't we?

That's true. Religious aggravation?

Would just keep it going around, though, wouldn't it?

You insult me, I report you, you hate me back.

That's a very forgiving attitude,

but she should be careful how she expresses things.

Maybe she can't help herself.

She's one of them.

She would have looked like her.

The girl with the bomb.

Face covered.

I see her...

..in my dreams.

Every day.

She's in the street.

I see her ALL the time.

They wouldn't even let me see him.

I never...

They...they wouldn't let me see his face.

JANET SOBS

(Oh, Janet!)

KNOCK AT DOOR

He was 21, Janet's son, when he died.

I promise you, she wasn't like this when I knew her.

People change. I did.

I go through a lot of these.

Come home and realise someone's spat on you.

It washes off...but you don't want to wear it.

-You don't have to hide your face.

-I'm not.

This is who I am.

I just...I wish that you could speak to Janet.

And what would I say?

What, "Sorry your son died"?

But it wasn't anything to do with me,

or old Malik in the newsagents,

or some teenager in Indonesia.

Apologise because I found a religion that worked for me?

I got sick of trying to explain.

My friends...

..my family.

I'm not ashamed of covering my face, but...

..it does mean that I don't have to explain it.

Explain that it wasn't my husband.

Even if he doesn't want to be with me any more because of it.

I'm...I'm...I'm so sorry that today turned out the way it did.

I learned a lot.

(Me, too.)

Maybe she should join up with that Jen woman from the class.

-Racists Not So Anonymous.

-Mm.

-Ta-da!

-Oh, I so need a sugar hit!

-Oh, yes, please!

-Thank you.

I know you have cravings.

Like Captain Craving of the Craving Squad.

Hey! What is all this?!

Um...would you believe tofu?

No! I thought you enjoyed the cake.

Well, we did try it.

But there is still so much left!

There was so much to begin with.

Yes, well, I...I have not had my slice today, so...

Er...

This is...this is truly disgusting.

Truly.

I do not understand!

It...it was fine last night!

Something must have gone wrong in the cooling-down process.

And I foisted it upon all of you!

No, Mrs Tembe, it was done with the right intentions, so...

Yes, well, the intention was good, but the cake is very bad.

Ugh!

Hey. Hey, I, um...I heard what happened. Are you OK?

Yeah, I'm fine.

It was nice to meet you and thanks for all your help.

-Any time. You take care.

-And you.

Rob says he can give you a lift home.

Thanks, but I think I'll walk.

-Are you sure?

-Sure.

-Something to do with you?

-More to do with them.

Still, it seems like you've done OK today.

Well, I resisted a jam doughnut, if that's what you're on about.

No, I'm not. But that as well.

See you at home.

Hey! Rib-eyes for tea.

Nice.

It sounds like Seb has got a lot going for him.

He has. He has charm and good looks.

Mm! Very good looks.

Well, lucky you.

What's all this?

Are you going out with a super-sexy fitness instructor?

-No.

-She just hasn't texted him back yet.

Well, if the digits aren't willing...

-It's not about that.

-It's just nerves.

Oh, nerves are normal.

Especially when you're faced with Lycra-clad hunkiness.

I was nervous...with Heston.

-Wasn't wearing Lycra, was he?

-No.

-THEY CHUCKLE

-Because I liked him

and I didn't want things to go wrong.

But I took a chance.

Which is why I need to get home

to watch Cosi Fan Tutte live from The Met.

Ooo! Take me with you!

Sorry, it's opera a deux.

And I have got supper a une.

The heart is a lonely hunter.

So I will bid you adieu.

-Night.

-Night.

AYESHA SIGHS

Come on! If Ruhma can give Heston a chance...

But she already knew Heston.

Yeah, but only as a colleague.

OK. If I do decide to go out with him, where would you suggest?

I want to go Dutch, I don't want him thinking that by paying for grub,

-he gets 12 rounds in the sack.

-Mm.

OK, so somewhere inexpensive, but romantic.

What about San Fiorina?

Great.

But if it turns out he only wants me for the dessert course,

-you, missy, are buying me lunch every day for a month!

-Hm-hm!

AL LAUGHS

-He's happy.

-Just you wait, I'll prove it to you!

-Who's he got in there with him?

-Nobody.

-Do you get to see them often?

-No. In fact, I've never met them.

And yet, riddle me this, I saw them this morning.

No! You're eating out!

Sorry, I didn't realise that Seb was a secret.

-Biscuit?

-No!

-It's a gift.

-Al, in the real world, we say it with flowers.