The Price of Memory Doctors

WOMAN SIGHS

SHE LAUGHS

Wow!

That was amazing.

Is this your room?

I hope so.

It's nice.

Glad you like it.

Because if you're always that good,

you are going to be spending a lot of time in here.

But no-one can ever know about it. OK?

Especially not at work.

Know about what?

Exactly.

Now, come on. Get dressed.

I'm going to make coffee.

My shirt's ripped.

Oh, sorry.

I got a bit carried away.

Last night... Didn't I sleep on the sofa?

Yeah, sorry about that.

In the pub, you said we couldn't sleep together.

Yeah, I know.

But I lay awake half the night regretting it.

Why?

Because I've wanted to do this from the day that I hired you.

That's why I saved your job when they wanted to let you go.

So...

But it has to be our secret.

If they find out that we're sleeping together, they'll fire both of us.

So...we did sleep together.

What?

-Did we?

-Marcus?

We didn't?

Oh, that good, was it?

I don't know. I can't remember...

Seriously? You're pretending you can't remember having sex?

I'm not pretending.

Oh, you really know how to spoil the perfect morning.

Something's wrong.

-Oh, stop it.

-I'm serious.

Marcus?

-Why can't I remember?

-You're not kidding, are you?

We caught him nicking aerosols yesterday.

Turns out he's got a serious solvent addiction.

Strictly speaking, VSA isn't physically addictive.

What's VSA?

Volatile substance abuse. Although it can be mentally addictive.

Well, one way or another he's got a problem.

And...?

And Karen said you could fit him in as an emergency appointment.

It's not really an emergency, though, is it?

PHONE RINGTONE - THE SWEENEY THEME

Sorry. Ah, Karen. That's the third time she's called.

-You want to speak to her?

-No.

OK, I will tell her that you can't see him...

-Fine.

-Wise choice.

-But you'll have to wait, though.

-No problem.

We're in.

I need to see Eesh.

Sorry?

-Ayesha?

-Oh. And you are?

Her cousin. It's an emergency.

Well, she's just in with somebody at the minute.

I'll wait. Er, water?

Sorry?

Where can I get water?

Just through there, on the left.

You're welcome.

We need to see a doctor. Straight away.

-Oh, what's the problem?

-What are we doing here?

He seems to have lost his memory.

What happened? Did you bang your head?

I don't know. Did I?

-Even a little bump can be serious.

-No, nothing happened.

One minute he was fine and the next he was all over the place.

Would you not be better off at hospital?

I'm a patient here.

Oh, right. What's your name?

Marcus Hayward.

Date of birth?

06/06/1976.

There's nothing wrong with your memory.

Yeah, with some things he's fine.

-Marcus?

-Kayleigh.

-What are you doing here?

-Um...

I haven't seen you in ages. How are you?

-Why are we here?

-Do you see what I mean?

Are you all right? What's wrong?

-Erm, he had an accident at work.

-What kind of an accident?

He hit his head.

Mr Rubasingham?

I'm sorry, would you mind seeing this gentleman first?

I think it might be an emergency. Is that OK?

Yeah, come on.

Did she just say that he hit his head?

-What?

-Kayleigh?

Cuz. I need to see you. It's an emergency.

An emergency?

SHE SIGHS

-Does your head hurt?

-No.

Do you remember hitting it?

OK. Can you follow my finger with your eyes?

Without moving your head.

-OK. Did you see what happened?

-No.

Did anyone?

Look, memory loss can be a symptom of a serious underlying issue.

OK, so anything you can tell me, anything at all...

If I tell you what happened, you can't repeat it.

I'm sorry?

To anyone. We'll lose our jobs.

OK. Everything you say in here is confidential.

OK.

We were having sex.

We were?

Yeah, everything was...fine.

And then, suddenly...he didn't know where he was,

he couldn't remember what we'd done...

-Have you been drinking?

-No.

I had a couple in the pub last night but he didn't have anything.

He said he felt a migraine coming on.

-Yeah, that's right.

-Drugs?

-No.

-I've never done drugs. Ever.

Was there anything unusual about the sex?

I don't know.

-Was it...rough?

-No!

It was a bit...

What, you really think this happened because we had...sex?

I can't say yet.

What's wrong with me?

I'll have a much better idea after I've done a couple more tests.

OK?

You are not an alcoholic.

I am. I'm drunk now.

-Eugh.

-See.

What? Did you go and have a couple

of tequila shots just so you could do that?

No.

Kay, I'm not stupid. What do you want?

It's in my genes, Eesh. And yours.

There's a gene that can make you an alcoholic.

I saw it on a website.

So, this is your emergency? Some rubbish you saw on the internet?

It's not rubbish. Bren has the gene.

And so does my dad.

That means the rest of us do too.

No, it doesn't.

And genes are only a tiny part of what makes someone an alcoholic.

Yeah, the bit that matters the most.

If everyone in our family is an alcoholic, then...

Which they aren't. And plenty of kids of alcoholics are perfectly fine.

And lots aren't.

But...I know a way we can make sure it won't happen.

What do you mean, "we"?

How often do you use?

Does it matter?

Just a rough figure?

-Why do you want to know?

-So I can help you.

-You can't.

-I can't if you won't let me.

You know there's a risk of sudden death with this stuff?

You ever suffer from blackouts? Vomiting?

Look, if you're not going to say anything, I have other

patients I need to see, so...

Vomiting. Sometimes.

Blackouts?

Look, I understand that you don't want to talk about this stuff.

But I do know what you're going through.

Do you?

And...I remember thinking that there was no way out.

But then someone made the effort to help me.

And I let her.

If I hadn't, maybe I wouldn't be here now.

What happened to you?

What are you trying to forget?

Whatever you say to me, stays in this room.

How much do you drink? I bet it's more than you think.

Kay, I'm not an alcoholic.

Six pints a week? Or six glasses of wine? That's all it takes.

I know what the guidelines are.

But if I occasionally go over, that doesn't make me an alcoholic.

-Not yet.

-Oh, come on...

There's a place in America where they can turn off your

-alcoholic gene.

-What?

-It's called gene therapy.

They're looking for volunteers for experimental trials.

You want to go to America?

You and me. Together. It's our only chance.

And we get a free trip.

I've got work to do.

Just...let me show you the website.

-No.

-Five minutes. Please?

So, how long have you and Jessica worked together?

Three months. She hired me.

Not cos I fancy him. But that's what they'll think.

If anyone at work finds out about...you know...

And, erm... Do you remember where you worked before?

A sports supplies warehouse. For six months.

You really think this happened because we had sex?

We had...?

Yeah! OK. We had sex.

But there was nothing rough or funny about it.

There wasn't anything unusual? Anything at all?

It was a bit...energetic, maybe.

Really?

OK, it is possible the memory loss may be related to the sex.

Can you do something about it?

If I can't, there are people who can.

Would they have to know about the sex?

Well...

Because we will get fired. It's company policy.

My predecessor had a one-nighter after the Christmas party and...

Let's not get ahead of ourselves... But I do have an idea of what it might be.

-What?

-But I could be wrong.

So I'd just like to check your blood pressure first.

These trials are for long-term alcoholics.

So we lie.

And it doesn't say anything about flying people across the Atlantic.

They wouldn't be asking for volunteers on a website, if they weren't desperate.

-Or it's a scam.

-We should at least try.

-Or, do you want to end up like Bren?

-I won't.

All we need is a letter from a doctor.

Right. So, that's why you're here.

You work with them all the time. Just ask.

-No.

-Eesh!

-I'm not doing it.

-I'd do it for you.

I've got to get to the Mill. I'll drop you on the way.

I'm your cousin.

And you've already wasted enough of my time.

-160 over 110. That is a bit high.

-Oh.

But that could just be the anxiety.

You've got no problems with dizziness, or balance,

-or coordination, so...

-Then, what's wrong with me?

It does actually sound like something I studied at uni.

But I've never actually seen a case.

-Not while it's still happening.

-What?

It's a type of amnesia. Transient global amnesia.

It's a remarkable condition - sudden,

complete disruption of short-term memory.

But he does remember things. Some, anyway.

Well, your long-term memory is fine.

-Who you are, where you live, all that...

-Well, that fits.

And you can even process new information.

It's just that you forget it almost immediately.

-Is it permanent?

-No. It only lasts for a few hours.

And then your memory will start working normally again.

Except...you won't remember anything that happened during the attack.

You won't even remember talking to me.

And this all happened because we had sex?

-Sex...?

-Sex is one of the things that can bring it on.

One of my tutors called it "sexual amnesia".

So he'll be OK?

-If that's what it is.

-And no-one needs to know?

But the high blood pressure is worrying.

It could indicate the possibility of a TIA - a mini stroke -

even a haemorrhage...

-I've had a stroke?

-It's a possibility.

I'd like to send you to hospital for a CT scan.

-Hospital?

-Just as a precaution.

She probably wasn't much of a mother but she was still my mum.

How old were you when she ran away?

Eight.

She ever come back?

No-one knows where she is.

I can't forget the day she left...

Like all the lights went out? And they never came on again.

Yeah.

My dad couldn't handle it.

Shouting at me...

..hitting me, locking me in my room...

He used to lock you in?

Everything I did was wrong.

He blamed me for what she'd done.

You ever tell anyone?

There was no-one to tell.

A couple of times he beat me so bad I thought he was going to kill me.

Are you all right?

Hm. Yeah, fine.

Er, your blood pressure's good.

So, how long have you been using?

A few years.

How come no-one ever noticed?

If no-one cares about you...

It wouldn't kill you to ask.

-I have to go to the Mill. I'll be back for my clinic later.

-OK.

Karen? Can you call an ambulance to take Mr Hayward to hospital, please?

-It's non-urgent.

-Hospital?

Kayleigh? What are you doing here?

Are you kidding me? I saw you, like, two minutes ago.

-Oh, right...

-Why are you going to hospital?

-It's just a precaution.

-AYESHA:

-Kay...?

-Does Jade know?

-Who's Jade?

-My wife.

-Can we go?

-All right.

You should call her, Marcus.

Yeah, someone did. At work.

Erm, do you want to take a seat? Shouldn't be long.

Are you the doctor?

Yeah, I am, yeah.

Only, Eesh and I need some medical advice.

-No, we don't.

-Well, I've got a patient.

Where is Mr Rubasingham?

He couldn't wait.

Oh. Well, in that case, yeah, come on in.

I am so sorry about this.

It's about gene therapy for alcoholics.

Oh, I've actually read quite a lot about this.

Great(!)

And...?

Well, it mostly just involves rats at the moment.

But there are drugs that can trigger an aversion to alcohol.

You know, make you sick at the taste.

But it's not something I'd advise. Not unless you have a serious problem.

Which you don't.

And the genetic thing is just one factor. There's lots more to it.

-Like I said.

-We're still a high risk.

Actually, the fact that you know how serious it is - that makes you

-a very low risk.

-Thanks.

I can't believe you never told me you're married.

-You never asked.

-Yeah, I did. Last night in the pub?

Did you?

There you go. How's your head?

What?

-Didn't you say he'd hit his head.

-Did I?

I can't remember...

How long until the ambulance gets here?

-Oh, 25 minutes, maybe half an hour.

-Ambulance?

-To take you to the hospital?

-Because of my head?

No... Oh... It's pointless talking to you.

You can beat this.

I'm not strong enough.

It's not addictive. Not physically anyway.

So there's no withdrawal.

I don't know....

You said yourself earlier, you wished you'd never started.

There's a lot of things I wish never happened.

-Do you really mean it, do you really want to stop?

-I suppose.

Because if you do, we can help you.

And it would make a huge difference to your life.

Really(?)

How?

If you could do...anything...

what would you like to do?

There must be something.

Something you've always wanted.

-To forget.

-OK.

What if you could sort out what happened to you?

What your mum did?

I can't.

I mean - in your head. Come to terms with it.

How?

There are ways. People who can help.

-Miracle workers?

-Nothing's impossible.

Some things are.

If everyone thought like you, there'd be

no point in us being here.

There isn't.

-I told you it was a waste of time.

-We could get a second opinion.

Kay! You are not going to become an alcoholic.

And neither am I. So just drop it, OK.

-OK. You don't have to shout.

-You just make me so mad.

Marcus is having an affair with that woman. I know it.

You think everyone's having an affair.

Did you see the way she looked at him?

It's none of your business.

I'd want to know if my husband was in hospital.

-Yeah, but he's not your husband, is he?

-She's my friend.

Earlier, you said she was a friend of a friend.

So? What if he's really sick?

Well, they'll look after him. That's what hospitals do.

How can you be so cool about it? You're supposed to be a nurse.

-And what if you're wrong?

-I'm not.

Because it wouldn't be the first time, would it?

-Just don't get involved.

-I have to.

Fine. Do what you want.

Wait.

Do you want a lift or not?

I'll catch you later.

You're an idiot.

Oh, thank you, bye.

So, that was the ambulance.

It's going to be outside in a couple of minutes.

What?

The ambulance.

-Sorry. Miles away.

-Come on.

Oh, erm, do you not think you should wait inside?

Because of your head.

Actually I feel fine now.

I just can't remember anything I did this morning.

Oh, good luck.

Wait. We need to get something straight.

Now try really hard to remember this.

If the doctor is right and it's that "sexual amnesia" thing...

-Sexual amnesia?

-Yeah.

-He said it sometimes happens after sex.

-So I didn't hit my head?

-No.

-But you told the receptionist that I hit my head.

-Oh, Marcus!

She said you did. When you asked about the ambulance...

Just listen! You can't tell anyone we slept together. All right?

-Especially not your wife.

-We slept together?

Oh for pity's... Yeah. All right? This morning.

We had sex this morning.

So, in the past two weeks,

how often have you thought about hurting yourself?

Never.

Have you thought you'd be better off dead?

No.

Well, you're definitely not suicidal.

I can't see the point in it.

I do think you're suffering from depression.

So I'd like to refer you for some CBT.

What's that?

Just when someone talks to you, really.

We can work out the best way to help you.

And we can help you.

I can help you. But you have to trust me.

Think you can do that?

OK.

Cos there's no point getting started on all of this if you're not

going to see it through.

So...I need to hear you say it.

I need to hear you say it.

Otherwise I'm not going to waste everyone else's time.

-OK.

-OK, what...?

-I'll try.

-OK, good.

-Jade said you were in Manchester.

-Did she?

-There's no point in asking him. He can't...

-She doesn't know you're here, does she?

-She's meeting us at the hospital.

-Yeah, right(!)

-Come on, Marcus.

-Are you still here?

-What?

-The ambulance hasn't come yet?

-Sorry...you are...?

The doctor, I saw you just now...

-I know what's going on.

-Nothing's going on.

-Liar.

But of course you wouldn't remember...because of the amnesia.

Sexual amnesia. That's what Jessica said just now.

-Because it happens after sex, right?

-You're having it off with him.

-Don't be ridiculous. Marcus?

-And that's why I can't remember what happened this morning?

-Because we had sex?

-I'm sorry...

-That's what she told me.

-She said we had sex this morning

-No. We didn't.

-You are so busted.

None of this is your fault, OK? Just remember that.

It will get better.

-Where's the loo?

-Through there.

-It's not going to be easy.

-But you can help him?

Even if we can, it's going to be a long, hard slog.

And there's no guarantees.

-Anything I should know about?

-No.

Just been saying the sort of things to him I wish people had said

to me when I was his age.

PHONE RINGTONE - THE SWEENEY THEME

Sorry. Karen again.

You should have told me you were married.

Jade and me are as good as finished. That's why I wanted to be with you.

I really thought we had something.

-We do.

-Not if I can't trust you.

-You can.

-You told that woman that we had sex.

-I didn't know she could hear me.

-Well, now I'm going to lose my job.

Look... I'll tell them it was my fault.

That you didn't want to and that...I made you.

Great. They'll still fire us both

and everyone will think you're a rapist.

-Any more bright ideas?

-Have you heard anything?

We're still waiting for the scan.

The consultant said it could be that global amnesia thing.

Yeah, he said it was possible.

-Well, hopefully that's good news.

-For some.

They do say there's a link between migraines and

transient global amnesia, so...

-Does that mean it could happen again?

-Probably not.

But it's probably best to wait a bit after

a migraine before, you know...have sex again!

If we have sex again...

No-one is going to find out, Jessica.

-Your gobby mate's probably on the phone to your wife right now.

-Even if she is,

Jade isn't going to go around telling people I slept with my boss.

No. Because women never do things like that, do they?

-Jessica...

-You just don't get it, do you?

-I didn't mean to...

-In his defence, it was an accident.

-Was it?

Look, if I can't trust you, there's no way we can make this work.

Jessica! Wait...

Call your wife. If you can remember her number...

I can't believe this.

She probably just needs time.

She's the best thing that's ever happened to me.

Maybe get her some flowers?

And I'll never even remember what happened this morning. Will I?

I'm afraid not, no, that bit of your memory's gone for good, I'm afraid.

So is she, by the looks of it.

-Oh, what are you doing here?

-I had to see you.

Kay! I'm working. Just leave me alone.

No, I mean... I wanted to say sorry.

All this stuff with my dad really scares me, Eesh.

-I'm all over the place.

-I know.

-Marcus is having an affair with that woman. He admitted it.

-Really?

You should have seen the look on her face.

-You going to tell his wife?

-No. She's a cow. She deserves it.

Come on, get in. I'll give you a lift.

I've phoned school. I've told them you're going to be late.

We'll give you a lift.

You going to be OK getting home later?

If you need me, I'm on my mobile. Or you can call Karen.

I'm fine.

Whoa. Easy, tiger.

-What?

-You, looking at Ayesha like that.

I could put a word in for you if you want.

Yeah, thanks, gramps, but I think I've got this one covered, you know.

-Gramps?

-Listen, if you want to talk about anything,

my number's on the back, OK?

Thanks.

Let's go!

So, we haven't met?

Never. We leave messages, in the usual places.

I was actually a temp for ages but now they've realised

they can't do without me.

I'm a receptionist.

So you're trying to steal Karen's job.

Who told you that?

I don't think he really understood what he did to me.

The best way you can get past this is to live

a good and meaningful life.