Tough Love Doctors

LABOURED BREATHING

Oh!

HE HYPERVENTILATES

Let me out! Let me out!

Just open the door! Open it!

-Oi! Pack it in!

-Just let me out of here!

-You're going nowhere!

-You can't just keep me in here!

Just shut it, will you?!

Please!

HE HYPERVENTILATES

BIRDSONG

Good morning.

Ah. Good morning, Dr Carmichael.

What time is the meeting?

Er...two o'clock. I have informed all of the staff.

I'll tell Daniel.

Well, I, er...I am prepared as I can be.

I'm sure.

I do know that this won't be easy.

No, it will not, I'm afraid.

But Dr Granger is right.

This is the future.

We have no choice but to give the CCG what they want.

Without actually putting a gun to anyone's head.

Absolutely.

We have to think positively.

Ah, guten Morgen! Zara.

Good morning, Dr Haskey.

Exciting development. I have decided where I'm going to take Mother.

Oh, well, that is good news.

Now, did you get the e-mail I sent you?

Er...which one?

All-staff meeting. In here at two o'clock.

OK.

HE SIGHS

HE HYPERVENTILATES

-You've got to let me out of here!

-I don't want to hear it!

Rory? Rory, please!

You filthy little...!

You...you can't just keep me in here!

Are you hungry?

I can't...I can't stand it any more!

Are you hungry?

I just...I just want to get out!

Please! Just... Rory, no! Rory!

Rory, please!

LOCK RATTLES

I can't stand it!

HE HYPERVENTILATES

-ANSWERPHONE:

-I'm sorry, but the person you've called is not available.

Please leave your message...

SHE BREATHES HARD

PHONE: Emergency. Which service?

Police.

Oh, my days! Um...put that down here.

Aw, let me give you a hand with this.

It's fine, I can manage. It's not heavy.

There we go. Pop it there.

-Thanks.

-OK!

Wow! Well, um...your room's ready,

but, um...we don't have to go up yet. Er...there's no hurry.

We can have a cup of tea first, if you fancy?

I'm all right, thanks.

-Well, I've got muffins.

-I'm not hungry.

Um...when was the last time you had something?

Come on, come and sit down, put your feet up.

Actually, I don't think I'm going to be staying.

What do you mean?

Here. Sorry.

-But everything's ready.

-Yeah, well, maybe I'm not!

I just came to tell you to your face.

I know you've been really nice and everything, but...

-Yeah, but yesterday...

-Look, I'm just going to go, OK?

-Where? Where?

-Does it matter?!

Lily, come...

Come...come and talk to me. Please?

Not last night, the night before.

Right. So, that's, what, er...36 hours?

He just went out and didn't come back!

-Can I...?

-Yeah.

Do you know where he went?

He just went out with friends, I suppose.

And obviously, you've called him?

Dozens of times. I've left messages, texts.

And now it's unavailable!

Right. Have you called anyone else?

I tried the college, but they say he didn't turn up yesterday.

And his brother, of course. But he doesn't seem that bothered.

Oh. Why's that?

Oh, he just thinks I'm making a fuss as usual.

But Simon wouldn't just go off and not tell me,

and not even answer his phone.

Has Simon been in any kind of trouble before?

No, not once. He's not like that.

Look, I don't know what's happened,

but there is something very, very wrong.

I know that this is your decision...

Yeah, it is.

Right. I just... I don't understand. Why have you changed your mind?

It's up to me, isn't it?

Yeah, but something's happened.

Just...just tell me what's happened.

I spoke to Ellie last night.

She says you'd want to take my baby away.

She doesn't know me!

There aren't enough babies, are there, for adoption, yeah?

And that's how you get around it, rich people like you.

-Rich people?

-And...and I know,

like, we'd probably be better off staying here.

And you've obviously done this before.

Yeah, but that doesn't mean I want to steal your child.

I just want to keep my own baby!

Yes! And this is the best way to do it!

Lily, you've been ever so brave up until now,

and I know you want what's best,

but you can't do this on your own any more.

You...you need a proper place to stay.

And we just want to keep you safe.

Nothing more.

Do you know if he had any money with him?

Not much, I wouldn't have thought.

No. Has he got access to a bank account?

Er...yes, he does, but the card's here.

Oh, do you mind if I...? Thank you.

Right. Can I...? Yeah.

Has he got a partner?

Er...yeah. She's in Thailand, or Goa, or wherever.

That's where they met, in gap year.

So, he has left home before?

Yes, but he would phone me or text me. Nearly every day.

Rory used to say he should've taken me with him.

-Is Rory his brother?

-Uh-huh.

Are they close?

You wouldn't think so. They're like chalk and cheese.

Simon's his mother's boy. Always has been.

But Rory, on the other hand...

Quite the opposite. Can't be told. Especially after his dad left.

Ah. Can I have his phone number and address?

-Rory's?

-Yes, please. It might be worth it.

-Yeah.

-Thanks.

LOCKS RATTLE

You awake?

Come on, you going to get this down you?

Argh! Oh!

What do you think you're doing?!

Right, I'm going to kill you!

Simon?!

Simon!

HE BREATHES HARD

See you next week, OK? Bye-bye.

Er...can I remind you all about the, er...meeting?

-Can't wait(!)

-Well, er...lunch will be provided.

Yeah. So if you've got any special requirements, let me know.

No more sandwiches(?)

-Do you know what it's about?

-I've no idea.

-Oh, er...Dr Haskey?

-Huh?

I have not had your COPD figures yet.

Oh, yeah. I'll get it to you at lunchtime.

Oh, no, my mistake, we don't get a lunchtime any more, do we?

Tell me about it. I haven't stopped all day.

Yeah, well, it is very important.

How long is this mystery summit of yours going to take?

Well, no more than about an hour.

That means more than two hours. Mrs Abel, do you want to, er...?

Do you know what it's about?

Not specifically, no.

So, you do know something?

It's that major?

Well, just reading between the lines, of course,

-I'd say it's something pretty big.

-Like what?

Nurse Lee? You did say that you were busy.

Hm!

Well, of course I want to help.

When did you last see your brother?

A couple of days? I don't know.

What about the night he went missing?

I was out on a job, um...painting.

I have to say, I'm a little surprised.

-About what?

-You don't seem very worried.

Of course I am.

I...I just don't want to get Mum into a state, that's all.

You hurt your leg?

Ahem! I, er...I fell off a ladder.

Did you know that your brother was taking drugs?

Eh? You're joking, ain't ya?

No. No, I'm not joking.

Simon is a good little boy. He...he'd never touch anything like that.

Really?

He'd never touch anything like whatever that used to be?

I found this in his room.

It looks like he's taken the lot.

And did Mum see it?

I don't know. I wanted to speak to you first.

Now, where did he get it from? You?

-No.

-He got it from somewhere.

So, you don't do this kind of thing?

No. No, I-I don't.

I've checked your records. You've got form.

Not...not with stuff like that, I haven't.

RORY SIGHS

No, never in a million years.

Here we go. The bathroom's just over there.

We wouldn't come in, I promise. This is...

Well, not unless you want us to.

This is just for you, and your baby, for as long as you need.

Lily, I...

We wouldn't come between you.

And it's just been...freshly painted...

Oh, it's fine. Thanks.

Hm-hm!

Oh! Is that for the baby?

No, he's mine, but we're going to share him.

Aw!

What else you got?

Um...just what I've got in here, and the baby box.

Well, that's good for when you get home,

but what about the hospital? What you got ready?

Hello? I've been trying to sort out money every day

and somewhere to sleep every night,

and giving up smoking and worrying about Austin.

OK, well, we'll just have to get you a bag together.

We're not in any hurry, are we?

I mean, what do you need?

Um... Er...well, you need your jarmies, for a start.

-Oh, I don't wear pyjamas any more.

-All right, nightie!

And washing things, shampoo, your sanitaries...

I mean, we'll get a list together.

-What, do you just go out and buy that stuff?

-Yeah.

-What about music?

-Well, I'm sure you can take your headphones.

Ellie had one of these rabbits and you hang it on the side

-and it plays all these little tunes.

-Ooo!

See, I thought you could have your baby box over there, by the bed.

It must be lovely...watching them sleep.

Yeah, it is.

-Did you have to call the police?

-What did you expect?

You should've called me first.

I tried, didn't I? I don't know how many times!

The last thing we needed was coppers sticking their oar in!

What have you done now?

Nothing, but just let me deal with it now, OK?

What have you done to Simon?

What, me?

Just tell me....where he is.

I don't know, do I?!

Please, just...just...just leave it to me.

Right! After all you've put me through?

Well, I was kid, wasn't I? Just like Simon is now!

No! He's not like you!

Yeah? Yeah, well, maybe he is a little bit more than you think.

-Just you tell me where he is!

-Look...

-Right now!

He's going to turn up sooner or later!

For money if nothing else, so...

we're just going to wait here until he does, OK?

Mum, just for once, this isn't my fault!

Mm. Well, er...thank you all very much for coming.

And I must apologise for, er...taking up your time.

But when you hear what the, er...partners and myself have to say,

you will understand why we needed as many of you here as possible.

Ooo! Sounds intriguing.

Oh, sorry, I've forgotten the sandwiches.

Now, I am sure that you aware that the CCG, in line with...

Oh, I'm glad you didn't wait for me. Excuse me.

-Ooo!

-Oh!

-Sorry. Sorry. My bad. My bad.

CHUCKLING

Go on, Sid. Good man.

That the CCG, in line with government thinking...

There you go.

-Thank you.

-Thanks.

Ah, Rory. Just the man.

Can I have a word, please?

About what?

About some CCTV footage that I've just seen

of you and Simon outside your flat only three hours ago.

Just not in front of her, OK?

No problem.

Do you want to go down the station?

OK.

HE SHIVERS

HE HYPERVENTILATES

We are obliged, in the main,

to comply with the forthcoming policy directive.

-Which is?

-Excuse me.

Many of the adjustments have already been made in the local practices,

but now the CCG have...

-Mrs Tembe, I'm sorry...

-No, if you would just hear her out?

I think we all know where this is going, don't we?

-Do we?

-Yeah, because I haven't got a clue.

Well, if we just all listen...

Mrs Tembe?

-You're going to ask us to open for longer, aren't you?

-What?

It's what's happening at King's Street and Bostock Street.

Yeah, and Limewater, actually.

If you'll just let her finish...

Do you or do you not want us to open up for longer?

Is she serious?

We are considering expanding the opening times of the Mill

and possibly the Campus surgery.

Yeah, but what about us? Not that this is a surprise.

This is for patients who are unable to attend...

-Are you hearing this?

-Is this going to include weekends?

I'm sure Mrs Tembe will be coming to that.

Will there be extra staff?

Well, we have not discussed...

So that's a no, then.

It's what the government have decided.

So, they're forcing this through, then?

Not exactly, no.

But they're putting pressure on the CCGs.

Who are putting pressure on us!

-It's typical!

-Well, they know where they can shove it!

Ayesha, it's not that simple.

It sounds pretty simple to me.

Look, if we could all just...just stop and listen for a minute...

I do not believe this!

There is not one of these sorry excuses for sandwiches

that hasn't got mayonnaise in it!

-Oh, no, I think there is.

-Where?!

-Cheese and pickle.

-Behind the tuna.

There's no...there's no tuna!

-No, next to the egg.

-I don't like tuna. I don't like egg either!

-Oh, well, that's the dry one.

-What?

They're the same sandwiches!

Oh, for goodness' sake!

DOOR OPENS

Simon!

Love?

Simon, what's going on? Where have you been?

Will you talk to me, please?

What are you looking for?!

-Simon, please!

-Mum, just leave me alone!

Well, tell me!

-What do you think?! Money!

-What for?!

Look, will you stop?!

Just...just give me some money!

No.

Oh, please!

Simon, no!

No, don't go, Simon, please!

Just come back and talk to me! Simon!

-Hi, Kerry. Anyone in there?

-No.

Come through.

Take a seat.

RORY SIGHS

Look, this is between me and him. There's no need for this at all.

Well, your mother seems to think there is.

She's worried sick.

Yeah, yeah, and I'm thinking of her, as well, ain't I?

As well as what?

Trying to help my brother!

By abducting him?

Look, I found him in the road in a puddle of puke,

so, what was I supposed to do, let her see him in that state?

-But that was two nights ago.

-Yeah...

Well, I was looking after him.

Oh, I could see that from the CCTV(!)

I was trying to straighten him out, wasn't I?

I was... Make him see sense.

You were holding him against his will behind a bolted door.

How long has he been on it?

I don't...

Since he went to Thailand, I think.

And your mum knows nothing about it?

She doesn't want to know.

She thinks the sun shines out of Simon. She always has.

And you want to keep it that way.

She had enough of that with me, didn't she?

Only, look, that stuff is ten times worse.

It'll end up killing him and her, as well.

PHONE RINGS

-That's Mum again.

-Take it.

Hello? All right! All right! All right! What's happened?!

Look, this will enable us to extend patient access and services.

And at the same time, improve work-life balance for us.

By running us all into the ground?

By being more flexible with the hours that we work.

-Flexible?

-It gives us more say over the hours that we don't.

-So, we do get a say, then?

-I wouldn't hold your breath.

-And we're all going to have to do this, are we?

-On the money we earn?

-You do know how much I take home at the end of the week?

-Look, of course we do.

And you expect me to have even less of a life than I already do now?

It'll be the same for everyone.

Um...I have a question, if that's permissible?

Um...I was just wondering where in the contract

it says that I have to do this?

-Look, we need to start...

-You see, there isn't a provision in here

for you being able to change my shift patterns.

Now you're just being pedantic.

I shouldn't have signed it in the first place, should I?

Because it's all just completely worthless.

-No-one is saying that.

-Yes, you are!

-That's ridiculous!

-Please!

Look, these changes are coming to us externally.

-The partners have no choice.

-It's true.

-As I thought.

-That's beside the point.

It's not a question of whose brilliant idea it is,

it's a question of whether it's just.

It's a question of whether it's practical.

OK. Well, why don't you ask your patients?

All right, and at what point in my 20-hour day should I do that?

We are changing the shifts, not the number of hours.

I'm not doing it.

OK. Well, maybe you two need a little bit more time to think this through.

No. Don't need no time because I ain't doing it either.

Simon!

Rory, stay back!

-Rory, keep away from him, please.

-That's my brother!

-I know. Stay...!

-Get off me!

-Stay back!

Have you phoned for an ambulance, madam? Thank you. Stay back!

Simon?

-Simon, can you hear me?

-Well, do something!

-FAINT SIREN WAILS

-Oh!

-Watch it!

-A-A-A-A-A-A-Argh!

-Is this diesel or petrol?

-Petrol!

Simon?

I don't want to move him, but we're going to have to. Come on, help me.

Simon, can you hear me?

You get his legs.

We need fire, please. It's petrol. Keep everybody back.

-It's on its way.

-Stand back, please! Move back, please!

-Step aside.

-Careful, careful, careful, careful!

Fire engine en route. Estimated five minutes.

Just...just...just wake up, will you?

-Give me some space, please.

-Please stay back. It's not safe.

-That's it.

Simon, can you hear me?

Keep away!

OK, all right! Keep still! Keep your head still!

He's going to be fine. Stay still!

He's going to be OK.

Keep still! Keep still!

Keep your head still!

Keep your head still!

Well, thank you so much, everyone.

Er...yeah, Daniel, what is the timeframe on this?

Er...it will not be until the new year.

I take it it applies to the partners, too - the extended hours?

We'll be leading from the front. Don't worry.

But you're not obliged to?

Er...no.

Oh! You are kidding me!

So, what we've got here is one rule for you

and another rule for us.

I can assure you, we will all be taking our share.

Oh, just let me know as soon as you can, then, will you, please?

OK. Out.

Mum, it's all right, they're just checking him over!

He's going to need proper supervision,

and I don't mean being locked up.

Yeah. We'll speak to the doctors.

And is that it?

Well, that all depends on what his blood tests reveal.

But thankfully, no-one else was hurt.

-We'll be in touch, though.

-OK.

-It's OK, Mum, he'll be fine.

-No, he won't!

-How long?

-Not long and I've been trying to sort it out.

You should have told me! He's my son!

I was trying to help him! I was trying to protect you from it, Mum!

I'm not a child!

If my son's in trouble, I want to know about it!

Yeah? Well, I'm your son, too, right?

You were never interested when I was in trouble, were you?

Because it's just Simon, isn't it?

It's...it's...it's always just Simon!

RORY SIGHS

-Mum...

-You should have told me!

Get away from me.

HE EXHALES

I just don't see how I can fit any more hours into the day!

-You're telling me.

-I'm sorry, I'm just not doing it.

Does this mean you intend to work to rule?

If that's what you want to call it.

Do you really think that is the best thing for the practice?

Mrs Tembe, I bust a gut for this practice every day, and you know it.

I'm sorry, Mrs Tembe, but I have to agree.

-And I'm pretty certain that I speak for Karen, as well.

-I can imagine.

There's my Geoffrey to consider, for one thing.

He really looks forward to our Saturdays together.

I understand, but we must all be prepared to make sacrifices.

-Yeah, like sleep.

-Cats can be very routine-sensitive.

And I can just imagine Zara and Daniel

giving up their city breaks and glamping trips.

There is such a thing as teamwork, you know, Ayesha.

And slave labour.

I think that that is stretching it a little.

If you're feeling that poor, I'd have thought a bit of overtime would come in really handy!

Huh! You just don't get it, do you?

OK, that's enough.

Sorry, am I not supposed to have an opinion now?

Look, Mrs Tembe, I have to say,

I feel like you've just been buttering me up for this.

-I'm sorry?

-Oh, we went Christmas shopping together.

I thought that we were a team.

Dr Haskey, I was only trying to help.

There's not much gratitude around, Mrs Tembe.

Oh, so, we've all got to be grateful now, have we?

Oh, yeah, we're ever so humble, we are(!)

Look, sometimes, I really wonder...

Oh, sometimes you really wonder what?

I wonder if you really want to be here.

Did you hear that? That was a threat. A threat from management!

OK, please, can we all just get a grip?

OK, change happens, even in the NHS.

And there's nothing we can do about it. We all know that.

So, why don't we save our energy

for the battles we can win, eh?

I don't think you've heard the end of this.

-Get out of my way.

-Get out of my way? What are you going to do?

What do you want?

Don't you want to make the estate safer for the decent residents?

I wasn't being targeted, OK?

I can protect you.

I'm not testifying, and you can't make me.

Someone put your windows in. The graffiti.

So, this time, you'll protect me?

SMASH!