A Woman Goes to War Doctors

Has he eaten all of his breakfast?

Well, make him!

Me?

I'm fine.

Has Joe done any schoolwork?

Well, then, you have to tell him, homework first, beach second.

For goodness' sake, Daniel!

I'm sorry...

I'm sorry I just...

I miss you both so much.

Just give him a hug and a kiss from me.

I love you both so much.

I love you.

Bye-bye.

Bye.

It's not even hard dried.

So, whoever did it must have been what an hour ago, tops.

Oh, well, we better tell Mrs Tembe.

Oh, no, she's not in today.

Zara's in court. So, she's gone to show support.

Right. She picks her days.

-OK, I suppose Daniel's there as well, is he?

-No, no.

-Erm, he's in Crete. With Joe.

-Right. Well, who's left?

You. Me. Er, Heston.

Al and Emma.

It's on us, then. We better get scrubbing

Since we're first here.

What?

I can't leave it. I don't want it to scare the patients.

-Would that be such a bad thing?

-Yeah, don't tempt me.

C'mon. Let's get it done.

Morning.

Morning.

Morning.

You look...

..determined.

Shall we go?

So I was thinking that we just do a Christmas song,

with a video, for charity.

Whose bright idea was that? Valerie's?

No, it was mine.

# Let work be a stranger

# Leap out of your bed

# Let thoughts of your office

# Not enter your head

# Go fetch your children

# Let them play with that toy

# And fill your whole Christmas

# With mince pies and joy. #

I've been working on my Christmas song.

It's basically about not thinking about going back to work

but just really enjoying yourselves.

Right, wow, thank you for that.

I think Sid's already got something planned though.

It's always useful to have a plan B in your back pocket. Isn't that right, Sid?

Yeah, yeah, I was thinking that we do, erm,

Merry Christmas Everyone, Silent Night sort of mashup thing.

You know, something for everyone

Right. Now, I like carols.

And I like Shakin' Stevens.

That just sounds a bit weird.

Oh, and I've got a mate from school who actually works in a recording

-studio. So, he can get us mates rates.

-What, an actual studio?

Yeah. So are you in, then?

I'll think about it.

What does it say?

All right, then. I see.

Is everyone all right?

Please, just make sure you look after each other today.

Goodbye.

Graffiti?

Someone has painted RIP on the practice window.

It's an empty threat. They wouldn't dare.

Let me deal with it.

Dr Carmichael.

Mrs Tembe.

Oh...

You are a credit to us all.

I feel very proud to be your colleague and your friend.

Thank you.

You are very brave standing up to these criminals.

I did not know understand how brave, until...

Is something wrong?

There's been an attack on The Mill.

And I think we should get someone over there.

-What kind of an attack?

-Graffiti. RIP.

Does Zara know?

-I don't think so.

-Right.

Keep it that way.

Any trouble from you lot, here

or at The Mill...

..we'll deal with you.

You've been warned.

Get someone round there.

Yes, sir.

How are you feeling?

I was wondering about calling professional cleaners,

but Mrs Tembe... Oh, you're almost done!

Yeah, well, we were worried about the patients freaking.

Yeah, I think freaked out patients

is one of the least of our worries, Jimmi.

I suppose they were always going to put on a show of solidarity for our benefit.

Defence QC. She's notorious.

Fancies herself as a bit of a Rottweiler.

She might just find that I bite back.

No, no, no, no. She will be banking on that.

It damages your credibility in front of the jury.

Just stick to the facts. Yes or no answers if you can.

Sorted.

We, er, we should go in.

I am going to go and find someone to take you to the witness room.

Zara?

Carlene!

Thank you.

This means everything.

Don't worry.

Dr Carmichael? This way, please.

Pain ends.

Shall we?

Looks like he knew exactly where the camera was.

Go on, Braydon.

You've got this, bro.

You've got this.

KNOCK AT DOOR

Hello?

Hey!

How was the holiday?

I would've said hello before but you would have roped me

into doing that skivvy work.

Holiday was great, thank you.

You haven't got much of a tan?

Yeah, well, it was warm, but it is December there as well.

Hmm.

So how are things with your mum?

Erm, yeah. She saw her own GP and, erm, it's confirmed.

Dementia.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry I wasn't here.

If you had have been here,

I'd have just tried to get you to deal with it and...

..you know

And you?

Yeah, I'm fine.

Are you, erm, are you involved in Sid's music thing?

Oh, the Christmas record? No, thank you.

Well, maybe you should be.

I mean, Sid's getting involved and, everyone knows you can sing.

He's going to need as many singers as he can get.

And it's going to be fun.

-Fun?

-And it's for charity.

Nah, nah. It's emotionally blackmailing people to buying

some record they will never listen to again.

What if I said the proceeds went to dementia research?

Do they?

Good morning, Mill Health Centre.

Hiya! Yeah, I'll just check.

Hello, do you have an appointment?

Yeah.

OK, I'll just take your name, and then we'll sort that out.

ZARA GASPS FOR BREATH

-Oh, sorry,

-OK.

Sorry.

BREATHES DEEPLY

OK.

OK, OK.

So, I think Al could be persuaded to join The Mill chorus.

Oh, good.

Have you decided what you are going to do with the money yet?

Oh, no, I told Mrs Tembe that she could pick a charity.

I kind of said to Al that it might be something to do with dementia.

-Oh, because of his mum?

-Hmm.

That's not a bad idea, actually. I'll have a word, see what she says.

To be honest I don't even think she's going to do it, unless everyone else does

I thought everyone was doing it?

Emma refused, but don't worry I'll wear her down.

I didn't really want to bother Zara with it.

And, Heston, he'll try and completely take over,

or insist that we do Gilbert O'Sullivan and I'm not having that.

-So who is doing it?

-Well, there's me, erm, Al, er, Valerie...

Ruhma in the background, Esha said she'll mime, and you.

I didn't say that I was doing it!

All right, I'll deal with Heston.

Does that mean you'll join in?

It means I'll help.

Odd.

According to this you are a 52-year-old man with haemorrhoids.

Have you ever had haemorrhoids?

No.

Could you confirm your address for me, please?

Can't you read? it says there, don't it?

How about you put your phone away while I'm talking to you?

I'll do what I want

you old fart.

You talk to me like that again, chief,

you'll find yourself getting kicked out.

What are you doing?

Oi! Stop, stop taking my picture!

Don't take my photograph.

Stop it! Oi!

I call Dr Zara Carmichael.

Oh, sorry, I should have switched this off.

That's strange.

I've got a message but the number's not in my contacts.

Don't open it.

Why not?

It might be a good luck message.

Well, then you would know who it was. Whoever it was, it can wait.

Switch it off!

Yeah, it's Stanton.

I need a response team at The Mill, straight away.

-I'm checking the whereabouts of...

-Dr Haskey.

-Dr Haskey.

Can you trace the number?

It'll be a burner. There's no point. Put it out of your mind.

Please read the oath from the card in front of you.

I do solemnly swear by Almighty God...

That the evidence I give shall be the truth, the whole truth

and nothing but the truth.

Dr Carmichael.

That was a mix-up between the oath and the witness affirmation.

Could you read one, or the other?

Sorry.

I do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm

that the evidence I give shall be the truth

the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Could you confirm your full name to the court?

If you could look at me, please.

My name is Dr Zara Carmichael

There is a lump, but the hopeful news is it feels

more like a cyst, than testicular cancer

Dr Haskey.

What the actual...

You're a partner at The Mill Health Centre?

-Yes.

-Now, GP practices do not throw partnerships about like confetti,

-do they?

-No.

Indeed, one of the main requirements to attain this elevated,

responsible position is years of service?

-Correct.

-And how many years have you served as general practitioner?

12.

So it would be fair to characterise you as a proverbial

pillar of the community?

A serious, sober person whose word can very much be trusted?

I'm not sure about a pillar, but, as to the second question,

I would hope so.

And on the night of Friday October 13,

when Reece Lonsdale was stabbed in front of you,

did you use all your expertise in an attempt to save his life?

Yes.

Yes, I did.

Unfortunately, it didn't work.

And you identified a suspect for the murder of Reece Lonsdale

-to the police?

-Yes.

The person I identified to the police, as the person who

stabbed Reece,

is standing in the dock.

Thank you.

No more questions.

Dr Carmichael, the prosecution has made great

play of your partnership as evidence of your probity

and great service to the community.

But is it not true that in order to acquire a partnership

in a general practice you must also pay a considerable sum of money?

Yes.

So, a partnership is something you can buy,

like a car, or a dodgy time-share?

Well, not strictly speaking. Yes, you have to have the cash.

-Thank you.

-But you still have to have the years of service.

I'd argue that a closer analogy would be perhaps a barrister's firm.

What firm would allow someone to become a partner who only had

the cash and not the service?

Apparently, it's Merry Christmas Everyone.

Shakin' Stevens.

I wish there was something else.

You know, something classy.

There must be something.

Maybe a carol...

God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman? We already know that one.

Oh, yeah, that is an excellent choice.

Excellent choice.

Oh, although, you know it might clash with the other song,

which is already quite loud.

So, maybe we should go with something that would contrast with that?

Erm, Children, Go Where I Send Thee.

Hmmm...

It's the opposite of noise...

Silent, Silent Night!

Oh, brilliant!

Nothing like a bit of Franz Gruber to add a bit of class.

-Ah.

-I'll tell him.

You'll do it, then?

Yeah.

Everything OK? It's not every day you get visited unexpectedly by the police.

My poor patient caught with his trousers down. He was the one who was really shocked.

I can't work out why they used me to try and threaten Zara.

Well, clearly, after Joe, you're the one she holds most dearly.

Yeah, there is that.

So...I spoke to Sid and I have got him

to agree to donate all the proceeds to a dementia charity.

Oh, fantastic, well done.

-So, you're going to do it, then?

-Ah, no.

Oh, come on, Al, you can't back out now.

Hm, I haven't backed down, I'm just saying, "No."

I spoke to Sid and I got him to donate all the proceeds to a

dementia charity, so you're doing it whether you like it, or not.

You can hum, play the maracas, play a tuning fork for all I care

but you are going to do it!

So decisive, you really are the boss of me, aren't you?

Yes, I am!

All right, see you there.

# Children playing all around me #

The prosecution is asking this court to accept that you are a

solid, reliable, trustworthy member of the community whose word is

reliable, can be trusted.

Is that a fair assessment?

Well, you would have to ask the prosecution.

Dr Carmichael, how many doctors get caught having

sex in the bushes in a public park?

Objection, your honour.

Is that question taking us somewhere?

It pertains to the witness's character and her reliability.

Dr Carmichael...

You were caught having sex in the bushes?

Yes.

On the night of Reece Lonsdale's death,

you were wearing a burlesque costume?

Yes.

So your reputation isn't quite...

Your honour, I must object.

Is the defence trying to drag up Dr Carmichael's sexual history?

If so this is a very desperate line of questioning.

I agree.

I will need to see a point to this actual question, very, very soon.

OK, not that this is any business of the court,

but I was actually out with my partner that night.

In a singles bar?

Call it what you will. We were together.

Can you see me all right?

All too clearly.

I'd like you to have a look at this item.

Exhibit nine.

Would you like to tell the court what it is?

It's the results of a recent eye-test.

Of your eyes?

Yes.

According to the test,

your optician recommended glasses on your last visit.

Yes, I mean, no...

Which?

Neither. Both.

He said I was borderline.

He said that I would need glasses in the future.

So, your eyesight is deteriorating?

My eyesight

Answer the question.

Technically, yes. But it's fine.

But not as good as it was and not getting better.

Your optician still recommends that you get

glasses as soon as possible, yes?

Yes.

You're a very beautiful woman. Looking at your dress today,

you clearly take great care with your appearance.

You were wearing a burlesque costume,

to make yourself more attractive to your partner?

Yes.

Were you too vain to wear glasses, given that your optician...

No. I wasn't.

I don't...

I didn't need to wear glasses.

In the singles bar,

how much did you have to drink before Reece Lonsdale was attacked?

I don't recall exactly.

-Too much to remember?

-No.

You had been drinking,

but can't recall how much and drinking affects your judgment.

Is that a statement, or a question?

Are you aware of the affects alcohol can have on a person's

-judgment, Dr Carmichael?

-Yes, of course

So, sex in the bushes?

That's a result of your sober, sound judgment?

OK, look, I really didn't drink much.

It couldn't have been more than three glasses of wine.

And not large ones. It was nothing.

Nothing?

Dr Carmichael what would happen

if you drank three glasses of wine and treated a patient?

Well, I would be in trouble.

But I wouldn't treat a patient...

-It would be extremely unprofessional, would it not?

-Yes.

And if you got in a car and drove, after three glasses,

-that would be illegal?

-Yes. Obviously.

Yet the prosecution asks this court to entrust this

young man's life on your judgment, after three glasses.

Your judgment, which I think it's safe to say, is questionable,

even when sober.

No, I know what I saw.

I saw him stab Reece Lonsdale.

So, Reece Lonsdale was stabbed at approximately 23:15.

It was dark. You are on the borderline of needing glasses.

You had been drinking.

I put it to you that you cannot possibly

be as certain of this as you claim to be.

I am certain!

-And may I also add...

-No, you may not.

Please only answer the questions put to you, Dr Carmichael.

Let's adjourn for lunch.

All rise.

I've blown it, have I?

Let's not jump to conclusions.

Juries are, well, unpredictable.

Don't listen to the defence, all right?

Juries, they tend to like doctors. They want to trust you.

Some of Botham-Hart's insinuations were beneath contempt.

But I'll do what I can to bat them away.

Get some lunch, I'll recall you to the stand.

And we'll roll some of this back in the afternoon.

Haskey!

You're not dead...good.

Just sing me one note, Esha.

No! I've said I'd mime, isn't that enough

You know, some people say that anyone can sing, yeah.

-They just have to find their voice.

-They haven't heard me.

One note. Just copy me, OK.

Ah...

-Ah...

-You're not even trying.

Look, Silent Night. Do you know that one?

So just sing it, then.

Look, if you try it and it doesn't work, I will leave you alone, I promise.

But if you don't even try, you'll have to take out a restraining order out on me.

Don't tempt me.

What was that one you used to sing in the shower all the time?

I don't know.

No, no, no... The Snow Patrol one, what was it?

# If you lie here... #

Come on, sing with me.

BOTH: # If I just lay here

# Would you lie with me

# And just forget the world. #

See! You can sing. There!

So, just to be absolutely clear, is there any doubt in your mind at

all that the person you saw killing Reece Lonsdale is the accused?

No.

It was the accused.

And no mistake.

And how close did the accused come to you?

About ten feet.

And could any reasonable person consider you to have been

-drunk that night?

-No.

The police, the paramedics who attended that night, you can ask any of them.

None of them would say that my judgment was impaired by alcohol.

This has been an ordeal for me.

The accused has orchestrated a campaign of intimidation

-against me and my family

-Objection.

They have threatened us, they have attacked us.

We've had to move out of our home.

Dr Carmichael, this has no relevance...

It's relevant to me.

They have tried everything they could to stop me testifying.

Everything they could.

If there were one shred of doubt in my mind about this,

I would no way have got this far.

The jury, you need to know this.

Dr Carmichael, your job is to answer questions.

Not lecture us.

And if you talk across me again, you will be held in contempt.

Any further questions Miss Botham-Hart?

It must have been awful, what you've had to endure.

It was.

They were scared that I would tell the truth about him.

It must have made you all the more determined to make sure

Braydon Jennings was punished.

It made me determined to tell the truth.

Is there any evidence that the people behind this "campaign"

against you are connected to the accused?

-It was them.

-But evidence, Doctor?

-Who else could it be?

-I have no idea.

You and your partner appear to have rather colourful lifestyles.

Are you telling us that neither of you have any enemies?

No, that's not what I'm saying

So, on the basis of absolutely no evidence,

you are accusing Braydon Jennings of inciting witness intimidation.

It's a yes or no question.

Yes.

Thank you. No more questions.

You are excused, Dr Carmichael.

The pain in my back and shoulders is so bad, I can't lift my arms.

But on some days you can?

I've told you, it fluctuates.

-Rhuma?

-Look, I'm busy, OK, so, I'll catch you later.

Not until you tell me what you're up to?

I don't have to tell you anything.

Why don't you just listen to me?!

All right, that's enough, that was completely unacceptable.