Long Haul Doctors

COUGHING

You see that? That's just a warning.

Next time, I come at night.

What's wrong with you, man? Do you want to die?

Hi. Erm, I'm looking for flat 12.

That's me.

Ah, Gary. I'm Karen Hollins, from the Mill Health Centre.

I've been running a bit late, I've been calling. Erm...

Is everything OK?

OK. Erm...

-Shh!

-ZARA LAUGHS

-Oh!

-Hey, that's MY cornichon.

That's a gherkin.

-Don't be ridiculous.

-That's a gherkin!

-Anything interesting?

-Yes, advances in neuroimaging.

Fascinating how it's being used in the treatment of aphasia.

You know, there's a great new app for that

with an interactive graphic.

Thank you, but I prefer my sources peer reviewed.

Trouble with print is the research is months out of date

by the time you get to read it. Here, have a look.

I do not need my information cut up and served in bite-sized chunks.

Thank you.

LOUD METAL MUSIC PLAYING

Erm, could we turn the music down, please?

MUSIC STOPS

What was that all about outside?

Connor? Oh, he'll be gone by now.

I'll walk you out just the same, just to be sure.

Was he threatening you?

-He's scared, that's all.

-Scared of what?

He's terrified he's not man enough to finish me off.

Erm, I'm here because Dr Reid referred you

to the vulnerable patient assessment scheme. Do you remember that?

Do I look vulnerable to you?

You've not been turning up for your hypertension checks.

That's a concern.

Let's put it down to lack of interest, shall we?

Erm... So this is my last appointment of the day.

I can take my time, get a full picture.

GARY CHUCKLES

You really don't want to do that.

How about I take a seat?

And... Yes, move that, and...

All bells and whistles. The latest fad.

OK, you know what they're like.

It's not just them, is it? It's this pervasive idea

that anything new is better than knowledge built on experience.

So, just leave them to their fancy gadgets, OK?

Look, we've got better things to think about.

This Machu Picchu tour - it looks amazing...

..and someone's put an online video, as well.

Oh, an online video? Marvellous.

OK, just calm down, all right? Because I ain't the enemy here.

-Sorry.

-Yeah, and the rest.

Look, why don't I take you to that Peruvian restaurant?

I hear the ceviche's to die for.

No, no, no, no. I like my fish cooked and battered...

..but if you promise to stop being a grumpy boy, then maybe.

Now, look.

-Oh!

-Mm.

Um...

My daughter's into her art.

She... Well, I can't pretend I understand any of it

but you can see the skill in this, can't you?

Rubens gets under your skin.

Forensic precision, yet he gets to the soul of the subject.

These are good. Are these yours?

Amateur stuff.

Passes the time.

Dr Reid said the last time she saw you,

you were struggling to find work.

Are you still getting your disability benefits?

They've cut my money, deemed me fit to work.

Well, that's something the surgery could possibly help you with.

I've got everything I need here. I've got my music, my books...

You can't live off books -

and if your health is keeping you from getting back out there, then...

I've wasted 30 years out there.

Years clocked off in mileage counters, motorway tolls,

service stations.

Well, you've obviously been some places.

I bet you've got some stories to tell.

Gary. Gary?

I'd offer you a drink, but I've only got water and beer,

so let's get this over with, eh?

-Do you want me to drive?

-Why not?

Heston, you got a sec?

Well, we've booked a table.

Seven-year-old with unusual symptoms.

Probably something he ate,

but he needs checking over by a doctor just in case.

Please.

Go on. My raw fish can wait.

Thank you.

Any hobbies or interests?

I used to soak it all up - art, history, philosophy,

Kant, Nietzsche, Arendt, the meaning of good and evil.

Gary, just slow down.

Are you taking your antidepressants?

Pills don't cut it when I'm like this.

Just keep me talking - or do you want some music?

-Where's the remote?

-Gary! Gary!

Just stop it. Listen, look at me. Look at me.

Have you got friends or family you can speak to?

Divorced 15 years. Married too young.

Needed an escape.

I'm a pacifist, so I couldn't join the army,

so I became a long-distance lorry driver.

Have you got kids?

Weather. Do you want to talk about the weather?

Pets? Have you got any pets?

That man was threatening you.

I pray the next time he sets fire to this place, I don't wake up.

OK, you're doing very well, Ryan.

Does that hurt?

There?

Can you answer the doctor, Ryan?

Tell him where it hurts.

He's been like this since I picked him up.

Not answering. He's in a daze. He's not said a word.

When did the school first notice he was sick?

About an hour ago, just after lunch.

He's usually full of energy, chatty...

He's got a slightly high temperature, a raised pulse.

That could be a virus.

Any rashes or nausea?

Not that I know about.

OK, Ryan, do you mind opening your mouth?

Open wide.

OK.

Have you noticed the bluish tinge to his lips?

Ink, or...?

Looks like viper to me.

You're not serious?

What? What is it?

Erm, I don't wish to alarm you, but is there any possibility

that your son has been exposed to recreational drugs?

No.

Why would you even ask me that? He's seven!

Well, the clammy skin, quickened pulse, the blue tinge

to the lips are all symptomatic of viper.

What's viper? I've never even heard of it.

It's a synthetic form of cannabis, only much stronger.

This is insane!

My son's sick, and you're accusing him of taking drugs?

No, I'm not saying he took it deliberately,

-but the indications do say...

-I want to see another doctor!

I know this is very upsetting.

Dr Carter is one of our most senior, experienced doctors...

I'll find one myself.

No, no, no. No, it's fine. I'll find you one.

We could book an appointment with Dr Reid right now, while I'm here.

Gary, do you have to be somewhere?

I used to hate routine.

When Suzy was little, I could never be relied on for bath times,

bedtimes, meal times.

You can set your watch by me now.

Is that her? Is that Suzy?

WATCH BEEPS

Gary, what...?

Well, it could be a virus, or an allergic reaction.

Has Ryan eaten anything unusual today?

We are wasting time. Call an ambulance.

My son hasn't taken any drugs.

No, of course not -

but with his symptoms, it probably would be best

if he gets checked out at the hospital.

Call an ambulance, and I'll call Rob.

What's he saying now? Who's Rob? Hmm? What is going on?

OK, everything is under control,

but I think just to be on the safe side,

the nurse will call an ambulance,

and Dr Carter and I will have a word outside.

Hi, I need an ambulance from the Mill Health Centre.

What possible good will come from alarming the mother unnecessarily?

I've seen what viper can do, and that boy needs urgent treatment.

Heston, you just consider for one moment

how and why a child that young...

Let's leave the whys and wherefores for the police.

I'm telling you, Heston - don't get Rob involved in this,

unless you want to make a fool of yourself.

His pulse has shot up.

I'll get somebody else to deal with you.

Hold on, Rob.

Heston, I can't have you coming in here,

talking to me the way you did...

Please, hear me out.

Gary!

Gary, what's going on?

That girl - is she the one you've been drawing?

Whoa!

-Get back! Gary, wait!!

-You're going to get hurt!

You go after him, and I'll get you arrested.

-Someone's got to stop that sicko!

-Just tell me what's going on!

Like you care! Yous lot are all the same.

Try me.

It's my sister, and my little niece. He won't leave them alone.

-Well... Well, does he know them?

-No.

He's just there every day, watching them, like some...predator.

-How long's that been going on?

-A few months.

Some days he leaves it, and then he's back.

Doesn't matter what I do to him.

Now Nat's having nightmares, she's wetting the bed...

-Have you called the police?

-Of course I have.

They just gave him a warning,

and then treated me like I was the criminal.

Has he approached them? Does he try and follow them? What?

No, because he knows I'll kill him.

If he carries on like this, I promise you I'll put him in a grave.

I've lost a job because of this,

because I need to be here every morning and afternoon.

Listen, I understand why you're angry,

but you being in jail is not going to help your sister.

So just let me see if I can do something.

-What, so you're going to stop him?

-Give me a chance.

You tell him his time's running out.

The background checks all came back clean,

so you're on a hiding to nothing on this one.

Well, at least talk to the parents. Ask them...

Ask them what, exactly? If they laced their kid's cornflakes

with a psychosis-inducing drug this morning?

Well, maybe it was a family friend, or an older sibling.

PHONE RINGS Heston, let it go.

Karen, yeah, go on.

-Jimmi, can I seek your advice?

-Yeah, sure.

Right, what do you think of this? With the viper stuff, right...

His name's Gary Stock. Listen, I know you can't tell me

if he's on the sex offenders register. I'm not asking you to.

Just if you find out that he is, can you stop him before he goes too far?

I'll run some checks as soon as I get a minute -

unless you think this little girl is in imminent danger.

He didn't approach them -

according to the brother, he hasn't tried to follow them home, yet.

Leave it with me, and do not go back to the flat.

Yeah, but he's been badly hurt. I need to check he's OK -

and what's going to happen with Connor next time, I don't know.

I mean it. He could be dangerous.

Promise me that you won't do something silly.

Yeah, OK. Bye.

GARY CRIES

GARY YELLS

You've got to admit, it seems improbable.

Well, maybe he found a package in the street,

or he got it from another child at school.

You don't think this viper death has got to you a bit?

Oh, come on, credit me with a bit more than that.

I'm just saying, it was pretty grim, that's all.

You know, I mean, experimenting teenagers,

the homeless, vulnerable young people.

That's your typical viper victim.

I'm not saying it CAN'T happen to anyone...

Why won't you take me seriously?

JIMMI SIGHS

-Come on.

-I know, but look...

Come on, Gary.

I need to check you're OK. You had a nasty hit.

What's going to happen if Connor turns up and I'm standing out here?

Did she tell you what she told me - that my boy's not taken any drugs?

She said it was improbable, but that doesn't mean...

Oh, please don't. I can't take this any more.

I'm sorry you think I'm being insensitive.

I only want what's best for Ryan.

He's hooked up to all these monitors and drips,

and they can't even tell me what's wrong with him.

Well, he's in safe hands -

and the sooner they find the cause, the better.

Has he...said anything yet?

A few words, but he's not making much sense.

He was so lively this morning, so happy.

Do you mind if I speak to him, if I'm very gentle?

Ryan, you're being very brave.

Lots of people are trying to help you.

Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?

OK. Have you drunk or eaten anything unusual today?

Where's the witch?

I told you, love, there's no witch. You're safe with Mummy.

What witch, Ryan?

She made me.

-She made you what?

-Eat it.

What did she make you eat?

-The cake.

-What cake, love?

When did she make you eat the cake?

It's all right, Mummy's here. Nobody's going to hurt you.

You must tell the doctor what happened.

He was going on about a witch before you got here.

It could be a hallucination from the fever.

Kept on about her green hair, scary black eyes.

Erm, will you give me a moment? I need to check something.

PHONE RINGS

-Heston.

-Rob, yeah, hi.

Listen, you know the woman with the green hair earlier,

sort of Goth looking? Is she still in custody?

Why? What about her?

I need you to ask her if she was anywhere near

Wantage Way Primary School earlier today.

Heston, you need to stop telling me how to do my job.

No, no, no, hear me out.

I think she may have something to do with the Ryan Jarwood incident.

ROB SIGHS

You have to stop hounding that little girl and her mum.

I can't get her out of me mind.

She's with me every waking moment, and then in me dreams.

She won't leave me alone.

This has to stop before you do any real harm.

It's too late for that.

You haven't...?

I'm not that kind of monster!

"Crossing death, lorry driver convicted."

"Lorry driver Gary Stock is jailed for mowing down and killing

"seven-year-old Jessica Joseph and her mother Rachel

"at a crossing near the little girl's school."

You fell asleep.

Her red coat was the first thing I saw.

She had a sweet face.

Puzzled look on her face.

She started to raise her arm.

I slammed the brakes, but it was too late.

It still doesn't make any sense -

how can this woman have fed him cake if he's been at school all day?

When the police have more information, they'll let you know -

but they now have a positive line of inquiry,

and he'll get the tests and treatment he needs.

I shouldn't have kicked off like I did. I just want him better.

Well, you've had a horrible ordeal.

Ryan is stable now, and he'll get the best possible care.

Thank you, doctor.

I'd been going 18 hours straight.

The pressure to make deliveries was relentless.

No break?

Company knew they were breaking the rules.

They just doctored the mileage for the inspectors.

Why didn't you say something?

All my life, whenever the going got tough, I just walked away.

No regrets.

I was going to pack it in the very next day.

Now it kills me every day that I didn't do it sooner.

Yeah, but if...

I mean, if you did, it could have happened to another driver.

It was your firm that was negligent.

-I

-stepped into that cab.

-I

-fell asleep.

-I

-destroyed that family.

Did that not come up in court, their negligence?

They were convicted of corporate manslaughter.

You can't send a company to jail.

And you?

Involuntary manslaughter.

I'd been diagnosed with sleep apnoea before the trial.

I've never fallen asleep at the wheel before, never knew I had it.

Doctor said it was like driving with a ticking time bomb.

What did you get?

Four years. Served two.

Well, you've...

You've done your time. Can you not move on?

Try telling that to the little girl's dad.

-Any biscuits?

-Ah, now, you see -

this is what happens when you stand me up for lunch.

Don't tell me you went to the station?

That poor mother has enough going on!

-Hang on, Zara, he's just trying to help.

-I fail to see

how jumping to alarmist conclusions is helping anyone.

Well, you can't blame Heston for trying to explore all the options.

OK, it didn't work this time, but at least...

-HESTON GASPS

-You OK?

Yeah, I would be if I could get a word in edgeways.

-Afternoon, guys.

-Hey, Rob.

Heston, just a quick one -

you'll be pleased to know that it turns out you were right.

We arrested a young woman for shoplifting near Ryan's school,

and she admitted to passing a viper-laced cake

through the railings at lunchtime.

What? Why would anybody feed drugs to a random kid?

She claims that Ryan was pointing at her, laughing,

and calling her a witch,

so she thought that she would teach him a lesson.

Any word from the hospital?

Only that he's getting better,

because now they know what they're dealing with.

-Thanks to Heston.

-Yeah, it...

It was a good call.

Got to go.

Right, I'm just going to get this cleaned up,

see if you need any stitches.

Sorry! I'm so sorry!

I killed a little girl! She's gone cos of me!

-So this - this is nothing!

-Stop it!

Stop it! Look, it was an accident!

You've got to stop hurting yourself, stop hurting this poor family.

It's not going to change what happened in the past.

I don't want to cause any more grief.

Then can you stop it?

I just need to see that little girl safe across the road.

Is that what this is about?

Yes.

Come on. Come and sit down.

I'm going to get you some help.

Is there somebody that you're close to?

You mentioned a Suzy - is that your daughter?

I wouldn't let her come and see me in jail.

Couldn't face the grandkids now.

They're better off out of this.

Shouldn't they get to decide that?

-Zara.

-Heston.

Look...well done today.

Thank you.

Perhaps I was a little quick to make assumptions.

Easily done -

but I appreciate your apology.

Well, let's not go that far.

But I was wrong, and you were right.

Chalk it up to age and experience.

If you'll excuse me, I have a patient to see.

I will do it, I just need more time.

I'm not leaving until you try.

But what if she's at work, or busy with the kids?

Well, you call back when it's convenient, or you leave a message.

What if she don't want to speak to me?

Then you try again.

Suzy?

Suzy, love, it's me.

Dad.

-Don't hang up, Suzy, love, please.

-DOORBELL RINGS

Oh, if that's Connor...

-What did I say?

-I know, but I just... I couldn't leave it.

No, you never can.

-Right, where is he?

-Can you...?

Can you just give him a minute?

Yeah.

Whatever you decide.

You take as long as you need. I'll be here whatever.

Bye, love. Bye.

She had to go and get the kids' tea.

She said she'd get back to me

when she's had time to think about everything.

Take it all in.

-Gary Stock?

-Yes.

Following an incident that happened earlier on today,

I'm arresting you on suspicion of harassment.

I just... I wanted you to look into it.

Which I did.

You've already been given a verbal warning, haven't you,

for stalking a young woman and her daughter?

Which you decided to ignore.

Tell him. Tell him why you did it.

Just explain that you're going to get help.

-It's OK.

-As I said, you're under arrest.

You don't have to say anything,

but it may harm your defence if you don't mention

when questioned something you later rely on in court.

Anything you do say may be given in evidence. Do you understand?

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

I swear, this all stops right now.

You believe that scum?

He's not what you think he is.

And yes, I do.

She's just called to say Ryan's back home. He's chatting away.

Still a bit dazed, but he's promised never to be mean to a witch again.

Come here, you.

I'm so proud of you, you know?

Because you fought for that little boy,

and you showed Zara what you're made of.

It's no more than you would have done.

Yeah, and that's why we are awesome.

You know, after today, I don't think I'm ready

to give up my stethoscope for a panpipe and poncho.

-Excellent, because I quite like this midwife malarkey, you know.

-Oh!

Heston? Are you all right?

-Fine, it's just...

-Your heart?

No, no, it's fine.

-Maybe we should just pop into St Phil's.

-No, no, no...

All right, do you know what? Just sit down here for a second.

And I'm going to go and get Zara.

-No, don't!

-Just sit down.

Oh!

-Beth's kicked me out of bed!

-OK, do you know why that is?

I can't control it. I've tried everything.

Are you saying I should be on sick leave?

No.

Well, yes, actually.

The smell!

I've got the most terrible pain in my head!

I can't see you properly!

-I think it's nits.

-Stop scratching!

-I can't stand it!

-Emma...