Factor of One Doctors

MUSIC: Unbroken by Birdy

I think lilies are nice.

I always think of them as a funeral flower.

And the scent. And they stain.

Can't have people brushing up against them.

White roses?

Boring.

Mm, but they'd look good at Haseldine Hall.

Is that your preferred venue?

No, but it is where you proposed.

And they can fit us in at short notice, midweek.

-You checked?

-I haven't booked it, though.

But it means we can get the invites out quickly.

-You don't mind, do you?

-No, I don't mind.

I just didn't think you wanted somewhere quite so formal.

-Mum?

-Mm-hm.

-Will I have to wear a hat?

Er, no. Not as my chief bridesmaid.

What?

Come here.

And Shak, I would like you to give me away.

Whatever.

So, what do you, chief bridesmaid, think of that?

What do you mean, "Wrong answer, fool"? What?! No!

DEVILISH LAUGHTER

Michael Coburn, for want of a better word, that is cheating.

'Cheat!'

Hey, all's fair in love and Nexus Gladiators.

You just lost to a superior tactician.

'Yeah, yeah, whatever,

'we'll see what happens when we get to the Chambers of Echo,'

because your tactics there, they're not going to work, are they?

Sorry, mate, got to set up some lab demos.

I'll give you another whupping later.

Yeah, whatever.

You don't really have to wear that!

You can wear whatever you like.

Well, what are you wearing?

Oh...something simple but elegant.

Oh, not a sari?

No. Nor a shalwar kameez.

So, it's going to be completely Western?

Oh, unless Heston wants to come in on a big, fat white horse.

No, no. But I was wondering if we should include

some...traditional elements.

What's more traditional than a wedding in a grand hall?

No, no, no, some traditional Muslim elements.

A Gujarati wedding is completely different to an Indonesian wedding.

I have no idea what an Afghan wedding is like.

Point taken. I was thinking more in terms of faith...

and how it might figure in our marriage.

What?

Well, if we thought... If you thought it was helpful,

I could possibly...

You could possibly what?

I could possibly convert.

HE SPLUTTERS

Really? Oh, absolutely.

If you could convert into George Clooney, that would be amazing.

I'd give it a go.

-Not quite what I had in mind.

-I know it's not what you had in mind.

And it's very touching, but I like you the way you are.

-Good.

-SHE LAUGHS

Just ignore him.

I have been.

Of course I'm not going to tell you what it's about, I just need to see the doctor.

Look...

I've already prepped the salad and the vegetables. I won't be long.

Jen will cover me, won't you, Jen?

Yeah.

Go on, then.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Come in. Hi.

Have you got a moment?

Yeah, yeah. My next consultation isn't until ten.

So, how's things...?

We need to stop our sessions.

-What? But what about...?

-It isn't appropriate anymore.

But I thought it was...

I thought if we got it out of our system we could carry on.

But it shows how way off my thinking was.

I was completely irresponsible. Twice.

I was just as irresponsible. I could have held back.

But I should have. The burden of responsibility is with me.

So I have decided to tell everything to my therapist

and they can take whatever action they see fit.

That's pretty drastic.

It's the right thing to do.

I'm sorry.

DOOR CLOSES

OK. So, the results of the test have indicated that there's

a high chance that the baby will have Down's syndrome.

When they say high, does that mean definitely?

It's a diagnostic test which is very accurate.

I'm afraid there's a high probability.

But there is still a chance the baby might not have it?

There is counselling. It's called genetic...

It wouldn't change anything.

No, it wouldn't.

SHE SOBS

I'm sorry.

It's OK. I understand this is really difficult to hear.

Have you told anyone else?

Like who?

Mike, maybe?

We're not together any more.

Oh, right. Sorry, I didn't know.

Mike had an affair. A researcher.

I found out. He swore he'd end it.

Then I found more texts at Easter so I told him to go.

A couple of weeks later I found out I was pregnant.

Right, so we're all set up and good to go.

All we need now is for Professor Hodgson to turn up.

Or, as he's known in the department, "the late Professor Hodgson."

Argh!

On the internet,

it says most women with a Down's diagnosis choose to abort.

About 90%.

On this occasion, I'd say that's pretty accurate.

Why?

Why do I think it's accurate?

Why do you think so many choose a termination?

Oh... For a variety of reasons.

Not just because the baby won't be...normal?

It's not right to think in terms of normality.

I believe in a woman's right to choose.

So do you think I should have the baby?

No...it is absolutely your choice, your decision.

Of the families I know who have children with Down's syndrome,

they seem to lead fulfilled lives.

Families.

Yeah.

What about single mothers?

I barely earn enough for myself let alone a child with Down's.

How am I going to manage?

People find a way.

But how hard would it be? I just...

I don't know what to do.

DOOR OPENS

Megan, I've been thinking.

I'm not changing my mind.

What happened between us, it's not what should happen, I know...

I'm doing the right thing.

I don't think you are - not by your patients,

or your future patients.

And I don't want to be the cause of that.

If it had been any patient, I would do the same.

I'm a doctor, too, you know.

I do know where the boundaries are. This is different.

It really isn't.

It is.

It is for me.

I have never felt anything like this, it's so strong, I...

I just can't help myself.

I can't, either.

But we can't.

OK. Look, if we carry on,

then it will just get more and more obvious and people will find out.

And they'll feel obliged to report me, which would be

so much worse than doing something now.

Wouldn't it?

Yeah. Yeah, you're right. Sorry.

MUSIC: Unbroken by Birdy

-Sal, love.

-Jen.

-You OK?

Oh...

Do you want to tell me what's wrong?

I'm pregnant.

Oh, I see. With...Mike?

And things haven't changed, between you?

No.

Does he know?

No.

It's not just that there's a baby.

What, love?

The baby's going to have Down's syndrome.

And you know that for sure?

Had the tests. I've just been talking about it with the doctor.

And what did they say?

He said he knew children with Down's syndrome who have normal lives.

So he's trying to get you to keep it?

He was... He said it was my choice, but...

But he thought you shouldn't have an abortion?

I... I don't know...

You have got to do what's right for you.

And you shouldn't let doctors or anyone

force you into something you don't want.

Yeah?

Yeah.

'Are you sure you don't want me to have a look at it?'

I'll live. It was just a little burn

Well, if you will play with matches...

Very funny(!) I was helping one of the students.

Nice of you to do your job.

If you can find the time,

when you're not cheating at Nexus Gladiators.

That's just you excusing your own tactical failings.

Yeah, good one.

So, how's things with you, between work and Nexus?

Oh, OK...

And Sally?

We're not together any more, mate.

Oh, dude, I'm really sorry to hear that.

It's funny, I did see her recently.

Yeah?

'Yeah.' She wasn't quite looking herself.

No?

Sally was looking a bit downcast.

OK. Thanks. I might send her a text or something.

I will see you on level 13, my friend.

Yeah, yeah, I'll see you on level 13.

I want to see Dr Haskey.

OK, I'll...

I don't want an appointment.

Well, I don't know about that...

Dr Haskey?

The one and only.

I want to talk to you about Sally Kingston.

And who are you?

A friend.

I won't be a minute.

So, I have no intention of discussing patient details with...

You told Sally that Down's babies had normal lives.

No, I didn't.

I told her I knew of families where the children with Down's syndrome

led fulfilled lives.

And that's not pressuring her?

It's nothing of the sort.

I believe in a woman's right to choose.

But you're not letting her have a choice,

you're telling her to have it.

Oh, ye gods of circularity! OK.

And as a "friend", what advice are you giving her?

What do you mean?

Well, you seem set against the birth option.

I sincerely hope you aren't pushing her in the other direction.

Like what?

Have you suggested that she get a termination?

It's up to her.

Yes, it's up to her!

You know, I've got two pieces of advice for you.

The first one

is that you de-appoint yourself as my patient's advocate.

The second one - and you're going to like this -

get out of my office.

Doctors, they think they know it all!

No, we don't, it's just that we use our expertise to offer informed advice.

For example, the exit's down the stairs!

Karen, if she comes back, you call security.

Right. Who's next? Come on, you're up.

Hi.

What are you doing here?

I tried calling but it went straight to your voicemail.

I'm working.

I just want to see if you're all right.

I spoke to Al earlier...

-When?

-Just before lunchtime. He said that I should talk...

He shouldn't have.

He had no right to tell you about it.

About what?

The baby.

What? You're...?

I'm pregnant.

Is it mine?

Of course it's yours!

It wasn't me who was sleeping with someone else.

That's...

I think that's fantastic news.

Ooh...is this the wedding venue?

-Yeah.

-It's also where we proposed.

-Ah!

Yeah, it's a beautiful setting.

Oh, the setting is so important. Although they do say that

Haseldine Hall is haunted by an aristocrat. Shot himself.

Unrequited love.

Well, hopefully, he won't make an appearance on the day.

A heartbroken spectre, wailing the lament of the spurned

of the unforgiving centuries.

That would take the gloss off things.

My wedding venue was nice.

We were going to go budget, but then, all adds up.

Flowers, the room hire, the vol-au-vents...

Did you not have wedding insurance?

Well, we thought it would add a negative pall to the proceedings.

We didn't want to undermine our romantic aspirations for the future.

And it's only money. And Barry didn't shoot himself.

So that's a positive.

Right. Well, I'll leave you to it. Happy planning.

I said I'm sorry, it was a mistake, a huge mistake.

It was just a...

A fling? A one-off?

Didn't sound like it from the texts.

It's over, OK? She's not even here any more.

And even if she was, this news, it's brilliant.

Look, I love you.

-Do you?

-Yes. I want to look after you.

You and the baby.

I reckon it might be a boy.

Yeah?

Yeah. He's going to be born with Down's syndrome.

Everything all right?

Mike says he wants to look after us.

So you're pressuring her to keep the baby, as well?

She is keeping it, isn't she?

Sally?

Sally, don't listen to him.

Hey...!

He's hurt you before.

And if I were you, I'd report that doctor.

What, Al?

-He were pressuring her, too.

-They're mates.

Oh, so, you're cooking it up together?!

No!

Sally...?

KNOCK ON DOOR

-Come in.

-Hey.

Listen, I've been thinking, about the cost of the wedding.

As Valerie said, "It's only money."

But it's a lot of money.

And I don't want you to pay for it all.

It's hardly an imposition.

No, but look, this is about the two of us.

Ruhma.

Heston. I want to contribute.

It really isn't necessary.

Well, it is to me.

So I'm going to take on some more shifts.

And the garage sales, I'm going to get my head onto it.

Oh, yes, the goldmine that is bric-a-brac(!)

Hey, hey. I got 250 spondadoolies for that cigarette case.

-That was a very good find...

-Thank you very much

..and I apologise for denigrating your efforts.

You know, sometimes, some of us think that older things are worth taking a punt on.

Get out.

SHE SNORTS

Now.

What do you think you were doing, telling Mike?

Telling him what?

Telling him to come and see me.

I didn't. I didn't...

He turned up at work.

Oh, right. Did you tell him?

Didn't have much choice, did I?

What did he say?

He wants to look after us.

Well, good... That's...

Is it? After what he's done?

You've spoken to him about it, haven't you?

No. I wouldn't do that.

She's right, maybe I should report you.

Report? Who? Oh, right, your friend..

Jen. She's not really a friend, I just work with her.

Well, she thinks that entitles her to tell me how I should treat you.

What do you mean?

She was here earlier.

Insinuating I was telling you to keep your baby.

You did.

No, I didn't.

But all you said about Down's children leading normal lives...

I said fulfilled lives.

She said I shouldn't let a doctor pressure me into anything.

All right. And is Jen pressuring you into anything?

-Is she pressuring you into getting a termination?

-She didn't.

Maybe not explicitly, but that's the intent.

You know what? I'm not going to have someone misinterpret me or misinform my patients.

And, as for reporting me...

I'll tell her myself what I think about that.

Al?

Excuse me!

Just who do you think you are, lecturing me?

Someone needs to help Sally,

and you're not going to stand by her!

She's carrying my child!

And what about the Down's?

That'll be something we cope with.

You say you will, but when things get hard, you'll disappear.

Now hang on a minute...

What's going on?

I'm being insulted by this interfering cow.

Just insulted? I got insulted and then threatened with report.

So you should be!

For what?! For giving a balanced consultation?

It wasn't!

WERE YOU THERE?!

Sal told me.

Well, I'm sorry, but the GMC, they don't care about hearsay or rumour.

You were trying to force her into things!

For the final time, I would not force anyone into anything.

Unlike you, it seems.

-What?!

-You seem to be forcing her into an abortion.

And, why? What is this? Is it prejudice, is it stupidity,

or is this religion?

-No!

-Then what - what makes you such an expert?

I had a baby. It had Down's!

And he died!

SHE SOBS

He died!

I do hope I haven't put a hex on it.

On what?

Ruhma and Heston's wedding.

How would you have done that?

Well, by mentioning the calamitous circumstances of my own.

And by saying that the venue's haunted by the ghost of a jilted earl.

Really?

Yeah, shot himself, when his bride-to-be eloped with a mere baronet.

I wouldn't worry about it.

I mean, Ruhma and Heston have been together a while now.

Meant to be together.

They're like the yin and the yang of the surgery.

Different, but symbiotic.

From alternate spheres, and yet cleft together in...

Valerie, these need to go out today.

Oh, right, OK. What it must be to be cleft.

-"Cleft"?

-Yep. Drawn together by fate.

Barry and I never had that.

We just didn't have that chemistry. Nor the biology.

Definitely not biology.

We were very non-biological.

Which is fine, actually, because it all came out in the wash.

He were 20, the father. I was 16.

As soon as he knew, he disappeared.

My dad said abortion were out the question.

They didn't believe in it.

Our GP was a family friend. And agreed with him.

He was beautiful when he was born.

Thomas.

You could see he was Down's.

My mum said, "It doesn't matter." And it didn't.

I loved him.

But then he had this other thing. Blood kept flowing into his lungs.

That wasn't anything to do with the Down's. It was just something else in his little life.

They tried surgery, but there were complications and it didn't work.

I'm so sorry.

But when I heard what you told me, today, it brought it all back -

my dad, the doctor...

No-one listened to me. No-one gave me a choice, Sal.

Doesn't give you the right to interfere with us, though.

-Mike!

-She was telling you to have an abortion.

-I didn't.

-Al said you did.

No, that was just my impression.

I didn't want Sally to go through what I did

with Thomas. No-one held me. No-one comforted me.

No-one explained.

I've made a fool of myself.

No. No, you haven't.

I wish I'd known.

Come on, I'll make you some tea.

I'll be there for you, for you and the baby.

I swear.

Just who does that woman think she is, eh?

Oh, dude. She's a grieving mother.

Yeah, but how long ago?

Doesn't give her the right to tell me what to do.

And what about Sally?

What?

You know, the baby that you're about to have.

-That's got to be a consideration.

-Yeah, I know.

Obviously she'll be the one taking care of it.

I'll be the one working.

I might even have to put in some extra hours.

And I can't let my avatar slip down the rankings.

I'll be online later.

When you're ready.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Repeats for you to sign.

AL SIGHS

Now, see. Even for you, that's not very sociable.

Oh, what a day.

The bonkers woman?

She wasn't bonkers, she was just...

I don't think I handled things well with anybody today.

-You can only do your best.

-I didn't even do that.

TAP ON DOOR

-Hey.

-Hi.

Excuse me.

Listen...

Sally, I need to apologise if any of the advice I gave today

felt like I was trying to manipulate you in any way...

It didn't. I mean, I know what you were trying to say.

But when I spoke with Jen, I might have made it sound like you were...

I was just so confused.

How is Jen?

OK. She was never able to have more kids.

So it was just Thomas.

-I've made my decision.

-Yeah?

Yeah. I'm going to keep the baby.

OK. Well...

I'm really pleased that you were able to make the right decision for you.

I'm not going to get back together with Mike.

I know he's a friend...

No, Mike's not a friend,

he's just some bloke I play computer games with.

I don't think he'll change.

I think he thought, for a moment,

he might be able to help us.

But it's a long road ahead

and I don't think Mike's made for long roads.

Well, you know that we're here to support you, yeah?

Mm. Thanks.

-So, are we friends again, then?

-Yeah!

COMPUTER BLEEPS

Oh. Two secs.

Here are the requisition forms, for Mrs Tembe.

Early. Gold star for you.

Yeah.

HE MAKES POPPING SOUND

Oh, what was that?

It was a mic drop.

Oh.

It means... It just means I'm on top of things.

Mm! You certainly do seem to be.

And you are glowing, with it.

"Glowing"?

Yeah! Maybe that's down to Megan.

Er, how do you mean?

Well, the sessions.

Yes, the sessions, they've been really good.

But they've come to a bit of a natural end now, so...

Oh. Yeah, that can be a bit of a wrench.

I had a friend once, who developed a driving phobia.

I mean, she couldn't even watch an episode of Top Gear

without getting the tremors, let alone get behind the wheel.

THEY LAUGH

Anyway, a few sessions of CBT and she could've done the Le Mans, no problem.

She said they were so good for her,

that she was loath to give up the sessions.

Said it was like splitting up with someone.

Your letters have gone with the rest.

Thanks, Valerie. Goodnight.

Night.

So here we are, the Crown versus Wakely.

I moved to Letherbridge to get away from my druggy boyfriend.

Do you take drugs?

Dr Fayed, this is the Mill Health Centre.

I wanted a chat about a former patient of yours, Mary Macaulay.

A mistake like that would be

low-hanging fruit for the defence QC.

She'd make you look like a bumbling fool.