Remorse Doctors

All that fuss Mummy was

making about us being on time,

and now we're early!

Unless, of course Daddy's

forgotten something.

Football kit? Yes.

Maths book? Check.

Reading record...

Let's have a quick look.

"Joe did some lovely reading today

"and has been moved up

to the yellow band."

Well done! Mummy's going

to be very proud of you.

As am I.

What's this?

Don't know.

Hmm. Oh, one of your school friends?

Lola loves smileys.

Does she? Why would

she address it to Mummy, though?

Lola thinks Mummy's pretty.

Does she?

One of Mummy's many fans.

All right, I'll keep that.

You take this,

and have a wonderful day.

Bye-bye, Daddy.

Bye-bye, sweetheart.

Oh! My good...!

I am so sorry!

I was just, er...

Second visit, Ted Volante, 70.

Missed his last two

check-up appointments

and hasn't been attending

his angina management sessions.

He was doing so well until

his wife died eight months ago.

I referred him for grief

counselling but, again, no-show.

He's not been responding

to our calls but, well,

I've left a message saying

that you're going round today.

Has he got any support networks?

Family? Social worker?

None that I'm aware of. You know,

he used to be one of my regulars,

but I haven't seen him for ages.

Well, I'll make sure he comes in.

Great.

Right, finally,

11.45, Penny Wooster, 97.

Well, your VPAS visit will be

the highlight of her day,

whether it's yours or not,

remains to be seen!

Miss Pitman!

What do you think?!

I am more concerned with what

Dr Vere is going to think.

Have you not got anything

a little less...arresting?

Oh, it takes a lot to grab

people's attention these days.

And what about the other

participants in the campaign?

Oh, look, they're all here.

Dr Vere, Dr Vere, Dr Vere,

Dr Vere...

It is mostly Dr Vere.

Well, it doesn't hurt

that he's quite a looker.

It's a tried and tested

marketing technique, you see.

You have to draw them

in with window-dressing.

After you.

Thank you.

What's that?!

Wow!

AS SEAN CONNERY:

Welcome

to the Mill Health Centre.

May I take your pulse?

Yes, actually, it's racing, doctor.

I think I'm burning up.

Yeah, you do look very hot.

Right, enough of this nonsense!

Miss Pitman, please can you find

something a little more discreet?

Do we all get one of these?

Ha!

Ha-ha!

Keep going!

OK, come on, stand up straight!

Whoa!

OK, down a bit. Right a bit...

Up a bit.

OK, you need to rotate it

right upwards a bit.

Other way!

Ahem!

Mr Volante, I'd really

appreciate a quick word,

just to see you're OK?

I'm fine. Thanks for asking.

Now please leave.

No, no. It's just ten minutes!

You'd be doing me

the biggest favour.

I'm new to this assessment malarkey

and I can't go back without

having said I've seen you.

There. You've seen me.

Take that back to your bosses.

No, that's no good. I mean,

what's my supervisor going to say

if I can't get through

the front door?

Tell him to stuff

his quotas and rotas.

Too many managers,

not enough people doing

decent jobs for decent wages.

Actually, she's really nice.

It's Dr Reid, you remember her?

She remembers you.

Said you were doing very well on

your angina management programme...

And now I'm managing

very well without it,

so kindly take your sales

patter elsewhere.

Well, I would, but there's

another reason I need to come in.

Sorry to disappoint you,

but I can't be doing

with any new-fangled schemes.

No, no, no, it's not that!

I'm busting for the loo.

Now the left ear is too small.

Seriously?

Art is anything you make it,

darling.

All right, chill out, Warhol.

Oh, no, come on.

You've had your 15 minutes.

This needs a woman's touch!

Oh! Tom, hi!

Um, well, now that I'm here,

how about you and me work together,

see if I can't find something

to take back to Dr Reid?

Fill in your forms, tick your boxes,

but lay off the advice.

OK. Can we not get

a bit of light in here?

Maybe some air?

Ted, we're worried about you.

You know, we're concerned about how

you're getting on, on your own.

Is this some

sort of promotion for you?

I can genuinely say

that it's a privilege for me

to get to know some of our patients.

Oh, I thought we were clients,

or stakeholders -

that's a good one.

OK, you want straight talking.

I couldn't help but notice

it smells of cigarettes in here.

I'm not a doctor...

I'll thank you to leave now.

Shame on you, Lolo

sitting in the dark again!

Ah, hello!

Oh, I'm so excited to meet you!

Oh, yes, me too!

Marion! You look so much

like your pictures!

No, I'm Karen Hollins

from the Mill Health Centre.

Oh!

I'm sorry.

I'm so stupid sometimes.

Sometimes?!

Lolo, I won't buy you more flowers

if this is how you treat them.

Good riddance!

Sylvia hated carnations anyway.

So do I.

Can't they make it any sooner?

I've spoken to the CPS and that's

the earliest court date possible.

I suppose these

things can't be rushed.

No.

So...

So?

Was there something else?

No. I'll let you go.

OK. Thanks.

Bye, Tom.

Was Anya arranged

by Social Services?

I can't find it in your notes.

I don't need a minimum wage

babysitter. She's not my carer.

She's...

Oh, she's a friend?

..a ruddy nuisance.

If you want to help, get rid.

Well, she can't be that bad.

You've given her a key.

Try saying no to her.

Insisted on helping me

with my shopping once.

Now she wants to take over my life.

But she won't beat me.

What is wrong with

a friendly neighbour

popping round once in a while?

I just want to be left alone!

By everyone!

This is biko,

a traditional Filipino dessert.

Oh, wow!

Sorry. That looks delicious.

It's Ted's favourite.

But he's not allowed too much.

I insist he gets his five-a-day.

I'm glad you're here

because I've caught him smoking.

I'll do what I damn well like

in my own home!

Then why hide it?

Well, if you really want to know,

Sylvia doesn't like...

..didn't like the smell.

I assume that...

..that you are both

responsible for this?

Please, Miss, no detention.

Al did the ears.

That's why they're wonky.

I did the whiskers.

Well, thank you for your honesty,

Dr Clay.

Yeah, sorry.

Look, it won't happen again.

Snitches get stitches.

Well, there'll be no

grovelling apology from me.

Where exactly in the

GMC guidelines does it say -

"Thou shalt not mock smarmy-faced

vanity projects"?

Dr Vere participated in this

campaign with the upmost integrity.

How his image has been presented is,

unfortunately, beyond his control.

If he is gullible enough to think

that they are interested

in anything more

than his pretty boy features,

then he is more stupid

than he is pretty!

I have decided to rearrange

the rota this afternoon, Dr Haskey.

You will now be at the Campus

Surgery, doing the drop-in clinic.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, objection.

That's not fair!

Well, I have calls to make.

No, no, no.

That's not fair, Mrs Tembe.

I have calls to make!

We are receiving

negative feedback on the internet

and I have to try my best

to manage that too.

Excuse me.

So unfair!

Ted, I get why you're angry.

And I know how impersonal

the system is,

but you have to believe

that this is important to me.

I am not shifting

until you work with me!

Right, get on with it.

Do your worst.

How easy are you finding it

to get out and about?

I can still pick up the paper

and my tobacco.

I've read in here you gave up

20 years ago with your angina!

Angina?!

You never told me you had angina!

No more biko! And definitely

no more cigarettes!

Stop!

Oi!

Not all of them.

But the larger ones must be removed.

And none in the staff area.

Why don't we wait

and see what Sid thinks?

I am trying to shield him

from the ridicule

from certain members of staff.

Oh, I expect that's just

professional jealousy.

Now he's famous, he's going

to have to get used to that.

No-one forced him.

Well, his trusting nature

has been exploited.

This over-blown imagery is the last

thing that he would have wanted.

You just can't be too media savvy

these days, can you?

I know you meant well, but I was

speaking with Ted in confidence.

If he's taking anti-hypertensives

he'll need regular

blood pressure monitoring,

and a lung function test.

He's often very wheezy.

How do you know all this?

I was a band eight charge nurse

with geriatric specialism.

And somebody's

got to look out for him.

If you provide me

with a list of his medications...

She can up my dose and bump me off.

You want to die a sad,

lonely old man, go ahead!

No wonder your kids gave up on you.

Miss Pitman, I am still waiting

for the DNA list from last week.

Well, I've had so many

enquiries about Sid,

I'm all behind with the admin.

Well, what enquiries?

How can I get

an appointment with him?

Will he sign a brochure?

Is he single?

Has anyone actually

asked about the work

he is doing with

Careers Without Limits campaign?

No, not really. But either way, it's

really good PR for the practice.

I've signed up three new patients

already, in the last half an hour.

Perhaps you would like

to read what Dr Vere

and other professionals are doing to

promote diversity in the workplace.

Hello, Mill Health Centre?

Oh! Not right now, but...

One second. Mrs Tembe?

It's D-Verse on the line.

They want to speak to Sid.

I told them he's not

here right now, but...

Right. Well, I will take it

in my office.

I'm happy to dry.

Thanks, but Sylvia had

a way she liked things done.

And that's not the way

Anya does things?

She never asks permission.

Just breezes in,

wanting to change everything.

Sorting,

rearranging...

..interfering.

I've seen enough grief

to know how personal it is.

How sometimes it feels

disloyal to share it, but...

..keeping the world out, that's...

Please excuse me.

I need to lie down.

Ted, I've not got long

before my next appointment.

Then you won't mind

seeing yourself out.

Hi, Miss Wooster,

it's Karen Hollins from The Mill.

No, no. No, nothing to worry about.

I'm just running a bit late.

No, I will definitely be there.

Right, no.

Can I just stop you there?

Dr Vere is a very serious man,

with a very serious message.

Yeah, but...

..I...

No. Granted.

The posters do not make that clear.

But I can assure you that

he is very focused on promoting

the contribution that migrant

workers make to our health service.

You would?

Mm-hm.

No, I'm not allergic to cats.

Well, you've got to ask these days,

haven't you?

Miss Wooster, I'm going

to see you very soon.

OK? Bye-bye.

Ted?

Ted, are you all right?

Mild...

attack.

The nitrate spray.

Er...

Oh!

Breathe.

Tell me when the symptoms

start to ease.

It's all right. It's over.

Mild.

How often are you having

these attacks?

Gah!

Do you think that Sylvia would want

you neglecting yourself, like this?

I'll tell you what she did want -

to see Tosca at the Hippodrome...

..to visit that village in Florence

where her grandmother grew up.

All the things I put off.

Talked her out of, because I'm

such a boring, stupid old fool.

And now it's too late.

Will you... Will you just

relax, please? Please?!

And Anya, how desperate

has she got to be

to put up with an old git like me?

On the chance of her

next meal ticket?

Maybe... Maybe she genuinely

just wants to help?

There would be some men

that would have taken advantage.

But there was only ever

one woman in my life.

I should have told her

to go to the doctor.

Blaming yourself

isn't going to bring her back.

Will you have a word with Anya?

Woman to woman.

Tell her to not keep

worrying about me any more.

The rent will be in by Friday.

You have my word.

Sorry, I have to go.

Yes, come in.

Hiya.

Ted was...

He was very upset that he...

..he might have upset you.

I don't know how to put this.

Er, Ted is concerned that you

might think that he is

after a more intimate relationship,

in exchange for security.

Is he crazy?

Tell him if I was after that,

I wouldn't be stalking

old men on council estates.

Is his opinion of me so low?

I think it's

more his opinion of himself.

Miss Wooster.

I'm almost on my way.

Have you tried tempting him

down with a treat?

They are, aren't they?

Stubborn, cats. Yes.

Miss Wooster?

That's my next appointment.

She's 97, lives on her own.

I'd better get myself over there.

What is wrong with

people in this country?!

Families treat their dogs

better than their old people.

Do you think that you...

..well, you could pop in on Ted,

and put him straight?

Did he ask to see me?

Um...do you know, I think you scare

the living daylights out of him.

Because I never know

when to keep my big mouth shut.

Oh, no, no.

More because I think you let

the light back in. Hope.

And those are the things that

he doesn't think that he deserves.

I don't want to keep

you from your next appointment.

Do you know, um...

You're never going to see it and

I don't think he'll ever show it,

but I think

he's ever so fond of you.

In conclusion,

I did a bad, bad thing.

But if you let me off

doing the drop-in centre,

I will never do that bad thing

ever again.

What do you say, Miss?

Sorry to interrupt.

I'm very keen to take some

Sids across to the Campus Surgery.

Do I have your permission,

Mrs Tembe?

Yes, but, please,

refer to them as Careers Without

Limits publicity campaign.

But that is a good idea.

Oh, yeah, cos our students

need reminding that what you

look like is more important

than what you can do.

We have a chance to set an example

of a meritocracy here, Mrs Tembe.

Dr Haskey, you have taught me

a very important lesson.

If Dr Vere is to

have his voice heard,

he needs to take control

of his image.

But first, he has to be seen.

OK. Does that mean I don't

have to do the drop-in centre?

No, it means that you are going

to go early to the Campus Surgery

and help Miss Pitman to arrange

some of the less obtrusive posters.

Yeah! Let's make Sid go global!

I'm sorry I got the wrong idea.

The truth is,

I'm not very good at...

If I'd brought my kids up

to have half your decency...

I shouldn't have criticised them,

it was disrespectful.

You had every right to.

Where was Marion's respect

when she turned up late

to her own mother's funeral?!

When she left halfway through

the service

to answer that damned phone

of hers?!

At least she turned up.

What's wrong?

I didn't make it to

my own dad's funeral.

I was too ashamed

about losing my job.

I made an excuse about being

too busy to fly home.

When the truth is...

..I couldn't afford the airfare.

I'm sure if you explain,

your family will understand.

However much I try with my mum,

she will just see it as a dishonour.

Why can't I keep my big mouth shut?

Now I'm branded a whistle-blower

and no hospital would go near me.

If you were unfairly dismissed,

you fight to get your job back.

I tried.

But they have ways

of getting round the rules.

And the agency work

is not regular enough

for me to support my family

and pay the rent.

We're going to fix this.

If there's one thing I know about,

it's workers' rights.

It's too late to fix anything.

Oh, I miss my dad so much.

Anya...

..I know I don't look

as if I've got much,

and I'm so ashamed

of ever thinking...

..well, you know.

But I have some decent savings

and a pension.

Lolo, stop.

No, hear me out.

I've been an idiot.

Not letting Sylvia have some

of the luxuries that she wanted,

for fear that the roof

might fall in.

I want to pay for you to go back

and see your family.

I'm not taking

a penny of your money.

Oh, yes, you are.

Since when do you give

the orders round here?

Your savings are

for you and your family.

Oh, my family?

They don't need me

or my money for a long, long time.

Marion's working for the enemy now,

top brass, kids at private school.

If only I'd listened to them more

when they were growing up,

instead of stuffing their heads

with class struggle.

OK, Miss Wooster,

I'll see you very, very soon.

Bye.

Oh, Ted, I...

You go and see your Miss Wooster.

Well, I haven't finished my

assessment, I'll have to come back.

There's no need.

I'll see you at The Mill

when I come in for my check-up.

What, you're going

to book an appointment today?

I'm a union man.

My word is my bond.

I'll make sure he sticks to it.

And anyway,

I need to get fighting fit,

to help Anya here get her job back.

I told you reading Joe

those passages of Kierkegaard

would pay off,

it all sinks in, you know!

You know, Al's been sent

to the Campus Surgery for defacing

the poster of the golden boy

and refusing to say sorry.

Mrs Tembe needs to let Sid grow up

and fight his own battles.

I thought he looked rather fetching

with those mouse ears, lol.

Tell me I didn't just hear that.

What, that I fancy Sid with ears?

No, that abomination of the

English language, text speak.

What? Lol?

OMG, I am gone!

Seriously, Daniel, if you ever

send me a text with shorthand,

or some of those ridiculous smiley

faces, I would have to kill you.

It's funny you should say that,

because Joe had a note in his bag,

addressed to you with some weird

emoji on it, like this.

What, shush?

Yeah! He reckons it

was from his friend Lola.

Quite cute actually,

she'd put a feather in it.

A feather?

Mm.

Like the dead bird?

And I was wearing feathers

the night that Reece...

Zara, what is it?

This is a warning!

The note, the feather,

Joe is in danger!

Come on, pick up, pick up, pick up!

Hello, hi!

This is Joe's mummy speaking.

Sorry, Joe Granger Carmichael.

May I speak with his teacher,

please? It's urgent.

Hello, yes, hi.

Joe Granger Carmichael.

Is he there? Is he all right?

OK, he's just left

for football club.

All right.

Now that I know you can cook,

you'll never get rid of me.

Next time I'll treat you

to my speciality -

Spaghetti Genovese!

Then we'll work on our plan to get

you back on the wards, permanently.

No, no need to do that.

There's something else

I want you to do for me.

You promised we wouldn't

mention money again.

And we won't.

Just sit there for five minutes,

quietly, and listen.

Sylvia's favourite.

Oi!

Stop it!

Joe!

So what if I'm getting older?

So what if I've got Parkinson's?

All right?

I'm refusing to be defined.

If Dad wasn't dead already,

he'd die of shame. You're mad!

Someone's snatched Joe.

Snatched?!

Joe's picture's been circulated,

officers are covering the area.

They've been watching us,

they've been watching Joe.

They knew where he went to school,

and where to snatch him from!