Recovery Position Holby City

There's a course in Japan specialising in similar

ground-breaking procedures and I'd like to put your name forward.

I want a wife and a family and I want a dog

and I want roses over the door, the whole shebang.

-I can do that.

-But you can't. That's just it.

You're not capable.

Mum, can you hear me?

I thought I should tell you, I am going to make an official

complaint about my mother's treatment on Keller.

You're my dad.

What are you doing here? You can't be here.

Don't do this. Not here, don't do it.

Do I send him away with a severe warning or do I dismiss him?

You dismiss him.

Mrs Patterson. Transferred up from ED.

-No, no. Not Mrs.

-Miss? Ms? Which do you...?

Anna. Please. Just Anna.

Mrs Patterson makes me sound like I'm a headmistress,

or I make shortbread. Or both.

Anna has acute abdominal pain and swelling.

For how long?

-Honest answer?

-Mm-hmm.

-Six months. A year.

-A year?

I just got used to taking pain killers. And antacid.

-Gallons of it.

-You didn't see your GP in that time?

He referred me to a specialist. I missed a couple of appointments.

Got dropped off the list.

Don't worry. I get the picture.

So today, pain got too bad and you wanted to check into Emergency?

Something like that.

SHE MOANS

Is that sore?

I'd be blowing smoke up your butt if I said it wasn't.

Now it's going to sound a bit like we're playing pass-the-parcel

here, but I need to transfer you to another ward to do some more tests.

I'm putty in your hands.

-Oh, wish all my patients said that.

-So do you know Antoine?

Antoine?

Doctor. I think. D'you know him?

Antoine.

Malick?

Do I like calamari? Are you serious? I love fried squid.

My mum used to cook us squid in malted beer batter.

I don't care how good sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll or plantain is,

don't come anywhere near my mum's fried squid rings.

Maybe I better not cook squid then. I do have to order it.

No, no, no. You do it!

I don't do it fried, though. I stuff it with pine nuts.

This is a flirtatious thing. Right?

Yeah, this is like some kind of read-my-food menu foreplay.

Talk about squid. Invite me to dinner.

And you think I'm just going to throw myself at you.

Hey, Jac. How's it going? All good, yeah? Great.

So six weeks in Japan,

that must have been quite a culture shock for you.

Right. Great, that's terrible, Jonny. That doesn't work at all.

OK.

Jac.

Hey, good to have you back. Holby? Aw, y'know, same old, same old.

Nothing really changes round here.

Except for the gaping hole in my chest

where my heart used to be, you...

Great, thanks. Take it easy.

-Oh, my God!

-It's a matter of perception.

What you doing here?

I work here.

Tomorrow.

Today. Hanssen called. A special case is coming in.

I get to try out my new Japanese skills.

-So...you...

-What?

You know. I had about four different speeches prepared for the next time

I saw you again.

-And?

-I don't know, I'll have to check my prompt-card.

-I seem to be a day behind.

-Sorry.

Sorry, right. Sorry that you caught me on the hop?

Without a speech.

Or sorry you treated me like doggie do, then did a runner,

with my dignity, to the Land of the Rising Sun?

I ordered a hot chocolate.

She packed her own bag. She walked in. Sat up in bed.

Sparky as anything. Texting.

Emailing Australia. Making plans.

Now look at her.

She can't speak. She can't eat.

Well, sadly, this is not uncommon.

As an experienced surgeon, you know what can happen in hospital.

-Surgery is rarely...

-I wanted to put her in private care.

-Indeed.

-You said it was a professional conflict of interest.

Realistically, there's no reason to assume

she wouldn't have had a stroke at The Waverley.

In fact, if she had, they would probably have sent her here.

Yes, but on a private ward she wouldn't have been left unobserved

and unattended for nearly two hours.

We would lose the public vote of confidence, you said.

You and I both know that if the press got hold of...

People would regard it as hypocritical.

You know what I think it is?

Just wanting the best for the ones you love.

-So is this how it's going to be?

-I don't know. Is it?

Wait.

HE CLEARS THROAT

It doesn't have to be weird between us.

We have to work together so we can be...

Yes?

Civil.

Civil?

How about friends?

We'll see.

So what super-duper new means of torture did they teach you in Japan?

Fake it to make it. You know what that means?

Something to do with art fraud?

Act as if - mean anything to you?

Poor grammar?

OK, today is the day the Malick turns Dr Digby,

the medical train wreck, around. Feel me?

That's not an invitation, is it?

OK. No more Mr Bean Comes To Holby.

Today is the day the tide turns.

We're going to breathe some wind into your sails

and set you on a course to become a real doctor.

And you know how you're going to do that?

No. But I think you're going to tell me.

Act. As. If.

-As if what?

-As if you are me. Follow me. Shadow me.

Model thyself on me. Imitation is the first part of learning.

Today you are my shadow, young Malick-ite. OK?

-Imitate you?

-Act as if.

Whoa. That's a bit offensive.

Just...just follow me, yeah?

OK, Digs, show me what you've got.

I've examined the abdomen

and she's mostly tender in the upper right quadrant.

Which tells you precisely what?

I think that she's Murphy's positive and no ascites.

So we know...?

Um. Um...gall bladder is potentially producing too much mucus.

Potential diagnosis?

Suspected gallstones? And because of the increased tenderness here,

a possible diagnosis of pancreatitis.

Hello, Antoine.

The distended abdomen and discoloured tissue leads me

-to surmise that...

-Get out! Now! Go.

-Ah.

-Are you deaf? Get!

We all know old style oesophagectomy.

You need access to the chest, the abdomen and the neck.

And so, enormous incisions.

Whack in the scissor-jack, snap off a rib,

and before you know it, you're up to your elbows in large intestine.

New Japanese style thorascopic oesophagectomy. Five tiny incisions.

One centimetre max.

One of the lungs is then temporarily collapsed.

The entire length of oesophagus is dissected through the keyholes.

Then a slice of the stomach is re-sected, complete with one

artery to keep it alive, and then rolled-up to form a tube.

So you form a new oesophagus from the greater curve of the stomach lining?

Inside the body? That is astonishing.

And you are confident you can perform this?

-Spent six weeks practising.

-Have you met your patient?

-Not yet, no.

-Finalised your team?

-I thought Elliot might like to...

I would so love to do this. But I'm doing an aneurysm.

Ms Effanga should be in with you.

It's another skill the transplant team should be aware of.

-Nurse Maconie can organise theatre and anaesthetics.

-Um, I..

Given his expertise in transplant co-ordination, he's the most

qualified to assemble an operation of this magnitude.

Here we go. Straight in. Straight in.

-Get in, my son.

-Right, watch this.

-Go on, go on. Rubbish, mate.

-One of these is her patient?

-Oh, yeah.

Six weeks of training on the other side of the world

and God only knows how much taxpayers' money for that.

-Watch this. Master class.

-Master, go on.

Perfect candidate.

Burnt a hole right through the bottom of his oesophagus.

What'd he do, eat the disposable barbecue instead of the burgers?

Nope. Drank paint stripper.

-Serious?

-Uh-huh.

-Well, he doesn't strike me as a suicidal type.

Wasn't on purpose.

-Accident?

-Yep.

He drank paint stripper by accident?

Well, now that is a story I've got to hear.

Good. Cos Hanssen wants you to be Jac's Theatre Co-ordinator.

-Oh, no, no, no, no.

-He doesn't want a single thing to go wrong.

He seems to think you're the right man for the job.

And what did Jac say?

Go on, Jimmer. It's over.

When I was 24, it looked awesome. It was so sexy.

It really was sexy.

Course I had a tight little tummy back then,

and my butt was like two hazelnuts vacuum-packed in cling-film.

-So you did become a doctor.

-Registrar.

And gay.

Come on. Is it that obvious?

It was. Even back then, Antoine.

Yeah. Well. I like to think of it as my transitional phase.

You know why I'm here, Antoine?

Because you have a temperature of 38 degrees.

Abdominal swelling and a large degree of localised pain.

Antoine. We need to talk about our son.

Cheesy Crunchits. Right? A whole new unopened bag of Cheesy Crunchits.

-I don't...

-That lad loves them. They all do.

-Sorry, I don't see that as empirical proof of any medical...

-I know.

And you're going to say the exact same thing

they said in the Cheltenham Infirmary.

-You've already been to A & E?

-Don't for one minute think

that I'm disrespecting your medical professionalism.

And they examined him and then they sent you away?

They did. They weren't convinced. That's why I came straight here.

Because I know, in my waters, he's not right.

Because of Cheesy Crunchits?

Exactly.

You see, I still don't...

Look, look, look. I've worked with boys my whole life. Outward Bound.

Swim coach. Scout leader. Youth leader. Five aside. Eleven aside.

Theatre in Education. Touch rugby.

Abseiling. Kayak instructor and bushcraft skills.

Wow.

And I know no nine-year-old boy sits in a car from North Wales to

Plymouth and just stares at an unopened bag of Cheesy Crunchits.

Unless he's ill.

Great.

Edward seems to think you've had a fall.

Liam. Were you messing about with those Cardiff boys?

He was limping and clutching his belly.

And I'm sure I heard an engine.

Liam, did one of them Welshies have a pit bike?

-No.

-What's a pit?

Little mini motor bike. Lethal things.

Well, there are some signs of bruising. Yeah, it's tender.

Was there a pit bike? Tell me.

It would have to have been a very hard fall to have done

any serious damage.

Lads aren't allowed near pit bikes in my care.

On a scale of one to ten, how sore is it?

You see, it is very hard for me to order tests based on a shrug

and an uneaten bag of Cheesy Crunchits.

A little devil?

Horns and a tail, with a tiny little trident fork.

Is it a religious thing?

And you said?

"Distended abdomen and discoloured tissue leads me to surmise that."

And that was it.

-That was it?

-He went ballistic. He chucked me out.

Aren't nurses supposed to do this stuff?

Special patient. Special treatment.

It's not because you're embarrassed?

Don't want any of your esteemed colleagues to know.

-What?

-That I'm your baby mama.

Don't say that! Don't call yourself that.

I hate it.

What, and you think I don't?

Look.

About not calling.

College was a big world. A big...

Gay world. I know. It's OK.

I was 24. You were 18.

It was my decision.

And what? You didn't think I'd want to be

involved in that decision?

You know what I think? What I think you would have said.

I think you would've asked me to terminate.

Really?

You have no idea how many people wanted me

to terminate that pregnancy.

And that was before anyone even knew what colour Jake was going to be.

Oh, so that was an issue?

Don't be stupid. Of course it was an issue.

SHE GASPS

I'll get you some morphine.

Now you're talking.

Look, I'm sorry.

Look, it doesn't matter, Antoine. It's all history.

Just...please....just tell me you know where Jake is now.

You do know where he is?

-That's it, off the back wall. Lovely.

-Ah, cracker.

OK, cowboys, let's get the sick bowls off of our heads.

Doug Mitchell?

Mitch.

Rampisham YF Ring-Burners Fest?

We had them printed for our last vindaloo eating contest.

Ah-hah. And the YF, does that stand for what I think it stands for?

Young Farmers? Yeah. Bang on.

Rampisham Young Farmers. West Somerset fund-raising champions.

Champ-i-o-ons.

And you're the champion who drank paint stripper?

HE LAUGHS Sorry. It still makes me laugh.

How?

Young Farmers' Charity Cocktail Contest.

Of course, I should've guessed.

We raised £1,140 for the Mother and Baby Unit up Bridport Hospital.

Well, that's highly commendable.

But see, a few of us decided to have a post-contest contest.

Few interesting one-off cocktails, like.

Paint stripper?

Yeah, see. But it was an accident. Because Kelvin Bugler...

He brought a load of bottles from his dad's tractor shed.

Farmers don't throw nothing away. Old gin bottle.

Except it wasn't gin.

Well, that must've hurt.

Nah. No, I've had worse. Dorset Naga.

Hottest Chilli Eating Contest, 2010. Now that hurt.

-You guys are nuts. You know that?

-So are you my doctor?

No. I'm your nurse.

THEY BOTH LAUGH

Sure you are, sweetheart.

Morphine. Ten milligrams. And blood test results from AAU.

Thanks.

D'you want me to get Dr Digby to come over?

No.

Shall I do that for you?

No.

Well, just give me a shout if you need anything.

Or you can buzz. You don't need to shout.

OK.

I don't believe it. He actually got himself a job here.

I'm amazed.

He got sacked.

That doesn't amaze me so much. Oh, Jake.

He's my little boy. I love him to pieces and back.

But he is just so angry with everything. And everyone.

He so wanted to meet you.

It's all, for years, he ever asked me.

He got drunk.

He crashed into the theatre in the middle of an operation.

Don't. I don't want to know. I've heard it all before.

From school. From police.

Look, Anna, I'm going to need to do a few more tests.

Get a closer look at the swelling on your gall bladder.

OK.

I need to ask.

Is this going to be weird? Would you like me to get you another doctor?

I see you in him, y'know. It's mad.

He's never even seen a photo of you.

But something in the way he speaks. The way he walks.

Never mind. Doesn't matter.

You just get me well.

I'll get the machine.

Boy's had a fall. Maybe. Doesn't show too many signs of trauma.

But the youth worker chap seems to think something's wrong

-so I need an executive decision.

-What about his parents?

Erm, there'd only be his mother. In Plymouth.

We're on our way back.

Right, well if she doesn't think he's OK in the morning,

when he wakes up...

She's not, to be frank, the most meticulous of mothers.

Which is why Liam's often in the Community Youth Scheme.

-I see.

-As mothers go, she's a bit...lax, shall we say.

Well, thank you. Excuse us.

CT scanner is booked solid. Groaning with backlog.

OK, well. What d'you think? Send him on to Plymouth.

-Resources here are squeaking.

-Right, well. Ship him out.

You sure?

No. I am not sure. Send him for a scan.

See if they can squeeze him in.

OK.

I don't know what's going on. I asked if you should go over.

"Be my shadow," that's what he said.

-A shadow is attached. Yes?

-He said no.

-Unequivocally?

-Sorry?

-Definitely no?

No.

Oh.

Digby, follow me. Now!

THEY SNIGGER

I'm not doing that on purpose, you know. I can't help it.

It's cos my muscle tone's so...toned.

It might be hard for you to appreciate

but you are a very important patient to us in Holby today.

What we're going to do to your damaged oesophagus

is quite ground-breaking.

When will I be able to drink again?

You'll be able to have little sips of iced water

almost as soon as you're conscious again on the ward.

Nah, I meant cider!

His big brother makes wicked scrumpy. In the barn.

Rough stuff, sharp as knives.

Make your hair curl.

You'd look good with curly hair. Wouldn't she?

You and the Jock,

you sure you aren't just having a laugh with us.

Him pretending to be a nurse and you pretending to be a doctor, like?

April Fools' is not for a couple of weeks.

Am I right? Eh?

This is going to feel cold and clammy.

Bet you say that to all the girls.

SHE LAUGHS

I'm sorry. You are very easy to tease.

Talk me through it. I want your observations.

Show me what you've learned.

He any good as a teacher?

Umm. Yes, yes. Very knowledgeable.

Not what I asked.

Here's the gall bladder. Seems to be some irritation of the viscera.

Being a teacher. It's a lot like being a parent.

You've got to be very patient. Yeah? Selfless.

It just doesn't work if you're too selfish.

-I don't know what you mean. Sorry.

-Leave him alone.

Very protective, is he? Looks out for you?

What was I supposed to do, Anna?

He came here. Got himself a job here.

For you. And still you let them sack him?

He had it coming.

You couldn't have stood up for him, maybe?

Stood up for him? Really?

I'm assuming this mass here is most likely inflammation...

Why not? He's not...

He's a complete stranger. Pitches up here. Completely out of the blue.

I mean, a porter. I don't even know who he is.

I find him in the locker room. Going through my bag.

And then he's throwing your name at me.

He is not a thief.

So standard procedure would be laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

He's a lot of things. Messed up. Lost. Hot-headed.

But Jake is not a thief.

In other words, Mr Malick's going to need to remove your gall bladder.

Sorry. Is this Jake the porter who ran me over with a laundry trolley?

-Didn't you...?

-Get out!

The paint stripper was like three months ago.

I know. But they had to wait for your oesophagus to heal,

before they can operate.

It's been so boring though. Doctors said no spicy food.

No baltis, no tacos. No kebabs.

Just mushy, bland mush and no alcohol.

-And you've stuck to that, have you?

-Yeah. Of course.

Because if you haven't, if you've messed your gullet up again,

then Ms Naylor can't make you a brand new beer-tube.

-I'm serious.

-Yeah. Sure, yeah.

But you can see why rice pudding and haddock in milk could get boring.

Well, things are about to get very exciting for you again.

This is your contrast swallow, for your scan.

And you'll be glad to hear you have to drink every drop of it

in order for it to show up on the CT scan.

And it tastes absolutely horrible,

which shouldn't be a problem for you.

Any more?

You're supposed to drink it during the scan.

Who'd've though the little temp orderly would end up

taking my gall bladder out.

It's not too late to get another doctor.

No way. This is interesting. Hearing your thoughts

about how you don't think I brought Jake up right.

-It's all my fault.

-I'm saying, you're not the first single mother

to bring up a black son. My mum was single.

So now you're comparing me to your mother!

Whatever, look. I mean what I say about getting another surgeon.

No. I want you. And bring Luke Skywalker along.

He could do with an education.

See, I really need Jonny to be on his A-game.

When's he ever not? He's hand-reared by me. Remember?

Yeah, well. He's been a bit edgy with me of late,

on account of...

Well, you're his friend so he's probably already told you that I...

That you're a "heartbreaking, two-timing cow?"

-Um.

-Yeah. He might have mentioned it.

Yeah, well. It's just today. With this new procedure and the pressure.

Hanssen breathing down your neck?

Everyone buying tickets to watch you fail?

Look, I just need to know Jonny's going to be up to it.

-OK, that his...

-Crushed and battered ego?

Yes. Is not going to get in the way. So do I need to find someone else?

Are you asking me if he can do his job?

Who can do his job?

Who?

We had to wait ages for CT.

And when he came out, he was looking very pale.

Where are the scan results?

His heart rate's up and his B/P's dropping.

Didn't I say he wasn't right? The Crunchits and that.

Everybody thinks I was imagining this but I...

Yes, yes. You're not. But please. Could you just give us a minute?

What d'you think?

There's some abdominal bleeding that we'll need to investigate.

-Have we got a theatre?

-I'll check the rota.

-Laparotomy to stop the bleed.

-And possible splenectomy.

Let's see the extent of the damage.

-Yep. Now would be a good time to do it.

-Right.

It hurts enough what you did to me in my private life,

without you then using it against me in my professional life.

-I'm not using it against you.

-Would you let me finish?

-Just shut your gob for one minute.

-No! I won't.

-Why doesn't that surprise me?

-I can't afford to.

-Either the time or the emotion.

-Emotion?

What, do you actually understand the concept of human emotion, do you?

Look, there is a lot riding on this today.

I wish there wasn't. But I can't have it go wrong.

There can't be any weak links.

Are you calling me a weak link?

There is no-one else I would rather have running my team.

Honestly.

It's just...

I don't want what's happened between us to bleed into work.

You think I don't know that?

I'm sorry. I appreciate it.

It's not like there's all that much to get upset about, anyway.

After you'd gone I...I searched my flat.

Looking for anything that belonged to you that I could throw out.

Or burn. You know, understandably, I think.

I wanted to erase any trace of you from my life.

Just get rid of anything that was going to reminded me of you.

And admittedly, I may have gotten a little emotionally indulgent.

Listened to one to many Adele tunes.

But you know what? You know what I found?

Nothing. Not a thing. Not even a toothbrush!

It was like you had never been in my life.

So for me to make out like I...

I'm not hurt, and I don't miss you,

and instead, just to concentrating on doing my job, not a problem.

Not at all.

Because you were never really there in the first place.

Treat me like a short-sighted idiot.

Sorry?

Show me what you know. Tell me what I'm looking at.

What I'm doing. What I'm seeing. Where I'm at.

Um, we're trying to locate and identify the gall bladder

in the left peritoneal cavity.

Where?

Situated in a fossa on the under side of the right lobe of the liver.

-That's it.

-You sure?

Yes.

Now we've found it. What do we do?

Manipulating the left hand scope,

you isolate the cystic duct of the gall bladder.

-And moving the scalpel in, prepare to excise...

-Wait a minute.

Feels very hard and fibrosed. Obstructive.

Could be scar tissue?

There's deposits on the surface of the liver. These lumps.

-Gall bladder doesn't appear to be perforated.

-These could be...

It's acutely swollen which fits with gallstones blocking one or

more of the ducts.

Oh, it could be...cancer! Metastatic bile duct cancer tumours!

I am posting this immediately.

Get off. Get off there. Time for your CT scan. Get in the chair.

Can he come?

I suppose.

Aces. Do I have to go in a wheelie?

Yes. It's hospital protocol.

Well, I'm not going unless Jimmer gets one.

Fine. Fine.

-Keep up, young 'un!

-Yeah, I'm coming.

No chance.

-You're mine, my friend, you're mine.

-Yeah, whatever.

Can you speak?

I am holding a boy's ruptured spleen in the palm of my hand.

-Apart from that, I'm all ears.

-This can wait.

Not if it's about my mother, it can't.

There's been an issue with her admission onto the stroke ward.

Another patient has been given priority.

Do not tell me that they are bumping my mother.

It should only be a couple of days' delay, at the most.

You're seriously telling me

after everything that's happened on Keller...?

Serena, it's patient priority. You know the system.

I'm sorry.

OK.

Do you want me to...?

No, it's fine. I'll deal with it later.

I was expecting a little glass jar.

Little specimen jar with a couple of gallstones in it.

Something I could get made into earrings. Leave to my grandchildren.

I couldn't remove the gall bladder.

Knew I should've got a proper doctor.

I had to abandon the procedure because...

Because I found something abnormal.

Some lumps.

Lumps?

It could be anything.

So we're going to take you for a CT scan.

Find out what they are.

What's this?

A morphine pump. It's on demand. You press this.

Morphine on demand. That is either very good or very bad.

How's it going?

I've booked the anaesthetist you like.

I got the thorascopes from upstairs. The good one.

Mo's raring to go.

Hanssen's on call and HDU is waiting for a post-op.

So we're ship-shape.

OK. And the scan?

I don't know. What d'you think about that?

Well. He had paint stripper sloshing through there.

So the whole thing is a nightmare. Look at the stricture.

It's...it's everywhere.

No, the sooner we rip that all out and start again, the better.

It just looks very unstable, like it might perforate.

Well, it's probably just some peristalsis.

It should have healed by now.

-It's been three months. Has he been sticking to the diet?

-So he says.

Mr Mitchell.

Hello.

This is your consultant surgeon, Jac Naylor.

This is your captain speaking.

Have you been sticking to the diet? No spices, no alcohol?

That's affirmative, captain.

There you go.

Look, Jac, I don't want to be the one to throw

-a spanner in your works today but...

-Then don't.

I know you stuck four tubes in me.

They're called ports.

But I feel great.

Probably the morphine.

You go to the gym, don't you?

Look at his biceps!

Course he goes to the gym. Go on, squeeze them.

So what can you bench press?

110, 120 kilograms.

So you could lift two of me?

-But you couldn't stop Jake?

-I didn't...

-From just kicking off?

-It wasn't like that.

-So, what chance did I ever have? His mum.

He's a big boy. What am I saying? He's a man.

Are you saying Jake hurt you?

No! Never. He has never been violent with me.

Never. But he is strong.

A boy like that needs a father.

That's what I'm saying.

Well. This didn't happen in any fall.

To cause that much damage.

Someone's not telling the truth.

Liam's not saying much of anything.

D'you think we need to call Social Services?

-You think the youth worker is suspicious?

-Maybe.

But if he hadn't brought Liam back to hospital,

after we sent him away and practically forced us to scan him...

I know what you're saying.

-If we'd left it until tomorrow, he would have died.

-I appreciate that.

Doesn't mean the youth worker isn't guilty of something.

Are we ready?

Like Freddie.

This.

What d'you think?

You OK?

Yep, yep. Tip-top.

So it was fun then. This Ring-Burner Curry Fest, was it?

Excellent.

It was in February, right?

Yeah.

Right. So you went along too, did you?

Yeah. Yeah.

And you didn't have a single bowl of curry or a drink all night?

Right.

Call me, Jake. Please.

Young people. They're all about phones.

But have you ever actually managed to speak to one of them on a phone?

It's like getting blood out of...

Oh.

Crap.

It is cancer, isn't it?

Anna, nothing's confirmed.

But you just saw something on the scan, yeah?

Tell me the truth.

-I don't know enough...

-So what are we talking?

I've got to have chemo, wear a headscarf

and buy factor 50 sun block?

As soon as we get all the data, we can discuss the next step.

Antoine, I know I let Jake blind side you.

But it is not too late.

You and me, together, we can try and sort him out.

Anna.

I know. I know he crashed into your world like a bulldozer.

But we could turn him round. He's only 17.

If we try. Do it together.

SHE SOBS

I think he's lying about sticking to the diet.

He told me he had.

Yes, but he's a numb-nuts. Bless him.

I meant what I said.

I don't want you getting in the way of this today.

I know. And this isn't about me.

Really?

HE RETCHES

That's blood.

Ms Effanga, due to unforeseen circumstances,

we will have to re-prep.

I will now only be performing a standard thoracotomy.

As we suspected, she has advanced metastatic bile duct cancer,

cholangiocarcinoma.

We can try an open cholecystectomy.

That way, no obstructions, remove the gall bladder

and any of the local tumours.

Secondaries have spread over her chest, peritoneal cavity

and clustered round the liver.

Blast it with radiography after surgery.

Antoine, you know as well as I do, once it's got a hold on the liver...

So you're saying palliative care only.

Palliative? Come on, Ric.

You survived when it spread to your liver.

This is way more advanced.

Nathan's right.

She'll need medication.

A good hospice, somewhere local to where she lives.

Let's inform her family and friends.

She doesn't speak to them. They disowned her.

Well, then I'm sorry,

but I'd really recommend she quickly build some bridges.

Months?

Weeks.

Would you like me to tell her?

It's all right. I'll find somewhere quiet.

LOUD INHALATIONS

THINGS CLATTER TO THE GROUND

Hey!

Oi. Stop it.

Weeks?

I'm very sorry.

Weeks?! That can't be right.

I know it's a lot to...

No, no, no. Someone...someone's got something wrong.

I know it must be...

Cos I came in here with a bad belly ache. Kidney stones.

Gallstones. Whatever. Not cancer.

-I'm afraid...

-OK. Maybe cancer. But not weeks cancer!

-It'll take a little time for...

-Antoine Malick. OK.

I know you all probably think he's a really great doctor, and all.

And maybe he is.

But I've known him since he was a boy, practically.

He's good. He's serious. He's hard-working.

But he...he does make mistakes.

We've checked all the scans, all the results.

No, no. Believe me. He does make mistakes. Big ones.

-This is not Mr Malick's mistake, it's...

-I have a teenage son!

I'm really very sorry.

I can't die.

SHE SOBS

I can't leave him now.

-Not without any...

-The sooner you bring your son in,

then we, together with the counsellor, can sit down with him...

Bring him in? What are you talking about?!

You already threw him out!

You treated a woman with whom you have a son!

You were operating on the mother of your child,

you didn't bother to tell your team?!

-Our son is...

-Jake. Yes. I know that. Now.

Jake, who by the way, you told me to sack.

I know that now. I didn't know it when...

Sack because he was a risk to patients. Risk to himself.

-Risk to the ward.

-I had no idea you were related.

Want to know the truth? Neither did I till about a day before.

Do not walk away from me!

It wouldn't and shouldn't have made any difference who he was.

It was the right thing. The boy's a liability.

It doesn't make any difference whatsoever.

You should still have at told me.

Why? It doesn't make me look very good, does it?

To have a son who acts like this.

Doesn't make you look good? Lying to your superior by omission.

You're going to stand there, suck your teeth and give me attitude.

You're applying to become a consultant!

You expect me to champion you, and give you a reference.

And you behave like this?

It was gallstones. That's it.

I didn't know it was cancer.

It doesn't matter what it was.

You cannot treat someone with whom you have so many connections.

Connections I don't want, all right? Connections I didn't choose, OK.

Apart from that first act,

which was just a quick little thing. A teenage experiment.

Apart from that, I never wanted any more. Or this. Or Jake.

None of this I asked for.

-You still kept the truth from me.

-So I could treat her.

It was still a lie.

What? You telling me you wouldn't do the same?

He was a textbook case for a full keyhole oesophagectomy!

We could have made history here today.

First thorascopic reconstruction in region.

Suction!

Stapler!

Now we just staple up a hole and fit a feeding tube.

All because he ate a vindaloo?

Perforated his oesophagus again. What an idiot!

What is it, Digby?

-Um...

-Can you not see I'm busy?

Um, it's... Well, a...

What?

What could you possibly think is worth interrupting me for now?

-It's just...

-Do I look approachable?

-No.

-Do I look like I want to chat?

-No.

-Teach?

-No.

-Interact with you in any way?

No.

So?

I'll go.

It's just, I thought you should know

your baby mama is discharging herself.

-Hello?

-He had a curry, didn't he?

-What?

-At that. That Ring-Burners Idiot Fest!

-Um...

-And you. You knew all about it!

It was only a jalfrezi, honest.

Do you have any idea what that curry has...

Please, you need to get back in bed.

Mrs Patterson, you'll make yourself worse. You need rest before...

-Anna.

-Get away from me.

-Anna. Please. Come on.

-You selfish, spoiled little boy.

I am sorry that I ever laid eyes on you.

-Let alone had a child with you.

-Anna.

Don't touch me!

You need to come back onto the ward.

I will punch you from here to yesterday

-if you don't get out of my way.

-You're too fragile to leave.

You've had a great deal of medication. You can't leave.

Don't you tell me what I can't do.

I need to find my son.

Anna!

Anna.

So, Liam...

We know your "accident" wasn't a fall.

You didn't rupture your spleen just running around.

Look, while Eddie's not here,

why don't you tell me what really happened?

Did he do something?

I just don't want to get him into trouble.

It's OK. You don't have to worry.

Just tell me the truth.

What did he do?

Nothing. I just...

I fell off a pit bike.

Wow.

And what did Eddie do?

He wasn't there.

So why is it his fault?

It isn't!

-But you're protecting him.

-What?

Why would Eddie get into trouble?

-Cos he was in charge.

-Right.

If they find out I bunked off to do bike stunts with the Cardiff Boys...

So you're scared he'll get into trouble for what you did?

Yeah.

He's done nothing to hurt you?

Eddie? Eddie's golden.

No-one ever looked out for me like Eddie.

Don't tell. Please.

OK.

I was embarrassed by him.

That's why I didn't tell you.

I thought he made me look bad.

Unprofessional.

I pushed him away.

We push them away as boys...

We can only hope they come back as men.

I didn't know him as a boy.

Well, now's your chance.

You reckon?

I made mistakes with my son, Leo.

Ones that I never got to put right.

I was never much of a father, even when I was there.

And then...he died.

Now, do I beat myself up about it?

Every single day.

And if I could go back and do things differently, I would.

But I'm going to have to live with my mistakes as a father.

Carry them with me to the grave.

You don't have to do that.

Ms Campbell, I was very sorry to hear

that we were unable to transfer your mother to the Stroke Unit today.

I do assure you that as soon as a bed becomes available...

You were never a Girl Guide, Mr Hanssen?

-Um...no. That is one omission from my education.

-I was.

And every single merit badge I won,

my mother diligently sewed them onto my sash.

Every exam I passed,

she would laminate the certificates and display them to her friends

-like her little trophies.

-I'm sure she took great pride.

Oh, when I went to Harvard, she positively glowed with pride,

so much she lit up half of Surrey.

Quite an achievement.

And yet, when she's brought into my hospital,

to my place of work...

..I let her down.

How do you think that makes me feel?

-I don't think anyone for one moment would hold you...

-I don't care what anyone else thinks.

The board, the local press. This isn't about anyone else.

This is a very emotional time for you.

Look at her.

Look.

I don't care how much it costs.

I don't care whose nose is put out of joint.

I only want what's best for my mother

so she is going private.

I understand.

And I will be pursuing my enquiry into what went wrong.

I don't care if it's a conflict of interest.

I want the truth

or else, so help me, I will give the press something to write about.

Calm down. Run me through it again. What happened?

What happened here?

Jonny. Jonny Mac!

What's going on?

It's not as bad as it looks

but there was an incident with Jac.

Ah! Ooh!

-Be careful, will you?

-Sorry.

Erm, sorry.

I think I'll take that from there, if you don't mind.

Thanks.

Erm...

There's a crazy young farmer next door who claims that

you stomped in and head-butted him.

I think it only fair to tell you that he's planning to sue.

Ha-ha(!)

That's going to need another stitch.

You don't say.

Or as they say in Drumchapel,

"Stitch that, Jimmy."

Well... Get on with it, "Jimmy".

Oh, no, you don't want me to stitch it, do you?

A lowly, unprofessional wee nursey.

I might get all shaky and emotional.

I might let my feelings interfere with my work.

Shut up.

Now, is that how you speak to all healthcare workers?

You know, we could always get Mr Hanssen down

to do it for you if you'd like.

I don't think that will be necessary.

He would probably do lovely little Director of Surgery stitches,

all neat and tidy.

Just get on with it.

Whereas I am much more likely to do

great big Scottish-knitting stitches. You'll end up looking like

a cross between Frankenstein's monster and a patchwork quilt.

Please.

Well, I can see the nurse has already given you

plenty of local anaesthetic.

Not that you need it, of course, given that you have no feelings.

You're such an idiot.

Maybe.

But I suppose you're not as much an idiot as I am.

I'm so sorry.

This is going to hurt.

Ow!

Did I win?

-Win?

-Feel as if I've been in a fight.

-With some stairs.

-What?

So...

Sexy little Antoine became a great doctor?

It's pretty amazing, really.

Maybe...

I became a doctor, but...

I'm not sure what sort of man I became.

You worked very hard to get where you are.

Yeah.

I know where you came from, remember. You worked hard.

And your mum did too.

She worked very hard keeping you on the straight and narrow.

Yeah, she did.

I'm sorry...

that I did such a rubbish job with Jake.

-No...

-Yes.

Like the world needs another messed-up teenage boy!

-He'll be fine.

-Will he?

He will.

Look...

I know that there's no... family-shaped hole in your life.

But I...

I just didn't know what to do with Jake. And I...

I hoped...

I really hoped that finding you would make a difference.

I just...

I didn't think of what it would be like for you.

Your circumstances...

Your life...

I just, I just wanted ours to be better.

It's OK.

Really...

You are going to be a consultant.

That...is impressive.

You done well, babe.

I was in Japan...

..and every night, I would lie in that tiny Japanese bed

tying myself in knots thinking about what I did to you...

..to us.

You know, if this was a disaster movie

and you were Jennifer Aniston...

..and I was...

I dunno, George Clooney...

..this would probably be the horrible cliched moment

that we'd kiss.

Cliche.

-Cheesy.

-Awful.

-Hmm.

-You know, you're the most irritating man I've ever met.

-Thank you.

Which is probably...

..why I love you.

-Jac, why are you...?

-Shut up!

OK.

SIREN WAILS

Jake? It's Malick.

When you get this message, call me straightaway, all right?

No messing. Just...

It's urgent. You understand?

Call me.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd