Brave New World Holby City

What I see in your eyes is a hunger to get pregnant.

I need some space. Sir! Ah!

I'm pregnant.

Have you been in touch with Mr Thompson lately?

No. Why would I?

You can't mess about with people's feelings like that.

It is not right. It is hurtful.

It's nothing to be ashamed of. So what if everyone knows?

I just... I want to keep it quiet, that's all.

They're your friends. They just want to be supportive.

Dominic?

Well, you know each other well enough and if you tell him

how you feel, he might be able to help.

I'm going to knuckle down,

close my eyes and hope the whole thing passes in a blur.

ALL: Surprise!

Only 15 more years until you get to draw your pension!

Ah!

What?!

You've worked here a long time,

everyone knows when your birthday is,

and they can add 49 and one, so...

ALL: Happy Birthday!

Very kind. Lovely of you to think of me. Thank you.

Look, if you need a hand in getting hold of

a Zimmer frame later or help with your dodgy hip,

just give me a shout.

I think you'll find I'm in the same outstanding physical condition I was yesterday.

Yeah. I heard you make a noise when you sat down yesterday.

It was a little like, "Aah".

Go away now. OK.

Please tell me this is the last time we'll mention my birthday today?

Absolutely.

Apart from the surprise party at Albie's later.

Ah, great.

Don't hate me but this whole decaf thing's about to die a death.

"I am dying for a cup of decaf", said no-one ever.

Take my advice, just accept it's not coffee

and move on to something else.

Can I get one of those orange and passion fruit thingies, please?

I'm sorry. I was listening in. It's a bad habit.

Nah, you did me a favour. No coffee is better than non-coffee.

I'm guessing you're a double shot sort of girl.

Can I be nosy and ask...?

Preggers, yeah.

Ah. I thought that might be it.

Yeah, so no coffee, no rare steak and pretty much

no fun for nine months.

I suppose I should have probably told someone by now.

Plus, if I guessed...

Yeah, course.

Now that I've left it this late,

when I finally do tell everyone it's going to be

all awkward and weird and...

It's really none of your... I'm just going to shut up.

Anyway, congratulations.

Thanks.

It's great, isn't it?

I can request that in large print, if it's easier?

Old age jokes wearing thin?

Like my hairline - boom-boom!

So, are they here?

Yes, donor and recipient all present and correct. Getting on rather well.

Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, doesn't it?

Hardly. Let's just see if they're still as chummy

once he's minus an organ and she got what she came for.

LIFT PINGS

Hold the lift!

Morning.

Morning.

I hope today's not going to see a repeat of last week.

No. Why, do you want it to?

I mean, I for one don't go round kissing work colleagues

as a matter of course.

Erm...

No, no.

I meant... I think we could all do with a bit of a break.

Yeah, no...

I knew that's what you meant, it was just my little joke there.

THEY LAUGH AWKWARDLY

'Doors opening. Lift going up.'

How's Fletch?

Yes, all signs indicate that he's recovering well from surgery

and there's no indication that the sepsis has returned.

So it's time then?

Yep. Yep.

'Doors opening. Lift going up'

I'd like to be there, though, if...

Yeah. Of course. Of course.

Thanks.

Looks like I might have a patient with

a pseudoaneurysm of the splenic artery.

You don't see one of them every day.

No, no, no, that's...that's true. Well, good luck with that then.

Nurse Harrison will continue to be your first point of contact

before, during and after the transplant...

Though if you've got any questions during,

safe to say we've all got problems!

Dr Copeland will be part of the retrieval team

working on you, Charlie.

Don't drop it, will you?

I might not be able to catch but I can carry.

And, Flora, I shall be heading up the procedure on you.

Oh, I think that makes you my new best friend, doesn't it?

Oi.

What, you're literally going to be a part of me.

I think we're way past the friends stage.

I just meant...

Just remember, if you can only save one of us,

it better be me.

There might be more builders knocking around than academics

but at least I can make myself useful by putting up a wall.

I'm not an academic, not yet.

I'm doing a PhD.

I didn't even know what a PhD was until I met her.

Just think, if you were at school together,

you could have stolen her lunch money and copied her homework.

Just cos I'm thick doesn't mean I'm a bully.

No, I didn't mean that...

Got ya!

So how did you two meet anyway?

We met online months ago.

There are these forums for people waiting on transplants.

I started going on the forum when Karen,

my girlfriend at the time, started getting really sick.

This whole thing was Charlie's idea.

He's my knight in shining armour.

Your blood pressure's a little bit high.

But there's nothing to worry about. We just need to double-check.

OK? And do some more tests. Meanwhile, just try and relax.

Is it me or is there a little spark of romance between those two?

Really? I've never got that impression.

Oh, please. Come on! They scream rom-com.

Any minute now she's going to take those glasses off,

he'll look into her eyes and realise the love of his life

has been under his nose the entire time.

We might get an invite to the wedding.

Have you got five minutes to do something with me?

Yeah, sure.

Can I help?

No, actually, it's Dom's expertise that I need.

Look, if you're trying to make this evening

a little less tea party and a bit more house party then I'm your man.

I'm pregnant.

What?

At least, I think I am.

You've not been disappointed as many times as I've been

without noticing the little changes

and there have definitely been changes.

Right, OK, less "lady business", more symptoms.

Really headachy. Weird sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Or, as everyone else calls it, a hangover?

Sore boobs.

I'll give you that one.

It feels real this time.

Aw, Grandad's going to be a daddy again!

Fingers crossed.

I need your advice on how to tell him.

Well, I wouldn't recommend jumping out of a cake.

Not in your condition.

After everything we've been through, it needs to be really special.

Do a test.

Put it in a box, make sure there's lots of tissue, because...eugh.

Wrap it up and put it with all the other presents

and when he opens it - voila.

One little word...

BOTH: Pregnant.

Thank you.

Hi. Hey.

You going to Sacha's drinks thing later?

You grab me within two seconds of stepping on the ward to ask me that?

Well, actually, no. I've got an urgent mitral valve repair

and I need you to take care of my patient.

The drinks thing was just preamble.

This is just a tactic to put me in the boring bin

while you charge off and save the world, isn't it?

Usually, yes. But this is a genuine scheduling problem.

I've got Betty Lyons.

Mid-30s, presenting with shortness of breath and

possible blood in sputum.

Possible? Well, she doesn't know.

Quote - "I think I may have had too much to drink."

I like the sound of her already.

Yeah. So can I leave it with you? Please?

Sure. Thank you.

Oh, and I will be at those drinks and you're buying!

Hi there.

I know, I know.

What's a perfectly nice accountant-type doing

going paragliding?

Is it healing OK?

Yeah.

You didn't happen to do any other crazy extreme sport

a few hours before coughing up blood, did you?

No. I guess that makes it harder for you to figure out what's wrong?

A little bit, but I'm not complaining.

You had cervical cancer?

Two years ago.

I treat it like a bad boyfriend - move on, don't look back.

Any chance you can clear me to do a skydive this weekend?

I've already pre-paid.

Let me see about getting a nurse to start taking some bloods

and then we'll see about chucking you out of that plane.

One step ahead of you.

Being a coffee expert's not my full-time job, you know.

Inga Olsen, hospital bank nurse.

Mo Effanga, consultant.

Looks like we're going to be seeing a lot more of each other.

Until you go off on maternity leave, that is.

SHE SOBS

'Your thoughts, Ms Campbell?'

Thoughts. Erm, yes.

About?

Violence in the workplace.

Well, I'd say there ought to be less of it, wouldn't you?

Which is why you're implementing a zero-tolerance scheme...

I'm sorry, Henrik. I am on board, I really am.

It's just that unfortunately, today,

my mind isn't entirely focused on implementing new procedures.

It's quite understandable

that your thoughts would be with Nurse Fletcher.

So between that and keeping morale up on the ward,

my day already feels rather overwhelming.

In times of great stress and confusion,

I find keeping calm and carrying on to be the best advice.

How very British of you.

Right. Well, we'll keep our heads down

and pretend as if nothing out of the ordinary is happening.

Speaking of which...

Birthday card for Sacha Levy. AAU's already signed it.

Life goes on.

So I'm fine then?

Well, your ECG and your blood tests are clear.

But that doesn't explain your raised blood pressure.

So have you been feeling anxious about anything recently?

My girlfriend died.

We'd been together six years.

I was thinking about proposing, being with her for ever,

and then...

I miss her.

And I'm not talking about a little bit, or sometimes.

She's the reason I'm doing this.

I couldn't save her, but I thought if I could save someone else...

Oh, Charlie.

I can only imagine what you've been through.

Flora has been amazing. If it wasn't for her...

Sorry.

I forgot you were a doctor and not an agony aunt for a sec there.

As you were.

I hope you won't think I'm prying...

Did I see a little spark between you and her?

Now, if you're holding back about telling her how you feel,

in my experience, honesty's always the best policy.

We're just good friends. There's nothing there.

Understood.

The scan shows that you have a mass on your lung.

We'll need to do a biopsy as soon as possible,

to see what we're dealing with.

Is this the part where you tell me there's thousands of things

it could be and there's probably nothing to worry about?

Actually, the best we can hope for is that the mass is benign.

Benign as in harmless?

Yeah.

The position it's in and the fact you're already experiencing

breathing difficulties would suggest

that we would need to operate regardless.

You beat this thing once, remember?

Except I didn't, as it turns out.

We don't know that this is the same cancer.

Just say you can get me through this.

I'm pretty determined when I put my mind to something.

Consider yourself my new obsession.

You asked for an obstetrics consult?

A-ha - how do you feel about playing referee?

On a scale of one to ten? Not so good.

Dom and I are working on a case together...

If it's a choice between flowers and chocolates as a thank you, then...I'm not your man.

We can be professional at work, you know.

Turns out we can even disagree.

LAUGHS: Ah.

Mr Pratt's ultrasound.

We agree he needs a parathyroidectomy

but Dom wants to go local.

And you prefer a more formal exploration?

Care to get in the middle?

No, thanks.

Oh, come on, you and Dom are big boys.

You can work out what's best for your patient.

Any tips? For working with your partner?

You and Essie seem to have it pretty sussed.

It's a trade secret. Sorry.

Good news.

The pre-op tests are back for Flora

and there's no red flags so she's good to go.

Great.

Now, I have waited long enough.

It's time to 'fess up to my present.

Right, everyone ready?

You're absolutely sure we shouldn't wait?

His stats are good. Sorry. Yeah. I'm just...

We all are.

With any luck, we'll be high-fiving in a minute.

BEEPING Something's wrong.

BP's going through the floor.

Supraventricular tachychardia. Damn.

So what do we do now? Press ahead or...?

It's your call.

No, it's too risky.

Let's get a cardiac enzyme, echocardiogram and electrolytes.

I'll take a view on our next move then.

Ah, bless.

They let you keep your job

despite being the worst doctor in all of Holby?

Voted rock-bottom six years running.

You two know each other?

He saved my life. Hero doesn't even cover it.

So you've heard about my situation then?

Yeah, I have, and it wouldn't be one of my three wishes for you

but you're in good hands with Ms Effanga here.

We've got your biopsy results.

The patient can always tell, you know, when it's bad news.

I'm afraid it's cancer of the lung.

What we don't know as yet is if it's a primary or secondary tumour.

Which is where I come in. So we're going to run tests.

Going to run a lot of tests and see what we're dealing with. OK?

Which is hopefully nothing.

Nothing except a nasty bout of lung cancer, you mean?

When I woke up this morning, I thought getting dressed with

a sprained wrist would be my biggest challenge.

Challenge is a good word. Let's hold on to that.

You just hang tight and I'll organise an ultrasound, OK?

Whatever it takes.

Have you called John?

He's not in the picture any more.

Unless that picture includes his new girlfriend, of course.

My choice. I've made my bed, now it's time to...you know.

Right. OK. Won't be long.

I'm not letting you out of this room until you tell me what's wrong.

I actually believed it this time.

It's tricked me again.

What's tricked you?

My body. Stupid, ancient, infertile body.

I don't think I can do this any more.

All this strain, all this worry...

..it'll be worth it in the end.

I can't make any plans because, in the back of my mind,

I keep thinking, "What if I'm pregnant then?"

And I can't be happy for my friends with babies

because I keep thinking, "Why them and not me?"

I didn't think trying for a baby would be this stressful.

Maybe we shouldn't even think about doing IVF...

And would you be OK about that?

I don't think I've got a choice.

Please tell me this is going to be OK?

(Everything's going to be all right.)

Serena...

The lift.

By which I mean, the awkwardness

that happened when we were both in...

Well, you were there.

Was it awkward? I can't say I noticed.

I hope you're not worrying about, erm, what happened?

I love the way that you assume that this is all new to me.

For your information, I happen once to have kissed a woman

at a party in Stepney.

So our little...dalliance is really quite old hat.

OK, good. Well, I'm glad to hear it.

So... Back to business.

Right, what? What am I looking at?

James Collings' pseudoaneurysm of the splenic artery.

Looks like it's within a hair's width of rupturing.

I'm thinking, get in ASAP and do a repair. Any thoughts?

Well, you don't need my permission to schedule a necessary procedure.

So... I thought you might want to jump in

as an interested colleague and friend.

Probably best take care of yourself.

It! Take care of it...yourself. Sorry, I'm very, very busy.

Right, OK, good.

See what you think of the mass, whether it's metastasis or not.

OK. I'll have a look at this

and then see what the ultrasound has to show us.

Since when were you the one to bear a grudge?

I just think it's best we don't go back down a well-trodden path, OK?

What, the path where we're mates

and there's no atmosphere between us? Oh, come on.

You were the one who rejected me.

And I tried to make it up to you, tried to call you,

you wouldn't speak to me.

Points for trying, at least? Hanging up on you, yeah,

was one of the hardest things I've ever done, but I had to, Mo,

because those first few weeks in Sweden,

I could barely scrape my face off the floor.

Then I got my act together,

I put you to the back of my mind and I got on with things.

There is no bad blood between us at all, OK?

I just don't want to look back.

You know, if I could go back and do things differently...

Yeah, but honestly, I wouldn't want you to.

Because maybe you kicking me to the kerb was exactly what I needed.

Because it made me pick myself up,

get out there and find someone who actually really wanted me.

You met someone else?

If you'd told me then that I'd be back here now, a few months later,

engaged to be married, I'd have said you needed committing.

But there you go.

You're not engaged!

You're engaged?

Three weeks and counting.

It took me a bit by surprise as well, if I'm honest.

Right.

So you dumping me was, in many ways,

the best thing you could have done for me.

Let's not look back, OK? Mm.

Now I know, technically,

I'm the one who's meant to be surprised today, but...

Ta-dah!

What's all this?

Imagine, if you will, this is our house.

We've got a hammock in the back garden.

We've got sun constantly shining.

We can convert an old barn. We could keep...

..pigs and...

..sheep. Baa!

Baa!

OK, it's a stupid idea.

Is this really us?

It could be, if we want it to be.

You know, we could cut back our hours.

We could coordinate our shifts, spend more time together.

We could renovate and raise...

..sheep.

I guess this is my crazy way

of saying there are other things we could do with our lives.

I mean, if I'm honest, if we're not to have children...

Which we're not.

If it was meant to be, it was meant to be.

We could save ourselves a lot of heartache.

And we could direct our energies somewhere else.

No sheep.

I hate sheep.

Hens, I can live with.

Hens, I love hens.

You're kidding! So the bloke lost a leg?

Well, he would have, if I hadn't managed to make

a tourniquet out of some rope he had in his backpack.

That guy owes you a drink. A big one.

He took me for dinner, actually.

After the accident, we went out together for nearly three years.

Wow.

Over here, most people's "get together" story starts with,

"I was wasted..." Yes.

So you've met Inga then?

Ice fishing's an actual thing, did you know that?

He's fascinated. I promised to take him to Sweden some time.

Not just him. Hopefully all of us.

Mo's always up for an adventure. Aren't you, Mo?

Not once the baby arrives, she won't be.

Not exactly how I planned the big announcement but...

Yes, 19 weeks gone.

Soon to be the size of a house birthing a human.

That's fantastic.

Thanks.

Mo...

..congratulations.

Am I allowed to ask who the lucky dad-to-be...?

No! Cos that would be insensitive. Yeah, ignore me.

All right, back to the grind.

Mo...

Did you...? Yeah...

You've checked the kidney? Completely healthy.

Good. Come on, Flora. Today's a good day.

Let's see it continue.

HE WHISTLES

Only you could pull off the impossible task of being

the talk of the hospital without actually being awake.

Mind you, you're probably doing me a favour.

Lord knows what they'd be talking about otherwise.

You'd think I'd be old enough to know better, wouldn't you?

I mean, how many F1s have I schooled to keep work and love life separate?

And then I go and break my own rule.

With Bernie Wolfe, of all people!

Serena Campbell - lesbian.

If this gets out, it'll be all over the hospital like a rash,

especially if Ric Griffin gets hold of it.

Oh, and then I had to go and lie.

I didn't kiss a girl in Stepney.

I've never even been to Stepney.

Ms Campbell?

Yes?

Electrolytes, cardiac enzymes and echocardiogram all normal.

Good! Good, good, good.

So what next?

We try again.

We are to kidney transplants

what Cagney and Lacey are to fighting crime.

You're Cagney, I'm Lacey.

Really?

Or some other reference that doesn't instantly date me

more than my birthday has.

You have to help me!

Please get someone, I need to talk to them.

You need to take it out.

Get it out of me, I don't want this thing in me!

Just calm down...

Why did you have to tell me this?

It changes everything, why can't you see that?

Flora? Try and calm down.

He gave me his kidney under false pretences and now I don't want it.

I took your advice, I told her I loved her.

It didn't work out. So...nice one.

Your advice?!

Tell whoever you need to tell, I want this kidney out of me.

Ah.

Mo? Just wanted to say congratulations again.

Thanks.

I'm sorry about how it came out, I know Inga feels terrible about it.

Since when were you two best of mates?

Well, sometimes you have that rare connection with people

and I think she'll fit in well around here.

Yeah, except she knew that I hadn't told anyone about the baby

and yet...whoops, out it comes.

All I'm saying is, this butter-wouldn't-melt act,

it's a little too good to be true.

It was an accident. I doubt she'd do something like that on purpose.

Don't let the hormones get the better of you, OK?

Hey! You...

Oh, Mo. I've got some news.

Heard back from the lab and it looks as if Betty is TTF positive.

Right. So it's definitely a primary cancer of the lung.

Yeah. Yeah, looks like the cervical cancer hasn't returned.

Nice. Yeah, I know, I know.

You know, hold the bunting, she's still got cancer

but as silver linings go,

I'll take one tumour over two any day.

Now we've got our grubby mitts off,

you can start looking at surgical options.

And, I mean, I know you would anyway, but...

Please, do a good job on this one.

She's been through a lot, you know, I'd hate it to get worse for her.

Roger that.

OK.

Hey. That hot new hospital bank nurse.

I know everyone thinks she's the bee's knees

but there's something about her I just can't put my finger on.

I know you're joking and everything

but I really do not find that funny at all.

Huh?

Just drop it.

Derwood! Hey!

Hey! Hey!

Puss, puss.

Work kiss.

She's your fiancee?!

Yeah.

Congrats.

Aw, thank you. Hey, what's Swedish for tie?

Slips. Slips!

He thinks he loves me.

I thought I knew why he was doing this, I...

You know we can't reverse it, don't you?

I thought he was doing it to draw a line

under his relationship with Karen.

How do I know he didn't consent just because he has feelings for me?

Good point.

If I'd known before the operation,

I'd never have allowed him to go through with it.

Mr Levy? A word.

How long before...?

Never mind.

Well, hello, Fletch. I must say I'm glad to see you.

Fletch? Fletcher?

FAINT: Fletch?

He's disorientated.

It's all right, Fletch. It's OK. HE CHOKES AND COUGHS

Calm down, you're in ITU. It's Serena here.

Everything's going to be fine, Raf's got the kids, just relax.

Relax, and we'll get you extubated.

OK, that's it. Well done. There we are.

So you didn't suspect that Charlie

had more feelings for Flora than he was letting on?

Sacha!

I wasn't sure. And it's not my place to pry.

But it IS your place.

Raising concerns about whether a patient is consenting

to a procedure for the right reasons...

They both consented.

Have you any idea how damaging it is for a patient to receive an organ

that they see as tainted in some way?

At the end of the day, Charlie did something wonderful

for someone he loves, and...

Flora's off the transplant list.

Oh, you always do this!

You can't just be Mr Bright Side all the time, Sacha!

You know, sometimes the glass really is half-empty.

I was just...

..trying to do the best for everyone, that's all.

You always do.

You gave us all quite a shock.

HE CHUCKLES WEAKLY

Thanks, by the way.

Well, the whole team pulled together.

Now, here's an interesting avenue for discussion.

Some patients report having being able to hear everything

that was said to them while they were under.

Others, not so much.

Where do you stand on the debate?

Oh, come on, it's a simple enough question.

People were in and out of here the whole time while you were under.

Do you, eh, do you remember anything of what was said?

I'm asking from a purely scientific point of view, you understand.

I don't remember a thing.

So whatever it is that you're waffling on about...

Nah.

Lying there, knowing that I was bleeding out...

..thinking I that I might never see the kids again...

Put everything into perspective, I imagine.

Yeah.

Well, I won't be wasting much time worrying about the small stuff.

You coming to Sacha's birthday thing later?

Hadn't planned on it, but why not?

We can make it a joint celebration. We couldn't impose, honestly.

Oh, don't be silly.

Sacha will be glad to have someone to distract

from his impending old age.

And it'll be a triple celebration. That was Morven - Fletch is awake.

Thank goodness. Fletch is...?

Oh, he's a supremely gobby nurse on AAU. He got stabbed.

He's just coming round from his sedation.

Sounds like a few drinks are in order, then.

LAUGHING: Yeah, and I can't wait to show you off.

INGA LAUGHS

And the rock. Don't forget the rock.

It's supposed to be one month's salary, not ten years' worth.

Yeah, well, what can I say?

She deserves nothing less.

Mwah.

SHE PRETENDS TO BE SICK Not you. Sorry.

Mo!

Engagement drinks at Albie's later. Triple celebrations!

Oh, sorry, I should have said quadruple.

We have to toast the baby Effanga.

Yeah, I forgot there was something I was supposed to mention.

Hi.

Look, I'm really sorry that we had to move you from the HDU, but...

But you thought it would be better if me and Flora

had a bit of distance.

Charlie, if I had any part to play in this, I'm sorry.

Mate, the only thing you did was fix her.

I did the rest. I should have kept my mouth shut.

You don't think all this stress is going to affect her, do you?

Obviously, stress of any kind post-op isn't good,

but there's no reason to believe Flora won't recover as expected.

I've, eh, just checked Flora's urine output.

Virtually zero for the past few hours.

Set up for an urgent ultrasound scan.

She's rejecting it. Mind over matter.

She doesn't want my kidney,

so her body's going to fight against it.

Right now, it could be anything. Just try not to worry, OK?

HE SIGHS

Hey.

So we've got the images of your tumour.

First of all, I need to say that it IS operable,

so that's obviously good news.

Operable, as in you cut it out, I cool my heels in here

for a bit eating hospital food and we all go home happy?

The position of the tumour, it's...

It's not ideal. OK.

The tumour's position is very close to your aorta

and your recurrent laryngeal nerve, just there.

Now, removing it without damage is...

Listen, I'm good. Really good.

But this is an incredibly intricate procedure.

And what does this nerve do exactly?

It enables you to make sounds. To speak, in other words.

And what happens if you don't do anything?

Can't you just keep an eye on the tumour?

It might not get any bigger. Or there's chemo?

If we don't do the surgery, you'll have six months,

if you're lucky.

Doing nothing isn't an option.

And I might not be able to speak?

To anyone? At all? Possibly not.

I am so sorry.

SHE SIGHS HEAVILY

Is there anyone you'd like us to call?

Mr Thompson mentioned a John?

BREATHLESSLY: I'm the last person... he'd want to hear from.

When your wife announces her post-cancer fresh start

doesn't include you, that's pretty much all you need to hear.

If you were my ex, I'd want to know.

I broke his heart.

He'd probably just hang up on me, anyway, so...

Sorry, excuse me. Mo, can I have a word, please?

Listen, we don't have to do the surgery for a day or so.

Think about giving him a call.

SHE EXHALES DEEPLY

Reverse flow in the renal vein. Yes.

So I'm not rejecting the kidney? No, which is good news.

But we need to get you to theatre ASAP to restore that flow of blood.

I'll get the theatre team prepped. Great.

Charlie - I have to tell him I'm sorry, explain.

You can talk to him after the procedure, OK?

It can't wait, I'm sorry.

Oh, eh, h-how's he doing?

He's not speaking quite as quickly as usual, but he'll get there.

Good old Fletch. Yes.

Morven's letting Raf and the kids know.

The children will be over the moon.

Mm, I can't imagine what they must have been thinking.

Especially having lost their mother.

So, a splenic artery aneurysm repair?

That's ambitious, even for someone of your talents.

I didn't think you were interested.

No, well, I may have been slightly too preoccupied

with wishing myself dead to act professionally.

Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean that, it's just...

This isn't easy for me. I haven't..

You're the first.

I've never been more than friends with a woman before

and you've terrified the life out of me.

Happy?

What happened to the lucky lady in, erm, Stratford?

Stevenage. Stepney. Yep.

Yeah, that was a lie to save my blushes.

It was idiotic of me, I know.

Well...if I promise not to turn theatre

into a Sapphic angst fest, will you lend a hand?

I'd be glad to.

SHE CHUCKLES SOFTLY

I'm really sorry to drag you out here,

and I apologise too if this is a bit presumptuous,

but the timing of...

It...

It's not yours.

Anonymous sperm donor number 567.

He's got ginger hair,

he's got a Mensa-level IQ and likes fly fishing.

HE LAUGHS

It's good to mix it up a bit, isn't it?

Yeah, yeah.

You'll have to forgive me if I say this...really wasn't a conversation

I wanted to have with the woman of my dreams.

I mean, I wouldn't have left you in the lurch

or anything like that, obviously.

But...

This is just easier. It's better for everyone, isn't it?

Yeah. All's well that ends well.

SHE LAUGHS AWKWARDLY

HE SIGHS

So...me and Inga...

You are happy for me, aren't you?

I mean, I know a lot of rather nasty water

has gone under the bridge and everything,

but I would dearly like us, you and me, to be friends.

If we can.

Yeah, course!

Look, you better invite me to the big day,

and even if you don't, I'll turn up,

because any excuse to wear a hat, and I'm there.

HE LAUGHS

Right, well, I... Yeah. Yeah.

Fogarty catheter is in.

Heparin saline?

If you would.

Damn. It's damaged the anastomosis.

SHE COUGHS

It's OK. Talk to me.

Sudden onset. I think it might be bleeding from the tumour.

OK, we need to get you into theatre right now.

We can't wait. You understand?

Let's go, guys. Do you need me? I've got it, thanks.

I bet everyone wants their last words

to be something witty, don't they?

Memorable.

Actually, most people usually stick with the old favourites.

You know, "I love you", "I'm sorry."

If there really is nothing left to say

between you and John, then that's fine.

But if you've missed him

or you think you've made a mistake, then...

I thought I needed to find something else to do with my life.

Something more exciting.

Every day since I've left, all I've wanted to do is go home.

Then tell him. Tell him all of it.

Go!

Doc?

Tell me she's all right. Please, I've been worried sick.

She's not rejecting the kidney.

It was renal vein thrombosis and I've fixed it in theatre.

So she's fine.

HE EXHALES

You... You probably think I'm daft, but just cos she doesn't want me...

The feelings don't go away, you know what I mean?

Actually, when the chips were down,

the only person she wanted to talk to was you.

She'll be awake in a few minutes. Do you...want to see her?

Yeah.

THEY LAUGH

OVER INTERCOM: Mo? I heard about the rush. How's she doing?

Pressure's holding. I'm almost done with the tumour.

Please tell me she got a chance to talk to her husband?

OK, final bit...

Swab.

Come on.

Bleeding's stopped.

3-0 Prolene, please.

Hey.

Hey.

Tell me to go if you want.

What am I saying? It's not like you've been too shy

about that sort of thing up until now anyway.

I need to explain...

We're different people. We want different things.

What are the chances of someone like you wanting

to be with someone like me anyway, eh?

But I do.

More than anything.

That's why I wouldn't have let you donate your kidney to me.

It's more important to me that we start our life together

on an even keel.

No obligations. No...debts.

When you're with someone properly, all there is are debts.

You just don't look at it that way.

So, what do you reckon? Shall we give this thing a go?

Hi. Hi.

How you feeling?

Good. You're going to be sore for a few weeks,

and probably won't be able to say much until then,

but by the sounds of it, after that you will.

Thank you.

So...ready to make that call now?

You dial. I'll talk.

Lovely. There we are, inside the lesser sac.

Do you want to tie off the artery?

How about we take a side each?

3-0 Prolene for me and Miss Campbell, please.

Do you, eh, do you fancy a drink later?

If you're buying, I'm in.

LAUGHTER AND CHATTER, MUSIC PLAYS

ALL: Wahey!

I did try to tell everyone you were far too grumpy

for this kind of thing, but they wouldn't listen.

Welcome to the...

HE MUTTERS: ..over-50s club.

Thank you very much. And let's not forget Fletch.

He'd want us to have a knees-up in honour of him,

especially now he's on the mend.

Hear, hear. Jac sends her apologies.

Really?

Uh, "Tell Sacha sorry, but I'd rather shoot myself in the face'"

LAUGHTER

That counts, doesn't it? Yeah, that sounds about right.

She did actually give us 50 quid to slip behind the bar,

so it's not all bad.

Yeah, that may have pretty much gone.

I had a thirst for bubbles, sorry.

What did you do?

Mo? Hm?

I hear congratulations are in order.

Word's definitely got round then.

To be honest, there's about a dozen things I need more

than a baby right now, but when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

Excuse me.

So have you sorted your differences out?

Well, we've made a pact.

We leave our personal life at the door on the way in

and our professional disputes on the way out.

Plus, he's finally come round to my way of thinking.

We're doing an exploration AND parathyroidectomy tomorrow.

More drinks?

This one I'll give him,

but the next one I fight to the death.

Happy birthday.

It's not the gift that I wanted to give you,

but...it's the thought that counts.

(That's great.)

Can we go somewhere quiet?

A soft drink doesn't exactly scream celebration,

but given the circumstances...

Thanks. You heard about Betty then?

Yeah! She speaks! I knew you could do it.

Well, that makes one of us.

Who am I kidding? When you're this awesome, why pretend?

HE LAUGHS

Seriously, well done, Mo.

So what are we going to tackle next, then, eh? The Middle East?

Actually, there is something we could do together.

If you're up for it.

Well? Go on, then, don't leave me hanging.

Derwood!

Hey! Mwah.

I booked us a table at that Thai place on the high street.

Ohh. Fancy joining us?

I've already got plans. Thanks, though.

Hej da. Hej da!

Hej da, everyone!

A future with you - any future - is all I've ever wanted.

Then let's do it.

I've told you, children aren't everything to us.

Yet.

What about in ten years' time when I'm walking Rachel down the aisle?

Or Daniel has come to stay with us in the holidays and you realise...?

You realise that I have the best of both worlds

and that I have robbed you of the chance of being a mum.

You've not robbed me of anything. No-one has.

Unless you count Mother Nature.

So you admit that you would have a child if you thought you could?

You see, there. It's that pause.

You don't want to give up on this.

You're scared it won't happen, and it may never happen,

but you have to try.

Otherwise, how could you ever live with yourself?

So we do IVF.

If I'm honest...

..this child wasn't something that I ever wanted.

I wanted it for you.

SHE CLEARS HER THROAT

Close the door.

Drinking in the hospital? You are a rebel.

Takes one to know one. My kind of girl.

If you're trying to tie me in knots, then...

No, Serena, Serena... That's the last thing I want.

I... SHE CLEARS HER THROAT

I kissed you because I wanted to, and beyond that,

I wasn't really thinking.

Me neither. Needless to say.

I can see how uncomfortable the whole thing is making you, so...

..I think we should toast our undeniable sexual chemistry...

..and say no more about it.

Y-You want to forget it ever happened.

Well...

..I think it's wise.

Me - messy divorce.

You - dyed-in-the-wool heterosexual.

As romances go, it's a bit of a non-starter.

Yes, not exactly Mills Boon, is it?

We do make a great team, though.

Here's to keeping it confined to theatre.

GLASSES CLINK

So you've just been pretending the whole time?

You should have told me this before now.

I know.

Why didn't you?

Because I love you.

And I would do anything to make you happy.

And if I could have told you I that was pregnant today?

We'd be celebrating.

No.

I'd be celebrating.

You'd just be trying to get used to the idea.

You deserve to live the life you want.

But the things that I want aren't the same...

..as the things that you want.

TEARFUL: Are we really doing what I think we're doing?

I want you to be happy.

Even if that means...

..us not being together.

THEY SNIFFLE

What are we going to do now?

We're going to go back to your party...

HE LAUGHS RUEFULLY

..and celebrate your birthday.

BEEPING