Oop!
Headphones.
And finally...
This one is from us, Joe.
Happy Birthday. Gently.
I know what it is.
You think you know what it is.
A phone!
Oh, careful, careful, careful.
It's fully-charged, SIM-card in place
and there are three names in the contact list.
You, Dad, and...
Have a look.
What's the passcode?
1-2-3-4, but we can change that.
And also, we'll get the facial recognition sorted.
Izzie!
Izzie, it's me.
Guess what I got for my birthday!
I think it's safe to say he likes it.
Well, you realise that that's that now.
We have lost a son and gained a phone addict.
Yeah, yeah.
So are you ready for this afternoon?
Mm. It's just a party.
The people from Laser Battle place do all the work.
Our jobs as parents is to just sit
back and watch Joe and his friends shooting each other.
Yeah, my idea of fun.
Joe's going to love it. Yes, he is.
CAR DOOR SHUTS
PHONE CHIMES
Hi. OK.
Yeah, it looks all right.
Just an ordinary GP practice. Hello.
Baby steps, yeah? It's the new Agency Nurse.
Yeah.
She's very attractive.
Maybe, yeah, only if you say so!
..see if I can remember how to be a nurse.
Seriously?
With my track record, you think I
should be dating a work colleague? Come on.
With your recent track record,
you should be just dating someone - anyone.
Yeah, and how is that going for you again?
Hmm.
Yeah, yeah, all right.
You're supposed to be making me coffee.
How can they do this to us?!
Yeah, I know, it's something to do with a sewage overflow problem.
We have paid for a laser party!
I know, but - sewage. What are we going to do?
Joe will be devastated... Joe will be fine.
We're going to have to cancel.
No. We're not going to cancel, all right?
And I'll tell you why. Because
I have rung round, I have left messages.
We have the party here. Oh!
All right? I stopped off on my way home from work
and pretty much everything we need is in these bags.
I can't get involved with all of this!
You know that I have to provide next year's financial
breakdowns by the end of the day or
we do not meet the ICS deadline.
Or we let Bear do his job,
and you and I spend the next few
hours making some sandwiches
and blowing up balloons. Ugh.
Come on.
Two girls. Molly's just started in reception.
Aw, lovely.
Yeah, it means I get to be a grown-up again.
Part-time, anyway.
Wow. Welcome to The Mill.
Hello.
Oh, Dr Vere, this is Nurse Katsaros.
Lauren.
Sid. Nice to meet you.
OK, well, I'll leave you to it.
I'm ready to get started.
Good, good. We've got a busy afternoon ahead of us.
Do you want a coffee or anything?
No, no, it's fine, I'll do it.
What can I get for you?
I'm fine. Thank you.
OK.
In that case, why don't you come
through to the MSU and I'll show you what's what?
The MSU? Yeah, the Minor Surgery Unit.
It's just through here.
She's my aunt and I love her, but
it's really difficult when she turns
up out of the blue.
No warning or anything.
Coffee, anyone?
No, thanks.
Luca?
What's with him? Oh, don't ask.
OK. So, anyway, Auntie Nicola...
Who's Auntie Nicola?
My aunt.
She's a bit of a prude, to be honest.
Likes to stick her nose in.
And we haven't told everyone yet,
you know, the wider family.
It's really awkward. Embarrassing, actually.
And Rich just winds her up, like he normally does.
OK, I don't understand because I thought he'd moved out.
He's trying to find somewhere.
Oh, OK.
He's in the spare room.
That's why it was so awkward.
She expected to stay over, and...
OK, well, why didn't you just tell her?
It's not that easy, is it?
OK, so the aprons are in here.
Oh, the extra dressing packs are in here.
Everything else is pretty straightforward,
I think.
Does that all make sense?
Actually, I didn't know this was a surgical placing.
It's not a problem, is it?
The return to practice training
course didn't include a surgical unit.
Oh. You have assisted before, right?
About ten years ago.
And the agency didn't say that this was an MSU cover?
No.
Don't worry. I did loads back in
the day and I'm a quick learner.
I can do this. Still, I better run
through the details with you quickly.
There's no need. Still.
OK, it's pretty straightforward this afternoon.
It's just warts and corns, so we should be OK,
but if at any time you have questions, please do ask.
Will do.
Ready for the patient?
Shall I bring them in? Please.
It's a Martin Pepperell and he's 72.
Okey dokey.
How long does jelly take to set?
What is wrong with this?
Why won't it sort!
It's just a spreadsheet.
Oh, just a spreadsheet, he says.
Bear, yes...
If it's Bear, ask him why this
spreadsheet will not sort by completion date.
Did you get that by any chance?
He says he thinks you might be
looking at an old version.
It needs to be dated January. What?
Bear, I'm going to call you back. All right, bye.
Darling, it doesn't need two of us to do this.
If you want to pop back into the office...
It doesn't need two of us? It needs a small army!
This party is going to be a disaster.
It's going to be fine.
Oh, "Fine," he says.
Joe is expecting lasers and body
armour and camouflage gear.
You didn't see Surjan's party, did you?
They had a swimming pool, they had a caterer,
they had an entertainer and the famous gaming bus.
And we have we got?
Balloons, cheese sandwiches and runny jelly!
It's not too late to cancel. Not too late to cancel?
That's what I said earlier! Joe will understand.
Joe will not understand!
Pizza.
OK, you're a genius. All right.
Anything?
No.
OK, and here?
Nothing at all.
Good, good. I am entirely at your mercy.
OK, well, I'll leave it for a couple
of minutes and then I'll get started.
Are you comfortable?
Oh, I've been in worse positions than this, let me tell you.
He's very commanding, isn't he?
A commanding presence.
Honestly, I think I'd just about do anything he asked.
OK, just lie still then.
Heard that one before.
You don't strap your patients down, then, Doctor?
No, that is not a service we provide on the NHS, I'm afraid.
I knew I should have gone private.
Is he always such a flirt with the patients?
I don't know. It's our first time working together.
How wonderful.
The first time's always special.
OK, Mr Pepperell.
Let's get started, shall we?
I was thinking of August.
Well, you want to avoid the school holidays, don't you?
Where are you going?
Probably go the Lake District.
Oh, I love the lakes.
Rich used to go there as a kid
and there's a great campsite we used to go to,
up by the top side of Windermere, by Ambleside.
I'm always saying we should go back.
Are you two...? No.
You are still living together.
He's in the spare room.
I just said where we used to go camping, that's all.
And he's got know where else to stay.
I'm just saying it must be difficult.
Yes, it is, and you're really not helping.
So if you just mind your own business.
You don't know what's going on between me and him.
It's nothing to do with you.
PHONE RINGS
Well, I suppose I'll just get that.
How are you doing, Mr Pepperell?
All fine and dandy, thank you.
How about you?
Just about to sew you back together, actually.
Nurse Katsaros, if I could get
a 3.0 of silk suture, please.
My ex was a surgeon.
He liked to talk shop.
What? Were you married to a surgeon?
It's not as fun as it sounds.
I do love a good gossip, especially
if we're going to take down an ex,
but can we do it after you've sewn up my bleeding wounds?
Yes, sorry, of course.
Apologies, Mr Pepperell.
Daniel, have you met Akeel, Surjan's father?
Hello. Hi.
You remember? I told you about the party.
Oh, yes, the gaming bus.
The kids loved it.
They certainly did.
So, a sewage overflow, I gather.
Yeah. Yes, but not here. At the laser place.
Oh, what a shame.
Still, this looks very, erm...
At such short notice...
Jessie, how are you? I'm good, thank you.
How's Tabitha?
Did he just sniff our kitchen?!
He was making conversation.
He's loving it.
Just look at them all, comparing
notes, scoring our party out of ten.
"Null points" for the lack of a swimming pool.
Play nice, darling.
Are you kidding me?
They all know about the explosion.
But not so much as a, "How are you? It must have been terrible."
Condescending bunch of... Zara...
I know, play nice.
No, no, no.
No!
You take care now, Mr Pepperell.
Thank you, my dear.
If I were you, I wouldn't hesitate.
He's a doctor and they're all the same.
You keep the weight off that foot, now.
He's not so bad, actually.
As doctors go.
Not full of himself, then?
Not so much, no.
That's worth knowing.
It's unlimited data.
I can watch anything I want.
ALL: Wow.
And when will you be doing your homework, young man?
Well, not, unlimited data, Joe,
unlimited texts.
Just 50 Gigs.
Boys do like to exaggerate, don't they?
Joe doesn't exaggerate.
Really?
DOORBELL RINGS
I've got it.
Look, everybody, will you wash your hands, please?
Joe, show them where to go? Right.
Come and get it, boys!
No, no, no, you need to wash your hands!
Better than fish and chips, I suppose.
OK, grab a plate.
Ta-da!
How am I doing? Good.
Very good, actually.
Erm, do you think there might be any more work?
I don't mean to be pushy, but...
Yeah, yeah. I mean, if we ever need
another agency nurse, don't see why not.
Are you new to the area, or...?
No, born and raised, but I've been away with my husband.
Oh, yeah, the surgeon.
Yes.
But now I'm back.
A lot has changed around here.
I was walking down the high street
and barely recognised the place.
What happened to The Bear and Stick?
That changed ages ago.
So, what is it now, Thai or Vietnamese?
Both. Well, a bit of everything, actually.
It's an Asian fusion kind a place,
but it's really good, actually. You should give it a go.
OK, sure.
Erm...
When's good for you? What?
Oh, no, sorry. I thought that's what you...
No, I wouldn't dream of asking you out.
Oh.
I'm glad we cleared that up.
No, no, sorry I didn't mean it like that.
Well, good. The last thing I need in my life is another doctor.
Exactly.
Never a good idea - nurses and doctors.
Yeah, cos you never see that.
KIDS COUNTING
He's just sneering.
Watching and sneering at everything -
the party food, and the decorations.
Lord knows what he's going to think of that. What?
Surjan's cake was hand-decorated
and three times the size.
Who cares what Akeel thinks?
Who cares what the others think?
It's what Joe thinks that matters.
No lasers, though.
He's having a whale of a time, all right?
KIDS COUNTING
Why do they have to be so loud?
Because they are kids.
It's my own son's birthday party,
and I just want to go and hide
upstairs in the bedroom.
Well. What is wrong with me?
There's nothing wrong with you.
I don't hide from pathetic,
judgmental parents or anyone.
If small boys shout in my face, I shout back.
Yes, you do.
So, why am I like this?
You know why you're like this.
OK, you were this close to an
explosion that could have killed you,
so this is perfectly normal, all right? To feel this way.
Even Zara Carmichael can feel a
little bit shaky about something like that.
All right? Come here.
Come here.
OK, OK.
I've got you.
OK. Shall we just...
..shall we just call it a misunderstanding?
All right. I was a bit dismissive before.
I'm sorry.
But dating colleagues is a dangerous game.
I have been burnt several times before and
I just think it's a path that's best not to go down.
It's kind of a rule for me.
A rule? Yeah.
See, that's the thing about doctors.
Male doctors, I should say.
You think you're the ones who set the rules.
No, it's one of my rules for me.
No, actually, it isn't.
You've just set the rules for both of us.
I didn't get a say - as always. Whoa!
Can I just point out, for the
interest of clarity, I'm not actually your ex?
My ex?! Yeah.
Yeah, he had rules. Rules with a capital R.
He thought sleeping with nurses
was part of the deal when you're a top surgeon.
Those were his rules.
And you, you're allowed to flirt, apparently.
Dr Vere's Rules of Engagement
with the Nursing Staff -
flirting's OK, dating is not.
I mean, your rules, his rules, what about my rules?
What if I wanted to sleep with you?!
Erm...
Do you?
Not any more. Thanks for asking.
Right. Well, that's settled, then.
Are you deciding that it's settled, are you? No, no, no!
Do you think it's settled?
Almost certainly.
Almost? Certainly.
Oh, Poohsticks.
I'm not coming back, am I?
You're not going to want me back again, not after all that.
Well, I...
I don't believe it. I'm such an idiot.
You're not an idiot, exactly.
Look, can we just sort out the next patient
and then talk about it after?
Please? OK.
Erm, what's her name?
Dianne Peters.
Right.
All right, your go. Here we go.
Over here. See if you can beat 14.
Look, if you have something to say...
Actually, erm, I did have
something to say, actually.
I heard about the other day.
It was all over the news.
What I wanted to say was
you seem to be handling it all very well.
It's extraordinary. I think I'd be all over the place.
I have to give it to you, ordering
pizza was a stroke of genius.
I think it could set a new trend.
They seemed to like it. They did.
Which is more than can be said for
the wholesome stuff our caterers came up with.
Cheaper too, I expect.
Yes.
Your cake was pretty amazing.
Yeah, it was.
They live in the moment, don't they?
No worries about performance targets,
strategic reviews, profit and loss accounts.
Is that what keeps you awake at night?
Used to be.
I've stepped back.
Reduced my hours.
This time,
it's too precious,
don't you think?
I'm retiring...
..end of next year.
Nimrit's not too happy about it,
but we're getting there.
Life should be more...
..that.
If only it were that easy. It can be.
You just have to take control of your life.
Take charge.
It is a pretty straightforward operation.
We do them here all the time.
The only complication is that you're
taking Rivaroxaban at the moment. Is that right?
Yes. Dr Carmichael gives it to
me for the atrial fibrillation.
It helps with the blood clots.
That's fine, but it does means we will
have to keep an eye on the bleeding.
It should only be a small incision.
I'm not expecting to have to go too
deep, so it shouldn't be a problem.
But if it does start bleeding heavily,
we will have to stop, sort that out
before we continue. Is that OK?
You're not going to put me under, are you?
No, no, no, it's a local anaesthetic.
Yeah, you should be fine.
A few quick scratches and then you won't feel a thing.
Sorry, Lignocaine.
Yes, please.
Is she new?
Yeah, but she's very good.
Pleased to hear it.
OK, all right, guys. How about a bit
of peace and quiet? Please.
What about a game of musical bumps?
What do you think you all are playing at?!
Birthday party, fall in!
Fall in what?
My name is Sergeant-Major Carmichael.
You are my soldiers!
And we are going to march!
Why? Why?!
Why?!
You horrible little man!
Because I am taking charge.
Now, get in line, all of you.
Go on. Mums too, you ugly bunch.
Dads, you're not getting out of this.
Yes, Ma'am... Erm, Sir.
Right away, Ma'am.
Where did she get the fatigues?
That's my paintball kit.
Silence!
What are you grinning at?
Let me tell you, you miserable little nobody,
if I catch you grinning again at me
you will be sweeping at the parade
ground with your toothbrush.
Have I made myself clear?
Yes, Ma'am! Right!
Company...
..wait for it...
..quick...
..by the left by which I mean,
you move with your left foot when I tell you to!
Left...
..left, right, left, right, left,
right, left, right, left, right...
Got a bit of a bleed.
Gauze pad, please.
Lauren.
Thank you.
That's all fine now, Miss Peters.
All sorted.
I just need step outside and have a
quick word with Nurse Katsaros.
We'll be right back.
This is a mistake.
In the meantime, we have an operation to complete.
My first assignment, my first job
with the agency and I've messed it up!
You don't want me back and they're going to know why.
It's just... It's just all crap.
It was my fault. All right?
No, there's something wrong with me.
There is nothing wrong with you.
The operation? Yeah, let's...
He's just running a few minutes late, Mr Bannerjee, but
it shouldn't be long.
Do you want to take a seat, please? Thank you.
Oh, my God!
What was that?
Rich sent it.
He's got a weird sense of humour.
Him and me, both.
Oh, the look on that man's face.
The thing is, though, it's not actually funny, is it?
Yes, it is. He could have been really injured.
But he wasn't, otherwise they
wouldn't have shown it. Still.
He's always sending me stuff like that.
No-one else ever gets it, just him and me.
Er, Dr Vere.
Oh, we've got a bit of a bleed on...
Gauze, please. Thank you.
What's happening?
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God! Oh, no!
It's fine, Miss Peters.
This is what we expected might happen and it's all under control.
Are you sure? Yeah.
This all just looks worse than it is.
I'm just cleaning it up for you. OK?
It's a shock, isn't it?
But you're in safe hands.
Dr Vere's one of the best.
Well, if you say so, dear. I do say so.
Luca.
Oh, come on. This is stupid.
If I said anything that was insensitive
or clumsy, then I'm sorry.
Really. I know.
I'm sorry too. I was being daft.
I don't suppose you've heard from Jamie?
Not a word.
Come here. Give me a hug.
That is one happy customer.
She told me, next time she grows
a wart, she's coming to you.
Well, I am "one of the best," apparently.
You just tell them what they want to hear.
That goes for doctors, too.
Listen, erm, you did really well today.
Next time we need an agency nurse,
we'd be very lucky if we get you.
Sorry about all the other stuff.
Still working on some issues.
Doctors, eh?
Yeah, I could tell you some stories.
I've got a few myself.
Maybe we could swap?
Actually, I was thinking about those
rules. Oh, yeah?
Yeah. What are your rules for this kind of situation?
The nurse's rules? Mm-hm.
Well, firstly, we're all different.
There's not just one set of nurse's
rules, but my rule is there's
nothing wrong with dating a doctor, as long as you avoid the idiots.
OK, and am I one of the... No.
Cool. Well, in that case, I was
wondering if you'd like to come
for a drink with me tonight.
Absolutely no professional
consequences if you'd rather not.
I mean, this isn't a doctor asking a nurse kind of thing,
just two single people spending some time together.
And what about your rules?
Rules are made to be broken.
Go on, then. Why not?
What's the worst that could happen?
From past experience, quite a lot,
but I'm willing to take the risk.
Me too.
Best party ever!
Best party ever?
Apparently.
KNOCK AT DOOR
Yeah.
Hi.
Hey.
Sorry.
Yeah, me too.
Look, it's your life, Kirsty.
I just...
I just can't imagine him not being there.
You know, being a pain in the backside,
of course, and a waste of space, but still.
We were doing our GCSEs when he asked me out.
I've not been with anyone else.
I can't just kick him out.
But every day I don't, he thinks he can stay.
And that's not fair on him, is it?
And it is over?
Right, let us go for a drink.
Thanks, Ruhma. Sounds great.
Out like a light.
Though I did have to retrieve his phone from under his pillow.
I'm glad he had a nice day.
Yeah, yeah. And you?
Oh, I just need to relax.
Have a glass of wine, watch
something forgettable on TV.
Sounds good.
Wine's in the kitchen.
Coming right up.
And maybe a slice of birthday cake, please. OK.
And also some crisps. Got it.
Hi. It's me.
Yes.
Listen, I've been thinking a lot,
about what you said.
And I think we should meet.
Because...
..because it's now, or never.
And I have a proposal for you.
So, you'll meet him? Mm.
Just to get you off my case.
Good.
What you doing there, you daft beggar?
I'm waiting for you.
You agreed to move out.
Now you want to take me to Stefano's
for a romantic dinner?
Uh, Ruhma?
I'm Kamil.
You're late.