Doctors

Season #18

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A WHEELCHAIR TO GET AROUND. HE IS PRETTY

IMMOBILE FROM THE WAIST DOWN, HIS HANDS DON’T

WORK TOO WELL, AND HE NEEDS HELP WITH VIRTUALLY

EVERY ASPECT OF PERSONAL CARE – EATING, TOILET,

TRANSFERRING FROM WHEELCHAIR TO CAR OR BED ETC.

HIS WIFE JANICE – MID 40’S – IS A CAREWORN

INFINITELY PATIENT WOMAN WHO IS ROB’S MAIN

CARER. SHE IS KNEELING ON THE FLOOR, PUTTING ON

HIS LACE-UP SHOES. SHE’S STRUGGLING TO GET THE

SECOND SHOE ON]

ROB:

For heaven’s sake Janice, be careful can’t you?

JANICE:

Sorry love, nearly there.

[SHE GETS THE SHOE ON AND TIES THE LACES]

JANICE:

We really should get you some slip-ons.

ROB:

I like laces.

JANICE:

I know love, it’s just they’re a bit fiddly.

ROB:

(SARCASTICALLY) How about my bedroom slippers? That’d be nice and

easy for you.

JANICE:

I didn’t mean…

ROB:

And tracksuit bottoms – that’s what the well-dressed cripple is wearing

these days…

1

JANICE:

If you’re going to have one of your moods…

ROB:

I am not having ‘one of my moods’. Just because I’m stuck in this thing,

doesn’t mean I can’t dress properly. But if it’s too much trouble…

JANICE:

I’m not saying that…

ROB:

Just leave it will you. We’re going to be late. Get the car.

[JANICE LOOKS LIKE SHE’S GOING TO SAY SOMETHING

BUT THINKS BETTER OF IT. SHE HEADS FOR THE DOOR.

ROB SHIFTS HIMSELF IN HIS CHAIR AND GRIMACES

WITH PAIN]

ROB:

Aaaaah…

[JANICE LOOKS CONCERNED AS ROB TRIES TO HOLD

BACK THE PAIN]

ROB:

Get me the paracetamol…

JANICE:

But you’ve already had two…

ROB:

Just get them will you!

[TIGHT ON JANICE. IT’S GOING TO BE ANOTHER LONG

DAY]

CUT TO:

2

EP105/SC2. EXT. PRACTICE FRONT CAR PARK. DAY 1. 08.40

[CANDY DRIVES INTO THE CAR PARK. SHE HAS A

MASSIVE HANGOVER AND IS LATE FOR WORK. SHE

LOOKS AROUND FOR A PARKING SPACE AND HURRIEDLY

DRIVES INTO THE DISABLED PARKING SPACE. SHE GETS

OUT OF THE CAR AND HEADS FOR THE ENTRANCE. AFTER

A FEW STEPS SHE TURNS AND GOES BACK – SHE’S

FORGOTTEN TO LOCK THE CAR. SHE LOCKS IT AND

HEADS BACK TOWARDS THE ENTRANCE]

CUT TO:

3

EP105/SC3. INT. PRACTICE RECEPTION. DAY 1. 08.43

[CANDY RUSHES INTO RECEPTION. THERE ARE A FEW

PATIENTS WAITING. FAITH IS AT THE RECEPTION DESK,

LOOKING VERY BRIGHT AND CHEERFUL]

FAITH:

Hiya!

CANDY:

Sorry – overslept.

FAITH:

Not surprised – state you were in last night.

CANDY:

Don’t remind me. What time did you get home?

FAITH:

About three.

[CANDY CAN’T BELIEVE FAITH IS LOOKING SO BRIGHT]

CANDY:

How do you do it?

FAITH:

Practice, girl. You stick with me, you’ll be coming straight to work from

an all-nighter before too long.

CANDY:

Oh... I don’t think Justin would like that.

FAITH:

Joke.

CANDY:

Oh. Right. Can you cover for a couple more minutes? I’ve got to do

something with my hair.

FAITH:

(SMILING) You’re not wrong.

[CANDY HEADS FOR THE STAFF ROOM AS A PATIENT

APPROACHES THE DESK]

FAITH:

(WITH A WELCOMING SMILE) Hello… lovely day isn’t it? How can I help?

CUT TO:

4

EP105/SC4. INT. PRACTICE RECEPTION. DAY 1. 09.11

[CANDY IS STILL NOT WITH IT AS CAROLINE TALKS TO

HER]

CAROLINE:

… I’m writing to the hospital, and I need his notes.

CANDY:

Sorry. I was miles away. Who did you want?

CAROLINE:

Mr Billingham. Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

CANDY:

I put them on your desk.

[CAROLINE REACHES OVER AND PICKS UP SOME NOTES

FROM THE DESK]

CAROLINE:

No you didn’t.

CANDY:

No, I didn’t. Sorry.

CAROLINE:

Is everything alright Candy?

CANDY:

Oh yes, fine thanks. Sorry. I’m just a bit… sorry.

[CANDY MOVES AWAY AS FAITH COMES THROUGH

RECEPTION]

CAROLINE:

What’s up with her?

FAITH:

I took her to Trinitys last night. There was laughing, there was dancing,

there was vodka…

[SHE’S GONE BEFORE CAROLINE CAN ASK FOR DETAILS.

ROB AND JANICE ENTER AND APPROACH THE DESK]

CANDY:

Hello, can I help you?

ROB:

Robert Overend. Come to see Dr… who is it?

JANICE:

5

Mistry.

CANDY:

Oh yes… you’re registered with Dr McGuire, aren’t you?

ROB:

Yes, but when I phoned I was told it was his day off.

CANDY:

Only, you can make an appointment to see your regular doctor on

another day if you want to.

ROB:

I know that. I’m not stupid. I want to see Dr Mistry. Alright?

[CANDY IS A LITTLE TAKEN BACK BY HIS BELLIGERENCE]

JANICE:

(EVER THE PEACEMAKER) Why don’t we wait over here?

ROB:

Hang on a minute Janice. (TO CANDY) There’s another thing…

CANDY:

Yes…?

ROB:

What’s your policy on illegal parking?

CANDY:

Parking?

ROB:

Yes. Some moron has parked in the disabled parking bay. A grey

Cavalier. (OR WHATEVER MAKE OF CAR CANDY DRIVES)

[HE ADDRESSES THE WAITING PATIENTS]

ROB:

Anyone here got a grey Cavalier?

CANDY:

If you’d like to leave that with me Mr Overend, I’ll… er… make some

enquiries.

ROB:

Good.

[JANICE STARTS TO WHEEL HIM AWAY FROM THE DESK]

ROB:

I can do it.

6

[HE WHEELS HIMSELF OVER INTO THE WAITING AREA]

CUT TO:

7

EP105/SC5. INT. PRACTICE CONSULTING ROOM (RANA’S).

DAY 1. 09.25

[RANA IS AT HIS DESK AS ROB AND JANICE ENTER]

RANA:

Mr Overend? Hi, I’m Dr Mistry.

JANICE:

Is it alright if I stay? Only I do normally, with Dr McGuire.

RANA:

No problem. Let me just skim through your notes, if that’s OK…

ROB:

Multiple Sclerosis. Diagnosed twelve years ago. Initially Remitting and

Relapsing, now Progressive Degenerative. No leg mobility, limited use of

hands. Catheterised. Current medication; Ditropan for the bladder,

Prozac to keep me sane. Nothing else works.

RANA:

Right…

ROB:

And believe me, I’ve tried them all.

RANA:

(STUDYING HIS NOTES) You’re not using the Prednisolone any more?

ROB:

The steroids? No – Consultant told me there was a risk of osteoporosis –

bones falling to bits…

RANA:

Er, yes, I do know what osteoporosis is.

ROB:

They’d stopped working anyway.

RANA:

You’re with Professor Spalding?

ROB:

Yes. For all the good it does me.

RANA:

Hmmm. Did you discuss the possibility of Beta-Interferon? I believe he’s

been getting some quite good results with some patients.

ROB:

Not eligible. Wrong postcode.

8

RANA:

OK. And how can I help?

[ROB AND JANICE LOOK AT EACH OTHER]

ROB:

I’ve heard you’re into some of these alternative treatments. I mean, I’ve

tried a few things in my time. Acupuncture, reflexology, hyperbaric

oxygen… all useless.

RANA:

Well, some MS patients respond favourably to those therapies.

ROB:

I don’t. And I get these pains in my leg. Spasms, you know.

RANA:

Yes, that’s not uncommon.

ROB:

Dr McGuire put me on paracetamol, but I can’t take those all day. I

want to try something else.

RANA:

There’s a variety of painkillers we can look at…

ROB:

Cannabis. I want to try cannabis.

RANA:

OK. Now of course I can’t prescribe cannabis…

ROB:

That’s what Dr McGuire said.

RANA:

You’ve discussed it with him?

ROB:

Yes. He was dead against it.

RANA:

Hmmm.

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