Doctors Page #2

Season #18

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ROB:

A mate of mine with MS, he uses it – grows his own – and he says it’s

fantastic. He never gets the muscle pains any more. He’s an ex copper

too…

9

[HE LOOKS TO RANA FOR A RESPONSE, BUT RANA

REMAINS IMPASSIVE]

ROB:

(WITH INCREASING DESPERATION) Doctor, I don’t want to break the

law. I’ve never even had a parking ticket, but I’m at my wit’s end, I

really am. I’ve got to try something to get rid of this pain.

[ON RANA]

CUT TO:

10

EP105/SC6. EXT. PRACTICE FRONT CAR PARK. DAY 1. 09.28

[CANDY GETS INTO HER CAR. AS SHE TRIES TO REVERSE

OUT OF THE DISABLED PARKING SPACE SHE GRINDS THE

GEARS OF HER CAR. SHE GRIMACES WITH PAIN AT THE

NOISE. HER HANGOVER ISN’T GETTING ANY BETTER]

CUT TO:

11

EP105/SC7. INT. PRACTICE CONSULTING ROOM (RANA’S).

DAY 1. 09.30

RANA:

I’m sure Dr McGuire has explained the risks involved.

ROB:

He just said it was illegal…

RANA:

Which it is. There is also some evidence to suggest that cannabis has

carcinogenic properties, and obviously if it’s smoked with tobacco, that

presents its own health risks too.

ROB:

I just want something to stop my legs hurting.

RANA:

I understand. I know a couple of MS sufferers who use cannabis. They

think it’s the best thing since sliced bread.

ROB:

So you think it’s OK then?

RANA:

I’m sorry Mr Overend, but that’s not for me to say. Doctor McGuire is

right when he says it’s illegal, and as a doctor, I can’t sit here and tell

you to go out and break the law.

ROB:

And what if you weren’t a doctor? What if it was you? What if you were

sitting in this chair, day after day, not able to move, not able to go to

the toilet on your own, not even able to stretch your legs to get rid of

this constant flipping pain?

[A BEAT]

RANA:

(SYMPATHETICALLY) I’d want to try anything that might help me.

CUT TO:

12

EP105/SC8. EXT. PRACTICE FRONT CAR PARK. DAY 1. 09.40

[JANICE WHEELS ROB ACROSS THE CAR PARK. ROB

NOTICES WITH SOME SATISFACTION THAT CANDY’S CAR

HAS GONE AND THAT THE DISABLED PARKING SPACE IS

NOW EMPTY]

ROB:

Right, that settles it then. I’ve got that stuff that Jonesie gave me – I’m

going to try some when we get home.

JANICE:

Are you sure love? I mean, drugs – it’s not really you, is it?

ROB:

The doctor said it was OK - that’s good enough for me.

JANICE:

I’m not sure that’s what he…

[A CAR DRIVES INTO THE CAR PARK. THE DRIVER SEES

THE VACANT DISABLED SPACE AND HEADS FOR IT. ROB

SEES AND WHEELS HIS WHEELCHAIR INTO THE VACANT

SPACE]

ROB:

Don’t even think about it pal!

[THE DRIVER PRODUCES AN ORANGE BADGE AND WAVES

IT AT ROB WHO LOOKS SUITABLY EMBARRASSED]

ROB:

Oh... right. Sorry mate.

JANICE:

Come on – let’s get you home.

CUT TO:

13

EP105/SC9. INT. PRACTICE CONSULTING ROOM (RANA’S).

DAY 1. 11.05

[RANA IS AT HIS DESK AS HE SEES CAROLINE PASS BY.

HE CALLS AFTER HER]

RANA:

Have you got a minute?

CAROLINE:

Sure. What is it?

[SHE ENTERS RANA’S ROOM, LEAVING THE DOOR OPEN]

RANA:

What’s your view on cannabis?

CAROLINE:

Recreationally or medically?

RANA:

How about as a palliative for MS?

CAROLINE:

The jury’s still out. There’s no conclusive evidence that it offers any

medical benefit, but a hell of a lot of people feel better for using it. The

Royal Pharmaceutical Society are carrying out those clinical trials - I’d

be interested to see what they come up with.

RANA:

I was talking to one of Mac’s patients – he wants to give it a go.

CAROLINE:

And what’s Mac said?

RANA:

To leave well alone.

CAROLINE:

Right. So why’s he come to you then? Second opinion?

RANA:

I’m not sure Mr Overend needs a second opinion. He’s got plenty of his

own.

CAROLINE:

So why then?

RANA:

Dunno. Reassurance?

CAROLINE:

14

Could be. What did you tell him?

RANA:

I pointed out the risks of course, but in the end, it has to be his

decision.

CAROLINE:

You should talk to Mac about it.

RANA:

Yeah, I will, soon as I get the chance. What’s the police line these days?

CAROLINE:

Want me to ask around?

RANA:

Yeah. That’d be good, thanks.

[FAITH WALKS DOWN THE CORRIDOR AND WAVES TO

RANA AS SHE PASSES]

FAITH:

Hi!

[SHE WALKS ON. RANA WATCHES HER GO]

CAROLINE:

(WITH A SMILE) Down boy!

CUT TO:

15

EP105/SC10. INT. COFFEE SHOP. DAY 1. 11.10

[MAC AND KATE SIT AT A TABLE. KATE SIGHS WITH

RELIEF]

MAC:

You OK?

KATE:

Sore feet.

MAC:

I meant back there. If you wanted to go into that baby shop…

KATE:

It’s fine, really. I just don’t want to tempt fate, not after the last time.

[THEY BOTH SIT WITH THEIR THOUGHTS FOR A FEW

MOMENTS]

KATE:

Are you still set on telling Jack?

MAC:

We’ve been through all this. You agreed, Jack should know about Jo’s…

‘involvement’ in Jessie’s death.

KATE:

I know.

MAC:

It’ll be better for everyone when it’s all out in the open.

KATE:

For everyone…?

[A BEAT]

KATE:

When will you tell him?

MAC:

I thought this afternoon. Maybe.

KATE:

You’re not sure about this, are you?

MAC:

No.

KATE:

Give it another day. See how you feel tomorrow. If you still think it’s for

the best… well, you’ve got to do what you think is right.

16

MAC:

Yes.

[CLOSE ON MAC. WHAT WILL HE DECIDE?]

CUT TO:

17

EP105/SC11. INT. HOSPITAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT.

DAY 1. 11.15

[JO LIES IN BED, HOOKED UP TO A VARIETY OF TUBES.

SHE IS IN A COMA. THE MONITOR BY HER BED BEEPS.

JACK SITS AND LOOKS AT HER, GAZING INTENTLY,

WILLING HER TO WAKE UP. HE TAKES HER HAND IN HIS

AND STROKES HER FACE, WILLING HER TO WAKE UP]

CUT TO:

18

EP105/SC12. INT. ROB OVEREND’S HOUSE. SITTING ROOM. DAY

1. 11.45

[ROB SITS AT THE TABLE. JANICE HOVERS BEHIND HIM,

LOOKING ANXIOUSLY ON. HE’S GOT A PACKET OF

CIGARETTE PAPERS, AND A BAG CONTAINING SOME

HERBAL SUBSTANCE WHICH WE CAN’T SEE. HE LOOKS

INSIDE THE BAG]

ROB:

How much am I supposed to use do you think?

JANICE:

I don’t know. What did Jonesie say?

ROB:

He said go easy at first.

JANICE:

You can always try more if it doesn’t work.

ROB:

Right.

[ROB OBVIOUSLY FEELS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT

DOING THIS. HE PICKS UP THE PACKET OF CIGARETTE

PAPERS AND WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY REMOVES ONE OF

THE PAPERS FROM THE PACKET. HIS HANDS SHAKE SO

MUCH, AND HIS FINGERS ARE SO UNRESPONSIVE, THAT

IT SLIPS FROM HIS HANDS AND FALLS TO THE TABLE. HE

TRIES AGAIN, WITH INCREASING FRUSTRATION AND

DESPERATION. HE ACCIDENTALLY PULLS OUT A HANDFUL

OF PAPERS. HE IS DISTRAUGHT]

ROB:

How am I supposed to roll this? I can’t even get the papers out…

[HIS FACE CRUMPLES. HE DISSOLVES INTO TEARS OF

FRUSTRATION. JANICE IS UNSURE WHAT TO DO AT

FIRST. SHE’S NOT USED TO SEEING HIM LIKE THIS.

AFTER A MOMENT’S HESITATION, SHE REACHES OUT AND

TAKES HIM IN HER ARMS. THEY EMBRACE AWKWARDLY,

AS SHE SOOTHES AWAY HIS TEARS]

JANICE:

Ah, come on love.

ROB:

This pathetic body... It just won’t do what I want it to…

JANICE:

It’s not pathetic. It’s a lovely body. Just doesn’t work very well that’s all.

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