ALARM BEEPS, HE GROANS
How are you feeling?
Fine.
Loads better.
Oh. I made you some breakfast.
Going to need your energy.
Five more minutes.
Oh, come on! It's a lovely day!
A nice long cycle ride - blow the cobwebs away.
Get your endorphins going.
I suppose.
This arrived for you this morning.
Great.
Oh! Come on, now!
You'll feel better once you're up and about.
And remember you've got a doctor's appointment today.
I'm sure they'll have some answers.
I don't know if there's any point in going.
What? Not unless they can prescribe me a job.
Oh, don't be like that.
There's lots of stuff they can do for you.
There's no need to be embarrassed.
Lots of people struggle with mental health.
You don't look so good.
HE SIGHS DEEPLY
Look -
I'm fine.
Ready to go.
Picture of health.
You sleep OK?
PHONE BEEPS
Yeah. Thanks.
Want something to eat?
No, I'm all right. I'll get something on my way in.
PHONE BEEPS
You two are popular.
Just my friends making stupid videos.
What's your excuse? Secret admirer?
What?
No! That's gross.
Perhaps one day YOU'LL get a job.
Why would I do that when I've got you to look after me?
I thought you had that interview? Interview?!
Why didn't you tell me?
It's not that big of a deal.
Scarlett knew.
Yeah. Well, she's nosy.
Anyway, I'm off. If you hang on, I'll give you a lift.
No, it's all right. There's, um, a podcast
that I want to listen to on my way in so...
I'll see you later.
Bye.
Ol?
Oh, right. Yeah. Bye.
Ugh! Come on!
HE BREATHES HEAVILY
Well, they clearly aren't following the code of practice.
We should go to the council offices,
speak to Beverly face-to-face about the environmental assessment.
That's if you can make it as far as the council doors
without being arrested for breach of the peace.
That's a bit dramatic.
Is it? If I was Beverly, I'd be taking out a restraining order.
Will you tell her? She's your friend.
Well, "friend" is a bit of a stretch.
Anyway, any credibility we had has now gone up in smoke,
thanks to your dramatics.
Well, what shall we do, then? Roll over?
Hmm. The only course of action is the correct course of action,
which is investigating the developer.
Well, what good would that do? The council's the one with the power.
Hmm. Al! What do you think about this Beechwalk situation?
Do you think it's the council or the developers pulling the strings?
Hang on. I haven't had my coffee yet. It's clearly the council.
Er, I wouldn't be so sure.
I mean, developers tend to be better at finding loopholes,
getting stuff done under the radar.
Spoken like a true man of logic.
But it's the council who governs that.
And who governs the council?
Big business. Money talks.
This isn't some big dystopian conspiracy.
Right.
Spoken like a true sleeper agent of Letherbridge County Council.
I've got my eyes on you, boyo.
I'm going to the council offices to demand to speak to them.
Jimmi, you will be joining me.
What?
And Haskey and I will speak
to the REAL people in charge - the developers.
If you think that you would stoop so low as to dig dirt up
on some faceless corporation,
then you are absolutely right. Bring 'em on!
Hey, love.
What are you doing here? How was your ride?
Don't trust me now?
Yeah. I'm just making sure you're all right.
Checking up on me, more like.
Well, it was after what you were saying this morning.
I thought you were supposed to be in work.
I got the morning off. It's all right - I didn't say anything.
I said I had an appointment.
Great.
I'm owed annual leave - we won't be out of pocket.
I am worried about you, Terry.
I'll just come upstairs for moral support.
OK. Fine.
Besides, your training must be paying off -
all that way, you barely broke a sweat!
KNOCK ON DOOR
I've got some intel. On what?
About the dodgy developers.
Oh, yeah. Go on.
Their managing director is called Ross Hutchinson.
Well, I could have told you that, that's on their website.
Do I detect a distinct lack of enthusiasm from you, Haskey?
I don't know what you expect me to do here, Zara.
This is a GP surgery, not MI6.
Of all the people that I expected to fall at the first hurdle,
you were not one of them.
Which hurdle would you prefer me to fall at?
This is serious.
I know but I'm a busy GP.
Hi, sorry to interrupt, there wasn't anyone on reception.
I'm Malika Dahlan.
New midwife? What's going on?
Filling in for Ruhma.
Sorry - I'm Dr Zara Carmichael, I'm one of the partners.
And this is Dr Al Haskey. Greetings.
Who isn't as funny as he thinks he is.
Oh, I am.
Um, OK.
So, let's get you a cup of tea and then you can come and meet Bear
because Dr Haskey has got work to do.
Actually, it's Ramadan so I'm fasting at the moment.
Sorry, I'm focusing on all the wrong things today.
How was the headwind over the hills?
It was all right, not too bad.
Good, good.
Happy with your speed?
Yep.
See? You're doing well.
Just goes to show if you stick
to your training plan, anything's possible.
I suppose.
Those 930 miles will just fly by.
Sure.
Terry Exton? Come on through.
I thought I was seeing Dr Reid.
Good for you - you got an upgrade.
So, did you wear that just for me or...?
Oh, um, I'm in training to do a cycle ride.
John O'Groats to Land's End.
It's for charity.
They give bikes out to kids who need them.
Right. So, you had a health check recently
and we did some blood tests to see how your kidneys are functioning.
Have you had any problems with your kidneys in the past?
Um, a little bit - when I was a kid.
OK. And have you been experiencing any tiredness or breathlessness?
A little bit, yeah. But it's probably just overtraining.
Hmm.
So, did, er, Dr Reid explain GFR rate to you?
It looks at the waste levels in the blood
to see how your kidneys are working.
Right.
So, we did check your blood and urine twice, Terry.
We usually score this out of five, with one being the best.
You scored a three, nearly a four.
This is called chronic kidney disease,
though it's not really a disease.
What does that mean?
It means your kidneys are filtering less well than normal.
Look, I'm not going to sugar-coat it, it's a serious condition
but we can try to manage it
to prevent any further damage to your kidneys or renal failure. OK?
Doctor...
..just tell me what I've got to do to get back on my bike.
Honestly, Terry, you should cancel the ride.
Mr Exton!
Terry!
Terry, stop!
Terry! Talk to me.
Just leave it, Julie!
What happened in there?
Let go of the bike!
Not until you tell me what's going on.
There's nothing to be ashamed about.
Mental health is important.
I just want you to be happy and healthy.
Mr Exton, please come back inside.
Julie!
Let go of the bike!
Terry!
Please!
Dr Bulsara, you made your point of view clear at the council meeting.
You didn't need to force your way in to try again.
We want to talk to you about the Environmental Report -
or lack thereof.
Councillor Monroe.
Beverly. Please.
It's Dr Clay, isn't it?
Er, yeah.
Thought so. Now, about this report.
What's the problem with it?
Well, for a start, it's incredibly brief.
I think you'll find it covers
all the necessary points and observations. I oversaw it myself.
Well, that's convenient.
And then buried it on the council website
so it's almost impossible to find.
Hmm. Well, where did you get it from, then?
The council website.
Interesting.
Oh, look, why don't we have a coffee,
then we can talk about it properly? I've got Ecuadorian,
but there's also a Guatemalan blend, if you prefer.
Ugh!
Taxi, please.
I knew you'd left St Phil's but I didn't know it was here.
Yeah, it feels like ages.
So, er, what's everyone like?
Never a dull moment, I can tell you that.
Oh, he's off the phone now. You can go through, if you like.
You'll be fine - Bear by name, pussycat by nature.
SCARLETT GIGGLES
That friend of yours must be hilarious.
I guess.
Flirting, is it?
No.
Something you want to get off your chest?
A secret boyfriend, perhaps?
What?
I know about you and Ollie.
What?
I saw you two kissing.
When? So, it's happened more than once, then?
That's not what I meant.
Why didn't you say anything?
Because I was enjoying watching you two try to hide it from me too much.
It didn't work, by the way.
Practically ignoring each other inside the house,
the stolen glances, the flirty texts.
I am so sorry.
It won't happen again.
Look, I'm really sorry.
Look, you're both young.
A bit of harmless fun is fine.
Well, that's all it is. It's nothing serious.
I thought not.
You haven't told anyone, have you?
Only Luca.
Oh, great.
It's just happening so fast,
I don't think we quite realised how bad things had got.
It's a combination of things, really - retirement, illness
and they're struggling to recruit at the moment, for some reason. Wow.
Ruhma's so highly experienced,
I'm not surprised they've nabbed her at East Letherbridge.
Eddie Hillier told me they've been struggling for a while.
Well, it's a bit rich that they just went ahead without talking to us.
Sorry.
Oh, for goodness' sake, it's not your fault.
We've not done a very good job of welcoming you, have we?
Apologies.
Let's get you settled in.
How about a tour?
Bear will take care of that.
And this company invests in forest restoration projects,
making it carbon neutral.
Negative, even. Guilt free.
If we could discuss the development.
Of course.
What about the pressure to the infrastructure?
At the Mill, for instance? Well, of course that's all been planned for.
Surely you must have patients coming through your doors
in less than desirable living circumstances?
Hmm.
I mean, Letherbridge is going through a housing crisis.
I just want to see people in safe, secure houses.
Surely you want that, too?
Yes. Exactly! And we want to keep our young people in the area
and mix that in with some social housing.
It's a win-win situation.
And the local wildlife?
Well, of course, sacrifices have to be made somewhere
but there is a plan to rehabilitate the wildlife and move them
to a safer area, away from busy roads.
Some turmoil is necessary for progress
but my team is working with the developers to research
recycled and eco-friendly materials
with the lowest possible carbon emissions.
Just like my coffee. How do you like it, Dr Clay?
Er, yeah - it's OK.
These houses will be everything new houses should be.
Surely, you want that, Dr Bulsara -
for our young, vulnerable people
to finally be able to have a home of their own?
Of course.
Good. I'm glad we agree.
MOBILE VIBRATES
Yes?
Thanks.
Well, I'd love to stay and chat but my next appointment is waiting.
If you have any more questions, here's my office number.
Thanks.
Boo!
Ollie! What are you doing here?
I don't know. I just thought I'd come see you.
Look, your mum knows about us.
What?!
Go.
# Everything is... #
Right, I am off for a well-earned sandwich.
Yeah, all right.
Is he one of mine?
No.
Er, Zara's.
Are you all right? You look a bit flustered.
Yeah, fine. You haven't got a fever or anything? No. I'm good.
Well, if you say so.
Text me if you want anything.
Make you blush, do I?
Shut up. Your mum knows!
Relax. Who cares if she knows?
I do! It's all right for you, you live there.
She might just throw me out.
Did she say she would?
No.
Then, you're fine, aren't you?
Stop! Not here.
Why not? There's no-one else here.
Yeah, but anyone could just walk in.
OK. Well, why don't we just find somewhere a bit more private?
Yeah, all right, then.
You never actually told me why you're here.
Well, just that my interview went stupidly well and, er...
Oh, yeah. This.
We do need to be more careful.
Then, we'll be more careful...
Good.
..starting in about...
..ten minutes. Ollie!
What?
Your BP's nearly on target.
How are you feeling now?
A lot better, thanks.
You should have called an ambulance, not a taxi.
Sorry about before.
I take it you haven't told your wife
what today's appointment was actually for.
No.
How's everything at home?
Well, Julie's great.
She's taken on more hours to cover the mortgage.
My business closed down over lockdown.
It was only a little hobby shop but it was my dad's, you know.
It must be difficult.
It was.
It still is.
I've been applying for jobs left, right and centre
but it's not going very well.
So, you decided to do something for charity.
Yeah.
The bike ride.
I thought it was something to focus on. Something positive.
Raise money for the kids.
Go on.
I've been getting more and more tired when I'm doing my training.
I thought it was me or my nutrition or something.
So, why didn't tell Julie you were feeling ill?
I didn't want to disappoint her.
You put your health at risk, Terry.
You must see that's not right.
I didn't want her to see me fail.
Again.
This isn't your fault.
CKD is a multifactorial condition.
You didn't cause it.
I'd...I'd like to call her.
I think she deserves to know.
I agree.
Um...
Erm...
..I'm sorry that you had to see that.
It will take me a while to delete that memory from my mind.
Yeah, and I'll start looking for a new place to stay tonight.
I don't want you to do that.
Well, it's not really fair on you. We shouldn't have done that.
I've loved having you around. I don't want you to move out. OK?
Are you sure? Absolutely.
Amazing. I'll just go and tell him.
I'll be, like, two minutes.
No problem.
It's all going on, isn't it?
I told you.
But this is no big deal.
But dating your boy and living in the same house, under your nose.
Is that going to be weird?
You caught up fast!
Sorry. Luca was showing me round the nurses' room and...
He couldn't resist, could he?
Honestly, it's fine, they're both good kids.
You are such a chilled mum.
Something like this happened to my mate Sophie -
she ended up with some random kid in her house
because he'd fallen out with his parents just before A levels.
Scarlett's hardly random.
Oh, no, of course not. I'm not saying that.
It's just this kid started dating Sophie's eldest daughter
and they just had this really weird relationship.
Like, they were either screaming at each other
or having noisy sex in the loft conversion.
Sophie was off with the stress for weeks!
Really?
Not that I'm saying that's going to happen to your two, of course.
But it's amazing how these things can backfire.
Hmm.
Anyway, I think I've signed everything.
I'll just pop them in to Bear, shall I? Mm-hm.
The lifestyle changes and some medication.
And we'll keep an eye on your blood pressure.
KNOCK ON DOOR Come in. And maybe we could...
Terry! Terry, you had me worried sick!
Sorry.
Is he OK? Terry?
Sit down, love.
So, I haven't exactly been honest with you.
You're scaring me.
Lately, when I've been doing my training,
I've been feeling tired and achy and breathless.
Why didn't you tell me?
Because I didn't want you to worry
and I didn't want to jeopardise the bike ride.
So, what is it?
It's not depression.
He's got chronic kidney disease.
Oh, Terry.
It's been confirmed with a blood test but we'll need a follow-up.
I did want to tell you, love.
I really did.
I just couldn't find a way.
We also discussed the upcoming cycle trip.
Oh, the charity will understand that you can't do it.
Yeah, but it's not just about them -
it's about me.
It's the only thing I'm not useless at.
Well, at least it was. Oh, Terry.
It's just you,
me, the shop -
it's like it's all stacked up against me.
It might seem like that but we'll get through.
Will we?
With you having to work all the hour God sends
just to keep on top of the mortgage?
Is there any way he'd be able to go?
Not as he is.
I'm sorry. I'm really sorry, Terry.
I wish I could do something to help more.
She said I don't have to move out.
Hey - see? I knew she wouldn't.
And, hey, that means I get you all to myself.
No more sneaking around. Exactly.
Although I did quite enjoy that.
We can still pretend.
Is he going to need dialysis?
Or a transplant?
We're not quite there yet.
Should I be worried about him?
At the moment, he's got a moderate decrease in kidney function.
So, right now, we need to just put him on some blood pressure tablets
and that will protect his kidneys.
Will he able to cycle again?
If he takes it easy and goes at his own pace, then, I can say yes.
But he needs the right medication first.
Yeah. Not John O'Groats to Land's End, then.
Julie, I wish I could say, "Go for it," but it's just too far.
I thought I was helping him by encouraging him.
It turns out I was just making it worse.
You weren't to know.
Plus, I did hide some of my symptoms.
I'm sorry, love.
It's not your fault.
Terry, you said you were doing it for a charity?
Pedal For Better.
OK.
What can I do?
Um, everything you've already been doing, being there for him.
Once he's seen a specialist,
we'll kind of get more of an idea
of what's going on and, um, for now, just keep supporting him.
OK.
Well, I'll need to contact my work, get some time off
and speak to the charity about his ride.
Do you think there's anything else that we can do right now?
Um, I mean, I'll be referring him.
But I wish I could help more, but, um...
I wish you guys the best, I honestly do.
I'm going to miss Ruhma. I was just starting to get to know her.
Bear said it's only temporary. Yeah.
Once she's completely reorganised East Letherbridge's newborns,
she'll be back to torment us.
Have you met her replacement?
Briefly.
I want to say Malika. Yeah?
She flashed me. Long story.
And, no doubt, inappropriate.
Just a second, Terry.
Got another life-changing diagnosis for me?
Not exactly.
I actually just called a mate of mine who seems to be doing
some sort of charity marathon or trek every other week.
Oh. Right. I told him what's been going on.
Obviously, not any details, I just wanted to explore the options.
And what did he say?
Just that in his experience,
the charity would most definitely support you
in any decision you make.
That's good, isn't it, love? Hmm.
And look, Terry, if you wanted to majorly reduce the distance
or spread it out over months, that would be fine.
And he also said if you wanted to just change the challenge entirely,
that would also be fine. What about the sponsors?
That can all be sorted. You know, these charities, they get involved
with stuff like this all the time.
But, for now, I would concentrate on getting your CKD under control
and, you know, also spending some quality together.
Whatever it's going to be, Terry,
just know that, you know, you've got a ready support crew right here.
All right?
I'm sorry for pushing you.
But we'll sort things out together.
I know we will.
And I just want to reiterate, you can live a full life
with CKD but it does need management. OK?
Thanks for everything. It's just... It's a lot to take in.
Of course.
It's funny how things can change just like that.
I'm glad you're here.
I look forward to hearing whatever decision you guys make.
And you can definitely count me in as a sponsor.
We will. Thanks. Yeah. Thank you.
See you. See you later.
Yes, Nina -
so I read your email and I was wondering...
Oh, I'm sorry but I was wondering if you are being a tad naive.
I know we like to be cynical about politicians these days
but she did make some excellent points. Didn't she, Jimmi?
Hmm? Wait. Well, sort of.
Not convinced? No, not really. Just some of the things she said -
like, you know, relocating the wildlife.
How do you do that, exactly? But the social housing.
Yes, but is that a genuine intention
or just something that she's saying to fob us off?
Er, I would go with the latter.
How often are promises conveniently forgotten down the line?
Which is why I'm going straight to the horse's mouth.
A horse I have thoroughly researched, I'll have you know.
Horse?
The developer.
He's not going to know what's hit him!
I am really looking forward to this.
Out for a meeting.
Could last all day
so don't call unless it's urgent.
If you've finished gawping,
shall we get down to business?
I'd love to.
This is your fault.
The whole poxy NHS!
That's not true. None of it is.
I understand you're taking the lead on the Beechwalk development.
What makes you think that?
A little bird told me.