'Just Deserts'

Archie tries to get hold of Mark Welton (his patient suffering side effects from the drug trials) but he can’t be reached. He can’t stop thinking about Kirsten’s brother and wishes he could talk to someone about all this, as he feels he’s in over his head.

Daniel is the doctor at the Campus surgery today and there is no way Archie’s going to ask him for guidance. Daniel is called out on house calls when Kirsten comes in. Heston has returned from a holiday in Paris full of Christmas cheer (wearing reindeer antlers and carrying a tree).

Archie and Ruth look on aghast as he enters, but Ruth ropes in putting up some decorations. Kirsten goes to Archie’s room with a plan, asking Archie to look over the patient medical files to see what ‘Tralawney Wells’ are hiding? Archie is fine with that, its perfectly ethical and legitimate, until he realises that Kirsten also wants to see the medical files.

Archie’s hesitant to do this as he would be breaching patient confidentiality. Kirsten reminds Archie of the seriousness of the situation, Archie could be the only person able to prevent another tragedy. His computer isn’t working, but when Ruth asks him to cover reception over lunch as she goes out with Heston, Kirsten presses Archie to use that computer. She urges Archie to get into original medical notes to compare them. Hacking into the system is really out of line but Kirsten can’t see any other way and ultimately Archie agrees. However, they only get so far until the information requires a password.

Kirsten and Archie are so engrossed on finding the information that they don’t notice Daniel returning from his home visits, and he discovers what they are doing. Archie jumps out of his skin; sends Kirsten away and tries to cover his actions, but Daniel isn’t having any of it. It’s intolerable for Archie to have been caught red handed and he sombrely asks Daniel if he’s going to report.

Just then, Ruth returns and breaks the tension when she sees Daniel winding Archie up. She callously informs Daniel that she isn’t pregnant. Daniel’s relieved and an astonished Archie cannot believe that he is now tarred by the same brush as this moral retrograde.

Meanwhile, Glennis Beattie (64) is a pensioner fighting for her right to receive medication for her ill health. Unfortunately, Glennis has a tumour and she is faced with the inevitable fear of losing her life with no medical assistance to prolong it. She holds a particular angst with local heath counsellor Adrian Hills (47) who she thinks can overturn the governments decision to provide her with the medication she so greatly needs. Sadly, there’s nothing he can and he explains this to Daniel who has seen them both this morning. What Daniel didn’t know was when Glennis had informed him that she has family to care for her, Adrian revealed the complete opposite.

We also meet Mamisha Nzuzi (28), an ill asylum seeker suffering symptoms of the HIV virus who has recently received racist threats to move from the estate. Adrian is her fighting cause but also shows a slight affection for Mamisha, as does Glennis but a dark and revealing reality is revealed. Adrian has received piles of hand typed letters from Glennis about her cause and instantly recognises that Mamisha’s letter was also hand typed.

Mamisha’s health takes a turn for the worse and Glennis discovers her on Adrian’s doorstep pleading for help. She was running away from people that had turned up to take her away. Glennis takes Mamisha into her own house. Unbeknownst to her, Glennis has called the police. Mamisha discovers cuttings of her campaign with Adrian, and quizzes Glennis as to why she said she didn’t know her earlier. Glennis has been rumbled but she tries to explain her reasoning. It isn’t long before her old-fashioned beliefs are condemned when Mamisha reveals her abusive, terrorised history, leaving Glennis feeling guilty for her actions.

With the truth uncovered about Glennis’s care and his suspicions rising, Daniel arrives at her house but finds himself caught up with Mimisha’s predicament. She further explains her reasons as to why she wants to stay in the country, but when the police arrive, he’s caught between a rock and a hard place. Glennis feels terribly guilty and pleads for Daniel to sneak her out, but he can do nothing. He hands her over to the police but manages to fulfil his promise of ensuring that she receives the care she desperately needs.

Adrian arrives angry that Glennis called the police, but he soon softens when she denotes that fighting for her own mortality led her to ousting Mamisha from the estate. She is evidently sorry but also feels that she has helped Mamisha in some way. Adrian exits determined to do everything he can to keep Mamisha in the country, and finally admits his affection towards her.