'Little White Lies'

Ronnie drops off George in the Mill car park. Daniel, arriving himself, comes over and George asks how the counselling session went. Daniel tells her how Lisa mentioned the addiction and criminal record. Ronnie advises that getting child access through the courts could be possible but would take a long time and be costly; he offers to help.

George is badgered into seeing a mother and screaming baby, although she’s meant to be having lunch with Heston and Daniel. She speaks to Ronnie wanting to re-think the second baby plan. Ronnie reveals he has been asked to head a new office in Shanghai. George is excited and thinks they should move abroad. At the end of the day George tells Ronnie she is convinced the move would be a good idea. A happy kiss seals the deal.

Drinking tea with Heston, Lily asks if he has heard from Lionel. He mentions how Lionel is going to the cinema to see a French film that afternoon. They discuss how Lionel and Vivien share a love of French cinema. Lily wonders if they were right not to tell her he was in town but Heston is adamant. Seeing Vivien alone Lily convinces her to leave early and go to see the film. Heston nearly puts his foot in it when he discovers Vivien’s plans for the afternoon.

At the cinema Vivien queues for a ticket behind Lionel, but neither of them sees each other. Vivien does not sit near Lionel but as the film starts they both laugh at the same thing. They cry at the same scene. They even eat the same sweets! When the film ends Vivien leaves the cinema, dropping her scarf. Lionel follows picking it up, and gives it to the concierge. Vivien returns to get it. She pauses to tie the scarf and is suddenly profoundly lonely as the world hurries by. She moves off in the opposite direction to Lionel.

Meanwhile, In their smart detached house John Wilton (45) is trying to shave. Coughing up blood into the sink he hastily washes it away as Alice Wilton (44) appears at the door asking if he is still going to the London office. Tired, he plans to work from home. Alone again and putting a new blade into his razor he looks at his throat in the mirror, seemingly debating taking his life.

John seems agitated at his desk. He coughs occasionally. As he searches through a filing cabinet Alice enters with tea and a sandwich. He sits back down, ignoring the sandwich. He starts coughing again and Alice suggests seeing a doctor; John’s virus is not clearing and he also has insomnia. He notices her dress is new and asks how much it cost. Hurt and concerned by his mood, Alice asks if something is wrong at work. Stressed he agrees to go to the doctors to placate her. He leaves and Alice is left confused and frustrated.

Preoccupied with his own problems, Daniel sees John. He asks for sleeping pills and when asked if he is under stress, Daniel senses John’s being evasive. After listening to his chest Daniel prescribes antibiotics. Suddenly weary John admits that there are times when he wants to escape everything. Daniel refuses to prescribe any sleeping pills, suggesting he will sleep better when his breathing eases. Leaving the room John gets a text – You know you want it. Call me. Sam Xx – he is about to delete it but bumps into another patient. Apologising he pockets the phone.

At the house Alice is trying to clean the office. She puts some papers into the filing cabinet and is confused by a bank statement which shows John withdrawing £300 two or three times a week. Hearing the door she puts it in her pocket. John apologies about earlier and kisses her. He notices the drawer slightly open and asks if she has been inside it. She confronts him with the bank statement; bluffing John calms Alice with excuses.

When she has left the room he checks the drawer, pulling out a black jeweller’s box and putting it in his pocket. In the hall Alice sees the prescription is signed by Daniel. She goes to see him at the surgery where Daniel listens to her concerns. He thinks he recognises the symptoms but is vague with Alice. At lunch Daniel mentions John’s case to Heston, who makes him realise he has to help John.

Back at home and in the kitchen, John’s phone rings - it’s Sam and he ignores it. Hearing Alice return he guiltily returns to the office but leaves the mobile behind. Later Alice reads some of John’s texts. She is shocked and upset by the many texts from Sam. She goes to ask John who Sam is; they argue and John looks as if he might hit Alice but instead, nauseous, he grabs his briefcase and leaves in his car. Later he pulls over, his hands shaking, and sweating. He takes out the jewellery box, opening it to reveal a bag of cocaine. Daniel calls offering the sleeping pill prescription. John then snorts the cocaine.

He arrives to collect the prescription, and goes in to see Daniel. Daniel confronts John about his drug problem. Eventually John explains, and is persuaded to tell Alice. Daniel is sceptical as to whether John will actually accept his help. Leaving, John finds Alice in reception and he angrily yells at her in front of everyone. They both go back into Daniel’s office to talk it through. Sam turns out to be John’s dealer.

Alice thinks John would find it easier getting off the drugs without her. She wants a new start. John plans to attend NA meetings. As John leaves, Daniel is left contemplating his own struggle with addiction.