'Spleen'

In his slightly run-down house Bob Callaway (60) is limping badly on his left foot as he tries to tidy up. He starts throwing out his left shoes.

At home Heston grumbles to Lily over the post. It’s his day off but he is not looking forward to any of the things he has to do – seeing Bob and presenting a cheque to the Women’s Circle at lunchtime. Leaving the house and ringing Julia he is irritated to discover that she won’t be attending the lunch.

He arrives at Bob’s house to find him still cleaning up or, as Bob puts it, making room for the wheelchair. Bob used to be a surgeon and thinks his foot is gangrenous. He refuses to let Heston take a look, adamant nothing further can be done to save his foot. He offers Heston some scotch, and they reminisce about their careers as surgeons. Heston offers to collect Bob’s video machine from the repair shop and Bob asks for another bottle of scotch.

As Heston gets out of his car in front of the repair shop there is a group of teenagers standing round eating takeaway junk food. The repair shop is run by Adrian Small (32) who says the video player is beyond repair. Heston is offered a DVD/VHS combi as the only alternative, which he buys, knowing he is being ripped off. As he leaves he sees that the teenagers have dropped their litter. Heston tries to make them pick it up but is intimidated into silence by the biggest one.

In the Mill reception Karen passes on a message from Julia to Lily, asking her to get some flowers and sandwiches for Heston’s presentation. Lily dismisses the request because it is Heston’s task and nothing to do with her. Later Karen is getting annoyed trying to organise things for the lunch with no help; she rings Heston who also assumes that Lily will help. Karen tells him how disinterested Lily is.

Back at Bob’s house Heston struggles to get the new DVD/VHS combi up and running. He has to ring Adrian at the shop for help and in the stress he knocks over a lot of clutter. Later Heston takes the machine, the leads, and the television to the shop. His phone rings and he ignores it even though it’s Lily. Adrian says the TV needs work, and Heston gives him an hour at yet another extortionate price.

Heston gets back to his car to find the teenagers have covered it in rubbish and non-permanent spray. Horrified, and seeing a policeman, PC Gary Wilkes (28), across the street Heston rushes over to him as the teenagers watch. With no witnesses there is nothing Gary can do and he moves away saying he will question them.

Adrian helps Heston carry the TV back to the car. They drop it and it breaks into bits. Back in the shop Adrian refuses to give Heston a refund. Fuming with anger Heston starts giving him a dressing down, during which Adrian phones the police to say there is a man threatening him in his shop. Realising, Heston leaves as Adrian grins in triumph.

At the surgery Karen is rushed off her feet dealing with reception and the buffet and again manages to get Lily involved. When Heston returns he is still seething and tells Lily and Daniel what happened when the Women’s Circle ladies arrive. Just as he starts talking to Mrs Branscombe, PC Gary Wilkes steps in to speak to Heston. Due to Adrian’s complaint Gary has to prosecute Heston. He has to pay a fine or it will be taken further. Heston is fuming and storms away and in front of the ladies and his colleagues he says he would rather go to prison than submit to be a part of this travesty of justice.

As Gary takes out his handcuffs the photographer present takes a photo. Lily steps in banishing Heston to his consultation room and then drags Gary to the door. Daniel then presents the cheque. Talking to Gary, Lily discovers that Adrian often calls the police. She returns to Heston with the completed fine ticket and demands he pay it whilst checking his heart rate, worried about his health and his heart condition.

Again in his car Heston’s fury is reignited when bird mess lands on his windscreen and due to the earlier vandalism his windscreen wipers don’t work when he tries to clean it off. He lets out a primeval scream and then suddenly clutches his chest.

Later, whilst lying in a hospital bed at St. Phil’s, Lily tries to make Heston stay calm. Talking to him Lily tries to discover why Heston has been getting so frustrated. He misses being a surgeon and the respect that came with it. But really he is upset about Bob. Later Karen is on the phone to the newspaper desperately trying to cover for Heston.

Lily takes Heston back to the shop. She goes in and asks Adrian for a refund. He again calls the police to say he is being harassed. She notices a fire hazard and when he brushes past her arm she points out that it could technically be assault. Realising what he’s up against Adrian goes to the till. However Lily has changed her mind and instead wants an expensive plasma TV delivered to Bob’s address and installed.

Later Heston and Lily are at home. She goes to make supper while he puts his feet up to watch TV. However, the batteries in the remote have run out - this is the last straw for Heston!