'Old Friends'

Michelle is messing around on the internet (see story of the day) but when Cherry comments on how serious everyone looks today due to the verdict on Ruth’s assessment, Michelle brushes her off. However, when Michelle is alone it’s obvious that she is anxious about the result. As Melody delivers her verdict to the partners, Heston is adamant that she is wrong. He doesn’t blame her, she was put in an unfair position but Melody won’t be appeased. However, Heston makes it clear that there are bigger issues at stake than Melody’s self esteem.

Melody tells Cherry and Michelle that she has approved Ruth for work and Michelle is appalled. She’s straight on the phone to a nursing agency, offering herself up for work. In the meantime Heston informs Julia that he intends to speak to Ruth’s Psychiatrist, Henry regarding her suitability to return to work. Julia is resigned and lets him get on with it.

In the meantime, Melody goes to thank Daniel for his support yesterday but is rebuffed as he states that she has made the wrong decision. Melody’s confidence is shattered when Julia explains that Heston intends to get a second opinion on Ruth. Julia tries to placate her but Melody won’t have it. She’s sick of how she gets treated and tells Julia that she doesn’t ever want to become involved in something like this again, leaving Julia feeling awful.

Cherry provides a friendly face for Simon during a stressful day. Heston is on the war path and Simon panics when his pregnant patient collapses during a consultation. Unable to cope alone, Cherry comes in to save the day and assist the patient. She consoles Simon and makes him feel better about the situation and they head off for a drink together after work, leaving Daniel feeling slightly rejected.

Meanwhile, University lecturer Annabel Sparrow (30) reprimands her boyfriend, Matt Wynn (30s) for wasting valuable time on ‘FriendsReconnected’ when he should be writing his column for the paper. She reminds him of their doctor’s appointment later on and leaves, giving him time to check his secret messages from school friend Sam Jervis (30s). Michelle is also checking ‘FriendsReconnected’ and is finding a newspaper column post hilarious. She can’t believe the antics of the school bike, ‘Cyclone Sally!’

At the Campus Surgery Jimmi arrives to find a nervous Annabel waiting at the Campus for him. She questions whether the test results are ready yet but Jimmi tries to put her at ease; they won’t be ready until later and she shouldn’t worry.

At the Icon bar Matt nervously greets a brash looking woman who congratulates him on his award winning column. He’s relieved to discover that she has no idea what the column is about and they sit down to eat. Over lunch Sam reminds him of their boisterous school but is cut short when she spots Jimmi, a school friend of them both. Jimmi is surprised to see Sam and Matt together but Sam explains that she found him on ‘FriendsReconnected’ and here they are! She mentions how she’s seen Matt’s wife too from his pictures; he’s pulled a right corker there! Jimmi makes a quick escape but is puzzled as to the relationship between her and Matt.

As Sam questions Matt’s relationship with Annabel he reveals how he met her in London when he hit a real low point. He quickly became disillusioned with life as a hack and she was his saving grace. Sam grabs his phone and tries to find Annabel’s number to ask her to join them for a drink. Matt is appalled, but even more so when she reveals that she has read his column. Of course she knows that ‘Cyclone Sally the school bike’ in his column is her.

Matt backtracks, it was never intended to be malicious but she won’t listen. Sam reminds him how he got her pregnant. He says that it’s ironic how him and Annabel have been trying for a baby but to no avail. But then Sam delivers the final blow; she kept the baby.

Matt is speechless as she produces a photo of a 15yr old girl. Shortly after, outside the bank, the real reason for her visit is made clear as Matt hands her an envelope full of cash. He tells her it’s all she’s getting, he doesn’t want to know anything about his daughter and that’s it. He leaves her, arriving early for his doctor’s appointment and reveals to a stunned Jimmi that he has a 15-year-old daughter. Jimmi can’t believe it, and Matt explains it happened during his first year of uni, only once and then he realised that there was this whole other world out there.

He knew she was pregnant but asked her to get rid of the baby and after that had no reason to return to Cardiff as his mum moved away. Jimmi consoles him but he has to tell Annabel. Matt protests; there’s absolutely no way she can know but Jimmi says they’re strong enough to cope.

Matt sees Annabel in reception and tells her the news. She’s appalled, especially when she realises that Matt told Jimmi before her. She storms into Jimmi’s room, demanding to know the test results and find out what’s wrong with her, and Jimmi reveals that actually the tests came back normal and the best advice is for them to keep trying. Annabel is desperate; she wants a baby now. They’ve been trying for two years! She asserts that they can go privately and have IVF but when she mentions using their savings, Matt admits that this has now gone to Sam to ensure that she will leave them alone. Annabel is appalled and walks out.

On his way across campus Jimmi bumps into Sam and tells her he knows about her daughter. It can’t have been easy to come to see Matt and if it’s any consolation, he thinks Annabel has left Matt. She delights in this and shocks Jimmi when she reveals that she made up the story about her daughter. Matt ruined her life and now he’s had his comeuppance. As she’s whisked away in a cab, a desolate Matt sits alone in the flat.