'The Lodger'

Daniel arrives at work in a swanky new car - he’s just trying it out for the day. Jimmi gently asks Daniel how the funeral went and Daniel is vague and just a little sheepish. Daniel spends every spare moment between patients leafing through a magazine looking at the expensive gadgets, and also resumes his flirtation with Zara, having to make it up to her after snubbing her on Friday night first.

The flirting escalates through the day until Lily has a disapproving word with him about maintaining the proper decorum. Daniel has a dig about her and Heston’s sex life which also crosses the line and leaves Lily feeling mortified.

Julia sees none of this but she takes a moment to tell Daniel how sorry she was to hear about Cybil’s death. Daniel nods vaguely but its obvious the pleasures of Zara and material wealth are far more tempting than the memory of Cybil. Zara cuts to the chase, suggesting she come round to his place tonight.

Embarrased, Daniel admits he’s actually lodging with Lily, but jokes she cramps his style and he’s moving out very soon to a new canal side apartments. Lily overhears and asks when he was planning to tell her?

Caught out, Daniel mumbles he was planning to tell her that night. Zara, not interested in a domestic, stalks off, it’s his loss. Lily thinks its poor treatment after she helped him when he was at a low ebb, but as there’s no formal contract he can leave whenever he likes.

Ruth has settled back into work and although withdrawn, she is efficient and effective. She even copes when Zara (not knowing and not caring about Ruth’s recent history) makes snide remarks about a very minor mistake of Ruth’s.

Simon has to deal with a tricky patient (SOTD) and its not obvious but the patient is a psychiatric case. Ruth can’t explain why but her antennae are raised and she keeps a look out for this patient.

When the patient has a psychotic episode in reception at The Mill, Ruth recognises it and takes charge. She calms the patient down as Simon stands on the sidelines, frozen in inexperience. Lily steps in and relieves Ruth who is taken for a cup of tea by Julia. Ruth is totally overwhelmed by what happened and all her worst moments come flooding back.

Julia reassures her she did a brilliant job dealing with the situation. Lily is also pleased how Ruth coped, and Ruth is reassured but shaken. What really helps is a quiet word of support from Simon later.

Meanwhile, Alan Corby (28) is a recovering alcoholic, and recent ex-smoker, but his new flatmate Brian (28) is not very supportive. Alan plucks up the courage to confront Brian about his own drinking and smoking – is Brian really inviting friends round for all night drinking sessions once Alan has gone to bed?

A hungover Brian becomes confrontational and wants to know if he’s being accused of lying? Alan insists not but he can spot the signs that maybe Brian has a problem. Alan’s words fall on deaf ears, so as he’s not feeling well goes to enrol at the Mill.

Alan sees Simon, but they can’t go into much detail as Alan’s notes have yet to arrive from his old surgery. Alan spends more time talking about his nightmare flatmate, and then mystifies Simon further when Alan calls the appointment short, saying he’s just seen Brian turn up out of the window making a nuisance of himself. Alan and Brian have a stand up row in the car park much to Alan’s embarrassment, who apologises to a bemused Ruth.

Back at the flat, a confused Brian admits he’s found anti schizophrenia meds and he thinks they’re his - he must have blocked it all out. He reluctantly agrees to sign up at the Mill and see a doctor. While Brian is out of the house, Alan finds a diary filled with aggressive scrawlings about him, so snatching the diary and the meds, follows Brian down to the Mill.

In reception it becomes obvious no-one else can see Brian, and Alan starts to spin out of control, in part due to Simon’s inability to deal with the situation. When Alan picks up a chair, it is Ruth who gently and skilfully helps him see what’s happening. It’s Alan who is schizophrenic, and Brian is his own creation. Alan calms enough to go with Lily, and takes a sedative.