'School’s Out'

Greg and Donna are in reception when Julia arrives in a foul mood, tired and in need of an aspirin for a headache. Unfortunately Donna has none. Julia finds Mac in his office and he asks how it went with Sam – it was emotional but she didn’t give her the money she had asked for. Mac offers to call her later and talk to her. Donna enters with a coffee for Julia, though Julia seems too narked to be pleased. After she’s gone Julia remarks that Donna’s willingness to please is getting on her nerves – she wonders whether they should keep her on after her probation ends next week. We see Mac’s concern. Later that day, Julia tries to get some aspirin of Faith but unfortunately she gave her last one to Jimmi that morning. Julia’s headache builds and only adds to her annoyance at Donna at the end of the story of the day.

Meanwhile, We meet Meena Shah (16), a pretty, quiet girl in school uniform who approaches the Mill Surgery. She observes a car parking in the car park – driven by the currently unseen Mr Paul Harrison (42) – her school teacher. Meena has come to see Greg to ask for the contraceptive pill but to her horror she is recognised by Donna who is a friend of her mum. Donna knows Meena and her mother from Temple and comments that she may drop by to say hello. Meena asks her not to tell her mother that she saw her at the surgery and Donna reassures her of course she won’t – she promises. Meena explains to Greg that she’s going on holiday with a friend tomorrow and wanted to be safe in case of any holiday romances – Greg prescribes her the pill. Meanwhile Mr Harrison enters the surgery and finds himself being chatted up by Donna who is impressed to find he is a teacher – at Letherbridge High.

As Meena comes out and Mr Harrison goes in, Donna can’t help but exclaim that they must know each other – Mr Harrison doesn’t seem to recognise who Meena is and Donna instantly realises that she’s put her foot in it as Meena and Mr Harrison both scuttle quickly away. Mr Harrison sees Greg for stress, 19 years of teaching and being chucked out by his wife has taken its toll. Mr Harrison reiterates that he still doesn’t want to take anti-depressants but instead asks for 2 weeks off work. Greg is sympathetic and agrees. After he leaves Greg realises that Mr Harrison has left his diary behind and as he stops to take a phone call, he passes it to Donna to chase after him. Donna rushes outside and sees Mr Harrison driving away – but then he stops down the road and Meena gets in – it looks as if they embrace and kiss – Donna is shocked! Donna then discovers that Mr Harrison needed time off for stress, she tells Greg that she will drop by the school to return the diary – it’s on her way out anyway. Before she leaves Donna looks up Anita Shah’s phone number using her daughter, Meena’s patient record – she can’t help but notice that Meena has been prescribed the pill – she arranges to visit Anita.

At the school, Donna finds Mr Harrison packing his stuff into his car. She hands over the diary and comments that she is going to visit Anita Shah, Meena’s mother. Mr Harrison pretends at first not to know who she is and then seems to struggle to remember.

Donna arrives at Anita’s (40) and is perturbed to hear that Meena is going away with a friend, Charlotte, tomorrow. She puts two and two together and decides to tell Anita that she believes Meena is dating Mr Harrison and is in fact going on holiday with him… and she’s going on the pill!! Donna leaves. When Meena arrives home she is confronted by her mother who more than anything seems upset about the fact that they don’t keep secrets. Meena denies the accusation and reacts with disgust at the thought that she may be sleeping with Mr Harrison. Anita phones Charlotte’s mother and confirms that her daughter is going away with Meena tomorrow.

At the surgery, Donna gets a call from Anita to tell her that she made a mistake. No sooner has she put the phone down and Mr Harrison storms into the surgery and starts having a go at Donna for spreading lies about him. Julia intervenes and takes him to her office to hear his complaint. Afterwards Julia calls Donna and Greg into her office – she tells them that fortunately Mr Harrison was too upset to make a formal complaint in the end but that she and Donna will discuss her conduct later during her review. As they leave the office Donna suddenly realises that Mr Harrison had no way of knowing about the accusation unless someone – probably Meena – told him! She realises that they must know each other, despite their protestations to the contrary. Donna persuades Greg to return to Anita’s with her to sort it out.

Meanwhile Mr Harrison and Meena meet surreptitiously in Letherbridge Woods. They compare notes and declare their love for one another. Meena suggests that they should go away together – Mr Harrison agrees.

As Greg and Donna explain the situation to Anita, Meena returns home and starts packing. Anita follows her upstairs and asks her again about an affair while Greg and Donna wait tentatively in the kitchen. Donna then spots Mr Harrison in his car waiting outside the house, she goes out and confronts him – she’s only 16 years old and he’s taking advantage. By sleeping with a student he’s abusing his position of trust even if she is over 16 – Meena deserves better than that. Meanwhile Meena heads out of the house with her suitcase – she tells her mother that she’s not a child and she’s going away with Paul Harrison. As she approaches the car, Mr Harrison asks Donna to tell Meena he loves her and he starts the car and drives away – Meena shouts after him but he goes anyway, leaving a crying Meena railing at Donna and then falling into her mother’s arms.

Back at the surgery Greg and Donna dissect the events of the day – it’s all in Anita’s hands now and Donna did well to follow her instincts. Donna is not sure that Julia will agree however and hesitantly heads off for her review. In the office, Julia congratulates Donna on dealing with the case… however… she can’t overlook the fact that Donna broke patient confidentiality and put the reputation of the practice in jeopardy. Donna defends her position as Meena was a family friend and the circumstances were exceptional. Julia reminds her that she can’t let her emotions get the better of her and comments that she has noticed that discretion is not one of her strong points! Donna is furious – she can be very discreet and sooner or later Julia will look pretty stupid making comments like that – she should take a look in her own backyard first! Just as Donna is about to reveal that Mac is having an affair, Mac appears, to calm the situation down. Much to Julia’s annoyance, he defends Donna’s position and tells her that they all have to be careful about what they say. Donna agrees – perhaps he should tell Julia about just how discreet she really is?