'Skin Deep'

Joe arrives at the surgery and throws Donna and Greg into a panic as he heads straight for Nick’s room. Greg tries to stop him but is relieved when Joe apologises to Nick, rather than hit him. Nick accepts his apology and Joe explains what happened when he talked to Emily. She’d told him about the boy and that it was a casual fling – Joe clearly would love to get his hands on Karl Morris to tell him what he thought of him. Nick asks about Emily’s decision to which Joe explains that of course they’ve discussed a termination – it’s the sensible thing to do. Nick and Greg try to ensure that it is Emily’s decision and not Joe’s – Joe assures them that he’s being sensitive about it.

Later that morning Donna finds Joe searching through the phone book but before she can find out why she is distracted by Michelle who tells her about her afternoon date with Dr Chris Taylor. She’s expecting that he’ll take her for lunch somewhere posh and then try to take her home for a quickie on the sofa – Donna tells her to be firm with him to which Michelle replies that she’s not complaining! That afternoon Michelle meets Chris in the local park. He comments on his surprise that she works in a local surgery and is not at some cushty private hospital or saving the starving millions in Africa with a hunky Doctor. This all leads up to him asking if she has anyone special in her life – Michelle simply replies that if she did, she wouldn’t be there. Chris tries to take her to a restaurant which turns out to be closed down and so they end up eating fish and chips in the park. Michelle has enjoyed the walk and conversation however. As the date comes to an end Michelle decides to invite Chris back to hers for hot chocolate – she even has a big furry rug. Chris smiles and says that he’d love to drink hot chocolate on her rug but it’ll have to be another day – he wants to take things more slowly – some things are worth waiting for. Michelle is impressed and flattered as they snog before he walks off.

Joe phones Emily’s college and pretends to be from a music equipment hire company – trying to gain financial compensation against some damaged equipment – the name he has on his invoice is Karl Morris. The lady on the other end of the call quickly gives him Karl’s address. Joe arrives at a grand house, intending just to talk to Karl about his responsibilities. He is perturbed to find a scruffy Pete Docherty wannabe answer the door – it’s Karl Morris (18). Joe is furious to discover that Karl can’t even remember who Emily is and has to be reminded, it gets worse when Karl suggests that he’s not necessarily the father of the baby – she could be going with half the college – and he’s not going to get any cash or time out of him – he’s got better things to do than support some pram-faced tart!!!! Joe sees red and lunges at him in fury – they struggle as Karl tries to fight back – but then a police car pulls up. A while later we see Joe being slung into a Police cell – Joe calls for attention – you can’t keep me here, I’m a doctor!

Meanwhile, Phoebe Billington (20’s) and her boyfriend Lester Clarke (20’s) arrive at the surgery bickering. She’s come for a tetanus jab and didn’t want him tagging along and fussing. When Michelle comes to call her name, Phoebe is irritated by Lester’s purposely loud comment that she should ask about her migraines also. Michelle ascertains that Phoebe’s tetanus is still up-to-date and starts to ask about the migraines. Phoebe is reticent and insists that they’re not so bad - Lester was just fussing. She then casually tries to ask about a repeat prescription for her contraceptive pill – this is the real reason she has come to the surgery.

Michelle sees in her file that Jimmi was going to change Phoebe’s pill this next time as she was on a strong pill that also treated her acne (un-named Dianette) – however as her acne has now cleared up she needs to swap to a normal weaker pill. Phoebe gets agitated and insists that she has no problems with it. Michelle insists on fetching one of the doctors but Phoebe walks out instead. Michelle realises that she’s upset about her acne and tries to reassure her that there are other things she can try. Phoebe won’t be swayed and insists that nothing else works – if she gets spotty again, Lester will leave her – she can’t risk it. Phoebe stalks out observed by Donna.

When they get back to their flat Lester tries to ask Phoebe about what Michelle had said – he thinks that her migraines and bad moods could be linked to the pill and is concerned. Phoebe refuses to discuss it with him and instead snaps back. They are interrupted by the arrival of Lester’s younger sister Maddy (16) who has come to go shopping with Phoebe. Lester leaves for work. Maddy shows sympathy with Phoebe – Phoebe says she’s glad that they’re mates and the Maddy understands about the pressures that girls are under – men don’t understand. Phoebe persuades Maddy to go to the surgery to ask for the acne pill – outside she emphasises that she needs a mate she can rely on and she can’t let her down. They are observed by Donna who happens to be showing an elderly patient out.

Maddy reluctantly heads inside and Donna sends her into see Greg. Greg is surprised when Maddy asks for the acne pill and explains that she doesn’t need it –he will only prescribe the usual combined pill. Greg asks Maddy a few health questions to assess the risk factors for her – she is alarmed to be asked about the risks of stroke and to hear about possible minor side effects such as mood swings, weight gain and bloating. As Maddy leaves Greg comments to Donna about her thinking she had acne. Donna’s interest is piqued and she checks the medical files. Donna tells Greg that she thinks Maddy was getting the pill for Phoebe but he thinks she’s overreacting and dismisses her theory.

Donna phones Michelle but like Greg she thinks that Donna is imagining things. Meanwhile Maddy returns to the flat with the wrong prescription – Phoebe has the beginnings of a migraine which she’s trying to fight off - she goes mad at Maddy – ranting that she’s useless. But then Phoebe starts to feel worse – her eyesight blurs and goes dizzy. Maddy panics believing Phoebe to be having a stroke. Maddy rushes outside in a panic and finds Donna who has hesitantly arrived outside. Maddy admits that she lied to get the prescription and asks Donna to help Phoebe. Donna recognises a migraine but calls Greg to check her over. Meanwhile Lester arrives back and is furious to discover that Phoebe had asked Maddy to get the pill for her – Phoebe insists that she just wanted to look nice but he walks out past Greg who’s on his way in. Greg praises Donna for following her hunch and being right about Maddy.

Greg prescribes a strong painkiller and once Phoebe starts to feel better he admonishes her for trying to get hold of more pills illegally – Maddy apologises too and Greg and Donna leave. After they’ve gone Phoebe apologises to Maddy for being such a cow and Maddy tries to convince Phoebe that real beauty is on the inside. Lester gets back and Phoebe swears she’s going to come off the pill, even if it makes her spotty and she loses him. Lester tells her that her acne never bothered him anyway – and she spends as long in the mirror now as she used to – but she’s not as happy as she used to be. He wants the old Phoebe back. They kiss gently.