'Serendipity'

Mark is a hypochondriac children’s entertainer. He is planning on proposing to his girlfriend Liz, but in a panic to hide the ring he swallowed it. Not knowing what to say to Liz he stresses about his health asking if he has a temperature. Liz has heard it all before and having no patience drives off.

Mark goes to his gig at a nursery and sees George with Bracken. It’s George’s day off and having had many appointments with Mark she is not thrilled to see him. Mark tells her about swallowing the ring and reluctantly George invites him to walk and talk with her. He worries that the ring will get stuck but George advises him to let nature take his course. Then he talks about his hypochondria and how it annoys Liz; he’s scared of losing her. He asks George what he can do about it and she suggests homeopathy or acupuncture. Mark agrees to make an appointment and leaves to have lunch, making George promise not to tell Liz where the ring has been.

Liz returns home and she explains how embarrassing and frustrating he can be. Mark apologises and tells her he is going to get help from George. Liz is pleased but confused as to what he is doing with a Tupperware box.

George goes into work to pick up some homeopathy samples and put in an order. Mark arrives and insists on seeing her despite it being her day off. Seeing how distressed he is George agrees to see him. Mark was looking for the ring when he found some blood.

Meanwhile Liz arrives in reception and waits for Mark. She explains to Julia that she hasn’t been very understanding of Mark and she wants to make it up to him. George examines him and reveals that there are no signs of haemorrhoids – he will need to go for tests. Trembling, Mark asks George if it could be bowel cancer – it’s a possibility. George reassures him and Mark reveals his mother died of bowel cancer. In fact his hypochondria started when his mother died; it was so sudden.

Mark claims its serendipity. A happy accident. If he hadn’t have swallowed the ring he would never have found the blood. George is surprised at how calm he is. Now that he is actually ill Mark feels liberated - there is now really something to worry about, so he can do something to solve it. He is in control. On his way out he sees Liz waiting in reception; they both thank George and leave. Julia asks George if she is going to save the world with complimentary medicine – George replies not the whole world.