Pulse (2010) - full transcript

- All right.

We'll proceed with the re-section.

Today, please!

Come on.

Argh!

- [Nurse] Are you all right?

- It's okay, I'm fine.

I'm fine.

It's out.

Remove it, please.

(eerie music)



Not again.

You'll forget all this, Mr Maddox.

You always do.

Ready with the implant, please.

(intense music)

♪ Am I just about to lose my mind ♪

♪ It was fun for five minutes ♪

Nick!

- So, which one is she?

- The blonde in the blue dress.

- Not bad.

Though Hannah's looking surprisingly fit.

- Hannah's like a war.

Huge investment in time and energy.



- And years later you're still involved.

- I can't believe she's back here.

Apparently she went totally mental.

- Right in the middle of an operation.

They had to drag her our and sedate her.

Blood everywhere.

- Rafee, don't!

- Jess, how did you make it this far?

- Well, we didn't have to
cut into real people before.

- [Adam] Is this seat taken?

- No.

- It's like you never left.

Seriously, it's good you've come back.

And, you know if I can help in any way.

- Thanks, Adam, but I'll be fine.

- Anything.

- Really, thanks, but I
want to do this on my own.

- Cheers.
- Cheers.

(haunting music)

- Hi.

- You came back then?

I'm surprised.

But I'm sure you'll manage.

- I should have called.

- Be careful, okay?

- Yeah.

(haunting music)

(screams)

- [Stella] So, do you think
she's gonna stick around then?

- Who's that?

- Oh, come on.

- What, Hannah?

Why are you interested?

- I want a job on Randall's firm.

There's only so many going.

- Blimey.

You're not going to let

anyone or anything stand
in your way, are you?

- [Stella] Do you?

- Look I wouldn't worry about Hannah.

She hasn't got your.

- Desire?

- Ruthless ambition.

The thing about Hannah is she

actually cares about her patients.

- How bizarre.

All right!

No-one's going to see you.

(eerie music)

- [Rafee] Here we go.

This is where it starts.

- It'll be fine.

It'll be fine.

- You do know this is the
suicide capital of the NHS?

- What?

- Didn't you read the prospectus?

(dramatic music)

I'll catch you guys up, yeah?

(dramatic music)

- Come on.

Come on!

- Here we are.

This is Randall's patients.

And there's the legend.

- Why?

- Recurring gastric cancer.

They've had to cut it
out of him five times.

- Poor man.

- [Stella] It's better if we
don't get emotionally involved.

- Morning, everyone.

- Morning.
- Morning.

- Okay.

Encounter.

Examine.

Three years of lectures behind you,

now this is where you
really start learning.

- Ms Black?

Ms Black?

Perhaps look to the actual patient, no?

You might have missed something.

Ms Black?

No?

Amputation.

Necrotising fasciitis.

I see you have met our Mr Maddox?

- [Mr Maddox] She's been very nice.

- Okay I'd like to have a quick

feel your abdomen if that's alright?

- Makes a change to be asked.

- Let me know what you find.

- I've never drunk, never smoked.

They've tried everything,
nothing's worked.

- Miss Randall's been very good to us.

They say she's the best
surgeon in the country.

- Did you bring a paper, love?

I don't like her to see me like this.

In and out of these bloody places.

I wish they'd just leave me to.

Ignore me.

I'm not sleeping very well.

I think it's these injections.

They give me bad dreams.

- Okay, now I'm going
to do this very gently.

Although by now you can
probably tell me how it's done.

(intense music)

- Hannah?

Hannah?

Hannah?

Something moved and.
- What?

- Nothing, tt was nothing.

- You were examining the abdomen?

- Yes.
- And?

- I was mistaken, sorry.

- It's a storm in a teacup Mr
Maddox, don't look so worried.

We're gonna operate on you again soon

and then everything will be alright.

- Oh, are you sure?

- You shouldn't be scared of Hannah,

she's very nice really.

- Mr Gates.

I thought I should
mention about Mr Maddox.

There was something.

He mentioned to me about some injections

that have been giving him discomfort.

Only I couldn't find them on his chart.

- Well, that's probably because
there aren't any injections.

- Oh.

- Yeah, he's probably confused.

Someone taking blood, maybe.

- He seemed quite certain.

- Listen, Hannah, you didn't
exactly cover yourself in glory

today, but trying too hard
is not going to help, is it?

- Ah, there she is!

- Miss Randall.
- Miss Randall.

- Hannah, it's a pleasure to see you back.

Let's have a cup of tea.

We must catch up.

- Friends in high places.

- Ms Carter?

Tomorrow we'll start over.

Okay?

(soft music)

- You know, it's strange
seeing you in that white coat.

You look so like your mother.

You know, when we first qualified,

we thought anything was possible,

that we could save anyone.

But when it came to your mother,

we might as well have been
back in the Dark Ages.

- I'm just glad you were there for her.

(eerie music)

- Is there anything I can
do to make this easier?

- I'm not expecting special treatment.

- You don't need it.

I'm glad to have you on my firm.

You'll do your mother proud.

(intense music)

- That's it!

That's it!

(shouts)

- You're obviously working something out.

- It's not about Hannah.

- No, it's fine.

It's not like she's going to be

around for much longer anyway.

Not if she keeps on
freaking out like that.

(eerie music)

- You know what?

Hannah's not important.

Whereas this.

- Nick!

- Just be careful, okay?

(haunting music)

- The look on Mr Maddox's face.

He was scared of me.

I'm scared of me.

I saw.

I think I saw.

- What did you see?

- Something moving inside,
him which is ridiculous.

Impossible.

- Like when you see your mum?

Why do you think this is happening?

- Because I haven't got over Mum's death,

because I've put myself in the
middle of cancer operations

and people with cancer and
people talking about cancer.

- And why have you done that?

- Stop asking questions and just kick

me out of the hospital, please.

- Why?

- I can't look at a
cancer patient and feel.

- Are you going to keep
repeating that word?

- Oh, shut up.

- I like doctors who feel.

Maybe you could be a doctor like that.

- My mum would say.

- Your mum was a brilliant doctor

who didn't seem to feel much at all.

I'd be more worried if you
weren't having a reaction.

It shows you're healthy.

What do you want to do?

- Become a doctor.

- Okay.

- But I'd like it to
be really easy, please.

And not have people waiting
for me to crack up or

see things that aren't there.

Can you fix that for me?

- No.

- What good are you, then?
- You tell me.

- Morning.

- Morning, Mr Maddox.

- Charlie, love.

- Charlie, may I?

- Everything all right, love?

- Everything's fine.

Thanks, Charlie.

(intense music)

- Hi.
- Hi.

- I wanted to talk to you.

I wanted to say sorry,

about the other day, about freaking out.

About all of it, really.

I know this is difficult for you, too.

- It's fine, don't worry.

- I do want us to get on.

- Yeah, me too.

Hannah?

I've been a bit of a dick, haven't I?

A lot went unsaid at the end there.

- We're fine.

I understand, really.

- No, I should have
been there and I wasn't.

I'm so sorry.

I've really missed you.

Can I say that?

I was happy when we were together.

- Yeah, me too.

- I could always talk to you.

And now everything's.

- What?

- It's just me and Stella.

- That's none of my business.

No, no, no!

That's not how I want things to be.

Nick?

Nick!

- I want you, Hannah.

- Nick!

Stop it now!

Nick, stop it!

- No!
- Don't fight me.

- Stop it!

- [Rafee] Come on, Loz I
gave you my list weeks ago.

- It takes time.

- What is that?

- A pacemaker.

Tricky buggers.

Your customers getting twitchy, then?

- They're not the problem.

- And I am?

- I was told you were reliable.

- My customers don't complain.

- Mr Hussein, good morning.

- You should be on the wards.

- I'm on my way.
- Looking like that?

- What you going to do, call Mum?

- We are not doing this again.

- Is that the royal we?

- One of these days you're
gonna do something really stupid

and I'm not going to
be around to save you.

- You have your thing, this is mine.

If I get chucked out, so what?

Dad might sulk for a while,
but nobody's gonna blame you.

- You have no idea.

- And still she looks so innocent.

- Sorry?

Oh, my God.

Look, I'm really sorry.

It was a stupid moment.

- Yeah?

You're having a lot of those, aren't you?

Why don't you just hurry up and

quit or just flunk or whatever?

- It wasn't what I wanted.

I was confused and Nick just.

- Are you going to cry sexual harassment?

Because that would go so well for you.

- How are we getting on here?

Is the patient numb?

(haunting music)

(phone rings)

- Hello?

Hi, you called me?

- Oh, right.

Mr Maddox kept asking for you.

He wouldn't go back to sleep.

So, I thought sod it, why
should you miss on all the fun?

But then Mr Gates arrived.

So best get yourself off home.

(mysterious music)

(groans)

- Leave me alone.

- Charlie, it's Hannah.

Charlie?

- I wanted you to see.

- I saw it.

Charlie?

(mysterious music)

- Hannah?

- What are you doing here?

- You first.

- Mr Maddox asked for me.

- Did he?

- That injection it's not on the chart.

- Well, I must have forgotten.

I'm always doing that.

- Listen, Nick, about what happened today.

- It's sweet Mr Maddox
called you, but you really

should have waited until morning.

You're doing it again, you're

letting yourself get too involved.

You have to learn to keep a distance.

(intense music)

- Mr Clarke in bed four's
been asking for you.

- I'm about to go off shift.

- Well, he's quite insistent.

- They always are.

- How are you?
- I'm fine, why?

- Can I help you?
- No, I didn't ask for help.

- It's really hard.

Don't you think it's really hard?

Please tell me that's not a set text.

- I'm reading up on
Charlie Maddox's cancer.

- Why?

- Each time he has two operations,

an exploratory and removal.

All clear.

Exactly six months later, it's back.

That's happened five times
and he's still alive,

how do you explain that?

- Luck?

And then there's the injections.

Charlie insists he's been given them.

His obs show a temperature
spike every night,

which suggests he's right.

- None of this has got anything

to do with the course, does it?

Thank God.

I need a drink.

You coming?

- Maybe later.

- [Jess] Text me if you're going to come.

- Jess?

You know your stuff, you'll be fine.

(mysterious music)

Wait a minute!

I'm still in here!

(mysterious music)

Hello?

(mysterious music)

Hello?

(mysterious music)

Hello?

This isn't funny.

(screams)

(intense music)

What are you doing here?

- Trying to call security.

They've locked us in.

Are you okay?

- Yeah.

I'll go get my stuff.

- Okay.

Hannah the cavalry's here!

- If that's what it says,
that's what he's been getting.

- But the records have been changed!

Last night, there was no reference to

patent blue injections
or any injections at all.

- It's standard procedure
for cancer patients.

- Used to locate lymph
nodes in surgery, I know.

Shit!

The computer says the same, Patent blue.

Listen, love, shouldn't
you be out in a bar getting

trolleyed somewhere instead of

pissing off the nursing staff?

There's plenty of time for that.

- But the records.

- Are exactly as they should be.

Goodnight!

- Hello.

- Thanks.

- So, do you want to tell me what's wrong?

You can't let it get to
you, my young apprentice.

- I'm not!

- Okay.

- I think there's something wrong

with Charlie Maddox's treatment.

- So?

Tell a real doctor.

- I can't.

- Hannah, you've got to find a

way of getting by in this place.

Find your own thing, like I
have because shit goes on here.

- What sort of shit?

- You just get the feeling
that there are the rules okay,

and then there are the rules.

There are people in
charge, like my brother,

and then there are people in charge.

- Yeah, but Charlie's having
his operation tomorrow and.

- Then say something.

Or don't.

In this place, you have to ask
yourself, "Is it worth it?"

Not because you don't care,
but because at the end

of the day, can you really
make any difference?

Ta, glad I could help.

(mysterious music)

- Pub?

Look, I know.

I know it's shit and it's full of doctors,

but it beats sitting in your room

reading about bowel parasites.

- I can't.

- Another night on the Stella?

Mate, are you okay?

- I've got a lot on, I'm sorry.

9:30pm, five days since first injection.

Maybe I'm making progress after all.

I think with specific dosages I have

managed to control the dispersal.

So cutting myself might have

turned out to be a lucky accident.

(gasps)

- Ready?

- He's done it enough times.

- Doesn't make it any easier.

- [Hannah] It'll be fine.

- You're afraid about
this too, aren't you?

- [Mrs Maddox] It'll be all right.

I'll see you soon.

- It's hard to keep a
brave face, isn't it?

- I hate watching him go.

- Miss Randall?

About the Maddox operation, I'm not

sure the interns should be observing.

- Why not?

We've done it many times before.

- I'm just not feeling.

- Can you do it or can't you?

- Of course I can do it.

- Good.

In fact, I'll be joining you.

I want to see how you're

getting on with my star patient.

- Right, this is your first

time in a real, live
operation, for most of you.

Don't touch anything,
including each other.

- I hope there's not too much blood.

- Who was your careers officer?

- I can't quite see, where am I looking?

- All of that.

- Oh, my God!

- Miss Randall, would you
like to say a few words?

- This procedure is the sixth
exploration and re-section

of Mr Maddox's gastric cancer.

Staging CT scans show that
it has not spread elsewhere,

therefore it is potentially curative.

We can but hope.

Mr Gates will lead.

- Right.

Let's get started, shall we?

(haunting music)

Bipolar diathermy, come on.

- The smell of cooking human flesh.

- You get used to it.

- Oh!

- It's only blood.

- There's excessive scarring.

I can't identify any anatomy.

- Which is completely normal
for multiple operations.

- Can I have some light here, please.

I can't see a bloody thing.

Thank you.

(haunting music

Right the CT scan's no help.

This could extend to involve almost

any underlying structure,
so we don't know, do we?

We never know with these things, so.

Sod it, so.

- Mr Gates, what approach
would you like to take?

- Nick, his BP's low.

Should we wait while the
anesthetist catches up?

- Let's just get on
with it, shall we, Adam?

Your babies need to see
the real thing, don't they?

- Mr Gates, I asked what you wanted to do.

- We just keep going.

- Of course.

Phone transfusion, make
sure blood's on its way.

Clamps, heavy vicryl ties in a moment.

Will you retract, please, so
I can bloody see something?

- Okay.

- Yes.

- Is something wrong?

- Yeah.

I can't seem to mobilize the
deep surface of the tumor.

It's baked solid.

Retract, please.

(monitors beep)

- His heart rate's rising.

- How's that possible?

- Mr Gates?
- I can do this.

- Shall I take the interns out?

- No.

No, no, no, no, no.

We've done this many
times before haven't we.

Clamp, please.

Thank you.

- What are you doing?

- Nick?
- Clamp, please.

- Nick!

- He's awake!

- Don't be ridiculous.

- He is, he's awake!

I've nearly got it mobilized.

- Clear the theater!

- Argh!

- Mr Gates, step back from the table!

Step back from the table now!

He's torn a major artery.

Suction.

We need to tie this off.

Large clamps.

Now, damn it!

The rest of you, out!

- Let's keep him coming.
- Chase that blood.

- [Miss Randall] Heavy vicryl.

(somber music)

- I wonder how much a
lab technician earns.

- Shut up, Rafee.

- Sorry.

- I'm sorry.

We lost him.

Adam, could you please inform Mrs Maddox?

Thank you.

- Of course.

- Well, that would not have been

my choice for a first operation.

But perhaps there is a lesson,

which is we can't save everyone.

The patient seemed to have
suffered some sort of reaction

to the anesthetic which we
will investigate in due course.

This was an extreme case.

But you can content
yourselves with the thought

that it doesn't get much worse than that.

- Nick.

What happened in there?

- Mr Maddox was a very sick man.

- I saw you injecting him.

You know I did.

If it's some sort of drug
trial, if you're under some sort

of pressure to cover it up.

You said you could always talk to me.

You still can.

(somber music)

(intense music)

(phone rings)

- Yep?

Well, we can't be sure.

Maybe it's fine.

Okay.

I'll see how far it's gone

and if I have to, I'll tidy it up.

Are you okay?

- You know.

- Do you fancy a drink?

It's about Nick.

I'd really like to talk, please?

(knock at door)

- Nick?

Hey, Nick?

Come on, it's me.

Nick, please.

Nick!

- No, Stella, don't!
- Nick!

What are you doing?

- Bit of a mess.

- Whisky, straight up?

- Blame my mum.

I liked what you said to Mrs Maddox.

- Never gets easier.

You hope to become hardened, but.

- You didn't like not being
able to tell the whole truth?

- Nick's an old friend.

The fact that Mr Maddox

stayed alive as long as he
did, that's down to Nick.

But.
- He's changed.

- I keep saying to myself,

this is a competitive environment.

Randall expects a lot, creates pressure.

- I think this goes way beyond that.

- Whatever this is, you have to stop.

- It's too late.

What are you doing?!

You think you know what
you're looking at?!

You don't know anything!

- Nick!

Nick, please!

This isn't you.

- Get away from me, Stella!

Get away!

I said get out!

- Do you have any proof?

- That's the problem.

I checked the computer
records on Mr Maddox.

- Excellent.

- And they square with the notes.

It can all be explained away.

- You know this could get you thrown out.

- I thought we were talking in confidence.

- We are.

All I'm saying is, keep your head down.

Let me look into it.

- Thank you.

- And you haven't told anyone else?

- No.

- I think I need your help.

- Nick, it's Hannah.

Can you give me a call, please?

I'm really worried about you.

All right, thanks.

- He won't, not even you.

- Look, I think Nick
was injecting the same

stuff into Maddox, some
sort of drugs trial.

Adam warned me not to tell anyone.

- Adam?

- Yeah, he's concerned about him too.

- And you trust him
enough to show him this?

He's going to have to report Nick.

- I don't want that.

- Well, no.

- If Nick is injecting the
same stuff, then we have

to check it against
Maddox's blood, surely.

- How are we going do that?

He's dead.

- Well he's still in the mortuary.

- Oh, my God, they said you were mental.

- How about I go?

If I get caught, then I'm
still, you know, mad old Hannah

and you get to keep a clean slate.

- Are you sure?

- I am.

- Well, just be careful, yeah?

How the hell are you
going to get in there?

- You impress me, my young apprentice.

You made your choice.

Just get it back to me first thing.

- Thank you.

- Have fun.

(eerie music)

(muffled screams)

(shouts)

- Nick!

Nick!

(screams)

- Hannah!

- Stay away from me!

- Hannah!

Hannah!

Hannah!

Please come on, I'm not going to hurt you.

- Stay away from me!

- What you saw, that's not what I wanted.

No-one expected that to happen.

- What did you do to him?

- He was going to die months ago.

- But the cancer.
- It wasn't cancer!

We put it inside him.

The injections, they're supposed

to keep it under control.

It's absorbed, it keeps him going.

But it starts to fail.

Everything we do ends up like that thing.

They said we were going
to make breakthroughs,

that we were going to save people.

- What are you talking about?

- Different tests, different.

- Nick?

(screams)

Nick!

Nick!

- You shouldn't have come back.

- You're infected.

Nick!

- I can manage.

You shouldn't get involved.

- I am involved.

Please.

Let me help you, please.

- All right.

Okay.

Just let me get this sorted
and then we'll talk, okay?

- No, let me help you, please.

- Just go.

- No, Nick, please!
- Go.

- I can't just leave you like this.

- Go.
- Let me stay, Nick, please.

- Go!

I'll explain everything later, okay?

Just go.

(eerie music)

(knock at door)

- Mate, we have to talk.

(phone rings)

- Hi, hello.

What.

Oh, my God!

(intense music)

(dramatic music)