Reckless (1997–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - Episode #1.1 - full transcript

They'd no phonecards left.
Do you mind if I use your phone?

Yes. I do mind.

Can I use your phone?

Absolutely not.

Look. I've got money.

Sorry.

It's an emergency.

I'm expecting a call.

They had no phonecards left.

Can I use your phone?

Sod off.



Here. Use mine.

Thanks.

Irma, it's Owen. I just got
the message. What's going on?

Has the GP seen him?

When did you ring him?

What?

Ring him back. Ask him
what he thinks 'emergency' means.

If he's not there in 15 minutes
call an ambulance.

Take my dad straight to Casualty.

Irma, you got that?

Coming up to Stockport.
I'll be there in half an hour.

I appreciate it. Thanks.

No problem.

Keep the change.



Hiya, Owen.
Doctor's up there with him now.

(BREATHES DEEPLY) I'm his son.

Why isn't he in hospital?

Because he doesn't need to be.

I'm a doctor. You know
he has a history of angina?

I'm aware of both those things. Yes.

He'll be fine.

Glucagon?

He's hypoglycaemic.

He's diabetic? Since when?

Lunchtime, I'd say.
See you later, Arnold.

(GRUNTS)

We call it Logan's Run.

Get pension, go from the post office
to The White Lion.

Five pints and enough scotch
to remake Whisky Galore.

He's diabetic from the booze.
Circulation's bad from the fags.

His heart races faster
than any horse he backs.

Why didn't I know he was diabetic?

I can only tell you
what he tells me to tell you.

I'm not his keeper!

I'm only here to tidy up.

He had me pointing his garden wall!

Get him to the clinic tomorrow.
I'll weigh him.

He talks about you a lot.

Me?

He's very proud of you.

TOILET FLUSHES

What the hell are you doing here?

Did you get an early train?

No. I got a late one.

You know you were asleep 16 hours?

I've had this thing going round.

No. You were pissed.

Pissed nothing.

This is a medical condition.

So's suicide if you get it soon enough.

I was here with the GP.

Guess what, Dad, you're a diabetic.

Here we go.
Dr Flossie and his tambourine.

Not for me. I have bacon and eggs.

Not any more.

You said
you were looking after yourself.

The bloody cardboard diet you sent?

I gave it to Irma. She soon looked
poorly. Here you are.

Thanks.

Why did you sell the other place?
I was round the corner.

Too many memories of your mum in London.

I were born in Manchester,
I should die in Manchester.

You'll manage that in no time.

You don't give up, do you?

You're a diabetic, Dad.

You don't tell me, fine.

Just cos you're a doctor -
But if you're eating and smoking...

It doesn't make it your business.
That's the trouble with you lot.

Morning.

What am I doing here?

Don't look at me. I didn't ask you.

Don't waste your breath.
You can't talk to him.

I've brought you a duvet
and a few clean sheets.

How much is he drinking?

Less than he did - more than he should.

Dr Springer? Mr Crane's apologies,
he's got behind.

Can you go to Theatre 7?

Who do I give this to?

Me. Down to your right, double doors
on your left, left again.

Owen Springer?

Richard Crane?

That's right. How do you do?

Nope.

A few emergencies - the system stops!

You know we've already interviewed?

I do. Yeah.

Where are you from?

I'm from Sunderland.

Sunderland?

I moved down south when I was 15.

I went to University College Hospital.

And got taken onto Spinetti's firm.

Sit down.

And is he good?

He's the best.

He's the best down there.

Teach you anything?

He's better at surgery than teaching.

What's your fundamental philosophy
of surgical teaching?

Don't understand the question.

You're with a top man in a superb
hospital and you apply to go north.

Grant-starved, sun-starved north.
Questions will be asked.

I heard about you.

I felt I should spread out a bit.

Crap.

Yes. It's family.

Starting one? Abandoning one?

It's me dad. He's not well.

I don't want to be far away.

And Spinetti did recommend you.

I admire your commitment to
your father and Spinetti's praise.

But I don't know one
and the other got the job I wanted.

What is your fundamental philosophy
on surgical teaching in the UK?

Irma.
Very smart.

I said to your dad,
'I bet he's got a woman on.'

Nah. Scare 'em all away.

Our Shirley'd give you a run
for your money if you get stuck.

I never have any money. Where is he?

(GRUNTS)

What are you doing?

You'll put your back out on the sofa.

This'll do till you get the job.

What job?

St Gregory's, Surgical Registrar.
Not that I was peeping.

You opened the letter?

In error. Couldn't find me glasses.

But you found them to re-seal it?
Give us a hand.

Where do you want it?

I don't know.

What's in it?

I don't know.

It's our Gary and Mick.

Hi.
He's the doctor.

CHICKENS CLUCK

How long have you had the chickens?

I won them in the pub.

I'd sell them, but they turf
more eggs out than Asda.

Pays for the odd pint.

Dull as they look, they'd do
a jigsaw faster than this pair.

Think you'll get it?

What? The job? I don't know.

Competition's hot for registrars.

Don't chase jobs up here on my account.

Your account? So everything I do
is a reaction to what you do?

Well, why are you, then?

I want to get out of London for a bit.

I've been in the same hospital since
I started training. It's not good.

You'd do us a favour
if you put us up for a bit.

TELEPHONE RINGS

'Vivienne Reid,
Surgical Business Manager.'

'It's Mr Springer.
I was interviewed last week.'

'I have to go for a management
assessment. What's it all about?'

Hi. They're ready for you.

'Two crucial words -
management and assessment.'

'Why do I need assessing?
Assessed for what?'

'Personality. Assessment is our way
to avoid staff appointment errors.'

'We don't want to encourage people
who won't fit into a team system.'

Owen Springer?
Brian Sewell, come in.

'A management consultant decides
if I'm fit for a surgical post?!'

'No. Your personality opens
that door. It seems reasonable.'

'Do the BMA know about this?'

'The only ones to ask are those who
have failed the assessment. Bye.'

And you're fully fit?
Butcher's dog.

Yes?

Yes.

What sports do you participate in?

Footie.

Full team, five-a-side.

American football, cricket.

Indoor, outdoor, bedroom cricket.

Put swimming, silver life-saver.

Backstroke, butterfly and crawl.
Crawling's my strongest.

In as many words as are needed,
what are your personal assets?

Young... sexy.

Bright, ambitious, tasty!

Adventurous.

Sexual... Oh, and put funny.

I'm very funny.

"Touching, moving, passionate."

"Compassionate."

"Successful, charming, clean -
very clean."

"I'm tough, Brian. Fit."

What's the contract?

"Quick to learn.
Quick to unlearn."

"Truthful or born liar
when necessary."

He's taking the piss.

It was you on the train.

Mobile phone.

Oh, yes. The train.

How's your dad?

Thanks. Cheers.

It's the least I can do.

You know Manchester well?

Ask me again in three months.

I just interviewed for a job here.

Really.

I say interview, it was...
a personality assessment.

Some arseholes pretending
to be management psychologists.

I'm overqualified.

And I'm considering a pay cut.

And they'd be lucky to have me.

Why bother?

I need to be here for me dad.

He's the only reason you move jobs?

He's not dying on his feet, but...

..he does a cracking impression.

Having a doctor near is a comfort.

He'd prefer a chain-smoking barmaid.

How did you know I was a doctor?

You mentioned.

I didn't.

You said 'new job as a doctor'.

No.

I don't know. How did that happen?

Maybe you look like a doctor.

You'd be the first woman in my
career who thought I look like one.

It's binman more often than not.

I'd better get back to work.

Where's work?
Round the corner more or less.

Nice talking to you. It's Owen.

Anna.

Thanks for the drink. And good luck.

I've a gentleman here
says you left your case in a cafe.

You saw me do that interview
and you didn't tell me?

I'm sorry.
What did you expect me to say?

What's this crap? Not recommended!

The assessment was void
because you sabotaged it.

And it's confidential information.

I know most of this mob.

And I am better qualified
than any of them.

Gordon Jones.

You picked him!

I don't pick,
they're viability percentages.

Pray you don't need surgery
from Shovels.

That's privately commissioned
information. You'd better go!

Are you okay, Anna?

Yes. Thanks, Brian.

You want me to throw him out?

Come on. You wanna try it, Brian?

It's okay.

I see you've a talent
for picking the best (!)

I like your style.

You took a drink
when you were voiding me.

You insisted. It had nothing
to do with your interview.

Come on. I was brilliant in there.

I had nothing but good things
to say about myself.

You know I need that job.

Not when I made the assessment.

You're that professional?

I am, actually.

Fine. Okay.

Just answer me one thing.

Without the help of a questionnaire.

Do I look like a doctor?

Not particularly.

What do you want?

I really don't want to open that.

I knew you wouldn't, so I did.

You got the job.

We'll settle at 40, then.

40 what?

A week. For the room.

Owen Springer? John McGinley.

Hi.

What are you doing here?

You were working with Spinetti.

Don't say it like that.

He's good, but he's not brilliant.

Did you kill a patient?

Crane's got a good reputation.

He has, hasn't he?

Bears are cuddly,
but they can pull your knackers off.

Doctors' mess room, ha-ha.

Tea, coffee, a microwave from the
psychiatric block, Danny Glassman.

Owen Springer, new Surgical Reg.

(CROAKS) Hello.

Not pharyngitis, but a plum
put in at boarding school.

He's a bog-treading Irishman.

For him, anything higher
than a potato peeler is privileged.

Sorry, where are you from?

I'm from Sunderland.

Oh, it's ten-a-penny time.

This isn't conjunctivitis,
it's overtime.

Five nights on, five off.

If we're understaffed,
you alternate with him.

Good.

Perfect.

So, you were second to Spinetti.

I was.

It's not a problem for you playing down?

I'm not proud.
I'm good at taking advice.

If you don't mind advice sounding
like instructions, we'll get along.

They found you accommodation yet?

No. I'm sorted.

Me dad's up here.

I'm moving in with him
till I find somewhere.

I knew it.

What?

You're getting divorced.

I knew you gave off a smell.
Join the club.

Amazing - 1997,
three years from the millennium...

..and they still make you feel
like a pariah!

I see some divorced guys
and wonder how they do it.

Apes, with dicks this big,
having a great time.

Why can't we enjoy it as well?

Er... I think we're a bit different.

In what way?

I'm not getting divorced.
I've never been married.

Okay.

We'll start with
last night's emergency admissions.

This, er...

This is Francine Hartley,
a 42-year-old secretary.

She was admitted at 3:00am...

..with a history of epigastric
and right-sided abdominal pain.

Had a temperature of 37.5.

Haemoglobin normal,
white count elevated to 15.2.

Biochemistry normal. So were
her chest and abdominal X-rays.

Good morning, Mrs Hartley.
I'm the consultant surgeon.

Can our new doctor give his opinion?

He's only new to us,
not to the business.

Morning.

Can you show me where the pain is?

Mm-hm.

And it's sore to touch?

Would you look up for me? Good.

Down.

May I examine your abdomen?

I'll be as gentle as I can. Promise.

(GASPS)

Fine. Signs of tenderness
and guarding in the right quadrant.

Thanks, Mrs Hartley.

The diagnosis includes
acute cholecystitis or pancreatitis.

Less likely, appendicitis
or pelvic inflammatory disease.

She's jaundiced which is more like
cholecystitis or pancreatitis.

What would you do to confirm it?

Check her serum amylase.
She needs an ultrasound scan.

What if the scan shows dilated
bile duct and gall-bladder stones?

Check her clotting, arrange an ERCP.

I'd remove her gall bladder
before she left.

Mm-hm.

I've nothing to add.

Thank you. I'd stick with him.

Wallpaper?
Fresh air will do you good.

What's wrong with what I put up?

You must've been drunk. I keep
thinking I'm falling out of bed.

Where are you off?

The bus. Come on.

We can go in the car.

You've been on the sick five years.
How can you afford a car?

TYRES SCREECH

Right. Let's burn rubber.

HUBBUB OF COMMENTARY AND SHOUTING

Come on! Let's go.

RACING COMMENTARY AND SHOUTING

Goodness.

See that?

First club in Manchester
open after midnight - jazz club.

That's where I met your mother.

Do you think about her, then?

You're a lot like her, you know.

I reckon we could have had a ball
this time of life.

House paid for, no commitments.

We could have
really enjoyed ourselves now.

If she hadn't died.

Or if she hadn't divorced you.

Well, that an' all. Yeah.

"She breezes past him,
but Bang In Trouble is the danger."

"Bang In Trouble is not going
as well as Cat's Ear."

"Cat's Ear is a neck clear from,
in second place, Bang In Trouble."

"Bruce is obviously being as tender
as possible on this leader."

"Cat's Ear will have to fight
to hold off Bang In Trouble."

"This is a cool ride
from Bruce Raymond."

Be careful.

You're not potholing.

Just nice and easy.

You're doing really well.

I need to vanish for ten minutes.

That had nothing to do with you,
in case you wondered.

If you weren't, I apologise
for planting that suggestion.

Hi.

Hello.

Don't stand there.
Pull up a chair. How's Barbara?

This is Dr Springer, Mother.

It's Owen. How you doing?

Do you mind?

Sure.

'Alzheimer's.'

The only thing she remembers
is asking for a crossword book.

Barbara's my sister.

She looks fit enough, seeing
she's had her gall bladder out.

You're wasting your money going private.

She'd get the same treatment.
The only advantage is cable TV.

Is that your hobby,
reading other people's files?

The end bit was a joke.

Who asked you to moralise
about how people spend their money?

She's not your patient.

Thanks.

Milk?

Black.

I'm really sorry.

Okay?

Your father's
obviously very important to you.

That's where we came in.

You came north because he was sick.

A false alarm.

Presumably you'd have come at any cost?

I guess so. Yeah.

So?

It's different at the moment,
because she needed the operation.

Before she was in a nursing home.

The best we could buy.

Constructive care.

Fantasy tea parties - we'd rig the
questions so the answers made sense.

You've made me feel
a bit odd about all that.

Me? Why?

Completely different.

He could drink us under the table,
run us round the block...

..and still have the stamina
for an all-nighter.

You came just because he missed you?

I pay £400 a week to get rid of her
because she soils her sheets.

I'm no geriatrician,
but I've treated a few Alzheimer's.

I'll be honest with you,
I'd do exactly the same. I would.

What?

You sound like a doctor.

I am a doctor.

PAGER BEEPS

See?

See you.

TELEPHONE RINGS

"It's the Binman."

I'm sorry?

Owen?

"You busy?"

I'm at work. Of course I'm busy.

"Can't you get a cold or something?"

What?

"Look out the window."

"Left a bit... Left."

"Bit more."

"Hi."

What are you doing?

They were sending her for
occupational therapy. I volunteered.

It's all right, she's insured.
Get in.

Mum, are you all right?

I'm fine.

This is outrageous.

I feel like I'm not in my own knickers.

You take her back.

Take her back!

Mum, I'll come with you.
We're off to the Lakes.

Aren't we?

What's she talking about?

Did you know you were conceived
in a hotel in Ullswater?

She told you that?

Interrogate the short-term memory,
you die of exhaustion.

Me?

No.

If you go back far enough,
she remembers it all.

Ask her.
Me?

Yeah. Where are we off to?

Ullswater.

Whereabouts?

Sanderson Hotel.

What did you bring her for?

Are you sure it's the Sanderson?

I'm nearly sure. Charles proposed.

Before or after?

Before! With the ring
we could pretend to be married.

Yes! I recognise all this.

Turn right, turn right!

Well, would you look
at the state of that!

They've flooded it.

It's a lake, Mother.
It's been there for ever.

Oh.

Is it a small place? A big place?

Medium.

What's it look like, Myrtle?

It's white.

In its own grounds near...

..near the water.

It's white.

Well, what do you know!

It was here.

We were right by the water.

I said, 'Charles, I'm frightened.
They'll see right through us.'

'No.' he said. 'They'll look
for the ring. Here it is.'

And produced it like magic, laughing

But his hands were shaking.

'Marry me, Myrtle.'

I loved him so much it hurt.

Yes.

He smelt of sandalwood.

That wasn't him.
That was something he'd bought.

For my benefit, I suppose.

I'd never seen a man before.

I knew it was dangerous.
Might get pregnant.

I didn't care, it'd speed things up
as far as I was concerned.

I just knew.

I wanted him for the rest of my life.

Oh, Anna was beautiful!

Everyone said she was a mixture
of the two of us, but she wasn't.

She was the spit of him.

The spit of him.

We brought her back here
for her first birthday.

It's a long drive back.
Are you sure you're okay?

Lovely.

You all right?
Yes. I'm fine.

And you're not mad at me?
No.

Thank you, Owen.

That might have been embarrassing.
Bless you, Nurse.

Why didn't you mention this?

You worry me. You really do!
I couldn't disagree more.

How can Newcastle ever achieve
as much as Man United?

At least we play total football.

Total crap! Two reasonable seasons
and you think you're here to stay.

You'll last as long
as the Chelsea fan...

..who siphoned petty cash
to pay for his season ticket.

Thank you.

Okay. Er... staff?

Real person.

But she's married?

No ring.

Divorced?
No evidence either way.

Which presumably is a good sign.

Whoa! Let's get a grip.

You are at a hospital
with a lot of tasty single females.

And you fall for a second-hand thyroid.

That's like working in a car factory
and cycling to work.

What does an eejit know about it?

More than you about married women.

His wife left him for a consultant.

She took the house and then his job!

Okay, okay. Come on. Come on.

Jesus!

Be careful how you answer.

Is the second letter of her name N?

Yes.

Did you talk to her in the canteen
on Thursday?

So?

How do you know her?

I'm telling you. Forget it.

The woman has a health warning.

How do you know her?

You know who she's married to?

Are you settling in?

He's doing nicely, sir.

Patients do nicely. Making progress?

It's an impressive unit.

You can make negative observations.
Cut that.

I haven't got any.

We pay enough and everything's fine.

No.
What is it, then?

It feels odd going back to alternate
night cover and sleeping in.

A small complaint. Retract harder.

Well -

The way to measure a surgeon - swab -

is seeing the sort of decisions
he makes at 3am.

He doesn't forget. Nor do I.
Especially if we have to bury them.

There's no one else to do it,
so you have to.

You never expected to get this job.

No. I didn't.

So, a tiny complaint.

Yes. It is.

Are we an impressive unit?

Yes.
Good.

There we are. All yours.

SHOWER SPLASHES

I've worked it out.

I lay off the drink
Monday to Wednesday...

..ease myself
into Thursday with three pints -

Over how long?
Five-hour period.

Two pints.

Two. Then off it Friday-Saturday,
I can get off me face on Sunday.

That's where you lot fall down.

You never offer anything.
You take things away.

No booze, fags or women. Dig, dig.

How are you doing on that score?

Down to five a day.

Maybe six.

Women?

One every ten years.

Maybe twelve. You?

Nobody.

Anna!

Hello. Why didn't you call -?

Why didn't you say
who you were married to?

I beg your pardon?

Why didn't you say?

Why should I?

Because you let me hijack
a surgical patient.

My boss's surgical patient who just
happens to be his mother-in-law.

That's my job if he finds out.

He won't.

What if he does?
I won't say. Mother can't remember.

That only leaves you.

Why don't you wear a ring?

It's none of your business.

You're still married?
Yes.

Why don't you use his name?

What's that to do with you?

Because I think I'm in love with you.

I have to go.

Mrs Crane!

I am.

Definitely.

I'm in love with you.

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