Series 3
Episode 12 (JTR=3)
Jack and Christine arrive at St Victor's. They have been away on holiday together. Although they are only just back, Jack plans to slip away to what Christine describes as a 'shindig'. Jack says it is a fundraiser for the patients' benefit. He 'slaps the right backs and the hosiptal reaps the benefits'.
Robert welcomes them back. He thinks they look 'positively glowing, like Posh and Becks'.
Jack asks for Christine's car keys. She is reluctant to hand them over considering he has been banned from driving. Jack, however, says he only wants to get his bowtie from the glovebox. Jack retrieves his bowtue and heads for a taxi outside the front entrance but it turns off its light and drives away. Jack looks at the car keys and then at Christine's car, gets behind the wheel and drives off.
Darren, a pizza delivery man, is wheeled in to A&E with his neck immobilised and two pizza boxes loaded onto his trolley. Darren's two young sons and heavily pregnant wife arrive at A&E as Kate is about to begin her assessment.
Robert wanders into the locker room to have a chat with Christine as she gets ready for work. He tells her there was a visitor while she was away, a Jonathon Douglas from Clinical Governance, in relation to the Ronnie Davidson case (that would be Stuart's dodgy intubation). Robert needles Christine about her knowledge of the visit, implying that Jack knew all about it but didn't tell her.
At the fund-raiser, Jack enjoys petite-fours and champagne and discusses whether or not a particulary impressive set of bosoms are 'god-given' or 'man-made' with two other men. They aren't impressed with Robert's running of the department. One of the men says Robert has populated the place with people in his own image which has lead to poor communication and the hospital losing money.
Jack's pager goes off. It's Kate looking for gim to take a look at Darren's neck x-rays. Jack says he will be there shortly. As he drives back to the hospital, a van runs through a red light, just missing Jack. Jack sees the vehicle crash and skids to a halt. When he sees a man climb from the van he is about to drive on but then notices another man lying in front of the van on the verge. Jack pulls over and keeps the man's airway open until the amubulance arrives.
Paramedic Dale is on duty and recgnises Jack. Jack suggests that the casualty, named Phil, be taken to the General rather than St Vic's.
Kate is getting impatient, as are Darren and his family. Darren gets up and takes off his neck brace, annoyed that people are eating his pizzas.
Jack finally gets back to St Vic's but as he reverses Christine's Alfa into a parking spot, he smashes a rear light.
Jack examines Darren and his x-rays. While looking at the x-rays, Jacks sees Phil being tended to in resus. He gives the x-rays another quick look and announces Darren fit to leave.
Robert tells Christine to call Jack to have a look at Phil. Christine wants to know why Robert can't do it himself.
Jack runs into Paramedic Dale who congratulates Jack on saving Phil's life.
Robert speaks to Jack about Phil. As they are talking Jack sees the police arrive and quickly darts out of the way. Robert brings up Jonathon Douglas' visit to the hospital and Jack feigns ignorance.
Phil's mate, Tom, is waiting outside the operating theatre. Jack tells him Phil should be fine and Tom heartily thanks Jack. Jack asks about the police and Tom says they gave him the third degree. The police see Jack as he enters the lift and tell him they need a word about the RTA. Jack invites them to his office.
The police want to know how Jack came to be at the scene. He fabricates a story about a young lady driving him back to the hospital.
Christine finds herself on the defensive over Mike not getting the registrar position. Mike feels that she and Jack colluded to give Stuart the job.
Christine visits Jack in his office to collect her car keys and ask if they can just get the next plane back to their vacation. Jack asks if she has heard about the drama of the last week and isn't surprised to hear that Robert has told Christine all about it.
Jack is writing up notes when Darren is brought back in, paralysed. His wife is with him, upset and yelling at Jack that he said her husband was all right to go home. Jack goes through the vertical files for Darren's x-ray. He finds it and, about to look at it then and there, changes his mind and goes to his office with the film. Robert and Christine tend to Jack while Kate looks on. Robert sends Kate to fetch Darren's x-ray and to page Jack.
In his office, Jack finally spots the tell-tale fracture. He puts the film at the back of a cupboard.
As Jack arrives in resus, Kate reports to Robert that she can't find the x-ray. Jack tells Robert there was nothing to be seen on the x-ray and that Darren had no tenderness in his neck when he examined him. Jack asks Robert what sort of department he is running if x-rays can disappear.
Robert, Jack, Kate and Christine gather to look at new x-rays of Darren's spine. The shifting of the bones has resulted in the man's paralysis. Jack volunteers to tell Tania, the wide, and Christine and Kate quickly volunteer to go with him. Tania refuses to allow Jack to operate on Darren. Jack asks Christine to explain the precise nature of Darren's condition and leaves.
Christine knocks on Jack's office door, asking if he is coming home. He says he will follow.
Robert catches up with Christine in the carpark. He says he owes her an apology for suggesting that she was 'in league with the devil'. Robert tells her that Jack is playing her, that there is a conspiracy to force he and Mike out so Jack can take over the department for himself. He suggests that as long as she is with Jack, she won't fight him. Christine is furious that Robert thinks she is 'some idiot wench doing his bidding'. Robert can't believe that Christine 'can't see what sort of man Jack is'. When Christine retorts that 'love is blind', Robert says she doesn't really love Jack. Upset, Christine drives off, telling Robert that Jack is not the monster he makes him out to be.
Jack is seen walking down the corridor (in slow motion) and into the boiler-room. He removes the film from the packet and pulls out his cigarette lighter.
Credits:
Written by: Joe Ainsworth
Produced by: David Boulter
Directed by: Jon East
Granada 2001
Robert Kingsford ... Martin Shaw
Christine Fletcher ... Niamh Cusack
Jack Turner ... Michael Kitchen
Mike Gregson ... David Harewood
Kate Brady ... Tamzin Malleson
Judy Enshaw ... Katie McEwen
Sam Docherty ... Jane Danson
Stuart Phelan ... Paul Warriner
David Scobie ... David Partridge