Casualty 1909 (2009) s01e01 Episode Script
Episode 1
CLANGING HAMMERING COUGHING Sid! No! Argh! Get him out quick! Sid! SID SCREAMING Now, remember, four's on dram feeds, but don't increase too fast.
Mr Booth needs his truss fitting after lunch.
Mr Tremlett in seven - keep your eyes peeled, you can't trust him for a minute.
And ten started a suspicious vomit after breakfast.
And you won't forget, will you? What, Sister? Six o'clock, Matron will be here for the inventory inspection.
SHE SIGHS I really should be here.
Don't worry, we can manage.
I hope you enjoy your party, Sister.
Thank you, Probationer Bowers.
Going somewhere interesting, Sister Russell? It's my father's birthday.
Ah, the great man.
70 today.
A party? Well, join the queue to pay my respects.
Well, many happy returns to the Right Reverend Russell.
TOOTING OUTSIDE Fatherssurgeonswe all have our crosses to bear, Sister.
There's fuel leaking into the intake manifold.
He's back.
Why does he have two motor cars? In case one breaks down, of course.
Do not meet Mr Dean's eye.
Do not speak unless you are spoken to.
And if he asks you a question, answer with a statement of fact, never an opinion.
Do you understand? You have no opinion.
Do everything he says as quickly and quietly as you can.
Don't lean on the bed.
Sorry, Sister.
And sleeves.
You must wear your sleeves when addressing a surgeon.
SCREAMING MAN: Dr Culpin! Stand aside.
Stand aside, please! CRIES OF AGONY What is this? Naphta.
We was making electrical flexes.
How did he get it on himself? He was chucking it on the fire and it caught before it left his hands.
I tried to warn him, but he wouldn't listen.
Get him up to theatre right away.
Right away.
Where are we, Dr Ingrams? All done.
And all before nine o'clock.
One scald, one impacted bowel obstruction, and one duodenal ulcer.
Left anything for me? There's a Mrs Anderson in Room One.
What is it? Headaches and vomiting.
Why don't you see if you can add her to your list of successes? All in a day's work.
HAMMERING Blindin' they are, like there's an iron band right round 'ere.
And the attacks - I have to keep a bucket by my bed.
I'm not surprised, Mrs Anderson.
This is Howard's anti-corpulent preparation.
It's a fat cure to be applied topically.
Beg pardon? You rub it on yourself.
You don't drink it.
Rub it? Yes, on yourbody.
But, franklyyou'd do better to pour it away.
I pay fourpence a bottle for that! Snake oil and it could've been made for a ha'penny.
Your prescription, Maud, one cup of tea.
SHE CRIES Hey! Hey What's the matter? Howard's anti-corpulent preparation.
What are you doing with anti-corpulent preparation? Drinking it.
Look at me, Dr Culpin.
I am looking at you.
Have you ever heard of the Tuamotus tribe, Maud? They're from the Polynesian islands, South Seas.
Now, the most beautiful woman in the Tuamotus tribe - know who she is? She's the largest woman in the tribe.
You are a large woman.
And you're a beautiful woman.
Now .
.
drink your tea.
You are good to me, Dr Culpin.
WATER SPLASHES Now, gentlemen We're using a chloroform and ether mixture.
When you're ready, Johnson.
Yes, Mr Fenwick.
Pay attention.
You'll be expected to do this yourselves one day.
Stand by, everyone.
Don't try to fight it, my boy.
The struggle is quite normal.
Just breathe now.
That's it.
Subsiding Subsiding.
Good.
COUGHING CHOKING NURSE: Sister Russell? Pull the pillow down, under his neck.
You're going to be fine, Mr Lewis, don't worry.
This sometimes happens with anthrax.
Bistoury knife, dressings and a basin, 1 in 60 carbolic.
Probationer Bowers, fetch a surgeon.
Run.
But Run! Fire or haemorrhage, Probationer? Sorry, Sister.
Mr Dean? Mr Holland.
Gentlemen.
We weren't expecting you back until the 7th.
I never could live up to expectations.
So, tell me, how were the Italian lakes? Ohwet.
And Italian.
Butrestorative, I trust.
Yes?! LABOURED BREATHING RASPING Sister.
Oedema of the glottis, as a result of pulmonary anthrax.
You heard the Sister.
Tracheotomy, sir? Why do you wish to make more work for these angels of mercy? The patients are always coughing out their trachy tubes.
No, I prefer scarification or multiple puncture of the supralaryngeal structures.
It's simple, it's quick.
No tubes, no fuss.
Cocaine-adrenaline solution, Sister.
Already applied, Mr Dean.
Tongue depressor? Thank you.
Nice and wide for me.
That's it.
Bistoury.
RASPING BREATHING BREATHING STEADIES Like falling off a log.
Ha! Towel.
Good.
Thank you.
Is he always like that, then? Mr Dean, I mean.
More or less.
It depends.
Depends on? On the cocaine.
No! Really, Probationer, you needn't be shocked.
Everybody knows.
SHE SCOFFS Honestly, you are a funny little thing.
SIGHS TAPPING Oh! Shh! Hello, there.
What's your name? Deborah.
So, Deborah, what's the matter? Couple of broken bones, I think.
She's a lovely girl really, 'cept when she's had a drop taken.
Can you climb into the chair for me, Deborah? Come on.
Do what the nice lady says, Deborah.
That's a good girl.
Good.
Exam room one.
Take a seat, sir.
Get your bloody 'ands off me.
Unless you want to pay for it? Did she bring up all the methylated spirits? Ah.
Good.
Someone's been to town on you.
Who did this? I fell downstairs.
Who brought you in? Uncle Mick.
He's my uncle.
How old are you, Deborah? 16.
And what do you do for a living? Seamstress.
You're a seamstress?! Oh, Deborah, a seamstress has calluses, hands like a pincushion.
Not like these.
Half a gram of morphia, please, Nurse.
Ah.
Good.
No, I'll do that.
I'll do that.
Why don't you come round here? Have a look.
Come on.
Tell me what you think.
Hold still, please.
Don't bloody touch me! It'll hurt if you don't stay still.
That's a good girl.
WHIMPERING EXPLOSION RUMBLING, HORSE WHINNIES Continue.
TELEPHONE RINGS Receiving room.
The ninth and tenth ribs are broken.
And? The chest expansion is asymmetrical.
KNOCK AT DOOR Tell me.
Explosion on Grange Road.
How many injured? Can't say.
They'll be here in five minutes.
All right.
Have the trolleys standing by.
Alert the wards.
I need to know how many beds we have and where they are.
Any spare nurses, get them here.
And clear the road outside.
Let's admit her.
What about the uncle? He can wait.
Let the porters know andwatch him.
Watch him like a hawk.
KNOCK AT DOOR DOOR OPENING I've had a telephone call from Scotland Yard.
They think it might be a bomb.
Oh, God preserve us.
TELEPHONE RINGS Quickly now.
CRASHING MAN: Doctor! Morphia, splints, dressings! And bring the Junkers.
PATIENT SPEAKS LETTISH What did he say? I don't know.
Get him into three.
I'll be there soon.
WAILING Get him to an examination room now.
WAILING I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait outside.
Nurse Bennett? Scissors, cocaine spray and a roll of sutures.
Where does it hurt? MAN: Can't hear you.
I can't hear you! I can't hear! Nurse Bennett! Hold that there, would you? That's it.
There was a flash.
Funny thing is, I knew.
What? That it was a bomb.
I just knew.
Another roll, please.
Go on.
It felt like hours.
Then I heard the screaming.
Nurse Bennett.
Don't they teach you to clear up after yourself? Exam room one, lousy little thing.
Move it.
Ingrams? What have you? Shrapnel injuries, cuts, burns and so on.
Blast trauma, burst eardrum.
Look for subdural haemorrhaging.
Compound fractures, both tibia.
Cerebral compression.
All right.
This man needs theatre.
Where are the surgeons? Get him into an examination room for now.
Puncture wounds to chest, neck and face, nothing deep.
Get him to ward.
Complete carnage.
All right.
I'll take this side.
The rest are yours.
TELEPHONE RINGS CONTINUES RINGING Dean.
Go boil your bloody head, I said I'm stopping here! You'll do as you're told.
I'll do as I bloody well like! Don't touch me! DISTANT SCREAMS OF AGONY CHILD CRYING I saw him running away, just before it happened.
Clear as day.
Change the dressings every four hours.
Yes, Sister.
Make a bit of room.
Who's the taking-in? Dr Culpin.
He says you have two empty beds marked on the daily sheet.
Surely Dr Culpin knows the standing orders? We've had no notification.
I'll have to go down and get his signature.
Nurse Granger, I'll go.
But, Sister I said I'll go.
Where can I find Dr Culpin? MAN: Argh! KNOCK AT DOOR Good to see you, Sister.
How can I help? Dr Culpin, I need to speak to you Artery forceps, quickly, please.
PATIENT GROANING Sister, could you, ercould you take over for me here, please? Under-run the vessels and tie off.
Irrigate and get a clamp in there.
Try and staunch that bleed.
Dr Culpin, I'm not authorised You are now.
You wanted to see me about something? Doesn't matter now.
Whitehall chooses to hang an open sign in the window, what do you expect? I don't follow.
The Aliens Act, Mr Holland.
We let in thousands of them.
Revolutionaries, too, right here in Whitechapel.
All I need is a couple of hours.
Four officers.
Interrogating patients? Making enquiries.
Are you asking our permission, Detective Superintendent? I'm asking for your cooperation, sir.
Cerebral compression.
Why should we give it? For the safety of the British public, ma'am.
I'm all for rooting out the malefactors, but you must understand, this is a hospital.
It's also an opportunity, with respect, sir.
Someone had to set the damn thing off.
They had to be near it.
If they were near it, chances are they'll be in there.
If you let in the jungle, you have to be prepared for jungle ways.
Fractured pelvis.
GROANING Fractured, certainly, but there's no rotation.
Let's get him upstairs.
And, er, I'll take the cerebral compression and the fractured coronoid process.
Nurse.
SIGHS First blow is half the battle.
ETHEL: Mr Fenwick? So, what have we here? No, thank you.
I always have my own.
Now, then That's it, that's it.
Let's see if we can't save the old mince, eh? Sorry? Mince pie, eye.
This is the East End, Nurse! Next.
This way.
They're patients, Sydney, not suspects.
The point is they could be both.
Not here! Look at their faces.
These people come from countries where every policeman is a thug.
They won't come here if they don't feel safe.
I've made my decision.
Are you sure you haven't let them make it for you? Compacted fracture of the humerus.
So Dr Culpin told me.
Hmm.
Hm.
Brave little soldier, eh? What's your name? He's Michael.
He's going to need an operation, I'm afraid.
How about that, Michael? Keeping me busy, eh? Will it be all right, Doctor? My dear woman, he'll bowl for England.
Next! This way.
See you later.
Ah.
There's three witnesses, sir.
All saw him running away, up Commercial Road.
Where is he? Follow me.
KNOCK AT DOOR Excuse me, Nurse.
It's all right, don't.
On tozhe budet prikhodit syuda.
I'm afraid I must ask you to leave.
We wish to ask this gentleman This minute! Out.
Wait over there.
I'll call you when I've finished.
Sister.
Matron.
You can go in, if you wish.
Can't see a damn thing.
Swabs.
No corneal reflex and his pulse is dropping.
Add strychnine to the saline.
Let go! Ingrams, come on, man! Get his legs up on the blocks.
Culpin? I'm on the qui vive.
Seymour and Burgess are tied up.
I need someone as an anaesthetist upstairs, pdq! Culpin? HE SPEAKS BROKEN YIDDISH Hold still now, please.
.
.
That's good.
PATIENT GROANS 1 in 500 perchloride of mercury.
Ya ne ponimayu shto ty skazal.
That's not Yiddish.
It's Russian.
PATIENT SPEAKS LETTISH Well, some of it.
That was Lettish.
He's Latvian.
How do you know? You hear it all in this hospital.
Mr Fenwick, you ought to know, I've only ever done this, administered anaesthetics, in training.
There's nothing to it.
Stuff.
Stuffist.
Shall we make a start? Mason's.
Keep calm.
It won't take a minute.
PATIENT GROANING Under the teeth.
That's it.
Ethyl chloride, Mr Fenwick? I prefer chloroform from the off, if you don't mind.
Old dogs, new tricks and all that.
4ccs of chloroform into the inhaler, turn the dial to about, ooh, halfway.
Anaesthesia's not a science, despite what you may have learned in the manuals.
It's an art.
No hard and fast rules, you see.
Hold him steady.
Just breathe for me now.
WHIMPERING That's it.
Give the bag a good squeeze.
Hold him.
Under starter's orders! Wait! Ingrams Wait.
We've got four more to get through.
Right.
And we're off! Trained with your father, back in the Jurassic.
Brilliant surgeon.
The very best.
Not easy, is it? Following in their footsteps.
PATIENT GROANS Needs another blast.
That's it.
All that glory to live up to.
Scalpel.
We're just waiting for a translator.
He's Latvian, Mr Holland.
And that's significant? The gang responsible for the shootings in Tottenham were Latvian anarchists.
I see.
We lost two officers in Tottenham.
And a child.
But Tottenham was a robbery, guns, not bombs.
With respect, sir, they don't call it robbery.
They call it expropriation.
To fund the revolution.
The capitalist beast must pay for its own destruction - and all that.
Their politics are of no interest to me, and nor are yours.
Just do your job.
And let us do ours.
The superficial fragments I managed to get out, but the deeper ones - I was worried about damaging the tissue.
Thank you for your help.
Both of them to Wellington, please.
All of you, follow me to Wellington Ward.
Sister Russell Come along.
Sister She's as stubborn as a mule.
So am I.
Come with me.
Now.
This way! Come along.
Leave the girl in my office.
There's room here and here.
And another bed could go here.
We'll need bed frames and mattresses from the store and open a window.
They'll have to stay on the trolleys down the centre of the ward for now.
Strip bed four and ten and have them made up.
We're going to need fresh linen.
COUGHING Let's make a start, shall we? How old are you, Deborah? Says in there, doesn't it? It says you're 16.
Must be 16, then.
You expect me to believe that? Believe what you like.
Oh, I will, thank you.
When did you last eat? Tell you what, I'll have something brought up from the kitchens.
How about that? What would you like? BELL RINGING It's all lies, isn't it? 16, seamstress .
.
all that nonsense.
I've seen girls like you before.
What girls? Girls with uncles.
You'd do better to tell the truth, believe me.
Deborah? DOOR OPENS Ah, Probationer.
Miss Lynch is to have a shower.
Wh-what?! You never said nothing about Yes, Sister.
Hey, "Miss Lynch", it's a bit fancy, that, isn't it? What's your real name, then? I'm Nellie.
Deborah.
Oh, Deborah.
Well, come with me, then, Deborah.
Lamb chops and a pint of porter.
DOOR CLOSES Move out of the way, please.
Thank you.
What about him? Know him? Nyet! One of your chums? He's an anarchist, he's a Russian.
Nyet! Ya tebe govoryu, ya ne videl nikovo.
He says he's never seen these men before.
Ya zdes byl vsyevo tri nedeli.
He's been in London three weeks.
Right, this is going to hurt.
Could you tell him? Can you tell him, please, it's going to hurt? Budet bolno.
PATIENT YELLS IN PAIN Swabs, and cyanide wool in the cavity, please, Nurse.
It's just in here, Deborah.
It's all right.
Just wait for it to warm up a bit.
That's it.
Now in you get.
Don't be frightened.
It's only water.
It won't hurt you.
Here you can hold my hand, if you like.
That's it.
SHE GASPS You see? Right under now.
BREATHLESSLY GIGGLING That's a good girl.
LAUGHING Ask him how it is that all his injuries are to his back.
Were you running away? Pochemy rani tolko na spinye? Kuda ty bezhish? Konechno nyet! He was not running.
Ya gulyal.
He was walking.
Ya dumal o svoikh delakh.
I potom eto proizoshlo.
Is it illegal to walk down the street? He wants to know.
Thank you, Probationer Bowers.
(What's that smell?) Gonorrhoea.
Come here.
Kakoye nakazaniye! TRANSLATOR: I know the law Scalpel.
What charges are you making, I am innocent, I have done nothing wrong.
Don't tell me about the law Quiet, please! Thank you.
Scalpel.
MOROSOV YELLS IN PAIN He's not my uncle.
He's my dad.
All the other girls call him uncle, so I call him uncle.
Uncle Mick.
He's all right, Uncle Mick.
As long as I do what I'm told with the other gentlemen.
He's saving up for me and him.
Says we'll go away somewhere.
I know I'm sick .
.
down there.
I'm 13.
I'm a harlot.
Sister Russell? Wait a minute.
Sister, it's Mr Dean.
Come here.
Stay there.
One cc in a 10% solution.
Stovaine.
And you are all, of course, aware that there has been considerable resistance to the routine use of this drug.
And to spinal anaesthesia in general.
One in 300 biniodide of mercury.
Why? Because stovaine is derived from a compound with a notoriously poisonous and treacherous nature, namely cocaine.
Ah, Sister.
It's good of you to join us.
Note, we do not require the assistance of any burly men to hold the patient down.
No mouth clamps or any other medieval instruments of torture.
While the anaesthetic is delivered.
PATIENT GROANING Withdraw the stylet.
And can you see the spinal fluid there? Mixing with the solution? Now Collodion gauze.
And you, sir, onto your back.
GROANING Gently does it.
And that's it.
Catheter.
What am I supposed to do with it? It's for the patient, silly girl.
Well, get on with it! Don't worry, Nurse, it won't bite you.
Oh, for heaven's sake, girl, it's a male member, it's not a cobra.
Stand aside.
Sister! PATIENT INHALING SHARPLY PATIENT MOANING Very good.
Gentlemen, uh Theatre in ten minutes.
Mr Dean? May I have a word? Yes? Your patient's been complaining of stomach pain.
He hasn't passed urine, even with the catheter.
I think the urethra might be damaged.
Don't think, Sister.
That's not what you're here for.
I think the urethra might be damaged.
Deborah! Get your hands off me! Damn you.
Damn It just rained the whole time! I suppose you can't have everything, can you? You comfortable? Yes, sir, thank you.
I chose Lake Como because of Pliny the Younger.
Have you read his letters? I don't think he's got my address, sir.
STUDENTS CHUCKLING Quiet! Anyway, it's a lovely spot, Como.
Well, so I'm told, when the sun is shining.
It's rain, rain, rain, the whole time! Would you believe it? Swab, please.
So, as you can see, our patient, though untutored in the Latin of the Silver Age, is lucid and free of any pain.
My intention now is to isolate and remove a sharp spicule of bone that has broken away from the pelvic crest and penetrated the femoral vein.
Tell me, Mr Hubner, what can you feel? Well, it's like somebody's having a good old rummage down there.
QUIET LAUGHING Best behaviour now, chaps.
I'm sorry, Mr Holland, we are justfinishing off.
Another cup of tea? Yes, thank you, sir.
Mr Dean? I can see, I can see.
Try and keep it drained.
What is it? What's going on? I need to extend this incision.
I need a clearer view.
Scalpel, please.
Oh, damn it! Oh, for heaven's sake, I can't see.
Pull it back further! Four Er, no.
Three ccs of ether into the inhaler.
He's only a little chap.
You know the story of Sleeping Beauty? That's it.
And gently over the face.
Well, she fell asleep for a hundred years.
You'll be awake by teatime! Now, just breathe for me.
Nice and deep.
That's good.
Nurses, would you mind? One on each side, thank you.
One breath of air to every three from the bag.
Understand? Scalpel.
Regular and deep now, Mr Fenwick.
Bright and breezy, slips in easy.
Aahhhh! Let's tie this little bleeder off.
Sutures.
And snip.
There.
Traumatic rupture to the urethra.
Oh, it's nothing to worry about, Mr Hubner.
Safe to proceed now.
Get Mr Hubner another cup of tea.
Scalpel.
And syringe.
And get the drain.
Then we can close him up.
Oh, please Please.
Yes, the brachialis anticus and the outer head of the triceps have been completely torn away.
He's hypotensive Get that Clovers away, he's gone in too deep! He's cyanotic.
Strychnine and caffeine, hypodermically! Take the leg.
Higher! I'm losing him We need every drop of blood back up into the core.
Come on! Come on! No pulse.
Tongue forceps! Still cyanosed.
Still no breathing.
Artificial respiration.
Sylvester method.
One, two .
.
four, five, six.
Nothing.
And again.
One, two FENWICK COUNTS UNDER HIS BREATH No.
No, no.
He's gone.
Ask him again.
Has he ever been to the Anarchists' Club in Jubilee Street? Teper interesuet, byl vy kogda-nibud na Jubilee Street.
Na anarkhisty klub? KNOCKING Na Jubilee Street? Sir, may I have a word? I see.
And the South Metropolitan gas company have admitted responsibly, have they? The gas was leaking into the old sewer main, or some such.
No bomb? No bomb.
So no Jewish anarchists? No stone unturned, under the circumstances.
You do understand? Perfectly.
Then may I take this opportunity to say You may.
In writing.
Thank you, Detective Superintendent.
Sir.
Ma'am.
SPEAKING IN LETTISH What's he say? I think you get his meaning.
About five minutes in, the breathing became stertorous, and there was a certain amount of muscular twitching.
So I increased the air Very well.
I'll check for heart problems.
The condition of the myocardium, valvular defects, the usual suspects.
Anything else that might indicate ill health? Albumin or glucose in the urine, any sign of pneumonia? Anything? Oh, well.
Not a lot to play with.
A full PM this evening, six o'clock.
Make him presentable for his mother first.
Mrs Perkins? Yes? I have some very bad news, I'm afraid.
About half an hour ago, your son, Michael, died.
I'm so very sorry SIGHING I had to unscrew the mouth clamp.
He still had his milk teeth.
There's going to be a post-mortem.
What am I going to say? Tell the truth.
Fenwick wanted three ccs in the bag.
Or four, I can't remember.
But I did as I was told.
It is the truth.
There you are.
Perhaps.
You're a doctor, Ingrams.
You have to live with "perhaps".
What's my old man going to say? Mr Dean.
I'd like to Sister You were absolutely right.
The urethra was split.
There was blood and urine in the pelvic cavity, which explains the discomfort.
Thank you.
Well, the tonsils and lymph glands, thymus are all slightly enlarged.
The boy's health was compromised No.
You don't need a post-mortem to tell you what he died of.
You can smell it from here, Smith.
Ether.
Unmistakable.
Cause of death, cytotoxic cerebral oedema.
For the coroner, swelling of the brain as a result of the anaesthetics.
I won't let it be for nothing, Smith.
You're here for the inventory inspection, Miss Luckes No, I'm not here for the inventory, Sister Russell.
Will you walk with me? Mr Chandler.
When is your operation? In the morning, Matron.
Ah, jolly good.
Carry on, Probationer.
The world is changing around us, Sister Russell.
We both saw that today.
But the hospital must remain sacrosanct, devoted to the care of the patients.
Now, I saw how you handled the police today, and I need a sister in the receiving room like you.
Someone with the strength and courage to carry out my wishes in the face of the police, the politicians, and the surgeons.
Will you do this for me? Yes, Matron.
Of course.
You'll be my first line of defence.
Good night, Sister.
Do you know what I like to do after a day like this? I buy a ticket for the tram, I sit on the top deck, and feel the wind in my hair.
Just until Hyde Park and back.
Would you care to join me? I can't think of anything I'd like to do more.
That's how many operations I performed in the last year.
How many of those patients died on the table, truthfully, as a result of anaesthetics? Three.
I've just come from the fourth.
I'm sorry.
That's not the point, is it? The point is, we cannot go on pretending it's acceptable.
Calling it something else.
Weak heart, pneumonia, swollen lymph glands I can't.
Not any more.
So, what is it you want? I tell you what I don't want.
I don't want to have to fish inexperienced doctors like young Ingrams - good doctors, maybe - out of the receiving room.
I cannot do my job and theirs as well.
The current system It's not a system at all.
I want to make a suggestion.
And I know I've argued against this many times.
But consistency, let's face it, is the last refuge of the unimaginative.
HOLLAND: Hmm.
We must have trained, specialist anaesthetists in the hospital at all times.
Otherwise To inconsistency.
Thank you, Hurry.
Four out of 497 doesn't sound like much, does it? You tell the mothers, the wives, the sons.
Spinal anaesthesia is in its infancy.
Stovaine is a new drug.
A lay committee is not qualified to deliberate on medical matters.
Does one need to be a doctor to identify an untimely corpse? Other patients of Mr Dean's who've been operated under Stovaine have died subsequently.
Do you believe you are in any position to question a surgeon's clinical judgment, Nurse? Why is she doing this to me? Miss Luckes moves in mysterious ways.
My place is in the receiving room.
Nurse Bennett, your place is wherever I say it is.
Sure I can't tempt you? Not with the cakes.
Might I ask from which quarter this concern over Stovaine emanates? Mr Dean will seek out whoever wrote that letter.
He will destroy you, Nurse Goodley.
And I can't prevent it.
Mr Booth needs his truss fitting after lunch.
Mr Tremlett in seven - keep your eyes peeled, you can't trust him for a minute.
And ten started a suspicious vomit after breakfast.
And you won't forget, will you? What, Sister? Six o'clock, Matron will be here for the inventory inspection.
SHE SIGHS I really should be here.
Don't worry, we can manage.
I hope you enjoy your party, Sister.
Thank you, Probationer Bowers.
Going somewhere interesting, Sister Russell? It's my father's birthday.
Ah, the great man.
70 today.
A party? Well, join the queue to pay my respects.
Well, many happy returns to the Right Reverend Russell.
TOOTING OUTSIDE Fatherssurgeonswe all have our crosses to bear, Sister.
There's fuel leaking into the intake manifold.
He's back.
Why does he have two motor cars? In case one breaks down, of course.
Do not meet Mr Dean's eye.
Do not speak unless you are spoken to.
And if he asks you a question, answer with a statement of fact, never an opinion.
Do you understand? You have no opinion.
Do everything he says as quickly and quietly as you can.
Don't lean on the bed.
Sorry, Sister.
And sleeves.
You must wear your sleeves when addressing a surgeon.
SCREAMING MAN: Dr Culpin! Stand aside.
Stand aside, please! CRIES OF AGONY What is this? Naphta.
We was making electrical flexes.
How did he get it on himself? He was chucking it on the fire and it caught before it left his hands.
I tried to warn him, but he wouldn't listen.
Get him up to theatre right away.
Right away.
Where are we, Dr Ingrams? All done.
And all before nine o'clock.
One scald, one impacted bowel obstruction, and one duodenal ulcer.
Left anything for me? There's a Mrs Anderson in Room One.
What is it? Headaches and vomiting.
Why don't you see if you can add her to your list of successes? All in a day's work.
HAMMERING Blindin' they are, like there's an iron band right round 'ere.
And the attacks - I have to keep a bucket by my bed.
I'm not surprised, Mrs Anderson.
This is Howard's anti-corpulent preparation.
It's a fat cure to be applied topically.
Beg pardon? You rub it on yourself.
You don't drink it.
Rub it? Yes, on yourbody.
But, franklyyou'd do better to pour it away.
I pay fourpence a bottle for that! Snake oil and it could've been made for a ha'penny.
Your prescription, Maud, one cup of tea.
SHE CRIES Hey! Hey What's the matter? Howard's anti-corpulent preparation.
What are you doing with anti-corpulent preparation? Drinking it.
Look at me, Dr Culpin.
I am looking at you.
Have you ever heard of the Tuamotus tribe, Maud? They're from the Polynesian islands, South Seas.
Now, the most beautiful woman in the Tuamotus tribe - know who she is? She's the largest woman in the tribe.
You are a large woman.
And you're a beautiful woman.
Now .
.
drink your tea.
You are good to me, Dr Culpin.
WATER SPLASHES Now, gentlemen We're using a chloroform and ether mixture.
When you're ready, Johnson.
Yes, Mr Fenwick.
Pay attention.
You'll be expected to do this yourselves one day.
Stand by, everyone.
Don't try to fight it, my boy.
The struggle is quite normal.
Just breathe now.
That's it.
Subsiding Subsiding.
Good.
COUGHING CHOKING NURSE: Sister Russell? Pull the pillow down, under his neck.
You're going to be fine, Mr Lewis, don't worry.
This sometimes happens with anthrax.
Bistoury knife, dressings and a basin, 1 in 60 carbolic.
Probationer Bowers, fetch a surgeon.
Run.
But Run! Fire or haemorrhage, Probationer? Sorry, Sister.
Mr Dean? Mr Holland.
Gentlemen.
We weren't expecting you back until the 7th.
I never could live up to expectations.
So, tell me, how were the Italian lakes? Ohwet.
And Italian.
Butrestorative, I trust.
Yes?! LABOURED BREATHING RASPING Sister.
Oedema of the glottis, as a result of pulmonary anthrax.
You heard the Sister.
Tracheotomy, sir? Why do you wish to make more work for these angels of mercy? The patients are always coughing out their trachy tubes.
No, I prefer scarification or multiple puncture of the supralaryngeal structures.
It's simple, it's quick.
No tubes, no fuss.
Cocaine-adrenaline solution, Sister.
Already applied, Mr Dean.
Tongue depressor? Thank you.
Nice and wide for me.
That's it.
Bistoury.
RASPING BREATHING BREATHING STEADIES Like falling off a log.
Ha! Towel.
Good.
Thank you.
Is he always like that, then? Mr Dean, I mean.
More or less.
It depends.
Depends on? On the cocaine.
No! Really, Probationer, you needn't be shocked.
Everybody knows.
SHE SCOFFS Honestly, you are a funny little thing.
SIGHS TAPPING Oh! Shh! Hello, there.
What's your name? Deborah.
So, Deborah, what's the matter? Couple of broken bones, I think.
She's a lovely girl really, 'cept when she's had a drop taken.
Can you climb into the chair for me, Deborah? Come on.
Do what the nice lady says, Deborah.
That's a good girl.
Good.
Exam room one.
Take a seat, sir.
Get your bloody 'ands off me.
Unless you want to pay for it? Did she bring up all the methylated spirits? Ah.
Good.
Someone's been to town on you.
Who did this? I fell downstairs.
Who brought you in? Uncle Mick.
He's my uncle.
How old are you, Deborah? 16.
And what do you do for a living? Seamstress.
You're a seamstress?! Oh, Deborah, a seamstress has calluses, hands like a pincushion.
Not like these.
Half a gram of morphia, please, Nurse.
Ah.
Good.
No, I'll do that.
I'll do that.
Why don't you come round here? Have a look.
Come on.
Tell me what you think.
Hold still, please.
Don't bloody touch me! It'll hurt if you don't stay still.
That's a good girl.
WHIMPERING EXPLOSION RUMBLING, HORSE WHINNIES Continue.
TELEPHONE RINGS Receiving room.
The ninth and tenth ribs are broken.
And? The chest expansion is asymmetrical.
KNOCK AT DOOR Tell me.
Explosion on Grange Road.
How many injured? Can't say.
They'll be here in five minutes.
All right.
Have the trolleys standing by.
Alert the wards.
I need to know how many beds we have and where they are.
Any spare nurses, get them here.
And clear the road outside.
Let's admit her.
What about the uncle? He can wait.
Let the porters know andwatch him.
Watch him like a hawk.
KNOCK AT DOOR DOOR OPENING I've had a telephone call from Scotland Yard.
They think it might be a bomb.
Oh, God preserve us.
TELEPHONE RINGS Quickly now.
CRASHING MAN: Doctor! Morphia, splints, dressings! And bring the Junkers.
PATIENT SPEAKS LETTISH What did he say? I don't know.
Get him into three.
I'll be there soon.
WAILING Get him to an examination room now.
WAILING I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait outside.
Nurse Bennett? Scissors, cocaine spray and a roll of sutures.
Where does it hurt? MAN: Can't hear you.
I can't hear you! I can't hear! Nurse Bennett! Hold that there, would you? That's it.
There was a flash.
Funny thing is, I knew.
What? That it was a bomb.
I just knew.
Another roll, please.
Go on.
It felt like hours.
Then I heard the screaming.
Nurse Bennett.
Don't they teach you to clear up after yourself? Exam room one, lousy little thing.
Move it.
Ingrams? What have you? Shrapnel injuries, cuts, burns and so on.
Blast trauma, burst eardrum.
Look for subdural haemorrhaging.
Compound fractures, both tibia.
Cerebral compression.
All right.
This man needs theatre.
Where are the surgeons? Get him into an examination room for now.
Puncture wounds to chest, neck and face, nothing deep.
Get him to ward.
Complete carnage.
All right.
I'll take this side.
The rest are yours.
TELEPHONE RINGS CONTINUES RINGING Dean.
Go boil your bloody head, I said I'm stopping here! You'll do as you're told.
I'll do as I bloody well like! Don't touch me! DISTANT SCREAMS OF AGONY CHILD CRYING I saw him running away, just before it happened.
Clear as day.
Change the dressings every four hours.
Yes, Sister.
Make a bit of room.
Who's the taking-in? Dr Culpin.
He says you have two empty beds marked on the daily sheet.
Surely Dr Culpin knows the standing orders? We've had no notification.
I'll have to go down and get his signature.
Nurse Granger, I'll go.
But, Sister I said I'll go.
Where can I find Dr Culpin? MAN: Argh! KNOCK AT DOOR Good to see you, Sister.
How can I help? Dr Culpin, I need to speak to you Artery forceps, quickly, please.
PATIENT GROANING Sister, could you, ercould you take over for me here, please? Under-run the vessels and tie off.
Irrigate and get a clamp in there.
Try and staunch that bleed.
Dr Culpin, I'm not authorised You are now.
You wanted to see me about something? Doesn't matter now.
Whitehall chooses to hang an open sign in the window, what do you expect? I don't follow.
The Aliens Act, Mr Holland.
We let in thousands of them.
Revolutionaries, too, right here in Whitechapel.
All I need is a couple of hours.
Four officers.
Interrogating patients? Making enquiries.
Are you asking our permission, Detective Superintendent? I'm asking for your cooperation, sir.
Cerebral compression.
Why should we give it? For the safety of the British public, ma'am.
I'm all for rooting out the malefactors, but you must understand, this is a hospital.
It's also an opportunity, with respect, sir.
Someone had to set the damn thing off.
They had to be near it.
If they were near it, chances are they'll be in there.
If you let in the jungle, you have to be prepared for jungle ways.
Fractured pelvis.
GROANING Fractured, certainly, but there's no rotation.
Let's get him upstairs.
And, er, I'll take the cerebral compression and the fractured coronoid process.
Nurse.
SIGHS First blow is half the battle.
ETHEL: Mr Fenwick? So, what have we here? No, thank you.
I always have my own.
Now, then That's it, that's it.
Let's see if we can't save the old mince, eh? Sorry? Mince pie, eye.
This is the East End, Nurse! Next.
This way.
They're patients, Sydney, not suspects.
The point is they could be both.
Not here! Look at their faces.
These people come from countries where every policeman is a thug.
They won't come here if they don't feel safe.
I've made my decision.
Are you sure you haven't let them make it for you? Compacted fracture of the humerus.
So Dr Culpin told me.
Hmm.
Hm.
Brave little soldier, eh? What's your name? He's Michael.
He's going to need an operation, I'm afraid.
How about that, Michael? Keeping me busy, eh? Will it be all right, Doctor? My dear woman, he'll bowl for England.
Next! This way.
See you later.
Ah.
There's three witnesses, sir.
All saw him running away, up Commercial Road.
Where is he? Follow me.
KNOCK AT DOOR Excuse me, Nurse.
It's all right, don't.
On tozhe budet prikhodit syuda.
I'm afraid I must ask you to leave.
We wish to ask this gentleman This minute! Out.
Wait over there.
I'll call you when I've finished.
Sister.
Matron.
You can go in, if you wish.
Can't see a damn thing.
Swabs.
No corneal reflex and his pulse is dropping.
Add strychnine to the saline.
Let go! Ingrams, come on, man! Get his legs up on the blocks.
Culpin? I'm on the qui vive.
Seymour and Burgess are tied up.
I need someone as an anaesthetist upstairs, pdq! Culpin? HE SPEAKS BROKEN YIDDISH Hold still now, please.
.
.
That's good.
PATIENT GROANS 1 in 500 perchloride of mercury.
Ya ne ponimayu shto ty skazal.
That's not Yiddish.
It's Russian.
PATIENT SPEAKS LETTISH Well, some of it.
That was Lettish.
He's Latvian.
How do you know? You hear it all in this hospital.
Mr Fenwick, you ought to know, I've only ever done this, administered anaesthetics, in training.
There's nothing to it.
Stuff.
Stuffist.
Shall we make a start? Mason's.
Keep calm.
It won't take a minute.
PATIENT GROANING Under the teeth.
That's it.
Ethyl chloride, Mr Fenwick? I prefer chloroform from the off, if you don't mind.
Old dogs, new tricks and all that.
4ccs of chloroform into the inhaler, turn the dial to about, ooh, halfway.
Anaesthesia's not a science, despite what you may have learned in the manuals.
It's an art.
No hard and fast rules, you see.
Hold him steady.
Just breathe for me now.
WHIMPERING That's it.
Give the bag a good squeeze.
Hold him.
Under starter's orders! Wait! Ingrams Wait.
We've got four more to get through.
Right.
And we're off! Trained with your father, back in the Jurassic.
Brilliant surgeon.
The very best.
Not easy, is it? Following in their footsteps.
PATIENT GROANS Needs another blast.
That's it.
All that glory to live up to.
Scalpel.
We're just waiting for a translator.
He's Latvian, Mr Holland.
And that's significant? The gang responsible for the shootings in Tottenham were Latvian anarchists.
I see.
We lost two officers in Tottenham.
And a child.
But Tottenham was a robbery, guns, not bombs.
With respect, sir, they don't call it robbery.
They call it expropriation.
To fund the revolution.
The capitalist beast must pay for its own destruction - and all that.
Their politics are of no interest to me, and nor are yours.
Just do your job.
And let us do ours.
The superficial fragments I managed to get out, but the deeper ones - I was worried about damaging the tissue.
Thank you for your help.
Both of them to Wellington, please.
All of you, follow me to Wellington Ward.
Sister Russell Come along.
Sister She's as stubborn as a mule.
So am I.
Come with me.
Now.
This way! Come along.
Leave the girl in my office.
There's room here and here.
And another bed could go here.
We'll need bed frames and mattresses from the store and open a window.
They'll have to stay on the trolleys down the centre of the ward for now.
Strip bed four and ten and have them made up.
We're going to need fresh linen.
COUGHING Let's make a start, shall we? How old are you, Deborah? Says in there, doesn't it? It says you're 16.
Must be 16, then.
You expect me to believe that? Believe what you like.
Oh, I will, thank you.
When did you last eat? Tell you what, I'll have something brought up from the kitchens.
How about that? What would you like? BELL RINGING It's all lies, isn't it? 16, seamstress .
.
all that nonsense.
I've seen girls like you before.
What girls? Girls with uncles.
You'd do better to tell the truth, believe me.
Deborah? DOOR OPENS Ah, Probationer.
Miss Lynch is to have a shower.
Wh-what?! You never said nothing about Yes, Sister.
Hey, "Miss Lynch", it's a bit fancy, that, isn't it? What's your real name, then? I'm Nellie.
Deborah.
Oh, Deborah.
Well, come with me, then, Deborah.
Lamb chops and a pint of porter.
DOOR CLOSES Move out of the way, please.
Thank you.
What about him? Know him? Nyet! One of your chums? He's an anarchist, he's a Russian.
Nyet! Ya tebe govoryu, ya ne videl nikovo.
He says he's never seen these men before.
Ya zdes byl vsyevo tri nedeli.
He's been in London three weeks.
Right, this is going to hurt.
Could you tell him? Can you tell him, please, it's going to hurt? Budet bolno.
PATIENT YELLS IN PAIN Swabs, and cyanide wool in the cavity, please, Nurse.
It's just in here, Deborah.
It's all right.
Just wait for it to warm up a bit.
That's it.
Now in you get.
Don't be frightened.
It's only water.
It won't hurt you.
Here you can hold my hand, if you like.
That's it.
SHE GASPS You see? Right under now.
BREATHLESSLY GIGGLING That's a good girl.
LAUGHING Ask him how it is that all his injuries are to his back.
Were you running away? Pochemy rani tolko na spinye? Kuda ty bezhish? Konechno nyet! He was not running.
Ya gulyal.
He was walking.
Ya dumal o svoikh delakh.
I potom eto proizoshlo.
Is it illegal to walk down the street? He wants to know.
Thank you, Probationer Bowers.
(What's that smell?) Gonorrhoea.
Come here.
Kakoye nakazaniye! TRANSLATOR: I know the law Scalpel.
What charges are you making, I am innocent, I have done nothing wrong.
Don't tell me about the law Quiet, please! Thank you.
Scalpel.
MOROSOV YELLS IN PAIN He's not my uncle.
He's my dad.
All the other girls call him uncle, so I call him uncle.
Uncle Mick.
He's all right, Uncle Mick.
As long as I do what I'm told with the other gentlemen.
He's saving up for me and him.
Says we'll go away somewhere.
I know I'm sick .
.
down there.
I'm 13.
I'm a harlot.
Sister Russell? Wait a minute.
Sister, it's Mr Dean.
Come here.
Stay there.
One cc in a 10% solution.
Stovaine.
And you are all, of course, aware that there has been considerable resistance to the routine use of this drug.
And to spinal anaesthesia in general.
One in 300 biniodide of mercury.
Why? Because stovaine is derived from a compound with a notoriously poisonous and treacherous nature, namely cocaine.
Ah, Sister.
It's good of you to join us.
Note, we do not require the assistance of any burly men to hold the patient down.
No mouth clamps or any other medieval instruments of torture.
While the anaesthetic is delivered.
PATIENT GROANING Withdraw the stylet.
And can you see the spinal fluid there? Mixing with the solution? Now Collodion gauze.
And you, sir, onto your back.
GROANING Gently does it.
And that's it.
Catheter.
What am I supposed to do with it? It's for the patient, silly girl.
Well, get on with it! Don't worry, Nurse, it won't bite you.
Oh, for heaven's sake, girl, it's a male member, it's not a cobra.
Stand aside.
Sister! PATIENT INHALING SHARPLY PATIENT MOANING Very good.
Gentlemen, uh Theatre in ten minutes.
Mr Dean? May I have a word? Yes? Your patient's been complaining of stomach pain.
He hasn't passed urine, even with the catheter.
I think the urethra might be damaged.
Don't think, Sister.
That's not what you're here for.
I think the urethra might be damaged.
Deborah! Get your hands off me! Damn you.
Damn It just rained the whole time! I suppose you can't have everything, can you? You comfortable? Yes, sir, thank you.
I chose Lake Como because of Pliny the Younger.
Have you read his letters? I don't think he's got my address, sir.
STUDENTS CHUCKLING Quiet! Anyway, it's a lovely spot, Como.
Well, so I'm told, when the sun is shining.
It's rain, rain, rain, the whole time! Would you believe it? Swab, please.
So, as you can see, our patient, though untutored in the Latin of the Silver Age, is lucid and free of any pain.
My intention now is to isolate and remove a sharp spicule of bone that has broken away from the pelvic crest and penetrated the femoral vein.
Tell me, Mr Hubner, what can you feel? Well, it's like somebody's having a good old rummage down there.
QUIET LAUGHING Best behaviour now, chaps.
I'm sorry, Mr Holland, we are justfinishing off.
Another cup of tea? Yes, thank you, sir.
Mr Dean? I can see, I can see.
Try and keep it drained.
What is it? What's going on? I need to extend this incision.
I need a clearer view.
Scalpel, please.
Oh, damn it! Oh, for heaven's sake, I can't see.
Pull it back further! Four Er, no.
Three ccs of ether into the inhaler.
He's only a little chap.
You know the story of Sleeping Beauty? That's it.
And gently over the face.
Well, she fell asleep for a hundred years.
You'll be awake by teatime! Now, just breathe for me.
Nice and deep.
That's good.
Nurses, would you mind? One on each side, thank you.
One breath of air to every three from the bag.
Understand? Scalpel.
Regular and deep now, Mr Fenwick.
Bright and breezy, slips in easy.
Aahhhh! Let's tie this little bleeder off.
Sutures.
And snip.
There.
Traumatic rupture to the urethra.
Oh, it's nothing to worry about, Mr Hubner.
Safe to proceed now.
Get Mr Hubner another cup of tea.
Scalpel.
And syringe.
And get the drain.
Then we can close him up.
Oh, please Please.
Yes, the brachialis anticus and the outer head of the triceps have been completely torn away.
He's hypotensive Get that Clovers away, he's gone in too deep! He's cyanotic.
Strychnine and caffeine, hypodermically! Take the leg.
Higher! I'm losing him We need every drop of blood back up into the core.
Come on! Come on! No pulse.
Tongue forceps! Still cyanosed.
Still no breathing.
Artificial respiration.
Sylvester method.
One, two .
.
four, five, six.
Nothing.
And again.
One, two FENWICK COUNTS UNDER HIS BREATH No.
No, no.
He's gone.
Ask him again.
Has he ever been to the Anarchists' Club in Jubilee Street? Teper interesuet, byl vy kogda-nibud na Jubilee Street.
Na anarkhisty klub? KNOCKING Na Jubilee Street? Sir, may I have a word? I see.
And the South Metropolitan gas company have admitted responsibly, have they? The gas was leaking into the old sewer main, or some such.
No bomb? No bomb.
So no Jewish anarchists? No stone unturned, under the circumstances.
You do understand? Perfectly.
Then may I take this opportunity to say You may.
In writing.
Thank you, Detective Superintendent.
Sir.
Ma'am.
SPEAKING IN LETTISH What's he say? I think you get his meaning.
About five minutes in, the breathing became stertorous, and there was a certain amount of muscular twitching.
So I increased the air Very well.
I'll check for heart problems.
The condition of the myocardium, valvular defects, the usual suspects.
Anything else that might indicate ill health? Albumin or glucose in the urine, any sign of pneumonia? Anything? Oh, well.
Not a lot to play with.
A full PM this evening, six o'clock.
Make him presentable for his mother first.
Mrs Perkins? Yes? I have some very bad news, I'm afraid.
About half an hour ago, your son, Michael, died.
I'm so very sorry SIGHING I had to unscrew the mouth clamp.
He still had his milk teeth.
There's going to be a post-mortem.
What am I going to say? Tell the truth.
Fenwick wanted three ccs in the bag.
Or four, I can't remember.
But I did as I was told.
It is the truth.
There you are.
Perhaps.
You're a doctor, Ingrams.
You have to live with "perhaps".
What's my old man going to say? Mr Dean.
I'd like to Sister You were absolutely right.
The urethra was split.
There was blood and urine in the pelvic cavity, which explains the discomfort.
Thank you.
Well, the tonsils and lymph glands, thymus are all slightly enlarged.
The boy's health was compromised No.
You don't need a post-mortem to tell you what he died of.
You can smell it from here, Smith.
Ether.
Unmistakable.
Cause of death, cytotoxic cerebral oedema.
For the coroner, swelling of the brain as a result of the anaesthetics.
I won't let it be for nothing, Smith.
You're here for the inventory inspection, Miss Luckes No, I'm not here for the inventory, Sister Russell.
Will you walk with me? Mr Chandler.
When is your operation? In the morning, Matron.
Ah, jolly good.
Carry on, Probationer.
The world is changing around us, Sister Russell.
We both saw that today.
But the hospital must remain sacrosanct, devoted to the care of the patients.
Now, I saw how you handled the police today, and I need a sister in the receiving room like you.
Someone with the strength and courage to carry out my wishes in the face of the police, the politicians, and the surgeons.
Will you do this for me? Yes, Matron.
Of course.
You'll be my first line of defence.
Good night, Sister.
Do you know what I like to do after a day like this? I buy a ticket for the tram, I sit on the top deck, and feel the wind in my hair.
Just until Hyde Park and back.
Would you care to join me? I can't think of anything I'd like to do more.
That's how many operations I performed in the last year.
How many of those patients died on the table, truthfully, as a result of anaesthetics? Three.
I've just come from the fourth.
I'm sorry.
That's not the point, is it? The point is, we cannot go on pretending it's acceptable.
Calling it something else.
Weak heart, pneumonia, swollen lymph glands I can't.
Not any more.
So, what is it you want? I tell you what I don't want.
I don't want to have to fish inexperienced doctors like young Ingrams - good doctors, maybe - out of the receiving room.
I cannot do my job and theirs as well.
The current system It's not a system at all.
I want to make a suggestion.
And I know I've argued against this many times.
But consistency, let's face it, is the last refuge of the unimaginative.
HOLLAND: Hmm.
We must have trained, specialist anaesthetists in the hospital at all times.
Otherwise To inconsistency.
Thank you, Hurry.
Four out of 497 doesn't sound like much, does it? You tell the mothers, the wives, the sons.
Spinal anaesthesia is in its infancy.
Stovaine is a new drug.
A lay committee is not qualified to deliberate on medical matters.
Does one need to be a doctor to identify an untimely corpse? Other patients of Mr Dean's who've been operated under Stovaine have died subsequently.
Do you believe you are in any position to question a surgeon's clinical judgment, Nurse? Why is she doing this to me? Miss Luckes moves in mysterious ways.
My place is in the receiving room.
Nurse Bennett, your place is wherever I say it is.
Sure I can't tempt you? Not with the cakes.
Might I ask from which quarter this concern over Stovaine emanates? Mr Dean will seek out whoever wrote that letter.
He will destroy you, Nurse Goodley.
And I can't prevent it.