10th March 2009
BBC ONE 08:00pm - 09:00pm
Ric arrives on Darwin to be confronted by a drunk man expecting treatment. Mark explains that he is in here almost every week and Ric asks Mark to sort him out and get him out of Holby. Ric is taking no prisoners today, he has a meeting with an MP, Chris Unsworth, about his zero tolerance policy and doesn't want anything to get in the way of his plans.
Maria, Tom and Maddy have had a massive night and have to try and get through the day, each doing their jobs on no sleep and with filthy hangovers. The day starts badly for each of them. Maria spills something over Mark, which he isn't impressed with. No one has seen Maddy, as she is asleep in the cleaner's cupboard after losing her bag with doorkeys in.
Ric asks Tom for the research he had requested months ago. Tom obviously hasn't done it but covers and promises to get it to Ric before his meeting with the MP. Connie is looking slightly shifty settling an overweight man into a room on Keller, He's Steve Hewitt, a good contact of Connie's, and she wants to look after him. She's on top form, giving the patient her full attention - he's clearly a VIP, but doesn't look the part. Connie definitely doesn't wheel out this sort of service for every patient so he must be someone important.
Maria tries to get on with her day with great difficulty. She has the hangover of all hangovers. Tom needs Maria's help with the research Ric has asked him to do. Maria is a whiz on the computer and Tom is hoping she will be the answer to his prayers. Unfortunately, Maria is in no state to be dealing with facts and figures but agrees to help Tom.
Steve Hewitt has a particularly nasty smoker's cough. Connie looks slightly nervous as Ric passes by the room, oblivious. No doubt he will mention something. Ric enters the room and Connie explains the problem. Ric doesn't care and explains that the problem is self-inflicted and so he will not grant him treatment. Connie can't believe this and Steve begins to pack his belongings.
Annalese is in theatre with Michael and Donna. They are operating on elderly patient John Maxwell, who's wife Genevieve they suspect of being a "gold digger". The mood is tense and Donna immediately senses the atmosphere. As the operation proceeds, Annalese drops a bombshell. Why does Donna have the same necklace as her? She thought it was specially made. Michael, shocked that she has picked this second to bring it up, quickly thinks of a response. "It wasn't specially made, I'm sorry, Donna must have bought the same one and it's pure coincidence." Annalese doesn't seem to believe him and takes out her phone and hits the number she knows Ric rang in the morning. Donna's phone starts to ring. Donna looks at it, Michael looks at it and Annalese holds up her phone. Game over.
Connie is not going to let Ric deny her VIP medical treatment and seeks help from Jayne.
Jayne calls Ric into her office. Jayne explains that Hewitt is the chairman of a local charity that holds various events throughout the year and donates a very large sum to a local cause. Holby City gets most of the cash each year and Jayne explains that if they don't treat Hewitt, that money will disappear. Ric weighs up the pros and cons and ultimately decides that there can be no exceptions, it makes a mockery of the new Zero Tolerance system
Tom catches up with Maria over her help with the report. She has done only a week and she needs to get on with her other duties. Tom looks nervous, what is he going to do?
Hewitt stops Ric, who looks a little nervous, as he knows he's annoyed a lot of people. But Hewitt tells him that he likes a man who sticks to his guns and is prepared to stick his neck out. If a man's not got his principles he's got nothing. He'll do his best to cut back on the booze and cigars, and when he has he hopes Ric will treat him. In the meantime he'll still consider Holby for the donation. Ric can't believe it. He smiles to himself and gets on with his day, operating on a drug addict who sadly he is unable to save.
Connie is about to send Hewitt home but notices a sound in Hewitt's chest that concerns her. She asks Ric for his advice and he does a very quick examination - he can hear something but dismisses it as related to his obesity.
Ric catches up with Tom and asks for the research. Tom hands over the folder- everything he needs is right there but he looks nervous. How has he managed to do 3 months research in 10 minutes? Ric looks rather impressed. Tom can't believe his luck.
Ric is talking through his findings in front of a very attentive group of board members and the MP. Connie and Ric's pagers beep simultaneously. Ric looks shocked -now is not the time. Hewitt was only five feet from the hospital door when he had a massive crisis - they are applying paddles to his chest and he's fighting for his life, as Ric and Connie rush to find him. Ric looks rather embarrassed and says he was fine to be discharged. Connie agrees with him but they both can see there is a big issue with Ric's new policy.
Linden is looking for Maddy who has a meeting with him and hasn't turned up - she is still sleep in the cupboard. Tom calls Maddy who explains that she is stuck in the cupboard. Tom manages to get her out and Maddy finally makes it to the ward- still in the same clothes as the night before.
Linden wants to know where she has been and Maddy thinks of an excuse - but Linden doesn't believe her. Linden holds up her handbag and says that it was handed in by the owner of a club. Maddy looks slightly guilty as she has been caught. Linden explains to her that her attitude is slipping and he is having doubts about putting her forward for promotion.
Donna tries to apologise to Michael, but he says that it isn't her fault. Donna can't help but think she has caused all this. Donna watches Annalese having a real go at Michael and there is nothing she can do.
Tagged in Holby City