Caroline Blakiston isn't in tonight's episode, so it's an unknown hand double who we see fiddling with Lena Hyde's radio and causing untold agony to Leon Dorsey as he waits to be operated on in the next room.
Meanwhile, the worry-stricken Eleanor Dorsey has some of her fears allayed by her husband's surgeon, the splendidly louche Mr Arnott, who admits that his appearance of haplessness is a ruse to get other people to do things for him.
Much to her surprise, Arnott offers Eleanor a cup of chocolate: "Coffee is only tolerable when it is made with freshly ground beans, chosen and roasted with loving care: a procedure far beyond the powers and patience of my staff." Actor John Saunders, the Terry-Thomas of medical soap operas, is now one of my favourite TV Minus 50 people.
Les Large is examining a woman who appears to have been admitted for an emergency handbag opening and headscarf removal, but he's mind's still on his troubles with the law. Ivor Gittings doesn't help matters by trying to joke about the matter.
Director Shaun O'Riordan gets all arty, having the angry Les throw a towel at the camera.
Giles Farmer's back from his holiday, and ready to start his new role in men's medical (he and girlfriend Louise Mahler have temporarily swapped jobs and she now works on the surgical ward). Immediately there are problems, with his every innocuous remark taken as an insult by frosty Sister Ransome. Guy Marshall advises him "If you want a smooth passage, you make friends with Sister Ransome." Guy's hoping that Mr Cartwright will be charged with criminal negligence after his son lost two fingers in an accident with a homemade firework, but Giles advances the alarming opinion that a child's always better off with their natural parents, no matter how "slapdash" they might be. Guy, having been raised by a foster family himself, is very touchy on the subject. Sister Ransome, mindful of the recently discharged Mr Price, has had enough of Cartwright's evasiveness: "He's another mystery patient. I'm getting a bit tired of them."
Rospin and Arnott examine Dorsey prior to his operation, and pronounce him physically fit for his age, a qualifier the patient's none too happy about.
Mr Barrett discusses the matter of chairmanship of the medical board (here we go again) with the pair. Dorsey's stepped down due to his condition, but they can't agree on whether Grant or de la Roux came second in the election.
Mr Hutton's recovering well from tetanus, and gets this week's public service announcement from Rex Lane-Russell, who goes into great detail about the disease and the importance of immunising against it.
Louise thanks Rex for supper the previous evening. He's a bit worried that Giles will misinterpret their dinner date. She's certain that Jane Beattie will. And here is Jane, pouring out all her heartache over Rex into a letter to her big sister.
Louise is about to clock off for a date with Giles when she's waylaid by Mr Hutton's forceful mother (Marie Hopps, wearing a very interesting hat), who sees the tetanus as proof that her son should get a better job than being a gardener. Louise refuses to discuss the matter, earning the epithet "Stuck up little piece!"
Mrs Hutton confronts her son over the matter, and he threatens to leave home unless she gives it a rest.
Louise finally meets up with Giles at the Feathers, and he tells her he's no qualms about her going for dinner with Rex. He knows Rex never gets serious about women anyway, as poor Jane as discovered to her agony.
Giles tells Louise that his time away helped him to think clearly about their relationship. He's realised that he needs to accept Louise as she is, and that her work means they won't be able to marry for years to come. But he's prepared to wait, and she is too. She wants to know when they're announcing their engagement - so (hurrah!) they've finally settled the matter.
In the theatre, Leon's operation begins, as Eleanor chain smokes her way through the tension (it'll be her in hospital next if she's not careful).
Fans of pointless milestones may like to note that this is the 250th post at TV Minus 50.
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