Reef Doctors (2013) s01e08 Episode Script

Nice new home for your mate.
You did well this morning, boss.
Yeah, it's a good specimen.
Nice-looking but sneaky.
Sneaky? All part of its evil plan.
Oh, look, isn't that a pretty cone shell? I think I might take it home as a souvenir of the tropics.
And then Out comes the proboscis.
Pow! Harpoon tooth into exposed flesh.
No antivenom.
One dead human.
Not so pretty then, are you, mate? Wow.
Cool.
Wow, cool, yeah.
But kind of overkill for a snail that eats small fish.
Some cone shells contain an analgesic that has the potential to replace morphine.
Nell, get back to work.
Andrew's on the uni video link.
Thanks.
I'll start milking him then? Hmm.
With thick rubber gloves.
And don't forget the tongs.
Yes, Mum.
I heard that.
Andrew, hi, I'm glad you called.
Look, if you're ringing about Jack's School of the Air fees, I know, I know, I completely forgot to send you the cheque for my half.
Sam And, Andrew, I might have actually spent that money on a new clinic printer, but if you really need it, then of course Sam, perhaps we can discuss this later.
I should let the others say hello.
You know James? Laura, Ryan and Carl are board members from his foundation.
And, of course, you know Malcolm.
Hi, um, hello.
Hello, Sam, I've briefed everyone on the tests of your ulcer cream and they're impressed.
The results have been so promising, we've decided to fund a human randomised control trial.
Oh.
I'm I thought you'd be a little bit pleased.
Oh, Look, I am.
I, um I actually don't know what to say.
We're gonna run the trials right here in the hospital's own Emergency Department.
We plan to make the announcement next week.
I don't know what to say except, James, thank you so very much for your vote of confidence.
Your work's been exemplary, in the field and that lab.
Oh, Gus Cochrane is the genius in the lab.
Then you're part of a magic team.
Isn't she, Malcolm? Absolutely.
Good job, Sam.
Congratulations.
There are a few technicalities to iron out but the funding is definitely on the table.
I'll give you a ring.
OK.
Gus! Gus! OK, so, everybody raise your glasses.
Sam, you and Gus have worked your bums off for two years, and during that you've never lost sight of your vision.
And that's why you've both been the biggest inspiration to me, and that's why we all love you guys.
- You never give up.
Cheers! - Cheers.
Well done, you.
That was a lovely speech.
Yeah, well Man of the moment.
Well done, mate.
Yeah, cheers, mate.
Another, thanks, Toby.
Gluckwunsche, Gus.
Bless you? How do those trials work? Well, we give different concentrations of the cream to the hospital but without telling them which is which, then they choose patients at random to get one of the versions or the placebo.
Then we're told that patient C received sample X and they made an improvement.
Gus and I then go off and work up the results, compiling the success rates of the various compositions.
Which means what in old surfer's language? That someone is finally prepared to invest millions of dollars into our venom research.
Oh, your old man's up there somewhere raising a glass of Scottish malt to you.
It's Dad.
Oh, ta.
Hi, Andrew.
I'm sorry.
I can't hear you.
You're gonna have to speak up.
What? - You're kidding.
- Sam, settle down.
Why didn't you tell me this before, Andrew? What, in front of the board? Is that what you want? You want to say no to the funding? You don't want the money? I can put a stop to this.
Oh, come on.
That ethically challenged weasel is gonna work up our results.
Please! The foundation has assigned Malcolm to run the tests.
He's here at the uni in a large modern lab.
You're on a godforsaken island.
Unless you want to move back here the next year and run the trials yourself, do you want to do that? No, I didn't think so.
It's still your data.
Oh, you're damn right.
We own it.
You didn't pay a cent in its development, Andrew.
Malcolm doesn't want this.
He's as stuck with you as you are with him.
But I don't see either of you have a choice.
Now, he's flying out to the island.
He's gonna take a look at your lab set-up and then Sam? I'm thinking.
Then collect your pre-trial data.
Oh, no.
I will not give it to him.
Thanks for the heads up, Andrew.
Have a good evening.
Work with him, Sam.
Or this isn't gonna happen.
Our results would be fiddled and faked and then sabotaged.
And then, Malcolm, he would turn up in the marketplace touting, "Guess what!" Yeah, "A new tropical ulcer cream!" I was hoping to never see this guy again.
He can come in and he can view the lab.
That's an open house.
But he's not getting anything.
He's not reading anything.
He's not accessing anything.
And he's not touching anything.
Is that clear? OK.
Sweet.
He'll be gone in an hour.
Oh, is this him? I was expecting someone with horns.
Malcolm.
This is Livvy, our nurse practitioner.
Hi, Malcolm Reid.
I'm the guy with a lab five times bigger who didn't come up with an ulcer cream.
Not that he's bitter.
Are you staying? Well, if they want me to acquaint myself with your work, I'd better stay overnight.
You don't mind, do you? Uh, what just happened? So it might take a bit longer.
Oh.
What gives you that idea? Have you got a plan B? So you're a nurse practitioner? Mm-hm.
I guess that makes you the smartest person in this place.
Not if I fall for lines like that.
Malcolm, come through to the lab and we'll have a chat.
Rick.
Rick D'Alessandro.
Hey! How the hell are you? Good, man.
How are you? You still got the yellow roadster? Nah, I sold it.
Coolest car on campus, bar none.
Shall we? Steve.
Steven? Steve? Come in.
Are you OK? Seem to have a bit of trouble with your balance, mate.
Sorry, Doc.
You've gotta speak up.
You got problems with your balance? It's the end of the line for me.
I'm battling a brain tumour.
I've got a mass growing in my head.
I'm sorry to learn that.
Who's your neurologist? Neuro? Who diagnosed you? Oh, me.
I did.
I looked it up.
Got all the symptoms.
Um, headaches, dizziness, vertigo.
Steve, if I had a dollar for every time a patient diagnosed an illness online, I would be The difficulty is that there are many similar symptoms for many different illnesses.
So why don't I take a look before we consult a web browser.
I'm gonna have a look in your eyes.
Just look past my shoulder.
I'm impressed.
I'm just bowled over at the quantum leap you've made out of a lab that's, well A hobby? No, that's Primitive? Small, perhaps.
Well, as humble as it is, we call it home.
And what made you think to sequester an enzyme from sea snake venom? Most other researchers seemed only interested in terrestrial snakes.
Whereas I had a thing for water.
And, how, may I ask, did you isolate it? If I told you that, I'd have to kill you.
If I didn't know that we were building bridges, I'd think that you were fobbing me off.
I do actually have a lot of patients waiting so if you'll excuse me, Malcolm.
Gus will look after you.
Gus, would you mind making Malcolm a cup of tea? White with one, right, mate? So, Gus, still the snake whisperer? Is that how you came up with the ulcer cream? Sam and I came up with it.
You're the pharmacologist.
Look, you've been here a while now.
Sam giving you enough credit? That's funny.
More than what I remember working for you.
You took the credit for everything, right? What can I say? Guilty as charged.
I could have improved on that score.
You, me and Sam and this funding, we can kick some real goals.
Yeah.
Don't mind dying.
I've had an incredible journey.
It's just that I've got so much unfinished business.
Freya, patient's right eye with your right eye, left eye with your left eye.
Get in close.
Don't be shy.
That's right.
You can rest your finger on his cheek.
That's great.
So what you're looking for is a swelling in the optic disc, a sign of raised intracranial pressure.
You two work well together.
Thanks.
I don't think you've got a tumour, Steve.
You know, there's no sign that the optic disc is inflated, and you've responded really well to the physical tests.
Did you look up any other symptoms? Um, some head pain.
Sometimes it's a bit hard to hear.
Mm-hm.
It says here you're a poet.
Amateur poet.
And lobster diver.
Yeah? Ah, you dive? How often do you dive? Uh, every day.
Do you mind if I have a look in your ears? Mm.
Mm.
Absolutely.
What? What is it? You've got a cerumen impaction.
Crikey.
What's that? It's just a great big plug of earwax.
OK, everyone.
Listen up.
New patient paperwork.
Hand it over.
Hang on, buster.
You haven't filled this out properly.
Not Sonny's address.
We know where Sonny's is.
Where do you live? Do it again.
Nell.
Please fill it out again.
Settle down.
It annoys me.
They're not gonna get a rebate without an address.
Just be friendly.
That never makes for a good day.
Mrs Ogilvy.
Welcome.
Toby radioed you arrived.
You're a bit early.
And as you can see, we're a little bit busy.
Can we get you a cup of tea while you wait? I'm fine.
I don't want to be a burden.
Uh, Janine, tea? No, it's OK.
Oh, go on.
It was a long boat trip.
If you have one, I'll have one.
Nell.
What? Help me.
I'll give you a hand, Livvy.
No, no, no.
It's fine.
It's no problem, really.
And I thought chivalry was dead.
I thought you'd be up to your ears in envenoming.
I don't see any bites or stings out there, really.
Oh, we get maybe 20 a year.
Is that all? Yeah.
Oh, we had a billygoat plum stinging caterpillar yesterday.
A what? You've heard of a billygoat plum stinging caterpillar? No.
Patient was an entomologist.
Has welts all up his arm.
Pain for hours.
Malcolm, now, we can't leave you in reception all day.
Maybe you should see some fieldwork? So come along with Gus and I after clinic this afternoon.
I'd love to.
What are you after? Sea snakes.
Venomous? Highly.
Hey, Gus.
Leave him.
We'll milk him later.
No, he's been a good boy.
I've got most of it.
Can you load the boat? We're not going out today.
We are now.
Uh, you seem happy.
I've got a plan B.
Ah.
So would you like to join us later for a drink? Us? Gus and I, and Sam.
Do they know about this? Truthfully, I'm hoping I can break through somehow.
Sam seems to have a problem with me.
Really? I hadn't noticed.
Yeah, I don't know why.
I have the deepest respect for her toxicology work.
What she and Gus have done on the smell on an oily rag, it's remarkable.
But I don't need to tell you that, do I? I'm guessing you're the reason she has the time to go out on her venom work in the first place.
Oh, maybe, but, you know, Sam works twice as hard as any doctor I've ever met.
We respect each other as equals.
I'm happy to help her out.
Yeah, of course.
Still, she's fortunate to have someone as qualified as you backing her up.
Do you ever get to the mainland? The university's converting nursing MAs to doctorates.
They'll give you credit for your previous courses.
By the time I get another degree, I'll be ready for retirement.
I'm happy being a nurse practitioner.
Anyway, Sonny's backpackers ' isn't far.
Walk down the track.
Keep going.
If you fall into the ocean, you've gone too far.
I thought Mum would have got rid of him by now.
He's a vampire.
Thanks, Livvy.
She's lost her touch.
Don't worry, you'll get used to it when you've done it as much as I have.
If you wanna look it up, Steve, it's C-E-R-U-M-E-N.
Cerumen.
Impaction's fairly common with divers, mate.
The cerumen in your auditory canal gets soaked, enlarged, and then the water pressure shoves it in deeper.
Doc don't you think Freya's cute as? The the pressure difference between both your ears was probably the cause of your dizziness.
Whoa.
Look at that.
Ah! Oh.
We'll get you some ear drops from our pharmacy, Steve.
That should fix the problem right up.
I really like watching you guys work.
You're a team.
Do you guys date outside the clinic? No.
Well, you should.
You've got something special, that's for sure.
Blind Freddy can see that.
Doc, I wouldn't waste any time.
I made that mistake.
I thought I was on borrowed time, I was a goner.
I ran away from Cheryl.
Oh! I can't believe I lost her.
Can I show her that? Sure, if you think that it will bring Cheryl back.
G'day.
You want a room? How long are you staying? Tonight at least.
Malcolm Reid.
Oh.
Sonny Farrell.
THE Sonny Farrell? Surfer Sonny? Shark bait Sonny.
Yeah, I know, you probably thought I was dead.
My dad's your biggest fan.
Oh, is that so? Hey, could I take a picture? Yeah.
You don't mind, do you? No, no.
Sure.
This will make Dad's day.
After you.
Thank you.
OK.
Uh, Mrs Ogilvy? Uh, Livvy.
Sorry to keep you waiting.
Um, if you'd just like to head on through.
Sammy, I am having a drink with Malcolm and he wants you and Gus to come.
A drink? Absolutely not.
If he is a condition of the funding, you might have to be a bit more collaborative.
You really dislike him? Yes, I do.
And you should be very careful.
It's just a drink.
Mrs Ogilvy.
This is your first visit with us, so I've just asked Livvy to join us.
That was a lovely cup of tea, thank you, dear.
So how can we help you? I've been having night visitors.
Night visitors? They come to my room late at night to taunt me.
It's awful.
Who does? My sister, Maureen and my husband.
Yes.
They stand over my bed and they tell me that there's no place in heaven for me.
Oh, that's a terrible thing to say.
And Maureen accuses me of the most dreadful things.
She says that I stole her husband, Gerald, from her, right from under her nose, and that I did it deliberately.
And Gerald accuses me of crashing his car and leaving the scene as he lay dying.
And Maureen says that I forged Gerald's signature on the will so that I'd get the money, even though he'd left it to her and the children.
Right, Livvy.
Thanks.
You can see how tormented I am.
Have you told your carer this? I don't like to bother Janine.
I know old ladies can be a burden.
Anyone would lose their temper.
She loses her temper with you? Well, she doesn't like to be disturbed while she's watching television.
I need some pills so I can block them out.
Mrs Ogilvy, you're already on two sedatives.
Oh, please, Doctor, I can't sleep.
I'm seeing them every night now.
They're very punctual.
Which is more than I can say for when they were alive.
Pardon me? They're both dead.
And they still won't leave me alone.
Mrs Ogilvy, will you excuse me just for one minute? Are you monitoring her medication? Yes, of course.
And there hasn't been any changes? She's not self-medicating? No, of course not.
I'm just trying to ascertain whether or not she is showing signs of dementia or she is under some kind of stress that's led her to imagine these night visitors.
She's not imagining them.
Look, I don't know if her night visitors are real or not.
But everything they say is true.
Whatever she says happened to her sister and her husband, let me tell you, she did it.
Her daughter told me.
She is rude and narcissistic and she hasn't paid me in eight weeks.
As soon as the agency finds me another gig, I'm getting out.
She seems like such a sweet lady.
I find it very Because you doctors keep giving her what she wants.
The second she doesn't get her own way Do you lose your temper often? Doctor? Mrs Ogilvy, come on back.
I'm sorry.
Your nurse won't give me my pills.
That's because you're already on two sedatives, Mrs Ogilvy.
But I need them.
I'm sorry.
I can't prescribe them.
Give me those tablets now, you scrawny little bitch.
Get your hands off me, Janine.
You keep out of it.
Get back to the kitchen and make tea.
That's all you ' re good for.
Oh, give me that.
No, no.
Give it to me.
For goodness sake, you call this a medical practice.
Oh! So now we know why Mrs Ogilvy insisted on stopping here on the way back to your resort, I'd like your permission to write a letter to her mainland doctor, just informing them about her prescription shopping.
Please.
What kind of half-baked clinic is this to deny me treatment? Mind your manners or you'll be walking back to the jetty.
If you need anything, anything at all, please give me a call, because sometimes carers need caring too.
Thank you.
Call yourself a medical professional! Mrs Ogilvy! I'm not talking to you, dear.
You're the pretty one.
Like I was.
No man could keep his hands off me.
Not even Gerald, but it wasn't my fault.
I was the beautiful sister.
She wouldn't know what that was like.
Get your hands off me, Janine.
I think you've just been envenomed.
She's a beauty, Toby.
Yeah, she does me.
Can you pass that shifter there? Cheers.
First time on the island, Malcolm? Yeah.
I'm here for negotiations regarding the clinic's venom work.
Negotiations.
With Sam? Good luck.
Last bloke that tried to negotiate with her is still swimming back to the mainland.
Well, I've brought my floaties just in case.
So I take it you're our driver? Your driver? Yeah, this is Sam's research vessel.
Uh, no.
That's Sam's research vessel.
You're kidding.
I'm not.
You going out? Yeah, we're catching snakes.
Oh, well, I wouldn't worry.
That bandaid she used to patch up the hull is working a treat.
How much to hire this baby instead for a couple of hours? You couldn't afford it.
Looks like it.
Expensive gear.
What are you chasing? My own tail mostly.
Just between us, I'd rather chase my own tail than an olive sea snake.
You know they can jump out of water? I wouldn't worry, mate.
Just hold on tight.
Sam's a bit of an adrenaline junkie.
You OK there, Malcolm? Yeah, I'm fine.
I think.
Not too fast for you? No.
Gus, snake.
Port.
10 metres.
Six.
Four.
Yes! Got it.
Whoo! Is that an olive? Yeah.
See the paddle tail? Venomous? Very! Does that lock? Your turn.
Oi.
Sorry.
Eight.
Six.
No.
No, Sam.
It's dived under the boat.
Yep.
Left, Gus.
Left just a bit.
It's called port, mate.
Port! Port.
Hard to port.
Go, Gus.
You're onto it.
I got this, Sam.
There! Snake, snake, snake.
Oh, it's a big one.
Don't let it get away.
Starboard.
That's it.
Good job, Gus.
Hold it.
Five metres.
Four.
Three.
Two.
Ah! Ha-ha! Got you! She's a beauty, hey, Sam? Yeah.
Bung her in.
Ha! Mine's bigger than yours.
I can see why you enjoy fieldwork.
It's incredible.
Can we do it again? Good plan, Sam.
So sue me.
Hey, I'll buy you guys a drink to thank you.
We could start a free and frank exchange over a brew or two? What do you reckon? I have to unload the snakes.
Yeah, I better start cataloguing them.
You sure, Gus? Don't fancy a beer? I don't drink, mate.
Well, if you change your mind, I'll be in the bar.
I'm meeting Livvy.
Uh, maybe just the one, yeah? I won't be long, Rick.
Hey.
Hey.
Are you coming for a drink? No.
Hey, I didn't know that you knew Malcolm.
Was he one of your lecturers? Yeah, pharmacology.
Alright.
Let's go.
Huh? You look really good.
You look good too.
Um Sam, you know you have to join us? A drink with Rick and me? Not with Malcolm.
OK, then we stay here.
Uh, wait a minute.
Uh, no, no, no.
You should go.
Really, I'm in the middle of a really good book.
Mm, great book.
If you're sure, Sam.
Have fun.
Yeah.
I think it will make Dad prouder to know that I've met Sonny Farrell than anything I've achieved as a pharmacologist.
I doubt that.
Anyhow, enough about my family.
Let's talk about yours.
Where did the beautiful Livvy come from? There's got to be a story in that.
There would have been 10 dolphins in the pod, oh, swimming in the breakers, amazing.
Amazing.
Yeah, and then we pulled one of them up on the beach, dressed him up as a lifesaver, then we drank whisky and played backgammon.
OK.
I might as well be talking to myself.
Mmm.
Not easy being you, is it? Yes.
Let me get you another mojito.
No, thanks.
Oh, come on? How much time do you get off? It will do you good.
OK.
Good.
I can tell you about my brave sea snake expedition.
Well, it was incredible.
Unbelievable.
This place is great.
I can see why you love it here.
Yeah, who knows.
I might stay a bit longer.
The vampire's ready to move in.
What? He just told Livvy he might stay on a bit.
Oh, no way.
Ha, yes way! Jack, where's your mum? Yo.
Oh, God.
Could you not skulk around like that? Oh, this is not skulking.
No, this is lurking.
Your guest seems to be making sure everyone's having a good time.
Do you wanna come and join the others? I think Livvy's old enough to look after herself.
So is Rick.
What are you doing? I am collating and backing up all of our pre-trial data.
And encrypting it.
Just to be safe.
What, from our visitor? Andrew expects me to hand over everything to Malcolm.
But hell will freeze over first.
OK.
All done.
So what's the story with this Malcolm guy? I don't Oh.
I was working at the university hospital.
We had a patient.
A kid.
He'd been bitten by a snake and my supervisor diagnosed a death adder.
But I thought that it showed signs of taipan.
Malcolm gave us the death adder antivenom, and I argued and argued that similar snakes have very different types of treatment.
But my supervisor insisted that I administer it.
So I did.
The reaction was immediate.
The kid got sicker and very nearly died.
It was really frightening to watch.
Anyway, my supervisor was eventually deregistered but I nearly was too.
Malcolm heard every bloody word that I said.
He refused to back me up and tell the truth.
He suddenly couldn't remember a damn thing that I'd said.
Convenient short-term memory loss? He is a money-grabbing weasel who would do anything.
He'd sell his grandmother to get ahead.
And you know what's worse? He just doesn't get it.
This island is an ark.
Our research isn't about making products that they can market.
It's not about making someone a fortune.
It is about healing, it is about finding cures.
And not a lot of people seem to get that.
I get it.
But you need the foundation money, don't you? To take all this to the next level? I do.
Tell them to get stuffed.
I would.
Hope I haven't cleaned out the bar.
No worries, mate.
Don't you stop.
I need your money.
That's for you.
This is for you guys.
Hey! Thanks.
Thank you.
You earned it.
Well, you live in a backpackers' and work in a tiny medieval clinic.
That's hardcore medicine.
Diagnosing earwax, cuts and bruises, sunburn? Hey, yesterday some guy was hit on the head by a falling coconut.
You have some seriously weird patients out here.
There's a registrar's job coming up at the hospital.
I could put in a word.
Here he is.
For a pharmacologist, this guy can manoeuvre a runabout.
Cheers! Hm, Livvy, come on.
Let's dance.
You know, once he wanted to borrow my car.
Went on and on about it.
When I said no, he downgraded me in pharmacology.
What? What did you do? I just had the exam remarked.
I thought you two were mates.
No.
No such thing with Malcolm.
He's a dickhead.
Hey, Livvy.
Livvy.
Hey.
This guy's bad news.
Seriously.
Even Rick said he was a jerk.
Oh, come on, Gus.
No, seriously.
He's dangerous.
Don't be ridiculous, Gus.
We're just having a dance.
Go finish your drink.
I've had enough.
Livvy, come on.
You're up early.
Couldn't sleep.
What are you growing? Um, elderberry, purple coneflower, arnica, coltsfoot.
Medicinal herbs.
Natural medicine's great.
I was thinking about recommending it to some of our patients.
What do Sam and Rick have to say about that? Haven't told them yet.
I've convinced Gus to try aloe vera after a snakebite.
That's a start.
I thought you were leaving this morning.
Maybe.
Maybe not.
I need to make a call.
Malcolm.
Sam! What are you doing? Get out.
Come on, Sam.
It's $10 million.
You're not going to say we won't work together for 10 mill.
It happens every day - people forced to be nice to each other.
I'll wait for the 10 mill rather than work with you.
Thing is, Sam, I'm going to be in charge.
You don't have much choice.
I'm not leaving until I get what I came for.
Most people think that molluscs are slow-moving and docile.
You shouldn't hold it by the narrow end.
Even holding it by the broad end really isn't that safe.
Shit.
Oh! Here, get this off.
It stung me.
OK, whereabouts? You need to try and relax, Malcolm.
You're starting to hyperventilate.
You need to calm down.
It's gonna take at least 20 minutes to establish whether he's received a full load of venom.
The chopper is on its way? OK, we are gonna look after you as best we can.
Don't let me die.
We need to call someone.
Your next of kin.
Who could we ring? My wife.
Call my wife, Jenny.
Her number's in my phone.
The envenomation site is on his right hand.
There's no sign of paralysis.
It's not gonna be the same without him around here.
Livvy, I didn't know that Malcolm was married.
You OK? I'll live.
So will Malcolm.
Gus only milked that cone shell yesterday.
It takes three days for their venom to reload, so Malcolm's just gonna be a little bit sick.
Oh, well, that's a little bit disappointing.
What did he say when you told him? Hey? You did tell him I milked that cone shell, didn't you? Oh, damn.
I must have completely forgotten.