-Take it, take it.

-Okay, go, go.

[general chatter] Phil Hammond.

Remember me?

Tessa Rivers, The Aucklander.

I was wondering if you had any comment to make about the allegations made by three sex workers?

You're a bitch.

[gasps] You know, that last hatchet job of yours almost destroyed me.

The only good thing is that anyone with half a brain would know what an idiot you are.

Excuse me.

Wow.

That was amazing.

I would've cried.

[chuckles] What?

Never seen legs before?

I have but... not many as... yummy as those.

Thank you so much [laughs] -She meant you, didn't she?

-She did.

[Candace] Thought with all the Sh'bam I'd been doing it might've been... [inhales deeply] Never mind.

[breathes deeply] [swallows] Morning.

-Ooh.

-[general chatter] Think you better turn around.

[Dr Jerry] Tessa Rivers?

I'm Doctor Jerry O'Reilly.

These are my resident doctors.

They will be shadowing me today.

[sighs] [Dr Jerry] Tessa, Tessa, Tessa.

-[sighs] -[Dr Jerry] Your lab results show us that... there's nothing wrong with you.

-Get in.

-[exhales] That makes no sense.

I can't walk.

Yes, er, we are aware of that.

Well, what's the next step then, Dr Jerry?

We have to carry out more tests, then we can determine the best course of action.

-That's it?

-Yes.

So we will need to put you through the physios, urology, the OTs, radiology, the nutritionist and... Todd.

He will evaluate your mental well-being.

That's all I have for now.

You have a good day, Miss Rivers.

See?

There's nothing wrong with you.

They just don't know what's wrong with me.

I want full mobility by end of day.

Here we go.

This will help.

Wakey, wakey.

Here we go.

Warm it up.

[breathes heavily] Let's start with the tootsies.

Hello.

Try harder.

[Walking Tessa] When you're ready... S**.

Ah f**... Please, please, please.

Let there be Wi-Fi in hell.

Thank god.

[sighs heavily] Hi, Greta.

-[Tessa] Hi.

-Ah!

-Candace.

-Oh, looking good, babe.

Look, we just have another Zoom call in, what, fifteen.

-Yep.

-We just need a quick update on your piece, hon.

[Tessa] Ah, I've... yep.

-One second... - Elder abuse?

-[Tessa] Yes.

Great.

-Good.

I mean, no.

It's-- [laughs] It's not great.

I mean, elder abuse.

Yeah.

It's... it's really bad.

That would be why we commissioned the piece.

-Yes, absolutely.

-And so when should we expect your first copy?

Erm, babe, I-- I don't really want to drop you in it right here, but I've had a few phone calls from people saying you still haven't followed up with them.

Yes.

Well, I'm culling the time-wasters.

So... -Oh yeah?

-Mm-hmm.

Do you want me to give them a call or?

-I can just jump on in there for... -Well... No need.

I would like to see what you have by the end of the day, as we agreed?

-[Tessa] No problem.

-As we agreed.

-I can do that.

-[Greta] Okay.

CC me in.

And also I want an outline of the trajectory of your work flow to date.

So I can fact-check your work, babes.

It's just a formality, Tessa.

Don't worry.

Thank you, Candace.

I know how super careful you've been ever since your little plagiarism debacle.

No, it wasn't-- it wasn't plagiarism.

-It was... Listen, Tessa.

-We're not worried about your ability to deliver.

-[Greta] We're just... -Good.

[Greta] ...but your communication has been lacking lately.

-It's been appalling, babe.

-Sorry.

-[Tessa] Yeah.

-It is what it is.

Well, I've been in and out of reception.

It's a big, big, big piece.

In the wider Auckland area?

I'm in the wider, wider bit, Candace.

-[choral music playing] -[Edward] Oh!

Ah... f** me, f** me... -Erm... -[Greta] Tessa?

-[Tessa] Hey, why don't I... -[Edward] Sorry.

[Candace] Are you okay?

Can you hear us?

-[Greta] Why don't I... -Can you hear me?

[Candace] You don't seem like yourself.

You look a bit too sallow.

-[Candace] Have you noticed?

-[Tessa] Why don't... Why don't I send through what I have so far...?

...and we can just go from there.

-[Edward] Sorry, Tessa.

-[Tessa] Does that work?

Great.

That sounds great.

[Greta] So, let us know if anything changes, okay?

-[Candace] Great.

-Absolutely, will do.

Now I've got to go.

Old people to save and all that.

-[Tessa] Okay, ladies.

Okay.

-[overlapping chatter] -Bye.

-[Tessa] Okay [sighs heavily] Enjoy bottomless brunch.

Okay.

[sighs heavily] That went well.

[Tessa] What was I supposed to do?

Get your head back in the game.

My head is in the game.

Do you want to lose your job?

Because people are just lining up to hire paraplegics with attitude problems.

I'm not a paraplegic.

[laughing] And I'm not gonna lose my job.

There she is... good.

Get your s** together.

I'm not a paraplegic.

And I have an article to write.

Seriously?

[library patron] Shh!

[clears throat] Can I borrow this please?

Ah, sorry.

That's a reference book.

Those have to stay in the library.

You do know I'm a patient here, right?

Well, rules are rules.

There's a photocopier.

-[Dan] New Zealand has such a great opportunity to be-- ooh!

-Sorry.

-Hello.

-[clears throat] Are you using the photocopier?

Yeah, we are, actually.

Just doing some research into arboriculture, horticulture, and the New Zealand drug laws.

Who is that anyway?

Is that the new lady?

Yeah.

It's the new ‘in a hurry' lady.

Oh.

What's the hurry?

Work deadline.

Oh.

Hey, you should read this, actually.

It's fascinating stuff.

Yeah.

Did you hear me?

-I - I have a work dead- -[Dan] Oh!

-What are you doing?

-Just... wait, just... Hold still, I'll put your leg back.

Put my leg back.

But where is it?

What's going on?

-[Dan] Oh God.

-Oh s**!

S**!

-Look, just let me lift... Oh!

-What are you doing?

[Tessa] Why are you even here in a f**ing bed?

I have just as much right to be here as you do.

Well, I have a work deadline, and if I don't finish it -then I'm f**ed!

-[John] What?

What horrible, heinous thing will happen if you don't finish it?

-[sighs heavily] -[book thumps] -Erm, why are we-- where are we going?

-[shushing] -Wait.

This feels weird.

-Thank you.

Hey, seriously what are you go... okay, hey.

Excusez-moi.

-[grunts] -What the f** are you up to?

Just trialling my new therapy centre.

[Todd] Think of this as a place where you can talk about things that are... ...out of balance.

Technically we are outside of the hospital, so you can bare your soul without any repercussions.

[Todd] This is a safe place.

[quietly] Thank you, Todd.

[Todd] Now... Tessa.

Your interaction with Dan was extremely upsetting for him.

-[Dan] Yeah.

What are you talking about?

I'm sure Tessa didn't mean the things she said.

What did I say?

You humiliated Dan.

[laughing] How?

You said I shouldn't be in the library.

Well, in a massive bed.

I'm in a massive bed because I'm bed-ridden.

I've been laid up for ten weeks with a really bad pressure sore -on my bum.

-Sounds contagious.

I hear that it's healing very well.

[Dan] [sighs heavily] Not really, actually.

Look, with everything Dan is going through -at the moment the last thing... -[Tessa] I just wanted to use the photocopier.

-Ah, I have a work dead-- -Work deadline.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

We all know.

But that doesn't mean that you get to be -inconsiderate and rude.

-No.

No.

And if I had know you need the photocopier so much I would have let you have it.

I told you I needed the photocopier.

That was literally the interaction that we had.

Well, I didn't even realise how important the photocopier was to you.

-[Todd] Perhaps... ...you should do a deep dive into why you are failing... -Yeah.

-...at being honest... -Yeah.

-...about your situation.

If I actually knew what my situation was, -then maybe I could be honest... -Tell your employers, Tessa.

What is the worst that could happen?

Unemployment.

[laughs] I think that you are underestimating all of the people out there in the world.

Yeah.

Me too.

Be open and honest, Tessa.

You might be surprised.

[Dan] Honesty is the best way of doing things.

I'm going to give assessments of everybody's work in this hui today.

You have a ten out of ten.

-Tessa... -He's-- look-- ...you have a minus three.

Can I help you?

Hi.

We're looking for Edward.

He's not here.

Sorry... God bless you.

That poor old lady... -I said, he's not here.

-Eh?

What's happened?

Nothing.

It's all in there.

-Did you bring what I asked?

-Yes, babe.

Everything is in there.

-Where's Poppy?

-She's at school.

[scoffs] Why didn't you take her out?

I can't-- can't just take her out of school.

[scoffs] Why not?

She needs routine.

[Karl] Look... [sighs heavily] Babe, I'm trying.

Okay?

[exhales] Yeah, I know you are.

I just think my head is about to explode with everything.

[cellphone message alert] [wails] -Hey... -I'm trying to keep work at bay... [Karl] Yeah.

-...and I don't get to see you or Poppy, and the people... the people!

Like him, that one!

He's all God Squad!

-What the f**!

[laughs] -[Karl] Okay.

Hey.

Hey, hey, hey.

Maybe I can help.

You know, with the work thing.

-I can... -[laughs] What?

Baby, you're a really bad liar.

No.

No, I'm-- no, I'm not.

Babe... I can help.

Okay.

Can you try to stall them?

-[Karl] Yeah.

-Yeah?

Yeah.

I'm a stally guy.

Sorry.

Am I interrupting?

Yeah, actually you are.

It's time for those tests.

Want me to stay?

-No.

I'm fine.

-You sure?

Mm-hmm Oh, oh, oh [laughs] No.

Just-- just kidding, bro.

[laughs] [Dr Jerry] Second Year, can you get that bag?

Third Year, the phone please.

Thank you.

Wheel her out and lower the bed.

Thank you.

Three, two, one... We are going to be doing a lumbar puncture.

Do you know what that is?

You puncture my lumbar?

We will be inserting a needle in between your lumbar bones, in your spine.

You shouldn't feel any pain because it seems you are paralysed.

Okay... Here we go.

[exhales] Please let me know if you can feel a sharp or a dull sensation.

[Tessa] Sharp.

-Sharp.

-There?

Yeah.

Okay, and I think we're done.

So?

Let's wait for the results, and see how we go.

Wait.

That's it?

That's the usual process.

No.

[exhales] [sighs] Oh, great.

You're back.

Shh.

Day drinking?

Why am I'm not surprised?

Sober for ten years.

The drink turned me into an a**hole.

It wasn't the drink.

I'm driven to drink by the company I keep.

You and your multiple angry personalities?

Do you always have a smart-arse answer?

Do you always act like the spawn of Satan?

I just want to get drunk in peace, alright?

[Edward] Oh!

Hey, guys!

-[Edward] Hello.

-Brilliant.

What are you guys doing?

-Nothing.

-Watching this mess.

-Oh.

-What are you doing?

Practising.

[laughing] They've given me an electric chair with a mind of its own.

At least the chair has a mind of its own.

Ooh, ah.

Alcohol is not allowed on the ward.

I know.

So let's not go telling anyone.

Okay?

Oh, you wouldn't understand, because Jeso is your homeboy.

[John] Oh.

Good one, Tessa.

Maybe now you should go and find a kitten, and run it over.

Tessa, can I ask you a question?

You're going to, aren't you?

Why don't you believe in God?

Who said I didn't believe in God?

-Well, do you?

-No.

Well, to be fair, neither do I, Ed.

Let me ask you a question... How can you believe in a God when this has happened to you?

My faith is the only thing that's getting me through this.

So God breaks your neck, and you're cool with it?

Well, he has a plan for me.

He has a plan for all of us.

So, us being paralysed is part of God's plan?

Oh, that's f**ed up, Ed.

That's... That's enough, Tessa.

Look, I'm trying.

I'm still trying to figure it all out.

Well... good luck with that.

Don't you ever wish you could just figure out your own plan?

I think he's punishing me.

[general chatter] -[splash] -[girl] Edward!

[people at pool shouting] [breaths heavily] -Oh... s**.

-[Edward cries] You made him cry.

I didn't do anything.

It's what you said.

I was being honest.

His faith is all he's got.

What do you have?

-I'll come back.

-[Edward] Oh, it's-- it's fine.

I want to apologise.

Maybe dial back on some of things I said earlier.

I'm a pretty angry person.

sometimes I just let things fly out of my mouth, before I think about who it might upset, so... Sorry.

I'm not upset.

You're not?

[inhales deeply] Well... Awesome.

[laughs] God won't strike me down because I did the right thing.

See you later.

[Edward] I have had doubts before.

But I always end up back with God.

[exhales] It's called a co-dependent relationship.

Well, I hope you are happy now.

I apologised to Ed.

So... happy!

He's all yours!

-What?

-So excited!

[laughs] I'll take the baby Jesus any day!

No, but... wait, Ed... He'd asked to move rooms.

He didn't feel comfortable sharing with you.

[laughs] [laughs] [cellphone message alert] [Tessa] Jesus, Greta.

I'm sending it now for f**'s sake.

[Tessa] Oh s**.

F**, attach.

[cellphone rings] Hey, baby.

Can I call you back in a second?

[Poppy] Hi, Mum.

I miss you.

Do you miss me?

[under her breath] Oh, s**.

-S**.

-[Poppy] Mum?

Can you hear me?

Yeah.

Course I miss you.

[Poppy] You okay, Mum?

[Poppy] Mum!

Mum!

Oh, s**.

S**.

Pop?

[breathes heavily] Poppy.

Hey, baby.

I miss you.

Yo, yo, yo, Tessa.

Look who I found loitering in the TV room.

[Karl] Hey, babe, just watching the end of the game.

[laughs] -You good, man?

-[Dan] Yeah.

Nice.

Hey.

How did the, ah, how'd the tests go?

Oh, still don't know anything yet... What are you doing here?

I just... thought you looked a little bit nervous last time I saw you.

So... thought I'd come in and, ah... be some moral support.

[Dan scoffs] And they say cavalry is dead.

That's so cute, man.

[laughs] I'm just gonna close this, man.

-Yeah.

-Whoa.

Yeah.

Is that what you were...?

-[inhales deeply] Yes.

[clears throat] -Yeah, okay.

See ya.

-Good news.

-[Karl] Yeah?

I... [grunts] I finally got my work in.

-Oh, that's great.

-Mmm.

A-A-About the whole work thing... What about it?

Your boss called... -No... -Yeah.

-No, baby... -Yeah.

I did... -Mm-hmm -Please tell me you didn't.

-Please.

-I told you I'm not a very good liar.

Well, you said that.

But I was-- I-- I thought... anyway she knows.

She knows?

They know everything.

Baby, I tried.

Baby... Mm-hmm, mm-hmm Sorry.

I'm being rushed off my feet today.

[inhales deeply] Okay.

Basically, if you're not going to be walking in the next three months... ...then I don't think you'll ever walk again.

-Never again?

-Correct.

Well, how do you know?

You seem certain.

Well, we've had a few patients who have presented with similar... symptoms.

What we think you have is something called idiopathic transverse myelitis.

Which means...?

Your immune system has attacked your spine.

Oh, that doesn't make any sense.

True.

We are going to try a plasma treatment or steroids.

But at this stage I... ...don't believe that it will help.

But it might?

Why don't we try that then before we give up on everything else?

I think we can try take down your tone a few notches.

Okay, Miss Rivers?

Okay, I really have to get going.

[clears throat] I have a Body Jam class.

Well... [laughs] Do not let me keep you, Doctor.

No, I'm good.

Thanks.

[theme music playing]