All language subtitles for Best.Interests.S01E02.WEB

This programme contains some scenes
which some viewers may find
upsetting, and some strong language.

I think you should prepare
yourselves for the possibility

that Marnie's life
will not be a full one.

I think there might be
something wrong.

She's deteriorating rapidly.

Marnie's had a cardiac arrest.

As a result of this
she might have some brain damage.

Does Marnie get prescribed diazepam?

Hannah, don't be suggesting...

I'm just joking. Maybe.

Is she going to die, Dad?

She's been dying for a long time.

The hospital said that they want
to stop treatment.

They don't get to decide
what to do.

She's our child.

Promise me
that you will fight for her.

I will fight
with everything I've got.

I went to the supermarket,

and I bought

a potato,

a banana,

a remote-control car...

..a packet of crisps

and...

..a fishing rod.

A fishing rod! I like that.

OK, George. Hit us with it.

I went to the supermarket

and I bought a potato,

er, a banana...

..er, a remote-control car,

a packet of crisps,

oh, a fishing rod,

erm,

and a...

..packet of condoms.

LAUGHTER

OK, George. Keep it clean!

Condoms are clean.

Let's change that for a packet
of balloons, please.

A packet of balloons.

He's a terror.

He's pretty funny, though.

Mm, he thinks he's funnier
than he is!

I don't know.

A solid gag merchant, I'd say.

He, er...

He wants to ask her out.

What?

Your Marnie.

He wants to ask her
out to the cinema. Oh, OK.

Well, she doesn't really talk
about boys, I'm afraid.

Well,
he doesn't stop talking about her.

"There's this girl in class.
She's really fit..."

Ahh, that's nice.

So you wouldn't mind, then,
if he did ask her?

I think they're a bit young,
you know?

How long's yours got?

Just let them live while they can,
that's always been my motto.

Well, I'd like her to just
be 11...

Please.

I think he needs it.

And I think she'd like it too.

Good morning to you.

Morning.

Good morning, Marnie.

Well, good.

Everything is entirely as expected.

I will see you again.

We'll be here.

Charlie is a 14-year-old boy.
Hello, Charlie.

This is day 18 of his admission.

His problems include
raised intracranial pressure,

haemodynamic instability
and electrolyte imbalance.

CTs?

His last CT was concerning,

and his MRI shows severe
diffuse axonal injury.

Next steps?

He's unresponsive.

Dr Maseley and I are discussing
next steps with his family.

Last, we have Elena.

She's six years old.

She came in two weeks ago
with a chest infection

and needed to be intubated, but she
has responded well to antibiotics.

Hello, Elena.

I'm going to put my cold
hand on your belly,

and let's see if it makes you jump.

No jumping, very impressive!

Sit up for me gently.
Thank you, my darling.

We're here to consider
the benefit,

burden, welfare

and best interests of the patient.

Samantha,
Marnie Lloyd is your patient.

Shall we start with quality of
life? Thank you.

Marnie has a rare form of
congenital muscular dystrophy

with an atypical profile.

She has been with us for eight weeks
this time, following a lower

respiratory tract infection,

complicated by a pneumothorax
and prolonged hypoxic arrest.

What about since
this last admission?

She has hypoxic ischaemic
brain damage

as a consequence of her
cardiac arrest.

She has severe
neurological impairment

and we can't wean
her off the ventilator.

So is it possible to make an
assessment of her quality of life?

Well, she can't communicate,

she has no awareness
of her surroundings,

and, though potentially she might
feel pain and discomfort,

she is largely unresponsive,

other than withdrawal
from painful stimuli.

I'd agree with that.

And what about this
possibility of a tracheostomy?

In my...opinion,

any treatment we give her,

she is not going to leave
the hospital again.

But I think it's worth saying
that the parents are desperate

for us to give it a try.

She is a kind girl,

always funny,
always a joy to be around, but

if we could help her -
really help her -

we would.

But we can't.

Can we? Mercy?

It's beyond my paygrade, I think.

What does that mean?

Er, how much time have we... Sorry.

..given Marnie and the family
to make this decision?

Um, we had the first conversation
eight weeks ago

when she was admitted.

Since then she had her
cardiac arrest

and is showing no signs
of neurological improvement.

And the parents are firmly opposed
to any cessation of treatment?

Yes.

These are impossible
decisions for parents to make.

It's a simple question, but one of
the most important ones in medicine.

Is it in Marnie's best interests

to continue ventilation...or not?

MUSIC PLAYS

SWITCHES MUSIC OFF

Hi. Hey.

I haven't brushed my teeth.

And yet you smell of nectarines.

Come on.

Yeah.

Thanks.

Hey.

Coffee?

Ah, no, I'm fine.

Have a seat, please.

So, the hospital ethics
committee have met.

Sounds suspiciously cultish.

Oh! Yes, it does sound like
that, doesn't it?

Their guidance, to me,
was that they support

my clinical judgment.

Right. Well, that's not a surprise.

Marnie's not responding in a way

that suggests
any conscious experience.

In your opinion.
That's medical science, I'm...

And is it medical science
that brains can't recover?

There is always
a possibility for improvement,

but in this case
it's severely unlikely.

Marnie...has broken those odds

every year of her life.

She has shown clear movement...

I'm afraid that we haven't
observed any for a while.

Well, I have seen movement.

When we played her music recently
she showed...

Her heart rate slowed...

Relaxing Classics on Spotify.

We're not sure what might have
prompted that,

but we have seen it in other
patients in similar conditions.

As to what you observed, that was
likely an involuntary reflex.

Certainly we have seen
nothing like it since.

Nicci, Andrew,

I care for Marnie very much,
but, well...

..are you still in disagreement
with the decision? Yes.

So that means that the hospital

would like to suggest that this now
goes to a mediation process.

An independent mediator
will be appointed

and we can take it from there.

Will a mediator
make you change your mind?

It's useful in challenging
how everyone's thinking.

The mediator has no stakes in this
case and is more likely to...

Will it lead to you
deciding to keep our daughter alive?

I believe that I have made
the right clinical decision,

but mediators have highlighted
mistakes in process.

Process, so not end result.

So, no, it won't.

Your ethics committee are wrong.

You are wrong, and I have
no interest in any of this.

I'll see what I can do.

Fuck!

Samantha, I've got an update
for you...

Please don't say anything.

I always love the pre-emptive
putsch in an argument.

You said nothing in the room.

Because you were breathing in
all available oxygen.

She's always been a thorough
and kind doctor.

Yeah.

And you've always fancied her.

Oh, come on!

Just don't make me
the unreasonable one.

OK? You do that and I hate it,
so don't do it.

MUSIC PLAYS

I'm putting on Radio 4.

FRONT DOOR OPENS

Hi! Hi.

Hey. Hey! I didn't know
if you guys wanted dinner.

I cooked pasta.

You cooked pasta?!

Dad, I already don't like
your tone of voice.

It's just pasta. Mwah!

Oooh. It has bacon in it!

I've cooked before.
Don't make this weird.

I think we've some garlic bread
in the freezer.

I'm going to have...

..bacon pasta

with melted cheese and garlic bread.

I'm going to go for a shower.

What do I wear
to this thing tonight?

Oh, not your slinky
black number again.

Poor headmaster
didn't know where to look.

And the deputy head did know,
and really shouldn't have.

Wear your green dress.

Yeah.

Yeah, OK. Thanks.

Mmmm!

Er... It's bad news
from the hospital.

They've decided that, um...

..they've backed her.

They want it over.

I want to wear my orange top.

All right. This one? Yeah.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. OK.

With the jeans with the pockets.
Mm-hm.

And my Doc Martens.

The red ones!

Oh. Good idea.

OK.

And I, um...

..I'd like to wear some make-up.

Oh!

OK... What were you thinking?

Smoky eyes, like Elicia Shadow.

Who's Elicia Shadow?

Look.

Hi, guys! It's Elicia Shadow,

and welcome back to my channel.

So, in today's video,

I'm going to be showing
you how to get... Oh!

Who are you watching these with?
Katie.

Doesn't it look great?

Yeah. Yeah. Um...

Look. I tell you what.
I'll make a deal with you.

I will put everything
you want on your face.

But then, you know, at the end,

if one of us decides, you know,
less is more,

I'm allowed to just wipe
it all off.

OK.

OK.

And I get a veto. OK.

POP MUSIC PLAYS

# Can't stop it
Move your head

# To the beat

# Come along, tap your feet

# We delight, come alive

# Want it, got it, no, can't stop it

# Move your head to the beat

# Come along, tap your feet

# Tap tap

# Beat, tap

# Beat beat, tap

# Beat beat, come along and tap

# Beat beat

# Tap beat beat tap

# Beat beat, come along and tap

# Tap, beat beat

# Beat beat

# Beat beat, come along
and tap tap. #

OK. Do you want to have a look?

OK.

Hey...

Hey, don't. Please don't cry.

Don't cry.

You'll ruin your make-up.

Please don't use your veto.

I won't.

SHOWER RUNS

Nicci?

Just a minute.

Let's try and put on a show.
For Katie.

If we can.

Yeah.

Agreed.

You've still got your socks on.

Why are you being weird?

It's going to be shit.

Do you not think I know that?

So, did you bring them?

Yeah.

I thought the idea was we'd, um...

..like, do it together?

Yeah, and we will.

Play well, OK?

Oh, my God.

That smell takes you back,
doesn't it? What is it?

Odour de School.

Cabbage, corned beef
and confused hand jobs.

Deputy head's spotted you.

You should just wear
a brown paper bag.

It's the only way to contain
the man!

Hey! Hi! You came!

Yeah, well, Hannah sort of insisted
that we, er...

Oh, yeah. Nice.
Not humiliating at all.

I think she misses the place,
you know.

Ex-queen bee round here.

Well, I mean, it's a big do.

The thing to look out for is if
Mr Glenny comes onstage

eating Maltesers before he conducts.

Ah, so if he does... He's drunk.

Yeah. Oh, that's clever, really,

because Polo mints you'd
sort of guess, wouldn't you?

But Maltesers is much more subtle.

I like it. I do.

ORCHESTRA TUNES UP

It's on silent, yeah? Yeah.

APPLAUSE

ORCHESTRA PLAYS

PHONE BUZZES

Give me the car keys.
Give me the car keys!

Or you come.

BEEPING

Marnie, you're OK.

Turn the oxygen up.

We're here, Marnie.

Can we have some diazepam?
Thank you.

OK. Five milligrams in.

OK.

It's OK.

Saturation is 100.

Ready for the big date?
Looking good!

The make-up? YouTube.

OK.

A few things we need to discuss.

First things first, boys smell.

Thank you, Dad.

Secondly, they're mean...

No, they're not!

And third thing, I wash regularly...

He doesn't. I'm not mean, and I will
need reassurance at all times

that I am the most important
boy in your life.

OK, Dad.

OK. Now, is that a yes? Yes!

OK, then I can start the car.

See? Simple as that.
You ready ready?

They can't sit together, I'm afraid.

But that's ridiculous!

It's company policy.

Then you need to change something.

How hard is it to remove
one of these seats?

I don't have the authorisation.

Yeah, well, we can do it.

Looks like a screwdriver job.
Have you got a screwdriver?

She's actually pretty good at DIY.
Dad.

We...we don't mind.

We don't mind.

Dad.

Please.

Yes! Get in!

Sorry, can I...?
Who's in charge now?

All hail my son Emperor Nero!

Nero! Nero! Nero!

You know, I took a girl on a date
once to see The Remains Of The Day.

She kept trying to kiss me.

But the film was too good.

What? You just cut her dead?

No, I asked her on a date again.

This time I took her to
Schindler's List.

I never really thought through
the whole cinema date game.

This is nice.

PHONE RINGS

It's Mercy.

She's stable.

What was it?

A seizure. A bad one.

So now her brain...? Jesus.
What? How did... How...

It's likely because of the hypoxia
and the extent of the brain damage.

So will this happen more often now?

We're just cleaning her up.

You'll be able to see her soon.

Hi. Hello.

We're here, Marnie.

Hey.

You gave us a real fright there.

Can you squeeze my hand, honey?

Marnie,
will you give my hand a squeeze?

Do you want to read some
Adrian Mole?

I think I can feel her smiling.

You know, just in her eyes a bit.

OK.

All right.

"Friday, February 12th.

"I'm not sure how I will vote.

"Sometimes I think Mrs Thatcher
is a nice, kind sort of woman..."

It's not too old for her, no? No.

"Then the next day
I see her on television

"and she frightens me rigid.

"She's got eyes
like a psychotic killer,

"but a voice like a gentle person.
It is a bit confusing."

No, your embouchure's all wrong.

My embouchure? God, get you!

Um, put your lips together.

What, like a fish? No.

Make an "emmmm" noise.

Emmmm.

You're being a dick.

OK, no. Emm.

And then you sort of stuff your lips
inside the inner rim.

Hmm. Now where have
I heard that before?

You're allowed to be pissed off
with them, for missing your show.

Yeah.

I'm fine.

Let's go up to my room.

Well, I do prefer your room.

MUSIC PLAYS FROM UPSTAIRS

HE SIGHS

MOVEMENT UPSTAIRS

Oh... Oh, hi. I wasn't expecting...

Er, yeah. I thought I should stay.

You know, she's a bit worried,
you know?

It's kind.

It's kind of you.

Is she...

Marnie, I mean?

Er...

A seizure.

Can I give you a lift home,
or are you staying, or...?

I'm sorry, I feel like I should be
giving you a hug or something,

but that would probably be
a bit weird.

I'm OK, Hannah.

You know, or weed?
I've got some weed.

And don't pretend you don't smoke,
because, you know, I have nostrils.

And it's probably better than
that shit you get.

Yeah, well.
I doubt that very much.

Um, is Katie OK?

Because she doesn't
want to come to the hospital.

No, she's fine.

Strong.

Look, it's a nice night.

You know, I can walk home.

OK.

DOOR CLOSES

KNOCK ON DOOR

Ah, sorry.

I just didn't want you waking
and not knowing.

She's OK.

Good.

Gutted to miss your gig.

It was one of our best. Oh.

Rub it in, why don't you?

He got through
three packets of Maltesers.

Jesus. That good! Yeah.

Hannah got you home OK?
She just left.

Oh.

Yeah.

Nice girl.

I think.

Bit strange.

Not that strange.

She just doesn't have anyone
her own age to hang around with.

You were always kind
to waifs and strays.

And half-eaten birds.

Didn't you bring home a worm once?
Yeah, it was dying.

I'm pretty sure
worms are invincible.

There are some nights

I just want to curl up in here

and sleep on your rug.

You could sleep on the rug,
if you like.

No...

No, my back wouldn't take it.

Hmmm.

Goodnight, sleep tight.

And I'll see you in the morning.

I love you, I love you, I love you.
I love you too.

Thanks for arranging to see me.
She'll be home in a minute.

She sleeps at the hospital
sometimes.

Ah, yes.

Happens a lot in PICU.

Lines of parents, staring off
into the middle distance

beside them little beds... Hi!

Ah!

I hadn't forgotten.

Hi. Sorry. She had a bit of a...

She had a bit of a turn last night.
Did Andrew tell you?

Shall we fix this for another time?

No, it's fine. I've slept.

I haven't washed, but...

As long as you can handle a bit of
body odour, I'd rather get it done.

Orange juice? Coffee? Tea?
Ah, yes, all of it.

Toast. Gotcha.

Do you mind if I faff around
a bit while you're, um...?

No, not at all.

Now, there are a lot
of misapprehensions about mediation.

I think of it as a chance
to get an understanding

of everyone's position because
in clinical environments...

Yeah, I had arbitration at my old
job, when Marnie was born.

I had to take a bunch of time off

and so they called me in to
resolve the matter.

This isn't arbitration...

So I sat opposite
while they lied about, you know,

what I'd done,
how often I'd come in.

I tried to do my best by them,
but they just couldn't see it.

All they could see was how
I affected them.

So we left.
We just lost the money.

Um, you know, I wasn't going to sit
there and defend myself.

They were arseholes.

But, you know, Harriet isn't one,
and nor is Samantha.

Do doctors ever change their minds?

We will be examining every aspect
of the process, to work out...

Yeah, but do you look at...
do you look at the decision?

Do you look at the decision that
that ethics committee made?

We weren't even in the room for any
of that. Nicci, that's not fair.

They've talked to us.
They haven't!

They haven't. They told us!

I wonder if it would be helpful...

It seems to me that
this whole process

is about...about making me OK...

Us. ..with your decision,
and that's just...

Do you understand? That's... I'm not
going to be tricked like that again.

Well, I think she liked us.

I think she wants to
move in, to be honest.

I'm off to Tom's for lunch.

If you fancy it? It's his birthday,
you know. He'd love to see you.

He would resent every second
I was there.

He only wants to see you.

OK, shall I stay, then?

I mean, we've got
a lot to talk about.

Will we just...?

Will we just talk when you're back?

I need to think.

So you are thinking, then?

What the fuck
is that supposed to mean?

I think I should stay.

We'll talk when you're back.

It's only me!

Oh!

Letters on the mat again.

I open the important ones,
don't worry.

Happy birthday!

One from Katie.

One from me.

Ah. OK...

Ah, well...

THEY CHUCKLE

OK.

HE MUTTERS

Time for lunch.

You're looking healthier.

Weetabix.

Is that it?

I shit every morning at 8am now.

Were you not regular before?

Definitely not.

Oh. That's great news.

Fish and chips?

Only if you promise to keep
talking about your bowel movements.

Thank you.

You remember when your mum died,

how...Dad fussed about?

Five minutes after she'd gone

he was starting to prepare
her funeral,

who'd say what.

He wanted you to read that
Kipling poem.

Yeah, well, you know...

She wasn't my mum.

But she really liked you.
And Kipling's a racist.

Anyway,

my point is...

..then Dad died...

..and neither of us did anything,

organised anything.

And the funeral was shit,
I remember.

Your fault.

Never been good at...

..doing something
I don't want to do.

You're not dying, are you? No.

No. If you died I'd probably
kill myself.

No, you wouldn't.

I said probably.

Marnie is very sick.

Why are these chips so good?

Lard.

They tried to ban me from here.

I threatened a man. But I said
sorry because of the chips.

Well, they are that good.

Hey.

I think Samantha's still here.

We could hunt her down together?

I just wanted some time
alone with Marnie.

Sure.

I put a playlist
together for your birth.

Did you know that?

I bought some...

..mini battery-powered speakers.

Plugged them in.

The tune as you were born,

um...

..Your Star Will Shine
by the Stone Roses.

It was beautiful.

# Your star will shine again

# One day

# Through deep blue velvet skies

# Shine for all the world to see

# The universe in your eyes

# When the storm outside is raging

# And the dogs, they howl your name

# Lay down, sleep, I'll kiss you

# Your star will...

# ..shine again. #

HE SOBS

Hi, it's me.

I've been trying to call you.

Tom said you left ages ago.

You went and had a drink?

Well, I didn't know you were
expecting me back.

We've got a visitor.

Hello. Hello.

My name is Brenda Haskins.

I am here on behalf
of Every Christian Life.

Oh.

Who? We're here to help.

We've been lied to.

It, um, it costs anywhere between
£250,000 to £500,000 a year

to keep a child in paediatric
intensive care.

You think this is financial?

Well, they've denied a tracheostomy.

And the NHS,
and it's not entirely their fault,

they've had to ration,
and in this cruel world of ours,

the seriously ill are disposed of.

Your daughter's life is sacred.

Medical science has no right
to decide whether she live or die.

This is eugenics
and it can't happen.

We can raise the resources
to fight this case

and we can raise
the resources to help her.

Help her?

Financial and legal help
to win the case.

It's a case now.

And, once we've won,

get access to the drugs and
treatments that she's been denied.

There's so much that's possible now.

Vamorolone, risdiplam is having good
results with kids with SMA -

it could... It's...

I mean, you see what this
could mean for us?

Out of interest,
how did you find us?

That's your question?
They contacted me,

and I was interested
in saving our daughter's life.

Look, I've taken
everything in that you've said,

Brenda, and I'm really grateful
for your help,

but I think Andrew and I need to...

Yeah, absolutely. Of course.

Um, listen, let me give you my card.

Um, there's people
from all professions

that are ready to talk
when you're ready.

What's your profession?

I used to work in PR for the charity
but I now run the outreach arm.

I'm not hiding anything from you,
Andrew.

No pressure.

But the help is there
if you'll take it.

And call any time as well.

I'm famous for never
turning my phone off.

OK. Um, I'll show you out.

Yeah, thank you.

That's great. Thanks.

Where did you park?
Are you out in the street?

Yeah, just outside.
OK, all right.

Thank you so much.

I think for Marnie's sake
we should at least consider it.

Pro-lifers. Oh, great.

So you've just jumped to...
I'm going to google them.
Yeah, google them!

I'm sure that'll
confirm your every prejudice.

Prejudice?
What, we're anti-abortion now?

No! Pro-Marnie.

We're pro anything
that is going to help her.

Is Katie upstairs?
Yeah, I think so.

OK. Let's talk outside, shall we?
What? In the garden.

Outs...

Well, no, let's go for a walk. OK.

You know the hospital's only going
to go along with mediation.

We don't have to agree with
Every Christian Life on everything.

I came home today ready to say...

I came home...

I think we should consider it.

Consider ending it, the treatment.

For her sake.

We knew right from the start,
there was going to come a point...

Yeah. ..when we'd have to decide...

Yeah. We did. But that isn't...

This is not that point.

The doctors are advising...

Two months ago, she was smiling.

She was looking out her bedroom
window at the birds.

We were there, OK?

The robin was back
and she was delighted.

And that was two months ago,
you know?

She's brain damaged.

She's having bloody seizures.

It's not always going to be like
that.

You know they can stabilise her.

The seizures, they can help.

The brain, you know,
can repair itself.

She'll be back
looking at birds again!

We were told... We were told
as soon as she was diagnosed...

What do you mean, diagnosed?

We don't even know exactly
what's wrong with her!

We were told her condition
is progressive without cure.

And she's beaten the odds
every time.

OK? When she was seven
and the doctor told us

that she was going to, you know...
that she'd be better off dead...

..we said no!

She's done remarkably well.
You've done remarkably well.

Yeah, when she was nine years old
and that fucker said

she wouldn't smile or laugh again,
we said no, and she did smile.

And she did laugh.

You asked me once to make sure that
you weren't one of those mothers.

One of those who asks
to keep their child alive...

No. Don't... One of those that was
blind to the pain of her child.

No! You don't do that.

..and just wants to cling to...
They say she's in pain!

They say she's in a lot of pain.
She is still your child!

Yes! Yes, she is!

Yes, she is.

I knew you were feeling like this.

You know that? I could feel it.

Oh, so why did you make it
so difficult, then?

What? You think this should be easy?

This isn't about us deciding
if a doctor is right or not.

This is about deciding
if our child should die.

Fuck off!

You know what the trouble is?

The trouble is, you've always...

You've always wanted her dead.

You know? If you're honest.

You never wanted her,
and then she came out damaged.

Please don't say that. No.

I've been fighting for her
all my life.

Just me.

Not you.

Me! That's just not true.

Well, prove it, then, you fucker.

Prove it and just stand with me.

Dad?

Dad, what are you doing?

I'm going to stay at Tom's
for a bit.

Why?

Er...

I can't explain. Not right now.

No, Dad. Don't go.
Don't leave me here.

Please don't. Come with me, then!

What? No. Then she'll be on her own.

She can't have me in the house,
and I can't be in the house.

But that doesn't mean
I don't love her, or you,

or Marnie, OK?

Dad!

Dad, don't be a coward. Dad!

This isn't fucking cowardice.

I'm sorry, but it's not.

I love you.
I'll be back soon.

DOOR SLAMS

Hi.

Hi.

Sorry to, er...

..barge in.

Um...

So, there's something
we need to tell you.

It's a bit difficult.

Um...

You know George has been sick.

Is he OK?

It was very sudden, honey.

They decided to...

Yeah, he passed away.

I'm so sorry, love.

Does that mean he's dead?

Yeah.

But we were just talking.

I know.

I know.

Was he in pain?

No, the doctors were
looking after him.

Am I going to die?

Um...

Well, everyone's going to die.

You remember
when Grandpa passed away.

Am I going to die soon?

We don't think so.

Dad.

There's a chance.

Andrew.

There's a chance that you might
die sooner than some.

I'm really sorry about that.

I don't want to die.

Oh, sweetheart.

Hi.

It's been a while.

It's been one year,

three months,
two weeks and a day.

I just wanted to, er...

I needed to...
Now you need me.

You'd better come in.

I've started volunteering
down at Happy Smiles.

Haven't seen your Marnie there.

Yeah, she's had a tough few months.

Poor thing.

The doctors want to
turn off the machines.

Ah.

Biscuits?

How did you do it?

Do what? Agree to it?

Yeah, I mean, how did you...
how did you know?

What's happened to her?

Some respiratory issues.

Some things - heart, bit of brain...

..mainly respiratory.

They won't fit her
with a trachy, so...

George made me promise
I wouldn't let him have a trachy.

What?

He saw some kid with one.

Said he looked like a supervillain.

So you talked to him about...
Death?

Yeah. Always.

He started it.

Was obsessed by the idea.

And I can't do lying, so...

I always avoided it with Marnie.

I just never could...

She tried to bring it up
a few times, but I could never...

That's OK.

When Georgie had
what was his last seizure...

..they told me it was unlikely
he'd be able to communicate again.

But...

I put on some telly he liked -

The Worst Witch...

..and he squeezed my hand.

He did.

But they convinced me,

convinced me...

..that he was just in too much pain.

It's all right.

So...

Can you still see her?

That's the question.

People hate disabled people.

Sometimes I think
they'd kill them all.

But we know.

We know what life looks like.

And if we don't?

Oh, you do, love.

You do.

Morning, Nicci! Oh, thanks, love.

Morning, my love.

Did you have any dreams?

There you are.

There we go.

Have I understood right, that
you've refused to attend mediation?

Yeah.

They're not going to change their
mind, so there's nothing to say.

OK.

That means this
is going to go to court.

The hospital don't have your support
in their decision.

They've tried and failed to mediate,

so they'll need legal backing
for their decision, otherwise...

..it can get messy for them
down the line.

Right.

Well, let's do it. Um...

I've got all of Marnie's...

I've got everything.

Here's her red book... Whoa, whoa.

You need to understand
what we're facing here.

Have you ever been
to court before, Nicci?

Er, yeah.

Yeah, my dad. When he was mugged.

He's a taxi driver.

A best interests case
will be different

from what your dad
encountered there.

There'll be at least three
lawyers in front of the judge.

One, who'll be representing you,

two, the hospital's barrister,

and three, a barrister
specifically appointed

to represent Marnie's
best interests.

Someone's representing Marnie?

It's the way it's done.

You need to understand,

it'll be very convoluted and...

..the odds are against us.

Yeah, well...

..just tell me we might win.

That's all I need to know.

Charlotte Wyatt.

The judge actually, um, actually
decided for the doctors,

but in the time it took
for the case to be heard,

she'd improved so markedly,

the hospital had to ask him
to revoke his judgment.

And Ashya King.

Not technically best interests.
His parents removed him

against doctors' orders to get some
experimental proton beam therapy.

They were jailed,
but the judge subsequently ruled

that the parents should be allowed
to take him to Europe.

He got the proton beam therapy.

He lives.

And then there's Tafida Raqueeb.

The doctors thought she'd be on a
ventilator for the rest of her life.

She went to Italy, and last year
she came off life support.

That's three.

Out of how many?

It's possible.

That's all you need to know.

It's possible to fight the notion
that you have to surrender

parental responsibility

as soon as your child crosses
the threshold

of a hospital for treatment.

And we're going to have to use
everything at our disposal,

but this is going to be a fight,
Nicci.

We need funds to help Fred -
that takes public support.

We need pressure
in and out of the courtroom -

that takes public support.

That means you, Nicci.

You're going to be
at the front and centre.

The mother that doesn't want
her child killed.

Press and social media
are going to be our best weapon.

Are you ready for that?

I'm, er...

I'm pro a woman's right to choose.

I mean abortion.

I think you should know that.

All we want is
to save Marnie's life.

OK?

Then, yeah.

I'm ready.