All Saints

Knowing Me, Knowing You (2x34)

Uitzenddatum: Sep 21, 1999

Terri is taking personal time and Steph is looking forward to running the ward for the morning. Although she and Ben are still living separately, she is enjoying the romance of courtship all over again. The day is looking good but there are speedbumps on the highway to happiness, and her nose is soon out of joint when she finds Terri has made time to organise the ward before returning to her flat to wait for the plumber. Denise Baumann is being treated for a broken shoulder, the result of a fall. She is in her 50s and her husband, Errol, is in his 70s. The situation becomes more serious when Mitch realises there is more to Denise's condition than broken bones. He diagnoses dementia. Steph, deeply sympathetic asks Errol if here is anyone she can call. Errol admits they have a daughter, but have not seen her some time, and Steph deduces there has been a rift in the family. When Rachel, a successful business executive arrives, her antagonism towards her father only strengthens Steph's sympathy for the parents. But is dangerous to jump to conclusions. Steph discovers Errol did know of his wife's condition but kept it a secret. Rachel accuses her father of selfishness. Errol admits he deliberately hid the truth from his daughter but only because he feared she would put Denise in a home. And he is right. Now that she is aware of the circumstances it is the only option that seems to make sense to Rachel. Her father is too old and she is too busy to provide appropriate home care. Is this selfishness or common sense? The tragedy of Denise's condition is that while she is aware she has a husband and daughter, she no longer recognises them. Errol is a stranger to her and she mistakes Steph for Rachel. Steph realises assigning good guy/bad guy labels to this situation is meaningless. The most important thing is to reconcile father and daughter so they can both be there for the mother. She almost manages, but Rachel is cheated of a reconciliation when Errol quietly passes awa