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The characters, places and situations of Doc Martin, are owned by Buffalo Pictures. This story makes no claim of remuneration or ownership, nor do I make any attempt to infringe upon any rights of the owners or producers.
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I knew the villagers were Bodmin, and I feared what bizarre and stupid things they would say, or do, or act out.
Bert Large laughed in spite of my shouting. "Doc! It's proper! No need to yell at us! We come to help!"
Louisa stood and stared at her friends and neighbors as the door swung open and even more people came in. I turned towards her and shook my head. "These are the people who will be offering comment?"
Al Large stepped forward. "No, no Doc! It's not like that at all!"
"Well, what is it like, Al?" Louisa asked him. "This is a private proceeding!" Her hands waved in the air. "Just - just get out! All of you!" she almost sobbed.
"Look, Louisa," Bert soothed, "we're here to help."
Penhale turned and started barking out orders. "Now! You lot have a seat and behave yourselves. Sorry Louisa, Doctor Ellingham… you see when I sorta…" he started blinking rapidly, "sorta mentioned…"
Louisa shouted back. "So you've been blabbing all over the village what's been going on?"
"Well, no, it's not like that at all," Joe answered. "I mean… some might think it is… but it's… sorry, Doc. Sorry Louisa. Maybe it is like that." Mercifully he shut up when it penetrated through his thick brain what he was saying. "Sorry…"
"Who are these people?" demanded Dr. Waters.
"Welcome to Portwenn, Dr. Waters," I told him. "This rabble seems to be my cheering section."
Bert laughed. "Like I said, Doc, we're here to help!"
"Great," I said. 'Wonderful."
Chris banged on the table with his fist until he got the crowd's attention. "Just sit down! All of you!"
I looked at Louisa. "This might not go very well," I sighed. She only pursed her lips and winced, then slowly sat with as much dignity as she could muster. I followed suit and miraculously the citizens of Portwenn did too.
Waters then spoke up. "Ellingham, tell us what happened."
I repeated the report of the first visit from Edith to my surgery. She was making sexual demands and was clearly inebriated. When she collapsed I ensured she was unharmed and then tucked her back into her car.
"And how did the local police get informed of this incident, that is, she was in her car?" Dr. Smythe asked.
"I…" taking a deep breath, I said, "I called Constable Penhale on the phone."
"Did you identify yourself?" he asked next.
"No." I cast a quick look at Louisa and she was clearly trying to remain calm and appear to be unmoved.
"Why not?" Smythe went on. "Seems to me you might have wanted documentary evidence."
I froze thinking how best to reply.
"Dr. Ellingham?" Waters intruded in my thoughts.
I looked over at Louisa and she was now staring at me. "I was embarrassed - not only by her arrival - but also…"
"You had previous relationship - a personal one?" Graves interrupted.
I looked at Louisa and she nodded at me. "Yes. In medical school," I went on. "And but for a chance encounter in a hotel in London a few months ago, when I was staying there with Miss Glasson, I had neither seen nor thought of the woman for over fifteen years."
There was a quiet gasp behind me and I could tell it came from Mrs. Tishell.
Louisa touched my elbow and it struck me that not only was this public (for it would become so as soon as the crowd dispersed and started to blab) spectacle one that would injure me, it would also wound and worry Louisa. I sighed.
"Something else you want to say, Ellingham?" Waters asked.
I heard the door open again and looking back, I saw Auntie Joan enter, her face filled with concern. I stood up. "There is."
"Go on."
I reached out and took Louisa's fingers. "This matter was started by a chance encounter, fed then by jealousy, and eventually became an obsession. I have had not a chance to examine Dr. Montgomery up close, nor question her in detail, but I am fairly certain that she is suffering from de Clérambault's syndrome and that has been fueled by substance abuse." I straightened my shoulders and felt Louisa grip my hand tightly. "I have done wrong. I should have restrained the woman when she arrived at the surgery and called for an ambulance. I did not and I regret the actions that I did take. As I said I was embarrassed by her arrival and feared the worst. Now I know that in exchange a momentary humiliation has been traded for weeks of gossip, innuendo, and a whispering campaign."
"Now, there are those in this room, village, or county who do not like me, and they will be quite happy to relish any discomfort that has been visited upon me and Louisa Glasson. But I am stronger than they imagine. To those who do not care for me, I say, fine - think what you will. What you think of me does not matter. But what I do care about is continuing to provide medical care for this village and surroundings. I will not be the only GP to work here - many have come before and many will come after - but each and every one of us is entitled to a consistent and competent method of medical care. The people sitting behind me and those outside these walls are sick with any number of chronic or emergent diseases and conditions, and now this matter will have planted a question into their heads. Will they now trust that tosser Martin Ellingham? Or will they continue to use home remedies that went out of mode in the Dark Ages? Those people are now my concern. If that is the case, I have failed my current and future patients if they do not trust me enough to enter my consulting room. I have failed them and broken their trust and I am very sorry for that damage. Would that I could go back in time and undo the damage I have caused."
I glanced down at Louisa and she rose to more firmly take my hand. "I made a mistake and I regret it," I told them, "and now I am prepared to accept your findings and any judgment or punishment that you may decide."
Surprisingly the examiners were nodding their heads and there was no sound from the multitude behind me. But then Bert Large muttered a "hear, hear," and the room erupted into applause and cheers.
"God," I groaned as I sat back down.
Louisa looked down at me and smiled. Her pretty mouth shaped the words you did fine.
I sighed hoping to God it was true.
