On an inspection tour of the hospital, Professor Caroline Edgewater and her grand-daughter Phoebe are pleased to encounter Mitch, Caroline's former student and a friend to both of them. Mitch was a close friend of Caroline's daughter Sarah, who died of cancer when Phoebe was little and he was emotional support to all of them during the difficult months of her illness. Time and tyranny of distance have meant they have lost touch but Phoebe and Mitch quickly fall back in to their former affectionate, teasing relationship. Phoebe feels so comfortable she asks "Uncle Mitch" for a favour—will he give her a prescription for the contraceptive pill without telling her beloved Gran? Mitch—who is still slightly in awe of Caroline—finally agrees to consider doing so, But proper to reaching for his pen, he asks Phoebe some routine questions about her menstrual cycle and is disturbed enough by her answer to insist she has a full gynaecological examination before he will giver he what she wants. Phoebe reluctantly agrees—sure Mitch is being overcautious. When the routine examination shows large numbers of abnormal cells and a suspicious lump on the vaginal wall, which could be a rare form of cancer Phoebe is admitted to hospital for urgent tests under a general anaesthetic. She is initially more worried about Caroline's reaction when she finds out about Phoebe's request for the pill than she is about what the tests will show. But then Caroline becomes very concerned with what the tests might show and terrified it means that Phoebe will die of cancer like her mother Sarah.
When Phoebe learns there is a possibility she has cancer she makes Mitch promise if the tests show what she fears, he must immediately perform a full hysterectomy. Phoebe has vivid memories of her mother's death and could not bear to go through anything as painful. Scared of the nightmare Mitch has discovered, Caroline tells Phoebe to stop being silly and tired to over-rule her granddaughter's decision. She is shocked when Phoebe tells her to get out if she can't stop trying to run her life and even more stunned when Mitch stands up to her, on Phoebe's behalf. He also tells her to stop feeling responsible because for something she has no control over and concentrate on helping Phoebe. But Mitch is stunned to learn Caroline feels responsible because she is responsible: when pregnant with Sarah, she took DES, a drug that was then fashionable as the pregnancy vitamin and believed to prevent miscarriage. Subsequently it was discover DES did not make any difference to the outcome of a pregnancy and to also cause deformity and abnormality in the affected babies. Sarah's cancer was one consequence of Caroline's use of DES and she now has to come to terms with the fact the abnormalities have also shown up in the next generation—Phoebe.
Bron is exhausted after an all night agency-nursing shift in Emergency. She sweet talks her ambo colleague Mick into swapping shifts with her, But instead of sleeping, she hits the shops looking for a dress for the upcoming hospital fundraising ball. Meanwhile Mick and Ben respond to a call and interrupt an assault in progress. Thinking they have saved a young teenager, Cameron, from being mugged for his fancy running shows, Mick stands up to his attacked. Then he discovers that far form being an innocent victim, Cameron is dealing heroin and has a large sum of money hidden in his shoes. As a new father, Mick's views on "drug-dealing scum" are pretty headline and he has a confrontation with Cameron's attacker Jack when he turns up at the hospital, looking for the money. Mick is happy to tell Jack Cameron is telling the police everything he knows. Jack swears vengeance but Mick assumes the threats are only hot air.
But later, Bron is shocked to see a car pull up, several thugs leap up and start beating Mick to a pulp with baseball bats. Bron feels totally responsible for what has happened, especially when she learns Mick's spinal cord has been severed and he will be paralysed for life
Stan Ridgeway's mother is admitted through Emergency with a fractured hip. Determined to impress Stan, Luke orders every test and scan he can think of, while trying to organise surgery for her as soon as possible To his bewilderment, Betty starts throwing mysterious fevers and bouts of confusion. Luke responds by ordering all the scans and tests be repeated. When she there is still no clear-cut answer and the diagnostic picture is totally clouded, Luke finally realises—with a little help from Von—perhaps the tests themselves are the problem. Suspecting Betty has an adverse reaction to the contrast medium used for the scans, he suspends all treatment, despite Stan's concerns. These concerns are only allayed when Betty starts to improve and eventually Luke enjoys Stan's praise for a job well done.
The brother of one of Connor's patients is a constant visitor on the Ward who gives the impression that he is a nurse and is only too willing to help Connor out with his workload. Malcolm means well but his interference gets up everyone's nose and endangers the welfare of the patients. Connor finds it more and more difficult just to be polite. He and Jared try to find a way to get Malcolm out of the way but it is left to Regina to come up with an ingenious solution.
Terri is too proud to admit her reluctance to go to the ball is because she has nothing she wants to wear. Von guesses her dilemma and so when a very beautiful dress is delivered. Terri assumes it is a gift from Von. Von denies it but persuades Terri to accept the gift since whomever it is from only wants to give Terri please, so why spoil the fun?
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