S2E9 Trivia

Trivia - S2E9
On the Edge (Christmas Special 2006)

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Original Broadcast: Dec 25, 2006

The full cast was not available to do a complete series in 2006, so they decided to do a two part Christmas Special that year. This began the
routine of filming a full series every other year. Series 1 & 2 had been filmed in 2004 & 2005, this special was filmed in 2006, Series 3 in 2007,
Series 4 in 2009, Series 5 in 2011, Series 6 in 2013.

This is the only episode that starts with a scene from the middle of the story and then has a flashback to start the episode.

This is the only time we have ever seen Martin walking to Aunt Joan's farm instead of driving. He is actually walking west along the coast and
Aunt Joan's farm is east of Portwenn.

EASTER EGGS - When Martin meets Colonel Spencer on the coast path, as Martin is walking away, the Colonel grabs his chest with both
hands and lifts up. This is a callback to S1E1 when the Colonel first met Martin and Martin diagnosed him with gynecomastia. The surfer,
Ross, who was also diagnosed with the same problem, had much the same response when he saw Martin in S2E5.

ACTION MARTIN - Martin throws a lamp at Jonathan to try to end the hostage standoff, but he forgets that it is plugged into the wall.

ACTION MARTIN - Martin has to rappel down a cliff to save the baker's life and then bring him back up to the waiting ambulance.

ACTION MARTIN - Martin grabs the bag of explosives from Jonathan and flings them over the cliff.

CLOCKS - Martin is working on one of his clocks at his desk after returning from the hearing with Gavin Peters.

FOOD - Pauline is eating a donut that is perched on her finger when the baker arrives with his cut hand.

FOOD - Pauline is eating a sandwich on the front porch of the surgery after she gives Al her application to mail.

FOOD - Pauline has a plate of biscuits in her hand when Martin sends Colonel Spencer out of the surgery.

FOOD - At the Pasty Eating Competition, Martin confiscates all of the pasties because he believes they may be contaminated due to the
baker's gastrointestinal problems.

HAEMOPHOBIA - Martin gags when starting to treat Aunt Joan's gunshot to the leg.

HAEMOPHOBIA - Martin throws up after taking the knife out of Terry's arm.

HAEMOPHOBIA - Martin gags after slicing the baker's temple before inserting the drill.

INTERRUPTIONS - Martin is trying to make it up to Louisa over his accusation that she was delusional after their kiss and his admission that
he was in love with her. He gives her a birthday card and starts to ask her out to dinner when her father suddenly appears behind Martin.

INTERRUPTIONS - Louisa gives a speech about Martin potentially leaving Portwenn and concludes by saying that she wants him to stay. He
says, "Louisa..." but we can't hear the rest of the sentence because Jonathan barges into the surgery.

LOOK BACK - This is a "double look back". After Martin catches Louisa on the Platt, gives her a birthday card and then invites her to dinner,
they are interrupted by the unexpected arrival of her father. Louisa introduces the two men to each other and Martin excuses himself. As he
walks away, you can see him look back at Louisa (just above Louisa's head) and then Louisa turns her head to watch him walking away.

LOUISA STANDING UP - After meeting Louisa's father, Martin excuses himself and walks away. Her father says that he bets he's the life and
soul of the party. Louisa tell him that he's alright, he's just different.

LOUISA STANDING UP - In the meeting called by Gavin to go over the complaints received against Martin, Louisa takes issue with many of the
people who had lodged the complaints. She then tells Gavin that while she finds Dr Ellingham a bit frustrating at times, the village is very lucky
to have him.

MRS TISHELL - Martin comes in for antiseptic wipes, which haven't arrived yet. She tries to lure him upstairs with the latest issue of the MHRA
with a fascinating article on elephantiasis, a cup of tea, and biscuits (she suspects he is a hobnob sort of man). He then asks for a tube of
tolnaftate cream on his personal account. She pushes and asks if it is for athletes foot or the dhobi's itch? Through gritted teeth he says,
"Just the feet", spots Louisa walking by and says, "I'm sure I'll survive" and hurries out the door and down the street after her.

MRS TISHELL - Gavin comes into the chemist to ask Mrs Tishell about Dr Ellingham. She gushes about what a warm, caring, charming man
he is. That they are truly blessed to have such a giant of a man in their small village. That he has healing hands, big hands, big heart.

RADIOS - There is a portable radio on the counter next to the kitchen door in Aunt Joan's farmhouse.

RADIOS - Another look at the radio in Al's fixer-upper house.

RADIOS - Another look at the radio on the windowsill behind Pauline's desk.

RUDE MARTIN - While fixing the cut on the baker's hand he tells him to quit whining and then to shush.

RUDE MARTIN - He sees Gavin standing in the doorway of the consulting room and slams the door in his face.

RUDE MARTIN - Martin uses Gavin's business card to wipe bird poop off his suit jacket and then walks into the surgery and slams the door,
leaving Gavin standing on the porch.

RUDE MARTIN - Martin tells Colonel Spencer (while standing in the waiting room discussing the choughs), "Unless you have a medical
problem, please leave." (he DID say "please"!)

RUDE MARTIN - When Pauline tells Martin that she is leaving to go study nursing, he simply says, "Goodbye."

RUDE MARTIN - Gavin visits Martin in the consulting room and he is dismissive of everything he has to say. "What do you want?" "Just a
chat." "Then chat with the receptionist. I'm busy." "May I call you Martin?" "No." "I have a job to do." "So do I." "I urge you to help me to help
you." "Indeed. I'll get the door."

RUDE MARTIN - Martin directs a group of tourists off the cliff if they follow his directions.

RUDE MARTIN - Martin encounters Gavin on the street and calls him an "Untuous Platitudinizing Eunuch."

RUDE MARTIN - Martin angers the entire village by distrupting the Pasty Eating Contest and confiscating all of the pasties because he is
concerned that they might be contaminated.

RUDE MARTIN - Martin is totally dismissive and impatient at the review panel meeting.

RUDE MARTIN - While giving Terry a shot, he tells him to shut up.

Portwenn Online
A Magical Cornish Village
Doc Martin is IN

QUOTES

Martin

I thought that shooting bird watchers was generally frowned upon.

Bert
Aunt Joan

Do you want a proper job or a job done quickly?
I'm beginning to wonder if you're capable of doing either.

Colonel Spencer
Martin

Now you keep this info about the birds on the QT Ellingham. Doctor-patient confidentiality. You understand?
The birds aren't my patients.

Colonel Spencer
Aunt Joan
Colonel Spencer
Aunt Joan
Colonel Spencer

Well, a couple of warning shots across his bow should do the trick.
Like Robert Finn.
Well, uh, that was an accident.
You shot him in the back.
Yeah, bu-but it was dark. And anyway I…I uh, I thought he..I…I…I thought he was a wild boar! Well, it wasn't
permanent. Can't think what the fuss is all about. What?

Aunt Joan

Oh, I'm sorry. Is my bleeding bothering you?

Colonel Spencer

He just winged you Joanie.

Martin
Aunt Joan

Well I think we've all learned a lesson about carrying around loaded guns.
Yes, keep them away from you!

Baker
Pauline

The doc busy?
He's on a house call, he'll be back in a minute. Have a seat. And try not to bleed.

Martin
Aunt Joan

Right. I'll check in on you tomorrow. There'll be some bruising and tenderness, but you'll be fine.
Apology accepted.

Aunt Joan

Mind you, don't shoot anybody on the way home.

Pauline

There's nothing to worry about. I'm almost a trained nurse. Well, in three years or so. If the university accepts me

Pauline
Martin

Couldn't go off by accident or anything, could it?
No. Of course not.

Martin
Baker
Martin

Shop whining. You're not hemorraging. Your life isn't in danger. You have a minor wound.
Ohhh.
Shush.

Pauline

I had to sum myself up in a paragraph. Do you think three pages is too long for a paragraph?

Mrs Tishell
Martin
Mrs Tishell
Martin
Mrs Tishell
Martin
Mrs Tishell
Martin
Mrs Tishell
Martin
Mrs Tishell
Martin
Mrs Tishell

Oh, Doc!
Mrs Tishell, I was just…
I was just thinking about you. In the latest issue of the MHRA, there's a fascinating article on elephantiasis.
Um…
Time for a cup of tea?
I ordered some antiseptic wipes.
Yes. That's right.
And?
Yes?
Have they arrived yet?
Oh. No, not yet. I have biscuits.
I see.
You look like a Hobnob sort of man.

Martin
Mrs Tishell
Martin
Mrs Tishell
Martin
Mrs Tishell

I need a tube of tolnaftate cream on my personal account.
Is it for yourself, Doctor?
Yes, it is.
Is it athlete's foot…or the dhobi's itch?
Just the feet.
Right. Yes. Sorry. Sorry.

Martin

(Seeing Louisa walk by) I'm sure I'll survive.

Martin
Louisa
Martin
Louisa

Martin
Louisa
Martin

Ah, Louisa.
Were you following me?
No. I wasn't. I'm…I…I…I'd been to see Mrs Tishell.
Well, I'd hate to accuse you of stalking. Cause I know what it's like to be accused of being something that you're not.
Like, oh, I don't know, a certain doctor claiming that I suffered from delusional romantic attachments.
I...well, perhaps when I said that, I was being...
Rude?
I hadn't thought through the diagnosis.

Martin
Louisa
Martin
Louisa
Martin
Louisa
Martin
Louisa
Martin
Louisa

Here…um.
What's this?
It's a card.
Hmm. Martin.
Happy Birthday.
Joan put you up to this, did she?
No, it's a birthday card.
Oh, I see. Thank you.
And, um, I was wondering, perhaps if you weren't doing anything later, you might like to have, um, dinner with me.
I don't believe it. Dad?

Louisa
Martin
Louisa
Martin
Terry
Martin

Terry, this is Doctor Ellingham. Uh... my dad.
I thought he was dead.
I never said that.
Oh, I must have dreamt it.
What happened to old Doc Sim then?
Uh…he, he IS dead.

Louisa
Terry
Louisa
Terry
Louisa

I got a promotion. Headmistress.
No.
Yep.
Well, that's great. I'd better behave myself then.
I think you're a bit old for detention. Not that you'd ever turn up.

Bert

You need to make some of those bird-shaped pasties. They'd fly off the shelves!

Gavin
Martin
Gavin
Martin

When we listen to patients, really listen to patients, we let them know we're here.
Can I just stop you there?
Sure.
(walks into the surgery and slams the door)

Al
Bert
Al

That's the police car.
I know. PC Mylow asked me to look after it while he was away.
Yeah, I don't think he meant turn it into a tour bus.

Bert

What we have here is a real money spinner.

Pauline
Martin
Pauline

Martin
Pauline
Martin

Can I sit down?
No.
What I'm about to say is gonna come as a shock. Ah, this is really hard. Okay. Okay. Now we've been through a lot,
you and me. I mean, I don't want to leave you in the lurch. I know you've come to rely on me.
What are you talking about?
I'm going to university. To train as a nurse. I'm leaving.
Goodbye.

Jonathan
Louisa
Jonathan
Terry

You know, uh, the government are making a camera that can go into the eyes of birds.
Really?
Mm-humm. It’s a very miniature thing. It's uh, nanotechnology for um, you know, surveillance.
Don't ask where they put the battery pack

Gavin
Martin

Doctor Ellingham. May I call you Martin?
No.

Gavin
Martin

I urge you to help me to help you.
Indeed. I'll get the door.

Tourist
Martin
Tourist
Martin

Morning. Which way to the choughs?
Up to the top of the hill and turn right.
Thanks mate. A right's gonna take us over the cliff. You mean left, don't you.
Right.

Pauline
Al
Pauline
Al
Pauline
Al
Pauline

Dinner. At your place. That's romantic.
Maybe.
Wait. You're not gonna dump me are you?
What?
I know the signs.
No Pauline, I'm not gonna dump you.
Well of course not. Why would you? I'm great.

Martin
Jonathan

GP's name?
I don't um…I don't remember. He smells like soup though.

Martin

Mr Glasson, don't tell me how to be a doctor. I won't tell you how to be an absentee parent.

Martin
Jonathan

And what's the usual dosage?
Who wants to know? You, or the giant rabbit?

Jonathan
Martin

Oh, could you make sure it's the ones without tracking devices?
Yes.

Mrs Tishell

Gavin
Mrs Tishell
Gavin
Jonathan
Mrs Tishell
Jonathan
Mrs Tishell
Jonathan

Dr Ellingham is a wonderful man! Warm. Caring. Even charming. We are truly blessed to have such a giant of a man
in our small village. That's my professional opinion.
I see.
I'm a scientist. But if anyone has healing hands, it's our doc. Big hands. Big heart.
Fascinating. That's not quite the impression that I have, but I suppose...
Doc? Sweetheart.
Isn't he just?
Ohh (taps heart).
And anyone who says otherwise is a tooty liar!
(after walking out of the shop) Wow. She was a looker!

Martin
Aunt Joan
Martin

The more you rest the shorter your healing process will be.
I wouldn't need a healing process if someone hadn't shot me.
Now, nobody actually shot you, did they? You just…got…shot.

Baker
Martin

It's a tradition, our contest.
Oh yes, the tradition of mass food poisoning and the complications that ensue. Cancel it.

Louisa
Martin
Louisa

Said you had a bit of difficulty at the surgery yesterday.
Uh, no. Not really.
He said he practically had to force you to give his friend some medication. I told him that was just how you liked to
welcome new patients.

Martin
Gavin
Martin

Take your hand off me, you unctuous platitudinizing eunuch.
You have ice cream…
I know.

Actually, I never made this marinara sauce before. It says on the jar, "Open and heat up". But how long do you think
heat up is?

Pauline

But it's just a key. A lovely, almost shiny key.

Pauline
Martin
Pauline

So last night he only goes and asks me to move in with him.
What?
Al. Thought he could blindside me with marinara, didn't he?

Jonathan
Terry
Jonathan

If you're going out, could you get me a roll of aluminium foil?
What, to put on your head and stop government mind control?
I've got some cheese I don't want getting hard.

Martin

Can we push this along? There's something I have to attend to. I also have potentially infected processed meat in my
hair.

Gavin
Louisa

Miss Glasson, what's your point?
Well, even I find Doc, Dr Ellingham a little bit …frustrating at times. But I also know that we are very lucky to have him
here in the village, and, you know, so do most of these people.

Pauline
Martin
Pauline

Oh. How'd it go?
(slams door)
Went well then.

Louisa
Martin
Louisa
Martin
Louisa

Martin

Was that really necessary?
No, it wasn't.
You…you do realize how serious this is?
Yes I do.
Martin, they want to get rid of you. Don't you even care about that? Look…I know that you've never really fitted in
around here, and I know that you've never really tried and that you're not interested in doing so. And I've always tried
to understand that about you because...because, well, that's just you. That's...that's what you're like. But I don't even
think that this is about that. I think that...that you deliberately wanted that review to go wrong. And I think that you...you
want them to replace you and to send you away from here. Well, Martin, you know, for...for what it's worth...I...I would
like you to stay. So there.
Louisa...

Martin

Louisa

All right, Jonathan. I want you to take a few deep breaths, and give me the knife. Then I want you to sit down so that I
can sedate you and call the police.
Nice.

Jonathan
Pauline
Jonathan
Louisa

Reception chicky, just get me some tying up stuff.
Surgical tape?
Yeah.
And a gag. For him.

Martin
Louisa

You break it, you pay for it!
Martin, just stop annoying the man with the knife!

Jonathan
Martin

Don't trust Terry, don't trust Terry. He's…he's nothing but a liar.
Seems to be having a moment of clarity.

Jonathan
Martin
Jonathan

The boat, the shipment. That's…that's none of your business, okay?
What boat?
Who told you about the boat? Did Terry tell you? Did Terry tell you about the boat? I told you. You can't trust him.
You can't trust him.

Jonathan
Martin
Jonathan

Get rid of him. Get rid of him.
You don't think he might find it suspicious that I'm strapped to a chair?
Probably.

Martin
Gavin
Martin
Gavin
Martin
Gavin
Martin
Gavin
Martin
Gavin
Martin
Gavin
Martin
Gavin
Martin

Ah. Mr Peters. How nice to see you again.
Look, Ellingham, you've forced my hand. I'm going to recommend your removal.
Fine. Fine. Um. Just send me the relevant papers and I'll be off.
This could have been avoided if you'd agree to the course.
I'd love to go on the course.
Really?
Yeah. Ah, yeah, a...a...absolutely. Count me in.
Well, I'll sign you up then.
I'm your man.
It's two weeks you know. People skills?
Sounds super.
I will be checking your attendance.
Thank you.
Well...thank you.
No, thank YOU.

Jonathan
Martin
Jonathan
Martin

Sit down.
All right, um Jonathan, let's uh, put the knife down.
Doc.
Things seem muddled for you now, but, uh, you're amongst friends. (tries to throw lamp at him but is plugged in and
falls harmlessly to the floor) I'll sit down.

Jonathan
Martin
Jonathan

Can I have the knife?
No you can't.
Fine. (gets shotgun out of the cupboard)

Martin
Pauline
Louisa
Jonathan
Louisa

I can't work a boat.
He's from London.
Can I just point out that you're automatically assuming that a woman isn't up to the job?
Fine. You do it.
I'm probably not strong enough.

Jonathan
Al
Martin
Pauline

Either you do it, or I make a colander out…reception chick.
What's a colander?
It's a type of sieve, Al.
It's bigger than a sieve.

Terry
Al
Terry
Pauline
Martin
Louisa
Jonathan

Tell them Terry sent you. Say, "Terry me manda a por el paquete".
All right, yeah. Okay.
Say it, "Terry me manda a por el paquete".
Terry me manda a por…
No. Uh, it's, "Terry me manda a por la paquete".
No, no. It's "a por el paquete".
Seriously!

Al
Jonathan

Is Pauline okay?
Pauline is fine. Pauline's great. Who's Pauline?

Martin
Terry
Jonathan
Terry

Call the Coastguard.
No Coastguard.
No Coastguard! Why not?
Well, they'll see the explosives.

Jonathan
Colonel Spencer
Jonathan

Okay, okay, where are the explosives?
What explosives?
How do you know about the explosives?

Martin
Jonathan

Colonel, has the baker lost consciousness?
The baker? The colonel? Do these people have no names?

Martin

Jonathan

Pauline, call an ambulance. Tell them to expect a man with an intercranial bleed treated successfully by emergency
trepanation. Accompanied by a really annoying man who needs sectioning under the Mental Health Act.
Me?

Martin
Al
Martin

Al, you lock those explosives in the boot of my car before somebody gets blown up.
Explosives?
Oh come on Al. You carried them up a cliff. You'll survive the trip to the car.

Literary Reference - Possibly from an 2001 Irish Film of the same name. The main character is a young man
named Jonathan who ends up in a psychiatric hospital after a suicide attempt.

Connecting the Episode Title to the Storylines

Much of the story takes place on the cliffs. Several relationships are in a state of flux and on the edge of moving
to a new level or breaking apart. Various events of the days have people on the edge.

The chough birds build their nests on the cliff faces, so they are actually "on the edge". They also had
disappeared from Cornwall in the 1970s and began returning to Cornwall in 2001, so they would still be considered
on the edge as far as the rare nesting pairs.

Jonathan is on the edge of his sanity.

Martin and Louisa are on the edge of moving their relationship to the next level. Although Louisa is upset over the
way things ended the day after the kiss over the kitchen table, Martin is trying to redeem himself by giving her a
birthday card and inviting her to dinner. Louisa also tells him that she doesn't want him to leave Portwenn.

Louisa is on the edge with her relationship with her father. She has always been loyal to him but now realizes that
he betrayed her and the rest of the village.

Pauline and Al's relationship is also on the edge. Al wants to take it further by inviting Pauline to move in with him,
but Pauline has bigger plans for her life. She is very upset with him over the mailing of the application, but does
seem to forgive him for his heroics on the sea and on the cliffs.

Martin is on the edge of losing his job in Portwenn.

The baker is on the edge financially, and then on the edge with a life-threatening injury.

Terry is on the edge of being caught in his life of petty crime.

The baker literally falls off the edge of the cliff and Martin has to drop himself off the edge of the cliff to save him.

Return
to
Episode

MARTIN & LOUISA

Martin is in Mrs Tishell's shop when he sees Louisa walk by headed for the platt. He makes an excuse to leave and follows her down the
street, She spots him as she is approaching the fishmonger's stall and he greets her. She asks if he is following her, he stutters that he had
been to see Mrs Tishell, and Louisa sarcastically tells him that she wouldn't want to accuse him of stalking. She continues that she knows
what it's like to be accused of something that you're not, like a certain doctor saying that she was suffering from delusional romantic
attachments. Martin stumbles over his words to explain himself, Louisa suggests that he had been rude and asks if that is an apology.
Martin says that he didn't apologise and shyly hands her an envelope. He tells her it's a card and then wishes her a Happy Birthday. Louisa
seems touched by the strange looking card and Martin haltingly asks her to have dinner with him. Louisa is distracted by something over
Martin's shoulder and he discovers that her father has just walked up. Louisa introduces her father to Martin and they have a very short
conversation before Martin stumbles on his words and takes his leave - the dinner invitation now forgotten.

Martin runs into Louisa in town as she is buying an ice cream cone and she tells him about how her father always bought her ice cream as a
child. They seem a little more comfortable with each other, so Louisa starts teasing him about how he gave her father's friend a hard time
when they visited him at the surgery. Louisa continues to tease Martin but she is stopped in her tracks when he refers to her father as a
thief. Louisa can't believe that he would join in with local gossip and insists that all the time he has been in the village he has kept his
distance, but now he is joining the community in malicious rumours about her father. Martin insists that it isn't a rumour, that Joan caught him
stealing money. Louisa is speechless and smashes her ice cream cone onto Martin's forehead before storming away.

Louisa is sitting with the review board in a meeting room waiting for Martin to arrive. She is startled to see him outside disrupting the pasty
eating contest. When the meeting starts, Martin is extremely dismissive of the entire process, but Louisa looks at the complaints and begins
to discredit the people who have filed the complaints. She says that even she finds Martin frustrating at times, but that the village is lucky to
have him there. Martin watches Louisa defending him with a wary look on his face, but the consultant in charge of the meeting takes over
and tells Martin that he must attend a people skills training course. If he refuses, the consultant will recommend that Martin be removed from
his position. Martin stalks out of the meeting and Louisa haltingly interjects that he probably needs time to think about it.

Louisa makes for the surgery and finds Martin in his consulting room working on one of his clocks. She doesn't realize that her father's
bi-polar friend is following her. Louisa gives Martin a piece of her mind about how he acted at the meeting and Martin responds in a
combative manner. Louisa asks him if he even cares that they want to get rid of him. She continues on about how Martin has never tried to
fit in and that she has tried to understand that about him. But she says she thinks he wanted this all to go wrong and that he wants them to
send him away. She concludes by admitting to him that she wants him to stay. Martin seems surprised by her admission and starts to calmly
explain to her when they are interrupted by Jonathan barging into the consulting room. Jonathan grabs Louisa and holds a knife to her
throat. This begins a long siege in the consulting room with Jonathan keeping Martin, Louisa, Pauline and eventaully Al and Louisa's father
as hostages.

When the siege is over and they are all on the cliffs, Louisa makes the call for the ambulances and then starts to help Martin clean the blood
from his face. Martin notices her father watching them and Louisa turns to look at him and leaves Martin to go say her goodbyes to her
father.