*** ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY - ST HUGH'S - 9:35 AM ***

Viv and Polly are waiting side-by-side in reception. Polly nervously looks up at Viv.

Polly Page:

What'th gonna happen now?

WPC Martella:

It's nothing to worry about. One of the nice doctors that work here is going to have a look at your arm. Do you feel like talking some more about how this happened?

Polly shakes her head.

Polly Page:

Do I have to?

WPC Martella:

No, of course you don't. But sometimes it helps to get things off your chest.

Polly Page:

But he'll be weally mad if I tell you.

WPC Martella:

Look, you don't have to worry about him being mad. We'll take care of him. Just tell the truth. You won't be in any trouble if you do.

Polly Page:

You pwomise?

Viv smiles and gives Polly's hand a reassuring pat.

WPC Martella:

I promise, Polly.

Polly looks down sadly at her injured arm.

Polly Page:

Thith was my fault coth I told him he didn't give me time to do all me homework and that I got into twouble at thchool because of him.

WPC Martella:

What did he actually do? Did he grab you or throw you against something? Was it an accident?

Polly Page:

Yethterday. He twisted me arm behind me back as I was running out of the kitchen.

WPC Martella:

Did he know that you were hurt? Did he ask you if you were sore?

Polly Page:

I dunno. I was gonna tell Mum but she always takes his side.

WPC Martella:

How come she didn't notice the burns on your arm? I mean surely she would have noticed if you were in pain.

Polly Page:

She ain't around much. Only really early in the mornings and thometimes on the weekend.

WPC Martella:

Did you see a doctor about your arm?

Polly Page:

No.

WPC Martella:

Why not?

Polly Page:

It didn't hurt that bad at first. I thought it'd go away.

WPC Martella:

Did you tell Greg that?

Polly Page:

No way.

Viv thinks for a moment.

WPC Martella:

Polly, what�

Viv's question is interrupted by the arrival of a nurse.

Nurse Houlihan:

We're ready to see you now.

Polly Page:

Can you come wiv me Viv?

WPC Martella:

Of course I can.

Nurse Houlihan:

It's this way.

Margaret leads them through a door then turns to shout at a short brunette emptying a nearby bedpan.

Nurse Houlihan:

Look Miss Delaney, just because you're here on work experience doesn't mean that you have to be so half-hearted about it. Empty that bedpan properly or I'll make you clean out the bowls in the ladies loo again as punishment!

Margaret follows Viv and Polly as the sulky brunette girl returns to her gruesome task. She shows the officer and the young girl into an examination room.

Nurse Houlihan:

Doctor Pierce will be with you in a minute.

The nurse leaves. Polly clasps Viv's hand tightly as Doctor Pierce enters the room. He is a tall man in his late sixties, his little remaining hair tinged with grey.

Doctor Pierce:

Constable Martella, I presume?

WPC Martella:

Yes. Doctor Pierce?

Doctor Pierce:

Right. Now what have we got here?

Doctor Pierce looks down at the small child.

WPC Martella:

This is Polly Page. We found her under the Canley Road bridge in a shocking condition. I think her arm is broken.

Polly looks up nervously as the distinguished-looking man kneels in front of her.

Doctor Pierce:

Hello Polly. I'm Doctor Pierce but I let the young ones get away with Ben. What happened to your arm? It looks rather nasty.

Polly's eyes are wide with terror.

Polly Page:

Nuffink happened.

Doctor Pierce:

Nothing? It doesn't look like nothing. How'd it happen?

Polly Page:

It'th nuffink!

Doctor Pierce looks across at Viv questioningly.

WPC Martella:

Polly�

Viv sternly nods her head. Polly sighs and reluctantly answers the doctor's question.

Polly Page:

Me thtepdad did it.

Doctor Pierce:

I see. When did it happen?

Polly Page:

Yesterday. He twithted me arm and it cwacked.

Doctor Pierce:

Ow! That must have hurt.

Polly shrugs, unwilling to commit herself.

Doctor Pierce:

That wasn't very nice of him, was it?

Polly Page:

No.

Doctor Pierce sighs and looks up at Viv.

Doctor Pierce:

Okay, we'll get this x-rayed first but I'm sure it's a spiral fracture.

Viv nods. Doctor Pierce returns his attention to Polly.

Doctor Pierce:

So little lady, what colour cast would you like? Pink? Green?

Polly Page:

Pink pweathe.

Doctor Pierce:

Will do.

Doctor Pierce smiles as he leads them into the x-ray room.

Doctor Pierce:

You're most welcome to join us Ms Martella. If you wish?

Doctor Pierce hands them a heavy lead vest each. Polly manages to put hers over her neck with some assistance from Viv.

Doctor Pierce:

Okay, now you'll both need to put these on for your own protection and Ms Martella, if you could stand behind that window there. Great.

Polly Page:

Fank you Ben.

Doctor Pierce smiles as he leads Polly over to the x-ray table. Viv stands silently behind the window.

Doctor Pierce:

Would you prefer to lie down or sit in a chair?

Polly Page:

Could I thit down pleathe?

Doctor Pierce:

Sure you can.

Doctor Pierce pulls a chair over to the bed and Polly sits in it.

Doctor Pierce:

Okay, I need you to lay your right arm out on the bed.

Polly does as he asks, nervous but compliant. Ben strokes her arm gently.

Doctor Pierce:

How does that feel? Does it hurt?

Polly shakes her head.

Doctor Pierce:

Okay, now you have to keep your arm very still while the camera takes photos of it.

Doctor Pierce heads back across the room and joins Viv behind the screen. He gives her a wan smile.

Doctor Pierce:

Sit still now Polly.

Polly Page:

Yeth Ben.

Doctor Pierce positions the machine and proceeds to take the x-rays. When he is finished, he takes the vests from both Polly and Viv.

Doctor Pierce:

Right, let's go through shall we?

Doctor Pierce leads them back to his examination room and looks closely at the x-rays.

WPC Martella:

What's the verdict, doc?

Doctor Pierce slips his glasses off his nose and stares thoughtfully at the little girl.

Doctor Pierce:

As I thought, a compound spiral fracture. Okay Polly, if you'll come over here and sit on the table I'll see about putting that nice pink plaster on your arm.

Polly Page:

Alwight. Ith thith gonna hurt?

Doctor Pierce:

Maybe a little bit. But I'm going to give you a special injection so that you won't feel anything.

Polly looks momentarily worried. She clutches her arm to her side.

Doctor Pierce:

Nah, trust me. You won't feel anything, though your arm will be numb for a while.

Polly holds out her arm. Doctor Pierce prepares the injection and plaster. He starts to make light conversation with the young girl.

Doctor Pierce:

So, how old are you Polly?

Polly Page:

I turned twelve two dayth ago. What 'bout you?

Doctor Pierce:

You're a birthday girl? Congratulations. As for me� Well, I'm a lot older than you, I assure you. What grade are you in at school?

Doctor Pierce quickly pushes the needle into Polly's arm, administering the local anaesthetic.

Polly Page:

Gwade Seven.

Doctor Pierce:

What subjects do you like at school?

Doctor Pierce continues to prepare the plaster as the anaesthetic takes effect.

Polly Page:

I weally love English and Dwama.

Doctor Pierce:

That's great. And what about your family? Do you have any brothers or sisters?

Polly Page:

Yeth. My bwother Ian ith nine. He'th a weal petht. I used to have a big thithter, but thhe went away wiv my real Dad.

Doctor Pierce carefully manipulates Polly arm, gently pulling it into alignment.

Doctor Pierce:

Yeah? When did that happen?

Polly Page:

Ages ago. When I was heapth little.

The Doctor nods silently, sensing a level of tension in Polly's voice. He changes the subject.

Doctor Pierce:

Your little brother, bet he gets up to all sorta of mischief?

Polly Page:

One day he bwoke my bedwoom window wiv a cwicket ball. I wath heapth angry and I told him off. Then he went and bwoke my favouwite dolwy too.

Doctor Pierce starts wrapping the wet, dripping plaster around Polly's arm. He looks down and a frown crosses his forehead as he surveys the damage.

Doctor Pierce:

Polly, how did you get these burns on your arm?

Polly Page:

It wath an acthident.

Doctor Pierce:

How'd it happen?

Doctor Pierce cringes as he examines the burns. He has seen many similar injuries in his time as a paediatrician and the concern on his face is plain to see.

Polly Page:

Greg wath angwy at me. And bad girlth get punithhed.

Doctor Pierce glances across at Viv, raising his eyebrows in the process.

Doctor Pierce:

I see. How did he do that?

Polly Page:

He wath thmoking and I wath late. Tho he took the thigarette and�

Polly jabs violently at her arm.

Doctor Pierce:

Ouch, that must have hurt. You've got quite a few of them too.

Polly Page:

He doeth it whenever he'th in a bad mood.

Doctor Pierce:

Does he get into bad moods a lot?

Polly Page:

Yeth. Whenever he doethn't get hith own way.

Doctor Pierce:

What about your arm, Polly? What made him angry enough to do that?

Polly Page:

He thought I'd tell Viv all about him.

Doctor Pierce:

And he didn't like that? What exactly were you going to tell Viv about him?

Polly Page:

All about the way he hits me. And what he does to me if I'm not nice to him.

Doctor Pierce:

Does he hit you often?

Polly Page:

Yeth. He'th been getting worse lately but he'th alwayth careful to hide it from Mum.

Doctor Pierce:

Careful? How do you mean?

Doctor Pierce cuts off the end of the plaster and starts on the pink covering.

Polly Page:

He pwetendth to be my fwiend when she'th awound. And he tellth me I have to be nithe to him when Mum ith in the houthe.

Doctor Pierce:

What about when your Mum is away?

Polly Page:

He'd be weally nathty to me.

Doctor Pierce:

You're going to tell Viv all about that aren't you?

Polly Page:

Yeth. One time he even jabbed my arm with a knife 'cause I wouldn't bwing him hith dinner.

Polly shows Doctor Pierce an ugly-looking scar on her forearm.

Doctor Pierce:

How old were you when that happened?

Polly Page:

Nine. When Mum athked where the scar came fwom, he jutht told me to thay that I got hit with a hockey stick.

Doctor Pierce finishes plastering Polly's arm.

Doctor Pierce:

So, what do you think of that? Pink enough for a little princess?

Polly Page:

That'th luffly. Fank you Ben.

Doctor Pierce:

My pleasure Polly. Now, I'm good mates with Viv here so I know she'll look after you. I'll see you in about six weeks to remove your cast, okay?

Viv rolls her eyes as Polly smiles at the doctor.

Polly Page:

Alwight.

Doctor Pierce:

Actually, can I speak with you for a minute Viv?

WPC Martella:

Yeah, sure. Just wait outside for a little while would you Polly? I'll only be a minute.

Polly skips out of the room, admiring her pretty pink cast. Ben turns to Viv.

Doctor Pierce:

This isn't sounding good.

WPC Martella:

Too right it isn't. I knew something funny was up weeks ago but I had no idea it was this bad.

Doctor Pierce:

I assume you'll take the proper actions. If you need me to provide a medial report, I'll be happy to do so.

WPC Martella:

Sure. I'm assuming that all that before was for Polly's benefit. What's her real condition?

Doctor Pierce:

Well, it was a serious fracture but that's routine enough in this place. The fracture is the least of my concerns though.

WPC Martella:

You're worried about the burns?

Doctor Pierce:

And everything else. I didn't want to push her too much at this stage. I thought that was something better left to you.

Viv looks through the window at Polly quietly sitting on a chair.

WPC Martella:

That girl is in serious trouble. What do you think I should do?

Doctor Pierce:

Surely you have procedures to follow in these circumstances.

WPC Martella:

Yeah, but they all advise waiting and seeing.

Doctor Pierce:

Look, Miss Martella. I've seen hundreds of cases like this before. I know all too well how infuriating it is seeing abuse and not knowing what to do about it. But in the long run you have to follow procedure. Take her back to the station with you and go from there. I'm assuming this is your first child abuse case?

WPC Martella:

Yeah. I hope it's my last.

Doctor Pierce:

Well, if I can be of any help down the track feel free to get in touch. I'm only a phone call away. I hope it all works out for Polly.

WPC Martella:

So do I. Monsters like her stepfather should be locked up forever.

Viv walks towards the door, pausing as she leaves the room.

WPC Martella:

I'll be in touch.

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