The episode kicks off with Dr. Norma Callahan (portrayed by Helen Behan) emphasizing the urgency to shroud their investigation into Dr. Sophia Hernandez (Selin Hizli) in secrecy, casting Dr. Ford as the decoy target. Dr. George Adjei (played by Jordan Kouame) informs her of his intent to compile a report on Rosie Newman and Dr. James Ford (embodied by Tom Hughes), while she insists they must also delve into the matter concerning Maria Carter (Katherine Dow Blyton).
Outside the hospital's confines, Ford attempts to reach Maria, but his efforts fall on deaf ears. He exchanges pleasantries with passersby before Kwame Essiedu (brought to life by Tobi Bakare) alerts him to a new bipolar patient: 33-year-old Felicity "Fizz" Templeton. Ford abruptly enters Fizz's room, finding Precious Danso (Naana Agyei-Ampadu) by her bedside. A vivid flashback transpires of Fizz dancing at a club. He vows to return later and dashes to his office in search of her medical records. Kwame hands him the chart, which Ford quickly scans. It reveals that Toby brought Fizz to the hospital, and she incessantly referenced Dr. James, a name unknown to the hospital's staff rolls. He tears the incriminating paper from the chart and slips it into the copier upon Kwame's return, feigning it as a duplicate. Kwame, oblivious, takes his vape pen and exits. In his haste to conceal the duplicate, Ford inadvertently leaves Fizz's chart on his desk.
George updates Norma, highlighting the exemplary records of the maternity ward and Hernandez. Meanwhile, a frazzled Ford storms into Dr. Kate McAllister's (Zoe Telford's) office, informing her of Fizz's admission, blaming an overdose for triggering a manic episode. Upon learning Fizz mentioned Dr. James, Kate's heart races with fear, worried someone might uncover her involvement in covering it up. Ford reassures her it's unrelated, but she disagrees, reminding him Fizz kept silent about her mental health during their dinner. Kate recalls their club encounter, prompting Ford to confess their dual kisses and inquiring why she lied about coercing him to Toni's assessment. She suspects his kisses were a retaliation, which he denies. She counsels him to steer clear of the ward temporarily.
Elsewhere, Precious ponders the dynamics between Kate and Ford. Dr. Bernadette Asamoah (Jessica Layde) firmly asserts that Kate would never compromise her career for him. During a phone call, Ford informs Maria of a midwife's hint about another traumatic birth, declining to elaborate for fear of backlash. They agree to convene the next morning.
At a bustling pub, George confides in Gina (Phoebe Sparrow) about the psych unit's decline, highlighting the impossibility of safeguarding their most fragile patients. They shift gears, chatting about their weekend escapades.
Back at the hospital, Hernandez reports a vending machine malfunction, leading Ravi to escort her to a room where Freya is in the throes of labor. Hernandez conducts a pelvic exam, and a nurse elucidates the delays due to a crowded labor ward and Freya's lack of progress post-induction resumption. Oxytocin is administered, with Freya pushing for 40 arduous minutes. Hernandez halts the oxytocin to allow Freya respite between contractions, her pleas for an end falling on deaf ears. Hernandez notifies Arun of Freya's dire condition, suggesting a C-section. Arun insists on using forceps unless an obstruction is confirmed, promising immediate arrival. Shortly after, Hernandez assists in the delivery when the epidural fails. Finding the baby's exit impossible, she urgently orders the nurse to urge Arun and asks Ravi to depart, while alerting the neonatal resuscitation team to standby.
Hernandez informs Freya, portrayed by Jessica Temple, of her intention to employ the forceps during the delivery. Ravi Patel, played by Bhavi Joshi, anxiously awaits outside the delivery room. As the situation escalates, Sophia eventually concludes that preparations for a cesarean section are imperative. However, Arun Mansoor, portrayed by Ace Bhatti, initially hesitates to proceed with this option. After an unsuccessful attempt with the forceps, Arun reluctantly concurs with Sophia's recommendation and they proceed with the cesarean. The baby is delivered, albeit in a distressing condition. Sophia criticizes Arun, asserting that the outcome could have been avoided if they had opted for the cesarean earlier. Arun, in turn, instructs her to conclude the procedure for Freya.
George raises a delicate matter, hinting at an inappropriate relationship, but Norma swiftly silences him, warning that one such incident is already too much for her to handle. She reveals that she is entangled in another issue, disclosing Norma's involvement with Rubi and Ben Munro. Furthermore, Norma has contacted the NMR, which is currently investigating numerous historical complaints against Maria Carter, a former employee in the elderly care ward. A decade ago, a family grieved over their relative's demise, blaming Maria's inadequate care. Eight weeks prior, the family revisited their complaint with fresh evidence, prompting other patients to surface with similar grievances. George finds the timing suspiciously convenient and wonders if there might be truth to these accusations.
Maria confides in James, revealing that the Trust is aware of their communication and has warned her to cease it. Maria recounts referring Rosie to psychiatry after a traumatic birth, which should have been managed with a cesarean but instead was subjected to forceps. The medical records falsely stated a "normal vaginal delivery, no complications," masking the brutal reality Rosie endured. Maria asserts that Sophia instructed her to rescind the referral, and when Maria refused, Sophia falsely claimed Rosie had been evaluated and was fine. Despite Maria's numerous incident reports, the management remained inert. When Maria escalated the issue to the Trust, they threatened to report her to the NMR; however, they ultimately reported her upon her starting a new job.
James inquiries about the accusations, and Maria clarifies that Sophia canceled the referral, ultimately leading to Rosie's demise. Maria urges James to drop the matter, requesting him not to contact her again as she leaves. Meanwhile, Arun confronts Eric, detailing the night's harrowing events involving Sophia. Arun emphasizes that Sophia's prolonged use of the ventouse and forceps jeopardized the baby's life, who though surviving, is in a precarious state. Arun warns that the baby's survival could incur significant expenses. Eric Sawers, played by Rick Warden, urges Arun to communicate with the family discreetly and to manage the situation carefully. Eric suggests granting Sophia some time off and isolating her from the parents to avoid further complications.
Elsewhere, Gina discusses with George her client's successful bid, while George is engrossed in reading a letter concerning Liam. He mentions that the parents of a deceased boy wish to meet him. Gina reminds him that Liam was cleared in a tribunal court case, but George insists that he owes them a more comprehensive explanation. Separately, James asks Kate if she has resolved the issue with Fizz, and Kate confirms that she has transferred Fizz to the Mulberry Ward.
Kate asserts that the notes have already been addressed as well. James then fills her in on their progress in tracing Maria Carter, who claims that the maternity department is concealing numerous issues. Precious enters the scene, and James greets her with a cheerful "good morning," but her demeanor suggests she's anything but pleased with him.
Sophia is summoned to converse with Arun and Eric regarding Baby Patel. She learns from them that the MRI scan reveals a significant subdural hemorrhage. In the background, Indira (Shereen Martin) busies herself on her phone. The doctors inform Sophia that the baby's recovery is highly unlikely. Eric confronts her, questioning why she insisted on an assisted vaginal delivery instead of following Mansoor's advice for a C-section. They accuse her of wasting crucial 20 minutes. Sophia is instructed to take a break from work, but Arun urges her to stay close to the children, acknowledging her struggles since her divorce. Sophia defends her actions, but Eric remains closed to her explanations. To add insult to injury, Eric reveals that Sophia was caught on CCTV stealing from the vending machine. Arun instructs her to visit Estates and settle the matter.
George informs Norma that he has retrieved the HR records of doctors who faced complaints. The two anesthetists frequently worked in the labor ward, and both junior doctors rotated through obstetrics. One anesthetist claims he was reported solely for voicing concerns about obstetrics. Norma admits that similar situations occur in cardiology and GP training. Both anesthetists were reported to the MIU by patients after meeting with Trust representatives, hinting that the Trust might have influenced these complaints. George also shares with Norma his meeting with Liam's parents, which she doesn't approve of.
Kate receives a call informing her that the Chief Medical Director, Eric Sawers, wishes to see her on Thursday. Norma encounters Ben Munro (Neil Pendleton) and reveals herself as Rubi's mother. She demands that he leaves Rubi alone to allow her to return to university. Ben insists that their relationship began after Rubi pursued him, and it had no bearing on her decision to leave. He claims Rubi pursued medicine only to please her family. Norma threatens to expose him if he doesn't resign.
Eric informs Kate that the psychiatry unit may have to shut down due to Rosie's death being the final straw. He mentions a potential merger with Oakwell and the need for a new director of psychiatry. Eric sees Kate as a viable candidate, noting the favorable optics of her being young, female, and ambitious. However, before proceeding, Eric shows Kate a photo of her kissing James Ford. Kate maintains that she didn't lie to protect James and clarifies that it's not what it looks like. Indira accuses her of abusing her position straightforwardly. Eric outlines their next steps.
James arrives late and apologizes to Charlie (Stephen Thompson). Samira mocks them, believing they're all just actors. James is stunned to see Maria on TV and tries to reassure Samira, who accuses them of fakery. Sophia, watching the same news report from her home, attempts to call Maria, who is being hounded by the press. Kathy (Adei Bundy) interrupts George and Norma to request a moment of their time. Kate joins them, as there's something crucial they all need to know.
James eagerly sought to reach Maria to impart the news he had come across, only to be halted at the facility's entrance by the police's vigilant gaze. Meanwhile, Precious imparted to Kate a bombshell: their romance with James was no longer a secret, as Aislene had witnessed their intimate moment and spread the word. Kate sharply reprimanded Precious for relying on Aislene's gossip, to which Precious retaliated by questioning Kate's competence.
In a separate scenario, Eric grilled Ford about his encounter with Fizz at a club on July 15th, in the presence of Norma and George. The night took a dark turn when Fizz consumed ecstasy, which traced back to Ford, leading to her sudden illness. Rather than rushing her to the nearby A&E, Ford chose to transport her to North Yorkshire Hospital, using the alias Toby Tait to shield his identity. The ecstasy induced a manic episode, prompting Fizz's admission to Willow Ward. Desperate to conceal his involvement, Ford orchestrated her transfer. Norma accused Ford of possessing ecstasy, a Class A drug, thereby committing a criminal offense. Ford vehemently denied giving Fizz the substance, prompting George to lambast him for prioritizing his career over Fizz's health. Ford countered, blaming his work environment for scrutinizing his every move and insisted the incident transpired outside hospital grounds. Norma revealed they were on the brink of clearing him for practice, surprising Ford and prompting him to suggest they were aware of Hernandez's interference in Maria's mental health referral. Eric, unmoved, suspended Ford from his duties. Ford protested, claiming the suspension was not solely due to Rosie but also due to Obstetrics' mishandling of Tony's baby, which resulted in a fractured skull during forceps delivery and subsequently blamed on Rosie. Eric ordered security to escort Ford off the premises, believing Norma and George sided with him.
Post-meeting, George pondered the rationale behind Maria and Ford's suspensions, speculating that the Trust might be diverting attention away from Obstetrics. He recalled Ford's accusation regarding Tony's baby. Later, Ford confronted Kate, wondering if her promotion came at the expense of his downfall. Kate confessed to reporting him to salvage her career and admitted to their intimate encounters. She retreated indoors, her emotions unraveling into tears.
Shortly thereafter, Ford found Maria slumped unconscious in a chair within her home. Panicked, he shattered a window, unlocked the door, and frantically attempted to rouse her, to no avail. Scattered pill packets lay on the floor, painting a grim picture of her plight.
