(At a Christmas lunch, Holly and Patrick are sitting opposite each other. Lots of shouting and clapping, which Patrick is keeping out of. A waitress walks behind him)

Patrick: I ordered a bottle of wine (the waitress walks off cos she doesn't hear him) Bout half an hour ago!

Holly: Glad to see you getting into the swing of things Patrick!

Patrick: I hate Christmas lunches. I mean, what's the point when you've gotta go to work straight after. I can't have a drink, I can't . . .(a young man pulls a party popper directly behind Patrick) I hate students

Holly: (seriously) Would you at least pretend your enjoying yourself? This are my old paeds colleges, we only get to see each other once a year!

Patrick: You'd need a year to get over it!

Holly: (shocked) I dunno why I bothered bringing you along!

Patrick: You wanted a lift, remember? I mean, who booked this place in first place? Twenty miles from the nearest civilization!

Holly: It was last minute okay? It was the only place that wasn't booked!

(A woman pushes past Patrick)

Patrick: Cheers love! (loud enough for only Holly to hear) See you in resus one day!

Holly: (picks up a cracker and points it towards him) Here pull this?!

Patrick: (frowns) It's not my scene!

Holly: Pull it! Your going to enjoy yourself whether you like it or not! (he pulls it reluctantly, they all laugh, expect himself feeling a bit embarrassed)

(Holly has made Patrick put a mask on and is taking pictures of him)

Holly: (with a camera) Smile! (takes a picture of Patrick) Lovely!

Patrick: Can I take this mask off now?

Holly: (sarcastically) your wearing a mask? I didn't realize! (goes round the corner of the table) Photo time everyone! (to Patrick) I can't believe your being like this! (takes a picture) Cheese!!

Patrick: I'm tired!

Holly: It's your day off tomorrow

Patrick: I should be having a week off! (she takes another picture of him)

Holly: (Pats his cheeks playfully) Miss all this fun?

Patrick: That's exactly what I'm trying to do!

Holly: (takes his mask off) I've never met anyone less excited by Christmas than you!

(Patrick and Holly are on the way back from the party, in his car)

Holly: There's a junction.

Patrick: I can see it! See if anything's coming that way, are we clear?

Holly: Yes, we're clear

Patrick: (repeats) Are we clear?

Holly: Yes! We're clear!

(Just then, the car stops. Patrick tries to start it again, with no luck)

Patrick: (opens the door) I know what it is (gets out of the car)

(Both of them are outside in the snow, Patrick is fiddling with the engine)

Holly: When did you last check your points?

Patrick: (Looks up) Mechanic in your spare time, are you? (she doesn't answer. Patrick slams the bonnet shut and shouts at the car) You cow!

Holly: Ooh! Glad you don't treat your patients like that!

Patrick: I'll get us outta here (he dials a number on his phone. They both get back in the car)

Holly: (takes the mickey out of Patrick) Don't worry! I know what it is! (he shoots a glance at her)

Patrick: (On the phone) Hi, yeah . . . we're stuck (turns to Holly) in the middle of nowhere! . . .Patrick Spiller . . .Of course I am! Come on, I pay a lot of money for this service! (the phone beeps, indicating the batteries low) Don't do this to me! I did renew my memebership! (Holly mouths 'no you haven't') I'm sure I did! Well, look you idiot, we're stuck and we need help, I'll pay the membership when . . .(his phone cuts off) Why is it, whenever you really need one of these things, they never work!

Holly: It would if you ever bothered charging it up!

Patrick: Well, aren't you miss perfect?!

Holly: Well yes actually I am! Cos my freshly charged mobile is in the boot!

Patrick: Well what's it doing there?!

Holly: It's in my bag, with my presents! (they both sit still in there seats)

Patrick: I suppose you want me to go and get it?! (Holly turns her head and smiles at him. He sighs and gets out the car) Just, release the boot (he goes round to the back of the car) It's by the seat

Holly: I've done it!

Patrick: (tries to pull open the boot) Great! Frozen! (he puts his thumb under the boot trying to open it, with no luck and injuring his thumb in the process. He pulls it out, groaning in pain)

Holly: What we gonna do now?

Patrick: (shouts) Get me to a hospital!

(Patrick has walked off and starts pulling at some tree roots, Holly is following him)

Holly: Patrick? What you doing? Patrick?! (he ignores her, so she throws a snowball at him, he turns around) I said, what are you doing?

Patrick: I need something to lever the boot!

Holly: (shouts) With a branch?!

Patrick: Yes! (starts pulling at the branch again) Come on! (his foot slips and he falls over backwards. Holly goes to see if he's all right)

Holly: What have you done now?

Patrick: I think I've sprained my ankle . . . what does it look like?!

Holly: Well, that'll teach you for attacking trees won't it? (he stands up, more sympathetically) Is it bad?

Patrick: (sarcastically) No! It's always this painful when i walk!

Holly: Come on (offers to help him)

Patrick: (he refuses her offer of help) I'm all right!

(She walks ahead, leaving him trailing behind. She spots a metal rod on the roadside)

Holly: Well, look, this ought to do it! (goes over to the car and starts prodding it with the rod)

Patrick: Oy watch the paint work! It's a classic! (looks a bit closer) Holly! Watch what yer doing! (she opens the boot with it)

Holly: Ah! Thank you! (she hands him the rod, which he chucks back onto the road side)

Patrick: (looking closely at the car) You've scratched me badge! Like gold dust those things! Can't get hold of em anywhere!

Holly: (ignores Patrick complaints, and puts her coat and scarf on. She gets her phone and dials the number of A+E) Hello? Amy, Amy it's Holly. Listen, Patrick and I are stranded. Hello? Oh, I can't hear what your saying . . . we'll get there as soon as we can! Hello? (hangs up) Ohh!

Patrick: Oh well that was well worth injuring me thumb and spraining me ankle for!

Holly: The reception's awful out here!

Patrick: Come on, looks like we're gonna have to do it on foot (starts hopping, but she stops him)

Holly: Look, your not going anywhere with that ankle! There's a barn over here, why don't we get some shelter and I'll take a look at it?

Patrick: Fair enough (she helps him on the way to the barn) Let's hope there's no-one being born in there!

(Inside the barn)

Patrick: This place stinks! Has something died in here?!

Holly: (lighting a lantern) Would you stop moaning!

Patrick: Well, it's a bit hard when I'm in this much agony!

Holly: (goes over to him) Oh, I forgot about your thumb, let me have a look

Patrick: No

Holly: Oh, don't be such a baby!

Patrick: I'll be fine

Holly: Patrick! (observes his thumb) You've got a very large haemotoma, it's gonna need drefining!

Patrick: I can live with it!

Holly: (ignores him ) Need a paper clip or something!

Patrick: There's no way I'm letting you near it! (she goes and looks him her bag) Holly!

Holly: (takes out a piece of paper and pulls the paper clip off the top) There you go!

Patrick: Holly, I said you not touching it!

(Holly has the paper-clip ready, Patrick's looking very nervous)

Holly: Your scared?

Patrick: No I'm not!

Holly: (laughs) Yes you are! Your scared!

Patrick: I've just got a thing about fingernails

Holly: Come here you big baby! (pulls his hand forward, getting ready, Patrick looks away)

Patrick: Arrgghh!!

Holly: (laughs) I haven't even started yet!

Patrick: (a bit embarrassed) Well it felt like you had!

Holly: Just relax!

Patrick: Just, make it quick!

(Holly sticks the paper clip through his nail, he yells in pain a bit as the blood comes out)

Holly: There! All done! (gets up)

Patrick: I think I'm gonna be sick!

Holly: We should have stayed in the car!

Patrick: It wouldn't have been any better than here . . .(unzips his jacket and pulls put a bottle of whisky) This'll keep us warm

Holly: Where'd you get that from?

Patrick: I was saving it for the end of our shift. Thought we could have a quiet host to Christmas . . . .you and whoever else would of been around/

Holly: (sits next to him) Oh right, not to celebrate my birthday then!

Patrick: I was gonna get you a joint birthday and Christmas present

Holly: So where is it?

Patrick: I haven't exactly decided what i wanted to get you yet (she looks a bit hurt and unimpressed) Here have some of this instead (indicating the whisky)

Holly: No thank you, you know better than anyone that alcohol is totally contra-indicated in cases of hypothermia!

Patrick: And, that was a message from my public information service

Holly: (grabs the bottle off him) Your not having it!

Patrick: Spoil sport!

Holly: Besides, we've got to be on duty later!

Patrick: Well, we're not gonna get there now, are we? . . .just a sip?

Holly: No

Patrick: all right then, it's your turn to think of a way to keep us both warm (she turns her head to him ands he smiles at her)

Holly: Fat chance! (he looks a bit gutted)

Holly: Maybe a sip of whisky won't harm! (takes a swig from the bottle)

Patrick: Careful, you might get struck off!

Holly: (hands him the whisky) You can go down with me then! (tasting the whisky) oh, that's nice!

Patrick: You know there is another way to keep warm

Holly: Yeah, i really don't wanna light a fire in here, actually

Patrick: I'm talking about body heat!

Holly: I know you are!

Patrick: I'm serious, we should sit tighter, that's what the eskimos do!

Holly: Oh, just how many eskimos do you know?

Patrick: Well as it happens, four drink in my local

Holly: You've always got a line for everything, haven't you?

Patrick: Do you wanna get warm or not?

Holly: (stands up) No funny business!

Patrick: (she sits between his legs) Yeah right! I can't even feel my own hands!

Holly: Make sure I don't!

Patrick: I can't win with you!

Holly: I know, it's good, isn't it?

Patrick: This has turned into the best Christmas I've had for ages

Holly: (surprised) Well, you've changed your tune!

Patrick: I'm not all bad (offers her the bottle)

Holly: No . . . .Your trouble is you just don't like seeing people enjoy themselves!

Patrick: I wish it were that simple

Holly: Yeah, well I don't get it! I mean why do you have to be so miserable, you know, it's Christmas!

Patrick: It's quite simple really . . . .my mam died on Christmas day

Holly: (a bit shocked) Oh . . .well done Holly

Patrick: (takes another sip of whisky) Yeah, I was ten . . . .usually kids that age get up and rush downstairs and see what presents santa's left them. My mam would ask to come home from hospital for Christmas. I burst into her and dad's bedroom, and she shouted at me . . .to get out. Mam meant well, she just didn't want me to see her in such a state . . . .thing is,  they couldn't stop me listening. Spent most of the morning outside that room. Then the doctor came and they opened the door and me dad said that she was gone. I managed to get a glimpse of her before they bundled me off downstairs . . .and I can remember thinking 'they've got it wrong', you know, 'she's not dead, she's . . .she's asleep' So I dug out all her presents and put them at the end of her bed . . . .I even wished her a merry Christmas.

Holly: (tearfully) You never told me any of this before . . .I mean, no wonder you don't like Christmas

Patrick: Especially when it starts in October, I mean all the  advertising and countdowns. . .they thrust it out your throat for ten weeks and all I can think about is my mam and those unopened presents. . .I'm not making excuses . .

Holly: (interrupts and turns to face him) No, I know, I know. . .but I'm sorry . . . .I'm glad you told me (puts her hand on his face) It's nice that you did (takes her hand off, turns around again)

Holly: How's your thumb, and your ankle? (holding his hand, she pulls it up to get a better look)

Patrick: Yeah, I think you've done a pretty good job. I think I'll live

Holly: You owe me one then?

Patrick: Yeah, just name the time and place

Holly: Yeah right,  . . .so, what is it you see in me, anyway?

Patrick: Honest answer?

Holly: Yeah?!

Patrick: Loneliness (she looks at him) and for some strange reason, I feel like I can do something about it

Holly: Well there's no need, cos I'm not lonely!

Patrick: We're sailing in the same boat, Holly

Holly: (Sits forward) Patrick! It's the job!

Patrick: We all blame the job! We all put in the extra hours and go to the pub after to avoid going home, and why do we do that? Cos we know no-one's gonna be there!

Holly: I'm happy that way

Patrick: Are you? I don't think so (looks into her face, leans forward to kiss her, she turns her head)

Holly: (shakily) Anyway, I'm gonna check on the weather! (walks out of the barn, not wanting to go back in, she keeps walking)

(Holly returns to the barn, Patrick is lying down)

Holly: You'll never guess what, I got half a mile down the road and I got a perfect signal on my mobile so I told them about your ankle (sees him lying down) and their sending an ambulance. (goes over to him) Patrick? (she shakes him) Patrick! (he moves slightly and she breathes a sigh of relief, she bends over and kisses him on the cheek) Merry Christmas Dr Spiller