As another day begins at Holby, we see from the Holby Gazette that Linden is in serious trouble with the headline “Surgeon Causes Death, Claims Family”. Linden arrives to find Martin Kelly, a Clinical Risk Manager, in his office. Liam Harris died of hypovolaemic shock, but it was a sequence of events that caused the patient to lose blood and go into cardiac arrest. Throwing Maddy out of theatre and operating alone does not help Linden’s case. Although Linden accepts what happened, he still does not understand why the patient went into VF that fast.

Sam approaches the Radiology Cinic as Maria catches up with him. It is the day of his final scan and he is testy and nervous. Being too early for his appointment, Maria makes him go for a cappuccino before he has to head off. Maria is concerned that he is going alone, but that is what he wants. She is left to deal with Sophie, a patient she knows from junior school, who is heading into a risky operation that Connie will perform.

Martin Kelly interviews Maddy about Liam Harris’s death on AAU. Although praising Linden, she cannot hide the fact he made a bad decision by throwing her out of theatre. Mark later admits that Linden should probably have sent the patient up to Keller. He does however stand by the fact that Linden operated in AAU. They need to have a wider role for the ward, which relieves the pressure on other wards and surgeons - meaning more immediate attention for patients. Martin however sees this as empire building.

After a visit from Martin Kelly, Jayne Grayson calls Connie and Ric into her office. They think it must be about the external enquiry into Linden; it is actually about the Director of Surgery job. They are the two strongest candidates for the role and Jayne wants it filled ASAP. They are both delighted – may the best horse win! Connie is paged and makes her exit, but Jayne holds Ric back to ask him a favour. She wants him to put a good word in for Linden. Although he made a mistake, what is bad for Linden is bad for the hospital. She also mentions that he is her first choice for the Director of Surgery Job – Ric is chuffed.

Jayne goes to see Linden and tells him he must go on gardening leave until the Liam Harris situation is resolved. Linden understands, but he also has a patient who ought to be undergoing surgery as soon as possible. Jayne wants him to go home and leave it to Maddy, but Linden points out that Maddy isn’t at all sure she agrees with him. She still insists he goes home, but on leaving, Linden begins to prep for the operation.

As Maria continues her work in HolbyCare, she becomes aware that someone is nearby. It is a solemn looking Sam. Maria looks worried but Sam’s face soon splits into an enormous grin – his cancer has gone! He embraces Maria and kisses her full on – but it is a celebratory kiss, not a passionate one.

Abra and Ric have been dealing with a patient nicknamed “Boots” – as they do not know his real name. They have found inconclusive test results and cannot find out what is wrong with him. He doesn’t speak a word, apart from occasionally whispering the word “Soarta”. Donna is convinced he is weird, and after taking “Boots” into theatre without Ric’s consent, Abra begins to think it is something sinister and beyond them, beyond their understanding.

After stealing flowers from various patients, Sam gives Maria a bunch of ‘stolen’ flowers to say thanks for her support and belief in him. Her patient Sophie, who is due for her risky operation, sees. It gives her courage and helps her trust Maria. Sam returns with lunch for Maria and bumps into Connie. He tells her the good news and she is delighted. Having misunderstood the kiss from Sam, Maria is off getting ready for celebratory drinks she thinks he is organising for them.

Abra walks out of Boots’ operation after finding no conclusive results. Ric is angry with Abra as he is left to clean up his mess. He also has to cancel the meeting with Martin Kelly, which will jeopardise his chance for the job, so he throws the Director of Surgery job application in the bin. Ric later catches up with Abra who is in the office. Abra apologises for his behaviour, but Ric isn’t convinced he is truly sorry. Ric sees an application for the Director of Surgery job on the desk and asks Abra if he is applying. He says no, but thinks Ric should. Ric doesn’t think so and leaves. We see Abra click ‘send’ on an application he has filled out for Ric.

Steve, a patient on AAU, has been suffering with abdominal pain, distention and vomiting. Maddy and Linden have continued to run tests, but the tests have shown no evidence of blockage to the bowel. A sudden burst of pain means they must operate ASAP, as he is in danger of perforating. Maddy is in ED, and Mark is shocked that Linden is prepared to operate alone, again. As surgery begins, his bowel perforates and Linden tries to save him. Without Maddy’s assistance, he struggles to perform to the best of his ability. Maddy eventually arrives and they manage to stabilise Steve. Maddy believes Linden did the best thing by rushing Steve into surgery, even if alone.

After asking Donna what happened to Boots’ belongings, Abra goes in search of his jacket in the Sluice room. Abra finds a ju-ju doll with real human teeth in the lining of his jacket. Abra knows, for those who believe, it carries a curse. He takes the doll and goes in search of Boots. Holding the doll up to Boots, the man leaps from his bed has a panic attack, screaming at the top of his voice. Ric and Donna frantically try and calm the man as Abra looks on. He tells Ric that he has seen this before. Boots has been cursed and believes he’s going to die. Ric thinks this is rubbish but Abra is insistent. He saw this in the Congo, and saw someone die just because he believed he would die.

Although Linden pulled Steve through the operation, Jayne is shocked to discover that he operated and had not gone home as she instructed him to. Despite his good results she is angry and has no choice but to officially suspend him. She has him escorted off the premises.

Sam gets champagne ready in the bar to celebrate his ‘new life’, and Maria arrives, mistakenly thinking it is a date. On seeing the dozen champagne glasses lined up, she realises her mistake and runs off, clearly upset. Sam is upset, but realises it is probably for the best; he does not want to lead her on. He continues to celebrate; this is the best news he has had in ages.

Connie manages to pull off Sophie’s operation, but Boots dies as Ric failed to save him. There is no explanation, but Abra still believes it is down to a curse. Ric tries to get Abra along to Sam’s celebratory drinks, but he refuses. The death of Boots has obviously brought back a lot of memories for Abra. He does however reassure Ric that he put the ju-ju doll in the incinerator even though it is actually in the draw next to him.

Linden struggles to relax at home, and after his pager continuously goes off, he returns to Holby. Maddy questions his return and Linden assures her that someone has paged him. At that moment, a couple appear, who they believe to be Chinese. The woman is pregnant and collapses. They do not speak any English and Mark, Daisha and Linden struggle to calm them. They eventually get the man under control as he allows them to treat his wife. An ultrasound shows that the woman is expecting twins, but they are conjoined. Linden looks amazed.

As another day begins at Holby, we see from the Holby Gazette that Linden is in serious trouble with the headline “Surgeon Causes Death, Claims Family”. Linden arrives to find Martin Kelly, a Clinical Risk Manager, in his office. Liam Harris died of hypovolaemic shock, but it was a sequence of events that caused the patient to lose blood and go into cardiac arrest. Throwing Maddy out of theatre and operating alone does not help Linden’s case. Although Linden accepts what happened, he still does not understand why the patient went into VF that fast.

Sam approaches the Radiology Cinic as Maria catches up with him. It is the day of his final scan and he is testy and nervous. Being too early for his appointment, Maria makes him go for a cappuccino before he has to head off. Maria is concerned that he is going alone, but that is what he wants. She is left to deal with Sophie, a patient she knows from junior school, who is heading into a risky operation that Connie will perform.

Martin Kelly interviews Maddy about Liam Harris’s death on AAU. Although praising Linden, she cannot hide the fact he made a bad decision by throwing her out of theatre. Mark later admits that Linden should probably have sent the patient up to Keller. He does however stand by the fact that Linden operated in AAU. They need to have a wider role for the ward, which relieves the pressure on other wards and surgeons - meaning more immediate attention for patients. Martin however sees this as empire building.

After a visit from Martin Kelly, Jayne Grayson calls Connie and Ric into her office. They think it must be about the external enquiry into Linden; it is actually about the Director of Surgery job. They are the two strongest candidates for the role and Jayne wants it filled ASAP. They are both delighted – may the best horse win! Connie is paged and makes her exit, but Jayne holds Ric back to ask him a favour. She wants him to put a good word in for Linden. Although he made a mistake, what is bad for Linden is bad for the hospital. She also mentions that he is her first choice for the Director of Surgery Job – Ric is chuffed.

Jayne goes to see Linden and tells him he must go on gardening leave until the Liam Harris situation is resolved. Linden understands, but he also has a patient who ought to be undergoing surgery as soon as possible. Jayne wants him to go home and leave it to Maddy, but Linden points out that Maddy isn’t at all sure she agrees with him. She still insists he goes home, but on leaving, Linden begins to prep for the operation.

As Maria continues her work in HolbyCare, she becomes aware that someone is nearby. It is a solemn looking Sam. Maria looks worried but Sam’s face soon splits into an enormous grin – his cancer has gone! He embraces Maria and kisses her full on – but it is a celebratory kiss, not a passionate one.

Abra and Ric have been dealing with a patient nicknamed “Boots” – as they do not know his real name. They have found inconclusive test results and cannot find out what is wrong with him. He doesn’t speak a word, apart from occasionally whispering the word “Soarta”. Donna is convinced he is weird, and after taking “Boots” into theatre without Ric’s consent, Abra begins to think it is something sinister and beyond them, beyond their understanding.

After stealing flowers from various patients, Sam gives Maria a bunch of ‘stolen’ flowers to say thanks for her support and belief in him. Her patient Sophie, who is due for her risky operation, sees. It gives her courage and helps her trust Maria. Sam returns with lunch for Maria and bumps into Connie. He tells her the good news and she is delighted. Having misunderstood the kiss from Sam, Maria is off getting ready for celebratory drinks she thinks he is organising for them.