Elliot is reading an article about Tara in a magazine which outlines their forthcoming operation. Jayne is excited that there is building media interest in the case, and she asks Elliot and Tara to conduct a press conference to raise the profile of the operation and Holby. Elliot had wanted to keep the operation quiet, but when he sees how excited Tara is about the coverage, he agrees.
Ric is in a meeting with the Multi Disciplinary Team who conclude that there is nothing more they can do for Donna’s father, Derek. Meanwhile Donna is conducting her own research into his cancer. When Ric returns from his meeting, Donna bombards him with her research. Ric informs her that the team are all in agreement that Derek’s cancer is inoperable - or rather that an operation won't achieve anything. Donna wants to dispute the verdict, but Ric tells her that he won’t change his mind.
Joseph is reading a credit card statement and there are a number of transactions that he doesn’t recognise. Faye wants to know if there’s anything wrong but Joseph says everything’s fine. Linden witnesses the atmosphere between them. Faye doesn’t know what is up with Joseph
Tara starts to prepare for the press conference but Elliot has patients to attend to as he is trying to juggle his time between Tara and his other work. Elliot is speechless when a couple enter his office – it may have been years since he last saw them but he needs no introduction to Rob and Marcie Landis. They are the parents of the child he lost while doing the same procedure 25 years ago.
Michael tells Ric he thinks they could consider operating on Derek. Ric is annoyed - is this about what's best for the patient or Michael wanting to undermine Ric's position? Michael warns Ric not to make this about them – this is about Donna. She is a friend and a colleague and they should go the extra mile for her. Ric watches Donna with her father and he agrees to the operation. Donna hugs Ric and the team applaud his decision.
Faye tries to talk to Joseph to lighten the mood, but he remains brusque. He informs Faye what the patient requires but when Faye queries the treatment Joseph pulls rank - it’s his diagnosis, not hers.
Rob and Marcie Landis are devastated that Elliot and Tara are going to repeat the operation and are being acclaimed as medical heroes for doing so. Elliot pleads with the parents that his only concern, both then and now, is for his patient. Like the case of their daughter, this is the only likely chance of survival for the patient. Marcie Landis won’t back down and they give an ultimatum to stop the publicity machine before they tell the press about their daughter. Elliot and Tara try to explain that the situation is different and they are not in it for the publicity. The couple seem to back down.
Ric has to reconvene the Multi Disciplinary Team and inform them that he's changed his mind regarding Derek’s treatment. He meets resistance from Connie but he uses his status as Director of Surgery to overrule them all. Ric informs Donna and Derek who are happy at the thought they can share more time together.
Elliot and Tara go ahead with the press conference against the wishes of the Landis couple. Elliot is pulled away to deal with an emergency with one of his patients and Tara is left to handle the press herself.
Faye receives a phone call from the bank to say that their card’s been cloned. Faye finds Joseph and tells him about the bank. Joseph acts surprised but he’s a bad liar. Faye quizzes him about whether their argument has been about money and trust. Joseph denies it and says everything is fine but they go home in silence.
At the press conference Rob and Marcie Landis bide their time before announcing to the room that their child died 25 years ago from an identical operation that this girl is about to have. Elliot arrives back at the press conference in time to hear the couple address the room. He saya that their daughter’s procedure was different and that her death paved the way to help other children’s lives. The couple now see Elliot and Tara are doing this for the future health of the child and not for personal publicity.
Tagged in Holby City