Australian
Screen

Clip description

Bill ‘Happy’ Henderson’s (Shane Bourne) new Harley Davidson motorcycle and erratic behaviour continue to raise eyebrows at MDA and it’s harder and harder for staff to get a moment of his time. As he excuses himself yet again, Amanda McKay (Angie Milliken) seizes the moment to talk about a case – and ask him if everything’s ok. Amanda is worried about the Delvecchio case. A patient is suing Amanda’s client Dr Julia Delvecchio (Anita Hegh) for malpractice, claiming Delvecchio gave her an incorrect dose of morphine that led to serious health problems. Delvecchio is convinced the pump she used to deliver the dose malfunctioned – but she is on the verge of a breakdown and Amanda is worried she won’t hold up in court. When Happy won’t agree to pay for an out-of-court settlement, Amanda decides to put pressure on the pump manufacturer.

Curator’s notes

In the case of the morphine pump , the script does not reveal who is at fault – the patient, the doctor or the pump manufacturer – so it’s possible to sympathise with all parties. We are left to consider how the law might view the situation and to observe Amanda’s aggressive tactics as she does her work.

Here we see season three’s more dynamic visual style. The MDA office setting moved from ABC’s Melbourne studios to the more spacious old Boeing building at Fisherman’s Bend. This scene shows the freer movement possible in the new environment. Motion helps give the scene a feeling of forward momentum, as we follow them from the office onto the street. Moving onto the street also allows the motorcycle to reintroduce the midlife crisis plotline in a natural manner.