Series 1 - Episode 5

Another emotional time at the hospital sees a young nun collapse and has her world shattered by Lydia's mistaken interference, angering Ruby. Ram hires a matchmaker for AJ but ends up with a new love himself. A schoolfriend of Ram's is admitted with a stroke as his younger wife looks on concerned. Maggie's schedule catches up to her and she is admitted, forcing Gabriel to tell Lydia everything. Greg holds his annual crab race and finds winner Paul staying close to Maggie, before then seeing Lydia in tears. Gabriel and Ruby start to acknowledge their growing feelings for each other just as Marcus needs to reconnect with her for their UK house sale.

A bridal group walks through Barco town to St Lucia Convent to collect an order of hand-woven cloth as a local tradition. While there, a young nun collapses. Lydia responds to the emergency call and takes Ruby with her for a chance at female bonding. The strict Mother Superior insists on discipline and silence from her novices but Sister Inez, the patient, is given permission to break the vow and speak to the doctors about her health. They confirm an infection and the test also indicates that she is somehow pregnant. Lydia wants to book Inez into the hospital for an ultrasound scan. Mother Carmen is reluctant for her to go, but Lydia insists it is essential so she is allowed to leave temporarily. Excited by the miracle gift from God and proud of immaculate conception, Inez tells her superior of the pregnancy and is promptly thrown out, having brought shame on the Order. Inez maintains she is innocent and the scan confirms an empty uterus. Instead, the test showed a false positive from a benign ovarian cyst, requiring surgical removal. Lydia uses it as a training opportunity for Ruby, then arranges for a specialist from Kochi to perform the procedure. Disappointed that she has not been chosen, Inez feels foolish and questions her faith. Lydia returns to the convent to confront Carmen over the heavy-handed approach to the case and is met with uncomfortable reminders of her own schooling.

Ruby arrives at work and collects her breakfast from the roti stall just as Marcus calls her on his night shift to arrange signing the papers to sell their joint house. Ruby tells him to send the necessary documents. Gabriel overhears some of the conversation and looks on wistfully. Lydia drives past and requests Ruby's assistance for the Convent case. On the journey, Lydia notices that her protegee is usually quiet and knows something is bothering her. After some persuasion, Ruby tells her that they are selling the UK house so the relationship with Marcus is really over. Lydia tells her to look forward and move on from the mistake. On the return drive, Ruby asks Lydia about her marriage.

Back in the Good Karma, Ram tries to smarten up a hungover and unkempt AJ. He introduces Mala Pradeep, a marriage broker. She concludes that AJ needs work, but she likes a challenge, and he could be her ultimate achievement. Ram wants his son to socialise with more appropriate (Indian) female company. AJ storms out and refuses to cooperate as Mala takes a call from another client in Chennai.

The hospital receives a stroke patient who is unable to move his left side. He is a rich personal schoolfriend of Ram and they have not seen each other in years. Mari does not approve of his much younger wife, expecting her to abandon him. She later surprises the medical staff by feeding him. Ram looks on regretful that he cannot help. Sister Inez is also watching the family at prayer, wanting to join them but feeling too disillusioned. Later, his arm responds. It was a transient attack. All it needed was a little magic, as Mala returns. She then starts assessing Ram, calling him charming with a little sadness. He decides that there is no harm in discussing a match so Mala begins to make selections.

It is time for Greg's annual crab race at the bar. Although gambling is illegal, he has an informal arrangement to record the wagers and convinces Paul to join for 1000 rupees (about £10). Paul bets on the favourite, either way. He knows the catch. Maggie joins them and wants to visit another temple. Paul is fed up with them, the weather, the flies and so on but Maggie makes him go with her by train. He complains the whole way and climbing 8-12km up the staircase. He can't leave her so follows at a distance. He insists they to go back shortly before the end so Maggie tells him of the Arundhati Star that appears for one night only in the woods above the temple. It is said to have healing powers. He is angry until she collapses during the argument which follows. AJ and Gabriel respond to call, shouting in the local language to make the crowd move. Gabriel wonders why Paul has dragged her out there, but accepts his explanation that it was Maggie's wish and she was fine beforehand. They carry her down for admission. Greg has come in to take Lydia's bet. It is always her who wins and she contributes 5000 rupees (£50) to the pot. She takes the opportunity to ask him for advice about a young woman about to ruin her life. He begins with a joke, but realises that she needs a serious answer. Then they hear a commotion. The boys are back with Maggie. Gabriel must confess all to his bosses, insisting his patient has the right to make her own decisions. He didn't know she was going to the temple and would have advised against it. She is furious with his secrecy but still helps him to prepare Maggie for further tests.

Ruby finds Sister Inez sitting forlorn at the fountain. Lydia tries to be reassuring but withholds the information that the novice can return to the convent. They both intend to help in their own way. Ruby seeks advice from Gabriel about how to approach Lydia. She also shows curiosity about him for the first time. He gives her very little in reply and makes it about Maggie, hinting at something penitent from his past. They share a joke and a longing gaze.

Meanwhile, AJs flame Josie has reappeared and is seeking a job at Greg's bar to pay for a plane ticket home. He takes her on to start immediately, being the only applicant. AJ is horrified. At the crab race that night, the Nairs are dressed up again, but it is Mala herself who wants to meet Ram. AJ thinks his father is making a fool of himself dating again, but a wiser Josie says it's AJ who is the fool. Paul's crab wins, but he is nowhere to be found, instead holding a vigil at Maggie's bedside. They agree to call their daughter and admit the truth.

At hometime, Ruby sees the nun sleeping outside and checks on her to find her wrists slashed and bleeding. She calls for help and sees Gabriel walking through who, hearing the urgency, literally comes running. This is the first time she uses his given name on camera. Between them, they drag Inez inside. Ruby confidently and successfully does a 'cut-down' to a leg artery for IV line access, like he taught her from Episode 1. The young doctors bond further as they remember their previous need to perform this procedure, which ended in tragedy. Ruby gets the blood straight in, saving novice's life. Inez is scheduled for transfer to Kochi for urgent treatment on her cyst and mental health. Ruby believes their patient had the right to choose her own path and make her own mistakes so lets loose her considerable temper on Lydia. Her boss is aware of how close it was, doing what she thought was right. This time she was wrong, putting a brave face on the situation but is devastated by the outcome.

Greg goes in search of Paul to give him his winnings and share they share a drink. Greg then finds Lydia crying, so brings her into a caring embrace. Work over for the day, Ruby returns to her cottage and sees the lights are on. She tentatively opens the door. Marcus has come in person with the papers. She is pleased to see him as he greets her with a simple 'Hi'. What does this mean for her budding attraction with Gabriel?

See IMDB. First broadcast: 04 Mar 2017 on ITV in UK.

Production Staff
Jon Wright, director of this and the next episode, has worked with James Floyd before on the BBC Films teen slasher movie Tormented (2009). See iPlayer, Amazon UK and IMDb character photo (as goth Nasser).
 * Writer: Dan Sefton
 * Director: Jon Wright
 * Producer: Stephen Smallwood

Guest Cast
Previous | Series 1 | Next
 * Marcus Read - Tom Canton
 * Roti Seller - Biman Kasun Wimalaratne
 * Sister Inez - Kiran Sonia Sawar
 * Mother Carmen - Madhur Jaffery
 * Josie Young - Yasmin Paige
 * Mala Pradeep - Achint Kaur
 * Hari Menon - Riyaaz Makaney (also Riyaz Makhani)
 * Mrs Menon - Sujaya Dasgupta
 * Painter - (NWKN) Prabath Uday
 * Bridal Client and friends
 * Hungry Boy and family