Snakes and Ladders

A teenage boy is brought into the Royal having fallen from a cliff, but it soon emerges that the incident was a suicide attempt as evidence of extreme depression comes to the surface. Cheriton contacts the youngster's psychiatrist but is taken aback when electroshock therapy is suggested as a form of treatment, so ventures to the family home to recommend an alternative — only for tragedy to strike. Meanwhile, a hypochondriac causes chaos at the hospital when she insists her dog be treated following a snake bite, and a heart-to-heart between Weatherill and Ormerod leads to a passionate kiss.

David Cheriton udfordrer den psykiatriske sagkundskab, da han behandler den unge Jeffrey Carpenter, der er kommet til skade efter et fald fra en klippe. Jeffrey lider af depression og er gennem længere tid blevet behandlet med elektrochok. Men Jeffrey mener, at behandlingen gør mere skade end gavn, og Cheriton er tilbøjelig til at give ham ret.