Amanda Mealing
“I’m pushing to get back the old Connie!”
Connie’s diazepam addiction has terrifying consequences for both her and Archie this week – when they’re involved in a potentially deadly hostage situation at a local chemist!
With Ciaran and Archie on to her drug habit, Connie’s left desperate when she realises that all prescriptions at the hospital now have to be counter-signed by another medic in the department.
And her determination to lay her hands on more pills sends her into the path of danger…
“Ciaran’s got wind of the fact that Connie’s been prescribing drugs for herself,” explains Amanda Mealing, who plays the struggling medic. “Connie’s not in her right mind at the moment. She’s so desperate that she goes outside to her local pharmacist for the pills.
“Archie is really suspicious at this point,” she adds. “Connie’s told Dylan that she’s just popping out on an errand, then she tells Archie that she has an important meeting that she’s late for. So Archie follows her – with really dreadful consequences.”
Viewers know that Connie has been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder in the wake of being attacked by a patient’s angry husband. The brutal assault left poor Connie scared to go to work, but terrified of being left alone at home as well – which has resulted in her reaching for prescription drugs to get her
through. And with Ciaran and Archie watching her every move, Connie’s been backed into a corner.
“What we see now is an utterly devastated and broken woman,” sighs Amanda. “This is the worst possible situation for Connie – if Ciaran and Archie confirm that she is using diazepam, it’s the end of her career. Connie’s sacrificed everything to be a doctor,
Connie’s not in her right mind – she’s completely desperate”
including her relationship with her daughter. So with all that on the line, it’s a case of how far will she go to save herself?”
Determined to get hold of more drugs, Connie heads to her local pharmacy, unaware that she’s being followed by Archie. But just as Archie bursts into the chemist to confront her boss, both medics realise with horror that they’ve walked into the middle of a hostage situation – and are confronted by a violent young woman brandishing a knife!
While Amanda’s sworn to secrecy about what happens next, we can confirm that at least one character will end up with serious stab wounds – so with Amanda currently on a break from the medical drama, could it be Connie who ends up at death’s door?
“I know the audience was really upset when Casualty got bumped for the tennis a few weeks ago,” she tells us. “But I think this double-episode is a very appropriate reward for them, and it’s a very good way for us to end this current series. Hopefully people will be happy to have a movie-length version of Casualty on this week – it’s so dramatic!”