Rigor Mortis
Series 1
Episode 1
At St. Luke's Hospital, doctors Anthony Webster and Ruth Anderson are working in the pathology lab, where Ruth is finding the day-to-day work being boring, and hoping for a murder case to bolster her spirits. They are also joined by assistant Chloe who is organising an office game with pictures of them all when they were babies as well as police liaison Simon who observes the process. Anthony comes to realise he recognises that the "patient", Mr Scott, though can't remember who he was. Lab assistant Gordon meanwhile is eating egg and chips in head of the department Professor Graeme Donaldson's office, while Simon wants to speak to him about an alleged affray in a taxi office, and calls him in to the police station for an interview. Professor Donaldson is also aghast at the post-mortem performed by Anthony and the medical ethics of the situation. Meeting the patients family to try to refresh his family, Anthony tries to probe them for information and discovers the patient was a man who he mocked when changing profession to an aromatherapist, leading him to drink after his business folded. Ruth also discovers she knew the man as a former date, which went particularly badly.
Episode 2
Ruth recalls playing a game of Cluedo as they get on with the first case of the day, while Anthony has discovered that Gordon has been sleeping in the labs. Professor Donaldson also reveals they have their first person visiting as pathology compassion scheme, Mrs Renfield, who is visiting after the death of her husband. When Mrs Renfield arrives, they are unable to find the body of her husband while Chloe also discovers her lunch is missing. Simon is called in to help with the case, and also takes to investigating Chloe's missing lunch. Professor Donaldson also takes to keeping Mrs Renfield busy while they look for the body, by sending her for elbow x-rays. Ruth also sets about her own investigation and takes to accusing Gordon of body-snatching, before turning her attention to Anthony, believing that he is using bodies for research. Anthony eventually recalls that he may have moved the body to orthopaedics by mistake rather than the drunken Gordon who he thought he was moving, which leads to a race against time to find and retrieve the body before it is discovered. Chloe also finds the guilty party in relation to her sandwich theft.
Episode 3
Ruth discovers from Professor Donaldson that the old coroner is dead, leaving her delighted as he never sent them interesting dead bodies or high profile cases. Anthony meanwhile is performing an autopsy through which Simon keeps fainting at the sight of the dead body on the table, before receiving the news from Ruth that there is a new coroner - Daniel Kaspar. Gordon meanwhile is having his six-month review interview by Professor Donaldson where he reveals he may go a different way due to wanting to be a doctor to help people, which leads to the professor heading into a depression over his own choices. Ruth takes to visiting Daniel to demand that the coroners office sent more interesting cases, though without Professor Donaldson knowing. Ruth also commissions an odd video to bolster the image of St. Luke's, while Anthony tries to improve Simon's resistance to body parts. Professor Donaldson's mood is improved soon however when Gordon decides to stick with pathology, after making his decision while drunk. Ruth also takes Daniel head on by introducing him to Anthony and Professor Donaldson who are pretending to be dead and proves particularly frightening for him.
Episode 4
The pathologists are tasked by Professor Donaldson with performing a holistic autopsy due to the man's wife objecting to an invasive procedure on religious grounds. The situation also has Anthony and Ruth asking questions with the man having been arrested at a protest then released on bail, leading to Simon being the one who discovered the body. Ruth meanwhile is also invited by Simon to perform some forensic work when a body turns up in the canal. Chloe meanwhile is struggling to understand notes typed up by Gordon due to them having too many acronyms which are made up. Mrs Fitzherbert, who prefers to go by her Bardic name of Yellow Wolf, arrives at the morgue to negotiate about the autopsy with the requirement that they retain no part of his body, and wants Professor Donaldson to perform the work. Ruth turns up at the forensic site in the hope of finding something the police have missed, and finds a suicide note which leaves her delighted, though she allows Simon to take the credit for a short time. Professor Donaldson is looking forward to getting on with his autopsy despite Anthony's concerns about his rustiness having not done one in a number of years.
Episode 5
Friday has arrived with Anthony expecting his thirteen year old daughter Margaret coming to visit, while Ruth has been setup on a speed date by Chloe. Work however interrupts Margaret's hopes when a house fire breaks out leading Anthony to work late, despite Ruth's hope to put the bodies in the refrigerator until Monday. Determined to see Margaret have a good time, Anthony sets about having her dissect a Westlife figurine though she gets a better offer of spending time with Simon instead, who tries to offer some words of advice to improve Anthony's relationship with his daughter. Ruth proves relentless at rejecting men until she comes across Justin who she believes has just been released from prison. Professor Donaldson contemplates how the mortuary can improve the "welcome" for their patient arrivals with Simon's suggestion of playing the Quincy M.E. theme tune. Anthony tries to bond with Margaret at the waxworks though struggles to avoid work, while Ruth takes Justin to a pool hall for their first date, and finds he is actually a "prison visitor" which leads to her settling for an offer from Anthony.
Episode 6
The Sixth Sense is talk of the mortuary when Professor Donaldson comes in with big news that they have been invited to assist Professor Raymond van den Hoogenband in the first ever live radio autopsy broadcasting from St. Luke's. Gordon meanwhile is looking for advice from everyone but Chloe, who takes to trapping Gordon in the lift with her to explain her lack of concern about him not asking for her advice. Professor Donaldson, Anthony, Ruth, and mortician Todd head to meet Professor van den Hoogenband at his home. He reveals they will be working on a Mrs Talbot who volunteered to be autopsied due to her love of Radio 4. In preparing for the radio event, Professor Donaldson is tasked with speaking with audience members though decides to use Gordon and Chloe as plants who he can speak to. Anthony also comes to realise that he is somewhat envious of Professor van den Hoogenband, while Ruth hopes to be the Anne Robinson of radio pathology. Once the show gets underway, Chloe has an outburst at never being listened to, while Gordon finally agrees with her opinion and Professor van den Hoogenband proves to be a lunatic before killing himself.
Series 2
Episode 1
Professor Donaldson advises that the pathologists should get to know their patients better, despite them being very much dead, which proves a challenge for the anti-social Ruth and Anthony. Chloe has also decided to try to learn the way of gypsy's in the hope of reducing prejudice in the community. Anthony's attempt to follow through with Professor Donaldson's suggestion becomes weird, while Gordon discovers that her liver looks like Chris Akabusi who tries to convince Chloe who is playing games at an arcade. Laura, a rather beautiful patient arrives in the lab, which leads Ruth to find Anthony, Gordon, Chloe, and Professor Donaldson trying to impress her going so far as to dress up. Anthony however is upset when he finds out that she was married and prepares to meet her husband, who he hopes will "release" Laura. Ruth is somewhat jealous of Anthony's attention towards Laura, and laments that she never gets such a level of attention from anyone. With Anthony withholding releasing the body after the autopsy is completed, Ruth sets a plan to get him to do so with deceit about a radiologist and Laura.
Episode 2
Gordon takes to asking Ruth what she would do if she was not a pathologist in the quiet time, while Anthony is disappointed that there are no autopsies to perform. A lack of paperwork to complete, leads Ruth suggesting there must be other menial jobs for them to do. The lack of work also leads Simon being able to chat with Chloe who is upset at the secreterial magazine she buys hasn't featured her as Ms Ruislip. The lack of deaths continues into the following day which leads Anthony to become irate. Professor Donaldson sets about finding why there is a drought of bodies, with Ruth and the Professor also starting to turn desperate for work. Simon however is now looking better just for not having to handle any bodies. Chloe also finds that she hasn't been featured in Ms Ruislip due to her work setting being a morgue, and also sets about asking Simon out for a drink. Four days pass without a body, which leads Professor Donaldson to hold a crisis meeting, and announce his suggestions on how the world can improve the dead count. A week passes without death, and Anthony resorts to performing an autopsy on a cabbage before heading out to an accident blackspot to distract drivers.
Episode 3
Ruth sets about placing a personal advert for herself, though struggles to sell her personality. Chloe also announces that Ruth's mother is planning on visiting, and worrying that she is actually going to turn up. Having got bored of the truth with her mother, Ruth has to cover up a number of lies including Professor Donaldson being besotted with her, and Gordon being her boyfriend. Gordon meanwhile has his own problems having passed out drunk and collapsed in the automatic doors which are opening and closing on his head. Her mother also gets a shock when Anthony appears alive, rather than being dead as she had been told by Ruth. Simon has the task of showing Norman, an eight year old the body of his father, but also has to deal with Anthony whose social skills prove problematic including using cutlery to explain pathology. With Ruth's fictional life also seemingly falling apart, Professor Donaldson takes to constantly reading Shakespeare to prove he was once a great young actor. With her mother set to leave, Ruth claims her success had lead to her having a stalker, who is now dead and defaced his face with marker pen, which is a surprise to Norman.
Episode 4
Entomologist Dr Betsy is visiting the pathology lab, and in doing so, Anthony meets his doppelgänger though doesn't immediately recognise him. The doctor has a keen interest in bugs in much the same way that Anthony does in humans, and treats his work in much the same way. He has arrived in the lab after being called in by Simon who found a body along with Dr Betsy. Gordon meanwhile is discussing with Professor Donaldson about never turning up to work, but still getting paid, which happens to be denied which has Professor Donaldson questioning whether Gordon's drinking is responsible for his lack of drive. He also suggests that unless he changes his ways, he will end up dead like a young drug addict who has recently passed through the morgue. Ruth attempts to convince Anthony that Dr Betsy is his duplicate, though despite all evidence, Anthony struggles to be convinced. Professor Donaldson takes to trying to get Gordon to confront his situation, by pretending to be a ghost who haunts him. Eventually, the attempts to get Anthony to recognise Dr Betsy as much like himself result in him snapping and giving the doctor a piece of his mind.
Episode 5
Professor Donaldson believes that Anthony and Ruth have not published enough articles, after his own success, tasks his staff with becoming more recognised. His suggestion of the pair collaborating however is met with scepticism by Anthony who fears Ruth's reaction at being corrected or challenged. Chloe, Gordon, and Simon decide to spend some time together, and discover that outside the lab, they don't know anything about each other. With Anthony and Ruth getting little done on their article in four hours, Professor Donaldson has them attend a "scratch night" on Friday, in the hopes of getting their work completed. Simon's idea of getting Chloe and Gordon to open up while attending a motor race culminates in him suggesting they form a pub quiz team. Anthony and Ruth are introduced to fellow scientists Alison and Matthew, who he taught at Oxford, and are pleased to meet "constipation Webster" whose old article they have read. At the pub quiz, the three have a breakthrough in their relationship and come to the conclusion not to talk about anything outside of work. Ruth attempts to impress at the scratch night by giving a speech on the whole of pathology which goes badly.
Episode 6
It is Christmas Day, though Ruth is somewhat annoyed at having to spend the day performing autopsies, after a large number of men were killed in a department store crush on Christmas Eve. Having to get ahead, with an expected rush after the festivities, Anthony is thankful not to have to spend any time with family. In an attempt to cheer her up, Anthony gives Ruth a piece of paper telling her she is not pregnant after analysing her urine, which she compliments as the best Christmas present ever, before going on to describe the date she went on. Chloe is also in the building working triple pay after strong-arming Professor Donaldson, as well as Simon who has been assigned to work the day again. Gordon also arrives, not realising it is Christmas while Professor Donaldson also turns up with gifts for his "helpers" which all prove to be remarks on each persons character before attempting to get them all to feel in the Christmas mood. With charades proving to be a let down, the group ends up playing card games due to Ruth's competitiveness. When that also goes badly for Ruth, she decides to confront the rest of them with examples of why they are all stuck in the lab on Christmas Day.
Series 3
Episode 1
Professor Donaldson is looking forward to the first day after the New Year. A situation soon arises however when Chloe reports that Simon is having problems with a mother, Mrs Wantage, whose son David is dead though she refuses to believe it. Anthony and Ruth meanwhile continue their plans to have a child together before getting to deal with the exciting case of the suicide of David. Professor Donaldson takes to consoling her while they have a coffee and eventually manages to persuade her that David is dead, but are interrupted by Gordon whose attitude to life proves to be very similar to David. Trying to avoid telling Mrs Wantage her son committed suicide, Professor Donaldson takes to handling Anthony and Ruth. Simon is also still feeling down and an outcast in the police force, which is the reason he is a liaison to the mortuary, while Chloe also contemplates moving on as she believes the job is making her weird. Arguing between Anthony and Ruth has the pair debating whether they will make suitable parents, as Professor Donaldson decides to tell Mrs Wantage how her son died which results in her being consigned to a mental hospital.
Episode 2
Anthony is delaying answering the question of when he is going to make a baby with Ruth, and is soon distracted by samples from a woman recently admitted to intensive care who has a variety of diseases. Meanwhile, Chloe and Gordon have heard the rumours that Professor Donaldson is planning to retire, though Chloe appears to have come to the conclusion herself and is actively encouraging it. Anthony decides to head to see the woman in intensive care, Dorothy Barton, though he finds Simon blocking his way due to her relative fame leading her to require protection. Ruth's frustration continues to build due to Anthony spending more time analysing Dorothy, while Anthony struggles to get the job done. However, Chloe soon discovers their plan and reveals it to Gordon and Professor Donaldson, who query whether they are going to have sex or use alternative methods. Professor Donaldson also offers his own services should Anthony fail to come through, while Gordon and Simon also makes the same proposal. Heading back to intensive care, Anthony heads up to see Dorothy by bribing Simon, and is delighted to meet her and her infections.
Episode 3
Ruth is excited that the latest case could be a murder victim, while Professor Donaldson, with retirement in sights decides on embarking on a new project to cement his legacy. He sets about giving the employees the freedom to do whatever they want, with the exception of Gordon, by going on holiday to Pembrokeshire and being uncontactable in the hope of proving "Donaldsonism". Simon also takes to delivering post, while the postman delivers bodies, due to his squeamishness. Chloe has been rejected for another job, this time with Patak's, which leaves her questioning what she is doing wrong. Professor Donaldson also reveals to Simon that he isn't leaving for a holiday, and will instead stay in the shadows to monitor the goings on of the lab. Things quickly disintegrate with Anthony taking his time as well as not doing paperwork, and Ruth not performing boring autopsies. Gordon is also finding conversations have become boring since he stopped drinking. Chloe reveals that she has a new job, as an angry mob of the grieving visit the morgue to complain about the lack of progress with autopsies which leads Professor Donaldson to reveal his plot.
Episode 4
Anthony, Ruth and Gordon are working on a case involving CJD though struggle to understand each other through their protective masks. Gordon soon discovers however that one of the gloves is defective, meaning that one of them could have been exposed to the disease. Professor Donaldson soon hears about the situation in the lab, and decides on taking charge by suggesting they keep an eye on themselves for possible symptoms. Ruth has other news with regards to their child, which a scan has shown appears to be absolutely normal, though this has Anthony disappointed and Ruth still worried with anxieties. Professor Donaldson performs a word association game with Simon, who has revised for it, in an attempt to check his mental faculties, as well as his performing his own test which leads him to question his own mental defects. A week later, Gordon returns after being missing for the duration, and can't remember anything about his time away while Ruth begins to have mood swings, and Simon discovers Professor Donaldson's thoughts about his mental well-being. The situation in the lab continues to degrade until the truth about the glove is realised.
Episode 5
Simon tries to prepare Anthony for what he is about to see, which happens to be his mother-in-law, who he starts to try and autopsy with delight. He also discovers that his ex-wife Valery was the one who requested the body to go to London for Anthony to analyse in the hope of finding why she dies. Anthony greets Valery when she turns up at the lab and ponders how he will tell her about being a soon-to-be dad to Ruth's baby now that she is eight months pregnant. Gordon meanwhile discovers a death threat has been sent to him, and though unphased by mail, Professor Donaldson and Simon insist on investigating. Anthony is unable to find the mode of death for his mother-in-law, and immediately jumps to the conclusion that she died in an obscure or unique way to annoy Anthony. Under pressure to discover the cause before the body has to be released, Anthony is determined to get to the bottom of the case, though fails and resorts to telling Valery that Ruth is having his baby. Gordon learns that he has been sending death threats to himself while drunk, as a warning to change his ways.
Episode 6
Professor Donaldson is due to leave and sets about achieving a happy ending for himself. Chloe, herself also leaving, updates on the latest goings on with Ruth due to give birth any day, while Gordon is looking unwell as a consequence of his drinking, and Simon appears to be on the brink mentally. To make matters worse, a human bird flu outbreak has been reported in the hospital, leaving Anthony the only one feeling happy with everyone in the lab requiring quarantine. Simon arrives at the hospital to discover the news about the bird flu and makes his feelings known to Chloe. Professor Donaldson and Chloe's leaving party is confined to the lab as the hospital is believed to have been sealed off, with Simon also turning up at the party bringing Gordon, who has died. Describing the events on how he came to find him, Simon proves to be unusually resilient at finding a dead body which lands him in a psychiatric hospital. Professor Donaldson begins to beat himself up over Gordon's death, as Anthony is left impatient at the lack of dead bodies arriving on his table and Ruth decides to unburden herself with Gordon's corpse, and reveals who the father is shortly before going into labour.