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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mel O&#039;Drama" data-source="post: 443732" data-attributes="member: 23">MatescontinuedThe fact that the exposure comes as the result of a medial emergency, with the pair being in an accident that hospitalised them, and Doug’s kidney failing (what’s more, he’s found to have just one kidney - a rare but not unknown phenomenon. I love that this series is giving me some new medical facts). Keith takes the compatibility test to be a donor but, since relatives can also be of the wrong type, it’s not this that lets the cat out of the bag but the fact that Terence wants to expand the search to other relatives, which means Doug’s sister. This is a drama, so naturally word quickly gets out in town when said sister phones Keith at the couple’s delicatessen (called something like a “Ham and Beef Shop” here. I don’t know if that’s a standard term for this kind of premises in Australia) and speaks to a gossipy townswoman who is minding the store so he can cover. This links into the town’s reaction (which actually isn’t the only story here. There are so many layers), and how differently the people view the two men they’d thought the world of before they knew. Earlier in the first part, Doug had saved the life of a boy who was electrocuted, and the father who then offered his own kidney to repay that good deed withdrew the offer (interestingly, this was due to pressure from his wife. It seems he would have been quite willing without her interference). Of course, there are two outlooks: most of the town, and our core group of characters. This reinforces that our characters are indeed special people, mostly open-minded and accepting. While secondary and tertiary characters - including Bob and Cookie - mock and throw around words like “poof”, others show nothing but support. Brendan continues to support the tennis coaching Doug had begun and help keep it going, as does Simon. And neither of them shows any kind of inhibition when it comes to parading round in tiny shorts in Keith’s presence (part of this is a touching scene where the three of them wait in vain for children to attend - which they had in droves in previous weeks - only for nobody to show up). Even when Brendan - after being spotted placing a reassuring arm around Keith -  is accused of being gay himself (leaning into preconceptions of him in his nursing role), he is unapologetic. Terence also gives short shrift to the man who withdraws his offer of a kidney donation, making it plain where he stands. The one regular willing to play Devil’s advocate is Vicky, who says she can understand why people may not want their children to be coached by them. Simon’s response is disgust that she could even think it. All in all, fairly progressive. There’s a tragic end, but the true tragedy comes with the series subtly addressing the lack of rights for a same-sex partner when one of them is hospitalised. With no donor, Doug faces staying in Sydney for a year for dialysis while Keith is asked to stay in Wandin Valley and look after what they’ve built together. Doug is notably absent for much of the second part, his absence noticed by the viewer who - just like Keith - may find themselves frustrated at a lack of closure.In the end, the social exclusion imposed by the town, Doug’s family and the law is too much for Keith, who ends his own life. And again, we see our regulars act out their despair at what the town’s brutal intolerance has done. Simon’s gesture of defiance to the social injustice is a powerful one. He orders Frank to drive Keith’s body through the town while Simon follows in Keith’s car (the very one in which he’d just shot himself) blasting the horn and giving filthy looks to those who have wronged the couple. It’s a strong story in its own right, not least because of its many layers. It’s not a simple A-B “tackling the gay thing” story. It’s a story about two people who are facing ageing in the face of adversity. Like all good ACP stories, it’s about people, and the point of it is that it doesn’t matter if it’s “them” or “us”. Because we should all be both together. Lightening then mood is the thread of Shirley finally (though temporarily it seems) giving up the St. Moritz. The longing look on her face whenever she watches someone else smoking is just perfectly - and hilariously - played.</blockquote>

Verification: Who played JR Ewing?