bursted into tears

James Scott (character)

James "Scotty" Scott is a fictional character on New Zealand's longest running soap opera Shortland Street and has been portrayed by Kiel McNaughton since Mid 2006.

Character

Family life, the Army and arrival in Ferndale

Coming from a somewhat chaotic childhood in South Ferndale, Scotty went into the Army (Regional Forces) as a school leaver at eighteen, only one step ahead of a jail sentence for petty juvenile crimes. To his surprise, he found a natural home there. The discipline suited his need for structure and he became a true believer. As a private, he was sent to Bosnia as part of an advanced core unit. Bravery and natural ability as a leader saw him promoted to section commander corporal at the youthful age of twenty-two. He took a bullet to the thigh and was hospitalised in Bosnia. The army nurse who cared for him made a deep impression with his dedication and strength of character.

After recovering from his injury, Scotty opted out of active service and, remembering his experience in Bosnia, did a nursing degree, graduating at twenty-five. A careerist, he has quickly risen in the profession. He has worked on medical, surgical and orthopaedics wards, ending up as Charge Nurse in orthopaedics at Central where he earned an impressive reputation as someone who could bring order out of chaos. Now aged twenty-eight, he is doing post-graduate research at Central.

Ex-Army Private-turned nurse, Scotty, originally came to Shortland Street Hospital after Toni resigned as the Nursing Manager. In urgent need of someone to step in to the role and help to identify Toni's successor, Chris brought in Scotty until a permanent replacement could be decided on. During that time Scotty gained himself no admirers when it appeared that his homophobia may have been the reason that he gave the Nursing Manager's role to Brenda instead of Maia. Scotty has an upright bearing that is a holdover from his time in the armed services. Assertive and self-possessed, he displays a natural authority to others. A very clear communicator, he can occasionally be somewhat intimidating. Few would dare to question his authority.

Suspect in Ferndale Strangler killings

In October 2007; Scotty became the prime suspect when the body of victim #4 Beth Wilson was found along a jogging route which happened to be the same place he went for nightly jogs. He was eventually cleared as a suspect when Joey Henderson was revealed as the killer.

Shanti Kumari

Scotty's personal life is somewhat less successful than his professional one. He sets such high standards for himself that partners find themselves scrambling to keep up, and often falling by the wayside. Basically, Scotty doesn't do 'relaxed'. He gives very little away emotionally but has been inexplicably drawn to sweet natured nurse Shanti Kumari.

In the later part of 2007, Scotty's career and personal life was challenged by the suspicion that he might have been the notorious Ferndale Strangler (Later revealed to be Joey Henderson). Despite the spate of killings, Shanti has always believed in him and they finally consummated their relationship prior to Christmas. Finally daring to hope that their love might breach the cultural divide (Shanti is Indian) - Scotty has been shocked by the arrival of Shanti's "betrothed" from India - dashing doctor Dinesh Jivani.

It looks like he will have a real fight on his hands if he is to realise his hope of a future with the divine Miss Kumari. But his recent proposal of marriage to Shanti could see a wedding looming despite the cultural crossfire they will find themselves embroiled in. And is Dinesh willing to let Shanti go without a fight?

On March 14, 2008 Scotty and Shanti were almost married in a secret wedding ceremony (Tania Jeffries was Shanti's bridesmaid and Kip Denton was Scotty's best man) but it was aborted due to the arrival of Vijay(shanti's uncle), Sunil(shanti's brother) and Dinesh (shanti's betrothed). The next day Shanti's family tried to stop her from seeing Scotty, this resulted in her threating to call her parents and tell them about Scotty. She then packed her bags left and reunited with Scotty.

Shanti had been trying to find out about Scotty's family, following a phone call from a woman about water problems in house Scotty rented them. A suspicious Shanti found photo of Scotty with a woman and two children and quizzed Scotty about them. One day Shanti found out the address of the house and went there when knocked on the door it was opened by Scotty holding a baby. Scotty was annoyed and revealed that it was sister's children. Shanti later met Jimmy, Scotty's father, who charmed her with stories about Scotty. Scotty warned Shanti not to get involved but she ignored the advice, lent money to Jimmy and signed as guarantor for a loan. Jimmy claimed the loan was turned down but to Shanti's horror was proved untrue as debt collectors arrived to claim the money, as they left Jimmy arrived with electrical goods and a request for more money, at this point Shanti threw him out. Scotty arrived home to learn that Shanti had fallen for his father's lies and he kicked her out. Shanti return a ring and chain to Scotty who broke down in tears. In the past days Scotty is refusing to talk to Shanti and Dinesh her spurned fiance is trying to woo her back. Scotty meet with Shanti at the IV to talk, while he was getting drinks Dinesh arrived and mentioned that the two had kissed. Scotty's anger boiled over and he left the IV and Shanti bursted into tears. Scotty and Shanti reconciled after he was injured by psychiatric patient. Scotty learnt and Indian dialect and delivered a speech to Shanti's aunt and uncle but Dinesh out for revenge added an insulting phrase calling the aunt a prostitute. Shanti's uncle wants both Scotty's and Shanti's family together before there is a wedding. Over four-day celebrations Shanti and Scotty were finally married.