[Display include file if.]

Yea that's it in a nutshell! 
I guess I'll need to think of another approach. 
I was hoping to return null or something from include if it fails and in layout file do something like:

  if( response not null ) display response
  else carry on with layout.php

Not a great explanation on my part, newibe as if its not clear!

[Display include file if.]

I am using an inclue file on my layout.php page. 
I'd like to ignore the include file if the DB connection therein fails.
How should I do this?