A Gifted Man (2011–2012): Season 1, Episode 9 - In Case of Abnormal Rhythm - full transcript

Michael and Kate are forced to work together to try and save a patient with a deadly virus. Meanwhile, at Holt Neuro, as Michael treats a nervous bride-to-be who is experiencing headaches, he notices her mother is exhibiting symptoms of a serious condition.

600 lumbar stitch drivers.

Gina, you have done it again.

- And that's just the East Coast.
- Mm.

Michael Holt invents
a new instrument,

everyone wants to get
their hands on it.

Hmm, bet you say that to
all your neurosurgeons.

Only the one
who keeps me in Armani.

You going to fly home to DC
tonight?

I'll be back in two months.

You have time for dinner?

Already made a
reservation at Per Se.



Swing by and get
you at 8:00?

See you then.

Shall I cancel your lunch?

Hate to spoil your
appetite for tonight.

Not possible.

This will.

The Clinica called three times.

Said you're late
for your shift.

Tell them I'm on my way.

Hold on, Romeo.

You have a last-minute consult
in Exam Two.

- Rachel Lewis.
- New patient?

You treated her mother Eileen

for a slipped disc
three years ago.



She sent you Yankee
tickets to thank you.

Yes. Sat front row
behind first base.

I caught a pop fly.

Oh, yeah.
Of course you did.

What's up with her daughter?

She passed out
right in the middle

of her bridesmaids' brunch.

It was terrifying.

Mom, it wasn't
that big a deal.

I'm getting married Sunday.

Take a deep breath.

She's a little wound up.

Rachel is trying to play
this down for you,

but when she stood up to give
a toast....

she crashed to the floor.

I was just a little
dizzy, that's all.

She has also had a headache
for three days straight.

But it's gone today.
I'm fine.

This headache...
where was the pain?

Everywhere. Felt like
my head was being

crushed in a vise.

Any double vision

or nausea?

No.

Any weakness in the limbs

- or numbness?
- Nothing.

See, Mom, it's not
a brain tumor.

It could be any number
of conditions that could

be causing these symptoms,

starting with the stress
of your wedding.

So will you... still
run some tests?

Yeah, let's do an MRI, Ugh.

some labs and, uh, try
to take a breath, relax.

Your wedding should be fun.

Mine was.

Tavo, will you give Mrs. Pence
one of our starter diabetes kits

and extra syringes till she has
time to get to the pharmacy?

Will do.

Where's Holt?

We got more than a dozen
patients waiting here.

Autumn, any word
from Dr. Holt?

- I've called him three times.
- Try again.

- Here you are.
- Thanks.

That's quite a shiner.

How come you don't
have any lollipops?

Uh... here.

These are better.

Raisins?

They're good for you.

Raisins suck.

Okay.

Can I help you?

Hi. I teach first grade
down the block,

and I was just wondering if I
could see somebody real quick.

- What's the problem?
- I don't know.

I just feel cruddy.

Well, you're in luck.
We treat "cruddy" here.

Just fill this out, and we'll be
with you as soon as we can.

MRI's clear, labs are normal,
and EKG looks good.

Then why did she faint?

What about the headaches?

Uh, fainting's probably

from just not getting enough
to eat.

Headache is probably
just tension.

Let me give you a prescription

for Naproxen to get you
through your honeymoon.

Now, get out of here
and go get married.

Mom?

Eileen, you all right?

I'm fine. Whew!

I guess all this is harder
on me than I thought.

Seeing your father

with his child bride...

Rita, get me a nurse!

I can't catch my breath.

What's wrong with her?

Her pulse is thready
and her heart's racing.

What do you need?

Get me a crash cart!
Grab a pillow.

Hang on, Eileen.

Season 01 Episode 09
In Case of Abnormal Rhythm
December 2, 2011

- Is it a heart attack?
- No.

Her heart rate's up to 180.

It's what we call
atrial fibrillation.

What on Earth is that?

It's when your heart
beats abnormally.

The electrical impulses
at the top of your heart

are out of sync with
the ones at the bottom.

That sounds serious.

It can be.

We need to admit you
to Manhattan Memorial right away

to start you
on a blood thinner.

I can't go to the hospital.

We have her dress fitting
this afternoon.

You need an echocardiogram
first to make sure

there's no underlying
cardiac damage

- causing the arrhythmia.
- So she could've had it

- for a while without knowing?
- Possibly.

A-fib is more common
the older you get.

What causes it?

Heart disease,

stress, even alcohol.

Well, we know it's not alcohol.

My mom's been sober
for 15 years.

Right, Mom?

Eileen?

Have you had a drink today?

Um, I may have had

a few sips of a mimosa
at brunch.

You what?

They gave me one with
champagne by accident.

It's no big deal.

Have you had
anything else to drink

in the past few days?

Mom, please tell him no.

It's been going on
for a couple of weeks.

It started with a glass
of port before bed, and...

it just got worse.

Well, that certainly
could cause the A-fib.

Drinking after so many years
of being sober

can bring on an attack.

How could you?

You sat on that bench
in Central Park when I was 13

and promised me you'd never
touch another drop of alcohol.

Sweetheart, I'm sorry.

Can you take this thing
out of me, please?

Eileen, you're in
no shape to...

Please! I've screwed up.

I need to talk to my daughter.

You walk out of here right
now and you could die.

Honestly, I'm feeling

much better.

The fluttering is gone.

Check my heart.

- Well?
- Yes, your heart rate's fine.

But A-fib can come and go.

This puts you at risk
for a heart attack or a stroke.

You need to be in a hospital

on a Heparin drip
to thin your blood.

I'm leaving.

And you can't stop me.

You're right, Eileen.

I can't tie you
down, hold you here.

If you want to do
something that stupid,

there's nothing
I can do about it.

Isn't there anything
you could give me, please?

I just want to see my daughter
in her dress.

Yeah, I could give you
a shot of Enoxaparin.

It's not my first choice

'cause it doesn't work
as fast as Heparin,

but if you insist on leaving,
that's...

the best I can do.

I insist.

So, as soon as you've talked
to Rachel, you're going directly

to Dr. Eastman.

He's a cardiologist at Manhattan
Memorial right next door.

I've called him
and he is expecting you.

You have my word.

Thank you, Dr. Holt.

You're welcome.

You have a wonderful boss.

Let me guess, someone's leaving
against medical advice.

From now on, all family members
stay in the reception area.

Sorry to keep you waiting.

We're a little
understaffed today.

One of our docs is in Philly
playing with his band,

and the other one is...

well, don't get me
started on him.

Yeah, what about him?

Other than having an ego
the size of Wyoming?

He's, uh, an hour
and a half late.

Anyway, what's going on
with you?

You don't look so hot.

I have a sore throat,
maybe a fever.

I thought it was allergies,

but my principal
made me come in.

Yeah, you do feel a little warm.

Anything else going on?

No. I'm sure I just picked
up something from my kids.

My school is one
great big petri dish.

Well, it's probably
a viral pharyngitis.

But I'd like to do a rapid
strep test just to be sure.

How long will that take?

Just a few minutes.

All right,
open up and say aah.

Aah.

There we go, all done.

Those for your students?

Yeah, we're having a fall
festival in class tomorrow.

You have school on Saturday?

Tomorrow's Tuesday.

No, tomorrow is Saturday.
Today is Friday.

Oh, you're right.

What am I thinking?

All right, I am going
to run this test,

and I'll be right back.

Would you mind calling
my boyfriend, Hank?

I've been trying him all
morning, but he's not at work.

Maybe there's something
wrong with my phone.

Sure. Can you write down
his number for me.

That's strange. I can't
remember the number.

Well, well, well.
Dr. Punctuality.

- Nice to see you too, Sunshine.
- Hold on.

Dr. Sykora wants all her
employees to clock in now.

Her employees?

She wants to keep track of how
many hours everyone's working.

Really?

All right, now all together,

let's breathe in forgiveness.

Deep breath.

And on the exhale,

let's focus that breath

and let's send love to yourself
and to someone you care about.

Brother Mike.

Come on in, join us.

Surely you must have some
forgiveness work to do.

Surely you must be joking.

Oh, Dr. Holt, fashionably
late for work?

Even though you only work
here ten hours a week.

I had a patient
in rapid A-fib.

So what's the deal with Anton's
little séance across the hall?

You know, I brought him in
to do carpentry.

It's part of our new
meditation program.

We're also going to offer
nutritional classes, yoga.

No leeches?

I hear they're
making a comeback.

Oh, taking a stand
against wellness.

I practice
evidence-based medicine.

Then you must've read
the randomized trial

on the effects of Tai Chi
on fibromyalgia

in the New England
Journal of Medicine.

Well, the study
wasn't double-blind.

A dozen things could
account for the correlation.

Just because we don't
know the exact mechanism,

doesn't mean there isn't one.

Or is that too much
uncertainty for you?

So your social worker
says I'm on the clock.

Got a patient for me, boss?

I've got a lady with the flu,

a kid with pinkeye,

but, uh, first I'd like you to
take a look at a school teacher.

Julia.

Chief complaint,
sore throat, temp of 101.

Here strep test just
came back negative.

Sounds like viral pharyngitis.
What's the big deal?

She's confused.

Did you talk to my boyfriend?

Our social worker is
trying to reach him.

Julia, this is Dr. Holt.

I'd like him to examine you.

Dr. Wyoming.

Excuse me?

It's nothing.

Hi.

Does that bother you?

Yes. Hurts.

Look up at the ceiling.

I can't.

It's okay.

Excuse me, folks.

I got through to your
boyfriend's office,

but they said he's out today
on a rock climbing trip.

Oh, that's right, he was
going to the Catskills.

Or maybe it was Bear Mountain.

I'm not sure.

Confusion, fever,
photophobia, neck rigidity.

It's meningitis.

Or encephalitis.

Either way, she's going
to need a spinal tap.

I'll have Rita send someone over

to pick up the spinal fluid
and run it back to my office.

Autumn, we should start an isolation
protocol in case it is meningitis.

I'll call her school and tell them
they may have been exposed, too.

- Anyone else need to be notified?
- Department of Health.

We may need prophylactic
antibiotics for everyone

at school or here who's come
in contact with Julia.

We got to get her out of there!

So what does it feel like to
be a second grader? It's cool.

Julia, you shouldn't
be out here.

Oh, Miss G's not bothering us.

She used to teach
my son last year.

Why did I come out here?

Come on, Julia.

What's happening to me?

Let's just get
you back to your room.

I need my boyfriend.
I need to call Hank.

I can't remember
why I'm here.

Until we know what's wrong
with Julia,

nobody comes in, nobody leaves.

Excuse me.

Listen, everyone.

Sorry, I'm sorry. I know that
you have all been here

for, like, two hours, but we
just can't let anyone leave

until we get the results
of the meningitis test.

That really sucks.

Hey, deep breaths, friend.
Keep it cool.

Come here.

Kate, I made calls
to Catskill Park, Bear Mountain,

Adirondack Park,
and all of them said

there's no way we can track
down Julia's boyfriend.

Call the state police.

Tell them he may have been
exposed to meningitis

and we need to pick him up
before he infects others.

How's Julia?

Still altered.
Otherwise no change.

Does she remember where
Hank was rock climbing?

Yeah, Connecticut,
Massachusetts,

New Hampshire,
Pennsylvania or Maine.

That narrows it down.

It's Rita. Any news?

Good news.
Julia's spinal tap is negative

for meningitis
and encephalitis.

Really?
Okay, read me the results.

Two white cells, four red cells.
Gram stain negative.

You read both pages?

After six years with you,
Michael, and 20 as an RN,

I think I know how
to read a lab report.

Okay.

Excuse me.
I'm Rachel Lewis.

I was here earlier today
with my mother, Eileen.

Oh, yes, she left
to go find you.

She found me.

She came to my dress fitting
and we had a big fight.

I said a bunch of things
I didn't mean,

and now she's not
picking up her cell.

Did she say she was
going anywhere else?

Dr. Holt made her promise
to go see Dr. Eastman,

a cardiologist next door.

Thank you.

Come back for
meditation next week.

Bye, Mrs. Lopez.

Bye, sweetheart.
You're welcome.

Thank you all so much.

I'm so sorry.

Thank you for your patience.

Have a nice weekend, guys.

Thank you.

So, we've ruled out infectious
meningitis and encephalitis.

What else is causing
Julia's altered mental state?

Maybe we should get Anton
and meditate on it.

Don't quit neurology
for stand-up just yet.

Have you found Hank yet?

Not yet.

Is there anyone else
that we can call?

A friend, family member?

No, just Hank.

What are you scratching?

I don't know.

You mind if I take a look?

Oh. Those scabs look infected.

How long have you had them?

A little while.

I got some bug bites.

Julia, have you ever
been camping with Hank?

Just once.

A few weeks ago.

Maybe a month ago.
I'm not sure.

Did you sleep in a tent?

No, under the stars.

We saw a meteor shower.

It was beautiful.

There were a lot of bugs.

Yeah, I bet.

We'll be right back.

Those bugs could have
infected her

with any number
of vector-borne illnesses.

We should test her
for Lyme disease.

And West Nile.

She scratched herself so much,

it's hard to even tell
what bit her.

Could be an animal bite.

I know what
you're thinking, Michael.

Hello?

Do me a favor
and call my assistant.

Tell her to run
a new infectious panel

on Julia's
cerebral spinal fluid.

Lyme disease, West Nile,

and throw in rabies, too.

Rabies? They were sleeping
outside the tent.

She could've been bitten
by a bat.

If Julia has rabies
and she's already symptomatic...

- Then she's going to die.
- Just call Rita.

You know, you don't need to
tell me what I'm thinking.

Alaska, that boy who lived
above Jiggy's auto shop,

bitten by the rabid dog.

I know.

There was nothing
you could do for him,

and that tore you up.

I am not ready

to plan her funeral yet.

Michael, if it comes to that,
please don't let her die alone.

When the car hit me

and the driver just drove off,
the kids whose ball I chased,

they were too scared

to come over.

And I just laid there
alone and died.

I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

We are trying to find
her boyfriend, okay?

Rita, you can't have
the test results back.

Kate just called you.

It's Eileen Lewis.

She and her daughter
had another big fight,

then Eileen went
to an AA meeting,

and her right side went limp.

Someone from the meeting
just brought her in.

She's got a blood clot
in her brain.

The Enoxaparin didn't work
fast enough.

Do you want an MRI?

Yeah, and prep her for surgery
and call Victor Lantz.

I'm on my way.

Look, I gotta...

Where are you going?

I got an emergency back
at my office.

Right now this is your office.

I can't do anything for Julia

until I know
what we're treating.

I'll call you as soon as
I get her test results.

Where's the clot?

Middle cerebral artery.

I hear you treated
with Enoxaparin.

That's why we can't use TPA
to bust the clot.

She'll bleed out.

My daughter?

Rachel's on her way.
Rita called her.

I have to see her.

You have to get
into surgery now.

Wait. I ruined everything.

I just want to tell her
I'm sorry.

Eileen, you don't have time.

I have to get that
clot out or you could die.

Now get her in there now.

All right, Victor,
how's Eileen's heart rate?

It's fine,

but she's still in A-fib.

All right,
I'm nearing the occlusion.

Once the catheter's in place,
I'll Roto-Rooter the clot

and have her dancing
at her daughter's wedding.

Where's my mother?!

In surgery.

She had a stroke.

Oh, God! Oh, my God!

Dr. Holt is removing
the clot.

He's done hundreds
of these procedures.

Why don't you have a seat
and try to relax?

Come on, Eileen,
let me in there.

You find the little bastard?

Hit it.

Ah...

Got him in my sights.

And now the main event.

Ready for the penumbra.

I love my job.

Shouldn't he be done by now?

Oh, the procedure takes time.

As soon as Dr. Holt is finished,
he'll let us know.

Chocolate?

I find it's a trusted friend
in times like these.

Thanks.

I'm threading the wire through
the middle cerebral artery.

All right, I'm at the clot.

Start the aspiration.

Engaging the penumbra separator.

I'm breaking the clot
into little pieces.

Then I'll suck 'em out.

I think I got it.

Let's give her another dose
of contrast.

Let's see how good I am.

Hey, blood flow
has been restored.

And that is a beautiful thing.

I'll start to wake her up.

Victor, talk to me.

BP's dropping,
heart rate's rising.

Did you tear the vessel?

No. I need more contrast!
Must be in the brain stem.

She must've thrown
a second clot.

Give me back the guide wire.

Come on, let's go.

Are you at the second clot yet?

No, I'm just ready to image
the posterior circulation now.

BP's still dropping.
I'll start pressors

to get her pressure up.

There it is.

Second clot's
in her basilar artery.

She's stroking out
her brain stem.

That's why her BP's falling.

We are in big trouble.

- Not once I get the sucker.
- Hurry up.

Her fluids are running
wide open.

Hanging norepinephrine.

I know the waiting's tough.

You know what I did

when my mom showed up
at my fitting?

I told her not to
come to dinner tonight,

that a drunk didn't deserve
to meet my fiancé's parents.

What kind of a
daughter says that?

One who's pushed too far
on the wrong day.

Now she's in there alone.

That may be the last thing
I ever say to her.

When your mother had her disk
operated on a few years ago,

I got to know her pretty well.

You know what she talked about?

You.

I heard all about the clerkship
you had that summer,

how hard it was to get,

how well you did
in law school...

and how much she liked
your boyfriend.

My fiancé Brad.

She told me how proud she was

that you managed to avoid
all the stupid mistakes

she made in life.

That she wasn't gonna take credit
for how well you turned out,

but that sometimes, when you
weren't aware of it,

she'd look at you and...

you just took her breath away.

Oh...

BP's 63/40 and still dropping.

Penumbra again.

She's bradying down.

She's gonna code.

I'm getting close.

I lost her pulse.

Start compressions!

Push an amp of epi.

Still flatlining.

Give her atropine!

Come on, you little
son of a bitch.

Still no rhythm.

I'm there,
but I can't engage the clot.

Come on. Come on.

LANTZ Still no heartbeat!

40 units of vasopressin.

Got it!

Removing the clot...

Okay, brain stem
has good flow again.

Pulse is back. It's weak,
but it's back.

Start her on a Heparin drip,
no bolus, titrate up

the norepinephrine.

Nice work.

Dr. Holt!

Rachel, your mom did great.

What?

Sulla, take Ms. Lewis
to her mother's room.

Mother.

Michael...

She's gonna be okay.

Eileen is, but Julia.

It's rabies?

Oh, I'm sorry, Michael.

Shall I call Dr. Sykora
and let her know?

Just tell her I'm on my way.

Is that what they're wearing
to Per Se days

or are we skipping
dinner altogether?

Gina, I can't do tonight.

Next time, I promise,
as soon as you get back.

But...

Julia has rabies?

Her test was positive.

So we can treat
her symptoms, but...

She's not gonna make it.

She may only have
a couple hours.

Excuse me.
I think my girlfriend's here.

- Someone called me.
- You're Hank.

Yeah, I'm Dr. Sykora.
This is Dr. Holt.

Hi. Where is she?

I'll take you back.
She's right here.

You coming?

In a minute.
I'm gonna make a call.

Hank.

Jules, honey, are you okay?

- I didn't know where you were.
- I know.

We were about
to get up to Bear Mountain,

and I just had the feeling
something was wrong.

And when we got back into cell
range, I had 15 missed messages.

Thank you for finding him.

Honey, look at you.

You can't kiss her.

Why, what's the matter?

One of my messages said
it might meningitis.

Is that what she has?

We thought so at first, but...

But what?

Unfortunately, Julia has tested
positive for the rabies virus.

Rabies? How?

We think she might have been
bitten by a bat

when you went camping
last month.

- A bat?
- You're joking, right?

I don't know how much you know
about rabies...

Well, she has to get shots
in the stomach, right?

Only if exposure is suspected

before the patient becomes
symptomatic.

We're gonna have to get
you started

on prophylactic shots
right away.

Okay, what about Julia?

Once the patient becomes
symptomatic,

the chances of survival
are extremely small.

Are you saying I'm gonna die?

I'm sorry, Julia.

No, this isn't happening.

What, you-you can't,
you can't treat her?

I mean, they treat AIDS,
they treat cancer!

We can make sure
she doesn't suffer.

You're gonna have
to do better than that!

Hank, it's not her fault.

No, baby, it's my fault.

Look, I made you go camping.

You didn't want to go.
You did it for me.

Hank, I'm scared.
I don't want to die...

Honey, honey.

Dr. Sykora,
can I talk to you for a moment?

So, I just got off the phone
with a virologist who says

there's an experimental protocol
for treating rabies.

- And?
- It was first used on a 15-year-old girl

in Wisconsin who was already
symptomatic and she survived.

And it's worked
five other times since.

Okay. And how many times
has it failed?

If you've got another option,
I'm all ears.

You understand, this
procedure is experimental.

There are no guarantees.

- Then we won't do it.
- Hank, we don't have a choice.

What do you have to do?

Essentially, we put you into
a coma to protect your brain

and let the rabies
run its course.

Julia, you have to decide now.

Victor, it's Michael.

Yeah, I'm coming in
with a rabies patient.

Yes, rabies.

We have to put her into a
coma as fast as we can.

I'll tell you when I get there.

- Ambulance is on its way.
- Okay.

Julia, are you allergic
to any medications?

Any prior difficulty with
general anesthesia?

- No.
- What about a health care proxy?

Do you have someone to make medical
decisions for you if you can't?

It's usually
a family member or spouse.

Hank's the only one.

But we're not married.

Jules, let's get married.

Hank...
I knew you were the one

for me the first
moment I saw you.

Standing in Trader Joe's,
with your little canvas bag.

But I'm sick.

I don't care, okay?

I love you.

Please, Julia,
will you marry me?

Yes.

But stand up.
You're embarrassing me.

Wish you could make it official
down at City Hall, guys,

but we got to move.

Right.
Come on.

I can help you.
Not now, Anton.

No, no, I'm talking about marrying them.
What, are you eavesdropping?

The walls here are paper thin.

I thought you'd want to know,
I'm a legally ordained minister.

Of course you are.
I got my license on the Internet.

Married a couple of friends
of mine in a yurt upstate.

I'm your guy.

We don't have time.
I can marry them on the way over.

I mean, three minutes max.

Michael, don't make
her face this alone.

All right, get in.

- Are you serious?
- Just get in!

Hey, Doc, nobody rides in
the back but you and the girl.

Not the hippie guy
and not the boyfriend.

It's not her boyfriend,
it's her husband.

At least he will be
in three minutes. Let's go.

Wait, wait.
Take this.

Anton, let's go.

You ready?

Julia.

Tonight we go to that
place of eternity.

This is the wedding night.

A never ending union
of lover and beloved.

We whisper gentle
secrets to each other.

And the child of the universe
takes its first breath.

Without love,
all worship is a burden.

All dancing is a chore.

All music is mere noise.

Do you, Hank,
take this woman, Julia,

from this day forward
to have and to hold,

for better or for worse,

for richer or for poorer,

to love and to cherish as
long as you both may live?

I do. Do you, Julia,
take this man, Hank,

from this day forward
for better or for worse,

for richer or for poorer,
to love and to cherish

as long as you both may live?

- I do.
- By the powers vested in me

by the State of New York,
I now pronounce you...

husband and wife.

You can kiss her, friend.

On the cheek.

- Give me some room.
- What are you doing?

Starting dopamine
to get her pressure up.

- How much longer?
- Five minutes.

She's lost her pulse.

Need some help back here.

Stay with us, Jules.

Bag her.

Come on, baby.
Push an amp of epi.

If you're going
to be here, start bagging.

Jules...

Got a rhythm.
Damn it, it's a V tach.

Clear.

Jules, I love you, baby.

Please don't leave me.

- I love you.
- Damn it, lost her pulse.

Bag her.

Push another amp of epi.

Come on...

Honey. Honey.

Time of death, 9:12 p.m.

Bye, Julia.

My beautiful wife.

Her needs a moment
with his wife.

♪ But it flew away
from her reach ♪

♪ And the bullets catch
in her teeth ♪

♪ Life goes on,
it gets so heavy ♪

♪ The wheel breaks
the butterfly ♪

♪ Every tear a waterfall ♪

♪ In the night,
the stormy night ♪

♪ She'll close her eyes ♪

♪ In the night,
the stormy night ♪

♪ Away she'd fly ♪

♪ And dream
of para-para, paradise ♪

♪ Para-para, paradise ♪

♪ Para-para,
paradise ♪

♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh ♪

♪ She dreamed
of para-para, paradise ♪

♪ Para-para, paradise ♪

♪ Para-para,
paradise ♪

♪ Whoo-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh. ♪

Michael.

Welcome back.

I should've never have left.

Rachel?

She's out getting
a cup of coffee.

Rita's gonna get her

to tell her you're awake.

I had the strangest sensation
in there...

like I was leaving my body.

And I saw that bright light,
like a tunnel.

But then I heard Rachel's voice

calling me back.

And then I woke up
in the recovery room.

Well, you didn't have a heartbeat
for almost a minute in there.

It's what we call a
"near death experience."

I know how it sounds.

Believe me, I'm not big in all
that afterlife stuff either.

But it felt so real.

It can be explained medically.

Are you sure?

Like all paranormal
experiences can.

- Go on. I can't wait to hear.
- Anoxia;

lack of blood flow to the
brain, causes hallucinations.

Does that apply to me?

Even extreme physical
trauma can cause the body

to go into REM sleep,
which triggers

increased brain activity.

But you're not sleeping,
Michael.

Even the tunnel phenomenon can

be explained by the way

the retina reacts
to oxygen deprivation.

Or maybe she and her daughter
still have unfinished business.

Dr. Holt?

Let's just be happy
you're here now.

Mom?

Rachel!

Mom.

Come here, sweetheart.

I was so worried.

It's fine.

Anna?

Season 01 Episode 09
In Case of Abnormal Rhythm
December 2, 2011