ER (1994–2009): Season 11, Episode 11 - Only Connect - full transcript
Two teens enter the ER with gunshot wounds. When one dies, Neela botches telling the next of kin, making the woman hysterical.
Previously on ER:
I take full
responsibility
for what happened
with Sanders.
It won't happen again.
Please, you got
to help me.
I think he's dying.
Hey!
That man's just been told
his cancer has spread.
Don't you think
he has a reason to cry?
Yes.
Fix my brother,
bitch,
before I blow your head off.
I'm telling you,
trust yourself
enough to comfort.
I said let's go!
Please...
You don't have
to do this.
I said lay down.
He's too young to go,
and he shouldn't
be listening to that
music anyway.
I didn't know
you already said no.
Luka, I'm trying to teach him
the value of a dollar
and you go and you give him
everything he wants.
It was only 50 bucks.
For a concert ticket
for a ten-year-old? No.
That's ridiculous.
I just don't think
you should be worried
about money so much.
Okay, I appreciate
your generosity,
but I'm not going to let you
start paying for everything.
But you don't have to pay
exactly half the rent
and half the bills
every month-- it's ridiculous.
I managed to support me and Alex
for 10 years all on my own.
I think I can
handle it.
You know,
this isn't about money at all.
You're worried about losing
your independence or something.
And about my role
in Alex's life.
What, you're worried about
losing control over him?
You know what,
you always do this?
Do what?
This!
Telling me
what I'm really mad about.
Most of the time you don't know
what you're really mad about.
Sam, this isn't our stop.
Hey. Sleep okay?
Yeah.
Better than
the night before?
You want to eat anything
before you smoke?
No.
But thanks.
I can make French toast.
Aren't you on your way out?
I have time.
Want anything
to drink?
I bought groceries
yesterday.
We've got milk,
juice...
No, thanks. Were you
vacuuming last night?
I'm sorry.
Did I keep you up?
No. I just...
No, that was very
nice of you.
Your, uh, shift
starts at 2:00, right?
You ready
to go back?
Well, can't keep
hanging around here.
I got to get
going again.
Everyone's been
asking how you are.
So, you sure
you're okay?
What I really need
is a little space.
Okay.
I'm sorry, I just...
No, you're right.
I should find my own place.
I'll start looking today.
You don't have to rush.
No, really.
See you at work.
They're not closing
the E.R., are they?
I heard the county health
system's run out of money.
They say that
every year
so that the government
will bail us out.
Well, they're not
meeting on the match.
No way,
the applications
aren't even in.
I know, Ray, that's why
I said it's not the match.
PRATT:
It's an attendings' meeting,
they do this every month.
NEELA:
But they usually
meet upstairs.
Come on, enough with
the paranoia, people.
Let's get
back to work.
What's going on?
Attendings are meeting.
W-Why? Why here?
Why now?
PRATT:
I don't know.
Maybe they're thinking
of cutting a resident.
No. You think
that's what this is?
I don't know, but
whatever it is,
it can't be good.
PRATT:
Uh-oh.
Go! Go! Go! Go!
LEWIS:
What color are
you painting
the conference
room?
Lime green.
Why?
Because it's
my favorite color.
Okay, the attendings' note.
It's not enough
just to co-sign the chart,
you have to write
your own brief history,
medical assessment
and plan.
On every patient?
It's the only way
we'll get paid.
( Carter yawns )
Sorry,
very long shift.
( yawning ):
Yawning's contagious.
Cosmo's teething,
I was up all night.
I'm exhausted...
and we're down two nurses--
anything else?
If we don't get our patient
satisfaction scores up,
we can't start
pursuing HMO contracts.
Okay, who's low?
Ray, Neela, Morris.
Abby's the only one
with a decent score.
Even Pratt's on the low end.
I think Pratt's okay
with patients,
it's the other doctor's
he has a problem with.
Need the room for a brachial
artery laceration,
ten minutes out.
And Neela brings up the rear
with a score of 2.21.
If we want to make
our patients happier,
we need to teach our residents
to connect with them better.
To communicate,
to listen...
What are you,
the Croatian Dr. Phil?
They can't even communicate
with each other.
Have you ever seen Neela
and Pratt work together?
Ray and Morris?
But we can teach them
to make eye contact,
to introduce themselves,
you know?
Act like normal human beings
in front of the patients.
But that
would be changing
their basic personality
structure,
which would be
a great strategy
if we could turn back time
and make their parents
love them more.
Med schools churn
out scientists.
It's up to us to turn
them into physicians.
Try it.
They can't do any worse.
( yawns )
I'm going to get coffee.
I'm going home.
MAN:
How long you been waiting?
'Bout six hours.
Six hours?
A little longer, my friend,
and you're looking at
a very big cash settlement.
Here, take one of my cards.
Out of my way!
Give one to your buddy here.
Out of my way.
I look forward to
hearing from you.
My first job was working
in an orange juice factory...
Hey, Amy, could you
sit down please?
...but I got canned--
couldn't concentrate.
I'd rather stand.
The seats are too small for her.
Oh, shut up, Cullum.
I'll get you
in soon, okay?
Pratt, knee contusion,
slipped at work,
can't bear weight.
Well, I've got a hot MI,
so it's gonna have to wait.
I didn't say it can't wait,
I said can't bear weight.
As in stand up.
I'll get to it
when I get to it.
Little plan to help
the residents communicate,
you might want
to start with Pratt.
Okay, just tell
me the truth.
How many Vicodin will it take
for you to just go away, huh?!
Or Morris.
'Cause I'll write it down.
I'm doomed. Morris!
Relax and come talk
to me when you're done.
Hi.
Hi.
Going home?
Yeah, I'm going to go home
and sleep off my shift,
and come back in 12
hours and pick you up.
Oh, really?
Puccini's can take
us tonight at 9:00.
For me it'll
be breakfast,
for you it'll be
whatever you want.
Fantastic-- I'm craving
a pound of pasta
and some oily garlic bread.
She's carbo-loading
for a marathon.
Enjoy your honeymoon.
I'm going to be spending
the night fighting with Sam.
Okay, have fun
with that.
Dr. Kovac, can you get
gastritis after 16 ibuprofen?
Uh, why's your patient
taking that much medicine?
Is he depressed?
I was about to check.
There you go.
Neela, Amy Packer,
an obese 15-year-old
with forehead lac.
Her mother's
on her way in.
What happened?
Brother hit her over
the head with a lamp.
SAM:
Hi, Amy.
This is Dr. Rasgotra.
Hi.
Hi. Um, this is Cullum.
Um, I can't get up.
Too fat to get up.
Ow.
Oh, my goodness, that was quite
the fall,
young lady.
Thank you.
Can you believe it?
Here you go.
All this ice and not
a speck of salt to be seen.
I mean, I think the hospital
is completely negligent
and responsible for your
injury in this situation.
Oh, no, I don't
have an injury.
You're going
to feel okay probably
for the first 24 hours,
and then the pain develops.
You could be looking at
long-term disability
from, uh, for example,
lumbar myofascial strain
or a disk herniation
syndrome with radiculopathy.
It's just a bruise.
I think an MRI
is indicated, definitely.
Are you a doctor?
Uh, no. Attorney.
Herb Spivak,
attorney at law.
My, uh, card.
JERRY:
Dr. Lewis,
OIG on line two
claiming we transferred
an unstable patient.
You're a doctor, huh?
Yeah.
Well, let me
tell you something.
You never know
when you're going to need
a little more protection.
These hospital bigwigs
will let you hang out to dry.
I guarantee you that,
if you ever get sued.
If you solicit any more patients
in my ambulance bay
I will have you
forcibly removed.
How 'bout a free pen?
Follow
my finger, um...
Amy.
Thank you.
Hi, I'm Dr. Kovac.
Neela, present to me
when you're done here.
Oh, okay. Am I in some
sort of trouble?
No, no. Just keep going.
PRATT:
It's Mr. Meacham, right?
The one and only.
Tell me about
your knee pain.
Did you fall
or have an injury?
I was moving
boxes at work.
Where do you work?
Well, I used to work
as a lumberjack,
but I couldn't hack it
so they gave me the ax.
Is it worse
when you walk?
Can I help you
with something, Dr. Kovac?
Just observing.
You have pain
in any other joints?
Hey, Sam, can you get
a postural vitals
for me in Exam Two?
I'm getting slammed.
I'm setting Neela up
for suturing,
I got a Foley, an NG,
two I.V.s to start
and a five-page patient
transfer summary.
I got your tray.
Hey, Amy,
I talked to your mom,
she's on her way in
from work.
Oh, my foster mom.
He's her real son.
How long have you
been with them?
Since last March. Ow!
Sorry.
Uh, that was lidocaine
to numb up your cut.
Die! Ha!
I hope he's
referring to his game.
Cullum needs his meds adjusted,
that's why he has tantrums.
Is that what happened,
he lost his temper?
Kinda.
What meds is he on?
Adderall and Depakote for ADHD
and ODD.
I'll be, uh, back
to sew you up.
Does it seem like every
10-year-old boy we see nowadays
has ADHD?
ADHD, a Game Boy
and an iPod.
Foster kid, head injury,
unsupervised home.
We should call
social work.
I think Wendall's on.
Look, I know how
to do an H&P.
Excuse me, Dr. Kovac?
Hold on.
How long did you let him talk
before interrupting him?
20, 30 seconds.
Four.
What color were his eyes?
I don't know, we
weren't on a date.
You didn't make
eye contact.
Did you listen
to his heart?
The guy had
a twisted knee.
Doesn't matter
what he has.
You need to listen
to his heart
to show that you care
and that you're paying
attention to every detail.
I don't have time
to put on a show.
It takes one minute and
it can make a difference
between your patient
feeling taken care of
and feeling ignored.
Look, we've got patients
that have been waiting
over nine hours out there.
Believe me, they
already feel ignored.
You ready to present?
I think I need
to redo my exam.
Listen, it's about
connecting better.
If your patients
trusts you,
she'll heal faster.
That's what all the
studies say, okay?
Okay.
Wow, I find it
really distracting
working with somebody
so good-looking.
Who? Dr. Kovac?
Oh, come on.
Don't pretend
he's not hot.
I don't know.
You just get used to it.
Yeah, but I mean,
he's gorgeous.
Who's gorgeous?
MAN:
Got a John Doe.
Looks about 16,
multiple GSWs
to the chest.
NEELA:
Any vitals in the field?
Nothing.
Luka, tier one, no BP.
Never had a rhythm,
fixed and dilated.
You want to call it?
Let's see what we can do.
NEELA:
Should we get some 0-neg?
Am I missing something?
No, let's stick
with saline for now.
I thought asystole
in the field
meant zero-percent survival.
Sam, start
compressions.
What, you want labs, too?
No, just check a crit.
Oh, this is like some sort
of a practice thing.
Apparently.
JANE:
Oh, can I do a chest tube?
No, Neela's going to
do a saphenous cutdown.
She is?
I am?
Oh, cool.
Okay, let's prep
and drape the ankle.
10 blade to Neela.
Okay, now make your incision
from the anterior tibia
to the medial malleolus.
You a doctor?
I think I'm having an aneurysm.
Sir, please wait back inside
for a doctor to get to you.
Pratt, you got a sec?
I could be having
a stroke right now!
It's probably
just a tension
headache.
You really think
they might cut
a resident?
I'm gonna sue your ass
if I end up paralyzed.
Why are you
following me?
I'm not following you,
dumbbell.
Gentlemen, please!
I'm serious.
My attorney's office
is right over there.
SPIVAK:
Did a doctor
screw you up?
What?
Come visit the Mobile Law Office
of Herb W. Spivak.
He's had two rounds
of epi and atropine.
Holding compressions.
One more tie on
the distal segment.
Okay.
Asystole.
How much longer?
Until the third
liter's in.
Sam, resume
compressions.
Can you check for
the femoral pulse?
Can't quite get one.
Because he bled out.
Third liter's in.
KOVAC:
No pulse.
Okay, that's it.
Time of death, 9:52.
Thanks for showing me.
Yeah. Write up your
note. I'll co-sign.
Any identifying marks?
Brand-new sneakers, blue.
Wonder what he was thinking
when he put those on
this morning.
What?
If it'd just been
you and me,
you would've pronounced him
dead in the hall.
He was hypovolemic.
He never had a pulse.
There was a chance
he might respond
to a fluid bolus.
If you were really serious,
you would have ordered
the 0-neg.
Someday they might find
themselves in the place
with no rapid infuser
or a central line kit,
and if they know how
to do a cutdown,
they could save a life.
You know, I can't afford
to waste my time
on teaching cases
when there's
real work to do.
This is what we do.
We train doctors.
And sometimes that means
running through codes
so residents can learn
procedures.
It's a-it's a teaching hospital.
Yeah, it's also a real hospital,
with live patients
who didn't get antibiotics
and insulin 'cause I was in here
doing compressions
for 30 minutes!
Okay, so you did some
extra compressions.
What are you really mad about?
Are you in all seriousness
telling me
for the second time today
that I am not mad
about what I'm really mad about?
I have no idea
what you just said.
Forget it.
$900 for a studio
in Andersonville?
What happened,
Abby kick you out?
No... yes.
When's she coming in?
Her shift starts
at 2:00.
I-I've missed her.
What? I-I have.
Well, I just got a two-bedroom
sublet on North and Oakley
for just a thousand a month.
Wicker Park.
Yeah, but my roommate
just flaked out on me, so...
Back in rehab, huh?
You wouldn't happen
to be interested in, um...
You mean, you and me?
500's better than a grand.
Thanks, I'll
think about it.
MORRIS:
Hey, isn't that
our local shyster?
Damn.
No, no. Allow me.
Go for it, Archie.
Hi. I'm looking
for a Dr. Rasgo...
Rasgotra. That's me.
Hi. I'm Kitty Peyser,
I'm Amy's foster mom.
Is she okay?
She's fine.
She just needs some stitches
to the forehead
and a tetanus shot.
I heard they got
into a fight.
Cullum's not a bad kid,
he just needs
his meds adjusted.
He's in the family room.
Perhaps you'd like to talk
to our social worker?
No. I just want
to see my daughter.
I should tell you I had
to notify social work,
and they'll probably
be contacting the DCFS.
What?
When foster children come in
with suspicious injuries...
No, no, no.
Come on.
Hey, kids fight.
It's a standard
situation.
There is no situation.
Mrs. Peyser...
Look, look,
don't do this to us.
We love Amy.
They'll take her away.
Hi.
OLBES:
Multiple GSWs.
Gang shoot-out on the corner
of 51st and King.
Tachy at 138, B.P. 85 palp.
I'll take the airway.
What do you got?
Three gunshots
to the abdomen.
Run it, Pratt.
No breath sounds
on the left.
Morris, chest tube.
Jane, subclavian.
Ray, stop staring
at the monitor
and concentrate
on your patient.
JANE:
I've never done
a subclavian.
Hey, it's time
to buck up, Calamity Jane.
Central line kit.
Did you get rid of Herb yet?
He says he has a client
at the hospital
revising her will.
He is wily, that one.
Stay in the mid-line, Ray.
I got it.
Does he need
atropine or epi?
No, he needs oxygen.
The tube's not in.
You have to see it go
through the cords every time.
Gimme the blade.
Let me try again.
Maybe next time. Tube.
Pratt, why don't you
try teaching?
Oh, okay. You did it wrong.
Watch me.
Call surgery.
This guy needs an ex-lap.
And... I'm in.
See?
It's just that simple.
Thank you, Greg.
Any time, Ray.
Am I gonna have a scar?
Just a little line.
Honey, we'll take you
to Darlene's salon tomorrow.
We'll get you bangs.
That'd be nice.
You'll have to keep
the wound dry
until the sutures come out
so no baths and no swimming.
I should go check on Cullum.
Mary, can you take Mrs. Peyser
to the family room?
Sure.
Don't worry, Amy.
Everything's going to be fine.
Okay, so Neosporin
twice a day, and come back
if it's red, painful
or draining fluid.
Does your cut hurt?
What's wrong?
( voice breaking ):
I know what's gonna happen.
Once you call in social work...
Amy, don't get ahead
of yourself.
I can't leave them.
They need me.
( sighs )
I give Cullum his pills
every morning,
and I get him ready for school.
That's a lot of responsibility
for a girl your age.
This is the only home
where I haven't been beaten up
or ignored.
Kitty loves me, she needs me.
My whole life--
I've never felt that before.
( beeping )
Sam.
Yeah?
Did you already
call social work
on Amy Packer?
Uh, yeah.
Wendall will be down soon.
What is that?
( laughing ):
It's still caffeine.
Can you call Wendall back
and tell her not to bother?
Why?
I was too quick.
I should have waited
to talk to the family.
She's a foster kid.
We always call
social work.
Penny, what are you doing?
Stabbing me to death.
I think he's
dehydrated.
Ow! Do I look
like a pin cushion to you?
He's my patient.
Why are you torturing
my patient?
Jane said Dr. Kovac
told her you needed
some help today.
Sat's 79.
Barely any pulse.
( alarms )
All right, get out
of the way, let me do it.
You can practice later
on a dummy.
I can't get the
tube into the
pleural space.
Use a twisting motion.
Systolic's
only 60.
Cycle the
dynamap.
Is your incision
big enough?
I don't know.
Morris, you've done
a chest tube before, right?
Pratt.
PEA, lost
the pulse.
Give me
the tube.
No, I got it.
Move out of the way!
Hey, Pratt, you need
to manage your team.
I'm trying. I
don't know how
to explain this stuff
any better.
Bradying down to 50.
Amp of epi.
All you do is
criticize them
and make
them nervous.
What do you think it is
that you're doing to me?
This kid does not
have time for them
to learn on the job.
Um, hello, we
can hear you.
Yeah, we're standing
right here.
He's pulseless.
Check it again.
Good carotid.
Tension pneumo.
It's a common cause of PEA.
Sats are rising.
So, uh, do you mind
if I ask our residents
to roll him up to the O.R.,
or do you think
that that would hurt
their feelings?
What was that
all about?
That was an intubation,
a chest tube and a central line
in under 15 minutes.
The point is not to
do it all yourself.
Just because you all had
a group hug this morning,
do I have to listen to this
touchy-feely crap all day?
Yeah.
I'm not an intern, okay?
So, stop acting like one.
You have people
under you now.
You are responsible
for teaching them.
So, the your
choice is yours.
Are you going to build their
confidence or destroy it?
Well, if the choice is between
building up their self-esteem
and saving my patient, I'm gonna
have to go with my patient.
Every time.
( sighs )
WENDALL:
I don't know.
They were unsupervised,
the mother seems overwhelmed,
the brother
has behavioral problems...
This is her fifth home.
It's not a perfect family,
but she says it's the
best she's ever had.
Well, I haven't spoken
to their caseworker yet.
The safest thing to do is
to pull her from the home.
But she's happy there,
and there's no guarantee
things are going to be
better anywhere else.
You guys talking about
that foster kid?
If they're happy together
and the family
seems to be working...?
( sighs )
If the mom agrees to
parenting classes,
I'll consider
reevaluating her...
JERRY:
Neela,
some landlord for you
on line two.
I'll take it in Admit.
She'll do whatever you need.
I find hospital conditions
absolutely woeful.
Are you overworked
and underpaid?
I'm a nurse.
You can't be back here, get out.
No, you can't kick me out,
I'm a patient.
What?
That's right. ( coughs )
Very bad sore throat.
Sore throat?
I signed in.
Yeah.
I know you guys
are backed up,
so don't worry,
I'll wait.
Just take all
the time you need.
I'm going to
fetch me a lozenge.
Haldol and
hard restraints.
Huh?
We could treat him
like a psych patient
with delusions
of being a lawyer.
Abby?
Abby.
Hi.
Hi.
Um, are you okay?
Yeah, I'm okay.
Good to see you.
You, too.
Oh, my God, Abby.
Did you get my card?
Yeah, thank you.
I prayed for you.
RASGOTRA:
No windows at all?
Shared bathroom?
Is that even legal here?
Abby finally
kicked her out?
Well, how much a month?
It's ugly out there.
You usually do
early shifts, right?
So you can go for gigs
with your band?
Yeah. Yeah, and if you
stick to your late shifts
or your overnights...
Weeks could go by,
we might never see each other.
Months, even.
Welcome, roomie.
God, I'm going to regret this.
Excuse me, please.
Excuse me, I need
to see my grandson.
What's his name?
Michael. Michael Barnes.
His friend said
he got shot.
I don't see the name.
He's 16,
he was wearing jeans,
a gray T-shirt
and sneakers.
Blue sneakers?
Yes, yes, you saw him?
There was a patient
who came in earlier
matching that description
Is he okay?
If you'd just like
to take a seat
I can get the
attending for you.
Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
Did something happen?
Ma'am...
Is he dead?
I can't give you more
information until...
Is he okay?
Why can't you
just tell me that?
Ma'am, please calm down.
Where is he?
I need to see him.
If you'd like
to take a seat...
Where's my grandson?
We can't confirm
anything...
His name is Michael Barnes.
Michael!
We can't confirm anything
until the body's been ID'ed.
The body?
Oh, God.
I'm sorry,
I didn't mean...
( cries )
Ma'am, if you'd
just let me go and
get the attending...
( cries ):
No!
Ma'am, if you'd just
like to take a seat.
I'm sure
the attending can...
( crying )
Oh...! My God!
( crying ):
God...!
Michael!
Where's the grandmother now?
Crying it out
in the family room.
I guess Neela still needs
to work a little
on her death notification.
A little?
Grandma's traumatized.
I can't believe we didn't
have to sedate her.
You cannot teach
basic people skills.
You're either born
knowing how to relate
to people, or you're not.
Croissant?
I'll go talk
to her.
You realize you're
just encouraging him.
Just because he's a shark
doesn't mean we can't
eat his pastries.
Who's on call for
general surgery tonight?
Uh... Tsung.
I have to track down
an abdominal series
from radiology.
And I have a puking lady
that had a dystonic reaction
to phenothiazines.
Zofran?
Yeah, right.
So how are you doing?
Good.
Really?
Mm-hmm.
Never better.
Really?
Yes. Yes.
Yes.
I've processed all
my feelings of anger,
shame and guilt in
an emotionally safe environment.
I've addressed the urge
to "use" alcohol.
Oh, and I've consulted both
a shaman and a guru.
So, really, I'm all good.
That was Wendall,
our social worker.
She's just getting
a little more information
from your foster mom.
She's not going
to take me away?
No.
Your foster mom's going
to take some classes
and you and Cullum
are going to start
an after-school program
so you can all
go home together.
Oh, thank you!
Thank you, thank you.
Mary, can you take Amy up
to the seventh floor, please?
Sure.
They'll be waiting for you.
So you convinced
social work, huh?
Seems so.
Good job.
I took your advice.
I tried to connect.
Didn't do such a good job
with the grandmother, though.
You and Dr. Lewis must think
I'm a complete idiot.
No, no,
you're just inexperienced.
Hey, hey, hey.
Come here.
First, you have to bring them
to the family room
for a death notification.
Sit down.
Somewhere away from the rest
of the patients and staff.
She just got
so hysterical.
Make sure
they're sitting down.
Don't be evasive
and don't use euphemisms.
Use the word "dead"
and the word "is."
I know all this.
Give them a tissue.
Look them in the eye
and make a connection.
Then just say
"I'm very sorry."
It's okay.
I suck.
No, you don't suck.
You're still learning.
( sniffles )
I can't believe this.
I'm in a wedding
next weekend.
One percent lido with epi,
6-0 vicryl.
God, I'm gonna ruin
all the photographs.
Oh, they won't be
looking at you,
they'll be looking
at the bride.
You owe me one.
What? No, I don't.
Yeah, you do.
I put down the NG
on Mrs. Leerburger.
I didn't ask you
to do that.
Dr. Kovac did.
What?
He said you were a little
overextended today.
Unlike the
rest of us.
Uh, Abby,
will you excuse me?
I have to go yell
at someone.
Have fun.
Okay, Miss Tobel,
in the future, try not to pluck
your eyebrows in a moving car.
Okay, numb and prep the wound.
I'll be right back.
MAN:
Get away from me!
I know what you want!
You want to hurt me!
you want to make me suffer!
Security!
( man continues yelling )
Oh, Lockhart.
You're back.
Welcome back.
Thank you.
Um, I called
John Manning
at the International Society
for Traumatic Stress Studies.
Hey. We're looking
for our son.
Have you heard of EMDR?
We've been waiting here
for an hour.
Eye Movement Desensitization
and Reprocessing.
His name is Tevin.
Tevin Burrough.
Hold on.
No, we've been
here for an hour.
Where you going?
Get back here, bitch!
It's been hugely effective
in the treatment of, um,
traumatic disorders.
Uh, basically, you focus
on the most vivid image,
emotion or sensation
in the traumatic memory,
while simultaneously focusing
on an external impulse.
Uh, I've printed out a bunch
of the studies for you.
Maybe you can take
a look at them,
we can talk about 'em tomorrow
or whenever you want.
Okay, thank you.
Good. Okay.
Abby, uh, eyebrow
lac's ready.
You were going to
show me how to do a
running subcuticular.
Right.
Are you okay?
Yes. Yeah, I'm fine.
This won't leave a mark,
will it?
Dr. Lockhart is using
a special technique
to minimize scarring.
Abby?
Um...
I'm sorry,
I can't do this right now.
What?
Sorry.
Joe, what happened?
He threatened
to sue me.
He's parked in front of
a fire hydrant.
What's with
the motor home?
I'm getting rid of it.
( sighs )
Susan.
Yeah.
Uh, I think maybe
I came back too soon.
Are you okay?
I don't know.
I'm just not
in the right frame
of mind to do this.
Okay, go home, take
all the time you need.
And Ray's staying late
to cover for me.
No, it's okay.
Don't worry about us.
Thank you.
I'll call you later.
( sighs )
Sorry. Sorry.
You all right?
Yeah, I'm fine.
God.
( chuckles )
You'll catch the next one.
Thank you.
Spivak, get out here now.
( faint laughter )
( sighs )
Hello, Doctor.
Oh, come on,
we fixed you up!
Jerry?
He has...
really great coffee.
Sorry.
Ah, Dr. Lewis!
Are you, uh...
ready to discuss
this morning's fall?
Did you send
Mr. Fayen to CT?
Yeah.
Yeah, well, I had to go
all the way up to CT
to push morphine, instead
of just doing it here.
Just trying to help.
No, you're being
passive-aggressive.
Why are you so mad?
Because I'm used
to having control
over my own life.
Sam?
What?!
Do you know
where Neela is?
No.
You're the attending
on Amy Packer,
the foster kid, right?
Yeah.
This is Mari Hinojosa
from DCFS.
I have bad news.
I think that's everything.
Thank you.
Desensitization
Reprocessing?
Yeah, it's some crazy
stuff Dubenko gave me.
Want me to give it a try?
No, I think it's dead.
Procrastinating.
Didn't miss it at all.
Work. Over the holidays.
( chuckles )
I must have really made
an impression on you.
You didn't even notice
I was gone for a week.
No, I remember.
You're that guy
with the beard.
Yeah.
Where'd you go?
Yellowstone.
Most beautiful
place on earth.
You ever been?
I didn't realize it
until I was smack
in the middle of the geysers,
but the whole thing
is actually one
gigantic, active volcano.
Did you know that?
No, I did not.
It could blow
at any second.
It's actually
30,000 years overdue.
And what would
happen if it did?
It would wipe out
most of the western U.S.,
cover the rest
of the country in ash,
wreak havoc
on the global climate.
Is that all?
We'd be gone
in an instant, just...
like that.
That's how fragile life is,
but you know that.
You working in the E.R.
Yeah.
Human life span is so short
anyways, it's almost irrelevant.
Are you high?
Here's your train.
See you later.
Thank you.
Bye.
Between the paramedics
and the doctors here,
we worked on him
for 45 minutes,
but his injuries
were too severe.
His mother died
when he was five.
Your son did
very well in surgery.
They were able to control
the bleeding in his liver.
Since then, it's just
been the two of us.
He wasn't in any pain,
and he didn't suffer.
LACEY:
I knew something like this
was going to happen.
His heart and his brain
were spared,
He'll probably
end up doing just fine.
He was even talking
about going to college.
I'm very sorry.
PRATT:
He's going to be groggy
but he might be able
to hear what you're saying.
Take as much time
as you need to say good-bye.
This isn't my grandson.
This isn't my son.
( train rumbling )
Hello?
Hi.
No.
No, they can't refuse
to admit her.
She's got post-op adhesions.
HALEH:
Hurry, 'cause Surgery's
going to rip our heads off
if we don't admit to Medicine.
Haleh, listen, okay,
just push four of morphine,
and I'll be there
in a minute, okay?
Fine. Bye.
How the hell did this happen?
I'm not sure yet, but...
Were the patients mislabeled?
I don't know.
Did they look the same?
Was there a computer glitch?
I-I don't know.
All I know is that
there were two
John Does, both 16,
both gunshot wounds,
both gang-related.
And both treated in Trauma One
a few hours apart.
Susan, I just do not understand
how this happened.
Whatever it was,
there was a massive
communication failure.
Well, it's your job to make sure
that people communicate.
I take full
responsibility for it.
PRATT:
We screwed up.
Neither of us knew
there were two
John Does today.
We didn't speak
to each other,
and we didn't check
the board.
Who was in
which trauma?
Neela, Sam and I
worked on a dead kid
with a saphenous cutdown.
Morris, Ray and
Pratt were with me
in the other one.
And there was no overlap
between the traumas?
JANE:
I was in both.
Who's that?
LEWIS:
Med student.
I put a name alert on the board.
Jane, why didn't
you say anything?
No one listens to me.
No one even remembers
I was in the room.
Uh, you guys look
like you could use a vacation.
No.
I got this great timeshare
down in Boca Grande
that I let friends use.
"Friends"?
Well, you know,
friends that refer friends.
It's got a great house
and this beautiful boat,
and a pair
of jet skis.
Spivak? Security!
Come on, give me
a break, will you?
You're back.
Yup.
Thought your
shift was over.
No, not till 10:00.
So, you were just
taking a break?
I guess so.
Up on the EL tracks?
Yeah.
I love it up there.
Me, too.
You never know who
you might run into.
We just put them
through hell.
What are you going
to say to them?
I'll tell the truth.
Families of dead
patients don't
remember much.
The only thing they remember
is if it seemed like you cared.
If you were honest
and direct with them.
Did Dr. Lewis tell you
to keep me away from them?
Yeah.
I want to go in with you.
Okay.
It's unconstitutional.
LEWIS:
Thank you.
Do not cross this line,
or I will have you arrested.
I don't see any line.
You know what I mean,
you can't come back here.
You can't do this,
this is a public institution.
That doesn't matter.
Well, you're violating
my civil rights.
I never got to see a doctor.
So, sue me.
Your office
is being towed,
by the way.
Yo! Yo, yo, yo, yo,
yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo!
Whoa, ho, ho, ho, ho!
Come on! Yo!
Come on, have some pity!
So much for Herb.
Whatever. You
know he'll be back.
Amy?
What's going on?
Who are you?
I'm her doctor.
I'm bringing her
to the Haley home.
What?
She lied to me.
Go talk
to your social worker.
I don't understand. Stop.
I have two more
kids to pick up.
Please don't make
my job any harder.
Amy, wait.
She told me I
could go home.
30 days?
You can start having
visitors after two weeks.
I need to
talk to you.
Cold turkey,
just like that?
They'll give you medication
to help ease the withdrawal.
Think about it, okay?
How could you pull Amy
out of her home
behind my back?
It wasn't behind
your back.
We got new information.
We had a plan for her.
Her regular caseworker
was out of town.
Why didn't anyone tell me?
If you would stop interrupting
and let me finish one...
You're supposed to consult
the doctor on the case
before making a decision
like this.
Kovac signed off.
Hey.
I'm hating doctors
right now.
Neela's mad,
Ray practically accused me
of elder abuse,
and Morris laughed at me
when this kid
kicked me in the shin.
I was going to ask you
if you were ready to go.
That's all
you have to say?
Well, you know, we come
from different
perspectives sometimes,
and sometimes
we disagree.
But whatever happened,
you were right.
Why didn't you
tell me about Amy?
I was going to.
When?
When I had time,
and I thought it might be better
if you found out
after your shift.
I'm an adult.
I don't need you
to protect me.
I wasn't trying to protect you.
You made a good decision
based on the information
you had,
but there was a pattern
of incidents.
Like what?
Like...
April 16,
scald injury to shoulder.
Sounds pretty minor to me.
July 14,
bite wound inflicted by brother.
Who we know
has behavioral issues.
October 20, clavicular fracture
after a "fall."
November 30,
14-centimeter leg lac
after "tripping on stairs."
Her history wasn't consistent
with her injuries.
Okay.
Each one is not a big deal,
but together...
I got it.
I thought it was a done deal.
I told Amy everything
was going to work out.
I got her hopes up.
Well, in the end,
we're doing the right thing
for her.
So, why not just tell me that?
I was worried that finding out
would make you lose confidence,
and I didn't want that
to happen, so...
If I was trying to protect you,
I'm sorry, okay?
You know, I didn't always
used to be a mobile lawyer.
I used to have big
money-- big, big money.
Can I get something
for the pain?
Sure, as soon as we finish
with this paperwork
required by our lawyer
to guard against, you know,
frivolous lawsuits.
I ain't signing nothing.
This document gives us
permission to treat you.
The second one
specifies whether you have
an advanced directive
or a living will.
Are you serious?
If your heart stops
or you stop breathing,
do you want us to use
heroic measures
to resuscitate you?
Just put me out of my misery.
Hi.
Hey.
I'm leaving for the day.
I'm waiting
on a transfer patient,
so I'll walk
out with you.
Listen, I'm sorry
about this morning.
No, I'm sorry.
I've been camping out
on your couch
for six months.
I didn't mean to
be a jerk about it.
No, I needed
a good kick in the ass.
And I found a place--
with, uh, Ray, actually--
so I'll be leaving
at the end of the week.
Well, take your time.
There's no rush,
and by the way,
are you nuts?
Yes. Yes, I am.
So... random question.
ABBY:
Yes?
Do you ever get crushes
on people you work with?
What do you mean?
You know, crushes...
on people... you work with.
Yeah, I guess,
sometimes. Why?
I don't know...
What?
What?
What?
Are you leaving
for the night?
Yeah. Good night, guys.
Good night.
Night.
Good night.
See you at home.
Okay.
You know,
you're really good
at teaching other people
how to communicate.
Thanks.
We should try it ourselves
sometime.
Yeah.
But my English, you know...
( laughs softly )
Now you're going to pull
the Croatian card?
That's low.
You were right
about one thing.
Oh, only one thing?
Mm-hmm.
50 bucks was too much
for a concert ticket.
I take full
responsibility
for what happened
with Sanders.
It won't happen again.
Please, you got
to help me.
I think he's dying.
Hey!
That man's just been told
his cancer has spread.
Don't you think
he has a reason to cry?
Yes.
Fix my brother,
bitch,
before I blow your head off.
I'm telling you,
trust yourself
enough to comfort.
I said let's go!
Please...
You don't have
to do this.
I said lay down.
He's too young to go,
and he shouldn't
be listening to that
music anyway.
I didn't know
you already said no.
Luka, I'm trying to teach him
the value of a dollar
and you go and you give him
everything he wants.
It was only 50 bucks.
For a concert ticket
for a ten-year-old? No.
That's ridiculous.
I just don't think
you should be worried
about money so much.
Okay, I appreciate
your generosity,
but I'm not going to let you
start paying for everything.
But you don't have to pay
exactly half the rent
and half the bills
every month-- it's ridiculous.
I managed to support me and Alex
for 10 years all on my own.
I think I can
handle it.
You know,
this isn't about money at all.
You're worried about losing
your independence or something.
And about my role
in Alex's life.
What, you're worried about
losing control over him?
You know what,
you always do this?
Do what?
This!
Telling me
what I'm really mad about.
Most of the time you don't know
what you're really mad about.
Sam, this isn't our stop.
Hey. Sleep okay?
Yeah.
Better than
the night before?
You want to eat anything
before you smoke?
No.
But thanks.
I can make French toast.
Aren't you on your way out?
I have time.
Want anything
to drink?
I bought groceries
yesterday.
We've got milk,
juice...
No, thanks. Were you
vacuuming last night?
I'm sorry.
Did I keep you up?
No. I just...
No, that was very
nice of you.
Your, uh, shift
starts at 2:00, right?
You ready
to go back?
Well, can't keep
hanging around here.
I got to get
going again.
Everyone's been
asking how you are.
So, you sure
you're okay?
What I really need
is a little space.
Okay.
I'm sorry, I just...
No, you're right.
I should find my own place.
I'll start looking today.
You don't have to rush.
No, really.
See you at work.
They're not closing
the E.R., are they?
I heard the county health
system's run out of money.
They say that
every year
so that the government
will bail us out.
Well, they're not
meeting on the match.
No way,
the applications
aren't even in.
I know, Ray, that's why
I said it's not the match.
PRATT:
It's an attendings' meeting,
they do this every month.
NEELA:
But they usually
meet upstairs.
Come on, enough with
the paranoia, people.
Let's get
back to work.
What's going on?
Attendings are meeting.
W-Why? Why here?
Why now?
PRATT:
I don't know.
Maybe they're thinking
of cutting a resident.
No. You think
that's what this is?
I don't know, but
whatever it is,
it can't be good.
PRATT:
Uh-oh.
Go! Go! Go! Go!
LEWIS:
What color are
you painting
the conference
room?
Lime green.
Why?
Because it's
my favorite color.
Okay, the attendings' note.
It's not enough
just to co-sign the chart,
you have to write
your own brief history,
medical assessment
and plan.
On every patient?
It's the only way
we'll get paid.
( Carter yawns )
Sorry,
very long shift.
( yawning ):
Yawning's contagious.
Cosmo's teething,
I was up all night.
I'm exhausted...
and we're down two nurses--
anything else?
If we don't get our patient
satisfaction scores up,
we can't start
pursuing HMO contracts.
Okay, who's low?
Ray, Neela, Morris.
Abby's the only one
with a decent score.
Even Pratt's on the low end.
I think Pratt's okay
with patients,
it's the other doctor's
he has a problem with.
Need the room for a brachial
artery laceration,
ten minutes out.
And Neela brings up the rear
with a score of 2.21.
If we want to make
our patients happier,
we need to teach our residents
to connect with them better.
To communicate,
to listen...
What are you,
the Croatian Dr. Phil?
They can't even communicate
with each other.
Have you ever seen Neela
and Pratt work together?
Ray and Morris?
But we can teach them
to make eye contact,
to introduce themselves,
you know?
Act like normal human beings
in front of the patients.
But that
would be changing
their basic personality
structure,
which would be
a great strategy
if we could turn back time
and make their parents
love them more.
Med schools churn
out scientists.
It's up to us to turn
them into physicians.
Try it.
They can't do any worse.
( yawns )
I'm going to get coffee.
I'm going home.
MAN:
How long you been waiting?
'Bout six hours.
Six hours?
A little longer, my friend,
and you're looking at
a very big cash settlement.
Here, take one of my cards.
Out of my way!
Give one to your buddy here.
Out of my way.
I look forward to
hearing from you.
My first job was working
in an orange juice factory...
Hey, Amy, could you
sit down please?
...but I got canned--
couldn't concentrate.
I'd rather stand.
The seats are too small for her.
Oh, shut up, Cullum.
I'll get you
in soon, okay?
Pratt, knee contusion,
slipped at work,
can't bear weight.
Well, I've got a hot MI,
so it's gonna have to wait.
I didn't say it can't wait,
I said can't bear weight.
As in stand up.
I'll get to it
when I get to it.
Little plan to help
the residents communicate,
you might want
to start with Pratt.
Okay, just tell
me the truth.
How many Vicodin will it take
for you to just go away, huh?!
Or Morris.
'Cause I'll write it down.
I'm doomed. Morris!
Relax and come talk
to me when you're done.
Hi.
Hi.
Going home?
Yeah, I'm going to go home
and sleep off my shift,
and come back in 12
hours and pick you up.
Oh, really?
Puccini's can take
us tonight at 9:00.
For me it'll
be breakfast,
for you it'll be
whatever you want.
Fantastic-- I'm craving
a pound of pasta
and some oily garlic bread.
She's carbo-loading
for a marathon.
Enjoy your honeymoon.
I'm going to be spending
the night fighting with Sam.
Okay, have fun
with that.
Dr. Kovac, can you get
gastritis after 16 ibuprofen?
Uh, why's your patient
taking that much medicine?
Is he depressed?
I was about to check.
There you go.
Neela, Amy Packer,
an obese 15-year-old
with forehead lac.
Her mother's
on her way in.
What happened?
Brother hit her over
the head with a lamp.
SAM:
Hi, Amy.
This is Dr. Rasgotra.
Hi.
Hi. Um, this is Cullum.
Um, I can't get up.
Too fat to get up.
Ow.
Oh, my goodness, that was quite
the fall,
young lady.
Thank you.
Can you believe it?
Here you go.
All this ice and not
a speck of salt to be seen.
I mean, I think the hospital
is completely negligent
and responsible for your
injury in this situation.
Oh, no, I don't
have an injury.
You're going
to feel okay probably
for the first 24 hours,
and then the pain develops.
You could be looking at
long-term disability
from, uh, for example,
lumbar myofascial strain
or a disk herniation
syndrome with radiculopathy.
It's just a bruise.
I think an MRI
is indicated, definitely.
Are you a doctor?
Uh, no. Attorney.
Herb Spivak,
attorney at law.
My, uh, card.
JERRY:
Dr. Lewis,
OIG on line two
claiming we transferred
an unstable patient.
You're a doctor, huh?
Yeah.
Well, let me
tell you something.
You never know
when you're going to need
a little more protection.
These hospital bigwigs
will let you hang out to dry.
I guarantee you that,
if you ever get sued.
If you solicit any more patients
in my ambulance bay
I will have you
forcibly removed.
How 'bout a free pen?
Follow
my finger, um...
Amy.
Thank you.
Hi, I'm Dr. Kovac.
Neela, present to me
when you're done here.
Oh, okay. Am I in some
sort of trouble?
No, no. Just keep going.
PRATT:
It's Mr. Meacham, right?
The one and only.
Tell me about
your knee pain.
Did you fall
or have an injury?
I was moving
boxes at work.
Where do you work?
Well, I used to work
as a lumberjack,
but I couldn't hack it
so they gave me the ax.
Is it worse
when you walk?
Can I help you
with something, Dr. Kovac?
Just observing.
You have pain
in any other joints?
Hey, Sam, can you get
a postural vitals
for me in Exam Two?
I'm getting slammed.
I'm setting Neela up
for suturing,
I got a Foley, an NG,
two I.V.s to start
and a five-page patient
transfer summary.
I got your tray.
Hey, Amy,
I talked to your mom,
she's on her way in
from work.
Oh, my foster mom.
He's her real son.
How long have you
been with them?
Since last March. Ow!
Sorry.
Uh, that was lidocaine
to numb up your cut.
Die! Ha!
I hope he's
referring to his game.
Cullum needs his meds adjusted,
that's why he has tantrums.
Is that what happened,
he lost his temper?
Kinda.
What meds is he on?
Adderall and Depakote for ADHD
and ODD.
I'll be, uh, back
to sew you up.
Does it seem like every
10-year-old boy we see nowadays
has ADHD?
ADHD, a Game Boy
and an iPod.
Foster kid, head injury,
unsupervised home.
We should call
social work.
I think Wendall's on.
Look, I know how
to do an H&P.
Excuse me, Dr. Kovac?
Hold on.
How long did you let him talk
before interrupting him?
20, 30 seconds.
Four.
What color were his eyes?
I don't know, we
weren't on a date.
You didn't make
eye contact.
Did you listen
to his heart?
The guy had
a twisted knee.
Doesn't matter
what he has.
You need to listen
to his heart
to show that you care
and that you're paying
attention to every detail.
I don't have time
to put on a show.
It takes one minute and
it can make a difference
between your patient
feeling taken care of
and feeling ignored.
Look, we've got patients
that have been waiting
over nine hours out there.
Believe me, they
already feel ignored.
You ready to present?
I think I need
to redo my exam.
Listen, it's about
connecting better.
If your patients
trusts you,
she'll heal faster.
That's what all the
studies say, okay?
Okay.
Wow, I find it
really distracting
working with somebody
so good-looking.
Who? Dr. Kovac?
Oh, come on.
Don't pretend
he's not hot.
I don't know.
You just get used to it.
Yeah, but I mean,
he's gorgeous.
Who's gorgeous?
MAN:
Got a John Doe.
Looks about 16,
multiple GSWs
to the chest.
NEELA:
Any vitals in the field?
Nothing.
Luka, tier one, no BP.
Never had a rhythm,
fixed and dilated.
You want to call it?
Let's see what we can do.
NEELA:
Should we get some 0-neg?
Am I missing something?
No, let's stick
with saline for now.
I thought asystole
in the field
meant zero-percent survival.
Sam, start
compressions.
What, you want labs, too?
No, just check a crit.
Oh, this is like some sort
of a practice thing.
Apparently.
JANE:
Oh, can I do a chest tube?
No, Neela's going to
do a saphenous cutdown.
She is?
I am?
Oh, cool.
Okay, let's prep
and drape the ankle.
10 blade to Neela.
Okay, now make your incision
from the anterior tibia
to the medial malleolus.
You a doctor?
I think I'm having an aneurysm.
Sir, please wait back inside
for a doctor to get to you.
Pratt, you got a sec?
I could be having
a stroke right now!
It's probably
just a tension
headache.
You really think
they might cut
a resident?
I'm gonna sue your ass
if I end up paralyzed.
Why are you
following me?
I'm not following you,
dumbbell.
Gentlemen, please!
I'm serious.
My attorney's office
is right over there.
SPIVAK:
Did a doctor
screw you up?
What?
Come visit the Mobile Law Office
of Herb W. Spivak.
He's had two rounds
of epi and atropine.
Holding compressions.
One more tie on
the distal segment.
Okay.
Asystole.
How much longer?
Until the third
liter's in.
Sam, resume
compressions.
Can you check for
the femoral pulse?
Can't quite get one.
Because he bled out.
Third liter's in.
KOVAC:
No pulse.
Okay, that's it.
Time of death, 9:52.
Thanks for showing me.
Yeah. Write up your
note. I'll co-sign.
Any identifying marks?
Brand-new sneakers, blue.
Wonder what he was thinking
when he put those on
this morning.
What?
If it'd just been
you and me,
you would've pronounced him
dead in the hall.
He was hypovolemic.
He never had a pulse.
There was a chance
he might respond
to a fluid bolus.
If you were really serious,
you would have ordered
the 0-neg.
Someday they might find
themselves in the place
with no rapid infuser
or a central line kit,
and if they know how
to do a cutdown,
they could save a life.
You know, I can't afford
to waste my time
on teaching cases
when there's
real work to do.
This is what we do.
We train doctors.
And sometimes that means
running through codes
so residents can learn
procedures.
It's a-it's a teaching hospital.
Yeah, it's also a real hospital,
with live patients
who didn't get antibiotics
and insulin 'cause I was in here
doing compressions
for 30 minutes!
Okay, so you did some
extra compressions.
What are you really mad about?
Are you in all seriousness
telling me
for the second time today
that I am not mad
about what I'm really mad about?
I have no idea
what you just said.
Forget it.
$900 for a studio
in Andersonville?
What happened,
Abby kick you out?
No... yes.
When's she coming in?
Her shift starts
at 2:00.
I-I've missed her.
What? I-I have.
Well, I just got a two-bedroom
sublet on North and Oakley
for just a thousand a month.
Wicker Park.
Yeah, but my roommate
just flaked out on me, so...
Back in rehab, huh?
You wouldn't happen
to be interested in, um...
You mean, you and me?
500's better than a grand.
Thanks, I'll
think about it.
MORRIS:
Hey, isn't that
our local shyster?
Damn.
No, no. Allow me.
Go for it, Archie.
Hi. I'm looking
for a Dr. Rasgo...
Rasgotra. That's me.
Hi. I'm Kitty Peyser,
I'm Amy's foster mom.
Is she okay?
She's fine.
She just needs some stitches
to the forehead
and a tetanus shot.
I heard they got
into a fight.
Cullum's not a bad kid,
he just needs
his meds adjusted.
He's in the family room.
Perhaps you'd like to talk
to our social worker?
No. I just want
to see my daughter.
I should tell you I had
to notify social work,
and they'll probably
be contacting the DCFS.
What?
When foster children come in
with suspicious injuries...
No, no, no.
Come on.
Hey, kids fight.
It's a standard
situation.
There is no situation.
Mrs. Peyser...
Look, look,
don't do this to us.
We love Amy.
They'll take her away.
Hi.
OLBES:
Multiple GSWs.
Gang shoot-out on the corner
of 51st and King.
Tachy at 138, B.P. 85 palp.
I'll take the airway.
What do you got?
Three gunshots
to the abdomen.
Run it, Pratt.
No breath sounds
on the left.
Morris, chest tube.
Jane, subclavian.
Ray, stop staring
at the monitor
and concentrate
on your patient.
JANE:
I've never done
a subclavian.
Hey, it's time
to buck up, Calamity Jane.
Central line kit.
Did you get rid of Herb yet?
He says he has a client
at the hospital
revising her will.
He is wily, that one.
Stay in the mid-line, Ray.
I got it.
Does he need
atropine or epi?
No, he needs oxygen.
The tube's not in.
You have to see it go
through the cords every time.
Gimme the blade.
Let me try again.
Maybe next time. Tube.
Pratt, why don't you
try teaching?
Oh, okay. You did it wrong.
Watch me.
Call surgery.
This guy needs an ex-lap.
And... I'm in.
See?
It's just that simple.
Thank you, Greg.
Any time, Ray.
Am I gonna have a scar?
Just a little line.
Honey, we'll take you
to Darlene's salon tomorrow.
We'll get you bangs.
That'd be nice.
You'll have to keep
the wound dry
until the sutures come out
so no baths and no swimming.
I should go check on Cullum.
Mary, can you take Mrs. Peyser
to the family room?
Sure.
Don't worry, Amy.
Everything's going to be fine.
Okay, so Neosporin
twice a day, and come back
if it's red, painful
or draining fluid.
Does your cut hurt?
What's wrong?
( voice breaking ):
I know what's gonna happen.
Once you call in social work...
Amy, don't get ahead
of yourself.
I can't leave them.
They need me.
( sighs )
I give Cullum his pills
every morning,
and I get him ready for school.
That's a lot of responsibility
for a girl your age.
This is the only home
where I haven't been beaten up
or ignored.
Kitty loves me, she needs me.
My whole life--
I've never felt that before.
( beeping )
Sam.
Yeah?
Did you already
call social work
on Amy Packer?
Uh, yeah.
Wendall will be down soon.
What is that?
( laughing ):
It's still caffeine.
Can you call Wendall back
and tell her not to bother?
Why?
I was too quick.
I should have waited
to talk to the family.
She's a foster kid.
We always call
social work.
Penny, what are you doing?
Stabbing me to death.
I think he's
dehydrated.
Ow! Do I look
like a pin cushion to you?
He's my patient.
Why are you torturing
my patient?
Jane said Dr. Kovac
told her you needed
some help today.
Sat's 79.
Barely any pulse.
( alarms )
All right, get out
of the way, let me do it.
You can practice later
on a dummy.
I can't get the
tube into the
pleural space.
Use a twisting motion.
Systolic's
only 60.
Cycle the
dynamap.
Is your incision
big enough?
I don't know.
Morris, you've done
a chest tube before, right?
Pratt.
PEA, lost
the pulse.
Give me
the tube.
No, I got it.
Move out of the way!
Hey, Pratt, you need
to manage your team.
I'm trying. I
don't know how
to explain this stuff
any better.
Bradying down to 50.
Amp of epi.
All you do is
criticize them
and make
them nervous.
What do you think it is
that you're doing to me?
This kid does not
have time for them
to learn on the job.
Um, hello, we
can hear you.
Yeah, we're standing
right here.
He's pulseless.
Check it again.
Good carotid.
Tension pneumo.
It's a common cause of PEA.
Sats are rising.
So, uh, do you mind
if I ask our residents
to roll him up to the O.R.,
or do you think
that that would hurt
their feelings?
What was that
all about?
That was an intubation,
a chest tube and a central line
in under 15 minutes.
The point is not to
do it all yourself.
Just because you all had
a group hug this morning,
do I have to listen to this
touchy-feely crap all day?
Yeah.
I'm not an intern, okay?
So, stop acting like one.
You have people
under you now.
You are responsible
for teaching them.
So, the your
choice is yours.
Are you going to build their
confidence or destroy it?
Well, if the choice is between
building up their self-esteem
and saving my patient, I'm gonna
have to go with my patient.
Every time.
( sighs )
WENDALL:
I don't know.
They were unsupervised,
the mother seems overwhelmed,
the brother
has behavioral problems...
This is her fifth home.
It's not a perfect family,
but she says it's the
best she's ever had.
Well, I haven't spoken
to their caseworker yet.
The safest thing to do is
to pull her from the home.
But she's happy there,
and there's no guarantee
things are going to be
better anywhere else.
You guys talking about
that foster kid?
If they're happy together
and the family
seems to be working...?
( sighs )
If the mom agrees to
parenting classes,
I'll consider
reevaluating her...
JERRY:
Neela,
some landlord for you
on line two.
I'll take it in Admit.
She'll do whatever you need.
I find hospital conditions
absolutely woeful.
Are you overworked
and underpaid?
I'm a nurse.
You can't be back here, get out.
No, you can't kick me out,
I'm a patient.
What?
That's right. ( coughs )
Very bad sore throat.
Sore throat?
I signed in.
Yeah.
I know you guys
are backed up,
so don't worry,
I'll wait.
Just take all
the time you need.
I'm going to
fetch me a lozenge.
Haldol and
hard restraints.
Huh?
We could treat him
like a psych patient
with delusions
of being a lawyer.
Abby?
Abby.
Hi.
Hi.
Um, are you okay?
Yeah, I'm okay.
Good to see you.
You, too.
Oh, my God, Abby.
Did you get my card?
Yeah, thank you.
I prayed for you.
RASGOTRA:
No windows at all?
Shared bathroom?
Is that even legal here?
Abby finally
kicked her out?
Well, how much a month?
It's ugly out there.
You usually do
early shifts, right?
So you can go for gigs
with your band?
Yeah. Yeah, and if you
stick to your late shifts
or your overnights...
Weeks could go by,
we might never see each other.
Months, even.
Welcome, roomie.
God, I'm going to regret this.
Excuse me, please.
Excuse me, I need
to see my grandson.
What's his name?
Michael. Michael Barnes.
His friend said
he got shot.
I don't see the name.
He's 16,
he was wearing jeans,
a gray T-shirt
and sneakers.
Blue sneakers?
Yes, yes, you saw him?
There was a patient
who came in earlier
matching that description
Is he okay?
If you'd just like
to take a seat
I can get the
attending for you.
Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
Did something happen?
Ma'am...
Is he dead?
I can't give you more
information until...
Is he okay?
Why can't you
just tell me that?
Ma'am, please calm down.
Where is he?
I need to see him.
If you'd like
to take a seat...
Where's my grandson?
We can't confirm
anything...
His name is Michael Barnes.
Michael!
We can't confirm anything
until the body's been ID'ed.
The body?
Oh, God.
I'm sorry,
I didn't mean...
( cries )
Ma'am, if you'd
just let me go and
get the attending...
( cries ):
No!
Ma'am, if you'd just
like to take a seat.
I'm sure
the attending can...
( crying )
Oh...! My God!
( crying ):
God...!
Michael!
Where's the grandmother now?
Crying it out
in the family room.
I guess Neela still needs
to work a little
on her death notification.
A little?
Grandma's traumatized.
I can't believe we didn't
have to sedate her.
You cannot teach
basic people skills.
You're either born
knowing how to relate
to people, or you're not.
Croissant?
I'll go talk
to her.
You realize you're
just encouraging him.
Just because he's a shark
doesn't mean we can't
eat his pastries.
Who's on call for
general surgery tonight?
Uh... Tsung.
I have to track down
an abdominal series
from radiology.
And I have a puking lady
that had a dystonic reaction
to phenothiazines.
Zofran?
Yeah, right.
So how are you doing?
Good.
Really?
Mm-hmm.
Never better.
Really?
Yes. Yes.
Yes.
I've processed all
my feelings of anger,
shame and guilt in
an emotionally safe environment.
I've addressed the urge
to "use" alcohol.
Oh, and I've consulted both
a shaman and a guru.
So, really, I'm all good.
That was Wendall,
our social worker.
She's just getting
a little more information
from your foster mom.
She's not going
to take me away?
No.
Your foster mom's going
to take some classes
and you and Cullum
are going to start
an after-school program
so you can all
go home together.
Oh, thank you!
Thank you, thank you.
Mary, can you take Amy up
to the seventh floor, please?
Sure.
They'll be waiting for you.
So you convinced
social work, huh?
Seems so.
Good job.
I took your advice.
I tried to connect.
Didn't do such a good job
with the grandmother, though.
You and Dr. Lewis must think
I'm a complete idiot.
No, no,
you're just inexperienced.
Hey, hey, hey.
Come here.
First, you have to bring them
to the family room
for a death notification.
Sit down.
Somewhere away from the rest
of the patients and staff.
She just got
so hysterical.
Make sure
they're sitting down.
Don't be evasive
and don't use euphemisms.
Use the word "dead"
and the word "is."
I know all this.
Give them a tissue.
Look them in the eye
and make a connection.
Then just say
"I'm very sorry."
It's okay.
I suck.
No, you don't suck.
You're still learning.
( sniffles )
I can't believe this.
I'm in a wedding
next weekend.
One percent lido with epi,
6-0 vicryl.
God, I'm gonna ruin
all the photographs.
Oh, they won't be
looking at you,
they'll be looking
at the bride.
You owe me one.
What? No, I don't.
Yeah, you do.
I put down the NG
on Mrs. Leerburger.
I didn't ask you
to do that.
Dr. Kovac did.
What?
He said you were a little
overextended today.
Unlike the
rest of us.
Uh, Abby,
will you excuse me?
I have to go yell
at someone.
Have fun.
Okay, Miss Tobel,
in the future, try not to pluck
your eyebrows in a moving car.
Okay, numb and prep the wound.
I'll be right back.
MAN:
Get away from me!
I know what you want!
You want to hurt me!
you want to make me suffer!
Security!
( man continues yelling )
Oh, Lockhart.
You're back.
Welcome back.
Thank you.
Um, I called
John Manning
at the International Society
for Traumatic Stress Studies.
Hey. We're looking
for our son.
Have you heard of EMDR?
We've been waiting here
for an hour.
Eye Movement Desensitization
and Reprocessing.
His name is Tevin.
Tevin Burrough.
Hold on.
No, we've been
here for an hour.
Where you going?
Get back here, bitch!
It's been hugely effective
in the treatment of, um,
traumatic disorders.
Uh, basically, you focus
on the most vivid image,
emotion or sensation
in the traumatic memory,
while simultaneously focusing
on an external impulse.
Uh, I've printed out a bunch
of the studies for you.
Maybe you can take
a look at them,
we can talk about 'em tomorrow
or whenever you want.
Okay, thank you.
Good. Okay.
Abby, uh, eyebrow
lac's ready.
You were going to
show me how to do a
running subcuticular.
Right.
Are you okay?
Yes. Yeah, I'm fine.
This won't leave a mark,
will it?
Dr. Lockhart is using
a special technique
to minimize scarring.
Abby?
Um...
I'm sorry,
I can't do this right now.
What?
Sorry.
Joe, what happened?
He threatened
to sue me.
He's parked in front of
a fire hydrant.
What's with
the motor home?
I'm getting rid of it.
( sighs )
Susan.
Yeah.
Uh, I think maybe
I came back too soon.
Are you okay?
I don't know.
I'm just not
in the right frame
of mind to do this.
Okay, go home, take
all the time you need.
And Ray's staying late
to cover for me.
No, it's okay.
Don't worry about us.
Thank you.
I'll call you later.
( sighs )
Sorry. Sorry.
You all right?
Yeah, I'm fine.
God.
( chuckles )
You'll catch the next one.
Thank you.
Spivak, get out here now.
( faint laughter )
( sighs )
Hello, Doctor.
Oh, come on,
we fixed you up!
Jerry?
He has...
really great coffee.
Sorry.
Ah, Dr. Lewis!
Are you, uh...
ready to discuss
this morning's fall?
Did you send
Mr. Fayen to CT?
Yeah.
Yeah, well, I had to go
all the way up to CT
to push morphine, instead
of just doing it here.
Just trying to help.
No, you're being
passive-aggressive.
Why are you so mad?
Because I'm used
to having control
over my own life.
Sam?
What?!
Do you know
where Neela is?
No.
You're the attending
on Amy Packer,
the foster kid, right?
Yeah.
This is Mari Hinojosa
from DCFS.
I have bad news.
I think that's everything.
Thank you.
Desensitization
Reprocessing?
Yeah, it's some crazy
stuff Dubenko gave me.
Want me to give it a try?
No, I think it's dead.
Procrastinating.
Didn't miss it at all.
Work. Over the holidays.
( chuckles )
I must have really made
an impression on you.
You didn't even notice
I was gone for a week.
No, I remember.
You're that guy
with the beard.
Yeah.
Where'd you go?
Yellowstone.
Most beautiful
place on earth.
You ever been?
I didn't realize it
until I was smack
in the middle of the geysers,
but the whole thing
is actually one
gigantic, active volcano.
Did you know that?
No, I did not.
It could blow
at any second.
It's actually
30,000 years overdue.
And what would
happen if it did?
It would wipe out
most of the western U.S.,
cover the rest
of the country in ash,
wreak havoc
on the global climate.
Is that all?
We'd be gone
in an instant, just...
like that.
That's how fragile life is,
but you know that.
You working in the E.R.
Yeah.
Human life span is so short
anyways, it's almost irrelevant.
Are you high?
Here's your train.
See you later.
Thank you.
Bye.
Between the paramedics
and the doctors here,
we worked on him
for 45 minutes,
but his injuries
were too severe.
His mother died
when he was five.
Your son did
very well in surgery.
They were able to control
the bleeding in his liver.
Since then, it's just
been the two of us.
He wasn't in any pain,
and he didn't suffer.
LACEY:
I knew something like this
was going to happen.
His heart and his brain
were spared,
He'll probably
end up doing just fine.
He was even talking
about going to college.
I'm very sorry.
PRATT:
He's going to be groggy
but he might be able
to hear what you're saying.
Take as much time
as you need to say good-bye.
This isn't my grandson.
This isn't my son.
( train rumbling )
Hello?
Hi.
No.
No, they can't refuse
to admit her.
She's got post-op adhesions.
HALEH:
Hurry, 'cause Surgery's
going to rip our heads off
if we don't admit to Medicine.
Haleh, listen, okay,
just push four of morphine,
and I'll be there
in a minute, okay?
Fine. Bye.
How the hell did this happen?
I'm not sure yet, but...
Were the patients mislabeled?
I don't know.
Did they look the same?
Was there a computer glitch?
I-I don't know.
All I know is that
there were two
John Does, both 16,
both gunshot wounds,
both gang-related.
And both treated in Trauma One
a few hours apart.
Susan, I just do not understand
how this happened.
Whatever it was,
there was a massive
communication failure.
Well, it's your job to make sure
that people communicate.
I take full
responsibility for it.
PRATT:
We screwed up.
Neither of us knew
there were two
John Does today.
We didn't speak
to each other,
and we didn't check
the board.
Who was in
which trauma?
Neela, Sam and I
worked on a dead kid
with a saphenous cutdown.
Morris, Ray and
Pratt were with me
in the other one.
And there was no overlap
between the traumas?
JANE:
I was in both.
Who's that?
LEWIS:
Med student.
I put a name alert on the board.
Jane, why didn't
you say anything?
No one listens to me.
No one even remembers
I was in the room.
Uh, you guys look
like you could use a vacation.
No.
I got this great timeshare
down in Boca Grande
that I let friends use.
"Friends"?
Well, you know,
friends that refer friends.
It's got a great house
and this beautiful boat,
and a pair
of jet skis.
Spivak? Security!
Come on, give me
a break, will you?
You're back.
Yup.
Thought your
shift was over.
No, not till 10:00.
So, you were just
taking a break?
I guess so.
Up on the EL tracks?
Yeah.
I love it up there.
Me, too.
You never know who
you might run into.
We just put them
through hell.
What are you going
to say to them?
I'll tell the truth.
Families of dead
patients don't
remember much.
The only thing they remember
is if it seemed like you cared.
If you were honest
and direct with them.
Did Dr. Lewis tell you
to keep me away from them?
Yeah.
I want to go in with you.
Okay.
It's unconstitutional.
LEWIS:
Thank you.
Do not cross this line,
or I will have you arrested.
I don't see any line.
You know what I mean,
you can't come back here.
You can't do this,
this is a public institution.
That doesn't matter.
Well, you're violating
my civil rights.
I never got to see a doctor.
So, sue me.
Your office
is being towed,
by the way.
Yo! Yo, yo, yo, yo,
yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo!
Whoa, ho, ho, ho, ho!
Come on! Yo!
Come on, have some pity!
So much for Herb.
Whatever. You
know he'll be back.
Amy?
What's going on?
Who are you?
I'm her doctor.
I'm bringing her
to the Haley home.
What?
She lied to me.
Go talk
to your social worker.
I don't understand. Stop.
I have two more
kids to pick up.
Please don't make
my job any harder.
Amy, wait.
She told me I
could go home.
30 days?
You can start having
visitors after two weeks.
I need to
talk to you.
Cold turkey,
just like that?
They'll give you medication
to help ease the withdrawal.
Think about it, okay?
How could you pull Amy
out of her home
behind my back?
It wasn't behind
your back.
We got new information.
We had a plan for her.
Her regular caseworker
was out of town.
Why didn't anyone tell me?
If you would stop interrupting
and let me finish one...
You're supposed to consult
the doctor on the case
before making a decision
like this.
Kovac signed off.
Hey.
I'm hating doctors
right now.
Neela's mad,
Ray practically accused me
of elder abuse,
and Morris laughed at me
when this kid
kicked me in the shin.
I was going to ask you
if you were ready to go.
That's all
you have to say?
Well, you know, we come
from different
perspectives sometimes,
and sometimes
we disagree.
But whatever happened,
you were right.
Why didn't you
tell me about Amy?
I was going to.
When?
When I had time,
and I thought it might be better
if you found out
after your shift.
I'm an adult.
I don't need you
to protect me.
I wasn't trying to protect you.
You made a good decision
based on the information
you had,
but there was a pattern
of incidents.
Like what?
Like...
April 16,
scald injury to shoulder.
Sounds pretty minor to me.
July 14,
bite wound inflicted by brother.
Who we know
has behavioral issues.
October 20, clavicular fracture
after a "fall."
November 30,
14-centimeter leg lac
after "tripping on stairs."
Her history wasn't consistent
with her injuries.
Okay.
Each one is not a big deal,
but together...
I got it.
I thought it was a done deal.
I told Amy everything
was going to work out.
I got her hopes up.
Well, in the end,
we're doing the right thing
for her.
So, why not just tell me that?
I was worried that finding out
would make you lose confidence,
and I didn't want that
to happen, so...
If I was trying to protect you,
I'm sorry, okay?
You know, I didn't always
used to be a mobile lawyer.
I used to have big
money-- big, big money.
Can I get something
for the pain?
Sure, as soon as we finish
with this paperwork
required by our lawyer
to guard against, you know,
frivolous lawsuits.
I ain't signing nothing.
This document gives us
permission to treat you.
The second one
specifies whether you have
an advanced directive
or a living will.
Are you serious?
If your heart stops
or you stop breathing,
do you want us to use
heroic measures
to resuscitate you?
Just put me out of my misery.
Hi.
Hey.
I'm leaving for the day.
I'm waiting
on a transfer patient,
so I'll walk
out with you.
Listen, I'm sorry
about this morning.
No, I'm sorry.
I've been camping out
on your couch
for six months.
I didn't mean to
be a jerk about it.
No, I needed
a good kick in the ass.
And I found a place--
with, uh, Ray, actually--
so I'll be leaving
at the end of the week.
Well, take your time.
There's no rush,
and by the way,
are you nuts?
Yes. Yes, I am.
So... random question.
ABBY:
Yes?
Do you ever get crushes
on people you work with?
What do you mean?
You know, crushes...
on people... you work with.
Yeah, I guess,
sometimes. Why?
I don't know...
What?
What?
What?
Are you leaving
for the night?
Yeah. Good night, guys.
Good night.
Night.
Good night.
See you at home.
Okay.
You know,
you're really good
at teaching other people
how to communicate.
Thanks.
We should try it ourselves
sometime.
Yeah.
But my English, you know...
( laughs softly )
Now you're going to pull
the Croatian card?
That's low.
You were right
about one thing.
Oh, only one thing?
Mm-hmm.
50 bucks was too much
for a concert ticket.