ER (1994–2009): Season 2, Episode 11 - Dead of Winter - full transcript

Shep and Raul enter a house with about a dozen abandoned and ill-fed children and bring them to the ER.

[theme music]

[wind whooshing]

(male #1)
'Yeah.'

'Uh‐huh.'

'Yeah, that's not a problem.
We'll take care of it.'

What's your ETA?
Okay. No problem.

‐ Have you seen Dr. Lewis?
‐ Suture room.

Baby coming in,
respiratory arrest.

They're five minutes out.

Susan.

Susan.



Oh, uh, turn off
the overheads, would you?

We've got an infant
on the way. Unresponsive.

The lights.

They'll be here soon.

‐ Okay.
‐ 'You up?'

‐ Mm‐hmm.
‐ 'You sure?'

Yeah.

Mm‐hmm.

‐ Susan?
‐ Yeah. I'm up. I'm up. I'm up.

Oh.

[sighs]

[sighs]

(man on TV)
'Top on, lock it in again,
and open this. You see this?'

[indistinct commentary on TV]



[woman screaming on TV]

‐ This is Melody.
‐ 'Melody?'

‐ 'Whoa.'
‐ 'Right.'

Those Indians, were
they pretty close behind you?

No! You're wrong, Dr. Welby.

‐ 'Nadine's going to recover.'
‐ 'Yes, she will recover.'

But you must be aware of
the fact that there was damage.

Damage can be corrected.

'Nadine is strong.
She always has been.'

I know what she can do. She's
going to make a full recovery.

I'll make sure of that.

[dramatic music]

[siren wailing]

[indistinct chatter on radio]

‐ You used to like her.
‐ No. I didn't.

Yeah, you did.

Before Rodman,
you used to talk

about her all the time.

What you got
for us, sarge?

Responded to
a domestic violence call.

Boog was out
in the street, buck naked

waving a gun, screaming.

‐ We're gonna need a light.
‐ He shoot someone?

Nah. He ran inside.

Slipped on the stairs
and passed out drunk as a scum.

Man...you better
not have dragged us

out of a nice, warm firehouse

for a booking check
on a drunk, sarge.

Bunch of jelly‐doughnut
eating pendejos.

Hey! Dumb and dumber.

Nobody got you out of bed
for that piece of crap.

[baby crying]

We got you out of bed for them.

Holy Mary, Mother of God.

[crying continues]

Welcome to Calcutta.

[crying continues]

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

Twenty two children, ages six
months to nine and a half years

found in a single
apartment on Calumet.

Malnutrition, suspect marasmus

kwashiorkor,
who knows what else.

Northwestern took four, Mercy
took three and we got the rest.

‐ Where are their parents?
‐ Nobody knows.

‐ Children and family services?
‐ Yeah. They're on their way.

The cops took
custody of the kids.

They've arrested some guy
who claims to be the uncle.

‐ Of all of them?
‐ Yeah, so he says.

I've got a toddler in two.

How many you seen so far, Doug?

Four of them.

Thrush, chronic otitis media

ringworm, diarrhea, malnutrition

electrolyte imbalances.

Let's get a CBC, chem‐20

protein, albumin,
transferrin

globulins, iron, UA.
And‐and a folate level!

Doug, that baby
is refusing formula.

You can drop
a feeding tube about 13 pounds

maybe a year old.

Okay.

‐ Who's this?
‐ Can't get a name.

Says she's three years old.

You're three, sweetheart?

Okay. What's your
name, darling?

Come on.
What's your name?

Alright. Let's get
these sores cleaned up.

Start her on Keflex, 250 migs.

That looks like impetigo.

Let's hope the others
haven't caught it.

‐ Chem‐20, CBC, UA?
‐ Yep.

And let's get height, weight

head and arm
circumferences.

I'm gonna go
make myself useful.

Okay.

‐ Last three.
‐ Oh. We've got the beds?

Suture room.

Hi, I'm Dr. Greene.
What's your name?

Ty.

Are these your
brothers and sisters?

‐ Some.
‐ Uh‐huh. Who are the others?

‐ I don't know. Cousins.
‐ Do you know their names?

‐ Know a few?
‐ Some.

Right. Some.

Lydia, go and find Ty a bed.

Come on, Ty.

Where's his shoes?

Couldn't find them.
Looked over the whole place.

There's only enough clothes
for half the kids there.

(Carl)
'Rubadoux.'

Would you excuse us for
a moment, Mr. Rubadoux?

‐ Sure.
‐ Thank you.

‐ Dr. Benton.
‐ Post‐op day nine.

'Patient presented with
a type A aortic dissection'

which was repaired using
the clamp and run procedure.'

Patient's surgical course
was unremarkable.

Though there is evidence
of partial paraplegia

of the lower extremities.

And this morning?

Well, echo shows
ejection fraction of 15%

BUN is 45, creatinine two.

‐ 'BP's 180/110.'
‐ 'Suggesting what?'

Congestive heart failure,
renal insufficiency.

None of this attributable

to our recent, life‐saving

aortic aneurysm surgery.

Well, I am worried
about her paraplegia.

Well, it's too soon to determine
whether it's not temporary.

‐ 'Course of action?'
‐ Increase her cardiac output.

So we can transfer her
to a long‐term care facility.

Get her off of our service.
Exactly. How?

(Peter)
'Well, given her condition,
I'd suggest dobutamine IV.'

(Carl)
'Well, they wouldn't accept
her in a nursing home'

with an IV, would they?
Anybody else?

‐ Um..
‐ Mr. Carter, a thought?

Well, if we put her on
dobutamine, she might get better

for a few days, but she's
likely to decompensate

and bounce right back here.
Why not try an ace inhibitor?

Well, yes, we could do that,
couldn't we, Dr. Benton?

‐ It worsens her renal problem.
‐ Carter?

‐ Nitrates.
‐ Hmm. Decreases her preload.

‐ Digoxin.
‐ Kidneys can't clear it.

‐ Diuretics.
‐ Decreases her cardiac output.

‐ Quite the conundrum.
‐ I'm sure there's a solution.

(Carl)
'A pinch of this.
A touch of that.'

We have to use
our clinical judgment.

[pager beeps]

How many are you currently
carrying, Mr. Carter?

Five, but I can handle
another one. No problem.

Well, in that case, why don't
you show us what you can do

without resorting
to Dr. Benton's dobutamine?

Amaze us. Impress us.

Work miracles.

Oh.

Bad case of ringworm..

...along with kerion.

Let's get him
on oral Griseofulvin.

Open up.

Ugh, Ty, did you
have enough to eat?

‐ Yeah.
‐ Yeah? Like what?

We eat stuff.

Fruits, vegetables, meats?

Sometimes.

What about the babies?
They get formula?

My mom gives me the stamps
when she don't need them

and I get us stuff.

Milk for the babies,
bologna, bread.

Your mom gives you the food
stamps and you do the shopping?

I'm good at it.

‐ Trey okay?
‐ He one of your brothers?

I look after him. He's sick.

‐ How sick?
‐ Cerebral palsy.

Your brother has cerebral palsy?

Well, he's in trauma one.
Doug's checking him out.

CBC, chem‐20, protein studies

transferrin, iron and a UA.

Let's call a dental school

and get some
of those students over here

to take a look
a these kids.

Now I'm gonna go see
how your brother

Trey is doing, okay?

Alright.

‐ Where's Doug?
‐ Trauma one.

‐ How's she doing?
‐ Anemia.

Neutropenic, thrush, chronic
otitis media and pediculosis.

‐ Lice.
‐ 'You betcha.'

‐ 'And if she's got them..'
‐ They've all got them.

Jeanie, grab a basin,
and enough rid

to go around
and start shampooing.

All of them?

It's great to be the new kid
on the block, isn't it?

Susan, weren't you
off at 7:00?

Yep. Jeanie too.

I've got a performance
review this afternoon

I might as well stick around.

Come on, Jeanie. Lice patrol.

Isn't that a nurse's job?

No, not today, it isn't.

Why don't you finish this one
and then go home? We've got it.

You know I signed them
and I wanna make sure

they're okay before I go.

‐ Ah.
‐ Ah.

‐ Oh.
‐ Ah.

Ah.

‐ Is this the kid with CP?
‐ Ah.

Yeah. Five years old.

Weighs 28 pounds.

Lethargic. Slight
abdominal edema.

Kid's starving to death.
Take a look at this.

‐ Look at that.
‐ Oh.

‐ Cigarette burns.
‐ Yeah. Welts too.

You're‐you're gonna have
to bring him in

if he won't go down
to the ambulance.

Who the hell has
paged me down from rounds?

Hey, if I got shot, I'd want
to come in to the hospital.

This better be important.

No. Look, lady, I'm not
going to talk to him.

I'm a clerk, not a priest.

Call 911
or get on the damn bus.

‐ The page.
‐ How should I know? Ask around.

‐ Benton?
‐ What?

Al Boulet, Jeanie's husband.

Oh, yeah. Hey. How're you doing?

I've been better.
Have you seen her?

No. Is she working?

Well, she was
supposed to be off at 7:00

and gonna meet
me for breakfast.

Do me a favor, if you see her

tell her I'm looking
for her, okay?

Yeah.

Find out who's paging me
and tell them

they damn well
better be down here

the next time I come.

What was that all about?

Dr. Personality?
Who knows?

Hmm, any of you seen,
uh, DCFS around here?

Mark Greene? Dr. Mark Greene?

You Child Services?

Sorry, no. Process server.

Sign here, please.

‐ What for?
‐ Summons.

Third line, please.

‐ Have a nice day.
‐ Right.

Patient?

Hope not.

Jennifer's suing me for divorce.

(female #1)
'Oh, no.'

You Dr. Greene?

Not if you want me
to sign anything.

‐ What?
‐ I'm Mark Greene.

Pete Tuteur, Department
of Child and Family services.

I understand you got
some kids for us?

Oh, ho.

[indistinct chatter]

We need more water.

[indistinct chatter]

Okay.

Now, see, that wasn't
so bad, was it?

‐ Got it!
‐ Got another one for you.

Alrighty.

Hi, there, sweet pea.

I'm Jeanie. Do you
have a name?

That one
doesn't talk.

Okay.

We're gonna shampoo your hair

and make it look all beautiful.

Is that too hot?

Is that too cold?

‐ Must be just right, then.
‐ How many more we got?

We've already done eight, right?

‐ Nine, I think.
‐ Mommy.

What's that, sweetie?
Did you say something?

I didn't hear what you said.
I was talking to my friends.

Will you be my mommy?

[beeping]

‐ Where's the husband?
‐ Cafeteria.

Renal or cardiology
been up yet?

‐ Oh, yeah.
‐ And?

Renal wants
to use hydralazine.

Cardiology wants
an ace inhibitor.

Ah, the renal‐cardiology
push and pull.

What about pulmonary?

Oh, they sent over
an incentive spirometer.

Yeah, right. Well, that should
solve all of her problems.

‐ Partial paraplegia?
‐ Still present.

[pager beeping]

[sighs]

You know, your
beeper's going off.

Yeah, I'm not deaf, Carter.

Alright.

Well, hurry up. Do something.

Time's wasting.

40 milligrams IV,
push of Lasix, please.

‐ Won't that volume deplete her?
‐ Just do it, please.

Okay? Sorry, but..

Three of the girls
aren't even supposed to be

living with the mother.

The court awarded
custody to a grandmother.

God knows where she is.

Why were they all
in one apartment?

Twenty two AFDC payments.

Uncle's on disability,
the rent is maybe 300.

Hell, they're netting
four grand a month for crack.

Your tax dollars at work.

Sounds like a press release
for welfare reform.

Yeah, that's all we need.

Less money trickling down
to keep these kids

from starving to death.

Look, as soon as you
get these kids cleaned up

I'll take them over
to Columbus Maryville.

These kids are
malnourished, dehydrated

their electrolytes are screwed
up, and they've got infections.

No one's leaving here until
I'm satisfied they're okay.

Fine by me. It's not as if
we have any place to put them.

Have you seen Benton?
I keep paging him.

Oh, he's around.

You ever get the feeling
the system isn't working?

Ah, you're just
figuring that one out?

One of the boys has
an inguinal mass.

‐ He needs a surgical consult.
‐ Reducible?

Yeah, but it's there
when he's crying

and he's crying a lot.

I don't think any of these kids
have ever seen doctors.

‐ She had me served at work.
‐ Jennifer?

Yeah, I was hoping we were gonna
be able to handle this amicably.

I guess this blows
that one to hell.

I'm gonna need
a good attorney.

Why don't you come over tonight?
We'll order in a pizza.

You can watch me
give Susie a bath

and if you're really nice,
I might let you change a diaper.

Nah, I'm just gonna go home
and wallow in self‐pity.

Anytime.

Hey, they find homes
for those kids yet?

Not yet, the DCFS
took some of the older ones

to the emergency shelter,
and we admitted three.

Do you want anything
from the machine?

Yeah, how about some of those

peanut butter crackers?

Got it.

[laughs]
He's cute.

‐ Raul?
‐ Mm‐hmm.

‐ Uh, you're not his type.
‐ Really?

You ever dress up
like a lumberjack?

'Longshoreman?'

Greco‐Roman wrestler?

He's gay.

Really?

Randi, who's paging me?

‐ Not a clue.
‐ Well, isn't that your job?

No, it's not.
Check the board and the charts.

You should have seen this place.

20 kids, no refrigerator

'no heat, roaches everywhere.'

Only thing in the kitchen
was a can of SpaghettiOs.

'You only got to wonder
about these mothers.'

But then you gotta think
what about the families?

You know the neighbors? I mean.

Can't these people
take care of their own kids?

What the hell
is that supposed to mean?

‐ What does "what" mean?
‐ "These" people.

‐ Come on.
‐ Yo, partner. Catch.

Why can't these black folks
take care of their kids, right?

He didn't say that.

Yeah, well,
that's what he meant.

Hey! If that's what I meant,
that's what I'd have said.

Hey! What's going on, guys?

David Duke, here,
is enlightening us.

Oh, Malik, that's not fair.

You think those kids deserve
to be living like that, huh?

Whatever happened to
personal responsibility?

You think it's equal?

He's the surgeon,
I'm the fireman.

Yeah, well, you would
find it that simple, huh?

Because we all know the system
works the same for everybody.

The system seems to be working
pretty well for you, doc.

Let me say something,
you don't know one damn thing

about what works for me.

Peter, where have you been?

I've been paging you
to trauma two.

What the hell
was that all about?

You, man, that's what.

‐ Loretta?
‐ Yes. One of her kids.

‐ Sore throat. Temp's 101.
‐ Where's Ross?

He's still tied up
with those kids.

Loretta, how you been?

‐ Good. Uh, this is Annie.
‐ Annie.

This is my Jimmy.
His‐his throat's sore.

Oh, yeah? Well, let me
take a look there, Jimmy.

Great. Jimmy, can you
just open up your mouth?

Can I see, stick out
your tongue, that's good.

‐ Ahh.
‐ Ahh.

Oh, does that hurt
when you swallow?

Ahh. That hurts too, huh?

‐ Glands are swollen.
‐ He still has his tonsils.

Yeah, well, you got a little
strep throat there, Jimmy.

But don't worry.
We can clear that right up.

How about you, Annie?
Is your throat sored off?

No, I'm okay.

And, mom, how are you doing?

I'm doing really good.
I still got that office job.

And we moved into a new house.

PID hasn't flared up?

Well, yeah, I get a little
bleeding sometimes.

Yeah?

Lydia, why don't you,
uh, take the kids outside?

‐ And I can talk to mom.
‐ It's no big deal.

Well, come on, guys,
I think we got

some videos around
here someplace.

‐ 'You seen "The Lion King?"'
‐ No.

‐ Yes, you have.
‐ Go on.

I'll be out
in a minute. Go on.

[sighs]

So, uh...how long
have you been bleeding?

[child moaning]

Alright, what do we have?

Seven‐year‐old male.

Small, reducible
right‐sided inguinal mass.

It's alright, Michael,
this is Peter.

He's a doctor. He's gonna help
you feel better, okay?

[Michael moaning]

You paged me this morning too?

‐ Yeah. Where were you?
‐ On surgical rounds.

Which you pulled me
off of for nothing.

Oh, excuse me. I thought
you were assigned to the ER.

No, no, no. I'm assigned
to the surgical service.

I cover the ER.

When I'm paged, I expect
somebody to be waiting

for me when I come down.

Well, we've been a little
busy down here today.

Almost over, Michael. Almost.

There's no hernia.

‐ Check him again.
‐ You're wasting my time.

‐ Peter.
‐ It's not there!

The hell it isn't.
Check him again.

[Michael groaning]

Alright. It's still reducible.

I'll put him on a surgical
schedule. Operate tomorrow.

Draw pre‐op labs.

Peter!

What is the matter with you?

If you're angry with me,
you take it out on me

'not on some little boy.'

‐ What?
‐ Give us a minute, Connie.

That little boy, in there,
is scared to death.

And you're poking around on him
like you're stuffing a turkey.

'Telling him how
he needs surgery?'

He's never even seen a doctor.

‐ Is that it?
‐ 'No, that's not it.'

Look, Peter, if this is
about you and me, get over it.

'If it's about something else,
get over that too.'

I'm sick of it. Don't you
turn your back on me.

That little boy in there
needs compassion.

If you can't find that in
yourself, get out of medicine!

[intense music]

Sixty nine‐year‐old male...
history of MI.

Experienced sudden onset
of chest pain.

Took a nitro tab,
called his son.

Paramedics found
him unconscious.

One, two, three..

They tubed him.
He's hypotensive. 40 palp.

O‐2, 100%.

Let's get a 12 lead,
pulse ox, chest x‐ray

CBC, chem‐7,
cardiac enzymes

and grab a blood gas.

‐ You the son?
‐ Yes.

He's had
a heart attack before?

(Howard)
'Yeah. About two years ago.'

He's hypoxic.

Rales bilaterally.

Jugular venous distension.

'Haleh, let's get an echo.'

‐ Dopamine?
‐ Yeah. 200 mikes per minute.

Call cardiology.

I am Dr. Greene.
You're mister?

Mills, Howard Mills.

Your father is
in heart failure.

And it's too early to know
exactly what's happened.

But we're running tests.

And we'll let you know
as soon as we know.

Can't I stay with him?

Why don't you get some coffee

and let us do our work?

When your father's stabilized

I'll come get you, okay?

Okay.

Bobbi, sorry I'm late.

(Bobbi)
'No problem.'

How about a cup of coffee?
It's only about a week old.

No, thanks, I'm already
on my tenth cup or so.

‐ I was on all night.
‐ How's it been going?

Okay.

I'm a little concerned about
your first student evaluation.

"Pleasant, helpful,
lacks assertiveness.

"Needs to take control
if she's going to be useful.

"Good skills, but may not be
well‐suited for work

in the emergency department."

[chuckles]

‐ Is that from a Peter Benton?
‐ Who?

Dr. Peter Benton,
surgical resident?

No. Residents don't evaluate
physician assistant students.

Now, this is from..

Carol Hathaway, RN MS.

I didn't realize
the nurses evaluated us.

Look.

I realize that
putting PAS into settings

where nurses had
a monopoly can cause problems.

But liked or disliked..

...we have to do
a better job.

So, I need to know.

Can you cut it?

Because if you can't..

..I can't afford
to have you fail down there.

I can cut it.

‐ Are you sure?
‐ Yeah, I'm sure.

Mark, Jennifer
filed for divorce?

Word travels fast.

See, I knew
you were breaking up.

I just always figured you would
find a way to hold it together.

You know, with Rachel
in the picture..

Trying to make
me feel worse?

No, it's just if you
can't make a marriage work

how the hell
am I gonna?

‐ What're you still doing here?
‐ Home away from home.

Mark, cardiology's
here on your MI.

I want you out
of here by 5:00.

Excuse me. Can someone
help me, please?

Uh, Randi? Randi.

‐ 'Can I help you?'
‐ Uh. Yes.

I'm looking
for my grandchildren.

They were living in our
apartment down on Calumet.

Police said they brought them
here. The name's Proulx.

The littlest one,
Trey's, got cerebral palsy.

What are her I's and O's?

150cc's in,
800cc's out.

‐ Pressure?
‐ Down. 80/40.

Down? Why didn't
you call me?

You didn't put it
in your orders.

Give her a 300cc bolus and
monitor her pressure, please.

How's our girl
doing, doc?

Oh, not much improvement
yet, Mr. Rubadoux.

Oh, Ruby, please.
Call me Ruby.

Coffee? I bought an extra.

Oh, oh, no, thanks.

Oh, come on.
A cup of hot Joe.

You‐you look like you could
stand a little pick‐me‐up.

[chuckles]

Mmm.

Now that's good coffee.

Ah.

[sighs]

You should have seen
her 50 years ago.

'Backstage at the Majestic.'

Great gams.

Hell of a looker.

"Pal Joey," "Way to the forum,"
"How to succeed."

Broadway, off Broadway.

‐ 'You name it.'
‐ Hmm.

I did a couple
musicals myself.

Back in school.

"Pippen."

‐ "Fantastiks" too.
‐ Oh, yeah, good shows.

Yeah, bet you were wonderful.

[chuckles]
Not really.

Oh, I don't believe it.
I bet you were great.

Mr. Carter..

Uh, mostly
I embarrassed myself.

Doctor..

...I'm not ready
to let her go yet.

Carol!

‐ Can I talk to you?
‐ Sure. What's up?

I just had my student evaluation
with my program coordinator.

You've been unhappy
with my work.

I think you're
competent but timid.

If you want to be down here,
you need to be more aggressive.

I've been trying.

Look, the ER
isn't for everybody.

Now, don't feel bad if you're
not comfortable down here.

Have I done something
to offend you in some way?

This isn't personal,
it's just..

You're always waiting

for somebody to tell
you what to do.

It's like this conversation.

I tell you I need you
to be more aggressive

and you want to stand
here and discuss it.

I don't have time
to hold people's hands.

‐ You just gotta do it.
‐ So it's not a PA thing?

No, it's not.

But hey...I've got nurses

who have been
here for 20 years.

Physician assistants go to
school for couple of months

and they have the right
to tell us what to do?

Two years.
Two years of training.

Two years of internship. I went
nights while I worked full‐time.

So my training
took me four years.

If you want to
stay in the ER

stop looking
for validation..

...and start
doing the job.

You do that, and we'll
get along fine.

(Carl)
'Please make sure
that everybody's ready'

for Wednesday's dog and pony
show for the trustees.

I don't want a repeat
of last fall's disaster.

Dr. Vucelich,
you were looking for me.

Yes, I was, Benton.

Have you met
my assistant, Claire?

‐ No. Hi.
‐ Hello.

So is Mrs. Rubadoux's
paralysis subsiding?

‐ No.
‐ Oh, don't be so disappointed.

It was an emergent situation.

What was our
other choice, death?

'Besides, the woman
was a bad risk.'

Pulmonary disease,
history of hypertension.

I'm concerned her
condition might be my fault.

I performed the procedure.

Please, don't be
so melodramatic.

Your technique
was letter perfect.

We'll have to exclude her
from the study.

She was never an
appropriate candidate.

I think it's time
we made Dr. Benton

an official member
of the team.

‐ 'Don't you think, Claire?'
‐ 'Hmm.'

Research associate? Yes.

Claire, will make sure
you have everything you need.

I‐I‐I don't know what to say.

"Thank you" will suffice.

Yeah. Yeah.

Mr. Mills?

Howard, please.

Oh, Howard..

...we suspect that your father

had a right ventricle
infarction.

‐ Another heart attack.
‐ Yes.

We're going to send him up to
the cardiac intensive care unit.

They'll place
a Swan‐Ganz catheter

to better monitor the pressure
in his heart and lungs.

And they'll do an echo

to confirm
the diagnosis.

It doesn't look good.

[machine beeping]

I think..

...he wants to go.

'My mother died last year...
of breast cancer.'

They were married 50 years.

This is you.

Coffee's in the lounge.

Bathroom's past
the elevators.

Research staff meets
every Tuesday, 8:15 sharp.

Fill this out, and get it
back to me as soon as possible.

You have an assigned
parking space?

No, I park in
the residents' lot.

Not anymore you don't.

AW‐4?

All research associates
receive a stipend.

And your first
referral payment.

I'm Carl's secretary,
not yours.

You want your phone
answered, get a machine.

Anything else, I'm at
the end of the hall.

Hey, Trey,
how are you doing?

He's doing better now.

Yeah, he is, isn't he?

Mrs. Proulx, may I speak with
you for a moment, please?

‐ I'll take the little girl.
‐ Oh, that's okay.

Ty, can you come
over here, and look after

your sister for nana?

Mrs. Proulx, Trey's well enough
to be released to the DCFS.

This is Mr. Tuteur.

We'll be taking him over
to Columbus Maryville.

It's an emergency shelter.
Do you know where that is?

Yes. I've been there before.

So you're not gonna
let me keep them?

The department's been granted
temporary custody.

'There'll be a court
hearing next week.'

Well, they were with me
till a month ago.

And their mother came
and got them again.

'I told her
they should be with me.'

They all had their own rooms
and their own beds in my place.

‐ And they like it there.
‐ Mrs. Proulx, I'm sorry.

But why didn't you keep
the kids there?

You have custody.
They're your responsibility.

Well, she said
she was doing better.

And children should be
with their mother.

'You know, she wasn't
always like this.'

She loved those babies.
She loved them a lot.

But you know, it's the drugs.

‐ Are these jackets for them?
‐ Mm‐hmm.

(Proulx)
'Okay, children, let's put
these coats on now.'

Ty, help your brother
on with his coat, sugar.

You be a good girl
now, you hear, okay?

‐ Okay.
‐ How we doing?

All ready?

Now, you take care
of little Trey, now, Ty.

Yes, ma'am.

Come on, sweetheart.
Come with me.

Here we go.

Got you, sweetie. Okay.

We ready?

Let's go.

(Proulx)
'Ty..'

...now you take good care
of little Trey.

Yes, ma'am.

[melancholic music]

51‐year‐old woman,
abdominal pain and cramps.

Thinks she ate too much
on New Year's.

Gotta weigh 300 pounds.

Is this day ever
gonna end?

So, Mrs., uh...Saunders

did you have a little
too much holiday cheer?

She's been
in pain for days.

And I still had to drag her in.

‐ When did the cramps start?
‐ New Year's Day. After dinner.

Okay.

‐ Any pain here?
‐ Mm‐mm.

‐ Vomiting?
‐ I've been nauseous.

‐ Diarrhea?
‐ No.

(Mark)
'What did you have to eat?'

Uh, usual holiday stuff.

Potato salad, ham, cheesecake

pumpkin pie, some sushi.

Jeanie, get a stool culture,
rule out salmonella

and a rectal.

Chuny will help you.

I doubt if
it's appendicitis.

It's probably
viral gastroenteritis

or a touch
of food poisoning.

'Let's get a surgical consult.'

CBC, chem‐7, UA,
abdominal series

set up for a pelvic
and find Benton.

(Carl)
'3‐5‐2‐9‐0‐1.'

'Date of admission,
12‐26‐95 dictating..'

[knock on door]

Dr. Vucelich, can I interrupt
you for a minute?

Well, you already have.

Uh, Mrs. Rubadoux
isn't improving.

I've tried Lasix,
nitrates, pressors.

She just keeps see‐sawing
back and forth.

'Either she's volume depleted'

and her pressure's dropping
or her pressure's up

and her pulse ox is dropping.

‐ Put her on dobutamine?
‐ Uh, you told me not to.

So do you always
follow instructions

even when you've surmised
that they're incorrect?

'Mrs. Rubadoux
is a sinking ship'

and you spent all day
rearranging her deck chairs.

'Now, you're probably right.'

Once we've buffed her up
and bundled her off

she will decompensate, and end
up right here in the hospital.

But she will not be
on our service

and she won't be your problem.

'Um, let's see..'

...dictating discharge summary

on patient David Piscaucus.

Did I make her worse today?

She's dying, Mr. Carter.

Nothing you did
is going to change that.

'Date of admission, 12‐26‐95.'

'Date of discharge,
01‐08‐96.'

'Patient presented
with claudication'

'of the right lower extremity.'

Marcus Miller

Bill Evans,
Wynton Marsalis.

You got to know Marsalis.

"The Jay Leno Show?"

Hold up a second, will you?

Hey, excuse me.
It's Malik, right?

Yeah, that's right.

Look, about earlier,
I just, I hope

you didn't misunderstand
what I was trying to say.

Nah, man, I didn't
misunderstand.

Hey, Shep, come on.
I've only got ten minutes.

It's just, you know,
I think that, uh, we know

we're all doing okay, and nobody
owes anybody anything.

Let's get on with our lives

and...we do what we can.

‐ Sure. Whatever, man.
‐ Hey, Shep, let's go.

Yeah. Hold up.

Hey, I was‐I was just
trying to be nice.

What do you want me to say, man?

That I don't think
you're a bigot?

Fine. I don't think
you're a bigot.

Shep, God. Please.

I'm not a racist.
You think I'm a racist?

Yeah. Okay. You know what,
just drink your coffee.

I ride with Raul
60 hours a week.

My sister dated
a black guy for two years.

Raul and I go to the "Y"
twice a week and play ball.

I'm the only white guy there.

I'm the only one!

I'm not a racist!

I'm not.

What do we have?

Fifty one‐year‐old
with abdominal pain.

Mark figures it's
gastroenteritis

but wants you
to rule out appendicitis.

The pain's
getting worse.

Does it hurt here?

‐ How about here?
‐ No. Oh, God!

[screaming]

When did the pain
become this severe?

I don't know.
I just walked back in.

‐ You're there. Better.
‐ Chart back yet?

‐ Chuny went to get them.
‐ Keeps coming in waves.

‐ How often?
‐ About every minute.

‐ Anybody do a pelvic exam?
‐ Not yet.

Mrs. Saunders,
when was your last period?

Year and a half.

Oh, God!
Here it comes again.

Okay, okay, look,
just put your legs up.

‐ Her leg, grab her leg.
‐ Forty five seconds apart.

Uh‐huh.

[groaning]

She's fully dilated.
She's crowning.

‐ She's what?
‐ Get OB/GYN!

Somebody find Greene!

Don't push. Okay. Don't push.

‐ What's going on?
‐ Get Mark fast. BOA.

‐ Dr. Greene! Dr. Greene!
‐ What's happening to me?

You're not overeating,
Mrs. Saunders.

‐ You're in labor.
‐ She's having a baby?

Where the hell
is everybody? Let's move!

She already went
through menopause.

Carla, honey,
call daddy. Oh!

Oh, God! Here it comes again.

Don't push. No, don't push!

[grunting]

I haven't delivered
a baby since med school.

They showed us a video
in school. Just guide the head.

Okay. First time
for everything.

Okay, alright, Mrs. Saunders.

Okay, good girl.

Breathe. Blow
through your mouth.

(Jeanie)
'Okay. Good.'

Oh, she's doing better.

Guess I'm going to have
to start watching myself

around all those nurses.

Yeah. We put her
on dobutamine.

Hi. How are you feeling?

Very tired.

Dr. Carter is gonna have you
back again dancing in no time.

But for now, why don't you
just try and get

some more rest, okay?

You too, Ruby. Why don't you
go home and get some sleep?

Oh, I‐I‐I promised Helen

I'd stay until she could
come home with me.

Uh, Ruby...I think you
should at least consider

the possibility that your wife
may need long‐term care.

You don't know my Helen.

She's a real trouper.

A real trouper.

(Ruby)
'Right, sweetheart?'

Uh..

...this is my, my beeper number.

If you need anything..

...tonight or whenever, just..

...give me a call.

Okay?

You're the only person
around here who gives a damn.

Thank you.

For both of us.

Mark, you missed all the fun.

That fat lady had twins.

‐ My abdominal pain?
‐ Right. In curtain area three.

You should have seen
Benton's face.

Benton?

That's why I
was paging you.

We moved them up
to postpartum. Mom is fine.

Babies are too, boy and a girl.

Loretta Sweet. Biopsy came back.

Really?

‐ Damn.
‐ Stage 1‐b carcinoma.

Missed those
annual pap smears.

She still around?

Left with her kids
hours ago.

Call her.
Get her back.

Already tried.
Number's disconnected.

Want me to send out
a social worker to round her up?

No.

‐ You know her address?
‐ 1604, North Sedgewick.

'Out by
Cabrini‐Green somewhere.'

Cervical cancer.
That's tough.

Couple of kids.

Want me to give you
a ride out there?

No. I drove in
today. Thanks.

Okay. '96 is going to be
a hell of a year, huh?

[indistinct chatter]

Hey.

Thanks.

I got you some, uh, pecan pie.

Looks good.

I don't like
pecan pie.

‐ Since when?
‐ Since never.

Thanks for meeting me.

You said it was important.

[clears throat]

‐ How's work going?
‐ Uh, fine.

‐ Your folks, they fine?
‐ Yeah, they‐they're fine too.

Look, Al, um..
I've been on my feet

since 4:00
yesterday afternoon.

So...if it's just the same
with you, can we just..

Let's just
do this some other time.

Maybe we should
give it another try.

Maybe we should
give us another try.

Well, I'll have kids
if you really want them.

I've been thinking about it,
and kids would be okay.

Great.

Isn't that what you wanted?

Yeah, it was. I got to go.

I'm sorry.

I'm ready now.

Kids, being home..

...no more playing around

no more lies.

I got to go.

[instrumental music]

[siren wailing]

[music continues]

[music continues]

Michael, right?

Hey, I'm Dr. Benton.

We met earlier
this morning, remember?

Michael, you're gonna
have an operation

tomorrow for a hernia.

‐ Do you know what a hernia is?
‐ No.

It's when you have a balloon
poking out in your groin

below your belly button.

A balloon?

Well, not a real balloon

but the part of your insides

that look like a balloon.

If we don't fix it,
you can get sick.

Will it hurt?

Nah, you'll be asleep.

But I'm scared.

It's alright.

It's okay to be scared.

You'll be fine. I'm going
to be doing the operation.

‐ You will?
‐ Mm‐hmm. It's no big deal.

A lot of kids have had it done.

Will you stay with me
for a while?

[instrumental music]

Yeah.

Sure.

[music continues]

[knock on door]

Hi.

Did‐did I wake you up?

Oh, uh, I was on last night.

I'm sorry,
I should have called.

No, no, that's okay.

Susie went down early

so I just sacked out
on the couch.

I brought pizza and beer.

I should have called.
I'll see you at work tomorrow.

What kind of pizza?

Meat.

‐ Lots of meat.
‐ Pepperoni?

Probably some in there.

You have any diapers
left to change?

Always.

[beeping]

[beeping continues]

[phone ringing]

‐ 'Hello.'
‐ Hello. This is John Carter.

Somebody beeped me
from this number?

[indistinct chatter on phone]

[sighs]
Hi, Ruby.

How's she doing?

No, no, no. It's alright.
I told you you could call.

She's what?

Oh, that's‐that's‐that's normal.

Yeah, that's going to happen.

Yeah, I'll talk to the nurse.

Hi. This is Carter.

What's her pressure?

[instrumental music]

[theme music]