ER (1994–2009): Season 3, Episode 12 - Post Mortem - full transcript
Carter feels guilty about Gant's death. Benton doesn't want to talk about it.
[theme music]
(male narrator)
Previously on "ER."
Get the gurney, Connie.
She has bruising
around her groin.
She may have been raped.
I'd be lucky to find
someone like you.
You neglected your duties.
If you feel that way,
then you come speak to me.
You feel Dr. Benton's reaction
was inappropriate?
I'm not sure
I'd call it inappropriate.
Administration's making me
fire two nurses.
Really?
I didn't think you'd really go
to Anspaugh.
‐ 'Look, I'm sorry.'
‐ Don't worry about it.
‐ 'Man versus moving El train.'
‐ Suicide?
‐ Dennis.
‐ 'It's Gant!'
‐ Oh, sweet Jesus!
‐ Carter, put the tube in!
Oh, God!
[train chugging]
(Carter)
What happened?
I guess that's the question.
'How...could this awful,
senseless thing happen?'
I mean,
I‐I've seen traumas
from plenty of accidents
since I started my training.
But this was someone I knew.
But you're convinced
it was an accident?
I guess.
Have the police..
I don't think they've come
to any conclusions.
Either he lost his balance
and fell onto the tracks..
...or he jumped.
I understand that you and, uh,
Dr. Gant were friends?
‐ Roommates?
‐ Mm‐hmm.
Well, we hadn't seen much
of each other for the last..
...month, um, I had, um..
...I was seeing somebody,
and I was staying..
...over at her place a lot.
Obviously, the, uh, hospital
is interested in finding out
if anything could have been done
to prevent this tragedy.
You mean if it were a suicide?
We're both aware
of the complaint
about Dr. Benton Dennis lodged
on the day of his death.
In your judgment,
was this day unique
in Dr. Gant's experience
or had he frequently felt
he was treated unfairly?
We both complained
about the hours, the residents.
That's what I thought
it was, venting.
I know Dennis had bad days.
We all do.
But what I'm asking is
if anyone
or anything
put undue pressure on Dr. Gant
'a policy,
uh, teaching method'
anything that seems,
in retrospect, too harsh?
I'll have to think
about that.
Dr. Gant's father
is arriving this afternoon
'to collect his things
and, uh'
'bring the body
back home to..'
Atlanta.
I hope you'll be able
to accompany Mr. Gant
to the apartment.
Mm‐hmm.
Oh, my God, John,
I couldn't believe it.
‐ Yeah.
‐ What a shocker!
‐ You think he pulled a Cobain?
‐ Dale.
Well, if they do
rule it a suicide
maybe we'll get
some shorter hours around here.
Dennis said something at
Christmas about his girlfriend
but if he were depressed
or whatever
you would have noticed,
wouldn't you?
[pager beeps]
Yeah, I would've.
It's the ER.
I thought you had
the ER yesterday.
I'm covering Dennis's shift.
Need eight units of O‐neg,
the sooner the better.
‐ What's up?
‐ Two GSWs coming in.
Both critical.
All sharps and meds
accounted for.
Alright, get ready
for the next guest.
‐ Set up the rapid infuser.
‐ Benton coming down?
I don't know.
I haven't seen him yet.
I was sorry to hear
about Dennis.
‐ Is there any more news?
‐ No, not yet.
We'll take
the chest wound in two.
We'll handle
the extremity wound right here.
Got it.
Respiratory's alerted.
I'll set up a vent.
I'll spike you up a couple
of liters of saline.
Here's a fresh
chest tube tray.
‐ Thank you.
‐ Who's with us, Carol?
I paged Lily.
She'll join you.
Connie'll scribe.
Me and Malik are with Carter.
‐ Alright, what do we got?
‐ Two GSWs.
You and Carter
can take the chest wound.
‐ Is the room prepped?
‐ Yeah. O‐neg's here.
‐ Both rooms are ready.
‐ The chest tube tray is set.
Call Radiology,
get a portable.
‐ We did it.
‐ Okay.
Anybody check the battery
on the laryngoscope?
(all)
Done.
Looks like we're ready
to go, folks.
Wh‐where the hell are they?
I'll check the ETA.
Hey, I was wondering.
Did you get my message?
‐ About the memorial service?
‐ Uh, yeah. Yeah, I did.
I was wondering if you would
or could say a few words.
(Hathaway)
'Are you talking
about the memorial?'
It's five o'clock
in the chapel, right?
(Malik)
'Man, I still can't believe it.'
Me neither.
Here comes the groom. Zadro's
got the bride right behind me.
‐ Let's put her in one.
‐ GSW to the chest.
Intubated in the field.
Two liters in.
'BP 40/palp,
sinus tach at 150.'
Two GSWs,
left lower extremity.
'Arterial bleeding,
no distal pulses.'
‐ Why do I see a third gurney?
‐ Best man.
Wound to the abdomen.
He's stable.
BP's 120/80,
pulse 88.
We only knew about two victims.
Hold him right here.
Carter!
One, two, three.
Evaluate the guy
in the hall.
We've got a third victim.
‐ I need to steal Malik.
‐ Be my guest.
H and H, type and cross
for six. Portable chest.
‐ Pressure's still 40.
‐ Set up the transfuser.
Large‐bore IV
with blood tubing.
Let's run it wide open.
Let's go.
‐ Carter, come on.
‐ Coming.
[theme music]
We, uh, got to
the "do you take" part.
‐ Mm‐hmm.
‐ And bam!
There's Bouey,
her ex, blasting away.
‐ Hey, Lilly.
‐ More blood for the bride.
Do we have any exam rooms open
for our best man here?
‐ Not yet.
‐ How are Duke and Katria doing?
I'm gonna take you
for an abdominal CT.
Whoa! Pressure's dropping!
‐ He's crashing.
‐ Damn it! Take that.
Two units O‐neg onboard.
My guy just bottomed out.
I need to do a central line.
What do you want me to do,
Carter? Hold your hand?
‐ No, there's no room to do him.
‐ Figure it out.
Where's the type specific blood?
‐ 'It's coming.'
‐ 'Alright, let's go.'
‐ Start pushing, Malik.
‐ Where are we going?
‐ Trauma two.
‐ Oh, man.
Scoot over. Make room.
To the right. To the right. Go.
Alright, let's get
a central line kit
and an intubation tray
and start pushing the O‐neg.
‐ How's that pressure?
‐ 40/palp.
Okay.
‐ Let's get a central line kit.
‐ Trendelenburg.
‐ Whose monitor is that?
‐ Ours. He's arrested
Alright, thoracotomy tray.
Let's move, come on.
‐ You wanna watch your elbows?
‐ Let's go.
I missed you last night.
‐ How's your cold?
‐ Uh, it's better.
Thanks for the roses.
‐ Uh, you liked 'em?
‐ I loved them.
Oh, man, you are spoiling me,
you know that?
‐ Somethin' wrong?
‐ You know, this union stuff.
It's gonna be a weird day
for the nurses.
Yeah, so is the sick‐out
gonna happen?
Yeah, I think so.
Does it bother you
that I told you?
No, no, no.
Of course not.
We're still on for tonight?
Movie, dinner?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
It's a date.
Yeah, It's fractured, alright.
How's that pressure dressing?
Looks like
we stopped the bleeding.
Four units of A‐positive.
‐ Next door.
‐ Let's get that arteriogram.
Oh, finally,
type specific's here.
Alright, it's a little late now.
Satinsky.
Okay, I'm in.
Keep the O‐neg going.
‐ 'Pressure's coming up.'
‐ My guy's stable.
You need some help?
Ah, damn it.
There's nothing to clamp.
He's bled out.
Flatline.
Alright.
Time of death...12:05.
BP's stable, 100/60.
‐ Wanna take this guy up?
‐ Yeah. Let's go.
Alright, let's go.
Alright, you do the body,
I'll do the room?
Sure.
Malik, I'm a little shorthanded
this afternoon.
A lot of my nurses
are calling in sick.
Is there anyway
you can pull a double?
Sorry.
Carol, can you give us
a hand in here?
Go on.
I'll get this.
The, uh, memorial service is
gonna be in the hospital chapel.
Y‐you wouldn't need to say much.
Just‐‐
Forget it, Carter.
I'm no public speaker.
[elevator bell dings]
You know, there's still
no official ruling
on the cause of death.
Dr. Anspaugh says the police
are still talking to witnesses.
Maybe they'll turn up something.
When did you speak
to Anspaugh?
This morning. He called in
all the blue team interns.
‐ Why?
‐ "Why?" To see how we're doing.
To see what we think
might have happened.
Why, were there any blue team
interns on the El platform?
I think he was wondering about
Gant's state of mind
these last couple of weeks,
like all of us were.
So did he call you guys in,
one at a time or all together?
No. One at a time. Hasn't
Anspaugh talked to you yet?
Well, I'm actually supposed
to go talk to him
but I guess he needs
to do a survey first.
GSW to the abdomen.
Who's on call?
Dr. Hicks. Room one.
You know, I don't think
anybody's blaming you.
Why would they?
Carter, did you finish
your rounds this morning?
‐ Not yet.
‐ Alright, well, get to it.
I can finish this up by myself.
She'll stay on a 72‐hour hold
while we finish
her psychiatric evaluation.
I suggest you steer clear.
‐ You've gotten too entangled.
‐ I'm her doctor.
And her guardian angel
and the guy who let her down.
‐ She pissed?
‐ At you? Yeah, sure.
You told her you wouldn't sell
her into the system and you did.
But betrayal isn't anything new
to this girl.
Betrayal? She's a 14 year old
on the streets.
You don't have
to explain it to me
And you don't have
to explain it to her.
Another doc could follow up
on her neuro exam.
Yeah.
You knew I'd be back.
Ah, she's a kid, you went
out of your way to help
who hates your guts,
you wanna change that.
Okay.
What's Charlie's prognosis?
She's got a lot of issues
but I won't recommend
a psychiatric placement.
DCFS will take over from here.
But it wouldn't be a problem
for her if I see her?
Charlie's armor
is in good shape.
How's yours?
[scoffs]
So what are you gonna do
with the afternoon?
Lydia and I are hitting
the January sales.
Not me, I'm not spending a penny
until our contract is settled.
Oh, it is settled, baby.
Nothing like a case
of the pink flu to make a point.
I've never been
on a strike before.
And I hope you never will be.
This is just a sick‐out.
The pink flu.
‐ Close your ears, E‐Ray.
‐ Hey, I'm a union man.
One shift without RNs
ought to make them
think twice
about cutting our overtime.
I'm just worried
about the patients.
We all are.
That's why we aren't going
to accept a contract
that compromises
patient care.
‐ Or screws us.
‐ That, too.
Chuny, would you help me
with the damn coffeemaker?
See? What would they do without
us RNs around here?
You should be taking tea and
lemon for that cold of yours.
Oh, boy. I hate
to see her fall.
‐ I tried to warn her.
‐ Oh, Dr. Greene's a nice guy.
Dr. Greene's a doctor
on the rebound.
How many nurse‐doctor flings
have you known?
Including my own?
And how many of 'em worked out?
The real problem is,
she's got a grand trine in fire
and his sun
is in Pisces.
Labs are back
from curtain three.
They're mine.
‐ Haleh, can you pull a double?
‐ When?
Today. My entire p. m. shift
called in sick.
I heard something
was going around.
Well, something's going
around, alright.
‐ Can you stay?
‐ I'm sorry, Carol.
I'm coming down
with it myself.
Hey, Charlie.
I just want to check
on your concussion.
It's only
gonna take a second.
Come here, sit around.
Come on, let's go.
I need you to sit up and I want
you to look into the light.
Okay? Come here.
I want you to follow this just
with your eyes, not your head.
Hey, looks like
the swelling went down.
Okay, follow the light just
with your eyes, not your head.
How's your head?
Any confusion?
Yeah. What year is it?
December '95, according to
this hot magazine you gave me.
Did you know Michael
and Lisa Marie are splitting up?
Charlie, what was
I supposed to do?
Let you go back
out on the street?
Like I haven't been beaten worse
when I lived at home.
‐ You have any trouble seeing?
‐ No.
‐ I get these little blobs.
‐ Mm‐hmm.
What kind of blobs?
Open your eye.
‐ Dark spots floating around.
‐ Mm‐hmm.
Any flashes of light?
Sometimes when you get
a blow to the head
there's a danger
of retinal detachment.
We'll have an ophthalmologist
take a look at it.
Meantime, I want you
to lay back down, okay?
Just when I thought things
couldn't get any more boring.
Yep.
If I go blind..
...can they still send me
to the nut house?
‐ That's not where you're going.
‐ Oh, good.
Then just to jail.
You're going somewhere
so you'll be safe.
I should have lied.
And said I wasn't raped.
That's why you locked me up.
You're on a hold..
...for your own good.
Like it was my fault.
I should have just said
it was sex.
It's not like there's
much of a difference.
Like any of it matters.
Don't let them put me
in a home.
I won't.
Nobody's gonna hurt you.
Please.
‐ Guess.
‐ It's no more roses.
I mean, I love the roses,
they were beautiful both times..
It's not roses.
It's a beauty.
This thing must have cost you.
Try it on. You're gonna need it
come spring.
I thought we'd take a week
and head to the Upper Peninsula.
Mark, it's only January.
What makes you think
we can't plan ahead?
My last ten relationships.
Mark, nurses admin
is coming down to discuss..
What are you
rebelling against, Chuny?
What have you got?
Weaver, without a chart
in curtain three.
Oops. Got distracted,
all his fault.
Does admin want to discuss
our...situation?
You mean,
the nurses' sick‐out?
‐ Chuny.
‐ That's what it is.
You wouldn't want to stay
and help me out, would you?
Please don't ask.
The nurses have to stick
together.
‐ I'm a nurse.
‐ And a manager.
Don't ask me to break ranks.
It's hard to say no to you.
‐ She's great.
‐ Yeah.
Heard from Susan?
If you think I'm just reacting
to Susan leaving
you're completely wrong.
I'm completely wrong.
Picked him up at the airport
shuttle at McCormick place.
He's diaphoretic,
temp's 103, BP's 70/50.
Vomited three times en route.
Diarrhea, too.
You don't wanna
go near my rig.
Find Dr. Greene.
Okay, on my count.
One, two, three.
One liter of saline.
Pulse ox is 98%
on five liters.
Temp's 103.6.
Five of Compazine and Tylenol
ten‐grain suppository.
‐ Let's mix a Dopamine drip.
‐ What do you got?
This guy was picked up
in an airport shuttle.
‐ Departing or arriving?
‐ Here, let me check.
‐ 'Cap refill's poor.'
‐ Well, let's get a CBC.
Chem seven,
urine C and S, chest film.
According to his ticket
Mr. Hecht just flew in
from Paris.
Hang on. His original point
of departure was Libreville.
‐ Where's that?
‐ Gabon, West Africa.
Alright,
everybody get masks on.
I'll mask the patient.
What are you thinking?
Like to get a consult from
Infectious Disease right away.
Isn't Gabon one of the places
they found the Ebola virus?
Let's set up an isolation room.
Keep caregivers
down to a minimum.
I'll stay with Mr. Hecht.
I started the case.
How'd it go?
Best man pull through?
Uh, yeah. Lost his spleen.
I finished my rounds.
Did you want me to take
Dennis's patients, too?
No. I'll do them.
You know, I bumped into
Dr. Morgenstern.
And, uh,...he told me
the police
have ruled Dennis's death
an accident.
Is that what you think it was?
I think it's easier for
everyone, uh, for his family.
Yeah. Easier on everyone,
but that doesn't mean it's true.
Carter, why do you care
what I think?
Because you and I knew Dennis.
Better than anybody else here.
Look, I'm not
your friend Keaton.
I mean, I know if she was here
she would hash all this with you
but Carter, you know,
that's not me.
Peter? Ah, there you are.
When it rains, it pours.
Dissecting aneurysm
coming down from ICU.
‐ Care to join me?
‐ Ah, I'd love to.
Have you finished
your rounds yet?
‐ Yes, I have.
‐ He's covering ER.
Well, that shouldn't stop you
from joining us.
If you get paged,
you can leave.
I'll tell you how to do your job
and we'll see how you take it.
...way that you can expedite
Charlie's foster placement?
She's not gonna do well
in an institution.
Norm agrees with me.
No, what I said was
if she gets a chance
she'll probably ditch
out of a group setting.
Well, that's why my first
attempt is to locate the mother.
Good luck with that.
She was last seen in Ohio
over a year ago, right?
You believe that?
I don't believe Charlie
wants us to find her mom.
That's why she's being
so uncooperative.
Such a great mom.
Well, even a bad mom can give
parental consent and that's what
you need for the kind of
placement you're suggesting.
If Charlie would cooperate in
helping find her other relatives
in Cleveland or elsewhere,
she could be placed with them.
‐ And she understands that?
‐ Yes.
Yes.
But I'm the enemy.
Okay.
Alright, I'll give it a shot if
I'm not stepping on your toes.
No, stomp away.
We all want the same thing.
Jeanie, this is Dr. Fischer
from Infectious Disease.
‐ Hi.
‐ Hi.
‐ How's the patient?
‐ He's defervescing.
Lytes, chest x‐ray,
urinalysis were all normal.
He's been conscious off and on,
but delirious.
He did confirm that
he was working in Gabon.
'Some sort of land survey.'
‐ I want a sed rate and an LP.
‐ Right away.
‐ As far as the airline goes?
‐ Keep them on alert.
I wanna get some test results
before they contact passengers.
I hear hoof beats, but I haven't
seen any zebras yet.
Have you drawn blood cultures?
Graft is holding, finally.
Let's close.
Alright, 2‐0 Prolene
on a double arm.
Carter, suction.
Come on, 2‐0 Prolene.
‐ Let's go, let's wake up.
‐ Whole department's off today.
‐ Everyone's still in shock.
‐ Bovie.
I'm sorry I didn't get
to know Dr. Gant better.
How was working
with him, Peter?
I don't know,
it's too soon to say.
More 2‐0. He hadn't
distinguished himself yet.
(Hicks)
'That's surprising,
given his transcripts.'
He came to us with the highest
recommendations.
Yeah, well, maybe he was having
adjustment problems.
So you noticed him struggling?
I don't think Gant was prepared
to handle urban trauma center.
Then why did you give him
a positive progress report?
‐ I'm sorry?
‐ 'You heard me.'
Why did you praise him for his
improved technical skills
and initiative
in his second review?
Perhaps at another time.
No. Actually I gave
that review to Gant
before he had some
recent backsliding.
And I wasn't even aware that
he received that evaluation.
Oh, he hadn't.
It came today.
You can be sure that
he never received
any encouraging
or supportive word from you.
Candy, take over suctioning.
And you're excused, Dr. Carter.
All he ever got from you
was harping and criticism.
And now, he's dead.
And you're gonna
have to face it.
My apologies, Dr. Hicks.
Whoa! You don't
like the roses?
I love the roses,
I'm just telling you
you can slow down,
you don't have to impress me.
I just passed a florist shop
and I thought about you.
Yeah, but in my family
if a man sends flowers
two times in one week
the only thing left is
conversion to Catholicism,
marriage and seven kids.
So should I be looking
over my shoulder
for your father with a shotgun?
No. My brother Julio,
he packs a .45.
‐ Mark, there you are.
‐ Looks like 100% participation.
We have no nurses
in exactly one hour.
Dr. Greene,
this is Roger Drummond
from Labor Relations,
and you know Mary Cain.
Well, our attorneys are filing
an injunction against the union.
An organized work stoppage
is illegal under their contract.
No one was actually
stupid enough
to admit to
an organized sick‐out?
Nope.
Hopefully, only this one shift
will be affected.
We can't stay open
without nurses.
I've rounded up private duty
nurses off the registry.
Also nurse managers from other
departments are gonna cover.
‐ Oh, boy.
‐ I can come down myself.
The extra bodies will help
with non‐emergent cases.
The hospital would prefer not to
cave into this kind of tactic.
Well, at least, we should stay
closed to trauma.
‐ I agree with Carol.
‐ Me, too.
Alright. We're closed to trauma,
three o'clock sharp.
I'll call the paramedics.
Let them know to divert.
How's she doing?
No signs of retinal detachment.
‐ What about the blobs?
‐ Most people have floaters.
But you've probably just
noticed them more
as you've been recovering.
When's this stuff
gonna wear off?
Your vision will be normal
in an hour or so.
Wear these.
Thanks for checking
her out there, doc.
Any time, Dr. Ross.
You have a very nice daughter.
She's not my daughter.
Who gave you that idea?
It was just a joke.
Cool. It's kind of trippy.
Everything's a blur.
Why did you tell
Dr. Zogoiby that?
‐ That you're my dad?
‐ Yep.
You're old enough.
You know, half the time you clam
up and you don't say anything.
And the other
half of the time
you're taking back
the lies you just told.
So?
So you're making it tough
for people to help you.
If you cooperate,
then Social Services can find
a relative or get consent
for somebody to take you in.
Like who?
That's what you got to help
them figure out.
Stop lying to people.
Like adults don't lie
every chance they get.
Yeah.
Why don't you
have any kids?
I get my fill of them
on the job.
So this truth thing's
a one‐way street.
I get it.
Okay.
Uh...I haven't gotten it
together long enough
to stay with a woman
let alone family and babies
and long‐term commitments.
You wouldn't have to have a baby
if you had, like, a foster kid.
[chuckles]
Anybody in particular?
Well, a teenager wouldn't be
that long of a commitment.
Practically
grown up already.
Charlie, if I were ready,
you'd be first on my list.
[elevator bell dings]
You've used that one
on women, haven't you?
Uh, I have.
‐'There you are.'
‐ Hey.
‐ So how are the eyes?
‐ She's doing fine.
Good. Well, I'm sure her mother
will be relieved to hear that.
You found her, in Cleveland?
No. On South Des Plaines Avenue.
Just ten blocks away,
where she and Charlie live.
My God, Charlie. I was freaking.
I was so worried.
Look at you. What did I
tell you would happen?
You're gonna end up
with scars from this, you know.
'When are you
gonna listen to me?'
'I can't turn my back for a
second, you're out of the door.'
‐ Dr. Pomerantz?
‐ Yes.
Dr. Anspaugh said that
you might be available
today for counseling for, um
those of us
who knew Dennis Gant.
That's right.
Um, they've set up
an office for me
on the surgical ward, room 820,
and I will be there till six.
Oh, I don't know
if I can make it today.
Uh, I meant to stop by earlier,
but I got called into surgery.
Oh, are you an intern?
Yeah, yeah. John Carter.
Oh, you're John Carter.
Dennis mentioned you
a few times.
‐ You‐you were his friend.
‐ Oh, I...you knew Dennis?
He came to me for counseling
when he first arrived.
But after a few sessions,
he decided to stop.
‐ I see.
‐ I'm really very sorry.
I know how hard it is
to lose a friend.
I hope you'll come by
and talk.
Hey, uh..
...when Dennis quit therapy
did you think that it was okay?
I mean, did you..
...feel it was alright
for him to stop?
I didn't disagree with it,
uh, his stopping at the time.
He seemed to be settling in,
developing a support system.
There's a survivor's guilt
that comes
with any unexpected death.
Maybe I feel guilty
because I am.
You should come and see me.
I'll try.
I'll try to remember
all your names
but please have your ID tags
where they can be seen.
‐ Bye, Lily. Bye, Haleh.
‐ Goodbye, Carol.
Good luck.
Has anyone worked
the ER before?
Twenty years ago,
I hated it.
Well, we're closed to trauma, so
that should ease the workload.
And please, if you
have any questions
don't hesitate to ask.
‐ Later.
‐ Pick you up at quarter till.
‐ I can meet you there.
‐ I'll pick you up.
Bye, Chuny.
You know, if we win this,
it'll be good for nurses.
Yeah, it's not that simple.
County's gotta find
the money somewhere.
Well, they can check my bank
account. It's not in there.
I'll send these up to the lab.
Cell count and diff,
protein, glucose
Gram stain,
India ink and culture.
Exactly.
‐ Nice to see you again.
‐ Kerry.
Did we find you
something exotic?
No, we've all seen
way too many movies.
There's no ecchymosis
or bleeding or rash.
It doesn't suggest Ebola.
Meet me in the lab.
‐ We'll make the Giemsa stains.
‐ Be right there.
You know, we have techs
who will do that for you.
I'm an old‐fashioned lab rat.
I like to do it myself.
Greg's wonderful. I should have
thought of him for you earlier.
‐ Kerry.
‐ As your doctor.
I mean there is no reason
for you to drive
all the way out
to Highland Park anymore.
Greg's very respected
for his work with HIV patients.
Oh.
He left a successful
private practice
to come to county
after his partner
died of AIDS
last summer.
‐ Oh, that's too bad.
‐ You ought to think about it.
Yeah, maybe I will.
Turns out she's not even
a runaway.
Her mom lives ten minutes away.
She sounds like
quite a case herself.
Yeah, letting her kid
run the streets
all hours
of the day and night.
So what do you think,
chophouse for Valentine's Day?
Mark, I'd love to,
but you're not my type.
I know it's not very romantic,
but it's Chuny's favorite.
So are they gonna send
Charlie home with her mom?
There's a cooling off period
where the DCFS
tries to figure out
which end is up.
And I'm on my way
to the gym.
Well, sounds like
she's in safe hands for now.
Thank God for Social Services.
Hey, Carter.
Can I get you anything?
Wow. I could get used to
being closed to trauma.
I was actually hoping for
something to do.
Doesn't feel real,
does it?
I just keep waiting for Dennis
to come through that door
and tell everybody
it was a big mistake.
You know you couldn't have done
anything to change it, right?
I know that.
I just don't
believe that.
Help! Somebody help my friend,
please. He's dying.
‐ Okay, on a count‐‐
‐ No, don't lift him up.
‐ His leg is barely hanging on.
‐ What happened to this guy?
Gil was taking a nap
in the alley.
They dropped a dumpster on him.
I had to drag it
off of him.
I kept calling for help,
but no cars would stop.
I was looking for a phone,
I couldn't find one.
Paramedics wouldn't
have brought you here.
Yeah, we're closed to trauma.
You probably just saved your
friend a ride across town.
‐ What can I do?
‐ Get the doctors.
Get all the doctors.
Nothing. Let's try
the other slide.
Okay.
Thanks.
‐ Wanna take a shot?
‐ Sure.
You know
what you're looking for?
They have hoop‐shaped rings,
like Saturn.
Exactly.
You like astronomy.
Well, my fifth grade
science project was on comets.
I'm pretty much an expert.
You must be excited about
the appearance of Hale‐Bopp.
It's a comet
that was just discovered.
Just started
to brighten this month.
Do you have
your own telescope?
Careful,
you'll get me started
on a whole new set of
useless facts.
I thought about getting
my own telescope once
but can you see much
with the city lights?
You should join me
for a comet watch.
I usually set up
outside the Adler.
‐ Yeah, I'd love to sometime.
‐ How about tonight?
Supposed to be crystal clear,
but bundle up.
At four there can be a chilly
wind coming off the lake.
‐ Four a. m.?
‐ Only visible in predawn sky.
Ah. Hey, wait, look,
I think I found some.
'Take a look.
Am I right?'
‐ 'They've rings more than one.'
‐ Yeah, that's it.
'The asexual form
of the parasite.'
‐ It's plain old malaria.
‐ Good news for Mr. Hecht?
Chloroquinine 10 milligram IV
followed by a 15 milligram drip.
Okay.
Hey, you know, I'm usually awake
at four a. m. anyway.
‐ I'll bring the coffee.
‐ Great.
‐ O‐neg is here, four units.
‐ Thanks. Call Radiology again.
Ask them
what's taking them so long.
Get on the rapid infuser.
I got a pumper.
Femoral artery.
4 x 4s for Dr. Greene.
‐ Gauze?
‐ 4 x 4s.
Oh, come on.
Come on, Gil.
Come on.
BP's thready, pressure's 60
heart rate's 140, pulse ox 90.
‐ How's that lavage coming?
‐ I need some Betadine.
Coming up. Watch out!
‐ I need help with this tape.
‐ Okay. I got it.
‐ Who's on the infuser?
‐ I'll get it. Just a sec.
Oh, yeah. Positive lavage.
We got internal bleeding.
‐ I need a thigh cuff.
‐ Thigh cuff for Dr. Greene.
'Upper right drawer.
Right drawer.'
‐ Up.
‐ Found it.
‐ He's fibrillating.
‐ I'll start compression.
Let's shock him.
Paddles, Carter. Two hundred.
Everybody off?
‐ No juice.
‐ Uh, uh, uh, Carol?
Hit the sync switch.
Turn it off.
‐ Can I set?
‐ Yeah.
Clear!
Come on, Gil.
Three hundred.
Clear!
Is he dying? Is he dying?
Is my buddy dying?
We're doing the best
we can, sir.
‐ Just go wait outside.
‐ Three sixty. Clear!
‐ He's my friend!
‐ I know, I know.
‐ Give me an amp of Epi.
‐ Oh, my God.
I tried to get him here
as fast as I..
‐ Shut this guy up!
‐ It's my fault. I let him down.
Let's shock him again
at 360. Clear.
Oh, he's my buddy,
and I let him down.
Okay, okay
We got it, we got it, okay?
‐ Carter, get him out of here.
‐ Let's go, let's go.
You didn't.
At least, you tried.
‐ Kerry, can you cover for me?
‐ Yeah. Go on.
'Come on. Come on.'
'Let's try again at 360.
Clear.'
I knew Dennis
was having a hard time.
I knew he was in trouble..
...but I was too busy.
And I just didn't want
to get dragged down.
I didn't listen.
You're in the middle
of your first year of residency.
You're working
at an inhuman pace.
Why am I doing it again?
'Cause you are trying
to learn a job
where lives are at stake.
Didn't save Dennis's life,
though, did I?
You don't know
that you could have.
I know that I wasn't
much of a friend.
I'll collect the sharps. You can
check off the dispensed meds.
Oh, you don't have to do that.
I can get a temp.
I don't mind chipping in.
Number 11 lavage blade.
Two needles
from the central line.
Right, 3 Epi, 100 of Lidocaine.
I wanted to compliment you on
how you handled yourself today.
It isn't easy to be a manager
when it's hitting the fan
and your workers
are your friends.
Two IV needles.
Thanks. It's been pretty awful
around here lately.
I still think of myself
as just a nurse, you know
and I gotta wade through
all this management crap.
Two of O‐neg, empty,
two unused.
You only waded through it
very gracefully today.
Uh, isn't there three of O‐neg?
Oh, yeah.
Here it is.
No. This one is marked A‐pos.
What?
Did we order
type specific?
It never came down.
I mean, where did this..
God, this must have been
on the infuser.
There's blood
in the Foley bag.
Oh, my God,
I gave him the wrong blood.
This unit of A‐positive must
have been left on the infuser.
When I started it up I'm pretty
sure there was a bag on there.
I thought someone had hung it,
and I didn't check the label.
Have you sent an EDTA‐treated
sample to be re‐cross‐matched?
Yeah. It showed massive
intravascular hemolysis.
I gave type A blood
to a type O patient.
‐ I killed him.
‐ He was bleeding out anyway.
Possibly bleeding out.
We've saved worse.
It was an honest mistake.
You were the only RN in trauma.
We were all filling in roles
we weren't accustomed to.
That still doesn't take away
the basic error.
I did not check the label.
Carol, I think we're saying
that if you determined
an incident report
was unnecessary
we wouldn't pursue it.
Am I speaking out of turn?
No. If you'd been alone
cleaning up
'you could've thrown
the empty bag'
in hazardous waste
and been done with it.
That's true.
But I'd still have
to look at myself
in the mirror every day.
Thank you for making
the arrangements, Dr. Carter.
And the sentiments
you've expressed
set just the right tone.
I want to apologize, Dr. Hicks
about what happened
earlier in surgery.
You already did.
Did I missed it?
Yeah.
Mr. Gant, this is Dr. Benton
who you were asking about.
Dr. Benton,
this is Dennis Gant Sr.
He was hoping to meet you.
My sympathies are
with you and your family.
Thank you, doctor.
I'm sorry I missed the service.
Dennis's e‐mail
gave me a sense
of how demanding
your schedules are.
In fact, I had
to admonish my son
for taking time
to write home at all.
I didn't want him
to neglect his workload.
I know that Dennis
greatly respected your work.
'And looked up to you.'
Well, I'm afraid I was, uh..
...I was a bit tough
on your...your son.
Maybe Dr. Carter filled you in.
‐ No, I haven't.
‐ You have to be tough. Life is.
I‐I wasn't entirely convinced
that my boy
should have chosen
such an ambitious specialty.
But I didn't raise a quitter.
'I hope he didn't
disappoint you.'
No. Your son worked very hard.
And I think he..
...would have made
an excellent surgeon.
‐ Oh, I am so late.
‐ What a day, huh?
You know, you and Dr. Fischer
make a good team.
Well, we're getting
together later.
He's an astronomy buff.
You have a date
with Greg Fischer?
Well, no, not a date.
In some ways, it's perfect
for me that he's gay.
Jeanie, what makes you think
Greg Fischer is gay?
‐ Well, you said‐‐
‐ He isn't gay.
But you said that
his partner died of AIDS.
No. His‐his partner
in his medical practice
not his lover.
Oh, my God, Greg Fischer
is‐is one of the most
eligible heterosexuals
in Chicago.
‐ So he thinks this is a date.
‐ Well, it is a date.
‐ I can't go.
‐ Oh, don't be silly.
No. I‐I didn't tell him
about my being HIV positive.
Look, it's just a date.
Get to know him.
You're entitled to a date.
Really. Go. Have fun.
I expect to hear
all about it tomorrow.
Have you seen E‐Ray?
I think he's helping
one of the temp nurses.
‐ What?
‐ Not with a patient.
He's helping her
with her astrological chart.
Is Dr. Fischer in?
I see. Is he on pager,
by chance?
No? No. Okay, thanks.
Carol.
‐ Good news.
‐ The union blinked first.
The nurses will be back
on the morning shift.
Well, you saved me a trip
from upstairs.
I needed to give you this.
During a trauma
that came in privately
I inadvertently
gave the patient
the wrong blood, and he died.
Oh, my God.
Patient's family
aware of the error?
He was a transient.
His friend said
he had no family members.
Well, that's fortunate.
What?
I'll look over the report, Carol
but don't beat yourself up here.
Did the sick‐out contribute
to this man's demise?
No. It was my error.
I didn't check the label.
'I'm gonna have
to write this up, of course
but I think in view of
the circumstances of the day.
we may be able to forego
an investigation.
I don't want
any special favors here.
I stayed on today because,
as a manager, I'm required to.
I understand.
So the mom admits that there
have been fights in the house.
She claims she can't
keep Charlie in at night.
Sounds more like the mom's
not in at night much herself.
She confirmed the abuse by one,
if not two
of her boyfriends in the past.
‐ Why'd you page me?
‐ Charlie's making some claims.
‐ Against me?
‐ No, not accusations.
But Norm and I felt that
it would be best
if we hash this thing out
together.
Alright.
‐ I appreciate you coming.
‐ Mm‐hmm.
What's up?
Thank you so much for taking
care of her, doctor.
It's my job.
Yeah, but there are
so many who don't care
or just don't
take the time.
I was out of my mind
when I heard.
I thought she was
babysitting at Gloria's.
I was updating Dr. Ross
about what we've been discussing
about the problems at home.
Yeah. I won't say
I don't have a temper
and I've made
a lot of mistakes
but I love Charlie
like crazy.
And I just want her
to find somethin'.
You know, and I know she can't
go out on her own yet, but‐‐
So I told them
what you told me
about how my mom
could give consent.
Adele would be the one
who'd know more about that.
Charlie means parental consent
for her to live with you.
She believes you agreed to that.
Like we said,
I'm almost grown up.
I wouldn't be around
all the time.
‐ I mean, I'll be in school.
‐ Charlie, I'm‐‐
And I can see
you're a good man and a doctor
and it's not like
I'm giving up my daughter.
'She needs a good influence.'
Charlie, that isn't
what we talked about.
In fact, that's just
the exact opposite
of what we talked about.
‐ So Charlie was mistaken.
‐ Yes.
But we can do it.
They'd let us.
So what,
you were flat out lying?
You see
what it's like with her?
‐ Alright, I can't do this.
‐ Why not?
‐ I'd do whatever you said.
‐ These people can help you.
Adele can help you.
Dr. Middleton can help you..
Screw Adele and Dr. Middleton
and screw mom!
It's all a bunch of crap.
And I'll run away for good.
You know it,
and it'll be your fault!
I hate you, I hate you.
‐ Maybe you should go.
‐ Yeah, yeah.
Go! Go on!
Get out of my face!
I'm half frozen.
The snow was
supposed to stop.
Sorry, you didn't even get
a glimpse of the comet.
It's okay, we'll have to try
that again in June, July.
Two hot chocolates.
Hey, you want something to eat?
Yeah, Maybe.
I'm afraid, I'm not hardy
enough for astronomy.
Or crazy enough.
Come to think of it I've never
been all that interested
in the stars themselves.
It's always been
the stories behind them.
There are some great myths.
Have a favorite?
I like the gruesome ones,
like Cassiopeia.
Ah, turned to stone
by the head of Medusa.
Are you sure she didn't freeze
to death stargazing?
Actually,
she's sitting there
waiting for the man
of her dreams.
‐ No.
‐ No, remember.
She's searching
for a nice, upstanding guy.
'He could even be
a bit of a nerd'
as long as he's not completely
lacking in spontaneity.
I'm sorry.
No, I'm‐I'm sorry.
No, it's my fault.
I, um,
I just didn't expect that.
But did you like it?
Yes, I did.
But, Greg..
Hmm.
I'm HIV positive.
Oh.
I'm sorry. I should've told you
before we got here.
But I didn't think
it was a date at first.
‐ That's okay.
‐ 'No, I should have.'
But I was having fun.
So..
Here you go.
Did you want to
order anything?
No.
No, thanks. I'm fine.
I know I was hard on Gant.
But I thought that was
the best way for him to learn.
And I don't blame you.
No more than I blame myself.
I just feel like
I've been walking around
with this secret
and you're the only person
who knows it
and you won't admit to it.
You know a few years ago I went
to my high school reunion.
North Lawndale.
Jackie got it in her head.
There wasn't much of a turnout
because half the class
had dropped out.
And I didn't know the others.
You know, my parents
tried to keep me away
from bad influences.
But here I am
with them, you know.
And, uh, a third of the guys
are in prison
and I bet another third
are dead.
You know, you hear about this
one and that one over the years.
But this night..
...I'm just struck by
the sheer numbers.
I don't know what to think
of Gant's death.
But, Carter, I don't need you
to tell me how I feel.
You want to
go through this alone?
You want to make this
into something that, um..
...I don't know about.
I guess you can.
'We'll both keep our distance.
We'll both do our work.'
'Pretend like nothin' happened.'
We're good at that.
Look what that did
for Dennis Gant.
[theme music]
(male narrator)
Previously on "ER."
Get the gurney, Connie.
She has bruising
around her groin.
She may have been raped.
I'd be lucky to find
someone like you.
You neglected your duties.
If you feel that way,
then you come speak to me.
You feel Dr. Benton's reaction
was inappropriate?
I'm not sure
I'd call it inappropriate.
Administration's making me
fire two nurses.
Really?
I didn't think you'd really go
to Anspaugh.
‐ 'Look, I'm sorry.'
‐ Don't worry about it.
‐ 'Man versus moving El train.'
‐ Suicide?
‐ Dennis.
‐ 'It's Gant!'
‐ Oh, sweet Jesus!
‐ Carter, put the tube in!
Oh, God!
[train chugging]
(Carter)
What happened?
I guess that's the question.
'How...could this awful,
senseless thing happen?'
I mean,
I‐I've seen traumas
from plenty of accidents
since I started my training.
But this was someone I knew.
But you're convinced
it was an accident?
I guess.
Have the police..
I don't think they've come
to any conclusions.
Either he lost his balance
and fell onto the tracks..
...or he jumped.
I understand that you and, uh,
Dr. Gant were friends?
‐ Roommates?
‐ Mm‐hmm.
Well, we hadn't seen much
of each other for the last..
...month, um, I had, um..
...I was seeing somebody,
and I was staying..
...over at her place a lot.
Obviously, the, uh, hospital
is interested in finding out
if anything could have been done
to prevent this tragedy.
You mean if it were a suicide?
We're both aware
of the complaint
about Dr. Benton Dennis lodged
on the day of his death.
In your judgment,
was this day unique
in Dr. Gant's experience
or had he frequently felt
he was treated unfairly?
We both complained
about the hours, the residents.
That's what I thought
it was, venting.
I know Dennis had bad days.
We all do.
But what I'm asking is
if anyone
or anything
put undue pressure on Dr. Gant
'a policy,
uh, teaching method'
anything that seems,
in retrospect, too harsh?
I'll have to think
about that.
Dr. Gant's father
is arriving this afternoon
'to collect his things
and, uh'
'bring the body
back home to..'
Atlanta.
I hope you'll be able
to accompany Mr. Gant
to the apartment.
Mm‐hmm.
Oh, my God, John,
I couldn't believe it.
‐ Yeah.
‐ What a shocker!
‐ You think he pulled a Cobain?
‐ Dale.
Well, if they do
rule it a suicide
maybe we'll get
some shorter hours around here.
Dennis said something at
Christmas about his girlfriend
but if he were depressed
or whatever
you would have noticed,
wouldn't you?
[pager beeps]
Yeah, I would've.
It's the ER.
I thought you had
the ER yesterday.
I'm covering Dennis's shift.
Need eight units of O‐neg,
the sooner the better.
‐ What's up?
‐ Two GSWs coming in.
Both critical.
All sharps and meds
accounted for.
Alright, get ready
for the next guest.
‐ Set up the rapid infuser.
‐ Benton coming down?
I don't know.
I haven't seen him yet.
I was sorry to hear
about Dennis.
‐ Is there any more news?
‐ No, not yet.
We'll take
the chest wound in two.
We'll handle
the extremity wound right here.
Got it.
Respiratory's alerted.
I'll set up a vent.
I'll spike you up a couple
of liters of saline.
Here's a fresh
chest tube tray.
‐ Thank you.
‐ Who's with us, Carol?
I paged Lily.
She'll join you.
Connie'll scribe.
Me and Malik are with Carter.
‐ Alright, what do we got?
‐ Two GSWs.
You and Carter
can take the chest wound.
‐ Is the room prepped?
‐ Yeah. O‐neg's here.
‐ Both rooms are ready.
‐ The chest tube tray is set.
Call Radiology,
get a portable.
‐ We did it.
‐ Okay.
Anybody check the battery
on the laryngoscope?
(all)
Done.
Looks like we're ready
to go, folks.
Wh‐where the hell are they?
I'll check the ETA.
Hey, I was wondering.
Did you get my message?
‐ About the memorial service?
‐ Uh, yeah. Yeah, I did.
I was wondering if you would
or could say a few words.
(Hathaway)
'Are you talking
about the memorial?'
It's five o'clock
in the chapel, right?
(Malik)
'Man, I still can't believe it.'
Me neither.
Here comes the groom. Zadro's
got the bride right behind me.
‐ Let's put her in one.
‐ GSW to the chest.
Intubated in the field.
Two liters in.
'BP 40/palp,
sinus tach at 150.'
Two GSWs,
left lower extremity.
'Arterial bleeding,
no distal pulses.'
‐ Why do I see a third gurney?
‐ Best man.
Wound to the abdomen.
He's stable.
BP's 120/80,
pulse 88.
We only knew about two victims.
Hold him right here.
Carter!
One, two, three.
Evaluate the guy
in the hall.
We've got a third victim.
‐ I need to steal Malik.
‐ Be my guest.
H and H, type and cross
for six. Portable chest.
‐ Pressure's still 40.
‐ Set up the transfuser.
Large‐bore IV
with blood tubing.
Let's run it wide open.
Let's go.
‐ Carter, come on.
‐ Coming.
[theme music]
We, uh, got to
the "do you take" part.
‐ Mm‐hmm.
‐ And bam!
There's Bouey,
her ex, blasting away.
‐ Hey, Lilly.
‐ More blood for the bride.
Do we have any exam rooms open
for our best man here?
‐ Not yet.
‐ How are Duke and Katria doing?
I'm gonna take you
for an abdominal CT.
Whoa! Pressure's dropping!
‐ He's crashing.
‐ Damn it! Take that.
Two units O‐neg onboard.
My guy just bottomed out.
I need to do a central line.
What do you want me to do,
Carter? Hold your hand?
‐ No, there's no room to do him.
‐ Figure it out.
Where's the type specific blood?
‐ 'It's coming.'
‐ 'Alright, let's go.'
‐ Start pushing, Malik.
‐ Where are we going?
‐ Trauma two.
‐ Oh, man.
Scoot over. Make room.
To the right. To the right. Go.
Alright, let's get
a central line kit
and an intubation tray
and start pushing the O‐neg.
‐ How's that pressure?
‐ 40/palp.
Okay.
‐ Let's get a central line kit.
‐ Trendelenburg.
‐ Whose monitor is that?
‐ Ours. He's arrested
Alright, thoracotomy tray.
Let's move, come on.
‐ You wanna watch your elbows?
‐ Let's go.
I missed you last night.
‐ How's your cold?
‐ Uh, it's better.
Thanks for the roses.
‐ Uh, you liked 'em?
‐ I loved them.
Oh, man, you are spoiling me,
you know that?
‐ Somethin' wrong?
‐ You know, this union stuff.
It's gonna be a weird day
for the nurses.
Yeah, so is the sick‐out
gonna happen?
Yeah, I think so.
Does it bother you
that I told you?
No, no, no.
Of course not.
We're still on for tonight?
Movie, dinner?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
It's a date.
Yeah, It's fractured, alright.
How's that pressure dressing?
Looks like
we stopped the bleeding.
Four units of A‐positive.
‐ Next door.
‐ Let's get that arteriogram.
Oh, finally,
type specific's here.
Alright, it's a little late now.
Satinsky.
Okay, I'm in.
Keep the O‐neg going.
‐ 'Pressure's coming up.'
‐ My guy's stable.
You need some help?
Ah, damn it.
There's nothing to clamp.
He's bled out.
Flatline.
Alright.
Time of death...12:05.
BP's stable, 100/60.
‐ Wanna take this guy up?
‐ Yeah. Let's go.
Alright, let's go.
Alright, you do the body,
I'll do the room?
Sure.
Malik, I'm a little shorthanded
this afternoon.
A lot of my nurses
are calling in sick.
Is there anyway
you can pull a double?
Sorry.
Carol, can you give us
a hand in here?
Go on.
I'll get this.
The, uh, memorial service is
gonna be in the hospital chapel.
Y‐you wouldn't need to say much.
Just‐‐
Forget it, Carter.
I'm no public speaker.
[elevator bell dings]
You know, there's still
no official ruling
on the cause of death.
Dr. Anspaugh says the police
are still talking to witnesses.
Maybe they'll turn up something.
When did you speak
to Anspaugh?
This morning. He called in
all the blue team interns.
‐ Why?
‐ "Why?" To see how we're doing.
To see what we think
might have happened.
Why, were there any blue team
interns on the El platform?
I think he was wondering about
Gant's state of mind
these last couple of weeks,
like all of us were.
So did he call you guys in,
one at a time or all together?
No. One at a time. Hasn't
Anspaugh talked to you yet?
Well, I'm actually supposed
to go talk to him
but I guess he needs
to do a survey first.
GSW to the abdomen.
Who's on call?
Dr. Hicks. Room one.
You know, I don't think
anybody's blaming you.
Why would they?
Carter, did you finish
your rounds this morning?
‐ Not yet.
‐ Alright, well, get to it.
I can finish this up by myself.
She'll stay on a 72‐hour hold
while we finish
her psychiatric evaluation.
I suggest you steer clear.
‐ You've gotten too entangled.
‐ I'm her doctor.
And her guardian angel
and the guy who let her down.
‐ She pissed?
‐ At you? Yeah, sure.
You told her you wouldn't sell
her into the system and you did.
But betrayal isn't anything new
to this girl.
Betrayal? She's a 14 year old
on the streets.
You don't have
to explain it to me
And you don't have
to explain it to her.
Another doc could follow up
on her neuro exam.
Yeah.
You knew I'd be back.
Ah, she's a kid, you went
out of your way to help
who hates your guts,
you wanna change that.
Okay.
What's Charlie's prognosis?
She's got a lot of issues
but I won't recommend
a psychiatric placement.
DCFS will take over from here.
But it wouldn't be a problem
for her if I see her?
Charlie's armor
is in good shape.
How's yours?
[scoffs]
So what are you gonna do
with the afternoon?
Lydia and I are hitting
the January sales.
Not me, I'm not spending a penny
until our contract is settled.
Oh, it is settled, baby.
Nothing like a case
of the pink flu to make a point.
I've never been
on a strike before.
And I hope you never will be.
This is just a sick‐out.
The pink flu.
‐ Close your ears, E‐Ray.
‐ Hey, I'm a union man.
One shift without RNs
ought to make them
think twice
about cutting our overtime.
I'm just worried
about the patients.
We all are.
That's why we aren't going
to accept a contract
that compromises
patient care.
‐ Or screws us.
‐ That, too.
Chuny, would you help me
with the damn coffeemaker?
See? What would they do without
us RNs around here?
You should be taking tea and
lemon for that cold of yours.
Oh, boy. I hate
to see her fall.
‐ I tried to warn her.
‐ Oh, Dr. Greene's a nice guy.
Dr. Greene's a doctor
on the rebound.
How many nurse‐doctor flings
have you known?
Including my own?
And how many of 'em worked out?
The real problem is,
she's got a grand trine in fire
and his sun
is in Pisces.
Labs are back
from curtain three.
They're mine.
‐ Haleh, can you pull a double?
‐ When?
Today. My entire p. m. shift
called in sick.
I heard something
was going around.
Well, something's going
around, alright.
‐ Can you stay?
‐ I'm sorry, Carol.
I'm coming down
with it myself.
Hey, Charlie.
I just want to check
on your concussion.
It's only
gonna take a second.
Come here, sit around.
Come on, let's go.
I need you to sit up and I want
you to look into the light.
Okay? Come here.
I want you to follow this just
with your eyes, not your head.
Hey, looks like
the swelling went down.
Okay, follow the light just
with your eyes, not your head.
How's your head?
Any confusion?
Yeah. What year is it?
December '95, according to
this hot magazine you gave me.
Did you know Michael
and Lisa Marie are splitting up?
Charlie, what was
I supposed to do?
Let you go back
out on the street?
Like I haven't been beaten worse
when I lived at home.
‐ You have any trouble seeing?
‐ No.
‐ I get these little blobs.
‐ Mm‐hmm.
What kind of blobs?
Open your eye.
‐ Dark spots floating around.
‐ Mm‐hmm.
Any flashes of light?
Sometimes when you get
a blow to the head
there's a danger
of retinal detachment.
We'll have an ophthalmologist
take a look at it.
Meantime, I want you
to lay back down, okay?
Just when I thought things
couldn't get any more boring.
Yep.
If I go blind..
...can they still send me
to the nut house?
‐ That's not where you're going.
‐ Oh, good.
Then just to jail.
You're going somewhere
so you'll be safe.
I should have lied.
And said I wasn't raped.
That's why you locked me up.
You're on a hold..
...for your own good.
Like it was my fault.
I should have just said
it was sex.
It's not like there's
much of a difference.
Like any of it matters.
Don't let them put me
in a home.
I won't.
Nobody's gonna hurt you.
Please.
‐ Guess.
‐ It's no more roses.
I mean, I love the roses,
they were beautiful both times..
It's not roses.
It's a beauty.
This thing must have cost you.
Try it on. You're gonna need it
come spring.
I thought we'd take a week
and head to the Upper Peninsula.
Mark, it's only January.
What makes you think
we can't plan ahead?
My last ten relationships.
Mark, nurses admin
is coming down to discuss..
What are you
rebelling against, Chuny?
What have you got?
Weaver, without a chart
in curtain three.
Oops. Got distracted,
all his fault.
Does admin want to discuss
our...situation?
You mean,
the nurses' sick‐out?
‐ Chuny.
‐ That's what it is.
You wouldn't want to stay
and help me out, would you?
Please don't ask.
The nurses have to stick
together.
‐ I'm a nurse.
‐ And a manager.
Don't ask me to break ranks.
It's hard to say no to you.
‐ She's great.
‐ Yeah.
Heard from Susan?
If you think I'm just reacting
to Susan leaving
you're completely wrong.
I'm completely wrong.
Picked him up at the airport
shuttle at McCormick place.
He's diaphoretic,
temp's 103, BP's 70/50.
Vomited three times en route.
Diarrhea, too.
You don't wanna
go near my rig.
Find Dr. Greene.
Okay, on my count.
One, two, three.
One liter of saline.
Pulse ox is 98%
on five liters.
Temp's 103.6.
Five of Compazine and Tylenol
ten‐grain suppository.
‐ Let's mix a Dopamine drip.
‐ What do you got?
This guy was picked up
in an airport shuttle.
‐ Departing or arriving?
‐ Here, let me check.
‐ 'Cap refill's poor.'
‐ Well, let's get a CBC.
Chem seven,
urine C and S, chest film.
According to his ticket
Mr. Hecht just flew in
from Paris.
Hang on. His original point
of departure was Libreville.
‐ Where's that?
‐ Gabon, West Africa.
Alright,
everybody get masks on.
I'll mask the patient.
What are you thinking?
Like to get a consult from
Infectious Disease right away.
Isn't Gabon one of the places
they found the Ebola virus?
Let's set up an isolation room.
Keep caregivers
down to a minimum.
I'll stay with Mr. Hecht.
I started the case.
How'd it go?
Best man pull through?
Uh, yeah. Lost his spleen.
I finished my rounds.
Did you want me to take
Dennis's patients, too?
No. I'll do them.
You know, I bumped into
Dr. Morgenstern.
And, uh,...he told me
the police
have ruled Dennis's death
an accident.
Is that what you think it was?
I think it's easier for
everyone, uh, for his family.
Yeah. Easier on everyone,
but that doesn't mean it's true.
Carter, why do you care
what I think?
Because you and I knew Dennis.
Better than anybody else here.
Look, I'm not
your friend Keaton.
I mean, I know if she was here
she would hash all this with you
but Carter, you know,
that's not me.
Peter? Ah, there you are.
When it rains, it pours.
Dissecting aneurysm
coming down from ICU.
‐ Care to join me?
‐ Ah, I'd love to.
Have you finished
your rounds yet?
‐ Yes, I have.
‐ He's covering ER.
Well, that shouldn't stop you
from joining us.
If you get paged,
you can leave.
I'll tell you how to do your job
and we'll see how you take it.
...way that you can expedite
Charlie's foster placement?
She's not gonna do well
in an institution.
Norm agrees with me.
No, what I said was
if she gets a chance
she'll probably ditch
out of a group setting.
Well, that's why my first
attempt is to locate the mother.
Good luck with that.
She was last seen in Ohio
over a year ago, right?
You believe that?
I don't believe Charlie
wants us to find her mom.
That's why she's being
so uncooperative.
Such a great mom.
Well, even a bad mom can give
parental consent and that's what
you need for the kind of
placement you're suggesting.
If Charlie would cooperate in
helping find her other relatives
in Cleveland or elsewhere,
she could be placed with them.
‐ And she understands that?
‐ Yes.
Yes.
But I'm the enemy.
Okay.
Alright, I'll give it a shot if
I'm not stepping on your toes.
No, stomp away.
We all want the same thing.
Jeanie, this is Dr. Fischer
from Infectious Disease.
‐ Hi.
‐ Hi.
‐ How's the patient?
‐ He's defervescing.
Lytes, chest x‐ray,
urinalysis were all normal.
He's been conscious off and on,
but delirious.
He did confirm that
he was working in Gabon.
'Some sort of land survey.'
‐ I want a sed rate and an LP.
‐ Right away.
‐ As far as the airline goes?
‐ Keep them on alert.
I wanna get some test results
before they contact passengers.
I hear hoof beats, but I haven't
seen any zebras yet.
Have you drawn blood cultures?
Graft is holding, finally.
Let's close.
Alright, 2‐0 Prolene
on a double arm.
Carter, suction.
Come on, 2‐0 Prolene.
‐ Let's go, let's wake up.
‐ Whole department's off today.
‐ Everyone's still in shock.
‐ Bovie.
I'm sorry I didn't get
to know Dr. Gant better.
How was working
with him, Peter?
I don't know,
it's too soon to say.
More 2‐0. He hadn't
distinguished himself yet.
(Hicks)
'That's surprising,
given his transcripts.'
He came to us with the highest
recommendations.
Yeah, well, maybe he was having
adjustment problems.
So you noticed him struggling?
I don't think Gant was prepared
to handle urban trauma center.
Then why did you give him
a positive progress report?
‐ I'm sorry?
‐ 'You heard me.'
Why did you praise him for his
improved technical skills
and initiative
in his second review?
Perhaps at another time.
No. Actually I gave
that review to Gant
before he had some
recent backsliding.
And I wasn't even aware that
he received that evaluation.
Oh, he hadn't.
It came today.
You can be sure that
he never received
any encouraging
or supportive word from you.
Candy, take over suctioning.
And you're excused, Dr. Carter.
All he ever got from you
was harping and criticism.
And now, he's dead.
And you're gonna
have to face it.
My apologies, Dr. Hicks.
Whoa! You don't
like the roses?
I love the roses,
I'm just telling you
you can slow down,
you don't have to impress me.
I just passed a florist shop
and I thought about you.
Yeah, but in my family
if a man sends flowers
two times in one week
the only thing left is
conversion to Catholicism,
marriage and seven kids.
So should I be looking
over my shoulder
for your father with a shotgun?
No. My brother Julio,
he packs a .45.
‐ Mark, there you are.
‐ Looks like 100% participation.
We have no nurses
in exactly one hour.
Dr. Greene,
this is Roger Drummond
from Labor Relations,
and you know Mary Cain.
Well, our attorneys are filing
an injunction against the union.
An organized work stoppage
is illegal under their contract.
No one was actually
stupid enough
to admit to
an organized sick‐out?
Nope.
Hopefully, only this one shift
will be affected.
We can't stay open
without nurses.
I've rounded up private duty
nurses off the registry.
Also nurse managers from other
departments are gonna cover.
‐ Oh, boy.
‐ I can come down myself.
The extra bodies will help
with non‐emergent cases.
The hospital would prefer not to
cave into this kind of tactic.
Well, at least, we should stay
closed to trauma.
‐ I agree with Carol.
‐ Me, too.
Alright. We're closed to trauma,
three o'clock sharp.
I'll call the paramedics.
Let them know to divert.
How's she doing?
No signs of retinal detachment.
‐ What about the blobs?
‐ Most people have floaters.
But you've probably just
noticed them more
as you've been recovering.
When's this stuff
gonna wear off?
Your vision will be normal
in an hour or so.
Wear these.
Thanks for checking
her out there, doc.
Any time, Dr. Ross.
You have a very nice daughter.
She's not my daughter.
Who gave you that idea?
It was just a joke.
Cool. It's kind of trippy.
Everything's a blur.
Why did you tell
Dr. Zogoiby that?
‐ That you're my dad?
‐ Yep.
You're old enough.
You know, half the time you clam
up and you don't say anything.
And the other
half of the time
you're taking back
the lies you just told.
So?
So you're making it tough
for people to help you.
If you cooperate,
then Social Services can find
a relative or get consent
for somebody to take you in.
Like who?
That's what you got to help
them figure out.
Stop lying to people.
Like adults don't lie
every chance they get.
Yeah.
Why don't you
have any kids?
I get my fill of them
on the job.
So this truth thing's
a one‐way street.
I get it.
Okay.
Uh...I haven't gotten it
together long enough
to stay with a woman
let alone family and babies
and long‐term commitments.
You wouldn't have to have a baby
if you had, like, a foster kid.
[chuckles]
Anybody in particular?
Well, a teenager wouldn't be
that long of a commitment.
Practically
grown up already.
Charlie, if I were ready,
you'd be first on my list.
[elevator bell dings]
You've used that one
on women, haven't you?
Uh, I have.
‐'There you are.'
‐ Hey.
‐ So how are the eyes?
‐ She's doing fine.
Good. Well, I'm sure her mother
will be relieved to hear that.
You found her, in Cleveland?
No. On South Des Plaines Avenue.
Just ten blocks away,
where she and Charlie live.
My God, Charlie. I was freaking.
I was so worried.
Look at you. What did I
tell you would happen?
You're gonna end up
with scars from this, you know.
'When are you
gonna listen to me?'
'I can't turn my back for a
second, you're out of the door.'
‐ Dr. Pomerantz?
‐ Yes.
Dr. Anspaugh said that
you might be available
today for counseling for, um
those of us
who knew Dennis Gant.
That's right.
Um, they've set up
an office for me
on the surgical ward, room 820,
and I will be there till six.
Oh, I don't know
if I can make it today.
Uh, I meant to stop by earlier,
but I got called into surgery.
Oh, are you an intern?
Yeah, yeah. John Carter.
Oh, you're John Carter.
Dennis mentioned you
a few times.
‐ You‐you were his friend.
‐ Oh, I...you knew Dennis?
He came to me for counseling
when he first arrived.
But after a few sessions,
he decided to stop.
‐ I see.
‐ I'm really very sorry.
I know how hard it is
to lose a friend.
I hope you'll come by
and talk.
Hey, uh..
...when Dennis quit therapy
did you think that it was okay?
I mean, did you..
...feel it was alright
for him to stop?
I didn't disagree with it,
uh, his stopping at the time.
He seemed to be settling in,
developing a support system.
There's a survivor's guilt
that comes
with any unexpected death.
Maybe I feel guilty
because I am.
You should come and see me.
I'll try.
I'll try to remember
all your names
but please have your ID tags
where they can be seen.
‐ Bye, Lily. Bye, Haleh.
‐ Goodbye, Carol.
Good luck.
Has anyone worked
the ER before?
Twenty years ago,
I hated it.
Well, we're closed to trauma, so
that should ease the workload.
And please, if you
have any questions
don't hesitate to ask.
‐ Later.
‐ Pick you up at quarter till.
‐ I can meet you there.
‐ I'll pick you up.
Bye, Chuny.
You know, if we win this,
it'll be good for nurses.
Yeah, it's not that simple.
County's gotta find
the money somewhere.
Well, they can check my bank
account. It's not in there.
I'll send these up to the lab.
Cell count and diff,
protein, glucose
Gram stain,
India ink and culture.
Exactly.
‐ Nice to see you again.
‐ Kerry.
Did we find you
something exotic?
No, we've all seen
way too many movies.
There's no ecchymosis
or bleeding or rash.
It doesn't suggest Ebola.
Meet me in the lab.
‐ We'll make the Giemsa stains.
‐ Be right there.
You know, we have techs
who will do that for you.
I'm an old‐fashioned lab rat.
I like to do it myself.
Greg's wonderful. I should have
thought of him for you earlier.
‐ Kerry.
‐ As your doctor.
I mean there is no reason
for you to drive
all the way out
to Highland Park anymore.
Greg's very respected
for his work with HIV patients.
Oh.
He left a successful
private practice
to come to county
after his partner
died of AIDS
last summer.
‐ Oh, that's too bad.
‐ You ought to think about it.
Yeah, maybe I will.
Turns out she's not even
a runaway.
Her mom lives ten minutes away.
She sounds like
quite a case herself.
Yeah, letting her kid
run the streets
all hours
of the day and night.
So what do you think,
chophouse for Valentine's Day?
Mark, I'd love to,
but you're not my type.
I know it's not very romantic,
but it's Chuny's favorite.
So are they gonna send
Charlie home with her mom?
There's a cooling off period
where the DCFS
tries to figure out
which end is up.
And I'm on my way
to the gym.
Well, sounds like
she's in safe hands for now.
Thank God for Social Services.
Hey, Carter.
Can I get you anything?
Wow. I could get used to
being closed to trauma.
I was actually hoping for
something to do.
Doesn't feel real,
does it?
I just keep waiting for Dennis
to come through that door
and tell everybody
it was a big mistake.
You know you couldn't have done
anything to change it, right?
I know that.
I just don't
believe that.
Help! Somebody help my friend,
please. He's dying.
‐ Okay, on a count‐‐
‐ No, don't lift him up.
‐ His leg is barely hanging on.
‐ What happened to this guy?
Gil was taking a nap
in the alley.
They dropped a dumpster on him.
I had to drag it
off of him.
I kept calling for help,
but no cars would stop.
I was looking for a phone,
I couldn't find one.
Paramedics wouldn't
have brought you here.
Yeah, we're closed to trauma.
You probably just saved your
friend a ride across town.
‐ What can I do?
‐ Get the doctors.
Get all the doctors.
Nothing. Let's try
the other slide.
Okay.
Thanks.
‐ Wanna take a shot?
‐ Sure.
You know
what you're looking for?
They have hoop‐shaped rings,
like Saturn.
Exactly.
You like astronomy.
Well, my fifth grade
science project was on comets.
I'm pretty much an expert.
You must be excited about
the appearance of Hale‐Bopp.
It's a comet
that was just discovered.
Just started
to brighten this month.
Do you have
your own telescope?
Careful,
you'll get me started
on a whole new set of
useless facts.
I thought about getting
my own telescope once
but can you see much
with the city lights?
You should join me
for a comet watch.
I usually set up
outside the Adler.
‐ Yeah, I'd love to sometime.
‐ How about tonight?
Supposed to be crystal clear,
but bundle up.
At four there can be a chilly
wind coming off the lake.
‐ Four a. m.?
‐ Only visible in predawn sky.
Ah. Hey, wait, look,
I think I found some.
'Take a look.
Am I right?'
‐ 'They've rings more than one.'
‐ Yeah, that's it.
'The asexual form
of the parasite.'
‐ It's plain old malaria.
‐ Good news for Mr. Hecht?
Chloroquinine 10 milligram IV
followed by a 15 milligram drip.
Okay.
Hey, you know, I'm usually awake
at four a. m. anyway.
‐ I'll bring the coffee.
‐ Great.
‐ O‐neg is here, four units.
‐ Thanks. Call Radiology again.
Ask them
what's taking them so long.
Get on the rapid infuser.
I got a pumper.
Femoral artery.
4 x 4s for Dr. Greene.
‐ Gauze?
‐ 4 x 4s.
Oh, come on.
Come on, Gil.
Come on.
BP's thready, pressure's 60
heart rate's 140, pulse ox 90.
‐ How's that lavage coming?
‐ I need some Betadine.
Coming up. Watch out!
‐ I need help with this tape.
‐ Okay. I got it.
‐ Who's on the infuser?
‐ I'll get it. Just a sec.
Oh, yeah. Positive lavage.
We got internal bleeding.
‐ I need a thigh cuff.
‐ Thigh cuff for Dr. Greene.
'Upper right drawer.
Right drawer.'
‐ Up.
‐ Found it.
‐ He's fibrillating.
‐ I'll start compression.
Let's shock him.
Paddles, Carter. Two hundred.
Everybody off?
‐ No juice.
‐ Uh, uh, uh, Carol?
Hit the sync switch.
Turn it off.
‐ Can I set?
‐ Yeah.
Clear!
Come on, Gil.
Three hundred.
Clear!
Is he dying? Is he dying?
Is my buddy dying?
We're doing the best
we can, sir.
‐ Just go wait outside.
‐ Three sixty. Clear!
‐ He's my friend!
‐ I know, I know.
‐ Give me an amp of Epi.
‐ Oh, my God.
I tried to get him here
as fast as I..
‐ Shut this guy up!
‐ It's my fault. I let him down.
Let's shock him again
at 360. Clear.
Oh, he's my buddy,
and I let him down.
Okay, okay
We got it, we got it, okay?
‐ Carter, get him out of here.
‐ Let's go, let's go.
You didn't.
At least, you tried.
‐ Kerry, can you cover for me?
‐ Yeah. Go on.
'Come on. Come on.'
'Let's try again at 360.
Clear.'
I knew Dennis
was having a hard time.
I knew he was in trouble..
...but I was too busy.
And I just didn't want
to get dragged down.
I didn't listen.
You're in the middle
of your first year of residency.
You're working
at an inhuman pace.
Why am I doing it again?
'Cause you are trying
to learn a job
where lives are at stake.
Didn't save Dennis's life,
though, did I?
You don't know
that you could have.
I know that I wasn't
much of a friend.
I'll collect the sharps. You can
check off the dispensed meds.
Oh, you don't have to do that.
I can get a temp.
I don't mind chipping in.
Number 11 lavage blade.
Two needles
from the central line.
Right, 3 Epi, 100 of Lidocaine.
I wanted to compliment you on
how you handled yourself today.
It isn't easy to be a manager
when it's hitting the fan
and your workers
are your friends.
Two IV needles.
Thanks. It's been pretty awful
around here lately.
I still think of myself
as just a nurse, you know
and I gotta wade through
all this management crap.
Two of O‐neg, empty,
two unused.
You only waded through it
very gracefully today.
Uh, isn't there three of O‐neg?
Oh, yeah.
Here it is.
No. This one is marked A‐pos.
What?
Did we order
type specific?
It never came down.
I mean, where did this..
God, this must have been
on the infuser.
There's blood
in the Foley bag.
Oh, my God,
I gave him the wrong blood.
This unit of A‐positive must
have been left on the infuser.
When I started it up I'm pretty
sure there was a bag on there.
I thought someone had hung it,
and I didn't check the label.
Have you sent an EDTA‐treated
sample to be re‐cross‐matched?
Yeah. It showed massive
intravascular hemolysis.
I gave type A blood
to a type O patient.
‐ I killed him.
‐ He was bleeding out anyway.
Possibly bleeding out.
We've saved worse.
It was an honest mistake.
You were the only RN in trauma.
We were all filling in roles
we weren't accustomed to.
That still doesn't take away
the basic error.
I did not check the label.
Carol, I think we're saying
that if you determined
an incident report
was unnecessary
we wouldn't pursue it.
Am I speaking out of turn?
No. If you'd been alone
cleaning up
'you could've thrown
the empty bag'
in hazardous waste
and been done with it.
That's true.
But I'd still have
to look at myself
in the mirror every day.
Thank you for making
the arrangements, Dr. Carter.
And the sentiments
you've expressed
set just the right tone.
I want to apologize, Dr. Hicks
about what happened
earlier in surgery.
You already did.
Did I missed it?
Yeah.
Mr. Gant, this is Dr. Benton
who you were asking about.
Dr. Benton,
this is Dennis Gant Sr.
He was hoping to meet you.
My sympathies are
with you and your family.
Thank you, doctor.
I'm sorry I missed the service.
Dennis's e‐mail
gave me a sense
of how demanding
your schedules are.
In fact, I had
to admonish my son
for taking time
to write home at all.
I didn't want him
to neglect his workload.
I know that Dennis
greatly respected your work.
'And looked up to you.'
Well, I'm afraid I was, uh..
...I was a bit tough
on your...your son.
Maybe Dr. Carter filled you in.
‐ No, I haven't.
‐ You have to be tough. Life is.
I‐I wasn't entirely convinced
that my boy
should have chosen
such an ambitious specialty.
But I didn't raise a quitter.
'I hope he didn't
disappoint you.'
No. Your son worked very hard.
And I think he..
...would have made
an excellent surgeon.
‐ Oh, I am so late.
‐ What a day, huh?
You know, you and Dr. Fischer
make a good team.
Well, we're getting
together later.
He's an astronomy buff.
You have a date
with Greg Fischer?
Well, no, not a date.
In some ways, it's perfect
for me that he's gay.
Jeanie, what makes you think
Greg Fischer is gay?
‐ Well, you said‐‐
‐ He isn't gay.
But you said that
his partner died of AIDS.
No. His‐his partner
in his medical practice
not his lover.
Oh, my God, Greg Fischer
is‐is one of the most
eligible heterosexuals
in Chicago.
‐ So he thinks this is a date.
‐ Well, it is a date.
‐ I can't go.
‐ Oh, don't be silly.
No. I‐I didn't tell him
about my being HIV positive.
Look, it's just a date.
Get to know him.
You're entitled to a date.
Really. Go. Have fun.
I expect to hear
all about it tomorrow.
Have you seen E‐Ray?
I think he's helping
one of the temp nurses.
‐ What?
‐ Not with a patient.
He's helping her
with her astrological chart.
Is Dr. Fischer in?
I see. Is he on pager,
by chance?
No? No. Okay, thanks.
Carol.
‐ Good news.
‐ The union blinked first.
The nurses will be back
on the morning shift.
Well, you saved me a trip
from upstairs.
I needed to give you this.
During a trauma
that came in privately
I inadvertently
gave the patient
the wrong blood, and he died.
Oh, my God.
Patient's family
aware of the error?
He was a transient.
His friend said
he had no family members.
Well, that's fortunate.
What?
I'll look over the report, Carol
but don't beat yourself up here.
Did the sick‐out contribute
to this man's demise?
No. It was my error.
I didn't check the label.
'I'm gonna have
to write this up, of course
but I think in view of
the circumstances of the day.
we may be able to forego
an investigation.
I don't want
any special favors here.
I stayed on today because,
as a manager, I'm required to.
I understand.
So the mom admits that there
have been fights in the house.
She claims she can't
keep Charlie in at night.
Sounds more like the mom's
not in at night much herself.
She confirmed the abuse by one,
if not two
of her boyfriends in the past.
‐ Why'd you page me?
‐ Charlie's making some claims.
‐ Against me?
‐ No, not accusations.
But Norm and I felt that
it would be best
if we hash this thing out
together.
Alright.
‐ I appreciate you coming.
‐ Mm‐hmm.
What's up?
Thank you so much for taking
care of her, doctor.
It's my job.
Yeah, but there are
so many who don't care
or just don't
take the time.
I was out of my mind
when I heard.
I thought she was
babysitting at Gloria's.
I was updating Dr. Ross
about what we've been discussing
about the problems at home.
Yeah. I won't say
I don't have a temper
and I've made
a lot of mistakes
but I love Charlie
like crazy.
And I just want her
to find somethin'.
You know, and I know she can't
go out on her own yet, but‐‐
So I told them
what you told me
about how my mom
could give consent.
Adele would be the one
who'd know more about that.
Charlie means parental consent
for her to live with you.
She believes you agreed to that.
Like we said,
I'm almost grown up.
I wouldn't be around
all the time.
‐ I mean, I'll be in school.
‐ Charlie, I'm‐‐
And I can see
you're a good man and a doctor
and it's not like
I'm giving up my daughter.
'She needs a good influence.'
Charlie, that isn't
what we talked about.
In fact, that's just
the exact opposite
of what we talked about.
‐ So Charlie was mistaken.
‐ Yes.
But we can do it.
They'd let us.
So what,
you were flat out lying?
You see
what it's like with her?
‐ Alright, I can't do this.
‐ Why not?
‐ I'd do whatever you said.
‐ These people can help you.
Adele can help you.
Dr. Middleton can help you..
Screw Adele and Dr. Middleton
and screw mom!
It's all a bunch of crap.
And I'll run away for good.
You know it,
and it'll be your fault!
I hate you, I hate you.
‐ Maybe you should go.
‐ Yeah, yeah.
Go! Go on!
Get out of my face!
I'm half frozen.
The snow was
supposed to stop.
Sorry, you didn't even get
a glimpse of the comet.
It's okay, we'll have to try
that again in June, July.
Two hot chocolates.
Hey, you want something to eat?
Yeah, Maybe.
I'm afraid, I'm not hardy
enough for astronomy.
Or crazy enough.
Come to think of it I've never
been all that interested
in the stars themselves.
It's always been
the stories behind them.
There are some great myths.
Have a favorite?
I like the gruesome ones,
like Cassiopeia.
Ah, turned to stone
by the head of Medusa.
Are you sure she didn't freeze
to death stargazing?
Actually,
she's sitting there
waiting for the man
of her dreams.
‐ No.
‐ No, remember.
She's searching
for a nice, upstanding guy.
'He could even be
a bit of a nerd'
as long as he's not completely
lacking in spontaneity.
I'm sorry.
No, I'm‐I'm sorry.
No, it's my fault.
I, um,
I just didn't expect that.
But did you like it?
Yes, I did.
But, Greg..
Hmm.
I'm HIV positive.
Oh.
I'm sorry. I should've told you
before we got here.
But I didn't think
it was a date at first.
‐ That's okay.
‐ 'No, I should have.'
But I was having fun.
So..
Here you go.
Did you want to
order anything?
No.
No, thanks. I'm fine.
I know I was hard on Gant.
But I thought that was
the best way for him to learn.
And I don't blame you.
No more than I blame myself.
I just feel like
I've been walking around
with this secret
and you're the only person
who knows it
and you won't admit to it.
You know a few years ago I went
to my high school reunion.
North Lawndale.
Jackie got it in her head.
There wasn't much of a turnout
because half the class
had dropped out.
And I didn't know the others.
You know, my parents
tried to keep me away
from bad influences.
But here I am
with them, you know.
And, uh, a third of the guys
are in prison
and I bet another third
are dead.
You know, you hear about this
one and that one over the years.
But this night..
...I'm just struck by
the sheer numbers.
I don't know what to think
of Gant's death.
But, Carter, I don't need you
to tell me how I feel.
You want to
go through this alone?
You want to make this
into something that, um..
...I don't know about.
I guess you can.
'We'll both keep our distance.
We'll both do our work.'
'Pretend like nothin' happened.'
We're good at that.
Look what that did
for Dennis Gant.
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