ER (1994–2009): Season 3, Episode 16 - Faith - full transcript

[theme music]

(male narrator)
Previously on "ER.."

Any idea when
you're coming back?

No. The hearing is in
a couple of weeks though.

Our very own
Nurse Hathaway is doing

'quite beautifully
all on her own.'

How'd you end up going out with
two women on the same night?

Scheduling mix‐up.

I thought we were having drinks.

Was that drinks before or
after the basketball game?

‐ I just took out your appendix.
‐ What?



‐ I'm afraid.
‐ Of what?

Of liking you too much.

We'd have to intubate him.

He doesn't wanna be
put on a machine.

Intubate him.

[ECG monitor beeping]

(woman on TV)
'And we're back at 8:30
on this Thursday morning.'

'It's really nice outside.'

(man on TV)
'Yeah, it's beautiful
out there.'

[indistinct chattering on TV]

[cutlery clanking]

(woman on TV)
'Can you do
the things she‐she does?'

‐ 'I tried, I tried.'
‐ 'You do?'

'No, I'm not as good as her.'



Mom?

Oh, did I wake you?

What are you doing?

I'm making you breakfast.

Where's the coffee?

How are you feeling?

Sleeping okay?

Like a baby.

No nightmares?

No.

It would only be natural.

Mom, I see worse stuff
at work every day.

Today's the big day, right?

‐ The test?
‐ No. Find out about your job.

Mom, they suspended me.
I might not get my job back.

Those eggs done?

No, still too runny.

I like them runny.

Another couple minutes.

What test?

Medical school
admissions test, mom.

I thought you gave up on that.

No.

'Hmm, big commitment.'

Here we go.

Perfect.

Hmm. Doctor...that
would be something.

‐ I could do it.
‐ 'I know you could.'

‐ I could.
‐ I said so.

‐ Why do you always do that?
‐ Do what?

Make me feel
like I'm incapable, stupid.

I said I thought
you could do it.

I just wish for once
you would believe in me.

I believe in you.

You're always
criticizing, belittling.

Making me feel
like I can't do anything.

That's not true.

Why didn't you tell me
I could be a lawyer

or a pilot or an damn astronaut?

You wanted to be an astronaut?

No, but I wanted you
to tell me I could.

Fine. Go be an astronaut.

I'm your mother.
I love you, whoever you are.

Doctor, nurse, housewife.

Oh, right. Housewife.

You hold you back, not me.

You're the one that
always quits everything.

Always frightened that
you're not good enough.

I finish things.

Ballet, cheerleading,
uh, the flute.

I was thirteen.

Business school,
uh, your own wedding.

[sighs]

I finished
nursing school, didn't I?

Right. Exactly.

You've got a great
job you're good at.

So why is the grass
suddenly greener?

You have a good life.

I'm proud of you.

Why aren't you
proud of yourself?

[sobbing]

[door shuts]

(Benton)
'Carla!'

Carla.

Hey. Carla.

I was coming to see you.

But I didn't know you had
to be to work this early.

I don't.

Look, uh..

...Carla, I'm sorry
I haven't called you.

‐ I mean, a lotta stuff came up.
‐ Uh‐huh.

I just, I just had a lot
of stuff goin' on, you know.

I had minor surgery,
and all this other..

Sorry to hear that.
Are you okay?

Yeah, yeah,
it was just my appendix.

I mean, I'm still
a little sore, but I'm okay.

How about you? Are you okay?

Peter, what do you want?

‐ What, we need to talk.
‐ Uh‐uh.

I told you that I was
pregnant weeks ago, okay?

Then nothing. No phone calls.

No coming by
to see how I was doing. Silence.

I got the point.
It's cool, I got it.

Look, I wasn't
trying to make a point.

Look..

Carla.

I realize there's
gonna be a baby here.

He's gonna be as much my
responsibility as he is yours.

I just needed some time to think
about this thing. I mean..

No, it's not the way
I would've planned it.

But I'm not gonna let you go
through this thing by yourself.

You gonna marry me, Peter?

That's not what I'm saying.

So what are you saying? What?

You're gonna stop
by every so often

and...change a few diapers,
bounce our baby on your knee

for a couple of Kodak moments?

The child's gonna
need...a good school

and a nice place to live.

And you're saying
I can't provide those things?

I'm saying I can help, Carla.

Money. Ha ha ha.

So that is what
this is all about.

Yeah, that,
among other things.

A child's gonna need
a man in his life.

Well, who says
that this baby

will not have
a man in his life?

So, what are you saying?
You seeing somebody else?

[laughing]

Peter, you know, you and I..

...we've known each
other for a very long time.

I never expected
you to marry me.

I never expected
a damn thing from you.

You care about you.

And that is the way
it has always been.

But you know,
it‐it‐it's comforting, really.

It's one of the few
constants in my life.

You don't have to
worry about it, Peter.

This baby's gonna be fine.

Plenty to eat, nice clothes,
a good man around to call daddy.

'I'm gonna take care
of all those things.'

You go back
to worrying about yourself

Because that's what you do best.

[theme music]

[music continues]

Dr. Benton!

First day back, huh?
How's the incision healing?

‐ You need discharge?
‐ It's fine, Carter.

You know, you really
shouldn't be back on your feet

for extended
periods of time yet.

Did you finish that
whole course of antibiotics?

'Cause you don't wanna
develop resistance.

Peter, how's the scar?
Is it itchy yet?

Oh, I made
a Rocky‐Davis incision

and a running stitch,
Mcburney's point.

When the hair starts to grow
back the itching gets worse.

‐ Ha ha ha.
‐ You gonna show us your scar?

‐ Come on, let's see.
‐ Yeah.

Yeah, come on, let's take a
look. I did it one‐handed‐‐

‐ C'mon, just pull up your‐‐
‐ C'mon, Carter, stop it.

‐ Carter, Carter‐‐
‐ You know, that's a shame.

'Cause it's a great job.

Good thing I took pictures, huh?

[chuckling]

‐ What's this?
‐ What is that, a mole?

‐ Yeah, a big one too.
‐ 'Good morning, everybody.'

What are you doing?

Ooh, yikes, what is that?

That's Benton's appendix
in a jar on my mantel.

Wow, they really
shaved him good.

Somebody got carried away.

Dr. Carter,
you're still backed up.

Okay, on my way.

Carter looks beat.

Yeah, he was on
again last night.

Surgical interns are still
covering all Dr. Gant's shifts.

What is that,
like, a 90‐hour week?

‐ More like 95.
‐ Thank God for pediatrics.

[indistinct chatter]

Jerry, what is that all about?

Uh, nurses and management
are still at the table.

Their contract
expires at midnight.

Mark, paramedics are pulling up
with a 35‐year‐old female.

Respiratory failure.

‐ Duty calls. Hey, lunch?
‐ Only if you're buying.

Carol finds out today, right?

Yeah, the investigation is done
and nursing has the report.

‐ You've seen it?
‐ No.

They haven't heard anything
on the grapevine either.

‐ How's she doing? Is she okay?
‐ Yeah, she claims she's fine.

Okay, Jeff, thanks. Nothing yet.

‐ They're still at it.
‐ Oh, man.

I do not wanna
walk a picket line.

Not in February,
that's for sure.

‐ Hey, we stand firm.
‐ That's easy for you to say.

You've got a husband with a job.

Believe me, they'll settle.

They can't run
this place without us.

[chuckles]
That's what the air
traffic controllers said

before they started
parking cars for a living.

(male # 1)
'One, two, three.
37‐year‐old Downs patient.'

'Her mother found her in bed
in respiratory distress.'

Resps shallow at 30.
BP's 100 over 50.

'Mom says, she had a respiratory
infection a couple weeks ago.'

‐ 'Never fully recovered.'
‐ Where's the mother now?

She wanted to
gather up some of her stuff.

Said she'd follow in her car.

Two‐plus pitting edema.

Hi, Louise.
I'm Dr. Greene.

You having a little
trouble breathing, are you?

Okay. We're gonna make
you feel better. Okay? Alright?

She's sweet. Scared.

Held my hand
all the way over.

Louise, can you tell
me what day it is?

No, you can't tell me?
No. Okay.

Dr. Doyle, why don't you take a
listen, tell me what you hear.

(Mark)
'Chuny, come hold
Louise's hand.'

You bet.

CBC lytes, EKG, chest film,
O2, six liters by mask.

Hi, Louise.
My name's Chuny.

‐ S3 gallop and mitral regurg.
‐ Indicative of what?

Possible cardiomyopathy.

Probably from
that viral infection.

Hey, Mark, I think she's
trying to say something.

‐ 'Uh.'
‐ Hey, Louise.

Louise, you need something?

‐ Huh?
‐ Huh!

Louise, what's wrong?

‐ Where's my mom?
‐ Your mom?

Your mom
is coming real soon, okay?

Don't you worry. You can just
relax. You're doing great.

Okay?

Human resources, Carol,
reviewed your incident report

in the ER procedures and they
passed their recommendations

along with mine,
onto the Safety Committee.

And?

And they agreed with
us, that your mistake

was a result of systems
problems and not of negligence.

There will be a written warning
placed in your file for one year

'and the three weeks you
missed due to your suspension'

'will be deducted
from your vacation time.'

And that's it?

You preferred a public flogging?

'You can start back today.'

You don't have
to start back today.

No, thanks, I'm okay.

I, uh, I'd better
get back to work.

La boheme?

You don't have to
say it like it's a new

strain of resistant bacteria.

What is it, like,
uh, five hours long?

Forget it, really. I wouldn't
take you now if you begged me.

Yeah, it's just that I've
never been much of an opera fan.

Now, if you had
Marcus Roberts tickets

I would be there in a flash.

I got it, Greg.
You don't wanna go. Fine.

Is La boheme the one
where they like

lop off all the nuns'
heads at the end?

It's set in Paris.

They're star‐crossed
lovers and artists.

‐ Artists?
‐ Yeah.

Jeanie, hang on a second.
Look, I'm sorry.

If you really
wanna go, we'll go.

Don't do me any favors, Greg.

I'd‐I'd love to go.
What time's it start?

I just thought we could
do something spontaneous.

‐ Something romantic, fun.
‐ Opera?

I have to get back
to my patient.

Look, Jeanie,
let's hang out anyway, okay?

Look, we'll order take‐out.

Uh, uh, The Bulls Warriors
game is on Channel 9.

See you think you're charming,
but you aren't. Goodbye, Greg.

Lunch then? Come on, Jeanie.
At least let me buy you lunch.

Hey, Jeanie!

That's one big, boggy heart.

God, it's taking up
most of her chest.

EKG shows ST and T wave
changes and PVCS.

‐ What do you wanna do?
‐ Get an echo, page cardiology.

[ECG monitor beeping]

Mark, Louise's mother's here.

Hi, Mrs. Cupertino.
I'm Dr. Mark Greene.

‐ How's Louise?
‐ Not good.

Her heart isn't pumping well and
her lungs're filling with fluid.

‐ Can I say hello?
‐ Yeah, sure.

Hello, Louise.

It's mommy.

‐ Hi, mommy.
‐ 'Are you okay, baby?'

'You're not scared, are you?'

Oh, baby.

I, uh, I brought
some of her things

(Mrs. Cupertino)
'Uh, just to make her
feel more at home.'

I'll just put
this quilt on her.

Make sure she's good and warm.

Mrs. Cupertino, can I
speak to you for a minute?

[ECG monitor beeping]

[clears throat]
She had trouble
understanding me earlier.

‐ Can she communicate?
‐ Oh, yes. She likes to talk.

Mm‐hmm. Is she suffering from
any Dementia or Alzheimer's?

‐ No, no, she's a good girl.
‐ Okay.

Echo's on its way.

Is she competent to make
her own medical decisions?

No. I'm her guardian. Louise
can't make decisions on her own.

You are aware that Louise's
condition is very serious.

I'm worried that Louise
may need a heart transplant.

'Is she already on
the UNOS waiting list?'

The list? No.

‐ She's not?
‐ They wouldn't do it.

‐ Wouldn't do what?
‐ Put her on the list.

They wouldn't put Louise
on the heart transplant list?

‐ No.
‐ Why not?

My daughter is mentally
retarded, doctor.

Uh!

Peter, sorry
to keep you waiting.

‐ Welcome back.
‐ Thanks.

We've missed you.

I was surprised
not to see my name

on today's schedule anywhere.

How are you feeling?

‐ Well rested?
‐ Yeah.

And mentally?

Feeling sharp?

No post‐operative depression?

No.

No depression of any kind?

Dr. Hicks, if you're asking
if I can perform my duties

adequately...I can.

I'm asking how you are, Peter.

[chuckles]
I'm fine.

Okay, then.

Let's see what we've got.

It's a two portacaths,
circumcision

and a nevus removal.

A mole?

UNOS can't refuse to
put her on the list

just because
she has Down's.

I'm sure there are other
mitigating circumstances.

She's a retard,
so why bother, right?

Dr. Kayson,
do you know Dr. Doyle?

Echo shows left
ventricular dilatation

with an ejection
fraction of 18%.

There are also signs
of wall motion abnormality.

[sighs]
I'm worried about her breathing.

We've given her 40 Lasix,
and she's still struggling.

‐ I'd like to try a vasodilator.
‐ Sure.

Do whatever you can
to make her comfortable.

‐ Before you release her.
‐ Release her?

(Dr. Kayson)
'I'm sure,
Louise will be much happier'

'at home with her mother.'

She needs
a heart transplant, right?

That would be the standard
operative course, yes.

Louise's mother told us that

she's not on
the transplant list.

That's correct.

UNOS can't refuse
to put a dying patient

on the list because
of a congenital birth defect.

UNOS didn't refuse
to put her on the list.

‐ We did.
‐ 'Cardiology?'

Mm. Hospital
Transplant Committee.

(Dr. Kayson)
'She was evaluated and we chose
not to submit her name to UNOS.'

That's a death sentence.

She's a 37‐year‐old
Downs patient.

She's lucky to
have lived this long.

Downs patients can live
into their 60s easy.

That's extremely rare.

What are you, an intern?

First‐year resident, yes.

Why don't we just step in here?

[ECG monitor beeping]

Dr. Kayson, ah,
Dr. Doyle, I think

is just expressing a frustration
that we probably all feel.

It seems that Louise
would be an obvious candidate

for the UNOS transplant list.

I'm a cardiologist.

I'd like nothing better
than to give her a new heart.

If you have a problem
with the decision

take it up with the rest
of the committee.

Short of that..

...send her home.

Nice guy.

Yeah.

Carol? You back?

‐ Yeah.
‐ Thank you, Jesus.

[chuckling]
Hey, y'all, Carol's back.

‐ Carol! You're back.
‐ Yeah, starting now.

‐ Man, did we miss you.
‐ Hi.

We didn't think
we were gonna make it.

[chuckles]
He‐ey.

‐ They dock your pay?
‐ No, just some vacation time.

It's been a disaster
around here without you.

A complete zoo.

Hey, I didn't do
that bad a job.

Oh, no, girlfriend,
you did worse than bad.

If you need to
call a union meeting, Haleh

do it after work.

No union. Carol's back.

Oh, thank God.

We'll talk to you at lunch.

‐ Okay.
‐ We'll catch up later, girl.

See you.

We're glad to have you back.

Thank you.

You okay?

Yeah, you know
I'm sorry to disappoint

everyone's expectations
but I'm fine.

(female #1)
'Oh, it started a few
hours ago after breakfast.'

‐ It's a sharp pain?
‐ No.

Sort of all over.

I just started my morning walk.

Any recent illness?

I take digoxin
for atrial fibril..

[chuckles]
I never say that word.

Fibrillation?

‐ Anything else?
‐ No.

What did you have
for breakfast this morning?

Oh, the usual.

Three fried eggs, bacon, glass
of buttermilk, toast and jam.

Oh, the American Heart
Association breakfast.

Don't lecture me, doctor.

My mother had the exact same
breakfast every day of her life.

Died last year at 96.

Car accident.

Vitals?

130 over 90.
Heart rate 110, resps 24.

Did Dr. Weaver get a CBC?

Yep, crit's 53,
white count's 12.2.

You drinking enough fluids,
Mrs. Jarnowski?

Is that what's wrong with me?

[yawning]

It's too early to tell.

‐ Um...chest film?
‐ Not back yet.

Okay, I'm gonna call
for another surgical colleague

to come down and take a look.

Her breathing's improved.

Hi, Louise.

You feeling better?

‐ For you.
‐ Oh!

She likes to share.

Malibu Barbie
was my favorite, too. Ha ha ha.

I was kind of partial to Ken.

‐ Ken?
‐ You don't like Ken?

Too pretty.

I'm with you, Louise,
Ken's trouble.

Louise, can you hold on to
her for me while I do my work?

‐ Okay.
‐ 'Thanks.'

She misses her friends.

Since she got sick and
had to move back into the house

it's been hard for her.

She had her own place?

Mm‐hmm, an apartment
above the garage.

And she had a job at The Jewel

helping people
with their groceries.

Father even let her be
an altar girl at the church.

Everybody loves Louise.

Excuse me, Dr. Greene?

‐ Got that list from upstairs.
‐ 'Oh.'

Thanks.

‐ Transplant Committee?
‐ Yeah.

Who are the bastards?

Excuse us.

Doctor, your attitude can get in
the way of achieving your goals.

What? You not gonna vote for me
for Homecoming Queen this year?

Like that, you mean?

‐ Recognize any names?
‐ One.

Hey.

The vanquished
return victorious.

‐ Hi, Doug. You miss me?
‐ You have no idea.

I hear they clipped you
for some vacation time.

I never take it anyway.

I think, I have
a couple of years saved up.

‐ Ha ha ha.
‐ This place is a mess.

‐ Mm.
‐ How you doing?

No complaints.

‐ Today's the 20th, isn't it?
‐ Think so.

MCATs are this afternoon,
aren't they?

‐ You going?
‐ Gotta work.

With all that saved‐up
vacation time?

‐ It was a stupid idea.
‐ Yeah.

I mean, four years
of med school if I ever get in.

All that debt. I'd be
about 50 by the time I got out.

‐ Yeah.
‐ What's the point?

Well, I could bring you coffee

in the middle of the night
to the med library

and I could teach you how to
cheat on the biochem exams.

Doug, they need you
upstairs in pedes.

Mm‐hmm, okay.

Think about it.

‐ Carter, where you been?
‐ Getting some food.

You don't have
a spoon on you, do you?

On me? No. Anspaugh's in
with your patient.

‐ Anspaugh? Why?
‐ Said you paged him.

No, no, I paged Dr. Hicks.

Well, you got Anspaugh
and he dragged down

all the surgical rounds
down there with it.

(Dr. Anspaugh)
What do you hear, Edson?

(Dr. Edson)
Rales at the base of the lungs.

Dr. Anspaugh, I'm sorry to have
dragged you all the way here.

I actually called Dr. Hicks,
just for a consult.

Well, Dr. Hicks is in surgery

and we were on the prowl for
an interesting teaching case.

I heard that you had
a surgical abdomen.

Yes, at least
that's my suspicion.

Pain vague and diffuse, very
little tenderness to palpation.

The, uh, chest films
show bibasilar effusions.

Rales heard on auscultation.

(Dr. Anspaugh)
'Would you consider this
a surgical patient, Dr. Edson?'

No, I'd bet on CHF.

Yeah, yeah, but, uh..

...I was more concerned
with...with the CBC.

Previously diagnosed
atrial fibrillation?

Her diet?

I'd assume that she, uh..

...went into fib,
or, uh, ate a salty meal.

'And that was enough to push her
into congestive heart failure'

as demonstrated by
the rales and chest effusions.

The diffuse abdominal pain
is probably due to congestion

in the liver, secondary to CHF.

(Dr. Anspaugh)
'In other words, boys and girls'

congestive heart failure,
secondary to A‐fib.

Wouldn't you agree, Dr. Carter?

Yeah, yeah,
that sounds about right.

‐ Is Dr. Pomerantz available?
‐ And you are?

‐ Mark Greene from the ER.
‐ She knows you?

Yeah, Steph, I do.
It's okay. Hi.

‐ Hi. You got a minute?
‐ Sure.

Ah! Just move those.
Put them anywhere.

What can I do for you?

You're on the committee
that evaluates

prospective transplant patients.

Yeah.

I have a patient dying
downstairs Louise Cupertino.

Dr. Kayson tells me that she was
denied access to the UNOS list.

Kayson says he wanted to do
it so it doesn't sound like

she was excluded
for medical reasons.

What do you want, Mark?

There are five people on
the committee. Kayson's a "yes."

If I can get you
and one other person to sign on

Louise can get a new heart.

Our decisions
have to be unanimous.

Hm.

But I'm the one
that turned Louise down.

Why?

Do you know how many
people die each year

because an organ doesn't
become available for transplant?

Thirty‐five hundred.

She had a job, an apartment,
a mother who loves her.

Is her life somehow
less valuable

than a businessman
with a wife and kids

and a two‐pack‐a‐day
cigarette habit?

Don't patronize me, Mark.
I agonized over this.

Louise has an IQ Of 40.

She can't comprehend
the surgical risks.

Yeah, she had a job, sure,
but she was always late.

Do you know why?

Because she doesn't
know how to tell time.

How will she adhere
to the rigors

of the post‐transplant regime?

Her mother will make sure
she gets her meds

get her where
she needs to go.

She's a 120‐pound
eight‐year‐old, Mark.

We do the operation, and
assuming she doesn't die

for lack of
post‐operative care

she's in a state
home in two years.

And her mother is adamant
she not end up in a home.

[exhaling]

Those are all bureaucratic
perfectly logical reasons

we give ourselves
so that we can sleep at night.

Louise can make people smile.

She can laugh, cry,
touch or hold someone.

I have an eight‐year‐old and
if she never grew a day older

I would still cherish
every moment we spent together.

It's not our place to decide
whether Louise lives or dies.

She's‐she has as much right to
be here as you do, or I do.

Nina, don't let her die.

[instrumental music]

(Jeanie)
'I'm freezing.'

(Greg)
'I thought you liked picnics?'

I love picnics.

I'm just not used to
breathing on my sandwich

to try and thaw it out
so I can eat it.

Where's your sense
of spontaneity?

Oh, this isn't what I meant.

‐ Your sense of romance?
‐ The dip is frozen.

‐ It's pate.
‐ It's a brick.

Okay, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. I was wrong.

You're very romantic.

You're very spontaneous
...and you're very crazy.

So please put your parka on
before you freeze to death.

‐ I'm fine.
‐ You can't be fine.

It's 10 degrees out here.

I think we should
start sleeping together.

‐ What?
‐ Sex.

I think we should have some.

In fact, I think
we should have a lot.

Are you sure?

Hell, yeah, I'm sure.

This isn't a joke, Greg.

No, it isn't.

Jeanie Boulet..

...would you please
sleep with me?

[instrumental music]

Hi. How's she doing?

Her breathing's worse.
The resps up to 36.

‐ How's the pain?
‐ It hurts.

That's bad.

Hi. Who are you?

Her daughter, Yolanda.

She's so stoic, if she says
it hurts, it must be awful.

Okay, let's take a look.

Oh, God!

‐ Ooh.
‐ Oh!

Uh...okay.

I need to order a repeat
CBC and a blood gas.

You want me to page
Dr. Anspaugh?

No. God. God, no.

Uh, call Dr. Hicks.

Don't page her, call her and
when you get her on the phone

tell her that I need her
down here right away.

My fiance's been
begging me for years

to get this thing taken off.

(Benton)
'Betadine.'

I'm not very religious,
but her family..

Oh, boy.

They wouldn't even consider
letting us get married

if I didn't convert.

Whoa!

Whoa.
Stuff's cold.

'I probably wouldn't
have started dating her'

if I'd known this was going
to be part of the deal.

'Lidocaine.'

You're gonna feel
a small prick in the area

that I'm going to anesthetize.

Please, do not move.

(Dr. Hicks)
'Oh, good,
you haven't started yet.'

I have three eager
pre‐med students

'visiting today from Evanston.'

I thought they
might enjoy watching

you perform a circumcision.

Don't mind us, sir.

I'm converting to
Judaism for my fiance.

She must be quite a girl.

Dr. Hicks, you've got
a phone call from the ER.

Peter, make them feel welcome.

You're in very capable hands.

[sighs]
Number 15 blade.

Uh, I'm Dr. Ross from the ER.

‐ Someone page me?
‐ I paged you.

‐ Hi. Samantha Ewing.
‐ Hi.

I got a CF kid up here.

‐ Jad Heuston. Know him?
‐ Yeah.

And he's been on respirator

last couple of weeks
at his mother's request.

I know. I'm the one
who put him on it.

Yeah, well, today's his 18th
birthday and he wants off.

So why page me?

He wants you to be
the one to do it.

(Doug)
'Hi, Norma. Hi, Katy.'

(Doug)
'Happy birthday, Jad.'

Jad's first act as an adult
was to sign a DNR.

'And demand we remove him
from the respirator.'

'I've explained the dangers
to him, but he's insistent.'

You still sure?

I've explained to him
that with the advanced nature

of his disease and the number
of weeks he's been dependent

on the machine he's unlikely to
live more than a couple minutes.

I was hoping you might be able
to talk him out of it.

What's his tidal volume?

350. PCO 2‐38, PO2 120.

Is this you really want?

(Doug)
'Okay, then.'

You said your goodbyes?

Yes.

[ECG monitor beeping]

Okay.

Alright, buddy.

You know the drill, alright?
I'm gonna count to three.

You take a deep breath and you
blow out while I pull, alright?

Can you give me a hand
with this, please?

I love you.

Alright, here we go, buddy.
Okay, on three.

Ready?
One, two, three.

Blow! Blow, blow, blow, blow.

Okay.

[gagging]

[coughing]

[beeping continues]

Is he gonna be okay?

[gasping]

[beeping slows down]

[gasping]

Good afternoon, doctor,
what could be so important

to call me off
the surgical floor?

64‐year‐old woman onset of
abdominal pain five hours ago.

Pain was vague and diffuse.
Belly wasn't too tender.

(John)
'Takes digoxin for a previously
diagnosed atrial‐fib.'

'Rales, chest x‐ray show basilar
infiltrates bilaterally.'

'Dr. Anspaugh came
down for a consult'

'and he diagnosed
congestive heart failure'

'with diffuse abdominal pain
due to congestion of the liver'

'secondary to the CHF.'

‐ 'We gave her 40 of Lasix.'
‐ That's a good story.

What's the problem?

I think Dr. Anspaugh's wrong.

(Angela)
'Page Dr. Anspaugh, please.'

I think he's still eating lunch
with Dr. Weaver in the lounge.

Get him. Quickly.

(Anglea)
'You have a better story?'

Mm‐hmm.
Her abdominal pain is worsening.

Her resps are up to 39
and she's acidotic.

(John)
'When she came in here,
she was dehydrated.'

So why was there
fluid on her lungs?

And the pain isn't explained
by congestive heart failure.

It doesn't all add up.

(Angela)
'And what is your thinking?'

I'm thinking
that she's suffering

from, uh, atrial fibrillation

which puts her
at risk for developing clots.

And I think that
she threw an embolus

and, uh, it's blocking
her small valve.

(Dr. Anspaugh)
'What the hell
is going on in here?'

(Dr. Hicks)
'Dr. Carter believes
you've diagnosed'

'this patient incorrectly.'

He what?

Her pain is worsening, her resps
are up to 39 and she's acidotic.

CHF made sense at the time

but I believe she has
ischemic small bowel disease

secondary to an embolism
in the mesenteric artery.

Pretty good story,
don't you think?

Dammit! I diuresed her.

Alright.
Normal saline, 200ccs per hour.

Call the OR, book a room.

‐ We're moving her right now.
‐ What's happening?

Your mother needs
immediate surgical attention.

‐ An operation?
‐ Yes.

But she's gonna
be just fine.

‐ Dr. Anspaugh, can I assist?
‐ Assist? You're gonna do it.

‐ Perform an embolectomy?
‐ You're damn right.

You're the only one
around here today

that seems to know
what the hell they're doing.

It's going to fall.

It's not.

Yes, it is.

No, it's not.

Hmm.

She looks like
she's feeling better.

Yeah. She ate a little bit.

Seems to be breathing okay.

‐ Who's her friend?
‐ That's my brother.

(Maggie)
'I had my mom bring him down.'

'I figured Louise
could use some company.'

‐ Hey, Jimmy.
‐ Hey.

‐ Say hi to Dr. Greene.
‐ Hey, Dr. Greene.

Hi, Jimmy. How are you?

What'd they say?

Okay.

Come here.

[clears throat]
Psych feels that she's incapable
of handling a post‐op regime.

They don't think the mother's
gonna be around long enough

to get her through it.

That's a lot of crap.

She could go to a group home.

Jimmy takes
classes out of Glenkirk

and they have a great program.

(Mark)
'Mom doesn't want
her in a home.'

And she has guardianship.

I've called Loyola and Rush.

They both have
transplant centers.

Maybe we could get them
to get her on the list.

'Mark?'

Dr. Doyle, this is
Dr. Pomerantz from Psych.

She's the one who
evaluated Louise.

Hi, Louise.

‐ Hi
‐ How are you doing?

Mrs. Cupertino.

She's doing better.

She's out of heart failure.

‐ You need to fill this out.
‐ What is it?

Transplant candidate
registration form.

I can't get her
on the network without it.

Kayson filled out most of it

but I need today's history
so that I can rank her.

So you have to get
this back to me

as soon as you can, okay?

Nice meeting you, doctor.

[instrumental music]

Nina?

Thank you.

Jad...why don't you come and go?

You take off during the day.

You do whatever the hell you
wanna do and come back at night.

We hook you up
with IV antibiotics.

(Doug)
'We get a PT to pound
your chest in the morning.'

No, thanks.

You'd be a lot more comfortable.

You might even...you know,
squeak out a couple extra weeks

out of this thing.

I said. "No, thanks."

Alright.

This is my beeper number.

That is my home number.

You call me anytime,
day or night, alright?

Let's go.

Thanks.

Where are you going?

Anywhere but here.

[telephone ringing]

[indistinct chattering]

(Jerry)
'Whoa!'

Sorry, Dr. Ross.

I raided the cafeteria.

Bought every piece
of cake they had.

Ladies, here's your cake!

[all cheering]

[Gloria Estefan
singing "Conga"]

What's going on?

The nurses got
their new contracts.

Did they get everything
they asked for?

Current employees
are protected

but the hospital won the right
to replace existing RNS

with unlicensed technicians
through attrition.

Technicians?

The wave of the future,
I'm afraid.

‐ Hey, come on, doctor. Dance.
‐ No. No, thank you.

[women laughing]

I'll get the next song.
I'll get the next song.

‐ You seen Carol?
‐ Hathaway?

She changed her mind
about working today.

Went home before lunch.

I'm starving.
Want a piece of cake?

No, thanks.

♪ As you dance the night away ♪

Hey. I just dropped off all the
paperwork with Nina Pomerantz.

Uh, Louise should be
on the transplant list tomorrow.

All we have to do
is wait and hope.

‐ Where's your brother?
‐ In the lounge, watching TV.

She won't sign the release.

Louise's mother, she won't
sign the surgical release.

Kayson was just down here.

She doesn't want Louise
to have the transplant.

Kayson explained to her that

Louise will die
without the operation?

Twice. Then I tried.

She wants to take her home.

Ms. Cupertino.

You don't want Louise
to have the operation?

[ECG monitor beeping]

I was, uh,
41...when Louise was born.

And...I knew right away
that something was wrong.

I couldn't see Louise,
but I could see the doctor.

He was frowning and snapping his
fingers over the lil' bassinet.

And, uh, they took her away

before I ever got
a chance to see her

and...I thought
maybe she'd died.

Maybe that umbilical cord had
gotten wrapped around her neck.

Nobody told me anything, and..

...then they put
me in another room

with mothers
with their babies and..

...I waited
there for hours..

'...until the doctor
finally came back and..'

...he looked very sad.

And he told me
Louise was Mongoloid.

And he said
that I should put her

in a state hospital
and never, ever see her again.

She will die...if she
doesn't have this operation.

We all die, doctor.

Louise has been the light
of my life for 37 years.

God blessed me
with this...this wonderful girl

and I wouldn't change a thing.

I'm not gonna
be here much longer.

And..

I'm her whole life, just
as she's always been mine.

There are group homes.

'Places where she
can make friends'

enjoy life, even if it's
only for a few more years.

I went to a home,
um, 20 years ago.

When my husband died, and..

...I was afraid that if
something happened to me

who would‐who would
take care of Louise?

And there were women there
like her with Down's..

...wandering around half‐naked.

'They didn't even
know their own names.'

I couldn't put Louise
in a place like that.

You wanna save people, doctor?

If my daughter dies, you lose.

But I'm not afraid of death.

Jesus is there waiting for us

to hold us and bring
us into the light

to show us
the Kingdom of Heaven.

'And if Louise dies before I do'

I know where I'll see her next,
with angels where she belongs.

Because she's an angel.

My angel.

[dramatic music]

Something new?

Mesenteric embolectomy.

‐ Who's doing it?
‐ Dr. Carter.

Dr. Carter?

Just rolled the woman
into three.

Sweet God in heaven,
I hope somebody's helping him.

(Peter)
'We're putting in a portacath'

'a catheter used
to deliver chemotherapy.'

[yawns]

(Peter)
'Should you pursue
a career in surgery'

you'll perform this
procedure dozens of times

in your first year
of residency.

And this can be done
in the patient's room

but you need to check
the position of the catheter

with the fluoroscope.

Does everyone know
what a fluoroscope is?

This is a fluoroscope.

Dr. Benton, can I steal Debbie?

We can use her in OR 3.

What's going on?

'Dr. Carter's performing
a mesenteric embolectomy.'

By himself?

'Anspaugh and Hicks
are supervising.'

[ECG monitor beeping]

[indistinct chattering on TV]

What's the score?

Bulls are down by one.

Oh, that was a nice shot.

Ah! So, I let a kid with CF
leave the hospital today.

He's 18 years old.

Went off to die
with his girlfriend.

Didn't want any of my help.

Is there anything you
could have done for him?

No. Not really.

I spent the day..

...trying to get a CHF patient
with Downs on the UNOS list

for heart transplant.

Any luck?

Her mother wouldn't sign
the surgical release.

Fine couple of doctors
we are, huh?

Remember when we were
gonna change the world?

No. I was always in
it for the money.

[both chuckle]

Alright. Ahem.
I'll see you later.

You wanna grab a pizza?

(Doug)
'No. I can't.
I gotta be someplace.'

Anybody I know?

No. Just helping out
an old friend. See ya.

[door shuts]

Hi.

‐ Are you ready to go?
‐ Go where?

Dinner at Morton's
and then La boheme.

I already told Kerry that
we couldn't use the tickets.

‐ I told her you were wrong.
‐ But I'm not dressed.

‐ We'll stop by your place.
‐ We'll be late.

We miss a little bit.
You can tell me what happened.

And what about
the basketball game?

Taping it.

You know, Greg, um, you don't
have to prove anything to me.

I don't?

I mean, this has all
been pretty fast.

You know, we can slow it down,
make sure it's right.

So, this means we don't
have to go to the opera.

No. Seriously.

Can we just slow it down?

[indistinct chattering]

Sure.

Okay.

‐ Hey. What are you doing here?
‐ Waiting for you.

‐ You been waiting long?
‐ Ah, a while.

Ah..

So you took it, didn't you?

‐ Aha‐ha. Yeah, I did.
‐ And?

[sighs]
Well, I knew a lot more
than I thought I would.

There were a lot
of people taking it, kids.

I felt about
a hundred years old.

[chuckles]

They all seemed
so confident and smart.

‐ I guessed a lot.
‐ I bet you did great.

Thanks.

Was your day okay?

Ah, you know...just
saving lives, as usual.

Have you seen my mom
lurking around here at all?

No, I banged on the door
and nobody answered, so..

Well, you wanna come in?

I'll make you some coffee,
burn some eggs.

No. I can't. I'm gonna..

I'm up early.
I'm gonna go home.

‐ Okay.
‐ Alright, yeah.

‐ See you tomorrow, then.
‐ Yeah.

‐ Doug?
‐ Mm‐hmm?

'I know everyone's
worried about me..'

...but I'm fine.

I mean, I‐I was scared
in that store.

But I'm okay now.

So why'd you go
ahead and take it?

‐ The MCATs?
‐ 'Mm‐hmm.'

For me.

Just wanted to see
if I was good enough.

You are.

[instrumental music]

[Peter snickers]

I love this place.

You should.
You're a wonderful surgeon.

You belong here.

You know, you were right
this morning.

I haven't slept much the last
few months since Gant's dying.

And before that,
me almost killing that baby

and then Keaton
not recommending me, and..

[scoffs]

Six months ago
I thought I was invincible.

And now I don't even..

I don't even know.

I guess life isn't...working out
the way I thought it would, huh?

'You're not responsible
for Dr. Gant's death, Peter.'

Yeah, but I could've
stopped it, maybe.

You know, I told him he was
doing well, encouraged him.

You know, Dr. Hicks,
I wish I could tell you

that it was all...intentional.

That it was a part
of some master plan

that I had going on, but..

...truthfully, I never
even thought about Gant.

'I mean, he was just an intern'

and I was more involved
with my career, my...ambitions.

We all have to find
our own way, Peter.

You're not invincible.

You're a young doctor, learning,
making mistakes, saving lives.

It takes a lifetime.

You just have to have faith.

Go home.
You got a busy day tomorrow.

[scoffs]

More circumcisions
and portacaths?

[laughs]
No.

I've signed you up
for a lap‐chole at 6:00

'and I'd appreciate it
if you'd assist me'

on a splenectomy at 11:00.

[instrumental music]

Thank you, Dr. Hicks.

You're welcome, Peter.
See you in the morning.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[theme music]