ER (1994–2009): Season 8, Episode 10 - I'll Be Home for Christmas - full transcript

Previously on ER:

Do you want
to do something?

Like go out?

Yeah.

CARTER:
If Mom wants to walk

around in a bubble
for the rest of her life

then fine, but don't

let her keep holding
you inside of it.

ABBY:
I know what won't
make him happy.

A made-up life.

He's going to
figure it out.



He's not stupid.

I'm not pregnant.

The DNA analysis
shows that I'm

not Reese's
biological father.

Reese lived under my
care and my roof for
most of his life.

All I'm asking for is
some kind of arrangement
that recognizes that.

Do you want
to keep your son?
What do you think?

You need to start
setting priorities

and making
some hard choices.

CARTER:
The Phoenix Suns.

LEWIS:
Is that a crime?

You root
for the Phoenix Suns?

I didn't pay
much attention

to basketball until
I moved there.



Susan, you grew up
in Chicago.

I dated a guy
with season tickets.

And you didn't
pay attention
to the Bulls?

( chuckling ):
Whatever.

I'm starving.

Big Diamondbacks fan,
too, aren't you?

I didn't even
get breakfast
out of this deal.

Oh, sorry.
My manners.

Roach coach?

You live
in a mansion

and you're buying
me a donut?

I'll spring for
the coffee, too.

( laughing )

Hey, there, big spender.

( phone ringing )

Hello?

Hey, how was your flight?

Yeah. No, she was
walking around

a little bit
yesterday.

I've been meeting
her for lunch.

You want to
hook up there?

Oh, you're getting me
a yogurt, too.

What's that?
Grab me a bagel.

Really?

No, that's
great that...

Yeah, okay, well,
I'll see you there.

They're staying
for the holidays.

Your parents?

First time in nine years.

Just like sex,
isn't it, Peter?

What?

Vascular surgery.

Messy, fun and
when done right

you leave satisfied.

D-5 half normal
at 125cc's per hour.

Real good hands
in there, Peter.

Thank you.

Which is why you
get to assist me

in the Millburn
surgery.

Fifth District Alderman

wants his cardiac
bypass done here.

Why?

I believe the correct
response is

"Thank you, Dr. Romano.
I'd be honored."

No, I am, but I...
Clear Dr. Benton's
calendar

for Monday afternoon.

No, hold on. I need to talk
to you about my schedule.

He's on trauma
call in the ER.
Well, dump that on Corday.

Unlike the rest of us,
she actually likes it
down there.

Listen, I have
a situation with my son.

What else is new?
Well, I need
more flexible hours.

In by 12:00,
out by 4:00

and we all make
the evening news.

No, whoa, I'm not just
talking about this surgery.

Well, look,
if you're not
interested

by all means,
Peter, pass.

I've got 20 other guys
who'd kill for this gig.

I didn't say
I wasn't interested.

So, are you
in or out?

I'm in.

Did I ever tell you
you're my hero?

( clanging bell ):
Ho, ho, ho!

Merry Christmas!

Ho, ho, ho!

Feed the poor!
Feed the poor!

Ho, ho, ho!

Hey, feed the poor?

Sorry, I don't have any.

Come on!

You think it's easy being
a female Santa in a man's world?

Sorry, ma'am,
no soliciting.

You're going to
have to leave
the premises.

I work for
the Salvation Army.

Oh, do you? Let
me see your ID.

Okay, I eat
at the Salvation Army.

Get out of here.

Hey! I'm going to
call the cops.

( bell clangs )
Stop ringing
that damn bell!

Luka, you're late.

Sorry.

Don't be sorry.
Be punctual.

This is a hospital,
not a department store!

When's she going
on Christmas vacation?

Scrooge?
Never.

Merry Christmas,
County General, ER.

I think she thinks
you were shopping.

Shopping for what?

It's a joke.

What's going on?

I went to the bar.

No one's heard anything.

About Nicole?

Yeah. They said she took
money there, too.

Guess you were right.

She lied about everything.

Okay, Abby, can you run
Cynthia Cohen's sputum?

( children yelling )
LOPEZ:
Hey, cut it out.

Hey, I got a couple of kids
with some snow-related injuries.

Quiet!
Shut up!

Freak, freak,
freak, freak...

Hey!
Freak, freak,
freak, freak!

Shut up!
Stop, all right?
Both of you!

Shut up!
Hey!

And be glad you're
not sleeping in a grate

or eating out of the trash!

Nyah-nyah-nyah!

Haleh, get these
two out of here.

Stop!
Freak, freak,
freak, freak...

You this side.
You, over here.

He hit me!

Since when did
Fire and Rescue
start transporting

pediatric
walk-in cases?
I'm telling Mom!

I don't care!
Since these two took headers
out by the firehouse.

Shut up!
You notify
the parents?

( sighing ):
Yeah, I left word.

Hey, you didn't call.

I'm sorry?

You didn't call
about getting together.

What happened?
You change your mind?

Uh, no, I was just...

JARVIK:
Dr. Weaver?
Exam One's

having chest pain.

I'll be right there.

Dynamic changes on the EKG.

I'll let you get
back to work, okay?

Three nitro sprays
and titrate six of morphine.

Mm-hmm.

LEWIS:
Cops found him wandering

around O'Hare with
a suitcase, but no
ticket and no ID.

He fell on
the escalator

trying to get
away from them.

I'm missing my flight.

Laceration's
down to the galea.

I go home for Christmas
every year, I think.

Looks intact.
No sign of fracture.

Which doesn't explain
the amnesia.

He doesn't know
who he is or
where he's going.

I know there's
lots of kids around

and the women make
a wonderful supper.

Blood supply
looks good.

The plastics should be able
to tack it back down.

We still need
to get a head CT.

The boys and the men

they settle around the TV,
watching sports.

You think his
memory loss
is temporary?

Peter?

He's four years old.

And deaf and
traumatized

by the death
of his mother.

I emphasized
all of that.
Thank you.

Well, then, appeal it.

I can't.

What am I paying you for?

He denied the motion, Peter.

It's not
irreparable.

The hell, it isn't.
He's asking my son

to decide which one of us
loves him more?

It won't be that specific.

What is he going to do?
Ask who makes the best

macaroni
and cheese?
For whatever reason

Judge Alter has the feeling
that by interviewing Reese

it will provide
him with some
relevant insight.

Reese knows what's going on.
He can sense it.

How much more damage
do you want to inflict on him?

Hey, I agreed to represent you.

You're the one
who's choosing
to fight.

If you want to
pre-empt this,
Roger's attorney

approached me
yesterday.
No.

They want to make
a revised visitation request.

I said no.

And I need
to be honest.

We don't have
the edge here.

On paper, Roger
is coming across
as the better father.

And if I were
his attorney

I would advise him
to give you no more deals.

Yet you're advising me
to accept one?

I am advising
you to at least
listen to one.

You're still here.

I was on my way out.

You keep those kids
from killing each other?

Yeah, one has
a corneal abrasion.

The other has
a strained wrist.

Look, hey!

You know, I'm not,
uh, very good at this.

* And though it's been said

What? Follow-up?

* Many times, many ways

You want to have
lunch tomorrow?

* Merry Christmas to you

No sushi.

What?
I don't like sushi.

* Chestnuts roasting
on an open fire *

Okay, anything you want.

I'm going to
remember you
said that.

* Jack Frost nipping
at your nose *

Why is he here? Somebody
finally kick his butt?

Who?
Mr. Karaoke,
over there.

Hey, Stan...

* Yuletide carols, being...

How about a little
"Jingle Bell Rock," huh?

You know him?

Oh, yeah, Stan?

He lives behind a dumpster
on 57th and Dorchester.

He's homeless?

Unless you count
the dumpster.

LEWIS:
Hello!

Hello!

Where are you going?

Whatever that lady told you
out there is not true.

Your name isn't Stan?

No, no, no.

You don't live
at 57th and Dorchester?

I don't remember
where I live.

That's why I'm here.

Mm-hmm.

Besides, this Stan character
sounds rough.

Bet he's got a record.

I wouldn't be surprised.

And no family to speak of.

No place to spend the holidays.

You know,
if he were smart

he'd clean himself up

get himself a suit
at a Goodwill...

And go to the airport.

You mind if I stay a while?

It's kind of Christmasy here,
you know?

The Alderman thinks
you're such a brilliant
surgeon, then you operate.

Where are they?
They asked us
to show up early.

I don't know.
JACKIE:
Hey.

Hi.

What's going on?

We're waiting for
Roger and his lawyer.

I thought we were here
to see the judge.

Well, we're hoping
that won't be necessary.

Peter, what's
going on?
I don't know.

They want to talk
about some kind of deal.

Ms. Prager,
Dr. Benton

sorry we're late.
We ran into a
lot of traffic.

Well, we don't have

a lot of time.
What have you got?

Visitation, every other weekend,
plus two weeks

during the summer.

PRAGER:
One week during
the summer

and we'll think
about it.
No.

WHARTON:
We're only asking
38 days a year.

31 days.

I said no.

Peter,
it's only 31 days.
No.

You know what?
I'm not doing this.

Peter, listen to me.

No, you listen to me,
all of you.

I'm not negotiating
over my son.

You'd rather take
your chances with the judge?

MILLICENT:
A martini in first class

works just as well
and takes a lot less time.

Well, like you, I enjoy
the occasional drive.

Gives you time
to clear your head.

Hey, Dad.

John.

Did you know your
father's been here
since last night?

Yeah, late last night.
He went straight to the hotel.

Oh, God, am I dying?

Rigor mortis hasn't set in
just yet.

Well, why else
would my son

deign to spend
Christmas with us?

Mom's coming, too.

Ah, I knew there
was a catch.

Eleanor will be here
later this week.

You'll stay at the house
until then?

Sure, why not.

Wonderful.

Here's Helga
to turn me like a pancake.

We'll give you
some privacy.

I'd settle
for a little dignity.

Believe it or not,
she's thrilled.

This means the world to her,
you being here.

This year
more than most.

Yeah, I suppose.

It means a lot
to me, too.

Yeah, it should
be fun, huh?

Reese...

I have to make
a decision.

And I need you
to help me

by answering
some questions.

Can you do that?

Okay.

Who's that?

Daddy.

ALTER:
Okay.

And who's that?

My other Daddy.

You love both

your Daddys
very much, right?

He says he doesn't know.

When you are sick...

who makes you
feel better?

Mommy.

Which Daddy gives
you the best care

when you get
a boo-boo?

He has Band-Aids
with cartoons.

Right now I'd say
he needs consistency.

Reese, Carla and I--
the three of us were a family.

That's how we planned our lives.

That's how we approached
every day, every week.

I've been with Reese
through earaches, flus

almost every scrape
he's ever gotten.

If you count the hours
that I spent with my stepson

it would far exceed the time
that Dr. Benton has spent

with a child he believed
to be biologically his.

Reese and Carla were my life.

And now Reese is my life.

He comes first...

ahead of my personal needs,
ahead of my job.

And I think
that's in his best interest.

Oh... John.

Diverse selection.

The burgers are good.

You already know
what you want?

I'm still working
on what to drink.

( sighs )

Well, this is nice.

We haven't done this
for a while.

Since we had lunch together
or Christmas?

Both.

So... what kind of business
keeps Mom in Costa Rica

in December?

How's the
chopped salad?

She broke her hip, Dad.

Mom can't spend
five minutes with her

in the hospital?

What, is she going to avoid her
for the whole month?

Your mother's
not coming.

John, we're
getting divorced.

What?

It's amicable.
Divorced?
After 30 years?

( sighs )

What happened?

This probably isn't
the best place...

Is there somebody else?

Neither of us
is running off
with anyone.

What is it?
She's not happy?

She's bored?

She wants
to stay in Europe?

I'm the one who's leaving, John.

No, this can't
surprise you.

You saw it
before I did.

I was suffocating...

I think we're ready.
Um, chopped salad, please.

Uh, burger,
medium rare, please.

BENTON:
I agree with Mr. McGrath
that consistency

is the best thing
for Reese right now.

See, I... I let Carla take on
a lot of the parenting

while I pursued my career.

But I did that
because it felt right

to leave Reese
in his mother's care.

But all that's changed now.

And my responsibilities
have changed, too.

Because of that, I've made
arrangements to work fewer hours

so that I can become
Reese's full-time caretaker.

JUDGE:
At County General?

Yes, sir.

What sort of hour reduction
are we talking about?

7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays,
weekends off.

JUDGE:
And you can provide proof
of this new schedule?

Yes, sir. Yes, I can.

Have it in my office
by day's end.

Unless there
is anything else

court's adjourned.

( bangs gavel )

I-I need to talk to him now.

Well, pull him out.

Oh, fine, let him know
I'm on my way.

( screeching tires )

Going back to work?!

Get out of my way.

Got another
shift?!

Roger, get out
of my way.

Where's Reese, huh?

Oh, let me guess. Jackie?
No, no, Cleo. A nanny?

What do you want me to do?

You want me
to hit your car, huh?

You lied, man.

Now on top of
everything else

you're a liar.

And a perjurer
at that.

You know what.
You need to back off.

Whatever it takes,
is that it? Huh?

He's not a trophy, man!

You can't win
at any cost just to win

so you can give
your sister a son!

You got

to raise him!

Go ahead.
Get in my face.

Come on.

Roger, you need to shut
your mouth, all right?

Think, Peter.

You can't change
who you are.

WEAVER:
You know, I'm sure
it was on this block.

It's called Nazim

and it's got a kind
of blue awning.

Well, I don't see it.

I don't know.
We must have missed it.

You know, I don't like
Indian food anyway.

Well, why didn't you
say something?

I just did!

All right, well,
why don't we go

to that Italian place
across the street?

They got
great risotto.

Oh, wait a minute.

That would be great
if it weren't closed.

You're kind of a pain
in the ass, you know that?

Well, some say.

I'm starting to regret
this whole thing.

That's too bad.
I'm starving.

Okay, let's just forget

about looking
for a decent place here.

Why don't we go home
and order something in?

Ah, I like a take-charge
kind of girl.

My apartment?

Lead the way.

BENTON:
Dr. Romano?

Did you hear
something?

I need to
talk to you.

That sounds like
the voice of a doctor

who makes promises he can't keep

and then hangs up...

on the guy he breaks
the promises with.

I need to talk
to you now.

Talk is cheap, Peter.

I need to scale back my hours

and I need it
in writing.

"To whom it may concern:
No friggin' way."

I'm serious.

Is this about
your kid?

Yeah.

All right, what do you need?
Every other Saturday?

No nights, no weekends.

( laughing ):
That's a good one.

I prefer the one about the rabbi
and the goldfish.

I need to spend
more time at home.

Never needed
to before.

His mother died.

Yeah, well, his
stepfather is
still alive.

Split custody with the guy.
Keep doing what you do best.

I'm not asking you
for your advice.

Newsflash:
This is an urban trauma center.

Until people start
planning their MVAs
and GSWs better

you are not going
to be punching
a time clock.

That's not me being a hard-ass.
That's the job.

You are a surgeon, aren't you?

Are you going to do this
for me or not?

Not-- you'll work
when I need you to work

or you don't work at all.

Well, then consider this
my resignation.

All right, all right

all right...

Don't go getting
dramatic.

Weekends off.

And what about weekdays?

It's my best offer, Peter.
Take it or leave it.

I'll finish out the week.

Are you really going
to do this?!

You're going to throw away
your career

so you can play
Mr. Mom?!

What a waste!

Hi.
Hey.

Newborn for the nursery.

Birth
in the ER?

Marshall Field's.

Mother was doing some
last-minute shopping.

She's on her way up.

The paramedics
delivered?

No, a shoe salesman.

Wow.

Room 424, do you
have a chart?

Was she an ER patient?

I just have to follow
up on something.

How far along
was she?

Eight weeks. It was simple.
No complications.

She's in recovery
for a few more hours.

Thanks.

Hi, I need to see
Dr. Finch, please.

Uh, I'm not sure
if she's still here.

Let me check.

All right,
thanks.

Peter, what are
you doing here?

I need to meet
the Surgi-Center Director.

You gave him my CV, right?

Yeah, but...

I quit County.

Romano wouldn't give
you the hours?

You said there was
a position here.

I want it.

Okay, I'll introduce
you to him tomorrow.

No, no, I need to show
proof of employment now.

Peter, he's probably
already gone

for the day.

Check, please.

I just started working here.
The man barely knows me...

Cleo, Cleo...

I need to talk to him.

Hi.

I thought
you left.

Tonight.

Luka's been
looking for you.

Could you wait,
please?

( sighing ):
Do you want...
do you need something?

You told him you
weren't pregnant.

I'm not.
I don't
understand.

You don't need to.

Look, I'm sorry.

I-I was wrong.

No, you were right.

He did everything
he could.

I thought his kindness
was love, but it's not.

Abby, he deserves
not to know.

Thanks.

BARBARA:
But Tuesday's impossible.

He's got colorectal
procedures then.

A fissurectomy at 7:00,
a hemorrhoidectomy at 8:00

another at 9:00

and it looks like

he's squeezed in
an inguinal hernia, too.

No, he's got a lunch date.

After that, he sees patients

until 5:00.

Thursday might work, actually.

Judge Alter,
Judge Alter!

I got that, uh...

employment
letter for you.

I wanted this yesterday.

I know, it, uh,
came in after hours.

This is not your hospital.

No.

Schaumburg Surgi-Center?

I actually worked out
a better situation there

than if I had
stayed at County.

All in the last 12 hours?

Well, it was always
a possibility.

It just needed
to be ironed out.

You didn't mention it
yesterday.

I know.

I said I'd cut back
my hours, and I did.

True.
I'm now working
8:00 to 5:00,
no weekends.

This letter confirms that.

That may be so

but you told
a different story yesterday

and I don't like being lied to.

I'm doing what I have
to do for my son.

Hey, Elizabeth.

What, are you
sneaking coffee?

Tea.

You look nice.

You going on a date
or something?

No. Court date.

Right.

What's the latest?

Ah, it's out of my hands now.

I suppose it's best to
keep busy while you wait.

Yeah, well, I owe a lot
of hours before I go.

Before you go?

Yeah, end of the week,
I'm out of here.

What?!

Yeah, I had to quit.

You're not serious?

I need to change my life.

Romano won't cut me any slack.

Yeah, well, I'm sure he'll
make some accommodation.

No.

I asked; he won't.

You'd really leave County?

I got to go.

How'd he fall?

Hanging lights
on the house.

Parents are
signing him in.

What do we got?

12-year-old fell from a ladder.

Parents are here.

Is he okay?
We brought him right over.

Has he been unconscious
the whole time?

His sister put the hose
on him.

He only woke up
for a second.

Did he hit anything
on the way down?

A bike.

CARTER:
We got some

involuntary
guarding here.

He's waking up.
That's good, yes?

BENTON:
Coming through,
coming through.

What do we have?

We got a possible liver
or splenic lac.

He's stable, but he might need
to go to the OR.

Okay, hemacue?

Second's eight from 10.

Does your belly hurt?

All right,
he's stable for CT.

Let's control the pain.

Probably watch him
overnight.

He's got free fluid
by ultrasound.

Well, I don't want
to remove the spleen

before I know we have to.

Remove?
That's okay.

He can live without one.

I can give him mine

if it matches.

No, that's not necessary.

Our family's in Chicago.
Someone will match.

We don't transplant spleens.

Let me show you
where the waiting room is.

WOMAN:
We can at least
give blood...

Whoop, she's going down.
Amparo!

Ma'am, you okay?

Have you fainted before?

Never.

How do you serve Christmas
dinner for all those people?

Start cooking early.

No problem.

All right, OR's got
a few elective cases

they can push if we need to.

How's she doing?

Please, I'm fine.

Tell me about Ben.

Well, his blood counts
are stable, which is good

and his first CT only
shows a small injury.

His school band plays
in a concert on New Year's Eve.

I don't want him
to miss it.

How long have you had this node?

I don't know.

Is this tender?

You don't have to examine me
or run tests.

I know I'm sick.

Have you been diagnosed
with something?

Lymphoma.

I'm sorry.

Don't tell them, though.

Your family doesn't know?

There will be plenty of time
to talk after Christmas.

WOMAN:
Dr. Benton?

Janice Prager called.

She wants you to meet her
in court right away.

Go. I'll get
another surgeon.

Okay. Your son
will be fine.

Good.

They got me right
in the store.

It's tough to hide
two pairs of skates.

The guard jumped me
in front of my kids.

Can we keep
the ice skates?

No.

They hate getting used
stuff all the time.

I thought for Christmas,
I'd get them...

They want to take you to the
station house when we are done.

I know.

Do you have someone
to stay with them?

Their mother?

I'll be right back.

Abby?

Are you going
to be in jail
for Christmas?

I don't know.

Maybe I should
post bail for him.

They need money.

Do you know where
they've been living?

In a motel room.

Probably can't pay
a security deposit.

No, he has a job,
but it's $5.15 an hour

so he has to steal

to get his kids
a decent Christmas present.

We could call
the food bank.

No, the food banks help out
this time of year.

What happens to them
in three months?

There's only so much you can do.

Yeah, I guess.

I just, uh...

Miss your kids?

( chuckling )

Yeah.

I'm sorry.

It's sort of worse
at Christmas.

Where's the judge?

In chambers.

Gentlemen,
your counsel with you?

Uh, they're on the way.

While we wait
for Ms. Prager
and Mr. Wharton

I was wondering

if I could talk
with Reese once more.

Only if you both
agree, of course.

Sure.

I don't see why not.

Thank you.

Nancy, will you ask him
to come with me?

It's okay.

Go on. Go on.

Just Reese this time.

( sighs )

He'll have exploratory surgery

and they'll repair any injuries
he might have.

( family talking at once
in native language )

He'll be home
for the holidays?

We'll just have to wait
and see how he does.

So we celebrate a day
or two late.

It doesn't matter.

Thank you, Doctor!

( all talking )

Hey, did you get
him upstairs?

Yes. Along with his parents,
aunts, cousins...

Right. Hope they all
fit in the waiting room.

Are you ready for this?

God...

What?
I forgot.

I mean, I didn't forget.
It's at home.

Yours.
Oh.

I don't know
where my head is at, though.

Do you want to
open it anyway?

Can we wait?

Sure.

Sorry.

Is something wrong?

I'm having family problems.

Your grandma?

No, no, it's...

my mother.

She's not coming home
for the holidays after all.

She and my father are, uh...

splitting up.

Oh, no.

I don't think
it's sunk in yet.

Well, maybe it's a
blessing in disguise.

How do you figure?

Did you ever meet my parents?

I met Cookie.

Right. Well, she and
Henry aren't divorced

and they should be.

S...

Still, I'm sorry.

Thanks.

I'm so self-centered.

I thought it was
something to do with me.

No. You're about the only thing
going right in my life.

You shouldn't have
let this happen.

I didn't want
to seem defensive.

What'd he think
of your new job?

He wasn't overly impressed.

There you are.

ALTER:
Thank you for all rushing over.

Be seated.

( clears throat )

We're in a unique situation.

In a traditional custody case

win or lose...

the parents maintain the title
given to them by their biology.

They're still Mommy and Daddy.

Here, I'm asked to declare
that one of these two men

is not, in fact, Daddy

but they both love Reese

and they have both made
sacrifices to be with him.

Though I will say Dr. Benton's
effort was late in the game.

And I am uncomfortable
about the way he handled it.

I'm not convinced he was exactly
forthright with the court.

But the fact is

that I do believe

Reese would thrive
in either of your households.

And that makes my decision
even harder.

But based on the evidence
provided by Dr. Benton

that he will be more available
as a parent in the future

and the fact that Reese
has always believed him

to be his father...

the court grants custody
to Peter Benton.

Mr. McGrath will be given

visitation with Reese
every other Saturday.

BAILIFF:
The court calls
a 20-minute recess.

Thanks again.

Okay. We'll talk soon.

We might have to go out
and get one.

No, go ahead and use the angel.

No, I always
have a star.

Okay, here we go--
one, two

three!

( Cleo clapping ):
Yay!

Yes, it is pretty.

You finish your part?

Hey, baby,
come here.

Come over here.
Come lay under the tree.

( sighing )

You should get going.

Oh, I got a half an hour.

Don't want to be late
for your last shift.

What are they going
to do, fire me?

( chuckling )

What are we doing?

This is the best way
to look at a tree.

When I was Reese's age,
I used to do this for hours.

It's beautiful.

Yeah.

Hey, how long is the commute
to Schaumburg?

Depends on when you leave.

Because I was thinking
if, you know

we're both working there...

Yeah?

Maybe we should relocate.

We?

Yeah.

I mean, this whole thing has...

I don't know.
It's made me focus.

It's like all my life

I've been... chasing
something, you know.

That time when I can...

make it into the end zone
and spike the ball and...

( chuckling )

It took almost losing
my son to realize

the end zone's not out there.

It's right here.

You're good raw material.

I can work with you.

Oh, you can?

Yeah, I have to get you
in shape.

( laughs )

Oh, what kind of shape?

Mmm.

Hey, you found it!

Hey, I knew it was
in one of those boxes.

You want to put
it up there?

All right,
come on.

Agh!

Hut! Hut!

Agh.

( clapping ):
Yay!

That's good!

I'm working
New Year's Eve?
I don't think so.

Someone has to.
Someone else.

OLBES:
Got a
six-year-old GSW.

WOMAN:
Please, you have
to save him.

What happened?

.30-caliber bullet wound

right thorax,
crossed the mid-line.

Vitals?

BP: 70/30. Pulse 130.

He's so pale.

Are you his mother?

What's his name?

Ma'am, what's his name?
Teddy.

Decreased breath sounds
on the right

full trauma panel.

He's going to need a chest tube.

It's just
the two of us.

How'd it happen?
I shot him.

Peter.

I guess I should say
congratulations.

Did you really
get a new job?

You going
to call me a liar again?

Here you are,
Christmas Eve.

Well, it's my last shift.

What's your excuse?

I wanted to give you
Reese's Christmas presents.

You can leave
them over there.

See you in
two Saturdays.

Yeah.

Merry Christmas.

( sighing )

Hey, Roger...

You can come over
to the house tomorrow

and give them
to him yourself.

Thanks.

I'm not doing it for you.

Dr. Benton?

The ER.

Sux is on board.
Our tree's right
by the window.

Five and half ET tube.

There have been so many

break-ins in our neighborhood.

O neg's running.
Systolic's low at 70.

Call for a vent.
I was sleeping.

I've had the flu.
Ten blade.

He was supposed to be in bed.

I heard glass break.

Long vascular clamp.

He dropped an ornament.
I thought

it was someone
breaking in.
I'm in. Bag him.

GSW?

Six-year-old,
accidentally shot

by his mom.

Heart rate's down to 30.

Lost his pulse.
Starting compressions.

Thoracotomy tray.

Let's move.
What does
that mean?

We may have to
open his chest

to repair the damage.

Four more units of blood.

Scalpel.
PAULA:
Oh, God.

Paula, why don't
you come with me?

500cc's out the right side.

Ready with the rib spreader.

Suction on high.

All right.

Hang on. Hang on.

Come on. Crank it now. Come on.

Agh.

Looks like two liters in there.

Damn it.

Pericardium's filled with blood.

15 blade.

Call the OR.
Tell them we've got

a red blanket.

Page Romano now!

Who the hell takes a gun
to a six-year-old?

She thought he was a burglar.
More packing.

A burglar who shakes the
presents under a tree?

Ten blade.

I'll clamshell the chest.

SHIRLEY:
Ready with the sternal saw.

Are we really going to go
through the motions here?

Knife back.
Metz.

I guess we are.

Pickups.
Come on, pickups.

Damn it.

There's a fragment

of the slug.

Looks weird.

BENTON:
Saw. Let's move.

That's a
"black talon."

It's a fragmenting
bullet.

Multiple jacket fragments
at the hilum.

Looks like razor blades spread
all over him.

That's sort
of the point.

( saw buzzing )

We order more FFP?
On its way.

ROMANO:
It's a lost
cause, Peter.

There are fragments
in all four chambers

and God knows what hit
the great vessels.

Dr. Corday
is here.

Oh, she's going
to love being
brought in on this.

What do we have?

Organ donor.

BP dropping:
60/30.

Hang two more units
packed cells.

He'll go into DIC.

We can stay ahead
with cryo and platelets.

We've got other surgeries
lined up, Peter.

Looks like a transverse
colon injury

and a bunch of dead bowel.

We're still in the chest.

I've already repaired defects

in the left ventricle
and right hilum.

Hope you brought
your magic wand.

Either help me
or get the hell out of here.

Knock yourself out, Peter!

Either way, you are out of here.

You do know we need
to rebuild the IVC

from the kidneys
caudally?

More 2-0 silk
on a Teflon pledget.

Come on. Keep them coming.
Peter.

Elizabeth, we can do this,
all right?

Prep a venous cardiac snare.

Did I kill him?

We don't know
what his chances are.

But he does
have the best
surgeons I know

working on him.

How could I do this?

You were scared.

I keep telling God
how sorry I am.

That's all you can do.

I don't even believe in God.

Teddy never gets up
from bed.

I just wanted
to protect our home.

I never thought he'd...

You want me
to take you to the OR?

Somebody turn off the damn heat.
Another vicryl.

Okay, GI stapler. Let's move.

There's not much stool
in the abdominal cavity.

That's a good sign.
I would've expected more.

Gut's done.

What's the pressure?

80/40.

All right, well,
that's something.

All right,
let me get another clip.

Not much.

Well, here we go.

The SMV is done.

Cut.

Shirley, take
down the balloon
on the Pruitt.

( sighs )

Here we go.

Catheter out.

Balloon down.

Let's throw in a good knot

and see if he stops bleeding.

Come on, Teddy.

Come on, man.

Come on.

Look at that.

Yeah.

That's incredible.

Yeah, well, uh...

All right, here we go.

Releasing the clamp.

How the hell did you do that?

I have no idea.

Well, let's make sure
of the count.

Is that the mother?

Yeah.

You go tell her.
I'll close up.

Okay.

Thanks, Elizabeth.

You know, Peter,
that was truly remarkable.

A little going-away present.

You know, despite
anything Romano may say

this place is really going
to miss you.

I wish I could say the same.

It wasn't all that bad.

We had our moments.

Your son lost
a lot of blood.

However we were able
to repair the damage.

He's got a long road
ahead of him, but...

he's going to make it.

I don't know
how to thank you.

Well...

just get the gun
out of your house.

( sighs )

( groaning )

I guess Santa didn't
buy you that bike
you asked for.

Carter, what are you doing here?

Cleo told me this
was on your route.

Come on. You want
to join me?

( chuckling ):
No.

If I want to get
my heart rate up

I'll have another
cup of coffee.

I got your message.

I guess there's
no way to talk you
out of it, huh?

Nah, done deal.

Well, I got
you something.

Carter, come on.

Open it.

You're a tough
guy to shop for.

An El token?

The second week of my
surgical internship

we got 11 traumas
in one night.

5:00 a.m. the
next morning

we were still
patching together
this little girl

that had been
dragged under a car.

And I was so tired
I couldn't even see straight.

And I asked you
if I could take a break

and you kicked me
out of the OR.

I couldn't even
drive home.

I was so exhausted

so I just sat down
and started crying

right there
in the hallway.

You came out
of surgery, and
you gave me that

and you said I could
use it to go home

or I could commit
to what I was doing

and use it to come back
the next day.

( sighs )

No Rolex, huh?

( chuckling )

I figured if you get
tired of Schaumburg

you can use it
to come back.

Carter, they don't use
tokens anymore.

Then call.

And I'll come
pick you up.

Look, I want
you to know...

I know.

...that I owe you.

( sniffling )

Carter...

I'm getting cold.
I better move on.

Merry Christmas.

Same to you.

Hey, Peter?

I'm a good doctor
because of you.

No, you're not...

but keep trying.