ER (1994–2009): Season 8, Episode 21 - On the Beach - full transcript

(male narrator)
Previously on "ER.."

Hey, Rhachel.

You search my room and go
through my private things?

I was looking
for drugs.

I have a baby with an
amphetamine overdose.

Oh, God.

She may never open
her eyes again.

Either she's out of the house by
the time I take that baby home

or I'm not taking
that baby home.

I'm afraid it's definitely
tumor regrowth.

'You should have been dead
a year ago, Mark.'



How much time?

(Carter)
'Mark died this morning'

at 6:04 AM.

"The sun was rising,
his favorite time of day.

' I sent this on
so that you might know'

'he was thinking of you all.'

(Mark)
'You set the tone, Carter.'

What?

Work on your jump shot.

[sirens wailing]

[engine revving]

[exhaling]

[knocking on door]

[music on stereo]



Mark?

Hey.

What are you doing?

I'm feeling sorry
for myself.

I'll make you some soup.

Uh, no, thanks.

Do you want me to put
some drops in your eye?

Just did it.

I'm just making a list.

Things I've always
wanted to do

but I never found time for.

What? Too morbid?

A bit.

You want to hear it?

Sure.

Got a little carried away.

Mm-hmm.

"Sail around the world.

"Climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

"Play third base for the Cubs

"and hit a sacrifice fly
to drive in the winning run

in the seventh game
of the World Series."

- They get better.
- Uh-huh.

"Start a garage band and end up
on the cover of Rolling Stone.

'Do you even play
an instrument?'

No, but I've always wanted
to trash a hotel room.

"Jump out of an airplane.

"Have noisy sex
in a public place.

I can help you
with that one.

"Smoke hand-rolled Cuban cigars

"while drinking dark Caribbean
rum in a sidewalk cafe

"overlooking
the Havana seawall.

That's a really good one.

"Get towed in to Mavericks
on a big gun

"and live to tell about it.

"Find Jerry Walker and beat
the living crap out of him.

And who's he?

'Tenth grade.
Long story.'

"Take the kids
to Disney World.

"Teach Ella
how to ice skate

"at Rockefeller Center
at Christmas time.

"Teach Rachel how to drive.

Be there to give them both
away at their weddings."

Told you I was sitting down here
feeling sorry for myself.

We could all go
to Disney World.

I'd like that.

I haven't been
a very good father.

- Yes, you have.
- No, I haven't.

I wasn't there
when she needed me.

I was 400 miles away.

Phone call on Saturdays.

A couple of weeks
in the summer.

You know what the last thing
on my list is?

"Fix Rachel."

[theme music]

[birds chirping]

[crowd crescendo]

Rachel?

[car door shuts]

'Rachel?'

See ya.
Bye.

Hey.

Breath mint?

For that cigarette?

I was just holding
it for a friend.

In your mouth?

- What are you doing here?
- Picking you up.

Is there anything
in your locker you need?

What?

Is there anything you need,
like, right away?

- No.
- Okay. Come on.

Where are we going?

Honestly, Rachel,
I don't know.

[plane engine rumbling]

(male #1)
'Here we go!'

[air turbulence]

(male #2)
'Is that your dad?'

Yeah.

Mid-life crisis?

Something like that.

[relaxing Spanish guitar music]

- Aloha.
- Mornin'.

[indistinct conversation]

'Hey.'

- What?
- 'You hungry?'

- What time is it?
- It's almost 8:00.

[scoffs]
Oh, God.

'Told you not to stay up
late watching that movie.'

'Come on,
time's a-wastin'.'

- 'Gotta go.'
- Go where?

'History lesson.'

What?

My history.

[radio playing Todd Rundgren's
"Hello, It's Me"]

What's with this music?

You don't like
Todd Rundgren?

Can we change the station?

No, I like this.

This is where
everything blew up?

Yeah, that's Battleship Row.

See the white building?

That's the Arizona memorial.

When I was a kid, there wasn't
a bridge here, though.

Used to have to take
the ferry back and forth

'to school,
to movies, to shop.'

It was kind of cool.

'I loved living in Hawaii.'

Mom had flower
gardens everywhere.

That's what she used
to do when Dad was gone

to keep busy, garden.

I hated it.

She used to make me weed,
fertilize, mow the lawn.

The last ferry
was at 11 o' clock.

So Navy kids mostly
just stayed on the base.

The golf course, the pool

bowling alley, youth center..

- You were a bowler?
- Yeah.

Mostly just rode
our bikes around.

Went to the beach.

Got in trouble trying
to sneak into restricted areas.

How long were you here?

Three years.

Longest time we ever spent
in one place.

All the good kids were JROTC

hoping to get into Annapolis.

I hung out with
the troublemakers.

A couple of teenagers..

...acting dangerous, tough.

I had my first job here.

You were a lifeguard?

No. Junior janitor.

I'd get here at 6:00 AM,
sweep up

mop the locker rooms,
skim the pool..

$1.25 an hour.

That's slave wages.

It was enough to keep me
in new records and good weed.

What? You know, records?

'LP's, vinyls..'

Those funny big black things
that your hip-hop heroes

are always ripping off
for their songs.

Come on.

'Come on, I want to
show you something.'

It's just a couple
blocks away.

16-inch guns could lob a
2,000-pound shell at 23 miles.

When a bombardment commenced,
you could hear it 40 miles away.

Up there is where the Japanese
surrendered. Tokyo Harbor.

[ship horn blows]

Your grandfather took
me up to the bridge once.

N-not here on the "Missouri"

but on a sub-tender
that he was the XO of.

They used to let sailors
bring their families on board

steam around the harbor.

Kind of a "take your kid
to work day"

only Dad's office
was a warship.

He introduced me to all
the sailors on watch.

Stuck a hat on me.

One of those white
Gilligan things?

Yeah.

Held me up so I could
man the helm.

Showed me what everything
was for.

I was about your age.

Sounds like you liked it.

I did.

So, why didn't you
join the Navy?

I was mad at my dad.

For what?

Never being
around, I guess.

We used to fight
all the time.

About the music
I listened to.

My clothes, my friends,
the length of my hair.

[Rachel chuckles]
Don't laugh.

I used to have hair,
lots of it.

Down to my shoulders.

He resented my politics.
I hated his.

I used to try and
provoke him, you know

just try
to piss him off.

I was good at it.

I hated everything
that he stood for..

...and I made sure
that he knew it.

What did he stand for?

Patriotism

responsibility,
authority, honor..

Navy, most of all.

I'd take it all back
now if I could..

...but I can't.

He rode me pretty hard
when he was around.

I think he was
worried about me.

He was worried about
the choices I was making

and the things that
I was interested in.

Like what?

Like, uh..

...girls, for one.

Bruce Lee flicks.

Rock and roll.

Surfing.

- Surfing?
- Yeah.

Don't look so surprised.

Surfing?

You're doing great.

You almost stood up
on that last one.

Okay, lie down.

Now I'll push
you. Ready?

Okay. Yeah.

And..

- You ready?
- Yeah.

Paddle, paddle, paddle,
paddle! Go, go!

'Stand up!'

Go, go, go,
go, go, go!

[Rachel exclaims excitedly]

Oh, yes!

[laughs]

[Abandoned Pool singing
"The Remedy" on TV]

* And we can go
and live as nothing *

[whimpering]

* Then you can be the wannabe

* And I can be the remedy

* And we can go to hell..

[sniffling]

* Say this world
is not so shallow *

* When you can't beg,
steal or borrow *

* Save your breath,
your soul is hollow *

* And it's all
too much to swallow *

Dad?

Dad?

* ..for all I care

* Say this world
is not so shallow *

* When you can't beg,
steal or borrow *

* Save your breath,
your soul is hollow *

* And it's all
too much to swallow *

[car engine revving]

[John Lennon's "Imagine"
playing on radio]

* Imagine there's no heaven

* It's easy if you try

You know this one, right?

* No hell below us

You got to know who this is.

* Above us only sky

[birds chirping]

What is this place?

It's a retreat house.

I rented it for a week.

A what?

Relax, you're
gonna love it.

There's no TV in my room.

- Right.
- Where's the TV?

I don't think there is one.

Is there a pool?

Ocean.

Hotel was getting too expensive.

The mini bar charges alone
were starting to add up.

Once you're done
unpacking

you can help
me with dinner.

Is there a phone?

Should be around here someplace.

- What are we supposed to do?
- 'I don't know.'

Swim, walk
on the beach..

...surf.

[door slams]

[cutlery striking plate]

(Greene)
'Put your right foot
on the brake'

left foot on the clutch.

Good. Clutch
all the way in.

Okay. Now put
it in first gear.

Remember where that is?

Straight up.
Good, good.

Okay, now you want to
ease your right foot

'off of the brake and
onto the accelerator.'

Okay, ease off
on the clutch.

'Little gas, ease off
on the clutch.'

[engine revving]
Hey, there we go.

[engine sputters out]
Oh. Oh.

What'd I do?

It's just a balance
thing, you know.

It's a-It's kind of a balance
between the clutch

and the accelerator.

'It's a feel thing'

It just takes
a little practice.

Alright, let's
try it again.

Okay, make sure
it's in neutral.

Good. Put
that clutch in.

'Put the brake on.'

Okay, turn the
ignition over.

[ignition grinds]
Ah!

Okay, make sure that clutch
is pushed all the way in.

- Okay, got it in neutral?
- Okay.

'Turn the ignition
over again.'

[engine turns over]

Okay, now put it
up into first.

[sighs]

'Okay, right foot
off that brake.'

Put it on the accelerator.

'Ease off the clutch.'

Whoa!

[engine grinds]

[sighs]

Maybe I should
try an automatic.

No, no, no, no, it's best
to learn with a stick.

Mom has an automatic.

Come on, put
it in neutral.

I-I don't want to.

Rachel, you fall off the horse,
you got to get right back on.

The horse?

Come on, you almost
got it. Let's go.

'There you go, right
foot on the brake'

'left foot on the clutch.'

'Neutral...start
it up.'

[engine turns over]

There you go.
There you go.

- Uh.
- Okay, let off that clutch.

Let it off.

There you go,
nice and easy.

Hey, hey!

We're going, we're driving.
We're driving!

- We're driving.
- Oh..

- Okay, now shift.
- What?

Shift, shift.
Just put it into second.

- How? What?
- 'Put the clutch in.'

Pull it down to second.

Second, yeah,
yeah, that's it.

Good, yes.

We're driving.

Woo-hoo!
We're driving.

Dad?

Dad?

- 'Dad?'
- Huh?

'Are you okay?'

Yeah.

Your headache back?

I'm alright.

Well, I was gonna
go to the beach.

Okay.

Are you coming?

Be down there in a minute.

Beautiful, isn't it?

Hey.

It's beautiful, huh?

Your headache better?

Yeah. Thanks.

What are you listening to?

You wouldn't like it.

[music stops]

When did you start
getting high?

I don't.

I was loaded most
of the eighth grade.

I'm no fool, stop
treating me like one.

I don't get high.

I'm missing three Vicodin.

Any idea what
happened to them?

Maybe you took them
and forgot.

What else are you doing?

We know about the Ecstasy,
now the Vicodin.

Huffing? Speed?

I already told you,
nothing.

Crystal meth, what?

You don't believe me, fine.

Rachel.

Rachel..

Rach.

You're only 14.

What the hell are you going
to be putting in your body

when you're 16, hmm?

We're going to talk
about this.

Rachel, damn it. Stop.

I love you.

Please don't do this.
I don't..

I don't know
what to do.

I don't have time
to work this through.

I'm not gonna be here
in a year to help.

You've got a bastard
of a father

who was never around

and then went off
and had a new baby.

Your mom got remarried
to a creep

and she works too much.

You got a raw deal,
alright?

Why not get high?

No one gives a damn
about you anyway.

I know how that feels.

I remember being 14
and pissed off at my dad

and the world.

What are you gonna do
when I'm not here, Rach?

'Who is gonna keep you
from killing yourself?'

I'm scared.

'Scared about what's
gonna happen to you.'

Look, it sucks.

I'm your father
and I'm gonna die.

You know what?
I think it sucks, too.

'No.'

It's..yeah.

No, it's fine.

I'm great.

No, I'm feeling good.

How's Ella?

Really? That's great.

She's fine.

You know...fourteen.

[acoustic guitar music]

You want to go out to dinner
or just eat here?

I think we have
some of that "ono" left.

Vegetables...I..

I want pizza.
Can we get some pizza?

There's that place
down by the surf shop

looked pretty good.

[thud]
Oh!

Dad!

God, Dad?

Dad? Dad!

[acoustic guitar music]

[car door opens]

Mark?

Mark!

Oh, my goodness,
look at this.

[acoustic guitar
music continues]

Mark?

Hi.

Hi.

We were out driving around

and saw
the vacation rental sign.

It must cost
a fortune.

You only live once.

There's a lady
named Janet.

She lives up the road,
takes care of children.

She said she'd be happy
to help out.

Huh? What's this?

Herbs. I got
a whole bunch of them.

I take them
in the morning, afternoon.

Boost my immune system.

Is this snakeskin?

'Could be.'

The lady who does
my acupuncture

gave them to me.

Couldn't hurt.

I can't find
a corkscrew.

How about a beer?

Sure.

So where's Rachel?

She's out surfing.

She found you
in a grand mal seizure.

It's no big deal.

'She was
scared to death'

when she called me.

What did the neurologist say?

Upped the Dilantin to 400.

- 'You didn't see a doctor?'
- No.

Well, how do you know
what your level is?

I'm fine.

Mark, you need a CAT scan
and a full work-up.

No, thanks.

Take my hand.

Go on.

Squeeze my fingers.

How about your wrist?

Your elbow?

Right. We're going home.

You need an MRI

and to see
the neurologist.

No.

I don't wanna
go back home.

[acoustic guitar music]

It's beautiful here,
isn't it?

Come on, lemme-lemme
show you the beach.

What's she going to do
with a surfboard in St. Louis?

She can let it gather
dust in the garage.

Has she been like this
the whole time?

Pretty much.

Lucky you.

Hey, I never knew
they were so tall.

Some are, some aren't.

Hey. We're looking
for a longboard

for my daughter,
she's 14.

How long are
you thinking?

Nine, nine-one,
maybe a Hamilton.

What's she doing?

It's okay.

Does she even
want a surfboard?

Watch this.

Who's he?

Don't stare.
It'll upset her.

Well, does
she know him?

He works here.
His name's Kai.

Kai?

Kai. Means ocean.

She's made up
a new excuse

'why we had
to come back here'

'for the last
three days.'

- How old is he?
- I don't know.

He looks only 16.

Could be.

Maybe 17.

'I have some boards
she might like'

a PapaSan and a Sunburn.

Good.

* Where troubles melt
like lemon drops *

* Away above the chimney tops

* That's where you'll find me

* Somewhere over the rainbow

* Bluebirds fly

* Birds fly

* Over the rainbow

* Why, oh, why

* Can't I?

Rachel, can
you come help me?

[Mark Greene gasping]

Remember when I used
to sing you to sleep?

No.

You made me do it for years.

You watched
"The Wizard of Oz"

and "The Little Mermaid"
over and over again.

Drive me crazy.

We had that apartment

off of Division

with the big iron gates
out front

and that funny-looking
mutt next door, Dudley.

Dad.

There was a playground
across the street.

Remember the big slide?

I don't. I don't
remember, okay?

I don't remember any
of that stuff.

It's not important
and you just

keep talking
and talking about it.

- It is important.
- No, it's not.

Where you used to live,
where we used to live

'and Grandmom's
stupid garden'

'and Granddad's cousin
Dave or whatever.'

Rachel, keep your voice down.
The baby's sleeping.

I'm trying
to tell you about us

about our family.
Our history.

It's stupid, boring,
useless crap.

- It's not crap.
- Some dog named Dudley?

You loved that dog.

'I don't care
about these things.'

'I don't want to
hear this stuff'

so just stop
talking to me about it.

[door slams]

[baby cries]

I'll go.

[waves crashing on shore]

How long are you planning
on keeping this up?

He's not perfect.

Far from it.

But he's trying.

You've got to
grow up faster

than you should have to.

You don't get to be
a child anymore.

Your father's dying.

I know that.

He's going to die soon,
very soon.

And if you keep going
on like this you're gonna miss

what little time you
have left with him.

This is it, Rachel.

This is your last chance

and if you blow it,
you're gonna end up

hating yourself
for the rest of your life.

[sniffing]

[grunts]

Shit!

[Mark coughing]

I'm a bit worried
about that cough.

It's okay.

We could go to the hospital

and get a CBC
and a chest x-ray.

No, thanks.

Mark, the decadron
is suppressing

your immune system.

No kidding.

Did you up it again?

Okay, well, if it
turns to pneumonia

we can give IV antibiotics.

- Pneumonia, huh?
- Uh-huh.

That's not a bad way to go.

Oh!

There we go.

Where's Rachel?

'She's at sunset with Kai.'

Hmm.

Nice offshore breeze.

Waves should be great.

They're spending a great
deal of time together.

He's a nice kid.

So you're not worried?

About what?

About what they might
be doing in all that time.

Nope.

I think it's great.

I need you to do
something for me.

- Mm-hm.
- It might be kind of hard.

I want to write letters..

...to Rachel and Ella.

I tried to do it myself but..

...I can't read
my own writing now.

I want them to..

...open letters on special days.

High school graduation..

...college..

...their wedding days.

Think that's cruel?

[clears throat]
Reaching out from
beyond the grave

on days when they
should be happy?

I think they'll
cherish every single word.

Told you it might be hard.

I'm okay.

[gasping]

Is he asleep?

Yup.

He sleeps a lot now.

Yeah.

He's in a lot of pain.

It won't be long now.

Hi.

Hi.

I was just dreaming about you.

You were?

When you used to love balloons.

You remember how
much you loved balloons?

No.

I used to buy them for you.

And right when
I handed them to you..

...you let them go.

Drive your mother crazy.

Sit with me...sit down.

Sit.

I was trying to figure out..

...what I should
have already told you

but I never have.

Something important.

Something every father..

...should impart
to his daughter.

I finally got it.

Generosity.

Be...generous.

With...your time.

With your love..

With...your life.

Okay.

I'm sorry, Rachel.

I'm so tired.

That's okay.

Don't...cry for me.

I won't.

Be generous.

Always.

I will.

Daddy?

I remember the lullaby.

I remember you used to
sing it to me every night.

I remember.

[Israel Kamakawiwo'ole singing
"Somewhere Over The Rainbow"]

* Ooh-hoo hoo-ooh

Look, it's a sheep.

[bleating]

* Ooh-hoo hoo-ooh

* Hoo-ooh hoo

* Hoo-ooh hoo

* Somewhere

* Over the rainbow

* Way up high

* And the

* Dreams that you dreamed of

* Once in a lullaby

* Ooh-hoo

* Somewhere

* Over the rainbow

* Blue birds fly

* And the

* Dreams that you dreamed of

* Dreams really do

* Come true ooh ooh

* Ooh ooh-ooh

* Someday I'll
wish upon a star *

* Wake up where the
clouds are far behind *

* Me

* Where trouble melts
like lemon drops *

* High above the chimney tops

* That's where

* You'll find me

* Oh somewhere

* Over the rainbow

* Blue birds fly

* And the

* Dream that you dare to

* Oh why

* Oh why can't I *

[waves crashing]

[instrumental music]

(male #3)
'The resurrection and
the life, saith the Lord.'

'though he were dead,
yet shall he live.'

'And whosoever liveth
and believeth in me'

'shall never die.'

'I know that my
redeemer liveth '

'and he shall stand at
the latter day upon the Earth.'

'And though his
body be destroyed'

[instrumental music]

Can I still come see Ella?

'Summers..'

'...or at Christmas?'

Of course, she's your sister.

Hey...hey, can you-can you
pull over, please?

- What?
- Right here.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[theme music]