Getting On (2013–2015): Season 3, Episode 6 - Reduced to Eating Boiled Magazines and Book Paste - full transcript

Didi: Okay, this is my
station... phones, lab reports.

Usually first meds rounds
takes about an hour,

but since we've
gone from 27 patients

down to eight, it's
more, like, 20 minutes.

Next, I check lab reports,
then I would do new admits.

But we haven't had new patients

for about a month.

Technically, we're closed,

but we got 'em on an injunction

for violating Open Meeting Laws.

So, they can't fire us.



They gotta keep
us on the payroll

to take care of the
lingering patients

until they get it resolved.

So, there's not
really that much to do.

Dr. James, this is Miriam.

She's gonna cover for me today.

Ah. Welcome to yet
another sad, melancholy day

on the ward that we all love.

Not quite dead, not quite alive.

A little of each.

Like a teen slumber
party, with dying.

♪ Morning come
and Maria's gone ♪

♪ Morning come
and Maria's gone ♪

Didi: Mrs.
Belfontaine... What...



what is this? I thought she was
discharged. ♪ Morning come ♪

♪ And Maria's gone ♪ Well,
her long-term care insurance said

that they would pay for
another week of rehab.

Just put her back
in her bed and just...

♪ ♪

Dawn: Morning.

Well, somebody's got a bounce

in their step this
morning. Well, I should.

I lost, like, 14
pounds in dialysis.

Look how loose my ring is.

Looking good, toots.

Dr. James. Good morning. Mm-hmm.

Well, it's official. We're
officially compatible.

I just got the
final results today.

Yes. I got the
confirmation letter.

It's wonderful news.

Dr. Gladner will see us at 3:00.

Okay.

I bet we're so compatible,

I won't even need any
immunosuppressants

to not reject your kidney.

Man on phone: Bengali
Transplant Services.

Hi. Hi. Finally.

Uh, I'm glad to speak to you.

Hi. My name is,
uh, Helen... Mirren,

and I am calling from
the United States,

and I imagine that
you get quite a few

calls from the United States.

Anyway, my daughter,
Sadie Mirren, is having,

uh, kidney failure and
needs a transplant.

Yeah. Yes, we
would need a donor.

That's... that's right.

Well, we could
come, but I wondered,

can you ship a kidney?

So, this is feasible?

Okay. Um, and it's
absolutely on the up and up?

Oh, have you met
Didi's new scab?

Miriam. She'll be
with us through Didi's

afternoon picketing. Well,
I do give the girl credit.

Didi's like that
heroic Dutch boy

with his finger in the dike,
trying valiantly but vainly

to hold off the
oceans. Yes. Um...

you know, I just wanted
to say, I feel so lucky.

I really need this
kidney... you know?

My numbers are crashing
despite my rigorous diet

and counting every
calorie and eating right.

And, you know, there's a
thirst, dialysis thirst, Mm.

Because you cannot
drink that much.

It's hell.

But now, I see a light

at the end of a very
long, dark tunnel.

Jenna: How you have progressed!

Rosey, it's wonderful
to see you doing so well.

You are a success story.

We have a little bit more
range of motion exercises,

and we can discuss
some scar remediation.

Are you drowning
in all the extra care

and attention, Rose?

Are we killing you with
kindness here? Yes?

She has nightmares.

Running through
the house on fire,

her hair in flames.

Well, we can offer psychological
services to assist you

and make sure that
this is a smooth and safe

transition home.

Mrs. Belfontaine: ♪ Holding on ♪

♪ Somehow we go on ♪

♪ Keep each other strong ♪

♪ Holding on ♪ Ah!

♪ Somehow we go on ♪

Am I the only one who cares?

Keeping this place ship-shape,

keeping it organized.

Marguerite! Please!

These tanks have been out
here for three days, okay?

Nobody cares. No pride of place.

Until janitorial and
plant services is restored,

I'm designating
this the sling room.

All this auxiliary
crap can go in there.

There's no excuse
for this chaos.

What are you lookin' at?

I am so glad we're
gonna be visiting

with Dr. Gladner
this afternoon, Dawn,

because I have done so
much reading in the literature.

There were so many

things that I... I... I
really want to discuss.

Like, for example...

um... should I have
a larger discussion

with everybody that my
decision is gonna affect?

You know, like the fact that

I won't be in a position
to give my only daughter,

Renee, a kidney, should
she ever need one.

And then also,
the... for example,

how long am I gonna
be out of work? Mm-hmm.

Y... y... you see?

Is this really the very
best time for me to donate?

Well, yeah. These are
very good questions.

I mean, miracles do happen.

Sammy, just when you think
it's over and your life is ending,

generous people just
come forward and...

that lady right
there, Dr. James,

is one such person.

You wanna say thank you?

Wanna give her a hug?

Thank you for
saving Dawn's life.

Thank you.

Okay. Sharing circle!

Um, I always had
a much higher IQ

than all my friends in school,

so I dumbed it down.

My IQ is 126...

and, you know, to this
day, I'm still just terrified

to live up to my
potential because...

you know, I don't
want to be rejected.

I suppose my oldest
secret... That's what we're...

um, revealing?

I was in the back of
Jenni Preston's car...

Dawn, Dawn, look at me.

I like when you
watch me when I talk.

Anyway, the top was
down, and we're driving

on Palisades Parkway,
and Linda Fiorintino's fall

blew off and she died
of embarrassment,

but I pulled it off

because I never liked her.

Oh...

Okay. Um... Marguerite?

Got anything you wanna share?

Any big secrets? Anything?

I'm transsexual.

Yeah. I was born Martin
Macaw and then I transitioned

right after high school
and took Marguerite.

You know, it's...
It's so hard to find

the right level of being a
woman 'cause I don't want to be

what men want a woman to be,

some corrupted version
of femininity. Mm, yeah.

Marguerite: I just
wanna be me, you know?

And I've worked hard
to get to this point,

and I can be the
woman that I wanna be.

Being a woman
is partly emotional,

partly physical for sure,

psychological, cultural...

spiritual even.

Oh, man. The spiritual
differences between men

and women are... whoa... vast.

I did not see that one comin'.

But all that stuff
she was saying...

What was she saying?

I mean, do she like
the way she look,

or did she just
run out of money?

Didi: Dawn Forchette,
what on Earth are you doing?

Nothing. You
shouldn't be eating that!

You're not supposed
to be eating like that.

I'm not. Not really.

It's just a little
slip is all, Didi.

I'm very upset that
we're closing, okay?

And I'm not like
you. I'm not perfect.

Dawn, you gotta be strong.

You... you don't
wanna suffer a setback

or compromise yourself. No.

Thank you, Didi.

Thank you for caring

and making me care
better about myself.

♪ ♪

Hello. I'm Sister Lily Claire
from St. Edwen Hospital

in San Pedro for Dr. James.

I apologize for the mess.

This very strange limbo
can't go on much longer.

Uh, I should be
free in two weeks,

but a good captain
never abandons her ship.

Our board would be
very pleased to explore

a place for you and,
uh, your clinical trials.

The diocese has
been recently endowed

by the Huntington
family to improve

our, uh, professional profile.

It's the irony, you know?

In a... in a world that
devalues science, Mm-hmm?

The one guiding light, the
breath of sanity, Mm-hmm?

Is the Catholic Church.

Huh?

It... it's the tragedy of our
times, Lily Claire. Yeah.

Nobody cares, no. Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Geriatrics. Old people. Death.

There's no buzz.
There's... it's not sexy.

Yeah. Uh, we tried social media

to get the community to rally.

Mm-hmm. Hospital
press office... Oh!

Promised us they'd
get stories out,

promised us they'd
treat us the same

as all the other
departments, but no. Mm.

Truthfully, old women,
germs and C. diff,

I think it made some on the
board very uncomfortable.

Yeah. We did get a
couple good tweets out of it.

Yeah. Uh, listen.

We're already
feeling the overflow

from your slowdown,
so we... uh, we definitely

need to increase
our nursing staff,

so why don't you bring
a couple of your nurses?

Uh-huh. No. I th... I think that

my nurses are very
dedicated to Mt. Palms,

so I feel certain that
they're gonna wanna

stay on with...
With... with whatever,

uh, surviving departments,
uh, unfortunately. Aww.

Oh, too bad. Yeah.

Marguerite: Hey, Didi.

Do you have a... An
extra union T-shirt?

You bet I do.

I'd like to join you
on your picket line.

I don't have a scab to cover me,

but I could join you
on my lunch hour.

I'm proud of you, Marguerite.

Even though you haven't
always been very nice to me.

Well, "The time has
come," the walrus said.

Came in to clear out my stuff.

I'm sorry, Ron, that things
didn't work out between us,

and glad that things
didn't work out between us.

Um... I wish you well
with everything, and...

I will think of you
with some sadness

and some fondness.

Thank you, Jenna.

Another time, another
place. Mm-hmm.

Ron Rudd, we hardly knew ye.

Mrs. Belfontaine: ♪ I
learned the truth at 17 ♪

♪ That love was meant
for beauty queens ♪

♪ High school girls with clear
skinned smiles ♪ Didi, really.

You've gotta do
something about her.

She is... she's a downer.

Just put her in 109
and close the door.

Stick a canary in there.

It seems there might
be a small miracle afoot.

We may all go to St.
Edwen Memorial together.

They were all
interested after all!

♪ And those of us with
ravaged faces lacking in the... ♪

Mrs. Belfontaine and Sister
Lily Claire: ♪ Social graces ♪

♪ Desperately remained at home ♪

♪ Inventing lovers
on the phone ♪

♪ That call and say,
"Come dance with me" ♪

♪ And murmur vague obscenities ♪

Dawn.

Well, what are we talking about?

Are we talking about Marguerite?

No. Should we be?

I don't know. I just
wonder, I mean, do you...

Do you think she
still has her penis?

Pats...

I... I don't really know,

and it's really none of our business.
Well, don't you wanna know?

And no wonder she was
so het up about HIPPA

and medical privacy.

Nurse, could I have a word
with you please? In private?

I understand you have
been talking to patients,

inquiring about their
"sexual well-being."

Oh, that, sir, is part of
our Community Service

and Abuse of Women
Activism Program.

And what does that
have to do with me?

Certain information
about your sexual history

has come to my attention.
You don't seriously think

that I have had sex
with these women?

I assume nothing.

Only that you are
a sexual compulsive

with apparently very little
control over your libido.

I am a sex addict,
not a sex offender.

Now see, I know
nothing about that,

and... and I know nothing
of the risk you present.

The number of women
you've slept with,

I've only heard
rumor and hearsay.

I don't know if it's
hundreds or thousands.

Thousands. Exactly.

Now, I certainly don't know if
there were any men involved.

Yes.

Yeah. See?

And I don't know
if it's a lot of them.

I mean, how many?

Hm?

Men.

Enough.

Well, see I don't know what
to do with that information,

but certainly, you
can see it's enough

to arouse...

a prima facie concern.

If you reference me...

in writing or in conversation...

I will make you very sorry,

and I will see that you
are properly punished.

All chanting: No lo cierren!

No lo cierren! No lo cierren!

No lo cierren!

Keep the ward open!

No special interests!

Protester: Keep the ward
open! Man: Who the hell are you?

Your blood type is compatible,

your HLA tissue
typing pretty good...

But it could be better.

Never let the perfect
get in the way of the good.

I'm just wondering,
should we pause

for me to get my
own nephrologist?

Why?

Well, uh, 'cause
he's your nephrologist

and you have a strong,
personal connection with him,

and I wouldn't
want to upset that

or compromise that in any way.

Now that you're a match,
we line you up with Trish,

our independent
living donor advocate,

to promote your
interests, explain consent,

explore your
rationale for donation,

ensure that you are free
of any untoward pressures

or inducement,
uh, discuss surgical

and follow-up procedures.

So, not to worry, full steam
ahead. Mm-hmm. Okay.

Well, this was wonderful.

A match made in heaven.

I think we should all say,

once again, how smart
it was of you, Dawn.

I mean, it was almost
like you had a sixth sense.

Well, you don't need
to talk about that.

Dr. Gladner: To get
so far out in front of this

before any actual imminent need,

you went looking for a donor

before you even knew
you needed a transplant.

Jenna: How so? Well,
without her determination,

to find a new kidney
before she needed one,

would the same opportunity
have presented itself

for you to have
made your sacrifice?

Jenna: Let me get it straight.

Her numbers were quite stable.

So, she was fine? Yes.

Until this rather dramatic,
anomalous spike.

Uh-huh. And tell me,
Happy, how do you think that

this might have come to pass?

Uh, sometimes transplant
patients get a bit ahead of their skis.

Mm-hmm. It's called
"transplant enthusiasm."

Uh, they, uh, you know,
take advantage of the fact,

they let off on their regimens

when they know a kidney is nigh.

Eat more sweets than we should.

But I'd be hard-pressed
to imagine anyone capable

of eating this much. Wow.

Oh, Dawn. What a
tangled web we weave.

You were never even
gonna give it in the first place.

I was committed to giving
you a kidney, saving your life.

You trying to make
this about me?

Yeah. You promised me.

You bragged to everyone
about your generosity.

You owe it. Is this the little girl
who cried wolf trying to speak?

Oh, I bet my Donor
Rights Advocate would

have field day with you.

I deserve to live. I don't
wanna give it anymore.

I don't like being used.

You know, there are huge emotional
issues attached to live donation.

They say to not even take an organ
from anyone you have issues with.

Mm-hmm. So, if you
are really not giving it,

and this may be the last
time we see each other,

then I'm gonna tell
you what I really think.

You are probably the most

selfish woman I have ever met.

Oh, nice try, but
it's not about me,

and you need a psychiatrist.

It is about you! You're like a
monkey throwing your feces at me.

Yeah, you know, I would
throw my feces at you

for the horrible things that you
say about me and my motives.

Okay, fine. Let's
let Didi decide

who this is about.

Fine.

They're anti-union thugs
paid for by the hospital.

Didi! Didi!

She's been making it all up.

Who are you talking about?

Who do you think
I'm talking about?

If somebody says, "She's
been making it all up,"

who out of everybody
in the whole world

naturally comes to
mind? Oh, there she is!

She never needed
a transplant at all.

Only at first.

Okay, I got serious
shit going on out here.

Dawn: Okay, any kidney patient

cannot last long on
the numbers I have.

Which is your doing.

She's on some kind of
a kamikaze eating binge.

Yeah, yeah. I saw
her gorging last week.

She called me a pussy
and told me to shut up.

You know what? I
think you are hardly

one to be sharing other's
secrets, Marguerite.

You had me out there
advocating on your behalf

under false pretenses?

But you know what?
What we're all missing here

is that I need a kidney now!

I could be dead in four months.

Which you could reverse
if you had any self-respect!

But I don't. But you
can thrive on dialysis.

I hate dialysis. I hate it.

I want a transplant.

Millions of people
are on dialysis!

Yeah, I know five-
and six-year-old kids

who are on, like,
their third kidney

just 'cause they're
cute, and it's not fair!

Oh!

Hey, you're using
ruthless tactics.

No, you're using ruthless
tactics! Hey! You stop

taking photographs or
you're gonna be carried out!

Oh, really? Come on!

Hold on! Oh, no, no! Stop.

Now, I'm talking to you.

You let these nurses
have their little picket.

It's their right. Oh, shut up!

Oh! Oh, shit!

Oh! Didi: Marguerite!

Let me see.

Oh, oh.

Oh...

Pretty as a picture.

I can't take much more of this.

I am so desperately
ready for this to be over.

This is just torture.

This is like death
by a thousand blows.

♪ My teachers all laugh ♪

♪ Their smirking stares... ♪

I swear to God, somebody
better get her to shut up.

Didi: Get out of my way.
Guard: Nurse, you can't...

I said, "Move it"! Nurse!

Nurse! Wait. Stop. What...
what... what are you doing?

It's criminal to have unused
beds when there's a need.

This is Mr. Webber. We're gonna
take care of him. They were sending him

all the way to Alhambra
for rehab... Stop!

You can't just be abducting
patients off the street!

And you brought the
homeless woman too!

Didi: That's right.
She needs a bath.

Yeah, well this is just
turning into anarchy.

Ma'am, we're gonna be with
you in just a second, okay?

♪ They say I can't see you
anymore, baby ♪ Give her a shot

♪ Can't see you anymore ♪
of something and knock her out!

What are you doing?

I'm documenting your injury
for our case against the hospital.

I'm adding this to the lawsuit.

Disrupting lawful union activity

in addition to violating Open
Meeting Laws... Oh, my God.

Oh, Didi. These
are technicalities.

That's all that they are.

This is like the siege
of Leningrad, here,

trying to starve us out,
we're reduced to eating

boiled magazines and book paste.

You're holding us all hostage.

Nobody is running me out of here

like an old barn
rat. Didi, let us go.

Let us get on with our lives

and find new jobs.
Now what are you doing?

I'm getting rid of Christmas,

so we can get ready
for Valentine's Day.

Miriam, you can go now.

There is no Valentine's
Day! Don't you get it?

We're dead. You're just
prolonging the agony.

You're prolonging the suffering.

It's time to let go.

Pull the plug. No!

♪ I can't see you ♪
Oh, my God.

♪ Anymore, baby ♪
How'd she get over there?

♪ Can't see you anymore ♪ When I
pull the plug, I want it to be on my terms.

And for... for once,
I wanna have a say.

I wanna say, "You
didn't ask me what I think.

"You... you didn't
ask me how I feel."

Dr. James, don't you care?

Care?

When I drive home at night,
I drive in the far right lane

in case I need to pull
over to the shoulder quickly,

just in case the panic attack
becomes a heart attack.

Uh, there are some days
I feel like I'm suffering

cognitive deficits.

The rest of the time,
I know that I am.

I don't know what's
gonna happen next.

We put up the good fight, Didi,

but it's over.

♪ I can't see you
anymore ♪ I just can't stand

that they're doing this to us.

♪ I don't want to see you ♪
That we don't have a say.

♪ Anymore, baby ♪
It's never on our terms.

Okay. Oh, look at this
beautiful scar tissue.

Healthy grafts.

You've healed.

Hey.

Look.

Um... thank you.

I'm comforting Didi over her
sense of disempowerment.

No, Dawn. No, it's not that...

It's not that kind
of a hug. I'm sad.

Okay.

Pats. Oh, God.

Ugh.

Mm.

Okay, that's enough.

Okay.

There's no justice.

There is no justice.

War criminals die
peacefully in their beds.

The innocent die of infection.

This is the real world.

I'm gonna make us some tea.

Paula: What is the
matter with you people?

You just cannot slip quietly off

into the blessed good night.

What are you talking about?

You cannot go
around talking about

whether another employee
does or does not have a penis.

I mean, does that really
seem like something that is

remotely acceptable
in any workplace?

Doesn't anyone see
the multiple reasons

why that might be offensive?

Marguerite, I'm really sorry.

I... I didn't report you.

I did.

You got the nerve to go

speculatin' about
Marguerite's little penis.

Anybody want any
Half-and-Half with their tea?

Paula: What just happened?

Oh! The microwave
blew up! Is there a fire?

I need a fire extinguisher...

Dawn: Shit!

Terrorists!

The oxygen tanks...

Dawn, stay back! Dawn!

They're all gonna blow! Dawn!

Move. No.

Get the door! Hit the door!

Shit!

Call 9-1-1. I am.

Jenna: Remember
your drill skills, people.

Nurse, evacuate all patients

to triage in North
Gate entrance.

Towels for underneath the door.

It's Code Red, Billy Barnes.

Aah!

Shit.

Patsy: The doors
are fucking toast!

Everyone out the back!

Fuck! Keep moving.

Is there a fire? You
know what, ma'am?

I don't know, but
you hop right up here

and we are gonna take you for a
little ride down the corridor, okay?

Here we go.

Come on. Come on. Come on.

Boy, I bet this brings back
memories, huh, Rosey?

It's okay. We're gonna
get you out of here.

Fire department's on its way.

What's going on?
Anyone need help?

Over here. Antoine: Oh.

Three more patients to evacuate

All right. Okay. To
triage, North Gate center.

Right here. Right here. You
got it? Gotcha. Got? Got?

Yeah. Okay. Good.
Yeah. I got her. I got her.

All right. There you go.

This thing is for shit.

We are still evacuating
until further notice!

Rooms will be evacuated
in sequential order!

Where the fuck is
the fire department?

Oh, no! Oh!

Oh, my God! I'm trapped! Aah!

Pats!

No! Go on! I can't!
Save yourself! No!

Look at me. I will not
leave you here to die.

Patsy, I know we
can't be together.

I've gotta make Dennis
work and you've gotta be gay,

but it was destiny that
brought us to each other.

We were meant for each other,

just not in the way
that we thought.

Now, I will not abandon you!

Help! Somebody help me!

Jenna: Dawn? Dawn:
He's having a panic attack.

Oh here. Give me that.
Nurse, get on the blanket.

Get on the blanket.
Is everyone okay?

Jenna: We're fine, Ron.
The nurse is high-strung.

Ow!

Show me. Let me see.

No, I'm okay. I'm okay.
What are you doing?

What? No! I will not be wheeled
from my own ward. Sit down!

Don't, Ron. I mean it. Stop!

Get off of me! Stop it!

Oh, God.

Okay. Let's go. Let's go
then. Patsy: I don't wanna die!

Jenna: Pull with
your back, Dawn.

Jenna: That's
right. Keep moving.

Atta girl. Atta girl.

Fireman: Excuse
me... Go, go, go. Okay.

Did you get the main
valve to work? What?

Forget it. We'll find it.

Jenna: Come on, girls!

That's it! Right... right through
the door. All right. Come on.

You've got to... you've
got to... Good idea, Dawn.

Push. Push, push, push.

Use your legs, Dawn. Come on.

Through the door. Atta girl.

I'm stuck. My shirt's stuck.

Oh, God.

Patsy: No, Dawn! No!
Listen up! You can't be here!

I'm getting you a bed in
cardiology. You cannot be in here!

Pass 'em, Ron. Go around.

Now we go up to triage.

Do we know how the fire started?

Those morons in Extended Care.

We'll do our best to contain it.

Fireman: I'm on my way. Should've
turned that place into a food court

when we had the chance.

Comin' through! Oh...

Down, down, down, down, down.

Down.

Can you move your foot?

Um...

I think it's all right.

Dawn: Okay, okay. We're here!

Pats, can you get up?

Yeah! I'm fine, okay?

Don't coddle me.

Oh, shit.

I'm totally fine.
Dennis: Honey! Darling!

Oh, I found you. You're safe.

Yeah. I'm okay.

I was scared I lost you. Okay.

Fireman: More over here!
Sprinklers didn't work, Paul.

No. No, that's not possible.

I'm... I'm... You let
maintenance fall so low,

as if from the
moment you set me up

running that place,
you've been angling to see

me go up in
flames, so here it is.

You got what you wanted.
Billy Barnes is burning!

Dr. James, I'm thinking
of going to medical school.

Could I get your recommendation?

Now is not the
time, Nurse Jodie.

What's the matter
with you people?

We have patients
inside to evacuate!

Come on!

Nurse: Let's go! Man: All
right, guys. Come on, come on!

Fire jumpin' up to two!

I just want to make sure this
won't affect the deal in any way.

I want you to know

that I know you was violating
them Open Meeting Laws.

Nurse: I got you, I got you.

Jenna: Come on! We
work as a team, people.

Didi: Six patients left to go.

Come on, little mama.

Antoine? Antoine: Yep?

Get her. Oh. Okay.

Come right out here.

These are the last two. Jenna:
That's the end of the patients.

It's spreading!
Jumped to the hospital.

You burnt the fucker
to the ground, Dawn.

Jenna: Hey, hey, hey.
No finger pointing now.

Well, it's true. She did.
She burned it up good.

Well, I'm glad, 'cause
the only good thing

about that unloved place was us.

And the patients.

And caring for them.

It falls upon me
to say a few words.

We strove to do good,

to show compassion by action.

Some of us like touching.
Others of us do not.

A patient said to me,

"Thank you for making
my death worth dying for,"

and I say to you,
"Thank you for making

"my work worth working for."

Man: Watch out! Watch out!

♪ When the guests are done ♪

♪ I'll tidy up the room ♪

♪ I'll turn the covers down ♪

♪ And gazing at the moon ♪

♪ I'll pray to go quite mad ♪

Oh, shit! ♪ And
live in long ago ♪

Oh...

♪ Pass the tea and sympathy ♪
Gad!

Didi: Mrs. Belfontaine. ♪ For
the good old days are dead ♪

Dawn: You are
safe with us, ma'am.

♪ Let's drink a toast to
those who best survived ♪

♪ The life they've led ♪

Don't blow it.

I've taken care of
my kidneys all my life.

I mean it.

Hi.

I love him.

I really love them too.

Say what you will, but
I sure do love her a lot.

Dawn, sweetie. This
is what I want to say.

There is no justice,

but there is mercy.

Because that's what we
can give to each other.