St. Elsewhere (1982–1988): Season 1, Episode 10 - Hearts - full transcript

PREVIOUSLY ON ST. ELSEWHERE.

I'VE BEEN WISHING THAT MYRA
WOULDN'T ANSWER THE PHONE.

I'VE BEEN WISHING SHE
WASN'T THERE. I'VE BEEN

WISHING THIS WHOLE
THING WAS JUST A DREAM.

WHY WERE YOU QUACKING
AROUND MRS. PECHAR'S ROOM?

THIS TIME, I'M LEAVING.

FOR ONCE, YOU STAY
AND YOU DEAL WITH IT.

TONIGHT ON ST. ELSEWHERE.

A PATIENT OF MINE WAS TREATED
LAST NIGHT BY DR. BULLFINCH.

SO? SO NOBODY'S EVER
HEARD OF DR. BULLFINCH.

I'M DR. PAXTON. AH, YOU'RE
THE BRADSHAW FELLOW.



WELL, IT SEEMS SILLY TO CALL
ANYONE AS PRETTY AS YOU A "FELLOW."

AND GOOD MORNING TO YOU,
MRS. PETSCHEK. DR. BULLFINCH.

"PLEASE EXCUSE VICTOR EHRLICH
FROM SURGERY TODAY. HE HAS A COLD."

WHAT IS THIS? A NOTE
FROM YOUR DOCTOR.

YOU'RE ABOUT TO HAVE A BABY.

- WHEN?
- YOU'RE IN LABOR.

MY WIFE AND I HAVE SPLIT UP.

I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT.

YOU BETTER SCRUB THIS AFTERNOON,
OR I'LL MAKE SURE YOU'RE BACK DOWN...

IN THE ANIMAL
RESEARCH LAB LIKE THAT.

I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT
THIS IS FOR YOU.

- BUT I THINK YOU SHOULD
SEE YOUR BABY.
- I DON'T WANNA SEE HIM.

TO QUALIFY ANGIOGRAPHICALLY,
OUR PATIENTS HAVE TO HAVE...

70% OR GREATER REDUCTION
IN ARTERIAL DIAMETER.



WHAT ARE YOU DOIN' HERE?

COVERING FOR CERONE. HIS
BEST FRIEND LEFT HIS WIFE.

LAME EXCUSE. NOT WHEN YOU
CONSIDER HE LEFT CERONE'S WIFE.

I DON'T GET IT.

CERONE'S WIFE DUMPS HIM
TO BE WITH HIS BEST FRIEND.

NOW THE FRIEND DUMPS
HER. IT'S PRETTY WEIRD.

CERONE SAYS SHE'S A BASKET CASE,

AND THEY BOTH THINK
THIS GUY'S SCHIZOPHRENIC.

WELL, DON'T EVER DATE
ANYONE CRAZIER THAN YOURSELF.

- YOU CAN NEVER WIN.
- TELL ME ABOUT IT.

COME ON. CAN'T
ANYONE ANSWER THAT?

DR. EHRLICH.

COULD YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION?

DR. SAMUELS, YOU SEEM TO BE
SENIOR STAFF MEMBER IN ATTENDANCE.

- WOULD YOU CARE TO RESPOND?
- PERICARDIAL TAMPONADE.

IT'S RELATIVELY UNCOMMON,
BUT POTENTIALLY FATAL.

- CRITERIA.
- SEVEN DAYS AFTER SURGERY,

LOOK FOR PROMINENT JUGULAR
VEINS, INCREASED CENTRAL PRESSURE,

DECREASED CARDIAC INDEX OR A DOUBLE
HEART SHADOW ON THE CHEST X-RAY.

THANK YOU. WHO'S
ON MY SERVICE TODAY?

CERONE IS SCHEDULED, BUT HE'S
OUT OF TOWN. WHO'S COVERING?

OH, NO. I AM.

WELL, FOR THE PATIENT'S
SAKE, DR. EHRLICH,

I HOPE YOU'RE MORE
ATTENTIVE THAN YOU ARE NOW.

I'LL SEE YOU THIS AFTERNOON
IN THE O.R. OKAY. THAT'S IT.

OH, MAN. WHO DID THIS? DID WHAT?

WROTE A MEDICATION ORDER ON ONE
OF MY PATIENT'S CHARTS IN CRAYON.

RECOGNIZE THE SIGNATURE?

LOOKS LIKE BULL-SOMETHING TO ME.

MMM. BULLFINCH.

NEVER HEARD OF
HIM. NEITHER HAVE I.

GREAT. ANY SUGGESTIONS? NO.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS?

ROLODEX. GOOD LUCK.

IT'S OPEN.

DR. AUSCHLANDER? YES?

HELLO. I JUST WANTED TO
INTRODUCE MYSELF. I'M DR. PAXTON.

AH. YOU'RE THE BRADSHAW
FELLOW. THAT'S RIGHT.

WELL, IT SEEMS SILLY TO CALL
ANYONE AS PRETTY AS YOU A "FELLOW."

PLEASE SIT DOWN. THANK YOU.

A BELATED CONGRATULATIONS. I'M SORRY
I WASN'T HERE TO GREET YOU MYSELF,

BUT I WAS OUT OF TOWN
VISITING MY GRANDCHILDREN.

DON'T EVEN THINK TWICE ABOUT IT.

NOW, LET'S SEE, AS I RECALL,

YOU DID YOUR RESIDENCY
AT THE CLEVELAND CLINIC.

THAT'S RIGHT. FINE HOSPITAL. I
UNDERSTAND THE CITY'S COMING BACK TOO.

WELL, THEIR PHRASE IS, "NEW
YORK MAY BE THE BIG APPLE,

BUT CLEVELAND'S A PLUM."

I'M REALLY THRILLED ABOUT HAVING THIS
CHANCE TO WORK WITH YOU, DR. AUSCHLANDER.

I HOPE YOU WON'T
BE DISAPPOINTED.

YOU HAVE A
REMARKABLE REPUTATION.

FLATTERY WILL GET YOU
EVERYWHERE, DOCTOR.

BUT I THINK THE WORD'S
OUT. BETTER WORK WITH

HIM NOW... HE WON'T BE
AROUND MUCH LONGER.

MY HEALTH HAS BECOME GRIST
FOR THE MEDICAL GOSSIP MILL.

YOU DO KNOW I HAVE CANCER?

YES. DR. WYLER TOLD ME RIGHT
BEFORE I LEFT AFRICA. I'M SORRY.

DON'T BE. THERE'S NOT
TIME ENOUGH TO BE SORRY.

IS HE STILL WORKING
20 HOURS A DAY?

EVERY DAY. YOU
CANNOT SLOW HIM DOWN.

YOU KNOW, THERE WERE
DOCTORS WITH MORE EXPERIENCE...

IN THE FIELD OF
ENDOCRINOLOGY THAN YOU.

BUT YOU HAD THE WIDEST
RANGE OF EXPERIENCE,

AND WYLER SAID YOU WORKED
EVEN HARDER THAN HE DID.

WELL, THE PEACE CORPS
CAN DO THAT TO YOU.

COME IN.

- YOUR PATIENTS ARE HERE.
- HAVE THEM COME IN.

I'M SHOWING A CHAPLIN FILM THIS MORNING
FOR SOME OF MY TERMINAL PATIENTS.

LAUGHTER SEEMS TO
BE THE BEST MEDICINE.

IT'S TOO EARLY TO QUANTIFY THAT, BUT
THAT'S WHERE YOU'LL EVENTUALLY COME IN.

I LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU NEED,
LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU. I WILL.

WONDERFUL TO MEET
YOU. BYE-BYE. BYE-BYE.

I DON'T KNOW. MAYBE
MY BIORHYTHMS ARE OFF.

WHATEVER IT IS, CRAIG'S
NOT GONNA BUY IT.

THERE'S ONE THING THAT MIGHT GET YOU OUT
OF SURGERY THIS AFTERNOON. TURN AROUND.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING? YOU'LL SEE.

HERE YOU GO.

"PLEASE EXCUSE VICTOR EHRLICH
FROM SURGERY TODAY. HE HAS A COLD."

WHAT IS THIS? A NOTE
FROM YOUR DOCTOR.

I USED TO WRITE 'EM IN HIGH SCHOOL.
GOT ME OUT OF TWO YEARS OF PHYS ED.

I BELIEVE IT. I'VE
SEEN YOUR BODY.

I DON'T KNOW. MAYBE I'LL
JUST CRASH IN ON CALL.

DON'T BOTHER. THERE'S TWO
"GOMERS" SLEEPING IN THERE.

GOMERS IN ON CALL.
IS NOTHING SACRED?

UH, JACK... NO, I CAN'T COVER
FOR YOU. I'M ALREADY ON CALL.

WAIT, LISTEN. A PATIENT OF MINE WAS
TREATED LAST NIGHT BY DR. BULLFINCH.

SO? SO NOBODY'S EVER
HEARD OF DR. BULLFINCH.

YOU SURE YOU GOT THE RIGHT NAME?

OF COURSE I'M SURE. IT'S WRITTEN
RIGHT HERE IN GREEN AND ORANGE.

CHECK WITH DR. WESTPHALL.
I GOTTA START ROUNDS.

YOU KNOW, AUSCHLANDER'S
A MAN OF VISION. OH, REALLY?

HE'S BROUGHT IN AN
INCREDIBLE PIECE OF ANATOMY...

FIVE FOOT 5, BLONDE, A BALCONY
YOU COULD DO SHAKESPEARE FROM.

I SEE. AND THIS MAKES HIM A
GREAT HUMANITARIAN, RIGHT?

SURE. A LESSER MAN WOULD
KEEP HER FOR HIMSELF.

I ASKED HER TO COME DOWN
HERE TO CHECK ON A LADY...

WHO'S GOT WHAT I
THINK'S A BAD LIVER.

IF YOU BEHAVE YOURSELF, I'LL
INTRODUCE YOU TO HER. NO, THANKS.

COME ON. I OWE YOU.

WELL, OKAY. I MEAN, ONE MORE
WOMAN IN MY LIFE CAN'T HURT, RIGHT?

THERE SHE IS. HEY, NANCY. WAIT.

OH, MY GOD. TOLD YA.

I WANT TO INTRODUCE
YOU TO A FRIEND OF MINE.

NANCY PAXTON, THIS
IS BEN SAMUELS. BEN.

THIS IS NANCY PAXTON. NANCY!

ALL I GOT WAS A HANDSHAKE.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE
YOU. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS.

THE LAST TIME I SAW YOU, YOU WERE,
WHAT, A JUNIOR OR SENIOR AT NYU.

YOU WERE JUST BEGINNING
MEDICAL SCHOOL. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS.

NANCY'S SISTER, JANET, AND I WENT
TO SCHOOL TOGETHER. OH, GREAT.

HOW IS SHE? SHE'S
DROPPED OUT OF MEDICINE.

SHE LIVES ON A RANCH IN COLORADO
WITH HER HUSBAND AND TWO KIDS. REALLY?

YEAH. SO YOU BECAME
THE DOCTOR IN THE FAMILY.

RIGHT. I DON'T WANNA
BREAK UP THIS REUNION,

BUT WE HAVE A LADY
WITH A DISTENDED LIVER.

EXCUSE US. OH. UH...

WE SHOULD TALK.
YEAH, DEFINITELY.

OKAY. I'M AROUND.

DONALD, ONE OF THESE DAYS,
I'M GONNA COME TO WORK,

AND THIS HOSPITAL
ISN'T GONNA BE HERE.

SOMEONE'S GONNA HAVE DISMANTLED THIS
OLD PLACE AND SOLD IT OFF BRICK BY BRICK.

WITH THE CURRENT BUDGET DEFICIT,
IT'LL PROBABLY BE OUR CREDITORS.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THE PAPERWORK I'M
GONNA HAVE TO DO TO GET THOSE BEDS BACK.

AND GOOD MORNING
TO YOU, MRS. PETSCHEK.

DR. BULLFINCH. I'M
SO GLAD TO SEE YOU.

AND HOW DID WE SLEEP
LAST NIGHT? LIKE A LOG.

ANY MORE PAIN IN YOUR
ABDOMEN? NONE TO SPEAK OF.

I'M FEELING SO MUCH BETTER.

AH. THAT'S THE KIND OF NEWS
WE DOCTORS LIKE TO HEAR.

YOU'RE GONNA BE OUT
OF THIS PLACE IN NO TIME.

THANKS TO YOU, DOCTOR.
AND PLEASE, CALL ME EVELYN.

EVELYN, I'M GOING TO MAKE A SLIGHT
ADJUSTMENT IN YOUR MEDICATION ORDER.

30 C.C.'s OF MYLANTA, TWO
"Q" HOURS INSTEAD OF "Q" FOUR,

AND WE'LL ADD TO THAT 300
MILLIGRAMS OF CIMETIDINE...

"Q" EIGHT HOURS.

SHOULD I MENTION
THIS TO DR. CHANDLER?

NO, DON'T BOTHER.
I'LL TELL HIM MYSELF.

TWO DOCTORS. HOW
LUCKY CAN YOU GET?

EVELYN, CAN I ASK YOU
A PERSONAL QUESTION?

OF COURSE.

CAN YOU SAMBA? WHY, YES.

LEONARD AND I TOOK LESSONS
ON OUR CARIBBEAN CRUISE.

OH, EXCELLENT.

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN,
MON PETIT CHOU-FLEUR.

OH, DR. BULLFINCH.

OH, WHAT'S BLUE CROSS?

I GUESS IT'S SAFE TO ASSUME YOU
DON'T HAVE MEDICAL INSURANCE.

WHAT'S MEDICAL INSURANCE?

HOW OFTEN DO YOU DRINK?

I ONLY DRINK BEER. I NEVER
TOUCH THE HARD STUFF.

HOW MUCH DO YOU DRINK
A DAY? JUST A COUPLE.

THE OTHER DOCTOR
THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE MY LIVER.

MY WHOLE STOMACH IS CRAMPING
ON ME, AND MY BACK HURTS.

HAVE YOU EVER HAD
YOUR APPENDIX OUT? YES.

HOW ABOUT ANY CONSTIPATION? NO.

NAUSEA AT ALL? DO
YOU HAVE DIARRHEA? NO.

WE'LL GET TO YOU
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

HOW COME THOSE MACHINES NEVER WORK?
OR ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO BE SCULPTURES?

DON'T HASSLE THE LADY, TWERP.

THAT'S DR. TWERP TO YOU.

BRING HIM IN HERE.

WHERE'S X-RAY?

WE NEED TO FIND OUT IF THERE'S
ANY DAMAGE TO THE AXILLARY ARTERY...

AND THE BRACHIAL PLEXUS.

OKAY, ON THREE. ONE, TWO, THREE.

CAN YOU MAKE A FIST, SIR? GOOD.

LUCKY NOBODY TOOK THIS OUT.
IT SAVED A LOT OF BLOOD LOSS.

WE'LL WAIL TILL THINGS STABILIZE, CHECK
THE X-RAYS, AND THEN I'LL CLEAN YOU UP.

THIS HAPPEN ON THE
GOLF COURSE, SIR? YES.

IF I WERE YOU, I'D FIND A
FRIENDLIER FOURSOME.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO CUT YOUR
CLOTHES OFF, OKAY, SIR? OKAY.

JUST TAKE IT EASY. CAREFUL NOW.

IF MY BACK GOES OUT, I CAN
COLLECT DISABILITY, RIGHT?

LISTEN TO THIS ONE. ACCORDING
TO HIS PLAYING PARTNER,

MR. GROSSMAN HERE MISSED A THREE-FOOT
PUTT, GOT ANGRY AND THREW HIS CLUB.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT HIT HIS
GOLF CART, SNAPPED IN TWO,

AND HE GETS IMPALED
ON THE REBOUND.

I MAKE THE PUTT,

I BREAK 90 FOR THE FIRST TIME.

- IF IT WERE UP TO ME,
I'D HAVE GIVEN IT TO YOU.
- THANK YOU.

YOU'RE PREGNANT. WHAT?

YOU'RE PREGNANT, MISS
BARNETT. THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE.

DANIELS, TELL ME WHAT YOU HEAR.

A HEALTHY LITTLE
HEARTBEAT. CONGRATULATIONS.

BUT WHY DOES IT HURT SO BAD?
I MEAN, THE PAIN'S KILLING ME.

YOU'RE IN LABOR.

- YOU'RE ABOUT TO HAVE A BABY.
- WHEN?

AS FAR AS I CAN
TELL, ANY TIME NOW.

HOW YOU DOIN'?

I'VE HAD BETTER SATURDAYS.

MR. GROSSMAN, IF THIS HAD BEEN
EXCALIBUR AND I WERE ARTHUR,

I'D BE KING OF ENGLAND.

THEN AGAIN, MAYBE THIS
MAKES ME JACK NICKLAUS.

HERE. HAVE A SOUVENIR. THANKS.

IT ONLY WENT THROUGH THE BELLY
OF THE PECTORALIS MAJOR MUSCLE.

THERE'S NO ARTERY OR NERVE
DAMAGE. YOU'RE A LUCKY MAN.

IF I WAS A LUCKY MAN, I
WOULD'VE MADE THE PUTT.

SEE YOU AROUND.

WELL, WHAT IS IT... BOY OR GIRL?

CIRCUMCISION. OH.

MRS. PETSCHEK,
I'M DR. WESTPHALL.

I REMEMBER YOU. YOU DO?

SURE. YOU TOOK CARE OF MY HUSBAND
LEONARD'S KIDNEY CONDITION THREE YEARS AGO.

AH. SAVED HIS LIFE.

IS THERE SOMETHING
WRONG WITH MY KIDNEYS?

NO. JUST WANTED TO
SEE HOW YOU'RE FEELING.

MUCH BETTER, THANK YOU.

THE PAIN IN MY STOMACH
IS GONE. THANK GOD.

MISS PETSCHEK HAD
A BLEEDING ULCER.

STRESS. LEONARD
SAYS I WORRY TOO MUCH.

DR. BULLFINCH
AGREED. DR. BULLFINCH?

HE WAS HERE LAST NIGHT
AND AGAIN THIS MORNING.

A NICE, GOOD-LOOKING
MAN... LIKE YOU TWO.

YOU KNOW HIM. OH, SURE.

HE WAS SO KIND AND SO CONCERNED.

WE TALKED FOR THE LONGEST TIME.

THEN HE PRESCRIBED
SOME KIND OF MEDICINE,

TOLD ME TO TAKE TWO
TEASPOONS BEFORE MEALS.

IT WOULD CURE MY
RUFFLED FEATHERS, HE SAID.

CAN I SEE THE NEW MEDICINE?
IT WORKED. I SLEPT LIKE A BABY.

HERE IT IS.

OH, THIS HAS A CRACK IN THIS BOTTLE,
MRS. PETSCHEK. I'LL REPLACE IT FOR YOU.

BEFORE BEDTIME? BEFORE BEDTIME.

GIVE MY REGARDS TO YOUR HUSBAND.

LEONARD DIED LAST
SPRING. OH, I'M SORRY.

HE WAS WALKING OVER TO BRIGHAM'S
WITH MY BEAUTIFUL COLLIE, LADDIE,

TO PICK ME UP A
PINT OF MOCHA CHIP.

LEONARD LIKED VANILLA HIMSELF.

A SIMPLE MAN DESERVES
A SIMPLE ICE CREAM.

COMING BACK, THEY GOT
KILLED BY A HIT-AND-RUN CAR.

"HIT AND RUN." THAT'S
WHAT THE POLICE TOLD ME.

YOU NEVER KNOW.

NOW, AT LEAST MY
LADDIE IS ALWAYS WITH ME.

HE'S STUFFED?

UH, DID YOU HAVE YOUR HUSBAND
STUFFED TOO, MISS PETSCHEK?

OH, NO. I HAD LEONARD CREMATED.

HIS ASHES ARE ON THE
MANTEL IN THE LIVING ROOM.

WHAT DO YOU THINK I AM, SICK?

CHANDLER, HAVE THE LAB
BREAK THIS DOWN, STAT.

HOPE WE DON'T HAVE TO
PUMP HER STOMACH. YES, SIR.

KEEP AN EYE ON HER.
WHY ISN'T SHE ON PSYCH?

WE TRIED TO GET HER UP THERE, BUT
THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY ROOM.

GET SOMEONE DOWN HERE FROM
PSYCH LIAISON, HAVE A LOOK AT HER.

KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN FOR
OUR DR. BULLFINCH. YEAH.

HELLO, GINA.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING? TIRED.

YOUR BABY IS DOING JUST FINE.

BECAUSE HE WAS A BIT
PREMATURE, A PEDIATRICIAN

IS PERFORMING A
FEW ROUTINE TESTS.

BUT DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
IT'S STRICTLY PRECAUTIONARY.

I'LL BE ABLE TO BRING
HIM TO YOU SOON.

I DON'T WANT TO SEE HIM.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

I CAN'T BE A MOTHER.
I JUST CAN'T DO IT.

HAVE YOU CALLED YOUR HUSBAND?

I'M NOT MARRIED.

I TRIED CALLING
RICHIE TO TELL HIM.

BUT AFTER HE LOST HIS JOB, HE
SAID HE WAS MOVING TO HOUSTON.

RICHIE THINKS THERE'S A LOT
OF OPPORTUNITIES IN HOUSTON.

INFORMATION SAYS
HE'S NOT IN THE BOOK.

I CAN'T KEEP THIS BABY.

HAVE YOU REACHED YOUR FAMILY?

MY FATHER DOESN'T
ANSWER THE PHONE.

HE HAD A STROKE. HE'S ALONE?

NO. WELL, I TAKE CARE OF
HIM BEFORE AND AFTER WORK.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

I MAKE DOUGHNUTS... AT...
AT DANNY'S DOUGHNUT SHOP.

I SIT AND I TALK TO MY
FATHER UNTIL HE FALLS ASLEEP,

AND THEN I GO IN AND I OPEN THE
SHOP ABOUT 3:00 IN THE MORNING.

MR. A... HE'S MY BOSS... SAYS IT'S HARD
TO GET PEOPLE TO WORK THAT EARLY.

BUT I LIKE IT.

THERE'S THIS BIG GLASS
WINDOW IN THE KITCHEN.

I LIKE WATCHIN' THE SUN COME
UP AND PEOPLE GOIN' TO WORK.

SOMETIMES THEY STOP
AND THEY WATCH ME.

I WAVE AT THEM,
AND THEY WAVE BACK.

DO YOU LIKE DOUGHNUTS?
JELLY DOUGHNUTS.

CAN'T RESIST. ME NEITHER.

I HAVE TO CALL MR. A. AND TELL HIM
I WON'T BE IN TO WORK TOMORROW.

HE'S GONNA BE REAL MAD. I'LL CALL
HIM FOR YOU. I'M SURE HE'LL UNDERSTAND.

I CAN'T SKIP WORK
BECAUSE OF THIS.

THIS WHOLE THING
IS JUST SUCH A MESS.

IT ISN'T FAIR, DR. PAXTON...
TO MY FATHER OR TO ME.

IT ISN'T FAIR.

GINA, I KNOW HOW
DIFFICULT THIS IS FOR YOU,

BUT I THINK YOU
SHOULD SEE YOUR BABY.

I DON'T KNOW.

WE'LL WORK THROUGH
THIS TOGETHER.

EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE OKAY.

JUST TRY AND GET A
LITTLE REST, ALL RIGHT?

HIBERNATING THROUGH THE WINTER?

PROVISIONS FOR E.R. THE VENDING
MACHINES ARE ON THE FRITZ.

YOU PLAYING TONIGHT?
OH, NO, CAN'T. GOT A DATE.

THAT'S TOO BAD. THE POKER
GAME'S NOT THE SAME WITHOUT YOU.

SPARE ME. YOU
MUST BE A MAN SHORT.

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT? INTUITION.

REALLY COULD USE
YOUR WALLET. YEAH, I BET.

MYRA CALLED THE
HOUSE LAST NIGHT.

I DON'T WANNA HEAR ABOUT IT.

SHE SAID YOU HAVEN'T CALLED HOME
SINCE YOU LEFT. SHE'S WORRIED ABOUT YOU.

THEN TELL HER I'M OKAY.

YOU WANNA STAY AT OUR
PLACE TILL THIS BLOWS OVER?

YOUR WIFE WOULD REALLY
LOVE THAT, WOULDN'T SHE?

NINA AND I AREN'T
TAKING SIDES, PETER.

WE HAPPEN TO LIKE YOU BOTH.

WHAT DO YOU SAY? NO, THANKS.

I'VE GOT MY HOTEL ROOM
DOWN IN THE COMBAT ZONE.

IT'S NOT ELEGANT,
BUT IT'S AFFORDABLE.

YOU REALLY KNOW HOW TO PUNISH YOURSELF,
DON'T YOU? HEY. SAVE THE LECTURES, JACK.

HOW COULD YOU BE EIGHT MONTHS'
PREGNANT AND NOT KNOW IT?

YOU'D THINK THAT ONCE SHE STOPPED
MENSTRUATING, SHE'D KNOW SOMETHING WAS UP.

IF MY PERIOD'S MORE THAN A COUPLE
DAYS LATE, I START CHECKING MY CALENDAR.

WELL, NEVER UNDERESTIMATE
HOW UNINFORMED PEOPLE ARE.

I ONCE GAVE THIS LECTURE TO A
GROUP OF TEENAGERS IN CLEVELAND.

AND I SAID THAT THE BEST METHOD
OF BIRTH CONTROL WAS ABSTINENCE.

SO THIS GIRL RAISES HER HAND
AND ASKS IF IT COMES IN LIQUID FORM,

'CAUSE SHE HAS TROUBLE
SWALLOWING PILLS.

I GUESS BIRTH CONTROL ISN'T AT
THE TOP OF EVERYONE'S PRIORITY LIST.

WELL. I GUESS YOU RAN INTO A
LOT OF THAT IN THE PEACE CORPS.

THE THIRD WORLD IS NOT EXACTLY A WALKING
ENDORSEMENT FOR ZERO POPULATION GROWTH.

IT CAN BE REALLY DEPRESSING.

STILL, IT MUST HAVE BEEN
PRETTY EXCITING BEING IN AFRICA.

MM-HMM.

A VILLAGE CHIEFTAIN ONCE OFFERED ME THREE
WATER BUFFALO AND A YAK TO BECOME HIS WIFE.

WHAT HAPPENED? I HELD OUT FOR
ANOTHER YAK. HE DECIDED I WASN'T WORTH IT.

MEN.

WHAT YOU LOOKIN' AT?

I DEFINITELY GOT A
THING FOR OLDER WOMEN,

PARTICULARLY WOMEN IN WHITE.

FORGET IT. SHE'S NOT
INTERESTED IN YOU.

HEY, DON'T TAKE SHOTS JUST 'CAUSE I'M
INTO FEMALES AND YOU'RE INTO PIGEONS.

MMM.

HOW'S, UH, YOUR PAL,
RALPH, THE BIRDMAN DOIN'?

OH, HE'S OKAY. I LET HIM OUT EVERY
NOW AND THEN SO HE CAN FLAP HIS WINGS.

YOU LOOKIN' FOR
TROUBLE? HE'S HARMLESS.

UH-HUH.

SKIP BREAKFAST? I'M
CARBOHYDRATE PACKING.

IF RUNNERS CAN DO IT FOR STAMINA,
THEN DOCTORS CAN DO IT FOR SURGERY.

A LESSER MAN WOULD
GO PHARMACEUTICALS.

STUFF'S BAD NEWS. IT'D MAKE ME
TOO WIRED. I'D DROP MY SCALPEL.

WHAT'S THAT GRAY
STUFF? THAT'S CLAM SAUCE.

COULD'VE FOOLED ME.

HELLO, MR. ULLMAN. HOW
ARE WE FEELING TODAY?

LOUSY. WHO ARE YOU?

I'M DR. BULLFINCH.

LISTEN. I'M NOT GONNA SIGN
ANY MORE RELEASE FORMS.

I SIGNED ONE FOR THAT DR. CRAIG,

AND I SIGNED ONE FOR THAT
FOREIGNER THAT'S GONNA PUT ME UNDER.

AND NO MORE. THAT'S IT. I DON'T
WANT YOU TO SIGN ANYTHING.

THEN WHAT DO YOU WANT? I WANT
TO WISH YOU GOOD LUCK TODAY.

I HEARD DR. CRAIG'S DIAGNOSIS
OF YOUR CASE THIS MORNING.

BELIEVE ME, YOU'RE IN
GOOD HANDS. HE'S THE BEST.

- WHAT DID HE PAY YOU
TO SAY THAT?
- SEVEN DOLLARS.

YOU DON'T SOUND VERY
CONFIDENT IN HIS ABILITY.

CONFIDENT? LISTEN, JUST
BETWEEN YOU AND ME,

I DON'T THINK I'M GONNA
MAKE IT OFF THAT TABLE.

HOW COME? WELL, I'VE
ALWAYS BEEN UNLUCKY.

WHY SHOULD IT BE DIFFERENT NOW?

DO YOU HAVE A
FAMILY, MR. ULLMAN?

NO, NOT ANYMORE.

SEE, I'M WHAT THEY CALL
A DIEHARD RED SOX FAN.

THAT'S NOT AN EASY THING TO BE.

SO WHEN MY WIFE STARTED
ROOTING FOR THE YANKEES...

DURING DiMAGGIO'S HITTING
STREAK, I DUMPED HER.

AND IN 1958, MY SON FOLLOWED
THE DODGERS OUT TO CALIFORNIA.

I HAVEN'T TALKED TO HIM SINCE.

- I SEE.
- YOU, UH... YOU GOT A TEAM?

THE ORIOLES, CARDINALS
AND THE BLUE JAYS.

TAKE A WALK.

HEY, I'M FOR THE
UNDERDOG, JUST LIKE YOU.

REMEMBER THAT CERTAIN
FEELING IN THE AIR...

ON OPENING DAY AT FENWAY?

IT STARTS AS A WHISPER
IN THE BLEACHERS...

AND ENDS UP REVERBERATING
ALL OVER THE PARK.

"THIS COULD BE THE YEAR."

"THIS COULD BE THE YEAR."

EVERYONE SENSES IT,
AND EVERYONE BELIEVES IT.

THIS COULD BE THE YEAR
FOR YOU TOO, MR. ULLMAN.

FILL YOUR LUNGS WITH IT.
THERE'S SO MUCH TO LIVE FOR.

YEAH? LIKE WHAT?

IMAGINE THIS.

IT'S LATE IN THE AFTERNOON ON ONE
OF THOSE CRISP AUTUMN WEEKENDS.

THE AIR IS FILLED
WITH THE AROMA...

OF BURNING LEAVES
AND PUMPKIN PIE.

THE RED SOX ARE IN
THE WORLD SERIES.

YOU LOOK UP AT THE SKY
AND CATCH THE SIGHT...

OF A MIGRATING FLOCK
SOARING IN PERFECT FORMATION.

IT GETS SMALLER AND SMALLER AND
FINALLY DISAPPEARS INTO THE SETTING SUN.

CAN YOU SEE IT, MR. ULLMAN?

A PICTURE OF
AERODYNAMIC PRECISION...

EACH ONE A MEMBER OF THE TEAM,

EACH HELPING THE OTHER
ALONG ON THE JOURNEY.

YOU KNOW, I... I KNOW
WHY THEY FLY THAT WAY.

IT... IT CUTS DOWN THE WIND
RESISTANCE FOR THE GUY IN THE BACK.

WELL, THERE ARE
A LOT OF THEORIES.

PERSONALLY, I THINK THE BIRD IN
THE FRONT IS THE ONE WITH THE MAP.

THE ONE WITH THE MAP. YEAH.

THINK OF THE SURGICAL
TEAM AS THE MIGRATING FLOCK.

THINK OF DR. CRAIG AS BIG BIRD.

TAKE IT EASY, MR. ULLMAN.

DR. CRAIG. I'VE
GOTTA TALK TO YOU.

I'M LATE, EHRLICH. DR. CRAIG.

I CAN'T DO IT. DO WHAT?

THE SURGERY, SIR. I DON'T
THINK I CAN ASSIST TODAY.

WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE I'VE
BEEN ON CALL 36 HOURS RUNNING...

AND I DON'T THINK I CAN LAST
THROUGH FIVE HOURS OF SURGERY.

BESIDES, I DON'T FEEL
WELL. YOU DON'T FEEL WELL.

NO. I'M HEADACHY, AND I
THINK I'VE GOT A FEVER.

THIS IS A HOSPITAL,
EHRLICH, NOT KINDERGARTEN.

LISTEN, EHRLICH. SURGEONS
ARE LIKE THE MARINES.

A FEW GOOD MEN, AND YOU
HAVE TO BE SPECIAL TO CUT IT.

SNIVELING AND
WHINING DOESN'T CUT IT.

WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE,
I'D GIVE MY RIGHT ARM...

TO ASSIST IN... IN
BYPASS SURGERY.

IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE YOUR
SURGICAL RESIDENCY, EHRLICH,

YOU'D BETTER SCRUB
THIS AFTERNOON.

OR I'LL MAKE SURE YOU'RE BACK DOWN
IN THE ANIMAL RESEARCH LAB LIKE THAT.

UNDERSTOOD? YES, SIR.

UNLESS YOU ENJOY WATCHING
FLEA-RIDDEN MONGRELS...

SMOKE MENTHOL FILTERS
THROUGH THEIR THROAT.

NO, SIR. I DIDN'T THINK SO.

I HAD DINNER ON THE WHARF,
WENT BACK TO MY HOTEL.

THE NEXT THING I KNEW,
I COULDN'T BREATHE.

I THOUGHT I WAS A GONER.

I REALLY THOUGHT MY TIME WAS UP.

THE SWELLING IN YOUR
THROAT'S GONE DOWN NOW.

AND YOU SAY IT WASN'T
FOOD POISONING.

'CAUSE IF IT WAS, I'D SUE THE
HELL OUT OF THAT RESTAURANT.

BUT YOU SAID IT WASN'T.

DR. WHITE? IS THAT CORRECT?

UH, NO, IT WAS AN
ALLERGIC REACTION.

YOU MEAN NO MORE CRABMEAT
COCKTAIL OR BROILED LOBSTER?

WHAT'S NEXT, CHOCOLATE CAKE?

WELL, GUESS I SHOULD
LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE.

WITH ALL THE NUCLEAR
WASTE IN THE OCEAN,

IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE ALL
THE FISH ARE STROBING ANYWAY.

WHEN CAN I LEAVE THE HOSPITAL?

- DR. WHITE?
- WOULD YOU EXCUSE ME
FOR A MINUTE PLEASE?

GOD.

- YOU OKAY IN THERE?
- YEAH, SURE, I GUESS.

EHRLICH, IS THAT YOU?

YEAH. HOW DID YOU
KNOW IT WAS ME?

I RECOGNIZED YOUR RETCH.

IT'S EITHER STRESS
OR THE CLAM SAUCE.

I DON'T KNOW.

MAN, YOU LOOK TERRIBLE.

YOU'RE SO PALE,
YOU'RE TRANSPARENT.

YOU WANT ME TO GET YOU OUT
OF SURGERY THIS AFTERNOON?

I GOTTA MAKE THE
PROGRAM, OR CRAIG'LL KILL ME.

I'LL TAKE CARE OF
CRAIG. OH, REALLY?

I HEARD ABOUT YOUR LAST FIGHT.

NO. I CAN HANDLE IT, I THINK.

BOY. WHAT A MESS.

WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

I MEAN, WHAT'S THE WORST
THING THAT COULD HAPPEN TODAY?

I DON'T KNOW. COULD YOU
BE A LITTLE MORE SPECIFIC?

OKAY.

I CAN, UH, DO SOMETHING
STUPID DURING THE OPERATION,

AND CRAIG WILL CRUCIFY
ME, AND THE PATIENT WILL DIE.

YEAH, THAT COULD HAPPEN.

IT'S THE FEAR OF FAILURE...
ONE OF THE TWO BIG FEARS.

THE OTHER ONE'S
THE FEAR OF SUCCESS.

SUCCESS? YEAH. IT'S
KIND OF A HEAD GAME.

YOU GET IN THE WAY OF YOUR
OWN SKILLS, SABOTAGE YOURSELF.

EVERYBODY'S AFRAID OF
SOMETHING. WHAT ABOUT YOU?

YOU DON'T SEE ME SHAVING
WITH A BLADE, DO YOU?

THAT'S FEAR OF FAILURE.

YOU GOTTA PSYCH YOURSELF. THEN
YOU CAN DEAL WITH THE PRESSURE.

LISTEN. YOU KNOW, WHEN I
WAS SWIMMING COMPETITIVELY,

YOU KNOW WHAT I USED TO DO?

I USED TO SHAVE DOWN
BEFORE EVERY RACE.

EVERY HAIR ON MY BODY.

IT DIDN'T MAKE ME ANY FASTER, BUT IT
MADE ME THINK THAT I WAS. YOU UNDERSTAND?

WAIT. YOU SHAVED OFF ALL YOUR BODY
HAIR, AND THERE'S NO MONEY INVOLVED?

EVERY BIT. BELIEVE
ME, IT WASN'T WORTH IT.

THE STUFF REALLY ITCHES
WHEN IT GROWS BACK.

LOOK, YOU'RE GONNA
BE FINE, ALL RIGHT?

I MEAN, YOU'RE VERY GOOD.

DON'T FIGHT IT.

YEAH.

YOU ALL RIGHT?

OH. DR. WESTPHALL.

YEAH.

YOU WANNA TALK? NO, NOT REALLY.

MY WIFE AND I HAVE
SPLIT UP, AND, UH...

I... I JUST CAN'T
SEEM TO GET, UH...

I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT.

YOU KNOW, PETER, I KNOW HOW
ENORMOUS THE STRAIN CAN BE...

BETWEEN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE AND
YOUR WORK HERE AT THE HOSPITAL.

WHY DON'T YOU TAKE THE REST OF
THE NIGHT OFF? NO, NO. I'M ALL RIGHT.

I'VE GOT A... A PATIENT THERE,
AND I BETTER GET BACK TO HER.

I'LL BE ALL RIGHT. REALLY.

SUPPOSE THE TUMOR IS CONFINED
TO THE RIGHT-UPPER QUADRANT.

WELL, THE LIKELIHOOD OF OMENTAL
METASTASES IS AT LEAST 25%.

YEAH. DOCTOR, YOUR MASK.

OH, THANK YOU, DOCTOR.

HELLO, GINA.

I THOUGHT YOU TWO MIGHT
LIKE TO GET ACQUAINTED.

NOW, BE SURE AND SUPPORT THE
BACK OF HIS HEAD WITH YOUR ARM.

LIKE THIS? THAT'S RIGHT.

OH, ISN'T HE CUTE?

LOOK AT THOSE LITTLE HANDS.
I KNOW. ISN'T IT AMAZING?

- YOU GOING TO BREAST-FEED?
- WHAT?

HAVE YOU DECIDED
ON A NAME FOR HIM YET?

YES.

REX. REX. THAT'S A GOOD CHOICE.

"REX" MEANS KING.

"REGINA" MEANS QUEEN.

WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL, MY
DADDY USED TO CALL ME "PRINCESS."

HE SAID THAT ONLY A PRINCESS
COULD GROW UP TO BE A QUEEN.

WHEN I GREW UP, HE SAID I WAS A
DAIRY QUEEN... QUEEN OF THE COWS.

I STILL HAVEN'T DECIDED WHAT
I'M GONNA TELL MY FATHER YET.

WE'LL WORK SOMETHING OUT.

I ALWAYS WANTED TO HAVE A BABY.

WELL, YOU HAVE ONE
NOW, AND HE IS BEAUTIFUL.

- WHAT DO I DO NOW?
- JUST ROCK HIM GENTLY
BACK AND FORTH.

- IT'S ALL RIGHT.
- HERE.

I'M REAL TIRED RIGHT NOW.
OKAY. YOU GET SOME SLEEP.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS ALL AGAIN
IN THE MORNING, ALL RIGHT, GINA?

GOOD-BYE, REX.

JACK, YOU IN THERE? WHAT'S THIS?

WE GOTTA TALK. OH.

IS THAT INVITE STILL OPEN?

THE THOUGHT OF GOIN' BACK TO THAT
EMPTY HOTEL ROOM ISN'T VERY APPEALING.

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT
GOING HOME? COME ON, MAN.

RIGHT, RIGHT. I'M SUPPOSED TO
STAY OUT OF THIS ONE. I FORGOT.

THIS IS THE BACKDOOR KEY.

IF IT STICKS, JUST
GIVE IT A SHOVE.

NINA'S WORKING LATE
AT THE PAPER TONIGHT,

SO YOU SHOULD HAVE
THE RUN OF THE PLACE.

THERE'S SOME
LEFTOVERS IN THE FRIDGE.

IF YOU WANT TO CRASH, THE
SHEETS ARE IN THE HALL CLOSET.

I'LL FIND 'EM. THANKS, JACK.
WHAT ARE FRIENDS FOR?

SEE YOU TOMORROW.

♪♪

DR. CRAIG? YES, EHRLICH.

DOES THE DIAGONAL BRANCH APPEAR
TO HAVE ADEQUATE COLLATERALIZATION?

OH, YES. ALL THE BLOOD VESSELS
SURROUNDING THE ARTERY ARE DISTENDED.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S RELEASE
THE AORTIC CLAMP.

UH. UH, DOCTOR.
WHAT IS IT, "PUNJAB"?

LOOKS LIKE A
SECOND-DEGREE HEART BLOCK.

HE HAS NO PRIMARY HISTORY,
AND HIS VENTRICULAR RATE IS 36.

AND HIS BLOOD
PRESSURE IS 100 OVER 60.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S GET
THE PATIENT ON A PACER.

EHRLICH, STEP
AROUND HERE PLEASE.

PACING WIRE, PLEASE.

EHRLICH, YOU'RE GONNA INSERT
THE TEMPORARY PACING WIRE.

DR. CRAIG, I DON'T THINK I...

EHRLICH, YOU HAVE SEEN PACING
WIRE PLACED, RIGHT? YES, I HAVE, BUT...

AT ST. ELIGIUS, YOU SEE ONE,
YOU DO ONE, YOU TEACH ONE.

NOW, ADVANCE THE WIRE UNTIL
YOU ENTER THE RIGHT VENTRICLE.

AND FOR PETE SAKES, DON'T
GET IT STUCK IN THE VALVE.

OTHERWISE, WE'LL HAVE
MULTIFOCAL P.V.C.'s ON OUR HANDS.

COME ON, EHRLICH. POP IT IN.

A TRAINED SEAL CAN
DO THIS, EHRLICH.

DR. CRAIG. TODAY, EHRLICH!

CAN SOMEBODY TAKE
THIS? I'M HAVING A BIT OF...

DR. MAINTHOW, STEP IN PLEASE.

DR. CRAIG. EHRLICH,
HOW YOU FEELIN'?

BETTER, THANKS. GOOD.

DR. CRAIG, I'M SORRY. I GUESS
I REALLY DROPPED THE BALL.

BALONEY. THE OPERATION
WAS A SUCCESS.

LISTEN. JUST NOW, WE ADDED
15 YEARS TO A MAN'S LIFE.

YOU HAVE NOTHING TO BE
SORRY FOR. BUT I FAINTED.

BELIEVE ME, EHRLICH. YOU'RE NOT THE
FIRST DOCTOR TO PASS OUT IN SURGERY.

I WAS ASSISTING
RAYMOND JOHNSON IN '57,

AND HE THREW AN EMBOLISM RIGHT
IN THE MIDDLE OF A BOWEL RESECTION.

DROPPED DEAD... RIGHT
ON TOP OF THE PATIENT.

FIRST TIME I EVER
HAD TO TELL A FAMILY...

THAT THE OPERATION WAS A
SUCCESS, BUT THE DOCTOR DIED.

SHOULD HAVE SEEN THEIR FACES.

YOU LOOK EXHAUSTED. YOU'D
BETTER GET SOME REST. I WILL. THANKS.

DO YOU HAVE A CAR? NO.
I USUALLY TAKE THE BUS.

GOOD. YOU SHOULDN'T
DRIVE IN YOUR CONDITION.

SHE'S IN THE INCUBATOR NOW,
AND SHE'S DOING JUST FINE.

HI, LUCY.

HI. IT'S QUIET, NICE.

YEAH. EVEN A CIRCUS
GETS AN INTERMISSION.

WHO ARE THESE FOR?
OH, MR. HENNESSEY IN 102.

OH, DEAR. HE LIKED
GETTING FLOWERS.

YEAH. I THOUGHT I WOULDN'T
LET THEM GO TO WASTE.

RIGHT. I TELL YOU WHAT. SEND
THEM UP TO MISS BAILEY IN 129.

SHE HASN'T HAD A VISITOR
SINCE LAST THURSDAY.

THERE'S SOMETHING
WEIRD GOING ON IN 125.

125. WHO'S IN 125?
MRS. PETSCHEK?

WHAT IS IT? WHAT'S THE MATTER?
YOU'D BETTER CHECK IT OUT.

♪ I'M IN HEAVEN, I'M IN HEAVEN
AND MY HEART BEATS SO... ♪

HI, NURSE ROSENTHAL. COME
ON IN. WE'RE HAVING A PARTY.

YOU KNOW
DR. BULLFINCH, DON'T YOU?

OH, HELLO, NURSE. CARE TO DANCE?

UH, NO. MY CARD IS FULL.

SUIT YOURSELF. ♪♪

WAIT RIGHT HERE.
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

♪ WHEN WE'RE OUT TOGETHER
DANCING CHEEK TO CHEEK ♪♪

MAINTENANCE TO E.R.

MAINTENANCE TO E.R.

NURSE, A PATIENT IN
MATERNITY... GINA BARNETT...

IS NOT IN HER BED, AND
HER CLOTHES ARE GONE.

REAL FAT LADY? SHE WALKED
OUT OF HERE HALF AN HOUR AGO.

SHE JUST LEFT? I DON'T KNOW.

SO IT IS TRUE? IT'S ALL UNDER
CONTROL, MARK. HE'S BEEN FOUND.

THAT FRUITCAKE HAS BEEN WANDERING
AROUND HERE TREATING THE PATIENTS.

BOY, THAT'S RICH.

BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, SOME
LOONY WILL BE AFTER YOUR JOB.

THERE HE IS.

DR. BULLFINCH, I PRESUME?

DR. WESTPHALL. DR. CRAIG.

WHAT DID YOU PUT IN THE
BOTTLE YOU GAVE MRS. PETSCHEK?

A DIETARY SUPPLEMENT
OF VITAMINS AND MINERALS...

TO GIVE A SHINE TO HER COAT
AND A SPRING TO HER WALK.

THE PROGNOSIS IS
EXCELLENT, DOCTOR.

DR. BEALE, I'D LIKE
TO TALK TO YOU.

WOULD YOU KEEP AN
EYE ON RALPH, MARK?

YOU STAND OVER
HERE. RIGHT THERE.

HOW'D HE GET LOOSE
THIS TIME? I DON'T KNOW.

I WANT THIS GUY UNDER
LOCK AND KEY. IF YOU

CAN'T HANDLE HIM, WE'LL
TRANSFER HIM TO ROXBURY.

I THINK THAT'D BE A
MISTAKE. I WILL NOT HAVE

THIS MAN RUNNING AROUND
HERE PLAYING DOCTOR.

DR. CRAIG. DR. BULLFINCH.

NICE WORK TODAY, DOCTOR.
WELL, THANK YOU, SIR.

I ASSISTED HIM TODAY. WHAT THE
HELL'S GOING ON AROUND HERE?

COME ON, RALPH.
COME ON. LET'S GO.

HASTA LA VISTA, DR. CRAIG.

HEY, PEARLE! I
WANNA TALK TO YOU.

I THOUGHT THAT
WAS YOU, DR. PAXTON.

THE SLUMPED SHOULDERS
ARE A DEAD GIVEAWAY.

I'VE BEEN ASKED TO ADDRESS THE HARVARD
MEDICAL SCHOOL TOMORROW MORNING...

ON HEPATIC ENDOCRINOPATHIES.

NOW, THE PROBLEM IS, THE STUDENTS
HAVE GOTTEN TOO SMART FOR ME.

THEIR QUESTIONS
ARE TOO IMPOSING.

WOULD YOU CARE TO
HELP ME FEND THEM OFF?

I WOULD BE HONORED
TO. SO, HOW GOES IT?

A PATIENT OF MINE GAVE
BIRTH THIS MORNING...

AND WALKED OUT OF HERE ABOUT
AN HOUR AGO... ABANDONED THE BABY.

THAT'S VERY SAD.

I'VE SPENT THE LAST TWO YEARS
LIVING IN AN ENVIRONMENT...

THAT NURTURES DEATH,

THAT IS SO SPITEFUL OF LIFE.

BABIES DYING IN
THEIR MOTHERS' ARMS,

THEIR STOMACHS
SWOLLEN WITH STARVATION.

AND ALWAYS IT'S THE CHILDREN
WHO ARE THE INNOCENT VICTIMS.

PERHAPS THE MOTHER WILL RETURN.

I KEEP TRYING TO
CONVINCE MYSELF OF THAT.

HOW CAN YOU LET YOUR CHILD
GO WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO,

WHEN ITS FATE ISN'T ALREADY DECIDED
BY... BY DROUGHT OR DISEASE OR WAR?

IN ANY CASE, THE CHILD
WILL BE WELL TAKEN CARE OF.

I KNOW THAT. I'LL SEE TO IT.

THE LECTURE'S AT 10:00.

SHALL WE MEET ABOUT
9:00 FOR A CUP OF COFFEE?

GOOD NIGHT, NANCY. GOOD NIGHT.

THE DOCTORS ALL COMPLAIN ABOUT
BEING OVERWORKED, AND, SINCE I'VE READ...

ALL THE BACK ISSUES OF THE NEW
ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE,

I FIGURED I COULD HELP.

IT'S AGAINST THE LAW TO
IMPERSONATE A DOCTOR. HAVE A SEAT.

IT'S NOT AGAINST THE
LAW OF NATURE, HUGH.

I'M HELPING TO PROTECT AN ENDANGERED
SPECIES. OH, AND WHAT'S THAT?

THE CREATURES OF THE
EARTH WHO'VE BEEN ABANDONED.

ONCE LEFT ALONE, THEY CANNOT
SURVIVE. LIKE MRS. PETSCHEK.

SHE NEEDS SOMEONE TO TALK
WITH, SOMEONE TO SHARE HER PAIN.

I GAVE HER VITAMINS.
WE DANCED AND LAUGHED.

IT FELT GOOD. YOU SOUND
REAL POSITIVE, RALPH.

HUGH.

BETWEEN YOU AND ME,
THE EAGLE HAS LANDED.

I'VE STOPPED EATING GARBAGE. THERE'S NO
FUTURE IN IT. GOOD. GOOD FOR YOU, RALPH.

I GOT A LETTER FROM JANE
YESTERDAY. OH? HOW IS SHE?

GREAT. LISTEN TO THIS.

"YOU ARE MY EAGLE. YOU
ARE THE NOBLEST OF BIRDS.

"SOON I WILL BE BY YOUR SIDE,

"AND WE WILL SOAR TO A PLACE
WHERE TIME STANDS STILL FOREVER.

WAIT FOR ME. I LOVE YOU."

IT'S SIGNED, "YOUR
TWEETY BIRD, JANE."

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL LETTER,
ISN'T IT? YES. YES, IT IS.

CAN I SEE IT?

LIKE THESE GOLDFISH.

HI, FISHIES.

PUTTING THEM IN A BOWL ISN'T
TRAPPING THEM. IT'S SAVING THEM.

THERE'S, UH... THERE'S NO
POSTMARK ON THIS LETTER, RALPH.

IF ONE LEFT, THE
OTHER WOULD DIE.

BUT THEY WON'T, BECAUSE YOU
NURTURE THEM BOTH. YOU KEEP THEM ALIVE.

YOU WROTE THIS LETTER TO
YOURSELF, DIDN'T YOU, RALPH?

PUT ME BACK IN MY CAGE,
HUGH. I WANT TO BE SAFE TOO.

IT'S TOO DANGEROUS OUT THERE.

YOU'LL TAKE CARE OF ME TILL
JANE COMES BACK, WON'T YOU?

YES.

THE REASON WHY YOUR MOTHER TAUGHT
YOU TO LOCK THE BATHROOM DOOR, DR. PAXTON,

IS TO PROTECT YOU
FROM GUYS LIKE ME.

GREAT LEGS, NANCY.
ALWAYS HAD GREAT LEGS.

HELLO, BEN.

SO, HOW'S IT GOIN'? TOUGH DAY?

WELL, FOR AN OPENER,
IT WAS PRETTY GRIM.

WELCOME TO ST. ELIGIUS.

YOU, UH, MIND IF I
JOIN YOU? UPSTAIRS.

YOU KNOW IT MAKES ME CRAZY
WHEN YOU TELL ME TO GET ON TOP.

OH. ROOM WITH A VIEW, HUH?

WELL, YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR HAS NOT
IMPROVED WITH THE PASSAGE OF YEARS.

SO, HOW'S IT GOING?

WELL, THERE'S A GREAT
ICEBREAKER. "HOW'S IT GOIN'?"

WELL, DO YOU REMEMBER
WHEN YOU USED TO TRY

TO MAKE A NEAT LITTLE
PACKAGE OF YOUR LIFE...

PUT EVERYTHING ON A TIMETABLE?

AT 35, I FIGURED I'LL BE LIVING
IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE...

RETIRED, WITH THE WIFE
AND THE LITTLE RUGGERS.

INSTEAD, I'M SPENDING MY LIFE WORKING
IN A HOSPITAL IN THE SOUTH OF BOSTON.

"HOW'S IT GOIN'?"

I'M SURVIVING. DREAMS DIE HARD.

WHAT THE HELL AM
I DOING UP HERE?

I FEEL LIKE I'M IN A
DORIS DAY MOVIE.

YOU KNOW,

I USED TO FALL IN LOVE
IN FOUR-YEAR CYCLES.

FIFTEEN, 19, 23... AND
THEN FINALLY AT 27.

THEN IT STOPPED.
THIRTY-ONE, 35... WASHOUTS.

AND NOW YOU COME BACK INTO MY
LIFE, AND IT'S... IT'S LIKE YOU NEVER LEFT.

YOU REMEMBER THE
CHRISTMAS WE SPENT TOGETHER?

YOU, ME, THAT JERK CARL FROMAN
AND... WHAT WAS HIS GIRLFRIEND'S NAME?

ALLISON. ALLISON.

YOU NEVER LIKED CARL, AND
I COULD NOT FIGURE IT OUT.

AFTER ALL, HE DID INTRODUCE
US. REASON ENOUGH, RIGHT?

OH, VERY FUNNY.

OH, I STILL HEAR FROM CARL. WHY?

I MARRIED HIM.

YOU'RE KIDDING?
OH, I WISH I WERE.

I WISH. I MARRIED HIM,

I SENT HIM THROUGH LAW
SCHOOL, AND I DIVORCED HIM.

WELL, YOU SAVED THE
COURT COSTS AT LEAST.

OH. CARL WAS A JERK.

TEN YEARS... WE'RE
FINALLY STARTING TO AGREE.

WE GOT ALONG ALL RIGHT.

WE ARGUED LIKE CRAZY.
WELL, THE SEX WAS GOOD.

THE SEX WAS GREAT.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT
I REMEMBER? WHAT?

I REMEMBER...

STANDING ON FIFTH AVENUE
IN FRONT OF FAO SCHWARZ.

AND IT WAS SNOWING AND WINDY
AND MY FEET WERE FREEZING,

AND I WANTED TO GO
BACK TO THE HOTEL.

YOU WERE STARING IN A STORE
WINDOW AT THE CHRISTMAS DISPLAY,

AND YOU LOOKED SO BEAUTIFUL.

SO... INNOCENT AND SO CHILDLIKE.

YOU TURNED AROUND AND CAUGHT
ME LOOKING AT YOU, AND YOU SAID,

"HEY, DON'T BE
SAD. IT'S CHRISTMAS,

AND WE'VE GOT EACH OTHER."

AND THEN YOU HUGGED ME.

YOU HELD ME REALLY TIGHT.

AND THE MORE WE HELD ON TO
EACH OTHER, THE QUIETER IT GOT.

ALL THE TRAFFIC
SOUNDS DISAPPEARED.

AND THE ONLY THING I COULD HEAR
WAS THE SOUND OF YOUR BREATHING.

I HAVE NEVER FELT
THAT CONNECTED...

TO ANOTHER HUMAN
BEING BEFORE... OR SINCE.

IT WAS THE SINGLE MOST
PERFECT MOMENT OF MY LIFE.

NO, BEN.