St. Elsewhere (1982–1988): Season 2, Episode 14 - Drama Center - full transcript

'Previously on St Elsewhere...'

We'll find another housekeeper.

Do you really think that many will
take care of an autistic child?

And then what did you do?

I took the keys from the sweater and
removed the drugs from the cabinet.

They voted for formal censure.

Formal censure?

Two years' probation.

'Tonight on St Elsewhere...'

I was raped.

I know you're concerned.



He's 10 and acting like he's 4!

Tommy! Tommy, stop it!

Tommy, stop it! Stop it!

An autistic teenager
needs structure.

I want your opinion.

My opinion doesn't count very much.

Shirley, I said 100mls of Lidocaine.

This is Wendy's patient.

You can't work in ER any more.

It's the television documentary.

If you take one frame of film,
I'll punch your lights out.

Maybe you'd prefer I forget the
bypass altogether and we can watch
this man die of a heart attack.

And...action!

ENGINE SPLUTTERS



SPLUTTERS

Do you need any help?

No, it's just stubborn. I'm OK.

I understand you're doing
some kind of TV special.

A documentary, not a variety show.

Weren't notices sent out
to department heads?

Of course.

Warning us that TV camera crews will
be trampling through this hospital?

You make it sound like a remake of
Ben-Hur. It'll be just a cameraman,

a director...

Why pick on St Eligius?

What have you got against
a little goodwill publicity?

I'm sick and tired of seeing Porter
General and every other hospital
in Boston getting the airtime.

Lord knows, we've seen enough
of St Gregory's on TV this year.

Reporters always disrupt everything.

I'm afraid, Helen,
the board can't give up this chance.

It'll give our fundraising efforts
a boost.

And besides, I'm keeping
a tight rein on these TV guys.

You'll never know they were here.
Look at that.

I mean, that's disgusting.
How is that going to look on TV?

Helen? Get someone
to take care of that!

A star is born.

AMBULANCE SIREN WAILS

I'll be with you in just a second.

That's OK.

Scotty, come on,
I need you here, baby. Excuse me.

Now, can I help you?

Oh...

Ma'am?

I don't want to bother you.
I may have broken my wrist.

How long ago did this happen?

I don't know...
I'm not sure.

Are you in any pain?

Clear out of the way!

Uh...a little bit, yes.

OK, what's your name?

Roxanne Reed.

Roxanne Reed...

All right, if you have a seat
a doctor will be with you.

I have to call my husband.

There's a payphone.
St Eligius Emergency.

I'll have to put you on hold.

Roxanne Reed?

Roxanne Reed?

Yes.

You have a broken wrist?

I think so.

Well, I've got an opening down in
X-ray. Why don't you follow me?
There's no waiting.

Why don't I get you a wheelchair?

I just... I want to call my husband.

X-rays won't take that long.

I was raped, too.

When I was told
my son Tommy was autistic,
I didn't want to believe it.

I took him from colleague
to colleague, hoping something had
been missed along the way,

under the delusion that conflicting
diagnoses meant there still might be
hope. Yes, Paul?

My wife and I had a similar
experience. Every paediatrician
said something different.

One wouldn't allow us to start
therapy because it was too soon.
Another said it's never too soon.

Paul's brought up
a very important point.

For those of you who are new to our
discussion group, I want you to know

that most paediatricians
don't make any evaluations beyond
the initial diagnosis of autism. >

Once that's been made, specialised
clinics such as the Harvard
Child Study Centre will help.

Um...next time we get together,

representatives from several clinics
and the public school system will
be here to explain their programmes.

All right? I guess
that does it, huh? Good night.

Hi. Hi.

Can you have the kids'
Valentine's Day party at your house?

I had the Christmas party!

I know, but Gary's taking me
on a surprise second honeymoon.

You're one of the few
with a house that's big enough.

OK. But you take 4th of July
and Thanksgiving.

It's a deal!

Want me to pick up Kim?

No, my sister Laura will bring her.

I wanted you to meet her anyway.

Tommy? Tommy! >

Tommy! Tommy, put that away! Tommy!

Tommy, stop it! Tommy, stop it!
Stop it, Tommy! Tommy...

Tommy, stop it right now!
Tommy...stop it!

Ow!

What happened?

Tommy wanted to set the table
for tomorrow's breakfast.

Tommy, come on. Let's set the table.
Here are the place mats.

I told him he couldn't do that.

Mrs Catalano let him do this
all the time. Let's set the table.

Whatever Mrs Catalano did
was not working, right?

He shouldn't have to scream
and fight to do something.

When you countermand my orders,
it only confuses him.

Tommy, no signing.
You tell me what you want.

Tommy, tell me what you want! >

Napkins.

Good. OK.

< Elizabeth...

Tommy needs to learn obedience.

How do YOU know what he needs?
You've been here two weeks.

I've taken care
of other autistic children.

You're not helping. You scold him
every time he does something wrong.

You never work with him either. >

It's almost time for you to go,
so why not just leave now?

I'll talk to your father tomorrow.

Hello, Mrs Reed. I'm Dr Cavanero.

< OK, Mrs Reed, I'll call your
husband now. Temperature's 97.1,
BP is 140 over 92.

I never thought this would happen to
me. I just came to visit a friend.

I want to make sure that
you're all right, so I'll do
a complete physical examination.

If you have any questions or want me
to stop, just let me know.

And did Nurse Daniels speak to you
about collecting evidence?

I signed some consent forms.

That doesn't obligate you
to press charges,

but the hospital is required
to report all incidents.

Now, Mrs Reed... I'm so sorry there
isn't some other place to take you.

We need to do a pelvic exam.
Have you had any gynaecological
problems or operations recently?

No.

I'll be doing a routine exam
and taking test cultures.

Would you lie back?

I-I see my gynaecologist
every six months.

I have a breast examination, too.
I'm very careful.

I have a close friend, the doctor
found a small lump on her ovary.

She took such good care of herself
and they caught it in time.

She's OK now.
I think she's very lucky, don't you?

Annie?

How's she doing?

She's a very brave lady.
If that were me, I'd be hysterical.

She's really holding it together.

The police will send someone over
to ensure chain of evidence.

I hate these things.
It's tough enough to comfort
a patient without playing cop.

Pretty bad break.

She has a possible concussion, too.

Thanks, Fiscus.

Chris...
What are you doing here?

I thought we might go for dinner.

I'd love to,
but I don't know when I'll finish.

The desk said in half an hour.

You know how reliable the desk is.

Now look, Annie, if you don't want
to go, you don't have to.

I'm sorry.
It's just been crazy tonight. Why
don't I call you in the morning?

Fine. OK?

Actually...

why don't I call you when I finish?

See ya.

How you doing, kiddo?

< Hi, Dad.

Tommy asleep?

He went down about an hour ago.

I'm sorry I'm so late.

Dad, I have to talk to you.

OK, what's up?

Miss Clifford and I
got in another fight tonight.

Honey, you two can't be at
each other's throats all the time.

I think she's going to quit.

Oh, damn.

She wasn't any good with Tommy
anyhow.

That's what you said
about Mrs Murdoch, remember?

Well, it's true.

Now I have to find someone else
and soon. You go away to college
in the fall and I work...

I know, but we need someone to
encourage Tommy and play with him.

Sweetheart, how will I find anyone
if you keep challenging them?

I don't. You do!

I've seen you do it.
If they don't treat Tommy...

Dad...

You have to give them a chance.

Not if they let Tommy slip away.
Haven't you noticed how he's
behaving?

He hardly even talks any more. >

I know you're concerned, darling.

He's ten years old
and acting like he's four! It's
like he's starting all over again.

Lizzie...

(SIGHS)

DOORBELL RINGS

This better not be that little twerp
collecting for his paper route!

He can be damn sure I'll cancel
more than my subscription.

I told him specifically - Saturday
afternoons. Hold it! I'm coming!

Now listen...

Bill Wolfe, WIN.

Shut off that damn light!

For crying out loud, it's 6.30!

What's going on here, Mark?

It's the television documentary.

If you take one frame of film,
I'll punch your lights out.

Look, I feel awful about this.
We can wait in the van.

What for? Just direct yourself down
to Route 128. I'll meet you
at St Eligius, nine o'clock sharp.

I'd like to shoot some film here.

No, no, no.

Like the Kennedys playing football
on the beach at Hyannisport.

Come on, Mark. It's cold out there.

All right, come on in.

Thank you.
You're very understanding.

This is Mike, our cameraman.
And this is our assistant, Jody.
I thought we lost you!

Dr and Mrs Craig,
this is our makeup artist.

Hi. I was asleep in the van.
I can't believe how early it is.

Please, don't let us disturb you.
Just go about your normal routine.

What would you be doing right now?

Sleeping!

OK, why don't you make your way into
the kitchen and I'll fix breakfast?

Oh, thank you.
Thank you, Mrs Craig. Great.

Ellen, are you kidding?
You don't have to make breakfast.

What difference does it make?

Coffee and toast will be fine.

And put out the imported preserves.

Then we rode on the monorail.
Didn't we, Pete? Huh?

Went up the Space Needle.

What did your parents think?
Is Pete worthy of the Morrison name?

Are you kidding?
I'd a tug-of-war with my mother!

'Dr Morrison - 4132.'

Can you hold him for a second?

I thought you'd never ask!

Hey, Jack! Welcome back.

Em, this is Dr Morrison.

Who is she?

Who? ..What's that?

The lady holding Pete.

Hey, Victor! How's the honeymoon?

Jack!

Her name's Amanda Taylor.

She's a physical therapist.

I'm not sure.
Every honeymoon is different.

Is she new?

Phil, come on.

Victor,
it's not worth arguing over.

If Roberta sleeps with her head
at the foot of the bed, let her.
Is that it?

You're welcome.

Bye.

Now what were you saying?

Hm?

No, it's...
Never mind.

Thank you.

You're acting just like you did
when Amy was born

and she had to stay in the hospital
with those horrible ear infections.

I just want to do something for you.
And I can't.

Sweetheart, I know.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Mrs Reed? My name is Sue Follett.
I'm with Social Services
here at the hospital.

Dr Cavanero said you'd be by.
This is George.

Hello, Mr Reed.

You're with...?

Social Services.

I'm available for counselling.

Good. Maybe you can make it clear
to her that she has to forget this.

That's not going to be easy.
Sometimes it helps to talk about it.

I don't see how.

It's similar to talking to our
children about their bad dreams.

This has taken some control
over your life...

This isn't a dream. And it's not
controlling Roxanne's life,
unless they remind you.

Why don't you go on home?

Yeah, I...

I better get ready for work.

I love you.

Shirley!

I hear you made some brownies.

Cupcakes. Help yourself.

Hi, Peter.
Shirley, can you give me a hand?

Oh, sure.

Good. Thanks!

Somebody, I need help!
He's been electrocuted.

Right this way!

I don't even know if he's alive!

Wendy! Put him right here.

Yeah, all right.

Yeah, OK.

What happened?

He got electrocuted.

He was working on a lady's washing
machine. There was this loud bang
and Leo got knocked across the room.

The electricity shot out his
shoulder. A bright blue flash.

Sir, could you wait outside?

Sir, can you hear me?

His pulse is 40 and irregular.

< BP is 80 over 50.

Let's get him on the EKG monitor.

Tell Scotty to start
an IV of D5LR.

Right there. Just right there.
Let me do that.

I got it.

Give me your pen light.

You're not supposed to be here.

Give me your pen light.
Pupils are sluggish and dilated.

Shirley,
give me 100mls of Lidocaine.

Shirley, I said give me
100mls of Lidocaine!

This is Wendy's patient.

You can't work in ER any more.

EKG looks like bigeminy.

You're just as much to blame for
giving out those pills as I am.

I saved your tail!

Peter, let her go! Get out of here!

Elevate his feet. Open up the IV
and give me 300ml Vertilium.

Ever since Mrs Catalano left,
Tommy's been in a tailspin. >

He's been unco-operative,
moody, aggressive.

Who's Mrs Catalano?

Oh, sorry. Our housekeeper.

She was a lot more to Tommy,
especially after his mother died.

And now he's drawing Lizzie
into it as well.

In what way?

Manipulating her, trying to get her
to fight his battles for him.

And does she?

More and more.

I took Tommy in for his physical. >

Mary Carlisle suggested he might be
better off in an institution.

Well, you realise that most of them
won't take autistic children,

but I know of an excellent
group home in Natick.

Michael, he's my son.

The three of us are a family.

I only wish I had
more time to give him.

I was lying in bed
last night, awake.

I was tired and frustrated.

And I heard him in the next room.
He was whimpering.

He wanted a glass of water.

I lay there that extra moment,
just listening.

I hoped he'd stop.

Or maybe even get up
and get it for himself.

I'd be very happy to see him.

Actually, Michael, I was hoping
you'd see both Tommy and Elizabeth.

Sure.

CRASHING AND SCREAMING

Help! Get off me! Aagh! Aagh!

No! No! Stay back! Aaagh!
Stay back! Aagh!

Calm down. You're safe. You're safe.

No-one's going to hurt you.
You're safe.

(SOBS)

Now, listen to me, Roxanne.
Ssh, ssh, ssh.

This is going to happen from time to
time, but it's going to get better.

PHONES RINGING

Mike! Let's go to the end
of the hall, OK?

Dr DeBakey, how's it going?

Don't start. These people have been
trailing me since 6.30 this morning.

Dr Craig, we're all set. We can just
film you walking down the hall.

Donald Westphall, meet Bill Wolfe.

Nice to see you again.

Thank you. You too.

You know each other?

I asked Dr Westphall to be in the
documentary, but he turned me down.

Listen, would you mind
being in this next shot?

No, I've got patients...

It'll take five minutes.

You really add a nice touch.

OK.

Jody, check the doctors' make-up.

Wait. We agreed - no make-up.

It's just a little foundation.
I don't want you to look pale.

You should look healthier
than your patients.

Do what you have to do.

We'll shoot you
as you're walking towards us.

I'll let you know when we'll start.

OK?

Why did you turn it down?

I wasn't the right guy, Mark.

Besides, they only asked me
because they thought you'd be
too busy after the transplant.

How about Dr Westphall?

No, really, I don't think...

Let me just take down the shine.

I find balding men very attractive.

Uh-huh...

Mm-hm.

I think she missed a spot.

And...action!

HEAVY ROCK MUSIC

< Hey, Jack!

Hey, come on in, come on in.

Isn't the music a little loud?

Not loud enough to wake up the dead.

(SWITCHES MUSIC OFF)

I need the results
of the Spelling autopsy.

Right there on the desk.

What do you think?

Oh, he's dead all right.

I mean, about his liver?

Cirrhosis, severe ballooning
of the hepatocytes and fibrosis.

But the guy wasn't a drinker.
His enzymes are normal. I'm stumped.

Don't come down here playing
20 Questions, trying to patronise me

The results are all right there.

I want your opinion.

My opinion doesn't matter
any more around here.

I'm just an over-trained tech,
remember?

That's not how I feel about it.

I was doing good, man.

I was doing good.
I mean, I was off the pills.

Things were good at home.

It was like for once,
everything was clicking for me.

Well, it could have been worse.

How?

Huh? I mean, they might as well
just yank my licence off.

I should have been acquitted.

A lot of people think
you got a bum deal.

That really doesn't help me
very much now, does it?

Huh?

Why don't you transfer
to another service?

If you hang around dead bodies
all day, it'll just depress you.

That's not the point.

I know what the point is.

No, you don't!

Believe me!

(SWITCHES MUSIC ON)

# Good times, bad times
You know I've had my share

# When my woman left home
with a brown-eyed man

# Well, I still don't seem
to care... #

I thought we'd eat at Van Dyke's.

Quincy Market or Wayland? >

Does it make a difference?

Quincy Market is closer
to the hospital.
I want to check on a patient. >

The kitchen closes at 10.
I don't think we'd make it.

Chris, I'm leaving for the Cape
first thing in the morning.

No, thanks.

You spend enough time
at work as it is.

There's no reason to be there
when we don't have to be.

It'll only take ten minutes.

Doctor first, woman second.

What did you say?

Oh, nothing.

Look, why don't you go ahead?
I'm not really hungry anyway.

Come on. I'm sorry.

Don't!

Annie, I just said I was sorry.

Chris, I want you to leave.

Come on. No, you don't.

Chris, I don't want you
touching me right now!

You expect me to believe that?

No!

Stop it!

Come on, Annie.

What the hell's gotten into you
all of a sudden?

Just because we made love
a couple of times

doesn't give you
unconditional rights.

When I say, "Don't touch me,"
I mean that!

Fine.

Fine!

You really know
how to ruin a good thing.

No, Chris, you do.

DOOR SLAMS

I think you'll find this operation
rather interesting.

Yeah. We're rolling.

Oh, so are we. Scalpel!

Nurse Mead, would you put in
Wagner's Dutchman, please?

Dr Craig, sorry, no music.
It ruins the sound.

No-one mentioned that
at the production meeting.

I always operate with music.

I'm worried it'll drown out
the dialogue. We can dub it in later

Dr Carlton, why do we use the
saphenous vein for bypass surgery?

Excuse me again.
Can we skip the lectures?

This is a teaching hospital.

I'm not having any problems
with the teaching if you're doing it

Fine.

The saphenous vein...

What I'd like to do is... Mike!

I'd like to zoom the camera in tight
and have you react to the emergency.

I haven't even made
my first cut yet.

We need action, something
to hold the audience's attention.

Maybe you'd prefer
I forget the bypass altogether.

We could all stand around and watch
this man die of a heart attack.

You could film that!

You're right. I was taking dramatic
licence. I had no business doing so.

When I agreed to do this,
I was promised

that you'd simply observe
and not interfere.

< So far you haven't done either!

Sorry. It won't happen again.

All right. Let's proceed.

Kochar, what the hell are you doing?

Um... Excuse me.

Excuse me.

KNOCK AT DOOR

Yeah?

Doctor, hi.

Elizabeth, Tommy.

My dad said you'd be expecting us.

Yeah. Hi, Tommy. Remember me?

So...

I understand Tommy's going through
a pretty rough period right now.

Yeah.

Do you think that's because of
the last two housekeepers you've had

I don't know.

I mean, both of them came
highly recommended

and with good credentials.

But the problem is the people
who write recommendations

don't have to take care of Tommy.

Yeah.

< You know how change
can affect an autistic child.

Tommy just needs someone
who could read his signals

and figure out what he wants
when he can't put it into words.

< Yeah, but that takes
a very long time to develop.

So, you're going to college
in the fall, right?

< Which one is it again?

Vassar. It just seems
so far away, though.

I asked my dad if I should go
to Boston College, but he says no.

Well, do you want to go to BC?

It would be a lot closer to home.

Elizabeth, um...
You're 18 years old, right?

And you've helped take care
of your father and Tommy

practically all of your life.

I mean, there's enough to worry abou
being a sister and a daughter

without trying to be a mother too.

I don't know, I think
that you've got plenty to handle.

Just being a freshman in college
seems like a lot to handle.

Now you're talkin'!

It's quiet here.

That's why I like it.

Here we go.

What did you say
this room used to be?

Part of the animal research lab.
It's been this way for a month.

They assure me every day
that it will be finished any minute.

How do you feel about the attack?

Like I'll never be able
to forget it.

It'll be with me always.

In the beginning,
the images are much more intense.

They will diminish over time.

The first thing I did
when I came into this office

was look for the way out.

I know how this is affecting you.

It's frightening and overwhelming.

He had no right to do that to me.

No.

He had no right to touch me.

He kept kissing me
and asking me if I liked it.

I didn't look at him. I didn't
want him to think I was trying

to see who he was,
so I could recognise him later.

I want you to tell me something.

Tell me how you felt
when you woke up this morning.

I was happy.

George was there. He smiled
and we talked about our children.

I was happy...

..to be alive!

That's right.

That's right.

I don't think this is a good idea.

We're going for cinema verite.

It wouldn't be honest if we excluded
the most painful part of your job.

This is what
your audience wants to see.

Even so.

Mrs Sigfried agreed to do it.
She signed the waiver.

Said she always wanted
to be on television.

All right, OK.

It'll be staggering, believe me.

Mrs Sigfried...

Can we move you around on this side?

It'll be better for the camera.

This'll be fine right here.

Mr Wolfe told me
not to look at the camera.

Mrs Sigfried...

Hold on there, Dr Craig,
we have a sound check.

Test, test.
One, two, three, four. Test.

OK, go ahead.

Mrs Sigfried, because
of your recent heart attack,

elective surgery isn't safe.

Your abdominal aortic aneurysm
could rupture at any time.

I don't quite understand
what you mean.

I'm afraid that the best we could do
is stabilise your heart and wait.

I'm sorry.

Oh...

Damn!

I know, it's a tragedy.

No, we ran out of film.

What?

Look, I feel bad
about this, Dr Craig,

but you're going to have
to tell her again.

(STARTS SOBBING)

Outside, all of you!

Come on.

Out!

< Out!

Hand me the other magazine.

I should have stopped this sooner.

I just told that woman
there was nothing we could do
to help her right now.

She came to me, to this hospital,

hoping and praying
that something could be done.

But we've let her down.

Now, we don't serve anyone...

..by sensationalising her tragedy.

Not medicine, not the media
and certainly not Mrs Sigfried. >

The least we can do is to leave her
with a little dignity.

Fabulous. Are you getting this?

Get out of this hospital!

All right...

KNOCK AT DOOR

He's only going to get bigger
and stronger, Donald.

And probably more aggressive.

I've never known of an autistic chil
that became less difficult

as he reaches adolescence.

God, I miss my wife!

She always knew how to reach him.

By loving, touching, playing.

Patience.

She knew how to be with him.

She helped me to realise
that Tommy's not an affliction,

but a person.

A gift.

I'm sure her way worked beautifully
when he was younger.

Elizabeth's been talking
to me lately

about going to school locally.

That's not the right approach.
You were right to discourage it.

Sometimes I'm not so sure, Michael.

It could give us all
a sense of continuity.

It would only make the next
transition a lot more difficult.

In the long run, Donald,

you've got to find a way
to make Tommy's needs work.

Michael, I'm aware of that.

I'll spend all of tomorrow morning
interviewing housekeepers.

For the moment,
I'm sure that's the right solution.

What do you mean, "for the moment"?

An autistic teenager will need
a lot more structure in his life

than any housekeeper
can provide for him.

What are my choices?

We could drive out together
to that group home in Natick.

< See what it's like?

It doesn't have to be right away.

(CLEARS THROAT)

By the way, my name's Phil.

Amanda.

I've seen you before.

Well, I... I hang around here.

I mean in Physical Therapy.

Oh, yeah.

With patients. >

So, what, you always work so late?

No.

Oh, I got a break coming up.
Would you like to join me for dinner

Actually, I was just leaving.
I've got to catch the T.

Oh. Would you like me
to walk you to the station?

I'm all set, Amanda.
Let me get my coat.

Thanks. Maybe we can make it
some other time.

< I'd love to.

Hi.

Good night, Dr Chandler.

Good night.

(MOUTHS WORDS)

Next time another film crew invades
St Eligius, give me some notice.

I'll be sure to be out of town.

By the way, I heard
what you said about Hilton Baronoff

from Our Lady of Perpetual Sorrows.

What?

That he's an incompetent surgeon
with the touch of a blacksmith.

Well, at least
I'm being quoted correctly.

You may want them to delete that.

What about that director?
"More action"?

It's a hospital, for Pete's sake!

What does he think goes on here
all day? Shoot-'em-ups?

No wonder cop shows
are such a success!

PHONE RINGS

Third floor nurses' station?

Victor, hi, it's Annie!

You know,
your friends at the hospital >

can't believe
how big you're getting. >

Did you have a nice day?

Yes.

Dr Ridley likes you very much.

You want book?

Your mommy bought this book for you.

Once there was a little bunny
who wanted to run away.

So he said to his mother,
"I am running away."

"If you run away," said his mother,
"I will run after you.

"For you are my little bunny."

"If you run after me, I will become
a bird and fly away from you,"

said the little bunny.

"If you become a bird and fly away
from me," said his mother...

"..I will be a tree
that you come home to."