St. Elsewhere (1982–1988): Season 2, Episode 16 - After Dark - full transcript

'Previously on St Elsewhere...'

The more you struggle,

the greater your chances
of getting seriously hurt.

Who are you?

'Tonight on St Elsewhere...'

Have you heard anything
from Cathy Martin?

No, not even a postcard.

I've never be unfaithful
to my wife.

How long have you been married?

16 days.

Long enough.



How do you know Dr Ehrlich?

This morning he checked out my ribs.
And I...

Checked him out.

Dr Fiscus.

Oh, thanks anyways,
but I'm on call tonight.

Suppose they pick you as
the St Eligius Doctor Of The Year.

I'll demand a recount.

I'm certain you're going to get
the nod, Mark.

You did our first heart transplant.

Yeah, but you've been here
for 35 years.

And I am dying.

You're right.

And all along this is
what you really wanted.

You're crazy!



Oatmeal. Are you sure
those are raisons in there?

Moctezuma omelettes.

I think I'll go

with the short stack, hold the slaw.

How come you guys use the same knife
to cut the melons as you do

to cut the garlic?

Shut up, Fiscus.

I forgot, dieticians
have no sense of humour.

2.25.

Thank you.

Six dollars.

You owe me from yesterday.

You're charging me for this?

Oh, shut up, Fiscus.

Shut up, Fiscus.

Shut up, Fiscus.

I'm a doctor, I'm educated,

I deserve respect.

Yeah, like Rodney Dangerfield.

Ehrlich, what happened
to your Hawaiian shirts?

Nothing wrong with a little change
now and then.

You look like J Edgar Hoover.

Shut up, Fiscus.

Wendy.

Have you seen Cathy Martin lately?

Mm, no. I called her apartment
a couple of times, no answer.

It's strange her disappearing
suddenly for no reason.

Strange behaviour
and Cathy Martin are synonymous.

Hello, everyone.

Well, here I am, bright and early

with your complementary tickets
to tonight's Women's Auxiliary

< Fundraising Dinner, Dance,
Awards Presentation.

What, no bingo?

$150 a plate?

Lucky for you, residents get in free.

Nurses have to pay.

Dr Fiscus.

Oh, I'm on call tonight.

Suppose they pick you
as St Eligius Doctor Of The Year.

I'll demand a recount.

You know,
if you can't get a date for tonight,

my niece, Cornelia,
is a delightful girl.

Mrs Jesmer, I'm working, really.

Oh, what a shame.

Well, see the rest of you tonight.

All the doctors are supposed

to go to the fundraiser.

Yes, the trustees expect it.

I know, I have never been
so thrilled to be on call.

'Maintenance to North entrance.

'Maintenance to North entrance.'

Good morning, Dr Ehrlich.

Mrs Jesmer, what a surprise.

How are the hammer toes?

All cured, all healed.

Great. This is my wife, Roberta.

Hello.

Oh, you're the one I've heard about.

Well, anyway,

here are your tickets
for the Ritz Carlton tonight.

Thanks loads.

I'm real excited about going.

Oh, that's nice, dear.

But do me a favour,
be like everyone else,

leave the problems
with your marriage at home.

Ta-ta.

Bye.

Great, that's just great,
even Mrs Jesmer knows.

So what?

These are people I have to deal
with on a day-to-day basis.

You're just mad because I threw away
your old Beach Boy mug.

Hey, it was an heirloom.

No, Victor, the 19th-century
sewing kit of my mother's

is an heirloom, some old stained mug
with the lyrics to I Get Around

on the rim is junk.

You're right.

And I wish you wouldn't put the
flatwear in the dishwasher any more.

I won't do it any more, honeybunch.
I swear.

Or put the tin cans
in with the regular garbage.

It's a promise.

Or wear those silly Hawaiian shirts.

I stopped it, didn't I?

But Weiss said marriage
is compromise,

so now you do something for me.

Of course, what?

Quit your job here.

With all those rapes going on,

I'm worried about you coming
to the hospital.

OK.

Wait a second, you mean it?

Sure. I'm bored with candy stripping.

Oh, my gosh, really?

Yeah.

It is about time
I altered the course of my life.

Good for you.

I'm going to be a doctor.

Peter, are you sure you don't want
anything for breakfast?

No, that's all right,
don't put yourself out.

It's no bother.

Peter, we can't stop
talking to each other.

I'm sorry I spoiled our anniversary.

You didn't spoil anything.

Really.

You've been great.
Look, I'll tell you what,

we'll have a belated celebration,
all right?

OK.

Uh-oh. Mommy! Mommy!

Mommy, my zipper is stuck.

Well, here, let Mommy help you.

KNOCKING

Hey.

Morning. You ready?

Yeah, make yourself at home,
have some coffee or something.

No, no thanks,
I don't want to be late for rounds.

I'll be right back,
I've just got to get my jacket.

All right.

Hi.

Hi, Phil.

Thanks for helping us out.

I think our car will be
out of the shop by tomorrow.

Oh, it's no problem.

How are you doing?

Fine.

Good. There we go.

'Are you going
to the big dinner tonight?

'Yep, you?

'Peter says...'

Good morning.

I swung by your place
on the way in.

Gee, that's a good look for you.

Thanks.

Come by to have breakfast?

No.

No, to drop off your tuxedo.

The fundraiser tonight.

Joan, I'm not going to another
rubber chicken dinner in a gymnasium.

I'd hardly call
the Ritz a gymnasium.

Big deal.

Take out the hoops
and they laid in carpets.

Honey, it's for St Eligius.

I already sent in my $300 donation.

Deduction.

I'm not going. Bobby!

Look, the reason I wasn't home
when you came by is because

I've been in the OR
since 12:45 this morning.

I've worked on three burn victims
and I'm beat.

Come on, let's go to breakfast.

Can't you take a nap at lunch
or something?

You know this dinner means a lot
to the Women's Auxiliary.

It is an important night for them.

I am too tired to argue this.

Who's arguing?

Look, do you want to have
breakfast or not?

Follow the light
with just your eyes. >

OK.

< I don't know how you do it,
scrambling around those girders.

I don't think about it much. At
least not on the smaller buildings.

But when you work on something
like the Pru or the Hancock,

believe me,
you learn how to concentrate.

You worked on the Hancock building?

Yeah.

Oh, it's a beautiful building.

Except for the flying glass.

What do you mean?

They had a problem with
the high ones on Dartmouth Street.

The stress made the windows blow
out. But it's taken care of now.

I've got to admit,
a building like that, >

I couldn't have designed better.

Most of the ones
I work on by the numbers.

All done.

What do you think?

More tests.

What? No, no, no.

No. Enough is enough.

I've had blood tests
and X-ray tests

and this test and that test
and this test and that test.

I'm going to be paying
this bill off for 15 years!

Don't you have union insurance?

< Yeah, it pays for some of it,

but I've got a mom, a sister
and a newborn kid to support.

These are very basic tests,
Mr Keuhnelian.

There isn't any pain involved.

< And it's not very expensive.

OK.

But if nothing shows up on these,
I am checking out.

Maybe his blackouts are
a sign of toxicity or drug use.

I don't think so.

But there is more to this
than he is letting on.

I just can't seem to get
it out of him.

Which is why it's time
for Meldrin and an OPG.

God...
I knew you were going to say that.

I know it is like throwing him
to the lions...

Yep.

Maybe I should go, too.

You've done as much for Keuhnelian
as you possibly can.

It's so sad.

He's his family's
only source of income.

That's not your problem.

I know.

I know. But I'm worried that whatever
it is that Keuhnelian has got

could destroy a family.

I don't want to just sit
on the sidelines while that happens.

Thank you.

Well, you know the last time
I was going to have the implant,

I had a whole list of reasons.

Ira wanted it,
maybe it would help our marriage,

maybe help the kids feel
more comfortable about it.

And this time?

Well, I'm coming up on a birthday
and I don't want to face it,

and I don't want to face it
with only one breast.

I bet Ira's pleased.

He doesn't know.

Ms Czerwinski.

Mara.

Hi. I'm Victor Ehrlich.

Dr Iberl asked me
to cover for him today.

I understand you've got
a bit of a rib problem.

Next time,
I will watch where I'm going.

Could I ask you to lie
on your side, please?

OK.

Breathe deep.

Does it hurt to breathe?

Not too much.

Breathe very deep again.

Imagine slipping
on a puddle of beer.

There I went,
flying across the floor.

Bars are dangerous places.

OK, do you think
you could stand up?

Nothing wrong with my legs.

No, nothing at all.

OK. Let me check you out here.

You ought to stop by the bar
some night, I'll stand you

to a round at happy hour.

I'm...I'm married.

No kidding.

OK, I've got to ask you
to breathe deep.

And breathe deep again.

Could you hold still, please?

Does that feel OK?

Great hands.

Funny, isn't it?

I'm on my feet
and you're on the bed.

Well, you've got great powers
of recuperation.

Bruised ribs never
got in anyone's way.

And I'll tell you something, Doc,

you've got it.

I've got IT, huh?

The scent,
the married guy on the prowl look.

It drives me nuts.

I've never been unfaithful
to my wife.

How long have you been married?

16 days.

Long enough.

Look, I have got a lot

of other patients to see,
why don't you lie down?

OK, but I won't be here later.

(SIGHS)

Are you coming alone?

Yeah, I wouldn't subject my daughter
to a fundraiser, Mark,

she still has ideals.

Oh, listen to you, St Eligius
Doctor Of The Year 1983.

Well, I think
you're going to win tonight.

No, no.

Well, I don't really care.

I mean, what are we talking about?

A scroll of paper
with your name inscribed on it.

In gold.

Morning.

Donald, Mark.

My money is on you, Daniel.

For what?

That's the attitude.
You want it too much, you never win.

I'm certain you are going to get
the nod, Mark.

You did our first heart transplant.

Yeah, but you've been here
for 35 years.

And I am dying.

You're right.

Well, maybe it will be a tie.

I'm glad I'm not in the running
this year.

'Security to Admitting.

'Security to Admitting.'

It's important for a resident
to be seen at things like this.

Phil, that's my point.

What?

Tuxedos, orchestra.

I was sort of hoping our first date
would be a little more...private.

Well, that's, uh...
that's the second date.

OK. Pick me up at seven. Bye!

Bye-bye. Oh...

Oh, I'm sorry, come right on in.

Take your time.

No, you go ahead.

That's all right, really, come on.

No, I'll wait for the next one.

Ma'am, I'm a doctor,
you've got nothing to worry about.

I'll wait for the next one!

How much longer?

Just a few seconds.

It feels funny.

It's supposed to.

It would go a lot quicker
if you'd stop twitching.

I'm going to do this one more time.

Anything unusual?

Chart.

Now, how many of these spells
have you had?

Just one, a couple of days ago,
in the hospital.

It must've been a side effect
of the accident.

I doubt it.

If you want to stonewall us,
that's your decision,

but unless you give us the full
story, there's nothing we can do.

< If you leave here before we figure
out what's wrong,

< you will be no good
to your family at all.

Maybe a couple of times I've fallen,
not nearly so bad.

A couple times before?

3, 10? 40?

12, since last summer.

But they only lasted a second.

And you had one last week just
before you fell off the building.

Yeah, I guess I should have told you.

For the last one,
his vision was totally blocked

and motor response
in his left side was nil.

Yep, I can read.
Do you drink and smoke?

A pack a day on the average.

Maybe a couple of beers.

No wonder.

Your carotid artery
is narrowed with plaque.

Once I evaluate your OPGs,

I bet we'll find
differing eyeball pressures.

So?

You've been having
transient ischemic attacks.

Occasional interruptions
in the flow of blood to the brain.

We can treat it.

I won't die?

Eventually. Not from this.

Aspirin and 25 mg of Persantine
three times daily.

What if the attacks don't stop?

You may need surgery.

I don't want that.

You want a stroke? That's next.

From this point on, construction
work is out of the question.

Do you get a kick out of saying that?

Mr Keuhnelian, what you've got
is a lifestyle disease.

Cigarettes, occupational stress,

a high-fat diet.

You asked for a prognosis,
I gave it.

To a large extent,
your future is in your own hands.

Now, if you'll excuse me,
I'm going to lunch.

That to me is a trickery procedure.

Holding the lung back
is crucial to its success.

I know.

Then, would it be asking
too much for you to do it?

Don't puncture it, Ehrlich.

What's the matter?
Still having trouble at home?

Can I speak freely?

A little more exposure, please.

Like that?

Perfect. Yeah, go ahead.

I've dealt with hundreds of hearts,

I suppose I could cope
with one more. Clamp.

It's Roberta.

Actually, it's not, it's Mara.

Who?

Let me ask you something, Dr Craig.

Have you ever been tempted
to stray from the path of virtue?

Of course not. I'm in love
with my wife, she's in love with me.

I wish I could say the same.

Ehrlich,
you've been married two weeks.

You've made a very serious
commitment to a lovely young girl.

But she wants to be a doctor.

That looney tunes?

Retractor.

Right.

You're going to have to get used
to the idea of being responsible

for your actions, both as a man
and as a surgeon.

Hey, I'm just trying
to sort out my options.

Ehrlich,
you couldn't sort out your laundry.

For Pete's sake,
weren't you listening to your vows?

"Till death do us part."

I won't have a surgeon who gives up,

neither in the middle of
an operation or in a marriage.

I will be very disappointed in you
if you get a divorce.

Yes, sir.

I'm going to give you some advice
that Dr David Demidian,

Chief of Surgery
when I was a resident, gave me.

When you get stuck with a lemon,
you just have to spit out the pits

and live with the juice.

The man's a redneck.

He eats and smokes his way
into the hospital, denies his entire

medical history and then expects us
to cure him overnight?

This man has a right to some caring
and some sensitivity.

And an accurate diagnosis.

Three dollars. >

I shouldn't have had to worm
the truth out of him.

I was closing in on it.

You have a reputation for being
popular with the patients.

Matching that charm with a little
medical insight wouldn't hurt.

You were unnecessarily rude

and abusive to a guy
who is obviously upset.

Wait till you've been here four and
a half years and seen as many winos

and fakers and self-destructive
patients as I have,

you will lose that idealistic squint
soon enough.

'Nurse Hernandez to Station 2E.
Nurse Hernandez...'

Bobby, over here with that.

You look terrible.

Problem in postop.

Has Joan told you
her marvellous idea?

Nope, can't wait to hear it.

Well, tell him.

I thought St Eligius might set up
a rape treatment centre.

That way we can provide
not only medical but legal

and psychological
counselling for victims.

That's great. With your track record
for closing down departments,

the last thing I thought you'd do
is open up another.

She's got that solved, too.
Don't you, Joan?

I think we can cover the costs
with fees, grants and donations.

Now, don't you two talk at home?

Oh, I see, some kind of argument.

Well, I know that if you approach
this as too levelheaded adults,

everything will come out fine.

Peter.

Anybody home?

Oh, there you are.

I dropped a sponge.

Didn't you hear me call you?

What's up?

I want to make sure someone
will be around four o'clock.

The Douglas family wants
to see their Uncle Bub.

Right, the spleen guy.

It's freezing in here.

Listen, have you heard anything
from Cathy Martin?

No, not even a postcard.

Yeah, neither has anybody else.

It's kind of funny her
just disappearing out of blue

like that, isn't it?

Mm.

Oh, by the way, Dr Morey wanted me

to pick up the autopsy report
on that Hasselhoff car wreck.

It's right over there.

It's good to see you, Shirl.

It gets kind of lonely down here.

I can't find it.

Let me help you.

Oh, here it is.

Thanks.

See you.

Do you have to rush off?

Yeah, afraid so.

Look, I just want to apologise
for what happened in the ER

a couple of weeks ago.

Saying those rotten things,
getting in the way.

It's OK, Peter.

Because we're friends.

Nurse Daniels, things are getting
real busy down in ER.

They sent me to track you down. >

Sure, I'm on my way.

See you later, Peter.

Hiya, Victor.

It's called a hand.

Did you know the government once
dropped highly radioactive gold?

Now it's turning up all over America
in the form of necklaces, bracelets,

wedding rings...

Don't panic
until your finger falls off.

Don't you see? It's a cosmic symbol.

The wedding band,
once put on, never to be removed.

It has the potential to kill,
slowly, painfully.

I thought you and Roberta
worked out your problems.

I wish. "Do this, do that,
go there, stay here."

Whenever someone tells me how
to run my life, man, I rear back.

Try being taken for granted.

How about being called a jackass
over the hospital PA system?

I can still hear the snickering.

She has absolutely no idea
what I do for a living.

That happens
when you have nothing in common.

You mean like her insisting
on an appearance at the fundraiser

after the day we put in today?

Exactly. This whole relationship
is a mistake -

like Napoleon's invasion of Russia
and the Watergate tapes.

That's not exactly true. She is
a funny, intelligent, sexy woman.

Yeah, but do you want to spend
your life with her?

Worth a try.

Craig says once you are stuck,
it's for good.

What the difference what Craig
thinks, it's not his life.

You're right, man, that does it.
I'm going to go home and tell her.

Yeah, tonight's the night.

My mind is made up. Mine, too.

I'm getting divorced.

I'm getting married.

< Yes, Mrs Francis's room, 308.

< You're welcome.

Hi. I'd like to check out.

Mara Czerwinski.

OK. Oh, beautiful flowers.

"Get back to the bar, you lazy slob.
We miss you. Goopy and the guys."

Sentimental, you know?

You work in a bar, huh? Sign here.

Pays the rent and you meet some
really interesting people.

Try a hospital sometime.

I know what you mean.
Like the well-endowed Dr Ehrlich?

How do you know Dr Ehrlich?

He's hard to miss.

This morning he checked out my ribs
and I...

Checked him out.

He's got some hands.

When he touched my chest, I tingled.

Oh, I see, his...hands.

What a cutie.

Say, would you do me a favour?

I asked him to stop by the bar,
but I didn't say where it was.

Can you give this to him?

Oh, I'll give it to him all right.

Thanks. Well...

I can make happy hour if I run.

Walk.

'Dr Westphall. 2233.

'Dr Westphall. 2233.'

Walnut poundcake, your favourite.

Oh, Ma, I don't know if I can.

Oh, you love my cake.

It's got a pound of butter in it,
Ma,

I'm supposed to be on a special diet.

Your supervisor called to see
how you were.

I said much better.

You can't rush things, Ma.

When do you come home?

Soon.

Soon, soon. Soon, soon...

They said you were looking for me?

Hiya, Dr Morrison.

How are you Mrs Keuhnelian?

Oh, fine, now that Joseph is better.

Ma, excuse me a minute?

I can't tell her.

Every time I start talking
about quitting the job,

she changes the subject.

It's OK. Why don't you give me
a few minutes with her?

OK.

Where did Joseph go?

He wants us to have a little chat.

Oh.

Joseph says that you lost your wife.

Last November.

You cook for yourself now?

Well, I do my best.

Dr Morrison,
you have been so good to Joseph,

I don't know what
we would have done.

Well, thank you.

Now it's our turn to thank you,
Linnia and mine.

Please come to dinner tonight.

Well, now, that's very
nice of you, Mrs Keuhnelian.

In your honour,
we'll have lamb with plum sauce.

Joseph loves it.

That sounds terrific.

Oh, it's just I've got to go to
this...this hospital fundraiser.

Oh, I understand.

You go to a fancy dinner rather than
spend time with people like us.

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

Another night perhaps.

Well, to tell you the truth,

I'm not very good in crowds.

Come tonight at six.

We'll talk over dinner, all right?

I've got to get back to Linnia
and the baby.

You make it hard to say no.

I'm a mother.

We do have to talk.

In our house, a guest is always free
to say what he likes.

I'll see you tonight.

What's going on back there?

You know, I don't really think
I should go tonight.

Ow!

I think I'm coming down with the flu.

Don't give me that old excuse.

Oh, there.

Ellen, this thing has got to be
at least two sizes too small.

It isn't the cummerbund
that's changed.

You now, Ehrlich really threw me
for a loop today.

Two weeks into his marriage and
he's already screaming to get out.

Well, he ought to know.

You know, there's one problem
with his whole generation

that I don't understand.

I mean,
they all shack up with each other.

So they know exactly
what they're getting into.

And yet,
the divorce rate is sky high.

Things have changed
since we were married.

Do you remember what a surprise
our wedding night was?

I'd rather not talk about it.

Where the hell is my speech?

Uh, your right-hand breast pocket.

Oh.

"It's particularly gratifying
to receive this award,

"coming as it does from my peers."

Well, that doesn't work.

How come?

You'd call the Women's Auxiliary
my peers?

Yes.

I just don't want to run too long.

"I would be remiss
if I didn't thank..."

Well, I can't cut that part.

Come on, honey, you'll be thanking
everybody but the gardener.

The gardener, very funny.

Don't forget what happened
at last year's dinner dance.

You were hyperventilating
all evening.

I have never hyperventilated
in my entire life.

I just got a little excited,
that's all.

And then disappointed.

When they called Donald's name,

you looked
like they'd cancelled Christmas.

Look, the whole idea of Doctor
Of The Year is ridiculous.

I mean, it's one thing to strive
for excellence, it's another to be

in competition with your colleagues.

And then to make it worse, they
leave the voting up to amateurs.

I mean, how can you compare
what I do with say, uh,

what a radiologist does?

If you think the whole idea is so
silly, then why is it so important?

There are some things
you'll just never understand, Ellen.

Why don't you just go warm up
the car for me, huh?

Oh, my God!
Watch it, you could hurt a guy.

Geez, what, somebody moving out?

Hey, wait a minute!

What is going on here?

Some stranger just left
with a load of your hat boxes.

Oh, that's Maurice, our chauffeur.

We don't have a chauffeur.

Oh, not ours, yours and mine,
ours, mine and my parents'.

Where are you going?

Philadelphia. Oh, here.

Two of the fondue sets are yours,
I'll keep the others.

I hate fondue.

See? I grew up on fondue.

We are intransigent.

What?

Incorrigible.

Incomparable.

How about incompatible?

You can keep the cheap brandy
snifters from your Aunt Charisse.

Hey, don't start on my aunt, OK?

Why shouldn't
I criticise that old lush?

Why are you so upset?

Oh, ask that big blonde, you know,
the one you are so keen on.

What blonde?

Oh, you know the one, the big blonde
barmaid with the tingling ribs.

Oh, come on, I know what
you are talking about now.

I never laid a finger on her.

The car is fairly full, Ms Sloan.

It's not Ms Sloan, it's Mrs Ehrlich.

Maurice,
see if you can squeeze these in.

Very good, Miss.

Mrs.

Mrs Ehrlich. Thank you.

I'll be right down.

Victor.

We've got to face facts.

We've made a big mistake.

How can you say that?

Now, wait a minute, just let me talk.

Who can stop you?

OK, after all the therapy
and the dates...

Yeah, and how about the honeymoon?

We are not right for one another,
Victor.

I know you've tried, so have I.

Roberta, I really don't know
what to say.

Just goodbye.

I've never been very good
at saying goodbye.

Let me help you down.

Oh, I've got it.

I'll never find
another woman like you!

'Thank God.'

Don't forget Mr Katz's
medication at nine.

Oh, and Mrs Folly will be calling
down every few minutes or so,

but she just wants updates
on Family Feud.

Thanks, Wanda.

Hi.

Hi.

Oh, great dress!

Thanks. I got it for the fundraiser.

I'm on call,

so I get tuna fish on rye

and a postop who thinks
I'm irresistible.

Oh, how old?

83.

Lucky you(!)

I want a full report on the winner.
I've got five dollars on Craig.

Night, Jacqueline.

Night. >

Hey, Wendy.

What do you want?

Nothing.

Well, I'd like a little privacy,
this is the women's locker room.

I know.

Well then, get out of here!

Now, don't tell me what to do.

When are you going
to learn to grow up?

You going to teach me?

You are always coming down on me,

playing little Miss Know It All,
Miss Hostile.

And all along this is
what you really wanted.

You're crazy!

Am I?

(SCREAMS)

Help! Take her to her room. Come on.

Help!

Open the door!

Help!

Call security!
On the count of three, all right?

Ready? One, two, three.

Peter, what the hell?

Take it easy!

(SOBS)

Now, tell me
about the heart transplant,

Doctor, from beginning to end.

I'd really rather not.

Arthur thinks you ought to write
a book, don't you, dear?

A book?

Mark doesn't have time.

Well, there's always weekends.

Hello.

You're right here next to me,
Dr Auschlander.

Is Katherine parking the car?

No, I'm afraid she has come down
with a touch of the flu.

This is quite a turnout.

Yeah. You know, I heard
they barely broke even last year.

Said they printed
the wrong dates on the tickets.

Where is everyone at our table?

Victor and Roberta should be here.
Dr Armstrong should be coming, too.

Phil, let's dance.

Well, we just got here.

What are you talking about?

Sajala wonders
if the band takes requests.

What does she want to hear?

Song Of The Ganges Harvest.

< Excuse me.

Hello, Helen.

Hi.

Where's Ira?

Oh, he's home with the flu, poor guy.

There's a lot of that going around.

Now, you dig in.

Before you know it,
we'll be announcing

the Women's Auxiliary's choice
of Doctor Of The Year 1984.

Terrific.

The tension is killing me.

Easy to joke
when you're not in the running.

Oh, the Syfords and the Farnsworths.

They shouldn't be seated
at the same table.

They fight about the nuclear freeze.

Come along, dear,
you're good at diplomacy.

And I always thought
he was good for nothing.

Good evening.

Hi. Where's Caldwell?

He's got the flu.

BEEPING

I thought it was your night off.

You and me both.

I told them not to call
unless it's an emergency.

You're going to miss
the Man Of The Year Award.

Well, I'll try and get back
for the big event.

Have a good time.

Dinner was delicious.

You make Linnia feel happy,
that's good for her.

She doesn't get out enough.

Well, that's tough with a baby.

Mrs Keuhnelian...

You promised we'd talk about Joseph.

Yes, I know, I know.

The attacks he has been having
are part of a larger problem.

Ah, tea.

It's his arteries.

Especially the one that goes
to the brain,

that's what's causing the blackouts.

It's not fatal,

but he's got to make changes
in his way of life.

What kind of changes?

Well, diet,
cutting out smoking

and, uh...

He can't work construction any more.

< It's just too dangerous.

My God!

He can do other things, Mama.

That pay nothing.

I don't believe
this is happening to us.

Are you sure?

Uh-huh.

Then, how do we survive?

I'll get a job.

What can you do, Linnia?

You never worked and there's a baby.

Well, there are day care centres.
Pete goes to one three times a week.

No, that's not right.

Children should be brought
up in the home, with a mother.

Well, Mrs Keuhnelian, the city
has several agencies, which help

families that are in your situation.

No welfare. >

There's no bigger insult for a man
than to see his family beg.

If you had died
and your wife had lived,

do you think she would have insulted
your memory with handouts?

I couldn't do that to my husband >

and I can't do that to my son.

Thank you, thank you all.

For a moment I thought I had won.

Get on with it, lady!

And now...

for the event that you've all been
looking forward to.

Mrs Jesmer, break dancing.

(LAUGH)

The clarification of the selection
process for choosing

Doctor Of The Year.

Oh, for crying out loud!

Now, all 100 members

of the Women's Auxiliary
received ballots in the mail.

Now, they've alphabetically listed
every doctor who works

at St Eligius.

Then, they rank the favourites

and the top five are reviewed
by a blue ribbon panel,

who,
after very careful deliberation,

choose the Doctor Of The Year.

What did I tell you? Amateurs.

If you recall,

last year's winner was
the St Eligius Director Of Medicine,

Dr Westphall.

Dr Westphall, would you take a bow?

He's not here,

he had to go to the hospital
on emergency.

Oh, dear. This is awkward.

Well, I guess I, uh...

"For meritory service,
irreproachable conduct,

"humanitarianism
beyond the call of duty

"and for transplanting
the level of medical care,

"St Eligius Hospital, Boston,
Massachusetts,

"Doctor Of The Year 1984,

"Dr Donald Westphall."

Two years running!

Relax, Mark, that speech will keep.

Dr Craig,

as a good friend of Dr Westphall's,

perhaps you would come accept
the award for him.

Actually, I couldn't po...

Do it, Mark.

Go ahead, Mark, give 'em hell. >

At least you could have had
it laminated.

(LAUGHS)

Um...

I know that if Donald were here,
he'd be thrilled.

To be selected Doctor Of The Year...

..once is an honour,

to receive it twice running is,
uh...

unbelievable.

But, um...

..that tells you something
about the man.

Dr Westphall runs St Eligius
with efficiency, with humour.

He's not just a fine doctor,
he's a fine human being.

When you think about it,

he's not here to receive this award
himself because he was needed.

If there's better evidence

that he's the one
that deserves this award,

well, I can't think of any.

To Donald Westphall.

'Dr Albert, ICU.
Dr Marilyn Albert, ICU.'

Joe.

Doc?

Yeah.

I had a great dinner
at your mother's.

I told her all about your situation.

On the whole, I don't know,
I guess it went pretty...

Here, hold onto me.

Hold onto me. Got me?

All right, take it easy, sit back.

Got it?

All right.

Now look at me. Look at me.

How long have you been like this?

I don't know...how long a time.

This is it, Doc?

Am I going to see again?

Lie still. Lie still.

I don't care.

Just lie still.

I don't care.

These attacks last 30 minutes
at the most.

I hope it goes forever.

It's OK. It's all over.

Mind if I sit?

(SOBS)

I'll get 12.

OK, I'll get 11.

Yeah, I'll stack the tray.

What are you doing here?

We got to talk.

Sorry I was so...stubborn
this morning.

That wasn't stubborn,
that was pigheaded.

Yeah?
What would you call yourself then?

Pushy, opinionated, self-righteous.

About covers it.

Joan, I got to ask you something...

< Dr Caldwell!

What a surprise.

We thought you had the flu.

No, we had a fight.

Bobby,
what was it you wanted to say?

Well...

Oh, don't mind us. Go right ahead.

Do you want to dance?

Dance?

Oh, what a shame,
I think the orchestra is packing up.

Bobby, you must be feeling better.

This is Sajala.

Hi, how are you? Joan, listen...

Not too well, she thinks
she is coming down with the flu.

Bobby, go ahead, sweetheart,
what was the question?

Dr Caldwell is going to ask
Ms Halloran an important question.

Who won?

Pete. Peter...

Fine.

Vroom, Vroom.

Are you tired?
Are you getting tired?

(CHILD CRIES)

(CHILD CRIES)

Hi, Dr Westphall.

Mira.

Peter's on call.

Yeah, I know. May I come in?

Oh, sure.

Mommy...