St. Elsewhere (1982–1988): Season 2, Episode 5 - A Wing and a Prayer - full transcript
The staff members decide to have a Thanksgiving feast with Ehrlich and Craig competing for best turkey. Auschlander considers giving up the fight against cancer. An 11-year old boy is brought in to the hospital with leukemia-like ...
'Previously:' Jack, your wife
has had an accident.
An accident?
Nina's dead, Jack. What?
Now, I am performing this heart
transplant in 30 minutes.
Mark, I don't want to die.
I won't let you die.
Donor, white female, age 28.
Name, Morrison, Nina L.
If it's any comfort, your wife has
given that woman a second chance.
The first 15 names
work Thanksgiving.
'Tonight on St Elsewhere:'
This is an emergency. Do you want
thousands of kids
to watch big Snoopy die on national
television?
Any turkey stuffed with fruit
is repulsive.
I want a decent meal on Thanksgiving
I'll have to cook my own turkey.
Halfway through a glass of orange
juice
I had the strange sense
of foreboding
that in a short time I was going
to actually die.
Medicine isn't real, God.
Why not?
You can't work miracles.
You said it was a textbook case
of leukaemia.
We're treating him little boy here,
not a textbook.
In grade school, I used
to have this recurring nightmare
that somebody cancelled
summer vacation.
I used to have that dream too.
Know the difference between that
nightmare and the one I'm having?
What's that?
It used to go away when I woke up.
Mix these up good, Fiscus, I'm on a
considerable losing streak here.
OK, we all know the rules here.
Everybody in the residency
programme, either present
or otherwise,
has put an autograph on a tongue
depressor
in the hat which I now hold.
A little history on the hat.
Who cares about the hat, Fiscus?
Does everyone feel the same
way about the hat?
ALL: Yes!
OK, the no-frills approach.
The first 15 names work
Thanksgiving.
Nothing up my sleeve.
Victor Ehrlich.
Gah!
(LAUGHS)
You didn't shave this morning.
My electric razor's broken.
I'll shave at the hospital.
I thought I'd drive you in today.
I've got to pick up the turkey.
And then I thought I'd pick up
a veal roast for Sunday.
How does that sound?
To be perfectly honest,
I haven't had much appetite lately.
Are you feeling OK?
It's not the cancer,
if that's what you mean.
Well, Jean and Gloria are driving
up with the kids.
Quite a voyage just for Thanksgiving.
And of course Audrey will be over.
Bill's going to the Patriots game,
so he'll be a little late,
but he says he prefers cold
turkey anyway.
Then there's Tom and Linda...
Oh, the Withers can't
make it for dinner.
But they want to
come in for drinks afterwards.
I have this feeling
this will be my last Thanksgiving.
Oh, come on, Daniel.
About a week ago I woke up thirsty.
I went in to get something to drink.
Then the damnedest thing happened.
About halfway through
a glass of orange juice,
I had the strange sense of
foreboding that in a short time...
I was going to actually die.
Would you rather
we did dinner for ourselves?
I can still call off the troops.
No, let's have them all.
Better to go out with a bang
than a whimper.
Wendy Armstrong.
13 down, two to go.
Wayne Fiscus. Holiday doctor.
The last name is...
..Peter White.
White. Huh?
You're working tomorrow.
OK, Wayne. Thank you.
Take it easy, you guys.
I liked him
better as a hopeless degenerate.
Morning.
I was going home for the first
time in 13 months.
Face it, Victor. Your life is here
and now with us.
My aunt Sharice was sending me
money towards the plane fare.
You can spend that money on
improving your appearance.
I had to work on Diwali day,
and that's a religious violation!
Easter isn't exactly a pagan rite.
Hey, I got to work
on Martin Luther King's birthday.
We don't have a drawing
on Martin Luther King's birthday.
My point exactly.
Hey!
You know, you people should be
ashamed of yourselves.
If you want off on holidays,
go work at Price Chopper.
This isn't just an ordinary job
you got here, for crying out loud.
It's a vocation.
Wonder if he's working tomorrow.
Did you have a question, Ehrlich?
No, actually, I was just...
Show a little guts here, Ehrlich.
Repeat the question
so everybody can hear.
Well, we were just speculating,
you know,
if you had special
plans for the holidays, or...
In other words, am I scheduled to
work tomorrow? Correct?
Well, sort of, yeah.
That's a good question, Ehrlich.
Of course I'm not scheduled
to work tomorrow.
I'm a senior staff member, I'm not
required to work on holidays.
I've proven myself
and earned that right.
But I'll tell you what.
I'm just so disgusted with all this
whining,
that I'm going to put myself
on the schedule,
just to show you how a real doctor
should act.
HE WHISTLES "UH-OH"
Good question, Victor(!)
Not only are we spending
the holiday in the hospital,
but now we are spending it with him.
Hi.
What are you reading?
Ten Days That Shook The World.
Seemed appropriate.
I must've graded 10,000 book reports
on it in the past five years,
but I hadn't read the unmolested
version and almost as long.
How does it hold up?
The book is wonderful,
but the reports were
farther off than I thought.
How are my grades?
Oh, boy, you're on the honour roll.
No signs of infection,
improved cardiac function,
blood pressure 120/70.
That's lower than it
was before the transplant.
Well, the blood pressure is
lowered by the medication.
Let me see here.
SHE BREATHES DEEPLY
Overall, your condition is very
promising.
You're making me look good.
Lungs are clear.
Pulse is strong in both arms.
Squeeze my hand.
Ooh! Very good.
So how long do you think it'll be
before I can go back to school?
If you were teaching at Andover or
Deerfield, I'd say about six months,
but in a viper pit
like Paul Revere...
Everybody's been great,
but I thought I was going to be here
for a week. It's s been a month now.
No, huh?
Mmm-mm.
Thanksgiving cards
from some of my kids.
What happened to penmanship,
for Pete's sake?
Hey, if it were perfect,
I wouldn't have to go back.
Yes, well, you're not going anywhere
for a while.
I want you to get some rest. I'll
check back with you tomorrow, OK?
(Bye.)
Morning, Daniel.
Morning.
You read this morning
about the Patriots?
I refuse to read about them.
Never have I seen a team
show such invention in losing.
Come on. Maybe you've given up
on them a little early, huh?
Any coffee in here?
I'll make you some. Thank you.
Going away for the holidays?
I wish. How about you?
Nope, no plans. Kids are with their
grandparents.
I think I'll stay in bed and read.
I don't blame you.
Sometimes holidays are more work
than work.
Good book?
Not everybody's idea
of a pleasure read.
It looks like it's just
about the right length.
I didn't think you'd like it.
Death With Dignity?
It's an English movement,
hasn't crossed the Atlantic yet.
Thank God.
I don't think he has
much to do with it.
Yeah.
I suppose it's personal.
Nothing's more personal.
Have you talked to
Katherine about this?
Suicide is not a polite word
in Katherine's religion.
And not in yours, so I gather.
Daniel, it's none of my business
how a man chooses to go out,
but I know you well enough to
think that this can't be your way.
Oh damn, you're out of luck.
Coffee maker's broken.
Funny thing.
This morning it was
my electric razor.
I suppose if one thing goes,
everything seems to unravel.
KNOCK ON DOOR
Come in.
Oh, excuse me. I'll come back later.
What is it, Morrison?
I just wanted to know if you had a
chance to look at the Dempsey case.
Dempsey?
Yeah, it came in last night.
Jaundiced, disoriented, unable
to keep anything down for days.
Looks like we're
heading for liver failure.
Any family history of blood disorders
or enzyme deficiencies?
No.
Weight loss?
Yeah, about ten pounds
over the last month.
I left a copy of the history and
a physical on your desk last night.
I ordered all the standard lab
studies plus a lymph node biopsy.
Hmm. I suppose this is what
we euphemistically refer to
as a textbook case.
Nothing like a little
leukaemia to make a holiday.
I'll look in on him
when I have a chance.
Well, I think I'll go down to
the cafeteria for some coffee.
Any takers?
Yeah, I could use some.
Mind if I borrow this?
Not at all. Don't worry, Donald.
I won't be needing it today.
'Mr Vernon, Mr Ron Vernon
to report to the nurses' station.'
The man of the hour himself.
Pardon?
Mark, I'd be a little remiss
if I didn't tell you
that the whole hospital's buzzing.
Giving up your Thanksgiving to work.
That's inspirational.
Somebody has to set
an example around here.
I'm certainly not above
a little personal sacrifice.
Well, that's big of you, Mark.
Guess that means you're going to
miss the dinner with the in-laws
up in Peterborough this year.
Well, that's the
price I have to pay.
Yeah, I guess Ellen's
going to be disappointed.
No, she'll enjoy herself. She and
her mother get along pretty well.
Do they?
Still, it's a shame, you know.
Look, what I can do,
I can arrange to have you covered
about three o'clock and that'd give
you enough time to drive up there.
Come on, Donald. You know
I can't stand Ellen's family.
They're cretins, for Pete's sake!
This time of year, the drive
to Peterborough's beautiful.
Like taking a sleigh ride
to get root canal work!
Yes, Mrs Jesmer?
Call me Joanne.
Mrs Jesmer, I don't have time to
chat right now. What's the problem?
Well, I'm writing
my girlfriend in Sarasota
and I need to know the
technical name for my disease.
For the last time, you don't have
a disease. You have bunions!
Oh. But isn't there
a more technical name for it?
I mean, something
a little more tragic?
A little bit more tragic.
How about hammer toes?
Really?
Trust me.
Mr Dempsey, I presume.
Joe?
I'm Doctor Auschlander.
Rumour has it you're
not feeling so hot.
You know what, I'm surprised.
Bad enough being sick, but
getting dragged into the hospital
for Thanksgiving can't be
your idea of a great holiday.
Stomach on the blink, right?
Let's have a look.
There we are, now.
That's not going to hurt.
Tender, huh?
Ahh...
Fine. You did that well.
How long's it been
since you kept down your food?
A few days.
How you been sleeping?
I have a lot of nightmares.
Doctor Morrison says
it's from my temperature.
You're probably feeling
shaken up right now,
and that can give you bad dreams.
I know, cos that's the way
I feel when I go to the doctors.
You do?
Oh, sure.
It's perfectly natural to be scared,
even though there's
nothing to be scared of.
You mean I'm not going to die?
Whatever made you think
of a thing like that?
Everyone's always whispering.
Anything else?
All the tests and stuff.
I don't know. I just know
it's really serious.
And you don't believe them.
I sure don't feel fine.
Well, there's clearly
something wrong, Joe.
But in order to make you better,
we have to find out
what the trouble is,
and that's what the tests are for.
And as for people
treating you differently,
it's because they don't like
to see a boy your age in hospital,
especially your parents.
Are you going to have to operate?
We're just going to
steal a few cells
to find out what the trouble is.
You won't even feel it.
You'll be asleep.
And the kid says, "But Dad,
Mom's busy weighing the milkman." >
I still don't get it.
Ehrlich, it's 11:30.
I want the cardiac scan report
on Eve Leighton on my desk by 12.
But sir...
Sharp.
Yes, Doctor Craig.
Hi, guys.
I can't eat this hamster meat!
I love Salisbury steak.
Don't tell me you guys are still
upset about being here tomorrow.
Among other things. Like what?
Eating here tomorrow.
It's nothing to be depressed about.
If we can't be out of the
hospital for Thanksgiving,
we'll just bring Thanksgiving
here to the hospital.
Have our own dinner right here.
Everybody make their own
speciality. It'll be fun. >
Your drug is very strong.
What do you think, huh?
Tomorrow's menu.
OK, Wendy, what's your speciality?
Erm...teriyaki and green beans.
My mother makes them
every Thanksgiving.
Spell it.
Just put cheese balls and yoghurt.
Oh, another Thanksgiving classic(!)
Maybe I should make
a California dish.
Like what, Trail Mix?
Time's a-wasting, Ehrlich.
Right.
What?
Well, I make an
incredible barbecued turkey,
you guys'd love it.
You cook it on an open grill
and then stuff it with kiwi fruit.
Oh, they're delicious.
That's disgusting, Ehrlich.
Now wait a minute. Doctor Craig, I
can take you beating on me in the OR
and making fun of my clothes,
but my barbecued turkey is
something I'm very proud of.
And I'd appreciate if you reserve
your criticisms until you taste it.
I don't have to taste it, Ehrlich.
I think it's safe to assume
that any turkey stuffed
with fruit is repulsive.
If I want a decent meal on
Thanksgiving, I'll cook my own.
I taught you how to be a surgeon,
now I'll show you how to cook.
And after that
we'll work on your wardrobe.
I can't wait to taste
your turkey, Victor.
She says that to all the boys.
Doctor Wade, has Jack Morrison
talked to you
about the Dempsey case?
Lymph node biopsy, right?
First thing Monday morning.
I'd like for you to do it tomorrow.
Thanksgiving?
I know it's against policy
to do elective surgery on holidays.
Robert and I were driving
to Maine to visit the family.
We'll schedule it early.
You'll be out before eight.
It's important to you.
Consider it a personal favour.
Of course.
'Just about seven o'clock in Boston.
We have a beautiful snowy evening
'and remind you that there are...'
Mark Craig.
I called ahead for a turkey.
Craig. You the one that
asked for the taut skin.
Yes.
Also, it should be
very wide in the mid-section.
Er, anything else?
Yes, it should be as
fresh as humanly possible.
If you like, I could kill it
for you right here on the counter.
And I can do without the sarcasm.
Look pal, I've been
a butcher for what, 20 years,
and a turkey is a turkey.
Not when you poach it.
You're poaching a turkey?
This happens to be a gourmet recipe
created by Paul Bocuse in France.
Well, doesn't it come out all slimy?
Just get the turkey, please.
Doctor Craig, hi!
Oh, for crying out loud.
Do you have any idea where
I can get a decent kiwi?
Try New Zealand!
OK. Poach this.
What can I do for you?
Hi, I need an organically fed turkey
with thick skin for barbecuing.
You going to do
something French with it?
No, Hawaiian.
You two guys live together, right?
Hello, Joe.
And Joe's father, I presume.
Mr Dempsey, this is Dr Auschlander.
He's the liver specialist
who's overseeing Joe's treatment.
I've got something for you here.
What is it?
A little fear remover.
Help you to get to sleep.
Will it put me
to sleep right away?
No, not right away.
Cos I have to say my prayers.
There'll be plenty of time.
I'll be right back.
He's pretty bad off, huh?
We don't know anything for certain
until we get the biopsy results.
Then we can determine whether
or not he's got an infection.
At the same time, we can
examine his cells more closely
for abnormalities.
I watched my sister die like this.
Fevers, nausea...
stomach pains.
But she was 50 years old!
Mr Dempsey...
Diagnosis is a
very complicated thing.
Very often different illnesses
have similar symptoms.
It's leukaemia, isn't it?
Please, I'd rather know.
Possibly.
Let's go get some coffee.
See if I can explain this
a little better.
Do you pray every day, Joe?
Yeah. I'm a Catholic.
What about you?
I'm not Catholic.
No. I mean, do you pray?
Well, actually, it's been
quite some time since I prayed.
You don't believe in God?
In a manner of speaking.
Does that mean no?
No, not exactly.
No, I'm what you'd call an agnostic.
Do you know what that is?
Someone who doesn't
want to be an atheist.
Well, let me explain.
Different people have different gods.
Mine's medicine.
Medicine isn't a real god.
Why not? >
It can't work miracles.
I see.
You don't believe
in miracles, do you?
It's just that I've
never witnessed one.
They're like ghosts.
How's that?
You have to believe in them
before you can see them.
Well, I'll keep my eyes open.
I mean it.
I mean it too.
Now, close your eyes
and let that pill go to work.
Dr Auschlander?
You have to know where to look.
Dr Morgan.
Dr Morgan to NICU.
They won't give us
clearance on the ovens.
What about my barbecue grill?
No charcoal fires.
How am I supposed to barbecue
my turkey without charcoal?
Volcanic rock.
We'll find a way around it. >
Well, we'd better find it
in the dark because physical plan
wants triple time to keep
the lights on after eight.
Triple time?!
That's right.
Why is everybody union but us?
Because we have a vocation.
Dr Ehrlich, Mrs Jesmer, 317,
requires your immediate presence.
Again?! The woman had some bunions
removed, for Pete's sake.
She's afraid
they're healing together.
Tell her it'll make her
a better swimmer.
How the hell was I supposed
to know she was your sister?! >
Hey. I need a favour.
Good evening, doctors.
Good evening, Auschlander.
Evening.
Evening.
TELEPHONE RINGS
Hello?
Katherine.
I was just walking out the door.
I'll be home in 20 minutes.
Yes.
Don't let him die.
You can't let him die.
I have to.
No, I have to pick up
a biopsy result.
It may be leukaemia.
Oh, but the kids
are coming this morning.
Tell them it's important.
They'll understand.
Well, I don't. You can't expect me
to entertain all the guests
while I'm trying to get
dinner on the table.
I'll be stuck here in the kitchen
with Bill re-enacting
the Patriots game
while I'm trying to season
the mashed potatoes.
Oh, Daniel. It's Thanksgiving!
Well, what time will you be back?
I'll call.
Does that mean I'll be
carving the turkey?
Katherine, it's an 11-year-old boy.
I'll hold dinner as long as I can.
Call me when you're finished
at the hospital.
I shall.
There must be something you can
talk to them about, Ellen.
They're your family!
Now, hurry up and get on the road.
Morning, Dr Craig.
Hello. Yes, this is Dr Ehrlich.
I just came from her room!
What?! Absolutely not.
No. No! No nail polish until
her feet are completely healed.
Well, then wipe it off before
her toes get infected, OK?
Goodbye.
Go away, Mrs Jesmer.
How was the frozen section?
Reactive inflammation.
He's loaded with white cells.
Damn.
Well, there's always the possibility
that it was just an infection.
Hopefully, the permanent sections
will be more specific.
I want all his lab values rechecked.
Liver function studies, blood smears,
x-rays, everything we had on him.
What for?
Do you think there was
a foul-up in the lab?
I want them rechecked, that's all.
And I want a hepatitis
surface antigen ordered.
Why? >
You said yourself it was
a textbook case of leukaemia.
We're treating a little boy here,
not a textbook.
Dr Morrison, the information
we have is inconclusive,
until we get our hands
on the permanent section.
We can get an HSA today.
We have a permanent
section in 48 hours.
If you have any doubts
about the diagnosis,
why don't you wait until then?
I don't want to wait
an entire weekend
to find out if this child's
going to die.
I'll do what you want...
but I think you're
grasping at straws.
You're damn right I am.
If you like, I'd be glad
to get another frozen section,
just to be certain.
No, you've done enough already.
Besides, you have
a long drive ahead of you.
Dr Auschlander...
..Happy Thanksgiving.
Thank you.
Everything's taken care of. I got two
stoves for the potatoes and stuff.
Incredible.
Finding a barbecue in November
in Boston - that's an achievement!
Well, don't thank me, thank Jerome.
Jerome, thank you.
Oh, oh, oh!
Listen, Jerome doesn't like
to be touched by strangers.
Fine, that's fine by me.
Come here.
What, is he dangerous?
Well, not normally,
but doctors rub him the wrong way.
Great.
He's been here helping me
since 5.30 this morning.
Wow.
Uh, when his shift ended?
Oh, oh, OK.
How about $10 for your trouble?
Well, now, he usually gets $11.50
an hour, holiday bonus pay,
but he'll accept
a flat rate of...
$25.
Fine, $25 is perfect.
Now, you've got to keep
the air vents open,
and when you finish, let it
cool down before you clean it.
Oh, and one other thing -
you gotta use it outside.
What?!
MARCHING BANDS PLAYING
OK, now, how much of the finger
did you actually carve off, sir?
TUBA PLAYING
Are you a doctor?
Yes.
I'm in the Thanksgiving parade.
Me and you both.
We had an accident
a couple of blocks from here.
I cut my elbow on the Snoopy float.
Well, that can happen to everyone.
It's only a nick -
just toss me a Band-Aid.
Well, we'd better check it out
just to make sure,
and I need some information
before we can patch your feathers.
OK.
Let's start with your name
and your age.
My name is Doug Dresden,
I'm 45 years old.
45, that's about eight and a half
in turkey years, huh?
MEN ARGUING
Their floats collided.
Come on, not here, just have
a seat, this is a hospital.
Just sit down.
Can you help me a second?
Whose tail is this?
It's big Snoopy's.
And who are you?
I'm little Snoopy -
can you help me patch his tail?
This is an emergency room.
This is an emergency - do you want
thousands of kids to watch
big Snoopy die a slow
death on national television?
Yeah!
Daniels, Snoopy suture, stat!
Have a look at
the peripheral blood smear.
Here's the bone marrow aspirate.
I see nothing new there.
Bone scan.
Looks normal.
CAT scan.
Enlarged lymph nodes
next to the aorta,
enlarged spleen, enlarged liver.
KUB shows no psoas margins,
and the white cell count is 22,000.
Want more?
No.
I don't, I've had enough.
The hepatitis service antigen
results should be done by six.
I don't think anyone is served
by prolonging the suspense.
Well...
..we don't know for certain.
Oh, we know, Jack.
We know, because we're good doctors,
and good doctors know their business.
And sometime later this afternoon,
on this glorious day
of universal gratitude,
the two of us,
with awe-inspiring grace,
will hand out
a death sentence to a child.
And then go off and gorge ourselves
with great personal satisfaction.
And give thanks.
Thanks for what, may I ask?
For what?
I'm sorry, Jack.
I know how you feel.
Listen, why don't
I pick up the test results?
No, you go and have dinner
with Pete.
Pete's here.
I brought him in.
I suppose home'd be the last place
you'd want to be today.
I'll page you
when I get the results.
This morning I passed
an orderly in the hallway.
He was wearing a T-shirt that read...
"Life is hard, and then you die."
Do you think 11 years
constitute a life, Jack?
No.
Neither do I.
Yes, Mrs Jesmer?
Dr Ehrlich, please come in.
My husband reminded me we're hosting
a dinner party next Saturday, and...
Well, I just couldn't imagine myself
greeting the guests at the door
wearing an evening down and pink
slippers with the toes cut out.
So I wondered if...
Stop it right there, Mrs Jesmer,
stop it!
Do you know how difficult it is to
prepare a perfect barbecued turkey?
To arrange the hickory chips
so that they burn for hours
at a constant temperature?
To raise the turkey
just high enough above the fire
so the skin turns brown and crispy
but does not char?
Do you?!
No, I don't.
No, all I wanted to know is,
how long do you think it will be
before I can wear high heels?
Mrs Jesmer, you need at least
three weeks in a padded sock.
I'll order you one!
Thank you.
Going home, Jack.
I spoke to Roecklin in the lab,
it won't be that long
before you get the results.
My wife's going to meet me
in the lobby in 15 minutes.
She's already on her way.
Hi, Pete.
Boy, he's doing great.
I thought it'd really screw him up
to go on his bottle this early,
but he's had no trouble adjusting.
They're more flexible
at that age, not like us.
How you doing?
Ah, you know.
Lousy one day, miserable the next.
It has to be tough
on the first holiday.
It's funny, after Nina died...
..it seemed like I had
almost nothing left.
Then I came in here a little
while ago and looked in on him.
I figured I had
just about everything.
FOOTBALL COMMENTARY ON TELEVISION
I'm here for the Dempsey assay.
Right.
I really appreciate
you doing this so quickly.
Yeah, no problem.
Here you go.
Whoo, yeah!
Who scored?!
It's not leukaemia.
Well, stop dancing around
and show me the results.
I've gotta go see him.
I don't get it,
what did you see in his results
made you keep looking?
Sometimes the information you need
isn't even then the results.
Well, how do you find it?
It's there.
You gotta know where to look.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Joe's going to be all right.
Thank you.
We found out what's
been making Joe sick.
Well, what is it?
Hepatitis.
That doesn't sound so good. >
Oh, it's no match for the two of us,
you'll probably live to be 90.
The bad news is, you may
have to miss a few weeks of school.
You think you can cope with that?
I'll try.
First thing tomorrow morning
we have to get some food
into that body of yours.
I don't feel very hungry.
We have some medication, it'll
help you get your appetite back.
And if you cooperate,
I may be able to work
a little miracle of my own.
What do I have to do?
Take the medicine,
and then concentrate.
On what?
That part of the turkey
you like best.
Thank you, Doctor.
Why didn't we have
this thing catered?
At this point I'd just as soon
get some fast food and eat in bed.
Come home with me -
they just opened a new
Gobble To Go in my neighbourhood.
Phew!
You know, this makes a lot of sense -
work 12 hours a day as a doctor,
I get off and moonlight as a busboy.
Part of a new career
aptitude programme.
In a few hours you can test your
skills loading the dishwasher.
Oh, no, I forgot about cleaning up.
Why couldn't we use
plastic silverware?
it'll melt in the spin cycle.
Well, now what? >
Now we just sit here
and quietly starve to death.
Daniel?
Are you all right?
No.
I don't think I've ever
been so hungry in my life.
The turkey's been pillaged, but
I did manage to save you the wings.
I hope our guests weren't
insulted by my not appearing.
Not at all.
I'll make it up to them
next Thanksgiving.
I take it you're feeling better?
Much.
I'm sorry about today, Katherine.
Did you ever feel as if
you were in a tunnel
and didn't know how to get out?
How did you get out?
Someone showed me the way.
Hey, I hope they haven't wiped out
the liquor cabinet!
Never fear,
we're stocked to the gills.
Good.
Because I feel a bender coming on.
Daniel!
I can't remember the last time
I saw you drunk.
I promise to make this one memorable.
Happy Thanksgiving.
(BOTH) Happy Thanksgiving.
What are you doing here?
A little late-night supper
with the staff.
After you finish, drop around,
have a drink.
Good idea, thank you.
Well, see you later, then.
Good.
Oh, Daniel?
I have your book.
Thanks, Donald.
I won't be needing it after all.
APPLAUSE
Who'll do the honours?
Oh, I forgot, we have surgeons here.
Maybe have some assistance, please?
Please.
Scalpel.
Scalpel.
Victor, your turkey looks great.
I can smell the kiwis from here.
I thought of you
when I was stuffing it.
You're a pig, Ehrlich.
All right, we're ready to eat.
Now, if everyone will call out
their turkey preference
we can pass you a serving.
Ah, Donald, you're just in time.
Care to conduct the services?
Be honoured.
Now Ehrlich's turkey is barbecued.
With kiwi.
And mine is poached,
with tarragon mustard.
Phil?
Uh, tough call.
Barbecue.
Wendy? >
Uh, barbecue.
Barbecue.
Peter?
Barbecue.
Hope there's enough for everyone.
Luther?
I'll try poached.
Jack?
Poached.
Poached, please.
I'll have the poached.
How about you, Donald?
What'll you have? >
Um, I think I'll have
a little of both,
I don't want to make
any enemies here today.
Mmm, this is delicious.
Of course.
You're sure you don't
want to try some of mine?
Yes.
Will someone light the candles >
and kill the lights?
Haven't we forgotten something? >
Oh, how could we be so stupid -
the stuffing.
No, not the stuffing, a prayer.
Before you eat Thanksgiving dinner
you're supposed to give thanks.
He's absolutely right.
As senior attending physician,
perhaps Dr Westphall
would do the honours.
Well, um...
I'm not very good at this,
but I'll give it a try.
I think Thanksgiving
is a very special holiday.
It's special because
it's the one day of the year
when we stop and look beyond
our own self-interests
and open our eyes
to the rest of the world.
It's a time when,
at least for a day, all of us,
the free, the healthy and the loved,
stop complaining and moping,
whining, brooding,
and all those things it seems that
we fortunate Americans
have become famous for.
Thanksgiving is a day
when each and every one of us
should thank the powers that be
for allowing us to be here.
Existence is something
we too easily take for granted,
and whatever else we have
or don't have, we are the living.
And the rest of it's gravy.
And pass the potatoes, please.
has had an accident.
An accident?
Nina's dead, Jack. What?
Now, I am performing this heart
transplant in 30 minutes.
Mark, I don't want to die.
I won't let you die.
Donor, white female, age 28.
Name, Morrison, Nina L.
If it's any comfort, your wife has
given that woman a second chance.
The first 15 names
work Thanksgiving.
'Tonight on St Elsewhere:'
This is an emergency. Do you want
thousands of kids
to watch big Snoopy die on national
television?
Any turkey stuffed with fruit
is repulsive.
I want a decent meal on Thanksgiving
I'll have to cook my own turkey.
Halfway through a glass of orange
juice
I had the strange sense
of foreboding
that in a short time I was going
to actually die.
Medicine isn't real, God.
Why not?
You can't work miracles.
You said it was a textbook case
of leukaemia.
We're treating him little boy here,
not a textbook.
In grade school, I used
to have this recurring nightmare
that somebody cancelled
summer vacation.
I used to have that dream too.
Know the difference between that
nightmare and the one I'm having?
What's that?
It used to go away when I woke up.
Mix these up good, Fiscus, I'm on a
considerable losing streak here.
OK, we all know the rules here.
Everybody in the residency
programme, either present
or otherwise,
has put an autograph on a tongue
depressor
in the hat which I now hold.
A little history on the hat.
Who cares about the hat, Fiscus?
Does everyone feel the same
way about the hat?
ALL: Yes!
OK, the no-frills approach.
The first 15 names work
Thanksgiving.
Nothing up my sleeve.
Victor Ehrlich.
Gah!
(LAUGHS)
You didn't shave this morning.
My electric razor's broken.
I'll shave at the hospital.
I thought I'd drive you in today.
I've got to pick up the turkey.
And then I thought I'd pick up
a veal roast for Sunday.
How does that sound?
To be perfectly honest,
I haven't had much appetite lately.
Are you feeling OK?
It's not the cancer,
if that's what you mean.
Well, Jean and Gloria are driving
up with the kids.
Quite a voyage just for Thanksgiving.
And of course Audrey will be over.
Bill's going to the Patriots game,
so he'll be a little late,
but he says he prefers cold
turkey anyway.
Then there's Tom and Linda...
Oh, the Withers can't
make it for dinner.
But they want to
come in for drinks afterwards.
I have this feeling
this will be my last Thanksgiving.
Oh, come on, Daniel.
About a week ago I woke up thirsty.
I went in to get something to drink.
Then the damnedest thing happened.
About halfway through
a glass of orange juice,
I had the strange sense of
foreboding that in a short time...
I was going to actually die.
Would you rather
we did dinner for ourselves?
I can still call off the troops.
No, let's have them all.
Better to go out with a bang
than a whimper.
Wendy Armstrong.
13 down, two to go.
Wayne Fiscus. Holiday doctor.
The last name is...
..Peter White.
White. Huh?
You're working tomorrow.
OK, Wayne. Thank you.
Take it easy, you guys.
I liked him
better as a hopeless degenerate.
Morning.
I was going home for the first
time in 13 months.
Face it, Victor. Your life is here
and now with us.
My aunt Sharice was sending me
money towards the plane fare.
You can spend that money on
improving your appearance.
I had to work on Diwali day,
and that's a religious violation!
Easter isn't exactly a pagan rite.
Hey, I got to work
on Martin Luther King's birthday.
We don't have a drawing
on Martin Luther King's birthday.
My point exactly.
Hey!
You know, you people should be
ashamed of yourselves.
If you want off on holidays,
go work at Price Chopper.
This isn't just an ordinary job
you got here, for crying out loud.
It's a vocation.
Wonder if he's working tomorrow.
Did you have a question, Ehrlich?
No, actually, I was just...
Show a little guts here, Ehrlich.
Repeat the question
so everybody can hear.
Well, we were just speculating,
you know,
if you had special
plans for the holidays, or...
In other words, am I scheduled to
work tomorrow? Correct?
Well, sort of, yeah.
That's a good question, Ehrlich.
Of course I'm not scheduled
to work tomorrow.
I'm a senior staff member, I'm not
required to work on holidays.
I've proven myself
and earned that right.
But I'll tell you what.
I'm just so disgusted with all this
whining,
that I'm going to put myself
on the schedule,
just to show you how a real doctor
should act.
HE WHISTLES "UH-OH"
Good question, Victor(!)
Not only are we spending
the holiday in the hospital,
but now we are spending it with him.
Hi.
What are you reading?
Ten Days That Shook The World.
Seemed appropriate.
I must've graded 10,000 book reports
on it in the past five years,
but I hadn't read the unmolested
version and almost as long.
How does it hold up?
The book is wonderful,
but the reports were
farther off than I thought.
How are my grades?
Oh, boy, you're on the honour roll.
No signs of infection,
improved cardiac function,
blood pressure 120/70.
That's lower than it
was before the transplant.
Well, the blood pressure is
lowered by the medication.
Let me see here.
SHE BREATHES DEEPLY
Overall, your condition is very
promising.
You're making me look good.
Lungs are clear.
Pulse is strong in both arms.
Squeeze my hand.
Ooh! Very good.
So how long do you think it'll be
before I can go back to school?
If you were teaching at Andover or
Deerfield, I'd say about six months,
but in a viper pit
like Paul Revere...
Everybody's been great,
but I thought I was going to be here
for a week. It's s been a month now.
No, huh?
Mmm-mm.
Thanksgiving cards
from some of my kids.
What happened to penmanship,
for Pete's sake?
Hey, if it were perfect,
I wouldn't have to go back.
Yes, well, you're not going anywhere
for a while.
I want you to get some rest. I'll
check back with you tomorrow, OK?
(Bye.)
Morning, Daniel.
Morning.
You read this morning
about the Patriots?
I refuse to read about them.
Never have I seen a team
show such invention in losing.
Come on. Maybe you've given up
on them a little early, huh?
Any coffee in here?
I'll make you some. Thank you.
Going away for the holidays?
I wish. How about you?
Nope, no plans. Kids are with their
grandparents.
I think I'll stay in bed and read.
I don't blame you.
Sometimes holidays are more work
than work.
Good book?
Not everybody's idea
of a pleasure read.
It looks like it's just
about the right length.
I didn't think you'd like it.
Death With Dignity?
It's an English movement,
hasn't crossed the Atlantic yet.
Thank God.
I don't think he has
much to do with it.
Yeah.
I suppose it's personal.
Nothing's more personal.
Have you talked to
Katherine about this?
Suicide is not a polite word
in Katherine's religion.
And not in yours, so I gather.
Daniel, it's none of my business
how a man chooses to go out,
but I know you well enough to
think that this can't be your way.
Oh damn, you're out of luck.
Coffee maker's broken.
Funny thing.
This morning it was
my electric razor.
I suppose if one thing goes,
everything seems to unravel.
KNOCK ON DOOR
Come in.
Oh, excuse me. I'll come back later.
What is it, Morrison?
I just wanted to know if you had a
chance to look at the Dempsey case.
Dempsey?
Yeah, it came in last night.
Jaundiced, disoriented, unable
to keep anything down for days.
Looks like we're
heading for liver failure.
Any family history of blood disorders
or enzyme deficiencies?
No.
Weight loss?
Yeah, about ten pounds
over the last month.
I left a copy of the history and
a physical on your desk last night.
I ordered all the standard lab
studies plus a lymph node biopsy.
Hmm. I suppose this is what
we euphemistically refer to
as a textbook case.
Nothing like a little
leukaemia to make a holiday.
I'll look in on him
when I have a chance.
Well, I think I'll go down to
the cafeteria for some coffee.
Any takers?
Yeah, I could use some.
Mind if I borrow this?
Not at all. Don't worry, Donald.
I won't be needing it today.
'Mr Vernon, Mr Ron Vernon
to report to the nurses' station.'
The man of the hour himself.
Pardon?
Mark, I'd be a little remiss
if I didn't tell you
that the whole hospital's buzzing.
Giving up your Thanksgiving to work.
That's inspirational.
Somebody has to set
an example around here.
I'm certainly not above
a little personal sacrifice.
Well, that's big of you, Mark.
Guess that means you're going to
miss the dinner with the in-laws
up in Peterborough this year.
Well, that's the
price I have to pay.
Yeah, I guess Ellen's
going to be disappointed.
No, she'll enjoy herself. She and
her mother get along pretty well.
Do they?
Still, it's a shame, you know.
Look, what I can do,
I can arrange to have you covered
about three o'clock and that'd give
you enough time to drive up there.
Come on, Donald. You know
I can't stand Ellen's family.
They're cretins, for Pete's sake!
This time of year, the drive
to Peterborough's beautiful.
Like taking a sleigh ride
to get root canal work!
Yes, Mrs Jesmer?
Call me Joanne.
Mrs Jesmer, I don't have time to
chat right now. What's the problem?
Well, I'm writing
my girlfriend in Sarasota
and I need to know the
technical name for my disease.
For the last time, you don't have
a disease. You have bunions!
Oh. But isn't there
a more technical name for it?
I mean, something
a little more tragic?
A little bit more tragic.
How about hammer toes?
Really?
Trust me.
Mr Dempsey, I presume.
Joe?
I'm Doctor Auschlander.
Rumour has it you're
not feeling so hot.
You know what, I'm surprised.
Bad enough being sick, but
getting dragged into the hospital
for Thanksgiving can't be
your idea of a great holiday.
Stomach on the blink, right?
Let's have a look.
There we are, now.
That's not going to hurt.
Tender, huh?
Ahh...
Fine. You did that well.
How long's it been
since you kept down your food?
A few days.
How you been sleeping?
I have a lot of nightmares.
Doctor Morrison says
it's from my temperature.
You're probably feeling
shaken up right now,
and that can give you bad dreams.
I know, cos that's the way
I feel when I go to the doctors.
You do?
Oh, sure.
It's perfectly natural to be scared,
even though there's
nothing to be scared of.
You mean I'm not going to die?
Whatever made you think
of a thing like that?
Everyone's always whispering.
Anything else?
All the tests and stuff.
I don't know. I just know
it's really serious.
And you don't believe them.
I sure don't feel fine.
Well, there's clearly
something wrong, Joe.
But in order to make you better,
we have to find out
what the trouble is,
and that's what the tests are for.
And as for people
treating you differently,
it's because they don't like
to see a boy your age in hospital,
especially your parents.
Are you going to have to operate?
We're just going to
steal a few cells
to find out what the trouble is.
You won't even feel it.
You'll be asleep.
And the kid says, "But Dad,
Mom's busy weighing the milkman." >
I still don't get it.
Ehrlich, it's 11:30.
I want the cardiac scan report
on Eve Leighton on my desk by 12.
But sir...
Sharp.
Yes, Doctor Craig.
Hi, guys.
I can't eat this hamster meat!
I love Salisbury steak.
Don't tell me you guys are still
upset about being here tomorrow.
Among other things. Like what?
Eating here tomorrow.
It's nothing to be depressed about.
If we can't be out of the
hospital for Thanksgiving,
we'll just bring Thanksgiving
here to the hospital.
Have our own dinner right here.
Everybody make their own
speciality. It'll be fun. >
Your drug is very strong.
What do you think, huh?
Tomorrow's menu.
OK, Wendy, what's your speciality?
Erm...teriyaki and green beans.
My mother makes them
every Thanksgiving.
Spell it.
Just put cheese balls and yoghurt.
Oh, another Thanksgiving classic(!)
Maybe I should make
a California dish.
Like what, Trail Mix?
Time's a-wasting, Ehrlich.
Right.
What?
Well, I make an
incredible barbecued turkey,
you guys'd love it.
You cook it on an open grill
and then stuff it with kiwi fruit.
Oh, they're delicious.
That's disgusting, Ehrlich.
Now wait a minute. Doctor Craig, I
can take you beating on me in the OR
and making fun of my clothes,
but my barbecued turkey is
something I'm very proud of.
And I'd appreciate if you reserve
your criticisms until you taste it.
I don't have to taste it, Ehrlich.
I think it's safe to assume
that any turkey stuffed
with fruit is repulsive.
If I want a decent meal on
Thanksgiving, I'll cook my own.
I taught you how to be a surgeon,
now I'll show you how to cook.
And after that
we'll work on your wardrobe.
I can't wait to taste
your turkey, Victor.
She says that to all the boys.
Doctor Wade, has Jack Morrison
talked to you
about the Dempsey case?
Lymph node biopsy, right?
First thing Monday morning.
I'd like for you to do it tomorrow.
Thanksgiving?
I know it's against policy
to do elective surgery on holidays.
Robert and I were driving
to Maine to visit the family.
We'll schedule it early.
You'll be out before eight.
It's important to you.
Consider it a personal favour.
Of course.
'Just about seven o'clock in Boston.
We have a beautiful snowy evening
'and remind you that there are...'
Mark Craig.
I called ahead for a turkey.
Craig. You the one that
asked for the taut skin.
Yes.
Also, it should be
very wide in the mid-section.
Er, anything else?
Yes, it should be as
fresh as humanly possible.
If you like, I could kill it
for you right here on the counter.
And I can do without the sarcasm.
Look pal, I've been
a butcher for what, 20 years,
and a turkey is a turkey.
Not when you poach it.
You're poaching a turkey?
This happens to be a gourmet recipe
created by Paul Bocuse in France.
Well, doesn't it come out all slimy?
Just get the turkey, please.
Doctor Craig, hi!
Oh, for crying out loud.
Do you have any idea where
I can get a decent kiwi?
Try New Zealand!
OK. Poach this.
What can I do for you?
Hi, I need an organically fed turkey
with thick skin for barbecuing.
You going to do
something French with it?
No, Hawaiian.
You two guys live together, right?
Hello, Joe.
And Joe's father, I presume.
Mr Dempsey, this is Dr Auschlander.
He's the liver specialist
who's overseeing Joe's treatment.
I've got something for you here.
What is it?
A little fear remover.
Help you to get to sleep.
Will it put me
to sleep right away?
No, not right away.
Cos I have to say my prayers.
There'll be plenty of time.
I'll be right back.
He's pretty bad off, huh?
We don't know anything for certain
until we get the biopsy results.
Then we can determine whether
or not he's got an infection.
At the same time, we can
examine his cells more closely
for abnormalities.
I watched my sister die like this.
Fevers, nausea...
stomach pains.
But she was 50 years old!
Mr Dempsey...
Diagnosis is a
very complicated thing.
Very often different illnesses
have similar symptoms.
It's leukaemia, isn't it?
Please, I'd rather know.
Possibly.
Let's go get some coffee.
See if I can explain this
a little better.
Do you pray every day, Joe?
Yeah. I'm a Catholic.
What about you?
I'm not Catholic.
No. I mean, do you pray?
Well, actually, it's been
quite some time since I prayed.
You don't believe in God?
In a manner of speaking.
Does that mean no?
No, not exactly.
No, I'm what you'd call an agnostic.
Do you know what that is?
Someone who doesn't
want to be an atheist.
Well, let me explain.
Different people have different gods.
Mine's medicine.
Medicine isn't a real god.
Why not? >
It can't work miracles.
I see.
You don't believe
in miracles, do you?
It's just that I've
never witnessed one.
They're like ghosts.
How's that?
You have to believe in them
before you can see them.
Well, I'll keep my eyes open.
I mean it.
I mean it too.
Now, close your eyes
and let that pill go to work.
Dr Auschlander?
You have to know where to look.
Dr Morgan.
Dr Morgan to NICU.
They won't give us
clearance on the ovens.
What about my barbecue grill?
No charcoal fires.
How am I supposed to barbecue
my turkey without charcoal?
Volcanic rock.
We'll find a way around it. >
Well, we'd better find it
in the dark because physical plan
wants triple time to keep
the lights on after eight.
Triple time?!
That's right.
Why is everybody union but us?
Because we have a vocation.
Dr Ehrlich, Mrs Jesmer, 317,
requires your immediate presence.
Again?! The woman had some bunions
removed, for Pete's sake.
She's afraid
they're healing together.
Tell her it'll make her
a better swimmer.
How the hell was I supposed
to know she was your sister?! >
Hey. I need a favour.
Good evening, doctors.
Good evening, Auschlander.
Evening.
Evening.
TELEPHONE RINGS
Hello?
Katherine.
I was just walking out the door.
I'll be home in 20 minutes.
Yes.
Don't let him die.
You can't let him die.
I have to.
No, I have to pick up
a biopsy result.
It may be leukaemia.
Oh, but the kids
are coming this morning.
Tell them it's important.
They'll understand.
Well, I don't. You can't expect me
to entertain all the guests
while I'm trying to get
dinner on the table.
I'll be stuck here in the kitchen
with Bill re-enacting
the Patriots game
while I'm trying to season
the mashed potatoes.
Oh, Daniel. It's Thanksgiving!
Well, what time will you be back?
I'll call.
Does that mean I'll be
carving the turkey?
Katherine, it's an 11-year-old boy.
I'll hold dinner as long as I can.
Call me when you're finished
at the hospital.
I shall.
There must be something you can
talk to them about, Ellen.
They're your family!
Now, hurry up and get on the road.
Morning, Dr Craig.
Hello. Yes, this is Dr Ehrlich.
I just came from her room!
What?! Absolutely not.
No. No! No nail polish until
her feet are completely healed.
Well, then wipe it off before
her toes get infected, OK?
Goodbye.
Go away, Mrs Jesmer.
How was the frozen section?
Reactive inflammation.
He's loaded with white cells.
Damn.
Well, there's always the possibility
that it was just an infection.
Hopefully, the permanent sections
will be more specific.
I want all his lab values rechecked.
Liver function studies, blood smears,
x-rays, everything we had on him.
What for?
Do you think there was
a foul-up in the lab?
I want them rechecked, that's all.
And I want a hepatitis
surface antigen ordered.
Why? >
You said yourself it was
a textbook case of leukaemia.
We're treating a little boy here,
not a textbook.
Dr Morrison, the information
we have is inconclusive,
until we get our hands
on the permanent section.
We can get an HSA today.
We have a permanent
section in 48 hours.
If you have any doubts
about the diagnosis,
why don't you wait until then?
I don't want to wait
an entire weekend
to find out if this child's
going to die.
I'll do what you want...
but I think you're
grasping at straws.
You're damn right I am.
If you like, I'd be glad
to get another frozen section,
just to be certain.
No, you've done enough already.
Besides, you have
a long drive ahead of you.
Dr Auschlander...
..Happy Thanksgiving.
Thank you.
Everything's taken care of. I got two
stoves for the potatoes and stuff.
Incredible.
Finding a barbecue in November
in Boston - that's an achievement!
Well, don't thank me, thank Jerome.
Jerome, thank you.
Oh, oh, oh!
Listen, Jerome doesn't like
to be touched by strangers.
Fine, that's fine by me.
Come here.
What, is he dangerous?
Well, not normally,
but doctors rub him the wrong way.
Great.
He's been here helping me
since 5.30 this morning.
Wow.
Uh, when his shift ended?
Oh, oh, OK.
How about $10 for your trouble?
Well, now, he usually gets $11.50
an hour, holiday bonus pay,
but he'll accept
a flat rate of...
$25.
Fine, $25 is perfect.
Now, you've got to keep
the air vents open,
and when you finish, let it
cool down before you clean it.
Oh, and one other thing -
you gotta use it outside.
What?!
MARCHING BANDS PLAYING
OK, now, how much of the finger
did you actually carve off, sir?
TUBA PLAYING
Are you a doctor?
Yes.
I'm in the Thanksgiving parade.
Me and you both.
We had an accident
a couple of blocks from here.
I cut my elbow on the Snoopy float.
Well, that can happen to everyone.
It's only a nick -
just toss me a Band-Aid.
Well, we'd better check it out
just to make sure,
and I need some information
before we can patch your feathers.
OK.
Let's start with your name
and your age.
My name is Doug Dresden,
I'm 45 years old.
45, that's about eight and a half
in turkey years, huh?
MEN ARGUING
Their floats collided.
Come on, not here, just have
a seat, this is a hospital.
Just sit down.
Can you help me a second?
Whose tail is this?
It's big Snoopy's.
And who are you?
I'm little Snoopy -
can you help me patch his tail?
This is an emergency room.
This is an emergency - do you want
thousands of kids to watch
big Snoopy die a slow
death on national television?
Yeah!
Daniels, Snoopy suture, stat!
Have a look at
the peripheral blood smear.
Here's the bone marrow aspirate.
I see nothing new there.
Bone scan.
Looks normal.
CAT scan.
Enlarged lymph nodes
next to the aorta,
enlarged spleen, enlarged liver.
KUB shows no psoas margins,
and the white cell count is 22,000.
Want more?
No.
I don't, I've had enough.
The hepatitis service antigen
results should be done by six.
I don't think anyone is served
by prolonging the suspense.
Well...
..we don't know for certain.
Oh, we know, Jack.
We know, because we're good doctors,
and good doctors know their business.
And sometime later this afternoon,
on this glorious day
of universal gratitude,
the two of us,
with awe-inspiring grace,
will hand out
a death sentence to a child.
And then go off and gorge ourselves
with great personal satisfaction.
And give thanks.
Thanks for what, may I ask?
For what?
I'm sorry, Jack.
I know how you feel.
Listen, why don't
I pick up the test results?
No, you go and have dinner
with Pete.
Pete's here.
I brought him in.
I suppose home'd be the last place
you'd want to be today.
I'll page you
when I get the results.
This morning I passed
an orderly in the hallway.
He was wearing a T-shirt that read...
"Life is hard, and then you die."
Do you think 11 years
constitute a life, Jack?
No.
Neither do I.
Yes, Mrs Jesmer?
Dr Ehrlich, please come in.
My husband reminded me we're hosting
a dinner party next Saturday, and...
Well, I just couldn't imagine myself
greeting the guests at the door
wearing an evening down and pink
slippers with the toes cut out.
So I wondered if...
Stop it right there, Mrs Jesmer,
stop it!
Do you know how difficult it is to
prepare a perfect barbecued turkey?
To arrange the hickory chips
so that they burn for hours
at a constant temperature?
To raise the turkey
just high enough above the fire
so the skin turns brown and crispy
but does not char?
Do you?!
No, I don't.
No, all I wanted to know is,
how long do you think it will be
before I can wear high heels?
Mrs Jesmer, you need at least
three weeks in a padded sock.
I'll order you one!
Thank you.
Going home, Jack.
I spoke to Roecklin in the lab,
it won't be that long
before you get the results.
My wife's going to meet me
in the lobby in 15 minutes.
She's already on her way.
Hi, Pete.
Boy, he's doing great.
I thought it'd really screw him up
to go on his bottle this early,
but he's had no trouble adjusting.
They're more flexible
at that age, not like us.
How you doing?
Ah, you know.
Lousy one day, miserable the next.
It has to be tough
on the first holiday.
It's funny, after Nina died...
..it seemed like I had
almost nothing left.
Then I came in here a little
while ago and looked in on him.
I figured I had
just about everything.
FOOTBALL COMMENTARY ON TELEVISION
I'm here for the Dempsey assay.
Right.
I really appreciate
you doing this so quickly.
Yeah, no problem.
Here you go.
Whoo, yeah!
Who scored?!
It's not leukaemia.
Well, stop dancing around
and show me the results.
I've gotta go see him.
I don't get it,
what did you see in his results
made you keep looking?
Sometimes the information you need
isn't even then the results.
Well, how do you find it?
It's there.
You gotta know where to look.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Joe's going to be all right.
Thank you.
We found out what's
been making Joe sick.
Well, what is it?
Hepatitis.
That doesn't sound so good. >
Oh, it's no match for the two of us,
you'll probably live to be 90.
The bad news is, you may
have to miss a few weeks of school.
You think you can cope with that?
I'll try.
First thing tomorrow morning
we have to get some food
into that body of yours.
I don't feel very hungry.
We have some medication, it'll
help you get your appetite back.
And if you cooperate,
I may be able to work
a little miracle of my own.
What do I have to do?
Take the medicine,
and then concentrate.
On what?
That part of the turkey
you like best.
Thank you, Doctor.
Why didn't we have
this thing catered?
At this point I'd just as soon
get some fast food and eat in bed.
Come home with me -
they just opened a new
Gobble To Go in my neighbourhood.
Phew!
You know, this makes a lot of sense -
work 12 hours a day as a doctor,
I get off and moonlight as a busboy.
Part of a new career
aptitude programme.
In a few hours you can test your
skills loading the dishwasher.
Oh, no, I forgot about cleaning up.
Why couldn't we use
plastic silverware?
it'll melt in the spin cycle.
Well, now what? >
Now we just sit here
and quietly starve to death.
Daniel?
Are you all right?
No.
I don't think I've ever
been so hungry in my life.
The turkey's been pillaged, but
I did manage to save you the wings.
I hope our guests weren't
insulted by my not appearing.
Not at all.
I'll make it up to them
next Thanksgiving.
I take it you're feeling better?
Much.
I'm sorry about today, Katherine.
Did you ever feel as if
you were in a tunnel
and didn't know how to get out?
How did you get out?
Someone showed me the way.
Hey, I hope they haven't wiped out
the liquor cabinet!
Never fear,
we're stocked to the gills.
Good.
Because I feel a bender coming on.
Daniel!
I can't remember the last time
I saw you drunk.
I promise to make this one memorable.
Happy Thanksgiving.
(BOTH) Happy Thanksgiving.
What are you doing here?
A little late-night supper
with the staff.
After you finish, drop around,
have a drink.
Good idea, thank you.
Well, see you later, then.
Good.
Oh, Daniel?
I have your book.
Thanks, Donald.
I won't be needing it after all.
APPLAUSE
Who'll do the honours?
Oh, I forgot, we have surgeons here.
Maybe have some assistance, please?
Please.
Scalpel.
Scalpel.
Victor, your turkey looks great.
I can smell the kiwis from here.
I thought of you
when I was stuffing it.
You're a pig, Ehrlich.
All right, we're ready to eat.
Now, if everyone will call out
their turkey preference
we can pass you a serving.
Ah, Donald, you're just in time.
Care to conduct the services?
Be honoured.
Now Ehrlich's turkey is barbecued.
With kiwi.
And mine is poached,
with tarragon mustard.
Phil?
Uh, tough call.
Barbecue.
Wendy? >
Uh, barbecue.
Barbecue.
Peter?
Barbecue.
Hope there's enough for everyone.
Luther?
I'll try poached.
Jack?
Poached.
Poached, please.
I'll have the poached.
How about you, Donald?
What'll you have? >
Um, I think I'll have
a little of both,
I don't want to make
any enemies here today.
Mmm, this is delicious.
Of course.
You're sure you don't
want to try some of mine?
Yes.
Will someone light the candles >
and kill the lights?
Haven't we forgotten something? >
Oh, how could we be so stupid -
the stuffing.
No, not the stuffing, a prayer.
Before you eat Thanksgiving dinner
you're supposed to give thanks.
He's absolutely right.
As senior attending physician,
perhaps Dr Westphall
would do the honours.
Well, um...
I'm not very good at this,
but I'll give it a try.
I think Thanksgiving
is a very special holiday.
It's special because
it's the one day of the year
when we stop and look beyond
our own self-interests
and open our eyes
to the rest of the world.
It's a time when,
at least for a day, all of us,
the free, the healthy and the loved,
stop complaining and moping,
whining, brooding,
and all those things it seems that
we fortunate Americans
have become famous for.
Thanksgiving is a day
when each and every one of us
should thank the powers that be
for allowing us to be here.
Existence is something
we too easily take for granted,
and whatever else we have
or don't have, we are the living.
And the rest of it's gravy.
And pass the potatoes, please.