St. Elsewhere (1982–1988): Season 3, Episode 2 - Playing God: Part 2 - full transcript
Sister Domenica threatens to take the hospital to court over the right to disconnect Sister Teresa's life support. Caldwell continues to treat the injured fire fighters. Fiscus treats a child whose only relative is a woman claimin...
Previously on St Elsewhere...
So what have I done?
I want those machines turned off.
You can't play God
with someone's life.
We've had 16 bargaining sessions.
Well, they've asked me to file
unfair labour charges
against this hospital.
The rabbit died.
You're pregnant?
Tonight on St Elsewhere...
There's more to our job
than the operation itself.
Important post-op care, for instance,
including
the Sex After Bypass lectures.
There are five phases
of sexual activity -
arousal, plateau, orgasm, resolution
and putting on your socks.
My only recourse is to take
St Eligius to court.
If I can't convince you, I will
terminate her life support myself.
They've rejected our offer.
Unless real progress is made,
in 10 days' time, the nurses' union
will go on strike.
How can you be so damn casual?
Jack, if this is so hard for you
to deal with, stay out of it.
When will you admit you were wrong?
You don't deserve to be a doctor.
Mark...
Time for school, Mom?
Morning, sweetheart.
Is it 6:30 already?
I didn't hear the alarm clock.
You've still got time to get up.
You woke me from a sound sleep
to tell me that I still have time
before I have to get up?
No.
That's not why I woke you up.
Stop that.
I've got a busy day.
Have I had eggs yet this week?
Yesterday, poached.
Now, when you see the gardener this
afternoon, would you explain to him
that it wouldn't hurt
if he would hit his knees
and do a little weeding
by the back porch steps?
The azaleas are being strangled.
Why are you still in bed?
Right.
Mark? I want to talk to you
about our love life.
Ellen, that's not the kind of thing
you discuss before breakfast.
First of all,
we haven't made love in six weeks.
That's not true.
We made love Flag Day.
You're right.
Seven weeks.
Well, bad sex is better
than no sex at all.
Oh, boy, you women!
You accuse men of being obsessed
with lovemaking
and then that's all you have
on your minds.
What I'm saying is we haven't made
love in seven weeks and I miss it.
And I want us to do something
about it.
All right.
All right. Tonight.
Promise?
Oh, for crying out loud,
do I have to take an oath?
Good morning.
Hey, Boomer.
What are you doing up?
Getting Pete his breakfast.
Want anything?
No, thanks. Besides, you know
I'm not supposed to eat this morning.
I thought maybe you'd changed
your mind about the abortion.
What made you think that?
It's just...I don't know.
The way you looked
when you're sleeping.
Do I snore?
Look, I know I said I wouldn't talk
about this any more,
but it's still not too late.
Yes, it is. If I cancel
the appointment now,
they'll probably charge me
for it anyway.
You know doctors.
All right, joke your way around it.
Are we out of clean towels?
How can you be so damn casual?
Jack, if this is so hard for you
to deal with, stay out of it, OK?
Don't come to the clinic with me.
I don't need this kind
of bedside manner.
What I need is a clean towel.
10 days ago, three municipal firemen
were admitted to the emergency room.
Dr Ehrlich, first case, please.
This is Gerry Close,
44-year-old male,
a slide provided
by the fire department.
Second and third degree burns
over 60% of his body.
Scheduled for debridement
and porcine skin grafting at four.
He also has
a hairline pelvic fracture.
Thank you.
Dr Wade, next case, please.
Manny Schecter,
62-year-old white male.
Full thickness burns
to face, neck and scalp.
Scheduled for debridement tomorrow
with possible reconstruction
of the right ear, something that
can be done at a later date.
Where's Morrison?
How's he missing this?
Day off. Besides, he's got
his own problems today.
Dr Chandler?
THEY LAUGH
OK, Fiskus, very funny.
Michael Duffy,
22-year-old white male.
Second and third degree burns
on his arms and legs.
Debrided yesterday, but he's not
ready for a skin graft yet.
He has a poor granulation base.
Also, his pain threshold
is very low.
I've upped his morphine to
15 milligrams, sub-cu, last night.
That's all, folks.
Did you get those questionnaires
asking if you'll still work
if the nurses go on strike?
Under no circumstances
will I across the picket line.
Do you really mean that?
No.
You're so wishy-washy.
No, I'm not. Am I?
If the nurses walk, they'll cut back
on patient populations,
only keep open key departments.
We've all read the papers, OK?
And eliminate elective surgery.
What?
That's stupid.
Today's elective surgery may be
tomorrow's emergency surgery.
I'm sorry, Sister, you can't go in.
What are you talking about?
Doctor's orders.
No visitors allowed.
Get out of my way.
Please, sister,
for my sake, don't make a scene.
We'll see about this.
Morning, Dr Craig.
Ehrlich.
I'll have plenty of time on my hands
if the nurses strike.
Stop thinking about yourself
all the time.
There's more to our job
than the operation itself.
Important post-op care, for instance,
including
the Sex After Bypass lectures.
I could do a little research
for you, sir.
I'll have plenty of time
on my hands.
Research?
I like hearing about sex.
I mean, for post-op patients.
I feel it's important for them
and for me to see you do it.
The lectures, I mean.
One of my hopes for you,
now that you're in your second year
of residency,
is that you quit
this incessant brown-nosing.
Me, a brown-nose?
You know, you're absolutely right.
You're very intuitive.
Since you are so hot
to be part of the lecture series,
I'm giving you the honour
of delivering the first one, today.
Today? I'm assisting
Dr Caldwell in OR.
That's not until 4pm.
The lecture is at noon.
It's not what I had in mind
in terms of helping.
I'm not at my best
in front of crowds.
All the more reason why you should
do it. You've got an hour to prepare.
They'll never understand me.
I have a speech defect.
I slur the letter S.
Donald. Donald? The nurses voted
overwhelmingly to organise a strike,
if negotiations break down.
Wonderful.
I thought you'd better know.
Take a look at that.
The court has mandated
that we reinstate Peter White
to the residency programme.
Can you appeal?
The trustees say no.
Too many government grants would be
in danger if we fight it publicly.
Dr Westphall, can I speak to you?
We'll talk about this later.
Excuse us.
Certainly, sister.
How dare you keep me
from visiting her?
I did it for her protection,
to keep you from turning off
her life-support system.
How can I make you people see
that what you're doing is wrong?
Please, Sister, in here.
I thought the Church
believed in prolonging life.
You're not prolonging her life.
You're extending her death.
One of the Church's teachings
makes it clear -
our primary duty is to relieve
her pain and suffering.
The impact from the car accident
knocked out the pain centre
in her thalamus.
Wow will you change that?
I can't, but if I discontinue
the life-support system,
she'll likely die.
To stand by and watch that happen
is intolerable.
What's intolerable is to see her
hooked up to those machines,
knowing the quality of life
she cherished is over.
No freedom, no awareness,
no dignity.
If we take her off those machines
and she lives,
then it's the Lord's will.
I can accept that.
I can't.
You were smart to keep me out
of her room, Dr Westphall.
If I can't convince you, I will
terminate her life-support myself.
I mean it.
God does not want her
to live that way.
Hey, Phil.
So, the rumour mill was right?
I guess it's too much
to expect a brass band.
They moved our lockers.
Here, let me show you.
You know, your coming back is going
to tick a lot of people off.
Yeah, what about you?
Well, I never paid dues
to the Peter White fan club,
if that's what you mean.
I'm a firm believer in the law
and I contribute to the ACLU,
even though they defend causes
I don't believe in.
I'm glad you understand
I have a right to be here.
Dr Fiskus, this way, please.
What's the problem?
Billy's very sick. I just got to him
in the nick of time.
I could take care of him myself,
but there are things
I can't do medically.
Are you his mother?
No.
Then wait outside.
It's important for us
to work together.
He may be in a coma.
The best thing you can do
is wait outside.
I need a nurse here.
Where's the chart on this boy?
I've never seen him before.
I know it's backed up out there.
I don't want to tell you
how to do your job...
That's a first.
You had to admit this boy
or else how did he get here?
Beats me.
There's a bag lady waiting that was
with him. Why don't you ask her?
Say please.
Please.
Anybody here bring in a small boy?
Anybody bring in a small boy?
Anybody bring in a small boy?
Fiskus, Can you be a little
more specific?
This place is bag lady central.
I need you here, Shirl. I've gotta
get him up to radiology, stat.
I think he may have had
a head injury.
He's got a subdural haematoma.
Hi.
Hi, I'm Dr Victor Ehrlich, I'd like
to think you all for coming,
and welcome you to the first in a
series of Sex After Bypass lectures.
I'm embarrassed, talking
to some of you twice my age
about something I know little about.
Maybe some of you
are embarrassed too.
Let's all just work together.
Something that worked in
elementary school for me was,
let's all just have a big giggle now
and get it out of our systems. OK?
1, 2, 3, go!
Great. I feel a lot better.
Well, I'm sure the foremost question
on all of your minds is,
"Now that I've had the bypass,
if I have sex, will I die?"
The answer is no.
And let me please elaborate on that.
There are five phases
of sexual activity -
arousal, plateau, orgasm, resolution
and putting on your socks.
Or not.
I'm afraid we'll have to reject
your counter-proposal
to our final offer.
But what you're offering
is grossly inadequate.
We will still be the lowest paid
professionals in this hospital.
Maybe it's just a coincidence
that most of us are women.
If we had the money, we'd give it.
Oh, yes, I know.
Rising costs, subsidy cutbacks...
Would anyone like some coffee?
Just cream, right?
If we were to give you the increase
you wanted,
we'd have to double our rates
and thereby hurt the very patients
you claim to care so much about.
Sorry I'm late.
But you'll be happy to know
that the zoo will be open
on weekends, Mrs Rosenthal.
Richard, what are you doing here?
I thought you knew.
Knew? Knew what?
After yesterday,
Mrs Rosenthal asked for a meeting
between herself
and the hospital board of trustees.
She got the trustees to ask for
a federal mediator, so here I am.
This is an insult, Helen.
And a prime example of your need
to manipulate these negotiations.
Daniel, I tried to.
But like everything else I've said
in the past month,
you tried to ignore that, too.
Well...mediate.
Where do we stand to date?
They've rejected our final offer.
Then we're at an impasse.
Yes, I'm afraid we are.
And there's only one way
I can think of to break it -
by serving official notice
that unless real progress is made,
in 10 days' time,
the nurses' union will go on strike.
If you were more experienced
in labour negotiations,
you wouldn't have done that.
Don't you agree?
Daniel, perhaps if we re-examine
the nurses' counter-proposal?
It's already been rejected.
Look, we'd be willing to meet
around the clock before the deadline.
Glad to hear about the zoo.
Thank you.
Hey, Manny.
Mike, is that you?
I can hardly see through all this.
You sound kind of hoarse.
I am.
CAMERA CLICKS AND WHIRRS
Cut that out, shrimpola!
I want to have proof
that you do work here.
Give me a hand.
Here we go.
Ready?
Luther, take this.
Why is someone always
taking pictures of us?
It's the "before and after" file,
so the doctors can keep track
of your progress.
Damn right.
Between what's left of you,
me and Gerry,
we make one pretty good fireman.
When's Gerry joining us?
Once he gets out of OR,
he'll be right down.
Anything else I can get you?
The nurse, the morphine.
Right.
OK, next, we have...p-positions.
Thank you very much for coming.
If you prefer a top-bottom position,
is is recommended
that the non-cardiac partner
assume the top, more active role.
But there is little research
to support the theory
that the passive partner
uses less energy.
That's certainly true with Roberta.
Here, here's a very interesting
little titbit.
Some people who had heart attacks
find that sex is easier
when both partners
are lying on their sides,
either towards each other
or with one behind the other.
Some find it easier sitting,
facing each other.
If she's really ugly, you could
do a back-to-back, I guess.
Is there one thing
we should be careful of?
Yes, cheating.
One, it's going
to run havoc on your heart.
Two, if your spouse finds out,
she'll kill you.
I think that pretty much covers it.
I want to thank you for coming.
You've been great,
and remember,
let's just keep on pumping, OK?
Keep your heart pumping, of course.
Thank you.
I just got off the phone with our
order's attorney, Kenneth Myre.
He says my only recourse
is to take St Eligius to court.
Wait, what are we talking about?
Dr Westphall and I seem to have
a problem communicating
about Sister Teresa's condition.
Why does everyone want to air
in a public forum
grievances which can be so
effectively handled in private?
Ask Dr Westphall. If you ask me,
he's trying to satisfy his own ego.
I prefer to think
it's his sense of ethics.
Medical technology has advanced
very rapidly,
creating all kinds
of moral questions for doctors.
She's irreversibly brain damaged.
There's no reason
to keep her alive artificially.
Why is it so hard to see that?
I think it would be best if we
sat down and reasoned together.
This is not a philosophical debate.
I used to pray all day
to alleviate human suffering.
When I joined the missionary,
that suffering became
something tangible, something
I could see and smell and fear.
I had the same experience, after
graduating from medical school.
You and I don't disagree on this,
but Sister Teresa
is Dr Westphall's patient.
And it would be wrong
for me to intercede on this.
All right, I'll meet with you both.
But I'd like Father Flynn, our
pastor at St Ursula's, to join us.
St Ursula versus St Eligius.
I thought at least in heaven,
everyone got along.
Hi.
Hello.
How are you feeling?
It's over.
I thought I told you not to show up.
Well, I felt bad about this morning.
Which part?
Not being supportive enough.
Face it, Jack, what bothers you about
my abortion is that I made a choice.
I feel the decision was
as much mine as it was yours.
What I don't understand is why
you bothered to tell me at all.
I couldn't wait - you sit passively,
letting life happen to you.
It doesn't work that way.
Sign here.
I'm so sorry I didn't make things
easier for you.
Well, you sure as hell didn't.
Frankly, I can't deal with that now.
Where have you been?
Did you give Billy's history
to Nurse Daniels?
He's only six,
there's not that much to tell.
Now, be quiet while I finish.
You shouldn't be in here.
This is the ICU.
No visitors except immediate family.
Where is his immediate family?
One more minute.
Please, stop.
Dr Fiskus, this is no time
to be interrupted.
Well, then, just come with me. OK?
I have instructions
not to leave Billy.
Instructions?
From some other doctor?
It's hard to phrase
in terms you'll understand.
But I'm his godmother.
Why didn't you say that before?
His fairy godmother.
And I'm the leftfielder
for the Boston Red Sox.
Nonsense.
That's where Jim Rice plays.
OK, let's go.
Look, I'm not asking you
to believe me.
I'm just asking you
to get out of my way.
You cannot practise mumbo-jumbo here
without a licence.
I'm almost done.
This is my patient.
And my responsibility.
I chose you to help me out here
because I thought you were
the most open-minded.
I usually go to Ben Heimer Memorial.
Do you have a name?
Fairy godmothers don't have names.
We're what you might say generic.
But witches have names.
And hobbits.
I'm sure there's people
in the psych ward
that would be glad
to continue this conversation.
It's against my orders
to leave Billy.
We'll both get in trouble
with the brothers.
Which brothers?
The Brothers Grimm.
Did Ehrlich put you up to this?
The patient feels generally
unwell with nausea and vertigo.
There's plus 2 pitting ankle
odema and decreased urine output.
Indicating?
Impending kidney failure.
Any blood in the urine?
Yes. And protein.
Any other ideas about aetiology?
Well...
Anyone else?
I suggest you do
renal function studies
and an ultrasound.
I don't remember calling on you.
I'm right, aren't I?
I didn't invite you
to come on rounds.
I'm right, aren't I? Just say it.
Dr Jacobson, present
your case, will you?
Look, I've finished
all my assigned work in
radiology. I have just as much
right to learn as anybody else here.
Dr Jacobson, your case.
When are you going to
stop busting my chops?
When are you going to finally
admit you were wrong about me?
Or can't the great Dr Westphall
admit he made a mistake?
You don't deserve to be a doctor.
You don't belong here.
And I'm going to make
that clear to you every time
you cross my path.
Now take a walk.
I've got rights
under the constitution.
Don't forget that, Dr Westphall.
Dr Jacobson, your patient.
OK, now be a nice lady
and have a seat.
Dr Martin will be
right in to see you.
You and she are really
going to get along.
That's going to be very hard because
you're the only one that can see me.
Besides, the longer we
take with this foolishness,
the longer it will take Billy
to get back on his feet again.
Billy is in a coma,
and we're not sure why. And nobody
knows when he's going to get better.
He'll get better.
Cath, I've got a patient
for you in Room 312.
Lady thinks she's a tooth fairy.
Wonderful, I can't wait to see her.
Why?
She owes me a quarter.
Only kidding, Wayne.
Mr Crowe.
Good to see you.
How's the old heart?
Oh, the heart is good. The
leg is kind of bad. I'm real sorry
to disturb you.
Nonsense, come with me.
Unless you want to
talk about my bill.
Well, this is kinda personal.
There's nothing too personal
between a patient and his doctor.
This is about sex.
I see.
My wife and I have been
married for 30 years.
Without being crude,
I think that I can say
we had a very fulfilled sex life.
But ever since the operation,
nothing seems the same.
You have to give it time.
I have.
I hoped you'd talk to Pat and...
Mr Crowe,
that's what the lectures were for.
She wouldn't come. Quite frankly,
I'm glad she didn't. That resident...
Ehrlich?
Yeah, well...
You see, you have to understand,
he has the potential of being a
brilliant surgeon.
But he comes from California and
he has a tendency to be...
You know... To act like a...
Pig?
Wayne, he's got positive reflexes,
he's got decreased deep-tendon
reflexes and he's got minimal
response to deep-pain stimuli.
Let's get an EEG
and a CAT scan, stat.
So the young fellow says, "Dad?"
And the old guy looks
up and says, "Pinocchio?"
Oh, Manny.
Manny, you're coughing.
I know I'm coughing.
My chest is congested.
I'll call the nurse, huh?
No, every time I complain, a
pretty girl gives me an enema.
Some of them even work here.
How are you doing, Michael?
Hey, what are you doing here?
I heard about your accident.
I figured maybe you
could use a little company.
You with the fire department?
Mr and Mrs Schechter,
Russ Butler, an old friend of mine.
Hi. Hi.
Nice to meet you.
What are they giving you
for pain, Michael?
Morphine.
Morphine?
That's a heavy downer.
Tell me about it!
Maybe what you need is a
little pick-me-up, huh?
That'd be great.
But I don't know when
I'll be able to pay you.
Don't worry about it.
Your credit's always good with me.
Hello.
Hello, Mrs Schechter.
Hi, Dr Caldwell.
How did it go?
Jerry's grafting and
debridement went perfectly.
When does he get up here?
Dr Caldwell,
my husband's been complaining
about congestion in his chest.
For crying out loud, Lil!
Listen, Manny, will you let
him listen to you? It's for
your own good.
I trust him.
He's such a handsome fellow.
We've seen him every day
for a week now and his manner
starts to grate on you.
The way he dresses.
The hesitation before he speaks.
Don't forget that stupid
little laugh he does.
These guys were so nice to
me when they were unconscious.
See what I mean?
Well, you do sound a little fluidy.
Meaning? >
Meaning nothing or
meaning pneumonia.
I knew it.
We may have to
postpone your debridement.
No.
Mike, you hear that? No debridement.
I'll take pneumonia.
Therefore, Sister Teresa
has no immediate family?
Like most other nuns, when
she entered the convent, she
took the members of our religious
community as her immediate family.
You see,
Sister Dominica, as superior of
the Order, is responsible
for Theresa's welfare.
That makes sense, doesn't it,
Donald?
I can also assure you, Dr
Westphall, that Sister Teresa
on several occasions expressed her
belief that she wouldn't want to be
kept alive in this manner.
Is that something you can
document in a courtroom?
When a priest or a nun
puts his or her hand on a
Bible and swears to tell the truth,
the effect on a jury is staggering.
The fact is, I am her doctor.
And according to Massachusetts law,
I have the authority to
continue treatment as I see fit.
And according to our interpretation
of that same law,
Sister Dominica has
the right to replace the attending
physician with one of her choosing.
That's clear enough.
Tell me I'm fired.
You're fired.
Daniel, you'll
make sure they find a replacement?
Sorry.
No, it's OK. I should be up.
No, I meant about this afternoon.
My behaviour was childish.
Well, so was mine.
You were there for me.
And I just wanted
to let you know that...
I love you...
and some day I would
like to have your baby.
It's just that now wasn't
the right time, that's all.
Well, when is?
Jake, I'm so unhappy.
That's a natural
post-operative depression.
No,
I was unhappy before the abortion.
Because, for all my talk about being
in control,
I'm not as grown up as I thought.
I didn't take precautions to
keep from getting pregnant.
Well, that's as much my
responsibility as yours.
The problem
with making choices is that
you have to live with them.
Hold me, Jake.
I need to be held.
Mrs Crowe.
Please, sit down.
I'm glad you could make it.
Dr Craig, if this is bad news
about Marvin's health, then I'd
appreciate knowing rightoff the bat.
No, no. To the contrary.
I have never seen him stronger.
His recovery from the bypass is
total and complete.
You can feel free now to
do anything that you did with him...
before the operation.
I don't think I
understand what you mean.
Intercourse.
Oh...
You know, the heart has always
been a symbol of tenderness,
caring and love.
But when a heart is damaged,
sometimes we get confused.
I'm almost afraid
to touch him at all.
Well, that's only natural.
I mean, you've been
physically separated for years.
I can still see him
lying there on the floor
during the attack,
clutching his chest,
so fragile.
You mustn't be
afraid of hurting him.
Just take it one step at a time.
I guess I'm waiting for him to
give me some kind of indication.
Yes, well,
both of you should get started.
I mean, he's probably
more scared than you are.
I think what you've got to do is
deal with it openly.
I don't want to lose him.
Trust me.
If you proceed gradually,
the risks are minimal.
I think it's important
that you define what your needs are.
I think the most perfect
form of communication is
the physical expression
between two people
who love each other.
Dr Craig, how come Marvin
can't talk to me the way you do?
Ah, well...
Sometimes it's hard for husbands
to say what's in their hearts.
Urine toxicity screen is negative,
CAT scan is negative.
EEG technician's on the way.
I don't know what else to do.
Well, we could consider a
spinal tap to rule out infection.
Did you locate the family?
I don't even know his last name.
Is this your idea of a joke?
Because of it is, I don't
appreciate it. ..Hi, Phil.
I take what I do very seriously.
Hi, Cathy.
Did you talk to the fairy godmother?
There was no-one in room 312,
or 321 or 213 or 412.
Look, I don't have time for this.
I put her in the room,
I locked the door.
Well, maybe somebody moved her.
If someone did, there's no record
of it. We at Psych pride
ourselves on ordered behaviour.
So we've got a fairy godmother
on the loose, huh?
I guess so.
I'll go tell security.
Tell them - woman, white,
late 40s, throaty voice.
And I'm holding you responsible.
Cathy,
I know why you couldn't find her.
Why?
Because she's invisible
to everyone but me.
Did you make this whole thing up?
Is that what happened?
Is this a figment of
your imagination, something you've
been suppressing since childhood?
An imaginary life?
It's healthy in young children,
but at your age...?
Perhaps you should schedule an
appointment, not with me, of course,
to penetrate your psyche.
Cathy, I liked you better when
you were in the morgue and only
interested in bodies.
For once and for all, Wayne,
leave me out of your fantasies.
What the hell? Did you just
climb in the bathroom window?
Ssh, there, I've finished.
Now, you be sure and
give him the proper medication.
But...
Keep him warm and well fed.
And it wouldn't hurt to read
him the bedtime story.
But...
For a trained physician, you
have a very limited vocabulary.
Excuse me.
He's going to be all right.
Tell me, how did you...
Hello?
Lady!
Hey, Annie, congratulations
on becoming an attending.
What seems to be the problem?
Miss Hoffnegle won't budge.
Thank you, Luther, but I'd prefer
to hear from the patient herself.
Miss Hoffnegle?
What seems to be the problem?
The black guy's right.
I ain't budging.
I want to know exactly what
is going on in this hospital.
I'll explain it all to you as we go.
Because of the potential nurses'
strike, the higher-ups have decided
to reduce the patient load.
That means laying off some staff
members and consolidating
certain floors.
We're moving all
the people from ward four...
I'd like to apologise
for my behaviour.
You did what was in your heart.
I don't agree with that
but I have to respect it.
You know, I think that
in any other circumstances, you and
I'd probably get along very well.
I don't think our views
on life are very different.
Only our views on death.
I know Sister Teresa's
going to a better place.
You see,
I don't even believe
in an afterlife.
All I trust in is the here and now.
When did you stop believing?
When you became a doctor?
No, it was a long while after that.
My wife was in an accident.
I call it an accident,
the Church would call it
part of a greater plan.
In any case, Marie ended up
lying in a hospital bed
and the only thing that told me
that she was still alive
was an electronic impulse
on a monitor.
I had two small children
and I was scared.
I didn't know what to do.
So I went to our parish priest and
he responded the same way you did.
I put her life in God's hands
and I lost her.
It seemed right.
I even grew to accept it.
but in the years since then,
I've seen case after hopeless
case where patients, because of
one doctor's faith in medicine,
came back to life.
So you see,
the question that
keeps eating away at me is, why?
Why was I so willing
not to trust what I knew?
If I'd waited,
the only woman I ever truly
loved might still be here with me.
She is here with you.
Your wife's death was obviously a
great loss but it's not a defeat.
Her soul is in this room,
it's in your children,
and the other lives she touched.
The ones you helped
through your work.
You have to admit that,
even if you don't believe in
harps and the pearly gates,
that's a pretty good afterlife.
Do you really believe that?
Yes. Yes, I do.
Then what did Belinda the
Good Witch do? Wave her magic wand?
You're not listening to me.
She's not a witch, she's a fairy.
Are we talking
Cinderella or Oscar Wilde?
OK, I know you don't believe me but
the kid is fine now and I didn't do
anything. Now, do I sound crazy?
No, but I do think the bad acid
you ate in '73 is kicking in again.
Well, there's no way to
prove it to you because
I'm the only one that can see her.
Holy moly, there she is.
Where?
What does it matter?
You can't see her.
Try me.
OK, right there.
I see her.
Good, Shirley, you're part
of the miracle, too. Come on.
Hi, how are you?
I'm OK. How are you?
Fine, you got
another patient for me?
Oh, don't be shy.
Anything you need to say to me,
you can say in front of Shirley.
It's those Russians.
Those damn Russians.
First the tsar,
then the Olympic boycott.
Now...
Don't do this to me.
Where can you get a
good salad in this town?
Thanks, Fiskus,
I'm certainly glad I was allowed to
bask in the sunshine of this moment.
Shirley, wait, wait.
OK, how did you escape
from the psych ward?
No big mystery.
You left the door unlocked.
You're giving me a headache.
Boy, that was great.
Wasn't that great?
I'm glad we talked this morning.
Cleared the air.
I'm going to see who's on Merv.
Probably some stupid comic.
'OK, all right, OK.
'Two guys walk into a bar,
right, which is really stupid...'
What's he wearing, a hand?
Turn it off.
You know, after all
these years, Ellen,
you still excite me.
Prettiest girl that
ever graduated from Penn.
Thank you.
Except for Candice Bergan,
who quit her sophomore year.
Good night, Mark.
I don't get it.
You wanted to make love,
we made love.
You're still not satisfied.
What's the matter?
We've still got a problem,
Mark, and you know what it is.
The peace of the Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Through this holy anointing, may the
Lord in his love and mercy help you
with the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Lord, you took our weakness on
yourself and bore our sufferings
in your passion and death.
Hear this prayer for our suffering
Sister Teresa. You are her redeemer.
Strengthen her hope for salvation.
And in your kindness,
sustain her in body and soul.
You live and reign for ever
and ever.
Amen.
CONTINUOUS BEEP
So what have I done?
I want those machines turned off.
You can't play God
with someone's life.
We've had 16 bargaining sessions.
Well, they've asked me to file
unfair labour charges
against this hospital.
The rabbit died.
You're pregnant?
Tonight on St Elsewhere...
There's more to our job
than the operation itself.
Important post-op care, for instance,
including
the Sex After Bypass lectures.
There are five phases
of sexual activity -
arousal, plateau, orgasm, resolution
and putting on your socks.
My only recourse is to take
St Eligius to court.
If I can't convince you, I will
terminate her life support myself.
They've rejected our offer.
Unless real progress is made,
in 10 days' time, the nurses' union
will go on strike.
How can you be so damn casual?
Jack, if this is so hard for you
to deal with, stay out of it.
When will you admit you were wrong?
You don't deserve to be a doctor.
Mark...
Time for school, Mom?
Morning, sweetheart.
Is it 6:30 already?
I didn't hear the alarm clock.
You've still got time to get up.
You woke me from a sound sleep
to tell me that I still have time
before I have to get up?
No.
That's not why I woke you up.
Stop that.
I've got a busy day.
Have I had eggs yet this week?
Yesterday, poached.
Now, when you see the gardener this
afternoon, would you explain to him
that it wouldn't hurt
if he would hit his knees
and do a little weeding
by the back porch steps?
The azaleas are being strangled.
Why are you still in bed?
Right.
Mark? I want to talk to you
about our love life.
Ellen, that's not the kind of thing
you discuss before breakfast.
First of all,
we haven't made love in six weeks.
That's not true.
We made love Flag Day.
You're right.
Seven weeks.
Well, bad sex is better
than no sex at all.
Oh, boy, you women!
You accuse men of being obsessed
with lovemaking
and then that's all you have
on your minds.
What I'm saying is we haven't made
love in seven weeks and I miss it.
And I want us to do something
about it.
All right.
All right. Tonight.
Promise?
Oh, for crying out loud,
do I have to take an oath?
Good morning.
Hey, Boomer.
What are you doing up?
Getting Pete his breakfast.
Want anything?
No, thanks. Besides, you know
I'm not supposed to eat this morning.
I thought maybe you'd changed
your mind about the abortion.
What made you think that?
It's just...I don't know.
The way you looked
when you're sleeping.
Do I snore?
Look, I know I said I wouldn't talk
about this any more,
but it's still not too late.
Yes, it is. If I cancel
the appointment now,
they'll probably charge me
for it anyway.
You know doctors.
All right, joke your way around it.
Are we out of clean towels?
How can you be so damn casual?
Jack, if this is so hard for you
to deal with, stay out of it, OK?
Don't come to the clinic with me.
I don't need this kind
of bedside manner.
What I need is a clean towel.
10 days ago, three municipal firemen
were admitted to the emergency room.
Dr Ehrlich, first case, please.
This is Gerry Close,
44-year-old male,
a slide provided
by the fire department.
Second and third degree burns
over 60% of his body.
Scheduled for debridement
and porcine skin grafting at four.
He also has
a hairline pelvic fracture.
Thank you.
Dr Wade, next case, please.
Manny Schecter,
62-year-old white male.
Full thickness burns
to face, neck and scalp.
Scheduled for debridement tomorrow
with possible reconstruction
of the right ear, something that
can be done at a later date.
Where's Morrison?
How's he missing this?
Day off. Besides, he's got
his own problems today.
Dr Chandler?
THEY LAUGH
OK, Fiskus, very funny.
Michael Duffy,
22-year-old white male.
Second and third degree burns
on his arms and legs.
Debrided yesterday, but he's not
ready for a skin graft yet.
He has a poor granulation base.
Also, his pain threshold
is very low.
I've upped his morphine to
15 milligrams, sub-cu, last night.
That's all, folks.
Did you get those questionnaires
asking if you'll still work
if the nurses go on strike?
Under no circumstances
will I across the picket line.
Do you really mean that?
No.
You're so wishy-washy.
No, I'm not. Am I?
If the nurses walk, they'll cut back
on patient populations,
only keep open key departments.
We've all read the papers, OK?
And eliminate elective surgery.
What?
That's stupid.
Today's elective surgery may be
tomorrow's emergency surgery.
I'm sorry, Sister, you can't go in.
What are you talking about?
Doctor's orders.
No visitors allowed.
Get out of my way.
Please, sister,
for my sake, don't make a scene.
We'll see about this.
Morning, Dr Craig.
Ehrlich.
I'll have plenty of time on my hands
if the nurses strike.
Stop thinking about yourself
all the time.
There's more to our job
than the operation itself.
Important post-op care, for instance,
including
the Sex After Bypass lectures.
I could do a little research
for you, sir.
I'll have plenty of time
on my hands.
Research?
I like hearing about sex.
I mean, for post-op patients.
I feel it's important for them
and for me to see you do it.
The lectures, I mean.
One of my hopes for you,
now that you're in your second year
of residency,
is that you quit
this incessant brown-nosing.
Me, a brown-nose?
You know, you're absolutely right.
You're very intuitive.
Since you are so hot
to be part of the lecture series,
I'm giving you the honour
of delivering the first one, today.
Today? I'm assisting
Dr Caldwell in OR.
That's not until 4pm.
The lecture is at noon.
It's not what I had in mind
in terms of helping.
I'm not at my best
in front of crowds.
All the more reason why you should
do it. You've got an hour to prepare.
They'll never understand me.
I have a speech defect.
I slur the letter S.
Donald. Donald? The nurses voted
overwhelmingly to organise a strike,
if negotiations break down.
Wonderful.
I thought you'd better know.
Take a look at that.
The court has mandated
that we reinstate Peter White
to the residency programme.
Can you appeal?
The trustees say no.
Too many government grants would be
in danger if we fight it publicly.
Dr Westphall, can I speak to you?
We'll talk about this later.
Excuse us.
Certainly, sister.
How dare you keep me
from visiting her?
I did it for her protection,
to keep you from turning off
her life-support system.
How can I make you people see
that what you're doing is wrong?
Please, Sister, in here.
I thought the Church
believed in prolonging life.
You're not prolonging her life.
You're extending her death.
One of the Church's teachings
makes it clear -
our primary duty is to relieve
her pain and suffering.
The impact from the car accident
knocked out the pain centre
in her thalamus.
Wow will you change that?
I can't, but if I discontinue
the life-support system,
she'll likely die.
To stand by and watch that happen
is intolerable.
What's intolerable is to see her
hooked up to those machines,
knowing the quality of life
she cherished is over.
No freedom, no awareness,
no dignity.
If we take her off those machines
and she lives,
then it's the Lord's will.
I can accept that.
I can't.
You were smart to keep me out
of her room, Dr Westphall.
If I can't convince you, I will
terminate her life-support myself.
I mean it.
God does not want her
to live that way.
Hey, Phil.
So, the rumour mill was right?
I guess it's too much
to expect a brass band.
They moved our lockers.
Here, let me show you.
You know, your coming back is going
to tick a lot of people off.
Yeah, what about you?
Well, I never paid dues
to the Peter White fan club,
if that's what you mean.
I'm a firm believer in the law
and I contribute to the ACLU,
even though they defend causes
I don't believe in.
I'm glad you understand
I have a right to be here.
Dr Fiskus, this way, please.
What's the problem?
Billy's very sick. I just got to him
in the nick of time.
I could take care of him myself,
but there are things
I can't do medically.
Are you his mother?
No.
Then wait outside.
It's important for us
to work together.
He may be in a coma.
The best thing you can do
is wait outside.
I need a nurse here.
Where's the chart on this boy?
I've never seen him before.
I know it's backed up out there.
I don't want to tell you
how to do your job...
That's a first.
You had to admit this boy
or else how did he get here?
Beats me.
There's a bag lady waiting that was
with him. Why don't you ask her?
Say please.
Please.
Anybody here bring in a small boy?
Anybody bring in a small boy?
Anybody bring in a small boy?
Fiskus, Can you be a little
more specific?
This place is bag lady central.
I need you here, Shirl. I've gotta
get him up to radiology, stat.
I think he may have had
a head injury.
He's got a subdural haematoma.
Hi.
Hi, I'm Dr Victor Ehrlich, I'd like
to think you all for coming,
and welcome you to the first in a
series of Sex After Bypass lectures.
I'm embarrassed, talking
to some of you twice my age
about something I know little about.
Maybe some of you
are embarrassed too.
Let's all just work together.
Something that worked in
elementary school for me was,
let's all just have a big giggle now
and get it out of our systems. OK?
1, 2, 3, go!
Great. I feel a lot better.
Well, I'm sure the foremost question
on all of your minds is,
"Now that I've had the bypass,
if I have sex, will I die?"
The answer is no.
And let me please elaborate on that.
There are five phases
of sexual activity -
arousal, plateau, orgasm, resolution
and putting on your socks.
Or not.
I'm afraid we'll have to reject
your counter-proposal
to our final offer.
But what you're offering
is grossly inadequate.
We will still be the lowest paid
professionals in this hospital.
Maybe it's just a coincidence
that most of us are women.
If we had the money, we'd give it.
Oh, yes, I know.
Rising costs, subsidy cutbacks...
Would anyone like some coffee?
Just cream, right?
If we were to give you the increase
you wanted,
we'd have to double our rates
and thereby hurt the very patients
you claim to care so much about.
Sorry I'm late.
But you'll be happy to know
that the zoo will be open
on weekends, Mrs Rosenthal.
Richard, what are you doing here?
I thought you knew.
Knew? Knew what?
After yesterday,
Mrs Rosenthal asked for a meeting
between herself
and the hospital board of trustees.
She got the trustees to ask for
a federal mediator, so here I am.
This is an insult, Helen.
And a prime example of your need
to manipulate these negotiations.
Daniel, I tried to.
But like everything else I've said
in the past month,
you tried to ignore that, too.
Well...mediate.
Where do we stand to date?
They've rejected our final offer.
Then we're at an impasse.
Yes, I'm afraid we are.
And there's only one way
I can think of to break it -
by serving official notice
that unless real progress is made,
in 10 days' time,
the nurses' union will go on strike.
If you were more experienced
in labour negotiations,
you wouldn't have done that.
Don't you agree?
Daniel, perhaps if we re-examine
the nurses' counter-proposal?
It's already been rejected.
Look, we'd be willing to meet
around the clock before the deadline.
Glad to hear about the zoo.
Thank you.
Hey, Manny.
Mike, is that you?
I can hardly see through all this.
You sound kind of hoarse.
I am.
CAMERA CLICKS AND WHIRRS
Cut that out, shrimpola!
I want to have proof
that you do work here.
Give me a hand.
Here we go.
Ready?
Luther, take this.
Why is someone always
taking pictures of us?
It's the "before and after" file,
so the doctors can keep track
of your progress.
Damn right.
Between what's left of you,
me and Gerry,
we make one pretty good fireman.
When's Gerry joining us?
Once he gets out of OR,
he'll be right down.
Anything else I can get you?
The nurse, the morphine.
Right.
OK, next, we have...p-positions.
Thank you very much for coming.
If you prefer a top-bottom position,
is is recommended
that the non-cardiac partner
assume the top, more active role.
But there is little research
to support the theory
that the passive partner
uses less energy.
That's certainly true with Roberta.
Here, here's a very interesting
little titbit.
Some people who had heart attacks
find that sex is easier
when both partners
are lying on their sides,
either towards each other
or with one behind the other.
Some find it easier sitting,
facing each other.
If she's really ugly, you could
do a back-to-back, I guess.
Is there one thing
we should be careful of?
Yes, cheating.
One, it's going
to run havoc on your heart.
Two, if your spouse finds out,
she'll kill you.
I think that pretty much covers it.
I want to thank you for coming.
You've been great,
and remember,
let's just keep on pumping, OK?
Keep your heart pumping, of course.
Thank you.
I just got off the phone with our
order's attorney, Kenneth Myre.
He says my only recourse
is to take St Eligius to court.
Wait, what are we talking about?
Dr Westphall and I seem to have
a problem communicating
about Sister Teresa's condition.
Why does everyone want to air
in a public forum
grievances which can be so
effectively handled in private?
Ask Dr Westphall. If you ask me,
he's trying to satisfy his own ego.
I prefer to think
it's his sense of ethics.
Medical technology has advanced
very rapidly,
creating all kinds
of moral questions for doctors.
She's irreversibly brain damaged.
There's no reason
to keep her alive artificially.
Why is it so hard to see that?
I think it would be best if we
sat down and reasoned together.
This is not a philosophical debate.
I used to pray all day
to alleviate human suffering.
When I joined the missionary,
that suffering became
something tangible, something
I could see and smell and fear.
I had the same experience, after
graduating from medical school.
You and I don't disagree on this,
but Sister Teresa
is Dr Westphall's patient.
And it would be wrong
for me to intercede on this.
All right, I'll meet with you both.
But I'd like Father Flynn, our
pastor at St Ursula's, to join us.
St Ursula versus St Eligius.
I thought at least in heaven,
everyone got along.
Hi.
Hello.
How are you feeling?
It's over.
I thought I told you not to show up.
Well, I felt bad about this morning.
Which part?
Not being supportive enough.
Face it, Jack, what bothers you about
my abortion is that I made a choice.
I feel the decision was
as much mine as it was yours.
What I don't understand is why
you bothered to tell me at all.
I couldn't wait - you sit passively,
letting life happen to you.
It doesn't work that way.
Sign here.
I'm so sorry I didn't make things
easier for you.
Well, you sure as hell didn't.
Frankly, I can't deal with that now.
Where have you been?
Did you give Billy's history
to Nurse Daniels?
He's only six,
there's not that much to tell.
Now, be quiet while I finish.
You shouldn't be in here.
This is the ICU.
No visitors except immediate family.
Where is his immediate family?
One more minute.
Please, stop.
Dr Fiskus, this is no time
to be interrupted.
Well, then, just come with me. OK?
I have instructions
not to leave Billy.
Instructions?
From some other doctor?
It's hard to phrase
in terms you'll understand.
But I'm his godmother.
Why didn't you say that before?
His fairy godmother.
And I'm the leftfielder
for the Boston Red Sox.
Nonsense.
That's where Jim Rice plays.
OK, let's go.
Look, I'm not asking you
to believe me.
I'm just asking you
to get out of my way.
You cannot practise mumbo-jumbo here
without a licence.
I'm almost done.
This is my patient.
And my responsibility.
I chose you to help me out here
because I thought you were
the most open-minded.
I usually go to Ben Heimer Memorial.
Do you have a name?
Fairy godmothers don't have names.
We're what you might say generic.
But witches have names.
And hobbits.
I'm sure there's people
in the psych ward
that would be glad
to continue this conversation.
It's against my orders
to leave Billy.
We'll both get in trouble
with the brothers.
Which brothers?
The Brothers Grimm.
Did Ehrlich put you up to this?
The patient feels generally
unwell with nausea and vertigo.
There's plus 2 pitting ankle
odema and decreased urine output.
Indicating?
Impending kidney failure.
Any blood in the urine?
Yes. And protein.
Any other ideas about aetiology?
Well...
Anyone else?
I suggest you do
renal function studies
and an ultrasound.
I don't remember calling on you.
I'm right, aren't I?
I didn't invite you
to come on rounds.
I'm right, aren't I? Just say it.
Dr Jacobson, present
your case, will you?
Look, I've finished
all my assigned work in
radiology. I have just as much
right to learn as anybody else here.
Dr Jacobson, your case.
When are you going to
stop busting my chops?
When are you going to finally
admit you were wrong about me?
Or can't the great Dr Westphall
admit he made a mistake?
You don't deserve to be a doctor.
You don't belong here.
And I'm going to make
that clear to you every time
you cross my path.
Now take a walk.
I've got rights
under the constitution.
Don't forget that, Dr Westphall.
Dr Jacobson, your patient.
OK, now be a nice lady
and have a seat.
Dr Martin will be
right in to see you.
You and she are really
going to get along.
That's going to be very hard because
you're the only one that can see me.
Besides, the longer we
take with this foolishness,
the longer it will take Billy
to get back on his feet again.
Billy is in a coma,
and we're not sure why. And nobody
knows when he's going to get better.
He'll get better.
Cath, I've got a patient
for you in Room 312.
Lady thinks she's a tooth fairy.
Wonderful, I can't wait to see her.
Why?
She owes me a quarter.
Only kidding, Wayne.
Mr Crowe.
Good to see you.
How's the old heart?
Oh, the heart is good. The
leg is kind of bad. I'm real sorry
to disturb you.
Nonsense, come with me.
Unless you want to
talk about my bill.
Well, this is kinda personal.
There's nothing too personal
between a patient and his doctor.
This is about sex.
I see.
My wife and I have been
married for 30 years.
Without being crude,
I think that I can say
we had a very fulfilled sex life.
But ever since the operation,
nothing seems the same.
You have to give it time.
I have.
I hoped you'd talk to Pat and...
Mr Crowe,
that's what the lectures were for.
She wouldn't come. Quite frankly,
I'm glad she didn't. That resident...
Ehrlich?
Yeah, well...
You see, you have to understand,
he has the potential of being a
brilliant surgeon.
But he comes from California and
he has a tendency to be...
You know... To act like a...
Pig?
Wayne, he's got positive reflexes,
he's got decreased deep-tendon
reflexes and he's got minimal
response to deep-pain stimuli.
Let's get an EEG
and a CAT scan, stat.
So the young fellow says, "Dad?"
And the old guy looks
up and says, "Pinocchio?"
Oh, Manny.
Manny, you're coughing.
I know I'm coughing.
My chest is congested.
I'll call the nurse, huh?
No, every time I complain, a
pretty girl gives me an enema.
Some of them even work here.
How are you doing, Michael?
Hey, what are you doing here?
I heard about your accident.
I figured maybe you
could use a little company.
You with the fire department?
Mr and Mrs Schechter,
Russ Butler, an old friend of mine.
Hi. Hi.
Nice to meet you.
What are they giving you
for pain, Michael?
Morphine.
Morphine?
That's a heavy downer.
Tell me about it!
Maybe what you need is a
little pick-me-up, huh?
That'd be great.
But I don't know when
I'll be able to pay you.
Don't worry about it.
Your credit's always good with me.
Hello.
Hello, Mrs Schechter.
Hi, Dr Caldwell.
How did it go?
Jerry's grafting and
debridement went perfectly.
When does he get up here?
Dr Caldwell,
my husband's been complaining
about congestion in his chest.
For crying out loud, Lil!
Listen, Manny, will you let
him listen to you? It's for
your own good.
I trust him.
He's such a handsome fellow.
We've seen him every day
for a week now and his manner
starts to grate on you.
The way he dresses.
The hesitation before he speaks.
Don't forget that stupid
little laugh he does.
These guys were so nice to
me when they were unconscious.
See what I mean?
Well, you do sound a little fluidy.
Meaning? >
Meaning nothing or
meaning pneumonia.
I knew it.
We may have to
postpone your debridement.
No.
Mike, you hear that? No debridement.
I'll take pneumonia.
Therefore, Sister Teresa
has no immediate family?
Like most other nuns, when
she entered the convent, she
took the members of our religious
community as her immediate family.
You see,
Sister Dominica, as superior of
the Order, is responsible
for Theresa's welfare.
That makes sense, doesn't it,
Donald?
I can also assure you, Dr
Westphall, that Sister Teresa
on several occasions expressed her
belief that she wouldn't want to be
kept alive in this manner.
Is that something you can
document in a courtroom?
When a priest or a nun
puts his or her hand on a
Bible and swears to tell the truth,
the effect on a jury is staggering.
The fact is, I am her doctor.
And according to Massachusetts law,
I have the authority to
continue treatment as I see fit.
And according to our interpretation
of that same law,
Sister Dominica has
the right to replace the attending
physician with one of her choosing.
That's clear enough.
Tell me I'm fired.
You're fired.
Daniel, you'll
make sure they find a replacement?
Sorry.
No, it's OK. I should be up.
No, I meant about this afternoon.
My behaviour was childish.
Well, so was mine.
You were there for me.
And I just wanted
to let you know that...
I love you...
and some day I would
like to have your baby.
It's just that now wasn't
the right time, that's all.
Well, when is?
Jake, I'm so unhappy.
That's a natural
post-operative depression.
No,
I was unhappy before the abortion.
Because, for all my talk about being
in control,
I'm not as grown up as I thought.
I didn't take precautions to
keep from getting pregnant.
Well, that's as much my
responsibility as yours.
The problem
with making choices is that
you have to live with them.
Hold me, Jake.
I need to be held.
Mrs Crowe.
Please, sit down.
I'm glad you could make it.
Dr Craig, if this is bad news
about Marvin's health, then I'd
appreciate knowing rightoff the bat.
No, no. To the contrary.
I have never seen him stronger.
His recovery from the bypass is
total and complete.
You can feel free now to
do anything that you did with him...
before the operation.
I don't think I
understand what you mean.
Intercourse.
Oh...
You know, the heart has always
been a symbol of tenderness,
caring and love.
But when a heart is damaged,
sometimes we get confused.
I'm almost afraid
to touch him at all.
Well, that's only natural.
I mean, you've been
physically separated for years.
I can still see him
lying there on the floor
during the attack,
clutching his chest,
so fragile.
You mustn't be
afraid of hurting him.
Just take it one step at a time.
I guess I'm waiting for him to
give me some kind of indication.
Yes, well,
both of you should get started.
I mean, he's probably
more scared than you are.
I think what you've got to do is
deal with it openly.
I don't want to lose him.
Trust me.
If you proceed gradually,
the risks are minimal.
I think it's important
that you define what your needs are.
I think the most perfect
form of communication is
the physical expression
between two people
who love each other.
Dr Craig, how come Marvin
can't talk to me the way you do?
Ah, well...
Sometimes it's hard for husbands
to say what's in their hearts.
Urine toxicity screen is negative,
CAT scan is negative.
EEG technician's on the way.
I don't know what else to do.
Well, we could consider a
spinal tap to rule out infection.
Did you locate the family?
I don't even know his last name.
Is this your idea of a joke?
Because of it is, I don't
appreciate it. ..Hi, Phil.
I take what I do very seriously.
Hi, Cathy.
Did you talk to the fairy godmother?
There was no-one in room 312,
or 321 or 213 or 412.
Look, I don't have time for this.
I put her in the room,
I locked the door.
Well, maybe somebody moved her.
If someone did, there's no record
of it. We at Psych pride
ourselves on ordered behaviour.
So we've got a fairy godmother
on the loose, huh?
I guess so.
I'll go tell security.
Tell them - woman, white,
late 40s, throaty voice.
And I'm holding you responsible.
Cathy,
I know why you couldn't find her.
Why?
Because she's invisible
to everyone but me.
Did you make this whole thing up?
Is that what happened?
Is this a figment of
your imagination, something you've
been suppressing since childhood?
An imaginary life?
It's healthy in young children,
but at your age...?
Perhaps you should schedule an
appointment, not with me, of course,
to penetrate your psyche.
Cathy, I liked you better when
you were in the morgue and only
interested in bodies.
For once and for all, Wayne,
leave me out of your fantasies.
What the hell? Did you just
climb in the bathroom window?
Ssh, there, I've finished.
Now, you be sure and
give him the proper medication.
But...
Keep him warm and well fed.
And it wouldn't hurt to read
him the bedtime story.
But...
For a trained physician, you
have a very limited vocabulary.
Excuse me.
He's going to be all right.
Tell me, how did you...
Hello?
Lady!
Hey, Annie, congratulations
on becoming an attending.
What seems to be the problem?
Miss Hoffnegle won't budge.
Thank you, Luther, but I'd prefer
to hear from the patient herself.
Miss Hoffnegle?
What seems to be the problem?
The black guy's right.
I ain't budging.
I want to know exactly what
is going on in this hospital.
I'll explain it all to you as we go.
Because of the potential nurses'
strike, the higher-ups have decided
to reduce the patient load.
That means laying off some staff
members and consolidating
certain floors.
We're moving all
the people from ward four...
I'd like to apologise
for my behaviour.
You did what was in your heart.
I don't agree with that
but I have to respect it.
You know, I think that
in any other circumstances, you and
I'd probably get along very well.
I don't think our views
on life are very different.
Only our views on death.
I know Sister Teresa's
going to a better place.
You see,
I don't even believe
in an afterlife.
All I trust in is the here and now.
When did you stop believing?
When you became a doctor?
No, it was a long while after that.
My wife was in an accident.
I call it an accident,
the Church would call it
part of a greater plan.
In any case, Marie ended up
lying in a hospital bed
and the only thing that told me
that she was still alive
was an electronic impulse
on a monitor.
I had two small children
and I was scared.
I didn't know what to do.
So I went to our parish priest and
he responded the same way you did.
I put her life in God's hands
and I lost her.
It seemed right.
I even grew to accept it.
but in the years since then,
I've seen case after hopeless
case where patients, because of
one doctor's faith in medicine,
came back to life.
So you see,
the question that
keeps eating away at me is, why?
Why was I so willing
not to trust what I knew?
If I'd waited,
the only woman I ever truly
loved might still be here with me.
She is here with you.
Your wife's death was obviously a
great loss but it's not a defeat.
Her soul is in this room,
it's in your children,
and the other lives she touched.
The ones you helped
through your work.
You have to admit that,
even if you don't believe in
harps and the pearly gates,
that's a pretty good afterlife.
Do you really believe that?
Yes. Yes, I do.
Then what did Belinda the
Good Witch do? Wave her magic wand?
You're not listening to me.
She's not a witch, she's a fairy.
Are we talking
Cinderella or Oscar Wilde?
OK, I know you don't believe me but
the kid is fine now and I didn't do
anything. Now, do I sound crazy?
No, but I do think the bad acid
you ate in '73 is kicking in again.
Well, there's no way to
prove it to you because
I'm the only one that can see her.
Holy moly, there she is.
Where?
What does it matter?
You can't see her.
Try me.
OK, right there.
I see her.
Good, Shirley, you're part
of the miracle, too. Come on.
Hi, how are you?
I'm OK. How are you?
Fine, you got
another patient for me?
Oh, don't be shy.
Anything you need to say to me,
you can say in front of Shirley.
It's those Russians.
Those damn Russians.
First the tsar,
then the Olympic boycott.
Now...
Don't do this to me.
Where can you get a
good salad in this town?
Thanks, Fiskus,
I'm certainly glad I was allowed to
bask in the sunshine of this moment.
Shirley, wait, wait.
OK, how did you escape
from the psych ward?
No big mystery.
You left the door unlocked.
You're giving me a headache.
Boy, that was great.
Wasn't that great?
I'm glad we talked this morning.
Cleared the air.
I'm going to see who's on Merv.
Probably some stupid comic.
'OK, all right, OK.
'Two guys walk into a bar,
right, which is really stupid...'
What's he wearing, a hand?
Turn it off.
You know, after all
these years, Ellen,
you still excite me.
Prettiest girl that
ever graduated from Penn.
Thank you.
Except for Candice Bergan,
who quit her sophomore year.
Good night, Mark.
I don't get it.
You wanted to make love,
we made love.
You're still not satisfied.
What's the matter?
We've still got a problem,
Mark, and you know what it is.
The peace of the Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Through this holy anointing, may the
Lord in his love and mercy help you
with the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Lord, you took our weakness on
yourself and bore our sufferings
in your passion and death.
Hear this prayer for our suffering
Sister Teresa. You are her redeemer.
Strengthen her hope for salvation.
And in your kindness,
sustain her in body and soul.
You live and reign for ever
and ever.
Amen.
CONTINUOUS BEEP