St. Elsewhere (1982–1988): Season 3, Episode 7 - Fade to White - full transcript

White is shot and rushed into emergency surgery. Morrison tries to find a psychological cause for a boy's asthma. Ehrlich incurs the wrath of Craig after agreeing to appear on a television news show. Worn down by stress, Auschland...

'Previously on St Elsewhere...'
Any luck finding an assistant?

Is the position still open?

It's starting again
and none of you seem to care!

Shirley...

Now you know what it feels like!

Freeze.

Please, this is...

Now I want you to be afraid!
Did you hit them?

What did you make them do?

I didn't touch them!

Say it.



I raped them. All of them?

I wanted Kathy
but somebody else got her first.

Goodbye, Peter.

Code Blue...in the morgue.

'Tonight on St Elsewhere...'

Peter White's been shot!
We'll do everything we can to help.

Any chance of his
telling us anything today?

No. When did this start?

You don't really know
what's it, do you?

TANNOY: Code Blue. 364.

What's up? I'm retiring.

Is he any better? No.

Advertise your product or brand here
contact www.OpenSubtitles.org today

TANNOY: Code Blue. In the morgue.



Hold the elevator, please!

My God!

Peter. Turn him over. I'm sorry.

OK, we got
an entrance wound over the heart.

Barely a pulse. Exit right flank.

Pelvic trauma. A lot of bleeding
here. ABD pads, please.

Jack!
Try to get a handle on the bleeding.

We need lights,
gases, cross match eight units.

Notify the cardiac team.

They'll need an OR right away.
Where's the tube?

BP's 60 palp.

I can't get it in his chest!

Let's take him upstairs. Tube him!

No time! We'll lose him on the way.

We should take him upstairs.
Come on, let's get around that side.

Come on now, hurry up, hurry up!
Ready? One...two...three!

Get the door!

Watch it!

Not too long ago, our TV station did

a documentary -
Well, the ratings went bananas,

phones rang non-stop, I almost won
a SHEKIE for best direction.

A SHEKIE?

Excellence in film journalism.

Whether it's getting physical
or giving one, people want to watch.

That's why we have a new
segment planned called Health Spot.

60 seconds of medicine,
nutrition and cures.

And here's the kicker -
we use a real doctor! Verisimilitude.

I hope you're not asking Dr Craig.

I understand things
didn't go well between you two.

We had
a few technical hitches,

but we got along great!

See, unfortunately, he's too old.
I need a young doctor.

Personable, outgoing, affable -
really interesting.

Any residents here like that?

Maybe one or two.

Great. There sure weren't any over
at St Gregory's or Boston General!

Don't let me disturb you.

Oh, sorry. Doctor Auschlander
Bill Wolfe, WINTV.

Hi.

So when did you want to start
interviewing?

We'd like to move as soon as we can.

I'll set up interviews. Terrific.

Thank you. Dr Auschlander.

Joan, I'd like to duck out
a bit early.

I feel rather guilty. I've hardly
done a lick of work all day.

BUZZER
Enjoy it.

Hello?

When?

Get me his file, quick.
Oh, and any medical information, too.

Yeah.

Peter 's been shot!

His blood looks dark.
Send another gas.

Mark? How's he doing?

This was a real good shoot 'em up,
Donald.

He's got a lacerated
ascending aorta.

Damage to the retro peritoneum.

A tear in the left lung.

And a pretty good nick
on the right ventricle.

Haemostat.

He's gone
through nine units of blood.

I had to send out for donors.

We're doing
bilateral orchiectomies down there.

Peter's wife is on her way over.

Haemostat.

Shirley, Shirley -
what is your blood type?

O negative.

Universal donor - the magic words.
Listen, Craig's working on Peter.
We're rounding up donors.

I'll get somebody to cover for you.
I shouldn't leave the OR.

I'll be right with you.

The man is running out of blood!

I can't go right now!

What? Right this way.

Jack! Hurry up!

Jimmy has asthma, but it's
never been this bad before.

When did it start?

A few months ago.
He's got an inhaler.

Any allergies?

No, none.

BP's 1/10 over 80.

1025 milligrams epi. Sub-que, STAT.
bring the Bronskill mist.

I'm going to put this mask
over your mouth, OK?

What I want you to do,
is take slow, deep breaths.

This is going to be a little big
on you. Just breathe.

OK?

What a tragedy.

Let me get this straight,
Detective.

You've sealed off the building?

No-one leaves
without being searched.

Just how long do you plan
to keep this up?

However long it takes.

You do want me to catch the guy?

Of course. We're a little concerned
about turning into a police state.

One of your rape unit's undercover
agents is already working here.

Dr Auschlander...

You really believe whoever did
this is still in the hospital?

Sometimes the best place
to hide is out in the open.

That makes no sense.

It does if they work here.

Look, we'll do everything we can
to help your investigation,

but accusing our staff at
this stage is irresponsible!

I hope you'll be more discreet
when speaking with the press?

I wouldn't want the public
to think we've got a murderer
running loose.

You may have.

It might be good if...if you spoke
with the reporters before
he sets off a panic.

You speak to them, Joan.

I'm not sure I'm up to
dealing with this.

Well, your son has stabilised.

We bring him in every time
this happens?

No, I'd like to figure out
what's causing the attacks.

I told you, he has asthma.

He's not responding
in the usual way.

He's sick,
and the medicine isn't working.

I can make arrangements.

Myra.

He's dead, isn't he? No.

He's out of surgery.
They're bringing him down to ICU.

Will he be OK?

I don't know.
Too soon to tell.

He was very badly injured.

Myra, I'm sorry.

You mean that, don't you?

I wish that you would have
known him before all of this.

Before he changed so much.

Back in Providence...

He was...
he was really a good person.

I guess...
I guess he just got off the track.

Maybe if I wouldn't
have married him...

Blaming yourself isn't
going to help, is it?

He spoke so highly of you,
he really admired you.

Like in the entrapment case,
you were the only one
that stood up for him.

That time I believed he was innocent.

Me too.

When the policeman asked me
if I knew of anybody at the
hospital that would havewanted...

wanted to kill him,
I said, everybody because it's true!

DRUNKEN SINGING

# Don't you really, really think
it's time to have another drink! #

That's right!

Here's to Mrs O'Leary's cow!

I'll drink to that!

Guys, I can hear you all the way
down the hall in my office. Great.

This is an old pal of Dr Caldwell!

I see the Halidol's worn off,
huh, Gerry?

Hey - I'm going home tomorrow!

And so we're having a celebration!
I should have went crazy earlier!

A little pop?

I'm not much of a drinker. Mmm.

Not much of a doctor, either!

You're not going to bust us are you?

I'd say I'm a little late.
Besides, the way you two treat me,
you deserve the hangovers!

Second verse!

# Here's to the life of a fireman
who drives the engine red

# Who shouts to his team of horses
"Go ahead, go ahead, go ahead! #

Shhhh! Shhhh!

Hot damn!
The fire's out!

Just got done being
questioned by the police. >

They're talking to everyone
who worked with Peter .

Morrison told them
we had an argument.

So? So, why'd he have to do that?

It doesn't mean you shot him!

I was so nervous,
I started thinking I did it!

Ultimate paranoia!

More than one innocent
man's gone to prison.

Hi there.

Have I seen her before?

Must be new.

How are you doing?

I'm...

I'm a little shaken.

Sat up most of the night with Myra.

I'm trying to see my way
through a peculiar case.

You want me to take over? No.

But I'm stumped.
Eight-year-old boy,

comes in with chronic asthma,

except he doesn't present
any classic symptoms.

His lungs are clear,
provocation tests negative.

Blood, gases and sputum normal.

I've ordered additional chest X-rays.

Could be laryngeal,
tumour, lesion.

Maybe a look at his throat with
a laryngoscope would be a good idea.

BEEPING

Well, look, um...Boomer,
you want me to take over
for you, you let me know, OK?

We'll walk the talent
through as quickly as possible.

We'll know when we
have the next Art Levine.

Dr Craig, nice to see you again.

Like hell it is.

Allow me.

Look, buster.
Don't try and butter me up.

That worked once but it won't again.
You just keep your blood money.

You're not still upset?

What documentary? What I saw
was an exhibition of muck-raking.

What are you doing in here anyway?

I catch you here again you better
have tubes sticking in you.

I have Miss Halloran's
permission to be here.

To do what?

To interview residents
for a feature health spot.

Do you honestly believe that anyone
here would associate with you?

Yes.

After what you did to me?
Not a chance.

TANNOY: Joan Thomas,
please return to your room.

Joan Thomas,
please return to your room.

Morning, Mrs White.

Doctor, can I talk to you?

Any chance of his telling us
anything today?

Wouldn't count on it.

We've got more motives than
we can use but we're short

on hard evidence.

Let us know if he comes around.

I called someone a half-hour
ago to clean room 314.
Would you please geton it?

Sure. What do you need?

Well, sheets and towels for a start.

Sheet and towels you got.

And mop the floor, clean
the bathroom. The whole routine.

Right. 314?

Right.

Where do they find these people?

He has the final stage of his
reconstruction. He can go home too.

Your old squeeze Joan Halloran's
back, huh?

Yep. You were a pretty hot item.

I got to be honest with you, pal,
she really makes my propeller spin.

If you catch my drift.

Fortunately, I don't think I do.

All right, Dr Fiscus.
Tell us why you should be on TV.

Truth, justice and the American way.

Could you be more specific? >

Truth, I know medicine.

Justice, I deserve the job.

The American way -
great sense of humour.

I'm part of the largest
generation ever born,

so I know what makes the Baby Boom
tick - my finger's on its pulse.

You get it?

Yeah, I heard it five times. >

Look, the point is that
I can bring to your show

what Jack Palance brings to Ripley's.

The unexpected.

I know sign language.
You wouldn't have to close caption.

KNOCKING

Hi. Come on in.

What's up?

What if I were to tell
you I was retiring?

What?

Thinking of retiring in a few months.

You want a drink? Please.

What brought all this on?

What hasn't? The nurses' strike.

The asbestosis. Peter .

I just haven't been
doing my job properly.

Instead of managing problems
they've managing me.

Things do pile up on us, don't they?

It's more than that.

Ever since my collapse in the
elevator, people have been taking

to treating me as if I were some
fine antique vase, very breakable.

So in response, in order to prove
I wasn't a pushover,
I over-compensated.

Maybe you misinterpreted. Exactly.

That's why the strike
dragged on so long.

Then I gave up and
gave away too much.

I think you're wrong.

Daniel, this hospital survives

because of your candour,
your ability and your wisdom.

Don't beat yourself up.

I don't deserve the praise.

But I will try to take the advice.

Well, it certainly would be
a challenge and a good opportunity
to present women in our profession.

But I guess what really appeals to me

is the service we would be doing
the city.

You know, giving something back.

I'm not sure I follow. >

Well, patients are consumers.

They have a right to learn
what's done to their body.

Like getting an instruction manual
with a new car.

That's good.
That's real good. >

Maybe we can do this whole bit
from the mobile unit. >

People need to know
what choices they have.

If they can make decisions now
that will prevent illness later on.

You are wonderful. >
Really?

Are you kidding? You're fantastic. >

Well, thank you.

You're eloquent, sincere, committed.
Totally wrong for us. >

What? Thanks for coming in.

Where is she going?

She and I stand back there
while you get your picture taken.

What for?

There's a little bit of radiation.

Radiation?

Like from the bomb?

What bomb? >

The nuclear bomb.

This is just a tiny, small amount.

We learned about radiation in school.

What grade are you in? >

Second.

I liked second grade.

I make relief maps out
of soap flakes and Easter egg dye.

What about you?

I'm not doing too well this year.

OK, Jimmy. What I want you to do
is I want you to take a big breath?

A big breath.

Hold it.

Right?

Let it out.

Jimmy?

Come on. Let's sit up.

Get 0.025 milligrams epi.
Have the laryngoscope ready.

It's OK.

Let me just tell you upfront,
my career behind the footlights

began and ended with the role
of the Grasshopper King

in Carmel Elementary School's
production of Peter Rabbit.

I'm not looking for
another meat puppet with teeth

and a sun tan to read cue cards.

I can tell you're authentic.

Well, thank you.

Believe me, I work hard at it.

So we have a deal? >

I got the job? Mm.

Well, fabulous. What do I talk about?

Just remember that our demographic's
18 - 34. Upscale professionals.

wine spritzer crowd.

They're wanna hear about diets,
aerobics, babies.

No cholera, liver spots. >

Like the plague.

This is all great.
When do we start?

Tonight. Tonight?

It's the news - late-breaking
stories, special bulletins, updates.

Something works, move on it. Our
union scale is $137.50 a segment.

Er... $137.50, really?

OK, 140.

$140?

Look, Victor.
Don't get greedy on me.

150, that's my final offer.

$150 is fine.

You know something, you're
a lot cagier than you look.

It's a jungle.

KNOCKING

Excuse me. Dr Auschlander around?

He's out.

Mind if I wait?

Suit yourself.

You look great, Joan. How you been?

I really have no idea when
Dr Auschlander is going to be back.

Is there something
I can help you with?

Sign a requisition for an air bed.

Are you redoing your bedroom?

The burn unit.

I'm something of an expert
in the area of burns.

Joan...

It takes a long time to heal.

Can we just get past the past?
We should at least be civil.

Well, I'm not one of those friends,
lovers, no more types.

I'm entitled to my anger.
It keeps me warm at night.

If you change your mind
and feel like talking.

I'll call someone
who wants to listen.

So you took the job with that
colonic slime Bill Wolf, didn't you?

How did you find out?

Everyone's patting me on the back
like I just had a baby boy.

I was going to say. This century?

The only reason I'm doing this
is to provide a public service.

Don't give me that crap.

Gaddafi is more interested
in public service

than that ringworm producer.

All right, I need the money.

I shouldn't be surprised you turn on
me for a few lousy pieces of silver.

You've had your differences
with Mr Wolf but shouldn't interfere
with our relationship.

You can count on it.
You lie with dogs, you get fleas.

You don't mean that, do you, sir?

This film eviscerated me
all over the airwaves.

I guess I can't persuade you
to do a guest spot some night.

Who do I look like? Ben Vereen? I'm
a surgeon, not a buck and wing man.

Scalpel.

I think that's everything.

Well, say goodbye to patient
No 135720.

This man has just been paroled.

Aren't you going to keep
the dog tag as a souvenir?

I got all reminders
of this place I need.

What's holding up that wheelchair?

Honey, you get used to waiting.

I'm gonna go see what happened.
I'll be right back.

Tell the guys at the station
I'll see them in a couple of weeks.

I told you, man, I'm quitting the
department for Corinne and the kids.

I thought that was a half
a bottle of Scotch talking.

No, I'm going through with it.

Corinne spends enough time
worrying about me, not knowing
if I'm going to make it.

So, what's next?

I got some money saved.

Maybe we'll open a store,
something we can do together.

She can run the register
and I'll rearrange the Slim Jims.

You got to do what's right.

All aboard.

I can walk out myself.

Hospital rule 304. No patient

shall knowingly truck out of here
unless accompanied by an orderly.

I'm going to miss you, man,
but this guy you can keep.

You know what I like about you?
You're consistent. Always nasty.

Hey, man...I'll see you.
Maybe I'll stop by the station.

No, you won't. But that's OK.

Have a good life, Jerry.

Home, James.

# Oh, fireman band

# Oh, fireman band

# Here's to my heart

# And here's to my hand. #

Hi, Shirley.
I just took Myra down to the chapel.

She was starting
to look pretty pale.

Is he any better? No.

Excuse me.

Wayne, wait up.

Hey, Victor.
Heard you got the WYN job. Congrats.

Now you belong to your public.

That's gracious.

TV's not ready for me yet. I'd be
testing the limits of the medium.

I think the real money
is in merchandising.

We can start off small
with health spa T-shirts.

But within a year, every kid will
want a Victor Ehrlich lunchbox.

Wayne.

I'm talking serious dollars.

Maybe enough to
bankroll private practice.

Could I ask you a favour?

I've got to get over
to the Take studio.

Least I can do for a celebrity and
someone I'm proud to say is a friend.

You're very generous.
Room at 202, wonderful older lady.

No biggie. Thank you, Wayne.

Hufnagel?!

Ehrlich!

You swine!

(VICTOR SINGS)
# Everything about it is appealing
Anything that traffic will allow. #

This is a fibre optical picture

of your son's trachea.

During his last asthma attack.

Your son isn't suffering from asthma.

I think it's an emotional reaction.

To the doctors it might have seemed
like the asthma medication helped

but actually the attack subsides

spontaneously once
the anxiety passes.

This is all psychological?

Is he under any unusual stress,
trouble at school?

Well, his grades aren't
what they used to be.

His teachers said
he wasn't concentrating.

Things OK between you two? >

Yes, everything's fine with us.
You don't really know what's wrong?

And it's easy for you to say
my son is deranged.

Diane!

He's on a fishing expedition, Geoff.

Yes, I am.

I need some signpost to help
our understanding of the cause.

Until we find one we can't tried
to control these attacks but...

Excuse me.

Peter is going to make it. Wait.

I was in the chapel
and I felt something.

He's awake and I know he's going to
make it. I just want to be with him.

I'm so sorry.

There we go.

What do we do now, grandpa?

Haven't you ever planted
something, Jessica?

No.

A gap in your education.

Next thing we do is fill up the hole.

Excuse to get our hands dirty.

There we are.
Now we pack it around the roots.

A tree can't live long
if it's out of the soil.

What's soil?

Soil and dirt are the same thing.

This tree must be
planted firmly in the soil.

And after we water...
one day it'll grow big enough
to hold a swing.

And we can pick apples.

Unfortunately, this is a sycamore.
Sycamores don't have apples.

Don't you want to help, Matthew?

No.
Not having any fun?

Grandma says we're doing
this because of cancer.

Come here.

You know, you're right.

Some people say it's good for those
of us with cancer to plant trees.

It doesn't do anything.

It doesn't cure cancer but it helps
take my mind off it and gives me hope

by sharing in the life of this tree.

I feel happy planting it
together with you, you understand?

I'm scared of cancer.

So am I.

We can't run away and hide from it.
Or give up.

Got to keep on living
as hard as we can.

I don't want you to die, grandpa.

Neither do I.

But one day I'll die

and part of my life will be here
in this tree with you and Jessica.

And when you see it, you can remember
the day we planted it together.

This will be a good tree.

It will need a swing.

Get to it. Get your hands dirty.

Come on. Get to it. Get to work.

Let's get this tree growing.
I want to see one foot

growing on this tree right now.

SIRENS WAIL

(STRUGGLES FOR BREATH)

Hanging in there? Absolutely.

Good.

How are you feeling? All set.

You look sensational. Thanks.

I suggest you get contacts
at some point.

OK.

Nervous? No.

Don't worry.
The good ones are always nervous.

One reporter throws up every time.

No kidding.

I read your copy.
It's pretty heady stuff.

I really gave my brain a workout
coming up with that topic.

Here we go. Break a leg.

Orthopaedics.
Great idea for the next topic.

Make sure they cut the power.
We don't want the elevator to move.

Service crew's working
on the elevator.

He must have squeezed through the
doors. Rescue squad is on its way.

Jimmy, Jimmy. You stay put.
We're coming down to get you.

I heard the sirens.

I was looking for a safe place
where the radiation can't get you.

There aren't any bombs, Jimmy.

Yes,
I heard about it on TV at school.

First the sirens, then the great
big cloud, fires and nuclear winter.

No, no...

I promise you, Jimmy,
everything is OK.

No, it's not!
Once they start, they can't stop it.

Everything gets killed.

I want to play forward on
the soccer team. Now I never will.

TANNOY: Mary-Lou Crane. 3131.

Hi, how are you doing?

Freeze, police!

You OK? Call security.

On the floor,
both hands behind your back.

Now, jerk. I ain't kidding.

Who the hell are you?

TV JINGLE

Tonight on WYN's Nightbeat
we start a new feature, Healthspot.

Here to tell you how to get healthy
and stay healthy

is St Eligius Hospital's
Dr Victor Ehrlich.

Hi. I'm Dr Victor Ehrlich
with Healthspot.

Tonight's topic.
Circumcision - the dilemma.

I caught him in the act.
Now he wants to speak to his lawyer.

Let's go.

I'll get a statement from the victim.

What did you mean, "victim"?

You finally caught the rapist.

That's good news, huh?

Yeah.

We gave him a sedative.

I couldn't sleep, I took a walk.
I wasn't gone for more than
20 minutes.

The strangeness of the hospital
only intensified his anxieties.

At least we finally know
what's bothering him.

But what can we do about it now?

Ever talk to Jimmy about nuclear war?

I try to keep him from hearing
about things like that.

Talk to him. No, he's scared enough.

Jimmy is going to keep hearing
doomsday predictions no matter

how hard you try to protect him.

He needs to understand
the things that frighten him.

I wouldn't know what to say.

Discuss your own fears openly.

Let him know there people
actively working who don't want
the bombs to explode.

So you think I should
tell him there's hope,

even if I don't believe it myself?

Look...I've got a child,

younger than Jimmy and I'm
not sure what I'm going to tell him.

All I know is kids need
some sort of hope for the future.

It used to be so easy when Jimmy was
little and he was scared of monsters

in the closet.

All we had to do was
turn on the lights.

Not so any more.

Good morning.

Hello, Donald.

You're looking a whole lot better.

It's amazing what an afternoon off
can accomplish.

I was on my way to a memorial service
for Peter . Are you coming?

Daniel, I never thought
I'd be confused about the loss

of a human life.

This man dies and part of me
is totally indifferent.

I'll speak with Myra later.

..his energy and warmth.

His feeling for children,
the lives he saved with his gift

for diagnosis, clinical medicine.

It's easy to dwell on the darkness
but I'm thinking
of so many other things today.

His unwillingness
to give up on himself,
even when things were attheir worst.

And last year when my wife died,

Peter was there for me helping me
try to pull my life together.

And all that special time he spent

with his daughter
after Timothy was born

so she wouldn't feel abandoned.

Certainly he was troubled -

even before events went
against him last year.

But he was also my friend...

..and nothing anybody has said
could ever change that.

Most of all,

I hope...that his death
will help us all

..remember how fragile
our own lives are

and the lives of our patients
and families.

And how precious.

Thanks for coming.

I'm sorry. Thank you.

Thank you.

I'm so sorry.