The Closer (2005–2012): Season 2, Episode 9 - Heroic Measures - full transcript

EXCUSE US.

UH, THE 911 CALLER
SAID THE SOUTH TOWER.

RIGHT. WHICH YOU GET TO
FROM THE CENTRAL PLAZA

ON THE THIRD FLOOR.

NO. YOU CROSS AROUND THE CORNER.

WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE'LL JUST SEE WHO
GETS THERE FIRST.

CAPTIONING MADE
POSSIBLE BY WARNER BROS.

HEY.

THERE'S NO REASON FOR YOU
TO HAVE CALLED THE POLICE.

I CALLED THE POLICE



BECAUSE NO ONE CAN EXPLAIN
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SON.

MS. LANGNER, PLEASE. LET ME
GET YOU A GRIEF COUNSELOR.

I DON'T NEED A GRIEF COUNSELOR!

I WANT THOSE DOCTORS ARRESTED.

LET'S DISCUSS THIS IN MY OFFICE.

DETECTIVE DANIELS,
LAPD. PRIORITY HOMICIDE.

HELP ME.

THEY MURDERED MY SON.

OK, JUST TAKE A BREATH.

TAKE A BREATH.

[HYPERVENTILATING]

[BREATHING SLOWER]

OK?

SO, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?



I BROUGHT MY SON NICKY
IN FOR A SIMPLE ENDOSCOPY.

AND NOW HE'S DEAD.

THEY KILLED HIM.

DETECTIVE. IF I MAY.

THERE'S NO QUESTION

THAT WE'VE HAD A TERRIBLE
TRAGEDY HERE TONIGHT.

BUT THE PRESENCE OF POLICE...

IT JUST SEEMS TO BE
INFLAMING THE SITUATION.

IT MIGHT BE BEST FOR EVERYONE

IF YOU JUST WENT HOME.

I'M SORRY.

YOU DO NOT TELL
THE LAPD TO GO HOME.

DETECTIVE, PLEASE.

DON'T OVERREACT
TO THIS SITUATION.

IT IS COMMON TO HEAR
ACCUSATIONS LIKE THIS

FROM PEOPLE WHO
HAVE LOST CHILDREN.

BUT I CAN ASSURE
YOU, THE DOCTORS

TOOK ALL HEROIC MEASURES
TO SAVE THE BOY'S LIFE.

I'D LIKE TO HEAR THAT FROM THEM.

DR. WOODS AND
DR. SANDS ARE UNAVAILABLE.

SINCE YOU REFUSE TO COOPERATE,

AND I HAVE REASONABLE SUSPICION

REGARDING THIS ATTENDED DEATH...

REASONABLE SUSPICION?

I AM DESIGNATING THE
O. R. A CRIME SCENE.

OH, FOR GOD'S... NO
ONE TOUCHES THE BODY.

NOTHING IS DISTURBED OR REMOVED.

PLEASE SECURE THE
OPERATING SUITE.

LET'S GO.

[ELEVATOR RINGS]

SORRY TO PULL YOU
GUYS AWAY FROM DINNER.

THE SPEECHES WERE
ENDLESS. THE FOOD NEVER CAME.

I WAS ABOUT TO EAT MY NAPKIN.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?
WELL, WE HAVE A PROBLEM.

THE MOTHER OVER
HERE, MELISSA LANGNER,

HER SON NICKY CAME IN
FOR A ROUTINE PROCEDURE.

ARE YOU IN CHARGE?

TALK TO THE LADY.

DEPUTY CHIEF BRENDA
LEIGH JOHNSON.

I'LL BE WITH YOU
IN A MINUTE, SIR.

GO ON.

SO, HER SON WENT THROUGH SURGERY

TO STOP SOME MINOR
GASTRIC BLEEDING,

THERE WERE SOME COMPLICATIONS,

HE DIED, AND NOW SHE'S
SAYING THAT HE WAS MURDERED.

OK.

THANK YOU, SERGEANT.
AND YOU ARE?

HOWARD PIERCE.
ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR

OF SOUTHWEST PACIFIC
UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL.

ONE OF YOUR PEOPLE HAS SHUT
DOWN OUR OPERATING ROOM.

THAT WAS DANIELS'
CALL BEFORE I GOT HERE.

OK.

I'D BE HAPPY TO
ADDRESS YOUR CONCERNS

AS SOON AS I GET MORE
INFORMATION. ONE MOMENT, PLEASE.

OH, EXCUSE ME.

THIS IS THE WOMAN
I WAS SPEAKING OF.

MS. LANGNER.

I'M DEPUTY CHIEF BRENDA
LEIGH JOHNSON OF THE LAPD.

[EXHALES]

I'M SORRY TO PRESS
YOU AT A TIME LIKE THIS,

BUT I NEED TO KNOW WHY YOU
THINK YOUR SON WAS MURDERED.

NICKY STARTED
THROWING UP AROUND 6:15.

THERE WAS A LITTLE BLOOD.

I'M A FOURTH YEAR
MEDICAL STUDENT.

I KNEW IT PROBABLY WASN'T
ANYTHING TOO SERIOUS,

BUT I DIDN'T WANT
TO MISDIAGNOSE HIM

SO I BROUGHT HIM HERE SO
THAT THEY COULD SCOPE HIM.

10 MINUTES LATER, HE
WAS IN MAJOR SURGERY.

20 MINUTES LATER, HE WAS DEAD.

THAT'S A...

THAT IS A TERRIBLE STORY,

MS. LANGNER, BUT WHAT
MAKES YOU THINK IT WAS A CRIME?

BECAUSE...

WHEN I QUESTIONED DR. WOODS,

THE VASCULAR SURGEON,

ABOUT THE CAUSE OF DEATH,

HE KEPT CHANGING HIS ANSWER.

AND AFTER THE THIRD RESPONSE,

HE JUST LOOKED AT THE OTHER
DOCTOR, THE G.I. SPECIALIST...

AND I SAW IT IN THEIR EYES.

THEY ARE COVERING SOMETHING UP.

MS. LANGNER... PLEASE...

HELP ME.

PLEASE?

OK. I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

I HOPE THAT WE ARE ACTING
ON GOOD SOLID SUSPICIONS

AND NOT JUST SYMPATHY.

CHIEF, I INITIATED
THIS INVESTIGATION

BECAUSE I WAS BEING
ACTIVELY OBSTRUCTED.

OH...

COULD THE BRUISES BE FROM HOW
HE WAS HANDLED DURING SURGERY?

NO.

I DOUBT IT.

THE YELLOWING SUGGESTS
THEY HAPPENED MUCH EARLIER.

IS THAT A VIDEO CAMERA?

YOU SHOULD KNOW AS SOON
AS YOUR GRIEVING MOTHER

WENT TO THE BATHROOM,
THOSE GUYS APPEARED.

THEY'VE BEEN HUDDLING.

LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE
PLANNING THEIR NEXT PLAY.

AND THEY ARE LEAVING.

I DON'T THINK
THEY'RE A FLIGHT RISK.

MR. PIERCE, I BELIEVE

WE'VE GOTTEN OFF
ON THE WRONG FOOT.

I'M CONFIDENT THAT
WITH YOUR COOPERATION,

WE CAN RESOLVE THIS
ISSUE RIGHT NOW. I AGREE.

ALL I NEED IS THE SURGERY
VIDEO, THE BOY'S CHARTS,

AND TO HAVE A SHORT
CONVERSATION WITH THE PHYSICIANS.

WELL, THAT'S NOT
GOING TO HAPPEN.

EXCUSE ME?

YOU WANT TO RESOLVE THIS
QUICKLY? LET ME HELP YOU.

THERE... WAS... NO... MURDER.

YOU NEED TO TURN
THAT OPERATING SUITE

BACK OVER TO US RIGHT NOW.

SERGEANT GABRIEL, PLEASE
NOTIFY BUILDING OPERATIONS

THAT WE'LL BE SHUTTING
DOWN THIS FLOOR.

NOTHING GOES IN OR OUT

WITHOUT OUR PERMISSION. NOTHING.

YOU CAN'T DO THAT! ONE
MORE WORD OUT OF YOU,

AND I WILL PADLOCK
THIS ENTIRE HOSPITAL

AND ARREST YOU FOR INTERFERING
WITH A MURDER INVESTIGATION.

WE DON'T KNOW THERE
WAS MALPRACTICE.

MUCH LESS A CRIME,
MUCH LESS MURDER.

SO LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT
WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

YOU'RE LAUNCHING A
FULL-FLEDGED INVESTIGATION

INTO A NATIONALLY
RESPECTED HOSPITAL

BASED ON THE HUNCH
OF A HYSTERICAL WOMAN.

DANIELS AND I BOTH FELT SHE
MIGHT BE TELLING THE TRUTH.

OK. MAKE THAT THREE
HYSTERICAL WOMEN.

I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT
ME TO RESPOND TO THAT.

NO. WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME

IS A GRIEVING MOTHER
DESPERATE TO PIN THE BLAME

FOR HER SON'S DEATH ON SOMEBODY.

EVER CONSIDER SHE
MIGHT BE PINNING IT

ON THOSE RESPONSIBLE?

TODD WOODS IS ONE OF THE TOP

VASCULAR SURGEONS
IN THE COUNTRY.

WHAT POSSIBLE MOTIVE

COULD HE OR THIS
OTHER DOCTOR HAVE

FOR MURDERING AN 8-YEAR-OLD BOY?

WELL, THEN, IF THERE'S NO ISSUE,

WHY WON'T THIS MR. PIERCE,

THIS JERK OF A HOSPITAL
ADMINISTRATOR HELP ME?

BRENDA, JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY
DOESN'T SHARE YOUR AGENDA

DOESN'T MAKE THEM A JERK.

DR. WOODS WAS DECORATED

FOR HIS WORK AS A TRAUMA SURGEON

DURING THE FIRST GULF WAR.

HE PIONEERED THE
USE OF CAROTID STENTS.

DR. SANDS HAS PERFORMED OVER
2,000 ENDOSCOPIC PROCEDURES.

HE'S BEEN RECOGNIZED...

THANK YOU. I GET IT.

THE ATTENDING
PHYSICIANS ARE GENIUSES.

NOW, LIKE CHIEF JOHNSON,

I AM COMMITTED TO RESOLVING THIS

WITH THE LEAST INCONVENIENCE
FOR ALL INVOLVED.

THEN END THE CRIMINAL INQUIRY.

IF MS. LANGNER CONTINUES
TO HARBOR DOUBTS

ABOUT HER SON'S TREATMENT,

SHE HAS NUMEROUS CIVIL
REMEDIES AVAILABLE TO HER.

WE ARE ASKING FOR
MINIMAL COOPERATION.

AND I AM TELLING YOU

THAT THESE DOCTORS'
RECORDS ARE PROTECTED,

AND THEY WILL
REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL.

AND LET ME GIVE YOU A
WORD OF WARNING, SIR,

THE LEGAL PRINCIPLES
AT STAKE IN THIS CASE

ARE MORE IMPORTANT
THAN YOU SEEM TO IMAGINE.

NOW, I URGE YOU TO
THINK VERY CAREFULLY

ABOUT WHAT YOU DO NEXT.

MARTHA, GET ME MARTIN
GARNETT, PLEASE. THANK YOU.

GARNETT'S THE DEPUTY
DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

I'M GONNA ASK HIM TO HAVE THE
GRAND JURY ISSUE SUBPOENAS

FOR EVERYTHING RELATED
TO THE LANGNER CASE.

JUST TO SATISFY MY OWN
STUPID, UNINFORMED CURIOSITY.

THERE'S NO REASON TO
INVOLVE A GRAND JURY.

I CAN ARRANGE FOR THE
DOCTORS TO SPEAK WITH YOU

AND FOR THE HOSPITAL
TO TURN OVER THE VIDEO.

BUT THE CHARTS REMAIN SEALED.

THAT'S BETTER.

AND HOW LONG WILL THIS TAKE?

I HOPE WE DON'T NEED
TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.

I'LL BE BACK IN 2 HOURS.

EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WOW. THE MOTTO IS

FIRST DO NO HARM?

THEY SHOULD ADD, SECOND,

DON'T BE SO OBNOXIOUS.

YOU REALIZE THAT BY LIMITING

THE INFORMATION THEY TURN OVER,

THEY'RE TRYING TO
GUIDE OUR CONCLUSIONS.

YOU'RE WELCOME, BRENDA.

THANK YOU.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE WAS
ALREADY SIGNIFICANT BLEEDING

WHEN I BEGAN THE EGD.

Brenda: THE EGD?

ESOPHAGO-GASTRO DUODENOSCOPY.

IT'S WHEN THE DOCTORS
SLIDE THE SCOPE

DOWN THE PATIENT'S THROAT
TO GET A VISUALIZATION

OF THE UPPER GASTRO
INTESTINAL TRACT.

WHAT CAUSES THIS
KIND OF BLEEDING?

HEMATEMESIS. VOMITING BLOOD.

IT CAN BE CAUSED BY GASTRITIS,

OR IN RARE CASES,
MALLORY-WEISS TEARS.

WHICH ARE?

BURST BLOOD VESSELS IN THE
MUCOSA OF THE ESOPHAGUS.

I DID A YEAR IN MEDICAL SCHOOL.

CAUTERIZATION SHOULD
REDUCE THAT BLEEDING,

BUT 3 MINUTES INTO
THE PROCEDURE,

THE PATIENT'S BLOOD PRESSURE
DROPPED TO 60 OVER 30,

AND I BEGAN TRANSFUSING
WITH O-NEGATIVE.

AND CALLED FOR SURGICAL BACK-UP.

I ARRIVED LESS THAN
10 MINUTES LATER,

AND PERFORMED AN
EMERGENCY LAPAROTOMY.

EXPLORING THE ABDOMINAL
CAVITY FOR HEMORRHAGE.

AT 19:16, THE PATIENT CODED.

AT 19:19, I DISCOVERED A BLEED

IN THE LEFT GASTRIC ARTERY.

AS I BEGAN SUTURING
THIS PERFORATION,

THE PATIENT FLATLINED.

HAD NO MEANINGFUL HEART
FUNCTION FOR 3 MINUTES.

DESPITE CLOSING THIS RUPTURE,

THE PATIENT'S DIASTOLIC PRESSURE

NEVER ROSE ABOVE 20 MILLIMETERS.

REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO ESTABLISH

A NORMAL SINUS RHYTHM FAILED,

AND WE PRONOUNCED
THE PATIENT DEAD AT 19:31.

THANK YOU, BUZZ.

IF YOU WERE TO
REVIEW YOUR CHARTS

WITH OUR FORENSIC PATHOLOGISTS,

WOULD THEY BE
ENTIRELY CONSISTENT

WITH WHAT YOU JUST TOLD US?

NO.

NO. THE CHARTS WOULD INDICATE

SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT
BEYOND THAT.

OVER THE PAST 6
MONTHS, MELISSA LANGNER

BROUGHT HER SON TO
THE E.R. REPEATEDLY

WITH COMPLAINTS RANGING FROM

ALLERGIES TO ASTHMA TO
ACUTE GASTRIC DISTRESS.

THE EXACT CAUSE OF
THESE VARIOUS AILMENTS

REMAINS UNDETERMINED,

BUT THEY SHARE ONE
COMMON ELEMENT.

THEY ALL COULD'VE BEEN
ARTIFICIALLY INDUCED.

AND AS YOU SAW LAST NIGHT,

MELISSA LANGNER IS
EMOTIONALLY UNSTABLE.

ARE YOU SUGGESTING
MELISSA LANGNER

DELIBERATELY MADE
HER SON SICK? I AM.

AND THE TREATING PHYSICIANS

THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE A CASE

OF MUNCHAUSEN'S BY PROXY

AND SO LISTED IT ON
THE BOY'S CHARTS.

DOCTORS WOODS AND
SANDS WERE CONCERNED

THAT BRINGING THESE
ALLEGATIONS TO YOUR ATTENTION

WOULD NEEDLESSLY
COMPLICATE A TRAGEDY.

BUT IF YOU'RE CERTAIN
THIS IS MURDER,

THEN I'D CONSIDER
MELISSA LANGNER

A SERIOUS SUSPECT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN

ON SUCH A SAD DAY.

DO YOU HAVE SOMEONE
STAYING WITH YOU?

NO, BUT I... I'M...

MANAGING.

THANK YOU FOR FOL...

FOLLOWING... THROUGH ON THIS.

WELL, WE ARE COMMITTED

TO DISCOVERING EXACTLY
WHAT HAPPENED TO NICHOLAS.

I DON'T BELIEVE YOU'VE
MET LIEUTENANT TAO.

MY CONDOLENCES.

MS. LANGNER,

THIS MORNING,
DR. WOODS AND DR. SANDS

GAVE THEIR STATEMENTS,
AND THEY MAINTAIN

YOUR SON DIED FROM
SEVERE INTERNAL BLEEDING.

DESPITE DR. WOODS HAVING
CLOSED A PERFORATION

IN THE LEFT GASTRIC ARTERY.

HAVE YOU SEEN THE CHARTS YET?

Tao: WE HAVEN'T, BUT
WE'VE BEEN ASSURED

THERE'S NOTHING IN THERE
THAT WOULD CONTRADICT

THE VIDEO OF YOUR SON'S SURGERY.

I'M SORRY TO ASK YOU QUESTIONS

ON SUCH A HARD DAY, BUT, UM...

WE WERE ALSO TOLD
THAT IN RECENT MONTHS,

NICKY'S MADE APPROXIMATELY
A DOZEN TRIPS TO THE E.R.

IS THAT TRUE?

NICKY HAD ALWAYS
BEEN A HEALTHY KID.

AND THEN HIS DAD DIED LAST JULY,

IT WAS TOTALLY UNEXPECTED.

OH, MY.

SO NICKY IS THE
SECOND FAMILY MEMBER

YOU'VE LOST IN A YEAR?

THAT'S SO UNFORTUNATE.

AFTER MY HUSBAND DIED,
I WAS ALMOST SUICIDAL.

I'M SO SORRY.

HAVE YOU BEEN TALKING
TO ANYONE ABOUT THIS?

YES. AND WITH ANTIDEPRESSANTS,

THINGS IMPROVED, BUT NICKY,

SUDDENLY, HE WAS SICK.

ALL THE TIME.

IT WAS LIKE HE PICKED
UP EVERY GERM.

THE FLU, THE CHICKEN POX.

YESTERDAY, HE WAS
VOMITING BLOOD.

ANY IDEA

WHAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED
YOUR SON TO THROW UP?

THERE ARE A HUNDRED
DIFFERENT PHYSICAL REASONS.

OR IT COULD'VE BEEN
A LOT OF STRESS.

LOSING HIS DAD,
BEING IN A NEW SCHOOL.

WAS NICKY BEING
TREATED FOR ANYTHING

THAT MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED
HIS MOTOR COORDINATION?

NO. WHY?

WELL, WHEN WE EXAMINED NICHOLAS,

HE SEEMED TO HAVE
SEVERAL BRUISES.

WAS HE BUMPING INTO OBJECTS

OR FALLING DOWN A LOT?

HOW ELSE DO YOU THINK

HE MIGHT HAVE
SUSTAINED THOSE INJURIES?

ARE YOU SUGGESTING I HURT NICKY?

WE HAVE TO CONSIDER
ALL THE POSSIBILITIES.

THAT... ISN'T... A POSSIBILITY.

THAT IS AN INSULT.

MY SON WAS EVERYTHING TO ME.

DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE
I WOULD HAVE HIT HIM?

DO YOU?

MAYBE NOT HIT HIM, BUT HURT HIM.

DOCTORS HAVE ACCESS TO THINGS

THAT CAN MAKE CHILDREN SICK,

AND YOU'RE A MEDICAL STUDENT.

WELL, THANK YOU
FOR YOUR COMMITMENT

TO FINDING OUT WHAT
HAPPENED, MS. JOHNSON.

BUT I WON'T BE NEEDING
YOUR HELP ANYMORE.

MRS. LANGNER.

WE HAVE TO HELP.

WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT.

LAST 10 YEARS, I'VE
WORKED 3 CASES

OF MUNCHAUSEN BY PROXY.

MOTHERS ARE SUPPOSED
TO BE MAKING THEIR KIDS SICK

TO GET SYMPATHY FOR THEMSELVES.

IT'S BULLSHIT.

REALLY?

AND WHAT ABOUT ALL
THE SURVEILLANCE TAPES

OF PARENTS OVERDOSING THEIR KIDS

AND SMOTHERING
THEM WITH PILLOWS?

HEY, I'M NOT SAYING
IT NEVER HAPPENS.

BUT EVERY CASE I SAW,

THERE WAS ALWAYS A SICK KID,

A PAIN IN THE ASS MOM,

AND A DOCTOR WHO WANTED
THEM BOTH TO DISAPPEAR.

EASIEST WAY TO ACCOMPLISH THAT

IS SAY THE WORD MUNCHAUSEN.

OK, LIEUTENANT FLYNN, WE
APPRECIATE YOUR PERSPECTIVE,

BUT AS YOU ARE
OUR RESIDENT EXPERT

IN MUNCHAUSEN'S
BY PROXY, PLEASE...

YOU WANT THE PROFILE? FINE.

THE FBI SAYS THAT
THE VAST MAJORITY

OF MUNCHAUSEN
PERPETRATORS ARE WOMEN.

80 PERCENT HAVE
MEDICAL BACKGROUNDS,

AND MOST ARE UNDER
PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT.

SO FAR WE'RE BATTING A
THOUSAND. ANYTHING ELSE?

PARENT TENDS TO KEEP THEIR CHILD

FROM OTHER ADULTS

AND AWAY FROM OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES

LIKE PLAYING WITH OTHER KIDS.

DO WE KNOW ANYTHING

ABOUT NICHOLAS
LANGNER'S EXTENDED FAMILY?

SCHOOL, FRIENDS, ANYTHING?

NICKY ATTENDED ROBERT
HUTCHINS ACADEMY.

IT'S AN EXPENSIVE
PRIVATE SCHOOL,

AND THE TEACHER
SAID HE'S INTELLIGENT,

HARDWORKING, SHY.

ONE LAST THING, CHIEF.

WHEN MUNCHAUSEN HAPPENS
AMONG MEDICAL PEOPLE,

IT'S TO CAUSE ILLNESS

THEN SAVE THE KID TO
IMPRESS OTHER DOCTORS.

AN ADDED INCENTIVE
FOR MELISSA LANGNER.

THE DOCTORS TREATING HER SON

WERE THE SAME ONES SHE'D
HAVE FOR MEDICAL ROTATIONS.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO GOOD
OLD FASHIONED BROWN-NOSING?

EXCEPT SHE DIDN'T
SAVE THE KID, DID SHE?

Daniels: PRELIMINARY
AUTOPSY REPORT.

NICHOLAS LANGNER DIED FROM
MASSIVE INTERNAL BLEEDING.

DR. CRIPPEN FOUND 3
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IN HIS SYSTEM

ALL WITHIN ACCEPTABLE LEVELS,

AND NONE COULD'VE
ACTED WITH THAT SPECIFICITY

ON HIS GASTRIC ARTERY.

OK, LIEUTENANT PROVENZA,
PLEASE GET A WARRANT

AND SEARCH MELISSA
LANGNER'S HOUSE.

KEEP A SPECIAL EYE OUT

FOR ANY SUBSTANCES THAT
MIGHT NOT HAVE SHOWN UP

IN HER SON'S BLOOD WORK
BUT COULD'VE MADE HIM SICK.

LIEUTENANT FLYNN, PLEASE KEEP
LOOKING FOR LANGNER RELATIVES.

SERGEANT GABRIEL, I
THINK WE OUGHT TO FIND OUT

IF NICK LANGNER PLAYED
WELL WITH OTHERS.

WHAT'S THE NAME
OF HIS SCHOOL AGAIN?

MANY OF THESE KIDS
HAVEN'T EVEN LOST A PET.

IMAGINE TRYING TO EXPLAIN

THE DEATH OF A CLASSMATE.

MY NICKY WAS SUCH
A SPECIAL LITTLE BOY.

DID YOU HAVE MUCH
INTERACTION WITH HIS MOTHER?

IN 25 YEARS OF TEACHING,

I'VE DEALT WITH A LOT OF
OVERPROTECTIVE PARENTS,

BUT THEY PALE IN COMPARISON
TO MELISSA LANGNER.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

WELL, FOR EXAMPLE,

WHEN NICKY FIRST ARRIVED,

HE WAS PLACED WITH ONE OF
OUR YOUNGER INSTRUCTORS.

BUT MS. LANGNER REDUCED
HER TO TEARS SO OFTEN,

WITH SO MANY ACCUSATIONS
OF CARELESSNESS,

THAT I MOVED HIM
INTO MY OWN CLASS.

AS WE DISCUSSED, NICKY
HADN'T BEEN HERE VERY LONG,

AND HE WAS SHY.

TYLER CROSBY WASN'T
JUST HIS BEST FRIEND,

HE WAS HIS ONLY FRIEND.

I'VE GOTTEN PERMISSION
FROM TYLER'S MOTHER

TO HAVE HIM SPEAK WITH YOU,

BUT, OF COURSE,
YOU WILL BE SENSITIVE

TO WHAT HE'S GOING THROUGH.

ABSOLUTELY, MA'AM. OF COURSE.

TYLER?

I'M BRENDA LEIGH JOHNSON.

DO YOU KNOW WHY I'M HERE?

NICKY.

THAT'S RIGHT.

WE'RE HERE TO TALK
ABOUT YOUR FRIEND.

IT'S HARD WHEN SOMEONE
YOU CARE ABOUT PASSES AWAY.

I'M SORRY.

I DIDN'T MEAN TO. I DIDN'T.

I WAS ONLY PLAYING.

YOU DIDN'T MEAN TO WHAT?

I DIDN'T MEAN TO KILL HIM.

I'M SORRY.

PLEASE DON'T ARREST ME.

WHY... WHY DO YOU
THINK YOU KILLED HIM?

HIS MOM SAID NOT TO WRESTLE.

HE WANTED TO.

HE CAME AT ME. HE MADE ME.

WHAT... WHAT DID YOU DO?

I TURNED HIM OVER
AND I HELD HIM DOWN.

BUT HE WAS LAUGHING.

I DIDN'T MEAN TO HURT HIM.

PLEASE DON'T TELL NICKY'S MOM.

PLEASE, I'M AFRAID OF HER.

DID NICKY'S MOM THREATEN YOU?

YEAH. YEAH, SHE WARNED ME.

SHE WARNED ME NOT TO HURT HIM.

OH...

[TYLER CRIES]

LANGNER'S HOUSE
HAS PADDING ON EVERY

TABLE CORNER AND COVERS
ON ALL THE ELECTRICAL OUTLETS.

I'M TELLING YOU, THIS IS A MOM

WHO WANTED TO BUILD A
GIANT BUBBLE AROUND HER KID.

ALL THE MEDICINE CABINETS ARE
FULL OF VITAMINS. NOT TO MENTION

3 HALF EMPTY BOTTLES OF IPECAC.

THAT INDUCES VOMITING.

YOU DO THAT ENOUGH, AND
ANYBODY'S INSIDES WILL START TO BLEED.

CHIEF, I FOUND MELISSA
LANGNER'S IN-LAWS IN...

RANCHO PALOS VERDES.

BEVERLY AND WALTER LANGNER.

THEY'RE IN YOUR OFFICE,
AND THEY WANT TO TALK.

OK.

WE WERE BOTH...

HORRIFIED BY NICKY'S DEATH.

BUT NOT COMPLETELY SURPRISED.

THIS PAST YEAR...

SINCE OUR SON DIED
SO UNEXPECTEDLY,

MELISSA'S BECOME INCREASINGLY...

WELL...

PARANOID.

SHE REFUSED TO
LET US NEAR NICKY.

WE HAD TO SUE HER TO
GET LIMITED VISITATION

WITH OUR OWN GRANDSON.

IT'S SO EMBARRASSING.

WHAT REASONS DID
SHE GIVE THE JUDGE

FOR DENYING YOU VISITS?

SHE CLAIMED THAT
NICKY WAS TOO SICK

TO SPEND TIME AWAY FROM HOME.

AND THAT MY OCCASIONAL
CIGAR AT DINNER

POSED AN UNREASONABLE
HEALTH RISK.

IF HE WAS SICKLY,

IT WAS ONLY BECAUSE
MELISSA MADE HIM THAT WAY.

BUT I DON'T BLAME HER ALONE.

THAT BOYFRIEND OF HERS
PLAYED A PART IN THIS.

UM, YOU DIDN'T
MENTION A BOYFRIEND.

A COUPLE OF MONTHS
AFTER OUR SON DIED,

SHE TOOK UP WITH THIS GUY
SHE DATED IN HIGH SCHOOL.

JASON HIGGINS.

SHE NEVER LET US MEET HIM,

BUT THE SECOND THAT
NICKY TOLD US ABOUT HIM,

I HAD HIM CHECKED OUT.

HE HAS AN EX,

HE OWES ALIMONY, HE
OWES CHILD SUPPORT,

AND THERE'S A RESTRAINING
ORDER AGAINST HIM, TOO.

YEARS BACK, WE SET
UP A TRUST FOR OUR SON.

AND, UH... AFTER HE DIED,

IT PASSED ON TO
OUR GRANDSON, AND...

NOW THAT HE'S GONE, TOO...

THAT MONEY...

IT'S $3 MILLION TODAY,

GOES TO MELISSA,

AND IF SHE MARRIES
HIM, THIS JASON HIGGINS.

ACCORDING TO LANGNER'S
PARENTS, HIGGINS HAS ANGER ISSUES,

SO WE'RE GONNA PLAY
GOOD COP, BAD COP.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA MAKE ME
BE THE GOOD COP, ARE YOU?

I DON'T THINK THAT'S
POSSIBLE, LIEUTENANT.

HOW BAD DO YOU WANT ME TO BE?

GO FOR BROKE.

MR. HIGGINS, DEPUTY CHIEF
BRENDA LEIGH JOHNSON OF THE LAPD.

I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S DEAD.

I MEAN, THE LITTLE
GUY GOT SICK A LOT,

BUT I REALLY THOUGHT
HE'D GROW OUT OF IT.

I WAS THE SAME WAY
WHEN I WAS HIS AGE.

YEAH, AND LOOK AT YOU NOW.

EASY, LIEUTENANT.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE
MELISSA LANGNER'S BEHAVIOR

OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS?

MELISSA... AND I HAVE KNOWN
EACH OTHER SINCE WE WERE 15.

SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN, I DON'T KNOW,

TIGHTLY WOUND.

AND HER HUSBAND
GOES AND DROPS DEAD

ON HIS MORNING JOG, I MEAN,

THAT'S ENOUGH TO MAKE
ANYBODY LOSE IT A LITTLE BIT.

DO YOU BELIEVE MELISSA
LANGNER HAD LOST IT?

YOU THINK MELISSA HAD SOMETHING
TO DO WITH NICKY'S DEATH?

NO WAY. OH, NO.

MELISSA'S WHOLE
LIFE WAS ABOUT NICKY.

SHE WAS TOTALLY
OBSESSED WITH THAT KID.

AND HOW'S YOUR FINANCIAL
SITUATION, MR. HIGGINS?

IS THIS ABOUT MY EX WIFE?

'CAUSE I SETTLED WITH
HER 3 MONTHS AGO.

AND I'VE MADE EVERY
PAYMENT SINCE THEN.

I'LL SHOW YOU THE CANCELLED
CHECKS IF YOU WANT.

WHY, YOU GOT 'EM ON YOU?

WE UNDERSTAND
YOUR EX WIFE TOOK OUT

A RESTRAINING ORDER ON YOU.

YEAH. BECAUSE SHE WOULDN'T
TELL ME WHY SHE WAS LEAVING,

AND I GOT A LITTLE MAD.

I SENSE THAT.

DID YOU EVER GET MAD
LIKE THAT WITH NICK?

NO!

DO I LOOK LIKE THE KIND OF GUY

WHO'D BEAT UP ON
AN 8-YEAR-OLD KID?

ARE WE TALKING BOY OR GIRL?

HEY, SCREW YOU!

WELL, IF THAT'S AN OFFER,

YOU MIGHT BE A LITTLE
FRIENDLIER ABOUT IT.

LIEUTENANT.

I ASKED YOU NOT TO
JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS.

IT COULD BE THAT
MR. HIGGINS HERE

HAD NOTHING TO
DO WITH THIS CRIME.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME
YOU SAW NICK LANGNER?

ALL OF A SUDDEN, I'M A SUSPECT?

I AIN'T SEEN NICKY SINCE
LAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT

WHEN I BROKE UP WITH MELISSA.

YOU BROKE UP WITH
MELISSA LANGNER?

WHY DO YOU THINK I
DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING

ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO NICKY?

I DON'T KNOW, CHIEF.

IF THIS GUY DIDN'T WANT THE
KID BUT WANTED THE MONEY,

WHY BREAK UP WITH HER?

CHIEF?

THIS IS SOMETHING
YOU SHOULD SEE.

GEEZ, TAO. I'M STARTING TO THINK

YOU ENJOY LOOKING AT THIS STUFF.

THESE BRUISES ARE
CALLED PURPURA.

THEY CAN BE CAUSED SPONTANEOUSLY

BY SOME BLOOD
CLOTTING DISORDERS.

ARE YOU SUGGESTING MAYBE
NOBODY HIT NICKY AT ALL?

WOULDN'T A CLOTTING
DISORDER HAVE BEEN SOMETHING

THAT WOULD'VE BEEN
DIAGNOSED BEFORE SURGERY?

OR COULD THIS HAVE BEEN
ARTIFICIALLY INDUCED AS WELL?

I WON'T KNOW FOR
SURE UNLESS I HAVE

DR. CRIPPEN RE-EXAMINE THE BODY.

ALL RIGHT.

TRY AND COME BACK WITH A
DEFINITE ANSWER I CAN UNDERSTAND.

AND PRINT OUTS.

CHIEF? POPE'S
OFFICE JUST CALLED.

HE NEEDS TO SEE YOU RIGHT AWAY.

OH...

CHIEF JOHNSON.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HEARD,

BUT A COUPLE OF NIGHTS AGO,

A LADY WAS STRANGLED TO
DEATH ON LAUREL CANYON.

AN ELDERLY WOMAN LIVING ALONE.

YEAH. RIGHT.

AND LAST NIGHT, THERE
WAS ANOTHER HOMICIDE

JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

COULD BE THE START OF A SPREE,

SO YOU UNDERSTAND
WHY THIS INVESTIGATION

HAS PICKED UP GREATER URGENCY.

MY DETECTIVES ARE
ALREADY STRETCHED A BIT THIN

AND SINCE PRIORITY HOMICIDE

ISN'T REALLY DOING
MUCH RIGHT NOW...

I APPRECIATE THE GRAVITY
OF THE SITUATION, COMMANDER,

BUT AS IT SO
HAPPENS, WE ARE BUSY.

I'M CLOSE TO RESOLVING THE
NICHOLAS LANGNER INVESTIGATION.

NICHOLAS LANGNER?

THE BOY WHO DIED DURING SURGERY?

YES, THIS PAST DAY HAS
OPENED UP NEW LEADS.

WE ARE LOOKING AT A MURDER A
NIGHT IN THE HOLLYWOOD HILLS.

ONE MORE, AND THIS
JUMPS TO THE PAPERS

AND ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE.

LOOK, I HAVE KIDS.

AND WHAT HAPPENED
TO THAT BOY IS...

I CAN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT.

IT'S EVERY PARENT'S
WORST NIGHTMARE.

IS THE MOTHER
SUFFERING? OF COURSE.

DOES THAT MAKE IT MURDER? NO.

IS IT A CASE FOR
PRIORITY HOMICIDE?

ABSOLUTELY NOT. I...

IT'S NOT. IT JUST IS NOT.

NOW, GET YOUR PEOPLE
TO ROBBERY/HOMICIDE

AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

IF THIS IS A SPREE KILLER, YOU COULD
BE TAKING OVER THE CASE TONIGHT.

OK, THEN. THANK YOU.

COMMANDER.

SO WE'RE JUST GONNA LET IT GO.

AND WE HAVE TO GO
TO ROBBERY/HOMICIDE.

THIS IS COMPLETE CRAP.

WE HAVE MOMENTUM.

WE'RE GETTING CLOSE
TO SOMETHING HERE.

UH, CHIEF? IT'S LIEUTENANT TAO.

HE SAYS IT'S URGENT.

HOLD ON A SECOND.

CHIEF JOHNSON.

Tao: CHIEF. WE GOT A PROBLEM.

THE MORGUE RELEASED
NICHOLAS LANGNER'S BODY.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, GET
OVER TO THE FUNERAL HOME

BEFORE IT GETS
CREMATED OR EMBALMED.

WELL, THAT'S THE THING.

MELISSA LANGNER DIDN'T SEND
THE BODY TO A FUNERAL HOME.

SHE RELEASED IT TO
HER MEDICAL SCHOOL.

OK. THANK YOU, LIEUTENANT TAO.

LIEUTENANT FLYNN AND PROVENZA.

PLEASE REPORT TO
ROBBERY/HOMICIDE

AND GIVE DETECTIVE ROSS A HAND.

ROSS, HUH? YEAH.

I'LL GIVE HIM A HAND ALL RIGHT.

SAWED OFF LITTLE RUNT.

I'LL PUSH HIM OFF
THE HOLLYWOOD HILLS.

UH... WHAT ABOUT ME, CHIEF?

YEAH, YOU, TOO,
SERGEANT GABRIEL.

BUT ON YOUR WAY THERE...

GET THE DEPUTY D.A. TO
CONVENE A GRAND JURY

TO SUBPOENA NICKY
LANGNER'S HOSPITAL RECORDS.

AND ALSO THE DOCTOR'S SCHEDULES
FOR LAST WEEKEND, PLEASE.

THANK YOU.

FEEL LIKE DRIVING,
DETECTIVE DANIELS?

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

ROBBERY/HOMICIDE.

BY WAY OF SOUTHWEST
PACIFIC UNIVERSITY.

PARDON ME, MA'AM? YES?

CAN YOU TELL ME WHERE
THE ANATOMY LAB IS?

THANK YOU.

OH...

MY GOD.

MRS. LANGNER.

WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THIS.

[DOOR OPENS]

THIS IS THE SUBPOENAED PAPERWORK

FOR EACH OF NICHOLAS
LANGNER'S 12 E.R. VISITS.

PLEASE.

DETECTIVE DANIELS AND I HAVE
GONE THROUGH ALL OF THEM.

THOUGH THE DOCTORS
SAID THEY'D BE THERE,

THERE IS NOT A SINGLE NOTATION

ON ANY OF THESE CHARTS

INDICATING
MUNCHAUSEN'S BY PROXY.

SO THE REASON HOWARD PIERCE
THREW OUT THAT MISDIRECT?

SEE WHAT TIME DR. SANDS

ORDERED THE CBC AND
CHEM PANEL? UH-HUH.

AND LOOK WHEN HE
STARTED THE ENDOSCOPY.

NOW I'VE GONE OVER THESE
TEST RESULTS WITH FORENSICS,

CBC SHOWS NICHOLAS LANGNER'S
PLATELET COUNT AT 5,000.

ABOUT 4 PERCENT OF WHAT
IT WOULD BE IN A HEALTHY KID.

HELP ME, LIEUTENANT TAO.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

IT MEANS HE DEVELOPED
A CLOTTING DISORDER.

HE'D BECOME SORT
OF A HEMOPHILIAC.

SO A DOCTOR SHOVES A
SCOPE DOWN HIS THROAT,

MAKES A TEAR, AND THE
KID BLEEDS TO DEATH.

HOW WOULD HE DEVELOP
SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

IS IT AN ILLNESS?

IDIOPATHIC
THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPORA.

I'M NOT EVEN GONNA TRY
AND PRONOUNCE THAT.

ALSO KNOWN AS ITP.

IT WAS PROBABLY A
TEMPORARY AFTER EFFECT

OF A VIRAL INFECTION
LIKE THE CHICKEN POX.

MELISSA LANGNER SAID HE
CONTRACTED IT A FEW MONTHS BACK.

AND A PLATELET COUNT THAT LOW

WOULD'VE CAUSED
SPONTANEOUS BRUISING.

SO, IN OTHER WORDS,
MAYBE NOBODY HIT HIM.

OR MAYBE HE WRESTLED WHEN
HIS MOTHER TOLD HIM NOT TO.

ALL RIGHT, THEN. THANK Y'ALL.

GOOD JOB.

HAVE YOU LOOKED AT
MY CAMCORDER TAPE?

NOT YET. I WILL.

SO, MS. LANGNER, I
HAVE TO TELL YOU,

I HAVE BEEN A CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATOR FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS.

AND I HAD A VERY
INTERESTING LIFE BEFORE THAT,

BUT THIS AFTERNOON,
THAT WAS A FIRST FOR ME.

YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE TAPE.

I KNOW YOU STILL THINK I HAD
SOMETHING TO DO WITH NICKY'S DEATH.

WELL, WHAT AM I
SUPPOSED TO THINK?

YOUR SON CONTRACTS A SERIES
OF UNEXPLAINED ILLNESSES,

YOU INTIMIDATE HIS TEACHER,

HIS 9-YEAR-OLD FRIEND,
HIS GRANDPARENTS,

AND THEN, ON TOP
OF EVERYTHING ELSE,

YOU PERFORM AN
UNSANCTIONED DISSECTION

OF THE BOY YOU SAY YOU LOVED.

IT WAS THE ONLY WAY TO
PROVE WHAT I BELIEVED.

AND WHAT YOUR CORONER
SHOULD'VE DISCOVERED.

WOODS TOLD YOU...

HE'D REPAIRED THE
LEFT GASTRIC ARTERY.

HE LIED.

DON'T BELIEVE ME.

LOOK AT THE TAPE.

[Melissa's voice] I'M
UNDER THE OMENTUM.

AND I HAVE LOCATED

THE LEFT... GASTRIC ARTERY.

THERE...

THERE IS THE PERFORATION.

THERE ARE ONLY 2 STITCHES

IN A PERFORATION
WHICH NEEDED 8 TO 10

FOR CLOSURE.

THEY NEVER SEALED THE ARTERY.

OK. THAT'S ENOUGH,
BUZZ. THANK YOU.

CAN YOU PLAY THE HOSPITAL
SURGERY FOOTAGE NOW?

CAN YOU MAGNIFY HIS HANDS?

JUST GIVE ME ONE SECOND.

WHAT AM I LOOKING AT?

A MAN...

PRETENDING TO STITCH
WHILE A LITTLE BOY BLEEDS OUT.

THANK YOU, BUZZ.

HOWARD? I'M SORRY,

THIS HAS GONE BEYOND THE
PURVIEW OF THE HOSPITAL.

I BELIEVE, AT THIS POINT,

YOU AND DR. WOODS WOULD
BE BETTER SERVED BY A LAWYER.

EXCUSE ME, CHIEF JOHNSON.

IF YOU GENTLEMEN
HAVE SEEN ENOUGH,

I'LL HAVE QUESTIONS FOR YOU

AFTER I SPEAK WITH DEPUTY
DISTRICT ATTORNEY GARNETT HERE.

LIEUTENANT TAO, WOULD YOU PLEASE
ESCORT DOCTORS WOODS AND SANDS

INTO INTERVIEW ROOM 1 AND READ
THEM THEIR RIGHTS? THANK YOU SO MUCH.

RIGHT THIS WAY, DOCTORS.

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
TO REMAIN SILENT...

I'M A LITTLE LOST.

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME
TO DO WITH THESE GUYS?

UH, WELL, TO START WITH,

YOU COULD INDICT THEM
FOR SECOND DEGREE MURDER

OR CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT
GRIEVOUS BODILY INJURY,

NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE?
ARE YOU JOKING?

DR. WOODS DIDN'T TRY TO
HELP THAT BOY OUT AT ALL.

HE'S CLEARLY PUTTING ON
A SHOW FOR THE CAMERA.

OR HE'S A SURGEON WITH POOR AIM

AFTER 16 HOURS ON HIS FEET.

LISTEN, BEFORE I CAN
PROSECUTE A CRIME,

I NEED TO ESTABLISH A
CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED.

WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING SO FAR...

THE MOTHER'S VIDEO
INDICATES THAT HE DIDN'T DO...

OH, YEAH. THE FREAK
SHOW AMATEUR AUTOPSY.

PUTTING ASIDE HOW
THE JURY'S GONNA REACT

TO WATCHING A MOTHER
DISSECT HER OWN SON,

ONCE THE BODY WAS
RELEASED BY THE MORGUE,

IT WAS OUTSIDE OF
THE CHAIN OF EVIDENCE.

THAT TAPE IS
COMPLETELY INADMISSIBLE.

NICK LANGNER WAS
AN 8 YEAR OLD BOY

WHO WENT INTO THE ER VOMITING

AND CAME OUT DEAD.

AND THOSE MEN DID THAT TO HIM.

WELL, PROVE THAT'S
WHAT THEY INTENDED,

AND WE'LL TALK.

SORRY FOR THE HOLD UP.

WE TRY NOT TO KEEP
PEOPLE WAITING SO LONG.

I SHOULD TELL YOU
THAT I NEVER SPEAK

WITHOUT A LAWYER PRESENT,
SO YOU'LL UNDERSTAND

IF I RESPECTFULLY DECLINE
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.

YOU'VE BOTH INVOKED
YOUR RIGHT TO COUNSEL

WHICH MAKES AN
INTERVIEW IMPOSSIBLE.

SO I'LL JUST HAVE A
THEORETICAL DISCUSSION

WITH LIEUTENANT TAO HERE.

I DON'T REALLY HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS ANYWAY.

JUST SOME GOOD
NEWS FOR ONE OF YOU,

AND SOME VERY BAD
NEWS FOR THE OTHER.

LIEUTENANT TAO, WHICH
SHOULD I GIVE THEM FIRST?

I'M THINKING THEY'D LIKE
TO HEAR THE GOOD NEWS.

OK.

DR. SANDS, LAST SUNDAY NIGHT,

YOU KILLED A YOUNG BOY

DUE TO ACTS OF
NEGLIGENCE AND MALPRACTICE

AND THEN LIED ABOUT IT.

GOSH. NOW THAT I'VE
SAID THAT OUT LOUD,

THE GOOD NEWS
DOESN'T SOUND SO GREAT.

IT GETS BETTER THOUGH.

NICHOLAS LANGNER WAS
ADMITTED TO THE ER AT 18:42.

AT 18:48, DR. SANDS
ORDERED A CBC,

CHEM PANEL, AND COAGS.

COAGS WERE TO MEASURE HOW
WELL NICKY'S BLOOD WOULD CLOT.

ABOUT HOW LONG DO THESE
TESTS TAKE, LIEUTENANT TAO?

AT LEAST 20 MINUTES.

AND YET, DR. SANDS,

YOU BEGAN THE ENDOSCOPY
AT 18:55, ONLY 7 MINUTES LATER.

BEFORE YOU COULD'VE POSSIBLY SEEN
THE RESULTS OF NICKY'S BLOOD TEST.

WHICH IS A SHAME.

BECAUSE THOSE COAGS WOULD'VE
SHOWN THAT NICKY'S PLATELETS

WERE EXTREMELY LOW,
INDICATING A CONDITION CALLED...

LIEUTENANT TAO?

IDIOPATHIC
THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA.

ITP.

ACTUALLY, IF YOU HAD

LOOKED HIM OVER AT THE ER,

YOU MIGHT HAVE
NOTICED NICKY HAD ITP

SIMPLY BY LOOKING AT
THE BRUISES ON HIS TORSO.

I KNOW HOW TO DIAGNOSE ITP.

OH, I'M SORRY, ARE YOU SPEAKING?

HAVE YOU REVOKED
YOUR RIGHT TO COUNSEL?

NO.

OK.

MY GUESS IS THE REASON
YOU DIDN'T NOTICE THE BRUISING

WAS BECAUSE YOU JUST
FINISHED A 24-HOUR SHIFT.

IF YOU HADN'T HAD ONE
FOOT OUT THE DOOR,

YOU MIGHT HAVE GIVEN
NICHOLAS PLASMA FOR CLOTTING.

HAD A SURGEON STANDING BY AND
EVERYTHING MIGHT HAVE BEEN FINE.

INSTEAD, YOU RUSHED
IN TO YOUR ENDOSCOPY,

AND CONSIDERING
HOW TIRED YOU WERE,

AND HOW MUCH BLOOD
WAS IN NICKY'S STOMACH,

IT'S NOT SO SURPRISING

THAT YOU PERFORATED THE
KID'S GASTRIC ARTERY, IS IT?

DON'T ANSWER THAT, DR. SANDS.

YOU DON'T SPEAK
WITHOUT A LAWYER.

WELL, THE GOOD NEWS
ABOUT ALL OF THIS IS THAT...

EVERYTHING THAT
WE'VE JUST DESCRIBED

IS MERELY MALPRACTICE.

OH, YOUR INSURANCE
PREMIUMS MAY GO UP,

AND YOU MAY HAVE
SOME BAD PUBLICITY, BUT...

MALPRACTICE IS NOT
A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

SO YOU ARE FREE
TO GO, DR. SANDS.

UNFORTUNATELY, DR. WOODS, I
CAN'T SAY THE SAME THING ABOUT YOU.

YOU ARE AWARE THAT
MELISSA LANGNER'S VIDEOTAPE

DIRECTLY CONTRADICTS
WHAT YOU TOLD US.

YOU DID NOT REPAIR
NICKY'S GASTRIC ARTERY,

THOUGH WHY, I HAVE NO IDEA.

IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER.

THE SURGEON'S
REPORT CLEARLY STATES

YOU SUTURED THE ARTERY CLOSED.

YOU EVEN BILLED FOR IT,

AND THAT'S YOUR
SIGNATURE ON THE BOTTOM.

IT'S QUITE LEGIBLE, ACTUALLY,

CONSIDERING WHAT THEY SAY
ABOUT DOCTOR'S HANDWRITING.

ANYWAY...

I'M SURE YOU ARE AWARE

THAT FALSIFYING MEDICAL RECORDS

FOR FRAUDULENT
PURPOSES IS A FELONY.

I THINK I SEE WHAT
SHE'S TRYING TO DO,

BUT IF HE SPEAKS
WITHOUT A LAWYER,

NOTHING HE SAYS
CAN BE USED IN COURT.

SHE'S TRYING TO GET HIM...

WHERE'S EVERYBODY AT?

I THOUGHT YOU WERE
GOING TO SEE ROSS?

WHAT THE...

WHAT IS SHE DOING IN THERE?

OH, MY. DR. SANDS,
YOU'RE STILL HERE.

I GOT SO WRAPPED UP IN
GIVING DR. WOODS HIS BAD NEWS,

THAT I COMPLETELY
FORGOT YOU WERE HERE.

RUN ALONG NOW. MAKE SURE TO GET

YOUR PARKING VALIDATED
ON THE WAY OUT.

YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

DR. WOODS, I HAVE TO ADVISE YOU

NOT TO SPEAK
WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY.

THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I
DON'T NEED AN ATTORNEY.

I'M REVOKING MY
RIGHT TO COUNSEL.

IT WAS HIS FAULT.

I NEVER EXPECTED THAT YOU'D DO
ANYTHING BUT FIND THE BLEEDING.

YOU KNEW THE KID WAS
HYPOXIC WHEN HE HIT THE TABLE.

I HAD 3 MINUTES TO
FIND YOUR MISTAKE

AND THAT LEFT ME
45 SECONDS TO FIX IT.

THEN WHAT?

THE BOY HAD NO BLOOD PUMPED
TO HIS BRAIN FOR ALMOST 4 MINUTES.

SO HE WOULD'VE
WOKE UP PARALYZED.

MAYBE BLIND.

MENTALLY HANDICAPPED
FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

AT BEST.

YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT. UGH...

OK, OK.

LET ME SEE IF I'VE GOT
THIS STRAIGHT, DOCTOR.

MM-HMM?

ARE YOU SAYING YOU COULD
HAVE REPAIRED THE ARTERY,

BUT KNOWING IT WOULD
TAKE ANOTHER MINUTE,

YOU CHOSE TO LET
NICHOLAS LANGNER DIE

RATHER THAN BRING HIM BACK

IN LESS THAN PRISTINE CONDITION?

NO, NO, NO. NOT

[Mimicking Brenda's accent]
LESS THAN PRISTINE CONDITION.

IRREPARABLY DAMAGED.

BUT IT'S POSSIBLE THAT
HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN FINE,

AND YOU WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN THAT

UNTIL YOU RESUSCITATED HIM.

I HAD BOTH MY HANDS
IN THAT BOY'S ABDOMEN

WITH SECONDS, SECONDS TO WEIGH

THE LIKELY OUTCOME, DEATH,

OR SEVERE DISABILITY.

NOT TO MENTION, EXPOSING
YOUR CARELESSNESS.

I NEVER ASKED YOU
TO COVER FOR ME.

ONLY BECAUSE YOU LACK THE GUTS.

GIVEN THE OPTIONS,

I WAS PRESENTED
WITH, MS. JOHNSON,

I MADE ABSOLUTELY
THE RIGHT CHOICE.

TO KILL NICHOLAS LANGNER?

TO LET HIM DIE.

YES.

YES, I LET HIM DIE

BECAUSE AS IT SO
HAPPENS, MS. JOHNSON,

THAT'S MY JOB.

IS IT?

I MAKE MORE LIFE
AND DEATH DECISIONS

BEFORE 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING

THAN MOST PEOPLE
MAKE IN A LIFETIME.

ON THE RARE OCCASION
THAT I CAN'T SAVE SOMEONE,

I DON'T HAVE TIME TO WEEP

AND WAIL AND POINT FINGERS

BECAUSE IN THE NEXT ROOM,

THERE'S ANOTHER PATIENT
WHOSE LIFE IS ON THE LINE.

I MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE
WITH NICHOLAS LANGNER.

THE ONLY CHOICE
THAT MADE ANY SENSE.

AND I'D DO IT AGAIN.

IF YOU WERE SO CERTAIN THAT
YOU MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE,

WHY DID YOU TRY TO
BLAME NICKY'S MOTHER

FOR HER SON'S DEATH?

YOU KNEW THAT
MUNCHAUSEN'S BY PROXY

WAS NOT IN ANY OF
THAT BOY'S CHARTS.

DID I NOT TELL YOU TO
HELP ROBBERY/HOMICIDE?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

GETTING A PHYSICIAN TO
ADMIT TO MANSLAUGHTER.

YOU HEARD HIM, MR. GARNETT.

TODD WOODS SAID HE CHOSE
TO LET NICK LANGNER DIE.

NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT I HEARD.

WHAT I HEARD WAS A
DOCTOR SAY, IN HIS OPINION,

HE COULD NOT SAVE
THAT CHILD'S LIFE.

AND NO JURY IS EVER
GOING TO CONVICT THIS MAN

AND NO JUDGE IS EVER
GONNA LET IT GO TO TRIAL,

AND MALPRACTICE IS NOT A CRIME,

SO AT THE RISK OF
REPEATING MYSELF,

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?

YOU TELL ME EXACTLY

WHAT YOU WANT
THOSE DOCTORS TO SAY

IN ORDER TO TRY THEM
FOR MANSLAUGHTER

AND I WILL GO BACK IN THERE,

AND I WILL GET THEM TO SAY IT.

I'M SORRY, CHIEF JOHNSON. I DON'T
PROSECUTE CASES I KNOW I CAN'T WIN.

EXCUSE ME, FELLOWS.

YOU'RE JUST LIKE DR. WOODS.

UNLESS YOU'RE ASSURED A
PERFECT OUTCOME, YOU WALK AWAY.

AND YOU'RE JUST LIKE
THIS CRAZY MOTHER HERE.

INSISTING WE TREAT
TRAGEDY AS MURDER.

SO HOW ABOUT THIS, MA'AM.

YOU PICK YOUR
BATTLES, I'LL PICK MINE.

ALL RIGHT. THIS CASE IS
OFFICIALLY OVER. NOW.

HOW SOON CAN YOU GET YOUR
PEOPLE TO LAUREL CANYON?

LIEUTENANT TAO.

PLEASE REPORT TO
ROBBERY/HOMICIDE.

AND DETECTIVE DANIELS,
IF YOU COULD WAIT FOR ME.

BEFORE I LET THESE DOCTORS GO,

I WANT TO APOLOGIZE
TO MELISSA LANGNER

FOR THE WORLD WE LIVE IN.

EXCUSE ME.

Brenda: MS. LANGNER.

I AM SO VERY SORRY
TO HAVE TO TELL YOU...

BUZZ, TURN THE
VOLUME DOWN, PLEASE.

I CAN'T LISTEN TO THIS.

Melissa: WHAT?

[TEARING PAPER]

SORRY, DANIELS. DID
YOU WANT TO SPLIT IT?

OH, NO, THANKS, CHIEF.

UM...

LOOK, DETECTIVE.

I KNOW YOU'RE UPSET, BUT...

WE DID EVERYTHING WE COULD.

WE DON'T...

PUNISH. WE DON'T... PROSECUTE.

WE JUST...

WE JUST FIND OUT THE TRUTH.

[3 GUNSHOTS]

IT'S AROUND THE CORNER.

DROP YOUR WEAPON!

RIGHT NOW!

DROP YOUR WEAPON. RIGHT THERE.

DROP IT.

TURN AROUND!

SHOULD BE A MUCH EASIER CASE

FOR YOU TO
PROSECUTE, MS. JOHNSON.

YOU KNOW, I THINK DR. WOODS
THOUGHT HE WAS GOD.

TURNS OUT HE WAS WRONG.

CAPTIONING MADE
POSSIBLE BY WARNER BROS.