DR. ABBOTT: My yearly physical.
DR. BROWN: I didn't see you in my appointment book?
DR. ABBOTT: I have a chromosome minimum where my own physician is concerned. He's in Denver. And what are you doing with that bird?
DR. BROWN: I'm returning it. I ordered Thanksgiving at Mama Joy's. Can you return a turkey?
DR. ABBOTT: I suppose you call the New York City Mayor's office and find out.
DR. BROWN: It's nice to see your wit only sharpens as the Yule approaches.
DR. ABBOTT: [snarky] The Yule. Oh, don't tell me you're like all those other seasonal ninnies that string Thanksgiving through New Year's into one big annoying holiday.
DR. BROWN: You'd better watch it, Harold. The last guy to talk like this was visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve.
DR. ABBOTT: I appreciate the tip. Ghosts being your specialty.
[Dr. Abbott hops in his car. Dr. Brown smiles.]
[Cut to inside the Brown Family Clinic. Dr. Brown dumps the turkey on the desk in front of Edna.]
DR. BROWN: I need you to return this.
EDNA: Return it?
DR. BROWN: Or cook it for Irv and yourself.
EDNA: What's wrong with it?
DR. BROWN: Nothing's wrong with it. I ordered Thanksgiving from Mama Joy's.
EDNA: Raised the white flag a little early, didn't you?
DR. BROWN: Well, it seemed the most merciful decision for everyone involved.
EDNA: [handing the file] Here's the Maxwell file. He and the missus will be in in five.
[Dr. Brown leaves.]
EDNA: Whoa, they saw *you* coming.
DR. BROWN: [off-screen] I heard that.
[Cut to inside Dr. Brown's office. He's in a consultation with the Maxwells, Marty and Roxanne.]
DR. BROWN: Well, I wish I had better news for you. You've tolerated the dialysis for as long as any of us could hope, Marty. But with this new development, I can't treat all the secondary symptoms in a comprehensive way and I can't attack the underlying problem without surgical intervention. In short, you need a new kidney.
ROXANNE: Are you sure that I can't...
MARTY: Rox.
DR. BROWN: Well, we know you're not a match, Roxanne and let me tell ya, you don't even wanna consider an un-matched transplant.
ROXANNE: I mean, but it seems so unfair. If I have an extra one, why...?
DR. BROWN: I know. Normally, I'd put Marty on the UNOS list. But since we've already anticipate that his blood pressure is gonna be a problem, I think the only real option is to find a family member who's willing to donate.
MARTY: My dad died last winter. He was it.
DR. BROWN: Well... we can always try to keep your blood pressure down with new medications, but new medications mean new side effects and, even so...
MARTY: [discouraged] No sure thing.
DR. BROWN: No sure thing. [beat] Well, why don't we meet again next week, all right? In the meantime, I'll do some homework on this and... Marty, your medical file here says that you have a brother. I'm assuming he's also deceased?
[Marty and Roxanne look at each other for a moment, unsure.]
ROXANNE: Actually, no.
DR. BROWN: No? Great! Then maybe we could set up a conference.
MARTY: I don't think that would be possible.
DR. BROWN: Well, if it's an issue of distance, we can have his hospital arrange to have him...
MARTY: It's not distance.
DR. BROWN: Well, then, what is the issue?
