CHICAGO HOPE - "Leave of Absence"
Written by David E. Kelley
INT. AARON'S OFFICE - DAY
AARON SHUTT is signing some papers given to him by KATE AUSTIN.
AARON: Now, none of these changes affect my department.
KATE: I promise. Thank you, Aaron.
AARON: No problem.
KATE: Thanks for that, too. You know, for making it not a problem.
AARON: Oh. Well... no problem.
They smile at each other. From down the hall they hear the excited shouts
of JEFFREY GEIGER.
JEFFREY: Aaron! Aaron!
Jeffrey bursts into the office waving a copy of the Journal of Medicine.
AARON: What?
JEFFREY: Aaron! (to Kate) Hi! I made it! I made it! I made it, I made it.
AARON: You made what?
Jeffrey thrusts the Journal into Aaron's hands, pointing out the ranking.
JEFFREY: Journal of Medicine, surgeon rankings. There - cardio-thoracic,
Jeffrey Geiger. Top cardio-thoracic surgeon, Number One. (to Kate) You're
not on the list. (back to Aaron) Number one, I made it!
AARON: The rankings came out already?
KATE: What?
JEFFREY: It's not important, rankings, stupid, I know - who cares? But
nevertheless, that's me on the top. Gieger, Jeffrey, correct spelling. Top.
Aaron flips through to the neuro rankings.
AARON: What about neurosurgeons?
JEFFREY: You were twelfth. That's fabulous, twelfth, fantastic. (to Kate,
who is looking over Aaron's shoulder) You're - you're not on the list.
Three years, I made it. Three years at number two, I made it to number one.
AARON: Twelfth?
KATE: I'm not even ranked?
AARON: I was *ninth* last year!
Kate flips back to the cardio-thoracic section, looking for her name.
JEFFREY: Twelfth is great, Aaron, nothing to sneeze at. Ask her. Twelve is
a great number. (to Kate) Don't bother; the list only goes to a hundred.
(back to Aaron) I think we should celebrate!
KATE: This is unbelievable.
JEFFREY: (modest smile) Thank you.
KATE: How can I not make the Top 100?
JEFFREY: Well, don't take it personal, Kate, probably a feminist backlash.
They probably think someone who looks like you look couldn't possibly be a
great doctor. Though to me, I don't get it, you're not that much to look at.
Kate throws him a look, but he's in too good a mood.
JEFFREY: I jest, I jest, I'm a jester at Number One! Top cardio-thoracic
surgeon in the U. S. of A.!!
He plants a huge smooch right on Kate's lips and swipes the Journal back
from her. He runs off down the hall.
JEFFREY: This is a great, great country. Phillip! Phillip, I got news -
great country, America!!
Kate wipes her mouth in distaste, Aaron just stands and watches Jeffrey
take off down the hall.
OPENING CREDITS
INT. JEFFREY & AARON'S OUTER OFFICES/CORRIDOR - EVENING
Jeffrey and Aaron are leaving for the day.
JEFFREY: You're not happy for me.
AARON: I am happy for you -
JEFFREY: No, you're not.
AARON: I'm very thrilled, I just don't think we need to throw a parade,
that's all. It'd be nice to see you get this excited when one of your
patients pulls through.
JEFFREY: (overlapping) Since you got Number Twelve, I've got no right to be
Number One, well, that's the placement. You're trying to pop my balloon.
You've always been a passive balloon-popper, Aaron, it's not attractive.
Aaron stops walking and faces Jeffrey, who stops walking also.
AARON: Do you see what you're doing? Do you see? Laurie gets married last
week, you're feeling this big void -
JEFFREY: (overlapping) This isn't about Laurie, Mr. Number Twelve, and I
don't feel a void.
AARON: (continuous) - so you're looking for all the affirmation you can
muster from this stupid ranking.
JEFFREY: It is lonely at the top.
Kate passes. Aaron shakes his head at Jeffrey, then tries to catch Kate's
attention as she passes by.
AARON: Kate, I uh...
Kate stops; Jeffrey looks at her, then back to Aaron.
JEFFREY: Neither of you are happy. Do you know - do you know how long I've
waited for this?
AARON: Yeah - why? Why?
KATE: Look, it's not that we're not happy for you, Jeff, but do you have to
rub our noses in it?
JEFFREY: I don't mean to do that. I was just sharing my candid joy behind
the closed doors of his office. He's my best friend in life. It's not like
I flaunted it in the hospital - it was alone with you and what's wrong with
that?
Aaron pauses for a second, before sighing and realizing Jeffrey's probably
right.
AARON: You're right. I'm sorry, I apologize. I mean it, congratulations.
He sticks out his hand. Jeffrey shakes it humbly.
JEFFREY: Thank you.
Kate holds out her hand grudgingly.
KATE: I mean it too. Congratulations.
Jeffrey shakes her hand. Satisfied, Jeffrey walks off down the hall. He
can't help leaping up and clicking his heels together.
JEFFREY: Yes!
EXT. EL STATION - NIGHT
ALAN BIRCH and DIANE GRAD exit the train and start for the stairs to the
street level, mid-conversation. They have just returned from a blind date,
and both are laughing at the disastrous way it went.
ALAN: She is *married*! You fixed me up -
DIANE: She'll be divorced in six weeks!
ALAN: She gives birth in *five* weeks! You fixed me up with a married,
pregnant woman!
DIANE: (overlapping) She's a nice girl, she's a nice girl -
ALAN: Nice isn't the problem, it's not the problem that she's nice, it was
giving birth at the supper table.
DIANE: Okay, she's a little strange, but you both have a lot in common -
ALAN: She honked like a goose - a lot in common? She is married! She is
pregnant!
DIANE: You both have the guts to be single parents. (laughs) I didn't know
she honked like a goose.
ALAN: She was honking *at* me, did you notice?
They're having such a good chat that they don't even notice the GANG KIDS
at the bottom of the stairs until Alan bumps into one of them.
GANG KID: What's up!
ALAN: It's okay, we didn't see anything, we're gone, we're gone. (under his
breath to Diane) It's okay, keep walking, keep walking...
He takes Diane's arm and propels her away from the stairs, headed in the
opposite direction. The gang kids start to follow.
GANG KID: Oh, just hit and run, huh? HUH? You got to pay the toll, Shorty!
Give up the wallet!
He takes out a semi-automatic weapon and points it at Alan. Alan lets go of
Diane's hand; she backs up in horror.
GANG KID: Give up the wallet!
Alan holds up his hands.
ALAN: Guys... please...
(Transcriptor's note: For God's sakes, Alan, give him your wallet!)
GANG KID: (smiling, appearing to be giving in) Oh, okay.
He turns away, just for a second, then whips the gun back around and pumps
eight rounds into Alan's chest. The gang kids take off.
Alan falls back against a girder and collapses on the ground. Diane,
panicked, kneels beside him.
DIANE: Somebody... somebody help me. Somebody help me!! Alan?
INT. AMBULANCE EN ROUTE - NIGHT
Diane is on the phone to the ER.
DIANE: He's been hit in the chest. Multiple abdominal, we need at least six
units. Get a room ready. Call Geiger. Austin, everybody.
INT. ER – NIGHT
The paramedics and Diane wheel Alan into the Emergency Room, where they are
met by DANNY NYLAND and BILLY KRONK.
DANNY: Out of the way.
DIANE: I think the aorta's been hit. We have to get him into surgery.
DANNY: Let's get him into Trauma.
BILLY: Let's go, let's get the O-Neg blood, stat!
JOHN SUTTON, on his way out, stops to see what the commotion is about.
SUTTON: Let me see.
DANNY: He's not having a baby, get lost.
They shove Sutton out of the way; Geiger rounds the corner into the ER.
BILLY: Diane, you're gonna have to let me in.
JEFFREY: What are his vitals?
DIANE: Last BP was 60 over palp.
BILLY: You ready, Danny? One, two, three, go!
They lift Alan from the ambulance stretcher onto the ER gurney. Jeffrey
takes Danny's scope.
JEFFREY: (Re: the stretcher) Get this outta here.
BILLY: Scissors. Scissors!!
Kate enters, shoving Diane out of the way.
KATE: Move, move!
BILLY: Scissors!
DANNY: Let's turn him and check for exit wounds.
Danny and Jeffrey turn Alan on his side and check the exit wound; Jeffrey
listens for the heartbeat.
JEFFREY: His heart's been hit.
BILLY: Jeffrey, we gotta get him to O.R., *now*.
KATE: He's not gonna make it that far, crack the damn chest!
Jeffrey gloves up.
JEFFREY: Ten blade, now.
KATE: Stapler.
DANNY: He's got three in the abdomen, and one through the chest.
JEFFREY: All right, moving ahead. Get the heart room ready. We may need two
teams. Skin stapler.
NURSE: Right here.
Diane backs into a corner of the trauma room and watches, terrified.
INT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - NIGHT
Jeffrey, Billy, Kate and PHILLIP WATTERS are wheeling Alan down to surgery.
JEFFREY: Get the pump primed. Kate, you'll assist.
PHILLIP: I'm coming in, too. He's got a pulse.
JEFFREY: Billy, check on the blood.
BILLY: Done.
INT. ER - NIGHT
Some COPS are interviewing Diane about the shooting. She's barely holding
it together.
DIANE: I don't know, I don't know, uh... they were a bunch kids! Early
twenties, I think?
COP: How many?
DIANE: Uhh, four, five... I don't know. They just started shooting.
DENNIS HANCOCK enters from the corridor, having just heard. He goes to Diane.
COP: Could you describe the shooter? Anything?
DIANE: I don't know, I don't know! I mainly remember the gun!
DENNIS: Guys, can you give her a minute? (he takes Diane aside) Are you okay?
DIANE: Yeah. I'm okay, I';m okay.
The cops, I guess thinking that's plenty of time, come up to Diane again.
COP: Look, the sooner we can get you to look at some mug shots, the better,
you know?
DIANE: Yeah, okay.
COP: We want you to come to the precinct.
DIANE: Okay.
Dennis takes her by the shoulders.
DENNIS: I'll go with you.
DIANE: Yeah, okay. Okay.
INT. O.R. - NIGHT
Billy, Jeffrey, Kate and Phillip are all working on Alan. There's no music,
and no conversation. Kate and Jeffrey exchange looks.
ANESTHESIOLOGIST: He's hanging in there.
PHILLIP: Spleen?
BILLY: Spleen's okay, but I got fecal matter all over the place.
PHILLIP: He's bleeding from the ileac.
BILLY: Yup. Got it.
PHILLIP: Satinsky clamp.
BILLY: Right there. See it?
PHILLIP: Yeah.
BILLY: Suction, please.
NURSE: Suction.
BILLY: Right here. It's transected, you see it, Phillip?
PHILLIP: We gotta ligate. How much blood loss?
NURSE: Fifteen hundred CC's.
Kate and Jeffrey look up at one another, their headlamps play across one
another's faces. They get back to work.
INT. POLICE STATION - NIGHT
A sketch artist is making a composite on the computer, while Diane looks
over his shoulder.
DIANE: Uhh, he had... less hair. Almost bald, I think.
The sketch artist removes the hair from the composite sketch.
DIANE: I don't know.
EXT. ALAN'S BROWNSTONE APARTMENT - NIGHT
CAMILLE SHUTT crosses the street from the El and goes up to knock on Alan's
door. (Transcriptor's note - who the hell let Camille go out alone on the
El on this of all nights?)
CINDY, the babysitter, answers the door, carrying Alicia.
CAMILLE: Cindy? You're Alicia's babysitter?
CINDY: Yes.
CAMILLE: There's a problem.
INT. O.R. - NIGHT
Still working. It's very quiet.
PHILLIP: I got a bleeder.
BILLY: Suction.
More murmuring for instruments.
Above, in the gallery, Aaron grips the handrail and watches with concern.
KATE: Suction.
NURSE: Suction.
JEFFREY: That's it. Babcock clamp.
PHILLIP: Suction.
BILLY: Sponge.
PHILLIP: More suction, damn it, I can't see.
INT. POLICE STATION - NIGHT
Two cops, Diane and Dennis are walking through the precinct.
COP: He fits your general description, long rap sheet. We think he may have
been there.
DIANE: So, uh... so, what, I look at him?
COP: In a line-up. You feel up to it?
DIANE: Uh... yeah, okay.
INT. O.R. - NIGHT
Still working. Jeffrey looks across the table at Kate.
JEFFREY: Son of a bitch.
PHILLIP: What?
JEFFREY: Bleeding right upper lobe. Took one in the lung, too.
BILLY: He's got a hole in his right kidney. He's Humpty Dumpty.
KATE: All right, all right, everybody. Let's just keep going, okay? Come
on, Jeffrey.
BILLY: Suture.
JEFFREY: Metzenbaum. Follow me with the Bovie.
KATE: We're all doing great.
PHILLIP: Stop being a damn cheerleader, Kate.
KATE: Shut up, Phillip. I'm just trying to be positive, okay?
BILLY: (overlapping) Why don't you try being it someplace else?
PHILLIP: (overlapping) Let's just do the work - let's -
KATE: (overlapping) Why don't you shut up, Billy!
JEFFREY: Hey, hey, come on! We're making progress. Kate's right. We're
doing good. We're doing fine.
INT. ALAN'S OFFICE - NIGHT
Camille is walking around the office, jiggling Alicia. Her gaze falls on a
framed photo of Alan and Alicia, both beaming widely. She turns away.
The door opens and Aaron enters quietly. Camille turns.
CAMILLE: The sitter couldn't stay. I thought she could spend the night
here, then maybe I'd bring some of my things over to Alan's in the morning.
She should be in her own environment.
AARON: That's a good idea.
He leans against the crib and picks up one of Alicia's teddy bears.
CAMILLE: Is there anything?
AARON: They're still working.
He fidgets with the teddy bear for a moment, then looks down as if he's
just realized he's holding it. He puts it aside quickly.
INT. POLICE STATION - NIGHT
Diane is looking at a line-up through a two-way mirror. Five sullen
gang-types are on the other side. The cop talks into a microphone.
COP: Please stand at your marks. Wait until I tell you to step forward.
Okay, number one, please step forward.
Diane looks at him and shakes her head.
DIANE: No.
COP: Step back, please. Number two, please step forward. Look straight,
please.
Number Two steps forward. He grudgingly looks front. Diane studies him.
Number Two raises his finger like a gun and points it at the two-way mirror.
NUMBER TWO: BOOM! BOOM!
Diane screams. Number Two grins at the other guys in the line-up.
COP: Get back.
INT. O.R. - NIGHT
The team is finishing up.
PHILLIP: Umbilical tape.
NURSE: Tape.
PHILLIP: Liver, spleen, both okay.
JEFFREY: That's it. Specimen container.
NURSE: Here's a basin.
Jeffrey takes something out of Alan's chest and drops it in the basin.
JEFFREY: All right. Moment of truth.
Aaron and Camille look on in the gallery. They exchange anxious glances.
JEFFREY: Let's take him off bypass and see if it works. Everybody's
finished, right?
BILLY: All done.
Phillip nods.
JEFFREY: You finished?
KATE: Yeah.
JEFFREY: Vena's clamped.
A nurse shuts down the bypass machine.
KATE: Bypass off.
Jeffrey reaches in and begins heart massage. The doctors watch the monitor,
waiting for a heartbeat.
JEFFREY: Come on, Alan. Up to you now, buddy. Come on, ya little eel. Be a
man. Come on.
PHILLIP: Come on, Alan.
They watch the monitor. Finally it beeps out a rhythm.
BILLY: Yes!
KATE: Yes!
PHILLIP: Thank God.
Cheers and laughs all around. Billy turns around and gives Aaron and
Camille a thumbs-up. They embrace, laughing with relief.
JEFFREY: Let's close. 2-0 silk.
KATE: DeBakey.
JEFFREY: Kate?
KATE: Jeffrey.
JEFFREY: This is why I'm ranked number one.
INT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - NIGHT
Orderlies wheel Alan to the ICU. Phillip walks alongside.
PHILLIP: As soon as he starts to come out, you call me. You tell me.
He stops in the hallway and watches them take Alan away.
INT. POLICE STATION - NIGHT
Diane is looking at mug shots in a book. She points out one.
DIANE: That's him.
COP: You sure?
DIANE: Yeah, that's the one that did the shooting.
COP: I know where these guys hang, dead end on DeVoran, I want six units
backing me up.
DENNIS: You *know* these guys?
COP: They move some trade on the El, and they like to play with guns. Yeah,
we're old friends. Get me that backup. We'll get them.
Diane nods. The cops leave. Dennis massages Diane's shoulders.
INT. ALAN'S OFFICE - MORNING
Camille is asleep on the couch, holding Alicia, who is awake. Jeffrey comes
in wearing scrubs. He sits on the coffee table facing Camille, and gives
her foot a gentle nudge to wake her. She smiles.
JEFFREY: How's our godchild?
CAMILLE: Mmm.
She looks at him, unable to ask the question.
JEFFREY: Still critical, but stabilizing.
He reaches for Alicia.
JEFFREY: C'mere.
He picks Alicia up, gives her a kiss and sits her in his lap.
JEFFREY: Atta girl. What does she know?
CAMILLE: Only that he's sick. Daddy's sick, sweetie, but he's gonna be all
better.
JEFFREY: All better. All better.
INT. ICU, ALAN'S ROOM - MORNING
Billy is checking Alan's stats. He leans over and looks at the urine bag on
the side of the bed.
BILLY: He's pissing. He's pissing! Hey!
He goes into the hallway, clapping his hands for attention.
BILLY: The Eel is pissing! The Eel -
Phillip runs down the hall towards Billy, they both go back into Alan's room.
BILLY: He's pissing.
PHILLIP: I hear ya, I hear ya.
BILLY: I's and O's look good, ABG's too.
Kate enters, followed by Diane.
BILLY: He's peeing.
KATE: Already?
PHILLIP: A little low, but blood pressure is holding.
BILLY: Pee, boy, pee! Pee man!
KATE: Oh, this is one tough little bastard.
PHILLIP: He's a fighter, always a fighter. Yeah, you're doing great, Alan.
INT. ER - DAY
The gang kids are being wheeled in. Danny directs a paramedic. The cops
hover nearby.
DANNY: Pelvic and leg wounds, let's get him in three. Where the hell is Kronk?
PARAMEDIC: This one's got neck and stomach wounds.
DANNY: I'll take him in here.
COP: Is Dr. Grad around?
DANNY: I don't know, excuse me.
Billy and Diane round the corner.
BILLY: What? What is it?
DANNY: There's a cop in the hall. Somebody call an O.R.
Billy joins Danny in the trauma center. The cops approach Diane.
COP: Dr. Grad.
DIANE: What's going on?
COP: We caught up with your boys. Guns came out. Can you make an I.D.?
DIANE: What, here?
COP: Here, anywhere you want, I don't care.
DENNIS: Diane, we could use a hand over here.
DIANE: Excuse me.
Diane goes to help Dennis.
DENNIS: Put your hand here a sec while I numb him up. Right there.
Diane gloves up and applies pressure to the wound while Dennis injects the
patient.
DENNIS: Okay, I got it.
Diane steps away from the table. Across the hall, she sees GARY POLTER, the
kid who shot Alan. She walks over and looks more closely at him.
Polter has a bullet in the shoulder. Diane is strangely calm.
DIANE: Where'd you take it? Here?
She presses her finger into the wound. Polter screams.
DIANE: Is that it? Right here?
Polter's screams alert everyone in the ER. Dennis looks up from his
patient, Danny and Billy do likewise.
Diane remains perfectly calm, and looks surprised that Polter is screaming.
Danny joins her; she eases up a bit on his wound.
DANNY: Whaddya got?
DIANE: I got scum. He took a bullet. Right here.
She presses her finger into the wound again. Polter screams again, louder
than before.
DANNY: Diane!
DIANE: (leaning close to Polter) You expect me to save you? I want you to die.
DANNY: Diane? Diane. Guys, I need some help here. Diane?
Orderlies come over. Diane's calm has evaporated.
DIANE: I hope you die. I hope you *suffer*, and then die! You die! You die!
You die!
DANNY: (overlapping) Diane. Diane, walk away. Get her outta here. Diane...
DIANE!
DIANE: You die! You die! You die!! You die!!
DANNY: Diane!!
It takes two orderlies, Danny, and a paramedic to pull Diane off the
patient. Dennis looks up with a "what's wrong with her?" expression. Duh.
DIANE: Get off me, get off me!
The orderlies drag her out of the ER.
INT. AARON'S OFFICE - DAY
Kate and Aaron are in his office. Kate's getting ready to go home.
KATE: I'm gonna go get breakfast and then go home. Wanna join me?
Aaron looks up, surprised.
KATE: For the breakfast part.
He smiles, then shakes his head.
AARON: Um... thanks, but I uh...
KATE: Are you okay?
AARON: Yeah, I think just with Alan almost being killed...
KATE: And that's it?
(Isn't that enough?)
AARON: Yeah, I think so.
KATE: Okay.
She starts to leave. Aaron follows her to the door.
AARON: Oh, uh, Kate, umm... I almost forgot. We're giving, um, Jeffrey a
little surprise party, uh, in honor of his ranking?
KATE: Okay.
AARON: It - it's gonna be in the conference room... uh, we're all getting
together, gonna get a cake and... secret.
KATE: Okay...
She looks at him curiously. There's something he's not telling her. She
places a hand on his cheek. He kisses her palm. She leans in and kisses him
on the lips.
With exquisite timing, Camille knocks and enters, carrying Alicia.
CAMILLE: Oh - excuse me.
Kate and Aaron break apart.
KATE: Oh.
AARON: Oh.
CAMILLE: I'm sorry.
Aaron wipes his mouth, extraordinarily embarrassed.
CAMILLE: I came for your brain. (to Kate) Alicia likes to suck on it.
Kate laughs a bit too heartily. She waves her finger at Alicia.
KATE: Hi...
Aaron goes behind his desk and gets his brain model and hands it to Camille.
CAMILLE: Thank you. I hope I didn't...
AARON: Uh, n-n-no, not at all.
KATE: No, not at all.
Like hell.
CAMILLE: Bye.
Camille takes Aaron's brain and leaves. Kate leans back against the door.
Aaron gives a brief ironic laugh.
INT. ICU, ALAN'S ROOM - DAY
Phillip is sitting in a chair next to Alan's bed, looking over a document.
Jeffrey enters, surprised at how empty the room is.
JEFFREY: No family?
PHILLIP: Yeah, just a mother in Vermont. She has Alzheimer's. And a sister
we can't find.
He shows Jeffrey the document.
PHILLIP: He left an ethical will.
JEFFREY: What?
PHILLIP: Yeah, his affairs, I checked, when I thought, you know... He left
a regular will, dealing with his financial assets. And then he left a set
of values with an ethical will.
Jeffrey takes the document and leans against one of the machines, reading.
PHILLIP: Makes so much sense, doesn't it? I mean, you think - why should
our last testament be about money and property? With Alan, it won't be.
JEFFREY: "Admire intelligence, but admire kindness more."
PHILLIP: There's a zillion of them. That's so Alan.
Jeffrey laughs softly.
JEFFREY: An ethical will. (with a grin) You hear what Diane Grad did?
PHILLIP: Yeah.
JEFFREY: He's gonna be very upset. The legal exposure? He won't be happy
about this, Phillip.
At the words "legal exposure," Alan begins to stir. Phillip tightens his
grip on Alan's hand and stands up.
PHILLIP: It's all right. It's all right, Alan, we're here.
Jeffrey comes back to the bed and joins Phillip.
JEFFREY: Take it real easy, buddy, you're gonna be fine.
Alan tries to speak, and gestures at the tube in his mouth.
JEFFREY: Take the tube out. He doesn't need it. Hang on, buddy.
PHILLIP: There you go. Come on.
Phillip and Jeffrey extubate him.
JEFFREY: Okay, spit it out. Atta boy, spit it out.
Jeffrey wipes Alan's mouth.
PHILLIP: Well done.
JEFFREY: You've been through a lot of surgery, but you’re gonna be fine.
ALAN: Alicia.
JEFFREY: She's with Camille. She's eatin' ice cream. She's doing fine.
Alan shakes his head. He reaches for Jeffrey, pushing his chest.
ALAN: You. You.
Jeffrey takes Alan's hand with a bemused grin.
JEFFREY: You want her to be with me?
Alan nods.
PHILLIP: All right, just try to rest, Alan. Conserve your strength. You
were shot in seven different places.
ALAN: (with a grimace) Not respect.
Jeffrey chuckles.
INT. HOSPITAL LAUNDRY - DAY
Aaron and Jeffrey are giving Alicia a bath.
JEFFREY: Hold her, Aaron.
AARON: I am holding her.
JEFFREY: You're propping her, that's a prop, not a hold. If she falls and
hits her head it's your department.
AARON: (overlapping) You know, you don't have to scrub her skin so - you
don't have to scrub like she's in surgery, she's a baby. You don't have to
wash her skin off.
JEFFREY: All right, she's done.
He drops the washcloth and holds up his hands. Aaron looks askance at him.
AARON: She's not done. You didn't do down there.
JEFFREY: It's illegal for me to wash that.
AARON: What are you talking about?
JEFFREY: Statistically speaking, this child, like any child, could end up
in therapy. Suppose her shrink turns out to be one of those hypnotists?
Aaron stares at him, dumbfounded.
AARON: Do you actually hear the words that come out of your mouth?
JEFFREY: What if under hypnosis she conjures some childhood bath where two
surgeons washed her vagina? They could take away our license, plus our
insurance won't cover it. This isn't just me talking, it's the spirit of
her father inside me speaking to you.
AARON: (grinning now) You're afraid to touch her. You're intimidated to
touch a little baby girl.
JEFFREY: I am not afraid, I just don't want to be prosecuted for statutory
scrub. You can't be too careful.
AARON: Well, all you've been doing is splashing her.
The door opens and Camille enters.
JEFFREY: Well, what are *you* doing?
AARON: I'm holding her. You're just splashing her.
JEFFREY: I'm not splashing her!
Camille smiles a "what a couple of knuckleheads" smile.
CAMILLE: What's going on?
AARON: This *nut* is afraid to wash her private parts.
Jeffrey tosses the washcloth at Aaron.
JEFFREY: You wash her!
AARON: I am the holder, you are the washer.
CAMILLE: You two, please.
Camille takes over the bath.
CAMILLE: (to Alicia) Come here, come here. It's okay. Yeah, it's okay. (to
Jeffrey and Aaron) He wants to see her.
Aaron and Jeffrey exchange glances.
JEFFREY: Is that wise? I - I mean, for her to see him?
CAMILLE: Well... he's her father, and he wants to see her.
INT. GARY POLTER'S HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY
Dennis enters to check on Polter. He studies the chart and checks the vitals.
DENNIS: You think before you shoot people?
He puts on a stethoscope and listens to Polter's heartbeat.
DENNIS: You give it a thought before pumping bullets into innocent people?
You give it a thought after?
Polter turns toward the wall, no doubt wishing he'd been brought to some
other hospital.
INT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - DAY
Jeffrey and Camille are taking Alicia to see Alan.
JEFFREY: Daddy's hooked up to lots of machines and things, and it might
look kinda scary. But it's actually kind of fun. It's a little like a ride
at Disneyland.
Camille snorts.
JEFFREY: Just jump in any time. Feel free.
CAMILLE: Daddy's gonna be so happy to see you.
JEFFREY: And honey, don't play with the buttons. (to Camille) Kids like
buttons.
They enter Alan's room. Alicia starts crying almost immediately.
CAMILLE: Hi! Here's Daddy! You wanna give Daddy a big kiss? Let's just give
Daddy a big kiss.
ALAN: Hey, babycakes...
Camille sits Alicia on the edge of Alan's bed. Alicia cries.
JEFFREY: Come on, say hi! Alicia...
ALAN: Oh, it's okay. Not to worry, honey... Daddy's gonna be fine...
He kisses his fingertips and presses them against Alicia's head. Alicia's
cries grow louder. Alan chokes back tears.
ALAN: Jeffrey, I'm scaring her...
He gestures for Jeffrey to take her away. Jeffrey picks Alicia up and takes
her out of the room.
JEFFREY: Come on, sweetie, huh? Come on. I'll give you a surprise, okay?
Alan sobs; Camille comforts him.
CAMILLE: No, no, no... it's all right. She's all right. It's just the
shock. It's just the shock.
Alan nods. Camille smiles at him.
CAMILLE: Listen, Alan. I think I should stay at your place for awhile, so
that Alicia can be in her own surroundings.
ALAN: Oh, Camille... I already asked Jeffrey to.
Camille hesitates for just a second before smiling and patting his hand.
CAMILLE: Okay.
ALAN: Thank you. Thanks.
Diane enters behind Camille.
DIANE: Hey.
ALAN: (smiling) Hey.
DIANE: You're looking stronger already.
ALAN: Thanks for saving me.
DIANE: Oh, well... I just got you here. It was a team effort. Did you hear
they caught the guy?
ALAN: Yeah. I was also told of your outburst.
He frowns at her. Camille looks at Diane, and quietly excuses herself.
ALAN: It is imperative that we document completely that your animosity in
no way compromised the health or safety of this patient. The last thing we
need is another lawsuit.
Diane almost laughs.
DIANE: Alan...
Behind her, Phillip, Camille, Kate, Aaron, Danny, Sutton and Billy enter,
carrying balloons and flowers.
BILLY: Surprise!
KATE: Yay!
PHILLIP: Looking good, Alan.
Alan looks up with a rueful grin and wags his finger.
ALAN: No flowers in the ICU.
PHILLIP: We're breaking the rules.
DANNY: Nice to have you back, Alan.
Billy claps.
ALAN: You know, when I was unconscious I had this dream. I was in this,
this very faraway place. You were all there. And some of it wasn't nice,
but most of it was just beautiful.
Camille, recognizing the lines from Wizard of Oz, leans over to Phillip.
CAMILLE: I'm not dressing up.
PHILLIP: Shhh.
Alan sighs and lies back in his pillow. Diane stares at him.
INT. GARY POLTER'S ROOM - DAY
Diane walks down the hall and enters Gary Polter's room. Dennis is still
conducting his examination.
DIANE: Um, yesterday I said some things in the heat of the moment, and I,
uh, just want you to know...
Polter glares at her, hard and unsympathetic. Diane grins.
DIANE: I meant every word.
She turns and walks out.
DENNIS: Diane.
INT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - SAME
Diane walks out of Polter's room and down the hall; Dennis follows.
DENNIS: Diane!
He catches up with her and spins her around by the arm.
DENNIS: That was out of line.
DIANE: Sorry.
She pulls free and starts to walk away. Dennis grabs for her again.
DENNIS: Hey, hey, hey, look - I know you were there. I understand you're
traumatized.
DIANE: Oh, don't lecture me.
DENNIS: I also know that he -
DIANE: Don't *handle* me, Dennis!
DENNIS: He is a patient in this hospital, and you are a doctor! He is here.
You don't want to be here, get the hell out. But if you choose to be here,
be a professional. You got it?
DIANE: Yeah, I guess so.
She walks off down the hall.
INT. LADIES' SHOWER - DAY
Kate enters in a towel. Camille is showering in a neighboring stall. They
exchange extremely uncomfortable glances.
KATE: Hi.
CAMILLE: Hi. How's it going?
Kate starts up her shower, next to Camille's stall.
KATE: Good. You?
CAMILLE: Good.
KATE: Good.
CAMILLE: Quite a day, huh?
Kate pops her head over the wall.
KATE: What's that?
CAMILLE: I said quite a day.
KATE: Oh, yeah. Big day.
Camille finishes her shower and goes to sit in front of the mirror. Kate
catches Camille watching her in the mirror.
KATE: What?
CAMILLE: What?
KATE: What?
CAMILLE: Nothing!
KATE: Oh.
They smile. Kate continues to shower.
KATE: I'm sorry. Look, this is a little awkward, um, but - we're not
sleeping together or anything, you know? No, in fact - you've seen more of
me right now than he has.
She laughs nervously. Camille smiles. Camille begins to put on moisturizer.
She turns around and stares at Kate in the shower.
KATE: What?
CAMILLE: What?
Kate turns off the shower and covers herself with a towel.
KATE: You're kind of staring at me.
CAMILLE: I'm sorry, I can't help but - You know, it's just that Aaron, with
you, must be... Well, I can't help but wondering if this is a transitional
thing, and if it is, that makes it about me a little, and... well, I can't
help but look at you and wonder what it is about you that I... I overthink
everything. Aaron always had a problem with me overthinking.
(Transcriptor's note: well, if that ain't the pot calling the kettle black.)
CAMILLE: Do you overthink? No, I bet you don't. (nervous laugh)
Kate smiles and shakes her head.
KATE: No.
INT. ICU, ALAN'S ROOM - DAY
Monitors are going crazy. Diane puts an oxygen mask over Alan's mouth. He's
gasping for breath.
DIANE: Alan, please, please, try to relax. Try to relax. Jeffrey's on his
way, so is Kate.
Phillip and Jeffrey stampede into the room. Jeffrey picks up the stethoscope.
PHILLIP: What happened?
DIANE: He was fine, suddenly he crashed. Respiratory rate's thirty.
PHILLIP: Alan, Alan, Alan...
JEFFREY: Pulse rate's one-sixty, he's hypotensive. Alan, where does it hurt?
PHILLIP: Systolic's down to sixty.
Alan clutches his chest. Kate enters, her hair still wet from the shower.
KATE: What's going on?
JEFFREY: I think he's throwing a PE, he says his chest hurts.
KATE: That could be from the operation.
JEFFREY: Well, he's clutching the other side. We may have to go in, his
pulse-ox is down to seventy.
KATE: He just came out, Geiger.
JEFFREY: I know, but if he's throwing a clot, we need to take it out. We
could try heparin?
KATE: He'd bleed out every suture hole.
JEFFREY: I don't know... put in a Greenfield?
KATE: It doesn't matter if he's already thrown a clot.
PHILLIP: Come on, come on. Make a decision, damn it.
Jeffrey looks at the monitor. Kate looks at Jeffrey. Neither seems willing
to make the call.
KATE: I don't think we can wait for an angiogram.
DIANE: Do *something*!
Jeffrey hesitates a moment longer, looking at the EKG. Alan gasps for breath.
PHILLIP: Make a decision, damn it!
JEFFREY: Get him to the O.R., we're gonna do an embelectomy.
He and Kate head out to scrub up.
DIANE: (soothingly) Alan, please, try to relax, try to relax...
INT. SCRUB ROOM - DAY
Kate and Jeffrey scrub.
NURSE: (on intercom) Code Blue team to the O.R., Code Blue team to the O.R.
stat.
Orderlies wheel Alan in. He's still gasping for breath.
INT. O.R. GALLERY - DAY
Phillip stands watching the operation below. Aaron enters.
PHILLIP: Saddle embolysm. It's massive.
Aaron sighs helplessly and watches the operation with Phillip.
INT. O.R. - DAY
Jeffrey, Kate and Billy operate.
JEFFREY: Metz.
KATE: Forceps. DeBakey.
ANESTHESIOLOGIST: Mean arterial pressure's dropping.
JEFFREY: What?
BILLY: Probably dilating.
KATE: Give him neosynephrine.
JEFFREY: Pulmonary artery, there it is. Ring forceps.
NURSE: Forceps.
JEFFREY: 15 blade.
KATE: 2-0 silk, needle.
JEFFREY: Russian forceps.
KATE: You got it. That's it.
ANESTHESIOLOGIST: Pressure's still dropping.
BILLY: Septic?
JEFFREY: Shut up, Billy. Come on, Alan, come on. Fogarty catheter. 5 cc
syringe, hold it open. There it goes. Close, 2-0 silk.
NURSE: Close, 2-0.
JEFFREY: That's it, close it up.
In the gallery, Phillip and Aaron have been joined by Diane, Camille and
Dennis.
Alan's monitor begins to beep.
ANESTHESIOLOGIST: I'm not getting a pulse.
KATE: Massage.
JEFFREY: Come on, Alan. Hold him open. Hold him open.
Kate holds Alan's chest open while Jeffrey massages.
KATE: Come on.
JEFFREY: Come on, Alan. Come on.
KATE: Come on!
The EKG begins to flatten out.
PHILLIP: (in the gallery) Please, dear God...
JEFFREY: Come on, Alan. Come on. Alan. You're not dying. You're not dying.
Come on, Alan. Come on, Alan.
ANESTHESIOLOGIST: He's gone.
JEFFREY: Shut up! Alan. You're not dying. You're not dying. Come on, Alan.
A tech turns off the EKG, the beeping stops. Jeffrey finally stops massaging.
BILLY: Nurse, can we get the light, please?
Billy takes off Jeffrey's headlamp. Jeffrey looks down at his hands, still
wrapped around Alan's heart.
BILLY: Come on.
Jeffrey looks across the table at Kate, who stares back at him wordlessly,
tears in her eyes.
Billy pats Jeffrey on the shoulder.
BILLY: Come on.
Jeffrey looks down at Alan, then up at the gallery. One by one, he looks
down the line of spectators... Diane, Dennis, Camille, Phillip, and Aaron.
He looks down at Alan again.
Jeffrey takes off his loops and mask, steps away from the table, then
collapses, sobbing. Billy catches him and lowers him to the floor.
BILLY: All right, all right...
Jeffrey lies in Billy's lap, sobbing.
ANESTHESIOLOGIST: Time of death?
Kate removes her mask.
KATE: Four twenty-two.
EXT. PARK - DAY
Jeffrey is in his scrubs and overcoat, sitting on a bench. Kate approaches.
KATE: Hey. Aaron told me you'd come here.
She sits next to him.
KATE: We made the right call.
JEFFREY: First, we don't know that. And second, this is my call. It's on me.
KATE: I let you make the call, because I didn't want it on me. We made the
right decision. What choice do we have but to think so? We made the right
call.
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
The entire staff has gathered for a meeting. Danny comes in and stands next
to Billy.
DANNY: What's going on?
BILLY: I don't know, he just said to be here.
Phillip enters and stands at the podium. The murmuring dies down.
PHILLIP: We lose life in this building every day. It goes with the job.
This was a person we knew and loved. Of course you're going to be affected.
Of course you want to lie down and cry. But you don't. You remember that
every patient has a family, and you remember that for every one that dies
there's a family crying. And for every one that dies, another one comes in
the door, counting - counting on us to be ready. And we will be ready. Now,
you need not forget what's happened. You don't have to get over it. But you
live with it, and you go on. Just remember your pain, it'll make you better
doctors. Back to work.
The meeting breaks up. Phillip walks down the hall, barely keeping it
together. People file out of the room.
BILLY: (to Danny) Keep your decks clear for three o'clock.
DANNY: Why?
BILLY: We're transferring the Eel's body to Stanton's Mortuary two blocks
away, we're gonna give him an escort.
DANNY: I'll be there.
One by one, the doctors file out of the room. Jeffrey remains in his seat.
INT. CORRIDOR - DAY
Outside Gary Polter's room. Two uniformed security guards stand at the
door. Diane stalks down the hall and goes for the door. The guards stop her.
DIANE: Excuse me.
GUARD: Excuse me, excuse me. I'm sorry, you cannot enter.
DIANE: I'm a doctor, officer.
GUARD: We know who you are, Dr. Grad, it's just that we've been instructed
not to let you in there.
DIANE: What? Instructed by whom?
INT. RADIOLOGY - DAY
Dennis is checking some X-rays. Diane enters.
DIANE: Who - who the hell do you think you are?
DENNIS: You better end it right now, or I'll get you bounced. Then you can
go practice in Idaho or Oklahoma.
DIANE: What is that supposed to mean? What - you think this is a black thing?
DENNIS: It's a patient thing, Diane. I'm not defending what he did, but
he's still in our care. And it's not up to you to play judge -
DIANE: I *saw* him unload his gun! I *can* play judge! I judge him worthy
of death! And you know what? I don't care if he was socially disadvantaged,
I don't give a damn if he grew up with no parents, or if the education
system failed him - all I care about is getting those murdering bastards
off the streets. The police should go out with machine guns and mow down
the gangs - black, yellow, white, purple, just kill 'em all!
Dennis turns to her quietly, jaw set.
DENNIS: I'm gonna give you the benefit of the doubt, and assume this is
post-traumatic stress. Get help, Diane. Get help.
INT. JEFFREY'S OFFICE - DAY
Camille is on the floor with Alicia, playing with a ball.
CAMILLE: Can you - there's a good throw! Can you throw another -
Alicia reaches for her diaper bag. Jeffrey enters.
CAMILLE: Do you want your ba-ba?
JEFFREY: Hi, Alicia.
CAMILLE: Look who's here!
JEFFREY: Are you playing ball?
He squats down on the floor next to Camille and Alicia.
JEFFREY: Does she, uh... what does she - what does she know?
CAMILLE: I haven't said anything. What would she understand?
Jeffrey nods. He gets up and leans against his desk for a moment.
JEFFREY: Umm... Camille, I uh...
He comes back and sits on the floor next to her.
JEFFREY: I know you're the godmother. But uh, I think Alan preferred, uh...
that I, uh...
CAMILLE: I know.
She looks at Jeffrey.
CAMILLE: Can you do this?
Jeffrey smiles faintly.
JEFFREY: I remember asking that of Alan. He said it's the easiest thing ever.
He looks at Alicia.
JEFFREY: What are you doin'? You're gonna come live with me for awhile now,
huh? We'll have so much fun.
Alicia reaches for him, trying to climb up on his lap.
JEFFREY: What? Yeah? Okay. Listen to me.
He picks her up and sets her in his lap. Alicia sticks her thumb in her
mouth and grabs ahold of Jeffrey's tie. He kisses her on the head.
JEFFREY: Your Daddy... your Daddy went to visit God. He's gonna still look
out for you, but...
Alicia looks up at Jeffrey. He leans his forehead against hers.
JEFFREY: He went to visit God, honey.
Jeffrey rocks Alicia in his lap. Camille, unable to look, turns away toward
the window and begins to sob quietly.
INT. PHILLIP'S OFFICE - DAY
Phillip is standing behind his desk, Jeffrey is leaning on a chair on the
opposite side of the desk, facing him.
PHIILIP: A leave of absence? For how long?
Jeffrey shrugs.
JEFFREY: Three months, six months... However long it takes.
PHILLIP: Six months? Jeffrey...
Aaron enters and stands in the doorway, listening.
PHILLIP: Jeffrey, how are you going to handle not practicing medicine?
JEFFREY: I have a family now. My daughter comes first. It's only temporary,
eventually I'll be back, but uh, first I have to stabilize things with Alicia.
PHILLIP: How is the staff going to react to this?
JEFFREY: How can the staff not understand? I couldn't save her father,
Phillip. I will damn well save her.
AARON: You're leaving.
JEFREY: That little girl's getting a new home, a new father.. I can't be a
full-time doctor anymore. Down the road, who knows? For now...
PHILLIP: Jeffrey - talk to him, Aaron. Hmm?
Phillip heads for the door, muttering under his breath.
PHILLIP: Leave of absence for six months...
He leaves. Jeffrey chuckles. Aaron leans against Phillip's desk, staring at
Jeffrey, unamused. Jeffrey looks up at him.
JEFFREY: What?
AARON: You'll never come back.
JEFFREY: What are you talking about? I'll be back.
AARON: You're lying. I know you, Jeffrey. The idea of any kind of interim
existence is unthinkable. You're walking out that door forever.
JEFFREY: I am not. In time, I'll be back. It's just, for now, I have to
think of Alicia. I am not going to be the center of the rest of my life.
AARON: You won't be back. You'll shake my hand, like you're going away for
some long weekend, because you can't dare admit that - someone you cared
about died on your table. And this is how you react. You run. You're running.
JEFFREY: It is temporary. I'll be back.
AARON: No, you won't. Think hard on this, Jeffrey. You are not a stable
person. Outside of this hospital, I don't even know that you're functional.
I sure don't know what kind of parent you're gonna be.
Deeply offended, Jeffrey gets up and walks over to the conference table.
JEFFREY: Well, I'm sorry you feel that way.
AARON: I - I don't say it to hurt you... How can you survive not being in
that room?
JEFFREY: I don't ever want to be in that room. I don't want to pull off
anymore miracles. I couldn't manage a miracle with Alan... I don't ever
want to be in that room again.
AARON: You did everything that you could in there.
JEFFREY: It wasn't enough. It wasn't an impossible procedure. It was
possible to save Alan. I - I didn't do it! He, uh... he left an ethical
will. How many people do that? I am going to be the parent Alan planned to
be with Alicia. I am going to be the father I'd hoped to be with Joey. And
it is not going to happen in that room.
INT. CORRIDOR - DAY
Several staff members are gathered in the hallway. Sutton approaches Danny
and Billy.
SUTTON: What's going on?
DANNY: It's a parade.
SUTTON: What kind of parade?
DANNY: Morgue parade.
BILLY: Wanna be in it?
Across the hall are Dennis, Phillip and Diane.
PHILLIP: I really don't approve of this.
DENNIS: Well, if it'll help people deal with it. Whatever works.
Two paramedics wheel out Alan's body on a stretcher and down the hall past
the staff.
BILLY: Long live the Eel.
He falls in step behind the stretcher; Danny and Sutton follow. Billy
starts to clap, slowly at first. People gradually join in.
The stretcher passes Phillip, Dennis and Diane, who fall in line behind it.
Then Camille, who also begins to applaud, then Kate, who is unable to look
down at the body, but claps nonetheless.
The paramedics continue down the hall - past doctors, nurses, candy
stripers, technicians, jantiors, office staff. By the time the stretcher
reaches the hearse, the applause is deafening.
INT. JEFFREY'S OFFICE - EVENING
Jeffrey is packing up a few last minute items and holding Alica.
JEFFREY: Couple more things, sweetie, and then we're gone.
Kate enters.
KATE: So it's true. You're going.
JEFFREY: Oh. Only - only temporary. Till I, uh... you know.
KATE: Can I have your couch?
Jeffrey laughs.
JEFFREY: Don't try to take over, Kate. I come back, I'll squish you like a
bug. Come on, kiddo.
Kate laughs.
KATE: I'll miss you.
Jeffrey grins, a little off-guard.
JEFFREY: I'm running late.
KATE: Yeah.
He walks to the door, pauses, and turns back.
JEFFREY: You're a hell of a woman. I'll deny ever having said it.
He leaves. Kate smiles after him.
INT. CORRIDOR - DAY
Jeffrey is walking towards the elevators carrying Alicia and her diaper
bag, struggling to get her jacket on.
JEFFREY: (singing) "Skinny merinkadink a dink, skinny merinka doo, I love
you... I love you in the morning, or in the afternoon... I love you when
it's raining..."
The elevator doors open, and a few people get out, including Aaron. Jeffrey
is preoccupied with Alicia's jacket and almost misses him.
AARON: Hey.
JEFFREY: Hey.
Jeffrey extends his hand, Aaron shakes it.
JEFFREY: Temporary.
AARON: (nodding) Temporary.
Jeffrey gets into the elevator, still struggling with Alicia's jacket. He
punches a button.
JEFFREY: Okay. I'll call ya.
AARON: Okay. Good luck... being a daddy.
JEFFREY: Okay. Yep.
He smiles at Aaron. Aaron tries to smile back.
JEFFREY: Thanks.
And the elevator doors close.
FADE TO BLACK.
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