INT. ADMIT DESK AREA
Jerry, Foxy and Lydia are all coming in for the day, pulling off their winter things as a weather report plays on the TV. Conni and Randi are already at the front desk.
WEATHERMAN: Our recentspring-like temperatures will be a thing of the past by early afternoon when freezing rain... (the sound of the TV fades away as the camera angle moves down to the people hearing the report)
JERRY: Aw, man... I'm supposed to be going ice fishing tonight.
FOXY: (dubious) Ice fishing?
LYDIA: Al and I are supposed to be driving up to Wisconsin to ski.
JERRY: Skiing in Wisconsin? That's an oxymoron, isn't it?
LYDIA: No, cross-country! (she pats Jerry affectionately on the stomach) You should try it, it's great exercise.
FOXY: You're the moron. Sitting on Lake Michigan in the middle of winter with your little pole.
JERRY: "Oxymoron." It's a figure of speech in which opposite or contradictory terms or ideas are combined.
FOXY: I know what it means! I just think you're a fool for freezing your butt off out on a lake.
CONNI: Who gave him that damn "improve your vocabulary" calender in the first place?
LYDIA: I did. Broadens his horizons. What's today's word, Jerry?
JERRY: (goes to retrieve calemder from under the counter) Uh, today's word is... (he stares at it for a couple seconds before attempting to pronounce it) "Ratio...cinnation."
CONNI: (sarcastic) Oh yeah, that's going to come in handy in daily conversation.
FOXY: Has anyone seen Carol?
RANDI: (pronounces the word correctly) It's "ratiocinnation," amd it's to reckon, to reason, especially to reason, using formal logic. (off everyone's looks) Jesuit High School. Hathaway's in sutures.
Maggie has come up to the desk as Foxy heads off, presumably to sutures, as Mark and Kerry come in together, in mid-conversation.
MARK: (skeptical) Rocket Romano?
KERRY: Yeah, it's only temporary until your committee finds a permanent department head.
MARK: Why Romano?
MAGGIE: (walks up to them) What? What about Romano?
MARK: Anspaugh's making him acting chief?
MAGGIE: (upset) Of emergency medicine?!
KERRY: Hey, I'm not happy about it either. He's an egotistical, arrogant, mean-spirited, sexist little bullethead.
Kerry, Mark and Maggie don't notice Romano walk up behind them.
ROMANO: (chipper) Good morning, doctors.
They glance at him, but don't really turn around. They're probably hoping he'll go away if they ignore him. They're not so lucky, though.
ROMANO: News of my recent appointment precedes me, I take it? What, no popping of champagne, no, uh, ticker tape?
MAGGIE: (abruptly) Excuse me, I have a patient.
She turns and walks off.
ROMANO: (without turning around) Looking forward to working together again, Maggie.
She starts to turn back around to say something, but changes her mind, and keeps going. Romano isn't fazed in the least, and turns his attentions to Kerry and Mark.
ROMANO: I took the liberty of reassigning a few minor tasks. (he hands Mark a letter) Greene, you'll handle chart review, resident and medical student supervision, time card scheduling and any patient complaints. (turns to Weaver and hands her her letter) Dr. Weaver! Joint commission report is due. And I'd like a weekly census divided into surgery, pedes and medicine, I'd also like a daily list of all consults and their outcomes, you'll sit on the budget committee and handle all billing questions and insurance approvals.
KERRY: What do you do?
ROMANO: I supervise you. Delegation -- one of the eight hallmarks of effective leadership, or didn't you read that book? Well. If you need me, I'll be in surgery. (starts to head upstairs, then turns back for a last word, makes it sound like an after-thought) Oh, um... Hm... (prounces the word slowly) Bullethead. I'm offended. Aren't you, Dr. Greene? Deeply, deeply wounded. By your callous and uncaring remark. In fact, I might have to start an investigation and interview others who might have been hurt by your vacious invective in the past. Hm.
He moves off.
MARK: (wry) This is going to be fun.
Mark crumples the letter.