Original subtitles

Novak and Violet are ten minutes out.

I can take it.

Mm, I wonder why he's so eager.

Could it have something to do with a certain paramedic?

You want to go back to your place?

Sharon, you're overseeing the nursing program?

- Yeah, that's right. - My nephew, Colton.

I got in?

You went with another candidate.

Yes, but--

No, I understand your support behind someone who

would benefit from the same opportunities you were given.

You know, I'm not gonna dignify that statement

with a response.

Thank you.

Good morning.

This is a lot of hoopla

just to go kiss the ring of our majority owner.

Well, I'm hearing whispers

this meeting isn't just a formality.

Apparently, he's not happy with last year's profits.

Well, if they want to cut costs,

they can start by not chartering a jet

to Jackson Hole.

Yeah, well, maybe don't lead with that.

I could talk to Miranda,

see if we could go in with a unified plan.

I don't have time to explain your mistake to your boss.

I'm already late.

Looks like she's in a good mood.

I should probably go to work.

- Your feet aren't moving. - It's weird, right?

You're probably coming down with something.

You should call off work. - Mm, yeah, maybe.

Mm.

Sorry, can I help you?

- You look like a doctor. - Thanks. So do you.

Oh, I'm a med student. I'm looking for Dr. Charles.

I'm supposed to meet him in the ED,

but I keep getting turned around.

All right, yeah.

I'm actually headed in, so I could take you to him.

Want to pick this up later? - Yeah.

I will text you with takeout options.

Okay.

- She seems nice. - She's great.

Man, med students just keep getting younger every year.

They look like they're in high school.

- They're first-years. - First-years?

What are they doing here?

You, uh--you remember my friend Howie?

Of course. Yeah, I'm-- I'm sorry about his wife.

I know how close you were. - Yeah, well, thanks.

Um, anyway, Howie is on the faculty of the med school

at Porter University, right?

As you might know, there's a shortage

of mental-health workers in this country.

So Howie identified a few students

who were interested in psych.

He asked me to come talk to them.

Oh, but that wasn't good enough.

No, it wasn't, because I'm a lazy ass,

so I made 'em come to me.

Dr. Charles, this is, uh, Amira.

She's been looking for you.

Amira, what a pleasure to meet you.

I was just on the way to say hi to your friends.

Oh, they're not my friends.

I don't really have friends at school yet.

Oh, no? Well, um, who knows?

Maybe by the end of the day, that will have changed.

How are we doing?

Uh, not as good as you,

judging by that lipstick on your neck.

That explains why security keeps high-fiving me today.

Okay. Sorry.

Sorry, it's, uh, spam.

What were you, uh, saying?

Uh, just that it looks like it's getting hot and heavy

with you and Novak.

Yeah, it's definitely hot. Don't know about heavy.

She's not super into talking about personal stuff.

Thoughts?

What is it with these men wanting emotional intimacy?

Can you not just be happy

that you're having sex in a parking lot?

That's-- that's oddly specific.

- Treatment three. - Um--

If we have specific questions about procedures, is it okay--

Fire away anytime, Sabrina.

Yo, TikTok, what's up? Stay with me, Quentin, okay?

100%. I'm stoked, boss.

So do you use structure protocols for triage here?

Or are you more focused on rapid assessment

for better crisis intervention? - That's an excellent question.

Uh, should-- should we all be taking notes?

You know what? My only wish is,

at the end of the day, you guys have a much clearer idea

of what this specialty is about.

Somebody please help us!

Our son was shot! Please help him!

Let's give 'em some room.

Trauma 3 is open. It's over here.

What happened?

We were just walking to his speech therapy appointment.

One wound under the right collarbone,

second wound just below the tip of the scapula--

subclavian trajectory.

We were waiting at the light. There was two guys.

One pulled out a gun, and we just heard a loud pop.

Decreased biradial pulse. Let's get blood in the room.

- Copy. - Is he gonna be okay?

Billy! - Page Dr. Morgan.

You guys need to wait outside.

I promise we're gonna take good care of him, okay?

I'll get the cordis in. We need to intubate.

Let's call the blood bank and move MTP to the OR.

- Copy. - Billy.

They got him. He's gonna be okay.

2 grams of TXA, 1 gram of Ancef,

and let's get ready to X-ray. - On it.

Excuse me.

Hey, Kiana. I'm Dr. Frost.

I'm seeing here that you fainted today.

Yep, ate it walking to school,

and I've been all hammajang since I woke up.

I'm sorry. Hamma--hamma what?

It's Hawaiian Pidgin. It's like "out of sorts."

I'm Jean, Kiana's mom. - It's nice to meet you both.

All right, you're from Hawaii, huh?

Kauai. We moved to Chicago this past summer.

Yeah, we came because my mom is marrying Steve the Dentist.

Steve the Dentist-- why does that sound familiar?

Dude, his face is on, like, most of the city buses.

"Smiles for miles," right?

All right.

Can you look forward for me, Kiana?

We met when he was visiting Lihue

for a conference a couple years back.

Did the long-distance thing until he proposed.

Congratulations.

And now we're here freezing to death.

Can I see your hands for a moment, Kiana?

Are you feeling cold right now? - A little.

I've been achy since yesterday.

I thought it was because my period came on pretty aggro

this month. - Kiana.

And then earlier today,

I got a little lightheaded and woke up on the ground.

You know, I think I'm just allergic to the Midwest.

I'm gonna get some labs done

and then loop in OB/GYN, see if it is menstrual-related.

Uh, in the meantime, Nancy,

can we get a, uh, bag of warm saline and a heated blanket?

Yep.

How are you, Miranda?

I'm all right.

What's up?

I heard a rumor about this meeting.

More budget cuts?

I didn't come to argue.

I came because we should talk about it,

make sure we're protecting what's important.

I appreciate that offer, but why don't we just go in there

and see what's what first?

You know, it may be good to highlight

moves that cost Gaffney up front

but protect us in the long-term.

Hiring better staff, getting better equipment

means better outcomes, less lawsuits.

Dr. Hayes's lawsuits cost us a fortune.

So I was supposed to sweep that under the rug?

No, but I am getting tired

of your sanctimonious attitude, Sharon,

like you're somehow unimpeachable.

The moral center of this hospital--

I mean, you get to be that

because I make the hard choices.

I'm done with it.

Oh, I see.

I'm the budget cut, aren't I?

You're trying to get rid of me. - Look, as I said--

Damn!

Let's just talk at the meeting.

Okay, nothing abnormal.

I think that your period issues might just be regular cramps.

Safe to come in?

You may enter, Steve the Dentist.

Hey, you!

Hi.

Where are the girls?

I just dropped them off with their mom.

Thought it might be nice to have a little quiet

when Kiana comes home. - Oh, that's thoughtful.

It'll also allow me

to absolutely own you in "Super Smash Bros."

Oh, you think I'm gonna go easy on you 'cause you fainted?

Yeah, think again. I prey on the weak.

Oh.

Hey, can I borrow you for a second?

Yeah. We'll be back.

So the exam didn't suggest

any gynecological causes for Kiana's symptoms.

Well, we got her labs back.

Hemoglobin's 8.6. She's anemic.

Yeah, but what's causing it?

Well, her iron levels, folate, and B12

look all normal.

Though it did take them two times running the blood

because it was so thick.

Her hands were blue when she came in, right?

Yeah.

And she has never experienced anything like this

until she left Hawaii.

You think this might be CAD.

So she might actually be allergic to the Midwest?

What's CAD?

I heard some doctors talking about it.

Anybody know what they were referring to?

- Nope. - Cold agglutinin disease.

It's a rare autoimmune disorder.

Very good.

Uh, more specifically, it's when cold weather

triggers your immune system to attack red blood cells,

which, in turn, causes...

- Anemia. - Excellent.

Dr. Charles, two patients incoming--one in restraints.

Why restraints?

He attacked his brother with a large rocking pizza cutter.

Okay.

Maybe you guys hang back a bit on this one.

His guts are coming out of him!

His guts are coming out of him! - Enzo Pagliano.

You can't let him do this! You got to stop him!

Wait, where's the wound? I don't see a wound.

It's not blood. It's pizza sauce.

"Pizza sauce"?

They're opening a restaurant,

were in the middle of a tasting when he attacked.

Guy behind us is the one in real trouble.

Please don't let him do this! He's trying to cut me out!

5 of haloperidol IM.

Dante Pagliano, Enzo's brother.

- Trauma 2. - Tachycardic at 133.

Blood pressure's dropping, now 94 over 53.

Lower-abdominal injury--

unknown blood loss, eviscerated bowel.

On my count. One, two, three.

50 of fentanyl, and let's get some wet lap sponges.

Listen to me, please.

He's got an eviscerated small bowel

and lacerated mesentery.

We need to get him to an OR. - Right, I'll call up.

I brought it out.

You didn't do anything, Dante.

Your intestines are outside your body.

We need to get them back in.

No, no, my brother-- I brought a demon out of him.

You can't let him do this!

No! Let me go!

I spilled his guts!

Aah! Let me go!

Dante suffered an evisceration of his intestines,

which will require an exploratory laparotomy

and an abdominal-wall reconstruction.

As soon as we get an OR, we'll be moving him to surgery.

Don't you usually refer to patients by their last name?

What was that?

It's, uh, usually patient preference,

but given that they're brothers,

it's probably better to go with first names

because it'll be clearer. - Got it. Okay.

Did Dante have any other ideas

about why his brother might have had a psychotic break?

Just that he thought

he brought out the psychosis in him

and it was all his fault.

But he'd lost a lot of blood. - He also said it was a demon.

- Yeah. - Oh.

I've encouraged them to speak up and ask questions.

That's fun.

How's Enzo now?

Well, the haloperidol just kicked in,

so we're hoping to have a conversation with him

when he wakes up. - All right, keep me posted.

- Oh, excuse me, Dr. Lenox. - Oh, good, more questions.

Sorry, um, I was just wondering

if there was an update on the boy

with the gunshot wound from earlier?

Billy, I think.

Mm, he had a subclavian-artery injury.

He's in the ICU.

Oh, but is he gonna be okay?

I have a brother who's the same age.

If he makes it through the next few hours,

he'll have a chance.

So she's had this CAD her whole life?

She's just never been anywhere cold enough

to feel the effects. - But the good news is--

rituximab infusions four times

over the next month should resolve your symptoms.

- Like, forever? - Like, foreva, eva.

Spam again?

Yeah, just, uh, probably got put on some list.

Is my brother okay?

Could be in surgery a few more hours,

but as soon as we know anything,

we'll let you know. - Oh, God, I hurt him.

I hurt him.

Enzo, can you tell me

from your perspective what happened today?

That's the thing. I don't really know.

It doesn't really make any sense.

Well, how do you mean that?

Well, Dante and I were working on the menu,

and I started to get this suspicion.

And then it came on so strong, like he was trying to cheat me.

Had he done anything to make you think that?

No.

Dante? If you met him,

he's the most honest, gentle guy in the whole world.

He'd never do something like that.

Right.

But this morning, in that moment,

I was sure of it.

And it made me so angry.

Has this ever happened before?

Not like this exactly.

But, lately, yeah.

Sometimes I have these thoughts.

They don't feel like they're mine.

Huh.

Your brother seems to think

that he's responsible for this reaction.

Oh, yeah, well...

'cause a lot of times I have these thoughts,

it's when we're together.

And I don't know why.

He didn't do anything to provoke you?

This just--it just happened?

No.

I love my brother.

He's everything to me.

You got to save him, Doc. You can't let him die.

So, what, she was just gonna ambush you at this meeting?

Sounds like it.

Let me go talk to them, see if I can smooth things over.

They can't let personal issues from one board member

dictate a decision of this magnitude.

You know, actually, let me go over there.

Sharon, don't make things worse.

I'm good.

I don't have any interest

in going another round on this right now.

I don't either.

I just want to know if you're feeling okay.

I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?

You seem a little shaky.

I-- because I spilled a drink?

Miranda, your hand's still shaking.

Talk to me.

I'm just a little shaken up from this morning.

My driver got in a fender bender,

and I--I wasn't wearing my seat belt.

- Did you hit your head? - No.

But I did get thrown into the back

of the driver's seat pretty hard,

and my ribs feel a little sore,

and I'm sure the altitude is not helping my breathing.

So you feel out of breath?

Come.

I want you to lay down here.

Excuse us?

Peter, can you get rid of these pillows, please?

Really, you don't need to make a fuss.

I mean, the car wasn't even going that fast.

Yeah, well, slow-speed accidents

can be just as dangerous as high-speed ones.

Your heart rate's in the 120s.

- That's high. - Uh, excuse me.

Can you bring some blankets, please?

Of course.

I'm gonna need you to lay back

and take deep, slow breaths, okay?

Hey, please stop calling me.

You've been ignoring me all day.

I'm at work right now, so...

I know, I know, but I need to talk to you.

You've put on weight.

- What are you doing here, Mom? - I just want to talk.

We really don't have anything to talk about.

It's been 14 years. There's plenty to discuss.

Like, I don't know-- how you bankrupted me?

We were just trying to provide a better life

for everyone.

What do you want us to do, grovel?

That could be a start.

Look, we took the RV here, and there's a little

hole-in-the-wall restaurant near us.

Your father and I would like to see you.

Really? So where is he, then?

I--I'm sorry.

Hey, we have a situation. It's Kiana.

She was fine a minute ago.

125 milligrams SOLU-MEDROL, 50 of Benadryl.

What's going on?

She had an allergic reaction to the infusion.

She started hyperventilating and then lost consciousness.

I already gave her 0.3 epi.

Kiana? Hey!

- BP's 80/55. - Anaphylactic shock.

Okay, let's get ready to intubate.

One more dose of epi.

- Oh, my God, my baby! - Come on, Kiana, stay with us.

She's resting now, but she'll be okay.

So she has a rare disease,

then a rare allergic reaction to the medicine that cures it?

There is a second-line treatment.

It would resolve the symptoms,

but it would not cure the CAD like the rituximab.

It would also require infusions every other week.

But only during cold-weather months.

But if we went back to Hawaii, presumably,

she'd go back to being totally fine again?

Presumably.

Okay, CT clean, MRI clean.

So no trauma, nothing neuroplastic.

What's going on here? Wide lens, guys.

No bad ideas. Let's go. Quentin.

Uh... Let me think. I--

Oh, uh, maybe preexisting mental-health conditions.

- Yeah. - Bipolar, schizophrenia.

I like it,

except Enzo's been a stable, high-functioning executive

for a whole bunch of years

with, technically, no family history.

Oh, my God.

Folie à deux.

Huh?

Go on.

It's a phenomenon in which a dominant individual

with a psychotic disorder imposes their delusions

onto a close partner, inducing psychosis in someone

who otherwise would have no mental-health issues

of their own.

So what you're suggesting is that perhaps...

Dante's actually the sick one? - Yes.

And that Enzo, just by nature of standing

side by side with his brother for all those hours--

Enzo got pulled into his delusions.

Huh.

You're a first-year? - I read ahead.

Okay, well, honestly, that's a pretty impressive hypothesis.

I think that maybe we should be, uh, looking

into Dante's history.

What do you say?

Hey, uh, Kiana's waking up. She was looking...

Whoa. What's going on?

What's best for my daughter

is going to destroy my marriage...

not even my marriage, my impending marriage.

That's tough, but, I mean, how are you so sure?

Because Steve just told me.

I mean, he was lovely about it, and he adores Kiana,

but he doesn't want to do long distance anymore.

He doesn't want to move to Hawaii?

He would in a heartbeat, if he could,

but he has shared custody of his daughters,

and his ex lives here, so... - Yeah, it's a nonstarter.

I don't even blame him.

We did the whole long-distance thing for two years,

and it was so hard.

And it's four more till Kiana goes to college, so...

I just don't know.

You don't know what?

How many times have you been in love?

Yeah, that's, uh, hard to say.

Well, for me, it was zero.

That's crazy to say, but it's true.

Even Kiana's father--

I never felt that connection, that euphoria.

I came to terms with the fact that I was just...

broken.

But then I met Steve the Dentist.

And every awkward little edge of his

fit every awkward little edge of mine.

And for the first time,

I was totally and completely head over heels.

But what are the odds I'll ever find that again?

I just don't know if I can give that up.

Tough choice.

I can't decide if I want sweet or salty.

It's the age-old question, man.

Just came out here to check up on how you're doing.

You okay?

Me? I'm good.

Just, uh, got the feeling-- I don't know--

you're not that engaged

with what we're doing here today.

Oh, uh...

Like, I don't want to seem unappreciative.

I think what you're doing here is really cool.

It's just...

What?

I'm not really interested in ED psych.

Oh.

Figured that out already, did you?

I guess I just want a good work-life balance.

Both of my parents are immigrants.

They had to work--still do-- really hard.

And they pushed me

so I don't have to kill myself like they do.

I just think having a private practice is more my speed.

Quentin, diagnostics are diagnostics, right?

I mean, you're gonna run into this stuff

no matter where you end up.

I mean, what, you think because you got a cozy office setup,

your patients are just gonna walk in

and plop themselves down on the couch,

tell you what's wrong with them and how to fix it?

I'm not saying I don't want to do a good job, Doctor.

I--

Look, work-life balance is important.

I get it. Really, I do.

It's just that this field--

I don't know if you can really half-ass it.

You know, you really got to--

you got to get to know your patients.

You got to get in there so you can understand them,

see the world the way they do, right?

So you can understand their issues.

I mean, if you don't want to do that,

you don't want to put your whole soul into this,

you might want to reconsider.

Reconsider what?

Being a doctor.

Ms. Goodwin, it's Dr. Howard.

Can I help you with something? - I hope so.

I'm currently on a plane with a woman, a board member,

who seems to be in trouble. - What's going on?

Well, she was in a minor traffic accident

that caused some sort of thoracic trauma.

She didn't think much of it

until she started experiencing weakness.

- Any idea of her vitals? - Oh, yes.

There is an emergency medical kit up here.

Her breath sounds are good,

but her BP is only 84 over 42.

Oh, okay, um...

then it's not a pneumothorax or hemothorax.

Uh, take a look at her neck. Is the jugular vein distended?

Hold on.

Yes.

Okay, um, it sounds like pericardial tamponade.

She's bleeding into the sac around her heart.

How much time until you land?

Uh, 30 minutes, maybe more?

Oh, um...

Dr. Howard, what is it?

Ms. Goodwin, are there any surgical supplies

in that medical kit?

I've got lidocaine, some saline flushes,

and a few needles.

- What size needles? - 16 gauge and a 22.

Okay, good. You're going to use the 16

to remove the fluid built up around her heart.

You'll angle it at a 15-degree angle

just under the breastbone,

and you should push

until the tip punctures the pericardium.

Wait, how will I know when that happens?

Usually, we'd have an ultrasound to guide us,

but you're just gonna have to take it slow.

And you should feel a-- a soft pop when it goes in.

A soft pop.

And--and what if I miss or--or go too far?

You mean if you puncture the heart?

Dr. Howard, I don't know.

I don't feel comfortable going in blind like this.

- There is another option. - Yes?

But let me just start by saying,

it's not as scary as it sounds.

You want to cut me open?

It's a small incision,

just so I can see where to put the needle.

The needle you want to put in my heart?

Not in your heart, Miranda,

into the sac around your heart.

Have you done this before?

I've seen it done.

No way. We can wait. We can wait.

We can wait until we land.

Miranda, if we wait...

you're not going to make it.

Am I just gonna be awake for this?

Yes, but you shouldn't feel much, okay?

We have lidocaine that will numb the area,

and we also-- we also have these.

What is that? A weed gummy?

It is, provided by in-house counsel.

I don't--

I don't--I don't want to die.

Miranda...

I know we have had our issues,

but I think you also know that I mean what I say.

And I'm telling you,

I will do everything I can

to get you through this.

Okay.

Hey, where are your, uh, med-school ducklings?

- Lunch. - What?

How are you preparing them for life as a doctor

if you are letting them take a full lunch?

- Easing them in. - Except for that guy.

Quentin.

You can't talk to the patients without me there.

Sorry.

I--I was just thinking about what you were saying earlier

about connecting with patients,

seeing every angle of their condition.

Okay.

Well, um...

what did you learn?

Well, I--I know Sabrina has that theory

about shared psychosis, but when I talked to Enzo

about what he and his brother do together,

he said all they really do is work.

So I started to wonder if Dante being there

when Enzo had an episode was more a coincidence

rather than a cause.

Maybe it's the restaurant itself causing it.

So you're saying you think maybe it's environmental?

Maybe.

Now, I know it's a long shot,

but I remember reading somewhere

that celiac disease can cause psychosis.

It's certainly true that, uh, in rare cases, right,

that the inflammation can extend beyond the abdomen

and up into the brain, yep.

And it can come on later on in life, right?

Like, when you open a pizza restaurant with your brother,

and you're suddenly exposed to gluten in massive quantities.

I'm just saying, it would explain the--

the weight loss, the vitamin-deficiency issues--

And why it only happens when they're together.

Yeah.

Trini...

order a, uh, tissue transglutaminase test.

- Yeah? - Hell, yeah.

Get it back in an hour or so. We'll see what's what.

Nice work.

All right!

I'm gonna go grab lunch now.

Uh, Dr. Charles, I-- I'm sorry,

but you already asked us to test for celiac.

I sent you the results. They came back positive.

I know, but, like, why rain on the guy's parade?

He did good.

Yeah.

- Did you hear the good news? - Yeah, what's that?

We're going back to Hawaii. Peace out, Chi-town.

Wow, I--I didn't realize

you'd, uh, already made the decision.

Wasn't really a decision. It's what's best for Kiana.

Well, she's going to be transferred

to the PICU in a bit

just to observe overnight, but she should be out tomorrow.

Sounds good. Thank you.

Hey, can we get a place closer to Salt Pond Beach

or a place with a game room

so I can keep schooling Steve the Dentist?

Where is he, by the way?

Uh, he, uh, had to run out for work.

Poor guy.

He's gonna have to build up that base tan again.

On the other hand, maybe he'll finally learn how to surf.

Yeah.

Maybe.

That's pretty tight.

Well, we don't want any involuntary movement.

That gummy help? - I don't think so.

Uh, all right.

Can you feel that? - No.

Lidocaine's working. That's something.

Dr. Howard, I think we're ready.

Okay, good.

So you're gonna find the xiphoid process,

the very tip of the sternum.

About one finger width below that,

you'll make your incision--

8 centimeters or about 3 inches vertically.

Okay. Okay.

You might not want to watch this.

Oh, my God.

Okay.

I've made my incision.

Gauze. - Good.

Okay, now, you're gonna push the tissue laterally

until you find the heart

and the bulging sac around it filled with fluid.

Get closer.

I think I see it. - Good.

Her pulse is slowing down now.

I-it's okay. It's okay.

When we get that fluid out,

it'll take the strain off of the heart,

and that pulse is gonna come right back up.

Okay, what now?

Okay, you're gonna take your syringe

and push it through the pericardium.

When you start-- needle--penetrate--

Dr. Howard, the needle goes in

at 15 degrees, correct?

15 to 20 when it gets to the pericard--

Dr. Howard?

Dr. Howard?

- Oh, no, we lost service. - No, no, no, no, no.

- Do you know what to do? - Uh, I'm not sure.

Please, I--I can't breathe.

Oh, my God. I think she's dying!

Okay, st-- Okay.

We need to find another phone.

Everyone, stop talking!

Okay, go in

at a shallow angle,

and then as the...

needle penetrates

until you feel the pop.

I think...

I feel it.

Oh.

That's it. I mean, that's good, right?

Her pulse is coming back up.

So Dr. Lenox had to do

a pretty significant bowel resection

and then repair the initial laceration,

but it looks like Dante's gonna make a complete recovery.

Hard to imagine that Dante and Enzo's relationship

will recover that quickly.

You're probably right about that.

Ah. You're all still here.

Yeah, we're just finishing up our day.

Uh-huh. Well, I heard one of you

cracked the case with Enzo-- gluten-induced psychosis.

Yeah, undiagnosed celiac disease.

As long as he stays away from gluten,

he should be fine, right?

Sucks that they have a pizza place, though.

I mean, I've had gluten-free pizza, so that's an option,

but I feel like it's never as good, you know?

Oh, no, no!

That's the boy from this morning.

- Billy. - Wait. Is he--

Yes.

I thought you said he was gonna be okay.

I said he had a chance.

But the bleeding was too severe.

He was in DIC.

We couldn't get him to clot.

Yeah.

Unfortunately, subclavian injuries

are really tough to survive.

Please don't get up.

Jonathan Michael.

I didn't think you would come.

Neither did I.

What's the thing?

Excuse me?

The thing you want?

If it's money, I'm-- I'm on a resident's salary.

And if it's a place to live,

then, well, I'm sleeping at a friend's house.

We didn't come here to get anything from you.

You really think we're monsters, don't you?

I watched a mom today...

blow up her entire life...

for her kid

because she wanted to put her health first.

And then I watched that same mom...

put a smile on her face so...

her kid wouldn't feel bad.

- I don't understand. - I know you don't.

See? 'Cause, um...

well, I--I witness things like that

every day in my hospital--

you know, parents that go to the end of the Earth

to protect their kids, no matter what.

And, I mean...

you two...

I'm just gonna ask again.

What do you want?

- We just want to see-- - I'm sick.

Secondary progressive MS.

How long have you known?

A while, maybe six months.

That's why we're here.

We want to reconnect with our son.

- No. - No what?

No, I'm not doing this

With you right now.

Okay, I--

Mm.

Listen, great job today.

- Yeah, thanks. - No, no, I mean it.

I mean, that, um--that "folie à deux" idea you had

about Enzo...

That was a spectacular guess.

Look, it might not have been the right one,

but trust me, that kind of creativity,

you know, lateral thinking is really important

in this line of work, so...

It's not that, though.

I think I'm just kind of rethinking things.

Huh.

I don't know if this is for me.

Oh, how so?

I didn't know it would affect me so much.

I mean, even with Dante and Enzo,

even though that worked out, there was still so much...

It just got to me. I don't know.

There's a cost

to having a job with meaning, right?

I mean, we experience these...

Brutal...

moments here, like...

true despair.

But trust me, there are also these moments of euphoria,

of, like, extraordinary fulfillment,

because we change people's lives here.

And if we're lucky, we actually save them.

So, for me, anyway, I mean, over time,

the benefits definitely come to outweigh the costs.

I know it might not feel like it right now,

but if you are feeling things deeply,

as far as I'm concerned,

it just means that, you know, you're doing it right.

Yeah... maybe.

I-I just think that--

I don't know.

Maybe I like the puzzle piece and not all the pain.

Yeah, maybe I'll go into research.

I don't know.

Anyway.

Thank you anyway, Dr. Charles.

Oh, thanks for coming. Thanks.

You guys taking off?

- Oh, yeah. - Yeah.

Look, today was, uh...

it was a lot, right?

Really glad you got to see what we--we actually do here.

But, you know, just for the record,

it was just extra intense, you know?

I just hope it wasn't-- I don't know--discouraging.

Dr. Charles, today was the greatest day of my life.

Really?

Well, my life's pretty boring,

but, yeah...

Really.

Yeah, it was pretty dope. Thank you.

You're welcome.

Thank you. Yeah, thanks for coming.

- See you around. - See ya.

Huh.

Come in.

Hey. - Hi.

- How's Miranda? - Good.

We were able to repair the laceration in her atrium

without issue. - Great.

You know, all those years of watching surgery,

assisting, I never really understood

the impact of that moment,

of holding the knife and--

and cutting into someone.

Yeah.

My first surgery was a foot amputation.

I was so nervous, I thought I was gonna puke.

But my attending talked me through it, and I got it done.

Later, she got me a bracelet

that had a little charm of a foot.

She said it should be a reminder--

even though these miraculous things we do

have somehow become commonplace,

we shouldn't ever forget they're extraordinary.

Yeah.

"I heart Chicago."

Yeah, because of what you did with Miranda's heart.

- Yeah, yeah, yeah. - I'm sorry.

It's the best that I could do on short notice.

But, anyway, um, welcome to the club.

- Thank you. - Mm-hmm.

So what did you say?

I said no.

And, um...

I mean, it--it hurts more than I want to admit.

But it doesn't just erase

how my dad has treated me my whole life.

I--I wish I could just move past it, you know?

But I can't.

And...

it makes me feel like a bad person.

I'm sorry. I know...

this is not the, uh, conversations we usually have.

And...

I mean, well, you ordered takeout

from just about every restaurant in Chicago.

Well, you didn't answer my texts,

so I--I got a little bit of everything.

Now I'm ruining it.

No, you're not. Hey.

Trust me, I would never judge

someone in a situation like this,

let alone tell them what to do.

I will just say, no matter how you are feeling right now,

someday your parents will be gone.

And whenever that happens, however you leave things...

That's how it will stay...

forever.

Sounds like you're speaking from personal experience.

We're talking about you here, pal.

I know, but...

we don't always have to just be on me.

Except I like being on you.

That's not what I meant.

Doesn't make it any less true.

Good talk. - Great talk.