Original subtitles

[BRIGHT MUSIC PLAYING]

[NOA] Nursing isn't just a job.

It's science and soul

stitched together inside one very tired human being.

I should know.

My mom gave her whole life to it.

And somehow...

I followed her here.

It's kind of a Filipino thing.

You look back far enough, across oceans, across decades,

and you'll find us.

At the bedside...

In the chaos...

Holding the line when everything else gives out.

Because Filipinos?

We don't just care.

- We carry. - [MUSIC BECOMES MELANCHOLIC]

We carry our patients, their families, their stories.

[MELANCHOLIC MUSIC CONTINUES]

We carry the ones we couldn't save...

like, if we hold on tight enough, it might count.

- So, yeah. - [BRIGHT MUSIC PLAYING]

Out of all the places I could've ended up,

I said yes to being in charge of a ward

people don't even like to say out loud.

Ward 5.

Where the patients don't always check out...

and most people with good instincts transfer out.

Which probably says something about the ones who stay.

And some of the patients?

They never really leave.

Yeah, I definitely didn't think that through.

If you hadn't worked at that 99-cent store,

I wouldn't have missed my audition!

- Good morning, sir! - [OVERLAPPING CHATTER]

But, of course!

Hurry up! I don't want to get run over again!

- Oh, watch out! - [SHRIEKS]

[LAUGHS]

I hate you!

You thought you were going to die again.

- Have a great day! - [OVERLAPPING CHATTER]

You guessed it. [WHISPERS] I see dead people.

[WHISPERS] I see dead people.

[SPECTRAL WIND WHOOSHING]

It's nothing tragic.

I'm the only one I know who's had the third eye since...

[SCREAMING]

Oops!

Let's shove that back in the Do Not Open file.

Good vibes only.

Kidding!

[SIGHS DEEPLY]

Say good morning to the City of Angels.

And say hello to the newest

and most motivated nursing supervisor in LA.

Hey, hey! It's true, isn't it?

This ward is haunted, that's why nobody wants to work here?

Ghost? [CHUCKLES]

What ghost?

Oh, don't judge.

The proper medical term is therapeutic denial.

[GHOSTLY MOANING]

Did you hear that?

- No! - Yes, you did.

[EERIE HOWLING]

Oh! That's why.

What do you mean, "why"?

- [WOMAN ON TV] Surgically... - She's mad Grey's is fake news.

- He's a... - That's your medical opinion?

She?

Uh... Yes.

- Get Meredith now. - Almost let my secret slip.

Ghosts stick around for all kinds of reasons.

Unfinished business.

Guilt, love, hate...

The stronger the emotion, the more they can mess with you.

- [KENDALL] Dumb show! - [SLIMY SPLAT]

[VOICE TREMBLING] Where'd that come from?

[SCREAMING]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

[GRIM] I quit!

As if real hospitals aren't crawling with exotics.

[TWINKLING SFX]

Kendall, be nice to the newbies.

No!

[ROS] Oh yeah! [LAUGHS]

Called it. Hm!

Well, that's one way to clock out.

[ROS] There's another quitter!

[UPBEAT PERCUSSIVE MUSIC PLAYING]

[ELEVATOR CHIMES, DOORS OPEN]

Staffing's at fifty percent.

I need it at a hundred in four weeks.

And while you're at it,

get the nurses to stop blaming the turnover on dead people.

- We can't bill for ghosts. - [PHONE RINGING]

You're probably wondering why this beautiful,

happy, sane girl in front of you who happens to see ghosts

wants to work on a haunted floor.

Good morning!

With such charming staff.

[TRUMPET SQUAWKING SFX]

[WHEELS ROLLING]

Well, my beautiful, sometimes happy,

not-so-sane mother works here too.

And for Pinoy (Filipino) kids,

becoming a nurse is like the American wet dream.

And now that I'm a sup, we're prostatically orgasmic.

[UPBEAT PERCUSSIVE MUSIC PLAYING, THEN STOPS]

Are you sure you're ready for this year?

Taking care of people is a proud family tradition.

[PHONE CHIMES]

Excuse me.

[EXHALES SOFTLY]

[DOOR OPENS]

[PLAYFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

The hard part? Pretending we're not related.

Can't be having nepo vibes messing with my boss energy.

So, is it Filipino time, or diva time?

Some parents gamble, drink, do drugs,

but my mom's vice? Work.

Who are you talking to?

Oh, is that the ADHD thing they're posting about?

No one! And I'm 15 minutes early.

I'm always one hour early, because "Filipino time"

doesn't exactly come with perfect attendance.

Remember, if anyone asks, you don't know me.

Oh? Who are you fooling?

Mom, Reyes is like Gonzalez if you're Mexican...

- or Smith if you're white. - Whatever.

Mm.

So, how was the first week?

Well, I met everyone. They're great.

But is everyone always so...

[UPBEAT ELECTRONIC POP MUSIC PLAYING]

It's so great to meet you!

- What was your name again? - [GASPS]

You don't know me?

Well, then you don't deserve my welcome gift from my sponsor.

Where's my scrubs?

You don't even follow me on TikTok.

Ah, Camille, the old child star in the Philippines.

Oh, that's why she kept asking me for spring water.

But did you meet...

Are you buffering or just building suspense?

The hunk!

[UPBEAT PERCUSSIVE MUSIC PLAYING]

You had trouble sleeping again, huh?

Why do your eye bags look like scrotum?

Oh! I'm happy.

Leadership book says, focus on what you can change.

And this ward's got a rep. Bad morale. High turnover.

What bad morale?

[CHEWING]

Americans are so spoiled.

In the Philippines? You so much as sit down,

and you're already out of a job.

Back in the day, we only used a guava branch for circumcision,

did it on a basketball court, under the scorching sun.

With a machete!

Yeah, sure, Mom. A machete.

But let's not forget the elephant in the room.

Your anxiety pills totally look like this vitamin

- that I took in Ibiza. - [PANICKED BREATHING]

Except that one came with a DJ named Ramon

and a restraining order.

Jane gave me one month to turn this place around.

And I will.

I just gotta figure out how to get everyone

to work like, you know, normal people.

Just try to understand them, dear.

COVID, then monkeypox, Alpha, Delta, Omicron.

Just like your ex-boyfriends.

Different names but the same mess.

Especially the white one with herpes.

Ugh, for the last time!

It was a pimple! [EXHALES HEAVILY]

My point is, we need proper staffing

and the vibes can't be dead around here.

No offense.

There are people who really don't want to leave

even when their time's up.

You're right.

They need a day to let go and let loose.

In my sorority, whenever we were down, we'd throw a party.

Ah, like a super-spreader event?

I'm gonna lift everyone's spirits!

[GIGGLES]

You're a genius, mom!

[PLAYFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

[DOOR CLOSES]

And almost, finally, Mr. Binks in 501 claims ghosts are, quote,

"making his bedpans fly."

Super excited to make my special announcement.

So dumb.

Well, speaking of legends and liquids,

I once did a commercial with the Fernando Poe Jr.

That was the Gerber baby commercial!

Wait! You were a Gerber baby?

No. She was the belly.

It's like diarrhea. You just want to squeeze it out.

But the leadership books say, "Listen first."

If there's nobody else, I have a super exciting announcement

and you're all gonna love it.

- Oh! I love announcements. - Yeah.

Last time we got excited,

Channing Tatum pressed the wrong elevator button.

I wouldn't be caught dead being a patient here.

[DISCORDANT GUITAR STRUM]

I can't hold it in any longer!

Surprise!

Get ready to fiesta!

Cinco de Mayo on Filipino time?

Sorry.

Booked.

My 311,327 followers fight over who gets to invite me.

Cool, cool.

But I know the rest of you are holding it in.

I think you're great.

Look at Atzin. He's Mexican.

And he's not even excited.

Here's the potluck sign-up sheet.

Not everyone is signing up at once...

Yes.

Can we, like, go back to work now?

Yeah! Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I'll just leave it in the break room.

[GASPS]

[MARACAS RATTLING]

A true leader shakes solo.

Even though the rhythm's dead.

[PLAYFUL MUSIC PLAYING, THEN FADES]

[CUTLERY CLINKING]

I ain't paying you to play piñata party planner on my dime.

I'm on break.

[SPECTRAL WIND WHOOSHING]

[SIGHS SOFTLY]

[WATER POURING]

Why are you making that face?

This celebration...

is the morale boost that we need to fix retention.

Infection control plan first, parties later.

All set.

Updated SOPs, fall prevention, patient monitoring,

and team communication SOPs

to quell rumors about unseen guests.

As requested.

Doesn't make sense that they're only on the fifth floor.

They stick around for all kinds of unfinished things.

At least that's what I hear.

Okay, ghost whisperer.

And the SOPs look great.

Then again, I've known you long enough to never doubt you.

Thanks, boss.

- You're on a break, remember? - [CHUCKLES] Right.

Thanks, friend.

[CHUCKLES]

Do you ever think haters are going to think

that I'm getting preferential treatment?

Oh, please.

First Black D.O.N. here.

Haters come with the badge, baby.

[BOTH LAUGH]

Ugh. Tastes like death.

How are you holding up?

Uh, I love my job.

Sweetheart, I am not talking about the job.

Third year anniversary coming...

- [PHONE BUZZES] - Oh, boss.

Time's up! Back on the clock!

Let's shove that back in the Do Not Open file.

You really want to throw this party?

Five percent of nurses in the U.S. are Filipino.

Thirty percent of the nurses we lost

during the pandemic were Pinays (Filipinas).

Now we've got a whole floor full of them.

And if I've learned one thing,

you celebrate while you still can.

Well...

You have to convince your Pinays

to bring the lumpia because I can't foot that bill.

Then I better get back to work.

See you guys.

Oh.

Still nasty. Ugh!

[TESS] No one has signed up yet?

Just tell them you're my daughter and boom!

Instant potluck!

The nurses will even fight over who gets to bring the lumpia.

I have to do this one on my own, Mom.

The good book says, "people don't care how much you know

until they feel how much you care."

Go ahead.

Care harder.

Maybe even the ghosts will sign up.

[DANCE MUSIC PLAYING OVER PHONE]

[DOOR OPENS]

Camille!

I saw your video.

Total star quality.

And you even got to share the stage with, um...

Rustom Padilla?

[CHUCKLES] Bet you he's even hunkier now.

You know what?

I don't just sing.

I transcend.

Wow.

That's so... celestial of you.

Bring that to the party.

So, you are bringing a karaoke machine.

[QUIRKY MUSIC PLAYING]

[GRUNTS]

- [CAR TRUNK CLOSES] - [HUFFS]

Aah!

Good morning.

Poor girl.

She doesn't have a Magic Sing.

- Old tech! - [SIGHS]

This way, you'll know which pill is which.

Have you ever wondered how they make some pills

so round like this?

So, have you thought about what you're bringing

to the Cinco de Mayo party?

I can't.

We always did Cinco de Mayo right in Appleton.

Blindfold, stick, hitting things.

If I don't do that,

my body doesn't know that it's a holiday.

Your body?

Oh! [CHUCKLES]

A piñata!

No! Pin the tail on the donkey!

[CHUCKLES]

[MOUTHING] What...

[NOA EXHALES SHARPLY]

There is absolutely nowhere to hide this thing.

Try the trash can.

[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING]

[HUFFS]

[ALLURING MUSIC PLAYING]

- Oh! Holy crap! Are you okay? - Don't look! Don't look!

I don't want you to see all the decorations.

And why haven't you signed up yet?

Need to check my shift schedule?

Schedule's in my brain.

Rent free.

Here, let me.

Thanks.

You're working during lunch.

So are your abs.

Did I just say that out loud?

Two hundred and fifty dollars?

Does this come with a mariachi band?

The clearance rack seduced me.

You're really going all out for this.

It's for the team.

I just need help finding more secret stash zones.

I know the perfect place.

But you have to trust me.

[CHUCKLES]

So?

How's this for our little secret?

[CLEARS THROAT]

Crap.

I'm just going to go get changed.

- Mm-hmm. - [CHUCKLES AWKWARDLY]

I wasn't going to smoke!

- I wasn't going to... - Girl!

Please.

With those cakes.

She's tasting the rainbow.

[IN HUSHED VOICE] Can't taste the rainbow.

[QUIRKY MUSIC PLAYING]

Why am I suddenly craving Skittles?

[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]

Two more days!

Cinco de Mayo on the 7th.

I will see you there.

Hey! Cinco de Mayo on the 7th?

Have you signed up yet?

Aloha!

Cinco de Mayo on the 7th.

Okay, well, I have more flyers over there.

[CHUCKLES]

Even the walls don't care.

The ghosts are ignoring you, too.

- Oh, yeah? - Mm-hmm.

Then I'll have to be unignorable.

[TESS SIGHS]

[TRUMPET BLOWING]

Atzin. Atzin.

I bet you he was hired from the parking lot of Home Depot.

Dude, you're such a racist.

Gay bar, West Hollywood...

You're on. You're on.

[TRUMPET BLOWING CONTINUES]

[UPBEAT DANCE MUSIC PLAYING]

So, even though Ward Five is operating

at a deficit as far as staffing goes,

if you look at the Q4 figure...

[PARTY POPPER POPS]

[UPBEAT DANCE MUSIC PLAYING IN DISTANCE]

Excuse me, gentlemen.

[UPBEAT DANCE MUSIC CONTINUES]

Uh, since this is already tomorrow,

let's see who's bringing what.

I've got George for... a box of twinks?

- And Atzin... - She's here, she's here.

My office. Now!

Sit down.

Look, I asked DonDon to hire the mariachi band,

- Noa. - and I honestly thought that

it was going to be something so great for everybody.

- Noa. - And honestly,

this is all I've been waiting for.

Noa!

Jane, you don't get it.

You are on the clock!

Sorry, ma'am.

As your friend, I should have told you no.

As your boss, I have to.

The board's already circling.

What happened to haters come with the badge?

- They need this. - Not them, Noa. You.

But what you really need is a day off.

I've already spent eight months waiting for this--

To bereave!

One month.

The ward is gone.

And all those nurses you're so desperately trying to cheer up?

They're gone too.

Ugh!

[JANE SIGHS]

I shouldn't have asked you to do this.

You're not ready.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Sorry to interrupt. We've got a code.

[MIMICS EXPLOSION]

[OVERLAPPING CHATTER]

[WATER RUNNING]

We're sorry, Noa.

Yeah. Sorry.

[GLOOMY MUSIC PLAYING]

No, you're not.

None of you care.

[GLOOMY MUSIC CONTINUES]

You don't care.

Maybe if you did, people would want to work here.

With you.

Noa.

Why don't you take the rest of the day off?

I'm fine.

That wasn't a request.

You're off the clock.

[GLOOMY MUSIC CONTINUES]

Do you want to talk about it?

I said I don't want to talk about it.

That's what happens when you don't listen.

What are you going to do? Ground me?

You're acting like a spoiled brat!

[NOA SCOFFS] You work too much to spoil anyone!

Sorry, I'm a single mother.

I'm your personal chef, personal Uber driver,

psychiatrist, emotional support anim--

- [NOA GRUNTS - [SHOES SQUEAK]

[HUFFS]

Are you done?

No!

Okay, just tell me when you're ready for some motherly advice.

I mean, I've been doing this for over 30 years.

What do I know, right?

[HUFFS]

You know I have to keep this job.

[TESS SIGHS]

Just let it be for a day.

Maybe then you'll see what's missing.

Hey, it looks like the storage area won this round.

Do you need some ice?

Or would you like your dignity back?

[NOA SCOFFS]

[TESS GIGGLES]

[TESS SIGHS]

Ugh.

I can't even get the ghost to stop scaring the newbies.

[SIGHING DEEPLY]

They're not going to fire me, right?

Again, that's for another day, dear.

Let's just pray that you still have work tomorrow.

[SOFT MUSIC PLAYING]

[EXHALES LOUDLY]

[SIGHS DEEPLY]

[SIGHS]

[TUMBLER THUDS]

[SIGHS DEEPLY]

[SOFT THUD]

[SIGHS]

Good morning, friend.

[SIGHS]

Sorry, boss. I already clocked in.

You're fine. I'm supposed to be off today.

A-Are you firing me?

No, not yet.

But a month's probation stands.

Even friends have to follow the rules...

most of the time.

Where is everybody?

Come on.

The board might show up later.

Child, they watch everything.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

I... Um...

No one wanted Cinco de Mayo

because we already had something special planned

for your mom's death anniversary.

And to welcome you.

Your mom hated taking pictures, so that's the best we could do.

[CAMILLE] Your mom and I used to do TikTok dances together.

We were a perfect duo.

Sorry we lied through omission.

We also figured that's why you wanted to do something today.

- I'm sorry. - Oh?

Huh?

Just...

[TESS] Hi, dear.

[NOA BREATHES DEEPLY]

They know everything, Mom!

[SOBS] They know everything!

- Why wouldn't they? I-- - No! Stop!

Come on, Mommy Tess! Come on!

Guys, we push as much epi as we can!

- [PHONE BUZZING] - [EKG FLATLINES]

You're not doing it right! Move!

We're losing her!

- [EKG FLATLINES] - [PHONE BUZZING]

1O:46. Calling it.

There's nothing we can do.

[SOBBING]

[TESS] I'm sorry, dear.

But do I still need to pretend that I didn't die?

[MOROSE MUSIC PLAYING]

Therapeutic denial... Therapeutic denial...

Therapeutic denial...

Therapeutic denial...

[MOROSE MUSIC CONTINUES]

[NOA SOBS]

[CRYING] Please don't leave me, Mommy!

[NOA CHUCKLES RUEFULLY]

I don't have anybody else.

I'll have to leave you someday.

But not now.

You still need me.

[MOROSE MUSIC CONTINUES]

[KNOCKS ON DOOR]

[DOOR CREAKS OPEN]

Your mom wasn't joking.

Sorry?

She used to joke that you can see ghosts.

Can you really see ghosts?

Is she...

Is she here right now?

[WHIMPERS IN FEAR]

She said if I keep being an asshole,

she's going to tickle my feet when I'm asleep!

[TESS] Oh, even the Grim Reaper is afraid of her three toes.

Tess?

Tess, don't haunt me!

I swear, I'm going to be a good girl now.

She promises she won't.

Really?

[SIGHS IN RELIEF]

[INHALES DEEPLY] Okay.

Oh, by the way, can you...

tell your mom that she still owes me 20 bucks?

- Yeah. - Yeah?

[KNOCKS ON GLASS]

[DOOR CREAKS OPEN]

Everything good here?

Just a couple of minutes.

[WHISPERING] Twenty. Twenty!

[MOUTHING] Okay, I'll tell her.

- [TESS] Go on, dear. Join them. - [DOOR CREAKS CLOSE]

They need you there.

["THE DENIAL SONG" BY JADE RICCIO PLAYING]

[TESS] And don't forget you need them too.

They will feed you...

take care of you...

and love you as if you were their own blood.

They might look grumpy from time to time.

Sometimes, they seem crazy.

But they rely on you.

Even if they don't want to admit it.

["THE DENIAL SONG" CONTINUES]

[NOA] You're still here, Mom.

We got this.

[MUSIC FADES]

[GRIM MUSIC PLAYING]

[GRIM] The fifth ward's a hallway, Tess.

Not a home. You're loitering.

What do you need now?

You. Heaven's getting impatient.

Tell St. Peter I'm not yet due. I'm still working overtime.

Come with me,

or I'll make things very difficult for her.

I dare you to try. You'll face my wrath.

[EERIE MORPHING SOUNDS]

Then this is gonna be fun.

[MENACING LAUGHTER]

[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]