Original subtitles

SIREN BLARES

Alright. You okay? I can't feel anything in my legs.

Does that hurt? No. No, I can't feel it.

Alright. Hold onto me, okay? Yep, alright.

I got you. Hold on. Am I hurting you? No.

Help us, please! Somebody help us! She can't move her legs!

JACK: Tell me her story, Cate.

Incoming abdo trauma. Blunt crush injury.

42-year-old male, David Hegarty.

Hegarty, yeah. Hi, Dave. How you going?

I was kind of hoping you wouldn't remember me.

JACK: You're pretty hard to forget, Dave.

Torso was reversed over by a boat trailer.

DAVE: It wasn't my fault.

Somebody help, please! She can't move her legs! Please!

DAN: It's okay. Hold on. Help us, please, somebody!

GABRIELLE: I'll get a wheelchair.

Help us! Okay, take it easy.

Here you go.

She needs a doctor!

We'll get her one.

We'll take her through.

If you'd wait here, we'll take care of her.

I want him to come with me. He can stay.

Now, sweetheart, tell us your name. Rochelle. Her name's Rochelle.

BREE: He wanted to be taken to St Angela's -

something about you guys thinking he was an idiot?

Dave, We don't think that.

I do have to ask - how did you get run over by a boat trailer?

I've been playing it totally by the book, I have.

I've been taking it easy, like you said...

..and the time before that.

This is Dave's third visit to us, isn't it, Dave?

I'll need his old records urgently. Yep.

Another breath for me, Dave. (inhales)

You don't believe me, do you?

I swear, I've been doing all the right things.

I even got a bloke to help on the oyster farm.

How did you get run over?

I checked the boat's prop before we put it in the water

and the young bloke didn't realise.

He backed straight over me.

Tell me his story, Jack.

More doctors? This is bad, isn't it? It's bad.

No, no. This is just Mike Vlasek, and he loves a grand entrance.

She's right. There's never an excuse for mediocrity, is there?

Dave had hernia surgery a couple of months ago, then complications,

a dehyst wound and severe peritonitis.

Yes, because you jumped in the water to check your oyster trays,

didn't you - a day after surgery.

I couldn't ask the wife to do it. She can't stand the smell.

Vitals?

Ahh!

Yeah, BP's 110/90, resps are 20 and heart rate's at 120.

Pelvis appears intact and femoral pulses are strong.

There's obvious soft-tissue damage of the flank and umbilicus areas.

Medical records are on their way.

Well, Jack, what are we going to do?

Full set of trauma series, abdo CT, ultrasound

and then we better get the FAST in here.

SEAN: Keep her head nice and still, Dan.

That's it.

Rochelle, I need you to tell me if you feel any pain or tenderness

as I press down your spine, okay?

Nick, I'm scared.

NICK: I'm right here, baby. It's okay.

Come around here so she can see you.

How's that?

Yeah, it's alright. It's not hurting.

What about now? Any pain?

No.

But I can hardly feel my legs. I think they're getting worse.

Can't you give her something? She's really scared.

Nick, just let the doctor finish his examination.

ERICA: This will be over soon.

Alright. Okay. I'm sorry. Just...just please help her.

Just try and take some nice, deep breaths, Rochelle.

That's the way.

How's that?

Fine.

Still okay?

You've stopped.

What about now - can you feel that?

No.

Okay. Let's roll her back.

Okay, on my count - one, two, three.

So, what the hell's going on? Nick, why don't you come with me?

Where are you going?

Nowhere, Shelley, nowhere. I'm right here.

I just need to get some background information, please.

It's okay, Nick. She's in really good hands.

I won't be long, okay?

What's wrong with me?

I'm not sure yet.

But I promise you we're going to find out.

Did you notice anything strange or different about her last night?

She was sore from training.

Soaked in a bath, had some some pain-killers and went to bed.

I didn't think anything of it.

Has she been sick lately?

No.

No back pain? No sports injuries?

No, okay? She's fantastic. She's happy.

She's always out doing stuff.

Hasn't missed a game of netball all season.

Okay, um, Nick, are there any medical conditions

that we should know about?

What? Look, how many different ways do you want me to tell you, okay?

Shel's perfect. Nothing like this has ever happened.

I don't know why you can't...

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

It's alright. I understand you're worried.

Do you want to tell me about this morning?

Ah, um...

..the alarm went off as usual

and Shel did her trick of hitting the snooze button

while I went and had a shower.

I came to wake her up and she wouldn't get up.

I just thought she was mucking around

so I started, you know, flicking her with her towel.

She started crying and she said she couldn't move her legs.

So, I picked her up and I carried her to the car

and I just drove here like an absolute maniac.

I should have called an ambulance, shouldn't I?

Oh, my God. Did I make it worse?

No. Nick, look, we don't know anything yet, okay.

Why don't you go and get a coffee

and I'll chase up Rochelle's medical records, huh?

I know her GP if that helps.

It does. Come with me.

MIKE: Okay, Dave. What exactly is your history going to tell us?

That I'm a drop-kick.

You've just had a run of bad luck.

Makes pretty gruesome reading, old buddy.

We're lucky you're still with us. Ow.

That extra pain relief should kick in pretty soon.

Just moving the transducer midline,

just superior to symphysis pubis.

Yeah. There's evidence of free fluid.

It's not much, but it's there.

That said, he is haemodynamically stable.

Haemo... What is that? That's bad, isn't it?

Jack's trying to tell you not to panic.

Why didn't he just say that?

He's a bit of a smart-arse. Pot, kettle.

Nurse, repeat obs, please. Now, if you wouldn't mind.

GABRIELLE: I'll have to organise some one-on-one time

to get to know the team better.

Sounds good.

G'day, Frank. Gab. Von.

So, I'll start with Dan, move on to Erica.

Cate seems more confident with where she's going, than the rest of them,

so I'll get on to her later.

They're all very competent. Oh, it's not just about competency.

I'm interested in what they want in terms of career trajectories.

I think young nurses need to be really strategic

if they want to avoid burn-out, job dissatisfaction.

Frank, scones in the Common Room.

Ooh. Homemade. Help yourself.

"Career trajectories" - what will they come up with next?

At least she's got her head screwed on straight.

'Cause she brought in scones?

No, because she's leaving you out of her

"What can I do to make you feel all warm and fuzzy?" sessions,

that's why.

Bloody waste of time, if you ask me.

I didn't ask you, Frank.

I hope there's jam.

Here we go. I told you she hadn't been kidnapped.

NICK: How are you, baby?

I'm okay. I'm a bit worried about you, though.

You've got that presentation this afternoon.

I'll call and cancel.

If you have to go, I totally understand.

It's no biggie.

I just wish they'd hurry up and work out what's wrong.

Um...actually, they know.

They just don't know how to tell you.

It's shagger's back.

Nick!

You'll be fine, baby. You probably just pinched something.

What are we looking at?

Girl in acute.

She's got high signal in the thoracic and lumbar regions,

swelling on the cord.

It's completely consistent with transverse myelitis.

Hmm. Well, you'll have to do a lumbar puncture to confirm it.

Yeah, I started her on steroids

but they're unlikely to make much of a difference.

What are you gonna tell her?

I'm going speak with Oscar Wu first. Maybe he'll know something I don't.

He's not going to tell you anything you don't already know, Sean.

She's right. No use delaying it.

Got a 22-year-old who might never walk again.

So, if you don't mind, I'll do it my way.

Your way?

I'm not gonna freeze again, if that's what you're talking about.

Well, for her sake, I hope not.

Hey, Nick and Rochelle are a bit freaked out by the lumbar puncture.

They're asking when we'll have the results back.

Let them know it won't be long.

Do we know what's going on?

Hi, Oz.

Yeah, the LP showed monocytes and an increased protein content.

No, there's no history of viral activity or bacterial infection.

ERICA: Who's he talking to?

Oscar Wu, head of neurosurgery.

Why? The neurologist has already seen Rochelle.

I know, but Sean's obviously in one of his

"The nurses don't need to know what's going on" moods.

I realise that, Oz. She's only 22 years old.

Yeah. Thanks, mate.

So, what's going on?

Not now, Dan.

I'm so sick of playing catch-up with him on patients.

He does this all the time.

Yeah, I know.

It'd help if I had a heads-up of his thoughts.

Maybe I could offer up a thought myself.

Stranger things have happened.

NICK: Have you got any answers?

I do.

I, uh...I do, but first things first.

Let's get rid of all this hardware and make you a bit more comfortable.

DAN: I'll just take these away, Rochelle.

There we go.

And we don't need these either.

Let's just loosen this tubing for you.

There you go. How's that?

Gently, Dan, that's the way.

How's that?

Much better. Thanks.

No neck brace - that's a good sign.

So, what's happening to me?

Your results show

you've got something called acute transverse myelitis.

What the hell's that?

It's an inflammatory disorder that causes swelling in the spinal cord.

And that's why I can't move my legs? Mm-hm.

The swelling damages nerve fibres, so information from your brain

stops getting through to the rest of your body.

What do you do for it?

Well, the medication we've started you on

is to help reduce the inflammation.

We can give you pain relief if you need it.

And apart from that, it's bed rest for the next few weeks.

And then I'll get better, right?

Some patients do make a full recovery, yeah.

"Some patients"? How many exactly?

About a third.

And the rest?

What happens to the rest?

Well, another third are left with some deficits...

..spastic gait, sensory alteration, bowel and bladder dysfunction.

And the remaining third make no recovery at all.

They stay paralysed?

Yeah.

But it could be up to 12 weeks

before we can determine exactly what will happen in this case.

What about other medication or an operation or something?

Transverse myelitis has no cure, Nick.

Nick...

Yeah, I've just got to... You okay?

I need some fresh air. Nick, come back!

It's okay, Rochelle. It's alright.

Are you okay here? Now I know what's going on, yeah.

It's okay, Rochelle. Just lie back, okay?

NICK: I shouldn't have moved her.

I should have just called a bloody ambulance.

It isn't a spinal injury, Nick.

Moving her made no difference whatsoever. You didn't cause this.

Yeah? Then, what did?

Honestly, we may never know.

Sometimes it can be triggered by a virus.

Okay, so she got a disease that paralyses people

and you're telling me you don't know how she got it?

This is all just too much. I can't...

You're looking at the worst-case scenario.

It makes sense to be prepared for that,

but you should take things one step at a time.

Look, we know this is scary for you, but put yourself in her place.

MIKE: Put an NG tube in, please.

I'm just going to chase up your results

to see if you need surgery.

It'd be really, really good if I didn't.

Oh, come on. One more scar to add to your repertoire.

Apparently women love them. Don't they, Cate?

Not my woman, mate.

Not unless she's the one who put them there.

If my wife finds out, I'm dead meat. I'm serious.

Well, she's going to want to know you've been hurt.

Look, do you have any idea how hard it is

to make a go of oyster farming?

We've got health inspectors

breathing down our necks all the time.

I got kids in school. She's relying on me.

All the more reason to tell her.

No. No. She already thinks I'm an idiot.

If you want to know the truth, I am. I always have been.

Oh, come on. It was an accident.

It was no-one's fault, Dave.

That's fine for you people to say

but, look - just get me out of here, alright?

Just fix me up, get me out and she doesn't need to know anything.

You won't be getting up and walking out of here this afternoon.

You don't know that. I've just done the scans.

Trust us, you get a feel for this.

I can't have another operation. I'm serious. I can't do it.

Dave, if you need surgery, you need it. There won't be a choice.

We might be able to do it via keyhole.

That's a little camera and a couple of stitches.

You won't even know we've been there. Okay?

Okay. Lumbar site looks fine.

I'm just going to rub some cream into your back.

This could be the rest of my life, couldn't it?

You don't know that yet.

Yeah, it's early days, Rochelle.

Do you think Nick's alright?

Yeah, yeah. He'll be fine.

He probably just didn't want you to see him get upset.

You know what guys are like -

we're hopeless when it comes to showing our feelings.

He is pretty sensitive.

How long have you two been together?

Almost a year.

Okay. I'm just going to roll you onto your back again.

There you go. Comfy?

On our first date I told him I liked animals.

And then for our six-month anniversary

he organised a behind-the-scenes tour of the zoo.

That's impressive.

Should start taking notes.

Needless to say, my mum thinks he's the catch of the century.

She thinks we should get married immediately.

I'm starting to agree with her.

I wonder where he is.

Hey, he'll be back. Just give him a bit of time, okay?

JACK: This is a complete mess.

Perforations of the bowel and colon,

tears in the surrounding organs and tissues,

ruptured viscera.

Looks like bleeding vessels here and here.

Let's open him up and sort it out.

Well, we definitely can't avoid surgery, I agree,

but considering his history, the less invasive the better.

Jack, this isn't the time

to get conservative about our surgical options.

The man's got a bellyful of blood. Hey, hang on!

He's had two major abdominal surgeries already,

one of which resulted in wound breakdown.

That's irrelevant. No, it's not.

He'd be at risk of adhesions and paralytic ileus,

both of which would compromise his post-op healing.

Acceptable risk, given the nature of his injuries.

Mike, wait.

Why don't we go in with a laparoscope -

see what we're facing before we opt for major abdominal surgery?

I'm going to organise a theatre.

You'll go and tell the patient that he requires a full laparotomy.

He's not gonna want to hear that.

I'm sure you'll be very persuasive.

JACK: Dave, how you doing?

NG tube's in, but it's positive for blood.

I don't feel good.

What's his pressure? 100/50. Pulse is 120.

Okay, Dave, this is how it's gonna be.

We have to get you to Theatre now. No. No, please...

You're bleeding internally and it's getting worse.

But you promised - no operation.

It has to be done. Sorry, Dave.

I don't want to go. Dave, you have to let us help you.

My wife's going to kill me.

If we don't get you to theatre, your injury will kill you.

Fine, fine. Just do it.

I'll consent him up there, Cate.

I'll get the forms.

Jack.

Could you ring the missus, please? Tell her what happened.

Are you okay?

Yep.

How you doing?

Good.

You must be starving. You haven't had any brekky.

Do you want me to get you some food? No, I'm not hungry.

Did you get onto work to let them know you wouldn't be in?

Yep. All taken care of.

That's good. Yeah.

What's that smell?

I don't know.

If you could just give us a minute, Nick.

Oh, Jesus Christ. Why, what's happened?

What's wrong? Little accident, that's all.

Oh, my God! Rochelle...

Get away from me!

Don't worry, it's no big deal. No big deal? How can you say that?

Just get out! Rochelle...

Get out! Both of you, get out! Get out! Get out!

I mean it! Get away from me! Get out!

Hey. How's it going?

Rochelle just soiled herself in front of her boyfriend.

She completely freaked out

and there I was babbling on about how it's no big deal.

Okay, so you said the wrong thing.

Just give her some time to calm down.

What were you thinking?

I guess I wasn't.

How many soiled beds have you changed in your career, Dan?

What? 50, 100?

What's that got to do with anything?

Compare that to the times you've shit yourself in front of your lover

and then explain to me

how patting Rochelle's arm and telling her it was no big deal

is going to help.

I made a mistake, Sean, I realise that. I'm not an idiot.

I need a new set of neuro obs. Can you do that for me, please?

Screw this.

ERICA: Dan, don't!

Hey, wait! I don't have time.

You've got time for this.

You know, you carry on sometimes

like you're being forced to work with, like, a kindergarten class.

Do you know that?

Well, here's a newsflash, Dr Everleigh,

you are not the only intelligent human being in this hospital, okay?

We all have university degrees

and I even know how to spell my own name.

Can you spell "nurse", Dan? What about "doctor"?

Oh, you arrogant prick.

I don't have time for this.

Look, I'm not disputing that you're a damn good doctor, okay,

but we're damn good nurses as well.

Why don't you drop this stupid

"Guess what the doctor is thinking" game

that you love playing so much

and just work with us.

Finished?

Did you listen to anything that I just said?

I heard you perfectly.

The truth is, I'm not required to listen to your opinions.

In fact, I'd argue it's the other way around.

So, why don't you make yourself useful?

Check your job description.

I guess I take Dan, you handle Sean.

FRANK: Why did you transfer from Neurosurgery to the ED?

We've been through this. I like the place, I like the variety.

And the people? Sure, I like the people.

Glad to hear it.

Is this a "walk" walk, or are we just passing the time of day?

'Cause if we are, I've got a patient that's...

The point is,

that, as unbelievably brilliant a physician as you think you are,

we didn't exactly headhunt you, did we?

No. I requested the transfer.

Right.

So, given how much you wanted to work with us,

I was wondering why Dan,

whom to my knowledge has never even raised his voice before,

was tearing strips off you in the corridor.

Apparently my communication skills aren't up to scratch.

A flaw which will be remedied in the very near future, I hope.

I am who I am, Frank.

Ah.

I like to think things through before I shoot my mouth off.

And keeping your ideas to yourself

until you're absolutely certain that they're right

means that you're never wrong.

Isn't that how it works?

Frank... Just shut up and listen!

Either you start trusting those nurses in there

and working with them as a team

or you can kiss your job goodbye.

Have you got it?

Good.

And just so we're crystal clear,

I'm not telling you this to make your life any easier - it won't,

because they will challenge and question you

at any given opportunity.

But they know what they're talking about.

Don't tell them I said that.

Sorry to keep you waiting, Dan.

Okay. Don't worry about it.

Better out than in, right?

Am I in trouble?

Why? What have you done?

It's just that in my experience,

trips to the NUM's office always end in tears,

and, well, they're usually mine.

That's what the tissues are for.

Oh, God, relax. Am I really that terrifying?

No.

Good.

I caught your lecture to Dr Everleigh,

thought we should have a bit of a chinwag about it, that's all.

Look, I know I was probably out of line,

but he didn't fill me in on the diagnosis of a patient,

even though I'd asked.

Then he decides to lecture me on something that I said, you know?

The guy just drives me nuts sometimes. He's...

You think you're that good a nurse?

Excuse me?

Well, I've been through your personnel file.

You've had surgical experience,

but you haven't put your hand up for any advanced skills packages

and you're not on the Medical Response Unit roster.

Why's that? Ah...

I think it's because you underestimate yourself.

I happen to have a very high opinion of myself - just ask anyone.

Nice try, Dan, but it's bulldust and you know it.

By underestimating yourself

you invite everyone else to underestimate you, too.

So, this is what we're going to do.

You think about where you want to be in five years.

Then you and I,

we're going to sit down and work out how you're going to get there, right?

That's it, Dan.

Oh.

You know, I am a good nurse.

I know.

Thanks.

MIKE: Somebody adjust that light for me, please.

Thank you.

You're very quiet, Jack. You want some music?

Not really.

Still pissed off with me about the plan of attack here?

No.

Just if we're going to go this far,

I don't understand why you don't go for a full resection.

Because surgery is 80% skill,

15% arrogance and 5% creative thinking.

Suction.

You think you're going to be able to oversew these tears?

A little retraction wouldn't go astray, if you wouldn't mind.

It's just that

there doesn't seem to be that much viable tissue there.

It might be simpler to resect rather than...

Simpler isn't always better.

Any other surgeon... I'm not any other surgeon.

Nick.

Are you okay?

Was that normal? I mean, Shel's accident?

Yeah, it was.

When you lose feeling below your waist

sometimes it's hard to tell if you've got a full bowel or bladder.

Look, mate.

I know this is hard to get your head around...

How the hell would you know?

Because my brother's in a wheelchair.

Does he have what Shel has?

No, he has a spinal injury,

so there's absolutely no chance of him walking again.

But Rochelle has a chance.

Um...does your brother have a partner?

Yeah. They've been together for about three years now.

Does...

They have a healthy sex life, if that's what you were asking.

Yeah.

He tends to boast about it when he's got a few beers in him.

But, you know, you don't have to think about any of that just yet.

I can't help it. I am thinking about it.

No matter what happens with you guys,

you can still have a very healthy sexual relationship.

It'll be different, I won't lie to you.

But if she can't feel anything down there, then what's the point?

You're getting ahead of yourself.

Please, can you answer the question?

Well...people with disabilities still have sexual feelings, okay?

They still experience physical pleasure.

But there's more to love than just sex, right?

Tell me, if you were in my shoes right now,

would that make it any easier for you?

All the ifs and buts and maybes. I mean, would it honestly help?

Depends upon how much I loved her.

I'll see you back inside, Nick.

CRASH!

DAN: Hey!

Rochelle, are you okay? What were you trying to do?

I have to know. I can't wait three months.

I can't stand not knowing if I'll ever walk again.

It's okay. Come on.

Thrown the toys out of the cot, have we, Dr Quade?

No, Dr Vlasek.

Just wondering why you're not videoing this procedure.

It's a straightforward perforation and tear.

It's a huge perforation and tear,

and there's no guarantee the oversewing is even going to take.

If we resect now,

we are guaranteeing him a successful result.

We'd also be guaranteeing him a colostomy for the rest of his life.

We don't know that.

You're the one who's always going on about his previous surgeries.

This man's walking scar tissue.

We put a colostomy in now, it's there for good. Trust me.

I'm just saying that if... You need to get out of here.

I beg your pardon? You heard me. Get out.

Mike...

I don't want anyone in here

who doesn't have this patient's best interests at heart.

So, you need to leave. Now.

You can't just kick me out of here.

Let's have some music, shall we?

ROCK MUSIC PLAYS

Suction.

FRANK: Jack.

What, no wide-eyed wonder

at what the glorious Mike Vlasek has achieved in surgery today?

Is the sheen finally wearing off?

He kicked me out.

Lovers' tiff? Oh, drop it, Frank.

I was arguing for a more conservative approach, that's all,

and he starts carrying on about me being negative.

You know what? Just screw it.

Maybe he was right. What?

Maybe he was right.

Are you saying Mike Vlasek was right?

Surgeons are arrogant because they have to be.

That's how they save lives, Jacky boy.

I would have kicked you out myself.

What's going on there?

Rochelle tried to get out of bed and she collapsed.

But it's okay - Dan's taking care of her.

Charlotte, do you ever doubt that I trust you?

What do you mean? I just want to know.

No, I don't. But you do tend to run your own race, Sean.

What does that mean?

Well, you don't share very easily, that's all.

How is she?

No change in her neuro obs.

She wants to be left alone for a while,

and she'd like us to contact her parents.

I'll do that. Where's Nick?

He's outside. He's struggling.

CATE: What are we talking about?

Girl in Acute, Rochelle Coonan, has transverse myelitis.

Boyfriend's just trying to get his head around it, that's all.

Do you think he's going to bail on her?

(exhales) What?

Oh, it's just typical, that's all - men bail, and women stay.

That's a pretty big generalisation, Cate.

It's true. Check the statistics.

CHARLOTTE: Well, I wouldn't give my partner the option.

Can't exactly make someone stay if they don't want to, Charlotte.

No, I wouldn't want them to stay. Uh-uh.

Right. So if this happened to you, you'd tell Spence to bugger off?

Yeah, I would. I wouldn't want to put him through that.

And if Spence was ill and he wanted you to leave,

you'd be happy to walk away?

Wouldn't worry you?

Yes, it'd worry me. I'd hate it.

If it was my girlfriend, I'd stay. That's it. End of conversation.

If I was in trouble, I'd ask for help.

There you go. It's not rocket science.

For your information, your mate Dave's settled in ICU.

He's haemodynamically stable. Post-op bloods are all fine.

That's good. I'll make sure the Pathology requests are done.

Done it.

You've got a lot of potential, Jack,

and almost enough arrogance to make a very good doctor.

Pretty much what Frank said.

Actually, he said he would've kicked me out too.

(scoffs) Wait a minute,

this is Frank Campion we're talking about -

he agreed with me?

Yep, he did.

So, anyway, I've learnt my lesson and I won't question you again.

Oh, great. That's great.

Then you really will be a waste of my bloody time.

Jack, I don't know what your previous mentors or gurus have taught you.

I don't care.

The thing is, we're not gods, any of us.

We don't have all the answers. Half the time we don't even agree.

But there's one thing we've got to do.

We've got to have courage, the courage to back ourselves,

and sometimes that means taking a little risk.

Okay.

Well, what's the difference between taking a calculated risk

and being a cowboy, Mike?

Where do you draw the line?

That's just it. There is no line.

At least, it's hard to find.

You sure won't find it from inside that little comfort zone of yours.

It's not enough to have talent. You've got that in spades.

You've got to have courage.

And if you want to make yourself a better surgeon,

you find that courage or you find the door.

It's that simple.

Von. What are you doing here? You're not on duty till tomorrow.

I know that. This can't wait.

I'd offer you a scone, but Frank scoffed the lot.

That's Frank for you.

Is everything alright?

No, it isn't. Can we talk in your office?

Yeah, sure.

Let me just finish up here. I'll meet you there.

ERICA: Here we go.

We'll give you some privacy.

ROCHELLE: Don't go. Oh...

Please.

I'm really sorry, Shel.

I've just been all over the place today.

Haven't been able to think straight.

Yeah, I know the feeling.

POIGNANT MUSIC

You're not staying, are you?

Do you want me to?

No. I guess not.

I'm so sorry, Shel.

Don't be.

Um...

..if you ever need anything...

No. Thanks.

Hey! Hey!

Where are you going?

What, are you just going to leave her in there?

I thought that you loved her. So did I.

What the hell are you doing?

You told me what I did depended on how much I loved her.

I guess we know now, don't we?

There's no way you can make this sort of decision now, okay?

You don't know how things will turn out for Rochelle.

She told me to leave.

Which is what you want to hear not what she's saying.

Don't do this... I'm doing her a favour.

Look, she's going to think that she's driven you away.

In a week or two's time,

she'll be lying in a hospital bed blaming herself

and you won't be able to say anything

because you're not going to be there.

Then you tell her.

Tell her it was all me if you think it's going to help.

Be a man. Tell her yourself.

I can't.

Sorry about the wait, Von - paperwork's never ending today.

What can I do for you?

I was wondering why my name wasn't on that interview list of yours.

I didn't think you needed a pep talk.

No. But you want to know what the nursing staff want from their jobs.

I'm nursing staff.

I've watched you work, Von. I've seen your employment history.

There's a few things you wouldn't know

from reading my employment history.

I am sick of working in an understaffed department

with no support from Admin.

I'm sick of being taken for granted and overlooked.

And I'm sick of sending patients home,

never knowing what's happened to them.

I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to overlook...

I thought you wanted to make real changes.

I intend to.

Yep, so did the last NUM, and the one before that -

both good friends of mine...

Von, listen...

..both of the opinion that I was employed for them to lean on,

give advice to, prop up when things got tough, you know.

Fair enough.

But I don't need a friend, Gabrielle.

I need a job description that works for me.

And if you can't provide that,

then it is time I looked for another job.

What?

And just so we're clear - I hate scones.

Okay. They're ready for you upstairs.

Shouldn't you be heading home? Everyone else seems to be.

I thought that I'd head up with you, if you like.

You don't need to do that.

Honestly, I'm fine.

Okay, now Sean explained to you

that they'll continue with the steroid treatment up on the ward,

and tomorrow you're going to be assessed for rehabilitation.

Why so soon?

Because the earlier you start, the better your chances of recovery.

And that's the thing to focus on, right? Recovery?

Definitely.

Good luck.

How's she doing?

Better than I would be.

Listen, Dan, I, uh... I owe you an apology.

I shouldn't have yelled at you over the soiling the bed thing.

And?

And I should've kept you in the loop on Rochelle's diagnosis.

I'm sorry.

And you're right, I can be an arrogant bastard

and I do play my cards too close to my chest sometimes.

It's not because I don't trust you or respect you.

Then why?

I guess...

..keeping it to myself until I know I'm right

means never being wrong.

No, it just means that we didn't know that you're wrong.

There's a big difference.

Right. It is.

And I'll do my best to get on board with that.

I don't wanna hear "I told you so" when I do get it wrong, okay?

I'll try to get on board with that.

Cool.

SULTRY MUSIC PLAYS

(Eve sings) # I don't need no boundaries

# I'll say it, say it, say it

# You are as close to my face #

Same again.

She's good.

I would have thought Grateful Dead was more your go.

That was last night. Get you a drink?

Got one, thank you.

I'll join you, then.

Hi. I'm Dr Quade. I'm one of your husband's surgeons.

We were able to stop his internal bleeding

and we were able to repair his internal organs,

as far as we can tell.

We'll know more when he wakes up, of course,

but so far, so good.

Thank you.

I'll leave you to it.

MUSIC CONTINUES

MIKE: Very quiet, Frank - not like you.

I'm listening to the music.

Perving at the singer, more like it.

Not that I blame you.

Let's get one thing straight, Vlasek.

Don't you ever get sick of saying that?

Not to you I don't.

I don't want to be your best mate or your drinking partner.

I'm not interested in bonding,

or whatever the hell you think you're on about.

We are worlds apart,

and that's the way I would like to keep it.

Frank, what is it about me that gets up your nose?

I'd rather listen to the music, thanks, pal.

And if you tell me to relax, I'll snap your neck.

I wouldn't dream of it.

You've obviously having way too much fun stressing out.

APPLAUSE

Thank you.