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Summary for "Chicago Hope," the Premiere 6 page

In Short: Camille feels more pressure over her decision to divorce Aaron when the rabbi who married them is admitted for a heart transplant, and it drives her into some uncharacteristic outburts. Dr. Thurmond's behavior towards a new OR nurse comes under close scrutiny.

Guest Starring: Jamie Rose (as Det. Stacy Halmora), Teri Polo (as Sarah Jane Petty), Nehemiah Persoff (as Rabbi Taubler), Todd Field (as John Taubler), and David Margulies (as Mr. Lewis)

Story: Michael Nankin
Teleplay:
Directed By: Bill D'Elia

TOP Summary:

TOP Facts:

TOP Quotes:

Camille after discovering that Nyland is performing the transplant : "I'm suggesting that the best treatment this patient could get today is for you to do the procedure."

"What are you doing here" an astonished Camille asks Danny. "I live here" he answers.(Camille after waking up next to Danny)

TOP Transcripts:

Geiger takes out the Rabbi's bad heart:
Jeffrey: Say good night Gracie. We got an empty Rabbi here Camille. Let's get the new ticker in here.
Camille drops the heart. It is then kicked under some equipment:
Alan: Oh my God, oh my God. This is not good. Where did it go?
Everyone freezes, Camille stares wide-eyed in horror:
Jeffrey: Somebody ... go pick the heart up.
As the doctors try to get to the heart, Geiger grows impatient:
Jeffrey: Maybe we could all go a little faster. I got an empty chest here. Pull it out gently and put it in a new sterile basin. Camille rescrub and get back in here. Anybody who's touched it rescrub. We'll be fine. Nobody panic. (After Camille returns from scrubbing, Geiger tries to ease her mind) It's a strong muscle Camille. It's gonna be all right. Take it out and hand it to me. Let's go.
After the operation:
Jeffrey: One more thing. This patient has a fine, strong heart in him. He'll probably outlive us all. We're human. What happened here was nobody's fault. What's more, this patient does not need the added stress of knowing we played kickball with his new heart. Nothing leaves the room. (He looks at Camille) We're agreed.
Later, Geiger is paged to Taubler's room:
Jeffrey: What the hell happened? (Camille explains and Geiger takes control) He's bleeding like a geyser in there. (As Camille is pumping his heart, Geiger shoves her away and yells) Back off, Camille. Back off.
Geiger and Nyland open Taubler's chest and continue to work on him:
Jeffrey: The aorta is crumbling like a potato chip. ...
Danny: He's gone. ... (but Geiger continues to work) Dr. Geiger, he's gone. ... Doctor, he's gone.
Jeffrey: Damn.
A devastated Camille is in the hall. Aaron looks at her and passes her by. Geiger looks at Aaron walking away and tries to console Camille:
Jeffrey: Has nothing to do with the incident.
Camille: We don't know that.
Jeffrey: I'm telling you, I do know it. Camille, listen to me. You could have played basketball with that heart and it still would have been Okay. It's a ball of solid muscle. It wasn't your fault.
Camille: Then why is he dead?



10.

Summary for "Quarantine"

CHICAGO HOPE 1.10 "The Quarantine" Air date: 1/2/95 Written by David E. Kelley Directed byThomas Schlamme Dr. Danny Nyland is pacing agitatedly in a deserted operating room when Dr.Jeffrey Geiger bursts in "What's going on?" Geiger demands. "I get stat paged to OR 4, where's theemergency?" "It's not an emergency," Nyland says. He asks if Geiger remembersGeorgeann Tuckman, a recent patient. Nyland had called Geiger in on a consult,and at first they had thought she had myocarditis, then the flu. "I didn't think the flu," Geiger interrupts. "I thought it was some kindof virus she probably snagged at the CDC." Nyland says, "You were right, more right than you want to be. She wasjust diagnosed in Seattle--Ebola virus." Geiger grimaces, and after a long silence, asks quietly, "Howcontagious?" She was in Day 4 when she was there, Nyland tells him, thus highlycontagious. He had run to the first empty room when he had heard, and pagedGeiger. They needed to be isolated immediately, and it would be a couple ofdays before they knew whether they had been exposed, either by contact withTuckman's bodily fluids or through the air. The paramedics who had brought herto Chicago Hope were under quarantine at Cook County Hospital, he says. Geiger thinks for a moment, then announces, "All right. First off, thisplace is officially sealed. You and I are gonna spend some time together.Play cribbage?" Nyland says bluntly, "What's the progression?" Not good, Geiger says. Seventy percent fatal. Incurable. "I'm sure . . . sure we didn't contract it," Nyland falters. "I'm sure you're right." Geiger cuffs his ear reassuringly and walksaway. "Oh God," Nyland mutters. * * * Burly security men in bubble suits finish installing a huge steel bolt on theOR door and ram it shut. Chief of Staff Dr. Phillip Watters watches Geigerthrough the OR window as he talks to him on the phone. "I'll be back on thephone with Atlanta in 20 minutes. Meanwhile, we set up a command post in ourlab. I don't want you leaving this area." Geiger asks him to check whether the CDC has plasma from survivors incase he and Nyland need transfusions. Brushing off Watters' protest that thatis premature, Geiger also wants him to research intravenous Interferon as atreatment, and to get a cribbage board. Watters gestures at Nyland, pacing in a corner. "He OK?" Geiger says wryly, "He'll live. Maybe." As Watters leaves, Geiger turns to Nyland. "OK, first the bad news: wegot ourselves a beauty. This virus wiped out entire tribes in Zaire, Sudan,probably came to the U.S. through a monkey. Maybe this is my payback forkilling the baboon." "Give me the good news?" Nyland pleads. Turns out Tuckman was there on Day 7 of the disease's course, not Day 4,making her much less contagious, Geiger says. They would have to wait a coupledays, do their own bloodwork . . . and notify anyone they've been "sharingintimate breathing space with." Nyland looks stricken. "Oh no." "Make the call," Geiger says. As Nyland picks up the phone, Geiger asks, deadpan, "Man or woman?" Herests his chin on Nyland's shoulder, the better to eavesdrop on the phoneconversation. Nyland just looks at him. * * * A bubble-suited security guard gives Camille Shutt a none-too-gentle shovethrough the OR door. Glaring at Nyland, she demands, "What have you given me?" "You slut!" Geiger remarks from his vantage point behind them, eagerlyhunkering forward to monitor the ensuing conversation. "What have you given me?" Camille repeats. "I've been exposed to a virus," Nyland tells her. "We used a condom, for God's sakes, two of them!" she hisses. "It's airborne, the kissing is just as dangerous," Nyland explainsapologetically. "Well, maybe you didn't kiss," Geiger interjects helpfully. "Please don't joke!" says Camille, starting to lose what was left of hercomposure. "They said it could be fatal!" Geiger assures her the quarantine is just a precaution. But Camille turns to Nyland, pleadingly. "Look, uh, can we just say . . .I mean, we don't want to put it out there that, um, you know, you and I were .. . out of sensitivity to Aaron?" "He knows," Geiger says. "He knows I had sex," Camille says impatiently, "but he doesn't know withwhom." "Well, what's the difference?" Geiger shrugs. "It'll make a difference!" Nyland suggests they say that Camille was in on the Tuckman examination."There's no need to add to the drama here," he concurs. Camille turns beseechingly to Geiger. "Can we do that, Jeffrey? Please?" Geiger takes a long moment to reply. "Sure." Nurse Maggie Atkisson lurches through the OR door. She glares at Nyland."What have you given me?" Nyland repeats that he's been exposed to a virus. Camille glares at Nyland. "You pig!" "Busy pig!" Geiger remarks. To Atkisson's question, Nyland replies, "Hopefully nothing, but I need tobe quarantined, which unfortunately includes the people that I've been with." "Do we need a bigger room?" Geiger asks. "Could you be someplace else?" Nyland tells him testily. Geiger says blandly, "It's just I need to order food. Should I beexpecting more?" "Not from me!" Nyland says. But Camille wears an expression of dawning chagrin. * * * "I don't believe this!" Dr. Aaron Shutt says as he is escorted through thehalls by suited-up security guards and a similarly suited Watters. "I thought you and Camille were apart!" Watters says. "We are. We kissed after Rabbi Taubler's funeral," Shutt saysexasperatedly. "This virus is not spread casually, Phillip, you don't need tobe wearing that stupid suit!" "I'd rather be safe, thank you. This disease is more dangerous thanAIDS." "Oh, well, that . . . that cheers me up," Shutt grouses. A guard yanks him along. Hospital counsel Alan Birch, in a bubble suit much too big for him,accosts Watters. "Phillip, I want to be heard! Anybody exposed should be put in a suitimmediately for transport! I want Dr. Shutt put in a suit immediately." "And WHY is my helmet fogging up?" Birch adds peevishly. "They've givenme defective equipment." Looking martyred and bored, Watters assures him, "We'll get suits oneverybody." "Your helmet doesn't fog!" Birch exclaims through the mist over his face."Are you breathing through your nose?" Watters rolls his eyes heavenward and walks away. "I'm blinded, Phillip," Birch says, groping empty air. "Phillip?" "This is unacceptable." * * * Back in the OR, the mood has not lightened. "Well, are we gonna die?" Camille asks. "Nobody's dying," Geiger says calmly. Atkisson isn't satisfied. "Well, I heard it could be spread with asneeze. That it came from a monkey . . ." She rushes over to Nyland. "Oh,tell me you didn't have sex with a monkey!" "Hah!" Camille says. "He didn't have time!" Nyland shoots her a glare, "Please!" The OR door slams after Shutt, who looks accusingly at his wife. "Where did you get it, Camille?" Camille smiles placatingly, "Aaronnn . . . " "Never mind "Aaronnn," he mimicks her wheedling. "They say we've got tobe isolated here for two full days!!" As Geiger tries to calm Shutt down, Atkisson moans and grabs a handybasin. "Ohhh, I feel nauseous! I could throw up! We are gonna die! I mean, I .. . I just took this job! Now I'm exposed to a deadly virus?" "Take it easy . . ." Nyland says soothingly. "Doctor, you have done quite enough!" Camille interjects. "What is THAT supposed to mean, Camille?" Shutt demands, picking up onthe tone. "You gave it to *her*?" he asks Nyland. Atkisson sinks onto a stool still embracing the basin. Geiger points out reasonably that they're probably all right, they justhave to do the bloodwork, wait a couple days and it'll be over. "In the meantime," Geiger taps Atkisson on the head with a forefinger,"hey, nothing is served by panic. Everybody, just call the people that need tobe called . . . " He looks pointedly at Camille, who returns his stare balefully.Atkisson, however, looks like she's gotten a headache. " . . . if you haven't already done so," Geiger continues. "Otherwisejust sit back and stay calm. Everybody stay calm." All heads turn as the door opens and another bubble-suited figure isshoved inside. The bubble on the suit is too small to make out who it is untilits occupant pulls the hood off, showing a discomfited Dr. Arthur Thurmond. Into the stunned silence, Shutt finally speaks. "You gotta be kidding me!" "Don't look at me," Atkisson says defensively. Geiger looks at Nyland. "You little brown-nose!" "I didn't touch him!" Nyland protests. All eyes turn toward Camille, who stammers "It's not what you think!" Thurmond says, "We . . . we shared a stick of licorice. Red. The chewykind." Shutt demands incredulously, "Were you two together?" Geiger shakes his head in distaste. "I can't picture that. Which is ablessing. I get . . . I get vasovagal." As Camille begins to protest, Shutt says, "Quiet. I wanna hear this!" Thurmond mutters doggedly, "Licorice. Red." "Chewy?" says Geiger. "Jeffrey!" Shutt says. Camille says, "I have to tell them, Arthur. Like you said, it wasnothing." Thurmond gestures toward Geiger. "He'll make it something." "No, he won't. Dr. Thurmond passed out last week in the research lab. Ithought he stopped breathing and . . . " Thurmond interjects, "Which I didn't, I just fainted, it was hypotension,that's all, nothing more." Camille continues, "I thought he wasn't breathing, and I started givinghim mouth-to-mouth. That's why I thought maybe if I had the virus maybe I'dexposed him." Geiger pounces on the first part of the explanation. "You're having fainting spells when you're going into the OR?" hedemands. "What if you go face-first into somebody's intestine?" He turns to Camille. "How the hell can you stay silent? His episode couldcause a patient to die." She explains that Thurmond had said it was one isolated incident and sheknew Geiger would make something out of it. A shouting match ensues among everybody in the room. It ends abruptlywhen Watters, suited up, enters the room. Everyone stares, uncomprehending. After a pause, Geiger asks out loud, "Am I the only one in this hospitalnot having sex?" Shutt looks accusingly at Camille. "Hey!" she protests. Everyone turns to look at Atkisson, slouching miserably on her stool. Thurmond accuses gleefully, "Did you concubine with that nurse, Phillip?" "She's been here less than a month!" Camille sputters. "You're Chief ofStaff! What in God's name were you thinking of?" With great dignity, Watters says, "How I was exposed is none of yourconcern." A mortified Atkisson stammers, "He . . . he and I were not . . .together. I, I, God, it's so embarrassing . . . can you just tell them?" Watters explains that Atkisson had felt faint after the Antonovichmorphine episode. He reached to steady her, and she vomited on him, therebypossibly exposing him. "Who do you think you're kidding?" Thurmond chortles. * * * Birch conducts a press conference. Over the clamor of voices, he exclaims, "I am in charge! I am in completecharge!" A reporter asks, "How many doctors are infected and how did thetransmission occur?" Birch explains, "No known infections, this is simply a precautiousquarantine. Uh, Chief of Staff Phillip Watters is included, thereby chain ofcommand according to hospital by-laws passes to house counsel. Uh, nonononono,Chicago Hope continues to be open for business. And I'm in complete charge.Not to worry. Not to worry at all." His grin, meant to reassure, holds an edge of panic. * * * Later Birch, helmet still fogging, updates Watters through the OR window. Thesituation is better. The paramedics at Cook County are still healthy, and theCDC is optimistic. Chicago Hope's board doesn't like the fact that an OR isunusable, but Birch has calmed them down. "I can't see his face," Thurmond says. He and Watters have both removedtheir bubble suits. Thurmond wears a shirt, bow tie, plaid boxer shorts andgartered hose. "Everything's under control," Birch reiterates to Watters. "I'm sure it is," Watters says soothingly. Turning from the window, Birch mutters, "Blind as a bat. Guys?" Hegropes down the hall. * * * Watters announces that if nobody develops symptoms by Friday, they're inthe clear. When asked what the symptoms are, he replies, "Could be like theflu--fever, headaches, abdominal pain--or could be worse. Nosebleed, rash." Geiger says insinuatingly, "With all that's been going on, somebody musthave a rasssh." "This is not a funny situation," Watters replies. When nobody reports any symptoms, Watters says that they'll do their ownbloodwork and cultures. On a practical level, food and blankets are available,and there's a temporary toilet set up off the scrub room, he says. Thurmond interrupts him. "I want to see the chart on the Tuckman patient.I want to see her symptoms." "You don't trust my opinion?" Watters asks. "I'm just concerned that you might have been busy that day lecturingsenior doctors on how they should stay away from young nurses," Thurmondgibes. * * * As Nyland reaches past Shutt for some luncheon meat from the buffetgurney, Shutt freezes for a second, then sniffs Nyland's hair, twice. "You smell familiar," he says. "HEY!" Camille says hurriedly, pasting on a cheery smile. "I have anidea, Phillip! Um, your Christmas party was scheduled for tomorrow night, whydon't we have it right here?" At everyone's incredulous look, she hurries on, "Well, um, ah, we're alltogether, we could have it here instead of your house . . ." Shutt stares at her. "Why are you acting like that?" "Like what?" She smiles at him too brightly. "Like you act when you're hiding something." "What act -- ?" She feigns incomprehension. "You're acting the way you act when you get nervous, and I think you gotnervous when I started smelling him!" Shutt accuses. "What are they yapping about?" Thurmond asks. "I dunno," Watters shrugs. Raising his hand, Geiger chirps, "I do!" Simultaneously, Camille yells "Never mind!" and Nyland says "Please!" Shutt assumes the air of prosecuting attorney. "Now, you say that youwere exposed to the virus by treating the Tuckman patient." "I think so, yes," Camille says. "You think so. Well, we're getting the woman's chart. If you were in onthe examination, uh, it'll be reflected in the notes, won't it?" In the uncomfortable silence, Shutt once more smells Nyland. Camilleasks to see Shutt in the scrub room. As they close the door, Geiger watchesthem through the window. "This could be worth the price of the virus right here," he smirks. Helooks at Nyland. "Bet you'd like to be a little fly on *that* wall!" "Your seniority aside, there's only so much disrespect I'll take fromyou," Nyland warns. But the light has dawned for Atkisson. "Oh, you were with *her* too?" "It doesn't concern you," Nyland says shortly. "Well, before or after me?" she asks. "Never mind!" he says. Watters says to Atkisson, "Was I before or after him?" "After, but see, I don't know if I was after her, because if I wasn't, itcould be her to him to me to you, and I don't know where the mouth-to-mouthcomes in . . . " "I'm confused," Thurmond says mournfully. "I heard something about a monkey," Atkisson continues. "The monkey wore a condom," Geiger says. * * * In the scrub room, Shutt says, "So it was Nyland?" "A one-time thing" Camille says pleadingly. "After I dropped RabbiTaubler's heart I was upset . . ." "I'm gonna recommend that you be terminated, Camille," Shutt sayscoldly. "I have no objections to your having a personal life, but I mean, tobe having one-night stands with other surgeons in this hospital . . . " Camille is outraged. "What about you and Antonovich?" That was different, he says. How so, she demands to know. Shutt becomes increasingly agitated. "I am Chief of Neurosurgery," he states. "I have a chain of command inthis place which is dependent on my maintaining respect with this staff. Ican't have that respect undermined by a promiscuous ex-wife whose sexualescapades serve to humiliate me!" Camille is furious. "The only reason that I don't take your head offright now is because those people can see through the glass!" "You wanna take my head off, Camille?" Shutt asks. "Go ahead! The truthis there's nothing you can DO to me that you HAVEN'T ALREADY DONE." * * * Watching through the glass and eating chips, Geiger tells Thurmond,"She's gonna feint to the left, go back up the middle." As Camille feints to the left and goes back up the middle, Geiger adds,"I saw this on a PBS special. That's not friendly body language. See thoselittle specks o'spit coming out of her mouth? That's hostility." Thurmond says, "That Nyland fellow slept with them all?" "I believe so, yeah." "And *I* get sued for asking a girl to lunch," Thurmond marvels. Geiger offers him some chips as they continue to watch. * * * Watters finishes making a sandwich at the buffet gurney as Atkissonapproaches him. She apologizes for the others not believing their story. Hetells her it's OK and starts to take a bite. Atkisson grabs his arm, pulling his sandwich hand down. "Well, you know,it's not my habit to *vomit* on people and I just want you to understand, youknow, that that was a fluke." "What's done is done." He smiles at her. Atkisson walks away feeling better. Watters looks at his sandwich withdistaste. * * * The Shutts continue their argument. Camille takes exception to Aaron's assertion that she is subordinate tohim at the hospital. He tells her to try a craniotomy sometime, see if she cando that, and she replies that he should try being a scrub nurse for a day. Hesays he could do that, and nastily adds that she's a nurse, not a brainsurgeon. She replies that she's finding whole new reasons to have left him: "Therewas so much more to hate about you." "Well, that's one thing about being a quitter, Camille," Shutt saysbitterly. "One reason is enough . . . Did you ever fight for us? Did you oncetry to communicate?" She protests he was never there to talk to, except at night, when hewanted to sleep. "I was HAPPY," Shutt shouts. "When you're tired and happy you sleep! YOUwere unhappy, you let it fester." "Why couldn't you see that I was unhappy?" she cries back. If she had letit die, then so did he. "I loved you," Shutt says. "And still you did nothing," Camille mourns. "We stopped talking to eachother, we stopped touching each other, all we had in common was a jointchecking account, and this was *you* loving *me*?" Shutt notices that Thurmond has put a drinking glass against the windowand has his ear against it. He bangs on the glass. "Hey, haven't you gotsomething else to do?" "No," Thurmond says. Shutt throws open the connecting door. "This is not a sideshow put on foryour benefit!" "It certainly is, it's a circus, started by Mr. Penishead over there!"Thurmond gestures at Nyland. Nyland snarls, "You know what, I'm sick and tired of being pimped byeveryone here for . . . for no other reason than being young!" "You think it's terrible being young," Thurmond retorts, "you just trygetting old!" "You give new meaning to the word 'pimp,' " Shutt says, going for Nyland.He throws off Geiger's restraining arm. "Hey, hey, hey, get your hands off ofme!" He rounds on Geiger, jabbing the air with his forefinger for emphasis."You know, you're not the only person with a license to go nuts around here,Jeffrey, you keep your hands off of me!" Geiger backs off, hurt. "Geez, his finger was right there, you coulda bitten it!" Thurmondremarks. "Dr. Thurmond, why don't *you* go in the corner and FAINT?" Shutt directsfuriously. "This is a horrible Christmas," Thurmond grumbles. * * * Geiger asks Camille what she and Shutt were talking about. "It's none of your business, Jeffrey, it has always been none of yourbusiness," Camille tells him brusquely. They start to argue, but Shutt interrupts, "Lay off my wife, will ya?" "She's not your wife," Geiger snaps, "she's your significant ex-other." They begin bickering loudly. "HEY!!!!" Atkisson yells. "Listen to you people . . . you're allcompletely CRAZY!" Thurmond says politely, "Excuse me, young lady. Your name again is?" "Maggie Atkisson." "Yes. Uh, I apologize again. Who here is it you slept with?" "What if I said it was you?" she says snidely. " Would you knowdifferently?" Thurmond regards her warily. "It's a trick. It's a trick question,Phillip. She's a trickster." To Atkisson, he says authoritatively, "I'm Dr.Arthur Thurmond. Don't ever try to trick me. I'm Dr. Arthur THURMOND." Atkisson continues, "Two weeks ago I get in trouble 'cause I didn't killhis patient fast enough." She gestures at Shutt. "Now I could have a fataldisease, and I'm locked in a room with the people who represent the nervecenter of the whole hospital, and you're nuts! You're all NUTS!" A tap on the window behind her makes her shriek. It's Birch. "Good news! I've got the piano and my helmet's fixed!" he beams. * * * Geiger sits at the piano softly singing "Something Stupid." Atkisson isdancing a little. The others are sitting or lying around, making uncomfortablesmall talk. Birch walks in to say that the blood tests are negative but the lab wantssome specimens. Watters pushes him back out of the room. Atkisson joins in the song, loudly and horribly off-key. "I CAN SEE IT INYOUR EYES THAT YOU DESPISE THE SAME OLD LIES YOU HEARD THE NIGHT BEFORE . . ." When Watters manages to make himself heard over the din, he suggests thatthey send for Ray Kadalski, a hospital psychiatrist. "I know that the fear ofdeath can make people agitated, and the way we've been acting, perhaps . . ." Nyland says, "It has nothing to do with fear of death, sir. In thisenvironment, fear of living could be more stressful." He looks meaningfully at Geiger, who comments, "What a profound thought.It should come with bubble gum." "Go to hell!" Nyland fumes. "Maybe THAT came out of fear of death." "Fear of getting fired should be more of a concern," Geiger saysdeliberately. "Obviously this little group has a few demons to exorcise," Wattersobserves, and suggests they all use this forced togetherness for sometherapeutic purpose. "Now *I'm* going to puke," Thurmond mutters. Watters ignores him. "This is an order from your Chief of Staff. Now,everyone has immunity, there's no threat of retaliation. You have stuff onyour mind, say it now. Mr. Nyland, you seem particularly motivated, you start.Go on, go on." Nyland plunges in. "Well, first off, I don't believe for a second the part about noretaliation." He nods toward Geiger. "He likes to grind my stones for sport,God help me if I should antagonize him." Geiger says reasonably, "All right, then let me start." "Complaint number one, there isn't a single resident in this place withANY stones. They're all obsequious, cowering little sycophants who'd rathersuction my drool with their tongues than stand up to me." "OK, your turn now," he adds pleasantly. "All right, I'll go," Nyland says. "Jeffrey Geiger breeds malice, oozescontempt, and until he finds some peace with himself, is a liability to thishospital. Dr. Thurmond, the legend, if only he cared as much about saving hispatients as he does his reputation!" "You say that again and I'll sue you," Thurmond threatens. Nyland continues, warming to the subject. "Dr. Watters, gifted hands,great mentor, but tolerates his childishness," he nods at Geiger, "andforgives *his* waning skill!" He indicates Thurmond. "You send a message that the surgeons come first!" Nyland complains. "I have never sent that message," Watters protests. Camille says, "Yes you do, Phillip. It's all about the surgeons in yourdepartment. You coddle them. How on earth could he get away with the way heacts without your tacit approval?" She, too, gestures at Geiger. "Hey, how's this about me?" Geiger asks. Camille goes on, "This is also the most blatantly chauvinisticinstitution I've ever seen! It's a boy's club, and if a woman surgeon evergets ahead here, it's because she acts like one of the guys." "That's crap," Geiger says. "Name me one woman surgeon who shares thatopinion." "Karen Antonovich." "Dead, doesn't count. Name a live one." Camille is exasperated. "You see this? Look at what goes on here! Duringa bypass, he comes on to Winslow with a toilet fetish!" "She accepted," Geiger points out. "In surgery, he hits on women with 'Hey, I'm prone to sexual harassment,here I come' and gets away with it. Dr. Thurmond fires a nurse and then asksher out on a date. He's already being sued." Thurmond objects, "I have a motion to dismiss pending." Everybody ignores him. "What, these women lack the capacity to say yes? *There's* an argumentfor equality," Geiger sneers. "These women know that to get along you go along," Camille says bleakly. "Is that why you ended up with Dr. Nyland?" Shutt asks. "Interesting query," Geiger says. "I'd like to hear the response." Camille says matter-of-factly, "You want my response, Jeffrey? I'll giveit to you. The chauvinism in this hospital is so pervasive it killed mymarriage. I lost my husband to another man. That man is you." "I beg your pardon?" Geiger says. "What?" Shutt is stunned. Thurmond turns to Watters. "Are they homosexuals, Phillip? Not that theydon't have rights . . . they throw a lovely parade." Camille says wearily, "They're not gay, Dr. Thurmond, they're just bestfriends. The camaraderie of the surgeons, the male bonding, I just couldn'tcompete with it." Shutt says sarcastically, "Well, there is an excuse that shatters allrecords." "It's true. Anything fundamental that happened to you, call Jeffrey.Something torturing you, you couldn't wait to tell him. I slowly became anaccessory, Aaron, we both know that, someone to hand you a scalpel at work anda napkin at home." "Well, once again, Camille, you manage to locate blame in the mostconvenient of places," Shutt answers. "Maybe I started talking to him becauseyou stopped talking to me!" "No. With every day you lived within these walls this veil went up, andafter a while I just couldn't pierce it any more. I couldn't reach you as myhusband. I promise, it was you, not me, 'cause you don't know how I cried overit. And I see you with him, and the way you share, and laugh. I lost you toHIM." She turns to Geiger. "All this anger I had at you, the truth is, uh, Iprobably owe you an apology. I mean, much of my disgust you deserve, yourbehavior is usually repulsive, but a lot of my anger . . ." She falters. "I'm jealous. I wish he loved me the way he loves you andI'm jealous." Thurmond speaks up. "You lost your husband to this hospital, young lady.He lost himself. You play God on a daily basis long enough, you forget how tobe human. Let's face it, how many surgeons are any different? Oh, we roll outthe bedside manner for our patients, but we put our hands in people's insidesevery day, holding vital organs. To function we have to think of ourselves asgodlike. If we admit we're fallible we're lost." "This man can make the dead come back to life," he continues. "It'smiraculous. But it robs him, too. The smell of a flower--where's the wonder?Hold a brain in your hand, the smile of a child simply fades. I've saved overa thousand people, people living today only because of me. I have *three*friends, if I'm lucky. And I don't know my grandchildren, never knew my ownkids. He has no choice, young lady. No choice." "I don't believe that," Shutt says. "I can't believe that. I won't end upnot knowing my own kids. I won't end up like you." "You're 40 years old, Aaron," Camille points out. "You don't even have awife, let alone kids. You'll probably never have a family, you'll never takethe time." There's a moment of silence, broken by Atkisson: "Why is it I feel, Idunno, being quarantined with a fatal disease should somehow be more fun?" Geiger says, "All right. Is it my turn to speak? It really feels like myturn." "Go," Watters says. "Thank you. First let me say how sorry I am for you people. What with thehomeless and the stuff happening in Bosnia and even the patients I see everyday, I lost sight of the true victims in society, which happen to be you.Starting off with the unfortunate Dr. Nyland, Yale-bred, silver spoon stuckdeep into his esophagus, he now has to treat sick people. All the people herearen't nice to him--I should say the senior surgeons aren't nice, the nursesseem to be extremely supportive." "This is exactly what I'm talking about!" Nyland starts argumentatively. "Problem is, I'm talking now," Geiger stares him into silence. "This is a HOSPITAL," he continues. "This is not a company that likes togive points for treating the personnel well. This is by necessity a cruelplace. We bust your ass to make you a better doctor, and you know what, youmight one day be the best doctor, it doesn't change anything, 'cause as soonas you're not, this place will be just as cruel all over again. You don'tbelieve that, you ask him." He points at Thurmond. "You wanna be treated nice?You go work at Wal-Mart." He turns to Camille. "And you . . . blaming this hospital for killingyour marriage, blaming me. Grow the hell up. As cruel as this institution is,marriage is a *much* tougher one." He squeezes his eyes shut. "It takes work. It's a lot of work, lady, andeven if you work as hard as you can every damn day, there is no guarantee yourwife won't snap and drown your child anyway. "Bottom line, he loves you more than LIFE, "Geiger emphasizes. He looksat her. "Trust me on that. Maybe it's not enough to make it work, but itshould be enough to prevent you from walking out the door. And I will notapologize for me loving him or him loving me. That's probably my deepest joy. "And you," he says to Shutt, "As much as I love you, I'm getting tired ofyou moping." To the room in general, he continues, "You wanna complain? That goes forall of you. We could go to work in a bank, sit pleasantly next to ourco-workers for 40 years and never know them. We come to this place, we seeeach other raw every day, our guts are hanging out--that's not misery, thatmakes us *lucky*. I don't give a damn how much tumult and antagonism there is,it's life, we're deep into it every day, and I feel lucky to be here. I'm notbuying into any of your despair. Go see what's out there. Talk to yourpatients. See what real people are up against. And then complain." He looks around the room. "You're a buncha spoiled babies, every one o'ya." "You know," Nyland remarks, "that was a very impressive speech, Dr.Geiger. It could almost make us lose sight of the real truth, that *you* causemost of the antagonism around here, and it doesn't make us feel lucky at all.And no doubt you feel good about yourself, that's pretty obvious, but itdoesn't change the fact that you're the most hated surgeon in this joint, andsome of us other doctors have to pick up the people you leave in pieces." "Is that what you do with your nurses? Damage control?" Geiger derides. "If they're coming to me, don't you wonder why?" Shutt snaps, "What's that supposed to mean?" "I was talking to him," Nyland says. "Well, talk to me," Shutt persists. "Talk to your wife! Then she wouldn't be needing me!" Shutt punches him in the nose. Commotion ensues. Thurmond worries about Nyland's blood transmitting the virus. "Shut up, Arthur," Watters says, then turns to Shutt. "Now you listen tome. . ." "No, I won't listen to you," Shutt rants. "I'm tired of you jumping in asreferee trying to legislate everything. I don't listen to you, Phillip, youknow why? You're not a real person." "Aaron . . ." Geiger begins. "You shut up too!" Shutt shouts bitterly, and returns to Watters. "Youknow you glide around here on this even keel, so poised, so unflappable,always ready to step in and help somebody out--isn't that ironic, that's whyyou end up in this room! You caught her and she puked on you!" He gestures at Atkisson, who is helping Nyland pack his nose. "Well, there's plenty more vomit where that came from, Phillip!" hecontinues. "Life is not lived on an even keel, OK? We explode! See that, Ijust punched a guy! Maybe I punched the wrong guy." "You wanna take a swing at me? Oh, please!" Watters says invitingly. "Youknow, I come here every day, trying to be a rudder to you prima donnas. Youdon't know the frustration I have to bottle up inside. I would love to blow. Igo to bed and pray somebody will take a swing at me and give me theopportunity. Do me the biggest favor known to man, Aaron, and swing at me. Iwould *love* to lose it. Go ahead. C'mon, first shot. Hmm?" As they stand nearly nose-to-nose, Camille says with desperatecheeriness, "I think we should all sing a song!" There's a long silence during which Shutt seems to be about to back off.Suddenly Thurmond clutches his chest, staggers and begins to fall. The othersspring into action, catching him, lifting him onto the operating table,setting up an IV, taking pressure, cutting his shirt off. Watters speaks softly. "It'll be all right, Arthur. Just lie calm." * * * A little while later, Thurmond, hooked up to monitors and sportingvarious plastic tubes, protests, "This is not necessary!" Geiger says, "Yes, you keep saying that. I have these funny rituals whenpeople have heart attacks." He turns to Nyland. "Can I see the readout, doctor? I hope that wasn'ttoo harsh." "Bite me," Nyland responds. "Just trying to maintain a reputation." Thurmond says philosophically, "How fitting that I should die in thishospital." "You're not gonna die, Doctor, too many premiums would go up," Geigersays. Thurmond continues, "If I do die, Phillip, I want you to speak at myfuneral. It was always my hope to speak at yours." "I appreciate that," Watters says drily. * * * Geiger gestures to Watters and they go into the scrub room. Geiger saysthere's a chance they'll have to do an angioplasty on Thurmond. Watters nods. "True, Phillip?" Geiger asks, after a pause, "I'm the most hated guyhere?" "Well, with Hackett dying . . ." Watters demurs. They exchange ruefulsmiles. "I - I don't need to be loved by everybody, I admit, but to be hated . .. that's not a goal either," Geiger muses. Watters takes a stab at consolation. "Well, hate is sometimes just . . .misplaced fear." "All these profundities and still no bubble gum?" Geiger respondslightly. "I'd *love* to be a resident again," he confesses. "I'd love to havesomebody backing me up. Nobody's backing me up, Phillip. That's not easy. I'malone. They"ve got people coming in behind them. Nobody comes in behind me.Nononono. It's not, it's not easy." He wanders away still muttering. * * * Camille sits down next to Shutt. "You OK?" "You wanna talk to me," he replies, oozing quiet rage, "get yourselfscheduled for one of my procedures." "Kill yourself." She starts to get up. "Hey," he says. "You're a liar." How dare she blame the death of theirmarriage on him, he says, she was as obsessed by her job as he was with his. "Until I woke up one day and realized it wasn't enough," Camille sayssadly. "I turned to you and you weren't there. You had forgotten how to bethere." "It takes two to forget, Camille," Shutt retorts. "It takes two." * * * The loud beep of a monitor sounding the alarm sends Nyland springing tohis feet. Thurmond was going into shock. Nyland yells for Geiger. Geiger rushes back into the OR. "Probably having an inferior MI." Heorders Nyland to get dopamine and isopryl. The others hurry to do their jobs. Shutt reports that Thurmond's lungswere wet. "We gotta do a bypass," Geiger decides. "Can we get an anesthesiologistin here?" Watters says, "We're losing him. I'll do the anesthesia." As the others work to restore respiration, Watters tells Thurmond, "Hangon. It's Christmas." Shutt administers the paddles. Nothing happens. Geiger orders lidocaineand more paddles. Again, nothing. Geiger calls for the saw. When Camille asksabout masks, Shutt points out the sterile field has already been broken. "Jesus, Arthur," Watters says desperately, "'Hark, the herald angelssing!'" Within seconds, Geiger is cutting into Thurmond's chest, and the othershave arranged themselves into an OR team. Geiger finally gets his hands around Thurmond's heart. "Paging Dr. Thurmond . . . Well, doctor, this muscle feels good," hemurmurs. He continues to massage the heart, maintaining a running monologue."Come on. I got my hands in your guts, if you got that virus I could get it, Idon't want it to be for nothing! Come ON!!" Suddenly the monitor indicates that Thurmond's heart is beating on itsown. "He's converted back," Watters says, his voice shaky with relief. "Youold fart, when you wake up, I'll kill ya for this! I'll kill ya!" Geiger tells Nyland to take the heart and keep pumping while they prepareto put him on bypass. As he puts in stitches he begins to sing again, "I knowI stand in line until you think you have the time to spend an evening with me. . . " Camille, Nyland, Shutt and Watters join in softly, "And if we gosomeplace to dance I know that there's a chance you won't be leaving with me.And afterwards . . . " " . . . WE DROP INTO A QUIET LITTLE PLACE AND HAVE A DRINK OR . . ."Everyone else stops singing and looks at Atkisson, who trails off andcontinues getting sponges. They all resume, softly, "And then I go and spoilit all by saying something stupid like I love you." * * * The operation is almost finished. As Geiger prepares to close, he gentlytells Camille to rest, and calls Atkisson over. "Do not puke on this patient," he orders. As Nyland finishes up, Geiger, standing scant inches from him, sayssoftly to Watters, "This kid's getting good." "Why don't you tell him that?" Watters says. "Not a chance," Geiger says. * * * Shutt and Camille cross paths near the makeshift facilities. "You might want to, um, light a match," Shutt says. "Listen, I'm sorry. Iknow I've been acting kinda crazy. Uh, the, the thought of you with anotherman . . ." He trails off and then takes another tack. "You remember all that stuff that you said at, uh, Rabbi Taubler'sfuneral about anger being buried love, you remember that?" Shutt asksdesperately. "I think that's what's been going on here. I didn't mean halfthe crap I said, and punching Nyland . . . well, that I meant." They both laugh a little. "It's understandable. The thought of me being with another man, that hasto upset you," Camille says. She can't quite look him in the eye, but sayssignificantly, "It's so unthinkable, really, me being with anybody else." "What are you saying?" Shutt presses. Camille begins to cry. "I want to come back." Shutt is on tilt. "Is this . . . is this because of, uh, Christmas? Iknow people get lonely this time of year, is it . . . ?" "Because I can't live without you, Aaron," Camile sobs. "I . . . I knowwe have a lot of work to do, I won't even go so far as to say that I'mconfident, but I love you. I could never love anybody the way I love you, andI want to come home." Shutt takes her in his arms. Geiger comes in to report they're taking Thurmond off bypass, and looksaskance at them. "We're getting back," Shutt says, trying not to look too pleased. "What?" "You heard me. Go ahead, say something smart," he challenges. "Thank God!" Geiger says. "That smart enough?" He turns to Camille. "So I get to be nice to you again?" "And I could use it!" she says, drying her tears. "So could I." He kisses her cheek. "Welcome back." "Welcome back," he repeats, patting Shutt on the chest as he walks away. * * * In yet another press conference, or maybe it's been just one big longone, Birch announces that the quarantine should be lifted within 24 hours.When asked what's been happening in the OR, Birch just shrugs, sayingeverybody's bored, they're playing cards and Scrabble. "Not even any cabin fever?" someone asks. "Nonono. These are seasoned professionals," Birch asserts. "They'rewell-versed in crisis. They're handling this with the typical poise thatreflects the cool calm of Chicago Hope Hospital. Control andexcellence--they're both systemic to Chicago Hope." He tries to lean back authoritatively in his chair. It hits something,which crashes to the floor behind him. He raises his voice a little. "That'snot gonna change with me in charge. Cool and calm. I'm in charge. "So. You," He points to another reporter. The press conference continues. * * * The lighting is low in the OR. At the piano, Geiger softly plays "SilentNight." Camille lies with her head in Shutt's lap. Nyland, standing, andAtkisson, sitting, doze nearby. Watters sits close to Thurmond, who begins toregain consciousness. "It's all right, Arthur," Watters says soothingly. "We had to do abypass, but everything went fine." Thurmond says weakly, "Who did it? Not Penishead?" "Well, Dr. Penishead assisted but Geiger did it. You'll be up on yourfeet in a week. You can expect a full recovery." "What about the virus?" "Still no symptoms, I think we're OK," Watters smiles. "Speak for yourself. I've had a horrible day." In the corner by the window, Geiger plays on. THE END **********************************************************DIANE'S RANDOM NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS: Every time I see this episode I'm farklemt by the wit of the screenplay.If Oscar Wilde had ever written for TV--well, maybe not, but you get the idea.(We know he wouldn't have been married to Michelle Pfeiffer, at any rate.) Equal credit goes to the actors, who enrich the words with a wealth ofpriceless reactions and perfect comic -- and occasionally dramatic -- timing.Witness Geiger's unholy glee as he sees the Camille-Nyland situation revealed,Camille's ghastly attempts at smiles as she tries time after time to changethe uncomfortable subject, the look on Shutt's face as he gets a whiff ofNyland, etc. Ensemble acting at its finest. **********************************************************YOLETTE'S RANDOM NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS: Thought I'd add that Geiger's little speech about not apologizing for"me loving him or him loving me" is one of the most moving deliveries I'veever heard. For one, it is so rare for a man to be so eloquent on theemotional subject of marriage and friendship. For two, it was absolutelyperfect for this series in which the most appealing part heretofore has beenthe friendship between these two men. Kudos to David E. Kelley. This episode also marks the last one for E.G. Marshall, who plays Dr.Arthur Thurmond. Rumor had it that he was tired of commuting to his home inConnecticut from Los Angeles. But interestingly enough, Marshall's nextproject was another CBS show shot in Los Angeles, "Courthouse," in which heplayed a judge. "Courthouse" also has the distinction of featuring many ofthe crew from the first season of "Chicago Hope." "Quarantine" was nominated for an Emmy in editing, butsurprisingly, not for writing in a drama series. Just goes to prove thatmembers of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences can be dumb, deaf andblind on occasion.

"The Quarantine"


Date: 2015-12-11; view: 594


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