CATEGORIES:
BiologyChemistryConstructionCultureEcologyEconomyElectronicsFinanceGeographyHistoryInformaticsLawMathematicsMechanicsMedicineOtherPedagogyPhilosophyPhysicsPolicyPsychologySociologySportTourism
Summary for "Chicago Hope," the Premiere 9 pageIn Short: Laurie has a big surprise for Jeffrey. An inner-city doctor suspects his teenage patient may have breast cancer. Jeffrey convinces Aaron to do a controversial discussed brain operation on Laurie. Guest Starring: Kim Griest (as Laurie Geiger), Peter Berg (as Dr. Billy Kronk), Vondie Curtis-Hall (as Dr. Dennis Hancock), Diane Venora (as Dr. Geri Infante), Stephen Elliott (as Harold Aldrich), Elise Neal (as Tamara Parnett), Jeff Perry (as Gilbert Weeks), LaTanya Richardson (as Jan Parnett), Haunani Minn and Annette Helde Story: David E. Kelley, Dennis Cooper and Tony Graphia TOP Summary: Dr. Jeffrey Geiger is taken aback when Gilbert Weeks, a mentally ill patient with a Red Sox complex, asks for his wife Laurie's hand in marriage. Geiger grows even more incredulous when Laurie accepts the offer...and asks for a divorce. Realizing that his friend has come to his wit's end, Dr. Aaron Shutt informs Geiger of a controversial brain-surgery procedure performed only at Mass. General that might help cure Laurie's schizophrenia. Encouraged by the news, Geiger asks Shutt to perform the operation on his wife. Laurie consents to the operation, but Alan Birch has extreme reservations about a procedure that is considered by some little more than a lobotomy. Dr. Phillip Watters reluctantly gives the go-ahead. Gilbert, who is an attorney, pretends to be Laurie's fiancé and files suit in an effort to block the operation. In court, Birch cleverly drives Gilbert over the edge by mentioning Red Sox losses. Judge Aldrich rules in Birch's favor and the operation is once again scheduled. But when Geiger realizes that Laurie is truly in love with Gilbert, the procedure is cancelled. Meanwhile, Dr. Dennis Hancock, a physician with a private practice in an impoverished section of town, asks Dr. Billy Kronk for his opinion regarding Tamara Parnett, a 17-year-old with a retracted breast nipple. Kronk orders a mammogram despite the fact that Tamara's family has no insurance. The mammogram shows a mass in the breast. A biopsy confirms that the mass is cancerous. Tamara is shocked by the news, and even more so when she is told her entire breast must be removed. Despite the fact that his patient will die without the operation, Hancock discharges Tamara. Later, Watters visits Hancock's office and is taken aback by the run-down condition of the facility. He questions the doctor regarding his decision to release Tamara. He fears the hospital will be liable for the girl's death. But Hancock believes the girl will have a change of heart. As Watters leaves, he sees Tamara sitting in the waiting room. Hancock was right, after all. Impressed with the doctor's skill, Watters offers him a job at Chicago Hope and the option to continue his private practice with those in need. Dr. Geri Infante is asked to perform breast reconstruction surgery immediately after Tamara's mass is removed. Hancock believes it will help the pretty teenager psychologically when she awakens from anesthesia. The operation proceeds and the mass is successfully removed. Tamara is impressed with Infante's work and feels comfortable with the new breast. Hancock is also impressed with the work, and he accepts Watters' offer to practice medicine at Chicago Hope. TOP Facts: First appearance of Vondie Curtis-Hall as Dr. Dennis Hancock In the operating room before Laurie's operation is playing "Ain't too Proud to Beg" by The Temptations. (pretty much self-explaining Jeffrey would have liked to the operation by himself) TOP Quotes: Jeffrey is back from visiting Laurie. Aaron comes into Jeffrey's office: TOP Transcripts: After Laurie has told Jeffrey that she wants to marry Gilbert: After Gilbert challenge Jeffrey being the legal guardian for Laurie 15. Summary for "Life Support" CHICAGO HOPE, Season 1, Episode 1.5, "Life Support"Written by David E. Kelley and John Tinker; Story by John TinkerDirected by Lou AntonioOriginal Airdate, February 13, 1995 PRELUDE: SUNNY DAYS.Alan Birch is in the hospital nursery, singing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" tohis daughter, when Dr. Jeffrey Geiger comes in and tells Alan heneeds him for some legal matters involving bad news on a hearttransplant. When Alan asks Jeffrey if it can wait until he's finishedsinging to his daughter, Jeffrey says, "The spider dies frommelanoma because of the sun. Sing it to her later." PLOT ONE: ANYONE WANNA PLAY HEARTS?Geiger and Dr. Dennis Hancock, the new staff physician, both havepatients waiting for a heart transplant; only one heart is available.Geiger has promised his patient, Mike Fitzpatrick, that he is nextin line for the donor heart, but the Selection Committee has decidedto give the donor heart to Dr. Hancock's patient, Michael Brodeur,an older man with a wife and two grown children who is closer todeath than Fitzgerald. Since Hancock isn't a cardiothoracic surgeon,Geiger will have to perform the procedure, and inform his patient ofthe Selection Committee's decision. It soon becomes apparent thatMike has been waiting 2 years for a donor heart, and that this is thethird time he's lost out to another candidate. Mike's brother, Kevin, isvisibly shaken, asking Geiger, "Did you tell them he could be dead ina month?" Geiger responds, "We remain hopeful that another donorheart will become available." Kevin confronts Dr. Phillip Watters demanding answers, claimingthat politics have entered into the Selection Committee's decisionbased on who has the most money to donate to the hospital, butPhillip puts him off. Kevin then approaches Dr. Danny Nyland,demanding to see Geiger and becoming physically threatening,when Dr. Billy Kronk comes into the picture and pulls Kevin away.Upon learning that Geiger is in surgery, Kevin demands to know theidentity of the patient, but Nyland and Kronk won't reveal anything.Kevin's anger, fear and frustration are growing visibly. Kronk and Nyland are called away when a police officer is carriedinto the trauma center over his partner's shoulder. As the woundedofficer is moved to a gurney, his gun falls from his holster, unnoticedby anyone but Kevin, who picks it up and puts it inside his coat.The policeman, with multiple gunshot wounds, is clearly hanging onto his life by a thread. Kevin goes to Alan Birch's office and pulls the gun on him, takinghim hostage and demanding safe passage to the OR where thedonor heart is being harvested. Muttering, "This is not respect,"Alan leads Kevin out of his office, and, as the donor heart isremoved and placed on ice, walks with Kevin into the OR with thegun pointed at his head. Kevin demands that the harvesting surgeonpass the donor heart to Alan, and when Alan has it, they move on toGeiger's OR where Alan informs the surgeons that Kevin has takenthe donor heart hostage and is insisting that they transplant thedonor heart into his brother. Outside the OR, Phillip has called the police and a SWAT team hasarrived, but Kevin sees them through the windows of the OR. Geigertries to talk Kevin out of doing what he's doing, without success.Kevin does release Alan, who runs out of the OR and tells Phillipthat if Kevin sees the police again, he'll start shooting and that Kevinwants his brother Mike brought down and prepped for surgery. Onthe phone, Mike tries to talk Kevin down from his rage, but Kevinrefuses to give in. Back in his room, Mike Fitzgerald tells the police and Phillip thathis brother Kevin has some problems. He begs Phillip not to letanything happen to his brother, saying that he might be all Kevin'sgot, but Kevin is all he's got as well. In the OR, Geiger keeps talking. "Shoot me. Go ahead, Kevin. Onlyproblem is I'm the only one in here that can do the transplant. Thatgives me confidence." He tells Kevin that the other patient, Brodeur,will die if the donor heart isn't transplanted soon, but Kevin hasobviously learned a lot about heart transplants in the 2 years hisbrother has been waiting so he doesn't fall for the ruse. Out in thehallway, Kronk is begging Phillip to let him go in, that he can takeKevin out with one punch, but the police want one of the doctors inthe OR to maneuver Kevin into a corner so they can get a clear shotat him. Phillip insists that it's too early to start shooting. Geiger just won't stop talking, but when Hancock yells at him tokeep it to himself, Kevin loses his temper and orders everybody toshut up, realizing that it's taking too long for his brother to bebrought down to the OR. Phillip finally gets Geiger on the phoneand tells him to maneuver Kevin into a corner but Geiger refusesto take part in Kevin's death. Hancock announces that he's hadenough, tells Kevin to shut up, then gets on the phone and tellsWatters to get Kevin's brother down there immediately. Kevin shootsthe phone, severing outside communication. Pulling Jeffrey aside, Hancock tells him that as fine as surgeon ashe is, they're on Hancock's turf now. Geiger is insulted, "Nobodytalks to me like that!" But Hancock isn't intimidated, saying, "Well,it's time somebody did." Geiger responds, "Day one, you're sinkingfast." Hancock whispers, "My submarine; you do what I tell you." Finally, Kevin's brother is brought down to the OR. Mike begs Kevinnot to do this, that he doesn't want to live this way, but Kevin tellshim that it's their only chance. When Hancock tells Geiger thatthey're going to do the transplant on Mike Fitzpatrick, Jeffrey isstunned. Just the same, they start prepping Fitzgerald. Hancocktells Geiger to just keep going, then asks Kevin if he's sure this iswhat he wants. Kevin tells him that he has to save him, that hisbrother raised him, that his brother is all he's got. The surgeonsmake the first incision. Kevin, looking at his brother on the operating table, tells Mike thateverything is going to be okay, that "We're home free," eventhough Mike is sedated. Hancock announces that it's time for thetransplant. When Kevin asks why they're waiting, Hancock tellsKevin to step over to the table, then walks him over to Brodeur andtells him that Brodeur isn't any rich benefactor, just a guy who is inworse shape than Kevin's brother. Hancock forces Kevin to look atBrodeur and tells him that if the doctors do what Kevin wants,Brodeur will die, but that if Kevin will let them complete thetransplant on Brodeur, who has a wife and a son and a daughter whowill also suffer the consequences, Mike will live for another chance.Hancock yells at Kevin that he's got the gun and the power, butKevin just wants his brother to live; it's obvious that Kevin hasbecome emotionally distraught beyond any possible rationality.Hancock keeps pushing Kevin, telling him that he has the gun andthe power and that all he has to do is cock the gun and killBrodeur. Insisting that Kevin do something, Hancock nearly screamsat Kevin, "Make the call. Come on we've got 2 chests open. Makethe call! You've got the gun, make us kill him. Dammit make us killhim." Kevin, looking at his brother and then the doctors, says,"I love you so much, Michael. Good bye. My donor card's in mywallet, in my back pocket." Kevin shoots himself in the head, dyingas he falls, to everyone's horror. Despite their shock the surgeonsknow that Kevin's heart will be a match for his brother, and Geigerorders that the heart be harvested. The transplants go on. Geiger transplants the original donor heartinto Brodeur as Kevin's heart is being harvested by Drs. Hancockand Kronk. Completing the transplant for Brodeur, Geiger begins theprocess once again, transplanting Kevin's heart into his brother. PLOT TWO: THE SLUGFEST.Dr. Aaron Shutt is called upon to operate on the wounded cop, withNyland assisting. They are removing the slugs from the officer'sbody when one of them explodes in Nyland's hand, severing two ofhis fingers. Aaron orders everyone out of the room except for oneother doctor to watch the monitors, but Camille insists on staying,and Aaron finally relents. A member of the police bomb squad isdirected to scrub and get into the OR immediately. The slugs in thecop's body turn out to be "devastator" bullets, which are designed toexplode upon impact but which will sometimes remain intact if theyhit soft tissue. The bomb squad cop orders flak helmets and chestjackets for everyone in the room. Aaron continues to operate, but thebomb squad officer has now told him that squeezing any slug ordropping it could cause it to explode. When a bullet is found lodgedin a bone in the cop's back, Camille starts singing "Puff the MagicDragon" to Aaron, since his mother used to sing it to him and itcalms him, but Aaron asks her please not to sing right now. Stilltrying to remove the lodged bullet, Aaron says that he's just goingto have to pull it out, which he does, then promptly drops on thefloor. The slug doesn't explode on impact with the floor immediately-- only after everyone has caught their breath and calmed down.There is one more bullet to remove, and it's close to the sternum,when suddenly the cop goes into arrest. Aaron starts CPR eventhough the bullet could explode from the pressure Aaron is puttingon the policeman's chest. Camille begs him to stop, saying thatthere has to be a line somewhere, that they don't have to die justfor this one patient. Aaron tells her that he cannot let this cop die,and finally gets a pulse, as well as the last bullet a few minuteslater. The rest of the operating team is called in to close and cleanup, as Aaron and Camille hug each other in relief. PLOT THREE: AND WE THINK POLITICIANS ARE BLOODSUCKERS!Dr. Geri Infante has assured Nyland that she can reattach hisfingers, and Nyland insists on staying awake as she does so.Telling Nyland that although she thinks he'll be able to use hisfingers again, Geri also says that there's only a 30-40% chancethat he will be ever be able to perform surgery. To help speed hisrecovery, Geri wants to use leeches to suck the Venus bloodfrom Danny's fingers so that the stitches won't become swollen,but he wants no part of it. When Danny at last agrees, Geri placesa leech on his finger, saying "Oh, come on baby, that's the way,come on. Ooh, he was hungry." Geri, pleased with the leeches'work, tells Danny that she doesn't know if he'll be a surgeon again,but that he'll have the fingers. Finally, Dr. Ray Kadalski invadesDanny's room with a guitar, singing "High Hopes," as Danny,lying helplessly in a hospital bed, desperately calls for help. FINALE: PERSPECTIVE.As Drs. Geiger and Hancock are standing in the hallway, exhausted,Aaron comes by asking them about their day. Geiger tells him it wasthe same old stuff as usual. Aaron concurs, asking Jeffrey if he canbuy him a beer. Jeffrey accepts, and invites Hancock, but hedeclines and says that he has a patient. Jeffrey turns to Hancockand tells him that he'd go down in a submarine with him any day,and Hancock finally smiles. Alan is singing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" to Alicia again, and gets caughtin the act by Phillip. Alan points out that Alicia will be able to leavethe hospital soon, and that getting a gun pointed at your head canreally be therapeutic -- to remind you of what's important. WhenAlan asks Phillip if the spider in the song dies of cancer, and Phillipsays he doesn't think so, Alan tells Phillip that it's reallyinappropriate for Jeffrey to say the spider gets cancer. In the recovery room, Hancock tells Brodeur that there was a "minordelay" in the transplant, but that everything went okay. MikeFitzgerald is laying in the next bay, devastated and alone, but alive. Random Thoughts & Observations: When Geiger and Hancock first meet in the hallway, Wattersintroduces them to each other and informs Geiger that Hancockhas decided to work at Chicago Hope. All three doctors are awareof the situation involving the donor heart, but Hancock seems to bewholly unconcerned. Geiger chides him, suggesting that perhaps asmall shrug would at least be appropriate, but Hancock takesoffense, and tells Geiger that if he'll come by his office later, maybethen he can see the shrug. Phillip to Geiger, "I timed that. It onlytook 22 seconds for him to hate you." Geiger to Phillip, "That's nota new record." Excellent! Our house was ROTFL. At one point, Phillip has to inform Brodeur's family about the delayand the fact that the donor heart has been taken hostage. As theysit in the waiting area in disbelief, Phillip is interrupted by Alan,who has the wounded policeman's family in tow. They naturallyask if surgery has been stopped, but Phillip assures them thatsurgery is still ongoing, although somewhat gingerly because ofthe devastator bullets. Brodeur's wife interrupts with a questionabout the gunman, confusing the cop's family. This was a pricelessmoment and showed Hector Elizondo wearing his best "crisis mode"face, then walking away seemingly unperturbed. Alan's hosts a press conference since news of both the hostageheart and the wounded cop have leaked to the media. One of hisfirst statements is, "I'm in charge" -- reminiscent of Alexander Haig'spress conference after President Reagan was shot -- followed by aremark concerning Phillip's dealings with the "terrorist," Kevin.Alan's attempts to remain calm are belied by his words and bodylanguage. Peter MacNichol handled this brilliantly, conveying allthe feelings one might think Alan was experiencing at that moment. Line of the week, from Alan Birch: "It was a very big gun.""Life Support" In Short: Dr. Geiger faces a volatile situation when a donor heart he tabbed for one of his patients is redirected to one of Hancock's. Dr. Shutt and Camille work to remove high-tech bullets from a cop that might explode at any minute. Guest Starring: Diane Venora (as Dr. Geri Infante), Peter Berg (as Dr. Billy Kronk), Vondie Curtis-Hall (as Dr. Dennis Hancock), Allen Garfied (as Dr. Ray Kadalski), Scott Burkholder (as Michael Brodeur), Chris Penn (as Kevin Fitzpatrick), Joe Polito (as Detective Ranford), Herb Mitchell, Monte Russell and Richard Gilbert-Hill Story: John Tinker TOP Summary: The doctors inform Michael Fitzpatrick, a man in his 30s who is awaiting a heart-transplant operation, and his brother Kevin that a hospital committee opted to give a donor organ to another candidate, Michael Broudeur. Outraged that his brother will die within a month if a new heart does not become available, Kevin confronts Dr. Daniel Nyland, pinning him against a wall. But before the confrontation escalates, police officer Dominik Hasek rushes into the hospital carrying his badly wounded partner, Tom Barasso. During the confusion, Officer Hasek's gun falls to the floor — and it is snapped up, unnoticed, by Kevin. Kevin takes Alan Birch hostage and demands he be led to the operating room where the heart-transplant procedure is underway. Birch complies with the demand; the nurses give Kevin the heart and he marches into the O.R. where Dr. Jeffrey Geiger is at work. Kevin takes everyone in the operating room hostage. A SWAT team surrounds the area. Kevin insists that his brother be prepped for surgery so the heart can be transplanted. In another room, Nyland and Camille Shutt work feverishly to save the life of the bullet-ridden police officer. Suddenly, a shot rings out. Nyland, writhing in pain, realizes he has been shot in the hand, almost severing two of his fingers. Doctors rush Nyland into surgery. Enter explosives expert Edward Robb, who explains that bullets called "devastators" are designed to explode on impact. But if they become lodged in soft tissue, they remain intact until triggered. Realizing they are dealing with a ticking human bomb, Dr. Aaron Shutt orders everyone out of the O.R. But Camille bravely remains behind to pass him instruments. The surgeon begins removing a bullet that is lodged near a bone and must be extracted with the utmost precision or it will explode. Shutt successfully removes the projectile from the body, but accidentally drops it. It hits the floor and explodes but, luckily, no one is injured. With great concentration, Shutt removes the last bullet and hands it to Robb. Detective Bill Ranford insists to Dr. Phillip Watters that shooting Kevin is the only way to guarantee the safety of the O.R. hostages. But Geiger refuses to cooperate with the plan. Suddenly, Dr. Dennis Hancock takes over and orders the operation on Michael Fitzpatrick to begin. This surprises everyone, especially Ranford. Dr. Geri Infante repairs the damage to Nyland's hand. Although she suspects that Nyland will have use of all his fingers, she believes the probability of his ever operating again is only 30 to 40 percent. Using a leech, Infante draws blood from Nyland's fingers to aid in the healing process. Michael Fitzpatrick is wheeled into the operating room and the surgeons prep him for the transplant. But Hancock makes Kevin look at Broudeur, the other patient. Hancock assures him that without the heart, Broudeur will die. At his wit's end, Kevin puts the gun to his head and squeezes the trigger, killing himself. Hancock immediately orders that Kevin's heart be prepped for transplant into his brother. The hearts are successfully transplanted and both Michael Broudeur and Michael Fitzpatrick survive. TOP Facts: TOP Quotes: Birch is singing "Itsy-Bitsy Spider" to Alicia when Geiger walks in: TOP Transcripts: Phillip: (introducing the doctors) Dennis Hancock. Perhaps you met before? Geiger and Hancock are ready to perform the heart transplant on Michael Brodeur when Kevin Fitzpatrick comes in with Birch at gunpoint. He demands that the donor heart be given to his brother: After Hancock demands that Michael Fitzpatrick be sent down: After the transplants are done Jeffrey leans exhausted at the wall 16. Summary for "Freeze Outs" CHICAGO HOPE, EPISODE 1.16 "Freeze Outs" Air date: 2/20/95 Written by David E. Kelley & Dennis Cooper Directed by Dennis Dugan Dr. Jeffrey Geiger is in the autopsy room examining a corpse's heart when Dr. Geri Infante walks in. "I've got him after you," she tells Geiger. "The consent was just to examine the heart." Geiger doesn't look up as he checks out the organ. "The widow said I could. I'm trying out a new rhinoplasty." Infante takes a closer look at the corpse. "Wait a second. I think I already did this guy once." "Referring to his nose?" Geiger asks. "Ha-ha." She continues examining the dead man. "No, not mine, but it is good work," she says. "Geri, I'm going to be a while here." He doesn't take his concentration off the corpse for a second. "What can I do for you?" Infante takes a deep breath. "I want us to sleep together." Geiger's scalpel slices right through the heart. "It's a good thing the guy was already dead," he mutters. "I'm sorry, but I know you," Infante says. "Once you're inside somebody's chest 'How about lunch' doesn't get your attention." Geiger focuses all his attention on Infante. "Is that what you really want? Lunch?" "Today? Yeah. Next time, maybe dinner. And then, maybe dinner and a movie. After that, maybe we do sleep together." "Is this how you ask men out?" "I never ask men out," she says indignantly. "The problem is you're not going to and you're the man I want to see." "Well, I'm very flattered, but I don't like you," he says. Infante smiles. "Yes, you do. I wouldn't antagonize you so much if you didn't like me. At least a little." She points to the cadaver on the table. "Jeffrey, you need to get out more. You're playing with corpses. Male corpses." "It would be unprofessional for us to date," Geiger stalls. "You're a senior surgeon. It would interfere with my sexually harassing the nurses." "There is some kind of chemistry between you and me. There has been for ten years," she argues. "You and me?" he asks, dumbfounded. "You're afraid I'll be too much for you. You're probably right," she agrees. "I don't want to put you down, but emotionally you're a child. You're afraid to cross the street for fear of being run over." "I heard that in a song. I think the Carpenters." He stares at the woman in front of him. "I'm offering to help you get across the street, Jeffrey. I'm willing to hold your hand the whole way," she offers. "You and me?" he repeats. "You and me," she concurs. Stunned, Geiger stares at her. * * * Dr. Dennis Hancock informs his patient, Mr. Ellis, that his T-cell count is 49. He can make Mr. Ellis comfortable for six months, mostly with drugs. Hancock tells him they could fight it and give him about a year to live, but it won't be comfortable. Mr. Ellis admits he wouldn't feel ''comfortable'' just surrendering to the AIDS. Hancock is willing to help him look into alternative methods. He knows of some experimental procedures in the hospital, if Mr. Ellis is interested. The way Mr. Ellis figures, he has nothing to lose. He asks Hancock to sign him up. * * * Geiger and Aaron Shutt walk quickly through the hospital corridors. Geiger fills in Shutt on the conversation with Infante. He wants Shutt to come with him on the date. He doesn't do well when talking to women, Geiger tells him. Shutt disagrees. Geiger talks to women all the time, he points out. Geiger explains the problem with this one is that she talks back. He insists Shutt come along. If it doesn't work out, Geiger can leave and she'll still have someone to talk to, he says. He's trying to be considerate. He begs Shutt not to make him say please. He hates that word. Dr. Billy Kronk bursts between them suddenly and runs into the ER. Geiger and Shutt quickly follow to see what's wrong. Paramedics bring in a young boy on a stretcher. He had been submerged underwater for approximately three hours. The doctors rush to try and save the child. Shutt sadly says, "He looks gone." * * * "He is not gone,'' Dr. Phillip Watters assures the reporters assembled before him. ''When a person has been under the ice as long as this boy, he goes into hypothermia, which resembles death. But, by warming the core, it's possible to bring him back." "Even after he's been dead for three hours?" asks one reporter. "Again, hypothermia stops the heart and brain before there is permanent damage. But, it's possible to bring them back with a slow warming," Watters says. The reporter shoves a microphone in front of Watters. "What is this about cutting off his hands and feet?" Watters looks at him disgustedly. "Why am I talking to you?'' He walks away. * * * As Dr. Watters strides by, he sees the boy's mother at the nursing station desk, trying frantically to get some information. "Where's my son?" she implores. Dr. Watters steers her to another area to explain what's happening. * * * Dr. Danny Nyland rushes to help the child. Nurse Maggie Atkisson shows him a tube of blood they took from the boy. It's black. Kronk, Shutt and Geiger continue trying to get the boy's heart to beat. Nyland pumps the boy's chest while Kronk performs a tracheotomy. After the boy starts breathing, a paramedic informs Nyland that the child's ear fell off. Nyland gives it to Maggie. He tells her to store it on ice and not to lose it. Maggie looks disgusted, but rushes to put it in a plastic bag. * * * Shutt and Geiger review the boy's X-rays. Shutt has to evacuate, he says, but not until the boy's heart starts beating. On their way to the elevator, they run into Infante. She asks Geiger if their date is still set. He nods and tells her Shutt is coming, too, that he thought it would be more fun if they all went. Infante smiles. As they wait for the elevator, a beeper sounds. They all check, but it's Infante who has been paged. Before she leaves, she tells Shutt and Geiger to go out by themselves without her. She's sure they'll have a great time. Shutt tells Geiger he gets the feeling she didn't want him along. Geiger laughs as they get on the elevator. * * * In Dr. Hancock's office, he and hospital counsel Alan Birch try to persuade researcher Diane Grad to take Mr. Ellis on as a patient. Her caseload is full and she refuses. Birch doesn't understand why she can't add one more. Mr. Ellis reminds her that he is dying. Grad understands, but said it doesn't distinguish him from her other patients. Hancock can't believe how coldly she is reacting. She wishes Mr. Ellis the best and leaves. Birch says he'll take the matter up with Watters. * * * Kronk tries to comfort the boy's mother. They don't know if there will be permanent brain damage yet. She asks if there's still a chance. When he says there's still some hope, she begs him not to give up. Kronk assures her they won't. * * * Watters once again is surrounded by reporters. "The boy is still critical. When we know more, we'll tell you," Watters says. Seeing Dr. Grad, he walks away and pulls her aside. "How much would it hurt to add one more patient to your AIDS experiment?" he asks. "A lot," she answers. "The thing is, I explained to Dr. Hancock when he came to this hospital that the facilities at Chicago Hope would be available to him." "Well, please assure Dr. Hancock that had Mr. Ellis been your patient, Dr. Phillip Watters, Chief of Staff, the answer would still be no." "Dr. Grad, there is a time for politics and a time to just be a doctor." She smiles. "Which one of those times are we enjoying at the moment?" "I'd twist your arm, but you're a researcher. It might break," Watters snaps. "Oooh." Grad pantomimes a concerned face. Infante walks up to them. "You paged?" Watters turns his attention to her. "A patient's ear fell off. Put it back on." He stalks off leaving Infante and Grad looking puzzled. * * * Nyland keeps pumping the heart with no results. He quietly tells Kronk that the child, Brian, was submerged for three hours. Kronk refuses to accept there is no hope. He instructs Nyland to keep pumping. Kronk uses paddles on the boy, but his heart's still not pumping. Kronk wants to put hot water on the heart. Geiger arrives and tells him it probably won't help, but that he should give it a try. * * * In Birch's office, Birch, Mr. Ellis, Hancock, and Watters try unsuccessfully to persuade Dr. Grad to accept Mr. Ellis as her patient. She explains it would compromise her research. He needs a bone marrow transplant. It's too expensive. His insurance company will review his case, but by the time they make a decision he'd be dead. Watters points out that her research wouldn't be too costly. She disagrees. Her grants are based on success. A high death rate could ruin things. It all comes down to money, she tells them. Mr. Ellis tells her he understands and agrees with her policy, but he begs her to make an exception. * * * While Geiger tries to explain performing open surgery to the boy's mother, Infante walks by. Geiger informs Dr. Infante that as soon as they get circulation, she can sew the ear back. Infante coldly tells him that if he doesn't want to date her, he should just say so instead of inviting friends along. He denies he did that, but Infante doesn't buy it. * * * Dr. Hancock tries one more time to persuade Grad. He finds her repugnant. Why can't she leave Mr. Ellis out of the statistics? Grad maintains it would ruin her project's integrity. She's trying to save thousands of lives and he's trying to save one, she says. She informs him of another treatment that isn't part of her research. She could inject the patient with malaria. They explain the procedure to Mr. Ellis. He asks why she's suddenly helpful. She explains that researchers are told not to get personally involved, but that Dr. Hancock had put a face to this patient. They'll need approval, it's very controversial and might not work, she cautions. Mr. Ellis wants to give it a shot. * * * They try to convince Watters to allow it, but it's too risky and controversial. He orders them not to do it. * * * Hancock and Grad try to convince Mr. Ellis to sell his life insurance policy. He could get $60-70,000, easy. Birch arrives and is surprised to see Mr. Ellis hasn't checked out yet. He tells them that he is worried that they will still perform the malaria procedure. Birch knows they can get the patient to sign a waiver and that it would be considered humane by many people. However, the chief of staff said no. As house counsel, he must respect Dr. Watters' decision. He repeats pointedly that he just wants to make sure they understood that he was concerned that they would do it without anybody knowing. They all smile and Birch leaves. * * * Ellis is injected with malaria. It doesn't take long before Ellis is shaking with a high fever. Hancock is by his side when Birch checks on him. Hancock tells him Mr. Ellis seems to have become very sick with a high fever. Birch says he's heard. He suggests that it might be a flu. Hancock agrees. Birch shouldn't stay, Hancock says, they wouldn't want him to become infected. Mr. Ellis quietly thanks Birch before he leaves. * * * Geiger struts down the hall, when Infante pops out of one of the operating rooms. "Jeffrey, you better give it to me or it'll shrivel up and die," Infante holds out her hand. "What?" he asks, confused, backing away. "The ear? If we don't reattach it soon, it won't stay viable." "Oh, as soon as we get circulation," he bumps into a wall and rubs his arm. "As soon as we get the heart pumping." "Why are you so afraid of me all of a sudden?" she asks. "I'm not afraid of you. Why should I be afraid of you? That's silly. I"m not afraid." He walks away, mumbling to himself. "Ridiculous." He backtracks to Infante's surgical room. "All right, I admit it. I'm scared of you." "Why?" she asks. "I have this thing about intimacy. I hate it," he admits. "OK. Why?" she repeats. "Afraid underneath it all, I'm mentally ill. If no one knows about it, I can function. If I let someone get close to me, she'll know I'm nuts. People look at me like I'm nuts, I'll feel like I'm nuts. Suddenly I'm not functional anymore." He paces. "Fighting against intimacy seems like a good way to keep my insanity secret." "That you're insane, do you really think that's a secret?'' Infante scoffs. ''Jeffrey Geiger is insane. Now, there's a news bulletin." She laughs. "See? I offer a little bit of candor and you use it like a weapon to bludgeon me. There's a word for people like you. What is it?'' He pretends to think. "Ah, yes. Woman." "Aren't you relieved I know you're crazy?" she asks, unfazed. "Think about it. I know you're nuts. That *has* to be an enormous relief." * * * Shutt performs brain surgery on Brian. His vital signs don't look good. Geiger, who is operating simultaneously, asks that the bypass pump be turned off. The nurse complies. The boy's heart lies still. After a moment, Kronk suggests pacing him. Geiger forestalls him. There's nothing as strong as a 12-year-old heart, Geiger assures him. Suddenly, the heart jerks and begins to pump. Geiger reminds the hospital crew that they still have a long way to go. He pulls off his mask and gloves and tells Infante she's up next. * * * Kronk brings tea to Brian's mother. He explains to her that the heart is now beating. They still don't know if there will be permanent brain damage. His brain is very swollen. He was deprived of oxygen for more than three hours. The heart is beating and he assures her that's a start. There's nothing to do now but wait. It's not in their hands anymore, he tells her. * * * Infante reattaches Brian's ear. Shutt and Geiger watch. Camille assists. Once she's finished, Geiger tells her it could be hours before they know anything else. He asks if she'd like to grab a bite. Just the two of them, he adds. Shutt volunteers, "I'm free." Geiger tells him to shut up. "What do you say?" he prods Infante. "Sure," she responds. Camille smirks. Geiger rolls his eyes at her. * * * Birch insists Watters speak at a press conference. Watters refuses, but Shutt is more than willing. Birch gives him a few pointers, "Talk cautious, yet optimistic. Hopeful, with the appropriate degree of gravity--and wear a suit." Shutt pushes his face into Birch's. "What would I do without you?" he asks sarcastically. Watters smiles, "Not respect." * * * Geiger and Infante go to a plush restaurant on their first date. Geiger tells her about a 12-year-old cardiac patient of his while his foot bounces nervously under the table. The kid had a heart of an 80-year-old, he says. He asks if she would like to see the article and abruptly gets up. It's buried in his trunk, he says. He'll go get it. Infante tells him she'll see it later. Geiger sits back down. His foot resumes its shaking under the table. * * * Kronk, Nyland and Camille place leeches on Brian's ear to suck the blood. One drops on the floor. They argue about who should pick it up. Kronk steps on it. Nyland is afraid they'll get letters. * * * Geiger and Infante return to Geiger's office. He tries a smile. It was a nice dinner, he says. Infante disagrees. She thinks it was horrible. They were both nervous and it was excruciating, she says, instead of coffee, he wanted to come back to the hospital. Geiger explains he had to come back to monitor the boy's heart. ''Otherwise I'd, uh . . . you know, I'd . .uh . . . I'd love to . . .'' Geiger falters. Infante smiles brightly, ''OK, I'll take a raincheck on the . . . otherwise.'' Infante turns to leave, but Geiger stops her at the door. ''Geri.'' She turns around. ''Do you really think this is . . .'' Geiger stops and closes his eyes. ''Never mind.'' "I can't stand this," she tells him. "Somebody has to make a move here." "Please let it be you," he whispers. Infante crosses the room and kisses him. He doesn't respond. She draws back and pats his chest. ''This is how it works, '' she begins carefully. ''I kind of put my lips onto yours and squish them around a little. And you sort of squish yours around too.'' Geiger smiles. Infante grins in response. ''Look at that,'' she says. She starts to kiss him again, he kisses her back. She pulls his hands out of his pockets and puts them on her hips. Her arms move over his shoulders. Finally, they get the hang of it. * * * At Brian's bedside, his mother, Kronk, Watters, Nyland look to see if he's made any progress. His mother is concerned about the leeches. They assure her they prevent the blood from clotting. * * * With lips locked, Geiger and Infante start removing each other's clothes. She reminds him it's supposed to be a first date. He stops, apologizes,then they start again. Suddenly, Geiger starts to choke. He's swallowed her earring. She can't believe he swallowed a diamond stud. She wants it back. Geiger clutches his stomach in pain and keels over. Infante and Watters wheel Geiger on a gurney to X-ray. Watters asks, "What did he swallow? A Bug?" "Could have been a bug. Could have been a diamond earring. Will you stop asking so many questions Philip," Infante shouts. The three of them review Geiger's x-ray. "That's an earring, all right. How'd it get in there?" Watters asks. "It's not important," Geiger tells him. "Here's what is, I'm not in any pain at the moment." "I'd like to use an endoscope. It's an heirloom." Infante insists. "You can't do an endoscope. It's halfway into my abdomen," Geiger protests. "I want the earring." Watters adds his two cents. "You should be able to pass it." "Like hell," Infante yells. "It's more than a carrot. I saw fantastic voyage. Loved it, but that earring is not making the voyage you're talking about and ending up on my ear." "How did you manage to swallow it?" Watters asks again. "Never mind," Geiger shouts. "Geri, I'm going to take a suppository, followed by a nice cup of steaming coffee, chased by a bran muffin and 16 ounces of prune juice." "It's an antique," she says. Geiger asks her, "Want to see it again or not?" "How did you . . ." Watters tries again. Geiger and Infante simultaneously yell, "Never mind!" "Phillip, regardless of how I ingested the jewelry, I'd appreciate you not revealing this incident around the hospital," Geiger tells him as he leads Infante out the door. Watters mumbles to himself, "Who would believe it?" * * * Infante watches as Geiger downs the coffee, prune juice and muffins. He insists, "I'm nothing if not regular. At least in this respect." He asks, "Can I ask how is it you happen to be wearing a family heirloom?" "They were locked up in the safe in my office. I figured I'd throw them on for our little date because . . ." she becomes embarrassed and stops. Geiger takes her hand. "So, I swallowed your earring. You and me. If we're going to date, I'm sure we'll hit snags. So I swallowed your earring. This too shall pass." Infante laughs. They kiss. * * * Shutt, Camille, Birch, Watters, Nyland, Kronk and Brian's mother anxiously watch Brian. They are sure he squeezed his mother's fingers. They did a needle prick, but it was negative. Watters instructs Nyland to try again. He does. Geiger and Infante come running through the door. They inquire after the boy's condition. Camille tells Infante, "Your ear looks great." Confused, Infante reaches to her earringless ear. Camille shakes her head, "No that one." She points to Brian and Infante smiles uncertainly. They all try to get Brian's attention. "Brian can you hear me?" "Brian. Look at me." "Can you hear me?" "Blink if you can hear me," Shutt tells him. Brian blinks. "That's a blink," Kronk shouts enthusiastically. "Patient is awake." Brian tries to speak and looks around. "Mom." They all smile for the young boy and his mother. * * * Alan Birch speaks on behalf of the hospital at a news conference. "He's awake. We are expecting a full recovery. No permanent brain damage." Meanwhile, on another floor of the hospital, Mr. Ellis watches the news conference on TV about the miracle at Chicago Hope. Grad enters, adjusts his covers and leaves. Ellis shakes, as he lies alone in his hospital bed waiting for another miracle."Freeze Cuts" Date: 2015-12-11; view: 619
|