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Summary for "Chicago Hope," the Premiere 12 pageIn Short: Dr. Kronk uses extreme measures to save a life at an auto accident. Dr. Shutt finds himself on a collision course with Watters when the chief of staff learns of Shutt's plans for treating a man with Parkinson's disease. Dr. Nyland's a mess after presiding over an operation on an old flame that results in the removal of a healthy adrenal gland. Guest Starring: Peter Berg (as Dr. Billy Kronk), Jayne Brook (as Dr. Diane Grad), Vondie Curtis-Hall (as Dr. Dennis Hancock), Robin Lively (as Maggie Atkisson), Marcia Gay Harden (as Barbara Tomlinson), David Barry Gray (as John Sagonner), David Marshall Grant (as Stephen Tomlinson), Sally Murphy, Susan Gibney, Bernard Hocke and Miguel Perez Story: David E. Kelley and Wayne W. Grody, Ph.D. TOP Summary: Drs. Dennis Hancock and Billy Kronk share a pitcher of beer at a local bar. On the ride home, the doctors notice paramedics attending to a man who has been critically injured in a car accident. Realizing that the man has only minutes to live, Kronk grabs a chain saw from one of the firefighters at the scene and amputates the victim's leg. The man, John Saggoner, is rushed to the emergency room for further treatment. Shortly thereafter, Kronk is approached by a police officer who witnessed the amputation and notices the smell of alcohol on Kronk's breath. The officer arrests Kronk for suspicion of driving under the influence. Kronk passes the breathalyzer test but Roberta Johnson, a deputy district attorney, feels compelled to look into the case. Hancock points out that if Kronk is prosecuted, it will send a message to all doctors that they should avoid volunteering to save the injured. The D.A.'s office sees the wisdom in his argument, and does not press charges. When Saggoner regains consciousness and realizes his leg was amputated, he tells Kronk that he wishes he was dead. Now unable to pursue his football career, Saggoner accepts a lucrative offer from a tabloid magazine to tell his incredible story. In another case, Allison Hook, who suffers from acute distress, is wheeled into the emergency room. Dr. Daniel Nyland recognizes Allison, a former paramour, and comes to her aid. After blood and urine tests are run, Dr. Jeffrey Geiger concludes that Allison has a microscopic tumor in her adrenal gland, one that cannot be detected using X rays. Geiger successfully removes the gland, but Nyland is furious when Allison's condition continues to deteriorate. Nyland suspects that Geiger misdiagnosed which gland had the tumor, and is distressed that now the second gland must also be removed. When Geiger discovers fresh needle marks on Allison's skin, he realizes she has been injecting herself with a drug to simulate the illness. Nyland tells Allison that she suffers from a psychological illness called Munchausen's syndrome, and came very close to having both her adrenal glands removed. But Allison is unconcerned about her health — she is too infatuated with Nyland to care. Yet another delicate case finds Camille and Dr. Aaron Shutt presented with Stephan and Barbara Tomilson, a married couple in their late thirties. Stephan, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, announces that he and his wife have received a court order allowing them to obtain a fetal tissue transplant. Since Stephan's hypertension rules out his candidacy for a fetal tissue donation, the couple wishes to use Barbara's fetus for the operation. The hospital's review board approves the procedure, and with Camille at Barbara's side, the abortion and the fetal tissue transplant are performed. TOP Facts: While Jeffrey operates on Mr. Sagonner you hear: "Gimme some Money"by the Spinal Tap TOP Quotes Phillip and Aaron are fighting before the comittee about the operation on the Parkinson patient. Aaron finally succeeds. TOP Transcripts: Phillip, Jeffrey and Dennis are operating on the man whom Billy has cut off the leg: Geiger is examining Allison, Nyland's patient and ex-girlfriend: Jeffrey leaves Danny and bumps into Birch and Kronk 20. "The Virus" In Short: A public-health official threatens to close the hospital as staff members race to isolate the source of a deadly bacteria that's invaded the OR. A distraught Dr. Infante turns to Dr. Geiger for support. Guest Starring: Diane Venora (as Dr. Geri Infante), Peter Berg (as Dr. Billy Kronk), Jayne Brook (as Dr. Diane Grad), Stephen Elliott (as Harold Aldrich), Matt McGrath, Ken Jenkins, Margaret Gibson, Walter Addison, Caroline Lagerfelt and C.J. Bau Story: David E. Kelley, Thomas M. Heric, M.D., and D. Gareth Wootton, M.D. TOP Summary: The doctors grow concerned when several patients who recently underwent surgery exhibit signs of infection. Dr. Geri Infante is devastated when one of her patients, a man who had a facelift, dies from septic shock. When two other patients die from post-op infection, the physicians begin to panic. Dr. Diane Grad immediately begins disinfecting lab animals used within the hospital for medical research. She vehemently denies that the animals could be the source of the contagion. Dr. Scott Callahan, the Chief Resident, walks too close to a hungry alligator and is bitten. He is rushed to surgery for treatment. Alan Birch and Dr. Phillip Watters meet with Stanley McGhee, a Health Marshall who threatens to close the facility within 24 hours unless the source of infection is identified. At their wits' end, and nearing hysteria, the doctors accuse one another of being the source of infection. When another patient dies, McGhee orders the immediate closure of the hospital. Birch and Watters approach Judge Aldrich for an extension, but they are denied the request and thoroughly humiliated. Lab tests soon reveal that Callahan has contracted a lethal disease, caused by the infamous flesh-eating bacteria. The source of this bacteria? Possibly the alligator, but tests eventually rule out that theory. Still reeling from her patient's death, Infante asks Dr. Jeffrey Geiger to embrace her. Geiger does so reluctantly; he later reveals that since his break-up with his wife, Laurie, he has a deep fear of commitment. He believes that anyone who loves him will end up leaving him, and he still senses a deep devotion to Laurie — despite the fact that she divorced him. Dr. Aaron Shutt admits to Geiger that he is jealous of Geiger's relationship with Infante, but nonetheless encourages him to pursue her. Callahan becomes hysterical when the physicians decide his hand must be amputated. But Geiger devises an alternate plan and, with Infante's help, irrigates the limb with antibacterial fluids. The disease is neutralized and Callahan's hand is saved. Lab results reveal that Grad herself — and not her animals — is the source of infection, as she is the carrier of a virulent form of strep throat. The physicians realize that everyone who became ill had been in contact with either Grad or her lab workers. With the crisis resolved, McGhee grants permission for the hospital to reopen. Geiger and Infante, having worked through their emotional traumas, embrace one another. TOP Facts: "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park."by Tom Lehrer (this song was originally composed by an Austrian named Georg Kreisler - Tom Lehrer heard the song and was so fascinated that he translated it into English making the song famous in America, too). It can be found on his album: An evening (wasted) with Tom Lehrer. TOP Quotes: Geri: Well then, Jeffrey, why don't you just go to hell? TOP Transcripts: Jeffrey: Tom Lehrer. 21. Summary for "Full Moon" HOPE, EPISODE 1.21"Full Moon"Air date: 5/15/95Written by David E. Kelley and Dennis CooperDirected by James Frawley Dr. Aaron Shutt bursts into Dr. Jeffrey Geiger's office. ''Jeffrey? Michael's got his rhythm back, I've got tickets, and we are onthe floor! . . . . What the hell is this?'' Geiger looks up frome where he is seated on the floor, surrounded by traintracks. ''Train set,'' he replies. ''I like trains. This isn't new.'' Shutt proceeds cautiously. ''Can I ask a stupid question?'' ''What's a North Shore Chessie doin' haulin' a LeHigh Valley, I know. Ijust wanted to see how it looked, I'm not leavin' it like that, that'd becrazy,'' Geiger assures him. ''No,'' Shutt says. ''My question is, how do you bring patient in hereand gently inform him he has congestive heart failure with a steam locomotivechugging through his legs?'' Hospital counsel Alan Birch enters. ''We're busy! '' Geiger barks. Birch stops dead upon seeing the trains. ''Oh!'' ''We're busy!'' Geiger repeats. But Birch is fascinated. ''Oh! It's an old gauge trainmaster!'' Hehunkers down next to them. ''Oh my God, it can't be the-the 23-21. Oh, myGod it is!'' ''You know these trains?'' Geiger asks. ''Do I know 'em?'' Birch repeats incredulously. '' [something something]Fairbanks-Morse. Where did you get this?'' ''And it's mint,'' Geiger boasts. ''The maroon roof. I know! It's a classic!'' Birch enthuses. ''Check out the Western-Pacific . . . That's the 64 car. That's the64-64,'' Geiger points out. ''I got the [something] with the rubber-stamped 'L','' Birch tells him. ''You like trains, Alan?'' Geiger asks. ''Yes!'' ''You like Lionel Steamers?'' he asks. ''This is the first time I'mhearin' this.'' ''You've got the whole '54 set here,'' Birch says. ''Jeffrey,'' he lowershis voice solemnly. ''May I?'' ''Hee hee hee hee. Alan, it would be my honor.'' Geiger hands Birch thecontrols. ''Now, not too fast.'' He gets up and stands beside Shutt. ''Yes!'' Birch exclaims. Geiger watches him, grinning ear to ear. ''You believe that?'' he asksShutt. ''I'm . . . stunned,'' Shutt says. Dr. Geri Infante enters the office. ''Jeffrey . . .'' She sees Birch onthe floor giggling with the trains. ''Oh, of course!'' she says. ''Why am Isurprised?'' Birch chortles away. ''Heh heh heh heh!'' Infante turns to Geiger: ''Can I have a minute?'' Geiger grabs Shutt's arm. ''Uh, actually, Aaron needs me at the moment, heneeds me.'' Infante eyes his hand. ''Why are you grabbing him?'' ''I'm not grabbing him, he came in here for a consult. It's urgent. Tellher, I'm not grabbin'.'' ''Um. . . . this is a clutch,'' Shutt explains. Infante turns back to Geiger. ''You say you wanna make a go of this. Yousay you wanna try. You and me.'' ''Geri!" Geiger protests. "Aaron's here." ''Yes, because you won't let him go,'' she says. She turns to Shutt. ''You're his best friend. Does he ever get intimate with you?'' ''Uh, this is about it,'' Shutt says. She turns back to Geiger. ''You know, I have accepted all your lunacy, Ihave bought into the whole baggage, but every time we get close to some kindof consummation, you lay down another track in here!'' She turns to Shutt again. ''Let me ask you: is he ever going to sleepwith me?'' ''Oh, I'm . . . sure he will,'' Shutt replies uncomfortably. ''Jeffrey, I am at the end,'' Infante continues. ''We're both grown ups. I want to have an adult relationship. I really, really do. If that meansno sex, it's OK. It's fine. But I need to feel like we're together. Ican't keep killing my patients just to squeeze a little . . . tenderness outof you. We are adults.'' In the background, Birch chortles away. ''Heh heh heh heh heh . . . Whereis this? Oh, track one.'' Infante looks over at him. ''Maybe not,'' she says, just before sheleaves. ''I don't know about her, Aaron," Geiger says, watching her thoughtfully. "Seems crazy." ''Yeah. Uh, can I have my arm back now, please?'' Geiger lets him go, and he leaves. Geiger turns back to Birch.''Press one. Hit the one. There you go. Hit Track 3. Track 10.'' Thetrain whistle blows. ''Yeeeaaahhhhhh!'' "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" is playing in the O.R. as Geiger finishes up aprocedure. "Suction once, suction twice. Clamp once, clamp twice. Move 'em up. Another bypass, another survivah. When do I get to go on 'Nova'?" Geigerjokes. He spots Infante in the scrub room, and dashes out to speak with her. Shetells him she is face-lifting a nun in three minutes. The nun had won theprocedure at a church raffle. ''All right, lemme--lemme say this fast, which is good, 'cause it soundsless crazy when it's clipped,'' Geiger starts. ''My intimacy problem stillhas to do with the fidelity issue with Laurie, which as you correctly pointout, I should no longer have, but I do, which is nuts, which goes to myinsanity which you willingly signed up for when you chose to get int imate,taken it was something I was capable of. Are you with me?'' ''Not even close,'' Infante says. ''All right, here's the deal. I feel I could get by this if I hadLaurie's blessing, which again, I know is ridiculous, but that's the thingabout feelings, they can't always be legislated by common sense.'' ''Uh huh,'' Infante prompts. ''Getting Laurie's blessing wouldn't be a problem She would love to thinkthat I was happy, I know this. So much so I really shouldn't need theblessing at all, that goes without saying. But I want it nonetheless, whichagain is evidence of the insanity *you* found so endearing.'' ''Jeffrey? Sweetie? Honeybunch?'' Infante coos. ''I have an unconsciousnun waiting for a new chin.'' ''I want us to have dinner with Laurie," Geiger continues. "She'll loveyou, she'll love us. So much so . . . I'll become unblocked." ''You want me to have dinner with your ex-wife?'' Infante asks. ''Tonight,'' Geiger confirms. ''I already spoke to her. They'll--they'lllet her out of the academy as long as she has security with her. I got theback room at Delphini's. Just pasta. She's not dangerous with soft food.'' ''I think it might be better if you just . . . play with your trains.'' ''You two will love each other. It'll be great!'' He kisses her over hermask and runs out of the room. ''Don't rush your scrubs!'' ''I--I have Bulls tickets, all right?'' Shutt fulminates in Geiger'soffice. ''The game starts in--'' Geiger interrupts. ''Do I ask you for much? I think I don't. Do I ask yafor much? Do I? Why do I have to ask questions three times just to get asimple answer, Aaron? Do I ask ya for much? There, four times! I, uh, Ican't speak.'' ''Jeffrey . . . '' Shutt begins. In the background, the train whistle blows. ''Fabulous! Hahahahahahaha!''Birch howls. Shutt grabs Geiger and propels him into his own office, flinging him downonto a chair. Shutt carefully tells him he needs to get professional help. He says that Geiger shouldn't need him to referee between his ex-wife andhis girlfriend, nor does he need to get Laurie's blessing. Geiger argues that he knows exactly what is going on with him, so hedoesn't need a shrink to help him figure it out. He simply does not want tohurt Laurie. They have had a parent-child relationship ever since she drowntheir baby six years ago, and she was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Geigertells Shutt that if Laurie sees Shutt and Camille accepting him and Infantetogether, then she will be more inclined to as well. Besides that, he says, "I could just use you by my side." Shutt seems satisfied with Geiger's apparent clear-headedness, and wantsto help his friend make this relationship work. "Then I'll be there. I'll be there," he says. Putting on his lab coat the hall, Shutt spots Nyland, and gives him histickets. Then he finds his wife, Camille, who complains about the dinnerdate. ''Tonight? Now?'' she asks. ''It's important to him,'' Shutt insists. "'ER's on tonight!'' Camille protests. ''If I can give up Michael Jordan, you can give up Anthony Hopkins,''Shutt says. ''Edwards,'' Camille corrects him. "Whatever.'' ''I don't see what possible sense it makes for us to go out--'' shecomplains. Shutt interrupts her. ''It doesn't have to make sense. Jeffrey needs us,honey. Come on. It's Delphini's,'' he wheedles. ''We can just pretend it'sthe two of us, and--and the candlelight. Good food . . . '' ''You owe me so huge for this,'' Camille says. ''Oh, please,'' Shutt scoffs as they begin walking down the hall. ''You'restill paying me off for that *three*-hour Easter service you dragged me to.'' ''It wasn't three hours--'' Camille protests. ''Up and down, up and down--'' Shutt elaborates. ''It was a lot less painful than Jeffrey and Laurie Loony--'' ''I had my best pants on, up and down--'' ''If he breaks into song, I'm outta there. . . .'' Camille says. Geiger paces nervously in the restaurant. ''What time is it?'' he asksShutt. Shutt checks his watch. ''It's, uh. . . '' ''There she is,'' Geiger interrupts as his ex-wife, Laurie, and Dr. Josephenter. They exchange greetings and hugs. ''This is Geri,'' Geiger tells Laurie. Laurie smiles warmly and shakes Infante's hand enthusiastically. ''Hello!'' ''Infante, Laurie. Laurie, Geri. Geri, Laurie,'' Geiger babblesnervously. Infante smiles back. ''Hi, I've heard so much about you!'' Laurie draws back, tense. ''Everything?'' ''We can all sit,'' Geiger breaks in. ''Actually, we don't have to. Wehave the whole room, so for cocktails we can stand. They can't make ussit.'' Everyone laughs. Gilbert enters, with a security guard in tow. ''Laurie!'' he crows. ''Theylet me drive!'' Geiger looks as though he's been hit. ''Oh, honey, you remember Gilbert,'' Laurie tells him. Geiger responds weakly, ''Yes, I'm, uh, so thrilled you could make it.'' ''Check out the tone?'' Gilbert tells a befuddled Shutt. ''The truth isnot in the words, it's in the tone.'' ''Uh, Aaron Shutt,'' Shutt introduces himself. ''This is my wife,Camille.'' ''A pleasure,'' Gilbert says, smiling. "You must be the mediators." Laurie addresses Infante. ''So, do you and Jeffrey plan to marry?'' ''Somebody get a damn drink order? How do you get a drink?'' Geiger asks. Infante struggles with the question, ''Uh--oh--uh-w-w--uh, no.'' ''We used to be married,'' Laurie tells her. Infante seizes on this. ''Yes! I know, for eleven years.'' ''Yeah, we had a son, but I drowned him,'' Laurie says. Jeffrey looks pained. ''Honey--'' ''Dr. Joseph said that she probably knows. But I just wanted to beupfront. I hate not knowing what other people know, makes me vasovagal.'' ''Me too,'' Infante says. ''Let's sit,'' Geiger urges. ''The tone,'' Gilbert sings. ''Gilbert,'' Dr. Joseph warns. ''I'm starved!'' Laurie says. ''It's not right that he's here,'' Geiger says. ''Uh, honey, relax,'' Infante tells him. ''I'm relaxed.'' ''She called him honey,'' Laurie accuses. ''And sweetly,'' Gilbert concurs. ''OK, everybody, everybody. . . '' Shutt steps in. ''We're gonna have anice, nice dinner, OK, so, let's just take our seats, and uh, security canstay on the perimeter, and we're gonna have a . . . great evening. OK?'' Everyone sits, with Laurie between Jeffrey and Camille. Shutt realizesthe faux-pas. ''Oh! Gilbert!'' The Shutts move down one space. Dr. Joseph and the two security guardsstand behind the group. ''Yes. Excellent. We're sitting. Excellent.'' Geiger says. Geiger mops his face and neck with his napkin. ''Why are you sweating?'' Laurie asks him. ''I'm not sweating, I'm perspiring,'' Geiger informs her. ''There's adifference, honey. And the reason I'm perspiring is because I'm verynervous. We're effectively on a double date. You're with another man, I'mwith another woman. It's a very odd thing.'' Gilbert looks pointedly at the Shutts. ''Why are they here?'' ''Gilbert, I ordered you some peanuts and cracker jack. Perhaps you couldanticipate them in silence,'' Geiger snaps. Gilbert glances at Shutt with mouth agape. ''The tone,'' Shutt says understandingly. ''The purpose of this dinner, as you know, would be for . . . well, foryou and me to get comfortable. With us being together, yet apart. Does thatmake any sense?'' ''I need to urinate,'' Gilbert says. Geiger gives him a look. ''That wasn't a commentary, I, uh, I really do have to--'' Gilbertstammers. ''Security!'' Geiger calls. ''Um, Gilbert has bashful bladder," Laurie explains. "He can't go inpublic places. So we've towed portable facilities. Did you valet, honey?'' The Shutts and Infante exchange looks. ''No, uh, we're, uh, we're in the lot," Gilbert says. "I'll be rightback,'' ''Come *right* back, Gilbert,'' Dr. Joseph warns sternly. ''So, tell me about you two,'' Laurie urges Geiger and Infante as Gilbertleaves. She gives Jeffrey a sidelong glance. ''Try not to sweat.'' ''So then our first real date date was to go see Ben E. King,'' Geigertells Laurie. ''Oh, he loves Ben E. King!'' Laurie gushes. ''I know,'' Infante says, smiling. ''Oh, God, his dream in med school was to take out one of Ben E. King'slungs. Wasn't it, sweetie?'' Laurie says. ''That's not actually true, honey,'' Geiger responds. ''I said thisonce--'' ''Oh, he loves the song 'Up On the Roof.' '' Laurie continues, unheeding. ''--I'd like to take a peek at his lungs. It was a comment on hissinging. A marvel at his lung capacity,'' Geiger finishes. ''That was the Drifters. Ben E. King used to be with the Drifters. ButI'm not sure that he sang "Up On the Roof." Remember that song, honey? "Upon the Roof"?'' Laurie asks. ''I remember it,'' Geiger says. He watches her, fascinated, as she talks. ''Oh, God,'' Laurie continues. ''We would play it, and we would sing, "Upon the roof. . . ." and then I would want to go up on a roof, but Jeffreywouldn't let me because he was afraid that I would jump off. ''So--,'' she laughs. ''What did we used to do? Wait, wait. . . . '' Shecloses her eyes, and sings, swaying and gesturing. 'When this old worldstarts gettin' me down--'' Infante says to Geiger. ''We danced to that one, didn't we?'' "--and people are just too--" Laurie breaks off abruptly. ''What do youmean you danced?'' ''Can we get menus?'' Geiger asks no one in particular. ''Forget the menus!'' Laurie says. She turns to Infante. ''You *danced*? You danced *together*?'' Infante backpedals, confused. ''Uh . . . uh. . . yes. Oh, but I don'tthink it was to "Up on the Roof." Come to think of it . . . '' Laurie turns on Geiger. ''You never danced with me. *Ever*. I *love* todance. I begged you to dance and you would always say, 'I don't dance, I'mnot a dancer.' So are you a dancer, Jeffrey? Are you a dancer now?'' ''I wonder if they have cous-cous here?'' Camille interjects brightly. ''Oh, shut up, Camille!'' Laurie snaps. ''You're just here as anicebreaker. To make it more comfortable. The ice is broken, we don't needyou anymore. You can go.'' Camille smiles appreciatively as she gets up. ''Excellent.'' ''Camille. Camille,'' Shutt detains her. She sits back down, and theyall stare at each other uncomfortably. Geiger shouts, ''How dare you? To be rude to her like that? To be rudeto me?'' ''How dare you lie to me for eleven years?'' Laurie yells back. ''What? About dancing?'' Geiger shouts. ''Wow, big lie. Guess what,maybe I do hate dancing. Maybe I just pretended to like it with her, 'causethat's what first dates are all about. Pretending and lying. I danced withyou in the beginning. You forgotten that?'' Infante puts a hand on his shoulder, soothingly, ''Jeffrey. . . .'' Geiger calms down. ''OK. Laurie. Honey. I am not here tonight to fightwith you.'' ''No. You're here to protect me,'' Laurie says sarcastically. ''You'rehere as the ever-loving watchdog, taking care to make sure I'm not hurt byCleopatra over here. You're the parent, I'm the child. Isn't that what hetold you? We have a parent-child relationship? Ha!'' ''What? Wh--? What did she say?'' Geiger asks, stunned. ''I believe it was . . . 'Ha.' '' Shutt offers. ''Here's the joke,'' Laurie says, as Geiger gets up from the table. ''Weare parent-child. We always were. Only you are the child, Jeffrey. Youalways wanted me to be your mother.'' ''You don't need to get up. . . '' Dr. Joseph tells Geiger. ''Shut up!'' Geiger snarls. He turns to Laurie. ''I never wanted you tobe my mother. My mother was enough--'' ''You've never let me be your wife. You tried to make me her,'' Lauriesays. ''I certainly didn't need--'' Geiger starts. ''You never--'' Laurie says. ''Dinner's over. Let's get out of here,'' Geiger says, grabbing Infante'sarm and dragging her past Laurie. ''Is that what he likes in you? Are you maternal with him?'' Laurie yellsat her. Geiger leaves Infante, and wheels back toward Laurie, taking a mock swingat her. ''You don't know anything,'' he seethes. ''Hey, hey, Jeffrey,'' Shutt says, getting up. Geiger thrusts his nose into Laurie's face. ''You live your life in arubber room. Mating with a guy who valet-parks U-Haul toilets. Why shouldanybody here listen to anything you have to say? You're just giddy to beoutta your jacket.'' ''OK, that was less than constructive,'' Joseph says. ''Well, she shouldn't be talkin' about . . . things she doesn't knowabout,'' Geiger replies defensively. He turns to Laurie. ''You shouldn't betalkin' about . . . *that*.'' Laurie says tearfully, ''Honey, you are here tonight not because you'reworried about my feelings. You are here bringing your date before me, yourmother figure. You want the approval that you never had.'' ''Dinner's over,'' Geiger tells Infante. ''We're getting out of here.'' ''Jeffrey. Jeffrey,'' Infante says. ''What?'' Geiger hisses to her. ''Just be quiet, you don't knowanything.'' He turns abrupty, leaving her nea the door, and wheels back overto Laurie. ''You . . . don't . . . know . . . anything,'' he whispers cruelly to heras she cries. Geiger leaves, brushing past Gilbert as he arrives with a proud smile. ''I peed without incident!'' he says. ''I--I don't think he's comin' back,'' Shutt volunteers to the silenttable. Joseph sits in Geiger's spot. ''Maybe we should just perhaps end theevening.'' ''I'm worried about him, Aaron. Could you take me to his apartment?''Infante asks. ''In this state, I-I-I'm worried about him.'' Laurie eats her salad. ''He's not at his apartment,'' she says. ''I knowwhere he goes when he gets like this.'' Everyone looks at her expectantly. Finally, Camille asks, ''WHERE?'' Laurie takes a bite of salad. ''Russo's. It's this dive bar in some alleyoff of Rush Street. He goes there and he sings,'' she says. ''Heh. That's not a surprise,'' Gilbert says. Shutt is doubtful. ''He's never told me about this place. Russo's?'' "Well, he goes there when the demons gang up inside him. He goes and ventthe monsters. He's there now, I know it,'' Laurie says. ''Let's get him?'' Infante asks. ''Have you heard him sing? It won't be "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah," I promiseyou,'' Gilbert sneers. ''Jeffrey Geiger set this evening up for you,'' Infante tells Laurie. Laurie gives her a look. ''Or his mother, whatever, who knows? But rightnow he's the one who needs our help.'' They all get up and leave. Gilbert, you're going back to Huron,'' Joseph says. ''What?'' Gilbert says. ''I shouldn't even be letting Laurie go, but I'm taking security and I'mgoing myself. You are going back to the hospital. No arguments.'' ''That's a colossal gyp!'' Gilbert protests. ''Never mind,'' Joseph says. ''Come on, let's go,'' Infante prods urgently. At Russo's, a frenzied Geiger is singing "Rockabye Your Baby" with PaulFord at the piano: "'Weep No More, My Lady,' when you sing that song for me.. . ." ''See, I told you?'' Laurie says. Shutt is disturbed. ''He--he just comes in here and does this?'' ''Mm-hmm. When he's tortured,'' she says. ''He's very good,'' Joseph remarks. Shutt glares at him. Infante, then Shutt, attempt to get him to come off the stage and talk tothem, telling him that this behavior is inappropriate. He ignores them,continuing to sing, growing more and more frenzied He ends the song and bowshis head with an anguished grimace, eyes squeezed tightly shut. As he cries,there is a pause, and one man at the bar claps. The Huron van pulls up to the door on the fourth floor of the parkinggarage. Geiger gets out without a word and runs for the building. ''Jeffrey,'' Shutt calls after him, ''Your car's--oh, he's-he's goin' forhis trains.'' ''OK, I'll talk to him,'' Laurie says. ''Laurie--Laurie, we have to get back,'' Joseph tells her. Laurie brushes him aside. ''I--my husband needs me to talk to him.'' ''I'll talk to him,'' Infante tells her. Laurie looks at her. ''You? He needs me!'' ''Listen, Laurie, you're the reason he--'' Infante accuses. ''I am the only one who can reach him when he gets like this! '' She glares at Shutt. ''And you, Mr. Best Friend, you have helped at all.'' ''Never mind,'' Joseph says. ''Stop with the never mind!'' Laurie shouts. Birch is still sitting on the floor of Geiger's office, playing with thetrains, when Geiger tears into the office. Geiger screams at him for usingthe wrong trains. "What are you, some kinda psychotic nut?" he yells. Birch is shocked, and asks him if everything is all right. Geiger tellshim to get out. Watters leads the rest of the dinner party down the hospital corridor. ''What happened?'' he asks. ''He just had a meltdown,'' Shutt explains. ''Laurie started talking abouthis mother, he just went on tilt.'' ''He's always going on tilt,'' Watters points out. ''No, this was a little more serious this time,'' Shutt says. Dr. Joseph informs them he will be reporting this incident to the medicallicensing board. They arrive as Birch is coming out of the office. Shuttasks him if Geiger is in there, and he mutters in sad confusion, "He said Icould, uh, play with them and he--he. . . ." Infante wants to go in and talk to Geiger, but Shutt tells her, "We'llgive him two minutes to collect himself with his locomotives, then I will goin. I will talk to him." Shutt goes in and watches Geiger pacing pantless, fretfully biting hisfingernails, watching the trains. Shutt sits down and shuts the trains off. ''So what's all this stuff about Mom?'' he asks gently. ''She's dead,'' Geiger says. ''Yes, this I know,'' Shutt says. ''You know why she's dead?'' Geiger asks him. ''I believe it was heart failure,'' Shutt replies. Geiger shakes his head. ''No. She died because that's the only way shecan still dominate me. Every day of my life, she was pushing me, Aaron. Pushing, pushing, pushing, pushing, pushing. You know what I'm saying?'' ''Uh . . . she . . . pushed you?'' Shutt asks. ''Don't be smart. Don't get smart when I'm not wearin' pants. You knowhow I am pantless,'' Geiger says. Shutt smiles. ''Drove me in college, drove me in med school. You know what else? Sheonly paid for med school if I'd live at home so she could still push, so shecould keep comin' in my room. The *footsteps* up the stairs, every night,into my room. Push, push, push, not good enough, not good enough, not goodenough. And then I make it, become the big doctor, get married, move out,know what she does then? She dies. She dies. Know why?'' ''Well, again, I thought it was heart failure,'' Shutt says. ''No, she died so she could be in the room. Wherever I go now she's inthe room. That's why she died. That it was heart failure? That's just onelast final shot.'' He walks toward the window. ''I'm the heart surgeon. Couldn't save her. Not good enough, not good enough. STOP! STOP THE TRAINS!'' he shouts. ''The trains are stopped, Jeffrey,'' Shutt says quietly. ''Laurie's right,'' Geiger says, his voice breaking. ''I c--I can'tescape my mother. I wanted--I wanted Laurie to take care of me. That's whatstarted to ruin our. . . and I made her feel like a failure as a mother tome, and she lost trust with herself with Joey, and maybe that had somethingto--'' ''No. It didn't. It did not,'' Shutt tells him firmly. ''Maybe I feel like I'm with Geri because I--I don't know, I feel she canhandle me, maybe it's some *insidious* Oedipus thing, I don't know. Ireally--I don't know. I don't know.'' ''OK. So we got a lotta stuff,'' Shutt says soothingly. ''But you know itwill all get better if you just get some help. Will you get some help,Jeffrey?'' ''I feel my whole life I've let everybody down,'' Geiger says. ''You've never let me down,'' Shutt assures him. ''Jeffrey, you're thegreatest friend that anybody could have. After Camille, there is no humanthat I love more, and you know that. You know how much I love you.'' ''Well, how could I make such a mess?'' Geiger asks. ''Because this is what you do,'' Shutt says. ''It's what you do.'' A bit later, Shutt walks out of Geiger's office, and everyone looks at himexpectantly. ''He's, uh, he's better. He's gonna be OK,'' Shutt tells them. ''What's he doing?'' Watters asks. ''He's . . . putting on his pants. He'd like to speak to Laurie,'' Shuttsays. Infante's face falls. Laurie smiles, and walks toward the office. ''I wouldn't talk about Mother,'' Shutt warns her. ''I won't,'' she says. Infante takes her coat and silently leaves. ''I always love to hear you sing,'' Laurie smiles at Geiger. Geiger smilesback. She kneels before him, and takes his hands. ''I'm sorry, honey. I tried to be--you know, strong for you. I'm a fake. There's never a day I truly think I can even survive,'' Geiger says. "Sh, sh, sh, sh, sh, sh,'' Laurie soothes. ''I like Geri. I might--I might even love her,'' Geiger says. ''That's OK, baby. It's OK,'' Laurie says. ''But I'll always need you,'' Geiger says. Laurie smiles. ''That's OK, too.'' ''I don't think I can be strong enough to love her if you're not there.'' ''Then I'll be there,'' Laurie tells him. ''You always know where to findme, sweetie. 'Cause I'm locked up.'' They both laugh. ''Well, look at me. Still at large,'' Geiger says. ''Yeah.'' They embrace. Laurie has tears in her eyes. ************************************ PLOT TWO Charles Ellis is wheeled in to the emergency room at Chicago Hope withsevere abdominal pains. The paramedic tells Dr. Danny Nyland the man hasAIDS, which seems to make Nyland uncomfortable. Ellis vomits, then asks forDr. Hancock. He tells Nyland he has AIDS, and apologizes. Nyland explains to Hancock that Mr. Ellis had some pink vomit, which hethinks is mostly due to esophogeal ulcers from the CMVs, and that his lungsare wet. He also has appendicitis, and that no surgeon will want to operate,because Mr. Ellis isn't going to survive. He tells him he has paged Dr.Grad, and asks Hancock for Mr. Ellis' next of kin. Hancock tells him Mr.Ellis has no family. Nyland asks Hancock to put a DNR on the chart, andleaves. Hancock tells Ellis that he can give him some medication to make himmore comfortable. Ellis weakly replies, "I don't want to be comfortable, Dr. Hancock. Iwant to live." Hancock has a nurse admit him to surgery. Dr. Grad comes to see Ellis. ''Mr. Ellis. I heard you were bugging us again,'' she greets him. ''Yeah. Malaria didn't kill me. AIDS hasn't yet. Gonna be myappendix,'' he says. ''Bitch, bitch, bitch,'' Grad admonishes. Ellis says to Hancock. ''I like her.'' Grad tells Hancock she was only called on the case because her name wason Mr. Ellis' old chart. She says she doesn't want to butt in, but he tellsher she's welcome and that Mr. Ellis has been glad to see her. Dr. BobMeriniak arrives and tells them he has given Mr. Ellis 50 of demoral IM tokeep him comfortable, but he refuses to operate, which angers Hancock. In hospital chief of staff Dr. Phillip Watters' office, Watters agreeswith Meriniak, whom Hancock calls "an overly timid surgeon." Meriniakassures him bloody fields are not a problem with him, and that he hasoperated on AIDS patients before. But the risk of his contracting AIDS faroutweighs any help it will be for Ellis. Hancock asks Watters where Nyland and Dr. Kronk are. Watters tells himthey're both off, and he will not page them. Hancock offers to operatehimself. Watters wants to see Mr. Ellis before granting permission. Watters asks Mr. Ellis if he remembers him. "Yeah. Dr. No. I'll bet you're here to say no again, right?" he says. Watters warns him that the most surgery could buy him would be one day,maybe two. "I'll take it," he says. Watters takes Hancock out of the room, telling him again that there willbe no benefit whatsoever to the patient, even if he survives the surgery. "You're forgetting about the day. To him, it's a lifetime." Watters allows the surgery to take place, but with a scrub team byvolunteer only. Grad also volunteers, saying, "I can still hold aretractor." Hancock warns the scrub team once again of the risks involved, and allowsthem to back out. None do. Before surgery, Ellis tells Hancock he knows he may not wake up from thesurgery, but that he will not live to see the sun rise the next morningwithout it. "I want to see the sunrise," he says. Hancock smiles and says, "Somehow I got that impression. . . . So we'llsee you there, Mr. Ellis. At daybreak." As he goes under, Grad asks Hancock when was the last time he took out anappendix. He answers, "No idea." The operation does not go as well as Hancock had hoped. "Come on,Charles," he urges. "You stay." Hancock tries to do more to save Ellis, but realizes he has done all hecan. After surgery, in Mr. Ellis' room, Hancock thanks Grad for her help. Sheasks him if he is going home, but he tells her has to write his op notes. She tells him that if it means anything, she thinks he did everything hecould. He smiles appreciatively, telling her it means a lot. She leaves,and he replaces Mr. Ellis' surgical cap with his own hat. He sits down onthe chair to await the sunrise. In Mr. Ellis' room, the rising sun shines through the window on his face. His eyes open. Hancock also awakens. They look at each other and smile. Mr. Ellis looks back at the window, takes one last breath and closes hiseyes. In the hall, Hancock is looking out the window when Watters approacheshim, asking him if Mr. Ellis saw the sunrise. He tells him he did. "Did you see it?" Watters asks. "It was beautiful." ''Yeah,'' Hancock says. ''It was.'' Watters asks him if he'd like to get breakfast, putting a fatherly handon his shoulder. Hancock accepts, and they walk down the hallway together. ******************************************************JEN'S RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS: I have never seen Jeffrey more delighted than he is showing off his trains toAlan. I wonder if Mandy and Peter are like this at their model trainconventions? Wonder who Nyland took to the game? Maggie? Kronk? I loved Camille and Aaron's scene in the hallway! I want them to have many,many more exchanges like the one in this episode. I had chills when Jeffrey sang.......but they were hot, embarrassed chills. I wasn't sure if I was laughing at him or not. But I did feel embarrassedfor the man. In transcribing, I noticed that Laurie seldom uses contractions. She alwaysseems to be choosing her words very carefully and deliberately. I loved howshe pronounced "vasovagal," like she was just so proud that she'd found a wayto put that word into her conversation. Laurie was once again, in some ways,the "sanest," or at least able to understand Jeffrey's insanity for what itwas, and why it was that way. At the end, Laurie was still playing the mother, telling him, "That's OK,baby," while still giving her approval for Jeffrey to love Geri. I felt sad for Geri at end . . . but why did she assume she wasn't needed? Maybe Jeffrey was going to ask for her next. It seemed only natural to methat he would want to apologize to his ex-wife for getting so angry, and foralmost hitting her and all. I think Geri has an inferiority complex. (Thismade it even more difficult for me to justify her subsequent "turning on"Jeffrey in the finale, because she was so angry. This just didn't seem likea good enough argument to me. What did she have to be so angry about? Itwas Laurie she had seemed so angry with. The two of them were arguing in theparking garage and later in the office about who Jeffrey needed more. Theyboth have serious "Wendy" complexes, if you ask me.) I still wonder what DEK's relationship is/was with his mother? Laurie drownsher child, Geri's mother's death made her into a surgeon, Mrs. Geigerverbally abused her son. It's a nice trilogy of mother issues, although Ithought the "how-do-you-feel-about-your-mother" angle was a little cliched. Not that it doesn't happen. I just seemed a little pat for DEK. But atleast Kadalski wasn't around, to sing High Hopes to him . . .*****************************************************YOLETTE'S RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS: This must be the episode I liked the least. I thought the directing wasespecially bad. Jeffrey Geiger was completely out of character, especially inthe scene where he proposes to Geri that they have dinner with Laurie. I meanhe was bouncing! He became this caricature that I can't in a million yearssee coming from a heretofore deeply unhappy 40-something-year-old heartsurgeon. And say, OK, that this happened (one can't dictate human behavior,after all), why wasn't Geri more surprised at this abrupt and quiteridiculous change in behavior? She behaved like it was quite normal for thisman to be chasing her around the scrub room like an eager puppy. Anyway,that rang a false note with me. But I must say the idea to use singing as a means to get through to Geiger'sreal soul was a stroke of genius. There are few things more powerful on thisearth than Mandy Patinkin's voice. It was uncomfortable, yeah, but youdidn't doubt for a second the level of pain Geiger was in. It was verydisturbing to watch. Also, the bit about ''footsteps keep coming into my room,'' smacks ofsomething more serious than emotional abuse from Geiger's mother. Just athought."Full Moon" Date: 2015-12-11; view: 532
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