Life Sentence (2018) s01e03 Episode Script
Clinical Trial and Error
1 Previously on "Life Sentence" STELLA: Sure, I married a guy I barely knew, but I had cancer.
It was a six-to-eight month commitment, tops.
I'm cured.
My cancer was gone and the eight years my family spent taking care of me had kind of ruined their lives.
Mom just left Dad.
I thought I made you happy.
[SIGHS.]
You did, Peter.
A long time ago.
We have to sell the house and work until we're 80.
If we sell the house, where am I going to live?! I help Lizzie get into a writers' retreat so she could finally focus.
DIEGO: See you, babe! I got the kids! - You know I'm gonna kill you, right? - âMakes sense.
SADIE: Um, I don't think patients are allowed to drink wine.
When I was sick, this was my room.
I'm Sadie, by the way.
I'm Stella.
As Lone Pine Hospital's newest volunteer, I vowed to make a big difference in patients' lives every single day.
Lift.
But so far, they just made me clean stuff.
Hey, can you pick up some nail polish tomorrow? - Absolutely.
- âThanks.
Oh, so, Jill, hi.
Uh, I was just wondering if maybe I could have a little more responsibility around here.
Sadie seems to really appreciate me, so What is happening? Is there an emergency? â No.
There's a new oncologist on the floor, and he is hot.
Okay.
Well, back to me.
I was just asking if I could be a little more hands-on with the patients.
That's not up to me.
And while I was struggling with my new position at work, my dad was struggling to get used to life in the guest house after the new owners agreed to let him stay.
Unfortunately, it came with a roommate.
- Aiden.
- Excuse me! AIDEN: Again? I asked you not to stand there.
And I asked you to use the bathroom sink.
That's 23 steps away âand 18 of those are stairs.
It's not gonna happen.
I hope you're enjoying my life.
And Diego was struggling to get someone to watch his kids, so he could visit Lizzie at her writers' retreat.
Hey, Mom! Diego? âWhat are you doing here? I tried to call, uh, but Poppy told me I could catch you here.
Did she? Thanks, Poppy.
I could really use some help with the kids tomorrow night.
Oh, Diego.
I love those kids.
They are the pride and joy of my whole life.
But no.
Mom! I know it's been a bit much.
A lot much.
And besides, Poppy and I already bought movie tickets.
The kids could go with you.
Just cover their eyes in the violent parts.
Hard pass.
WES: That sucks.
Now who are you gonna get to watch them? Do you not get why I'm here? Oh, right.
Well, I mean, we'd love to, but we have a little date night planned.
Which includes watching your kids, apparently.
- Oh, thank you.
- This will be fun.
So fun.
Thank you.
Hey, hey [SOFT MUSIC PLAYS.]
You know, âI was looking forward to a night alone with Wes, but it will be fine.
Speaking of "fine", have you seen my new oncologist? He's so hot.
No, I haven't.
But all the nurses are obsessed with him.
It's ridiculous.
Nurse Jill says he's so gorgeous that he literally lights up a room.
He does.
Huh.
Hi.
- Oh, hi, - Dr.
William Grant.
Stella Abbott, volunteer.
Great.
Hi, Sadie.
How are you feeling today? - I'm okay.
- âGood.
Let's take a look at your blood work, shall we? Okay.
Your, uh your white blood cell count is exactly the same as last week, so we just stay the course for now.
Hey, it's a good thing.
It means you're not getting worse.
I'm not getting better.
Hey, we're gonna keep working on that for you.
Just keep your chin up.
- Stella, it was nice to meet you.
- You, too.
Want a Jello? Or a applesauce, fruit cup? How about a cure? You got one, and you had âthe same type of cancer as me.
You're right.
I did.
So maybe âyou can do the same trial.
I I can talk to your parents about getting you in.
I live with my aunt.
She works a lot.
That's when it hit me.
When I was sick, I had people fighting for me.
Sadie didn't have what I had.
You know what? I will handle this.
Wow.
I remember Ms.
French.
A few months ago, I'd made my peace with dying.
I still had to go to the hospital for infusions, just to keep my energy up, but I'd given up on ever hearing good news in here - until - Good news, Stell Belle! That clinical trial we talked about Ms.
French got you in.
I thought Dr.
Chang said that it was full? Well, it was, but your dad gave quite a speech.
I was very convincing.
You're up for it, right, Stella? MS.
FRENCH: Stella? - Can I help you? - Yes, hi, Ms.
French.
I don't know if you've heard yet, but I'm a volunteer now, and I know that this might be outside of my âtechnical responsibilities, but I wanted to talk to you about a patient named Sadie Carter.
I was just seeing if maybe she can be admitted into the same clinical trial that I went through? Unfortunately, we're not running that trial any longer.
The donor pulled the funding.
- Why would they do that? - I don't know.
I'm not privy âto those kinds of decisions.
Well who's the donor? That's confidential.
I'm sorry, Stella.
That is not how this was supposed to go.
So? Do you feel good about my chances? For the first time, I understood why people lied to me when I was sick.
Yes.
Yes, I do.
Don't worry about a thing You'll learn to live again Oh, oh, oh What are you doing? The new owners are in the living room testing paint colors.
And that green is exactly right.
And they're fools to change it.
By the way, I took your jeans out of the freezer.
Why would you do that? Because that's not where jeans go.
Yes, it is.
The freezer gets the stank out.
Word of warning, do not use those ice cubes.
I don't know who raised you, but I hate them.
Not pointing any fingers, but mistakes were made.
You're gonna put on clothes today? Are you? [WOMAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY OVER P.
A.
.]
Hi.
So, if you needed to find out some confidential information about donors to the hospital, where would you look? [SIGHS.]
Why? [SIGHS.]
I'm trying to help Sadie Carter.
I'm not allowed to tell you that information, which means I'm not allowed to tell you Ms.
French keeps it in the file cabinet near her desk.
Thank you.
Did we just bond? I I feel like we might have just bonded.
Okay.
I'm not gonna push it.
AIDEN: Hey, sis! Aiden, hey.
What are you doing? Marlene's with âthe baby doctor downstairs, and I need to borrow some money.
But in exchange, I also need your help.
Hm, it's not how an exchange works.
There's something wrong with Dad.
Yesterday, he spent the whole day watching the new owners paint.
He literally watched paint dry, and he commented on it.
You need to do something.
No, you need to do something.
- Like what? - âI don't know.
He's clearly lonely, so go do something fun like a father-son thing.
We don't really have that kind of relationship.
Aiden, Dad let you move in with him for free, and he's always been there for you, so I think it's your turn to be there for him.
Okay, I'm gonna do it.
I'm gonna hang out with my own father on purpose, - like an adult.
- âGreat.
Can I still borrow that cash? - Uncle Wes! - Hey! Yeah! Unh! I brought a few things.
- Oh, you did.
- âYou got that? Yep, that's it, then.
No, not quite.
âJust got a couple more bags.
[GRUNTS.]
It is still just the one night, right? - Yeah, totally.
- âOkay.
Um, okay, so, uh, the kid toothpaste it's somewhere in there.
And, uh, it doesn't really matter 'cause their teeth âare gonna fall out anyways.
But - Are you good? - Great.
Got it.
Hey, I really appreciate this, man.
I've been leaning on Mom a lot lately, so Wait, wait.
You call Ida "Mom"? - Yeah.
- What do you call her? I generally avoid calling her anything.
I just don't really have experience being around a mother that's so maternal, you know.
Ida's a hugger.
My mom was not.
Your mom didn't hug you? Well, she patted me on the back once, but I was on fire, so I can't be sure that was genuine affection.
Oh, well, hey.
You got Ida now, and she is great.
Uh, by the way, my friend, you are gonna need this for Miss Fiona tonight.
Cool.
[CRASH.]
I'm sure it's fine.
Yeah, probably not, but, hey, I will pay for whatever it is or whatever it was.
Um, I got a four-hour drive and, uh, 24 hours on the ground - before I have to turn around.
- Not to worry.
Stella's gonna be home soon, so two of us, two of them.
Hey, seriously, very thankful.
Not a problem.
[CRASH, CLANGING.]
Okay, who wants to play a fun game called "sit still and don't break anything"? Aah! I am sorry I had to do that.
But it's for your own good.
You are obsessing over the new owners.
I am not obsessing.
I'm checking to see if they're still planning to remove that Japanese maple tree.
Your mom and I planted it when we moved in.
It looks great there.
Mistake to move it! Dad, you have to move on.
Mom has.
So I'm taking you out tonight.
- I don't want to go out.
- We have to.
Stella said so.
Look, I told her about your whole "Rear Window" situation, and she suggested that we go and do something, just the two of us.
And she's right.
You got to stop clinging to this old life.
I'm not clinging.
Oh, no.
I know you're not.
I'm just curious though.
What color did they end up going with in the living room? Like a beige, but a yellow-beige.
You can tell she liked it better than he did.
He just caved like a fool and Yeah, we should get me out of here.
I knew if I got caught breaking into Ms.
French's office, it would not be good.
But I wasn't going to get caught.
Hey, âwhat are you doing in here? What are you doing in here? I'm here to see Ms.
French.
Well, I'm here to steal confidential patient information, but, to be fair, it is information about the clinical trial that cured my cancer.
I didn't know you had cancer.
I did.
But it's gone now.
So need to know the name of the anonymous donor - who funded my trial.
- Why? Because he pulled all the funding, and I need to ask him to put it back in for Sadie.
I'm living proof that this trial is worth it.
It literally saved my life, which is why I need to get it started again.
But this is crazy, Stella.
I know it's a long shot, but I promised Sadie that I would fight for her.
And the only thing standing in the way of that is this donor named Roger Shaw.
Roger Shaw? He's the donor? - Why, do you know him? - Well, kind of, yeah.
He owns the 44 Park Hotel.
Matter of fact, they're having a party there tonight - for the opening of his new bar.
- So he'll be there.
[SCOFFS.]
- Can you introduce me? - No, I I feel like he kind of wants to be anonymous.
Why would he want to be anonymous? - So that people don't ask him for money.
â- Right.
Well, what if I didn't ask him directly? I feel like you're plotting something.
I am plotting something, and you are a part of it.
- Oh.
- [LAUGHS.]
Uhp.
Reinforcements have arrived! Thank God.
FIONA: Uncle Wes, come back! You're walking on lava! Quick, back in! Come on, grab a pillow if you want to live.
So, listen, I know we agreed to watch the kids tonight.
Um, did we âor did you volunteer us? I'd rather not get caught up in semantics, because there is something I really need to do tonight.
- Seriously? - âI know.
Terrible timing.
But I'm trying to get Sadie the same experimental treatment I got.
At 8:00 p.
m.
on a Saturday? I know where the guy who funded the trial is gonna be tonight and I need to talk to him about funding another one.
- Stells? - âYeah? Are you sure about this? I mean, âyou barely know this guy, and I don't want you getting hurt in case it doesn't work out.
Wes, I have to do more than just wipe the counters at the hospital.
I I want to make a difference and this is how I can help.
[SIGHS.]
Okay.
I can handle the kids on my own.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
You know, I think this might be the first time either one of us has gone out without the other one.
Bound to happen sooner or later.
- All right.
- Wow.
You look having a little trouble understanding why you need to look like that to help Sadie, though.
Does the hospital turn into a disco after 10:00? I am not going to the hospital.
I am going to a hotel.
- Oh, okay.
- âMm-hmm.
Why do you have to go alone? Nope, not going alone.
Sadie's new doctor knows this guy, so he's coming to introduce me.
He's go he's going, too? Wait, so, you're going to a hotel, um, with another man dressed like that? Is that something married couples do? It is when you can save a little girl's life.
I promise I'll make it up to you tomorrow night.
I have a way better outfit that I'll wear only for you.
All right, you're on.
Thank you for being so amazing.
I'll be home as soon as I can.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
Come on, Dad.
We got to go.
And now, I have to stop.
What? Why? Because we're going to a bar, not small-claims court.
You know, just leave you here so that you can tie it on a door handle when you have company later.
In fact, we should probably figure out the architecture for when we both have company, the basic floor plan for that inevitable scenario.
I wouldn't worry about it.
I haven't had company like that in a long time.
Which is why I'm gonna need you to take that ring off.
[SIGHS.]
It feels too weird not to have it on.
How about this? It's a start.
Maybe I'm not ready to date.
Whoa, who said anything about dating? We're talking about casual sex for morale purposes only.
Dad, I'm gonna be your wingman tonight.
I'm gonna teach you everything I know.
Not to brag, but I have an almost 100 percent success rate with women.
That is the exact definition of bragging.
You're right.
I'm sorry.
Tonight isn't about me.
It's all about you.
Though if it helps, I will jump on a grenade for you.
You don't know what means, but maybe I'll show you.
Please don't show me.
[PHONE RINGS.]
- Hi, honey.
- âWES: Hey how's your "night out on the town without me" going? It's good so far, just waiting for Dr.
Grant to get here.
- How are the kids? - Actually, not great.
That's why I'm calling.
Fiona isn't feeling very well and I didn't know who else to call.
- FIONA: Uncle Wes? - Yes, sweetheart? - I think I'm gonna throw up.
- N-n-no, no.
Sweetheart, listen, um, here's the deal.
Wait.
What's going on? If you throw up, I throw up, okay? Uncle Wes doesn't want to throw up, - so please â - [RETCHES.]
[GAGS.]
I know exactly what you should do.
I brought two thermometers, tummy bear, ginger just in case she pukes again.
Frank, go get a bucket.
Fiona, honey, I need you to take this probiotic.
It's delish.
Drink up.
Don't worry, Wes.
Mom's here.
Everything's under control.
FIONA: [RETCHES.]
[RETCHES.]
Four scotch and sodas, please.
It's happy hour so we buy all of our drinks now.
I feel like that's self-explanatory, but I'm not entirely sure what you do and do not know.
Well, I know that we are not buying the drinks, because that was my credit card.
I will get the next round.
Okay.
Hot chick.
Four o'clock.
That's not four o'clock.
Do you know how to tell time? Stop stalling.
Go get her, tiger.
Hi.
"Hi"? "Hi".
I can't believe we're related.
Watch this.
Excuse me, miss.
I don't mean to embarrass you, but you have something on your face.
What? Beauty.
That is the cheesiest thing I have ever heard.
That can't possibly work! Oh, it does.
They laugh, I laugh.
It breaks the ice.
And you follow up with something that shows who you really are.
No one wants to hear about my sad life.
Modern women want a man who can communicate, be vulnerable.
Now we just got to figure out what the winning play for you is.
You know what's been working for me lately? I'm from a broken home.
That could work for you, too.
They don't need to know that you're the guy who broke it.
Hey, there.
Hi.
You remind me of my father.
But I really love my father.
- Stella, hey.
- âHi.
Wow.
You look great.
- Oh, so do you.
- âThank you.
- Ooh.
- âOh, hey.
First day on the new feet, huh? Yeah, I haven't spent much time in heels in the last eight years, so [BOTH CHUCKLE.]
- Oh, my God.
- [BOTH LAUGH.]
- Stella? - Daddy? Hands off, lady.
He's my daddy tonight.
This is his fault.
This was your father-son idea, bringing Dad here to meet women? Don't judge me when you're at a bar with some dude who isn't your husband.
Oh, no, no.
âWe just we work together.
- Yeah.
- Dr.
William Grant.
- Hi.
- And this is my phone.
Excuse me.
Okay, well.
âI appear to be going away.
- Aah! - âUgh.
I should probably go monitor that situation.
That's a drastic drop in the white-blood cell count.
Go ahead and put her on oxygen.
There's not much we can do for her at this point.
- Thank you.
- What is Sadie okay? - Wh what's happening? - Oh, no, no.
Sadie's fine.
This is a totally different patient.
Oh, thank God.
I I mean, no, not "thank God" that your other patient's getting worse.
I just mean "Thank God Sadie's okay" well, at least for now, and, hopefully, for a really long time once we nail down our mission.
You talk a lot.
I know, but don't worry because my ability to talk will be a great asset when we casually run into Roger Shaw and I casually mention that his clinical trial saved my life and he reinstates the trial.
I could use some liquid courage, though.
Two habanero martinis, please.
Thank you.
How do you have any idea what I like? It's just a guess.
Thank you.
Oh, God.
- I love it.
- âTold you.
But I can order myself.
One habanero martini, please.
- Are you always like this? - âYes.
- Are you always like that? - Like what? Like you know all the answers to everything? Oh, that.
Yeah, no, I've been like that since birth.
So is that why you became a doctor, so you can tell people what to do? Okay, I'm offended by that because I became a doctor for one reason and one reason only my high-school emo band didn't get a record deal.
- [LAUGHS.]
- Excuse me.
It's the hospital.
Sorry.
Dr.
Grant.
What happened to your handsy friend? She left me for someone who, apparently, looks even more like her father.
Hi.
What's up? Uh, hi.
I'm Peter, - Peter Abbott.
- Peter Rabbit? - Just call me Peter.
- Okay.
So, uh, just to be vulnerable, I'm kind of having a rough time right now.
My wife left me.
I'm living in a guesthouse with my adult son.
That is so, uh - I feel sorry for you.
- Well, you should.
It's truly horrible.
You have something on your face.
Oh, my God.
Stacy? Why didn't you tell me I had something on my face? Okay, I can't do this.
That was you're great at this.
Pretty run-of-the-mill stuff.
My mom would have told me to buck up and stop embarrassing her in the bathroom, in our house, with no one else around.
You don't talk about your mom much.
Yeah, well.
Don't talk to my mom much.
Not everyone's as lucky as your kids.
Well, I am lucky to have a son-in-law like you.
[PHONE RINGS.]
Oh, it's Diego.
Finally responded to my text.
Well, I'll check on Fiona before I go.
Okay.
- What's up, buddy? - Look, I'm sorry to bother you.
Fiona threw up and I kind of panicked.
Yeah, there's a little flu bug going around their school.
- Is she okay? - âYeah, yeah.
âEverything's under control.
I called Ida 'round for backup.
No.
No, no, no, no, no.
Wes, no.
Ida doesn't do well with sick.
What are you talking about? Let's just say that she has a tendency to overreact.
She seems fine.
Fiona's good âand Ida's about to head home.
Okay.
All good here.
Don't worry about a thing.
Okay.
Wes, we have a problem! Fiona has a fever.
It's nearly 101.
We need to take her to urgent care, right now! DR.
GRANT: Try doubling the Narcan, but don't intubate.
She's CTD.
Thank you.
What's CTD? Um, it's, uh it's just doctor speak.
For For circling the drain.
Wow, that is really heartless.
No, this is how all doctors talk.
It's just our way of detaching.
It's not personal.
That's just another way of saying that you don't care.
You don't think I care? Stella, you have no idea the things that I've seen.
Okay, you you've been working at the hospital for, what, a week now? [PHONE DINGS, BUZZES.]
Oh.
Wait, where are you going? To the hospital.
My CTD is crashing.
I'm sorry, my patient.
I may have been abandoned by Dr.
Grant, but I wasn't giving up.
I still had an ace up my sleeve.
STELLA: Hi, where's Dad? Just look for the sweater vest.
He'll be the guy inside it.
Why? Well, he gave this speech that got me into my clinical trial, and now I need his help with Sadie.
I'm gonna have to say "No".
No to what? You told me earlier today to take care of Dad, right? Dad's done fighting cancer.
I'm trying to get him to take a step forward tonight, not two steps back.
Okay.
You're right.
Well, I'll just figure out how to talk to Roger Shaw myself.
You got this, sis.
If there's one thing you don't need help with, it's talking.
Okay.
Back at it.
This is a great conversation starter.
Don't know what's in it, just pretend to like it.
Aiden, âI really appreciate this.
It's no problem.
I just told the bartender to dump in all the stuff with colors.
I mean, tonight.
Uh, tonight's not over yet.
It is for me.
N what about her? Thank you for trying, but I can't do it.
I don't know if I'll ever be able to do it again.
Maybe your mother was it for me.
Dad, you're old.
You're not dead.
You can still have a great time tonight.
I did have a great time because I got âto spend time with my son.
You know the last time you asked me to hang out? We saw the Mariners lose to the Yankees.
I must have been 15.
I can't believe you remember that.
You were 12, actually.
That was one of âthe best days of my life.
So, the next time âyou want to do something, I don't need all this, whatever this is.
I just need you.
And maybe a beer.
All right, let's get out of here before you make me cry in this bar.
You stay.
- I'm fine on my own.
- Not a chance.
This is our night out.
Or this is a decent stopping point if we just want to call it.
- Bye, son.
- âBye.
We're making a mistake! We need to take her to urgent care.
I spoke to Lizzie and Diego.
They said a 100.
8 fever is no cause for concern.
Then let's check again! No, we've already checked it three times.
I need to call Lizzie.
No, we just got off the phone with Lizzie.
- Please, just relax for a minute.
- I can't relax.
Something could turn on a dime.
I'm checking her temperature again.
I no, Ida.
Listen.
I'm gonna have to ask you to put the thermometer down and step back.
Lizzie and Diego said they want her to rest.
- That's what she needs right now.
- They're not here.
They they don't see what I'm seeing.
She's sleeping peacefully.
I think you're being irrational about this.
It's not irrational âto make sure Stella's okay.
You mean Fiona.
Oh, thank you, âbut I probably shouldn't.
Actually, yes, I could use a little more courage.
[CHUCKLES.]
Courage for what? Oh, I'm waiting for the owner of the hotel.
I scoped it out with the waiter, and he's gonna be sitting at that table and I'm gonna give this big, uplifting speech so he gives me a bunch of money.
That's gonna be some speech.
Right? âI can't wait to hear it.
So, what do you need money for? I am a volunteer at Lone Pine Hospital.
He's a big donor, but he pulled the funding for this clinical trial.
Why did he pull the funding? My theory is he's a huge d-bag who just wanted to invest his money in fancy hotels, instead of people.
Maybe.
Or maybe all clinical trials have to present âa standard rate of repetition that this one couldn't attain.
You know, for a bartender, you sure do know a lot about clinical trials.
Oh, my God.
Please don't tell Roger Shaw.
Huge d-bag.
Spinning wheel of death.
Probably my crappy karma jamming the hotel Wi-Fi.
You could take it up with the hotel concierge, but she's waiting for an Uber because her ex-husband just had her car repossessed.
- Eesh.
- âYeah.
This whole divorce thing is turning out to be a real drag.
Going through one myself.
Bet you mine's worse.
- Oh, really? - âUh-huh.
Did your ex âserve you divorce papers on your birthday? - Oh, ho.
- â[CHUCKLES.]
Did your ex take a sledgehammer to a wall in your house? Did your ex take everything? I mean, everything.
Mine took tampons.
[LAUGHS.]
Mine left those for me because there were plenty at her new girlfriend's house.
Damn.
You win.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
- I'm Lauren.
- Oh, I'm Peter.
Nice to meet you.
Yeah, it really is.
Huh.
I keep my special stash back here.
I'm particular with my cocktails.
Have a wonderful evening.
Oh, my God, Stella.
Start talking.
Wait! I need your money! Stop talking.
Was that your uplifting speech 'cause, I got to say, I expected it would be a bit longer.
What I'm trying to say is that It's okay.
You said it earlier.
You need my money.
I said, "I pulled the funding because the trial wasn't effective".
Yes, it was.
That trial saved my life and now it could save my friend's.
Her name is Sadie, and I should probably tell you that she's sweet and kind and optimistic, but, truthfully, she's a sarcastic, little cynic totally the anti-me but that is what I love about her.
And she's also a little wise beyond her years, which is so amazing, but it also breaks my heart, because I don't know âif she'll make to those years.
But if you put the money back in, maybe she will.
Now that was a good speech.
I'll tell you what.
I'll put the money back in.
As soon as they figure out how to repeat the results you got.
The FDA rejected the protocol.
Only one person survived.
What? I was the only one? Oh.
Well, how long will it take to start the trial back up? A year, maybe two.
What if Sadie doesn't last that long? Well, that's the best I can do.
I wanted to scream that the best wasn't enough, I wanted to tell him too many kids were dying.
Instead I said Thank you.
[EXHALES SHARPLY.]
So, a week after camping, my son comes home, and he refuses to pee anywhere but outside.
Oh, my son still nature-pees whenever he can, and he's 27.
[LAUGHS.]
Ugh, I can't believe how late it is.
Ah, I'm sorry.
I'm rambling.
I should let you get home.
Why? Any interest in grabbing a drink somewhere not here.
Well, that is my all-time favorite place.
You didn't have to text me.
I would have found you up here.
Hey.
How's Dad doing? He's okay, actually.
What about you? I don't know.
I think I might be in over my head.
I had no idea that it would be this hard advocating for someone.
I I thought it would be as easy for me as it was for Mom and Dad.
Is that what you think? Stella, it was never easy.
And that's when Aiden told me the truth about what my parents went through for me.
It wasn't a single uplifting speech that got me into that trial.
Week after week, my parents would come in, sludge their way through healthcare bureaucracy, and plead my case.
Feed me your wisdom Sometimes threatening I'm amazing sometimes negotiating.
Wish me to sleep And, finally, my father my proud father Hear when I speak - was reduced to begging.
- There is nothing I've got when I die That I keep It was a long road and it took a lot out of them.
They were in there all the time, making sure the air vents in your room were pointed the right way, getting you the latest equipment.
They fought hard.
They went through hell, huh? They did.
But you're worth it.
Yes, Sadie is, too.
But what if I can't do it? What if I can't give her the same happy ending that Mom and Dad gave me? You can't think like that.
You can't stop trying.
You just have to know, going into it, that sometimes it's gonna hurt a lot.
But that is life and it's it's love.
It's the whole thing.
You lift that burden off of me You know, it's weird how often you're right, considering you still only wear slip-on shoes.
Fast asleep.
Thank you for calming me down.
I may have slightly overreacted.
I did think you were gonna call medevac at one point.
Oh, you probably think I'm a crazy person.
[UGHS.]
I do.
And fierce and loving.
And used to taking care of someone who needed an unbelievable level of concern.
I mean, I barely got a glimpse of what you went through with Stella and I I'll never be the same for it.
When Stella was 15, she told me she was feeling sick, but she couldn't describe exactly what was wrong, so I chalked it up to back-to-school stress.
It took me a month to take her to the doctor.
For the longest time, I blamed myself, "If only I had taken her sooner".
But she's okay now.
But sometimes, I'm just not sure I am.
Hey, we're all here for you.
It's what family's for.
Thank you.
[PHONE RINGS.]
Oh.
- Speaking of family.
- âHm.
Hey, Diego.
Hey, just wanted to make sure that everything was okay over there.
Everything's great.
Kids are sleeping.
I am just sitting here with Mum.
Did you just call me Mum? He totally did.
[LAUGHS.]
Yeah.
I love my boys.
â[LAUGHS.]
Oh, I'm so glad that tonight was a success because I was actually wondering if you're free, - maybe you could - You're breaking up, mate.
Oh, I I was just gonna ask Hard to hear.
What? I can see you.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
Now that I knew what it was like to lose a battle, I understood why Dr.
Grant needed to detach.
Hey.
DR.
GRANT: Hey.
Are you okay? Yeah, I'm fine.
I came to apologize about the whole "heartless" thing.
Clearly, you're not.
Did your patient I was wrong.
This isn't just a job to you.
My big brother's name was Jesse.
And, uh, he liked BMX and the Seahawks and any song by The Shins.
[CHUCKLES.]
He was my hero.
And in every single patient I treat, every single one, I see him.
And when I lose one, I lose my brother all over again.
I'm so sorry.
Stella, I know what you're going through because I know what it's like to wake up every single day and wonder "Why am I the one that lived?" How do you do it? How do you keep going? You take the wins when you can get them and you try not to let the losses throw you too far off track.
There's a reason that you want to help people.
Don't forget that.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
[BOTH LAUGH.]
Hey, you're back.
- I'm back.
- I'm glad.
[GROANS.]
I missed you.
I missed you, too.
How are the kids? The kids are great.
And? Mum? She's good.
She left about 20 minutes ago.
Did you just call her "mum"? - My mom? - âI did.
How did your mission go? Uh, I failed.
But I'm gonna keep trying.
Do you know you don't have to do this? Most people wouldn't want to set foot in a hospital after what you went through.
Well, I'm not most people.
No, you're not.
Pressing my way to the surface Wonder if I'll ever feel you close Stuck in my head, I can't get out [CHUCKLES.]
Lauren? Aiden? What are you doing here?! I live here with my father whose room you just came out of.
- Oh, God.
- Yeah So I rearrange So, I guess what I'm saying is I'm sorry that I didn't tell you the trial had been pulled.
But it should be up and running in a year or two.
No matter what I do Looks like I'll just have to stick around until then.
Oh, I insist.
Although we are not gonna sit around waiting.
What's all this? 17 current clinical trials that Dr.
Grant and I are gonna submit you for.
[CHUCKLES.]
Wow.
- Finding our feet in a strange place - Thank you.
- Everyone whispers in my room - Are those vents blowing right on you? I hold my breath to feel alive Is there a diminutive woman standing on a bed, waving her arms around? - Yep.
- âGreat.
I'm just making sure you see that, too.
Thanks.
I see you got the brochures.
I did.
Thank you.
Well, thank Stella.
We're lucky to have her on the team.
I know.
Well, I'll see you tomorrow.
But you stay the same One second.
- No matter what I do - Walking out of that hospital, I felt like I could handle anything life threw at me.
Hey, that was a little win there, huh? Yeah.
The look on her face was pretty cool.
- Thank you for helping me with her.
- Of course.
Okay, well, if you'll excuse me, I'm late to meet my husband for dinner, so - How long have you been married? - Six months.
It's a shame I didn't meet you seven months ago.
Have a good night.
But I didn't expect that.
- Hey, gorgeous.
Ready to go? - But you stay the same - I try to change for you - Yeah.
Absolutely.
But you stay the same Everything that I do So I rearrange
It was a six-to-eight month commitment, tops.
I'm cured.
My cancer was gone and the eight years my family spent taking care of me had kind of ruined their lives.
Mom just left Dad.
I thought I made you happy.
[SIGHS.]
You did, Peter.
A long time ago.
We have to sell the house and work until we're 80.
If we sell the house, where am I going to live?! I help Lizzie get into a writers' retreat so she could finally focus.
DIEGO: See you, babe! I got the kids! - You know I'm gonna kill you, right? - âMakes sense.
SADIE: Um, I don't think patients are allowed to drink wine.
When I was sick, this was my room.
I'm Sadie, by the way.
I'm Stella.
As Lone Pine Hospital's newest volunteer, I vowed to make a big difference in patients' lives every single day.
Lift.
But so far, they just made me clean stuff.
Hey, can you pick up some nail polish tomorrow? - Absolutely.
- âThanks.
Oh, so, Jill, hi.
Uh, I was just wondering if maybe I could have a little more responsibility around here.
Sadie seems to really appreciate me, so What is happening? Is there an emergency? â No.
There's a new oncologist on the floor, and he is hot.
Okay.
Well, back to me.
I was just asking if I could be a little more hands-on with the patients.
That's not up to me.
And while I was struggling with my new position at work, my dad was struggling to get used to life in the guest house after the new owners agreed to let him stay.
Unfortunately, it came with a roommate.
- Aiden.
- Excuse me! AIDEN: Again? I asked you not to stand there.
And I asked you to use the bathroom sink.
That's 23 steps away âand 18 of those are stairs.
It's not gonna happen.
I hope you're enjoying my life.
And Diego was struggling to get someone to watch his kids, so he could visit Lizzie at her writers' retreat.
Hey, Mom! Diego? âWhat are you doing here? I tried to call, uh, but Poppy told me I could catch you here.
Did she? Thanks, Poppy.
I could really use some help with the kids tomorrow night.
Oh, Diego.
I love those kids.
They are the pride and joy of my whole life.
But no.
Mom! I know it's been a bit much.
A lot much.
And besides, Poppy and I already bought movie tickets.
The kids could go with you.
Just cover their eyes in the violent parts.
Hard pass.
WES: That sucks.
Now who are you gonna get to watch them? Do you not get why I'm here? Oh, right.
Well, I mean, we'd love to, but we have a little date night planned.
Which includes watching your kids, apparently.
- Oh, thank you.
- This will be fun.
So fun.
Thank you.
Hey, hey [SOFT MUSIC PLAYS.]
You know, âI was looking forward to a night alone with Wes, but it will be fine.
Speaking of "fine", have you seen my new oncologist? He's so hot.
No, I haven't.
But all the nurses are obsessed with him.
It's ridiculous.
Nurse Jill says he's so gorgeous that he literally lights up a room.
He does.
Huh.
Hi.
- Oh, hi, - Dr.
William Grant.
Stella Abbott, volunteer.
Great.
Hi, Sadie.
How are you feeling today? - I'm okay.
- âGood.
Let's take a look at your blood work, shall we? Okay.
Your, uh your white blood cell count is exactly the same as last week, so we just stay the course for now.
Hey, it's a good thing.
It means you're not getting worse.
I'm not getting better.
Hey, we're gonna keep working on that for you.
Just keep your chin up.
- Stella, it was nice to meet you.
- You, too.
Want a Jello? Or a applesauce, fruit cup? How about a cure? You got one, and you had âthe same type of cancer as me.
You're right.
I did.
So maybe âyou can do the same trial.
I I can talk to your parents about getting you in.
I live with my aunt.
She works a lot.
That's when it hit me.
When I was sick, I had people fighting for me.
Sadie didn't have what I had.
You know what? I will handle this.
Wow.
I remember Ms.
French.
A few months ago, I'd made my peace with dying.
I still had to go to the hospital for infusions, just to keep my energy up, but I'd given up on ever hearing good news in here - until - Good news, Stell Belle! That clinical trial we talked about Ms.
French got you in.
I thought Dr.
Chang said that it was full? Well, it was, but your dad gave quite a speech.
I was very convincing.
You're up for it, right, Stella? MS.
FRENCH: Stella? - Can I help you? - Yes, hi, Ms.
French.
I don't know if you've heard yet, but I'm a volunteer now, and I know that this might be outside of my âtechnical responsibilities, but I wanted to talk to you about a patient named Sadie Carter.
I was just seeing if maybe she can be admitted into the same clinical trial that I went through? Unfortunately, we're not running that trial any longer.
The donor pulled the funding.
- Why would they do that? - I don't know.
I'm not privy âto those kinds of decisions.
Well who's the donor? That's confidential.
I'm sorry, Stella.
That is not how this was supposed to go.
So? Do you feel good about my chances? For the first time, I understood why people lied to me when I was sick.
Yes.
Yes, I do.
Don't worry about a thing You'll learn to live again Oh, oh, oh What are you doing? The new owners are in the living room testing paint colors.
And that green is exactly right.
And they're fools to change it.
By the way, I took your jeans out of the freezer.
Why would you do that? Because that's not where jeans go.
Yes, it is.
The freezer gets the stank out.
Word of warning, do not use those ice cubes.
I don't know who raised you, but I hate them.
Not pointing any fingers, but mistakes were made.
You're gonna put on clothes today? Are you? [WOMAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY OVER P.
A.
.]
Hi.
So, if you needed to find out some confidential information about donors to the hospital, where would you look? [SIGHS.]
Why? [SIGHS.]
I'm trying to help Sadie Carter.
I'm not allowed to tell you that information, which means I'm not allowed to tell you Ms.
French keeps it in the file cabinet near her desk.
Thank you.
Did we just bond? I I feel like we might have just bonded.
Okay.
I'm not gonna push it.
AIDEN: Hey, sis! Aiden, hey.
What are you doing? Marlene's with âthe baby doctor downstairs, and I need to borrow some money.
But in exchange, I also need your help.
Hm, it's not how an exchange works.
There's something wrong with Dad.
Yesterday, he spent the whole day watching the new owners paint.
He literally watched paint dry, and he commented on it.
You need to do something.
No, you need to do something.
- Like what? - âI don't know.
He's clearly lonely, so go do something fun like a father-son thing.
We don't really have that kind of relationship.
Aiden, Dad let you move in with him for free, and he's always been there for you, so I think it's your turn to be there for him.
Okay, I'm gonna do it.
I'm gonna hang out with my own father on purpose, - like an adult.
- âGreat.
Can I still borrow that cash? - Uncle Wes! - Hey! Yeah! Unh! I brought a few things.
- Oh, you did.
- âYou got that? Yep, that's it, then.
No, not quite.
âJust got a couple more bags.
[GRUNTS.]
It is still just the one night, right? - Yeah, totally.
- âOkay.
Um, okay, so, uh, the kid toothpaste it's somewhere in there.
And, uh, it doesn't really matter 'cause their teeth âare gonna fall out anyways.
But - Are you good? - Great.
Got it.
Hey, I really appreciate this, man.
I've been leaning on Mom a lot lately, so Wait, wait.
You call Ida "Mom"? - Yeah.
- What do you call her? I generally avoid calling her anything.
I just don't really have experience being around a mother that's so maternal, you know.
Ida's a hugger.
My mom was not.
Your mom didn't hug you? Well, she patted me on the back once, but I was on fire, so I can't be sure that was genuine affection.
Oh, well, hey.
You got Ida now, and she is great.
Uh, by the way, my friend, you are gonna need this for Miss Fiona tonight.
Cool.
[CRASH.]
I'm sure it's fine.
Yeah, probably not, but, hey, I will pay for whatever it is or whatever it was.
Um, I got a four-hour drive and, uh, 24 hours on the ground - before I have to turn around.
- Not to worry.
Stella's gonna be home soon, so two of us, two of them.
Hey, seriously, very thankful.
Not a problem.
[CRASH, CLANGING.]
Okay, who wants to play a fun game called "sit still and don't break anything"? Aah! I am sorry I had to do that.
But it's for your own good.
You are obsessing over the new owners.
I am not obsessing.
I'm checking to see if they're still planning to remove that Japanese maple tree.
Your mom and I planted it when we moved in.
It looks great there.
Mistake to move it! Dad, you have to move on.
Mom has.
So I'm taking you out tonight.
- I don't want to go out.
- We have to.
Stella said so.
Look, I told her about your whole "Rear Window" situation, and she suggested that we go and do something, just the two of us.
And she's right.
You got to stop clinging to this old life.
I'm not clinging.
Oh, no.
I know you're not.
I'm just curious though.
What color did they end up going with in the living room? Like a beige, but a yellow-beige.
You can tell she liked it better than he did.
He just caved like a fool and Yeah, we should get me out of here.
I knew if I got caught breaking into Ms.
French's office, it would not be good.
But I wasn't going to get caught.
Hey, âwhat are you doing in here? What are you doing in here? I'm here to see Ms.
French.
Well, I'm here to steal confidential patient information, but, to be fair, it is information about the clinical trial that cured my cancer.
I didn't know you had cancer.
I did.
But it's gone now.
So need to know the name of the anonymous donor - who funded my trial.
- Why? Because he pulled all the funding, and I need to ask him to put it back in for Sadie.
I'm living proof that this trial is worth it.
It literally saved my life, which is why I need to get it started again.
But this is crazy, Stella.
I know it's a long shot, but I promised Sadie that I would fight for her.
And the only thing standing in the way of that is this donor named Roger Shaw.
Roger Shaw? He's the donor? - Why, do you know him? - Well, kind of, yeah.
He owns the 44 Park Hotel.
Matter of fact, they're having a party there tonight - for the opening of his new bar.
- So he'll be there.
[SCOFFS.]
- Can you introduce me? - No, I I feel like he kind of wants to be anonymous.
Why would he want to be anonymous? - So that people don't ask him for money.
â- Right.
Well, what if I didn't ask him directly? I feel like you're plotting something.
I am plotting something, and you are a part of it.
- Oh.
- [LAUGHS.]
Uhp.
Reinforcements have arrived! Thank God.
FIONA: Uncle Wes, come back! You're walking on lava! Quick, back in! Come on, grab a pillow if you want to live.
So, listen, I know we agreed to watch the kids tonight.
Um, did we âor did you volunteer us? I'd rather not get caught up in semantics, because there is something I really need to do tonight.
- Seriously? - âI know.
Terrible timing.
But I'm trying to get Sadie the same experimental treatment I got.
At 8:00 p.
m.
on a Saturday? I know where the guy who funded the trial is gonna be tonight and I need to talk to him about funding another one.
- Stells? - âYeah? Are you sure about this? I mean, âyou barely know this guy, and I don't want you getting hurt in case it doesn't work out.
Wes, I have to do more than just wipe the counters at the hospital.
I I want to make a difference and this is how I can help.
[SIGHS.]
Okay.
I can handle the kids on my own.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
You know, I think this might be the first time either one of us has gone out without the other one.
Bound to happen sooner or later.
- All right.
- Wow.
You look having a little trouble understanding why you need to look like that to help Sadie, though.
Does the hospital turn into a disco after 10:00? I am not going to the hospital.
I am going to a hotel.
- Oh, okay.
- âMm-hmm.
Why do you have to go alone? Nope, not going alone.
Sadie's new doctor knows this guy, so he's coming to introduce me.
He's go he's going, too? Wait, so, you're going to a hotel, um, with another man dressed like that? Is that something married couples do? It is when you can save a little girl's life.
I promise I'll make it up to you tomorrow night.
I have a way better outfit that I'll wear only for you.
All right, you're on.
Thank you for being so amazing.
I'll be home as soon as I can.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
Come on, Dad.
We got to go.
And now, I have to stop.
What? Why? Because we're going to a bar, not small-claims court.
You know, just leave you here so that you can tie it on a door handle when you have company later.
In fact, we should probably figure out the architecture for when we both have company, the basic floor plan for that inevitable scenario.
I wouldn't worry about it.
I haven't had company like that in a long time.
Which is why I'm gonna need you to take that ring off.
[SIGHS.]
It feels too weird not to have it on.
How about this? It's a start.
Maybe I'm not ready to date.
Whoa, who said anything about dating? We're talking about casual sex for morale purposes only.
Dad, I'm gonna be your wingman tonight.
I'm gonna teach you everything I know.
Not to brag, but I have an almost 100 percent success rate with women.
That is the exact definition of bragging.
You're right.
I'm sorry.
Tonight isn't about me.
It's all about you.
Though if it helps, I will jump on a grenade for you.
You don't know what means, but maybe I'll show you.
Please don't show me.
[PHONE RINGS.]
- Hi, honey.
- âWES: Hey how's your "night out on the town without me" going? It's good so far, just waiting for Dr.
Grant to get here.
- How are the kids? - Actually, not great.
That's why I'm calling.
Fiona isn't feeling very well and I didn't know who else to call.
- FIONA: Uncle Wes? - Yes, sweetheart? - I think I'm gonna throw up.
- N-n-no, no.
Sweetheart, listen, um, here's the deal.
Wait.
What's going on? If you throw up, I throw up, okay? Uncle Wes doesn't want to throw up, - so please â - [RETCHES.]
[GAGS.]
I know exactly what you should do.
I brought two thermometers, tummy bear, ginger just in case she pukes again.
Frank, go get a bucket.
Fiona, honey, I need you to take this probiotic.
It's delish.
Drink up.
Don't worry, Wes.
Mom's here.
Everything's under control.
FIONA: [RETCHES.]
[RETCHES.]
Four scotch and sodas, please.
It's happy hour so we buy all of our drinks now.
I feel like that's self-explanatory, but I'm not entirely sure what you do and do not know.
Well, I know that we are not buying the drinks, because that was my credit card.
I will get the next round.
Okay.
Hot chick.
Four o'clock.
That's not four o'clock.
Do you know how to tell time? Stop stalling.
Go get her, tiger.
Hi.
"Hi"? "Hi".
I can't believe we're related.
Watch this.
Excuse me, miss.
I don't mean to embarrass you, but you have something on your face.
What? Beauty.
That is the cheesiest thing I have ever heard.
That can't possibly work! Oh, it does.
They laugh, I laugh.
It breaks the ice.
And you follow up with something that shows who you really are.
No one wants to hear about my sad life.
Modern women want a man who can communicate, be vulnerable.
Now we just got to figure out what the winning play for you is.
You know what's been working for me lately? I'm from a broken home.
That could work for you, too.
They don't need to know that you're the guy who broke it.
Hey, there.
Hi.
You remind me of my father.
But I really love my father.
- Stella, hey.
- âHi.
Wow.
You look great.
- Oh, so do you.
- âThank you.
- Ooh.
- âOh, hey.
First day on the new feet, huh? Yeah, I haven't spent much time in heels in the last eight years, so [BOTH CHUCKLE.]
- Oh, my God.
- [BOTH LAUGH.]
- Stella? - Daddy? Hands off, lady.
He's my daddy tonight.
This is his fault.
This was your father-son idea, bringing Dad here to meet women? Don't judge me when you're at a bar with some dude who isn't your husband.
Oh, no, no.
âWe just we work together.
- Yeah.
- Dr.
William Grant.
- Hi.
- And this is my phone.
Excuse me.
Okay, well.
âI appear to be going away.
- Aah! - âUgh.
I should probably go monitor that situation.
That's a drastic drop in the white-blood cell count.
Go ahead and put her on oxygen.
There's not much we can do for her at this point.
- Thank you.
- What is Sadie okay? - Wh what's happening? - Oh, no, no.
Sadie's fine.
This is a totally different patient.
Oh, thank God.
I I mean, no, not "thank God" that your other patient's getting worse.
I just mean "Thank God Sadie's okay" well, at least for now, and, hopefully, for a really long time once we nail down our mission.
You talk a lot.
I know, but don't worry because my ability to talk will be a great asset when we casually run into Roger Shaw and I casually mention that his clinical trial saved my life and he reinstates the trial.
I could use some liquid courage, though.
Two habanero martinis, please.
Thank you.
How do you have any idea what I like? It's just a guess.
Thank you.
Oh, God.
- I love it.
- âTold you.
But I can order myself.
One habanero martini, please.
- Are you always like this? - âYes.
- Are you always like that? - Like what? Like you know all the answers to everything? Oh, that.
Yeah, no, I've been like that since birth.
So is that why you became a doctor, so you can tell people what to do? Okay, I'm offended by that because I became a doctor for one reason and one reason only my high-school emo band didn't get a record deal.
- [LAUGHS.]
- Excuse me.
It's the hospital.
Sorry.
Dr.
Grant.
What happened to your handsy friend? She left me for someone who, apparently, looks even more like her father.
Hi.
What's up? Uh, hi.
I'm Peter, - Peter Abbott.
- Peter Rabbit? - Just call me Peter.
- Okay.
So, uh, just to be vulnerable, I'm kind of having a rough time right now.
My wife left me.
I'm living in a guesthouse with my adult son.
That is so, uh - I feel sorry for you.
- Well, you should.
It's truly horrible.
You have something on your face.
Oh, my God.
Stacy? Why didn't you tell me I had something on my face? Okay, I can't do this.
That was you're great at this.
Pretty run-of-the-mill stuff.
My mom would have told me to buck up and stop embarrassing her in the bathroom, in our house, with no one else around.
You don't talk about your mom much.
Yeah, well.
Don't talk to my mom much.
Not everyone's as lucky as your kids.
Well, I am lucky to have a son-in-law like you.
[PHONE RINGS.]
Oh, it's Diego.
Finally responded to my text.
Well, I'll check on Fiona before I go.
Okay.
- What's up, buddy? - Look, I'm sorry to bother you.
Fiona threw up and I kind of panicked.
Yeah, there's a little flu bug going around their school.
- Is she okay? - âYeah, yeah.
âEverything's under control.
I called Ida 'round for backup.
No.
No, no, no, no, no.
Wes, no.
Ida doesn't do well with sick.
What are you talking about? Let's just say that she has a tendency to overreact.
She seems fine.
Fiona's good âand Ida's about to head home.
Okay.
All good here.
Don't worry about a thing.
Okay.
Wes, we have a problem! Fiona has a fever.
It's nearly 101.
We need to take her to urgent care, right now! DR.
GRANT: Try doubling the Narcan, but don't intubate.
She's CTD.
Thank you.
What's CTD? Um, it's, uh it's just doctor speak.
For For circling the drain.
Wow, that is really heartless.
No, this is how all doctors talk.
It's just our way of detaching.
It's not personal.
That's just another way of saying that you don't care.
You don't think I care? Stella, you have no idea the things that I've seen.
Okay, you you've been working at the hospital for, what, a week now? [PHONE DINGS, BUZZES.]
Oh.
Wait, where are you going? To the hospital.
My CTD is crashing.
I'm sorry, my patient.
I may have been abandoned by Dr.
Grant, but I wasn't giving up.
I still had an ace up my sleeve.
STELLA: Hi, where's Dad? Just look for the sweater vest.
He'll be the guy inside it.
Why? Well, he gave this speech that got me into my clinical trial, and now I need his help with Sadie.
I'm gonna have to say "No".
No to what? You told me earlier today to take care of Dad, right? Dad's done fighting cancer.
I'm trying to get him to take a step forward tonight, not two steps back.
Okay.
You're right.
Well, I'll just figure out how to talk to Roger Shaw myself.
You got this, sis.
If there's one thing you don't need help with, it's talking.
Okay.
Back at it.
This is a great conversation starter.
Don't know what's in it, just pretend to like it.
Aiden, âI really appreciate this.
It's no problem.
I just told the bartender to dump in all the stuff with colors.
I mean, tonight.
Uh, tonight's not over yet.
It is for me.
N what about her? Thank you for trying, but I can't do it.
I don't know if I'll ever be able to do it again.
Maybe your mother was it for me.
Dad, you're old.
You're not dead.
You can still have a great time tonight.
I did have a great time because I got âto spend time with my son.
You know the last time you asked me to hang out? We saw the Mariners lose to the Yankees.
I must have been 15.
I can't believe you remember that.
You were 12, actually.
That was one of âthe best days of my life.
So, the next time âyou want to do something, I don't need all this, whatever this is.
I just need you.
And maybe a beer.
All right, let's get out of here before you make me cry in this bar.
You stay.
- I'm fine on my own.
- Not a chance.
This is our night out.
Or this is a decent stopping point if we just want to call it.
- Bye, son.
- âBye.
We're making a mistake! We need to take her to urgent care.
I spoke to Lizzie and Diego.
They said a 100.
8 fever is no cause for concern.
Then let's check again! No, we've already checked it three times.
I need to call Lizzie.
No, we just got off the phone with Lizzie.
- Please, just relax for a minute.
- I can't relax.
Something could turn on a dime.
I'm checking her temperature again.
I no, Ida.
Listen.
I'm gonna have to ask you to put the thermometer down and step back.
Lizzie and Diego said they want her to rest.
- That's what she needs right now.
- They're not here.
They they don't see what I'm seeing.
She's sleeping peacefully.
I think you're being irrational about this.
It's not irrational âto make sure Stella's okay.
You mean Fiona.
Oh, thank you, âbut I probably shouldn't.
Actually, yes, I could use a little more courage.
[CHUCKLES.]
Courage for what? Oh, I'm waiting for the owner of the hotel.
I scoped it out with the waiter, and he's gonna be sitting at that table and I'm gonna give this big, uplifting speech so he gives me a bunch of money.
That's gonna be some speech.
Right? âI can't wait to hear it.
So, what do you need money for? I am a volunteer at Lone Pine Hospital.
He's a big donor, but he pulled the funding for this clinical trial.
Why did he pull the funding? My theory is he's a huge d-bag who just wanted to invest his money in fancy hotels, instead of people.
Maybe.
Or maybe all clinical trials have to present âa standard rate of repetition that this one couldn't attain.
You know, for a bartender, you sure do know a lot about clinical trials.
Oh, my God.
Please don't tell Roger Shaw.
Huge d-bag.
Spinning wheel of death.
Probably my crappy karma jamming the hotel Wi-Fi.
You could take it up with the hotel concierge, but she's waiting for an Uber because her ex-husband just had her car repossessed.
- Eesh.
- âYeah.
This whole divorce thing is turning out to be a real drag.
Going through one myself.
Bet you mine's worse.
- Oh, really? - âUh-huh.
Did your ex âserve you divorce papers on your birthday? - Oh, ho.
- â[CHUCKLES.]
Did your ex take a sledgehammer to a wall in your house? Did your ex take everything? I mean, everything.
Mine took tampons.
[LAUGHS.]
Mine left those for me because there were plenty at her new girlfriend's house.
Damn.
You win.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
- I'm Lauren.
- Oh, I'm Peter.
Nice to meet you.
Yeah, it really is.
Huh.
I keep my special stash back here.
I'm particular with my cocktails.
Have a wonderful evening.
Oh, my God, Stella.
Start talking.
Wait! I need your money! Stop talking.
Was that your uplifting speech 'cause, I got to say, I expected it would be a bit longer.
What I'm trying to say is that It's okay.
You said it earlier.
You need my money.
I said, "I pulled the funding because the trial wasn't effective".
Yes, it was.
That trial saved my life and now it could save my friend's.
Her name is Sadie, and I should probably tell you that she's sweet and kind and optimistic, but, truthfully, she's a sarcastic, little cynic totally the anti-me but that is what I love about her.
And she's also a little wise beyond her years, which is so amazing, but it also breaks my heart, because I don't know âif she'll make to those years.
But if you put the money back in, maybe she will.
Now that was a good speech.
I'll tell you what.
I'll put the money back in.
As soon as they figure out how to repeat the results you got.
The FDA rejected the protocol.
Only one person survived.
What? I was the only one? Oh.
Well, how long will it take to start the trial back up? A year, maybe two.
What if Sadie doesn't last that long? Well, that's the best I can do.
I wanted to scream that the best wasn't enough, I wanted to tell him too many kids were dying.
Instead I said Thank you.
[EXHALES SHARPLY.]
So, a week after camping, my son comes home, and he refuses to pee anywhere but outside.
Oh, my son still nature-pees whenever he can, and he's 27.
[LAUGHS.]
Ugh, I can't believe how late it is.
Ah, I'm sorry.
I'm rambling.
I should let you get home.
Why? Any interest in grabbing a drink somewhere not here.
Well, that is my all-time favorite place.
You didn't have to text me.
I would have found you up here.
Hey.
How's Dad doing? He's okay, actually.
What about you? I don't know.
I think I might be in over my head.
I had no idea that it would be this hard advocating for someone.
I I thought it would be as easy for me as it was for Mom and Dad.
Is that what you think? Stella, it was never easy.
And that's when Aiden told me the truth about what my parents went through for me.
It wasn't a single uplifting speech that got me into that trial.
Week after week, my parents would come in, sludge their way through healthcare bureaucracy, and plead my case.
Feed me your wisdom Sometimes threatening I'm amazing sometimes negotiating.
Wish me to sleep And, finally, my father my proud father Hear when I speak - was reduced to begging.
- There is nothing I've got when I die That I keep It was a long road and it took a lot out of them.
They were in there all the time, making sure the air vents in your room were pointed the right way, getting you the latest equipment.
They fought hard.
They went through hell, huh? They did.
But you're worth it.
Yes, Sadie is, too.
But what if I can't do it? What if I can't give her the same happy ending that Mom and Dad gave me? You can't think like that.
You can't stop trying.
You just have to know, going into it, that sometimes it's gonna hurt a lot.
But that is life and it's it's love.
It's the whole thing.
You lift that burden off of me You know, it's weird how often you're right, considering you still only wear slip-on shoes.
Fast asleep.
Thank you for calming me down.
I may have slightly overreacted.
I did think you were gonna call medevac at one point.
Oh, you probably think I'm a crazy person.
[UGHS.]
I do.
And fierce and loving.
And used to taking care of someone who needed an unbelievable level of concern.
I mean, I barely got a glimpse of what you went through with Stella and I I'll never be the same for it.
When Stella was 15, she told me she was feeling sick, but she couldn't describe exactly what was wrong, so I chalked it up to back-to-school stress.
It took me a month to take her to the doctor.
For the longest time, I blamed myself, "If only I had taken her sooner".
But she's okay now.
But sometimes, I'm just not sure I am.
Hey, we're all here for you.
It's what family's for.
Thank you.
[PHONE RINGS.]
Oh.
- Speaking of family.
- âHm.
Hey, Diego.
Hey, just wanted to make sure that everything was okay over there.
Everything's great.
Kids are sleeping.
I am just sitting here with Mum.
Did you just call me Mum? He totally did.
[LAUGHS.]
Yeah.
I love my boys.
â[LAUGHS.]
Oh, I'm so glad that tonight was a success because I was actually wondering if you're free, - maybe you could - You're breaking up, mate.
Oh, I I was just gonna ask Hard to hear.
What? I can see you.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
Now that I knew what it was like to lose a battle, I understood why Dr.
Grant needed to detach.
Hey.
DR.
GRANT: Hey.
Are you okay? Yeah, I'm fine.
I came to apologize about the whole "heartless" thing.
Clearly, you're not.
Did your patient I was wrong.
This isn't just a job to you.
My big brother's name was Jesse.
And, uh, he liked BMX and the Seahawks and any song by The Shins.
[CHUCKLES.]
He was my hero.
And in every single patient I treat, every single one, I see him.
And when I lose one, I lose my brother all over again.
I'm so sorry.
Stella, I know what you're going through because I know what it's like to wake up every single day and wonder "Why am I the one that lived?" How do you do it? How do you keep going? You take the wins when you can get them and you try not to let the losses throw you too far off track.
There's a reason that you want to help people.
Don't forget that.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
[BOTH LAUGH.]
Hey, you're back.
- I'm back.
- I'm glad.
[GROANS.]
I missed you.
I missed you, too.
How are the kids? The kids are great.
And? Mum? She's good.
She left about 20 minutes ago.
Did you just call her "mum"? - My mom? - âI did.
How did your mission go? Uh, I failed.
But I'm gonna keep trying.
Do you know you don't have to do this? Most people wouldn't want to set foot in a hospital after what you went through.
Well, I'm not most people.
No, you're not.
Pressing my way to the surface Wonder if I'll ever feel you close Stuck in my head, I can't get out [CHUCKLES.]
Lauren? Aiden? What are you doing here?! I live here with my father whose room you just came out of.
- Oh, God.
- Yeah So I rearrange So, I guess what I'm saying is I'm sorry that I didn't tell you the trial had been pulled.
But it should be up and running in a year or two.
No matter what I do Looks like I'll just have to stick around until then.
Oh, I insist.
Although we are not gonna sit around waiting.
What's all this? 17 current clinical trials that Dr.
Grant and I are gonna submit you for.
[CHUCKLES.]
Wow.
- Finding our feet in a strange place - Thank you.
- Everyone whispers in my room - Are those vents blowing right on you? I hold my breath to feel alive Is there a diminutive woman standing on a bed, waving her arms around? - Yep.
- âGreat.
I'm just making sure you see that, too.
Thanks.
I see you got the brochures.
I did.
Thank you.
Well, thank Stella.
We're lucky to have her on the team.
I know.
Well, I'll see you tomorrow.
But you stay the same One second.
- No matter what I do - Walking out of that hospital, I felt like I could handle anything life threw at me.
Hey, that was a little win there, huh? Yeah.
The look on her face was pretty cool.
- Thank you for helping me with her.
- Of course.
Okay, well, if you'll excuse me, I'm late to meet my husband for dinner, so - How long have you been married? - Six months.
It's a shame I didn't meet you seven months ago.
Have a good night.
But I didn't expect that.
- Hey, gorgeous.
Ready to go? - But you stay the same - I try to change for you - Yeah.
Absolutely.
But you stay the same Everything that I do So I rearrange