Kingdom Hospital (2004) s01e07 Episode Script
Black Noise
Mr.
Goode? Jonathan B.
Mr.
Jonathan B.
Goode? Mr.
Goode is a no-show for the jury pool, your Honor.
All right.
The questionnaires you folks, filled out are to alert me to any issues that may disqualify you from serving as a juror in this case.
For instance Mrs.
Goebels? You indicated that you are personally acquainted with the plaintiff, Mrs.
Hellstrom, and her lawyer, Mr.
Fleischer? I play bridge with Mrs.
Hellstrom and with Mr.
Fleischer's wife.
We've been friends since college.
I see.
I see.
Mrs.
Goebels, you understand I must excuse you from serving as a juror in this particular case.
Mrs.
Sullivan Mrs.
Sullivan, you indicated you also are a personal acquaintance of the counsel - for the plaintiff, Mr.
Fleischer? - Yeah.
I never actually met him, but I know all about him, your honor.
My daughter Tiffany started working at Mr.
Fleischer's law firm in the word processing pool when she was 18 years old.
Mr.
Fleischer had sex with my Tiffany, got her pregnant, talked her into having an abortion, then fired her when she couldn't come to work on account of a perforated uterus.
Sheldon Fleischer is a snake, your Honor.
I wouldn't believe a word he or his client said.
Your Honor, I move to strike myself from the Dr.
Schwarzton, are you a medical doctor, Sir? Ph.
D.
I'm a seismologist.
I study earthquakes.
That's probably why I shake so much.
Earthquakes'll do that to you.
You can't hear it.
You can't see it, but it's here.
I hear it.
Hear me? What you have here is called black noise.
- Black noise? - Black noise, huh? Also known as infrasound.
It's sound below the threshold of human hearing.
Not above it, not like ultrasound or dog whistles.
Not white hissing noise, but black, black noise.
Sound frozen in space and time and later released.
Listen do you hear it? Yeah.
So are you excited about the world series? What? The Robins are in it again this year.
First time since 1987.
What is a world series? Dr.
Schwarzton, how many drinks per day before you quit? What quit are you talking about? - Haldol or thorazine? - Five milligrams of haldol.
- He spit out the last one.
- Well, give him another.
If he spits it out again, we'll give it I.
M.
With an 18-gauge needle.
- Did you hear that, sir? - My feet! My shoes! My feet are burning.
There's a fire right underneath this floor.
I can feel it through the soles of my shoes.
What shoes? Look, look! Look! "Castleview unit 19.
What's your 20?" Uh, we're still at Kingdom E.
R.
, Dispatch.
"Code four in progress at the courthouse.
A lawyer in v-fib.
" A fibbing lawyer, sounds perfectly normal to me.
Copy, Dispatch.
We're rolling.
- "Code blue, ICU room 426.
" - I'll take that.
You stay here.
My feet are still burning! And there's a little girl there's a little girl, see? - Stegman.
- "Dr.
Stegman, Myron Overdick, "Kingdom Hospital's in-house legal counsel," calling about the Klingerman litigation.
Got a minute? Well, never too busy to help the hospital lawyers defend against frivolous lawsuits.
"Just a routine discovery check to make sure nothing's slipping through the cracks.
" - What the-- - Excuse me? Sorry, there must be a bug in the phone.
I got something in my throat.
"May I represent to opposing counsel that you and your staff" have turned over all documents pertaining to Mona Klingerman? Yes.
"Klingerman's lawyers think they smell a rat.
"Will you sign an affidavit attesting" that no documents were altered or destroyed? Of course I will sign that, yes Excuse me, can I call you back in a few minutes, Mr.
Dickover? Overdick.
"No need to call me back, Dr.
Stegman.
" That's all for now.
You will call me if any more - "Klingerman documents show up?" - I certainly will.
I'll call.
- "Operator.
" - Get me maintenance immediately.
- Maintenance.
Janice.
- Janice? Hello, Maintenance.
Jani.
Hello, Maintenance.
Janice here.
I've been trying to reach Mr.
Goode for over a week now.
Sorry.
Janice McManus here.
Johnny B.
, he's out on jury duty.
- All right, Miss McJanice - "No, no, not McJanice.
" - It's Janice McManus.
- All right, whatever your name is, my office is overrun with vermin.
There are cockroaches here.
There's a rat.
I need an exterminator up here immediately.
It's the earthquakes.
Plus, some of the white lab rats, they escaped from downstairs.
No, no, I brought those rats here from Boston General Hospital.
They're dopamine "Re-uptake Research rats tens of thousands of dollars" And hundreds of man-hours.
Now, you've got to make sure "that the tattooed white lab rats are unharmed.
" "You can trap them," but do not kill them, do you understand that? Thou shalt not kill the tattooed white lab rats.
Anything else? The cockroaches! "I'll put you on the list," but everybody's got the same problem.
Janice.
Cockroach Janice McManus banish Janice McManus! Oh, yeah Oh, I am in hell! "Code blue, ICU, room 426.
" That's Peter Rickman.
- Guess we better hurry, huh? - Yes, do let's hurry and save this noble life.
- Looks like a suicide attempt.
- Guy's got a thing for fire, huh? Anybody see the Robins go into extra innings last night? Oh, you bet.
If that's a rhythm coming back, we need to stabilize him and get him to an O.
R.
Debriding these blisters ought to make him feel better.
Let's get an O2 tank on the bed and prepare for transport.
Bring the crash cart, too.
I'll be right back with Mary's doll.
Check the scars.
Looks like he had an aztec for a thoracic surgeon.
Hey, are his eyes open? You're the one who needs to keep your eyes open.
One false move, and this guy'll sue us both.
You heard the court clerk.
This guy's a personal injury lawyer.
Oh, king of torts, huh? Well, this time he ain't exactly chasing the ambulance, is he? I'm glad I found you before the afternoon staff meeting.
About the earthquakes? They're still happening.
They're filling my office with cockroaches.
I thought an expert was coming to fix them.
Dr.
Schwarzton? The best seismologist money can buy.
Just in time, too.
We had a hospital chain interested in buying us, but they pulled the offer from the table because of these ridiculous rumors about KH being haunted.
What the hell does that have to do with stopping the earthquakes? Stopping earthquakes? That's a tall order, Steg.
No, my good man, the board hired Schwarzton to help us prove that there are perfectly rational, scientific explanations for earthquakes.
So he's not gonna solve the problem, he's just going to prove that they weren't created by ghosts? Is the board stocked entirely with imbeciles? He's a leading expert in his field, a highly respected scientist.
Yeah, fine.
I'm going to ask the highly respected scientist a few questions.
Where is he? - My feet are on fire! - Okay, okay, already.
Not even athlete's foot, as far as I can see.
- Brick, how about another five of haldol.
- How about that game last night? - When Swango hit that home run in the 12! - Just fair! That boy's on fire! "Just call if you get thirsty, right? "Just call if you get thirsty.
" I'm Dr.
Abelson.
Can I help? There's been an emergency in my husband's room.
- Mrs.
Rickman, I'm sorry.
You can't go in there.
- Well, I'm sorry, but I am going in there.
Mrs.
Rickman, there's been no change in your husband's status.
It is Mr.
Pedersen who has taken a turn for the worse.
The code blue team is in there trying to save his life, and I cannot allow you Excuse me, I'm expecting a phone call.
Mrs.
Rickman.
I'm sorry.
You wanted to speak to Dr.
Abelson? - She's right here.
It's for you.
- Thank you.
Dr.
Abelson.
Hello? Let's go.
I'm going to talk to Dr.
James myself, but that man is not coming back in this room.
Peter Mr.
Rickman, it's Dr.
Hook.
Natalie is here, too.
Can can you hear us, sir? "I can hear you.
I've been hearing you all along.
"I've just got to remember how to work my mouth.
" Say something.
God be vengeful if you must and take away our happiness, but don't take away his voice.
Please, just speak.
"You know, this is sort of interesting.
"I never had to think about how to talk before.
I just "did it.
" Pencil, you want.
You want a pencil? He wants to write something.
Thank you.
Here.
That's it.
That's it.
"Dr.
Hook to E.
R.
" "Dr.
Hook to E.
R.
" Natalie, I'm going to have to run.
Blondi! Here, boy.
Where'd you get to, now? You, come here.
- M me? - Yes, you.
Are you afraid? No.
- Mind if I touch your throat? - No, thanks.
Like it? Actually, I don't.
Do you think the people who lie on this table like it? How would I know? Will they like it when we begin to cut them up? The dead are always with us.
They move just beneath the surface.
For a few decades, more or less, we live on the surface in our bodies, then our organs give out, we go under, and we come to know the profound intimacies of the dead.
I say the fear of being touched, the fear of getting close, the fear of death, are all nothing more than the fear of human intimacy.
During sex, we are intimate with one other living person, but in death the moment of death makes us intimate with all who have gone before us.
Your grandfather, father, uncle, brother, or you, perhaps? Everyone we work on down here has accepted their place in the intimate fellowship of the dead.
This hallowed vault is where the dead help the living.
A corpse makes no demands.
With sublime generosity, a corpse turns itself over to the science that belongs to all of us.
The law of the living is to take.
The law of the dead is to give, and that demands respect.
Anyone violating the intimacy of the dead or desecrating their gifts will be expelled from this program and turned over to the authorities.
You will all show the utmost respect and professionalism in this holy place.
Is that clear? And now the first incision.
One, two, three.
Okay, people One milligram atropine.
Epi on standby.
Can I get a reservoir on that mask, please? Be careful.
I hear he's a lawyer.
I can't risk it.
I let my umbrella policy lapse.
You do it.
No way.
One more incident, and they'll cancel my professional liability policy.
No, no, no, it's okay.
Please, I promise.
I promise I won't sue you.
I'll sign a waiver.
Please.
All right, people, you heard it, we got a lawyer here.
Every second counts.
I want that digital mini-cam running at 24 fps and trained on the patient's torso at all times.
I want second camera, hand-held, covering any medical personnel who touch this patient for any reason.
I want a third camera trained on me, the attending physician.
I would like all orders typed, not handwritten, proofread and printed in triplicate and notarized.
Where's the notary? - Notary public, right here.
- Danny is that a genuine and accurate record of all the medications and procedures received by this patient while being transported to this medical facility? - Yes, Dr.
Hook! - Clear! Sign.
My name is Dr.
Hook.
I attended Columbia University Medical School from 92 to 96 and graduated 'magna cum laude'.
I was trained as a surgical resident at Johns Hopkins and did my fellowship at Boston General.
With a reasonable degree of medical certainty and according to a standard of care exercised by similarly qualified practitioners in a same or similar circumstance in a community of the same or similar size, I shall now order one milligram of atropine, one milligram of epinephrine on standby, and 100% oxygen through a high-flow mask with a 250 cc reservoir attached So help me God.
"20 milligrams of nabisco frosted mini-wheats I.
V.
Push.
"Five ccs coronary antifreeze.
"50 units formula 409 STP oil treatment and WD40, stat.
"A portable chest death ray, a sterile claw hammer, 10 milligrams of napalm "and nitroglycerin in a per saline drip, and a spoonful of sugar "to help the medicine go down" Hello? I didn't appreciate that trick with the phone, Mrs.
Rickman.
Could you call Dr.
James for me, please? - Nat, I am sorry I had to dash like that.
- Well, you're always sorry.
So? Well, it's all just educated guesswork, really, Natalie.
Sometimes reading tea leaves and tarot cards will get you a prognosis every bit as reliable as reading radiology films.
Injury to the inferior frontal gyrus just anterior of the lingual and the facial areas of the motorcortex Broca's area may cause what we call expressive aphasia.
The patient can comprehend what is being said to him, he can conceptualize normally, but his ability to form words is well, it's impaired.
I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but, usually, the impairment affects words and writing, causing excruciating frustration.
Dr.
Hook, is this your psychic lady, Mrs.
Druse? - Good and bad news, as usual.
- Bad news first, please.
The number of available beds has fallen by two.
New admissions through the E.
R So that means but the good news is - Mr Pedersen won't be back.
- That's not news.
I decided that an hour ago.
So you want to move somebody else in? Nat meet Dr.
Schwarzton.
Non-violent, no suicidal ideations, no history of mayhem, highly educated, a housebroken Ph.
D.
What's the matter with him? As my irish grandmother used to call it the failing.
- He's an alcoholic? - Woman! Assassinate a man's character because he's fond of the grape? - Even the bible says - No, no, no, no.
The devil can quote scripture.
So what is he going to be like when he wakes up? Polite, quiet, heavily sedated for at least a week.
And then? And then he'll be thirsty.
Mrs.
Druse is on her way.
Mama where are you going? Bobby her name is Mary.
The little girl's name is Mary.
Look! Look.
I'm bringing this doll to Mr.
Rickman, and I want you, in the meantime, to get in medical records.
Mama, what good will medical records do? I mean, what's Mary's last name? Well, you have any idea how many Marys have come through here in the last 50, 60 years? - Bobby, I'm going to get you a last name.
- And even with a last name, you can't get into medical records without a key-card.
Ooh, you could always get into the cookie jar.
And I know that there is someone who issues a key-card to everyone who works in medical records.
That would be Mrs.
Powell.
Well, Mrs.
Powell is not going to take me seriously, but you do.
- You take me seriously, don't you, Bobby? - Yes, Mama.
Well, I'm going to Mr.
Rickman, and you go to Mrs.
Powell.
It won't work, Mama.
Mrs.
Powell is integrity incarnate.
Have you girls heard the dirt about Marge and Reverend Horner? Hanky panky I'm fine, but feed Sheldon's goldfish for me.
Just two sprinkles once a day.
The last one blew up.
That's all the doctors know right now.
I'll call with any news.
Oh, the doctor's here.
I'll call you back.
I'm so sorry to have to tell you this, Mrs.
Fleischer.
No Coming! Just a minute.
Yes? Mrs.
Powell? A heart transplant is your husband's only hope at this point.
His heart won't it won't tolerate a fourth bypass.
I didn't understand what Dr.
Shaddy said about problems matching Sheldon's heart.
I'm sorry.
No, no, no.
Don't be sorry.
You're in information overload.
Dr.
Shaddy thinks that it may take months, even a year to find a donor heart for Sheldon.
Any potential donor heart has to be carefully crossmatched to his pre-formed antibodies, until we find just the right heart.
That's going to take time, and we don't have much.
Listen, would you like a break? A cup of coffee? That's very thoughtful.
Thank you.
Wilkster.
Yeah, it's me.
You son of a bitch.
Fleischer, what are you doing to me? Listen, listen I can't talk very long.
"Four heart attacks.
I can handle that.
" I'm used to that, you know? Where's Sheldon? "He's off on another heart attack holiday, one of his coronary care cruises.
" It's another bypass break, but this? "Listen, Wilkster, I can talk only for a minute.
" Kitty just stepped away.
Did you talk to her? Does she know? Does she know what? That she married a guy with a frog heart? Does she know what happened? - Does she know about Tiffany? - "Have you been in a coma?" The whole town knows about Tiffany.
Turn on a TV, for God's sake.
You, me, and the whole damn firm is being sued by Tiffany and her mother "for sexual harassment," pregnancy discrimination, and wrongful discharge.
Sheldon, baby, I mean, "how can I thank you?" Look, I'll make it up to you.
I promise you.
I just need a favor a phone number.
Remember that guy we defended who trafficked in black market "Guatemalan organs?" Okay, listen to me, Sheldon.
What you need to do is get back into a coma and stay there until the state of limitations expires on Tiffany's claims.
Okay? "Do you understand? You coma-toast yourself.
" Can you do that? It's our only chance.
- Good.
Thank you.
- No Positive attitude is so important, Steg.
A popular notion.
I've seen no reliable data to support it.
Look, Steg.
Even sick and dying children draw the sun, trees, birds, dogs.
Growing things.
Happy faces.
Why can't you be more like them? Part of the new dynamic of Operation Morning Air is to let the fresh air and the sunlight in on our own personal dark spaces.
In that spirit, I ask you that you all support Steg in his time of need.
The Klingermans have declined our offer to mediate their dispute and instead are proceeding with a formal litigation.
That said, we must let the Morning Air in on a separate complaint.
Uncertainty has been expressed about working with Dr.
Stegman.
Steg may find it odd that we discuss such things together in a folksy, intimate way out here in Maine, but discussion must always be the first order of business if operation Morning Air is to justify its existence.
So are there any suggestions about how to counter this problem of uncertainty working with Steg? - Better communication? - Splendid.
Communication.
He never says anything, just yells.
Steg how say you? What? How can we improve communication with you? Oh, Mary, don't cry.
Please, Mary, I'm bringing your dolly.
That is your name, isn't it? Oh, poor Mary.
Oh, don't cry, Mary.
I'm coming, and I'll find you, and I'll help you.
I was wrong.
You were right.
Oh, I thank God.
I thank you.
You are amazing.
You have to tell me how you did this.
Mama, I have no idea.
Mrs.
Powell is integrity incarnate, but today, I think she was trying to get rid of me.
- Yes! - Help me! Finally, the hospital lawyers are concerned about persistent, frankly ridiculous rumors that Kingdom Hospital is haunted.
Localized earthquakes and other disturbances have people talking about.
.
odd events.
The rumors are of great concern because a large hospital chain wants to buy KH.
The lawyers say it is imperative that we all report any strange or odd occurrences so that they can be promptly investigated, and these phenomena explained in a rational and scientific manner.
So does anybody have any strange events or odd occurrences to report at this time? That's ridiculous.
How so, ridiculous? We've all seen things happen here that can't be explained.
Such as? the foo ambulance.
The call comes in, it doesn't show up, or it shows up empty.
The little girl the little girl crying.
The earthquakes.
Dr.
Hook has a very special relationship with a an old biddy psychic malingerer named Druse.
I think he's been to one too many seances.
Foo? Mrs.
Druse come in.
Don't worry, you don't have to be afraid.
The other one's gone.
- Peter has a new roommate.
- Well, I'm relieved.
That was a very evil man, and he tried to attack Peter.
I was afraid of that.
Well, he's gone, and now you're here.
Mrs.
Rickman, I, uh well, uh I have so much to tell you, and I don't know where to begin.
Called yourself a doctor, a surgeon, and a medical scientist, and in the next breath, you give credence to these idiotic rumors about ghost ambulances? Everyone else has seen them, doctor.
If you haven't, that's your business.
Well, if I might make a suggestion, doctor, next time you think you see something, why don't you reach out and touch it, see? Like, this wall, for example, you think that's real? What do you think? Oh, yes, it is.
I can touch it.
See? Now, do you see anything strange or odd in front of us? Any crying ghost girls, or any ghost ambulances? Elmer, you bad boy.
Listen hear? - Madam, I need your help.
- Yes.
Please, may I ask a favor of you? You see, I came here to study these earthquakes.
I had a briefcase.
It was a metal briefcase.
It's got my computer and my instruments in it, and I need those now.
I need to capture these disturbances.
Do you hear them? The voices? The black noise? The cries of human agony frozen in space and time, and then released! - Do you hear them? - Yes.
Adaptation : Lama
Goode? Jonathan B.
Mr.
Jonathan B.
Goode? Mr.
Goode is a no-show for the jury pool, your Honor.
All right.
The questionnaires you folks, filled out are to alert me to any issues that may disqualify you from serving as a juror in this case.
For instance Mrs.
Goebels? You indicated that you are personally acquainted with the plaintiff, Mrs.
Hellstrom, and her lawyer, Mr.
Fleischer? I play bridge with Mrs.
Hellstrom and with Mr.
Fleischer's wife.
We've been friends since college.
I see.
I see.
Mrs.
Goebels, you understand I must excuse you from serving as a juror in this particular case.
Mrs.
Sullivan Mrs.
Sullivan, you indicated you also are a personal acquaintance of the counsel - for the plaintiff, Mr.
Fleischer? - Yeah.
I never actually met him, but I know all about him, your honor.
My daughter Tiffany started working at Mr.
Fleischer's law firm in the word processing pool when she was 18 years old.
Mr.
Fleischer had sex with my Tiffany, got her pregnant, talked her into having an abortion, then fired her when she couldn't come to work on account of a perforated uterus.
Sheldon Fleischer is a snake, your Honor.
I wouldn't believe a word he or his client said.
Your Honor, I move to strike myself from the Dr.
Schwarzton, are you a medical doctor, Sir? Ph.
D.
I'm a seismologist.
I study earthquakes.
That's probably why I shake so much.
Earthquakes'll do that to you.
You can't hear it.
You can't see it, but it's here.
I hear it.
Hear me? What you have here is called black noise.
- Black noise? - Black noise, huh? Also known as infrasound.
It's sound below the threshold of human hearing.
Not above it, not like ultrasound or dog whistles.
Not white hissing noise, but black, black noise.
Sound frozen in space and time and later released.
Listen do you hear it? Yeah.
So are you excited about the world series? What? The Robins are in it again this year.
First time since 1987.
What is a world series? Dr.
Schwarzton, how many drinks per day before you quit? What quit are you talking about? - Haldol or thorazine? - Five milligrams of haldol.
- He spit out the last one.
- Well, give him another.
If he spits it out again, we'll give it I.
M.
With an 18-gauge needle.
- Did you hear that, sir? - My feet! My shoes! My feet are burning.
There's a fire right underneath this floor.
I can feel it through the soles of my shoes.
What shoes? Look, look! Look! "Castleview unit 19.
What's your 20?" Uh, we're still at Kingdom E.
R.
, Dispatch.
"Code four in progress at the courthouse.
A lawyer in v-fib.
" A fibbing lawyer, sounds perfectly normal to me.
Copy, Dispatch.
We're rolling.
- "Code blue, ICU room 426.
" - I'll take that.
You stay here.
My feet are still burning! And there's a little girl there's a little girl, see? - Stegman.
- "Dr.
Stegman, Myron Overdick, "Kingdom Hospital's in-house legal counsel," calling about the Klingerman litigation.
Got a minute? Well, never too busy to help the hospital lawyers defend against frivolous lawsuits.
"Just a routine discovery check to make sure nothing's slipping through the cracks.
" - What the-- - Excuse me? Sorry, there must be a bug in the phone.
I got something in my throat.
"May I represent to opposing counsel that you and your staff" have turned over all documents pertaining to Mona Klingerman? Yes.
"Klingerman's lawyers think they smell a rat.
"Will you sign an affidavit attesting" that no documents were altered or destroyed? Of course I will sign that, yes Excuse me, can I call you back in a few minutes, Mr.
Dickover? Overdick.
"No need to call me back, Dr.
Stegman.
" That's all for now.
You will call me if any more - "Klingerman documents show up?" - I certainly will.
I'll call.
- "Operator.
" - Get me maintenance immediately.
- Maintenance.
Janice.
- Janice? Hello, Maintenance.
Jani.
Hello, Maintenance.
Janice here.
I've been trying to reach Mr.
Goode for over a week now.
Sorry.
Janice McManus here.
Johnny B.
, he's out on jury duty.
- All right, Miss McJanice - "No, no, not McJanice.
" - It's Janice McManus.
- All right, whatever your name is, my office is overrun with vermin.
There are cockroaches here.
There's a rat.
I need an exterminator up here immediately.
It's the earthquakes.
Plus, some of the white lab rats, they escaped from downstairs.
No, no, I brought those rats here from Boston General Hospital.
They're dopamine "Re-uptake Research rats tens of thousands of dollars" And hundreds of man-hours.
Now, you've got to make sure "that the tattooed white lab rats are unharmed.
" "You can trap them," but do not kill them, do you understand that? Thou shalt not kill the tattooed white lab rats.
Anything else? The cockroaches! "I'll put you on the list," but everybody's got the same problem.
Janice.
Cockroach Janice McManus banish Janice McManus! Oh, yeah Oh, I am in hell! "Code blue, ICU, room 426.
" That's Peter Rickman.
- Guess we better hurry, huh? - Yes, do let's hurry and save this noble life.
- Looks like a suicide attempt.
- Guy's got a thing for fire, huh? Anybody see the Robins go into extra innings last night? Oh, you bet.
If that's a rhythm coming back, we need to stabilize him and get him to an O.
R.
Debriding these blisters ought to make him feel better.
Let's get an O2 tank on the bed and prepare for transport.
Bring the crash cart, too.
I'll be right back with Mary's doll.
Check the scars.
Looks like he had an aztec for a thoracic surgeon.
Hey, are his eyes open? You're the one who needs to keep your eyes open.
One false move, and this guy'll sue us both.
You heard the court clerk.
This guy's a personal injury lawyer.
Oh, king of torts, huh? Well, this time he ain't exactly chasing the ambulance, is he? I'm glad I found you before the afternoon staff meeting.
About the earthquakes? They're still happening.
They're filling my office with cockroaches.
I thought an expert was coming to fix them.
Dr.
Schwarzton? The best seismologist money can buy.
Just in time, too.
We had a hospital chain interested in buying us, but they pulled the offer from the table because of these ridiculous rumors about KH being haunted.
What the hell does that have to do with stopping the earthquakes? Stopping earthquakes? That's a tall order, Steg.
No, my good man, the board hired Schwarzton to help us prove that there are perfectly rational, scientific explanations for earthquakes.
So he's not gonna solve the problem, he's just going to prove that they weren't created by ghosts? Is the board stocked entirely with imbeciles? He's a leading expert in his field, a highly respected scientist.
Yeah, fine.
I'm going to ask the highly respected scientist a few questions.
Where is he? - My feet are on fire! - Okay, okay, already.
Not even athlete's foot, as far as I can see.
- Brick, how about another five of haldol.
- How about that game last night? - When Swango hit that home run in the 12! - Just fair! That boy's on fire! "Just call if you get thirsty, right? "Just call if you get thirsty.
" I'm Dr.
Abelson.
Can I help? There's been an emergency in my husband's room.
- Mrs.
Rickman, I'm sorry.
You can't go in there.
- Well, I'm sorry, but I am going in there.
Mrs.
Rickman, there's been no change in your husband's status.
It is Mr.
Pedersen who has taken a turn for the worse.
The code blue team is in there trying to save his life, and I cannot allow you Excuse me, I'm expecting a phone call.
Mrs.
Rickman.
I'm sorry.
You wanted to speak to Dr.
Abelson? - She's right here.
It's for you.
- Thank you.
Dr.
Abelson.
Hello? Let's go.
I'm going to talk to Dr.
James myself, but that man is not coming back in this room.
Peter Mr.
Rickman, it's Dr.
Hook.
Natalie is here, too.
Can can you hear us, sir? "I can hear you.
I've been hearing you all along.
"I've just got to remember how to work my mouth.
" Say something.
God be vengeful if you must and take away our happiness, but don't take away his voice.
Please, just speak.
"You know, this is sort of interesting.
"I never had to think about how to talk before.
I just "did it.
" Pencil, you want.
You want a pencil? He wants to write something.
Thank you.
Here.
That's it.
That's it.
"Dr.
Hook to E.
R.
" "Dr.
Hook to E.
R.
" Natalie, I'm going to have to run.
Blondi! Here, boy.
Where'd you get to, now? You, come here.
- M me? - Yes, you.
Are you afraid? No.
- Mind if I touch your throat? - No, thanks.
Like it? Actually, I don't.
Do you think the people who lie on this table like it? How would I know? Will they like it when we begin to cut them up? The dead are always with us.
They move just beneath the surface.
For a few decades, more or less, we live on the surface in our bodies, then our organs give out, we go under, and we come to know the profound intimacies of the dead.
I say the fear of being touched, the fear of getting close, the fear of death, are all nothing more than the fear of human intimacy.
During sex, we are intimate with one other living person, but in death the moment of death makes us intimate with all who have gone before us.
Your grandfather, father, uncle, brother, or you, perhaps? Everyone we work on down here has accepted their place in the intimate fellowship of the dead.
This hallowed vault is where the dead help the living.
A corpse makes no demands.
With sublime generosity, a corpse turns itself over to the science that belongs to all of us.
The law of the living is to take.
The law of the dead is to give, and that demands respect.
Anyone violating the intimacy of the dead or desecrating their gifts will be expelled from this program and turned over to the authorities.
You will all show the utmost respect and professionalism in this holy place.
Is that clear? And now the first incision.
One, two, three.
Okay, people One milligram atropine.
Epi on standby.
Can I get a reservoir on that mask, please? Be careful.
I hear he's a lawyer.
I can't risk it.
I let my umbrella policy lapse.
You do it.
No way.
One more incident, and they'll cancel my professional liability policy.
No, no, no, it's okay.
Please, I promise.
I promise I won't sue you.
I'll sign a waiver.
Please.
All right, people, you heard it, we got a lawyer here.
Every second counts.
I want that digital mini-cam running at 24 fps and trained on the patient's torso at all times.
I want second camera, hand-held, covering any medical personnel who touch this patient for any reason.
I want a third camera trained on me, the attending physician.
I would like all orders typed, not handwritten, proofread and printed in triplicate and notarized.
Where's the notary? - Notary public, right here.
- Danny is that a genuine and accurate record of all the medications and procedures received by this patient while being transported to this medical facility? - Yes, Dr.
Hook! - Clear! Sign.
My name is Dr.
Hook.
I attended Columbia University Medical School from 92 to 96 and graduated 'magna cum laude'.
I was trained as a surgical resident at Johns Hopkins and did my fellowship at Boston General.
With a reasonable degree of medical certainty and according to a standard of care exercised by similarly qualified practitioners in a same or similar circumstance in a community of the same or similar size, I shall now order one milligram of atropine, one milligram of epinephrine on standby, and 100% oxygen through a high-flow mask with a 250 cc reservoir attached So help me God.
"20 milligrams of nabisco frosted mini-wheats I.
V.
Push.
"Five ccs coronary antifreeze.
"50 units formula 409 STP oil treatment and WD40, stat.
"A portable chest death ray, a sterile claw hammer, 10 milligrams of napalm "and nitroglycerin in a per saline drip, and a spoonful of sugar "to help the medicine go down" Hello? I didn't appreciate that trick with the phone, Mrs.
Rickman.
Could you call Dr.
James for me, please? - Nat, I am sorry I had to dash like that.
- Well, you're always sorry.
So? Well, it's all just educated guesswork, really, Natalie.
Sometimes reading tea leaves and tarot cards will get you a prognosis every bit as reliable as reading radiology films.
Injury to the inferior frontal gyrus just anterior of the lingual and the facial areas of the motorcortex Broca's area may cause what we call expressive aphasia.
The patient can comprehend what is being said to him, he can conceptualize normally, but his ability to form words is well, it's impaired.
I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but, usually, the impairment affects words and writing, causing excruciating frustration.
Dr.
Hook, is this your psychic lady, Mrs.
Druse? - Good and bad news, as usual.
- Bad news first, please.
The number of available beds has fallen by two.
New admissions through the E.
R So that means but the good news is - Mr Pedersen won't be back.
- That's not news.
I decided that an hour ago.
So you want to move somebody else in? Nat meet Dr.
Schwarzton.
Non-violent, no suicidal ideations, no history of mayhem, highly educated, a housebroken Ph.
D.
What's the matter with him? As my irish grandmother used to call it the failing.
- He's an alcoholic? - Woman! Assassinate a man's character because he's fond of the grape? - Even the bible says - No, no, no, no.
The devil can quote scripture.
So what is he going to be like when he wakes up? Polite, quiet, heavily sedated for at least a week.
And then? And then he'll be thirsty.
Mrs.
Druse is on her way.
Mama where are you going? Bobby her name is Mary.
The little girl's name is Mary.
Look! Look.
I'm bringing this doll to Mr.
Rickman, and I want you, in the meantime, to get in medical records.
Mama, what good will medical records do? I mean, what's Mary's last name? Well, you have any idea how many Marys have come through here in the last 50, 60 years? - Bobby, I'm going to get you a last name.
- And even with a last name, you can't get into medical records without a key-card.
Ooh, you could always get into the cookie jar.
And I know that there is someone who issues a key-card to everyone who works in medical records.
That would be Mrs.
Powell.
Well, Mrs.
Powell is not going to take me seriously, but you do.
- You take me seriously, don't you, Bobby? - Yes, Mama.
Well, I'm going to Mr.
Rickman, and you go to Mrs.
Powell.
It won't work, Mama.
Mrs.
Powell is integrity incarnate.
Have you girls heard the dirt about Marge and Reverend Horner? Hanky panky I'm fine, but feed Sheldon's goldfish for me.
Just two sprinkles once a day.
The last one blew up.
That's all the doctors know right now.
I'll call with any news.
Oh, the doctor's here.
I'll call you back.
I'm so sorry to have to tell you this, Mrs.
Fleischer.
No Coming! Just a minute.
Yes? Mrs.
Powell? A heart transplant is your husband's only hope at this point.
His heart won't it won't tolerate a fourth bypass.
I didn't understand what Dr.
Shaddy said about problems matching Sheldon's heart.
I'm sorry.
No, no, no.
Don't be sorry.
You're in information overload.
Dr.
Shaddy thinks that it may take months, even a year to find a donor heart for Sheldon.
Any potential donor heart has to be carefully crossmatched to his pre-formed antibodies, until we find just the right heart.
That's going to take time, and we don't have much.
Listen, would you like a break? A cup of coffee? That's very thoughtful.
Thank you.
Wilkster.
Yeah, it's me.
You son of a bitch.
Fleischer, what are you doing to me? Listen, listen I can't talk very long.
"Four heart attacks.
I can handle that.
" I'm used to that, you know? Where's Sheldon? "He's off on another heart attack holiday, one of his coronary care cruises.
" It's another bypass break, but this? "Listen, Wilkster, I can talk only for a minute.
" Kitty just stepped away.
Did you talk to her? Does she know? Does she know what? That she married a guy with a frog heart? Does she know what happened? - Does she know about Tiffany? - "Have you been in a coma?" The whole town knows about Tiffany.
Turn on a TV, for God's sake.
You, me, and the whole damn firm is being sued by Tiffany and her mother "for sexual harassment," pregnancy discrimination, and wrongful discharge.
Sheldon, baby, I mean, "how can I thank you?" Look, I'll make it up to you.
I promise you.
I just need a favor a phone number.
Remember that guy we defended who trafficked in black market "Guatemalan organs?" Okay, listen to me, Sheldon.
What you need to do is get back into a coma and stay there until the state of limitations expires on Tiffany's claims.
Okay? "Do you understand? You coma-toast yourself.
" Can you do that? It's our only chance.
- Good.
Thank you.
- No Positive attitude is so important, Steg.
A popular notion.
I've seen no reliable data to support it.
Look, Steg.
Even sick and dying children draw the sun, trees, birds, dogs.
Growing things.
Happy faces.
Why can't you be more like them? Part of the new dynamic of Operation Morning Air is to let the fresh air and the sunlight in on our own personal dark spaces.
In that spirit, I ask you that you all support Steg in his time of need.
The Klingermans have declined our offer to mediate their dispute and instead are proceeding with a formal litigation.
That said, we must let the Morning Air in on a separate complaint.
Uncertainty has been expressed about working with Dr.
Stegman.
Steg may find it odd that we discuss such things together in a folksy, intimate way out here in Maine, but discussion must always be the first order of business if operation Morning Air is to justify its existence.
So are there any suggestions about how to counter this problem of uncertainty working with Steg? - Better communication? - Splendid.
Communication.
He never says anything, just yells.
Steg how say you? What? How can we improve communication with you? Oh, Mary, don't cry.
Please, Mary, I'm bringing your dolly.
That is your name, isn't it? Oh, poor Mary.
Oh, don't cry, Mary.
I'm coming, and I'll find you, and I'll help you.
I was wrong.
You were right.
Oh, I thank God.
I thank you.
You are amazing.
You have to tell me how you did this.
Mama, I have no idea.
Mrs.
Powell is integrity incarnate, but today, I think she was trying to get rid of me.
- Yes! - Help me! Finally, the hospital lawyers are concerned about persistent, frankly ridiculous rumors that Kingdom Hospital is haunted.
Localized earthquakes and other disturbances have people talking about.
.
odd events.
The rumors are of great concern because a large hospital chain wants to buy KH.
The lawyers say it is imperative that we all report any strange or odd occurrences so that they can be promptly investigated, and these phenomena explained in a rational and scientific manner.
So does anybody have any strange events or odd occurrences to report at this time? That's ridiculous.
How so, ridiculous? We've all seen things happen here that can't be explained.
Such as? the foo ambulance.
The call comes in, it doesn't show up, or it shows up empty.
The little girl the little girl crying.
The earthquakes.
Dr.
Hook has a very special relationship with a an old biddy psychic malingerer named Druse.
I think he's been to one too many seances.
Foo? Mrs.
Druse come in.
Don't worry, you don't have to be afraid.
The other one's gone.
- Peter has a new roommate.
- Well, I'm relieved.
That was a very evil man, and he tried to attack Peter.
I was afraid of that.
Well, he's gone, and now you're here.
Mrs.
Rickman, I, uh well, uh I have so much to tell you, and I don't know where to begin.
Called yourself a doctor, a surgeon, and a medical scientist, and in the next breath, you give credence to these idiotic rumors about ghost ambulances? Everyone else has seen them, doctor.
If you haven't, that's your business.
Well, if I might make a suggestion, doctor, next time you think you see something, why don't you reach out and touch it, see? Like, this wall, for example, you think that's real? What do you think? Oh, yes, it is.
I can touch it.
See? Now, do you see anything strange or odd in front of us? Any crying ghost girls, or any ghost ambulances? Elmer, you bad boy.
Listen hear? - Madam, I need your help.
- Yes.
Please, may I ask a favor of you? You see, I came here to study these earthquakes.
I had a briefcase.
It was a metal briefcase.
It's got my computer and my instruments in it, and I need those now.
I need to capture these disturbances.
Do you hear them? The voices? The black noise? The cries of human agony frozen in space and time, and then released! - Do you hear them? - Yes.
Adaptation : Lama