New Amsterdam (2018) s03e09 Episode Script
Disconnected
1
Hey.
Drawer's empty.
You didn't have to do that.
Oh, I didn't.
Most of these drawers have been empty since I moved in.
How's that? - Subtle.
- [CHUCKLES.]
Your place is so spare.
I just thought What? It was intentional.
It's not.
[GENTLE MUSIC.]
She rocks through the treetop All the day long Singin' and a-boppin', and a-singin' her song All the little birds in the jaybird tree Love to hear Luna go tweet, tweet, tweet Max? [CLEARS THROAT.]
Hey, Gwen.
Could you sing faster? We're late for our pre-nap walk.
Yeah, sure.
Oh, speaking of sleep, I'm gonna be done by 7:00 tonight, so I will have time to read and put Luna to bed.
- Right.
- No, no.
I'm serious.
Gwen, on the dot.
Kids need routine, Max.
- That's all.
- Yeah.
Which is what I'm trying to do.
Well, I I know you're trying.
- We all know you're trying.
- [FORCED LAUGHTER.]
If there's something you want to say, Gwen See you at 7:00, Max.
I will see you at 7:00.
[CLEARS THROAT.]
[DOOR CLICKS OPEN AND SHUT.]
[EXHALES HEAVILY.]
Oh, morning.
Your school called.
Again.
You skipped calculus this time.
That's 'cause I already took calculus when I was in Iran.
School saw my records.
Why must I repeat? It's the way it is, Mina.
Like my world history class' take on American hegemony? This isn't a joke.
Under my roof, under my care, which means school, college, job.
Don't I get a vote? If this were a true democracy, then yes.
But since you've learned the truth, no.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[SIGHS.]
What's the first move? My old job, it's waiting for me.
Do they know the reason you left? Yes, I told them everything.
Plus, I'm tight with the foreman.
And, like, we're supposed to trust you? It's handled, okay? Careful.
You sound triggered.
That happens out in the streets, you are done-zo.
Give me the three names on your phone list.
Go.
- You got a place to live? - Covered.
Covered ain't an answer, primo.
- He ain't ready.
- I got seven people on my phone list, not just three.
All know my story.
I found a studio apartment.
It's under the A train, which is perfect because you literally have to be crazy - to want live under the A train.
- [LAUGHTER.]
And if I lose my job, my pad, or my temper, I got backups.
- Yeah.
- I got a cousin.
She's got a brownstone.
There's a bed in there for me.
She's vaccinated, in the program, and Okay, great, you got a plan.
Good.
What's your purpose? Since the world doesn't care about your plan, what makes you think you're ready? I know the source of my trauma.
My role in it.
The pain, which I've learned to forgive myself for.
The healing, which I'm an active participant in.
And I know the debt I owe to those who've loved me, starting with love for self.
Oh, my God.
Chance Becker, everybody.
[APPLAUSE.]
Ready for reentry.
Look at this guy.
Help! Help! Help! - What happened? - Drive-by.
My daughter got shot.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
Pulse is weak and thready.
Get her to Trauma One! Start two large bore IVs, normal saline wide open.
Please, save her! We're gonna do the best we can.
Send crit, coags, type and cross.
She's in hypovolemic shock.
About to hang a bag of O neg.
Probably a pumper in her chest.
Another shooting, another child.
[SIGHS.]
Where's the bleeder? - Come on.
- Dr.
Bloom.
Cardiac arrest just rolled in.
- You got this? - Go.
V-fib arrest on transport.
Shocked three times with no response.
Okay, push high dose epi.
- Clear.
- [DEFIBRILLATOR ZAPS.]
[SIGHS.]
She's back.
Let's take her to Bay 30.
Headed to the OR.
- Who do we have here? - Corona test negative.
Robin Perez, 61.
Blurred vision, dizziness, and low blood pressure.
Now, why does that sound familiar? Same symptoms as the two sisters we just moved to Bay 23 and 24.
And the guy over in 26.
Dolores? - What you doing here? - I don't even know.
I got dizzy, and then I was gone.
- Aw.
- Hey, ladies.
It's Bruce.
[CHUCKLES.]
- From 425? - Oh.
Is Miss Vera with you? Miss Vera? No.
Did you see Mr.
Olenchalk from the fifth floor? Oh, I am right here.
What the heck is going on? Wait, so you all know each other? We live in the same building.
It happened so fast, I I couldn't really see.
I mean, it was such a blur, but maybe Black or Latino? I don't know.
His hoodie was hiding his face.
Oh, my God! Allison! - Ma'am, ma'am! - Mommy's here.
I need you to keep your mask on until you're tested.
Look, we're going to the OR.
The bullet's lodged near her spine.
We're gonna do everything we can.
We'll keep you posted.
This is what happens when you defund the police.
We've got more fake coronavirus cures out there.
- How do you know? - Because a patient suffering from acute cardiotoxic poisoning had this on her.
Rona-Vaxx? Nice name.
"All natural, organic.
"Made from the petals and stems of the cascabela thevetia flower.
" Yellow oleander.
A plant that's toxic to, you know, all living vertebrates.
I guess "Drink this, and you die" doesn't really fit on the poster.
First, it was the essential silver toothpaste, then the aromatherapy oils that actually cause lung inflammation.
And who can forget that surge of patients brought in to my ED after drinking bleach? Actual bleach.
Now this.
Yeah, another case of disinformation.
If only it were one case.
They targeted a low-income building in East Harlem with these flyers.
Hundreds of residents.
They're getting worse.
How many more didn't come in? [COUGHING, OVERLAPPING CHATTER.]
How many more might be poisoned? [TENSE MUSIC.]
Okay, team, two goals.
We're gonna go door-to-door.
Any resident who has ingested Rona-Vaxx, we immediately escort them to an ambulance.
If somebody has bought and not yet ingested it, the Department of Health will meet them to exchange it with a debit card on the spot.
Clear? Great, let's roll.
Second floor, third floor.
Go.
- "Let's roll"? - I don't know.
I was trying to fire people up.
No good? Hi there, ma'am.
Do you live here? What's it to you? Oh, I just have a question for you.
Did you buy any of this? Sure did.
Man was wearing scrubs like you.
Said he was a doctor.
Well, he wasn't.
- Oh, and I guess you are? - Yeah, yeah.
I even brought my ambulance to prove it.
You didn't ingest this, though, did you? Oh, no.
My son Nathan, he lives in Buffalo.
He researched Rona-Vaxx on the Internet because we don't have it here, and he said it was shady.
[COUGHING.]
Well, I wish everyone in your building had a Nathan.
[SIGHS.]
As the current head of the search committee to find a new chair of neurology, it is incumbent upon me to inform you that - You picked someone? - Uh, no.
No, um, but that's only because I haven't actually met with anyone yet.
- What? - I know.
I know.
I tried.
I did.
I just you know what it is? I'm too close to it.
I I got emotional today looking at résumés that are still inside of the envelopes.
That actually happened, so I am appointing you the interim head of the search committee.
Ta-da! But I'm already the interim chair of neurology.
Exactly, that's how I know you can handle it, so - Dr.
Frome.
- Yeah? I know it's hard, but there's no doubt in my mind that you're the person who should be making this incredibly important decision to replace Dr.
Kapoor.
Mm-hmm, and the decision I'm making is that you should make it, okay? Uh, Dr.
Frome? Chance.
Hi.
- Are you okay? What's going on? - I I hate to, uh Well, you know that old job I talked about in group earlier? I do, yeah.
Did that not work out? No, they're actually closing down.
I see.
That's that's a bummer.
I'm sorry to hear that.
Yeah.
But thanks to our class, I got resourceful.
I already found a new gig.
I just need a character reference, so would you mind? Would I mind? Here, give me that thing.
I truly appreciate it, Dr.
Frome.
Can I use your back? Can I not be in charge of the search committee? Here we go.
Handled.
And, Chance, congratulations.
I'm proud of you.
Where's the Where's the new gig? - Oh, you didn't see? - No.
It's here.
At New Amsterdam.
First paycheck, lunch is on me.
Doesn't the American Psychiatric Association frown on being friends with patients? Mm-hmm, actively, but we're not friends, so Does he know that? Yeah.
And, girl, when they played them slow jams at the skating rink, here comes Thom, holding his hand out like Billy Dee Williams.
[LAUGHS.]
[GRUFFLY.]
"You want my arm to fall off?" - [LAUGHTER.]
- I couldn't help it.
So when I saw his face pop up on our school reunion page, I couldn't help myself neither.
Miss Juanita just had to reach out.
Had to.
I hadn't seen his face since he joined the army right after high school.
Well, her father had something to do with that.
I told you, we ain't going there.
[CHUCKLES.]
But it's like we just picked up where we left off.
So what's next for you two lovebirds? Gonna make up for lost time.
Hit Route 66.
The Gateway Arch, the Meramec Caverns, Petrified Forest.
He's been promising me that trip since we been kids.
I'm gonna fulfill it too.
Thomas, uh, the bruising on your arm and underneath on your side here.
I know.
We've just been busy catching up and whatnot.
I'd like to run some tests.
Tests for what, Dr.
Sharpe? She thinks my cancer is back.
- Lap pad.
- TS kit on the tray.
Okay, that should do it for the bleeder.
But if she has any hopes of walking again, we'll have to take the bullet out.
Nurse, can you call Dr.
Salaita? Will do.
Do you want to update her family? Yeah, but before I do, will you take a look at this? - Powder burns? - Yeah.
And you see that stippling there? Seems inconsistent for a drive-by.
This was close range.
I'm gonna call Social Services.
I can't believe I gotta go to the hospital for this.
You all got the vaccine.
The rest of us just do what we can.
We're gonna take good care of you.
- I promise.
- [SIGHS.]
[SIREN WAILING.]
Whole building's accounted for.
We're taking 16 back with us, and housing bought back 46 unused treatments.
Of snake oil.
It's like we're living in the Wild West.
Well, these families might as well be.
This building's located in the middle of a Wi-Fi desert.
If you can't access the Internet, you can't debunk the snake oil.
And this is just gonna keep happening.
Fake news, fake cures, unless [SIGHS.]
Unless we do something about it.
Something like what? [JAZZY MUSIC.]
We're gonna get free broadband access for every household in New York City.
I mean, I've heard of 4G and 5G but never no G.
Not in New York.
That's crazy! And imagine what it's like for people in rural areas without broadband.
I mean, no wonder the virus hit the way that it did.
Yeah.
What you got in the bag there? Oh, this? This is, uh this is my secret weapon to fight injustice.
Oh, whoa.
And a secret it shall remain, I guess.
Order up, Dr.
Frome! Chance.
Yeah.
It's one filthy chai, just the way you like it.
Five pumps, coconut milk.
No, no.
I didn't I didn't order this.
It's all good.
I got you.
Hey, next in line, please.
Your résumé and references are impeccable.
I never thought we'd find someone to replace Dr.
Kapoor, but I Thank you, Dr.
Kao.
I've devoted my entire life to the nervous system.
I see.
You were head of neurology at Holy Cross in Houston for 12 years.
Can I ask what brought you to New York? Simply put, regular psychosocial stimulation is good for your brain.
I believe it's essential.
I so agree! Our senses deliver information that's key to survival.
- Exactly.
- So how would you describe your leadership style? - I lead by example.
- Uh-huh.
Management should share the same sacrifices as their team does.
And I give each weekday its own funky theme.
I'm sorry.
How do you mean? Like Moon Tower Mondays, basically '70s garb.
Tahiti Tuesdays.
Waikiki Wednesdays have to be reconceived because employees start recycling their Tuesday outfits.
You want to guess Thursday? No.
I'm good.
How are you feeling, Sydney? Tired.
So ridonkulous the Rona-Vaxx made me this sick.
Actually, it's not, because Rona-Vaxx is not a real treatment for COVID.
Well, I'm just lucky that my silver pills didn't kick my butt like this.
You're taking silver pills as well? Yeah, only 'cause my dude with the hydroxychloroquine bailed upstate.
Hydroxychloroquine.
So you're taking all three of these things at the same time? And obvs it's working 'cause I'm, like, COVID-free, right? [SIGHS.]
[INHALES DEEPLY.]
Okay.
[WHISTLING.]
Evan Nashton, board member extraordinaire.
- You here for the big meeting? - Oh, God.
- Not the suit.
- What? This old thing? You only wear a suit when you're trying to shake us down.
Shakedown? Evan, I'm offended.
I mean, can't the medical director of New York's largest public hospital just have a friendly chat with the CFO of New York's largest telecom company? Just two old buddies gabbing, huh? Save it.
You have some idea.
I'm sure it's inspiring and financially ruinous.
Do you know how many households in New York City - don't have broadband? - 500,000.
5 oh.
That's exactly right.
Now, wouldn't it be cool if you hooked them up? - "Hooked them up"? - Yeah.
Free Internet for everybody.
Take the thing that my company sells for money Give it away for free.
Right.
[SCOFFS.]
You know, when people can't afford their power bill, Con Ed doesn't show up with a new AC.
Broadband is the same, a utility to be paid for.
Right, and if broadband is a utility, then it's like power or clean water.
And shouldn't everyone have access to that? Think about it.
Telemedicine.
Prescription refills.
Our patients will be healthier! Look, I applaud your idealism No, no, I applaud yours, like when you donated free Internet to impoverished areas in sub-Saharan Africa.
You helped people in a desert 5,500 miles away.
Now, surely, Evan, I think you can do a little something for the broadband desert right here in your own backyard.
I'll give you ten apartments.
- 17 housing projects.
- [SIGHS.]
One building, and you don't speak to me for a year.
Done.
It's always a pleasure to casually bump into you, Evan.
Thomas, three years ago, your leukemia was in remission.
But now your cancer has mutated into a new, aggressive form that won't respond to any of our treatments.
And if we tried another protocol? I'm afraid there aren't any.
How much time does he have? I may be able to get him a couple of extra months.
Good ones.
Good ones.
You'll need to come to the hospital every few days for blood transfusions to stave off I can start all that when we get back from our trip.
No, no.
Thomas, in order to get those extra couple of months, we need to start the transfusions immediately.
That means staying here in New York.
No Route 66.
Well, if I only have a little time left, then each day is going to count.
We're taking this trip.
Without the transfusions, your pain will be excruciating.
You'll begin vomiting blood as your body breaks down on itself.
That will occur within a matter of days, which means you will bleed out in some motel in the middle of nowhere.
Is that how you want your love story to end? Social Services? The wound was close range, all right? It wasn't a drive-by.
And I have an obligation We only had that gun a month, okay? Allison must have found it when she It wasn't my husband's fault.
Then why make up some story? Just tell me how she is.
She's stable.
But in order to take the bullet out, she's gonna need a riskier procedure and it's gonna take some more time.
It was the demonstrations.
Black Lives Matter.
The protestors.
We were scared.
You saw the news.
They were smashing windows, burning property, beating people up.
We just wanted to protect ourselves.
But apparently, not all lives matter.
[PAGER BEEPS.]
It's your daughter.
Um, excuse me, everybody? [OVERLAPPING CHATTER.]
Can I get everybody's Can I can I get can I, um [STAMMERS.]
Hey! Listen up! Wow, loud.
Thank you.
So I have some news.
You are all here because you were sold a lie.
A fake cure.
Disinformation that you couldn't debunk because you didn't have access to the correct information.
Until today.
Hold on to your nasal cannulas.
Everybody is getting free broadband access.
- Really? - What is that? Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
How the hell you pull that off? - Don't say the suit.
- Can't deny the suit.
Is this a "fell off the back of the truck" situation? No, totally legit.
Where do we pick up our computers? Uh, well, I didn't get any computers.
That's a'ight.
Tablets are way cooler anyway.
Yeah.
Yeah, they are.
But I didn't get any of those either.
You think everybody's got smartphones? Uh, I guess So basically, he got us gas but no stove.
- Oh, that makes sense.
- This guy.
I understand it now.
What did you get us? [LAUGHTER, OVERLAPPING CHATTER.]
Alexis Luther, my favorite board member.
- [FIRMLY.]
No.
- No? I didn't even say hi yet.
I'm familiar with the suit, Max.
And I'm impervious to whatever you think its powers of persuasion are.
No, no, I'm just here to tell you that you are no longer on the board of America's greatest public hospital.
- What? - Sorry.
Sorry.
To be clear, you're still on the board, but we are no longer America's greatest hospital.
See, you remember when you gave us those computers and laptops from your company? You said they were state-of-the-art, but my doctors are telling me they're pieces of junk, okay? But they don't use the word "junk.
" That's impossible.
Just ten months ago, it was top-of-the-line tech.
Right, but in an IT eval with two dozen other hospitals, we came in dead last.
Isn't that right, Dr.
Frome? Our computers are outdated, right? Oh, gosh, I mean, you know, maybe a little tricky at first, but now they're awesome Now they're struggling.
I mean, you were just telling me about that graphics issue.
Um, I don't really use graphics for much, so No, no, you don't, 'cause they're pretty much unusable.
Oh, I see.
- Dr.
Frome, you're very polite.
- Thank you.
We can't let courtesy impede this hospital's public standing.
- 100% agree.
- Totally.
Yep.
What he said.
How many new units are we talking? Ooh, I don't know.
Maybe three, four Thousand.
Yeah.
3,000 or 4,000.
[EXHALES HEAVILY.]
400 is the best I can do.
- [INHALES SHARPLY.]
- Sold.
I thank you.
Thank you, Alexis.
That's very generous.
Always nice to casually bump into you.
- Yes, very good to see you.
- [CHUCKLES.]
Why would you do that to me? That was terrifying.
- My computers are fine.
- I know.
I know.
But the board would never agree to donate new computers to a random building full of low-income residents, so But if we got 400 new ones, we would have 400 perfectly good used ones that suddenly need a new home.
I was right there with you.
I got it.
Why are you dressed like James Bond? I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.
Please have a seat.
May I have a Perrier? Oh, we don't actually have that.
Ah.
Dr.
Kao running late? Oh, my God.
I'm Dr.
Kao.
Sorry, it's a short last name that tends to get lost in introductions.
You're Dr.
Agnes Kao? I am.
You're 12.
I wish.
Well, not 12, but I'm older than I look.
You're interviewing me for the position of chair of neurology? I'm trying to.
I don't hear any questions.
[MONITOR BEEPING RAPIDLY.]
Sydney, can you hear me? I'm barely getting a pulse.
- Heart rate's 20 and dropping.
- Damn it.
One milligram of atropine.
IV push.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
- [BEEPING STOPS.]
- Heart rate's 45 and climbing.
What what's happening? You're okay, Sydney.
You're okay.
Knew I should have never came to the hospital in the first place.
I'm only getting sicker.
Okay, try to relax.
Take deep breaths for me.
[INHALES DEEPLY.]
I'm just saying.
I never needed that machine before today.
Okay.
Dialysis cleared the Rona-Vaxx poison out of her blood, but her EKG is still showing low voltage and pseudo-infarct.
That doesn't make much sense.
Unless she was born with cardiac amyloidosis.
- An autoimmune disorder? - Well, think about it.
It'll cause heart palpitations, fatigue, shortness of breath.
Making her think she had COVID.
While masking her real issues.
Page cardio, stat.
[MONITOR BEEPING RAPIDLY.]
Now what? Heart rate's skyrocketing.
BP plummeting.
- Bleeder? - No.
Surgical fields are clean.
- Septic? - No fever.
No white count.
- Med reaction? - No rash.
There.
Left ventricular thrombus.
That is a massive clot in her heart.
Yeah, that explains why her blood pressure's so low.
If we don't do something, she's not gonna make it.
Clamp.
Scalpel.
Chance, hi.
What - Oh, hey.
- What are you doing? It's day-old muffins, and Yeah.
No, no.
That's - They're not that stale.
- No, Chance.
This is, um Uh, I need you to hear me, okay? [CLEARS THROAT.]
I need you to really hear me.
Um, our relationship is very, very important to me, which means that it needs to be protected.
That's why we have structured sessions, right? We arrange a time and a place to meet, we meet up, we share.
It's great, but it's safe.
And it's protected.
But in order for our relationship to be effective, we can't we can't have this kind of casual contact.
Do you understand? That means no muffins, no free chais, no popping in to say hello.
I'm just talking about boundaries here, Chance.
I yeah.
Okay.
Well, it's just, you're the closest thing to family I have.
But I'm not your family.
I am your therapist.
That's it.
You know, which You know, that's I have the same relationship with all my patients.
The same rules apply, you know? I feel bad that I wasn't more clear.
- I think it's my fault.
- No.
No, I get it.
Thanks, Dr.
Frome.
[SOLEMN MUSIC.]
Now, I like to pride myself on listening to my patients, so This is your Route 66 road map.
These red dots here, these are your stops along the way.
Now, here, when you get to your beloved Meramec Caverns, you'll call Dr.
Dutton in Branson.
He'll have a bag of platelets waiting for you.
[SOFTLY.]
Oh, my God.
And then in Albuquerque, next to the Petrified Forest, is Dr.
Cho, who will take care of you.
And then it's on to the Grand Canyon, where you'll stop at Flagstaff and meet Dr.
Perlin.
So each red dot has a transfusion center? Think of them more as, um, pit stops along the way.
But it is absolutely crucial that you stick to this route.
Okay? I won't mess this up.
I should warn you both that this may not be easy.
Thom will face some significant challenges along the way.
There will be days that he'll feel sick.
Days he'll feel exhausted.
Call me any time you want to check in.
You sure you want to do this? Take it.
Unless you want my arm to fall off.
[CHUCKLES.]
- Thanks again, Dr.
Goodwin.
- Oh, of course.
Now you're COVID-free, and you're vaccinated.
And this laptop is gonna be a lifesaver.
Yeah, literally.
And now you can look up real remedies for whatever ails you.
I don't even need to bother Nathan.
I already found something for my knee problem.
- Good.
- Clay enemas.
Wait, what? Well, it sounded better than powdered ants, see? No, no.
Don't click on that.
That's a pop-up.
You don't want See how well it knows me? Vera, it doesn't know you.
It's tracking you.
- Oh, is that bad? - Yes, that's bad! You don't know where this information comes from.
This could be just as bad as Rona-Vaxx.
But it's on the computer you gave us.
I know, but, Vera, you can't believe everything that you read on the Internet.
Oh, so instead of one lying ad in the lobby, now I have a whole lying machine in my apartment? How is that progress? Hey, I got the message.
Is Chance okay? Security found him in the stairwell.
- We're checking for burning.
- For burning? Why? What happened? They said he drank cleaning fluid.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
You're here for the department interview? Yes.
Is there a problem? But I'm sorry.
You're Dr.
Lució? Dr.
Romy Lució? That's right.
Yes.
I studied your neuroanatomy book in med school.
How often is there a fresh take on epithalamic structure? In fairness, not often.
And you're here? You're really here for the chair position? [CHUCKLES.]
Would you like to start the interview? Why? That's often how it works.
You won the ANA Award in neuroscience and the Wolfe Neuropathy Research Prize in the same year.
Your book gave me purpose.
It changed my life.
I'm hiring you Right now.
Hmm, can you do that? They said this was my decision to make.
Practically forced me to make it, so you know what? I will.
Dr.
Lució, come meet your new department.
Oh, okay.
[CHUCKLES.]
Look who's awake.
I heard about your big save on my ticker.
Cray, right? No.
Not cray, actually.
Not remotely cray.
This is an underlying condition that you have had for years, and we would have known about it a lot sooner if you'd come in for a routine checkup.
Eh, you live and learn.
- Can I go now? - No! Listen to me.
This isn't over, okay? You're gonna need follow-up and actual medication.
And you have got to stay away from those crappy fake cures.
Crappy? You only figured out what was wrong with me because of them.
Technically yes, but that's So the way that I see it is, they actually helped.
Oh, boy.
Soma Kulkarni, my all-time favorite board member? Skip it.
Hard no.
I heard what you did to the others.
That's fair, but listen.
I have been doing this whole thing backwards, okay? I've been running around trying to get everybody broadband access without considering, access to what.
Listen, I'm not asking for much, really.
I just need a portal.
A portal to information that people can trust.
That's all I need.
Having access to broadband, to information, is a right, but what I finally realized is that it's the quality of information that affects our quality of life, so let's create a safe space outside the walls of this hospital.
The New Amsterdam Tele-Health Network.
Let's call it N.
A.
T.
H.
A.
N.
[UPLIFTING MUSIC.]
A place where our patients can go anytime, day or night, for care, for connection [SOFT MUSIC.]
And community.
[LAUGHTER.]
Okay.
All right.
All right.
Shh, guys.
Shh.
Shh.
Shh.
A fully integrated system with the information people need to make the right health-care decisions.
Just like walking through the doors of New Amsterdam, and all from the comfort of your home.
Done.
I'll even design it myself.
Yes! Thank you.
Um, I have to go.
It's story time, and my daughter's a stickler, but thank you.
Max? Next time, stick to the scrubs.
This is just wrong.
Yeah.
- [APPLAUSE.]
- Oh, thank you! Thank you.
That's what a wonderful introduction.
Thank you so much.
Dr.
Vijay Kapoor, chair of this department for 35 long years, and in that tenure, he used his unique perspective and his old-fashioned ideas to run this department straight into the ground while tarnishing the very tenets of neurology.
What he did was a disgrace.
It was an embarrassment.
But as your new chair, I vow to rectify his inept failures.
And I will redress his egregious oversights.
And I will restore dignity to this department by throwing away every last thing that Dr.
Kapoor has ever touched.
[DRAMATIC JAZZ MUSIC.]
[SOMBER MUSIC.]
Think we could have a minute? Thank you.
I failed you.
[SIGHS.]
Chance, even the fact that you were concerned with failing me is, um It's just proof that I failed you.
And I did.
I failed.
Um So I am, uh I'm transferring you to another therapist at another hospital.
Wait, what? - No.
- Yeah.
No! You can't! I'm sorry.
Oh, please.
I'm I'm sorry that I couldn't give you what you needed.
Dr.
Frome, you can't do this! You can't! Dr.
Frome! No! Hemiplegic? Instead of paraplegic, Allison's paralysis is hemispheric.
In her case, the right side of her body.
Could it be temporary? Months, years.
It all depends on how long it takes her to heal.
Either way, it won't be easy.
Oh, my baby.
I think they'd like to speak with you.
Wait, what? Why? Mr.
Mulvane, you panic-bought a firearm and left it loaded and unlocked in the proximity of your daughter.
And when she got hurt, you tried to cover it up by filing a false police report based on race, a felony in New York.
- Wait, I - No, I'm not done.
Because then y'all had the audacity to claim that all lives matter while the police were combing the streets profiling Black and brown faces, faces like mine, which apparently don't matter enough to you.
And here's what I don't get.
What I will never get is if it's intentional on your part or you're simply conditioned, because you definitely aren't the first to falsely accuse a brother.
And I doubt you'll be the last.
This is the part where you thank me for saving your daughter's life.
We we're not racists.
[SCOFFS.]
Is it that time where I put my hand Where the drink is in my blue denim jeans If only you knew what I mean Hi.
You look comfortable.
How was school? I don't know.
I dropped out.
I took my GED.
Like you said, school, college, job.
I said tons of things that you haven't done.
Why start today? You can stop pretending to be my parent.
I am not your mum, nor will I ever pretend to be.
However, I am in charge for making the best decisions for you You mean the best decisions for you! The decisions that make your life easier.
Really? Do you think any of this is making my life easier? Isn't that why I'm here? Because you feel guilty for ignoring your brother for all those years? How can you even say that to me? Oh, so I'm just here out of the kindness of your heart? You're here because you're my family! That you ignored for your whole life! You don't know what you're talking about! I know what family is, and what you're doing isn't even close.
It was your grandfather, my father, who just left his wife and child back in London.
Me! I was the one who was abandoned first! I was the one who was ignored first! [TENSE MUSIC.]
Ta-da! Shh! You'll wake Luna.
[DOOR SLAMS.]
What? Gwen, it's not even 7:00 yet.
I'm early.
Yeah, sorry, Max.
We had a big day.
Poor thing was so tired.
But couldn't you have kept her up just a few minutes? I mean, I was I really wanted to read to her.
I needed to read to her.
Of course you did.
But keeping a tired child up solely for your benefit would not have been very fair to her, now, would it? I do appreciate you being punctual, though.
In fact, I just might be able to make my 7:30 train tonight.
Good night, Max.
[SIGHS.]
[SIGHS.]
What the It looked smaller in the picture.
I can take it back.
No, it's it's fine.
It's just very, very big.
Is it real? Very much so.
Why? It's just, uh, I'm not really good with living things.
[GENTLE MUSIC.]
I disagree.
Drawer's empty.
You didn't have to do that.
Oh, I didn't.
Most of these drawers have been empty since I moved in.
How's that? - Subtle.
- [CHUCKLES.]
Your place is so spare.
I just thought What? It was intentional.
It's not.
[GENTLE MUSIC.]
She rocks through the treetop All the day long Singin' and a-boppin', and a-singin' her song All the little birds in the jaybird tree Love to hear Luna go tweet, tweet, tweet Max? [CLEARS THROAT.]
Hey, Gwen.
Could you sing faster? We're late for our pre-nap walk.
Yeah, sure.
Oh, speaking of sleep, I'm gonna be done by 7:00 tonight, so I will have time to read and put Luna to bed.
- Right.
- No, no.
I'm serious.
Gwen, on the dot.
Kids need routine, Max.
- That's all.
- Yeah.
Which is what I'm trying to do.
Well, I I know you're trying.
- We all know you're trying.
- [FORCED LAUGHTER.]
If there's something you want to say, Gwen See you at 7:00, Max.
I will see you at 7:00.
[CLEARS THROAT.]
[DOOR CLICKS OPEN AND SHUT.]
[EXHALES HEAVILY.]
Oh, morning.
Your school called.
Again.
You skipped calculus this time.
That's 'cause I already took calculus when I was in Iran.
School saw my records.
Why must I repeat? It's the way it is, Mina.
Like my world history class' take on American hegemony? This isn't a joke.
Under my roof, under my care, which means school, college, job.
Don't I get a vote? If this were a true democracy, then yes.
But since you've learned the truth, no.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[SIGHS.]
What's the first move? My old job, it's waiting for me.
Do they know the reason you left? Yes, I told them everything.
Plus, I'm tight with the foreman.
And, like, we're supposed to trust you? It's handled, okay? Careful.
You sound triggered.
That happens out in the streets, you are done-zo.
Give me the three names on your phone list.
Go.
- You got a place to live? - Covered.
Covered ain't an answer, primo.
- He ain't ready.
- I got seven people on my phone list, not just three.
All know my story.
I found a studio apartment.
It's under the A train, which is perfect because you literally have to be crazy - to want live under the A train.
- [LAUGHTER.]
And if I lose my job, my pad, or my temper, I got backups.
- Yeah.
- I got a cousin.
She's got a brownstone.
There's a bed in there for me.
She's vaccinated, in the program, and Okay, great, you got a plan.
Good.
What's your purpose? Since the world doesn't care about your plan, what makes you think you're ready? I know the source of my trauma.
My role in it.
The pain, which I've learned to forgive myself for.
The healing, which I'm an active participant in.
And I know the debt I owe to those who've loved me, starting with love for self.
Oh, my God.
Chance Becker, everybody.
[APPLAUSE.]
Ready for reentry.
Look at this guy.
Help! Help! Help! - What happened? - Drive-by.
My daughter got shot.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
Pulse is weak and thready.
Get her to Trauma One! Start two large bore IVs, normal saline wide open.
Please, save her! We're gonna do the best we can.
Send crit, coags, type and cross.
She's in hypovolemic shock.
About to hang a bag of O neg.
Probably a pumper in her chest.
Another shooting, another child.
[SIGHS.]
Where's the bleeder? - Come on.
- Dr.
Bloom.
Cardiac arrest just rolled in.
- You got this? - Go.
V-fib arrest on transport.
Shocked three times with no response.
Okay, push high dose epi.
- Clear.
- [DEFIBRILLATOR ZAPS.]
[SIGHS.]
She's back.
Let's take her to Bay 30.
Headed to the OR.
- Who do we have here? - Corona test negative.
Robin Perez, 61.
Blurred vision, dizziness, and low blood pressure.
Now, why does that sound familiar? Same symptoms as the two sisters we just moved to Bay 23 and 24.
And the guy over in 26.
Dolores? - What you doing here? - I don't even know.
I got dizzy, and then I was gone.
- Aw.
- Hey, ladies.
It's Bruce.
[CHUCKLES.]
- From 425? - Oh.
Is Miss Vera with you? Miss Vera? No.
Did you see Mr.
Olenchalk from the fifth floor? Oh, I am right here.
What the heck is going on? Wait, so you all know each other? We live in the same building.
It happened so fast, I I couldn't really see.
I mean, it was such a blur, but maybe Black or Latino? I don't know.
His hoodie was hiding his face.
Oh, my God! Allison! - Ma'am, ma'am! - Mommy's here.
I need you to keep your mask on until you're tested.
Look, we're going to the OR.
The bullet's lodged near her spine.
We're gonna do everything we can.
We'll keep you posted.
This is what happens when you defund the police.
We've got more fake coronavirus cures out there.
- How do you know? - Because a patient suffering from acute cardiotoxic poisoning had this on her.
Rona-Vaxx? Nice name.
"All natural, organic.
"Made from the petals and stems of the cascabela thevetia flower.
" Yellow oleander.
A plant that's toxic to, you know, all living vertebrates.
I guess "Drink this, and you die" doesn't really fit on the poster.
First, it was the essential silver toothpaste, then the aromatherapy oils that actually cause lung inflammation.
And who can forget that surge of patients brought in to my ED after drinking bleach? Actual bleach.
Now this.
Yeah, another case of disinformation.
If only it were one case.
They targeted a low-income building in East Harlem with these flyers.
Hundreds of residents.
They're getting worse.
How many more didn't come in? [COUGHING, OVERLAPPING CHATTER.]
How many more might be poisoned? [TENSE MUSIC.]
Okay, team, two goals.
We're gonna go door-to-door.
Any resident who has ingested Rona-Vaxx, we immediately escort them to an ambulance.
If somebody has bought and not yet ingested it, the Department of Health will meet them to exchange it with a debit card on the spot.
Clear? Great, let's roll.
Second floor, third floor.
Go.
- "Let's roll"? - I don't know.
I was trying to fire people up.
No good? Hi there, ma'am.
Do you live here? What's it to you? Oh, I just have a question for you.
Did you buy any of this? Sure did.
Man was wearing scrubs like you.
Said he was a doctor.
Well, he wasn't.
- Oh, and I guess you are? - Yeah, yeah.
I even brought my ambulance to prove it.
You didn't ingest this, though, did you? Oh, no.
My son Nathan, he lives in Buffalo.
He researched Rona-Vaxx on the Internet because we don't have it here, and he said it was shady.
[COUGHING.]
Well, I wish everyone in your building had a Nathan.
[SIGHS.]
As the current head of the search committee to find a new chair of neurology, it is incumbent upon me to inform you that - You picked someone? - Uh, no.
No, um, but that's only because I haven't actually met with anyone yet.
- What? - I know.
I know.
I tried.
I did.
I just you know what it is? I'm too close to it.
I I got emotional today looking at résumés that are still inside of the envelopes.
That actually happened, so I am appointing you the interim head of the search committee.
Ta-da! But I'm already the interim chair of neurology.
Exactly, that's how I know you can handle it, so - Dr.
Frome.
- Yeah? I know it's hard, but there's no doubt in my mind that you're the person who should be making this incredibly important decision to replace Dr.
Kapoor.
Mm-hmm, and the decision I'm making is that you should make it, okay? Uh, Dr.
Frome? Chance.
Hi.
- Are you okay? What's going on? - I I hate to, uh Well, you know that old job I talked about in group earlier? I do, yeah.
Did that not work out? No, they're actually closing down.
I see.
That's that's a bummer.
I'm sorry to hear that.
Yeah.
But thanks to our class, I got resourceful.
I already found a new gig.
I just need a character reference, so would you mind? Would I mind? Here, give me that thing.
I truly appreciate it, Dr.
Frome.
Can I use your back? Can I not be in charge of the search committee? Here we go.
Handled.
And, Chance, congratulations.
I'm proud of you.
Where's the Where's the new gig? - Oh, you didn't see? - No.
It's here.
At New Amsterdam.
First paycheck, lunch is on me.
Doesn't the American Psychiatric Association frown on being friends with patients? Mm-hmm, actively, but we're not friends, so Does he know that? Yeah.
And, girl, when they played them slow jams at the skating rink, here comes Thom, holding his hand out like Billy Dee Williams.
[LAUGHS.]
[GRUFFLY.]
"You want my arm to fall off?" - [LAUGHTER.]
- I couldn't help it.
So when I saw his face pop up on our school reunion page, I couldn't help myself neither.
Miss Juanita just had to reach out.
Had to.
I hadn't seen his face since he joined the army right after high school.
Well, her father had something to do with that.
I told you, we ain't going there.
[CHUCKLES.]
But it's like we just picked up where we left off.
So what's next for you two lovebirds? Gonna make up for lost time.
Hit Route 66.
The Gateway Arch, the Meramec Caverns, Petrified Forest.
He's been promising me that trip since we been kids.
I'm gonna fulfill it too.
Thomas, uh, the bruising on your arm and underneath on your side here.
I know.
We've just been busy catching up and whatnot.
I'd like to run some tests.
Tests for what, Dr.
Sharpe? She thinks my cancer is back.
- Lap pad.
- TS kit on the tray.
Okay, that should do it for the bleeder.
But if she has any hopes of walking again, we'll have to take the bullet out.
Nurse, can you call Dr.
Salaita? Will do.
Do you want to update her family? Yeah, but before I do, will you take a look at this? - Powder burns? - Yeah.
And you see that stippling there? Seems inconsistent for a drive-by.
This was close range.
I'm gonna call Social Services.
I can't believe I gotta go to the hospital for this.
You all got the vaccine.
The rest of us just do what we can.
We're gonna take good care of you.
- I promise.
- [SIGHS.]
[SIREN WAILING.]
Whole building's accounted for.
We're taking 16 back with us, and housing bought back 46 unused treatments.
Of snake oil.
It's like we're living in the Wild West.
Well, these families might as well be.
This building's located in the middle of a Wi-Fi desert.
If you can't access the Internet, you can't debunk the snake oil.
And this is just gonna keep happening.
Fake news, fake cures, unless [SIGHS.]
Unless we do something about it.
Something like what? [JAZZY MUSIC.]
We're gonna get free broadband access for every household in New York City.
I mean, I've heard of 4G and 5G but never no G.
Not in New York.
That's crazy! And imagine what it's like for people in rural areas without broadband.
I mean, no wonder the virus hit the way that it did.
Yeah.
What you got in the bag there? Oh, this? This is, uh this is my secret weapon to fight injustice.
Oh, whoa.
And a secret it shall remain, I guess.
Order up, Dr.
Frome! Chance.
Yeah.
It's one filthy chai, just the way you like it.
Five pumps, coconut milk.
No, no.
I didn't I didn't order this.
It's all good.
I got you.
Hey, next in line, please.
Your résumé and references are impeccable.
I never thought we'd find someone to replace Dr.
Kapoor, but I Thank you, Dr.
Kao.
I've devoted my entire life to the nervous system.
I see.
You were head of neurology at Holy Cross in Houston for 12 years.
Can I ask what brought you to New York? Simply put, regular psychosocial stimulation is good for your brain.
I believe it's essential.
I so agree! Our senses deliver information that's key to survival.
- Exactly.
- So how would you describe your leadership style? - I lead by example.
- Uh-huh.
Management should share the same sacrifices as their team does.
And I give each weekday its own funky theme.
I'm sorry.
How do you mean? Like Moon Tower Mondays, basically '70s garb.
Tahiti Tuesdays.
Waikiki Wednesdays have to be reconceived because employees start recycling their Tuesday outfits.
You want to guess Thursday? No.
I'm good.
How are you feeling, Sydney? Tired.
So ridonkulous the Rona-Vaxx made me this sick.
Actually, it's not, because Rona-Vaxx is not a real treatment for COVID.
Well, I'm just lucky that my silver pills didn't kick my butt like this.
You're taking silver pills as well? Yeah, only 'cause my dude with the hydroxychloroquine bailed upstate.
Hydroxychloroquine.
So you're taking all three of these things at the same time? And obvs it's working 'cause I'm, like, COVID-free, right? [SIGHS.]
[INHALES DEEPLY.]
Okay.
[WHISTLING.]
Evan Nashton, board member extraordinaire.
- You here for the big meeting? - Oh, God.
- Not the suit.
- What? This old thing? You only wear a suit when you're trying to shake us down.
Shakedown? Evan, I'm offended.
I mean, can't the medical director of New York's largest public hospital just have a friendly chat with the CFO of New York's largest telecom company? Just two old buddies gabbing, huh? Save it.
You have some idea.
I'm sure it's inspiring and financially ruinous.
Do you know how many households in New York City - don't have broadband? - 500,000.
5 oh.
That's exactly right.
Now, wouldn't it be cool if you hooked them up? - "Hooked them up"? - Yeah.
Free Internet for everybody.
Take the thing that my company sells for money Give it away for free.
Right.
[SCOFFS.]
You know, when people can't afford their power bill, Con Ed doesn't show up with a new AC.
Broadband is the same, a utility to be paid for.
Right, and if broadband is a utility, then it's like power or clean water.
And shouldn't everyone have access to that? Think about it.
Telemedicine.
Prescription refills.
Our patients will be healthier! Look, I applaud your idealism No, no, I applaud yours, like when you donated free Internet to impoverished areas in sub-Saharan Africa.
You helped people in a desert 5,500 miles away.
Now, surely, Evan, I think you can do a little something for the broadband desert right here in your own backyard.
I'll give you ten apartments.
- 17 housing projects.
- [SIGHS.]
One building, and you don't speak to me for a year.
Done.
It's always a pleasure to casually bump into you, Evan.
Thomas, three years ago, your leukemia was in remission.
But now your cancer has mutated into a new, aggressive form that won't respond to any of our treatments.
And if we tried another protocol? I'm afraid there aren't any.
How much time does he have? I may be able to get him a couple of extra months.
Good ones.
Good ones.
You'll need to come to the hospital every few days for blood transfusions to stave off I can start all that when we get back from our trip.
No, no.
Thomas, in order to get those extra couple of months, we need to start the transfusions immediately.
That means staying here in New York.
No Route 66.
Well, if I only have a little time left, then each day is going to count.
We're taking this trip.
Without the transfusions, your pain will be excruciating.
You'll begin vomiting blood as your body breaks down on itself.
That will occur within a matter of days, which means you will bleed out in some motel in the middle of nowhere.
Is that how you want your love story to end? Social Services? The wound was close range, all right? It wasn't a drive-by.
And I have an obligation We only had that gun a month, okay? Allison must have found it when she It wasn't my husband's fault.
Then why make up some story? Just tell me how she is.
She's stable.
But in order to take the bullet out, she's gonna need a riskier procedure and it's gonna take some more time.
It was the demonstrations.
Black Lives Matter.
The protestors.
We were scared.
You saw the news.
They were smashing windows, burning property, beating people up.
We just wanted to protect ourselves.
But apparently, not all lives matter.
[PAGER BEEPS.]
It's your daughter.
Um, excuse me, everybody? [OVERLAPPING CHATTER.]
Can I get everybody's Can I can I get can I, um [STAMMERS.]
Hey! Listen up! Wow, loud.
Thank you.
So I have some news.
You are all here because you were sold a lie.
A fake cure.
Disinformation that you couldn't debunk because you didn't have access to the correct information.
Until today.
Hold on to your nasal cannulas.
Everybody is getting free broadband access.
- Really? - What is that? Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
How the hell you pull that off? - Don't say the suit.
- Can't deny the suit.
Is this a "fell off the back of the truck" situation? No, totally legit.
Where do we pick up our computers? Uh, well, I didn't get any computers.
That's a'ight.
Tablets are way cooler anyway.
Yeah.
Yeah, they are.
But I didn't get any of those either.
You think everybody's got smartphones? Uh, I guess So basically, he got us gas but no stove.
- Oh, that makes sense.
- This guy.
I understand it now.
What did you get us? [LAUGHTER, OVERLAPPING CHATTER.]
Alexis Luther, my favorite board member.
- [FIRMLY.]
No.
- No? I didn't even say hi yet.
I'm familiar with the suit, Max.
And I'm impervious to whatever you think its powers of persuasion are.
No, no, I'm just here to tell you that you are no longer on the board of America's greatest public hospital.
- What? - Sorry.
Sorry.
To be clear, you're still on the board, but we are no longer America's greatest hospital.
See, you remember when you gave us those computers and laptops from your company? You said they were state-of-the-art, but my doctors are telling me they're pieces of junk, okay? But they don't use the word "junk.
" That's impossible.
Just ten months ago, it was top-of-the-line tech.
Right, but in an IT eval with two dozen other hospitals, we came in dead last.
Isn't that right, Dr.
Frome? Our computers are outdated, right? Oh, gosh, I mean, you know, maybe a little tricky at first, but now they're awesome Now they're struggling.
I mean, you were just telling me about that graphics issue.
Um, I don't really use graphics for much, so No, no, you don't, 'cause they're pretty much unusable.
Oh, I see.
- Dr.
Frome, you're very polite.
- Thank you.
We can't let courtesy impede this hospital's public standing.
- 100% agree.
- Totally.
Yep.
What he said.
How many new units are we talking? Ooh, I don't know.
Maybe three, four Thousand.
Yeah.
3,000 or 4,000.
[EXHALES HEAVILY.]
400 is the best I can do.
- [INHALES SHARPLY.]
- Sold.
I thank you.
Thank you, Alexis.
That's very generous.
Always nice to casually bump into you.
- Yes, very good to see you.
- [CHUCKLES.]
Why would you do that to me? That was terrifying.
- My computers are fine.
- I know.
I know.
But the board would never agree to donate new computers to a random building full of low-income residents, so But if we got 400 new ones, we would have 400 perfectly good used ones that suddenly need a new home.
I was right there with you.
I got it.
Why are you dressed like James Bond? I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.
Please have a seat.
May I have a Perrier? Oh, we don't actually have that.
Ah.
Dr.
Kao running late? Oh, my God.
I'm Dr.
Kao.
Sorry, it's a short last name that tends to get lost in introductions.
You're Dr.
Agnes Kao? I am.
You're 12.
I wish.
Well, not 12, but I'm older than I look.
You're interviewing me for the position of chair of neurology? I'm trying to.
I don't hear any questions.
[MONITOR BEEPING RAPIDLY.]
Sydney, can you hear me? I'm barely getting a pulse.
- Heart rate's 20 and dropping.
- Damn it.
One milligram of atropine.
IV push.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
- [BEEPING STOPS.]
- Heart rate's 45 and climbing.
What what's happening? You're okay, Sydney.
You're okay.
Knew I should have never came to the hospital in the first place.
I'm only getting sicker.
Okay, try to relax.
Take deep breaths for me.
[INHALES DEEPLY.]
I'm just saying.
I never needed that machine before today.
Okay.
Dialysis cleared the Rona-Vaxx poison out of her blood, but her EKG is still showing low voltage and pseudo-infarct.
That doesn't make much sense.
Unless she was born with cardiac amyloidosis.
- An autoimmune disorder? - Well, think about it.
It'll cause heart palpitations, fatigue, shortness of breath.
Making her think she had COVID.
While masking her real issues.
Page cardio, stat.
[MONITOR BEEPING RAPIDLY.]
Now what? Heart rate's skyrocketing.
BP plummeting.
- Bleeder? - No.
Surgical fields are clean.
- Septic? - No fever.
No white count.
- Med reaction? - No rash.
There.
Left ventricular thrombus.
That is a massive clot in her heart.
Yeah, that explains why her blood pressure's so low.
If we don't do something, she's not gonna make it.
Clamp.
Scalpel.
Chance, hi.
What - Oh, hey.
- What are you doing? It's day-old muffins, and Yeah.
No, no.
That's - They're not that stale.
- No, Chance.
This is, um Uh, I need you to hear me, okay? [CLEARS THROAT.]
I need you to really hear me.
Um, our relationship is very, very important to me, which means that it needs to be protected.
That's why we have structured sessions, right? We arrange a time and a place to meet, we meet up, we share.
It's great, but it's safe.
And it's protected.
But in order for our relationship to be effective, we can't we can't have this kind of casual contact.
Do you understand? That means no muffins, no free chais, no popping in to say hello.
I'm just talking about boundaries here, Chance.
I yeah.
Okay.
Well, it's just, you're the closest thing to family I have.
But I'm not your family.
I am your therapist.
That's it.
You know, which You know, that's I have the same relationship with all my patients.
The same rules apply, you know? I feel bad that I wasn't more clear.
- I think it's my fault.
- No.
No, I get it.
Thanks, Dr.
Frome.
[SOLEMN MUSIC.]
Now, I like to pride myself on listening to my patients, so This is your Route 66 road map.
These red dots here, these are your stops along the way.
Now, here, when you get to your beloved Meramec Caverns, you'll call Dr.
Dutton in Branson.
He'll have a bag of platelets waiting for you.
[SOFTLY.]
Oh, my God.
And then in Albuquerque, next to the Petrified Forest, is Dr.
Cho, who will take care of you.
And then it's on to the Grand Canyon, where you'll stop at Flagstaff and meet Dr.
Perlin.
So each red dot has a transfusion center? Think of them more as, um, pit stops along the way.
But it is absolutely crucial that you stick to this route.
Okay? I won't mess this up.
I should warn you both that this may not be easy.
Thom will face some significant challenges along the way.
There will be days that he'll feel sick.
Days he'll feel exhausted.
Call me any time you want to check in.
You sure you want to do this? Take it.
Unless you want my arm to fall off.
[CHUCKLES.]
- Thanks again, Dr.
Goodwin.
- Oh, of course.
Now you're COVID-free, and you're vaccinated.
And this laptop is gonna be a lifesaver.
Yeah, literally.
And now you can look up real remedies for whatever ails you.
I don't even need to bother Nathan.
I already found something for my knee problem.
- Good.
- Clay enemas.
Wait, what? Well, it sounded better than powdered ants, see? No, no.
Don't click on that.
That's a pop-up.
You don't want See how well it knows me? Vera, it doesn't know you.
It's tracking you.
- Oh, is that bad? - Yes, that's bad! You don't know where this information comes from.
This could be just as bad as Rona-Vaxx.
But it's on the computer you gave us.
I know, but, Vera, you can't believe everything that you read on the Internet.
Oh, so instead of one lying ad in the lobby, now I have a whole lying machine in my apartment? How is that progress? Hey, I got the message.
Is Chance okay? Security found him in the stairwell.
- We're checking for burning.
- For burning? Why? What happened? They said he drank cleaning fluid.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
You're here for the department interview? Yes.
Is there a problem? But I'm sorry.
You're Dr.
Lució? Dr.
Romy Lució? That's right.
Yes.
I studied your neuroanatomy book in med school.
How often is there a fresh take on epithalamic structure? In fairness, not often.
And you're here? You're really here for the chair position? [CHUCKLES.]
Would you like to start the interview? Why? That's often how it works.
You won the ANA Award in neuroscience and the Wolfe Neuropathy Research Prize in the same year.
Your book gave me purpose.
It changed my life.
I'm hiring you Right now.
Hmm, can you do that? They said this was my decision to make.
Practically forced me to make it, so you know what? I will.
Dr.
Lució, come meet your new department.
Oh, okay.
[CHUCKLES.]
Look who's awake.
I heard about your big save on my ticker.
Cray, right? No.
Not cray, actually.
Not remotely cray.
This is an underlying condition that you have had for years, and we would have known about it a lot sooner if you'd come in for a routine checkup.
Eh, you live and learn.
- Can I go now? - No! Listen to me.
This isn't over, okay? You're gonna need follow-up and actual medication.
And you have got to stay away from those crappy fake cures.
Crappy? You only figured out what was wrong with me because of them.
Technically yes, but that's So the way that I see it is, they actually helped.
Oh, boy.
Soma Kulkarni, my all-time favorite board member? Skip it.
Hard no.
I heard what you did to the others.
That's fair, but listen.
I have been doing this whole thing backwards, okay? I've been running around trying to get everybody broadband access without considering, access to what.
Listen, I'm not asking for much, really.
I just need a portal.
A portal to information that people can trust.
That's all I need.
Having access to broadband, to information, is a right, but what I finally realized is that it's the quality of information that affects our quality of life, so let's create a safe space outside the walls of this hospital.
The New Amsterdam Tele-Health Network.
Let's call it N.
A.
T.
H.
A.
N.
[UPLIFTING MUSIC.]
A place where our patients can go anytime, day or night, for care, for connection [SOFT MUSIC.]
And community.
[LAUGHTER.]
Okay.
All right.
All right.
Shh, guys.
Shh.
Shh.
Shh.
A fully integrated system with the information people need to make the right health-care decisions.
Just like walking through the doors of New Amsterdam, and all from the comfort of your home.
Done.
I'll even design it myself.
Yes! Thank you.
Um, I have to go.
It's story time, and my daughter's a stickler, but thank you.
Max? Next time, stick to the scrubs.
This is just wrong.
Yeah.
- [APPLAUSE.]
- Oh, thank you! Thank you.
That's what a wonderful introduction.
Thank you so much.
Dr.
Vijay Kapoor, chair of this department for 35 long years, and in that tenure, he used his unique perspective and his old-fashioned ideas to run this department straight into the ground while tarnishing the very tenets of neurology.
What he did was a disgrace.
It was an embarrassment.
But as your new chair, I vow to rectify his inept failures.
And I will redress his egregious oversights.
And I will restore dignity to this department by throwing away every last thing that Dr.
Kapoor has ever touched.
[DRAMATIC JAZZ MUSIC.]
[SOMBER MUSIC.]
Think we could have a minute? Thank you.
I failed you.
[SIGHS.]
Chance, even the fact that you were concerned with failing me is, um It's just proof that I failed you.
And I did.
I failed.
Um So I am, uh I'm transferring you to another therapist at another hospital.
Wait, what? - No.
- Yeah.
No! You can't! I'm sorry.
Oh, please.
I'm I'm sorry that I couldn't give you what you needed.
Dr.
Frome, you can't do this! You can't! Dr.
Frome! No! Hemiplegic? Instead of paraplegic, Allison's paralysis is hemispheric.
In her case, the right side of her body.
Could it be temporary? Months, years.
It all depends on how long it takes her to heal.
Either way, it won't be easy.
Oh, my baby.
I think they'd like to speak with you.
Wait, what? Why? Mr.
Mulvane, you panic-bought a firearm and left it loaded and unlocked in the proximity of your daughter.
And when she got hurt, you tried to cover it up by filing a false police report based on race, a felony in New York.
- Wait, I - No, I'm not done.
Because then y'all had the audacity to claim that all lives matter while the police were combing the streets profiling Black and brown faces, faces like mine, which apparently don't matter enough to you.
And here's what I don't get.
What I will never get is if it's intentional on your part or you're simply conditioned, because you definitely aren't the first to falsely accuse a brother.
And I doubt you'll be the last.
This is the part where you thank me for saving your daughter's life.
We we're not racists.
[SCOFFS.]
Is it that time where I put my hand Where the drink is in my blue denim jeans If only you knew what I mean Hi.
You look comfortable.
How was school? I don't know.
I dropped out.
I took my GED.
Like you said, school, college, job.
I said tons of things that you haven't done.
Why start today? You can stop pretending to be my parent.
I am not your mum, nor will I ever pretend to be.
However, I am in charge for making the best decisions for you You mean the best decisions for you! The decisions that make your life easier.
Really? Do you think any of this is making my life easier? Isn't that why I'm here? Because you feel guilty for ignoring your brother for all those years? How can you even say that to me? Oh, so I'm just here out of the kindness of your heart? You're here because you're my family! That you ignored for your whole life! You don't know what you're talking about! I know what family is, and what you're doing isn't even close.
It was your grandfather, my father, who just left his wife and child back in London.
Me! I was the one who was abandoned first! I was the one who was ignored first! [TENSE MUSIC.]
Ta-da! Shh! You'll wake Luna.
[DOOR SLAMS.]
What? Gwen, it's not even 7:00 yet.
I'm early.
Yeah, sorry, Max.
We had a big day.
Poor thing was so tired.
But couldn't you have kept her up just a few minutes? I mean, I was I really wanted to read to her.
I needed to read to her.
Of course you did.
But keeping a tired child up solely for your benefit would not have been very fair to her, now, would it? I do appreciate you being punctual, though.
In fact, I just might be able to make my 7:30 train tonight.
Good night, Max.
[SIGHS.]
[SIGHS.]
What the It looked smaller in the picture.
I can take it back.
No, it's it's fine.
It's just very, very big.
Is it real? Very much so.
Why? It's just, uh, I'm not really good with living things.
[GENTLE MUSIC.]
I disagree.