... with traffic backed up
at the Holland Tunnel, heading into Lower Manhattan.
You're listening to the wake-up call on WXLM,
New Jersey's number one talk radio station.
Memorial services are being held tonight
at St. Anthony's church in Jersey City
for Reggie Suarez.
The 22-year-old national guardsman from Hoboken
was killed last week by a roadside bomb just outside...
Honey. Honey?
I got you new underpants.
Oprah says that most women wear them too small.
when I heard that, I thought of you right away.
You got me big girl underwear.
Mike called last night.
Can you get out of my room?
- Are you gonna call him back? - No.
Oh, Ronnie, grow up. He's a man. You were gone.
Do you know how much your father and I spent on that wedding?
Help me, please, somebody!
Did somebody call 911? I'm bleeding!
I need a doctor now!
I'm a doctor.
My head, it hurts. Is it gonna scar?
I'll take care of it.
That's all right. Just apply pressure.
- Oh, my... - David?
What's the matter with him?
David! What's happening? What are you doing to him?
I think that he may have a tension pneumothorax.
You want to jump in here?
Gee, you know, I'm just really a dermatologist.
I mostly do skin peels.
What's the matter with him? Wake up, baby!
Hey, dermatologist, I need you to get me
a needle or a knife and something to sterilize with.
- Now! - Okay, all right.
Wha...
What's happening? What are you doing to him?
- Who are you? - Hey, lady, listen.
- Your boyfriend... - Fiance!
If I don't relieve the pressure in the next 30 seconds,
he will go into cardiac arrest and die.
Now help me pull his shirt up.
It's okay, baby.
Dermatologist, how we coming with that knife?
Yes. I'm here, I'm here.
- You're doing good. - They're on their way.
Okay, what next?
Now I make a hole in his fifth intercostal space.
We're gonna need a chest tube. Hand me that straw.
What? Make a hole?
Aah!
He's breathing. Where did you learn to do that?
Iraq.
What do we got?
Patient had a tension pneumothorax.
I did a needle decompression at the scene.
Get him up to trauma bay. He needs an X-ray.
What the hell's going on here?
Who ordered all this?
Me.
On what authority?
You're a nurse, okay?
A nurse?
I'll handle it.
You're not a doctor?
After all that, you're just some stupid nurse.
If he dies, if he has so much as a scar,
I swear to God, I will sue you,
The hospital, and the city!
So I guess I should have just let the guy die?
Is that what you want?
Yeah. That's what we want here at Mercy Hospital...
to let the guy die.
I believe that's what it says on the brochures.
Case should have been immediately turned over
to Dr. Harris.
Harris.
Patient's got a bendy straw sticking out of his chest
that's keeping him alive,
and all that he's worried about is his stupid ego.
You make these things personal, Veronica.
No, I don't.
What about the time you called him a testicle head?
Scrotum head.
I called him a scrotum head.
And I didn't know that he was standing right there.
I was in a war, too, you know?
Have you ever thought about talking to somebody about it?
I don't need to talk to anybody about it.
You know why?
Because I'm on delicious paxil.
Working like a charm, I see.
Spare some change?
Oh.
Energy bar?
Hey, Sonia, you get that mix C.D. I made for you?
- Is that the lawyer? - Mm-Hmm.
But you're not gonna answer.
It's called discipline.
You leaving the lawyer hanging?
It's called discipline.
I brought doughnuts.
Little appreciation for the best nurses in the state.
Would you look at this sweet boy?
Oh, what in the holy hell?
Of all the smocks in all the world,
and she had to walk in wearing that.
Hello, nurses. This is Chloe Payne.
She's starting today.
I know you'll take good care of her.
I have to lead rounds.
Hi. Um, I just want to say,
I'm really, really excited to be here.
I just got my master's
from the university of Pennsylvania,
and I am so psyched...
Hold that thought, Felicity.
Veronica, it's Mrs. Borghouse. You might want to tag team.
I'll go with you.
Can I come?
Who's mrs. Borghouse?
60-year-old woman with end-stage liver cancer.
She's been circling the drain for months,
but her family won't let her give up.
Aw.
Poor thing.
Mm.
Oh!
Aah!
I can't eat this food.
I'm in pain, and I'm pretty sure I have a bedsore.
Oh, no, your smock.
It's okay. I brought extras.
You nurses, what are you good for anyway?
Well, we do try and keep the doctors from killing you.
I have to go to the bathroom.
Oh.
Has she been febrile today?
No, no fever.
Hey, what are these doing in some old guy's room?
I bought these for you.
You can't come to my work anymore.
It's a hospital. Maybe I got the flu.
- Hey, son. - Hey, Mike.
Would you like some flowers?
Leave me out of this.
Do I really have to lie here in the same room
with this 12-year-old covered in my urine?
Let's get you cleaned up.
You can't be here.
You believe her?
If I were you, I'd look for greener pastures.
I know, huh?
I been barking up this tree since high school.
What are you doing later?
I think later they're putting in a catheter.
But, seriously, have you got a job?
Yes, ma'am, I'm a contractor.
I do all right, too.
This is a picture of my daughter.
She fills out a sweater better than this ungrateful jackass,
and she wants kids.
Oh, okay, all right.
Mike, we're separated.
I don't know how to be more clear.
You need to leave me alone.
Okay, okay, I'm sorry.
I'll call you?
Fine.
No.
No! Not fine!
What... what did I just say?
Normally, we like for new nurses
to have more experience,
but you graduated top of your class.
Also, we're desperate.
Oh, I won't disappoint.
Good.
Here's a little job for you.
Mr. Weintraub.
He's dead.
Turn off all the machines.
But he's still alive. Look, his heart is beating.
No, he's gone.
Turn off all the machines, call the morgue to get him,
then we'll finish your start paperwork.
That's enough of this!
Come on, you! Come on!
I ain't done with you yet!
You're dead, bitch!
Hey, shut up!
Hey, leave the kid alone!
Okay, cops, wait out there.
- How'd you know I'm a cop? - It was a lucky guess.
How about we separate the guys who just shot each other?
Actually, I was the one who shot him.
Where's my drip?
Leg's on fire!
Shut up, crybaby!
Keep running your mouth!
Hey.
Don't call my mom, okay?
How old are you?
15.
15. What are you doing getting yourself shot?
We're gonna call your mom.
She'll want to be here when you get out of surgery.
It's gonna be okay.
I'll be back at you, I swear!
Shut up!
Hey.
Hey, my guy's coding!
Where's Dr. Whittaker?
- Right here. - One and two and three...
Charge to 360.
Aah!
Son of a...
You forgot to say "clear."
- I got a pulse. - Come on.
That Whittaker guy.
Oh, I know.
Why do the nice ones always have to suck?
Should we tell Harris?
No. Harris isn't gonna listen to us.
Just let the other nurses know to watch him.
- You want to get a drink? - Yeah.
Oh, no, no, no, no, no.
- No, we don't have to. - We have to.
We can just go. We can just start walking.
Hey, we're gonna go get a drink.
Do you want to come?
Oh, I'd love to, but, um...
First, I just have to kill Mr. Weintraub.
Oh, for God's sake.
Time of death, 1807.
Want to get that drink now?
Oh, man.
12:00.
Oh. Why don't we just go talk to him?
Because, he's a unicorn, okay?
He's a magical creature.
Girl, he's for looking at, not for talking to.
Oh, my God. Is that the lawyer again?
You like him. Answer the phone already.
Is he nice?
Well, his seven-figure income is nice.
That's not why she likes him.
Oh, yes, it is.
I am done with broke-ass men. Done.
No more guys behind on their car payments,
no more going Dutch,
and no more losers who think you owe them sex
for dinner at Bennigan's.
Well, you probably ordered an appetizer.
I owe a guy sex if I order an appetizer?
Hey, I didn't make the rules.
I don't know how you guys do it.
I mean, that was so sad today with Mr. Weintraub.
Oh, that's not sad.
Yes, it was.
He died alone.
You want to see sad,
you go down to the pediatric burn unit.
You treat a six-year-old Iraqi kid
who got his arms blown off
'cause he thought a bomb was a toy.
Or how about the soldier who lost both of his arms
and a leg and has to wear a colostomy bag.
We fixed him up, all right.
Nobody knows how a guy a guy with no arms
is supposed to manage a colostomy bag,
but we did it.
That's sad.
A 75-year-old man with cancer?
That's a trip to Club Med.
I gotta go.
Light up a room and leave.
She was in Iraq?
Wow.
Don't... oh, Bobby!
You scared me.
Leanne kicked me out again.
Shh. You're gonna wake up dad.
Yeah, right.
Hey, dad! The house is on fire!
Mom fell down the stairs!
Veronica's got a new boyfriend, and he's black!
Mom's passed out upstairs.
Drank like half a gallon of wine.
Couple of sad alcoholics.
Hey, you want a drink?
God, yes.
Well, that won't do.
Mm-Mm. She keeps another one in the washer.
She's like a squirrel.
It's empty.
Dad's workbench.
Oh, it's on.
How you doing?
I'm, uh...
I'm not so good, Bobby.
I'm a little all over the place.
And maybe I have a drinking problem.
So get back with Mike.
Oh, my God! He's a cheater.
People in glass houses.
You told me about that guy in Iraq.
Remember at mom's birthday party...
Shut up. I only told you that because we were wasted,
and I didn't think you were gonna remember.
- Well, I do remember. - Well, shut up about it, okay?
He cheated first.
Besides, I was at war.
I was fighting for my country.
I could have died.
Haven't you ever seen M.A.S.H.?
Why do you hate America?
You're a hypocrite.
You fought in the war.
It doesn't give you permission to be a dick.
Shut up.
It's true. You know what?
I take it back.You don't deserve Mike.
I'm serious, Bobby, stop it.
I'm serious!
He slept around while you were gone,
but he never fell in love.
Can you say the same thing?
So what are you gonna do first?
Um, make sure his vitals are stable.
Yeah.
I scheduled another surgery
to remove the bullet from his hip.
Um, what's this rash on his chest?
Was that there before?
I don't know.
He got shot through the hip.
You know, maybe we should be worried about a fat embolism.
We could give him heparin.
Heparin?
Heparin's a blood thinner.
That's no indicated for F.E.S.
We used it on the front lines.
There are studies that show heparin can help.
Tell you what, I'll look into it.
Let's give him a couple more hours,
then bring him down to the floor.
Angel, can you help?
Mr. Eggerton got out of bed.
Are you okay?
Yeah, sure.
Mom?
Help!
Help! Help!
What happened?
He can't breathe!
- What's he at? - 79 when I got here.
Blood pressure?
I don't understand. You told me he was stable.
Your son had an embolism, Ms. Washington.
Um...
we've done everything that we can,
but he's been deprived of oxygen for too long.
And we've run some tests,
and he's just not responding.
I'm so sorry to tell you that he's brain dead.
- No! - I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry.
No, he's not gone.
Please.
I'm so very sorry.
Tell me he's not gone.
I'm sorry, Mrs. Washington.
Look who it is.
Hello.
Hey, you better watch out for this guy.
Let me know when you come in here.
He's unconscious and handcuffed to the bed.
I think I'll be all right.
Why are you so mean?
Many women are into the cop fantasy.
- I'm seeing somebody. - Course you are.
What's he do?
He's a lawyer, about to become partner.
Bedrock of society.
At least he doesn't carry a gun.
Oh, you think you're so different from this guy.
You're all just little boys running around with guns,
and none of you make enough money.
Well, now we're getting somewhere.
You need a dude with money, I'm not your guy,
'cause I got credit card bills out the ass...
- I bet you do. - My car's probably
- getting repo'd right now. - I'm sure it is.
I was just gonna ask you if I could borrow five bucks.
Look at that smile.
Oh, my God. I gotta go. Excuse me.
Hey, the lawyer just invited me
to the costume institute ball with him.
That is a hot ticket!
Stop it. I told you.
Hey, Dr. Whittaker.
Marcus Washington had an embolism.
Did you know that?
Yeah, I heard.
Did you try the heparin?
That was a hail mary, and we both know it.
What was that for?
Now is when you throw the hail mary,
you unbelievable moron!
When you are trying to save a kid's life!
That woman is going to sue this hospital.
I would if I were her.
Good. That boy is dead because of Whittaker.
You have no idea that's true.
Veronica, we're talking about you right now.
You took a horrible situation, and you made it worse!
Now, who did you help with your little outburst?
Hmm?
You happy? You feel righteous?
No.
You point fingers at everybody else,
but you're the one who can't control herself.
I will fire you.
Don't think I won't.
Hey, there she is... Veronica.
Come on in. We're having gin rickeys.
You should have one!
Come on, have a gin rickey.
I don't want a gin rickey.
When did you turn into such a pill?
- Mom! - That is so weird,
saying no to a gin rickey.
Stop saying gin rickey.
- Gin rickey. - Gin rickey.
Gin rickey.
Come on, Ronnie.
Veronica.
You want to take a ride?
- No. - Gin rickey!
Come on, hurry up.
Mike, I can't see.
That's the point, babe.
I want to take this thing off.
Why? I made a nice surprise for you.
Because it's stupid, that's why.
- Can you just play along? - Where we going, a strip club?
Do you have to have a problem with everything?
Do not make it like I have a problem with everything.
The last time you did this,
we ended up with an above-ground pool.
Mike?
What did you do?
Our house.
I bought the little lot next door.
You remember that nice old lady, Mae?
Dead!
I was gonna fix it up to sell it,
but then I thought...
add a couple more rooms, maybe we might need 'em.
Are you deaf?
There is no "us."
Okay, I give up!
Forget it.
What was that?
Your engagement ring. Nice reflexes.
Are you crazy?
We're still paying that thing off.
Mike, you know, it's not that I'm not touched.
I know the army paid for your education,
and you didn't have any choice,
but I took it personally when you left,
like you couldn't wait to get away from me.
You never told me that.
I was stupid and insecure, but I love you.
I want to be with you, and you know what else?
I think you love me.
Nobody knows you like I know you.
I'm the guy, okay?
Mike, I am all messed up right now.
No more than anyone else.
Maybe this is what marriage is.
Two people torturing each other until they die?
Yeah, and kids and friends
and going out to dinner and great sex.
What's so bad about this?
Let me ask you one more time.
Will you come back to me, Ronnie?
Yeah.
Yes, okay.
- This one. - No, the blue one for sure.
- Really? - Yeah.
Oh, I like the red one.
Is that Hello Kitty on your smock?
Yeah. What?
- I think the blue. - Mm-Hmm.
What is that?
Mike and I have decided to get back together.
It's good.
My parents are throwing us a party at Delaney's.
You should all come.
Oh, Veronica. Good. This is Dr. Sands.
Hello.
He's just joined our staff.
We're very lucky to have him.
He was on his way to see Ms. Borghouse.
Maybe you could tag along?
Sure.
Okay.
Hello. Dr. Sands.
I hear we're performing some surgery.
Mom, don't you want to meet the doctor?
Haven't I met them all?
Well, now is the time for questions,
if you have any.
No? Okay, well...
sometimes patients find it helpful
to know the goal of a surgery like this.
Since the cancer has spread to her other organs,
what are we hoping to gain?
Hope. Haven't you heard of hope?
Oh, it's a good question, uh...
we are trying to buy her some more time.
How much time?
And what about recovery?
And will there be more chemo?
Yes. You may be looking at more chemo.
Fine.
We'll try everything.
Okay.
We'll schedule the surgery for early next week.
You don't think that she should have the surgery?
Hey, I'm just the nurse.
She wants to try all available treatment.
That's her kids talking.
Well, I have to take her at face value.
She wants to fight, I fight.
That's what I do. I treat the disease.
Yeah? Well, I treat the patient.
Maybe she just needs permission to give up.
Hey.
Hi.
How's it going?
It's going really good, I think.
What are you... what are you doing here?
Looking for you.
I just got out.
I know I should have called first, but I thought
it would be more romantic if I just swooped in,
told you I loved you, we lived happily ever after.
If you had called, I would have told you to stay away.
Besides, I was worried if I called,
you'd tell me to stay away.
Why?
It's just, I'm... married.
You told me you were getting a divorce.
We were, but then I thought maybe we should...
ttry again.
Are you crazy?
We barely even knew each other.
That's not true.
It is true, and this... this is rude,
you just barging in here like this,
telling a person that you love them...
on a Tuesday,
when that person has just recommitted
to their horrible marriage.
Your horrible marriage? Whoa, sounds good.
It is. It's great. It's amazing.
Thank you for asking.
- Uh-Huh. - What?
No, I'm just remembering how much you rely on sarcasm.
Ooh, that hurts.
Wait, wait. Whoa. Hey, wait.
And you're selling snake oil to Mrs. Borghouse,
and we both know it.
Wait.
So you slept with this guy
while you were in Iraq?
But I mean, like, where?
What?
You were in the desert.
So did you just do it outside in the sand?
Okay, I feel like you're focusing on the wrong thing.
Well, I'm just trying to visualize.
Why do you need to visualize?
It was a hospital, okay?
We stayed in a hospital.
- What are you gonna do? - I don't know.
Me and Mike have been together for so long,
he's like a... a part of me, you know?
And it's not nothing what we have.
And hot doctor guy?
Oh, you're in love with him.
No, I mean...
I mean, we had this really intense connection,
but I don't really know him.
I mean, he's different.
He's funny...
and he's quiet...
and he made me feel safe.
Oh, my God.
My parents are having that party
for me and Mike tonight.
I am the worst person in the world.
Honey, guilt's not gonna help you.
And, anyway, if you need to blame somebody,
blame the terrorists.
Nurse!
You all right?
Oh!
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Whoa!
Hey, I've got him.
Look at me. Hey, hey, hey! Look at me!
Look at me, look at me!
You okay? Are you all right?
Hey.
Hey, you okay?
What? Yeah.
It's, uh, totally good.
It was, uh... it was just a dish.
- I know. - Yeah.
Well, sometimes loud noises can trigger...
I'm fine. I'm okay.
I'm totally... I'm fine.
I like...
I like your shoes.
What? Oh.
Thanks.
They're new.
Cool. So I'm just gonna...
I'm just gonna take a beat here.
You can go.
- Been to the cafeteria yet? - No.
Frozen yogurt's do-it-yourself.
No limit.
Okay.
Hey, where you going?
I got a party to go to.
Can I have my purse, please?
Yeah. You know, that eye's gonna swell up.
Oh, are you a doctor? You a doctor cop?
No, I just... hold on a second.
You just got assaulted.
When God sees me happy for one second...
God has nothing to do with it. That was just smalls.
No, no, no. It's this neighborhood.
Man, I'm never getting out of here.
You know my brother's in a gang?
Bet you arrested him before.
That explains why you hate cops.
I am not letting that thug
get in the way of my plans, all right?
Okay, but look, you're shaking.
Take a breath, pull yourself together.
I'm together.
Don't I look pretty?
Yeah.
Hey, it's me.
Listen, I'm still at the hospital.
Yeah, there was a really big car accident,
and I just think that by the time I get done,
Manhattan's gonna be too far to go.
Are you serious?
Hey, look at you, all dressed up.
Stop it, gorilla.
Thank you for inviting us
to your not-getting-a-divorce party.
Here you are, princess.
Hey, there's Mike. Hey, Mike!
Ohh!
Come on, come on, come on.
- Drink. - Come on, big boy.
- Oh, my God. - Who is that?
Oh, no, no, no. Off limits, guys.
She's from Lancaster. She's practically Amish.
Rumspringa.
Just don't tell her I'm married, okay?
But he's too skinny.
Obama could kick Putin's ass.
Are you high? Putin was K.G.B.
He could kill you with his bare hands.
Uh... oh.
This can't be good.
We have to go see what happened.
Oh, can I come, too?
What do you think I meant by "we"?
Hey, Mike, can I bum one of those?
That's the worst thing I've ever heard.
You have to be crushed.
Look, it was not my night.
I'm not gonna cry over it, okay?
Okay.
What?
What's the matter?
I should have never let you have any whiskey.
I couldn't even look that kid's mother in the eye.
It's only your first week.
I just...
I pictured myself saving people.
How can I help anybody when it's all so sad?
It's a job, all right?
That's all it is.
You're there for people during the worst part of their lives,
you find a way to make it better, and then...
and this is the most important part, Veronica...
you let it go.
That's how you take care of yourself.
What?
I am taking care of me.
What do you think
getting back together with Mike is all about?
He's a good guy, you know?
You got a problem?
And I really think this is gonna make my life more stable.
Yeah, um, well, actually Mike's down there
about to get his ass kicked.
What?
Get off!
Get off of him!
Come on!
You are too old to be getting into fights, dummy.
It was his fault.
Decided you didn't need a doctor?
Well, I didn't like anybody on duty.
Mike, this is Dr. Sands.
Dr. Sands, this is my husband Mike.
I want him to have a cat scan.
Barely even hurts.
That's because you're drunk.
You hit the cement with your head.
You're getting a cat scan.
Tell her I don't need no scan.
Well, lady says you need a scan,
you need a scan.
Come on, we'll take him upstairs.
You're a lucky man.
I know.
She's a ball-buster, but I love her.
Hey, you should have seen her in high school
when she was in her Gwen Stefani phase.
Yeah, okay. All right, let's go.
- Ooh, ooh, ooh. - What?
Next week.
Right. Good night. Buddy system, boys.
Last call!
Hey, man, give me a second.
Hey, you.
My buddy, Ryan, invited me to this party,
but it looks like I missed the whole thing.
- You want to get out of here? - Yes.
You want a drink or something?
Stop talking.
Hey.
Hi.
I, uh,got your husband's scans here.
Want to come take a look?
Yeah.
Well, it's fine. There's no swelling.
Yeah, well, he's got a hard head.
Hey, how you sleeping?
Bad.
Yeah. Me, too.
So weird being back.
Yeah.
It's like there's this wall between me and everybody else,
and there's... there's all of this stuff
that I can't get out of my head.
I don't even know if I'm a good nurse anymore,
and I feel like I'm gonna blow up all the time.
And then there's you.
I feel like I would have gone completely crazy
If it hadn't been for you.
And I feel like I've...
sort of been carrying you around with me.
But I just... I...
I feel like I have to do the responsible thing.
Yeah.
I guess it was, uh, pretty stupid of me
to come running out here for you.
It's just that
you were the one thing that made sense.
What are you gonna do now?
There's nothing to do.
I signed a two-year contract.
I'm staying.
You can take your husband home anytime you like.
I guess we're not having breakfast.
Oh, um...
gotta go to work.
But I'll call you.
Time for your meds.
Why is your hair on the ground?
My head's hot. Leave it.
What's with you and the sexy surgeon,
the one who squeezed your arm last night?
You looked like you were asleep.
Unbelievable.
My daughter's online dating,
and you with two men after you.
Yeah, we were in the war together.
Take your pills.
War? How sweeping and romantic.
I hope you don't think
a man's gonna fix whatever's wrong with you.
Just swallow the drugs, lady.
You think I should have this surgery?
You know...
if you were my mother...
you'd have a better haircut.
Um, if you were my mother,
I would say no.
It's too risky, and it probably won't work.
I'm dying.
Yeah.
Yeah, you are.
There are a couple of things that scare me
about this surgery.
You could die on the operating table.
At least that would be painless.
Or you could die in recovery,
in pain and on a ventilator, and that scares me.
I think that you need to decide
on the quality of time you have left.
And I'm... I'm scaring the hell out of you right now,
which is why it's becoming very clear to me
I am in the wrong line of work.
No.
You're the only person who's been honest with me.
People treat you like an imbecile when you're sick.
If you want to stop treatment...
all you have to do is say so.
Your kids will understand.
I think I'd like to be alone, if that's all right.
Veronica, you're a wonderful nurse.
Don't doubt it for a second.
She's been here all night.
I've been trying to keep the transplant vultures at bay.
Does she have any family or anything?
- I don't know.
Haven't seen anyone else.
Just her.
She, uh, cancelled her surgery.
I'm taking it you already knew that.
Are we gonna be okay?
Well, I was thinking,
maybe you could be my friend.
Okay, yeah.
I'm leaving now.
- I'll see you around. - Yeah.
For the next two years.
I know.
Today is the first day
that I didn't want to kill myself.
That is so weird,
because today is the first day that I didn't want to kill you.
Today is the last day I walk through Newark
with my panties in my purse.
Boy, if I had a nickel...
What? Hey!
Get him out!
Maybe we should go see?
No, we're a half a block away from the emergency room.
I'm not leaving this seat.
Oh, it's the bartender. His arm is bleeding.
- I'm gonna go see. - The unicorn?
Hell, no, she doesn't get to go.
Hi.
Oh, you poor thing.
Oh, I don't really think it's that big of a deal.
Your arm.
Chloe, why don't you go find him a clean bar rag?
Why don't you go find him a clean bar rag?
You know, maybe you should take your shirt off,
just to be safe
Don't worry. We're nurses.