Doc (US) (2025) s02e13 Episode Script

(MICHAEL): Previously on Doc
I lost a lot of my memory.
You saved Charlie.
After everything they did to you.
Chief Resident is up soon.
Considered throwing
your hat in the ring?
I should at least be considered.
I heard you had the chance
to sell me down the river.
Jake is sick of us fighting.
Frankly, so am I.
I like you, Liz.
A workplace relationship can
really twist things up.
All I care about is,
do you wanna be with me?
(MICHAEL): She's had to grow up fast.
Sometimes she thinks she
can handle too much.
Some maniac sends you a recording
of what my ex-wife's therapist says
and off of that, you're leaving me?
(TROY): I'm hoping you're gonna
change your mind.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Thank you so, so much.
It's an important vote.
Thank you very much.
- Say yes and we're good.
- Fine. We're even.
But don't ask me
for anything else. Ever.
Well?
We still don't have the votes.
Tell Conner to bring in the cavalry.
(TEXTING, MESSAGE SENDS)
- Ready?
- Action.
Oh, seriously, Will?
That's how you're gonna play this?
Uh, Representative
Troy Willis here, folks.
Just outside the City Council chambers.
My good friend Will Archer
doesn't want to help me pass
a law that would allow me
to get up these stairs to talk to him.
The same law which means people
with disabilities don't die
inside a burning building because a ramp
was too expensive.
Which actually only goes
to prove my point.
Good thing I brought some
friends with me.
(CHANTING): Full access; full rights!
Full access; full rights!
Full access; full rights!
Full access Full rights!
Full access; full rights!
- Full access
- (COUGHS)
- (CROWD CONTINUES)
- Troy!
Dad?!
(COUGHING/GASPING)
- Call 911!
- Dad? Dad? Dad!
(TENSE MUSIC)
- Hey, good morning.
- (SIZZLING)
What is this?
Nightmare's over, baby.
And I get French Toast?
- There's your French toast.
- There's your coffee.
I got you turkey bacon, extra crispy.
- Aw!
- So just sit down, enjoy,
focus on becoming the next Chief
Resident at Westside.
Next, not best?
- I don't know what to tell you.
- Best is already taken.
I advised you when I found you the job
that working with your
ex-wife would be complicated.
This isn't just about Amy.
Well, you've only been there 8 months.
The scandal in your hospital
this doctor getting arrested?
It's not a great look.
- I understand.
- What's out there?
You willing to take a pay cut?
(PHONE BUZZING)
Excuse me.
Hey, Dad. Everything okay?
- Michael Where's our ride?
- (CITY DIN)
- Tell him there's no car here.
- I told him, Samira.
- Uh, he says he's there.
- The driver's name is Dwayne.
(FAROUK): How does that help?
Just wave your hand.
Who are you waving at?
Dwayne. The driver.
- Where is he?
- No idea.
Then why are you waving at him?
I don't know, Samira.
- Just wait there.
- He's coming to you.
All right. All right,
we'll wait. We've been waiting.
Tell him to let Nora know
we're excited to see her.
(FAROUK): She knows that, Samira.
Of course she knows that.
(LIZ): My God, they're looking
at serious jail time.
- Well, yeah.
- After what they did.
- It's crazy.
- She seemed so nice.
That's what people always say about
- the serial killer next door.
- (LAUGHS)
TJ's patient from yesterday
needs to be discharged.
Can you handle?
Sure. Where is he?
Cousin's wedding.
Ooh! Eligible doctor.
All those desperate bridesmaids.
Candy from a baby.
Classy as always, Peter.
(PHONE RINGING)
Nurses' Station. This is Julie.
Yeah, she's right here.
(PENSIVE MUSIC)
Yeah.
I'll tell her. 'Kay.
Sonya? Dr. Ridley wants
to see you in her office.
I need to properly assess you both
to determine who's better
suited to be Chief Resident.
Part of that job requires
giving constructive feedback
to your colleagues.
Clearly, you can't do that while
you're working together.
So, today you will each have
your own cases.
And we will meet back here
at the end of the day,
go over the details. And you'll
critique each other's work.
Sounds great to me.
Good. Then get on with it.
(KEYS CLICKING)
(INTRIGUING MUSIC)
- Excuse me.
- Give me the skinny.
- Female. Forty-four.
- Mild pancreatitis.
She mentioned having a glass
of wine most nights,
which usually means a bottle, right?
So, that's our likely culprit.
- All right, thanks.
- I'll admit her.
Just a heads-up.
She's a frequent flier
with vague abdominal pain.
Over 20 CTs past few years
and nothing.
You're saying drug-seeking behavior?
You said it. Not me.
- (HOSPITAL DIN)
- (EXHALES)
Whenever I come, damn ER gives
me the same meds
and they don't work!
- I'm sorry, Jayla.
- How long have you had the pain?
It's on my chart!
Well, I have to ask anyway.
(EXHALES)
On and off for six years.
Okay. Um, and are you still ovulating?
Oh my God! Read the chart!
Y'all ask me that every time I come!
We have a system of checks and balances
so nothing falls through the cracks.
Ugh. I think you need a new system.
Been in menopause two years.
All right. We'll start you
off with fluids and pancreatic
enzyme replacement.
- And for the pain?
- Probably Toradol?
- That doesn't work for me.
- I need something stronger.
Have you ever used anything
outside the hospital for your pain?
So, I'm a druggie? A junkie
looking for a fix, huh?
I'm just trying to get all the
information so I can help you.
- You want to help?
- Tell me why I have pancreatitis.
Well, the wine you drink
at night could explain it.
It's one glass to ease the pain.
One glass?
If you can't help me,
find me somebody who will!
I am not gonna pass you along, Jayla.
- Mm-hmm.
- But I would like
to bring in a neuropsychiatrist
A shrink? 'Cause you think I'm crazy?
No, no. But your mental health
has been neglected
and I want to break the cycle.
So I will be right back.
(HUFFS)
(TENSE MUSIC)
- (EQUIPMENT BEEPING)
- So, he has a T2
spinal cord injury
from a skiing accident?
Three years ago. He developed
a cystic cavity in his spinal cord.
We've been managing it best we can
but obviously it's flaring up.
The mucous plug blocked his airway,
and that's why he turned blue.
That's never happened before.
Does that mean it's getting worse?
(COUGHS)
Mr. Willis. Oh, okay.
Hey, try not to fight it.
There's still some fluid in your airway.
Let's see if I can clear it.
(GAGGING)
Great. Take this off.
- (GAGGING)
- Good.
(GASPS)
What's happening to me?
Unfortunately, the imaging
shows that the syrinx
has progressed, and it's
pressing on the nerves
that control your diaphragm.
So that's what caused the lung damage.
So what do we do about it?
I spoke to your neurologist
at Eastside, and he agrees that
we manage the symptoms
and we support your breathing
to make you comfortable.
So the damage is permanent.
Depending on how today goes,
I think we're looking at
a few weeks to a month before
he's on a ventilator.
For good?
I'm sorry. Yes.
- (SOBS)
- (TROY): Conner? Conner?
Conner.
- Conner, honey?
- (SOMBER MUSIC)
We knew this day would come.
I'll do everything I can
to get you as much time as possible.
Hey, I'm gonna take time off work.
And we've still got four things
left on the Bucket List.
Come here, Conner, please.
- Conner.
- Here, honey, come.
C'mon.
C'mon. Bring it in, huh? It's okay.
I'm gonna get some medication
to help clear the fluid.
Dr. Larsen.
I need to be out of here in a few hours.
Uh, he's a legislator.
He's been working on a bill;
the vote's today, and without him
- It'll never happ
- (COUGHS)
He has to be at City Hall
by 5 PM. Somehow.
Can't someone else do that?
He sponsored the bill and without him,
it doesn't have a chance.
He's been working on it for 9 months.
I have, too.
Whatever you need to do
please.
(TENSE MUSIC)
(HOSPITAL DIN)
Being early won't help with her.
- I'm always early.
- Will it hurt?
Probably somehow.
(TENSE MUSIC)
Dr. Larsen. I'm Sonya Maitra,
the med student assigned to you today.
I've listened to you in grand rounds.
You have so many med students;
you probably have no idea who I am.
- Uh, I know who you are.
- Really?
Uh, I just want to say what an honor
it is to get to work with you,
and I hear you're gonna be Chief soon
- Are you done? Good.
- Because we have a patient.
Hi, Jayla. I'm Dr. Walker.
- (SCOFFS)
- Nice to meet you, Doc.
But no offense; I ain't crazy.
I wouldn't describe most
of my patients as crazy.
Yeah. 'Cause you can't say that.
Oh no, I'll say it. Some of them
are completely out of their minds.
(LAUGHS)
Says here you've had pain
for 6 years in your stomach.
And whatever they give you
doesn't seem to work.
Ha. You're the first doctor
who actually read the damn chart.
You've had a lot of conflict
with doctors?
Yeah, 'cause it's like
they blame me for my pain.
You know what I'm sayin'?
Well, that doesn't feel good.
So, let's talk about the pain.
It comes and goes.
- Does it keep you up at night?
- Sometimes.
- And what are you doing for it?
- I've tried everything.
They got cold compress, heating pad.
Acupuncture. Hypnosis.
And all of that, it doesn't work?
- No.
- Any medications?
- Advil usually.
- Nothing stronger?
Oh
All right. I'm gonna tell you
something, okay?
(CLEARS THROAT) When I was 16,
I took my mom to the hospital.
She was in excruciating pain,
and they sent her home.
A few hours later, her appendix
burst, and she almost died.
I know what it's like to be
ignored by the health care system.
You can tell me anything, Jayla.
There's no judgment here.
(TENDER MUSIC)
My girl Cheryl gave me her old Vicodin.
And for a while, that helped.
And that was how many times?
She got me a refill so, twice.
Or three times maybe?
And is there any history
of addiction in your family?
Doc, come on, man! I don't
want pain meds!
I want the pain to go away.
I called a treatment center.
They have a spot for her.
She's not an addict, Sonya.
You rushed to judgment
and you're still doing it now.
I'm sorry. What are you implying here?
I'm raising the possibility
that your biases are affecting
how you approach this patient.
She had every indicated test
and there was nothing there.
Do you know how often
Black women are dismissed
when they enter the hospital?
Why do you think I referred her to you?
(SCOFFS)
I saw the ER doc had
some pretty strong opinions.
It looks like he set the expectations
and you followed possibly
based on your own biases?
I think maybe you're the one
who's biased.
Or maybe your best friend
clouded your judgment about me?
Dr. Maitra, you're missing
something, medically.
So, what are you gonna do about it?
(TENSE MUSIC)
- (EQUIPMENT BEEPING)
- An artificial cough
can feel strange. Are you ready?
Let's try.
(INHALING)
(COUGHING)
That was weird.
I may have undersold how weird.
I think I'm good now.
Give me my chair.
(ALARM BEEPING)
Oh, your oxygen is dropping.
I just I'm good. Just gimme a second
- I don't think you're ready
- I got it. I got it.
(EXHALES DEEPLY)
(ALARM BEEPING)
- (GRUNTS)
- What's happening?!
His breathing muscles are spent.
Why does it only happen when he sits up?
His lower lung is collapsed.
And when he sits up, it forces
the blood to that area
but there's no air there.
Can't they postpone this vote?
I don't know; I don't think so.
(TROY): We're about to go into recess.
I'll be dead by the time
they're back in session.
What is this bill that
it's so important?
About 3 years ago,
right after my accident,
Conner was rehearsing
for the school play.
And he started feeling sick.
He called me to come get him.
I got there fast. And he was
walking out to me
and he fainted.
He hit his head, and he broke his nose.
- (SOMBER MUSIC)
- He was right there.
He was bleeding. Scared.
And but that part
of the school had no ramp;
it had no elevator.
And I couldn't get to him.
It was three steps!
And I couldn't get to my son
when he needed me.
And it's not just that.
In floods, fires,
people get left behind.
Not because they can't move,
but because no one built a way out.
The new law would require
hundreds of buildings like that
to do the right thing.
Any building before 1992
is grandfathered in, and they
don't have to do anything.
It's wrong.
(SIGHS)
And we can fix it.
Can I get you a coffee or something?
No, we want to say hello first.
Where's Nora and the baby?
I wanted to talk to you first.
Can you have a seat?
I don't like the sound of this.
I'd hoped to sort things out
before you came, but
(CLEARS THROAT)
Nora's been staying
at her mother's house.
- For how long?
- A few weeks.
With Simon?
Michael, what did you do?
It's not something I'm gonna talk about.
But I can handle this.
You didn't with Amy.
Okay, let's not go there, Ommi.
Well, we don't want you making
the same mistake twice, Michael.
I didn't make any mistakes with Amy.
She lost her son.
Your job was to support her.
I said, I'm not doing this.
Fine.
How are we going to see our grandson?
Nora's bringing him over
in a few minutes.
Please, don't make this difficult.
(HOSPITAL DIN)
I need a really smart sounding board.
Okay. Uh, what's the case?
High spinal cord injury.
Syrinx. Progressive respiratory failure.
Lung scarring; bronchiectasis.
I mean, this is end-stage.
Yeah, and I need him up.
Uh okay. Trach and full vent.
He needs to speak.
Neural-assisted ventilation
would allow for that.
Plus bronchodilators.
Mm-hm. And drying agents
for the secretions.
Those would kill his speech.
What about botox to the salivary glands?
- That'll buy him some time.
- How much, do you think?
After a couple days to stabilize him;
uh, maybe a month.
He wants up today.
Today? I
we can't help every patient
the way they want.
That's odd.
Good odd?
You have a memory?
Yeah, an old case.
The details are hazy, but I know
how my brain works now.
It must be relevant to this situation.
- Another spinal patient?
- Uh, I'm not sure.
But I saw an unusual EMG reading.
Low amplitude, but high
diaphragmatic pressure.
Yeah, that would be unusual.
Something's gotta be driving
the muscle contraction.
- Yeah, but what?
- A drug maybe?
I mean, I can't think of one.
What else, uh, something about
the patient?
Or something in the room?
Mm
Yes.
Sonya was there.
(INTRIGUING MUSIC)
This is a new calcium-sensitizing
agent for heart failure.
I want you to monitor
his cardiac output.
So, it improves output without
- risking an arrhythmia?
- How?
Uh
You need to read the Revive trial.
I did. It, it was complicated.
We need calcium to stimulate
muscle contraction.
Drugs that spike it also
cause arrhythmias.
So this drug utilizes the calcium
that's already in the body.
Stronger contractions;
same calcium.
Right. Heart rate's steady.
Okay, now we just wait and see
if his heart improves enough
to get off the ventilator.
(BEEPING)
That's odd.
Good odd?
Must be. His cardiac output's improving.
No, Sonya, it's not.
But his heart's getting stronger.
He must be fighting the ventilator.
Maybe we should remove the tube?
Oh, that's good, right?
No, it's not. Don't, don't
listen to her.
She doesn't know what
she's talking about.
I need you out of here.
Now!
(TENSE MUSIC)
(HOSPITAL DIN)
- Yeah. I was a med student.
- I remember.
I'm surprised. That was 5 years ago.
Yeah, well, you kicked me off the case
so it kind of stuck with me.
We were using a brand-new drug
you were studying. Levosimendan?
I've never heard of it.
It's an orphan drug.
Expensive, esoteric,
low efficacy didn't justify
mass production.
You coming or what?
It's been over an hour!
I'll be right there. (SIGHS)
What was the patient's problem?
Cardiac issues.
The problem with the drug
was that it helped the heart but drove
the diaphragm too far.
That's exactly what I need.
Do you know that patient's name?
I need to see their file.
I don't. But I have to get
back to my own patient.
- So, she's back.
- I am.
I wanted to start again.
Oh, good.
All right then. Ask your questions.
Hey. Thanks for doing this.
He's their grandson.
I fed him in the car and
there's enough milk here
for two more feedings. And he's
due for a nap in an hour.
Don't worry, Nora. I remember.
Well, I should go.
It was so nice to see you both.
You don't have to rush out, Nora.
Thanks, but I should really go.
So, when are you moving back home?
- (COUGHS)
- Don't do this.
Farouk and I had our
tough times too, you know.
Every family does.
But we worked through it.
What we didn't do was give up.
Mom, you're here to see Simon.
Farouk and I have been married 52 years.
I know, Samira. We threw
your anniversary party.
Then you know I know what
I'm talking about.
These days everybody wants
things to be easy.
All due respect, you have no
idea what you're talking about.
Well, nobody seems to want
to explain it to us.
I don't think that Katie really
needs to be a part of this, do you?
(SIMON FUSSING)
Oh, he's still hungry.
That's okay. We can feed
him with the bottle.
I've got this, Samira. Thanks.
Okay, oh
(SIGHS)
(SIMON CRYING)
(STRAINED MUSIC)
Okay, um, any specific foods
trigger the abdominal pain?
Not that I can think of.
Sometimes fast food
Uh, uh. I don't eat
fast food. I eat healthy.
Sorry. Okay. How about exercise?
Uh, it hurts on the days I run,
hurts on the days I don't
- Oh!
- Jayla?
It's my foot!
(GASPS) What is that?!
What's happening to me? (GROANING)
Hey! Call Radiology.
I need a stat Doppler and an angio.
I need a patient transport now!
(GASPING)
I need your sign-off on
a thrombolysis for my patient.
Angio showed a clot in the
popliteal artery
supplying her foot.
Diagnosis?
I haven't sorted that out yet,
but I need to restore blood flow.
How many of these have you done?
Twenty-eight but never solo.
- Until now.
- Great, thanks.
- Oh.
- Whoa, whoa.
Uh, are you okay?
Yeah. I skipped
I skipped breakfast and lunch.
I need to eat.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
(EXHALES)
It's, uh, Sonya, right?
Yeah, Dr. Heller? I've seen you around.
Uh, just call me Jake.
So, I hear you're applying
to the program.
Who isn't? Westside's
the tertiary referral center
for the upper Midwest.
And, uh, how's your rotation going?
Oh great.
Really?
(SIGHING): Okay, not great.
Yeah, yeah. I saw, you're
working with Dr. Larsen today.
I was. And I'm hoping
to turn that around.
With Dr. Larsen?
She is the last person
to throw anybody a lifeline.
I know her reputation, but honestly,
she's a big part
of why I want to come here.
I mean, she is a total badass.
I'm pretty sure she thinks I'm just bad.
Well, I hear she's gonna be
the new Chief.
I'm not looking forward to that.
Uh, sorry, I overstepped, Dr. Larsen.
But I reread the Revive trial
and it led me to a JAMA article.
Emerson used a guanylate
cyclase stimulator
on his heart patients.
Got more kick out of
the myocardium without
diaphragm cross-reactivity.
Hm. Okay. I'll take a look at it.
So the first thing you did
was call in a psych consult?
She checked a lot of boxes.
We're prepping her now
for a thrombolysis,
but I'm thinking Raynaud's.
Raynaud's? With this presentation?
Well, I'm running auto-antibodies, too.
So you ordered the Levosimendan?
Yeah. It'll be here within the hour.
And you're seriously
considering using it
on a patient with a perfectly
healthy heart?
He needs to be able to sit up.
Have you investigated the side effects?
I just got off the phone
with the lead researcher
in Barcelona. It'll burn out
his diaphragm in 6 hours.
I don't see how this is
a course of action
you can even present.
He has his reasons.
I've got to respect them.
What does his family think?
I don't know yet.
So what? It's like steroids
for my diaphragm?
It would get you what you need for today
but if we push the muscle that hard,
it's gonna burn it out completely.
What does that mean?
Most likely, he would be on
a ventilator by tonight.
Then why are we even discussing this?!
I am obligated as his
physician to present
all the options and you all
seemed pretty determined to
No! Not if it means we only
have a few more hours with him!
And there's no other way
to get me there tonight?
I'm afraid not.
(SOMBER MUSIC)
(MACHINES BEEPING)
No, Troy.
No way.
(WEEPING)
We need, we
we need to think about this.
Sure.
(SIGHING)
Ooh. Okay. Okay.
Oh, all right. Okay, there we go.
Oh, yo, yo.
I'm sorry about my mother.
I didn't think you'd want her
to know the details.
Well, you have no idea
what I want. Clearly.
Well, I've been talking to a headhunter.
Because you have to get away from her?
Because the situation there
has been nothing but a mess.
I am not a consolation prize.
It's not like that.
I want our family back.
I know you think you do.
Nora, Nora.
(PHONE BUZZING)
(SIMON COOING)
Hey, Mom.
(AMY): Hey, how's the visit
so far? Is it okay?
Honestly? It's all pretty intense.
I really wish you didn't
have to be there.
You know how Gedo and Teta are.
And Dad needs the backup.
That's not your role, Sweetheart.
Gedo asked about you.
- He sends his love.
- He does?
I would have thought they hated me.
After the way things ended.
Actually, no. They blamed Dad.
And they're blaming him now.
Well, they are pretty
traditional that way.
I should get back.
Okay, call me later.
Let me know how it goes.
I will. Bye.
(TENDER MUSIC)
(EXHALES)
(HOSPITAL DIN, EQUIPMENT BEEPING)
Where's your family?
Conner stormed out. Maya went after him.
It's gonna be hard to do this
without their support.
I spent my career playing politics.
Chasing donors. Power.
I turned on friends.
I lied to people who trusted me.
I killed legislation that I
believed in to get endorsements.
I was an arrogant jackass.
Concerned more with winning
than helping people.
It's hard to picture you like that.
Spinal cord injury was the worst
thing that ever happened to me
(SIGHS DEEPLY)
..but it also gave me clarity.
(TEARFULLY): I've always
loved my family
but, but this is
but I wasted my life chasing
the wrong things,
and this is my last chance
to make up for it.
To do something that actually matters.
But I need them.
And I need them to understand.
I understand.
Could you talk to them? Please?
Hey, Conner. Where's your Mom?
Calling my uncle.
See if he can get here in time
to say goodbye.
You wanna talk about it?
You don't know anything about me.
I know that you've been through a lot
for someone your age.
My daughter has too. She's 18,
just a little younger than you.
So what?
You trying to bond with me now?
No. I'm just trying to help.
You wanna help?
Tell my dad not to do it.
That's not my role.
But maybe I can help you understand.
I understand that he's
obsessed with his legacy.
It's not that simple, Conner.
I think you know that.
Oh, yeah?
He told me you took a leave
from Georgetown
to spend the year with him.
I'm sure that makes it even
harder to understand
why he would give up any time with you.
I think he's trying to show you
how to live with purpose,
even when it costs you.
How to be brave when it counts.
(TENDER MUSIC)
Noble.
Yeah.
Well, I think that's easy for you to say
because he's not your father.
(FOOTSTEPS RECEDING)
Last one's down to Jeff Alden
and Sonya Maitra.
Maitra's solid but she doesn't
have much research published
and I'm not excited about her pedigree.
She got into Yale and Hopkins;
she just didn't want to take
her parents' money.
She took a financial aid package
from the U of M.
I admire her principles.
But Alden actually trained at Yale.
And she's relentless.
She takes a hit, she learns from it,
she comes back fighting.
You can't teach that kind of grit.
I think I might want to run
this one by Numeroff.
Numeroff's out the door.
I'm going to lead his department.
That's why we're here, right?
You better push her.
Oh, I will.
- (EQUIPMENT BEEPING)
- There's the clot.
Popliteal artery.
So. She actually found something.
Yes, she did.
- (BEEPING)
- She's tachycardic.
Could be a contrast reaction.
No. It's too late in
the procedure for that.
What's happening?
- Your heart rate's spiking.
- And you don't know why?!
Gotta bring it down, Dr. Maitra.
I'm giving her 15 mg ketamine.
Heart rate's spiking more,
BP's dropping O2 sats
Can't be. This is the opposite
of what should be happening.
The ketamine's making her worse.
- Why would that be?
- It induces P450 enzymes.
Your chart said
you had a history of anemia.
How long ago was that?
It, it, it stopped when
I went into menopause.
Show me the urine Foley bag.
(MACHINES BEEPING)
Her urine's purple.
She has porphyria. The anemia masked it;
the ketamine's bringing on
an acute attack.
Start IV heme and glucose. Order
a confirmatory porphyrin panel.
- Am I all right?
- We got this.
Okay.
(HUFFS)
Please. Please go get him.
I'm running out of time.
He's not coming, Troy. I tried.
He listened. I'm not sure he heard.
You have nothing else to prove.
I promised all those people,
Maya. That I'd fight for them.
- And you did.
- So, my last decision in life
will be to quit on the five-yard line?
You really going through with this?
You know I want to.
But I won't if it's gonna hurt
you this much.
No, that's not fair. Like,
'cause now I'm hurting you.
That's what life's about, son.
Hard choices. And sacrifices.
Accomplishing anything that matters
always comes with a price.
No, don't do that.
Don't put this on him!
This is his life.
No matter when you lose him,
it's gonna be unbearable.
But believe me, you don't want
to add guilt to your grief.
Because guilt is what you're
gonna feel if you don't let him
live his last moments
the way he wants to.
Hey, these past 9 months,
all that campaigning we did,
the flyers, those posters,
all those meetings
and the speeches
were you proud of me?
Yeah.
Were you proud of yourself?
Then let's finish what we started.
Do it.
Yeah. Yeah.
(BREATHING UNSTEADILY)
(TENSE MUSIC)
(CITY DIN)
Well, we all want access
for people in need
but we have to choose our priorities.
- We just can't afford to spend
- (TROY SOFTLY): Excuse me.
this much money to help
such a small group of people.
Don't let me interrupt.
Uh, no. please.
Councilman. The floor is yours.
(BREATHING DEEPLY)
You all know me.
Who I am
Who I was
One
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
One in nine people has some
kind of mobility challenge.
One in nine. People see
people see ramps,
people see parking spots
and assume that accessibility
is a done deal.
I used to.
But when you live it
(GASPING)
I can't
Okay. Let's try a bronchodilator.
Okay.
(GASPING)
(CROWD MURMURING)
(INHALES DEEPLY)
When you
I can't, I can't
(SOBBING)
Sorry. Sorry.
(SOMBER MUSIC)
I can do it, Mom.
My son would like to say something.
Our world changed the day
of my father's accident.
So many of the things we took
for granted were gone.
A couple steps or a narrow doorway,
that's all it takes to shut him out.
And to keep him from me.
My father chose to give up his
last few weeks of his life,
his final moments with
the people he loves,
to be here today because
he knows we can do better.
Imagine that was you and your kid.
What would you do to fix that?
Seems like the right time
to call a vote.
Those in favor?
(SOBBING)
(HOPEFUL MUSIC BUILDING)
Looks like the ayes have it.
(CHEERING)
Oh!
We did it, Dad, we did it!
You did it.
I'm so happy for you.
(UPLIFTING MUSIC)
So, your menopause started
two years ago,
but you were in perimenopause
for several years before that,
- which is
- When my pain started.
Less bleeding means you lose less iron.
And it built up in your body
and triggered your porphyria.
- Porphyria
- It's an inherited condition
and it's invisible on all
imaging and labs.
And to anyone who doesn't
look close enough.
(KNOCKING)
How is she tolerating the new meds?
- So far, so good.
- Oh, pain's so much better.
Thanks to both of you.
(SIGHS)
This was a rough one and you
found a way to turn it around.
Thank you for pushing me.
I may have learned something
about you too.
That I'm not judgmental and biased?
I hate to break it to you,
but you are judgmental.
And of course you have biases.
We all do.
What do you do with yours?
Try to be aware of them,
keep an open mind and then,
every so often, take my foot
out of my mouth.
(LAUGHS)
And I will tell Dr. Ridley
how well you did today.
Thank you.
(GENTLE MUSIC)
(HOSPITAL DIN)
Dr. Larsen.
- Hi, Sonya.
- I don't know if you know,
but I got in.
Congratulations.
Uh, I just wanted to tell you
how excited I am
to come here and learn from you.
Well, you have two months
before residency starts.
So use it wisely.
You barely made the cut.
You have a lot to prove.
I get it.
- And I will.
- (TYPING)
(AMY): You did thrombolysis.
That was to avoid the bypass.
Why post-op Plavix?
Aspirin allergy.
Huh.
And no post-op stress echoes?
Stress is a trigger for porphyria.
I'm doing a persantine in the morning.
(MURMURS)
Vague symptoms, atypical presentation.
I hate to admit it,
but this is excellent work.
Uh, it's a little bit harder
for me to evaluate yours.
He did a lot of good for a lot
of people today.
But I guess you can't really
put that in a chart.
So, feels like we fought to a draw?
You're waiting on Dr. Ridley?
(BOTH): Yeah.
She left early.
- Oh.
- Did she say why?
No. Sorry.
'Kay.
Guess it's definitely a draw then.
Mm-hmm.
(MESSAGE NOTIFICATION)
You're leaving your job?
Yeah, Dad. Maybe.
I thought you liked it?
- I do.
- Well, you're lucky.
I hated my job. But I did it.
It's what you do.
Just say what you want to say.
You need to fight for your wife.
Because that's also what you do.
I appreciate your advice
She doesn't care where you work!
She cares you love her!
What do you know about love?
You and mom spent years barely talking.
Well, at least I stayed!
You're walking away, Mister!
I'm not the one leaving!
What do you want from me?!
Convince Nora you love her!
I can't! Because I don't!
Not the way she needs.
I thought I did, but then Amy came back.
Oh please, Michael.
Life isn't some fairy tale!
Stop it! Just stop fighting!
- Honey!
- It's Katie, it's okay.
No, it isn't!
- I need to
- Katie!
Katie!
(TENSE MUSIC)
So, how'd it go at City Hall?
- He passed the bill.
- Yeah?
- It was something to see.
- Yeah, I bet.
So how long before he's gotta
go back on the ventilator?
Tomorrow morning.
(EXHALES)
Yeah, they have one more night
together as a family.
I guess that puts the whole
Battle Royale with Sonya
into perspective, doesn't it?
Yeah. She's actually giving
me a run for my money.
Well, I guess somebody
must've taught her well.
(PHONE BUZZING)
Hi.
Katie wants to come to your place.
(AMY): Yeah, okay. Send her over.
No. I think I should bring her.
Everything okay?
- I'm not sure.
- Uh, okay.
Uh, yeah, bring her over.
See you soon.
- What's going on?
- I don't know.
Something with Katie.
I, I think I've gotta go.
Uh, yeah, yeah, yeah, of course.
Just, uh
just keep me posted?
- Yeah?
- Yup.
(MELANCHOLY MUSIC)
Hey.
- (BREATHING RAPIDLY)
- Whoa. What's going on?
- You okay?
- (BREATHING RAPIDLY)
- Oh, let's sit down.
- No, no, I can't, I
What is it, Honey?
What's going on?
(GASPING)
Something's wrong; I feel,
I feel, I feel like I'm dying!
It's a panic attack.
Try-try to slow your breathing.
(GASPING) Mom! It's bad!
We got you. We got you.
(GASPING)
(THEME MUSIC)