Original subtitles

BANGING

Sounds like you're disciplining a resident.

Well, some Einstein from maintenance painted the window shut.

Argh!

Did you drop by for a reason?

Well, I thought you might like to know

negotiations are still going on. We might avoid a walkout after all.

Forget it.

The nurses are determined to go on strike tomorrow morning,

Daniel's wasting his time.

KNOCKING ON DOOR

Yes!

Hammer and screwdriver, you asked for. Hi, Dr Westphall.

We're just going to have to let them get it out of their system, Donald.

What are you waiting for? A tip?!

Not any more.

HAMMERING

Lizzie's coming back from her vacation tonight.

She was on the Cape.

And Friday, I'm driving her to Vassar.

It's hard to believe my daughter is starting college.

It seems a short time ago she was in grade school

and I had a full head of hair.

You know something, Donald?

You're not the only one with problems.

Oh, sorry, you want some help with that?

There are people on every floor of this hospital with problems.

I mean, you can't go around telling yours

without hearing a few in return.

That's the way it works. You tell one, and then you hear one.

It's a self-correcting system.

OK. I'm listening.

Yeah, well...

Ellen and I are not seeing eye-to-eye these days.

What's wrong?

That's all I'm saying on the matter.

Well, I'll be home if you want to talk some more.

You know the tri-state area.

Any suggestions on the best road to Poughkeepsie?

Who do I look like? Rand McNally?

Look at this. I thought firemen were supposed to be light sleepers.

Pupils are dilated and sluggish.

When was he last medicated?

Four, almost five hours ago.

Morphine, 15 milligrams IM.

Surprised he's not up and screaming for more.

Maybe we should wake him and tell him he's supposed to be in pain.

You sure you're not going to go on strike if the nurses decide to go?

Oh, and miss all these nights I spend with you?

Ha!

Right.

Oh, visiting hours are over.

Look, I just want to see Michael.

You'll have to come back tomorrow.

I really can't.

He is asleep...

I understand that, but Michael asked me to stop by.

You know, we could go ten rounds at this but you're not going to last.

I just want to give him something.

We'll make sure he gets it.

I'll wait till tomorrow.

That may be all right for Boston General,

but we have never worked that way here and never will.

Daniel, you have got to take into consideration

differentiation of duty.

Listen, would you ask an intern to perform surgery?

That's hardly a fair comparison.

We need more nurses per shift.

If you would compromise on the issue of ward closures...

Daniel! All we ever hear from you is how we have to make the compromises,

how we have to make all the changes...

Please!>

Look at what you're making me do to the finish of this table.

Mr Clarendon,

it seems very clear to me that the management of St Eligius

has nothing concrete to offer our union.

Until nurses are recognised as professionals...

A professional doesn't abandon those who need help.

Daniel.

At six o'clock tomorrow morning,

the nurses at St Eligius...

will go on strike.

I love my job.

I love the striped armband.

Well, when we settle with the hospital, Warren, it's all yours.

Papandrao still mad you're not striking?

She hasn't said one civil word to me since I was transferred up here.

She acts like it's my fault Auschlander took me out of the ER

and put me in charge of this floor.

I guess you find out real fast who your friends are.

Leave friendship out of it.

I'm doing what I think's right.

PHONE RINGS

I hate this place.

What did they catch you at? ..What's all this?

Hello. And goodbye.

"Because of the impending strike, the hospital will be reducing..."

"Tomorrow is your last day!"

They can't lay us off! We're indispensable!

If the nurses go on strike tomorrow, consider yourself dispensed.

Hi.

Hi!

Sorry we're late. There was a huge accident outside Brooklyn.

As long as you're OK. Hi, Betty.

Lizzie, hug.

Hi, Tommy.

Hey, I got something for you.

You both look like you've spent all your days at the beach.

And a couple of nights.

Don't, Betty. He'll think you're serious.

I am. We had a blast.

I love hanging around college kids. They're so mature. Different from

the nerds we went to high school with.

Lizzie and I met two cuties who go to Yale. It's not far from Vassar.

Actually, about two hours away.

End-of-state line.

They're staying overnight in Cambridge

and Betty and I are going to go see them.

No, honey. I don't think you should.

We'll take the T and I won't be late.

Can't you get together when you're all at school?

Dad, we promised to meet them.

Well, what about all your packing?

I've got all day tomorrow.

Uh-huh. Well, no.

I want you to stay in tonight.

Dad... I'm 18 years old.

Next month.

Like a month's going to make a big difference.

I don't want to argue about this, lady.

Do you mind if I use the phone?

Betty, I'd be glad to give you a ride home.

That's OK, Dr Westphall. I'm not going home.

I'm sorry, sweetheart.

Dad, I can't believe you still treat me like a kid.

What the hell's the big deal?

Hey!

Come on, Tommy, let's go.

(SIGHS)

See you in the morning, I've got to get some sleep.

Dr Craig, I don't mean to pry, but this makes three nights in a row

that you've slept here.

This isn't a hotel, you don't need to keep count.

Right you are.

Got the old transistor again.

Well, just keep the volume down.

CHEESY MUSIC PLAYS

What are you staring at?

Hey, man. I've been there.

That rocky trip down the marriage canal.

Oh, for Pete's sake...

I think this is a good time where we could share our grief

and really cement a new bond.

Ehrlich, what is the on-call room for?

Sleeping?

Then quit your yapping and do it.

Good luck, Shirley. You'll need it.

BUZZER

Great.

Hang on, Mrs Hufnagel.

Third-floor nurses station.

He's not here. It's six o'clock in the morning.

No-one's here at six o'clock in the morning.

I don't know, try his service.

You're the one who's always complaining how rotten things are.

If you really cared about it, you'd do something.

Tina, can you watch the desk? I have to check on Mrs Hufnagel.

The nurses here are on strike.

If you cross our picket line, you'll be supporting

unfair labour practices used by St Eligius and the City of Boston.

If you want to show you're opposed to these practices,

please back up to the Baptist Church. They've agreed to accept deliveries

until someone can come down from the hospital, OK?

CHEERING

Hey, Luther. You know Mr Duffy?

The young guy in the burn ward.

Yeah, he needs to be taken out of the Hubbard tank.

Oh, Luther, Mrs Hufnagel fell out of bed again.

Tina needs help lifting her back up.

Why don't they let her sleep on the floor?

And I'll get to the fireman as soon as I can.

Morning. Coffee brewin'?

Third-floor nurses station. One second.

He has to be on ward two. 6'6", white guy.

How can you miss him?

There's no coffee.

Ginny, can you change linen in room 431?

And there aren't any doughnuts.

Wait a minute, when they moved him from ward five...

There's no coffee, there's no doughnuts.

What do you mean you forgot to turn it in?

That's the nurses lounge. Get breakfast elsewhere.

Warren, they need help finding a patient from ward five now.

Good morning. How's it going?

Fine.

Perfecto.

No problems.

Good.

Oh, Warren. The linen delivery was diverted to the Baptist church.

This place won't last a day without me.

BUZZER

Ellen!

Hi.

How are you?

Fine.

Um, I picked this up yesterday for Lizzie.

Oh, terrific, thank you.

It's a very cute little terrycloth robe for her to wear in the dorm.

Perfect.

Stephen tells me a lot of romances get started

on the way to the showers.

In my day, we used to shower afterwards.

When I was at Boston College,

the only time the boys could get into the girls' dormitory

was between eight and ten o'clock.

And we waited in what they called the "receiving room".

One body width apart, both feet on the floor.

Maybe it's not too late to find a place like that for Lizzie.

Am I keeping you from something?

No, no, not at all. Sit down.

Well...

Mark and I don't talk much any more.

When he is at home, it's like he's someplace else.

Last Monday, I told him he might as well sleep here at the hospital.

Well, Ellen, worrying about this nurses' strike

has got us all worn down. I hollered at Lizzie last night.

It's not the strike.

Oh... dear.

We're old friends, Donald.

Yes, we are.

Something's bothering Mark.

And whatever it is has been affecting him sexually for almost a year now.

Has he given you any idea what it might be?

Mark won't even admit that anything's wrong.

I know I'm not the woman he met at Penn.

For crying out loud, that was 30 years ago.

I still find him attractive.

Donald, would you say that I'm a desirable woman?

Ellen, I...

I need you to tell me the truth.

Well, you're...

Is my husband seeing another woman?

What makes you ask that?

Well, I can only think of one reason

that would make Mark act the way he is.

He's having an affair with another woman.

Not that I know of.

Well, then, maybe he's having an affair with another man!

You want me to talk to him?

Would you?

Sure.

So you like working down here?

Yeah, it's great.

I got regular hours.

And whenever an angiogram needs to be done, I get in a little surgery.

I spend most of my time making diagnoses. I'm good at that.

I'm taking Mrs Geisser's X-rays.

Sure.

Annie, you want to play ball?

What?

Softball.

I'm organising a co-ed softball team here at the hospital.

We're going to beat the pants off Our Lady of Perpetual Sorrows.

Not interested.

Nobody seems to be.

Keep trying.

Yeah, I always keep trying.

Picking up speed.

Where are we now?

Passing the government center.

Turning left onto Court Street.

You mean right.

No, a right would take me down Comm Avenue.

You wonder why they won't let you drive the engine to the fire.

Jerry? He can't find his way out of the station.

Hey, Pop.

I'll be right there.

The ulcer still kicking up?

That's the bad news.

The good news is, now I'm constipated.

Compared to last time, you're looking good.

Of course, you were never a handsome guy.

Where's Manny?

He's downstairs getting a chest X-ray.

Caldwell thinks he's got pneumonia.

He'll be OK.

Here's the TV that you wanted.

Great.

When did you start with this contraption?

Couple of days ago. Keeps me loose.

You sound a little tight to me.

Oh, you mean tight like drunk?

Yeah. How come you're talking like that?

Must be the pain stuff they're giving me.

Well, the fact you haven't let this slow you down makes me very proud.

OK, rub a dub dub, it's time for the Hub.

That's called orderly humour.

The Hubbard Tank's not exactly a bubble bath.

I know, but you got a pretty nurse rubbing your back.

What nurse? I haven't seen a nurse all morning.

The nurses are all out front.

You guys responsible for driving them away completely?

Nah, they just got tired of Jerry mentally undressing them

all the time. See you, Pop.

Stop by again when I can't stay so long.

Yeah.

Thanks again for listening. Thanks.

Helen.

Yes.

Helen, may I talk to you for a moment?

I thought some cocoa would make the rain more bearable.

Daniel, it's not hot chocolate we're after.

I'm aware of that.

Helen, how could this thing...

No.

Could've gotten so out of hand?

You and I used to be able to settle our differences so easily.

You know, when I first came to work at St Eligius, it was like a family.

And you didn't mind working hard.

You were doing all kinds of extra things

because everybody else was doing the same thing - sharing.

But now... For instance,

you know doctors sometimes stroll out of here at 5:01,

and it kind of makes you feel like you're being taken advantage of.

That's the crime I'm being charged with?

The nurses just feel they should get the rules down in black and white

so there's no misunderstanding.

St Eligius is more vital to this community than ever,

and it's because we're still a family

and we can pull together and overcome our difficulties.

Danny, if you really think that's true,

why do you think I'm out there in the rain?

I'm not going to allow you to turn this into a sterile hospital

with nameless patients and faceless employees.

I've worked too hard to allow that to happen.

Oh, for crying out loud.

Will you look at this?

All day yesterday,

I called maintenance to come open my window. Nobody shows up.

Now, in the middle of a cats and dogs downpour,

they raise it to the roof. What's the matter with these people?

Look at this.

Do you enjoy standing in my office watching me get aggravated?

Because you've been doing a lot of it lately.

Ellen stopped by.

She's pretty upset.

What did she tell you?

That you two have been fighting.

She also mentioned you were having a little trouble sexually.

I'm not having any trouble.

Ellen keeps missing the crescendos.

Her problem, is it?

That's right.

All right, maybe, from her perspective,

she might say that I'm putting a little short of the cup.

But when a man's on the firing line with a loaded gun,

why wait to pull the trigger?

Sometimes these things aren't physical, you know.

What is it with you, Donald?

You attack my masculinity,

and now you question my emotional stability?

No, I'm sure...

There's nothing wrong with me!

Believe me,

everything's working fine,

from orchestra to the balcony.

Oh, good. Just put them back behind the culture counter.

Listen, while you're back there, would you mind...

Don't come near me, Peter.

I'll kill you, I swear to God.

Aagh!

(WEEPS)

I didn't go anywhere near the lab.

I was in radiology all morning. I even saw Cavanero down there!

Come on, Dr Westphall, what sense would it make for me

to get reinstated in the hospital...

I wouldn't put anything past you.

Look, Dr Westphall...

Try it. Come on. You try it, old man, I'll knock you down so hard...

You'll get what you deserve.

I am innocent, you understand that?

BUZZER

Yes?

Yes, Al, I did. Have you seen Peter White?

He hadn't left before this? You're sure?

No, no problem, thank you.

You owe me an apology.

Get out of here.

OK, I'll see you round. But, just remember, next time

some pervert's running loose round here, don't bother rattling my cage.

Get out of here!

It wasn't me... Annie.

You OK?

No.

Nursing, my new career.

I can't stand it, the patients never shut up.

"My back aches. The coffee was cold, my tray's not right."

Was it such a big deal to fluff my pillow?

I'm not talking to you, Mrs Hufnagel.

Why do you think the nurses went on strike? They don't like it either.

Yes, but they do it better than him.

Lighten up, would you, please? I've had patients spit pills at me,

call me names, throw up on me.

It was only a little phlegm.

Give us a break, Victor. Stop griping.

Snivelling.

Whining.

Trained to be a globetrotter, not a tent maker.

Weren't you ever a Scout?

No, I was too big for the uniform.

Oh, boy. Well, first you test the wind. Like this.

Then you set the tent up on high level ground

and make sure it's uphill and upwind from the latrine.

Here he is.

Manny, you look better already.

I'm feeling fine, really.

Well, the X-rays show it was definitely pneumonia.

We'll put you on moist oxygen,

the tent will be more comfortable than that mask.

Excuse me. You're in the way.

Enjoy your morning dip?

Terrific, if you like a place that smells awful

where someone's always screaming.

Sounds like Thanksgiving dinner at my mother-in-law's.

Now I feel worse than before I went in. Morrison won't give me a shot.

His blood pressure's low.

You seem a little groggy, still.

You've already had two shots today.

So? Hurry up and give me another.

Eight milligrams of morphine, please.

Mr Duffy's been here for three weeks.

Shouldn't his pain be stabilised by now?

I can't get a handle on how much morphine he needs.

What about Demerol?

Doesn't matter. Still has the same weird reaction.

Lately his pupils go from pinpoint, to dilate and sluggish.

BP jumps from 90/60 to 170/80.

And he's groggy with slurred speech at different times of day.

What about neurological damage?

Medication mix-up?

Believe me, Jack, I've checked out everything.

Hi, Mark.

Hi, Donald.

By the way, that myocardial infarction patient of mine,

Mr Hennessy, his kidneys are stable now.

Oh, good.

I want to thank you for your advice.

It's what consults are for.

No, I meant about Ellen.

It's against my better judgment, but we're meeting a therapist.

Henry Vogel.

I've never heard of him.

He's probably a quack. I'll go if it'll make her feel better.

Might make you feel better, too.

Do you remember last year, the foreign physicians' conference?

Me parading into your office, telling you all about Vera Anya?

Do you remember what you said to me?

"Nothing will happen if you don't want it to."

I broke a promise to my wife.

Only once, mind you, but I can never fix that.

Mark, if that's what's causing the problem,

I don't think it's going to get any better until you tell Ellen what happened.

That you had a momentary infatuation.

She'll never understand. Women fall apart.

They don't have the same firmament as men.

Maybe you want to take the back way out. Avoid a confrontation.

I am not about to let the nurses intimidate me.

I have to get my car, this is the fastest way

and this is the way I'm going.

If your union was more flexible,

you'd all be home now sitting in front of a fireplace

with your families instead of out here wading through puddles.

Thanks, Mark. We'll bear that in mind.

You know Annie Cavanero was attacked.

I heard.

I don't think it's wise for you people to picket tonight.

Oh, we already took the vote and we're staying.

OK, I'll assign more security.

That's OK, most of the male nurses are joining us tonight.

Hey, Lizzie all packed and ready to go?

Yep, she's off first thing in the morning, with her roommate.

Because of the strike, she didn't think I'd be free to take her.

I think she's going to have a good time in college.

Too good a time. Her roommate, Betty, she's a little over active.

Oh. Well, no matter how old she gets or how far away she goes,

you're never going to stop feeling she needs your protection.

You know, sometimes...

I think I could have been a better father.

I know I could have been a better mother.

Oh, come off it.

You've been a terrific parent.

I have the feeling I should be telling her something,

but I don't know what it is.

You sure you won't stop picketing for the night?

Drive safely.

All right. Good night.

Good night.

That's a pretty rash differential diagnosis.

Besides, the word premature is a relative term.

Where's your license?

Mark, at least 50% of cases are psychological in nature,

and very treatable.

Why are we even here?

Mark, do you consider yourself a success in your field?

He's the best heart surgeon in Boston.

Thank you.

Well, if she knows that you're a success,

and you have no doubts about it yourself,

your bed doesn't have to be a proving ground.

For a young guy, you can really dish out the malarkey.

Stand up for me, would you?

Now, I want you to put these on.

What for?

Please, Mark.

You can never call me Mark again.

Now, I want you to move slowly toward each other.

Not now - when I tell you to.

Start moving together.

But I don't want you to touch.

The idea is to get as close as possible without touching.

Mark, Ellen...

Ellen, sense where Mark is.

Mark...

All right already, we get the idea.

Ready?

Begin.

Feel the vibrations of your mate.

No touching.

Slowly sense where your partner is. Slowly...

PHONE RINGS

Hold it right there!

Don't move.

Hello.

Ellen.

Yes, dear.

I hate this.

I said I can't talk now.

What a nag.

Now, how are you two getting along?

Let me tell you something.

Wait a minute, Mark, please.

No, don't interrupt.

She's interrupting me because she knows I'm about to lose my temper.

You see, Ellen knows me better than anyone in the world.

She doesn't need to learn pointers from you.

Mark, there's one thing I don't know.

Are you seeing another woman?

For God's sake,

if you're stupid enough to do it, you ought to be able to admit it.

You see what you did?

Oh, hi. Are the dishes done?

Yep. After you leave, it's going to be strictly paper plates.

I finally got Tommy to go to sleep.

Oh, there's still a lot of laundry left in the dryer.

That's all right, don't worry about it, I'll get it.

Here, this is for your first mixer.

Mixer.

Oh, Dad, this is the one I saw in the window!

Thanks.

Go try it on.

OK.

Oh, nuts, I got the wrong size.

That's OK.

I've been meaning to lose a few pounds, and this is good incentive.

I'll exchange it and send you another one.

Oh, Dad, stop. You've already done enough.

Lizzie, have we talked about the birds and the bees?

Don't forget you are a doctor.

All those medical books on our shelves weren't a total waste.

Read them all, did you?

Read enough. Checked out all the pictures.

Lizzie! >

I'd better get him.

I let the meter run out.

SHE SINGS: Puff The Magic Dragon.

♪ Little Jackie paper

♪ Loved that rascal Puff

♪ And brought him strings and sealing wax

♪ And other fancy stuff... ♪

THUNDER

I've been down in the garden.

This weather has really messed things up.

Even the azalea bush is down.

Remind me to call the gardener. What's his name?

Um...

Mr Enkeliak.

Hungarian.

He does a decent job.

Remember when I used to tend the garden?

Yes. I used to sit here and nurse Stephen so I could watch you work.

You'd go walking back and forth across the lawn,

watering and seeding.

Then every once in a while you'd holler up

to see if I needed anything.

And then you'd just go back, watering and seeding.

If I could've nursed Stephen myself, I would've traded places.

That lawn was tough work.

You...

Do you realise that in a few months we'll have been married 30 years?

30 years!

And you know what upset me the most?

That you didn't tell me.

Instead of being honest, you just let this slowly strangle our marriage.

Oh, what are you talking about?

The fact that you finished with me quick

so that you could run off every morning to satisfy her.

I go to the hospital, for Pete's sake. I'm not having an affair.

Oh, tell me about it.

All right, you really want to know about it? I'll tell you.

One weekend last year...

Don't bother.

Will you make up your mind?

I don't want to hear any details.

Besides, if we start swapping stories,

you're going to get very upset.

Why would I be upset?

Never mind.

Wait a minute.

What kind of stories do you have to tell me?

We'll talk about it later, Mark.

Are you telling me that you've been fooling around?

Later.

It's Stillman, the dentist, isn't it?

I mean, how many cavities can you have filled?

He uses his X-ray vision to find out where Lex is hiding. >

That's what I am going to do. >

I am going to use my X-ray vision to find where your cough starts. >

You don't have X-ray vision. >

Let me show you something, smart Alec.

This is a picture I took.

It's a hand.

That's what my hand looks like inside?

More or less.

This is a foot.

Neat.

Annie.

If you've got any problems, page Dr Carlton or Dr Jacobson.

But try Dr Ehrlich first.

Feeling any better?

Not really.

I can't believe Peter got away with it again.

When is somebody finally going to realise how dangerous he is?

(TANNOY) Dr David Sargent, radiology, staff.

Where's Dr Caldwell?

Try his office.

But just find him, quick.

Don't take this personally,

but you look like a lobster trap in that thing.

You look like an idiot.

Fill up the glass.

What, from here?

Very funny. With water.

I had a feeling you might be running low.

Easy, pal.

When did you run out?

This afternoon.

Really appreciate this, Ross.

Forget it.

It's my business, Michael. As long as you need me, I'll be here.

You're the only reason I'm surviving this mess.

What did he give you, Michael?

Quaaludes? Valium?

Hold it!

Get your hands off of me!

Yeah, OK.

I didn't do anything wrong. Why don't you talk to Michael?

Caldwell, I'm not taking anything.

Hey, who the hell are you to go through my stuff? Get out of there!

How many did you take?

Not enough.

You know you'll kill yourself mixing medications of this strength.

Yeah, well, I don't care.

We'll get you through this, Michael.

But without these.

I need those.

Hey, you can't just take those away!

I need those!

Hey, come on, Caldwell!

You can't take them away, I need them!

Ellen, what in heaven's name are you doing?

Packing.

Where are you going?

Bermuda.

It's miserable this time of year.

Well, all right, Hawaii, then.

It's always lovely there.

You can't just go running off to Hawaii.

Yes, we can.

We?

Well, I'm not going to go alone.

You said yourself, it'll take several days for that strike

to get settled, so this is the perfect time to go.

Ellen. Is it or is it not Stillman?

Oh, Mark, I've never slept with another man besides you.

I never wanted to do that,

even though I've been tempted.

What was all that about?

I just wanted to hurt you.

But I don't want that kind of marriage.

I don't think you do, either.

So you forgive me?

For having the affair, yes.

For not telling me, I don't know, maybe.

For letting it screw up our marriage, no.

Come on, I want to get away from here, with you.

So start packing.

OK.

But I'm not going to the big island.

For the life of me, I will never understand

why people take vacation right under those volcanoes.

Who knows when they'll go off?

It isn't the volcanoes that'll kill you.

It's the lava.

If you ever do that to me again...

I won't.

I promise.

That's it.

Sure?

Yeah.

Good. My dad's complaining the car's going to bottom out,

Whatever that means.

Let me say goodbye to the Russells.

Listen, I'll be right out, OK?

I'll see you outside.

Come on, Tommy.

Listen, can you look at me?

I'm going away for a while.

But not for ever, OK?

You understand me.

Listen, you take good care of Dad, OK?

All set?

Yeah.

Gosh, have you thought about what you're going to have for dinner?

How about steak?

Sweetheart, the Russells are waiting.

It's just that I've been so busy lately,

going to the Cape and getting my junk together,

I haven't spent any time with you.

That's OK.

It's OK.

I'm scared.

Oh, stop that.

I love you.

I love you, too, sweetheart.

OK, time to go.

Call tonight.

I'll see you at parents' weekend.