Original subtitles

Previously on St. Elsewhere.

We promised the Galeckis they could have the baby for a while.

Ken has decided to go along with adopting a child.

Must have been the aneurysm in her brain.

You were supposed to see a baby.

I don't even know her name.

Mr. Taffer says you gave St. Eligius to be the recipient of the deed to an apartment building.

What are we going to do with the building?

Perhaps housing for our residents.

Maybe a shelter for the homeless?

Luther, I know you'd be a terrific assistant, but you're talking years of college.

I'm sure there's a way around that.

No, no, there isn't, because the state won't certify you.

Committee, care service on community business, stationing, dental surgery,

dentist on campus, doctor, PRPV, existing dental accreditation,

registered dentist, dental insurance, filing a letter of application and is

required to be submitted, nope, there is no way at those concessions based

on your current diagnosis and I thought I would write it in.

I'm sick and tired of this.

Everyone treats me like they're me.

Ma, ma, ma.

Four years I'm Mr. Clean.

I should shave my head and Pierce my ears.

Do you have to walk across my clean floor?

How else was I supposed to get out of the room, Luther?

Try a window.

How very droll.

Mr. Knackley helped getting to the bathroom.

So help him.

I have to go and study for boards that are coming up next week.

Anyway, that's your job.

Hope he doesn't have bledosis.

You know, you look terrific today.

Ah, thank you.

At least I got it together in time to catch the Crosstown bus.

Any car in the shop?

Nope.

Sold a convertible.

It's to make next year's tuition.

Well, look, I'd drive right past your neighborhood.

I'd be glad to pick you up or drop you off whenever you like.

Great.

You're on.

Now, don't forget about next week.

Doctor of the year dinner.

Yeah, how could I forget?

It's our first real date.

Oh, Helen.

Uh, Mrs. Schlesinger needs her Keflix.

You're right.

We'll give it.

Welcome home, Jeff.

Ah, the little general's out on furlough.

Richard's going out with a falcon.

I'm going to have to pick him up.

First time I'll be seeing Jeff since he was shipped off to military school.

You sent your son away?

I mean, I feel terrible about it, but he was out of control.

There was nothing else I could do.

And the buzz head was already trained in the use of weapons.

Were marriages by children?

You sure feel caution in the wind.

Sometimes I think I should have been more careful.

Well, you act on your impulses.

Daring.

You consider every angle smart?

Yeah, smart.

I was so smart why Mr. Barfin died on me this morning.

Even though Mrs. Huberman's son was a man, his EKG is normal.

Let me ventricular hypertrophy.

Final confirmation should be made by cardiac catheterization.

Chandler, why is your name on this slide?

Because I'm an organizer of tonight's protest at Whitfield Medical Center.

What protest?

Well, we're trying to pressure them into divesting their financial holdings in South Africa.

I see.

Dr. Craig, I'm trying to encourage people to come to tonight's demonstration on

what's happening in South Africa is a violation of human rights, segregation,

denial of free speech and assembly, a systematic repression of a popular majority.

I haven't been to a demonstration since the Cambodia incursion.

Incursion?

There's a word you don't hear much anymore.

Hattie Mphilele is speaking tonight.

Who?

South African activist.

She's leading the anti-apartheid group here in Boston.

Why don't you try reading the newspaper?

You'll find out something.

No, thanks.

I'm not ready for my morning sit-down in the John.

Dick Gamedy, a member of the Zulu Nation, says that divestment's hurting South African blacks.

Well, Gamedy's just a farm.

Well, Lele Gamedy, let's call the whole thing off.

Victor, some things you just don't joke about.

Yeah, I joke about everything.

Well, that's because you're a nuthead.

I'm all for change, but personally, I think it's a mistake to cheer on a revolution in Cape Town.

We divest, the place falls apart, and here come the Russians.

But regardless of whether or not I agree with Dr. Chandler, I admire him for taking

a stand, which is more than I can say for you, Ehrlich.

Wade, you're up.

All right.

We've been meeting here for almost three months.

We're here to comfort each other.

Yet so far, no one has ever touched, offered a handkerchief, nothing.

You've all been wallowing individually in your own grief.

And since no one seems capable of sharing sorrow, maybe it's time we shared a laugh.

When's the last time any of you had a good shock?

Now, I want everybody to get down on the floor and put their heads on everybody else's stomach.

Move the chairs back.

Freda?

Lie down on your back and put your head right there.

That's right.

Use my midriff as a pillow.

That's it.

That's it.

Now, a little farther up.

You're right there.

Okay.

Donna, yeah.

Ellen, come on.

Hey.

Go ahead, Harry.

Come on.

Okay.

Now, I am going to say, ha.

As we go around everybody adds another, ha.

This is stupid.

No, this is, ha ha.

Okay.

Ha.

.

I've been dreaming about hell and my son's soul, and he's so imagine not at peace, and I can't help him.

Having his father's been away with other grandfathers, I've been afraid for her.

I don't want you to die without being baptized.

Why don't you live in the real world?

What do you mean, Carrie?

At least you have a grandchild.

When my son Rocky dies.

My family.

Excuse me.

Oh, Carrie.

I'm sorry.

Jeffrey, hello, darling.

Oh, my poor Betsy.

Hello, Mother.

How's everything on the home front?

Come on, Sultan.

At ease.

You got so tall.

It's the uniform.

I've got two favorites.

It was from cake.

Let's dig in.

I'm not going to eat that cake, because I love it.

I don't understand.

Read Will by G.

Gordon Liddy.

Man's desires can be controlled by denying self-indulgence.

I can tell this is going to be a great day.

Being left sitting on... the railroad tracks, heart was all a-flutter, the 515 came rushing by, Choo-choo!

Peanut butter, peanut butter.

You can't keep her here forever.

Just so the sections clears up.

Like I said, her infarction's long gone.

The baby has to be turned over to child welfare.

You want to get swallowed up by a sister?

Somebody went down there.

Really?

But you know the chances of a black baby finding a home aren't very good.

I tried locating family.

All I found was Debra's brother, who couldn't have cared less that his sister died, or left behind a newborn.

Sleep tight, Princess.

Back in Blue Creek, if this would have happened, just about any family would have died.

We would have taken that baby in, no questions asked.

Yeah, well, Boston's a long way from Blue Creek.

How about dinner the night at Davio's?

No, we can't.

Apartheid rally, remember?

Woodfield Medical Center?

That's right.

Why didn't I meet you there?

I'm going to take another stab at trying to locate Debra's family.

She's a sweet girl.

She would have wanted me to do everything I could to help that little one.

I'm sad.

I think this baby's not your responsibility.

She wouldn't be if I adopted her.

Charlie Brown?

Charlie Brown?

Charlie Brown?

He's a clown.

That Charlie Brown, he's gonna get caught in just you wait and see.

Why is everybody always picking on me?

Oh, Luther.

Again?

I just took Mr. Knapp to the bathroom.

It was a false alarm.

Well, this time he's sure he smells smoke, and I've got to get the meds out.

Donald, Terry of the lab, an architect who specializes in historic renovations,

is going to be in my office in half an hour.

We're going to discuss renovating the cab department house.

Ever since we inherited that building, I've been trying to think of the best way to use it.

Me too.

Low-cost housing for the residents.

I've spoken to most of them, and they seem enamored with the idea.

Yeah, well, I think we ought to sit down and talk about it, consider all the possibilities.

We will.

Mrs. Villene has some wonderful ideas.

I think it would make a terrific shelter for homeless people.

There's even going to be a room set aside for child care.

Something about Novino really works for me.

Maybe some little white socks and sneakers.

And she's always so friendly.

Maybe it's her nice round glutes.

You think she'd ever go out with a resident?

Never know until somebody asks.

How's it going, Mr. Knapp?

No go.

Just there.

Better come help me back to my bed.

I can't get over the changes in my little Jeffrey.

His interests have expanded so.

I left him having a conversation in London, I didn't understand, in a cat scandal.

It probably reminded him of a field trip to the sub-base in New London.

Make us have a seat.

No problem, my little English scone.

It's been a long time.

1967.

68.

December.

January.

Ellen, would you mind filling in the blanks?

Oh, I'm sorry, Richard, I'd like you to meet Edgar Eisenberg, my first husband.

Who wants to live together side by side, too?

It'd be fun.

Oh, yeah, like... Dorm life at Swarthmore.

I have student loans up the Hassan Fepper.

Low rent's my ticket.

Look at this.

Over a thousand people died in South Africa in the last 17 months due to racial violence.

I hear there are only 18 units, all two bedrooms.

So you pick yourself up a roomie, preferably somebody who's never there, like Jacob.

Hi, guys.

Carol, do you snore?

What are we talking about here?

Auschlander House, resident co-op.

Yeah, well, I don't think med students are invited.

Oh, God, this is great out.

Then leave it out.

Leave it out.

I'm sorry.

Carol, that's true.

No problem.

Really?

How about a date, then?

No.

Anybody hear anything about Boomer?

I called his folks the other day.

They said Jack didn't want to speak.

Ladies and sunbaters.

Hey, Chandler, what time's the rally?

Seven O'clock.

Everybody going to be there?

Only nuts.

There's going to be a bit of barf in those huts.

Okay, Phil, count me in.

You all coming in here in Palene Street?

I don't think it's right for a hospital to benefit from the suffering of oppression.

Oh, yeah, but Phil, what's the punchline?

There's no punchline.

There's no punchline.

There's no punchline.

I feel I should be there.

Why, because you don't have to do your laundry until tomorrow?

That's not funny.

True, it's not funny.

Are you looking for me?

Ah, Luther.

Guess who says he's sure he's got to go this time?

Mr. K.

Nath.

Tell him to give it the old college try.

Yeah, boot one for the Kipler.

Lucy, have you seen Jeffrey?

Uh, he and Craig got to talking about mass units in Korea.

Jeff got invited down to observe in the OR.

Pull down the floor.

Jeff.

My youngest.

By my fourth husband.

Sorry I won't get to meet the rest of your family.

I just stopped by to ask about our new son-in-law.

Well, I can't tell you much.

So far I've had two postcards and one candy gram from Zuri.

But Marcy and Klaus sound terrific.

How come I wasn't invited to the wedding?

No one was.

You know I wouldn't have even known Marcy got married if Julie hadn't opened her big mouth.

Julie.

She's my third eldest by my second husband.

Oh, right.

Ellen Silverman.

My divorce attorney.

No wonder he wanted me to give you the house.

How do you like Tampa?

Not very much.

Been a lot of time driving around the country.

Selling hats.

So, Clarendon is your fifth?

We live together.

Guess you could call him four and a half.

Looks more like a seven and three quarter to me.

Just a little half humor.

Okay.

Would you care to have dinner with us tonight?

I can't.

But let's get together for a nightcap later.

Oh, that'd be great.

I'll call you at the hotel.

All right.

You know, I still love you.

Come on, Oprah.

Was you the hot shot social worker in this hospital?

I thought we had a deal.

It's been a month.

Social services backed off for as long as we could.

The Eddings child is healthy enough to leave.

I wanted to stay.

Roxanne, the baby has no parents, a legal guardian.

She's now a ward of the state.

That little girl is starting out life on the short side.

Her mother didn't have much, but they're going to make a better life together.

Foster homes don't exactly serve cold bowls of gruel three times a day.

And as soon as good parents can be found, she'll be placed with a loving family.

What if she was privately adopted?

Any ideas?

Me.

You sure that's the best way to help this baby?

Something's got to be done.

When her mother first came to me, she didn't know zip about pregnancy.

I had to convince her that the baby was alive inside of her.

I mean, she trusted me.

I know how much you care, but the child needs more than that.

She needs constant attention.

There are plenty of good single mothers in the world today.

Look.

Look.

Look.

Take the night to think about it.

If you're serious, we'll talk tomorrow before the woman from child welfare comes to pick the baby up.

Well, first, we drill into these bricks and insert steel rods.

You're going to need some more support for these floors.

And also, all the windows and casements will have to be replaced.

By using double-painting glass and other energy-saving devices, we could make this building fuel efficient.

Oh, sure.

Sure, but considering the shape of the structure, that's the least of your worries.

Well, Mrs. Valera, from what you've said so far, resurrecting this building sounds unreasonable.

Oh, Dr. Westphall, you've got a wonderful old building here, designed in 1857 by Gordon Whye.

There were only 15 like this in Boston.

Three remain standing.

Well, what other construction is indicated?

Well, lower the ceilings a foot and a half for heat and air, rewire to code, and replumb.

Any estimates from the contractor?

Well, you'll get a large break for historic renovation.

Ballpark.

Half a million.

Mrs. Belair, assuming we'd want to go ahead, when could you start?

We'll do the work in stages, the most essential first.

And what would you consider essential?

Making sure the building doesn't collapse.

Oh, hello, hi.

You know, a coincidence, I'm just out of Harvard Med myself, so if you need any

pointers, like with your clerkship or something, I'll be happy to help you.

Maybe you'll bring dinner or something.

Oh, I appreciate that, Elliot, but I gotta pass.

Hi.

Hi.

Just in case you want to know, Mr. Knapp is 0 for 4.

What are you doing?

My glove inspection.

I hope you pass.

How would you like to pass the boxing glove inspection?

What's the matter with you, Lizzie?

You got rabies or something?

Personal problems.

Boy, you doctors.

Can't have a bad day around here unless you have a college degree.

The only thing I'm good for around here is keeping this place spick and span.

You're not even good at that.

Hey, come here.

Where's your mom?

Upstairs.

Good.

Don't you ever do that again.

Yes, sir.

Hey, Sally's living.

How's she living?

She's living in the country, going to move to town.

She's going to shake those hips to the side and give it out.

She never went to college.

She never went to school.

But when she got there, she was an educated fool.

To the front, to the back, to the side, side, side.

Don't let nobody's watch you.

Don't let nobody's watch you.

Sweetness.

I'm tired.

I'm tired.

I ask you to send a message of hope to the people of South Africa.

We must persuade Woodfield Medical Center, this institution of mercy, to be massacred.

You see what I'm saying anyway?

No.

I wonder where the hell she could be.

Well, Bubby, now's not the time.

Pay attention to what the young lady's saying.

You're really into this, aren't you?

You guys are right today in rounds.

I've had my head buried in the sand.

Time to reach out and stretch my hands across the water.

I didn't know you had it in you, Ehrlich.

You kidding?

Takes me back to my days in Berkeley.

Mario Savio, free speech movement, riots in People's Park.

See those expensive European cars?

They belong to the board of trustees who are meeting now to discuss these hospitals' investment portfolio.

If they can be intractable, so can we.

I ask you to join me and present... I am preventing them from leaving

the grounds until they reverse their position and agree to die there.

Wait, where are you going?

Look, do you think apartheid is wrong?

Showing support is one thing, but breaking the law is another.

I don't want to end up in jail.

You're either with us or you're against us.

Wait a second, I've got surgery in the morning.

Sure, but it's your butt or your mouth is.

Oh,

Mark, I cleared everything with Reverend Jameson.

The baptismal ceremony can take place tomorrow afternoon as soon as the Galeckis

arrive with Barbara, so we can hold it together.

Well, that's fine and dandy, Ellen, except I told you, I'm not going back into that church.

Well, then we'll have it in the chapel at the hospital.

Maybe you don't understand my subtext.

I don't give a holy heck.

I don't know whether Barbara is baptized or not.

Well, it's about time.

I ordered the sink-a-dink for Barbara three weeks ago.

Mark, your baptismal gown, it must be in the attic.

Ellen, let me make this clear.

I don't want Barbara baptized.

Why?

All my life, I've been a good boy.

And in return, I believe that God would reward me and protect my family.

Yeah, well, he remained on his part.

He's part of the bargain.

And I'm going to give him.

Mark, I don't care what you say.

I talked this over with Dr. Weiss, and he agrees that I have every right to do this.

The ceremony's going to take place whether you're there or not.

Well, what the hell is this anyway?

Well, the United Brotherhood of Hat Blockers strike last year.

Settled it in one negotiation.

Must have been a real feather in your cap, huh?

Oh, Dick, I want to thank you for looking after Marcy.

Terrific girl, but I could never replace her father.

Well, many men have tried.

All right, excuse me, I'm going to tootle off a little voice.

Helen, you are more beautiful than when we met.

I'll never forget that day.

We were so young.

Walking through St. John's Wood, watching the sunrise at Stonehenge,

watching the sunrise at Stonehenge, that he loved a beachy head, a man and a woman.

Edgar.

Don't.

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, dum, dum, dum, la, la, dum,

dum, la, dum, dum, dum.

If you do not disperse, you will be arrested.

Nobody move!

Nobody move!

All right, move in.

All right, Weiss.

Now, just whose confetti do you think you're shredding?

Hello, Mark.

Don't give me that.

Have a seat.

You'd like that, wouldn't you?

First, you get me to sit down, then to lie down.

Next, my psyche is strewn all over the room like dirty linen.

Besides, this couch needs reupholstering.

Uh, what exactly is your problem?

Oh, wouldn't you like to know?

Listen, I'm not here about me.

Uh, Ellen.

I sent her to you in good faith, and all you've done is put ideas in her

head, like redecorating my office, or a plaque for Stephen at the Colgate pool, Barbara's baptism.

Ellen is making wonderful progress, confronting her grief and moving on with her life.

And instead of coming in here huffing and puffing, you should try and do the same.

Oh boy, you psychiatrists are really something.

Always pinning the tail on someone else's donkey, hm?

Next you'll be telling me I wasn't properly toilet trained.

Listen mister, I can ring it out with the best of them.

From now on, stay out of my life and away from my wife.

And this should be hung like so.

It's been a night in jail since I met Roberta.

You know that Mesa's powerful stuff?

Thought you were used to all of this after your days of rage at Berkeley.

Well, I need days of rage for me, personally, that is.

Never stood up for anything in my life.

I was chickened out.

I watched the evening news in the 60s, kids getting cracked in the head with Billy clubs.

It always scared me.

I've always felt guilty, too, you know, letting other people take the lumps from me.

Last night, I got caught up in the spirit, finally.

Here I go.

Lunch?

Nope.

Enough is enough.

Prunes and Tabasco sauce.

I'm gonna unclog Mr. Matt.

Hi sweetie, you're too close.

Mom!

I need another room.

The fire alarm's not on yet.

Well, let's sit down and talk.

Are you sure you really want to spend the last day at home here in the hospital?

Yeah!

This is where the accident is.

So tell me about school.

Mother, I was a real sad sack before you sent me to the academy.

I'm ashamed to think what a useless piece of flesh I was.

Jeffrey, you are a wonderful boy.

Abusive sometimes, but... But now I'm a leader.

Do you enjoy that?

Yes, ma'am.

Hey, Stevie Sherwin's always asking about you.

Ah, he's a woman.

Any other kids have finished that treehouse down at Hemminger's Ravine?

And the big oak tree by the creek?

I started that.

Well, in any case, I'm glad to have you home here with me.

Homes for mothers and babies.

Next month we have field maneuvers.

Could you come?

Yes, of course.

Time for Mr. Lyons and Mr. Johnson.

Oh, okay.

Sorry about Jeff.

I liked him better before.

Me too.

Mr. Ed Tyler, please report to the cashier.

Mr. Ed Tyler, please report to the cashier.

Ehrlich!

You were supposed to assist me on Mr. Denton's bypass.

I was gassed, sir.

Sleeping over the hangover?

No, sir.

At the apartheid rally, I was maced standing up for my beliefs.

I even spent the night in a boot scout.

What a moron.

I thought you'd be proud of me.

You said I'm rounds yesterday.

Your politics are no concern of mine.

I don't feel so well.

But when your personal credo stands in the way of your work, you can be sure you'll see me in your rearview mirror.

Now get cleaned up and back to work.

Must be the mace.

Oh boy.

Ehrlich!

I'm sorry.

This won't affect my third year status, will it, sir?

You can count on it.

Hi.

I hope you slept better than I did last night.

Where have you been?

Uh, the gym.

Inciting a riot.

Why didn't you call me?

I could have bailed you out.

Roxanne, I didn't need you to bail me out.

Where the hell were you?

I stayed here with Deborah Eddings' baby.

I'm sure she appreciated that.

I needed to spend some time with her to make a decision.

And I think I've got an answer.

I bet you do.

You're mad.

No, no.

I'm not mad.

I was trying to take care of a child.

People are fighting a battle in South Africa for blacks everywhere.

Now, that should be important to you.

It is.

But babies come before politics.

Look, somebody fought to desegregate Ole Miss so that you could go to school to become a doctor.

Now, you have a responsibility.

Since when are you my conscience?

Is suffering going on halfway around the world more important than what's happening under your own nose?

I got things to do.

The women's room.

I need to hide.

From what?

Men.

You came to the right place.

Hey, Jackie.

When you met Robert, what made you sure you wanted to get involved?

He drove a red Corvette.

High school sweethearts, my first love.

Sounds like Edgar and me.

When you drove a Nash and we weren't in high school.

Right, you fell in love because of the cars.

No, because of where we went in those cars and what we did.

And because of the movie A Man and a Woman.

I fell in love with any man who could beat me at arm wrestling.

God, it's so gross today.

I thought it was supposed to be cold today.

Well, when it comes to romance, I am totally confused.

That's what love's all about.

Let me tell you something.

You never get over your first great love.

Seeing my ex rekindled all the old flames and edging you just what buttons to push.

Ellen, you sound like a Patsy Cline song.

You know that practically every man in this hospital's been on me?

Strangers in the hall, staff members, residents, even Elliot.

What wonderful women.

We grew up seeing Edgar last night.

There must have been some good reasons why I left him.

Why can't I think of any one of them now?

A strict Italian family.

After puberty, they sent me away to an all girls' school.

Always wanted to be with the boys, but didn't know what to do with them.

No one can blame me for being cautious.

Hand by your brush.

I hate my hair.

I'm meeting with the board in 15 minutes to discuss funding Taft House.

Well, I think Mrs. Valera's plan for renovation is awful damned expensive, Daniel.

Is that a large filling defect in the liver?

Actually, I think there are several.

You're just looking at the largest.

It could be a cyst or a tumor.

Yeah, you're right.

Your eyes are better than mine.

I hope you'll come along and support me on this.

No, I'm afraid I can't, Daniel.

I've asked you on your outreach proposals.

Mm-hmm.

Is that because they were good programs, or is it because we're good friends?

Both.

No.

I think $500,000 is too much to spend for brick and mortar.

There are better ways to help people.

Go shelter for the homeless.

No, at these costs, even that's out of the question.

No.

Okay, filling defect, followed polycystic kidney disease, I'd better get an ultrasound just to make sure.

If you're not going to be on my side, please, stay out of my way.

Daniel, explain something to me.

Why are you so bent on pursuing this project?

Donald, we've been friends for 31 years.

I shouldn't have to explain myself to you.

Ah, Luther.

Thought you might like to know your prune and Tabasco cocktail did the trick.

Mr. Knapp's bowel function finally returned.

Figured it would.

In his bed.

I helped a man to the bathroom five times, and Lizzie could have made it to the pot.

Keep your voice down.

This is a more humiliating experience for Mr. Knapp than it is for you.

Well, I'm not mad at Mr. Knapp, but I mean I'm tired of being a human pooper scooper.

Well, I don't care about that right now, because while we're debating your duties, Mr. Knapp is lying in his.

And when Ken and I found out we couldn't have a child normally, we panicked.

You're telling me?

I watched you go at each other.

So how are you two doing now?

Oh, we're fine.

You know, trying to adopt a baby hasn't been any easier than making one.

We waited one whole month just to get an appointment with an agency.

Then we spent a month sending inquiries to out-of-state doctors, who all told us the very same thing.

There are very few infants available.

Please be patient.

Hi, sweetheart.

Hi.

Dr. Turner, you picked a bad time for a fire drill.

It's profit-taking day on the big board.

Put this on.

I like the beard.

Yeah, I wouldn't want to wake up in the morning and kiss the fuzzy.

No, no, no, no.

What's going on?

Come here.

Yes.

Okay, Dr. Turner, why this tour through fantasy land?

The mother died just after giving birth.

I want this little girl to have a head start and life with people who love her.

See how she feels?

Yeah.

And if you like, she's yours.

What happens when beauty meets... Oh.

Trying to drop a couple for the chickie?

What?

Helen, the female.

Helen tells me that you were chasing her up the back stairs.

No, I'm just taking what Daniel calls a little afternoon schwitz.

You need cold water.

Listen, about my yelling at you in the last department head... Oh, don't worry about it.

Go on.

Thanks.

Ellen invited me to Barbara's baptism.

Oh, yeah, well, she's trying to fill the house.

Oh, come on, Mark, I think it's nice.

You, the man who views religion as a creation of hallmark cards?

Yeah.

It's true, my ties to an organized church are very strong, but still I have faith.

In what?

Well, higher power, greater good.

Something.

Well, I don't want my granddaughter a spoon-fed preachy parable.

It just sets her up for a big letdown.

Yeah, but still, Mark, kids need some kind of guidance and morality, if you will,

at least until they're old enough to make up their own minds.

Like it or not, my friend, to get through life's pains, we need something to believe in.

Even so, I don't know where I should put her through a useless ritual.

What is a baptism?

What's a bar mitzvah?

What's a wedding?

That signifies the beginning, doesn't it?

Speaking of which, I'm finished.

I don't know.

Are you still looking for a reason?

Well, yeah.

Do it for Ellen.

Nice.

You might be the first flat we moved into.

Well, it's out of here on the morgue for privacy.

Fine with me?

Um, I've been doing a lot of thinking since last night.

Me too.

Seeing you again brought back a flood of memories.

Like making love, punting on the Thames?

I really got a kick out of that.

Keep your hands off the light switch.

And me.

And just listen.

Last night when I was trying to fall asleep, I was imagining what the last 20

years would have been like if we hadn't divorced.

That's right.

Separation was a mistake.

When we got married, you were a perfectly capable man.

And you demanded all my attention, all my energy.

I married you because you seemed like a person who knew where he was going, somebody I could follow.

You still can.

No.

I've spent my life following men from one relationship to another.

It's time to stick with the choice I make.

So you're staying with Dick?

I call him Richard.

To me, he looks like a... Edgar.

You know, in some ways, I'll always love you.

But in more ways, I'll always hate your guts.

Hey, look alive, Luther.

Don't want one of the big wheels to catch you dawdling.

Who cares?

What are they gonna do, fire me?

They'll be doing me a favor.

Four years of being pulled by old needles.

Cleaning ER after trauma surgery.

Washing the X-ray room because some guy couldn't make it to the bathroom after a barium enema.

I'm the after man.

I come last.

I'm the guy with the broom and the shovel behind the circus parade.

Go be a paramedic full time.

I don't want to be a paramedic.

So quit.

What am I going to do?

This job is crappy, but it's better than not knowing.

Then don't quit.

It's easy for you to say.

You're who you want to be.

I'm going to quit.

Even last night I couldn't make a difference.

At least try.

Hi, Mr. Real Fast.

Waiting in the car.

Ed's gone.

Yeah, I know.

I saw him on the way out.

Gave me a hat.

You seem like a nice guy.

Oh, yes.

Here you go.

Careful.

Oh, yeah.

Thank you.

I love you, sweetheart.

I remembered why I left him.

Edgar didn't want me to go out with the girls.

He wanted to go out with the girls.

You and the kids are what's important.

For the first time in my life, I really feel like I have a family.

I want to hang on to that.

I request permission to speak.

I'm due back in 2,200 hours.

If I'm late, I get three demerits and I have to clean the latrines with my toothbrush.

I'll start the car.

Thank you for letting me watch you in the water, sir.

You're a good boy.

See you at midnight.

I'll have Julie pick me up.

Jeffrey, I love you.

Mom?

What, darling?

Nothing.

Mom, can I come back, please?

I'll be good.

So good.

Please, let me come back.

Yes, you can.

I'd like that.

Never mind.

Yes.

Meet him, Mom.

Come on.

We'll stuff rice cream on the way home.

No way.

I want the Dale Devils cake.

Get it, Sander.

Mm-hmm.

Hi, um...

Uh, Roxanne, uh, wait a second.

Uh...

Look, um...

Before you left for Mississippi, you said how all my education hadn't taught me how fragile people are.

I was angry with you, Chandler.

You hurt me.

Yeah, well...

Well, I've been hurt a lot lately, too, and, uh...

At the Crisis Intervention Center, I couldn't do anything.

Uh, this little girl called me for help, and...

She shot herself while we were talking.

Telling me about all the problems.

I just don't think I can take suffering up close anymore.

I don't know, maybe I'm better at dealing with far-off issues.

You care about helping the world.

Not enough people do.

Growing up in the city, you were exposed to so much.

You got your news from television.

I got mine over a back fence from people.

One-on-one, that's what I know best.

Not issues.

That's why we could help each other.

We'd be a good team.

We could balance each other out.

First, you and I have to learn to get along.

Rush to the parking lot.

Hello, hello.

Here's my little girl.

Hey.

Hello.

Hello.

Oh, yes.

Where are the Galakis?

Gone back to Clinton.

Mark, what did you say to him?

Have a safe trip.

And look out for the radar around Albany.

Didn't they want to stay for the christening?

They felt it redundant.

You see, Ellen, the Galeckis have already had all their baptized.

Oh, well, good.

Not really.

She's going to be on a first-name basis with the Pope.

I don't understand.

She's Catholic.

Is there any way of undoing that?

Not at all, no.

Well, I just wish I could have been there.

You know, when Stephen was baptized and the minister sprinkled the water on his head, he just.

...

Made her a little cool, smiled sweetly, swimmer from the start.

Well, all right, I'll just tell Reverend Jameson to go on home.

No, no, wait a minute.

We came for a christening, damn it, we're gonna have one.

I mean, there's nothing wrong with a double coat of shellac.

Hey!

Hey, Jameson!

Long time no see.

Hey!

Dr. Auschlander.

At the end of another chemo cycle, huh?

Thank God.

How's everything going with your building on Buell Street?

The board rejected my idea that it was some place.

Undoubtedly, it will fall into a wreckage fall.

Sorry to hear that.

Maybe it's for the best.

I realize now that I want that building not only as a place for the residents,

but also as a monument to myself, a tombstone, if you will.

Whenever I'm in a chemo cycle, I'm always in a place where I can be myself.

I become acutely aware of the lengthening shadows of my life.

I was wrong to try to perpetuate my memory in that way.

You'll be remembered for all the things you've done for people here, not me.

Luther, what you do is very important.

Not as important as this.

You hate your job, don't you?

Primary care physicians are suspended.

Northeastern has an excellent curriculum.

Can't sign up at Northeastern until I complete two years of junior college.

Who told you that?

Dr. Westphall.

He said it's the law.

I love this hospital.

But every day I just wish I could do more.

Save lives.

I know I could be a good PA.

But all the signs say forget it.

Perhaps there is a way.

Yeah, I practice without a license and I go to jail.

You could become my assistant and work with me until you finish junior college.

You'd do that for me?

I'm sure it's okay.

You'll play inside the system.

Bend the rules a bit.

Thanks, Dr. Auschland.

You do know it's going to take three years of night school to complete junior college?

Don't worry, Luther.

I promise you I'll live until your graduation.