Original subtitles

Previously on The Resident…

I'm ready to suit back up for Chastain.

Welcome back, Dr. Hawkins.

[Conrad] Winston's recovering.

You saved his life.

Thank you.

-Congrats on the book. -Thank you. You read it?

No. No. Too busy operating.

Just gearing up to be chief again.

Well, I hear Kit is still considering candidates.

-Mm. -I would know. I am one.

I know you're both eager to find out who our next chief of surgery will be,

so I'll cut to the chase. It won't be either of you.

-Are you serious? -Excuse me?

[Bell] Who's the next chief of surgery?

Me?

[Bell] And pancreatic specimen is out.

In record time, I might add.

[Austin] Para-aortic lymph nodes

are sliding off the vessel like butter, baby.

♪ Yeah… ♪

[sighs]

Go ahead. Say it.

How the hell isn't one of us chief of surgery?

[Austin] Randolph, you remember the mantra.

Dr. Sutton can have that job.

The phone calls, the paperwork, the endless meetings.

That's for plebes.

Repeat after me, "We are surgical royalty."

We are surgical royalty. King beats chief any day.

King beats chief any day.

Jessica, when the patient awakens,

please inform him that he was operated on by

the kings of surgery. Thank you.

-[chuckles] -[monitor beeping]

Taking the liberty of stopping

a bleeder before it starts, Your Highness.

[Austin] Oh, I see another tiny pumper.

Clamp to me.

And another.

[multiple monitors beeping rapidly]

[Bell] It's got to be the superior mesenteric artery feeding it.

Let's get to work then.

[Bell] Damn it.

[beeping steadily]

[sighs]

An effortless save of an unavoidable complication,

which is why we remain the best.

Right.

Right.

[microphone feedback]

You two, when you're done, my office.

[opening theme music playing]

I don't want to do this.

I told you, you have to.

I don't need to. We're managing fine.

We've been in worse spots.

R-Remember in Mississippi when we got arrested

for protesting the war?

Which war? There's been so many.

And that time we ran the sit-in at that nuclear power plant,

everyone chained to the gate. [chuckles]

"May God strike me dead

if He rains down bombs on the innocent!"

[coughs] My finest hour, Celeste.

[Celeste] You had another fall. You have to see a doctor.

Where do you think we're supposed to go?

Not here. Will you please check in with triage?

-Quietly. -Hey, Irving.

I've got them.

Have Hundley prepare Bay Seven.

They remind me of my grandparents.

-They were anti-war activists? -No,

but my grandfather yelled a lot.

Hey. I'm Dr. Pravesh. Allow me?

Yeah.

Celeste? [stammers]

What's going on? Where is she?

[sighs]

Hey.

Are you okay?

[sighs] I can't. I…

I can't do it anymore.

Gigi,

you forget something? Kiss, kiss, kiss, first.

Mm. Thank you.

[children laughing]

Walking feet.

They never listen.

Hey, Amber,

good to see you. How's--

-Alec. -Alec.

He ran off even faster than Gigi.

-[laughs] -Oh, he keeps saying

that he wants a playdate, by the way.

We're supposed to do those.

Kids social calendars are crazy.

I'm like, how about mama gets a date of her own first?

-[laughs] -Yeah, sure, sure.

Alec just told me that his mommy

is a nurse, like my mommy, right?

Yeah. That's right.

Do you take blood? And do the squeezy thing?

She means the blood pressure cuff.

Oh.

I sure do.

You know, you should come visit the nurse's station today.

See us in action, hm?

Maybe you could both stop by?

Can we, Daddy? Can we?

I guess we can do bring your daughter to work day.

Yes!

Fabulous! I can't wait.

It is so great to have you back, Dr. Hawkins.

Should I call you Conrad?

I mean, now that our kids are friends.

Uh, Conrad's fine.

See you both later. Right?

[chuckles]

She was super nice.

Yeah, she was.

Oh, good, you're both here.

I'd like to introduce you

to Dr. Sofia DeSoto,

double board certified in trauma

and cardiothoracic surgery. Also,

a full professor at Emory.

Wow. Well, welcome to Chastain.

Are you joining our department?

No. Dr. DeSoto is a surgical coach,

and you two are her first students.

Excuse me?

Top athletes and artists all have coaches.

Roger Federer, Michael Phelps, even Beyoncé has one.

So why not surgeons?

-Well-- -[Kit] Atul Gawande, a primary force

in the patient safety movement, thinks it's key.

Well, when I run into Atul, I'll let him know

that my triple board certified skills remain as sharp as ever.

I have the lowest complication rate here at Chastain.

I know, and your rate used to go down every month,

but, lately, it's been inching up.

Well, it's understandable, given your recent brush with fame.

-Book signings-- -No, no, that's not fair, Kit.

I take on complicated patients

lesser surgeons won't.

We both take risky cases, and I'm-I'm sorry,

but she's… [chuckles]

clearly less experienced than we are.

Dr. Bell.

Hi.

Dr. Austin.

It's a pleasure to meet you both.

My job here is to watch you two

in ways you can't watch yourselves,

to point out tiny flaws before they become big ones.

Surely neither of you thinks you're perfect?

Probably the wrong question.

How would each of you rate your performance in this morning's

pancreatic mass resection?

Hey, that patient will be fine.

"Fine" hardly seems like a goal worthy of the illustrious

Dr. AJ Austin.

Does the back of your book say you're just

an okay doctor at Chastain Memorial?

When you're ready,

let's review footage of your latest surgery.

Well, wait, that tape gets deleted.

Not today, Dr. Bell.

Cheer up, this'll be fun.

I always love the first day of school.

Make sure to get a seat right up front.

[Devon] Mr. Crisforth.

Looks like you had a stroke last year.

A small one. I'm working my way back.

Look here.

Your wife says it's been difficult to care for you.

She said that? Celeste?

[sighs] Your balance never recovered.

We have to use the wheelchair,

otherwise you fall. And when you do,

I can't lift you anymore.

She's exaggerating. I can walk fine when I have to.

-Whoa, whoa. I got you. -Oh, George.

-George. -George.

[winces]

[Devon] George.

Tell me, how is your appetite?

I eat when the food is good.

I cook him everything he used to like.

He doesn't want it.

And he doesn't sleep. He's up,

he's down, every hour around the clock.

Which means you are, too.

His vitals are normal.

I told you I was fine.

What kind of help do you guys have at home?

[Celeste] None.

I tried to get a home health aide,

but Medicare wouldn't pay for it,

only for hospitalization,

and we've gone through our savings.

[George] That's what we get for dedicating our lives to the

American justice system. You know the ACLU had us

on speed dial? We defended

every anti-war protestor in a thousand-mile radius.

You're both lawyers? That's impressive.

We'll be right back.

Hang tight, George.

[sighs]

[sighs] This happens way too often…

elderly couples are bankrupt by health care bills,

and one spouse is forced to do everything for the other.

Medicare's no help unless they're hospitalized.

Exactly.

And George is stable.

I know.

Celeste is the one hanging on by a thread,

and stats show that

the burden of caregiving falls on women.

Nothing you're saying is wrong.

-She needs our help. -Except that. She needs

someone's help, but we treat people who are sick.

As of now, there's no medical reason to admit her husband.

I mean, you're right.

I often am.

Let's call in a social worker.

-[beep] -[Amber] See those lines?

-Yeah. -There you go.

-And see those bars? -Yeah.

So, that is how I can tell how fast your heart is beating.

I think my heart is very strong.

[laughs] So strong.

Just like your daddy's.

[chuckles]

Gigi, honey,

next stop on the nurses tour,

come and see how we examine a patient. [laughs]

-Thank you. -No worries.

Bay Two, abdominal pain, says she's cool with kids.

-Hello. -Hi.

I'm Dr. Hawkins.

This is my intern for the day,

Gigi Hawkins, and you've already met

the most important person

in the ER, Nurse Hundley.

-[whoops] -[laughs]

Wow, Gigi, you graduated med school way young.

-You must be a genius. -[giggles]

Tell me, what happened?

Oh, I bailed off a frontside 180.

Okay.

Goofy foot rail grind?

How can you tell?

You braced your fall with your left hand.

You wearing a helmet?

Duh. My hand's fine.

What really hurts is in here.

Let's take a look.

[laughs] Sorry.

Daddy, I think you found her tickle spot.

[laughs]

You. Uh,

-try to relax. -[laughs]

Allow me, Dr. Hawkins.

This little trick,

it fools the patient's body

into thinking the pressure's coming from their own hand,

which takes away the tickle.

Look at that.

You are a magician.

-[laughs] -No, Daddy, she's a nurse.

Same thing, little one. [mouth pops]

Your abdominal exam's fine.

X-ray does show a fractured rib, but with a little time,

it should heal on its own.

Nurse Hundley can give you 650 milligrams of acetaminophen to help with the pain.

-You're good to go. -Cool. Thanks.

Think you're going to get better soon.

-[laughs] -Okay, you. Next patient.

[growls]

George and Celeste,

this is Winston Robards.

He is Chastain's best social worker.

He was actually a patient here himself a few years ago.

Dr. Pravesh and I almost died together.

Great way to meet someone.

[Devon] And Winston had every right

to sue Chastain for what happened, but instead,

he told our CEO how we could make

the hospital better for people with disabilities,

it turns out we needed a new social worker

and she hired him on the spot.

It was a few months later, but I like how you tell the story.

-[chuckles] -[Winston clears throat] Now,

it is my job to ensure

that the both of you get the best possible care.

We will come up with a plan to make sure that the two of you--

I don't want anyone but Celeste taking care of me, okay?

So, if that's not your plan, I can tell you right now to forget it.

-Right? -[Winston] Well, the plan

will be for you both.

So, I would like to get a thorough history.

Dr. Pravesh, you can leave us

and go doctor elsewhere. Shoo.

He's gonna take good care of you.

[indistinct announcement over P.A.]

Here you go, sweetheart.

You must be Gigi.

I'm nurse Valerie.

I heard you were visiting today, so I brought some cookies

for you…

and for your daddy.

Can I have a cookie,

-Daddy, please? -Just one.

-Thanks. -[Valerie] Okay if I take her

on a little tour? To the break room?

-Kids love that. -Can I go, Daddy?

-Okay. -You can pick her up anytime,

and stay as long as you want.

Come on.

-Have fun. -[Gigi] Thanks, Daddy.

I bet nurses are really hovering around Gigi today, huh?

-Yeah. -And you.

[groans]

Wonder what that's about.

Well, you're a really great diagnostician,

so I'm sure you'll

-make sense of it. -[chuckles]

Winston.

You're gonna tell me to admit him,

but his labs just came back normal, and he doesn't have any

-medical reasons to warrant an admission. -So find one.

My man.

Winston always cuts to the chase.

Good to hear your voice, Dr. Hawkins.

Would you please tell my friend here that, ironically, Medicare will pay

tens of thousands of dollars for a hospital admission,

but not hundreds for a home health aide, and without one,

we cannot send this couple home.

George is a fall risk.

Celeste is suffering from exhaustion and depression.

-Winston says that you need-- -I heard.

-And I agree, but we-- -Every admission

takes resources from other needier patients.

We can't just help every old person who walks in here.

We have to discharge George.

No.

No. [stammers] You can't. If you send us home,

what will I do?

You have to please take him.

I mean, I am begging you.

Please, take him.

Celeste, would you like to have a seat?

We're gonna take care of you, okay?

I'm gonna ask you one more time.

What can you admit George for?

Well, we know he's prone to falls.

That could speak to a neurologic issue.

He might need a CT scan.

That's a grand idea.

The magic box. Everyone gets a CT scan.

Medicare never questions that.

That should buy us some time.

Okay, let's do it.

What do you think she's writing back there?

At four minutes, Dr. Austin performs a textbook

-lymph node dissection. [laughs] -[Bell laugh]

Okay.

I think we've seen enough.

We haven't even come to the complication.

Yeah, he's right. E-Everything up to this point

-has been technically flawless. -Hm. Not technically.

Dr. Bell,

I noticed you're ambidextrous,

but you favor your left hand while you operate.

If you learn to switch, you'd move faster, which could

save a life in a crisis.

And you both just take the instruments you want

off the table, instead of asking for them.

That costs precious seconds,

and nurses hate it.

Uh, Dr. Austin,

when you need better retraction,

you tend to stop what you're doing and reposition the retractor yourself.

You should ask for help.

You let an organ drift out of the field--

-No, I did not. -You did,

but you didn't notice because you were reaching.

Next time, ask the anesthesiologist to turn the patient left side up.

It's small things, like bed positioning, that can make all the difference.

Is that all?

What I've found is

what most often stands between a solid doctor

and a spectacular one…

is ego.

[scoffs]

And no, it's not all.

We've got a page and a half to go.

See? Right there.

Your grumpy civil rights lawyer has a small subdural hematoma.

Great. Something we can fix.

That can help George and his wife.

It's a small brain bleed, not the cause of George's issues,

nor does it justify cracking open his skull.

Come on.

Another hospital would operate

and cash that fat Medicare reimbursement, but

he's, what, 78?

The bleed could resorb on its own.

If we take him to surgery, he might not make it off the table.

Is that what you want?

Wild guess, that question was rhetorical.

When the air hits your brain, you're never the same.

We don't cut in my OR unless we have to.

Man, I hate this case.

George's conditions are chronic. I can't cure old age.

I'm a doctor who can't doctor.

You must see patients like this all the time in the ER.

Far too often.

There are days that leave me yearning for--

A scalpel?

Spreadsheets.

-Data. -Oh, right.

I forgot you're a nerd.

-[both chuckle] -It's not just that.

I miss the hunt for new cures.

Do you remember my patient with sickle cell, Rose?

She made me want to pursue clinical trials,

but I…

-[sighs] -But what?

You can still have your wish.

Do research.

You know, just because you landed in the ER

doesn't mean you have to stay.

[sighs]

[typing]

Here you go.

Et tu, Kit?

Having a tough day, darling?

No. Now, AJ, I understand.

I mean, he can be taken down a couple of pegs with his book

and the TV appearances, but do I really need this?

Randolph,

this isn't personal, I swear.

Hospitals are bringing in coaches,

and I want to be on the forefront.

I get that, I do, but

we're in a relationship,

so maybe talk things through with me before I get blindsided

-next to a colleague. -You made me promise

I wouldn't let you go the way of your old friend Kranepool.

Fade away into surgical oblivion.

If other doctors see the great Dr. Bell being coached,

they'll be more open to the possibility, and Chastain

will become a better hospital for it.

So, anyway, how was her advice?

Helpful?

Oh, so it was good advice.

How frustrating.

♪ I like being sad ♪

♪ It's the bestest friend ♪

♪ I've ever had, yeah ♪

♪ My best friend ♪

♪ Is a killer in disguise ♪

♪ She'll show you things you've never seen ♪

♪ You won't believe your eyes ♪

♪ My best friend ♪

♪ Has a lot to say 'bout you ♪

♪ I like getting down ♪

♪ Well, he always comes around… ♪

[chuckles]

[laughing] I'm telling you,

-every nurse-- -Of course.

-Where's Gigi? -[gasps]

Gigi's back in preschool.

She had a ball. Didn't want to leave.

What was so funny just now?

Hundley was just filling me in on the adventures of Chastain's

-most eligible bachelor. -It's like when they put chum

in the water to attract sharks.

Yeah, a nurse feeding frenzy. [laughs]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's not like that.

Oh, the nurses are swiping right on you,

Dr. Hawkins, except for me, that is. [laughing]

Hey, I'm right here.

I'm just saying, watch your back.

[Hundley laughs]

Oh, come on, you must have noticed.

[chuckling] Maybe.

[chuckles]

I'm not ready for it.

It's uncomfortable.

Well, look, there's no rush.

But it's been a few years, you're allowed.

If you want.

I don't even know where to begin. How does this even work anymore?

Okay, Grandpa, how old are you?

[both laugh]

Yeah, do I ask her to the town dance, or do I

take her to a soda fountain? I don't know.

All I know is that Nic wouldn't want you to be alone forever.

For your sake, and for Gigi's.

-You deserve to be happy. -Thank you.

That means a lot coming from you.

Very nice.

That's me, that's my dog,

even though Daddy says no dog right now.

[laughs]

-And who's that? -That…

-Mm-hmm. -…is Mommy.

Oh, she's beautiful. I bet you miss her.

-Daddy says she watches over us. -Yeah.

Hey, baby. Just checking in.

Mwah.

Look, Daddy, it's Marion.

Yeah.

-[chuckles] -You come up a lot in our house.

-Aw. -She doesn't get why you can't be

her teacher forever.

I'm still with the babies in the daycare,

but I promise to come visit the big kids.

Like today, this has been a real treat.

-[chuckles] -[pager beeping]

Mm, yeah,

look at that.

I got to go, sweetheart.

Wait, Daddy, this is for you.

Oh.

Oh, you should frame that one.

I don't know. I look a little purple.

[laughs]

It's been great having Gigi. Let me know if there's anything

I can do to help with the transition.

Looks like you're already doing it.

[Marion chuckles]

-Should we do another one? -[Gigi] Yeah.

Okay.

Ah, Dr. DeSoto.

Uh, you mind if I take a moment of your time?

I'd like to go over your morning thoughts.

-Of course, how can I help? -Well, you can't,

and that's my first note.

You see, I have

made a rebuttal to each one of your recommendations.

Dr. Austin, today wasn't meant to be punishment,

and it shouldn't make you defensive. It was,

now, brace yourself, just advice.

Benjamin Franklin once said, "Wise men don't need advice."

"And fools won't take it."

You thought I wouldn't know the rest of that quote, didn't you?

Who hurt you, Dr. DeSoto?

I have a radical prediction.

I think, when this is all said and done,

you're going to thank me.

And I think you relish tearing down accomplished surgeons.

Maybe we should examine why.

No need, I'm happy to tell you.

I realized early on that I'm a good surgeon,

but not a great one. What I am great at

is making talented people even better. That fulfills me.

Brings me joy.

Now, Dr. Voss suggested I work with you for the next two weeks.

I could extend that time two weeks.

Make it a month, total.

Or you could just let me eat my muffin.

[sighs]

What… How about we go back to this one?

No, no. That one's even lumpier.

[Clara] You know what? You are right.

I will go find another.

-How are you, George? -[groans]

Aside from our unsatisfactory bed linens.

I'm as fine as I was three hours ago. I should be at home.

-George, you have a brain bleed. -Yeah, which is

going nowhere and doing nothing.

That's what the doctor said, right?

There's no reason to be here.

In fact, I'm leaving.

Wait a second, George.

See?

I can walk just fine.

Can you walk in the hall for me?

[George] Okay.

Okay, George, come on back for me.

All right, sit down.

[sighs]

Okay, stand up.

George, do you find it difficult to get moving after you stand up?

Yes.

-And your muscles, do they feel rigid? -All the damn time.

What is it? What does that mean?

Parkinson's? Are you sure?

Irregular arm swing first tipped me off,

but he also has bradykinesia, rigidity.

We can help him with medication,

-but it's-- -It's progressive.

Here I was, looking for a problem to fix, and now all I've got

-is a much bigger problem. -Oh, that poor woman.

All right, let's divide and conquer.

I'll stay with George, get him an MRI.

We'll see if we can rule out anything else.

I'll tag in with Celeste and try to

-figure out how we can help her. -Okay.

Dr. DeSoto.

Glad I found you. Do you have a minute?

Of course.

I just wanted a quick progress report on our two favorite pupils.

Did I tell you that, before I went to med school,

I did Teach for America?

Taught kindergarten for two years,

and I learned that, when a child throws a tantrum,

you have to let them wear themselves out.

Then they come around in the end. [chuckles]

An eerily apt metaphor.

Um…

If you don't mind my asking, is it true

you're in a relationship with Dr. Bell?

I am.

But not to worry, it's all on the up and up.

HR is fully aware, and we're both adults.

Of course. It's just…

in my experience, a workplace romance

between a CEO and a surgeon can be a recipe for dysfunction

-and I'm-- -Oh, I'm sorry.

I wasn't aware you were also board certified in psychiatry.

Forgive me.

I was afraid Dr. Bell might come to you after meeting with me.

Try to use your relationship to request special treatment.

I wouldn't let that happen.

As you can see, advice is often not welcome,

but it is well-intentioned.

-[door knock] -Celeste?

-[wheezing] -Celeste?

Celeste?

Celeste!

Hey, I need some help in here!

Brent Porter. 22-year-old with abdominal trauma.

Yeah, I can see that. Put him in Bay Ten.

What's the old saying? "Kids in frat houses

shouldn't throw each other into glass tables"?

Hard to believe, but his vitals are stable.

Okay, on my count, slowly and very carefully.

One, two, three.

-Good. -[monitors beeping]

So, two questions: What happened?

-What are you on? -[Josh] Nothing.

-We swear. -Yeah, uh,

we were just wrestling to blow off some steam

-before finals. -That's what video games are for.

It's not their fault. I should've moved the furniture.

And I feel pretty okay.

Is that weird?

You're either very lucky or in shock,

so let's find out which. What's…

-on you? It's sticky. -That's just the suds.

-Don't act like that's normal. -[Josh] There was a baby pool

-of soapy suds. -It's like slippery wrestling.

Okay, everyone who doesn't work here

or have glass in them, leave.

So…

-Brent? -[monitors beeping quickly]

-Brent. -[Hundley] His heart's racing.

-BP's dropping. -Damn it.

Not lucky, I guess.

I hear breath sounds.

And bowel sounds.

He's got a ruptured diaphragm.

Page trauma surgery now.

All right, let's go.

[groans softly]

How we doing here?

She's just coming around.

Celeste, I'm Dr. Hawkins. We met in the ER.

Dr. Pravesh asked me to work with you

while he's helping with your husband.

How you feeling?

Eh, woozy.

What-what happened?

-You fainted. -[Conrad] Blood and oxygen stats were low.

When did you last visit the doctor?

-Oh, we go all the time. -Not we, you.

I d… I-I don't remember.

We're gonna get you a chest X-ray and do some cardiac tests.

Clara, could you send off a troponin, and a CK-MB,

and let's do a 12-lead EKG as well.

I'm on it.

Uh, George will want me to be with him.

Um, are you gonna transfer me to his room?

You need to rest.

You can't help George if you aren't well, right?

Um…

[whispers] Please don't put me in there.

We weren't planning on it.

It's… it's always been the two of us.

At home, in the office.

We didn't have kids, we just had each other.

And now, I…

I have no one. I…

dress him, I feed him, I clean him, and…

[sighs] It's constant. It just…

it just never ends.

[Conrad] We hear you.

I can't imagine how hard that's been.

Sometimes, when I wake up in the morning…

I look over, and I wish,

just-just for a second,

that he was gone.

[sniffles] That he passed peacefully in his sleep.

And I could remember him

how he used to be,

when he cared about me.

Does that make me a terrible person?

No.

-That makes you human. -[crying]

Oh…

We're gonna take care of you both.

-Promise. -Thank you.

[Brent] I think I passed out. Did I almost die?

-No, you're still here. -I-I don't understand. What…

-What are you-- -Your guts are in your chest.

No bueno.

[Bell] That's why we are the best surgeons for this job.

I'm an expert in abdominal surgery.

And I specialize in complicated heart and lung cases.

[Bell] Abdominal organs that made their way into the chest…

It's our bread and butter, baby.

Dr. DeSoto.

Doctors.

Who's she?

-She's just an observer. -She's a surgical coach.

Wait. You guys need a coach?

-[grunts softly] -Um…

There's no definitive test for Parkinson's,

but I've ruled out similar neurological conditions.

And he has all the cardinal signs.

The tremor isn't pronounced yet, but it's appreciable.

Okay, so what's the next step?

Start him on levodopa,

which should improve his symptoms in a few weeks.

Okay, well, that might make it easier for his wife

-to take care of him. -Mm-hmm.

Just got the results back from Celeste's EKG and echo.

She has stress cardiomyopathy. Broken heart syndrome.

Oh, my God.

[Billie] I remember that from med school.

-I always thought it sounded made up. -Unfortunately, it's very real.

It's when the body faces extreme physical and emotional stress.

Like in the form of an ailing and intensely difficult husband.

Taking care of her husband is literally killing Celeste.

[Conrad] I know you don't complain,

but handling your husband's health

is taking a physical toll on you.

We've started you on meds to manage your heart failure,

but the only cure is to relieve you

of the underlying stressor.

Now, hold on. You don't mean that--

George, we think the best option is to get you

into a skilled nursing facility.

Um, physical therapists will work with you

to regain your strength

and Celeste can recuperate at home.

It's not a permanent solution,

but it is the best plan we have for now.

Are you kidding? That's a terrible plan.

Celeste and I are a team.

All we need is each other

and our comfy chair at home, right, honey?

Tell them that's what's best for both of us.

It's not.

You're going to go to a nursing facility, George,

and I'm gonna sit in the comfy chair at home.

And if you love me at all--

Well, of course I love you, but--

Well, then it's time you listened.

I used to have a voice, George.

I miss that.

All you need is somebody to take care of you.

Is that what you think?

Honey, I-I want you safe.

I hate that…

I hate that you're sick because of me. I…

I just can't imagine living without you. I can't do it.

Yes, you can.

We'll adapt.

We've done it before.

[chuckles] Remember that time we lost our first nest egg

to bail out a hundred students in Wisconsin

when the war started?

Which war? There have been so many.

[chuckles]

Oh, I love you, George.

It'll always be us against the world, I promise.

It's just…

[exhales]

…you need to let me get better.

The truth is, you have always been the secret to our success.

A heart big enough for both of us together.

I've known that for 40 years.

The way she looks at us, like my mother

when I spill juice on her favorite sofa cushion.

Still on DeSoto, I see.

Don't drink the Kool-Aid, Bell.

We are the O.G. kings,

This newfangled coaching thing is just a fad.

You're starting to sound like my father talking about cordless telephones.

She can blow her hurricane my way, but I will not bend.

And neither should you.

Stay strong, Bell.

[Bell] Uh, scalpel, please?

[Jessica] Absolutely.

[Bell] When our nurses are more efficient, we are more efficient.

[Austin grunts]

[Austin] Are you meeting resistance?

[Bell] Yeah. This bowel is showing some signs of--

[monitor beeping rapidly]

[Chu] Pressure's plummeting.

[Austin] Heart rate rising. Going into shock.

[Bell] Bowel going ischemic. Strangulation due to the diaphragm.

[Chu] Pressure's still falling, despite IV pressors.

-Pulse 130. -[Bell] Adhesions are severe,

it's compromising blood supply to the bowel.

[Austin] Extend the diaphragmatic defect.

[Bell] Yeah, I just, I can't seem to get the angle.

-Hey, wait. -[Austin] What?

-[Bell] Hmm. -[Austin] Chu, rotate the table

towards Dr. Bell.

[whirring]

-Jessica. Two Deaver's to me. -[Jessica] Hmm?

[Austin] All right, hold retraction.

-[Bell] Mm-hm. -[Austin] Gotcha.

[monitor beeping steadily]

[Bell] Strangulated bowel's free. It looks to be perfusing well.

[Austin] And the last bleeder's under control.

[Chu] Vitals stabilizing.

[Bell exhales]

[Austin] All right. [chuckles]

That-that was… that was refreshing.

[Bell] The Kool-Aid tastes pretty good, doesn't it?

[Austin] Oh, yeah.

I can't believe we got George

-to agree to a nursing home. -That was Celeste.

You guys declare victory. I'm angry.

Medicare will only pay for 100 days.

After that, there's no good answer for a couple like them.

-I hate it. -You're speaking our language.

-We love people like you. -Even if you manipulate me

into breaking the rules.

Hey, I've been trying to get him to do that for years.

Keep trying.

You know, I've been thinking.

When George's symptoms progress, we should enroll him in a clinical trial.

There's new drugs.

I was reading about one in Baltimore that's investigating biomarkers into--

Eh, hold-hold up.

You follow clinical trials

the way most people play fantasy football.

-[laughs] -Why aren't you a scientist yet.

This is your future. You just got to go for it.

I don't know, I just feel like it's too late.

If there's one thing we have learned, it's that it's never too late to change.

[Bell] Not bad, right?

Think so.

-Uh-oh. -Doctor.

The surgery went well today.

Uh, a thank you is forthcoming, but I'm still working on it.

-Your advice was extremely helpful. -[Austin] Uh, "extremely"

is gilding the lily, but we are grateful. And humbled.

-He's choking on humble pie. -[laughter]

No, I've cleaned my plate, believe me.

Well, thanks.

I know I said you'd both need two weeks of coaching,

but I think you're good to go from here on in.

Okay, well, that's good news.

Indeed.

All right, well, good night.

-Good night. -Good night.

[Austin] Uh, hey, hey, wait.

Was there something else?

It's just that you shut it down so quickly.

You know, uh, I'm still proud.

Right? I-I'm full of hubris.

And that could…

that could stand in the way of my progress, right?

It could block my ascent to the Mount Olympus

of surgical greatness, which is, as everybody knows,

where I belong.

You haven't even judged my VATS technique yet.

You've been enjoying this.

No, absolutely not.

The adrenaline you get from learning new skills,

constantly improving.

You were missing that in your life.

Now that you've tasted it, you want more.

Knowledge is exhilarating.

A, uh, pleasure stimulant.

10:00 a.m. tomorrow, your office.

Okay, I know this is a big ask,

but I would like to start shifting my professional focus to clinical trials.

I would need to go part-time in the ER, you would need to find a new ER doctor,

but think of all the people we could help. Like my patient today.

Not to mention the money

and the prestige that it would bring Chastain.

What do you think?

I think you should stop putting Red Bull in your coffee.

[laughs]

But I also think it's a wonderful idea.

You do?

I do.

Have a proposal on my desk by Monday.

[chuckles]

-[Conrad] Ah, hey, Bubble. -Dad!

[grunts]

-Good day at school? -Billie told Luca to stop talking.

Kid wouldn't shut up about dinosaurs.

It was time to go.

[laughs]

Good, I'm glad I caught you guys before you left.

Hey, Gigi.

-This is for you. -[gasps]

My own stethoscope. Awesome!

[Marion] Since you had so much fun at the hospital today,

I thought you could practice your nursing skills at home.

Uh, that's really sweet, thank you.

Yeah, she told me she wants to be a nurse when she grows up.

Oh. She's getting more practical.

Uh, last week, it was a firefighter farmer.

The week before, it was a professional octopus.

I'm sure she'll go through a few more jobs

before she finds the right one. [chuckles]

All right, I will see you guys later.

See you.

Hey…

what you said earlier.

You think I really could?

Marion?

♪ On a sign, something to prove… ♪

[laughs softly]

Yeah, go for it.

♪ And there's purpose… ♪

-Thank you, Billie. Really. -Yeah.

Gigi, how about some ice cream?

-Yes. -Should we invite Marion?

-Yes! -Okay!

-Uh, strawberry? -Yeah.

[laughs] Okay.

Hey, Marion.

We are going to get some ice cream.

We wanted to know if you would like to join us.

♪ All these things will come to pass ♪

♪ All the things you're going through ♪

♪ Do the things that come to pass ♪

♪ I will be with you ♪

[closing theme music playing]