03x19 - The Hard Hours

[bunniefuu]

You know, you guys
really do a terrific job.

You keep amazing me
all the time.

Yeah, well, you know,
actually we almost didn't make it.

This engine was running
so bloody rough.

Listen to this.

[ENGINE SPUTTERING]

See?

We better call the repair shop
when we get back to the station.

Yeah. It sounds like
your points are closed.

You mind if I take a look?

No, sure, go ahead.

WOMAN ON PA: ident
in one. Emergency in six.

You got a screwdriver?

Yeah.

Thanks.

Thank you.

WOMAN ON PA:
Dr. Allen, an emergency.

Dr. Allen, an emergency.

Here you go.
That ought to do it.

Well, start her up.

[ENGINE HUMMING]

Well, son of a g*n.

That's incredible.

Thank you. You're very welcome.

Well, that was kind of
incredible. We owe you one.

Anytime.

Just invite me to the station next time
Captain Stanley makes clam chowder.

Last time it was delicious.

All right, you're on. Bye-bye.

That's incredible. Sure is.

No mistake?

No mistake.

No administrative error,

no machine malfunctions,

nothing we can blame
on a technician?

Well, you can't blame me
for asking, either way.

I know better.

No, Dix, I can't blame you.

Where's Joe?

Treatment 1.

Don't use this hand.

Try and keep it clean and dry
and then come back tomorrow.

We'll change the bandage.

Joe? Can I see you
for a minute? Yeah?

Sure, Kel.

Carol, let him sit here
for a few minutes, okay?

Yes, Doctor.

Sit down, Joe.

I want you to take a look at
this and give me your diagnosis.

It's part of a routine
examination.

Patient has a negative
cardiac history.

Looks bad.

It shows an old
inferior infarction,

and those inverted T waves across the
precordium indicate anterior wall ischemia.

That's right.
What would you prescribe?

Well, I'd hospitalize him
right away.

And I'd certainly give serious
consideration to coronary arteriography.

Whose EKG is this, Kel?

Yours, Joe.

Cardiology just sent it down.

It's part of the physical
you took a couple of days ago.

Maybe it's somebody else's EKG?

That's what Dixie asked.

I like her thinking.

Have you had any symptoms?

Any tightness or pressure
in your chest?

Well, I've had occasional
angina in the past year.

Didn't think anything about it.

As a matter of fact, it awakened
me a couple of nights this week,

but I just thought
I was working too hard.

I don't like it, Joe.

I think we should go ahead
with the arteriogram today.

Yeah.

I mean, yes, you're right, Kel.

Can you give me just a minute?

The squad hasn't run
this smoothly in weeks.

Yeah, I know.

I didn't realize
the Hippocratic oath

extended to the healing
of fire equipment.

Well, the more I know Dr. Early,

the more I realize he doesn't
ever think in terms of limitations.

[RADIO BEEPING]

DISPATCHER ON RADIO:
Squad 51, L.A.

Squad 51.

Squad 51, man down
with leg injury.

Northdale Park.
Wilmington Avenue at Crenshaw.

Wilmington Avenue at Crenshaw. Time out,


Squad 51.

[SIREN WAILING]

Here comes some help, Dad.

You let me do the talking, okay?

Okay, Dad. I'm really sorry though,
you know.

Yeah, I know, I know.
Just keep quiet.

Howdy.

Chief, I'm sorry
to trouble you with this.

I don't think it's very serious.

It's his ankle.

Yeah, let's take a look at it.

What happened?

I guess I fell on it
the wrong way.

You trip on a sprinkler
over there?

DAVE: No, no. I'm sorry, Dad.

What's that?

Nothing.

Well, looks like it's fractured.

BP's 130 over 80.

Pulse 100.

Okay, I got it.

JOHNNY ON RADIO:
Rampart, this is Squad 51.



Rampart, we have a male
in his early 30's,

looks like he has
a fractured left ankle.



BP's is 130 over 80.
Pulse is 100.


as you have him splinted.



Jeez, when I played,
I never missed a game. Never.

His nickname was, "The Animal."

JOHNNY: Yeah. I remember you.

Twenty unassisted tackles
against New York, right?

Uh-huh. And now I bust
an ankle like this.

I told you I was sorry, Dad.

You're quite a ball player.

I still don't understand
why this happened.

Well, I was just teaching
Rich how to make a tackle.

And he tripped.

No, no, you knocked me
right on my back.

I guess he caught me
off balance.

[SIREN WAILING]

You know, I wish you guys
wouldn't tell anybody about this.

You know,
it looks kind of stupid, doesn't it?

Well, looks to me like you
got quite a football player there.

I think Rich is gonna make it.
He's gonna be all right.

Just a lucky sh*t, Dad.

We'd like to take you on to the hospital,
if it's okay.

Can he ride along with us?

Sure, sure.

Okay. I'm gonna
grab this leg there.

Yeah, I got it.

Ready? Straight up.

Slide him down a little.

Okay.

There we go.

ROY: You're getting
first-class treatment here.

See you later.

He'll be okay.

JOHNNY: Did you
take my helmet? Yeah.

Kel, they're ready for Joe
in the oath lab.

Do you want me to get him?

Yeah, would you please, Dix?

Lorraine, double check
these supplies for me, okay?

WOMAN ON PA: Stat ident,
Doctor. Treatment Room 3.

All right. We're
ready in two. Okay.

Do you need me, Doc?
No, go ahead, Johnny.

Okay.

Joe. Dix.

For me?

You know, I find myself
wanting to say I don't need it.

Well, Joe, if you'd rather...

No, Dix.

I've been upholding these hospital
regulations too long to ignore them now.

Let's go.

Hi, Johnny. Hey, Roy.
JOHNNY: Hey, Doc.

What are you doing,
testing a new model here?

I decided you guys get a
chance to ride your patients,

why shouldn't I?

What's wrong, Doc?

Oh, there's just a little
question about my EKG.

It's nothing serious.

Right, Dix? Right.

How's the squad running?

It's running fine.

Like a top.

Well, don't forget
the clam chowder.

No way. No.

Don't mean to be rude, but I don't
want to keep them waiting, okay?

All right, okay.

I can't believe it.

You'd think I'd never heard
bad news about anybody before.

Well, some people,
you just don't get immune to.

Maybe it isn't all that serious.

Did you ever see Dixie
that concerned before?

No.

You think...

You think maybe they might
have made a mistake or something?

You don't think they
haven't checked that all out?

[TRUCK ENGINE STARTING]

Remember now, I want to see you
back here in two weeks for x-rays.

Incidentally, Dave,
I'm a big fan of yours.

Well, thanks, Doc.

There's the guy
who did it to me over there.

He hit me low and hard,
just like I taught him.

Well, tell him to take it easy
on you for a while, okay?

Okay, Doc.

This is my Dad.

When he played football,
they called him, "The Animal."

Really? You must be quite a man.

RICHARD: I'm the one
that broke his ankle, too.

Yeah, you should've seen him.
Went down like he'd been sh*t.

Come on, Rich.

But, Dad, I'm not through
talking to her.

Yes, you are, Rich. Let's go.

But, Dad...

I thought you were proud of me.

Listen, I was only
going at half speed,

so let's not get carried away.

But,
Dad... Quiet. We'll discuss it later.

Now what do you guys think?

[sum-nus]

Well, Joe's in good
physical condition.

He should be able
to tolerate surgery okay.

Of course, we'll know a lot more

after we've seen
the coronary arteriograms.

Yeah, well,
we'll have them for you today.

Good.

Kel, if Joe does need surgery,
we can take him right away.

Good. Thanks, Fred, Tom.

I'll let you know as soon
as we get the results.

Catheter.

Okay, Joe?

Okay, Kel.

Joe, can you roll over on
your left side just a little.

That's good.

Okay, relax.

Just about there.

Okay, hold it
right there, Bruce.

Okay, George.

We'd better not say anything about Dr. Early
till we know more about it, all right?

Okay.

Hey, guys.

Where've you been?
You almost missed lunch.

You guys remember, "The Animal"?

He used to play middle
linebacker a couple of years ago?

Yeah, he was unbelievable.

Yeah, he used to eat people.

Yeah, well, he broke his ankle
playing football with his kid.

We went on the response.

Lucky you came back alive.

I hope you called him
Mr. Animal.

Well, actually,
he was very nice.

Hey, you guys look like
he offered to wrestle you,

once he's feeling better.
Anything wrong?

Well, nothing that
a little lunch couldn't cure.

Well, I'm glad to hear that

because I have just made
a big batch of clam chowder.

How're you doing, Joe?

Everything's terrific.

In fact, I feel so good
I'm beginning to think

this whole thing's
a big mistake.

Well, we should have those
arteriograms anytime now.

And?

And if you do need an operation,

Fred and Tom are
set up to do it today.

Boy, those young guys are really
eager to get their hands on me.

Maybe we ought to teach them
a little patience, Kel.

You never were one
to waste time, Joe.

Now's not the time to start.

I'll keep you posted. Okay.

Kel.

Listen, I heard about Joe.

Anything that I can do,
just give me a yell.

Why don't you go upstairs
and talk to him for a while?

He's sweating out the results
of those arteriograms.

Might help keep
his mind off of it.

And mine, too. On my way.

[sum-nus]

Well, we think we should
operate immediately.

Joe's arteriogram shows a complete
occlusion of the right coronary artery.

And there's a high-grade lesion

in the proximal left anterior
descending coronary artery.

So, we'll definitely have to
by-pass the left coronary artery,

but we'll decide about the
right when we get in there.

And if you're successful,
Doctor?

If the operation works, the heart
will have a new piece of plumbing.

It's revascularized.

He needs it. He needs it now.

I'm particularly worried about
the anterior wall of the left ventricle.

It doesn't look good.

Well, Doctors,
don't let me keep you from your work.

What's Joe's mental state?

I'd say it's good.

Good. Good.

Well, that's about it, huh?

Yeah, I guess,
we better go tell Joe.

You Okay?

Sure.

You?

Sure.

All right, I want the plain,
unvarnished truth.

What's wrong
with the clam chowder?

It's nothing, Cap,
I mean, it's fine. It's fine.

Delicious.

You guys aren't just saying that
because your careers are in my hands.

Hey, Cap, I'll have some more clam chowder,
if there's any left.

[ALARM SOUNDING]

DISPATCHER ON RADIO: Station 51,
unknown type rescue.

502 Ocean Avenue.

502 Ocean Avenue.

Cross street is Frazier.
Time out, 1310.

Station 51. KMG 365.

[HORN BLARING]

[SIRENS WAILING]

Hey, you better hurry.
It's that crazy kid.

The kid's Spinetti.
He loves space travel.

I always laughed it off,
till just now when I heard this big bang.

What is it? MAN: I don't know.

I think it's a rocket ship.
Who's inside?

The Spinetti kid. Do you
think it's gonna blow up?

Yeah, it may.
You better move on back.

Cap, we've got a boy in a
homemade rocket in there.

There's no fire yet.

All right, let's bring an inch
and a half in, just in case.

BOY: Get back. I can't
cut off the fluid flow.

JOHNNY: What're you
talking about?

The main tube is about to fire.

He says the main tube
is about to fire.

Ask him what kind of fuel
he's using.

What kind of fuel you using?

Oxides of hydrogen
and carbon under expansion.

I don't know what he's using.

It's okay.

Huh? It's okay.

Oh. All right.

All right. This is bent here,
this lever. All right, okay.

Hey, you wanna
hop down out of there?

You okay? How did you
get that cut on your arm?

Cut my arm on the t*nk
control valve when it fell.

Yeah.
Couldn't shut off the valve.

Yeah. The hot water
sprinkled over the dry ice.

Yeah. Caused the
expansion of the CO2.

Oh, yeah. Which is in turn
directed through a Venturi tube.

All right.

You mean the CO2 squirts out
the back like seltzer water?

An over-simplified layman's description
of a highly complicated system.

[GROANS]

Kid, you weren't trying to
launch this thing, were you?

Certainly not. It didn't even
have the wings attached.

I was testing
the expansion system.

You think this is practical?

Of course, it is.

The world's first carbon
dioxide expansion rocket glider.

Non-polluting and non-flammable.

Every family will have one
instead of a car.

Think our job's tough now,

wait till every family starts riding
around in one of these things.

You sure that razor's sharp?

Yes.

You're not going to cut me?

Getting shaved in bed.

Now that's what I call luxury.

Yeah, and they got
a bargain on this week.

From the neck to the waist.

Got everything you need?

Sure. Soft bed,

enough magazines to last me
for at least two weeks.

They must've been cleaning
out the visitor's lounges.

You know
how long it's been, Kel,

since I've had a chance to read
a magazine from cover to cover?

Almost a year.

Now, well,
don't get too used to it.

We want you back on the job
pretty quick.

That's gonna be tough after all the VIP
treatment I've been getting around here.

Everybody's gone out of his way.

Who do they think I am?

They know who you are, Joe.

Okay.

I'll admit, Kel. I'm scared.

[sums]

What man wouldn't be?

There's just too much
to think about.

Just lying here.

Thinking.

[sums]

I honestly can't think of anything
to say that you don't already know.

That's just it.

I've run through
all the lectures.

They've got the best doctors this hospital
has to offer performing the operation.

They're using
the latest techniques.

I'm in excellent health
otherwise.

But I gotta tell you,

it still doesn't take away
all those doubts.

I guess it comes down
to blind faith

after everything else
has been said.

Yeah, well,

I've found it's a lot easier
to talk about than to live it.

So, I guess you're right, Kel.

Dr. Brackett,
you're needed in emergency.

I'll be right there.

I'll see you later. Okay.

Okay, let's get
this show on the road.

WOMAN ON PA:
Dr. Allen, report to surgery.

Dr. Allen, report to surgery.

Hi. Hi, Dix.

We just brought in a boy who
tried to make a homemade rocket.

Yeah. It was really
something, too.

Yeah.

Yeah. It certainly is
quiet around here.

He needs a bypass operation.

He's due in surgery
just about now.

The doctor says
he's got a good chance.

And I'm scared to death.

Anything else you want to know?

No. That about covers it.

Yeah.

Thanks.

Goodbye.

Clyde, I'm gonna have to
give you a tetanus booster.

A wise precaution.

You're not afraid of sh*ts,
are you?

No, sir.

Hi. Hi, Dad.

Who called you?
The hospital, that's who.

They needed permission
to treat you.

Everybody else's kid
is out playing football,

mine's gonna try to go to Mars.

You didn't know
he was building a rocket ship?

Yeah. Well, I thought
he meant, you know,

little rockets, like models.

He never mentioned
he was gonna ride in it.

Well, he took four stitches in his
arm. I gave him a tetanus booster.

He's ready to go.

Well, Clyde, wait for me
outside the door.

Building rockets all by himself.

I don't know whether this
kid is a genius or a nut.

Doctor, I don't understand.

Maybe you ought to try spending
a little more time with him.

He might like getting to
know you a little better, too.

Yeah?

It's a good idea.

It's a good idea.

Thanks, Doc.

Hey» YOU guys.

Yeah?

Would you mind stepping
into the office for just a minute?

Sure.

Have a seat.

Okay, we've been working
together for a long time now.

I think we know
each other pretty well.

Our shift has gotten
to be kind of like a family.

All I'm trying to say is,
that if you don't want to talk about

whatever this is that's bothering you,
it's fine.

But, if you do, well,
I'm here, that's all. Okay?

Well, actually, Cap,
it's no big secret.

It's just that Joe Early is
undergoing heart surgery right now,

and it's kind of hard
to deal with, you know.

Yeah, yeah.

Well, look, if you wanna stay
on the air over at the hospital,

it's okay with me.

[ALARM SOUNDING]
So much for that idea.

DISPATCHER ON RADIO: Squad 51,
child locked in a bathroom.

1127 Elmwood.

1127 Elmwood. Apartment 3.

Time out, 1504.

Squad 51. KMG 365.

Thanks, Cap.

[SIRENS WAILING]

My daughter's stuck in the
bathtub and the door's locked.

All right.

I'll get the ram-bar. All right.

I just feel terrible about it.

You know,
she's been stuck in there about 15 minutes.

Does she sound okay?

Why, I think she's beginning
to panic a little. Here.

You should know better than to
let children bathe by themselves.

It's okay, baby.
The firemen are here now.

This way. You can break
the door down if you have to,

but just get her out.

All right. I don't think we're
gonna have to break it down.

Here.

Can you hang on
for just a second more?

GIRL: Hurry. All right,
just a second. What's your name?

Betty. Okay,
we're gonna be right in to get you, Betty.

Here we go.

Hi.

Hi.

I...

Could one of you please
help me get my foot free?

[STAMMERING] Sure, I...

I thought you were
a little... We thought...

You told me
she was a little girl.

Could you please hurry?

You want to?

Can you... And I'll get
some information from you.

You want to step right out here,

and we'll get your information
out here.

You want to hand me
the soap there?

Never mind. I'll get it.

I feel so silly.

It's really a stupid thing.
I'm really embarrassed.

You shouldn't feel embarrassed.

No need to feel embarrassed.

There. There we go.

What a relief.

Thank you. You're welcome.

Okay.

Well, let's go.

All right.

Well, thank you both very much.

That's all right. Any
time. Any time. Bye-bye.

Bye.

Going to the hospital?

Yeah. They may need to treat me.

Squad 51, available.

DISPATCHER: Squad 51.

WOMAN ON PA: ident
a doctor. Treatment 2.

Thought I'd listen to the tape
that 99 had this morning.

Yeah, well,

I've gone over these nurses'
schedules three times already.

Yeah, I know what you mean.

Well, ifs just a wonderful
time for a slow day, isn't it?

Yeah.

Well, Joe talked about the difficulties
of suddenly becoming a patient.

Remind me to tell him that being on
the waiting end isn't too terrific either.

Yeah.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING]

How much longer is it gonna be?

Well, the procedure normally
takes three to four hours.

Well, it's been
four hours already.

Tell me about it.

Well, we should be there
in a couple of...

[RADIO BEEPING]

Minutes.

DISPATCHER: Squad 51, come in.

Engine 51. Squad 51.

Possible electrocution
in the parking lot.

Corner of Weatherly and Garden.

Weatherly and Garden.
Time out, 1805.

[SIREN WAILING]

Squad 51, 10-4.

Yeah, it's just around
the block here.

It happened two minutes ago.

The outrigger slipped and the
basket came down and hit the primary.

Did you call the power
company? I already did that.

All right. Hurry,
would you? Wally's hurt bad.

ROY: Yeah. Looks like it's gonna
be too close for mouth-to-mouth.

I'm gonna get the Ambu bag.

All right.

Why can't you bring him down
from the cab here?

Well, the controls
are shorted out.

I can pop the relief valves,

but she'll come right down
into those secondary lines.

Well, we'll cut them for you.

We'll need
our mechanical axes, boys.

Mike, you and Marco,
you've got the far pole.

Use the extension ladder.

Chet, throw the roof ladder
up on this pole right here.

I'll get the axe off the squad.

Cap, we're gonna have to
get him down real quick.

STANLEY: Gotta cut those
three transformer drops first, Chet.

CHET: Right, Cap.

Okay, Stoker,

you know we got to cut both ends
of these wires at the same time!



Okay, ready, Chet?
CHET: Ready, Cap.

Okay, Stoker,
are you ready? Ready!

Right. Ready! Cut!

STANLEY: Okay,
now the other outside line.

Ready, Chet? Ready.

You ready, Mike?
MIKE: I'm ready.

Ready! Cut!

Okay, now the middle wire.

Ready, Chet? CHET: Ready.

You got it, Mike? MIKE: Ready.

Ready!

Cut!

Okay, you can lower away! Okay.

Okay, one more
and then we're in.

All right, we're in.

Okay, clear.

CPR. CPR.

Nothing. Okay, clear.

Got him back.

All right,
put some oxygen on him.

Rampart, this is Squad 51.



JOHNNY: Rampart,
we have a male victim.

Approximately 45 years old.

He's been in collision
with live power lines.

He was in V-fib,
but we've counter-shocked.

He's now on sinus rhythm.



Rampart, BP is 90 over 45,
and the pulse is 70.

Victim is now unconscious.

The pupils are still dilated.


Start a lidocaine drip,

administer two amps sodium bicarb,
then transport.



Lidocaine and two
amps of bicarb. All right.

[AMBULANCE SIREN WAILING]

WOMAN ON PA: Dr. Harris,
administrator's office.

Dr. Harris,
administrator's office.

I think he's going to be
all right, Kel.

Any complications?

Kidneys are functioning,
EKG looks good.

[sums]

That's great.

Thank you, Fred.

Did the operation take
any longer than usual?

No. No.

Only on this one,
I stayed to do the closing sutures myself.

I apologize.

I should've sent someone
down earlier with the results.

No apologies necessary.
Thank you.

Thanks for coming down. Yeah.

Joe's in recovery, and then
we'll send him into intensive care.

Okay, then. Thanks again, Fred.

[MONITOR BEEPING]

The operation was
a success, Joe.

You're gonna be all right.

He's holding his own, Doc.

Yeah, we're set up in three.

Doc, any news?

Joe's out of surgery.
He's gonna be fine.

All right.

JOE: Hi, Roy. Hi, Johnny.

Doc. Dix.
KELLY: What you say, fellows?

Here you go.
It's from Station 51, Doc.

Just what I've always
needed. A red Thermos bottle.

That's gratitude for you.

Hey, clam chowder.
This'
taste so good.

Especially after this stuff they've
been feeding me around here.

Hey, are you knocking
our hospital cuisine, Doctor?

Look, Dix, I may be sick,
but I'm not crazy.

And if you think I'm gonna
comment on the food around here,

especially after I still have to eat it,
you're...

But now that you've asked me,
I wanna tell you one thing.

Wait a minute, Joe.
I think you need some rest.

Come on, let's get out of here.

See you later, Doc.
We'll see you later.

All right. Bye-bye.