01x05 - The Haunted Marine

[bunniefuu]

- [HORNS HONKING]
- Coping mechanisms.

We all have them.

Just ask any New Yorker.

We need them to get through the day...

♪

... to keep our heads up...

to deal with our traumas...

both physical...

and emotional.

♪

Sometimes our trauma
causes us to seek solitude.

♪

While, other times, it causes us
to examine ourselves...

[SOBBING]

... opening us up to
connecting with others,

even if... especially if...

We also fear it.

It's honestly so chaotic.

They're rebooting the third
sequel but calling it a prequel?

Mm-hmm.

That is so wild. Wow.

So... that was my morning.

30 minutes of doom-scrolling

with a side of espresso... and a Benzo.

- [CHUCKLES]
- Wait. Girl. Are you not here?

Hmm?

Sometimes the ghosts that
haunt us can be seen by others.

_

And other times, our ghosts
are visible only to ourselves.

[g*nf*re AND EXPLOSIONS]

[HIGH-PITCHED RINGING]

[EXPLOSIONS]

- Mr. Hill?
- [GASPS]

[HIGH-PITCHED RINGING STOPS]

You ready?

♪

I'm Dr. Pierce.

Welcome to Bronx General.

Vertical eye movements
are still intact, consistent

with an injury that spared
the mid-brain tectum.

Good morning, sir.

- [BREATHING HEAVILY]
- Slept through your alarm?

I got caught up doing research.

I lost track of time. I'm so sorry.

Based on our exam and his last EEG,

it appears that our
John Doe is suffering

from Locked-In Syndrome.

It's a rare condition that happens

when part of the brain stem
is permanently damaged.

Often due to a stroke,
which we know John Doe had.

Correct. LIS leaves patients

completely paralyzed in all their limbs.

He can't talk or communicate

except through vertical eye movements.

Which suggests that JD's
cognitive abilities are still intact.

It's just like the
Martin Pistorius case.

He understood everything
that his family was saying to him.

He just didn't have a way to respond.

If we're right, John Doe has been

in a very lonely place
for a very long time.

WOLF: [MUFFLED] Based on
our exam and his last EEG,

it appears that our
John Doe is suffering

from Locked-In Syndrome...

What about you, Dr. Markus?

Any observations you'd care to add?

Um... no. Nothing.

But I'll let you know if
I have any gut feelings.

Please do.

- [KNOCK ON DOOR]
- Wolf?

Mind if I steal you?
I could use an assist.

John Doe's eyes are his voice now.

There's somebody behind them.

Our job is to find out who.

So, who's your patient?

His name is Steve Hill.
He's a veteran. Marine Corps.

Suffers from severe anxiety,
depression, intrusive thoughts.

Not uncommon in your department.

Except near the end of our session,

he told me he's been seeing ghosts...

Of people he served with.

A "Haunted Marine."

It feels that way, yes.
His wife is on her way.

Maybe she can give us
some background and history,

help us figure out where
these "ghosts" are coming from.

Here, babe.

I got you.

I told her she didn't need to come.

Last thing I need is for my
wife to go into labor on the Six.

Well, worse things have
happened on the subway.

- [CHUCKLES]
- I wanted to be here.

Steve's been struggling since
he got home from his deployment.

A lot of days, I'm fine,
but then there are days

when I go to lace my shoes and I just...

I break down. It's not pretty.

Anna's got enough to deal with.

I want to be a help
to her, not a burden.

Well, the fact that you're
here seeking answers

tells me that you are not a burden.

Uh, what's in there?

My medical records.

I've got everything documented.

Yeah, well, I see you've been to the VA.

Were there any help at all?

Um, they gave him some meds

for anxiety and depression,

but he didn't like how they
made him feel, so he stopped.

I don't want to go back there.

Um...

When you break down,

are there any physical symptoms?

Headache, heart
palpitations, blurry vision?

Sometimes. A bit more lately.

Tell me about these visions
you've been experiencing lately.

Wait. What "visions"?

Nothing to worry about, babe. Uh...

You know I just said bye to Aiden.

W-We served together.

His funeral was last week.

It's been... painful. That's all.

How far along are you, Mrs. Hill?

Um, 34 weeks.

I am so ready.
- We both are. [CHUCKLES]

- Your first?
- Yeah.

Steve told me he wanted
kids on our first date.

And she didn't ghost
me, believe it or not.

[LAUGHS]

I've always wanted to be a dad.

And this stuff on my mind,

I want to get it under
control before our son is born.

Well, we're here to help,
and the first step

is determining a correct diagnosis.

He's clearly withholding
something to protect his wife,

but based off his symptoms,
my first thought was PTSD.

That would explain his
hypervigilance, his insomnia,

his intrusive thoughts,

his grief over losing his friend Aiden.

It's very common for people
with PTSD to relive trauma

Can make you feel like
you're living in the past

and the present all at the same time.

Kind of like someone I know.

Okay, the VA already
treated him for PTSD...

Trauma-based CBT,
EMDR, exposure therapy,

multiple SSRIs, even prazosin.

What if PTSD is only part of the story?

It doesn't account for all of his
symptoms, namely his delusions.

Remember... he's been seeing ghosts.

PTSD could be present in an
underlying neurological issue,

like a tumor or... or hydrocephalus.

He hasn't had a recent MRI,
but at least his CT scans

didn't show anything too concerning.

It can be an episode from psychosis

due to schizophrenia
or bipolar disorder.

His age is a little unusual
for a schizophrenic first break.

No history of mania.

Uh, what about frontotemporal dementia?

It could be early enough that he's not

showing any of the telltale signs.

Well, all possibilities.
We need more data.

Ericka and Jacob, track down

his military history, anyone
who served with Steve.

Look into this Aiden fellow, see

if he was treated for similar symptoms.

In order to understand
Steve's present condition,

we need to know his past. Go.

And I'll talk to Josh,
see if he has any ideas.

You talk to Josh?

[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES]

Yes. I do.

He's my friend.

Oh, but by "friend," you mean colleague,

like you share a cold, exacting,

professional connection with him?

[LAUGHS] Unlike you,

I actually enjoy the
company of other people.

And... I happen to know
that he was in the military.

Well...

♪

Why you never call my Paulina?

Every time I come
for dialysis, I tell you...

my granddaughter is single, smart.

Looks like a Russian Megan Fox.

Good genes.

Like her Babushka.

I'm... I'm sure Pauline is lovely.

It's just I-I really don't
have time to date.

[SCOFFS] Your generation

doesn't know how to have fun anymore!

How many times, Mrs. Petrov?

You cannot smoke in a hospital!

Dr. Warner...

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

So... what was up
with you and Wolf earlier?

I-I don't know what you're referring to.

Don't gaslight me, Ben.
He went out of his way

to get your take on John Doe.

Why are you suddenly his favorite?

Oh, my God! You're sleeping with Wolf!

What?! No. No. No. I...

He... He asked for my opinion

because he recently diagnosed me

with Mirror-Touch Synesthesia.

Wow. Wow, wow, wow, wow!

You have Mirror-Touch? Hah!

So all those times when you were
freaking out in front of patients...

You were just feeling
what they were feeling.

This makes so much sense!

Did you know that MTS only
impacts 1.6% of the population?

Van, you basically have a superpower!

Yeah, well, it feels more
like a super curse, okay?

And if I'm being honest,

I'm still processing what it all means.

Hmm.

Have you ever noticed
that you can't spell "Dana"

without the letters N-D-A?

I will take this to my grave.

♪

Thank you?

♪

[expl*si*n]

♪

[SIREN WAILS]

♪

Dr. Wolf?

What are you doing here?

Steve. How are you?

I came to check in on you.

Doctors don't just show up
at people's places of work.

I do. Um, I realize my
methods are a little unorthodox,

but too many doctors
treat symptoms, not people.

So...

Um, you left this with me.

I wanted to bring it back to you.

I hope you don't mind.
I took a look inside.

And what I found was very impressive.

- Really?
- Absolutely.

I wish all my patients
were as prepared as you.

[CHUCKLES]

Did anyone follow you here?

Uh, no, no. I don't think so. Why?

Do you think someone's following you?

They already came for Aiden.
Now they're coming for me next.

Um...

Steve, is there anything
you didn't tell us earlier?

Something you didn't want
to say in front of your wife?

I'm sorry, Dr. Wolf.

You should go. We're about to close.

Anything that you share
with me stays between us.

Doctor-patient confidentiality.
You're safe. You can trust me.

♪

See this?

Nano chips. Developed by DARTA.

And look here.

They say it's to track our health,

but it's all a lie.

The military put a microchip
in my head to control me.

It's malfunctioning,
making me see things.

The VA won't take
responsibility. No one will.

That's why I came to you.

I need you to help me.

I need you to take it out.

[CLICKING]

- It's normal. There's no chip.
- Obviously.

There are no signs of
intracranial lesion

or a process that could
explain his hallucinations.

So how much longer
do we go along with him?

He deserves to know the truth, right?

No, not necessarily.

Think of Steve as a man

who's been adrift at
sea for weeks, starving.

One might think what
he needs is a feast...

But that'd put his system in shock.

- It's too much too fast.
- Yeah, exactly.

If we're not careful,
our patient could go

from paranoid delusions
to full psychosis.

So we ease him back to reality?

Yeah. Let's admit him.
And your job is to keep him calm.

Be sure we don't lose his trust.

Believe me, I've seen what
paranoia can do to people.

Did you know forests contain


and 68% of the world's mammals?

We can hunt some of them
with your grandpa's r*fle here.

You know, when I was your age,

he taught me how to use this thing.

Today I'm gonna teach you.

There's this rare calcite

- that grows by concave riverbeds.
- [CHUCKLES]

Think we can hunt for that instead?

Of course.

We'll scout crystals
for your collection.

Don't worry.

- [INDISTINCT CONVERSATION]
- [TWIG SNAPS]

- [MAN IMITATES BIRD CAWING]
- [WOMAN LAUGHS]

- Get down. Get down.
- What's wrong?

- What is it?
- Those... Those hikers.

[WOMAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

They're following us.

Okay. Stay down. Keep quiet.

[HIKERS SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

[DOOR OPENS]

Hi. Jacob and I reached out
to the VA about Steve's unit,

and one of their people
wants to talk to you.

Her name's Dr. Jordana Moore.

I-I don't know how to use this.

N-No. She's... She's actually here.

Oh. Uh...

[RECEIVER HANGS UP]

I knew Steve personally.

He went through basic training
when I was a camp medic.

Didn't stay in touch,
but I always liked him.

What was he like back then?

Let's just say some lead by rank,

others lead by example.

Steve was exemplary.

"Was." So what changed?

I wish I knew.

When he came to us after his deployment,

we did everything we could to help.

And one day, he just
refused further treatment

for his delusions, said he
didn't trust us anymore.

He stopped coming after that.

Turns out he sees us as the enemy.

Well, I can understand
Steve as a Black man

being concerned about his care.

- Who's treating him now?
- Nobody.

He lost his benefits after he was

other-than-honorably discharged.

He was threatening to
disclose military secrets online.

The DoD cannot tolerate that.

Well, it's no stretch to say that
Steve was traumatized in some way.

Who's to say what he saw
on the front lines?

Steve was never on the front lines.

He never got within 10
miles of a battle, period.

What kind of military
action did he participate in?

I can't disclose that information.

Military protocol.

As Steve found out the hard way,

we take our confidentiality
very seriously.

I wish the best for Steve. I really do.

But my hands are tied.

♪

Okay. Let's keep this simple.

Look up for "yes"
and look down for "no."

Can you feel if you understands?

And can you feel how weird
I feel asking you to feel his feelings?

No. And I regret telling you anything.

Tell us. Can you hear me?

[EXHALES SHARPLY]

Can you tell us... are you in pain?

Do you know where you are?

Oh.

Okay. Let's ask him again to
make sure he's answering correctly.

Um, tell me again. Can you hear me?

Are you in pain, sir?

JD, can you look up?

I think he's feeling anxious.

What you're feeling
is me... all the time.

Welcome to my amygdala.

- [SIREN WAILS]
- I got some intel.

My Navy buddy couldn't give me much.

As expected, the military
is pretty buttoned-up,

but I was able to find out a little,

and it turns out that
Dr. Moore was right.

Steve and his unit never saw any combat?

It's a relatively new strategy...

Minimize the number
of soldiers on the ground

while units like Steve's pound
the enemy with a*tillery fire.

So he was miles
away from the front lines.

Which is why he and his unit

never suffered any
combat-related injuries.

Not one single casualty
during their deployment.

And, yet, since returning home...

What?

It wasn't just Aiden Miller.

More than half the unit is dead.

Some from unintended drug overdose,

but others by suicide.

- Hi, babe.
- How you doing?

- How'd it go?
- Dr. Warner...

Something happened to him.

Something happened to all of them.

We have a normal MRI.

With severe delusions.

But their unit was
decimated by something.

I mean, the rate of
descent... it's like it's

Lewy Body Dementia,
early-onset Alzheimer's.

It almost reminds me of some
former football players I've seen.

If I didn't know better, I'd say
Steve was suffering from CTE.

What'd you say?

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.

Yeah, no, I know what CTE is, Wolf.

It's just that that's a sound theory.
That would explain a lot.

Mood swings, cognitive
impairment, paranoia.

But he wasn't an athlete.

He was never in a serious accident.

If he was never in combat,
how is CTE possible?

I want to show you something.

[g*nsh*t]

I'm gonna assume you've never
handled one of these before?

- Uh, no.
- Okay. Safety 101.

Always treat the g*n as if it's loaded.

Always keep the g*n
pointed in a safe direction.

And always keep your
finger off the trigger

till you're ready to sh**t, okay?

I'm really seeing
the military in you now.

What was that like?

It was good for me.

Whipped me into shape when I needed it.

Forced me out of the house,
away from my parents.

And, um, I got really
close with a lot of the guys.

One in particular.

What about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"?

Not ideal.

But, um, we found a way to make it work.

Okay.

That's right.

Just gonna put your thumb...

There you go.

Okay. Now put the front
sight on the target.

Bracket it by the rear sight.

Okay. Squeeze the trigger.

The impact. The shock.

It's like a blast wave through my arms.

Now imagine that from a g*n
a thousand times bigger,



So Steve's brain injury wasn't caused

by enemy blast exposure,
but by firing his own weapon.

It's a theory...

That we can only confirm
by analyzing Steve's brain postmortem.

Thankfully, our patient is still alive.

But there were others
who weren't so lucky.

Let's call Carol.

Thank you, Mrs. Miller, for having us.

We're grateful to the two
of you for taking the time.

That must be Aiden.

From what I understand,
he was very good friends

with our patient, Steve Hill?

Well, he mentioned Steve a few times.

Making friends came easy to Aiden.

Overseas, the men he served
with were like brothers.

It wasn't until he came
home we noticed a change.

He grew paranoid.

He was convinced he was being watched.

VA got him into therapy,
but he became combative.

He was other-than-honorably discharged

after assaulting his therapist.

We thought school would help,
but on orientation day...

Aiden never came downstairs.

Hm.

The love you had...

Still have for Aiden is palpable.

I know healing will
take a lot more time,

but we want to help you get answers.

Have you heard of CTE?

What's that have to do with my son?

Well, I believe that
there was an element

to Aden's daily duties as a
soldier that exposed his brain

to the repeated micro-traumas
necessary to develop CTE.

And with your permission, we would like

to exhume Aiden's
body to study his brain

and to find out for sure
what really happened.

We just buried our son,
and you want to dig him up.

Steve is suffering the way
Aiden was... paranoia, delusions.

We want to help him, but
we need more information.

CTE can only be properly
diagnosed after death,

and Aiden's is the only
brain we have access to.

He's the only member of his unit

that was not given a military burial.

So, in a sense,

his dishonorable discharge was a gift.

A gift? Aiden was a
third-generation Marine.

If his grandfather... The answer is no.

You... My... My colleague
meant no offense.

I know you would give
anything to have him back.

All we're trying to do
is give another family

a fighting chance at a different fate.

I promise you. This was...
is... our last resort.

Aiden's brain holds the answers

for our patient and for you.

I imagine closure is
something Aiden would want.

♪

Traveling outside of your neighborhood,

taking public transportation,
driving yourself?

I can do all that. No problem.

Okay. Um...

I need your answers in the
form of a number... zero to three...

Three meaning these things are
impossible for you to do without help.

Zero, I guess. I-I don't
need help getting around.

Okay, well, what about
managing finances?

Paying bills, tracking
expenses, that sort of thing?

Zero. Some days, maybe one.

What's all this about, Doc?

The purpose of this survey
is to better understand

how you're doing at home,
what's going well, what's not.

And then by comparing your answers with

patients who have had brain injuries

like chronic traumatic encephalopathy...

- Um...
- ... which you might know as CTE...

Hold on. Hold on. CTE?

You mean what football players get?

I asked you to take a
microchip out of my brain.

That was the deal!

We looked into your friend,
Lance Corporal Aiden Miller.

[MAN SCREAMS]

[HIGH-PITCHED RINGING]

Steve...

Before he died, he was complaining

of symptoms similar to yours.

And with his family's cooperation,

we're able to examine his brain.

If he had CTE...

There's a chance you might, too.

I-I realize that sounds
incredibly scary,

but I promise, the more we know,
the more we can help you.

♪

It's called the fire triangle.
Heat, fuel, and oxygen.

And to get the best
fire, you have to balance

all three elements.

I'm gonna get us some more fuel.

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

Dad! What are you doing?!

Protecting us from them. The hikers.

They can see the smoke.

Oh, this. This is why
I stopped taking my meds.

So I could feel more alert.

So I could protect you.

You haven't told your
mom about any of this?

About my medication?

No. I promise.

Okay.

I know I can always count on you.

[RAPID BEEPING]

Attention. Code Green.
Attention. Code Green.

- Code Green?
- You don't think it's...

Dr. Wolf! Dr. Wolf, It's Steve!

He's locked himself in the room.
- And he's refusing to come out.

Dr. Wolf, he has a scalpel in his hand!

- I can't get in.
- He's barricaded the door.

Steve, it's Dr. Wolf.

Uh, I want to help, but I can't
from out here. Can I come in?

You said you would help me, Dr. Wolf!

They've gotten to you, too!

No, no. Nobody's gotten to me, Steve.

If you let me in,
you're getting just me.

I promise. You can trust me.

I can't trust any of you.

This is my only option.

I have to take the chip out myself.

Steve, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Please let me help you.

You wanna help? Start by
telling me where to cut!

Open the door, please.

I have nothing to do
with the chip in your head.

Then why won't you take it out?

Because it's not my area of expertise.

[GROANS]

But I do know a lot about your brain,

and right now your amygdala
is working overtime...

If you want to think
of that as the chip.

It controls the fear
and the anger response.

But I want to help you tap
into your prefrontal cortex,

t-the logic side of your brain.

One way we can do that
is by using simple math.

How far along is your wife?

How far along is your wife?

Uh, 34 weeks.



Eight and a half.

So that means in
six weeks, give or take,

you're gonna be a dad!

Steve, that's spectacular!

W-What are you having again?

- A boy.
- A boy.

Steve, listen to me.

In six weeks, I want you
to be in that hospital room

holding your wife's hand
through every contraction.

I want your whole heart to break open

when you lay eyes on your
little boy for the first time.

And when you see his tiny, perfect face,

I want you to promise that
you're gonna take care of him

for the rest of your life.

That's what I want for you,
Steve, for your family.

But none of that is gonna happen

if you don't put that scalpel down

and open this door right now.

♪

[STEVE GRUNTING]

[LOCK CLICKING]

Stand down. Stand down.

We're going to take care of you.

Copy that. Confirm. Stand down.

[WOMAN ON P.A. [SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

[SIREN WAILS]

[SIGHS]

- Dr. Beck to Pediatrics.
- Dr. Beck to Pediatrics.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

Hey. Excited for the EMG on Mr. Allen?

Wolf said we could take the lead.

You know, I'm actually
feeling a migraine coming on.

Mind if I tap out?

Sure.

You know I'm happy to have
those needles to myself.

[SIGHS]

You know, if you ever
want to talk about anything...

Look. I'm fine, Ericka.

It's just a headache.

♪

I just reviewed the
slides with pathology.

It's all here.
The results are definitive.

It's CTE. Look.

This stain indicates

an abnormal accumulation of tau protein.

- That's a lot of red.
- This is not the news we wanted.

But it can help us help Steve.

- [KNOCK ON DOOR]
- Sorry to interrupt.

Uh, Mrs. Hill is looking for Steve.

Oh, uh, of course.

He's just in Room 237 under observation.

No, he's not. I checked.
I've looked everywhere.

Okay. Um...

Don't worry. I'll find him.

♪

If I have to ask one more
patient to follow my finger...

- Anything?
- Not looking so good.

Why don't you see for yourself?

Well...

His eye movements were
more responsive yesterday.

If he had one stroke that caused this,
he could have another.

Or he could be brewing a new infection.

Anything happen last night?

His vitals are stone-cold normal.

White count isn't up No fever.

And, yet, he's less responsive somehow.

Question is why.

Should we get another scan?

Cover empirically with antibiotics?

No, I don't think he's sick.

But maybe he's giving up?

He had a little spark of life

with his field trip
with Ericka and Jacob,

and now it's wearing off?

[MRS. PETROV SHOUTING IN RUSSIAN]

Did you see that?

[MRS. PETROV SHOUTING IN RUSSIAN]

Mrs. Petrov.

Maybe he misses his g-grandmother.

Yeah, or maybe she's
speaking his language.

- [MUTTERING]
- Mrs. Petrov?

We need your help...
translating for a patient.

Hmm.

♪

Okay.

[HORNS HONKING]

Brought you a bacon, egg,
and cheese if you're hungry.

[CHUCKLES]

Where did you sleep last night?

The Reading Room has a couch.

Sorry I went AWOL last night.

I just couldn't be in
the hospital anymore,

and it didn't feel right going home.

I want to be there
for Anna and the baby,

but I'm no good like this
as a husband and a dad.

You know my dad had ghosts, too?

Symptoms similar to yours.

And, yet, I wish he
was in my life today.

This is not your fault.

The postmortem came back on Aiden,

and he had CTE, as suspected,

which means that there's a good chance

you're suffering from it, as well.

I'm sorry.

♪

I think I convinced myself
there was a microchip in my head

because I couldn't
handle the alternative...

That my brain is just broken.

But now that I have an answer,
I don't know which is scarier.

It feels like you handed
me a life sentence.

But you don't have to face it alone.

I will help you manage
and live with your symptoms.

- That's what I'm here for.
- Dr. Wolf.

I've got a kid on the way.

I can barely support us on my salary.

The VA cut off my benefits.

Dishonorably discharged. Remember?

There is nothing dishonorable about you.

I want to fix that for you,
for your family.

If you'll let me.

You got this.

Um, thank you for coming.

Um, my patient,
Steve Hill, is a veteran.

He's a husband.
He's a soon-to-be father.

Uh, he served in the 2nd Battalion.

Yeah, we've been briefed, Dr. Wolf.

Oh. Okay. Then you're aware

that Steve's unit fired
long-range howitzers

from a distance far
from the threat of battle,

and, yet, despite this fact,
Steve is one of the few

surviving members of his unit.

How is that possible?
The answer lies in the howitzer.

Every time that cannon fired,
shockwaves reverberated

through the neurons of Steve's brain,

causing irreparable damage
over and over and over again.

[CLEARS THROAT]

Uh...

Think of your brain as a rubber band.

Every time you stretch it,
micro-tears form.

Now, the brain has elasticity,
so it can take a blow or two,

maybe three or four even.

But what happens after one too many?

Stretch these a-and
find out for yourselves.

♪

- [SNAP]
- Just like that band,

the brain will break over time.

And we have proof.

A fellow unit member,
Aiden Miller's postmortem

neuropathological results
showed catastrophic damage

on the microscopic level.

It was a textbook case of CTE.

[SNAP]

Steve's conspiracies and delusions

are not an attempt
to betray his country.

They're a cry for help...

Caused by a neurodegenerative disease.

Now, I have never
served in the military,

but I have always admired
the concept of Nemo Resideo:

"Leave No One Behind."

We have to care for Steve
and every soldier like him.

Restore their lost benefits,
restore their dignity.

Understanding and compensating

can be your first steps.

♪

[HORN HONKING]

It's a "yes."

Alright. We got one more.

Uh, let's keep going. Uh...

♪

Maybe we're missing a letter?

Mnh.

I think the message is complete.

Uh, do you mind, Mrs. Petrov?

Sure.

[EXHALES SHARPLY]

Imagine how long he's
wanted to get these words out.

_

Poor boy.

[MRS. PETROV SPEAKS RUSSIAN]

♪

♪

You going to bed, Dad?

We haven't seen those hikers in hours.

They don't want you to see them,

but they can see you.

They've been watching
you for a while now.

They want you 'cause you're special.

Because you're brilliant.

You've been chosen, Oliver.

You're gonna be
the world's greatest doctor.

You're gonna help so
many people someday.

You're the messiah.

But don't worry.

I'll protect you.

Dad.

♪

Don't leave me.

I never will.

♪

Stay right here.

Dad. Dad!

What does it say?

"Don't leave me."

♪

Um...

Well, why don't you two, um,

you know, page interpreter services

and get a proper translator
in here to talk to him

until we can find out a better way
to communicate with our patient?

Uh...

[FINGERS SNAP]

♪

[BUZZER]

[MAXWELL'S "THIS WOMAN'S WORK" PLAYS]

[RHYTHMIC KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Uh... okay.

♪

Hey...

What are you doing here?

I was just out.

Thought I'd stop by and say what up.

Can I come in?

Yeah.

Thank you.

Shoes!

Okay. Okay.

One.

[LAUGHING] Two.

Three. [LAUGHS]

♪

Ahh. Nice.

What the hell were
you doing out in the rain?

I needed to blow off some steam.

I figured, hey, maybe
I should enjoy my life

before I turn into Steve.

- Jacob.
- Well, I do black out,

like, a lot.

Yeah, because you party too hard.

Not because you have CTE.

Right.

Well, it doesn't matter anyways.

Because, I mean, you won't know anything

until you slice my brain up. [CHUCKLES]

Okay. Okay. Go on. Go get dry.

There's a towel in
the cabinet in the bathroom.

Think I have an
oversized shirt somewhere.

♪

[CHUCKLING]

[SILVERWARE CLINKING]

Oh, boy. Hm.

So... what exactly happened
that made you stop playing?

Thank you. Um...

Well, my junior year,
I had two concussions

in the same season,
and the doctors told me

if I had one more, I might not wake up.

So I had to decide.

Should I take the risk or not?

- I chose not to.
- Hm.

And I regret it. Every day.

What?

[SCOFFS] Why? You're alive. You're okay.

No. You should have seen me, Ericka.

I was great.

I was, like...

Really, really great.

And now I'm just a...

Bad doctor.

- Where is this coming from?
- Ah. Come on.

- Everyone thinks it.
- Mnh-mnh.

Wolf thinks it.

[CHUCKLES]

Even you think it.

I don't think you're a bad doctor.

Mnh-mnh.

[GASPS]

[EXHALES SHARPLY]

I should go to bed.

- Okay.
- Here's a blanket.

- Thank you.
- Pillow.

- Hey, Kinney.
- Hm?

If anyone ever does have
to slice my brain open...

[CHUCKLES]

... I want it to be you.

[LAUGHS] Um...

Same, I guess.

♪ Oh, darlin', make it go ♪

[SNORING]

♪

Good morning!

Good morning! Come on. Wake up. Wake up.

- Uh...
- Coffee?

[GROANS] Sure.

[GROANING]

Last night, did... did we...

No. Mnh. Absolutely not.

Good. [CHUCKLES]

That's good.

Well, um, to whatever
happened last night.

- Nothing happened.
- Thank you.

This blanket is cozy as hell.

It's microfiber.

- What?!
- He's got Mirror-Touch?!

- That's what he told me.
- How long have you known this?

- That's why he's... Shh.
- I can't believe it.

What?

Oh, did Mrs. Petrov bring her
granddaughter into the hospital?

Nah. Nah. But I did just annihilate

a huge breakfast burrito.

[AS DR. WOLF] "Anything
to note, Dr. Markus?"

Ignore him. I've always
appreciated your sensitivity.

I think we need more of it around here.

You told them.

[GROANS] I'm so sorry, Van.

I know I said...
I shouldn't have done it,

but it was so interesting.

And... And I was doing
some research and...

[SIGHS] My God. Can you ever forgive me?

Why do you think I told you, Dana?

Saved me from "coming out" three times.

♪

[DOOR OPENS]

I underestimated you.

Well played.

Well played.

Once the VA understood
the cause of Steve's trauma,

his benefits were reinstated,

his family was compensated,

his honor restored.

You ready?

[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYS]



You're good.

Divided by 6.

Fourteen.

[UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYS]

Welcome, everyone.

I want to thank you
all for coming today.

My name is Steve.

And I'm here to share my story.

There was no changing Steve's pathology,

not even an official diagnosis.

But in a sense, couldn't
you say that about us all?

There is no cure for CTE,

but we could slow the
symptoms with treatments

for similar neurodegenerative diseases.

Exercise. Diet. Sleep.

Giving Steve time.

Hope for a future in which we know more.

Steve could see a hopeful future now.

He could hold it in his hands.

- [BABY FUSSING]
- It's Daddy.

Our nervous systems
can't heal in isolation.

- Aww!
- We need care...

Love, connection.

♪

That's right.

[MONITOR BEEPING]

Wolf. You paged me? Something urgent?

What do you got? Gardening issues?

Of a sort. I'm thinking
of planting a microchip.

- Not you, too.
- Not Steve. No, no.

For Steve, a microchip
was a coping mechanism.

But what if, for John Doe...

it was an actual mechanism?

A brain computer interface
to help him communicate.

Uh... [SIGHS]

Wolf, y-you realize how
experimental this tech is. It...

This man has lost his voice.

And you could give it back to him,

awaken him.

[SCOFFS] Are you with me or not?

Because I refuse to leave him.