04x10 - Sellouts

[bunniefuu]

(INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER)

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Hello, Austin EMS.

Do you think we're too late?

Oh. Hello.

Did you call - - ?

Oh, yes. I was, uh, just, uh...

I was just expecting, uh...

Oh, never mind. Come on.

Edith is the one who
usually calls. Come in.

How long have you had this
pain in your head, Edith?

- All morning.
- Do you have any history

of migraines or seizures?

- No.
- She's the healthy one.

TOMMY VEGA: Okay,
I wanna check your pupils now.

First here.

Okay. Here we go.

- Edith, do you wear contacts?
- EDITH: I do.

It's easier than trying to
remember where my readers are.

Do you forget to take 'em out sometimes?

Well, they fall out. (CHUCKLES)

Yeah, but it's not a problem
because they're disposable.

TOMMY: I don't think
they always fall out.

It looks like you have
an old one stuck in there.

Yeah, go ahead. Lean your head back.

- Great. TK, saline.
- TK STRAND: Mm-hmm.

Alright. This might feel a little cold.

TOMMY: Okay, Nancy, swab.

Okay.

- Here we go.
- Oh, heavens.

Do you think I really
have two lenses in?

Um...

Not two.

Huh.

- TK: Whoa.
- Oh, my.

- What?
- Okay, shh. Just be still.

Uh-huh.

It's like a clown car.

I think I got it.

Yeah, I think that's it.

Nancy, bag.

TK, saline.

How many were in there?

More than a dozen.

How is that possible?

Well, it's a lot more
common than you might think.

They get lodged in the fornices,
the area under the lid.

Yeah, that's not even a record.

There was a woman in the
UK who had removed.

Oh, my goodness.

- Oh, I feel so foolish.
- TOMMY: Oh, don't.

- How's your pressure now?
- EDITH: Gone.

- (TOMMY LAUGHS)
- Oh, my!

You're a pretty thing, aren't you?

Well, you're all so pretty.

TOMMY: Um, the thing to
remember, Mrs. Sullivan,

about disposable lenses
is to dispose of them.

- I will.
- TOMMY: Alright.

Let's get her on a gurney.

I'd like to take you to St. Raymond's.

- Just as a follow-up.
- Oh, that's so sweet of you.

Of course. She's gonna be just fine.

(INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER)

(SIREN WAILING)

The hell?

Paragon? Why is a private crew here?

Did you call another ambulance?

- No.
- PARAMEDIC: Nobody had to call.

Saw a request for a
medical unit to this address.

We dropped everything. Came right over.

- Pearce.
- Captain Vega.

EDITH (LAUGHS): Is that Pearcey?

Oh, do you know each other?

Yeah, the Sullivans are some
of our most valued clients.

We usually just refer
to them as patients.

Oh, these boys have come out a few times

Arthur's had his spells.

So you work for Paragon now?

Private sector's more efficient.

- Pays more you mean?
- (SCOFFS)

You didn't lose our number,
did you, Mrs. Sullivan?

Oh, no, dear.

Arthur called this time.

I just used the - - .

- Well, we talked about that, Arthur.
- It won't happen again.

- We can take it from here, Captain.
- Take what from here?

I'm sure the Sullivans will be much
more comfortable in our ambulance.

And we're already familiar
with their needs and conditions.

Oh, then you should have
been aware that Mrs. Sullivan

is suffering from fluffy eye syndrome.

We removed several
long-standing obstructions.

We're taking her to St.
Ray's for a follow-up.

- No need to worry.
- PEARCE RISHER: Well, I am worried.

I'm worried about those rapid breaths.

Arthur, did you take
your Warfarin today?

EDITH: Oh, yes. He takes it
every morning with his breakfast,

just like you told him.

I've just been worked up about Edith.

I think we should take him to
West Park now to run some panels.

But-but they're taking me to St. Ray's.

PEARCE: You could always ride with us.

You know, I think the LED
lighting in our ambulance

would be a lot easier on your eyes.

And I'll even throw in a complimentary
herbal smoothie for the ride.

- Ah!
- I could really use a smoothie.

- PEARCE: Mm-hmm.
- TOMMY: Hmm.

Okay, what just happened?

That rat bastard stole our patient.

Can they do that?

- I don't know, but I'm gonna find out.
- (SIREN WAILING)

(THEME MUSIC PLAYS)

In my line of work, you make it a habit

to cheat death regularly.

Any of us who sign up for this

know that that's part of the deal,

but what we don't sign up for is cancer.

And we would lose %
fewer firefighters to lung cancer

if we had better testing
and earlier access to screening.

But it takes money.

And that's why we've invited you,

because you're rich.

- (LAUGHTER)
- Uh...

So my crew,

um, will be mingling

to make sure that you have a good time

and to pick your pockets.

So, thank you very much for coming
and enjoy yourselves tonight.

(APPLAUSE)

(INAUDIBLE)

So what we got here is the ladder.

Uh, also known as the "ladder truck."

In layman's terms,
it's due to the ladder.

It's one of the items that
we got up for the bid...

is a ride-along...

- on the ladder.
- Hmm.

I hope you get a nice bid on it.

Um, Judd, do you wanna tell him
a little bit more about the features?

- JUDD RYDER: The features?
- GRACE RYDER: Yes.

Like why it may be exciting to ride.

Oh, well, uh...

You said you were sh*t, right?

Oh, in the gut. I'd show you, but,
uh, you know, too many layers.

I mean, she's practically
an action hero.

They kidnapped your ex-wife?

- And then me.
- Well, I'm not shocked

that you'd inspire a stalker.

- (LAUGHS)
- TK: Serial k*ller.

It was my dad that had the stalker,

which was weirdly completely different.

So it goes to in,
you know, under ten seconds.

Uh, it does have , pounds of torque.

- Wow. No kidding?
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

So, you know,
basically what you're looking at here

is a -ton rocket ship

with a hundred-foot aerial up top.

A hundred feet, huh?

JUDD: Yep. Thirty-three yards.

About your average night
of offense down in Houston.

- (LAUGHS)
- Huh?

Our ground game is, uh, embarrassing.

I'm sorry, "our"?

Baby, that's how sports fans talk.

It makes us feel like we own the team.

- And what do you do, sir?
- I own the team.

Money. I'm sure that's
what this is all about.

I mean, they cut and they cut

and then they act surprised
that we're over-budget.

I mean, I got a call
from the department.

They want us to buy the
thinner nitrile gloves.

Well, the thinner gloves they rip,
which means we have to double-glove,

which only costs more
money in the long run.

I mean, if they would just
let us buy the proper gloves,

then-then maybe, maybe
they wouldn't have

to hire a fleet of
smoothie-slinging privateers.

(LAUGHS) I mean, right?

And because tonight's not about that...

No. Tonight, we're here for cancer.

I mean, we're here against cancer,

which I am really all about.

Against cancer.

Would you, would you like these?

Fun fact, this was actually

donated by the oldest
winery in the Hill Country.

The Hill Country?

But it's so nuanced, so mature.

Familiar, yet unexpected.

It's kinda like reading
Dostoyevsky in the original Russian.

MAN: Yes, exactly that.
What did you say your name was?

- Mateo.
- Mateo.

Your palate is inspired.

I'll be right back.
My wife has my checkbook.

- Babe? You read Dostoyevsky?
- Huh?

I love Dostoyevsky.
How have we not discussed this?

Oh, because I don't.

I heard Cap say that last week
while he was sipping Mescal.

I thought it sounded good.

Oh.

Excuse me, I'll have a
tequila when you get a second.

Sure thing. What's your label?

Uh, Don Canto. Añejo if you've got it.

I don't see the Añejo.

Yeah, that was a long sh*t.

It's impossible to find these days.

Well, I do see the Reposado.

- How does that sound?
- Yeah, yeah, that'd be great.

Terrific. Thank you.

Hmm. That's very generous.

Consider it solidarity.

- Between?
- The normal people.

Oh. You think you're normal?

Okay, not normal.

I saw your speech, Mr. b*at-the-Odds.

- You've quite the story.
- Yeah, well, in reality,

there was a lot more
puking in-in that bathroom.

I will try to avoid that one.

For the record, I don't really
relish telling my cancer story,

even if it is for a room full of
people with a net worth of Milan.

Are you sure?

'Cause I think you relish.

- Did you just call me vain?
- No, I didn't.

But if you are, you're using
your vanity for a good cause.

You want a lime?

No, no. No lime ever.

- Right answer.
- WOMAN: Kendra! (LAUGHS)

How are you?

I did not know you'd be here.

Good, Mrs. Laughlin,
thank you. Jonathan.

How's your family?

Mom got Brett into pickleball,
and he's obsessed.

JONATHAN: You're the only holdout now.

Say hi to Lillian.

Bye, dear.

So you're not the bartender?

I was on a break, and I
felt like a Pinot Grigio.

Oh, so you just went
back there and got it?

I take what I want.

♪ Baby, baby, baby, baby ♪

♪ Listen what I say ♪

♪ Baby, baby, baby, baby ♪

♪ Let me have my way ♪

♪ I'm gonna keep on knockin'
till the door unlatches ♪

Can I make you a drink or something?

- I'm good.
- Okay.

- 'Cause, I easily just get...
- Shut up and take off your pants.

(SIGHS)

Good morning.

And then this dude just murders

this defenseless old lady in cold blood.

No way. That's so messed
up. Well, what happens next?

NANCY GILLIAN: Nah-uh.
You gotta read it, Teo.

Hey, anybody seen a hot
blond come through here?

Oh, yeah. The bartender.
You just missed her.

Turns out she wasn't the bartender.

She's a billionaire heiress.

An undercover heiress? Dope.

You know what? Kendra is dope.

And she's mysterious and powerful,

but with the soul of a poet.

Sounds like you really hit it off.

We really did, on every level.

Physically, mentally...

- and physically again.
- MATEO: Whoa.

And then she gave me the French exit.

She bailed without leaving a trace.

- Oh, no, she left a trace.
- Yeah, she left a note.

A note?

In an envelope and everything.
How old world.

I told you she had the soul of a poet.

NANCY: What's it say?

"Sorry I had to run, had fun."

Hmm. At least it rhymes.

What is that?

OWEN STRAND: It's a check.

She paid you?

(NANCY GASPS)

- Captain Vega, hi.
- TOMMY: Hey, Jim.

- Um, is she in?
- JIM: She is. But she's busy right now.

- Oh, I won't take long.
- JIM: Uh...

Hey.

Chief Reynolds, we have to talk.

Uh, Captain Vega, can this wait?
I'm kinda in the middle of something.

No, actually, it can't.

Is it true the city
cut a deal with Paragon?

(SIGHS) We didn't wanna say anything
until the press release next week.

Chief, we have to cancel it.

Uh, those guys,
they're-they're greedy vampires.

Who are... They're sitting right there.

Hmm.

CHIEF REYNOLDS: I believe you know
Jacques Lundy, CEO of Paragon.

Captain Vega.
So lovely to see you again.

Is it, though?

Captain Vega and I used
to cr*ck on each other

all the time when her
team worked for me.

- Those were some good times.
- TOMMY: Mm-hmm.

Price gouging patients and
upselling dr*gs. Oh! (CHUCKLES)

Boy, that bottom line
did okay, didn't it?

Which is why your chief here
was so keen on our services.

They're gonna share % of
their profits with the city.

With the recession, we couldn't say no.

Chief, I understand there
are practical necessities,

but Paragon's code of ethics and safety,

they're simply not up to our standards.

Respectfully, I disagree.

Our motto, Captain Vega,
is, "Elite care and quality comfort."

Look, it's right there
on our business card.

Alright. Chief.

Look, I know it might feel like
we're horning in on your territory,

but there are emergencies to go around.

Paragon's response times are impeccable.

Our equipment is state-of-the-art,

and our paramedics are ballers.

I think you all could
make one heck of a team.

Thank you so much, Dottie.

- That means the world.
- (MOUTHS) Yeah.

JACQUES: Captain Vega, you have my word.

We're here to help.

TOMMY: They're trying to k*ll us.

Paragon has partnered with city EMS

three times in the past.

Tulsa, Abilene, and Shreveport.

Two of them went fully
private within a year.

So how do we stop it?

Well, we do what Shreveport did.

We respond to more calls
and try to b*at them there.

- Keep them from getting a foothold.
- Exactly.

OWEN: I resent that.
And I resent the comparison.

Oh, my God.

Who doesn't like being
compared to Richard Gere?

I don't. Particularly when it comes to

exchanging cash for romantic favors.

Oh, we got a live one!

- (LAUGHTER)
- Ooh, I say.

Who is exchanging money
for romantic favors?

A gentleman never discloses.

It was the bartender.
Yes, it was that bartender!

- Cap, I saw you cozying up to her.
- Yo, she was a working girl?

Hey, my dad would
never have to pay, okay?

- Thank you, son.
- That bartender

has more money than God, apparently.

Okay, then why'd he say Cap had to
go all Pretty Woman on her?

No, I wasn't saying Pretty
Woman Richard Gere.

I was saying American
Gigolo Richard Gere.

JUDD: So hold up. She paid you?

OWEN: No. No.

But would that be such
an unimaginable situation?

JUDD: Well, who is this gal, anyway?

Her name is Kendra Harrington.

You say Harrington?

Wow!

The Harringtons own
half of the land in the Permian Basin.

So, ol' big daddy really
knows how to pick a sugar mama.

- (LAUGHTER)
- She's not a sugar mama.

She didn't pay for anything.

She made a very generous
donation to Stand Up To Cancer.

Yeah, except the check
wasn't made out to charity.

The check was made out to Owen Strand.

She obviously meant for me to cash it.

JUDD: Okay.

So what'd she put in the memo line?

Who uses the memo line?

Alright. Well, just how
generous are we talking here?

Hundred thousand dollars.

- ALL: Ooh!
- (LAUGHTER)

Look, Kendra is a very
pure, philanthropic woman,

and I will not have
her motives besmirched.

Also, a woman who looks like
that does not need to pay for sex.

- (CELL PHONE CHIMES)
- Oh, and she's texting me right now.

- MATEO CHAVEZ: Hmm.
- TK: What's she saying?

"Let's get together
again. Are you avail?"

Did she say "avail" or "available"?

'Cause that sounds like
how I text my hairdresser.

- Oh.
- Yes, I am avail-able tomorrow.

(POPS LIPS) Alright. I know
what you guys are thinking

and I am gonna get to the
bottom of this check mix-up

because I may be easy,

but no one, and I mean
no one, has to pay for it.

That sounded a lot better in my head.

(LAUGHTER)

(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)

MAN: This seat taken?

Go ahead.

(MUSIC ENDS)

I don't mean to intrude,
but is everything okay?

I'm fine. Thanks.

Thank you.

I got laid off today.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Seven years I did the
books, made the coffee,

but they got some new
accounting software.

Now they don't need me anymore.

(VOICE BREAKING) I feel so useless.

No, you're not.

Look, I don't know you,

but believe me, you are not useless.

You know, these hot pants
aren't a fashion statement.

- (WOMAN CHUCKLES)
- It's a, uh,

dialysis catheter.

Treatments five times
a week for a year now.

Nobody tells you kidney
failure comes with hot pants.

I'm sorry you're going through that.

I appreciate that.

Honestly, it sucks.

I can't play soccer with my son.

Go swimming.

For a while, I... I wanted to give up.

But I'm glad I didn't.

I found an organ donor last week.

That's amazing.

- Congratulations.
- Thank you.

New kidney goes in next month,
then I'm back in denim.

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

That's great. Even though
you do rock the hot pants.

Well...

I'm Martha.

- Dan.
- (MARTHA CHUCKLES)

(UPBEAT MUSIC CONTINUES)

Ma'am, take my seat.

I insist.

- Um...
- Excuse me, sir.

- I just need to...
- DAN: Yeah.

(DAN GROANS)

(PEOPLE SCREAMING)

Oh, no.

Dan?

That might be a problem.

I don't know, Nance. Carlos says
if we put four o'clock on the invite,

nobody will be in
their seats until : .

And you think it's wrong to
deceive your friends and family?

- Because it is.
- Let's go.

Patient hemorrhaging
on Frazier and Green.

- We didn't hear a call.
- Because Dispatch gave it to Paragon.

I picked it up on the radio.

Rat bastards.

(SIREN WAILING)

TOMMY: Dispatch, this is Rescue .

- We got Frazier and Green.
- Negative, Rescue .

Paragon's already en route.

(CELL PHONE BUZZING)

Tommy, why are you
calling my cell phone?

Gracie, you have to
help us b*at 'em there.

- Help you b*at them there?
- TOMMY (ON PHONE): Gracie, listen.

Every time Paragon snakes us on a call,

they put our jobs on the line. Please.

Don't you make me regret this, okay?

(SIREN WAILING)

Alright. It looks like you're in luck

'cause I think they just hit
some traffic on Crawford.

Girl, just tell us where to go.

Alright, take a left on Savard.

Left! Left, Nancy.

♪ ... melodic sea the
rhythm keeps flowin' ♪

♪ It drips to MC ♪

♪ Sweet sugar pop, sugar
pop rocks it pops ya ♪

- (HORN HONKING)
- Come on!

And then a right on Burns.

Next right. This next right.

♪ ♪

Come on, Nance.

Now what?

♪ Dip trip, flip fantasia ♪

Okay, then after that, take
another right on Kessler.

- Right on Kessler. Right here.
- Right here!

(SIREN WAILING)

♪ What's that? ♪

♪ ♪

But in a second, you should see
them coming up on your right.

♪ Yeah ♪

(SIREN WAILING)

♪ Feel the b*at, drop,
jazz and hip-hop ♪

♪ Drippin' in the dome
and mix is on the lock ♪

(LAUGHS) Buh-bye.

NANCY: Peace out, Eagle Scout.

- Whoo! Yes!
- Yes!

TOMMY: Thank you,
Gracie! You're the best.

Alright, you guys are
gonna get me in trouble.

Okay? Goodbye.

♪ ♪

(SIREN WAILING)

Hey, you gotta help.
A guy on there needs help.

- What happened here?
- This guy, he had these tubes

hanging out of his leg.
He started bleeding everywhere.

- Alright.
- (SIREN WAILING, HORN HONKING)

Captain, what are we looking at?

We have a male patient with a
severe hemorrhage still on the bus.

Alright, Paul, Mateo,
fly in some backboards.

- You're assisting.
- We're gonna need lots of fluids, TK.

- Copy.
- Uh, yeah.

We can take the patient
from here. Thanks.

- This is our call.
- It was your call until we got here first.

So as first arriving paramedic
captain, I'm the IC now.

You can distribute water
and towels to the crowd.

- Wow.
- Yeah.

This is a new low, even for the .

Why does he dress like a ski instructor?

I have no idea.

- Austin EMS, we're coming to you.
- Please hurry.

DAN: I'm sorry about the mess.

Oh, sir. Don't worry about that, okay?

We're gonna get you outta
here nice and safe, okay?

- So just...
- (MARTHA SCREAMS)

Gotta be careful, bro.

Blood's one of the most slippery
natural substances on Earth.

Even more than motor oil... whoa! Oh!

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Wizard.

You guys, use the handrails.

Good call, baby. Alright.

NANCY: Hi, I'm Nancy.
I'm here to help you, okay?

- Dan.
- MARTHA: I tried putting pressure on it,

but I couldn't stop it.

You did great, ma'am.

- Mateo, take over.
- Yeah? Yeah. One, two, three, switch.

- NANCY: Alright.
- DAN: You hear that, Martha?

You-you did great.

Cap, uh, you were right.

Looks like his permacath got ripped out

and definitely tore his femoral artery.

Copy that. Tourniquet and
get him off that bus now.

NANCY (OVER RADIO): On it.

- Alright. Hang in there, buddy.
- DAN: Uh-huh.

MATEO: There we go.

- NANCY: Okay, Dan?
- DAN: Yeah.

- NANCY: This might be uncomfortable.
- It's okay.

I'm used to uncomfortable.

Oh, God, that's so much worse!

(EXHALING DEEPLY)

Did it work?

NANCY: It worked. The bleeding stopped.

Martha, we got it from here, okay?

- Be careful.
- MARTHA: Okay. I'll see you out there. Dan.

Okay, guys, get him on the backboard.

- MATEO: Top's ready?
- PAUL STRICKLAND: Yeah, all set.

MATEO AND NANCY: One, two, three.

- (BOTH GRUNT)
- PAUL: I'm so sorry.

- MATEO: You okay?
- It's in my ass?

- MATEO: Yeah, sorry, that's your...
- PAUL: I'm so sorry, man.

MATE: You know what?
I'm gonna sit back here.

- Okay.
- PAUL: Okay.

- MATEO: Alright.
- Okay.

- Damn it.
- Okay.

- PAUL: Alright.
- Okay.

Hey, Cap, we got a problem here.

- What's going on?
- It's like

black ice on Lakeshore Drive in here.

Maybe it's time you tried sledding.

( CHARIOTS OF FIRE PLAYING)

(LABORED BREATHING)

Cross these hands right here. Like that.

PAUL: Alright, man, let
me know when you're ready.

Alright, keep your eyes open, Dan.

Look at me. Eyes open.

Okay? It's gonna be just
like a game of shuffleboard.

Yeah, and I'm the puck.

Don't worry. We k*ll it at shuffleboard.

I won't take that literally.

- Ready?
- Yeah. Toboggan time.

(IN SLOW MOTION) One...

two...

go!

( CHARIOTS OF FIRE CONTINUES)

Oh...

- PAUL: We got you. (LAUGHS)
- DAN: Okay.

Go nice and easy with him, fellas.

TK, hook him up to the LIFEPAK.

I'm gonna bolus into his jugular.

Thank you.

- (MONITOR BEEPING)
- We got you, buddy.

Bolusing.

(MONITOR BEEPING RAPIDLY)

TK: Cap, his heart's racing.

His BP's bottoming out
even with the fluids.

He needs a transfusion now.

NANCY: The nearest
hospital is minutes away.

He's lost too much.

This is it, isn't it?

(MONITOR BEEPING)

Pearce?

Does Paragon still carry
whole blood on the rig?

- Of course.
- If you can transfuse him right here, he's yours.

Gregg, get it.

DAN (WEAKLY): Can somebody call my son?

Cap, I lost BP. He's in V-Tach.

Move. Starting compressions.

(FLATLINE)

Gregg?

Take over in three, two, one.

Hey, man.

(FLATLINE)

PEARCE: Attaching the Y-tubing.

Bolusing saline, and
now the whole blood.

Come on, Dan.

Come on.

BP's coming back up.

over .

(MONITOR BEEPING)

What... What happened?

We lost you for a
minute, but you're back.

You'll be alright now.

Damn, these dudes can ball.

- Yeah.
- Yeah, they ain't lousy.

- Thank you.
- PEARCE: Oh, don't thank me.

Thank Captain Vega
for her quick thinking.

It takes a lot of grace to
admit that you are second best.

He is one smug son of a bitch.

God, I hate that guy.

Oh, busting out the fine China, huh?

- Kendra's coming over.
- MATEO: That's right.

Tonight's the big test.

It's not a test. I'm
just feeling her out.

And seeing if she pays you for it.

I would never stoop
to something so crass.

So how do you plan to do it?

With a delicate dance
of nuance and subtext.

I am going to engage her in a deep,

sophisticated conversation.

And then I'm gonna ask her to
some highbrow event, or two.

And if there's something
real between us,

she'll say yes, and
if she brushes me off,

I'll know that she just sees me as a...

- A himbo.
- Well, I don't love that term, but, yes.

Oh. The good news is I've
already got my first clue,

- and it looks encouraging.
- What clue is that?

She said she's bringing
over Austin's best cuisine.

And why would she do that
if it were just about sex?

I mean, I saw on a show
that the Sultan of Brunei

flew in soba noodles from
Okinawa for his girls.

I once knew a hostess
on the Upper West Side

who was flown there regularly.

She never mentioned the food.

Oh, yeah. Lobsters from Maine,

a chef from Cordon Bleu, you name it.

I'm just saying, the subtext
with these high rollers can get tricky.

Yeah. And then I'm gonna
just offhandedly ask her

if she meant to write
the check to charity.

- Offhandedly ask her?
- Yeah, I'm gonna slip it in.

- Whoa.
- Um...

To the conversation.

Cap, why don't you just
ask her straight out?

- "Do you think I'm a gigolo?"
- No one uses the phrase "gigolo."

It's sex worker, and there's
nothing wrong with it.

So why are you so afraid to ask?

Because it would be uncouth.

Well, Dostoyevsky said that,
"The fear of appearances

- is the first sign of impotence."
- Dostoyevsky, huh?

Nancy's got me ear-reading
Crime and Punishment.

I'm trying to finish it
before I see her tomorrow.

- (DOORBELL RINGS)
- Well, finish it upstairs 'cause that's her.

- Wish me luck.
- I think you're good for at least grand.

- Get the hell outta here.
- (MATEO LAUGHS)

Kendra. You look amazing. Come in.

Not so bad yourself.

And you brought...

Burgers from Artie's. It's my favorite.

Oh, my God.

- Is that Limoges China?
- Yeah.

Oh, I'm totally disappointing
you right now, aren't I?

- No, no, no, no, no.
- I'm so sorry.

No, no, no, no, no. No, please.
Burgers are way better

than soba noodles from Okinawa.

So oddly specific.

No, I, uh, I love a good, cheap burger

as long as it's not commentary.

Don't worry. There's one
thing I know for sure.

You're no cheap date.

Ooh. What's that supposed to mean?

- What?
- Cheap date.

Why the economic qualifier?

(LAUGHS) Nothing.

- Owen, what's going on?
- You know, I...

There's-there's something
I need to talk to you about.

What is it?

- Miró.
- As in Miró the surrealist artist?

Yes. What are your thoughts on him?

Um... (LAUGHS)

I love him, actually.

The way his style straddles the tension

between whimsy and...

The harsh realities of modern life?

- Exactly.
- See...

I knew you'd get that.

Tonight, there is a special
Miró exhibit at the Contemporary,

and I thought we'd have
our burgers, and then we go.

I don't know. I was kinda
hoping we could stay in tonight.

So just like last time?

I mean, maybe with a little variation,

but overall, it totally worked for me.

Well, I'm glad you're
a satisfied customer.

KENDRA: That's one way to put it.

Let me ask you, wh-what is your
philosophy on the memo line?

The what?

- (BUTTERCUP PANTING)
- Oh, hey.

- Oh, my God. Who is this?
- Hey, boy.

This is Buttercup.

He-he's a shameless beggar,

but he is a good boy.

Hi, buddy. Aw, he's beautiful.

- Yeah.
- How old is he?

They weren't able to
tell me at the rescue.

I'm sorry. You-you rescued a
full-breed Bernese Mountain Dog?

Who leaves one of
these guys in the pound?

Oh, it wasn't a pound.
It was an organization

that takes care of dogs with cancer.

Wow. Just when I thought you
couldn't get any more sexy,

you go and adopt a cancer dog.

OWEN: Mm.

You know what? Let's slow play tonight.

Shut up and kiss me.

Oh, you're just making one cup.

Uh, Kendra left around : A.M.

- A.M.?
- Yeah?

And you seem weirdly happy.

Why wouldn't I be?

We had a great time, and
no monies were exchanged.

Oh, so no himbo.

No, it just confirms what
I knew from the start.

That Kendra, on top of being

a beautiful and overscheduled woman,

has an enormous heart.

And I think that she
recognizes that in me.

She sees me, Mateo, in a
way that no one has in years.

And is our connection physical?

Yes, very.

But also, I think that
we're drawn together

because we're citizens of the
world, and kindred spirits.

All this happened and
I didn't even finish

three chapters of Crime and Punishment.

Well, it's Dostoyevsky.
They're long chapters.

(CASH REGISTER DINGS OVER CELL PHONE)

- MATEO: That her?
- Yeah.

Why is her text sound a cash register?

It's a Venmo payment.

Another grand?

Forty thousand dollars this time.

Customer loyalty discount.

♪ ♪

JUDD: What's up, man?
You doing origami now?

Oh, please. I've been
an origamist since .

Nah, I'm just trying to
work up my nerve to...

throw away this check
that Kendra gave me.

So, I guess the second
date wasn't a home run.

Oh, God. It was a grand slam.

Bringing my earnings to a total of K.

But she did fill out
the memo line this time.

What's that? Is that some kind of emoji?

A bone emoji. Subtle, huh?

I mean, it's kinda clever.

I'm nothing but a cheap himbo.

Hey, there ain't nothin'
cheap about $ , .

I mean, most men would be
a little bit proud of that.

Well, I have to admit, it
was a bit of an ego boost,

but mostly just bummed me
out 'cause I really liked her.

I thought we might have something.

(CELL PHONE BUZZING)

Oh, she's calling me again.

Well, you can keep your
cash, Miss Harrington.

You sure?

I mean, the firehouse
needs a new smoker.

- (LAUGHS SARCASTICALLY)
- Hey, I'm only halfway kidding, man.

I mean, hell, you may
feel a little queasy,

but every one of those
zeros could save a life.

That is true.

So why don't you get over yourself

and give that money to charity?

As long as it saves a life, right?

Yeah.

_

_

(SIREN WAILING)

According to dispatch, this
place is a perfume factory.

We're looking at a possible
airborne toxic event,

so keep your rebreathers handy.

If this is a perfume factory,

why does it smell like Thanksgiving?

Oh, the Fire has landed,

but it looks like we b*at
their medical team here.

Unfortunately,
someone else b*at us here.

- Paragon.
- My eyes felt scratchy,

and the next thing I know,

some of my guys started getting dizzy.

We got everybody out, but it was scary.

Yeah. Does the company
provide insurance?

HMO, I think, with Incise.

Excellent. One of our
preferred partners.

Okay, head over there,
let my team check you out.

And tell your guys I got
more teams coming in to help.

So any word on what kinda
chemicals might be leaking in there?

Not yet. Hazmat's inside right now

with toxic gas monitors
trying to figure that out.

Okay. Well, how can we help?

You're on hydration detail.

Is that meant to be payback?

Real mature, dude.

Guys, we're talking to our IC.

That's not a problem. We'll grab
some waters and then pass 'em out

while we help your
guys triage the workers.

The workers? No.

You're not going near the workers.
They belong to us.

Well, who are the waters for?

(CLICKS TONGUE)

The looky-loos.

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

- Qué hijo de nadie.
- No, he did not.

TOMMY: Here you go, sir.

Try not to lock your knees.
Can't have anybody keeling over.

I don't know how you could
just nod and smile at that guy.

I don't know how you don't
punch him in his stupid face.

He is insufferable. There you go.

But he's good at his job.

I mean, without him
we wouldn't have saved

that patient's life on the bus.

But what if he's... so good at his job

that Paragon puts us out of business?

Then we help as many people as
we can for as long as we can.

HAZMAT OFFICER (OVER RADIO): All
units, we found the source of the leak.

Looks like it's just a
spilled drum of isoeugenol.

Substance is secure and
structure is cleared for use.

Thank God. False alarm.

- (TOMMY CHUCKLES)
- What did he say?

- Isoe-what?
- TOMMY: Isoeugenol.

It's, uh, extract of essential oils.

Actually, it smells a
lot like pumpkin pie.

- Told you it smelled like Thanksgiving.
- Dude. What are you, part basset hound?

(TK LAUGHS)

TK: Oh, uh, Cap?

If it was a false alarm,
why is he taking that guy in?

Probably so he can ring up
their premium insurance plan.

- I have to say something.
- No, Nancy.

No, I have to, because this
is gross and grand larceny.

- And maybe you can stand here...
- Alright, okay. Just let me do it.

Paramedic Risher, uh, is he okay?

Well, he had the most
exposure of anyone in there.

Exposure to a giant bucket
of glorified pumpkin spice?

- You're way outta line, Captain.
- No, you're out of line, son.

We both know this man
doesn't need a hospital.

Son? Try Incident Commander.

You're right. I'm sorry.

I shouldn't have called you son.

I should have called you
a profiteering sociopath.

You also forgot sellout.

And coward!

Nice. Well, you'll all
be hearing from the chief.

Enjoy your suspension.

So that was totally worth it, right?

- Oh, totally worth it.
- Totally worth it.

NANCY: So what are your guys
new career paths gonna be

once Paragon owns our souls?

Oh, I hear San Marcos EMS is hiring.

(expl*si*n)

(PANTING)

Gurney!

Nancy, LIFEPAK, trauma shears.

Alright, Pearce, we
got you. Hang in there!

TK: Okay. Come on!

Pearce. Hey.

Stay with me, okay?

His jugular's distended.

I do not like the
look of his chest rise.

O 's s and falling.

Lung sounds are diminished
on the right side,

nothing on the left.
He can barely draw a breath.

- TOMMY: That's blast lung.
- His left lung must have ruptured.

His pleural cavity's filling with air.
We need to decompress his chest.

You wanna do a thoracostomy here?

We don't have a choice.

I'm gonna need a scalpel
and a Kelly Clamp.

- NANCY: Copy.
- (PEARCE GROANING)

Just hang in there. We got you.

(WHEEZING)

TOMMY: Scalpel.

This is gonna pinch.

(PEARCE GROANS SHARPLY)

Gonna add a little pressure.

(GROANING)

- TOMMY: There we go.
- Almost done.

(GROANS)

- There it is.
- (PEARCE SIGHS DEEPLY)

Okay. Alright.

Occlusion dressing.

- Cap... Captain...
- (TOMMY SHUSHING)

No. Try not to talk.

Thank you.

You're welcome. Now shut up.

Alright.

TOMMY: Let's go.

- ... ninety-five, ninety-six, ninety... Don't...
- (BUTTERCUP WHINES)

Don't you whine at me.

This is the only way to
keep your luxurious sheen.

Ninety-seven, ninety-eight...

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

(BUTTERCUP WHINES)

- Hi.
- You haven't been returning my calls.

Or my many texts.

- Yeah, um...
- Can I come in?

Sure.

I brought you something.

Don Canto. That's the añejo
that is almost impossible to find.

Keyword, "almost."

You know what?

Keep it.

- But it's a gift.
- I think we both know

that your gifts come with strings.

Well, it's a bow, actually.

Don't be cute. You know what I mean.

No, I have no idea what
you're talking about.

Really?

Okay, I'm talking about the
world's oldest profession.

Yeah, I'm talking about sex work.

Pay for play, money for the honey.

Um... Okay.

I-I-I think, um,

our wires might have
gotten crossed here.

Is it a rich girl fantasy?

You know, buy yourself a
fireman for some blue-collar fun.

'Cause if it is, I get
it. But it's not really...

My brother d*ed of lung cancer.

Oh.

He, um, stopped smoking when he was ,

but still got him at .

I'm sorry to hear that.

It's a cause that runs deep for me.

That's why I made all those donations.

O-okay. But you made
the check out to me.

Yeah, 'cause I never thought
you would assume that...

(LAUGHS)

Oh, my God.

Owen, do you, do you really
think I need to pay for sex?

Well, no, I mean, obviously not.

- I don't know.
- KENDRA: Owen...

in what bronzer-soaked universe

would I spend $ ,
to sleep with you?

A hundred and forty thousand all in.

And I do seem to remember

you saying something about
being a satisfied customer.

Mm, no, you said that.

You're right, I did. Okay.

But I'm not the one who Venmo'd

someone with a bone emoji.

It was a dog bone for your dog charity.

The picture was an unspecified bone.

I thought I was being clever.

I met you while you were
throwing a benefit gala.

How was I supposed to
know you were just talking

and not reaching your hand out?

Ugh, this always happens.

"This always happens"?

Not being accused of
solicitation "this."

The money finds a way to
ruin everything "this."

My whole life, I never know
if people like me for me

or if they want something.

My sweet , half the girls left

when we ran out of Hermes gift bags.

- Hmm.
- I know.

Poor little rich girl.

I don't care about your money, Kendra.

- Yeah, people always say that.
- OWEN: Okay.

How about this?

Next time we...

it'll be on the house.

KENDRA: Wow.

Somebody's feeling generous.

No, no, no, no, no. You... (LAUGHS)

You're the one who's generous.

Seriously, though, if
the money is an issue,

- we can tear up that check.
- Oh. Oh, no, no. Let's...

Let's not get crazy.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

May I come in?

Come to kick a sellout while he's down?

I, uh... Karma's taught
me better than that.

You know, I lost an eyebrow.

TOMMY: I see that.

It'll grow back, and
it's, it's not that bad.

I look hideous.

No. No, you look, um...

inquisitive.

So why are you here?

I just came to check
on how you were and...

and see how that incision is healing.

Thoracic surgeon said
it was an exquisite cut.

- Hmm.
- She said you missed your calling.

I told her she was wrong.

You're doing exactly
what you're meant to.

That's sweet.

Thank you.

Uh, so maybe you won't sue?

Oh, no, I'm definitely suing.

Just not you.

Then who?

JACQUES: He lives. (LAUGHS)

How you feeling, superstar?

- Extra crispy.
- JACQUES: Hilarious.

Well, I've got just the
thing to make you feel better.

Arabian aloe vera,

essential oil diffuser,

a thousand-dollar spa day
for when you get sprung.

Had my assistant go
all out. No big deal.

Whatever else you need, by
the way, you let me know.

Hmm.

How about $ million?

- Yeah.
- No, no, no, no.

No, you know what?
Let's make it an even .

I want a schooner.

JACQUES: A schooner?

Did they do something to his meds?

I'm suing you, Jacques.

I'm going to sue you for
everything you're worth

and then some.

Okay, look, I know you're upset,

but what happened was an accident.

No, what happened was
the O regulator sparked

when I switched to the rig's supply.

The refurbished O regulator,

which I complained about
on multiple occasions,

along with our CPAP and ECMO machines.

Well, if he voiced a complaint,
then that constitutes negligence.

He complains a lot,
so it's tough to keep track.

I wouldn't worry about that.
I've got each one documented.

TOMMY: So you guys have been rolling

with shoddy, second-hand
equipment all this time?

Yeah, it's all part of
Paragon's secret sauce.

Cut corners to keep
costs down and profits up.

Well, that's what should
be on your business cards.

PEARCE: Oh, no, no, no.
When I'm done with Paragon,

they won't have a card
left to print it on.

Oh.

I... need to make some calls.

(TOMMY CHUCKLES)

Ooh, karma is a beautiful thing.

♪ ♪