01x09 - Sanctuary

[bunniefuu]

["Not at Home" by Peter Broderick playing]

♪ ♪

I'm so sorry.

♪ I'm not at home ♪
♪ I have no instruments ♪
♪ No instruments ♪
♪ I'm using yours ♪

[sighs]

It was just a kiss.

♪ On the floor ♪
♪ And when I'm home, I'm not at home ♪
♪ And when I'm home, I'm not at home ♪
♪ I'm having thoughts of driving in a storm ♪
♪ I was in a storm ♪
♪ ♪

[door opens, closes]

You're gonna have to find room for it in the facilities budget, okay?

I've got my first board review coming up, and they're putting every department under the microscope. Just...

Let me just put you on hold for one minute, okay?

I'm trying to deal with this half-wit accountant.

You put me on speakerphone, Millicent.

[dial tone]

Okay, I have no reason to be nervous.

It's just a board review.

I mean, yeah, it's my first, but you know, RVUs are up, patient evals are up, and who cares if they're questioning every decision I make, right?

I kissed Jesse.

Oh.

Well, I can't say I'm surprised.

I didn't plan for this to happen. I...

I feel terrible.

I-I told Pierce this morning, and you should've seen the look on his face.

[gentle guitar music]

I told him it didn't mean anything.

Did he believe you?

Why wouldn't he?

Alex, why would he?

Look, do you want me to be honest here or just supportive?

Honest.

You and Jesse have a long, intense history together.

Of course that kiss meant something.

I changed my mind. I want you to be supportive.

Tell me I can fix this.

Tell me I won't lose Pierce.

[phone vibrating]

This is him.

I got to go.

[monitors beeping]

I was getting ready for work.

Then, I went into his room to kiss him good-bye.

He wasn't breathing, and his heart stopped in the ambulance.

I need to confer with Dr. Shane.

I'll be right back, Rafe.

[monitors beeping]

I heard they brought him in.

Yeah.

His brain was deprived of oxygen for too long.

He's not coming out of this.

I'm surprised they resuscitated him.

Case like this should be a DNR.

Why's he on a ventilator?

I made him a promise.

Excuse me, I need a doctor.

Ma'am, ma'am, I need... please...

I need... I need... I need a...

Ma'am, Doctor, I got a 237A.

There was a dumpster, somebody just left him in there.

Okay.

He was so scared, he seems hungry.

We'll take it from here.

I need a baby warmer, and call the NICU attending and tell them I have an infant drop-off.

He likes it when I sing to him.

He may have a wet diaper.

You're with me. Come on.

Okay.

Nice work, Panttiere.

Not bad for a first-year resident.

His heart's smaller than a strawberry.

It's amazing.

Nothing like a bit of trial by fire on your peds rotation.

[laughs]

That the cop who brought him in?

Yeah, he slept here.

That's above and beyond the call of duty.

You did good, Doctor.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Nice work.

Thanks.

You've been here all this time?

Yeah, I was just reading about how fragile newborns are.

But he's doing okay?

We repaired his heart.

I hope he likes baseball.

We did a preliminary blood panel.

He was born HIV positive.

He's always gonna root for the underdog.

With a host of other serious medical conditions.

We'll go to minor-league games.

That's what he'll love.

Nothing flashy, just... all hope and heart.

Rafe... this is a child we don't expect to make it past his first birthday.

His name's Colin.

[baby babbling]

Hmm?

I'm adopting him.

There's a reason we found each other.

Wow.

Dad.

[both laugh]

Thanks. [sighs]

He, uh... he likes it when I read to him.

Especially this one.

Thanks.

[slow piano music]

Thanks for the book, Doc.

"Night-light."

"Nobody ever thought a robot and a dog could be friends...

♪ ♪

And so they played all morning"...

"And the dog got very tired.

What's the matter? Are you sick?'

And the dog replied, I don't know, silly, I'm a dog.'"

Are you getting tired?

Not as tired as Dad.

This is my favorite part.

Okay.

"Suddenly, the robot had a brilliant idea.

He could give his super-atomic robot heart to the dog, so the dog could live on forever."

"So the robot said to the dog, When the sun whispers good night to the mountains, and you're warm in your bed, you close your eyes.

And you won't ever be afraid of the dark, because my heart will always be b*ating.

Always on, like a night-light.'"

I'm scared of the dark.

Oh, I'm sorry. I'll turn it back on.

No, I mean... the dark.

I want my heart to go to somebody and keep b*ating.

It just won't seem so scary that way.

Can you do that?

Colin, you have a very special heart.

It might not be easy to find a place for it.

I know what HIV-positive means.

Couldn't you find someone who's like me?

It's not that easy, and it's not just that.

Even though we fixed your heart, you had...

Congenital heart disease.

You're a smarty-pants.

They don't really let us give those kinds of hearts away.

Yeah, but you're a smarty too.

I bet you could figure something out.

Maybe.

You promise?

[gentle music]

♪ ♪

Promise.

[soft piano music]

♪ ♪

Do you think you'll be able to keep your promise?

I don't know.

We still haven't tried the Donor Alliance.

I'll...

Yeah, I'll just take that.

Um, thanks.

Can somebody let me in please?

Little help here?

Coming.

Yup, thank you.

Sorry, Ji-Sung.

Are you guys kidding me?

I heard about Colin. I'm sorry.

Yeah, we've been up all night trying to find a recipient for his heart.

That's why I didn't come home.

I went to my house.

Max stayed with the boys.

I really want a chance to talk, but right now I just...

No, that's fine.

I'm not ready to talk.

I'm just checking on a juvenile heart donation.

If L.A. hospitals don't have a match, let's try San Diego, San Francisco, let's just keep calling.

Anyone call Sierra Donor Services yet?

I'm on hold with them, but it doesn't look good.

Okay. Call UNOS. See if there's a way to tweak the search to get more hits.

I'm on it.

We need a recipient...

Within 10% of Colin's body weight.

Call Cal-Trans. See if there's been any accidents.

HIV-positive heart with a history of heart disease.

That's too many strikes against you.

We're not giving up. Lynn, call AIDS United.

See if there's a policy rep who's familiar with outreach to local clinics.

Oh, and Ji-Sung, check the university database for any studies with HIV and congenital heart defects.

Got it. I'm on it.

[whispering]

No viable recipients?

Will you let us know if anything changes? Thank you.

Both: Hey.

Got your text.

Where... where are we?

Private wards.

Dr. Shane thinks he's found a recipient for Colin's heart.

Here?

Yeah.

So I just checked her in.

[lively guitar music]

♪ ♪

Hey, Chris.

Hey, Neema.

So this is Neema.

Hey, baby girl.

She's dying of heart disease, and she's the perfect match for Colin's heart.

[Neema chitters]

Gotcha.

♪ ♪

That's a chimpanzee.

Yeah.

Jesse, how did you get a chimpanzee into...

I volunteer at the local animal sanctuary.

The vet who runs the place is an old friend.

She asked me to come in for a consult.

And Neema has dilated cardiomyopathy.

You want to put my boy's heart into a chimp?

Yeah.

There has never been a human-to-animal heart transplant.

No, this should be the first, but blazing new trails was your speciality.

[Neema chittering]

Chimpanzee physiology is amazingly similar to humans.

Neema is Colin's size and weight.

His heart could save her life.

What about HIV transmission?

Well, the virus can replicate inside her, but infected chimps have rarely been known to develop the clinical symptoms of AIDS.

Cross-species heart transplant.

What about her metabolic state?

What if there's immunologic rejection...

I know someone who can help.

No. No way in hell.

An animal... no.

Rafe, I know it's a big leap, but we can't find a human candidate.

Still no.

What about Colin?

Didn't he love animals? What would he say?

You know what, you don't need to make a decision now.

I'm not even sure this is possible.

We need to find out.

[Neema chittering]

Hang in there, sweetheart.

Hey, you watching the game today?

Clippers. Yeah.

Yo, I thought we were gonna... today.

That's today?

Yeah.

Right. I got to record that game.

Yeah.

You ready to do this?

Yeah, I need it.

Okay.

Okay. I mean, it's been awhile.

I may have even forgotten how.

I haven't, all right?

Yeah, mm-hmm.

So I'm good at it.

Meet me in the cadaver lab. No one will be there.

Okay.

I need a brain wipe.

Want a beer?

Hey, um... no, man, I'm on my way out to the beach house.

Actually... do you have anything stronger than beer?

♪ ♪

Dude, it's not supposed to be this hard.

I'm the wrong guy to talk to about this.

I'm gay and I still married her.

I'm sure she told you about Jesse.

Alex tells me an alarming amount of things.

I'm sorry.

You know, you and I actually have a lot in common.

We both think "Raw Power" was the greatest album that was ever made.

He's a genius.

We're both devilishly handsome.

You know I'd do you if I wasn't straight.

And we both love Alex.

Yeah.

The difference is that I figured out a long time ago that I can't be her guy because of who I am and what I want out of my life.

I love her.

That's the easy part.

[animals calling]

Wildlife Waystation.

Over 500 acres, 125 different species, and we're still in Los Angeles.

Where do the animals come from?

Circuses, zoos, and some are abandoned.

Come on. I want you to meet Dr. Bennett.

Risa to her friends, which are mostly animals.

Don't say I didn't warn you. [chuckles]

Come on, baby, take the licorice.

Come on.

Yes, there you go.

Good boy. Yeah.

Well, the similarities between human and chimp DNA are 99%.

Now, the chimp's chest wall is more convex.

It's musculature is denser.

Imagine how successful your surgery would be if you had the sense to ask a veterinarian to assist you.

Oh, yeah. What? You know of one?

Oh, come on.

So, um... how's Neema doing?

She's fading, Risa.

Mm.

But I still think she might change the world.

Yeah.

It's a simple idea with a fancy name.

Zoobiquity.

All living things, animals and humans, are all connected.

Yeah.

Gorillas suffer depression, cheetahs get breast cancer, but chimps can't get AIDS.

You help animals, and you help yourselves.

Imagine if doctors and vets could enhance patient care if they shared information about treatments and diagnoses for both species.

Yeah.

And Neema's surgery would certainly generate a lot of publicity.

Nope, no publicity.

Why?

I haven't told you the whole story, okay?

But... let's just say Neema didn't exactly retire from a zoo.

She spent 30 years locked in a cage in the basement of a medical research facility.

How did she get out of that cage, Jesse?

Someone opened it.

She stole it?

Rescued.

By an animal rights group.

Rescued?

Saving Neema is the right thing to do here.

Jesse, the hospital will come after us.

I don't care. I'm sorry if I involved you.

You want to back out? I got to do this.

Okay, don't. You know I have to save Colin's heart.

[dramatic music]

Are you out of your bloody mind?

No. Sorry. Let me rephrase that.

Are you both out of your bloody minds?

We already have the surgical infrastructure for this procedure.

We also have the collaboration of a highly skilled veterinarian.

We can turn xenotransplantation from a surgical research tool into a solution for the worldwide organ shortage.

Who knows where the collaboration between doctors and vets could lead?

At Colorado State, finding ways to save limbs in dogs has already led to treatment of teens with bone cancer.

Stop. It's not gonna happen.

Do you have any idea how damaging this would be to our reputation? To our funding?

Tell me this isn't about the board review coming up.

Let me be clear.

Saint Matthews is not in the zoobiquity business.

We are in the human health care business, and I will not sacrifice precious resources because you made an impossible promise to a little boy.

Fine. Well, I'm not giving up yet.

I'm gonna go check with the AIDS Foundation.

Thank you.

All right, looks pretty good.

[mellow music]

♪ ♪

Excuse me.

Dr. Shane.

You got a second?

♪ ♪

[grunts]

[sighs]

Anything else?

Look at this.

Wow.

I got you a fresh cadaver from the OR.

Gorgeous.

Now can you name all the blood vessels off the abdominal aorta?

Mm-hmm. Phrenic. Splenic.

Superior mesenteric.

Inferior mesenteric.

Good. Keep going.

Ugh, I can't remember.

Oh, my God.

This is one year of medical school in Seoul down the drain if I don't pass this exam.

I'm never gonna be a doctor.

Why didn't you finish over there?

'Cause it's complicated.

Personal.

Really?

Okay. I think we're past that, all right?

You nursed me back to health, okay?

You've seen my barf face.

Okay, don't remind me.

[sighs]

Come on.

My cousin got sick in the states.

I left med school in Korea to come back here and take care of her, and I thought I'd find a way to continue, but med school is very expensive.

Nursing school was cheaper and faster, but I never stopped wanting to be a doctor.

[upbeat music]

♪ ♪

Good.

Can you tell me what's wrong with this guy's liver?

It's a female.

I told him the kiss didn't mean anything.

So you lied.

[melancholy music]

♪ ♪

[knocking]

I can't let this go.

I just don't think you get it.

So I'm gonna try again, because I want you on our side, but the truth is I made a call to the board of directors before I came here.

I'm sorry, Millie, but I'm gonna pull rank.

The hell you are.

Surgery's my jurisdiction.

This is my call to make.

Jesse, I am trying to protect you.

Have you considered, even for one minute, what would happen if the surgery failed?

["Wait" by Chris Bathgate playing]

I was hoping to convince you to do this, but they're not gonna let us do it.

♪ ♪

It's time for this to be over.

Hey, little buddy.

♪ ♪

You were never supposed to make it this far.

When I pulled you out of that dumpster, I had no idea... that you'd be such a world-class fighter... but you don't got to fight anymore.

I want to take him off the ventilator.

♪ ♪

No, wait! Stop!

We're doing this.

♪ ♪

All right, because of Neema's heart failure, she has hepatomegaly.

She's coagulopathic, so watch the heparin.

Check her PTTs.

Roger that, Doctor.

You're leaving?

Yeah, I'm leaving.

You're the hospital's top hepatobiliary surgeon.

What if there's complications?

Alex, you don't need me.

You're wrong.

Your patient's the donor.

You won't have any complications... and as for Neema, Dr. Bennett knows more about animal physiology than I do.

You and Jesse have this covered.

[tense music]

Alex, you were born for this, so just go make history.

♪ ♪

I'm sorry about Jesse pulling rank on you.

Well, this is a major event for the hospital.

If you're successful, I'll arrange all your TV appearances and your lecture tour.

And if I'm not?

Well, then, it'll be on my head, just like everything else you do, but right now it's my job to get in front of this mob and call it a parade.

Wait till you see the press release.

Maybe you should hold off on the press for now.

It's a bit late for that now, Alex.

Stay on schedule.

I'm gonna go check on Neema.

[elevator bells dings]

Dr. Shane, I'm having second thoughts about this operation.

It just doesn't feel right.

I thought this was over.

I thought I had finally said good-bye.

This is wrong.

Why?

How is it wrong to save a life?

We're humans, not animals, Doctor.

What if we're all connected?

What if all life is sacred?

Neema spent 32 years in a cage.

That's inhumane.

We'll do this for Colin, but when you turn off that ventilator, my son is dead, and I don't want to know anything else.

♪ They're building towers ♪
♪ that are high enough to see the clouds ♪
♪ Yet it don't bother me ♪
♪ The elevator's working overtime, up and down ♪
♪ Yet it don't bother me ♪
♪ 'Cause I need something more than everything ♪
♪ A higher self, deep within ♪
♪ 'Cause I need something more than everything ♪
♪ A higher self ♪
♪ A higher self ♪
♪ And I know ♪
♪ We need a little heart hope ♪
♪ I know we've got to outgrow ♪
♪ And feel a little heart hope ♪

Nothing flashy, just all hope and heart.

You promise?

Promise.

♪ ♪

Dr. Panttiere, are you ready?

Would you like me to do it?

♪ They're building aeroplanes ♪
♪ Faster than the speed of light ♪
♪ Yet it don't bother me ♪
♪ The endless cities multiplying out, oceansize ♪
♪ Yet it don't bother me ♪
♪ 'Cause I need something more than everything ♪

Alex? Would you like me to do it?

♪ A higher self, deep within ♪
♪ ♪

Time of death: 10:06.

You must be really angry with her if you're not watching what's going on in the OR.

Yeah, I am angry.

I'm a lot of things.

How angry? Breakup angry?

Look... No, I didn't say that.

What are you saying? Own it.

What are you feeling?

I'm feeling like I love her. I just don't know...

She makes a single mistake, and you doubt the whole relationship?

See, you're looking at this as a mistake.

I'm looking at it as a truth.

Really? Truth?

The world's most flexible concept.

Whose truth?

The one where I stop chasing after Alex and I ask what's in it for me.

[melancholy music]

♪ ♪

Please, just make this work.

Because of the chest walls proximity to the aorta, you should use a Stryker saw.

♪ Thinking it would die ♪
♪ Burn my desire ♪

Wait.

I wasn't aware sanctuaries tattooed their animals, but medical research facilities do.

♪ I stuck around so long ♪

Where did you get this chimp from, Dr. Shane?

Not now. We have a patient on the table.

There's a registry.

All I have to do is run the number, and I'll know, so, last chance.

Where's Neema from?

♪ ♪

Where's Neema from?

Millicent, please. This is Colin's heart.

Is this animal stolen property?

No one should have the right to call life property.

Shut it down.

Millicent, you can't.

As Chief of Surgery, you had the power to overrule me on this operation, but if this chimpanzee is stolen, then as Chief Operating Officer it is my duty to stop an illegal procedure.

Just turn off the PA.

No personal crusade is worth destroying Saint Matthews.

Proceding with this operation would be a criminal action.

Everybody, stop what you're doing right now.

Shut it down.

♪ No words left to say ♪

Do you realize how many human lives have been saved because of Neema?

Do you understand what happens to a hospital once its accreditation has been revoked?

Scalpel.

Don't you dare.

This heart... this life-giving heart, you want me to throw it out?

Alex, so help me.

This breathing life, you want me to let it die?

Because if you shut down this surgery, both those things will happen.

I'm trying to save an entire hospital and everyone who works in it, Alex, not just your patient.

[beeping]

Blood pressure dropping.

Alex...

I've made an incision.

The operation has begun.

We're obligated to proceed.

[dramatic piano music]

♪ ♪

Cautery.

Bollocks. Bollocks. You bugger. Bugger.

Bollocks. Bollocks. You ass. Bug. Bug.

[yells] Bugger!

Alex?

Yup.

[sighs]

You know, right from the beginning, the board didn't want me to hire her.

The maverick... the rock star... can't be handled.

Well, I argued, "A brilliant surgeon. Worth the risk."

Were you wrong?

What? Are you defending her?

Alex doesn't need my defense, and she doesn't need your defense.

She's gonna do whatever she wants to do.

And that's okay with you, Pierce?

I'm just trying to be honest.

You and I both knew Alex was a wild ride before we got on.

Yeah, what, so she just gets to be the savior, while the rest of us clean up behind her?

Well, then, you got to do what you got to do.

Yeah.

You too.

[solemn guitar music]

♪ ♪

Okay, start coming down slowly.

Coming down.

[flatline tone]

[beeping]

[all sighing and laughing]

Neema belongs to the Brachman Research Facilities.

Two representatives from the lab are on their way over right now.

At the conclusion of this surgery, they will take her back into their possession.

Do you have any idea what they'll do to her?

You have the luxury of caring for patients.

I have an obligation to safeguard a hospital, no matter what it costs me.

Close her up, and prepare her for transport.

The law has changed.

They can't use chimpanzees in any more experiments.

No, a chimp with a human heart is uniquely valuable to any lab.

We can't send her back.

We can't.

We can observe the conclusion of the surgery from here.

How's Neema doing?

It's too soon to know.

Dr. Haas, Dr. Rake, I want to apologize again to Brachman Labs.

Neema's provenance didn't come to light until after the surgery had begun.

We were surprised to get your call.

In our experience, people's emotions override their responsibilities.

Well I'm a doctor myself.

I know the reason we have vaccines for polio and treatments for Parkinson's and Hepatitis is because they were developed through medical trials in labs just like yours.

But none of that matters. We're the bad guys.

Well, I think everybody agrees on the value of research.

It's the methodology that's called into debate.

[beeping]

Pulse is failing.

Aortic cannula is dislodged.

She's bleeding out.

Breathing's slowing. We're not on pump.

Vitals?

Systolic BP's in the 40s.

Give 500 of saline and bolus her.

Charge to ten.

[electricity whirring]

Ten.

Clear!

Aorta dissecting.

Again, charge to ten.

Ten.

Clear!

[flatline tone]

[dramatic piano music]

Damn it.

[somber music]

♪ ♪

Time of death: 5:19.

♪ ♪

[somber music]

♪ ♪

I'm so sorry, this is a huge loss for everyone.

Especially for Saint Matthews.

You operated on stolen property and then destroyed it.

This isn't over.

Meaning?

It means this hospital is liable for the damage done to the research and the destruction of our property.

Are you threatening legal action?

That's exactly what we're doing.

Well, I welcome a very public trial on the merits of Brachman Lab animal experimentation.

The question is... will you?

Saint Matthews performs research on animals.

Cruelty-free. A critical difference.

Doctors, you'll be needing the contact information of our General Counsel.

Allow me to provide it for you.

["Heart Hope" by Oh Wonder continues]

♪ ♪
♪ They're building towers ♪
♪ That are high enough to see the clouds ♪

Let's move, quick.

How's she doing?

Weak, but stable. She can make it.

Nice sleight of hand, unplugging the EKG.

You're almost smart enough to be an animal.

There's an ambulance ready to take you and Neema back to the sanctuary.

The sooner we get there, the better.

♪ A higher self deep within ♪

Colin, Neema...

♪ And I know ♪

You be good to each other.

♪ We need a little heart hope ♪
♪ ♪

A dead chimpanzee stolen from a lab?

Brilliant.

I'm making it your responsibility to see that Neema's corpse makes it back to the Brachman Labs by tomorrow.

Yeah, about that.

Maybe a morgue could produce some ashes.

You lied to me?

We're colleagues.

Jesse, I brought you here because you were miserable in Cleveland.

You said you needed to make a real difference, and I gave you that opportunity.

And, you...

I have supported you and taken the blame for you more times than I can even remember.

I am the COO of this hospital, and if you ever cross me again, I swear it's over.

♪ ♪

Is that an actual scalpel?

[groans]

You can't come up behind me like that.

I'm sorry.

Yeah, it's...

I need to practice separating the fascia.

Nice!

Thank you.

Here's a little tip.

What?

If you just relax your wrist here...

Okay?

It is.

It will help reduce fatigue.

I return your help with an important piece of information.

Your fly is down.

No, it's not.

But thank you for checking me out.

That's gross.

Mm-hmm.

So...

[upbeat music]

Are we doing this?

Doing what?

Um... I don't know, getting to know each other.

Having a personal relationship.

As long as there's dead flesh between us, yeah, sure.

I can work with that.

♪ ♪

"So the robot said to the dog, When the sun whispers good night to the mountains, and you're warm in your bed, and you close your eyes.

And you won't ever be afraid of the dark because my heart will always be b*ating.

Always on, like a night-light.'"

♪ ♪

So I was surprised to get your call.

Just wanted to know that Colin got his wish.

All right. All right.

Patient needs to rest. Come on. Move out, people.

Oh, I'm sorry, Neema. It's not mine to give.

[Neema chitters]

♪ ♪

Are we ever gonna talk about that kiss?

[sighs]

I was emotional, I...

My father just had surgery. I, uh... I found out he had a mistress for the past 30 years.

And that's why you kissed me?

You kissed me.

The point is we kissed, Alex.

Well, it's not like a... like it was the first time, when I was an intern.

Okay, that time you definitely kissed me, and I stopped you.

Or the night you got your tattoo.

You didn't stop me then.

You always show up just when I need you...

["Rust or Gold" by Jill Andrews playing]

But leave when I need you even more.

I told you the night I left you would always have my heart.

This time I'm not leaving.

Can we stop waiting?

I have Pierce.

Alex, enough.

You got to choose one of us and let the other go.

I choose you.

You choose me?

Yeah.

♪ Same as everyone ♪
♪ Who shines, dear ♪
♪ Home inside your head ♪

Just tell me that part of you won't always be in love with Jesse.

♪ Fill it with regret, decorate with fear ♪

I love you, Pierce.

♪ Hand to heart and heart to hand ♪
♪ My hands to you ♪
♪ Rust to gold, you decide ♪

That's not enough, Alex.

♪ What you see, what you hold ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Or hold it in and let it die ♪
♪ Let it die, let it die ♪