01x20 - The Gift of Life

Episode transcripts for the TV show, "Crossing Jordan". Aired: September 2001 to May 2007.*

Moderator: Lillith Decker

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Follows a crime-solving forensic pathologist employed in the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
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01x20 - The Gift of Life

Post by bunniefuu »

Hey, Lily.
Hi.

Oh, my God.
Awesome bag.

Oh, you should see the matching shoes. Love!

You know, you look different lately.

Really? Yeah, like you're
glowing or something.

Oh.
You're not, uh...

Oh, that's unlikely.

It could be this new face cream I got.

The active ingredient
is human foreskin.

And you put this
on your face?

Smoothes out
your fine lines.

Just be careful not to rub
too hard, know what I'm saying?

Yeah, I got all the
complexion-erection jokes

from the gal at the cosmetics counter.

Morning,
Jordan.

Hey.
Lily.

Ooh, sudden chill
in here.

Drop it.

Fine. Look,
I need a raise.

My accountant says I'm
worth $ . , after taxes.

Be sure to stick that in an IRA.

No, I'm serious. Bernie says if I don't
start saving now, my heirs won't get a dime.

You don't have
any heirs.

I know. He still wants me to draw up a will.

You don't have a will? You're
an M.E., for God's sake.

I'm a young M.E.

There'll be plenty of time to think
about that stuff when I'm your age.

You know, you really ought to see someone

about having that nasty
little patch of denial removed.

Dr. Macy, you've got a priority
call from Boston University Hospital.

Everything's a priority over there. Tell
them we'll pick up their patient ASAP.

Thing is, it's not a patient.

One of their CT surgeons dropped dead in
the middle of performing open heart surgery.

This place brings back memories.

Got your tonsils out here
as a young lass, huh?

Well, actually,
yeah.

Also did a surgical residency back in ' .

Mercy. You must have been head of your class.

That was
a long time ago.

Hi. What happened?

He was doing
a quadruple bypass.

He seemed fine, then he mentioned feeling
dizzy and the next second he collapsed.

You tried CPR?
He was already gone.

You know this guy?

Yeah.

How long ago
did she collapse?

I don't know,
minutes maybe.

What'd she take?

She's got a prescription for Seconal.

She uses it when
she can't sleep.

Has she been drinking? Yeah.
You gotta take care of her.

Jordan.
Can you hear me?

Damn it, don't you die on me, Jordan. Jordan!

Jordan.

Jordan. You okay, love?

Yeah,
I'm fine.

So, who is he?

Dr. Elliot McCafferty.

He's one of the top heart
surgeons in the country.

Friend of yours?

Not really.

He just saved
my life once.

You mind riding back with the body?

It's what
I live for.

Patient was admitted to the E.R.
Complaining of shortness of breath

and radiating chest pains.

Mr. Siegel's echocardiogram
revealed severe aortic damage.

What's the best way to
avoid post-op stroke?

No-clamp fibrillatory
arrest strategy?

What if there's mid-ascending
aortic involvement?

Anyone?

Replace the ascending aorta under
hypothermic circulatory arrest.

Oh, at last. Signs of intelligent life.

Okay, Cavanaugh.
Let's go for the gold.

Under what other conditions would
you induce hypothermic arrest?

If the patient has multiple or
circumferentially involved areas.

I'd remind the rest of you I'm not asking
these questions for my own amusement.

They're questions
of life and death.

And the day you hold
someone's heart in your hands,

if any of you
make it that far,

you damn well better know
the answers. That's it.

Dr. Cavanaugh.
Yes, sir?

I've got a bypass
scheduled at : .

Feel like
scrubbing in?

Absolutely.
Thank you.

Don't thank me yet.

Just want to see if you move your hands
half as well as you move your mouth.

Take it easy. He is not a damn popsicle.

Arnold Hummer,
chief cryo-technician,

LifeXpand
Incorporated.

This is my client,
Mr. Reims.

I need your intake manager, stat.

Are you some kind of lawyer?

Lawyers suck the life out of people.

At LifeXpand, we're about sealing life in.

This isn't one of our gurneys.

You bet your Union Jack it's not, Churchill.

This is the Pork
Portable Rescue Cart.

It's my own design.

This is going to revolutionize the business.

And exactly what business is that?

Cryo-transport.

I'm here to save Mr. Reims.

No offense, but I think you
might be a hair late on that.

You're way too hot to be a cryo-baby, honey.

Death is over.

It's strictly second millennium. Let it go.

Why is he on cardiopulmonary support?

And what's with
the IV?

Nimodipine, heparin, some
free radical inhibitors.

The exact formula
is classified.

LifeXpand personnel only,
patent pending.

Mr. Reims needs
an autopsy,

which you have made infinitely more difficult
by polluting him with a river of chemicals.

What autopsy?

He was adjusting his satellite
dish and fell off the roof.

Now, let's get him signed
out, so we can get him vatted.

Cryogenic suspension.

Mr. Reims will be preserved
until his condition is reversible.

But his condition
is dead.

Man, you people are
like a broken record.

Enough.

What the hell
are you doing?

If the family agrees, you can
have the body when I'm through.

You cannot dissect
this man like a frog.

You are ruining his chances at future life.

Superficial contusion
near the left temple,

a probable impact
injury from the fall.

No other obvious
signs of trauma.

Is it really
McCafferty?

Yeah.

He always
seemed the type...

Who'd never die?
Yeah.

Guess I figured he'd
just ascend to the heavens

in a golden chariot
or something.

Seeing him on the O.R.
Floor this morning, he...

God, he seemed
almost human.

Yeah.

Hell of a surgeon.

Oh, come on, Garret.
You hated the guy.

He wouldn't have gotten my
vote for Mr. Congeniality,

but if my ticker
ever blew,

he sure as hell is the guy
I'd want holding the Kn*fe.

Must be weird
for you.

Just another body.

And this is
Mr. Busch.

He's heading for
Potter's Field.

Oh, no one
claimed him?

Been three months. Dr.
Macy said we need the space.

Hey... He was an organ donor and no one
ever claimed him? That's kind of unusual.

Isaac Busch, . d*ed in a motorcycle
accident. Parents are dead, no siblings.

Pretty sad.

You know what? I think I'll
handle this one myself, Emmy.

Cool.

Sorry I'm late.

Why is Mr. Reims still
on the Porkmobile?

The only way I could get rid of
the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.

Hummer's
not that bad.

He actually believes he
can extend people's lives.

What, by pumping them
full of chemicals

and freezing them
like TV dinners?

Well, there's more to
cryonics than that, Buggles.

I cruised the LifeXpand website.

It was a tad
out there,

but what's wrong with offering a bit of hope

to those facing
the great unknown?

What's wrong is,
it's a bloody scam.

I can't imagine what
these hustlers charge.

$ , for full body suspension.

Sweet Nancy.

Hummer slipped it
to me on the way out.

It's a bit pricey, but
there's an economy plan.

For $ , , they'll put your brain on ice.

Yeah, I bet you could get half price.

Why so cynical?

My uncle Sanjay fell prey to
these body snatchers in London.

Bought a life insurance
policy, grand.

Named them beneficiaries.

Well, they've got to keep these bodies fresh

till science solves
the mysteries of death.

Gs to change the pickle
juice every years?

Someone is
getting very rich.

Drop the blade,
butcher boy.

I'm calling security.

Call a lawyer
instead.

This court order enjoins you
from mutilating my client.

Fine, but this gives you no
claim over Mr. Reims's body.

He's not leaving
this morgue.

Now, now, lads. I'm sure
we can work something out.

Or not.

McCAFFERTY: Where you from, Cavanaugh?

I grew up
in South Boston.


Oh, a local girl.

Mrs. Levin here
is your neighbor.

Adjust the
side-biting clamp.

You want to be
a heart surgeon,

you're gonna have to
touch a few hearts.

Run your finger along
the pulmonary artery.

Pretty cool, huh?

Amazing.

Should we run a Doppler probe, Doctor?

Not worth the time.

Here's the fun part.

Proximal anastomosis joining
the vein graft to the aorta.

Her aorta's
in pretty bad shape.

Oh, I've seen worse.

Will the graft hold with
that much atherosclerosis?

Check out the rookie
slinging the lingo.

I didn't mean
to suggest...

Ready to sew.

Move the clamp,
Cavanaugh.

Loosen and pull.
Nice and easy.

Damn.
What's wrong?

She's hemorrhaging
around the aorta.

Pressure's dropping.

Did I do something?
Uh-oh.

I need a l Proline, now.

Cross-clamp.
We're losing her.

Come on, Mrs. Levin. Work
with me. Don't bail on me.

Time of death,
: p. m.

Dr. McCafferty,
did I...

No. She'd already had
two heart att*cks.

Her aorta was
extremely fragile.

But she was...

Lesson one,
patients die.

Go home,
Dr. Cavanaugh.

How is she, Doctor?

There was too much damage. I'm sorry.

But you said
Jan would be fine.

I'm sorry.
I did all I could.

You arrogant
son of a bitch.

You k*lled her.

Why don't you try sucking on the
tailpipe of a Buick? It's faster.

Tried it once. Smeared my
lipstick. Who the hell are you?

Garret Macy,
M.E.'s Office.

Oh, a coroner.

Wow, I didn't know they let you guys out
of the crypt to walk among the living.

It's a new policy, but
we have to wear sun block.

Examined the body of
Mrs. Jan Levin last night.

McCafferty's op report said you
were in the O.R. When she d*ed.

And?

Was hoping you could
fill in some holes for me.

Talk to McCafferty.

I'm just a resident.
I was observing.

Which led me to think
maybe you saw something.

I mean, why did he choose such
a damaged portion of the aorta?

You ask me, I think he put
the graft in the wrong place.

I didn't ask. I gotta get back to work.

Anybody ever tell you
you got a lousy attitude?

Anybody ever tell you
you dress like a coroner?

My wife and daughter,
every morning.

Well, they're right.

Not even a surgeon yet

and you're already convinced God talks
to you through this thing, aren't you?

Actually, I listen to patients'
b*ating hearts with this,

but knowing your line of work, I can see
why a guy like you wouldn't recognize it.

Exactly what do you
have against M.E.'s?

You mean besides the fact that they're
complacent bottom ten-percenters

who act more like
vultures than doctors?

Yeah, besides that.

Seconal?

And here I was thinking you
sleep the sleep of the righteous.

Try working -hour shifts
three times a week.

Messes with your
internal clock.

Why are you afraid to talk about
what happened in that O.R. Yesterday?

I got a ward full
of patients waiting.

Any one of them kicks,
I'll send them your way.

You are k*lling
Mr. Reims!

He's already dead,
you moron!

All right, hold on,
hold on. Okay...

Listen, all right,
calm down, calm down.

Now, I appreciate
your position, Mr...

Hummer.

Right.

But the problem
is this...

He's nutty as a loon.

What is your baggage,
Kashmir?

Do you have stock
in Kübler-Ross?

All right,
take it easy.

As I was saying,
Mr. Hummer.

Mmm.

I appreciate your group's interest
in preserving the decedent,

but the fact is that...

Have you people even read our literature?

Uh-huh.
It's rubbish.

You feed off the irrational fear of death.

A fear you ghouls perpetuate every
time you slice up an innocent corpse.

I mean, who signs your
paychecks, the Grim Reaper?

Charlatan.
Undertaker!

Everybody knock it off!

That's great. I just gave myself a headache.

Might I suggest that we boil this
imbroglio down to its essence?

By all means.

Mr. Reims
requires an autopsy,

but Mr. Hummer fears that it
will imperil Mr. Reims's future.

My proposal is,

we operate.

What, as if he were
a live patient?

Yeah.

That's preposterous,
even for you.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, the
limey might have something.

Mr. Reims's cells are
breaking down by the second.

I have to get him vitrified and
suspended pronto or he's toast.

Bring on the marmalade.
He's already toast.

You promise to put everything
back where you found it?

Sure.

Oh, please. Don't make me do this.

It's my only way
out of this nightmare.

You're just gonna have
to take one for the team.

I do respect your policy,
but this man has no family.

He's gonna be buried in a
city plot off of the Mass Pike.

I think the people whose lives
he saved would want to know.

Uh... No, that's all
right, I'll call you back.

That's not
a happy face.

I'm fighting with the
Northeastern Organ Bank.

What do you need?

The names of Mr. Busch's organ recipients.

They took his kidneys,
his liver and a lung.

And all he got was
a lousy t-shirt.

He's just a kid.

And they're gonna bury him in some
grave in the middle of nowhere.

That blows.
Big time.

Mr. Reims falls off the roof of
his house fixing his TV and no...

Everybody's fighting
over his body.

While my guy has saved who knows how
many lives and nobody gives a damn.

The thing is, there are good reasons

for keeping donor information confidential.

It's a very
emotional process.

I get that, but what about Mr. Busch?

He d*ed at ,
alone.

I don't see anybody getting
emotional about that.

Except you.

Maybe you should
let it go.

I'll find these people if I
have to track every transplant

on the East Coast over the last three months.

You might want to
tread lightly, Lily.

I tried that. Now I'm
strapping on the stilettos.

What's your problem, man?

Missed you, too.

Chief of Surgery called me into
his office, ordered me to see you.

Your boss plays golf with
my boss. Small world, huh?

Smaller every time
I see you.

Let me show you
something.

Mrs. Levin's heart.

McCafferty's report said it was
too weak to sustain the graft.

He would know.

But her aorta wasn't
completely sh*t.

Just the portion McCafferty
chose for the anastomosis.

Did he do
a Doppler probe?

It wasn't in the report.

If he had, there's a good chance
Mrs. Levin would be alive right now.

Look, if you're so sure about
this, what do you need me for?

Because you were there.

Without a statement from you saying
McCafferty botched the surgery,

I don't have the juice I need to
rule this death what it really was.

Accidental,
not natural.

I am not qualified.

That's a bunch of crap.

I got my ass out on a limb here, too.

My boss isn't exactly overjoyed I'm
pursuing this, and I need you to come clean.

So who's covering
his ass now?

Sorry to interrupt, but Mrs. Levin's
husband's here to claim the body.

Okay.

The truth is the truth, Dr. Cavanaugh.

Only question is whether or not you
have the balls to say it out loud.

I'm so sorry about this.

I did all I could.

"Moron's Handbook
For Writing Your Will.


"Had your name written
all over it. Love, Garret. "

Funny guy.

McCAFFERTY: Come in.

Hey, Cavanaugh.

You wanted to
see me, sir?

You did a good job in the O.R. The other day.

Sticking your hands inside a
live chest for the first time,

it's no picnic.

Thanks.
I just wish...

The outcome had
been different?

Well, unfortunately, it
comes with the territory.

Mmm, tea?

Yeah,
thanks.

There's gonna be an M-and-M conference
tomorrow to review Mrs. Levin's surgery.

Apparently, some corpse
jockey in the M.E.'s Office

has a little too much
time on his hands.

You ever been to one?
No.

Morbidity and Mortality.

Ask me, they should add
a third M for "Masturbatory. "

We present the case,

a panel of colleagues
discusses the outcome.

That she d*ed
on the table.

As a result of normal
operative risk.

Is that what
really happened?

To literally hold patients'
lives in your hands every day,

to accept that responsibility,
to thrive on it,

requires a truckload of
talent and a damn healthy ego.

And the ability to climb back on the
horse when things don't go your way.

Those are the doctors
that make my team,

the doctors that I turn into the
best heart surgeons in the country,

present company excluded.

My gut tells me you may have
what it takes, Cavanaugh.

I'm flattered.

Well, you should be.

And when it works, the team
has the power of life and death.

When we bring somebody
back from the brink,

defy death with nothing
but a Kn*fe and a needle,

there's no better feeling in the world.

Want to know how that feels, Dr. Cavanaugh?

Yes.

Good.

The sooner we get this
M- and-M out of the way,

the sooner we can see about
making you part of the team.

Oh, Cavanaugh.

What the hell, Macy? You're
like something I stepped in.

I heard you guys are holding one of
your secret little buddy club meetings.

It's called an
M- and-M conference.

Limited to faculty and
residents, off the record,

to encourage candor
and improve patient care...

Not to mention eliminating a
little thing called liability.

Look, I didn't invent the thing,
okay? What do you expect from me?

I expect you to have some integrity.
Call McCafferty on his mistake.

Don't be complicit
in a damn cover-up.

Man, you are the most
self-righteous, stubborn...

What's it like living in your
black and white world, Macy?

It sucks. But at least
it's real and it's honest.

Let me ask you
a question.

What are you gonna say when they
ask you what happened in that O. R?

I don't know yet, but they're
gonna be my words, not yours.

Fine. Just ask
yourself one question.

Who's gonna speak
for Mrs. Levin?

The operation report seems
pretty straightforward.

Anything to add, Elliot?

I think we've
covered everything.

Obviously, this case had
a disappointing outcome,

but given the patient's cardiac
history, it wasn't terribly surprising.

Dr. Cavanaugh.

Yes.

You were present during Mrs. Levin's
bypass. Anything you'd like to say?

No.

I concur with Dr. McCafferty's
account of the surgery.

Okay. Looks like
we're done here.

You wanted to see
me, Dr. Macy?

Yeah, come on in.

Damn thing was wobbling.
It was driving me crazy.

Anyway, Lily, I got a call from Sharon
Kreitzer at the Northeastern Organ Bank.

Seems someone from this office was
trying to breach transplant protocol.

Right. The thing is, is that there's
a decedent named Isaac Busch, and...

I know all about
Mr. Busch.

I signed him out to
Potter's Field two days ago,

but for some reason,
his body is still here.

Uh, yeah. Uh, the thing
is, I was just trying to...

Lily, I get it,

but the NEOB has
a really tough job.

I don't want any
more inquiries made.

What I do want is Mr. Busch in a
van by the end of business tomorrow.

If you would just
listen for a second...

I really don't like to pull
rank, but this meeting's over.

You can't just dismiss
me like a child, Garret!

Listen, this
isn't personal.

The organ distribution
system's not perfect,

but it's my job
to work within it,

and if you intend
to work here,

I expect you to do the same. Is that clear?

Fine. Can I go now?

Yeah.

- silk. I'm gonna sew up the stomach.

Vitals are strong. Blood
pressure's zero over zero.

Come on, luv. Just having a bit of fun.

It's not often we get to
put them back together.

Cause of death, massive internal trauma
related to fall from a great height.

Somebody call Ripley's.

One more word and I will
filet his brain like a flounder

and then I will
start on you.

Gentlemen, we have
a patient on the table!

Remember our motto,
"First do no harm. "

He's dead!

Well, do no more harm.

A new professional low,
performing surgery on a corpse.

My parents would be so proud.

Heard Macy read you the riot act.

Let's just say he made his opinion
known in no uncertain terms.

You know, you did everything
you could for this guy.

I'm sure he'd thank you
for going the extra mile.

I'm not giving up.

I'll pay for Mr. Busch's
burial myself if I have to.

Lily, you don't have
that kind of money.

Besides, Macy said
about...

Screw Dr. Macy, okay?

Mr. Busch is not
going to Potter's Field.

I'm gonna find the people who he helped
and explain what's happening to him.

But I do need your help.

What can I do?

The NEOB lists all the
transplants in its computer.

The names and addresses of all of Mr.
Busch's organ recipients are in there.

Hang on. You want me to break into
the confidential NEOB database?

Come on, Bug. You and Nigel have
hacked into dozens of systems.

Yeah, and Macy has threatened
to fire us every time.

You're right. It's not fair
of me to ask you. I'm sorry.

I'll do it myself.

Hey, Macy, wait up.

What the hell do you want?

Look, I'm sorry.
I wanted to help you...

So you decided to help yourself instead.

Just 'cause nothing came out in the
M- and-M doesn't mean you have to give up.

Actually, it does. My boss got
the skinny on your little powwow.

No evidence of
medical misjudgment.

Mrs. Levin's death will
be recorded as natural.


Which means her widower has no claim
against McCafferty or the hospital

and no way to know what
really happened to his wife.

I really am sorry.

Are you?

If you're looking for
absolution, go find a priest.

All right, what's wrong?

I know the face.
Spill it.

You ever work a case
with an M.E. Named Macy?

Wiry, kind of serious,
got a mouth on him?

Yeah. That's the guy.
He's been all over me.

About the woman who d*ed
on the table yesterday?

Mrs. Levin. He wants my
take on what happened.

He's a coroner, Jordan. That's his
job. Just tell him what you saw.

That's the problem.
I'm a lowly resident.

McCafferty is a great surgeon.
I'm not really sure what happened.

But you think he might have screwed up.

No, don't smoke those cancer sticks in here.

In fact, don't
smoke them at all.

Ever heard of
the Surgeon General?

Yeah, and I'd rather take
him on than McCafferty.

Dad, this guy can
make my career.

Or break it.

You've been dreaming about being
a heart surgeon since you were .

Yeah, but the thing is, this
woman's aorta was a train wreck.

I tried to tell him, but, you
know, hey, what the hell do I know?

She probably would
have d*ed anyway.

But you're not sure.

You arrogant, naive
little prima donna.

I'm sorry, but I think you made
a mistake on Mrs. Levin's bypass.

You think? Do you have any
idea who you are, Dr. Cavanaugh,

in the grand scheme
of the universe?

Do you think by contradicting my op report,

you've somehow scored points for yourself?

No. I...

I had to come forward.
I felt the truth...

Oh, oh, oh, I see. You're
the protector of truth.

Must have been wearing your
superhero costume under your scrubs.

That's why I missed it.

You have to hear me out.

I've heard enough.

Your pal Macy switched Mrs. Levin's
cause of death to accidental.

An hour later, I had a
malpractice attorney on the phone.

Mrs. Levin's husband intends to sue
the hell out of me and this hospital.

I am really sorry.

Not yet.
But you will be.

You have to
understand. I...

Needless to say, any sh*t you
had at making my team is history.

I also had a conversation
with the Chief of Surgery.

It seems the resident program is over budget.

They have to eliminate
a position,

and since you were
the last one hired...

And I wouldn't waste time applying
to the other top CT programs.

They'll call me
for a recommendation,

and I can't imagine my
opinion furthering your cause.

Good luck,
Dr. Cavanaugh.

It's called a glass.
Look into it.

Sorry. Didn't mean
to wake you.

Well, you did.
You okay?

Yeah, I was just sick of
not sleeping at my place.

Thought I wouldn't
sleep here a few hours.

McCafferty dying bring back some memories?

When the hell did you get so smart?

I know my daughter.

Yeah.

Thought I'd put all that
stuff behind me, you know?

Take it from me, you never
leave anything behind you.

Not completely.

You want to
talk about it?

My career is
completely screwed.

Everything I've worked for.

Now, it's not the end of the world, Jordan.

It's the end of my world.
McCafferty blacklisted me.

If I want to be a heart surgeon,
I've got to train in Bolivia!

Look, I've been through
a few crises in my life.

Always seems
hopeless at first.

Now, I can't promise you everything'll
be okay, but one thing's for sure.

We need
more scotch.

You know, doesn't help you
haven't slept in a week.

Yeah. Feels like
I'll never sleep again.

I know this may not mean much
right now, but I'm proud of you.

No, no, you did the right thing.

And I'll be paying for it
for the rest of my life.

Well, yes, maybe it feels that way,

but you'll pick up and
go on, just like always.

I guess.

You okay?

Yeah, fine.

Excuse me, I've got to...

I think you've
had enough.

Jordan?

Jordan!

Talk to me, honey.

Coming through.

How long ago
did she collapse?

I don't know,
minutes maybe.

What'd she take?

She's got a prescription for Seconal,
she uses it when she can't sleep.

Has she been drinking?

Yeah. You gotta
take care of her.

Jordan,
can you hear me?

Damn it,
don't you die on me.

Jordan!

One, two, three.

What's the story?

Possible barbiturate overdose
compounded by alcohol.

Vitals?

Pulse is thready.
BP's over .

You're McCafferty.

Pupils are dilated.
Who are you?

Lieutenant Cavanaugh,
and this is my daughter.

Get her into number four
now. I'll do everything I can.

You damn well better save her, or
you and I are gonna have a problem.

Got this line going.
Open it.

She's not responding
to the fluids.


Defib.

Clear.

Clear.

Come on, where's that spunk I hate so much?

Crank it to the top.

Charged to .
Clear.

Got a pulse. It's weak.

She's back.

I'm Lily Lebowski.
Can I help you?

My name is d*ck Robbins.
I was told to see you.

Can I ask what
this is regarding?

I understand you have the
body of Isaac Busch here.

That's right.

Well, three months ago,
I got a new liver.

Tried to find out
where it came from,

but the organ people
wouldn't tell me.

You have
Mr. Busch's liver?

Yeah. You should have
seen me before the surgery.

Another week and I would have been dead.

I... I've been trying to find you.

Well, I'm grateful
you did.

My family's got a plot up in Lynnfield.

If it's okay, I'd like to
bury Mr. Busch up there.

Oh... I think
that's wonderful.

Well, it's the least I can do.

I'm planning a simple funeral for Thursday,

my wife and kids
and a few friends.

I'd really like
for you to come.

I'd be honored.

Good.

Mr. Robbins, how did you
know I was looking for you?

Well, I got a call from a
doctor named Macy. Real nice guy.

Anyway, I'll see you Thursday.

Okay.

Awake, I see.

I feel like hell.

You almost d*ed.

You know, I spent good money
putting you through medical school.

Were you absent the day they taught you
never to mix sleeping pills and alcohol?

Dad, my head
is k*lling me.

You pull a stunt
like that again,

I'll break your neck.

Nice to see you back among the living.

Mind if I have a word with
your daughter, Lieutenant?

Dad, it's okay.

Nurse tells me I should
thank you for saving my life.

Forgive me if I'm not feeling very grateful.

Well, you fought
like hell to live.

I was impressed.

That was
my primary goal.

Not dying was just
an added benefit.

I was angry yesterday.

It's been a while since I was challenged.

Legal fees
notwithstanding,

maybe it's not such a bad
thing every once in a while.

Probably not.

Point is, you've got
courage, a quality I value.

So hurry the hell up
and get well.

Surgery schedule's
full all week.

You telling me
I'm not fired?

You're smarter than most OD's we get in here.

You know,
it's funny. I...

Last night, while I was on that table,

dying,

I wasn't thinking about
being a great heart surgeon.

I was remembering all the
things I love about living.

My dad and windy days
on the Cape,

the Stones in concert,
you know?

All the things that
make me happy.

At least as happy
as I can get.

Over these past few months living my dream,

I forgot all about
those things.

Fact is I've been
completely miserable.

Let me see if
I have this right.

You're turning me down?

Yeah, guess I am.

Do you have any idea
what you're giving up?

Probably the biggest mistake of my life.

Truth is, I just
suddenly realized,

man, I do not
want to be you.

So maybe I need to figure out
what the hell it means to be me.

What the hell
is going on here?

Can it, Gandhi.
We're working.

Uh, Mr. Reims was a trifle
fragile post-autopsy,

so Arnold asked if he might
perform the cryo-transport here.

And you said yes?

Don't get your sari in a
bunch. We're almost done.

What's his body temp?

Minus degrees
Fahrenheit.

Wouldn't want to be
a brass monkey.

Excellent.
I'm closing him off.

We're ready
to vat him.

Vat him? Here?

Bring it in.

What the hell is that?

That, my young Luddite,
is Mr. Reims's cryovat.

His private jet
to a boundless future.

Yeah? What do
you got in there?

Liquid nitrogen.
The only way to fly.

Shall we
pop him in then?

In a moment.

First,
the LifeXpand Creed.

"Do not go gentle
into that good night. "

Dylan Thomas? Even the creed's a fraud.

"Rage, rage,

"against the dying
of the light!"

LifeXpand!

Gotta admit,

you've never seen
anything like this before.

Dr. Macy.
Hey, Lily.

I wanted to thank you for
what you did for Mr. Busch.

I didn't do it
for him.

I was way out of line before. I know
you were just following your heart.

I really don't need
an apology from you.

I just... I need you to
understand why I did what I did.

Okay.

See, when a person gives a
piece of themselves to someone,

like Mr. Busch did,

something that helps that person,
that makes a difference in their life,

that gift needs to
be acknowledged

and appreciated.

Can you understand that?

Yes.

So when you get
a gift like that,

you should treasure it,

because it doesn't
come along very often.

So I guess what
I'm saying is,

if you have a problem with that,

then maybe I should find
another place to work,

because I'm not
gonna change,

not for you

or anyone else.

Well, you never let up, do you?

Didn't think
I'd see you again.

Well, I kind of miss
that morgue smell.

You know, I came by the hospital to thank you

and they said
you'd quit.

Something like that,
yeah.

You look different.
What? Different how?

Better. You got a little color in
your face, you're not so damned thin.

That's good.
Oh, I quit smoking.

Get outta here.
Yeah.

Decided to take your advice,
suck on a Buick instead.

Changed my whole
outlook on life.

So what's next for you?

Oh, who knows?

Maybe I'll take a trip
around the world, chill out.

Can you afford
to do that?

No.

Why are you here?

I was thinking
about Mr. Levin.

The husband of
the woman.

Yeah, yeah. I know who he is. What about him?

That day you dragged
me down here,

I saw you
comforting him.

I would be terrified to talk to
someone who was in that much pain.

You get used to it.

You know, it helps if you've had a
little personal experience in that area.

Truth is that not many people
understand what it is that we do here.

I mean, we're obviously
here for the dead.

We're also here for
the living, you know?

Right.

I'm... I gotta go.

Cavanaugh,

not that you'd be interested, but we've
got an associate coroner position open.

I mean, I know we're all complacent
vultures, but it's honest work.

You...

Okay, you're
offering me a job?

Think about it.

Something tells me you
might liven up the joint.

Where the hell have
you been all day?

Decided to
take your advice.

I finally made out my will.

When have you ever listened to me?

I always listen to you. I
just rarely do what you say.

Oh.
Yeah.

Your inheritance.
You made my will.

I don't mean to rain on your funeral, but
you know it's customary to actually die

before you start
bequeathing your estate.

Come on, that's no fun.
Just open it up.

What's in here?

This brings back
memories.

Yeah.

You still talk to God
through this thing?

No, we e-mail now.

Always thought it was McCafferty
who saved my life seven years ago.

I finally realized
it was you.

You showed me what I was
supposed to do with my life.

I owe you one.
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