01x13 - To Whom It May Concern
Posted: 05/05/22 15:03
Previously on Good Sam...
I've been relieved of my duties as CMO.
The interim CMO has
to sign off on her appeal.
What interim CMO?
Rhonda.
I'm not gonna lose
any more surgeries to you.
Well, then, step up your game
instead of sabotaging me.
It's over, Griff, I saw you
last night with Vivian.
It was you. You slept with my fiancé.
I just need a letter of recommendation,
for the Boston job.
So you're going if you get the job.
I think if things were
different around here,
they'd be different for us, too.
SAM: I will continue to champion
this kind of innovation
as the permanent chief of my department.
So you're going to steal my
technique like you stole my job?
I'm taking the department back for good.
This victory is all of ours.
But the technique is mine.
- [GRIFF SHOUTS]
- [GLASS SHATTERS]
["THE HAPPENING" BY THE SUPREMES
PLAYING]
♪ Hey, life, look at me ♪
♪ I can see the reality ♪
♪ 'Cause when you shook me,
took me out of my world ♪
♪ I woke up ♪
♪ Suddenly, I just woke up ♪
♪ To the happening ♪
♪ When you find that you left
the future behind ♪
♪ 'Cause when you got a tender
love you don't take care of ♪
♪ Then you better beware of ♪
♪ The happening ♪
♪ Now I see life ♪ Now I see life ♪
- ♪ For what it is... ♪
- [EXHALES]
Well.
This...
is very impressive.
articles on your technique,
and I haven't even checked out
the paper today.
- That feels a little excessive.
- No.
No, look, the attention
is good for the hospital.
It's good for you.
The chief job is yours, Sam.
[SPUTTERS]
That has not been decided yet.
I don't want to count
my chickens before they hatch.
You don't want to count chickens, okay.
All right. [CLEARS THROAT]
"Doctor Griffith's recent triumph
"puts Lakeshore on the cutting
edge of surgical innovation.
"It is officially
a destination hospital,
"and Dr. Griffith...
is the main attraction."
The chickens are hatched.
Until I get the call,
anything could happen.
Oh, come on. You do know
I'm on the board, right?
- Yeah, I'd heard something about that.
- [PAGER BEEPING]
Mmm.
This is the ER...
I would wish you good luck today, but...
you don't need it.
Thanks.
Morning.
Morning.
Morning, Opal.
Morning, Eric.
Love the new look, Dr. Trulie.
Thank you.
- I preferred the braids.
- Really?
I prefer an environment
where my male coworkers
didn't comment on my appearance.
It was a compliment.
Somebody call for a CT consult?
Yeah, that was me. Post-op
complications from a bypass, apparently.
Okay, we have an ETA on the paramedics
bringing the patient in?
I don't have any paramedics
inbound right now.
- Then who called it in?
- Looks like he did.
- I need a doctor.
- Ooh, ooh! Okay.
Hi, I'm Dr. Griffith.
- Can you tell me your name?
- Will Marks.
I had open heart surgery.
I was just here.
You were here for your surgery?
No, for the pain.
Will Marks, years old.
Uh, ten day post op.
Came in three days ago
for pain at the incision site.
Okay, Will, are you still in pain?
What do you think?
Oh! Surgical wound dehiscence.
LEX: Oh, yeah,
it looks like the wire's about
to puncture his right ventricle.
Yep, let's call the OR now!
Tell them we're on our way!
We got to move, people!
GRIFF: Somebody screwed up.
Oh, yeah, this is Will Marks.
Sternal wire fractured
and his sternotomy
reopened.
Thank you, Dr. Tucker.
We use a cabled butterfly
closure for this repair.
- Ready?
- Mm-hmm.
So whose mess are we clearing up?
He went to City General
for the procedure.
[CHUCKLES] Probably McMannis.
SAM: Rather than gossiping
about who caused the problem,
I'd like to focus on fixing it, please.
Apologies.
Though it is a valuable lesson.
You hire the wrong person,
there can be dire consequences.
Might this be about
the chief vote later today?
Oh, is that today?
You know that it is.
After the final interviews,
the board will make
their decision. And pull.
And I think no matter who it is,
we should respect it. No more fighting.
A commendable attitude.
Nobody likes a sore loser.
I didn't say I was going to lose.
I'm feeling very optimistic, actually.
Yes. You are certainly enjoying
your minutes of fame.
There are more posters around here
than a student council election.
It was a big deal, that surgery.
I was there.
GRIFF: There is more to the chief job
than one surgical triumph, Dr. Tucker.
Especially one that relied
on a stolen technique.
You had an idea.
I came up with the modification
that actually made it work.
Thinking of a car
does not make you Henry Ford.
Neither does stealing one.
It just makes you a car thief.
So, with all the attention
after the surgery,
and you getting back
into the chief race...
- Yeah...
- ...we haven't talked about
that job opening.
Oh, no.
Caleb, you asked me to write you
a letter of recommendation.
I-I've been so caught up.
I completely forgot,
but I will do it today.
- Actually, you don't have to...
- No, no, of course I will.
I-I just need to get through rounds,
and then I have to prepare
for my board interview.
And once that's done,
I'm all yours. I...
Where is everyone?
I have to get to rounds.
Are we ever gonna do more
than just this?
I know I'm the one
who cheated and I know
I said I would wait
until you were ready to talk.
But it's been a long time.
There's never time to talk.
But there would be,
if you came home at night.
You haven't slept in our bed once.
How are we supposed
to work through this?
I have to get to rounds.
[DOOR OPENS]
Hey. Look who's finally back.
I ran out of personal days.
Listen, I meant what I said
in my messages.
I want to make things right.
I'd like to believe you,
but it's gonna take
more than words for me
to be able to trust you.
Okay.
Give me your next cool surgery,
whatever it is.
Okay.
Really?
Things are hard enough around here
without us being at w*r.
Next cool surgery is all you.
This is Nadine Frankel.
Here with increasing cough and fatigue.
And you were diagnosed with amyloidosis?
Uh, about a year ago,
right before we got engaged.
Oh, when's the wedding?
Uh, tomorrow.
Tomorrow?
- As in the day after today?
- Yes.
And it's been canceled twice
already because of all of this.
And now the pressure
in my chest is so bad,
I'm afraid it's gonna ruin
my wedding day again.
Nothing is gonna ruin our wedding day.
Or our honeymoon.
We're gonna go see the poppies blossom
- in the desert.
- It only happens once a year.
That sounds really nice.
Your chest pain get worse
with breathing?
[CHUCKLES] Yes, it does.
What's that mean?
I suspect it's a clot in the lung
obstructing the blood flow to the heart.
What do we do for that?
We admit you for monitoring
and start you on IV blood thinners.
If we're lucky, it dissolves the clot.
In time for the wedding?
Before it damages your heart
irreversibly.
- Eric.
- Mm-hmm?
Were you working night shift
when Will Marks came in
for his wound check?
According to the patient log,
it says it was around : p.m.
What are you, a detective now?
Huh? You gonna rat me out
to Vega for that, too?
Okay, I did not rat you out, so chill.
I just want to know what happened.
Who examined him, who discharged him.
- I can't help you.
- Why not?
I know the whole Tim and Joey
thing wasn't your fault,
but it is the reason I'm on
so many nights, and I can't
draw fire from Vega right
now, and that is exactly
what these questions are gonna do.
[EXHALES]
- Whose ear is this?
- What?
Would you look around,
see who it belongs to?
Is that my ear? Your ear?
Well, it's not mine,
it's my patient's ear.
Is that a right or a left?
Right. Sweet!
Ellen?
Got good news for you.
- Is that my ear?
- Mm-hmm.
How are you gonna reattach it?
RHONDA: He's not going to. I am.
I'm Dr. Glass.
Chief of Plastics,
Chief Medical Officer,
and, most importantly,
the person who's gonna be
reattaching your ear.
Mm-hmm.
Okay, let's get her prepped
and ready for an OR
as soon as one is available, please.
- Will do.
- I'll see you soon.
Wait, the CMO is still
allowed to practice medicine?
Looks that way.
Chief Medical Officer
and Chief of Plastics.
She is a, a double chief.
[CHUCKLING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
How'd your interview go?
Oh.
Nailed it. [CHUCKLES]
How about you?
Well, they heard me.
They're not gonna hold
the DUI cover-up against me.
But they're not reinstating me, either.
They are deciding between the two of us.
Between you and Rhonda?
Yeah, she's made
an impression on the board.
Apparently they love that she's
still a practicing surgeon.
- And she may just edge me out.
- When I'm chief,
I will sit down with Byron,
and we will sort this out.
You're not getting ousted by Rhonda.
Okay. Thank you, Griff.
[SIGHS]
Get Will Marks' sternum closed up?
Yep. Now we just have to
monitor him for infection.
I checked his chart
from his last ER visit.
No one requested a CT consult.
Ten days post op?
They should've called.
They may have, but they did not request
anyone to actually come down
and see the patient.
Oh, yeah, because it
would've taken too long.
- [PHONE RINGING] I
- hate curbside consults.
I got to talk to Vega.
Don't you want to, uh, answer that?
It's Malcolm, I'll call him back.
Sam, answer the damn phone.
Oka... okay!
[SCOFFS] Hello?
Hello.
I am calling for the new
permanent chief of cardiothoracics.
Her name is
Sam Griffith?
This is the call.
It's you.
It's me?
You did it!
[BOTH SCREAMING, CLAMORING]
What are you doing?
Get in on this chief hug!
- Yeah. Yep, got it.
- Just standing there.
[LAUGHTER]
[BOTH EXHALE]
You did it.
- I did it.
- Yes.
I won.
[BOTH SCREAM]
I-I should go talk to the team,
and answer any questions
that they might have...
You will, all right?
But first...
I need you to turn in a circle.
What?
Go ahead, do it.
Now that is the first time you turned
in a circle as chief.
Feels good, doesn't it?
Mm-hmm, look down there.
That is your department.
Now that you are chief,
you can do things your way.
Now that... feels really good.
What?
I'm supposed to be in the lounge
congratulating the new chief.
I know, but before you walk in there,
I need to hear you say
what a remarkable achievement
this is for our daughter.
- Oh, it is very remarkable.
- Mm-hmm.
It's also a mistake.
- Griff...
- The board is blowing this surgery
out of all proportion.
Their judgment is way off.
- The decision has been made.
- So what do you expect me to do?
Just hand over the department
that I built?
No. I expect you to grow up
and get in line.
This is the outcome,
and it is time to accept it.
Is that what you're planning
on doing, hmm?
If they give your job to Rhonda?
What else can I do?
If the board wants a practicing surgeon,
it's not gonna be me.
That's not why we built
this place into what it is.
To let other people run it.
That was never our plan.
That plan has changed.
Things change.
I don't like it any more than you do,
but if that's the decision,
I accept the outcome.
Which is exactly what you need to do.
SAM: I know this chief
race has been hard on you,
but you all stuck with me, so thank you.
[EXHALES]
I know I'm late,
but I just want to say...
congratulations.
Thank you.
Mm-hmm.
New chief gave everybody the
rest of the day off or what?
I'll see you all in a moment.
Dad, I just want to say how
much I appreciate your support.
I know this can't be easy for you.
Well, actually, I think
it's for the best.
You focus on the department.
I will focus on my legacy.
- Your what?
- Chiefs come and go.
But the Robert Griffith
Technique will outlive us both,
and inspire generations to come.
You know, it's my name in the papers
because I performed the surgery.
Mm-hmm, but you didn't invent
the technique. I did.
Which turns out
to be much easier to prove
than I expected.
But, hey, congratulations again.
Really.
[SIGHS]
RHONDA: Dr. Vega, tell me.
What is the dispute, exactly?
She's trying to dictate policy
for my department.
No, I am saying that when a patient
with cardiac symptoms comes into the ER,
CT should be paged for a consult.
Why is this so difficult?
Why? Because mandated
consults would lead
to longer wait times,
backlog, and burnout.
My system works.
But a patient you discharged
came back in
- with his chest split wide open.
- SAM: Mm-hmm.
We don't know that a formal CT
consult would've prevented that.
And we never will, because
you didn't call for one.
I support Dr. Griffith's policy.
If even one life is saved
by this extra measure, it's worth it.
Now, if you will excuse me,
I'm due in surgery soon.
- [SIGHS]
- SAM: My God...
Congratulations, by the way.
I think you'll make a good chief.
Thank you.
Your father is not going to go quietly
into the night, though.
And this hospital's biggest donor
can do whatever she likes.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Dr. Griffith.
- How lovely to see you again.
- Helen.
What a nice surprise.
Is it a surprise?
- I thought she'd signed off on this.
- Yeah. [STAMMERING]
Signed off on what?
I want to buy the Griffith technique.
- Buy it?
- We control the patent,
and you share in the profits.
I did something similar with
a hair transplant technique,
very successfully.
Uh, I bet.
This is a life-saving procedure.
So if you control the patent,
don't you also control
the pricing and access?
Is that really in
the best interest of patients?
Our patients will benefit most.
The Robert Griffith Technique is
a win for all.
I'm sorry, the what?
I remember this office being
occupied by someone else.
Well, it's mine now.
Yours?
- Are you the CMO?
- Yes.
That's actually a
matter of some debate...
Helen Fletcher.
Rhonda Glass.
[MONITOR BEEPING RAPIDLY]
She fell on the way to the bathroom.
She's supposed to have a Foley cath.
- She does have a Foley.
- Nadine.
You need to stay in bed.
I just wanted to wash my face.
- DONNA: She's hypoxic.
- What's happening?
The blood clot must have
moved deeper into her lungs,
and she can't get enough oxygen.
We need to get her into the OR
to try to remove it manually.
I need you to redline her
into an OR now.
I'll call them, but there's
no one's here to assist you.
Where are they?
Yeah, it looks like
it's just an infection
around your septum ring, that's all.
That's poison ivy, ma'am.
Laxatives can have
unpredictable results.
And thank you for bringing so
many stool samples from home.
[CHUCKLES]
I have an emergent
open embolectomy upstairs,
and you're tying up my staff
with nose rings and stool samples?
Apparently, I have been
paged for a consult
on a patient with excessive flatulence.
Who thinks they're funny?
It's not funny, it's CT policy.
Set by the new chief.
Enforced by the new CMO.
My hands are tied.
Flatulence is not a cardiac symptom.
Oh, really?
Could indicate hiatal hernia.
More likely indicates a bean burrito.
Infections could be the result
of cardiovascular disease.
The rash patient has
a history of mitral stenosis.
Could be related, and if...
that guy has C. diff,
it could result in a number
of cardiac complications.
I left a very important meeting
for this, Vega.
You and Helen can't do
anything without me, you know.
Looks like I can't do anything, period.
Thanks to your new policy.
Cortisone. Neosporin.
More fiber. Less fiber.
Don't page me again.
Well, you're certainly
making a difference
around here, I'll give you that.
Hmm.
I see what you're doing.
Knock it off.
I just diagnosed a case
of dandruff in the ER.
I got an ingrown toenail.
Coffee's here.
And Nadine Frankel is out of surgery.
Did you remove the blood clot?
Sure did, but the damage
to her heart is so bad
that she's still borderline hypoxic.
Sounds like she needs an assist device.
With this much damage,
I wouldn't attempt it.
So we give it time.
Monitor her heart,
keep an eye on her enzymes.
If the tissue can repair itself,
you can implant the VAD.
Okay, you run the bloodwork,
I'll talk to Nadine.
- [PAGERS BEEPING]
- And then we can...
- And I'll go back to the ER.
- Me, too, apparently.
He's a real prize, this Vega guy.
He's a bully.
But he's gonna fold before we do.
We'll keep answering his
calls, but one at a time.
We will take shifts.
And in the meantime,
I'm gonna look
into expanding our department.
We could use some help up here
even if Vega's not paging us.
Day one as chief
and she's already creating jobs.
- Lemons, meet lemonade.
- Well...
- I'll take the first ER shift.
- Thank you.
Don't let Vega
push you around down there.
- He couldn't if he wanted to.
- Pretty sure he could.
I've seen him working out
at the wellness center at lunch.
His calves are like Cornish game hens.
RHONDA: Hey, Donna?
Can you have the OR page me
when they have an opening?
- I'm bringing in an ear replantation.
- Of course.
And tell them to get
the microscope on standby
in case the patient ends up
needing microvascular repair.
He's right.
You ever perform an auricular
replantation, Jerry?
No.
Why don't you go ahead
and join me in the surgery?
It would be my honor.
Study up. I'll have them page you
when we're ready.
- Hey.
- Hey.
I have a chief-y problem.
I need more residents.
- Okay.
- But my budget is fully allocated.
Uh, that is true. I've seen it.
So I need money,
and you know who has money?
- Helen Fletcher.
- Mm.
But to get Helen's money,
I have to sell her my technique...
Which my dad claims is his
technique... and then she
will control the technique.
This is not a good solution.
So why are we talking about it?
Because I need money
so I can have more residents.
[LAUGHS]
But I want to get it without
having to sell out to...
To a boring, rich donor, yeah.
Ah.
You're never gonna let me
live that down, are you?
You accidentally made fun of me
without even knowing my name.
So, no... I'm not.
Never.
Okay.
But it got us here, didn't it?
- That it did.
- [ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
Hi. Hey.
There is a, uh, discretionary fund,
uh, managed by the CMO's office.
Uh, you might want to tap into
it for your residents' salaries.
I'll talk to Rhonda.
Mm-hmm.
[INHALES DEEPLY]
[EXHALES SHARPLY]
[SIGHS]
I don't know how much longer
I can do this.
I know you're sorry.
Okay? And I want to get through
this. I want to put this
behind us, but...
- I don't... know how.
- I do.
I've been doing it for years.
When we had to leave Vermont,
I promised I'd leave it
behind us, and I did.
I never brought it up.
I never held it over you.
Because I love you.
And I know that we all make mistakes.
We cannot talk about this here.
Then where? You won't come home.
You're right. I'm sorry.
That thing with Kace...
[GROANS SOFTLY, SIGHS]
It was just me wanting to feel special,
instead of like part of the furniture.
I don't think you're
part of the furniture.
You do.
You assume I'll be at home,
waiting for you
to come back for forever.
But I can't wait forever.
I would rather go back to Vermont.
You can't. We promised.
Mm, we promised to forget the
past in the name of our future.
But it feels like
you're giving up on that future.
And...
And if you are, I don't know
why I'm still carrying
your secret around for you.
Are you threatening me?
No, Joey.
I'm asking you to come home for dinner.
If you removed the clot,
why don't I feel better?
SAM: The clot did a lot of damage
to your heart.
We need to implant an assist device.
But before we can,
your heart needs to heal.
How long is that gonna take?
CALEB: It's hard to say.
But there are a few things
that we can try
to help you recover faster...
The poppies are blooming now.
We can't put it off any longer.
I don't want to miss it.
Nadine, you have to get better.
I think the poppies
are gonna have to wait.
[INHALES SHARPLY, SIGHS]
F-Fine. [SHUDDERING]
But I don't want to put off our wedding.
Not again.
If I have to be in the hospital, then...
let's get married in this hospital.
Tomorrow.
Can we do that?
[CHUCKLES] Let's have a wedding.
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
[CHUCKLING, CRYING]
SAM: Rhonda,
I want to hire more personnel.
So can I use
discretionary funds to do that?
Reserves are a stopgap measure.
I know you're losing
a resident, but salary
for his replacement should
come out of your own budget.
Losing a resident?
You didn't know?
No.
- [CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
- Sorry, I've been trying to tell you,
but you've just been
really busy today, and...
So...
That's why you don't need
my letter of recommendation.
You already got the job.
Yeah, they made me a really good offer.
I couldn't say no.
Well, they're lucky to have you.
["WHEN THE PARTY'S OVER"
BY BILLIE EILISH PLAYING]
We just couldn't get the
timing right, could we?
Can't say we didn't try.
No, we tried.
We tried a lot. [CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
But, you know, congratulations.
Sam, you deserve to be chief.
You deserve everything.
Thanks.
You deserve everything, too.
♪ Already ♪
♪ I'll only hurt you ♪
♪ If you let me ♪
Sam?
Yeah?
♪ But keep me closer ♪
I think I'm supposed to give you
this letter of resignation.
To make it official or whatever.
♪ Party's over ♪
♪ I could lie ♪
♪ Say I like it like that ♪
♪ Like it like that. [EXHALES SHARPLY]
♪
Whoa. Trying to make for a
quick getaway? [CHUCKLES]
- You are.
- [CHUCKLES]
[SIGHS] Sorry. I...
didn't want to make it a big thing.
Saying goodbye to everyone.
It just kind of prolongs it.
So I'm just packing little by little.
But you better tell me Sam knows.
Yeah. I told her last night.
All right. How'd she take it?
Surprised. Sad.
Also fine.
Lex, she'll be fine.
That's kinda why I have to go.
I can't be here anymore
with someone who doesn't feel
the same way I do.
And then I got this job offer,
which made it easy to... Oh.
Will you give this to her?
Was kind of waiting for
the right moment, but, uh...
...guess we're not gonna get
the right moment, so...
I'll give it to her.
Caleb.
Take care of yourself.
You, too.
♪
[EXHALES]
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]
LEX: Caleb wanted me to give you this.
[SIGHS]
I had no idea he was leaving. Did you?
No.
I wouldn't have wasted
all my time writing him
that recommendation letter.
"It's easy to recommend
Dr. Tucker for this position.
"Or at least I thought it would be.
"But as I write this,
I realize recommending him
is the last thing I want to do."
- Has Caleb seen this?
- No.
Why would he?
He already got the job.
Sam, this isn't a recommendation letter.
It's a love letter.
No, it's not.
This is a letter of
appreciation for my coworker.
Mm.
Stop looking at me like that.
If what is in this letter
is how you really feel,
don't you think you should tell him?
Why would I tell him?
Because maybe then he wouldn't go.
He wants to go.
Trying to make him stay
wouldn't be fair to him.
Oh. What's not fair is
not telling him how you feel
and keeping the truth from him.
- I speak from experience.
- [SIGHS]
[PAGER BEEPING]
[SIGHS DEEPLY]
Imaging's back. I got to go.
Let's drink that later.
Please.
It is time to move on.
[MONITOR BEEPING STEADILY]
RHONDA: We're almost done
replanting the pinna.
With any luck,
her cartilage
will not have been ischemic
for too long and she'll recover
without many complications.
You done good work today.
I would do microvascular
repair every day if I could.
You're well on your way there.
Joey.
SAM: This machine
is going to lower
your core body temperature,
which will decrease your metabolism
and oxygen consumption.
The idea is to give
your heart some time to rest
and get stronger
before we implant the device.
Today was supposed to be my wedding day.
We're gonna do it the
minute you wake up.
Okay.
We're gonna need poppies.
Poppies?
Red ones. For my bouquet.
Uh...
I-I could see what the gift shop has,
though I feel like carnations
might be more their speed?
Maybe roses?
They have to be poppies.
We're not gonna get to see them bloom.
All I'm asking for are some
poppies on my wedding day.
- We will get you some poppies.
- Mm.
Promise.
On it.
SAM: Malcolm.
I found a poppy field.
What?
Selling the technique
to Helen Fletcher...
I can make it work.
- I thought you didn't want to do that.
- I didn't.
But if my patient
can find a way to feel good
about getting married in a hospital bed,
I can feel good about this.
- [CHUCKLES]
- What if I set
the terms of the sale?
Like the profits from the technique
fund my residency program.
Looks like you found a
chief solution to your...
chief problem.
- I did. I did.
- Mm.
It feels good.
Now I just have to go
and find some actual poppies,
which, it turns out, are
very difficult to get ahold of
this time of year,
but I'm not giving up!
Okay. [CHUCKLING]
[SQUEALS SOFTLY]
[EXHALES]
Good luck.
I don't need it.
♪
RHONDA: Good work.
That ear's gonna heal nicely.
Really?
After you said I'd get
the next cool surgery.
It was plastics. Rhonda
asked for me specifically!
I've been waiting for
this moment. Give me a break.
I don't think so.
♪
- [EXHALES]
- Dad.
What is that, a white flag?
Best I could do on short notice.
I made a decision.
I am willing to surrender
the Griffith technique
if my half
is sold to Helen Fletcher
on behalf of Lakeshore
and ten percent of the profits
go to the expansion
of my residency team.
Expansion?
I have several résumés on my desk.
They're all excellent candidates.
And instead of choosing one
to replace Dr. Tucker,
I want to hire them all.
Helen gets the technique, you get a win
and I get more residents
for the program.
Do we have a deal?
I will call Helen Fletcher immediately.
Called for a CT consult on Bay , huh?
He came in with allergies.
He reported tightness in his chest.
CT should really come down for consult.
I did the damn consult.
And it's a good thing. Because
in addition to allergies,
he has Kussmaul's sign.
Jugular vein was rising
with every inhale.
Sending him upstairs.
So maybe it was a
good thing I called CT.
Yeah, it was. Because Sam is right.
And you, sir,
are stubborn and difficult.
You know what? In fact,
- I'm filing a complaint.
- Yeah? Mm.
You're filing a complaint about me?
Of course about you. And your ego.
- Uh... My ego, too?
- Yes.
I've had enough of this.
[LAUGHING]
You believe that?
No one's ever complained about me.
Okay.
I'm gonna file a complaint about her.
Cool.
You got something to say?
Come on. Say it.
Look, she's a lot, but... so are you.
She's trouble.
Yeah. She's worth it.
♪
[EXHALES]
Hi.
Hi.
It worked.
We'll be able to install
the cardiac device.
So, if you two are
still ready to tie the knot,
Donna has offered to officiate.
- Thank you.
- HARLEY: I'm ready.
Uh, Nadine just needs her bouquet.
Oh, we tried to get
your red poppies for you.
- We called everywhere.
- Oh.
DONNA: I'm sorry.
It's okay. It was a silly idea.
Wouldn't have made much difference.
SAM: We may not have
a great florist, but...
our sim lab has a pretty
amazing D printer.
♪ Charcoal and gray ♪
DONNA: And a great VR projector.
Dr. Shah, the lights?
♪ The sky and go ♪
♪ Where the wind... ♪
Donna, what is this?
A wedding present.
From Dr. Tucker.
[GASPS]
♪ With wild... ♪
I love it.
- [CRYING]
- ♪ Running ♪
- ♪ In my ruby shoes... ♪
- Caleb did this?
[NADINE LAUGHING]
♪ Emerald eyes ♪
♪ And I am blooming for you ♪
♪ With wild poppies ♪
♪ Running in my ruby shoes ♪
♪ I've got emerald eyes... ♪
Hey.
Hi.
You said you have an answer?
I love you.
And I think I can get over the cheating.
You made a mistake. I get it.
I love you, too.
And I will always be so sorry
for what I did.
[SNIFFLES]
But if what made you cheat
was me putting my career first,
that will never change.
Even after what you did in Vermont?
After I've been covering for you?
To the Griffith technique.
The Robert Griffith Technique.
[SOFT JAZZ PLAYING]
Bringing in Helen Fletcher
was a nice move.
Well, the board seemed to think so.
Although I did notice that the, uh,
interim CMO didn't make the meeting.
I heard she got caught up
in one of her surgical centers.
Oh. Well...
They're a distraction.
I thought the board liked it,
that Rhonda still practices medicine.
In the hospital, sure. They love it.
But she's...
bit off more than she can chew.
That's why the board
can't come up with a decision.
We got one candidate
who hasn't practiced in decades
and another who's so busy
she can't get to the meetings.
There is a third option.
♪
[CORK POPS]
SAM: You got the CMO job?
I don't even know what to say.
How about "congratulations"?
This is not a celebration.
You didn't earn this job.
You stole it.
This isn't a victory party.
And that is my champagne!
I can't believe you!
How could you do this?
You're the one who said we
have to accept the outcome,
whatever it is.
You know I was talking
about the CT chief job.
SAM: CMO is Mom's job.
You stole it from her.
You were losing the fight.
- It was gonna be Rhonda.
- Oh.
We both agreed we could
never let that happen.
Rhonda was not the problem,
and she never was.
Were you planning this the whole time?
How could you even think that?
You don't even want the job.
You don't even know what it entails.
Well, I'm the CMO,
so it entails whatever I want.
[SCOFFS]
The department
is yours.
But Lakeshore?
Lakeshore belongs to me now.
♪ Hold ♪
[SCOFFS]
♪ Hold on ♪
♪ Hold on to me ♪
♪ 'Cause I'm a little unsteady ♪
♪ A little unsteady ♪
♪ If you love me, don't let go ♪
♪ Hold ♪
♪ Whoa ♪
♪ If you love me, don't let go ♪
♪ Hold ♪
♪ Hold ♪
♪ Hold on ♪
♪ Hold on to me ♪
♪ 'Cause I'm a little unsteady. ♪
We can't let Dad get away with this.
I don't know
how to fight him anymore, Sam.
I'm not CMO.
Technically, I'm not
even supposed to be here.
- [SIGHS]
- Then where do you want to be?
If you're not CMO, you
can do anything you want.
- [SCOFFS]
- You can get your credentials back.
- Oh.
- You can get Pyne back.
You can put your happiness first,
and then we'll deal with Dad.
So now you're rooting for Asher?
I'm rooting for you.
So if Pyne makes you happy,
that's worth fighting for.
You have to talk to him,
tell him how you feel.
Okay. I will.
Mm.
I want to talk about the future.
I am so sorry about the CMO position.
I had no idea my dad was coming
through the door with that.
That's gonna be okay.
How do you know?
Because everything that you
said earlier is still true.
You are on the board, I am the chief.
And I want us to do things differently.
- Hmm.
- I want to focus on what's ahead,
and I want to do it right.
- Mm.
- So what do you say to a do-over?
What are you asking, exactly?
[CHUCKLES]
I am asking you out on a date.
An official
do-over first date, tonight.
Do you accept?
Yes, I accept.
Good.
[CHUCKLES]
Pick me up in an hour?
I will be there.
Okay.
Okay.
Okay.
Oh. You.
I hope you're writing
a big old apology to CT.
You know, I was hoping
I could find a quiet room
where I could fill out
this complaint form.
"Stubborn. Uncooperative."
You don't have a leg to stand on,
filing a complaint about me.
Don't forget, I'm the one
who saved that patient.
- I j...
- It's about me.
Figure I could save you some paperwork.
Oh.
Yeah.
What is that, your way of apologizing?
You couldn't have just...
said it?
Words just complicate things.
I'm better with action.
- [EXHALES]
- [LAUGHS]
You are just...
- ...so stubborn.
- Stubborn?
Uncooperative?
That, too.
It's, uh...
it's all right there.
Let me see.
"Dr. Vega has..."
Like I said...
...words just complicate things.
Yeah.
They do.
♪
Mm. Wait, wait, wait, wait,
wait, wait, wait.
[GROANS SOFTLY]
I am...
- going to use words after all.
- Mm-hmm.
Go ahead.
I can't go there with my boss.
Not again.
Okay.
Okay.
But, uh...
in a couple of years,
when I am your boss...
...we can revisit this.
[DOOR CREAKS SHUT]
I need to talk to you.
Please, no more.
Just not tonight. It's been a long day,
- and...
- You never knew how to be a friend.
For a while, I thought it was something
you could learn, but you can't.
You use people.
You take them for granted.
And until now, you've
always gotten away with it.
But no more.
What are you talking about?
Vermont.
Yeah, I did some research.
I made a few calls
and checked out some medical
records in other states.
I know your secret.
Why you left
your first residency program.
So if you don't want
anyone else to know,
things are gonna be
very different around here.
- Isan...
- You answer to me now.
♪
[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
What are you doing here?
- I'm here to see Sam.
- Ah. I'm here to see her.
- Then I think we have a problem.
- [CHUCKLES]
I think you're the problem.
I don't care what you think.
Why don't we see what Sam says?
[KNOCKING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Maybe if you want to talk to me,
you should... make an appointment,
instead of lurking in the shadows
when I'm trying to go home.
I beat you once already, Dad.
And that was for a job you
were actually qualified for.
I will beat you again.
It's over, Sam.
The decision's been made.
The hospital's mine.
You said the same thing
about the Griffith technique,
and you were wrong then, too.
[SIGHS] All right.
What are you talking about?
We share ownership of that technique.
It's why you needed my sign-off
for the sale to go through.
Which I gave you.
Yeah, on condition
that you got to buy yourself
some extra residents.
So what?
Yeah, I had another condition.
That the patent filed by
Fletcher Pharmaceuticals
would be for the
Samantha Griffith Technique.
Paperwork's already in.
I will fight you on that.
I'm ready for it.
This hospital is not yours, Dad.
It belongs to all of us.
To all of the people inside.
And those people will stand with me.
Here. That's for you.
[SCOFFS SOFTLY]
Keep it close.
You'll need it soon.
I've been relieved of my duties as CMO.
The interim CMO has
to sign off on her appeal.
What interim CMO?
Rhonda.
I'm not gonna lose
any more surgeries to you.
Well, then, step up your game
instead of sabotaging me.
It's over, Griff, I saw you
last night with Vivian.
It was you. You slept with my fiancé.
I just need a letter of recommendation,
for the Boston job.
So you're going if you get the job.
I think if things were
different around here,
they'd be different for us, too.
SAM: I will continue to champion
this kind of innovation
as the permanent chief of my department.
So you're going to steal my
technique like you stole my job?
I'm taking the department back for good.
This victory is all of ours.
But the technique is mine.
- [GRIFF SHOUTS]
- [GLASS SHATTERS]
["THE HAPPENING" BY THE SUPREMES
PLAYING]
♪ Hey, life, look at me ♪
♪ I can see the reality ♪
♪ 'Cause when you shook me,
took me out of my world ♪
♪ I woke up ♪
♪ Suddenly, I just woke up ♪
♪ To the happening ♪
♪ When you find that you left
the future behind ♪
♪ 'Cause when you got a tender
love you don't take care of ♪
♪ Then you better beware of ♪
♪ The happening ♪
♪ Now I see life ♪ Now I see life ♪
- ♪ For what it is... ♪
- [EXHALES]
Well.
This...
is very impressive.
articles on your technique,
and I haven't even checked out
the paper today.
- That feels a little excessive.
- No.
No, look, the attention
is good for the hospital.
It's good for you.
The chief job is yours, Sam.
[SPUTTERS]
That has not been decided yet.
I don't want to count
my chickens before they hatch.
You don't want to count chickens, okay.
All right. [CLEARS THROAT]
"Doctor Griffith's recent triumph
"puts Lakeshore on the cutting
edge of surgical innovation.
"It is officially
a destination hospital,
"and Dr. Griffith...
is the main attraction."
The chickens are hatched.
Until I get the call,
anything could happen.
Oh, come on. You do know
I'm on the board, right?
- Yeah, I'd heard something about that.
- [PAGER BEEPING]
Mmm.
This is the ER...
I would wish you good luck today, but...
you don't need it.
Thanks.
Morning.
Morning.
Morning, Opal.
Morning, Eric.
Love the new look, Dr. Trulie.
Thank you.
- I preferred the braids.
- Really?
I prefer an environment
where my male coworkers
didn't comment on my appearance.
It was a compliment.
Somebody call for a CT consult?
Yeah, that was me. Post-op
complications from a bypass, apparently.
Okay, we have an ETA on the paramedics
bringing the patient in?
I don't have any paramedics
inbound right now.
- Then who called it in?
- Looks like he did.
- I need a doctor.
- Ooh, ooh! Okay.
Hi, I'm Dr. Griffith.
- Can you tell me your name?
- Will Marks.
I had open heart surgery.
I was just here.
You were here for your surgery?
No, for the pain.
Will Marks, years old.
Uh, ten day post op.
Came in three days ago
for pain at the incision site.
Okay, Will, are you still in pain?
What do you think?
Oh! Surgical wound dehiscence.
LEX: Oh, yeah,
it looks like the wire's about
to puncture his right ventricle.
Yep, let's call the OR now!
Tell them we're on our way!
We got to move, people!
GRIFF: Somebody screwed up.
Oh, yeah, this is Will Marks.
Sternal wire fractured
and his sternotomy
reopened.
Thank you, Dr. Tucker.
We use a cabled butterfly
closure for this repair.
- Ready?
- Mm-hmm.
So whose mess are we clearing up?
He went to City General
for the procedure.
[CHUCKLES] Probably McMannis.
SAM: Rather than gossiping
about who caused the problem,
I'd like to focus on fixing it, please.
Apologies.
Though it is a valuable lesson.
You hire the wrong person,
there can be dire consequences.
Might this be about
the chief vote later today?
Oh, is that today?
You know that it is.
After the final interviews,
the board will make
their decision. And pull.
And I think no matter who it is,
we should respect it. No more fighting.
A commendable attitude.
Nobody likes a sore loser.
I didn't say I was going to lose.
I'm feeling very optimistic, actually.
Yes. You are certainly enjoying
your minutes of fame.
There are more posters around here
than a student council election.
It was a big deal, that surgery.
I was there.
GRIFF: There is more to the chief job
than one surgical triumph, Dr. Tucker.
Especially one that relied
on a stolen technique.
You had an idea.
I came up with the modification
that actually made it work.
Thinking of a car
does not make you Henry Ford.
Neither does stealing one.
It just makes you a car thief.
So, with all the attention
after the surgery,
and you getting back
into the chief race...
- Yeah...
- ...we haven't talked about
that job opening.
Oh, no.
Caleb, you asked me to write you
a letter of recommendation.
I-I've been so caught up.
I completely forgot,
but I will do it today.
- Actually, you don't have to...
- No, no, of course I will.
I-I just need to get through rounds,
and then I have to prepare
for my board interview.
And once that's done,
I'm all yours. I...
Where is everyone?
I have to get to rounds.
Are we ever gonna do more
than just this?
I know I'm the one
who cheated and I know
I said I would wait
until you were ready to talk.
But it's been a long time.
There's never time to talk.
But there would be,
if you came home at night.
You haven't slept in our bed once.
How are we supposed
to work through this?
I have to get to rounds.
[DOOR OPENS]
Hey. Look who's finally back.
I ran out of personal days.
Listen, I meant what I said
in my messages.
I want to make things right.
I'd like to believe you,
but it's gonna take
more than words for me
to be able to trust you.
Okay.
Give me your next cool surgery,
whatever it is.
Okay.
Really?
Things are hard enough around here
without us being at w*r.
Next cool surgery is all you.
This is Nadine Frankel.
Here with increasing cough and fatigue.
And you were diagnosed with amyloidosis?
Uh, about a year ago,
right before we got engaged.
Oh, when's the wedding?
Uh, tomorrow.
Tomorrow?
- As in the day after today?
- Yes.
And it's been canceled twice
already because of all of this.
And now the pressure
in my chest is so bad,
I'm afraid it's gonna ruin
my wedding day again.
Nothing is gonna ruin our wedding day.
Or our honeymoon.
We're gonna go see the poppies blossom
- in the desert.
- It only happens once a year.
That sounds really nice.
Your chest pain get worse
with breathing?
[CHUCKLES] Yes, it does.
What's that mean?
I suspect it's a clot in the lung
obstructing the blood flow to the heart.
What do we do for that?
We admit you for monitoring
and start you on IV blood thinners.
If we're lucky, it dissolves the clot.
In time for the wedding?
Before it damages your heart
irreversibly.
- Eric.
- Mm-hmm?
Were you working night shift
when Will Marks came in
for his wound check?
According to the patient log,
it says it was around : p.m.
What are you, a detective now?
Huh? You gonna rat me out
to Vega for that, too?
Okay, I did not rat you out, so chill.
I just want to know what happened.
Who examined him, who discharged him.
- I can't help you.
- Why not?
I know the whole Tim and Joey
thing wasn't your fault,
but it is the reason I'm on
so many nights, and I can't
draw fire from Vega right
now, and that is exactly
what these questions are gonna do.
[EXHALES]
- Whose ear is this?
- What?
Would you look around,
see who it belongs to?
Is that my ear? Your ear?
Well, it's not mine,
it's my patient's ear.
Is that a right or a left?
Right. Sweet!
Ellen?
Got good news for you.
- Is that my ear?
- Mm-hmm.
How are you gonna reattach it?
RHONDA: He's not going to. I am.
I'm Dr. Glass.
Chief of Plastics,
Chief Medical Officer,
and, most importantly,
the person who's gonna be
reattaching your ear.
Mm-hmm.
Okay, let's get her prepped
and ready for an OR
as soon as one is available, please.
- Will do.
- I'll see you soon.
Wait, the CMO is still
allowed to practice medicine?
Looks that way.
Chief Medical Officer
and Chief of Plastics.
She is a, a double chief.
[CHUCKLING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
How'd your interview go?
Oh.
Nailed it. [CHUCKLES]
How about you?
Well, they heard me.
They're not gonna hold
the DUI cover-up against me.
But they're not reinstating me, either.
They are deciding between the two of us.
Between you and Rhonda?
Yeah, she's made
an impression on the board.
Apparently they love that she's
still a practicing surgeon.
- And she may just edge me out.
- When I'm chief,
I will sit down with Byron,
and we will sort this out.
You're not getting ousted by Rhonda.
Okay. Thank you, Griff.
[SIGHS]
Get Will Marks' sternum closed up?
Yep. Now we just have to
monitor him for infection.
I checked his chart
from his last ER visit.
No one requested a CT consult.
Ten days post op?
They should've called.
They may have, but they did not request
anyone to actually come down
and see the patient.
Oh, yeah, because it
would've taken too long.
- [PHONE RINGING] I
- hate curbside consults.
I got to talk to Vega.
Don't you want to, uh, answer that?
It's Malcolm, I'll call him back.
Sam, answer the damn phone.
Oka... okay!
[SCOFFS] Hello?
Hello.
I am calling for the new
permanent chief of cardiothoracics.
Her name is
Sam Griffith?
This is the call.
It's you.
It's me?
You did it!
[BOTH SCREAMING, CLAMORING]
What are you doing?
Get in on this chief hug!
- Yeah. Yep, got it.
- Just standing there.
[LAUGHTER]
[BOTH EXHALE]
You did it.
- I did it.
- Yes.
I won.
[BOTH SCREAM]
I-I should go talk to the team,
and answer any questions
that they might have...
You will, all right?
But first...
I need you to turn in a circle.
What?
Go ahead, do it.
Now that is the first time you turned
in a circle as chief.
Feels good, doesn't it?
Mm-hmm, look down there.
That is your department.
Now that you are chief,
you can do things your way.
Now that... feels really good.
What?
I'm supposed to be in the lounge
congratulating the new chief.
I know, but before you walk in there,
I need to hear you say
what a remarkable achievement
this is for our daughter.
- Oh, it is very remarkable.
- Mm-hmm.
It's also a mistake.
- Griff...
- The board is blowing this surgery
out of all proportion.
Their judgment is way off.
- The decision has been made.
- So what do you expect me to do?
Just hand over the department
that I built?
No. I expect you to grow up
and get in line.
This is the outcome,
and it is time to accept it.
Is that what you're planning
on doing, hmm?
If they give your job to Rhonda?
What else can I do?
If the board wants a practicing surgeon,
it's not gonna be me.
That's not why we built
this place into what it is.
To let other people run it.
That was never our plan.
That plan has changed.
Things change.
I don't like it any more than you do,
but if that's the decision,
I accept the outcome.
Which is exactly what you need to do.
SAM: I know this chief
race has been hard on you,
but you all stuck with me, so thank you.
[EXHALES]
I know I'm late,
but I just want to say...
congratulations.
Thank you.
Mm-hmm.
New chief gave everybody the
rest of the day off or what?
I'll see you all in a moment.
Dad, I just want to say how
much I appreciate your support.
I know this can't be easy for you.
Well, actually, I think
it's for the best.
You focus on the department.
I will focus on my legacy.
- Your what?
- Chiefs come and go.
But the Robert Griffith
Technique will outlive us both,
and inspire generations to come.
You know, it's my name in the papers
because I performed the surgery.
Mm-hmm, but you didn't invent
the technique. I did.
Which turns out
to be much easier to prove
than I expected.
But, hey, congratulations again.
Really.
[SIGHS]
RHONDA: Dr. Vega, tell me.
What is the dispute, exactly?
She's trying to dictate policy
for my department.
No, I am saying that when a patient
with cardiac symptoms comes into the ER,
CT should be paged for a consult.
Why is this so difficult?
Why? Because mandated
consults would lead
to longer wait times,
backlog, and burnout.
My system works.
But a patient you discharged
came back in
- with his chest split wide open.
- SAM: Mm-hmm.
We don't know that a formal CT
consult would've prevented that.
And we never will, because
you didn't call for one.
I support Dr. Griffith's policy.
If even one life is saved
by this extra measure, it's worth it.
Now, if you will excuse me,
I'm due in surgery soon.
- [SIGHS]
- SAM: My God...
Congratulations, by the way.
I think you'll make a good chief.
Thank you.
Your father is not going to go quietly
into the night, though.
And this hospital's biggest donor
can do whatever she likes.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Dr. Griffith.
- How lovely to see you again.
- Helen.
What a nice surprise.
Is it a surprise?
- I thought she'd signed off on this.
- Yeah. [STAMMERING]
Signed off on what?
I want to buy the Griffith technique.
- Buy it?
- We control the patent,
and you share in the profits.
I did something similar with
a hair transplant technique,
very successfully.
Uh, I bet.
This is a life-saving procedure.
So if you control the patent,
don't you also control
the pricing and access?
Is that really in
the best interest of patients?
Our patients will benefit most.
The Robert Griffith Technique is
a win for all.
I'm sorry, the what?
I remember this office being
occupied by someone else.
Well, it's mine now.
Yours?
- Are you the CMO?
- Yes.
That's actually a
matter of some debate...
Helen Fletcher.
Rhonda Glass.
[MONITOR BEEPING RAPIDLY]
She fell on the way to the bathroom.
She's supposed to have a Foley cath.
- She does have a Foley.
- Nadine.
You need to stay in bed.
I just wanted to wash my face.
- DONNA: She's hypoxic.
- What's happening?
The blood clot must have
moved deeper into her lungs,
and she can't get enough oxygen.
We need to get her into the OR
to try to remove it manually.
I need you to redline her
into an OR now.
I'll call them, but there's
no one's here to assist you.
Where are they?
Yeah, it looks like
it's just an infection
around your septum ring, that's all.
That's poison ivy, ma'am.
Laxatives can have
unpredictable results.
And thank you for bringing so
many stool samples from home.
[CHUCKLES]
I have an emergent
open embolectomy upstairs,
and you're tying up my staff
with nose rings and stool samples?
Apparently, I have been
paged for a consult
on a patient with excessive flatulence.
Who thinks they're funny?
It's not funny, it's CT policy.
Set by the new chief.
Enforced by the new CMO.
My hands are tied.
Flatulence is not a cardiac symptom.
Oh, really?
Could indicate hiatal hernia.
More likely indicates a bean burrito.
Infections could be the result
of cardiovascular disease.
The rash patient has
a history of mitral stenosis.
Could be related, and if...
that guy has C. diff,
it could result in a number
of cardiac complications.
I left a very important meeting
for this, Vega.
You and Helen can't do
anything without me, you know.
Looks like I can't do anything, period.
Thanks to your new policy.
Cortisone. Neosporin.
More fiber. Less fiber.
Don't page me again.
Well, you're certainly
making a difference
around here, I'll give you that.
Hmm.
I see what you're doing.
Knock it off.
I just diagnosed a case
of dandruff in the ER.
I got an ingrown toenail.
Coffee's here.
And Nadine Frankel is out of surgery.
Did you remove the blood clot?
Sure did, but the damage
to her heart is so bad
that she's still borderline hypoxic.
Sounds like she needs an assist device.
With this much damage,
I wouldn't attempt it.
So we give it time.
Monitor her heart,
keep an eye on her enzymes.
If the tissue can repair itself,
you can implant the VAD.
Okay, you run the bloodwork,
I'll talk to Nadine.
- [PAGERS BEEPING]
- And then we can...
- And I'll go back to the ER.
- Me, too, apparently.
He's a real prize, this Vega guy.
He's a bully.
But he's gonna fold before we do.
We'll keep answering his
calls, but one at a time.
We will take shifts.
And in the meantime,
I'm gonna look
into expanding our department.
We could use some help up here
even if Vega's not paging us.
Day one as chief
and she's already creating jobs.
- Lemons, meet lemonade.
- Well...
- I'll take the first ER shift.
- Thank you.
Don't let Vega
push you around down there.
- He couldn't if he wanted to.
- Pretty sure he could.
I've seen him working out
at the wellness center at lunch.
His calves are like Cornish game hens.
RHONDA: Hey, Donna?
Can you have the OR page me
when they have an opening?
- I'm bringing in an ear replantation.
- Of course.
And tell them to get
the microscope on standby
in case the patient ends up
needing microvascular repair.
He's right.
You ever perform an auricular
replantation, Jerry?
No.
Why don't you go ahead
and join me in the surgery?
It would be my honor.
Study up. I'll have them page you
when we're ready.
- Hey.
- Hey.
I have a chief-y problem.
I need more residents.
- Okay.
- But my budget is fully allocated.
Uh, that is true. I've seen it.
So I need money,
and you know who has money?
- Helen Fletcher.
- Mm.
But to get Helen's money,
I have to sell her my technique...
Which my dad claims is his
technique... and then she
will control the technique.
This is not a good solution.
So why are we talking about it?
Because I need money
so I can have more residents.
[LAUGHS]
But I want to get it without
having to sell out to...
To a boring, rich donor, yeah.
Ah.
You're never gonna let me
live that down, are you?
You accidentally made fun of me
without even knowing my name.
So, no... I'm not.
Never.
Okay.
But it got us here, didn't it?
- That it did.
- [ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
Hi. Hey.
There is a, uh, discretionary fund,
uh, managed by the CMO's office.
Uh, you might want to tap into
it for your residents' salaries.
I'll talk to Rhonda.
Mm-hmm.
[INHALES DEEPLY]
[EXHALES SHARPLY]
[SIGHS]
I don't know how much longer
I can do this.
I know you're sorry.
Okay? And I want to get through
this. I want to put this
behind us, but...
- I don't... know how.
- I do.
I've been doing it for years.
When we had to leave Vermont,
I promised I'd leave it
behind us, and I did.
I never brought it up.
I never held it over you.
Because I love you.
And I know that we all make mistakes.
We cannot talk about this here.
Then where? You won't come home.
You're right. I'm sorry.
That thing with Kace...
[GROANS SOFTLY, SIGHS]
It was just me wanting to feel special,
instead of like part of the furniture.
I don't think you're
part of the furniture.
You do.
You assume I'll be at home,
waiting for you
to come back for forever.
But I can't wait forever.
I would rather go back to Vermont.
You can't. We promised.
Mm, we promised to forget the
past in the name of our future.
But it feels like
you're giving up on that future.
And...
And if you are, I don't know
why I'm still carrying
your secret around for you.
Are you threatening me?
No, Joey.
I'm asking you to come home for dinner.
If you removed the clot,
why don't I feel better?
SAM: The clot did a lot of damage
to your heart.
We need to implant an assist device.
But before we can,
your heart needs to heal.
How long is that gonna take?
CALEB: It's hard to say.
But there are a few things
that we can try
to help you recover faster...
The poppies are blooming now.
We can't put it off any longer.
I don't want to miss it.
Nadine, you have to get better.
I think the poppies
are gonna have to wait.
[INHALES SHARPLY, SIGHS]
F-Fine. [SHUDDERING]
But I don't want to put off our wedding.
Not again.
If I have to be in the hospital, then...
let's get married in this hospital.
Tomorrow.
Can we do that?
[CHUCKLES] Let's have a wedding.
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
[CHUCKLING, CRYING]
SAM: Rhonda,
I want to hire more personnel.
So can I use
discretionary funds to do that?
Reserves are a stopgap measure.
I know you're losing
a resident, but salary
for his replacement should
come out of your own budget.
Losing a resident?
You didn't know?
No.
- [CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
- Sorry, I've been trying to tell you,
but you've just been
really busy today, and...
So...
That's why you don't need
my letter of recommendation.
You already got the job.
Yeah, they made me a really good offer.
I couldn't say no.
Well, they're lucky to have you.
["WHEN THE PARTY'S OVER"
BY BILLIE EILISH PLAYING]
We just couldn't get the
timing right, could we?
Can't say we didn't try.
No, we tried.
We tried a lot. [CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
But, you know, congratulations.
Sam, you deserve to be chief.
You deserve everything.
Thanks.
You deserve everything, too.
♪ Already ♪
♪ I'll only hurt you ♪
♪ If you let me ♪
Sam?
Yeah?
♪ But keep me closer ♪
I think I'm supposed to give you
this letter of resignation.
To make it official or whatever.
♪ Party's over ♪
♪ I could lie ♪
♪ Say I like it like that ♪
♪ Like it like that. [EXHALES SHARPLY]
♪
Whoa. Trying to make for a
quick getaway? [CHUCKLES]
- You are.
- [CHUCKLES]
[SIGHS] Sorry. I...
didn't want to make it a big thing.
Saying goodbye to everyone.
It just kind of prolongs it.
So I'm just packing little by little.
But you better tell me Sam knows.
Yeah. I told her last night.
All right. How'd she take it?
Surprised. Sad.
Also fine.
Lex, she'll be fine.
That's kinda why I have to go.
I can't be here anymore
with someone who doesn't feel
the same way I do.
And then I got this job offer,
which made it easy to... Oh.
Will you give this to her?
Was kind of waiting for
the right moment, but, uh...
...guess we're not gonna get
the right moment, so...
I'll give it to her.
Caleb.
Take care of yourself.
You, too.
♪
[EXHALES]
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]
LEX: Caleb wanted me to give you this.
[SIGHS]
I had no idea he was leaving. Did you?
No.
I wouldn't have wasted
all my time writing him
that recommendation letter.
"It's easy to recommend
Dr. Tucker for this position.
"Or at least I thought it would be.
"But as I write this,
I realize recommending him
is the last thing I want to do."
- Has Caleb seen this?
- No.
Why would he?
He already got the job.
Sam, this isn't a recommendation letter.
It's a love letter.
No, it's not.
This is a letter of
appreciation for my coworker.
Mm.
Stop looking at me like that.
If what is in this letter
is how you really feel,
don't you think you should tell him?
Why would I tell him?
Because maybe then he wouldn't go.
He wants to go.
Trying to make him stay
wouldn't be fair to him.
Oh. What's not fair is
not telling him how you feel
and keeping the truth from him.
- I speak from experience.
- [SIGHS]
[PAGER BEEPING]
[SIGHS DEEPLY]
Imaging's back. I got to go.
Let's drink that later.
Please.
It is time to move on.
[MONITOR BEEPING STEADILY]
RHONDA: We're almost done
replanting the pinna.
With any luck,
her cartilage
will not have been ischemic
for too long and she'll recover
without many complications.
You done good work today.
I would do microvascular
repair every day if I could.
You're well on your way there.
Joey.
SAM: This machine
is going to lower
your core body temperature,
which will decrease your metabolism
and oxygen consumption.
The idea is to give
your heart some time to rest
and get stronger
before we implant the device.
Today was supposed to be my wedding day.
We're gonna do it the
minute you wake up.
Okay.
We're gonna need poppies.
Poppies?
Red ones. For my bouquet.
Uh...
I-I could see what the gift shop has,
though I feel like carnations
might be more their speed?
Maybe roses?
They have to be poppies.
We're not gonna get to see them bloom.
All I'm asking for are some
poppies on my wedding day.
- We will get you some poppies.
- Mm.
Promise.
On it.
SAM: Malcolm.
I found a poppy field.
What?
Selling the technique
to Helen Fletcher...
I can make it work.
- I thought you didn't want to do that.
- I didn't.
But if my patient
can find a way to feel good
about getting married in a hospital bed,
I can feel good about this.
- [CHUCKLES]
- What if I set
the terms of the sale?
Like the profits from the technique
fund my residency program.
Looks like you found a
chief solution to your...
chief problem.
- I did. I did.
- Mm.
It feels good.
Now I just have to go
and find some actual poppies,
which, it turns out, are
very difficult to get ahold of
this time of year,
but I'm not giving up!
Okay. [CHUCKLING]
[SQUEALS SOFTLY]
[EXHALES]
Good luck.
I don't need it.
♪
RHONDA: Good work.
That ear's gonna heal nicely.
Really?
After you said I'd get
the next cool surgery.
It was plastics. Rhonda
asked for me specifically!
I've been waiting for
this moment. Give me a break.
I don't think so.
♪
- [EXHALES]
- Dad.
What is that, a white flag?
Best I could do on short notice.
I made a decision.
I am willing to surrender
the Griffith technique
if my half
is sold to Helen Fletcher
on behalf of Lakeshore
and ten percent of the profits
go to the expansion
of my residency team.
Expansion?
I have several résumés on my desk.
They're all excellent candidates.
And instead of choosing one
to replace Dr. Tucker,
I want to hire them all.
Helen gets the technique, you get a win
and I get more residents
for the program.
Do we have a deal?
I will call Helen Fletcher immediately.
Called for a CT consult on Bay , huh?
He came in with allergies.
He reported tightness in his chest.
CT should really come down for consult.
I did the damn consult.
And it's a good thing. Because
in addition to allergies,
he has Kussmaul's sign.
Jugular vein was rising
with every inhale.
Sending him upstairs.
So maybe it was a
good thing I called CT.
Yeah, it was. Because Sam is right.
And you, sir,
are stubborn and difficult.
You know what? In fact,
- I'm filing a complaint.
- Yeah? Mm.
You're filing a complaint about me?
Of course about you. And your ego.
- Uh... My ego, too?
- Yes.
I've had enough of this.
[LAUGHING]
You believe that?
No one's ever complained about me.
Okay.
I'm gonna file a complaint about her.
Cool.
You got something to say?
Come on. Say it.
Look, she's a lot, but... so are you.
She's trouble.
Yeah. She's worth it.
♪
[EXHALES]
Hi.
Hi.
It worked.
We'll be able to install
the cardiac device.
So, if you two are
still ready to tie the knot,
Donna has offered to officiate.
- Thank you.
- HARLEY: I'm ready.
Uh, Nadine just needs her bouquet.
Oh, we tried to get
your red poppies for you.
- We called everywhere.
- Oh.
DONNA: I'm sorry.
It's okay. It was a silly idea.
Wouldn't have made much difference.
SAM: We may not have
a great florist, but...
our sim lab has a pretty
amazing D printer.
♪ Charcoal and gray ♪
DONNA: And a great VR projector.
Dr. Shah, the lights?
♪ The sky and go ♪
♪ Where the wind... ♪
Donna, what is this?
A wedding present.
From Dr. Tucker.
[GASPS]
♪ With wild... ♪
I love it.
- [CRYING]
- ♪ Running ♪
- ♪ In my ruby shoes... ♪
- Caleb did this?
[NADINE LAUGHING]
♪ Emerald eyes ♪
♪ And I am blooming for you ♪
♪ With wild poppies ♪
♪ Running in my ruby shoes ♪
♪ I've got emerald eyes... ♪
Hey.
Hi.
You said you have an answer?
I love you.
And I think I can get over the cheating.
You made a mistake. I get it.
I love you, too.
And I will always be so sorry
for what I did.
[SNIFFLES]
But if what made you cheat
was me putting my career first,
that will never change.
Even after what you did in Vermont?
After I've been covering for you?
To the Griffith technique.
The Robert Griffith Technique.
[SOFT JAZZ PLAYING]
Bringing in Helen Fletcher
was a nice move.
Well, the board seemed to think so.
Although I did notice that the, uh,
interim CMO didn't make the meeting.
I heard she got caught up
in one of her surgical centers.
Oh. Well...
They're a distraction.
I thought the board liked it,
that Rhonda still practices medicine.
In the hospital, sure. They love it.
But she's...
bit off more than she can chew.
That's why the board
can't come up with a decision.
We got one candidate
who hasn't practiced in decades
and another who's so busy
she can't get to the meetings.
There is a third option.
♪
[CORK POPS]
SAM: You got the CMO job?
I don't even know what to say.
How about "congratulations"?
This is not a celebration.
You didn't earn this job.
You stole it.
This isn't a victory party.
And that is my champagne!
I can't believe you!
How could you do this?
You're the one who said we
have to accept the outcome,
whatever it is.
You know I was talking
about the CT chief job.
SAM: CMO is Mom's job.
You stole it from her.
You were losing the fight.
- It was gonna be Rhonda.
- Oh.
We both agreed we could
never let that happen.
Rhonda was not the problem,
and she never was.
Were you planning this the whole time?
How could you even think that?
You don't even want the job.
You don't even know what it entails.
Well, I'm the CMO,
so it entails whatever I want.
[SCOFFS]
The department
is yours.
But Lakeshore?
Lakeshore belongs to me now.
♪ Hold ♪
[SCOFFS]
♪ Hold on ♪
♪ Hold on to me ♪
♪ 'Cause I'm a little unsteady ♪
♪ A little unsteady ♪
♪ If you love me, don't let go ♪
♪ Hold ♪
♪ Whoa ♪
♪ If you love me, don't let go ♪
♪ Hold ♪
♪ Hold ♪
♪ Hold on ♪
♪ Hold on to me ♪
♪ 'Cause I'm a little unsteady. ♪
We can't let Dad get away with this.
I don't know
how to fight him anymore, Sam.
I'm not CMO.
Technically, I'm not
even supposed to be here.
- [SIGHS]
- Then where do you want to be?
If you're not CMO, you
can do anything you want.
- [SCOFFS]
- You can get your credentials back.
- Oh.
- You can get Pyne back.
You can put your happiness first,
and then we'll deal with Dad.
So now you're rooting for Asher?
I'm rooting for you.
So if Pyne makes you happy,
that's worth fighting for.
You have to talk to him,
tell him how you feel.
Okay. I will.
Mm.
I want to talk about the future.
I am so sorry about the CMO position.
I had no idea my dad was coming
through the door with that.
That's gonna be okay.
How do you know?
Because everything that you
said earlier is still true.
You are on the board, I am the chief.
And I want us to do things differently.
- Hmm.
- I want to focus on what's ahead,
and I want to do it right.
- Mm.
- So what do you say to a do-over?
What are you asking, exactly?
[CHUCKLES]
I am asking you out on a date.
An official
do-over first date, tonight.
Do you accept?
Yes, I accept.
Good.
[CHUCKLES]
Pick me up in an hour?
I will be there.
Okay.
Okay.
Okay.
Oh. You.
I hope you're writing
a big old apology to CT.
You know, I was hoping
I could find a quiet room
where I could fill out
this complaint form.
"Stubborn. Uncooperative."
You don't have a leg to stand on,
filing a complaint about me.
Don't forget, I'm the one
who saved that patient.
- I j...
- It's about me.
Figure I could save you some paperwork.
Oh.
Yeah.
What is that, your way of apologizing?
You couldn't have just...
said it?
Words just complicate things.
I'm better with action.
- [EXHALES]
- [LAUGHS]
You are just...
- ...so stubborn.
- Stubborn?
Uncooperative?
That, too.
It's, uh...
it's all right there.
Let me see.
"Dr. Vega has..."
Like I said...
...words just complicate things.
Yeah.
They do.
♪
Mm. Wait, wait, wait, wait,
wait, wait, wait.
[GROANS SOFTLY]
I am...
- going to use words after all.
- Mm-hmm.
Go ahead.
I can't go there with my boss.
Not again.
Okay.
Okay.
But, uh...
in a couple of years,
when I am your boss...
...we can revisit this.
[DOOR CREAKS SHUT]
I need to talk to you.
Please, no more.
Just not tonight. It's been a long day,
- and...
- You never knew how to be a friend.
For a while, I thought it was something
you could learn, but you can't.
You use people.
You take them for granted.
And until now, you've
always gotten away with it.
But no more.
What are you talking about?
Vermont.
Yeah, I did some research.
I made a few calls
and checked out some medical
records in other states.
I know your secret.
Why you left
your first residency program.
So if you don't want
anyone else to know,
things are gonna be
very different around here.
- Isan...
- You answer to me now.
♪
[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
What are you doing here?
- I'm here to see Sam.
- Ah. I'm here to see her.
- Then I think we have a problem.
- [CHUCKLES]
I think you're the problem.
I don't care what you think.
Why don't we see what Sam says?
[KNOCKING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Maybe if you want to talk to me,
you should... make an appointment,
instead of lurking in the shadows
when I'm trying to go home.
I beat you once already, Dad.
And that was for a job you
were actually qualified for.
I will beat you again.
It's over, Sam.
The decision's been made.
The hospital's mine.
You said the same thing
about the Griffith technique,
and you were wrong then, too.
[SIGHS] All right.
What are you talking about?
We share ownership of that technique.
It's why you needed my sign-off
for the sale to go through.
Which I gave you.
Yeah, on condition
that you got to buy yourself
some extra residents.
So what?
Yeah, I had another condition.
That the patent filed by
Fletcher Pharmaceuticals
would be for the
Samantha Griffith Technique.
Paperwork's already in.
I will fight you on that.
I'm ready for it.
This hospital is not yours, Dad.
It belongs to all of us.
To all of the people inside.
And those people will stand with me.
Here. That's for you.
[SCOFFS SOFTLY]
Keep it close.
You'll need it soon.