04x21 - A Simple Operation

[bunniefuu]

Well, what's it gonna be?

A bite at the counter
or a full sit-down meal?

- Sit-down. We better grab it while we can.
- All right.

Hey, Ponch, look here.

Come here, fella, come on.

It's gotta be 100 plus in there.

- Yeah, I'll go get some water.
- All right.

Does anybody know where
the driver of this car is?

WOMAN: Hey!

What are you doing?

- Is this your car?
- Yes. What's the problem?

You locked your dog
in with the windows up.

I was just gone a minute
to get a Fudgesicle.

Yeah, well, in that time he
would've d*ed of heat exhaustion.

If it's 80 degrees
outside and the windows

are rolled up, it can
top 100 in 10 minutes.

Oh, Maurice, I'm
so sorry, my darling.

I think we rescued
your dog just in time.

Maurice, did you hear
what they called you?

[LAUGHS]

Hey, partner, I think
we rescued a rabbit.

[LAUGHS]

And chocolate's
his favorite flavor.

BAKER: Yeah.

[SIREN WAILING]

[GLASS CRACKING]

I didn't know it could
get so hot in here.

Well, people can
take it, animals can't.

Look, when you roll up your
windows so your pet won't get stolen...

there's a good chance when you
come back he's gonna be dead.

It happens thousands
of times every year.

Thank you. This could have
turned out to be a really bad day.

Do us a favor,
please? Pass the word.

Thanks.

So much for our sit-down lunch.

WOMAN [OVER RADIO]: Any units in the
vicinity of White Oak and Santa Croix...

citizens report an 1183 with officer
involved, units responding identify.

Mary 3 and 4 responding.

[SIRENS WAILING]

15 Mary 4, officer down, Santa Croix,
east of White Oak. Request ambulance.

Back up, back up.
Will you please?

[AMBULANCE SIREN WAILING]

RHODES: Okay, let's
get him on the table.

On three. One, two, three.

Get that bandage off as
soon as you can, okay?

- How's his pressure?
- 110 over 80.

Is he holding okay, then?

Can't see the retina.
This eye is hemorrhaging.

Find Patterson and get
him in here right away.

- How is he?
- We don't know yet.

I'll go pick up Betty.

Excuse me, is that
man in there a prisoner?

He's our sergeant.

Then the waiting area is here.

-We were just concerned that...
PATTERSON: I understand.

The waiting area is over here.
I'll let you know. Excuse me.

Dr. Patterson, I'm
glad you're here.

We have a male, late 30s,
involved in a motor vehicle accident.

He sustained a penetrating
trauma to the right eye.

His pressure is 110 over 80
and stable, pulse 80 and regular.

Respiration about 18. He's
unresponsive to verbal stimuli.

I was concerned about infection
so I ordered a methicillin IV.

Where's the skull
series and CAT scan?

There really hasn't been time...

How much time would it take
for a fracture in the optic canal...

to permanently
damage the optic nerve?

I hadn't thought of that.

While you're
thinking about it...

I'm gonna see what I can
do to save this man's sight.

Jon, I heard there was a
motor officer brought in.

- Yeah, Sergeant Getraer.
- And?

Well, that's what
we're waiting to find out.

Doctor, how is he doing?

Fine. Excuse us, we're
on our way to surgery.

While you're waiting for the elevator,
think you could be civil for 30 seconds?

We're worried about our friend.

Your friend has suffered a
severe laceration to his right eye.

Now, if I could get him up to
surgery, I can try and save him.

- Doctor...
- I understand.

I just don't have
the time, I'm sorry.

He has the worst bedside manners I've ever
seen, but if I needed an eye surgeon...

- he's the one I'd call.
- You're right on the first count.

- I hope you're right on the second.
- Oh, I am.

All the residents hate his guts
but they want to be as good.

Yeah, well, he's
pretty high on himself.

Just your ordinary,
everyday perfectionist.

WOMAN [ON PA]: Dr. Foster,
Room 327. Dr. Foster, Room 327.

Dr. Miller, please
call reception.

Dr. Miller, reception.

He's in Room 305 all by himself.

Heh. Hey, don't
worry about a thing.

I don't care what the
doctors say, he's terminal.

I'll see to it.

[VENTILATOR HISSING]

All right, let's go.

Pick up.

Are you with me?

[CLANGS]

I'm dealing with an
ocular vein, not a fire hose.

Sorry, doctor.

I'm sure the patient would appreciate
that. The next time I scrub, you don't.

You can cry on each
other's shoulders

later, I will have full
attention right now.

You concentrate, I concentrate.

That way, we make no mistakes.

Hurry up and wait.

Yeah, I love it.

- Where is he? I wanna see him.
- He's in surgery.

Give it to me straight,
Jon. What happened?

He took a piece of metal in
the face when he went down.

- His face?
- Yeah, but he's gonna be all right.

There's some question
about one of his eyes.

Jon. He's in recovery now.
The operation went well.

I'm happy you feel qualified
to pass judgment on my work.

Excuse me.

- Mrs. Getraer.
- Yes.

-Is he gonna be okay?
PATTERSON: He's going to be just fine.

Oh, thank God.

I repaired the torn muscle.

How much control he's gonna have
over the eye is hard to tell at this point.

He can't see with the eye now but it
should be functional in a day or two.

We can't make a final determination
until we take the bandages off.

Thank you, doctor.
When can I see him?

When he's out of recovery, in
his own room, that would be 305.

I wish I could tell you more
but there's nothing more to say...

so if you'll excuse me.

Come on, Betty, sit down.

WOMAN [ON PA]: Mr. Davis to the
front desk, please. Mr. Davis, front desk.

Hello there.

Unh. Hi.

Joe, is there very much pain?

Only when I wink at the nurses.

Ha, ha.

Hi. I'm Len Dover.

How do you do? Betty Getraer.

Listen, don't worry, they'll take
good care of your husband in here.

Matter of fact, I think they take
too good a care of you in here.

I come in here for a
simple hernia operation...

had a few irregular heartbeats
on the operating table.

They brought me up here and
strapped me to all this equipment.

Hey, who'd you come
to see, huh? Ne or him?

It is such a relief to hear
you sound like yourself.

Ha, ha.

Hey, either one
of you play cards?

No, not really, not much.

Guess it's solitaire again.

I know how hard it
is to pass the time.

Oh, yeah.

Hey, I'm sorry, let
me butt out for a while.

Joe.

- Don't worry, I'll look after him.
- Thanks.

Can I get you anything?

- Could you get me out of here?
- Goodbye, Mr. Dover.

Hey, Grossie, you seen
Ponch around anywhere?

Ah, you just missed him. He left
a minute ago. Mad as a hornet.

- What's up?
- Ah, beats me.

Thanks a lot.

Hey, lieutenant.

Excuse me, they say Ponch is all
hacked off and left. What's going on?

Come on inside.

Remember that case that Getraer and
Poncherello broke a few months back?

The car-rental scam?

Oh, yeah, kind of rings a bell,
but, uh, I think I had the flu then.

Well, the hearing happens
tomorrow, do or die.

Now, if Poncherello doesn't show
up and well-prepared to boot...

- the judge is gonna cut the guy loose.
- All that work down the drain.

You know it. Now Joe
was up for that case.

Had a stack of
notes a foot thick.

Which I sent home with your
partner for overnight digestion.

Oh, I bet he loved that.

Well, love isn't quite the word.

[INTERCOM BUZZES]

Hello? Shain speaking.

[GETRAER GROANING]

What makes you think
Joe's gonna be awake?

He gets a whiff of
this, he'll be awake.

Hold it. Sorry,
it's after hours.

Now look, we just want to take
this bag up to friend in Room 3085.

His recovery depends on it.

Not after-hours, it doesn't.

Hey now, come on, you
wouldn't deny a guy a

razor, toothbrush and
aftershave, would you?

Oh, and a TV Guide.

WOMAN [ON PA]:
Code blue, Room 305.

Code blue, Room 305.

That's Joe. Come on.

- Hey.
- Up here.

Hey!

[EKG FLATLINING]

It's not working, what's...?

[NURSE SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

RHODES: Let's try calcium.
- What's going on?

Heart att*ck.

RHODES: Stand clear.

[DEFIBRILLATOR ZAPPING]

NURSE: Rhythm, but no pulse.

- How are you feeling?
- Like it never happened.

NURSE: We've got
electromechanical dissociation.

[RHODES SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

Not good, we're losing
him. More calcium.

NURSE: No response.

Stop CPR.

[EKG CLICKS OFF]

Thank you.

Was just talking to him.

- Sorry.
- Guess you never know.

Hey, uh, what's in the bag?

I don't know.

Oh, uh, corn beef on rye.

[CHUCKLES]

Thanks, but, uh, I'll
save it until later, huh?

- That's right, we got it made.
- I would say it was a good night's work.

They're chalking it up
as another heart att*ck.

Nobody's gonna give
it a second thought.

-Then our business is
concluded. KARL: Well, not quite.

There was another
patient in the room.

They must have moved him
in there before I got to Dover.

- I think he saw me.
- Well, then...

you'll just have to make sure that
he does not identify you, won't you?

Heh. Whatever you
say, Mr. Cassidy.

I would like to get up
on Sunday morning...

and read about Dover's roommate
in The Times, under death notices.

- I got just the prescription.
- Then deliver it.

Yes, sir.

WOMAN [ON TV]:
I'll take the curtain...

MAN [ON TV]: A brand-new car.

[TV CLICKS OFF]

- There he is. Hey, sarge.
- Hey, hey.

- How you doing?
- You look all right.

- You're looking good.
- Hey, this is the life, sarge.

Bed all day, people to serve your every
need. Who could ask for anything more?

You wanna trade places?

-Uh... GETRAER:
Yeah, I thought not.

Hey, is there anybody watching
the streets this morning?

Oh, we're on our
way, more or less.

- Yeah, can't stay long.
- Yeah, how right you are.

Well, if it's any consolation,
you sound like your old self.

Oh, the damage to
your motor is minimal.

I'll have her ready for
you in a couple days.

Thanks, Harland. It's the best
news I've heard all morning.

Hey, how's the
food in this place?

You see this tube?

You see that bottle up there?

That, my friend is my
food. You want some?

I think I'll pass.

-Ah, good morning.
NURSE: Good morning.

You have chocolate
flavor this morning?

Ran out yesterday.

How do you expect your
customers to keep coming back?

Well, as you can see I'm in good hands
and I do appreciate you guys coming by...

but, um, well, how
should I say this...

Um, hit the bricks?

- Get out among them.
- Chew some pavement.

Well said.

Hey, sarge, if the boredom starts k*lling
you, you can always watch the soaps.

Get out of here.

Ponch, I know it's
a bum deal but...

Ponch, I'll tell him what a great
job you're doing, okay? And...

I know, Ponch. Hey,
Ponch, what... Ponch.

- Look, would you talk to him?
- Yeah.

Hey, Ponch.

WOMAN [ON PA]:
Dr. Wells, Extension 642.

- Dr. Wells, Extension 642.
- Hi.

I was looking for someone
to have some coffee with.

You just found him,
I'll see you in a second.

Okay.

Hi, Joe.

Hey, Joe?

Kelly, quick.

Get the nurse at
the station, Jon.

Page a resident
to Room 305, stat.

WOMAN [ON PA]:
Dr. Rhodes, Room 305, stat.

Dr. Rhodes, Room 305, stat.

What's the matter, Kelly?

His heart faint and irregular, his
blood pressure is only 50 systolic.

He stopped breathing,
get the crash cart stat.

Stand back, gentlemen.

Code blue, Room 305.

WOMAN [ON PA]: Code blue in
Room 305. Code blue in Room 305.

One, two and three, four.

Move this bed. Get
it away from this.

Four, five, one.

Hold CPR. Roll him.

We need a monitor in here.

As soon as you get these on
there, I need the incubation set ready.

[EKG FLATLINING]

We have coarse V-fib, let's get
an amp of epi into him right away.

Epi.

- Dr. Arnold.
- Increase the ventral rate.

[PHONE RINGS]

The lab says the
blood pH is 7.2.

Get another amp of epi ready.

Hold the bagging.

Stop CPR, please.

Go.

Fine V-fib, let's hit
him with the paddles.

Set it for 280 and
give them to me.

Pads on.

Ready at 280.

Clear.

[EKG BEEPING, THEN FLATLINES]

Dammit.

All right, give me a push of 100 milligrams
of lidocaine, two a minute drip, stat.

Paddles.

Stand clear.

[EKG BEEPS, THEN FLATLINES]

- Again. Set it 360.
- Ready.

[PHONE RINGS]

RHODES: Stand clear.

- Tell me again, I can't hear you.
- I don't like this.

- Doctor, the potassium level is 6.8.
- Are they sure?

- Double checked.
- Well, no wonder we're losing him.

Give me 10 units of
regular insulin, stat.

- I need a drip in here, please.
- Three-fifty.

[PHONE RINGS]

What's his potassium
doing at 6.87?

PH is 7.3.

All right, let's try the
paddles one more time at 360.

Clear.

[BEEPING]

We got a rhythm.

[CHOKING]

It's holding.

We all know how we
feel about Joe Getraer.

But I'm sure that he'd want
me to tell you to keep your beats.

Just remember that
you're still on duty...

and to restrict your visitation
to break time, understood?

And as for you, Poncherello,
your court hearing is on recess...

not adjournment. You're
due back there in 35 minutes...

so don't try to swing by the
hospital. Don't even say it.

Thirty-four minutes, and
counting. You better get a move on.

Dismissed.

Joe having a heart att*ck
just doesn't make sense.

Well, how about two heart att*cks
in the same room within 12 hours?

One could say that Room
305 is an unlucky room.

Yeah. Well, the matter how you
add it up, it just doesn't compute.

Well, when we get the lab
report on the glucose bottle...

maybe we'll have some answers.

I'd feel a lot better if someone
would keep an eye on him.

No pun intended.

Turner and Bonnie are
off. I'll give them a ring.

Right.

Come up just a bit.

It's not quite there yet, is it?

Is this the way it's
gonna be? Is this all I get?

- Until the healing process is complete.
- And then?

Then more than likely your
vision will return to normal.

[CHUCKLES]

Oh, that's what I was
waiting to hear. Thank you.

The nurse will come
in to rewrap this.

I have students who want to
observe a corneal transplant.

- I'll get back to you. Get some sleep.
- I'll do that.

[SIGHS]

GETRAER: Hey, Jon.
- Hi, sarge, how you feeling?

Well, I just got the word.

Things are a little blurry...

but Dr. Patterson and I
think we're gonna be okay.

Okay, good, good. What about
last night, did he say anything?

Uh, no, not really.

Hey, tell me, how is Poncherello
handling my day in court?

Oh, he's holding up fine.

As a matter of fact, he wanted you to
know that he wished you were there.

- Good afternoon.
- Dr. Ross.

- Hi, doe.
- Hi. You're looking pretty good.

Well, for a guy who just went through
cardiac arrest, I think I look fine.

Do you have any answers?

Well, we found a considerable
quantity of potassium in his glucose IV.

- And that caused the heart att*ck?
- That's right.

Well, how did it get in there?

To tell you the truth,
we have no idea.

We're checking the other bottles
and we've notified the manufacturer.

And?

And that's where we
stand right now. May 1?

Be my guest, everybody
else has. I'll see you later.

You look better than when
I saw you an emergency.

Good.

Tell me when you
can focus on the print.

Stop right there.

Let me have a look.

I don't know, the potassium
level in the glucose does it for me.

Why would anybody want him dead?

I don't know, but I'm gonna check
out the life of the late Len Dover.

I'm sorry, sir, but all information
concerning Mr. Dover is unavailable.

- But this is official business.
- I understand that, sir.

I'm only following instructions.

The records can only be
released through a subpoena...

or by written order of Deputy
District Attorney William Crocker.

Thanks a lot.

MAN: Len Dover was a
high-powered accountant...

and he was going to testify before a grand
jury against a man named Arnold Cassidy.

What was the charge?

Oh, the usual, Dover was
juggling the books for Cassidy.

We had him, cold.

When I threw him a
chance for immunity, he

discovered that he
had a talent for singing.

- What is Cassidy into?
- Everything.

Trucking, building
supplies, you name it.

So Cassidy
eliminates your witness.

And maybe, maybe, Sergeant Getraer
saw something that he shouldn't have.

- The k*ller came back to finish the job.
- You may be right.

- Can you provide security for Room 305?
- I'll get right on it.

Thank you.

The first night's all a blur,
Jon, they had me really sedated.

I mean, there must be something
you remember, anything?

Well, I do remember
being here in bed, waking

up, drifting back to
sleep, Betty stopped by.

What about Dover?

That guy really liked to talk.

Um, I woke up for a bit. Uh,
I don't know what time it was.

I know it was late.

His nurse was checking
his IV, routine stuff.

- What did she look like?
- Oh, it wasn't a she, it was a male nurse.

Okay, I'll catch you later,
sarge, I'm gonna run down Kelly.

Thanks for stopping by.

May I see some ID please?

If you don't mind,
you're blowing my cover.

Don't you think this would be
simpler with straight legs and a g*n?

This way I get to
see and not be seen.

The DA's office is taking over, so you'll
have some company real soon, all right?

- Make it quick.
- I need the name of the male nurse...

who was on duty the
night Len Dover d*ed.

It may sound chauvinistic, Jon,
but we don't have one in the place.

Oh, all right, then
I need a list of the

male orderlies that
might have been on duty.

I'll dig it up. Now I have
a date with a gallbladder.

Okay.

It's because you didn't think.

Mr. Getraer's
hematoma is clearing.

- Thank you.
- There may be signs...

- of retinal detachment.
- Really?

How many detached retinas
have you seen, doctor?

- A couple dozen or so.
- A couple of dozen?

I've repaired over 100 detached
retinas in the last four months, doctor.

Now, when you've done that
maybe you can critique my diagnosis.

Certainly, doctor, I
don't want you to...

Do we understand each other?

If the macula is
destroyed it will be because

you didn't want to
take a second look.

- I understand. Anything else, doctor?
- No, that's all, thank you.

BAKER: Excuse me, doctor.

Sorry, I couldn't
help but overhearing.

Must've sounded like I
was being very hard on him.

I'll tell you something, I do these
residents a favor by being tough with them.

When they're on their
own they'll be glad

somebody gave them
a taste of what it's like.

- Sure, but was he saying about the macula?
- The macula.

Macula.

The macula is like a emulsion
layer on a piece of photographic film.

Once it's gone,
the film is useless.

So if the macula goes, he'll
never be able to use the eye again?

I checked Mr. Getraer's eye
this morning, the retina is fine.

Not according to
Dr. Rhodes' opinion.

That is the opinion of a very
brash, overeager young resident.

Doctor, let's just say there
may have been a chance...

that you could have missed something,
don't you think it's worth a second look?

- Officer...
- Doctor, why don't you allow yourself...

to be human, come down
here with the rest of us.

It's all right for you to make a mistake,
it's all right for you change your mind.

Do you think that
being right is more

important to me than
your friend's eyesight?

No way. You're the one that has to maintain
the standards and that's a lonely job.

I am not the tyrant that, uh...

All right, officer, we'll take
another look. Thank you.

It's about 8:00.

Will somebody let me in on it?

Just one minute, Mr. Getraer.

Doctor.

What?

Oh, well, that's
great. That's just great.

Schedule an operating
room as soon as possible.

All right.

[PHONE BUZZES]

- Cassidy.
- It's me.

We agreed you were not
going to call here anymore.

I couldn't help it, the guy...

The guy survived, he didn't die.

Then you've still got a problem.

Not just me, us.

- If I take the fall, you will too.
- I see.

Well...

- how can I help?
- Money.

That's all well and good but it
seems to me if that man is still alive...

I'll take care of that.
I just got a flash that

he's going back into
surgery this afternoon.

I don't think he's
gonna make it.

Yeah, Ponch, Getraer's
due for surgery in a half hour.

Just about have it wrapped
up down there? Good, good.

Listen, Kelly gave me
a list of male orderlies.

Didn't you and Getraer bust a
guy by the name of Karl Wilson?

That's what I thought.
Okay, I'm gonna track

him down. Get over
here as fast as you can.

Hey, Wilson, long time no see.

Yeah, ain't it a shame.

What did you get, three-to-five?

I only served 20
months. Good behavior.

- You know Getraer's in the hospital?
- No kidding?

Sure hope it ain't serious.

- You have access to dr*gs here?
- They don't let ex-cons near that stuff.

What happened to
your regular nameplate?

I don't know, must have
fallen off or something.

What's going on? Is somebody
trying to finger me for something?

- Just stick around, okay?
- I'm here every day.

[HISSING]

- See you later.
- It's a date.

[VENTILATOR HISSING]

- Doctor.
- Ready to go, Wayne.

Dr. Rhodes, glad
to have you with us.

It's a privilege to
be here, doctor.

All right, let's go.

Pickup.

WOMAN [ON PA]:
Dr. Foster, Room 327.

I hate hospitals.

Dr. Foster, Room 327.

[BEEPING]

Problem with oxygen,
Wayne. Going to backup.

We've got a double failure
here. Going to the bag.

Better get a portable
oxygen unit in here, stat.

Get me a portable
oxygen unit, stat.

Hold it, tell Engineering there's
trouble with the main oxygen.

Hey, hold it.

- Get out, now!
- Not before you check that oxygen.

Check it.

[COUGHS]

Get me another unit.

[SIREN WAILING]

[TIRES SCREECHING]

[SIREN WAILING]

Put your left hand on your head.

Glad to see didn't k*ll yourself, pal.
I'd hate for you to get off that easy.

[CROWD CHATTERING]

- Excuse me, excuse me.
- What are you doing?

Here you go, sarge, a little something
just for you, just to be on the safe side.

Oh, well, uh, that
sounds ominous.

Carrots?