Previously, on Doc...
Dr. Larsen was in a car accident last night.
(gasps)
She suffered a brain injury.
Wait, where's my family?
They weren't with you.
She has no recollection of the last eight years.
- Babe, what's wrong? - We got divorced.
Where's your brother? Isn't he here?
We lost Danny.
I don't know what I did or who I am now,
but I've wanted to be a doctor my entire life.
(laughing)
(indistinct chatter)
So, what's it like being a paralegal?
Basically, I just do
all the work while my boss goes golfing.
- (laughing) - Sounds like a dream.
Yeah.
Actually, it's pretty good.
Um, uh, everybody's very nice.
- Are you all right? - Yeah. Um, I-I think I just
need, um...
Would you excuse me for a moment? I'll be back.
Okay.
Careful there.
(eerie music)
(breathing heavily)
Mama?
Gracie?
Is that you?
You don't recognize me?
Oh, I think there's something wrong with me, Gracie.
Oh, I'm sure there is.
(breathing heavily)
Never should've left me, Simone.
(gasps)
(groaning)
Somebody call 911!
(medical machines beeping)
(indistinct chatter over PA)
All right, here we go. By 2020,
we finally got the files organized electronically.
Right. Thank you, Sammy.
Yeah. You know, you saved my kid's life,
so there's nothing that I wouldn't do for you.
- How is Shannon? - Just got married.
Wow! I... Sorry, she's just still 14 to me.
Yeah. Me, too. Look,
I'm really sorry this happened to you, Dr. Larsen.
Well, what's eight years lost time between friends?
(chuckles)
(indistinct chatter over PA)
(soft music)
Hey, Simone.
I know you're in pain, but we're gonna figure this out, okay?
Would you mind closing the blinds, please.
Yeah.
It's a lupus flare.
- How'd you know that? - Light sensitivity
and a butterfly rash.
You know I can't discuss one patient with another.
Simone, do you have any family we can call?
My daughter, Grace. I put her contact info on the form.
It's okay. I understand. We'll give her a call.
- You just try and rest, okay? - Thanks.
All due respect, butt out?
(exhales)
(elevator dings)
(indistinct chatter)
Dr. Larsen is here.
Hey! What are you doing?
I wanted to know what's going on.
- With what? - Um, with me...
being able to practice again.
I had a look at the calendar.
There's a Board meeting today.
Seems like a good time to bring up the plan for my re-entry.
- (chuckles) - No, it isn't.
- Why not? - Because you suffered a traumatic brain injury
and you don't recall the last eight years of your life.
I remember Med school,
residency, more than 10 years of practice.
- There's no reason that I-- - Amy, it's been four days
since the accident.
We can revisit you becoming a doctor again
once you're no longer a patient.
Which can only happen if you let yourself heal.
You said you'd help.
I guess you were just humoring me.
We're all still in shock
and praying for Dr. Larsen.
As the new Chief, I have incredibly large shoes to fill,
but I'll do my best. And...
(phone buzzing)
I'll catch up.
I was trying you all day yesterday.
And my assistant told you I was in court.
- Dixon autopsy done? - Forensic Pathologist
is out of town. I didn't want to ask again.
- Well, why not? - 'Cause if it shows
Metoprolol in his system, I am ***.
This could ruin my life, Marcia.
The only one who knows what happens is Dr. Larsen,
- and she doesn't remember, right? - For now.
But what if that changes?
Just get the results and call me back.
- You know, I texted you. - I saw.
Are you really gonna be like this?
- Are you really surprised? - I filed complaints
against my boss because I was asked
to corroborate patient complaints by her ex-husband,
the CMO. If I had known she was your girlfriend--
I know people have a hard time being micro-aggressed
these days, but we do not rat each other out.
The woman created a toxic work environment.
Did she? Really? Or did you just feel insecure
- because she's smarter? - Spare me the revisionist history.
She was snarky and condescending
- She lost her kid! - Yeah, I know! We all know!
Doesn't give her the right to inflict pain on everyone else.
I don't even remember what I was doing when I fell.
I was hallucinating the craziest things.
- It was really scary. - I can imagine.
I just wish they knew what was wrong with me.
Do you have low blood pressure?
- No. - Have you had a cold recently?
- Um, no. - Trouble sleeping?
You sound like a bad infomercial.
Oh, sorry. It's a habit. I'm a doctor.
Um, it's time for your fMRI.
I'd be careful weighing in with other patients.
May confuse them, make it harder for the doctors.
- (laughing) - We look, we look ridiculous.
I can't believe I let you drag me to that concert.
By the time we left, you loved Kiss and Skid Row.
Mmm.
Wow. We have a lot to talk about.
Yeah.
Hopefully, the fMRI will give us a baseline
of how you process memories. You okay?
Well, I'm a patient in a department I used to run,
and I have partial retrograde amnesia,
and I'm mourning my dead son for the second time.
- So, no, not really. - I'm sorry.
- Could you give us a minute? - Yup.
Thanks.
Can you talk to Michael for me?
Sure. About what?
Well, he said that he would help me come back to work,
but now he... I, I need you to push him.
Oh, I-I can't do that, Amy.
Why not? I-I've got all my medical knowledge
up until 2016
There could be other large pockets of memory loss.
And we don't know yet if the trauma affected
your cognitive reasoning. I just can't give you false hope.
At the worst time in your life, I was there!
I was always there for you! But now--
I was there!
During all that time you don't remember!
With Danny, with your divorce,
when you pushed everyone away,
there was one person who didn't let you.
One person always by your side.
And that was me.
I guess I'll just have to take your word for it.
Amy? Amy?
Can we go, please?
I told Michael I wanted to be alone.
I know.
But it's been six days.
That'll make me feel like crap.
A huge benefit of physical pain
is that it can distract from mental anguish.
So, here's the thing. We're gonna eat.
Watch whatever show you pick.
But after that, it's time to take a shower and stop hiding.
I can't.
I can't leave this room.
- Why not? - Because in here, it's still okay.
In here, Danny's still alive.
He's just down the hall, making a Lego fort
and eating caramels. But out there...
Out there, you still have a daughter
and patients who need you.
You need to go be a mother to her.
And do the thing you do best in this world.
And that starts with leaving this room.
'Kay.
Okay.
Hey, Lucy. What have we got?
Two new admissions last night.
Hey, how you doing?
I'm okay, Richard.
We didn't really get a chance to talk at the... funeral.
I'm just so sorry.
Thank you.
Well, just know that I am here for whatever, okay?
- Yeah. - I can cover for you
- if you need more time at home - I don't need more time
at home.
I need you to stop talking.
Richard!
You... It's so good to see you.
Well, I'd ask how you're feeling,
but you look like you're doing better than I am.
I heard you became Chief. Congrats.
I'd prefer it would have happened
- under different circumstances. - It is what it is.
I'm happy for you.
Thank you, Amy. It's good to see you up and around.
I can walk from here.
- Hey! - Hey!
- Where ya going so fast? - I didn't know where you were.
I brought some fresh clothes and toiletries,
- left them on the bed. - Thanks!
Oh, I can't stop looking at you. You're so grown up.
Can you sit for a bit?
Uh, can only stay a few minutes.
I had a free period, but I gotta get back for History.
We haven't even talked about school.
High school! Do you like it?
Yeah! I, um, I'm taking a lot of AP science classes.
- I wanna be a doctor. - That's fantastic!
You tried to talk me out of it.
- Why would I do that? - You said that medicine
used to be an art. And then it was a science.
Now, it's just a business.
Wow. I was pretty cynical.
I really gotta go. Um...
I'll try to visit tomorrow, okay?
Katie, what's wrong? I...
Uh, did something happen?
Um, a lot happened.
Well, I could you tell me so we could figure it out?
It's been eight years, Mom. I can't do this now.
Well, we got your labs back. Your platelets are a little low.
Is that bad?
That's not unusual after all the fluids they've given you.
What? I-I was talking to Simone.
She's a doctor, too.
Yes, I'm aware.
Your red cell count's also low
and you're showing clinical signs of anemia.
So we gotta make sure we're just looking at a lupus flare
and you're not getting worse, so you're gonna need
- a blood transfusion - Might be hard to find
compatible blood that her body won't attack.
She's right. I've been transfused a lot.
I know it can be more difficult, which is why
I started the type and cross hours ago.
And in the meantime, I'm gonna put you on some
IV fluids, get you a small dose of steroids. Okay?
- 'Kay. - In case you're tempted
to get a second opinion, don't.
Okay.
'Kay. I'll come back and check on you.
And the status of Dr. Larsen?
- She's out of ICU, correct? - Yes. And recovering nicely.
Oh, good. I'm told that the transition has been seamless.
Now, the nurses' contract is up for negotiation,
so let's have a look. We sh--
Uh.
Dr. Larsen.
- Good to see you up and about. - It's good to see you, Max.
Glad you're still here. (chuckles)
I'm CEO now, actually.
- So what can we do for you? - Well, I-I came to talk
about my future. Um, about, um, returning to work.
A bit premature, wouldn't you say?
No. I was an Attending Physician in 2016.
I don't see any reason that I couldn't
- return at that level. - Well, given the neurological
- issues and the potential-- - We can set up testing for that.
Uh, Dr. Miller? What do you think?
We know that Dr. Larsen was an excellent physician
prior to the accident.
But we have no real way of knowing what her capabilities will be.
And it's not so simple as rewinding to 2016.
A great many procedures and protocols have changed--
- I can relearn those! - Even if you could,
what do we tell patients? Are we obligated to disclose?
We would have to consider every potential repercussion.
Look, it might help to know if there are any precedents for this.
No case is exactly the same, but, yes, there are.
There's a Dr. Jeff Grenis out of Dallas.
And a Dr. Nina Richman in Tulsa.
That is irrelevant until we know the full extent
of your injury. But to be honest,
you barging in here like this indicates impulsivity
and a lack of sound reasoning.
Both of which can be byproducts of your TBI.
I am not impaired, Dr. Kumara.
I'm passionate about getting back to being a doctor.
Well, thank you for making your case.
We'll need to discuss it further.
(medical machines beeping)
I'm Amy. I'm Simone's roommate.
Hi, I'm Grace. Her daughter.
- Oh. - I didn't wanna wake her.
Oh, I'm sure she'd love to see you.
Do you know what happened to her?
Uh, she passed out, fell.
The doctors think it's due to her lupus.
Wait. She has lupus?
You didn't know?
I guess she didn't want to worry me.
That's really bad, right?
Uh, it's an autoimmune disease.
- It's chronic, but-- - Is it painful?
It can be. The body has these flares where it attacks itself.
It comes and goes, it's different for everybody.
Can't believe she didn't tell me.
Hi.
(wheezes)
What's wrong?
(gasping)
I'm gonna call a doctor.
(medical machines beeping)
- Mom! Hold on! - How can I help you?
Call Dr. Heller!
Tell him his patient's hypoxic! Hurry!
- Somebody do something! - (gasping)
Get her on a non-rebreather. Call RT.
Tell 'em she might need BiPap. And let radiology know
that we need a portable chest X-ray. Do it! Now!
(gasping)
Simone! I'm gonna turn up your oxygen.
Hey, hey, hey! Get away from her!
- What are you doing? - Well, uh...
(gasping)
(murmurs irritably)
You do know I'm trying to sleep?
You have a bed for that. At home.
I have patients who need me.
But you're not on call, Amy.
What're you doing?
I'm doing what you told me to do.
I am putting one foot in front of the other,
trying like hell to survive.
It looks to me like you're flirting with some
pretty serious denial.
Denial is one of the stages of grief, Yoda.
Not if it's deliberate.
Pain won't go away faster if you ignore it.
It will for tonight.
Simone Canto is still hypoxic?
Yeah. Yeah, not sure why.
Her body respond appropriately to the transfusion?
We don't know yet, but there seems to be
some hemolytic anemia at play.
Well, given the lupus, I'd up her steroids.
That's what I was considering.
And I heard Dr. Larsen was ordering the nurses around?
That's just people gossiping. She was trying to help.
Well, clearly, she can't.
I'm assuming you told her as much?
Dr. Miller?
Pathology called. Dixon autopsy results are back.
We can talk more about this later.
Conquering hero returns.
Well, my patients don't mind waiting.
Although it seems I missed a lot of other drama.
How's Dr. Larsen doing?
Surprisingly well, considering.
- Can I see the Dixon results? - Oh, yeah.
Uh, not much to see. COD was cardiopulmonary arrest.
He aspirated on lunch, got hypoxic.
One thing didn't add up, though.
Toxicology showed beta blockers,
but they weren't listed on administered meds.
He was taking Metoprolol.
Was that not in his charts? I can update that.
Yeah, you know, but given his age and conditions,
I did wonder why Dr. Larsen requested the post-mortem
- in the first place. - Yeah, uh...
Dixon's kids pushed for it.
Hm. Well...
Sorry this won't help them.
- Thanks. - Yup.
- How's she doing? - Not good.
Grace, I promise you, I'm not gonna stop
- until I figure this out. - Yeah, you said that already,
but what are you actually doing?!
(breathing heavily)
Hey! If you want, I can help you.
Look, I know I'm...
I'm not exactly myself right now,
but I remember more than I've forgotten.
I guess there's no harm in discussing a hypothetical.
Okay. So...
Let's say you had a female patient with lupus,
increased work of breathing.
Chest X-ray shows reduced lung volumes.
It could be the start of an infection.
- She is immunosuppressed. - Or the lupus is attacking
her lungs. Her body's destroying the blood products
we're giving her, and her platelets are still low.
- So, what are you considering? - A high dose of steroids
to try to stop any inflammation in its tracks.
But that is like bombing a school because there's a terrorist inside.
Yeah, well, I saw you do it a few times.
Well, I must've been sure
that there was no evidence of infection.
Cultures are sent and pending.
So what antibiotics is she on?
None. There's a lotta protocols these days to
try to avoid overprescribing.
Besides, her white cell count's not elevated.
She's got no cough. No fever.
There's no real evidence of infection.
And, yet, she is getting sicker.
Look, I get there are risks,
but if it's the start of pneumonia, you're already behind the 8-ball.
You're losing her.
I lied to you.
I haven't seen my mom in four years.
She refused to come to my wedding.
You-you must've been so young.
Nineteen.
That was her point. She didn't like him,
thought he would hold me back.
The things I said to her, you... can't take them back.
And we're both so stubborn.
What if she doesn't get to meet my son?
Or if she dies before I can tell her how much I love her?
I just, I thought that I would have more time.
One thing I can tell you, as a mom,
she's fighting so hard to get back to you right now.
So, you have kids?
I...
I have a daughter.
A few years younger than you.
And we've had a rocky road too.
Maybe she can't talk to you right now,
but she's still here.
Excuse me.
Uh, Amy, can I have a word?
She's so worried about her mom.
It looked like a lupus flare at first, but I'm not so sure anymore and--
Listen, Amy.
I know. Crashing that meeting wasn't my finest moment, but I need--
The Board has decided against you coming back to work here.
I have no support in that room? What about Max?
There have been a number of HR complaints against you.
Your reputation is not good.
So, what are you saying, that I-I-I won't practice medicine again?
All I'm saying...
nobody sees a road that makes sense right now.
There's something else.
Katie.
She's been through a lot. She needs space
and time.
(soft music)
All right. Who's next?
Gladys Laffler, um, 76, a-fib.
Course of treatment is rivaroxaban.
What are her bleeding risk factors?
Um...
I forgot to ask.
If she just had major surgery, blood thinners could kill her.
Sorry. I-I'll do better
You already know what you're supposed to do.
- What's gonna change? - Dr. Larsen,
- she's still a student - Sonya, do you want to be here?
- What? - Because when somebody is this blatantly negligent,
it usually means they're trying to fail.
Why don't you take the rest of the day off
and consider that not everybody's meant to be a doctor.
I know you're gunning for Chief now, but...
you can't speak to people that way.
Well, I just did.
Normal gait.
'Kay. Now heel to toe.
Great. Now, Romberg's. Eyes closed.
Okay. Great. Now, sit on the table, please.
- What is this called? - A cup.
- Where are you right now? - In hell.
(suspenseful music)
Where's Simone Canto?
(exhales) Please tell me.
She was burning up. Respiratory distress.
She's in the ICU.
Dr. Larsen?
Listen, I got some 12-year-old
who don't know his ass from his elbow
keeps saying I gotta have more tests.
I'm so sorry, I'm not working today.
Dr. Heller!
How's Simone?
We had to intubate and get her on a ventilator.
- I don't understand. Why? - She's coughing up blood.
CT of her lungs showed diffuse pulmonary hemorrhages.
She was spiking fevers, so it's a good thing
- we got her on the antibiotics. - No, it was not a good thing.
We did a bronch, showed bloody return.
Prelim stains didn't demonstrate any evidence of infection,
but now she's showing signs of C diff.
That I caused by pushing that treatment. I made it worse.
I doubt she makes it through the night.
I'm so sorry.
It's my patient. My mistake.
After the transfusion, she continued to decline.
I put her on broad-spectrum antibiotics.
And why not up her steroids, like we talked about?
I couldn't be sure that she didn't have an infection.
Look, this was a tough call. Why am I being reprimanded?
The patient's daughter saw you conferring with Dr. Larsen.
Did you know that she crashed the Board meeting
to beg for her job back?
- Uh... - Simone Canto
is on a ventilator because you deferred
to the judgment of a patient with a TBI.
We've already heard from Ms. Canto's law firm.
If she dies, which is likely,
her daughter will pursue a complaint of malpractice.
And, as for you, there'll be a hearing.
I'd count on being suspended, if not terminated.
It... It was an accident.
I heard what happened with your roommate
I... I said it was an accident.
What do you want?
Well, your scans remain stable.
You're healing well,
and there's not much more we can do for you here at the hospital,
so you can go home.
(exhales sharply)
- What are these? - Keppra,
prevent possible seizures.
You'll need to come back in a week for a wound check,
get your staples removed.
PT, cognitive therapy, TMS'll be on an outpatient basis.
Dr. Maitra will be by in a minute
for your wound dressing change and to sign your discharge papers.
Can I give you a ride home?
(soft music)
God.
This looks like a showroom.
How long have I lived here?
Almost five years.
When you moved out of the house, this is where you came.
It was already furnished. Uh, you haven't done much with it.
That's a relief. I guess.
- Want a tour? - Sure.
Living room.
Kitchen. I stocked the fridge.
- Nice view at least. - Pool and tennis courts, too.
Well, if only I played tennis.
Actually, you do now. We do.
No guy stuff.
Well, I figured there wasn't one when nobody brought me flowers.
This is Katie's room?
Yeah.
Doesn't look like she lives here.
She doesn't.
She went to live with Michael full-time.
Why? What did I do?
You were fighting all the time, and...
you all decided it was best.
I can't... I...
She lied to me about it.
I guess she felt like she had to.
I know this is a lot.
Thank you for bringing me home.
I got a clean new phone for you.
Programmed numbers in it for me, Michael, Katie, the hospital.
Passcode's your birthday.
I'll leave it on the bed.
Oh my God, I hate long division!
It's gonna come in handy when you go to the mall
with Michele and Kayla,
and I give you $39
and tell you that you each get a third.
(laughing) Come on, that's a good example.
So, we each get $13.
There you go. Perfect.
But couldn't I just figure that out with my phone?
Well, yes, technically you could, but...
(Michael sighs)
Listen, I know it doesn't feel like it,
but I promise, your Mom'll come around.
You've been saying that for two years.
(phone buzzing)
(sighs)
Hello.
Just checking in.
Still here. Didn't jump.
You broke that vase, didn't you?
Maybe.
And maybe I'm sitting here looking at pictures of Danny.
From my antiseptic, pre-furnished condo.
I am so sorry for all the pain you're in.
And that I hurt you.
No! We promised to always tell each other the truth.
You can't stop now, not when I need it the most.
Okay. But just don't shut down and cover things up.
Putting on a mask is not the answer.
I'll call you tomorrow.
(breathes deeply)
It's a mask.
(sirens wailing)
(indistinct chatter over PA)
- You should be at home. - It's about Simone.
No. No. I'm not allowed to go near Simone.
- I figured it out. - Look, you've got
- to be kidding me! - Listen! We've been thinking
about it all wrong. We assumed that the issue
with the platelets was because of the lupus.
But what if it's not?
What if the lupus is masking TTP?
Yeah, I mean, yeah, her symptoms do match up.
So she needs plasmapheresis.
- No. No, that's too risky. - But we don't have a choice.
There's a new drug, Caplacizumab.
We can avoid plasma exchange altogether.
Stay the hell away from us. My lawyer said
- not to talk to you. - Then just listen.
We know how to treat your mother.
You expect me to believe that?
We didn't know before, but now--
If you don't go away, I'll call Dr. Miller.
Listen, I understand that you're angry. All we want
- is to give-- - I don't care what you want!
My mother is dying because of you.
You're right.
I made a mistake, and Simone is paying for it.
You are paying for it.
But I used to run this department,
and I am telling you, all she needs is this one medication.
Please let us fix this. While there's still time.
(tense music)
(soft music)
(breathes deeply)
Oh...
Hey. Uh, you and your daughter,
why aren't you close?
I wish I knew.
People say that parents love their child unconditionally.
And, as a mom,
I know that it's true.
But that's not how it is for the kid,
because they can feel all of the expectations
and disappointments,
and it's almost like there are all kinds of conditions.
I think...
I think it's kids
who love their parents unconditionally.
And they will forgive almost anything,
because we always wanna have that connection.
We always want our Mom.
Excuse me.
Simone's asking for her daughter.
(knocking)
- Hey. - Hey.
I heard you saved your roommate.
Oh, that wasn't supposed to get back to you.
HIPAA and all that.
(chuckles)
I, uh...
I pushed too hard and I'm sorry.
I wanted so badly to be a doctor again, but...
for all the wrong reasons. I was so desperate,
just clinging to the only thing that...
And then you said that I couldn't get it back.
- And I-- - I wasn't--
No. I-I know. It's... It's okay. I understand.
But you were wrong.
I will be a doctor again.
Not here. But somebody will hire me.
Because now, it's for the right reasons. I...
(breathes deeply)
Besides you and the kids, healing people
is the thing that I loved most in this world.
And I will get that back, at least.
Do you remember my 40th birthday?
Your folks took the kids, and you surprised me
and took me to the George Cinq?
The most romantic city in the world,
and we never left the room. (chuckling)
Yeah.
That was two weeks ago for me.
Amy, I should tell you...
You've met someone? (sniffs)
Yeah. I figured.
Uh, we got divorced four years ago, so I figured.
Are you married?
(breathing shakily)
I hope she appreciates what she has.
Wait a second.
(beeping)
(phone ringing tone)
- This is Max. - It's Michael.
We may have a problem with Dr. Larsen.
- What about her? - Well, she's protected.
By the Americans with Disabilities Act.
You're not saying we have to bring her back?
Well, by law, we have to try to supply
a reasonable accommodation to reintegrate her.
And what the hell is that gonna look like?
We put, uh, protocols in place.
Testing, guardrails
Oh, come on, Michael. That's insane!
Unless you want her marching in here with lawyers.
Well, is she threatening to do that?
- Not yet. - Well, then talk to her.
This won't be good for anyone.
I won't do that, Max.
And you know her medical talent is undeniable.
This is feeling awfully personal for you, Michael.
A lawsuit will damage this hospital's reputation,
and all that bad press is gonna make us seem heartless.
This is professional.
Well, I...
I suppose I'll have to take it to the Board, then.
I suppose you will.
(dial tone)
So you're still a great guy?
I still try.
Now go home and finish healing, and then we can get into this.
(indistinct chatter)
He's not happy, but I think I'm safe for now.
'Kay.
I never did thank you.
For the other day. For...
helping me get up off the floor.
I couldn't just leave you there.
(chuckles) Of course you could've.
If you hated me the way everyone else seemed to.
I didn't hate you.
There's something you should see.
(inaudible conversation)
(insects chirping)
(phone buzzing)
Mom? You okay?
Yeah.
Listen, um, about the other day--
- I shouldn't have gotten so-- - No. No, this is not on you.
I *** up.
And, look, I know that you don't wanna talk about it yet.
But I'm here,
whenever you're ready.
And-and whatever it is, if it's grief, or anger,
I promise you,
I can take it.
And I love you unconditionally.
That's all.
Thank you, Mom.
Good night, honey.
(soft music)
(theme music)