Résumé en VO (source : ER headquarters.com)

14x10 300 Patients

Scénario :
Réalisation :
Avec : Goran Vijnic (Luka Kovac) Peter Fonda (Pierce) Reiko Aylesworth (Julia) Leland Orser (Lucien Dubenko) Steven Christopher Parker (Harold Zelinsky) Troy Evans (Frank Martin) Yvette Freeman (Haleh Adams) Laura Ceron (Chuny Marquez) Lily Mariye (Lily Jarvik)

Our episode opens at the Kovac home. Abby is in her bedroom packing a bag. She calls and asks Luka if the stroller is in the car. When he responds that ‘it’s down here in the living room’, she pulls out a bottle of vodka and begins filling a small travel shampoo bottle. Cut to a nice shot of Luka reading aloud to Joe as Niko is talking on the phone. Niko hangs up and tells Luka it was the funeral home and that everything will be ready. Luka nods. Abby comes down the stairs. She verifies that the flight is at 10 pm and that she is going to go out and run a few errands – the bank, dry cleaners. Joe gets up and heads toward her and she tells him no, he is going to stay with daddy and finish the book. Niko sweeps Joe up and they move to the Christmas tree to count the Santas. Luka has a frustrated look on his face as he watches her and then rises from the floor. Abby asks if he is okay and he nods. She tells him she will be back in an hour or two, pecks him on the cheek and leaves. Luka watches her go with a forboding look.
Cut to the ER desk and a box of Christmas decorations that are being opened. Chuny tells Frank she saw Frosty the Snowman on television and it’s only December 6th. Haleh and Frank carry on about all the holidays needing equal coverage and Frank wonders why people can’t just choose one day and be done with it. Pratt approaches the board and makes a remark about it being messed up. Frank says it’s like Calcutta around there. Grady says Calcutta on a bad day. Gates joins them as they study a patient board covered in pink and green sticky notes. Grady says they signed in 142 patients on the overnight shift. He is too tired to go home so he is going to sleep in the call room. Gates says the poor kid is a zombie and Morris says that if they keep cranking they could hit 300…a milestone. Frank tells him to forget it. They have never had more than 250 in a 24 hour period. Morris sets up a bet. They will have to sign in 14 patients an hour over the next 14 hours. Gates, Frank and Pratt can split $300 against his. Frank collects the money as someone is pushing a large circular piece of machinery from the elevator. It’s the holiday gift to the ER – a portable CT machine…in lieu of the lovely tee shirts they usually get. Julia approaches the desk and asks if they saw her memo. She is going to different departments in the hospital and doing blessing ceremonies and memorials. Today is the ER’s turn. Morris says it’s nice but they are going to be pretty busy. Frank suggests that she try oncology because they really get into the touchy/feely crap. Gates tells them to lighten up and don’t shoot the kid down. It might be enlightening. Julia thanks him for being open minded and he watches her go with a grin. Morris and Pratt are studying him and move in closer as she leaves. Pratt asks if he and she are…um…. Frank moves in and asks if he is banging the chaplain. The doors open and Pratt moves in to take a patient being wheeled in. She is Melissa Tanner, 61, and victim of a car accident. She has a long scar on her chest and the paramedic – Sam - tells Pratt it looks as if she has had a thoracotomy. As Melissa is wheeled into a trauma room, Sam calls for Morris to take the second gurney. It’s Melissa’s son, Lowell. He has Down’s syndrome and facial lacs. Morris is taking him and tells Gates to start pushing charts. Gates turns to see Harold, dressed in a costume with a long white beard bent over at the door. He says they need a ladder in the bay. Frank steps up and says ‘Holy cow, is that what I think it is?” Harold says it’s not a cow.
Cut to the ambulance bay where Neela, in costume with a long black beard, is pressing Dubenko into a wheelchair. A handler is holding reins on a camel. Neela explains that they had a dress rehearsal of the hospital’s holiday pageant. Dubenko says that surgery drew the nativity scene. The camel, which they got from somewhere, bit Dubenko on the leg. Neela says they need a culture. Gates tells her that she needs a shave and she rips the beard off. She says there might be some bacteria that needs targeted therapy and hands Gates a long Q-tip. He is looking pretty nervous as he eyes the camel. Frank steps up to say that his dad used to raise horses and to let him do it. The camel protests as Frank moves nearer.
After the credits we come back to Gates trying unsuccessfully to get a culture. Neela insists that they need to get a swap so he hands her the q-tip. She scowls and then climbs the ladder. She croons to the camel and then a cell phone rings. She tells Harold to get her phone from her back pocket. He carefully folds her costume up and takes her cell phone from the pocket. He tells her it was a missed call from Abby. Dubenko is telling Neela that she will have to make a presentation without him and she says she left the materials on her laptop at home. He tells her that she will have to go home after morning rounds to get it. Harold is grinning as he folds the costume back over her bum and Neela gets a culture from the camel.

Cut to Abby driving in a car and leaving another message for Neela. She is just wondering if she is home right now. She tells her that Luka’s father died and they are flying to Croatia and she left some things in the closet and wants to stop by and pick them up. Gates and Julia are walking side by side in the corridor and she thanks him for his support. She tells him she may need an acolyte….and their hands drag apart as they separate. Gates enters Melissa’s trauma room as Pratt studies her x-rays. He says there are no pneumothorax and no broken ribs. He asks for an intubation tray and Sam asks if she can do it. She needs to do 10 supervised for her training. Pratt says it’s not a good teaching case. Gates tells Pratt to give Sam a try. Pratt hands her the tube. Morris comes in and fawns over the portable CT. Sam does a successful intubation. Pratt tells Morris to try to get a history from her son. Morris says he doesn’t say much and Sam says she talked to him on the chopper. As Morris follows her into the next trauma room he is counting patients..151, 152 and 153. Sam and Morris ask Lowell questions he is unable to answer. Sam says her husband’s number was in her wallet so she is going to call him. Lowell asks if they are going to call his dad. Sam nods and he smiles.
Cut to Dubenko ,in a patient gown and dragging an IV pole, is going over patient orders with Neela. He tells her to finish up and then go get her power point for the presentation. He is going to his office while his ‘anti-camel drip’ takes effect. He walks away and we have a nice shot of his tighty whiteys covered behind. Neela grins and tells Frank she is going home for a minute and will be back shortly. Sam tells Frank the husband of the woman they brought in will be in shortly. Julia approaches and asks Sam if she is coming to her séance. Sam is uncomfortable and says his relationship with God is kind of complicated. She was raised in a house where there was a lot of talk about sin and damnation. Julia asks if she believes in God. Sam replies that most days no….but on other days she is glad he..she…whatever…shows up. Julia tells to think about it and leaves. Zadro approaches and chides Sam about riding rigs all over town but not with him. She grins and says she goes where they tell her. Says she would really like to get into a paramedic review – Sternbeck’s review – she has heard they cover a lot. Zadro tells her to come along, he has connections. Sam grins, grabs her coat and follows him out.
Cut to Neela’s apartment. She unlocks the door and finds Abby on the couch watching television. Abby is started and tells her she left a couple of messages. Neela says she is just there for her laptop. Neela is confused that she is watching television and Abby says she is just checking the weather. Neela rounds the couch and we get a shot of a half empty bottle of vodka and a glass on the coffee table. Neela asks what is going on. Abby smiles a little too brightly and says she was running some errands and remembered that there was a coat there that she wanted to pickup. And she had a drink. Neela is still frowning. She asks what Abby is doing. Abby sighs and then takes the bottle and glass and heads for the kitchen. She says she is just going to go. Neela is frowning and asks if this is what has been going on for the past few weeks. The way she was at Ikes…how far away she has seemed. Abby – frustrated – tells Neela that sometimes she is such a child. Neela is in a state of rising panic as Abby starts getting ready to leave. She says she is just trying to help…to think about Joe…think about Luka…if she loves them… Abby straightens and bursts out in anger – “if I love them?” Neela is stricken. Abby tells her that she is really not the person to lecture her on love, with her track record. Abby goes on to say that she is thinking that about now Ray is really wishing he hadn’t met her. Neela’s ire has kicked in. She tells Abby that she doesn’t live there any more and to get out. Abby looks a little bit sick….a bit remorseful…and moves toward the door. She glances back at Neela and then slams the door behind her.
Cut to Pratt walking with Melissa’s husband, Pierce (played by Pierce Fonda). He explains that she has end stage emphysema. Smoked for years and still tries to sneak one in now and then. They enter the trauma room as he says she had lung reduction surgery ten years ago and has been on oxygen 24/7 for about a year now. She should not have been driving. He has tried to get her to allow him to hire a driver for her but she refused. Pratt explains that the ventilator is helping her breathe and Pierce says that she is a DNR. Pratt says they can take her off support if that’s what he and his son decide. The husband is shocked. His son. Pratt indicates Lowell in the next room. Pierce says he has never seen that person in his life.
Cut to Zadro and Sam in a paramedic rig. He asks if she is thinking about making a change. She says that she used to be a traveler….for a long time. She has been a nurse at County for four years now. Kind of weird for her to be wired to anything like that. Zadro slams on the brakes as a car broadsides the rig. Sam and Zadro stumble out of the rig. She is stunned but okay. He has banged up his knee. She eases her way around the truck that hit them and asks the driver if he is okay. He says there was a kid. Sam calls for Zadro and tells the driver to stay in his vehicle as she runs toward a little girl lying in the street. He and Zadro examine the girl as a crowd begins to gather. She has no apparent head trauma, is breathing okay but may have a broken bone in her pelvis. She is worried about her dog. Attention is drawn to the driver of the truck who is getting out of his vehicle. He is obviously drunk. Zadro tells Sam to go help him and he will call for back up. She talks to the driver but he doesn’t remember anything.
Cut to the hospital corridor and Melissa’s husband. He is sitting on a bench as Pratt approaches with coffee. Pratt sits down and Pierce asks what the kid’s name is. Pratt tells him, Lowell. Pratt apologizes that he had to find out this way…that his wife had a kid with someone else. Pierce shakes his head and explains that he and Melissa were in their 40’s when she got pregnant. It was 1983. They weren’t really prepared to raise someone that would have so many difficulties. He convinced her that it was better for all of them if…. His voice trails and Pratt asks if he meant giving him up. Pierce nods. Abby interrupts to ask if he has seen Skye as she approaches at a clip.
Cut to Abby and Pratt walking down the corridor. She tells him that Luka’s father has died and they are leaving for Croatia that night. She says she needs to take a leave of absence and should probably talk to Skye. Pratt asks if she is okay and Abby bursts out that his father just died and to give her a break. Pratt tells her to fill out the paperwork and he will talk to her for Abby. She takes the papers from him and he watches her go with a worried frown.
Cut to Sam working on the driver who is now lying on the street. The crowd has gotten bigger and is beginning to get riled. Several want to know why she is working on him and not the girl. Sam says he is concussed…not drunk. One of the men kicks the driver in the head. Sam screams at him and he does it again. She hollers for Zadro and then whacks the bystander in the head with a metal patient chart. As the guy falls to the ground, Zadro hurries up and someone in the crowd says ‘whoa’.
Cut to Morris coming in the admit doors with two ‘patient’s he picked up at the Jumbo Mart….carpels’ tunnel from working the register and a slipped disk. Frank tells him to give it up because they haven’t even reached 200. Morris is frustrated as Frank laughs at him. He approaches a gurney where Chuny is standing with Lowell. Lowell tells Morris that his mommy was taking him to a new place to live. Morris sits down and tells him that his mommy is not doing too well. Lowell says she needs air. He asks if his dad is there. Morris says he will find out and bring him to him. Lowell says no. He didn’t want him when he was a baby. Morris says that dads can change their minds. His dad was a lot like Lowell’s dad. Lowell asks if he changed his mind. Morris says he likes to think that he did.
Cut to Abby at a desk in the break room going through the papers she is filling out. Julia opens the door and pulls in a cart with a slide projector. She speaks to Abby and Abby says hello without looking up. Julia interrupts her to plug a slide projector in. Abby asks what she is doing and Julia says they are having a memorial and blessing ceremony. Abby shifts through her papers and asks who is bringing the kool aid. Julia snickers and tells her to check it out. Says everyone needs a blessing now and then. Or a memorial,” Abby responds. Julia stops and looks at her for a moment. She asks her if she pisses her off. Abby stops and turns to look at her. He tells her she doesn’t piss her off…she doesn’t really know her…and then turns back to her paperwork. Julia approaches and tells her if she ever needs to talk about anything. Abby turns and defensively asks why she would need that? Julia tells her that’s kind of why she is here. Abby shrugs and says okay as she turns back to her papers. As she moves back to the projector, Julia tells Abby that there is this story. Abby drops her head to the desk in frustration. Julia grins a little and apologizes as she continues with her story about a little boy, his mother and a rock. Abby listens and says sarcastically ‘Wow, that’s great’….when the story ends. Julia goes on to say that the mother explains to him that sometimes using all of your strength means asking for help. Haleh interrupts to say that the floor is stable and they have no incoming traumas. Chuny asks if they should round up the troops. The camera is on Abby’s face as she stares down at her papers pensively.

Cut to the el steps as Neela strides down them and almost bumps into Luka as he is putting coins into a parking meter. They apologize to one another and she tells him she heard about his father. She is sorry. He thanks her and asks if she has seen Abby. Neela asks if something is wrong. He says she was supposed to be home a while ago. Neela tells him she probably got caught up in something at work. He agrees and they head into the ambulance bay together.
Cut to the break room where Julia is lighting a candle. She passes the candle’s flame to others who are sitting and tells them the names flashing on the screen are those of people that have passed on in the department. Abby looks up as Luka and Neela enter. He smiles slightly and she holds her fingers up in a wave and then turns back to Julia. He studies her as Julia continues. (As Julia speaks the camera moves from face to face and there a short flashback on the faces of patients that have made an impact. The character and their patient will be in parenthesis.) Julia asks them to think of one patient that has changed them in some way…hold them in their memory. (Gates and Joshua) Were they inspiring? Funny? (Morris and his multi personality patient) Courageous? Did they challenge you? (Neela and Teller, the homeless kid) Teach you something about your self? (Pratt and Ray Iota’s dying alcoholic) Were they searching for something? (Luka and Ames) Was their heart filled with love? (Abby and James Woods) Ask yourself, which of their qualities can become part of my life? Lily can be seen running for the door. She interrupts to say they have traumas coming and she waited as long as she could. The lights go on and Julia says they will finish later. Luka waits uncertainly as people file out and then approaches Abby, who is pouring herself a cup of coffee. He tells her that she was supposed to be home an hour ago. He didn’t know where she was. She takes a sip of her coffee and says, “well, here I am.” He shifts uncomfortably and looks at her.
Cut to Sam in the trauma room with Evie. Morris suggests that her mother needs to wait outside. Sam takes her through the doors and explains that there is more swelling in her throat and they are helping her. Pierce is gazing into the room where is wife is intubated as Lowell is sitting beside her. He looks up as Evie’s mom tries not to cry as she says her baby is hurt. Morris steps between them and glances sideways at Pierce. He asks if he is Lowell’s dad. Pierce nods. Morris tells him to have the balls to go in there…and then walks away. Pierce looks back into the room.
Cut to the front of the hospital…ambulance bay…whatever. It’s an outdoor scene obviously shot on location and different from anything we have seen before. Abby and Luka are standing on the sidewalk facing one another. Abby tells him she doesn’t know what to tell him. Luka tells her to start with what’s going on. If she doesn’t want to go to Croatia with him then tell him. She says that’s not it. It’s just a lot to deal with. He tells her that since he has gotten back she hasn’t seemed to be happy…they avoid each other and have hardly touched each other. She says she was just gone….forever. It was a lot of stress taking care of Joe and supporting them. He wasn’t working and all they had were her resident hours. He asks if she is mad that he wasn’t working. She says it’s just hard to turn back on. He wants to know turn what back on? When did it turn off? She sags a little and looks up at him. He tells her that he knows her. He knows when something is wrong. She hangs her head and looks away. He hesitates and asks if she still loves him. She looks up suddenly and says of course she still loves him, how could he even ask her that? He asks her why the hell does she think? Just talk to him! She gazes up at him, very clearly struggling with it all. Luka watches her for a moment and then she says she has to go finish her leave request and then they will go to Croatia and everything will be different. Luka shakes his head very slightly and tells her she just can’t hide forever. She just can’t. He turns to walk away and she tries to stop him. He tells her he will see her at home.

Cut to the trauma room where Sam, Chuny, Morris and Dubenko are working on Evie, the little girl hit by the truck. She is having difficulty and an open trake will take too long.
Cut to Pratt and Pierce at the window of Melissa’s trauma room. Pierce asks if Pratt will go in with him. Pratt tells him, of course. Lowell stands up from the side of the bed as the door opens and Pierce, Pratt and Julia enter. Pierce tells him that his name is Pierce and Lowell responds in kind and they shake hands. Pierce tells him that he is his father and Lowell responds ‘nice to meet you’ never taking his eyes from Pierce.
Cut to a shot of Evie’s neck as Sam drives a needle into it. She asks for a nasal cannula set at 25 and tells them she will get a blast of oxygen so to be prepared. She presses the cannula to the needle end and stats go up immediately. Harold tells her that was hot. Lily burst is o say that Gates needs a surgeon. Sam follows Neela into the trauma room where the driver of the truck is seizing.

Cut to the desk. Abby and Julia are approaching at the same time and Abby tells her she is sorry her ‘thing’ got interrupted. Julia blithely says they will finish later. Abby leans on the counter and asks why she told her that story? Julia says because she likes it…and thought Abby might too. Julia moves away and Pratt approaches asking Frank of Melissa Tanner’s fax has arrived yet. Abby thanks him for taking care of the thing with Skye and Pratt tells her to make sure Luka knows they are thinking about him. She nods and leaves. Frank hands Pratt a chart and Julia steps up to read it as well. Melissa’s DNR request. Julia asks if the husband is comfortable honoring her request? Pratt says he is. As they head to the treatment room he tells her that it doesn’t seem right. The kid has never had a family and on the day that they come together he is going to lose his mom. Julia says it makes her want to call her folks. Pratt tells her that his mom died when he was a kid. Breast cancer. He lost her pretty early and they were close. He doesn’t know why he is telling her this. Time of year, he guesses.
Cut to Neela and Gates working on the driver. Ortho comes in and rags on them doing a burr hole in the ER. Neela heads over to help Dubenko with the trake. Gates tells Sam he heard she was a seasoned pro out there. Sam confesses that she hit a guy. Gates studies the bruise on her face worriedly. She shrugs it off and says she has had worse. She goes into Evie’s trauma room and the guy she belted at the scene comes in the door bellowing at the ‘bitch’. Gates bursts in and wrestles him to the floor as Harold sits on him with a grin.
Cut to Melissa’s bedside. Pratt and Perce are explaining to Lowell that Melissa didn’t want to be put on a breathing machine. That she wouldn’t be able to do all the things she loves. This is a very touching scene as Lowell comes to realize that she will die shortly after they take out the tube. The actor does a very credible piece of work.

Cut to the Kovac house as Abby enters. Luka is on the floor in front of the couch with Joe in his lap. They are playing with a wooden airplane. She goes down the steps and hangs her coat up as she watches them. She sits on the couch next to him and looks around. She asks about Niko and Luka says he has gone out to buy a present for his wife. Luka is absorbed in playing with Joe, asking where Joe is going to go on the plane and Abby leans forward resting her chin in her hand as she watches. (I have to comment that this baby has amazing dexterity in putting a wooden ‘passenger’ piece in a small round hole on the plane correctly) Luka continues to croon about going to fly to Joe and Abby studies him, close to tears. She leans forward and presses several kisses to the back of his neck. He turns his head a bit to look at her as she slides to the floor next to them and entwines her arm through his. She drags her fingernails through the hair on his arm for a moment as he watches her. She takes a deep breath and says finally, “Luka…..I need help.” He continues to watch her as she runs her fingers through Joe’s hair and then raises her hand to Luka’s jaw. He lifts his hand to her’s and his fingers grasp her palm.
Cut to Abby’profile as she stands at the window looking out at a rainy night. Luka approaches and circles her to stand next to her. She tells him she started drinking again. He turns to look at her profile and asks when. She tells him it was the night Joe got hurt ….and she can’t stop. He looks sick to his stomach as he leans against the window frame and tells her that he thought they needed to get used to being married again but when things didn’t get better he thought….. He takes a breath and asks what they need to do. He looks at her as she says she needs to fix it. She needs to go to a facility where there are professionals….to get better. She needs to believe it this time. She looks at him and tells him he needs to believe it too. She needs him to help her. Sooo….she wants him to take Joe and go to Croatia…for his father….while she does…that. Luka is stunned. She wants them to go without her? She’s his mother. Abby insists that she knows that…but she hasn’t been a very good one, and she doesn’t think she can be until she deals with this. He asks if they can’t do it together. She tells him this is how they do it together. He has to help her do it alone. Luka gazes at her grimly and then asks if that is all. She looks at him with a very pained expression and asks what he means. He asks if there is something else she needs to tell him. Abby sits down on the bench . She says that she got out of control…just out of control and did some things. Luka looks out the window, swallows and then asks her what kind of things. She stares at the floor and says things that she is ashamed of. He prods her to tell him everything but she shakes her head. He turns and says that after all this she doesn’t want to tell him. She continues to stare at the floor as she shakes her head and tells him not tonight. He sits on the bench next to her and buries his face in his hands. He groans a bit as she wipes the tears from her face. He shakes his head slightly and says that it’s his fault. She tells him immediately not to do that. His resolve crumbles as he says he should have come home earlier. He should have been there. He broke his promise. She insists she should have been able to handle it. She screwed up. That it’s her fault. She apologizes as he begins to weep. (Amazing agonizing scene considering it was shot mostly to Maura Tierney’s profile.)
Abby: I started drinking again.
Luka: When?
Abby: The night Joe got hurt. And I (long pause) can't stop.
Luka: I thought when I came back, we just had to get used to being married again. But then things didn’t get better and I thought... (long pause) So what do we do?
Abby: I need to fix it. I need to go somewhere, a facility, with professionals, and get better. And I need to believe it this time, and I need you to believe it. (long pause) And I need you to help me. (another long pause) So... so, take Joe... go to Croatia, for your father, while I do that.
Luka: (incredulous)You want us to go without you?
Abby: Yeah, I just...
Luka: But you’re his mother!
Abby: I know that! I know that! (pause) But I haven’t been a very good one. And I honestly don’t think I can be until I deal with this.
Luka: Can’t we do this together?
Abby: This is how we do it together! You have to help me do it... alone.
(long pause)
Luka: That’s it? (pause) Is there anything else...
Abby: (looks at him for a long moment) What do you mean?
Luka: ...that you want to tell me?
Abby: (turns away) I know... I just... I was out of control, I got... out of control... and I... I did some things.
Luka: What kind of things?
Abby: Things I’m ashamed of.
Luka: Okay, just tell me everything.
Abby: (slowly shaking her head) Luka...
Luka: After all this, after everything you don’t want to tell me?
Abby: Not tonight.
(long, long pause; Luka sits next to her, breathes out audibly with pain in his voice, his face in his hands; he looks up, and there is another long, long pause)
Luka: It’s my fault, isn’t it?
Abby: No, don't. (both of them begin to cry) Please don’t...
Luka: I should have come home earlier, I shouldn’t have left you...
Abby: No! I should have been able to handle this!
Luka: I broke my promise!
Abby: Don’t do that, okay?! Don’t! I screwed up! I screwed up because I couldn't keep it together!
Luka: (at the same time) I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so...
Abby: This is my fault! It's my fault, it’s me! And please, don’t, don't. Just don’t... (Abby places her hand on his back, and pauses for a long, long moment) I’m sorry.
(they sit quietly together, in so much pain)
Cut to the trauma room as Sam and Gates exit. She thanks him for coming to her aid earlier. She tells him that she doesn’t care what people says, he is a half decent guy. Morris approaches asks sharply if that is a new patient. Sam says no and Morris turns quickly. He approaches the desk and Frank gleefully announces that with 15 minutes to go the patient count is 23. Lily says they need another two nurses. Food poisoning at the Christmas potluck. They turn to the admit window just in time to see a group of retching Shriner’s and one spewing vomit on the window. Morris is gleeful as he shouts ‘Hallelujah!.’
Cut to Melissa’s room where Pratt is removing the tube from her throat. As she coughs, Lowell say ‘hi, mommy’, softly. Melissa looks at him and smiles. Lowell tells her that he loves her and she tells him she loves him too. She turns her head to Pierce and says that she couldn’t forget him. She didn’t know how to tell him. He tells her not to worry about anything. Lowell is their son and he will take care of him.
Cut to Julia pouring water from a saline bag into a surgical bowl.
Cut to Frank crowing from the admit desk. The count is 299 patients, triage is empty and they will be $100 richer in 10…9…8… his hand is flat on the desk over the money. Morris is pacing and then stops. He picks up a heavy book and slams it on Frank’s hand. Frank is wordless with pain as Morris orders Lily to make a chart for Frank. Gates frowns and tells Morris he has a serious gambling problem. Morris orders a 3 view, ice pack and ibuprofen as he dances and counts the money in his hand. Lily approaches to say that Julia is ready and they have moved to trauma 2.
The ending montage is shot with Julia’s words over it. Cut to the trauma room where available staff are gathered with candles. She tells them that water is the source of all life. It is used in healing rituals all over the world in almost every faith. (Cut to Abby pouring her vodka from the bottle and travel bottles down the drain in her bathroom.) Water is an element of cleansing and purification. Today they use saline. It’s what they work with. After all, water doesn’t get much cleaner than that. Earlier we talked about what our patients do for us. (Cut to Melissa’s room where Perce and Lowell are holding her hands as she begins to fade. Morris looks o with a slight smile.) Now we will honor what we do for them. Paying thanks for our abilities, hoping that we will continue to use them to serve our community. Let’s dip our hands in the water. (Gates steps forward to dip his hands in the bowl.) May we all have the strength, the dexterity and the sensitivity to carry out the mission of healing in the community…and may our hands be blessed. (Neela moves forward to wash her hands in the water.)
Cut to the street with the L train moving past. Luka lifts a bag into the back of the car and closes the hatch. He takes Joe from Abby and smiles at him a little as he jostles him in his arms.
Cut to Julia in trauma 2 again. Morris dips his hands in the bowl and takes a towel.
Cut to the street again as Luka tips Joe down so Abby can kiss him again. She pats the baby’s jacket reluctantly and then climbs into the car. She closes the door and we can see Abby’s profile through the rain drenched window. She presses the palm of her hand on the window and we see Luka’s hand press against hers. She starts the car and we see Luka’s grim profile – and Joe in his arms - as she pulls the car into the street and drives away.
Cut to Melissa’s room as Pratt nods at Pierce who is still holding Melissa’s hands with Lowell. We hear Julia continue. “We have our dead and we have to let them go. Now let’s turn our attention back to the work of the living.” Cut to Abby driving her car in night traffic with the lights of the city of Chicago behind her. The camera pans up and then fades