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when he is stuck with Sara and Nathan in an elevator |
Story: Tim Kring
Teleplay:
Directed By: Michael Schultz
At the request of a nun, Catera visits a convent to check on the condition of a sixteen-year-old girl whose prayers have taken precedent over her physical well-being. When Catera enters the girl's room, she sees her kneeling on the floor, her arms outstretched, staring at a crucifix. In the middle of each palm is a bloody wound. The girl loses consciousness and is transported to the hospital. There, Catera tells Shutt that the Mother Superior believes the wounds are the result of divine inspiration... a conclusion Catera, a Catholic, does not dismiss. To prove her point, Catera shows Shutt the girl's palms, which completely healed in less than 12 hours. Shutt admits the girl to the psychiatric ward for further observation.
Austin and Sara visit Walter Emmons, an old family friend, in his hospital room. Austin tells Emmons that her gut feeling about treating his condition, a thoracic aneurysm, is to schedule surgery and reduce the amount of beta blocker in his system. Emmon, who trusts Austin, agrees to proceed with surgery. Later, Sara asks her mother about the hereafter. Austin, who doesn't believe in heaven, explains it in terms of nature's life cycle. But she encourages her daughter to believe in anything she wants.
Austin inputs Emmon's symptoms into an expensive computer program designed to make medical treatment cost-effective. The computer, however, disagrees with Austin's diagnosis, and advises against surgery. This creates a dilemma, as it clashes with Austin's gut feeling on how to proceed.
Shutt enters the girl's room in the psych ward and attempts to open a dialogue. The girl nonchalantly disrobes and stands before Shutt, completely naked. She then stands in the middle of the room and holds out her arms, crucifix-like, and offers herself to Shutt. Taking a blanket in hand, Shutt covers the girl and sits her down on the bed. Later, Shutt tells Catera that the girl's highly sexual behavior is an indicator of past abuse. Catera counters that the girl needs something a hospital cannot provide: absolution.
Sara befriends a boy, Nathan, and the pair board an elevator containing McNeil and an orderly, who is transporting a body on a sheet-covered gurney. Shortly thereafter, a storm hits, plunging the hospital into darkness and trapping the foursome in the elevator.
Watters is injured when the storm hurls a huge piece of lattice through his office window. Despite this, Watters makes his way to the nurse's station and takes charge of the situation. With only one of two backup generators in operation, Watters instructs Wilkes to make his way to the basement and find out what's wrong.
Meanwhile, Austin locates the elevator where her daughter and the others are trapped. Austin promises to find an electrician who can extricate the group. Meanwhile, McNeil is put on the spot when the children, regarding the sheet-covered corpse, broach the subject of heaven. McNeil tells them that what's most important is what happens during life. As for heaven, McNeil tells the children the hereafter is all a matter of faith.
Wilkes makes his way to the darkened basement, where he discovers Scotty, an odd drunken man with a Scottish accent. Scotty tells Wilkes he's been a tea totaler his whole life. That ended when his wife of thirty-one years suddenly left him. Wilkes advises Scotty to apologize to his wife, as it is not a good idea for a man to live alone.
Austin tells Emmons about the computer's diagnosis. She decides to postpone surgery and increase the amount of beta blockers as part of treatment. But later, Emmons falls unconscious when his aneurysm ruptures. Austin rushes him to surgery and saves his life. Austin regrets not having trusted her instincts.
The girl manages to escape from her room in the psych ward. Shutt notices her silhouette behind a curtain. The girl, believing Shutt is a priest, describes how her mother, who solicited her as a prostitute to support her own heroin habit, demanded she seek an abortion when she became pregnant. The girl presses her hand against the curtain, and Shutt reaches out, making contact. Suddenly, a bright red blood trail forms between Shutt's hand and the girl's. Shutt yanks his hand away. He pulls open the curtain, and tells the girl, "I forgive you."
Later, Wilkes sticks a screwdriver into the electrical generator and is blown backward by a huge shower of sparks. He and Scotty recover from the jolt... and the electricity is restored.
Kronk to Watters regarding a staff
retreat.
"Vegas, Hawaii, a cruise maybe."
Watters :"A cruise?"
Kronk: "Yeah. What do you think?"
Watters: "All of us, stuck out at sea, together? It's a great
idea."
Kronk: "Things are that bad around here?
Watters: "Well, let's just say that Chicago Hope isn't exactly
the Love Boat."
Kronk: "So, does this mean that you think my idea about a
cruise for all of us is a good idea?"
Watters: "No, I still think it stinks. I mean, you want to be
stuck out at sea for 4 days with Kate...with Jack. No, I don't buy
it."
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