Saving Hope

My, uh, building is this way.

My destination is this way, as well.

- Really? - Yeah.

Is it the Thai grocer or the comic-book store?

Well, yeah, it's the comics.

- Right. - That... that's hot, yeah?

You know, I should have said Thai grocer.

Then you would have thought I was an excellent Thai chef.

Yeah, but then we would have gotten caught in a situation

where we had to prove it.

And I have you over for dinner one night,

and then there's empty Thai containers in the garbage

and we're done before we've even had a chance kind of thing?

I'm sorry, uh, Charlie has Luke.

Actually, it's my security system.

Just a second.

Hello?

You're kidding.

Okay, I'll be right there.

The alarm in my apartment's going off,

so I just need to...

- I-I'll come with you. Yeah. - Okay.

- Forget to close it? - I'm a surgeon.

I don't forget to close things.

There used to be a really gaudy statue there.

It's gone.

Hello?

Oh, thank God.

That thing could wake the dead.

Mom.

Oh, I have been meaning to come and help pitch in

ever since you told me that you and Charlie split.

A-And I'm gonna need the alarm code.

Wait, what are you doing?

Well, I-I thought

that everything that belongs to Charlie

could just go in those boxes.

Why?

Because the place is a man cave.

We need to get it looking like Alex again.

- Mm-hmm. - Where's Luke?

Uh, he is with Charlie.

Oh, and, uh, Mom, this is Emmanuel.

Emmanuel, this is my mom, Martha.

Lovely to meet you, Martha.

Well, look at you... already back up on that horse.

- The apple doesn't fall far. - Mother.

I should go.

Oh, no, no. This can work out.

Look, I'll just go and crash in the bedroom

while you two heat up, and then when you're ready,

I'll just come out here and scooch onto the couch.

Oh, my God, Mom.

Stop. Please, please, I beg you.

Okay, I am so sorry.

Um... tomorrow.

I'll see you tomorrow morning.

- Okay? - Yeah.

I'm sorry.

It's okay.

Are you cooking?

I wish Luke was here.

He needs to taste my special pancakes.

You may blossom in grandmotherhood after all.

Oh, come on.

I made pancakes for you kids.

Only if you were still up,

and then I had to listen to drunk life advice

from all of your unemployed poet friends.

Did you know that most of those guys are almost all dead now?

Well, you come in like a hurricane.

Yes, well... but it'll be worth it.

When I turn this place into the palace that I never gave you

when you were a little girl.

Okay, listen, I know what you're trying to do,

but we haven't really seen each other in years.

But we said that's gonna change, right?

I've never been the palace type.

No, you're not.

You're my brilliant surgeon daughter.

You got that way without any help from me.

So let me take some of the pressure off.

Now.

Let me look after my grandson.

Just while you're going through this breakup thing.

Luke's in day care at the hospital.

Not today, he isn't.

Today, he's got adventures with Grandma.

Are you sure you're okay, Mom?

I'm clean and serene.

Just celebrated two years.

You still going to meetings?

Like a girl scout.

I don't know.

Alex, honey. I got this.

Eat a pancake.

Cassie, you busy girl.

Your name's been on half my surgeries.

I worked my ass off to earn every one of those cases.

I'm sure you have.

Oh.

I mean, thank you, Dr. Harris.

I hope things are going well with you.

Mm.

Hey.

Maybe not.

- Hi. - Hey.

Cassie, we've got a consult in the ER. You want to meet me there?

Yeah. Got it.

Actually, I don't think I need another coffee.

Okay. I'll see you on rounds.

Hi.

Um...

my mom's in town.

She's gonna take Luke for a few hours today.

- He's in day care. - I signed him out.

You sure that's a good idea?

I'm trying to let her back in.

Hi. How are you?

Swimming in surgeries.

Don't get me wrong, I love it.

You didn't have anything to do with these, did you?

Are you working with Dr. Harris today?

I am. Why?

Well, I need to appoint an Interim Chief.

Dr. Harris ran a tight ship before his accident.

Have you heard why he didn't reclaim his position

after he recovered?

No.

And I can't report on people for you.

Do you want to be liked, or do you want to be respected?

Hmm, I'll take both, please.

You know, Cassie, you're on the fast track

to being named Chief Resident.

Oh. That's good.

And some jobs require making hard choices

and saying things that people don't want to hear.

You mean like your decision to shut down the ER

and remove Dr. Bell from Chief of Surgery?

A hospital isn't a place for someone

who can't separate the personal from the professional.

So. Dr. Harris.

Is he my new Chief?

He's definitely unorthodox.

Like, um... Jackson Pollock.

A-A surgeon who's like Jackson Pollock?

Say more things.

Uh, unconventional but brilliant.

Without all the splatter.

I got to go.

Morning.

Sleeping with the enemy?

You were the one who wanted to keep things casual between us.

You think I'm jealous?

Your new boyfriend is shutting down the ER today.

He's not my boyfriend, and he's making

an unemotional decision that benefits the hospital.

This was the best Level 1 trauma center in the city.

That's why I came here.

That's why you came here.

After today, we're only doing electives, so congrats.

All your cozying up

will make you Chief Resident of Tummy Tucks.

I'm not jealous, Cassie.

I'm pissed off.

And you're feeling better,

which is a good indication the drug is working.

I walked all the way to the hospital today.

That's a very good sign.

Kelly Clarkson blaring in my iPod.

Which is a less good sign...

of your questionable taste in music.

I never thought walking would be the marker for a good day.

- Baby steps to a full recovery. - You think so?

Let's just say I'm optimistic

that we're gonna see great results today.

From your lips to God's ears.

Although, if I get those good results,

I don't know who I'm gonna share 'em with.

What do you mean?

Well...

my parents pretty much abandoned me when I came out.

Violet's gone.

You know, some of the women in the study...

they've got really little kids.

Sometimes I get this feeling that it's like...

more important that they live

because it actually matters to someone else if they do.

Mnh-mnh.

All that matters is that you all live.

And you matter to me.

Wow.

They are really taking apart your ER.

I'm tentatively positive.

I can't afford not to be.

Still paying spousal support, huh?

Two mortgages. Tutors. Rep Hockey.

- Then long live Urgent Care. - Uh-huh.

Where's Dawn? I haven't seen her today.

Oh.