The Rookie

Sorry, did you say something?

No, you just... you were making a face.

Everything all right?

Yeah, yeah, totally.

It's just, um... well, Rodge wrote a new song about me.

I mean, he's so talented, and it's so beautiful,

and it's all...

- A little overwhelming? - Yeah.

I wish somebody was writing love songs about me.

The three of you are so happy, and my love life

is as cold as a frosted frog.

You're young, Penn.

There's plenty of time to find true happiness.

Yeah, or learn to love being alone.

All right, let's focus.

Just got out of a meeting with the brass,

and everyone is feeling the pinch.

Recruitment numbers are down. Retirement numbers are up.

Bottom line, prepare to work more OT

while the department manages staffing shortages

and we launch this new recruitment drive.

- Oh! - What's going on?

We won!

We won!

- Won what? - The lottery!

Shangri-La has been playing every week for 12 years.

We're rich, bitch!

Smitty out.

When did you say this recruitment drive was?

You should call in sick, hang out with me on my day off.

That would be a bad look on my first day back.

Oh, it'd be fine.

I mean, do you even have an official job yet?

No, and I'm trying so hard to be Zen about that.

My former position was perfect.

It's my own fault for taking a leave and going to D.C.

Any idea what Captain Fossett's gonna give you?

No, we're talking first thing this morning.

So what are you gonna do today?

I'm gonna find out how many naps is too many naps.

My plan is to do absolutely nothing.

Oh, you were gonna fix the drain in the shower.

Absolutely nothing except fix the drain in the shower.

Okay.

Though I know it's not my hair in there.

What was that?

I said, have a good day out there.

Okay.

I'm confused. I just voted for you.

Why are you two going to work?

Shouldn't you be doing the whole last-minute

- campaigning thing? - Uh, Rita wanted him to.

But we talked about it, and...

I'm gonna lose. Badly.

Rita gave us the latest poll numbers and then quit.

So rather than waste another minute on a failed campaign

that neither one of us enjoyed for a second,

we are "first day of the rest of our lives-ing" it.

Okay, well, I can't complain about having

my bestie back on the job.

Hey, why don't we do dinner tonight?

Just the four of us.

You're not gonna watch the returns?

No, there's no point.

I love you, loser.

I love you too.

You would have made an amazing DA.

Thanks.

Bye.

Vivian is gonna fire him the second she wins, isn't she?

- 100%. - Yeah.

All right, I'll be right in.

All right.

- What's up? - Hey.

Um, how would you feel about having a small gathering

at your house tonight?

Oh, what's the occasion?

Wesley tanking the DA race.

Is that cause for celebration?

No, but it is a time for friends

to get together and support each other no matter what.

Also, it needs to be a surprise or else they'll just

- try and talk me out of it. - Got it.

Yeah, sure, we can have it here.

Great. I will start a group chat.

All right, do you need me to...

and you hung up.

Here's what I love... the clear amount of industry

and effort that you've put in.

But?

But it is a little, you know, narrowly focused.

Join the LAPD, be a badass hero, protect the innocent.

It's reflective of your lived experience,

but it's not exactly reflective of the multitude

that is the LAPD.

Yeah.

All right, you're in charge of staffing this up.

What? Hold on, no, that's...

I was not trying to...

Mm.

Fine.

Penn, Juarez, you're on a special assignment today.

- What? Penn's still a rookie. - Exactly.

Who better to give insight to a recruit than someone

going through training?

Guys, get started. The paperwork's inside.

- Hey, how's it going? - Good.

Did the brass send you down here to help me

with the recruitment drive?

In a consulting capacity, and only if you need me.

So say you don't need me so I can go back to work.

- Ah! - Whoa, are you okay?

Yeah, I'm fine.

- Smitty. - What?

You quit.

No.

I took an unscheduled day off while I briefly submitted

my retirement papers.

But that's all done now.

Why? What happened?

Oh, they say I didn't kick in for my share of the ticket,

so I don't get my share of the payout.

But I'm always late with my tenner.

They know I'm good for it.

- Ah! - Oh, God, you are not okay.

Okay, Smitty, make yourself useful and get the lieutenant

- down to Saint Stephen. - No, no.

- I can drive myself. - No, you can't.

- But I can call an ambulance. - Or your wife?

- We can call your wife. - No, no. Definitely not.

Let's go, Smitty.

I do not wanna hear about your lottery situation.

No problem.

But I do have a teletherapy appointment starting in five,

so you might overhear a bit.

Good morning.

Oh, good morning. Come on in.

Thank you for being so understanding.

I know I left you in the lurch when I went to D.C.

All good.

So what do you have in store for me?

Well, obviously, your old job is gone.

But we do have a new class of paramedic recruits,

and I want you to train one.

You're giving me a rookie?

I am.

Oakley!

- Yes, sir? - This is Bailey Nune.

You'll be training with her.

Pleasure to meet you.

I'm eager to get started.

I've read everything there is to read on triage medicine,

not just in the U.S. but as far afield as Mumbai.

They published a fascinating study

12 days ago on emergency medicine

in high-density populations.

I'm can send you a link.

Do you read Hindi, by any chance?

Or do you need the English translation?

Good luck.

Officer in agony here.

Bed 11.

Oh, hell no. I changed my mind.

I'm fine, I'm fine.

Oh, what is going on?

He woke up with a stabbing pain in his lower back.

And it hurts when he pees.

- Smitty! - What?

I could hear you cursing from outside the station bathroom.

Oh, God.

Wait, you're that doctor.

- You're the one... oh! - Smitty!

Get out of here, now.

Back to the station.

Yes, sir.

Good luck.

I'm the doctor that what?

Like you don't know.

I really don't, but you know what?

That can wait till we figure out what is going on with you.

No, I want a different doctor.

I am the only one who's free right now.

I'll wait.

- You sure? - Yeah.

Okay.

Please tell me you haven't napped yet,

and that you haven't forgotten to fix the bathroom drain.

No, of course not.

I, uh, just called to see where you were assigned.

I got a rookie.

I knew you secretly wanted to be me.

I've never trained anyone before.

It's my first day back, and this kid is kind of green.

So are you looking for some tips?

Would you come meet us,

give a first-blush eval and maybe a few pointers?

Yes, of course, but it's gonna cost you.

I should hope so.

I gotta go.

All right, looking forward to...