Perception

Subs created by: David Coleman.

Kate: Her name's Kendra Murphy.

At 3:00 A.M. this morning, she walked into a Swift-Mart

with a live grenade and demanded a pack of cigarettes.

The clerk was terrified.

He gave her the smokes and ran out of there.

She pulled the pin, blew the place sky high.

- Was anybody hurt? - No, thank God.

Where on Earth did she get a grenade?

She took her thumb out of her mouth long enough

to give me her name, rank, and serial number.

Look at this.

Specialist Kendra Murphy, Illinois National Guard.

Two tours of duty in Afghanistan.

- Did she see any combat? - Yeah, you could say that.

President of The United States awards the Silver Star...

To specialist Kendra Murphy for gallantry in action against an armed enemy.

She's a genuine war hero.

She ran straight into enemy fire, blew up a Taliban position,

then dragged two soldiers out of harm's way.

Extreme Hyperorality could indicate damage to the temporal lobes.

Yeah, I thought maybe she'd suffered some form of traumatic brain injury,

but according to her service record, she didn't get so much as a scratch.

Well, just because her record doesn't show it doesn't mean

she wasn't exposed to a bomb blast that rattled her skull.

Thousands of soldiers are coming home with undiagnosed T.B.I.S. it's an epidemic.

Do you still keep that bag of toxic refined-sugar products at your desk?

Got something for you.

Oh, no, you don't want... don't... you don't... here.

You don't want to eat that.

Let me get something else.

First, you have to answer a question.

Do you know where you are?

In jail.

Not exactly, but...

You are under arrest.

Do you know why you're here?

Because I took the smokes.

Weren't you worried that you'd get hurt when you set off that grenade?

Kendra, were you afraid at all?

You are hot.

I got a motel room.

- You want to get out of here? - I don't think that's appropriate.

I, uh... I really want to have sex with you.

If you don't want to talk to me now, I can come back later.

Why don't you want to have sex with me?

Don't you think I'm pretty?

Your wife is suffering from a Neurobehavioral disorder

known as Kluver-Bucy syndrome.

The compulsive sexual behavior,

oral fixation, lack of fear, and mood swings are all symptoms.

How did she get it?

From a virus that's causing her brain to swell, it's known as encephalitis.

But you can cure her, right?

The encephalitis was caused by the herpes virus, type 2.

There's no cure, but there are treatments.

- Herpes? - Sometimes it can travel to the brain.

She's on anti-virals, and the inflammation's

already started to go down, so that's a good sign.

And she's also on mood stabilizers for her behavioral issues.

When did you first notice your wife acting strangely?

When she first comes back from the war.

She's all skittish.

She jumps if I so much as touch her.

And then she starts going out at night, so I follow her.

She's picking up guys in bars and banging them at some sleazy motel, I...

I guess I shouldn't be surprised she caught herpes.

To be clear, I believe it's the herpes that caused your wife's hyper sexuality.

She didn't get it from me.

We were virgins when we got married.

I was always faithful to her.

I've tried to convince her to get help, and then one night she goes out...

She never comes back.

And that was a month ago.

I don't even know who she is anymore.

I just want my wife back.

You expect me to drop the charges because she caught an STD?

Kendra needs Neurological treatment, not jail.

Look, if you were coming to me saying that she had been shot in the head

by the Taliban, then maybe I could justify dropping the charges, but...

What difference does it make how she got sick?

She's a decorated war vet.

I spoke to her ob/gyn.

Kendra was screened for STDs a week before deployment. She tested negative.

So, she obviously picked it up in Afghanistan.

Maybe I could use that.

But she blew up a convenience store with a grenade.

I would be going way out on a limb.

You don't want to be the guy who prosecutes a war hero with Neurological problems.

Come on, Donnie.

Do the right thing.

Donnie: While bravely serving her country as part of Operation Enduring Freedom,

specialist Murphy developed a Neurological disorder

that her doctors believe triggered her recent erratic behavior.

So at this time, the U.S. Attorney's office is deferring prosecution,

so she can receive treatment at the V.A. hospital.

I would urge everyone to give specialist Murphy and her husband their privacy.

It's the least we can do for a genuine American hero.

- Thank you. -

Got to admit, I think I might be a little bit proud of you.

You want to grab a bite?

Oh, um... rain check?

Sure.

Miranda: D.J.?

Miranda? What...

- What the hell are you doing here? - Nice to see you, too.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to put it that way.

I'm teaching a few master classes. I'm gonna be here for a few weeks.

Huh.

Uh, your... your last album was...

Was wonderful, by the way.

You bought it?

My T.A. made me a tape.

Still rocking the walkman, I see.

You know, I have a few dates coming up with the Chicago symphony. I'd...

Be happy to comp you a few tickets.

I'm not great with crowds.

Oh.

Uh, well, are you busy now? I'd love to buy you a cup of coffee.

I can't do caffeine.

You used to live on black coffee and Jolt Cola.

I'm sorry, I'm just... I'm just really... I'm really busy at the moment.

Okay.

Well, it was nice to see you.

[Simple Minds' Don't You Forget About Me plays]

Young Daniel: Miranda.

D.J. hey.

What's wrong?

Um...

I got this today.

University of Music and Performing Arts.

Vienna.

I auditioned last year before we started going out, so...

It's like a...

- Summer program? - No.

I'd be transferring there in the fall.

- So, are you gonna go? - I don't know yet.

I was gonna go home this weekend to see what my parents have to say, but...

Hey.

You redeeming that rain check?

Remember last week when I was, uh...

Proud of you for doing the right thing?

Yeah.

Turns out it may not have been the right thing after all.

I found her with the body, blood all over her hands.

221st. That's Kendra's unit.

They must have served together.

Terrific. I cut her loose, and she kills an old Army buddy.

Guess they weren't buddies.

Thanks for the heads up on Miranda.

Miranda who?

You mean your old college sweetheart? The one that got away? That Miranda?

You could have warned me she was here to teach some classes.

I'm not The Dean of the music school. How the hell was I supposed to know?

So, how is she, anyway?

I don't know. Fine, I guess. I spoke to her for all of 30 seconds.

I mean how does she look?

Gorgeous.

- You gonna go for it? - You got to be kidding me.

I haven't seen her since the day of our very unpleasant breakup.

I'm sure she wouldn't be the slightest bit interested.

Daniel, that was a million years ago. I'm sure she's over it by now.

I don't know.

Look, if this is about your diagnosis, maybe she already knows.

It's not exactly a state secret anymore.

Hey, Doc? Uh, Kate just called. She says they're ready for you downtown.

Dean Haley?

My client is innocent.

She was found standing over Larry McPhee's body with blood on her hands.

Kendra's been on her meds for seven days.

According to her doctors, her behavior's stabilized.

- She's not a threat to anyone. - Mr. Gennaro, I'm feeling better.

I can speak for myself.

Tell me what happened last night.

I was in my... my hospital room when Larry called.

And he told me he was in the parking lot.

He said he couldn't come up and see me because visiting hours were over.

But he said he needed to talk.

About what?

He wouldn't say on the phone, but he said it was really important, so...

So I went down to meet him, and...

And I found him like that.

And there was so much blood, you know, I tried to stop it.

Colonel: I saw this kind of thing after Dunkirk.

Shell shock.

Battle fatigue.

What kind of a country sends Dames out to fight its battles, anyway?

Not that there's any point in engaging in a cultural debate with one of

my hallucinations, but don't you think a little respect is in order?

She's a decorated soldier.

I'm not gonna listen to a lecture about respect

from some pinko liberal college Professor.

We know you've had several sexual partners since you returned home.

- Was Larry McPhee one of them? - No.

I haven't seen Larry since Afghanistan.

Did the two of you have an affair while you were serving together?

No. I would never do that.

I'd keep my eyes on this little honey.