Carol's Second Act

316 is stable, 405 was discharged, no one pushed

an ultrasound machine down the stairs...

That was one time, and it was an accident.

So it looks like you guys might actually get out on time.

Yes! Caleb got us an invite

to go drinking with the OB-GYN interns.

You can imagine the possibilities.

Well, I'm leaving this conversation.

This is great news... I'll be able to make my date with Jenny.

- It's finally happening. - Mm.

What's finally happening?

Yeah, Daniel, what's finally happening tonight?

Um, I'm... finally going to a basketball game.

- I've never been. - (GASPS)

Really? Oh, it's fun!

You drink beer and try to get on the jumbotron.

Ooh, you should do the floss.

It's really in right now.

Yep, that's exactly how you do that.

Thank you.

So, you going with friends?

Yeah, yeah, an old college buddy.

Steve.

Tall. Big beard.

: Carol, however big you're picturing this beard,

I promise you, it's bigger.

You know me well, Daniel.

I was picturing a small beard.

Hey, guys?

You might want to cool it on the evening plans.

I just got a call from the ER.

Jake's on his way up.

No! He always does this.

Just as we start to think we're gonna have an early night,

Bad News Jake shows up with a buzzer-beater patient

- and we're here for an extra two hours. - (ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)

Be nice to Jake. He's just doing his job.

- Hey, Jake! - Uh-huh.

Aw.

How's our favorite ER doctor?

ALL (FLATLY): Hey, Jake.

You don't have to do that.

I know no one likes me.

Even my dog looks disappointed when I get home.

Just a heads-up... I'm sending up a patient,

24-year-old female with sepsis due to a UTI.

When you evaluate her, see if you think she'll need the ICU.

I could take her, but then I'd have to miss my basketball game.

Oh, don't do that.

You haven't been.

Yeah, send her up.

- I'll admit the patient. Thanks.

No. Thank you, Jake, for all your hard work.

Oh, no problem.

It's all I have.

All right, bye, everyone.

Dr. Gilani.

Okay.

Bye, Jake.

Always great to see you.

That's the size of beard I was picturing.

I'm glad you decided to come in, Amanda.

People don't take UTIs seriously.

But nobody can stop talking about gluten.

I can't believe I let it get this bad.

My roommates just told me to drink cranberry juice.

Your roommates don't sound like doctors.

One of them teaches hot yoga, and one of them's a witch.

You'd think a witch would come up with something better

than cranberry juice.

She's not a great witch.

Well,

you're stable at the moment, but I think you would benefit

from a little closer observation,

so I asked Nurse Dennis to call up

and have you transferred to the ICU.

- Uh, Dr. Kenney? - Mm-hmm?

- Can I have a minute? - Sure.

Bad news.

I spoke to Dr. Mehta in the ICU.

She won't accept your patient.

She said they don't have space.

Well, that's weird,

'cause we took one of their patients this morning.

Maybe they got some more admits from the ER.

Or maybe she's blocking.

Blocking? What's blocking?

Blocking is when doctors try

to keep a patient out of their ward

because they want to avoid the work.

That's a person in there, not an extra unit of work.

I don't believe that our ICU is capable of blocking.

It's in their name... not only do they care,

they care intensively.

And I'm telling you, blocking is real.

Really real.

Friday... at 5:00,

Carol, it is block o'clock.

I'm gonna talk to Dr. Mehta.

There must be some miscommunication.

I'm really happy we're finally doing this.

It was worth the wait.

Oh, no.

Oh, no.

Okay, it's a big restaurant.

He probably won't even see us.

Hello, you two.

: Oh, hey, Dr. Frost!

I love this place.

Yep.

It is cozy. Mmm.

Um, I'm waiting for a friend,

but I brought a book... so don't mind me.

Fun fact for the future:

this place is very popular with senior doctors.

Well, I'm glad I know that.

Yeah.

Now.

Hi. I'm looking for Dr. Mehta.

- You found her. - Oh.

- Oh. Cute earrings. - Oh, thank you.

Family heirloom.

I stole them from my ex-husband's mother.

Can't beat that price.

- How can I help you? - Well, I'm Dr. Kenney.

I called about a patient. You refused to accept the transfer.

Female, 24, septic.

Oh, yes, I remember.

She was hypotensive but saturating well on room air.

In my opinion, she doesn't require intensive care.

Yeah, well, in my opinion,

the way she's trending concerns me.

Well, she's still borderline. Have you given her more fluids?

Yes, of course. And I know I'm just an intern...

I'm sorry.

You're an intern?

: Yeah.

I know. I look a little older than your average intern.

You look decades older.

Which is why I thought you were an attending.

And normally, an intern wouldn't have

the audacity to come up here and argue with me.

Well, I'll take that as a compliment.

- Well, don't. - Well, I already did. Thank you.

We're full. We don't have any beds to spare.

Now, why don't you get on that elevator

and hippity-hop back down to your patient

like a good little intern.

"Hippity-hop"?

Yes. Boop, boop, boop. Off you go.

What if he tells someone he saw us on a date?

Should we ask him to keep it quiet?

: Hey.

: Dr. Frost?

Your secret is safe with me.

Wait, how did you know what we were gonna say?

I was in my 20s once.

Also, we're sitting two feet apart,

and the music's not very loud.

- Well, thanks for being so cool. - (CHUCKLES)

You'll have more privacy

once my colleague shows up.

He was so nice.

Should we invite him to sit with us?

At least until his friend gets here?

You're sweet. Do you want to tell him, or me?

No, you go ahead.

Well, it was your nice idea.

I'd be delighted.

Dr. Jacobs.

Oh, no. This feels like a thing.

Dr. Jacobs, it weighs heavily on my heart

to levy an accusation such as this.

But I believe that Dr. Mehta

is putting her own workload over the welfare of my patient.

I don't know if you're familiar with this term,

but she is blocking.

I know Dr. Mehta.

We were in the same intern class.

And that is a serious accusation.

I doubt that it's true.

But when I went to speak with her, she...

You did what? Interns do not go over

their chief resident's heads and run around the hospital

questioning other doctors' decisions.

Of course. I would never question her.

I just asked her some questions.

If Dr. Mehta refused to admit, I'm sure she had her reasons.

Well...

she did say there weren't any beds.

Well, that strikes me as a good reason, Dr. Kenney.

You need to apologize to Dr. Mehta.

Okay. I have some very nice stationery,

- and I will write her... - In person!

Hi. I'm, uh, looking for Dr. Mehta.

She just left for dinner.

- Would you like to leave a message? - Yes.

Tell her Dr. Kenney sends her apologies.

I'll follow up with a note.

I have some very nice stationery,