The Knick

Evening.

You?

You know, it would be nice if for just once in my life

a lady wasn't disappointed to see me.

Climb in the back.

Hyah!

Is it much further?

We'll be there in no time.

I'd like to know exactly where it is we're going.

I'm not gonna say.

Don't you worry. It's safe.

None of your fancy society types

will be taking an evening stroll anywhere nearby.

But it wouldn't matter.

I've had more than my fair share of your type needing my services.

- Makes sense. - In what way?

Well, matters of the flesh.

Don't really matter how fancy the table is you're sitting at.

Everyone gets hungry.

With the amount of time you rich ladies spend making yourself pretty,

it's no surprise someone wanted to put that to good use.

Men, they want what they want when they want it.

Then you all come to Cleary for the fix.

Hyah.

You promised it wasn't you who'd perform it.

You can relax. It ain't me.

It's better.

This ain't the place for joking, Cleary.

It ain't no joke, I swear.

She's a paying customer like all the rest.

You're the...

Yes, I'm the one who does it.

You don't want this rhinoceros doing it, do you?

But you're...

And you're a pretty, proper virgin on the cusp of her wedding day.

We're friends, Harry.

You could have told me.

So could you.

But then neither of us could, could we?

This is where you leave, Tom.

Ah!

Could have done without him in the middle of this.

Never wanted him there in the first place.

You don't have to do this.

Yes, I do.

You'll be married soon.

You can tell anyone who can count to nine

that it happened on your wedding night.

I'll be your midwife and vouch for the baby coming early.

No, this has to happen here tonight.

I can only find the courage to ask for this just so many times.

At least talk to Phillip about it.

He may see things differently.

I'll get you through it as quick as I can, little daughter.

A tumor has amassed at the base of the skull

which is the cause of the patient's terrible pain.

By trephining,

I hope to relieve some of that pressure.

As you can see, my assessment is correct

as the brain's fluid is immediately being forced out through the opening.

Syringe.

In order to keep the intracranial pressure at bay,

it is my opinion

that the hole I've just created

should remain open even after the operation.

And now on to the tumor.

Surgical knife.

This is our surgical preparation room.

Good afternoon, Doctors.

Good afternoon, Dr. Zinberg.

Taking a tour of our old gal?

She's been through quite a few battles,

but we've managed to keep her afloat.

Isn't that right, Thack?

Dr. Zinberg is making the rounds at all of the city's hospitals.

He's hoping to promote greater cooperation between the surgeons.

Curiously, I found our New York brethren

much less willing than my previous ones in Chicago.

Well, I think that's changing, thanks to you.

My father and I recently sat in on

the pulmonary abscess procedure you did

on your last visit to New York Hospital.

He used what looked like this impossible suture

on both layers of the parietal.

It was very, very impressive.

Dr. Zinberg has agreed to perform a surgery for us here at the Knick.

Really? Who invited him?

Mr. Habershorn from the board.

Seems they've heard wonderful things from Dr. Zinberg's patron,

Mr. Loeb, and wanted us to see for ourselves.

Well, you must remind me to send Mr. Habershorn a note.

Well, you'll be a hard act to follow, Dr. Thackery.

Your choice of leaving the skull open

is intriguing.

I've always been a believer in osteoplasty,

but this contradicts that.

Well, time will tell if my contradiction is correct.

Well, naturally, there are foreseeable complications.

I'd like to try it out on my next tumor patient.

Modify it.

Perhaps we can share our findings.

If that's all right with you, of course.

No, it's not.

Physicians and other disciplines

believe the mind is not a place where sickness can fester,

but I assure you it can.

This way, please.

Disorders of the mind must not be treated casually.

Indeed, we must be aggressive

if our patients are to improve, hmm?

Of course, Dr. Cotton.

Step in.

I'm grateful for you taking on my wife.

Well, it came at the request

of our teacher Dr. Meyer at Johns Hopkins.

There's no man I more admire.

Henry.

Whatever the cost, our families are willing to pay it.

I want the best possible care for Eleanor.

Oh, well, she's receiving it.

Please.

Eleanor, you have a visitor.

Hello, sweetheart.

Eleanor.

Eleanor, it's me, Everett.

- Everett. - In God's name...

What in the hell happened?

It's all part of the treatment.

- We pulled all of her teeth. - Why?

My research has shown conclusively that all mental disorders

stem from disease and infection polluting the brain.

So, the teeth and gums are havens for bacteria and sepsis.

Thus to cure the patient, we must rid the body of all sites of infection.

But her teeth? She is a beautiful woman.

Who has gone mad.

Now, you must see this as a kindness.

Her teeth had to go.

I believe in this treatment so strongly

that I have removed my own children's teeth as a preventative measure.

So this is common practice?

It is not generally accepted.

My colleagues thus far choose to remain in the Dark Ages,

but I'm confident when my results come in,

they'll soon adopt my technique.

- Then it's been effective? - Not as yet.

But we've only begun to attack the sites of infection.

I think her tonsils and adenoids will have to come out.

And if that fails to bring improvement,

her colon will have to go as well.

Fuck. Fuck.

Jesus.

Get off him, Junia.

Fuck.

That's more than I expected from you, Herm.

But what I got in my pocket

is less than I expected from you.

You missed a payment again.

I thought after the favor I did you at the hospital...

You don't miss a payment!

I made that clear, you dim fuck.

And then you come to my place

and blow money on whores?

I just wanted to see my girl.

She's my girl.

They're all my girls!

And that was my money

you spent to plug my girl.

Show him a blue burner, Jimmy.

- No, no, no, no. - Take 'em away!

Or I'll give you 10 like you won't forget.

Please. Ah!

Oh, fuck.

Nothing breaks a man like a good cock punch.

Seen it kill a fella once.

Your change purse seems to be holding its own, though, Herm.

But it's swelling.

To the size of a billposter's bucket.

I'm tacking on a grand for being late

and doubling your rate for it being a repeated offense.

I'll get some ice.

Stir that gravy, Duchess.

Don't want the sugar in there to candy up.

Yes, ma'am.

Joella, take that turkey out, but don't carve it yet.

That meat needs to rest.

Algie, you come to help your mama?

Oh, I'd only get in the way.

Don't let him fool you, girls.

This boy can cook as good as his mama taught him to.

Glazes a ham better than any of them chefs over in Paris.

Thought I'd come by a little early for the lunch today.

Is Cornelia out of her room yet?

Woke up feeling bad. Been sitting in the parlor.

Girl has the wedding jitters if you ask me.

I'll check on her.

Always so considerate.

No one can see in.

They can all see in.

Are you...

are you all right?