Daily Updates

From: Justene Adamec <Justene@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: PC: Tuesday, June 17, 1997
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 1997 10:30:16 -0700

Update Tuesday June 17, 1997

Preliminary Notes

I almost had to start this update with "my dog ate my notes."
Fortunately the dog had only crumpled them and hid them behind the
couch.

Two weeks ago, I was stuck with the joined-at-the-hip FBI agents who
conveniently left together to allow Kevin and Lucy time alone.  (I
suppose it was not too bad if you believe that the ends justify the
means).

This update, I get Clem, the unknown doctor on the review board, added
so that someone can say mean (though justified) things to the interns.
After all, we could not have one of our regulars say such things.

No flashbacks today, which was a welcome surprise since we were
discussing what had happened during Audrey's surgery.

Now on with the Update . . .

The show opens with Eve, Julie, Matt, Chris and Jake waiting in what
appears to be the anteroom of the conference/hearing room. They make
generally idle chit chat. Clem, the token non-regular doctor, walks by
and they comment on how miserable Clem looks.  Matt comments that he is
surprised that they got a call last night to meet today.  Chris reminds
us all that he was against the operation from the start. (This one-note
storyline is getting old.  Let's get back to that stolen file.)

Outside what-appears-to-be-the-anteroom in what appears to be the hall,
Joe and Frank are talking.  Dr. Burgess passes by and Frank wishes her
"good morning."  Joe does not, prompting another lecture from Frank on
being the good cooperative intern.  Joe is uninterested in the lecture.
He wants to know where Karen is.  Instead of Karen, Mom rushes up,
complaining that they did not tell her about the hearing and she had to
hear it from "that stuck-up nurse on 5."  (Take your pick on who that
could be but personally, I like picturing Rebecca Chase in the role.)
The boys explain that one of the doctors was leaving for a month and it
was either sooner or much later.  Joe is glad it is sooner.

Mary says "here come the Quartermaines" . . . and with an eye roll, she
adds "like no one ever sat in judgment on them."  (You go, girl!)  The
Quartermaines consist of Alan and Monica and their new cousins, Lee
Baldwin and Tony Jones. Alan exchanges pleasantries with the family as
the four head into the hearing.  Frank asks Mary to leave so he can talk
to Joe.  she does, offering to go pray the rosary for them.  (Between
you, me and the RATSA fencepost, I love having a Catholic family on the
show.  I was feeling underrepresented since the Cerillos left.)  Mary
leaves and Frank continues his lecture.

Cut to Lucy and Scott, and Lucy is being Lucy about giving Scott his
antibiotics.  She sits on the couch and says that she wants to tell
Kevin the truth.  Scott tells her that they have made a deal and she
can't tell Kevin anything.  Lucy argues that Kevin has a great mind and
they should include him to take advantage of it.  Scott tells her that
Kevin wouldn't let her go (to meet the woman who called yesterday and
suspiciously asked her to return for a new blood test) if he knew she
was being set up.  After a small dramatic pause, Scott adds "I wouldn't
either."  Lucy seems a little taken aback and says "well, finally you
agree on something."  Taking advantage of the new softened mood, Scott
says "you're pregnant and in love with this guy, so I'll understand if
you want to back out . . . but I want you to do it."
This wins Lucy over and she agrees.  Then, remembering that despite
their great acting and remarkable chemistry, this is still a soap, Scott
says "remember, we don't tell Kevin anything, agreed?"  and Kevin walks
in and says "tell me what?"

Dramatic cut to the credits

When we return, they try to convince him that they were talking about a
Macarena number for the Nurse's Ball.  Demonstrating his great mind,
Kevin doesn't believe him.

Karen, missing at the review board, walks in.  She expresses concern
about his health.  She then tells him that she's called every lawyer on
his list but none can represent Joe.  He says that he'll find her
another one.  She explains that the review board meeting has been moved
to this morning and, hinting broadly, she wonders if he knows anyone who
can drop everything and do it.  Scott doesn't but he's sure Lucy knows a
lawyer.  Karen declines the offer because she has to get to the review
board now.

Sure enough, we cut to the review board meeting which is starting now.
All of the interns and frank are in the room with Alan, Monica, Lee and
Clem.  Alan announces that if Joe acted wrongly, he can be terminated.
They move to the first witness, Tony, who explains that immediate action
is necessary with the type of injury Audrey had.  Lee asks "how
immediate?" and Tony indicates that it is hard to tell in hindsight but
it could have been minutes.  Monica asks what would have happened if Joe
didn't act and Tony says that Audrey could have died.  Tony then shows
them the precise surgeon's drill and explains its precise use and tells
them that Joe used a power drll with a 1/2 inch bit.  Clem makes some
snide remark about killing mosquitos with large weapons and Joe jumps
up.  Alan silences Joe.  tony continues that there was was a second
surgery to correct minor arterial bleeds and that he can't tell if those
were caused by Joe.

Frank wants to know if he can ask a question. I said no, but Alan said
he could if it was relevant.  Frank asks whether that operation,
performed under the power failure, didn't require improvising also.
Then Clem intervenes and points out all the advantages that Tony had
(like the sterile environment) and asks " were the dangers comparable?"
Tony indicates that they weren't.
In response to a question from Monica, Tony says that audrey is
stabilized, there's no permanent disability and he expects a full
recovery.  Alan wants to know want Tony would have done.  After hemming
and hawing and trying to completely evade the question, he gives only a
partially evasive answer: Doctors can't plan for these things they have
to let their training take over and hope that their decision was the
right one.

Back at the lighthouse, Scott is chiding himself for not knowing a
lawyer that could help.  He comments on Karen's interest in Joe (gee,
was it that obvious?) and asks where Jagger is.  Speaking for all of us,
Lucy responds "good question."

Kevin gets ready to leave and see his father.  He offers to take Lucy to
the lab test.  Lucy declines.  He asks her to see him afterwards.
Completely rattled by the fact that she is lying to him, Lucy responds
inappropriately and asks "why?"  Kevin says "so I know everything is
ok."  She agrees and Kevin leaves.  Lucy hates lying to Kevin.  Scott
hates not being able to do anything for Serena.  Lucy comments quietly
that he has two daughters.

Back at the review board, it is the interns' chance to testify.  We
start with Chris, who says that Joe's actiions took a lot of nerve.
Monica asks if that is meant to be a derogatory comment.  Chris then
launches into his I told you so speech.  Lee points out that quick
action was necessary.  Chris tells them that they were rescued in an
hour. Lee points out that that they didn't know that.  Karen, over Lee's
shoulder (apparently just arriving), glares at Chris.  He quickly tries
to cover saying that the gunman forced the operation.  Joe leans over
and tells Frank that Chris is lying (and look, we didn't even need a
flashback to prove that).  Chris reverts back into CYA mode and ends
that he protested, but everyone was inflamed.  He decided he had "no
control over the group dynamic" and backed out.

In a scene I can't do justice to on paper, Mary is in a room talking to
an unknown confidant.  She moans about how Joe's hopes and dreams are in
cold doctor's hands now.  She explains about how Frank sacrificed so
much to put Joe through medical school only to see it come to this.  She
talks about her faith and how deeply she believes but sopmetimes it
seems as if god is not listening.  We then pan to the other person in
the room -- Audrey.  (I was surprised.  I thought we'd see Gail or the
hospital chaplain.)  Audrey says " maybe he's busy somewhere else.  What
can I do?"  Mary tells her she's being a friend just by listening.  Mary
just wanted to let her know what was going on.  Audrey is glad Mary did.

Back to Karen at the Review Board.  He comes right out and says that
Chris was lying about the gunman but they had to do it because she would
have died otherwise.  Clem interrupts and asked when she became an
expert.  Lee tells Clem that sarcasm is unnecessary.  Karen launches
into an emotional speech about how wonderful Joe was and is.  then she
confesses that she assisted and is equally guilty or responsible.  With
lovestruck eyes, Joe shakes his head to tell her to stop.  Matt rolls
forward to the table and also admits helping by finding the
equipment,sterilizing, and advising on the position of the burr holes.
Jake says he also assisted.  Julie says she would have assisted but her
hands were too unsterile.  Eve is silent and Julie glares at her.  the
board excuses themselves, apparently having just learned for the first
time of the others' involvement.  As they leave, Monica whispers to Alan
"there goes this year's class.  Joe tells his classmates that they
didn't have to do that and they tell him to shut up and be grateful (in
a nice way).  The board returns and says that the testimpony has made
the decsion more complicated and they'll have to get back to them.  Just
then Scotty walks in.

Lucy is outside two labs wondering if it was Lab A or Lab B that she was
supposed to go to.  Then she hears Serena singing.  She rushes into the
darkened empty lab, calling Serena.  Serena just keeps singing "London
Bridge."  Lucy stops, turns, moves some supplies and finds the tape.  As
she reaches for it, one gloved hand grabs the tape and another grabs
Lucy around the neck.