Our episode opens with a very rare shot of Kerry Weaver’s home life. She is sitting at a table with HENRY...at last! Condoleezza Rice is playing on the television set and Kerry and Courtney are talking. The telephone rings and Courtney answers it. She hands the phone to Kerry. It’s a television News Director from Miami.

Cut to the ER admit desk where Morris is arguing with someone on the telephone. He is asking why he would need 2 ipods and 3 x-boxes? Says his credit card was declined. Malik tells him he needs to dial back on the escort service. Morris says that since he bought the Beemer (BMW) he has been on a very tight budget. Ben circles the desk and asks Sam why she needs his help. She says she needs to move some things to her new place and heard that he has a truck. He tells her he only helps if people feed him. She says that can be arranged. Gates and Sarah swing into the admit area cruising on an IV pole. Sarah is going to be shadowing Gates today...... something he cleared with Kovac and Weaver....but not Pratt. Sarah says that he must be the guy that is always riding Uncle Tony....like a bull in heat. Pratt asks her what else ‘Uncle Tony’ has said about him. She replies the rest she is not allowed to say. Pratt tells him to have her sign a confidentiality form and that if she gets hurt it’s all on Gates. Sarah and Sam trade compliments....Sarah’s hat and Sam’s necklace, a gift from Alex.

Cut to the El steps and sidewalk. Courtney is telling Kerry that the job in Miami is a HUGE opportunity. She would be doing daily health spots in a morning show there. Kerry says that she is not interested in leaving Chicago...her friends ...or Henry’s preschool. She loves being a doctor....loves medicine. Courtney says that she enjoys it at a hospital that demoted her after TEN years? An ambulance opens it’s doors and Kerry moves to help Morris with the patient. Courtney asks when they want her decision and she says by tomorrow afternoon...but she has already made her decision and it’s no. Morris’ ears perk up at the conversation.

Opening.....

Kerry’s patient, Yvonne, has a nasty infection on the base of her toes on one foot. Has had it a while. Takes medication for the infection but it’s not working. High blood sugar and high blood pressure. Yvonne wants to know where her sketch book is at. She is a painter. Kerry orders x-rays. Yvonne protests but Kerry reassures her and leaves the trauma room. As she enters the hall and Morris leaps out to tell her that she has to take the job in Miami....she could be the next Judge Judy....Dr. Phil.........ELLEN! Big leagues! Kerry tells Morris to go clear something.

Sarah and Gates are standing with a patient with a hugely swollen leg. Neela is doing a surgical consult. Sarah studies Neela and tells her that she doesn’t look like a whore. Neela is shocked. “What?” she says. The patient says “She just called you a whore.” Tony butts in with “Nobody’s a whore.” Sarah, not taking her eyes off Neela says, “My mother says you are.” “Your mum’s mistaken. “Are you calling my mother a liar?” Gates jumps on Sarah and Neela walks to the admit desk. Abby asks if she has seen her infected c-spine yet. Neela says ‘that little tosser just called me a whore.’ Abby says that she seems sweet...did she call you a dirty whore or a filthy whore? Neela asks if there is a difference and Abby says that it depends on the whore.

Abby takes a trauma patient - Edgar Dixon - that is being wheeled in. He is an elderly guy with an ulcer. Doesn’t remember his medication. He has vomited blood. He asks if they called his wife yet. It’s Thursday and she is at the hairdresser. Haleh interrupts to tell Sam that someone is asking for her.....Abby tells her to go. As they walk in the hall Haleh tells her that she says she is family....and has driven all the way from Dallas. Sam rolls her eyes, rounds a corner and is clearly shocked to see the older woman standing at the counter. She is wearing high boots and skin tight pants, a jacket and scarf. “Grandma?” Sam says.

Kerry is looking through the drug lockup when Luka enters.. He tells her that he heard about the job offer. She tells him not to worry because she isn’t going to Miami. Luka’s face falls a bit as he reminds her that January is budget month and he has been asked to make cuts. Kerry tells him he can send Morris to Miami. He says that he has to cut $200,000 and Morris’ salary would not cover it. Kerry, oblivious to what he is saying as she looks for her drug, says that the only ones that make that much are him and.......” She looks at him. ‘”You’re kidding, right?” she says. “You’re firing me? And this is how you tell me?” Luka tells her that there is no easy way and that she has been doing this a long time....and lately seems to be a little ‘off’......and is always gone doing her news stories. Kerry tell him she does those only on her days off. Haleh steps in for some meds and catches the conversation as Kerry goes off on Luka about how they were going to fire him and she stepped up and took the fall. That’s how she ended up back in the ER.....and was the only reason he was still there. She storms off. Haleh is shooting dagger like looks at Luka as she leaves.

At the admit desk Haleh is asking Kerry if it’s the first she has heard of it. Abby comes up and Haleh tells her that ‘her guy’ is firing Dr. Weaver. Job offer or no job offer it’s pretty rotten. “What?!” Abby says....” and what job offer?” Haleh goes on that she is the best attending this ER has ever had. (How soon she forgets Mark Greene?? Didn’t she say the same about him?) Dawn approaches with an x-ray and Kerry holds it up to the light. She grimaces and then apologizes because she has to deal with this. Haleh glares at a dumbfounded Abby as Kerry walks away. “I know...” Abby says. “I’ll talk to him!”

Cut to Kerry talking to her foot infection patient, Yvonne. She tells her that the infection has spread to her bone and she needs surgery. Two of her toes should be removed to stop the spread or she will die. Yvonne is very irate and tells Kerry she is walking out of there - on two feet. She dresses and Kerry leaves.

Sam is walking through the hall with Grandma Gracie who is looking everything over. “You got kicked out of your retirement home?....Nobody cares about the elderly.....Did you have a fight with your boyfriend?.....Which one? No, it was more of a ‘horticultural infraction’. They didn’t like my garden......What were you planting?....Oh, the usual. Lavender, basil......and a little cannabis.” Sam stops in her tracks. “You were growing WEED?” “It’s medicinal!....You don’t have glaucoma.....And guess why, sweetie!....I can’t believe you. You are 75 years old. You’re lucky they didn’t put you in jail.” They enter the break room together. “Well, I guess I could stay with your mother.” Sam shoots her a look. Gracie shrugs. “She gets out next week. Identity theft....a victimless crime!” Sam shakes her head. “No, it’s not.” Gracie agrees and then brightens when she tells Sam that her mother has married a nice electrician...a sweet Mexican guy named Pablo.” Sam shakes her head and says ‘Yeah...maybe the fifth time is the charm.” Her grandmother tells her that they have drama but they are still family. Sam asks her how long she is staying. Gracie replies, “Until you kick me out and not a moment longer!” WAY funny exchange. I LIKE Grandma Gracie (and not to mention Lois Smith who is playing the part. She never disappoints with her characterizations.)

Kerry is outside in the ambulance bay talking to a patient that is being loaded for transfer. As the ambulance pulls away she sees Yvonne waiting for a bus on the street. She sits and talks to her. She finds out that Yvonne lost her home in New Orleans to the hurricane/flood. She and her husband had gone to the attic and waited until a boat came to take them to a bridge. It was there that she realized she had cut her food and that the flood waters had gotten into the cut. Kerry tells her that she doesn’t have to die from this. She tells Yvonne to let her help her make the right decision. The bus comes and as she tries to board, Yvonne falls back against Kerry. Kerry says, “Will you trust me?”

Abby and Luka are striding through the hall and she is obviously very angry with him. She asks him why he didn’t tell her. Luka says that it wasn’t any of her concern. She says that seems to be his mantra lately.....that Kerry is the best doctor on the floor. “And the most expensive,” Luka says. He tells her that it’s the job and he has to do it. He doesn’t like it any more than she does. He pulls back a curtain where Gates and Sarah are working on a mime. Abby walks away and Gates gives Luka the orders for the guy...who wants an x-ray so he can file for disability. Luka says to do it and leaves.

Dubenko is checking the x-rays for Kerry’s patient and says that she needs the surgery. She asks a ton of questions - how long has he been a surgeon (15 years), how many surgeries has he done? (10,000), is he tired? (slept in his own bed the night before) Can she have one of those mirrors so she can watch the surgery (course not...she will be fast asleep) Yvonne panics and says that Dr. Weaver promised she didn’t have to be asleep. Dubenko is pissed and Kerry takes him into the hall. She explains that Yvonne is a Hurricane Katrina victim and is afraid so why doesn’t he use an epidural. Dubenko tells her that general anesthesia is better and faster...and Kerry tells him to cut the crap. He just doesn’t want to deal with a lot of questions he will have to answer. She says that she will go up with her and he won’t have to deal with her at all. Dubenko looks at her with a half smile and then nods.

Abby’s ulcer patient, Edgar, has vomited more blood and Ray, Pratt and Hope are working him up. Ray tells him that the guy has been getting his meds from some church clinic. Pratt and Hope exchange looks.

Kerry, Dawn and Dubenko are pushing Yvonne’s gurney to the elevator. Kerry tells Dubenko that she will be right up. The elevator closes and Kerry asks Dawn if she is okay. Dawn tells her that it’s hard to see people from back home. Her aunt allowed eight relatives to move into her home after the hurricane. Some went back to their houses and some never want to go back. They are at the admit desk and Morris is still on the phone asking someone why they would send him i books. Kerry is aghast that he is still working on his credit problems during working hours. Sam says that her’s took years. Grandma Gracie is looking over Timmy’s palm. She tells him he is going to live a long life and be wealthy. As she and Sam walk away he asks if he is going to have good luck. Gracie turns around and winks as she says ‘we’ll see. Call me at eight!’ Timmy laughs and says that he loves that woman. Sam and Gracie are back at the break room and Sam is telling Gracie that she lived in a house where she was working part time but it wasn’t a good environment for Alex so they just moved. Gracie asks if he is still playing soccer and Sam says indoor now...that he is the best left wing on the team. He is getting A’s and B’s and is doing amazing in school. Gracie sits and tells her that she is proud of him...of BOTH of them...and Sam is very touched. Says that means a lot. Morris burst into the room and asks Sam how she is enjoying HIS x-box. Sam is shocked as Morris tells her that her ‘klepto’ son has taken his credit card number and is having stuff sent to her house. He tells her that her necklace is probably his as well.

Abby has joined Pratt and Ray with her ulcer patient. She says he has been getting Renuvium from a church clinic on the south side. Edgar’s wife says it’s a clinic at the 1st Missionary Baptist on Calumet. Pratt and Hope exchange glances because it’s the same drug exchange place they had been helping. After five rounds of meds and 45 minutes, Abby pronounces the patient’s time of death. His wife is crying. Pratt steps back and Hope leaves the room.

Up in surgery Kerry is standing next to Yvonne who is awake and watching the surgery on a television screen. As they work, Neela, Dubenko and Yvonne talk about New Orleans and London...where Yvonne went to school one year. Someone comes in and asks Dubenko if he is planning to scrub in on the robotic prostactomey next door. He says that he is and tells Kerry she should as well. The robotic equipment enables them to do the surgery with virtually no nerve loss and “all for the low, low cost of 1.5 million.” Kerry is astounded that the budget committee would approve that purchase. Dubenko says the Board finally gave them a break this year.

Hope and Pratt are standing in the hall whispering together. He said that he treated 300/400 patients at that clinic and doesn’t remember the guy. He is watching the man’s wife through the glass door and says he has to go tell her. He assures her that he isn’t going to implicate anyone but himself. Hope walks away.

Yvonne begins to go down hill as she has a reaction to the antibiotic she has been given. Kerry starts to take over her care and Dubenko tells her it’s ‘his’ OR and she tells him she doesn’t care about ‘your’ OR...she just lost her job to pay for his robot...she cares about the patient. Neela comments that the infection is much worse than they thought. Dubenko says she needs an amputation. Kerry asks him not to...she promised the woman that she wouldn’t lose her foot. Dubenko adds that she is diabetic with vascular issues and the wound will never heal.

Timmy and Grandma Gracie are sitting at the admit desk sharing stories about Venice and the good gnocci they have gotten there. Sarah follows Gates and asks if he can take her to a movie on the weekend because there is a good space one that is supposed to be good for adults too. Gates tells her he is not sure if he has to work. Morris tells him no because he just did the schedule. The admit doors open and Alex comes in. Gracie stands up and Alex looks at her in surprise. He hugs her and then Morris comes around the desk calling him ‘Artful Dodger’.....Sam approaches and asks Alex what is going on. Did he really steal from Dr. Morris. Alex says no...that he got his x-box from Mr. Elliott. Sam asks about her necklace and Alex says the HE bought that. Grandma Gracie grabs Alex and turns him around to her. “No attitude..Mr. Man,” she says. “Twenty years ago I could have knocked you clear to China and not had Social Services on me but that’s not so today so did you steal his credit card? Look me in the eye...did...you ...steal...the credit card?” Alex’ face crumps and he says he is sorry. Gracie turns him to Morris and says he should be saying sorry to him. Alex says he is sorry and Morris says that he will work something out. He can pay him back....with installments. Alex turns and leaves and Sam starts to follow. Grandma Gracie says to stay and work...she will get him.

Abby and Luka are pulling in a gurney with a 40 year old chronic pancreatic patient. His wife is in the trauma room going on and on about his upcoming birthday. They had been shopping for snow board boots when he collapsed. Abby asks if they should try Albumin. Luka said it won’t work. Abby says she has seen Weaver do it. Luka stops for a second and looks at her. He asks for a surgical consult. Abby tells him that first line management is supportive care not surgery.

Pratt comes out of the trauma room and tells Hope that he told the wife his mistake and that she understands. Hope is relieved.

Meg is outside the ER door arguing with the security guard. Sarah and Gates go to
the door and Meg is admitted. Said she was in the area and wanted to make sure Sarah was okay and asks if she is having a good time. Sarah tells her they treated a mime....and Meg’s interest is elsewhere. She asks Gates if his little girl friend is around or is she out buying IKEA furniture. Sarah tries to pull her to see the trauma rooms...and then the break room. Meg is glaring down Gates as he tells her she is drunk. Meg goes off on Gates telling Sarah that he is a liar...all he ever did was lie..lie...lie to us. The elevator doors open and Neela exits. Meg pushes her way toward Neela and tells her that she isn’t taking Gates from them...that she did everything for him...that she straightened him out when he was a useless vet....that she used her husband’s insurance money to put him through med school...and that Neela was not going to take him from them. Gates drags her out of the hall. The camera closes in on Sarah and Neela’s faces.

Kerry comes around the desk and asks where Kovac is. Haleh says trauma three and Kerry heads for it. She opens the door where Abby and Luka are working on the snow board boots guy. “Kovac!” she says. “Surgery has a two million dollar robot and we have to talk!” She realizes that they have a critical patient and ask what is going on. Abby tells her the bullet and Kerry asks for some equipment and plunges a needle in the guy’s stomach. She is checking for abdomen compartment syndrome. A measuring tube rises to 42 centimeters as Luka calls for cardiac medication and continues CPR. Kerry tells him that the guy needs to be decompressed because the pancreatitis is causing pressure on his internal organs. She cuts into his belly and asks Luka to open the inner lining. He says he is doing CPR and Kerry tell him he won’t need it after their procedure. Luka frowns, reaches into the open cavity, makes a cut and.....there is a slight hissing sound and the guy’s intestines puff out of the opening. (Last time I saw something like that, Han Solo sliced open the belly of a pack creature on the planet of Hoth to keep Luke Skywalker warm during the night. Eeeew.) The patient’s stats improve and Kerry leaves as Luka watches her go.

Meg and Tony are alone in a darkened trauma room. She is telling him that she can’t lose him...that they are family. Gates is livid. He says that he works here. What happened out there wasn’t ‘family’. Meg says he has been avoiding her. He says he has moved on. She says she will change and he tells her she can’t change. She says he must be leaving because of the ‘little bitch’ and Gates tells her that has nothing to do it with...to knock it off...he is sorry but it’s over. Meg’s face changes and she tells him he must not care about Sarah because he won’t see her any more if he does this. Gates asks if she would really hurt Sarah to get back at him? Meg says he is a prick....a liar and a prick. Gates grabs her coat and pulls her face close to his. He tells her that there is nothing...absolutely nothing...that she can do to keep him away from Sarah. Nothing.

Sarah is huddled on the curb in the ambulance bay. Neela comes out and tells her that it is cold...that she should come back inside. Sarah says “I hate her.” Neela approaches and tells her that she doesn’t really mean that. Sarah adds that her mother is crazy and that’s why Tony is leaving them. She asks Neela if she can do her a favor. Neela smiles and crouches down. Sarah looks at her and says quietly “Find someone else. He doesn’t love you. He is just having sex with you. He always comes back to us.” Neela is stunned as Sarah stands up and heads back into the hospital.

Kerry approaches Yvonne’s bed in recovery as the camera pans to show us that one leg has been amputated below the knee. Kerry tries to be upbeat and positive, telling her that with the new prosthetic legs she will have full mobility....that the infection had spread farther than they realized. Yvonne doesn’t look at her and tells her she never should have trusted her. She tells Kerry that every time she has made a choice it has been the wrong one. She and her husband were on a bridge for 27 hours before they were rescued and taken to the Superdome. When the buses came, there was just one seat and her husband begged her to take it...that he would come soon. A week later she found out he died at the Superdome. Kerry tells her that it wasn’t her fault and Yvonne says it’s all God’s fault and why is he doing this to her? She doesn’t know what she is going to do now. Kerry is very sad as she tells her that she has gotten another chance. She needs to go on....go home and paint....to find a way to use this gift so they will never forget what happened.....they can’t forget...because you won’t let them. (Interesting scene here...Kerry is talking about Yvonne and her situation but it is VERY clear that Kerry is also thinking about her own second chance. Nice acting job by Laura Innes!)

Angela is down talking to Pratt and Hope about the ulcer patient that died. She said that she was told he received Renuvium illegally. She says she will need his records for the state medical board because there is going to be an investigation. Luka approaches and asks about Angela’s daughter, Danielle (the young girl who was cutting herself internally several weeks ago). She says that she is doing much better and thanks Luka...for everything. Pratt asks if he can talk to Luka in private.

Ben’s pick up truck pulls up to a curb by the stoop of an apartment building. The door opens and a happy Alex, Gracie Sam and Ben spill out on to the sidewalk. Gracie comments on how nice the apartment building looks and asks Sam if she remembers when they all lived in the trailer. Sam says it wasn’t a trailer...it was a ‘mobile home’. Gracie stage whispers to Alex that “that is uppity for trailer.” Gracie asks Ben where he is from and then says she hopes she isn’t scaring him because he is the sanest guy Sam has ever been with. Sam scoffs and nudges her Grandmother inside. She hands a basket to Alex and tells him to do his homework and get to bed and tomorrow they will talk about some new rules. Sam turns to thank Ben and he reminds her that she owes him dinner. She has forgotten so she tells him come on up and they will order pizza. He says he has a better idea and leans in to kiss her. They part and he grins. “Glad we got past the awkward part,” he says and then bounds past her to the apartment door.

Luka and Pratt are talking in one of the trauma rooms. Luka tells him that his malpractice insurance only covers him at the hospital. Pratt says that he was only trying to give back. Luka tells him that dispensing medicine without a pharmacy license is a felony and a guy died. Pratt says he doesn’t know what to do. He is clearly very stricken. Luka pulls the curtain around them and asks him if he is okay. Pratt shrugs. He also says again that it was only one...just him. Luka says he will talk to Angela and see what he can do. He tells Pratt to take a minute and he will see him later.

There is a bit of a bounce to her step as Kerry breezes through the admit area. Gates asks her to sign off on a drug request for a patient and Ray asks her to sign on his retinal detachment. She signs both charts and starts to leave. Luka snags her and tells her that maybe he was wrong and should bow to pressure. He will find other places to cut. He says that no way are they losing her. Kerry tells him thanks....but she is resigning. She says that she has trained residents, saved lives and even ran this place.....she has loved it and maybe gotten more than she has given but it’s time to go. People at the admit desk are turning and watching her. Pratt says ‘what are you saying?’ and Abby says - almost desperately - “Kerry?”. Kerry continues, “It’s time to go. It’s easy here....comfortable...but that doesn’t mean that it’s right to stay.” She hugs a stunned and confused Abby. “So, you are going to Florida?” Abby asks and Kerry says ‘yeah...” She moves to the front of the admit desk and turns to talk to them.
“When Sandy died, I thought I got over it....thought I had moved on but I have felt like I am stuck. I have been treading water. It’s time to move on and I am finally ready to move forward. So...if you are ever in Miami, turn on channel 6 because that’s where I will be. And if I am not, I’ll be at the beach with my son.” She nods and then turns to leave. Morris, Gates. Haleh, Hope, Pratt, Ray and Abby are standing at the desk watching her go. Luka hurries around to catch her. Kerry smiles at him and says “Luka, we’re fine. We’re all right.” Luka looks a little sick and Kerry heads out the doors. Our final shot for this epi is Dr. Kerry Weaver’s slightly sad face as she passes through the ER sliding doors.

Reviewed by Lynda Foote on June 30, 2007

NBC Review

A DEADLY MISTAKE IN THE ER-- When a patient dies after being prescribed the wrong medication, Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) and Hope (Busy Phillips) question whether they are responsible. Meg (guest star Paula Malcomson) comes to County General and angrily confronts Gates (John Stamos) and Neela (Parminder Nagra) about their relationship. Dr. Kovac (Goran Visnjic) is forced to make budget cuts that could affect one ER doctor. Laura Innes, Maura Tierney, Mekhi Phifer, Linda Cardellini, Shane West and Scott Grimes also star.

TV Guide Review

January 04, 2006: Breach of Trust:

Pratt and Hope are shaken after a patient in their care dies needlessly; Gates and Neela are confronted by his current flame; Kovac makes a painful decision when he must enact budget cuts. Meg: Paula Malcomson.