"We just got your aid addition ready." "You wanna take a look?" "All right." "His handiwork, I assume." "Mahatma Gallagher." "He mentioned something about Shintoism." "Celebration of nature's spirits and ancestors." "Nice touch." " So, what's his story anyway?" " What do you mean?" "Divorced?" "Attached?" "Fugitive from the law?" "C.I.A. mole?" "He's currently unattached." "Severe commitment disorder." "Exercise junkie." "Peter Pan syndrome." "Not that I've paid much attention." "He has a seriously smokin' body." "Not that I've noticed." "Hey, guys." "Beautiful day, isn't it?" "So, are you ready for some patient-doctor bonding?" "Well, we're ready for rounds." "We usually begin in Six North." "Great." "Then I'll be outside..." "And the director usually accompanies us on the rounds." "Gotcha." "It's sort of a wait and see situation." "I'm going to give you this prescription..." " Doctor, I need a little help." " Talk to me, gorgeous." "Ranier, Melissa." "Third trimester." "Here visiting relatives." "She was alone, shopping at the Grove, when she just started having contractions and fainted." " Just took her B.P. She's slightly hypertensive." " Okay, thank you." " You busy later?" " Mm-hmm." "But I'm pretty sure you're not." "Ouch." "Melissa." "I'm Dr. Moore." "How you doin'?" "I started getting contractions." "And then I got so light-headed." "I'm only seven months... and I'm so scared." "I..." "Is my baby okay?" "Well, let's take a look." "Where are the patients?" "Uh, what's going on?" "Relay races?" "Is this supposed to take the place of morning rounds?" "Of course not." "Rounds are good." "Uh, actually, Veronica... instigating a morning fitness regime is not a bad idea." "Exercise has been shown to elevate brain-derived neurotrophic factors." "Right." "But this is more than encouraging the patients to work out." "This is a trust exercise." "Trusting other patients?" "No." "Trusting their doctors." "The three-legged race is up next." "Wait." "W-We're..." "You mean, we're supposed to..." "You can't be serious!" "Uh, actually, it looks like fun." "Unfortunately, my back..." "I'm in heels." "Guys, whether these patients are here on a 72-hour hold... or they've committed themselves voluntarily... they've all put their well-being in our hands." "If they don't believe that you're willing to get down and dirty with them... how can you expect them to confide in you?" "And, people, this is not a suggestion." "This is going to be a little cold, and I'm sorry." "It's okay." "I've done this a million times." "I'm going to get you something to stop those contractions, okay?" "Back in a flash." "Ready?" "On your mark... set..." "Races, huh?" " That's cool." " Yeah." "I called you." "I need you at the E.R. for a psych consult." " Really?" " Yeah." "Absolutely." "Let's go." "So what's up?" "The patient informed us she was seven months along." "She fainted when contractions started." "She has hormone levels that are raised and cervical softening." "Then why are you asking for a psych consult?" "Call an OB-GYN." "Take a look at the ultrasound." "What's wrong with this picture?" "I don't get it." "I can't even see a baby." "There is no baby." " It's hysterical pregnancy." " Is she still in the E. R?" " I ordered some blood work." " Why?" "Just to buy some time." "I read about this in med school, but I never thought I would actually see it firsthand." " She actually looks pregnant?" " Not just looks." "She has all the classic symptoms, right down to hormonal levels, water retention." " The mind speaks, the body answers." " Yeah, but for seven months?" " Is there a husband?" " She's wearing a ring." "What should we do with her?" "I told her there was no room in Maternity." "I wasn't sure how far to push at the intake." "We should go easy on her." "Something tells me we shouldn't burst her bubble just yet." "Let's get her to the psych ward." "Is there any other business?" "Want to grab some breakfast?" "I'm buying." "Thanks." "I have a budget meeting." "Try not to, uh, piss anybody important off today." " Really good..." "Oh!" " Hey, baby cakes." "Oh!" "Hey, Denny." "Uh, Maria." "Um, what's going on?" "What's goin' on?" "It's Thursday." "I have a standing engagement at the hospital, remember?" " Yeah, but, uh, you told me you had a studio gig today." " Yeah, I blew it off." "You know, I'd much rather play for the kids here, and..." "What's the matter?" "What about those producers you said were really hot?" "Those guys are all the same." "They're all part of the same corporate machine." "They make a ton of promises, and they never deliver." "So, what?" "You want me to go?" "No." "I just..." "I just question your priorities, that's all." "Hey, if you think I'm being irresponsible, just say so." "Hey, Denny." "Hey, we'll set you up outside." "I called down to Pediatrics to let them know you're here." "Great." "Thanks, Malcolm." "I gotta go." " You gonna come by later and hear me play?" " Yeah, if I can." "Melissa." " So I understand you're from out of town." " Yes." "Florence, Arizona." "And we're here visiting my husband's family." "How long have you been married?" "It'll be two years this spring." "Is this your first pregnancy?" "Yes." "And, uh, have you... have you picked out a name?" " Sean." " Oh, that's nice." "Tell me, Melissa, have you experienced any other discomfort during your pregnancy?" "Morning sickness?" "Spotting?" "No." "Actually, everything has been pretty easy, up until this trip." "Were you working when you got pregnant?" "Yes." "I was waitressing when I met Richard." "We, uh, started dating." "Went on this whirlwind trip around Europe." "We got married at the Hotel Cipriani." " That's in Venice." " Yes." " It's a beautiful hotel." " Isn't it?" "And, well, a month later..." "We both wanted a big family." "I come from one." "Richard's an only child." " Is Richard on his way here?" " Yes." "They called him from the E.R. and left him a message." "He'll be here soon." "Becky?" "Can you hold on a minute?" "Excuse me." " Sure." " I'll be back very soon." "Becky, hold on a minute." "The reception is no good inside." "Do you have any children?" "Ohh..." "Oh, well, I'm..." "I'm..." "My husband and I have talked about it, of course." "And, uh, even though the clock is ticking, and it's ticking... there just never seemed to be the perfect time." "Is he a doctor too?" "No." "Uh, he's a musician." "Oh, wow." "How wonderful." " What does he play?" " Uh, the piano." "Jazz piano." "And he composes too." "Must be amazing to have talent like that." "I wish I did." "We've been playing Beethoven and Bach sonatas for the baby." "Oh, that's nice." "So, Melissa, uh, do you have the name of your OB-GYN at home... so we can get in contact with him or her?" "Um, actually, it's Richard, my husband." "Okay." "Becky." "Thanks for not hanging up." "I'm outside in the garden area." "It's really nice." "There's jasmine here, Beck." "Loads of it." "It's a bit like the Isle of Wight." "You remember?" "You said you loved the smell and you never wanted to leave." "Rebecca, you know, I was thinking, um... it'd be really nice if you could stop by." "We could..." "All right!" " It's the perfect alibi." " I know." "What is?" "Having your husband as your OB-GYN." "That's assuming the husband actually exists." "It could be just another delusion." "Well, we'll know soon enough." "Dr. Delusion is on his way over here." "It's just so sad, believing you're about to give birth when you're not." "It's also incredible." "Cessation of a menstrual cycle, abdominal enlargement... breast enlargement, quickening, gallactorrhea... cervical softening, uterine enlargement." "Yeah, but how is it possible that the abdominal enlargement is so massive?" "Excess bowel gas, uterine distention, uh, bladder retention." " Could be a lot of things." " She's not going to be able to keep this up much longer." "Help!" "Help!" "My water just broke!" " Hey, Melissa." "Feeling better?" " Yes, thank you." " I told you already, I'm looking for my wife." " Richard!" " Richard!" " Melissa?" "Oh, Richard." "Oh, thank God you're here!" " I'm so sorry." "Are you okay?" " Yes." "Uh, she's, uh, fine now, Mr. Ranier." " I'm Doctor Hayden-Jones." "This is my..." " It's Dr. Ranier." " Who's in charge here?" " Jack Gallagher." "You the idiot who put my wife in the psych ward?" "What the hell is wrong with you people?" "I want her transferred." "I need an SMA20, CBC, beta-h Cg and abdominal ultrasound, stat." "Why are you just standing there?" "My wife is 7 months pregnant." "This baby could be in distress." "Have you all lost your minds?" "I need to speak to the hospital administrator." "Now." "Good idea." "I'll call her." "Stay with them." " Are you okay?" " Yes." " Yes?" "You feel all right?" " I'm so glad you're here." "You look so beautiful." "No way." "This guy's legit." "Dr. Richard Ranier." "Licensed physician with an impeccable reputation." "I suppose it's possible he never examined his own wife." "She told me she'd been under his care exclusively." "She's allegedly had regular checkups." "She's even had an amnio." "And we're absolutely sure that she's not pregnant?" "Yes, Carl, we're sure." "How could he have lied to her for seven months?" " He probably kept her pretty isolated." " So now what?" " Well, he's not going to let us hold his wife without a fight." " So don't fight it." "In a couple of months, they'll figure out the whole thing without our interference." "It's not interference, Carl." "It's called treatment." " Just let 'em go." " Nice, Carl." "Let her give birth, raise the kid, send it off to college... and sit back and wait for the imaginary grandkids?" "Oh, he's screaming his head off and asking for you again." "Well, might as well face the music." "It's pure folly to keep this farce alive." "You're a genius, Carl." "Pure folly." "That's exactly what it is." "Follow my lead." "I'll follow you anywhere." "Because that very important person you weren't supposed to piss off today... that would be me." "I am so sorry for all the confusion, Dr. Ranier." "I'm Nora Skoff, Departmental Administrator." "We, of course, welcome all visiting physicians to Wharton Memorial... and I promise you will receive the full measure of our professional courtesy." "The maternity ward, unfortunately, remains full." "Are those her tests?" "The, uh, fetus does not appear to be in distress... and, um, I can assure you that the birth is not imminent... there's been no dilation." "Uh... well, the blood work can't be right." "Melissa said that you did an ultrasound?" "Yeah." "Thank you." "Whoever did this ultrasound is a moron." "The image is so blurred, it's useless." "I personally did an ultrasound on Melissa just days ago." "Uh, I have it..." "Here it is." "Okay." "There you go." "Sweetheart, I'm so sorry I couldn't get here earlier." "It's okay." "I'm fine." "The baby's fine." "I just..." "I lost control of my bladder, and I thought that my water had broken." "It happens." "Sweetheart, there's no reason to be ashamed." "Come here." "It's a good thing that your water didn't break." "It's too soon." "The baby is protected... and there's no chance for infection." "Sean is healthy and happy." "What you need now is rest." "I'll make the arrangements to take you home." "Be right back." "Well, my wife has had quite a scare." "But I know her well and she's ready to travel, so if you'll give me the release forms..." "Actually, we'd like to keep her overnight, just as a precaution." "No." "No, I've already put up with gross incompetence on behalf of this hospital." " That ultrasound was..." " Shoddy." "You're absolutely right." "We'll schedule another one tomorrow morning." "And there are liability issues." "I'm sure you can understand, Doctor." "Fine." "Fine." "I'll do the ultrasound myself." "Today." "Excuse me." "May I?" "I'd rather you didn't." "I'm expecting a call any minute." "Oh, I don't mind." "Hey, honey." "I'm just taking a quick lunch break." "How'd the opening go?" "That's great." "I miss you too." "Is it snowing there?" "Perfect." "The weather's always perfect here, but it's not New York." "I know." "I can't wait." "I gotta go too." "I'll call you later." "Love you." "Long-distance romance." "Doomed to failure." "Unless..." "Unless what?" "You have a lot of meaningless but hot sex with skilled, but emotionally detached partners." "I am available." "Arturo, seriously, what do you think is going to happen here?" "Seriously?" "I think that you're going to come to your senses and realize that..." "Do you honestly believe that you're the personal panacea to my lesbianism?" "That I'm suddenly going to realize I'm straight and want to jump on top of you?" "Yeah." "One night." "It's all it will take." "Maybe two." "I can work with you on that." "Stand up." "Stand up." "Drop your pants." "I want to see it." "Show me what I'm missing." "Rock my world." "Not that I'm shy, honey... and God knows I have no reason to be, but... that would be highly unprofessional." "Exactly." "Unprofessional." "Like you coming on to me at every opportunity." "There!" "There's the head." "Oh." "It's beautiful." "Melissa, look." "Look." "There's a hand." "Healthy heartbeat." "Healthy fetus." "Okay." "Get dressed." "We're leaving." "I'm sorry, Doctor, but I can't allow your wife to leave just yet." " You don't have that authority." " I absolutely do." " We're leaving." " No, you're not." "Melissa is my wife, okay?" "You don't tell me what to do!" "Melissa is your wife, but this is my ward." "I say when a patient is discharged." "Right." "Security!" "Will he live?" "Probably." "But he's never going to play the trumpet again." "Glad you guys are enjoying this." "He did say he wouldn't leave without a fight." "You're fine." "Later, slugger." "Doctor, uh, that thing you asked me about earlier..." "The thing..." "Oh, no, I..." "I'll find you." "Security is holding him." "He's claiming self-defense." "Yeah, right." "And just so as we're clear, if he hadn't sucker-punched me I could have taken him easy." " Jack, you can press charges." " No, no, no, no, no." "Come on." " Guy's got enough problems." " You're right." ""Folie à Deux." Translation from the French:" "Folly for two." ""A rare, shared psychotic disorder..." " when an otherwise healthy person, the secondary partner..."" " Melissa." ""Begins believing the delusions of someone with whom they have a close relationship..." " "the primary partner..." " Richard." "who is already suffering from a psychotic disorder with prominent delusions."" "So Melissa believed she was pregnant, and he came to believe it as well?" "Other way around." "Richard's the primary." "He convinced her she was pregnant." "He was her doctor, so she had no reason to question him." "Took the bait." "Wham, bam!" "She's got a bun in the oven." "If Richard's the dominant partner... then Melissa's delusion is more fragile." "Easier to convince her that the baby's not there." "With Richard, it's going to be a lot more tricky." "But what put this in motion?" "Melissa couldn't get pregnant, so he just invented it?" "That is exactly the right question." "Why don't you grab Chloe and do some digging?" "Any teaching nurse... please call Nurses' Station Three West." "I can't keep doing this." "I can't keep being with you, then going home to Denny." "You know that." " If you say so." " No, wait." "I really mean it this time." "It's over." "You don't believe me, do you?" "No." "Christ." "Dr. Ranier quit his practice in Phoenix seven months ago... presumably when he found out his wife was pregnant." "He told everyone that he wanted to spend every moment with Melissa until she gave birth... to insure the health of their child." "According to Phoenix General... the ultrasound Richard gave you is not two days old, but almost two years old." "So this ultrasound?" "It's not hers." "Melissa told me and Veronica this was her first child." "She also said she got pregnant a month after her honeymoon, which was almost two years ago." " Looks like we have some more digging to do." " Goody, goody." "All right, try to stretch out your legs a little bit." "Hey, Wendy." "How are you doing?" "Do you think you might be able to put your head underwater today?" "Oh, I..." "Oh, no, I don't think so." "Well, that's okay." "That's okay." "You can always try again tomorrow." " Veronica." " Hey!" "Ultrasound taken two years ago?" "Definitely hers." " She has a child?" " It was never carried to term." "It was a molar twin." " Oh, God." " When did you give Melissa the neuroleptic?" " About an hour ago." "Should be working by now." " Good." "When you're done here, let's go have a chat with her." "Heard about the Folie à Deux." " Interesting, huh?" " Very." "I spoke to Nora about possibly writing up a journal article." "Good advertising for the hospital." "Taking one for the team, huh?" "Uh, actually, if I were the attending..." "I might see it a little differently." "The first thing I'd do is, I'd separate them." "The husband and wife, they're just feeding off of each other." "Merging in their, uh, mania." "Under some circumstances, you might be right, but not this time." "Well, you are in charge." "Yeah." "I am." "Okay." "Hi, Melissa." "How are you feeling?" "I'm sleepy." "And, uh..." "And a little warm." "That's the medication we gave you." "It's supposed to relax you a little bit." "Melissa... do you remember when we asked you if this was your first pregnancy?" "Yes." "Actually... there was another." "But I'd rather not talk about it." "We know what happened, Melissa." "Richard was so happy." "I got pregnant right after we got married." "This isn't his first marriage." "He tried with his ex-wife... but she couldn't conceive." "You should have seen his face... when the tests came back." "All of his life he delivered babies... and now he's finally going to have one of his own." "I lost this baby too, didn't I?" "This time... there was no baby." "It's okay, Melissa." " A molar pregnancy." " Mm-hmm." "It's pretty horrific." "Two sperm fertilize the same egg... producing one healthy fetus and one mass of cells without the genetic material to form one." "That mass of cells, growing quickly... can overwhelm the healthy fetus, literally devouring it." "That would shake anybody's world." "It unhinged Richard, that's for sure." "I'd say that's what set all this in motion." "If his delusion is so deep-seated, how are you going to break it?" "I'll think of something." "Why doesn't that give me a warm and fuzzy feeling?" "Becky?" "Can you hang on a minute?" "Becky?" "Rebecca, I'm inside." "I can't hear you." "Rebecca?" "Damn it." "She's still calling." "You'll find her." "Is my husband still being held in Security?" "Yes, he is." "You know, maybe you should press charges." "Maybe he belongs in jail." "Look what he did to me." "He wasn't just my husband." "He was my doctor." "I mean, he knew I would believe what he told me." "I'm so stupid." "I guess that's what he was depending on." "He's incapable of depending on anything." "Even his own mind." "He wants a baby very badly." "And that's not such a bad thing to want." "He divorced his first wife, because she couldn't give him what he wanted." "He married me... a younger woman, a breeder... because he was sure I could do better." " He doesn't love me." " Of course he does." "All this is just a product of his disease." "To him, this all seems very, very real." "No." "He doesn't love me." " He loves the baby more." " That's not true." "Let me prove it to you." "Dr. Ranier." "Dr. Gallagher." " I regret..." " No time for that now, Richard." "Thank you." "It's okay." "Melissa's having contractions again and she's hypertensive." "The baby's in distress and needs to come out now." " Where is she?" " In the O.R., being prepped for an emergency C-section." "We have an anesthesiologist and a surgeon on standby." " I presume you want to be present at the delivery." " Yes." "Of course." "I'll scrub in." "You okay?" "I'm going to be a father." "Why so happy, Arturo?" "Dr. Gallagher has invited us to be present at the delivery of the Ranier baby." "The imaginary Ranier baby?" "Yeah, that's the one." "Well, better get going." "Wouldn't want to be late." "You aware of what's about to happen?" "Vaguely." " And you intend to let him proceed?" " For now." "Have you anticipated what the board's reaction will be to this ill-conceived charade?" "I hadn't planned on discussing it with the board." "Are you suggesting I should?" "Undoubtedly someone will." "I'm trying to protect you, Nora." "And I appreciate that, Carl." "Thank you for your support." "You put more than your reputation on the line when you hired him." " Whatever do you mean?" " You know what I mean." "I seriously doubt you can handle that kind of financial hit." "How did you find that out?" "Do you honestly believe there's anything going on in this hospital I don't know about?" "I suppose not." "Hmm." "Is that all?" "No." "Are we ready?" "Yes, Doctor." " Is the fetal heart monitor on?" " Yes, Doctor." "Stabilize two mics per kilo." "Richard." "Perhaps you'd like to make the first incision." "You're going to feel sleepy now." "Doctor?" "Just wait." "We can't wait." "Richard, the baby is in distress." " It needs to come out now." " Check the heart monitor." " And the fetal monitor." " Something's not..." "It's not right here." "This is what you wanted." "Make the incision." "Doctor?" "No." "No, no, no, no." "Please stop." "Just stop." "It's not right." "Please." " It's okay." " I'm sorry." "It's okay." "It's over now." "I would never let anyone hurt you, ever." "I love you." "I love you too." "Dr. Ranier voluntarily committed himself?" "He knows he's sick." "Worst part's over." " Aren't you going to say anything?" " About what?" "Oh, about the fact that you booked a working O.R. at the cost of thousands of dollars... and were about to perform an unauthorized C-section?" "That you had real surgical instruments in the room... and tried to put a deadly weapon in the hands of a mentally ill person?" "No." " Sorry I'm late." " Hey." "I have something I want you to listen to." " Is that new?" " Mm-hmm." "Wrote it for you." "Is everything okay, baby?" "Uh, God, Denny, I..." "I..." "I don't know what to say." "I was so mad when you came by today, and I..." "And then I just saw you with the kids, and, uh..." "They're great kids." "You know, maybe..." "I don't know." "Maybe we should start havin' some of our own." "You'd make a great mom." "Wharton Memorial." "Oh, Dr. Gallagher." "Yeah." " Uh, yes, she... she has been admitted." " Thanks, Malc." "Look, I assure you, we have..." "Who left this?" "A lady." "She asked if you were here and dropped it off." " When?" " A couple of minutes ago." "What was she wearing?" "Damn it, Malcolm, this is important." " What was she wearing?" " I'm sorry." "I was so busy, I didn't even notice." "Rebecca?" "Becky!" "Sorry." "I'm so sorry." "Show's on!" "English" " US" " SDH"