Brenda walks into Larry's office and is surprised to see a young man sitting at Larry's desk, with his feet propped up on Larry's desk, as he reads through a file folder. He does not seem to notice or acknowledge Brenda in any way until she speaks.

Brenda: Uh -- (she knocks on the desk to get his attention) Who are you, and what are you doing with your feet up on Dr. Wolek's desk?

Dan smiles.

--end scene--

Dan gets up from the chair to introduce himself to Brenda.

Dan: Hi there. I don't believe we've met. Your name is?

He stretches his hand out towards hers, but she ignores it.

Brenda: You just never mind what my name is. I'm a nurse in this hospital, and I have a right to be here, whereas I don't think that you do, and I'd like for you to explain yourself.
Dan: Well, I was hanging around, waiting for Dr. Wolek, and my curiosity got the better of me, so I started looking over some patient files.
Brenda: Oh!
Dan: (looking at the folder) Yes, and I found some speech here about the, uh, responsibilities and dedication required of doctors who work here at Llanview Hospital.
Brenda: Listen to me!

She grabs the file away from him.

Brenda: If you are a patient of Dr. Wolek's, or you have an appointment with him for some other reason, you can wait out in the reception area with everybody else.
Dan: Look --
Brenda: And you have no business going through Dr. Wolek's files.
Dan: Look, if you'll just find him for me, then everything will be --
Brenda: No, you look! You get out of this office right now, or I'm calling security.
Dan: Do you moonlight as a pitbull?

Just then, Larry enters.

Brenda: Larry. I found this guy in here in your office. He has his feet up on your desk, and he's reading through your reports, and he won't leave.
Larry: Well, he better not leave. How are you doing, son?

Larry goes in to hug Dan, who hugs him back.

Dan: Hi, Dad.

Brenda looks like "oh, of course."

--end scene--

Brenda is embarrassed but tries to cover as best she can.

Brenda: So -- Dan Wolek, huh?
Larry: (clapping Dan on the shoulder) Afraid so.
Dan: Oh, thanks, Dad. Thanks a lot. (to Brenda) I was about to introduce myself before you attacked me ferociously.
Brenda: (hiding her face in embarrassment) Oh!
Dan: But instead I had to defend myself. (sticking out his hand) Daniel Wolek, MD.
Brenda: (shaking his hand) I'm Brenda McGillis, and I'm a nurse here. I'm a friend of your father's.
Dan: Obviously.
Larry: What happened between you?
Brenda: Oh, Larry, I walked in here, and he had his feet up on your desk, and he was reading through the files, and -- and then I just, you know, attacked him.
Dan: Like a pit bull. (chuckling)
Brenda: Yeah!
Dan: It was a great speech, Dad. The residents should be very impressed. Only I would tone down the part about what a privilege and honor it is to be a resident here. It was just a -- just a bit too much.
Larry: Thank you very much. (gesturing to Brenda) Would you mind joining my other, uh, critic here? Would you wanna take Dan to dinner?
Brenda: No, no, no -- you two need a private, uh, reunion here, so I'm gonna bow out. I'll see ya.

Brenda heads toward the door, but Dan rushes to stop her.

Dan: No, really, Brenda, that's okay, no --
Brenda: No, no --
Dan: My father and I could have dinner some other --
Brenda: Dan Wolek, I am gonna win this one here. I'm leaving. Bye.
Larry: Goodbye.

Brenda leaves the room.

Dan: Does she always come on so strong?
Larry: Yeah, she's quite wonderful.
Dan: And a little pregnant.
Larry: Ah.
Dan: Are running around with a married or an unmarried pregnant woman, Father?
Larry: The father of the baby was killed before they got a chance to get married.
Dan: Oh, I'm -- I'm sorry.
Larry: Yeah, it's -- it's rough. But she's coping pretty well, and -- what can I say? We really, uh, enjoy each other.
Dan: Well, I got it. (clasping Larry on the shoulder) And I want you to enjoy your dinner with her tonight -- without me. I was just about to say that I've got other plans. I know a resident arriving, and I promised I'd give them a quick tour of Llanview. Any new hot spots in town?
Larry: Hey, not so fast there, slick. First of all, I want to know -- what exactly did go on at New York General? Why did you have to leave?

--end scene--

Dan: Do you have time for this discussion, Dad?
Larry: Dan, I have spent a lot of time and a lot of effort getting you into the residency program here. I'd like to know what happened at New York General.
Dan: Well, the Chief of Staff hated me.
Larry: Why?
Dan: Because he was incompetent! And everyone knew it! Only I was the only one on the staff to have the guts to say it right to his face.
Larry: I see.
Dan: And I hear a tone of disapproval from my dad.
Larry: Dan, those are pretty serious charges to level against someone in that position.
Dan: Dad, the New York State health care system is in terrible trouble. There are articles practically written every day on the subject. There's a shortage of nurses, auxiliary help, hospital beds. And money has even created a crisis.
Larry: I know that. I've read the articles. It's -- it's true all over the place. What's that got to do with you and the trouble you had in New York?
Dan: Because I went on record and on camera denouncing the state of health care at that particular hospital. I named names, dates, and times of incompetency that bordered on malpractice.
Larry: Thereby winning a lot of fans in that institution, not the least of which was the Chief of Staff.
Dan: Whom I named and labeled. Dad, there are a lot of things this gentleman could have done to alleviate the crisis. But he insists upon sticking to the methods that used to work, simply because they used to work!

Dan is now so heated that he has started shouting.

Larry: Dan, come on -- I'm in the same room. You don't have to yell.
Dan: But don't you realize? You see how emotional I get on this subject? Dad, I did what I had to do. I couldn't live with myself if I didn't do it. And you can't criticize me for that, because you've always taught me to do what I think is right.
Larry: Yeah, you're right -- I have. And I don't criticize you. But I just think there might have been other, more constructive ways of dealing with the situation.
Dan: I did what I had to do. And even though I got kicked off the staff, the city is investigating the Chief of Staff for his archaic methods and regulations.
Larry: Okay. Listen, I'm glad you told me the truth about what happened, and, Dan, once again, I am proud of you. Do me a favor, though. If -- if something around this hospital bothers you, would you come to me first before you go public?
Dan: Sure thing, Pop.

--end scene--

Dan exits Larry's office and sees Brenda sitting in a chair in the waiting area with her feet propped up on the little table next to the chair as she reads a file.

Dan: Feet up on the desk, huh?

Brenda looks up and smiles at him.

Brenda: Uh, doctor's orders.
Dan: (sticking his hand out to meet her again) Dan Wolek, Larry's son.
Brenda: That's a little more civilized there. (shaking his hand) Dan, I'm awful sorry about coming down on you so hard in there.
Dan: Hey, hey, that's quite all right. I appreciate your fierce protection of my father and his office.

Dan notices that Brenda seems preoccupied looking at a man standing nearby.

Dan: What -- what's the matter? What's wrong?

Brenda gets up and shows him the man nearby.

Brenda: No, uh, it's just this man over here. He's -- I -- I've seen him several times so far.

Brenda puts her hand on Dan's stomach as she steers him to look at the man.

Brenda: I thought he might be visiting a patient, but I think he's wandering the halls, Dan.
Dan: Well, do you want to check him out?
Brenda: Yeah, let's get over there quick.

They approach the man.

Brenda: Excuse me, sir. Are you visiting a patient here on the floor?

The man seems out of it and ignores Brenda.

Dan: Sir, why are you here in this hospital?

Suddenly, the man's face takes on a shocked expression, and Dan is able to catch him just before he hits the floor.

Dan: He's having a seizure!
Brenda: I've got his arms. I've got his arms. Can you hear me, sir?

Some women nearby rush over to see what's going on.

Dan: He's lost conciousness. Check his pockets! See if he's got anything identifying him as an epileptic or if he's carrying any kind of medication.

Brenda checks his pockets.

Brenda: I don't see anything at all in his pockets --
Dan: All right, then I want blood work, a venous and arterial immediately!

A nurse approaches them.

Nurse: Are you a doctor?
Dan: Of course I am.
Nurse: Well, who is this guy?

Dan grabs the nurse's stethoscope off his neck to use on the patient.

Dan: I don't know. I just know that he's just had a seizure. Get a gurney, will you?

The nurse does not immediately go, which frustrates Dan.

Dan: Well, move it!

--end scene--

Brenda, Dan, and the nurse have moved the patient on a gurney and into a room -- he is now conscious again.

Man: Thanks a lot. I'm all right now.

He tries to get up, but Dan stops him.

Dan: Whoa, whoa, whoa, not so fast. Who's your doctor, sir?
Man: I go to the St. James clinic. I see different doctors every time.
Brenda: Were you coming over here for treatment?
Man: No -- to get out of the cold.
Dan: Do you have a home, sir?

The man shakes his head, and Dan turns to Brenda.

Dan: (softly) Why did I think I was leaving this problem in New York City?
Brenda: (softly) Are you kidding, Dan? Homelessness is as big of a problem here as any place.

Dan turns back to address the patient.

Dan: Listen, sir, we're gonna have you, uh, admitted for more testing, okay? Uh, we'll get your medical records from the clinic. Is that okay with you?

The man nods.

Nurse: I'll take care of that, doctor.
Dan: (to the man) Come on.

The nurse begins wheeling the patient out of the room, and Dan helps.

Dan: And give him a hot meal, too.

After the nurse and the patient have left, Brenda turns to Dan and smiles.

Brenda: Well, Dan, that was some very quick thinking on your part.
Dan: You think I'll get in trouble for taking over when I haven't even officially started here yet?
Brenda: No! Are you kidding? That was an emergency.
Dan: Ah, well, that's too bad. Because I don't know how to operate unless I'm in a hostile atmosphere.

Dan's charm is palpable. For Brenda, this may be a problem....

--end transcript--