Brenda is at home when she gets a knock on the door -- it's Dan.

Brenda: Well, looky here!
Dan: Hi.
Brenda: Who says that doctors don't make house calls anymore? Come in, Dan.
Dan: Thanks. Thanks a lot.

Dan comes inside, and Brenda closes the door behind him.

Brenda: Oh, what is it? Did you come here to lecture me about checking out of the hospital too soon or something?
Dan: No, as a matter of fact, I came by to --
Brenda: Listen, it's all right if you do, because you're my doctor --

The camera cuts over to show Dan's face at this moment.

Brenda: -- and you're supposed to be concerned about me. But, Dan, I just thought that I could convalesce a lot better here, especially without the --
Dan: Go on -- without having my father and I hovering around, fighting over your condition.
Brenda: Well, you have to admit that that wasn't helping matters very much, was it?
Dan: Well, that shouldn't be a problem now.

Dan means, of course, that he's been taken off the case, but Brenda pushes ahead before he can explain.

Brenda: Good, so you're not mad at me? I really appreciate you being so understanding. And, listen, um, you know, I'm gonna be fine here. I'm gonna take it easy. In fact, Vera and Carol are gonna come and check on me every day, so I don't think we have anything to worry about. Okay?
Dan: Well, I hope you're right.

Dan walks away from Brenda.

Brenda: Uh, Dan, I get this feeling that you didn't come here just to check on my condition. Oh, what? Is there something else the matter? Something wrong?
Dan: Look, Brenda, it's not so unusual. I'm sure that you've seen this kind of thing in the hospital before.
Brenda: What is it about me and the baby, or what?
Dan: I just thought that I should be the one to tell you first -- my dad's taking me off your case.

Brenda looks shocked.

--end scene--

Dan: He went over my head like I was some stranger -- just another new resident he could push around.
Brenda: I can't believe Larry would do that to his own son.
Dan: Yeah, well, maybe because I'm his son he feels that he has to bend over backwards.

Brenda sighs.

Dan: Anyway, the Chief of Staff agrees with him. He's on your case, and I'm off.
Brenda: Dan, you are my doctor! You're the one who agrees with me on this thing!
Dan: Yeah, well, let's just try and be more fair than he is. He's a pro. He's trying to do things by the book.
Brenda: Right. That means risking my child's life by terminating this pregnancy too early.

Brenda sighs and sits on the sofa.

Dan: Brenda, that is not going to happen. Not if I have anything to say about it.
Brenda: Well, Dan, you just said it just now --

Dan sits on the little coffee table across from her.

Dan: Hey, listen, I might be off the case, but that doesn't mean I'm walking away. I'm gonna find a way to fight what Dad has done. In the meantime, you've got some fighting to do yourself. Dad and that specialist, Dr. DeSalvo, are trying -- are gonna try their damndest to talk you into ending the pregnancy.
Brenda: Well, you know what? They can talk all they want to, 'cause they are not getting this baby.
Dan: You know, when you say it like that, you make me believe you can take on the whole hospital yourself. Still, before you go off and fight Dad and the rest of the staff, are you sure that you understand the risks that you're gonna be taking, Brenda?
Brenda: Listen, Dan -- I'm a nurse. I am used to ruffling doctors' feathers, believe me.
Dan: Brenda, you know the risk that I'm talking about. Dad has his theory, and I have mine.
Brenda: Yes, yes, yes, I know that risk, Dan. I've just made a decision here. My baby has a right to live, and I am gonna do everything to make sure that that happens.

The phone begins to ring.

Dan: Do you want me to get it for you?
Brenda: Mm-mm, um, 'cause I think it might be Larry. He said he was going to call and check on me. So we'll just let it ring, okay?

Brenda sits on the sofa across from the phone and pats the seat next to her to indicate Dan should sit, too.

--end scene--

The phone continues ringing, and Dan heads over to pick it up.

Dan: Brenda, are you sure you don't want me to get that for you?
Brenda: Don't, Dan! Don't!
Dan: Well, if it's Dad calling to see how you're doing --
Brenda: Listen, I am doing him a favor. I am so mad at him right now. If I pick up that phone, I don't think I'll be able to hold this in. See?
Dan: Maybe it was a mistake. I shouldn't have come over here and told you this.

Dan sits in the chair across from Brenda.

Dan: The word should have come from him.
Brenda: You know what I want to know? I want to know how come somebody gets to tell me who my doctor is. I want you, Dan. Now, that should be the end of it.
Dan: Well, it's a more complicated situation than that, Brenda.
Brenda: And -- and you don't mean complicated because of the pregnancy. You're talking about complicated because you're Larry's son. Listen, Dan, I'm sorry that I've come between you two like that. I just feel awful about it.

Brenda holds her head in her hands in frustration.

Dan: Brenda, it is not your fault!
Brenda: Listen, I've chosen you over Larry. Now that's taken away any good feelings he had about you coming to Llanview. You should have seen him, Dan. He was so proud and so happy to have his son a resident at Llanview Hospital.
Dan: Yeah, but you see, that's -- that's our usual history.

Dan gets up from the chair to pace.

Dan: I make him proud, then I disappoint him, and -- even when I'm right -- even when I'm right.
Brenda: Well, right or wrong, I -- I'm gonna cut out of this thing, 'cause I'm not gonna drive a wedge between you any further. Dan, we're just gonna have to accept this decision of his.
Dan: Brenda, no! We are not going to accept it!
Brenda: Listen, and it doesn't mean that I am going to accept his prognosis.

Brenda gets up from the sofa and goes to stand closer to Dan.

Brenda: I mean, I have made up my mind about this, and I -- I'm a nurse. I -- I can take care of myself. I'll just have to do it without any Dr. Woleks on the case.
Dan: Yeah, well, there may be a better way of handling this.
Brenda: I just need time. I just need a month or so, you know, until the baby's strong enough to be born. And with some -- and some rest and a proper diet, I don't think we're gonna have anything to worry about, Dan.
Dan: Oh, you don't know me very well, Brenda. I'll worry more if I'm not on your case. I'm sorry, but there is no way that you or Larry or anyone else is going to get rid of me now.
Brenda: Oh, Dan, that is going to cause so --
Dan: No argument, Nurse McGillis.

He gets a playful look.

Dan: Now I happen to know of a new, special treatment for toxemia. It's a radical procedure, but it never fails to work.

He smiles at her, and she smiles back.

--end scene--

When the scene returns, Brenda is still on the sofa, and Dan is on the chair next to her, and they are playing cards -- Dan is dealing.

Brenda: So this is your idea of radical therapy, huh?
Dan: Well, first we start with Goldfish, and if that doesn't work, then we try Double Solitaire. And even in very severe cases, Dr. Wolek has even opted for poker.
Brenda: Strip, no doubt!
Dan: Well, don't knock it 'til you've tried it, Nurse McGillis.
Brenda: (flirtily) Who says I haven't tried it?

She sticks out her tongue.

Dan: Look at your cards.
Brenda: (looking at her hand) I'm looking at 'em. (excited) Ooh! Oh, Dan. Ohh, Dan.
Dan: I'm a brilliant physician, aren't I?
Brenda: That's what you keep telling me.
Dan: Yes, well, thank you. So trust me.
Brenda: Okay.
Dan: Give me all your kings.
Brenda: (organizing her cards) Oh, I haven't played this silly game in so long. Let's see.
Dan: Yeah, I knew it! I knew it! She's hustling me! I bet you you're hoarding all the kings so you can pounce and win the pile.
Brenda: What are you gonna do? You're gonna write this up in the Journal of Llanview Medicine or something?
Dan: Yes, well, that's a very good idea, Nurse McGillis. Can I please -- kings? Please?
Brenda: Go fish.
Dan: (to himself) She's hustling me, just like I said!

Dan gets a card from the pile.

Dan: Your turn.
Brenda: Give me all your twos.
Dan: Twos? (faux laughter) Ho, ho, ho! You must be desperate, Nurse McGillis.
Brenda: The name of this game is Go Fish, killer. Do you have 'em or don't you?
Dan: Okay, all righty -- here. (he hands her a card) Enjoy.
Brenda: (excited, taking the card) Ooh, I think I will -- because I win.

She puts her hand down in front of him.

Dan: What?
Brenda: (giggling and taking the chips) Read 'em and weep! You know what? You can, uh, you can deal for me any time, Doctor.
Dan: You know, I -- I don't believe this. I don't believe this -- one card! One lousy two, and -- and she wins. It's amazing.

Brenda gets the cards ready to shuffle.

Brenda: You want to play some poker?
Dan: Poker?
Brenda: Yeah.
Dan: Are you kidding me? First, I'll lose my shirt, then my pants, and who knows what else?
Brenda: What's the matter? You scared or something?
Dan: Of course I am.

Brenda almost drops the cards.

Brenda: Oops.
Dan: I know better than to, uh, test the lady who's on the roll.
Brenda: Oh, yeah, me, on a roll? That's a laugh. I don't know -- maybe I am on a roll. Look at this. I'm laughing. You know, I have -- it's been so long since I've had something to laugh at, Dan.
Dan: You know, I, uh, I do that every morning when I shave.

Dan grins at her, and she smiles back.

Brenda: Ha, ha, ha. I mean it. Really. When you told me a little while ago you said that I was gonna have to do some radical procedures -- I mean, the first thing I thought of was more medication, and more procedures. (whispering) I hate that word -- "procedures." It just seems like this thing is never gonna be over, you know? But this is it -- this is the best therapy.
Dan: Yeah?
Brenda: Yeah.
Dan: Well, maybe I'm not such a lousy doctor after all, huh? You mind telling my dad that for me?

Brenda turns serious.

Brenda: Oh, Dan, I'm so sorry.
Dan: Hey, hey, you didn't do anything, Brenda.
Brenda: Yeah, I have. I've caused a lot of trouble between you and Larry.
Dan: Hey, that's -- that's a father-son conflict that goes back a long way. Trust me.
Brenda: I just know that you care a lot about the baby, and that's why I want you to be my doctor.
Dan: Yes, well, the baby is very important to me. (pause) So is the baby's mother.

Brenda and Dan share a look, as they both take in what he's said and what it means.

Brenda: (awkwardly) You want to play poker?

Dan takes the hint.

Dan: Uh, well, you gotta -- you gotta know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em.
Brenda: And know when to walk away and know when to -- run.
Dan: (laughing) Yeah, you know that song?
Brenda: Yeah, I like it. It's one of my favorites.
Dan: Yeah, mine, too.
Brenda: Yeah?

Something makes Dan decide it's okay to keep going, though.

Dan: You know, I know this great country-western place out in the county? And -- well, at least it used to be there before I moved away.
Brenda: You do?
Dan: Yeah. Maybe after the baby's born, we could take a -- a trip out there and catch a show sometime.

Brenda seems shocked.

Brenda: Do you know what you just said?

Dan becomes flustered, realizing that he's asked her out on something that sounds too much like a date.

Dan: Well, if -- if you'd rather not go. I didn't mean anything --
Brenda: No, you just said "after the baby's born."

Dan relaxes again.

Dan: Well, I told you, Brenda -- you are not gonna lose that child.

The phone begins ringing again. Dan does not look happy.

Dan: Well, he's -- he's persistent. I'll give him that. Are you gonna answer it this time?
Brenda: Yeah, you're right. I shouldn't make him worry. Oh!

Brenda gets off the couch and goes to answer the phone.

Brenda: Hello? Yeah, hi, Larry.

The camera shows Dan watching her.

Brenda: No, I'm -- I'm sorry. I didn't -- I didn't mean to make you worry. I -- I was just out for a little while. I must have missed your call earlier.

Dan is no longer watching Brenda -- he looks moodily away.

Brenda: No, I'm -- I'm doing fine. Yeah. I'm taking care of myself. Mm-hmm, taking it easy. Yeah, and Vera's going to be coming by and checking on me a little bit later. No, listen, that's not necessary. I'm -- I'm fine. No, I'm not just saying that! I really am. Yes, and I'll call you if I need you for anything, I -- I promise. Okay, thanks for thinking of me. Yep. Okay. Bye.

She hangs up the phone and groans and heads back over to Dan.

Brenda: Oh, I feel terrible about that.
Dan: Why didn't you tell him?
Brenda: Tell him what?
Dan: That I was here.
Brenda: What, you want more problems? Haven't we had enough problems for today, Dan?

Brenda sits back on the couch.

Dan: Well, yes, I agree, but that smile has seemed to vanish from your face.
Brenda: I don't know. I care so much for your father, but if he makes me choose between this baby and my feelings for him. Well, it's gonna --

Dan, seeing where this is headed, quickly interrupts and grabs the deck.

Dan: Okay! Uh, 7-Card Stud. (teasingly) We're playing for chips, not clothes -- understand?
Brenda: (softly) Deal me in.

--end transcript--