Writer: Les Carter and Susan Sisko Director: Dick Lowry.
Daniel and his visitng friend, Veronica, are on the way to the symphony where she's playing cello, when a reckless driver overtakes them. Moments later the car crashes into another car. When Daniel stops and asks the woman driver (Mrs. Saunders) who got hit if she's OK, she looks around then starts calling for her daughter, Alice. Daniel has Veronica call for help while he starts working on the girl who's been thrown from the car. Veronica talks to the other driver and seeing the state he's in, she takes his keys and throws them over the cliff, then starts directing traffic as the emergency vehicles approach. Daniel comes to the hospital in the ambulance with the little girl, but she's very seriously injured. After working with her a while, they finally get her heart started.
Tony has a patient, Ollie, who's not doing his therapy and recovering as quickly as he should. Ollie suggests that if his dog, Russ, were there with him, he'd get better quicker. But Tony points out that's against hospital rules.
Mrs. Saunders stops Daniel to thank him. Daniel explains that Alice is still very seriously hurt. When Daniel suggests she call her husband, she tells him that her husband took off before Alice was born. As they take Alice off for tests, the other driver (Johnny K) is brought in for treatment. Kenji tells Daniel the tests are not looking good and he should go get some rest, but he says he'll stay with the mother.
Tony sees Daniel and suggests that Alice's heart would be perfect for a little boy with congenital heart problems. Daniel refuses to accept that she won't make it yet.
Daniel arranges for a bed so Mrs. Saunders can stay at the hospital. As they get off the elevator, Johnny K and two police officers are getting on. Mrs. Saunders attacks him and Daniel pulls her off. Johnny K and the officers get on the elevator and Mrs. Saunders breaks down.
::commercial::
Veronica and Daniel are walking along a beach talking about the previous day's events. She recounts being the only performer with one shoe on, but she was able to hid it behind the cello. And she looked down at one point and saw blood on her pearl necklace.
Kenji is waiting when they get back to the house with the bad news that the little girl has no brain wave activity and her heart is dying. He also wants to talk about the little boy who needs the transplant. Daniel is reluctant to ask Mrs. Saunders about the transplant, and suggests that it might be easier for someone else to talk to her. Daniel does finally agree to talk to her. Kenji leaves.
Johnny K is waiting in a bar to meet his lawyer, Anthony Detco. We find he's a land developer. The lawyer is telling him that he needs to straighten up to make his case look better. His blood alcohol was .23, and he has lots of priors. Johnny says he'll stop drinking, but he's not happy about it.
Daniel visits the little boy, Bobby. The little boy is looking forward to his birthday and a later trip to Disneyland.
Daniel talks with one of the nurses, Emma, who's planning her wedding.
He stops and visits Ollie, who gets on better with Daniel than he does with Tony. Daniel runs into Tony, and compliments him on his care of Ollie. Ollie has a visitor who brings his dog to him. Ollie hides Russ under the cover when Tony stops in. The neighbor forgot to bring Russ' heating pad, so Ollie tells Tony that a heating pad would help him, so Tony says he'll order him one. Tony is bewildered at Ollie's change of attitude.
Daniel goes to talk to his father for advice on talking to Mrs. Sanders about Alice's heart. His adoptive brother, James, is there also. Daniel plans on heading right back to the hospital, but Mom's made his favorite dish and makes him stay.
Daniel riding along the beach, observing nature and looking for inspiration in talking to Mrs. Saunders.
::commercial::
Daniel & Mrs. Saunders are walking. She's telling him how much Alice loved Hawaii and how they would come back when she was well. Daniel tells her Alice isn't going to get better. She says he talks like she's dead and she knows Alice isn't. He tells her it's the machines keeping her alive and that her brain is dead. He tells her about Bobby and asks for permission to use Alice's heart. At first, she refuses to hear what he's telling her and she talks about all the things she needs to do to get Alice ready for school. He forces her to listen and tells that Alice will live in the little boy.
Ollie is up and walking the halls. He goes back to his room with a bit of pork for Russ, but Russ has escaped. He's running in the hall, and steals food off a tray on a cart. Ollie chases him down and takes him back to his room.
Johnny and his lawyer, comes to see Daniel, saying Johnny didn't mean for the accident to happen. Johnny offers a furnished condo and cash for Mrs. Saunders. Daniel tells them that the mother is going back to New Jersey and won't need their charity. Johnny and lawyer quickly leave.
As they are taking Bobby to surgery, they are stopped by Kenji. Apparently, Johnny and his lawyer have been doing some snooping and they've gotten an injunction signed to stop the harvesting of the heart. As long as Alice is being kept alive, Johnny can't be charged with manslaughter. Kenji doesn't think they can get the injunction lifted in time to save Bobby. Daniel is upset when he realizes that that he's probably the one who made them curious as to Alice's condition.
::commercial::
Veronica is playing the cello in Daniels's house, but he's not really listening. He's thinking about Bobby feeling guilty that his indiscreet comment may have taken away the boy's only chance to live.
Veronica is finishing up packing. Thinking she has everything when Daniel finds something. He mentions that leaving something behind is a subconscious act to ensure having to come back for it. She tells him she is coming back and she expects to be missed.
Daniel goes to Johnny's construction site. He talks about Hawaii and the spirit of life that the native Hawaiians believe in. Daniel says the area Johnny is getting ready to bulldoze is sacred land. People leave prayer stones there. He says Johnny K killed that little girl. Johnny K insists it was an accident. Daniel says that the girl was an accident; by bringing the injunction he's deliberately killing the little boy. Johnny K says Daniel is wrong about him. He'll lift the injunction.
The surgery is back on.
Tony is watching Emma put on lipstick and talking about her upcoming wedding. She starts to throw out the tissue she blotted her lips on when Tony takes it and says he'll put it on his fridge.
Tony confronts Ollie with the evidence that Russ is there -- deposits in the hall, missing food, hair. He jerks back the cover to expose Russ. He says Russ has to leave, but Ollie does too. He's well enough to go home.
The surgery is successful and Alice's heart starts beating in Bobby. Daniel goes to tell Bobby's parents.
Mrs. Saunders has been carrying around one of Alice's stuffed toys. She takes it into Bobby's room. Daniel looks concerned when he sees her in the room. She places the animal on the bed, looks up and sees him. They exchange a long look and she exits, leaving the toy behind.
visitors since 27 May, 2001
© 2001 Please 
me your comments! Lindy
