Code Black Season 1, Episode 4 is another solid hour of the CBS freshman series. One of the reveals in "Sometimes It's a Zebra" lets viewers know that this is a show that's not going to reveal all of it's secrets all at once! Really, how could it? These doctors have a heavy caseload all the time so they're not a lot of time for telling a character's life story. Even though not every case is a perfect 10 in this, every episode gives us enough pieces to make each one of these people interesting and pique more curiosity about who they are and where things are headed.
The episode's title comes from the phrase: "When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras." In medicine, it means when looking at the symptoms you should rule out the obvious before jumping to the exotic. Like, every headache is not a brain tumor - unless, of course, it is. In this episode, there are a few zebras prancing about - but the horses are as beautiful and they are worthy of attention as well - maybe even more so.
Chef, a happy drunk guy who'd cut his arm, is the highlight patient of this episode. Head nurse Jesse warned Mario that he needs to get the man out of the E.R. before he starts going into withdrawal because once he does they can't let him leave - because alcohol withdrawal "can be fatal for alcoholics."
It's was a little surprising to me that Mama's the one suggesting to kick out Chef. Even Mario notes that doing so means the man will just go and start drinking again. (Yes, Mario does show some concern.) Nevertheless, Mario tried to do what Mama said. It's hard because Chef really wants to sober up. His daughter is getting married the next day and he doesn't want to show up drunk. That's when Chef saw Dr. Rorish - who had just finished talking with Christa about the baby. He obviously knew the doctor because he called her "Leanne." This guy is a regular customer.
Leanne started checking Chef's eyes. Mario then parroted what Jesse told him about not having the space to keep him and added that Chef would just go out and get drunk again anyway. Leanne wasn't pleased.
Leanne: "Thanks for your opinion, Dr. Savetti, but we have no choice once alcohol withdrawal has begun."
Mario: "It hasn't."
Leanne: "Oh really?" Leanne had Christa come over and look at Chef's tongue. "Tell me what you see."
Christa: "Tongue fasciculations most likely from alcohol withdrawal."
Leanne gave Mario the "Daddy glare" and walked away. Mario whined at Christa as if she somehow made him look bad on purpose – which she didn't. All she did was answer the question. His thought that she'd done it deliberately is more in line with how he thinks about things. It's the first lesson of the night that Mario got about going it alone. It showed him just how not great it feels to be not supported by your colleagues – even though in truth that's not what actually happened.
Watching this all play out I wonder if we're supposed to think Jesse set Mario up for that scene. If Chef knew Leanne he likely knew Jesse as well, which means Jesse likely knew exactly how Leanne would respond to this situation. Jesse's bad advice to Mario makes me think Mama set this entire situation up to teach Mario a lesson or two.
Jesse: "Life lesson: when your daddy tells you to do something – just do it."
Mario is pulled off that case. Instead at various times, we see Jesse, Christa, and Leanne dealing with Chef as he goes through withdrawal. There are times where it's really bad, but Leanne and Christa handle it. "This is the best wedding gift you can give your daughter," Christa tells him. At the end of it all - the treating him in a broom closet, the sweats and the shakes - we learn that next day he's gone back to drinking. Why is this patient a zebra? Because Leanne knew that the man's daughter had died ten years prior - on her wedding day.
Leanne: "This is what is known as a 'grief ritual.' Trauma one was the last place he saw her alive. He's stuck in that moment and he tries to escape it - but he can't."
There's more to this story...Mama eluded to as much earlier. Maybe this man's daughter was in the car being driven by the drunk driver? Perhaps it's more that Leanne relates to the idea of a "grief ritual." Maybe alcohol was her friend for a time after the accident. I'm looking forward to learning more about the things that have Dr. Rorish the doctor we see now.
The best part of the episode was the heart-to-heart with Chef and Leanne.
Chef: Can I go see my daughter now?
Leanne: Chef, you can't just do it for your daughter. You've got to do it for you. You've got to believe you're worth it. Here's a prescription for Librium and a card for our addiction clinic. Now, you promise me that you will call that number before you take a drink.
Chef: I promise you, Leanne I'm not gonna blow it this time.
This story affects Mario. It's another opportunity to see that the guy does, in fact, have a heart. Just prior to the closing scene with Leanne he'd seen Angus and Malaya all going out together to grab breakfast after their shift. He looked sad, contrite, and lonely. There may be hope for him yet, but this was still a bit upsetting to see.
The episode's title comes from the phrase: "When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras." In medicine, it means when looking at the symptoms you should rule out the obvious before jumping to the exotic. Like, every headache is not a brain tumor - unless, of course, it is. In this episode, there are a few zebras prancing about - but the horses are as beautiful and they are worthy of attention as well - maybe even more so.
Chef, a happy drunk guy who'd cut his arm, is the highlight patient of this episode. Head nurse Jesse warned Mario that he needs to get the man out of the E.R. before he starts going into withdrawal because once he does they can't let him leave - because alcohol withdrawal "can be fatal for alcoholics."
It's was a little surprising to me that Mama's the one suggesting to kick out Chef. Even Mario notes that doing so means the man will just go and start drinking again. (Yes, Mario does show some concern.) Nevertheless, Mario tried to do what Mama said. It's hard because Chef really wants to sober up. His daughter is getting married the next day and he doesn't want to show up drunk. That's when Chef saw Dr. Rorish - who had just finished talking with Christa about the baby. He obviously knew the doctor because he called her "Leanne." This guy is a regular customer.
Leanne started checking Chef's eyes. Mario then parroted what Jesse told him about not having the space to keep him and added that Chef would just go out and get drunk again anyway. Leanne wasn't pleased.
Leanne: "Thanks for your opinion, Dr. Savetti, but we have no choice once alcohol withdrawal has begun."
Mario: "It hasn't."
Leanne: "Oh really?" Leanne had Christa come over and look at Chef's tongue. "Tell me what you see."
Christa: "Tongue fasciculations most likely from alcohol withdrawal."
Leanne gave Mario the "Daddy glare" and walked away. Mario whined at Christa as if she somehow made him look bad on purpose – which she didn't. All she did was answer the question. His thought that she'd done it deliberately is more in line with how he thinks about things. It's the first lesson of the night that Mario got about going it alone. It showed him just how not great it feels to be not supported by your colleagues – even though in truth that's not what actually happened.
Watching this all play out I wonder if we're supposed to think Jesse set Mario up for that scene. If Chef knew Leanne he likely knew Jesse as well, which means Jesse likely knew exactly how Leanne would respond to this situation. Jesse's bad advice to Mario makes me think Mama set this entire situation up to teach Mario a lesson or two.
Jesse: "Life lesson: when your daddy tells you to do something – just do it."
Mario is pulled off that case. Instead at various times, we see Jesse, Christa, and Leanne dealing with Chef as he goes through withdrawal. There are times where it's really bad, but Leanne and Christa handle it. "This is the best wedding gift you can give your daughter," Christa tells him. At the end of it all - the treating him in a broom closet, the sweats and the shakes - we learn that next day he's gone back to drinking. Why is this patient a zebra? Because Leanne knew that the man's daughter had died ten years prior - on her wedding day.
Leanne: "This is what is known as a 'grief ritual.' Trauma one was the last place he saw her alive. He's stuck in that moment and he tries to escape it - but he can't."
There's more to this story...Mama eluded to as much earlier. Maybe this man's daughter was in the car being driven by the drunk driver? Perhaps it's more that Leanne relates to the idea of a "grief ritual." Maybe alcohol was her friend for a time after the accident. I'm looking forward to learning more about the things that have Dr. Rorish the doctor we see now.
The best part of the episode was the heart-to-heart with Chef and Leanne.
Chef: Can I go see my daughter now?
Leanne: Chef, you can't just do it for your daughter. You've got to do it for you. You've got to believe you're worth it. Here's a prescription for Librium and a card for our addiction clinic. Now, you promise me that you will call that number before you take a drink.
Chef: I promise you, Leanne I'm not gonna blow it this time.
This story affects Mario. It's another opportunity to see that the guy does, in fact, have a heart. Just prior to the closing scene with Leanne he'd seen Angus and Malaya all going out together to grab breakfast after their shift. He looked sad, contrite, and lonely. There may be hope for him yet, but this was still a bit upsetting to see.