Episode Report Card Lauren S: B- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT The Big Set-Up
By Lauren S | Season 3 | Episode 11 | Aired on 01.10.2007
After the meeting, Izzie finds Bailey looking at x-rays and explains what is happening, begging to be in on the surgery. Bailey's having none of it until Izzie deposits The Check and won't let up on the "unreasonable" aspect of her behavior, so she's still out of luck.
George and his dad play cards, alone together in Sr.'s hospital room. Out of the blue, he apologizes for running over George's dog. George, however, didn't know it happened until this moment, as he was told the dog ran away. George doesn't want his dad talking like he's dying, but his dad wants to tell George what a good person he is. He also wants him to give Callie a chance, and as George sputters, his dad explains that she gets George the way his family never did. He's sorry that George grew up feeling different. George is clearly paralyzed with fear at having this conversation, but I love his dad for forging ahead with it anyway, though it worries me more and more about his outcome. George finally puts his foot down, saying the sorrys and goodbyes are no way to go into surgery. When his dad asks if there's anything George would like to say to him, George just yells, "Dad!" exasperated, and goes back to playing cards. As he lays his hand down, he mutters, "Dog murderer," and his dad cracks up. It's the sweetest non-gesture he could give before his dad goes under the knife.
George, his mom, Meredith, and a random hospital worker wheel Sr. down the hallway on his way to surgery. Mom has him repeat her warning, which he knows well and dutifully repeats, "If I die, you'll kill me." At that moment, Thatcher turns the corner and runs into all of them. He says hi to Meredith and then to each present member of the O'Malley family in turn, before she points out that she's busy and they go on their way. Once they're past him, Mrs. O'Malley conspiratorially asks if he's an ex-boyfriend, but Meredith mutters that he's an ex-father.
Once the doctors get inside, the news is really bad. The cancer has spread everywhere. But when Meredith assumes that they're going to close him up, Bailey and Richard share a glance over their surgical masks and Bailey tells her they'll proceed. Mere is confused, and Richard explains to her that the patient asked them to proceed with the surgery. "This man asked for a chance to fight. What it means is he's gonna have to fight like hell." Mere asks if there really is a chance he'll recover, and Bailey starts to answer and then realizes what she is really asking and tells her the request was confidential. The air in the room is that of resignation.