Episode Report Card Chuck: C+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Men Behaving Badly
By Chuck | Season 5 | Episode 2 | Aired on 01.12.2002
After thanking him for his support, Busmalis warns Rebadow that he's gonna get his ass kicked; Rebadow shrugs it off, and Busmalis wonders what's wrong. Seems Rebadow's son came to visit and delivered the news that Rebadow's grandson -- Alex, Jr. -- is getting worse. He's developed non-lymphocytic leukemia (yikes) and is in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant. Rebadow's no good as a donor -- no family member will do, because, Rebadow explains, "Alex Junior's mother is of West Indian and Guatemalan descent. My grandson's unique mixed-race heritage makes for the most beautiful skin you'll ever lay eyes on. It also makes finding a suitable donor extremely difficult." I painstakingly transcribe these lines because -- in addition to being rather interesting (and something that, if true, poses considerable challenges -- ah, those pesky laws of nature) -- they represent decent dialogue, which is an unfortunate and increasing rarity on the show. I'd like to give props to those lines and ask for more, please. We come crashing back to earth as Busmalis becomes a living, breathing PSA, lamenting the lack of minority bone marrow donors and wailing that doctors should get the word out and find more. Rebadow lowers himself to Busmalis's level and says that there's never enough money to support worthy causes before trundling off to see Dr. Nathan. From subtle to bludgeon in 8.4 seconds.
According to Dr. Nathan, the umbilical cord, like bone marrow, contains cells that can help fight leukemia, although that's still a very experimental procedure. Interesting leukemia-related fact number two. She sympathizes with Rebadow, and says that when she hears stories like Alex Junior's, her Latina heritage kicks in and makes her upset that she's so American (but she can still say "Latina" with an authentic-sounding accent. Like J. Lo, she's real). When Rebadow asks what she means, she explains that in Central and South America there's a widespread belief that certain herbs can be very effective against disease, but she's such a disciple of Western medicine that if it's not manufactured in a lab and guaranteed to cause extreme birth defects, it's no good to her, as she hands Rebadow some pills to swallow. Ah, the irony.
Dr. Nathan's words light a fire under Rebadow, who heads to the library and asks for any material dealing with herbal medicine, with an emphasis on R&D for leukemia remedies. As he sits in the cafeteria, engrossed in the Well Being Journal, a dark hand reaches across the table and steals Rebadow's cookie. Then another dark hand reaches across and steals his apple. And then his sandwich. Sayeth the oracle of Oz: if white people bury their heads in books, black people will steal their food. Watch out, honky!