By Wing Chun
Props to Key Grip, with whom Sars and I recapped My So-Called Life; to Omar G and Joanna, with whom Glark and I recapped Survivor (and special props to Omar for taking me to the Radiohead show this week and thus changing my life); to Cate and maggie, with whom I recapped Freaks & Geeks (and yes, Virginia, there will be recaps of the three remaining unaired episodes, so STOP ASKING ME, my god); to Pooh, Gustave, and Djb, with whom I watched this episode, and who were my guests this week, thus providing me with an excuse for delaying writing this recap; and, finally, to my blood-sister Sars, for sharing my brain and taking such good care of it. ["Any time, babe. time I won't return it smelling like smoke." -- Sars]
Previously on ER: I made the mistake of ceding half the recapping duties to Sars and cursed my stupidity. Also, the ER staff confronted Carter about his drug use and, in a fit of pique, he quit; Benton confronted him some more, and made poor Carter cry, then hugged him and accompanied him on a plane ride. (I suspect there were more "previouslys" than that, but I had houseguests! Okay, they got cut off. I blame Global, for reasons Canadians will understand.)
Like the alarm clock signalling the end of my recapping summer, a buzzer sounds, and we open on a couple of pairs of feet striding along a highly polished hardwood floor. A super at the bottom tells us, first, that we're in "Atlanta," and that it's "May." The camera pans up to show the determined visage of Peter "Not Wallace" Benton, and the haggard mug of John "Get" Carter. Carter's tie and dress shirt are undone and his hair is sticking up all Rooster Hannigan again; he looks generally dishevelled and resigned -- the latter of which you can tell by the grim line in which his lips are set. Carter glances about warily, letting Benton take the lead. Benton approaches a counter at a glassed-in booth. A nurse with a loud and piercing speaking voice spits, "Name?" Benton quietly gives Carter's and says that someone should have called ahead. Nurse Bitchy appraises Benton suspiciously and disappears into her cube. Carter leans against a wall, rubbing his forehead and labouring to clear his throat. Nurse Bitchy emerges from the cubicle, gives Carter the stink-eye for a little while, and then hands him a form, assuring him that all the information is confidential, and that Carter can sit down on a nearby bench.