Clinical Page #3

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You have to take a chance on me.

You don't understand.

I let my guard down before. I...

I'm... I'm very sorry,

and I promise, I will...

I will do anything...

Anything you ask me.

- Just... Can you stop?

- I know you're the only one who can...

Please.

I can send you a list of recommendations.

[door opens]

You must be Nora.

Come on in.

How, um...

How do I start?

You don't need to be nervous.

This will be easy.

It doesn't seem easy.

If at any point you're uncomfortable,

you can always stop.

You're in control.

Do you see a lot of kids my age?

I specialize in adult

and adolescent psychiatry.

Is this confidential?

[tense music]

The only person I'll talk to is you.

No one will know I'm here?

No one.

And I do...

need help.

[gasps]

[clock ticking]

[straining]

[gasps, panting]

Hey, what's... what's going on?

Oh, it's just... It's okay.

I-I-I couldn't breathe for a second.

- Oh!

- You all right?

Yeah.

So, what do you think?

Mm? [Startles]

Um, maybe you should...

I don't think there's any possibility

of me getting ahead in that place.

I don't know, I just don't see it.

[no audio]

[no audio]

[]

[vocalist] I see the

Snowflakes fall...

Jane?

Oh, yeah!

- Here you go.

- That'll do it.

- More lights.

- Little bit of color.

[laughs] I really don't know

what got on that. Oy.

- Oh, that's not pretty.

- Yikes.

- Oh.

- We got a lone survivor.

- Yeah.

- [chuckles]

[dramatic music starts]

I'll take that.

Hey, listen.

We've been seeing each other

a while now, right?

Yes.

I think we're at the point...

where if something...

if you want to talk about something...

I'm not gonna run away.

I like you, Jane.

A lot.

[phone buzzing]

- Oof.

- [beeps]

Oh, Jane... This is Alex. I t...

I took too many pills.

Can you help me?

I don't have anybody else.

- Something important?

- Yeah.

It's a patient of mine.

I'm sorry, I gotta go.

Everything all right?

- Yeah. I'll explain when I get back, okay?

- [keys jangle]

[door opens and closes]

[knocking]

Alex!

Alex?

[static hissing]

[pounding on door]

Alex, open the door.

[pounding on door]

Open the door.

You... you didn't call an ambulance.

No.

But if you don't let me in, I will.

Sorry.

I didn't mean to call you.

It's okay.

What did you take?

If you don't tell me,

I'm going to have to call 911.

[sighs] I'm scared.

[sobs] I don't want to live like this,

but I can't...

I don't want to...

I keep thinking about...

I keep thinking about her.

[gasps] Alex.

Oh.

[panting]

[coughing]

I'm sorry, Jane.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

How many of these did you take?

[Alex sighs]

I just wanted to sleep for a while.

What did you give me?

It's called Naloxone.

I only use it for emergencies.

And you didn't call an ambulance, did you?

- 'Cause I can't afford...

- Don't worry.

Please don't give up on me.

The breathing exercises have been working.

The insomnia is still bad,

but it's better than...

You put up some Christmas decorations.

When I came in, I saw the tree.

You were saying something.

Stay with that.

Better than...?

You know what I was about to say.

But you need to say it.

It's better than trying to kill myself.

Good.

Very good.

For the first time in a long time,

I-I really want to get better.

Well, then, we need to finish talking

about the night of the accident.

We need to learn how to exist with it.

I... do you think I can handle it?

Yes, you can.

Come on.

- Oh...

- Ahem. Take a breath.

Start breathing evenly.

In and out.

Feel the weight of your limbs

pulling you down.

Feel the ground underneath your feet.

Breathe deeply, evenly.

Yes, that's good.

Just relax.

Now, take me back.

[Alex] I'll try.

[Jane] You're on a road.

[Alex] I'm on the road.

There's a hand.

Help, please.

I need to help him, but...

I'm really scared.

My-my face feels hot.

[woman sobbing]

I can help them.

I can help them. I'm doing this.

Get back.

And...

Hello? Can you hear me?

I'm gonna need your help, okay?

And then...

Oh...

- [police radio chatter]

- And then...

I don't know. I can't...

Oh, I can't. Damn it. God damn it.

That's okay. Just pause for a moment.

No. This-this isn't helping.

This is... this is a nightmare for me.

I-I kn... I know what happened.

You know because you were told.

Right?

I think you saved them.

And I wish I'd never stopped.

There's nothing you can do about that.

We're not here to regret the past.

I think we're onto something, Alex.

Do you know what PTSD is?

Of course, it's all you hear about

on the news with the cops and soldiers.

Right, there's that, but it can be used

to describe all kinds of traumas.

Assaults, loss of a loved one,

major surgeries...

So, if we can expose the trauma,

we can move past it.

I don't... I don't want

to keep remembering.

It's-it's too much.

I can't. I can't. I'm sorry.

Just try.

Try.

In your apartment, you mentioned "her."

Was that the woman in the accident?

Oh, I can't sleep because I keep

being dragged back to that place.

Do you have any idea what that's like?

I do.

I do.

Um, I've, uh...

You've what?

- I've...

- You've what?

I have to go.

[door opens]

[sighs]

[phone buzzing]

Hello.

Hi. Um... it's Alex.

[sighs] I just wanted to apologize.

That-that wasn't me.

I-I appreciate what you're trying to do.

You can't just storm out

whenever anything gets painful.

That's not gonna help you get better.

I know, you're right. I'm sorry.

You're right.

You're only trying to help me,

and I'm...

I'm waking up in your house

and running out of...

Can I still see you next week?

Same time.

Have a good weekend.

[beeps]

[crickets chirping]

[object bangs]

[distant dogs barking]

[wind rises]

[faucet running]

[rustling]

[labored breathing]

- [grunts]

- Aah!

[Nora] You don't have to be nervous.

This'll be easy.

[distant choir singing

"Ding Dong Merrily on High"]

Nora?

Nora, I want to help,

but this needs to stop.

Nora?

[singing continues]

Nora.

[vocalists, on radio]

Ding dong, ding dong

Ding dong, ding dong

E'en so here below, below...

- [music stops]

- [nearby clatter]

[Nora] Dr. Mathis?

Dr. Mathis?

[Jane gasps]

[panting]

[birds chirping]

[doctor] We needed the room.

You should've notified me.

Well, you know how this works.

Her next of kin died a year ago.

He was the one footing the bills.

I mean, I'm... I'm not a monster.

I kept her here as long as I could,

but I had to let go of most of my staff,

and Nora showed progress.

She was my patient.

I should've been notified

of her release.

When she left the facility,

she was calm, she was stable.

You mean doped up?

Look, whatever happened

between you two,

the medication had

nothing to do with it.

Where were you keeping her?

Right this way.

This is our quiet room

for our more aggressive patients,

people who might hurt others.

It actually has one of our best views.

How long was she here for?

Twenty-three months.

What are you looking for?

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