Dementia

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1

There's a long, long trail a-winding

Into the land of my dreams

Where the nightingale's a-singing

And the white moon beams

There's a long, long night of waiting

Until my dreams all come true

Until the day when I'll be going

Down that long, long trail with you

Uh, Queen to B6.

Queen to B6, huh?

- You sure about that, Sammy?

- Yeah, I think so.

Uh, looks about right to me.

Well, you know, this is the closest

you've come to beating me in 10 years.

So do you want me to take you out

in 3 moves or 5?

Loser's choice.

Oh, that's very generous of you.

I'm being as gentle as I can.

"I'm being as gentle as I can."

- Hello?

- Well, he's my son, too.

Yeah, you're... you're a little bit old

- to be arguing custody, huh?

- What?

Well, you just said, "He's my son, too."

- Oh, did I? I...

- Yeah.

I don't know.

Sam, I'm gonna be a minute, all right?

- The f***, old man?

- I'm just cleaning my rifle.

- Does it look all right to you?

- Jesus Christ!

- You okay, son?

- I'm hurt.

Well, you gotta get up anyway.

Thanks.

Now if he comes after you again

you aim for some sensitive spot.

His nut sack or his eyeball.

Yeah.

Are you okay?

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, I'm al... I'm okay.

You just keep hittin' him.

You just keep on hittin' him

and he will not bother you...

any... anymore.

Oh, you're awake.

Who are you?

Who do you think?

Shelby?

Bingo. Cool tattoo.

What does FFD mean?

Nothing.

Well, you've grown up

since I last saw you.

- We've met?

- You were very young, yeah.

- How old are you now?

- 18.

- Is that still high school?

- College, freshman.

Good for you.

How long have I been out?

6 months.

I'm kidding. Just like a day or so.

- Where's George?

- George? You mean Jerry.

Well, the good news is your father

was found quickly after the stroke began.

He got lucky.

As we say with strokes

time lost is brain lost.

The bad news is

there was still some damage.

Strokes cut off blood to the brain

and a host of symptoms can develop.

Collectively, these symptoms

are referred to as dementia.

I'm prescribing drugs to thin

his blood to prevent future clots.

However, should he have

another episode use this.

What is it?

That is an aggressive thinner.

In case of emergencies, use that

to break up the clot and save his brain.

But only in an emergency.

Okay, um, thank you, Dr. Chandler.

Keep his blood pressure down,

avoid stress.

Keeping him calm will keep him alive.

Hey, George!

Good to see you on your feet.

You know, you really left me

hanging there, buddy.

I had to finish the game

playing both sides myself.

- And you lost.

- Selfish prick.

Hey, can I get you anything?

- Strong cup of Joe.

- Yeah, how about decaf?

None of the good stuff

until your blood pressure goes down.

Now, back in bed, old man.

Hendricks?

Look, grandpa, you're famous.

- Shelby.

- Uh?

Did you really point a gun at that kid?

- It wasn't even loaded.

- I didn't know you were a war hero.

I am a war hero. Not dead yet.

You can't go around pointing guns at kids.

Do you wanna make that, uh... potato chip

chicken tonight, Shelby, your favorite?

- Yeah, when I was, like, nine.

- It would be very helpful.

What do you think, grandpa?

Since I'm the only girl here,

does that mean I have to cook?

I'm sure he would appreciate it.

Hey, Dad, you hungry?

You okay, Dad?

I'm glad you're okay, Dad.

Meow.

Oh, Christ, you're a shedder, aren't you?

Grandpa?

Who are you?

- I was just...

- Who the hell are you?

- It's me, Shelby.

- Get out of my house.

- Dad!

- What the hell's going on?

This b*tch broke into my house.

Dad, this is Shelby,

this is your granddaughter.

- Sit down.

- No.

Sit the f*** down!

Do you know who I am?

My son.

- And you know that I have a daughter?

- Yes, of course.

And she is also your granddaughter

and you never talk to her that way.

No.

No.

I'm sorry, son.

We need to find you, someplace,

a home that can handle this,

- just until you get better.

- This is my home.

We start looking tomorrow,

end of discussion.

- Good morning.

- Good morning.

I'm sorry, is... is this

the home of George Lockhart?

Yeah, I'm... I'm Jerry, I'm his son.

Is... is this about the neighbor kid?

No, no, uh, I was just sent by the hospital

to check up on Mr. Lockhart.

May I come in?

Yeah, of course, uh, come on in, doctor...

Nurse. Michelle Anderson.

I specialize in... in mental health

and, um, and stroke recovery.

Who is this?

Uh, Dad, this is, uh, the nurse.

We met briefly in the hospital.

- Do you remember me, Mr. Lockhart?

- I've never seen you in my life.

Sorry, he's been difficult today.

No, it's okay, I'm sure he's had

an eventful couple of days.

I see, um, I see you're a war hero.

- I am.

- Well, that's quite an honor.

Do you mind if I just take

a quick look at you?

- It'll really only take a minute.

- I'm fine.

Could you sit down for me, please?

- Would you mind getting us a glass of water?

- Of course.

I just wanna talk to you

about what's happening.

What you're going through

is more common than you think.

I'd rather be dead than a Jell-O eater.

Well, we won't let that happen.

Just look straight ahead for me, please.

There are ways to retrain your body

to behave the way in which you're familiar.

Of course, it takes some patience.

Are you going to be Mr. Lockhart's

primary caregiver?

No, actually... Shelby and I just flew in

to help George with his transition.

Speak of the devil.

- Oh.

- Oh, hi.

We've actually started looking into assisted

living, uh, communities in the area.

If there are any that you

can recommend that'd be great.

Take a deep breath in for me.

You know, there are many establishments

that I'm sure George would likely enjoy.

Uh... of course, for the same price

you can afford a live in nurse

who specializes in stroke recovery and...

can take care of George

in the comfort of his own home.

- I mean, you have a beautiful house.

- It isn't his house.

I think Mr. Lockhart seems to be

within normal parameters for recovery.

- I'll report back to your doctor.

- Told ya I was fine.

Thank you for your hospitalities.

I wish you guys all the best.

Could you do the home care?

Um, uh, for the right situation, uh, yes.

I can write you down

my number and if you...

wanna give me a call to talk about it

I can do that, um...

Okay, well... we'll discuss it

and get back to you.

Thank you again for everything.

Thanks.

- She seems good.

- What'd ya think, Dad?

- I don't like her.

- Well, that's good enough for me.

You'd rather live in a shared room

with dying, old people

than in your own house with one nurse?

She's got a lot of spirit, Georgie.

All right, hopefully this

is more comfortable for you.

- Why does he live in such a big house?

- Well, I think he built it in the hopes

that he would lure my mom

and I back here to live with him.

It is a beautiful house,

I gotta hand it to him.

Yeah, I don't know it, uh,

it didn't really do it for me.

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