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Sgt. Pepper's Broken Heart's Club Band


by Erica Fox




HOUSE

"Sgt. Peppers Broken Hearts Club Band"

Written By

Erica Fox

TEASER

FADE IN:

1 EXT. DONOVAN'S HOUSE - ESTABLISHING. 1

An upscale, lakeside house. Neighbors pass by.

2 INT. DONOVAN'S HOUSE - OFFICE -- DAY. 2

Reveal DONOVAN FLINT ARROW, 35, Native American, in his pajamas, dark freckles, blue mole on upper lip, heart surgery scar, arms covered with dark red spots. He is at his computer, viewing a website called: "Native Hearts: An online community for Natives with congenital heart defects". A large dog lies at his feet.

Donovan types the instant message a/s/l? under the screen name "Nova" to a chatter named "Odawa Boy". He starts to cough and wheeze. Donovan picks up an asthma inhaler to use.

Odawa Boy types "19/M/Petoskey, MI".

Donovan types: "35/M/Princeton, N.J., originally from Petoskey."

Odawa Boy types: "Small world, You Odawa?"

Donovan types: "Yes I am. I grew up on the rez."

Odawa Boy types "Man this really is a small world, so did I".

Donovan types: "What's your defect?"

The dog walks toward the door, whimpering.

DONOVAN (to the dog) Hold on Bruno.

Odawa Boy types "A narrowed aortic valve, I just had it replaced last week". Donovan types another message.

Donovan types: "My heart goes out to you, if you'll pardon the pun"

Odawa Boy types "Thanks, what did you need fixing for? Enter

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

TORI O'FANNIN, 35, Irish accent, casually dressed. Donovan types: "Tetralogy of Fallot, it consists of a hole between the bottom heart chambers, narrowed pulmonary valve, misplaced aorta, and a thickened right ventricle".

TORI (to Donovan) Get dressed Nova, we're going to look at some wedding gowns.

DONOVAN Okay.

TORI (to Donovan) Having fun with your broken hearts club?

Odawa boy types "Whoa, all that?"

DONOVAN Yeah, lots of fun.

Donovan types: "I have to go. I'm checking out some wedding dresses with my fianc."

TORI How's the business?

DONOVAN Great, I sold three houses this week.

TORI That's wonderful.

Odawa Boy types "Cool Beans! Congrats on finding the girl of your dreams."

Donovan types: "Thank you so much, gotta go, bye."

Odawa Boy types "You're welcome, bye" and logs off. Donovan turns off the computer.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING: TORI (helpless) You look awful. You've been like this for two days. I wish I knew what was wrong.

Rapid heartbeat sounds are heard. Donovan becomes sweaty. Donovan places a hand on his chest as his breath catches.

TORI (worried) Are you all right Nova?

DONOVAN (breathless) No, it's my heart.

TORI (worried) Are you having chest pain?

DONOVAN (anxious, short of breath) No, it's just pounding so fast.

Donovan places Tori's hand on his chest.

DONOVAN (panicked) Feel it.

TORI Oh no. I'll call the doctor.

Dizzy, Donovan stands up as he places a hand on his forehead then collapses. Tori kneels down by Donovan.

TORI (hysterical) Nova! FADE OUT:

END OF TEASER

ACT ONE

3 INT. HOSPITAL HALLWAY - NIGHT. 3

House, playing a Sony PSP, and Wilson are walking down the hallway decorated for Valentine's Day.

WILSON Is that the new Indiana Jones game?

HOUSE Why is it not obvious to you?

No answer, a sound rewards House for moving up a level.

HOUSE (elated) Yes! Made it to level five!

WILSON Already? Gosh you're really kicking butt.

HOUSE Yep. It's what I do best, and what you're secretly jealous of.

WILSON (conceding) Okay I admit it, I wish I could be as nimble as you at those games.

HOUSE (not impressed) You're just trying to suck up to me. That's what your admission was all about.

WILSON Well, I guess you're right about that too.

House and Wilson pause at the door of Donovan's hospital room. House looks in at Donovan having an EKG done by Chase. House opens Donovan's file. Wilson takes a peak.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

HOUSE Well well well, what do we have here? Ooh a heart patient. Nice Valentine's Day gift Wilson.

WILSON Donovan Flint Arrow, 35 year old male. Collapsed after experiencing heart Palpitations, shortness of breath and dizziness.

HOUSE The past two weeks he's been having symptoms of decompensating heart failure despite Digoxin, Lasix, and Captopril, fever and joint pain.

Wilson talks hold of the chart to get a closer look.

WILSON Look at his history, childhood repair of Tetralogy Of Fallot. Mitral valve stenosis from child hood rheumatic fever, severe asthma.

HOUSE He grew up on an Indian reservation where the health care system sucks. It's where nothing good ever happens, maybe I'll move there.

WILSON Severe pulmonic regurgitation stemming from the T.O.F. operation diagnosed last year.

HOUSE And he's developed a new murmur.

House, looking angry closes the file.

WILSON Sounds like endocarditis.

HOUSE Wilson, did Cuddy assign you to

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

HOUSE (CONT'D) this case?

WILSON Uh, no.

HOUSE Then leave the diagnosing to me.

Still looks angry.

WILSON What's the matter?

HOUSE (angry) Dad, Dr. Weber, Stacy, Tritter.

WILSON Are you having nightmares again?

A sick look appears on House's face as he places a hand on his upper abdomen. Heartbeat sounds are heard.

HOUSE (sick) Oh.

WILSON (concerned) House? Are you okay?

HOUSE Yeah, it's just a little indigestion.

WILSON Probably because you're stressed from all the grudges you're holding. You got to let them go.

HOUSE In your dreams.

4 INT. DONOVAN'S HOSPITAL ROOM - CONTINUIOUS. 4

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

Donovan, hooked up to oxygen, sweaty, still breathing fast, lies in bed with his barrel chest and swollen abdomen exposed. The chest is covered with dark freckles and blue moles. Chase finishes performing an EKG on him. Tori stands nearby.

CHASE Donovan, your palpitations were due to an episode of atrial fibrillation. Has this happened before?

DONOVAN (breathless) Yeah. I've been having it for the past few days, but not this bad.

TORI What's causing it?

CHASE Abnormal heart rhythms are a frequent complication of any type of heart disease or heart surgery.

DONOVAN Like my bad valves?

Donovan grabs a cup of water and picks at the ice in it.

CHASE Most likely.

Donovan's fingers turn white.

TORI He doesn't need surgery does he?

Donovan's fingers turn blue.

CHASE As of right now, it's too early to determine that.

Donovan's fingers turn red. Donovan jerks his hand from the ice.

(CONTINUING)

CONTINUING: DONOVAN Ow.

A shocked Chase intently stares at Donovan's fingers before pulling off the bed sheets to reveal swollen legs covered with a lattice-like purple mottling.

5 INT.RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENT - CONTINUOUS. 5

A nervous House enters, opening a bottle of Tums and holding an x-ray of Donovan's chest. Chase and Cameron are waiting for him.

CHASE Raynaud's phenomenon in the hands, livedo reticularis on the legs, arms have vasculitis, fever, joint pain.

HOUSE (nervous, humming the Dragnet Theme) Tum tum tum tum. Tum tum tum tum Tums.

House places the x-ray on a light box.

HOUSE (pretending to be shocked) Whoa, that is one big, fat Heart. Chase, administer Nitroglycerin, Bumetanide, and Dobutamine.

House turns toward Cameron and Foreman.

HOUSE Can someone tell me what causes previously well controlled heart failure to go down the toilet along with the symptoms Chase described?

House takes a few Tums.

(CONTINUING)

CONTINUING:

CAMERON In the setting of preexisting valvular heart disease, it has be subacute bacterial endocarditis.

HOUSE (mouth full) Not in a billion years. The blood cultures were negative.

Foreman enters with a lab report.

FOREMAN His lab work just came in.

Foreman hands the report to House. Cameron takes a peak.

HOUSE Elevated white count, anemia, low platelets, elevated ESR and C-reactive protein.

FOREMAN It must be an infection.

House hands Donovan's blood culture results to Foreman.

HOUSE Ooh, you just missed out on your most valuable clue Heraclitus.

FOREMAN (puzzled) The culture's clean?

HOUSE Meaning?

FOREMAN Lupus is causing Libman Sacks Endocarditis.

CAMERON But that doesn't rule out bacteria or fungi that require conditions

(CONTINUING)

CONTINUING:

CAMERON (CONT'D) different than what a routine blood culture allows, and besides, Lupus would lower the white count, not raise it.

CHASE Cameron's right, there's dozens of rarer bacterial and fungal species that cause infective endocarditis.

HOUSE Donovan's heart valves will turn to mush by the time you identify the offending organism.

FOREMAN Unless you narrow it down to the most likely sources.

CHASE There's no history of recent dental work, surgery, or other illness.

CAMERON He works in real estate so his job wouldn't put him at risk.

FOREMAN He denied alcohol or drug abuse.

House grabs his leg as if in pain.

HOUSE Oh everybody lies. Nobody likes to admit they're addicted. Ask him if he likes Cheyenne Champagne.

All give House a "what the hell is that" look. House pops a few Vicodin.

HOUSE That's the Native American word

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

HOUSE (CONT'D) for Lysol. Cameron test a new set of blood cultures for vice bugs. Foreman do an ANA and anti double stranded DNA.

FOREMAN You still think it's autoimmune don't you?

HOUSE That's for me to know and for you to find out. (to Chase) Chase do a transesophageal echocardiogram. Start heparin and Warfarin so those atria don't turn into clot factories in an earthquake zone.

Foreman catches on to House's nervousness.

FOREMAN House, are you okay?

HOUSE (to himself) Only if I could get back at dad, Stacey, and that jackass Tritter.

FOREMAN No offense, but aren't you getting a little carried away with your grudge holding?

HOUSE M.Y.O.B.

INT. DONOVAN'S HOSPITAL ROOM - CONTINUING.

Cameron is drawing Donovan's blood while Foreman assists.

DONOVAN (defensive) I already told you I don't shoot Drugs, and I do not drink.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

FOREMAN (sternly) Are you absolutely sure? Cause the blood culture's going to tell me if you're lying.

DONOVAN (beat) All right, me and Tori went to a rave last month. We were just trying it out.

CAMERON Did you shoot anything then?

DONOVAN Okay I admit it, but I only did it Once, and I do not recommend it.

FOREMAN Donovan it only takes one prick from a dirty needle to inject enough bacteria to infect your heart valves.

DONOVAN I cleaned the needle before I used it.

CAMERON (doesn't believe him) With your spit I imagine.

INT. CLINIC - RECEPTION AREA - DAY.

The place is filled with the sick, not-so-sick and family. Cuddy is sitting at the desk typing. House, once again pale, sweaty, and nervous enters, chomping a Burger King breakfast club sandwich, hoping Cuddy won't notice that he's late.

CUDDY Late as usual.

HOUSE Oh good morning Dr. Cuddy. I don't see why you need to keep reminding

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

HOUSE(CONT'D) me of my lateness when it never does any good.

CUDDY (about House's breakfast) What is that?

HOUSE Burger King's breakfast club, you should join.

CUDDY (concerned) Is something wrong?

HOUSE (singing) I'm all right, nobody worry `bout me, why you have to give me a fight, why can't you just let me be.

CUDDY House, you look awful. You should rest and let me take over.

House walks toward the waiting patients.

HOUSE No, you should mind your own business Harriet the spy.

Cuddy gets up to help House sit down.

CUDDY You're taking a load off. (to a young Native American Woman) Come with me.

Standing nearby is BRENDA RED EAGLE, 32, very pregnant, heart surgery scar, freckles, blue mole on chin and cheek.

BRENDA I just need to know where Doctor Wilson's office is. I have an

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

BRENDA (CONT'D) appointment.

CUDDY Okay, I'll take you back to see him.

INT. DONOVAN'S HOSPITAL ROOM - CONTINUOUS.

Tori enters, holding the hand of CHLOE, 11, Native American, adorable.

TORI Nova, look who's here.

DONOVAN (happy) Hi Chloe!

Chloe climbs onto the bed and sits down next to Donovan.

CHLOE Hi dad.

DONOVAN How was school?

CHLOE Good, they had a Valentine's party during home room.

TORI Did any boys have a crush on you?

CHLOE (disgusted) Bobby Beaver the nerd.

VFX: Our POV goes from Donovan to his chest, heartbeat sounds are heard as we go down toward his heart, ahead of us lie his fibrillating atria.

ON DONOVAN - short of breath and sweaty, hand on his chest.

(CONTINUING)

CONTINUING:

CHLOE (worried) Dad, what is it?

DONOVAN (panicked, breathless) Help me!

Chloe starts crying. Tori embraces her in an attempt to soothe.

TORI (reassuring) Chloe it's okay, it'll be over soon.

Donovan grabs at his left arm. Tori helps Chloe off of the bed.

DONOVAN I can't move my... (slurs)

The left side of Donovan's face suddenly droops. Chloe screams. Donovan touches his face with his right hand.

CHLOE (tearful) Please tell me he's not going to die like mom did. Please Miss Tori.

Tori reassuringly embraces Chloe.

TORI (reassuring) I hope not sweet heart. (panicked, to Donovan) Nova speak to me! Nova! I'll call for help!

Tori runs toward the door with Chloe to fetch a NURSE.

INT.HOSPITAL LABORATORY -- CONTINUOUS.

Cameron performs an ELISA ANA test on Donovan's blood.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

CHASE Lupus tests are negative.

Foreman studies a sterile Petri dish.

FOREMAN No Neisseria, Clostridium, or Eikenella, so it wasn't IV drug use.

CAMERON No Campylobacter, Aeromonas, or Listeria either. No alcohol abuse.

FOREMAN What's left?

CAHSE He could be sexually active, test for Gonorrhea.

CAMERON He also owns a dog, add Pasturella and Bartonella Hensele.

CHASE Any of you notice what's been going on with House lately?

FOREMAN Yeah, he's a fat and sugar sucking nervous wreck hell bent on revenge.

Foreman's pager goes off. A shocked look appears on Foreman's face as he reads the display.

CHASE (to Foreman) What is it?

FOREMAN (urgent) It's Donovan. Let's go.

Foreman, Cameron, and Chase prepare to leave.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

INT. DONOVAN'S HOSPITAL ROOM - CONTINUING.

The Nurse leads Foreman, Cameron, and Chase inside. A sobbing Tori holds onto a still crying Chloe for dear life

NURSE The fianc reported a recent onset of palpitations followed by a sudden loss of speech, left sided arm weakness and facial droop.

Foreman takes a penlight, examining Donovan's eyes. VFX Donovan's eye.

FOREMAN Sounds like a stroke. Probably hemorrhagic.

TORI (frightened) A Stroke?

FOREMAN (about Tori and Chloe) Cameron get them out of here.

Cameron gently grabs Tori's arm.

CAMERON Come with me.

Cameron leads Tori out of the room.

VFX. We go down toward Donovan's retina and see dark spots.

FOREMAN V.O. Retinal thrombosis.

CHASE I don't understand. How could he be having thrombosis when he's already on Heparin and Warfarin?

FOREMAN You'll have to check his clotting time. I need to do a brain MRI.

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO

INT. RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENT - MRI SCANNING - CONTINUOUS.

Donovan lies on a sliding table, going head first into an MRI scanner.

INT. RADIOLOGY DEAPRTMENT - MRI CONTROL ROOM - CONTINUOUS.

Foreman and Chase look at MRI images of Donovan's brain.

FOREMAN There's at least two small infarcts, probably from previous cardiac emboli.

CHASE No sign of a hemorrhage.

Foreman and Chase scan am image of Donovan's pituitary gland on the screen.

FOREMAN (surprised) Would you look at that?

Chase points out a tumor in the pituitary gland.

CHASE (surprised) What an odd coincidence, a pituitary adenoma.

FOREMAN Maybe it's not such a coincidence. Remember how thick his ribs looked?

CHASE Yeah, and his hands and feet were huge.

FOREMAN (disgusted) Not to mention he had the most horrible body odor.

Foreman and Chase look at each other in realization.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

FOREMAN AND CHASE Acromegaly.

DONOVAN (over the intercom) Uh, Doctor Chase I really have to pee.

FOREMAN He's speaking again.

CHASE (over the intercom) Donovan, can you move your left side?

DONOVAN (over the intercom) Yeah, can I get up now? I have to go bad.

FOREMAN (to Chase) It was just a Transient Ischemic Attack.

Chase prepares to leave.

CHASE That's odd, his clotting times show a correct dose of Heparin and Warfarin. I have to do that TEE.

INT. HOSPITAL PHARMACY - CONTINUOUS.

House, still pale and sweaty, approaches the pharmacy desk. Seated at the desk is a PHARMACY INTERN, male, young.

HOUSE (to the pharmacist) Can you please make me one tablet each of your finest Tagament and Diazepam

PHARMACY INTERN Uh, Doctor House, do you need me to

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

PHARMACY INTERN (CONT'D) like call for help or something?

HOUSE (frustrated) Just shut up and hurry before I barf all over you!

Houses calls Dr. Weber on his cell phone, no answer.

HOUSE (to himself) Don't think I can't call again Tritter. It's payback time. (hangs up the phone.

INT. HOSPITAL ONCOLOGY DEPARTMENT - EXAM ROOM # 1 - CONTINUOUS.

Brenda, sits on an exam table as Wilson palpates her throat area, looking at a scanned image of her thyroid containing multiple tumors.

WILSON Thyroid nodules are usually firm Mrs. Red Eagle, but yours feel like lumps of jelly.

BRENDA (somewhat worried) You don't think they're cancer do you?

WILSON If there was a single nodule I would.

Wilson helps Brenda lie down.

WILSON However, I still want to check them out because they're...

Wilson cleans the skin on Brenda's neck, and injects local anesthetic.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

BRENDA (interrupting) I know, cold and not producing hormones.

WILSON (about Brenda's pregnant tummy) Boy or girl?

BRENDA Girl.

Wilson does an ultrasound scan of Brenda's thyroid.

WILSON Have you picked out a name?

BRENDA Donna.

Wilson does a needle biopsy of Brenda's thyroid.

WILSON Oh, that's a nice name.

BRENDA (winces) I'm naming her after my cousin Donovan. He truly went above and beyond in helping me get ready.

WILSON (surprised) Donovan Flint Arrow?

Wilson finishes up the biopsy.

BRENDA (surprised) Yes, how do you know?

WILSON He was admitted here a while ago.

Brenda sits up looking shocked.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

BRENDA (startled) What! Nova's here? For what?

WILSON All I know is it had something to do with his heart.

Brenda gets off the table.

BRENDA (upset) His heart? Where is he? I want to see him!

WILSON Wait, I still have to do your breast.

INT. HOUSE'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS.

House writes TIA on a whiteboard containing a complete list of Donovan's other symptoms. Plus nasty plans for revenge on his dad, Stacey, and Tritter. Foreman and Chase are watching nearby.

CHASE Donovan had the TIA before I had a chance to do the TEE.

HOUSE (a little annoyed) You guys are a slow moving bunch Of anemics. I thought you would have had it done by now.

Cameron enters approaching House.

CAMERON House, you were right and you were wrong, there is no infection, but it's not lupus either.

Cameron hands House the latest reports.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

FOREMAN There was no hemorrhage, coagulation tests ruled out a blood clot.

CHASE Which leaves severe vasculitis or Hyperviscosity from something other than lupus.

CAMERON Cryoglobulinemia is a likely candidate.

HOUSE (to Cameron) Aren't you forgetting something?

CAMERON (puzzled) What?

House taps his cane hard on the desk with each word.

HOUSE Factor in the asthma history.

FOREMAN House, are you suggesting Churg Strauss?

HOUSE (a little annoyed) I wonder why kids never play cowboys and blacks after they finish playing cowboys and Indians.

CHASE (cautious) Don't let Donovan hear that.

FOREMAN (to House) There's something else you need to know. The MRI showed a tumor in Donovan's pituitary gland.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

HOUSE Hormones?

FOREMAN Most likely growth hormone, there were signs of Acromegaly.

In pain, House places a hand on his chest.

HOUSE (in pain) Test his HGH levels, do the TEE, And an excisional skin biopsy. Start steroids and Cytoxan oh.

CAMERON (to House) What's wrong?

CHASE I'm getting Doctor Cuddy.

FOREMAN (about the revenge plans) Those sure are some awful plans.

INT. HOUSE'S OFFICE - EVENING.

House, once again pale and sweaty, sits back in a comfortable chair holding his chest. On his desk is an open pizza box. Cuddy hurriedly enters.

CUDDY (concerned) House, are you sure you're all right?

HOUSE (sarcastic) Nah nah nah nah. Are you sure you're all right? (beat) Give me a break Cuddy.

CUDDY You look like the living dead.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

CUDDY (CONT'D) Are you having chest pains?

HOUSE No, my chest feels tight. Now it feels tighter because your unnecessary worrying is making me nervous.

Cuddy kneels down in front of House.

CUDDY Listen, from the way you look right now, you need to be admitted to the cardiac care unit.

House erotically stares at Cuddy's breasts.

HOUSE Excuse me, (points to his head) but my problem lies above the nipples, (wags his finger in front of Cuddy's breasts) not between them.

CUDDY (giggles) An EKG can differentiate above the nipples from between the nipples. Now let Chase examine you.

House turns on a CD player that blasts the intro to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles.

CUDDY (frustrated) Fine, say and do what you will, but I'm taking over Donovan's case. You're obviously not fit to work.

HOUSE (singing along) It was twenty years ago today

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

HOUSE(CONT'D) Sergeant Pepper taught the band to Play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile, so let me introduce to you the act you've known for all these years. Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

INT. DONOVAN'S HOSPITAL ROOM - EVENING.

Cameron, preparing a vasculitic spot on Donovan's right arm for a skin biopsy, and Chase stand at Donovan's bedside.

DONOVAN What does my asthma have to do with what I have now?

CHASE Churg Strauss is a disease that occurs in three phases. The first is asthma, second eosionophil cell count goes up, and the third, vasculitis, inflammation of the small and medium sized arteries.

Cameron takes a scalpel and removes a section of skin from Donovan's arm.

DONOVAN (wincing) How bad is it? Am I going to die?

CAMERON Not if it's treated aggressively, but Churg Strauss is still a very serious disease.

Foreman, carrying a syringe containing a sedative, enters.

FOREMAN (to Chase) You ready?

Foreman injects Donovan's IV with the sedative.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING: CHASE Yes Foreman. Donovan.

DONOVAN You can call me Nova.

CHASE Nova, I'm going to sedate you for the transesophageal echocardiogram.

DONOVAN Bring it on.

Foreman injects the sedative. Shortly after, Donovan is out. Chase performs a transesophageal echocardiogram on Donovan. Cameron and Foreman watch the ultrasound screen.

CHASE No vegetations on the valves.

CAMERON (shocked) Oh my gosh! Look at that!

FOREMAN It's a myxoma.

Chase counts the heart tumors on the screen with a finger.

CHASE And not just one, there's Five in the left atrium, four in the right.

CAMERON (shocked) That's nine then.

Foreman points to a small chunk of tumor breaking off from one of the main lesions on the screen.

FOREMAN A piece just split off. That's what caused the TIA. Don't myxoma patients usually have just one tumor?

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

CHASE He must have a hereditary tumor Syndrome given the pituitary Lesion, but I can't remember the name. We'll stop the steroids and Cytoxan.

EXT. HOSPITAL BENCH AREA - CONTINUOUS.

Wilson is reading a Sherlock Homes book as a jittery House opens his suitcase with pictures of his dad, Stacy, and Detective Tritter with drawn devil horns taped inside.

WILSON Tough Day?

HOUSE Tell me about it. Revenge will be so sweet.

WILSON Would you like to talk about it? You know get your off the past?

House gives Wilson a dirty look.

WILSON You know the oddest thing happened this afternoon. I treated your patient's cousin.

HOUSE Brenda Red Eagle?

WILSON Yeah how'd you know?

HOUSE I saw her in the waiting room.

A black vial falls out of House's suitcase.

WILSON Are you having chest pain?

House quickly picks up the vial and puts it back in his

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

locker.

HOUSE (nervous) What vial? That's not mine.

WILSON Nice try, I know what you're up to and you can't hide it forever.

INT. DONOVAN'S HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT.

A disturbed Chloe lies in bed with Donovan, her head resting on his chest. Tori sits in a chair nearby holding his hand. Chase and Foreman enter.

CHASE Nova, I found at least nine tumors in your top heart chambers

TORI (worried) Tumors, He doesn't have cancer doesn't he?

A crying Chloe buries her face in Donovan's chest.

CHLOE (crying) Oh daddy.

FOREMAN Fortunately no, myxomas are strictly benign.

DONOVAN Can you take them out?

CHASE There's too many of them. I'm afraid your only option is a heart-lung transplant.

Chloe, looking relieved, lifts her head up

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

TORI What's wrong with his lungs?

CHASE The pressure in them is too high. It'll overburden a donor heart.

CHLOE (to Chase and Foreman) Let me get this straight. Did you say you're giving my dad a new heart?

FOREMAN Yes Chloe.

CHLOE (excited) So he won't die?

CHASE Maybe.

DONOVAN (confused) Maybe? What do you mean maybe?

CHASE Heart-lung transplantation carries considerable risks, donor scarcity, rejection, immunosuppressant drugs leaving you open to infection and accelerated coronary artery disease.

DONOVAN I don't want it.

CHLOE Why?

CHASE But your heart failure will continue to worsen, and God knows where the next tumor fragment is going to go. It'll be a slow, and painful death.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

Chloe once again sobs away as she buries her head in Donovan's chest.

CHLOE Please daddy, let them give you a new heart.

DONOVAN You don't understand, my father had three surgeries for myxomas before he got a heart transplant five years ago. (cries) A year later he dropped dead from his arteries plugging up. If I have this, the same thing will happen to me.

CHASE Nova you don't know that.

FOREMAN Actually, that's understandable. I'll let Doctor House know of your wishes and get you on pain control.

Foreman exits, Chase follows.

CHASE (to Foreman) What the hell are you doing?

FOREMAN Respecting his wishes.

INT. HOUSE'S OFFICE- CONTINUOUS.

House is scarfing down a Bacon cheeseburger. Foreman enters.

HOUSE Foremeister, what did the TEE show?

FOREMAN Multiple atrial myxomas.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

HOUSE Fragile little bugs. They throw off pieces bound to cause TIA's. Treatment options?

FOREMAN Pulmonary hypertension would make a heart transplant too hazardous. We'd have to do a heart-lung.

HOUSE Call the transplant committee.

FOREMAN There's just one problem. Donovan doesn't want the operation.

House opens his suitcase and pulls out a pack of cigarettes and a Twinkie.

HOUSE Well surely there must be an alternative.

House takes a cigarette, puts it in his mouth

FOREMAN I don't know of any.

HOUSE Then look for one.

House lights up the cigarette and takes a drag, then opens the Twinkie package.

FOREMAN (surprised) You're smoking cigarettes? That's not a healthy way to deal with your anger. Nor is gorging yourself on grease and sweets.

House takes a bite from the Twinkie.

HOUSE Look the Valium isn't quite doing

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

HOUSE (CONT'D) the job.

FOREMAN Why don't you try deep breathing without the smokes?

HOUSE Maybe I will, maybe I won't.

INT. DONOVAN'S HOSPITAL ROOM - CONTINUOUS.

Chase enters as Donovan, lying in a fetal position, blood on the back end of his gown, screams in pain as he holds his abdomen for dear life as Cameron tries to comfort him.

DONOVAN (in pain) My stomach! It's killing me! I'm going to puke.

Cameron hands Donovan a pail just before he vomits.

CHASE (to Cameron, urgent) Cameron what's going on?

Chase rolls Donovan onto his back. Cameron shows Chase the vomit filled pail.

CAMERON (anxious) Look.

Chase palpates Donovan's abdomen.

DONOVAN (in terrible pain Ow!

CHASE (to Cameron) Was he in A-fib?

CAMERON Yes.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

Chase listens to Donovan's abdomen with a stethoscope.

DONOVAN (really hurting) Agh!

CHASE (urgent) It's a bowel infarction! Really start pushing the fluids. Get some morphine and Clindamycin in him.

Chase grabs a nasogastric tube Cameron grabs two needle and syringes and inserts them into vials of morphine and Clindamycin. Chase pushes the nasogastric tube it into one of Donovan's nostrils.

CHASE (to Donovan) Nova, I want you to swallow for me.

Donovan swallows hard, trying to keep from gagging.

CHASE (to Cameron) Get him into O.R. stat!

END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE

INT. HOUSE'S OFFICE - DAWN.

Foreman does an internet search on Atrial Myxoma Surgery while Doctor House sits at his desk nervously eating a Mc Donald's McSkillet burrito

FOREMAN House I'm not finding anything.

HOUSE Keep looking.

FOREMAN (irritated) That's all I've been doing for the past three hours. I say we just consider Donovan's case hopeless.

HOUSE (frustrated) There's a solution to this problem and you are going to find it.

Foreman notices a Maryland University website describing a radical atrial myxoma removal procedure involving the removal and replacement of both of the heart's atria.

FOREMAN Hold it, hold it, I think I found something.

Foreman clicks the link and reads the web page. House takes a look. Foreman is shocked by what he reads.

HOUSE Bingo! I knew you would find the answer. Print it out.

FOREMAN (hesitant) You're not actually thinking of doing something this extreme on Donovan are you?

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

INT. HOSPITAL OPERATING ROOM - CONTINUOUS.

A surgical team performs abdominal surgery on Donovan. The HEAD SURGEON removes a tumor fragment from the superior mesenteric artery with small forceps and places it into a surgical pan.

HEAD SURGEON The tumor fragment is out, and the intestines are pinking up.

The head surgeon inspects Donovan's intestines.

HEAD SURGEON The blood supply looks good. No need to remove any part of the bowel.

INT. HOSPITAL HALLWAY, ABOVE THE OPERATING ROOM - CONTINUOUS.

Cuddy and Chase face each other while Cameron looks down at Donovan's surgery though a window.

CHASE Donovan's recovery will be a long, hard road. He's at least twenty pounds underweight without the edema and his appetite is poor.

CUDDY (to Chase) Then he's going to need all the nutrition and calories he can get. Start a TPN line and have the surgeon place a feeding tube.

House approaches holding a piece of paper.

CAMERON Looks like the transplant will have to wait a few months.

HOUSE There will be no transplant.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

CUDDY (puzzled) What?

House hands Cuddy the paper.

HOUSE Donovan specifically told Foreman that he didn't want it. However, I've got a better idea.

As Cuddy reads the paper, Chase and Cameron look over her shoulders to read it.

CUDDY (to herself) Doctors Gary James and Griffin Bailey of Maryland University cure a woman of multiple recurring atrial myxomas by removing both atria then rebuilding them with donated animal and human tissue.

CHASE The atria contain the heart's pacemaker. He wouldn't have much of a heartbeat. Unless an artificial one was implanted.

Cuddy points to a spot on the paper.

CUDDY It says that they had to remove her heart from her body, place it in an ice bath and work on it for five hours.

CAMERON Being on bypass that long could rip up his blood cells, fry his brain, or create an air embolus.

HOUSE Either he has this and he sees his

House pulls out his Vicodin bottle.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

HOUSE(CONT'D) daughter graduate, or these tumors make a brand new burden on the already over taxed child services system.

House takes some pills.

CHASE But no one here has the experience to perform this type of operation.

HOUSE Doctor James and Doctor Bailey have offered to lend a hand.

CHASE Even if those doctors did the procedure He'll still need that pulmonary and mitral valve repaired or replaced.

CUDDY Plus you don't know if Donovan wants this procedure. Obtain his consent, then get back to me.

HOUSE Fair enough, but keep him on the steroids. It'll help the appetite.

INT. HOSPITAL CAFETERIA - CONTINUOUS.

Foreman and Wilson are eating breakfast.

WILSON Something has to be up with House.

FOREMAN Yeah, lately he's been a walking ball of fried nerves.

WILSON And he's starting to pack on the pounds. Have you seen how he's been eating the past few months?

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

FOREMAN Yeah, breakfast from Burger King, fried foods or burgers for lunch. Dinner is pizza or Chinese, not to mention ice cream, cake, or pie for dessert.

WILSON I'm starting to doubt that upper abdominal pain is indigestion. (pulls a black nitroglycerin vial from his shirt Pocket) I found one of these in his bag.

FOREMAN Then it can't be an anxiety attack if he knows he's having angina pain.

WILSON With the way he's heading, it's just going to be a matter of time before catastrophe strikes. I worry about him.

FOREMAN I'm worried about him too Wilson.

INT. HOSPITAL NURSES STATION - CONTINUOUS.

A YOUNG NURSE seated at the station lifts her head as Brenda approaches.

BRENDA Excuse me ma'am, I'm here to see Donovan Flint Arrow.

House approaches from within the hallway.

YOUNG NURSE And you are?

The young nurse types on the computer.

(CONTINUING)

CONTINUING:

YOUNG NURSE I'm sorry, but he's in surgery right now.

Chase approaches Brenda.

BRENDA (gasps) Oh no.

CHASE He's in recovery. I'll take you to him.

INT. SURGICAL RECOVERY ROOM - CONTINUOUS.

Donovan wakes from anesthesia as Tori holds his hand.

DONOVAN (groggy) Tori.

TORI It's okay Nova, I'm right here.

DONOVAN (still groggy) What happened?

TORI The doctors had take out a tumor bit that was hurting your stomach.

Tori pulls up Donovan's gown to reveal an abdominal incision.

TORI (CONT'D) See where they cut you. (gasps) Oh my gosh, how did you get so emaciated all of a sudden?

Chase enters with TPN equipment.

CHASE The diuretics have done their job.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

TORI You mean water weight was the only reason that Nova looked healthy before this?

CHASE Precisely.

Chase approaches Donovan's bed.

CHASE Donovan, I need to place a TPN line.

DONOVAN TPN, what the hell is that?

Chase cleans a spot underneath Donovan's collarbone and injects local anesthesia.

CHASE It's where all of your nutritional needs will be met through an intravenous line. It'll help you put some weight back on.

Chase positions a trocar over the cleaned area.

CHASE I'm going to place the line now. You should just feel a little pressure when this goes in.

DONOVAN Why aren't you putting it in my hand IV?

Chase inserts the trocar.

CHASE Because the TPN solution is too concentrated for it.

House and Brenda enter. Chase inserts a catheter.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

BRENDA (to Tori) Hi Tori. Hi Nova.

TORI Hi Brenda, how'd your tests go?

BRENDA All right, I should know something in a few days. (to Donovan, surprised) Nova, how did you get so skinny?

Tori looks at House like she doesn't know him. Chase places a stitch around the TPN line.

TORI (confused about House) Who's he?

HOUSE (curtly) I'm Doctor House.

DONOVAN Listen doctor, if you're trying to talk me into a heart transplant your wasting your time.

HOUSE Not that, but an alternative. (hands Donovan a consent form) This consent form fully explains the benefits and risks of a radical new procedure.

Chase places a bandage around the catheter.

TORI Really what is it?

HOUSE We demolish the heart's tumor factories, then rebuild from the ground up with donated tissue.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

Chase attaches the catheter to an IV line.

BRENDA You mean you're cutting out half of his heart?

TORI Won't he die?

CHASE Not with a pacemaker to keep the bottom half going. The atria are merely receptacles that channel blood into the ventricles.

HOUSE You'll have an excellent chance of seeing your daughter meet her milestones with this.

DONOVAN This surgery sounds kind of scary, but I'll give it a go.

BRENDA Nova? Didn't you read the risks: Stroke, hemolytic anemia, death.

CHASE Those are risks with any type of heart surgery.

DONOVAN (to Brenda and Tori) Chloe needs me. This a chance I must take. I'm having this operation.

Donovan signs the consent form and hands it back to House.

HOUSE (to Donovan) Good choice. You're a pretty smart guy.

House and Chase exit the room.

(CONTINUING) CONTININUING:

INT HOSPITAL HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS.

Chloe sits in a chair. House pauses as he ponders something. Chase stops in his tracks.

CHASE What is it?

HOUSE (about Brenda) Those freckles, blue moles, and atrial myxomas, endocrine tumors. What else does the cousin and deceased father have in common with our patient?

CHASE (in realization) Carney complex.

We see the inner lining of a heart's atria sprouting a tumor.

HOUSE A mutation in a tumor suppressor gene causes the atrial sub endocardial cells to become abnormal and form tumors...

A piece of a left atrial tumor breaks away, traveling through the arteries toward the brain.

HOUSE So fragile that pieces break off. Fragments from the left atrium travel to the brain bringing on TIAs and strokes.

Another piece of tumor floats through the arteries leading to the intestines.

HOUSE Or cut off the blood supply to the intestines and other organs.

A piece of tumor exits the right side of the heart and goes through the veins to the lungs.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING: HOUSE Right atrial emboli go to the lungs and raise pulmonary artery pressure.

CHASE On top of that, tumors develop in the Pituitary and other endocrine glands. Skin lesions develop. We need to check the rest of the endocrine system.

HOUSE Ultrasound his thyroid and Testicles. Cat scan his adrenals.

CHASE What about Brenda and Chloe?

HOUSE Do the same with them, but include an MRI of their heads and echocardiograms.

CHASE (correcting House) But Brenda and Chloe have ovaries.

HOUSE So, we all have gonads. The three of them aren't any different.

CHASE Whatever.

Chase walks up to Chloe.

CHASE Chloe, I need to run some tests on you.

CHLOE What for?

CHASE Tumors.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

CHLOE What makes you think I have a tumor?

CHASE You see, the disease that caused your father's tumors is inherited.

Chase walks into the echo lab with Chloe, picking up a bunch of red roses resting on a tray by the door.

INT. ECHO LAB - CONTINUOUS.

Cameron is waiting by an ultrasound machine. Chase enters carrying a bundle of red roses.

CHASE (to Cameron, happily) Hello.

CAMERON (surprised) Oh Chase, they're beautiful, thanks.

Chase hands the bundle to Cameron who affectionately embraces him. Chase has Chloe lie down on a bed.

CHASE You're welcome. (to Chloe) Take off your shirt. (To Cameron, a little uncomfortable) Cameron, I'd like to ask you something, would you be interested in, you know, going out for dinner tonight?

CAMERON Like on a date?

CHASE Sort of, yeah.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

CAMERON What time?

CHASE Eight

CAMERON Then eight it is.

Cameron French kisses Chase. A shocked look appears on Chloe's face.

CHASE Cameron, not in front of the kid.

INT. DONOVAN'S HOSPITAL ROOM - CONTINUOUS.

Foreman is conducting a scrotal ultrasound on Donovan. House enters while pulling a vial of Elavil and a syringe out of his pocket.

DONOVAN (to House) What are you doing Doctor House?

HOUSE (to Donovan) Putting some meat on your bones.

Tori looks at the vial as House fills the syringe.

TORI Elavil? But Nova's not depressed.

FOREMAN House, Elavil won't necessarily guarantee weight gain, plus it could trigger an arrhythmia.

HOUSE Foreman I'm just speeding up the process. Besides, he's not going to last much longer in this precarious state. God knows where the next tumor bullet is going to go.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

House gets ready to inject the drug into Donovan's hand IV. Donovan pulls his hand away.

DONOVAN (assertive) Don't even think about it.

Foreman grabs House's arm to stop him.

FOREMAN I'm not letting you do this!

DONOVAN (to Foreman, scared) Get him out of here!

BRENDA (to House) Are you crazy!

TORI (to House) Leave him alone!

House points the syringe at everyone like a weapon.

HOUSE (to all, angry) Back off all of you!

Everyone freezes in fear.

FOREMAN You could kill him!

Donovan tries to shield his hand IV from House and fights back while House forcibly holds down Donovan's hand and injects the drug before Foreman can intervene.

DONOVAN (desperate) Help me!

Everyone else, unmoving, displays a look of disbelief.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

BRENDA (angry) You asshole.

TORI (upset) If anything bad happens to Nova. Then I Swear to God I'll sue your butt off and have your license pulled.

Foreman walks up to House.

FOREMAN House, I hope your very proud of what you did. Because if Cuddy finds out about this, I will personally see to it that you're fired.

Rapid heartbeat sounds are heard. House turns pale and sweaty.

FOREMAN (worried) House?

Suddenly, House clutches his chest as he gasps for breath.

FOREMAN (worried) Are you all right?

HOUSE (breathless) Foreman. I think...I'm having...a heart attack.

House falls to the floor.

TORI (to Foreman) We'll get help.

Brenda grabs at her stomach.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

BRENDA Ow!

TORI (concerned) What is it Brenda?

BRENDA (in pain) The baby! It's coming! Oh!

Tori leads Brenda out of the room.

TORI Let's get you out of here.

HOUSE (gasping) Foreman, if I die, can you please tell Wilson to kill my dad, and Stacy, and Tritter. Oh!

DONOVAN (worried) Who's going to be my doctor now?

Donovan looks to Foreman for reassurance, he gets it.

FOREMAN (reassuring) Don't worry Nova, Doctor Cuddy will take good care of you.

Donovan quickly places a hand on his chest as his breath catches. The alarm on Donovan's heart Monitor sounds. Two rapid heartbeats are heard. Foreman runs toward the door.

FOREMAN (kind of panicky to himself) Oh man, first it's House, now Donovan's in v-tach. (rushes to the door) Somebody get a crash cart!

A group of nurses rush in.

END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR

INT. DONOVAN'S HOSPITAL ROOM - CONTINUOUS.

House, shirt removed, IV, oxygen, is lifted up on a stretcher. Chase enters with a crash cart.

CHASE What's going on?

House is wheeled out. Foreman takes up the defibrillator Paddles while Chase squeezes on conduction gel.

FOREMAN He went into ventricular tachycardia after House gave him Elavil to help him gain weight.

Foreman rubs the paddles together then touches them to Donovan's chest.

CHASE (shocked) Behind Cuddy's back?

FOREMAN He's in v-fib! Bag him! Clear!

Foreman delivers a shock to Donovan's heart, no success.

INT. CARDIAC CARE UNIT - CONTINUOUS.

Finishing up an EKG on House, an attendant hurriedly hands Cuddy the printout.

CUDDY (to the attendant) Thank you.

Cuddy studies the printout.

CUDDY (to House) Well House, there's no denying it this time. It's definitely a heart attack.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

HOUSE It could just as likely be unstable angina.

Cuddy listens to House's heart with a stethoscope.

CUDDY I'm not taking any chances here. There's a murmur. (to the attendant) Get an echocardiogram.

Heart monitor alarm sounds, House breathes rapidly.

ATTENDANT Pressure's dropping.

CUDDY Get him into the cath lab stat!

INT. DONOVAN'S HOSPITAL ROOM - CONTINUOUS.

Foreman shocks Donovan's heart again, this time successful.

FOREMAN We've got sinus rhythm.

CHASE I'll talk to Cuddy.

FOREMAN I'll do another EKG.

INT. HOSPITAL HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS.

Chase approaches Cuddy as House is wheeled into the cardiac catheterization lab.

CHASE Cuddy we need to talk.

CUDDY About what?

CHASE Donovan crashed just after House

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

CHASE (CONT'D) administered Elavil to accelerate weight gain. The fianc threatens a lawsuit. CUDDY (upset) Without my approval? This is the last straw. I know House sometimes has to do crazy things, but this time he's gone way too far. Once he recovers, he's out of here.

CHASE How is House by the way?

CUDDY Massive infarct ruptured his mitral valve and caused cardiogenic shock. He's getting a intraaortic balloon pump implanted as we speak.

Foreman rushes in with Donovan's latest EKG results.

FOREMAN Cuddy, get Doctor James and Doctor Bailey down here!

CUDDY But malnutrition makes him a poor surgical risk.

FOREMAN But it's a risk we have to take. Donovan's heart function has deteriorated to where if he doesn't have this operation soon, he's goner for sure.

CHASE It was the Elavil wasn't it?

FOREMAN No, hypokalemia from the steroids.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

CUDDY (relieved) Good, I don't think I'd ever have the guts to fire House. Go ahead and prep Donovan for surgery.

INT. DONOVAN'S HOSPITAL ROOM - CONTINUOUS.

Donovan is listening to Donovan's "Mellow Yellow". Enter AGNES BEARHEART, 71, and GRANDPA BEARHEART, 100.

AGNES (in the Odawa language) Hi Nova, I named you after the band that sings that song. It's my favorite.

DONOVAN Mom? Grandpa? What are you doing here?

AGNES I just have to be with my baby when he's real sick.

GRANDPA (reassuring) Be brave grandson. Your Manitou will help you though this.

Grandpa takes out a traditional flute from a leather pouch.

GRANDPA I used to play you to sleep when you were a baby.

Grandpa plays a soothing tune on his flute. Donovan relaxes as he listens. Tori enters.

TORI Oh, Mrs. Bearheart, I'm so glad you're here. I have to tell you that Nova's surgery has been pushed back to today.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

AGNES I thought they said he was too skinny.

TORI His heart is too weak for them to wait any longer.

DONOVAN (to Tori) How's Brenda?

TORI Still in labor.

AGNES Her baby's coming?

TORI Yes.

INT. CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION LAB - CONTINUOUS.

While performing a cardiac catheterization, Chase prepares to inject dye into House's coronary arteries.

CHASE I'm injecting the dye.

Chase injects the dye, highlighting the arteries and four blockages. Chase and Cuddy observe the resulting image.

CUDDY Complete blockages in the left anterior, Seventy percent blockage in the right coronary and left circumflex

CHASE He needs a quadruple bypass immediately.

HOUSE Nah, just do an angioplasty and put in some stents. There problem solved.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

CUDDY I'm sorry House, the blockages are too severe.

HOUSE Can't you just...

CHASE (a little irritated) Shut up please!

INT. HOSPITAL HALLWAY, OUTSIDE THE OPERATING ROOM - CONTINUOUS.

Dressed for the operating room Donovan nervously lies on a gurney. Tori holds Donovan and Chloe's hands. The Sense Field song "Open Heart Surgery" plays in the background.

DONOVAN Well ladies this is it, I'm actually going in for my operation.

TORI We'll see you when you wake up.

DONOVAN I love you Tori.

TORI I love you too Nova. You look nervous, what are you so worried about?

DONOVAN I'm worried that I might die, and if I die I'll lose you and Chloe. You both mean the world to me.

After trying to hug Donovan, Chloe is lifted onto the gurney By Tori.

TORI Oh that's so sweet.

CHLOE I love you daddy.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

DONOVAN I love you too sweet pea.

Donovan embraces Chloe.

CHLOE Dad.

DONOVAN Yeah?

CHLOE Please promise me you won't die. You're the only parent I have left.

DONOVAN I'll try my best.

Donovan kisses Chloe on the cheek.

INT. OPERATING ROOM 1 - EVENING.

DOCTOR GOODING finishes replacing House's mitral valve before making a tiny incision in the ascending aorta.

DOCTOR GOODING Valve's in place. Diane? Is the vein graft ready?

DIANE Yes doctor.

Diane hands Doctor Gooding a vein graft.

INT. OPERATING ROOM 2 - CONTINUOUS.

DOCTOR JAMES and DOCTOR BAILEY lift Donovan's heart from his chest

DOCTOR JAMES Careful now. My god these atria are massive.

The surgeons plunge the heart into an ice bath.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

DOCTOR BAILEY Okay the heart's out. Let's get to work.

INT. A NICE RESTAURANT - NIGHT.

Cameron sits at a table with her eyes closed. Chase presents before her a box of candy, and a bunch Valentine's day balloons.

CHASE (to Cameron) You can open your eyes now.

Cameron opens her eyes.

CAMEROM (gasps) Chase! What a wonderful surprise!

CHASE Happy Valentine's day Cameron.

CAMERON Thank you so much. I have something for you too.

Cameron pulls a small box from her purse and opens it to reveal a brand new Rolex watch.

CAMERON Happy Valentines to you Chase.

CHASE (surprised) A Rolex?

CAMERON A special watch for a special guy.

Chase embraces Cameron.

CHASE Thank you.

INT. OPERATING ROOM 2 - CONTINUOUS.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

Doctor Bailey cuts Donovan's mitral valve open while Doctor James removes both atria from the ice bath.

DOCTOR BAILEY Mitral valve is open.

DOCTOR JAMES It looks like we got all the atrial tissue out don't you think?

DOCTOR BAILEY I agree

DOCTOR JAMES Then let's rebuild.

INT. OPERATING ROOM 1 - CONTINUOUS.

Doctor Gooding Finishes House's bypass surgery.

All the grafts are in place.

DIANE Ready to jump start?

Yes. Give me the paddles.

Diane hands Doctor Gooding the internal defibrillator paddles.

DOCTOR GOODING Clear!

Doctor Gooding delivers a shock to House's heart, success.

DIANE We've got sinus rhythm.

INT. OPERATING ROOM 2 - CONTINUOUS.

Doctor Bailey quickly closes the rebuilt heart where Donovan's pulmonary valve was replaced.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

DOCTOR JAMES The pulmonary valve is replaced, and on three: one, two, three.

Doctor James and Doctor Bailey replace Donovan's heart in his chest

DOCTOR BAILEY Let's restart.

Doctor Bailey applies internal defibrillator paddles to Donovan's heart.

DOCTOR BAILEY Clear!

Doctor Bailey shocks Donovan's heart, no success.

DOCTOR BAILEY 400 Joules. Clear!

Doctor Bailey delivers another shock, nothing.

DOCTOR BAILEY 500 joules. Clear!

Doctor Bailey gives Donovan's heart a successful shock.

DOCTOR JAMES Sinus Rhythm. Let's get him off bypass.

INT. INTENSIVE CARE UNIT - CONTINUOUS.

House tosses and turns as he wakes up from anesthesia. House drifts into a horrid dream world where House is a child and his father is holding him down in an ice bath. Wilson wakes up screaming as Wilson stands nearby.

WILSON (reassuring) House, it's okay. it's me Wilson.

In the background the Billy Dean song " Somewhere in my Broken Heart" playing in the background.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

HOUSE All this stress has finally gotten to me

WILSON I told you all those grudges were taking a toll on your health, and I hate that it took a massive heart attack to make you see that.

HOUSE It's killing me.

WILSON But it doesn't have to, let me help you through this.

HOUSE Leave me alone and let me die in my suffering.

In the next bed Agnes strokes Donovan's head as she watches a meteor shower through a window. House, still asleep, lies in the next bed with Cuddy holding his hand.

AGNES Look Nova, a meteor shower.

Donovan begins to wake up.

AGNES It reminds me of the night you were born. You looked like a smurf from the heart defect, and you breathed in your own poop. The doctors told me you wouldn't make it.

DONOVAN That's when you called out to the great Manitou.

AGNES I told him that I wasn't ready to lose my baby after trying so many years to have one. You know what happened next?

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

DONOVAN The meteor shower.

AGNES Yes, the stars fell. Not long afterward you began to eat and gain strength. It was a sign that you were to remain on this earth. It's how you got your Odawa name, Anaag Bigishkanani.

DONOVAN Falling Stars.

Doctor James and Doctor Bailey enter.

DOCTOR JAMES Mr. Flint Arrow, I'm doctor James.

Doctor James shakes Donovan's hand then listens then listens to Donovan's heart with a stethoscope. Doctor Bailey shakes Donovan's hand.

DOCTOR BAILEY Doctor Bailey. I'm sorry we couldn't introduce ourselves earlier. We were called here on such short notice.

DONOVAN Oh, that's okay. How did my surgery go?

DOCTOR JAMES Everything went well. However, your heart is very weak, but it will recover.

DONOVAN How long will that be?

DOCTOR BAILEY At least a few months. We placed a Temporary balloon pump in your aorta to help it along for a few days.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

Wilson exits. House glares at Donovan. Donovan looks over at House.

DONOVAN Doctor House?

HOUSE Look Pontiac if you have anything nice to say, get it over with.

DONOVAN I forgive you.

HOUSE (in disbelief) You're not serious are you?

DONOVAN I can't stay mad at you. You know, people may do you wrong, but you have to put them behind you. If you don't, anger consumes you.

HOUSE You have a good point there, but I don't know if I'll be able to forgive those who hurt me.

DONOVAN You need to. It's the only way you can move on. You see your enemies don't know that you're angry at them, so in the end, you're only hurting yourself.

HOUSE Then I'm ready to forgive them.

Tori rushes in with get well card and a shirt saying "I ain't afraid of no Stinkin' Open Heart Surgery.

TORI (excited) Nova! Agnes! The baby's here!

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

DONOVAN (elated) Yes!

Tori runs up to Donovan and hugs him while giving him the card.

TORI It's a girl! Her name is Donna.

AGNES (happy) Wonderful.

Tori gives Donovan a kiss while giving him the shirt.

TORI Oh, and Happy Valentines to you Nova.

DONOVAN Thanks Tori. (giggles at the shirt)

TORI You weren't really that scared were you?

INT. DOCTORS LOUNGE - DAWN.

Foreman and Wilson go over test results.

FOREMAN All of Chloe's tests were normal, no sign of Carney Complex.

WILSON Mrs. Red Eagle's thyroid and breast biopsies showed myxomas. Benign, but in need of monitoring.

FOREMAN Donovan's scans revealed papillary thyroid carcinoma and benign Sertoli cell tumors in both testicles.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

WILSON As for Donovan he will need a Thyroidectomy and adjuvant radioactive iodine.

FOREMAN The testicular tumors will need Be watched closely. Some Valentine's day.

WILSON (beat) Yeah, especially when there's no one to celebrate with.

INT.CARDIAC REHAB - WEEKS LATER.

House is exercising on a rowing machine. Tired, House stops, he walks over to his gym bag and pulls out a bag of carrot sticks. Chase enters.

CHASE House? How's it going?

HOUSE Never felt better, but I'm really dying for a cigarette.

CHASE Quitting smoking is never easy. Have you tried the nicotine patches or the gum?

HOUSE And trade one vice for another?

CHASE Very well, I'll prescribe Zyban, but you'll need counseling as well.

HOUSE Like a shrink can solve everyone's problems.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING:

CHASE (frustrated) Look House, do you want to do this or not?

HOUSE (beat) Fine, send me to your stupid therapist.

INT. OPERATING ROOM - CONTINUOUS.

Foreman is removing the tumor in Donovan's pituitary gland while Wilson removes Donovan's thyroid gland.

FOREMAN One more cut, and it's out.

Foreman pulls the tumor out through Donovan's nose.

WILSON I'm not seeing any nodal metastasis

FOREMAN I never thought I'd be working along side you Wilson

WILSON I`ve been thinking the same thing.

INT. CHURCH - DAY.

Donovan and Tori exchange wedding vows in front of a REVEREND. Chloe acts as flower girl. Among the audience are Brenda and her baby, Agnes, Grandpa, House, Chase, and Cameron. Tori places a wedding ring on Donovan's ring finger.

TORI (to Donovan) This ring is a token of my love. I marry you with this ring, with all that I have and all that I am.

(CONTINUING) CONTINUING: DONOVAN (to Tori) I will forever wear this ring as a sign of my commitment and the desire of my heart.

Tori, tears of joy, looks down at Donovan's heart surgery scar and smiles.

REVEREND (to Donovan and Tori) By the authority vested in me as a minister, I pronounce you husband and wife. Donovan, you may kiss your bride.

Donovan lifts Tori's veil and gives her a kiss.

EXT. CHURCH - CONTINUOUS.

Donovan and Tori exit the church, rose petals and rice raining down on them. Tori throws her flower bouquet out to the crowd. As Donovan and Tori enter a limo, Cameron catches the bouquet.

INT. HOUSES OFFICE - CONTINUOUS.

House takes an aspirin, Lopressor, Lipitor, and Captopril along with his Vicodin. The song "The Heart of the Matter" by Don Henley plays in the background. Next, he dials a number on his cell phone. At the other end is Stacy Warden's answering machine.

HOUSE Stacy it's Greg House. I know you don't want to talk to me, and I really don't want to talk to you either. I only want to say that I finally found it in my heart to forgive you for ruining my leg. Okay I'll leave you alone now. Bye.

House hangs up the phone then dials another number.

FADE OUT

END OF SHOW


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Legal Disclaimer: The authors published here make no claims on the ownership of Dr. Gregory House and the other fictional residents of Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. Like the television show House (and quite possibly Dr. Wilson's pocket protector), they are the property of NBC/Universal, David Shore and undoubtedly other individuals of whom I am only peripherally aware. The fan fiction authors published here receive no monetary benefit from their work and intend no copyright infringement nor slight to the actual owners. We love the characters and we love the show, otherwise we wouldn't be here.