TOD

It was on some lazy afternoon that I flicked the TV on and caught the opening minutes of ER (George Clooney looked so much younger then!). Now, I had just finished watching Season 2 of House, and was very eager to spot the differences in standards of both shows.

So after the introductory credits rolled, viewers were treated to a scene where this badly maimed child was wheeled in, nurses all screaming, paramedics trying their best to stop the blood squirting out of him.

The doctors played by Clooney and some dude called Anthony Edwards took over quickly, and when they realized the child's heart had stopped, Edwards stuck his hands in his chest and began massaging it. This, unfortunately, went on for an excruciatingly long time.

(After a while)

Clooney: Mark, stop. Just stop.

Edwards: No! Nurse, quick! 10 milligrams of idunnowhatthehellhejustsaid!

(More exciting, 'heart-pumping' moments, hurhurhurhur)

Edwards: Come on damn it! Come on!

Clooney: (grimly, looks at the clock) Stop it Mark. Time Of Death, 1800 hrs, Sunday.....

Edwards: (upon hearing "Time Of Death") Damn it!

Of course, by this time I was almost laughing. I mean, come on! How ridiculous was it for Edwards to keep trying when any doctor could have seen that the child was too far gone? The child had lost so much blood, he had apparantly suffered brain damage too, what was the point?To my mind, Edwards' character was not believable at all, no way.

I turned off the TV, and never thought about that scene until today.

Edwards wasn't exactly wrong, now that I think about it. He was, like any other human being faced with the loss of something dear and precious, was only trying his utmost best to save it.

And he was, like any other human being, sensitive enough to know when it was too far gone, when he had to let go. When false hope no longer did anything but made the pain worse.

He was believable, after all. He has to be believable, right?

After all, I did the same tonight.