Edmund: Oh, yeah. And this box. Well, I guess smoking's out for Dimitri, but he just loves to smell the Churchill's. Ok? So take this and move the bed by the window so he can see the orchards and the stables. And... pictures. Let's give him pictures of Gillian and Maddie for....

Stella: It's so wonderful that Mr. Marick is coming home.

Edmund: Good morning, ladies.

Eugenia: Good morning.

Gillian: Good morning.

Eugenia: Oh, Stella. Do you need a wheelbarrow?

Stella: I'd carry twice the load if it will help Mr. Marick feel better. Is there anything else?

Edmund: No, Stella. You've done enough. Thank you.

Eugenia: Well, Edmund, did you call the hospital to check on Dimitri?

Edmund: Oh, not yet. I'm going to wait for Alex.

Gillian: Where is she? Is she still sleeping?

Edmund: I think so. I didn't want to wake her up.

Eugenia: Well, sleep is hard to come by these days.

\Gillian: Yeah, and not even counting sheep helps these days.

Edmund: Yeah, and, you know, it's my first good night's sleep since they brought Dimitri off that plane.

Eugenia: Oh, my dear, can we visit him today?

Edmund: Yeah... I don't see why not. Alex and I are going to go to the hospital today, and if everything checks out, hopefully we can bring Dimitri home this afternoon.

Alex: Oh, no, I'm sorry. That won't be possible.

Edmund: Alex, Dimitri's out of his coma.

Alex: Yes, but he's not well enough to move. It's too soon for him to leave the hospital.

Edmund: All right. I've been working on the west wing nonstop.

Alex: I know. It's very considerate of you. But he'll need more than fresh flowers and extra pillows.

Edmund: How about a cardiac monitor, a crash cart, a suction machine, and round-the-clock nurses? No matter how badly I want Dimitri home, I would never compromise his health. He'll have everything he needs here.

Gillian: It's true. Jake Martin's upstairs. He's checking out all the equipment, all the machines.

Alex: Oh, good. Jake's here. Great. I'd like to talk to him.

Edmund: Eugenia and Gillian were hoping very much to see Dimitri today.

Gillian: Please, can he come home, Alex?

Eugenia: Yes, we'll take wonderful care of him. Every detail has been checked.

Alex: But the fact is he's only made the slightest improvement. Oh, I hate to say this, but he may never get better than he is right now.

Edmund: Well, that's all the more reason to have him home with family. We want him home.

Alex: Yes, Edmund. But what does he want? We've talked about this. You know how uncomfortable he will be with his family watching him struggle with this disease. I know it is well intentioned, but quite honestly, it would be like confining him to a fishbowl.

Gillian: But, Alex...

Alex: I'm sorry. He will be so miserable.

Gillian: We can... we can help him.

Alex: I know you'll do your best. And I'm sure in time he will learn to take your support. But right now it's not what he wants.

Jake: Hi. Alex, how are you?

Alex: Good. In spite of everything, I'm very hopeful. How's your beautiful little girl?

Jake: Oh, she's wonderful. Thank you very much. How's Dimitri? Edmund says that he's out of the coma.

Alex: He is, thanks to your daughter. The procedure... it's so very new. We're feeling our way slowly.

Jake: That's all we can do.

Edmund: Jake, what do you think of our setup?

Jake: What, the wing?

Edmund: Mm-hmm.

Jake: Oh, Edmund, I got to hand it to you. It's better equipped than most hospitals I've seen.

Edmund: Well, thanks. We want what's best for Dimitri.

Jake: Well, that shows.

Edmund: Listen, do me a favor. We're in the middle of a debate here, and perhaps I could use your input.

Alex: There's no reason to drag Jake into this.

Edmund: Would you please convince Alex that the best possible medicine for Dimitri is to be in his own bed in his own room surrounded by people who love him?

Jake: I know how badly you all want Dimitri home. Considering what you've been through and what he's survived, that's only natural.

Edmund: But?

Jake: But his recovery is very delicate. I mean, anything can throw it off right now, especially considering this is an experimental treatment we're trying with him.

Edmund: Jake, we have all the latest equipment. We'll take care of that.

Jake: But, Edmund, he has a debilitating illness and one that he's managed to survive despite the odds. But no one, not even Dimitri, can bounce back from this overnight no matter how much you love him.

Gillian: Jake, how can you possibly suggest that a cold, sterile hospital room would be better for Dimitri?

Jake: It is for now, Gillian. Guys, this is great news. He's responding to the stem cell treatment, and that's a huge thing. That was a long shot, so let's just be happy with that for now.

Eugenia: Well, how long will it take him to be ready? Days? Weeks?

Jake: Uh... you'll have to ask his attending physician. Alex?

Alex: Yeah, Edmund, can I speak to you alone for one second, please? 

Edmund: Sure.

Alex: Everything Jake said was accurate. Clearly, you won't listen to me, so listen to him.

Edmund: Look, Jake's not family. You are. Now, we could make this work if you would cooperate.

Alex: Oh. "Cooperate." I have no problem with Dimitri coming back here when he's ready. You've got to stop pushing.

Edmund: I am not pushing.

Alex: Yes, you are, ever since you found out he was alive. Don't make me regret having told you. I mean, this is a very difficult situation, and we don't need the added pressure.

Edmund: My brother belongs here. He should be here. It is a proven fact that people heal better when they're surrounded by family.

Alex: He will heal faster if it's on his own terms. He should be the one to decide if and when he wants to come back here.

Edmund I don't think he's in any condition...

Alex: You've got to stop pressuring him.

Edmund: To make that decision.

Alex: Look, if you won't stop this, I'm going to make a decision that I don't want to do.

Edmund: Is that a threat?

Alex: I don't want it to reach this level between us. But I can and I will instruct Dr. Silbert not to allow anyone else to see him except me.

Edmund: Are you issuing an ultimatum about my brother?

Alex: I'm just looking after his welfare.

Edmund: We're on the same side here, Alex.

Alex: Yes, we are. But your emotions are clouding your judgment.

Edmund: Oh, I see. I see. If I'm less emotional, then we can, what, just like you said, let him go? 

Alex: You are pushing so hard that you are in danger of compromising his recovery. Really, you are.

Edmund: Oh, there you go again. Every time you wave that flag of Dimitri's welfare to get what you want.

Alex: Oh, come on. It's not a ploy. I keep thinking about the nightmare I had where I couldn't save him from drowning, and that's how I feel. I can't save him, and you're forcing the issue.

Edmund: Okay, okay, okay. Maybe you're scared and it's making you overcautious.

Alex: I am scared. I'm more scared than I've ever been in my life. And I don't want my husband moved because you decided that you're in control of the situation.

Edmund: Look, maybe somebody else needs to make those decisions for him.

Alex: He's made it perfectly clear. He does not want the family involved yet.

Edmund: Alex, we don't take our wounded and let them die alone.

Alex: Well, what do you do, put them on display? He needs all his strength to focus on getting well, and he can't do that here because he's going to be worried about you and Gillian and the children, and he will exhaust himself putting up a front so that he doesn't cause you any pain.

Edmund: Look, we can handle that. That's nothing. What we can do is give Dimitri strength so that he doesn't give up.

Alex: He doesn't want... he wants to do it alone. He's so fragile, emotionally and physically. At our last visit, he could barely speak. You're right. I am so worried about him. Now, if you won't respect my wishes, you should respect his. I don't know what the two of you talked
about when you were alone. But whatever it was, maybe it should be your guide.

Edmund: Alex... all right.

Alex: Thank you. Thank you very much.

Edmund: Where are you going?

Alex: Oh, I'm going to change.

Edmund: You already rode?

Alex: No, I didn't. I thought a ride on Maximillian would calm me down. And I was wrong. What I really need is to see Dimitri.\

Edmund: I understand.

Alex: Oh, Dr. Silbert. Hi. How's Dimitri? Any progress?

Dr. Silbert: Well, I just got out of emergency surgery. I haven't had the time to see him this morning, but here's the report from the night nurse.

Edmund: Has he improved?

Dr. Silbert: Well, according to this, Mr. Marick had a good night. His vitals are stable. He slept peacefully. That's progress in itself. Yeah, you can go in.

Alex: Thank you.

Dr. Silbert: You're welcome.

Alex: That's wonderful. Thanks so much. You want to come with me?

Edmund: Thanks.


Edmund: Alex, Dimitri will be better. I can feel it.

Alex: I hope you're right.  [She and Edmund are shocked to see Dimitri's bed empty in his hospital room]