Mental Recap Life and Limb

The first episode of the two-part Finale (aired 15\08\09).
Last week Becky returned, in fact we met the whole family and saw Jack prepare to fight to keep his sister in town with him. On this episode, in slightly grainy Telecolombia Technicolor:

For the first time in weeks we see the Chloe\Arturo pairing on a job- a man – Brian Jennings, has had his fingers chopped off. He does not want them sewn on again from fear of the operation. The boss comes into the ward, angry and he accuses Brian of doing it on purpose to get compensation. Brian turns out to be a small distraction this week, the focus being on Becky and Jack.

On arriving at work this week, Jack immediately goes to see Becky- who seems in great form. They joke and share a sibling hug; he gives her a nail file and a sense of normality returns between them as she does her nails. When Jack talks to her about the facility he has lined up for her, Becky immediately gets anxious. Her ‘friend’ appears, in the corner of the hospital room. They are both scared and the threat of ‘them’ having found her returns. The scene becomes emotionally tense as Becky goes through an episode of screaming, paranoia and delusion. Jack sees her through it, but a consequence, and a tell tale sign of the difficulties he faces as her carer, is that he is stabbed in the arm with the nail file.

Nora calls Jack into her office, Veronica is already there. Nora informs Jack that she is assigning Veronica to Becky’s case. Veronica stresses that if she takes the case Jack as to step back, to which Jack seemingly agrees, but he is clearly not happy with the situation and walks from the office. Veronica recognises that she is stuck in a difficult situation.

Chloe and Arturo consult Carl Belle about their patient, about how to establish whether Brian has done it accidentally or not. They plan to go to his workplace and house (a la House)...to search for clues.

Next, Veronica introduces herself to Becky - who is feeling a little guilty. Jack watches the scene through the two-way mirror. Veronica establishes a rapport, and asks Becky about the auditory hallucinations, and Becky's friend is now in the room with them.

Meanwhile Drs. Chloe and Arturo visit Brian’s place of work. The machinery seems simple, with a clear danger zone, where not to put your hands.

Jack and his Mum (Margo) walk the hospital corridors. She lists the pros and cons of Becky moving to the Florida facility near them. The issue of why Jack does not like James becomes clearer- he put Becky in an institution when she first became ill. When Jack tells his mother he wants to look after Becky, she tells him clearly that it is not his choice to make.

Back to Brian, who is looking at himself with a relief, quickly hidden when the Doctors enter. He convinces Carl that cutting his fingers off was not about getting the money from his boss and Carl decides to discharge him. Jack, his mind elsewhere, signs the release papers, no questions asked.

In the next scene, Veronica suggests to Jack a potential treatment for Becky- an implant that will automatically dose her. Jack objects to this, as he feels Becky should take the medication under her own control. Veronica pushes him on it, and then tells him how it is going between herself and Becky, but Jack withdraws abrubtly saying, “She’s your patient”.

Veronica mentions to Nora that he is not letting go. Veronica feels that Becky is more stressed with Jack around, and his presence may be impeding Becky’s recovery. Nora catches Jack in the corridor and orders him to go home, saying he is taking on too much. They argue, but Jack becomes distracted by the conversation that Chloe and Arturo are having about Brian. He walks away from Nora and orders Chloe and Arturo to find Brian immediately. Jack now takes an interest in Brian’s case.

Jack chats to Becky about her facility, and again Becky acts anxious and frantically looks for her watch, which Jack maintains she never had in the first instance.

James and Margot are at the hospital, visiting. James asks to talk to Jack alone. We learn that James tried to find Becky too, even hiring his own Private Investigator. The two argue about mistakes in the past including placing Becky in an institution and James questions whether Jack has asked Becky what she wants to do.

Jack then goes to see Becky again. They sit and chat, Jack mentions that there is a place in the Florida facility for her, near their mum and James. Whilst Becky shows a little bit of anxiety, rubbing her wrist, essentially she remains happy and calm. They joke about Jack being quite a catch.

Chloe and Arturo go to Brian’s apartment, which turns out to be...odd- there are drawings of buildings and anatomical sketches of the human body everywhere, he has left a prosthetic arm and hand lying around– and a whole host of DIY tools covered in blood. Brian has cut off his own hand.

In hospital, Brian says he feels better than ever, without the hand. So the team meet to discuss the way forward - unfortunately Random Guy from last week is not sitting in on this one, and I miss him. Carl Belle wants to sew Brian’s arm back on, Jack feels that this would cause more mental anguish to the patient, which is not what they are there for.

Meanwhile, Becky talks to Veronica about her friend, she calls him Gabe. Veronica asks Becky if she ever knew a Gabe, Becky becomes upset. She recalls her time on the streets and that it is confusing not knowing if some of the things she remembers were real or a hallucination at the time. James and her Mum walk in and comfort her, and as a family.

Jack is talking to Brian now, who confesses his fondness for amputation. The fingers were a test, a trial run before he cut his whole hand off for real. Brian remains certain he has made the right decision. The diagnosis card is flagged up and it reads “Delusional. Body Integrity Identity Disorder”.

Carl Belle meanwhile, has headed in a different direction. He has gone directly to Brian’s parents and he bullies them to get Power of Attorney over Brian- so they can force him to get his hand re-attached.

The next scene Jack is chatting and playing guitar with Becky in her hospital room. Becky becomes serious and informs Jack she will be going to Florida. Jack explains that looking after her is the most important thing in his life, and Becky replies that” maybe it shouldn’t be”.

The next day now, at the hospital Chloe and Arturo fuss over Jack as he walks in. They have been trying to get in touch with him for hours. He is late for work, in the same clothes as yesterday, now rumpled and he looks like hell (well actually he still looks pretty fit). Chloe and Arturo tell Jack about what Carl has been up to, but he walks straight through them.

Becky is packing to leave.

Brian’s parents arrive at the hospital and are pleased and surprised to find Brian happy. They are confused, given what Carl has told them. Jack explains that Brian’s obsession has now gone. “Sometimes you have to give up a part of yourself in order to feel whole”. And we know he is not just talking about Brian and his hand.

Carl is watching this exchange, and sees he has lost control of the parents, so confronts Jack in the toilets. Carl calls Jack mentally unstable and unfit to be his boss. Jack responds by telling Carl that he is aware he is looking for an excuse to trip him up at every turn. Carl reveals he still feels he should have been given Jack’s job.

Jack walks from that conversation to one with James, who expresses doubts as to whether they are doing the right thing. James shows his regret regarding the decision to put Becky in the institution. They hug. Jack signs the release form. He holds back the tears as Becky leaves with James and his mum. Becky’s friend is there, and he follows them.

Nora walks past, and stops to advise Jack gets some therapy and Jack concedes he needs help. Jack walks away.

The season final episode recap will be up later.