Dr. Hook (Andrew McCarthy) introduces Dr. Christine Draper (Allison Hossack) to his "home" located underneath Kingdom Hospital, a former hospital, Gottreich Hospital, which burnt to the ground, some wings left over still intact, showing her a morbid hobby consisting of little "graves" with crosses marking mistakes various doctors have made on patients that resulted in damage or death. She's appropriately disturbed by it, remembering a mistake she made because a lot of her mind was on a tennis match. Paul (Kett Turton) attempts to kill Peter (Jack Coleman; somehow Paul, despite being a ghost, can harm mortals), but is interrupted by Antibus when the anteater answers Mary's (Jodelle Ferland) "distress signal" (she cries out for the anteater). But Paul has plans for this nuisance, but what will happen to Peter if he doesn't have Antibus' protection? A strange subplot involves a manic indigent, named Frank (Paul Perri), who goes nuts during a novel reading meeting with a priest, the group mostly bums in need of work. Frank smacks his head multiple times against a post after spewing odd poetry (some including Mary, ghost girl) claiming something was in his head attempting to explode. He collapses, is sent to Kingdom Hospital, awakens on the operating table after the anesthesiologist tries time and again to put him to sleep, his MRI showing that Frank has a "homicidal octopus going on inside his brain" (a colorful description of an unusual tumor), actually leaning up, talking about an angel next to bewildered surgeon Stegman (Bruce Davison), and falling back, eventually dying. This whole scene is so bizarre (especially with the open wound on the side of Frank's head as he talks, including several POV shots through the tape over his eyes, a most unusual camera effect), but is par for the course in regards to "Kingdom Hospital". Stegman has trouble with the pronunciation of his fellow surgeon, Gupta (Zak Santiago; "Goopta", Stegman keeps repeating), and is his usual incorrigible self, the way he goes on and on about his patient being a poor vagrant, how if he were to die then no harm via malpractice would occur. Hook, Draper, and Sally prepare for an encounter with Peter, who is anguishing about not being able to talk to Natalie (Suki Kaiser). I think this chapter of "Kingdom Hospital" is preparing us for a romance between Hook and Draper (it wasn't as loud before, although the two are allies against Stegman for whom they both loathe), the way the two look at each other, the presence of attractive interest is certainly visible. Hook's lair, and the idea that he can remain on call if need be, is rather neat (although, besides certain rooms of this area, which are tidy and clean, it carries the appearance of the wear and tear of time).
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