Eli Stone: Soul Free (Episode 113)

Behold, for I am your Creator.Eli's in surgery. Life-altering (potentially life-ending), brain-altering surgery. It's quiet, and things seem okay until Dr. Rajapaksa tries to take out the aneurysm that started this lovely show. Eli's blood pressure starts dropping and he starts hemorrhaging.

And then he wakes up, like an SNL Digital Short without the undead Andy Samberg.

Matt Dowd rushes into the WPK building to catch the elevator and finds Eli already inside. Matt, in his own inimitable way, tells Eli that if anyone deserves to not die or be brain damaged, it's Eli. And the bright side of a possible vegetative state? Sponge bath. Eli says that Matt is a comfort. They part ways getting off the elevator, where Keith picks up the pity train to I Hope You Don't Die Town. They walk past a glass wall that's being patched together, and Eli remarks that he thought it'd been fixed already. Eli appreciates Keith's concern, but he's going to be fine. Something clatters behind him, and he asks if there was an aftershock he slept through. Keith says it's cool if Eli doesn't want to talk about it, but Keith's around if he does, or if he just wants to go out and get wasted. Keith hesitates before taking off, catching Patti's eye. She winks at him. Eli tells Patti not to threaten people to be nice to him. He doesn't even want her to be nice to him, because it's not normal. He wants the Mayor of Sasstown! He demands Patti be meaner than usual to him. Though tearful and unsettled, Patti complies and tells him he has an appointment, which he doesn't remember because he doesn't listen. Half-hearted, but improvement.

The ten o'clock is David Green, played by the very much missed weekly on my TV Richard Schiff, and no one else in the world could do a better job with a soft-spoken, emotional man. Who happens to want Eli to help him die. In the library, David explains that his wife wants him declared incompetent so he can't make his own medical decisions. He has colon cancer; he's had it twice before, and both times he had chemo and went into remission. His wife wants him to do the same this time, but he doesn't want the chemo again. He smiles a little and tells Eli that God told him to be at peace. Eli leans in, asking if David spoke to God. David says God spoke to him: he prayed, and it came to him, a feeling, and S/He told him not to have the chemo. Eli clarifies that without it, David will probably die. Richard Schiff is so wonderful, he laughs a little as he says he might not. He prayed, God told him to put himself in God's hands, and his wife doesn't want him to. "Will you help me stop him?" David asks.

Eli's next at Nate's office, where Nate asks him for the nine thousandth time if he's crazy. Sane people don't sign DNRs before high-risk neurosurgery. He says that Eli, given his age and overall health, could come out of surgery with a horrible prognosis and be totally fine in six weeks. Eli repeats that he could come out a vegetable and not stay a vegetable. Or, he adds, he could just stay a vegetable, which is why he needs a DNR, and he wants Nate to be his health care proxy. Nate reminds Eli that the last two people he proxied for died, but Eli doesn't care. Nate doesn't want to do it at all, given that he could make a bad decision. Eli is so serene as to be unnerving, which is the first clue here. He tells Nate that Nate's been right about the aneurysm and Dr. Rajapaksa; it doesn't matter if Nate trusts himself or not, Eli does and he believes Nate will do the right thing. Nate adds that, if things get bad, the right thing would be... Eli says it plainly: "I want you to let me go."

In the hospital, a nurse tells Nate that Dr. Rajapaksa wants to see him. I love the way this episode is set up as though we're witnessing flashbacks, because what Eli's experiencing feels so real and honest that way. The past and present are all intercut so that it doesn't really matter what's real and what's not, just like with the visions. The visions are always true even when they're entirely fantastic, in the world's original sense.

Eli's at work over the books when Maggie comes in, proposing she second-chair for him. He says it's okay, he can handle it. When she starts to over-protest, Eli asks if she even knows what the case is about, and what she's really doing there. Another fantastical element: Eli is never this perceptive. She says she owes him for saving Scott, and everything. Eli: "You're trying to get in on the dying guy case with the other dying guy before both guys get flushed down the proverbial toilet." Eli tells Maggie she's afraid he's going to die. Maggie says she would really prefer it if he didn't. But the operation is dangerous, so maybe she's scared. She asks if he is, and he says that living or dying is fine with him. It's the "something in-between" that scares him. Dying, though, isn't on his agenda. He agrees to let Maggie second-chair as long as she doesn't sniffle. She thanks him, and he gazes at her affectionately.

In a conference room, David tries to tell his wife Rebecca that, while he doesn't want to die, he wants to be able to die on his own terms if that's what's going to happen. Rebecca says that they choose life: "That's what we do." These are Moses' last words to the Israelites, David says, gently stroking his wife's hair. Rebecca thinks it's the eleventh commandment; David announces that she's a rabbi. Maggie says it explains the whole "talking to God" thing. Rebecca says that Jews haven't talked to God since Biblical times, and even if they did, to talk to God, one has to believe in Him, and David doesn't. Except during baseball season, which is when David was diagnosed. He defends himself that lots of people find faith in times of crisis. I wonder if David is a Red Sox fan. Rebecca's lawyer says they only question his belief that God spoke to him. David says that he prayed and was answered, which doesn't make him incompetent. Rebecca thinks that the answer he got did, as it told him to abandon his children. David says that he was told to die with dignity, which is the greatest lesson he could teach their kids. Rebecca says they don't need lessons; they need their father.

In the hall, Patti rags Eli for not answering his cell phone. It takes Eli a minute to remember "the mean thing," at which she's very good. She dismisses him to go see W., who's actually waiting nearby. He steers Eli upstairs, helpfully expositing that he's still managing partner. Eli babbles that he knows he congratulated W., but he's having weird dejavu, so if he didn't, congratulations. W.'s like, thanks, shut up. He tells Eli that, eight years ago when Eli first walked into his office, he saw a greedy little sycophant, but he came to see Eli as the heir to the W. throne. Eli was on the fast-track to partner, but the aneurysm derailed taht a little. Eli asks if this is another "I'm disappointed you suck" talk, and W. tells him sometimes, he's still an ass. They walk into the conference room, where all the major players are gathered to cheer and clap and even pump fists over teh announcement that Eli's been made junior partner in charge of pro bono initiatives. One by one, the cast congratulates him, hugs him, kisses him, and generally act the dorks in a series of weird face shots. Eli looks at the cake they've ordered for him and thinks he gets it. He says that being partner means a lot to him, but he doesn't want it if W. thinks he's going to die or as incentive to live. Close-up on W.'s face as he tells Eli that Eli's compassion changed him. White-flash fade to the hospital, where W.'s standing over Eli's bedside, asking the gauze-turbaned Eli to wake up.

In court, Rebecca testifies that David has always been largely non-religious or a skeptic. She's convinced his sudden conversion is a symptom of depression. She explains that when the cancer progressed and the chemo didn't work, David grew despondent. If he's found faith, he wouldn't be giving up, he'd fight to live and see their kids grow up for as long as he could, which is what God wants. Eli rises, asking, "The God that you believe in?" Rebecca firmly says the God of Jewish faith. She says that Judiasm teaches that God instilled in his people the gift for learning. Rebecca believes that all the scientific and medical advances means that God wants David to live, because He created a world in which it was possible for David to get better. She wants David to take that chance for her, their kids, and himself.

In conference, Eli asks David what God said to him, how it happened, if he saw someone. Or heard a song? Oh, Eli. David says it was more a moment of clarity. He felt calm. He had peace. Eli, tears in his eyes, says that never happened to him. It's never happened to Rebecca either, David says, and she's a rabbi.

Taylor visits the library to offer Eli his office back. She says she's proud of him. He's the most imprtant person in her life. She says he taught her about unconditional love. Eli tells Taylor he's going to do his darndest not to die. She tells him he's not dead. White flash to the hospital, where Taylor delivers the message again, pleading with Eli to listen to her even while he's all comatose. She says she meant it when she said she'd be there. Nate arrives and hovers over Eli a minute before explaining that they were almost done with the surgery when things went pear-shaped. They were going to clip the aneurysm. There was a hemmorhage, and then another because of pressure from the aneurysm, and then Eli went into cardiac arrest, cutting off the blood flow to his brain. The aneurysm is gone now. I don't know what to think about that. Taylor says that in an alternate universe, she and Eli would be married, and she'd be making the decision about his future. Nate says Eli's already made it himself: he didn't want to live "this way." Taylor says that though Eli asked Nate to let him go, Nate doesn't have to honor that. Nate stares at his little brother, saying he has to honor Eli. He's already let him down once, he can't do it again.

White flash to Eli at Chen's, telling him about the promotion. Eli's like, it's great, but... He tells Chen about how David spoke to God. Chen asks if it was through a musical number. Heh. Eli says it was more that God took away David's burdens. Eli says it makes him think, and Chen finishes, "What's He done for you lately?" Which says to me that next season, the musical message of God will be via Janet Jackson. Eli says all God's done is scare the crap out of him. Chen guesses that might be God's way of showing his love. Eli: "So this is spritual corporal punishment?" Chen looks at Eli soulfully. Chen tells Eli that he never felt close to God in the past. He immersed himself in the study of religion to find God, and after all those years, God found him by sending him a "smug, stubborn, pain-in-the-rear lawyer." He says, "You've lifted my burdens, Eli." Rather than be touched, Eli's annoyed. He asks why everyone's talking to him like he's going to--

--And then it's Chen's turn to wake from a dream. He goes straight to Nate, saying he's here to help Nate help Eli.

After the break, Chen tells Nate that part of Eli's alive and trying to get a message out, via the dream Chen just had. Nate, after everything, is still disbelieving. Chen says that Eli sent the message to someone more open to it, because it happened to Nate, he'd think it just a dream. Which he thinks anyway. Chen explains that Eli doesn't understand yet that the surgery's happened, but he's close. Nate paces, saying that two weeks ago, he'd have thought Chen a quack. And he still sort of does, obviously, but at least he's willing to negotiate. Chen asks if Eli didn't know things about Nate's past that he had no way of knowing. "And then he put me in charge of his DNR," Nate says. "Even comatose, he's a tool." Nate says he's supposed to take Eli off life support today. Chen says he thinks he's supposed to stop Nate. Nate says he wants to listen and believe; he wants to believe that if he waits long enough, Eli will wake up. But he knows that Eli's not okay and not going to get better. Chen argues that science isn't infallible, and if Nate had listened to Eli, he'd know that. Nate says that it's not about what he knows, it's about what Eli's asked of him and what Eli wants. If Nate starts to do what he needs instead of what Eli wants, he's betraying his brother. Chen takes this in and then pulls out his trump card, the photo of him and Papa Stone. Nate can't believe it. He's rocking this episode, by the way, with the indecision and fear. Chen says that Papa Stone had a vision of Chen helping Eli, and this is his chance. He asks Nate to give Eli more time. Nate says he'll wait 48 hours, and if he doesn't wake up... Chen says Eli will. Nate says he'll do his best to believe, too.

Eli's in court. In his mind. David testifies that he's happier, in some ways, than he's ever been. This is the last of his life and he knows how he wants to live it. Rebecca's lawyer asks what God sounded like. David says he didn't hear a voice; a feeling came over him, quite simply, and he can only describe it as divine. Before that, he'd been despondent, as Rebecca said. The first time the chemo worked, he'd been elated, and then, when it stopped, depressed. Rebecca's lawyer asks if, perhaps, David's overworked brain created this moment of serenity in answer to his depression and pain. He recites that science says that chemo can save David's life. David says there's scientific evidence for the burning bush that God used to speak to Moses, too. He asks how anyone can say he didn't speak to God, and for Rebecca to let him enjoy what's left of his life.

Eli's in the library, in conference with Rebecca. She says she knows she's going to lose. The lawsuit is to help convince David to keep fighting. Eli says that David's made his decision. Rebecca knows all about Eli and his illness, about the earthquake, everything. She says she knows he's more than just a lawyer. (He's a prophet for reals, you guys. For serious.) David chose Eli for a reason. He's to show David that we can rise above adversity and fighting for your life is worth it. She says that Jewish tradition believes that saving one life is to save the world, and it's in Eli's power to save a life. "Use it," she tells him. And save yourself! Come back with new episodes soon!

And now Eli's with David. He admits he spoke to Rebecca, and he thinks she's right. He thinks David should want to live, for himself. David asks why Eli isn't on his side. Eli says he's like David, and he believes God spoke to David. But he believes David heard him wrong. "He sent you a doctor; He sent you a rabbi; and now He sent me," Eli says. A doctor, a rabbi, and a lawyer, David sighs, sounds like the beginning a joke. Eli thinks God wants David to fight for his life. Smiling, David says he is. Before he had cancer, he had a great job, great car, great house, great family, but he was a workaholic who didn't enjoy what he had. Tearing up, David says he was a skeptic, but who could blame him for thinking life had no meaning. Eli says it sounds familiar. Yes, we got that. David says he was sleepwalking before. If he never got sick, he'd still be asleep; he's awake, now, and he has a full life. Crying, he says he owes it to the moment with God. He has a purpose, now, which is what he's fighting for. Which is to say, Eli, you might have gone into this surgery prepared to die, and by doing so abandoned your purpose, but now is the time to WAKE UP. Again.

Closing arguments. Plaintiff: David's incompetent, make him get treatment. Eli: We can't know that God didn't speak to David, or that he did. Faith (FAITH!) means believing God speaks to us each in different ways. Eli admits to hearing and seeing things that indicated the presence of God in his life, and he tried to follow God's signs. He paid the price, but he thinks it was the best time of his life. He says David had a feeling, and he, himself, saw George Michael, and maybe they're both crazy. But if such things made them change their lives for the better, then we should all be so nuts. Eli says that if David wants to live his life in a way that brings him closer to God, it's his decision to make, no matter how he may do it.

Cut to Taylor's office, where she's crying. W. arrives, saying they have to go. She apologizes for the tears, since he hates crying. "Honey, I don't hate crying," he says. "Okay, I hate it." Ha! I loved that. He understands, though. Taylor says this isn't what she pictured when hse started working at WPK. W. asks if she regrets it; she doesn't, though it hasn't been easy. He says some of that's been his fault. She says nothing, which he takes as agreement. She tells him not to worry, "I'm just being you. Mr. Difficult." That is very cute. W. says he's trying not to be so much himself lately. If Eli was around, W. was going to make him partner. He really is starting a pro bono practice. He's changing and the firm is changing, and he wants Taylor to be a big part of that. He tells Taylor to stick with him, because he needs her here. She asks how she could not.

The judge gives his ruling. Basically, what David wants is what he wants, and the law has to respect that. Eli congratulates David, who thanks Eli for giving him his life back. In the background, we hear the distinct sounds of a monitor announcing asystole. White flash to the hospital, where David's flatlining, Rebecca at his side. Some scrubs arrive and call for the crash cart, but Rebecca tells them it's okay: this is what he wants. Her hand over David's heart, she says good bye. On the other side of the hospital room, Eli silently bears witness. He may be in a coma, but he's still sort of snarling.

The main players gather at Eli's bedside. Nate's there, but strangely, not his mother. Taylor, W., Patti, Matt, Maggie, Keith, and Chen stand vigil.

In his dream, Eli tells Chen that something's not right. He knows he's been wearing the same suit and tie for days (and, in an odd detail, everyone else has been shuffling their wardrobe rather regularly). He hasn't gone home, and he doesn't know how he's been getting around. He's one place, then another. He made partner; he tried a case about living or dying; everyone's treating him with kid gloves. It's all too weird. "It's like," he begins. Chen prompts him. He knows he already had the surgery and that it went badly, like in his vision. Except that his vision was real, right? Chen: "Sorry, bro." Eli asks if he's dead. Chen asks if it matters. Eli's like, the hell? I don't want to be dead! "Then don't be," Chen says. Eli asks what that means. "It means what it means," he answers. Eli tells him to stop being annoying and enigmatic. Chen says he doesn't know what to tell Eli, since he's not really there. And neither is Eli. It's kinda trippy, yeah? Chen tells Eli he could let go, and no one blames him. No one's angry. They're sad and hurt, and they'll hurt for a long time. Eli cries. The world will go on without Eli, Chen says. "The world doesn't need Eli Stone. Unless?" Chen says. Eli repeats the word, realization dawning. Chen tells him he can say it, and that He likes to hear it. "I have more to do," Eli says falteringly. And then with more conviction, "I have more to do!" Chen smiles, saying he thinks so to. Eli asks how he gets out. Red pill? Nice. Chen offers the needle, and when Eli's like, seriously?, Chen busts out the fake pidgin of the pilot: "Fft! You listen to Figment Dr. Chen!" Eli lies down, thanking Chen. Chen tells him he's just talking to himself. "I'll miss you most of all, Scarecrow," Eli says. "That was lame, dude," Chen answers. HA!

The needle transports Eli to a blue plane of blankness. He spins around, coming face to face with... George Michael. Oh, it had to be. It had to be! "Oh, man. Are you God?" he asks. George Michael: "Some men have said so." Hee. I love a diety with a sense of humor. Eli says he doesn't know how to get back. George Michael says he does, and he always has. Eli's like, whu? George Michael begins to sing "Feelin' Good." And then, in a twist that freaks me out, George Michael begins multiplying and appearing first over here, then over there. George on the Right says it's a new dawn, it's a new day, and he's feeling goooood. W. joins in, singing that the fish in the sea know how he feels. And then, awesomely, Patti, too, with the river running free. They sing together about the new dawn, new day, new life. To the George Michael Singalong with the WPK Backing Vocalists, we get a montage of the season and Eli's many revelations. "This old world is a new world and a bold world for me," George Michale proclaims. Everyone at Eli's bedside dances in a circle around him in the blue plane, and for the record, Matt Dowd cannot dance, and Nate is not far behind him in that area of ineptitude.  They all reach skyward, and Eli, with all his might, reaches for something, too, and closes his eyes.

And wakes up.