TEXT: (Seattle scenes) MVO: As surgeons we live in a world of worst-case scenarios. We cut ourselves off from hoping for the best because too many times the best doesn't happen. But every now and then something extraordinary occurs... (Cristina is sitting on her bed playing with her ring. George and Callie are in the elevator. Izzie and Bailey are outside of SGH looking at the sign that says Denny Duquette memorial clinic) MVO:...and suddenly best-case scenarios seem possible. Izzie: Eight days, eight million dollars Bailey: And we are open for business. MVO: And every now and then...something amazing happens. (Ellis is at the nursing home, Meredith is watching her.) Mrs. Henry: She woke up this morning completely aware. She's her old self. It happens. Medically we don't know why. It's just a random gift. Meredith: So she's lucid? She remembers? Mrs. Henry: Pretty much everything except the last five years. And of course she doesn't realize she has Alzheimer's. We thought she should hear it from you. Meredith: So, she'll know me? I'm gonna walk in there and she'll know who I am? Mrs. Henry: She's been asking for you. MVO: And against our better judgment, we start to have hope. (Burke walks up to Richard at the nurse's station) Burke: Hey, Chief. I need a signature. I'd like to use the helicopter to transport a patient from Denver. (Derek walks up) Derek: Good morning, Chief. I found a way to fund a stereo tactic robot. I want to make sure you're on board before I... Richard: It's a little early in the morning for you two to be chasing me down. Burke: I'm gonna be doing a bloodless pulmonary valve translocation on this patient. Derek: This machine is an excellent source of revenue for the hospital (Mark and Addison are standing nearby) Mark: Aren't you gonna get in there? You wanna be Chief you gotta fight with the big boys. Addison: Oh,
SUMMARY:
The race for the Chief's position is on, and the attending physicians, Derek, Burke, Addison, and Mark, compete for Webber's affections by trying to help out everywhere possible. The Denny Duquette Memorial Clinic is open for business, but no one shows up. Izzie is disappointed in what she invested Denny's legacy in, and she and Alex team up to steal patients from the emergency room. Callie and George get back from Las Vegas, announcing their marriage, much to everyone's disbelief. Izzie is not supportive of their marriage and tries to get George to realize the mistake he has made. George and Webber treat a patient with cancer, but her blood has a neurotoxin in it that causes all the staff around her to fall ill. The staff have to operate on her in hazmat suits, and later in small bursts to complete her surgery. Cristina doesn't give Burke an answer to his proposal, but after watching him risk his life during the surgery, she agrees to marry him. Meanwhile, Meredith's Alzheimer's-stricken mother, Ellis Grey, experiences a change in her medical condition by becoming lucid for the day. She is disappointed in the mediocrity her daughter has fallen into and begins to despise Derek, blaming him for what happened to the Meredith that used to be "a force of nature". Ellis has to have heart surgery and, despite her mother's wishes, Meredith schedules the upcoming surgery. Webber talks to Ellis and realizes that she is still in love with him, but she loses her memory after their talk ends, before Meredith has the chance to tell her how she really feels.