VailChapter XVi - “OUt With the OlD, iN With the NeW”

BRADLEY SIMPSON, A VAIL,COLORADO ORTHOPEDIST WITH TRAUMA RESEARCH INTEREST, LOST HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE, MEGYN. SHE DIED FROM METASTATIC GYNECOLOG-IC CANCER LAST YEAR. FORTUNATELY THE COUPLE WERE ABLE TO CONCEIVE, AND THE FIRST EVER FETAL TRANS-PLANT AT AN ADVANCED PREGNANCY WAS COMPLETED BY TRANSFER TO HER SURROGATE TWIN SISTER, MICKY. BRADLEY UNDERSTANDABLY HAS BEEN VERY DEPRESSED SINCE MEGYN DIED. MICKY HAS TRIED TO CHEER HIM UP IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE TO NO AVAIL. MICKY HAS OBVIOUS DESIGNS ON BRADLEY WHO HAS SHOWN ABSOLUTELY NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER. MICKY AND BRADLEY HAVE A TENTATIVE MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING THAT BRADLEY SIMPSON II WILL BE SHARED AS NEEDED BETWEEN MICKY AND BRADLEY. BRADLEY HAS SOLE CUSTODY BY LAW, AND MICKY WAS SPECIFICALLY INTENDED AS ONLY A SURROGATE MOM DURING PREGNANCY. BRADLEY DIDN’T WANT TO GO TO COURT AFTER MEGYN’S DEATH TO FULLY ENFORCE THE CONTRACT BETWEEN MICKY AND BRAD-LEY. THE FETAL TRANSPLANT CONTRACT SPECIFICALLY STATED THAT MICKY WAS NOT A PARENT, HAD NO RIGHTS TO BRADLEY SIMPSON II AND THAT ANY CONTACT WITH THE CHILD WAS TO BE WITH THE PERMISSION OF MEGYN AND BRADLEY. IN THE LIKELY EVENT OF MEGYN’S DEATH, SOLE CUSTODY WAS TO DR.BRADLEY SIMPSON, THE FATHER. DESPITE REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO REMOVE MICKY FROM HIS LIFE, BRADLEY HAS MISERABLY FAILED. THOUGH MEGYN’S DEATH WAS ANTICIPATED, BRADLEY HAD NO IDEA THAT MICKY WOULD BECOME THIS AT-TACHED TO BOTH HIM AND THE BABY, BRADLEY SIMPSON II.

BRADLEY REMAINS DEEPLY INVOLVED WITH GOVERNMEN-TAL AND PRIVATE MEDICAL RESEARCH GRANT MONEY INVOLVING HIS STMOR (SIMPSON MOBILE TRAUMA OPER-ATING ROOM). MONEY HAS BEEN CONTINUING TO FLOW TOWARDS BRADLEY AND VAIL HOSPITAL FOR THE STMOR. BRADLEY’S RESEARCH TEAM HAS BECOME QUITE PRO-DUCTIVE, AND HIS RESEARCH TRAUMA INTERESTS, PRES-TIGE, AND TRAUMA ADVANCEMENTS THROUGH VAIL HOS-PITAL ARE BECOMING KNOWN WORLDWIDE. THE REAL DILEMMA OCCURS WHEN BRADLEY (AFTER MONTHS OF BEING VERY SINGLE) MEETS A JEWISH GIRL VISITING HER PARENTS. FOLLOW ALONG AS THE HIGH END MEDICAL DRAMA “VAIL” KEEPS MOVING ALONG WITH A FEW SURPRISES.

INT. SIMPSON HOUSE IN EAST VAIL:

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BRADLEYOK MICKY, I THOUGHT WE DISCUSSED THIS VERY SUB-JECT LAST WEEK!

MICKYYES WE DID-BUT NOT COMPLETELY!

BRADLEYTHERE IS NOTHING MORE TO SAY. I HAVE A NANNY I PAY WHETHER SHE IS HERE OR NOT. WE ARE TO LIVE SEPA-RATELY. YOU MAY VISIT BRAD II WHEN YOU WANT–EVEN THOUGH I MAY STOP IT AT ANYTIME BY THE CONTRACT WE AGREED UPON PRIOR TO HIS BIRTH. REMEMBER WE BOTH SIGNED THE CONTRACT.

MICKYYES I DO REMEMBER. IT’S NOT THAT SIMPLE ONCE YOU DELIVER BRAD II AND MEGYN IS GONE. LET’S DISCUSS 9 MONTHS OF BREAST FEEDING; AND THEN I’M DUMPED! AND WHAT ABOUT THAT ONE NIGHT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO? YOU ARE NOT THINKING CORRECTLY!

BRADLEYI’VE FORGOTTEN ABOUT THAT ONE NIGHT. WE BOTH HAD TOO MUCH TO DRINK AT THE HUBCAP. IT WAS MY ENTIRE FAULT.

MICKYOK, I GET ALL THAT. BUT IT SEEMS TO ME SINCE I’M IDEN-TICAL IN EVERY WAY TO MEGYN, THEN I SHOULD BE AN ACCEPTABLE SUB.

BRADLEYWHOA! ONE NIGHT DOESN’T MAKE A MARRIAGE.

MICKYI FIGURED IT WAS JUST THE START OF OUR RELATION-SHIP. OUR RELATIONSHIP HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MEGYN. I AM THE MOTHER OF BRAD II. FRANKLY I MAY EVEN LOVE YOU MORE THAN MEGYN EVER DID.

BRADLEYBUT IT’S NOT RECIPROCAL. IT IS A LOVE IMBALANCE. CLEARLY I HAVE NO DESIRE FOR A LONG TERM RELATION-SHIP OF ANY KIND WITH YOU MICKY. NONE!

MICKYI GET THAT ALSO. I HAVE LITTLE MONEY AFTER THE FETAL TRANSPLANT AND DELIVERY. YOU HIRED ME AS A RE-SEARCH ASSISTANT TEMPORARILY. HECK, SOME AT THE

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HOSPITAL THINK IT’S A NATURAL PROGRESSION FOR US TO FALL IN LOVE AND MARRY.

BRADLEYNO WAY. I HAVE NO DESIRE FOR A RELATIONSHIP OF ANY KIND IN THE NEAR FUTURE. WHAT ABOUT YOUR RUDOLPH?

MICKYRUDOLPH IS GONE. HE MOVED TO NEW YORK CITY. WE ARE NOT TALKING, AND THERE IS NO RELATIONSHIP, MARRIAGE, WEDDING OR TWEETS.

BRADLEYSO.........

MICKYSO YES I’M AVAILABLE AND WANT A LONG TERM RELATION-SHIP, MARRIAGE, KIDS, SWING SETS, DIAPERS, PTO, TRAINING WHEELS...........I ALREADY KNOW YOU AND I CAN HAVE BABIES, AND PROBABLY A BUNCH OF THEM. MAYBE I’LL JUST LEAVE FOR A BIT AND YOU’LL COME RUNNING.

BRADLEYI’M SORRY MICKY. I JUST DON’T SEE IT. I CAN NEVER THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH FOR MEGYN AND ME.

MICKYYES YOU CAN BRADLEY SIMPSON I. YOU CAN JUST ASK FOR MY HAND IN MARRIAGE AND THEN WE’LL BE EVEN. I KNOW THAT PROBABLY WON’T HAPPEN. I’M NOT WASTING MY TIME. IN FACT, I WON’T BE IN TOMORROW.

BRADLEYWHY NOT?

MICKYI’LL BE PACKING MY BAGS AND CAR FOR DAVENPORT, IOWA. I’M HEADING BACK HOME. IT’S TOO MUCH FOR ME TO HANG IN VAIL. THERE ARE JUST NOT ENOUGH AVAIL-ABLE GUYS. I ALREADY TRIED TO WORK WITH A NICE GUY-EVEN CARED FOR HIM ENOUGH TO LIVE WITH THE DRUG PROBLEMS. NOW AFTER BEING A SUPERB SURRO-GATE I’M DUMPED AGAIN. BUT IT WAS NEVER TO WORK. I PROBABLY WILL BE A SINGLE GAL THE REST OF MY LIFE. I’LL COPE.

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BRADLEYI’LL MISS YOU IN WAYS THAT YOU WERE A MOM TO BRAD II. I’M JUST NOT INTERESTED NOW IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH ANY FEMALE, AND I’M SORRY FOR THAT.

MICKYI’M OUT OF HERE, BUT JUST WANTED TO INFORM YOU THAT MEGYN HAS DIED. MEGYN SIMPSON, YOUR WIFE AND MY SISTER, IS NOT COMING BACK EVER! WE ALL NEED TO MOVE ON. I’VE TRIED ENDLESSLY TO GET YOU OUT OF THIS DEPRESSIVE FUNK THAT YOU ARE IN–BUT TO NO AVAIL. I’M EXHAUSTED. YOU NEED PROZAC, CELEXA, CYMBALTA...TAKE YOUR PICK.

BRADLEYYES I REALIZE I’M DOWN A BIT, AND HAVE BEEN TOTALLY LOST IN THE RESEARCH. BUT US HAVING A SERIOUS RELATIONSHIP OR MARRYING, MICKY, IS NOT IN THE CARDS. I DON’T SEE IT. SO LONG.

MICKYGOOD BYE.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

DR. BRADLEY SIMPSON HOSTS A CONTINGENT OF PHYSI-CIANS FROM CHINA. THE SETTING IS A TRAUMA RE-SEARCH WING ATTACHED TO VAIL HOSPITAL. BRADLEY IS DEMONSTRATING SOME NEW SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, PERCUTANEOUS (THROUGH THE SKIN) METHODS OF SURGICAL TREATMENTS, SMALL SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, COMPUTERIZED SURGICAL ROBOT AND A SMALL EXPAND-ABLE MOBILE TRAUMA SURGICAL ROOM. DR.SIMPSON’S STMOR (SIMPSON TRAUMA MOBILE OPERATING ROOM) IS CAPABLE OF HANDLING VIRTUALLY ANY TYPE OF SURGI-CAL CASE. THE STMOR IMMEDIATELY TRAVELS POST TRAUMA TO THE PATIENT, SPEEDING UP THE TRAUMA RECOVERY AND DECREASING COMPLICATIONS. THE MOBILITY HAS BEEN FURTHER ENHANCED BY JAPANESE AUTO MANUFACTURERS WHO HAVE EQUIPPED THE MO-BILE UNIT WITH SOLAR POWERED BATTERIES, BACK UP GENERATORS AND THE ABILITY TO TRAVEL IN ANY WATER OR MOUNTAIN TERRAIN. THIS IS NOT DISSIMILAR TO A MODERN DAY COMPUTERIZED VERSION OF THE “DUCK,” AN AMPHIBIOUS LANDING VEHICLE USED FOR TROOP LANDINGS IN WWII.

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BRADLEYAS YOU CAN SEE, THE ANESTHESIA HAS BEEN MADE QUITE SIMPLE WITH OUR VAIL ANESTHESIOLOGISTS CON-TRIBUTING SOME INTRIGUING ASPECTS TO THE OVERALL CRITICALLY ILL PATIENT. THESE TRAUMA PATIENTS IN SUMMIT AND EAGLE COUNTY ARE EVERYWHERE—ON THE SLOPES, IN LAKES, AND IN THE BACK COUNTRY. WE HAVE THE ABILITY IN FACT TO TREAT FOUR PATIENTS SIMULTA-NEOUSLY IN OUR STMOR. THE MOBILE TRAUMA UNIT WILL BE USED BY MANY COUNTRIES IN TIME OF WAR OR NATU-RAL DISASTERS.

DR. PINGOK, I SEE ALL OF THIS AND WALK AWAY COMPLETELY IMPRESSED BY THE SIMPLICITY OF THE STMOR. YET DESPITE THE SIMPLE DESIGN, THE SIMPSON UNIT IS QUITE A HIGHLY FUNCTIONING QUICK RESPONSE TRAUMA UNIT. WE ALL KNOW THAT THE GOLDEN HOUR AFTER INJURIES BEFORE COMPLICATIONS AND DEATH OCCURS IS NOW BEING REPLACED BY HIGHER STANDARDS-MIN-UTES WITH THE RESPONSE TIME AND DEFINITIVE TREATMENT.

BRADLEYYES, TREATMENT IN THE FIELD IS WHERE IT IS AT. INTER-VENE AND HEAL THE PATIENT PRIOR TO ACIDOSIS, SHOCK, SEPSIS OR INFECTION BEGINS. THIS ISN’T FOR EVERY-ONE, BUT IT CAN BE QUITE USEFUL TO AVERT EXTENSIVE BLOOD LOSS AND SHOCK. I PREDICT MANY PATIENTS WILL LIVE NOW THAT FORMERLY DIED FROM TRAUMA.

DR. PINGI REALLY LIKE THE FINE TEMPERATURE CONTROL OF THE OPERATING ROOM. THE ANESTHESIA IS GREAT WITH INTUBATION EQUIPMENT COMING FROM THE CEILING. THE BUILT IN ANESTHESIA MACHINE MAKES SO MUCH SENSE ECONOMICALLY. TECHNICALLY YOU COULD OPER-ATE AND DO THE ANESTHESIA SINCE THEY ARE SO INTER-WOVEN IN THE STMOR.

BRADLEYCORRECT, HOWEVER I’D SURELY LIKE TO HAVE TRAINED ANESTHESIA PERSONNEL ON BOARD WHEN WE TRAVEL TO THE BACK COUNTRY. THE STMOR IS THE REAL THING. IT’S NOT JUST FOR STABILIZATION OF THE PATIENT. IT’S TOTAL CARE OF THE TRAUMA PATIENT.

DR. PINGPHYSICIANS CAN EVEN PERFORM EMERGENCY NEURO-SURGERY WITH THE INSTRUMENTS AVAILABLE. BLOOD IS REGULARLY SUPPLIED WITH SOME TYPE SPECIFIC AND O

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NEGATIVE BLOOD AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES. RESEARCH SYNTHETIC BLOOD IS ALSO AVAILABLE. ALL THE SURGI-CAL EQUIPMENT FOR ANY MEDICAL TRAUMA CONDITIONS IS IN THE STMOR. WE CAN EASILY REPAIR AN ARTERY OR DELIVER A BABY WITH A C SECTION.

BRADLEYYES, WE HAVE LEFT NOTHING OUT WITHIN THE DESIGN. THE COSTS HAVE ALSO BEEN CONTROLLED TO MAKE IT AFFORDABLE WORLDWIDE.

DR. PINGDOES YOUR COUNTRY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOU SELL-ING IT TO THE PRC?

BRADLEYNO. IN FACT THROUGH THE UN THE US WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO SEE MEDICAL ADVANCEMENTS AS A GESTURE OF GOOD WILL. WE ALL WILL BE INVOLVED IN CONFLICTS AND NATURAL DISASTERS.

DR. PINGI CAN SEE CHINA NEEDING HUNDREDS OF STMORS. WILL THE PARTS BE READILY AVAILABLE IF THE UNIT HAS PROBLEMS?

BRADLEYALL PARTS HAVE A READY SUPPLY BASED HERE IN VAIL. THE MANUFACTURERS HAVE ALL AGREED TO HAVE BACK UP PLANS DUE TO THE CRITICAL NATURE OF THE STMOR. OUR MOBILE TRAUMA UNIT IS BASED ON ADAPTABILITY, READINESS, AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE.

DR. PINGWE HAVE MANY NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHINA WITH FLOODS, RAIN, TORNADOES, AND EARTHQUAKES. ONE HAS ONLY TO REMEMBER THE TSUNAMI THAT HIT ONLY PART OF CHINA BUT MOST OF JAPAN LAST YEAR. THE ABILITY TO BE USED ON LAND AND WATER IS INCREDIBLE.

BRADLEYAND THE MOBILE TRAUMA UNIT CLIMBS MOUNTAIN TER-RAIN OF THE STEEPEST GRADE. THE STMOR DOESN’T FLY, BUT WE ARE WORKING ON THAT.

DR. PINGAND IT CONTAINS ALL THE SEARCH AND RESCUE EQUIP-MENT WE NEED TO GET TO TRAUMA VICTIMS?

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BRADLEYABSOLUTELY, OUR MOBILE TRAUMA UNIT CONTAINS HEL-METS, ROPES, HARNESSES AND ALL THE CLIMBING EQUIP-MENT. ADDITIONALLY WE MAINTAIN INFLATABLE RAFTS AND KAYAKS, COMPASSES, BACKPACK, FOOD, IV SUP-PLIES, WATER, RESCUE EQUIPMENT INCLUDING NETS, AND HYPOTHERMIA REVERSAL WITH MULTIPLE WARMING DEVICES.

DR. PINGWE HAVE BEEN TALKING CONSIDERABLY WITH OUR GOV-ERNMENT IN BEJING. THEY WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO MOVE TO CHINA, PERFORM RESEARCH WITHIN CHINA, BECOME A CHINESE CITIZEN, AND BE PAID AS MUCH AS A SUPERSTAR PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE IN AMERICA.

BRADLEYWOW! THANK YOU FOR YOUR OFFER. WE JUST HAD A BABY AND...............

DR. PINGOH YES, WE KNOW ALL ABOUT YOUR BABY. WE READ THE VAIL NEWSPAPERS AND THE NOTER DAME ALUMNI BULLE-TINS. WE HAVE KEPT TRACK OF YOU DR. SIMPSON.

BRADLEYI’M VERY HUMBLED BY YOUR OFFER, HOWEVER I MUST.........

DR. PINGLET ME INTERRUPT DR. SIMPSON. WE HAVE MANY THINGS WORKED OUT IF YOU DECIDE TO COME TO CHINA. YOU WILL HAVE A HOUSE, CAR, BICYCLE, ABILITY TO BE INVOLVED IN GOVERNMENT, PREFERRED CITIZENS STA-TUS, SPORTING EVENTS, MULTIPLE LEVELS OF CARE AT YOUR HOUSE INCLUDING WOMEN FOR MASSAGES, CLEANING, TRANSPORTATION, CHAPERONES, COOKING, AND ANY NECESSARY MATERIAL THING YOU MAY EVER NEED. YOUR SON BRAD II WILL BE IN A SCHOOL OF THE HIGHEST ORDER.

BRADLEYRIGHT NOW I’LL HAVE TO SAY NO. I HAVE A COMMITMENT TO VAIL HOSPITAL. I HAVE INVESTMENTS IN MONEY, TIME, AND ASSOCIATES’ CAREERS. I WOULD BE DUMPING MY COWORKERS WHO HELPED ESTABLISH OUR TRAUMA RESEARCH CENTER HERE IN VAIL FOR MORE MONEY.

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DR. PINGCHINA HOWEVER WOULD BRING PRESTIGE, FAME, GROW-ING YOUR FAMILY, AND EVEN GET YOU OUT OF YOUR DEPRESSION. THIS WOULD BE A GOOD MOVE FOR YOU.

BRADLEYTRUST ME, I’M THINKING.

DR. PINGDR. SIMPSON, YOU NEEDN’T MAKE A DECISION TODAY. THE OFFER WILL BE OPEN FOR A LENGTHY PERIOD DE-PENDING ON THE SCIENCE DIVISION OF THE GOVERN-MENT. IF YOU MOVE TO CHINA WE WOULD ATTEMPT TO DUPLICATE WHAT YOU ARE DOING. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN RELUCTANT TO SUPPORT YOUR RESEARCH?

BRADLEYYES AND NO. THE GRANT MONEY IS BEGINNING TO FLOW TO SOME DEGREE. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONVINCE THE DECISION MAKERS TO EMPLOY OUR TEAM FOR TRAU-MA RESEARCH.

DR. PINGIN CHINA ONCE THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE TO SUP-PORT A CITIZEN, IT IS COMPLETE AND CANNOT BE UN-DONE. WE ARE OPEN REGARDING WANTING YOUR SER-VICES AND TRAUMA RESEARCH INTEREST. AS YOU KNOW WE WOULD PLAN TO MAXIMALLY IMPROVE THE STMOR, MARKET AND SELL THE DEVICE WORLDWIDE. ROYALTIES TO THE SIMPSONS WOULD AUTOMATICALLY OCCUR.

BRADLEYAND I’M GUARANTEED THE SALARY AND RESEARCH MON-EY DESPITE NO IMMEDIATE SALES?

DR. PINGYES. AGAIN, ONCE THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE, IT IS COMPLETE AND CANNOT BE REVERSED. WE ARE LEAVING TONIGHT FROM DIA. YOU ARE WELCOME TO EAT WITH US IN DENVER, AS WE HAVE ANOTHER CONTINGENT OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT DISCUSSING THE SKI INDUSTRY WITH COLORADO SKI BUSINESS PEOPLE. SKIING IS EVER EXPANDING IN CHINA.

BRADLEYTHANK YOU VERY MUCH, BUT I NEED SOME DOWN TIME WITH MY SON. WE ARE INTENDING TO TAKE A TRIP TO FORD PARK.

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DR. PINGTHE PARK IS NAMED AFTER GERALD FORD. RIGHT?

BRADLEYYES, HE WAS THE PRESIDENT AND AFTER LEAVING OF-FICE, LIVED THE REST OF HIS LIFE IN VAIL.

DR. PINGGOOD BYE. HERE IS OUR CONTACT INFORMATION, EMAIL ADDRESSES, AND PHONE NUMBERS. CALL ANYTIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. WE CERTAINLY ENJOYED YOUR RESEARCH INTERESTS WHICH WILL BENEFIT ALL OF MANKIND.

BRADLEYYES. GOOD BYE. I’LL JUST NEED TO THINK A BIT.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

DR. SIMPSON AND BRAD II WALK TO FORD PARK IN VAIL, COLORADO. A NICE UNUSUALLY WARM LATE AFTERNOON SPRING DAY AWAITS THEM. A FEW LATE SEASON SKIERS WITH PARKING PASSES ARE RETURNING FROM THE SLOPES. BRADLEY HAS BRAD II ON THE TODDLER TEETER TOTTER. SUDDENLY A YOUNG BRUNETTE FEMALE THROWS A SNOWBALL AT HER FRIEND AND MISSES. UN-FORTUNATELY IT HITS BRAD II IN THE HEAD. BRAD II BEGINS TO CRY AS DAD HUGS HIM. THE WOMAN WHO THREW THE SNOWBALL SPRINTS TO THE SIMPSONS. SHE IS DISTRAUGHT REGARDING HER VERY WILD SNOWBALL THROW.

HANNAHI’M SO VERY SORRY. IS HE HURT? AGAIN I’M SO SORRY. I’LL PAY FOR ANY MEDICAL BILLS. MY BROTHER IS A DOC-TOR WHO LIVES DOWN THE STREET. MAYBE HE CAN EXAMINE HIM!

BRADLEYCALM DOWN PLEASE. HE’S OK. HE’S CRYING AND HUG-GING ME. HE IS SCARED MORE THAN ANYTHING. IT’S JUST A SMALL BRUISE ON THE HEAD.

HANNAHARE YOU SURE? I THINK HE NEEDS TO SEE A PHYSICIAN. MY BROTHER IS HOME AND HE IS AN ER PHYSICIAN HERE SKIING WITH OUR FAMILY. OR I CAN CALL HIM AND HE’LL BE RIGHT OVER.

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BRADLEYIT’S OK. HE’S NOT HURT, JUST SCARED AND PROBABLY HUNGRY. WE’LL JUST GET BACK IN THE STROLLER AND HEAD TO A KIDS PLACE TO EAT.

HANNAHWELL LET ME PAY FOR THAT. I TOLD MY FRIENDS I’D MEET THEM BACK AT THE FAMILY HOME ALONG GORE CREEK.

BRADLEYYOU LIVE ALONG GORE CREEK?

HANNAHYES, IT’S NOT A BIG DEAL. I REALLY DON’T LIVE THERE. I’M JUST VISITING MY PARENTS FROM CHICAGO. IT’S THEIR PLACE. MY PARENTS ARE HERE JUST SOME OF THE TIME AND WE KIDS TAG ALONG. ALL THE KIDS ARE IN COLLEGE AND GRAD SCHOOL, OR BEYOND GRAD SCHOOL. I’M THE ONE PAST GRAD SCHOOL. OH I’M HAN-NAH. AND YOU ARE.........

BRADLEYI’M BRADLEY SIMPSON.

HANNAHARE YOU THE GUY............YES THE GUY WHO DOES ALL THE MEDICAL SKI AND TRAUMA RESEARCH. YES IT MUST BE YOU. I READ THE VAIL PAPERS AND DISCOVERED THAT YOU ARE THE REASON WHY OUR HOSPITAL EVEN EXISTS AND STAYS OUT OF MASSIVE DEBT.

BRADLEYI GUESS THAT’S ME. I DON’T REALLY READ THE PAPERS. MY MEGYN READ THE LOCAL PAPERS ALL THE TIME. I JUST NEVER HAD THE INTEREST OR TIME.

HANNAHOH HOW FOOLISH OF ME TO THINK THAT YOU NEEDED MY BROTHER, THE ER DOC.., MY GOD YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF.......

BRADLEYBRAD II.

HANNAHYES–BRAD II. YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF HIM BETTER THAN MY SIBLING RIVAL OF A BROTHER WHO I CAN OUT SKI ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.

BRADLEYI’M SURE YOU CAN. WHAT IS YOUR NAME AGAIN?

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HANNAHHANNAH. HANNAH ABELSON.

BRADLEYDID YOUR MOM HAVE A PELVIC AND HIP FRACTURE ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO?

HANNAHYES. DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT?

BRADLEYMY VERY FIRST DAY IN PRACTICE IN VAIL I SAW YOUR MOM IN THE ER WITH MULTIPLE TRAUMA OFF THE SLOPES. SHE WAS PRETTY BANGED UP, BUT WE CARED FOR HER IN VAIL.

HANNAHI REMEMBER THEM DISCUSSING A HELICOPTER TRIP TO DENVER, SHOCK, AND POSSIBLY DYING. ALL KINDS OF SPLIT SECOND DECISIONS WERE MADE IN THE ER. I FLEW IN FROM HOME IMMEDIATELY.

BRADLEYACTUALLY SHE WAS FAIRLY ROUTINE IN A LARGE CITY TRAUMA HOSPITAL. HERE AT VAIL SHE WAS THE VERY FIRST LARGE SCALE TRAUMA WE ADMITTED. ALL SERVIC-ES WERE INVOLVED AND CLINICALLY SHE DID VERY WELL. SHE RECEIVED CONSIDERABLE HOME GROWN CARE AND LOVE.

HANNAHALL I REMEMBER IS THAT WE WERE VERY IMPRESSED WITH VAIL HOSPITAL AND THE CARE INVOLVED. I VAGUELY REMEMBER YOU COMING INTO THE ICU AND ROUNDING. YES IT WAS YOU. AND YOU GAVE US HOPE WHEN WE THOUGHT MOM WAS A GONER. THERE WERE JUST SO MANY PEOPLE WORKING ON HER.

BRADLEYSHE WAS A BIT TOUCHY, BUT PRETTY MUCH ROUTINE. YOUR MOM WAS VERY MOTIVATED TO LIVE, AND THAT IS WHY SHE DID SO WELL. SHE IS VERY HEALTHY.

HANNAHI’M BUYING YOU AND YOUR LITTLE GUY, BRAD II SOME-THING TO EAT. WHERE IS BRAD II’S MOM?

BRADLEYHIS MOM DIED LAST YEAR.

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HANNAHSO YOU TWO ARE ALL ALONE?

BRADLEYYES. BUT WE’RE ALL GETTING THROUGH THIS PHASE OF OUR LIVES. I’M BURIED IN MEDICAL TRAUMA RESEARCH AND COVERING THE ORTHOPEDIC TRAUMA IN EAGLE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. I COULDN’T HAVE COME TO A BETTER PLACE. I LOVE TO SKI, AND IT’S ALL RIGHT HERE.

HANNAHWOW, I’M SUCH A SMUT. FIRST I BEAN YOUR CHILD WITH A FAST PITCH SNOWBALL. AND THEN I BRING UP YOUR WIFE WHO JUST DIED. I LIKE OWE YOU.....

BRADLEYEVERYTHING IS COOL. I’M JUST ENJOYING FORD PARK, BRAD II, AND TALKED TO A BUNCH OF CHINESE GUYS TODAY ABOUT THE TRAUMA RESEARCH WE ARE DOING IN VAIL. LIFE IS GOOD. I’M OK.

HANNAHWE ARE HAVING A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE OVER TO OUR HOUSE TONIGHT FOR DINNER-YOU KNOW THE DWELLING ON GORE CREEK. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU AND BRAD II. MY MOTHER WOULD INSIST.

BRADLEYNO, WE’RE FINE. DON’T FEEL INDEBTED FOR A LOUSY TOSS, AND IT WAS PRETTY BAD. YOU THROW LIKE A GIRL. BRAD II IS MEDICALLY CLEARED TO GO HOME. WE’LL JUST BACK DOWN THE PATH....

HANNAHNO I INSIST. I’LL CALL MOM AND SHE’LL INSIST................DONE!

BRADLEYWHAT DO YOU DO IN CHICAGO? I KNOW YOU’RE NOT THE BEARS BACK UP QB WITH YOUR ARM.

HANNAHI’M A MALPRACTICE PLAINTIFF’S ATTORNEY. I LOVE IT. I ONLY GET BAD GUYS THOUGH.

BRADLEYHMMM....YOU KNOW WE DOCS DON’T REALLY TAKE TO LEGAL PEOPLE.

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HANNAHI’M VERY DIFFERENT. I ONLY GET REALLY BAD GUYS. YOU WOULDN’T WANT ANY OF THESE GUYS I ATTACK IN YOUR FIELD. YOU ARE A GOOD GUY. HI MOM. THIS IS YOUR ORTHOPEDIC DOCTOR WHO SAVED YOU. AND THIS IS BRAD II, HIS ONE YEAR OLD SON. THE BRUISE ON BRAD II IS FROM MY SNOWBALL.

MOMI’M SO HONORED TO HAVE YOU JOIN US TONIGHT. I RE-CEIVED THE BEST CARE POSSIBLE FROM YOU AND VAIL HOSPITAL LAST YEAR. I’M DOING VERY WELL NOW AND FEEL NORMAL. THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES. HOW ABOUT A BREW FROM VAIL’S HUBCAP DR. SIMPSON?

BRADLEYYES, SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU. LET ME GUESS HANNAH. NORTHWESTERN LAW SCHOOL?

HANNAHNOT EVEN CLOSE. I ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICA-GO-YOU KNOW THE SCHOOL OF LEAST FUN. BUT I’M MAK-ING UP FOR IT NOW IN MY EARLY ADULT LIFE. YOU’RE ALL CATHOLIC EVERYTHING IT SEEMS.

BRADLEYI ATTENDED NOTRE DAME UNDERGRAD, CREIGHTON MEDI-CAL SCHOOL, GEORGETOWN ORTHOPEDIC RESIDENCY, AND MAYO’S - THE NON CATHOLIC PART OF MY TRAINING.

HANNAHWE’RE ALL JEWISH HERE. I GUESS WE’RE ALL ABOUT DI-VERSITY TONIGHT. HERE’S YOUR CATHOLIC BEER. WE HAVE MORE, AND I CAN BE THE DESIGNATED DRIVER. I KNOW YOU’RE NOT ON CALL. WE HAVE HOOPS ON DOWN-STAIRS AND YOU CAN MEET MY BROTHER, SISTERS, AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO’S JEWISH IN VAIL.

BRADLEYI KNOW THE NUGGETS ARE ON.

HANNAHI GUESS YOU’RE A REAL GUY!

FADE OUT: END VAIL XVI

eND Vail XVi

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