Paid a visit to the WGA library this week (many thanks to @divorcedfranklangdon's post about their own visit for flagging that the S2 scripts were available now!) The scripts had additional scenes/notes that I thought might be appreciated here!
(Obligatory note that if it wasn't in the final edit of the show, it's not technically canon... but I do think some of the scenes add some good context/cool info).
Also, while all of these aren't necessarily kingdon - they are mostly about Mel and Frank because these characters somehow now have me in enough of a chokehold to get me to post on tumblr again after about... 12 years away (LOL).
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GENERAL NOTES:
Regular text: The script as written/as shown on the show (to the best of my memory)
Italics: Script notes or changes from what made the final edit (to the best of my memory)
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02.01 “7:00 A.M.” written by R. Scott Gemmill
Langdon joins rounds:
PARKER Any questions? Dr. King? Mel?
Mel’s lost in her own thoughts and unfocused today.
MEL Oh, um, I didn’t say anything.
[Same dialogue as the show]
LANGDON You should always wear a helmet.
All eyes turn to see Langdon has snuck up to join them.
PARKER Hey, nice of you to join us.
LANGDON My key card wasn’t working.
MEL Dr. Langdon!
They all seem happy to see him… save for Santos. Mel’s mood suddenly brightens and she almost hugs him, but comes up short and awkward. It makes McKay smile, Santos not so much.
2. Mel patches up Liam:
LIAM Your hair’s such a pretty color.
MEL Thank you.
LIAM Reminds me of my mom. She died when I was nine.
MEL Oh, I’m sorry about that.
LIAM She wore glasses like you too. Weird. You have kids?
MEL No.
LIAM Me neither. Thought I would. I mean, I would like to, but… Never found the right person. Not yet, anyway, You?
MEL Excuse me?
LIAM Anyone special in your life?
MEL No. Work keeps me very busy.
LIAM What do you like to do when you’re not working?
MEL Um, spend some time with my sister, read.
LIAM Do you drink coffee?
MEL Uh, no, I avoid caffeine.
LIAM Me too. Um… what about boba?
MEL I love boba.
LIAM Me too.
Mel may be oblivious, but Liam is clearly trying to use his condition as the impetus for a successful meet cute…
02.02 “8:00 A.M.” written by Joe Sachs and R. Scott Gemmill
Before Mel gets knocked down:
LIAM There you are. I thought you forgot about me.
MEL Oh, no. I was just with other patients.
LIAM We just met and you’re already seeing other people?
It takes Mel a beat to realize he’s joking, and tries to play along.
MEL Right. Yes. Well, I prefer an open relationship.
LIAM Really?
MEL Oh no, not really. I was joking. I meant like an open and honest relationship with my patients. I was playing with a double entendre.
LIAM You’re pretty funny, Doctor King. In fact I think you’re pretty cool.
MEL I don’t know about that.
CRIMINAL So what do you do for fun?
MEL I mainly do what my sister likes. She loves Kennywood and the zoo.
CRIMINAL No, what about you? What do you like to do?
It’s been awhile since anyone asked Mel this – if ever. Hell, she isn’t even sure what she does for fun and has to think about it.
MEL I used to like the Renaissance fair.
2. Al-Hashimi talks to Langdon:
AL-HASHIMI Before you know it, you’ll be an attending. (off his look) I’m sure having to repeat your senior year of residency was difficult to accept.
LANGDON Better than not being a resident at all.
AL-HASHIMI You’re setting a great example for your peers. It’s safe to seek help.
LANGDON Thank you.
AL-HASHIMI I’m sure you already have a sponsor but if you ever need to talk, I’m always available.
LANGDON I appreciate that.
02.05 “11:00 A.M.” written by Simran Baidwan
Additional Langdon and Donnie scene after they deal with the branding brothers:
Langdon and Donahue walk to the supply area.
LANGDON Kids are wild…
DONAHUE Little old to still be called kids, don’t you think?
LANGDON Last week my 5-year-old gave his little sister a haircut – she looks like one of the Three Stooges.
DONAHUE Afraid to ask which one.
LANGDON Just in time for her birthday party.
DONAHUE Maybe I’ll be one and done.
Langdon laughs, then waxes on as he gathers supplies.
LANGDON Hair grows back, skin heals… other wrongs are harder to fix.
Donahue understands what Langdon is trying to say.
DONAHUE A simple apology can go a long way, too.
Langdon hopes he’s right.
02.06 “12:00 P.M.” written by Valerie Chu
Mel talking to the Hansens:
MEL You can pick up a refill of your prescription later this afternoon. Start with one pill tomorrow morning. And Mr. Hansen?
HARLAN Yeah?
MEL I hope you never, ever take someone else’s prescription medication again. You could’ve died.
HARLAN Hansens have good genes.
MEL (doubling down) And for the rest of your family… dispensing medication without a license is a felony. They could go to prison.
OWEN (before Harlan can reply) Thank you, Dr. King. I’ll keep ‘em on the straight and narrow. If you get hungry after your shift, feel free to stop by. We’ve got “all you can eat meat”. Assuming you’re not a vegetarian or something.
MEL (disarmed) Oh. That’s very nice of you. I am not a vegetarian, but I will be watching fireworks with my sister. Thanks for the invite.
02.09 “3:00 P.M.” written by Cynthia Adarkwa
Party girls with the bitten tongue getting discharged
GIRL So, she’ll need to be spoon fed… Are you available?
LANGON (ignoring her) Antibiotics three times a day. Come back here in two days for a wound check.
GIRL See you then, Doctor Hottie.
Off Langdon’s internal scream –
02.12 “6:00 P.M.” written by Danny Hogan and R. Scott Gemmill
Langdon and Mel talk with Al-Hashimi about the Mom of the heatstroke boy:
MEL Has her husband arrived yet?
BARAN Yeah, but he went straight upstairs.
LANGDON Really?
BARAN He may have just wanted to see his child first. Let’s not jump to conclusions.
MEL Sounds like he already has.
2. McKay and Langdon chat:
LANGDON You want a hug?
MCKAY God no. (softening) But I appreciate the sentiment.
With that, McKay moves off as Langdon shrugs – suit yourself.
3. Langdon after Joy says she’s leaving on time:
Langdon, exasperated, decided silence is the best response to this incomprehensible millennial vs. Gen-z divide. He nods.
02.13 “7:00 P.M.” written by Joe Sachs
Langdon and Mel talk in the breakroom:
LANGDON I should have caught it.
MEL OK. You know, I, um… I had a deposition today, and all the lawyer’s questions made me feel like I was a really, really bad doctor. But I’m pretty sure I’m not. We don’t always get everything right the first time. You would have caught the collapsed lung. And it may have taken a minute, but you would have saved him.
LANGDON I’m not sure Robby would agree with you. He’s been riding me all day.
MEL Well, Robby’s leaving for three months. And, you know, with Robby gone… I really don’t want you to leave either. Even though Dr. Al-Hashimi’s extremely smart and very nice.
LANGDON She was this morning, very supportive of my rehab, but then something snapped… and when she froze up in Trauma. What was that?
MEL I don’t know.
LANGDON Robby’s the bedrock of this place. We are in for some very tough times.
MEL That which does not kill me makes me stronger.
LANGDON Wow, Friedrich Nietzsche.
MEL Or Kelly Clarkson.
Off Langdon and Mel, sharing a much needed smile.
02.14 “8:00 P.M.” written by Noah Wyle
Mel and Al-Hashimi talk with Grady's mom
NAOMI Are either of you moms?
Mel recoils at the thought.
MEL No.
AL-HASHIMI I have a five-year-old son.
[More dialogue about parenting being difficult]
MEL My mother used to say, “If it were easy– you’d have nothing to teach”.
NAOMI Then every Mom should get a Master’s degree.
AL-HASHIMI Hear hear.
MEL She actually did get her Master’s… but it was in Accounting.
2. Mel chatting with coworkers while charting (this is really similar to what made it on screen but the vibe in the script definitely feels less dismissive of Mel in my opinion):
MEL No. Sorry, I thought she said departed. But I have been my sister’s caregiver. (beat) Although, now that Becca has a new and somewhat surprising - romantic - adult-consenting-relationship… with a boyfriend - I guess I’ll have more time on my hands.
MCKAY What do you like to do, Mel?
MEL Well, that’s just it. Someone asked me that earlier and I had no answer. I’m realizing it’s because I’ve been… putting Becca first, this place second, and myself last.
MCKAY Sounds like motherhood. We both could use a joyboost.
The others all talk about new things they want to do/learn. THEN:
MEL Did either of you guys work on the Revolutionary War reenactors earlier?
SANTOS Why, do you think you could pull off a tricorn hat?
MEL Maybe. I’ve always loved history, and Colonial Williamsburg was my favorite school trip. And, you know, there’s always the Ren Faire, but that’s just once a year. How often do you think the reenactors get together?
This stumps the group.
SANTOS I don’t know.
MCKAY You should definitely look into it.
The group goes back to work. But Mel’s wheels are turning.
3. After Langdon does the closed cervical reduction:
Langdon takes a deep breath. Grins for the first time all day. Hell yes. This was the validation he needed – had prayed for. His reverie is broken, however, by Dana’s voice.
02.15 “9:00 P.M.” written by R. Scott Gemmill
Ambulance Bay scene (the major differences were noted by divorcedfranklangdon but there was some additional/different dialogue that I thought was interesting):
LANGDON Wow. Crazy how muggy it still is out here. You uh – you seen Robby?
MEL Uh, not for a bit.
LANGDON You catch up on your charts from the beginning of the shift?
MEL Yeah.
LANGDON What are you still doing here?
MEL Uh, just gonna…
LANGDON You staying for the fireworks?
MEL Yeah. I was supposed to see them with Becca, but she is at her boyfriend Adam’s family’s house instead.
LANGDON Your sister seems like she’s pretty put together.
MEL Yeah. Uh, a lot more than I realized.
LANGDON How was your day?
MEL I’ve had better. You?
LANGDON Yeah. But then again, I’ve had a lot worse. (then) … Gonna take awhile to get used to the grind again. Not used to being on my feet all day and my back’s killing me. (off her look) But in a good way. I feel alive. Hell, I did a closed cervical reduction, like, an hour ago.
MEL Oh, I heard. That must have been so intense.
LANGDON My hands are still shaking.
MEL Hey, um, do you think you could teach me how to do that sometime?
LANGDON Uh, yeah.
MEL Yeah?
LANGDON Yeah, sure. I mean, I hope you never have to use it. I could have paralyzed that guy.
MEL Yeah, but you didn’t.
LANGDON No, I didn’t.
She offers a high five. He offers a fist. They both adjust to the other. Well, it was the thought that counts.
LANGDON Thank you by the way, for talking me down earlier. I’m sorry I snapped.
MEL It’s OK…
LANGDON …Kinda peaceful out here when there’s no incoming.
MEL Yeah…
And as they sit in silence…
2. Santos asks Mel to karaoke:
SANTOS Well, what I do is more like primal scream therapy. There’s nothing like getting wasted and just absolutely wailing to shake off a shit show like today.
MEL Could we watch the fireworks first? I don’t usually like them, but now that Becca’s gone, I don’t know, I guess because it’s something we used to do together I find some comfort –
SANTOS Stop already. Yes, we can watch the fireworks.
MEL I could use a fun night.
SANTOS You and me both, sister.
