The Day of the Rope

Written by Peter Berg and Kevin Ward and John Tinker
Directed by Stephen Cragg
Guest stars: Zeljko Ivanek, Reg Rogers, Chelcie Ross, Jobe Cerny, Marc Grapey, Zach E. Helm, Gordon Owens, Mike Bacarella, Meg Thalken, Lee Sellars [Taken from the Lifetime site]

Kronk and Austin put their lives on the line to save the lives of hostages in a supermarket. Nyland, Wilkes, Shutt and McNeil work on a policeman, shot in a shoot out.

Billy Kronk and Diane Grad are walking out from a movie, arguing about it at the same time. They enter a video store a little later and argue a bit more about which video to rent, Billy dismissing Diane's taste for chick flicks.

[Billy: The water in the chocolates?"
Diane: huh?
B: That movie where that rides her horse naked and cries all over everyone's desert.
D: Like Water for chocolate. Careful Billy. I have a spiritual bond with the author, Laura Escerville.
B: Same way I have a bond with Scarface.
D: You derive inspiration from Tommy Montana and his bazooka?
B: That's Tony. Yes, I do. What are you looking for?"
D: Hmmm...Emma
B: Emma! Emma! Chick taste! Hey buddy where're the Steve McQueen movies?"

On the way out, Diane explains to Billy that even though she loves him, not a day goes by that "I don't contemplate your need for psychiatric evaluation!". While walking for coffee, suddenly a car chase on the road ensues and all of a sudden, the car stops, the police are all over and there was gun fire erupts. A police officer is shot in the process and Billy and Diane rush to his aid. By this time, the FBI have shown up and the gunmen have gone inside a supermarket, taking a wounded boy with them.

Billy recesitates the police officer and he is transported to Chicago Hope for further work. In the mean time, the FBI have got a call from one of the gunmen, Eugene Ramsey, part of a white supremacists group, saying that he "holds the government accountable for acts against the people". But his first concern is his son who was shot during the shoot out. He wants a doctor there to fix up his son, pronto.

Back at Chicago Hope, Wilkes and Nyland spring into action. Wilkes tries to be cordial to Nyland, with a cold response on Nyland's part. They decide the officer has to go in for surgery and rush him to the OR.

Back at the scene of the shoot out, Billy has been informed of the task and volunteers himself, despite Diane's objections.

[Billy: "Bullet proof vest. Pretty cool huh?
Diane: Stay here with me an I'll buy you one for your birthday"]

He tells her he'll be alright but Diane is close to tears. Sometime later, he kisses Diane and tells her he'll be okay and he leaves, shivering with fear.

Phillip is enraged that the FBI aren't giving him anything on what's happening with Billy and Diane and threatens to tell the press everything. The agent warns Phillip against this.

In the supermarket, Elkes, one of the gunmen throws Billy against a post and checks him thoroughly, ripping off his bullet proof vest. Billy then goes on to check out Bobby, Eugene's son who has been severely hurt. Kronk says that he's not equipped to help Bobby out and that he needs to go in for surgery, with a hint of sarcasm, only to get himself kicked in the face by Elkes. At the video store, they'll listen in shock, especially Diane. Eugene tells Billy to do it in the market. Billy says he needs more equipment and another doctor and Eugene allows him to do so.

At the OR in Chicago Hope, Kate Austin and Keith are working on the officer, Officer Malloy. Kate removes one of the bullets but another one is wedged in the man's spine and it isn't in there field, so they have to pass it over to McNeil and Aaron Shutt. They then get a call, meant only for Kate.

Back at the supermarket, the hostages, Billy and the gunmen wait while Kate is on her way to help out. Ramsey blames Elks for Bobby getting shot and Elks resents this and begins throwing bottles of pickles everywhere.

Next thing we know, Kate is in the video store with an anesthetist and her task is explained to her by the FBI agent in charge, Tom Strickler. He says that he is sending along another FBI agent, Fader, who is also a trained ER technician. Fader has a gun in hand and as been instructed to use extreme force if necessary or "shoot to kill". Ready for the task at hand they leave the video shop and head for the store.

At the store, Kate, Billy, the anesthetist and Fader get to work. Kate is constantly tormented by Elks, the more disgruntled of the two gunmen because she's a woman.

Kate is on the verge of bursting but Billy calms her down. A little later, when Billy asks Fader for a pair of mets, Fader has no clue what they are. Billy does not know that Fader is an FBI agent and once again asks her, and Kate, realizing Fader is a little lost, gives the instrument to Billy. Kate then asks Fader for the blue towel where the gun is and Elks and Ramsey realize the ploy. From the video shop, a gun shot is heard and everyone's attention goes there. Strickler gets a call from Ramsey to meet him outside . Ramsey tells Strickler that he will allow no more "monkey business". When Strickler asks him about the gun shot, Ramsey goes inside and the next thing we know, Fader's body is thrown outside through the glass.

Back at Chicago Hope, Aaron and Jack work on Officer Mallow, amidst much bickering on there part. They continuously argue about Karen Wilder, Jack blaming Aaron for deserting her, Aaron accusing Jack of seeing Karen behind his back.

[Aaron: "Well, think of it this way, atleast you're not being held hostage by white supremacists"
Jack: No, instead, I'm stuck here with you."
[Jack: "You neuro-slugs...you're all so faint-hearted, you know...wishy-washy. And you're bad dresser too.
Aaron: "Well, what about you carpenter orthos, break it, fix it]

At the video store, the FBI are thinking up ways to enter the building and finally agree on forcing an entry in, "with minimal loss of life", to which Diane is disgusted, "Minimal loss of life? My boyfriend's in there." Strickler orders her to remain quiet or she'll be removed from the store and Diane just walks off to the window, looking into the supermarket. Another agent comes up to her and says "I've been in this situation a thousand times and every time I swear I can't take it (some thing of the sort...can't remember how he ends it) Diane then tells him about how she never expected to be in this situation again, after what happened to Ala [Diane: "...A good friend of mine was shot to death, not more then four blocks from here for no reason whatsoever...it's crazy."]

Back at the supermarket, Billy and Kate are almost done with Bobby. Elks turns on the radio and starts singing to some song in the most god awful voice. Billy gets irritated and tells him to can it.

[Billy: "Shut up!"
Elks: "Huh?"
Billy: I said shut up. It's messing up out concentration.
Elks: "You think you can sing better than me?
Billy: Oh really? Well that is a question which will remain in the realm of the rhetorical since I don't see a sing off in our future.]

Elks then starts tormenting Kate once again, this time almost shooting her by pinning her against a wall. Billy orders Ramsey to get him off her and Elks, disgruntled does so and then once again, storms back to his radio and plays heavy metal.

We now see the troops moving in to the top of the building so they can create a distraction on the roof and troops file in every where, surrounding the entire building.

Again at the supermarket, Billy asks Ramsey why they're doing this. They respond saying that the country is going to the dogs because of the immigrants.

[Elks: "Red, yellow, brown and black, give the whites our country back."]

Suddenly, just when Billy and Kate have closed, Bobby's heart fails. Billy and Kate try every thing possible but Bobby dies. Knowing this is going to send Ramsey into a fit, Billy takes the wire from Bobby and attaches it to his own heart, sending the EKG back to normal, but at an unusually high pace. Ramsey and Elks are curious but Kate tells them that it's normal since he's just been under the paddles. Ramsey is willing to do anything and Kate plays on this and tells him to give her the phone so she can call the hospital to bring in more equipment and assure Bobby life. However, in the message to Diane, using some complicated medical jargon, she tells Diane that Bobby's dead. The FBI use this as an opportune time to raid the building. Soon, Elks figures out the ploy and throws Billy down to the floor and points a gun at him. At the same time, a large thump is heard on the roof, creating a distraction and allowing the troops to make their way in. Ramsey is however, to upset about his son that he doesn't care anymore. When Elks threatens to shoot Billy, Kate pulls out the gun from the towel and warns Elks she'll shoot. Elks doesn't buy that but Kate shoots him anyway, just before he was going to shoot. At the same time, the troops barge in and take control.

Kate however, rushes to Elks side, despite how he ridiculed and tormented her. She explains to Billy while she is massaging his heart that justice would not be served if he died. She says that he needs to pay for all this and know what it feels like to be kept against his will. In the end, she saves him.

Back at the hospital, Office Malloy wakes up and it looks like he'll make a full recovery. Phillip informs him that the whole mess is over, and that despite it all, one agent lost her life. Aaron tests the policeman's senses and he responds.

[Aaron: "Well officer Malloy, looks like you're going to make a full recovery.
Jack: "was there any doubt?"]

At a news conference later, Danny, Jack, Aaron and Phillip talk to the reporters. Phillip explains that Chicago Hope is about team work and that's what sets it apart form other hospitals. Danny tells Aaron that Keith will be pretty pleased about missing this as reporters crowd to take their picture. Jack also finds out that the Bulls won the game and he's made $5000.

Back at the scene of all the activity, Kate tells Billy that letting Elks die would have been to easy and he wouldn't pay for all he's done. She also tells him she's giving her gun away. After the ambulance leaves, Billy sees Diane nearby and they kiss, interrupted by both Strickler and the other agent to which Billy just fends them off. They kiss again and Billy tells Diane he loves her.

[Diane: "I have rounds in thirty minutes."
Billy: "Me too."
Diane: "We could take the day off...go to my place, snuggle up in bed."
Billy: "Watch a video..."]

and the argument continues as they walk, holding each other, down the road and as the scene fades off.

[Diane: "Have you any memory of what happened to you today? Haven't you learnt" .......
Billy: I wanna watch you but I don't wanna watch Emma..."]

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