Neela Rasgotra quotes from E.R.

Neela

[to Frank] You know what? You're a horrible man. Do you think it's pleasant being greeted every day by a fusillade of homophobic, xenophobic ranting from a bigot? From now on, I expect nothing from you but silence; blissful silence.

Neela

I feel really inspired by that. I think I'll go throw myself under a train.

Neela

[on the phone with the cable company] I'm a doctor and I'm single! All I have is Project Runway!

Neela

The closest thing I have to a personal relationship is Harold Zelinsky, a 19-year-old intern... and he just dumped me!

Neela

[voice-over] The toughest thing about being a doctor isn't the terrible hours. It isn't the loneliness, the isolation, or the knowledge that, one day, we all lose out to the relentless decay of the human body. No. It's something else.

Neela

[voice-over] The care of every patient is a twisty maze that leads to an infinite number of potential outcomes. We hope that knowledge and experience guide us, but sometimes it becomes obvious a wrong turn was made.

Neela

[voice-over] If only it were possible to apply the wisdom of our mistakes, go back to the fork in the road, and this time, be assertive. Choose the road we think we should take, not the path of least resistance.

Neela

[voice-over] For some patients, there is no road to recovery. Nothing we do as doctors will alter the outcome. At least that's what we tell ourselves.

Neela

[voice-over] When their way doesn't work and your way doesn't work, you've got to accept defeat or find another way.

Neela

So many times in my life I failed to take a chance, even when it was clear to everyone else, including me, that I should have.

Neela

Excuse me. Can you help me, sir?

Frank

You need to find a triage nurse.

Neela

No, I'm sorry. I work here.

Frank

Lucky you.

Neela

I-I'm supposed to start today. Neela Rasgotra?

Frank

Rag what?

Neela

Rasgotra.

Frank

Don't we hire Americans anymore?

Neela

The phone was ringing and no one was around, so I thought I should answer it.

Frank

Big mistake.

Neela

It's long-distance, overseas, for a Dr. Carter.

Frank

'Course, who else? Take a message.

Neela

[on the phone] Yeah, can I take a message? [to Frank] They say it's important. Someone died.

Jerry

Who?

Neela

Someone named Kovac. A Dr. Luka Kovac.

Neela

What's a TWA?

Pratt

What?

Neela

What's a TWA?

Pratt

Where did you hear that?

Neela

The old guy at the desk with the flat head called me a TWA. I don't know what it means.

Pratt

[shaking his head] Third world assassin, TWA.

Luka

You sent that man up for a pulmonary angiogram?

Neela

Dr.Lewis wanted to be sure before heparinising.

Luka

What's your opinion?

Neela

I'm not sure my opinion matters.

Luka. You got a minute?

Luka

[to Neela] If you don't think it matters, then it doesn't.

Neela

I had a baby brother. He died when he was six days old. I was only three. I remember sitting in my mom's hospital room eating ice cream, but I don't actually remember him. The NICU's just so sad all the time. How can you stand it?

Abby

I don't know. When I was an OB nurse, the preemies freaked me out. I thought they looked like frogs. I was pretty sure I was gonna hate the NICU.

Neela

But you don't.

Abby

No, I don't. It's not just about the babies. You know, so much of it is about taking care of the parents and it turns out tragic family dynamics are my specialty.

Carter

Neela, we were ranking fourth year med students in there. And everybody agreed you're really bright, and we really like working with you.

Neela

Someone spoke poorly of me?

Carter

Well, nobody in particular.

Neela

Was it Dr. Chen? Because she's had it in for me...

Carter

Neela, you have to be more decisive. Okay, you have to be more... proactive.

Neela

They feel I'm too passive?

Carter

Tell you what, for the next four hours, you are a doctor. I want you to carry a minimum of three patients at all times. Start their workups, order their labs and meds, and present back to me only after you've put your own diagnostic plan into action. Today, you're a shark.

Neela

Shark?

Carter

Keep swimming, or you die.

Neela

I don't like working on old people, or children, or drunks-

[sarcastically] And what's with all the sick people? They make it such a drag. [Neela rolls her eyes] Listen, he's just motivating you for the match rankings.

Neela

You know what? Maybe they're right. Maybe this job's just too... fast for me, too unpredictable-

It's a big hospital! If the E.R.'s not a good fit-

Neela

Then what? The NICU made me want to jump off the roof, Peds is full of screaming brats and anxious parents, and OBGYN is a lifetime of overnights and malpractice suits! I could go into research or teaching, but is that really why I became a doctor?

...I'm sorry, were you talking to me? [Neela slaps his arm in exasperation, he laughs] You know, this place is so up and down. You learn to... ride through the rough days. I did.

Neela

You were probably good from the start.

You kidding me? I came in young, dumb and scared. At least, you- you're good with the books.

Neela

You really like it here?

I wouldn't stay if I didn't.