Maggie Wyczenski quotes from E.R.

Maggie Wyczenski

[to Abby] I promised myself I wouldn't make any promises.

Maggie

I think your jaw is broken. The antibiotics will keep bacteria from getting into your bloodstream at the fracture site. But, looking at your chart here, I guess you know the drill, huh? Humerus fracture, 1993. Nasal fracture, 1993. Multiple visits for sutures, 1994, and your first broken jaw was in December 1995. I guess hubby thought he'd go out with a bang this year too, huh?

It was an accident.

Maggie

Yeah. Your face got in the way of his fist.

Maggie

[after Jeanie puts a star on top of the ER's Christmas tree] It looks good. Where'd you get it?

Jeanie

My ex-husband brought it by. It came off our first Christmas tree.

Maggie

That's an heirloom. You should put it on your family tree.

Jeanie

[with a smile] I just did.

Malik

Whose beeper is that?

Benton

It's coming from the patient.

Malik

[looking at the beeper] Lydia, what number did you page Gant to?

Lydia

This room, 3376.

Malik

That's the number on this pager.

Maggie

[Takes the pager from Malik. Realizes] Oh, my God.

Carter

What?

Maggie

The patient! It's Gant!

Carter

[Beat. Carter takes a closer look at the patient's face.] Dennis? [Benton and Carter look at each other, horrified.] Oh, sweet Jesus.

Doug

[to Carol] You do things for people that doctors don't even think about doing.

Maggie

[enters] Carol? This guy in the hall needs a clean-up. He just did a major Code Brown. [exits]

Carol

You're right. I wipe butts.

Carter

Surgeons don't rat on each other. It's like the Marines, "all for one, and one for all."

Maggie

That's the Three Musketeers.

Am I gonna have a scar?

Maggie

A small one.

But I'm a majorette!

Those who minister to the anointed must shun the flesh of pigs. Refuse the carnal touch of any man!

Maggie

No meat, no men. I'm your woman.

Mark

You carry a gun?

Maggie

Under the front seat of my car. I was at the drive-thru once, waiting for some fries, and this punk walks up, and sticks a knife in my face. He wants my wallet. So, I reach under the seat, grab the .357, stick it up his nose, and whoa, could that kid run.

Maggie Wyczenski

Why are you so damn stubborn?

Abby

It's called self-protection.

Maggie Wyczenski

Don't you sass me! I'm your mother!

Abby

Not by choice.

Maggie Wyczenski

Something happened to me, in that ICU. And I realized- I don't wanna die. And more than that, I don't want my little girl to watch me die. I can't do that to you, not ever. That's what I wanted to tell you today. I'm gonna handle my life- and I want you to get on with yours.

Abby

Okay. '['turns away, Maggie follows her]

Maggie

You can't put your life on hold anymore!

Abby

It's not on hold-

Maggie

What do you mean? You won't even go play softball with your boyfriend!

Abby

So? I don't wanna play.

Maggie

[exasperated] Stop sitting things out, Abby!

Abby

I don't!

Maggie

Yes, you do! You can't use me as the reason for not doing the things you want to do in life- go to medical school!

Abby

Well, that's not so easy-

Maggie

Get married!

Abby

I was married!

Maggie

Get pregnant!

Abby

[angrily] I was pregnant! [silence, as Maggie stares at her in shock]

Maggie

What happened?

Abby

What happened? [sits down] I had an abortion. [pause] Some people aren't meant to be mothers. [Maggie sits next to her and leans close]

Maggie

Abby. I was a lot younger than you are now, when I had my first manic episode. I've watched you since you were a little girl- you're not bipolar.

Abby

[holding back tears] No- but my kids could be.

Maggie

But they might not be! They could be anything, and you would just love them, that's all! [pause] You never even told Richard, did you?

Abby

No. I- I think that was the beginning of the end for us. We just stopped talking about everything. [pause] I just- was too scared- I couldn't- I couldn't risk it. I just- I didn't want to-

Maggie

Turn into me?

Abby

Yeah.

Maggie

Or have to end up taking care of another me? [Abby nods, starts crying quietly] Oh, honey- oh, sweetie- sweetie, sweetie, sweetie. [Maggie hugs her tightly, Abby sobs into her shoulder] That's all there is, is risk. You just have to take a chance, and leap into life! Otherwise, sweetheart, you're gonna miss out on all the great things. Abby- you deserve all the great things. Do you hear me?

Abby

Um...They might ask you to testify...

Maggie

Yeah, I know.

Abby

Mom, I need you to be with me on this. He can't stay at a military jail.

Maggie

I'm with you. [Abby nods slowly]

Abby

I'm sorry. [Maggie looks at her] I'm just scared for him, and I'm... angry. I'm angry at you, for having to do this again... and you didn't do anything.

Maggie

No. You're angry at me for... giving it to him.

Abby

No! No, no, I didn't-

Maggie

I know you feel like a mother to him. Why shouldn't you? You practically raised him; you have a right. But I'm his mother, and I... gave it to him. I gave it to my son. All I can do now is... try to be his mother.

Eric

Are you alone?

Abby

No, Mom's here too.

Eric

Why'd you bring her?

Maggie

She's worried about you, Eric.

Eric

I don't want you here.

Abby

Just hold on, alright?

Eric

I don't want you in my life right now.

Abby

What?

Eric

[to Maggie] Are you coming in? [Maggie goes inside and Eric tries to close the door]

Abby

Okay. Eric, don't do this.

Eric

Move your hand.

Abby

You need help.

Eric

I don't want to hurt you.

Abby

You can't do this by yourself! You need structure and stability.

Eric

Let go.

Abby

Someone you can rely on and trust!

Eric

That's not you anymore, okay? You don't understand.

Abby

Yes, I do!

Eric

You think you do! But you don't. You're not like us! You never will be.

Maggie

I'll call you when we get settled.

Abby

Don't bother. [walks away]

Maggie

[about Abby] I just don't want...

Carter

Yes?

Maggie

I just don't want you to wanna fix her.

Carter

Abby doesn't need to be fixed.

Maggie

Or heal her or change her.

Carter

I love her.

Maggie

I just don't want you to be waiting for her to change.

Carter

I'm not.

Maggie

She's an amazing person.

Carter

I know who she is.

Maggie

She's an amazing person with certain weaknesses and you'd be lucky to have her, even with those weaknesses, but you have to love her, even if she never changes anything.