Synopsis of Taste of Providence
Written by TK
Sydney has a dream in which her mother has taken her to the hospital for a heart operation. She is wearing her heart on her sleeve, and unless she admits her feelings for Dr. Marcus, she is going to die. She wakes up as she dies from not admitting her feelings.
Joanie is contemplating declaring bankruptcy because she doesn't have enough money to raise Hannah. Robbie is moving back into the family homestead (into the attic) to save money so that in six months he can get a place with Dani. He tells Joanie that if she's looking to make some money, he'll pay her $100 for a batch of her clam chowder this weekend because it was an aphrodisiac last time she made it. Syd says she'll throw in a $100 if Joanie will double the batch.
Syd is at the hospital and runs into Hilde, who is with some kids and isn't all together lucid, although she's very friendly. Dr. Marcus comes up and says that he can't give Syd surgical privileges at the hospital, but that she can bring in patients on a case-by-case basis. Sydney is very grateful.
At the clinic, Sydney has a patient named Chelsea who has chronic back pain. Sydney thinks that part of the problem may be that Chelsea has enormous breasts, which can put unusual strain on the back. Chelsea is an exotic dancer, and it comes up that Syd is a plastic surgeon because she asks about a scar on Chelsea's face. Chelsea tells Syd that she's been wanting to get a breast reduction and get out of stripping, but she doesn't quite have enough money to pay for it yet.
Joanie is on the phone fighting with bill collectors and being tortured by a parrot. Cynthia comes in with her huge dog and says that he's been lethargic lately, and his stud services are required, but he hasn't even been very randy lately. Jim says he'll keep the dog overnight and see what he can find out. Cynthia flirts with Jim as usual.
Vince, the bookie, sees Robbie at the bar. Vince and Robbie are friendly, Robbie tells Vince about how he needed the money he won last week for his girlfriend's tuition. Vince suggests that they double-date sometime. Vince pushes Robbie to keep betting since he's on a streak, Robbie declines. Vince finally convinces Robbie to pick some dogs in the Greyhound race for $100, and says that he'll cover Robbie's losses for free if Robbie loses. How can Robbie say no?
After looking at Chelsea's X-rays, Sydney realizes that the woman has really serious back problems. A breast-reduction, while not fool-proof, could really help, because otherwise this woman could end up walking with a cane at a very young age.
Sydney goes to the strip joint to find Chelsea. She sees Chelsea arguing with her ex-boyfriend. She tells Chelsea that she'd like to do her breast-reduction for free, in order to help her get her surgical privileges at the hospital. Chelsea is all for it. Sydney says they should still do an initial consultation since this is a fairly serious procedure.
Syd goes to Dr. Marcus and presents Chelsea's case very convincingly. He says that it sounds good to him, but he has to check it out with their senior surgical staff at the hospital.
Jim tells Cynthia that her dog is getting hip displaysia, but that it can be treated. Cynthia says it would make her more comfortable if her dog's next mating session were at the clinic, so that Jim would be nearby if necessary. Jim says that would be okay. Cynthia also mentions a cooking contest that she's helping to setup. Jim says that Joanie might be interested. Joanie isn't interested until she hears that the first prize is $5,000.
Robbie and Dani are playing pool at the bar. Dani isn't keen to meet Vince, and isn't psyched to hear that her tuition money came from gambling. Vince walks up and is very friendly, Dani is cool to him and goes to freshen her drink. Vince tells Robbie that he won on the Greyhound race, and give him $500. He once again tries to convince Robbie not to waste his lucky streak, but Robbie is steadfast in not gambling anymore. He tells Vince he'll be using this $500 to buy a futon, and that's it.
Chelsea comes by the clinic for her consultation with Sydney. She brings her a present of all these fresh vegetables that she grew herself. Sydney gives her pamphlets to read and pictures to look at. Chelsea decides she wants breasts like Sydney's, because it'll be a tribute to the woman that helped her turn her life around.
Jim and Robbie taste Joanie's chowder, and it's awful. They finally figure out what happened last week with the breast milk in the chowder. Joanie doesn't have enough breast milk to make all this chowder, and plus the whole idea is a little gross.
Dr. Marcus comes by the clinic to tell Syd that one of the senior surgeons at the hospital thinks that Chelsea should have back surgery instead of cosmetic breast surgery. Syd is upset, and says that the doctors are not thinking of the patient's welfare first. Dr. Marcus suggests that maybe Syd shouldn't have promised Chelse the operation before it was all okayed by the hospital.
Syd goes to see Chelsea to tell her the news, and sees that she has a black-eye. Her ex-boyfriend hit her. (My NBC affiliate cut out here for a little while.)
With help from Robbie, Joanie mixes in some Vitamin powder (formula?) into the chowder, and it tastes great. Robbie takes it downstairs to the fridge, on the way gets a call on his cell phone from Vince, once again trying to convince him to keep gambling. Robbie says no.
Sydney is feeling guilty about the fact that Chelsea quit the club because of her, and that's why her ex-boyfriend got insecure and hit her.
Dani and Robbie are trying out the new futon in the attic. Dani tells Robbie that she doesn't want him gambling anymore. Just as they are starting to get cozy, Robbie's cell phone rings. It's Vince, once again pressuring him to make a bet. Robbie finally just says yeah, whatever, 'cause he wants to get back to breaking in his futon with Dani. Vince asks him if he wants to bet the same as last time, and Robbie says yeah and throws the phone to the floor.
Syd has a dream in which she's dressed up like a doctor/stripper, and her mother shoves her out onto stage. However, stage is the hallway of the hospital, where she runs into Dr. Marcus and the rest of the senior staff. She retreats in shame, and wakes up to Joanie telling her she has a phone call. Chelsea's been shot.
Syd rushes down to the hospital, and lends a hand to the ER doctors. Chelsea's been shot in the chest by her ex-boyfriend who was waiting in the alley outside the club. Syd feels incredibly guilty.
Cynthia and Jim come into the clinic with the two dogs that are supposed to be mating. Cynthia tries giving her dog a pep talk, but Jim says she's putting too much pressure and tells the dog just go in there and have some fun. He and Cynthia go upstairs for a cup of coffee, and try to have a little pleasant conversation over the howling from downstairs. Cynthia asks for a tour of the house, and Jim is about to give her one when the howling indicates that their short wait may be over.
Dr. Marcus comes by the clinic to tell Syd how sorry he is about what happened. He tries to alleviate some of her guilt. When Syd gets a call saying that Chelsea needs another bout of surgery, Dr. Marcus offers his services and says that Syd can assist.
It's the final round of the cooking contest, and Joanie and her chowder are still in the race. Robbie calls Vince, and from the look on his face you can tell he gets bad news, but he hides it from Dani. Joanie doesn't win a prize, but the mayor of Providence wins first prize, and decides to start a scholarship at the local cooking school, and says Joanie is the first recipient. Joanie isn't sure that she wants to go to cooking school, but graciously accepts the gift.
Syd and Dr. Marcus have finished the surgery on Chelsea, and it went well. Dr. Marcus tells Syd to call him David.
Syd goes to visit Chelsea who is just waking up. Chelsea says she still wants to go through with the breast reduction. Syd says they'll worry about that later.
Syd is outside the hospital on the bench and runs into Hilde again who tells her that she overheard her nephew, David, telling the senior surgeon who turned down Syd's original request that he should really reconsider. Hilde says David was quite adament about it. Syd asks where she can find David, and Hilde says in the children's ward, just follow the music.
Robbie finds Vince at the bar, and pays up the $100 he owes. Vince says he owes $4,000, like last time, and the people want their money by Thursday.
Syd finds David in the childrens's ward, playing a tiny piano and singing "Old MacDonald had a Farm" with the kids. She thanks him for standing up for her. He says that he got the senior surgeon to agree, and that's why he was at the clinic when he heard the news that Chelsea was shot. He figured at that point that it didn't matter anymore so he didn't mention it. Syd thanks him anyway. He asks her if she wants to get a bite to eat in the cafeteria. She accepts. They go to the cafeteria but it's closed. Syd says she has some leftovers at her house. Her sister's chowder. Her brother says it's... well, David can just see for himself.
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