Desperate Measures

Hold on there.

S.F.P.D. Okay, go ahead.

Okay.

Come on, baby. Come on.

Here you go.

Yes. We're in.

This is our last shot, man.

Should've tried this six weeks ago...

Instead of wastin' all that time with those television appeals.

Now we go finer.

If they all go away, we're finished.

Don't even think about it.

- - Back up.

- - We got one!

We got one! Don't make a sound.

Thank you.

Oh, man.

He crushed his cell mate's legs, so they put him into solitary through the end of the year.

Wow. He's the real thing.

No formal education beyond ninth grade, but has an I.Q. Of over 150.

I appreciate what you're doing for me, captain.

McCabe has escaped twice.

Second time he took two guards hostage,

buried them alive, used their uniforms and I.D.'S.

If he'd done it two years later, they would've put him in the gas chamber.

Ah, Jesus.

This is a mistake, Frank.

I have no choice.

McCabe!

McCabe!

You have a visitor. Get dressed.

I have to warn you, not just about the physical danger...

Because he's already killed one prisoner and crippled another... Right.

But also, McCabe is very sharp.

He likes to fuck with you.

Frank Conner.

You know why I'm here.

My son has leukemia.

He will die without a bone marrow transplant.

He's only nine years old.

And somehow, somehow,

I've been identified as a compatible donor...

For your son. I was told you volunteered.

We're through here.

Officers!

You lied to me, Frank.

You were identified by computer match.

I broke into the f.B.I. Computer system.

I violated all state and federal statutes.

Grounds for dismissal from the police force. Am I right?

That's right. Give me a shot.

What's the problem?

No problem, sir.

My mistake.

I went through all the other registries, and there's nobody.

- You're our last chance. -

So what do I get out of it?

You get to save my son's life.

And why would I care about your son's life?

What, am I supposed to find some kind of redemption in the eyes of god?

Do you want redemption?

Do you think I do?

You brought it up.

Don't try and get inside my head, Frank.

I want you in, I'll send you an invitation.

Sorry. I thought you were opening a door.

I killed...

A lady in a hat, a guy in a store... boom, boom.

That was real.

That happened. I did it.

But I cannot make myself feel bad about it.

I cannot imagine a god who would care.

I put my faith in the power of my own mind,

which is all I own after half a life of incarceration.

- I can appreciate that. - Really?

Well, then maybe you can appreciate...

My amusement at the irony...

That now, after all those years of bein' locked up,

I'm given the opportunity to kill again.

Cop's kid, at that.

And all I gotta do is stay right here.

- What do you want from me? - You been a good father to the boy?

I've tried.

You tried. Well, isn't that nice you tried?

Yeah, even my daddy could say that.

Beat the shit out of me every day, but he tried.

I've never hit Matt.

I'm sure you didn't.

What about the boy's mother? Where's she?

She's dead.

You're still wearing a ring.

You feel responsible in some way for her death?

She died in a car accident.

Dead wife.

Kid with cancer.

I'd wonder about myself too.

Will you do it?

Will you give my son your bone marrow?

I'm gonna have to think about that, get back to you.

No.

- You tell me right now. - Why?

Because I haven't told him that his cancer's back.

And when he went into remission,

he wouldn't even let himself celebrate...

'Cause he knew the odds.

And now when I go back there, I'm gonna tell him that his cancer is back...

And that he will die if he doesn't get a bone marrow transplant.

And I wanna tell him that I found that donor.

And I wanna give him hope.

To make it easier for you.

To make it easier for him...

And to save his life.

Well,

since you have to know right now, Frank,

my answer's no.

Officers!

Well, that's not acceptable.

And we'll need more etoposide from the pharmacy.

I'll get right back to you. Mr. Conner?

Mr. Conner? Hi, doctor. How are you?

Good morning. Can we sit in my office for a few moments?

I'd like to talk to you about Matt. Why?

Well, I'd prefer to do this in private. Tell me right now.

I've just learned about Peter McCabe declining to be a donor, and I'm concerned.

Matt has blood in his urine,

his creatine levels are up...

And I'm afraid without a transplant, we have very, very little time.

Where is he? I wanna see him. He's resting.

Let's just give him a moment. I'm concerned about you too.

I've learned one thing in a specialty where you can lose many of your patients.

You have to care for the family...

Matt is not gonna die.

We won't give up hope,

but you may want someone to talk to.

The hospital has counselors... For what?

So I can adjust to my son dying?

I don't wanna adjust to my son dying. May I see him now?

Absolutely.

Why don't you ask Gladys?

Can you build a rocket ship out of tongue depressors...

Without using glue or any other adhesive?

That holds together without any glue?

Yeah.

Hey, dad, look.

He's gonna be an architect.

Thank you. How are you doin'?

How are you feeling?

Not so great.

Thanks, dad.

Oh, yes! Cool, huh?

Yeah! Move over.

We saw this in the library.

P-47 thunderbolt.

See the thunderbolt? What is that?

Well, its nickname is little demon,

and there's a little demon.

I think it's just some sort of crazy monster.

The cancer's back, isn't it?

Yes.

B-24 bomber. This guy's nickname...

I think I found a donor...

For a bone marrow transplant.

Really? Yeah.

Is he compatible? He's compatible.

But he's thinking it over.

You mean, he might not want to?

He'll do it.

Dad, if he doesn't...

What do you mean, "if he doesn't"?

What did I just say?

Even if he doesn't, or if my body rejects the transplant...

'Cause that happens sometimes, right?

Well, I just want you to know,

it's okay, dad.

You did your best.

Excuse me. Mr. Conner, there's a call coming through for you.

You can pick it up in here.

Hey, Matt. Hi.

- Frank Conner. - Hey, Frank, how's it goin'?

That sort of depends, doesn't it? Yeah.

Hey, look, Frank, I've been thinkin' it over.

Why don't you send Matt here so I can meet him?

Meet him? What for?

Look, if it's too much trouble...

Hi, Matt.

I'm Peter McCabe. You can call me Pete.

Hi.

Let's see. You're nine.

What is that, Matt?

Fourth grade? Yeah.

You like school, Matt? I fuckin' hated every minute of it.

Mmm. Yes, sir.

Not "sir," Matt.

You just call me Pete, all right?

Uncle Pete. But you're not my uncle.

Let's do it. Do what, sir?

I'm gonna do the bone marrow transplant for you.

Dad!

He's gonna do it! Pete said he's gonna do it!

Let me talk to your dad alone for a minute. Wait for me outside.