( o1 - AUDIO )

[halves]

[Deep breaths, Lou, deep breaths.

He's still practicing this exercise about a split second before the recording begins, shifting his focus to it immediately, superficially ready to laugh and quip at this silly challenge someone has proposed (forced) him to take part in.

It's nothing but pure nerves, he assures you.]

This is really fucked up. Just thought I should let you know.

[There's an exhale, not quite a laugh. See? Nothing but nerves.]

I guess I'm supposed to say hi now.

Hi. I'm the new guy.

I'd like to know what the fuck you've done to my cat.

Comments

[intheblanks]

You'd be surprised how lax the hiring policies can be. Blame turnover.

[halves]

[Ha.]

What do you do?

[intheblanks]

Surgeon. [Well, it's more than that, but Lewis isn't pretty enough for him to show off the full list of job titles.] Doctor Robert Chase.

[halves]

[Why I never]

... Makes sense.

[intheblanks]

How's that?

[halves]

They'd want people like you around, wouldn't they?

[intheblanks]

[Oh what bullshit, Lewis.]

Right, every town needs a few doctors, if it can get them. Needs a hell of a lot more people staffing the reception desks, managing the finances, working the computers and cleaning the floors, though. And that's before you get outside the hospital.

[halves]

[His father was a doctor who liked to point out repeatedly how much society needed people like him and how underestimated doctors really were. This coming from a filthy rich man.]

Is that you trying to be humble?

[intheblanks]

It's me saying people get jobs without medical degrees.