Filaments and Ligatures
Cherry treats a girl who, due to a terrible accident becomes brain dead. He confronts the parents about taking her off life support, and when they agree, he presents the choice to donate her organs. Although the mother is willing, the father is greatly opposed. Gideon and other doctors routinely work on the priority list for a liver transplant. Whom will be the number one candidate comes down to Gideon's patient (Black male in 40's, Asian wife, three kids, on list for several years, terminal) and another doctor's patient (Gay white 30-something male, HIV positive, with 2 adoptive kids and partner, terminal). The black man's tumor sizes disqualify him. The gay man is decided to be most elligible. After pressure from the gay man's doctor, Cherry secretly lets the mother know that only one parent is needed to sign the consent form. She agrees. He is immediately plagued by guilt, and when his girlfriend, Money (Hedy Burress), tries to pragmatize the situation to him, he remarks, ""Yo