Emergency! SE01 EP00 - "The Wedsworth-Townsend Act"

Emergency! is a show that I only heard about from my mother - I've not seen it before, and I expected something far different than what I got. What I got, though, when watching this first episode (or more precisely, an hour and a half television pilot) was something better than I had expected, and as such, I expect this series to be pretty decent.

Episode Name: The Wedsworth-Townsend Act

Original Airdate: January 15, 1972

Roy DeSoto and John Gage reminisce about how they first met and became partners. After a raging fire, a younger Gage is informed by his battalion chief about a special training program for paramedics. He doesn't want to, stating that he'd rather be a rescue man as opposed to an ambulance attendant. After failing to save the life of a workman who was electrocuted, though, Gage has a change of heart.

Roy DeSoto and John Gage

At Rampart Hospital, the doctor who failed to save the life of the worker, Kelly Brackett and the ER head nurse Dixie McCall get into a disagreement over the proposed paramedic program. Dixie believes that it has the potential to help save lives, whereas Brackett thinks that sending amateurs out to practice medicine is dangerous.

Kelly Brackett

Dixie McCall

Before Gage signs on to the paramedic program, he asks Roy DeSoto if they could use any of what they learn to save people, which Ray informs him no. But there is a bill in committee at the state legislature, and if it passed, then paramedic programs would grow and more so, paramedics would be able to use their training on scene to help save lives.

Gage speaking to DeSoto

Meanwhile, while Brackett is personally against the program, he agrees to help train firemen with medical basics, mostly due to the fact that Dixie asked him to. Come graduation time, Assemblyman Michael Wolski speaks to Brackett, asking for his help to push the bill through committee - Brackett's a well-known name in emergency care, and his support would help push them over the edge. Brackett, due to his reservations, declines.

Assemblyman Michael Wolski

Gage and DeSoto are partnered up. Though they have the medical equipment to help on scene, until the bill passes, they are unauthorized to use them on the scene. For the time being, they must have a nurse with them able to use the gear. While Dixie agrees whole-heartily, Gage in particular feels useless, as they cannot use the equipment themselves.

An accident occurs at a boatyard, and a young girl's arm gets cut off. DeSoto and Gage are able to find and bring back the severed arm, and due to their expedience, Brackett is able to repair it, ensuring the girl can have use of her arm once healed.

Days later, at Gage's birthday party, Wolski lets them know that open hearings will now be held. Brackett, who was in a way tricked into attending the party by Dixie, still feels strongly against the proposal, and angrily leaves the party.

The next day, Gage and DeSoto, with McCall, respond to an accident in which a car went over the highway railings. With Dixie's help, they are able to remove the two from the car, but in the process, Dixie gets injured, and despite being told to wait for an additional nurse to arrive on the scene, Gage and DeSoto ignore Brackett and treat them.

While Dixie is thankful for them, Brackett lays into the two, stating that if any of the three people had died, it'd cause a massive lawsuit and the end of their "precious program." Despite them breaking procedure, he does finish by telling the two they did a good job. He then decides to contact Wolski, and throw his support behind the paramedic proposal.

Gage and DeSoto being chastised by Brackett

After a riveting testimony by Brackett, the bill gets past the committee. Due to heavy rains, a massive tunnel collapse occurs, and at the scene, Gage and DeSoto argue whether or not they should use painkillers they're not authorized to use to help some of the people. They agree eventually that they shouldn't, as it'd be harmful to the program if they did.

Brackett giving his testimony to the committee

When a man has signs of cardiac arrest, they contact Brackett via radio. He realizes that the man needs to be defibrillated, and lies to them, stating that the bill passed and they are now authorized to use the equipment. They do so, saving the man's life. Brackett, after their success, gives them his congratulations. 

The next morning, they find out the bill passed the previous night after they had saved the man's life. Brackett arrives on the scene, and the three of them become friends. Back to present day, DeSoto and Gage talk about how far they've come since the beginning. They get an emergency call, and race out, as they've been doing for some time now.

This pilot caught me by surprise.

Firstly, what I expected what not the show I saw. Honestly, knowing so little about this show, I expected it to be a 70's version of ER. I had zero idea that it dealt with paramedics until I started it. That said, I am glad I was mistaken, because the pilot came out pretty good.

The characters are all pretty good. You have a cynical, younger firefighter in Gage, along with a more experienced, optimistic one in DeSoto. And more so, they work well together (they remind me almost of Starsky and Hutch, truth be told). Dixie is a passionate ER nurse, who is not afraid of standing up for what she believes. The same can be aid for Brackett - he didn't agree with the proposal at the beginning, and he had plenty of reasons for his reservations. When he finally came out for the program, you knew the case was closed. Lastly, you have neurological surgeon Joe Early, who is an older, gentler souls. Almost a peacekeeper, of sorts. The cast is solid, overall.

It's the story, though, that really got me interested. A bill that allows trained firefighters on the scene to administer medical assistance is in committee, and without the help of Brackett, it may not pass? It's good drama, that. Dixie and Kelly's relationship throughout this episode is strained, as they both feel so strongly in their own respective ways. Since they are on the same side, now, I don't think much conflict is likely to come up between them again.

When Dixie got injured at the scene of the car accident, a part of me almost thought that she died. Now, she didn't, obviously, but I won't lie - I was quite tense for those ten seconds. That was television done well.

Lastly, the tunnel collapse was well done. The set just looked good to me. More so, when Gage and DeSoto argued about whether or not they should use the painkillers, I thought both sides had good arguments. Saving the one individual who was trapped under a truck also was again, tense. 

This pilot, though perhaps a bit long (Brackett and Dixie argued about the program a few more times then necessary) was quite good. You can feel for the characters (which is something I personally have trouble with when it comes to 70's television), some very tense scenes were done well, and throwing in a political angle (which personally, always makes me happy) all equal the fact this pilot of worth watching.

Rating: Superb

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