Krista Vernoff on "Here Comes The Flood"...

Original Airdate: 10-9-08

Absurd. A flood. In a hospital. Those absurd, desperate writers.  I know that’s what some of you are thinking.  But here’s the thing… Back in June, when we were just gathering together to begin early discussions of season five, my sister Jennifer came over for dinner. Jenn is a shrink. I’m sure she has a more official title than that, but I go with shrink cause she’s my sister and she lets me. She works in a psychiatric hospital in the San Fernando Valley and her patients are mostly low functioning schizophrenics. So she came over for dinner and I said “How was your day?” and she said, “You mean aside from the hospital flooding?” And I looked at her like, seriously? And she said, “Yeah, we had to move all the patients to one wing. All the schizophrenic patients, piled on top of each other in one small wing of the hospital. That was my day.” And I said, without skipping a beat, “And that is my episode. Just so you know.”  So as absurd as it may seem? Real. And in real life it was even weirder cause all the patients were CRAZY PEOPLE.  Awesome.   

I think it’s appropriate that Jenn inspired this episode because in a way, this episode is written as a love letter to therapy.  What it all comes down to for me is what Dr. Wyatt says to Meredith in the elevator, “And happiness in the face of horrible is not the goal. Feeling the horrible stuff and knowing that you’re not gonna die from the feelings? That’s goal.” Nothing better than a good shrink. I love therapy and I love what’s it done for Meredith in the short amount of time she’s gone (and I’m bummed she quit before she could get to the really good stuff.) It’s hard – to peel away the layers of the onion that is you and look at all that juice cause it burns your eyes and makes you cry and makes you hurt and makes you feel…but it also makes you better.  (Oh my God, talk about a tortured metaphor. Sorry. I’m tired. We’re in the room breaking episode 12.) 

Point is, I’m proud of Meredith that she got as far as she did. And I love that last scene where she stands up to Derek. She doesn’t get drunk. She doesn’t freak out. She doesn’t walk away. She doesn’t ignore him. She doesn’t leave him. She just stands there and tells him her truth. And that is so so so hard and so so so scary for her (as it is for a lot of us.) And what I love most is the look of shock on her face when it works.  It’s so hard to change.  For everyone I know, change and growth are deeply difficult tasks.   And so it makes me happy for Meredith and Derek that they are taking baby steps toward happiness and function. 

When we were shooting that scene, Ellen expressed concern to me about her question to Derek at the end. “You still love me?” She was concerned that it sent a message to the girls and women who watch our show that a man’s love is the thing that matters most.  (But she didn’t say the girls and women who watch our show. She said “the future Coco’s of the world.” Cause Coco’s my daughter, and Ellen’s no dummy, she knows how to get a writer to listen!) But my feeling is this: I was not trying to say that a man’s love is what matters most. I was trying to say that the ability to know and trust that you (and by you I mean, me, Meredith, all of us) are lovable.   To be willing to stand in your truth, stand in your vulnerability, stand in your fear, stand at your breaking point and hold on to yourself – that’s what matters.  And that’s what surprises Meredith. She’s shocked that she’s allowed to be herself and someone loves her anyway.  Those of us who grew up in the sometimes loving but sometimes terrifying and sometimes cataclysmic way that Meredith grew up? We sometimes need to learn, and need to be reminded, more than once, that we are lovable just as we are.  Ellen got on board – and I thought she delivered the moment beautifully. 

Tell you what else I love in this episode: Alex. On the porch. When he says “Hello” to Izzie. I tell you, that Justin Chambers can do any freaking thing you throw at him. There was some discussion when the script came out of whether or not we should change that “Hello” to “Hi” which sounds more like Alex.  But Justin? He pulled it off so beautifully. He made it sound like Alex and then some. The vulnerability under that one word... The subtlety… I just thought it was exquisite work.

Speaking of psychology, which I wasn’t just now, I was speaking of Justin but I’ve learned that when you say “speaking of” something, people usually go with you. It’s lazy, but I’m tired so… Speaking of psychology, how ‘bout Cristina? (I’ve never sat around with my sister Jenn and diagnosed the characters on this show the way I’ve sat around with her diagnosing every member of my own family, but I bet that would be a fascinating conversation.)   Cause we know there’s actually a good and caring person somewhere inside Cristina. I mean, she cares enough about Meredith to storm Wyatt’s office, right? And Wyatt gets right away how vulnerable she is. How scared she is. (Even if she can’t admit it) But still – she totally stole Izzie’s apartment! And she didn’t even  mean to! Izzie thinks she’s being evicted, and Cristina somehow convinces herself that Izzie pulled that flyer off the wall for her! I love it.  We’re currently breaking episode 12 of season 5 and I’ve been here since episode 1 of season 1 – and I never get tired of writing these characters. And you know why? It’s cause so many of them so badly need a good shrink!

Derek, who’s generally a pretty great guy and who just promised Mer he’d take baby steps, assumes her roommates are moving out. Just assumes it – without even a discussion. I mean, seriously, entitled much???   

Alex, who clearly still has feelings for Izzie, is as mean as he can be to her until the very end – when maybe he’s thinking his luck’s gonna turn.  And even then, all he can say is hello.   

Mark Sloan, a double board certified ENT and plastic surgeon who normally doesn’t give the time of day to an intern, stops to listen to Lexie’s diagnosis. Which either makes him a better teacher than we thought or a guy who simply, physically cannot walk away when a pretty girl is talking (I’m still not sure which.)

George is about to have some kind of actual breakdown in anticipation of his test (and it makes me giggle that the proctor finds him “a nice quiet room up in psych.”)

Lexie is codependent to an almost pathological degree – turning down Sloan’s surgery so she can help George with the Chief’s scut.

Izzie who is generally the happiest person we know, has ended up somehow all alone.
Callie and Erica seem to be discovering some real truths about themselves pretty late in life.

And the Chief? The Chief is basically watching while the hospital crumbles around him because his fear and pride won’t let him acknowledge that the hospital is  crumbling around him!

And Bailey – her lack of power is TORTURING HER.   I love that little moment when she goes to the gallery to get a quiet moment and you can see her giving herself a tiny little talking to… I imagine her saying, “Do not quit! Do not tell the Chief to go screw himself! Do not say out loud ANY of what you’re thinking, Miranda Bailey!” And then of course the ceiling caves in giving her the ultimate vindication.  I love these characters. I love the messiness and the layers and the fact that they absolutely refuse to behave or to “get all whole and healed,” as Meredith would say.   I think if I wasn’t a writer, I’d be a shrink. Jenn and I could open a practice together and then sit around every night and laugh about how crazy we all are. That would be fun.   

I have to add before I go how much I loved the guest stars in this episode. The actor Jim Ortlieb who played Jack O’Brien (get it? Jack O Brien. J.O.B. Job. Biblical. Whatever.) was so funny and subtle and heartbreaking and that lovely actress Samantha Quan who played Shelley… I watched them shoot that scene plus I’ve seen this episode 3 or 4 times now plus I wrote it and I still cry every time she breaks down at the unfairness of getting terminal cancer in your 20’s.   And Daniel Travanti who played Mr. Patmore? His breakdown? Kills me every time. I did not expect that performance. I did not script that he would cry. I pictured something totally different. And then I got the dailies of that scene and it just wrecked me with it’s awesomeness.  I love good actors. Yay, good actors!

I am rambling. I get that. I’m tired, like I said.  But I hope you liked this episode and I hope more than that that you had a lovely summer. Because life is weird and hard and scary sometimes. People are diagnosed with terminal cancer in their twenties and people get debilitating pain for reasons no one can diagnose and hospitals flood and ceilings collapse and lives fall apart, sometimes out of nowhere…  So I hope very much that you are all enjoying the quieter moments, the moments in between the breaking points. I hope you kiss your kids a lot and tell your spouses and parents that you love them a lot and buy yourself flowers a lot for no good reason. I hope you love your life.  And if for some reason you don’t or can’t – I hope you find a really good shrink like my sister Jenn or Dr. Wyatt. Cause therapy rocks.

End of love letter. 

Comments

[mm]

I am glad you are a writer instead of a doctor, because your reaction to those with mental illness is hurtful. I would hate for you to be actually working with patients and laughing at them after hours. It's chilling. Perhaps your sister has a different perspective.

[sonieee]

Fantastic episode Krista, keep them coming. I also agree with you, therapy is brilliant and psychs dont get enough credit for their jobs. Maybe you could add just a BIT more Derek next episode though, okay? :)

[Alias]

The "flood" may have been a little exaggerated, but it DOES happen. I work for a group of hospitals, but years ago started out at one hospital in the group.

While working there, they had a pipe to their sprinkler system burst....over a large waiting area....with stagnate water (read black mold).

I wasn't in that area when it happened (fortunately), but walked past it shortly after. Sopping wet carpets and overpowering mold smell. Some of the people waiting in the area ended up in the ER due to the mold.

So, yes....like Krista said, these things really DO happen.....

Great episode....keep them coming!

[TaraRN]

Excellent episode. And the premise of a flood was not absurd. It happened to me as well. Not on such a grand scale but it was still a shocker to see the ceiling collapse in the supply room of the hospital I worked at.

In my opinion, this episode was better than the premiere. I loved the interaction at the lunch table....classic Grey's, I enjoyed the interaction between Lexie and Mark, Bailey and the chief, and of course MerDer. I especially liked Izzie at the very end....she seemed so vulnerable and alone. For a minute I felt bad for her. The Callie/Erica scene at the end was priceless and I wish I could have seen more. But I now see what you mean about this episode being a love letter to therapy. Dr. Wyatt is the voice of reason....I hope to see more of her! Overall, wonderful episode and I can't wait for next week!

[Chloe]

Krista, thank so much for that beautiful episode. I loved it, from start to finish. Meredith! Meredith was so sweet, and strong, and amazing. I loved the scene where she hold's Shelley's hand. By the way, Ellen Pompeo is a goddess. But I'm sure you know that. She is really capturing the changes in Meredith's psyche - it's great to see Meredith progressing, slowly but surely.

I loved the "So you still love me" scene, and actually I got from it exactly what you wrote - that Meredith is asking Derek to reassure her that even though she has stood up to him, and shown him that she is vulnerable (and also that she's not going to let him steamroll her), he still loves her. And he does, and it's a beautiful moment.

I hope we haven't seen the last of Amy Madigan. I think maybe our friend Cristina might need to talk to her again. And maybe Meredith and Derek could go see her together?

Anyway, loved the episode. I loved the Meredith/Izzie moment at the end. Poor Izzie. She's so lost right now. It was nice to see Izzie and Meredith connect - they don't often do so, but when they do, it brings home the fact that Meredith really is the center of gravity for the whole group. The idea of Meredith moving on with Derek is scary for all of them, because she's been what connects them from the beginning. It will be interesting to see how they all negotiate that. Thank you!!!1

[sanya]

AGREED!

love from a psych major

[Jenna]

All I can say is This Eppy was the best that was written since I can remember. You are my favorite writer and never cease to amaze the work you turn around. You kept many of us glued to or seats and honestly there wasn't complaining. Yeh, I consider myself one of the biggest MerDer fans out there and I was at the point of wondering where's that awesome couch scene and are we going to get a whole 30 seconds. But you know that scene was utterly amazing. You're right Ellen pulled that off like no other! I don't have much time cuz I am going to go wake my kids and kiss them. But just wanted to tell you I think you turned this show around, and this is the eppy that broke through...

[ybmadre]

wow, i've never been the first to comment before! this is kind of exciting.
anyhoo ... i was troubled by this episode. it had some great moments and i liked the growth i saw, but overall, it wasn't a feel-good Grey's. and bc all the commercials showed the scene where the ceiling collapsed, by the time it happened, it felt a bit anti-climactic.

but what i've come to see, after reading your blog and the one from last week, is that life is messy, not always feel-good. ceilings collapse, moments are anti-climactic, people feel alone. and that's okay! because that's life.

i loved Izzy in this episode. recently, i too have felt like i have no one (despite being married and having many friends around me -- i've felt like i don't have a Lexie to my George, a Sloan to my Callie) and i loved that even in the face of Meredith's assurances to the contrary, Izzy still said she had no one, because she knew what she meant even if Meredith didn't.

the shrink ROCKS. i love her grit and her candor and her confidence in her work. i hope Meredith (and Cristina, actually) gets her point and goes back to her.

thank you for having the guts to write a show where it doesn't always feel good. because that's how we know that even if it doesn't feel good, as long as we can feel, it IS good.

kiss-kiss.

[Amanda]

I really liked this episode. I physically hurt for Izzy when Alex turned her down on the apartment - he was so cold. And George's anxiousness was too funny! He looked like a 10 year old taking his SAT's. I also think it's cool that Meredith and Derek are getting somewhere that seems good.
Thanks for a great episode. And a great start to what looks to be a wonderful season!!

[lyn]

Lexie & Mark! :)

[Susan in St. Louis]

Fabulous Writing! What a show. Great job!!

[Melinda]

ummm... why are there no other comments? Is that a good or bad sign? Anyway, I liked (not loved) this episode it was...pretty ok? Still looking for that spark or Flame, but my favorite moment was when Alex said "hello" to Izzie (I was an English/literature major, so I pay attention to the small symbols and signs. Love that scene. Also when Mer stands up to Der and then asks if he still loves her, also Cristina talking to the Dr. Wyatt. Maybe she needs to engage in some therapy. Ummm... I think that was it. I still want the chief to get some more back bone! and Do more with Baily!!! She is a great actress. I gotta be honest...I'm not really feeling Erica and Callie...that seems kindof pointless and forced. Still not overly excited yet, but ofcourse I'll keep watching until I see that Grey's flame that drew me in the beginning.

[canknitian]

I just *got* why Alex says "Hello" at the end (i.e. the parallel with JOB).

I love the truth of Meredith asking Derek -- "You still love me?" She said it in a way that wasn't desperate, in the same way I have after revealing a part of myself, a part I'm not comfortable with, to the man I love more than anyone in the world. After years of having people turn away, there's still a little bit of shock when they don't.

Thank you for this episode. I loved it and am going to watch it again very soon.

[Love GA]

I loved it, so much better that the premier, although i may be a little biased as you are my Fav writer.
I feel like the chemistry is back...hope it stays..
Wonderful

[NIkki]

Krista! I should have known you wrote this episode. That's why I loved it so much!

Thank you VERY much for an amazing episode and insightful blog.

I have to go to work, I will comment my thoughts later. I just wanted to send you a quick love note!

[Katherine]

Krista,

I just wanted to say thank you for such a long insightful post. I know you're tired and short and sweet would've been easier, but as your viewers it's nice to get some background. I also really, really enjoyed the episode. My husband watched with me and he enjoyed it, too. I like how so far this season (I know, only 2 episodes) we're seeing the residents laughing and joking and (sort of) enjoying each other...being friends! It's fun! Anyway, thank you again! Keep up the good work!

[Diana c]

Great blog Krista. I can't wait for episode 12.

[Sarah]

If Lexie's patholigically codependant what the hell is Cristina and Meredith? That's much sicker and worse.Meredith cant live with Derek unless she begs Cristina for her approval. She cant have a future with Derke unless Cristina marries Burke. Cristina didnt get married so Meredith DUMPS Derek. WHat the hell is that if not psychotic codependant? IS Meredith ever going to grow from that? The girl needs to stick to therapy

[Emily]

Nice episode better than last week. Wish for more MerDer!PLEASE

[HollyS]

Awesome Epi! Loved, loved it! I loved Mer standing up to Der and finally realizing that you can disagree and that he's still going to love ya! Still waiting for the Mer/Der lovin' though....

I have to say my favorite part, was Dr. Wyatt totally telling Cristina the way it is. calling her out on her convaluted thinking. Just great! The shocked look on her face was awesome!

I really liked Alex too. He's just so damaged and afraid (on the inside). He is a good guy and his luck needs to change. Please let him find the courage to be Izzie's person!

I really liked Sloan and Lexie and I would tend to think that he listed to her because he likes her. They have good chemistry. I know Lexie thinks she should and does like George because he's "the nice guy". But...they are best buds and the thought of them together is just not doing it for me. George was awesome though. Poor guy, always doing what's right. I hope he passes his test.

Really liked Callie & Erica. This storyline is really real. I like how Callie doesn't want to give more of herself up. She shouldn't! I like how they can communicate.

As always, Bailey is great. Enough said. It was good that the chief admitted she was right.

Keep up the good work. I can't wait until next week!!!

[J9]

Okay.
So maybe I have a little hope left for Greys, after the overly disappointing premiere.

I hope it can only go up from here!

Also, I know you've already written most of the season already, if not all, but I think it would be really nice to see SOMEONE with a relationship outside the hospital...how about it?

Looking nervously forward to next week.

[wanda]

i'm glad you mentioned alex, 'cause he was a little hard for me to believe. suddenly he's optimistic and awkward? he's smiling and telling a patient his luck has turned and believing the same thing for himself! what? he leaves that very painful hello just hanging there and goes inside without trying to salvage his dignity. that is not the alex i know. but i'm gonna watch it again, 'cause i always want to believe alex is a good guy in some part of him, who never stopped loving izzie and can be with her at some point. i'll see if i can believe it the second time.

[Cara in NJ]

I loved this episode!! I loved everything about it!!! I laughed and cried all at the same time!! Well done!!!!

[Jake Lipson]

Thank you for this. It was fantastic.

[Ashley]

Thanks for bringing up pancreatic cancer in your episode. Though it is so rare that it is caught in stage 1, I'm glad people have heard about it. It is the 4th leading cause of cancer in the US, but there is no cure, and there are no early treatments (save random exploratory surgery). Great episode. made me tear up. Loved the advice of saying "hello". Glad to see it is about friendships again!