Time of Death

Season 11, Episode 6, Aired

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The final 44 minutes of alcoholic ex-con Charlie Metcalf's life plays out as Kovac, Pratt and Sam struggle to save his life. Charlie comes to the ER with a stomach ailment that quickly grows more serious. Slowly deteriorating, he confronts a series of doctors and specialists, and the realization that he is dying. As we learn his history, he tries to connect with his estranged son. Meanwhile, Kovac confronts Pratt about his attitude, and we see how each is touched by Charlie's story.moreless
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Fan Episode Reviews (12)

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  • I did not get it..

    8.0
    "Great"
    By Parricida, Dec 10, 2011
    I do not know.. I liked the way this episode was shown - that lovely real time feeling and the way it looked more real than usual - like you were more on it. I love the story they were telling but.. somehow it was too distance for me. I know, it will sound contra versa just for what I said before, but even if we were for the action like inside, the story of that man - it left me distance. I did not get that, i did not felt sorry for him, or see why there were sad. It did not touched me emotionally. Usually ER does, so...

    It was special episode but...moreless

  • This episode takes the experience of dying through the patient's eyes. An alcoholic in the end stages of his disease shows up in the ER with no idea this was to be his last day. This episode is absolutely one of the best written of all ER history.moreless

    10
    "Perfect"
    By peteycat61, Dec 02, 2007
    This episode has been with me since it first aired in November 2004. Truly the most haunting episode of ER and it's through the viewpoint of a patient you don't expect to care about. "Charlie" is in the end stages of alcoholism and he is literally experiencing what I imagine dying would be like in a strange hospital setting with no family to give comfort. I love how this episode starts with an old Rolling Stones song..."baby, baby, baby you're out of time"......
    As already thoroughly reviewed, how this particular patient touches off emotions in the staff that treats him is incredibly brilliant. I will never forget the last scenes as Charlie is slipping into his last moments of life and he starts into a dream like sequence where he sees his son as a little boy he can't get to. Even how the writers placed him and his old house in the middle of a hot desert in his dream makes the viewer feel the "dehydration" and discomfort Charlie is feeling. And then there is this horrifying sound of a loud ringing tone in the background as Charlie is having all these flashbacks and hallucinations. The realism of this episode was incredible. I cried for Charlie in the end and could not sleep that night. I saw the episode again in a rerun and it got to me again.
    As a footnote, my ex husband just died of the end stages of alcoholism. I thought of this episode all over again when he died. Like Charlie, he died alone and most probably experienced all the sensations Charlie did, both physically and mentally. He would have turned 50 next week.moreless

  • my father 73 yr's of age, passed from emphazima. it was the first time i wittnesed a death up close and personal.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By hudmoh330, Mar 30, 2006
    the show brought back memories so real and personal, it felt like i was back in the same room with my father as he was passing. when someone close to you passes, after a while you start forgetting those memorise, but the show brought all those good memorise back. i just want to thank everybody from the bottom of my heart for taking me back into time.

  • This is the by far the best episode of any television series I have ever seen.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By dalvera, Feb 14, 2006
    This is the by far the best episode of any television series I have ever seen. I was riveted from the beginning to the end. It moved like a film. Great writing, great acting, great directing. Superb storytelling and attention to character. Ray Liotta at his best. This episode looks into a heartbreaking fact of life with compassion and reality. The dream sequences skillfully and effectively done. The choice to show in real time worked brilliantly.
    I believe it should be listed as the Top Episode. Really impressive, really wonderful.moreless

  • Best ER episode i've watch up to date.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By exaslave, Dec 14, 2005
    Best ER episode i've watch up to date. An alcoholic whose life will be revealed in the run of the episode, very dramatic one, all the stuff attending his case got touched by it, even pratt who for starters wasnt eager to help the man and in the end even cried his death as the man was of much help to deal with the relationship to his unknown dad.
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • TRIVIA (1)

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  • QUOTES (8)

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    • Charlie: You never knew your dad? Pratt: No. Charlie: That's too bad. Pratt: I don't let it bother me. Charlie: I'll bet it bothers him.

    • Kovac: Hey, Pratt, can you spare Jane? Pratt: Definitely. (Kovac hands Jane a clipboard) Kovac: Document everything we do at the time we do it. Jane: Isn't that usually a nurse's job? Sam: There's a nursing shortage, Jane. Haven't you heard?

    • Sam: And I got a real winner for you: belly pain with combustible breath. Pratt: (points to Charlie in waiting room) You talking about that creepy homeless guy? Sam: "Creepy," I'll give you, but I don't think he's homeless. Pratt: How about we wait till he sobers up? I'll be home and in bed by then. Sam: He needs to be examined, Pratt. Kovac: I'll take care of it. Sam: Thanks. Kovac: How long has he been here? Sam: Oh, about two hours. He thinks he's in an airport or something. Kovac: He's altered? Sam: Yeah, a little. Pratt: If you ask me, we need to have one line for legitimate patients, another line for all the rest. Sam: Yeah, well, good thing nobody asked you.

    • Pratt: So, what were you in for? Charlie: A mistake. Pratt: What, you mean you weren't framed? (pauses) What kind of mistake? Charlie: I killed a guy. Pratt: Oh yeah? For what? Charlie: For asking too many damn questions, that's for what!

    • Charlie: I never believed in God. That might bite me in the ass how, huh? Kovac: God will get over it.

    • Pratt: You know what? It's Friday. I don't do lost causes on Friday. It's a religious thing.

    • Woman: Who do I have to screw to get some help around here? Sam: Find an intern. They're always hard-up.

    • Pratt: You like riding me, don't you? Kovac: I don't think I do. Pratt: Ever since I was an intern, you've been on my back. Kovac: Maybe a couple of times. Pratt: Why? Kovac: You're good, Pratt. But I think you could be better.

  • NOTES (6)

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  • ALLUSIONS (2)

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    • The scene where Charlie is seen in prison-issued orange overalls was taken from the 1990 film Goodfellas, in which Ray Liotta portrayed mob figure Henry Hill.

    • Ray: There is such a thing as a free lunch, my friend. This is a reference to the phrase "There's no such thing as a free lunch," which implies no one can acquire something without giving up something else.

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