Grey's Anatomy

In this episode, Derek's mother is in town and everyone is on edge. Derek's patient is a death row inmate who has a significant head injury from an incident in prison. Derek tries to convince the inmate that he needs immediate surgery or he will die, but the inmate is very hesitant. The inmate would rather die that way then in prison. William, the inmate, finds out Jackson, a young patient, severely needs a liver and intestine transplant. William offers Jackson his organs. Unfortunately, as Bailey points out, this is completely against the rules of the hospital.

William tries to convince Meredith to let him save Jackson. Jackson needs the surgery as soon as possible, but they were having trouble locating any transplants. The inmate continues to ask Meredith if he is a match for Jackson, which he is. William's condition worsened and Derek pressures Meredith to sign off for consent to operate. Meredith freezes up and Christina signs instead. Both William and Jackson are in serious condition and need surgeries. Derek is determined to let William live while Meredith sees his compassion for Jackson. Meredith lets William know that part of his brain is exposed and should anything happen to it he would die. She then leaves the room only for William to start slamming his head into the back of his hospital bed and go limp.

Meanwhile, Derek's mother makes a surprise visit to the hospital, putting everyone on edge. Meredith tries to put on her best smile for Derek's mom as they have lunch together in the cafeteria. Meredith confessed to Derek's mom she was a fraud and that she was not the kind of girl mothers like. She said she was "dark and gloomy" and that she was "the kind of person who feels bad for serial killers." Derek's mom simply replied, "It was very nice to meet you, Meredith," and walked away. She told Derek he sees things in black and white, and Meredith doesn't. "You need a spoonful of that," she said. "You need her. She's the one."

Sloan also attempts to avoid Derek's mother. When she finally catches up to him, she grills him about his relationship with Lexie. Derek's mom then locates Lexie and asks her if she is a good girl. She also questions how many people Lexie has slept with. Derek's mom later tells Sloan that Lexie is a "lovely girl."

Dr. Hunt asked Christina out on a date but she doesn't answer. Later he shows up at her apartment drunk. He tells her he hasn't been on a date in five years, she tells him to shower and he goes into her bathroom. He showers in his suit blabbering to Christina about his best surgery.

Denny gives Izzie his reasons for dating a dead guy. Izzie at one point explains that she wishes she could meet his mother. She told him all the other things she wants to do with him. She couldn't do any of them. She finally said, "I want you alive." He asked if she was breaking up with him. "I think I am," she said. Alex asked Izzie if she'd like to take a road trip to Iowa to meet his mom. She didn't respond right away, but then kissed him. Denny sat on the bed next to Alex after Izzie left the room to get tequila. Denny said, "Alex, we gotta talk."