House

House wakes up in his room at the Mayfield Psychiatric Hospital, takes his pills, and goes through the agonies of Vicodin withdrawal. Finally he packs up his clothing and prepares to check out, insisting the dry heaves are done and he's fine. House insists that he's there voluntarily but the nurse says he has to check with the doctor. He goes in to see the doctor, Darryl Nolan, who points out that House is legally free to go but suggest he stays. Nolan points out that he hasn't had hallucinations from Vicodin until the recent deaths of two colleagues and a father. He suggests that House check into the long-term ward. House refuses but Nolan warns that House can't get his license to practice medicine back unless he does what he says.



The intern takes House to Ward 6 and then meets with Dr. Beasley, who tells him that he'll have to participate in individual and group therapy, and take his medicine. House is more interested in finding out how to make everyone miserable. Beasley is unimpressed. House goes to his room and meets his new roommate, Alvie, who insists that he's fine and refuses to take his meds. He immediately tries to request a new room and Alvie tags along. The staff ignores House and deals with another patient, Hal, who demands medicine. The staff refuses to hand any over. Nolan and his staff wonder if House is actually going to act out but Nolan warns that any threat could be real and they should be concerned.



Beasley begins the first group session and introduces House and Alvie to the others. House notices one patient who tried to kill herself and makes wrist-slitting jokes, and Beasley has him taken to a private room.



Later, House goes out in the yard where the other patients are playing basketball. Beasley asks if he's ready to play nice and insists that she's trying to help him. House is skeptical and Beasley says that he can get out if he's honest and tries to deal with people. House considers what she's said and agrees, and then gets up and plays basketball. He analyzes all of the opposing players and plays to their fears and insecurities until they leave, and then takes his shot. As he leaves, Beasley insists that it is yard time but House leaves anyway. As he goes upstairs, he finds a female visitor, Lydia, playing the piano for her catatonic sister-in-law, Annie. House is unable to get a reaction from the patient and notes that her head is only bobbing in time with her pulse. The orderlies arrive and take House away.



Later, Beasley comes to visit House and asks if he plans to stay locked away, or if he's going to try another strategy. House goes to the rec room and apologizes to everyone, admitting he had misdirected anger. He rouses the patients up against the doctors by pointing out they're not allowed ping pong paddles or a table net. Nolan comes in and admits House is right, and hands out ping pong paddles. When House objects, Nolan says he's a natural leader and suggests he can either use his abilities to help the patients and himself, or to fight the doctors and see if they're as stubborn as he is.



That night, House is in his room with Alvie and thinks about a new plan. The next day, they introduce a new patient in group therapy, Steve, who thinks he's a superhero, Freedom Master. House goes to the window while Steve notices the comatose patient, Annie, and insists she needs someone to save her. Beasley calls a break and goes over to talk to House. She suggests he put his next plan on hold and see what happens, and let her do her job. House is busy watching Nolan driving away with a woman outside. House notes it's too late: he's already come up with a new scheme.



The patients are on the yard and House asks Alvie if he has third-floor privileges. Alvie confirms that he does and House asks him to break into Nolan's office and use his desk calendar to find out the name of the woman he met with. While he waits in the rec room, House realizes the piano is unlocked and plays a few notes. He goes over to Annie while an intern comes over and locks the piano. The orderlies catch Alvie and bring him back, but he meets with House later and tells him that Nolan's entire calendar was blacked out. House needs to call out but the only patient who has phone privileges is Hal. They go to the rec room and start a fake fight. Beasley has the interns pull House off and give him a pill to sedate him, and then take him back to his room. Once they're gone, Alvie sneaks in and House reveals he didn't swallow the pills. He then gets to the phone and calls Wilson, and asks him to run the license plate. Wilson tells him to do what he's supposed to do but House insists Nolan has screwed up something to get in the lousy position he is, something he can use for blackmail. Wilson informs House that Nolan called to tell him to help House get better and ignore any requests he made, and then hangs up. House goes back to his room and admits to Alvie that he has no choice but to cooperate... or at least appear to cooperate.



House starts trying to do whatever is necessary to get points: cooperating with patients, taking his medicines, participating in group therapy. The patients play liar's poker and House takes his pills... and then makes sure not to swallow.



Later, Lydia is back playing piano for Annie and House insists that she isn't hearing anything. Lydia explains that Annie played cello for the Philadelphia Philharmonic and House suggests that Lydia play the cello for Annie, and Lydia agrees.



House meets with a new doctor, Dr. Medina, who notes that House and Alvie are friends again after the fight, and their stories about the fight don't add up. Medina also points out that House isn't suffering any side effects from the meds he should be taking. House seemingly tries to bluff and offers to take a urine drug test, and Medina calls him on it. They go to the restroom and House insists on going into a stall while Medina watches from outside. Once alone, House goes into the stall where Hal is waiting, sitting on the toilet with his feet up. Hal pees in the cup for him and House comes out and gives it to Medina.



House goes back to playing poker while Medina runs the test and then apologizes to House. He then calls Steve over and asks him to move the piano. House asks why he's testing Steve's delusion and Medina insists that he needs to deal with his delusion. House insists that Medina's trying to break the man and Steve starts to panic. Medina finally tells him that his wife is dead but Steve insists that they put her voice-box in the storage closet and he can save her. When Steve tries to break into the room, Medina calls in the interns to take him away.



Later on the yard, Alvie warns House not to think too hard and step away from the hate. House wonders what the difference is between cooperating and pretending to cooperating, and blames himself for standing by as Dr. Medina demolished Steve's psyche. They're called in for the closing ceremonies and Beasley congratulates Susan, the one patient that will be leaving. House realizes that Steve isn't there and notices Dr. Medina nearby. He asks the doctor what happened to Steve, who says that he isn't able to take part. House goes down the hallway to Steve's room and tells him that he has to be out there with everyone else. Steve doesn't say anything and House notices that he's catatonic, and blames Medina. Nolan arrives and asks House to talk with him in private.



In the office, House insists that Medina screwed Steve up, and notes that he's a higher level than Susan. He wants to address his issues as an out-patient but Nolan refuses. House reveals he hasn't been taking his medicines, which proves that he is sane and rational. Nolan offers him a pill and tells him to lick it, and House realizes that they've been giving him sugar placebos. He tells House to let him do his job and stop fighting the system. House goes back to his room and admits to Alvie that he's out of plans.



Later, House looks out the window and sees Lydia drive up with a cello in her trunk. When she comes in, House greets her and offers his help to bring it up. He suggests they ask Steve to bring it up, noting it would help him feel better about himself. As Steve moves the cello, House asks why she visits Annie five times a week and she wonders if he considers compassion a crime. When Steve is still depressed, House asks Lydia for her car keys so he can drive her around and let him feel like he's flying. As they drive, House wonders why Lydia is so nice to him and she says that he thinks he has a good heart. House explains that he's kidnapping Steve and stealing her car, and she asks to get out. He drops her off and leaves with Steve.



House takes Steve to a carnival and takes him "flying" on a jet lift. Steve finally cheers up and admits it's the coolest moment of his life. They go back to the car but Steve gets up on the parking garage edge and thanks House and then jumps off.



Later, Nolan tells House that Steve's lucky to be alive but he has severe injuries. He blames House for reinforcing Steve's delusions to hurt Nolan, and House doesn't care about the truth or Steve or anyone else. Nolan informs House that he's transferring him out but House asks him not to and admits he needs help.



House meets with Nolan for individual therapy and wonders what they need to do. Nolan tells him he can talk about whatever he wants. The only way they can figure out what in House's life is irrelevant is to talk about whatever he wants. House admits he is sick of being miserable and Nolan says they need to figure out how to get him to happy. He gives House SSRIs for his mental condition and Nolan wonders if he thinks he'll lose his edge if he takes drugs. House considers the medicine and Nolan says he has to trust him, and House finally takes the drugs.



House continues with his regiment of drugs and Alvie wonders if he's cheating. House insists that he swallowed his pills but Alvie doesn't believe him. He says that they finally broke House, but House admits that he's broken already and Alvie should worry about his own life. As House goes, Alvie says he hates him.



Nolan comes to see House and brings him his suit. He asks House about his relationship with other patients and House mostly analyzes their feelings toward each other, not himself. House insists he's had relationships but Nolan points that he's screwed them all up, and asks House to trust people. He has House dress and they go to a hospital charity party, and he tells him to open up. House starts chatting with a donor, insults him, and then admits he's taken advantage of his one friend. He then admits that he's gay and Nolan is his lover. The donor quickly leaves. Lydia is there and points out he isn't gay. He then sits down with a female donor and claims he's a philanderer. Lydia comes over and claims House is her husband, forcing her to apologize. The woman gives in and lies, admitting she tried to hit on House.



House sits outside and Nolan asks how he's doing. House admits that he screwed up but Nolan notes that the lesson was to teach him how to trust, and no one ratted him out for being a jerk. Lydia comes over and asks what's next. He suggests they just talk and wonders why she isn't mad he stole her car. Lydia's says it was a nice thing to do and says that while what he did was misguided and irresponsible, it was still nice. She then explains that she was Annie'e best friend but Annie started pulling away. She married Annie's brother because he was the only other one who was going through the same thing that she was. He stopped visiting his sister, but Lydia couldn't stop because she misses Annie as she was. She gives House a kiss and then leaves for the night.



As House returns to his room, Alvie asked what happens. House admits that it was fun.



In therapy, House tells Nolan that they kissed and admits that kisses are good things. Nolan notes that Lydia is married and the situation is complicated. He also knows that House has spent the last 12 hours trying to think out what the kiss meant. House asks about the woman Nolan met and the psychiatrist accuses him of deflecting. Nolan refuses to be deflected and pursues the matter, and House admits he doesn't know how his situation with Lydia will end.



Lydia comes to see Annie and House is there. He asks why she kissed him and Lydia says that she likes him and felt it was a nice way to show it. House starts playing the piano and the nurse brings Steve past in a wheelchair. In therapy again, Nolan asks why House values his failures more than his successes and wonders if he accepts if there's nothing he can do. He tells him to acknowledge failure, move past it, and apologize. House doesn't think it's enough and Nolan figures that he thinks that he has to suffer for the suffering he inflicts. He tells House to apologize and feel better, and learn to let himself keep feeling better.



House goes to see Steve but can't bring himself to say anything. Beasley starts a group session and tells them that they'll be holding a talent show. She tries to encourage everyone to participate and tries to get Steve to respond. He doesn't, and House asks why she thinks he's going to respond. He insists that they have to make things better and then realizes that he can save Steve. He goes to the storage closet where there's a music box, and realizes Steve was looking at it when he talked about his wife's voice coming out of a box, and he thought he could cure Annie. House convinces Beasley to let him give Steve the music box and puts it in Steve's hands. He tells Steve that he's healing and he needs to speak but Steve remains catatonic. Nolan comes in and calls a break, and tells House that he's trying to fix instead of moving on.



Later, Lydia comes in with piano music for House to play. He asks her what their relationship really is and Lydia insists it's just two people having fun. House notes that either it ends or it doesn't end, and either way they get hurt. Lydia insists that everything ends but they can enjoy the beginnings. House says he can't do it and she says that now she's unhappy and it's not better. House walks away and leaves her sitting alone.



In group therapy, Diane worries about undergoing ECT treatment and House tells Diane to do the treatment. Alvie accuses him of being an ass and Beasley tries to get them to move on. She asks Alvie if he's written down a song for the talent show but he insists that he has to do it spontaneously. Medina arrives with a note for House from Nolan. It's a day pass. House goes to the hospital and finds Nolan at the bedside of his father. He wants House to look at his father's chart and provide a consult. The doctors don't think his father will recover and Nolan wants a second opinion. House confirms their diagnosis of a lacunar infarct, converted to a hemorrhagic stroke, and figures that Nolan knew that. He analyzes Nolan, figuring that he wanted someone there to give him confirmation that he's making the right decision to shut down his father's life support. House deduces that at some point Nolan made a mistake and lost everything, and House is the closest thing he has to a friend. Nolan tells him to shut up and stop playing games. House considers the matter and then takes off his coat and sits down with the psychiatrist.



Later, House returns to the hospital and finds Lydia sitting there, crying. He apologizes for pushing her away and admits he does that when he's afraid. Lydia tells him that she's crying because she's pathetic. She brought Annie's cello in case she wakes up for the show. He offers her a shoulder to cry on and they start to slow dance. They go back to his room and make love.



The patients put on their talent show and Beasley finally calls Alvie up. He starts his rap performance but freezes up. House helps him out and Alvie calls him up as the audience applauds. The two of them perform to the delight of their fellow patients and Lydia.



In individual therapy, House asks Nolan how he's doing. The psychiatrist thanks House for being there for him after the death of his father and asks what he wants to talk about. House says things are actually going good for him.



House goes to see Steve and tells him that he's sorry. He explains that he was trying to prove a point and put him in a dangerous situation he wasn't capable of handling. Nolan watches as House admits it was his fault. Steve doesn't respond and House wheels him over to the med booth. As he goes he notices Annie, still catatonic. House puts Steve next to him and Steve hands her the music box. Annie takes it and opens it, listening to the music. She thanks Steve and he says she's welcome.



Later, Lydia arrives and House greets her and tells her he has a surprise. Annie is playing the cello for the staff and patients.



At the next closing ceremony, Annie is the patient leaving. House goes to see Nolan and questions whether Annie is ready to go back out into society. Nolan explains that her family is moving to Arizona and putting her into a rehab facility there, and that he just found out himself. House asks for an overnight pass and Nolan says he'll do it if House insists, but he knows what he's thinking and he knows he hasn't thought it through. He asks House to stay and talk but House insists on getting the pass.



House takes a taxi to Lydia's house and rings the doorbell. Her son Ben answers the door and wonders who he is. Lydia comes and sends him to bed, and he asks what she's doing. She explains that her husband's business is in Phoenix and they can move now that Annie is doing better. House doesn't want her to go and she doesn't want to go either, but she can't leave her family. She apologizes for not saying goodbye and then goes back inside.



Nolan goes out to his car and finds House sitting nearby. He explains that Lydia left and he's lost. Nolan sits down with him and agrees to give him his license back. House isn't impressed but Nolan explains that House connected with someone else strongly enough to miss them, and he talked to Nolan instead of hiding behind Vicodin. Nolan tells him to come inside and get some sleep, and he can say his goodbyes tomorrow. The next day, they perform their closing ceremony and congratulate House on his departure. House hugs Alvie and then smashes his face into the cake.



As House walks to the bus stop, Alvie watches from the window and then goes the med window and tells Beasley that he wants to get better. Outside, House gets on the bus and heads back to his job.