[PBS intro]

Victoria: Robert is dead. And that is unacceptable.

Is death truly inevitable? Or does the work we've already been doing here in the lab present a pathway to a new understanding of the barrier between life and death?

Today we'll be taking a look at the circumstances surrounding Robert's death and... exploring some theoretical treatments that could've potentially saved his- ...saved his life.

*crying* Okay Eli, I'm done. Stop rolling.

[Frankenstein, MD intro]

Victoria: Today, our subject is the late Robert Walton.

Eli: He was a good guy.

Victoria: (crying) And an invaluable member of our team. Unfortunately, he was fatally injured during an Alaskan mountaineering expedition.

Eli: Are you sure you wanna do this now? Maybe give it a couple days...

Victoria: I'm fine! Go monitor that camera. (whispers) Please. (wipes tears away) During his assent, an unknown geological event caused a disruption in an over-hanging ledge, triggering an avalanche. And the deceased fell several hundred feet.

High velocity impact resulted in severe traumatic blunt-force injuries, numerous skeletal fractures and perforated viscera, which in turn caused internal hemorrhaging, as well as widespread dermal avulsion. Robert was pronounced dead at the scene. No further attempts were made to resuscitate.

Hundreds of years of bad theories and junk science have made us think about life and death as an either/or proposition. But as we've already seen, life isn't simply black or white. Biology is messy. I'm cleaning up after it all the time. To blindly declare Robert beyond saving, without even considering other possibilities... Is like dumping his remains in a shallow coffin.

Eli: Wasn't he pronounced dead at the scene?

Victoria: Well, I don't know, Eli. Let's consider some steps a more adept ingenuitive practitioner could have taken.

Utilizing the cryopreserved state of his already snow-bound body, they could have restored skeletal fidelity via our 3D-printed bone implants, and then it would simply be a matter of surgically repairing his internal trauma... Culturing and applying advanced skin grafts and prepping him for rapid intravenous thermal rejuvenation.

Eli: That's pretty extreme for a small, remote Alaskan outpost clinic!

Victoria: Well, I'm not saying it would have been easy, but-

Eli: No! No!

Victoria: -if they'd j-

Eli: No, it would have been impossible! This is not Robert's fault! Or his doctor's. Or yours.

Victoria: You can't know that.

Eli: Hey! I may not be a great scientist, but I-

Victoria: Has it occurred to you that maybe I don't care what you think? (Eli looks away) (whispers) Eli, I'm sorry.

Eli: No, it's cool. I'm gonna- give you a few minutes to finish up.

Victoria: (nods) I won't be long.

Eli: I'll see you at your place.

(Victoria nods, Eli leaves and Victoria takes a deep sigh)

Dr. Waldman: Everything alright?

Victoria: Yeah. Yeah, we're okay.

Dr. Waldman: To be honest, I didn't think I'd see you here today.

Victoria: I had an idea for the show.

Dr. Waldman: Why not take a little breather from the show?

Victoria: I can't just sit around and feel sad. Plus, we're doing important work here! If nothing else, the loss of Robert can be a learning experience for our viewers.

Dr. Waldman: You're telling the internet about Robert's accident?

Victoria: Just an overview of his injuries and (sighs) a review of some hypothetical treatments.

Dr. Waldman: Treatments?

Victoria: Well, I've looked at the coroner's report-

Dr. Waldman: Oh, you can study the coroner's report all you want. There's nothing anyone could have done.

Victoria: Why does everyone automatically jump to that conclusion?!

Dr. Waldman: Because Robert is now beyond the limitations of science and medicine!

Victoria: Then science and medicine need to expand!

Dr. Waldman: Beyond death?

Victoria: Death is just another disease, Dr. Waldman! A disease that doctors are too scared to treat! We're right on the cusp of overcoming it, and you want me to turn back?

Dr. Waldman: Right now, you don't sound like a doctor at all.

Victoria: I'd like your permission to examine Robert's body.

Dr. Waldman: I don't even know what to say to that.

Victoria: He donated it to the university for research. It's probably on its way here, right now - still frozen, I'd expect.

Dr. Waldman: And how do you know that?

Victoria: We discussed it. Responsible adventurers have to plan ahead. The point is-

Dr. Waldman: No. I can't.

Victoria: Yes, you can!

Dr. Waldman: Well then, I won't. Look, I understand you're- you're feeling a lot of intense emotions right now... This horrible tragedy, right as you're embarking on this new career-

Victoria: Plus I'm the girl with the dead Mom, right?! Gotta factor that in, too!

Dr. Waldman: Hey, look. I'm just trying to make sure you're okay.

Victoria: Really, Dr. Waldman. I'm fine. I just need-

Dr. Waldman: Enough. At some other time down the road, I'm open to hearing about potential scientific advancements that could be made through the analysis of your former colleague's remains!

Victoria: But it's vital that we begin immediately!

Dr. Waldman: Today, I'd like you to focus less on what Robert can do for you in death, and more on what he meant to you in life! Before he was a subject, he was your friend! I'm sure that's how he'd wanna be remembered.

Victoria: I know what Robert would want. He'd want you to help me.

Dr. Waldman: I am helping you! (sighs) What is the point of postponing death if you- if you lose sight of what it means to be alive? (sighs and walks out)

Victoria: The point is to not be dead. Okay. Where was I? Robert, when we edit, let- (whispers) maybe that's not for today.

(end screen)