The Surgeon

On Monday morning, a few days after her tense meeting with Derreck, Paula paces her third-floor office, realizing that she has become too emotionally involved with him. She initially planned to use their affair to advance her career, viewing him as future mayor material, but grew attached. After their Friday confrontation, Derreck has been silent all weekend. Paula suspects that their last intimate encounter was their final one and feels deep pain at losing him. Paula acknowledges that Derreck never loved her and will never leave Anne while Annie is alive. Paula coldly concludes that people can be eliminated in multiple ways.

Her investigator, Adam Costilla, bursts in, asking about Simon Degnan’s testimony. Paula hands him a subpoena for the 11-year-old witness. Adam confronts her, accusing her of endangering the child and prioritizing ambition over justice. Paula defends herself, citing orders from their boss, Mitch Hobbs.

Paula shifts the topic to the Caleb Donaghy case. Adam reports no connection between Anne and Donaghy. He reveals that Anne is wealthy from family investments, and her mother funded Derreck’s political ads. When Paula requests phone records without a subpoena, Adam refuses. He also reveals that the hospital’s internal review of the Donaghy case is happening that afternoon, upsetting Paula’s plan to confront Anne beforehand.