Unwritten (House)
Encyclopedia
"Unwritten" is the third episode of the seventh season
of the American medical drama House
. It originally aired on October 4, 2010.
), the author of a popular children's book series Jack Cannon the boy detective, inexplicably suffers from a seizure during an attempt to take her own life, the Princeton-Plainsboro team faces the challenges of evaluating both her underlying medical conditions, as well as her unstable psychological state. Because of her suicide attempt, House can hold Alice in the hospital under psychiatric hold for 72 hours. But Alice is uncooperative and the team are against the clock to diagnose her until she is allowed to leave. Meanwhile, House takes Cuddy on a double date with Wilson and his girlfriend, Sam (guest star Cynthia Watros
).
When the team gets Alice an MRI, 3 nails are ripped out of her leg. She claims they are from a ski accident. House is particularly motivated to cure Alice as he's a fan of her books, and is convinced that the key to unlocking the mysteries of Alice's condition lies in the pages of her most recent novel. He takes the ribbon from Alice's typewriter and calls Sam in. Sam re-programs the MRI slightly to be able to read the marks of the typewriter in the ribbon, and House manages to print out a manuscript of the book.
He suspects that Jack Cannon's mentor Helen Rutherford's symptoms are actually Alice's symptoms that she's been writing about in her book. The symptoms are joint pain, fatigue, light sensitivity and depression. When they add those to Alice's pericardial effusion, her seizures and her wetting her bed, they get lupus. House doesn't like this diagnosis as it's not curable and he wants to take her pain away so she'll keep writing, but he orders the test anyway.
Later, he suspects the nails are actually from a car accident, and that the seat belt damaged Alice's thyroid glands, causing her symptoms, but she soon is paralysed. Taub suggests a post traumatic syringomyelia
that grew over the years and pressed on her spine, causing all her symptoms. The team can't find her old medical records, so Cuddy suggests that Alice Tanner is only her pen-name.
At this point, House realizes her real name is Helen. The books are about her son who died in an accident at the wheel during heavy rain and she just couldn't let go. Helen refuses treatment until House lies and tells her that her son died from a brain aneurysm that caused the crash. After being cured, she decides to stop writing the book series because that chapter of her life had closed. House demands that she at least must write a new ending for the last book with more resolution than the cliffhanger ending she originally wrote. Helen refuses and House begins to tell her the truth about her son's cause of death, but he sees Cuddy in the doorway and instead merely says 'Your son... was very lucky to have you as his mother.'
In the side story, House is worried that his relationship with Cuddy is doomed to failure because they have no interests besides work in common. Cuddy briefly pretends to share an interest in Alice's books, but House says he knows she is lying. Cuddy then tells House that she doesn't care that they have nothing in common because commonality is boring. She says that she thinks they make each other better people and that is sufficient.
based upon the Stephen King
book, Misery. One such reference is of House calling Alice a 'Dirty Birdy'; a notable phrase used by Miserys Annie Wilkes. Alice also has notable deduction skills, as she finds out a lot about Dr. Chase by his appearance. Sherlock Holmes
also possessed such skills.
House (season 7)
House entered a seventh season on September 20, 2010. House and Cuddy attempt to make a real relationship work and face the question as to whether their new relationship will affect their ability to diagnose patients. The new season features a new opening title sequence...
of the American medical drama House
House (TV series)
House is an American television medical drama that debuted on the Fox network on November 16, 2004. The show's central character is Dr. Gregory House , an unconventional and misanthropic medical genius who heads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in...
. It originally aired on October 4, 2010.
Plot
When Alice Tanner (Amy IrvingAmy Irving
Amy Davis Irving is an American actress, known for her roles in the films Crossing Delancey, The Fury, Carrie, and Yentl as well as acclaimed roles on Broadway and Off-Broadway. She has been nominated for an Academy Award, two Golden Globes, and has won an Obie award...
), the author of a popular children's book series Jack Cannon the boy detective, inexplicably suffers from a seizure during an attempt to take her own life, the Princeton-Plainsboro team faces the challenges of evaluating both her underlying medical conditions, as well as her unstable psychological state. Because of her suicide attempt, House can hold Alice in the hospital under psychiatric hold for 72 hours. But Alice is uncooperative and the team are against the clock to diagnose her until she is allowed to leave. Meanwhile, House takes Cuddy on a double date with Wilson and his girlfriend, Sam (guest star Cynthia Watros
Cynthia Watros
Cynthia Michele Watros is an American television actress, who also starred in films and on stage. She is known for her roles as Libby on the ABC TV series Lost, Kellie in The Drew Carey Show, Erin in Titus, and Annie Dutton in Guiding Light...
).
When the team gets Alice an MRI, 3 nails are ripped out of her leg. She claims they are from a ski accident. House is particularly motivated to cure Alice as he's a fan of her books, and is convinced that the key to unlocking the mysteries of Alice's condition lies in the pages of her most recent novel. He takes the ribbon from Alice's typewriter and calls Sam in. Sam re-programs the MRI slightly to be able to read the marks of the typewriter in the ribbon, and House manages to print out a manuscript of the book.
He suspects that Jack Cannon's mentor Helen Rutherford's symptoms are actually Alice's symptoms that she's been writing about in her book. The symptoms are joint pain, fatigue, light sensitivity and depression. When they add those to Alice's pericardial effusion, her seizures and her wetting her bed, they get lupus. House doesn't like this diagnosis as it's not curable and he wants to take her pain away so she'll keep writing, but he orders the test anyway.
Later, he suspects the nails are actually from a car accident, and that the seat belt damaged Alice's thyroid glands, causing her symptoms, but she soon is paralysed. Taub suggests a post traumatic syringomyelia
Syringomyelia
Syringomyelia is a generic term referring to a disorder in which a cyst or cavity forms within the spinal cord. This cyst, called a syrinx, can expand and elongate over time, destroying the spinal cord. The damage may result in pain, paralysis, weakness, and stiffness in the back, shoulders, and...
that grew over the years and pressed on her spine, causing all her symptoms. The team can't find her old medical records, so Cuddy suggests that Alice Tanner is only her pen-name.
At this point, House realizes her real name is Helen. The books are about her son who died in an accident at the wheel during heavy rain and she just couldn't let go. Helen refuses treatment until House lies and tells her that her son died from a brain aneurysm that caused the crash. After being cured, she decides to stop writing the book series because that chapter of her life had closed. House demands that she at least must write a new ending for the last book with more resolution than the cliffhanger ending she originally wrote. Helen refuses and House begins to tell her the truth about her son's cause of death, but he sees Cuddy in the doorway and instead merely says 'Your son... was very lucky to have you as his mother.'
In the side story, House is worried that his relationship with Cuddy is doomed to failure because they have no interests besides work in common. Cuddy briefly pretends to share an interest in Alice's books, but House says he knows she is lying. Cuddy then tells House that she doesn't care that they have nothing in common because commonality is boring. She says that she thinks they make each other better people and that is sufficient.
Cultural references
The episode contains various references to the filmMisery (film)
Misery is a 1990 American Psychological Horror Film based on Stephen King's 1987 novel of the same name. Directed by Rob Reiner, the film received critical acclaim for Kathy Bates' performance as the psychopathic Annie Wilkes...
based upon the Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
book, Misery. One such reference is of House calling Alice a 'Dirty Birdy'; a notable phrase used by Miserys Annie Wilkes. Alice also has notable deduction skills, as she finds out a lot about Dr. Chase by his appearance. Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
also possessed such skills.
Critical response
Zack Handlen of The A.V. Club gave the episode a B- rating.External links
- "Unwritten" at Fox.com