Wilson's Heart
Encyclopedia
"Wilson's Heart" is the sixteenth episode and season finale
of the fourth season of House
and the eighty-sixth episode overall. It aired on May 19, 2008. It is the second and final part of the two-part fourth season finale, the first part being "House's Head
".
remains inhibited by injuries sustained from a bus accident that has also left Amber Volakis rapidly deteriorating from a mysterious condition. Clues inside House's head hold the key to Amber's condition, and House's friendship with Wilson
is tested beyond limits as murky memories from the bus accident the night before threaten to change their lives forever. House suffers a seizure during a deep brain stimulation
treatment after it succeeds and he recalls the symptom which he saw in Amber before the bus crash. House also remembers the events that led up to him and Amber being on the bus: he got drunk at a bar and the bartender took away his keys so House called Wilson for a ride, but he was on call so Amber came instead. House boarded the bus and Amber followed him as he forgot his cane. She took the pills moments before the bus crash due to the flu she had (which explained a few of her other unconnected symptoms, like sneezing).
The symptom House recalled was that Amber had taken a heavy dose of flu
pills moments prior to the bus crash. The crash trauma caused such extensive anatomical and physiological trauma (especially the blood loss and shock from her leg injury) that she suffered acute renal failure. This damage to her kidneys made them unable to adequately filter out the amantadine
the pills contained, and the tachycardia degenerated into v-fib while being transferred in the ambulance. House agrees to cool her into protective hypothermia
in an attempt to buy them more time for a proper diagnosis. However, during the testing, Amber develops liver and neurological damage (multisystem organ failure). Wilson suggests kidney dialysis, however House tells him during the memory of the moments leading up to the bus crash that when unfiltered, amantadine binds to proteins in the kidneys and there is nothing they can do to save Amber. He begins to cry and throws himself into a seizure. After his seizure, House falls into a coma
.
Chase rewarms and wakes Amber so she and Wilson can say goodbye. Thirteen, Kutner, Taub and Foreman agree to say goodbye to Amber. Amber tells Wilson that it is "time to go to sleep"
and when questioned by Wilson about how she could not be angry for how she got to this point, Amber tells him anger is not the last feeling she wants to experience. Wilson turns off the life support and Amber dies in his arms.
House has a vision of Amber in his coma on an all-white bus with her bruises from the crash gone and wearing normal clothes. House at first believes he is dead, however Amber corrects him. House indicates to Amber that he wants to stay with her on the bus (and actually be dead) because he knows Wilson will hate him for his inadvertent role in her death. He also says that he wants to stay on the bus because his leg is not in pain, he doesn't want to be miserable and most importantly doesn't want Wilson to hate him. Amber, using a Rolling Stones line quoted often during the series, tells him he "can't always get what (he) wants". House, walking without the aid of a cane or a limp, exits the bus as Amber's face fades.
Back at the hospital, Thirteen
discovers she has inherited Huntington's disease
and House awakes with Cuddy at his side. Taub crawls into bed with his wife, Kutner watches TV alone and Chase and Cameron meet Foreman in a restaurant. Wilson visits House but the two do not speak. He returns home and finds the note Amber left him in their bedroom saying she went to pick up House and would return home soon, causing him to break into tears. House lies awake in his hospital bed, with Cuddy holding his hand.
's "Teardrop
," the show's opening theme, can be heard in the middle of the episode in a short montage, by José González
.
The song "Re:Stacks" by Bon Iver
is used during Amber and Wilson's final moments together.
The song that plays near the end of the episode when House and Amber are on the bus is "Light for the Deadvine" by People in Planes
.
The song that plays as House exits the bus until the end of the episode is "Passing Afternoon" by Iron and Wine.
Season finale
A season finale is the final episode of a season of a television program...
of the fourth season of 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...
and the eighty-sixth episode overall. It aired on May 19, 2008. It is the second and final part of the two-part fourth season finale, the first part being "House's Head
House's Head
"House's Head" is the fifteenth episode of the fourth season of House and the eighty-fifth episode overall. It was the first part of the two-part season four finale, the second part being "Wilson's Heart". Co-written by several House producers and directed by Greg Yaitanes, "House's Head" premiered...
".
Plot
In the second part of the two-part season finale, HouseGregory House
Gregory House, M.D., or simply referred to as House, is a fictional antihero and title character of the American television series House, played by Hugh Laurie. He is the Chief of Diagnostic Medicine at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, where he leads a team of diagnosticians...
remains inhibited by injuries sustained from a bus accident that has also left Amber Volakis rapidly deteriorating from a mysterious condition. Clues inside House's head hold the key to Amber's condition, and House's friendship with Wilson
James Wilson (House)
James Evan Wilson, M.D., is a fictional character on the Fox medical drama House. He is played by Robert Sean Leonard. The character first appears in the show's pilot episode when he introduces a medical case to Dr. Gregory House, the protagonist of the show. Wilson is Dr. House's only true friend,...
is tested beyond limits as murky memories from the bus accident the night before threaten to change their lives forever. House suffers a seizure during a deep brain stimulation
Deep brain stimulation
Deep brain stimulation is a surgical treatment involving the implantation of a medical device called a brain pacemaker, which sends electrical impulses to specific parts of the brain...
treatment after it succeeds and he recalls the symptom which he saw in Amber before the bus crash. House also remembers the events that led up to him and Amber being on the bus: he got drunk at a bar and the bartender took away his keys so House called Wilson for a ride, but he was on call so Amber came instead. House boarded the bus and Amber followed him as he forgot his cane. She took the pills moments before the bus crash due to the flu she had (which explained a few of her other unconnected symptoms, like sneezing).
The symptom House recalled was that Amber had taken a heavy dose of flu
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
pills moments prior to the bus crash. The crash trauma caused such extensive anatomical and physiological trauma (especially the blood loss and shock from her leg injury) that she suffered acute renal failure. This damage to her kidneys made them unable to adequately filter out the amantadine
Amantadine
Amantadine is the organic compound known formally as 1-adamantylamine or 1-aminoadamantane. The molecule consists of adamantane backbone that has an amino group substituted at one of the four methyne positions. This pharmaceutical is sold under the name Symmetrel for use both as an antiviral and an...
the pills contained, and the tachycardia degenerated into v-fib while being transferred in the ambulance. House agrees to cool her into protective hypothermia
Therapeutic hypothermia
Therapeutic hypothermia, also known as protective hypothermia, is a medical treatment that lowers a patient's body temperature in order to help reduce the risk of the ischemic injury to tissue following a period of insufficient blood flow. Periods of insufficient blood flow may be due to cardiac...
in an attempt to buy them more time for a proper diagnosis. However, during the testing, Amber develops liver and neurological damage (multisystem organ failure). Wilson suggests kidney dialysis, however House tells him during the memory of the moments leading up to the bus crash that when unfiltered, amantadine binds to proteins in the kidneys and there is nothing they can do to save Amber. He begins to cry and throws himself into a seizure. After his seizure, House falls into a coma
Coma
In medicine, a coma is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light or sound, lacks a normal sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. A person in a state of coma is described as...
.
Chase rewarms and wakes Amber so she and Wilson can say goodbye. Thirteen, Kutner, Taub and Foreman agree to say goodbye to Amber. Amber tells Wilson that it is "time to go to sleep"
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
and when questioned by Wilson about how she could not be angry for how she got to this point, Amber tells him anger is not the last feeling she wants to experience. Wilson turns off the life support and Amber dies in his arms.
House has a vision of Amber in his coma on an all-white bus with her bruises from the crash gone and wearing normal clothes. House at first believes he is dead, however Amber corrects him. House indicates to Amber that he wants to stay with her on the bus (and actually be dead) because he knows Wilson will hate him for his inadvertent role in her death. He also says that he wants to stay on the bus because his leg is not in pain, he doesn't want to be miserable and most importantly doesn't want Wilson to hate him. Amber, using a Rolling Stones line quoted often during the series, tells him he "can't always get what (he) wants". House, walking without the aid of a cane or a limp, exits the bus as Amber's face fades.
Back at the hospital, Thirteen
Thirteen (House)
Remy "Thirteen" Hadley, M.D., is a fictional character on the Fox medical drama House, portrayed by Olivia Wilde. She is part of the new diagnostic team assembled by Dr. Gregory House after the disbanding of his previous team in the third season finale...
discovers she has inherited Huntington's disease
Huntington's disease
Huntington's disease, chorea, or disorder , is a neurodegenerative genetic disorder that affects muscle coordination and leads to cognitive decline and dementia. It typically becomes noticeable in middle age. HD is the most common genetic cause of abnormal involuntary writhing movements called chorea...
and House awakes with Cuddy at his side. Taub crawls into bed with his wife, Kutner watches TV alone and Chase and Cameron meet Foreman in a restaurant. Wilson visits House but the two do not speak. He returns home and finds the note Amber left him in their bedroom saying she went to pick up House and would return home soon, causing him to break into tears. House lies awake in his hospital bed, with Cuddy holding his hand.
Critical reception
The episode increased ratings from the previous week, with 16.358 million viewers tuning in.Soundtrack
An acoustic version of Massive AttackMassive Attack
Massive Attack are an English DJ and trip hop duo from Bristol, England consisting of Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Working with co-producers, as well as various session musicians and guest vocalists, they make records and tour live. The duo are considered to be of the trip...
's "Teardrop
Teardrop (song)
"Teardrop" is a song by Massive Attack, which was first released on their 1998 album Mezzanine. It was released as a single on 27 April 1998. The song became another UK hit for the group, peaking at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart...
," the show's opening theme, can be heard in the middle of the episode in a short montage, by José González
José González
José González is a Swedish-Argentine indie folk singer-songwriter and guitarist from Gothenburg, Sweden.González is also a member of Swedish band Junip, along with Elias Araya and Tobias Winterkorn.- Biography :...
.
The song "Re:Stacks" by Bon Iver
Bon Iver
Bon Iver is a Grammy nominated folk band founded in 2007 by American indie folk singer-songwriter Justin Vernon. It includes Michael Noyce, Sean Carey, and Matthew McCaughan. Vernon released Bon Iver's debut album, For Emma, Forever Ago independently in July 2007. The majority of that album was...
is used during Amber and Wilson's final moments together.
The song that plays near the end of the episode when House and Amber are on the bus is "Light for the Deadvine" by People in Planes
People in Planes
People in Planes are a five piece Indie rock band from Cardiff, Wales. They are signed to Wind-up Records. Prior to 2003 they were known as Tetra Splendour and before that they went by the name of Robots in the Sky...
.
The song that plays as House exits the bus until the end of the episode is "Passing Afternoon" by Iron and Wine.