Cass and Christy Discuss Douglas's Living Will

Christy tells Cass she needs his advice before it's too late. Cass reminds her that she said it was about him and her. Christy says that Douglas is failing right before her eyes, but no, he's not in the hospital yet. Christy asks Cass if there's a way out of the living will Douglas has drawn up; does she have to do everything it says? Is it legally binding? Does she have to sit back and watch her husband die? Cass says the living will mostly tells Christy what not to do, and that Douglas does not want any extraordinary means used to keep him alive if--and this is the important part--if there's no reasonable expectation of recovery. Christy asks who determines that, the doctors, Douglas, her? Cass says Douglas determines it as long as he is able, and then it would be Christy. Christy muses that she can ostensibly keep fighting for Douglas's life and use all the machines they have. Cass tells her that's not what Douglas wants, but she only asks if she'll be breaking the law if she does that. Cass tells her she has to talk to Douglas about this, but Christy says she can't talk to Douglas about it because he's obviously not in his right mind; otherwise he wouldn't be asking her to do this. Christy tells Cass she needs his help because he's the only person he can trust. Cass doesn't know Douglas. When Douglas and Christy got married, he promised he would never leave her, and now he's asking her to shove him off into the Great Beyond. Cass says that's not what Douglas is asking for, but Christy insists that it is. He's just asking nicely because that's his style. Cass says the instructions Douglas left in his living will are designed to help keep his final days dignified and to save Christy from watching Douglas linger in a state where the two of them can't reach out to each other. Christy says that's what Douglas says, but there's more to it than that. She tells Cass that Douglas wants to die, and she actually thinks he's looking forward to it. Cass says that he knows this is hard for Christy, but Douglas accepts the inevitable and they have to try to do that too. Christy says that Douglas accepts too much. He used to fight every setback and every weakness, and now he just lets it all wash over him. Cass says maybe it only seems that way to Christy. Christy says it IS that way and that's why she has to fight for him and protect him. "From what, himself?" Cass asks. Christy says that's what married people do for each other. Cass says married people support each other. Christy says this is wrong. Cass tells her Douglas is very clear about how he wants to die. Christy starts to cry as she says that Douglas is all she has, and winds up literally crying on Cass's shoulder as Cass tells her that she'll have to say goodbye someday and Christy replies that she won't be able to do that. Thanks to Janie for the scenes.

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Entertainment

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• Another
• World
• aw
• cass
• winthrop
• christy
• carson
• stephen
• schnetzer
• patti
• d'arbanville