Gerard Hundemer

**Gerard Hundemer** is a character on the science fiction comedy television series *Resident Alien*. He is an elderly man who is a patient of the Patience Health Clinic. Gerard is portrayed by John Innes.

## Plot summary

### "Homesick"

Gerard pays a visit to the Patience Health Clinic shortly after Harry Vanderspeigle, an alien posing as a human doctor, becomes the new town doctor of Patience. He tells the nurse, Asta Twelvetrees, that while he liked the previous, now deceased, doctor, Sam Hodges, Sam would always tell him not to eat certain things, that his diet was going to kill him. Asta tells him that what he eats is important, but Harry speaks up, stating that he doesn't agree. He continues that there are ten things on Gerard's chart that will kill him sooner than eating bad food.

Asta tries to chastise him, but Gerard stops her, saying that he wants to hear. "Tell me when," he says to Harry, telling him that he just turned 80 and he can give it to him straight. "You like Christmas?" asks Harry and Gerard tells him that he likes it very much. "Celebrate it before June," advises Harry. Gerard considers this for a moment, then asks about between now and Christmas and Harry tells him that he can eat anything that he wants. Gerard then tells him that he likes him, chuckling and saying that it's the first time any doctor's been totally honest with him and that the town is lucky to have a doctor as good as him. Harry wholeheartedly agrees while Asta shakes her head bemusedly, telling him afterwards that he certainly has a particular style and that it's impressive as Gerard doesn't like anyone normally.

### "Heroes of Patience"

Gerard is among the crowd enjoying pizza at the grand opening of Mama Sap's Pizza.

### "Autopsy"

At the Patience Health Clinic, Gerard tells Harry that it's an odd feeling, knowing you are going to die soon. Harry thinks to himself that he's glad the appointment is over, that whenever Gerard mentions dying the bad feeling he has about dying climbs to the top of his stomach. Harry tells him that soon it will not matter to him what dying is like because he will *be* dead. Gerard grins, saying that he loves bedside manner and that he'll miss it when he's gone. "No you will not because you will be dead!" points out Harry, walking away.

### "The Ghost of Bobby Smallwood"

Harry meets with Gerard in Gerard's home. Gerard speaks to Harry of his wife Elaine and how she would have tea ready for him before he went to work. He tells him he's glad she's gone because she'd hate having to see him in pain. Harry tells him that he will soon not be in pain when he is dead. Gerard tells him it will be nice to see his wife again. "Will she be waiting for you in hell?" asks Harry. Gerard chuckles, saying he hopes it's heaven and Harry tells him "I get your fairy tales mixed up." He admits to Gerard that he himself is afraid of death, having recently had a close brush with it. Gerard tells him not to be and he asks him how he isn't. Gerard tells him that things actually got better when he learned he was dying, that it reminded him that life isn't forever and that he began to appreciate every moment. Harry asks if it's like when there's only one slice of pie left, that it tastes better, and Gerard agrees this is exactly it.

Rolling up the sleeve of his sweater, Gerard thanks Harry. Harry comes over and gives him a lethal injection. He tells him that his friend told him he shouldn't run from death. He says that killing him is not running away. "Thank you, Harry," Gerard tells him, closing his eyes, his head falling back in death. "What is it like?" wonders Harry.

### "The Weight"

Asta and the nurse Ellen Cho discuss Gerard's death, unaware that Harry assisted in his suicide and believing him to have simply died of old age. Asta calls it really sad, saying he was a nice man, and Ellen tells her that Gerard left behind a cashmere scarf the last time he was in the clinic. Asta says they have his niece's address and can send it to her, but Ellen puts it on. "No, absolutely not," Asta tells her and she tells her it's on her if she gets the flu, tossing it into a bin and faking a cough, saying she might not be in tomorrow. "I might not mind that," comments an arriving Harry. Asta then tells him that Gerard died last night, saying that the death certificate is on his desk and asking him to sign it. Harry replies that Gerard was riddled with disease and his breath smelled like an open grave, but he is surprised. He then thinks to himself that he is not surprised given that he killed him and that he actually did not mind Gerard, that he liked him and said he could have his refrigerator milk after he was dead, and also that he took one of his hats.

## Trivia

* His last name is given by Asta in "The Weight."