Burnt Food

## Episode Chronology

**"Burnt Food"** is the series debut of *The Good Doctor*. It aired on September 25, 2017.

## Synopsis

Dr. Shaun Murphy, a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, relocates from a quiet country life to join the prestigious St. Bonaventure Hospital's surgical unit. Alone in the world and unable to personally connect with those around him, his only advocate, Dr. Aaron Glassman, challenges the skepticism and prejudices of the hospital's board and staff when he brings him in to join the team. Shaun will need to work harder than he ever has before, as he navigates his new environment and relationships to prove to his colleagues that his extraordinary medical gifts will save lives.

## Full Summary

A young man Shaun Murphy is getting packed to leave his house, brushing his hair in perfect place then returning to the mirror and messing it up before he puts on his jacket and heads out the door. He follows a white line only he can see from the front porch, walks through a field and visualizes children playing around a school bus in a junkyard; a soccer ball lands in his feet and he has flashbacks to when he was being bullied and beaten and his younger brother took on everyone abusing him. He gives the ball back and travels by bus to San Jose Airport, where he stands and absorbs all the sounds and noise around him. He holds a piece of cloth in his hand as an accident occurs and a young boy, Adam, falls into the ground bleeding. A man who is a doctor goes to take a look and attempts to stop Adam’s jugular from bleeding out, only for Shaun to point out that the doctor is killing Adam; he states that the doctor would have put the cloth in the right place if his patient was an adult, but Adam is a boy and he needs to put pressure higher up. Shaun walks up and takes over, realizing he has glass in his belly but says he will be fine and introduces himself as a surgical resident at San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital.

At the hospital, Vice President Dr. Marcus Andrews talks about autism (which Shaun has), describing it to the board and asks if it sounds like he is describing a surgeon. The hospital’s President Dr. Aaron Glassman says Shaun isn't "Rain Man" and can manage his own affairs, while also annoyed that the board is questioning his hiring of a doctor with autism. Andrews is told by the Vice President of the foundation that controls the hospital Allegra Aoki to stop taking this so personal and Glassman is reminded that it is his hospital but the money it takes to run it comes from the foundation she controls, so they are ordered to play nice. Glassman is told to justify his decision for slipping Shaun past the board, to which he says he met Shaun when he was 14 and that he does have autism. However, he also has savant syndrome, having genius skills in several areas. He sees and analyzes things in ways none of them could comprehend which are assets for any doctor, particularly a surgeon. Andrews plays it off that Glassman hired him because Shaun is like a son to him, but is silenced with a crude comment by fellow board member Jessica Preston.

Meanwhile, Dr. Elle McLean (another surgical resident) walks in on colleague Dr. Jared Kalu; she is in search of Dr. Claire Browne because their superior Dr. Neil Melendez wants to operate on a patient but Claire doesn’t have the consent forms signed. As soon as she walks out, Claire pops up from under a blanket and says Elle is just a bitch because she doesn't like him. Jared feels its silly that they're hiding their relationship but she admits they don't have a relationship; they have sex but if he wants people to know he is screwing her, she tells him to go for it. Meanwhile, back at the airport Shaun realizes Adam's veins are "popping" in his one arm, which the doctor doesn't see. Shaun then explains that the left lung is in distress and asks if someone has a sharp knife, but no-one has one and so he tells the other doctor to start CPR as he is going to stop breathing soon and walks away. Claire meets with the patient and asks him to sign the consent form for a bypass surgery, though he attempts to insist that he’s fine. She sees that he’s scared when he tells her he isn't, though she says he should be and begins to explain how they are going to cut his chest open, stop the heart, repair it and then restart it. He asks for second opinion, but Claire continues to ramble about how he is preparing to say goodbye possible forever to his children. She also says that she can't deal with lies and can’t help him if he isn’t honest, to which he finally admits he is scared.

Shaun walks up to a TSA and asks for a knife, which he scoffs at while Shaun also says he needs a narrow tube, high proof alcohol and tape; the guard wishes him luck with that but says he is not going to give him a knife, even after Shaun says its a medical emergency and asks for one from the top of the sharp objects bin. When the guard refuses again, Shaun grabs it and runs but is tackled by two other guards as Adam’s mother rushes up to them telling them Shaun is trying to save her son's life. Neil tells Claire that their patient's problem is in his heart as opposed to his head when she says he’s not psychologically ready for the surgery, but Neil says he is physically ready and tells her to get the consent as he is prepping the OR right now. He says he is her superior, though she says that doesn't mean she is wrong; he then says maybe not but she needs to act like she is wrong. She asks him to let the patient wrap their head around what is happening, to which he asks Jared if he can get the form signed and hands him the paperwork which he agrees to; he states that Neil is his boss while Claire is the one he is screwing. Shaun returns to Adam, as everyone watches in awe and wonder while he works. He envisions what he has to do and makes an incision while the parents watch in terror. The doctor is impressed that Shaun created a one-way valve and says Shaun saved Adam’s life, for which he’s applauded and the parents are grateful.

Glassman attempts to call Shaun, who hasn't arrived yet. He tells Jessica that her comment to Andrews was disrespectful and a mistake, while reminding her that the only reason she is in St. Bonaventure was because her grandfather founded it and she would fear the board of directors. She tells him to not make this debate personal because if he does, he will lose. In the ambulance, Shaun is happy they are on their way to St. Bonaventure. He observes the parents holding their son's hands and he has flashbacks of petting his pet rabbit while his father complained that he can't act like a normal human being; his autism had caused him to be removed from three schools and his father didn't blame them because as parents they couldn't handle Shaun either. When he got no response from Shaun about what happened, his father hit him and threw his rabbit to the wall as his brother looked on. Shaun then notices Adam's ECG has changed, only for the EMS worker to disregard it as just being concerned about a 20 year old equipment while traveling in a vehicle going 40 miles an hour.

Neil works with Jared on the man’s surgery, when Claire notices something white, wondering if it’s his lung. Neil learns he was exposed to TB when he was younger and realizes it’s an abscess that explodes, shooting puss into the air. He begins to crash as they struggle to save him, while also informed of Adam who is on his way in. Neil tells Claire he doesn't need her, the patient will be fine and sends her to deal with the trauma patient coming in. As Claire takes in Adam, Shaun doesn't have any ID but is insistent that something is wrong with Adam’s heart. Unfortunately, Claire just says he is fine and if Shaun doesn't contain himself she will have him removed from the building and she rushes off to the OR. Shaun still attempts to run after her but security locks him out of the building. In the OR, some of the surgeons are impressed with how Shaun saved Adam, still having no idea who he is. Claire suggests having an ECG done on him, but Neil refuses based on his stats, while wondering if he missed anything. Shaun tries every door to get in the hospital but security stops him at every entrance, as he stands in the pouring rain. Shaun looks up and remembers him and Steve trying to get medical help for his rabbit, but the nearest “doctor place” they could get to was a hospital Glassman worked at back then and he said that the rabbit had died. Glassman suggested they bury the rabbit and Shaun got upset while Steve promised nothing like this would happen again as they were not going back home, they had each other and that's all they needed.

Back in the boardroom, Dr. Andrews says they cannot have a surgeon who doesn’t communicate or show sympathy and empathy, questioning if Shaun can do that when he cannot even be apparently relied upon to show up for a job interview; he wants to know if there are any other young surgeons that don't have this issue, to which Glassman tells him no and they should hire him because he is qualified and because he is different, reminding him how long ago it was they wouldn't hire a black person nor a woman. He says if they hire Shaun they would give hope to those people with limitations, so they feel they have a shot. Andrews and Glassman continue to be on opposite sides of the issue. During the surgery, Neil feels something has changed and something is different. Claire admits Shaun who kept insisting Adam needed an ECG; when his stats drop he orders the team to do an ECG and tells Claire to come with him to find Shaun. Neil and Claire ask him why but while he is explaining they get a call saying it came back normal and seemingly just wasted their time. Shaun begins to visualize everything again and Claire tells him to come with her.

Shaun and Claire are shown the ECG results and Shaun asks to see them over and over; Jared says it looks normal to him but Shaun tells him there is a deformity in the right atrium. He is told even if he is right it wouldn't manifest there, but Claire defends him saying it could happen by a glass going through his jugular and entering his bloodstream to the heart. The board votes on whether they should hire Shaun but before the vote is final, the receptionist bursts in and tells them to look on any media site and it shows Shaun saving Adam and that he works at the hospital. They learn Adam is in surgery but Neil isn't sure he will make it, while Glassman and Jessica watch from the gallery. Glassman then tells her he isn't always going to be there to protect her because everyone loses eventually. They watch Shaun as he intently watches the surgery as he regresses back to when he and his brother lived in an abandoned bus. Shaun asked his brother if they could get a television, to which he said "no" because they were poor and living in an abandoned school bus. His brother said their mother loved them but she knew it was better for them to live in this way. He then presented Shaun with a toy tool box as a present, which included a toy scalpel Shaun still has today and immediately picks up from the cloth in his pocket. In the OR, Neil tells Claire that she was right.

Glassman joins Shaun in the cafeteria, saying he saved that boy's life and Shaun tells him Adam’s name and he is hungry. Glassman also states that the board reconvenes in 45 minutes and asks Shaun to stay there until he gets back; Shaun agrees, thoroughly enjoying his food, while Glassman talks to Neil who says thankfully there is a cure for stupidity which is time and experience and Shaun suffers from a bad deficit. When Neil won’t cooperate concerning Shaun, Neil enquires about his story and why it’s so important to Glassman, reminding him making things personal is a sure way to screw things up. Glassman walks away and Neil asks Jessica if she's proud or disappointed, though she doesn't want to pick either and they kiss. Claire sits with Shaun, feeling he is curious about the place and the people but Shaun says Glassman gave him a map of the hospital and found the rest of town online. However, he does ask her a question; he wants to know why she was rude to him when they first met, then nice to him the second time and now trying to be his friend but they’re interrupted by Glassman who informs him that the board room is ready.

Andrews returns furious because the decision was already made and continues to complain, to which Glassman says he would love to make him happy and hire someone who doesn't make a mistake; Andrews asks if Glassman can accept that he will make mistakes none of the rest of them will make because it won't be him who pays the price. Glassman then makes a deal; if Shaun proves to be nothing than excellent within six months, he will be immediately released and Glassman will resign as president of the hospital. Aoki asks to hear from Shaun before they decide his fate. When asked about why he wants to become a surgeon, Shaun goes back to his youth and talking to his brother who was trying to help him make friends while playing in an old warehouse. The two were climbing over an old train when Shaun’s brother lost his footing and fell far below onto the concrete floor while Shaun looked down in utter disbelief. Shaun states his regret that he couldn't save his rabbit or brother and it was sad that neither of them had the chance to become adults and experience life events like having children and loving them and he wants to make that possible for other people. With tears in his eyes he also says he would like to make a lot of money so he can have a television.

Everyone shares glances and Shaun is welcomed to San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital by Aoki and they are very proud of him while everyone claps. Glassman tells Shaun that Neil's team is going into surgery if he is interested; Shaun rushes out of the board room and gets into scrubs with a smile on his face he enters the OR as a nurse helps him with his mask and gloves. Neil calls in Shaun who gets to see the piece of glass that was killing Adam. He looks at the scalpel and remembers his brother telling him to never forget that he's the smart one and can do anything and he is proud of him. Neil says Shaun is a nice, smart kid, but he doesn't think Shaun belongs at St. Bonaventure and that as long as he's on Neil's team all he's ever doing is suction. Shaun takes it in stride saying he saw many surgeons in medical school and Neil is much better than them, and could learn a lot from him. He also says Neil is very arrogant, and asks if he thinks that it helps him be a better surgeon or hurts him as a person while wondering if it is worth it.

## Credits

### Cast

* Starring
* Guest Starring
* Co-Starring
* Uncredited

* Freddie Highmore as Dr. Shaun Murphy
* Nicholas Gonzalez as Dr. Neil Melendez
* Antonia Thomas as Dr. Claire Browne
* Chuku Modu as Dr. Jared Kalu
* Beau Garrett as Jessica Preston
* Irene Keng as Dr. Elle McLean
* Hill Harper as Dr. Marcus Andrews
* Richard Schiff as Dr. Aaron Glassman

* Tamlyn Tomita as Allegra Aoki
* Graham Verchere as Young Shaun Murphy
* Dylan Kingwell as Steve Murphy

* Orlando Lucas as Adam
* Miranda Edwards as Bonnie
* Matthew Mandzij as Carl
* Roman Podhora as Callum Reilly
* Rebecca Husain as Marcie Murphy
* Kirby Morrow as Ethan Murphy
* Arielle Tuliao as Assistant
* Sam Vincent as Doctor
* Tim Zhang as EMT #1
* Dalias Blake as Hospital Security Guard
* Mike Li as Nurse
* Gavin Cooke as TSA Officer
* Chance Moore as Soccer Kid
* Carson Sanca as Soccer Kid #1
* Cassius Morrison as Soccer Kid #2
* Zachary Choe as Soccer Kid #3

* Peter Brown as Control Room Tech
* Gaalen Engen as Farmer #2
* Hannah Pederson as Nurse
* Jessica Saris as Nurse

### Crew

* David Shore (writer)
* Seth Gordon (director)

## Trivia

* While making the one-way valve, Shaun says water instead of alcohol when referring to the liquid in the whiskey bottle.
* This marks the only appearance of Irene Keng as a series regular.
* When Hill Harper was cast, the press release stated that his character, now named Dr. Marcus Andrews was then Dr. Horace Andrews who was reportedly the head of surgery at hospital.
* Daniel Dae Kim cameoed in a deleted scene as a man from whom Shaun bought the alcohol to treat Adam.
* When Andrews asks if he sounds like he’s describing a surgeon while talking about Shaun’s autism, Glassman says that Shaun “isn’t Rain Man”, a reference to the 1988 film Rain Man where one of it’s main characters Raymond Babbitt is an autistic savant like Shaun.

## Multimedia

### Promotional Pictures

1/74
### Episode Stills

*Go to the following page: Burnt Food/Gallery*

### Videos

THE GOOD DOCTOR Official Trailer (HD) Freddie Highmore ABC Drama
## References

1. ↑ http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/monday-final-ratings-sept-25-2017/
2. ↑ http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20170911abc01/
3. ↑ "‘The Good Doctor’: Hill Harper & Irene Keng Join ABC Medical Drama Pilot" - Deadline

## External Links

* "Burnt Food" at the **Internet Movie Database**
* The Good Doctor Season 1 Episode 1 Review: Burnt Food at TV Fanatic. September 25, 2017. Kaitlynn Smith. (Archive as of January 22, 2023.)