Ep 19. Too Much, Too Late

Becker season 4 episode 19, titled "Too Much, Too Late", follows the daily life of John Becker (played by Ted Danson), a grumpy doctor who runs a small practice in the Bronx. In this episode, Becker is faced with a moral dilemma when he discovers a shocking truth about one of his patients.

The episode begins with Becker's patient, a young woman named Rachel (played by Alexandra Holden), coming into his office complaining of strange symptoms. After examining her, Becker tells her that she's pregnant. Rachel becomes emotional and confides in Becker that she didn't know she was pregnant and that she's scared of becoming a mother. Becker reassures her that he will help her through the pregnancy and that she will be OK.

Later on, Becker discovers that Rachel has been using heroin during her pregnancy. He confronts her about it and she admits that she's been using because she's been addicted for years and can't stop. Becker becomes frustrated and tells Rachel that she needs to stop using immediately for the sake of her unborn child's health.

Meanwhile, Jake (played by Alex Désert), Becker's friend and employee at the diner next door, is trying to get a raise from his boss Reggie (played by Terry Rhoads). However, Reggie keeps putting him off and Jake becomes increasingly angry. He confides in Becker, who advises him to quit and find another job if he's not happy with the pay. Jake takes Becker's advice and quits on the spot, only to find out that he has no other job prospects and desperately needs the money.

As the episode progresses, Becker continues to worry about Rachel and her addiction. He confides in his nurse Margaret (played by Hattie Winston) about the situation and together they try to come up with a plan to help Rachel quit using. They realize that it's not just about Rachel quitting for her baby, but also about treating her addiction as a disease.

In the end, Becker makes a tough decision about Rachel's pregnancy that will affect her and her baby's future. The episode ends with Jake coming to terms with his decision to quit and trying to find a way to move forward.

Overall, "Too Much, Too Late" explores the theme of addiction and the difficult choices that come with it. The episode also highlights the importance of treating addiction as a disease and the consequences of not doing so. With its realistic portrayal of addiction and its impact on individuals and their loved ones, this episode is a poignant reminder of the importance of support and empathy in the face of addiction.