On her way to work, in metro Polina meets Kisegach, and asks her what she's doing here; she states a traffic jam as a reason. Polina tries to kick one of the passengers from his place, so Kisegach may sit (as metro etiquette clearly states, healthy adults are supposed to free sits for disabled, seniors, pregnant women and passengers with little children), only for him to state that "maybe" he's disabled himself. She refuses to believe him, quickly escalating the conflict (ignoring Kisegach, who tried to tell her to stop), until the guy (who in process insulted Kisegach herself as well) leaved the train on a first stop (it was his station anyway). But when Polina arrives into the hospital, she realises that the guy whom she insulted earlier is now her patient, called Markelov. She's enthusiastic about it, seeing it as a chance to "punish" him, Markelov (who recognised her too)... not so much. Markelov refuses to take any medicine from Polina, fearing that it's a trap and her attempt for petty revenge. When she proceeds to treat him anyway, she forgets to give him Novocaine before injection, and he sees it as her causing him pain on purpose. Markelov runs to Bykov, hoping to get another doctor, and tells his own version of the morning conflict, where it's him who called Polina out on disrespecting pregnant woman (not Kisegach). Bykov orders Polina to go to her patient and make peace with him, now. Rita tells Markelov that Bykov prescribed him double lavement, and he goes to Bykov to complain. Bykov instead suggests to complain to Chief Doctor, on which Markelov agrees... only to find out that it's the same woman whom he previously insulted. He just apologises for the morning accident, and leaves. Kisegach is so happy about it that Bykov decides to not tell her true reason for the visit.
Lobanov meets his old box buddy, as his new patient. They remembers everything they went through together, and realises that they are still even; they need one more match do decide who is "coolest". They plan to organise it in the gym later this day. Gleb learns about this plan, and, after failing to talk Semyon out of it, decides to at least earn some money on it, by accepting the bets on the outcome. Kupitman learns about it, too, and decides to just bribe Lobanov (who's clear favourite) to throw the match, so Kupitman would earn all the money and give him his cut. To his surprise, Lobanov vehemently refuses, even after being offered a larger cut. As for Kupitman, he can't change his bet now, since Gleb knows his reasons for that. Kupitman then tries to cancel the whole match, by ratting everyone out to Bykov... but to his surprise, Bykov sides with Gleb and Semyon, and even bets on Lobanov himself. When the match actually happens, Lobanov does accept the bribe... and gets beaten for real; he only avoids any real injury when Bykov realises that he's in real danger, and calls Kisegach to stop the match.
Phil tries to watch American Football match on TV, but due to time difference it must be watched at 5 a.m. He chooses the wrong date first time (it would occur later), and actually succeeds on a second attempt, but now he struggles to stay awake due to not sleeping well, and coffee doesn't help. He tries to work, but keeps falling asleep all the time, to his patient's (and Bykov's) irritation. When he falls asleep again, this time while editing discharging order for his patient (who's late to work for two hours already "thanks" to Phil), Bykov sabotages the order with insults towards Phil. Rudely awakened by Bykov, Phil rushes to print it without double-checking. Later, Bykov catches him and orders to apologise before patient, before he leaves. But then the patient arrives to complain about corrupted discharge order... which means that Phil didn't inform him. Speaking about Phil, where is he? Bykov tries to call him, and Phil wakes up in metro.
This episode provides examples of:
- Bookend: Polina's story starts with Markelov insulting Kisegach in Metro; it ends with him apologising to her in her office.
- Cheaters Never Prosper: Kupitman tries to bribe Lobanov, so he would lose the fight, and Kupitman would win the money; Lobanov refuses. Then Kupitman tries to change his bet so he at least would not lose his bet; Gleb recognises it and refuses. Then Kupitman just rats them out to Bykov... who sides with Gleb and Semyon. Much later Lobanov finally does accept Kupitman's offer... only for Bykov to call Kisegach and end the match (partly because of money, partly because Semyon was in danger of being injured for real).
- Didn't Think This Through: When Gleb learns about Semyon planning a box sparring with his old friend (now his patient), he sarcastically tells him that Bykov, once he finds out, would "congratulate" him on "innovative method — beating up his patients". Lobanov just dismisses him.
- Greedy Jew: Kupitman, when learns about Lobanov's boxing match with his old buddy, and that everyone bets on Semyon, tries to bribe him to lose, so they may earn a lot of money (with Kupitman taking 90% of it). When Lobanov vehemently refuses (even after being offered 50%), Kupitman rushes to Gleb in order to change his bet, which Gleb instantly recognises and mocks.
- Hypocrite: When Kupitman realises that he's gonna lose his bet, he tells Bykov about the boxing match between Lobanov and his friend/patient, stating that it's "irresponsible" and "amoral", in hope that Bykov would shut the whole thing down.
- Jerkass: Markelov is a rude, arrogant jerk who refuses, in rather rude form, to free a sit for (obviously pregnant) Kisegach in metro, interprets everything Polina does as her attempts for petty revenge, and then simply lies to Bykov in order to paint her black and whitewash himself.
- Malicious Slander: Markelov tells Bykov completely different version of his conflict with Polina, with roles inverted; her taking sit intended for pregnant woman (not Kisegach) and acting like a jerk to him when he asked her to stand up. Bykov promises him to deal with situation, but then (offscreen) learns the true story and instead sides with Polina to punish Markelov.
- Oh, Crap!:
- That same guy with whom Polina had a conflict in the morning due to his rude and arrogant behaviour is Polina's new patient (called Markelov). Polina actually gets enthusiastic about it; Markelov, not so much.
- Markelov decides to "complain" to Chief Doctor about Bykov and Polina "mistreating" him... only to realise that Chief Doctor is the same pregnant woman for whom he refused to free a sit earlier. Look of his face is priceless.
- The Paranoiac: Markelov fears that Polina would use this opportunity for petty revenge for his early jerkish behaviour (she doesn't commit it, seeing his situation as a punishment in itself) and vehemently refuses his medicine, suspecting it to be poisonous. Also, when she accidentally forgets to provide him with Novocaine before injection, he interprets it as her harming him on purpose (despite her apologising).
- The Prankster: When Phil still fell asleep on work after Bykov warned him to either concentrate on work or go home (which Bykov would still mark as him missing without excuse, because "I want to sleep" is not an excuse), Bykov sabotages discharge order for Phil's patient (which Phil tried to prepare when he fell asleep right on the keyboard) with "clinical moron who sleeps on work". Then he (rudely) wakes Phil up, who prints it as is, without double-checking. However, Bykov tells him the truth when he realises that Phil would never notice it on his own (not for Phil, but to save Phil's patient from his boss' wrath).
- Running Gag: Phil just keeps falling asleep at the worst times and places possible. Last one occurs when he's supposed to deliver correct discharge order to his (now former) patient (instead of the one corrupted by Bykov to make fun on Phil for his screwups)... only to fall asleep on "Koltsevaya" / "The Ring Line"note , missing his last opportunity to fix his screwup.
- Sleep Deprivation: Due to his ill-thought-out attempt to watch American Football match at 5 a.m. (which he only did only after a second attempt due to mistaking dates, resulting in not sleeping for two nights), Phil (despite all his attempts not to) now falls asleep right in the middle of the work, to his patient's — and Bykov's — irritation.
- Small Role, Big Impact:
- Polina's entire plot only happens due to her conflict with Markelov because of his rude treatment of Kisegach who just accidentally met Polina in Metro. Kisegach also ends Semyon's plot, because her arrival stops his duel with his buddy before he gets injured.
- Gleb's only role in this episode is to start accepting bets on Semyon's duel with his buddy, but without him it would have ended completely differently (and certainly without Kupitman's manipulations).
- Sore Loser: When Kupitman fails to bribe Lobanov, he tries to change his bet (which doesn't fool Gleb, who refuses him), and then, instead of just calmly accepting almost sure defeat (everyone bets on Lobanov, considering him stronger than his opponent), he rats out the whole thing to Bykov in order to shut it down, stating it as "amoral". Unfortunately for Kupitman, Bykov sided with Gleb and Semyon.
- Throwing the Fight: Because everyone bets on Semyon in his boxing match against old buddy, Kupitman plans to bribe him to throw the fight, so Kupitman may win all the money (giving Semyon merely 10% cut). Lobanov vehemently refuses even after being offered 50% (unbelievably generous offer from Kupitman, which Kupitman doesn't forget to mention). He does accept it later, however (and since his opponent fights in full force, Bykov calls Kisegach to stop the battle before Semyon can be injured for real).
