Doctors Bastien & Harper

and

The Unforgettable Woman

Doctor William Harper was a solitary young man, much to the disappointment of the professors and colleagues who often attempted to seek his company. For as introverted as Dr. Harper was, he was undeniably brilliant, and this alone garnered him the endless attention of the medical community. However, despite the mountain of party invitations that enterally cluttered his desk, Harper only truly took refuge in one other human, a friend and former classmate by the name of Edouard Bastien.  

It was an evening in late September and was as uneventful as every other evening Harper and Bastien had spent in one another's company. The time ambled by as Bastien told animated and exaggerated tales about his life while Harper listened thoughtfully. Tonight's tale was full of cloaks and daggers, as Bastien allegedly helped a friend smuggle research out of the country so the government could not suppress his findings. Of course, Bastien could not reveal the identity of this friend or what the nature of his research was, he could only assure Harper that it was of the utmost importance.

“I’m telling you, Harper, a new day is coming. The world of medicine has been stagnant for too long, and they want to keep it that way. The old ways the old traditions, they are scared of us, Harper, scared of the revolution we are bringing.”

Harper laughed softly, “What revolution? I’m not aware of joining a revolt against anything.”

“Don’t laugh, Harper, I’m serious. You better than anyone should see the cusp of power we stand on. You are the youngest and most ingenious brain surgeon of our time. You are breaking the rules and pushing the boundaries, not yet willing to settle for the way things have always been done.”

Harper waved his hand to dismiss Bastien's misplaced affections. “I don’t know where you get these ideas from, you make it sound like I’m doing miracles instead of surgeries. I wouldn’t, in fact neither of us would, be where we are without the the old ways, as you put it. These traditions are the foundation of the entire medical field.”  

“And it is time to crush those foundations, don’t you see, they are only holding us back. For example, right at this very moment I am conducting a radical study, the ethics board almost didn’t approve it.” Bastien conspiratorially leaned closer to Harper, warming to his theme. “The others are held back by outdated morals, but I’m willing to take the risks. I believe that this new therapy will revolutionize neurophysiology.”

“What new therapy?” Harper asked cautiously.

“Electroconvulsive therapy, it's larged untested, but I’m ready to change all that.”