- Science and faith are called into question when a patient is admitted to the hospital following his reenactment of the Crucifixion. The patient, Ramon Silva, refuses to undergo the prescribed treatment, and the team learns that after his daughter's cancer was cured, he pledged an oath of self-sacrifice to God. With little time to save Ramon's life, the team struggles to understand his reasoning and seemingly extreme religious convictions, but eventually learn that faith is not an argument. Meanwhile, Taub questions his wife Rachel about her relationship with an infidelity support group member and the team attends a co-worker's wedding where Wilson's relationship with Sam takes an unexpected turn.—Fox Publicity
- Open with what look to be a modern crucifixion. The man is nailed to a cross but it quickly taken down when blood starts pouring out of his mouth.
Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein) is still mad at House (Hugh Laurie) for lying and wants him to apologize. He doesn't think he has to. She tells him about the man, who is 33-years old and also suffering from fever. We learn the hospital's Chairman of the Board is getting married in a few days and everybody is going.
Ramon (Madalyn Horcher), the faux crucified dude, tells House that when his daughter Marissa (Kuno Becker) was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer and given months to live, he made a bargain with God. For every year she was alive he would nail himself to a cross. That was three years ago and she is now cancer-free. This leads to Hosue arguing with Ramon and Marissa about why she is cancer-free.
Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard) tells House he's planning to propose to Sam (Cynthia Watros) at the wedding. Their conversation gives House an idea.
The team discusses the wedding and we learn that Taub's wife Rachel (Jennifer Crystal Foley) is acting suspiciously. She has an upcoming meeting at a hotel.
The test they're running on Ramon make them think he could have a horse infection. Ramon tells the doc his teeth are falling out, which is not a symptom of the horse infection.
The team wonders if metal poisoning could be to blame and plan to search Ramon's house.
Cuddy won't give House the file for Marissa since Ramon won't consent. He is wearing a conservative outfit for the rehearsal dinner. Cuddy sniffs out he wants her to lie to him and say he looks good so they can be "even" in lies.
Masters (Amber Tamblyn) and Chase (Jesse Spencer) are in charge of going to Ramon's Spartan apartment. They discover he has basically been starving himself and think malnutrition could be responsible for his symptoms.
House tells Wilson he forged Cuddy's signature to get Marissa's file and wants him to look it over. House discovers Wilson going over some of Sam's files. Her boss wants a clinical review of everything and he is helping her to make sure everything is in order.
Rachel tells Taub (Peter Jacobson) she met a male friend online in a support group for people with unfaithful spouses.
With a huge smile on his face, Ramon tells Masters his legs are killing him. She asks why he's smiling but he insists "I'm not smiling."
House suggests Ramon's religious extremism could be a symptom and orders an MRI.
House tells Cuddy about forging her signature. He thinks he's caught her in a lie about her age, but she tells him she actually lied on her HR file years ago to get hired.
The doctors spot MS on Ramon's MRI. It was hiding behind the malnutrition and only showed back up when his diet improved.
House and Ramon have another discussion about faith. Ramon can't feel anything in his right arm.
House tells the team Ramon has Margu's variant of MS, meaning he has just days to live. The team knows embryonic stem cell treatment should help him, but doubt someone so devout would accept that type of care.
Wilson tells House that Marissa's case seems legitimate. She had aggressive cancer which shouldn't have responded to treatment. House tells Wilson in five of Sam's cases, the stated doses don't explain the radiation damage. Wilson saw the same thing and is concerned. House says it's a good thing, since it means she tried to save her patients' lives and crossed the line a tad.
As House and Cuddy leave for the rehearsal dinner, she tells him she doesn't think the marriage of the hospital chairman will last and speaks in specific terms about the state's divorce laws. House gets word Ramon has refused treatment and bails on the dinner.
Ramon says accepting the treatment would be going back on his deal with God. House and Masters make a good case, but he won't change his mind. He will gladly die for his daughter.
In the hall, Masters suggests they have Marissa talk to her father.
Marissa knows what dying is like and doesn't want her father to go through it. If God kills her father, she says, "I hate God." Ramon sticks to his decision.
The whole department is at the wedding. Chase is doing very well with the ladies. Taub tells Rachel he doesn't like how close she is with this man on-line. House flatters Cuddy but she is still mad at him.
Back at the hospital, Ramon tells Masters that he is surprised Marissa couldn't change his mind. He admits to being scared about dying. He says his beliefs are what define him.
Taub asks Rachel to end the relationship. She says she needs it at this point in her life.
House finally catches Cuddy in a lie when she says she's never been married. House discovered in her file that she was married for just a few days many years ago. Cuddy admits House caught her but seems hurt more than anything.
Wilson proposes to Sam. When he talks about liking that she went the extra mile for her patients, she tells him that she never did that. She says every one of her files was legit and she can't believe he doesn't trust her. She storms out.
House leaves the wedding and goes to Ramon's room. He tells Ramon that he used a more advanced scan on Marissa and her cancer has never gone away. Ramon doesn't believe him, but House is persistent. A despondent Ramon finally consents to treatment.
House returns two days later and admits to Ramon that he lied about his daughter having cancer to give him the treatment. Marissa is fine and he seems to be responding to the stem cell treatment. House thinks this means God doesn't exist, Ramon takes it to mean God is merciful.
Masters was the only member of the team left out of the ruse. She tells House they can't continue to work like that. "I can," House says.
Sam packs her stuff and leaves despite Wilson begging her to stay. She can't deal with his lack of trust.
House tells Cuddy he's been an idiot. He says "Maybe it's time I took a leap of faith. I'm sorry, I won't lie to you again." She is happy.
Wilson arrives at House's place and tells him about Sam. He tells him about apologizing to Cuddy. Wilson thinks this is a good thing. House says "I lied. I just took your advice."
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