(The bird is happy and healthy. Its feathers look so pristine!)
It introduces the Cockatiel character and its associated heartbeat pattern. It is the first time the player has to juggle multiple rows of different heartbeats.
In a cutscene after All The Times, Paige and Ian meet up with the player to check over their upcoming duties. Edega walks in to inform them that no new staff will be hired, leaving their vacant positions permanently empty. Instead, he explains, Paige will give care to individual patients, Ian will work on the Rhythm Doctor program, and the player will continue to use the program to treat patients, the three of them working together as a skeleton crew to run the hospital. Ian apologizes to Paige as he has to return home and check on his mother, while Paige looks over her duties. Then, a loose cockatiel catches Paige's attention, as the player learns to juggle multiple patients' heartbeats at once. Paige leaves the player to check on Mr. Stevenson after Edega returns to remind her to do so. The player treats Logan, Hailey, and the Cockatiel all at once in the plant room. In the middle of the level, Logan and Hailey dance together. After the level, Paige notices that Logan's heartbeat is once again irregular. It is implied that him spending time with Hailey was what caused the irregularity. Then, Paige notices that a new patient has been admitted, and the player moves on to treat them.
Transcript
We've checked in on Logan, Hailey, Cole, Nicole, and the two guys with the swords.
There's a few more patients for you to meet, and then we can see if the Rhythm Doctor treatments are enough to get them home.
T-thankfully this new method is helping speed things along.
O-oh! Dr Edega is coming!
[Edega enters]
...
...please, don't let me interrupt your important meeting. Go on.
We...were done. We're just moving on. We haven't checked on Mr. Stevenson yet.
It seems to take you two a while to walk down a hallway, these days.
Regardless. I'm only making my way over here to update you on our staffing.
As you're both aware, we've had several staff members quit in the past few months.
A shame how some people buckle under the lightest of pressure. Abandoning us.
That feeble doctor and several nurses, remember? We had planned to have those positions filled in with new staff by now.
Plans have changed.
To save budget and time, we're leaving those positions vacant. Permanently.
What?! A hospital of this size can't be run by-
We'll be pivoting to this Rhythm Doctor program to make up for the reduced staff.
You've proven how effective this new method is. A skeleton crew should be sufficient to carry it out.
Dr Paige, you'll be in charge of giving every patient their individualised attention and check-ups.
Ian, you'll be in charge of facilitating this intern, and any new ones you can find, in these rhythm-based operations.
And, as you promised, making sure there are no more bugs in the program.
Understood?
Our hospital always needs to keep up with the changing times.
I trust that you'll all keep up, too.
[Edega exits]
...
...
Sorry, Ada...
It's fine. I can handle it.
W-well...my shift is over. I'm going to head home.
I've still got some work to do.
I'll be watching over my mother while I'm home, but hopefully I can make time to fix bugs.
Good luck. Both of you. I'll get back as soon as I can, I promise.
Thanks, Ian. I appreciate it. Try to enjoy the break.
[Ian exits]
Well. That leaves just us.
Let's see...I need to check back in with Logan and Hailey, I need to keep tabs on Cole and Nicole's addiction rehab, I need to check in on Mr. Stevenson-
[Camera pans to Cockatiel]
...
[Cockatiel exits]
Oh no...did someone bring a pet in here, or something?
Sorry, I don't have time for this. Can you follow that trail of feathers and figure out where it's coming from?
I have some other things I need to handle. Especially with Dr Edega always keeping his eye on me.
You're a lifesaver. I'll circle back with you afterward.
You found it! Thank goodness.
Is that a, uh, cockatiel? In the hospital?
I feel like I should be...surprised?
Instead, I just feel nothing. Moving on!
Oh! The bird's pulse is showing up on the ECG! Okay...sure!
(I swear, Ian always misses out on the weird stuff.)
It's coming in pretty faint...the monitor's not picking up the sound of every beat.
You'll need to keep count in your head.
If any beat is missed:
I just thought of something.
If you're having trouble counting up to seven with all the skipped beats...
Well, it doesn't matter. Luckily we have you, right intern?
[Hugh enters]
It's Hugh! How long have you been, uh...sitting there?
Y'know, without Ian here, you might need to start treating multiple patients at once.
We're pretty understaffed.
I wish I could help you with the rhythm treatments, but...
...we're probably better off if I stick to my usual responsibilities.
As you've probably seen, when you're treating multiple patients at once, their heartbeats might be off-sync from each other.
Listen closely for when each patient's beat starts.
Let's try treating Hugh and the Cockatiel together. I know it will be tricky, but I believe in you!
If 8 or more beats are missed:
Listen closely. Try to keep track of the different sounds.
From now on, we will often deal with multiple patients. It will be tough, but practice makes perfect!
If less than 8 beats are missed:
Good job!
From now on, we will deal with multiple patients. Keep an ear out for each patient's distinct heartbeat sound!
If all the beats are hit:
Amazing! You didn't miss a single beat!
I wonder how many patients you can handle at once...
You assured me a few minutes ago you'd check on Mr. Stevenson.
And yet, it's interesting: when I passed his room just now, I could hear him asking-
You're right, you're right. Sorry. I've gotta go, intern! You help out the bird!
See you later!
[Level start]
...oh! Hey Hailey, come quick, I found it!
What are you doing here, lil' guy?
Alright, I'm back.
I noticed something strange. Logan's heart is showing strain and irregularity again.
It's like we're back to square one. I thought he would be ready for discharge by now.
Did something happen between Logan and Hailey while I was gone?
Anything that explains why his heart is pounding?
...
...right, you can't say anything. Can't talk through the screen. Nevermind.
I need you to check back in on Logan again, to stabilise his heartbeat. That Samurai guy too, he needs a check-up.
While you do that, I was going to help treat our elderly patient Mr. Stevenson, but...
...now it looks like a new patient was just admitted. Let's see how we can help him.
Those kids keep dancing around the plant room.
If they bump into a pot and break it, who do you think has to clean it up?
And now on top of that, there's a loose bird flying around?
I don't get paid enough for this...
History
Upon release, this level had no tutorial. According to the developers, players were struggling with a lack of tutorial for a level that introduces multiple rows of heartbeats, so a tutorial was added in patch 0.11.5.
