The Social Contract (9 Mar. 2009)

The team tries to diagnose a condition that leaves the patient saying anything that he thinks, no matter whom it hurts, and Wilson raises House's antennae when he passes up a monster truck rally.

Director:

Andrew Bernstein

Writers:

David Shore (creator), Doris Egan

Stars:

Hugh Laurie, Lisa Edelstein, Omar Epps

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Hugh Laurie	...	Dr. Gregory House
Lisa Edelstein	...	Dr. Lisa Cuddy
Omar Epps	...	Dr. Eric Foreman
Robert Sean Leonard	...	Dr. James Wilson
Jennifer Morrison	...	Dr. Allison Cameron (credit only)
Jesse Spencer	...	Dr. Robert Chase
Peter Jacobson	...	Dr. Chris Taub
Kal Penn	...	Dr. Lawrence Kutner
Olivia Wilde	...	Dr. Remy 'Thirteen' Hadley
Jay Karnes	...	Nick Greenwald
Susan Egan	...	Audrey Greenwald
Darcy Rose Byrnes	...	Marika Greenwald
Devon Michaels	...	Timothy Moore
Jodi Harris	...	Elaine
Cyrus Deboo	...	Dr. Kapur

Storyline

Publisher Nick Greenwald is diagnosed with a possibly congenital tumor, which suppresses his social lies ability. So he speaks the obnoxious truth as heartlessly as House, to staff and his family, but wants to be cured, at any risk. Taub is caught between Wilson needing a cover story and House's determination to find out what he's hiding. It proves serious and revealing about Wilson's fanatically considerate attitude.

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Plot Keywords:

author | dinner | embarrassment | ritual | reference to sandy koufax | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 March 2009 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Stage 10, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Heel & Toe Films, Shore Z Productions, Bad Hat Harry Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

(at around 15 mins) House and Wilson are in the cafeteria. House leans over to Wilson's plate and steals some food. He reaches into his inside pocket and takes out a fork and starts to eat. The next shot is over House's shoulder towards Wilson and you see House reaching into his pocket.

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Quotes

Dr. Lisa Cuddy: [Entering] I was paged.
Nick: I would do her in a minute with fudge and cherries on top. Would someone please to this woman, there's only so many apologies I can...
Dr. Remy 'Thirteen' Hadley: [to Cuddy] He has Frontal Lobe Disinhibition.

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Connections

References Superman (1978)

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Soundtracks

"MMMBop"
(uncredited)
Written by Isaac Hanson, Taylor Hanson, Zac Hanson
Performed by Hanson
Played on House's phone as the ringtone

User Reviews

Outrageous

TV veteran Jay Karnes stars as an afflicted fellow who says the first thing that comes to mind. Before this, he was the nicest of people. Now he is offending everyone around him and driving his family away. He makes for one of the few patients this season worth watching, while the growing hospital soap opera angle -- a definite negative of the series -- swirls around him. A pithy comment by the patient about Taub's prominent nose sets off a series of very funny moments for actor Peter Jacobson, whose Taub character remains my favorite among the "new" hires. House of course is simultaneously fascinated and repulsed with the idea of restoring the patient to what House considers a fake niceness, since House does not believe in niceness. A great episode, and the business between 13 and Foreman is mercifully toned down for once.