There was an elderly gentleman admitted to palliative care who actually did die on the ER bed. I overheard the argument (not quite as heated as in the book) between the two docs about who had to fill out the paperwork and thought, hmm, what if bureaucracy was so bad it could literally hold up your SOUL?
The other side of Jerry is the patience and grace of so many tough old folks coping with the various indignities and discomforts of getting old and being sick....I wanted to show that but also give them a voice, give them permission to gripe about it. So while Alan is more neurotic about his worries, Jerry has a wiser attitude of "F*#k it!" What if there is nothing good about this situation yet here we are, may as well have fun. He's more wise than cynical.
The other side of Jerry is the patience and grace of so many tough old folks coping with the various indignities and discomforts of getting old and being sick....I wanted to show that but also give them a voice, give them permission to gripe about it. So while Alan is more neurotic about his worries, Jerry has a wiser attitude of "F*#k it!" What if there is nothing good about this situation yet here we are, may as well have fun. He's more wise than cynical.