Dr. Coolidge

Dr. Coolidge
Portrayed by	Louise Fletcher
First appearance	Ink
In-story stats
Known ability	None
Gender
Home	New York, NY
Occupation	Doctor
Child	Emma Coolidge
Grandchild	Christopher (deceased)

Dr. Coolidge is Emma's mother who works at Mercy Heights Hospital.

Character History

Ink

At the hospital, Dr. Coolidge examines her as Emma explains that she is seeing sounds as colors. Dr. Coolidge explains that there's a rare medical condition, synesthesia, where individuals have their senses mixed. She points out that Emma is using her deafness to shut people out and argues that it's not healthy. Emma admits she doesn't want others to pity her.

Hysterical Blindness

Dr. Coolidge goes to see her daughter and asks her if she still believes she is suffering from synesthesia. Emma tells her what is happening and Dr. Coolidge says that she believes Emma is suffering from Hysterical Blindness. She says that Emma has shut herself away from the world for so long that now she is craving attention. Emma denies this and Dr. Coolidge expresses her disappointment that Emma is wasting her time in the file room instead of treating patients. She tells her daughter that the Chief has offered her a residency but Emma refuses it. Dr. Cooldige then tells her to stop grieving Christopher, as it has been six years since he died. Angry, Emma leaves.

Notes

• According to the casting call, Dr. Coolidge was originally named "Dr. Cambridge". She is in her 60s, and is described as a "kind doctor in a NYC hospital. Compassionate and knowing with a vested interest in her patient."
• According to writer Howie Kaplan, "Chris is Emma's uncle. Her nephew, Christopher, was named after him." This would mean that Dr. Coolidge is Chris Coolidge's sister--the younger sister who goes to nursing school. (From the Files of Primatech, Part 1)