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Season Eleven

1. One for the Road
   The season premiere resumes from last year's full-throttle finale as Dr. Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) and his passengers -- Dr. Chen (Ming-Na) and Elgin (guest star James Earl) -- try to elude gunfire from another motorist until Pratt loses control of his sports car and crashes into the Chicago River -- trapping them underwater as rescue crews troll overhead. When recovered, all three are hospitalized with serious injuries that soon spiral downward. Elsewhere, Nurse Sam (Linda Cardellini) seeks to escape her returning boyfriend and hits the road to find a new life with her son Alex (guest star Oliver Davis) just as Neela (Parminder Nagra) makes a surprising entrance in the E.R. In addition, a somber Dr. Carter (Noah Wyle) and Kem (guest star Thandie Newton, "Mission: Impossible") deal with their unborn son's remains, Dr. Weaver (Laura Innes) intercedes when a cop wants to perform a pelvic exam on a young woman who's hiding a stash of marijuana in a private body part -- and two new interns (including new series regular Shane West, "A Walk to Remember") make an immediate impact. Alex Kingston, Goran Visnjic and Maura Tierney also star.
    
2. Damaged
   A lonely Dr. Carter (Noah Wyle) struggles with his unfulfilled dreams in the wake of his girlfriend Kem's departure -- and lurches toward a dangerous temporary solution -- while new doctor Abby (Maura Tierney) faces resentful nurses and tends to a tearful and injured young woman kidnapped from Mexico and forced into sexual slavery. Elsewhere, Dr. Kovac (Goran Visnjic) makes an honest confession to a fleeing Sam (Linda Cardellini) while Neela (Parminder Nagra) must face the music when her domineering, old-school Indian parents arrive in a huff after she abandoned her Michigan medical assignment. In the meantime, Carter treats an Iraqi war veteran who was disfigured in combat, Dr. Weaver (Laura Innes) suggests to new intern Ray (new series regular Shane West) that he tone down his alternative-punk look in deference to frightened patients -- and two ER staffers recover from their injuries. Alex Kingston also stars.
    
3. Try Carter
    
4. Fear
   Two small children are rushed to the ER after falling from a third story window. The attending staff believes an abusive father is at fault for the tragedy but not all is as it seems initially. Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) treats a man who believes he has an unsightly rash which turns out to be lung cancer. Dr. Corday (Alex Kingston) is disciplined by the hospital for performing an HIV+ organ transplant; instead of dismissing her, they offer her a non-tenure track position. Sam (Linda Cardellini) contemplates moving in with Kovac (Goran Visnjic). Neela (Parminder Nagra) decides to leave her job at the mini-mart after Lewis (Sherry Stringfield), the new Chief of Emergency Medicine, offers her a job at the hospital.
    
5. An Intern's Guide to the Galaxy
   Neela (Parminder Nagra) returns to the ER after working at the Convenient Store near the hospital. On Neela's first day, Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) expects the interns, Abby (Maura Tierney), Ray (Shane West) and Neela to take on a large patient load during their shifts at the hospital. Pratt turns processing the patients into a competition, in which Ray is clearly going to be the winner. In the rush to process the patients and stay in the lead, however, Ray makes a big mistake donating a patient's organs against the family's wishes. Ray helps Abby obtain HIV medication from the pharmacy against hospital policy for a patient that had unprotected sex. Carter (Noah Wyle) asks Wendall (Madchen Amick) to walk out with him in a coy pursuit
    
6. Time of Death
   In a ground-breaking episode which traces the real-time events in the emergency room, Kovac (Goran Visjnic), Abby (Maura Tierney) and Sam (Linda Cardellini) try to save the life of Charlie Metcalf (guest star Ray Liotta), a man who comes in complaining of a stomach ache, but is later diagnosed with far, far worse. Mekhi Phifer and Shane West also star
    
7. It Happens (aka White Guy, Dark Hair)
   Sam (Linda Cardellini) and Kovac (Goran Visjnic) treat a woman who was brutally beaten and raped and wants to help police although she can barely speak. Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) schedules a JCAHO emergency drill without telling the staff. Carter (Noah Wyle) and Abby (Maura Tierney) treat a girl complaining of kidney problems, which is just the beginning of her adventure. Laura Innes, Mekhi Phifer, Parminder Nagra and Shane West also star
    
8. A Shot in the Dark
   When a police officer shot during a robbery is brought to the ER, Lewis (Sherry Stringfield), Neela (Parminder Nagra) and Ray (Shane West) stabilize him, but the injuries to his carotid artery leave him in a coma. His fifteen-year-old son must decide whether to authorize a risky operation which may save his life or leave him in the coma. Abby (Maura Tierney) tries to convince a girl with appendicitis to have surgery at County General, but her father wants her transferred to Mercy because his father died during surgery at General. Noah Wyle, Goran Visnjic, Mekhi Phifer, Linda Cardellini and Laura Innes also star
    
9. Twas the Night
   It's Christmas Eve, and the ER staff scrambles to leave for the holiday. Abby (Maura Tierney) receives a dialysis patient who is in critical condition, but she can't reach his physician because he doesn't want to be disturbed during the holidays. After much effort a distraught Chen (Ming-Na) finally finds someone to cover her shift so she can attend to her ailing father. Concerned for her, Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) stops by her house to find her struggling with her father's worsening health. Carter (Noah Wyle) and Wendall (Madchen Amick) grow closer and share an awkward kiss as they wish each other a Merry Christmas. Also starring Shane West, Linda Cardellini, Sherry Stringfield
    
10. Skin
    As Abby (Maura Tierney) smokes in the ambulance bay, an SUV pulls in carrying a gunshot victim. When Abby runs to the car to help the patient, she's pulled inside at gunpoint and driven away. Ray (Shane West) begins treatment on a woman who soon requests a new doctor. At first Ray is offended, but then learns that there is more to the patient's story than meets the eye. Also starring Noah Wyle, Laura Innes, Sherry Stringfield, Linda Cardellini, Mekhi Phifer
     
11. Only Connect
    Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) assigns Kovac (Goran Visjnic) to teach the residents how to communicate more effectively with their patients in hopes of raising their patient satisfaction scores, which have plummeted. They are put to the test when two teenagers are brought to the ER with gun shot wounds. Kovac, Neela (Parminder Nagra) and Sam (Linda Cardellini) handle one patient while Lewis, Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) and Ray (Shane West) deal with another. When a patient dies, Neela does a poor job of informing the deceased's grandmother, who becomes hysterical in the middle of the ER. A personal injury lawyer sets up a mobile office outside the ER, infuriating Lewis as he tries to turn dissatisfied patients into clients. Abby (Maura Tierney) returns to the ER, still dealing with the trauma of her abduction. Also starring Noah Wyle and Laura Innes.
     
12. The Providers
    When a sixteen-year-old girl who had received a kidney transplant from her father arrives at the ER feeling dizzy, Carter (Noah Wyle) traces the problem to a new drug called Zarictal that the girl was taking to control seizures related to her kidney dysfunction. Her father feels guilty because he was the one who pushed for her to take the new drug and its side effects may mean his daughter will have to go back on dialysis. Carter asks Neela (Parminder Nagra) to post questions about the drug's side effects on the internet, which causes an uproar when the pharmaceutical company finds out. After Abby (Maura Tierney) and Neela complain about their lackluster dating lives, they end up assigned to work with Jake (Eion Bailey) and Kovac (Goran Visjnic) whom they each seem to have a crush on. Also starring Sherry Stringfield, Laura Innes, Mekhi Phifer, Linda Cardellini, Shane West
     
13. Middleman
    While examining a young boy, Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) finds a suspicious gash across his chest and calls Wendall (Madchen Amick) for a consult. Kovac (Goran Visjnic) and Pratt examine a man who got shot when he confronted his boss with a gun. Jake (Eion Bailey) tries to convince Abby (Maura Tierney) that being a student shouldn't keep him from dating her. Also starring Sherry Stringfield, Laura Innes, Noah Wyle, Shane West, Parminder Nagra, Linda Cardellini.
     
14. Just As I Am (a.k.a. Shortness of Breath)
    Dr. Weaver (Laura Innes) encounters an evasive patient (Frances Fisher, "Titanic") who shocks her by revealing that she is her birth mother, who put her baby up for adoption at 15. As they spend time sharing their life stories, their budding relationship withers when Weaver confesses to her mother -- an evangelical Christian -- that she is gay. Elsewhere, Dr. Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) warily turns over an addled elderly woman to the care of Jane (Sara Gilbert) while Dr. Carter (Noah Wyle) causes a commotion when he confronts a couple hoping to scam some painkilling drugs. Sherry Stringfield, Goran Visnjic, Maura Tierney, Linda Cardellini, Parminder Nagra, Eion Bailey and Shane West also star
     
15. Alone in a Crowd
    When a young mother of three (guest star Cynthia Nixon, "Sex & the City") is brought into the ER with potentially fatal stroke-like symptoms, Kovac (Goran Visnjic) and Sam (Linda Cardellini) race against the odds to save her life. Knowing that a controversial surgical procedure is his wife's only shot at a full recovery, a husband must make the unenviable decision to risk her life in order to save it. Meanwhile, Neela (Parminder Nagra) and Ray (Shane West) discover a dark secret when three ostensibly neglected children show up in the ER. Elsewhere, Carter (Noah Wyle) finds himself in the midst of a love triangle when Wendall's (Madchen Amick) professions of love force him to either cut the ties in Africa or lose her. Laura Innes, Sherry Stringfield, Maura Tierney, Ming-Na, and Mekhi Phifer also star
     
16. Here and There
    A young girl in Iraq is wounded in a car bombing and local hospitals are unequipped to help. Gallant (Sharif Atkins) enlists the support of Neela (Parminder Nagra) to secure the needed treatment at County, but getting the girl to the United States proves to be more difficult than initially thought. With time running out, Gallant must resort to calling in a favor to bring the young girl to the states. Meanwhile, Neela is redefining her role at County and rediscovering her feelings for Gallant. Also starring Noah Wyle, Laura Innes, Mekhi Phifer, Goran Visnjic, Maura Tierney, Sherry Stringfield, Linda Cardellini and Shane West. TV
     
17. Back in the World
    Neela (Parminder Nagra) is surprised when she hears that Gallant (Sharif Atkins) came to the ER with the young Iraqi burn victim. Sam (Linda Cardellini) is troubled by a visit from her ex-husband. Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) treats a child whose gun went off in his pocket and learns that he received the gun from an unusual source. Also starring Noah Wyle, Sherry Stringfield.
     
18. Refusal of Care
    A woman is brought in suffering from the effects of a hunger strike, but she will not accept food or help until she has proof that the INS will grant her sonÓs deportation case a new hearing. Neela (Parminder Nagra), Sam (Linda Cardellini), and Dr. Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) are incapable of treating her as long as she and her lawyer refuse aid -- which goes against all the doctors' training. Meanwhile, Abby (Maura Tierney), despite her suspicions, is unable to prove that 72-year-old Birdy Chaddock (Louise Fletcher) is the victim of elder abuse. Also starring Noah Wyle, Mekhi Phifer, Eion Bailey
     
19. Ruby Redux (a.k.a. Call Me Ruby)
    85-year-old Jules Rubadoux (guest star Red Buttons) is wheeled in and erroneously accuses Dr. Carter (Noah Wyle) of killing his wife ten years ago. Although Abby (Maura Tierney) believes Rubadoux is too old to undertake surgery to correct a heart murmur, the attending doctors opt to go ahead with the operation. Meanwhile, Dr. Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) treats a domestic violence victim and makes a date with the social worker assigned to her case. As Pratt arrives for the date he realizes he has gotten himself into more than he bargained for. Also starring Shane West, Sherry Stringfield, Linda Cardellini.
     
20. You Are Here
    Dr. Morris (Scott Grimes) has been appointed the new chief resident and immediately locks horns with Dr. Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) as they deal with the casualties from a fire at an apartment building. Dr. Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) is taking out her frustration from not being tenured on Dr. Carter (Noah Wyle). Dr. Weaver (Laura Innes) tries to calm Lewis down, but only makes things worse. Ray (Shane West) heeds the advice of several doctors at the hospital and sends a teenaged sickle cell anemic patient home. Also starring Linda Cardellini and Goran Visnjic.
     
21. Carter est Amoureux
    Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) explodes at Neela (Parminder Nagra) for performing a complicated procedure on a baby, Abby (Maura Tierney) misdiagnoses an emphysema patient, and Ray's (Shane West) procedural misstep on a stab victim has terrible results. Outside of the ER, Carter (Noah Wyle) dashes off to Paris after learning that Kem's (Thandie Newton) mother has been hospitalized. Once there, Carter discovers some things about himself and makes some life-altering decisions. Also starring Sherry Stringfield, Goran Visnjic, Linda Cardellini.
     
22. The Show Must Go On
    On Carter's (Noah Wyle) last shift, four new interns begin their tour of duty. After completing their rounds, Carter, Kovac (Goran Visnjic) and most of the ER staff head out to Carter's surprise going-away party down the street at Ike's. Ray (Shane West) leaves to go to another party where the revelry is interrupted by a disaster which truly tests his mettle. The casualties are taken immediately to County General where a skeleton staff headed by Abby (Maura Tierney) and Neela (Parminder Nagra) must step up to the plate all on their own. Elsewhere, Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) finally gets the courage to confront his father Charlie (Danny Glover). Sam (Linda Cardellini) and Kovac search for Sam's son after he runs away in search of his imprisoned father. Also starring Sherry Stringfield.

Season Twelve

1. 22 Sep 05  Cañon City
   Sam (Linda Cardellini) and Kovac (Goran Visnjic) report Alex missing to the police and suspect that he is trying to find his father. Kovac and Sam are especially worried because Alex is diabetic and he has forgotten his insulin. Neela (Parminder Nagra), Ray (Shane West) and Abby (Maura Tierney) struggle with their first shifts in charge of the new interns. Mehki Phifer, Sherry Stringfield, and Scott Grimes also star.
    
2. 29 Sep 05  Nobody's Baby
   Ray (Shane West) attends to a surrogate mother who goes into labor prematurely after being involved in a car accident. An emotional decision must be made as a baby's life hangs in the balance. Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) encounters his estranged father and is forced to deal with his feelings from the past. Sam (Linda Cardellini) and Kovac (Goran Visnjic) loom on the edge of a break-up. Also starring, Maura Tierney, Parminder Nagra, Danny Glover and Scott Grimes.
    
3. 6 Oct 05  A Man with No Name
   The ER is shaken up when new nurse manager, Eve (Kristen Johnston) enforces her strict and efficient new procedures. Kovac (Goran Visnjic) and Sam (Linda Cardellini) struggle to find some civility with each while working the same shift. Abby (Maura Tierney) treats a breast cancer patient who is having a hard time coming to terms with her condition. Parminder Nagra, Mekhi Phifer, Shane West and Laura Innes also star
    
4. 13 Oct 05  Blame It on The Rain
   A patient who has been in a coma for nine years suddenly awakens in the ER and Kovac (Goran Visnjic) struggles with whether he should reveal her the truth about her past. Abby (Maura Tierney) comforts Dr. Dubenko (Leland Orser) after he finds out some troubling news. New Nurse Manager Eve (Kristen Johnston "3rd Rock from the Sun") makes waves in the ER as she implements her strict methods.
    
5. 20 Oct 05  Wake Up
   Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) gets a wake-up call when the new attending (John Leguizamo) poses as a patient to test the knowledge of doctors in the ER. Meanwhile, Kovac (Goran Visnjic) bonds with the former coma patient and contemplates bending the rules for her. A breast cancer patient convinces Abby (Maura Tierney) to get her first mammogram. Pratt's father Charlie (Danny Glover) tries to convince his son that he has turned his life around.
    
6. 3 Nov 05 Dream House
   Clemente (John Leguizamo), Abby (Maura Tierney) and Neela (Parminder Nagra) secretly care for a VIP patient while Dubenko (Leland Orser) tortures the staff via a robotic television camera from home. Sam (Linda Cardellini) is coerced into a management role and is given a dreadful task. Meanwhile, Pratt is visited by his half-brother, and emotions from the past remind him of his father's (Danny Glover) abandonment.
    
7. 10 Nov 05 The Human Shield
   Neela (Parminder Nagra) gets all dolled up for Gallant's homecoming (Sharif Atkins) and her co-workers seem to take notice but, her plans change when she receives a call from Iraq. Meanwhile, Abby (Maura Tierney) is caught in the middle between Kovac (Goran Visnjic) and Clemente (John Leguizamo) when they disagree on how to save a patients life. When a cop and a little girl become victims of a shoot out, Neela is plagued with the decision of whether or not she should save the shooters life.
    
8. 17 Nov 05 Two Ships
   Neela (Parminder Nagra) thinks that she is going on a routine ambulance ride-along with Gates, (Guest Star, John Stamos), and soon finds herself in the middle of an emergency, attending to a plane crash site where many are injured and trapped inside a burning building. Meanwhile, the ER opens to trauma victims of the plane crash and Sam (Linda Cardellini) struggles with an executive decision that could cost her her job. Neela's (Parminder Nagra) bravery has won the respect of her co-workers and especially Gates the ambulance driver but, her day is not over when she receives a surprise.
    
9. 1 Dec 05 I Do
   Back from Iraq, Gallant (Sharif Atkins) surprises Neela (Parminder Nagra) by telling her he wants to take their relationship to the next level. Kovac (Goran Visnjic) and Clemente (John Leguizamo) vie for the same job making the tension between them even thicker. Meanwhile, Sam (Linda Cardellini) convinces a patient's mother to get the medical attention that her son desperately needs. Morris (Scott Grimes) shocks everyone when he stands up to Weaver (Laura Innes) during a medical procedure.
    
10. 8 Dec 05 All About Christmas Eve
    After a little girl is mistakenly shot, Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) and Weaver (Laura Innes) desperately try to bring her back to life. Meanwhile, nurse Haleh (Yvette Freeman)) holds her annual choir tryouts and everyone is surprised at who is chosen to sing the solo. Eve (Kristen Johnston) crosses the line with a patient and causes management to get involved. Abby (Maura Tierney) and Kovac (Goran Visnjic) exchange Christmas gifts but, Abby's (Maura Tierney) gift to him is bigger than expected.
     
11. 5 Jan 06 If Not Now
    Abby (Maura Tierney) continues to struggle with the decision of whether or not she is ready to become a mother. Meanwhile, Neela (Parminder Nagra) and Kovac (Goran Visnjic) help a religious teenager weigh all her pregnancy options. Ray (Shane West) has an opportunity of a lifetime with his band and everyone is shocked at the outcome. Clemente's (John Leguizamo) past is starting to catch up with him when the cops come looking for him in the ER.
     
12. 12 Jan 06 Split Decisions
    With Clemente (John Leguizamo) missing in action, Dr. Dubenko vollunteers to take the dayshift but ends up feeling overwhelmed. Ray (Shane West) is put in a very awkward situation when his young former girlfriend comes into the ER with serious abuse-related injuries. With a baby in their future, Kovac (Goran Visnijic) and Abby (Maura Tierney) venture out for some baby shopping. Meanwhile, Neela (Parminder Nagra) recieves word that she has been selected for the surgery elective that she had been hoping for.
     
13. 2 Feb 06 Body and Soul
    When an abandoned ALS (Lou Gerigs disease) patient arrives at the ER, many of the doctors are shocked when they recognize the former medical school professor (Guest star James Woods. Abby (Maura Tierney) and Kovac (Goran Visnijic) try to understand Dr. Lennox's wishes for his life after the professor is struck with pneumonia as well as the nerve degenerating disease. As the disease continues to cripple Dr. Lennox, Abby struggles with the possibility of losing the professor that was responsible for making her a doctor. After a controversial decision to attach a trake to help Dr. Lennox breathe, Abby and Fran Guest star (Ally Walker) wonder if they made the right decision.
     
14. 9 Feb 06 Quintessence of Dust
    Dr. Clemente (John Leguizamo) and his girlfriend Jodie seem to be living the highlife together, when they are suddenly interrupted by Jodie's husband Bobby (Shea Whigham). When Jodie threatens divorce, Bobby takes matters into his own hands. Abby (Maura Tierney) and Dr. Kovac (Goran Visnjic) anxiously await the test results determining the health of their unborn baby. Meanwhile, when Dr. Pratt is put on the auction block for a bachelor charity event, everyone is surprised when a man wins the bid.

ER Episode Synopsis Are Courtesy Of NBC & TV Guide