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Season Three

1. Dr. Carter, I Presume
   
   The work never ends for the physicians and staff in the emergency room of Chicago, Illinois' County General Hospital. Naove Dr. John Carter (series star NOAH WYLE) has just graduated from medical school and is now a doctor, working as a surgical intern. He feels confident because the other interns training with him have never worked at County and are unfamiliar with their new supervisor, intense surgical resident Dr. Peter Benton (series star ERIQ LA SALLE). Benton makes Carter train as hard as the others. After botching an operation, Carter offends the nurses, and they make his busy night hellish. Fortunately, one intern, Dennis Gant (recurring guest star OMAR EPPS), helps Carter when he needs it most, and Carter's performance improves. But his rivalry with another new intern, Dale Edson (recurring guest star MATTHEW GLAVE), with whom he has clashed before, is renewed.

   Handsome pediatric emergency fellow Dr. Douglas Ross (series star GEORGE CLOONEY) fails to convince recently divorced family man Dr. Mark Greene (series star ANTHONY EDWARDS), an attending resident, of the joys of casual sex with women. Ross' coworkers are all unimpressed by his behavior when he ends a relationship with a needy woman by calling her answering machine.

   Physician assistant Jeanie Boulet (series star GLORIA REUBEN) discovers that she contracted the HIV virus from her husband. Benton, who had an affair with Jeanie, tests negative for the disease. Although he is sympathetic to Jeanie, he questions her decision not to tell the hospital about her diagnosis.

   Meanwhile, everyone is worried that the hospital will be closed permanently, especially capable head emergency room nurse Carol Hathaway (series star JULIANNA MARGULIES). Hathaway almost quit recently in protest over the bureaucratic health care system. Also, Greene clashes with abrasive Dr. Kerry Weaver (series star LAURA INNES), who is his equal since her promotion to attending physician. Weaver confuses and angers everyone, including tough, talented emergency resident Dr. Susan Lewis (series star SHERRY STRINGFIELD). And the paramedics beat the emergency room team in softball at the Fourth of July picnic. Hathaway sees "Shep" Shepherd (recurring guest star RON ELDARD), her former lover, there with his new girlfriend.
   

2. Let The Games Begin
   
   Jeanie starts aggressive treatment for HIV, which requires her to take 14 pills a day. To avoid revealing her sickness to her employer, County General Hospital, Jeanie doesn't submit her bills to her insurance company; she pays them herself. She must also pay the bills of her estranged HIV-afflicted husband, Al (recurring guest star MICHAEL BEACH - "Waiting to Exhale"), who is uninsured. When Jeanie assists on a bloody trauma operation, Benton abruptly relieves her. Later, he tells her that he would quit if he were HIV positive.

   Everyone is reassured to learn that another hospital, Southside, is closing down instead of theirs. Unfortunately, Southside's staff will be merged with County General's under new Chief of Staff Donald Anspaugh (recurring guest star JOHN AYLWARD). Almost everyone hates the former Southside chief, except Weaver. While discussing the recent changes with Weaver, Chief of Surgery Dr. David Morgenstern (recurring guest star WILLIAM H. MACY - "Fargo") ends up inviting her to dinner.

   Meanwhile, Greene and Lewis ignore their mutual attraction. However, when they introduce their respective dates, the dates pair off.

   When Hathaway's car is repossessed, she realizes that she must sell her house. Unfortunately, her meddling mother, Halyna (recurring guest star ROSE GREGORIO - "True Confessions"), interferes with the real estate agent.

   Carter's elderly neighbor Betty (recurring guest star EILEEN BRENNAN - "Private Benjamin"), who smokes cigarettes, comes to the emergency room unable to breathe. When he hooks her up to an oxygen tank, Carter warns her never to smoke near it or it will explode. She seems to understand. After Benton chastises Carter for being late, Carter gets revenge by giving a local, rather than a general, anesthetic to Benton's talkative hernia patient. Still awake, the patient chatters incessantly while Benton tries to operate on him.

   Other emergency room patients include a heavy woman on illegal drugs who becomes violent and two 15-year-olds who lost a condom while having sex
   

3. Don't Ask, Don't Tell

   When Lewis invites Greene on a vacation trip to Hawaii, he hopes that she wants to be romantic with him. Secretly, she does. But Greene decides not to join her, leaving her feeling foolish. Later, Greene worries about the competency of the new residents from notoriously inferior Southside Hospital. But he is pleased with Southside intern Maggie Doyle (recurring guest star JORJAN FOX), who clashes with Hathaway but works well with Ross.

   New Chief of Staff Anspaugh annoys everyone with his strict efficiency standards. Because of Southside's closing, patient load will rise by 30 percent, and Anspaugh vows to punish whoever treats the fewest patients. Greene gets involved in reviving a mildly retarded adult's father and cannot find time to see any other patients. Benton transfers out of Anspaugh's cardiothoracic elective to work with a highly regarded pediatric surgeon, Dr. Abby Keaton (recurring guest star GLENNE HEADLY - "Dick Tracy," "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels").

   Benton tells Jeanie not to risk mixing her HIV-infected blood with the patients' and warns her to stay out of his operating room. Later, after Jeanie balks at removing a foot-long shard of glass from a man's chest, Weaver realizes the truth about Jeanie's previously hidden illness. She reassures Jeanie about Jeanie's decision to continue working at the hospital.

   Among the emergency room cases is Hathaway's former teacher, who assumes that Hathaway is a doctor. Also, no one believes a drunken man who claims a kangaroo attacked him until they hear about it on the news. Carter lies about a patient's condition so he can operate on her, causing trouble.

   Ironically, Ross advises a 15-year-old girl with gonorrhea not to have casual sex, then has sex with a lab technician in an examination room. Benton reprimands Gant for assisting on an appendectomy without permission. Carter reacts strangely to medication and is embarrassed in front of Anspaugh. And Carter's neighbor Betty, ignoring his earlier warning, smokes near her oxygen tank, which explodes, burning down their apartment building. His neighbor survives the blast, but Carter is left homeless
   

4. Last Call

   The morning after Ross drinks alcohol heavily and has sex with a woman whose name he doesn't even know, she dies from a seizure. Greene detects cocaine in her blood and angers Ross by demanding a urine sample from him. Cocaine is not found, but Weaver orders Greene to test Ross' alcohol level. After Greene and Ross have a nasty public argument, the police question Ross. When the dead woman's sister arrives, Ross pretends he didn't know the deceased. Hathaway refuses to console Ross, and the staff gossips.

   Benton doesn't know that the slides for his lecture burned up in Carter's apartment until after Benton begins speaking to the audience. Anspaugh and Benton are upset with Carter, but Keaton sympathizes. Later, Carter impresses Keaton by subduing a rebellious teenage patient, drawing Keaton's attention away from Benton, who is skillfully operating. Keaton invites Carter to assist in the colostomy, which annoys Benton. When the patient's mother asks Benton for guidance, he refers her to the psychiatric department. Keaton patiently rebukes Benton, reminding him that the focus of pediatric surgery is the child, not the illness. He apologizes. Gant allows Carter to move in with him.

   Weaver continues to clash with Greene. She switches their duties, taking surgical cases while Greene does boring medical matters. It doesn't work. Meanwhile, Jeanie's medication for HIV is making her nauseous. When a handsome construction worker, Mickey (BRIAN WIMMER - "China Beach"), who brought in an injured friend, flirts with her, she reluctantly rebuffs him.

   A young Korean girl who is afraid of men needs a pelvic exam. Nurse Hathaway and new female intern Doyle are the only ones she'll allow near her. Unfortunately, Hathaway must teach Doyle the procedure. Hathaway considers studying to become a doctor. Hathaway's mother, Halyna, offers to pay rent if Hathaway will let her stay at Hathaway's house one night a week.

   Benton visits a former lover, Carla Harris (recurring guest star LISA NICOLE CARSON), at her restaurant.
   

5. Ghosts

   On a stormy Halloween, a huge man dressed as a monster is shot in the chest. Gant impresses Weaver with his work on the victim. But Gant doubts himself when Benton arrives, and Benton replaces him with Carter. Later, Gant discovers that Benton is making him work harder than the other interns because people might think that Gant's been given preference due to his race.

   In another case, Carter treats a young girl and her father who were both hit by a car. When the man dies, Carter decides not to inform the daughter until after her operation. But when Carter later tells her the truth, she says that she already knew--her dad communicated with her during surgery.

   Jeanie clashes with new intern Doyle, who wants to obey a terminally ill patient's "do not resuscitate" order and let her die. Jeanie follows the wishes of the patient's husband, saving her life. Also, Jeanie must take a second mortgage on her house to pay her and Al's bills for HIV treatment.

   Hathaway enrolls in a pre-medical school physics class. Her lab partner is 15 years old and knows a lot more about physics. She also rides with Ross in the health mobile, Anspaugh's ill-conceived idea, which travels through poor neighborhoods giving free medical treatment. Wearing bulletproof vests, they are more like ambulance workers treating crime victims.

   While Benton and Carter examine a 2-year-old patient, they are quizzed by Keaton on child development. Benton's answers are very wrong, while Carter, who is naturally at ease with children, answers them all correctly. Benton's efforts to make the children like him fail.

   Greene and Ross are still tense around each other. Also, Lewis, who never went to Hawaii because she is afraid of flying, still wonders if Greene is romantically interested in her--and vice versa. At a Halloween party, Greene dances with Lewis. Finally, rumors circulate about the ghost who inhabits the fifth floor of the hospital. Greene and Lewis venture upstairs. While there, they feel a strange rush of cold air
   

6. Fear Of Flying

   Lewis momentarily overcomes her fear of flying when she and Greene travel in a rescue helicopter to help a family of four, the Herlihys, who were in a gruesome traffic accident in a rural area. When Lewis and Greene bring the victims back to the hospital, the father suffers temporary memory loss from severe head trauma, and the mother's condition stabilizes. Their two children--seven-year-old Zach (recurring guest star JONATHAN PATTERSON/JOSHUA PATTERSON) and infant Megan--are seriously injured but expected to live.

   With one of the nurses on vacation, nurse Rhonda Sterling (recurring guest star JENNY O'HARA) is brought in from another department. Because of Sterling's complete lack of experience in the emergency room, the other nurses expect the worst, but Hathaway gives her a chance. Unfortunately, Sterling proves not only incompetent but annoyingly lazy. When Sterling's carelessness with medication almost kills Zach, Hathaway orders her to restock supplies and stay away from the patients.

   Under Keaton's supervision, Benton performs exploratory surgery on Megan. Assured of Benton's competence, Keaton leaves for another emergency, allowing Benton to finish operating on Megan without her. However, Benton becomes overconfident and bungles the surgery, leaving the baby in extremely critical condition. Keaton castigates Benton, saying that it will be her responsibility but Benton's fault if the baby dies. Although Benton insists--erroneously--that he followed correct procedure, he is extremely agitated.

   Elsewhere in the emergency room, Greene and Lewis continue to behave awkwardly around each other due to their mutual attraction. And Jeanie must deal with an elderly man's dying wish--to be cryogenically preserved with his deceased wife
   

7. No Brain, No Gain

   Benton is obsessed with Megan, the infant whose condition is critical due to his surgical error. Keaton orders Benton to observe the dying baby to learn patience. Miraculously, Megan's condition improves. Benton tries to regain his dignity by relentlessly attempting to revive a young shooting victim. Keaton lets him continue so that he will learn another lesson.

   Meanwhile, Mr. Percy (WILLIAM SANDERSON - "Blade Runner," "The Rocketeer"), a mentally impaired man, sneaks away from Dale before an operation. After Carter locates the man and saves his life, Anspaugh allows Carter to work on the operation with a visiting surgeon. To no avail, Carter warns Dale and the others that Mr. Percy is not competent to sign his own surgical consent forms. During the surgery, Carter notices a hole in Mr. Percy's lung, causing Anspaugh to compliment Carter and reprimand Dale, who is also present. This later leads to a fight between Carter and Dale that is stopped by Keaton. Also, Carter and the older Keaton finally act on their mutual attraction.

   The incompetent nurse, Sterling, returns to the emergency room. When Sterling commits another grave error while caring for an accident victim, Hathaway vows to report her. But Sterling insists that she was unfairly assigned to the emergency room because the administration wants to force her out before she can collect her pension. She quits. Hathaway believes Sterling after another nurse who is almost eligible for a pension is temporarily transferred out of the emergency room to do unfamiliar work.

   After Greene overrides some of Ross' decisions concerning patients, Ross confronts Greene about his recent sanctimonious behavior. Greene admits that he has been judgmental since the recent incident when Ross' date died in the emergency room after using cocaine. When Greene apologizes, Ross confides that he is consulting a therapist about his promiscuous lifestyle.

   Greene worries that Lewis is dating Morgenstern. He's astounded when she tells him that Morgenstern is only helping her transfer to a hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, so that she can be near her niece
   

8. Union Station

   It's Lewis' last day at work before she moves to Arizona, and Greene still hasn't told her that he's enamored with her.

   While on the mobile clinic, Anspaugh's traveling care center for the poor, Ross allows a streetwise 14-year-old girl, Charlie (recurring guest star KIRSTEN DUNST - "Interview with the Vampire," "Jumanji"), to forge the signature of a baby's mother for a vaccination after lab tests indicate the baby needs treatment and Ross cannot locate the mother. Meanwhile, the four members of the Herlihy family, who were involved in a terrible car wreck, are all discharged. Benton still feels guilty about his judgment concerning the Herlihy infant.

   Suspecting a conspiracy to force employees to quit before they can collect their pensions, Hathaway asks the nursing administrator to stop moving the nurses around to different departments where they are less qualified. The administrator agrees to a compromise in exchange for Hathaway serving on a hospital committee.

   Nurse Lydia Wright (recurring guest star ELLEN CRAWFORD) ends her marriage engagement to policeman Alfred "Al" Grabarsky (recurring guest star MIKE GENOVESE) because he keeps delaying the wedding. Devastated, he marries her in an impromptu ceremony at the hospital.

   Jeanie's husband finally gives her the signed divorce papers--as well as their house and car. He explains that not only does she deserve them, but his actions will enable him to qualify for a state health program for the poor.

   Doyle causes trouble by calling the police to charge a nine-months pregnant woman with the attempted murder of her fetus. Also, Keaton tries to train a skeptical Benton to visualize the body's interior before operating. Keaton continues her secret liaison with Carter. Benton and his former girlfriend Carla become romantic in an empty operating room.

   Finally, a surprise farewell party for Lewis is canceled due to an influx of patients from a car accident, and Lewis leaves quietly. Ross persuades Greene to tell Lewis how he feels. Greene rushes to the train station and stops Lewis from boarding a train. He breathlessly tells her that he loves her. However, Lewis' feelings toward Greene are those of a loving friendship, and she leaves.
   

9. Ask Me No Questions, I'll Tell You No Lies

   Without Lewis, the emergency room is even more understaffed. Greene calls a staff meeting and outlines a new scheduling system. He seems to be dealing with his heartbreak over Lewis' leaving by taking on more responsibility at work.

   Meanwhile, Hathaway studies hard for her pre-medical school midterm test in physics, and she scores fairly well. Hathaway also gains a minor victory by convincing the hospital administration to stop transferring the emergency room nurses. Weaver inadvertently insults Hathaway by saying that she is acting like management.

   Worrying that he is not succeeding in his pediatric surgery elective, Benton works hard at developing his visualization skills to impress Keaton. Unfortunately, during an operation observed by Keaton, Benton is called away by Morgenstern, and Carter is allowed to finish the surgery.

   Keaton surprises Carter by implying that their relationship is strictly for fun. He is sad to learn that she will soon be traveling to Pakistan for a few months to teach. Later, she comes to the Carter family farm with him to cut down a Christmas tree, and they have sex again.

   Wanting to prove his worth to Benton, Gant, though overloaded with work, refuses Carter's help. Gant blames Carter for helping Benton on a surgery instead of allowing him to help.

   When Greene treats Jeanie's ex-husband, Al, for HIV, he wonders if Jeanie may be infected as well, although Jeanie denies it. Weaver, who knows the truth, tells Greene to believe Jeanie. Even Anspaugh orders Greene to leave the situation alone. Breaking hospital rules, Greene checks Jeanie's confidential medical records and confirms his suspicions. He berates Weaver for not sharing the information with him and possibly making the hospital liable for a lawsuit should Jeanie spread the disease. When Jeanie finds out Greene violated her privacy, she furiously confronts him.
   

10. Homeless For The Holidays

    With rumors abounding about her HIV-positive status, Jeanie finally tells her co-workers the truth. Meanwhile, Greene and Weaver clash over how to institute policies regarding HIV-infected employees. Also, Doyle helps an abused woman escape from her husband.

    Charlie, the 14-year-old girl who convinced Ross to immunize a baby that she cares for, brings the infant to him again. Ross determines that the baby has a tumor. The mother, Gloria (TIA TEXADA), is missing, so he operates without her consent. When Gloria finally arrives at the hospital, she is on illicit drugs and is furious about the surgery. When Ross threatens to call the authorities, she leaves. Charlie is upset because she was staying with Gloria.

    After performing well in the child's successful surgery, Benton asks Keaton to recommend him for the next pediatric surgery rotation. She refuses because she feels that Benton's remote manner would not make him a good pediatric surgeon despite his excellent technique.

    A critically burned homeless man is rushed to the emergency room, accompanied by his dog, Nick. Greene promises the dying man that he will take care of the dog. While washing Nick in the emergency room, Greene falls and gashes his forehead. Jeanie is the only qualified staff person available to treat him. Reluctant because she is HIV-infected, Greene finally allows her to stitch his injury.

    After inviting Gant to attend a family holiday party with him, Carter reneges to be with Keaton. Gant is depressed because his girlfriend ended their relationship. Meanwhile, with nowhere else to go on Christmas Eve, Ross brings Charlie to Hathaway's home. Hathaway, who is celebrating a Ukrainian Christmas with her family, lets a now-homeless Charlie stay overnight.
    

11. Night Shift

    Greene prepares for his tenure review next week, hoping to join the faculty. His main competition is Weaver. When Weaver tries to recruit subjects for a grant to study the physical behavioral patterns of night-shift workers, Jeanie feels obligated to help Weaver, so she joins the study.

    Hathaway and Ross volunteer to perform a designated safety check to help Greene. They make a good team as they round up dangerous equipment. The former lovers stumble upon a room where they used to meet, and they recall old memories.

    After stealing expensive silverware from Hathaway's home on Christmas Eve, Charlie comes to the emergency room to get money from Ross to pay her pimp. Not believing her claim that she is in danger, Ross refuses her. Later, Charlie returns to the hospital, beaten and raped.

    Benton finds Keaton cuddling with Carter on her couch just before she leaves the emergency room to go work in Pakistan. The mortified Keaton assumes that Benton will blackmail her in order to get another rotation in pediatric surgery. But Benton's ethics will not allow him to do that.

    Gant feels Benton is being too tough on him. But when Gant's mistake nearly causes a young patient to die, Benton gets even tougher.

    Greene puts his career in jeopardy when he treats a woman who refuses to give her consent. Later, he and nurse Chuni Marquez (recurring guest star LAURA CERSN) subtly flirt during the night shift. After work, they consummate their attraction to each other in Greene's bedroom.

    Benton, Carter and Doyle feverishly work to save a victim who either tripped or threw himself in front of a subway. Although the patient is unrecognizable due to the injuries, they soon realize the victim is Gant.
    

12. Post Mortem

    Carter feels sorrow but also guilt about Gant's death even though the police rule it an accident. He wonders if it was really suicide and thinks that he wasn't a good enough friend to Gant. He also feels that Benton, who will not discuss the matter, may be partly responsible due to his harsh treatment of Gant. Later, Carter reads Benton's most recent evaluation of Gant, which was positive. Unfortunately, Gant never saw it. Carter rebukes Benton for his seeming lack of concern.

    Meanwhile, Charlie asks Ross to be her guardian, and Charlie's mother, whose former boyfriends have abused Charlie, agrees, claiming she can't control her daughter. Ross refuses.

    To protest cuts in their overtime pay, the nurses call in sick. Hathaway gets temporary employees and closes down part of the emergency room. However, a deathly ill patient from West Africa needs treatment. The doctors worry that he might have the highly contagious ebola virus. Jeanie is willing to treat him, helped by Dr. Greg Fischer (recurring guest star HARRY J. LENNIX) from Infectious Diseases, who discovers that the man has malaria.

    Fischer invites Jeanie to look at the stars with him through a telescope. She mistakenly thinks that he is homosexual, but when he kisses her she realizes her mistake. She tells him that she is HIV positive. Meanwhile, Greene overzealously courts Marquez, who wants to let their romance develop more slowly.

    When a homeless man dies in the emergency room, the overworked Hathaway takes responsibility for giving him the wrong blood. Due to the lack of nurses, Weaver and Greene don't think it is important to report the incident, but Hathaway insists
    

13. Fortune's Fools

    Greene concludes that he and Marquez have very little in common and asks Ross for advice on how to end the relationship. However, Marquez ends it amicably first.

    Carter thinks Benton's unwillingness to deal with Gant's death is affecting Benton's work performance. When Benton refuses to sign them up for any difficult surgeries, Carter gets angry. Later, Benton and Carter are slated to give an oral presentation to the surgical staff. Unfortunately, Benton never comes, making Carter appear unprepared. Instead, Benton accidentally sees his girlfriend, Carla, who informs him that she is pregnant. Disgusted and unaware of this new development, a frustrated Carter tells Benton that he intends to take a position that emergency room attending physician Dr. Angela Hicks (recurring guest star CCH POUNDER) offered him on her surgical team.

    Meanwhile, a newspaper article blames the emergency room nurses' strike for a homeless man's death. Hathaway, who gave him the wrong blood type, believes the strike was not a factor and that she is responsible. She tells this to a reporter and is suspended for doing so.

    Greene and Weaver show six prospective interns around the emergency room. Each takes three interns. Weaver's tour is boring, but Greene allows his interns to get involved in treating patients. When the tour is over, none of Weaver's interns applies for a position. But all of Greene's interns rank the emergency room as their top choice. Impressed, Anspaugh tells Greene that a tenured teaching spot is available on the faculty.

    Greene treats a woman, Heather Morgan (CAITLIN DULANY), who asks him to meet her at a bar later that evening. Since he wants to date Heather, he gives her case to Doyle and shows up at the bar.
    

14. Who's Appy Now

    Greene cancels one date so he can go on dates with two other women on the same night. But all three women, including County General's consulting psychiatrist Dr. Nina Pomerantz (recurring guest star JAMI GERTZ - "Twister"), discover the truth and get angry. Meanwhile, Fischer, the doctor from Infectious Diseases, enlists Jeanie's help in testing emergency room personnel for an infection. Later, Jeanie and Fischer kiss.

    Doyle and Carter's work relationship changes from competitive to cooperative after Doyle stops Carter from using his fingers to remove a razor-sharp bullet from an AIDS patient. Later, Doyle, who grew up as a policeman's daughter, teaches Carter how to shoot a gun at a firing range. Doyle casually reveals that she is a lesbian when she sees her ex-girlfriend there.

    Meanwhile, 17-year-old cystic fibrosis patient Jad Houston (CHAD LINDBERG) is in respiratory distress. At first, Ross believes that the boy has signed an order not to be resuscitated, but after he discovers that Jad is too young to make that decision, Ross saves his life. Ross convinces Jad's mother (VERONICA CARTWRIGHT - "The Witches of Eastwick") to sign the order as Jad wishes, but when Jad almost dies again, she forces a reluctant Ross to revive him.

    Also, Carter performs a perfect emergency appendectomy on his former teacher, Benton. And Nurse Haleh Adams (recurring guest star YVETTE FREEMAN) unsuccessfully takes over the suspended Hathaway's duties.
    

15. The Long Way Around

    Hathaway remains on suspension from the hospital. While Hathaway is shopping at a family-owned neighborhood store, two teenagers, Duncan (EWAN McGREGOR - "Trainspotting," "Emma") and James (Currie Graham), rob it. The teens had planned a simple, nonviolent heist, but the situation escalates when the elderly store owner shoots and injures James. Duncan shoots the owner, and several customers are injured as well. Someone escapes and calls the police. Trapped inside the store, the robbers take hostages, including Hathaway and her 10-year-old neighbor, Robert (MASON GAMBLE - "Dennis the Menace").

    After persuading the thieves to allow her to tend to the injured, Hathaway uses her medical skills and crude implements from the store to help the victims. Unfortunately, she is unable to save the elderly shopkeeper. She also negotiates with Duncan and James. Hathaway calms Duncan, who is upset that he killed the old man. Despite the tense situation, Hathaway sympathizes with him because she, too, killed an old man by accidentally giving him the wrong blood.

    Later, Duncan attempts to escape, taking Hathaway with him. However, a police officer shoots him. The standoff ends. Duncan and James are transported to the emergency room, where Hathaway reluctantly relinquishes control of her patient, Duncan, to Ross. The hostages are fine and owe their lives to Hathaway. Later, Duncan dies, while James will probably live to be prosecuted
    

16. Faith

    The nurses get a new contract, and Hathaway is reinstated after an investigation proves her not negligent in a patient's death. The nurses belatedly realize that she is a good manager. On her first day back at work, Hathaway leaves early to take the medical school admissions test.

    Benton tells his pregnant girlfriend, Carla, that he wants to be a supportive father. She informs him that she wants nothing from him. She believes Benton only cares about himself. Later, Benton remorsefully confides to Hicks that he was too concerned with his own career to care about Gant's feelings.

    Greene's 37-year-old Down's syndrome patient, Louise (LOUISE C. BROWN), needs a heart transplant. In the past, hospital therapist and transplant committee member Dr. Nina Pomerantz recommended not to put Louise on a waiting list. Greene argues with Pomerantz, but the patient's elderly mother supports the decision because she does not want her daughter to outlive her and be left alone.

    Meanwhile, Jeanie wants to do something spontaneous and asks Fischer to attend an opera with her. He treats her to a picnic in very cold weather. He suggests they make love, but Jeanie wants to let the relationship develop slowly.

    Cystic fibrosis patient Jad Houston signs a "do not resuscitate" order upon reaching age 18. Ross removes him from the respirator, and Jad survives. Also, Carter disagrees with Anspaugh's diagnosis and is proven correct, impressing Anspaugh.
    

17. Tribes

    Two 17-year-old victims are rushed into the emergency room after being shot during a drug deal that went awry at a diner. One is a white diner employee, and the other is a black patron, Kenny Law (NORRIS YOUNG), wearing gang attire. The white employee looks more seriously injured and is quickly treated. But Kenny is actually the more critical patient and eventually dies. At first, the medical staff assumes Kenny is a gang member, but later they learn he was an innocent bystander and high school basketball star. The white employee, who survives, is a drug dealer. Kenny's brother, Chris (recurring guest star JOE TORRY - "Sprung"), is outraged.

    Because of confidentiality rules, Greene prevents Doyle from informing Kenny's teammates that the white employee is a criminal. Later, a player from a rival team is brought in with a gunshot wound.

    Meanwhile, Hathaway convinces a rape victim to file criminal charges against the man who drugged her with a substance that causes loss of consciousness and amnesia.

    After the pregnant Carla has a car accident, she goes into premature labor. Jeanie treats her and stops the labor with drugs. Jeanie also discovers that Benton is the child's father. Later, Benton peeks at Carla's ultrasound and sees his unborn son. Also, Benton joins Dr. Hicks' general surgery team, which means that he'll be working with Carter again.

    Greene doesn't detect a serious heart problem in a patient until Carter makes the correct diagnosis. Also, Greene must care for his young daughter, Rachel (recurring guest star YVONNE ZIMA), when his ex-wife, Jennifer (recurring guest star CHRISTINE HARNOS), goes to Florida to visit her own mother, who suffered a stroke.
    

18. You Bet Your Life

    Anspaugh tells Greene to publish an article in a medical journal in order to compete with Weaver for a teaching position at the hospital. However, Greene cannot even maintain his commitments to the emergency room and to his daughter, Rachel, who develops social problems at school. Later, Greene consults with Dr. Pomerantz about a woman who wants surgery so badly that she eats some surgical equipment. He decides this might make an interesting article.

    Carter wants Anspaugh to perform delicate surgery on a patient, but Anspaugh refuses because he doesn't believe that the patient will survive the surgery. Carter convinces Hicks to perform the surgery without telling her about Anspaugh's refusal. When Carter's deception is exposed, he is placed on probation. The patient survives.

    Meanwhile, Hathaway continues to undermine Doyle's authority. Benton lies to get Carla's confidential hospital files and learns that she has gestational diabetes.

    Fischer plans to take Jeanie out of town for the weekend, but she hesitates to accept his offer. Jeanie treats a female AIDS patient who attempts suicide and eventually dies. Instead of going with Fischer, Jeanie visits Al and finds comfort with him.

    Ross treats a high school student who insists on attending her school dance. She needs gallbladder surgery. Ross orders an ambulance to drive her to the dance and return her to the hospital that night for surgery
    

19. Calling Dr. Hathaway

    Hathaway gets the results of her medical-school admissions test. Not only did she pass, but she scored in the 85th percentile. Weaver treats Hathaway as if she were already a medical student. However, Hathaway reconsiders attending medical school, realizing that she loves being a nurse and is not ready for a career change.

    Meanwhile, Carla has gestational diabetes, and Benton worries about her, as well as their unborn child. He uncharacteristically takes a day off from work and cares for Carla.

    Carter is still in trouble for disobeying Anspaugh's orders recently. When a mistake is made by Carter's rival intern, Dale Edson, it causes an allergic reaction in a patient. Dale covers it up, and Carter does not report it, fearing that Anspaugh would believe Dale instead of him.

    Also, a genetically engineered mouse escapes from the genetics laboratory and runs loose in the emergency room. A couple conducting a study on creative problem-solving in emergency departments makes Greene wonder if they are insane. Greene gives his daughter and her fellow girls' club members a tour of the emergency room. Later, Pomerantz and Greene take their daughters bowling. And when Carter tells Doyle that he is attracted to her, Doyle reminds him that she is a lesbian.
    

20. Random Acts

    When Jeanie learns that Al's medicine is not benefiting him much, she helps him get accepted into a new drug study conducted at the hospital by Fischer. Fischer learns that Jeanie and Al are seeing a lot of each other. Eventually, Jeanie and Al have sex.

    Benton acts as Carla's partner when she takes a birthing class, but he is unreliable and too strict, so she tells him that she wants another partner. Later, she is admitted to the hospital due to complications in her pregnancy and must remain lying down.

    Benton and Carter assist on a kidney transplant from a brother to a sister. The brother suffers complications, but the surgery is a success. Later, Carter astounds Benton by leaving a discussion among prestigious surgeons to check on the transplant patients.

    After his mother gets a bill from the hospital, Chris Law threatens Dr. Greene. Chris' brother, a black student and innocent bystander shot during a drug deal, recently died in the emergency room while the white drug dealer was successfully treated. Greene also has hostile encounters with a doomsayer and the father of an injured drum majorette (HEATHER MATARAZZO - "Welcome to the Dollhouse"), who wants his daughter to have unnecessary plastic surgery. Later in the hospital bathroom, Greene survives a brutal attack by an unknown assailant.

    Meanwhile, everyone wonders who is writing the romance novel found under the admissions desk and less-than-loosely based on members of the emergency room staff. Ross transfers his obsession with sex to golf. Greene learns that Doyle is a lesbian. And a new emergency pediatrics intern, Anna Del Amico (recurring guest star MARIA BELLO - "Mr. & Mrs. Smith"), joins the staff. Ross is somewhat intimidated by her
    

21. Make A Wish

    A battered and bruised Greene returns to work as additional security measures are added to the hospital. Greene is convinced that his attacker was a disgruntled patient or a patient's family member. But none of the people he suspects are considered likely candidates by the police, who believe that Greene was simply the victim of a random act of violence. Greene has not recovered psychologically from the attack.

    Meanwhile, Carter rethinks his career as a surgeon, feeling better utilized in the emergency room. He's interested in the lives of patients--not just their organs. His problems with Anspaugh continue when Carter devises a way to treat a patient who doesn't want surgery despite Anspaugh's recommendation.

    Al and Jeanie are very comfortable and happy as a couple for the first time ever.

    Carla delivers her baby two months prematurely and in critical condition. Benton acts like a doctor instead of a father during delivery. Benton and Carla must decide on a treatment option that could have serious risks for their tiny son.

    Also, Ross gives Hathaway a surprise birthday party--at her house.
    

22. One More For The Road

    Carter wants to leave the surgical residency program in order to pursue emergency medicine, but Anspaugh angrily refuses to allow it. Realizing budget restraints could hinder the transfer, Carter informs Weaver that he doesn't need a salary. When Carter persists, Anspaugh considers the change.

    The risky treatment performed on Benton and Carla's premature baby is successful. The baby improves, but there is a possibility that he will have permanent brain damage.

    Infuriated as a result of sleep deprivation due to his recent traumatic attack, Greene destroys the lounge, throwing furniture and other items around. Ross tries to help him, but Greene won't acknowledge that he has a problem. When police detectives show Greene pictures of possible attackers, Greene admits that he only saw his assailant's pants and shoes. He chooses a photo but is unsure if it is the correct one.

    Later, Greene is harassed on the subway by some teenage thugs that follow him off at his station and demand money. Greene turns around, points a gun at the robbers and forces them to board the train again.

    The 14-year-old streetwise girl Charlie is brought into the emergency room again. Tests indicate that she overdosed on cocaine and other drugs, and she suffers from hepatitis. Ross notifies Child and Family Services, but Charlie runs away before the authorities arrive.

    When Hathaway returns home from a date with another man, Ross is waiting. Ross and Hathaway share a kiss on her doorstep.
    

Season Four

1. Something New

   Suffering emotionally from his beating, Greene cannot behave compassionately towards patients, and he misdiagnoses them. Hathaway must correct him when he determines that a bulimic, Laura Quentin (recurring guest star DANIELLE HARRIS), has influenza. Ross also misdiagnoses a pediatric case due to a language problem, and Del Amico corrects him.

   Hathaway and Ross continue their secret love affair. Hathaway appeases Ross by giving him one of her dresser drawers for some of his belongings when he spends the night at her house.

   Hathaway and Greene interview unacceptable candidates for a new desk clerk position. Then Greene hires one of them, Cynthia Cooper (recurring guest star MARISKA HARGITAY - "Leaving Las Vegas," "Prince Street"), without consulting Hathaway.

   While Morgenstern recovers from his recent heart attack, he appoints Weaver as the acting chief of emergency services. And due to Carter's transfer to emergency medicine, Doyle has seniority over Carter. Both Carter and Del Amico must report to Doyle, much to Carter's chagrin. Carter and Del Amico meet their new medical students. Carter's student, George Henry (recurring guest star CHAD LOWE - "Life Goes On"), is a researcher with no interest in his emergency rotation, but Del Amico's student, Chasity Lee (recurring guest star MEREDITH ZINNER), is enthusiastic.

   The baby of Benton and his girlfriend, Carla (recurring guest star LISA NICOLE CARSON - "love jones," "Ally McBeal"), improves enough to be removed from the medical equipment. The superstitious father finally realizes that it is now safe to give their son a name: Reese Benton. Benton gives Dr. Elizabeth Corday a tour of the emergency room.

   Also, Dr. Greene is served with a subpoena because Kenny Law's family initiates malpractice proceedings against him for Kenny's death. Kenny was an innocent bystander shot in a drug deal gone awry at a diner. His brother later threatened Dr. Greene
   

2. Friendly Fire

   Carter accuses Dr. Maggie Doyle (recurring guest star JORJA FOX), a lesbian, of being interested in Del Amico and, therefore, giving the best cases to her. He also can never locate his medical student.

   A job-related injury forces Jeanie's ex-husband, Al Boulet (recurring guest star MICHAEL BEACH - "Soul Food"), to admit his HIV status to one of his coworkers, Bill (recurring guest star MICHAEL JACE).

   After consulting with Greene, Carter informs the husband of a comatose patient that she will never recover. Seconds later, the patient awakens but needs emergency surgery. Bulimic patient Laura Quentin returns to the emergency room as a result of Greene's negligence on her previous visit. Greene cannot perform sexually after a romantic dinner date with a water-polo player.

   Since Hathaway and Ross' love affair remains a secret, newcomer Corday asks Ross to escort her around the city. Hathaway reacts with jealousy, despite Ross' reassurances to her.

   Chief of staff Dr. Donald Anspaugh (recurring guest star JOHN AYLWARD) officially appoints Weaver as Morgenstern's temporary replacement. Weaver enacts unpopular cost-saving measures and warns Ross that his fellowship, paid by the e.r., may be in jeopardy.

   A married couple--who are arms merchants--check into the e.r. due to a weapons-related accident. Unit services coordinator Jerry Markovic (recurring guest star ABRAHAM BENRUBI) guards their weapons and accidentally discharges one, starting a fire in the ambulance loading bay. As a result, Weaver advises Jerry to use some of his vacation time while the hospital evaluates his continued employment.

   Against Benton's wishes, Carla asks Del Amico to circumcise baby Reese. And Carter and Del Amico have a first date at the Laundromat
   

3. When The Bough Breaks

   Greene's ex-wife, Jenifer (recurring guest star CHRISTINE HARNOS), is upset by Greene's paranoid behavior. She tells him that she won't allow their young daughter to visit him until he returns to normal.

   Carter and Del Amico greet another pair of new medical students. Carter hopes for a better student this time but is disappointed. Del Amico is angered by what she considers Ross' patronizing attitude towards her although she calms down later.

   Weaver obtains a copy of the proposal for Ross' fellowship, which is funded through the e.r. She tells Ross that he must find some research grants to cover his salary or join a private practice.

   Benton and Carla prepare for their baby's homecoming. Benton equips Carla's home with an array of medical machinery and trains Carla as if she were one of his medical students.

   Dismissed from a job site, Al believes it is due to his HIV status. Meanwhile, Weaver becomes angry when Jeanie risks infecting a man with her HIV virus in order to save his life.

   Outside, Carter accuses Benton of mistreating him in the e.r. He ends up hitting Benton, who knocks Carter down. Benton claims that he's angry that Carter ended his surgical residency under Benton after Benton expended a lot of time teaching him.

   Even though she doesn't know she's pregnant, a crack-addicted woman delivers a stillborn baby. Hathaway discovers that Greene never ordered a pregnancy test during the patient's previous hospital visits for stomach pains.
   

4. Good Touch, Bad Touch

   Hathaway proposes the idea of opening a clinic for women and children in the e.r. that would provide follow-up services. Weaver likes the concept but needs funding. She presents Hathaway with a stack of grant application manuals to investigate. Carter suggests that Hathaway speak to his grandmother, who is in charge of the Carter Family Foundation.

   Anspaugh orders Benton to leave a surgery in progress because Benton isn't properly prepared. Corday replaces him. Since Benton stays up late at night with his baby, he isn't able to finish his reading and work assignments.

   Del Amico diagnoses a 20-year-old male track star, Brett (COBY BELL), with testicular cancer. An embarrassing situation occurs when Del Amico examines him and Brett gets an erection.

   Greene gives his deposition for the Kenny Law malpractice lawsuit. He accuses Kenny's brother, Chris (recurring guest star JOE TORRY - "Sprung"), of beating him in the hospital men's room because of Kenny's death. While Cynthia and Greene share smoking breaks, Greene's demeanor noticeably improves.

   Carter's medical student gets sick every time he encounters a trauma. Meanwhile, Carter begins to question leaving his surgical career when he observes surgeon Dale Edson (recurring guest star MATTHEW GLAVE) being praised for saving a patient that Carter initially diagnosed
   

5. Ground Zero

   Since Al can't find work in Chicago, he suggests to Jeanie that they move to Atlanta where a friend has offered him a job. Anspaugh tries to persuade Benton to join the surgical team of Dr. "Rocket" Romano (recurring guest star PAUL McCRANE - "Fame," "Robocop"), a high-tech surgeon who uses robotics. Corday is already a member of the team.

   The hospital settles the Kenny Law malpractice suit, but the Law family is still suing Greene for violation of civil rights. Ross refers Greene to a good lawyer, but Greene angrily refuses his help. As the pressure increases, Greene can no longer cope with all the demands placed on him. He walks out of the e.r. with Cynthia following. Greene confides in Cynthia, and they share a passionate kiss.

   Hathaway and Del Amico visit the Carter estate. Del Amico is angry at Carter for hiding that he comes from a very wealthy family. Hathaway privately meets with Carter's grandmother, Millicent (FRANCES STERNHAGEN - "Cheers"), who supports Hathaway's idea for a clinic and writes a generous check.

   Anspaugh orders Weaver to attend a conference hosted by the Synergix Physician's Group, an organization that streamlines management to reduce costs. After the seminar, Weaver privately meets with symposium speaker Dr. Ellis West (recurring guest star Clancy Brown - "Starship Troopers"), who flirts with her. Weaver returns to County General and terminates Jeanie as part of the new cost-saving measures.

   Ross' father is killed in a car accident in California. When Ross visits Greene at home to tell him, Cynthia answers the door --wearing Greene's robe. Ross must travel to California to claim the body. Greene will accompany him. Later at Hathaway's house, Ross professes his love to Hathaway before he leaves
   

6. Ambush (THE LIVE EPISODE)

   In an episode originally aired live, a crew making a documentary video invades Chicago's County General Hospital to obtain footage of the e.r. staff at work. Dr. Mark Greene (series star ANTHONY EDWARDS) hosts the group. The recent victim of a violent beating at the hospital, Greene has not recovered emotionally from the ordeal. He gets upset when the videographers ask him to discuss his trauma on camera. After initially protesting, Dr. Anna Del Amico (series star MARIA BELLO) consents to being taped.

   Meanwhile, head nurse Carol Hathaway (series star JULIANNA MARGULIES) and pediatric emergency fellow Dr. Douglas Ross' (series star GEORGE CLOONEY) renewed love affair remains secret.

   Attending physician Dr. Kerry Weaver (series star LAURA INNES) informs Dr. John Carter (series star NOAH WYLE) that, even though he completed a year as a surgical intern, he must repeat his intern year because he switched his specialty to emergency medicine. Dr. Elizabeth Corday (series star ALEX KINGSTON), a visiting surgical lecturer from Great Britain, relieves Dr. Peter Benton (series star ERIQ LA SALLE), who is working longer hours to make up for Carter's absence from the surgical program.

   On camera, e.r. physician assistant Jeanie Boulet (series star GLORIA REUBEN), who is HIV positive, administers first aid to a bleeding AIDS-infected man (guest star JESSE BORREGO - "Mi Vida Loca," "Con Air"). Dr. David Morgenstern (recurring guest star WILLIAM H. MACY - "Boogie Nights"), the chief of emergency services, suffers a heart attack, which is captured on tape. And Greene, who angrily accuses Carter on camera of not following proper procedure in another life-threatening situation, agrees to be interviewed about his beating--if the documentary crew scraps the footage of him and Carter.
   

7. Fathers And Sons

   Ross and Greene travel down a desert highway in California. Ross must make funeral arrangements for his dad, who was killed in an auto accident. They stop at a Highway Patrol office. The officer who investigated the accident informs Ross that his father, Ray Ross, drove past a stop sign at over 120 miles per hour with a blood alcohol level more than four times the legal limit. A woman riding with Ray was also killed in the crash, along with the driver of the truck Ray's car ran into.

   Ross and Greene attend the funeral of the truck driver. They also find the motel in Barstow where Ray and his wife were staying--Ross didn't know his father had remarried. As they examine the couple's belongings, Ross and Greene find receipts from a pawnshop and pick up the articles, which include a Rolex watch and a movie projector. Afterwards, the two men go back to the motel and watch home movies.

   Ross admits to Greene that he and Hathaway are reunited. When Greene confides that his parents live in San Diego, Ross and Greene drive down for a visit. Greene's relationship with his mother (BONNIE BARTLETT - "St. Elsewhere") is good, but his father (JOHN CULLUM - "Northern Exposure"), a retired naval officer, remains aloof from Greene. To add to the unpleasantness of the visit, Greene discovers that his father has emphysema from smoking cigarettes.

   After returning to Barstow from their San Diego trip, Ross and Greene are surprised to find Hathaway outside their motel
   

8. Freak Show

   Initially, Jeanie believes her layoff is due to budget cutbacks. However, she concludes that her dismissal is due to her HIV status after she discovers that Weaver gave herself a huge salary increase and had a new registered nurse, Lawrence Takata (recurring guest star GEDDE WATANABE - "Sixteen Candles"), transferred to the e.r. Doyle urges Jeanie to consult the Gay and Lesbian Health Advocates for help.

   Since visiting his parents, Greene's attitude improves. He gives Hathaway a note from Ross, but she misplaces it. Cynthia finds the love letter and thinks it's for her. Greene presents Cynthia with a necklace he bought at a Barstow, California, pawnshop. Meanwhile, Cynthia mistakenly places an ad in the newspaper for Hathaway's clinic one week too early, and a crowd of people show up for treatment.

   Romano asks Benton to join his surgical team--on a trial basis. A 13-year-old male accident victim with reversed abdominal organs (a one-in-a-million case) requires emergency surgery on his liver. Benton and Corday operate while Romano assists, but the boy doesn't survive his injuries.

   Carter's former medical student George Henry must repeat his clerkship due to Carter's evaluation of him. Allergic to latex gloves, Henry goes into anaphylactic shock and is brought back to life by Carter and Del Amico.

   A wealthy attorney, Herb Spivak (recurring guest star DAN HEDAYA - "The First Wives Club," "Ransom"), is treated in the e.r. for a nonvenomous snakebite. He volunteers to represent Greene (gratis) in the Kenny Law civil rights case in order to follow Greene around the e.r. for a day.

   Synergix Physician's Group chief executive officer Dr. Ellis West thanks Weaver for the role she played in Synergix's new contract with County General to supply extra attending physicians to the hospital.
   

9. Obstruction Of Justice

   Jeanie meets with activists from the Gay and Lesbian Defense Fund on what is supposed to be her first day of unemployment. Due to their advice, she reports to work. Their tactics succeed, and Jeanie is reinstated by Anspaugh after his encounter with representatives from the fund. Al gets a job in Atlanta, but Jeanie chooses to remain in Chicago.

   Dr. Ellis West from Synergix Physician's Group moves boxes and computers into the e.r. A busy Greene asks Cynthia to take Rachel to the dentist. When they return, Greene and his ex-wife see that Cynthia has allowed Rachel (recurring guest star YVONNE ZIMA) to get a radical new haircut.

   A patient, Dwayne Jackson (HILL HARPER), insists that he's having a sickle-cell crisis, but Weaver believes he's faking in order to get drugs. She refuses to give him the Demerol he requests and releases him. However, when he returns, Ross treats him with the necessary pain-killers that his affliction requires.

   Corday questions her own motives when a 21-year-old female accident victim, Allison Beaumont (recurring guest star MICHELE MORGAN), goes into a coma after Corday elects to operate on her. The four-hour surgery was done to repair the victim's leg, which could have been amputated.

   Herb Spivak, Greene's civil rights attorney, enters the e.r. ready for his day of experiencing life as a doctor. During his shift with Greene, Herb actually saves a life. He also manages to get the lawsuit against Greene dropped.

   Carter's wealthy cousin, Chase (recurring guest star JONATHAN SCARFE), stops by for a quick visit. Soon afterwards, a drunk, beaten and handcuffed woman, Darlene Newman (MEGAN CAVANAGH - "A League of Their Own"), is brought to the e.r. by a cop, Bill Docherty (JOHN P. CONNOLLY). Carter believes the woman is a victim of spousal abuse and refuses to cooperate with the officer. Docherty arrests Carter, hauling him off to jail. Later, Del Amico posts Carter's bail.
   

10. Do You See What I See?

    Miracles occur on Christmas Eve at the e.r. Benton administers to a homeless, blind man who was hit by a car. Once he's touched by Benton, the old man's sight returns--temporarily. After other sick transients hear about Benton's spectacular healing powers, they inundate the e.r. Meanwhile, Corday's comatose patient, Allison, regains consciousness. During the department's annual Christmas party, Hathaway announces that she and Ross are reunited--to the surprise of absolutely no one. Then Ross proposes marriage to her.

    Hathaway decorates the e.r. for Millicent Carter's visit, but the Christmas tree catches fire during Millicent's tour. Millicent replaces it with a spectacularly decorated tree and bestows another generous monetary gift to Hathaway's clinic. Carter's cousin Chase accompanies the family's matriarch. Carter discovers Chase injecting himself with heroin--he's a junkie.

    Paramedic Dean Powell (recurring guest star GEORGE EADS) wheels in a 7-year-old boy whom he retrieved from a chimney. Meanwhile, Weaver and Ellis share a romantic tryst. Cynthia confesses to Greene that she has a 5-year-old son who lives with the boy's paternal grandparents in a trailer park. And Carter writes a passing evaluation for George Henry, one of his medical students.

    Finally, a 67-year-old female patient, Harriet Larkin (guest star NATALIE CORE), receives help from the staff. The victim of a horrendously brutal rape, Harriet inspires Greene to apologize to Chris Law
    

11. Think Warm Thoughts

    Ross wants to buy Hathaway an engagement ring and set a date for the wedding, but Hathaway is happy just being engaged--without any ring to make it official. Hathaway's mother, Halyna (recurring guest star ROSE GREGORIO), is disturbed by her daughter's reinvolvement with Ross, remembering the devastating effect the relationship had on Hathaway a few years ago.

    Allison has vocal cord paralysis and desperately wants to regain her voice. Corday and Romano disagree on her treatment. Corday upsets Romano by asking Dr. Kotlowitz (recurring guest star DENNIS BOUTSIKARIS) from another hospital to perform a special surgical procedure on Allison. He agrees to do it for free.

    After reviewing Synergix's first-month reports with Ellis, Weaver and Anspaugh discover that the cost-saving measures are effective. Ellis admits he'd like an overall management contract. His romance with Weaver continues. Meanwhile, Greene works with Dr. Swift (MICHAEL IRONSIDE - "Free Willy," "Starship Troopers"), who is a friend of Greene's and one of the attending physicians from Synergix. Greene doesn't approve of the budget-cutting medical methods Swift uses in treating the patients.

    Carter inspires second-year medical student Laura Brown (guest star SARAH HUDNUT) to apply for a clerkship in the e.r. Anspaugh's 12-year-old son, Scott (recurring guest star TREVOR MORGAN), is brought to the hospital with abdominal pain. Treated for cancer ten months ago, the boy is uncooperative, but Jeanie has a calming effect on him.

    An elderly rape victim checks into the e.r. The rapist's modus operandi matches another rape whose victim recently underwent treatment here. And Hathaway's clinic is a success.
    

12. Sharp Relief

    Ross plans to surprise Hathaway by bringing her to a romantic inn to be married. Greene agrees to be his best man. Meanwhile, an oblivious Hathaway does her paramedic ride-along with Pickman (recurring guest star EMILY WAGNER) and Powell. They answer a call where a beaten, elderly woman is near death, upsetting Powell. An obvious victim of the same rapist who attacked the other two elderly women brought to the e.r., the new victim later dies at the hospital. A furious Greene realizes the Chicago police don't intend to warn the public about the serial rapist. Hathaway and Powell kiss. Hathaway confesses her confusion to an upset Ross.

    Scott Anspaugh's cancer recurs. Dr. Anspaugh, a widower, hires Jeanie, who shares a good relationship with Scott, to be the boy's part-time private duty aide. Upset with Corday about Allison's case, Romano takes her off his surgical team for the week. While performing surgery on Scott, Romano makes a sexist comment about Corday to Benton. Kotlowitz operates successfully on Allison's vocal cords.

    Weaver discovers information about Synergix that makes her question the e.r.'s involvement with it. Synergix closed 60 percent of the trauma centers in the Midwest that it manages and, in her opinion, maximizes profits to the detriment of the patients.

    Chase asks Carter to help him stop using heroin. He hasn't had any drugs in two days and is feeling sick but refuses to enter a detoxification center. Carter and Del Amico stay with Chase at his posh townhouse, administering the necessary medications to assist him during his withdrawal
    

13. Carter's Choice

    A blizzard descends on Chicago. A heroic security guard, shot when he interrupted a rape, cannot be saved. Paramedic Powell brings the rape victim to the e.r. Police capture the critically injured serial rapist. Carter and the staff reluctantly save him. Del Amico is angered by Carter's treatment of the rapist.

    To Weaver's chagrin, the hospital board votes to negotiate with Synergix for an emergency department management contract. Weaver accuses Ellis of dating her to help get the contract. But she is mistaken. He withdraws the proposal. After the weapons incident, Weaver finally allows Jerry to return to the day shift.

    Cynthia informs Greene that her landlord wants her to sign a six-month lease. She hints that she'd like to move in with Greene and becomes very upset when he prefers helping with her rent. Meanwhile, Carla wants to return to work and place Reese in the hospital day care. But Benton is opposed to any outside care for their son. He meets Carla's new boyfriend, Roger McGrath (VICTOR WILLIAMS). And Corday suggests a liaison with Benton. He agrees to a game of darts--but nothing more.

    Ross sees Hathaway comfort Powell and believes she is publicly humiliating him. Hathaway reminds him of all his past indiscretions and confesses she needs a little time. Eventually Ross tells her that he'll give her all the time she requires.

    A mentally challenged pregnant clinic patient, Mary (LILY KNIGHT), and her husband, Robert (DAVID PAUL SOMMER), walk into the e.r. She's in labor. After the delivery, her sister tells Hathaway to contact a social worker and have the baby taken away from Mary and Robert because they are incapable of raising a newborn. Hathaway disagrees but contacts the social worker, who concurs with Hathaway. The baby stays with its parents
    

14. Family Practice

    After his mother falls off a ladder and injures her knee, Greene flies to San Diego to be with his parents. A concerned Cynthia impulsively arrives on a later flight during which the airline loses her luggage. Captain Greene drives them to the naval hospital where Greene's mother is a patient.

    Due to her injury, Greene's mother is temporarily confined to a wheelchair. But Greene is more troubled by his mother's bizarre behavior, alternating with bouts of depression. Not trusting the military medical care she's receiving, he pursues a second opinion from a non-military doctor. Greene does not want to accept that his mother is exhibiting symptoms of dementia.

    Greene discovers that his mother sees a non-military psychiatrist who treats her for depression. After Greene and his father argue, the older emphysemic Greene goes into respiratory distress. Greene administers mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and the Captain becomes a patient in the naval hospital e.r.

    During Captain Greene's recovery in the e.r., a military helicopter crashes, sending the crew to the hospital. Greene helps in the military e.r., while Captain Greene comforts the young helicopter pilot. Each of the Greenes admires the other's contribution in this crisis.

    The cause of Mrs. Greene's dementia remains unclear. As a result of it, her observations and recollections lack tact. Her brutal honesty forces Cynthia and Greene to examine their relationship. Greene admits that it is mostly sexual, upsetting Cynthia. Realizing that she does not belong with him during this family crisis, Cynthia returns to Chicago. Greene develops a better understanding of his father, and the two men become closer. Greene's parents return to their home
    

15. Exodus

    Carter examines an elderly scientist, Dr. George Bikel (MICKEY ROONEY - "The Black Stallion"), for glaucoma. Meanwhile, during a paramedic ride-along, Corday risks her life for an accountant, Leo Leipziger (JOEY PERILLO), trapped under rubble from an explosion at a chemical warehouse fire. Although she saves Leo, his arm must be amputated at the hospital.

    Three other workers, injured in the fire, enter the e.r. with dangerous chemicals dripping from their clothes. Exposed to the toxins while assisting them, Weaver faints and experiences a seizure. Carter takes control of the disaster. The e.r. is quarantined: The contaminated patients and staff are taken outside to the ambulance bay, and the clean patients and staff are moved to the cafeteria. The hazardous materials team reports to the hospital to clean the toxic areas and affected people.

    Hathaway and Ross administer to an 8-year-old girl, Sophie (KELSEY MULROONEY), who is in acute renal failure. Due to the chemical disaster, they rush to transfer her from the e.r. Undergoing kidney dialysis, Sophie is removed from the machine to take the elevator upstairs to the intensive care unit. When the elevator shuts down between floors, Ross and Hathaway work fervently to get the child off the elevator before her oxygen runs out
    

16. My Brother's Keeper

    Greene finally locates Cynthia, who quit her job in the e.r. and moved. He returns her lost luggage from the San Diego trip, apologizing for his behavior and admitting that he doesn't want their relationship to end. But Cynthia realizes Greene thinks he loves her only because she loves him and refuses to reconcile with him. A cigarette-smoking end-stage lung cancer victim who commits suicide in the e.r. motivates Greene to quit smoking.

    Ross presents his PCA research paper to the pediatric staff. Weaver finds a flaw in the study, and a furious Ross must redo part of it. When an 8-year-old boy poisons his younger brother, Ross believes the older boy is a victim of child abuse by his stepfather. But the boy's mother, Mary Jo (TRICIA CAST - "The Young and the Restless"), disagrees, and the authorities commit the unrepentant brother. Jeanie assists Scott Anspaugh during his last round of chemotherapy. Scott becomes upset when he realizes that Jeanie's job is finished as his caregiver.

    Meanwhile, Romano gives Corday an unfavorable and unjust six-month review. He complains that she appears distracted and unfocused and suggests that she help him on a new study. Benton takes Corday to the Museum of Natural History where they encounter his sister, Jackie (recurring guest star KHANDI ALEXANDER - "NewsRadio").

    An unidentified motorcycle accident victim is transferred from another hospital despite his life-threatening condition. After the man is identified and found to have excellent insurance, the physician who originally transferred him to County General (he also has surgical privileges at County General) decides to perform expensive surgery on the man.

    Six patients who took heroin together are rushed to the e.r. Carter revives one of them: his cousin Chase. Carter doesn't know if Chase will live in a vegetative state or recover. His grandmother and grandfather (GEORGE PLIMPTON) are furious at Carter for hiding Chase's addiction
    

17. A Bloody Mess

    After recovering from a heart attack, Morgenstern returns to work and has difficulty adjusting to the demands of his job. Consequently, Corday finishes a procedure Morgenstern can't.

    Meanwhile, Jeanie rushes an agonized Scott to the hospital. Ross performs a painful bone-marrow biopsy that reveals the return of Scott's cancer. Hathaway opens her clinic and solicits the staff to be tested as possible bone-marrow donors for Scott.

    With Corday and Reese as his passengers, Benton drives Corday's car and accidentally backs it into a pedestrian, Sally Ingram (SHERRI LUBOV-RIPPS), who suffers minor injuries. After Corday confronts him, Benton admits he has an issue about dating a white woman.

    A panicked husband, Dave (TROY RUPTASH), ushers his pregnant wife, Karen (KIMBERLY RUSSELL), into the e.r. Her risky pregnancy threatens her life. Del Amico suggests drug treatment to alleviate Karen's severe nausea and vomiting, but Karen flatly refuses to try it and put the baby at risk. Dave accuses Del Amico of placing the baby's life ahead of his wife's.

    Corday brings her study of artificial blood to the e.r. with Greene as her faculty advisor--much to the chagrin of Romano. Ross decides not to renew his pediatric emergency room fellowship because he's applying for an attending position.

    At the clinic, Hathaway administers birth control medication to 16-year-old Natile (MORGAN NAGLER). Later, the girl returns to the clinic with her irritated mother, and Natile confesses to Hathaway that she is having sex with her 40-year-old married teacher. Hathaway reports the teacher to the authorities.

    Carter visits Chase at the neurology center where Chase remains unable to speak
    

18. Gut Reaction

    Ross applies for a position as a pediatric emergency attending physician; however, no such post currently exists. Weaver doesn't recognize the need for it, but Greene does, noting Ross' expertise.

    Recovered from leg and vocal cord surgery, Allison Beaumont trains as a paramedic, assisting on the team that transports Dr. Lyle Swanson (ROBERT ELLENSTEIN), a pathologist and also Morgenstern's former histology teacher, to the e.r. Instead of the usual approach, Morgenstern performs a procedure on Swanson laparoscopically with Benton assisting. Something goes terribly wrong. Fearing for Dr. Swanson's life, Benton pushes Morgenstern out of the way and takes over the surgery, but the patient dies.

    Greene informs Del Amico that the blood sample she gave to be a donor for Scott Anspaugh's bone-marrow transplant matches an out-of-state patient instead. A frightened Del Amico agrees to be a donor and asks Carter to perform the painful procedure. Meanwhile, Scott receives no matches. He agrees to try an experimental treatment that Jeanie suggests. Later, Jeanie realizes that Scott consented because of his infatuation with her. When she confronts him, Scott admits he doesn't want any more chemotherapy, and she accedes to his request.

    Upset that Chase's drug addiction was kept secret from her, Carter's grandmother places a stop payment on a check she gave the clinic. Later, she replaces it. However, she also takes away Carter's trust fund, leaving him penniless.

    Greene oversees the committee for the annual e.r. banquet. Despite many mishaps during the event, everyone has a great time.
    

19. Shades Of Gray

    The hospital suspends Benton after he admits he pushed Morgenstern out of the way during the surgery that led to Dr. Swanson's death.

    The e.r. treats victims from the bombing of a family planning, prenatal care and abortion clinic. One of them, Brianna Thomas (RENEE FAIA), 18 weeks pregnant, was undergoing an abortion when the bombing occurred. Weaver takes over for Del Amico, who refuses to continue the abortion. Another victim, Zoe Kearney (SALLY LIVINGSTONE), a pregnant 17-year-old, becomes comatose due to her injuries. Zoe's parents decide to keep her alive until the baby is viable.

    Allison Beaumont returns to the e.r. as a patient. While rescuing victims from the explosion, she became trapped under the rubble. When Allison goes into cardiac arrest, Corday performs CPR for over 30 minutes. Allison survives, and Benton comforts a tearful Corday.

    Morgenstern shows the tape of the botched laparoscopy to Weaver--a tape he had been hiding--and resigns. The tape reveals that Dr. Swanson died due to Morgenstern's error. Benton, who is reinstated, shares a passionate kiss with Corday.

    Carter examines a disoriented geriatric patient, Mr. Newton (MARC LAWRENCE - "Gotti"), brought in by his son (JOHN HOSTETTER), covered with feces and bedsores. An elder abuse representative contacted by Carter determines that the old man needs to go to a facility. But Mr. Newton regains his lucidity and pleads to return to his home.

    Meanwhile, after the death of his son, Dr. Anspaugh requests that Jeanie sing a song at Scott's funeral
    

20. Of Past Regrets And Future Fear

    A self-conscious Benton wakes up at Corday's apartment after spending the night with her. Later, he attends Reese's baptism, but he feels uncomfortable due to Carla's new boyfriend, Roger. Meanwhile, Romano asks Corday for a date, but she refuses.

    Paramedics rush Paul Canterna (MICHAEL RAPAPORT - "Cop Land"), a security guard covered with chemical burns, to the e.r. Greene realizes that Canterna has less than 12 hours to live. Hathaway does not let Canterna die alone.

    Weaver informs a 68-year-old woman, Lauretta Wienbach (JANET ROTBLATT), that she contracted AIDS from her 70-year-old fianci. Jeanie loses patience with a young college student, Stiles (KEITH BOGART), who broke an ankle in a death-defying act on a bridge. A young father (KIERAN MULRONEY) accidentally runs his car over his 5-year-old son. Benton treats the child and surgically removes his spleen. The boy will recover.

    At Carter's insistence, Millicent Carter eventually agrees to leave Chase in the neurology institute. She offers to reinstate Carter's trust fund, but Carter declines because he wants to be self-sufficient. Since Chase will never fully recover and take over the Carter business, Millicent pleads with Carter to give up medicine and help the family. He refuses.

    Ross treats a 6-month-old baby, Josh, who is experiencing methadone withdrawal. His mother, a heroin addict, keeps the baby addicted so she can use his drugs
    

21. Suffer The Little Children

    Jeanie fears she might be getting ill, but tests prove she's fine. Benton and Corday believe that Romano saw them kissing in the locker room. Romano implies to Corday that he will not sponsor her next year. Benton confronts Romano about Benton's relationship with Corday, something Romano was not aware of.

    Dr. Max Rosher (JAMES LeGROS - "Born on the Fourth of July") performs a feasibility study on setting up a pediatric unit in the e.r. Formerly addicted to pain-killers, Rosher is Del Amico's ex-attending physician from Philadelphia. He's also rekindled his romance with her and is staying at Del Amico's home. Ross hopes that Rosher will recommend creating a pediatric attending position for Ross. However, Rosher also appears interested in the job.

    Tina Marie Chambliss (SWOOSIE KURTZ - "Sisters"), a televangelist from the Christian Cable Network, enters the e.r. with complications due to a recent face-lift. The tests Del Amico performs indicate the diabetic Tina Marie has a kidney problem. Tina Marie and her husband/business partner use the bad news to telecast a live broadcast so that their fans can pray for Tina Marie and, more importantly, send money for her recovery.

    Meanwhile, the 6-month-old methadone-addicted Josh will be returned to his mother, who steals his drugs. An angry Ross tells the child services employee that Josh must stay in the hospital because he might have pneumonia, which is not true. Ross begins an experimental, ultrarapid detox that will take 12 to 18 hours. He can't admit Josh because he does not have the mother's consent so Ross, with Hathaway's assistance, performs the procedure surreptitiously. Greene sees them working on the unregistered patient. A furious Weaver and Greene chastise Ross for disobeying hospital rules. Ross and Hathaway could be terminated from their jobs
    

22. A Hole In The Heart

    Ross follows Weaver as she rushes baby Josh up to the pediatric intensive care unit. They encounter Dr. Babcock (DAVID BRISBIN), a pediatric anesthesiologist, who continues Ross' rapid detox procedure on the baby--much to Weaver's surprise. Later, the treatment proves successful. But even though Ross saved the little boy, he may be terminated from his job.

    Romano informs Corday--via letter--that he won't sponsor her next year. Reese's day-care worker thinks Reese might have a hearing problem. Carter suspects Rosher stole a missing vial containing a pain killer. Rosher tells Del Amico that if he recommends an e.r. pediatric department, he might like to stay and manage it.

    Weaver asks Anspaugh to appoint her as permanent chief of emergency medicine, and he informs her that there will be a national search for the best candidate, per county policy. An insurance company refuses to allow a 50-year-old man, Mr. Wass (ROGER ROBINSON), to get the anticoagulation medicine Weaver prescribes. A furious Weaver vocally resigns as acting chief.

    A wife (CARRIE SNODGRESS - "Diary of a Mad Housewife") must decide whether to keep her terminally ill husband in a coma or order surgery that will wake him up but not save his life. To Hathaway's chagrin, a psychiatric resident interviews and releases Victor Nable (MICHAEL RISPOLI - "While You Were Sleeping"), a 40-year-old man brought to the e.r. with superficial lacerations on his wrist. Later, when a bloodied Nable returns to the e.r., Hathaway discovers Nable's wife and two children shot but all still alive. The entire e.r. crew works feverishly to save the family.