As he displays more competence in his work, John Carter (NOAH WYLE) gains confidence in himself. He impresses the new head of the ER, Dr. Swift (MICHAEL IRONSIDE), and even Dr. Peter Benton (ERIQ LA SALLE). But Benton behaves coolly towards Carter when he learns, along with the rest of the ER, that Carter's family is well-to-do. Benton tries to hide his attraction to the married Jeanie Boulet (GLORIA REUBEN), who once took care of his mother.

Meanwhile, Dr. Susan Lewis (SHERRY STRINGFIELD) saves a young male suicide victim, who crashed his car intentionally when his girlfriend stopped dating him. Lewis also struggles to help her pregnant sister, Chloe (KATHLEEN WILHOITE), who is not taking good care of herself.

After moving to Milwaukee, Dr. Mark Greene (ANTHONY EDWARDS) tries to reconcile with his wife, Jennifer (CHRISTINE HARNOS). Unfortunately, he continues to antagonize Dr. Swift and further jeopardizes his attending job in the ER for next year.

Dr. Douglas Ross (GEORGE CLOONEY) must perform an embarrassing test on a dozen Catholic school girls whom he suspects have bacterial meningitis. Later, he coaches Jake's (ZACHARY BROWN) Little League baseball team, bringing him closer to Jake's mother, Diane Leeds (LISA ZANE).