ER Episode 14.04 Gravity

Baby Joe can't put down a book his father made for him. Abby drops off Joe with babysitter Tanya for a day at the park, and reluctantly heads into work. Beautician Angie grabs Abby at the hospital door. Angie wants to thank everyone for saving her son's life, and has arranged for a day of free spa service in the ER. Abby emerges with a Farrah Fawcett hair-do to tell everyone not to say a word, or they're dead meat.

Frank introduces everyone to Javier, the new desk clerk. Also new, paramedic Zach is breaking in Pratt's brother Chaz, a rookie. They bring in Willie Archibald, a big guy in his sixties with killer hip pain. Gates calls in a favor to set up a surprise for Joshua. Maintenance man Homer comes in with his wife Mary complaining of pain in the right flank. Abby diagnoses a kidney stone, and has Grady do tests to confirm.

The arthritis in Archibald's hips has eroded his cartilage; he's got bone grinding on bone. He tells Pratt that even though he can barely walk, he takes nothing for pain, since he can't afford insurance or surgery, and is too young for Medicare. Noticing Archibald's Super Bowl ring, Frank recognizes Archibald and asks for an autograph. Gates welcomes Neela back to the ER on her first day, but Katey's not too happy to see her.

Gates asks Pratt why he didn't tell him that Chaz is gay? When Pratt seems offended, Gates assures him that he still would have sponsored him, but he could have made things easier. Archibald finally admits that he's addicted to vicodin, which he's been getting on his 80-year-old mother's Medicare.He's on the county list for free surgery, but there's an 18 month wait. His only asset is the house he bought his mother, and he refuses to sell.

Archibald gives Pratt his Super Bowl ring - perhaps he can trade it for surgery. Pratt wonders what happened to all Archibald's football money, but Frank knows old school players never made much. The ring is the symbol of Archibald's sacrifice on the field, and shouldn't be sold. Abby gets a phone call and rushes out of the ER to meet Tanya, who runs up with bloody, unconscious Joe. A terrified Tanya didn't see Joe fall, and Abby tells her to get out of the ER, as she leaves a message for Luka.

Gates surprises Joshua and his mom Serena with tickets to a game at Wrigley Field, front row, third base. Derrek Lee stops by to present a signed baseball, and Joshua is floored. Abby prefers to apply Joe's dermabond, but Grady thinks it's better if he does it, and so does Morris. Abby doesn't want Joe to have a CT scan either, but relents. Even though Bettina advises her to sedate Joe, Abby is able to keep him still with Luka's book. But the scan indicates Joe should have an MRI - he'll have to be sedated anyway.

Zach teases Chaz, throwing a red bra in his face, and a fight ensues. Pratt steps in to defend his brother, punching Zach. Angry, Chaz tells Pratt to back off, he's fine. Luka still hasn't called, and Abby can't bear to watch Joe get an IV inserted. Sam takes Abby outside, explaining all you can do for your kids is hope they keep getting up when they fall.

Reggie fell over at his school desk. Morris assures him his arm isn't broken. Reggie confesses that the reason he hasn't been sleeping is that a crazy green zombie has been visiting him at night. Dawn rushes in to grab Morris. Abby's patient Homer doesn't have a kidney stone, but a tumor, and needs to be rushed to surgery. His wife Mary faints. Neela cuts off blood supply to the kidney to increase the surgery's chance of success, a ballsy move, which Katey doesn't support.

Neela confronts Katey. Katey can hate her as much as she wants, but Neela refuses to take the blame for what happened to Ray. Joe is waking up, and Pratt visits Abby, who's been crying. She admits all this would have been easier if she wasn't alone, but Pratt tells her she's not. Sam comes in with the MRI results: Joe's fine. On the way out, Morris tells Abby she misdiagnosed Homer. He reassures Abby that everything's okay; they're a team, it's been handled, and after her long day, it's time for Abby to go home.

Morris gives Reggie anti-zombie pills [green M&Ms], telling him to take two before brushing his teeth. Morris hits the spa, where Chuny gossips with Javier, who thinks Chaz is cute, and asks Pratt if he's single. Pratt bumps into Chaz on the way out. Chaz is mad that Pratt defended him; he needs to fight his own battles to win the respect of his co-workers. Pratt couldn't help but defend his brother, but knows Chaz is right, and the brothers hug it out.

Morris is called out of the spa to an emergency, and doesn't have time to wash off his green facial mask. He hears screaming, and turns to see Reggie stuffing green M&Ms in his mouth - the zombie lives! Gates walks Serena and Joshua home after a great day at the ball park. Serena thanks him for everything with a sensual kiss, and invites him in, but Gates begs off.

On the way home from the hospital, Abby almost swerves to avoid a truck, and smashes into a pile of garbage. Joe starts bawling for the 50th time today. She checks the messages at home, but Luka still hasn't called. The phone rings, but it's only a telemarketer. Beat, Abby opens a bottle of wine in hopes of drowning her sorrows.