Doug is at a woman's place and calls her Natalie, but her name is Pamela.  She doesn't know Doug's name either.  He goes into work early and watches Tatiana for Carol.  She is still waiting for Family and Children Services to show up.  Peter has spent the night on Jackie's couch.  He has forgotten that it is his mother's 76th birthday.  He promises his family he'll by back home in time for her birthday party.  He tries to switch shifts with someone, but can't.  Dr. Hicks reprimands him on how often he has been switching around the OR schedule.  He tells her that it will not happen again.  Carter finds out from Deb that he actually has to apply to stay at the ER and that he is the only one out of  twelve med students that has not applied yet.  Deb put in her application months ago.  Family and Children Services comes for Tatiana. Carol speaks with the woman and is not happy with the arrangements.  She tells Carol that Tatiana's chances for adoption are very slim because she speaks Russian and has AIDS.  Carter eavesdrops on Benton's phone conversation and thinks it's Benton's birthday.  He tells everyone and even hires 2 belly dancers.  This makes Peter angry.  A little boy is shot by his little brother.  Their father is a cop and he must have left the cabinet unlock.  The boy will probably die and his brother is in shock.  A man's finger has been sliced off and Carter and Deb have to look for it in a chest of ice.  Deb finds it.  A man brings in his little girl.  He tells them that she fell off the balcony 15 foot onto the pavement.  When they roll her over they can see the man's foot print on her back.  Doug goes out and hits the man.  Diane Leeds witnesses it, but she doesn't seem to care.  Tag and Carol look at a church for their wedding.  Carol hates it.  She tells Tag that she wants to adopt Tatiana, but he doesn't seem like he wants to.  Jeanie asks Peter for a ride to the party.  She tells him that her husband can pick her up.  Peter didn't know that she was married.  Peter tells her that he can't because he is not sure that he is going to make it.  Today is Rachel's birthday also.  Mark is late, but Jen tells him that Craig helped her out with Rachel's party.   She also tells him that she's going to clerk again in Milwaukee next year.  Mark doesn't like it that she made that decision on her own, but that is the same way he did with his offer from Morganstern.  Carol goes to visit Tatiana at the hospice.  She is being kept in the infant room because the place is full.  She livens up when she sees Carol.  Peter is one hour late arriving at Jackie's for the party.  Jackie is mad.  Jeanie is still there and sees how Peter is torn between his job and his family.

Reviewed by Tony Conner on 09-13-2000

NBC Review