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 Winter
has truly set into Chicago as Abby arrives for the night shift on Christmas
Eve. Carter’s gifts to the ER arrive. Abby receives a tribal shaman medicine
box. Carter and Kem exchange gifts. Kem gives John a bracelet that was her
fathers. John’s gift is more serious; a set of silverware and a plane ticket
to Chicago. Carter wants Kem to back to Chicago with him. He wants their
baby to be born in America.
 The
episode flashes back to seven months before as the medical transport plane
with Luka on it flies away. John introduces a new doctor, Walter, to the
despair of the Congo. John joins the hospital members at a café. The members
argue about capitalism and democracy. Carter dismisses all arguments other
than that of Kem. Kem tells John about the HIV/AIDS clinic that she is
beginning.
While Carter is treating a man with AIDS, he notices that
the man’s wife is pregnant and has children. He suggests that she be tested
for HIV and AIDS. She asks if being tested will help them. Carter tells her
that he can help keep the baby HIV negative with medicine if she is HIV
positive. Carter tries to get the mother enrolled in Kem’s new treatment
program.
October – Kovac sends a Triple Cocktail prescription
to Carter in the Congo. Corday sends a note along with the package. The
package arrives in the Congo. Carter has a former OB doctor check on the
mother. Carter defends America at another hospital-members café outing. When
the inquisition is cut short and everybody goes to dance, Carter and Kem talk
and then dance. Carter tells Kem about getting the mother on ARV
(Anti-Retroviral) drugs and Kem becomes enraged because he is jeopardizing her
program.
Kem enrolls Selene, the mother, in her program to take
advantage of the $1200 a month that Carter is spending on her.
November – Kem and Carter start their relationship.
Kem tells Carter about how her father was killed in the Congo and she came to
the Congo to get him. Selene is AWOL. Kem and Carter travel to the camp where
she lives to try to find her. John spots her filling a water jug in a lake.
Her eldest child has Pneumocystis Pneumonia, an AIDS defining disease. Carter
takes him to the hospital. He tells Kem that the boy will need ARVs if he
fights off the pneumonia. Kem and Carter argue when saving the little boy is
impossible. Carter petitions Debbie (Mark McCormack) to pickup Christmas
ornaments, presents, and oxygen when she is in Kinshasa. Carter wraps and sends
presents to the ER. Kem tells Carter that she thinks she could be pregnant.
She asks if he is angry or upset. Carter tells her that he is overjoyed.
 The
episode flashes back to current day Christmas Eve at the ER. Valerie and Pratt
exchange Christmas greetings. Debbie brings back three bottles of oxygen and
loads of Christmas decorations. The Christmas gifts from the ER arrive. The
staff put the presents under the tree in the dead of night. Along with the box
is a large package for Carter. Inside is a Christmas card from the ER with the
news that Doctor Romano died. Another package from a law firm arrives. Carter
dresses up as Santa Claus and distributes presents to the children. Carter
picks out one of the gifts and brings them to Selene. Selene asks if her boy
will ever wake up. Carter tells her that it is not likely. Even so, Carter
gives the little boy one of the presents, a truck. He places it beside the boy
and puts the boys hand over it, only to his lifeless hand slump back to the
bed.
John must return to America to settle Gamma’s estate, but Kem
is skeptical about leaving her program. In the end, she decides to return with
Carter.
Reviewed
by Taylor Shull on July 28, 2004
NBC Review
CHRISTMAS IN THE CONGO HAS CARTER FINDING LOVE AND HOPE;
THANDIE NEWTON GUEST-STARS -- On Christmas Eve, a chilled emergency room staff
do their best to observe the holiday while a crusading Dr. Carter (Noah Wyle)
does the same half a world away in a run-down Congolese medical clinic as recent
flashbacks reveal his clashes with Makemba (guest star Thandie Newton, "Mission:
Impossible 2"), a beautiful native AIDS worker over the meager resources -- and
they slowly fall in love. As Carter re-adjusts to the heat, filth and dangers of
the region, he keeps in touch with his Chicago friends and embarks on a personal
mission to save a pregnant mother who is dying of AIDS, he is confronted by
anti-Americanism from his French comrades. Even so, Carter is determined to
bring the joy and love of Christmas to the local children of Kisingani. Laura
Innes, Goran Visnjic, Maura Tierney, Sherry Stringfield, Sharif Atkins, Mekhi
Phifer, Parminder Nagra and Linda Cardellini also star. Emmy Award-winning
series executive producer John Wells wrote the episode
TV Guide Review
December 11, 2003: Makemba: Flashbacks
recall Carter's life — and idealistic new lover
(Thandie Newton) — in Africa, as he
prepares to return to Chicago for the holidays.
Back at home, Pratt continues to avoid Gallant's
sister; and Abby refuses to accept a peace
offering from her former flame.
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