Strange Bedfellows (ER)
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| "Strange Bedfellows (ER)" |
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Strange Bedfellows is the 263rd episode of the NBC television series, ER.
Plot synopsis
 | This article's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. (December 2013) |
Two teenagers, victims of a car crash, roll into the ER. The boy is combative and has to be restrained, the girl in unconscious. The car they crashed in was stolen and the police suspect abduction but the boy isn't talking, partly because he has a broken jaw from a fight with one of the officers. The boy's toxicology screen comes back negative and a possible concussion is the only thing they can think of for his apparently altered state of mind until. That is until Ray notices that the boy is signing and removes his hands from their restraints - he is deaf. The boy signs that the girl is his friend and that she was having a bad reaction to drugs so he was driving her into the ER. He didn't stop when the cops tried to pull him over because he was scared for her. The car wasn't stolen, it was her parent's car. Now able to treat the girl the doctors set to work and she regains consciousness. The police try to apologise to the boy but he has one very special sign for them.
Sam starts work at her new job with Elliot and decides waking up in a mansion with a housekeeper isn't so bad. When she gets a chauffeur driven car to County the staff's interest is piqued. Luka meets up with Alex in the hospital and finds that Sam's son is equally enamoured with their new lifestyle. Sam assures him that they are doing well but when she returns to their new home and finds Elliot refusing her treatment it looks as though things aren't going to be as simple working privately as she'd hoped.
Luka has been in contact with Carter in the Sudan. Carter needs some help and Luka is considering leaving County for a month. He asks Abby what she thinks about this, promising to be back before the birth. Abby is annoyed and defensive but reluctant to tell Luka that she wants him to stay. She knows it is good work and that Luka wants to go but she also wants him to be with her through the pregnancy and she is afraid for his safety after his last trip to Africa ended with him being suspected to be dead then coming back with Malaria (see episode The Lost).
Meanwhile Pratt is back at work after his five day unofficial suspension for trading his blood for his drunk friend's (see episode Split Decisions). He starts the day badly when Olivia comes to call on him in the morning only to be refused entrance because he's got another woman in his flat. When he gets into work he slips right back into his comfort zone but all that changes when Luka pulls Pratt aside, informing him that his true punishment is to go help Carter in the Sudan. Pratt protests but Luka is adamant.
Olivia confronts Pratt at the hospital
Abby finally gets up the nerve to tell Luka that she wants him to stay, citing that even though they haven't decided what they are to each other yet she wants him to be there with her for the pregnancy. She blurts all this out unaware that he has already made his decision. Hearing that he is staying a bashful Abby can't help but smile.
Morris is offered a job with a pharmaceutical company by an attractive woman. The prospect of an expense account has him especially intrigued.
Ray tries to persuade Neela to stay at their apartment but Neela says she's already looking around for somewhere else. Neela meets up with Michael's parents and the trio spend the day in Chicago. Michael's parents bicker the whole time and Neela is often left feeling out of place. When they get to Neela's flat Michael's father expresses concerns over Neela living with another man (Ray). He also says that Neela will have to leave County when Michael is moved to somewhere else - to him this moving around is a good way to live and see the world. Michael's mother can't take this and disappears into the bedroom. Neela finds out that Michael's parents are separated but Michael doesn’t know. Neela joins Michael's mother in the bedroom and finds her crying. Michael's mother advises Neela to follow her dreams rather than be dragged around by her army husband. After Michael's parents have left Neela packs up her stuff. Ray gets home with a pizza peace offering but finds Neela just about to walk out of the door. She is going to stay at Abby's place. Ray begs Neela to stay, saying his feelings for her won't get in the way, but her mind is made up and she leaves.
Guest starring
Staff -
- Laura Ceron as Nurse Chuny Marquez
- Deezer D as Nurse Malik McGrath
- Abraham Benrubi as Desk Clerk Jerry Markovic
- Troy Evans as Desk Clerk Frank Martin
- Lynn A. Henderson as Paramedic Pamela Olbes
- Michelle Bonilla as Paramedic Christine Harms
- Montae Russell as Paramedic Dwight Zadro
Others -
- Armand Assante as Richard Elliot
- Ernie Hudson as Colonel James Gallant
- Sheryl Lee Ralph as Gloria Gallant
- China Shavers as Olivia Evans
- Dominic Janes as Alex Taggart
- Erin Chambers as Brooke Sawyer
- Taira Soo as Jordan
- Christopher Amitrano as Officer Hollis
- Roderick McCarthy as Officer Owens
- Rocky McMurray as Sergeant Myers