OVERMATCHED DR. PRATT TRIES TO PROTECT SELF-DESTRUCTIVE FRIEND; EMMY WINNER ED ASNER ALSO GUEST-STARS

The protective Dr. Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) is overwhelmed when his mentally challenged roommate Leon (guest star Marcello Thedford) leads him to treat a gravely wounded suspect who was responsible for a robbery and holdup -- which also involved the easily duped Leon -- while Dr. Carter (Noah Wyle) stuns Abby (Maura Tierney) when he decides to go to Africa where the medical needs are greatest. Elsewhere, Carter attends to the sickly Dr. McNulty (Emmy Award-winning guest star Ed Asner, "Lou Grant"), the curmudgeon he recently met who runs a storefront medical clinic; the emotionally fragile Dr. Romano (Paul McCrane) teeters on the brink of disaster and receives negative news regarding his recovery; Dr. Kovac (Goran Visnjic) intends to carry out a threat made to Dr. Weaver (Laura Innes), who also re-encounters a grateful alderman (guest star Bruce Weitz, "Hill Street Blues") who returns bearing financial gifts; and a skilled and bold doctor (guest star Bruno Campos) makes a pass at a shocked Dr. Corday (Alex Kingston). Ming-Na, Sherry