A tense Abby drops everything when notified that her mentally unbalanced mother (Oscar-winning guest star Sally Field) is found incapacitated in an Oklahoma motel, and when she insists on driving there, a sympathetic Dr. Carter accompanies her -- risking both of their respective romantic relationships. In the meantime, the road back is potholed with problems as they try to coax the disconnected woman back to Chicago for more professional help, but she resists in unexpected ways. Elsewhere, the very pregnant Dr. Corday is happily wheeled in for her baby's birth with Dr. Greene at her side. An angry Dr. Benton treats a parade of partying fraternity brothers whose alcohol-related medical problems become increasingly more serious; later, Benton offers special care for his former junior high school teacher (guest star Roger Robinson) who jump-started his interest in science as a youth.