Dr. Susan Lewis (SHERRY STRINGFIELD) ends up delivering her sister's baby girl. Despite Chloe's (KATHLEEN WILHOITE) abuse of her body during her pregnancy, the baby seems healthy. Lewis is relieved that Chloe and the baby will go live with Chloe and Lewis' parents. Unfortunately, their mother, Cookie (VALERIE PERRINE - "Superman"), decides that this is not a good idea and insists that Lewis make other arrangements.

Meanwhile, Dr. Mark Greene (ANTHONY EDWARDS) treats a young girl, Joanie, who shows early signs of heart trouble that may require open heart surgery. Greene offers a sub-I internship in the ER to Carter, who declines the offer in favor of a sub-I in surgery with Dr. Peter Benton (ERIC LA SALLE). Unfortunately, Carter later learns that Benton accepted another candidate for surgery instead. Carter considers telling Greene that he's changed his mind, only to discover that Greene found someone else.

While Taglieri and Hathaway's bickering about their wedding worsens, Diane Leeds (LISA ZANE) and Dr. Douglas Ross' (GEORGE CLOONEY) relationship becomes increasingly serious. However, when Diane asks Ross to move in with her and Jake, Ross gets scared and retreats to his former lover, Linda Farrell (ANDREA PARKER). Diane finds the two of them coming out of his apartment together. She leaves angrily after Ross apologizes, admitting the truth.

Finally, Benton tries to save a teenage boy impaled by an iron bar and later operates on two feuding female gang members. In the midst of this busy day, he learns that his mother has died. He finds solace with the married Jeanie Boulet (GLORIA REUBEN), and the two finally share a kiss.