When Carter is scheduled to receive his medical doctor's degree at the graduation ceremony, he is instead comforting a critically ill 10-year-old girl (GABRIELLE BONI) in need of a liver transplant.

Hardly anyone on the e.r. staff approves of Greene and Weaver's selections of Lewis as chief resident and Weaver as an attending physician for next year. Greene realizes that he must now work with Weaver every day. He's further upset when he learns that Lewis refused the offer. Jennifer informs Greene that she is getting married next year. Loretta asks Greene to become her children's guardian, but Greene doesn't want the responsibility.

After learning that her husband, Al, contracted HIV, Jeanie tests herself for the virus and awaits the results. She advises Benton to test himself as well.

A pharmacy calls Ross with a question about a prescription for Karen. Ross thinks that he did not write the prescription for as large a quantity of pills as the pharmacy claims. Karen gets mad and leaves abruptly when Ross questions her.

Although he initially chooses another supervising resident for his work next year, Carter reconsiders and chooses Benton to supervise him. Benton and Vucelich meet in the elevator and have a final discussion about Vucelich's study.

Hathaway becomes angry with health insurance providers after treating several patients who were victimized by cost-cutting measures, including a newborn who was sent home before a congenital heart condition could be detected and an injured child (RAEVEN LARRYMOORE KELLY) in great pain who was transferred to another hospital because of insurance restrictions. She also makes an appointment for Shep to consult a therapist about his violent behavior, but he refuses to go. Finally, Hathaway quits her job in exasperation and tells Shep that she will leave him if he doesn't get counseling.

An elderly patient (JUDITH MALINA) runs around the hospital nude.