Ep 3. Gossip

Set in the Los Angeles County Fire Department Station 51, Emergency! is an American action-adventure TV series that follows the daily lives of paramedics, rescue vehicle operators, firefighters, and medical personnel who serve the community and save lives. Starring Robert Fuller, Julie London, Randolph Mantooth, and Bobby Troup, Emergency! has entertained viewers for seven seasons, from 1972 to 1979.

In season 4 episode 3 of Emergency!, titled "Gossip," viewers get a glimpse into the gossip and rumor mill that exists in the workplace. Gossip spreads like wildfire in a station of such close-knit individuals, and this episode showcases how quickly an innocent comment can spiral out of control. At the beginning of the episode, a rescue call comes from a Hollywood apartment where Chris (played by William Boyett), a firefighter, has fallen down the stairs. Chris is transported to Rampart General Hospital, where Dr. Brackett (played by Robert Fuller) diagnoses him with a torn ligament.

Shortly after, one of the nurses, whose name is not mentioned, shares the details of Chris's injury with a fellow nurse, Bonnie (played by Sharon Gless). Bonnie then tells another female nurse, Francine (played by Debra Jo Rupp), about Chris's injury, adding that he's known to play with painkillers. Francine overhears a part of the conversation and infers that Chris is a drug addict and immediately gossips about it to two of the firefighters, Marco (played by Marco López) and Mike (played by Mike Stoker). The two firefighters then make a passing joke about Chris's supposed addiction, and the rumors quickly spread throughout the entire station.

Johnny (played by Randolph Mantooth) hears about Chris's supposed drug addiction, and when he visits Chris in the hospital, he finds out that the rumors are false. Johnny tries to clear Chris's name, but the other firefighters refuse to listen, insisting that their sources are reliable. As the day goes by, the rumor mill continues to turn, and the other firefighters start to spread false information about other people in the station, including Johnny.

Meanwhile, the crew at Station 110, which shares quarters with Station 51, is dealing with their own rumors. A firefighter named Tom (played by Michael Norell) has a habit of flirting with a nurse named Gloria (played by Stacey Nelkin), which has angered his wife, Carol (played by Meredith Baxter). Gloria then tells another nurse, who spreads it to a police officer, who then tells his partner, who happens to be married to Tom's sister. By the end of the day, Tom's wife has heard about the rumor, and the situation almost escalates into a violent confrontation.

As the day ends, and the crew prepares to leave for their respective homes, Johnny comes up with a plan to end the rumors plaguing the station. He gathers everyone together and calls out the people who spread the false rumors about Chris, effectively putting an end to the damaging rumors. The episode ends with the crew of Station 51 agreeing to be more careful in the future about what they say and who they say it to, bringing a sense of closure to the situation.

Overall, 'Gossip' is a cautionary tale about the negative effects of gossip, which can cause serious harm to the lives and reputations of people involved. The episode emphasizes the importance of checking the facts before spreading information and points out that even a seemingly harmless comment can lead to serious consequences. By the end of the episode, the firefighters of Station 51 learn a valuable lesson about the power of words and the importance of treating each other with respect.