Ep 4. Going Home

In season 1, episode 4 of the medical drama ER, entitled "Going Home," the staff at County General Hospital deal with a variety of patients and personal issues.

The episode begins with a man named Leon suffering from a gunshot wound. Dr. Greene (Anthony Edwards) and Dr. Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) work together to save his life while Leon's family anxiously wait outside the operating room. After the surgery, they discover that Leon has a spinal cord injury that will likely leave him paralyzed from the waist down. His family struggles to come to terms with this news and Leon himself is in shock, refusing to believe that he won't be able to walk again.

Meanwhile, Nurse Hathaway (Julianna Margulies) deals with some personal issues as she prepares to attend her 10-year high school reunion. She is nervous about seeing her old classmates, particularly her ex-boyfriend, who will be there with his new wife. Hathaway's friend and coworker, Dr. Ross (George Clooney), tries to comfort her and offers to be her date for the night. However, things take an unexpected turn when Ross is called away on an emergency and Hathaway is left to face her ex alone.

Elsewhere in the hospital, Dr. Benton (Eriq La Salle) is struggling to balance his busy career with his responsibilities as a new father. His sister has been taking care of his baby son while he works, but when she can't come in for a few days, Benton is forced to bring the baby to the hospital with him. While he tries to juggle his medical duties and caring for his son, a young patient comes in with an injured hand. Benton struggles to get the boy to open up and talk about what happened, but eventually he reveals that his father is responsible for the injury. Benton must decide how to handle the situation, balancing his duty to report child abuse with his desire to help the boy's father get the help he needs.

Finally, the hospital welcomes back a former patient, Mr. Trumaine, who was recently discharged after a long stay. He is excited to be going home and has even written a song about the experience, which he performs for everyone in the hospital. However, as the staff help him prepare to leave, they realize that he may not have anywhere safe to go. Dr. Greene works with Mr. Trumaine's social worker to try and find him a place to stay, but the options are limited and it is unclear what will happen to him once he leaves the hospital.

Overall, "Going Home" is a poignant and emotional episode that explores a variety of personal and professional struggles faced by the staff at County General Hospital. While they work tirelessly to help their patients, they must also grapple with their own personal issues and dilemmas. The episode highlights the humanity of the medical profession and the complex nature of working in a high-pressure, emotionally charged environment.