Ep 1. Welcome Back, Carter!

As the second season of ER begins, the emergency room staff at County General Hospital is still reeling from the loss of one of their own. Dr. Mark Greene (Anthony Edwards) is struggling to cope with the aftermath of the death of a patient and the impact it has had on his personal life.

Meanwhile, the arrival of a familiar face shakes up the team. Dr. Peter Benton's (Eriq La Salle) former mentor, Dr. John Carter (Noah Wyle), returns to the ER after an eye-opening experience working with Doctors Without Borders in Africa. Carter's return is met with mixed emotions - while some of his colleagues are thrilled to see him again, others are wary of his new worldview and the changes it may bring to the ER.

Despite the tensions surrounding his return, Carter jumps back into work with aplomb. His first case of the day involves a young girl who may have been sexually abused, and he quickly earns the respect of his peers with his quick thinking and professionalism. As the day continues, Carter's initial excitement about being back in the ER is tempered by some of the harsh realities of the job. He is forced to confront the limitations of the American healthcare system as he struggles to help a homeless woman who is suffering from a chronic illness.

Meanwhile, Dr. Doug Ross (George Clooney) is navigating a tough situation of his own. His latest romantic conquest, a woman named Linda (Andrea Parker), shows up in the ER with a nasty laceration on her arm. As Doug tends to her wound, he realizes that Linda is not quite what she seems - she is actually a drug addict who is desperate for her next fix. Doug's attempts to help her land him in hot water with the hospital administration, leading to a dramatic showdown between Doug and the head nurse, Carol Hathaway (Julianna Margulies).

As the episode comes to a close, we are left with the sense that the ER staff may have some difficult days ahead. Carter's return has brought with it a sense of change and upheaval, while Doug's hard-partying ways continue to put him at odds with his colleagues. But despite the challenges they face, the staff of County General is determined to do their best for their patients - no matter what it takes.