Ep 19. Rites of Spring

Rites of Spring is the nineteenth episode of the fifth season of the medical drama television series ER. The episode aired on April 22, 1999, on NBC. The episode was directed by Richard Thorpe and was written by Neal Baer and David Mills.

The episode is primarily centered around two storylines. The first storyline follows Carol Hathaway, who is dealing with her complicated pregnancy. She is unsure if she should continue working at the hospital, and the constant stress of her job is causing more health problems for her and the baby. Meanwhile, her partner Doug Ross is dealing with his father's death and is distant from Carol, who feels like she has lost him.

The second storyline involves Dr. Carter, who is treating a teenage girl named Jacy who was found unconscious in a basement after a party. Jacy's friends brought her to the hospital, but they are reluctant to reveal what drugs they were using at the party. Dr. Weaver is suspicious of Jacy's friends and orders a drug test to try and determine what she was exposed to.

As the episode progresses, Carol decides to take some time off work to focus on her health and the baby. She is worried about money, but Doug assures her that they will figure it out and that he wants to be there for her. Meanwhile, Dr. Carter is struggling to get more information from Jacy's friends, who are still hiding the truth about the drugs they used. Eventually, Carter decides to confront Jacy's friends, and they reveal that they were using a new drug called "green light," which was making them hallucinate.

In the end, Carol returns to work and is greeted with a surprise baby shower from her colleagues. She is touched by their support and realizes that she has the help and support she needs to balance her job and motherhood. Dr. Carter is able to diagnose Jacy's drug exposure and successfully treat her. He confronts Jacy's friends about their irresponsible behavior and advises them to seek help if they have further problems.

Overall, Rites of Spring is a poignant episode that explores the difficulties of pregnancy and the pressures of medical work. The episode also touches on the dangers of drug use and the importance of seeking help if dealing with addiction. The episode's strong performances and nuanced writing make it a standout in ER's fifth season.