The High Holiday

The High Holiday
Life After Death Another Thursday at County The Book of Abby Parental Guidance Haunted Oh, Brother! Heal Thyself Age of Innocence Let It Snow The High Holiday Separation Anxiety Dream Runner Love Is A Battlefield A Long, Strange Trip The Family Man The Beginning of the End T-Minus-6 What We Do Old Times Shifting Equilibrium I Feel Good And In the End... [Up] Song of the Week "Christmas Prayer" A song from this CD was featured in this episode. Check out more music that was featured on ER on the ER Music page.	Episode 319 "The High Holiday" Original Air Date: December 11, 2008 Written by: Shannon Goss Directed by: Lesli Linka Glatter Guest Stars: Dominic Janes - Alex Taggart Courtney B. Vance - Russell Banfield Charlotte Rae - Mrs. Gaines Abraham Benrubi - Jerry Markovic Gloria Garayua - Gloria Ortiz Carlos Moreno Jr. - Roberto Ortiz Helen Eigenberg - Renee Weber-Stewart ? - Baby Lola Robin Weigert - Nicole Dorian Christian Baucum - Max Gonzalez Kasey Mahaffy - Johnny (Archie Morris' cousin) Gina Calica - Gina Peter Dennis - Mosely Matt Eyde - Agent Lee Veralyn Jones - Agent Vickery Guy Killum - Embry Abel Ramirez - Abel Yves Lola St. Vil - Patient Starring: Angela Bassett - Dr. Cate Banfield David Lyons - Dr. Simon Brenner Parminder Nagra - Dr. Neela Rasgotra John Stamos - Tony Gates Linda Cardellini - Samantha Taggart Scott Grimes - Dr. Archie Morris Staff: Troy Evans - Frank Martin Amy Aquino - Dr. Janet Coburn Leland Orser - Dr. Lucien Dubenko Shiri Appleby - Dr. Daria Wade Emily Rose - Dr. Tracy Martin Victor Rasuk - Dr. Ryan Sanchez Perry Anzilotti - Perry, Anesthesiologist Monica Guzman - Marisol Nasim Pedrad - Nurse Suri Louie Liberti - Paramedic Bardelli Michelle C. Bonilla - Paramedic Harmes
A storage pod full of Morris' deceased father's stuff is dropped in front of the ER. Morris vents his aggravation as Neela rushes to meet an ambulance containing Gloria, who fell during an immigration raid at a tie factory. Gloria is obviously pregnant, and Neela tries to refer the case to OB. With the annual Christmas party set for that night, Banfield assigns Morris midyear intern reviews -- no patients. When Abby's old patient Roxanne shows up with a tray of brownies hoping to get her prescriptions re-filled, Morris refers her to Ryan. Meanwhile Gates finds Sam praying in the chapel, trying to find the strength to get back to work. It's time to extubate Alex, after he's spent a week on a ventilator. Agitated, Alex bites the vent and thrashes during the extubation. Dubenko opts for sedatives and apologizes; they'll try again tomorrow morning. Having moved back to Chicago, Jerry Marcovic shows up looking for Morris. Banfield orders Morris to get rid of the storage pod, so Jerry offers to sell its contents for 50% of the proceeds, surprised that Morris doesn't even want to look at the stuff. Sam is worried that Alex has been hypertensive for so long that he may have brain damage, but insists on working to keep herself busy. As Gloria starts having contractions, both Neela and Tracy insist they're not going to the Christmas party. Last year Morris pinched Neela's butt and Frank threw up, and Tracy has a hot date. When Gloria's husband Roberto shows up, Brenner notices something strange on the ultrasound. While getting coffee with Gates, Sam freaks out on a driver whose kids aren't wearing seatbelts. Roxanne gets a call from her friend Ida, and begins searching for Ryan in earnest. Morris notices Roxanne's beautiful necklace; Roxanne admits she got it from Jerry for a song. Frank got a baseball signed by DiMaggio... and Morris. Morris' father was so pissed off about that one; he made sure Morris couldn't sit down for a week. After passing out at the mall, Renee is brought into the ER with her six-month-old, Lola. After calling Renee's wife Nicole, Sam looks after baby Lola. Meanwhile, two immigration agents show up looking to deport Gloria. While OB Dr. Coburn spies a massive tumor on the baby's face and neck on the ultrasound, Neela puts a privacy screen in front of the door, allowing Roberto to slip out. Daria scarfs her second brownie, enamored of her purchase of a macramé hanging from Morris' fire sale. Perplexed, Banfield spots the missing Ryan scarfing a patient's jello. Roxanne confesses that she mixed up her brownie batches, and this one, meant for her cancerous friend Ida, is full of pot! Banfield gives Daria and Ryan the rest of the day off, telling them not to leave until they're sober. Neela tells Roberto that the tumor on his unborn son's neck will prevent him from breathing properly. They're going to give Gloria a Caesarean, but keep the baby attached to the placenta so he can breathe. Confused and desperate, Roberto admits that Gloria was scheduled for deportation two years ago, but didn't show up. Their lives are here, and they're not bad people. Empathetic, Neela promises to call him when Gloria's out of surgery. Morris' parade of memories continues when Banfield presents him with one of his mother's old Hummels. Morris admits to juggling the holy family set; the only time his mother, a saint, yelled at him. Renee's partner Nicole shows up. Nicole informs them that Renee had cancer of the small bowel, in remission for three years. Nicole fears the cancer has returned, but Banfield tells her to wait for the CT scan. Gates finds Sam with baby Lola in the break room, worried that Alex will have to wear a trake for life. She wants to try the extubation again, but Gates gently reminds her that Dubenko is only following the rules. Sam explodes -- why can't Gates take her side? Gates suggests that they tell Dubenko the rules are stupid; maybe he'll make an exception. Renee's CT scan indicates that a mass is wrapped around her liver, and the cancer is back. Banfield promises to run the scan by Dubenko; surgery is the next step. A week before Renee's first surgery, she and Nicole flew to Boston to get married. A big leap of faith isn't hard when you have someone to hold onto Tracy, Daria and Ryan watch transfixed as Dubenko and Neela perform surgery on Gloria. Even though the baby will have to stay in the NICU for at least three weeks, Dubenko thinks Gloria will be deported. Outraged, Neela wants to call the news, but Dubenko points out that viewers will think the hospital responsible for Gloria's deportation. Blood pours from Gloria's uterus. Coburn wants to bail out, but relents to giving Dubenko five minutes to give the baby a tracheotomy -- super risky. Meanwhile, Banfield finds Nicole crying, afraid that this is it. What if she forgets all the little things about Renee? Banfield assures her that she won't. Brenner brings Morris a shoe box filled with odds and ends, including a ceramic plate of milk and cookies he made for Santa in the third grade, so Santa would know where to find him. Morris recalls that his father told him he was stupid -- Santa would know it wasn't real -- and prefers to toss it. Gates finds Max outside the ambulance bay. Max thanks Gates for looking for him, and relents to come in from the cold. Neela argues for clemency, but the Immigration Agents won't make an exception for Gloria, despite her major surgery, promising to return for her in the morning. Neela gives Gloria the bad news; Immigration won't get involved with custody, and Roberto should be able to take the baby home in a few weeks. Distraught, Gloria asks to see her son. Sam approaches a weary Dubenko to re-try Alex's extubation. She wants to try some nurse anesthetist tricks, promising it will work. Dubenko relents and the extubation succeeds, much to Sam's relief. Brenner finds Neela, still outraged at the inhumane separation of Gloria and her baby. Still under the gun from the malpractice suit, Neela admits she doesn't want to jeopardize her career. Brenner wonders what happened to the champion boat rocker that he used to know. Banfield consults with Dubenko on Renee's CT scan. Her mass is invading a portal vein, and he would be insane to touch it. Oncology says that if there's no surgery, Renee will only have a couple of months to live. Banfield puts the screws to Dubenko; a slim chance of survival is at least a chance. Dubenko relents, scheduling Renee for surgery in the morning. Sam goes to get ice cream for Alex, leaving him alone with Gates. Gates admits that he never should have let Alex go to the party, but Alex thinks Gates was just being cool. Gates knows that being cool was the problem. Jerry gives Morris $3, the proceeds from the sale. He's saved the best for last -- a 1966 Triumph motorcycle, just like Marlon Brando's -- but Morris doesn't want it, Jerry can keep it. With work tough to come by, Jerry wonders if Morris can help him get his old job back. When Sam returns, Gates jabbers excitedly, making plans for Alex's homecoming. And is it okay? He told Max that they could keep his dog while he's in the hospital. Sam informs him that she's going to stay at Chuny's for a while, until she can find a new apartment for her and Alex. Gates is incredulous, but Sam can't just go back to life as before. It's over. Both Tracy and Neela show up at the Christmas party, and Banfield hires Jerry to fill in as Santa, since Frank ate the last of Roxanne's brownies. Dubenko gives Neela her Christmas present; the judge threw out her malpractice case. Brenner is shocked to find Gloria has left the hospital -- isn't Neela worried? In so many words, Neela indicates that she put Gloria in a cab to another hospital with instructions for her care. Banfield and Russell enjoy themselves at the party. During a slow dance, Banfield suggests that it's time they think about having a family again. A leap of faith isn't hard when you have someone to hold onto. When Morris leaves the party, Neela runs after him. Having failed to understand his father, Morris is dejected. Neela brings him to see Gloria's son. Morris lays down his ceramic plate of milk and cookies, so that Santa will be sure to find the baby. Reviewed by Jocelyn on January 18, 2009 NBC Review IT’S THE BEST TIME OF THE YEAR—Morris (Scott Grimes) receives an unwanted package from his father at the ER doorstep. Sam (Linda Cardellini) is anxious about getting Alex (Dominic Janes) off of the ventilator after his accident. Meanwhile, a pregnant woman with a high-risk pregnancy is in danger of getting deported. TV Guide Review December 11, 2008 : The High Holiday: Morris receives a package from his deceased father; Sam has concerns about removing Alex from the ventilator; and a woman with a high-risk pregnancy fears deportation.