Chaos Theory (ER)

"Chaos Theory"
ER episode
Episode no.	Season 9 Episode 1
Directed by	Jonathan Kaplan
Written by	R. Scott Gemmill Jack Orman
Original air date	September 26, 2002 (NBC)
Episode chronology
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List of ER episodes

Chaos Theory is the 180th episode of the NBC television series, ER

Plot synopsis

Continuing the events of last season, the smallpox crisis continues to escalate and Carter, Abby, Chen, Pratt and a patient named Stan are all quarantined. When the CDC confirms that the outbreak is a mutated form of monkey-pox originating from the Congo, Lewis is ordered to evacuate the entire hospital.

Gallant begins inoculating everyone locked down in the ER while Weaver aids the evacuation from outside in the ambulance bay. On the roof Romano, Kovac and Lewis argue over the use of the last remaining helicopter. In the chaos, Romano backs into the choppers tail rotor and his arm is severed off above the elbow.

Kovac and Lewis attempt to stabilise him and Kovac is forced to take him back down to the deserted ER where he’s aided by Chen and Pratt who fight to keep him alive, leaving Lewis trapped on the roof with a dying patient. Anspaugh arrives with a surgical team and are allowed into the ER to attempt to reattach Romano’s arm while Gallant fails to reach Lewis in time before her patient dies.

Two weeks later, the ER is re-opened and Carter and the others are given the all clear. Meanwhile, Corday has returned to England and is now working at her father’s private hospital. However, her Americanised ways do not go down well with her new colleagues and realising that County is where she truly belongs she decides to return home to Chicago.

Starring

• Noah Wyle as Dr. John Carter
• Maura Tierney as Nurse Abby Lockhart
• Sherry Stringfield as Dr. Susan Lewis
• Goran Višnjić as Dr. Luka Kovac
• Paul McCrane as Dr. Robert Romano
• Laura Innes as Dr. Kerry Weaver
• Ming Na as Dr. Jing Mei Chen
• Mekhi Phifer as Dr. Gregory Pratt
• Alex Kingston as Dr. Elizabeth Corday
• Sharif Atkins as Dr. Michael Gallant

Guest starring

Doctors, Nurses and Staff -

• John Aylward as Dr. Donald Anspaugh
• Perry Anzilotti as Dr. Perry - Anaesthetist
• Laura Ceron as Nurse Chuny Marquez
• Deezer D as Nurse Malik McGrath
• Lily Mariye as Nurse Lily Jarvik
• Troy Evans as Desk Clerk Frank Martin
• Monte Russell as Paramedic Dwight Zadro
• Christopher Grove as Dr. Marty Kline
• Demetrius Navarro as Paramedic Morales
• Dinah Lenney as Nurse Shirley
• Nadia Shazana as Nurse Jacy

Others -

• Paul Freeman as Dr. Charles Corday
• Miranda Kwok as Kristen Shoop

Ratings and awards

• Nielsen Media Ratings: 26.7 million viewers
• This episode won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Camera Sound Mixing for a Series, and was nominated for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series.

External links

• Full Cast & Crew at the Internet Movie Database
• Recap from Television Without Pity
• In depth recap from ER Headquarters (this link is broken)