As the eighth chapter of "Doc" unfolds, a woman ventures into a store to gather essential supplies. Francine (portrayed by Kellee Stewart) approaches a stranger and instantaneously initiates a flirtatious encounter, despite their lack of acquaintance. Her behavior quickly escalates into a scene, causing quite a stir. In a haste, she dashes outside clutching unpaid items, only to trip and fall, her face slamming into the pavement.
Meanwhile, Amy Larsen (Molly Parker) scans through her unsent drafts, pondering over unspoken words. Jake Heller (Jon-Michael Ecker) emerges from the shadows, only to learn that the board's results remain elusive. Amy inquires about a name that has cropped up in her messages—Dixon. Jake, however, remains in the dark about this figure. As Michael Hamda (Omar Metwally) cruises by in his vehicle, his gaze lands on them, witnessing an intimate kiss shared between Amy and Jake.
Inside the hospital, Amy seeks information from Julie (Claire Armstrong) regarding Dixon. Julie, equally oblivious, promises to delve into the matter at her earliest convenience. Dr. Richard Miller (Scott Wolf), engaged in a phone conversation with his son, greets Amy upon her arrival. He reveals that the staff is stretched thin due to TJ's flu and Sonya's personal leave. Today, Amy will collaborate with Richard, whose evaluation of her skills and judgment will form a crucial part of her presentation to the Board for reinstatement.
Together, they interview the woman from the store. Amy suggests keeping Francine under observation due to a minor bleed, though it's expected to resolve spontaneously. Richard postulates that a night's rest might be all she needs to sober up. The woman confides in them, sharing that her mother succumbed to cancer early in her life, and her father took his own.
Elsewhere, Jake attends to a patient who suffered a vertigo episode and collapsed in the mall. Desperate to attend his 10-year high school reunion by Saturday, the patient reveals that his long-lost love, Olivia Hoffman, will be present. It's her first visit back since relocating to London for law school. Wes (Nicholas Podany) informs Nurse Liz (Conni Miu) that Olivia married the wrong man and they're in the midst of a divorce. The air is thick with anticipation and unspoken desires.
Olivia sent Wes a message brimming with excitement about their upcoming meeting, fueling Wes's hope that this could be his long-awaited opportunity to rectify the profound mistake that has haunted him. Liz, unable to contain her curiosity, recounted the tale of love to Julie. Meanwhile, Francine wandered the hospital corridors, griping about the paltry Tylenol prescribed for her ailments, her frustration leading her to attempt access to the medicine cabinet. Security personnel swiftly intervened to restrain her, with Richard and Amy watching the commotion unfold with concern.
Flashing back, Amy popped into Richard's office to check on him, prompting a gentle reminder from him about the importance of not skipping breakfast. Amy, adhering to intermittent fasting, was eagerly awaiting Michael's call regarding the field trip to the Natural History Museum. Michael's subsequent call, however, delivered disappointing news.
In the present, Francine vehemently denied being a drug addict or posing any violence, while Dr. Gina Walker (portrayed by Amirah Vann) delved into the incident at the convenience store with her. Francine confessed that she hardly recognized herself anymore. Amy vowed to uncover the root of her troubles. Richard inquired about contacting someone close to Francine, to which she suggested her sister but doubted her sister's concern. In the hallway, Richard suggested reaching out to the sister with an open mind, avoiding premature assumptions. Privately, Gina encouraged Amy to stay true to herself.
Jake informed Wes that they were nearly done with the final stage of his V&G procedure. Nurse Liz inquired about Olivia's message, to which Wes recounted its contents. Julie arrived just in time to catch the tail end of the conversation. Liz speculated that Olivia harbored feelings for Wes. Mandy's unexpected entry into Wes's room startled him, mentioning her hospitalized best friend. As Wes rose, a sharp chest pain nearly brought him to his knees, alerting Jake that this wasn't a mere inner ear issue. Michael summoned Jake to his office.
Amy reached out to Connie Brady (played by Patrice Goodman), Francine's sister, seeking insight. Connie, resentful, revealed that Francine had never been there for her. She delved into their troubled past with their father, who abused alcohol and drugs before withdrawing into seclusion, ultimately taking his own life. Amy speculated on Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) as a possibility.
Michael engages Jake in a poignant conversation about his entanglement with Amy and how their relationship might jeopardize her prospects with the Board. Jake counters that matters are seldom straightforward. Michael retorts that nothing in Amy's life is simple these days.
In a nostalgic flashback, Richard pays Amy a visit, having missed the opportunity to speak at the funeral. He reassures her of his unwavering support. Amy, however, declines his offer of more time off, brusquely requesting him to cease his solicitous inquiries.
Switching to the present, Amy and Richard observe asymmetrical atrophy in the frontal and temporal lobes of a patient. Richard highlights the hypometabolism in the prefrontal cortex, emphasizing the need for genetic testing. Amy confides in Francine that she has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, a condition for which there is no known cure. Most patients survive between six to ten years post-symptom onset. Amy suspects her father might have suffered from the same ailment. Gina warns that some patients with this condition turn to self-medication and self-harm, stressing their commitment to guiding Amy through this challenging journey.
Connie arrives with her children. Jake texts Amy, suggesting they need to converse later. Meanwhile, Liv discusses with Julie how Mandy has become an unexpected twist in their narrative. Jake enters the room to check on Wes, while Mandy offers him advice on managing Olivia. Wes decides to entrust Olivia with the task of drafting his response. Mandy, however, doubts their supposed soulmate connection. Wes begins to complain of chest pain. Jake believes they are inching closer to uncovering the root of Wes's issues.
In another flashback, Richard seeks a private moment with Amy, who reprimands him for misunderstanding the situation. Amy reveals her aspiration to succeed Numeroff as Chief, despite her earlier disinterest, asserting her qualifications and vowing not to remain silent merely due to their audience.
Connie and Amy share an intimate conversation about Amy's estrangement from her sister over something beyond her control. Amy underscores her focus on what she can control moving forward, acknowledging a 50% likelihood that Connie carries the gene mutation. If Connie tests negative, her children will be in the clear too. Gina encourages Francine to spend time with her sister while she still can, but Francine hesitates, unwilling to burden her sister anew.
Jake informs Wes of his atrial septal defect, reassuring him that the treatable condition can be mended with a plug. Unfortunately, this means he'll miss the reunion. Wes views this as a minor sacrifice. Mandy attempts to lift his spirits.
When Jake confronts Amy about Michael's sighting of them together, he reveals that Michael finds their relationship inappropriate. Jake admits he never told Michael about their pre-accident relationship, acknowledging Michael's concerns are not unfounded. Jake argues that he's catering to Michael to safeguard Amy's reputation. Amy reminds him she's a competent adult and their relationship is consensual. Jake confesses his love for Amy, expressing willingness to wait or transfer hospitals.
Amy confronts Michael, lambasting him for his actions. Michael retorts that it's his duty to defend her decisions.
Amy confides in him that they had shared five months together prior to the unforeseen accident. Michael cautions that if this information were to leak, it could entangle their situation with the Board further. He grants her the autonomy to decide her course of action. Flashing back, Chief Numeroff (Neil Crone) informs Richard of Amy's impending appointment as Chief. Richard expresses his reservations, highlighting Amy's lack of bedside grace and her challenging demeanor towards the staff. Numeroff suggests he could mentor her towards greater compassion, though Richard remains unconvinced.
In the current scenario, Amy inquires about Francine's wellbeing with Richard. He reveals that Francine and Connie appear to be patching up their differences, yet Connie is hesitant to undergo the test. Amy wonders if there's something amiss with Richard that has slipped her memory. Richard confides that Connie's son, Lucas, has been diagnosed with bipolar and schizotypal disorders, necessitating institutionalization. He fears Lucas might share Francine's fate. Amy attempts to assure him otherwise, but Richard understands Connie's desire to avoid confronting the issue. Amy proposes they can assist Connie without her awareness.
Later, Amy checks on Connie and Francine, casually asking Connie about her blood type and requesting a blood sample, just in case Francine requires a transfusion in the future. Connie, compliant, agrees to the draw. Meanwhile, Jake informs Wes that his procedure will be endovascular, though he'll remain sedated throughout. Olivia Hoffman (Genevieve DeGraves) pays him a visit, prompting Jake and Liz to return. Mandy enters with a teddy bear, consenting to their reunion. Shortly after, Jake informs Mandy of Wes's upcoming procedure, and she expresses her discomfort regarding Olivia's presence. Jake offers his perspective, insisting that if Wes fails to recognize what's evident, he doesn't deserve Mandy. Mandy finds the situation complex due to their prior friendship, but Jake argues that it should, in fact, simplify matters.
In a flashback, Amy expresses frustration over Richard's two-hour tardiness, prompting him to revisit her question about Bill Dixon. Richard recounts performing multiple rounds of CPR, defibrillation, and administering EPI after Bill's cardiac arrest. He also mentioned giving Amiodarone. Amy questions the unsealed vial of Metoprolol she noticed on the crash cart, suggesting a mix possible-up. Richard denounces her accusation as baseless. Amy reveals she's ordered an autopsy, warning that if he's lying, his career there is over.
Switching back to the present, Richard and Amy review the test results of Connie's blood together. Wes awakens post-procedure, reassured that it went smoothly. He tells Olivia he hasn't forgotten the story she penned about him. Olivia corrects him, clarifying it was penned by a girl who helped her with her homework that year, prompting Liz to realize it was Mandy. Wes learns the truth just as Olivia decides to depart. Richard and Amy converse with Francine, now cleared for discharge. Amy informs Connie that her test came back negative, and Francine will return home with Connie. Julie and Liz speculate on Wes's choice between Mandy and Olivia, watching as Wes embraces Mandy, leaving hand in hand.
Richard and Amy concurred that they had accomplished something commendable that day. Richard reminisced about a time six months prior when he believed Amy would have severely reprimanded Connie for her selfishness. Amy, however, confessed that she still couldn't recall any of those events. Richard reassured her that she remained an exceptional doctor and vowed to recommend her reinstatement. Amy then disclosed her new relationship with Jake, believing it was pertinent information given Richard's oversight of the department. She emphasized that she had already lost so much and was determined not to jeopardize this newfound happiness. Richard advised her to discuss it further with Jake and suggested they address the matter openly with HR when they were both prepared.
Amy sought out Jake and engaged him in a heartfelt conversation about their relationship. Meanwhile, Michael received Richard's email advocating for Amy's reinstatement. Elsewhere, Richard was engaged in a phone conversation with Lucas. Julie, eager to uncover more about Dixon, delved into the details surrounding Bill Dixon and scrutinized his autopsy results.
At home, Amy confessed to Gina that she hadn't yet broken the news about Jake to Katie. As Katie (played by Charlotte Fountain-Jardim) joined them, Amy announced that she had received her test results, which Katie confirmed restored her status as a doctor. Soon after, Michael arrived, driven by the desire to speak directly to Amy. He acknowledged having read Richard's recommendation and appreciated her honesty about Jake. However, Michael admitted his reluctance, believing that he had merely missed her presence. Amy shared the joyful news of passing her board exams, prompting Michael to leave, presumably with mixed emotions.
