Episode 2 of "Pulse" kicks off with the hurricane intensifying, its ferocity painting the sky with chaos. The ambulance crew, undeterred by the tempestuous weather, ventures forth and stumbles upon a desperate woman pleading for assistance. They then pull over by a house where a colossal tree has crashed down, its mighty branches blocking the entrance. Inside, a panicked mother pleads frantically for help, her voice quivering with fear for her children trapped within. Fortunately, Nia is on the scene, springing into action without hesitation.
Over at Maguire ER, the air is thick with tension as the rift between Xander Phillips and Danny Simms reaches a boiling point. Their mutual disdain makes the atmosphere excruciatingly awkward, especially as they struggle to share the same space. Cole, meanwhile, offers a subtle commendation to Elijah, acknowledging his intervention with Cruz that ultimately led to Phillips' reinstatement.
We also catch a glimpse of Camila, the novice intern, whose presence has been minimal thus far. Danny, with a touch of humor, instructs her to unlearn the medical dramatics she's likely absorbed from "Grey's Anatomy," a playful dig considering the grandeur of the latter series. Cruz seeks out Danny, who, alongside Harper, is on edge due to their father's continued silence amidst the hurricane's fury.
Vero, fortunately, is recovering from surgery, but in the ward, Cruz turns a cold shoulder to Danny, instead deciding to rely on Phillips—her accuser—for the remainder of the day. This decision is not only ill-advised but also potentially perilous, especially if Phillips' accusations hold any truth. What could possibly possess her to take such a reckless stance?
Downstairs, the nurses anxiously await the arrival of patients at the hospital's entrance. The frantic woman from the episode's opening, accompanied by her children, is brought in for examination. Nia, too, arrives, her form pierced by debris from the storm. Danny takes the lead in treating the children, preparing one for a cricothyrotomy. Dr. Elijah offers his support, while Phillips clashes with Danny over her methods. Eventually, Danny concedes and adopts Phillips' suggested treatment, though her ego is bruised by the concession. Isn't the well-being of patients paramount here? Apparently not to Danny, who storms out and retreats to the bathroom to regain her composure.
Meanwhile, Nia finds herself in a precarious situation. Cole, driven by concern, interrupts Soriano's surgery to attend to her promptly, eventually initiating preparations in the operating room. However, fate takes a darker turn as the power suddenly plunges the entire facility into darkness. Well, almost entirely; they do possess generators as a backup, but these precious lifelines could deplete at any moment.
Phillips, having anticipated such contingencies, swiftly briefs the team on their status when Danny, frustrated by his exclusion from crucial information, stands glowering in the corner. The generators, reliant on fuel pumped from an underground tank, malfunction, placing them on the brink with only their last generator holding out. Phillips, undeterred, marshals his troops, urging them to stay united and perform their duties to the best of their abilities, despite the electricity failure.
Danny confronts Cruz, urging her to relinquish her leadership duties due to her ineffective handling of the situation. Cruz, storming through the hospital like a tempest, eventually enters the same bathroom she had earlier. There, she encounters Mariana, a woman in labor. When Mariana queries if Danny can assist, she hesitates. Undeterred, Danny dashes outside, grabs towels, and prepares for the imminent delivery, as the baby's arrival is imminent. Fortunately, other nurses arrive just in time as Mariana gives birth.
Amidst this chaos, the underlying issue stems from Xander's troubled past at the previous ER, a secret that Danny seems to be privy to.
Elsewhere, Cole, prepping Nia for surgery while mentoring Chan, inadvertently strikes a protruding metal fragment embedded in her, triggering a torrent of blood. Cole, determined to tackle this alone, acknowledges the urgent need for Dr. Ruben Soriano's expertise. In a bold move, Cole decides to extract the fragment to gain control of the bleeding. Soriano takes over shortly after, expressing his admiration for Cole's adept handling of the situation.
Cole, brimming with satisfaction over his recent advancements, is summoned to Room 712, where he indulges in a swift rendezvous with Cass, his current hospital paramour. Meanwhile, downstairs, Danny orchestrates the flow of personnel, skillfully maneuvering through the hospital corridors until she manages to breach a room teeming with surplus beds—a fantastical spectacle that underscores the fictional realm they inhabit.
Following this, Elijah engages Danny in conversation, highlighting Cass's predicament and her fear of being ostracized by those who might side with Phillip against her. As the flickering lights cast an uneasy ambiance, hinting at an impending blackout, Danny escapes outdoors seeking fresh air, only to find themselves in the eerie calm of a hurricane's eye, where Phillips joins her. He confides in her that Elijah harbors deep feelings for her.
Flashing back a year, Danny dines with her friends, including Phillips, who she believes the other doctors are overly amenable to solely due to his privileged background. He, however, is present to carve out a new identity, distant from the shadow of his parents' name. During this gathering, he strikes a deal with Danny: she'll get the first trauma case of the morning, and together, they'll depart in a helicopter. Their flirtatious banter interweaves as they attend to a patient on the sandy shores, eventually transporting him to the ER. Nonetheless, Danny's elation dims when Xander assumes command, ousting her from the room. She's apprehensive that his retaliation could jeopardize her career, especially after turning down his dinner invitation.
