Episode 8 of "Pulse" kicks off with a harrowing scene as a tiny infant named Benny is rushed into the ER, his fragile life hanging by a thread. The baby has a perplexing habit of abruptly ceasing to breathe after just 20 seconds, an alarming pattern that has become a frequent occurrence. Benny's underweight and malnourished appearance fuels speculation about possible neglect. Harper, driven by a determined resolve, sets her sights on proving that the mother is indeed failing to care for her child adequately.
However, the medical tests return with puzzling results – everything appears to be normal. The only red flag is the father's defensive and mistrustful demeanor, but nothing concrete surfaces to substantiate Harper's suspicions. Nevertheless, Harper remains unconvinced, her doubts rooted deeply in her own past guilt. She was the one who encouraged Danny to escalate a sexual harassment scandal to HR, urging her to file a complaint that may have been grounded in falsehood.
In the HR office, Danny is in the midst of withdrawing her initial complaint. Phillips, also present, suggests that they sweep the Retreat incident under the rug, proposing a mutual agreement to forget and move forward. Danny hints at a deeper issue, but Phillips insists that no other women at Kenndy have raised similar allegations. Ultimately, Phillips exits, hurt and embarrassed by Danny's diminished perception of him.
Meanwhile, Cole ventures out to a yacht party, while Cass ascends to check on Nia. The tension between the two girls escalates into a fiery verbal sparring match, with Cass warning Nia to step away from Cole. Nia counters by asserting that people can't be changed, and Cass's insistence on transforming Cole is destined for failure. The confrontation takes a dangerous turn when Nia's blood pressure drops alarmingly, prompting Soriano to intervene. He contacts Cole, who learns that his mentor is disappointed to discover him at the yacht party instead of focusing on his responsibilities. Cole is left feeling guilty and remorseful.
The episode's flashbacks transport us to the Retreat, where Danny's jealousy simmers as she watches Phillips engage with another woman across the pool.
Danny undercuts Phillips, publicly accusing him of lacking team spirit and emphasizing to Dr. Cruz that another candidate should be considered for the Chief Residency position, insisting, "He simply can't handle it." Their night descends into a heated altercation, only to culminate the next morning in a tender exchange of "I love yous," much to Phillips' astonishment. However, Danny's sudden shift to initiate litigation leaves Phillips staggered, convinced their relationship will prejudice her fair chance at securing the Residency. Their combat resumes, with Danny savagely questioning Phillips' qualifications and personal life, while he retaliates with equally cutting remarks. As she exits the room, Dr. Cruz confronts her, reminding Phillips that she cannot afford to appear vulnerable or defeated in front of the team. Perhaps this explains her tendency to retreat into seclusion and her inability to cope with hospital stress?
Returning to the present, Phillips and Danny reach a consensus that their relationship, now ended, involved no instances of sexual harassment or misconduct. Given the flashbacks, it's unequivocally clear that Danny nearly ruined Phillips' career over nothing. In the hallway, Danny's interpersonal prowess takes a darker turn as she forcefully urges a father, earlier seen upset over Harper's insistence on additional tests for his baby, to comply. When Cruz learns of Danny's physical altercation with the father, she scolds her severely, warning that her patience and protection are wearing thin.
