The Best Episodes of St. Elsewhere

St. Eligius' 50th anniversary spurs memories, including: the growing up of Donald Westphall, the arrival of young Daniel Auschlander and his first meeting with Katharine, a drunken and embittered Father McCabe's departure, and the residency of Mark Craig under Dr. David Domedion. The O'Casey family's long history with St. Eligius leads Morrison to a diagnosis. Pete is returned.

Director: Mark Tinker

Writer: John Masius, John Tinker, Charles H. Eglee

Fiscus poses in provocative attire for a newspaper feature; Dr. Caldwell and Joan try to take a spontaneous trip to Paris; Armstrong reacts to the pressures she faces; and everyone waits to hear about who will be dropped from the residency program.

Director: Eric Laneuville

Writer: N/A

Dr. Caldwell performs plastic surgery on Manny while Jerry fights off cabin fever; Dr. Auschlander hires Joan Halloran as his new assistant; Axelrod becomes a hypochondriac; White reunites with his family; and a disturbed Daniels decides to do something about White.

Director: David Anspaugh

Writer: Charles H. Eglee

St. Eligius' 50th anniversary spurs memories, including: it's opening in 1935 under the leadership of Father Joseph McCabe, the arrival of recently emigrated Helen Rosenthal and Mark's return as chief of surgery, Mark's bypass on Patrick O'Casey and the death of Maureen Westphall. Morrison struggles to diagnose a difficult patient and cope with the loss of Pete to a kidnapper.

Director: Mark Tinker

Writer: John Masius, John Tinker, Charles H. Eglee

Dr. Fiscus is shot. Afterwards, he experiences the afterlife and meets some old friends. Such people include old patients who died in the hospital, a few in limbo and a couple in heaven. However, he is condemed to hades and finds Dr. White swiming in circles for all eternity in a boat with only one oar. Meamwhile, the docs at St. Eligus try their hardest to keep Fiscus alive.

Director: Mark Tinker

Writer: N/A

Luther and Warren do some plumbing for Dr. Craig during their temporary layoff; Papandrao leaves the picket line to help Ehrlich in an emergency operation; Dr. Caldwell tries to find new ways for the firefighters to deal with their continuing pain; and Martin finds herself confronting the rapist again.

Director: Mark Tinker

Writer: N/A

Dr. Westphall decides to sell his house; Andrea Fordham sees her new face for the first time; Shirley returns to the morgue where she shot Peter White; Rosenthal believes she's pregnant again; and Mrs. Hufnagle faces surgery.

Director: Mark Tinker

Writer: N/A

The Endicotts learn that their family's medical problems are hereditary; Dr. Caldwell prepares for surgery to eliminate his facial scar, but learns that he carries a more permanent reminder of his carelessness; and Fiscus and Morrison play romantic games with Clancy and Mona.

Director: Mark Tinker

Writer: N/A

Dr. Craig performs the transplant amidst a publicity barrage; Morrison tries to adjust to his loss; Luther and Fiscus split an investment in silver futures; and Rosenthal counsels a group on breast cancer.

Director: Victor Lobl

Writer: Mark Tinker, John Tinker

The rapist returns to St. Eligius; Daniels stays on the job as Rosenthal leads most of the other nurses out on strike; Ellen persuades Dr. Craig to go to a therapist about their marital problems; Luther learns one of the firefighters is fighting his pain in his own way; and Lizzie Westphall leaves for college.

Director: David Anspaugh

Writer: John Tinker

Breathless (1984) Anonymous Auschlander feels negligent when a long-term maintenance worker develops asbestosis. White attempts to locate his children. A mental health patient admits to the hospital rapes. One of the firefighters develops complications in his treatment. Ehrlich's bid to meet the new nutritionist turns into a disaster.

Director: Eric Laneuville

Writer: Joel Surnow

Chandler does his outreach work at a crisis hotline, where he draws a suicide on his first night; Ehrlich earns Dr. Craig's approval after he performs well during an emergency; and Carol Novino renews her friendship with Dr. Westphall and his family. Ellen Craig kicks Mark out of their home.

Director: Allan Arkush

Writer: Tom Fontana, John Masius, Michael Duggan

Morrison tries to help a bag woman and her husband; Fiscus admits a relatively healthy woman who had fainted for some very expensive tests; V.J. feels homesick; and the bomber and his victim both leave the hospital.

Director: Mark Tinker

Writer: N/A

A fisherman lobbies Dr. Westphall to let his brother die in peace and dignity; Fiscus substitutes for Ehrlich on a date with Shirley Daniels; and Helen's stress mounts as the hospital suffers computer glitches and she faces a radical mastectomy. Peter celebrates his birthday and runs into Myra and a gentleman friend.

Director: Mark Tinker

Writer: Mark Tinker, John Tinker

Dr. Craig and Ehrlich both prepare turkeys for the staff forced to work the holiday; injuries from the Thanksgiving Day parade pour into the ER; and a depressed Dr. Auschlander takes a special interest in an ailing 11-year-old.

Director: Bruce Paltrow

Writer: N/A

Martin decides she's in love with Dr. Craig; White regrets helping out an exhausted mother pleading for sedatives in the E.R.; Eve's sense of cabin fever and anger is calmed by a visit from her students; Morrison learns more about Eddie Carson and the `Troubles'.

Director: Mark Tinker

Writer: N/A

Joan's father enters the hospital unexpectedly; Chandler takes a practice run for the Boston Marathon that proves dangerous; and the Craigs host Ehrlich's wedding with guests such as Mrs. Craig's mother and Ehrlich's alcoholic aunt Charice.

Director: Mark Tinker

Writer: Tom Fontana, John Masius

Morrison learns a lesson from another doctor who makes the diagnosis of Mr. Keuhnelian; Dr. Craig prepares to accept his anticipated `Doctor of the Year' award; Dr. Caldwell and Ehrlich both make decisions about their romantic futures; Cathy's disappearance raises questions; Shirley fends off an imagined attacker; and the rapist strikes again.

Director: Eric Laneuville

Writer: N/A

Three women in a room become close despite their differences; an old woman facing the loss of her independence; a mother trying to deal with violent surges of erratic behavior; and a bland young woman searching for 'character' through a nose job.

Director: Bruce Paltrow

Writer: N/A

The residents scatter as vacation begins; Morrison meets a charming young woman; the E.R. faces major structural repairs; Steven Craig returns home after licking his drug problem; and Luther tries to find a Cheshire cat for a skeptical little girl. Dr. Auschlander collapses in an elevator. Elliot Axelrod has an interview for a position as a resident.

Director: Linda Day

Writer: Tom Fontana, John Masius

Dr. Westphall finds himself a suspect in the Peter White shooting; Morrison finds a psychological cause for a boy's asthma attacks; many of the residents interview for a TV job; and the city honors the surviving firefighters.

Director: David Anspaugh

Writer: N/A

Dr. Wyler puts Dr. Auschlander onto a new way of life; Halloran interviews Morrison's co-workers in an effort to build a case for him; Ehrlich takes the Craigs out for a disastrous dinner; and Mrs. Hufnagle loses a chance at a new life.

Director: Mark Tinker

Writer: Tom Fontana, John Masius

A young woman's multiple sclerosis worsens, threatening her life as a circus clown; Dr. Craig helps Dr. Westphall look for a condo; and Morrison feels the pressures of his responsibilities as a doctor and father.

Director: N/A

Writer: N/A

The Craigs meet their pregnant daughter-in-law, Yvonne; the Valeres continue to explore ways of having a child; Westphall's new policies irritate the residents and Auschlander; and Luther rides with a paramedic team preoccupied with their personal grievances.

Director: Mark Tinker

Writer: N/A

The Craigs face a tremendous loss as their first grandchild is born; a newly inspired Dr. Westphall returns to work full of ideas; and Fiscus invites himself up to Dr. Caldwell's Cape Cod retreat, where he sees a different side to the surgeon. Elliot and Marcy discover a common interest in food.

Director: Mark Tinker

Writer: John Tinker, Charles H. Eglee