An already hectic day at the ER is made even more so when two children are brought in exhibiting symptoms of smallpox. With Weaver (
Laura Innes) temporarily unavailable, Carter (
Noah Wyle) orders a lockdown at County General to avoid an epidemic -- and avert a nationwide panic. Meanwhile, Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) encounters major problems while trying to get information about a smallpox vaccine from CDC; both Chen (Ming-Na) and Pratt (
Mekhi Phifer) appear to have come down with the disease themselves; and a patient riot breaks out, one which may cause the epidemic to spread to the rest of Chicago. This final episode of
ER's eighth season ends with a cliffhanger, the ingredients of which include a startling development in the relationship between Carter and Abby (
Maura Tierney). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide