"Body & Soul" is the thirteenth episode of the twelfth season of ER. It first aired on NBC on February 2, 2006. It was written by Joe Sachs and directed by Paul McCrane. It has Dr. Nate Lennox, a former biochemistry professor and mentor of Abby Lockhart, brought to the ER for his last stages of ALS disease while his progression of the disease is shown in flashbacks. Actor James Woods, who portrayed Dr. Lennox, received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.
Plot[]
Abby's former biochemistry teacher, Dr. Nate Lennox, is brought in the ER. Dr. Lennox has advanced ALS and is admitted with pneumonia. His progression of the disease is shown in flashbacks at the reverse direction.
NBC Description[]
A LONG GOODBYE- JAMES WOODS AND ALLY WALKER GUEST STAR: When an abandoned ALS (Lou Gerigs disease) patient arrives at the ER, many of the doctors are shocked when they recognize the former medical school professor (guest star James Woods).
Abby (Maura Tierney) and Kovac (Goran Visnijic) try to understand Dr. Lennox's wishes for his life after the professor is struck with pneumonia as well as the nerve degenerating disease.
As the disease continues to cripple Dr. Lennox, Abby struggles with the possibility of losing the professor that was responsible for making her a doctor. After a controversial decision to attach a trake to help Dr. Lennox breathe, Abby and Fran (guest star Ally Walker) wonder if they made the right decision.
Mehki Phifer, Parminder Nagra, Linda Cardellini, and Scott Grimes also star.
Synopsis[]
To be added.
Characters[]
Trivia[]
- Although listed in the opening credits, Scott Grimes and Laura Innes don't appear in this episode.
- In the 2004 flashback, Neela Rasgotra states to her ALS patient that she can't stand surgeons who are "are arrogant workaholics who can't relate to people unless they're asleep". However, she will eventually transition to surgery.
- In the 2002 flashback -
- Pratt tells James Woods character that the limited staff is due to the doctors being at Mark Greene's memorial. That would put this scene around the time of the airing of "On The Beach" Season 8, Episode 21 which contained Mark's last days and his funeral.
- Pratt also mentions that him staying at County is only temporary but that he plans to go to Northwestern. At the time, he said he hasn't gotten in but that he will. He did, in fact, get in to Northwestern but turned it down to stay at County.
- In the 1999 flashback, we find out that James Woods' character refused to drop Abby Lockhart from his class and instead offered to tutor her through the class. This class was a requirement for her to become a doctor.