Andy is concerned that Ephram needs more extracurricular activities to get into a top college, but Ephram is only focused on his Julliard audition, which has surprising results. Amy's lack of interest in college preparation alarms her mother more than her father. Bright's poor grades get him kicked off the football team, threatening the scholarship his father believes may be his only chance to get into a decent school. Meanwhile, Andy tries to help a cheerleader (guest-star Kristen Bell) with ruptured breast implants, who cares more about looking good than her own health.

When a coal mine collapses, Dr. Brown, together with Edna, Linda and Harold Abbott, rush to the scene to assist their neighbors. One miner is Will Cleveland (guest star James Earl Jones), a jazz pianist who has recently become Ephram's mentor. The other is Abbott's next door neighbor (guest star Beau Bridges), whose outrageous building plans Harold has tried to thwart. The third one, Andy's patient Ellie Beels (guest star Kirsten Nelson), who has been trying to conceive a baby. All three doctors utilize their special skills under terrible conditions, but it is Andy who must confront his biggest fears in order to save lives.

Dr. Brown tries to intervene when a bulimic high school champion wrestler (guest star Douglas Smith, Gregory Smith's brother) puts his life in jeopardy for an important tournament. Bright is suspended from school after he fights with Amy's boyfriend Tommy (Paul Wasilewski). Linda Abbott suspects that that Andy is reluctant to move their relationship to a more intimate level because of her HIV status. Finally, Ephram is convinced that college student Madison is embarrassed to be seen with him.

Ephram and Bright conspire to get Ephram a fake I.D. so that he can get into a bar to see Madison perform with her band. Meanwhile, Nina leans on Andy for emotional support after she is served with divorce papers, but the genuine affection between the two raises a red flag for Linda; Harold and Rose (guest star Merrilyn Gann) schedule a meeting with Amy's guidance counselor after receiving her less-than-stellar report card. Finally, Tommy (guest star Paul Wasilewski) takes Amy to a party where she finds closure over the loss of Colin (guest Mike Erwin), but the evening takes a life-threatening turn.