After a lost deer makes the Brown's backyard its new home, Andy insists on accompanying Ephram who decides to help the animal find its way home to the wilderness, where the journey includes a long hike through the mountains. Meanwhile, Ephram finally admits to Amy that he never asked his father to consider operating on her boyfriend, Colin, who is in a coma. Lastly, Delia questions the existence of God after a classmate tells hear that he doesn't believe in higher beings.

Delia and her grandmother (guest star Doris Belack) throw a festive birthday party for a grumpy Edna who hates this particular day of the year, but everyone winds up snowed in for the night when a big storm hits town. In the midst of it all, Bright collapses from a burst appendix and Drs. Brown and Abbott have to improvise an operating room before the infection spreads; while Andy and Ephram let months of tension and hurt feelings explode in front of everyone with a threat of Ephram moving back to New York with his grandparents.

On a church ski trip chaperoned by perpetual party pooper Dr. Abbott, Amy and Colin share their first kiss since the surgery. Ephram finds himself intrigued by Colin's younger sister, Laynie (guest star Nora Zehetner), who has recently returned home from boarding school. Also, Bright attempts to get to the next base with his girlfriend (guest star Devon Reilly). Meanwhile, Andy hesitantly agrees to attend a singles mixer with the recently divorced Reverend Keyes (guest star Tim Dekay).

Although Amy and Bright are still living in denial regarding the state of Colin's (Mike Erwin) recovery, Ephram can't ignore the bad signs any longer after he witnesses Colin freaking out and vandalizing the gym teacher's office. Meanwhile, a New York Magazine reporter pays a visit to Dr. Brown in hopes of uncovering the truth behind why the famed surgeon is still living in Everwood. And Delia decides to secretly spend the night in the Museum of History while on a school field trip.

As the day of Colin's (guest star Mike Erwin) surgery approaches and emotions run high, Andy takes Ephram and Delia on a road trip to his old medical school to consult with his mentor, Dr. Donald Douglas (guest star Philip Baker Hall). Back in Everwood, Colin kidnaps Amy and Bright in the middle of the night to surprise them with a special day of memories and hopes for the future.

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.

Amy confides to Bright that she may have developed feelings for Ephram and sees him in a new light, but Bright begs her to have mercy on poor Ephram, who is still nursing a broken heart from his recent break-up with Madison. Meanwhile, Linda reveals her HIV status to Delia after the girl confronts her about all the pills she's been taking. While Delia takes the news better than expected, the rest of the town goes ballistic after Linda's secret unintentionally becomes public knowledge. Dr. Abbott faces a potential malpractice suit, and Andy is forced to come clean with Ephram, who doesn't take the news very well.

Ephram is on cloud nine after being accepted into Julliard's summer program, but his emotions are sent into a tailspin when Amy shares her feelings for him and asks that he stay in Everwood for the summer. Meanwhile, Dr. Abbott's family thinks he's gone off the deep end when he decides to open a bagel shop in response to losing his malpractice insurance, and Andy learns a shocking revelation about his family.

Andy worries that Ephram is beginning to question himself and his chances of getting into Julliard after he applies to a college in Colorado as a back-up plan. Similarly, Harold has concerns of his own when Amy informs him that she's not applying to the school they always dreamed of her attending, Princeton, because it would take her too far away from Ephram. Meanwhile, Andy jumps head first into helping Amanda (guest-star Anne Heche) and her disabled husband (guest-star Jason Beghe) with a new therapy involving music, but it may be too much and too fast for Amanda; and Edna and Irv's marriage hits a rough patch after Irv loses his job and they contemplate their future together.

Ephram seeks guidance from his and piano mentor, Will Cleveland (guest-star James Earl Jones) when he's struggling to select the music program for his Julliard audition tape. Things don't go well for Ephram as he faces losing one of the most important relationships in his life after he accidentally hurts Will's feelings. Meanwhile, Bright takes a job working at the restaurant, "The Firehouse" where he meets waitress Serena. Things go bad though when they get caught by their boss in the most compromising position in the closet.

Lastly, Andy and Amanda experience a miraculous breakthrough in their music therapy with Amanda's husband (guest-star Jason Beghe), but Andy quickly questions the results.

Feeling conflicted over the recent turn of events and not willing to jeopardize Ephram's Julliard audition, an angst-filled Amy tells Ephram that he should take Andy to New York instead of her. In New York, Andy struggles with memories of his former life and the desire to tell Ephram the truth about Madison. Fate plays a hand when Ephram runs into Madison in Manhattan and they make plans to see each other, causing Andy to take matters into his own hands. The episode was partially filmed in New York City.

With Ephram (Gregory Smith, who does not appear in the episode) gone and no longer feeling any significant ties to Everwood, Andy consults with Delia and contemplates accepting a prestigious position with a Chicago hospital. Uncharacteristically upset over this bit of news, Harold takes it upon himself to give Andy a reason to stay. Meanwhile, Jake moves in with Nina, causing Andy to question whether he should rock the boat by telling her how he really feels, and Bright finally admits his feelings to Hannah.