Fri, Oct 20, 2000
Vindictive vixen Andi sneaks in to vandalize Robbie's room; at O'Neill's he receives a packet- a live snake, which dad Jim recognizes as harmless patient Minnie. Robbie doesn't tell to spare dad worrying, she blackmails him to meet her in the empty studio- she's waiting with matches... Syd is released home, but revalidation starts with a month minimum. At first she refuses the conventional physiotherapist Goodlander being replaced by college hunk John Hemming, who based his play-wise approach on his crippled dog Earl's spontaneous revalidation. Heather is back at the practice and gets even more attached then Jim to two temporarily abandoned pedigree pups, only one of which actually gets a new owner, or... Burt is Joanie's dream-prince, unhurt in the big fire, but most unwilling to suspend dating during Sid's revalidation. Despite a fall from the treadmill, she drives to the clinic, and has a mild accident on the way back in Joanie's car. She nearly runs to Norwich, but John intelligently wins her over to his thought-trough therapeutic touch.
Fri, Oct 27, 2000
The police questions and suspects Robbie, who didn't even know the studio burnt down. Andi repeats her scary blackmail threat, but even Heather's heirloom wedding ring proves paste... John has a hard time making Syd realize she needs time before she can resume work normally, then encourages her to. She's suspicious about her nearly fatal judgment call causing a malpractice lawsuit and her too-good-to-be-true stand-in Dr. Jordan Roberts, who convinces the board of a major building project... Burt accepts Joanie's request to join her at costumed ball against inhibitions, but finds her about to make love with another 'Zorro'. Jim seems a bad dog-trainer, but actually diagnoses pup Fearless with curable ear-disease, still no miracle...
Fri, Nov 3, 2000
When Robbie tells a detective he knows nothing about Andi's fire, he's served a subpoena. Burt consults Syd medically about his poor performance in Joanie's bed, then plans a day rest before major quality time. Jim calls in canine behavior counselor B.J. Maximus about hyperkinetic puppy Fearless who raids all the family's footwear, in her view a bid for picking order supremacy. Syd meets John's patient Beckca, a dancer who refuses proper care, even free diagnosis, before risking permanent injury at an untimely audition, and suggests John systematically has improper relationships with clients...
Fri, Nov 10, 2000
Despite all her evildoing, Robbie helps arsonist Andi to a waitering job at O'Neill's and even dealing with her lazy Public Defense attorney, who feels her case is hopeless if tried, given Chuck Chance's willingness to testify against her. She tries to jump bail... Syd is declared physically healed, but didn't regain her muscle control. John offers therapy as needed, but tells her it's time after she treated illegal laborer Francisco Aguilar for a leg wound and seeing his eight year-old boy Carlos has a split pallet arranged a pro deo by Dr. Mark Leggett, who at the last moment, after she got the pair released by Immigration, bails out so she operates herself. Afterward she thanks John for the kick in the pants, he finally can offer a post-professional, intimate relationship. ... Burt checks in for an erectile operation, but is desperate to hide that for his fellow firemen. Henry Pillup wants Jim to make his parrot stop chattering, but then finds him too silent...
Fri, Nov 17, 2000
Skateboarder Jamie Rohan bumps into Syd's car and hurts his wrists; his mother is furious to get a call, as Syd used his late hyperactive big brother Scott's name which she read on his skateboard, and he takes his ADHD tranquilizers, with adverse effect... Robbie still wants to help Andi, whose public defender Lou Keppler is ready to throw in the towel, so he goes begging with sole witness Chuck, who suggests a deal, if she can sell a format to the TV network... Burt's operation was a success, but he cannot get aroused in the next 72 hours. Jim gets a red-dyed goat from three youngsters, as it turns out team mascot raiders... Syd accepts John's unusual taste, but temporarily dumps him when he's seen with Cheryl until he explains she's less about him than his filthy-rich family.
Fri, Nov 24, 2000
When Robbie generously obliges a beggar's plea for food, instead of waiting for an omelet the apparent scumbag takes off with his benefactor's wallet and keys, yet stops when Robbie hurts his head chasing and claims it wasn't him, the police threw him out- indeed, a careful colleague found his things, so Robby brings food to the shelter and offers grumpy Dwayne, who plays guitar, a gig at O'Neill's, only to have it refused. Jim gets a circus's confused chimpanzee Danny and is railroaded into attending his overbearing suitor Cynthia Blake's Thanksgiving party, while none of the family is up to it anyhow. Syd is invited at John's grand family feast, makes a fine first impression on his ma Constance Hemming and gets Social Services officer Alex's permission to put up apparently abandoned girl Anchee for a week. The Hemmings family discretely donates an EMG and Chinatown P.I. Simon Chang... Burt proposes a place to Joanie to move into together and shouts a fancy restaurant, where he clearly doesn't tolerate noisy children... Dwayne turns up, but insists he must have his own guitar back, pawned for $800, beyond Robbie's means to advance, so he rents one- a waiter recognizes his artistic playing... Jim figures out the ape uses sign-language, to say he's called Rocket and home-sick...
Fri, Nov 24, 2000
Robbie's protégé Dwayne not only bail out again after telling how badly he misses his late wife, he's the police's only suspect for the theft of his guitar from the pawnshop; Robbie sells his comics, Dwayne accepts to sing at the family Thanksgiving. Joanie feared announcing her pregnancy would have chased Burt, but he stays. Chimpanzee Rocket's last revealed talent, painting, allows identifying his training center, so he can be reunited with his handler after two years. The Hemming money allows Chinatown P.I. Simon to find Anchee's parents by posting a reward; ma Constance's influence also gets the hospital finally to offer Syd a surgeon's job, but she refuses it and even tells John to take distance from ma's influence or they're through....
Fri, Dec 15, 2000
Robbie's Christmas bonus at O'Neill's depends on organizing a charity toys drive, so he goes to a cheap sale, but finds out painfully it's run by a malicious mall Santa and his matching midget elf, Barnabus Finkel, who is fired after a public fight and turns up in the pub. Betting the meager $150 toys budget makes the disaster complete, save for a Christmas miracle... Syd is supportive of Joanie's second pregnancy, and her dad is clearly disappointed. Exposure to mischievous kids at her doctor's office tests Burt's preparedness for the burden of fatherhood. Her mean nagging about punctuality makes it even worse, so she fears to have chased the second accidental father away even before the birth.
Fri, Jan 5, 2001
Jim, who warned Robbie an address he asked about to deliver whiskey from O'Neill's could be a mob club, is testing a harmless mousetrap, but his rodent hunt only succeeds in wrecking half the house. The Italian customers sort of railroad Robbie into joining their poker table. They get grumpy when he outplays them every hand, but once they realize they mistook him for a don's son take him to the woods, stripped to his underwear, contemplating spy execution modes... Being preoccupied with a terminal cancer patient who feels guilty as an absent mother, Syd gets Joanie in her place to attend the Biltmore medical convention, for the free samples, but someone who remembers Syd gets her thrown out, and into jail with three hookers; they contemplate life and commiserate...
Fri, Jan 12, 2001
Infomercial presenter Earl Popper passes at O'Neill's and encourages fan Robbie to come up with a gimmick invention to enter it in his TV program and earn a fortune, but that' easier said the done, even for the most inventive Hansen... Syd's nice young paperboy David (12) is brought in with a gun-wound; according to elder brother and guardian Matt, David must have shot himself accidentally with a gun Matt bought after a recent wave of break-ins, but the wound indicates someone shot the kid and he can't move his feet without an operation. Matt asks him where the gun is, as the police asks for it, but... Joanie is tired of cleaning up etcetera for Jim, Robbie and Syd, so she eagerly hires Burt's sister Doreen Dunfey as professional 'life organizer', who presses the Hansens to sacrifice everything that doesn't fit in a lifeboat to a yard-sale next Saturday, which only makes them realize they really care for their memories, and Doreen...
Fri, Feb 9, 2001
Dr. Jim Hansen makes a big deal of accompanying morally good but legally incorrigible son Robbie to court, again, for some bookie deals, and actually convinces the judge to give him a better lesson then a fine: community service by coaching a boys ice-hockey team for the rest of the season. Initially reluctant coach Robbie generously adjusts his already busy time-schedule and proves the only optimist who ever dared insisting to them winning should be a serious option, and stands up against stressed player Billy's overbearing father, winning the boy's heart and the sympathy of equally uncertain teammate Pete Calcatera's attractive young mother Tina... After three failed white wedding productions, Joanie convinces fiancé Burt to follow Syd's flippant suggestion to 'elope' to Niagara Falls. The trip is terminated by cramps... Syd concentrates on lighthouse-keeper Graham Hollings, who refuses to allow plastic surgery on his badly scarred face, and can't even bring himself to visit his only true friend Mary in hospital after successfully giving her CPR together.
Fri, Feb 16, 2001
Robbie is now really interested in coaching, even changes shifts to be there early, but is also focusing on Pete Calcatera's mother Tina. Learning Pete's father will never return, and she runs a garage, he actually sabotages pa's muffler -alas accidentally also an expensive part- to have an excuse to drop by, but she refuses to go lunch together meanwhile; luckily Pete insists to have him invited at Chimp Fun Zone to celebrate his successful school project. Syd gets Joanie, who is impossible to live with, neglects the Barkery and can't face Burt since the miscarriage, to go in therapy. Syd can't drag Graham to Mary's funeral, but learns she owned his lighthouse, which is now to be sold; she gets him to plastic surgery consultation, but the teaching crowd scares him off after a few minutes; she finally gets him to the graveyard, facing his lasting nightmare, where he accepts surgery.
Fri, Feb 23, 2001
Robbie tries to be supportive now player Pete Calcatera is desperately nervous as his dad Peter promised to come watch his game on Friday, but private coaching seems to do the trick; on the big day Robbie's pep-talk gets the kid over his fear, but a brute knocks him over... Syd's doctor's orders keep Jim out of the surgery, but Heather must bring Graham's solitude-stressed Byron and other dogs to him, till after Graham's operation, which is a medical success, and he actually dares facing people again. Syd discovers the late Mary left something to Edward 'Eddie' Joyce, who isn't Graham's father in law as she assumed, that's Harold Joyce, but Graham's own son, Harold raised the now ten-year old lovely boy. Jim helps her gather the courage to tell grandpa, who initially wants the secret kept, then sends Eddie to Syd, who passes on his boat design, a source of pride for former professional Graham... Joanie is drinking too much, so the Barkery risks going down the drain and Burt is neglected even worse, she actually fails to open his gifts for their dating anniversary which she forgot about; yet Burt's patience even stretches to allowing her some time apart 'to think'.
Fri, Mar 2, 2001
Robbie's date with Tina falls through when Pete's dad Peter cancels last minute to chaperon his scouts event. Robbie is happy to be invited by the kid to his birthday party, but Peter demands he steps out of the divorced family's only annual event. Syd's clinic is selected as contender for a grant from the prestigious Medfund. The Barkery hires pastry chef Elliot Anderman, who finds cooking for animals beneath him, let alone cleaning, but lost his Chicago standing after malicious food poisoning. He proves sympathetic to Joanie's miscarriage-trauma and reorganizes efficiently and ergonomically.
Fri, Mar 16, 2001
Robbie's restaurant date with Tina is a lip-locked success. Yet the next day she's aloof again, Robbie sees she has another man, who drops by at O'Neill's. Gym coach Russell Banks brings in pupil Kylie with a strained ankle, later picks up his coat- and Syd for supper. It's love at first bite. After three years of therapeutic disillusions, a patient is determined not to try a new treatment that Syd insists on. Chef Elliot Anderman's cookie range "man's best friend" (for people and dogs) convinces banker George Blankenship to support the "Barkery's" $8,000 oven investment loan. Elliot even accepts to pose as a straight couple, but seems to overdo it.
Fri, Mar 30, 2001
Robbie looks forward to a weekend with Tina while Peter takes their son Pete camping, but she doesn't know he still lives in his old room at dad's. On her Saturday off Syd welcomes MD Rick Rozelli, back from Uganda, and shows him St. Clare clinic. Rick came to invite youth friend Syd to join a partnership running a clinic there, but suddenly falls gravely ill. The Health department determines it's serious, possibly hemorrhagic fever (Ebola?!) and immediately quarantines both clinic and Hansen house. Joanie is trapped with all Hannah's birthday party guests. There were no further fatal cases until Izzy Nunez manages to cut herself, so she's probably infected...
Fri, Apr 20, 2001
While Jim is away meeting Victoria Everdeen in Chicago, Robbie, Joanie and finally Syd get a visit from Thomas Wheelock (a rich McArthur Far East campaign veteran). That evening they realize they are visited by the same man when invited to his hotel. There Syd realizes that Thomas Wheelock is his grandfather, the very same man that disinherited his mother for marrying 'beneath her'. Thomas makes them an offer they can't refuse, or can they?
Fri, May 11, 2001
Robbie and Tina were enjoying a quiet weekend without Pete, but his pa Peter has papers served: he sues for full custody. Tina's lawyer convinces Robbie his criminal record would wreck her case; he's inclined to bow out, but a pub colleague suggests he provokes Peter's known violent temper, with plain-clothes cop Reggie standing by. Fearless makes a sizable drug-bust for Officer Duncan, then is poisoned in Jim's surgery. Elliot's coaching succeeds in making Joanie go out with his friend, studly artist Mitch, but she's not over Burt yet. Syd's aggressive tone ruins Congressman Joe Connelly's amicable approach of his Ziodex friend Bill Graff; Joe still promises to organize a Congressional hearing if hard proof is produced the life-saving drug is willfully sidetracked, which only Dr. Carroll can.
Fri, May 18, 2001
Robbie celebrated Tina's regained freedom with a dinner, but an accidentally delivered ring out-stages him; it sets both thinking. Congressman Joe Connelly insists Syd should consider an affair with him, as he is already determined to divorce his socialite, cold-ambitious wife Erica, who approaches Syd to plead for his scandal-vulnerable career; pictures make it real, but who sent them and why? Elliot takes Joanie to a diner where all firemen meet, and bingo: Burt, then coaches her to reaffirm her feelings for the stud, but just too late. Heather convinces Jim to try curing Fearless's post-poisoning depression with sibling therapy: Peerless, courtesy of Mr. Coleman; the mob now sends a gunman.