Dr. Briana Ortiz talks to a nurse about the new emergency room doctor at Royaume Northwestern Hospital, Dr. Jacob Maddox. All six of the patients he has treated that day have died, causing the other staff members to dub him “Dr. Death.” Briana defends him by pointing out that all patients were terminal before they arrived in the emergency room, but the nurse also complains that Jacob is rude and unfriendly. As they speak, Briana gets a text from former emergency department head Alexis Grant, who is also her best friend. Alexis wants to visit Briana on the day that her divorce is scheduled to be finalized. Briana calls Alexis, assuring her she’s fine, but Alexis insists on coming.

Dr. Gibson, the current head of the emergency department, calls Briana to his office. She expects him to tell her that he wants her to take over the position once he retires, but instead, Gibson tells her that he has decided to put off his retirement. Gibson feels it is only fair that Jacob be given a fair chance to compete for the job as well, and he wants to give him time to get to know the staff.