It’s Thanksgiving and J.D. (Zach Braff) and Turk (Donald Faison) are letting off a little steam at the local bar, The Free Clinic. A sharp pain in J.D.’s side sends him back to the hospital. Elliot (Sarah Chalke) performs a rather rough exam on J.D. but can’t determine the cause of his pain. He is later diagnosed with appendicitis. Meanwhile, another patient has been admitted, Dr. Benson, who is the former chief of medicine and a mentor of Dr. Cox’s (John C. McGinley). Dr. Cox is competing with Dr. Kelso (Ken Jenkins) for Dr. Benson’s attention and he’s getting the short end of the stick. Later, Dr. Kelso rushes to Dr. Benson’s room after he suffers a cardiac viral infection. Dr. Cox rushes in too late to help.

Concerned about her bedside manner, Elliot polls another patient, Mike to find out if she really is that rough. She is. With help from Carla (Judy Reyes), she takes steps to project a softer, kinder, gentler manner. J.D. has his own fears to deal with when he learns that Turk will be performing his appendectomy, and Turk is hurt that J.D. would doubt his surgical abilities. The surgery goes well. To celebrate what is left of Thanksgiving, Turk loads J.D. into a wheelchair and heads back to The Free Clinic. Dr. Cox, Elliot and Carla join them a little later for a holiday toast.