Jessica Townsend Movies

Originally slated to air on September 20, 2001, the eighth-season opener of ER was bumped to September 27 due to ongoing network coverage of the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. This inaugural episode hopscotches through time, presenting its events from several sharply differing points of view. First off, several loose ends from the end of season seven are wrapped up, notably the aftermath of Greene's (Anthony Edwards) decision to "terminate" a man who had killed several people before being shot himself, and the aftereffects of the treatment given to Cleo Finch (Michael Michele) when she cut her hand on a vial of HIV-infected blood. In new developments, the ER staff treats the victims of a TV talk show brawl; Abby (Maura Tierney) and Carter (Noah Wyle) attend his grandfather's funeral, where Carter is brought into a confrontation with his estranged parents (Michael Gross, Mary McDonnell); Benton (Eriq La Salle) helps his sister Jackie (Khandi Alexander) cope with the death of her son; returning from vacation, Weaver (Laura Innes) worries that she has been "outed" by Romano (Paul McCrane); and Chen (Ming-Na) is appointed chief resident. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Ever studious, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) falls asleep during a class lecture and has a dream about a little girl holding a box and reciting a fairy tale about "The Gentlemen." Meanwhile, Willow (Alyson Hannigan) attends a campus Wicca meeting where she meets Tara (Amber Benson), a demure young coed. Later that night, a group of tall, thin, ghoulish, undertaker-types -- The Gentlemen -- come floating into Sunnydale stealing everyone's voices as they sleep. Perplexed by her inability to speak, Buffy goes to Giles (Anthony Head) to figure out what to do. At the same time, The Gentleman cut the heart out of their first victim, who can only writhe in silent torture. Tara seeks out Willow, hoping to perform a spell with her to combat The Gentleman, who also go after her heart. Then, Giles uncovers the fairy tale about The Gentleman in which only the scream of a Princess can stop their silent evil -- but Princess Buffy can't even whisper. Largely directed as a silent episode, this groundbreaking effort from series creator Joss Whedon was nominated for an Emmy. ~ All Movie Guide