On the Beach (ER)


"On the Beach" is the 178th episode of the NBC drama series ER. It chronicled the last days of Dr. Mark Greene as he died from a brain tumor and marked the final performance of Anthony Edwards until his return in a flashback during a Season 15 episode.

Synopsis

Dr. Greene has resigned his fate and decided to forgo his remaining chemotherapy treatments, choosing to spend his remaining days in Hawaii with Elizabeth and Rachel. He creates a list detailing everything he wants to do before he dies, with one of the items being to "fix Rachel". Rachel becomes surly but while walking with her dad, she sees him suffer a seizure and comes to his aid.
As his health deteriorates, Greene makes amends with Rachel and gives her some last advice: "be generous with your time, with your love, with your life." Rachel puts a pair of headphones on him and he listens to Israel Kamakawiwoʻole's "Over the Rainbow" as we see him walk through the empty hallways of the ER. The next morning, Elizabeth discovers that Mark has died.

Reception

The episode received an emmy nomination for Outstanding Writing For A Drama Series for Executive producer John Wells.