Time to get out the hankies as ER's Dr Green departs

By FIONA RAE

We knew he was going, but if you thought last week was the final exit of Mark Greene (Anthony Edwards), think again. Tonight is the full, unexpurgated, three-hanky weepfest of Greene's departure from this earthly realm.

Greene's stethoscope has been literally passed on to Carter (Noah Wyle), who in a not-so-subtle hint to the audience was told last week that he now has to fill the void left by Greene.

Noah, step up to the plate, you are the new moral centre of the ER, not to mention receiving a reportedly healthy salary increase now Edwards has gone.

Carter immediately got down to business, saving patients left, right and centre - except for the homeless guy who mistook him for Greene - and going outside to give med student Gallant the "there are two types of doctors" speech. It was like Greene had never left.

Unlike Eriq La Salle, whose character, Benton, simply got another job, or George Clooney, whose Doug Ross naturally had to leave in controversy, Greene has had a brain tumour, which has given both last season and this a big story arc bonus.

Another recent area of conflict that has given Edwards and his screen wife, Alex Kingston, plenty to work with, is the addition of rebellious daughter Rachel (Hallee Hirsh).

She features strongly in tonight's episode, as Greene tries his darnedest to make some advice stick. He takes her to Hawaii, where he spent some of his childhood as a Navy brat, surfing, smokin' weed and arguing with his dad.

In the best ER tradition, the episode is not overplayed. Greene is allowed to feel sorry for himself, write lists and letters to his daughters to be opened on special days, and even show off his surfing skills. After eight years on the show, it's the send-off he deserves.

Having been divorced, assaulted, sued, stalked, married, undergone open-brain surgery and saved thousands of lives, it's the right time to go.

* ER TV2, 8.30pm