Season 6 (1968)

Liz reaches a decision regarding her continued employment at Hope Memorial. Nick forces a reluctant Liz to hear what he has to say, but he’s the one who gets an earful. Karen takes advantage of Maggie’s absence to move in on Matt.

After a therapy session with Bill, Althea receives a visit from a nosy Ruth. Ruth’s prying annoys Althea. Later, Bill and Ruth quarrel after he finds out that she has interfered in Althea’s personal life. The situation worsens when Mrs. Berger arrives for a surprise visit from the adoption agency and finds an unhappy household.

Carolee accepts a date with Steve, unaware that he’s using her for his own gain. Althea begins to hemorrhage. Matt examines Althea and offers her harsh advice. Althea considered her options.

Steve and a giddy Carolee plan their first date. Liz assures John that she will never be a doormat for man again. Polly seeks John’s help in deciding how to disburse her family’s inheritance.

Paired together in the outpatient’s clinic, John and Karen have another argument. Polly devises a plan for her nieces. John attempts to warn Carolee off Steve.

Maggie and Greta’s unexpected arrival from Wyoming spoils Karen’s cozy evening with Matt. Maggie’s return to Matt’s side elates John. John gets the latest scoop about Althea’s troubles.

Danny makes progress in walking again, but he doesn’t want to go back to the foster home. Ruth loses her cool over Maggie’s patient, who is pregnant and unmarried. Steve makes another date with Carolee.

Althea covers up her miscarriage by pretending she went a skiing vacation to Vermont. In psychoanalysis with Bill, Althea draws parallels between the loss of her baby and son Buddy’s sudden death the previous spring.

Nick begs Althea to marry him but is stunned by her news. Liz confronts Nick and Althea and later speaks with Nathan Bunker, editor of the local newspaper, who plans an expose of Nick’s research lab. An upset Liz writes a note and leaves.

Carolee finds Liz’s note and concerned by its contents, shares it with Matt. Althea learns her daughter Penny is ill and prepares to leave for a visit. Bunker informs Matt of the expose being written about Hope Memorial.

John learns about Liz’s departure from Carolee and blames Nick, prompting another altercation between the two. Later, Maggie shares Liz’s history of mental instability with John. Polly and John make plans for her nieces.

Mrs. Berger questions Matt about Ruth Winters’ history of alcoholism. Ruth panics after learning Mrs. Berger met with Matt. Ruth becomes tempted to drink again when she worries that Bill doesn’t want to adopt and is unhappy with their marriage.

Karen suggests to Maggie that a woman’s job is the satisfaction of her mate. Karen recalls her own father, who mentored a young Matt in medicine. Later, Karen purposefully delays Matt from leaving the hospital and going home to Maggie. Maggie is upset when Matt arrives home late, having also forgotten her birthday.

A newspaper article disturbs Matt and Maggie. Nick discovers the latest problem with Liz. Karen subtly pumps Nick for personal information regarding the Powers marriage. When Carolee can’t stop worrying about Liz’s disappearance, Steve accuses her of overreacting.

Karen encourages Matt to fight the newspaper allegations made by Bunker’s article. Ruth helps Danny with his recovery. Nick realizes Karen wants Matt. Nathan Bunker receives a visit from a determined Nick.

Matt learns about Nick’s visit to the newspaper, but wonders if it will do any good. Maggie advises Nick to reflect on his life. Hope Memorial’s board convenes a meeting, with Matt ordered to attend.

Matt shares with the hospital board his theory about Bunker’s vendetta against Hope Memorial. Polly worries about possibly seeing her nieces after so many years apart. Karen wants to be the first to know the results of Matt’s meeting with the board.

Ruth invites Danny to spend the evening at her home. John searches for the whereabouts of Polly’s family. Ruth and Bill are tense during their evening with Danny, who talks about the death of his parents. Danny’s visit culminates in upset emotions when he finds that Ruth has purchased baby items in anticipation of an adoption.

Carolee and John offer Steve advice about his dinner invitation to the Powers home. The dinner takes an unhappy turn when Steve and Karen disagree with one another, and Matt sides with Karen. Maggie confronts Matt over her suspicions that something is happening between him and Karen.