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Archie Morris

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Dr. Archibald "Archie" Morris is a fictional character portrayed by Scott Grimes on the television show ER.

Early career

The character of Dr. Morris debuted in late 2003, in the drama's 10th season, and was notable for providing comic relief. Morris was an inept second year resident who avoided work whenever possible, luckily he was frequently being bailed out by another resident named Coop. In the episode "Freefall" he was caught smoking confiscated marijuana by Dr. Robert Romano, but avoided punishment when Romano was killed by a falling helicopter. Unaware of the doctor's demise, Morris nervously waited at the admit desk to be disciplined, doing nothing to assist the other doctors dealing with the massive casualties caused by the fiery crash in the ambulance bay.

Morris's empty commitment and slacking had already been established when his neglect cost a patient's life after she was waiting for hours to be seen by a doctor before she had a stroke and died. He abruptly quit, storming out of the ER throwing out his labcoat, only to return the next day claiming his father would pull the plug on his financial support if he didn't see this "thing" through.

Professional Advancement

Morris was made Chief Resident in Season 11, allowing his character to further antagonize other characters (Scott Grimes became a series regular at this time). He achieved this coveted position because of a combination of little competition (the more capable Greg Pratt turned down the post), an eleventh hour push of publications, and an elaborate presentation for the interview. As Chief Resident, Morris's inflated ego often worked against him, especially in clashes with colleagues. His leadership style was primarily delegation and micro-management, though he often acted as if he were beloved by his fellow residents and the medical students.

In Season 12 it was revealed that Morris had donated sperm many times earlier in his life. Three red-headed children and one African American child showed up at the hospital and declared that Morris was their father. Although shocked by this, his comical attempts to be a "good dad" became a recurring theme for the character throughout various subsequent episodes. Later in season 12, we learn that Morris was hired by a pharmacy laboratory; in the Season 12 finale, "21 Guns," he was preparing to leave the hospital when a shooting occurred in the ER. Morris's quick and competent response to this crisis marked something of a professional turning point for him.

Taking Charge

During season 13, Morris was hired as one of the ER's attending physicians (the slot left open by Dr. Clemente's departure). Morris began a serious effort to win other people's respect and his own. Though other doctors still did not always take him seriously, he showed a moment of both care and skill when he correctly interpreted a young man's alternating demands to be admitted and discharged as symptoms of dissociative identity disorder. However, other doctors laughed at Morris' diagnosis and refused to authorize critical care, and he privately admitted to Samantha Taggart that he knew "most of the other ER staff think I'm a joke". Taggart spoke kindly to him before she personally used her own communications skills and got the D.I.D. patient to consent to the life-saving treatment.

When the new medical interns came to the ER, his attention was caught by Hope Bobeck. Morris quickly asked her out for dinner but she instead invited him to her Bible study group, as she was a born-again Christian (often praying while taking care of patients). Morris pretended to be as devout as she was although he does profess to be a Baptist). Hope and Morris grew close to each other. In the Christmas episode City of Mercy, he got through a difficult shift as the only ER attending, and at the end of the day Hope told him how much she'd learned watching him. She then asked him out for drinks, and then to see what might happen after (she seemed to be having a bit of a crisis of faith). Morris declined, much to his own surprise. He said that they might do something that they would both regret, which could stand in the way of a possibly deeper relationship in the future. He walked away and Hope was left confused and disappointed. Morris and Hope later got involved with each other while helping to plan Luka and Abby's wedding. The two quickly took advantage of the free honeymoon suite that Luka and Abby were not able to use and began pursuing a relationship, though Morris was saddened when Hope left for a long volunteer stint in Venezuela and they have since broken up. He was later one of the doctors to start mistrusting the new doctor Moretti. In Season 14, Morris discovers that his father has died, and laments to Abby that he and his dad never mended their long-broken relationship. He also fails his medical boards while Dr. Pratt passes them, and he lies about his failure and asks Pratt to cover for him until he can take and pass them.

Trivia

Morris has four nipples; as a teenager was made fun of because of this. It did, however, earn him a date with a fellow "mutant" in one episode.

External links



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Last updated on Friday December 28, 2007 at 01:52:24 PST (GMT -0800)
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