Providence

- Season 5

(2002)

Five months later, premature baby Nicholas Luke is keeping Robbie and Tina awake to their despair, everybody suggests some soothing technique. Pete enjoys camping in the Hansen backyard. Jim waves Heather's worrying Meredith's postcards are rather impersonal, she's just in time for the christening but on a different wave-length. Syd worries St. Clare clinic is closed after a terrible building report, repairs will take six more months after uncertain funding and planning. Owen warns her not to take too much notice of arrogant college professor Dr. Bill Augustine and ...

Robbie is late for an auction of city-pounded goods but is assured he gets an incredible break: a huge Victorian house for §7,50. The picture proves outdated, he now owns a regular ruin which he's legally obliged to renovate or tear down, but Tina's reaction surprises him. Syd feels like her engagement with Owen is being tested by the universe as Joanie suggested: she keeps meeting magnificent men, including a dancing-seducing groom and underwear model Lucius, who dreads cancer or any scar, yet the one she dreams of kissing is equally medicine-devoted Dr. David Baylor...

Robbie is increasingly worried about Tina who can't stop exhausting herself on the renovation of their Victorian ruin, baby Nicholas, job and regular household. Syd is startled when Owen's family arrives for their formal engagement party: sister Anny he's so close to she feels excluded and their parents Charles and Nora, who seems suspicious and even critical of everything, she even takes a couple compatibility test; the pair behaves suspiciously, almost like spies, for a surprising reason. Only Jim misses the party, as he participates in a lab animal abuse protest ...

Robbie worries Tina, who won't consult a doctor, still does too much, even for Pete's birthday. Owen is determined to get the wedding preparations out of the way so they can enjoy their engagement, even if Syd's hospital duties mess up the timing. When Joanie has to fill in at a college radio show on Local Heroes, she first asks vet Jim, and then then his friend and client, international wildlife activist Doc Croc, who travels the world with his chimp.

Robbie is impressed by Tina's Halloween preparations, neighbor kid Taylor annually pulls his pranks on Jim. Yet Tina, who really can't handle baby Nicholas's incessant crying, comes down like a ton of bricks on Pete for trying to retort (which lands him and especially Jim in surprising trouble) and on sympathetic ex-rascal Robbie for making her he only 'bad cop'. Syd gets a temporary appointment. Owen is vexed she seems to make life-changing decisions without even consulting her groom. The hospital is swamped with costumed patients and total weirdos, including '...

Robbie is worried now that Tina is missing, luckily Jim helps with baby Nicholas. Pete has stayed in his tent, then announces to Robbie he's going to his dad 'till things settle'. However, after a reassuring talk, Pete proves a very helpful big brother. Syd agrees to go to the prison to examine convict Darla Rosario, a pregnant diabetic, about to be extradited to Florida and executed for murdering her husband. Jim eagerly cares for Julianna's dog, Donatella, but she refuses to have the pet's flees killed and Heather joins the parasites' cause. Owen replaces the ring ...

Robbie eagerly prepares Tina's return from rehab, but Pete isn't over the scary feeling of abandonment which makes him insecure. Jim is on the case of the stray cow Rhoda, who wondered off the Providence slaughterhouse. Syd worries about unlikely patient Finch with LSD delusions and imagines even crazier possible consequences of telling Owen about her having kissed Dr. David Baylor.

On Thanksgiving, the Victorian street decorations committee 'queen' blackmails Robbie (who needs consent to open his B&B) to decorate according to a fitting Candy-lane theme by the next day, yet Joanie refuses him the use of the Hansen home decorations. Jim sells his vintage trains, a gift from his granddad, to pay for Syd's ideal wedding reception, but Tina has a better idea. A patient keeps Syd away from her bridal shower, so the hens horde holds Owen hostage, sitting trough the male stripper he ordered, hunky Wally, who proves actually a charming young father.

Robbie worries that his marriage may be lacking some romance, but Tina not only tires quickly of his gestures, she actually takes offense, to his surprise, for hiring a nanny so they can have quality time as a couple. Syd is too sick to take an active part in the wedding preparations, and ignores Owen's urging to get checked by another doctor - this lands her in hospital, where Owen's hostile attitude to 'rival' Dr. David Baylor turns into a row and Dr. Bill Augustine taking over.

Jim wrestles with his paternal wedding speech and the Hansen house being emptied more permanently then ever before. But he's called away for a live problem, just now Robbie is getting his B&B ready and hopes to be listed on 'the' website by 'inspector' (read: advertising fee connector) Stout: a skunk, and she didn't exactly come alone. Knowing his bride, Owen encourages Syd to join David on an emergency mission to a thrice tornado-struck town in Tennessee. Owen defends Joanie's Barkery against the large corporation Grandma's, which claims to own the name. He finds out...

[PART 1] As the wedding approaches, Owen's family and best mates fly over for a rehearsal dinner and a surprisingly well-attended bachelor party. Best man, Rick, inadvertently tells the Hansens what Syd intended to tell them herself: she has agreed to follow Owen to Chicago, where he can become a top law firm partner. Both funny lawyers guest star in Joanie's radio show. Robbie and Tina overspend on Christmas presents, while Pete teaches Hanna ice-hockey. Syd still works in hospital, where a Tony brings in his teenage boy who got shot by accident during a desperate ...

The press brings the hospital hostage story, so the worried wedding party gathers outside. Young Tony finally pulls through after David and Syd's tireless efforts, under absurd conditions, but needs long-term care. The boy's despair-driven dad faces facts, kisses Tony goodbye and surrenders his weapon the the SWAT team. The next day, Syd has her last dream-visit from mother Linda before saying goodbye to dad, Jim, the Hansen home and Providence hospital. Both her and Owen's families and guests can finally enjoy the Christmastide wedding.