Season 3, Episode 22: "Stand by your man" (original air date: October 2, 2002)

William struggles on, apparently ignoring the slings and arrows - but a complaint from a patient is the last straw. Angry, but determined to ride out the damage to his reputation, he is pleased to still be of some use to his remaining patients, particularly expectant parents Nina and Morrie.

When William and Ken get called to Beckhoven's, an apparent break-in turns out to be something more sordid. Eric has been injured by his accountant - who has accused him of rape. Ken is a reluctant investigating officer, but William calmly acts in the interests of both parties. He discovers that while the complaint may be false, there are more complex grounds underlying it. But just as he's making progress with Eric, Morrie is admitted with a suspected heart attack. William is appalled to realise that he misconstrued the symptoms of anxiety that Morrie described.

As Louise prepares for Liam to leave home for university, she receives confirmation that she is pregnant. The news is not welcomed by her, or Ross, as the cracks start to show in their marriage.

Nicky is fed up with shouldering William's workload, but she's more worried about making the grade with Cliff's whanau. When Manu Bishop takes Cliff aside, she assumes important high-level iwi business. Nicky is supportive until she finds that the high-level business is tracking down a missing car. She is annoyed that Cliff seems unable to question Manu's demands. Nicky decides to take Manu to task. Cliff recovers the missing car, but also finds himself in hot water, and is furious with Nicky for landing him there. But issues of cross-cultural communication are not the main problem. Nicky has to face her own hubris in thinking that Cliff was lucky to have her. Is she really in this for the long haul?

William faces up to the fact that he is fighting a losing battle. He tells Louise he plans to take leave, expecting her support. Instead, he's surprised to find that she's angry.

Louise arrives late to Liam's going away party, to be met by an unhappy Ross. Even though he knows the baby is his, Louise's affair with William still rankles. Despite this, Ross decides to make the best of it and announces the pregnancy to the party guests.

William puts his notice on Louise's desk and leaves work...