Nip/Tuck

Dr. Sean McNamara (series star DYLAN WALSH) and Dr. Christian Troy (series star JULIAN McMAHON) are plastic surgeons, best friends and business partners who run McNamara/Troy, a prominent South Beach practice. A seemingly conservative family man, Sean has come to realize that his financial success and perfect home can no longer mask the problems of his marriage. On the other hand, single and often promiscuous Christian has few inhibitions and enjoys the benefits of his lucrative career and good looks, even as he yearns to have a family of his own. Sean's marriage to disillusioned Julia (series star JOELY RICHARDSON) is crumbling, and his relationship with his 18-year-old son, Matt (series star JOHN HENSLEY--not appearing in this episode), is troubled and tense. Dr. Liz Cruz (series star ROMA MAFFIA) is the team's opinionated anesthesiologist.

Christian and Liz perform cosmetic surgery on an extraordinary ape to help her chances of reproducing. After learning that Ava (recurring guest star FAMKE JANSSEN) is a transgender woman, Matt questions his own sexuality and heads down a dark path. Tensions escalate at McNamara/Troy as Sean and Quentin, against Christian's wishes, remove the tattoos of a gang member who wants to go straight.

Sean, Julia and Christian struggle to find a common solution as Matt spirals out of control. Christian performs surgery at his former fraternity house to help cover up a hazing ritual gone awry. When Christian's open relationship with Kit--the sexy detective investigating the Carver's activities--and Kimber loses its appeal, Christian asks Quentin to help ease Kit out of the threesome.

Christian has doubts about the latest Carver victim's story. The wife of an Alzheimer's patient requests extensive cosmetic surgery in order to find a way back into her husband's memories. Sean finds himself under investigation by Child Protective Services after Matt files a restraining order against him.

Christian becomes the prime suspect in the Carver case after police find a damning piece of evidence at the scene of the latest Carver attack. An HIV-positive man who suffers from facial wasting comes to McNamara/Troy to have his appearance restored to one of good health.

McNamara/Troy is in dire financial straits after Christian's arrest. Gina returns and forms an unexpected business alliance with Julia. Sean and Christian reluctantly become involved in the gruesome case of a man who reassembled a female corpse from the appendages of other dead bodies.

A patient's extreme surgical request leaves Christian struggling between what the medical establishment says is right and what the patient says will make him feel whole. After leaving McNamara/Troy, Sean takes his surgery skills to the Witness Protection Program, where he transforms the appearance of a woman, Nikki Morretti (recurring guest star ANNE HECHE), and her son, Austin (recurring guest star TANNER RICHIE). After a De La Mer Spa client reveals her startling beauty secret to Julia, Gina and Liz, they manufacture a new signature product--and hope the main ingredient remains a secret. JOAN RIVERS guest stars as herself.

Sean questions his growing romantic feelings for Nikki (recurring guest star ANNE HECHE) when he learns the dark truth about her past. The request for plastic surgery from a patient with Down Syndrome moves Christian to make contact with his birth mother, Gail Pollack (recurring guest star KATHY BAKER). Quentin woos Julia, who welcomes the attention.

The working relationship between Christian and Quentin worsens when they have an ethical disagreement over a groundbreaking surgery that would advance their medical reputations. Sean doesn't want Nikki (recurring guest star ANNE HECHE) to disappear into the Witness Protection Program without him. Christian gives Kimber a prenuptial ultimatum: give up her career in adult films or end their engagement.

Christian and Kimber put the final touches on their wedding plans, but an unsigned prenuptial agreement casts a shadow of doubt across the occasion. Christian and Sean are stunned when Matt's new girlfriend, Ariel Alderman (recurring guest star BRITTANY SNOW - "American Dreams," "The Pacifier"), reveals her racist beliefs.

Furious that Quentin is dating Julia, Sean resolves to do whatever it takes to force Quentin out of the practice. Christian claims to be fine after Kimber's sudden exit, but his relationship with a patient indicates otherwise. Sean fears that Matt may be linked to a series of hate crimes against former plastic surgery patients.

A jet bound from Miami to New York crashes after takeoff--and Julia's mother, Erica (recurring guest star VANESSA REDGRAVE), may be on board. Christian, Sean, Liz and Julia struggle to save the lives of surviving passengers, and Sean must amputate the arms of one of the crash victims.

A shopping-mall Mrs. Santa Claus comes to McNamara/Troy for liposuction before the holidays, but a discovery during surgery jeopardizes her marriage to Mr. Claus. Julia must make a decision that could profoundly affect the rest of her family's lives. Ariel (recurring guest star BRITTANY SNOW) asks Matt to help her take drastic measures to alter her appearance.

Christian learns the truth about Kimber's wedding-day disappearance when he receives a grisly clue from The Carver. Detective Kit McGraw (recurring guest star RHONA MITRA) brings Carver suspect Quentin in for questioning. Cherry (recurring guest star WILLAM BELLI), the transgender woman whom Matt brutally beat, threatens to tell the police about her attacker unless Sean performs pro-bono plastic surgery. Julia's worries about her unexpected pregnancy give her a nightmare.

In the season finale written and directed by series creator Ryan Murphy, The Carver goes on a slashing binge and attacks a sorority house as Kit (recurring guest star RHONA MITRA) grows closer to catching her nemesis. Sean, Christian, Matt and Cherry Peck (recurring guest star WILLAM BELLI) are involved in separate games of torture. Julia makes a discovery about her pregnancy. And the identity of The Carver is finally revealed.