Ep 10. What Happens in Vegas... Happens

In Heartbeat season 1 episode 10, titled "What Happens in Vegas... Happens," the stress of work and her personal life finally catches up to Dr. Alex Panttiere (Melissa George). Feeling burnt out and underappreciated by her superiors at St. Matthews hospital, she decides to take a spontaneous trip to Las Vegas with her best friend and fellow cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Pierce Harrison (Dave Annable).

As soon as they arrive in Sin City, the pair hit the town and indulge in all the vices Vegas has to offer – gambling, drinking, and partying with strangers. But while Pierce is content to have a good time and blow off steam, Alex's troubles follow her even across state lines. She receives a call from her ex-husband, who informs her that their daughter is sick and needs to be hospitalized. Feeling guilty for not being there for her daughter, Alex continues to spiral, drinking more and making reckless decisions.

Meanwhile, back at St. Matthews, Alex's absence is felt by her colleagues and patients. Dr. Jesse Shane (Don Hany), the head of cardiothoracic surgery, is left to fill in for her and struggles to maintain the unorthodox methods that have made Alex such a successful surgeon. He clashes with the hospital's CEO, Millicent Brandt (Shelley Conn), who wants to see St. Matthews adopt a more conservative approach to medicine.

As the episode progresses, the consequences of Alex's wild weekend in Vegas begin to catch up with her. She wakes up with a hangover and no memory of the previous night, only to discover that she's married to a man she met at a chapel. Meanwhile, Pierce is left to deal with the fallout of their escapades, including a bar fight and a lost hotel room key.

Ultimately, "What Happens in Vegas... Happens" serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of burnout and self-destructive behavior. While Alex and Pierce's trip to Las Vegas is initially portrayed as a fun escape from their stressful lives, it ultimately only exacerbates the problems they were trying to leave behind. As the episode comes to a close and the doctors return to St. Matthews, it's clear that their wild weekend will have long-lasting consequences both personally and professionally.