Big is back in New York, but unfortunately, he's returned to Gotham to undergo an angioplasty. Carrie does not react well to this news, breaking down into tears whenever the subject comes up. The waterworks don't subside, even when Carrie visits Big after the procedure, making her realize that Big is somebody that will always be under her skin.

Miranda is torn as to how best to introduce Steve to her new boyfriend, Dr. Leeds. Luckily (or unluckily), this problem is solved for her when Steve walks in on the couple during a vigourous lovemaking session held in Miranda's apartment. The awkward meetings continue a few days later when Steve brings Debbie to meet Miranda, an encounter that suggest some residual feelings between Steve and Miranda.

Charlotte's ever present desire to conceive intensifies after a chance meeting with the very-pregnant Bitsy Von Muffling. She learns that Bitsy attributes her condition to the wonderful treatments of a Dr. Mao... leading Charlotte to sign herself up for an appointment. After a couple of visits (and scores of accupuncture needles), Charlotte finds that she's not able to center herself properly, since she can't block out all of the native noises of New York. Eventually, she abandons the treatments, attempting to get pregant without any help from far Eastern medicine.

Smith and Samantha's relationship hits an odd plateau when the actor tries to take Sam's hand as they're walking down the street. Samantha is so eager to refrain from the PDA that she actually trips and falls down an open hatch on the sidewalk. Smith isn't having any of this, telling Samantha in no uncertain terms that he loves her, and wants to be able to express his feelings. Samantha grudingly accepts, realizing that maybe a little hand-holding isn't so bad after all.

When Carrie tries to call Big in the hospital after the proceedure, she is shocked to learn that he's already checked himself out. Playing a hunch, she tracks him down at the Four Seasons Hotel, determined to help him recover. She makes the visit dressed as a candy striper, entertaining the patient with two boxes of dominos. After some light conversation, Big suddenly falls ill with a high fever. In a feverish delerium, Big opens up, and he and Carrie begin to wonder why they aren't together. But when the fever passes completely the next morning, Big is back to his old, closed-heart self. Carrie is saddened ,because she recognizes that life's too short for her to wait for Big to come around emotionally, no matter how much she loves him.

After much consideration, Carrie decides that she will begin sleeping with Petrovsky, but rejects Charlotte's suggestion that an actual relationship between the two could develop. The pair spend a wonderful night together, but the next morning, Carrie is shocked to find that Petrovsky's apartment is also a hub for his business, with a living room full of his employees. Petrovsky serves Carrie a wonderful breakfast, but she wonders if she's just the latest in a long line of conquests for the artist.

Steve moves into Miranda's apartment, but the newly-recoupled couple finds that they have to deal with unfortunate run-ins with Dr. Robert Leeds. Robert goes out of his way to make Miranda uncomfortable, leading Miranda to conclude that he's become obsessed with her. Eventually, Steve decides to talk things out with Robert, but winds up interrupting Leeds in an intimate moment with two other women. Instead of dealing a blow to Miranda's ego by telling her that Robert is over her, Steve chooses to just tell her the problem is solved, leaving it at that.

While mentally recovering from her miscarriage, Charlotte decides that she will dedicate some of her time to helping the blind. To help prepare for this new endeavor, Charlotte asks Carrie to take her to Barney's, where she can don a Burberry sleep mask, and experience life without sight. Unfortunately, "guide" Carrie gets pulled away from Charlotte due to a phone call, leaving the sightless brunette on her own in the store. After several harrowing minutes, Charlotte removes the mask and abandons her plans.

Samantha's relationship with Smith is also experiencing some friction, as Ms. Jones begins to tire of her younger lover's perceived inexperiences and flaws. This dissatisfaction comes to a head at a party thrown by Richard Wright, as Sam and her ex- steal away for a tryst in one of Wright's hotel suites. The encounter backfires on Sam, devastating her since she realizes that Smith's feelings for her are genuine, unlike the more carnal considerations from the Richard Wrights in her life. At the end of the evening, Smith and Sam reconnect, re-cementing their relationship.

When Petrovsky returns from a business trip abroad, Carrie visits the artist in his apartment. After another passionate night, Carrie realizes that she's not comfortable only having Petrovsky as a lover. She goes into his studio to tell him that she's breaking it off, but he shocks her by saying that he's interested in being in a real relationship with her. The now-official couple embrace while gazing into one another's eyes, capping off a wonderful evening.