The episode follows multiple intertwined storylines that challenge the protagonists' personal and professional boundaries:
The episode’s title references Larkin's poem, which posits that parents inadvertently "fuck up" their children by passing down their own flaws. This theme is reflected in: "New Amsterdam" This Be the Verse(2021)
: Dr. Lauren Bloom treats her mother, Jeanie, who she suspects is seeking drugs. With help from Leyla, Lauren discovers her mother actually has endometriosis , forcing Lauren to confront her own bias and lack of objectivity regarding her family. With help from Leyla, Lauren discovers her mother
: Max goes to extremes to help a patient who claims a harp displayed in the hospital lobby belongs to her family. While Dr. Fuentes dismisses the claim as a liability, Max brokers a deal with a museum to secure the patient a high-quality prosthetic leg in exchange for the instrument. Fuentes dismisses the claim as a liability, Max
: Her journey involves unearthing a "false" memory of abandonment that had defined her relationship with her parents for decades.