the hostage crisis of meredith and vinny in 1973 saw the introduction of newly minted dr. dorian cramer (originally, nancy pinkerton), who viki dislikes at first sight. dorian, at first, dates llanview hospital co-worker dr. mark toland (tom lee jones), and in the midst of the romance on-the-job in summer 1974. dorian is suspected of medical malpractice, and all of the hospital board of directors (except for viki) vote to fire her. dorian assumes that viki's was the deciding vote to fire her and vows revenge. when victor (strudwick) reappears in december 1974 and suffers a heart attack, and an unemployed dorian decides to use him to get even with the lord family.