OUT OF AFRICA, WEARY CARTER RETURNS TO HOSTILE ABBY -- AND PARMINDER NAGRA ('BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM') JOINS CAST IN SEASON PREMIERE -- In the season premiere, a frazzled Dr. Carter (Noah Wyle) returns from his harrowing mission to the Congo only to be confronted by a hostile Abby (Maura Tierney) while an exotic new British medical student (Parminder Nagra, "Bend It Like Beckham") causes a stir when she unexpectedly helps a patient -- and angers Dr. Chen (Ming-Na) as Dr. Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) flirts with her. In addition: a concerned Dr. Pratt works the margins to help an HIV-infected patient obtain the necessary medical insurance; a woman and her young children are treated after their wrecked car is struck again by a large truck; construction workers add to the chaos of the emergency room; Dr. Romano (Paul McCrane) sports a new look -- and Carter gets an ominous call from Africa. Laura Innes, Alex Kingston, Sherry Stringfield, Sharif Atkins also star. TV-14