"Crossing the Line" is the twelfth episode of season 2 of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.
Desperate for funds to finish his homestead, Matthew becomes a scab miner. The unions are protesting the lowered wage and unsafe work conditions. Dr. Mike and Sully try and persuade Matthew not to work in the mine but he does anyway. Loren refuses credit to strikers, prompting a boycott of his store. Sully tells Matthew he nearly died in a cave in. After one day's work, Matthew discovers that they are not paying cash but in scrip for Loren's store (at 90 cents to the dollar), but continues to work anyway. Brian eats too much candy and has indigestion. While being treated by Dr. Mike, it's revealed to him that many people are boycotting Mr. Bray's store because he is treating people unfairly. Mr. Bray notices that Brian has gone 3 days without coming in for candy and when asked, Brian reveals that he is boycotting the store because of Loren's support for the unfair treatment of the miners. Dr. Mike is at the mine taking care of the miners when Matthew becomes trapped during a cave in. Sully, Dr. Mike, Horace, and Robert E. go in after Matthew after it is revealed that the mine owners have stopped the search for 1–2 days until more timber can be brought in to support the cave walls. Sully and Dr. Mike find Matthew, but his leg is trapped under a heavy boulder and there is rising water. After reading Dorothy's gazette article which highlights the unsafe work conditions and lowered wages in the mine, Loren refuses to do business any longer with the mining company despite being owed $200. Grace sings "Take My Hand, Precious Lord". Horace and Robert E. emerge from the cave with a miner. Jake and the Reverend decide to the join the search but before they do, another cave in occurs blocking the entrance to the cave. Dr. Mike is about to amputate Matthew's leg, but Sully arrives with gunpowder and comes up with a plan to blast the boulder into two in order to free Matthew's leg. Matthew's leg is freed and they make their way to the blocked entrance. They yell out for help and are heard by Jake. Jake, Robert E, and Hank quickly clear a small passage just big enough for Dr. Mike, Matthew, and Sully to escape and there is a third cave in just as they exit. Mr. Stone tells Matthew that there is a job waiting for him when the mines re-open, but Matthew rejects his offer and Dr. Mike tells him that while there will always be desperate people willing to work, there is nobody from their town who will work for him now.
This episode provides examples of:
- Chekhov's Skill: Sully tells Matthew about his past mining experience in an effort to convince him not to work as a scab miner. Later, Sully uses the skills he learned as a miner to free Matthew.
- Life-or-Limb Decision: Dr. Mike prepares to amputate Matthew's leg to save him from drowning.
- Rising Water, Rising Tension: Matthew's leg is trapped under a boulder, and water is flooding the mine.
- Screw the Money, I Have Rules!: Loren decides to stop doing business with the mining company, despite being owed $200.
- Strike Episode: The miners' union are protesting lowered pay and unsafe work conditions.
- Take a Third Option: Rather than let Matthew drown, or let Dr. Mike amputate his leg, Sully comes up with a plan to free Matthew using dynamite to split the boulder in two.
