"The Circus" is the fourteenth episode of season 2 of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.
Mother/daughter issues are explored when Heart and Atlantis, a rag-tag mother–daughter circus team from Ireland, comes to Colorado Springs. She involves the townspeople in her acts. Colleen and Matthew are selected for the tightrope and Dr Mike and Sully are selected for the trapeze. While practicing for the tightrope, one of Atlantis's gloves falls off and Dr. Mike sees that she has syndactyl between her index finger and thumb. Heart invites Dr. Mike, Sully, Brian, Colleen, Matthew, and Miss Dorothy for dinner. Colleen shows Atlantis around the clinic where she learns that Heart believes that Atlantis's hands are what makes her special. Dr. Mike has a fear of heights, when practicing for the trapeze. Atlantis comes to Dr. Mike after Colleen tells her Dr. Mike can fix her hands. But for the second time, Heart interferes, refusing treatment for Atlantis. Colleen is afraid of heights on the tightrope. When Atlantis sees Matthew kissing Ingrid, she becomes upset and tries to cut her webbed hands. Heart then asks Dr. Mike to fix the other one too. Inner and outer wounds are shared and healed when Dr. Mike and Atlantis help Colleen overcome her fear of performing in front of crowds, and Dr. Mike helps Heart realize that it's a bond of love, not affliction, that binds her and Atlantis when Dr. Mike performs a successful operation to separate Atlantis' webbed fingers. Matthew tells Colleen he won't do the tightrope if she's not doing it. Colleen decides not to go through with the tightrope walk but changes her mind. Sully and Dr. Mike successfully perform on the trapeze. When all the performers are offered their wages, everyone refuses except Jake, whom Loren makes return it.
This episode provides examples of:
- Circus Episode: A traveling circus comes to town and entices the townspeople to participate.
- Face Your Fears: Colleen and Dr. Mike face their fear of heights.
- Keeping the Handicap: Heart refuses treatment for Atlantis.
- Parent-Child Team: Heart and Atlantis are a mother–daughter circus team.
