Original subtitles

I'm Dr. Gillespie of Blair Hospital. This is Dr. Donald White of our

staff, Dr. Kildare. We've come about the patients for our drug study at the

hospital. Oh, yes.

If you'll follow me, please.

laughter laughter

How are you, Freddie?

Freddie Bing.

Here's another one.

Dorothy Karras.

Hello, Emma.

Emma Miller.

Have you just come this way?

The moment I thought that was Dr. Carl Lansing, the orthopedist.

It is.

Or it was.

How long has he been like that?

Oh, he's one of the old -timers.

Ten years, anyway.

Dr. Carl, I'm Jim Kildare, remember?

You were in our town once as a consultant on that osteomyelitis case of

father's. You and your wife stayed at our house. I was only 15 at the time.

Oh, I understand that, sir. But if the project is for long -term psychotics,

not Carl Lansing?

Do you have his file?

Schizophrenic. Catatonic type. Eleven years duration.

Mute. I met him when I was a boy. I thought he was wonderful.

He was.

He was one of the first bone men to do a spinal fusion without a tibial

transplant. There's no assurance he'll be one of those who gets the drug killed

there. It'll be a double -blind study.

Half will get the real thing, half will get placebos.

Only the pharmacist will know who's being given which.

Yes, that's true, but he will have group therapy sessions, more intensive care,

and improved surroundings.

Does he need a signed release?

He has a blanket one from his wife.

He'd make up our quota, wouldn't he, Doctor?

Yes, this does it.

It will be our job to provide the best possible atmosphere in which the drug

take effect, if it does take effect.

Our patients will spend much of their time in here.

This will be our headquarters behind the one -way glass.

Keep in mind that these patients are all truly long -term psychotics. They all

have a history of failure where other cures are concerned.

Insulin, electrotherapy, other drugs.

It sounds so hopeless.

Well, let's say that it has been hopeless up until now.

Now, our job, as I said, will be to provide the atmosphere.

If this sounds simple, I've been misleading you.

We are about to start.

On a very taxing assignment.

Psychic energy that has been trapped.

That is nowhere to go. No outlet sanctioned by society.

This energy doesn't die or fade away. It builds up like water behind a dam.

This is the type of energy which will shortly make its demands upon you.

Demands which you must be able to meet.

Now, is that understood?

Yes, of course.

Well, what if... No, no. No ifs.

No ifs at all. That's what makes it so difficult.

You see, this tidal wave of psychic energy may threaten to inundate you, but

must meet it.

Now, don't worry too much.

You see, there are several ways you have to come up for air.

You can come and talk to me about it.

Always you can do that.

And then when the drug begins to take its effect, the patients should begin to

make contact with one another.

And when the group therapy sessions get going...

They should then begin to spend and expend their energies upon each other.

is, after all, the main value of therapy in a group.

Finally, if you are in a pinch, you find that you can't take it out there, why,

just come in here. Get behind this one -way glass.

In a word, get your second wind.

So far, I've been outlining your psychiatric duties.

But you must also be extremely alert to the organic conditions of the patient.

You see, it's altogether possible that the drug will have an allergen effect.

After all, we will be building up to a dosage as high as 1 ,800 milligrams a

day.

You can expect that the reaction will be extreme, so keep constant check for any

evidence of blood change, jaundice, or hypertension.

Here they come.

Let me have the files from my desk, please.

This first lady in the green sweater is... Dorothy Carrison, 32.

Schizoaffective, depressed, multiple suicidal attempts.

When she was treated with antidepressant drugs, a schizophrenic process flared

into the open.

Still depressed.

This is Freddie Binns.

His first schizophrenic episode occurred when he was in college, a freshman, six

years ago.

The lady gesturing with her hands is Emma Miller.

40, paranoid schizophrenic with an amazingly detailed delusionary system.

equally amazingly detailed compulsive ritual to keep it intact.

She believes that she's in league with the devil, that she is in fact

responsible for all the ills around her.

She believes that she has great powers for evil and at the same time feels

in great danger.

You mean she thinks she's a witch?

That's right.

As a matter of fact, 300 years ago, she might have been burned at the stake, but

at least she would have been believed.

It's questionable which society offers the greater punishment.

This is Carl Lansing, 55.

Chronic withdrawal.

Incidentally, it might interest you to know that this is Dr. Carl Lansing, once

an eminent orthopedist.

He's been mute for five years.

Oh, how awful.

Miss Mason, I suggest you take yourself off this duty before it begins.

Dr. White.

I'll be all right. I'm not worried about you.

I'm worried about the patient in there who might use you to transfer some of

this previous subjective reactions to you and then find that you had run out

because you couldn't take it.

I'm sorry.

I feel terrible.

Don't.

There'll probably be a very good nurse in another ward.

Not this one.

All right, then. Shall we all go see our patients?

I don't have to tell you to make sure each patient gets the right cup.

All right.

The case history's on the rest of those patients.

Right. And the note before you from Dr. White.

Yeah, the first batch just went out.

Soon some of those patients will be coming down to get their own.

How soon is soon?

Well, if the stuff takes hold, it could be within 24 hours. Very easily within

three days. Not so easily after that.

You know, in a way, it's too bad there has to be a control group.

I know, but it could be the attention and the therapy that does the trick. Who

knows?

I have to find out.

focuses on soldier.

I don't think it's doing any good.

Now, we'll try again later.

Freddie used to be quite a ping -pong player when he was 16.

That was before his first schizophrenic episode. He entered a few championships

at a club.

See if he's going to respond.

I mean, the situation should help him.

Dorothy, here's your medication.

Come on, honey, please take it.

Dorothy.

Dorothy.

You must take your medication.

Dorothy, why don't you want it?

It's taken my tears away from me.

I can't cry.

What'll I do if I can't cry?

Well, maybe you don't need to cry anymore.

You have to cry.

I can get your tears back for you. I know you need your tears. I know you

to cry.

You're not trying.

You're not trying!

You're not trying!

You're not trying!

That

may be

our first breakthrough.

Good girl.

And she may be the next.

Doesn't look like it.

I know.

But what will happen to her system of delusions when people begin to get well

around her, when she's supposed to have the power to keep them sick?

What about him?

Keep trying.

And him?

We'll hope.

that wonderful summer.

Forgive me, but I have to say it.

My, how you have grown.

I was only 15. I was just a kid.

And now you're a grown man and a doctor.

Well, I'm not surprised with your father and the way you tagged after Carl.

Carl was the first real consultant I'd ever met. I was very impressed.

Would you like some brandy? Thank you.

Tell me, what made you look me up?

Well, I'm interning at Blair.

Oh, really?

Good for you. Is that enough? Yes, thank you.

Carl's there, you know.

Yes, I know. They wrote me, and I wondered why they bothered to move him.

He can't get well, you know.

Maybe he can.

There's a new drug. Oh, Jim, there have been a dozen new drugs. But this one is

working on long -term psychotics, ones that can't get well.

We've had one startling breakthrough, and the beginning's on another one.

Now, Dr. White, the psychiatrist, is very encouraged. I thought you'd like to

know, to give you something to hope for.

We call it Operation Lazarus, the calling forth of the dead. Stop it!

Mrs. Lansing.

Even the Bible.

They warned Christ against it.

Don't do it, they said.

He has been in the tomb too long and his body stinketh.

Mrs. Lansing... Who gave you the right

to play God with people's lives?

Who gave you the right? The right, Mrs. Lansing, was given us by you in a

blanket release you signed.

Yes, but I didn't mean for it to make a guinea pig out of him. I want it

stopped. You were notified some days ago. Why didn't you stop it then?

Why can't I stop it now?

Because the study has already been started. You must know what control

studies are. Mrs. Lansing, we are testing a new drug that may be of

value. Our knowledge of it is dependent on records we are now keeping, records

which are already in progress.

We are one of six hospitals engaged in the same study. I know, I know, Doctor.

This must be hard for you, and I'm sorry Kildare came to you before there was

any indication that your husband was responding.

Then he hasn't responded.

No, and he may not.

Of course, on the other hand, he may.

Kildare was right in one thing.

There is hope.

You will, of course, be kept informed.

Oh, I'm sure.

Martin. Adam.

You were supposed to have lunch with me.

Well, you didn't show up. I called Susie and she said you just walked out saying

you had to go to the hospital. Adam, they brought Carl here.

He's worse?

No. He might even get better.

How wonderful.

What about us?

What about us?

Do you feel guilty about us? I didn't.

But now you do. I don't know.

Martha, how long have you been without a husband?

Eleven years.

And before that? Yes, before that. There were symptoms for a long time.

Why on earth should you feel guilty?

Oh, Adam.

Some women keep their husbands all their lives.

Or if they lose them, if they die, they stay dead.

As long as I could keep crying, I didn't have to think about why I was so sad.

That's right, Dorothy.

Can't you see what he's trying to do? He's trying to get control of you.

Why would I want to do that, Mrs. Miller?

You see, as long as you keep doing that, you don't have to think about why

you're so afraid.

Why are you afraid?

If being around something he knew did it for Freddy, why couldn't it be... We

don't know that it did. Well, it might have. It might have contributed.

Why can't we do the same thing for Carl Lansing?

What do you have in mind?

Well, if he is getting the drug, and if he is going to respond, how soon do you

think it'll happen?

Today?

It's possible.

Well, we know he's a doctor, a surgeon, an orthopedic surgeon.

Everything that's familiar to him, we have right here at hand.

Go on.

Why couldn't we take him on a walk through the hospital? The places that

mean something to him. The orthopedics ward, the surgery elevator, the surgery

floor.

Well?

It's a good idea.

We'd have to get Leonard Gillespie's permission.

I wonder how Carl Lansing would respond.

I don't know.

With Carl Lansing's case, the miracle we're waiting for would come if he were

see something and look at it.

If he were to hear something and listen to it.

Or speak, possibly.

That's the way I think he'd react.

If he were to react at all.

Well, I hope he does.

For the pedics, please.

Seventh day of traction.

We're optimistic of a good result.

Came in Monday with a temperature of 101.

Hot, swollen knee joint. Turned out to be pyarthrosis.

Triple arthrodesis.

It's an old story to you in there, isn't it, Doctor?

Come on, Dr. Carl.

Go back.

Of course, you'll have to be told. It'll be harder now, but it has to be done.

I think I'll try and go home.

Why couldn't it have been Carl Lansing who was helped?

Because he's a doctor?

Yeah. Like us, and so has an edge on worthiness.

Oh, I feel the same way sometimes. It's a bias. I suppose lawyers feel the same

way about other lawyers.

Would you care to use my phone and call Martha Lansing?

Yes, right away.

It's Freddie Binns.

He got out of bed a couple of minutes ago and fainted.

I need to move him.

I don't want to risk disturbing the other patients.

It's 80 systolic.

Looks as if he'll have to be taken off the drug.

Gentlemen, may I be of any assistance?

Mrs. Lansing.

You'd think we were giving you bad news.

He's responding.

Your husband is responding beautifully.

Will it last?

There's no reason it shouldn't. Now the contact has been made and the therapy

can take effect.

It's impossible to be absolutely certain. I must be certain.

It just happened last night.

Now with some of the others... What about the others?

Why don't you come and have a look? They can't see you.

Is Carl there?

Oh, he's with Dr. White. He'll be back shortly.

You see that woman knitting?

That's Dorothy Callis, the first to respond. She's doing very well.

Dr. White is arranging a trial visit home in several weeks.

And that one?

About the same.

What do you mean, the same?

Well, she still goes through her ritual and she still hallucinates. But now she

seems to know it.

You mean she's been helped just enough to know how ill she is?

You might say that, yes.

And she could stay the way she is now forever?

Well, we don't know, but it isn't likely.

What about the ping -pong boy, the boy you phoned me about, the one that gave

you the idea about Carl?

He may be unduly sensitive.

To the drug? Yes.

And if he can't take it, he might regret.

He might. And the same thing could happen to Carl.

Look, Mrs. Lansing, at this stage, Dr. Carl sees, hears, and talks.

He knows where he is. He knows his name. He knows he's a doctor.

After all these years, in the name of reason, what more can you expect?

I suppose you think I'm a terrible woman.

That I don't want my husband to get well.

I sometimes think so myself.

I'm not sure if I'm a terrible woman or if it's just that terrible things have

happened to me.

Maybe you can tell.

You see, when Carl first became ill, I didn't believe it.

I couldn't believe it. I wouldn't believe it.

Oh, I knew such things happened to people, but not to Carl, not to me.

I would will it away.

That's the way things were for the first year.

And after that year, when Carl didn't get any better, I admitted he was very

ill, very ill mentally.

But I knew it wouldn't last.

It couldn't last.

Not for Carl. Not for me.

Somewhere there had to be a doctor who would know what to do.

Who would know how to fix a broken mind the way Carl knew how to fix a broken

bone.

All I had to do was to find him, that's all.

That was the second year.

And the third year.

And the fourth.

And the fifth.

And each new treatment, each new doctor, I was sure was going to be the one that

would work.

I was sure of insulin.

I was sure of electric shock.

You know, I used to dream at night about his poor head.

I was even sure about a faith healer.

A barefoot... bearded faith healer who worked by the laying on of hands.

In the sixth year, I was still sure, but I wasn't looking anymore.

I used to see Carl on every visiting day.

He didn't know me.

When he'd look at me, if he looked at me, he wouldn't see me, didn't speak to

me.

And still,

I kept saying, next time, next

time, next time.

I was hooked on hope.

I was addicted to hope, the way another might be on morphine or heroin.

Hope was going to drive me mad or kill me unless I could kick it.

You're doctors.

Have you ever seen a person with withdrawal symptoms?

Yes. Doesn't the patient shake, sweat, retch, collapse, convulse?

Yes. And sometimes die?

And sometimes die?

Yes.

I didn't die, but I didn't come alive.

Not until all hope for Carl was gone.

Sweated out of my body.

Convulsed out of my heart.

Only then did I begin to come alive again.

And this is what makes me a terrible woman.

This last year, just this last year.

I met a man.

I met him... as a widow.

Oh, he knows about Carl, but... I felt like a widow.

I had... worn my black.

I had grieved.

I had buried my love.

And now you...

You raise him up from the dead and expect me to be

overjoyed.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Your husband's come in.

Would you like to see him?

I can't.

I can't.

I've forgotten.

I don't have a husband anymore.

Well, I think that should be enough for today.

Let's all do this again tomorrow.

Do you play?

I think so.

Shall we find out?

You play.

And just think.

You were that gangling boy that summer.

Then you do remember.

The case was osteomyelitis of the

hip.

I operated.

How long ago was that?

Well, I was 15.

And now you're...

Twenty -six.

Eleven years.

How long have I been ill?

Eleven years.

Let's try to keep our objectivity.

Dr. Carl?

Dr. Carl?

Oh, yes, we mustn't neglect these, must we?

Was I alone that summer?

No, sir.

Walter.

Walter.

Mrs. Lansing didn't say how long she'd be gone.

Did she tell you where she was going?

She did not.

Look, this is important.

If she calls... Yes.

Tell her her husband is asking about her.

I will, if she should call.

Thank you, Susie.

I don't know why you're doing this, but it can't be right.

Just look at you.

No, that'll be Mr. Ross again. Will you talk to him?

Mrs. Lansing's residence?

No, she's not Mr. Ross.

No, I don't, Mr. Ross.

Well, he won't be the first patient to have no visitors on visiting day. I know

that, sir. Keep him busy with something else if you can.

He's probably still getting ready.

Yeah, you better check the ward.

Mrs. Lansing, will you see... No, no, no. No visitors. I'm not at home.

Susie, can't you get it through your head?

Martha.

Don't blame Susie.

I knew you hadn't gone anywhere.

How? I know you.

I thought I did.

Then you know that I can't talk to you.

Yes.

That's why I brought someone else with me.

Please, Martha.

He's downstairs.

Dr. Gillespie?

Good morning.

How's Carl?

He's improving.

Will he be well?

We hope. He's improving.

Nothing has happened to make me change my mind.

I'm not here to make you change your mind. I'm here as a physician concerned

with your husband's recovery.

Mr. Ross asked me to come. He says you're a compassionate woman.

Who is now acting cruelly.

No. Who is acting compassionately.

How?

You're afraid of hurting me.

You think I should be with Carl right now?

Yes, I do.

Can you?

Yes.

I loved him once.

I know you did. I might love him again.

I know.

Don't you want me?

Yes, I do.

But I don't want a woman who's going to feel guilty the rest of her life.

I'm trying to recognize myself.

But I can't remember what I looked like when I did recognize myself.

I suppose I'll never know.

A photograph would show you.

Photograph?

I used to carry a photograph in my wallet.

Oh, but I suppose that's long gone now.

Well, not if you had it with you when you were admitted. After all this time,

I'll follow you from place to place in your personal effects envelope.

Let's go see.

It was a photograph of Martha and me.

Dr. Colton Ames Lansing.

That's all it takes to identify a man.

Recognize her When she comes I'll know how to recognize her it's been

a long time She may not come today don't be calm

Well, I'll just keep this anyway so I can recognize

Thank you doctor.

Hello, Carl.

You had a difficult decision to make, Mr. Ross.

But I think you made the right one.

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