1989
In 1969, Dr. Malcolm Sayer, a shy neurologist, discovers catatonic patients, victims of encephalitis lethargica, who subtly respond to stimuli, leading him to hypothesize they are trapped but aware. Sayer administers an experimental drug, L-Dopa, to Leonard Lowe, who miraculously awakens after thirty years, prompting Sayer to treat other patients who also experience awakenings. As the patients adjust, Leonard forms a bond and advocates for freedoms, but increasing tics and tremors signal a troubling side effect of the L-Dopa. Despite Sayer's efforts, Leonard and all the awakened patients gradually regress back into a catatonic state, yet Sayer continues his research, honoring their brief awakenings and the profound value of human connection they revealed.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Sayer, arrives at Bainbridge Hospital to treat long‐catatonic patients.
Open full beat sheetDr. Sayer is listed as Neurologist. A dedicated, somewhat socially awkward neurologist who researches post-encephalitic patients. In the parsed data, Dr. Sayer is connected to 120 scenes, 106 dialogue lines, 107 text mentions, first appearing around scene 9.
120 scenes / 106 dialogue linesLeonard Lowe is listed as Patient. A post-encephalitic patient who awakens after decades of catatonia. In the parsed data, Leonard Lowe is connected to 73 scenes, 50 dialogue lines, 51 text mentions, first appearing around scene 90.
73 scenes / 50 dialogue linesMiss Costello is listed as Head Nurse. The experienced and compassionate head nurse at Bainbridge Hospital. In the parsed data, Miss Costello is connected to 31 scenes, 11 dialogue lines, 11 text mentions, first appearing around scene 14.
31 scenes / 11 dialogue linesDr. Kaufman is listed as Chief of Medicine. The pragmatic and skeptical Chief of Medicine at Bainbridge Hospital. In the parsed data, Dr. Kaufman is connected to 13 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 115.
13 scenes / 4 dialogue linesMrs. Lowe is listed as Leonard's mother. Devoted and protective mother of Leonard. In the parsed data, Mrs. Lowe is connected to 13 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
13 scenes / 4 dialogue linesLucy Fishman is listed as Patient. A post-encephalitic patient who responds to external stimuli. In the parsed data, Lucy Fishman is connected to 9 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 93.
9 scenes / 1 dialogue linesRay is listed as Pharmacist. The hospital pharmacist. In the parsed data, Ray is connected to 8 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 95.
8 scenes / 1 dialogue linesPaula is listed as Visitor. A young woman who visits her father at the hospital and forms a bond with Leonard. In the parsed data, Paula is connected to 7 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 118.
7 scenes / 4 dialogue linesAnthony is listed as Orderly. An orderly at Bainbridge Hospital. In the parsed data, Anthony is connected to 7 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 119.
7 scenes / 3 dialogue linesFernando is listed as Orderly. An orderly who uses music to connect with patients. In the parsed data, Fernando is connected to 7 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 94.
7 scenes / 2 dialogue linesDr. Tyler is listed as Doctor. A younger doctor at Bainbridge Hospital. In the parsed data, Dr. Tyler is connected to 4 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 53.
4 scenes / 1 dialogue linesSidney is listed as Patient. A patient who suffers from auditory hallucinations. In the parsed data, Sidney is connected to 4 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 21.
4 scenes / 1 dialogue linesDr. Sullivan is listed as Doctor. A cynical doctor at Bainbridge Hospital. In the parsed data, Dr. Sullivan is connected to 3 scenes, first appearing around scene 22.
3 scenes / 0 dialogue lineschar_14 is identified from the parsed character and dialogue data. In the parsed data, char_14 is connected to 2 scenes, first appearing around scene 120.
2 scenes / 0 dialogue linesA metronome ticks as a young Leonard writes his name repeatedly.
Leonard LoweYoung Leonard eats cereal in rhythm with a clock.
Leonard LoweLeonard and a classmate walk to school; Leonard drops his pocket watch.
Leonard LoweLeonard struggles to write until his friend taps a rhythm.
Leonard LoweThe teacher discovers Leonard's illegible composition.
Leonard's mother tells a boy he cannot see Leonard until he is well.
Leonard Lowe, Mrs. LoweDr. Sayer arrives at Bainbridge Hospital.
Dr. SayerSayer enters the lobby.
Dr. SayerSayer interviews for a position with the Director and Dr. Kaufman.
Dr. Sayer, Dr. KaufmanSayer is escorted through the hospital by Anthony.
Dr. Sayer, AnthonySayer attempts to calm a screaming patient.
Dr. SayerA patient confronts Sayer.
Dr. SayerSayer interacts with Mrs. Cohen.
Dr. SayerMiss Costello comforts Sayer.
Dr. Sayer, Miss CostelloSayer visits Lucy Fishman's home.
Dr. Sayer, Lucy FishmanSayer examines Lucy Fishman.
Dr. Sayer, Lucy FishmanSayer demonstrates Lucy's reflex to Dr. Kaufman.
Dr. Sayer, Dr. Kaufman, Miss Costello, Lucy FishmanMiss Costello speaks to Sayer.
Dr. Sayer, Miss CostelloSayer eats dinner alone.
Dr. SayerSidney is seen on the roof.
SidneySayer talks to Sidney about his hallucinations.
Dr. Sayer, SidneySayer eats with other doctors.
Dr. Sayer, Dr. Sullivan, Dr. TylerSayer follows up with Sidney.
Dr. Sayer, SidneySayer calls maintenance.
Dr. SayerSayer fixes a television for a patient.
Dr. SayerSayer observes Lucy's movement.
Dr. Sayer, Leonard Lowe, Lucy FishmanSayer and Miss Costello review patient files.
Dr. Sayer, Miss CostelloSayer and Miss Costello examine the files.
Dr. Sayer, Miss CostelloSayer and Miss Costello discuss the patients while walking to their cars.
Dr. Sayer, Miss CostelloSayer eats alone and observes an eel in a fish tank.
Dr. SayerSayer arrives home and collects his mail.
Dr. SayerSayer examines his new book of primitive life forms.
Dr. SayerSayer plays the piano surrounded by boxes and books.
Dr. SayerSayer wakes up on the couch with a sudden realization.
Dr. SayerSayer explains his discovery about the patients to a janitor.
Dr. SayerSayer searches for medical records in the library.
Dr. SayerSayer views microfilm of old medical research.
Dr. SayerSayer meets an old, ill doctor who researched the disease.
Dr. SayerSayer and the old doctor watch archival footage of patients.
Dr. SayerSayer tests a patient's reflexes with a tennis ball.
Dr. Sayer, AnthonySayer tests another patient with a ball.
Dr. Sayer, AnthonySayer accidentally hits a patient with a ball.
Dr. SayerSayer observes the post-encephalitic patients.
Dr. Sayer, SidneySayer and Miss Costello review perception test results.
Dr. Sayer, Miss CostelloSayer talks to Mrs. Lowe about Leonard.
Dr. Sayer, Leonard Lowe, Mrs. LoweSayer interacts with Lucy and Mrs. Lowe.
Dr. Sayer, Leonard Lowe, Mrs. Lowe, Lucy FishmanSayer visits Mrs. Lowe to learn more about Leonard's history.
Dr. Sayer, Mrs. LoweMrs. Lowe describes Leonard's decline.
Dr. Sayer, Mrs. LoweSayer performs an EEG on Leonard.
Dr. Sayer, Leonard LoweSayer visits Dr. Mann to discuss his work.
Dr. SayerSayer and Mann compare EEGs.
Dr. SayerSayer observes the patients catching a ball.
Dr. Sayer, Leonard LoweSayer watches children playing outside.
Dr. SayerSayer and Miss Costello create a pattern on the floor.
Dr. Sayer, Leonard Lowe, Miss Costello, Lucy FishmanMiss Costello asks nurses to read to patients.
Miss CostelloA nurse reads Moby Dick to patients.
Sayer tries to get Leonard to speak.
Dr. Sayer, Leonard LoweFernando plays music for patients.
Miss Costello, FernandoSayer tries to get Leonard to type.
Dr. Sayer, Leonard LoweMaintenance workers remove window gratings.
Miss CostelloFernando discusses music with Sayer.
Dr. Sayer, FernandoA patient with MS confronts Sayer.
Dr. SayerSayer films Leonard.
Dr. Sayer, Leonard Lowe, Dr. Sullivan, Dr. TylerMiss Costello feeds a patient.
Miss CostelloPatients play cards.
Dr. SayerMusic plays in the dayroom.
Dr. SayerSayer visits Leonard in his ward at night.
Dr. Sayer, Leonard LoweSayer uses an Ouija board to communicate with Leonard, who spells out a message.
Dr. Sayer, Leonard LoweSayer deciphers the message from Leonard.
Dr. SayerSayer researches Rilke at the library.
Dr. SayerSayer reads Rilke's poem.
Dr. SayerSayer continues reciting the poem.
Dr. SayerSayer observes a panther.
Dr. SayerSayer watches Leonard being cared for by his mother.
Dr. Sayer, Leonard Lowe, Mrs. LoweProfessionals arrive for a lecture on L-Dopa.
Sayer questions a neurochemist during a lecture.
Dr. SayerSayer tries to approach the neurochemist.
Dr. SayerSayer confronts the neurochemist in the restroom.
Dr. SayerSayer confronts Kaufman about the drug.
Dr. Sayer, Dr. KaufmanKaufman grants Sayer permission to treat one patient.
Dr. Sayer, Dr. KaufmanNight is generally my time for walking. In the summer, I often leave home early in the morning and roam about fields and lanes all day. Or even escape for days or weeks together ... But saving in the country, I seldom go out until after dark, though Heaven be thanked, I love its light and feel the cheerfulness it sheds upon the earth as much as any creature living ...
People with ordinary Parkinson's Disease sometimes complain that they've "lost their grace . . . " They have to think about the things we just do . . . It has to do with a chemical in the midbrain, or rather the lack of it, called dopamine. L-Dopa replenishes this dopamine, making it possible for these patients to move more naturally.
When I was a boy I felt myself being carried away by illness like a swimmer sucked out by the tide. I feel it again, only this time I've been somewhere. I went to a place and felt things I never dreamed of. I went to a place and felt hope and fear and hatred and love, I glimpsed life ... It's good, life.
I don't think I could deal with losing 30 years of my life. I can't even imagine it.
Mr. Titch, get your coat and hat, go up to the roof and jump off.
With all due respect, I think it's rather too soon to say that.
They fought, as you did, with great courage. They were strong.
Can you hear me, Leonard? I want to hear you speak your name.
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