1971
Dr. Herbert Bock, a weary Chief of Medicine, contemplates suicide amidst the chaos and dysfunction of his hospital, which is plagued by a series of mysterious deaths among its staff. Bock investigates the deaths of Dr. Schaefer, Dr. Ives, and a nurse, while also dealing with his own personal struggles and a burgeoning relationship with Barbara Drummond, whose missionary father is a patient. The hospital faces public scrutiny and internal strife due to a housing dispute and a major surgical error where the wrong patient is operated on. It is revealed that Barbara's father, Reverend Drummond, is not suffering from dementia but is a sane, vengeful man who has been systematically murdering doctors he deems responsible for the hospital's moral decay. As Drummond confesses his actions and plans to escape with Barbara, Bock decides to remain at the hospital to confront its systemic problems, while the hospital director resigns amid protests and Dr. Welbeck suffers a fatal cardiac arrest.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Bock, a burnt-out physician at a chaotic urban hospital, encounters a series of mysterious patient deaths linked to Apache rituals performed by a man named Drummond.
Open full beat sheetDr. Herbert Bock is listed as Chief of Medicine. 53 years old, large, bulky, disheveled, suffering from menopausal melancholy and exhaustion. In the parsed data, Dr. Herbert Bock is connected to 36 scenes, 39 dialogue lines, 39 text mentions, first appearing around scene 9.
36 scenes / 39 dialogue linesBarbara Drummond is listed as Nurse / Daughter of patient. 27 years old, beautiful, tanned, long legs, believes in everything. In the parsed data, Barbara Drummond is connected to 19 scenes, 23 dialogue lines, 23 text mentions, first appearing around scene 30.
19 scenes / 23 dialogue linesDr. Welbeck is listed as Surgeon. Fifties, gray, distinguished, tanned, greedy, inept. In the parsed data, Dr. Welbeck is connected to 13 scenes, 9 dialogue lines, 10 text mentions, first appearing around scene 58.
13 scenes / 9 dialogue linesDr. Brubaker is listed as Senior Resident. Young doctor, swinger sideburns. In the parsed data, Dr. Brubaker is connected to 13 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 11.
13 scenes / 4 dialogue linesReverend Drummond is listed as Patient / Missionary. 56 years old, Methodist missionary, suffering from dementia/religious mania. In the parsed data, Reverend Drummond is connected to 11 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
11 scenes / 5 dialogue linesNurse Perez is listed as Nurse. Night shift nurse. In the parsed data, Nurse Perez is connected to 10 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 8.
10 scenes / 4 dialogue linesMilton Mead is listed as Administrator of the Hospital. Late thirties, lean, efficient, under constant strain. In the parsed data, Milton Mead is connected to 10 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 21.
10 scenes / 3 dialogue linesJohn Sundstrom is listed as Director of the Hospital. Handsomely graying, tanned, early fifties. In the parsed data, John Sundstrom is connected to 8 scenes, 8 dialogue lines, 9 text mentions, first appearing around scene 54.
8 scenes / 8 dialogue linesDr. Schaefer is listed as Intern. Prickly young buck, bespectacled, unkempt moustache. In the parsed data, Dr. Schaefer is connected to 7 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 6.
7 scenes / 1 dialogue linesMrs. Cushing is listed as Accounting Department. Late forties, bespectacled, testy. In the parsed data, Mrs. Cushing is connected to 4 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 18.
4 scenes / 3 dialogue linesPanoramic view of the hospital complex and surrounding construction.
A patient named Guernsey is admitted to the hospital.
Reverend DrummondGuernsey is wheeled down the corridor.
Reverend DrummondDr. Schaefer takes Guernsey's history.
Dr. Schaefer, Reverend DrummondGuernsey dies in his sleep.
Dr. Schaefer, Reverend Drummond, Nurse Perez, Dr. BrubakerSchaefer and Sheila use the empty bed for a tryst.
Dr. SchaeferNurse Perez discovers Dr. Schaefer dead in the bed.
Dr. Schaefer, Nurse PerezNurse Perez informs Mrs. Reardon that Schaefer is dead.
Nurse PerezDr. Bock receives a call about Schaefer's death.
Dr. Herbert BockSundstrom and Bock discuss the hospital and Bock's personal issues.
Dr. Herbert Bock, John SundstromBock arrives at the floor and learns the details of the incident.
Dr. Herbert Bock, Dr. Schaefer, Dr. BrubakerBock and staff discuss the death of Schaefer.
Dr. Herbert Bock, Dr. SchaeferBock arrives at his office and ignores his secretaries' attempts to engage him.
Dr. Herbert BockBock attempts to review paperwork with Miss Lebow but is too exhausted and distracted to focus.
Dr. Herbert BockBock consults Dr. Einhorn about his depression and suicidal thoughts.
Dr. Herbert Bock, Dr. SchaeferDr. Ives is attacked and knocked unconscious in his lab.
Bock leads a Chief of Service round with his staff.
Dr. Herbert Bock, Dr. BrubakerMrs. Cushing discovers that Dr. Ives is dead while trying to collect insurance information.
Mrs. CushingMilton Mead receives news of a doctor's death in the Emergency Room.
Milton MeadMilton Mead arrives at the nurses' station and learns his brother is in room 806.
Milton Mead, Nurse PerezMilton Mead argues with his brother William and sister-in-law Marilyn about the hospital room.
Milton MeadDr. Bock lectures a group of young doctors on a medical case.
Dr. Herbert Bock, Dr. BrubakerDr. Sutcliffe asks for the Senior Resident, and Dr. Bock continues his rounds.
Dr. Herbert Bock, Dr. Welbeck, Dr. BrubakerBock examines a patient and continues teaching his students.
Dr. Herbert BockBrubaker informs Bock about the Drummond case and the medical errors that occurred.
Dr. Herbert Bock, Dr. BrubakerBock confronts Dr. Lagerman about the medical errors and learns of Ives' death.
Dr. Herbert BockBock views the body of Dr. Ives and observes an autopsy.
Dr. Herbert BockNurse Devine administers an injection and discovers a ritual being performed.
Barbara Drummond, Nurse PerezBock steals potassium from the pharmacy while nurses discuss the ritual.
Dr. Herbert Bock, Nurse PerezBock and Barbara discuss her father's religious ceremony in Room 806.
Dr. Herbert Bock, Barbara DrummondBarbara gathers her things while the Indian continues his ritual, observed by a waking William Mead.
Barbara Drummond, Reverend Drummond, Nurse PerezBarbara arranges an ambulance for her father while Bock watches.
Dr. Herbert Bock, Barbara DrummondBock and Barbara share a drink and discuss their pasts and personal philosophies.
Dr. Herbert Bock, Barbara Drummond, Reverend DrummondA nurse is attacked in the lobby.
Nurse PerezBock and Barbara discuss the future and her father's condition.
Dr. Herbert Bock, Barbara DrummondBarbara and Bock argue about their relationship and her desire to take her father to Mexico.
Dr. Herbert Bock, Barbara DrummondBarbara prepares to leave to check out of her hotel, giving Bock an ultimatum.
Dr. Herbert Bock, Barbara DrummondBock expresses his joy by shouting out the window.
Dr. Herbert BockMilitants tear down a construction sign at a site where families are repossessing condemned buildings.
Police attempt to clear the occupied buildings while a crowd watches.
Evelyn Bassey holds a press conference regarding the hospital's housing policy.
Sundstrom deals with hospital crises and is interrupted by Dr. Welbeck.
John Sundstrom, Dr. WelbeckSundstrom and Welbeck walk through the busy office area.
John Sundstrom, Dr. WelbeckSundstrom confronts Welbeck about his business practices.
John Sundstrom, Dr. WelbeckA heated meeting between hospital administration and community activists.
John Sundstrom, Milton MeadWilliam Mead is prepared for surgery.
Mead is wheeled toward the surgical area.
The surgical area is busy with operations and staff.
Dr. WelbeckWelbeck discusses his financial schemes with other doctors.
Dr. WelbeckA surgery goes wrong when the patient suffers a crisis.
Bock discusses malpractice with Mrs. Christie.
Dr. Herbert BockMrs. Kimball and others discuss the mystery of a patient named Mangafranni who was operated on despite being back in her room.
Milton Mead, Mrs. Cushing, Nurse Perez, Dr. BrubakerStaff gather to discuss the identity of the woman currently in O.R. Three.
Milton Mead, Mrs. Cushing, Dr. BrubakerSundstrom tries to regain control of a chaotic meeting while Mead receives a call.
John Sundstrom, Milton MeadMead and Hitchcock discuss the medical error and the need to call authorities.
Milton Mead, Dr. BrubakerThe operating team realizes the patient on the table is not Mangafranni.
Milton Mead, Mrs. Cushing, Dr. BrubakerBock confronts Barbara about her plan to leave the hospital.
Dr. Herbert Bock, Barbara DrummondLagerman informs Bock that the dialysis nurse Campanella has died.
Dr. Herbert Bock, Barbara Drummond, Dr. WelbeckBock and Lagerman discuss the mysterious Dr. Schaefer.
Dr. Herbert Bock, Dr. WelbeckDrummond attacks Bock, revealing his sanity and his role in the hospital deaths.
Dr. Herbert Bock, Barbara Drummond, Reverend DrummondDrummond narrates the story of Dr. Ives's death while the emergency room operates in a state of chaos.
Barbara Drummond, Reverend Drummond, Dr. Welbeck, Dr. BrubakerDrummond confesses his actions to Bock and Barbara; they plan to escape.
Dr. Herbert Bock, Barbara Drummond, Reverend DrummondBock confronts Welbeck while Milton Mead and others arrive.
Dr. Herbert Bock, Dr. Welbeck, Milton MeadWelbeck suffers a cardiac arrest after learning he is wiped out financially.
Dr. Herbert Bock, Barbara Drummond, Dr. WelbeckMedical team attempts to resuscitate Dr. Welbeck while Bock and Barbara prepare to leave.
Dr. Herbert Bock, Barbara Drummond, Dr. Welbeck, Dr. BrubakerHitchcock confirms the patient identity with Mrs. Donovan.
Barbara Drummond, Dr. Herbert Bock, Nurse PerezResuscitation efforts continue on Welbeck.
Dr. Herbert Bock, Barbara Drummond, Dr. Welbeck, Dr. BrubakerProtesters gather outside the hospital while Drummond prophesies.
Reverend DrummondBock and Barbara exit the room and encounter Hitchcock.
Dr. Herbert Bock, Barbara DrummondMilitants confront Sundstrom, leading to his resignation.
John Sundstrom, Dr. Herbert BockBock meets Drummond and Barbara; Bock decides to stay at the hospital.
Dr. Herbert Bock, Barbara Drummond, Reverend Drummond, John SundstromYou're certifiable! My God, half the time you're a perfectly intelligent young woman, and then suddenly you turn into a goddam cabalist who believes in dreams, witchcraft and bear power! And I don't like the way you dismiss my whole life as unnecessary. I do a lot of healing right here in Manhattan. I don't have to go to Mexico for it. I also teach. I send out eighty doctors a year into the world, sometimes inspirited, at least competent. I've built up one of the best damned departments of medicine in the world. We've got a hell of a heart unit here and a hell of a kidney group. A lot of people come into this hospital in big trouble, Miss Drummond, and go out better for the experience. So don't tell me how unnecessary I am.
You're a very tired and very damaged man. You've had a hideous marriage and I assume a few tacky affairs along the way. You're understandably reluctant to get involved again. And, on top of that, here I am with the preposterous idea you throw everything up and go off with me to some barren mountains of Mexico. It sounds utterly mad, I know. On the other hand, you obviously find this world as desolate as I do. You did try to kill yourself last night. So that's it, Herb. Either me and the mountains or the bottle of potassium. I'll be back in an hour or so. I'll be in my father's room.
I've seen some pretty good snafus, but this one... I mean, there's a certain splendor to this one. One of the night nurses, a float, thought Schaefer was a patient and plugged an I.V. into him. He was a diabetic, you know.
So last night, I coshed Miss Campanella with a sandbag, sedated her with thorazine, shaved her, prepped her, and parked her in a corridor of the X-Ray Department for five hours.
Well, her name is Theresa Campanella, but you are not going to believe this, Herb. She died on the operating table in O. R. Three about an hour ago.
About your father. You really shouldn't move him in his condition. I just had a look at his chart. There's no reason to presume brain damage.
I amuse myself with different ways of killing myself that don't look like suicide. I wouldn't want to do my family out of the insurance.
I'm not going. The hospital's coming apart. I can't walk out on it when it's coming apart. Somebody has to be responsible, Barbara.
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