2012
Mark O'Brien, a poet and journalist paralyzed by polio and living in an iron lung, seeks to experience sexual intimacy and hires a sex surrogate, Cheryl Cohen-Greene, with the guidance of his priest, Father Brendan. Their initial sessions are challenging, with Mark experiencing premature ejaculation and self-doubt, but Cheryl patiently guides him through his anxieties and physical limitations. As their sessions progress, Mark and Cheryl develop a deep emotional connection, culminating in Mark achieving penetration and orgasm during a session at a motel. This breakthrough leads to a period of profound intimacy and affection between them, but their professional relationship must eventually conclude.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Mark O’Brien, a severely disabled poet confined to an iron lung, seeks fulfillment through a sex‐surrogate therapy arranged by his physical therapist and overseen by a caring priest.
Open full beat sheetMark O'Brien is listed as Protagonist. A poet and journalist in his 30s, living with polio and dependent on an iron lung. In the parsed data, Mark O'Brien is connected to 96 scenes, 221 dialogue lines, 223 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
96 scenes / 221 dialogue linesCheryl Cohen-Greene is listed as Sex Surrogate. A professional sex surrogate who works with Mark. In the parsed data, Cheryl Cohen-Greene is connected to 45 scenes, 109 dialogue lines, 109 text mentions, first appearing around scene 36.
45 scenes / 109 dialogue linesVera is listed as Attendant. One of Mark's caregivers. In the parsed data, Vera is connected to 29 scenes, 44 dialogue lines, 45 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
29 scenes / 44 dialogue linesFather Brendan is listed as Priest. A Catholic priest who provides spiritual guidance to Mark. In the parsed data, Father Brendan is connected to 18 scenes, 40 dialogue lines, 41 text mentions, first appearing around scene 8.
18 scenes / 40 dialogue linesAmanda is listed as Former Assistant. A young woman who worked for Mark and whom he was in love with. In the parsed data, Amanda is connected to 13 scenes, 14 dialogue lines, 16 text mentions, first appearing around scene 11.
13 scenes / 14 dialogue linesRod is listed as Attendant. One of Mark's caregivers. In the parsed data, Rod is connected to 11 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 48.
11 scenes / 3 dialogue linesJosh is listed as Cheryl's Husband. A philosopher and Cheryl's husband. In the parsed data, Josh is connected to 7 scenes, 15 dialogue lines, 16 text mentions, first appearing around scene 78.
7 scenes / 15 dialogue linesLaura is listed as Sex Therapist. A sex therapist who refers Mark to Cheryl. In the parsed data, Laura is connected to 7 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 29.
7 scenes / 5 dialogue linesCarmen is listed as Interviewee. A paraplegic woman interviewed by Mark. In the parsed data, Carmen is connected to 5 scenes, 7 dialogue lines, 7 text mentions, first appearing around scene 22.
5 scenes / 7 dialogue linesSusan Fernbach is listed as Partner. Mark's girlfriend in his later years. In the parsed data, Susan Fernbach is connected to 3 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 131.
3 scenes / 3 dialogue linesNews footage showing Mark O'Brien's graduation from UC Berkeley.
Mark O'BrienA cat enters Mark's apartment through a window.
Mark sleeps in his iron lung while a cat wanders the room.
Mark O'BrienJoan arrives at Mark's apartment.
VeraJoan gives Mark a bed bath.
Mark O'Brien, VeraJoan pushes Mark in his gurney.
Mark O'Brien, VeraFather Brendan gives a sermon.
Mark O'Brien, Father BrendanMark talks to Father Brendan about his attendant.
Mark O'Brien, Father BrendanMark types a job notice.
Mark O'BrienAmanda sees Mark's job notice.
AmandaMark interviews Amanda.
Mark O'Brien, Amanda, RodAmanda assists Mark out of the iron lung.
Mark O'Brien, AmandaAmanda gives Mark a massage.
Mark O'Brien, AmandaMark goes on a picnic with Amanda and friends.
Mark O'Brien, AmandaAmanda and Matt talk in the bathtub.
AmandaAmanda shaves Mark.
Mark O'Brien, AmandaMark confesses his love to Amanda.
Mark O'Brien, AmandaMark talks to Father Brendan about Amanda leaving.
Mark O'Brien, Father BrendanRod meets Vera.
Vera, RodMark interviews Vera.
Mark O'Brien, VeraVera wheels Mark to an interview.
Mark O'Brien, VeraMark interviews Carmen.
Mark O'Brien, Vera, CarmenMark works on his writing.
Mark O'Brien, RodMark reflects on his interviews.
Mark O'BrienMark calls the university.
Mark O'BrienMark receives a referral.
Mark O'BrienMark struggles to get his gurney into an elevator.
Mark O'Brien, VeraMark meets Laura.
Mark O'Brien, LauraMark discusses the possibility of hiring a sex surrogate with Laura.
Mark O'Brien, LauraMark and Laura discuss the logistics and costs of the surrogate process.
Mark O'Brien, LauraMark seeks advice from Father Brendan about his plan to see a sex surrogate.
Mark O'Brien, Father Brendan, RodRod wheels Mark to Carmen's place.
Mark O'Brien, RodMark visits Carmen to prepare for his upcoming session.
Mark O'Brien, CarmenRod wheels Mark home.
Mark O'Brien, RodCheryl receives a call from Laura about a new client.
Cheryl Cohen-Greene, LauraMark receives a call from Cheryl to schedule their first session.
Mark O'Brien, Cheryl Cohen-Greene, RodMark contemplates the upcoming session.
Mark O'BrienVera helps Mark prepare for his session.
Mark O'Brien, VeraMark and Cheryl meet for their first session.
Mark O'Brien, Cheryl Cohen-Greene, Vera, CarmenCheryl takes a break in the bathroom.
Cheryl Cohen-GreeneMark and Cheryl continue their session.
Mark O'Brien, Cheryl Cohen-GreeneMark and Cheryl conclude their first session.
Mark O'Brien, Cheryl Cohen-Greene, Vera, CarmenVera wheels Mark home while they discuss the session.
Mark O'Brien, VeraCheryl dictates notes about the session.
Cheryl Cohen-Greene, JoshMark updates Father Brendan on the session.
Mark O'Brien, Father BrendanMark studies sex education materials.
Mark O'BrienRod wheels Mark to his next session.
Mark O'Brien, RodRod wheels Mark outside and they discuss the upcoming attempt at intercourse.
Mark O'Brien, RodCheryl and Mark attempt intercourse, but Mark ejaculates prematurely.
Mark O'Brien, Cheryl Cohen-GreeneMark discusses his sexual frustration and feelings of being cursed with Father Brendan.
Mark O'Brien, Father BrendanCheryl returns and they attempt intercourse again, but Mark panics and ejaculates again.
Mark O'Brien, Cheryl Cohen-GreeneCheryl steps out of the shower.
Cheryl Cohen-GreeneCheryl comforts Mark after his failure.
Mark O'Brien, Cheryl Cohen-GreeneExterior shot of Cheryl's house at night.
Cheryl dictates notes about Mark's progress and psychological state.
Cheryl Cohen-GreeneLaura receives and reads Cheryl's notes.
LauraMark expresses doubt about his ability to have intercourse to Father Brendan.
Mark O'Brien, Father BrendanVera helps Mark pick out a new shirt.
Mark O'Brien, VeraVera helps Mark get ready for his next session.
Mark O'Brien, VeraVera wheels Mark to Carmen's place, but they hear a disturbance inside.
Mark O'Brien, VeraCarmen opens the door to find a room full of women, interrupting the session.
Mark O'Brien, Vera, CarmenCheryl suggests moving the session to a nearby motel.
Mark O'Brien, Cheryl Cohen-Greene, VeraVera negotiates a room for Mark and Cheryl.
VeraThe clerk leads them to the room.
Mark O'Brien, Cheryl Cohen-GreeneMark and Cheryl settle into the motel room.
Mark O'Brien, Cheryl Cohen-Greene, VeraVera talks to the clerk about the nature of the therapy.
VeraMark chokes, Cheryl helps him, and they talk about his past.
Mark O'Brien, Cheryl Cohen-GreeneMark visualizes himself as a child.
Mark O'BrienCheryl asks Mark about his childhood self.
Mark O'Brien, Cheryl Cohen-GreeneMark reflects on the intimacy of the session.
Mark O'Brien, Father BrendanMark achieves penetration and orgasm.
Mark O'Brien, Cheryl Cohen-GreeneVera waits for the session to end.
VeraMark and Cheryl discuss their personal lives and the session.
Mark O'Brien, Cheryl Cohen-GreeneLaura calls Cheryl to check on the progress.
LauraCheryl talks to Laura about Mark's expectations.
Cheryl Cohen-GreeneFather Brendan visits Mark.
Mark O'Brien, Father BrendanMark and Father Brendan discuss the session.
Mark O'Brien, Father BrendanCheryl and Josh have a tense interaction.
Cheryl Cohen-Greene, JoshMark reflects on his life.
Mark O'BrienMark calls Cheryl.
Mark O'Brien, Cheryl Cohen-GreeneI've been branching out lately, reading Native American stories about the character of the trickster. Sometimes he shows up as a coyote, sometimes as a raven, but he always does the unexpected. The trickster breaks the rules. Mark O'Brien, whose life we're celebrating today, was very much the trickster -- anyone who knew him knew that. Besides his irreverent humor and alarming honesty, he always did the unexpected. In nearly every aspect of his life, Mark did the unexpected. His was a dynamic voice in a paralyzed body, a full life lived long after he should have been dead. He graduated from college, wrote and published articles and poems, and -- against all odds, by his own admission -- entered into the fully human experience of physical love. In this way, Mark lived from day to day to day, from breath to breath to breath, for 49 years. He loved, and he was loved and in his quiet voice, he spoke loud truths.
Actually, I was on drugs, I was taking anti-depressants and they were helping a bit. At least I was able to see the cup-of-life metaphor as a useful tool. Of course, the two halves were never even. Not in my case, that's for sure. Look at all the years of unendurable crap I've had to put up with. That fills most of the cup. But in the little bit that's left, what do I have to show for myself? Journalism? Poetry? At the very least, three beautiful women who all loved me and will all show up at my funeral.
My husband asked me to do it before his grandmother dies. The idea is, if it makes her happy and him happy, then it will do the same for me. Our son is neutral on the subject, but theoretically, if it looks like it makes me happy, it'll make him happy too. That's the way my husband's family talks, and thinks. The fact that I'm happy already, doesn't seem to be relevant.
Let me touch you with my words. For my hands lie limp as empty gloves. Let my words stroke your hair, Slide down your back and tickle your belly. For my hands, light and free-flying as bricks, Ignore my wishes and stubbornly refuse to carry out my quietest desires.
Don't worry about it then. It's just a question of depth of penetration. To some people it's really important, like my partner, for example. It's not such a big deal for me. I get just as excited when he licks my nipples, if and when he bothers to do it.
I wrote letters to Amanda in Germany. Five, six pages long A year passed, Heard nothing. Was it my fault? Of course it was. But the guilt isn't enough to patch over the rage. I pound the insides of my mind with words, such puny fists, And nobody hears.
I met Susan five years before I died. She was the love of my life. We had the same priorities, baseball pretty much came first, and we wrote each other mushy poems. I never expected it, nor did she, but that's often the way things turn out.
That was what my father used to sing to my little sister, Karin. That was before she died. She was kind of a sad little girl. It didn't do much good. I'm really sorry that the last time I saw her, I fought with her. I made her cry.
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