Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981) - full transcript

Ken Harrison is an artist who makes sculptures. One day he is involved in a car accident, and is paralyzed from his neck down. All he can do is talk, and he wants to die. In hospital he make friends with some of the staff, and they support him when he goes to trial to be allowed to die.

Help me clean this up.

No, I can't come now, because

I'm going to clean this up.

Tie your ladder up there!

How you doing up there?

About done?

Get down.

Ow!

Hey, watch the sparks!

Hey, give me some

slack, will you?

What the hell is

this thing, anyway?

What do you mean what is it?

It's art.

Hurry up, you turkey!

Do you think you might

possibly be finished

before the dedication tomorrow?

Catch. I can do it.

Hey!

Okay, people,

I don't want any

of you to forget.

There is no extra

credit for this.

Don't turn into an angry mob!

Now, listen. I want the term

papers in by Wednesday,

and tell Becky that I

want it legible. Okay?

Police the area.

I gotta go. Okay.

You really did it. Yeah?

Yeah. I'm really proud of you.

- It's really something.

- Yeah?

You really made a... - Yeah.

Big pile of sticks.

I used you as a model.

I gotta go.

I'm cooking tonight.

What do you want?

Just a salad or

something. You know.

How about baked Alaska?

Heh, heh, heh. How about

a lobster Newburg, baby?

Give me a break.

How about M&M's?

M&M's sound good.

I'll see you later.

See you tonight.

Fly ball to center.

This will put it away.

A total of five runs, 10 hits

and two errors for the Mariners.

Eight runs, nine hits and

two errors for the Red Sox.

Charlie Snow inviting you...

Out of the way.

Jimmy, Jimmy, come back.

All right, let's clear the area.

Gurney coming through.

Hang in there. Take it easy.

You all right now?

Stay back.

Easy, now.

You gonna be fine.

You gonna be fine.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Watch that jacket.

Oh!

Oh, my God.

Easy.

All right. I got him. I got him.

This is unit 612.

We got a possible

broken neck here,

acute trauma, multiple

fractures, lacerations.

The man is cyanotic.

BP is 160 over 90.

Move it! Out of the way!

To the right. Off to the right.

Quick, Lissa, I need your

help. Ventilate this guy.

Dorothy, 1 gram of Solu-Medrol.

One gram Solu-Medrol.

Two units of plasma.

Two units of plasma!

Type and cross match.

Possible pneumothorax.

I can feel at least four

fractured ribs on this guy

and a fractured pelvis.

- Who's the anesthesiologist?

- Levinson.

Tell him 15 minutes.

Get him into X-ray, stat.

Right tibia fracture.

Hang in there, pal.

Come on, you gotta fight. Fight!

We have a fractured right

rib puncturing the right lung,

so we have a pneumothorax.

We have a fractured

left tibia and fibula,

fractured right

tibia and fibula.

God, what didn't he break?

This is gonna be our

problem right here.

He's never gonna dance

again, that's for sure.

We'll have to very gently fuse

this spinal column together.

I can do that.

I think the best we can

hope for, though, is a quad.

I want him alive, Tony.

I'll do the best job

I can. Get started?

Yeah.

How you doing on

your side, Betty?

Oh, pretty good. Pretty good.

One more knot to go,

and we are in terrific shape.

Over easy, please.

One, two, three...

Good.

Hi.

Hi.

Thought I recognized

those shoes.

Well, I wore them just for you.

Dizzy? You want anything?

I'd like a martini.

Ha, ha! He wants a martini.

Alrighty.

Now, how's that?

Mm. Mm.

Gin tastes like water.

It is water.

I thought everyone in

Intensive Care got gin.

Well, intravenously.

Hey, honey?

Yeah?

You know that dinner

dance next Saturday?

I think we ought to

tell them we'll be late.

Okay.

Mm.

Want to come along, Miss Sadler?

Yes, ma'am.

Good morning, Mr. Harrison.

Good morning, Mr. Harrison.

Morning, Rodriguez.

Here's a new face for you.

Hello, new face. Oh.

Rodriguez, I thought you were

gonna bring me ugly old hags.

Going down.

Orthopedics. Gynecology.

Nurses' station. Rubber

goods. Water sports.

Get the pillows out

from under his arms.

Watch it.

Arms over chest.

Down with the

sheets and the spread.

Neatly, neatly.

Why don't you say

something nice to her?

You need a haircut.

That's nice.

Ready? And...

Good.

Now...

Hello, darling, my

little flesh pudding.

Align the legs.

Up.

Over.

Hear the one about

the plastic surgeon?

No.

He melted in front of the fire.

Oh!

You get it in the

end, don't you?

Terrible. Thank you very much.

Now rub.

I see any bedsores,

gonna be you and me.

I used to dream of

situations like this.

Being injured?

Being massaged by

two beautiful women.

Ah, lay off, or I'll keep my

student nurses out of here.

You think you can manage?

Yes, ma'am.

Well, be careful.

We don't want to

have him on the floor.

Oh, God. Somebody

have me on the floor.

I was once had on

the floor, Rodriguez.

It was incredible.

You are impossible.

Make that improbable.

So, what's your name?

Mary Jo Sadler.

Most of my friends call me Joey.

That's nice. Don't let

Rodriguez hear you say that.

You're supposed to

answer "Miss Sadler,"

with a smile that

is filled with warmth,

but not a hint of sex. Sorry.

Don't be sorry. I'm

gonna call you Joey

when we're alone and,

uh, caressing my backside.

I'm rubbing your

heels right now.

Don't spoil it! I can't feel

a damn thing anyway.

Am I your first back rub, Joey?

Yes, you are.

I graduate in two weeks.

Really?

Anybody home? KEN: Uh-oh!

Joey, quick, get under the

bed! It's the other woman!

Hi.

You going to class?

Uh-uh. Rehearsal.

Does he ever stop?

Stop? I haven't

laid a glove on her.

I don't know. It's my first day.

You'll learn. I'm Pat.

I'm Miss Sadler. And for you...

Beautiful. Beautiful.

Good morning. Good morning.

How are you this morning? Okay.

And how are we doing here? Fine.

Miss Rodriguez, you promised me

you wouldn't send any

more cute ones in here.

You should have

seen the one last night.

After lights out, she snuck

me out. We went skateboarding.

Only trouble was, I

was the skateboard.

No, no, no! No, no, no!

Are you finished, Miss Sadler?

I, um...

Pillows.

Right.

And...

one.

Voilà.

Okay. Could you

straighten my hand out

and bend the hand down,

palm down, into the pillow?

That's it. That's it. Now

smooth the fingers out.

That's it. Perfect. Now...

Now bend the

thumb a little bit in.

That's it. That's it. That's it.

Now relax the

hand just a little bit.

That's it. Thank you.

I gotta keep going.

Give me a kiss.

Love you, okay.

I got some steps to work

out before the rehearsal.

How's your knee?

It's okay. If I warm

it up really carefully.

Kallis is coming

to the studio again.

He's still interested

in the large nude.

Kallis always was

interested in large nudes.

Try and make him

behave, Rodriguez.

Nice meeting you.

Bye. RODRIGUEZ: Bye.

Tomorrow. Alrighty.

Are you comfortable,

Mr. Harrison?

Rodriguez, you give great sheet.

Go to sleep or something.

What's the "or something"?

Stay awake.

How long has he been like...?

Six months.

Will he ever be able...? No.

John, Mr. Harrison's ready.

You better do him now.

Well, he ain't going

nowhere, man.

What you say, man? Uh-oh.

A black man with a razor.

Okay, fleet-foot, let's

see you tap-dance.

Okay, here we go.

Oh, man, but this

is boring, you know.

Shaving dudes all day. Mm.

They won't let me

near the girls, you know.

All you could get near is

the ones with the mustaches.

Bitchy, bitchy. Envy, envy.

Ahh.

Listen, from where I'm laying...

Yeah.

- -if I could get off at all,

even by myself,

that would be great.

I hear that, man. I hear that.

John,

shake it out.

Dr. Emerson's making

his rounds this morning.

If I shake it any harder,

man, it's gonna fall off.

So how's the punk band

coming? Oh, great, man.

I even added a

xylophone to the band.

Punk xylophone? How

the hell does that sound?

Ah, man, great.

We be jamming

tonight. Jiving. Listen.

♪ A-ching, ching

Ching, ching, chong ♪

Hey, man, this knee

needs tuning up, you know.

♪ Punkette nights

Them pretty lights ♪

♪ I love them ladies

Dressed in white ♪

♪ Thursdays May be awful sweet ♪

♪ But the Friday's

Dancing time for me ♪

♪ On my feet Feet, feet, feet ♪

♪ On my feet Feet, feet, feet ♪

♪ Punkette nights

Them pretty lights ♪

♪ I love them ladies

Dressed in white ♪

♪ The sweetest

thing I ever saw ♪

♪ Was my baby

When she's in the raw ♪

♪ In the raw, raw Raw, raw ♪

♪ In the raw, raw... ♪

Hey, John.

John. John.

This isn't your day.

What's going on here?

He was testing my reflexes.

Uh, yeah, uh, you

see, Dr. Scott, uh,

this man's toe bone

connected to his knee bone,

and I'm just connecting

myself to another patient.

Goodbye.

Well, we're all bright

and chipper this morning.

Oh, it's marvelous, the

courage of the human spirit.

Nice to hear the

human spirit's okay.

How's the heart?

♪ Punkette nights... ♪

♪ In the raw... ♪

Then they were in the lobby...

Selling tickets.

You heard that one.

Yes. You told me

twice yesterday.

Our relationship

must be on the skids.

You're looking great

today, Mr. Harrison.

Take a deep breath for me.

Hold it. Let it out.

Okay, I think we can start

stepping up your

physical therapy now.

To what purpose?

To what purpose?

So that you can feel

more comfortable

and start leading

a more normal life.

More normal, huh?

Yes, more normal.

Meaning I can resume

my basketball career?

No. I think you're a little

too short for basketball.

Cute. Thank you.

I see Dr. Emerson is making

rounds again this morning.

Yes, he is.

Is he gonna do it in

the normal fashion,

or is he gonna walk on water?

Look up for me, please.

That isn't fair, you know.

You're very lucky to have him.

He's the best one around.

I'll remember

that in my prayers.

Okay. See you in a few minutes.

With Emerson? Right.

I won't hold my breath.

Miss Rodriguez, um,

Mr. Harrison seems a bit

more agitated this morning.

He's beginning to realize

what he's up against.

That's what I thought.

Okay, I'm upping his

Valium to 5 milligrams.

Valium, 5 milligrams. TID?

Right. Thank you.

What, in your enlightened

opinion, Mr. Hoffman,

was Mr. Holmes suffering from?

I'd say pneumonia.

No, it wasn't pneumonia.

All third-year students

say pneumonia.

It wasn't pneumonia,

and it wasn't arthritis.

How long?

About 12 minutes.

What did you do?

Palpated radial artery,

gave him D5W,

bicarb and epinephrine.

Why didn't you

transfer him to ICU?

Well, his vitals

were stable at 6:00.

He just went sour real fast.

This was Andrew Dryer, age 56,

out of surgery yesterday,

cancer of the colon and liver.

What's your name?

Uh, Everett, sir.

Well, Mr. Everett, how

do you feel about this?

Feel, sir? Yes, feel.

You feel sick when

you look at this?

No, sir. Why not?

I'm used to seeing bodies, sir.

Oh, I see.

You've been here

what, three years?

Cut up cadavers

with the best of them.

Death holds no fear for

you, does it, Mr. Everett?

Sir... Let me tell

you something.

This makes me sick.

It ought to make you sick too.

Look there. That's the enemy.

The enemy has won.

Mr. Dryer was 56 years old,

and I want you, Mr. Everett...

And I want all of you.

To feel sick when you see a body

that hasn't reached its allotted

three-score years and 10.

That's if you

want to be doctors,

not just moneygrubbers.

Shit.

Oh! Sorry.

Dr. Arlene Franklin,

Station 4 waiting area, please.

Uh, did you say

something to me, man?

I think she likes me.

Hello, hello. Hi.

Is that something

to put into my face?

It's coffee.

No, it's not.

Yes, it is. No, it's not.

It is. It is. It's

not. It's caca.

No, it's not. Oh, really? Yuch.

It's good for you.

You have to drink it.

No. It looks like

somebody already drank it.

Just take a sip. I

don't want any of it.

It's not that...

Oh, shit. I'm sorry.

Oh.

I'm sorry, Joey.

It was my fault.

It's all right. I

can clean it up.

I'm sorry.

I'll just change the sheets.

Don't panic.

How someone who

can't move a muscle

can screw up a whole bed...

It's just eating its

way through my P.J.'s.

I'm going to pull

you up towards me.

Oof! Oh, God!

I feel like Charlie McCarthy.

Oh, God!

How did the quadriplegic

cross the road?

I don't know. He was

stapled to a chicken.

Joey. Joey. Joey!

Aah! Help me! Oh, God. Oh, God.

Nurse, help me!

Somebody help. Nurse!

Somebody, nurse, help!

John!

Got him. Got him.

Somebody help! I got him.

What happened? I don't know.

Get him on the floor.

Set him down. Just set him down.

Watch it. Watch it!

Watch the head, man.

Get me a clean sheet.

I spilled the coffee!

Okay, get ready for lifting.

It wasn't her fault!

It wasn't her fault. It

was just an accident.

What's going on here?

Get out of here!

They're just

changing the sheets.

All right. That's all. Out

of here. See you tomorrow.

Just easy.

Easy, man. Watch the head, now.

See? Watch me. Gently.

On the count of three.

One, two, three.

Roll the body.

- Slowly. Slowly.

- Easy, now.

All the way up.

All the way up. You dizzy?

No.

Pillow, please.

What happened here?

He almost fell out of bed.

Really? How do you feel?

Great. Great.

It's always good to get

out of bed now and again.

Let me take a look at you.

Now move your head.

Gently.

Gently.

Does that hurt? No.

Are you okay?

Oh, yeah.

You'll be fine.

Are you kidding?

Can I have the chart, please?

Miss, can I have

the chart, please?

Just breathe normally.

I see you upped his Valium.

Yes. I did this morning.

The dialysis seems to

be holding him stable.

Mm-hm. EMERSON:

Continue the schedule.

Four hours every other day.

Right. Okay.

Well, Mr. Harrison,

we seem to be out of the woods.

Now, if we can

keep you in that bed

and off the accident

list, we'll be fine.

Hmph. When do

"we" get discharged?

Pretty soon, now, I expect.

Really? Discharged

or transferred?

This unit is for

the critically ill,

which I'm happy to

say, you no longer are.

Uh-huh.

I'll send you to a rehab

where you'll be

comfortable. I get it.

You mean you just

grow the vegetables here.

The vegetable store

is somewhere else.

I don't think you understand.

I think I do.

What chance do you think

I have of my ever being

just partly dependent

on nursing?

That's difficult to

say with any certainty.

I am not asking for a guarantee.

I'm asking for a

professional opinion.

Do you think I'll

ever walk again?

No.

Regain the use of my arms?

No.

Or my... Or my hands?

No.

Thank you.

What are you thanking me for?

Your honesty.

Well, we were

wondering when you'd ask.

Why didn't you tell me before?

We didn't think you'd hear us.

Look, I know it's difficult.

It's surprising how we

can come to accept...

Mm-hm.

You mean, things

like falling out of bed?

Dr. Scott has

prescribed something

which I think will

help. Oh, fabulous.

Get Mrs. Boyle in here.

Let's start some

meaningful therapy.

Right away. Isn't

that a great idea?

It's a great idea. Mr. Harrison,

I'll stop in on you later.

Be sure to phone

first. I may not be in.

See you later.

Miss Sadler, let's get

a clean gown on him.

What'd you give him,

5 milligrams of Valium?

Yeah, TID.

We may have to up it to 10.

You might be right.

I want him transferred out

of here, one month, tops.

I have to go to a

board meeting. Okay.

Talk to some tight-ass

tick-tocks about inflation.

I hope you have

a wonderful time.

I'd rather have my

prostate examined.

Excuse me. Mrs. Cole? Hold on.

Yes, doctor?

Have you given

Mr. Harrison his Valium yet?

No, not until noon.

Um... give it to him now.

Now? Yeah.

Hold on. Let me call you back.

Oh, wait just a sec.

On second thought,

let me have it.

I'll give it to him myself.

Dr. Norton,

report to Hydrotherapy,

fourth floor. Dr. Norton.

Hello again.

Hello. I was just

practicing lying here.

I brought you something

to help you relax.

What for?

What for?

The fall? I'm all

right. I'm just angry.

I don't blame you

for being angry.

I'm changing the nurse

here. She's not experienced.

Don't do that. Why not?

Because it wasn't her

fault. It was just an accident.

At least I should have someone

around here I could talk to.

Here. I think

this will help you.

Don't do that.

Don't give me that.

Why not? It'll make

you feel better.

Quieter, you mean.

Look, Mr. Harrison,

your body cannot

handle all this excitement.

Now, I think you need this. Why?

If I wanna be mad, I'll be mad.

If I wanna make noise, It's...

I'll make noise.

Just because you are also upset

because you can't

do anything for me

does not mean that I'm the

one that has to get tranquilized.

However, it is prescribed...

You haven't heard a

word I said, have you?

Now, you listen

to me, Dr. Scott.

The only thing that I have

left is my consciousness,

and I don't want that

paralyzed as well.

You understand that?

Yeah. I hear what you're saying.

Good. Very good.

So if you want any tranquility,

you eat the pill.

You want me to...

Eat it.

We'll see.

Good. That's what I always say.

If you're ever in doubt

whether to take a tranquilizer...

sleep on it.

Okay.

Um...

Right.

That's bullshit.

When he came here

all shaken to hell,

he didn't protest the IV saline.

When he was gasping for breath,

he didn't say, "I don't

want any Solu-Medrol."

No, but those were inevitable

in emergency situations.

So is this.

Look, Clare.

We'll have to help him

to accept his condition.

Then, maybe, his consciousness

will be of help to him.

But how does a

depressant drug like Valium

really help him to

accept his condition?

Listen. Ken Harrison

is an intelligent,

sensitive, articulate,

wonderful person.

Yes, he is.

But he's not gonna

prescribe for himself.

Will the owner of

a blue Cadillac...

Okay.

Parked in Emergency,

please move it immediately.

This is Dr. Emerson.

I'd like you to prepare

Valium. Ten milligrams, IM.

I'll be right up.

Dr. Jackson, outside call.

Dr. Jackson, outside call.

Uh-oh. They've

sent in the godfather.

Why are you giving my

staff such a hard time?

Dr. Emerson, I must insist

that you do not stick

that needle in my arm.

You don't even

know what's in it.

Well, I assume

that it is one of the

series of measures taken

to keep me alive.

That's right. You,

pal, are a valuable life.

I don't think so.

I've decided I don't

want to stay alive.

You can't decide that.

Why not?

Because you're depressed.

Ha!

Does that surprise you?

No. In time, you'll

learn to accept.

Until then, let us help you.

Do not stick that

fucking thing in my arm.

Goddamn you.

I specifically refused

you permission to do that.

It was necessary.

I want you to sleep.

I don't want to goddamn sleep.

I want to goddamn think!

When you were sculpting

and things weren't

coming out right,

did you quit?

No, I didn't.

Well, neither do I.

Is that what I am to you?

Huh? Emerson.

Wait a minute.

Wait a minute!

Is that all I am...?

Is a lump of clay?!

Ah!

Oh.

Will you come on? I told

you my feet are hurtin'.

And I've ordered three

times already. Don't forget.

Oh, my God.

My chocolates.

You like this one?

It's nice.

How's this?

That's lovely.

Oh, that's it.

That's it. Don't move. This one?

Well, hurry up.

Stay there. Don't... Heh.

Rewind. You got to go back.

You like that one?

Show me the one

that's two steps after it.

With the elbow? KEN: Yeah.

That's nice.

Sadler, you want

to do some rounds?

Yes.

Okay, let's go.

♪ And good morning to you ♪

Good morning.

Back with the sheets.

And spread.

And voilà.

The night nurse said you

had a good night's sleep.

Well, I had some help, if

you remember, from Emerson.

Like being hit on the head

with a soft baseball bat.

Mm. But your eyes

look bright this morning.

I've been thinking.

Ready? And...

You do too much of that.

What other activity

would you suggest?

Jogging, perhaps?

Hey, Rodriguez, you

remember that lawyer

that came here a few months ago

from the insurance company?

His name was

something, uh, Hill?

Yeah, I remember.

Do you think you could

call him for me? Sure.

Since I'm gonna be

around here for some time,

I think money would help.

Good thinking in there.

His card is in my top

drawer. You'll call him?

Mm-hm.

Knock knock. Hi, everybody.

Hi. Hi. Great day, huh? Yuck.

I had to park

about 4 miles away.

Oh, you look pretty dry.

Would you ladies

excuse us, please?

Yes.

I got some new music for you.

How are you today?

Fine.

You don't seem the same.

You come here every day.

It's remarkable.

What's so remarkable about it?

I love you.

Oh, I know,

and I'm honored

by that and moved.

What's wrong with you today?

I want to ask you a question.

We make cute little

jokes about nurses

and hints of sex, you know?

Yes.

Now, obviously, I

haven't slept with anyone

for over six months.

Have you?

No.

Why not?

Not interested in other men.

I love you.

Ah, without self-pity,

I am no longer someone to love.

I am an object that has

to be taken care of

for the rest of his life.

I don't know why

you're doing this.

I have to be on a dialysis

machine four hours a day.

None of that matters to me.

It matters to me.

Pat,

I know you love me,

and when I was Ken

Harrison, I loved you,

but that was a long time ago.

At least six months

and one spine ago.

I am not the man that loved you.

Now, you have been loyal

and you have been loving

and you have

been self-sacrificing.

I don't want any

part of it anymore,

and I want you to walk out

of here and not come back.

Hey.

I just want you to find

a new life, find a man,

and get married and have babies.

What am I supposed to do?

Go to the Salvation Army?

Patty, if you were laying here

and I was standing

where you are...

I'd leave you flat.

You would, would you?

I may still love you,

but I'd leave you.

Well, you have

got a lot of balls

to lie there and make

decisions without me

about our future.

Everything we've

ever done together,

everything we've

ever had together

or been to each other,

everything you've ever given me,

that's part of me now,

and I won't give it back.

I can't give it back.

Do you know that every time

that you walk into this room,

you remind me of

the way things were?

Every time I look at you,

I see what I cannot do

and what I will never do again,

and I can't stand it.

I know you love me, Patty,

but if you don't

wanna torture me,

you'll go now, please.

Don't do that.

You know, I always say that

if a man can't use his hands,

he's got to be a real dumb

son of a bitch to cry, you know?

I mean, it's just another way

of getting your gown wet, man.

I'm all right now,

John. Thank you.

Well, I didn't do nothing,

except save meself the trouble

of carrying a wet gown

all the way to the laundry.

Ow!

Dr. Greenberg, please

call Physical Therapy.

Dr. Greenberg, please

call Physical Therapy.

Mm.

Stop it. Don't do that.

I can't help meself, me dear.

Oh, God.

Now I have to get these

instruments sterilized again.

Don't say things like that.

Just the thought of it

makes me crazy, you know.

Everything to you here

is a big joke, isn't it?

I can't take a place like

this too serious, you know.

I mean, one floor people

dying of poison air and water,

the next floor, ladies

having belly tucks.

Clean shit.

Well, look what they've

done for Mr. Harrison.

Yeah and how much does it

cost to keep him alive, huh?

Thousands of dollars a week.

That's not the point.

Well, the point is, in Africa,

people die of the measles,

you know, little babies even.

Only cost a few pennies

to keep them alive now.

There's got to be something

crazy somewhere, man.

Well, that's wrong too. Check.

So how 'bout going

out with me tonight?

We could discuss it

some more, you know.

I don't think...

Come on. Come on.

We could get something to eat.

Later tonight, my

band is rehearsing.

It would be fun.

We're sounding good.

I have an anatomy

final. It's a real killer.

Anatomy is it? Well, uh,

your problems are

over, you lucky girl.

You see, I'm an

expert on anatomy.

I could come over and

show you the hard parts.

Yeah. I'll bet you could.

John.

Are you out of work?

This man in this place? Never.

I was just about to start

scrubbing down the ceilings,

don't you know?

Miss Sadler,

your job is to lower the

temperature of the patients,

not raise the hopes

of the orderlies.

Yes, ma'am.

So who's my blind date?

It's a real nice lady, man.

Uh-huh. Don't tell

me. She's lots of fun.

It's Mrs. Boyle.

Mrs. Boyle.

Yeah. Do I have to see her?

Well, Dr. Emerson asked

her to stop by, you know.

Oh, well, then I will see her.

If I refuse, he'll dissolve her

in water and inject her into me.

Excuse me.

Mr. Harrison.

I used to be.

Kate Boyle. John.

Come to cheer me up?

I wouldn't quite say that. No?

Uh, would you like to

go over to that corner?

Sure. John.

Anything you say.

How's it going, Ken?

Pretty good. Pretty

good. Stick around.

This lady's gonna cheer us up.

We could use a little

of that around here.

She's gonna saw us in half

or do a belly

dance or something.

Not exactly.

Well, if that's not

what you do, uh...

If you need me,

I'll be over there.

What exactly, uh, do

you do, Mrs. Boyle?

I've come to see

if I can help you.

Really?

There is a rumor going around

that you don't want

any more treatment.

Good.

Why good?

'Cause I didn't think anyone

around here heard me.

I heard you, and that

is why I want to know

why you don't want

any more treatment.

'Cause I don't want

to go on living like this.

Why not?

I mean, it's a lousy break,

but you'll be surprised at all

the things you'll be able to do

with training and

a little patience.

Such as?

You're gonna be able to

operate a reading machine,

and I think, an

adapted typewriter,

maybe even a calculator.

Gee and wow. The three R's.

Doesn't exactly make for

an abundant life, does it?

Do you realize that

Monet was almost blind

when he painted

the Water Lilies?

Oh. And that Renoir's hands

were so crippled,

they had to tie brushes

Oh, come on. For

him to paint, and...

No, no, no, no. Don't go

on, don't go on, please.

Please, don't go on. I know.

You're gonna read to me

from the Reader's Digest

"My Most Unforgettable Lame."

You're an artist.

Sculpting isn't the only art.

Have you ever thought about

dictating into a tape recorder?

You could write a

book about sculpture,

a novel, poetry.

Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

Do you think that

you change your art

like you switch your

major in college?

I'm a sculptor.

My whole being,

my entire imagination

speaks to me through...

Uh...

Spoke to me through my fingers.

I was a sculptor

and that was what

my life was all about.

Now, uh, you

people seem to think

that it's about survival

no matter what.

Now, if I'd wanted to write a...

A goddamn novel, I

would have done it.

If I'd wanted to dictate

poetry, I would have done that.

How do you know you won't

want to do that unless you try?

Because trying isn't important.

The work is important.

The work.

And not the credit and

not the... The reward.

And it is the work

that I will never do again.

How do you know you

won't find new work?

Look, just give it a chance.

Let me bring the reading

machine tomorrow.

One try. You might

surprise yourself.

Are there many books

for that machine?

Yeah. Quite a few.

You think I could make a

request for the first one?

Anything.

How about...

Sculpting With No

Hands, Self-Taught.

Okay.

You win.

I can see that you are not

ready for this discussion,

so I will just come

back when you are.

You know, you are

amazing. You know?

All you goddamn

people are the same.

Every single time

that I say something

even a little bit awkward,

you just pretend I

haven't said anything at all.

It's amazing.

Why can't you try to

relate to your patients

like human beings?

You know what's happening?

You're getting very angry.

I can understand your anger.

Oh, Jesus. You're

doing it again.

Just listen to yourself.

I've just said something

offensive about you

and you have turned

your professional cheek.

If you were a human being,

or if you were treating

me like a human being,

you would have

told me to screw off.

Now, can you

understand that is why

I don't want to go on living?

And I am more

convinced of that now,

after your visit,

than I was before.

How do you like them apples?

The very exercise

of your so-called

professionalism

makes me want to die.

What's happening?

I can't breathe.

Okay, what's wrong?

Just go away, please. John.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Please, just relax.

J... John.

Is there a nurse? Is

there a nurse, please?

I'm sorry.

Is there a nurse here, please?

Relax. Watch out, Mrs. Boyle.

Let the nurse take care

of it. It happens all the time.

Watch out! Relax, man.

Relax your body.

Get the hell out of the

way! Back! Nurse Rodriguez!

Nurse Rodriguez,

he can't breathe now!

Call Dr. Scott. JOHN:

He can't breathe, man!

You'll be all right. John.

Slow it down.

Open your mouth. All right.

Come on. Come on.

Jesus Christ, fix him now.

Hold him, John. Hold him.

Hold your head. Hold him.

Breathe in. Breathe in.

Just take it in.

Okay, just relax.

Relax.

He's gonna be all

right, yeah? Relax.

Okay, yeah. He's

going to be all right.

He's going to

be all right. Okay.

Feel okay? Yeah?

Yeah. Yeah, he feels okay.

Just get him on the bed.

Hey, man's in bed

with his wife, you know.

Turns to the lady and says,

"Darling, why don't

you never let me know

when you're having an orgasm?"

She looks over at him and says,

"Darling, it's 'cause

you're never there."

One, two, three.

I think you got a smile, John.

Yeah.

You got a smile. I hear a laugh.

"It's 'cause you're

never there."

One and...

Yeah.

All right.

This hospital will kill

no quad before its time.

- I - called Mr. Hill for you.

He said he'd be here tomorrow.

Didn't know exactly when.

Well, I'll be in all day.

Is everything okay in here?

This must be Grand

Central Station.

Is there any obstruction?

No, just a spasm. He'll be fine.

Hello there.

Hi.

Is your breathing okay now?

Mm-hm.

What was all the fuss about?

I had a run-in with Mrs. Boyle.

Oh.

I know I should have

just smiled and nodded.

The last thing I want to do

is to get Emerson

down here again

with his pharmaceutical

nightstick.

Yeah. I'm sorry about that.

Well, I don't suppose

it was your fault.

I'll be on the floor

if you need me.

Right. Thanks.

Mr. Harrison,

do you think perhaps I

could give you some advice?

Mm-hm.

Why don't you take the pills?

The dose is so small

it's like taking nothing.

They're not gonna dull

your consciousness,

not like the injection will.

You have beautiful breasts.

W-what did you say?

I said you have

beautiful breasts.

Oh.

What an odd thing to say.

Why? I know you're a doctor,

but you're not gonna tell me

that you only regard

them as mammary glands.

No.

You're perfectly safe,

you know. I know.

I'm not going to jump out of

bed and rape you or anything.

Yeah. Did I embarrass you?

No, you didn't embarrass me.

You just surprised me a little.

And embarrassed you.

Yeah,

just a little. Why?

I admit it's unusual for a man

to complement a

woman on her breasts

when only one of them is in bed.

One of the people, that is.

Not one of the breasts.

Not one of... No.

That, uh...

It's not the reason, is it?

Look, I... I don't really

think this is helping you

to talk like this, do you?

Because I can't do

anything about it, you mean.

Well, yeah. Right.

You know, I've noticed you

walking around this room,

bending over me,

examining my body.

It's amazing.

It's amazing how

relaxed a woman can be

when she's not in

the presence of a man.

Yeah.

Look, um... I'm sorry.

I mean, I'm sorry if I have

provoked you in any way

because, believe me,

it was not intentional.

No, no. You haven't

provoked me, as you call it.

But you are a woman.

Even though I only have

a piece of knotted

string between my legs,

I still have a man's mind.

Now, the other things I've

noticed is that I now engage

in sexual banter

with young nurses.

I'm constantly searching

for the double-entendre

in the most innocent of remarks.

Every time they leave the room,

I just go cold with

embarrassment.

Is that disgusting?

No.

Pathetic?

It's sad.

I'm serious, you know,

about wanting to die.

Ken, come on.

Believe me, you'll

get over this feeling.

How do you know?

I know from experience,

from watching a

lot of other patients

who are much

worse off than you are

who go through the same thing.

We all respond the same,

huh? We vegetables?

I think it's probably

very difficult

for you to know what

you want right now.

Well, Dr. Scott, I do, with

a free and working mind,

and it is your moral obligation

to accept my decision.

No. Wait a minute. Not

according to my morals.

Why? Why are yours

better than mine?

I'll tell you why.

Because you are

more powerful than me.

I am in your power.

Well, I think you should

try to get some sleep now.

You've had a tough day.

I'm afraid I have to get going.

I was just in the middle

of another patient.

Oh, I thought you were

just passing through.

Dr. Scott.

Yeah.

You still have

beautiful breasts.

Well, thank you.

That's it. That's it. Let's go.

Come on.

Good. Way to fire it.

Playmaker, let's go.

All right, good.

That's in! That's in! That's in!

Mr. Hill.

How are you?

Better. I had a

terrible cold last week.

I was, you know,

flat on my back for...

You know, I couldn't move.

Those guys are very good,

just like a real team.

Nah. Their dribbling sucks.

Well, I've got all the

papers here, and...

I don't wanna talk

about the accident.

Well, I can understand

that, Mr. Harrison,

but I'm afraid that

we really must.

No, no, I-I don't wanna...

I didn't ask you to

come here this morning

for the insurance claim.

Do you think you could

wheel me over to that table?

Mm-hm.

Thank you.

You have to undo the

brake under my right elbow.

Okay.

Let me ask you a question.

You don't work exclusively

for the insurance

company, do you?

No. I'm with a,

uh... A small firm.

So there's no reason

why you couldn't represent

me independently?

No. Is this all right?

That's just fine. Thank you.

All right.

I'd like you to do

something for me, if possible.

All right.

I'd like you to get

me the hell outta here.

Well, I'm afraid I don't

understand what you,

um, uh, mean.

It's really very simple.

I'd like to be discharged

from this hospital.

To... To another hospital?

No.

Well, they wouldn't,

uh, keep you here

any longer than necessary.

You wouldn't think

so, would you?

Mr. Hill, I can't exist

outside this hospital.

They have to keep me here

in order to keep me alive.

And they do seem rather

intent upon doing just that.

But I have decided

that I do not wish

to go on living like this,

and so I would like

to be discharged

so that I could die.

A-and you want me

to represent you?

Tough luck.

Ah!

Astonishing request.

My sculpture isn't

very orthodox either.

You mean, just lie there

somewhere, and... And...

And die. Yes. Die.

Well, what's the hospital say?

They don't know about it yet.

But... But do you...?

Do you realize what

you're asking me...?

I do realize that I am not

asking you to make any decision

concerning my life and death.

I am only asking

you to represent

my position to this hospital.

Now, lawyers, as

a matter of course,

represent criminals who they

know to be guilty, don't they?

Yeah.

So don't you think I

have the same rights

as any ax murderer?

Mary Jo! Wait!

She's such a

lovely girl, you know.

We'll go for a little

extra ride, Mr. Forman.

I'm going to Gynecology.

Gynecology. He'll love it.

Where are you going?

Now, why won't

you go out with me?

Oh, God. I can't!

You know, negative thinking

never got nobody nowhere.

Oh, yeah? Well, I'm busy.

Besides, I hardly know you.

Right. That's why I think

we ought to go out, you know.

Oh, yeah? Yeah.

Well, ask me next week.

Next week?

Yeah. After exams. Okay?

Okay, it's a deal.

And I'll ask you this

afternoon as well.

Now, wasn't that fun?

You want me to kill my patient?

No. I-I'm simply presenting

Mr. Harrison's

wishes in the matter.

Would you sign this, please?

But you do represent

Harrison in this matter?

No. No, I told him

I had to talk to you

before I made that decision.

Releasing Harrison to anything

but a full-service hospital

is tantamount to murder.

No, murder's a legal term.

Uh... murder's a

legal term, doctor.

I'm... I'm merely representing

my client's needs and wishes

if I choose to represent him.

You believe in

capital punishment.

Oh, c-come on!

That's what you're

recommending here.

No, I'm not.

I'm not recommending

anything... yet.

Yet? Look, Mr. Hill.

We've spent six months

and a hell of a lot of money

trying to save this man's life.

Good morning.

We're not gonna throw

that down the drain.

That is not the issue, doctor.

We're talking about a man's, uh,

right to determine his life,

not the quality or

expense of your treatment.

Mr. Harrison would like to be

discharged from this hospital.

Will you do that? No.

Why not?

Because it's my sworn

duty to preserve life,

not to destroy it.

I'm not gonna let this man die

through any legal chicanery.

He is a voluntary patient here.

This interview is

at an end, Mr. Hill.

I do not see a-any legal basis

for you to hold him

here against his wishes.

Just try to

understand one thing.

Mr. Harrison is not capable

of making any rational decision

about his life or his death.

He's in a state of depression,

and using his situation

for your personal gain

is the lowest form of banality.

In your opinion, then,

Mr. Harrison is

mentally unbalanced.

That is correct.

In my opinion, he is not.

Jesus Christ!

You're not a doctor.

Well, would you

object to my bringing in

a qualified psychiatrist

who would, uh,

examine Mr. Harrison?

We have several on

staff who would be happy

to examine Mr. Harrison.

I'm sure you'll understand

if I ask my own psychiatrist

whose opinion you are

not so sure of in advance.

Goodbye, Mr. Hill.

Well, thank you for

your time, doctor.

Four, five...

You weren't in the SS

when you were a kid,

were you, Michael?

Come on. You're doing great.

I'm doing just great. Come on.

There we go.

Ow!

Oh! Gently, gently, gently.

Uh, hello.

Hello, again.

Hello, hello, hello.

Hey, did you find anything out?

Oh, quite a bit.

See if you can find Dr. Jacobs.

Ask him to call me.

And get me the hospital

administrator, stat.

Dr. Emerson does not feel

that you are in a healthy

enough mental state

to make a rational decision,

especially one of this, uh,

seriousness and, uh, finality.

Now, I-I'm not qualified

to decide whether

or not he's right.

Well, what will help you decide?

Well, I'd like to

have you examined

by an independent

psychiatrist... That's fine.

And I will accept

h-his view of the case.

That's fine. Has Emerson agreed?

Yes. He already has.

That's great. That's

a good beginning.

Probably he'll want

the hospital psychiatrist

to examine you too,

and I imagine you'll end

up with two conflicting views.

I would imagine so,

and where would

that lead us, exactly?

Well, that's hard to say.

Emerson was very adamant.

He'll probably use

the mental hygiene law.

Now, that means that if

he can get two psychiatrists

to sign statements saying

that you're mentally unbalanced,

he can, uh, uh, commit you here

and give you any

treatment he wants.

Can he do that?

And I have no say in that?

Some. You can then

request a hearing

and see how it goes from there.

Well...

Well, uh, let's get this

show on the road, okay?

Let's, uh, wheel in

your shrink, all right?

Dr. Jacobs, please

call Extension 3.

Uh, now, are you

going to represent me?

I don't know.

I'd like to get the

shrink in here first.

I'll be in touch.

Okay, well, call him,

11:00 on Wednesday.

Oh. Sandy, thanks

for sparing the time.

Never too busy.

How do you feel? You

want a cup of coffee?

No, thanks. Just keeps

my heartburn awake.

Who's your problem?

Uh, I have a 32-year-old man.

Auto accident, severe trauma,

C4 transect, nephrectomy,

dialysis, usual C4 comps.

He wants to be discharged,

to go off dialysis,

to go home and die.

Oh. Would he?

Without dialysis, he'd

be dead in a week.

I gave him steroids, I

balanced his electrolytes,

I stabilized his dialysis.

We just about have a

viable human being again.

Clare, uh, Sandy

Jacobs, Clare Scott.

Good to see you.

You too.

I was just telling Dr. Jacobs

about Ken Harrison.

What about him?

He's gotten a lawyer.

Threatens to sue

unless we discharge him.

If I'm gonna keep him alive,

it seems we'll have to commit

him under Mental Health.

Okay, even if I agree,

you're still gonna

need another consult.

That's no problem, is it?

Depends if he's

clinically depressed, right?

If I walk in, he says, "Hey,

I'm a teapot," you're in.

Depressed? What the hell you

mean, depressed? He's suicidal.

Doctor, I can name you

several prominent psychiatrists

who wouldn't accept suicide

as evidence of insanity.

And I can name you several

prominent psychiatrists

who in themselves

are evidence of insanity.

I'll accept that.

Okay, I will talk to

your suicide for you.

Good. And do me a favor

for the second signature.

Try to find an old

bastard like me

who believes in something

better than suicide.

I wi... Listen, there is an

old bastard at St. Joseph's.

Staunch Catholic.

Thanks, Sandy. I appreciate it.

So will Harrison

when he realizes.

Right. Doctor.

So, uh, you're

committing Ken Harrison

as mentally incompetent?

I don't believe this, Michael.

I know it stinks. Yeah.

But he'll be dead

in a week if we don't.

I don't understand

this. Wait a minute.

Where do we get the

right to commit him?

Isn't this his decision?

Aren't we talking

about his life here?

But goddamn it,

it's our responsibility.

Now, I can't accept

the fact that a man

of Harrison's intelligence

would choose suicide.

I know what you mean,

Michael, but apparently he has.

Therefore, I say

he's unbalanced.

Just because we don't

agree with his choice,

doesn't make him crazy, does it?

I mean, look at him!

Does he look crazy

to you, Michael?

Look at him lying

there. Come on.

I mean, Christ, he's

got no privacy at all.

He's got no sense of dignity.

I'll tell ya, if that

happened to me,

I don't know if I'd have

the courage to live either.

How 'bout you, Michael?

Can you stop playing

doctor for one second

and just tell me honestly:

Would you wanna live like that?

Hey, don't give me

that right-to-die routine.

We're doctors. We're

committed to life.

Don't lecture me, all right?

When a patient is brought

in here in his condition,

I don't stand around

wondering whether his life

is worthwhile or not.

I don't have time for

that. I try to save it.

I'm a physician, not a judge.

That's interesting.

Right now, you're behaving

a lot like a judge. Clare.

Clare!

I'm sure it's not necessary

for me to say this,

but if Harrison should

suddenly sour and die on us,

I'll order an autopsy,

and I'll act on

whatever's found.

You fucker.

Here we go, off to dialysis.

Oh, dialysis.

Why don't we go to a bar?

Skip the damn dialysis.

Hey, come on, now. Come on, man.

You know I can't do

that. I need this job.

This job's gonna pay for

me xylophone, you know?

Yeah?

Band sounds good, man.

We can make a record, even.

Oh, yeah? Yeah.

Listen:

Hellooo, baby.

Hellooo, old man.

"Old man"?!

Good morning, Roberta.

Lissa, anybody ever tell you

that you are

absolutely gorgeous?

Got your hair cut, didn't ya?

Ah, I'm not gorgeous.

I have a mirror.

And?

I'm not gorgeous.

Mirrors speak

with forked tongue.

Harrison speaks the truth.

Guess what! What?

I'm being cut down

to once a week.

You're kidding. That's great!

Oh, listen, that's fabulous!

You know what that

means, don't you?

What? That means the sooner

you're gonna be cut down

to once every two weeks.

And then you'll be cut down

to once every none weeks.

God.

You got a hell of a

life ahead of you, kid.

Well, you get better, Ken.

Oh, I am. I will. I have to.

I signed to play shortstop

with the Red Sox this spring.

Fantastic!

Actually, I signed to wear

red socks for the shortstops.

Actually... Actually,

I'm dating a shortstop

who was wearing red socks.

Bye, Ken. See you.

Actually, I have to stop

red mark on my shocks.

And I got my red socks.

"Bye, Ken."

Lissa, you ever been to a disco?

See ya, Lissa.

Mr. Harrison.

The very same.

I'm Sandy Jacobs.

You're a psychiatrist.

Oh. Does it show?

Thank you, nurse.

I'll watch him now.

Okay. I'll see

you. I'll be outside.

Thank you, Roberta.

You for me or against me?

Oh, did that sound

like paranoia?

You would hardly expect me

to make an instant diagnosis.

Well, did Dr. Emerson send you?

Would you describe yourself

as suffering from paranoia?

Nope.

What would you say paranoia was?

Well, I think it would

depend on the person, myself,

but generally speaking,

I think it's someone

who believes that

what they think is right

and will brook no denial.

Now, if this person

were a sculptor,

we would, indeed, diagnose

this condition as paranoia.

If, however, the

person were a doctor,

we would call it

professionalism.

You don't like doctors.

You like your patients?

Uh, some.

I like some doctors.

What is it about doctors, then?

Oh, I, oh, uh...

I don't think many

of them realize

that, uh, many of their patients

can and want to understand

what's wrong with them

and they're capable

of making decisions

about their own bodies.

And what they need,

of course, is information.

Well, a doctor

doles out information

like a kosher butcher

doles out pork sausages.

That's true,

but wouldn't you agree

patients need medical knowledge

in order to make good decisions?

Absolutely.

I would be very grateful

for any information

so that I might make

the proper decision.

It would, however,

be my decision.

Now, let's just

say, for example,

that, uh, you

came into my studio

and you took a look at all

my pieces and then you said,

"Well, I think I'll take

the mother and child,"

and I said, "No, no, no, no.

"You don't know a damn

thing about sculpting.

You get the flamingo."

You'd think I was nuts.

But we are not talking

about a piece of sculpture.

We're talking about your life.

That's right.

That's exactly right.

My life. Think about it.

And your obvious

intelligence weakens your case.

I-I'm not saying that

you would find life easy.

I'm saying that

you have resources

an unintelligent

person doesn't have.

No, no, no. Wait a minute.

That's not fair. That's...

That's Catch-22.

If you're clever enough

and sane enough

to put forth an invincible

argument for suicide

that demonstrates that

you ought not to die?

You know, you've

got a nasty little

tidiness compulsion there.

Uh, I was an only child.

But enough of me.

Well, uh,

what about your

parents? Are they living?

No. No. I have

no living relatives,

which really isn't bad,

considering, uh,

birthdays and Christmas.

You know, presents?

After all, how many

hats can you wear?

Uh, listen, I'd like

to do some tests.

Tests? What kind of tests?

I'll tell ya right now,

my time in the

100-yard dash is rotten.

And I'd like to confer

with Dr. Emerson.

Confer. That's when two doctors

support each other's

mistakes, right?

You seem very angry.

No shit.

What are you gonna do?

Put me down as being

in the manic phase

of a manic-depressive cycle?

No, I certainly would

not do that, Mr. Harrison.

Your lawyer, Mr. Hill,

asked me to see you.

If anything, I'm on your team.

My team!?

Dr. Barrows, do you understand

the trap that I am in?

Can anyone prove

that they're sane?

Could you?

I'll come and see

you another time.

No, you will not

come and see me,

because each time you see me,

the more I will get angry

and frustrated and depressed.

Please just leave me alone!

Hello.

Pat?

Is anybody here?

Oh, God.

Ah.

Hello!

Hi. Hi.

Sorry I couldn't meet you.

That's okay. Rehearse and study

and perform and

take care of the studio

and arrange Ken's

business affairs.

His work's gone up a lot.

Did you get a look around?

Oh, yeah, I did.

It's pretty amazing.

He has an incredible talent.

Yes. He had.

Oh, um, here's your key.

Thank you.

Place is really great.

I'm gonna have to close it up.

Really?

Turn Ken's work

over to a gallery.

They're just better

equipped to take care of it.

I wanna thank you for

agreeing to this meeting.

You'll have to excuse my rush.

I'm late. I have a date.

Oh. Well, just go ahead.

I'll just take a

couple of minutes.

Pat, uh, I could

really use your advice.

I'm... I'm looking for

some possible way

to help out Ken Harrison.

Some way to get through to him.

You mean the late Ken Harrison.

What do you mean?

I mean, he's not...

Yes, he is.

He may not be to you,

but he is to me and to himself.

Understand me, doctor.

I loved the late Ken Harrison,

and I grieve for

his death, but...

I'm... I'm sorry.

I don't understand this.

I can't believe you're just

giving up on him like this!

Giving him up?

Ken Harrison is gone, doctor.

You wanna see Ken?

Look around you.

Take a better look.

Yes, I-I know.

He's... He's very special.

That's why we've got to find

a way to change his mind.

Look, Pat,

I know that if we

can just get him

to wait a couple of

months... Dr. Scott,

I respect Ken's wishes

because I respect Ken.

Why can't you do that?

Why don't you respect him?

I do.

Well, then, just let him

do what he wants to do.

Let him go.

Wake up, bimbo.

It's feeding time.

I can't wait.

Ooh.

Mmm. Ah, le diner.

Diner is supreme. Oh,

not leftover Thanksgiving.

Ah! Chicken.

Oh, how creative. Chicken

instead of turkey. I see.

Why are there no

bunny rabbits on my bib?

I want bunny rabbits on my bib.

I want bunny rabbits...

Shut up! Eat.

You eat.

Be good boy.

Mmm. Oh, great.

I'm eating the drumstick,

and you're licking your fingers.

You must be starving.

Why don't you eat the drumstick,

and I will lick your fingers?

How 'bout the peas?

Want to try the peas?

I hate peas. They're all clones.

No, I'm not ready for the

peas. I'm... I-I-I'm not r...

Come on.

I told you I wasn't ready.

Come on, don't be gross.

I want you to make a circle

with your thumb

and your forefinger.

My thumb and my forefinger.

Like that.

Oh, I know what

you're going to do.

Bull's-eye. Right

on the mark, baby.

Oh.

Here. I put the peas back

in where they came from.

Oh, watch out. I'm a

quadriplegic. You can't hit me.

Yes, you can.

Yes, you can.

I think the evidence

is against me.

But I don't think that we're

talking about...

About, uh, euthanasia.

Well, I'm sorry,

because I think we are.

Well, what would you

think i-if by a sudden miracle

Ken gained the use of

his arms for 30 seconds

and swallowed a-a-a

bottle full of sleeping pills?

What do...? What would

your, uh, reaction be?

Look. I told you I'm a doctor,

and I have a responsibility

to my patient, okay?

No. No. I'm not... No.

You. As you.

You mean, how I would

really feel about that?

I don't know. I guess, uh...

I guess a part of me might...

Might be a little relieved. Why?

Would you try to save his life

with stomach pumps

and, uh, all that?

I, uh...

I don't think I would.

Great. So we're not adversaries.

No.

Well, so... So I-I-I...

I-I've got a bottle of

Rémy, uh, at... At my place,

waiting for two

non-adversaries to open. Huh?

No, thank you. It's very close.

No, it'd be a-a...

A-a nightcap after

a-a good dinner.

No. Thanks very much,

but I gotta... I gotta go.

Oh, it couldn't

possibly be two hours...

I thought I'd change

your position early.

I didn't expect to

see you here tonight.

Yeah. I had some work

to finish up in the office.

You look real nice.

Well, thank you.

You been out?

Yeah. Went out to dinner.

Mm-hm. Good company?

Mm-hm. You're fishing.

Mm-hm. You're right.

Actually, yes, it was

very good company.

I had dinner with

your lawyer, Carter Hill.

Well, well, well, the

horny little bugger.

Didn't take him long.

It was just a dinner.

I know I asked him to represent

me, but this is ridiculous.

It was just a dinner.

Did my surrogate

self behave myself?

Yes. You were a

perfect gentleman.

Oh. I should get

another surrogate.

Could you, please?

Why? Do you really mind?

No.

Ken, um, I might

have done something

that you're not gonna

be real thrilled about.

Something bad.

Man. Yeah.

This I gotta hear.

Well, I went to your studio.

You went to my studio? What for?

I don't know. Um...

I guess 'cause I wanted

to know more about you.

Know more about me?

No woman has ever

examined me so thoroughly.

I'm really glad I got a

chance to see your work.

Um...

I think you're...

Well, you're okay.

You're good.

Thank you.

So I was just thinking

maybe you'd want to have

a couple of pieces here.

Well, look, I'll

make you a deal.

What?

You can take any

pieces that you like...

free of charge. What do you say?

You know, I'm very, very

glad you just said that,

because I just happen to have

here with me one of your pieces.

An art thief, on top of it all.

Yeah. It's just so amazing.

You do have excellent taste.

Oh, thank you.

And it happens to be my

favorite piece in the studio,

and I think it's the

best thing in the studio.

It's beautiful. It's

by Michelangelo.

What? This...? This is...?

Yeah. It's a realization

from the Sistine Chapel.

You see, God,

who gives life to

man... Oh, shit.

Ah. Ooh.

This is Michelangel...

Well, it's obvious. Um...

Is my face a little

red right now?

Um... Look, I'm sorry.

Don't be sorry.

Really. Don't be sorry.

Actually, come to think of it,

I wouldn't mind looking

at that now and again.

Ken, I'm...

I'm getting this

very strange feeling

that you're really

enjoying all this.

I'll tell you something, Clare.

This is the first time in months

that I've begun to feel

like a human being again.

Isn't that the whole point, Ken?

I mean, isn't that

what all this is about?

I'm sorry. I just can't believe

you're really

fighting for death.

I just don't buy that.

You're right...

in that I had to be sure

that I really wanted to

win what I was fighting for,

you know, that I

wasn't just doing it

in order to prove to

myself that I was still alive.

And... are you sure?

Oh, yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Clare, could you fix

these pillows for me?

Sure.

Clare? Mm-hm.

Clare, life for me is over.

I cannot do the

things I wanna do.

I can't even say the

things I wanna say.

So for me,

it might as well be over.

You do understand

that, don't you?

Yeah.

So...

So...

Tomorrow... on with the fight.

Right. On with the fight.

Good night.

Good night.

Clare? Uh-huh?

Are you driving home?

Mm-hm. Yeah.

Use your seat belts.

Good night.

Good night.

Christ. I'm going

to lose my job.

You're not gonna lose your

job, not for something like this.

Hey, man, come

on, cool it, cool it.

Be quiet. We're almost there.

Okay, now. You

got to be ready now.

Yeah, okay.

Oops.

Okay. Let's go.

What are you doing?

You're not supposed

to be on duty tonight.

There's duty, and

there's duty. Shh.

What are you doing?

Hey, shh.

Keep that blabber

shut closed, okay?

Where are you going?

Dialysis.

Hi, Ken. How ya doing?

Pretty good. Pretty good.

But where are you...?

Uh, dialysis.

Okay, now that I

know that we're not

going to dialysis, where...?

Hey. For one time in

your life, man, shut up.

Come on. What took so long?

I came as fast as I could.

Now, shut up, woman.

One, two...

One, two, three, four...

♪ Ba-ri-ba-ri-ba-ba ♪

♪ Ba-ri-ba-ri-ba ♪

♪ Ba-ri-ba-ri-ba-ba ♪

♪ Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba ♪

♪ Shake, shake, shake, Senora ♪

♪ Shake your body line ♪

♪ Shake, shake, shake, Senora ♪

♪ Shake it all the time ♪

♪ Work, work, work, Senora ♪

♪ Work your body line ♪

♪ Work, work, work, Senora ♪

♪ Work it all the time ♪

♪ Senora, she's a sensation ♪

♪ The reason for aviation ♪

♪ Brothers You got to watch it ♪

♪ When she wind up her

bottom She go like a rocket ♪

♪ Jump in the line

Rock your body in time ♪

♪ I believe it ♪

♪ Jump in the line

Rock your body in time ♪

♪ Oh, Senora ♪

♪ Jump in the line

Rock your body in time ♪

♪ I believe it ♪

♪ Jump in the line

Rock your body in time ♪

♪ Shake, shake, shake, Senora ♪

♪ Shake your body line ♪

Shake, shake. Shake, shake.

♪ Shake, shake, shake, Senora ♪

♪ Shake it all the time ♪

♪ Work, work, work, Senora ♪

♪ Shake, shake, shake ♪

Hey!

Yeah. We was jammin', man.

Shh. JOHN: Hey, Ken,

I want you to meet the members

of the Rebel Rockers, man.

Here on keyboards

is G.T., man. Hey.

Aha. We got Red Locks here.

How you doing? Right

there, man, Teodora.

And tokin' on some

ganja... Rossan, right here.

A little bit of inspiration.

Is that an illicit

narcotic I see?

Nah, this is an herbal.

Herbal, schmerbal.

Get it over here.

On the steel drums there,

man, is Michael, you know.

What about Senora? - Senora?

Ah. I think he like that, man.

Hey, John. John. John, wait.

Play that song

you did last night.

Are you ready?

You want to rock, man? Yo.

Hey. One... two...

One, two, three, four.

♪ Oh, lady in white

She treat me right ♪

♪ She keep me smiling

Night after night ♪

♪ She never, never

lies She never frown ♪

♪ And when she ties a

bow In my dressing gown ♪

♪ She really make me

feel Like getting down ♪

♪ White lady ♪

♪ Feeling good

From head to toe ♪

♪ Nothing to do Nowhere to go ♪

♪ I've been to ladies

Skanking around ♪

♪ So smile ♪

♪ Feeling good

From head to toe ♪

♪ Nothing to do Nowhere to go ♪

♪ I've been to ladies

Skanking around ♪

♪ So smile ♪

♪ Oh, pretty girl in blue

jeans Know what to do ♪

♪ She making me happy

Through and through ♪

♪ Warm and wet Is

a word she knows ♪

♪ She turns on my needs

And my love it will grow ♪

♪ She make me feel a

tingling Down to my toes ♪

♪ Blue girl ♪

♪ Blue girl ♪

♪ Feeling good

From toe to head ♪

♪ All dressed up

And laying in bed ♪

♪ I've been to ladies

Skanking around ♪

♪ So smile ♪

♪ Smile ♪

♪ Whoo Feeling good, go ahead ♪

♪ All dressed up And

laying in bed ♪ Stop!

♪ I've been to ladies

Skanking around ♪

Everybody, stop.

Stop.

Somebody's coming. Stop.

Stop it.

Somebody's coming.

Hurry, man. Hurry, now.

Get the ganja, man.

Get the ganja now.

Let's go. Hurry it

up. Get the door.

Oh, shit, man. I

forgot my cymbals.

What the hell is going on here?

Who are you? What

are you doing here?

Isn't this dialysis?

Okay. One, two, three.

All the way over. Come on.

Rodriguez.

Rodriguez, my beloved saint.

Couldn't you spare me three

or four thousand aspirin, please?

How 'bout one Tylenol?

How 'bout two Tylenol?

I got my lawyer

coming this morning.

So, what were you

doing in the basement?

I was on...

My way to dialysis.

Your breath smells like

my whole neighborhood.

Who is that?

Who is that? It

couldn't be a doctor.

They all wear Italian

loafers and silk socks.

Carter Hill.

Ah. The man who sues,

eats and chases girls for me.

How you doing?

Oh, I'm all right.

How are you

feeling this morning?

Just wonderful. Okay. Back over.

Whoa. Turn him slowly.

He gets dizzy because

of lack of circulation.

Yeah, I don't get to

circulate very much anymore.

So, what's your decision?

So how are you feeling

this morning, Mr. Harrison?

You, uh, slept well

last night, did you?

Uh-huh. Like I got hit

in the head by a spade.

Oh, cute, man,

cute... for a cripple.

I'm, uh...

I'm going to, um... Uh...

represent you.

All right.

And when is the hearing?

I haven't applied for it yet.

Why not? Two

reasons. Oh, excuse me.

Sadler, would you get

the Tylenol, please?

Why not? Two reasons:

Commitment judges

usually find for the hospital,

and I... I think I have

something better.

Really?

That sounds interesting.

Uh...

Miss Rodriguez.

Could it be that

Dr. Emerson suggested to you

that you, uh, hang around

while my attorney was here?

I'm just here in case you

get excited or something.

Rodriguez, it's

you that excites me.

Where are you going? Get

away from there, you slut.

You Puerto Rican

flesh pudding, I love you.

Thought I was going to

get lucky there for a second.

So, what's better?

I want to go for a

writ of habeas corpus.

Habeas corpus? I thought

that had to do with criminals.

Usually it does.

It is against the law

to deprive anyone

of his liberty

without due process,

and i-if that happens,

he can apply for a

writ of habeas corpus,

which means, give us the, um...

body.

That's right on the

nose in my case.

And if sufficient cause

can't be established

to detain the individual,

the judge will

order him released.

How long will this take?

Not long. A couple of days.

And will I have to go to court?

I... I doubt it. I would

think that any judge

would allow the hearing

to take place right here.

Well, well, well.

All's well that ends...

Well, I'm, uh, off

to find the judge.

See you soon.

Be an unusual case

for you, won't it?

Making a plea for

your client's death?

Look, I'll be honest with you.

This is a case I

could bear to lose.

Well, if you do, it's a

life sentence for me.

You're new, aren't you?

Yup.

What's your name?

Stella.

Stella?

Well, Stella, you're very kind.

Most of the nurses

just yank you around

till they wake you up,

and then they disappear

for about two hours.

You're trying to be

released, aren't you?

Be taken off your medication?

Everybody knows about it, huh?

Oh, yeah. Sure.

Aren't you afraid?

Yeah.

Is this what you wanted now?

Oh, yes. If you'll put it

behind this desk, please.

Don't I get a special

breakfast or anything?

Not for some miserable jive-ass

moaning on about wanting to die.

Good luck.

Thank you.

Hey.

Aren't you gonna wish me luck?

No.

Hey, I wish you luck.

Judge Wyler.

Thank you.

Please sit down.

This is an informal hearing,

which I'd like to keep

as brief as possible.

Mr. Kenneth Harrison?

Yes, Your Honor?

Mr. Harrison, I've

decided in consultation

with Mr. Eden and Mr. Hill

not to subject

you to examination

and cross-examination.

Well, Your Honor, there

may be things I want to...

Mr. Harrison, if I

have any doubts,

I'll question you myself.

Dr. Emerson,

we'll start with you,

will you take the oath, please?

Mr. Eden? Thank you.

Raise your right hand.

Do you solemnly swear

that the testimony

you are about to give

will be the truth,

the whole truth,

and nothing but the

truth, so help you God?

I do. Be seated.

Dr. Emerson, what

is your position here?

Uh, I'm chief of

medical services.

Would you give the

court a medical history

of the treatment Mr. Harrison

has received here.

Following an automobile accident

on the evening of

April 27th of this year,

Mr. Harrison was admitted

to this hospital in shock

and suffering from

a fractured left tibia,

fractured right

tibia and fibula,

fractured pelvis,

four fractured ribs... One of

which punctured the right lung.

A dislocated fourth

cervical vertebrae,

which crushed the spinal cord.

He also suffered internal

damage to the spleen and kidney,

for which we performed

a splenectomy

and double nephrectomies.

He remained

unconscious for 30 hours.

As a result of treatment here,

all the bones and

ruptured tissue have healed,

with the exception

of the spinal cord.

And that, together

with the mental trauma,

are all that remain

of the initial injuries.

Will there be an improvement

in the spinal cord?

No.

Kidney function?

I regret not.

And the mental trauma?

It's impossible to

violate the body

to that extent without suffering

severe mental aberration,

depression, even

loss of reality.

In your view,

is Mr. Harrison suffering

from such mental aberration?

He's depressed.

Clinically depressed?

Yes, clinically depressed.

Thank you, doctor. That's all.

Mr. Hill?

Just one second, please.

Doctor, is there any

way you can demonstrate

this clinical depression,

any tests or measurements

you can show us?

No.

Then how do you

distinguish clinical depression,

which might preclude the ability

to make informed

and logical decisions,

from a perfectly sane,

justified feeling of depression

as a result of

existing conditions?

By relying on my 18 years

of dealing with both types.

Are you a psychiatrist,

Dr. Emerson?

No.

Have you any

degrees, credentials,

or have you any specialized

training in psychiatry?

No.

No further questions.

Mr. Eden?

No further questions.

Thank you, doctor.

You're excused.

Dr. Robert Barrows.

Dr. Robert Barrows

to the stand, please.

Dr. Barrows, what

position do you hold?

I'm the consulting psychiatrist

at the Monroe State

Mental Hospital.

Then you must see a

large number of patients

suffering from

depressive illness.

Yes, I do.

Uh, you've examined

Mr. Harrison?

Well, we know that, or

else why would he be here?

Remember the word "informal."

Yes, Your Honor.

Uh, would you say

that Mr. Harrison

is suffering from a

depressive illness?

No, I would not.

Well, the court

has heard evidence

that Mr. Harrison is depressed.

Do you dispute that?

In my opinion,

he's reacting in a

perfectly rational manner

to a very bad situation.

No further questions.

Mr. Eden?

Doctor.

Are there any objective

results that you could produce

that would prove that

Mr. Harrison is capable?

There are clinical symptoms

of endogenous depression:

Disturbed sleep

patterns, loss of appetite,

lassitude and many more.

But even if they were

present, they'd be masked

by Mr. Harrison's

physical condition.

Then how can you be sure

that this is, in fact, a

reactive depression?

By experience,

by discovering

when I talked to him

that he has a

remarkably incisive mind

and is perfectly capable of

understanding his position

and deciding what

he wants to do about it.

Do you think that Mr. Harrison

made the right decision?

Your Honor, is this relevant?

No, not really.

I'd like to answer

that, if I may.

Go ahead.

No.

I think he made

the wrong decision.

Oh, shit. WYLER: Mr. Hill,

when I said "informal," I

didn't mean uncontrolled.

Now be quiet. I'm

sorry. I... I, uh...

Thank you, doctor.

That's all.

Dr. Jacobs, the consulting

psychiatrist for the hospital,

wasn't able to be here today.

I have a sworn affidavit.

He agrees with

Dr. Emerson's position.

Have it entered in the record.

Yes, Your Honor.

Ah, Mr. Harrison, you feel

like answering some questions?

Yes, I do.

I'll try to keep them

uninflammatory.

You're too kind. Not at all.

No, I meant that. I think I'd

much prefer a hanging judge.

Either way I decide,

I am a hanging judge.

Now, Mr. Harrison,

the medical director

and the consulting

psychiatrist claim

that you're not

capable of making

an informed,

intelligent decision.

That's right. They're wrong.

What does that mean?

It means they're good doctors,

and they won't let a

patient die if they can help it.

Do you think you're

suffering from depression?

Well, I am completely paralyzed.

I think I'd be insane

if I wasn't depressed.

Yeah, but wanting to die

must be strong evidence

that your mental state has

gone beyond simple depression.

I do not want to die.

Then what the

hell is this about?

Make that read, "Then

what is this case all about?"

Uh, there was a "hell," and, uh,

and I think he

said "shit" before,

so maybe you oughta... - Ahem.

Sorry.

Uh...

I do not want to die,

because as far

as I am concerned,

I am dead already.

I merely want the doctors

to recognize that fact.

I cannot believe that this...

This condition...

constitutes life in any

real sense of the word.

Legally you're alive.

I think I could

challenge even that.

Any reasonable

definition of the word "life"

must include the idea

that it be self-supporting.

Now, isn't it true that

in heart transplant cases

it's legal to take

someone's heart

if they can only be kept alive

by the use of respirators

and other medical hardware?

There also has to be

no brain activity at all.

Yours is certainly working.

Certainly working

and certainly sanely.

That's what we're

here to decide.

Your Honor,

I am not asking

anyone to kill me.

I'm only asking to be discharged

from this hospital.

Which will kill you.

And that's exactly my point.

I'll spend the rest of

my life in this hospital

with everything in it geared

just to keeping my brain alive,

and I'll never have a

possibility whatsoever

of being able to direct

a good goddamn thing.

Now,

as far as I'm concerned,

that's an act of

deliberate cruelty.

Wouldn't it be more cruel

for society to let people die

when with some effort

it could save them?

No, because the

cruelty is not a question

of saving someone's

life or letting them die.

The cruelty...

is that the choice is removed

from the person concerned.

I would like to

be able to decide

what happens to my own body.

A man who is

desperately depressed

is not capable of making

a reasonable choice.

Well, as you said, Your Honor,

that is the question

to be decided.

All right.

All right.

You tell me. You tell us.

You tell me why it is

a reasonable choice

that you decided to die.

All right.

All right. All right.

The most important part

of my life was my work,

and the most valuable

asset I had for that

was my imagination.

Now, it's just too damn bad

that my mind wasn't

paralyzed along with my body,

because my mind, which had

been my most precious possession,

has become my enemy

and it tortures me.

It tortures me with thoughts

of what might have been and...

And... And what might

be to come, and...

And I can...

feel my mind...

very slowly breaking up.

Now, you take

women, for example.

I used to... I used to love

what they were

and how they thought

and how they smelled

and... And now I... I...

I dread it when they

come into the room

because I loathe the

way they make me feel.

You know, I am filled

with an absolute

sense of outrage

that you who have no

knowledge of me whatsoever

have the power to condemn

me to a life of torment

because you cannot see the pain.

There's no blood,

there's no screaming.

So you can't see it? Your Honor,

if you saw a mutilated

animal on the side of the road,

you'd shoot it.

Now, I am only asking

for the same mercy

that you would show that animal,

and I am not asking anyone

to commit an act of violence.

Just...

take me somewhere...

and leave me.

And if you don't...

If you don't,

then you come back

here in five years

and you see what a piece of work

that you've done here today.

In hearings for a

writ of habeas corpus,

an immediate

decision is mandated,

but I propose to consider

the issues carefully.

Therefore, I request

everyone to please remain here

unless a medical emergency

preempts your presence.

Marjorie.

Yeah, I'm still at the hospital.

I wonder if you'd look

up something for me.

A Florida decision,

about two years back.

I think it was Saikewicz.

You look up the holding

and read it to me,

please. I'll hold on.

See this quarter, man?

See the quarter now?

Now, you don't

see it no more, huh?

Which hand is

the quarter in now?

Right hand.

He's gonna take

the right hand now.

Will everyone please

return to your seats?

Well, there are

precedents aplenty

for both sides of this issue.

In re: Karen Ann Quinlan, the

supreme court of New Jersey

recognized the preservation

of a personal right to privacy

against bodily intrusions.

In Belchertown v. Saikewicz,

the court held that the right

to refuse medical treatment

in appropriate

circumstances extends

to both competent and

incompetent persons.

And the law holds that

a deliberate decision

to embark on an action

which will eventually

lead to death

is not ipso facto

evidence of insanity.

If it were,

society would have to condemn

many men to dishonorable burials

rather than posthumous medals.

Yet...

we do have to remember

Mr. Harrison's mind is affected,

and we must in this

case be most careful

not to allow

Mr. Harrison's intelligence

to blind us to the fact

that he may be suffering

from a depressive illness

which would diminish his ability

to make an informed decision.

We must ignore Mr. Harrison's

cogently argued plea

to be allowed to die

if we believe it

to be the product

of a disturbed or

clinically depressed mind.

However...

I am satisfied

that Mr. Harrison's a

brave and thoughtful man

who is in complete possession

of his mental faculties,

and I therefore order

that he bet set free.

That's it, gentlemen.

Peggy, let me get that.

Hey, you got your hanging judge.

I think not.

Thank you.

Thank you very much, Your Honor.

I hope so.

Thank you.

Goodbye. Goodbye.

Thank you.

Where will you go?

I'll get a room

somewhere, I suppose.

No need for that.

Don't start it again!

You can stay here.

We'll stop all

treatment, no dialysis,

even stop feeding if you like.

You'll be in a

coma in a few days.

Dead in a week, two at most.

But you won't be alone.

There'll be very

little discomfort.

No last-minute

attempt at resuscitation?

Only if you ask for it.

Thank you.

It would obviously be

easier for me if I stayed.

Okay, I'll take care of that.

Why are you doing this?

Because you might

change your mind.

Mmm. Ah.

Oh, don't. Please.

Better not, I think.

Okay.

Okay.

Dr. North, you are

wanted in Emergency.

Dr. North, you are

wanted in Emergency.

Dr. Keys, please call

Dr. Fairbanks in X-ray 1.

Dr. Keys, please call

Dr. Fairbanks in X-ray 1.

Dr. Norton, please...