Ratched (2020–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - Pilot - full transcript

[priest] Lord, have mercy on us.

[congregation] Christ, have mercy on us.

[priest] Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.

[congregation] Christ, graciously hear us.

[priest] God, the Father in heaven.

[congregation] Have mercy on us.

God, the Holy Ghost.

[congregation] Have mercy on us.

The Holy Trinity, one God.

[congregation] Have mercy on us.

[thunderclap and rain]



Good night, Joe.

Good night, Father.

[thunder rumbling]

Dennis, your minute steak's getting cold.

Confession went late.

[thunderclap]

Agnes Samson thought about stealing
her sister's watch.

Took a good ten minutes to convince her
that wasn't a sin.

[men chuckle]

Well, Dennis, this is Father Adeyemi.

Visiting the archdiocese from Nigeria.

My pleasure. Welcome to California.

Ah, thank you.

Eat up, McMurtry.



Miracle on 34th Street
is playing at the Westmont.

Ah.

Will you be joining us, Father McMurtry?

[coughs]

I'll stay in tonight, thanks.

It's been raining pretty hard, and
I think I'm coming down with something.

[man] Suit yourself.

[thunderclap]

Hello, ladies.

[unzips zipper]

[thunderclap]

[loud knocking]

[knocking continues]

[man] Hi.

Can I help you?

Sorry to bother you.

My car broke down up the road,
and it's getting cold out.

I hate to ask,
but I wonder if I could use your phone?

Oh, sure. Please, come in, dry off.

Thank you very much.

The… the telephone is in the parlor
if you'd like to call the garage.

Can I make you a cup of coffee?

That'd be nice. Thanks.

[Dennis] Where are you coming from?

[man] Oh…

All over, I guess.

You're welcome to that, if you're hungry.

I'll eat it later.

Fantastic. Just fantastic, Monsignor.

That was magical.

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[thunder continues]

[man] Oh, boy.

I'll put on some coffee, warm us up.

Thank you.

[man] That's probably a new experience.

[indistinct chatter]

[man] Yes. She is magnificent.

[men continue chattering]

- Sleep well.
- Thank you, Monsignor.

- Glad you enjoyed it.
- Good night.

- Good night.
- Thanks again, Monsignor.

[thunder continues]

[humming]

[dripping]

[dripping continues]

[grunts]

- [thud]
- [grunting]

[thud]

What's going on?

No! No!

[priest gasps]

- No!
- [grunting]

[anguished gasping]

[gasping]

Hello, Monsignor.

Sister Margaret McGuire,

you remember her?

She was my mother.

You're my dad, Monsignor.

That's…

That's nonsense.

[grunts]

[gasping]

[groaning]

[grunts]

[breathing fast]
All right, all right, I knew her.

W… we did things together,
but she wanted it.

She ended up in a whore house.

One of them shot her up with morphine…

- [screams] Please forgive me!
- …and it killed her.

And I got sent to an orphanage.

Look, you've got to understand.

[voice wavering] I'm a sinner.

I've suffered for my sins.

No, no, no, no, no.

Now you're gonna suffer.

- [stabbing]
- [gasps]

- [stabbing]
- [gasps]

- [stabbing]
- [gasps]

- [echoing stabbing]
- [echoing gasp]

[seagulls calling]

[girl giggles]

Here's that map you asked for, ma'am.

Thank you.

[man] May I ask why
you're headed to Lucia?

It seems like a rather personal question,
now, doesn't it?

Sorry.

Clearly your tumescence
has distracted you, sir.

I recall asking for today's local paper.

Oh! Sorry.

Here you go.

Yeah, it's big news around here.

Everybody's up in arms.

Fella cuts up a bunch of priests
and they ship him up to Lucia?

[scoffs]

Hey, that's where you're headed.

You're not some sort of journalist
or something, are you?

You should bathe more often.

Your fingernails are filthy.

[soft jazz music playing]

[music plays more loudly]

[sighs] What do I owe the pleasure?

I have a reservation.

What's the name?

Ratched. Mildred Ratched.

Vultures, all of them.

San Francisco Chronicle is offering $5,000

to whoever gets the first shot
of the Clergy Killer.

You're not a vulture, are you?

No, ma'am.

I'm a nurse.

Ice machine's at the end
in the interior of the breezeway.

We provide that machine as a courtesy,

so I wouldn't abuse that privilege
if I were you.

I pay very close attention

to how much ice is in that machine
at any given time.

[muttering] God damn it.

May I offer help with the key?

[woman sighs]

Not much to look at,
but we've got a phone in the office.

Thank you.

And just so you know, if you happen
to have any gentlemen callers,

I'm going to know about it.

And I do not run a house of ill repute.

Do you understand me?

[Mildred]
Hello, I'm here to speak with Dr. Hanover.

It's a pleasure to meet you, sir.

Sir, it is a pleasure to meet you.

I have come quite a long way
and would just like to speak with him.

[people shouting]

[man] Priest killer must die!

I have an appointment. Thank you.

[people continue shouting]

[vapor hissing]

[elevator bell dings]

- [faint chatter]
- [quiet music playing]

[bell dings loudly]

Can I help you?

Hello. I'm here to speak with Dr. Hanover.

I'm sorry, darlin'.
He's not talking to press right now.

Oh, I'm not the press.
I'm the new night shift nurse.

Dr. Hanover hasn't technically
hired me yet,

but I'm supposed to have
a formal interview with him at 11:00,

as this letter clearly states.

[chuckles] Okay, one second.
I'm just gonna go get a nurse.

Oh, I'm sorry.

You aren't a nurse?

Me? No.

I'm a nurse trainee.

I admire nurses more than anything.

They really are God's angels.

Yes. Yes, we are.

Okay, be right back.

[man] Hiya.

Have a nice day.

[woman]
My preliminary recommendation is this:

that if Mr. Salvatore wants the board
to seriously consider a furlough,

he must continue with
Dr. Hanover's regimen of colonics,

he must attend group therapy
three times daily,

and he must take his saltpeter tablets
as prescribed.

Am I understood?

Si. Si.

[girl] Nurse Bucket?

You're needed at nurse's station one.

Excuse me.

There's a letter.

Oh.

[clears throat]

Where did you get this?

You must be the head nurse.

Mildred Ratched.

I didn't ask what your name was.

Where did you get the letter?

Why, it was sent to me.

That's where I'm confused,

because there is no one in his office
except for Dr. Hanover and myself.

I didn't send that.

And I can assure you,
that isn't Dr. Hanover's signature.

I have come quite a long way
and would just like to speak with him.

Dr. Hanover is out of the office
till later this afternoon.

If you'd like to leave a number...

If you don't mind,
I'd prefer to wait here.

He'll be gone some time.

You just said
he'd return in the afternoon.

It could be longer.

Well, then it could be shorter.

By your own logic.

I truly don't mind waiting.

I have nowhere else to be.

[chuckles]

Very well.

- [door opens]
- [woman] I'm sorry, Dr. Hanover.

The governor's going
to have to reschedule.

Maybe next month.

Another?

No, thank you. Got a long journey back.

[exhales deeply]

Um… [clears throat]

…on second thought…

[door opens]

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon, Governor.

I have your booth in the back for you.
Right this way.

[Dr. Hanover] Excuse me, Gov. Wilburn.

Dr. Richard Hanover.

- I know who you are.
- We had a meeting scheduled today.

You're the guy who runs the loony bin
in Lucia.

I prefer the term
"psychiatric rehabilitation facility."

We had a similar meeting scheduled
last month, and the month before that.

[Governor Wilburn sighs]

Maybe we should hear him out.

Tell you what, I'll give you until
the moment our drinks are delivered

for you to give me your pitch.

Excuse me, do you mind?

I didn't invite you to sit.

You see, Governor,
I don't run a loony bin.

My hospital is a bastion of recovery
and rehabilitation unlike any other.

Now, as for the funding,
I'm currently constructing a barn

to be used in various
therapeutic regimens.

- And people are...
- And… time's up.

We can maybe meet again
in a month or so, or…

Thank you for your time, Governor.

Yeah.

Interesting.

[man] Looking good today, Miss Dolly.

[Dolly] Thanks, Harold.

[chuckles] Whatcha up to?

Just making my rounds.

Excuse me.

Where can I find your restroom?

Down the hall to the left.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Looking good today, Mildred.

[distant clattering]

[distant scream]

[rattling]

[louder rattling]

[Dr. Hanover] Is there something specific
you needed, Nurse Bucket?

I'm afraid there's a woman here.

She says she has a job interview with you.

I didn't agree to any such thing.

Get rid of her, please.

I tried, she's very insistent.

[grunts]

[breathing heavily]

I'll take care of it.

[door opens]

You. Are you the one who's here
for the interview?

Yes, an interview that was
supposed to start several hours ago.

Forgive me, Dr. Hanover,
I know your work is very important.

But I, too, value my time.

But I suppose if you were willing
to conduct the interview right now,

I could try my best
to look past the insult.

Your office is this way?

Uh, yeah. Right this way.

I apologize for the mix-up.

If I'm being honest, I don't recall
consenting to any sort of an interview.

That's quite all right, Doctor.

With a nursing staff as unexceptional
as the one you have,

certain clerical errors
are bound to happen.

Nurse Bucket, a moment, please.

Please, take a seat.

[door closes]

[Mildred] I hope it's not inappropriate,
Doctor, to confess something,

but I was a nurse in the Pacific theater
during the war.

Where exactly were you stationed?

I island-hopped
with Admiral Nimitz's boys,

from Tarawa, to Saipan, to Okinawa.

You'll see that's where I became familiar
with administering anesthetics.

I'm well versed
in all the blood derivatives,

oxygen therapy, and, of course,
the treatment of shock.

Do you have scat throwers here?

Patients who throw their feces?

Oh, yes. In fact, we do.

Well, that won't faze me.

I've encountered many cases
of soldiers with battle fatigue,

who lost their wits entirely.

Men who would try to rape a woman
if they could get a hold of her,

and when they couldn't, would content
themselves by throwing excrement…

Ejaculate...

But I was not deterred, Doctor.

In fact, I was invigorated…

Because I was a member of the most
unsung profession we have in this country.

We had a saying in the Corps,

"Save one life, and you're a hero."

"Save 100 lives…

[voice wavering]
…well, then you're a nurse."

I must say you're a very impressive woman,
Miss Ratched.

And clearly passionate.

- But unfortunately...
- May I venture one last query, Doctor?

Do you believe
the human mind can be cured?

I do.

But it's not about belief.

It requires no act of faith.

I've seen it with my own eyes.

I have not.

But I hope you'll believe me
when I tell you

it is all I want in the world.

Miss Ratched, you're…

One of the more interesting women
I've had the pleasure of meeting,

but I'm sad to say that until I can secure
more funding from the state,

I simply don't have the resources
to bring you on.

I'm sorry.

But when there is an opening,
please trust that I will consider you.

Well…

If there's one thing I've learned,
Doctor…

It's that life can be quite unpredictable.

Thank you for your time.

[Nurse Bucket] The sheets were not ironed
correctly, the bedpans were a disgrace,

and Amelia, too much smiling.

I mean, could we have less teeth
and more work?

Thank you all for your help.

And the towels,
were they folded by the blind?

[door opens]

[man] Come on.

Hello.

I'm looking for Amelia Emerson.

She's not home,
and I'm about to head out on a sales call.

Something I can help you with?

Oh, I'm just an old high school friend
passing through town.

Maybe you could give her a message?

What was your name?

Arlene. Arlene Bauer.

[man over radio] The question is, is this
an attempt at avoiding the death penalty,

or is Edmund Tolleson really crazy?

He's being transported
from San Quentin Prison

for psychiatric evaluation.

Law enforcement is keeping
some of the details under wraps,

but word is that one of the victims
was almost beheaded.

[man 2] That concludes our special report
on the Clergy Killer.

- And now…
- Do you think you could do me a favor?

This killer gives me the chills,
and I'm not talking Bela Lugosi chills.

Although, I'd sell my soul
for a date with him.

I'd let him sink his teeth into me
and suck me dry

as if he really were Count Dracula.

If you could just do...

I read all these papers,
and none of them describe

what this Edmund fella actually did
to those priests.

[breathes deeply]

Now, what favor can I do for you?

If anyone calls asking for Arlene Bauer,
could you let me know?

It's a little joke
between me and an old friend.

And is Arlene Bauer paying
for another night's room,

or are you two splitting the bill?

[chuckles]

A smile like that could melt ice.

So I've been told.

Well, I don't like it.

A lady in my position could go so far
as to say you're leering.

A gentleman in my position can't help it

when he's staring at a beautiful woman
like yourself.

No, I'm not married.

I've never done this before.

Do you think we could just sit?

Actually, can you sit on that corner?

So what do we do now?

Let's pretend we're husband and wife
who've just had a fight.

What was the fight about?

Children.

You want them, but I don't.

I believe they're nothing but a burden,

but you believe a family isn't a family
without them.

What are you doing?

So when do we make up?

We don't.

You leave.

Why would I leave?

Because…

You'll think you're right,

and I'll think I'm right.

Then we'll both realize
it's not going to work.

And then we'll get a divorce.

Only to find soon after that I'm pregnant.

And you will convince me to keep it.

And then you'll die.

I'll raise it for a few years
till I can't do it anymore,

and then I will leave her on a doorstep.

I'm sorry,
I don't see what the problem is.

When you're ready,
you know where to find me.

[groans] Is that all you got?

Arlene Bauer,

you have a phone call.

[jazz music playing]

You should take your coat off.

It's warm in here.

Do you need a drink?

Walter is an excellent bartender.

Look, I don't know what you think you saw.

Oh, I know what I saw.

What is it you want?

Your job.

And since there aren't
any positions available,

I have been forced to create one myself.

What makes you think
my husband will believe you?

And what am I supposed to tell him?

Tell him this town is poison…

And that you want to get
as far away from it as possible.

For your daughter.

[doorbell rings]

[woman]
How would you feel about your hospital

being the cornerstone
of the governor's reelection campaign?

What is there to say? I'm…[chuckles]

I'm speechless.

Your facility,

your bold new ideas,

their proven results,

this will force voters to see the governor
in a whole new light.

Not as a musty old bureaucrat,
but as a forward-thinking progressive.

A leader who can rehabilitate
a lost segment of the state workforce

and move them back into the economy.

I believe this will swing momentum
back to us…

And the governor into his reelection.

So, Doctor.

What do you say?

[Nurse Bucket] I can't believe it, sir.

Our hospital. I mean, your hospital…

[chuckles]

…finally getting the recognition
it deserves.

This is everything we've ever wanted.

We have work to do.

Nowhere do I want anything greater
than a ten-to-one patient-to-staff ratio.

- Is that clear?
- That could be difficult, sir.

Why is that difficult, Nurse Bucket?

Well, sir, it's Amelia.
She hasn't shown up yet.

What about Jackie?

She's on vacation in Monterey.

And who approved that? You, I imagine.

Mm, Dr. Hanover, service came for you.

[knocking]

Phone call. A Dr. Richard Hanover.

This is a big day for all of us.

Doctors, nurses, and low-level attendants.

It is imperative
that we live up to the expectations

that attracted Gov. Wilburn's attention.

[door opens]

It is our moment to prove
why this hospital is so special.

[footsteps]

What are you doing here?

[Mildred] Me?

I'm… I'm just here to help.

Mm.

Every square inch of this facility
needs to be spotless.

Every surface, I should be able to eat
runny eggs off of it.

[man screaming] No!

[Nurse Bucket] Unruly patients
need to be humanely tamed…

And tranquil.

[screams]

And you must all perform your duties

in the utmost
professional manner possible.

Do I make myself clear?

- [overlapping chatter]
- Absolutely. Thank you so much.

Good. Now let's get to it.

- [people shouting]
- [man] Governor!

[shouting continues]

[camera flashes clicking]

[man] Mio fratello…

[sobbing] Mio fratello…

Voglio stare con te.

The new barn will become
the heartbeat of Lucia,

using all the latest advances
in assisted therapy

to calm even the most troubled mind

before we even begin
administering a single medication.

That's marvelous. That's wonderful!
Do you hear that, guys?

[man] Yes, sir.

- Please, no.
- [camera flash clicks]

- I do not wish to be photographed.
- What about Edmund Tolleson?

What precautions have you taken

to ensure your patients'
and staff's safety when he arrives?

- Where are you gonna chain him up?
- All right, come on.

Well, we don't chain anyone up.

He's a human being.

But as for the logistical problems
of housing Mr. Tolleson,

we found a solution that's both canny
and budget-conscious.

As you may know,
this facility was formerly a rest spa.

It actually has a wine cellar
deep underground.

We've transformed that space
into a maximum-security holding area

where Edmund will be housed
until he is evaluated.

A wine cellar. Are you kidding me?

Come on now.

Edmund Tolleson is not the story
I brought you here to cover.

It certainly isn't the one
you're going to run!

[Nurse Bucket] Dr. Hanover!

It's Father Murphy.

Get me a blanket.
We need to make sure he stays warm.

- What's going on?
- He collapsed.

What are you doing?

Don't touch him!

Don't you ever lay a hand on me!

How dare you!

Just wait for it!

[patting]

[retching]

There, there.
Keep breathing, keep breathing.

Stay with us, Father.

His blood pressure was dangerously low.

The shock nearly killed him.

Did you say shock?

I think someone gave him
the wrong medication.

[Wilburn] Hey there, Mister. Gov. Wilburn,
how about a picture with me?

- Come on. Let's go.
- Look this way, please.

Look into the camera, there you go.
Big smile!

What's wrong with him?

They just told him that
his brother passed away, poor thing.

Not that it would have mattered.

He didn't know,
but he wasn't getting furloughed anyway.

His nephew called,
said they didn't want him let out.

[Wilburn] Look here.

[man] Look up and smile.

Miss Ratched,
would you come with me, please?

Doctor. The governor would like a word...

How is the patient? Did he pull through?

Y... yes.

Fantastic. Look, I told the reporters
and the photographers to go upstairs.

You'll be on one side of the bed,

I'll be on the other,
handing you the check for $75,000.

- The patient will be in the middle.
- Wha...

I don't understand.

Doctor, a dozen reporters just saw
a member of your staff save a man's life.

Let's not discourage them
from putting that in the story,

and let's make sure
they have a photo to go with that story.

I told you, I don't do photographs.

- We have...
- You're fine.

She's the one that saved his life.
I choose her.

All right, gentlemen,
one more shot and we're done.

Great. Let's get one
with the two of us. Huh?

Please don't put your hand on me
like that.

Thank you.

[camera flash clicks]

Well, I guess she works here now.

[quiet classical music playing]

[Mildred] Hello, Mr. Salvatore.

I'm sorry about your brother.

I know how you feel right now,

not being able to be with him.

Told that you're mad…

When that's what's driving you mad.

Isn't it?

I know how that feels.

I had a brother.

He was the only family I ever had.

Well, the only family I ever knew, anyway.

I remember my mother and father,
but I can't picture them.

All I remember is a…

A feeling.

You see, I was taken away from them
when I was very young…

And told that someday
I would see them again.

That they would come for me.

But that was a lie.

They never did.

And so all I had was my brother.

And then he was taken away from me too.

And he needed me.

He really needed me…

And I was helpless.

There was nothing I could do
to protect him anymore.

Right now, there's something difficult
I have to tell you.

The doctors and nurses here,

they want to give you hope…

That one day you can leave here
and see your family again.

But you deserve someone
to show you mercy, Mr. Salvatore,

and so I have to tell you

that I know for a fact that
they are never going to let that happen.

You are going to spend
the rest of your life in here…

Because your family doesn't ever
want to see you again.

[Mr. Salvatore shudders]

[in wavering voice] It's something I wish
someone had told me when I was young…

So I could stop believing otherwise.

[softly] How different I would be
if someone had.

But I have to tell you,

you have been subjected to enough pain.

You deserve to be free from it.

[whispering indistinctly]

I am only gonna tell you this once…

But there is a letter opener
on Dr. Hanover's desk.

I can take you there right now.

Would you like that?

- Si.
- [camera flashes click]

Fellow Californians.

[movie camera whirring]

Hello, Jerry.

Glad you could make it.

[camera flash click echoing]

Miss Ratched.

Do you take me for an idiot?

Nurse Bucket informed me

that Father Murphy suffered
cardiogenic shock.

That's right.

Strange that the seal is freshly broken,

considering none of our patients
are on this medication.

Of course it would be dangerous

for somebody with Father Murphy's
condition to take these.

Wouldn't you say?

Yes.

I honestly don't know
what you're asking me, Doctor.

[faint thud]

Is there somebody in my office?

Dr. Hanover, are you feeling all right?

[breathing fast] Oh, God.

I don't…

How'd he get in here?

Clearly, he wasn't being supervised
closely enough.

God damn that Bucket!

- Dr. Hanover.
- What am I going to do?

The press is here.

Dr. Hanover.

You are in a state of shock right now.

What has happened here is a tragedy, yes.

All my work. Everything,
everything I'm fighting for…

I'll be exposed.

- This... this negligence will ruin me!
- Dr. Hanover.

- Will ruin me!
- Dr. Hanover, you must stop!

I will take care of this.

You stand up tall and proud,
you walk out of this room,

face the governor,
and you be quick about it. He's waiting.

Yes.

Thank you. Thank you.

And Dr. Hanover.

When you have a moment
with the governor after his speech,

you tell him you've offered me
a position here.

He will be pleased.

Yes. Yes, of course.

He'll be pleased.

[Wilburn] I am a child of California.

I'm proud to count myself
amongst her native sons.

I was raised on the promise
of this great state.

[Nurse Bucket]
What exactly are you doing in there?

Hello, Nurse Bucket.

Dr. Hanover asked me to wash the towels
in his private bathroom.

He asked you to wash his towels together
with the linen from the patients' rooms?

Maybe you haven't been listening
to his lectures,

but Dr. Hanover believes
all human beings are equal.

[Wilburn]
I believe in the dreams of California,

dreams shared by every restless soul

who pulled up stakes and journeyed west
to discover this land.

A place where our tomorrows
are better than our yesterdays,

and where we do not shrink from
the responsibility that is our fellow man!

I promise you…

That we shall win together!

Hanover, it's been a pleasure.

Exceeded expectations.

Thank you, sir. We'll be in touch.

Yes.

And that nurse…

Ratched.

Tell her I said goodbye.

There's not a lot of meat on her bones,
but what's there is choice.

[man] Let's go!

[sirens wail]

[man] Edmund Tolleson, you're to be held
at Lucia State Mental Hospital

for a period of 120 days,

or until Dr. Richard Hanover can make
the accurate recommendation

regarding your fitness to stand trial.

During this time, you are still a prisoner
of the state of California,

and will be treated as such.

Edmund Tolleson?

Is that you?

It's me. [gasps]

[both sigh]

I found you.

I finally found you.

[Edmund chuckles]

I don't wanna die.

You're not going to die, Edmund.

I promise.

[echoing thud]

[echoing creaking]