ST. ELSEWHERE: NIGHT OF THE LIVING BED (TV)
Summary
One in this medical drama series set in St. Eligius hospital in Boston. In this episode, on Halloween, Ehrlich notes that Wade is trying to "one-up" him by arriving early for Craig's artificial heart transplant, though they are both excited by the prospect of becoming famous for the groundbreaking surgery. Kiem is overwhelmed with work, having assumed Westphall's former positions, and Brett Johnston prepares to be discharged, observing that Griffin is uncomfortable having him as a patient. Axelrod complains about his dislike of Halloween, and Chandler offers to take one of his patients, Mr. Bermudez, hoping that Gideon will favor him for chief resident if he successfully treats his friend. Gideon tells Auschlander that he has reached a bargain with the orderlies, and the doctors begin to suspect that the late Mrs. Hufnagel is haunting Bermudez's room as the lights and TV flicker strangely. Craig arrives with a sheep, his test subject for the Craig 9000, though the animal soon escapes and wanders through the halls. Kiem orders a final complete blood count for Johnston and advises Griffin to get over his fear of treating AIDS patients, as the epidemic is only getting worse.
Ellen arrives to assist with the children's holiday celebration as Chandler continues investigating Bermudez's mysterious fever, and an exasperated Axelrod heads for the morgue after being pranked in the ER by some teens. Kiem uses her French skills to help a patient, Mr. Gadski, and Chandler takes Bermudez for a magnetic resonance test. Craig has an awkward run-in with Ellen when she locates the lost sheep, and when Griffin is forced to perform Johnston's CBC himself, he mildly pricks himself with the needle and immediately panics that he has been infected. He rants that there is no point in treating the doomed AIDS patients, though Fiscus and Gideon point out that he is unlikely to become sick himself. Chandler confesses his serious interest in becoming chief resident to Rosenthal and writes her a prescription when she mentions that she has run out of painkillers, and Auschlander visits Ellen as she plays with the children, noting that he is still saddened over her split with Craig. Kiem bonds with Gadski as she explains that he has prostate cancer and requires surgery, and he opts to return to his native France for the procedure. Griffin unintentionally gives Chandler an epiphany, and during the sheep's surgery, Craig becomes oddly reflective as he considers the "unconditional love" provided by pets.
Novino and Fiscus play another Halloween-themed prank on Axelrod, and Chandler tells Bermudez that he has easily-treatable clots in his lungs. Johnston tries to reassure Griffin, pointing out that all people are equally in danger from the strange new disease, and Fiscus is reminded of the holiday's grim druid origins when a patient dies in the ER. Craig is left alone with the recuperating sheep as Ehrlich and Wade depart, and Ellen shares fond memories of Steven's childhood Halloweens with Gideon as they leave together. Bermudez panics as his entire room begins to quake, and Chandler later learns that the "otherworldly" oddities were actually caused by magnetic forces from the new MRI machine downstairs and that Bermudez was Gideon's plumber, not his close pal. Craig shows an uncharacteristic affectionate side upon finding that the sheep has lived through the night with the artificial heart, and Kiem ends up comforting a desperately frightened Griffin as he frets about his HIV status. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: October 28, 1987 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:49:19
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:14448
- GENRE: Drama, medical
- SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Drama; Drama, medical
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1982-1988
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Bruce Paltrow … Executive Producer
- Mark Tinker … Executive Producer, Developed by
- Abby Singer … Coordinating Producer
- Channing Gibson … Producer, Writer
- John Tinker … Producer, Writer
- Steven Milkis … Associate Producer
- John Masius … Developed by
- Joshua Brand … Created by
- John Falsey … Created by
- Michael Fresco … Director
- John PiRoman … Writer
- J.A.C. Redford … Music by
- Dave Grusin … Theme Music by
- William Daniels … Cast, Dr. Mark Craig
- Norman Lloyd … Cast, Dr. Daniel Auschlander
- Ronny Cox … Cast, Dr. John Gideon
- Bonnie Bartlett … Cast, Ellen Craig
- Ed Begley Jr. … Cast, Dr. Victor Ehrlich
- Stephen Furst … Cast, Dr. Elliot Axelrod
- Bruce Greenwood … Cast, Dr. Seth Griffin
- Eric Laneuville … Cast, Luther Hawkins
- Sagan Lewis … Cast, Dr. Jacqueline Wade
- Howie Mandel … Cast, Dr. Wayne Fiscus
- David Morse … Cast, Dr. Jack Morrison
- France Nuyen … Cast, Dr. Paulette Kiem
- Cindy Pickett … Cast, Dr. Carol Novino
- Christina Pickles … Cast, Nurse Helen Rosenthal
- Jennifer Savidge … Cast, Nurse Lucy Papandrao
- Denzel Washington … Cast, Dr. Philip Chandler
- Kyle Secor … Cast, Brett Johnston
- Paul Verdier … Cast, Mr. Gadski
- Hector Elias … Cast, Frank Bermudez
- Jason Zahler … Cast, Boy #1
- Christopher Johnston … Cast, Boy #2
- Kevin A. Duffis … Cast, Guard