CHINA BEACH: THE THANKS OF A GRATEFUL NATION (TV)

Summary

One in this drama series set during the Vietnam War, which focuses on the women stationed at China Beach, a combined U.S. Armed Forces hospital and USO recreational facility located near the South China Sea. In this episode, Colleen continues writing to Dodger, sure that he will eventually reply. Back in the States, Dodger struggles to adjust to family life with his parents, wife and son, who seem not to understand the depth of his trauma. He refuses to don his military uniform as he accompanies his family to church, where he then encounters his childhood pal Richard. An evening out with Richard and another friend, Sissy, turns awkward when Dodger reveals that he volunteered to go and Richard states that he intends to refuse if he is drafted, feeling that it is not a "just war." Dodger plays his old trombone and is comforted by his father when he reacts with fright at the sound of a helicopter, and he and Richard nearly come to blows when Richard asks if he can sincerely advise other men to go overseas after experiencing it himself.

At work, Dodger's boss offers to promote him to fry cook, though he states that he enjoys the ease and solitude of dish-washing. He visits Sissy and they peruse their old high school yearbook together, with Sissy explaining that her dreams of becoming a surgeon were altered after the birth of her daughter. Dodger admits that he too "got lost somewhere," and the two spend the night together. Later, Dodger spends time with Richard, who reveals that he was indeed drafted and intends to head for Canada, and he invites Dodger to accompany him. Dodger's father Archie finds him in his treehouse and questions him about his plans for the future, pointing out that Jean cannot care for Dodger's son forever. He vividly describes his own war experience in the Pacific theatre of WWII, leaving Dodger deeply shaken. At the restaurant, he bonds with another veteran, Long, who explains that he has been homeless and wandering since returning to the States, wondering if their sacrifice will ever be truly acknowledged.

Dodger spends time with his son at home, but then heads out and finds Sweetness tending to his pigeons on a rooftop. He describes how he flew home on a plane filled with coffins of soldiers killed in action, angrily demanding to know why he made it back alive when so many others did not. They briefly consider leaping from the roof together, but decide against it and declare their love for one another. He decides to wear his uniform after all as he heads to church again, and he gives Richard his car to aid with his escape to the north. Dodger then visits a cemetery filled with vets' flag-marked graves, and he encourages a nervous young soldier, Wilson, who is soon to ship out. Wilson notes that few visitors come to the graveyard anymore, and Dodger and Richard look out over the many nameless headstones as Dodger emotionally promises never to forget his deceased friends. Includes commercials and promos.

Details

• NETWORK: ABC
• DATE: March 5, 1990 10:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 0:57:41
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: B:17736
• GENRE: Drama, medical
• SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Drama; Drama, medical; Vietnam War
• SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1988-1991
• COMMERCIALS:
  • TV - Commercials - America's Dairy Farmers cheese
  • TV - Commercials - California Raisins
  • TV - Commercials - Comtrex cold medication
  • TV - Commercials - Diet Pepsi soft drinks
  • TV - Commercials - Doritos chips
  • TV - Commercials - Final Net hair spray
  • TV - Commercials - Ford automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Holiday Inn hotels
  • TV - Commercials - Mercury automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Norelco electric razors
  • TV - Commercials - Orville Redenbacher's popcorn
  • TV - Commercials - Pizza Hut restaurants
  • TV - Commercials - Plax mouthwash
  • TV - Commercials - Reach toothbrushes
  • TV - Commercials - Red Lobster restaurants
  • TV - PSA - U.S. Center of Disease Control AIDS information
  • TV - Promos - "20/20"
  • TV - Promos - "A Son's Promise"
  • TV - Promos - "China Beach" upcoming episode
  • TV - Promos - "Columbo"
  • TV - Promos - "Good Morning America"
  • TV - Promos - "H.E.L.P."
  • TV - Promos - "Just the Ten of Us"
  • TV - Promos - "Life Goes On"
  • TV - Promos - "Nightline"
  • TV - Promos - "Primetime Live"
  • TV - Promos - "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home"
  • TV - Promos - "The Hunt for Red October" motion picture
  • TV - Promos - “Perfect Strangers”

CREDITS

• John Sacret Young … Executive Producer, Created by
• Georgia Jeffries … Supervising Producer
• John Wells … Supervising Producer, Writer
• Geno Escarrega … Producer
• Fred Gerber … Producer
• Mimi Leder … Producer, Director
• William Broyles Jr. … Created by
• Paul Chihara … Music by
• John Rubenstein … Theme Music by
• Dana Delany … Cast, Nurse Colleen McMurphy
• Michael Boatman … Cast, Pvt. Samuel Beckett
• Nancy Giles … Cast, Pvt. Frankie Bunsen
• Jeff Kober … Cast, Sgt. Evan 'Dodger' Winslow
• Robert Picardo … Cast, Dr. Dick Richard
• Concetta Tomei … Cast, Maj. Lila Garreau
• Brian Wimmer … Cast, Cpl. Boonie Lanier
• Marg Helgenberger … Cast, K.C. Kolowski
• Tom Bower … Cast, Archie Winslow
• Bobby Hosea … Cast, Sweetness Elroy
• Helen Hunt … Cast, Amanda 'Sissy' Simpson
• Robert Knepper … Cast, Long
• Doug Savant … Cast, Richard
• Penelope Windust … Cast, Jean Winslow
• Michael Griffin … Cast, Soldier (Wilson)
• Arlene Taylor … Cast, Annie Winslow
• Keith Claybrook … Cast, Kid
• Susan Fassig … Cast, Linda
• Lyndsay Riddell … Cast, Jennifer