STEPHEN KING'S KINGDOM HOSPITAL: THY KINGDOM COME {EPISODE 1} (TV)
Summary
The premiere in this thirteen-part miniseries, developed by Stephen King and based on Lars von Trier's "The Kingdom," about ghostly happenings experienced by staff and visitors at a hospital in Lewiston, Maine. The program begins with the narrator discussing how a Civil War army uniform mill existed on the site 150 years ago. When the mill burned down in 1869, some of the workers -- mostly child laborers -- did not escape. Years later, a hospital called "the Old Kingdom" was built on the land, and also burned. "The New Kingdom" hospital replaced it, and the narrator suggests that the ground on which the current structure stands is "still uneasy." After a slight tremor disrupts the elevators, hospital security guard Otto thinks he sees a young girl on a surveillance monitor. Just then, Dr. Hook arrives, bringing Otto a soda. Meanwhile, famous painter Peter Rickman kisses his wife Natalie goodbye before setting off on a jog. While running alongside the road, Peter is struck by a van driven by Dave Hooman, who was distracted by his dog Charlie. Freaked, Dave decides to flee the scene without helping the barely conscious Peter. While he lays there, a crow lands on Peter's chest. Then, a giant anteater -- much like one Peter had been painting -- moves toward him, seemingly able to talk. The beast drags Peter out of a ditch and into the road.
Later, a truck driver finds Peter, who thinks he might be paralyzed and is unable to talk. The truck driver alerts the police and EMTs, who rush to save Peter's life as rain begins to pour. Dr. Hook helps talk EMT workers Danny and Ollie through initial steps to save Peter. While being driven in the ambulance, Peter sees Mary, the same ghostly girl that Otto saw. Upon reaching Kingdom Hospital, Peter is immediately put under the care of Dr. Hook. As the doctors work on Peter's brain, he feels as if he is in a dream. Meanwhile, neurosurgeon Dr. Christine Draper meets with psychic Sally Druse, who is having some "pins and needles" symptoms in her hand. Otto wheels Sally to the elevator, where she hears the calls of a young girl. Back in the operation room, Dr. Hook and his colleagues notice that Peter's brain seems to be healing itself at "warp speed." At the same time, Dr. Jesse James, Kingdom's chief of staff, is informed by Dr. Brenda Abelson about the comatose Peter's current status. She also informs Jesse that the Rickmans are "filthy rich" and could potentially help the hospital one day. Meanwhile, Natalie begins wondering why Peter has yet to return home, until she sees a news report on the accident. Back at the hospital, orderly Bobby Druse brings his mother, Sally, some candles and a meal. At the same time, Abel and Christa, Down's Syndrome-affected orderlies who appear to have psychic abilities, do the dishes while intuiting that Natalie has just arrived. Jesse intercepts Natalie, informing her that Peter is stable. As Natalie tries to speak with Peter, he dreams of walking through the empty hospital and seeing "the other one," Paul.
Meanwhile, Sally speaks with elderly patient Lenny, telling him how she is beginning to think the hospital is haunted. Later, Dr. Hook reveals the extent of Peter's injuries to a weepy Natalie, stating that he may be permanently paralyzed. Dr. Hook believes there is an "infinitesimal" chance that Peter will one day be the same. Meanwhile, Dave throws back pills and watches game shows in his home, unable to forget about his hit-and-run accident from earlier in the day. He blames Charlie for causing the crash before sensing someone in his presence. He searches his house, but finds nothing, not noticing the anteater lurking outside. The next morning, Bobby tells his hypochondriac mother that she needs to stop coming to the hospital, complaining of ailments. Sally claims that she is truly ill before undergoing an MRI. Meanwhile, Dr. Stegman nearly causes several accidents as he drives to work before facing the taunts of some homeless people. At a staff meeting, the doctors discuss their current cases. Christine mentions that she ordered an MRI for Sally, a procedure which Brenda insists must be first OK'd by Dr. Stegman. Meanwhile, a frazzled Dr. Stegman continues being taunted by the homeless after he trips over a fissure in the parking lot. Dr. Stegman goes to maintenance to try to get the crack fixed, but he only finds the incompetent Earl Swinton sitting in for the errant Johnny B. Goode. At the same time, Sally again hears voices in the elevator, exacerbated as the top of the elevator opens up while she's trapped inside it. Sally rings the alarm bell, though telling all spirits that she is not afraid. As security goes searching for her, Sally tries to stay calm.
At the same time, Dr. Elmer Traff tries to volunteer to take part in Dr. Lona Massingill's sleep lab study. Eventually, Dr. Stegman arrives at the staff meeting, claiming it shouldn't have started until he was present. Immediately, Dr. Hook begins discussing Peter's case. Dr. Stegman is upset to hear that Sally has already had an MRI. He calls Dr. Hook insubordinate and arrogant and storms out of the meeting. Meanwhile, Peter continues dreaming of wandering through the hospital and of the events surrounding his accident. He also dreams about the anteater, Mary, and Paul. Slowly, Peter begins getting some movement in his fingers and is able to speak. He sees the anteater, who encourages him to tell Dr. Hook and Sally about Mary. Peter calls for Natalie, who is shocked to see that he is not paralyzed. Abel realizes that Peter is back from the "Old Kingdom." Just then, another tremor hits, this one larger than before. Dr. Hook says Peter has experienced "a miracle." The narrator notes, however, that there are prices to be paid for miracles. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: March 3, 2004 Wednesday 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:56:39
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:82723
- GENRE: Drama, mystery/suspense
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, mystery/suspense; Drama, fantasy/science fiction; Ghosts; Hospitals
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 2004
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - "Dawn of the Dead" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - "Duplex" home video
- TV - Commercials - "Hidalgo" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - "Secret Window" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - "Taking Lives" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - "The Ladykillers" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - "The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - "Twisted" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - "Walking Tall" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - 24 Hour Fitness center
- TV - Commercials - ABC for a better community
- TV - Commercials - Advil pain reliever
- TV - Commercials - Air Wick air fresheners
- TV - Commercials - Avis rental cars
- TV - Commercials - Burger King restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Chevrolet automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Citi cards
- TV - Commercials - Colgate toothbrushes
- TV - Commercials - Denta Stix dog treats
- TV - Commercials - Dunkin' Donuts coffee
- TV - Commercials - Elidel eczema cream
- TV - Commercials - Energizer batteries
- TV - Commercials - Hyundai automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Lenscrafters eyewear
- TV - Commercials - Milky Way candy bars
- TV - Commercials - Nextel walkie-talkies
- TV - Commercials - Nissan automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Office Depot stores
- TV - Commercials - Olive Garden restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Pedigree Weight Loss dog food
- TV - Commercials - Pizza Hut restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Radio Shack stores
- TV - Commercials - ReMax real estate
- TV - Commercials - Rolaids heartburn relief
- TV - Commercials - Slim Fast weight loss programs
- TV - Commercials - TGIFriday's restaurants
- TV - Commercials - The National Drug Control Policy
- TV - Commercials - Toyota automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Valtrex genital herpes medication
- TV - Commercials - Verizon wireless
- TV - Commercials - Victoria's Secret bras
- TV - Commercials - Visiting Nurse Associations of America
- TV - Commercials - Volkswagen automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Zoloft depression medication
- TV - Promos - "20/20"
- TV - Promos - "Alias"
- TV - Promos - "Extreme Makeover"
- TV - Promos - "Extreme Makeover Home Edition"
- TV - Promos - "Frequency"
- TV - Promos - "George Lopez"
- TV - Promos - "Hope & Faith"
- TV - Promos - "Jimmy Kimmel Live"
- TV - Promos - "Judas"
- TV - Promos - "Life With Bonnie"
- TV - Promos - "Married to the Kellys"
- TV - Promos - "NYPD Blue"
- TV - Promos - "Nightline"
- TV - Promos - "Primetime Thursday: Women, Bravery and Survival"
- TV - Promos - "The Big House"
- TV - Promos - "The D.A."
- TV - Promos - "The Practice"
CREDITS
- Mark Carliner … Executive Producer
- Stephen King … Executive Producer, Developed by, Writer
- von Trier, Lars … Executive Producer, Based on the mini-series "The Kingdom" written by
- Richard Dooling … Producer
- Thomas H. Brodek … Producer
- Robert F. Phillips … Producer
- Lisa Henson … Producer
- Janet Yang … Producer
- Bruce Dunn … Co-Producer
- Mary Anne Waterhouse … Co-Producer
- Craig R. Baxley … Director
- Niels Vorsel … Based on the mini-series "The Kingdom" written by
- Gary Chang … Music by
- Andrew McCarthy … Cast, Dr. Hook
- Bruce Davison … Cast, Dr. Stegman
- Diane Ladd … Cast, Sally Druse
- Brandon Bauer … Cast, Abel Lyon
- Jack Coleman … Cast, Peter Rickman
- Jennifer Cunningham … Cast, Christa
- Meagen Fay … Cast, Dr. Brenda Abelson
- Jodelle Micah Ferland … Cast, Mary Jensen
- Lena Georgas … Cast, Carrie von Trier
- Jamie Harrold … Cast, Dr. Elmer Traff
- Allison Hossack … Cast, Dr. Christine Draper
- Suki Kaiser … Cast, Natalie Rickman
- Sherry Miller … Cast, Dr. Lona Massingale
- Del Pentecost … Cast, Bobby Druse
- Julian Richings … Cast, Otto
- Kett Turton … Cast, Paul
- William Wise … Cast, Dr. Louis Traff
- Ed Begley … Cast, Dr. Jesse James
- Beverley Elliott … Cast, Brick Bannerman
- Antony Holland … Cast, Lenny Stillmach
- Claudette Mink … Cast, Celeste Daldry
- Ty Olsson … Cast, Danny
- Benjamin Ratner … Cast, Ollie
- Ryan Robbins … Cast, Dave Hooman
- Zak Santiago … Cast, Dr. Sonny Gupta
- Ron Selmour … Cast, Firecracker Man
- Charles Martin Smith … Cast, Earl Swinton
- Janet Wright … Cast, Liz Hinton
- Richard Zeman … Cast, Deputy Downs
- Mark Brandon … Cast, Game Show Host
- Penelope Corrin … Cast, Julie
- Cameron Cowles … Cast, Sid
- Lorena Gale … Cast, MRI Tech
- Allan Grant … Cast, Game Show Guest
- Bill Meilen … Cast, Narrator
- Tygh Runyan … Cast, Idler #2
- Jerry Rector … Cast, Crow
- Peter Shinkoda … Cast, Anesthesiologist
- Wanda Sturtevant … Cast, Nurse Elsa/Neuro Nurse
- Emily Tennant … Cast, Mona Kingerman
- Don Thompson … Cast, Soda Pop