Leonard, that is not wading, that is swimming!
I do not know if the hospital is covered for this.
- Come on! - No.
Leonard, the tide is coming in.
That is the Periodic Table of Elements -
- I can date my introduction to science by that.
It is wonderful, really ... It is the universe at its essence.
You have your alkaline metals. You have your halogens, your inert gases.
Every element has its place in that order. You cannot change that.
They are secure, no matter what.
You are not married?
Me? No ... I am not very good with people.
I never have been, Leonard ... I like them.
I wish I had more than a rudimentary understanding of them.
Maybe, if they were less unpredictable.
Eleanor would disagree with you.
- Eleanor? - Miss Costello.
She has spoken to you about me?
What did she say?
That you were a kind man. That you care very much for people.
I would like to put the others on the drug. I realise this may be expensive.
- Have you got any idea how expensive? - Yes, I talked to Ray.
I have an estimate ...
The pharmacist says giving all the rest the same dosage as Mr Lowe would be -
- 12,000.
- How much? - $12,000.
A month? I cannot go before the board with that.
How about speaking directly to the patrons?
They already give what they can.
We must convince them to give more than they are accustomed to.
- Perhaps, if they see Mr Lowe. - You overestimate his effect on people.
We are talking about money.
There was an extreme rigidity of the axial musculature.
This is a gross impairment of the postural reflexes.
It is a brain stem type of rigidity. A meningismus.
What is most striking is the profound facial masking -
- which we now know is not to be confused with apathy or catatonia.
Less scientific. Calm down!
Some things could reach him, though.
The mention of his name, notes of a particular piece of music.
The touch of another human being.
But these awakenings were rare and transient, lasting only a moment.
Otherwise he was as you see him here, in a metaphorical, -
- if not physiological, equivalent of sleep. Or even death.
This was his condition when I found him at this hospital -
- and the quality of his life for the last 30 years.
- Now? - Whenever you are ready.
My name is Leonard Lowe.
It has been explained to me that I have been away for quite some time.
I am back.
Here we go. Take her away.
Thank you very much.
- Dr Sayer! - What is it?
It is a fucking miracle.
- Where are my glasses? - On your face.
Can this be so?
I am talking.
I am walking ... Who are you?
Thank you for coming. Things are a little different today.
I ... I had the strangest dream.
I have to take your blood pressure.
I have been sitting for 25 years, you missed your chance.
Are you okay?
- I need some make-up. - Okay, we can take care of that.
And some dye for my hair ... black.
- Black? Rose, are you sure? - Yes, it has always been black.
Dr Sayer, something about fruit trees.
- Prune the fruit trees. - I will.
I want a steak, rare. Mashed potatoes and gravy. String beans.
I was aware of things, but nothing meant anything to me.
It was no connection to me. There was a war or two.
This morning I went to the bathroom all by myself.
I think I liked them better the other way.
Rolando, can you speak to me? It is Miss Costello.
Do you understand me?
- Lucy ... What year is it? - What year is it?
It is '26, silly.
Come on, Miriam, be a sport.
“Like crowds storming the Bastille, the Mighty Mets stormed their locker room -
- on their night to remember.
And touched off one of the loudest, wildest, -
- wettest victory celebrations in baseball history.
Released from ridicule after seven destitute seasons, they raised the roof.”
- Hi, Sydney. - Hi.
- Will we go to the same place? - Actually, I do not know.
Everybody stay together!
- Bring Leonard back. - Anthony, will you get Leonard?
Everyone, please stay with the group.
- How is my father doing? - The same.
- Mum, maybe you should not go. - Of course, I want to go.
You cannot be there, Leonard, or the door will not close.
- I do not understand. Sydney is going. - He is a patient.
- Not the same kind of patient. - He is still a patient, you are not.
- I am your mother. - Are there any other mothers going?
What have you done to your hair?
- It is a tire. - I know ... I am not an idiot.
- You treat me like an asshole. - We will take care of that.
- Are you ready?
- Why? What is wrong? - I am okay, I just ...
Wave.
Doctor, come on!
Are you sure? Are you all right?
I am fine, I will see you later. Have a good time.
Hi ... Meatloaf, please.
- Meatloaf. - Meatloaf, too.
Are you following me?
I am sorry, I was only kidding. I saw you upstairs just now.
- Are you visiting someone? - No.
You work here.
I live here.
You are a patient?
You do not look like a patient.
I do not?
I have always loved carnegia.
Dr Sayer ... Did you choose this place?
- Why? - I always come here.
It is a nice place, but after the first hour, it loses something.
- Anthony thinks the group is bored. - They are.
I thought about taking them to the Opera House ...
Or the Museum of Natural History?
No ... There are a lot of dead, stuffed things there.
Where else is there?
- Is it legal again? - Yes, for some time.
Ladies, what can I get you?
A Rob Roy on the rocks.
Make that a virgin Rob Roy.
I work night shifts at this diner.
Sometimes before work I come to see my father.
He used to go to all the games, so I like to read him the sports pages.
I do not know if he knows I visit him. My mother does not think so.
But, you do.
Sometimes I think I see something ... I think I see a change.
And for a moment, I see him like he was before the stroke.
And then it is gone; I am not sure I saw anything. Does that make any sense?
Yes.
So, why are you here?
- I receive medication. - For what?
Without it, I am sort of like your father.
- But I am okay now. - That is good.
I was so sure he wanted overeasy with bacon, wheat toast, black coffee -
- I brought him his food without taking his order.
He just said: “You forgot the tomato.”
We were out of them. That is why I did not give him one.
- It was really nice talking to you.
- Paula? - Yes.
He knows ... Your father knows you visit him.
Doctor, these are my friends.
Is he not the cat's meow?
Miriam, I do not know how to say this, so I will just say it ...
Your husband -
- was granted a divorce from you in 1953.
Thank God!
Look at that! Pontiac Firebird, 400 engine ... Now, that is a car, man.
- Lucy, may I have your hand? - Take me away from this place.
- Wrong. It is here. - I guess I lose.
I guess your luck is changing ... Very nice.
- How is it going? - How is it going?
Yes, how do you feel?
Well, my parents are dead, my wife is in an institution, -
- my son has disappeared out West somewhere ...
I feel old and I feel swindled. That is how I feel.
I stopped by the hobby shop and got more pencils.
And I got this ...
A small T-square.
I can use that, yes.
That is really nice.
- I will be right back. - Leonard?
He never talked about girls before.
He certainly never had anything to do with them.
It is a bit ridiculous, all this girl business. Do you not think so?
He is a grown man.
He said I should take a vacation. Go away for a few days and relax.
I am sure he meant you deserve a vacation, which you do.
I cannot leave him alone in this place. He would die without me.
Girls!
Hello? ... Dr Sayer? I have to talk to you.
Leonard?
I think it is important some things were said. I just have to talk to you.
What kind of things?
Things that matter, that have happened to me. Things I now understand.
- Where are you calling from? - Your office.
- It is very late. - Is it?
- You stay there, I will be right over. - Good.
- Dr Sayer, sit down. - Why? What is wrong?
We have to tell everybody. We have to remind them how good it is.
How good what is, Leonard?
Read the newspaper. What does it say? It is all bad.
People have forgotten what life is all about. What it is to be alive.
They need to be reminded of what they have and what they can lose.
What I feel is the joy of life, the gift of life, the freedom of life!
He says that people do not appreciate the simple things.
Work, play, friendship ... family.
He was so excited he talked until 5 o'clock in the morning.
- Is it liberation, mania ... - Or love?
Yes. What he is saying is right, though. We do not know how to live.
But at 5 in the morning!
- Waheedah ... How are you? - I am fine.
- Mr Lowe, are you all right? - Yes.
- What is it that you want? - The simplest thing.
And that is?
To go for a walk if I want to, like any normal person.
- You are free to go for a walk. - I am? Alone?
What difference would it make?
Look, I am not a criminal. I have committed no crime, -
- I am not a danger to myself or others. But I am not allowed to walk by myself.
You did not wake a thing, you woke a person ... I am a person.
Are you aware of the unconscious hostility you exhibit towards us?
How can I be aware, if it is unconscious?
I am curious. What would you do if you went out?
I would go for a walk, look at things, talk to people.
Decide which direction I want to go. All the things that you take for granted.
- And that is it? - That is it.
All right ... we will take this into consideration, and we will let you know.
- Are you all right? - Yes, it was nothing, I was nervous.
What did they say?
That there was insufficient data at this time -
- and that continued observation was necessary for a diagnosis.
It is a different world out there that you may not be prepared for.
They could not be held responsible for what might happen to you.
They said no.
- And what did you say? - They do not have to listen to me.
Did you agree with them?
Yes.
I am not sure we are out of the woods yet and that this ... is nothing.
It is an experimental drug; we need time to evaluate things before ...
- Leonard, where are you going? - For a walk.
This is Dr Sayer ...
-Where are you going? - I am going outside.
Patients are not allowed beyond this point.
Do not make it hard on yourself.
I just want to go for a walk!
He is not a mental patient, this is unnecessary. Let him go!
Please, he is not violent!
I do not understand it, he was never any trouble before.
He was quiet, polite and respectful. He never demanded anything.
- He was never disobedient. - Because he was catatonic, Mrs Lowe.
I am speaking of when he was a boy.
I am sorry.
I do not know who that is up there. I do not think he knows.
You turned him into something he is not.
It is not us that are defective, it is them. We are not in crisis, they are!
We have been through the worst and survived it. They fear it.
Because they know.
They know! They know!
Because we ... remind them -
- that there is a problem -
- which they do not have an answer to.
They will never be healers until they realise this and see the problem.
Until they admit there is a problem, and that the problem is not us.
We are not the problem, they are the problem!
He has not been able to release anger for 30 years.
- As the others. - I think his behaviour is more natural.
You think his tics and paranoia are signs of normal behaviour?
Yes, because he is in this place ... We wake him up and lock him in a cage.
That is not paranoia; that is a fact.
I have 20 psychotics refusing to eat, who have no idea why they are doing so.
- How long should that go on? - He knows why. He wants out.
Mr Lowe is not the Messiah of Ward 5. He is a man in trouble.
He was not resurrected, he was given a drug by you.
A drug which is not all that miraculous.
- The others are fine ... - He has been on it longer.
I sympathise with him -
- but I will not let him endanger the health of the other patients.
- Excuse me. - We cannot allow it.
He is all right.
- How are you today? - I am all right.
- How are you? - Never better.
- What is the purpose of these gentlemen? - These gentlemen protect me.
- I wish I did not need them. - Someone is trying to hurt you? Who?
That is the thing, is it not? Who? One never knows.
Someone I least expect. Look at history.
Every patient on this ward thinks there is a plot against him.
They are mistaken, they are crazy.
You have got worse.
The drug is not working. All you are experiencing are the side effects, -
- they make you behave this way.
I appreciate you coming to see me, but I have things to do.
Please, look at yourself.
No, look at yourself! I have a sickness.
Sickness took me out of this world, and I fought to get back.
I fought for 30 years, and I am still fighting.
But you ...
You have no excuse, you are just a scared and lonely man with nothing!
No life, nothing! You are the one that is asleep.
Your medicine could be taken away ... They can do that.
You can wake up in the morning and it will not be there.
Get away from me!
I am all right. Thank you.
I just fell.
Help me.
Can you walk?
I will not let them take the medicine away. We will work together.
He has had a reaction to the drug. He has tics.
He is not concerned with his appearance -
- but with how it will affect the other patients.
We will work on his dosage; he is prepared for any effects.
He wants the others to be prepared. You have to help me with this.
- Hi, Leonard. Welcome back. - Thank you.
- How are you doing? - Are you all right?
- It got so quiet round here. - Because we were waiting for you.
You are looking good, Len, better every day.
What if he has just had enough of it?
What if it is just a matter of time for all of us?
There is no medical reason to think what happens to him will happen to you.
Why not?
You are all individuals ... And you are well, are you not?
That was lovely, Lucy.
I learned that song a long, long time ago.
I know what year it is.
I just cannot imagine being older than twenty-two.
I have no experience at it.
I know it is not 1926.
I just need it to be.
- How are you, Leonard? - Never better.
How are the others? Are they talking about me?
- They are scared. - They should be.
- Can you stop this? - I am not sure, but I am trying.
- Do not give up on me. - I will not.
425, yes.
I got a postcard from my son.
I am all right, and then everything stops.
There is no warning, it is like a light switch going off.
Something has to bring me back. A sound, a touch, -
- and then I can move again, I am okay again.
It is not that I feel bad, it is just that I feel nothing.
It is as if I am dead. Nothing.
It is as if I am not a person anymore. Just a collection of tics.
Not that I mind them. Sometimes they make life interesting.
I am not sure who is in control, me or them, but they should not be there.
Up to 5.
Just a little more ...
It feels good when I am working. I feel good here.
- The book list is coming along well. - I would love to see it.
That is all right, another time.
- What is happening? - You have an oculogyric crisis.
Get the camera!
I cannot do this ... I will turn the camera off.
No! Watch, watch!
Learn, learn, learn ... Learn for me.
Let us see ... 625.
- 675, just ... - Okay.
I cannot read anymore! I cannot keep my eyes in one place.
I keep going back to the beginning, the beginning ...
- I have let everybody down. - No.
I have let you down. I have, I am grotesque.
You are not. I will not listen to this.
I am grotesque. Look at me and tell me I am not!
You are not.
This is not me!
When my son was born healthy, I never asked why.
Why was I so lucky? Had I deserved this perfect child? This perfect life?
But when he got sick, you can bet I asked why, I demanded to know why.
Why was this happening? There was nothing I could do about it.
No one I could go to and say: “Stop this. Please, stop this.”
“Can you not see my son is in pain?”
My son is in pain. Please, stop this!
- He is fighting. - He is losing.
I worked ... had friends over, went dancing. That is about it.
That is great. I have never done any of those things.
You will.
They will never let me out of this place ... and they should not.
I am still not well ... as you can see.
I feel well when I see you.
I will not ... see you anymore.
I just want to say goodbye.
Is that not sweet?
- Now? - Whenever you are ready.
My name is Leonard Lowe. I now know I have been away for quite a while.
I am back.
- What is it like to be back? - I thought it was a dream at first.
When did you realise it was not?
When I spoke and you understood me.
You told him I was a kind man.
How kind is it to give life ... only to take it away again?
It is given and taken away from all of us.
Why does that not comfort me?
Because you are a kind man.
Because he is your friend.
The summer was extraordinary. A season of rebirth and innocence. A miracle.
Fifteen patients and for us, their caretakers.
But now, we have to adjust to the realities of miracles.
We can hide behind science and say it was the drug that failed.
Or that the illness itself had returned.
Or the patients unable to cope with losing decades of their lives.
The reality is ... we do not know what went wrong or what went right.
What we do know is as the chemical window closed -
- another awakening took place.
That the human spirit is more powerful than any drug.
That is what needs to be nourished.
With work, play, friendship, family.
These are the things that matter.
This is what we had forgotten.
The simplest things.
- Well ... Goodnight. - Goodnight.
- Eleanor? - Yes?
What is wrong?
I was wondering what you are doing tonight? If you have other plans ...
No, I was ...
- You have no plans? - No, I have no ...
I was wondering if you ... we ... you and I could ...
If we could ... go for a cup of coffee?
Yes, I would love to.
- My car is over here. - What do you say we just walk?
Let us begin.