Committed

Excuse me, Paul.

Mmm-hmm.

I canceled all the patients, like you asked me to.

But, uh, you're so backed up

that I had to reschedule some of them in the evening next week.

It doesn't matter.

Paul, are you all right?

You've been listening to that for hours.

It's my favorite Bach concerto.

Look, why don't we go out and get something to eat?

Maybe go to a movie? You haven't eaten anything all day.

Paul?

Here. This is for you.

What is it?

It's your letter of recommendation to work at the Institute.

They're looking for a good nurse.

Dr. Quilly's Institute.

It's a fantastic opportunity for you, Susan.

Dr. Magnus Quilly is a legend.

His work with schizophrenics is revolutionary.

Well, I know, but...

But you're just as good, and I wanna work with you.

The Institute is too far away. We wouldn't be able to see each other. How would we...

No! No! Stop, Susan!

Susan, I'm sorry.

It's just that I...

I can't do this anymore.

You can't do what?

Nothing makes any sense.

Maybe you should see a psychiatrist.

I want you to leave.

I was just kidding.

Paul. Did I do something...

It's got nothing to do with you!

Damn it, Susan, please, just leave!

Paul, I love you. Don't you know that?

I love you!

Are you gonna leave, or do I have to throw you out?

Oh, Paul, just talk to me. Please, just tell me...

You've got to leave! Paul, don't!

Let go of my... Paul!

Paul! Paul, open the door!

Paul, please, please, open the door!

Paul!

No! Paul!

Paul, please!

Paul, please!

No! Paul!

Paul!

Fairfield County, ma'am.

Hmm?

Hi.

I'm Susan Manning. I hope you're here to meet me.

Yes.

Good. Hop in.

You know I thought it was gonna rain.

Ah, the weather changes pretty fast in these parts.

It's hot.

Yup.

So, you're the new nurse.

If Dr. Quilly approves my credentials.

Oh, he will.

Why is that?

It's not easy to get new nurses way up here.

Oh.

Miss Manning?

Yes.

Come with me.

So, how many patients do you have here?

No patients here.

What?

Guests.

Yes. Well, are you one of the...

I'm Jones, head of security.

Don't let my title bother you.

I'm here for safety, both guests and staff.

We do have rules. You will let me know of any violators.

I am responsible.

Of course.

It's good to have a cooperative nurse this time.

Ms. Donnymead will show you around.

Who? Ms. Donnymead.

Administrative assistant to Dr. Quilly.

At least, she likes to be called that.

People like titles around here.

You mean, like, um, head of security?

You're lovely, Miss Manning!

But then the superintendent, Dr. Quilly, said you would be.

He claims to have an intuition about phone voices.

Ms. Donnymead's affection for Dr. Quilly gets out of hands sometimes.

Thank you, Mr. Jones. We'll meet you in the games room.

Come with me.

This is our games room.

Guests, this is Nurse Manning,

and she's come by to say hello.

Hello. Thank you.

I look forward to the opportunity of

getting to know all of you better.

Make yourself comfortable and I'll be back as soon as Dr. Quilly is ready.

Oh! Good morning.

No time to chitchat, Nurse.

The world Olympics are soon gonna be upon us.

Hello.

Hi.

This is an exact replica of the Fokker 33A.

I made these.

This little Fokker is the same plane

that Baron Von Richtofen flew

and was shot down in June 17th, 1918.

Would you like to see it fly?

Sure.

And, look, I even made a little pilot to go inside.

That's very nice. Very nice.

Thank you. You're welcome.

...and through a field of roses to a many towered Camelot.

You're a poet.

No. It's a voice exercise.

Oh.

But I am a poet.

I just love those hydrangeas.

You know that you can make them pink or blue or white

just depending on what plant food you give them.

It's just such fun to...

Hello, ladies.

The man with the baseball cap, is he a patient?

I mean, a guest.

Oh, no. No, that's Dr. Desmond Moore.

He's more or less second in command to Dr. Quilly.

He's an angel. He's an Adonis.

But he's very professional.

When I think about him I get wet.

Dr. Quilly, this is Susan Manning.

Of course. Welcome, welcome!

I'm so happy you found us.

Thank you, Doctor. Won't you sit down?

How about a nice cup of tea?

Oh, please.

Ms. Donnymead, would you be kind?

Again, Miss Manning, my condolences on your loss.

Oh, I appreciate that, Doctor.

I think it's almost an obscenity

for a psychiatrist to commit suicide.

Why any more than anyone else?

Because of our responsibilities.

Can you imagine the effect of a suicide on a doctor's patients?

Yes.

Not now, Henry. I'm busy.

He's a brilliant make-up man.

Quite comfortable to play anybody but himself.

Have you kept in touch with your family and your friends?

That can be a comfort, you know?

No. I really wanted to get my life organized first.

I have my credentials here.

Oh, there's no real need for that.

Here at the Institute we believe people are who they say they are.

Now, Nurse, if you are to be with us

I must ask that you put aside any preconditioned attitudes

you may have as to the treatment of the insane.

Oh, Dr. Quilly, a man with your reputation doesn't have to explain originality.

Well, our theories are deceptively simple.

Our guests...

Well, they have fantasies that are not accepted

in the so-called outside, real, sane world.

But here, under extreme controlled situations,

we allow them to act out their fantasies

as if they were totally sane.

Yes. I met some of your guests earlier.

And we have found that if they get to exercise these fantasies,

after a time they no longer need them.

Now, I realize that takes a while,

but there are no sudden therapies for the mad,

so here at the Institute no one is mad.

Uh, would you be willing to dress as a nurse?

That's your prerogative.

I really want this opportunity.

Then I take it, Miss Manning,

that you are prepared to commit to the Institute and all its values?

Not only to the Institute, but to all its people.

Ah!

Now I really believe you understand us.

However, I will need a commitment.

Your commitment.

You have it.

Done and done.

There is, I'm afraid, some boring paper work.

Your withholding thing, your RN registration number and more ad nauseam.

Such a gigantic bureaucracy for such a small formality.

It's just as bad at home.

Ms. Donnymead will fill in all the details

from that letter you sent us. Why don't you just sign here?

Ms. Donnymead's swamped with paper work.

I can't tell you how excited I am.

Uh, do you have a phone that I could use? Collect, of course.

I want to call my family and tell them I'm all right,

very all right, productive again.

I'm sorry, I'm afraid we cannot have that.

I promise it's collect.

Miss Manning, you are not ready yet

to upset your family and friends, not at all ready.

Don't forget you have just committed yourself.