Awakening

In a Bronx hospital, Dr. Malcolm Sayer dedicates himself to patients who survived the encephalitis lethargica outbreak years earlier. He observes the persistent catatonia and experiments with sensory stimulation to elicit responses. His early work hints at the possibility of returning some patients to reality through simple, human interactions.

A trial on Leonard Lowe following Sayer's interest in L-DOPA yields a dramatic awakening. Leonard's eyes open and he begins to respond to stimuli, signaling a potential breakthrough. The moment sparks cautious optimism for the rest of the patients.

As Leonard responds, other catatonic patients begin to awaken one by one, guided by the same sensory cues. The ward fills with flickers of movement, speech, and recognition after years of silence. The hospital celebrates the initial wave of awakenings.

Leonard discovers a way to communicate with Sayer using a Ouija board, revealing his inner thoughts and hopes. The device becomes a poignant bridge between the awakenings and the patients’ lived experiences. Sayer grows to understand the depth of their world.

Sayer attends a medical conference where the success of L-DOPA in similar cases is discussed. He becomes convinced that the drug could offer lasting benefits for his patients. The talk solidifies his plan to pursue funding for a broader treatment program.

Following Leonard's awakening, Sayer appeals to donors for funding to treat all catatonic patients with L-DOPA. The appeal emphasizes both medical hope and ethical responsibility. The hospital begins planning a broader trial.

Leonard adapts to his new life and becomes romantically involved with Paula, the daughter of another patient. He presses for the freedom to come and go, clashing with hospital restrictions. His vitality grows, but so do his tics and restlessness.

Despite initial gains, Leonard shows signs of decline as tics intensify and his mobility deteriorates. His once-smooth awakening becomes a struggle with full-body spasms. The optimistic phase gives way to a harsher reality about the limits of the treatment.

Even as his condition worsens, Leonard requests that Sayer film his experience to contribute to future research. He remains resolute and hopeful that his story might help others. The moment underscores the therapeutic power of meaning and documentation.

Leonard shares a final meal with Paula and confesses he can no longer see her, yet she invites him to dance. The couple’s moment of connection brings a temporary calm as his spasms stop briefly. Afterward, Leonard returns to a catatonic state.

One by one, the other awakenings fade despite increasing L-DOPA doses. The patients drift back into catatonia, tempering the initial euphoria with a sober sense of the treatment's limits. Staff must adjust care and expectations accordingly.

Dr. Sayer addresses the hospital donors, noting that the awakenings were fleeting but sparked a deeper appreciation for life among the patients. He overcomes his shyness, asking Nurse Costello for coffee, signaling personal growth. Paula continues visiting Leonard, maintaining a connection through the Ouija board.