High Anxiety

Dr. Richard Thorndyke arrives at Los Angeles International Airport, where he is immediately met with a series of strange encounters. He first encounters a flasher pretending to be a police officer, highlighting the oddities awaiting him in this new city.

Thorndyke's driver, Brophy, takes him to the eerie Psycho-Neurotic Institute for the Very, Very Nervous. Thorndyke is replacing the mysteriously deceased Dr. Ashley, an event that Brophy suspects could be more sinister than it appears.

Upon his arrival at the institute, Thorndyke meets various staff members including Dr. Philip Wentworth, Dr. Charles Montague, and Nurse Charlotte Diesel. He also reunites with Professor Vicktor Lillolman, a figure from his past who offers much-needed support.

Thorndyke becomes intrigued by mysterious noises coming from Diesel's room and enlists Brophy to investigate. They discover that the sounds are not from a TV as Diesel claimed, but are the result of a BDSM session between Montague and Diesel.

The next morning, Thorndyke notices a strange bright light coming from the violent ward. Montague explains that the source of the light is Arthur Brisbane, a patient who believes he is a Cocker Spaniel, leading Thorndyke to ponder the nature of treatment at the institute.

A conflict arises when Wentworth expresses his desire to leave the institute, which leads to a heated argument with Nurse Diesel. Tragically, Wentworth’s departure results in a freak accident caused by an explosion of rock music, resulting in his untimely death.

Thorndyke and Brophy travel to San Francisco for a psychiatric convention. Upon arrival at the Hyatt Regency, Thorndyke discovers that his reservation has been mysteriously altered, placing him in an unusual top-floor room.

While at the hotel, Victoria Brisbane bursts into Thorndyke's room, desperately seeking help to rescue her father from the institute. She informs him that Diesel and Montague are exploiting patients for financial gain, escalating the stakes.

Thorndyke realizes that the patient he met was not the real Arthur but a decoy. He deduces that Dr. Ashley discovered Diesel and Montague’s scheme, which led to his demise, igniting Thorndyke's resolve to assist Victoria in uncovering the truth.

Diesel and Montague attempt to thwart Thorndyke by employing 'Braces', a sinister figure tasked with impersonating him to carry out a murder. Thorndyke finds himself in a precarious situation where he must prove his innocence.

Brophy manages to take a photograph that reveals the truth about the shooting incident, but he then gets captured by Diesel and Montague. His rescue from the North Wing becomes essential as the plot thickens, and he becomes a pawn in their sinister game.

Thorndyke faces off against 'Braces' at a phone booth, leading to a violent conflict. In an act of self-defense, he stabs 'Braces' with a shard of glass, marking a turning point in his journey for justice.

Thorndyke and Victoria return to Los Angeles to rescue Brophy, who remains in danger at the institute. They discover Diesel and Montague’s plan to take the real Arthur Brisbane to a tower, setting the stage for the final confrontation.

Thorndyke's crippling anxiety becomes a major hurdle as he faces treacherous stairs in the tower to save Brisbane. Encouraged by Professor Lillolman, he overcomes his fears and successfully performs a daring rescue.

In a climactic showdown, Diesel attacks Thorndyke but ultimately falls off the cliff as he evades her. With Montague incapacitated, Thorndyke ensures the safety of Brisbane, culminating in a joyful reunion between father and daughter, followed by Thorndyke's marriage to Victoria.