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00:00My name is Conrad Steiner. I'm a doctor of medicine. Tonight's story has the title, Red
00:10Christmas.
00:11Guardian of birth, healer of the sick, comforter of the aged. To the profession of medicine,
00:26to the men and women who labor in its cause, this story is dedicated.
00:40Our presentation tonight, the field of surgery. More specifically, the field of neurosurgery.
00:45The object in point, a piece of red paper. The case in point, Frances Monaghan. Her story
00:53concerns a threat to human life about which a medical doctor can do little or nothing.
00:57He can only prepare for it and then do his best to repair the damage inflicted. At this
01:02hour in hospitals all over the nation, hundreds of doctors are standing by to meet this particular
01:06threat. They know it's coming, but there's little they can do to stop it. This is the
01:11story of one of those doctors.
01:24Max A. Conrad, M.D., resident physician, neurosurgery, General Hospital. Tonight, he's expecting
01:29trouble. He won't be disappointed.
01:51Wake up, Rosie. Daddy's home.
01:55From where?
01:56Dinner.
01:58What's the calorie clinic serving tonight?
02:01I had the vegetable plate. Poached egg was very tasty.
02:06Your imagination is running riot. There is no such thing as a tasty poached egg.
02:12Doctor?
02:15How about the boy? Did you get the x-rays on him yet?
02:18Mm-hmm. Checked him all over. No fractures of the ribcage. A few contusions, that's all.
02:24We sutured the scalp laceration.
02:26You okay for discharge?
02:28I'm ready to go. Signed out.
02:30Doctor?
02:38How you doing, son?
02:40I'm doing all right. Where's my mom? I want to go home.
02:44Your mother's waiting just outside. You'll be going in a few minutes, Jerry.
02:48You said just what the nurse said. It's not right.
02:52Oh? What isn't right?
02:54You called me the wrong name. My name ain't Jerry.
02:58I was just reading your chart. It says your name's Jerome Adams.
03:02Yes, sir. That's right.
03:04Do people call you Jerry sometimes?
03:06No, sir. My name is Jerome. That's the only thing they call me. Just Jerome.
03:13Jerry's my brother's name.
03:16Well, all right, Jerome.
03:18Next time you're out riding your bike, don't try to go through any brick walls. Okay?
03:22Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
03:24Here are your clothes, Jerome. Will you let me know when you finish dressing, please?
03:28Yes, ma'am.
03:29You have just listened to the Christmas Overture, arranged and conducted by Victor Young.
03:33Our next selection will...
03:36Wheels. Here we go.
03:39Never fails. Right on schedule.
03:41Just about. A little early, if anything.
03:46♪
04:05What do you know? Brand-new ambulance.
04:08How'd they ever guess? Just what I wanted for Christmas.
04:13♪
04:40She'll be all right, won't she, Doctor?
04:42♪
04:55Take her on up to 5900, please.
04:58Mm-hmm.
04:59♪
05:22♪
05:49Doctor?
05:50Here you are, nurse.
05:52What happened?
05:53Otto versus Otto.
05:55Out on the freeway about four miles from here.
05:57Just where you turn off to Orange Grove.
05:59It was all that other guy's fault. Didn't have his lights on.
06:03I didn't even see him. He couldn't have had his lights on.
06:09Scissors.
06:10♪
06:22♪
06:34♪
06:52Von Schock, get an I.V. started right away.
06:55♪
07:13It was the windshield. She sure must have hit it hard.
07:15It wasn't my fault.
07:17As soon as I saw the other car, I tried to turn out of his way.
07:20I hit the brakes hard as I could. Nobody can say it was my fault.
07:24Do you mind waiting outside, please?
07:28I'm just trying to tell you what happened, that's all.
07:31I never had a wreck in my life. It was the other guy.
07:34♪
07:43♪
07:52♪
08:00♪
08:09♪
08:18♪
08:28♪
08:35♪
08:42♪
08:51♪
08:58♪
09:05♪
09:12♪
09:19♪
09:26♪
09:35♪
09:45Miss McKay, would you cut off some of those clothes, please?
09:47♪
09:54♪
10:01♪
10:08♪
10:15Get a unit of plasma ready.
10:16Better set up three pints of blood while you're at it.
10:25HPD.
10:27Some kind of a gin drink.
10:28Sure is strong when we picked him up.
10:30Car smelled like a saloon.
10:33♪
10:46What's your impression?
10:48Face is pretty bad.
10:50Leg doesn't help much either.
10:52Better get on an x-ray stretcher.
10:53Go to work on that blood pressure.
10:55Give us a hand, will you fellas?
10:56♪
11:02♪
11:08♪
11:14Ready?
11:16Ready.
11:20Thanks.
11:21Thanks.
11:24Get him over inside.
11:25Get another portal going.
11:27Let's go.
11:39How long before that blood's ready?
11:40How long before that blood's ready?
11:57Roger, do you want to talk to the man who was with her?
11:59Fine.
12:00Find out what happened.
12:01Ask him if she had a loose interval since the accident.
12:03Okay.
12:04♪
12:12It's too bad.
12:14She's such a pretty girl.
12:17How can you tell?
12:21You call downstairs and see if we can get the portable x-ray man up here.
12:24She's in no condition to be moved.
12:25Yes, Dr. Connelly.
12:27Tell him we need a skull series, chest bone, AP, and line under the lower leg.
12:31Would you get in touch with the attending physician and call for Ward 5000?
12:34All right.
12:35I think it's Dr. Wilson.
12:36All right.
12:37Now, at any time since then, did she have a lucid interval?
12:39Did she regain consciousness?
12:41No, no.
12:42You're sure of that?
12:43You were with her all the time.
12:44She didn't talk.
12:45She didn't move.
12:46She remained unconscious?
12:47That's right.
12:48I'm sure of it.
12:50How much did she have to drink?
12:51Can you tell me that?
12:53I don't know.
12:54She had one or two, I guess.
12:57We had our Christmas party at the office.
12:59You know office parties.
13:00Girls let down their hair a little bit.
13:02Everybody does.
13:03Just once a year.
13:05I guess Frances had a couple drinks.
13:07How many?
13:09Who knows?
13:10Just because she's my secretary, I don't follow her around.
13:13She was with Joe Taylor for a while, the sales manager.
13:16Took her in his office.
13:18Probably had a few drinks with him, too.
13:20Lousy Joe Taylor.
13:22How many drinks would you say she had, all told?
13:24She was drinking martinis, I think.
13:26Maybe she had four or five.
13:28I don't know.
13:29Maybe more.
13:31Thanks.
13:35Wait a minute.
13:37Doc, what about Frances?
13:40Her mother will probably phone me.
13:42What am I going to tell her?
13:44I guess you better tell her the truth.
13:46But Doc, what about my wife?
13:49It's Christmas Eve.
13:50She should have been home hours ago.
13:52What am I going to tell her when I get home?
13:54I don't know, but you better wipe off the lipstick before you get there.
13:57Wait a minute, Doc.
13:59It's not what you think.
14:01Just a regular office party, that's all.
14:03You know, have a few drinks,
14:05fool around a little.
14:07Christmas party at the office.
14:08It's an old custom.
14:09That's right.
14:10Sure.
14:11Some music,
14:12dance a little bit,
14:14have some drinks,
14:15then we all jump in our cars
14:16and we all go home for Christmas Eve.
14:20All of you?
14:22Now, now, wait a minute.
14:24You don't think that accident was my fault, do you?
14:27It wasn't.
14:28They can't say it was.
14:30You believe me, don't you?
14:34Doc, you believe me?
14:37The girl's hurt.
14:38She's hurt bad.
14:40What I believe doesn't make any difference.
14:42Have a seat.
14:52No lucid interval since the accident.
14:53You seem pretty sure of it.
14:55She have much liquor?
14:56About half a dozen martinis.
14:58Take the pressure.
15:24Hello.
15:25Is Mrs. Florence Monaghan there, please?
15:28This is General Hospital calling Mrs. Monaghan.
15:31Yes, that's right.
15:32General Hospital.
15:34It's in regard to your daughter, Frances.
15:37She's been in an automobile accident
15:38and she's here at the hospital now.
15:41Hello?
15:42Mrs. Monaghan?
15:45Oh, yes, she's alive,
15:46but her condition is still serious.
15:51No, I'm sorry.
15:52I don't know how it happened.
15:53Well, you can come down now if you like.
15:57That's right.
15:58Fifth floor, ward 5900.
16:02You're welcome.
16:04How is it?
16:06Coming up a little.
16:0760 over 20.
16:09Fine with you?
16:11Yeah.
16:19It's not much of a Christmas present, is it?
16:21Tough break.
16:23How about the x-ray equipment?
16:24It's on the way.
16:27Evening, doctor.
16:28Sorry to bother you at Christmas Eve and all.
16:30No bother.
16:31Is this the patient?
16:32Yeah.
16:37Her condition is pretty much the same
16:38as when I talked to you on the phone.
16:41Uh-huh.
16:43No doubt in my mind.
16:45Loss of vitreous bilaterally.
16:47The lacerations will be sutured tonight.
16:50We can do the nucleation at the same time.
16:52All right.
16:54Sorry to trouble you,
16:55but we wanted to make sure.
16:57We'll set it up as soon as possible
16:58and let you know.
16:59Right.
17:10Office parties.
17:13I wonder how they got started.
17:14I wonder when they're going to stop.
17:44Well, how's she doing?
17:46Be fair.
17:47Pressure's coming up.
17:48It was 100 over 60 about five minutes ago.
17:50Sensorium's clear.
17:52Good reaction to pain.
17:54How'd the x-rays look?
17:55Not bad.
17:56Transverse fracture of the tibia, middle third.
17:59Chest bone doesn't show anything, though.
18:00There's no rib fractures.
18:02There's nothing in the skull series
18:03except a fracture of the frontal sinus,
18:04the outer table.
18:05Hmm.
18:07It's lucky.
18:09If we get this pressure stabilized,
18:10we might be able to pour through this
18:11without much trouble.
18:12I'd say so.
18:14Except for that.
18:16Nothing we can do about that.
18:21Frances, lie still.
18:23Hold your arms still, Frances.
18:25Mom.
18:27Mama.
18:29Where am I?
18:31Where's my mother?
18:34Where am I?
18:36You're in a hospital, Frances.
18:38You've been in an accident.
18:40Your mother will be here in a few minutes.
18:42Can you understand me?
18:44Accident.
18:48It hurts.
18:50My face.
18:52Where's my mother?
18:54She'll be here in a few minutes.
18:56You lie still now.
18:57We're trying to help you
18:58and we can't if you move around.
19:00It hurts.
19:02So much.
19:04I don't want to die.
19:07I don't want to die.
19:09Frances, you're not going to die.
19:10You're going to be all right.
19:11You just lie still now.
19:13Doctor?
19:15Hey, doctor.
19:17Would you wait outside, please, Mr. Otis?
19:19I've got to get going.
19:21Can't you tell me how she is?
19:23I'll be right with you.
19:41Well, what about it, doc?
19:43Can't stay here all night.
19:45How long are you going to keep me waiting?
19:47No one asked you to wait around.
19:48You can leave anytime you like.
19:50I want to be decent about it, that's all.
19:52Find out how she is.
19:54That's if anybody around here knows.
19:56She has some serious injuries,
19:58but she seems to be past the critical stage.
20:00That's all I can tell you.
20:02That's a whole lot of nothing, isn't it?
20:04I want to find out what's wrong.
20:06I think I've been pretty patient about this.
20:08I've been waiting here two hours.
20:09You've been waiting two hours?
20:11Over two hours, you bet I have.
20:13Well, what about it?
20:15I have a suggestion for you, Mr. Otis.
20:18I suggest you wait around a little longer.
20:25Wait until the girl's mother gets here.
20:27You can listen while I explain
20:29the condition her daughter's in.
20:31Maybe you'd like to do the explaining yourself.
20:33That's your job, not mine.
20:35That's right.
20:37It's my job.
20:39But you might learn something from it.
20:41You can hear the kind of questions they ask.
20:43You can see the heartbreak and misery
20:45in their faces when we give them the answers.
20:47Believe me, it'd be a lot easier to lie.
20:50Tell them a lot of nice, pleasant lies.
20:52But you can't.
20:54You have to tell them the truth.
20:56It's tough, mister.
20:58If I could only tell you,
21:00it's the toughest thing I've ever done.
21:02And it won't be any easier with the girl.
21:05Because when the shock clears up,
21:07when she begins to realize
21:09what's happened,
21:11she's going to ask questions.
21:13I'd like to have you there, Mr. Otis.
21:15I'd like very much to have you there.
21:17Because you know
21:19what her first question's going to be.
21:21You know what she's going to ask?
21:24Why is it dark?
21:26What do you mean?
21:28You said she'd be all right.
21:30I said she's out of the critical stage.
21:32There's not much doubt that she'll recover.
21:34Well, then what are you getting at?
21:36Why would she ask if it's dark?
21:39Because it is dark, Mr. Otis.
21:41She's blind.
21:46Both eyes completely macerated.
21:49She'll be blind for the rest of her life.
21:53What about it, Mr. Otis?
21:55Would you like to wait around a while?
22:01I'm late.
22:02I've got to get home.
22:22Fort 5900, Ms. McCabe.
22:24Yes?
22:26All right, thank you.
22:27Main desk, Dr. Conrad.
22:29It's a girl's mother.
22:31She's on her way up.
22:33Thanks.
22:38So begins the annual observance
22:40of the birthdate of Jesus Christ.
22:42A Christmas party at the office
22:44and a young secretary,
22:4622 years old, blond,
22:48and until lately beautiful.
22:50The first victim is claimed.
22:52The long parade is underway.
22:53An expensive parade.
22:55Its price, countless millions of dollars.
22:58Cars destroyed, property demolished,
23:00medical expenses, attorney's fees.
23:03But the cost, of course,
23:05is only a minor item.
23:07So are the man hours lost,
23:09potential wealth unproduced.
23:11The total's fantastic,
23:13but it's only a minor item.
23:16Likewise, the time and effort
23:18of the parade
23:20are not enough
23:21Likewise, the time and effort
23:23of doctors, nurses, and technicians
23:25who instead of joining the war
23:27on disease and contagion
23:29must labor to correct the harm
23:31which man inflicts on himself.
23:51Another minor item,
23:53the anxiety of waiting,
23:55the sudden fear that comes
23:57with a phone call in the night,
23:59and the long ride to the hospital,
24:01the dim corridor,
24:03the shadowed room.
24:05All these and more,
24:07only minor items
24:09compared to this.
24:12A human life,
24:14the first consideration.
24:16A human life,
24:18the first consideration.
24:19The most important.
24:21Erase the age,
24:23the sex, or the color,
24:25and it could be the life
24:27of any one of us.
24:29In this case,
24:31Francis Louise Monaghan.
24:33A human life in jeopardy,
24:35placed there not by the
24:37casual mistake of a few,
24:39but by the calculated
24:41negligence of many.
24:43So the annual parade begins
24:45to the hospital,
24:47perhaps beyond.
24:49And one man
24:51keeps asking himself,
24:53when will they learn?
24:55When will they ever learn?
25:19When will they ever learn?
25:21When will they ever learn?
25:23When will they ever learn?
25:25When will they ever learn?
25:27When will they ever learn?
25:29When will they ever learn?
25:31When will they ever learn?
25:33When will they ever learn?
25:35When will they ever learn?
25:37When will they ever learn?
25:39When will they ever learn?
25:41When will they ever learn?
25:43When will they ever learn?
25:45When will they ever learn?
25:47When will they ever learn?
25:49When will they ever learn?
25:51When will they ever learn?
25:53When will they ever learn?
25:55When will they ever learn?
25:57When will they ever learn?
25:59When will they ever learn?
26:01When will they ever learn?
26:03When will they ever learn?
26:05When will they ever learn?
26:07When will they ever learn?
26:09When will they ever learn?
26:11When will they ever learn?
26:13When will they ever learn?