David is working at a mental hospital as an attendant. While marveling at the work of Dr Murrow who seems to be curing violent patients with surgery, he later walks in as the doctor is viewing a tape that in fact, shows that Murrow is conducting clandestine mind-control experiments and his "surgery" is in reality, high-tech lobotomies making the subject more easily to obey orders (along the lines of The Manchurian Candidate). Murrow reveals some of the staff were in fact patients and because David has witnessed the tape, demands he cooperate...or be committed himself. David chooses to run for it-and then absconds with the incriminating tape, hiding it in some bushes in the garden. Before he can escape, he's beaten unconscious by two attendants and...wakes up in a straitjacket, strapped down in a padded cell-"The Quiet Room" of the title. His one ally-the female Dr. Hill who David seems to have developed a liking to- is called and Murrow tells her he's homicidally paranoid and must be medicated immediately and prepared for the surgery. Of course,in view of doctors,and attendants, Banner thrashes and struggles telling Dr Hill he's lying -"he's gotta be stopped,don't let him get the tape!"- which only worsens his case. As they go to prepare some powerful medication, he panics, hulks out,bursts out of the straitjacket and escapes-briefly onto the hospital grounds-and is re-captured and given a double dose of meds and is restrained in bed again. A fellow patient, "Houdini" helps him with another escape attempt which fails. David begs Dr Hill to listen to him,("We're always here to listen" she says therapeutically)and she in turn implores him to reveal where he hid the tape- but she begins to believe something in his story, and she agrees to reduce his medication and take his restraints off-but he's still scheduled for surgery. Finally, another patient finds the missing tape and Dr. Hill sees it- but plays along. As he's wheeled to surgery,he knows his fate depends on whether she will help him or will it take the power of the Hulk, or both?
A familiar theme explored in episodes of Mannix, The Rockford Files and films like The Fifth Floor-of when sane,desperate pleas are seen as insanity given the surroundings of an asylum, a corrupt doctor's diagnosis and how will the "sane" victim prevail? In one scene, he begs a laundry truck driver to help him get out-the driver only turns him into the attendants as he clings to a bag of laundry in sheer desperation-"Look I'm not a patient here..I have to get out" Banner(in pajamas) pleads, and the driver goes "Sure buddy, just get in the truck and I'll let you know when it's safe". Later, Banner appears completely resigned,pacing about his padded cell everything working against him, Bixby acts the character as if, this time, he's truly given up.
The truth is that even in 1979, patients couldn't be involuntarily operated on so while it was an excellent episode, it had some far fetched elements that were more out of the 1940's.
A familiar theme explored in episodes of Mannix, The Rockford Files and films like The Fifth Floor-of when sane,desperate pleas are seen as insanity given the surroundings of an asylum, a corrupt doctor's diagnosis and how will the "sane" victim prevail? In one scene, he begs a laundry truck driver to help him get out-the driver only turns him into the attendants as he clings to a bag of laundry in sheer desperation-"Look I'm not a patient here..I have to get out" Banner(in pajamas) pleads, and the driver goes "Sure buddy, just get in the truck and I'll let you know when it's safe". Later, Banner appears completely resigned,pacing about his padded cell everything working against him, Bixby acts the character as if, this time, he's truly given up.
The truth is that even in 1979, patients couldn't be involuntarily operated on so while it was an excellent episode, it had some far fetched elements that were more out of the 1940's.
