STEPHEN KING'S KINGDOM HOSPITAL: BUTTERFINGERS {EPISODE 9} (TV)

Summary

The ninth in this thirteen-part miniseries, developed by Stephen King and based on Lars von Trier's "The Kingdom," about ghostly happenings experienced by staff and visitors at a hospital in Lewiston, Maine. This episode begins with staff, guests, and even ghosts at Kingdom anxiously following the New England Robins' appearance in the World Series. Meanwhile, former Robins' player Earl Candleton holds a gun to his head. The narrative then flashes back to 1987, when first basemen Earl made a Bill Buckner-esque error that cost the Robins a World Series title. After his flub, Earl was dubbed "butterfingers" and consistently abused by fans for the next two decades. Eventually, Earl found himself at a service conducted by Jimmy Criss, where the "butterfingers" label continued to haunt him. Back in the present, the "cursed" Robins lose yet again and Earl shoots himself in the head. One person not interested in the game, however, is Dr. Stegman. He takes Brenda to task when he finds her crying, and says that maybe they can visit Salem after all. Meanwhile, Sally feels a "disturbance" at the same time Earl is discovered shot in his room. Dr. Hook, Otto, Bobby, and Todd, who's filling in for the vacationing Johnny, mourn yet another unsuccessful Robins season as Sonny and Elmer begin prepping the barely alive Earl. Then, Dr. Stegman and Dr. Hook arrive to start the operation and remove the bullet. Lona notices that Earl appears to be dreaming, however unlikely that may be.

In his dream, Earl walks through the empty Robins' field, getting pelted by baseballs. Then, Earl finds himself in the locker room haunted by ghouls before discovering his old mitt. Wandering to the Old Kingdom, he encounters Paul, who taunts him further. Meanwhile, Natalie notices that Peter has risen in bed to sketch a drawing of Earl as Mary watches nearby. Mary leads Peter's spirit away as Antubis looks on. At the same time, Elmer helps Lona "borrow" Earl to give him an fMRI and monitor his brain waves, against the wishes of Dr. Hook. Peter, Mary, and Antubis watch Lona and Elmer in the MRI room. Mary tells Peter they have to help Earl. Then, Sally arrives, telling Lona and Elmer that they cannot begin a brain scan as it would trap Earl for eternity between "the here and the hereafter." Then, Dr. Stegman arrives, angered to see Sally up and about, chasing her from the room after making fun of her warnings. Mary reports to Peter that Earl is in the Old Kingdom with Paul. Dr. Hook examines Peter, finding his vitals fine but surprised to see the drawing he made of Earl. Sally tells Dr. Hook that Peter, Mary, and Antubis are trying to help Earl. Then, Dr. Hook researches Earl's history at Kingdom and finds that Earl was admitted to the hospital back in 1991. Meanwhile, Mary informs Peter that the Old Kingdom is also a gateway to the "in-between lands." Then, just as Earl is about to have the fMRI, Dr. Hook stops the procedure, revealing that the ballplayer got a pacemaker back in 1991. Eventually, Peter and Mary are able to make Earl's life go backward and, via "stop time," give Earl another chance to catch the pop-up and clinch the World Series for the Robins. This time, Earl pulls it off and becomes an instant hero. Back in the present, Mary informs Peter that everything is now different for Earl, who's in his glory as the much-beloved mayor of Seabrook. Includes commercials.

Details

• NETWORK: ABC
• DATE: April 29, 2004 9:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 0:55:25
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: T:82859
• GENRE: Drama, mystery/suspense
• SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, mystery/suspense; Drama, fantasy/science fiction; Ghosts; Hospitals
• SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 2004
• COMMERCIALS:
  • TV - Commercials - "Laws of Attraction" motion picture
  • TV - Commercials - Best Buy stores
  • TV - Commercials - Burger King restaurants
  • TV - Commercials - Cingular wireless
  • TV - Commercials - Ford automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Hyundai automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - JC Penney stores
  • TV - Commercials - Kay Jewelers
  • TV - Commercials - LensCrafters eyewear
  • TV - Commercials - Levitra erectile dysfunction medication
  • TV - Commercials - Mitsubishi automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Nissan automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Office of National Drug Control Policy
  • TV - Commercials - Pizza Hut restaurants
  • TV - Commercials - Propel fitness water
  • TV - Commercials - ReMax realtors
  • TV - Commercials - Rent-A-Center rental stores
  • TV - Commercials - Verizon wireless
  • TV - Commercials - Volkswagen automobiles
  • TV - Promos - "20/20"
  • TV - Promos - "Alias"
  • TV - Promos - "George Lopez"
  • TV - Promos - "Hope & Faith"
  • TV - Promos - "Jimmy Kimmel Live"
  • TV - Promos - "Primetime Thursday Investigation"
  • TV - Promos - "Remember the Titans"
  • TV - Promos - "The Big House"
  • TV - Promos - "The Practice"
  • TV - Promos - "Unbreakable"
  • TV - Promos - NBA Playoffs

CREDITS

• Mark Carliner … Executive Producer
• Stephen King … Executive Producer, Developed by, Writer
• Lars von Trier … Executive Producer, Based on the mini-series "The Kingdom" written by
• Richard Dooling … Producer
• Thomas H. Brodek … Producer
• Robert F. Phillips … Producer
• Lisa Henson … Producer
• Janet Yang … Producer
• Bruce Dunn … Co-Producer
• Mary Anne Waterhouse … Co-Producer
• Craig R. Baxley … Director
• Niels Vorsel … Based on the mini-series "The Kingdom" written by
• Gary Chang … Music by
• Andrew McCarthy … Cast, Dr. Hook
• Bruce Davison … Cast, Dr. Stegman
• Diane Ladd … Cast, Sally Druse
• Brandon Bauer … Cast, Abel Lyon
• Jack Coleman … Cast, Peter Rickman
• Jennifer Cunningham … Cast, Christa
• Meagen Fay … Cast, Dr. Brenda Abelson
• Jodelle Micah Ferland … Cast, Mary Jensen
• Lena Georgas … Cast, Carrie von Trier
• Jamie Harrold … Cast, Dr. Elmer Traff
• Allison Hossack … Cast, Dr. Christine Draper
• Suki Kaiser … Cast, Natalie Rickman
• Sherry Miller … Cast, Dr. Lona Massingale
• Del Pentecost … Cast, Bobby Druse
• Julian Richings … Cast, Otto
• Kett Turton … Cast, Paul
• William Wise … Cast, Dr. Louis Traff
• Ed Begley … Cast, Dr. Jesse James
• Beverley Elliot … Cast, Brick Bannerman
• Christopher Heyerdahl … Cast, Reverend Jimmy Criss
• Ty Olsson … Cast, Danny
• Benjamin Ratner … Cast, Ollie
• Callum Keith Rennie … Cast, Earl Candleton
• Zak Santiago … Cast, Dr. Sonny Gupta
• Dick Smothers … Cast, Todd
• Carmen Aguirre … Cast, Earl's Landlady
• Chilton Crane … Cast, Earl's Girlfriend
• Lia Renee Clark … Cast, "Mission" Piano Player
• John Dadey … Cast, Teacher
• Michael Daingerfield … Cast, Policeman
• Brad Dryborough … Cast, Crowd Guy
• Lorena Gale … Cast, MRI Tech
• David Purvis … Cast, Drunk