CHINA BEACH: HOW TO STAY ALIVE IN VIETNAM {PART 1 OF 2} (TV)
Summary
One in this drama series set during the Vietnam War, which focuses on the women stationed at China Beach, a combined U.S. Armed Forces hospital and USO recreational facility located near the South China Sea. In the first half of this two-part episode, Sarge Pepper discusses a list of "rules" for survival in war, drawing upon his own memories and experiences, and other characters offer their comments directly to the camera as well. Colleen assists when a large number of injured men arrive at the hospital, annoyed to notice photojournalist Cat Von Seeger taking pictures of the grim scene. Beckett tells Dodger that he intends to accompany him on patrol, feeling that he cannot identify with his men without sharing their experiences. Answer is pleased to meet Cat, as is medic Hyers, noting that they both hail from Georgia, though Dodger is unimpressed and objects to the idea of her joining them on patrol. Beckett finds Colleen doing laundry, although it is not her job, and they discuss their respective senses of duty and expectation. Answer and Hyers tell Cat about strategy and their reasons for signing up for the war, while Sarge continues listing his tips for living through battle. Cat captures the soldiers' camaraderie on film, though Answer objects to Beckett joining their patrol, saying that having "Dr. Death" with them is bad luck. Dodger roughly orders Cat to abandon most of her equipment and carry a weapon, demanding that she keep up with them and follow their rules.
Holly ponders her affection for the loyal character of Tonto, and Colleen wonders about the paradox of pleasure and guilt when it comes to sex. While on patrol, the group is spotted by several enemy soldiers because of Cat's camera, and Dodger is furious that she has put them in danger. Cat and Hyers tend to an injured prisoner-of-war who had been promised amnesty, and Answer struggles to repair the damaged radio in order to call for a medical chopper. Lila compares her experience in Vietnam to her involvement in past wars, and when Cat asks, Beckett explains that he is called "Dr. Death" because of his work with the Graves Registration Unit and that he feels taken for granted. As they continue waiting for the chopper, Dodger tells Cat about his fierce commitment to keeping his men safe, and when he reveals that his tour is technically over, she suggests that he would do well to go home. Sarge recalls his first patrol back in 1965, and when the helicopter finally arrives, Hyers is hit by enemy fire and struggles to tell Cat and Dodger how to assist him. Beckett fights with a Vietnamese soldier and seems stunned when he kills the man in hand-to-hand combat.
Hyers and the others are brought back to the hospital and Cat assures Colleen that she will not take photographs this time. Colleen and Dick soon realize that Hyers cannot be saved, and Cat is shaken by the loss. Colleen then tends to the POW, and Sarge emotionally explains how his first patrol turned tragic, though it led to his receiving a bronze star. Beckett sadly cares for Hyers' body, and a closing title card notes that 402 medics were killed overall during the Vietnam War. Includes commercials and promos.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: November 29, 1989 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:00:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:16108
- GENRE: Drama, medical
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, medical; Vietnam War; African-American Collection - Drama
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1988-1991
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - AT&T telephone services
- TV - Commercials - Cadillac automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Corningware Visions cookware
- TV - Commercials - Drakkar Noir fragrance
- TV - Commercials - Exclamation fragrance
- TV - Commercials - Isotoner slippers
- TV - Commercials - Old Spice fragrance
- TV - Commercials - Partnership For a Drug-Free America
- TV - Commercials - Pontiac automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Santa Fe cologne
- TV - Commercials - Stetson cologne
- TV - Commercials - Subaru automobiles
- TV - Commercials - The California Raisins
- TV - Commercials - Tylenol painkillers
- TV - Commercials - Wendy's restaurants
- TV - Promos - "20/20"
- TV - Promos - "Good Morning America"
- TV - Promos - "Kojak"
- TV - Promos - "Life Goes On"
- TV - Promos - "Mission: Impossible"
- TV - Promos - "Primetime Live"
- TV - Promos - "She-Devil" motion picture
- TV - Promos - "The Shell Seekers"
- TV - Promos - "The Young Riders"
CREDITS
- John Sacret Young … Executive Producer, Created by
- John Wells … Supervising Producer
- Georgia Jeffries … Supervising Producer, Writer
- Geno Escarrega … Producer
- Mimi Leder … Producer
- Fred Gerber … Producer, Director
- William Broyles Jr. … Created by
- Paul Chihara … Music by
- John Rubenstein … Theme Music by
- Dana Delany … Cast, Colleen McMurphy
- Michael Boatman … Cast, Pvt. Samuel Beckett
- Nancy Giles … Cast, Ptv. Frankie Bunsted
- Jeff Kober … Cast, Sgt. Evan 'Dodger' Winslow
- Robert Picardo … Cast, Dr. Dick Richard
- Concetta Tomei … Cast, Maj. Lila Garreau
- Ned Vaughn … Cast, Jeff Hyers
- Brian Wimmer … Cast, Cpl. Boonie Lanier
- Marg Helgenberger … Cast, K.C. Kolowski
- Ricki Lake … Cast, Holly Pelegrino
- Haing S. Ngor … Cast, Seak Yin
- Lisa Banes … Cast, Cat Von Seeger
- Troy Evans … Cast, Sarge Pepper
- Robert LaSardo … Cast, Cpl. Jesus 'Answer Man' Zappara
- Paul Force … Cast, Grunt #1
- Vonte Sweet … Cast, Grunt #2