CHINA BEACH: TET '68 (TV)
Summary
One in this drama series set during the Vietnam War, which focuses on the lives of the women stationed at China Beach, a combined U.S. Armed Forces hospital and USO recreational facility located near the South China Sea. In this episode, on the eve of the Tet holiday, a major offensive is launched by the Viet Cong, taking the United States troops by surprise. Cherry and a fellow Red Cross worker are trapped in a foxhole with two other marines as the enemy approaches; McMurphy and K.C. are barricaded in a compound as the fighting intensifies and tension rises between them; and Beckett visits his Vietnamese girlfriend and meets her brother, who is bitter toward U.S. troops. Soon, Beckett faces his first confrontation with the Viet Cong and fears he will not live through the night. Meanwhile, at the hospital, Richard refuses to let a recuperating Dodger go out and fight, and they hunker down and prepare themselves for unwanted visitors. And as K.C. undergoes withdrawal, McMurphy learns about her heroin addiction. Cherry and the marines try to lighten the mood in the foxhole but the Viet Cong approach and the mood darkens; and Dodger explains to Richard that the Viet Cong will attack hospitals in battle. In the meantime, Boonie protects a reporter and the camera rolls as a gun battle ensues. And McMurphy tries to help K.C., but she is too addicted to care. The next day, the fighting ceases and Beckett is surprised to be alive and scrambles back to camp. Ultimately, as Cherry enjoys the refreshing rainfall outside the foxhole, another explosion goes off. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: January 25, 1989 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:49:58
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:55128
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Tet Offensive, 1968 - Drama; Vietnam War - Drama; African-American Collection - Drama; Women's Collection - Drama
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1988-1991
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- John Sacret Young … Executive Producer, Created by
- Fred Gerber … Coordinating Producer
- Patricia Green … Supervising Producer
- John Wells … Producer, Writer
- Geno Escarrega … Co-Producer
- Christopher Nelson … Co-Producer
- Steven Dubin … Director
- William Broyles … Created by
- Susan Rhinehart … Writer
- Paul Chihara … Music by
- John Rubinstein … Theme Music by
- Dana Delany … Cast, Nurse Colleen McMurphy
- Michael Boatman … Cast, Pvt. Sam Beckett
- Nan Woods … Cast, Cherry White
- Nancy Giles … Cast, Pvt. Frankie Bunsen
- Marg Helgenberger … Cast, Karen Charlene (K.C.) Koloski
- Jeff Kober … Cast, Dodger
- Robert Picardo … Cast, Dr. Dick Richard
- Concetta Tomei … Cast, Maj. Lila Garreau
- Brian Wimmer … Cast, Boonie Lanier
- Megan Gallagher … Cast, Wayloo Marie Holmes
- Elizabeth Lindsey … Cast, Mai
- Meegan Lee Ochs … Cast, Jacy
- Andrew-Huy Nguyen … Cast, Tran
- Jeris Lee Poindexter … Cast, the Sergeant
- Guy Killum … Cast, Bingo
- Thomas Mills Wood … Cast, Larry Fitzkee
- Tony Colitti … Cast, the Cameraman
- Rick Marzan … Cast, Santos
- Michael J. Montes … Cast, the Corporal
- Francine Nguyen … Cast, the Grandma
- Brogan Roche … Cast, Alde
- Thang Van Tran … Cast, Arvn