- List of China Beach episodes
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China Beach is an American dramatic television series set at an evacuation hospital during the Vietnam War. The title refers to a beach in the city of Da Nang, Vietnam, that was nicknamed China Beach by unknown foreigners. The ABC TV drama aired for four seasons over three years, from 1988 to 1991.
The show was preceded by a made for TV movie which aired on April 26, 1988, and served as an introduction to the series. It was written by one of the show creators, John Sacret Young, and directed by Rod Holcomb. The final season was put on hiatus in fall 1990 and did not air its finale until summer 1991.
The series ran for 62 episodes, concluding with the two-part series finale on July 22, 1991. China Beach has not yet been released on DVD, largely due to expensive music rights.[citation needed]
Contents
List of seasons
Season Episodes Originally aired Season premiere Season finale 1 6 April 27, 1988 June 8, 1988 2 17 November 30, 1988 May 3, 1989 3 22 September 20, 1989 April 30, 1990 4 17 September 29, 1990 July 22, 1991 Episodes
Season 1 (1988)
# # Title Directed by Written by Original air date Production
code1 1 "Home" Rod Holcomb William Broyles, Jr. April 27, 1988 186371 McMurphy struggles to overcome her feelings when a pregnant Viet Cong nurse who threw a grenade into a crowded local bar and killed her friend is brought to the hospital for treatment. Laurette auditions local entertainers to fill in the act. 2 2 "Hot Spell" Beth Hillshafer Susan Rhinehart May 4, 1988 186372 KC agrees to help Cherry look for her brother while she attempts to buy a priceless vase on the black-market. Laurette prepares for a performance before visiting brass. A mortar attack brings some of the women closer. 3 3 "Somewhere over the Radio" Rod Holcomb Ann Donahue May 11, 1988 186373 Lila, Cherry and Laurette survive a helicopter crash in the jungle and encounter a jungle-crazed Special Forces unit, while KC and Boonie mount a rescue attempt. Dr. Dick Richard, on the eve of his R&R leave, performs a touch-and-go surgical battle to remove a live mortar lodged inside a wounded soldier. 4 4 "Waiting for Beckett" Kevin Hooks Terry McDonell May 18, 1988 186375 A stressed Beckett tries to get some sleep. A deserter pursued by a determined CID officer tells Cherry he knows her brother and traps her into aiding his escape. 5 5 "Brothers" John Sacret Young Susan Rhinehart & Carol Flint June 1, 1988 186376 Dodger locates Cherry's brother. Laurette gets laryngitis on the eve of a big audition and Dr. Richard returns from R&R convinced his wife has changed. Beckett finds himself party to a smuggling scam. 6 6 "Chao Ong" Christopher Leitch William Broyles, Jr. (teleplay)
John Sacret Young & William Broyles, Jr. (story)June 8, 1988 186374 McMurphy and Natch get together. Laurette gets a chance for a bigger USO tour. McMurphy gets blamed for a body that disappears on her shift. Season 2 (1988–1989)
# # Title Directed by Written by Original air date Production
code7 1 "Lost and Found, Part 1" John Sacret Young John Sacret Young & William Broyles, Jr. November 30, 1988 186501 Lila takes over China Beach and throws K.C. off the base. Bad news about Natch makes McMurphy admit her feelings. Documentarian Wayloo Marie Holmes, former Saigon weather girl, arrives at China Beach to handle her first journalism assignment, extolling the recreational facilities at the base. 8 2 "Lost and Found, Part 2" John Sacret Young John Sacret Young & William Broyles, Jr. December 7, 1988 186502 Dodger is badly wounded. Journalist Wayloo Marie becomes a casualty as she pursues an assignment. Frankie Bunsen arrives on temporary duty. K.C. decides to stay at the base despite Lila's effort to get rid of her. 9 3 "Limbo" Dan Lerner Carol Flint December 14, 1988 186503 McMurphy struggles to save Dodger's life. K.C. and Boonie strike a deal, he helps her build a beauty salon if she gets him black market penicillin. 10 4 "XMAS Chnbch VN '67" Mimi Leder John Wells December 21, 1988 186504 As Christmas preparations are underway, McMurphy and Dr. Richard spend 24 hours in triage and Boonie surprises everyone with snow. 11 5 "Women in White" Sharron Miller Patricia Green January 4, 1989 186506 A confident American doctor rattles McMurphy by taking over both Dr. Richard and Dodger's case. Frankie becomes a DJ, and Wayloo Marie does a report of the war from a woman's point of view. 12 6 "All About E.E.V." Peter Medak Lydia Woodward January 11, 1989 186505 A dashing lieutenant colonel (played by Dennis Farina) parachutes into China Beach for some R&R and disrupts the lives of Lila, KC and Wayloo Marie. Dr. Richard and McMurphy play a game of sexual brinksmanship. Frankie falls for a soldier who thinks he's Chuck Berry. 13 7 "Tet '68" Steven Dubin Susan Rhinehart & John Wells (teleplay)
Susan Rhinehart (story)January 25, 1989 186507 Dr. Richard and Dodger defend the hospital during the Tet Offensive while Cherry comforts a fellow "doughnut dolly" at a firebase. McMurphy finds out that K.C. has been skin-popping heroin and tries to help her through withdrawal. Beckett visits Mai and is attacked by her brother. Wayloo Marie tries to capture the Tet offensive on film.
Note- In 1997 TV Guide ranked this episode number 87 on it's '100 Greatest Episodes of All Time' list.[1]14 8 "Cherry" Mimi Leder Susan Rhinehart February 1, 1989 186508 Cherry's death sobers Wayloo Marie and forces K.C. to fight her heroin addiction long enough to locate the volunteer's brother and accompany her body back to the States. McMurphy fights red tape to keep Dodger from seeking further medical treatment. 15 9 "Crossing the Great Water" Mimi Leder Carol Flint February 8, 1989 186509 McMurphy tries to come to terms with Dodger's uncertain future after his trip to Japan. Dr. Richard throws himself into work for a Vietnamese orphanage when he's served with divorce papers. 16 10 "Psywars" Fred Gerber Glen Merzer March 1, 1989 186510 An Army psychiatrist, who is measuring stress levels in noncombatants, clashes with McMurphy. Dr. Richard is concerned about McMurphy, who has been unable to sleep for days. Frankie falls for a handsome African-American soldier. Wayloo Marie learns about Boonie's past in Vietnam. 17 11 "Where the Boys Are" Michael Rhodes Alan Brennert March 8, 1989 186512 McMurphy enjoys R&R with a 19-year-old soldier. Boonie hosts prom night for all the soldiers who missed their proms. K.C. warns Boonie that Wayloo Marie has learned something of his past. 18 12 "Vets" John Sacret Young John Wells & John Sacret Young March 15, 1989 186511 Actual veterans of the Vietnam War give accounts of their experiences, intercut with scenes from previous episodes to show the realism of the show. 19 13 "Twilight" Michael Fresco Lydia Woodward March 22, 1989 186513 Wayloo Marie's interest in Boonie's background results in a medal and an investigation into his lost patrol. Wayloo's congressman father arrives at the base for the medal ceremony and the two clash. Dodger prepares to go back into action, and Frankie befriends a failed deserter. 20 14 "Afterburner" Christopher Leitch Carol Flint April 5, 1989 186514 McMurphy is stunned when Natch reappears with another POW, having survived and escaped a jungle prison camp. Boonie is assigned a new boss who brings danger to K.C. by involving himself with her former employer, a ruthless black marketeer. Lila cares for Natch's pet leopard cub. 21 15 "Promised Land" Michael Rhodes Patricia Green April 12, 1989 186515 When Martin Luther King, Jr. is murdered, racial tension breaks out between black soldiers and some white racist soldiers. Dr. Richard agrees to a date with Wayloo Marie to get rid of reminders of his wife. Beckett is set to be shipped home but decides to re-enlist to be with Mai. 22 16 "The World, Part 1" John Sacret Young John Wells April 26, 1989 186516 Wayloo Marie prepares to return home to a job at BBC, and gets an unexpected traveling companion when McMurphy goes home to Kansas after her father's heart attack. 23 17 "The World, Part 2" John Sacret Young John Wells May 3, 1989 186517 McMurphy's father dies. After the funeral, she can't bring herself to get on the plane back to Vietnam. Instead, she risks going AWOL and visits a girlfriend who was stationed with her and who is now a nurse in a VA hospital. Season 3 (1989–1990)
# # Title Directed by Written by Original air date Production
code24 1 "The Unquiet Earth" Michael Rhodes Alan Brennert September 20, 1989 186803 McMurphy and K.C. take off in a jeep for a party at Da Nang AFB. Captured by Viet Cong guerrillas en route, they're taken to an eerie underground village where McMurphy is forced to operate on the VC's wounded leader. 25 2 "Skin Deep" Mimi Leder Carol Flint September 27, 1989 186801 McMurphy and K.C. try to prevent a soldier, disfigured by his wounds, from killing himself. And when a visit by Miss America falls through, new Red Cross volunteer Holly challenges the nurses to compete in their own beauty pageant. 26 3 "Dear China Beach" Michael Rhodes John Wells October 4, 1989 186802 Holly pesters the base to answer a batch of letters sent by American children. McMurphy contracts acute parasitic dysentery after eating on some of the local delicacies, and Dodger tries to cope with the abandoned Amerasian baby who might be his son. 27 4 "Who's Happy Now?" Fred Gerber Lydia Woodward October 11, 1989 186804 Dr. Richard worries about a craniotomy patient, Lila faces a vital inspection and K.C. is put in a difficult position when a visiting colonel dies in her bed. 28 5 "Independence Day" Mimi Leder Susan Rhinehart October 25, 1989 186806 Boonie and Holly try to cheer up the base on a wet 4th of July. McMurphy struggles with her feelings for Dr. Bernard and an infatuated soldier. 29 6 "Ghosts" Michael Fresco Toni Graphia November 8, 1989 186807 The men and women of China Beach are burdened with their own private ghosts: Dr. Richard's broken marriage, McMurphy's love affairs, Dodger's orphaned child, K.C.'s shattered childhood, and Beckett's loss of his Vietnamese love. 30 7 "With a Little Help From My Friends" Michael Uno Joseph Anderson & Carol Flint November 15, 1989 186808 Holly is upset when she thinks Hang's been using their friendship to get information for the Viet Cong. McMurphy and Bernard work at a civilian clinic. 31 8 "China Men" David Burton Morris Josef Anderson November 22, 1989 186805 McMurphy is uncomfortable with Dr. Bernard's sophisticated friends while a sexy Asian singer springs a surprise on Boonie. A battlefield incident puts Dodger and Hyers at each others' throats. 32 9 "How to Stay Alive in Vietnam, Part 1" Fred Gerber Georgia Jeffries November 29, 1989 186809 McMurphy befriends a wounded prisoner of war. Beckett and a civilian photographer accompany Dodger's patrol. 33 10 "How to Stay Alive in Vietnam, Part 2" Steven Dubin Georgia Jeffries December 6, 1989 186811 McMurphy's new Cambodian friend is taken away for interrogation as the photographer chases the story of his defection. Lila and K.C. are uneasy when a new commander takes control of the base. 34 11 "Magic" Mimi Leder John Wells January 3, 1990 186810 Lila struggles with the disappointment of losing command of China Beach. McMurphy is stuck in a triangle with Dr. Bernard and Vinnie and Holly confesses her feelings to Boonie. 35 12 "Nightfall" Christopher Leitch Lydia Woodward January 10, 1990 186812 Otis refuses to investigate the death of a Vietnamese prostitute, so a guilt-stricken K.C. sets out to discover the truth for herself. 36 13 "Souvenirs" John Sacret Young John Sacret Young January 17, 1990 186813 The memories of real-life Vietnam veterans match perfectly with the dramatic efforts of Dodger to conclude his tour of duty in Vietnam and return home with the Vietnamese-American baby he is determined to father. 37 14 "Holly's Choice" Christopher Leitch Carol Flint January 31, 1990 186814 Holly's friends try to understand Holly's abortion, and the circumstances leading up to it. 38 15 "A Rumor of Peace" Neema Barnette Josef Anderson February 7, 1990 186815 Beckett and Frankie repeat peace rumors on their pirate radio broadcast, setting the base to speculating. 39 16 "Warriors" David Soul Martin M. Goldstein & Neal Baer (teleplay)
Dottie Dartland & Georgia Jeffries (story)February 14, 1990 186816 McMurphy saves Vinnie's buddy only to see him lapse into a terminal coma. Frankie finds herself commanding a squad of battleworn grunts. 40 17 "The Thanks of a Grateful Nation" Mimi Leder John Wells February 28, 1990 186817 When Dodger returns home to the States with his son, he must confront his feelings about Vietnam, especially when his high school buddy who gets his draft notice decides to run. 41 18 "Skylark" Fred Gerber Lydia Woodward March 14, 1990 186819 A pair of ballroom dancers help soothe McMurphy's relationship with Dr. Richard while furthering a mysterious mission of their own. 42 19 "Phoenix" Mimi Leder Toni Graphia March 21, 1990 186820 K.C.'s involvement with a military intelligence mission lands her in jail with only McMurphy as her alibi. 43 20 "F.N.G." John Sacret Young Carol Flint April 16, 1990 186821 A step back in November 1966 to take a look at Lieutenant Colleen McMurphy as a fresh-scrubbed and idealistic "F.N.G. - Fairly New Guy" at China Beach and her initiation into the hellish world of Army nursing in Vietnam. 44 21 "The Gift" Michael Katleman Josef Anderson April 23, 1990 186822 McMurphy comes under investigation when she's named beneficiary by two deceased soldiers. An old friend of Lila's comes to China Beach to do a recruitment film about Army nurses. 45 22 "Strange Brew" Michael Fresco Georgia Jeffries April 30, 1990 186818 K.C. and McMurphy have a lost weekend when everyone else is away at a USO show, and enter a dreamscape with a Native American guide who helps them heal psychic wounds. Season 4 (1990–1991)
# # Title Directed by Written by Original air date Production
code46 1 "History, Part 1" John Sacret Young John Wells (teleplay)
John Sacret Young & John Wells & Lydia Woodward & Carol Flint (story)September 29, 1990 187041 A 1985 reunion between Boonie and Dr. Richard stirs up memories of their first meeting, as well as questions for Boonie's 18-year-old adopted daughter, Karen. First of a two-part episode with "History, She Sells More Than Sea Shells" as the second part. 47 2 "History, Part 2" Mimi Leder Carol Flint (teleplay)
John Sacret Young & John Wells & Lydia Woodward & Carol Flint (story)October 6, 1990 187042 In 1985, Boonie's adopted daughter, Karen, learns how her biological mother K.C. turned to Boonie when she was pregnant. Second of a two-part episode with "History, The Big Bang" as the first part. 48 3 "You, Babe" Mimi Leder Susan Rhinehart & Cathryn Michon (teleplay)
John Sacret Young & John Wells & Lydia Woodward & Carol Flint (story)October 13, 1990 187045 Pregnant K.C. gives birth in 1967 Saigon with McMurphy's help, and surrenders the baby to a foster mother. 49 4 "Escape" Christopher Leitch Paris Qualles (teleplay)
John Sacret Young & John Wells & Lydia Woodward & Carol Flint (story)October 27, 1990 187043 At his father's funeral in 1985, Beckett reflects on his childhood and his time with joing the Graves Registration Unit in Vietnam back in 1967. 50 5 "Fever" Diane Keaton Lydia Woodward (teleplay)
John Sacret Young & John Wells & Lydia Woodward & Carol Flint (story)November 3, 1990 187044 McMurphy returns to her Kansas home in 1970, but finds she can't adjust to civilian life or make peace with her difficult mother. 51 6 "Juice" Mimi Leder John Sacret Young (teleplay)
John Sacret Young & John Wells & Lydia Woodward & Carol Flint (story)November 10, 1990 187046 In 1972, Dr. Richard and his nurse take a romantic trip to Florida only to run into McMurphy, now living rough and working in a factory. 52 7 "One Giant Leap" Michael Katleman Josef Anderson (teleplay)
John Sacret Young & John Wells & Lydia Woodward & Carol Flint (story)November 17, 1990 187047 China Beach watches the first moon landing in July 1969, but a jealous McMurphy is more interested in Dr. Richard's interest in a new nurse. Beckett entertains USO singers and Boonie meets with a tragic accident. 53 8 "One Small Step" Steven Dubin John Wells December 1, 1990 187048 Back home, amputee Boonie begins a long and painful re-entry into civilian life, finding comfort in a loving nurse. 54 9 "The Call" Robert Ginty Paris Qualles & Cathryn Michon December 8, 1990 187049 McMurphy and Dodger try to convince some Montagnard tribespeople to evacuate. Back in the States, Frankie tries her hand at stand-up comedy but runs into the tragicomic 1969 trial of the Chicago Seven. 55 10 "I Could Have Danced All Night...But Didn't" Michael Fresco Cathryn Michon (teleplay)
Carol Flint (story)June 4, 1991 187050 At a 1983 wedding, McMurphy recalls Lila and Sarge Pepper's 1969 nuptials and the end of her relationship with Dr. Richard. 56 11 "A 100 Klicks Out" Mimi Leder Susan Rhinehart June 11, 1991 187051 In 1975, K.C. struggles to get her daughter, Karen, out of Vietnam before the fall of Saigon. Meanwhile, McMurphy fights child abuse in New Mexico involving a fellow veteran. Dodger finds himself alone at the deserted China Beach facility. 57 12 "The Always Goodbye" Gary Sinise Lydia Woodward June 18, 1991 187052 K.C. isn't pleased when a hard-drinking McMurphy arrives in 1969 Bangkok and disrupts her new life. 58 13 "Quest" John Sacret Young John Sacret Young & Angela Ventresca (teleplay)
John Sacret Young (story)June 25, 1991 187054 In 1976, McMurphy helps K.C. re-enter America and helps her find her daughter, then heads to Montana for a visit with Dodger. 59 14 "Rewind" Mimi Leder John Wells & Carol Flint July 9, 1991 187053 In 1985, Karen begins a video project interviewing China Beach vets about their Vietnam experiences and memories of her biological mother. 60 15 "Through and Through" Mimi Leder Carol Flint July 16, 1991 187055 In 1985, an angry Colleen McMurphy realizes she is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder from her final weeks in Vietnam. 61 16 "Hello Goodbye, Part 1" John Sacret Young John Wells (teleplay)
John Sacret Young & John Wells & Lydia Woodward & Carol Flint (story)July 22, 1991 187056 In 1988, McMurphy attends the China Beach reunion thrown by Boonie, and recalls her last day in Vietnam. The survivors travel to Washington, D.C. to visit the Vietnam Memorial, and Karen makes peace with the ghost of her absent mother. First of a two-part episode and series finale. 62 17 "Hello Goodbye, Part 2" John Sacret Young John Wells (teleplay)
John Sacret Young & John Wells & Lydia Woodward & Carol Flint (story)July 22, 1991 187056 In 1988, McMurphy attends the China Beach reunion thrown by Boonie, and recalls her last day in Vietnam. The survivors travel to Washington, D.C. to visit the Vietnam Memorial, and Karen makes peace with the ghost of her absent mother. Second of a two-part episode and series finale. References
External links
Categories:- Lists of drama television series episodes
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