Seclusion

Confined to a mental hospital, Professor Sloane helps Wakeman, a young attendant, save a boy who hanged himself in a seclusion room. Sloane then tells Wakeman of his concern that his daughter, Valery, a student nurse, will take her psychiatric training where he's a patient. To reassure him, Wakeman meets with Valery. She has tried to visit her beloved father - blocked by Dr. Beaumont, who's chosen Sloane for a lobotomy, opposed by Dr. Wainwright, the clinical director and Dr. Clement, the superintendent, who favor less intrusive and irrevocable therapies. Clement has suffered a paralyzing stroke. He's treated in a service for personnel ruled by Beaumont, who fails to note that his superintendent can blink at will, which Wakeman discovers and enables Clement to communicate. Wakeman repeats the alphabet, so Clement can blink on the letters forming words that tell Wainwright to fire Beaumont. But Wainwright does not heed the order. He's addicted to Demoral for his war-wounded leg for which he's treated by his former classmate, Beaumont. Frustrated, Clement dies of another stroke. Now there's nobody in power to save Sloane from the brain surgery he fears will impair his thinking and caring for others.