Ep 22. The Quiet Room

In The Incredible Hulk season 2 episode 22, entitled "The Quiet Room," we find our protagonist, Dr. David Banner (played by Bill Bixby), institutionalized in a mental hospital called Green Haven. This episode picks up right where the previous one left off, with Banner having intentionally gotten himself admitted in order to receive experimental electroshock therapy in hopes of curing his Hulk condition. However, once inside, he realizes that the therapy is not working and he is stuck in a hospital ward with no hope of escape.

The first part of the episode follows Banner as he struggles to maintain his composure in a world where nobody believes his claims of being the Hulk, and where he is subjected to psychological evaluations by a doctor named Susan Shaw (played by Mariette Hartley). Despite her initial skepticism, Dr. Shaw soon becomes convinced of Banner's plight and works to help him escape the hospital. She is aided in this endeavor by a kindly nurse named Eve (played by Joan Hotchkis).

Meanwhile, back in the outside world, Banner's friend and former colleague Elaina Marks (played by Susan Sullivan) is working to find a way to get Banner out of the hospital before it's too late. She enlists the help of a psychiatrist named Dr. Gerald Metzer (played by Scott Marlowe), who has a personal vendetta against Dr. Shaw and is willing to use his connections to help Elaina.

As the episode progresses, the tension builds as Dr. Shaw, Eve, and Banner make plans to escape the hospital, and Dr. Metzer works against them every step of the way. Eventually, they all wind up in the hospital's "quiet room," a padded cell used for patients who are deemed too dangerous to themselves or others. Here, they are able to formulate a plan to escape, but they must be careful not to attract the attention of the hospital staff, or they risk being discovered.

Throughout the episode, we see Banner struggling with his inner demons as he grapples with the fact that he may never be able to control his transformations into the Hulk. He is haunted by visions of the Hulk rampaging through the hospital, and he worries that he will never be able to escape his fate.

At the same time, Dr. Shaw is dealing with her own inner turmoil as she grapples with the guilt of having committed patients to the hospital who may not have needed to be there. She is also dealing with the fact that she has fallen in love with Banner, which poses its own set of challenges.

As the climax of the episode approaches, the tension reaches a fever pitch as Banner and his allies make their escape from the hospital. They are pursued by Dr. Metzer and his cronies, who are determined to stop them at all costs. Throughout this harrowing chase sequence, we see Banner struggling to keep his emotions in check, as he knows that any sudden burst of anger could trigger his transformation into the Hulk.

In the end, our heroes are able to evade their pursuers and make their way to safety, but not before Banner is once again forced to confront his dual nature as both hero and monster. This episode ends on a somber note, as we see Banner once again on the run, with no clear end in sight to his lonely, difficult journey.

Overall, "The Quiet Room" is a gripping, emotionally charged episode that showcases the best of what The Incredible Hulk has to offer. From its well-drawn characters to its suspenseful plot, this episode is a standout in a season full of exceptional television. Whether you're a longtime fan of the show or a newcomer looking for a quality drama, "The Quiet Room" is not to be missed.