Larry McAfee is paralyzed from the neck down following a motorcycle accident. He gradually loses the will to live, in the meantime befriending a talk radio DJ over the phone. The two meet each other and become friends, though Larry still wishes to end his life. The DJ reluctantly has a switch installed on Larry's life support that Larry can activate at any time (via his mouth) to end his life.
Acting
Gary Cole's face acting while motionless is devastating.
Writing
The switch itself: a prop that carries impossible weight.
Director
Bobby Roth
Gary Cole
Larry McAfee
Craig T. Nelson
Russ Fine
Kathleen Nolan
Larry's Mother
Chris Mulkey
Bill
L. Scott Caldwell
Mrs. Linson
Max Gail
Judge Johnson
David Purdham
Davis
Richard Redlin
Franklin Clark (as Richard Robert Redlin)
Hinton Battle
Hildred Shumake
Henry G. Sanders
Hank
Timothy Scott
Larry's Father (as Tim Scott)
James Harper
Staff Doctor
Gina Gallego
ICU Nurse
Jessie Nelson
Elizabeth Garland
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This aired during the height of the Dr. Kevorkian media frenzy and the Nancy Cruzan right-to-die case, making it uncomfortably timely 'issue TV.'
US
