Abby Mann's a Child Is Waiting

Nursing and the Arts

Jeanine Young-Mason, EdD, RN, CS, FAAN Column Editor

Abby Mann’s A Child is Waiting

JEANINE YOUNG-MASON, EdD, RN, CS, FAAN

bby Mann, the writer, director, what to do and remorse over their against his better judgment because A and producer of socially con- perceived failures and grief for the loss he feels that music is especially impor- scious scripts for movies and tele- of their child to a life in an institution. tant for the children’s education. He is vision, died on March 28, 2008. He The director, John Cassavetes, cast wary of her lack of experience and was 80 years old. Perhaps, his most child residents of the Pacific State desperate need for this position. A notable script was Judgment at Nu- Hospital in Pomona, California, clash between Dr Clark and Ms remberg, which he produced in 1950 although BKramer modeled the film’s Hansen occurs almost immediately. amongst great controversy. It was nomi- school on the Vineland Training Ms Hansen is drawn to a 6-year-old nated for 11 Oscars; 2 were awarded, School in New Jersey, an internation- boy, Reuben Widdecombe, who has 1 to Maximilian Schell and the other ally renowned institution for their been mute and unresponsive to staff to Mann. Accepting the award, Mann treatment of mentally retarded chil- and other children for nearly 2 years. said to the audience, BI believe that a dren.[3 The film also reveals the strug- She reaches out to him, and he writer worth his salt at all has an gles of the moviemakers themselves. responds to her kindness and atten- obligation not only to entertain but to One believed that the children should tion. Problems arise then when Ms comment on the world in which he Blive with their own kind[ and be Hansen feels she has had a personal lives, not only to comment, but maybe given the chance to learn and succeed success, she feels needed. Her em- have a shot at reshaping the world.[1 within a nurturing environment of the braces and special attention to Reuben It is this social conscience that led institution. The other felt that the and his responses to her embolden her Mann to write the screenplay and then children should learn skills and social- to write to his parents, demanding novel A Child Is Waiting,2 which ization and live in society to the best of that they visit their child. The letter is became a movie by the same name. their capacity.4 against Dr Clark’s orders. Filmed in 1963, it was his and Stanley In the film, Burt Lancaster plays the It is evident in the film that educa- Kramer’s attempt to highlight the lead character, Dr Clark, director of tion and support of families, which we plight of developmentally disabled Crowthorn Training School and a know to be essential, were not always children. The history of the produc- psychiatrist. Judy Garland is Jean available then. Reuben’s parents have tion of this film is a microcosm of the Hansen, a pianist whose life has been been anguished over their inability to dichotomy present in the 1960s about one of loss, failure, and loneliness. She care for their son. They have not how children who were developmen- hopes to work with these children to visited him since he entered the school. tally disabled should be treated. It assuage her loneliness, to give to them Certainly, one senses the primary reveals society’s struggle and parents’ her untapped resources of kindness reason for Reuben’s stark solution anguish over their inability to know and love. She looks at this position as for survivalVhe has been deserted by her last chance to make something of his mother and father and left with her life. this stranger, Dr Clark. And Dr Clark Dr Clark’s philosophy of education and other adults insist that he socialize Corresponding author: Jeanine Young-Mason, EdD, RN, CS, FAAN, Distinguished Professor centers upon methods that teach to and partake in classes and craft proj- Emerita, School of Nursing, University of the individual practical and living ects, all of which he does not know Massachusetts Amherst, 9 Seaview Lane, skills so that each child reaches her/ how to do. He will not submit to Newbury, MA 01951 ([email protected]). his highest level of capability. He has engagement with anyone. He cannot begun designing plans for group verbalize his heartache, which is Clinical Nurse SpecialistA Copyright B 2008 Wolters homes for independent living in the understandable because he lived vir- Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins community.HehiresMsHansen tually alone with his parents and away

VOLUME 22 | NUMBER 4 201

Copyright @ 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited. from other children and society before He challenges her to realize that she isn’t it true that as clinicians, we know coming to the school. cannot weigh her feelings against that dignity is the most important pos- Ms Hansen is astounded and duly theirs. BYou want to take the falls session of all? overwrought when the parental visit for them! You want to coddle them. results in Reuben running away from Youwanttosucklethematyour References 5(p116) the school. She does not fully com- breast.[ Clark paused and then 1. King S. Nuremberg screenwriter Abby prehend that her need to give uncon- pushed on, BI haven’t been able to Mann dies. March 28, 2008. Los Angeles ditional love to this child endangered do one thing for Reuben.[ He said Times. Accessed March 28, 2008. him and was counterproductive. fiercely. BNot one thing. He may never 2. Cassavetes J, director; Kramer S, pro- Reuben is found and brought back to know one moment of happiness here. ducer; Mann A, screenplay. A Child is Crawthorne safely. Still, he has not But I’d rather go down that way, Waiting. Hollywood: United Artists; been helped and only feels more bereft fighting for one inch of his dignity, 1963. than before. In the ensuing confron- than to have him denatured by your 3. Turner Classics Movies (TCM). A [5(p117) child is waiting. http://www.tcm.com. tation between Clark and Hansen, feeling for him. Accessed February 27, 2008. she accuses him of not knowing how Strong words from a man fighting 4. Turner Classics Movies (TCM). http:// the children feel. He hotly reminds for the dignity of children whose right www.TCM.com. February 27, 2008:1. her that every person who works in to a full life has been thwarted by 5. Mann, Abby. A Child Is Waiting. New the institution feels for the children. society’s ignorance of that right. And York, NY: Popular Library; 1963.

A 202 CLINICAL NURSE SPECIALIST