Cuckoo's Nest Part IV

Leading up to Part IV, Nurse Ratched's authority over the men in the ward declined as McMurphy's influence on them continued to grow stronger, especially on the fishing trip. The men of the ward trusted McMurphy, admired him, and respected him. Nurse Ratched realized how influential he was on the men that she attempts to tarnish his profile by posting the patients' financial statements, highlighting the fact that everyone's finances have been declining except for McMurphy's. Everyone begins to question McMurhpy's character and motives, but Harding points out that McMurphy was never shy about his motives.

However, Nurse Ratched's attempt to divide the patients and ostracize McMurphy fails. The rest of the men, especially Bromden continually stick by his side. When Nurse Ratched orders everyone who attended the fishing trip to be cleansed, Bromden and McMurphy together fight the aides who try to force George to take a shower. Because of this, both Bromden and McMurphy are sent to Disturbed and sentanced electric shock therapy.

In his absence, the men's respect for McMurphy continues to grow, which causes Nurse Ratched to take him out of Disturbed. The guys encourage him to escape, and they formulate a plan after they have a drunken orgy with Candy and Sandy with large amounts of alcohol with the help of Turkle. However, their plans fall through. When the aides discover what happened the prior night, Nurse Ratched does some of her own investigating, finding Billy with Candy. She threatens to tell his mother which leads him to a crying plea to keep it a secret. She sends him to Dr. Spivey's office where he commits suicide on his way there. Then she asks McMurphy if he is satisfied, then retreats to her office. McMurphy smashes through the glass and attempts to strangle her. She is sent to the hospital and returns a week later with a large bandage on her throat, unable to speak. She orders a lobotomy for McMurhpy as a consequence for his attack. When he returns, he is in a vegetative state. Bromden, the one who always stood by McMurphy, despite his ways, smothers him with a pillow, putting his friend out of his misery. Having gone through enough Bromden throws the control panel through the window, and makes his own escape.