The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

A patient at a psychiatric hospital murders the head doctor and seizes control, replacing the entire staff with fellow patients. Their fragile new order is destabilised when an unexpected visitor arrives, complicating the situation and threatening their hold on the ward.

is a programme presented in the form of a single episode. It falls under the genre of a self‑contained drama, offering a compact story that unfolds within the confines of its setting. The title hints at a place that should feel safe, yet the narrative quickly turns that expectation on its head. The central thread follows a resident of a psychiatric hospital who murders the chief medical officer. After committing the killing, the patient seizes control of the facility, dismissing the professional staff and installing fellow patients in their roles. This radical power shift reshapes the daily routine of the institution, turning the ward into a community run by its own inhabitants. Complications arise when an unanticipated visitor arrives at the hospital. The presence of this outsider throws a wrench into the patient‑led hierarchy, creating tension and uncertainty about how the makeshift administration will respond. The episode builds around the clash between the newly established order and the disruptive influence of the surprise guest, leaving the situation far from settled.