dr. randolph mason, leader of the research team at miami's forbes medical centre makes medical history by claiming a 100% remission rate for a particular type of cancer called medulloblastoma. newly qualified doctor sean murphy arrives at forbes determined to expand his own work in oncogenes, but is frustrated by dr. mason and dr. levy, his boss at forbes, who deny him permission. unknown to sean, his girlfriend janet reardon follows him to miami. she wants to confront him about his devotion to her and discuss their future, a topic avoided by sean at all times. thrown into the equation are tom widdicomb, a housekeeper at the forbes hospital, who keeps his dead mother in a freezer at home and 'helps' breast cancer patients escape life since that is what his mother died of, and sushita industries, the japanese financial backers of forbes.