shot of tipps graduation photo



tipps and you go to clinic



SUPER: Seymour, Texas



walking in downtown



meeting clothing store guy



more on street



optional palaver between Gene and Harley.



women he knew introduces herself



OPTIONAL: Tipps on porch swing with his being interviewed and photographed by reporters



setup shot inside interviewed watching TV newscast




Initials


Think you ought to mention in lead fact that this fellow tips, 28 years old, was blotto for eight of his years...that following routing ???-bladder surgery last he came out of time in a trance. He not fully recovered yet and his rip van winkle-like "sleep" 2 has left him somewhat dazed because of all changes in world.
we unable to film in hospital because doctor had mixed idea.
FIRST GRAF AND GRAD PIC COULD BE USED AS LEAD MATERIAL STED PART OF FILM PACKAGE.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Gene Tipps was 20 years old... about to graduate from junior college...when he wrecked his car and almost killed himself. The year was 1967 and the accident caused Tipps' mind to go blank for 8 years.

His sudden recovery amazes doctors at the local hospital and his mother, who was first at his bedside.

He says his home town of Seynour, Texas feels the same to his...but the world outside is dramatically different.

At the time of his accident, Lyndon Johnson was President, there was a war in Vietnam and Gene Tipps was facing the draft. When he came to it was all history. He thinks he has vague recollections of men walking on the moon..and sometime called watergate...but he isn't sure.

But the biggest surprise for gene Tipps is the of the people he knew before.

He still has difficulty speaking... something his doctors think will correct itself, given time. But he's perfectly willing so talk about what's happened to him.

Gene Tipps may have to have surgery to make his eyes focus property. Because of his blurry vision, he can't read .. so he trip to catch up on things by watching TV newscasts. As soon as he's able...he wants to finish college. And in the meantime...he's going to try to figure out whether the world he is better or worse than the one he left behind. George Lewis . NBC News, Seymour, Texas.