Watch LookMovie. Somebody Waiting is a 1971 American short documentary film that examines hospitalized children with severe cerebral dysfunction who are among the most physically, emotionally and mentally handicapped in society and are totally dependent on hospital staff. It shows how these "hopeless cases" can be helped by environmental stimulation and therapeutic handling and how their response to improved care improves the morale of the staff so that all concerned benefit. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short.