[waves crashing]
In the small but thrivingtown of Yucca City.
[druming with pencil]
[machine sound]
Here's another one.
Irene baker.
Here's
,,,, house calls.
September and early October.
And it says hereare two stewing hens.
And then it's marked Paid in full.
You know Irene Baker, She's a widow.
Well, all right, so she's a widow.So you don't charge her much.
The point is, Doctor,I have to report
your income in dollars and cents.
There's no tax rateschedule set up on.
Stewing hens and boxesof apples and all these
other things you haveentered in the book.
But, Dewey, some of ourpeople don't have very much.
I can't ask them for money.
While I'm not saying youhave to get tough about it.
You don't have tostring them up with
the thongs if theydon't pay right away
-It's just that I-Wait.
Have take Irene Baker, for instance.
She didn't have to payme anything, she knew that.
But these two hens werecleaned and dressed,
and she walked all the way in fromher place miles to bring them here
for our Sunday dinner.
Alright.
All I'm saying,Doctor, is that you've
got to get this ona business basis.
Look,
Now, here's what I mean.Now, here's Irene Baker
that we were talkingabout at five house calls.
Now, let's suppose,just for the record,
that you figurehouse calls at $.
Well, that's twenty fivedollars here on the book
Well, if she can't pay, we'llcross it off later as a bad debt.
You save time for bothof us. Let me say this
I will not enter into my books.
That Irene Baker owesme $ or $ or even $..
She doesn't. And thesame thing goes for
all those other peopleyou asked me about.
Doc.
Listen.
You don't understand.
Now, you would have to send Irenea bill as far as that goes, but
It's just between Irene andyou and me and uncle Sam.
This is just to keepthe record straight.
And that's my point, too. Iwant to keep the record straight.
I don't want you or UncleSam or anybody else to look
at my books and get theidea that Annie owes me $.
All right.
I'll just do thebest I can that's all.
Try to figure thefair market value on.
-Stewing Hens.-I'm sorry, Dewey.
They used to have thesame kind of arguments
with your father,God rest his soul.
[machine sound]
Look, I'm sorry, but I can'tunderstand you. Who is this?
Oh.
Ah.
Just a minute.
Dear, it's Ed Humphrey. Hewants dad to come right out.
Here I'll take.
Hello, Ms. Humphrey.
No, no it's Dr. Roth.
call for me Lynn?
Yes, dad, it is. It's Ed Humphrey.
He wants you to come rightout about his wife. But why don't
you let Perry take the call?You've been on the go all day.
Honey, Ed Humphrey won'tlisten to anybody but me,
and he won't even listento me, far as that goes.
-Oh, dad.-I'll take it, son
Hello, Ed. This is Doc
Hmm.
Alright.
I'll be out there in minutes
[putting telephone down]There'sa bad situation out there, Perry.
She needs surgery.Dad won't listen to it.
Surgery is not necessary.
Well, then why don't you putyour foot down? Tell him if he won't
take your advice, he'll have tostop taking up so much of your time.
Oh, Ed's. All right. You justhave to understand him, that's all.
Dad, how long will yoube? Do you have any idea?
Well, I might haveto take her to the
hospital. That is, ifI can talk Ed into it
Well, you better say good nightto Bobby. Come on, honey. Say
good night to Grandpa. Youhave to be in bed in a half an hour.
Big bear hug.
Good night, grandpa.
Ah, that's fine.
Good night, little man.
-Sleep good.-I will
Thank you.
[door closing]
Tonight of all night
-I could have told you.-I know.
Is it time for a Peter Pan daddy?
It sure is. Let's go.
Good night sweetie.
Hey, Daddy, wait for me.
Come on, let's go.
Dewey. He's gone.
Well, you know howsoon he's going to be back?
He may have to takeVelma Humphrey to
the hospital. And ifhe does, we're sam
he has to come home sooner or later.
Look, let's get on the phone,get everybody over here
while he's gone. We'll justwait him out if we have to.
That's a wonderful idea. Go ahead.
Look, I've got something to show you
See?
-Oh, no. Not another one.-[laugh]
Mrs. Camp brought in while you're inthe den with dad.
Isn't it beautiful?
You know, we're goingto be knee deep and
birthday cakes beforethis night is over.
What's that now? Nine?
It will be ten,counting the one your
mother said shewas going to bring.
[door opening]
[door closing]
Lynn.
I'm home.
Lynn.
[singing birthday song]
Happy birthday.
Thank you guys. This is nice.
Look who is here.
All noise make me gald to behappy on the birthday [laugh]
Not say that, Doc.
when folks get about our age,
where we just can't affordto be good sport about it.
I don't agree with you, Irene.
And don't you young sproutsever get the idea that it's
a penalty to grow old. No,sir. It's an achievement.[laughs]
Oh, no, Roth when youdoc with me. [laugh]
You know, you're just awhistling with hour.[laugh]
Oh, come on doc,now you are grown up.
[laugh and chattering]
we're going to have icecream and cake later, that is,
we are, as soon as Elmogets here with the ice cream.
[laugh]And you know Elmo,
That doc hasn't had anysupper yet. Now, why not feed
him first? Then we'll allhave our dessert together
Would you like that, dear?
Oh, no, honey,I'm not that hungry.
I'll wait for the icecream and cake.
[laugh] You'll never grow upto be a big boy like that, Doc.
No, really.
I guess you got kindof used to missing
meals. Allthese years, huh, doc.
You rememberwhen raven was born?
You come seven milesthrough a blizzard.
I remember.
you never ate muchthat night. I bet.
hours coming there and hours of me in labor.
hours to get there.It sounds like Nothing.
How about the timeHank and me were tapped
up in Mount Baldy?Remember that, Doc?
you think I could forget it, Joe.
Excuse me, but now I think myhusband wants to say something.
Perry.
[clapping] Well I
think you all rememberwhen I came here as
Dr. Whitfield's assistantseven years ago.
My first consultation wason the afternoon I arrived
They brought in ayoung boy whose arm had
been m*nled in anautomobile accident.
There was really onlyone thing to do amputate.
I knew it and Dr. Whitfield knew it
But as he pointed out,there was one chance in a
hundred that we might beable to save the boy's arm.
Well, I can truthfullysay that I stood there in
the operating room thatday and witnessed a miracle.
Well.
It was Johnny'sidea to come here and play
the piano for Dr. Whitfieldon his birthday.
Johnny's way of saying thanks.
Take him out. Johnny [claping]
Could I have yourattention a moment, please?
I reckon you all know thatPete and me were on the committee
to find a birthdaypresent for Doc here
For his birthday.
I thought we are. ButI'd like to say this first
I guess you all knowthat the State Highway
Department is putting anew sign at the city limits.
And they've asked us to takedown the old sign which has
been standing there for thepast years just north of south.
Have you got it there?
Bring it in.
Now, as I recollect,ten years ago our
population was lessthan , remember?
Oh, I remember when itwas less than . [laugh]
Now, there's hardlybeen a baby born here
but what Dr. Whitfieldhas delivered it?
here's a lot of us alivetoday that wouldn't be alive.
if it hadn't been forDoc. So Pete and me
we went to Mr. McTavish and wehad him make us a little extra sign.
And we figured to give thatto Doc for his birthday present.
All right, Julie, bring her on.
Thanks to Dr. M.Whitfield [clapping]
Thanks to you, Joe andPete and To all the rest of you.
I don't exactlyknow what to say.[laugh]
Could you come here?
Excuse me just a minute.
I took the call ofRosette Humphrey. His
wife has begun tohemorrhage pretty badly.
I told him that hehad to get it in the
hospital, but we bethere by the time she
arrives. That's wherethey've been driving.
You better comealong with me, son.
[music]
I don't like these onechance and deals.
You don't win consistentlyagainst odds like that.
I'm going to go and tell him.He's waiting down the hall.
No.
There's one thing I have neverlearned in all my years of practice.
What's the merciful way. To tellhim that his wife has just d*ed.
[music]
Ed.
Well how is she doc.
Sit down, Ed. I want to talk to you.
You know, sometimes thingswe plan don't exactly work out.
Sometimes they're taken out ofour hands and then we have to stay
Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
She's dead, ain't she?
We did everything wecould, but it was too late
You m*rder her.You'll pay for this. Yes, you will.
[music]
You know, afterthe party, you can
imagine how manycakes we had left over.
But dad always asks for apiece of your banana cake
Oh, bless his soul.
-He's such a sweet one-That he is.
And now there's Ed Humphreytrying to make trouble.
I don't think that'sanything to worry about.
Well, I tell you,Lynn, I get so mad
at that Ed Humphreythat I could just
scratch his eyes out. Him,of all people, by the very idea.
Yeah, well Dad saysit's just a reaction.
Naturally, Mr. Humphreywould be upset after
losing his wife and thatwe shouldn't blame him.
Well, whose fault was it that VelmaHumphrey d*ed? I ask you that.
It was Ed's fault, andeverybody knows that.
Why, he wouldn't even let yourpa operate when he wanted you
- Yes, I know.- he was a gim hospital
Ed Humphrey.
Well, him now, trying tobring a lawsuit against your Pa.
Let me get on thatjury. I can tell him that.
Well, it may never come to trial.
Well, if it does,all I wish for is to
get on that jury.That's all I wish for.
Come on, let's talkabout something else.
Oh, well, I just can't thinkabout anything else right now.
How about another piece of cake?
Oh, well. [laugh]
[music]
I just don't understandwhy you would
try such a thingin the first place
You must learn to makeallowances, my dear
You see, peopleget upset and they
do things theywouldn't do ordinarily
I know, I know, dad. Butthis I don't understand.
I mean, surely hemust know that he's
responsible for his wife's death.
No, he doesn't.
Well, how could he not know it?
Because he can't force himselfto face the truth, that's all.
Oh.
So he blames you.
Ridiculous. Dragging youinto court, charging malpractice.
Poor thing. He must have been upset
[door bell rings]
I'll get it there.
Yes.
Mr. Humphrey,
I want to see DocWhitfield. Where's he at?
What is it you wantto see him about?
I want to see your Pa. Himand me got something to talk over.
Please leave myfather alone. Willie, you
had your chancein court. It was all..
It was all what do you mean Ihad my chance to all a big frame
up. They threw my case outbefore I had a chance to talk.
Mr. Humphrey.
I don't understandyou. What's gotten into
you? Well, you don'teven make any sense
Look, I've known youever since I was on Little girl
Lynn, where's your pa?
Oh, Ed
I thought I heardyour voice out here.
I want to talk to you doc.
Good. I was hoping you'dcome and have a talk with
me. Go on in here. Wecan have a nice long talk.
It won't take me long tosay what I'm going to say.
Dad.
That won't be a minute, dear
[door closing]
Dr. Roth please.
Perry.
It is Lynn.
I was just wondering, whendo you think you'll be home?
No, it isn't that.
Perry, look, EdHumphrey just came to the
house and he's in theden with dad right now.
Perry looks sostrange. I don't trust him.
[f*ring b*llet]
Dad!
Dad!
Dad!
Dad.
Oh, no. [crying]
Dad, oh, dad. [crying]
[music]
He don't mean it. Not Doc whitfield.
It was this Humphrey sh*t him.Lynn was right there in the house.
They catch him and hepleads temporary insanity.
Well I just don'tthink that's right.
[police siren]
deliberate cold bloodedmurder that's what it is.
This time is to talkand times to act.
And this here is a time to act
We're all meetingback a Wombler store
[music]
If there's enoughof us out b*ating
the bushes, how'she going to get away?
[music]
You know how everyone in thistown felt about your father.
It's a dangeroussituation, Lynn. They're
all gathering behindWampler's store.
I tell you it's gettingto be an unruly mob.
Oh, look, I've tried totalk to them, but they
won't listen to me.They would listen to you.
For heaven's sake, Perry,haven't you got any feeling at all?
This man k*lled my father.He sh*t him down in cold blood
And now you'reasking me to go down
there and tell thosemen it's all right.
Lynn, would you please listen to me?
Oh, Perry
there's somethingugly going to happen
in this town if thatmob isn't stopped.
What do you mean there'ssomething ugly going to happen?
Something ugly has already happened.
Oh, Lynn.
Your father was afine, decent man.
This is no fitting tribute to hismemory, this mass hysteria.
Well, if he asked my opinion,I think they have a right to
be hysterical. And I forone am very glad that they are.
Oh, honey, pleasedon't talk like that.
You don't mean it,you're...You're just upset.
Upset.
I'm just sick with the uselessnessof this all horrible dread.
Alright.
I'm going backdown there now and
try to talk to those men,try to reason with them.
Do you want me to stop by and bringBobby home when I come back to them?
No, I want him in his house.Not until after the funeral.
[music]
Well, he said he was goingdown to Walmart store.
Oh.
Well, then maybe youbetter try the hospital. I
know he has an appointmentthere this afternoon.
Yeah.
Yes, of course. Ifhe does come back,
I'll have him callhim, Ms. Pembleton.
Alright, yes.
Yes, certainly.
Thanks very much, but I really'drather not talk about it now
[loading g*n]
Yeah.
Get in here. Lynn.
Mr. Humphrey
what are you doing here?
I'm going to hide here.
It's the last place they look. Andthey're looking for me, you know.
Yes, I know.
Get over there and be quiet.Get over there.
Is that my father's going?And you've got.
yeah, and it's loaded.
Mr. Humphrey that's...
Shut up, shut up and listen.
They're getting closer.
Yes. Sounds likethey're coming right here
Alright, Lynn.
I'm going to stand herein this doorway, see?
I'm going to have this gunaim right square at your back
I want no funny business.
I don't know what you mean.
Now you get out thereand open that front door.
Tell him I'm not hereand you ain't seen me.
I'll give me plenty of them if youtell them I'm here. After I get you.
Now get out there
[music]
Get out there. Did you.
Yeah, I can hear him.
Don't forget him.
I'll be standing right here withthis g*n aim square at your back.
Yes.
[door knocking]
Lynn, you haven't seen EdHumphrey around here, have you?
Look, somebody said theysaw him in the neighborhood.
Lynn, we're going to findthat dirty rat, and when
we do, he's going tocurse the day he was born.
I give you my word, Lynn, whenwe find him, I'm going to k*ll him.
With my bare hands,I am going to k*ll him.
I'll tell you what I'm going to do.I'm going to listen to him when he
starts to beg. I'mgoing to look him
right in the eye andlaugh in his face.
That dirty skunk.The last thing he's
going to hear isme laughing at him.
Johnny. What's happened?
Lynn? You didn't tellus. Have you seen him?
No.
All right, come on.
[shouting]
[door closing]
You played it realsmart, Lynn. Real smart.
How could they change, so?
Good thing you didn'ttry. No funny business.
I could have got twoof them, maybe three.
You couldn't have shotanybody. That g*n won't fire.
Yes, it will. It's loaded.
I tried to tell youbefore, Mr. Humphrey
My father took the f*ring pin out ofthat r*fle the day Bobby was born.
[loading g*n]
Why did you tellhim I were here if
you know thereweren't no f*ring pin?
Because.
I saw the same hate intheir eyes as I saw in yours.
And it didn't look any betteron them than it looks on you.
You know it all the timeI couldn't fire the g*n
You know all the time youcould have told him I was
here and there weren'tnothing I could do about it,
But you didn't tell.
I never thought you'd bethe one that helped me.
I'm not helping you.
But I'm trying tohelp those men.
I am trying to keep themfrom doing something
they'll be sorry for forthe rest of their lives.
They're good, decentmen, Ordinarily.
They're not mean,they're not cruel.
I want you to callthe sheriff and tell
them to come out hereand get you right now.
The sheriff? You thinkI'm crazy. I won't do it.
I you call him orI'm going to scream
for that mob to come back in here.
No. I haven't even got to go.They k*ll me. They tell me to be
No, they would know it. That'swhy you've got to call the sheriff.
At least you got protectionfrom him. You'll have a fair trial.
No I can't believe.
Please listen to him out there.
It's got to be onething or the other.
Now, either I scream for them to
come in here, oryou call the sheriff
Hey, fellas, maybe he's over here.
This is Ed Humphrey.Get me the sheriff.
[music]
02x15 - Evil for Evil
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The program began with the premise that each drama was an answer to a question asked in her fan mail; the program's original title was Letter to Loretta.
The program began with the premise that each drama was an answer to a question asked in her fan mail; the program's original title was Letter to Loretta.