1
Dig, man!
Come on, Josh.
Come on, man. Look, you're
just asking for trouble. - Chicken?
Look, man,
I don't play that.
Who's there?
What do you want?
We want the doctor.
It's an emergency.
What's going on out there?
- Sam, Sam...
Who's ringing the
bell like that?
Sam, please e don't aggravate
yourself. It's just some boys.
Wait till I get my hands on
that punk ringing the bell.
Who does
he think he is?
Be careful Sam, who
knows what they're up to.
Sarah, call for an
ambulance. Call a cop.
Young punks. A neighborhood
full of galoots.
No, no, no, no. It's alright,
they've gone, they've gone.
You're all rigig, you're all right.
What's wrong? What happened?
What is this? Ladies night
in a Turkish Bath? Go back to bed.
Go on home, all of you.
She's alright.
There's no free show tonight.
No blood. Nothing to gossip about.
Go on, home. Go on.
It's alright.
That's Abelman, always got
a chip on his shoulder.
No wonder he loses
patients all the time.
Patients like you and
your family I don't need.
You still owe me for your old
man's hernia. - Sam. Come up here.
Stop fighting the whole world.
- Okay, break it up, please.
Come on.
One side, one side.
Ah, am I glad
to see you.
Some galoots
dropped her here.
We called for an ambulance.
They should move her on a stretcher,
in case something's fractured.
What's your
name, Mac? - Mac?
Who's Mac?
- You are.
If I say you're Mac,
that's your name.
That's not my name.
I'm a doctor.
You want to address me, you'll
read my name off the sign. - Excuse me.
Uncle Doc, what's
wrong? What happened?
Ah, who knows.
THE LAST ANGRY MAN
Based on the Novel
by GERALD GREEN
Hello, Daily Mirror?
The night desk, please.
Hey, Mr. Bennett? Mr. Bennett,
this is Myron Malkin.
Listen, I got a great
human interest piece.
The real heartbreak stuff.
You got a second?
Myron, don't you
copy boys over sleep?
Nah, I'm talented.
Anyways, the city editor said I ought to try
writing some feature stuff, you remember?
I do, but does he? Okay, wait
a minute. It's a slow night.
We may need some filler
for the home edition.
Let her rip.
"Somewhere in this great
stone city, a heart beats."
"It is faint at times, but it
is there, when the city sleepss"
"and tragedy stalks the poor."
No, I didn't say anything.
It's a little fency, Myron,
but keep it coming.
New York
Mirror
Yes, Alice?
- Hey, I got a good notice.
Uh- huh. - Remember that
half- hour I did for Johnson?
Alright. Yes, I'll tell him.
Sure, he'll be there in
plenty of time. Thanks for calling.
"Excellent TV fare produced
with taste by Woodrow Thrasher."
Isn't that nice?
- Woody, that was the office.
Alice just said that Mr. Loomer hit
the panic button. - Well, that figures.
Hey, how do you like
this for an opening?
"Somewhere in this great stone
city a heart beats."
Woody, he's called a meeting
in for 10:30 with...
Well, whatever his name is,
the sponsor. - Gattling, dear.
Gattling Products. Our source of
health and happiness. For free.
Woody, don't spill coffee
on that suit, please.
Alice said that he didn't like your.
- Well, it was no good in the first place.
You knew it?
But you were telling me all
last weekend how great it was.
Honey, I had to
sell myself first.
That was before I found out
what Gattling thought.
If the sponsor don't like it,
I don't like it, get it?
Well, does that mean that they may
cancel the series or get a new producer?
Not necessarily. Old Dad
hasn't talked to Gattling yet.
Listen, don't get
yourself in a lather.
I get some of my
best ideas driving in.
I'll get a gimmick before
I hit the Triborough Bridge.
Woody, do you have to
take that? - What, Dexedrine?
Listen honey, I'm a slow waker-upper.
I've got to get those wheels moving.
What's the matter with
that? - Nothing, I guessss.
Except it seems that the wheels
just have to move faster.
More angles, more gimmicks...
- Listen, don't knock 'em.
They got us out of that crummy
apartment on 63rd Street.
You don't have to worry about the kids
being mugged on the way to school.
What else do you want?
- If you'd really like to know,
I'd like to have a smaller mortgage
and a lower stack of these bills.
Woody, aren't you even going to
look at these? - I'll look at 'em tonight.
Honey, I'll pay the bills.
I'll even reduce the mortgage.
All I want to do is sell
this series to Gattling.
All I need is one little gimmick...
- "One little gimmick, ". "One more angle."
Well, call it anything you like,
just so it sells Gattling Product.
Just so Gattling can see some tie-up
between drugs and medical supplies...
Hey!
Now what?
- A gimmick!
And if it works,
the best. Here.
What's this?
A doctor in Brooklyn?
Well, he's a doctor, he's colorful.
He must dispense pills of some kind.
Here. Call Alice.
Tell her I'll be late.
Where is this place? Haven Place,
Brooklyn. I'll have to ask a cop.
Well, what about dinner?
I'll call you later. People have been
known never to get out of Brooklyn alive.
Look out, man!
Hey, man, move
it out of there!
My man, you parked on the wrong
side of the street. Now, move the vehicle.
Hey, man, I'm
talking to you.
You'u' too early
for office hours.
I'm not a patient. You
came back at one o'clock
I just want to talk to the doctor.
- You're a drug salesman, huh?
What you pushin' today,
goof- balls? - Here.
Come on!
- Take me to the doctor.
Save it, I'm his
nephew. This way.
Well, where is he? - Hey,
you're pretty ananous, aren't ya?
Look, just introduce me to the doctor.
I'll get you a nice new basketball.
Funny.
Wait here. I'll see if he
wants to talk to you.
Hey, Uncle Doc!
Hey, we made it!
Hey, we made The Mirror!
We made The Mirror. Right on page five.
We made it right here, look! - What
are you hollering about? What is this?
A four-column spread. It's all
about you. I wrote it. - Congratulations.
Call me when you win
the Pulitzer Prize.
Aw, come on, Uncle Doc. It's about
what happened here last night. Listen.
"A Good Samaritan of the
slum." That's great, huh?
And, "A girl, nameless,
faceless, alone."
"Dumped on a doctor's doorstop
by unknown hoododms."
"The doctor, Samuel Abelman, M.D. for
45 years, a general practitioner..."
You. You wrote that
about me? In the paper?
That's all I need.
Now every nut in the world will start
ringing my bell in the middle of the night.
What are you kicking about? A
little publicity couldn't hurt ya?
It could bring patients. - Ah. Next
you'll want me to give door prizes, huh?
It could help.
- Your nephew is right, dr. Abelman.
Who are you? - Uh, this guy
wants to sell you something.
No, no, no, no. - Oh, what?
Storm windows? Insurance?
Sorry, buddy, the wrong customer.
- No, I'm not a salesman.
Hey, hey. Wait,
wait, wait, wait!
Not a salesman, eh?
It's a always a personal,
friendly call.
And before I know it, I've bought
twenty volumes on the history of religion.
Nice going, Ivy League.
Now, listen, this article by your
nephew, that's what brought me out here.
I was right.
It starts already.
Every pest with a
smart idea is coming out
because you, Myron, had
to put me in the newspaper.
Come on! - Look, why don't
you go practice some foul shots
while I talk to your uncle.
Do you have a television set?
Don't try to sell
me another one.
Do you know Channel 3,
Federated Broadcasting Company?
Well, I'm a producer for them.
Here's my card. My name's Thrasher.
When I saw that article this
morning, it occurred to me
thah you'd make a good subject
for a television program.
I don't mind telling you
I was quite impressed.
What you did for that girl, that was
real drama. - Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
What? You going to
write a play about me?
No, no, no.
- Forget it, sonny boy.
No, not a play. This is live
television from your house.
A visit with you. Your family, your
patients, your friendly neighbors.
Caught you, you galoot!
Oh, shut up.
Shut up Abelman.
You smell up the whole
block with that fertilizer.
A little garbage
wouldn't hurt.
How do you like a
galoot like that?
Well, why should he throw
garbage in your back yard? - Why?
Because he's one of
my "friendly neighbors."
What do you think this is,
Park Avenue? The Ritz?
Fourty years ago, I had a fight
with him about the property line.
And I proved that he was wrong
and he's still angry with me.
Doctor, this television
program could make you famous.
Everyone in the United States will
know Sam Abelman, M.D. - Not interested.
People wait a lifetime for
a chance like this.
I don't know what
you're talking about.
I'm no actor. I don't
like television.
You want me to sell cough-drops.
- No. - Besides, I've got office hour.
Will you listen to this guy?
- Don't bother me!
You know what you're doing? You know
what you're throwing away over here?
The whole opportunity!
Look, I'm sorry
I mouthed off at you.
If you would have told me
what you were here for
maybe I could have
helped you, you know?
Now listen a minute, will you
Mr. Thrasher? Don't be sore.
I know I can help you.
No kidding. I can get him to
go on your program. Honest.
Uncle Doc's a character. He's against
everything the first time he hears about it.
He's woring about some guy
in Flatbush with a sore throat.
Are most of his patients from around
here? - Yeah, it ain't easy on him, see,
because the real poor
people have to go to clinics.
And the on with a little
dough, they go to specialists.
Guten Morgen.
- Guten Morgen.
What'd they say to you? - They just
wanted to know if the doctor was in.
This guy comes once a week for a
diathermy treatment. Two bucks.
And he brings a buddy from some charity,
cause he knows Uncle Doc is a soft touch.
Yeah, it's all very interesting. I'm
sure he'd be tremendously colorful.
But he's already turned me down.
- Would you wait a minute? He'd be terrific.
And maybe I can even
help you with the show.
Yeah, I suppose so. - No, wait already.
I got an idea, it may not work.
Look, you got five minutes. Please,
let me tell you how we bean work it.
Why didn't I think about this before? Oh,
Mr. Thrasher, here, I'll get these for you.
Hot, ain't it? Aunt Sarah keeps
the heat going full blast around here.
Here, let me take that for you.
That's what I want to talk to you about.
The steam heat, you mean? - No, aunt
Sarah. Here, sit down. Make yourself at home.
See, that's uncle doc's wife,
aunt Sarah. - Aunt Sarah, you mean?
Yeah, that's my idea. See, uncle
doc beefs with her all the time.
But he does
everything she says.
She likes television. If you pardon
the expression, he thinks it stinks.
But she says Ed Murrow and them
sunday think programs are real large, see?
Myron, I'm not here
to conduct a survey.
Will you... Will you let me
talk, please?
Now, this is my idea.
If I can get Aunt Sarah on my side,
we're swinging, don't you understand?
Is it office hours, yet?
- Yes, he's expecting you, Mrs. Quincy.
How do you like that?
- What's that?
Josh Quincy, must have seen
him playing football outside.
His old lady's been trying to
get him in here for a month. - Why?
He's got fits or
something, I don't know.
Listen. What I'm trying to
tell you about Aunt Sarah.
If we can get her on our side, we
got it made. You know what I mean?
Listen to me,
he's trying to help you!
He's a doctor,
let him help you.
Josh, no. No, no, you can't do
this. Let the doctor help you.
He's only trying
to help you Josh. No, Josh.
No, you are sick, you
need this doctor. Please.
Relax, Sonny boy.
Free lollypops today.
Name and address?
Quincy. He's Josh Quincy.
607 Rowan avenue.
What's wrong with him?
Well, he's been having fits.
Last night he fell down, and
he bounced, and he jumped. - Fits?
You wait inside there
and I'll look him over.
Take your cap off,
you're in somebody's house.
You want to give
yourself a manicure,
you'll be more
comfortable sitting.
Put the baloney slicer away.
I said put it away!
Now...
We're going to have
a nice, comfortable chat.
How old are you?
- Eighteen.
Eighteen.
You go to school?
Do you work? - No, man.
That's for squares, man.
Yeah. You're a smart man.
Hot stuff, aren't you?
I wonder how touough you are
without that cheese dagger.
Come on!
I want to see how strong a
galoot like you is. Sit down.
That's a tough kid in there.
- Uncle Doc will handle him.
Last week a punchy fighter
took a swing at him.
Uncle Doc dropped him
right there with one punch.
You want to see something? Come
here, I'll show you something.
Come on.
We'll have a little
hand racing.
Put your elbow down there.
Go ahead. Come on, come, come.
Now, when I say "Three."
Ready?
One.
Two.
Three!
How does that arm feel?
Tired? Numb?
I feel a little tired.
- Uh-huh.
I want you to repeat a
sentence after me.
"Around the rugged rock",
"the ragged rascal ran."
Go ahead.
What for?
I want t to get you a job as
President of Columbia University.
So I have to see
that you talk nice.
Go ahead, say it.
"Around the ragged rock,
the ragged rascal ran."
No. You're trying
to mix me up. That's...
Will you stop being a
horse's neck for ten minutes?
Get undressed.
Do you really want
a job in television?
You kidding? You mean like
an assistant or something?
You get your aunt to tell
the old man to do this show
and I'll get you a
vice presidency.
See you later.
Loomer, I don't think that
there's anything left to discuss.
I don't like
this presentation.
Nobody would watch
a show I like this.
Nobody would buy
my drugs if they did.
Well, I realize it needs some
firming up, Mr. Gattling.
A little finalizing here and there.
- No, no. It's bad. It's dull.
I couldn't possibly put a million and
a half dollars into a thing like this.
All right, now suppose... - I'll
tell you something else, Loomer.
I don't tolerate rudeness.
This man Thrasher of yours,
who was supposed to produce this,
he doesn't even
show up at our meeting.
Can't you control your
people? - A call came in...
I think we've been
here long enough, let's go.
Well a call came in and I can't tell...
- Well here's your hat, sir.
Gentlemen, I'm sorry.
My car broke down
on the Merritt Parkway.
Didn't that towing
service call in for home?
Oh, yes. That must
have been the call
that I lost before the
meeting, Mr. Thrasher.
Thrasher, Mr. Gattling has just
decided to drop "Americans USA."
I won't ask him to repeat
his objections to your work.
He just feels that your
choice of subjects is dull.
He's right. Just a minute, Mr. Gattling.
I knew this presentation was stiff.
That's why I didn't break
my neck getting down here.
I wasn't particularly
interested in attending a funeral...
Thrasher, suppose we
talk about this later?
This show is your responsibility.
- Yes. And every word in this brochure
was stuffed down my throat by
my superiors in this department.
Hearts and flowers.
Old ladies who work in
needlepoint tapestries.
That isn't what I had in
mind for "Americans USA."
Do you remember our
original concept, Mr. Gattling?
Real people,
doing real things.
Useful, dramatic lives. People
whose every waking minute is drama.
I bet I can find a surefire subject for
our program in this stack of newspapers.
I haven't seen the papers yet,
so bear with me for a second.
Here. "Global flyers
break record."
"Living costs hold line."
Here's something...
"A Good Samaritan
of the slum."
Yes, now this is
what I was talking about.
"Somewhere in this great
stone city, a heart beats."
"It is faint at times,
but it is there."
"You can hear the beat in the
lonely hours of the morning",
"when tragedy stalks
the poor."
"A girl nameless,
faceless, alone",
"dumped on a doctor's doorstep
by unknown assailants."
"The doctor, Samuel Abelman, M.D.
for 45 years"
"a general practitioner
in a Brooklyn slum."
Gentleman, there's our man.
That's "Americans, USA."
Drama, truth, real people.
You don't know this man,
you've never even seen him.
He might be a Red,
or a quack.
Excuse me. What was that
phrase again, Thrasher? - Sir?
Something about a
good samaritan?
Oh. "Good Samaritan
of the slum."
How long will it take you to give
me a presentation on this doctor?
Six days.
- You've got three.
Lunch withthike McGail at 21. And Charlie
has that stock footage for you at two.
Cancel.
Cancel all of them.
Every time I wear this suit. Have I got
a clean one? - In the closet, as usual.
I could have the spot
taken out by noon.
Not a chance, I have to get
over to Brooklyn again.
Back? You mean you've
been there already?
Are you kidding? You think
I'll buy a pig in a poke?
Now listen, I want to
set this thing up fast
and I want to set it up
with top flight people.
There's not too much room at Abelman's,
but I'll need at least four cameras.
I want Andy Lord
for the commentator.
I'll need a tape recorder
for tomorrow afternoon.
Tell Lord I'll tape as much
stuff beforehand as possible.
Now tell Loomer, I need
Dexter Daw for the director,
Charlie Reynolds in
charge of production.
Oh yeah, and will you call
my wife and tell her
I can't possibly make it for
dinner tonight. Okay, got it?
Got it. You're amazing.
Two hours ago, I was ready to give up
and now you've got everything
signed, sealed and delivered.
"Signed?" Listen, if I
had that old man signed
I wouldn't be going back to
Brooklyn. That's up to Aunt Sarah.
Yes, of course.
Aunt who?
I must say, I'm a
little bit confused.
Your nephew led me to
believe you'd be on my side.
I told her...
- Myron...
Your uncle and I have warned
you about being so impulsive.
You had no right to drag Mr.
Thrasher out here like this.
This is a great break for him.
- That's enough, Myron.
If your uncle has said "no"
it's going to be no!
I wouldn't think about arguing
with him. Excuse me, Mr. Thrasher.
I'm sorry I couldn't help you.
Myron, I'll talk to you later.
Now that's fine.
You're going to turn out to be a
real good con man one of these days.
Maybe an
account executive.
Will you take it easy, Mr. Thrasher?
So she'll be mad for a couple of days.
I'll smooth it over.
- A couple of days?
I've got three days... Two-and-a-half
days to put this whole thing together.
Now I'm going to have to talk
to the old man again myself.
You can't now, because he went over to Max
Vogel's with Josh Quincy, the one with the fits.
Who's Max Vogel?
He's a doctor. He's
uncle Doc's best friend.
Now there's your idea. Max Vogel.
Crazy Max, with the $200 suits.
And the crazy jokes. - Bet you
I'm not gonna use a lot of that.
No, but he's good. He really is good.
He and Uncle Doc went to Bellevue together.
They were classmates. He's the
only one uncle Doc will listen to.
Now you're getting it.
Where's the phone?
Right here.
Hey listen,
this is terrific.
If anybody can get uncle Doc
to go on television, Max can.
Schnecken. They're terrific. Aunt
Sarah makes 'em. Hello, Miss Banahan?
This is Myron.
Listen, do you think I could talk to
dr. Vogel without uncle Doc hearing him?
No, I don't. That's very funny.
This is personal.
Hello, Max, this is Myron.
Listen, this is very important.
I got such a fella sittin'
here, he's a TV producer.
Televison, yeah. And he wants to put
Uncle Doc on coast-to-coast network hook-up.
Myron, what are
you promoting this time?
Alright, alright.
Put him on.
He wants to talk
to you. Go ahead.
Hello, Dr. Vogel?
My name is Thrasher.
I'm a producer with the
Federated Broadcasting Company,
and I'm interested in getting Dr.
Abelman for a TV program.
Sam? On television?
Why, he's no cowboy.
Very amusing, Doctor.
- I bet.
Tell me, what's your
angle in this, Mr. Hasher?
Thrasher. As I said, I'm
the producer of the program.
Now I've been
talking to dr. Abelman
but he doesn't seem very
interested in the idea.
Can you blame him? He don't want
to be made a jackass, you know.
Tell me, what are you going to
do, make him queen for a day?
No, Doctor. This is a documentary.
Real people doing what they do everyday.
Dr. Abelman will be
presented just as he is,
self-sacrificing, dignified...
Brave, clean, reverent, real
high-class. Not even a sponsor, huh?
Well, the Gattling Drug Company
is sponsoring the program.
Well, now you're
making some sense.
For a minute you sounded
like some crazy foundation.
The Gattling drug company
is a big comany. - Very important.
Thirty million people
will be watching Dr. Abelman.
This can't help
but benefit him.
Now if I could just come over
and talk to you and dr. Abelman.
Talk to me? Listen mister, this
is my afternoon to go fishing.
Dr. Abelman has already
cut in an hour of my time.
Now you want the rest?
Listen mister, you want to talk to me?
The Lady Hilda leaves Pier 5 at 14:30.
Sheepshead Bay,
I told you.
Yeah well, if I can get him
to come along, okay.
If not, you'll just have to
talk to me. Yeah. Goodbye.
Banahan ask Dr. Abelman
to come back in. And Banahan...
If this kid Josh wants to run out on
us again, make sure the door is open.
Well, I've already missedd In
a fishing boat by 2:30
I'll freeze to death
in these clothes.
Well, there's an Army-navy
store two blocks away from here.
Army and navy? How
are they on narrow lapels.
What? Come on, let's go.
I'll take this too, come on.
What's wrong with Josh?
Well we can't tell yet. I'll have to
take some special tests of his head.
You trying to scare me?
Somemebody should scare yo.
Listen.
And try to understand.
We want to help you. - The work
I have to do takes a lot of time.
He'll have to come
back tomorrow.
Miss Banahan will give him
an appointment.
Make an appointment tomorrow
for Ms. Quincy and the boy.
This is costin' a
lot of money and
I can see that
dr. Vogel is a busy man.
I ain't paid you no money yet.
- It's alright, it's alright.
Let me worry about that.
- It'll be his pleasure.
Thank you, doctor.
How would you like
to be in her boots?
With a galoot like
that on your hands?
What's that
your business?
Who appointed you
personally responsible?
Who's responsible?
Can't I make a comment?
When are you going to learn not to
get involved with your patients?
You know, if you hadn't brought
him in here, I'd throw him out.
Yeah, throw him out.
You know, he too has
a right to live.
Not by sucking my blood.
Better yours. Yeah.
What'd she pay you
for those x-rays?
And the house calls,
the office visits.
The hours you won't sleep
worrying about him. I know you.
If I had to depend on your
patients, I'd go broke.
I don't know how many
times I ask you, Max.
Don't lecture me.
Let me live my own life.
- Yeah?
68 years old, and you're still trying
to make your patients love you.
Sam, they don't want love.
They want to be impressed.
They're suckers, like everyone else.
Come here, I want to show you something.
I want to show
you something new.
You see that?
Look.
See? See that light?
You know what that means?
Not a damn thing.
Window dressing.
Ah, but when my patients
see it winking and blinking
they think I'm the
whole Mayo clinic.
That's what medicine is, blinking
red lights on the diathermy.
Keep the customers happy.
That's the rule of the house.
What's the use of talking
to you? - No use, so shut up...
I've heard you say
this a thousand times before.
What's the idea, Max?
Another one of
your jokes? - No, no joke.
But I wanted to look
up something.
What for?
So you could eat your heart out
when you find out what he's got?
I think I know
what he's got.
That's what's bothering me.
So if you're so smart, you
don't have to look up anything.
Max. Look!
The boy's in trouble.
He needs us.
A thing like this, if we catch it in
time, can make all the difference.
Wait, wait. Where are you going?
- To the medical library.
To look up brain pathology. I want
to see you later, where will you be?
At my office. My Tuesday afternoon
office. And you know where that is!
Tuesday afternoons
I go fishing.
You want to talk to me, you know
when the boat leaves Sheepshead Bay.
Sam.
Sam, forget for a minute you
gotta cure the whole world.
Come on, come on, come
fishing with me, huh?
Miss Bannahan, get my
coat and hat please.
Alright, alright,
we'll talk about it.
But on the boat.
Come on, we'll take a cab.
- Alright, we'll take a cab.
Good! Now yoyou're
showing a little sense.
You'll drop me off at the library
and then I'll meet you on the boat.
Oh, no sir.
No, I'll go with you to the library,
and then on the boat, you and me...
Fishing.
Bannahan!
Bannahan, close
down the store.
And don't let anyone in unless
they want to pay a bill.
We're go on fishing.
Very pleased to meet you.
Throw your line over the side and start
fishing. I don't want him to see us talking.
So, you want to put Sam on some big
television show, is that the idea?
Yeah. Americans, USA. He'd be the
subject of our first program.
What's in it for him?
Well, recognition.
Well, a man who's work as
hard as he has all of his life
deserves some kind of a tribute.
- Look, you're breaking my heart, Mr.
You know what I'm talking about. What's
in it for Sam? What's he get out of it?
Dr. Vogel, this isn't
that kind of a program.
Yeah, yeah, yeah,
I get the point.
You want him for
noththg. I see.
You guys.
You couldn't get any place with
Sam so now you're working on me.
You must need him in the worst
way to come dragging out here
in the middle of the Atlantic
Ocean to talk to me about it.
Okay I'll get him
to go on your show.
But, uh, you gotta
sweeten the kitty.
What did you have
in mind? - A house.
A new house. A big house in
a respectable neighborhood
with no garbage cans
and no noise.
The kind of house he'd been
dreaming about for thirty years.
1103 Republic Street.
Got t?
I'll tell you what, mister.
You get him the house,
I'll see go on the television.
Well, I can't go around
buying houses for people.
This program doesn't have that
kind of a budget. - No house, no Sam.
Now, I've watched that guy get
the wrong end of the stick all his life.
I ain't gonna let him get you
off the hook just for laughs,
and nobody's going to make a
sucker out of him while I'm around.
Over my dead body.
How do you like that?
There are no fish
around here.
What kind of an
ocean is this?
In Central Park,
they got more fish.
Hey, I got a fish,
I got a fish, got a fish.
Hey, look at it him,
look at the size of it.
Hey, hey! Reel him
in, reel him in.
Hey,
help me with it. AB.
Hey.
- Pretty nice.
How about that.
- You get a good size one.
Hey.
Atta boy!
I didn't know they came so big. - Yeah.
You have to grab them under the gills,
and look out
for the spine...
Well, well, well. Well look
who's here. You live in Brooklyn?
You okay?
You look a little bit green under the...
- I'm not a very good saylor.
Yeah, I can see that. Here,
come over here. Eat something.
That's the only way to beat it.
Keep stuffing food down.
Here, come on over here. I
know what I'm talking about.
Take a piece
of this. Here.
Ooh.
I know it burns
a little. Here.
Chew on salami.
That'll take the taste away.
That is hot.
I feel better.
Wait'll tonight. You'll have a hole in
your stomach, but don't let it bother you.
Mind your business, Max.
You came here to see
me again, didn't you?
I turned you down already.
Doctor, you don't
know me from Adam.
I'm just a guy with an
attach case from a network.
But I'm on a spot
because of you.
Will you let me explain?
- Oh, I'm listeninin.
You know that newspaper article you're
nephew Myron wrote for the Mirror?
Sure, sure.
A fairy tale.
Well, I told my boss and on
the basis of that article,
I'm supposed to deliver
you for my TV program.
Why me? There are lots of
doctors. Why don't you get Max?
I'm not deliverable.
- Watch out for this guy, Sam.
He's a con merchant. You
won't get a nickel out of it.
You do all the work and the guys with the
narrow pants get the dough, you know?
Butt out, Max.
Butt out.
I make up my own mind.
No one tells me what
to do, including you.
Go on.
Why me, hmm?
Well, I've been
watching you all morning.
I talked to your wife,
I talked to Myron
and I think your appearance
before the American public
would be
a great tribute to
the men of your profession who
have spent their lives helping others.
The guy'll have me in tears in a minute.
He's talking like you're dead already.
There's a dramatic
story in your life.
What? Climbing stairs
for two dollar fees?
You'll tell it all wrong.
You'll have me standing next
to a chart with a pointer
and showing how the tablets
dissolve in the stomach.
Doctor, I wouldn't insult you by
asking you to do anything like that.
I want to dramatizizyour own views,
your own beliefs for thirty million people.
My own views?
Views on what?
The practice of medicine.
- Malpractice is what you mean.
Put it any way you want.
Your pet peeves, your complaints.
Not my peeves, young
man, not my complaints,
but what I perernally have
been witness to for 45 years.
That's what I
want to hear.
The opinions you hear expressed
on this program are not those of
the network, the sponsor, or
anybody in their right mind.
They are purely the cuckoo
prejudices of Sam Abelman, M.D.
Quiet, Max, quiet.
I also have something to say
about certain specialists I know,
with their blinking little red
lights on the diathermy machine,
who think of patients as customers,
suckers to be impressed.
Is that what you
want me to say?
Doctor, I'm trying to convince you that
anything you say is all right with me.
Forget it, sonny boy.
I told you, there are lots of
doctors. I'm not interested.
And all sudenly, this crazy
old crack is doing Federal broadcasting,
and more important, Gattling Drug
Company, a favor. Well, he's not.
We're doing him a favor.
Doesn't he understand what
it means to be on television
under Mr. Gattling's sponsorship?
Well, I got the notion that dr. Abelman
wasn't particularly impressed with
Federated Broadcasasting.
- Or Gattling drugs, Mr. Thrasher?
Well that wasn't mentioned but I'm
sure he has a high regard for them.
Well everyone has a... Would
you stop that thing? - Fish scales.
We're not interested
in this man's opinions.
If this old charlatan thinks
he can demand a mansion
just because he's
appearing on TV...
Oh, Loomer, Abelman
didn't demand anything.
All I said was if we gave him
a house, he might be persuaded.
I heard you. Would he like
it staffed with servants?
Oh, this is a small house in a
quiet neighborhood, not the Waldorf.
I don't know what this costs, but
we could save that much money
shooting the show
in Abelmanan's actual office.
The Gattling show in a
Brooklyn slum! - I don't know.
Using actual
patients, Thrasher?
Patients, neighbors,
the corner druggist.
That would be a tie in with
the product, of course.
But this house, wouldn't it be
establishing a dangerous precedent?
Don't you think, sir?
Possibly, and yet as a
token of our esteem,
presented by the Gattling Company,
in recognition for his devotion.
And as a climax
to the program.
Fabulous.
On camera.
For a lifetime of
service to the people,
the deed, the title
and the keys.
Mr. Gattling, I don't understand how
you continue to do business with us.
I never would have thought of it.
Would you, Woody? - Never.
Well, it seems simple enough.
The logical way to...
But that's the beauty of it.
Just like all greaeat ideas,
simple once you know how.
Like, Columbus and the egg.
Yes? Well? - The conference
is waiting, Mr. Gattling.
You asked me to tell you.
- Oh yes, of course, thank you, Marie.
Quite a day's work,
Thrasher. - Thank you.
You handle the details, Loomer.
- Don't worry about a thing, sir.
Sunday night, we'll make
television history.
A good show
will suffice.
Woody, your fabulous, boy.
I love you. - I'm sure you do.
I could tell way
you romanced me.
But Woody, with the sponsor
you got to play it by ear.
I had to let him come up with.
You know the routine.
Like Columbus
and the egg?
By the way, what did
old Chris do, lay one?
Oh no, he just showed
Ferdinand and Isabella that...
Hey, just a minute
there, Thrasher.
Oh, I don't think it's anything to
worry about, Mrs. T, just an argument.
You know how Loomer gets on Mr.
T's nerves every now and again.
Uh, he's here right now,
Mrs. Thrasher. It's your wife.
How do you get your news,
by carrier pigeon?
I don't have to. Jenny said
she could hear you two
all the way up and down
Madison Avenue.
Get me Myron Malkin over at
Abelman's house on Haven Place.
Hello, honey.
No, no, no, no.
It's just that, uh...
Loomer got out of line and
I popped off. The show's fine.
But I can't
come home tonight.
No, I got to go over to Brooklyn
tomorrow and tape so background stuff.
I'll stay at the Biltmore.
Yeah. No, I can't
talk to him now, honey.
No, I've got somebody
else on the phone.
Yeah, love to... Yeah,
love you too, honey. Bye.
Myron?
Listen, get me Reynolds in
production. Tell him I wanna full scale
closed circuit run-through,
Friday.
And get Dr. Vogel. I. Dr. Max Ve
on Eastern Parkway.
Hello Myron.
Are you kidding?
I won six dollars and forty
cents. The pool for the first fish.
Yeah. Listen, Myron, something I got
to clear up before I talk to Vogel.
Is this business about your uncle wanting
a house on Republic street on the level?
Are you kidding?
He's been trying to get out of this
crummy neighborhood for twenty years.
It got so I couldn't
even believe him myself,
but I just found out he
put a down payment on it.
What! Oh no.
Well, because...
Look, it's too complicated.
Myron, I said never mind!
Now give me the name
of the real estate agent.
Yeah. Dannenfelser?
Fel... Felser.
D-A-N-N-E-N
F-E-L-S-E-R.
I'm inquiring about a house
at, uh, 1103 Republic Street.
What do you know about that.
Five years I've been trying to unload
that old lemon on Republic street.
No sooner do I sell it,
somebody else wants to buy it.
You sold it?
Yesterday. My own famimi
doctor. Doc Abelman.
Doctor Abelman?
Has he already taken title?
Huh? No, no he just came
with the down payment.
We got more papers
to draw up here.
Mr. Dannenfelser, I want to
take you into my confidence.
Now, listen and listen carefully.
My name is Thrasher.
Hiya. - Hi.
- How are you boys?
Alice?
- Yeah?
Will you have 'em put this tape
recorder in the back room. Myron?
Yeah? - Will you
show her where, please?
Yeah. And get your uncle
out of the backyard.
We don't want to waste anymore of his
time. - Isn't it stretching realism a bit
to do a show from
this dump? - Well, maybe.
Hello, Mr. Thrasher.
- Oh, hello, Mrs. Abelman.
This is Dexter Daw,
our television director.
He'll be in charge of the
show when it's on the air.
How do you do,
young man? - How do you do.
I'll be in the production office
if you want me, okay Woody?
Okay. I'm sorry about this household
upset but we'll have everything back
in first class condition as
soon as we're fininied.
Don't worry about it, Mr.
Thrasher, it's quite all right.
Let's go in the back room
where the tape recorder is. - Sure.
And this is the microphone.
Well, what do you want
me to do with it?
Tell a joke
or sing a song?
I wish this was a musical,
you'd be sensational.
I noticed that you had
several books
of American writers and poets in your
medical library. Is there any store of it?
Well, the doctor and I were brought here
from Russia when we were little children.
We grew up on the East Side of New York,
and we felt that it was important for us
to identify ourselves with
what was finest in American life.
So we turned to
American writers.
Thoreau, Emerson,
Longfellow, Whittier.
These were our heroes,
Mr. Thrasher.
You know, Thoreau,
he had the right idea.
Thoreau,
he had the right idea.
He used to say, "Don't take
any nonsense from anybody."
"The big shots, the
government. Nobody."
"Be your own man."
Oh, pardon me. Mr. Thrasher,
everybody's here now, exept dr. Vogel.
He's in consultation.
He'll be here in a moment.
Okay, Myron, you've done
a good job. - Thank you.
Myron, he's a regular
television producer.
I didn't know it could be done
so easily in ten easy lessons.
What a schnook I was.
I had to take medicine.
It's all in the
lapels, doctor.
Later, later, we'll
all applaud later.
Hello. - Hello,
everybody, hello.
Hello, everybody.
I'm Woodrow Thrasher from the
Federated Broadcasting Company.
First at all, I want to
thank you all for coming.
Now, we're going to televise this
program right here in Haven Place.
And the reason you're all here is
because you're old friends of the Abelman's
and you'rereoing to be able to
help us tell the story of their life.
Mr. Thrasher?
- Yes?
Who's going to play Doc on the
television? Some famous actor, huh.
No. No actor, Mr. Pomerantz.
- No actors? What happened?
You'll all be yourselves.
Just as dr. Abelman
will appear as himself,
and you, for instance, will
be introduced as his friend,
the corner draggist.
Now are there any questions before the
interview starts? - Is the doctor here?
Yeah, but he's busy. Come back later,
will ya? - Look, it's an emergency.
I don't care. You're breaking
up a whole television...
Look, dad, my buddy had a fit!
- Who had a fit? Josh?
Josh! He's twitching, Doc, he's at the
chicken market! - Where is he? I'll follow you.
Uncle Doc, in the middle of
a meeting you're leaving?
Listen, if he's in convulsion, if I
Ian see him now maybe I can help him.
Uh, thank you very much.
- Look, take care of the interviews.
I'll be back as soon
as we can. - Okay.
What if this happens sunday between
eight and nine? - Huh? I don't know.
Don't handle the tomato. - I do
the pickin', please. I do the pickin'.
Mmm-hmm.
Hold your leg up like
that. Can you? Hold it up.
Fine. Uh-huh. Now how's
your right arm feel?
Feel any life,
any movement?
It ain't too bad. - All right,
now, try your fingers.
Up and down. Up and
down. - Give me a smoke?
Is that okay, Doc? - Yeah, it's
all right, give him a smoke.
I want you to get
up and walk.
Your leg will start feeling a
little better as you go along.
Just for a few seconds.
Now don't be scared.
I'm okay. - All right, now walk
to the door, don't be afraid.
Fine.
Make believe you're chasing
some girl. - Hey, where you going?
Come back here,
you galoot.
Where'd they go? - You'll
never find them in this crowd.
Mister, did you see two kids running
out of there? - I've seen a million kids.
We better get back, they'll be
waiting for us at the house. - Will they?
The rehearsal. - Oh,
yeah, the rehearsal.
That was a Hughlings Jackson
convulsion he had.
The brain tumor. It's what
I thought all the time.
You see how weak he was?
Todd's paralysis.
It's what I...
I knew that the crazy way
he was dragging his leg.
The whole picture
was there.
He should be taken to the hospital
right away, surgery, maybe so.
So the punk has to run out on
me, what do you think of that?
It's suicide! - I'm
sorry you're so upset.
Look, it's none of
my business but here...
Why do you break your back
for an ingrate like that? - Why?
Bec... because, he's my patient.
Woody, you've get
to eat something.
And if you're going to Brooklyn
tomorrow for rehearsals you'd better
get some sleep, too.
Yeah.
What is it? You told me this morning that
dr. Vogel had arranged for everything
and that the show
was all set.
Sure it's all set. All locked up. But that
old buzzard's going to drive me nuts yet.
Abelman?
- Yeah, Abelman.
You know, he's got a patientnt a negro boy,
has convulsions, brain tumor he thinks.
Well, this aftereron,
while we were taping,
they told him this kid was having
a fit in the chicken market.
Well, at's where he treated him,
right on the floor of that joint.
Feathers, sawdust, blood.
You went with him?
Yeah, I thought it might be
something. - Well, it was.
As soon as that kid got
on his feet, he took off,
spat in the doctor's eye
and ran away.
And the old man does
it for nothing.
I asked him why and d said,
"because he's my patient."
Just like that.
Well, what happened to him?
The boy with the
convulsions? - Josh?
Well, Abelman went around to
ththtenement where he lives.
As soon as he showed up, he had
him sent to the hospital. Why?
I just thougug maybe that
was what was bothering you.
Oh, no, no. Of course I'm
concerned about the kid,
but ititsn't as if it were
Johnny or Kathy.
No, what I'm worried
about is this program.
Your patient. - Well, put
it that way if you like.
The whole climax of this programams
when we give him the house.
And it's beginning to dawn on you that...
It's beginning to dawn on me
that If he finds out about it, there
isn't going to be any program.
And if he doesn't find out about it, he's
going to spit in our eye, right on camera.
In either case, two
houses go down the drain,
his and ours.
This whole, lovely, over mortgaged
junior executive type suburban retreat.
There's an echo in this room, and it keeps
saying mortgage, mortgage, mortgage.
Woody, please, can't we sit down and
talk about that, 11:20, he out to be at
and the bills... the studio right
now doing the Jonas program.
Woody, I am speaking to you!
Two minutes, honey.
Woody, is it asking
too much to...
Hello, Federated.
This is Mr. Thrasher, dear.
Would you get me Charlie
Reynolds in control room four?
Yeah.
Hi, Charlie.
This is Woody Thrasher.
Listen, it's about the program
Sunday night, the big finish.
When we give
Abelman the house.
Now listen, just for once I'd
like to pull a stunt like this off
without tipping
it beforehand.
YeYe, well, what I'd like is a
great, big close up of the old man
just as we give him
the house. Yeah.
Well, with all that crew
tripping around tomorrow,
somebody's liable
to tip him off.
Yeah, well they won't do it for me,
Charlie, but if you asked them...
Oh, but Charlie, you're the
one they respect, baby.
Yeah.
Okay, see you tomorrow
morning, nine o'clock. Right.
Best to the Missus. Thanks. Well,
that takes care of tomorrow.
Now what about sunday night? - Oh,
honey, I'll come up with something.
I'll figure a
gimmick that...
Will you stop looking at me as if
I were selling phony oil stock?
That run-through was much better.
Dexter, you got to move your cameras faster.
Myron! Myron!
- Yeah?
Keep the gang from stepping
on each other's toes. - Check.
Now I want to take it again from the top,
this time with the cast. Let's do it.
Okay, stand by
here we go.
Open on Lord coming out
of the front doooor.
Tonight the Gattling Drug
Company presents
a new series of programs
called Americans, USA.
We are going to present to you the
unsung heroes of your community.
Men and women who get
no medals for their work,
no special recognition
for their labors,
and little financial reward.
First in our series, we
present dr. Samuel Abelman, M.D.,
who lives and practices
here, in this house,
in the Browns Ville section
of Brooklylyn.
Since 1912,
this sign has meant compassion,
help, sympathy, Ready, camera one.
To many in this poor
community, Go one.
Settled years ago, mostly by
immigrant minority groroups.
Come in with us to the waiting
room of Dr. Abelman's office.
And here you will see some of the
doctor's neighbors and friends.
All right, ready on two.
Let us go in and visit
with dr. Abelman.
Hello.
- Hello.
Go two.
- Good evening, Doctor.
Oh, hello, oh, hello,
Mr. Lord. How are you?
Very nice to see you.
Sit down, will you? - Thank you.
Whatat are you reading?
A medical book?
No, no, this is... The name
of this book is Walden,
by one of our great
American writers, Thoreau.
One of my favorites.
I read a little of this
every night. It relaxes me.
Just listen to this.
"Let us spend one day as
deliberately as nature"
"and not be thrown off the track by
every nuthell and mosquito's wing"
"that falls on
the rails."
Those are valuable ideals
and beautifully stated.
Doctor, it is the purpose of Gattling
Drug Company Incorporated to
bring to your
fellow Americans
the inspiration and dedication you
have given to your p pfession.
The unselfish contributions that you
have made to humanity over the years.
Don't pin any
medals on me.
I'm just a midget compared
to this man right here.
You mean Harlow Brooks, your professss
at Bellevue during your student days?
YeYe.
That was a giant.
There was a dedicated man.
A healer.
You know, he used
to say to us,
"To be a good doctor, you
have to know the whole man."
"His problems,
his anxieties."
He used to pound into our
thick skulls all the time.
He'd say "Not pills or medicines
are important, but people."
Wait a minute, wait a min...
- People are important.
Yes, and to know
the whole man
he said you have to
be a general practitioner.
He predicted, that there'll come a time
when there'll be a specialist for one toe
and a specialist
for another toe.
Is that the reon you're so
annoyed with specialists?
Ah, no.
I've get nothing
against the specialist.
It's the phonies, the galoots
that give me a pain in the neck.
You use this word "galoot"
quite frequently.
What exactly is
a galoot?
Well, the only way I can
explain it, a galoot is a guy
that takes,
but gives nothing
in return.
Would you say that there are
galoots in the medical profession?
Ooh, are there.
There's more quackery in the medical
profession than one cares to admit to.
I'm sure you wouldn't say that about
all doctors, or all hospitals.
I'm not talking about all of anything.
There's the good and there's the bad.
But, but even one
in ten is one too many.
Take for instance these phony
commercials with the endorsements.
Quote
"Popsidoodle melodious"
"will keep your children from
getting decayed teeth..."
Mr. Gattling, I think anything
as controversial as that
will have to be edited. Would
you be quiet for a minute.
I want to see how
far he goes.
Well, for instance, you knkn
that they're now making drugs
for which there's
no disease yet?
They're waiting for the disease
to come along to fit the drugs.
Now, you take your high pressure commercials
and you frighten the poor suckers,
they run out and
they buy the stuff.
Look, Doctor, this is
on closed ciciuit.
We are being seen at the agency and by
the Gattling Pharmaceutical Company.
Oh, I see.
Well, in that case, just
sit there and relax,
I'll give you a magazine
and some cigarettes
and I'll talk to them
personal.
I mean, face to face. Here.
Mr. Gattling, I...
- Shh.
Listen, folks, how many
of you know, for instance,
about the kickback
rackets? Hmmm?
Doctor... don't bother me.
Sit down. You're not well. Sit down.
Or for instance, have you ever been inside
of one of those mental institutions?
Where they have goons instead of guards and
they treat the inmates worse than they,
would criminals, huh?
Did you over see one of
these mental institutions?
I'd like you to.
That's the Travicanti baby.
The poor little stinker's got a bronchial
condition. I have to take care of him.
I'll be right back.
Just, just wait.
I'm coming back. You, you
can talk to them now.
Well, that'll take some time, fellas.
We'd better knock off for today.
Thanks. - Oh. Great
Dex, great. Yeah.
No, no I don't want the Abelman house,
I want the special line to the mobile
truck and I want
it fast.
Alice, put Mr. Thrasher
on, immediately please.
WeWe, he's with the
engineers right now, sir.
The police said we couldn't
have hot cables on the street.
If he's not on the line in ten seconds he's
out of a job! And that goes for you too.
Oh, hurry up. He's red hot really!
Otherwise I would never...
Okay. Go stall t t cops until I get back.
Go ahead, will ya, Loomer.
I've only got a second. Now you listen
to me, Thrasher I've had a a the damned
nonsense I can take from you and that
imbecile doctor. We're running a business not
a country store and I'm not going
to have an old creep come in here
and alienate a half a million
dollars' worth of prime time.
What difference does
it make what he said?
I'll tell you what
the difference is.
Exploitation came up with an idea that could
sell a million dollars worth of product.
If he keeps his mouth shut
about commercial drugs.
Uh-huh, uh-huh, what's
the brainwave?
Just this,
Mr. and Mrs. America are going to
furnish Dr. Abelman's house for him.
What? - Well, I thought
that would get you.
What we're going to do is put a slip in
each and every package of the Gattling line.
And anybody who wants to
contribute to the furniture fund has to...
Oh, no, no.
The legal departmentnt looking into the tax
angles now. And transportation is going to
send sightseeing buses
out there twice a week.
That'll be enough of your
attempmpd humor.
And let's get over the idea that
you're dealing with Dr. Schweitzer!
Now you just march yourself in there and
acquaint that old humbug with the facts of life.
Loomer,
I can't do that.
I don't want to hear any more
talk about it, Thrasher! Do it! Now!
And I want you to meet me in
45 minutes at Gattling's office.
This thing has gone too far
for any more slip ups.
I'll say it has.
What? Nothing, nothing.
All right,
I'll be there.
Dr. Abelman... Yah, I'll see
you in a minute, Woody.
Dr. Abelman, there's something about
this program I I ven't told you that
I think you ought to know.
Yeah? What?
The Gattling Company is buying you
that house on Republic Street.
They're doing what?
They want to present you
with the deed to that house.
Sunday night while the
program is on the air.
It's to be a surprise. I
wasn't supposed to tell you.
The joke's on them.
They can't give me something I
already own. I'm signing papers tomorrow.
We've arranged with Dannenfelser,
your real estate agent
to return your
down payment.
That was it all
along, huh?
Sonny boy, who do you think I am, one
of your old ladies in the wheel chair
they have in the morning there, and
they give her 500 dollars when she
answers "George Washington
crossed the Delaware?"
Sorry, buddy.
Not me.
Sarah. Sarah!
Did you hear that, Sarah? Did you hear
what finagling is going on behind my back?
Sam, please, what
are you shouting about?
Oh, a fine friend you
turned out to be, Thrasher.
I can see it now.
What you were going
to do to me.
Hello, everybody.
Hello, the whole
United States.
Cry a little for this
gray-haired old dope.
45 years practicing medicine and
he can't afford his own house.
So, we'll give him one.
Here, take it.
With the compliments
of the benevolent and public
spirited Gattling Drug Company Inc.
No, Mr. Thrasher.
I stand on my own feet.
And I stick to my word and I
expect others to do the same.
That was not
our arrangement.
No bribes.
No charity.
No show.
Doctor, there's no disagreement
between us, I assure you.
What's the matter with you,
what are you sore about?
You to,
Joseph Pulitzer,
you got me into this mess.
With your newspaper stories.
What is he
talking about?
Your uncle has refused
to do the show. What?
You're joking. Will you tell
Mr. Thrasher you're joking?
Will you tell him that
he's a bull thrower?
Like all the rest of them,
that's what he is.
Telling me these fancy stories,
how dramatic my work is.
And all the time it'a a scheme to show me
up in front of the world as a failure.
Buy me a house.
Well, I fooled them.
I'm no failure.
I live my life as I choose.
I bought that house myself.
On my own, like everything
else I've done in my life,
on my own! - You bought that
old house? That old wreck?
Sarah, darling, please, I'll
discuss that with you later.
They wanted to buy you a house,
that's why you're quitting the show?
'Cause they wanted to
buy you a house?
Dr. Abelman, do you realize that...
- Playing me for a chump
I don't take handouts.
It was my y idea to give you that
house, but not publicly, not like this.
Publicly or privately,
I want nothing for nothing.
All right, doctor.
You go right on hating the
galoots and the bubull-throwers.
Somebody's got to.
Mr. Thrasher. Why?
Why did you have
to tell him?
You could have got away with
it until after the show.
Now there isn't going
to be a show.
Why? - I don't know,
Myron. I don't know.
Maybe it's because
I'm an idiot.
In my whole entire life,
I never heard of such a thing.
A man tuturns down a house,
something he's wanted all his life.
All these years
you've wanted out, right?
Dreaming and planning,
so what do you say? No.
What are you ashamed of?
Everybody takes money on television.
College professors,
generals.
Only you got to be different!
I'm no professor.
I'm not one of your
high class people.
I'm not a general who
gives or takes orders.
I'm a general practicioner.
And I take orders from nobody.
If you feel so strongly about it,
Sam, I'm sure you did right.
And I don't want to hear anything from
you. - Sure, go ahead, encourage him.
Go ahead, encourage him.
It's your fault too, you know.
A doctor's wife is supposed to
push him, to give him ambition.
To holler for a big house and furs
and jewels so he'll make more dough.
But you, no, you let him do
anything he wanted to do.
That will be enough, Myron.
- And what about me, huh?
This was my big opportunity.
This was my big chance.
I had it made in television.
You had what made in television?
Myron, Myron,
you're such a little boy.
Just because some man came in
here and offered you a job.
Myron, that's just
the beginning.
I don't know. 24 years old and
you haven't matured much.
You haven't grown up. - You just forget
about It. Forget about the whole thing.
Everything I said before,
forget about it.
Myron... - I just wanted to
help Uncle Doc, that's all.
Myron, you don't
really know your uncle.
Do you think he'd be any
different on Republic Street?
On Eastern Parkway?
On Park Avenenue?
Or if he wore a
white coat? No.
He'd still get angry
with his patients,
and drug companies
and dishonest doctors.
Moving away won't change
all the poverty
and hypocrisy and
cruelty in the world.
That's what he's
really mad at,
not the boys in the street.
Sarah, Sarah, Sarah.
It's wasted breath. Wasted,
wasted, wasted, Sarah.
He'll never understand.
The age of the galoots,
the fast buck...
The "something
for nothing" crowd.
Hmmm.
That fellow, Thrasher,
I was beginning
to like him.
He should be here
any moment now, Mr. Gattling.
45 minutes he said.
Actually, a run- through like this is just
to give us an idea of what to look out for.
You understand that?
Thrasher assured me that Abelman's,
uh, views will be conciderably pruned
before the actual show.
Hmmm.
I thought it best that you got a
first- hand report from the producer, hmmm?
And...
Ah, there you are, Woody.
Right on time. I've been
explaining to Mr. Gattling
that what he saw
this afternoon bears
veve little relation to what
will be on the air Sunday night.
Well, you haven't
told any lies yet.
It bears no relationship
to anything.
There isn't going to be
any program Sunday night.
Not with Abelman anyway.
- What are you talking...
Have you been
drinking, Thrasher? - Nope.
I told him about the house and
he called the whole deal off.
What, you mean he refuses
to accept it from us? - Flatly.
What in the name of all that's h
hy possessed you to tell him?
I don't know. I can't
flgure it out myself. - I can.
You had the wrong attitude
about this show all along
and now you've finally
succided in sabotaging it.
Well you're finished, Thrasher,
you fired from the program,
from Federated Broadcasting,
and if I've got anything to say
about it, from the entire industry.
That figures.
- Get out!
I assume full responsibility
for this, Mr. Gattling.
Federated Broadcasting will make
complete restitution for...
I'm not interested in that.
- Just a minute, Thrasher.
Are you positive dr. Abelman won't
appear on the show under any conditions?
You mean, if he could be toned down,
sir? With another producer, perhaps.
I don't mean anything,
except that I want him.
He's the first fresh thing
that I've seen in two years.
He's honest, he has character,
and he speaks his mind.
Well, there's no question
about that, no question at all.
If he just didn't speak it
about the product, he'd be...
Loomer, you seem to be under the
impression that I'm selling snake oil.
I'm nono I manufacture
a reputable product.
And I'm interested in the opinions
of any professional man about them.
I happen to have a responsibility
to the public too,
as the doctor reminded me
not over an hour ago.
Maybe there are too many
galoots around.
Do you think you could persuade
him to go on with the show
if we prised him
no compensation at all?
That seems to bo his
customary way of doing business.
Now, if I could tell him what
you s sd, I'm sure of it.
That's up to Mr. Loomer. - Well,
there'll be no trouble on that score.
Will there, Loomer?
- Trouble?
Oh no, sir,
no trouble at all.
Well, get going, Woody.
Get on it.
You've got a show to get out.
Listen, I think I better
come along with you.
I'd rather you s syed
for a few minutes, Loomer.
Yes, sir.
And Myron? - Yes, sir? - Have these
phones killed 15 minutes before air time.
Check.
Hello?
Police?
Yeah, just a minute.
Dr. Abelman.
Excuse me, please.
For me?
Hello?
Yeah.
Yes. That's the kid...
When?
What did he do?
An hour ago?
That little rat.
Well, we have to get him
back to the hospital.
I'll be right over.
Sure, right now.
What's up?
It's that Quincy kid, Josh.
He sneaks out of the hospital,
his head in bandages,
and he and his lousy gang steal a
car, they wreck it, the galoots!
It's terrible I suppose you
couldn't get Dr. Vogel to go?
No, I suppose not.
They're in a local
police station.
That imbecilic little punk.
- Oh, Doc, where're you going?
The show's going on
in about an hour you know.
Listen, I'm going with you.
- That's okay, sonny boy.
Myron, get everything ready,
we'll be right back.
My dear lousy patients.
They won't let ya live.
I'm Dr. Abelman.
Oh, he's upstairs, Doctor.
Come on, Woody.
Hey, you! Only the
doctor can go up there.
You'll have to
stay down here.
I'll wait down here, Doctor.
Don't be too long.
All right. I'll go up to the kid
and I'll see you in a few minutes.
Oh, this way, Doc.
What do you want from me?
Why don't you get off my back?
Still a horse's neck,
eh, Josh?
A simple fracture.
He has to go to
the hospital anyway.
Well, they can
set it there.
Well, it'd mean
the prison ward, Doc.
Well, prison ward,
it'll be the prison ward,
but it has to be done immediately.
Yes, sir.
Ever since I seen you
I've been in trouble.
Yeah, sure, sureresure.
Yes, I've been
awful mean to you, Josh.
Josh, what's the matter
with you, eh?
Why can't you be human?
Ain't gonna listen to you.
No, of course not.
Don't listen to me.
Don't listen to anybody.
Like the rest of you punks.
Know it all.
Blame all your troubles on
everybody else, except yourself.
Just get out of here. Look, why
don't you just split, huh?
Huh?
- Split.
Split.
I used to feel sorry for
you, Josh. I wonder why.
Josh, now do me a favor,
will you?
Try to be a man, huh?
Dr. Abel...
Dr. Abelman...
We'd better get back to the
house, it's close to airtime.
Wait a minute,
Dr. Abelman, please.
I've something to tell you.
Hey. Hey, c'mon.
C'mon get back in there.
Hey, where do you
think you're going?
I want to talk to
the doctor, please.
Dr. Abelman!
What's going on up there? I want
to talk to the doctor, please.
I want to apologize.
I want to o e him.
Well, what do you know?
The little galoot
is human after all.
I wish you wouldn't go back
up, we haven't got much time.
We haven't got much time?
What about him?
We owe him something,
Woody.
As rotten as he is.
I'll be right down.
What's wrong?
Wait.
Let me... let me rest...
On you a minute.
Sit down.
Can I get you anything?
Like a vice closing in.
Not a word to Sarah,
or anyone.
I'm going...
I'm going home...
Help me up.
What... what happened?
What happened out there?
No lousy heart a aack
is gonna get the best of me.
What happened down there?
Is the doctor there?
I want to see him
again, is he there?
I ain't mad at you!
Do you hear that, Woody?
Do you hear that?
I'm sorry!
He does have feelings,
like you and me.
He just didn't have a chance.
The world... The world
didn't give him a chance.
Sam.
Sam, what's wrong?
What happened?
- I'm...
I'm fine.
I'm fine, Sarah.
Just too much
white fish for lunch.
Would you like
a cold drink maybe?
Can I get you something?
Okay, all right, Sarah.
I'll take care of Sam.
Where's Myron? - Uncle Doc,
what's wrong? What happened?
Myron, my bag's in my car,
go get it. Quick, quick!
Go in the living room,
go in the living room.
A little bicarbonate and
he'll be fine. It's all right.
It hit him right after
he climbed a flight of stairs.
I heard him say it was
a heart attack.
Wise guy, huh? Still
climbing stairs at your age.
You...
You ain't kidding me, Max.
Muscular spasm...
Gastritis.
I got a coronary.
Oh sure, sure,
you know all about it.
Do I teach you to spread manure on your
dahlias? I'll tell you what you've got.
All right, go out.
I could use half a grain of
morphine while you're talking.
Just a minute, Sam.
How does it feel, Sam?
No...
It's no picnic.
Just...just like it
says in the books.
The chest first, then the
arms, and the wrists.
You lie quiet for a moment,
and don't talk.
You'll be all right, Sam.
I'll be back in a minute.
He's okay.
A little spasm in the chest.
You don't have to
hide anything from us, Max.
Sam had a coronary.
I don't know how bad it is, but
at his age, it's bad enough.
All right. Please.
Heparin.
- Anticoagulants?
Max! - Pomerantz, please. If I need
a consultant, I'll send for you.
In the meantime, go open your
store, and fill the p prescription.
Myron, call my office, and have Miss
Bannahan bring over my portable EKG.
Wait, wait.
And, tell her to call surgical
supplies for an oxygen tank.
Max.
That bad?
No, no.
It's a precaution. He's a
long way from needing it.
Go on in, and get him
into his pajamas, Sarah.
He looksks like he's
ready for an argument.
Anything I can do to help?
Yeah. Clear your bunch out.
No show tonight, pal.
Tell them no noise.
Is he going
to pull through?
I'll know better w when
I take an electro- cardiograph.
May I have
your attention please?
Dr. Abelelman is sick. - What happened?
- Well, right now, we don't know how sick.
Dr. Vogel's with him. Naturally,
the program's been canceled.
Now, if you'll all go home as
quietly as possible, it would help.
Thank you for your cooporaration.
- We'll stay, we'll help.
No, I think it would be better
if you went home, Mr. Travicanti.
Dexter, break down the unit.
Tell the fellas be quiet.
I'll call Loomer.
They'll have to run an old
movie to fill out the hour.
Where are you going?
Lay down.
What...
What does it say, Mama.
Oh, you want to be your own doctor
now. I see. Go ahead. Come on, come on.
You can't fool an old
general practitioner like me.
Max, what do you see?
How much damage?
Now look, Sam, if you're
going to be impossible...
You must stop
exerting yourself, Doctor.
Fat chance
he'll listen to you.
Dr. Abelman, you shouldn't.
Very smart, brilliant.
How about running
around the block a few times?
Or playing a couple of
games of handball?
What do you mean by
sitting up like this?
Take it easy, Max.
Can't I...
Can't I look at my trees?
So you looked at them,
all right? Now lay down.
Bannahan, if he pulls anymore stuff
like this and I'm not around,
you have my personal permission
to hit him with a bed pan.
Sammy, I swear, I'll fill you so full
of morphine, you won't bebeble to move.
I want you to lay still.
Max, Max.
Eh, coco here.
Come here.
I want to shake your hand.
Why?
To show...
To show you my appreciation
for what you've done.
Let go.
Let go, you nudnik.
What's the matter?
Are you crazy or something?
You never did have a grip,
did you, Max?
Max.
Now... now, tell
me how sick I am.
Me, tell you?
Who could ever
tell you anything?
Max said so. - Didn't you say so,
Max? Didn't you say he'd make it?
Ah come on, you know what?
I bet he's laughing at us in there.
He'll be up tomorrow. He'll
be out in the garden, I bet you.
Dr. Vogel,
could I speak to you?
Would it be all right if I
went into see hi? - What for?
It would mean a lot to me.
- Okay, but don't make it too long.
Yes? - Dr. Vogel said
it would be all right.
Hello, Woody.
How are you feeling?
Fine.
Max knows his stuff.
I kid him a lot,
but he's a good doctor.
He says you'll be fine
in a few days.
Sure.
I'm sorry
about your program.
You went to so much trouble.
Don't worry about that.
The only thing that matters
is that you get well.
I've been watching you
run your program today.
You dodo your work well.
It's a lot easier
than your job.
Don't knock it.
I've been needling you fellas
about the tricks with words.
There's nothing wrong
with gooood words.
Shakespeare, Emerson,
The Bible, Thoreau.
You remember this, Woody?
"Why should we be
in such haste to succeed"
"in such
desperate enterprises",
"if a man does not
keep pace with his companion?"
"Perhaps it is becauause
he hears a different drummer."
"Let him step to the music
which he hears",
"however measured or far off."
Oh.
You read
Thoreau beautifully.
Hey Doc, have you ever been to
Walden Pond where Thoreau built his cabin?
No.
For 40 years,
I've been planning to go.
Something always came up.
I'll tell you what. As soon as you
get well, we'll take a trip to Walden.
It's beautiful in the summer.
We'll take Sarah and Ann.
How about it?
Great.
I think you'd better go now.
Why? Why are you
chasing him away?
He's...
He's cheering me up.
He just made me the best
offer I've ever had.
Don't you forget. We've got
a date. I'll hold you to it.
I won't. We'll go.
It'll do me good to
get out of this place.
So long, Doc.
Goodbye, Woody.
That's the works, Woody.
You staying? - Yeah.
Thanks Dexter.
The crew did great job.
I hope the old guy makes it.
Yeah.
Woody.
Annie,
what are you doing here?
They put on an old film, and I
knew something had happened.
The old man's in tough shape.
Yes, I know.
I phoned the office
before I caught the train.
Woody, it's a shame.
He wouldn't quit.
What'd they say at the office?
Well, it wasn't good. Alice said
that Loomer holds you responsible.
It's not your fault,
is it, Woody?
I'm the producer,
I should've kept him here.
That poor kid
needed him too.
Loomer's sore, huh?
Well, he has reason to be.
I gave it to him real good.
There goes the job, Annie.
There goes the house, the works,
we'll have to move back into town.
We made it all right before.
Does that bother you, Woody?
- It should, but it doesn't.
You know, he said
something to me just now.
He said he'd watched me
and I do my job well.
I do too.
Not as well as he thinks
I do, but, I'm okay.
It's just that
I stepped out of my class.
The angles, the mimicks, that's
for Loomer and the galoots.
They can't run me out of this
business. They need me too.
I'm just sorry about the
kids moving into town.
Kids are strong. They'll grow
anyplace, just like weeds.
And they turn out
good or bad, regardless.
Just don't try living
their lives for them.
I hope he pulls through.
He'd be nuts about you.
Dr. Vogel! Dr. Vogel!
Come on, come on,
come on.
Come on. Come on,
breathe. Breathe, Sam.
Come on, breathe, Sammy, for me.
For Maxy. Breathe for Maxy, Sammy.
Breathe.
Come on, Sammy.
Comemen, Sammy.
Come on, breathe, Sammy.
Breathe.
That's my Sammy,
that's my Sammy boy!
Come on. I've got the fishing boats
reserved for tomorrow, Sammy.
Come on.
Max, help him.
Sammy, don't go.
Don't go, Sammy.
Who's going to give me anatomy notes?
You want me to flunk out of Bellevue?
Don't go, Sammy.
Breathe!
Breathe, you idiot.
Breathe! Breathe! Breathe!
Stop! Stop! Make him Stop! Stop it!
Stop it! You can't help him.
You can't help him.
Please stop.
All right, Sammy.
Nothing to get mad about
anymore.
I'm all right, Myron.
Max, please.
I'd like a minute by
myself with him, please.
Cause of death...
Coronary occlusion.
Cause of death...
Fighting other people's battles.
Bye, Myron.