Beyond the Forest

This is the main street of the

town of Loyalton in Wisconsin.

It looks like Sunday, doesn't it?

Everything empty,

the street deserted...

But it can't be Sunday,

not with the saw mill running.

The sawmill is the pulse and

heartbeat of the town of Loyalton.

The people wake to the

scream of the whistle...

Go to work by it, eat lunch by it,

and start home by it.

And at night if their bedrooms

face the mill,

they have to sleep

with the shades down

to close out the hot flow

of the sawdust that

comes from the incinerator

lighting the sky...

Burning its way through closed

eyelids, through sleep itself.

Even the picture theater's closed.

Today they have a drama being

enacted in their own town.

Yes, everything's empty.

That is, most everything.

There's a horse tied here to

Sven Godford's blacksmith shop,

but horses don't mind waiting...

If people do.

And in the second story of the bank

building is the doctor's office,

the only doctor in Loyalton.

But his door's locked.

And even if it were open,

there'd be no patients.

Not today.

And here's the train that

passes through twice a day,

to and from Chicago.

And each day Rosa used to

walk down to the station,

moving easily, freely, every man's

admiring eye upon her.

Rosa Moline.

She'd stand looking at the train,

which seemed to say to her:

"Come, Rosa...come away

before it's too late...

"Chicago...Chicago...Chicago..."

And at the very end of the street,

as far away from the

town as she can get,

is her house, the finest

house in Loyalton.

If you knew Rosa, you'd know

she'd have the best house in town,

and as far away from the screech

of the saw mill as she could get.

She has a maid, too.

Only an Indian girl,

but that's more than any

of the other women have.

There she is now, coming

out the back door.

If Rosa were home,

Jenny'd be in uniform.

But Rosa isn't home.

Rosa's in the courthouse

facing a coroner's inquest.

A man has been killed

by Rosa Moline.

Even the kids of the town

don't want to miss anything.

They all know Rosa.

By sight anyway.

Now they're hoping to

hear spoken aloud

what was only whispered before.

Housework has been left undone,

dishes still in the sink.

Children unwashed and men unfed.

The women of the town,

friendly and unfriendly,

are all here, all wondering if

at last they're going to learn

the secret of Rose's life.

What made her different

from the rest of them?

And the men on the jury,

they wonder too.

The coroner is solemnly addressing

them with these words:

"You do solemnly swear

that you will

"diligently inquire on

behalf of this state

"when and in what manner

and by what means

"the person who is now

dead came to his death.

"That you will return a

true inquest theron,

"according to your knowledge

and such evidence

"as shall be laid before you".

Why should I kill him?

Someone tell me that!

Why should I want to?

It was an accident!

Accident?

Well, what led up to it

happened five months ago...

That one is too small, Lewis!

Throw him back!

Guess he is at that.

Down, boy fishy!

Get the going while

the going's good.

While you've still got the

pep to get somewhere.

I wish they put this

air up in bottles!

The trouble with you Lou is you

don't get up here often enough!

He doesn't do anything enough!

Except work!

You better ease up.

A sick doctor isn't much good.

I'm as strong as a horse!

Horses get sick.

I oughta know...my first

patient was a horse!

What'd he pay you with...Oats?

Well...we'd better push off if

we're gonna get to

my cabin by sundown.

Yes, let's get moving.

Latimer Lodge!

You know every time I see a

place like that it puzzles me.

Why?

Man wants to get out in the

woods where he can be alone so...

he builds 20 bedrooms

to be alone in.

18 baths.

That's right, isn't it Moose?

It was the last count!

I suppose there is some

sort of majesty in 18 baths...

only you can only

take one at a time.

The number of anything is

impressive, even 18 lawnmovers!

It's a soft job for me, anyhow!

I think I'll go and wash up.

What's the matter with your foot?

I think I twisted it or something!

No wonder with those things

you've got on your feet!

Catch, Moose!

Wouldn't rob you of the

pleasure of cleaning these.

Let me have a look at that foot.

- That hurt?

- Uh-huh.

You probably pulled a muscle.

I think you'll live.

You know, Moose was right.

We don't get up here often enough.

Oh Lewis, I forgot.

Here's a message for you.

I've got to go back.

What's the matter?

Mildred Sorren. She's having a baby.

You should have known.

Well, I can't keep track of all

the babies born in Loyalton.

She's going to have a tough time.

I wanted her to go to Ashford,

but her husband couldn't

afford the hospital.

If he can't afford a hospital,

he can't afford 8 kids.

It's quite a hike back to the

car. With that ankle...

I'll make better time without you.

Moose!

Yeah?

I've got to go back to town.

Rosa's got a bad ankle. You'll have

to put her up here tonight.

I wouldn't be a doctor

for anything on earth!

Moose'll bring you down tomorrow.

I just thought one of the kids

had measles or something!

It's not your fault. She wasn't

due for another month.

Take good care of her, Moose.

Remember, no firewater!

Why, I've been sober

for three months!

That's what worries me!

Here you go.

Thanks.

So long, Lou!

Bacon and fried potatoes

all right for supper?

And some trout?

And coffee, good and strong!

A fat lot of good that did you.

I don't like porcies,

they irritate me.

You don't like life!

Life in Loyalton is like sitting

in a funeral parlor

and waiting for the

funeral to begin.

No, not sitting.

Lying in a coffin...

and waiting for them

to carry you out!

You've had a drink?

Just one.

Found a bottle that I

thought I'd finished.

You know how it is with you.

One drink leads to another.

Besides, you've got a

lady in your care.

Meaning you?

Meaning me.

You're something for

the birds, Rosa.

Something for the birds!

I remember the look in her eye.

She was standing on the porch when

I went out through the gate.

Who are you trying to forget?

I'll tell you when I've forgotten!

All you shackers get cracked.

What did you do that

made you run away?

Kill a man?

No! No, I didn't kill anybody.

I left them alone.

Absolutely alone.

I could have made something of all

our lives. I could have saved mine.

Words can't explain.

Words are just sounds.

Sounds are not what I feel.

Moose?

You in here?

How did you know I was coming?

Sending a telegram

to Moose isn't exactly

the best way of keeping a secret...

in a small town.

How'd you get here?

It started on a fishing trip

with the Doctor and Moose...

sent the Doctor back to town

on an emergency call...

And Moose?

Well, Moose had kind

of an emergency too.

A bottle of whiskey just happened

to be in my knapsack...

and Moose just happened to find it!

You're terrific!

You said that the first time, too.

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