Kings Row Page #2

like he thought every fellow in town

was aiming to kidnap her.

I guess they'd like to at that.

Say, I haven't seen Cassie

since we were kids together in school.

- Have you?

- No. No, I haven't.

Sure wish I was in your boots.

Let me know how you come out.

I'll have to go now.

Only gal in school

that used to wear silk stockings.

I'm sorry about this afternoon.

Some other time.

Oh, sure, kid. See you soon.

Well, here we go.

Cassie?

Down there. The last door.

- How are you, Cassie?

- I'm all right.

I'm sorry to hear your mother isn't well.

Down there.

Come in.

How do you do, sir?

Hereafter, you may come around

to the study door.

It won't be necessary

for you to come through the house.

I beg your pardon?

I said, hereafter, you will use this door.

You will come through it

and you will leave through it.

- Sit down.

- Thank you, sir.

I understand your grandmother proposes

sending you to medical school in Vienna.

Yes, sir.

Well, if you have any brains,

I might be able to prepare you

for the examinations.

Do you want to be a good doctor

or one of these country quacks?

Oh, I want to be a good one like...

- Like whom?

- Like those you read about in books.

What books?

I got into it that time, didn't I, sir?

I guess I mean

the legendary sort of doctor.

Well, Mitchell,

of course, I don't know at all

your approach to medicine.

Perhaps you regard it as an opportunity

to become one of those bedside manners

with a list of the proper pills

to give the patient,

particularly when you don't know

what is the matter with him.

Or perhaps your aim is

to become an eminent carpenter

with a knife and a chisel and a saw.

Perhaps, even you flow over

with the nobility of relieving

humanity's suffering.

I'll tell you my approach to medicine.

It is a game.

It is a game in which man pits his brain

against the forces of destruction

and disease.

In the beginning, I don't expect you

to be able to participate in the game.

You'll only listen and accept.

You will study and you will make notes

and you will memorize,

and you will do all this

only because I tell you to.

The details are simple, Colonel.

I want to leave everything to Parris

so that his schooling is assured.

I want to do the best I can for him

with what I have.

Yes, yes, of course. Of course.

It's wise to have a will, ma'am.

Then, in case anything

should happen to you unexpectedly...

It wouldn't be unexpected now, Isaac.

I think it's urgent

we complete arrangements quickly.

Marie, I'll have to be blunt.

How much time do you think you have?

Well, Henry?

Madam has a few months, a year at best.

I don't believe it.

I don't believe a word of it.

But we'll act as if Gordon knows

what he's talking about.

You don't look it, Marie.

You don't look it in the least.

We all have to die. I shan't want to.

For Parris' sake, I shan't want to at all.

But if you'll please excuse me.

I feel a little tired now.

Certainly, Marie.

- Good night, my dear friend.

- Good night.

Thank you both for your kindness.

I think I'll go to bed now, Anna.

When she passes,

how much passes with her?

A whole way of life.

A way of gentleness.

And honor and dignity.

These things are going, Henry.

And they may never come back

to this world.

- You are up late.

- So are you.

But every night.

These books, so thick and heavy.

Do you have to read them all?

I guess these books

are only the beginning.

You like to read them?

And Dr. Tower, do you like him?

You knew I would when you sent me.

Confess.

I only know that you have to judge people

by what you find them to be

and not by what other people say they are.

Oh, I don't pretend to understand him.

What he's like, I mean.

But he's the most brilliant man I ever met.

I know I'm lucky to be working with him.

Does he like you?

Half the time

he doesn't even know I'm there.

Well, he will. He should.

Go to bed now, Parris.

- Take care of yourself.

- Oh, you're one to talk.

- Put her to bed at once, Anna.

- Yes, sir.

Listen to the man.

Good night, my darling.

I'm crazy about you, lady.

- Good night, Anna.

- Good night, Parris.

And in diagnosis,

you must never underrate

the value of subconscious observation.

Instinct, if you want to call it that.

Or, more properly, intuition.

It's what makes a born physician.

Better ease up a little on your work,

young man.

- Oh, I'm quite all right, sir.

- You don't look it.

We've had a hard winter.

Take the afternoon off.

Get outside somewhere.

You need to see some other boys.

Rowdy around a little. Do you good.

- What is it? Have you no friends?

- I have one, sir.

Well, a little loneliness won't hurt you,

to speak of.

You get used to it.

There's something I want to speak of.

I was terribly sorry about Mrs. Tower.

No one seemed to know about the funeral.

Thank you. I received your note

and your grandmother's.

I'd like to see Cassandra

and tell her, too, if I may.

I shall be very glad to tell Cassandra,

thank you.

Dr. Tower...

You have a question?

No, sir.

- Run along, my boy.

- Goodbye, Doctor.

Hi, Parris.

Gee, Drake, I'm glad to see you.

You know, kid,

if you're gonna keep your nose

buried in those books all the time,

it's up to me to look you up.

- Hop in.

- Sure.

Say, it's funny,

you coming along this afternoon, Drake.

Dr. Tower just told me I ought to see you.

- Me?

- He said I ought to look up my friends.

Oh, that's me all over.

- How's Cassie?

- I don't know.

What do you mean you don't know?

Well, Dr. Tower makes me

use the side door

- and I just don't see her.

- I bet I'd find a way.

You know, kid, if you don't go out

after things in this world,

you don't get anything.

You never did come with me

to see the Ross gals.

I took them and Dudley Wright

down to Whaley's pond

just last week on a picnic.

Hotchy-koo, boy!

- Where we going now, Drake?

- We're gonna stop by the Gordons.

I want you to help me talk to Louise.

What do you want me

to talk to Louise about?

Well, she's the gal I've decided to marry.

Drake, you're gonna get married?

Didn't you know about me and Louise?

I thought everybody knew everything

about everybody in this town.

Just do this for me, will you, kid?

I'm in a mess. You'll see.

It's almost time

for Papa and Mama to come home.

- Drake, don't you think you...

- No!

Make Drake calm down, Parris.

Oh, I know Papa's unreasonable.

He's mean to me.

But I'm a girl, and I'm afraid of him.

Well, what's the old geezer

got against me?

Why can't I ever see you anymore?

Will you be mad if I tell you something?

Well, what? I don't know. I'm already mad.

I won't talk about it then.

Go on. What is it?

All right, I'll tell you what Papa said.

Well...

It's about Poppy Ross.

Oh, that.

He said you're wild.

Of course, I don't pay any attention.

I know you've been taking her out

buggy riding.

I don't mind. Not too much.

I know you get lonesome

and you're not in love with Poppy,

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