 The story of Dr. Kildare. Whatsoever house I enter, there will I go for the benefit of the sick. Now, whatsoever things I see or hear concerning the life of men, I will keep silence thereon, counting such things to be held as sacred trusts. I will exercise my art solely for the... Dr. Kildare, starring Lou Ayers and Lionel Barrymore. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer brought you those famous motion pictures. Now, this exciting, heartwarming series is heard on radio. In just a moment, the story of Dr. Kildare. But first, your announcer. Of Dr. Kildare, starring Lou Ayers as Dr. Kildare and Lionel Barrymore as Dr. Gillespie. One of great citadels of American medicine. A clump of gray-white buildings planted deep in the heart of New York. A nerve center of medical progress. A great minds and skilled hands wage man's everlasting battle against death and disease. Player General Hospital. Where life begins, where life ends, where life goes on. This clerk is a man from beams to foundation and then hashed it all over between you. So, let's have it now. What's the verdict? No verdict yet, Mr. Malloy. All you've had so far is a routine physical examination and the results until now are essentially negative. Negative? Then you mean there's nothing wrong with me? Kildare means we'll talk about verdicts when the fight's over. This is only the first round. Well, first round or not, you ought to know enough by now to tell what's causing a simple ordinary stomach ache. What kind of a hospital is this, anyway? Malloy, suppose I came over to your office and told you one of your construction jobs is all wrong. Three years in the game from bricklayer on up, I'd probably throw you out. And that's precisely my attitude about diagnostics. Now look here, Gillespie. So either you settle down and do as you're told or you take your stomach ache and go to some other doctor. Sorry. I guess a few years of white collars doesn't change your rough neck much. Well, I'd say it calls for a general clinical. Electrocardiogram, stomach x-ray, GU, gastroscope, the works. Of course, you'll have to enter the hospital for a week's observation. No, no, no. That's out. Don't forget I've got a job to run. Who's going to run it if you drop dead some morning? I won't drop dead. And Miss Parker will take you down to register now, Mr. Malloy. We'll set up your schedule later. I'll sneak off or I'll send you a bill for $100 for wasting my time. You see me again? That's your exile to the Brooklyn Clinic. Well, after all, Dr. Gillespie, she's the wife of a patient and I suppose she only wanted to ask about his condition. How was I to know? She'd tell her whole life story. Her life story was nothing. What took up all the time was Uncle Leroy's liver condition. Forty minutes. In my opinion, a conversation like that should be very interesting to a diagnostician. Parker, the only thing less interesting to me than Uncle Leroy's liver is your opinion. Well... Good morning, Doctor. Parker. Morning. That's raised, you mean? Yes, just came from the photo lab. Here's one you'll probably want to see. Oh, yeah. You shouldn't go to the stomach gate. Give us a lower left-hand corner. Here, let me move the light. Well, now... One of the prettiest little peptic ulcers that ever walked into Blair Hospital. Yes, isn't it? A location and appearance is typical and as far as I can see it makes the diagnosis certain. Yeah. I wonder what caused it. He's in pretty fair physical condition. Well, I'd say everything points to a mental cause. Conflict of some kind. Psycho-Semitic, eh? A new word for an idea as old as Plato. The fact that the mind and the body influence each other. You don't disagree with the idea, do you? If I did, I'd have to go back and change all my diagnosis for the last 35 years, you can't found it. If Malloy does have a mental conflict, it's probably that wife of his that's caused it. Oh, you've met her then. Met her. She just presented me with 40 straight minutes of sheer boredom. She'd give anybody another. Well, whatever the trouble is, I'm going to see if I can get to the bottom of it. Jimmy, a doctor can carry his treatment just so far and that doesn't include solving a patient's personal problem. Oh, you know something, Dr. Gillespie? I've heard you prescribe that idea at least 50 times and I'm still waiting to see you follow your own prescription just once. I don't get it. What are you driving at? Just a diagnosis, Mr. Malloy. How long have you been tied to that desk? Seven long, cock-eyed years. Ever since I bought out my partner, took over the whole shebang alone. You don't like it. This may sound crazy, but I'd rather be back laying brick. Mr. Malloy, have you ever thought of selling out, retiring? You know, it's funny you brought that up, Dr. Kildare. I was just lying here in bed this morning remembering it. Remembering it? Yeah. I got an idea like that once about 10 years ago. Bought a 160-acre lodge in the back country upstate, a place you probably never heard of, called Granbury Lake. Granbury Lake, eh? That's great fishing country. Hudson in the winter, miles of timberland. It's only 40 miles from the St. Lawrence River. A kind of place where a man could forget all this city stuff. Only you didn't move up there after you bought it, eh? You know how it is. You put things off. Kind of got the social bug the last few years and she won't hear of moving off to some wilderness as she calls it. So... Madam, come in. Mamie. Good morning, Mrs. Malloy. Mamie, I... Is it just like a cat is eating a goldfish. Now, don't tell me you haven't been talking about something you shouldn't. No, no, no. We were just talking about the lodge up at Granbury Lake. Oh, so that's it. Dr. Kildare, I certainly hope you told him how ridiculous that whole idea was. No, no. As a matter of fact, I'm in favor of it. They're good for both of you that start relaxing, enjoying life. Oh, no. After we've worked in slave for years to get to be somebody, we're going to stay right here. Oh, Mamie. I don't know, Mrs. Malloy. It seems like rather dubious satisfaction when you have to pay for it with a stomach ulcer. Oh, nonsense. Just like I was telling Dr. Gillespie earlier this morning about my Uncle Leroy, I mean... Now, Mrs. Malloy... Only, of course, in his case, it was a liver condition. But never the less... Now, Mrs. Malloy, I'm afraid you'll have to excuse me now. I do have to look in on some other patients right away. Well, I suppose if you have to, you have to. Mr. Malloy, I think I understand your problem quite thoroughly now. But I'll be done if I know what to do about it. His wife has the upper hand, and she's determined to make a gentleman out of him. There's your answer, Dr. Gillespie. Physical pattern of reaction and no outlet for it. Something apt to give and something dead. Peptic ulcer. Oh, all right. I agree with the diagnosis. So then what? Well, the... Well, that's just hint. I don't know. Well, of course, the prescription's obvious. But getting the patient to swallow the medicines is another problem. Oh, it's no problem. As far as he's concerned, he'd retire in a minute. Too bad there isn't some society angle connected with this place upstate. She's highly impressed by social prestige and so on, you know? Social prestige. Anybody who is such a stupid, half-baked stuff, shirt of a nincompoop, is to think that they only... Now, wait, wait, wait a minute. Stupid, half-baked stuff, shirt of a nincompoop. Now, who fits that description? Only one person. Jimmy, that may be the answer. Doctor, I'm way ahead of you. Come on, let's go. That's really Dr. Karoo when we realized that we needed a man of resourcefulness with tact, social position, high intelligence. We immediately thought of you. Oh, dear, dear, dear. Well, Jennifer, I hardly know what to say. Don't worry, Karoo. We'll tell you what to say. He means to Mrs. Malloy, of course. Oh, yes, why? All you have to do is be your usual charming self. Well, I suppose breeding does give one a certain air of the savoif air. Oh, no doubt of it. I've often noticed that you positively reek of savoif air. Oh, well, thank you. Now, about this primitive game reserve or whatever it is... It's a large upstate, a place called Cranberry Lake. Oh, yes, part of the great outdoors, I assume, where men are men and all that sort of rot. Well, roughly speaking, yes. But the way you will tell it, Dr. Karoo, the whole area is overrun with wealthy and socially prominent residents, friends of yours. They're fictitious, of course. Well, now, Dr. Kildare, I really do have friends of that sort, you know? Oh, I never think of implying otherwise. And if you won't mind using real names in vain, so to speak. Oh, dear, dear, I haven't thought of that. Well, gentlemen, this begins to smack of chicanery. But it's all for a good cause, saving a human life. Yes. And for the first time in your medical career. Well, in such direct fashion, Dr. Gillespie meant to say. Oh, yes, of course. Well, gentlemen, as much as I loathe all pretentions sham, as much as I dislike calling attention to my, shall we say, unquestionably prominent family background. That's our Dr. Careau, modest to a fault. Shrinking violent. As I say, in spite of these considerations, my duty in this time of crisis is all too clear. Gentlemen. He'll do it. I'll do it. By people who matter, I mean. Oh, yes. Yes, indeed. And you say the Banda Vilchers have an estate on the lake, and the Pews, and Peter J. Dibblehofer. The third, that is. Imagine that. Daniel, did you know that when you bought the place? No, I just like the looks of it, that's all. And Dr. Careau got the idea that you thought of moving up there in order to be near some of your close friends. Oh, really, Dr. Careau? Well, yes, yes, indeed. And after I've been so put out with Daniel for years, because he bought it. Oh, I regard it as a most thoughtful purchase. By the matter of fact, I've been looking for just such place myself for a long time. Really, Dr. Careau? Oh, yes, indeed. You see, like many prominent people, Dr. Careau is a great lover of nature. And the great outdoor. In a desirable neighborhood, of course. Daniel, I'm convinced. My mind is made up. Good. I knew you'd see the advantages of living up there. Oh, no, Dr. Kildare. Daniel and I are going to sell the place to Dr. Careau. What? But Mrs. Malloy. Not another word now, Dr. Careau. It's what you've always dreamed of, and you're simply too well-bred to try to buy it. But, but, but, but, but. It's no worse than used to us, and so I've decided you're going to have it, and that's absolutely final. But, but, but, Dr. Kildare. I think I have a patient waiting in my office, Dr. Careau. But, but, but, who's Dr. Gillespie? Congratulations, nature boy. Dr. Kildare in just a moment. Place we should have led well enough alone. Oh, we're no worse off now than we were. Of course. Poor Dr. Careau is, though. I wonder if she really will try to sell it in that place. Why, sure she will. We'll serve him right to the nincompoop. Jimmy, a doctor who hasn't sent enough to stick to medical problems ought to have his head examined. I seem to have heard that before. And it's true. You can't operate a day nursery for adult human beings. They have to learn to stand on their own feet. Still, it's a shame to think of Mallory going back to a job he hates and doesn't even need while he eats his heart out for something he can't have. He eats his stomach out some more like it. And now you've just walked into my trap because that makes it a medical problem. Oh, all right, all right. When it happens again, we'll treat him again. You're opposed to preventive medicine, doctor? Oh, tarnation. Nothing can be done, Jimmy. We've already had a triad. His stomach's being sacrificed to the glory of his wife's ambition. That's a bit flowery, but the idea behind it's not exactly unheard of. Of course it's not unheard of. It's happening all around us. Every day, modern burnt offerings on the altar of civilization. Stomachs, livers. And then they come around. It was, doctor, can't you do something to keep it going? I know I've abused it, but I want to be a vice president. Just patch it up in the old way, doctor. Jones is two blocks ahead, and I have to catch up. Confounded idiots. No, no, no, no. Take it easy. You've got arteries to you. Yeah, I know, I know, I know. It's a good idea, though, to blow your top once in a while. Well, let's the pressure off. That's Malloy's trouble. He's lost the habit. I guess so. Of course if he did regain it, it still wouldn't help anything. Unless... Unless what? You know, the one person he should dominate is the one person he never has. You mean, Mamie, I can understand what... But that's the problem right there. That takes pretty strong provocation, but he might be goaded into it if we could only... only think of somebody. Don't look at me, Jimmy. Don't look at me. The crew is already a casualty. No, no, we need a brand new stooge. Not necessarily too bright, of course, but one who could... Well, Jimmy. Could be. Miss Parker. Yes, doctor. Parker, have you ever been out in the woods? What? I mean to a summer camp or a lake resort, especially upstate, say, somewhere around the St. Lawrence River Country. Oh, I guess, yes. As a matter of fact, I used to go up to Lake Winnekes-Lonker every summer when I was a girl. What a memory. Winnekes-Lonker. Let's see. Is that anywhere near Cranberry Lake? About 30 miles northeast, I think. Oh, I used to have such fun at good old Winnekes-Lonker. Oh, you like the country up there. Oh, I love it. I love it, Dr. Kildare. When I remember some of those campfire things in the nature study and the hay rides, they were always at night, of course. Ah, yes. Well, that's not exactly what we had in mind, Parker, but nevertheless, I think you're our man. I'm our man. Well, what I mean is that's right. I've done it, Jimmy. I'll get it. I'll get it. Let's be speaking. Dr. Glesby, you've got to do something. Oh, what's wrong, Karoo? That woman, that man. Indeed. Somebody has to explain to her that I simply won't buy that property. I'm afraid there's no hope. If you've got the money, you won't have a chance. I'll vacate myself up here in my suite. Well, lock door will never stop me, me. But, Dr. Glesby, what can I do? As far as I can see, there's only one thing, Karoo. Yes. When she breaks into your suite. Yes. Walk out under the terrace. Yes. Look down at the street, 14 floors below. And then? Jump. Goodbye, Karoo. You are hereby assigned to Dr. Kildare for a mission which requires the utmost tact, discretion, and bravery beyond the call of duty. What are you talking about? Oh, it's really not too complicated, Parker. We just want you to convince a patient that he should retire to a lake up north. Oh. Oh, well, that doesn't sound like it. It's that Malloy family. No, you don't. Now, Parker. I mixed up with them, and I absolutely... Refusing an assignment? The nurse isn't responsible for the patient's personal affairs. When personal affairs affect the patient's health, they are always the concern of the medical profession. Well, this is an interesting news. Theory? This job is a part of your duty as a nurse. My duty? Why do I have to be the one? For a very simple reason, Parker. You are expendable. Stand by for briefing. Dr. Kildare, carry on. Roger. I tell you, boys, it's darn near giving me another ulcer this last half hour. I mean, the way this nurse here has been describing that can't be up north. Oh. Well, now, what have you been up to, Parker? Oh. Mentioned good old Lake Winnecke Slunker, and it just happened that Mr. Malloy was interested in that part of the country. Didn't know. Oh, Parker, you really shouldn't have discussed anything that may have been upsetting to Mr. Malloy. Upsetting? She started me remembering things so plain I can see them right now. The leaves turning red in the fall. The deer coming down out of the hills. Ah. Larg blazing in the stone fireflakes. And they'll forget the fish flopping up out of the water. Yeah. And the ice breaking up in the spring and the smell of coffee and bacon in the morning. Quite a contrast to a city apartment, an office, and a desk. You said it. Answer on telephone, sign on papers, arguing with lawyers, wearing a stiff shirt and a tie. Seems to me all the men up there wore flannel shirts. Sure. With the colors open. Boys, I can't do it. I can't face going back to that job. Well, it's up to you, Malloy. You're the boss. You're a dog gone right. And it's about time I acted that way. Maybe you'll be crazy about it once she gets used to the idea. Of course she will. When we was first married, she used to get a heck of a bang out of cooking and rough-knit and weekend trips and stuff like that. I'll make her like it. Good. Manny, shut up. Daniel. I'm selling out that cockeyed company and we're moving up the Cranbury Lake. And if you start any argument about it, I'm gonna bat your ears down. Wow. Why, Daniel? If you think I'm gonna waste my life around here trying to impress a bunch of stiff shirts, then you're out of your cotton-picking mind. Why? I haven't seen you like this for years. Well, you're gonna see me like this from now on. And another thing, Manny. The first morning we're up at the lake, you're gonna fix bacon for me. And I'm gonna stand outside and smell it cooking. Yes, Daniel, but don't you suppose we could both stand outside? Huh? You mean you're not sore about the idea? When you talk like this? Like years ago when we were young and... Now, Manny, nothing fun of all the... Hey, where did everybody go to? Yes, and Molloy was right about one thing. She will like it once she gets up there. Well, at least you could do is to give me a little credit for the whole thing. We should, Parker. You were magnificent. You deserve the order of the silver syringe with the tea leaf clunter. And I'll see you get it. Daniel, one moment, please. Well, what's wrong with Karoo? Oh, dear, dear, dear, dear, dear, dear, dear, dear, dear. Pick up your feet, Karoo. Your spats are dragging. Gentlemen, I want you to look at what you've done to me. Just look. Dollar bill. Find it somewhere, Dr. Karoo. I did not find it, Dr. Kildare. My wife just gave it to me. I have made a terrible mistake. Oh, to her is human. You see, a few hours ago, in order to avoid difficulties with that Mamie woman, I transferred my entire bank account to my wife's name. Ah, light against a dawn. Now she tells me that's what she's been waiting for for years. I know she must have hope of some compensation. From now on, gentlemen, I am to have an allowance of only $1 a day. Pardon the expression, lousy buck a day. Well, my only advice is to restrain yourself. Don't be foolish and spend it all in one place. Spread it round, Karoo. Spread it round. What? It's enough, Dr. Gillespie. This might be rather serious at that. Frustrating problems such as Dr. Karoo has here could give a man a peptic ulcer. In just a moment, we will return to the story of Dr. Kildare. And Mamie Malloy, remember? The one they mentioned in their letter a couple of weeks ago. As a matter of fact, I think they shipped it about the same time they mailed the letter. It's evidently been delayed in transit. What makes you think so, Jimmy? My nose. There are two dozen lake trout inside that package. Two weeks overdue. Yeah. It constitutes something of a problem, all right? Now, what the tarnation can we possibly do with it? Unless... Parker! I wonder if you'd give this package to one of the orderlies and have him deliver it. Of course. I'd be glad to. Where's it supposed to go? What was he addressed, Jimmy? 14th floor, Parker. Have him give it personally to Dr. Karoo. Dr. Kildare, starring Lou Ayers and Lionel Barrymore. This program was written by Les Crutchfield and directed by William P. Russo. Original music was composed and conducted by Walter Schumann. Supporting cast included Virginia Gregg, Ted Osborne, Sarah Selby and Ed Begley. Dick Joy speaking.