Come in. Welcome. I'm E .G. Marshall. All peoples
have their separate legends, their superstitions,
and their fears. Julius Caesar once said that
all Gaul is divided into three parts. But whatever
their political alignments, the Gallic people
shared their legends in common, and none more
persistent and accepted than the belief in the
second sight. Usually called a gift, but one
wonders if perhaps it is far more the reverse
of that. No. No. No! Oh Granny, Bridget, I must
have fallen asleep. What was troubling you in
the dream? Oh Granny, it was terrible. They were
topping a big redwood on Peekman's Hill. And
Jason swung over on his rake to cross cut with
red pelly. He was trimming away some branches
with a small chainsaw. When all of a sudden he...
Granny, he sheered right through his support
line, and I saw him fall like a stone, cleared
down into the ravine. Oh, it was awful, Granny.
He was just like I had seen it with my own eyes.
Oh, Granny. Oh, Granny, don't cry. It was only
a dream, love. Don't I wish it were, child? Oh,
the Lord proved me wrong, but I'm afraid you're
cursed with the second. sight Our mystery drama
the unearthly gift Was written especially for
the mystery theater by Ian Martin and stars Betsy
Palmer I'll be back shortly with act one Let's
begin with two definitions of second sight. The
unearthly capacity to see things impossible for
ordinary people to see, or the ability to foretell
events in the future from the shadows they cast
before them. A talent bequeathed to a large,
raw -boned and rather plain girl called Ruth
Ann Mitchell. She and her grandmother, Bridget
Carney, are the only women at a lumber camp high
in the Bitterfoot Range, which sprawls across
Idaho, Washington, and half of British Columbia.
Ruth and Granny cook and keep house for the Lumberjacks.
And what can I say, Mumse? And Granny, we feel
very bad, especially Begrad. He was up there
with Jason. I told him a hundred times he used
a double rig, but he never wanted to listen.
Where, uh, where is Jason? He is in the wagon
with Ruth. We'll have to take him down the mountain
to Rockfall and the main office. I want to see
him. Ah, no, I think that is not a good thing.
He fell five, six hundred feet into that ravine.
I want to see him. Let her, if she wants. Now,
you'll hurry back? Just as soon as I'm sure Jason
gets a burial, be fit in him. You've got room
to take me, Frenchy. Now, may we? If you are,
sure you must. It's what I owe him. Not enough,
but all I can do. Oh, Granny, if I knew, why
couldn't I have stopped it? How can you hold
back the hand of God, child? This is one bad
road. Want me to drive, Banshee? You? A woman?
Well, I know it like hands. My daddy was a starboard
in Greenwood's camps, and from the time I was
11, I grew up there. And your father, when did
he die? Oh, in the, uh, the big fire. When the
south slope burned up. And your mother? She died
half in me. So you stay on with Granny. She is
your only family. Yes. All I have to love. And
Jason, too. You lost him. Jason. Jason was kind
to me. Why do you stay at the lonely camp like
Greenwood with a bunch of roughnecks like us?
Where else would I go? To the city where perhaps
you find a nice young man. Me? A plain, awkward
country gal who stands head high or higher than
most men and knows nothing but to just cook and
to do the chores? Jason did not wear so, so plain.
What did you mean about Jason when you said you...
you might have stopped it? Well, I... I had sort
of a dream. I mean hours before you came back
to camp. Just when it might have happened. I
thought, Frenchie, that I saw the whole thing
just the way it happened. My family was from
Bretagne in France. We are also like the Irish,
what you say. Gaelic. Also is Livieu de l 'ombre,
what you say the second sight. That is a gift
you have. I don't know, Frenchy. I just don't
rightly know. I don't suppose I really ever want
to know. Pardon me, ma 'am. You miss Mitchell?
Yes, I am. I'm Tim Farrell, new Jack for Greenwoods.
He told me down at the office I'd be riding up
the mountain with you. Well, that's right, Mr.
Farrell. They're just gassing up the old Jeep.
Have you got your gear ready? Most of it. What
you see on me. My duffel bag and axe are right
there by the pumps. Well, then I guess we're
ready to go. Sir, first I guess I should say
howdy. You used to shake an hand to the lady,
but put it there. I'm, uh... How about making
a Tim I ain't used to, mister? Oh, yeah, well,
my name's Ruth Ann. All right, Ruth Ann. Do we
travel? Yes, we do. It's a rough trail, and I
really prefer going it while it's still light.
This old Jeep ain't real nice. You were right
about the trail. Maybe I should have let you
drive. Well, I knew you figured I shouldn't.
It's kind of nice to be a woman and just to sit
down. Besides, you handle the Jeep real good.
So, you couldn't be Irish. So generations back,
mostly. No, I'm just a roving lover, Jack. Born
in Montana, never been out of seven northwestern
states in the good old US of A. I don't figure
you for all of that Irish either. Well, not so
much on my father's side. But all the way down
to my mother's. Oh, wait till you meet her mother,
Granny Bridget. She cooks chow for all you Jacks.
Good chow? Best you've ever tasted. And I'm in
love with her already. And what do you do? Well...
I help her. Well, now, there's something to consider.
If Granny comes through, as strong as you promise,
I may be half in love with you already without
knowing. Ah. Now, that Jim Farrell you brought
back here three weeks ago. Ah, he's a charmer,
he is. I think so, too. But, um, but what, dear?
I don't know how to talk about it, Granny. You'll
see something in his future. I don't want to
talk about it yet. Yet? It just doesn't come
clear. It's a full moon tonight. I reckon I'm
just going to walk myself some more before I
go to bed. Is it Tim you're going to meet? It's
no one at all but my own thoughts. Or maybe just
to be alone and remember Jason. Don't wait up
for me granny. I'll not close an eye till I know
you're back home safe and sound Real pretty moon
I I suppose big red I kind of hope you figure
like I do that ain't hung up there for nothing
Don't look to me. I'm not your woman not now
Or ever could be. You'd still chuck me off even
with Jason gone? Or with Jason here. You and
me have nothing for each other. And don't you
make no move to me. Even with Jason not here
to stand between us. Big as you are, you think
you could hold me off even if I really had a
mind, dude? Look, I hope I don't have to try.
I don't guess you'll have to, Ruthanne, as long
as there are three of us. Who asked you here,
Tenderfoot? Put out here if I'm not wanted. Ruth
Ann? Let's just not make no fuss, all right?
I'm on my way back to bed anyways. Good night.
Why don't you mind your own business, Farrell?
I was about to ask you the same question. I'm
warning you. You're new on this crew. Don't ask
for any trouble. I don't. Just the same don't
push any on me, brother. And lay off of Ruth
Ann. She don't like you no more than I do. So
when you start stripping your big rat on me,
we cut out the next big tumble, okay? Hand me
the big kettle, there's a lot, Ruth. Ruth? Oh,
I'm sorry, Granny. I was thinking of Tim Ferrell.
I thought maybe that walk under the moon last
night might not be all by yourself. Did you meet
him then? Yep. Good I did, too. Big Red was pestering
me again, just like before Jason died. You tell
him. He, as much as lays a finger on you, and
I'll put broken glass in his grits. Now don't
you let that blue heart bother you. Well, it's
not him that I'm worried about, Granny. It's
Tim. Why? I'm... I'm trying to fight it. But
I see it. There's death. The shadow of death
over Tim's shoulder. And I'm somehow in the shadow,
too. Oh, Granny, why do I have to see it? And
still know that I can't stop it? Oh, no, Mervornin.
Don't wreck your heart with what can't be changed.
I told you before, Granny. I won't sit by if...
What is it, Colleen? What are you staring at?
I see him now. They've topped a tree, and Tim's
stripping it. He's all alone in a... No, no!
I've got to stop it! I've got to stop it! Dear
Mary in heaven, watch over my lamb, whatever
the Lord has marked her for. In silent supplication,
an old woman prays for the one person she has
left to love. A tortured girl with a terrible
and unasked gift. What has that inner eye revealed
to Ruzan as she races up the lumber trail to
try to stop whatever threatens Tim Farrow? I'll
be back shortly with Act Two. At the stand of
trees, the lumberjack crew is thinning out. Frenchy
and Chuck Turkle are on the big crosscut, finishing
the high cut. While Big Red, having finished
the notch, is now driving the wedges. Down the
mountain Tim is methodically stripping the branches
from the top tree his back towards them This
is the picture Ruth Ann saw in her mind's eye
Sees now in actuality as she struggles breathlessly
up the slope covered me with your body. Well,
you risked your life to try to save me. I can't
figure why we're not playing pool. That tree
was headed straight for where I was standing.
What made it turn aside just far enough to miss
us? The hand of God. Oh, Tim. How are you? It's
all right, Frenchy. I don't know what happened.
Wallpath was set for 45 degrees off your line.
I don't mind Tim. I don't want you to move. You
listen to a woman when she talk. If there is
something and your back is broke, you move. You
risk your life. Why take a shot? Well, that was
a powerful good bowl of soup, Ruth Ann. Glad
you liked it. Here, let me take the tree. How's
your back today? Oh, it's terrible. I know that
there ain't nothing broke. I feel I better be
getting back on my feet. No, sir. You just stay
right where you are till the doctor says that
you can rise. Ruth, may I tell me something?
If I can. Where were you going when you come
up the mountain that day? Why do you ask? I don't
know. I had a feeling. I mean, they hadn't even
yelled timber. Before you seemed to know that
that was a maverick tree, and it wouldn't fell
right. Well, maybe it was just... just intuition.
I was born and bred in tree country and around
camps, and I've got to get back down. Granny
needs my help. Ruth Ann? Yeah? I want to thank
you for saving my life. Well, if I had anything
to do with it, I'm glad. Maybe someday I can
find a way to make up for it So it's taken you
are with our boy eat upstairs Tim Well, he saved
my life I thought it was top our way around I
mean With the branch he took across the shoulders
would have it would have caught me right across
my neck granny and snapped it like a chicken
He's a good lad. Are you in love with him? Tim's
not for me, Granny. Granny man. Ah, now, Makushla.
What makes you say the like of that? You know,
Granny. I don't want the gift, but I can't escape
it. It's... Oh, it's like a lead weight around
my neck. Or around my heart. Did my mother have
it? Kathleen. Yes, she did. And did she know
about my father? Not before she married him.
Or she would never have married him. It never
comes till we're well out of our teens. But Granny,
did she know that he was to die so young? She
knew. And about herself. She knew that too. And
knowing that... I would kill her in childbirth.
She... She still went ahead and had me. Now there's
always the chance. The good Lord will change
his mind. Look at you and Tim. Only he hasn't.
What? Granny, I wish I could see it clearer.
I stopped it once, but I don't know if I ever
could again. Tim wears the shadow of violent
death like... like a collar. And somehow I'm
the one who's hanging it there. Oh, Granny. Granny,
I don't know what to do. Hey, Jim. Hi, Jack.
How's it going? I reckon I'm about ready to come
back and pull my weight. I'm getting tired of
just chopping firewood. Yeah, it's putting you
back in shape, though. I hope. You sure are one
lucky tree, Jack. When that big old tree kicked
around and started to fall out of line, you was
dead in its tracks. And then we seen Ruth Ann
throw up her hands and... By Dad, if we both
couldn't swear on a stack of bibles, that old
tree didn't just veer off to the left, so she
just missed you. I guess the wind caught her.
It must been. Though I don't have to remember
any wind that day. Chuck, I want to ask you if
you'll remember something else about that day.
Sure, ask away. You and Frenchy were making a
saw cut. But Big Red cut the notch and he was
setting the wedges, right? Oh, yeah? And that
tree was lined up to fall due south? Yes, sir,
Tim. That was the line. And you know, I was working
away on the east, 45 degrees pretty near out
of the fall line. Well, yes, you were for sure,
Tim. Then how come she turned so out of line?
Well, sometimes you get a tree that has a real...
tough coral twister on you. You were a Frenchie
ever had that happen to you before? Well, now,
not as you say, but I'm here to tell... I'm a
big red. Well, you... you'd have to ask him.
Does he go around bragging he can fell a tree
on a dime and he ain't never missed? Well, I
have heard him say to Edward. Yeah, well, maybe
I just will go ask him. Look here, Tim. You better
watch your step. You get him right up. Big Red
is bad medicine. Hold it just a minute before
you go inside, Chuck. Oh, all right, Big Red.
With you and Tim Farrell getting your head so
close together over up there by the woodpile.
Oh, we wish we was just, uh, chinning. I seen
he was asking you a powerful lot of questions.
I'd like to know them questions. Your answer.
Big Red, you like to break my arm. I might just
do that if you don't want to. Well, I don't want
to make no trouble. Any trouble, I'll handle.
Don't take on so girl. You're in love with a
boy. It's that, isn't it? Yes, Granny. I am in
love with Tim. But that's only a little part
of it. Now, don't be too sure. Is he in love
with you? Oh, Granny, how could he be? I'm a
plane. We won't go through that go -round again.
Granny, I'm trapped. First of all, I have the
vision that all I bring Tim is danger. And second...
Well... If I want him to love me, how can I be
sure that I'm not using the power to make him?
I brought you some fresh wood for the stove.
Hey, um, did I break in on something? Sure not
at all, Tim. How are you feeling now? Oh, I guess
I'm about back to where I was, thanks to Ruth
Ann. You'll excuse me, Grady Bridget and Ruth
Ann. I got a little business here, can't we?
You get yourself out of my kitchen, Redbelly,
and I'll riprap with you. Not till something
gets straightened out. Well, speak up and go.
I'm talking to you, Farrell. This time you ain't
hiding behind any skirts. Chuck Turkle here tells
me you're bad -mouthed me. Trying to say I dropped
a tree across your back. I hadn't faced you with
it yet. I wanted to get some more proof. But
so long as you fetch the issue, that's what I
have in mind. Glad you leave it on the table.
Why you do these? Who are you trying to... Shut
up, Frenchy. I'll handle this. Mr. Farrell, I'm
calling you out. Pick your weapon. Knives, axes,
PV poles are just bare hands. You and me's got
a claim to sign. A claim? Well, let's just call
it a plane falling out. Don't pay him any heed.
You can keep out of this, Ruth Ann. Indeed I
won't. It's all like a bunch of children, except
that you're playing with life. Ruth Ann, maybe
I want to be caught, huh? I stand no nonsense
like this in my kitchen. Near under 50 years
I've served this camp, and I've never tolerated
brawling in my kitchen. So you're all... Take
yourself over here before I... What? Granny!
Oh, come on. Go back, you old cat. Give us some
air. Ruth, is it her heart? I don't know. I've
never seen Granny sick before. Go bring the wagon.
We're taking her to town and the nearest doctor.
You speak well. I'll bring the wagon to the door.
Granny, it's... It's nothing. It's... It's just
a little it's a little fainted spell. Oh, maybe
I'm Maybe I'm getting too old for so much excitement
Where's where's where's who oh, I'm right here
beside you Put your arms around me All right,
now the rest of you stand back. Don't crowd.
I'm still crowding you, Farrell. Not now, Big
Red. There's a time for everything. Yours and
mine will come. Nameless. When I take Ruth Ann
and Granny Carney down to Martin and make sure
Granny has proper care, I'll be back. With Ruth
Ann? That's up to her. If I had my way... If
you're coming back, Tim, I'm coming too. Why?
There are 45 lumberjacks that still gotta be
fed, till other... arrangements are made. Granny
will insist on that, and then... Then what? Whatever's
got to be unwound among us, it's gonna take the
three of us to do it. How much does Ruth's second
sight now see of the future? How much can she
affect it? And how? Is the shadow of what's to
come going to engulf her? Or can it be dispersed
and blown away? Is the unearthly gift something
that can prevail against earthly circumstance?
We'll return shortly with Act 3. boasts a livery
stable, three assorted garages, a choice of hotels,
no hospital but a small clinic with four beds
and a first rate if overburdened general practitioner.
It couldn't have mattered less. The most efficient
and highly staffed hospital would not have saved
Bridget's tired heart. Like a stout old watch,
the bearings were worn, the mainspring slackened.
Are you there, Ruthann? I'm here, Granny. I'm,
uh... I'm going away, you know. Oh, no! Yes,
in your eyes, my morning. You know. Promise me
something. What? You won't go back to that camp.
Granny, who's to cook for all the men? They'll
find another. There ought to be something better
in life. I don't know what it should be. You're
telling me that you and Tim... Granny, Granny,
me and Tim are a dream of yours. Because you
want only the best for me. But even if it could
be, you know what lies between us. A gift, or
by another name, a curse. Where is he now? He's
gone back to camp. And you'll let him go. How
could I stop him? And I... I was needed here
no longer. Now go and follow him. And leave you
here. My time is yours up. Come close, Granny.
I'm never very far away from you. Soon. Soon
you will be. Let me say this while I can. Some
of us are the lucky ones. I was. How? I had the
gift as well. Little I wanted it. It was clearer
than yours. So I knew just exactly what to expect.
I knew your grandfather, like your mother's poor
husband, would have gone from me early. Granny?
Forgive me, child. I was just looking down the
long corridor of time that I've left behind.
Where was I? It doesn't matter, Greg. Oh, yes.
Yes, it was this. About the gift. It came to
me late and left me early. I can wish you only
the same, the earlier. Suddenly the second sight
stopped. It wasn't there. That's what I mean.
If I still had it, wouldn't I be able to read
better for what you're to do? How can you know
if it's gone? It's like love. When love comes,
you can't mistake it if it's for real. And when
the gift... I love you, Ruthann. My love shall
make you free. of both contestants. There is
no weapon but the human arm. Thus, I ask each
if they must fight. Be glad. No man's gonna make
the kind of charges Tim Farrell's been making
about me behind my back. And Tim, Red Pelly rules
this camp and all of you. Why, fear. It's time
someone challenged him. I'm doing that. Oh, you
will commence at the bed. Are you both ready?
Let's get on with it. You heard the man. Let's
get it over with. until one man is out cold.
He's too big and strong for Tim. What I try to
say is, Ruth, but your Tim field he must find.
If you won't stop it, I will. Just take it easy.
You're all right. Ruth? Yes? Boy, it seems like...
It seems like I've been here before. Now that
Granny's gone and... and you're okay, I... I'm
going away. Well, if that's what you want. You've
got your own life to live. My own life. that
we'd be sharing it. But I got nothing to offer
a woman yet. We're just not for each other, Tim.
Don't you know I'm a shadow over you? That it's
through me that you're risking your life? Spears
to me it's through you it keeps getting saved.
Twice. The legend is the third time round fate
has to take its course. There's another cook
here now and I'm not needed. Forget me, Tim.
Please, just forget me. Excuse me, Miss Ruth.
Hey, how you feel, chum? I feel like I got run
over by a bulldozer. Little man. Something else
won't, eh? In the inside. Why did you make Miss
Ruth cry? It's kind of the other way around,
Frenchy. I guess I took a wrong notion. I want
to marry that girl. But she does not want to
marry you. That's right. Did she say why? I don't
know. She's got some kind of crazy notion. She's
a hex for me. Ah, if she say that, then it is
one big shame. She must be bad medicine for you.
She knows. How? She has le don, the gift. She
can read the future. Oh, come on. It is true.
How do you think that big tree missed you that
day? And now you make me great cry uncle heck
with superstition. That's no real problem What
is a problem is it a man needs money to marry
and what do I have to offer? What? Big red I
was just dragging what was left of me in here
to say you whipped me fair and square and the
best man won You say you're leaving. I'll be
on my way by tonight Reggie what was that? I
heard him about he wanted to get hold of some
money. The poor devil. He wanted to get married,
but he has no stake yet. Oh, he wants money real
bad, huh? Hey there, Big Red. What are you doing
so far from Cap? Oh, just stealing me a little
breather chuck and having a stroll. You have
some new axe in your hand. This here axe ain't
mine. It belongs to Tim Farrell. What you doing
with it? I got a use for it. I wouldn't figure
him to lend you anything of his. He didn't. He
might get sore to take a notion to whoop up on
you again when he finds out. Like usual. It'd
be a lot of money to steal. And there sure wouldn't
be much doubt if a fella got caught quick enough
just where it came from. Huh? What you talking
about? Just keep on driving, Chuck. Only you
take the road. of myself. What's the Jeep doing
outside there? Where's Chuck? Reckon he took
the payroll over to the straw boss. You drawing
yours? No. Then we'll ride over there and pick
it up before I drive you and Ruth Ann down to
town. She's coming with us? As if you didn't
know. There's something going on. This isn't
the way to the straw bosses, huh? Look out in
back here. What? I'd like to get down the mountain
before dark. He should have been here at least
one hour ago. I suppose Tim is going to leave
with us. We have not much transport, Miss Ruth.
Why don't you take a chance and stay with him?
You don't understand, Frenchy. I do, but sometimes
Le Bon Dieu is kind. And I think that Grand -Mère
Brigette would have wanted to... Wait. Wait a
minute, Frenchy. What is it? I see it now. I
see it. Red, he has the payroll in Tim's duffel.
He has Tim knocked out and tied up by the fork
on the way down the mountain. And Chuck is tossed
up just below the big plume where it spills into
the catch basin. He'll drive Tim unconscious
into the ravine and send Chuck to die. Grown
up in the logs, in the catch basin. It'll look
as if Tim killed him for the payroll. Prenchy,
go get the rest of the jacks and save Tim Prenchy.
I'll go get Chuck free. You, you crazy red! Like
a fuck. Ain't no wanker sucker on a red pillie.
She turned me down for Jason while I took care
of him. Climb. Climb? Up to the sluice? Why?
Sorry, Chuck. I gotta set this up just right.
What are you gonna do with Tim's axe? I'm gonna
bury it right in your skull, Chuck, so nobody
has any doubts as to who did it. Oh, no. No,
you're not red. Ru -Dan, how'd you get up here?
Many a time as a kid when the logs weren't running,
I've shooted down the flume. From the camp right
to this station. Oh, I... I knew I had to move
fast to stop you. You can't. It's too late. I've
burned all my bridges behind me. I wish to fall.
It's got to be you too. No, but you can't touch
me, Red. I have the gift. The gift? I turned
the tree aside to save Tim. And I held you back
from stomping him. All with the help of God.
And now... I'm gonna stop you again. Run, Chuck.
Run. No, he can't touch me. I'm sorry it has
to be this way, Ruthanne. From the beginning,
when you first come, you was all I wanted. But
you turned me down. What? What are you doing?
I'm gonna open a sluice gate. There's 600 ,000
board feet of logs already on the way down. And
we're going with the first that comes. If I can't
have you, no one... I've got a baby for all I
read you want to give up on it won't you be kind
we have too many for plenty we need and over
and into the catch basin. He was ground to pieces.
I'm sure glad you're safe, Annie. Are you still
going? Well, Red is dead, but nothing between
us has changed. One big thing has. What? When
I thought I had the power to stop Red, I found
I didn't, Tim. I just had to rely on myself and...
Hang on to the act that he was trying to swing
down on you. Are you telling me... The gift's
gone. I don't have to be afraid anymore. It's
a new life. It sure is. What did you call me
back then? Annie. That's a new name. For a new
life. And the one that's gonna be my wife's.
Come on, Annie Farrow. if you like the name anything
you want to give me it's just exactly what i
like think of all the gifts you personally may
have lost in your time and how much you mourn
them then think of the dread oppressive gift
that ruthann lost and celebrate it with her Sometimes
I do have stories to tell you that end with that
far English phrase and so they lived happily
ever after I'll be back shortly Nothing in this
life we live can or should ever be expected to
be perfect We can only wish and hope that as
a sizable clutch of feral offspring arrive and
grow, that not too many of the girls' children
will be afflicted or blessed with the gift. It
all depends, doesn't it, on how bright and dark
our separate futures may be. For myself, either
way, I'd rather not know who needs to live for
more than today. Our cast included Betsy Palmer,
Carmen Matthews, Mason Adams, Jackson Beck, and
Ian Martin. The entire production was under the
direction of Hyman Brown. This is E .G. Marshall
inviting you to return to our Mystery Theater
for another adventure in the macabre. Until next
time. Pleasance.