WEBVTT 00:00:18.090 --> 00:00:25.710 Come in. Welcome. I'm E .G. Marshall. All peoples 00:00:25.710 --> 00:00:28.789 have their separate legends, their superstitions, 00:00:29.410 --> 00:00:33.140 and their fears. Julius Caesar once said that 00:00:33.140 --> 00:00:37.340 all Gaul is divided into three parts. But whatever 00:00:37.340 --> 00:00:40.039 their political alignments, the Gallic people 00:00:40.039 --> 00:00:43.479 shared their legends in common, and none more 00:00:43.479 --> 00:00:47.119 persistent and accepted than the belief in the 00:00:47.119 --> 00:00:51.579 second sight. Usually called a gift, but one 00:00:51.579 --> 00:00:54.539 wonders if perhaps it is far more the reverse 00:00:54.539 --> 00:01:06.120 of that. No. No. No! Oh Granny, Bridget, I must 00:01:06.120 --> 00:01:09.859 have fallen asleep. What was troubling you in 00:01:09.859 --> 00:01:16.599 the dream? Oh Granny, it was terrible. They were 00:01:16.599 --> 00:01:21.340 topping a big redwood on Peekman's Hill. And 00:01:21.340 --> 00:01:24.459 Jason swung over on his rake to cross cut with 00:01:24.459 --> 00:01:27.579 red pelly. He was trimming away some branches 00:01:27.579 --> 00:01:33.159 with a small chainsaw. When all of a sudden he... 00:01:34.120 --> 00:01:36.280 Granny, he sheered right through his support 00:01:36.280 --> 00:01:41.780 line, and I saw him fall like a stone, cleared 00:01:41.780 --> 00:01:46.079 down into the ravine. Oh, it was awful, Granny. 00:01:46.140 --> 00:01:49.480 He was just like I had seen it with my own eyes. 00:01:50.540 --> 00:01:54.599 Oh, Granny. Oh, Granny, don't cry. It was only 00:01:54.599 --> 00:01:58.260 a dream, love. Don't I wish it were, child? Oh, 00:01:58.260 --> 00:02:01.120 the Lord proved me wrong, but I'm afraid you're 00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:16.759 cursed with the second. sight Our mystery drama 00:02:16.759 --> 00:02:20.360 the unearthly gift Was written especially for 00:02:20.360 --> 00:02:23.659 the mystery theater by Ian Martin and stars Betsy 00:02:23.659 --> 00:02:39.699 Palmer I'll be back shortly with act one Let's 00:02:39.699 --> 00:02:44.460 begin with two definitions of second sight. The 00:02:44.460 --> 00:02:48.039 unearthly capacity to see things impossible for 00:02:48.039 --> 00:02:52.979 ordinary people to see, or the ability to foretell 00:02:52.979 --> 00:02:56.520 events in the future from the shadows they cast 00:02:56.520 --> 00:03:00.580 before them. A talent bequeathed to a large, 00:03:00.740 --> 00:03:03.639 raw -boned and rather plain girl called Ruth 00:03:03.639 --> 00:03:06.840 Ann Mitchell. She and her grandmother, Bridget 00:03:06.840 --> 00:03:10.189 Carney, are the only women at a lumber camp high 00:03:10.189 --> 00:03:13.509 in the Bitterfoot Range, which sprawls across 00:03:13.509 --> 00:03:16.490 Idaho, Washington, and half of British Columbia. 00:03:17.650 --> 00:03:20.810 Ruth and Granny cook and keep house for the Lumberjacks. 00:03:21.030 --> 00:03:25.930 And what can I say, Mumse? And Granny, we feel 00:03:25.930 --> 00:03:30.270 very bad, especially Begrad. He was up there 00:03:30.270 --> 00:03:32.849 with Jason. I told him a hundred times he used 00:03:32.849 --> 00:03:34.889 a double rig, but he never wanted to listen. 00:03:35.050 --> 00:03:39.469 Where, uh, where is Jason? He is in the wagon 00:03:39.469 --> 00:03:42.830 with Ruth. We'll have to take him down the mountain 00:03:42.830 --> 00:03:46.050 to Rockfall and the main office. I want to see 00:03:46.050 --> 00:03:49.389 him. Ah, no, I think that is not a good thing. 00:03:50.129 --> 00:03:53.770 He fell five, six hundred feet into that ravine. 00:03:53.789 --> 00:03:58.250 I want to see him. Let her, if she wants. Now, 00:03:58.250 --> 00:04:03.009 you'll hurry back? Just as soon as I'm sure Jason 00:04:03.009 --> 00:04:07.060 gets a burial, be fit in him. You've got room 00:04:07.060 --> 00:04:10.560 to take me, Frenchy. Now, may we? If you are, 00:04:10.699 --> 00:04:15.680 sure you must. It's what I owe him. Not enough, 00:04:16.399 --> 00:04:22.480 but all I can do. Oh, Granny, if I knew, why 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:25.360 couldn't I have stopped it? How can you hold 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:41.620 back the hand of God, child? This is one bad 00:04:41.620 --> 00:04:45.199 road. Want me to drive, Banshee? You? A woman? 00:04:45.560 --> 00:04:49.279 Well, I know it like hands. My daddy was a starboard 00:04:49.279 --> 00:04:51.379 in Greenwood's camps, and from the time I was 00:04:51.379 --> 00:04:54.519 11, I grew up there. And your father, when did 00:04:54.519 --> 00:04:58.100 he die? Oh, in the, uh, the big fire. When the 00:04:58.100 --> 00:05:02.199 south slope burned up. And your mother? She died 00:05:02.199 --> 00:05:05.639 half in me. So you stay on with Granny. She is 00:05:05.639 --> 00:05:10.129 your only family. Yes. All I have to love. And 00:05:10.129 --> 00:05:20.629 Jason, too. You lost him. Jason. Jason was kind 00:05:20.629 --> 00:05:23.769 to me. Why do you stay at the lonely camp like 00:05:23.769 --> 00:05:26.149 Greenwood with a bunch of roughnecks like us? 00:05:26.470 --> 00:05:29.709 Where else would I go? To the city where perhaps 00:05:29.709 --> 00:05:35.379 you find a nice young man. Me? A plain, awkward 00:05:35.379 --> 00:05:38.259 country gal who stands head high or higher than 00:05:38.259 --> 00:05:41.839 most men and knows nothing but to just cook and 00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:47.480 to do the chores? Jason did not wear so, so plain. 00:05:47.740 --> 00:05:53.220 What did you mean about Jason when you said you... 00:05:53.220 --> 00:06:02.819 you might have stopped it? Well, I... I had sort 00:06:02.819 --> 00:06:06.740 of a dream. I mean hours before you came back 00:06:06.740 --> 00:06:12.759 to camp. Just when it might have happened. I 00:06:12.759 --> 00:06:15.759 thought, Frenchie, that I saw the whole thing 00:06:15.759 --> 00:06:23.860 just the way it happened. My family was from 00:06:23.860 --> 00:06:27.139 Bretagne in France. We are also like the Irish, 00:06:27.240 --> 00:06:33.769 what you say. Gaelic. Also is Livieu de l 'ombre, 00:06:34.089 --> 00:06:40.930 what you say the second sight. That is a gift 00:06:40.930 --> 00:06:46.769 you have. I don't know, Frenchy. I just don't 00:06:46.769 --> 00:06:51.029 rightly know. I don't suppose I really ever want 00:06:51.029 --> 00:07:00.430 to know. Pardon me, ma 'am. You miss Mitchell? 00:07:00.759 --> 00:07:04.879 Yes, I am. I'm Tim Farrell, new Jack for Greenwoods. 00:07:04.899 --> 00:07:06.600 He told me down at the office I'd be riding up 00:07:06.600 --> 00:07:08.740 the mountain with you. Well, that's right, Mr. 00:07:08.939 --> 00:07:11.600 Farrell. They're just gassing up the old Jeep. 00:07:11.779 --> 00:07:14.600 Have you got your gear ready? Most of it. What 00:07:14.600 --> 00:07:17.740 you see on me. My duffel bag and axe are right 00:07:17.740 --> 00:07:20.560 there by the pumps. Well, then I guess we're 00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:23.500 ready to go. Sir, first I guess I should say 00:07:23.500 --> 00:07:26.639 howdy. You used to shake an hand to the lady, 00:07:26.639 --> 00:07:30.199 but put it there. I'm, uh... How about making 00:07:30.199 --> 00:07:33.379 a Tim I ain't used to, mister? Oh, yeah, well, 00:07:33.379 --> 00:07:37.180 my name's Ruth Ann. All right, Ruth Ann. Do we 00:07:37.180 --> 00:07:40.759 travel? Yes, we do. It's a rough trail, and I 00:07:40.759 --> 00:07:43.779 really prefer going it while it's still light. 00:07:51.660 --> 00:07:55.839 This old Jeep ain't real nice. You were right 00:07:55.839 --> 00:07:58.779 about the trail. Maybe I should have let you 00:07:58.779 --> 00:08:02.139 drive. Well, I knew you figured I shouldn't. 00:08:02.839 --> 00:08:05.439 It's kind of nice to be a woman and just to sit 00:08:05.439 --> 00:08:09.220 down. Besides, you handle the Jeep real good. 00:08:11.160 --> 00:08:16.180 So, you couldn't be Irish. So generations back, 00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:19.569 mostly. No, I'm just a roving lover, Jack. Born 00:08:19.569 --> 00:08:22.250 in Montana, never been out of seven northwestern 00:08:22.250 --> 00:08:26.029 states in the good old US of A. I don't figure 00:08:26.029 --> 00:08:28.589 you for all of that Irish either. Well, not so 00:08:28.589 --> 00:08:31.490 much on my father's side. But all the way down 00:08:31.490 --> 00:08:34.730 to my mother's. Oh, wait till you meet her mother, 00:08:35.330 --> 00:08:38.289 Granny Bridget. She cooks chow for all you Jacks. 00:08:38.549 --> 00:08:41.590 Good chow? Best you've ever tasted. And I'm in 00:08:41.590 --> 00:08:44.370 love with her already. And what do you do? Well... 00:08:44.350 --> 00:08:46.750 I help her. Well, now, there's something to consider. 00:08:47.470 --> 00:08:49.490 If Granny comes through, as strong as you promise, 00:08:49.570 --> 00:08:52.009 I may be half in love with you already without 00:08:52.009 --> 00:09:03.149 knowing. Ah. Now, that Jim Farrell you brought 00:09:03.149 --> 00:09:06.789 back here three weeks ago. Ah, he's a charmer, 00:09:06.909 --> 00:09:11.429 he is. I think so, too. But, um, but what, dear? 00:09:14.889 --> 00:09:17.789 I don't know how to talk about it, Granny. You'll 00:09:17.789 --> 00:09:21.129 see something in his future. I don't want to 00:09:21.129 --> 00:09:25.850 talk about it yet. Yet? It just doesn't come 00:09:25.850 --> 00:09:30.789 clear. It's a full moon tonight. I reckon I'm 00:09:30.789 --> 00:09:33.149 just going to walk myself some more before I 00:09:33.149 --> 00:09:36.570 go to bed. Is it Tim you're going to meet? It's 00:09:36.570 --> 00:09:40.129 no one at all but my own thoughts. Or maybe just 00:09:40.129 --> 00:09:45.620 to be alone and remember Jason. Don't wait up 00:09:45.620 --> 00:09:48.480 for me granny. I'll not close an eye till I know 00:09:48.480 --> 00:10:00.419 you're back home safe and sound Real pretty moon 00:10:00.419 --> 00:10:06.759 I I suppose big red I kind of hope you figure 00:10:06.759 --> 00:10:09.340 like I do that ain't hung up there for nothing 00:10:09.340 --> 00:10:13.519 Don't look to me. I'm not your woman not now 00:10:13.740 --> 00:10:17.200 Or ever could be. You'd still chuck me off even 00:10:17.200 --> 00:10:21.679 with Jason gone? Or with Jason here. You and 00:10:21.679 --> 00:10:24.259 me have nothing for each other. And don't you 00:10:24.259 --> 00:10:27.019 make no move to me. Even with Jason not here 00:10:27.019 --> 00:10:30.240 to stand between us. Big as you are, you think 00:10:30.240 --> 00:10:32.580 you could hold me off even if I really had a 00:10:32.580 --> 00:10:34.840 mind, dude? Look, I hope I don't have to try. 00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:37.360 I don't guess you'll have to, Ruthanne, as long 00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:39.600 as there are three of us. Who asked you here, 00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:42.990 Tenderfoot? Put out here if I'm not wanted. Ruth 00:10:42.990 --> 00:10:45.549 Ann? Let's just not make no fuss, all right? 00:10:45.549 --> 00:10:48.409 I'm on my way back to bed anyways. Good night. 00:10:49.470 --> 00:10:52.070 Why don't you mind your own business, Farrell? 00:10:52.970 --> 00:10:54.950 I was about to ask you the same question. I'm 00:10:54.950 --> 00:10:59.129 warning you. You're new on this crew. Don't ask 00:10:59.129 --> 00:11:03.409 for any trouble. I don't. Just the same don't 00:11:03.409 --> 00:11:08.009 push any on me, brother. And lay off of Ruth 00:11:08.009 --> 00:11:36.049 Ann. She don't like you no more than I do. So 00:11:36.049 --> 00:11:38.309 when you start stripping your big rat on me, 00:11:38.549 --> 00:11:49.110 we cut out the next big tumble, okay? Hand me 00:11:49.110 --> 00:11:54.230 the big kettle, there's a lot, Ruth. Ruth? Oh, 00:11:54.610 --> 00:11:58.450 I'm sorry, Granny. I was thinking of Tim Ferrell. 00:12:00.509 --> 00:12:03.330 I thought maybe that walk under the moon last 00:12:03.330 --> 00:12:07.850 night might not be all by yourself. Did you meet 00:12:07.850 --> 00:12:12.610 him then? Yep. Good I did, too. Big Red was pestering 00:12:12.610 --> 00:12:15.669 me again, just like before Jason died. You tell 00:12:15.669 --> 00:12:19.149 him. He, as much as lays a finger on you, and 00:12:19.149 --> 00:12:22.149 I'll put broken glass in his grits. Now don't 00:12:22.149 --> 00:12:24.230 you let that blue heart bother you. Well, it's 00:12:24.230 --> 00:12:26.649 not him that I'm worried about, Granny. It's 00:12:26.649 --> 00:12:32.299 Tim. Why? I'm... I'm trying to fight it. But 00:12:32.299 --> 00:12:37.340 I see it. There's death. The shadow of death 00:12:37.340 --> 00:12:41.860 over Tim's shoulder. And I'm somehow in the shadow, 00:12:42.200 --> 00:12:46.379 too. Oh, Granny, why do I have to see it? And 00:12:46.379 --> 00:12:49.940 still know that I can't stop it? Oh, no, Mervornin. 00:12:50.600 --> 00:12:54.179 Don't wreck your heart with what can't be changed. 00:12:54.220 --> 00:12:58.279 I told you before, Granny. I won't sit by if... 00:12:58.730 --> 00:13:02.149 What is it, Colleen? What are you staring at? 00:13:03.049 --> 00:13:09.850 I see him now. They've topped a tree, and Tim's 00:13:09.850 --> 00:13:15.750 stripping it. He's all alone in a... No, no! 00:13:16.830 --> 00:13:20.669 I've got to stop it! I've got to stop it! Dear 00:13:20.669 --> 00:13:25.070 Mary in heaven, watch over my lamb, whatever 00:13:25.070 --> 00:13:36.980 the Lord has marked her for. In silent supplication, 00:13:37.320 --> 00:13:40.399 an old woman prays for the one person she has 00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:44.500 left to love. A tortured girl with a terrible 00:13:44.500 --> 00:13:49.840 and unasked gift. What has that inner eye revealed 00:13:49.840 --> 00:13:53.340 to Ruzan as she races up the lumber trail to 00:13:53.340 --> 00:13:58.379 try to stop whatever threatens Tim Farrow? I'll 00:13:58.379 --> 00:14:13.139 be back shortly with Act Two. At the stand of 00:14:13.139 --> 00:14:16.759 trees, the lumberjack crew is thinning out. Frenchy 00:14:16.759 --> 00:14:20.139 and Chuck Turkle are on the big crosscut, finishing 00:14:20.139 --> 00:14:23.639 the high cut. While Big Red, having finished 00:14:23.639 --> 00:14:28.159 the notch, is now driving the wedges. Down the 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:30.820 mountain Tim is methodically stripping the branches 00:14:30.820 --> 00:14:34.940 from the top tree his back towards them This 00:14:34.940 --> 00:14:38.480 is the picture Ruth Ann saw in her mind's eye 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:42.519 Sees now in actuality as she struggles breathlessly 00:14:42.519 --> 00:15:24.039 up the slope covered me with your body. Well, 00:15:24.039 --> 00:15:29.120 you risked your life to try to save me. I can't 00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:31.460 figure why we're not playing pool. That tree 00:15:31.460 --> 00:15:33.620 was headed straight for where I was standing. 00:15:34.700 --> 00:15:38.720 What made it turn aside just far enough to miss 00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:45.759 us? The hand of God. Oh, Tim. How are you? It's 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:48.000 all right, Frenchy. I don't know what happened. 00:15:48.500 --> 00:15:51.419 Wallpath was set for 45 degrees off your line. 00:16:12.360 --> 00:16:16.860 I don't mind Tim. I don't want you to move. You 00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:20.370 listen to a woman when she talk. If there is 00:16:20.370 --> 00:16:25.070 something and your back is broke, you move. You 00:16:25.070 --> 00:16:37.950 risk your life. Why take a shot? Well, that was 00:16:37.950 --> 00:16:40.809 a powerful good bowl of soup, Ruth Ann. Glad 00:16:40.809 --> 00:16:45.490 you liked it. Here, let me take the tree. How's 00:16:45.490 --> 00:16:49.570 your back today? Oh, it's terrible. I know that 00:16:49.570 --> 00:16:51.370 there ain't nothing broke. I feel I better be 00:16:51.370 --> 00:16:54.769 getting back on my feet. No, sir. You just stay 00:16:54.769 --> 00:16:56.610 right where you are till the doctor says that 00:16:56.610 --> 00:17:00.090 you can rise. Ruth, may I tell me something? 00:17:00.710 --> 00:17:04.849 If I can. Where were you going when you come 00:17:04.849 --> 00:17:10.829 up the mountain that day? Why do you ask? I don't 00:17:10.829 --> 00:17:16.049 know. I had a feeling. I mean, they hadn't even 00:17:16.049 --> 00:17:18.809 yelled timber. Before you seemed to know that 00:17:18.809 --> 00:17:22.069 that was a maverick tree, and it wouldn't fell 00:17:22.069 --> 00:17:27.750 right. Well, maybe it was just... just intuition. 00:17:28.609 --> 00:17:31.150 I was born and bred in tree country and around 00:17:31.150 --> 00:17:34.190 camps, and I've got to get back down. Granny 00:17:34.190 --> 00:17:40.130 needs my help. Ruth Ann? Yeah? I want to thank 00:17:40.130 --> 00:17:43.890 you for saving my life. Well, if I had anything 00:17:43.890 --> 00:17:48.339 to do with it, I'm glad. Maybe someday I can 00:17:48.339 --> 00:17:58.759 find a way to make up for it So it's taken you 00:17:58.759 --> 00:18:05.079 are with our boy eat upstairs Tim Well, he saved 00:18:05.079 --> 00:18:08.539 my life I thought it was top our way around I 00:18:08.539 --> 00:18:11.460 mean With the branch he took across the shoulders 00:18:11.460 --> 00:18:13.420 would have it would have caught me right across 00:18:13.420 --> 00:18:15.579 my neck granny and snapped it like a chicken 00:18:16.269 --> 00:18:21.009 He's a good lad. Are you in love with him? Tim's 00:18:21.009 --> 00:18:25.049 not for me, Granny. Granny man. Ah, now, Makushla. 00:18:25.490 --> 00:18:28.490 What makes you say the like of that? You know, 00:18:28.549 --> 00:18:32.609 Granny. I don't want the gift, but I can't escape 00:18:32.609 --> 00:18:36.390 it. It's... Oh, it's like a lead weight around 00:18:36.390 --> 00:18:42.250 my neck. Or around my heart. Did my mother have 00:18:42.250 --> 00:18:46.599 it? Kathleen. Yes, she did. And did she know 00:18:46.599 --> 00:18:50.980 about my father? Not before she married him. 00:18:51.220 --> 00:18:54.140 Or she would never have married him. It never 00:18:54.140 --> 00:18:59.140 comes till we're well out of our teens. But Granny, 00:18:59.220 --> 00:19:04.920 did she know that he was to die so young? She 00:19:04.920 --> 00:19:12.599 knew. And about herself. She knew that too. And 00:19:12.599 --> 00:19:16.190 knowing that... I would kill her in childbirth. 00:19:16.930 --> 00:19:20.609 She... She still went ahead and had me. Now there's 00:19:20.609 --> 00:19:23.349 always the chance. The good Lord will change 00:19:23.349 --> 00:19:27.630 his mind. Look at you and Tim. Only he hasn't. 00:19:27.809 --> 00:19:31.369 What? Granny, I wish I could see it clearer. 00:19:32.750 --> 00:19:36.210 I stopped it once, but I don't know if I ever 00:19:36.210 --> 00:19:41.329 could again. Tim wears the shadow of violent 00:19:41.329 --> 00:19:45.630 death like... like a collar. And somehow I'm 00:19:45.630 --> 00:19:51.089 the one who's hanging it there. Oh, Granny. Granny, 00:19:51.750 --> 00:20:02.710 I don't know what to do. Hey, Jim. Hi, Jack. 00:20:03.369 --> 00:20:08.029 How's it going? I reckon I'm about ready to come 00:20:08.029 --> 00:20:10.190 back and pull my weight. I'm getting tired of 00:20:10.190 --> 00:20:12.650 just chopping firewood. Yeah, it's putting you 00:20:12.650 --> 00:20:16.130 back in shape, though. I hope. You sure are one 00:20:16.130 --> 00:20:19.509 lucky tree, Jack. When that big old tree kicked 00:20:19.509 --> 00:20:22.609 around and started to fall out of line, you was 00:20:22.609 --> 00:20:25.950 dead in its tracks. And then we seen Ruth Ann 00:20:25.950 --> 00:20:29.119 throw up her hands and... By Dad, if we both 00:20:29.119 --> 00:20:31.559 couldn't swear on a stack of bibles, that old 00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:34.759 tree didn't just veer off to the left, so she 00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:37.400 just missed you. I guess the wind caught her. 00:20:37.740 --> 00:20:41.000 It must been. Though I don't have to remember 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:45.960 any wind that day. Chuck, I want to ask you if 00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:48.319 you'll remember something else about that day. 00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:52.559 Sure, ask away. You and Frenchy were making a 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:56.569 saw cut. But Big Red cut the notch and he was 00:20:56.569 --> 00:21:00.809 setting the wedges, right? Oh, yeah? And that 00:21:00.809 --> 00:21:04.170 tree was lined up to fall due south? Yes, sir, 00:21:04.369 --> 00:21:07.470 Tim. That was the line. And you know, I was working 00:21:07.470 --> 00:21:11.230 away on the east, 45 degrees pretty near out 00:21:11.230 --> 00:21:13.289 of the fall line. Well, yes, you were for sure, 00:21:13.369 --> 00:21:17.890 Tim. Then how come she turned so out of line? 00:21:18.210 --> 00:21:22.029 Well, sometimes you get a tree that has a real... 00:21:22.039 --> 00:21:26.259 tough coral twister on you. You were a Frenchie 00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:30.119 ever had that happen to you before? Well, now, 00:21:30.700 --> 00:21:33.160 not as you say, but I'm here to tell... I'm a 00:21:33.160 --> 00:21:37.700 big red. Well, you... you'd have to ask him. 00:21:37.859 --> 00:21:39.960 Does he go around bragging he can fell a tree 00:21:39.960 --> 00:21:42.420 on a dime and he ain't never missed? Well, I 00:21:42.420 --> 00:21:47.059 have heard him say to Edward. Yeah, well, maybe 00:21:47.059 --> 00:21:51.809 I just will go ask him. Look here, Tim. You better 00:21:51.809 --> 00:21:56.470 watch your step. You get him right up. Big Red 00:21:56.470 --> 00:22:06.529 is bad medicine. Hold it just a minute before 00:22:06.529 --> 00:22:10.029 you go inside, Chuck. Oh, all right, Big Red. 00:22:10.609 --> 00:22:13.069 With you and Tim Farrell getting your head so 00:22:13.069 --> 00:22:15.730 close together over up there by the woodpile. 00:22:16.109 --> 00:22:20.130 Oh, we wish we was just, uh, chinning. I seen 00:22:20.130 --> 00:22:22.990 he was asking you a powerful lot of questions. 00:22:24.170 --> 00:22:27.890 I'd like to know them questions. Your answer. 00:22:29.369 --> 00:22:33.809 Big Red, you like to break my arm. I might just 00:22:33.809 --> 00:22:37.809 do that if you don't want to. Well, I don't want 00:22:37.809 --> 00:22:40.349 to make no trouble. Any trouble, I'll handle. 00:22:54.250 --> 00:22:57.369 Don't take on so girl. You're in love with a 00:22:57.369 --> 00:23:01.150 boy. It's that, isn't it? Yes, Granny. I am in 00:23:01.150 --> 00:23:03.910 love with Tim. But that's only a little part 00:23:03.910 --> 00:23:07.650 of it. Now, don't be too sure. Is he in love 00:23:07.650 --> 00:23:10.950 with you? Oh, Granny, how could he be? I'm a 00:23:10.950 --> 00:23:13.309 plane. We won't go through that go -round again. 00:23:13.430 --> 00:23:18.130 Granny, I'm trapped. First of all, I have the 00:23:18.130 --> 00:23:22.769 vision that all I bring Tim is danger. And second... 00:23:22.769 --> 00:23:26.859 Well... If I want him to love me, how can I be 00:23:26.859 --> 00:23:29.599 sure that I'm not using the power to make him? 00:23:30.140 --> 00:23:32.460 I brought you some fresh wood for the stove. 00:23:35.539 --> 00:23:40.539 Hey, um, did I break in on something? Sure not 00:23:40.539 --> 00:23:43.799 at all, Tim. How are you feeling now? Oh, I guess 00:23:43.799 --> 00:23:46.500 I'm about back to where I was, thanks to Ruth 00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:50.740 Ann. You'll excuse me, Grady Bridget and Ruth 00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:54.539 Ann. I got a little business here, can't we? 00:23:55.619 --> 00:23:58.880 You get yourself out of my kitchen, Redbelly, 00:23:59.059 --> 00:24:01.599 and I'll riprap with you. Not till something 00:24:01.599 --> 00:24:05.920 gets straightened out. Well, speak up and go. 00:24:06.119 --> 00:24:09.460 I'm talking to you, Farrell. This time you ain't 00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:13.119 hiding behind any skirts. Chuck Turkle here tells 00:24:13.119 --> 00:24:16.619 me you're bad -mouthed me. Trying to say I dropped 00:24:16.619 --> 00:24:20.079 a tree across your back. I hadn't faced you with 00:24:20.079 --> 00:24:25.039 it yet. I wanted to get some more proof. But 00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:28.240 so long as you fetch the issue, that's what I 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:30.660 have in mind. Glad you leave it on the table. 00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:33.680 Why you do these? Who are you trying to... Shut 00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:40.539 up, Frenchy. I'll handle this. Mr. Farrell, I'm 00:24:40.539 --> 00:24:45.660 calling you out. Pick your weapon. Knives, axes, 00:24:45.859 --> 00:24:50.019 PV poles are just bare hands. You and me's got 00:24:50.019 --> 00:24:53.819 a claim to sign. A claim? Well, let's just call 00:24:53.819 --> 00:24:57.440 it a plane falling out. Don't pay him any heed. 00:24:57.539 --> 00:24:59.720 You can keep out of this, Ruth Ann. Indeed I 00:24:59.720 --> 00:25:02.799 won't. It's all like a bunch of children, except 00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:06.119 that you're playing with life. Ruth Ann, maybe 00:25:06.119 --> 00:25:09.299 I want to be caught, huh? I stand no nonsense 00:25:09.299 --> 00:25:12.839 like this in my kitchen. Near under 50 years 00:25:12.839 --> 00:25:16.140 I've served this camp, and I've never tolerated 00:25:16.140 --> 00:25:19.549 brawling in my kitchen. So you're all... Take 00:25:19.549 --> 00:25:23.750 yourself over here before I... What? Granny! 00:25:24.109 --> 00:25:27.089 Oh, come on. Go back, you old cat. Give us some 00:25:27.089 --> 00:25:33.210 air. Ruth, is it her heart? I don't know. I've 00:25:33.210 --> 00:25:36.609 never seen Granny sick before. Go bring the wagon. 00:25:36.829 --> 00:25:38.630 We're taking her to town and the nearest doctor. 00:25:38.670 --> 00:25:41.029 You speak well. I'll bring the wagon to the door. 00:25:42.670 --> 00:25:48.609 Granny, it's... It's nothing. It's... It's just 00:25:48.609 --> 00:25:52.309 a little it's a little fainted spell. Oh, maybe 00:25:52.309 --> 00:25:56.630 I'm Maybe I'm getting too old for so much excitement 00:25:56.630 --> 00:26:01.089 Where's where's where's who oh, I'm right here 00:26:01.089 --> 00:26:07.690 beside you Put your arms around me All right, 00:26:07.890 --> 00:26:10.250 now the rest of you stand back. Don't crowd. 00:26:11.650 --> 00:26:14.450 I'm still crowding you, Farrell. Not now, Big 00:26:14.450 --> 00:26:16.730 Red. There's a time for everything. Yours and 00:26:16.730 --> 00:26:19.529 mine will come. Nameless. When I take Ruth Ann 00:26:19.529 --> 00:26:21.990 and Granny Carney down to Martin and make sure 00:26:21.990 --> 00:26:25.710 Granny has proper care, I'll be back. With Ruth 00:26:25.710 --> 00:26:28.630 Ann? That's up to her. If I had my way... If 00:26:28.630 --> 00:26:31.930 you're coming back, Tim, I'm coming too. Why? 00:26:32.849 --> 00:26:35.170 There are 45 lumberjacks that still gotta be 00:26:35.170 --> 00:26:39.190 fed, till other... arrangements are made. Granny 00:26:39.190 --> 00:26:46.730 will insist on that, and then... Then what? Whatever's 00:26:46.730 --> 00:26:50.950 got to be unwound among us, it's gonna take the 00:26:50.950 --> 00:27:01.470 three of us to do it. How much does Ruth's second 00:27:01.470 --> 00:27:05.710 sight now see of the future? How much can she 00:27:05.710 --> 00:27:10.849 affect it? And how? Is the shadow of what's to 00:27:10.849 --> 00:27:14.589 come going to engulf her? Or can it be dispersed 00:27:14.589 --> 00:27:18.809 and blown away? Is the unearthly gift something 00:27:18.809 --> 00:27:22.049 that can prevail against earthly circumstance? 00:27:23.329 --> 00:27:39.619 We'll return shortly with Act 3. boasts a livery 00:27:39.619 --> 00:27:43.720 stable, three assorted garages, a choice of hotels, 00:27:44.599 --> 00:27:47.579 no hospital but a small clinic with four beds 00:27:47.579 --> 00:27:50.960 and a first rate if overburdened general practitioner. 00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:55.660 It couldn't have mattered less. The most efficient 00:27:55.660 --> 00:27:58.319 and highly staffed hospital would not have saved 00:27:58.319 --> 00:28:02.259 Bridget's tired heart. Like a stout old watch, 00:28:03.059 --> 00:28:06.980 the bearings were worn, the mainspring slackened. 00:28:07.069 --> 00:28:12.170 Are you there, Ruthann? I'm here, Granny. I'm, 00:28:12.170 --> 00:28:17.329 uh... I'm going away, you know. Oh, no! Yes, 00:28:17.329 --> 00:28:23.369 in your eyes, my morning. You know. Promise me 00:28:23.369 --> 00:28:28.750 something. What? You won't go back to that camp. 00:28:29.630 --> 00:28:32.690 Granny, who's to cook for all the men? They'll 00:28:32.690 --> 00:28:36.190 find another. There ought to be something better 00:28:36.190 --> 00:28:40.079 in life. I don't know what it should be. You're 00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:45.500 telling me that you and Tim... Granny, Granny, 00:28:45.779 --> 00:28:49.700 me and Tim are a dream of yours. Because you 00:28:49.700 --> 00:28:53.680 want only the best for me. But even if it could 00:28:53.680 --> 00:28:58.619 be, you know what lies between us. A gift, or 00:28:58.619 --> 00:29:04.079 by another name, a curse. Where is he now? He's 00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:06.829 gone back to camp. And you'll let him go. How 00:29:06.829 --> 00:29:12.049 could I stop him? And I... I was needed here 00:29:12.049 --> 00:29:14.990 no longer. Now go and follow him. And leave you 00:29:14.990 --> 00:29:21.390 here. My time is yours up. Come close, Granny. 00:29:22.009 --> 00:29:25.529 I'm never very far away from you. Soon. Soon 00:29:25.529 --> 00:29:31.829 you will be. Let me say this while I can. Some 00:29:31.829 --> 00:29:40.230 of us are the lucky ones. I was. How? I had the 00:29:40.230 --> 00:29:45.369 gift as well. Little I wanted it. It was clearer 00:29:45.369 --> 00:29:50.490 than yours. So I knew just exactly what to expect. 00:29:51.690 --> 00:29:56.109 I knew your grandfather, like your mother's poor 00:29:56.109 --> 00:30:03.410 husband, would have gone from me early. Granny? 00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:08.500 Forgive me, child. I was just looking down the 00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:11.660 long corridor of time that I've left behind. 00:30:12.900 --> 00:30:15.680 Where was I? It doesn't matter, Greg. Oh, yes. 00:30:16.339 --> 00:30:22.539 Yes, it was this. About the gift. It came to 00:30:22.539 --> 00:30:29.059 me late and left me early. I can wish you only 00:30:29.059 --> 00:30:36.490 the same, the earlier. Suddenly the second sight 00:30:36.490 --> 00:30:41.450 stopped. It wasn't there. That's what I mean. 00:30:42.509 --> 00:30:45.490 If I still had it, wouldn't I be able to read 00:30:45.490 --> 00:30:52.009 better for what you're to do? How can you know 00:30:52.009 --> 00:30:56.710 if it's gone? It's like love. When love comes, 00:30:57.430 --> 00:31:01.329 you can't mistake it if it's for real. And when 00:31:01.329 --> 00:31:16.420 the gift... I love you, Ruthann. My love shall 00:31:16.420 --> 00:31:53.599 make you free. of both contestants. There is 00:31:53.599 --> 00:31:58.240 no weapon but the human arm. Thus, I ask each 00:31:58.240 --> 00:32:02.819 if they must fight. Be glad. No man's gonna make 00:32:02.819 --> 00:32:05.079 the kind of charges Tim Farrell's been making 00:32:05.079 --> 00:32:10.539 about me behind my back. And Tim, Red Pelly rules 00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:14.660 this camp and all of you. Why, fear. It's time 00:32:14.660 --> 00:32:18.099 someone challenged him. I'm doing that. Oh, you 00:32:18.099 --> 00:32:21.880 will commence at the bed. Are you both ready? 00:32:22.200 --> 00:32:25.799 Let's get on with it. You heard the man. Let's 00:32:25.799 --> 00:32:52.000 get it over with. until one man is out cold. 00:32:52.140 --> 00:32:55.420 He's too big and strong for Tim. What I try to 00:32:55.420 --> 00:32:57.720 say is, Ruth, but your Tim field he must find. 00:32:58.880 --> 00:33:46.539 If you won't stop it, I will. Just take it easy. 00:33:47.099 --> 00:33:55.059 You're all right. Ruth? Yes? Boy, it seems like... 00:33:55.059 --> 00:33:57.880 It seems like I've been here before. Now that 00:33:57.880 --> 00:34:01.299 Granny's gone and... and you're okay, I... I'm 00:34:01.299 --> 00:34:05.480 going away. Well, if that's what you want. You've 00:34:05.480 --> 00:34:14.590 got your own life to live. My own life. that 00:34:14.590 --> 00:34:19.150 we'd be sharing it. But I got nothing to offer 00:34:19.150 --> 00:34:22.230 a woman yet. We're just not for each other, Tim. 00:34:23.630 --> 00:34:28.690 Don't you know I'm a shadow over you? That it's 00:34:28.690 --> 00:34:31.090 through me that you're risking your life? Spears 00:34:31.090 --> 00:34:33.769 to me it's through you it keeps getting saved. 00:34:34.329 --> 00:34:37.889 Twice. The legend is the third time round fate 00:34:37.889 --> 00:34:40.750 has to take its course. There's another cook 00:34:40.750 --> 00:34:44.630 here now and I'm not needed. Forget me, Tim. 00:34:45.510 --> 00:34:49.510 Please, just forget me. Excuse me, Miss Ruth. 00:34:50.170 --> 00:34:54.010 Hey, how you feel, chum? I feel like I got run 00:34:54.010 --> 00:34:57.309 over by a bulldozer. Little man. Something else 00:34:57.309 --> 00:35:00.909 won't, eh? In the inside. Why did you make Miss 00:35:00.909 --> 00:35:03.050 Ruth cry? It's kind of the other way around, 00:35:03.230 --> 00:35:06.829 Frenchy. I guess I took a wrong notion. I want 00:35:06.829 --> 00:35:09.489 to marry that girl. But she does not want to 00:35:09.489 --> 00:35:12.889 marry you. That's right. Did she say why? I don't 00:35:12.889 --> 00:35:15.670 know. She's got some kind of crazy notion. She's 00:35:15.670 --> 00:35:19.150 a hex for me. Ah, if she say that, then it is 00:35:19.150 --> 00:35:23.489 one big shame. She must be bad medicine for you. 00:35:24.070 --> 00:35:28.829 She knows. How? She has le don, the gift. She 00:35:28.829 --> 00:35:31.630 can read the future. Oh, come on. It is true. 00:35:32.369 --> 00:35:34.489 How do you think that big tree missed you that 00:35:34.489 --> 00:35:38.530 day? And now you make me great cry uncle heck 00:35:38.530 --> 00:35:40.849 with superstition. That's no real problem What 00:35:40.849 --> 00:35:43.630 is a problem is it a man needs money to marry 00:35:43.630 --> 00:35:48.210 and what do I have to offer? What? Big red I 00:35:48.210 --> 00:35:50.530 was just dragging what was left of me in here 00:35:50.530 --> 00:35:52.829 to say you whipped me fair and square and the 00:35:52.829 --> 00:35:56.730 best man won You say you're leaving. I'll be 00:35:56.730 --> 00:36:02.130 on my way by tonight Reggie what was that? I 00:36:02.130 --> 00:36:04.800 heard him about he wanted to get hold of some 00:36:04.800 --> 00:36:09.159 money. The poor devil. He wanted to get married, 00:36:09.300 --> 00:36:14.039 but he has no stake yet. Oh, he wants money real 00:36:14.039 --> 00:36:22.760 bad, huh? Hey there, Big Red. What are you doing 00:36:22.760 --> 00:36:25.639 so far from Cap? Oh, just stealing me a little 00:36:25.639 --> 00:36:28.260 breather chuck and having a stroll. You have 00:36:28.260 --> 00:36:33.980 some new axe in your hand. This here axe ain't 00:36:33.980 --> 00:36:37.260 mine. It belongs to Tim Farrell. What you doing 00:36:37.260 --> 00:36:41.179 with it? I got a use for it. I wouldn't figure 00:36:41.179 --> 00:36:44.619 him to lend you anything of his. He didn't. He 00:36:44.619 --> 00:36:47.840 might get sore to take a notion to whoop up on 00:36:47.840 --> 00:37:18.579 you again when he finds out. Like usual. It'd 00:37:18.579 --> 00:37:21.539 be a lot of money to steal. And there sure wouldn't 00:37:21.539 --> 00:37:24.440 be much doubt if a fella got caught quick enough 00:37:24.440 --> 00:37:27.679 just where it came from. Huh? What you talking 00:37:27.679 --> 00:37:30.159 about? Just keep on driving, Chuck. Only you 00:37:30.159 --> 00:37:50.380 take the road. of myself. What's the Jeep doing 00:37:50.380 --> 00:37:52.579 outside there? Where's Chuck? Reckon he took 00:37:52.579 --> 00:37:54.880 the payroll over to the straw boss. You drawing 00:37:54.880 --> 00:37:57.940 yours? No. Then we'll ride over there and pick 00:37:57.940 --> 00:38:00.519 it up before I drive you and Ruth Ann down to 00:38:00.519 --> 00:38:03.179 town. She's coming with us? As if you didn't 00:38:03.179 --> 00:38:13.480 know. There's something going on. This isn't 00:38:13.480 --> 00:38:15.619 the way to the straw bosses, huh? Look out in 00:38:15.619 --> 00:38:36.250 back here. What? I'd like to get down the mountain 00:38:36.250 --> 00:38:39.030 before dark. He should have been here at least 00:38:39.030 --> 00:38:42.070 one hour ago. I suppose Tim is going to leave 00:38:42.070 --> 00:38:45.570 with us. We have not much transport, Miss Ruth. 00:38:46.690 --> 00:38:49.630 Why don't you take a chance and stay with him? 00:38:49.650 --> 00:38:53.389 You don't understand, Frenchy. I do, but sometimes 00:38:53.389 --> 00:38:57.269 Le Bon Dieu is kind. And I think that Grand -Mère 00:38:57.269 --> 00:39:01.469 Brigette would have wanted to... Wait. Wait a 00:39:01.469 --> 00:39:09.760 minute, Frenchy. What is it? I see it now. I 00:39:09.760 --> 00:39:15.780 see it. Red, he has the payroll in Tim's duffel. 00:39:16.420 --> 00:39:20.039 He has Tim knocked out and tied up by the fork 00:39:20.039 --> 00:39:24.719 on the way down the mountain. And Chuck is tossed 00:39:24.719 --> 00:39:27.340 up just below the big plume where it spills into 00:39:27.340 --> 00:39:31.239 the catch basin. He'll drive Tim unconscious 00:39:31.239 --> 00:39:37.239 into the ravine and send Chuck to die. Grown 00:39:37.239 --> 00:39:41.579 up in the logs, in the catch basin. It'll look 00:39:41.579 --> 00:39:46.739 as if Tim killed him for the payroll. Prenchy, 00:39:48.119 --> 00:39:50.599 go get the rest of the jacks and save Tim Prenchy. 00:39:51.199 --> 00:39:59.800 I'll go get Chuck free. You, you crazy red! Like 00:39:59.800 --> 00:40:02.619 a fuck. Ain't no wanker sucker on a red pillie. 00:40:02.909 --> 00:40:05.949 She turned me down for Jason while I took care 00:40:05.949 --> 00:40:10.550 of him. Climb. Climb? Up to the sluice? Why? 00:40:10.949 --> 00:40:15.469 Sorry, Chuck. I gotta set this up just right. 00:40:16.909 --> 00:40:20.369 What are you gonna do with Tim's axe? I'm gonna 00:40:20.369 --> 00:40:23.070 bury it right in your skull, Chuck, so nobody 00:40:23.070 --> 00:40:25.650 has any doubts as to who did it. Oh, no. No, 00:40:25.750 --> 00:40:28.449 you're not red. Ru -Dan, how'd you get up here? 00:40:28.909 --> 00:40:31.170 Many a time as a kid when the logs weren't running, 00:40:31.250 --> 00:40:33.869 I've shooted down the flume. From the camp right 00:40:33.869 --> 00:40:36.570 to this station. Oh, I... I knew I had to move 00:40:36.570 --> 00:40:39.389 fast to stop you. You can't. It's too late. I've 00:40:39.389 --> 00:40:43.070 burned all my bridges behind me. I wish to fall. 00:40:43.650 --> 00:40:46.590 It's got to be you too. No, but you can't touch 00:40:46.590 --> 00:40:49.849 me, Red. I have the gift. The gift? I turned 00:40:49.849 --> 00:40:52.710 the tree aside to save Tim. And I held you back 00:40:52.710 --> 00:40:55.969 from stomping him. All with the help of God. 00:40:56.030 --> 00:41:00.570 And now... I'm gonna stop you again. Run, Chuck. 00:41:01.170 --> 00:41:04.530 Run. No, he can't touch me. I'm sorry it has 00:41:04.530 --> 00:41:06.989 to be this way, Ruthanne. From the beginning, 00:41:07.090 --> 00:41:09.969 when you first come, you was all I wanted. But 00:41:09.969 --> 00:41:13.530 you turned me down. What? What are you doing? 00:41:13.650 --> 00:41:16.829 I'm gonna open a sluice gate. There's 600 ,000 00:41:16.829 --> 00:41:19.510 board feet of logs already on the way down. And 00:41:19.510 --> 00:41:22.929 we're going with the first that comes. If I can't 00:41:22.929 --> 00:41:44.820 have you, no one... I've got a baby for all I 00:41:44.820 --> 00:41:47.059 read you want to give up on it won't you be kind 00:41:47.059 --> 00:42:08.860 we have too many for plenty we need and over 00:42:08.860 --> 00:42:13.420 and into the catch basin. He was ground to pieces. 00:42:14.619 --> 00:42:17.840 I'm sure glad you're safe, Annie. Are you still 00:42:17.840 --> 00:42:22.980 going? Well, Red is dead, but nothing between 00:42:22.980 --> 00:42:28.239 us has changed. One big thing has. What? When 00:42:28.239 --> 00:42:31.940 I thought I had the power to stop Red, I found 00:42:31.940 --> 00:42:36.599 I didn't, Tim. I just had to rely on myself and... 00:42:36.570 --> 00:42:38.789 Hang on to the act that he was trying to swing 00:42:38.789 --> 00:42:42.929 down on you. Are you telling me... The gift's 00:42:42.929 --> 00:42:46.949 gone. I don't have to be afraid anymore. It's 00:42:46.949 --> 00:42:53.530 a new life. It sure is. What did you call me 00:42:53.530 --> 00:42:57.030 back then? Annie. That's a new name. For a new 00:42:57.030 --> 00:43:00.750 life. And the one that's gonna be my wife's. 00:43:01.650 --> 00:43:09.230 Come on, Annie Farrow. if you like the name anything 00:43:09.230 --> 00:43:12.949 you want to give me it's just exactly what i 00:43:12.949 --> 00:43:22.170 like think of all the gifts you personally may 00:43:22.170 --> 00:43:25.769 have lost in your time and how much you mourn 00:43:25.769 --> 00:43:30.309 them then think of the dread oppressive gift 00:43:30.309 --> 00:43:36.659 that ruthann lost and celebrate it with her Sometimes 00:43:36.659 --> 00:43:39.079 I do have stories to tell you that end with that 00:43:39.079 --> 00:43:42.739 far English phrase and so they lived happily 00:43:42.739 --> 00:43:58.000 ever after I'll be back shortly Nothing in this 00:43:58.000 --> 00:44:01.719 life we live can or should ever be expected to 00:44:01.719 --> 00:44:06.360 be perfect We can only wish and hope that as 00:44:06.360 --> 00:44:09.460 a sizable clutch of feral offspring arrive and 00:44:09.460 --> 00:44:12.480 grow, that not too many of the girls' children 00:44:12.480 --> 00:44:17.539 will be afflicted or blessed with the gift. It 00:44:17.539 --> 00:44:20.980 all depends, doesn't it, on how bright and dark 00:44:20.980 --> 00:44:26.079 our separate futures may be. For myself, either 00:44:26.079 --> 00:44:30.119 way, I'd rather not know who needs to live for 00:44:30.119 --> 00:44:34.280 more than today. Our cast included Betsy Palmer, 00:44:34.719 --> 00:44:38.079 Carmen Matthews, Mason Adams, Jackson Beck, and 00:44:38.079 --> 00:44:41.119 Ian Martin. The entire production was under the 00:44:41.119 --> 00:44:44.380 direction of Hyman Brown. This is E .G. Marshall 00:44:44.380 --> 00:44:46.940 inviting you to return to our Mystery Theater 00:44:46.940 --> 00:44:51.920 for another adventure in the macabre. Until next 00:44:51.920 --> 00:44:54.119 time. Pleasance.