The story of Dr. Kildare.
Whatsoever house I enter, there will I go for the benefit of the sick.
Whatsoever things I see or hear concerning the light of men, I will keep silence thereon,
counting such things to be held as sacred trusts.
I'll exercise my art, folk.
The story of Dr. Kildare, starring Lou Ayers and Lionel Barrymore.
Metro Goldwyn-Beyer 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.
Now the story of Dr. Kildare, starring Lou Ayers as Dr. Kildare and Lionel Barrymore as Dr. Gillespie.
Blair General Hospital, one of the great citadels of American medicine.
A clump of gray-white buildings planted deep in the heart of New York.
The nerve center of medical progress.
Where great minds and skilled hands wage man's everlasting battle against death and disease.
Blair General Hospital.
Where life begins.
Where life ends.
Where life goes on.
You know, this is the best time of the whole day, Jimmy.
Ten o'clock in the evening.
The everyday business of the hospital's all wound up.
The night's crises haven't occurred yet.
There is no time like it.
One thing's certain, it's the only time of day that a doctor gets much chance to relax around here.
I've been on the run since seven o'clock this morning.
Kind of peace and quiet settles down over the hospital.
The symphonic stillness of the night.
And the only sound against the silence is the far-off hum of the traffic in the streets.
Excuse me, Dr. Gillespie, but I just thought I'd...
Oh, Parker, you idiot.
Where?
You're blowing that Shiner sharp.
Oh!
Well, don't just stand there.
You've interrupted a highly poetic reverie of mine.
Now what do you want?
Well, I merely wanted to see if you needed me for anything else this evening.
Parker, I have never needed you.
It's only from the goodness of my heart that I even tolerate you.
Well, I guess I earn whatever I make around here.
I have often hoped that someday you would.
But I suppose it's practically impossible to overcome a natural incompetence.
Incompetence?
Go on now, get out, get out.
Incompetence, after all I've done for you.
Good night, Parker.
Good night.
After I've given the best years of my life.
I have all the insulting incoming.
You know, one of these days you'll get her mad enough to walk out on you, and then what?
Ah, she'll never quit, Jimmy.
Being insulted is the only emotional life that woman has.
It's good for her.
It keeps her endocrine glands working, and she loves it.
Let's see now, where was I?
Well, you'd gotten somewhere between the symphonic stillness of the night
and the far-off hum of traffic, but now if you'll excuse me,
I think I'll get between seven and eight hours' sleep.
Good night, Dr. Gillespie.
Good night.
Kill there!
Oh, good morning, Dr. Gillespie.
Look what I found on my desk this morning.
Let's see.
Leonard Gillespie, M.D., Blair General Hospital, New York City, New York.
My dear sir...
Oh, never mind that stuff.
Get to what it says.
If you think I am incompetent, and if you think I have not earned my salary around here,
and if you want a more efficient nurse, then that is the last straw, Dr. Gillespie, and I quit.
Signed, Evangeline Parker, R.N.
I never knew Parker's first name was Evangeline.
Ah, what difference does it make what her first name was?
Jimmy, she has mutinied, walked out, deserted me.
She's quit.
So it seems.
Well, I'm surprised she didn't do it years ago.
Confound the woman, anyway.
After all I've done for her...
Shouted at her 14 hours a day...
I've always treated her with consideration and kindness...
Worked her until she was ready to drop...
Made allowances for all her faults and mistakes...
Insulted her every time she opened her mouth...
Stood by her through trials and tribulations...
And now?
Jimmy, do you think I should apologize to her?
I do.
Confound it.
I suppose you're right.
I guess I was a little rough on her last night.
Well, I'll get her on the phone and talk her into it.
Oh, come in, Karoo, come in, come in.
Good morning, gentlemen.
Good morning, Dr. Karoo.
Dr. Gillespie, I must say that I am extremely shocked
to learn of this unfortunate... er... contretemps,
which has occurred in our happy little hospital family.
I've just received a copy of Miss Parker's resignation,
the original of which was, I assume, delivered to you.
Karoo, your assumption could hardly be any more correct.
Ah, yes.
Well, I'm quite sure you plan to take the necessary steps
immediately to rectify the misunderstanding.
Yeah, I was contemplating some procedure of that sort.
Good, good.
Then I'll leave it to you and run along now.
All of us lose our heads under pressure at times, Dr. Gillespie,
so I can readily understand how you could be guilty of such a mistake.
What?
Dr. Karoo.
It would be most unfortunate, though,
if your unrestrained temper should be the cause of our losing an excellent nurse.
By the great horned spoon.
Dr. Karoo, you should have quit while you were ahead.
Are you implying that I am unable to diagnose a case
without Evangeline Parker standing by?
Oh, now, not that at all.
I'm sure you could get along somehow,
but nonetheless, I think...
Karoo!
Miss Parker, formerly a nurse here,
without consulting me in the matter at all,
has offered her resignation,
and by the confounded tarnation, I accept it.
Oh, dear.
Good morning, Mr. Darkley.
Oh, good morning, Dr. Kiddare.
And, well, Gillespie,
finally kind of setting to drop in on me, are you?
That's right, Jonathan. How do you feel?
Terrible.
A man could die here for all the attention he gets.
Go on, you'll live another 50 years yet.
Small credit to you, Fadou.
And another thing.
I want to know who assigned this new nurse.
I don't like her at all. I want Miss Parker.
I'm afraid that won't be possible, Mr. Darkley.
Why not?
Well, three days ago, Miss Parker left our employment.
Gillespie, you fired her.
I did no such thing. She quit.
Then you drove her away with that infernal temper of yours.
Temper? What confounded? I never lose my temper.
You're losing it right now.
You're just a cantankerous old buzzard, same as I am.
Never did understand how a sweet young girl like Miss Parker
could put up with you.
Jonathan, if Parker is a sweet young girl,
then I am a mere stripling with down-covered cheeks.
Never mind your downy cheeks.
You get Miss Parker back here.
She's a fine woman, a fine nurse, reliable, capable...
Would you say competent, Mr. Darkley?
Competent?
Yes. Yes, that's it exactly.
She has a melodious voice and a great sense of humor.
She has a voice like a foghorn full of gravel.
And she's not only got no sense of humor,
but she hasn't got any sense at all.
And furthermore, she's ne...
Jonathan, take those covers off your head and listen to me.
Oh, I'm just sick about it, Dr. Kildare.
After all the years they worked together,
it's such a shame this had to happen.
Yes, it is too bad.
Leonard Gillespie simply ought to have his head examined.
Oh, I think he's as sorry and upset about it as Parker is, Molly,
only he's too stubborn to admit it,
especially since Dr. Crew had to poke his nose in and bungle things.
Well, it's the same with Parker.
She knew she'd made a mistake,
but now her pride's mixed up in it and she can't back down.
If he'd just make some halfway apology, she's dying to come back.
And if the truth were known, Molly, he's lost without her.
They're both acting like... like school children.
Well, I certainly wish something could be done about it.
In all the years I've been supervisor here,
I've never had a better nurse than Parker on the staff.
Molly, what time did Parker say she was coming in to visit you?
In about half an hour.
Have her drop into my office, will you?
All right, Dr. Kildare.
Do you have anything in mind?
No, no, except...
Well, I thought that maybe if they can be brought together
without either one of them having to give in and take the first step,
well, things might straighten out.
Are you sure, Dr. Kildare, did he really say that?
Well, he said it by... by implication, Parker.
He's been completely lost these few days you've been away.
Irritable, downcast, blaming himself, I suppose.
Well, I shouldn't have taken what he said so seriously, I guess.
Of course he really didn't mean it.
Why, of course not. You know how he is.
Well, I just don't know what he's talking about.
Why, of course not. You know how he is.
Well, I just don't know what I'd do
away from this hospital, Dr. Kildare,
but naturally I wouldn't stay on any place where I wasn't wanted.
Well, you don't have any worries on that score, Parker.
I heard him discussing you
with one of the patients just this morning.
Discussing me?
What did he say about me?
I can't remember the exact words,
but... he did... he did mention your... your voice
and your sense of humour.
really often I think you come back down to it I don't know why I. Come in after
a glass of. A mother bird said you want to see me about something highly important
but. Good morning Miss Parker good morning Dr Glassby your.
Feeling well I suppose oh yes yes thank you I hope. I hope you're feeling well
yes yes yes quite quite well Miss Parker that's good yes it is.
Well like old times in the doctor glass be I mean having Parker back with us
well yes yes it is. Are you coming back to work Miss Parker well I would like to
work for someone who respects my ability why would you all of us here have the
greatest respect for your ability then you you don't think I'm incompetent
incompetent oh oh oh I never heard anything so ridiculous but you said you thought I
said no thing is other nonsense and you really do want me back of course I want
you back now let's stop all this fiddled battle about here Parker let me take your
coat I'm behind four days on the reports and there are two case histories I can't
even find oh well I know where they are Dr Glassby now just let me get this
cut off good morning gentlemen call comment car or come back to the FBI just
been glancing over it why Miss Parker good morning Dr crew isn't it wonderful
I'm back at work well Dr Glassby I can bet relate to for following my
instructions and apologizing to Miss Parker following your instruction I rule
I am the part of your I stand a body why you didn't do that to go if you said
that I got shut up what Dr. Carreau if you'll come with me there's something I've
been wanting to ask you in just one moment first I must get this little matter
straight oh it's already straightened out isn't it Parker well not if Dr.
Glassby didn't really mean what he said if he wasn't apologizing if he was he
was just just I was not apologizing and don't stand there blithering like an
idiot why not not finally absolutely and for the last time I quit quit come back
here are you think I'm cool oh oh dear dear dear
oh we will return to the story of dr. Kildare in just a moment
yeah
Now we continue with the story of Dr. Kildare, starring Lou Ayres as Dr. Kildare and Lionel
Baramore as Dr. Gillespie. Good morning Dr. Gillespie. Oh come in, come in, come in. I'll
be through here in a second. Oh have you met Miss, what's your name? Miss Ebertson, doctor.
Oh yes, yes you were in the orthopedic section weren't you? That is correct Dr. Kildare. I was
transferred here this morning at nine twenty. She's taking part in Miss. Miss Ebertson.
Ebertson, yes you have all the information on those sheets now. Suppose you fill out the rest
of the reports and then I'll check them over and sign them. I'm sorry doctor but I believe the
handbook states that diagnostic reports shall be made out only by the physician. Well I merely want
you to transfer the data from the sheets and I intend to check the reports before they're filed.
I believe the handbook is quite specific in the matter. Oh confounded Parker. It is now eleven
thirty one so if there is nothing else doctor I'll finish recording those daily charts. I expect to
complete them at one o'clock seven at which time I presume you'll have additional work planned.
Well that's quite an efficient nurse you've acquired doctor. Efficient Jimmy, she's a human
handbook topped off with a bundle of rules and a stopwatch. Not much like the good old days when
Parker was here. Dad, she'd still be here if she wasn't so bullheaded. Well I've got to run along,
better start planning some more work though. You have to face that fireball in the arena again at
one o'clock seven. I've known Leonard Gillespie for a good many years Dr. Kildare and I'm telling
you when he gets on one of his stubborn streaks nothing can move him. I know Molly. Gillespie,
the greatest diagnostician in the world today and yet here he is acting like a spoiled child.
If only Karoo hadn't butted in. He always brings out the contrariness in Leonard. Why as far back
as I can remember. Wait a second, that might be an idea. I'm afraid I don't see it. Well something
has to be done. Gillespie's upset, his work's suffering, Parker's unhappy and the longer it
goes on the less chance of working it out. So? So I think I'll go up and have a talk with Dr. Karoo.
Well I must say I'm afraid I really don't understand you Dr. Gillespie.
Precisely why are you congratulating me? Oh you're being far too modest Dr. Karoo. Of course I
realize you weren't looking for a personal credit. That your only concern was to increase the
efficiency of Dr. Gillespie's work but nonetheless your handling of the matter was very effective.
Oh I see. And just how much of my little plan have you been able to penetrate Dr. Gilder?
Well you must have decided on the plan as soon as you realized that Miss Parker was no longer
an efficient nurse. She wasn't? But you also realized that Dr. Gillespie would probably balk
at any direct attempt to replace Parker with someone more efficient. Yes, yes he certainly
would all right. So you skillfully maneuvered Gillespie into thinking he wanted her replaced.
That left the field clear for Miss Ebbetson. My my my. Oh I know Miss Ebbetson was supposedly
assigned by Molly Bird but it's easy enough to see through that. Really? Yes, yes indeed,
yes indeed. How clever of you Dr. Ilya. Of course I didn't want any credit for it. Naturally.
In a way though it's too bad Dr. Gillespie gives all the credit for the assignment to Molly Bird.
Doesn't know you were really the one behind it. Then he's satisfied with the change. I mean he
he does realize that I was only considering his interests in the matter. Oh I think he's already
quite aware of Miss Ebbetson's efficiency. Well I might just drop him a little hint. We can't hide
all our light under a bushel you know. That's right. Dr. Gilder this is really amazing. Your
suggestion, your guesses were so close to the actual details of my little scheme that it's really quite frightening.
Confounded Jimmy you've been sitting there staring at me for five minutes now. Go say something.
Oh I'm sorry Dr. Gillespie. I guess I was thinking about our poor old Parker. No doubt blaming me for
the whole business. Oh no no it's just one of those things I suppose. Yeah well what about poor old
Parker? I was wondering if there wasn't some way we could help her financially I mean. Oh she must
have money. She's bound to. I don't know. Of course she did work very very hard around here for so many
years. She never was paid very much. Well she'll she'll she'll have a choice of a dozen jobs better
than this one. She hasn't so far. I understand she isn't working yet. Well confounded it isn't my
fault. The old battle axe had any understanding at all but she hasn't. I can't help it if she wants
to act like a stubborn idiot. No I suppose not. It is too bad though because there's a possibility
of course that you may have been been used by somebody. You know taken in. What? Look suppose
Dr. Carew decided he wanted Parker replaced by a more efficient nurse. Now if he were really smart
wouldn't he go about it by pretending just the opposite by by provoking you into getting rid
of Parker? By the great horns. Of course he would and that's exactly what he did too. Well I don't
really know that's what happened it was only an idea. Jimmy I thought right along there was
something behind this. I knew somebody was to blame for it. What that conniving underhanded little
pipsqueak. Well good afternoon gentlemen. Why Dr. Carew we were just talking about you. About me?
Oh dear nothing I shouldn't hear I hope. Well to be more exact we were talking about the replacement
of Miss Parker with this new nurse. Ah yes yes indeed and has Miss Ebbetson proved herself to be
efficient Dr. Gillespie? Obnoxiously so. What a delightful way to put it. She is probably the
most efficient nurse I've ever been given the opportunity to work with. Yes it would seem that
that Molly Bird made an excellent selection. Ah me such is life. So it's Molly Bird who's getting
all the credit in this little affair. And is somebody else responsible Carew? Well since you're
about to ferret me out I suppose I may as well make a little confession. Good then I won't have
to use torture. It wasn't Molly Bird at all. I'm the one who planned the whole thing. Carew?
Yes Dr. Gillespie? You phony fat-headed imbecilic little poppinjay. Police. How many times have I
told you never to interfere in my department. But but but but I thought you were I mean I.
Butting in here and firing the best nurse I ever had. I fired her? I ought to walk out of this
hospital and stay out of it. But but but but but but. Hey there. Phone Parker and have her get over
here right away. She's as much a victim of the schemer as I am. Oh dear oh dear dear dear dear.
Well it's too bad Dr. Crew but that's the way things go sometimes. The best laid plans are mice
and men you know. I still think it was a clever idea.
Well there's the whole story Miss Parker. Neither you nor I were to blame at all. We were merely
victimized by the underhanded machinations of a sly scoundrel. Can you imagine it Dr. Gillespie?
Why I've never heard of such a two-faced scheme before in my life. Yes it does seem a little odd
all right. Yeah odd. Why that's the way Carew's mind works Jimmy. If you can call it a mind.
I suspected something right from the start. But I had to go along with it you know. Give him enough
rope. Naturally I was forced to say a few things that I didn't mean. Oh of course I understand.
Well Parker since everything seems to be settled you may as well dig up a uniform and get back on
the payroll. Oh well I wore one under my coat. I just knew things would turn out all right. Yes
yes. Well it would never have happened in the first place if Carew hadn't started it Miss Parker.
Oh I know. He's such a horrible man. Yes. Well as long as things are back to normal I'd better get
some of my own work done. Dr. Gillespie. Oh no. I would just like to add one thing to what I said
earlier. Dr. Carew I was just coming to look for you. Oh all right but wait first. How fortunate
you were looking for me at the same time. I wasn't. I really now Dr. Killdeer. Watch the door now.
There we are. This is most irregular Dr. Killdeer. Yes I know it is but I wanted to remind you of
something. Oh of what? Last year over a million dollars in donations came into this hospital as a
direct result of Dr. Gillespie's great reputation. Ah yes quite so. I wasn't sure what you might be
going to bring up in there so well to a man of your intellect Dr. Carew need I say anything more?
I'm sorry.
In just a moment we will return to the story of Dr. Killdeer.
And now once again the story of Dr. Killdeer starring Lou Ayers as Dr. Killdeer and Lionel
Barrymore as Dr. Gillespie. Well good morning Dr. Killdeer. Oh hello Molly heading the same way I
am. I'm going down here to Gillespie's office if that's. Oh my let's go. Well I suppose things
have settled back to normal now between him and Parker. Not so sure. We're getting along all right together
but I'm such a politely formal basis that it's it's like walking on eggs. Oh no. Sure they spend half
their time exchanging compliments he's still calling her Miss Parker. That's sort of a basis
one wrong word from Carew could blow the whole thing sky high again. Yeah isn't much like the
rough and tumble set up they've always had before. Yeah maybe things are. Here we are.
Well confounded Parker don't just stand there like an idiot. Wait a second Molly. Even a moron would
know better than to do a thing like that. Well I guess everybody makes mistakes sometimes. But you
are the only human being I ever saw who managed to make them all the time. Oh horrible man.
Oh well Molly I think we can stop worrying everything's going to work out all right.
You have just heard the story of Dr. Killdeer starring Lou Ayres and Lionel Barrymore. This
program was written by Les Crutchfield and directed by William P. Russo. Original music was composed
and conducted by Walter Shuman. Supporting cast included Virginia Gregg, Eleanor Audley, Ted
Osborne, Wilms Herbert and Peggy Webber. Dick Joy speaking.