06x24 - Clinic on Eighteenth Street

[bunniefuu]

DR. GANTMAN: And you say you've been a diabetic

for how long, Mr. Watkins?

Almost years now.

And we haven't tried any other treatment, have we?

Only the daily insulin sh*ts,

which you've increased in the past few weeks.

I think it's time we started

a new type of treatment, Mr. Watkins.

Have you ever seen one of these?

No.

You know, the Space Program

has done wonderful things for medical science.

This is an electro-charged oscillator belt.

It will stimulate the pancreas

so that it develops its own insulin.

I see.

What would something like this run?

Now, now, don't you worry about that.

I'm a pensioner, Doctor.

I don't know how much I can afford.

We'll arrange a loan for you, Mr. Watkins.

The last thing I want you to worry about is money.

And I guarantee you,

it will be the best investment

you've ever made in and for your life.

And once you start using this belt faithfully,

you can throw away that insulin!

Wonderful, Doctor. Wonderful!

Now, why don't you wait for me in my office.

Sure.

Thank you, Doctor. Thank you.

There's my little sweetheart. Come on in, Hun!

How are we today?

You just sit right there, little lady.

Will she ever see?

You can bet on it.

Make the necessary credit arrangements for Watkins, will you?

Anybody been assigned out of detectives?

Yes, sir! Art Wilson of Homicide.

He asked us to fill you in.

We got the original DB call.

Yeah, but it's not a pure homicide.

Cause of death natural. Diabetic shock.

What makes it special for us?

This.

It was strapped around the old man when we found him.

What's it supposed to do?

You're in charge of Major Fraud,

we figured you might tell us.

Morning, Jud. How's it going?

Great! Lots of fun!

Picking up cigar butts and chewing gum wrappers

from behind all these files!

Why don't you move them into the basement where they belong?

Basement's full.

Bigger population, bigger government, more paperwork,

and all bunched up in to the same small space!

Well, what do they expect me to do about it?

Shut your eyes to it.

Lawyers! And they call cops pigs.

LYNN: , , ...

-Gino around? -Haven't seen him.

This security exchange scheme is driving me up the wall.

Get a bigger wall.

You, come with me.

-That's it, Mr. Strayhorn. -That's what?

toothpicks.

-The box says . -How many boxes have you counted?

Five. Each box has at least less than .

-They're cheating! -A toothpick rip-off.

I expected a little more interesting work on my first day.

Better than standing out in the rain.

You got a point, I just like to complain.

That's the only privilege we'll give you, meter maid.

-Hello! -Hello, you.

Whatever it is, Jim, you aren't going to find it on my desk.

-The Stokes case. -Make it better.

I'm trying, but I need more investigators.

So do I. One would do. Where's Gino?

I haven't seen him.

Does anybody around here know where that Neapolitan meatball is?

Somebody mention my name?

[SIGHS] Where've you been?

You know something, Stray?

Those all-night markets really do stay open all night.

Three kinds of beef.

Regular ground, lean ground, extra lean.

They all have the same maximum fat content, percent.

Gino Bardi, Lynn Carmichael, LAPD transfer.

Why'd you give up all that for all this?

I like to wear pretty dresses.

Checked out all three markets,

Compton, Inglewood, and Watts.

Same operator we got for putting the bright red bulbs

over the dark gray meat.

That's a pretty dress.

All right, Mr. Blackwell,

you and the lady in the pretty dress ever see one of these?

Nope.

After the property room tagged it, I ran it through SID.

All it is, is a series of batteries

hooked up to an ordinary vibrator and some flashing lights.

Old man who wore it is in the morgue.

Any idea how he came by it?

Mail order, quack doctor, maybe he made it himself.

Find out. That's what you get paid for.

Mr. Strayhorn, got time to run over these -'s?

Time you and your four-letter words.

I'll do it when I get back.

I'll be up in the corner pocket. Call me if you need me.

You two, walk down to the garage with me.

Corner pocket, DA's office.

No kidding. You could have fooled me.

I just traded badges, remember?

-Just trying to be helpful. -Help me!

Here's what we've got on that phony belt.

Victim was an old pensioner, lived alone.

Who's working it out of Homicide?

Art Wilson and his partner.

All right! Pick up the pieces and start putting them together.

First stop, the old man's rooming house.

For me.

You hop over to the P&F Ward and take a physical.

What for? I just had one six months ago.

Take another one.

Just a wild hunch, but I got a feeling

when we get this thing sorted out,

we're gonna find a quack doctor.

Tell me something, do you always work this way?

Or do you occasionally insist on hard evidence?

Mark it down like this,

under my expert guidance

you are getting the best on-the-job training available.

I like a modest man.

[KNOCKING]

-Yes? -Mr. Ed Mooney?

That's right. What's your pitch?

Magazines to get through college?

Free dancing lessons?

Some kind of new rug cleaner? What?

Fraud division, District Attorney's office.

My name's Bardi.

Oh, oh! Come right in.

Thank you.

Would you like a beer?

No, thank you, sir.

Your neighbor, Clark Watkins.

More than a neighbor.

Past few years we were close buddies.

Figured that's what you wanted to talk about.

A little stupid, but good, old Clark was.

Why do you say stupid, Mr. Mooney?

Man gets older sometimes,

he's an easy mark for a quack.

You knew he had sugar diabetes?

Yes, sir.

Don't fool me none those quacks.

I can spot one ready to shake you down,

quicker than you can spit.

You mentioned that perhaps

Mr. Watkins was being treated by a doctor.

Fella by the name of Brand Grandman?

Wait a minute.

Now, where did I put my glasses?

-You're wearing them, sir. -Of course I am!

Here it is!

Dr. Elroy Gantman, Clinic on th Street.

, th Street.

Here, you can have that.

I won't be needing it anymore.

Did you know what kind of treatment

this Dr. Gantman was giving your friend?

Nope. All's Clark ever told me was this Gantman fella,

had an easier way of treating sugar diabetes

than just with them sh*ts.

I asked him what it was.

Clark got kind of nasty with me.

Told me it was none of my business.

All right, sir. Anything else you can tell me?

No, sir, that's about it.

Thank you, Mr. Mooney.

Funny thing.

Me and Clark used to play cards a lot.

Said it every night.

"Moon," he used to call me Moon.

"Moon," he used to say,

"Stay warm."

That's what he used to say.

DR. GANTMAN: You understand, I would like to have given you

a more intensive examination, Mrs. Carmichael.

I understand, Doctor,

but I just had a very thorough examination from my own doctor.

But you don't have faith in him?

I'm afraid not.

I'd like to have a talk with your husband if you don't mind.

Not at all. He's right outside.

-Mr. Carmichael? -Yes, sir.

Would you step in my office a moment?

Certainly.

How's my little sweetheart today?

Fine.

The treatment seem to help much?

Yes. At least the headaches seem to have eased a bit.

Fine, fine!

We'll talk in a few minutes, Maggie.

Okay.

Please sit down.

I'd rather stand, if you don't mind, Doctor.

I wish I could give you happier news about your wife.

But I can't.

Is it that serious?

It's a preliminary diagnosis,

but I strongly suspect a rare form of leukemia.

I've treated cases similar to your wife's

with total and complete success.

Well, it's long, tedious,

and I'm sorry to say, quite expensive.

But we can bring about complete recovery.

I don't care what it costs. I'll raise the money somehow.

Remind me to tell you about our medical plan.

I think you'll be interested.

Now, before you go,

here are some pills that will start the healing process.

Have your wife take one of these four times a day.

Thank you, Doctor.

How about the therapeutic treatment?

We'll start that on her next visit.

By the way, you mentioned a medical plan.

What does that cover?

All office visits and medical advice.

How about medication and treatments?

Tell you what,

you can pay for the treatments at the same rate.

$ a week.

What's the interest rate?

Interest?

My only interest is in your wife's health and well being.

You just leave everything in my hands.

Would you step over here, folks.

Miss Brown,

the usual forms for Mr. Carmichael,

and make an appointment for Mrs. Carmichael for next week.

-Thank you, Doctor. -Bye-bye.

Now, then, my little sweetheart.

Come on in.

I'm just a little curious. That little girl?

Maggie Fenton Isn't she adorable?

Her mother brought her to Dr. Gantman only a short time ago.

She was totally blind.

Had she been to other doctors?

The finest, the University Eye Institute.

And Doctor Gantman already has her seeing some light.

Isn't that a pure and simple miracle?

It surely is.

-Now? -Now.

Thank you.

What have you got so far?

Gantman claims to have gotten his medical degree at Duke University.

We got a wire off to Durham and they're running it down now.

He opened up shop here in LA, less than a year ago.

We're checking Sacramento on his State license.

Keep pressing it.

Chances are if this phony runs true to form,

he'll jump state before we get a warrant.

What else?

Seven-year-old girl, blind.

Gantman gave her mother

a fairy tale about how he can cure her.

[KNOCK AT DOOR]

I just came from the University Eye Institute.

The mother had taken the child there first.

They told her the blindness is caused by a pituitary tumor

and they recommend immediate surgery.

Obviously the mother didn't buy their diagnosis.

Gantman convinced her that brain surgery is too risky

and totally unnecessary.

[SIGHS] Find a doctor that tells you what you want to hear.

One thing sure.

If the child doesn't have surgery soon,

that tumor will continue to grow.

But she won't.

What about PC A,

willfully endangering the life of a child?

That's not enough to nail him unless we can prove

he knows those machines and belts are phony.

We need a lot more to get an indictment.

The child's mother, you've talked to her?

We tried. Gantman's got her convinced.

Then unconvince her!

Now, I'm gonna tell you something.

I've talked about it all I am going to.

Mrs. Fenton, do you know anything about Dr. Gantman's background?

He's the only person who has given me any hope.

You're speaking of the treatment he's giving your daughter?

The treatment is working.

You took your child to one of the finest eye clinics in the country.

That may be so, but I don't agree with them.

They wanted her to have surgery.

Operate on the child's brain.

Do you know how dangerous that is?

Yes, I believe I do, but they are specialists.

Let me tell you something about your so-called specialists,

with their long training and their great modern techniques.

My husband was advised by a group of neurologists

and orthopedic physicians that he should have surgery.

Neurosurgery to remove a cervical disk in his neck.

Well, we went through that surgery,

Tom and I,

and he d*ed on the table!

It'd be foolish of me to say that, I know how you feel.

Yes, Mister Bardi it would.

Outside of the memory of my dead husband,

I have only one thing to live for.

Our daughter.

In the few times that Doctor Gantman has seen her

she has shown remarkable improvement.

He's given us hope, Mister Bardi.

Real hope!

Mrs. Fenton, I am not permitted

to say anything prejudicial against Dr. Gantman,

but I was at the University Eye Institute.

I spoke to the doctors and I saw the X-rays.

Your little girl has a tumor the size of a walnut in her head.

And no sweet talk or pills, or so-called miracles

are going to stop that tumor from growing.

The only way to stop it is to have it removed.

Do either of you have any children?

Then please get out!

How did it go?

I'll give it to you the way I got it from the boss.

Gantman telling you that Lynn has leukemia

will go down simply as a bad diagnosis,

and those sugar pills aren't sufficient, evidence.

What about the kick back from Durham?

His credentials are phony. He doesn't have a State license.

And that great Medical Plan of his.

He must pick up five grand a week on that alone.

If it was me I'd hit him with a - and the B and P Code.

But it ain't you. Sure, we can get him as a quack,

but he'd be out on the street in less than six months.

I want him to stand for m*rder Two.

What about the Eye Institute's diagnosis.

Since they claim surgery on the child is urgent or we have no child,

we'll try for a warrant to get Gantman's files,

but we can't do that until we've made a case.

I heard that. Been looking for you.

Ad Vice busted a repair shop last night.

-Guy was running a book in the back room. -Yeah?

Turns out the suspect was involved in all kinds of action.

Remember that phony belt gadget we took off the old guy in the morgue?

Suspect builds 'em for Gantman.

Claims Gantman still owes him for half-a-dozen of them.

He's willing to testify.

Where are they holding him?

Your people are taking his statement now.

-Thanks, Art. -Right.

You two, follow through on that bookie's statement.

I'll jump the arraignment,

pull every string I can to push it in

to the Grand Jury's calendar for an early indictment.

Maybe this'll make a difference to the child's mother.

Don't bank on it.

Doctor Gantman, how long have you been practicing medicine?

years, sir.

As a general practitioner?

Yes.

But at the risk that there may be some confusion on that issue,

I would like to remind the court

that some people are of the opinion

that a general practitioner

is not qualified to diagnose a patient's illness

without the advice of so-called specialists

in their particular field of medicine.

Objection, your honor.

And I ask that the answer after the word 'yes'

be stricken as non-responsive.

I'm going to overrule, Mr. Strayhorn.

But I will ask the witness

to confine his answers to the specific questions.

-Proceed. -Thank you.

Now is it not true that Mrs. Fenton came to you for advice,

and that in no way did you seek her out?

That's true. Yes.

After the examination of the child, doctor,

what did you tell Mrs. Fenton?

I reminded Mrs. Fenton that I was by no means a faith healer.

Just a country doctor, who never went to visit a patient

without his most important instrument in his medical bag.

And what is that, doctor?

A book, Mr. Bates. Exactly like that one.

The Holy Bible.

Your Honor, with the Court's permission

I would like to recall little Margaret Fenton to the stand.

For what purpose, Mr. Bates?

With the Court's indulgence,

the defense considers it would save a great deal of the Court

and the Jury's time

if Dr. Gantman is permitted to give a visual demonstration

in lieu of testimony relative to the progress he has made.

Then, as I understand this,

the child is being recalled only for demonstration purposes.

That's correct, Your Honor.

If the people have no objection?

So long as the people retain the right to participate in this demonstration

if we desire, and at the appropriate time.

-Mr. Bates? -Agreed.

The Bailiff may bring the child and her mother into the courtroom.

How's it going?

Great. I was a six-point underdog going in.

-And now? -We've got him nailed

for practicing without a license,

but if Elmer Gantry up there makes anymore points with the jury,

they might try me for m*rder One.

With the Court's permission,

Doctor Gantman will prove within reasonable medical certainty,

that he has made great progress without the use of surgery

in bringing back this child's sight.

I remind the court that she was certified by experts

to have been totally blind

when she first came to Doctor Gantman.

Proceed.

-Maggie? -Yes.

Can you see who it is that's talking to you?

No.

But do you know who it is, Maggie?

Yes. It's Doctor Gantman.

Do you know what I have in my hand, Maggie.

No. But I can guess.

What is it, my dear?

Is it a flashlight like you had this morning?

That's right, Maggie.

Now we're going to do

exactly what we did this morning and all the other times.

And I want you to tell me when you can and cannot see.

All right?

All right.

-Maggie. -Yes.

-Can you see anything? -No.

[CLICKS]

How about now, Maggie? Can you see anything?

Yes, I can see a little bit.

Shadows and light.

[CLICKS] Now?

No.

Tell me, Maggie, when your mother first came in with you

and I tried the flashlight in your eyes,

could you see anything?

No.

[CLICKS]

Can you see anything now?

Yes.

-And now? -No.

-How about now? -Yes.

Thank you, Maggie.

-Your Honor. -Yes, Mr. Strayhorn.

The prosecution would like to question the child.

Doctor Gantman? Mr. Bates?

I don't need advice from my counsel on that, Your Honor.

I was going to insist that Mr. Strayhorn have a talk with Maggie.

Thank you, then perhaps you wouldn't mind if I borrowed that.

-Not at all. -Thank you.

Maggie?

Hi.

Do you have any pets,

any animals that you particularly love?

Yes. I have a kitten.

A kitten? Can you see the kitten, Maggie?

No.

But I remember what she looks like.

So, I pretend.

You pretend that you see the kitten?

Yes.

Can you see any light now, Maggie?

No.

You're absolutely sure?

I can't see anything.

[INAUDIBLE]

[CLICKS]

Can you see anything at all now, Maggie?

Yes, I think so.

-[ALL MURMURING] -[GAVEL BANGING]

Now, Maggie, I don't want you to be afraid.

We're all trying to help you,

and if you tell the truth, it'll be best for all of us.

[CLICKS]

All right, dear, you're going to tell me the truth now, aren't you?

Yes.

Can you see anything at all, any light?

No, I can't see anything.

Were you pretending to see before,

because you heard the click of the flashlight?

-[GASPS] -Because you could hear this?

[CLICKING]

[WHIMPERS] Yes.

Why did you pretend, Maggie?

Because Dr. Gantman said,

it would help to cure me

if we could make my mommy happy.

You Honor, I object.

This is not only grandstanding and showboating,

but prejudicial misconduct.

[GAVEL BANGING]

Will both counsels please approach the bench?

Your Honor, this calls for a mistrial.

This is out and out showboating

I'm not sure who is or who isn't showboating

but I won't tolerate this in my court.

So let's take a half hour in chambers and discuss it.

Court is recessed for minutes.

Jury's are admonished again,

not to discuss the facts of the case.

How about dropping the m*rder charge

and we'll pled guilty to one count of A?

Nope. No deals.

Look, if you suspend proceedings with no time in the County Jail,

you can supervise him on probation and keep him out of trouble.

Forget it, Don. He stands on m*rder Two.

-You're a hard man, Stray. -Hard?

Let me tell you about your client.

He cut one guy's life short

and that little seven-year-old might never live to be eight.

He may have suckered you with all his smooth talk

and all those he fooled into thinking they had incurable diseases.

That may sound all right to you,

but the rotten part is that some of those people

really are sick and really need help

like the old man he put in the morgue

and God only knows how many more he put there before him.

You got it right, Don.

As far as your client's concerned, I am hard.

Damn hard.

-Rehearsing your summation? -Part of it.

I've got an errand to run.

I'm not scheduled to testify until after lunch.

If you need me I'll be at this number.

May I? One of the great advantages

in being a first rate investigator,

you never forget a phone number.

Really? What's this one?

University Eye Institute.

I never would have figured that.