Beyond the Forest

This is the main street of the town of Loyalton in Wisconsin.

It looks like Sunday, doesn't it?

Everything empty, the street deserted...

But it can't be Sunday, not with the saw mill running.

The sawmill is the pulse and heartbeat of the town of Loyalton.

The people wake to the scream of the whistle...

Go to work by it, eat lunch by it,

and start home by it.

And at night if their bedrooms face the mill,

they have to sleep with the shades down

to close out the hot flow of the sawdust that

comes from the incinerator lighting the sky...

Burning its way through closed eyelids, through sleep itself.

Even the picture theater's closed.

Today they have a drama being enacted in their own town.

Yes, everything's empty. That is, most everything.

There's a horse tied here to Sven Godford's blacksmith shop,

but horses don't mind waiting...

If people do.

And in the second story of the bank building is the doctor's office,

the only doctor in Loyalton.

But his door's locked.

And even if it were open, there'd be no patients.

Not today.

And here's the train that passes through twice a day,

to and from Chicago.

And each day Rosa used to walk down to the station,

moving easily, freely, every man's admiring eye upon her.

Rosa Moline.

She'd stand looking at the train, which seemed to say to her:

"Come, Rosa...come away before it's too late...

"Chicago...Chicago...Chicago..."

And at the very end of the street,

as far away from the town as she can get,

is her house, the finest house in Loyalton.

If you knew Rosa, you'd know she'd have the best house in town,

and as far away from the screech of the saw mill as she could get.

She has a maid, too. Only an Indian girl,

but that's more than any of the other women have.

There she is now, coming out the back door.

If Rosa were home, Jenny'd be in uniform.

But Rosa isn't home.

Rosa's in the courthouse facing a coroner's inquest.

A man has been killed by Rosa Moline.

Even the kids of the town don't want to miss anything.

They all know Rosa. By sight anyway.

Now they're hoping to hear spoken aloud

what was only whispered before.

Housework has been left undone, dishes still in the sink.

Children unwashed and men unfed.

The women of the town, friendly and unfriendly,

are all here, all wondering if at last they're going to learn

the secret of Rose's life.

What made her different from the rest of them?

And the men on the jury, they wonder too.

The coroner is solemnly addressing them with these words:

"You do solemnly swear that you will

"diligently inquire on behalf of this state

"when and in what manner and by what means

"the person who is now dead came to his death.

"That you will return a true inquest theron,

"according to your knowledge and such evidence

"as shall be laid before you".

Why should I kill him?

Someone tell me that!

Why should I want to?

It was an accident!

Accident?

Well, what led up to it happened five months ago...

That one is too small, Lewis! Throw him back!

Guess he is at that.

Down, boy fishy!

Get the going while the going's good.

While you've still got the pep to get somewhere.

I wish they put this air up in bottles!

The trouble with you Lou is you don't get up here often enough!

He doesn't do anything enough!

Except work!

You better ease up.

A sick doctor isn't much good.

I'm as strong as a horse!

Horses get sick.

I oughta know...my first patient was a horse!

What'd he pay you with...Oats?

Well...we'd better push off if

we're gonna get to my cabin by sundown.

Yes, let's get moving.

Latimer Lodge!

You know every time I see a place like that it puzzles me.

Why?

Man wants to get out in the woods where he can be alone so...

he builds 20 bedrooms to be alone in.

18 baths.

That's right, isn't it Moose?

It was the last count!

I suppose there is some sort of majesty in 18 baths...

only you can only take one at a time.

The number of anything is impressive, even 18 lawnmovers!

It's a soft job for me, anyhow!

I think I'll go and wash up.

What's the matter with your foot?

I think I twisted it or something!

No wonder with those things you've got on your feet!

Catch, Moose!

Wouldn't rob you of the pleasure of cleaning these.

Let me have a look at that foot.

- That hurt? - Uh-huh.

You probably pulled a muscle.

I think you'll live.

You know, Moose was right.

We don't get up here often enough.

Oh Lewis, I forgot.

Here's a message for you.

I've got to go back.

What's the matter?

Mildred Sorren. She's having a baby. You should have known.

Well, I can't keep track of all the babies born in Loyalton.

She's going to have a tough time. I wanted her to go to Ashford,

but her husband couldn't afford the hospital.

If he can't afford a hospital, he can't afford 8 kids.

It's quite a hike back to the car. With that ankle...

I'll make better time without you.

MOOSE!

Yeah?

I've got to go back to town.

Rosa's got a bad ankle. You'll have to put her up here tonight.

I wouldn't be a doctor for anything on earth!

Moose'll bring you down tomorrow.

I just thought one of the kids had measles or something!

It's not your fault. She wasn't due for another month.

Take good care of her, Moose.

Remember, no firewater!

Why, I've been sober for three months!

That's what worries me!

Here you go.

Thanks.

So long, Lou!

Bacon and fried potatoes all right for supper?

And some trout?

And coffee, good and strong!

A fat lot of good that did you.

I don't like porcies, they irritate me.

You don't like life!

Life in Loyalton is like sitting in a funeral parlor

and waiting for the funeral to begin.

No, not sitting. Lying in a coffin...

and waiting for them to carry you out!

You've had a drink?

Just one.

Found a bottle that I thought I'd finished.

You know how it is with you. One drink leads to another.

Besides, you've got a lady in your care.

Meaning you?

Meaning me.

You're something for the birds, Rosa.

Something for the birds!

I remember the look in her eye.

She was standing on the porch when I went out through the gate.

Who are you trying to forget?

I'll tell you when I've forgotten!

All you shackers get cracked.

What did you do that made you run away?

Kill a man?

No! No, I didn't kill anybody.

I left them alone. Absolutely alone.

I could have made something of all our lives. I could have saved mine.

Words can't explain.

Words are just sounds.

Sounds are not what I feel.

Moose?

You in here?

How did you know I was coming?

Sending a telegram to Moose isn't exactly

the best way of keeping a secret...

in a small town.

How'd you get here?

It started on a fishing trip with the Doctor and Moose...

sent the Doctor back to town on an emergency call...

And Moose?

Well, Moose had kind of an emergency too.

A bottle of whiskey just happened to be in my knapsack...

and Moose just happened to find it!

You're terrific!

You said that the first time, too.

Mind if I ask a few questions?

How do you sign those big fat checks you make out?

"Neil K. Latimer".

Oh? You can write then?

What are you getting at?

When you told me you stopped going to school when you were 9...

I thought maybe you'd never learned.

That's the excuse I made to myself for those letters I didn't get!

Anything I had to say to you, I wouldn't put on paper!

Say it now.

I don't need words!

Get up.

Mrs. West!

You've got another fine boy, Sorren.

Better go get some coffee. You've been up all night.

It's funny. No matter how often this happens,