The Loner (TV Series)

The Mourners for Johnny Sharp: Part II (1966)

James Whitmore: Doc Fritchman

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Quotes 

• William Colton : You raised him, didn't you, doctor?

  Doc Fritchman : No, no, I didn't raise him. I fed him, clothed him intermittently. Had no parents. Down through the years took three bullets out of his hide. Sutured up a knife cut in his cheek. Opened that door for him more than a dozen times, let him in here when he was running away from the law or another gunman or his enemies, who were legion and myriad. He was a violent young man.

• Doc Fritchman : As to the other citizenry that he invited here this evening, the following might be said. Mr. Benneke here. When the good Lord passed out consciences - the souls, hearts, call them what you will - Mr. Benneke was stalking an angel with an idea to robbery, mayhem or murder, so he missed out. He arrived on this earth an empty vessel, completely devoid of any human feeling whatever. He was Johnny Sharp's friend.

• Doc Fritchman : Oh, Mr. Philby. Mr. Philby invented cowardice. There is a species of human being who will sell out their own mother. It would not be difficult to extract that promise from Mr. Philby. However, it's questionable that he could deliver. Now that many be his singular claim to honor.

• Doc Fritchman : Which brings us to the third mourner, Miss Peggy Woodward, a damsel fair of face and form. She was born with a heart and a spine. She's generally quite whole. A parenthetic aside, however, her capacity to love is limited to currency and expensive baubles. Her courage is a matter of record only when she's finding and coveting these loud and expensive accoutrements. In short, she's a grasping lady. She has perpetual hungers, and she's dedicated to the rich life and the high sections of the heart.

• Doc Fritchman : Well, here we are, Mr. Colton, the mourners four. Now that you've heard our deficiencies as human beings, do you have any comment?

  William Colton : I have a question. Why in the name of anything holy or unholy would young Mr. Sharp want to waste even a fraction of his eternity to rise up at 11 and see any single one of you?

• Harry Benneke : Well, Johnny Sharp, rise and shine, haunt or accuse, or... do somethin'.

  William Colton : He already has. He already has. He's picked out his murderers. You, Miss Woodward. You, Mr. Philby. You, Mr. Benneke. And you, Doc. You all had a hand in it.

  Doc Fritchman : Indeed we did.