S01/E14: SISTERS OF THE FRIENDLESS

Just released from reform school (today commonly referred to as “juvenile detention center”), young Sandy Martin is dropped off along a desolate roadway out in the country from a car he’d hitchhiked in (the driver would only take him that far) and he begins walking along the side of the road looking for another vehicle to pick him up to continue his trip. Sandy sticks his thumb out as a hotrod-type car with driver and passenger is approaching, but the driver wants to run him over! Sandy quickly dives away from the menacing encounter and the car barely misses him. The hotrod makes a U-turn and comes back for another try. Sandy just stands there watching dumbfounded. (Maybe it’s time to get out of there instead of gazing at these maniacs in the car coming for him?) Sandy finally decides to run for his life into the woods when the car is just inches from reaching him. The passenger wants to take off after Sandy, but the driver holds him back saying, “Forget it. It’s no good if we don’t make it look like an accident.” Sandy, possibly thinking the thugs are still after him, continues running and jumps onto a wall surrounding a missionary convent, but he loses his balance and falls from the top of the wall into the convent’s courtyard, losing consciousness when his head hits the ground. Two nuns out on an evening stroll come upon the young man lying there.

On the following night, Peter Gunn arrives at what appears to be an old rural country-style café hangout called “Rock-a-Billy’s” where singer Nino Tempo is on stage with a band performing for a large gathering of patrons. (He sings a silly rock song called “Loonie 'Bout Junie”, a tune reminiscent of those heard in teen beach movies of the 1950’s; and a disappointment for viewers whom appreciate the typical jazz scores of the Peter Gunn series, pretty much non-existent in this episode). Coincidentally, the two thugs from the hotrod that tried to kill Sandy Martin are seated at a table and look at Gunn walking past them as if wondering what he’s doing there.

Gunn meets with a beautiful young girl named Laurie Hunter outside on the back deck. (Laurie is wearing an apron over her dress; an indication that she works as a server in the café). Gunn and Laurie appear to be acquainted; he quickly greets her with “Hello, Laurie” as he comes out to where she is seated on a bench. They discuss the death of a gang leader named Donny Rogan who was killed “last night” and how Laurie’s boyfriend, Sandy Martin, was arrested because he had made threats on Rogan’s life when he gets out of reform school. (Sandy Martin had accused Rogan of framing him and causing his incarceration. Note: this means that Sandy Martin had left the religious convent he was in sometime after falling unconscious there—after the hotrod thugs tried to kill him—and additional time had passed when he was arrested). Laurie insists that Sandy Martin did not kill Rogan. Laurie tells Gunn that Sandy had learned a trade while in reform school and he’s changed. That he would get a job when he’s released and that they were planning to get married. Laurie pleads with Gunn for his help and tells him she’s only got $108. Gunn, who accepts being hired, but likely won’t take her money, jokes by saying, “Just puts me in a higher tax bracket.” (How does receiving a smaller payment for a job put one in a higher tax bracket?)

At Lt. Jacoby’s office, Peter Gunn complains about Jacoby’s horrible-tasting coffee as they discuss Sandy Martin. Jacoby says that he’s got enough for a conviction of Sandy Martin for murder; not only did he make threats, three eyewitnesses place him at the scene where Rogan was killed. The witnesses are members of Rogan’s gang. (How credible is that?) Gunn implies that members of Rogan’s gang probably killed Rogan to take over the organization and are framing Sandy Martin (again) for the killing by posing as eyewitnesses. Jacoby then states that Sandy Martin has a ridiculous story as an alibi. Gunn asks to see Sandy in the jail cell. Jacoby picks up the phone to allow the request. (Filming goof up: That phone call was obviously fake; the instant the phone receiver reached Jacoby’s face, he’d already begun speaking. “Let Gunn see Martin,” and then hangs up. Whoever he was calling could not have had a chance to pick up the call that fast).

Gunn arrives at the holding cell to see Sandy Martin. Martin explains that he was passed out after escaping some thugs that tried to kill him with a hotrod and only remembers waking up in a room with bars on the windows and hearing what sounded like church bells. He said he panicked and ran from there after coming to and didn’t stop until he was miles away.

On the following day, during daylight hours, Gunn is out in the country interviewing Luigi Terelli, an Italian man with a heavy accent living on a ranch. He makes and sells gallons of wine on his property for a living, saying he learned the trade “back home”. Terelli is drinking from one of the large gallon jugs and appears to be drunk. Gunn asks Terelli if he’s heard church bells in the area. Terelli, instead of answering the question, talks about the beautiful sounds of church bells back in his village in Italy. Gunn hands Terelli a bill (money amount unknown) to get him to talk, saying he’ll buy one of the wine jugs. As Terelli is shoving the bill in his pocket Gunn hears church bells. Gunn asks Terelli about the bells and Terelli explains that it’s from the Little Sister’s Convent. (Why didn’t he say he’s heard bells before when Gunn first asked? Too drunk to understand the question?) Terelli gives Gunn directions to the convent. Gunn leaves without taking the jug of wine he’d bought. Terilli begins to open the cap; an indication he’s going to start drinking from it.

At the convent, Gunn meets with Mother Superior in her office. She had summoned for Sister Thomas Aquinas, who enters the room. Mother Superior asks Sister Thomas Aquinas to tell Gunn what she observed “the night before last”. Sister Thomas Aquinas removes a notepad from her pocket and begins reading from a timeline she’d written. At 9PM, she and Sister Benedict were in the courtyard when they came upon an unconscious young man. The young man was carried to a room and treated, but no major injuries were found. They checked on patient hourly. At 10PM and 11PM. At 12 o’clock he was gone. Gunn realizes this is proof that Sandy Martin couldn’t have committed the murder of Donny Rogan, who was killed at 10:30PM on the other side of town and insists that Sister Thomas Aquinas go into town with him and tell this to the District Attorney. Mother Superior explains to Gunn that they are a “cloistered order”. That they cannot leave the convent under any circumstances; ever.

At Jacoby’s office, Gunn shows Jacoby the notepad of Sister Thomas Aquinas’ notes and explains she can’t leave the convent. Jacoby says she will need to testify to help Sandy Martin. Gunn suggests taking a notary clerk to the convent for a deposition. Jacoby tells him that depositions in a felony are not admissible. Gunn then asks Jacoby to talk to the nuns at the convent. Jacoby picks up the phone and instructs someone to pick up everyone in Rogan’s gang and hold them on suspicion of murder. (This time Jacoby paused for an adequate amount of time before speaking into the phone).

(This all seems unrealistic. If all it would take to clear Sandy Martin of murder is for the nun to inform the District Attorney of what she saw, why can’t the District Attorney go to the convent to see her?)

Back at the convent, nuns meet with Jacoby and Gunn in the courtyard and explain how that was the spot where they found Sandy Martin. Mother Superior tells the men that perhaps they can make an exception for providing the necessary testimony.

In Mother Superior’s office, she is on the phone with Mother Provincial in Kansas City, apparently seeking advice on how to proceed with the matter. Mother Superior tells Jacoby and Gunn that Mother Provincial explained how only Mother General in Paris could grant permission to “deviate from the rules” and that Mother Provincial has given her permission to call Paris. Gunn picks up the phone, calls the operator, identifies himself, and gives his credit card number for a long distance phone call. He asks to speak to Mother General of the Sisters of the Friendless Convent in Paris, and then hangs up the phone. (It was in fact common back then to hang up and wait until an operator establishes a connection for overseas calls; the operator then calls back when the connection is completed). Gunn then tells Mother Superior to be sure to make it clear how Sandy Martin’s life is on the line if the nun doesn’t leave the convent to testify in court. (This all appears a bit confusing. Earlier Peter Gunn had said that Sister Thomas Aquinas only needed to go and speak to the District Attorney. Now he is saying that she must be allowed to testify in court. What has changed for the sudden difference in actions needed to be taken by Sister Thomas Aquinas?) That’s when Mother Superior tells Gunn that she can’t talk to Mother General because she can’t speak French! Jacoby quickly rushes Gunn out of Mother Superior’s office.

Jacoby and Gunn arrive at a park where a group of men are gathered. They are standing around two men seated across from each other at a bench table playing a game of checkers. A French man in the group, Antoine, who also happens to be a pickpocket well known to Jacoby, is putting his arms around the shoulder of another spectator, excited about the last play made by one of the players. Jacoby and Gunn approach the group. Jacoby asks, “Are any of you men missing a wallet.” The man Antoine had his arm around says, “Yes! Mine; it’s gone!” Antoine laughs nervously and removes the wallet from his own pocket and says, “You dropped this.” Jacoby grabs Antoine’s arm and pulls him back to the car. (How did Jacoby know to find Antoine in that park? Is Antoine there every day, all day?)

Jacoby, Gunn, and Antoine arrive back at the convent. Antoine is on the phone with Mother General in Paris. (The whole situation was explained to him and what he needs to say during the ride in the car). After hanging up, Antoine explains that Mother General denied the request. At that point a carriage or bicycle bell is heard ringing and the nuns excuse themselves to attend to the groceries delivery. Gunn discusses with Mother Superior how everything the convent needs is brought to them (groceries, the butcher, doctors) and they come up with the idea of bringing a judicial court to them too.

Jacoby and Gunn arrive at the private chambers of Judge James R. Lee where Gunn asks the judge to hold court for Sandy Martin at the convent. The judge considers the concept preposterous. Gunn argues that long ago court was moved around on horseback and held in schools or even grocery stores, “wherever they could”. (This statement happens to be true). Jacoby adds how sometimes court is held in hospitals when the patient can’t get to the courthouse. The judge was apparently convinced and picks up the telephone to get things moving to the convent.

Outside the convent gates vehicles are arriving with all the preparations to establish court inside. Gunn arrives with Laurie beside him and the Frenchman, Antoine, in the back seat. (Why is he there?) Jacoby arrives in another car with Sandy Martin in his custody. Laurie rushes over to Sandy where they grab each other’s hands and proceed together into the convent. Most entering greet the group of nuns standing by the entrance gate.

QUOTES

Peter Gunn arguing his case to Judge James R. Lee to hold court in a convent…

Gunn: “Now, look, Your Honor, I don’t have to tell you that a Court of Law isn’t just a building, it’s an idea. Now doesn’t it make sense that it can go and should go wherever justice is needed?”

(This was quite possibly the best line in the entire Peter Gunn series).

NOTES

The attractive young actress who played Laurie Hunter (Colette Jackson) died very young in Los Angeles, California at the age of 35 in the year 1969; eleven years after this episode first aired. She had one child. [The author of this blog would like to include cause of death if someone can provide assistance with that information along with verified source].

The club singer Nino, played by Nino Tempo (real name Antonino LoTempio), was the brother of singer and actress April Stevens, who had attained much more popularity as a musical artist than him. At the time of this writing, both are still alive; Nino is 85 and April is 91.

The song Nino Tempo sang in this episode (“Loonie 'Bout Junie”) can be heard here: 

DECEASED: Gang leader Donny Rogan (not seen in episode) was presumably killed by members of his own gang wanting to take control of the gang (incident not shown). 

Total Gunn Kills: 0 - Series Total: 6.

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NEXT BLOG: S01/E15: “THE LEAPER"

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