The Right Kind of Medicine story
Charlie Pugh is a burglar who one day kills a policeman in a shootout. Unfortunately, there is a witness and Charlie himself is injured. Charlie visits Dr. Vogel who prescribes pain killers. When he goes to the drug store he hears his own description on the drug store's radio. The pharmacist, Mr. Fletcher, doesn't realize Charlie is the murder and gives him the painkillers. Later Charlie returns to his apartment, but doesn't take the pain killers. He wants to stay alert in case he has to make a run for it. He decides to skip town and heads for the bus station. As he's leaving for the bus station, he sees Vernon, a clerk at the drugstore. Thinking that Vernon knows that he is a criminal, he kills him and leaves. Mr. Fletcher is called to identify Vernon's body. When he arrives, he reveals that he sent Vernon to Charlie's because he made a mistake in his prescription. Instead of giving him painkillers, he gave him a bottle of poison. Directed by: Alan Crosland, Jr. Story by: Henry Slesar.
12 total · 4 major · 8 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| facing organized pursuit | major | The story follows Charlie as he tried to get out of town after shooting a cop dead during a burglary. |
| law enforcement | major | The police were on the hunt for a cop killer. |
| murder | major | Charlie shot a policeman dead in the aftermath of a burglary. He later shot and killed a well-meaning drugstore clerk who he mistook for someone who could identify him as the cop killer. |
| the desire for vengeance | major | The title alludes to the fact that the police are quite please to hear that Charlie was about to imbibe poison because they sorely want to get back at him for having killed an officer of the law. |
| alcohol abuse | minor | Dr. Vogel flatly denied Charlie's accusation that he was an alcoholic. |
| artisan occupation | minor | In his sketch, Alfred Hitchcock was smithing horseshoes. [blacksmith] |
| boss and employee | minor | The drugstore clerk was bossed around by the elderly pharmacist. |
| burglary | minor | The story picks up with Charlie having robbed an establishment of a box full of money. |
| doctor and patient | minor | The conversation between Charlie and Dr. Vogel revealed a more-than-passing acquaintanceship. |
| greed for riches | minor | Dr. Vogel coveted Charlie's money. |