The Rookies (TV Series)

A Test of Courage (1974)

Georg Stanford Brown: Officer Terry Webster

Quotes 

• Officer Terry Webster : [Terry and Patrick, Officer Johnny Dane's young son, are walking together at the edge of a pond. Terry is showing Patrick how to skip rocks over the water; he's using this time to figure out a way to help Patrick come to terms with his dad's new disability. Terry tosses out a rock, demonstrating how to skip it across the water]  ... Do it that far up... look.

  [Terry laughs. Patrick throws out a rock] 

  Officer Terry Webster : Not bad... uhhhh.

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry and Patrick walk a bit more, tossing rocks into the water. Terry notices how depressed Patrick is. He squats down to look directly at Patrick, since he's very concerned about the young boy's sadness. Terry kneels on the ground and pulls Patrick into his arms]  You sulking? I don't think your daddy would want you to around sulking like this.

  Patrick : [Patrick looks intently at Terry, with questioning eyes]  Why doesn't he want to see me?

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry isn't sure how to honestly answer Patrick's question. He hesitates briefly, then replies calmly, in terms Patrick can understand]  Well, it's not that he doesn't want to see you, it's just that he's been through a lot. And it's just that, uh... he needs a few days to be by himself and talk to the doctors at the hospital.

  Patrick : [Patrick's lips quiver]  What about?

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry takes a deep breath before answering]  They're going to give him an artificial leg. You know what that is?

  Patrick : [Patrick looks directly at Terry]  Something to replace the one he lost?

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry smiles at Patrick]  That's right... that's it... you got it. You know, when he... uh... gets fitted with this leg, he's gonna be able to walk again.

  [Patrick is staring intently at Terry, paying close attention to what he's telling him] 

  Officer Terry Webster : And he's gonna need your help and your mom's gonna need your help. And I think the best way you can help right now is to be up... and happy! Not down... .

  [Terry smiles encouragingly] 

  Officer Terry Webster : He loves you... and she loves you... and that should be a good feeling... huh?

  Patrick : [Patrick is trying to understand what Terry is telling him. He looks at Terry; he is fidgeting and his eyes are puzzled]  Will he be able to play ball with me?

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry hesitates before answering, then looks directly at Patrick]  Not like he used to.

  Patrick : [There's a long silence as Patrick considers what Terry just told him]  Will you see him soon?

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry nods slightly before replying]  Gonna try.

  Patrick : [Patrick is thinking deeply about what Terry just told him; he gazes at Terry with a grave expression]  When you see him, tell him I don't care about playing ball. I just want him to come home and be my dad.

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry reaches out toward Patrick and places his hands on his shoulders]  OK. Come on.

  [Terry pulls Patrick to him, enveloping him in a big hug. Patrick gives a small smile; Terry gets to his feet, and they continue walking along the pond, skipping rocks into the water] 

• Officer Terry Webster : [Officer Terry Webster, in regular street clothes, opens the door of the hospital room of his friend and fellow officer, Johnny Dane. He enters the room, which is almost totally dark and closes the door. Johnny is lying in his hospital bed, deeply depressed over the loss of his right leg. Terry is surprised that the room is dark and calls out]  Huh? You in here?

  Johnny Dane : [Johnny answers in a monotone, as he doesn't want any visitors and doesn't want to see Terry there]  Get out.

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry is looking at Johnny, puzzled. He turns toward the light switch]  How 'bout some light, so we can see each other?

  Johnny Dane : [Johnny speaks in a flat, emotionless voice]  Get out and close the door.

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry is struggling to tell Johnny how he feels about what happened. He's quiet for a moment, not really sure how to respond. He chooses his words carefully, hoping to give Johnny the encouragement he needs to face the issue of losing his leg]  I know... what you're going thru. Don't give up, huh?

  Johnny Dane : [Johnny is lying back in bed against the pillows, with his eyes closed. He doesn't want visitors and he answers Terry in a tired, depressed voice]  Thanks, doctor, for your diagnosis... now, get your bag and get out of here.

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry slowly walks over to the side of Johnny's bed. He's visibly upset, but he understands Johnny's reaction. He puts his right hand on his hip and gestures with his left hand to emphasize his words, as he begins to speak quietly]  I don't have the words... to tell you how I feel, except to say... uh, that I care. I just don't want you to be down on yourself.

  [Terry's voice is shaking with deep emotional distress and he's very close to tears] 

  Johnny Dane : [Johnny is looking away from Terry, then closes his eyes before answering]  When was the last time you saw a one-legged cop?

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry looks directly at Johnny, and he continues to offer soft, quiet words of hope and encouragement]  Well, you'll walk again... there're ways...

  Johnny Dane : [Johnny finally looks over at Terry, and answers in a hard voice]  What, on crutches? A wooden leg, maybe? How does 'Peg Leg Dane' grab ya?

  [Terry is very distraught by now and he's openly crying. He takes a deep, shuddering breath, trying to regain his composure, while Johnny rants on] 

  Johnny Dane : You know, for a few minutes after I was shot, when I couldn't feel anything from the waist down, I was afraid I was going to die. I was really afraid. Funny... now I'm afraid I'm gonna live.

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry's eyebrows are tense and his face is tear-streaked. His nose is dripping with the tears and he attempts to wipe them away. He takes a deep breath and looks at Johnny sympathetically, speaking in a very low voice]  You've just got to give it some time. You've been thru too much too fast. Just have to give your head a chance to get it all straight.

  Johnny Dane : [Johnny is very depressed and angry and lashes out at Terry]  Who asked you to pity me?

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry is still visibly upset and tears continue to roll down his face. He's trying to convince Johnny of how important it is to see his wife and son]  Lisa needs to see you... and little Patrick. Don't shut them out.

  Johnny Dane : [Johnny looks at Terry angrily, and his voice is steadily rising in his frustration and anger]  You keep her outta here and you keep him outta here... you hear me?..keep them both outta here... now get out! Get out!

  [Terry listens to Johnny yelling at him, then he nods his head and leaves the room]