"The Rookies" The Commitment (TV Episode 1972) Poster

(TV Series)

(1972)

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9/10
Willie's Difficult Medical Decision
tweezey7 April 2022
Willie is at a Little League game, volunteering as an umpire. After the game is over, he is helping the concession lady close up, when two masked thugs broke in. During the confrontation, the shorter thug shot Willie in his back, which paralyzed his legs. Naturally, Willie was scared and unsure of his future, and there was a very riveting scene between him and Jill in the hospital.

During his hospital stay, Willie and his fiancee, Nancy, discussed their future; Nancy was much more optimistic than Willie, and still wanted to eventually marry him. A medical specialist met with Willie and Nancy, and told them of a very risky, possibly fatal, procedure that could be performed to remove the bullet, but with no absolute guarantee of reversing the paralysis. Nancy said no, Willie overrode her and said he was confident he would beat the odds. With his consent, the doctors performed the long operation. While waiting, Nancy confided to Jill that she felt that she could not handle, as a cop's wife, the dangers always involved with his work.

Officers Webster and Danko went on a hunt after the thugs, which ultimately led them to a horror props store, which was frequented by Vester, the thug who shot Willie. This in turn led them to an auction house of these props, where a chase went on to capture the thugs. I enjoyed the part where Vester jumped off the side of the tracks to the building across, and missed, hanging off the side of the building. One could see the look on Webster's face that he would rather let this thug fall, but, of course, his ethics wouldn't let him, and he pulled him up. Of course, Willie made a full recovery at the end, right after Nancy spilled her fears and broke off their relationship. This episode was well-written, and the actors didn't disappoint. It should not be missed!
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Willie may be paralyzed
Jimmy_the_Gent45 December 2018
Willie is volunteering as a Little League umpire when he is shot as two men rob the food stand. The bullet may paralyze him unless he has a risky operation.

A great episode, fine performance by Michael Ontkean and a lot of things going on to make this a fast moving, engrossing show. One of the robbers is a big guy called Bud (Bo Svenson, who later played in Walking Tall sequels) and a creepy little guy named Vestor, he's the one who shot Willie. It seems Vestor is a horror movie buff, which helps Terry and Mike to track him down. Darleen Carr plays Willie's fiancee, but she breaks it off by the end of the episode because she cannot bear to be a cop's wife. She later returned in two other episodes in different roles. Other guest stars are Arlene( Mayberry RFD) Golonka as a book store clerk and Vic Tayback (later on Alice) as a suspect. Willie of course makes a miracle recovery in the end.
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