Bad for Each Other

Tom Owen comes back on leave to Coalville, Pennsylvania, and learns that his brother Floyd was killed in a mine explosion. He discovers Floyd had bought substandard equipment and taken kickbacks, and that Floyd was deeply in debt. This shocking turn sets Tom on a path of confronting corruption in the mining town.

Tom offers to reimburse Floyd's debts to help Dan, but Dan declines the gesture, preferring to handle the matter himself. The exchange hints at the power and suspicion surrounding Coalville's mining operations. The tension foreshadows further conflicts between Tom, Dan, and the industry.

At a party, Helen Curtis, Dan's daughter, asks Tom for a date and arranges a meeting with Dr. Homer Gleeson. Gleeson runs a Pittsburgh clinic for wealthy women with minor ailments and offers Tom a vacancy after learning of his status and needs. Tom agrees to consider the job, influenced by Floyd's debts and the lure of money.

Tom accepts Gleeson's vacancy in Pittsburgh after Helen persuades him to take the job. He approves the move despite his mother's hopes that he would return to Coalville and do genuine good. The decision marks a shift from military security to a money-driven medical career.

Tom hires Joan Lasher, an idealistic young nurse who aims to become a doctor, to assist him. Her presence challenges Tom's outlook and deepens the personal dynamics with Helen. The collaboration begins in the Pittsburgh clinic.

Dr. Jim Crowley, a former sergeant from Tom's wartime unit, asks Tom for help securing a doctor’s position. Tom offers only a limited assistance, leaving Jim disappointed as he leaves. On his way out, Jim meets Joan, who assures him Tom is a capable doctor who intends to follow through.

Joan explains Jim's story to Tom, and Tom agrees to send Jim to see Dr. Lester Scobee, who treats Coalville miners and their families. Jim is hired and begins treating an increasing number of miners with lung conditions. The rising miner illnesses pull Tom deeper into Coalville's health crisis.

When Mrs. Nelson's aunt suddenly needs surgery, Tom performs the operation after Gleeson admits he cannot operate. Gleeson tries to steal credit for the life-saving work, but Tom resists at first and ultimately allows Gleeson to publicize the outcome. Joan confronts Tom over the ethical implications and quits the surgery.

Gleeson arranges an exorbitant fee for Mrs. Nelson, sharing part of the proceeds with Tom. Mrs. Nelson later learns that Tom performed the operation and questions his ethics. The episode sharpens the tension between wealth and genuine medical service.

An explosion at the Coalville mine traps workers, and Tom goes underground to help treat and rescue the miners alongside Jim. Jim is fatally injured during the rescue, and Tom is forced to face the consequences of the conflicted choices he's made. He tells Helen he will quit the Pittsburgh clinic and return to Coalville, but she says she cannot live there, and they reluctantly part.

Tom arrives back in Coalville to find Joan Lasher already working in his new office. The two begin a renewed professional partnership, and the possibility of a personal future in Coalville seems to open up.