Dragnet/Tear Jerker


 * ".22 Rifle for Christmas", a Christmas Episode that was made for both the radio and TV versions of Dragnet, teaches An Aesop about the dangers of giving guns to children as gifts--in the harshest way possible. Stanley Johnstone finds the rifle his parents bought him him for Christmas. He loads it and takes it to show to his friend Stevie Morheim. While the children are playing with the gun, it accidentally goes off, killing Stevie. Stanley takes Stevie's body to a nearby cave and prays for God to bring his friend back to life, but it doesn't work. When Stevie's father is told, he breaks down sobbing, babbling about all the nice gifts he bought for his son--gifts he decides to give to Stanley.
 * "The Big High" - an elderly gentleman asks Friday and Gannon to talk to his daughter and her husband about their marijuana use, worried that their behavior is putting his infant grandson in danger. After several debates with the couple throughout the episode, Friday and Gannon get called back to the residence and find everyone whacked-out on drugs. Friday asks where the baby is, and the Mom remembers she put him in the tub. They rush upstairs, only to find out it's too late. Gannon literally runs out of the bathroom because he's going to be sick at the sight.
 * One episode involving a child abuse case begins with Friday detailing several cases of abuse to a woman from a local community organization. She truly had no idea how awful abuse cases could be as she breaks down in tears after Friday and Gannon leave when she asks to be alone and collect herself. Even Friday was having a hard time maintaining his professional attitude while outlining the details of each case.