"Life and Death" is the nineteenth episode of season 2 of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.
Tom Jennings, Dorothy's Civil War Veteran son, comes to Colorado Springs. Though Mike treats him for pain supposedly incurred from war injuries 4 years ago at the Battle of Atlanta, his real affliction is an addiction to morphine. He becomes angry when Dr. Mike doesn't give him another morphine shot for his pain. He also attempts to shoplift from Loren, but Dorothy defends him. When he sees that Michaela has morphine in her bag, he breaks into the clinic and the homestead in the middle of the night and demands morphine from Colleen while the family lies sleeping. When he pulls out a gun and fires at Matthew, Michaela shoots him in the leg, not realizing till afterwards that it was Tom who broke in. Hank says he is proud of Michaela. Later, she doubts her actions, but Sully reassures her that what she did was right. Brian later brags to everyone at school about what Dr. Mike did, but Colleen is upset and runs away. When Sully finds Colleen trying to scrub the blood from the floor of the homestead clean, he takes her to Dr. Mike, who doesn't tell Dr. Mike the real truth. While Dorothy and Dr. Mike are arguing about each other's' sons welfares, Tom cries out in pain from his bedroom. When Dorothy urges her to do something, Dr. Mike gives in and uses morphine and also decides to amputate his leg. Meanwhile, Sully has to have a talk with Brian about shooting people. He then has to talk to Colleen about her problem, but she also refuses to tell Sully the real reason why she doesn't want to go to school. After Dr. Mike amputates his leg, Dorothy again wants Dr. Mike to give Tom more morphine, but Dr. Mike doesn't know what to do. Dr. Mike talks with Sully about it who suggests she talk to Cloud Dancing and that Colleen is very upset. At the homestead, Colleen is ready to shoot whoever walks through the door. Colleen finally opens up to Dr. Mike. After a talk with Cloud Dancing, she decides not to wean Tom off the morphine and instead use some Indian herbal tea. But Dorothy disagrees with her and tries to take the morphine herself and Dr. Mike has to lock her outside. Tom tries to play on Dorothy's emotions to get more morphine, but she refuses, and Tom is furious. After what seems to be a full recovery, Tom assures Dorothy she won't see any more of the old person. Loren gives Tom a job at his store. Dr. Mike insists that Colleen face Tom, who apologizes to her but she can't forgive him but admits maybe she might be able to one day. One morning, Loren and Dorothy awake to find Tom gone—with all their cash.
This episode provides examples of:
- The Alcoholic: Tom is a morphine addict. This is foreshadowed by a scene where he tries to swipe a bottle of liquor from Loren's store.
- An Arm and a Leg: Mike has to amputate Tom's leg after shooting him after her efforts to save it fail. Ironically, this was the very leg injured in the war, the treatment of which started his drug addiction.
- Downer Ending: Despite the Hope Spot of Tom recovering from his addiction and being sincerely remorseful about his actions, the episode ends with him disappearing, having stolen Loren's money.
- Functional Addict: Tom Jennings is generally functional, despite his addiction.
- Post-Robbery Trauma: Colleen becomes afraid to leave the house after Tom breaks in and assaults her, trying to find morphine.
- Shell-Shocked Veteran: Tom Jennings, though he doesn't appear to be this until his addiction to morphine gradually comes to light.
- Stealing from the Till: Before Tom leaves, he steals all of Loren's cash.
