Original subtitles

[ bell ringing ]

[ people chattering ]

[ woman screams ]

Jimmy!

Jimmy!

It'’s my boy.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger.

The San Francisco that sprang into being with the gold rush

is still attracting adventurous spirits 40 years later.

Here in this house is one of them, young Dr. Reed,

who recently hung out her shingle.

Yes, I said her. For...

There'’s a doctor's office along here somewhere.

I remember seeing the shingle.

Hold on, son. We'’ll get you to him.

Here it is.

Hey! Anyone around?

There'’s a boy out here who is badly hurt!

He'’s gonna need more than a nurse, ma'’am.

Tell Dr. Reed to get out here, quick.

I'’m Dr. Reed. How was the boy injured?

A female doctor?

If you'’ll bring him into the examining room, I--

Oh, no. No woman doctor'’s gonna treat my boy.

He gets the best.

I'’ll do my best.No, don'’t touch him.

I'’m a qualified licensed physician.

You have nothing to be afraid of.

You'’re a woman.

Well, you--

you mustn'’t move him around in his condition.

Now, please, listen to me. Please.

MAN: Dr. Thurston'’s office is in the next block.

Hold on, son.

Well, at least let me give him something to ease his pain.

Give up, lady. Stick to your midwifing.

[ door closes ]

Come on, why the long face?

Come on, Clare. It couldn'’t be that bad.

Or could it?

Sometimes I wonder if it'’s worth

all the battling and humiliation.

Well, maybe it would help

if you started from the beginning.

A boy was brought in here, seriously injured.

But when his father discovered that I was the doctor,

he carried him out again.

Yes, I just saw them.

They called me a midwife.

Well, I don'’t like to be the one to say I told you so,

but you remember the day you boarded my ship in New York?

I warned you then what could happen.

You also told me I'’d be seasick.

I was, but I overcame it.

Well, I intend to overcome these ridiculous notions

concerning women doctors.

I hope you do.

Well, I'’m going to.

I'’m serious about this, Ed.

I'’ve worked too hard to become a doctor to quit now.

You know, I like you.

And what am I going to do with you?

Well, you might start by marrying me.

You are the most persistent man I know.

Mhm.But with this problem

of trying to be a doctor hanging over me...

Now, you won'’t blame me if I keep on asking?

I'’m flattered.

What are you doing around here this time of day?

Well, I'’m looking for that cabin boy of mine.

Hing Chang?Yes. He didn'’t come back

to the ship after his shore leave.

I'’ve been searching the neighborhood.

I couldn'’t resist dropping in to see you.

Oh! Which reminds me,

I'’m taking you out to dinner tomorrow night.

I'’d love it.Right.

[ knocking on door ]

Come in.

[ exhales ]Hello.

[ door closes ]

Hello.

Why, you'’re the cheerful one.

Oh, I'’m sorry. It'’s a slight problem with Hing.

Oh, is he still gone?

Yeah, he'’s still gone.

Sounds like it'’s serious.

It is serious. He up and left me.

Just like that? No reason?

Oh, he had a reason. He left to die.

To die?

Must be pretty sick.From what?

Where did he go?

To the House of Death.

The House of Death? What the devil'’s that?

Now, Clare, believe me.

There isn'’t anything anyone can do to help him.

Now this is insane. What kind of place

is this House of Death?

All right, you asked for it.

But you'’re a doctor and a female,

and it just doesn'’t figure that you'’d understand it.

Please, go on.

Well, the custom, as they call it,

began in the Orient.

Yes.

As I understand it, the House of Death

is a place where the Chinese can go to die in privacy

and on a clean bed.

I believe Hing once explained it as a--

as a chance to die with dignity.

But they--they can'’t just go there to--

there must be someone to look after them.

Now, look, I can'’t make it any clearer.

It'’s a House of Death, a place to die.

To them, they have no further use for doctors.

Now, what are you up to?

Now, Clare, if you have any idea

of going to the House of Death, forget it.

I am going and you'’re going to take me.

Clare, be reasonable. There'’s nothing you can do for him.

Oh, I'’m a woman.

I'’m not expected to be as competent

as a male physician, is that it?

Now, I didn'’t say that. What I mean is that--

No need to explain.

Shall we go?But it'’s no use.

Can'’t you get that trough that stubborn head of yours?

Very well. I'’ll, uh, find someone who will take me.

Clare!

Are you or aren'’t you going to take me?

I can'’t let you go into that section of town alone at night.

And you know it.I only suspected it.

[ exhales ]

Are you looking for Dr. Reed?

Why, yes. Yes, I am.I'’m Dr. Reed.

Oh.

Well, I--

I, uh--I came over to welcome you to San Francisco.

I'’m Dr. Thurston.

Your husband?Not yet.

I see.

Well, I'’m sure you'll think the years have turned me

into a meddling old fool

after I offer you a bit of advice.

[ horse sputters]Advice?

And I offer it with all sincerity.

Get married, young lady. Get married and raise a family.

Oh, I know.

I know how unfair it is.

But a woman in this profession

faces absolutely insurmountable obstacles.

Obstacles?

You must be mistaken, doctor.

Now, if you'’ll excuse me, I have a patient to attend.

Good night.

We'’ll have to get together again, doc,

when we have more time.

I like some of your ideas.

[ dog barking ]

Isn'’t exactly what I expected.

No skull and crossbones over the door?

That incense is strong enough to make anyone think he'’s dying

of suffocation.

Uh, say, maybe you can help us.

Uh, do you have a boarder here by the name of Hing Chang?

No. No Hing Chang. You go. No Hing Chang.

I told you there was no point in coming here.

Tell him to show us which one of these stalls Hing is in,

or we'’ll go through every one.

All right, mate, where is he?

[ speaks foreign language ]

You stay here. I'’ll find him, if he'’s still alive.

[ shouting in foreign language ]

Clare!

He'’s in there.

I think he'’s come to the right place.

[ shouting in foreign language ]

You must go now, missy.

Please.

Mr. Taylor,

you not disgrace Hing Chang...

by watching death.

Well?

Cholera.

Cholera?

You sure?

He has all the symptoms.

There'’s no mistaking it.

It'’s a good thing he'’s isolated here.

Poor devil.

We'’d better get out of here.

Clare, there'’s nothing you can do for him now.

I'’m going to try.But he'’s dying of cholera.

You stay and you'’ll end up with it yourself.

I'’m not asking you to stay, Ed,

but you can'’t ask me to leave.

Not when I believe there'’s a chance I can save him.

You'’re a fool...

but you'’re wonderful.

You go now?

No, we'’re not going, Hang.

See, Ms. Reed is going to try to help you.

No.

No lady help.

Now, you just lie still, you hear?

Please.

Please let Hang die with honor.

You came--you came here to die, right?

Well, at worst that'’s all that can happen.

So stop complaining.

Please.

Please, Missy Reed.

So wrong.

You not keep Hing from dying

by sticking with needle.

You may be right, Hing,

but we wont know till we try.

[ breathing deeply ]

Still a little fast, but nothing too serious.

[ chuckles ] Well, you old faker.

You cheated the caretaker here out of his deathbed fee after all.

What do you say to that?

Wish could say what is in heart, Missy Reed...

for giving back life.

But is anyway am humbly grateful.

Will remember always.

That was beautifully said, Hing.

Hing feel beautiful today.

You'’re still a long way from, uh, being well.

You boss. I do what you say.

You'’re the boss, all right.

You'’ll never have to convince me again.

I mean it, Dr. Reed.

Well, that'’s the first time you'’ve called me doctor.

Well, you'’ve earned it, doc.

[ scoffs ]

I wish other people felt like you do.

They will.

They will.

Hey!

[ whistles ]

[ laughs ]

[ knock on door ]

[ chuckles ]Well,

how did you get in?Well, if you'’d remember

to lock your door for once, doctor,

I'’d probably be at a loss for an answer.

Well, you can'’t tell.

One day I might come in and find myself a patient waiting.

Well, I see you'’ve been out on a call.

A new patient, right?

I'’d hardly call Hing Chang that,

my first and only patient.

Well, Hing'’s been on his feet for a whole week.

I just saw him board ship yesterday.

I know. I just thought I'’d see how he was progressing.

Is Hing really the only patient you'’ve had in the past few weeks?

I can'’t believe that.

I'’ve told all my friends, everyone I know.

Why, surely Hing'’s recovery should be proof of your ability.

Don'’t forget, Ed, Hing'’s your cabin boy.

You mean, they think I made the whole thing up?

Well, it'’s possible.

After all, it isn'’t exactly a secret you'’re fond of the lady doctor.

Well, that you know.

Does that make me a liar?

You'’re the equal of any doctor in this city, and I know it.

Now what does it take to prove it to them?

A patient.

Someone they know who'’s in serious need of medical attention.

Oh, what'’s the use?

[ exhales ] I might as well ask for the moon.

Hey, hey, hey, hey, I thought you were a fighter.

What kind of talk is that?

I can'’t fight shadows, something that'’s not there.

If they won'’t give me a chance...

I'’m beaten.

Well, we'’ll think of something.

I'’ll get you a patient

if I have to knock somebody over the head.

[ chuckles ]

I will. [ chuckles ]

MAN: Yah! [ horses sputtering ]

That sounded like a shot.

Came from one of the rooms upstairs.

Mr. Taylor, what happened?He was shot!

[ exhales ] Cleaning gun. It went off.

Go get a doctor.

Doc--Dr. Reed.

Dr. Reed? That'’s the lady doctor.

We'’ll get you over to Dr. Thurston.

He'’s right.

That'’s a mean wound. You need a real doctor.

No, no. Dr. Reed, please.

All right, all right. Take it easy.

If that'’s what you want, then we'’ll take you over to the lady doctor.

Give us a hand here.

Dr. Reed!

Dr. Reed!

Oh, no. What happened?

Shot.How?

It was an accident.

Get him in there. Please hurry.

As gently as you can.

It'’s pretty bad, huh, doc?

Yes, Ed. It is.

Don'’t you think you'd better call in another doctor, lady?

You know, to sort of lend a hand.

I'’m quite capable of handling the situation.

But it'’s his life if you'’re wrong.

I'’m gonna fetch Dr. Thurston.

His place is just down the street.

No.

Leave her alone.

She knows what she'’s doing.

Oh, don'’t worry, fella.

We know what'’s best for you.

Ed, maybe he'’s right.

If something did happen, [ door closes ]

it might help if the doctor were here.

No. I'’m banking on you.

All the way.

[ breathing deeply ]

I came here against my better judgment.

You lady, this is your young man and your patient.

I have to enlarge the opening around the wound,

in order to ligature the-- the arteries.

I believe it--

yes, I'’m sure the bullet was stopped

by the pleural cavity.

I can'’t seem to locate it, doctor.

It has to be.

I think I have it.

Yes.

How did she do?

Need you ask that, sir?

Looked to me like she knew what she was doing.

For your information, gentlemen,

Dr. Reed has just performed an operation

that any physician in this city, including myself,

would be mighty proud of.

Well, if I ever pick up a slug,

I'’ll sure know where to come.

[ chuckles ] And that won'’t be long, doc,

seeing how his wife'’s name is improving.

[ snickers ]

Disgustingly normal.

What did I tell you?

Really, Ed,

what ever possessed you to do such a mad thing?

It was an accident! I told you.

I--I was cleaning the gun and it went off.

You'’ll never convince meof that.

But you know, since your accident,

I'’ve had 12 new patients.

12? Wow!

Looks like you'’ll be a successful doctor after all.

Tell me, Mr. Taylor.Mmm?

Do you think I'’ll be a success as Mrs. Taylor?

Well, I--I think we can give it a real good try.

These are the forceps Dr. Clare Reed used

in the operation you'’ve just watched.

They were loaned to us by the Los Angeles County Medical Association.

You know, that young man really must'’ve loved her a lot,

to let her go to work on him with these,

in a day where nobody had faith in lady doctors.