Original subtitles

You came to me with a torch and a gun;

you call it righteousness?

Call it by its right name:

Murder.

( gunshot)

WOMAN: Move away from that wagon, mister!

I thought it was abandoned.

Move away, I said.

Now get on your horse and clear out.

Lady, you look to me like you need help.

You can't help us none.

I can try.

You ain't a doctor, are you?

No.

Move on then.

( baby cries)

Lady, what's the matter with that baby?

Typhoid. Typhoid fever.

Has a doctor seen this baby?

No.

Well, then you don't know it's typhoid fever.

It might be some other disease.

Mr. Mulrooney knows.

Who?

Jeremiah Mulrooney, the wagon master.

He knows the symptoms.

He's the one that cut you loose like this,

left you out here

to dig your own graves?

It was either the baby and me or the whole wagon train.

50 people.

Well, they're sending help back, they're not just going on?

What can they do?

Well, lady, you and your baby are alive, you're human beings.

Now, there's a settlement

one day's ride from here.

We'll use my horse to pull the wagon.

They won't let us in.

The wagon train must be there by now.

They know about us.

Well, they can't just cancel you out of the human race.

Mr. Mulrooney says it's the will of God.

I was a stranger in a strange land,

and ye took me in.

A toast to you and your good wife, Brother Jonas.

Thank you.

I sure wish you and your folks could stay on a might longer.

Maybe even settle here.

A shepherd must tend his flock,

and my wagoneers are getting restless to press on.

You're welcome anytime, Mr. Mulrooney.

Got all the supplies you need?

Indeed, yes. Thanks to you, Mrs. Jonas.

And bless you both.

( horse approaching)

( dog barking)

Hmm. Newcomer. Wonder where he's from.

Well, what can I do for you, stranger?

I'm looking for a doctor.

Can you tell me where I'll find one?

A doctor. Mm.

Well, I don't know.

She calls herself a doctor, but...

She?!

Yeah. Phyllis Thackeray, M.D. That's what her sign says.

She's here on the settlement?

Yeah.

She ain't recommended.

Oh? Why?

Couldn't make a go of it back East,

so she hung up a shingle here.

Any woman sees fit to take up doctoring

ain't fit to be a woman.

Is she a medical doctor?

Well, there's something in Latin hanging on her wall,

but lady doctors ain't my idea...

Now, look, there's a woman and a baby

that need doctoring real bad.

What's this?

What's this, my friend?

Now, what's this, my friend, about a woman and a baby?

Some pebble-hearted wagon master

left them on the edge of the desert out here to die.

Now, where's the doctor?

Just a minute.

This child... Did it have typhoid fever?

Well, that's for the doctor to...

Why do you ask?

My name is Jeremiah Mulrooney and it was I that...

Mr. Mulrooney.

You don't look like a murderer.

Keep thy tongue from evil and thy lips from speaking guile.

Put thy own house in order, Mulrooney.

You sentenced that woman and that child to death.

They were diseased!

Well, what did you do to help them?!

Wait a minute! Wait a minute!

What's this about typhoid, stranger?

We don't want any epidemics around here.

He wanted me to jeopardize

the lives of 50 people against two.

Did you ask the 50 people

about what they thought about it?

Or did you just make the decision for them?

Had they known about typhoid,

it would've caused great panic.

And the will of Jeremiah Mulrooney

would have been opposed.

Now where's that doctor.

Now look, typhoid is a terrible thing.

Nothing to fool around with.

If that doctor brings them here we could all get the disease.

The hand that touches pitch is defiled forthwith.

You've consorted with the disease.

The fever's upon you, too.

Now, are you going to let this fool...

He's right... you could be filling the air with typhoid.

Now, look... you better make tracks, mister,

'cause we got to protect the people in this settlement.

I'm not leaving here without seeing that doctor.

Get out of here before you contaminate all of us.

Well, why don't you two brave men shoot?

For there's sickness out there.

The woman and the child are sick.

You could keep them out of this community.

But the disease will spread.

It'll get here eventually. It'll get right here.

A doctor could stop that,

but why don't you go ahead and shoot?

Get out, I say!

All right.

I'll see to it that you get a doctor.

Please give her my card.

He's welcome to her.

Take her, and good riddance!

But once she mixes with the fever,

she ain't welcome back here.

Oh, be careful of that card;

it's crawling with typhoid.

You give it to her yourself.

I will.

Gunfighter, huh?

Only when I have to be.

Now, where's the doctor?

You can see her sign from right out there.

She's right across the street.

Thank you.

Got enough water?

I think this will be enough.

All right.

Wide is the gate and broad is the way

that leadeth to destruction.

Let the physicians heal themselves

before they seek return.

Don't try bringing those fever patients back here,

you understand?

If we have to bring them back here, we will.

We've got folks of our own to protect... children, too...

And we'll shoot you down, if we have to.

They mean what they say.

So do I.

Now we better rest a while.

You said it was a long ride.

It is.

Well, you never get there resting.

If we don't rest these horses, we'll never get there at all.

This should be ready in a minute.

Good.

You know, you ought to be sitting on a velvet settee,

fluttering your eyelashes over a fan.

Oh, no. I've tried that.

It's too easy.

Is that why you studied medicine, because it's not easy?

Probably.

Thanks.

Why'd you come West?

Isn't it hard enough for a woman to study medicine in the East?

Well, I guess I'm more missionary than physician.

Is the food all right?

Mmm! It's fine.

You know, I was the second woman

to graduate from my medical school.

After me, there were others, but...

well, it's difficult for us,

but I think we'll finally be accepted

as something better than freaks.

And you're breaking new ground for them out here.

I figure that if I can get these people to accept me,

then maybe they'll accept other women doctors.

May I remind you that you were just run out of your home

with guns at your back?

Want some more coffee?

Please.

Thanks.

You're pretty casual about it.

I'm not, really.

This is the second settlement I've worked in.

I've collected my share of scar tissue.

Are you planning to go back to this community?

Well, it's either that

or back to the velvet settees.

I may not be the missionary or the physician I think I am.

Morning, Doctor.

( sighing)

I should've brought something for saddle sores.

Where are we?

We're there.

( baby crying)

They're in here.

Anything I can do?

Keep your fingers crossed.

They all right?

Yeah.

The mother is suffering from exposure,

exhaustion, lack of sleep.

She's going to be all right, though.

Unless the typhoid hits her.

The baby has typhoid?

Maybe.

Don't you know?

It's too soon to tell yet.

Mulrooney knew the symptoms.

Well, so do I.

A high fever that lasts for the first few days,

then a rash that covers the skin,

then delirium and coma that leads to the crisis.

The baby seems to have gone about halfway

through the cycle, but whether she goes beyond this or not,

we can't do anything for her here, in this wilderness.

I'll hitch those horses to the wagon.

Now, what about Mulrooney and Jonas?

They meant what they said about our not going back there.

So do I.

These people need help and they're going to get it.

I hope so.

Well, they're waiting for us.

PALADIN: Whoa.

Turn back, Paladin.

The way is closed.

You'll bring no disease among us.

Stand right there. No closer.

Dr. Thackeray has examined the woman and the child.

The woman hasn't a trace of typhoid.

Her child is diseased.

And Clara Benson took care of her child.

And you and that doctor consorted with them both.

Dr. Thackeray isn't even certain that the baby has typhoid.

I'm sure. I saw that child.

The baby needs treatment.

Now, what about it?

Are you people going to let this man

sentence a woman and a baby to death?

We'll bring you what you need, Mr. Paladin,

but you ain't bringing them in.

He's trying to steal your homes!

He's bringing the scourge of Satan down upon you.

Stop him, I say!

What about it?

Who wants it?

Who wants to preach the gospel according to Mulrooney?

Jonas? You want it?

You want to keep those people out of your precious community?

Want to preserve it?

Well, you've got three fine targets:

two women and a baby burning with fever.

Here, Jonas, here.

You want it?

You, sir?

You're defying the will of Mulrooney.

Here, Mulrooney.

You show these sheep how you practice

the art of righteousness.

But Paladin, they're diseased.

We've got to protect ourselves.

Well, they're not as diseased as you are.

You may be able to do this.

You may be able to keep them out of your community,

but you'll carry your sickness with you wherever you go.

As long as you live,

you'll die every time

you see a baby smile.

Don't you understand?

We got to take care of our own children.

( baby cries)

Your own children.

Do your children sound any different than that

when they cry?

If one of your own children

was sick and crying like that,

would you send it out into the desert to die?!

I... I don't reckon I know.

Well, you ask Mulrooney.

He makes the decisions around here.

Now, Mulrooney,

I'm going to drive that wagon into that settlement.

Any of you people need a doctor, she'll be in her office.

I'm not going to let you do it, Paladin.

I'm not going to let you bring disease and pestilence

into our midst.

Get in the back.

I'll keep her quiet.

You know, they're going to use those guns.

Just keep her down.

Hyah!

Hyah! Move! Hyah!

MULROONEY: He's the devil himself!

This man was sent from the very devil himself!

Stop him, I say! Stop him!

Heap coals on his head!

The fires may burn the sins out of his soul, but stop him!

Stop him!

( horses whinnying)

Still quiet?

It's not quiet enough.

Here, you better have something to eat.

You'll probably need the strength.

Thanks.

What does it all mean?

Well, the torches... Mulrooney's whipping them up

like a witch doctor.

When was the last time you slept?

I was too young to remember.

( both chuckle)

How's Mrs. Benson?

She'll be all right, soon as she has some rest.

The baby?

It's too soon to tell yet.

The fever's still pretty high.

Is it typhoid?

We'll know soon.

Maybe too soon.

Well, that's one way to sterilize a contaminated area.

There's some breakfast inside.

Oh, thanks.

The fever broke last night.

Oh, what does that mean?

It's not typhoid.

It's not typhoid? You sure?

I'm sure.

Go on,

have something to eat. I'll stay out here.

Call me if Mulrooney and his friends show up.

All right.

Good to see you up and around.

Is this mine?

Thank you.

I wish I could tell you how much I appreciate

your doing everything for us.

Please, no gratitude before breakfast.

I hear your baby's better.

Yes, very much better.

( baby crying)

Well, sounds better.

Mrs. Benson, why is Mulrooney fighting so hard

to leave you behind?

My husband and I joined the wagon train in Leadville.

Your husband?

Four days later, he was killed... Indian raid.

Mr. Mulrooney said the last rites.

He made a wild, crazy thing out of it.

Like a fanatic.

I couldn't stand it.

A few weeks later, around the campfire,

he told the whole wagon train he was taking me for his bride.

It was Heaven's will to protect widows, he said.

And he was the chosen messenger.

I ran away from him...

couldn't stand to be near him.

And then my baby got sick.

Paladin!

Paladin! Hurry!

( crowd murmuring)

And they're all around the place.

On the sides, the back, everywhere.

All right. Go on in and take care of the patients.

You may have some more.

Go ahead.

That's far enough, Mulrooney.

Paladin! This is the torch of truth and justice.

It'll burn away the seeds

that Clara Benson has spread among us.

It will scourge the disease from our souls and bodies

and purify our homes once again.

Clara Benson never had a trace of typhoid

and the doctor says the baby's out of danger.

O, how thou art fallen from heaven, O, Lucifer,

to plague us with this villain's falsehoods.

You forced these people from their homes, Paladin,

contaminated the air they breathe,

and now you lie in the face of judgment.

You fool.

Put down that torch and call off those rifles.

The path of the just is the shining light.

Mulrooney, if you touch that torch to this house

I will empty this gun into you.

The flames of the just will banish the scourge.

Mr. Mulrooney, that baby never had typhoid.

Stay where you are.

You've mingled with filth and disease.

And I know the symptoms.

I saw that baby crying with fever

and livid with rash.

That rash, Mr. Mulrooney, was the three-day measles.

The three-day measles, Mr. Mulrooney,

and you left them out there to die because of it.

You're lying.

You're trying to humiliate me.

You're trying to belittle me.

Well, then, look at the baby.

The fever's down, the rash has faded and her eyes are bright.

Go on, look at her.

You can kill people with hate, Mulrooney,

but not with the three-day measles.

( screams)

Look out, Paladin!

( woman shrieks)

I had to do it. I had to warn you.

He turned us against each other.

He taught us nothing but hate...

hate and hate.

Maybe we deserved it.

He has sown the wind,

and he shall reap the whirlwind.

Go on home, Jonas.

The wind has changed.

We have room for you on our wagon train, Mr. Paladin.

Thank you.

We can take you part way to San Francisco.

Good. Save me a soft board to sit on.

( whistles)

Must you leave?

Come with me.

San Francisco needs a good doctor.

Oh, no, there are too many velvet settees there.

Anyway, they told me I'm needed here.

Oh, yeah.

Is there any way I can thank you?

See me in San Francisco.

Hey, wait a minute.

What are you doing?

You're not going anywhere for at least three days.

Measles?

Mm-hmm.

I'll get a room ready for you.

JONAS: Hey, Paladin!

The wagons are waiting for you.

Well, I can't go anyplace; I'm sick.

Sick?!

How'd you get sick?

I don't know.

I'm just lucky, I guess.