Original subtitles

(electronic jingle music)

(upbeat theme music)

(electronic whirring)

(mellow music)

(somber music)

- Since this will be a unique operation,

I shall explain each stage as we progress.

As you know, the patient is suffering

from advanced meningioma.

Firstly, we're going to reverse the blood supply

to the brain.

Once this has been done, the operation must progress

at speed and without interruption.

Any delay would be fatal.

All right?

Let us commence.

(engine purring)

(engine roaring)

Switch on laser lance.

Six seconds duration.

- Yes, Doctor.

(buzzer sounds)

- Wait here, Joe.

- Okay, Dad.

- [Doctor] Blood flow from right hemisphere?

- Correct. - Thank you.

(sorrowful music)

- What's going on here?

- Oh Professor McClaine, good evening.

Do come in.

Hank you, Linda, thank you, John.

That'll be all for the moment.

- Thank you, Doctor, goodnight.

- [Linda] Goodnight, Doctor.

- Goodnight.

- How did it go?

- Well, so far all the equipment

has been operating faultlessly.]

- Good, do you still want me to give it a thorough check?

- If you would, Professor.

It would give us additional confidence.

- Only too glad to help, Doctor.

Do you have much trouble normally

with the maintenance of this equipment?

- Well, the servicing is fairly efficient.

But with this operation which is

only the 6th of its kind, we can't afford

to take any chances.

- [Professor] Of course.

Are you performing the operation yourself, Dr. Blakemore?

- Not this one, Professor.

There's only one man in the world capable

of this type of work, Dr. Emil Kados.

He's flying here especially.

You see, the patient is a very special man.

- Oh?

Who's that?

Maurice Estoral, how nice to see you again.

- Forgive me, I know the face so well

and yet I can't quite place you.

- Oh, that is understandable, Mr. Estoral.

We met but for a few moments some years ago,

when you were awarded the Nobel Prize.

- Of course, Professor McClaine.

I have followed your work with interest.

- That's very kind of you.

And if I may say so, I'm a great admirer

of your work.

(engine whirring)

Maurice Estoral, well, well.

Never thought I'd meet him again.

You know, Joe.

He's one of the greatest writers the world

has ever known.

- Is he the man that's having the brain operation, Dad?

- That's right.

- I've never heard of him.

- Of course, you haven't heard of him, Joe.

But you will when you get older.

Whatever may happen in the course of the next few days,

one things for certain, his books will live on forever.

- He's not going to die id he, Dad?

- Well, I hope not, Joe.

Everything possibles being done for him.

As a matter of fact the man who's going to do

the operation is flying in at this moment.

His name is Dr. Emil Kados.

(jet engine roaring)

- Dr. Maurice Estoral?

- Yes?

- We've just received a radio cable for you, sir.

- Thank you.

(thunder claps)

Stewardess!

- Yes?

- Is this storm likely to get any worse?

- I shouldn't think so, sir.

Don't worry, it should pass very shortly.

- Thank you, you're most kind.

(thunder claps)

- Yes it is urgent.

Sam, this time I need your help.

Okay, goodbye.

Terrible, a double tragedy.

- But Dad, I don't understand you.

The paper says that Dr. Kados was one

of the survivors.

- But don't you understand, Joe.

He's bound to be injured.

And that means he can't perform the operation

which in turn means Maurice Estoral's going to die.

- Isn't it possible he wasn't too badly hurt, Dad?

- I suppose it's possible, Joe.

That's why Dr. Blakemore and Dr. Sherman

are flying out to see him this morning.

But I don't hold out much hope.

(majestic music)

(siren shrills)

- Do you need to see anymore?

- I don't think there's much point.

Obviously he's in no condition to perform the operation.

- Well, before we leave, let's get a full report

on him and fix a private ward.

- Not a chance.

- [Mac] But Sam--

- You know perfectly wall, Mac,

that the Big Rat is a closely guarded secret.

Only four people know of its existence.

- Well, why--

- And that's the way it's going to stay.

- Sam, when we went into this partnership,

it was clearly understood that the Big Rat

would save lives.

- That's right, as many lives as possible.

- Well then if you don't--

- You see, Mac, once our cover is broken,

it's use would be limited, restricted, certainly inhibited.

- [Mac] But we'd save lives.

- Of course we'd still save lives,

but not half as many as if we keep it secret.

- Sam, one of the greatest writers the world

has never known is going to die in a few days.

- I know that.

- But Sam, we could save him.

The only man who can operate on him

is in the Swiss hospital badly injured,

but we can record his brain patterns.

- And transfer his knowledge to another Doctor.

I know, we've been through this a hundred times.

I'm sorry, the answer's no.

- Why Sam, why?

- Because it means, Mac, that a fifth person

would be involved and that is out of the question.

- Dad, Uncle Sam, why are you both arguing?

Why can't I get brained up and I can do the operation?

- Oh, why didn't I think of that before.

All we have to do is to take you along

to the hospital and say we have a nine-year old boy

who is capable of doing the operation.

I'm sure they'd prepare the theater immediately.

Just keep out of this, will ya, Joe?

- Sorry, Dad.

- Mac, understand this, will you?

You have no choice in this matter.

A fifth person cannot be involved, understood?

- Understood.

(mellow music)

- But Dad, I still don't understand why we're

going to Switzerland.

- Joe, I've already explained to you.

We're going there to record the brain patterns

of Dr. Emil Kados.

- I know that, Dad.

But you promised Dr. Sam that you wouldn't involve

a fifth person.

- That's true, Joe.

I did make that promise.

And I don't break my promises.

(mellow music)

- Dr. Blakemore.

I am a man of some maturity.

I fear that you have been trying to

tell me something.

Perhaps you would be a little more explicit.

I would rather know the truth.

- All right, as we explained to you previously,

the only man capable of performing the operation

is a Dr. Emil Kados.

At this moment he lies in a Swiss hospital

critically injured.

- Yesterdays air crash?

- [Dr. Blakemore] That's right.

- Will he live?

- Yes, he will live.

- [Maurice] Well, that's good news.

- Good news for him.

But not for you.

- I understand that, Doctor.

What I don't understand is,

why you're telling me all this.

- There's a reason.

There is one chance, a very slim chance

and that is for me to undertake the operation myself.

The decision is one that I want you to take.

- Dr. Blakemore, I am not afraid to take a chance.

The point is, are you?

(mellow music)

- [Airport Announcer] Attention please, attention please.

British National Airways announce the arrival

of Flight BN407 from London.

(engine roars)

- Well, we'll be at the hospital shortly.

- Yes, I'll impress that on him.

Thank you.

I've spoken to the Matron, Dr. Kados

underwent an emergency operation about two hours ago,

but he's not yet regained consciousness.

The Matron would be happy for you to see him.

But she has asked that you stay no longer

than 10 minutes.

Thank you, nurse.

That's most kind of you.

Where will we find him?

- Room 206, on the second floor.

- Thank you.

(melancholy music)

- Okay, Dad, the balloon's high enough now.

- Well, let's hope it works.

(beeping)

(upbeat theme music)

(mellow music)

(Big Rat whirring)

- Now, just relax, Dad, just relax.

- It's not easy, Joe.

This chair was built for you, not for me.

(Big Rat buzzing)

- You're quite sure you want to go ahead with this?

- Yes, I've considered the whole matter

very carefully, I've made my decision.

I'm going to operate.

- What do you estimate your chances

are of succeeding?

- I should think as low as about 100 to one,

nevertheless, one chance in 100

is better than no chance at all.

- When do you plan to do it?

- Tomorrow morning, 10:00 o'clock.

- And when are you going to tell Messeur Estoral?

- Right away.

- So you've made your decision?

- Yes, I can promise you I'll do

everything in my power to make

the operation a success.

- I appreciate what you're doing

for me, doctor, and I want you to know

that whatever the outcome, I am grateful.

- Thank you for that.

- Excuse me.

- [Maurice] Of course.

- Doctor Blakemore here.

Professor McClaine, how are you?

Fine.

Yes.

Yes, it was tragic.

Well, it's strange that you should call

at this moment, Professor.

I'm going to attempt the operation myself.

Well, that's very kind of you, Professor.

To have you in the theater

while the operation is in progress

would be a tremendous help.

Yes, 10:00 clock tomorrow morning.

Much appreciated.

See you tomorrow.

Bye-bye.

- What a bit of luck.

Doctor Blakemore has decided to attempt

the operation himself.

I suggested that I should be there

to look after the equipment, you know,

in case anything went wrong, and he was delighted.

He fell right into my trap.

- That's wonderful, dad.

So that means we can get into the operating

theater without any trouble.

- That's right, Joe.

- But, dad, you said they wouldn't allow

an inexperienced person to carry

out this operation.

- That's why I had the transference, Joe.

Don't you see, with the knowledge

that I've now got, they'll have no choice.

(upbeat music)

(quiet music)

- All right, let us commence.

(dramatic music)

What the devil is going on?

- Hold it, everyone, just don't move.

Okay, Joe, lock the door.

I said hold it, Blakemore.

- Professor McClaine, have you gone mad?

- No, doctor Blakemore, I haven't gone mad.

What is about to happen is beyond your understanding,

just do exactly as you're told and nobody

will get hurt.

- You're right, professor, it is beyond

my understanding, but let's get one thing clear,

my duty is to my patient.

The man is under an anesthetic,

the operation must proceed.

I'm going ahead, you can do what you like to me.

- Indeed, Dr. Blakemore, your duty is

to safeguard your patient,

and that's just what you're going to do.

If you don't follow my instructions,

I will put a bullet through his head.

So, if it's your patient you're considering,

I repeat, do exactly what I say.

- Well, Sherman, what do we do?

- Now, step to one side.

Joe is going to undertake this operation.

- [Blakemore] What?

- That's what I said.

Joe is going to do it.

Okay, Joe.

(dramatic music)

- Scalpel.

Scalpel.

- Don't give it to him.

(gunshot)

(dramatic music)

You must be crazy.

- Give him the scalpel.

If you don't the next bullet will go straight

through your patient's head.

- Give it to him.

- Pulse.

- Pulse normal, breathing steady.

- Swab.

Pray.

Pulse?

- Steady at 84.

- Incredible, quite incredible.

- Forceps.

- Forceps.

(heart beating)

- Thank you, gentlemen.

The operation is now complete.

- [Blakemore] I don't believe it.

- No, Dr. Blakemore, no one will ever believe it.

And may I congratulate you on a very successful operation.

You have just saved the life of one of the

world's great men.

Thank you.

- Professor, I just don't understand.

- Neither will anybody else.

I will tell people that you carried out

a brilliant operation.

You and your staff will tell people

that my boy, Joe, nine years old

successfully carried one of the most

difficult operations in the world.

I wonder who they'll believe.

- Can we go home now, dad?

- Yes, Joe, we're going to go home now.

It's nice to be myself again.

I'm sure I could never have fired

that gun so accurately without

the brain patterns of a W.I.N. agent.

- And I don't think I could have done

the operation without a brain transfer

from Dr. Kados.

- You're right, Joe.

I think they both did very well.

(upbeat music)

(ending theme music)