Original subtitles

Gang fight.

Call the police.

Come on, stairs. Put it out there.

He's only a kid.

They knifed him.

There were four of them.

Why did they do it?

What do they have against me?

Five more minutes.

Yeah.

300 seconds to go.

Betty Johnson starts on the service tomorrow, doesn't she?

Miss Snuggle Bunny?

Yeah.

You know, you'd think that girl was a medical anomaly, the way you interns

track of her. Ha! An emergency. Who has time to ogle nurses?

You, for one.

And then there's Gersky, Mays, Feldwetter, Gerson, Capish, Lacey,

Okay, okay.

Oh,

wouldn't you know it, a customer. Four more minutes and I'd have been out of

here. You should be a ditch digger. They get overtime.

I can't dig a straight ditch.

I'll remember that if you have to operate on me.

Mike says it's a knife wound. A kid.

Dextran set him?

No, let's take a look at him first.

Get him on the table.

Is it a stab or a slash?

A stab.

Better cut away your shirt.

Hey.

What's your name?

Johnny Temple.

You feel like coughing, a gagging, choking sensation?

This could have reached the lung. I'd say you're a very lucky boy, Johnny.

Yeah. Four duck tails worked me over, wrecked my clothes, carved me up.

I'm just glad this wasn't one of my unlucky days.

This may hurt a little.

Hooligans knifing hooligans is one thing, but when they start cutting up

kids, it burns me up.

I won't be in the way, will I?

No, no, go ahead.

How's it going, John?

John Hughes Temple, age 17.

Addressed 222 Doncaster.

Identifying mark, scar on back.

You were a long way from home, John.

I like to walk.

That's the Donnybrookers turf.

Vests and caps. It all fits.

Donnybrookers? Sounds like they make a habit of this sort of thing.

Actually, for some time now, they've been in our boys' club.

It's been over a year since they've been in a scrap like this.

That kind usually revert to type sooner or later, don't they?

Yeah?

Maybe you're right.

John, can you tell me exactly what happened?

Well, like I said, I like to walk.

I was just... walking along, and I started to get this headache.

Headache? Yeah, you've heard of them, haven't you?

Do you get them very often?

Well, when I think too much. Doc.

So anyway, I stopped in the drugstore, got something for my headache, and paid

for it with a $5 bill.

I didn't notice this guy until I stepped out the door.

What happened then?

I forgot all about him until I reached the alley.

Then, all of a sudden, I didn't hear him, but I could feel him right behind

And then he hit me.

Kind of hit and shoved.

I turned around and looked at him.

I didn't know what to say.

So I didn't say anything.

He just stood there, grinning.

And enjoying it.

And then I saw the knife.

He had it in his left hand.

And he switched it to his right.

And I started to run down the alley.

Then everything was kind of confused.

He grabbed me and we fell over and knocked over a garbage can.

I heard him whistle.

And then it seemed like there were ten of them working me over.

And it's the last thing I remember clear till you came.

That knife, was it a switchblade?

The kind rangers use with brass knuckle handguard.

Doctor, the parents are in the waiting room. I'll be right out.

Okay, wrap him up.

Oh, Johnny, I'll let your parents see you in a couple of minutes. First, Miss

Callahan will bandage that cut and give you a sedative. I don't need a sedative.

When the Novocaine wears off, you'll need a sedative.

Johnny, can you give me any description at all of the other boys?

Carl!

Mrs. Temple?

How's my boy? He's all right. I'm Dr. Kildare. Carl Temple, this is my wife,

Grace. What happened?

Well, I don't want you to worry. I asked you what happened. Carl.

Look, Buster, I've had experience with hospital. You guys can speak English if

you really try.

Now, what happened?

He was jumped by a teenage gang.

One of them used a knife on him.

No.

What happened to them?

I don't know.

Medical facts, I can help you. Anything else, you'll have to ask your son or the

police. Now, just a minute. Mr.

Stemple, there's only one wound. As far as we can tell, it isn't serious.

We would like to keep Johnny for a 24 -hour observation.

I'm finished, Doctor.

Well, thanks.

Whatever you think is best, Dr. Kildare.

Good.

Miss Callahan will take you to him.

This way, please.

Morning. How am I doing?

According to your charts, you're doing fine.

Sit up, we'll have a look.

Ouch!

Quiet, you'll give me a bad reputation.

I think maybe I'll give a real good holler.

Go ahead.

I'll give you something to holler about.

I understand you hardly touched your breakfast this morning.

You call that stuff breakfast?

Doc, sit still.

Doc, I think they're trying to poison me.

We don't usually get that complaint until the third day.

I would tell my folks to bring in my food.

Good, good. Have them bring seconds. I could use a good meal.

Well, you're doing fine.

Any more complaints?

You're a pretty fair doctor, you know.

Still, you miss a few things.

I've been thinking.

I decided to become a doctor myself.

Well, that's fine, Johnny.

I'd make a good one.

Mr. Markell, how are you feeling?

Pure. How else?

I should have gone home yesterday.

Delicious.

But you're on a salt -free diet.

Your own sister brings it. You got to eat it.

Well, tell her not to fold it next time.

Dr. Kildare told you not to eat that.

If he didn't want me to eat it, he would have taken with him.

You shouldn't eat that. You're on a salt -free diet.

Hey, what?

You... I told you not to eat that.

Any more complaints?

Oh, no, no, no.

It was just only soup, anyway.

Good

morning.

Thank you for the vote of confidence, Doctor.

Anytime, Miss Johnson.

Anytime I can be of service.

Kildare?

Yes, Dr. Gomer? You're handling the young man with the knife wound, John

That's right.

He gave one of the nurse's aides a rough time this morning.

Well, apparently he didn't want any breakfast.

Well, the kitchen supervisor tells me Temple shoved the tray back at the girl

quite viciously, hard enough to raise a well to cross her ribs.

I'll talk to him. Do that.

Why, you look like you're feeling better.

Sure, I feel great.

What are those?

You wouldn't recognize their name. Besides, I can't even pronounce it.

If Dr. Kildare prescribed them, he would have given them to me himself.

Come on now, be a good boy.

What the devil?

That Johnny Temple.

An accident?

Not in my book.

Johnny?

Hi, Doc.

What seems to be the trouble?

I think I got the black plague.

You know what I mean.

Oh, her?

Yeah.

Believe me, Doc, I feel worse about that than she does.

How clumsy can a guy get?

She told me it was no accident.

I'd keep an eye on that nurse if I were you, Doc.

Why?

Because she and that... that foreigner are working up something together.

Against you?

Against us.

That's mine!

Took it off your breakfast tray.

Doc, please, they're after me. I know it.

Please, Doc, I've got to have the knife. Please, Doc, please. I need the knife,

Doc. Please.

Please. Please.

Please. Please, Doc.

So you think you have a patient who might belong on our psychiatric service?

That's right, Dr. Goulding. As a matter of fact, I think... Just one question.

You're not specializing in psychiatry.

Do you, by any chance, suffer from a compulsive urge to diagnose mental

disorders? Sir?

When you go to a party, do you have two drinks and start psychoanalyzing the

girls?

Dr. Golden, I'm an internist. After two drinks, I start looking for congested

lungs.

You know, about once a month, some well -meaning intern drags a harmless little

old lady in here because she happens to like molasses for breakfast on her bacon

and eggs.

Well, that isn't the case this time.

All right, then. Get on with it.

The patient is John Hughes Temple, male, Caucasian, age 17. You can skip the

incidentals. Just tell me why you think he should be up here with us.

Dr. Kildare, you either have a case or you don't. In 25 words or less, tell me

why the patient in question should be of interest to me.

That's considerably less than 25 words.

Sit down, Doctor.

Sit down.

Hi.

Jim.

Trouble?

What would you think if I asked you to drop in and see my itchings?

The obvious.

What would you think if I asked you to drop up and talk to my psychiatrist?

Also the obvious.

That's what I thought.

I'm going to have to resort to trickery.

Which question are we working on?

Listen, I persuaded Dr. Golden to talk to... The big psychiatric will? Right.

He promised to talk to Johnny Temple at 2 o 'clock, but now I've got to get

Johnny up there.

He'll get sharp. He knows we can't force him to talk to Golden if he doesn't

want to.

Well, how are you going to do it?

Oh, doctor.

Anytime you want to work on that other question.

Hi, Doc. Hi, Johnny.

Doc, I've been thinking.

You were right.

I really didn't need that knife.

It's kind of embarrassing for me, Johnny.

What is?

Well, I... I mentioned you to one of the important doctors here at the hospital.

About the knife?

Yeah, yeah. He said that after what happened to you in that alley, you

felt better having something to protect yourself with.

Oh, that's what I told you.

I know, I know.

Oh, and he said, too, that you... you might have a point about some of the

things that are going on around here.

You say this guy's one of the big shots?

One of the biggest. Chief of psychiatry.

Psychiatry? Right. The head man.

He's interested in you.

Why?

Well, I told him about those headaches you've been having.

He said that if you could drop up, he might be able to help you.

I doubt that.

Why do you say that?

You know what doctors like you make your mistake?

You think a headache starts in a person's head.

You know what a headache really is?

It's when people don't like you.

When they think bad thoughts about you.

And their minds send out brain waves.

Like radar.

They concentrate on you from all different directions.

And they get inside your head.

And that's what really hurts.

Well, you ought to know.

But he is a big shot.

You aren't afraid to talk to him, are you?

Hello, Johnny.

I'm Dr. Golden.

Have a seat.

Don't you want me to lie on a couch?

Not unless you want to be a patient.

No, I just want to talk to you.

About the knife?

Oh, that isn't important.

Although, uh, Dr. Kildare seemed to get pretty excited about it, didn't he?

He sure did.

Dr. Kildare.

I don't know.

What do you think about him?

I don't know. He's all right, I guess.

In fact, at first I kind of liked the guy, but... There's no

chance he's trying to get you a job, is there?

Not a chance.

Why?

He probably didn't mean half the things he said.

But he did say he didn't think you ran this, uh, psychiatrics the way it should

be run.

Yeah.

What else did he say?

Well, Doctor, this is kind of hard to believe. I could hardly believe it

when I first overheard it.

But Kildare and that woman, the nurse, the one that stirred up all this

well, they were talking, you see.

And they didn't know I could overhear them.

They were outside the door.

I don't know why it's that way, Doc.

There's nothing I would like better.

Nothing than a world where everyone isn't turned against you.

Why do they do it?

But I'll tell you one thing, seriously.

Guys like you and me, we gotta beat them to the punch.

We gotta stick together, Doc.

Oh, Doctor, I just came up to see... What's the diagnosis?

Doctor, Johnny Temple is acute paranoid schizophrenic. Every classic symptom

right down the line.

I was hoping I was wrong.

Unfortunately, you weren't.

That boy presents a potential danger to himself and to everybody around him.

What are you going to do?

I've already asked his parents to come over.

Let's go see Gillespie.

Are the parents here?

I've called them.

You examine him once, Dave. Are you certain? Leonard, you know my pet peeve.

I hate know -it -all psychiatrists who examine a patient for one hour and form

conclusive diagnosis.

Isn't that what you're doing?

That's how certain I am about this boy.

And you recommend... Immediate committal.

Mr. Dave.

Call Dr. Dubrow. Tell him I can't play golf this afternoon. If something's

turned up, it'll keep me here.

Yes, Dr. Gillespie.

Oh, when Mr. and Mrs.

Temple call, show them in.

Believe me, we understand how difficult this is for you.

But the picture is not entirely black.

This is the 20th century and not the Dark Ages.

There is hope and there is help for the mentally ill.

Listen, mister.

Don't tell me my kid's sick in the head. I don't want to hear that anymore.

You must be mistaken, Doctor.

I wish we were.

I don't want to hear anymore.

The kid was worked over by a gang.

He was knifed.

He lost blood.

He was scared.

Then you guys start picking away at him. Sure, he acts a little funny. Anybody

would. What do you guys think you're pulling off here anyway?

Mr. Temple, a paranoid schizophrenic personality does not spring into

full -blown.

Development can usually be traced far back into childhood.

So? The development pattern has certain clear -cut and definite characteristics.

I suspect that Johnny's behavior has given you and your wife much concern.

Well, he's intelligent. He's... a sensitive boy. That type person is...

Well, they're always a little bit moody and withdrawn.

I'm referring to more alarming symptoms, Mrs. Temple.

The fabrication of elaborate, sometimes malicious fantasies.

Occasional uncontrollable outbursts of violence directed against playmates and

pets.

Perhaps even the torture of animals.

Now listen, John is only 17.

He's doing a lot of things now he'll grow out of. I was no angel myself, but

grew out of it. I turned out all right. You creeps are building mountains here.

You're all a little cracked yourselves. Shut up and listen.

that Looney is a world -famous psychiatrist, a man who has written

man who has devoted his life to the study of mental aberration and mental

disease.

If that man says that your son poses a threat to himself and to those around

him, then your son does pose a threat to himself and those around him. So what

is that supposed to mean? Let me finish.

I am being brutal.

Yes. I am being brutal because now, here in this room, we are facing a brutal

fact. Your son is not responsible for his own actions. That's enough. We're

leaving. Why isn't Johnny up here? You heard me telephone for him. Well, when

gets here, we're walking out. And you mark this.

If you try to have him committed, if you have him dragged off by white coats

with the neighbors looking on, if you ruin his life, I'll raise a stink like

you've never smelled.

I'll throw so much garbage at Blair, this building will be covered up to the

flagpole. I'll sue you, I'll sue him, I'll sue Blair and everything connected

with it, including that punk intern.

Oh, Carl, please.

Yes? John Temple is here.

Let go.

Come on, we're getting out of here.

John.

I'm Dr. Gillespie. Now, just a minute, you. Carl.

Your father's taking you home, John.

That's his right.

We'd like you to stay here.

Yeah, I know.

Just remember, we know there are times when you feel completely alone. You feel

lost and frightened.

You need desperately someone to turn to.

Someone you can trust.

The next time you feel all alone, we'd like to help you.

Our doors are always open.

Come on, boy.

Dad, you know what they try to do to me in there?

What I want to know is what you did to get them all worked up like this. What

started this fuss?

I spilled a glass of water on a nurse.

Well, that's not so bad.

I could have done that myself.

Some of those nurses, they... What else?

The knife. They showed me a knife.

Dad, you know that guy in the room with me, the dark complexion man?

Well, I think he was a real psycho.

And I was afraid of him.

Makes sense, doesn't it?

I don't know.

Is that all? Now, are you sure that's all?

What else do you think I did?

Okay, I snuck into the operating room and I cut off a guy's leg.

Boy, you're really asking for it. Please, now both of you, please.

What about it, Leonard?

Did we petition for committal?

Well, there's no question about it, is there?

You must forgive our innocent young colleague, Dave. He has not yet been

to the hazards of forensic medicine.

Kildare, do you think Temple was making conversation when he threatened to haul

Dr. Golden and myself, Blair Hospital, and you into a court of law?

No. But he can't. He can't.

He can't.

But he can.

and with considerable prospect of success.

Do you know, Dr. Kildare, that in our enlightened state there is no law

protecting institutions such as Blair in situations like this?

No. You would think that on our statutes there would be a provision stipulating

that when a verified petition for committal is filed and probable cause

initiating such a petition is shown...

that then neither the signer of the petition nor his superiors nor the

institution which may employ him could be held liable.

But no, we have no such protection.

And further, even if we prove probable cause and then the jury cannot agree

the boy should be committed, then we can all, severally and collectively, be

held liable for any mental suffering which the boy or his family had

as a result of our action.

But, sir, this boy's a walking time bomb. We've got to do something.

Kildare, this is a matter for the board to decide after we consult our lawyers.

Well, how long will that take? Aren't you still on duty?

Excuse me.

Miss Day?

Yes, Dr. Mennon.

Call Mr.

Davitt. Tell him I would like him to set up a board meeting this afternoon.

All I need is a quorum. And get one of our attorneys over here.

Preferably John Wilkes.

Cancel all my appointments.

I'll be busy here for the rest of the day.

Dave, you'd better sit in on this.

What do you think our chances are?

Well, the board has never voted for a committal in a situation like this yet.

Maybe this time.

Oh, Al, where's Gerson? Grabbing some sack time. Why?

I wanted him to cover for me.

Could you manage it?

Sure have to stretch myself.

Okay, sure.

Thanks.

What's the big worry?

The time bomb.

I'm afraid it might explode. I'll explain later.

Johnny?

Johnny?

Would you like something to eat?

No, I'm not hungry, Mom. How do you feel?

Still a little sore.

No, I mean...

Great, Mom, just great.

Newspaper, boys.

I got over 1 ,500 square feet of lawn out there. You'd think they'd hit it

in a while.

Oh, no, in the bushes every time.

Where's Johnny?

Oh, he went into his room to lie down.

Yes, Mom.

Are you sure you don't want something?

Johnny?

No, Mom, I don't want anything.

We'll have supper soon.

What are we going to do about Johnny?

We've talked about a military academy. I guess this is it.

I'll make the arrangements in the morning.

He doesn't want to go to one.

He said he'd run away.

Military academies know how to handle boys like Johnny.

Dr. Kildare.

I hate to bother you, Mrs. Temple, but may I come in?

What did you do? Follow us home? What kind of a stunt is this?

No, I didn't follow you. I got your address from the hospital records.

Mr. Temple, I just want to help Johnny.

He and I hit it off pretty well in the hospital, and I thought if we could...

Yes, last night he told us about that. You keep out of this.

Johnny's no longer at your hospital.

I know, that's... why I came here.

You were pretty upset this afternoon in Dr. Gillespie's office.

I thought that maybe now if we could just talk... You thought you might

where your boss failed, is that it?

You came here to ask me to put my boy in an asylum?

Mr. Temple, we're just trying to help him. That would be quite a feather in

cap now, wouldn't it?

Oh, look, I've got nothing to gain personally from this. No?

Well, in fact, I could be called on the carpet for coming here.

But I didn't figure that was too important right now.

The important thing is Johnny.

And that wound on his back.

You wouldn't have thought of treating that yourselves.

You wanted a doctor to treat it. If Johnny were sick with polio or

you'd want a hospital where he could get the best medical treatment available.

Well, Mr. Temple, right now Johnny is sick.

We don't want to lock him up behind bars. We don't want to throw him away in

some dungeon.

He'd be in a hospital.

A clean, modern hospital with doctors to take care of him. All right, all right,

that's enough.

Now you stay out of it.

Look, Kildare, you're still an intern, aren't you? You've got a lot to learn.

Well, you can start right now by learning this.

There's nothing wrong with my boy that a little strict discipline won't fix.

Now, I'm a patient man.

I wasted the best part of my day with your Dr. Gillespie.

I let you come into my home and talk, wasting my time again telling me what

think. Well, I've had it. I'm fed up. Now get out!

Boy, you've got exactly 30 seconds.

Go on, Dr. Kildare.

You heard him.

You're the one that started all this trouble.

Johnny, I wasn't trying to start trouble. I was trying to prevent it.

I'm still trying to prevent it. You spied on me. You told lies about me.

just like all the rest.

I ought to... Go ahead, say it.

Johnny, will you answer one question?

Did you start that fight yesterday?

What fight?

The one that put you in the hospital.

Whatever made you think a thing like that?

It was just a hunch, Johnny.

But it makes sense.

Your 30 seconds is up, doctor.

If he did start that fight yesterday, he could have killed somebody.

He could have been killed himself.

I hope things work out for you.

I still can't figure out why we were even called.

As I understand it, the boy is a minor.

His parents removed him from the hospital. That's right, isn't it? Yes,

Well, then, for my money, he is no longer the hospital's responsibility.

George, the moment Dr.

Golden examined John Temple and made his diagnosis, the boy became a

responsibility of Blair General Hospital.

He remains a moral responsibility and, to a certain extent, a legal

responsibility, even though he has been removed from the premises.

That point is not open to argument.

That is, if this hospital is to continue to fulfill one of its basic functions,

which is to serve and protect society as a whole, as well as the individual.

He's right about that, George.

This is not a question of what we should do. The boy presents a danger to

society. We should sign a petition to have him committed for observation.

But the real question is, first, can we succeed in having the boy committed? And

secondly, will we even try?

If you want my advice, I'm like this. I still don't like the smell of it. Well,

let's concentrate on whether we can have him committed.

You're the attorney, Jack.

Doctor, you say you only examined the boy once.

Once, for just under an hour. Then how could you possibly... The boy evinced

the classic symptoms of paranoia.

I still don't see... George, please.

No other examination.

No consulting psychiatrist present. No.

And the parents will definitely fight a petition.

I think we can count on that.

They can demand a jury trial, can't they?

Yes, and they will.

Leonard, I know we have to go into this in further detail, but it is my first

impression that we're sticking our necks way out.

Well, gentlemen, so that we know where we all stand, let's see what the other

first impressions are among those seven of us who are going to cast a vote.

Will those who feel that we should initiate committal proceedings, please

indicate?

Aye.

Johnny?

Johnny?

If the patient is ready, Miss Johnson, I'll cut out the part of the brain that

sends out the evil thoughts.

I'll make a good doctor.

Dr. Temple.

Dr. John Hughes Temple.

Carl. What on earth's the matter with you anyway? Why don't you go to bed?

I can't, Carl.

I'm worried about Johnny.

Well, what is it you're trying to do? What are you trying to prove?

I only want to do what's best for Johnny.

And you think I don't?

Well, I think sending him to a military school is... Grace, we've been over that

and over it and over it again.

Now, what do you want to do? Send that boy in there to a mental institution?

Ruin his whole life? Is that it?

Ruin our lives?

You're his mother, Grace.

What are you going to say to him on visiting day? What on earth can you say

him? How will you face our friends? What will you tell them?

I'm frightened, Carl.

Dr. Kildare said... I don't want to hear that man's name in our house again.

Look, I'm Johnny's father.

I think I know him better than some wet -behind -the -ears intern.

Do you?

Do you really?

You don't know your own son, Carl.

Oh, Grace.

You've been picking away at me all evening long.

I know you love him.

But you don't show it.

When did you ever sit down and talk to him?

Try to find out what he wants out of life. What he likes.

What he doesn't like.

When did you ever take him fishing? Or when did you ever... Will you get off my

back? I want to finish my story.

Home to bed, huh?

Not just yet.

Talk about slave labor.

You work the same hours he does?

Only when I think he might need me.

They still in there?

Can't go on much longer.

It's so quiet, they must be taking a vote.

Hello? Yes, speaking.

Well, good, I'm glad to hear it.

Kids like that shouldn't be running around loose.

He's the one all right.

He was still carrying the knife your son described.

Commando job.

Brass knuckle hand guard, long blade.

Would you describe that knife again, please?

And it has something, looks like a T scratched on the handle.

I guess in the fight your son couldn't have seen that.

He's not telling us anything.

Sure, Mr. Temple.

Anytime. Who was that?

Grace.

Have you seen my old commander knife?

It's in Johnny's room with his collection. Why?

That was the police.

I don't understand. What was he doing with Johnny's knife?

I... I think maybe the doctors were right.

Johnny's sicker than we thought.

I'll have to phone Gillespie in the morning.

Oh, Carl.

Johnny?

I must have lost it.

You're lying.

The police have that knife.

They took it off the kid you tangled with in the alley.

That's where I must have lost it.

Don't get smart with me. You went down there carrying that knife.

Okay, okay, so what? So what?

Why?

Were you hoping you'd get a chance to use it?

I think that intern was right.

You started that fight.

You wanted to knife that kid.

Well, what happened? Did he take it away from you? Did you get stabbed with your

own knife?

Yeah, yeah. Who cares? Who cares?

I do.

Yeah, you care. A lot you care.

You're just like all the other slobs.

Please, Johnny.

I know I don't show it very well, but you mean an awful lot to me.

Big deal.

Please, son.

Grace.

Grace.

We did it.

Four to three, but we did it.

Let me get my car, sir.

Oh, thank you. No, I think I'll walk.

If I get to bed too quickly, I'll just have a headache.

I have to stop thinking by degrees, like an old stern wheeler reversing its

paddle.

We made progress today.

We broke ground that has never been broken.

It takes time to keep pounding away, but eventually it does get broken.

Can't help thinking about that boy, Johnny Temple.

The wheels are rolling.

It won't be long now until we can help him.

Keep him out of trouble.

Good night, Doctor.

Good night, sir.

Anything wrong, kid?

Is the doctor in there?

Sure. There are lots of them.

I can't remember his name.

Don't you feel well?

I've got to tell him.

Then I'm scared.

Look, don't worry about it.

Come on, we're going inside.

Thank you.