Original subtitles

Go!

play gun or killing. The important thing is don't pull the trigger. Just squeeze

it. Why do you wear the uniform?

You like killing?

You like to then die?

Look, Bob, why don't you get lost, huh?

I understand why you wear the uniform.

You like the shiny buttons.

Shove off, wino. Leave the soldier alone.

Come on. Light flags, parades, music, wonderful music, corporal.

When Johnny comes marching home again.

Hurrah, hurrah.

Have they written song yet for new weapons?

Look, mister, nobody makes fun of the army when I'm around. No,

no, I'm not making fun of the army. I'm a soldier.

I show you, John Sparrow. Nobody tell you John Sparrow, Lieutenant General?

I prove.

I prove.

Stupid.

Stupid. Stupid.

Please, somebody, somebody, take me to the hospital.

Is there a translation around, or am I supposed to read this?

The last intern we had in admitting confused illegibility with

Are you the new one?

Yes, Dr. Kildare.

I'm Maya Leos, doctor.

I've heard of you.

You're the one who enjoys skinning and frying interns.

I've heard of you too, Doctor.

Terribly intense and serious. No time to start off pleasantly and civilly to a

person with whom you'll be working.

You're exactly what I expected.

I know you.

I know you. You're a... a doer.

One of the dedicated ones.

Can you tell us what's wrong with you?

Don't try to help me, Doctor.

Go out and fashion chaos.

You had quite an injury here once.

Is that when your trouble started?

He collapsed in a shooting gallery after a disturbance of some sort.

It's all there in the chart.

Dr. Gillespie wants him moved to 8th floor west, suite C.

A suite?

Spoils of war, doctor.

Not a sack of flea. I don't need help.

Always help myself. Always take care of myself. Help myself. Need a lot of...

Don't want help from him either.

There'll be another doctor there.

How's your husband, Mrs. Lee?

Oh, the doctors say his heart's growing stronger every day.

Yes, of course it is.

Harold's very pleased that I joined visiting service.

When you're in bed so long, you begin to understand about loneliness.

And I'll just bet you a dozen of your favorite cookies that you don't even

what hospital visiting service is.

You just tell me what you want.

Games? Something to write on?

I like privacy, romance, booze.

In that order, madam.

Is this the hospital or Gacy House?

General, I'm only doing my job.

Get out. What are you doing here? Oh, I'm on loan from admitting.

It's a private suite. Get out.

Tell Gillespie I'll not be bathed like a duthering, wet -bottomed infant by

adolescent females.

I'm beginning to think that he means it.

Oh, I hope you have on wash and wear.

Look, General, we're just trying to help you.

Help? There's a slogan of every charlatan. I warn you, get out, get out.

the patient's condition?

I haven't caught him yet to find out.

Look, General, you must understand that this hospital has certain rules. Rules,

rules. And among them, for the protection of all patients, we insist on

regular application of warm water and soap.

Just come over here and sit down.

We'll get this over with.

That's right.

Oh, on your way for dry pajamas, send somebody up here, Ma. Oh, yes, Doctor.

All right.

in the Western Front now?

This is Dr. Miller from my psychiatric section, General Sparrow.

How do you do, sir?

And this young man who helped with your bath is Dr. Kildare.

Your name will file under completely useless information, category destined

failure. I thought you two had just met, General. If you were able to comprehend

my reasoning, you'd be capable of making an honest living.

You asked me to care for you, General.

If you'd prefer Walter Reed or some other military hospital, as a retired

general officer, you're entitled to free treatment and... My opinion,

high priesthood of medicine is revolting enough without adding brass, hardware,

and ribbons.

Is there something about the military that bothers you, General?

My diary tonight will write that as the most asinine question of the day.

My firm conviction, sir, in madness is contagious and...

The close association of psychiatrists with it has them more infected than the

patients they treat.

And surgeons are rejects from butcher school.

I'm an internist.

Rejects from butcher school, having failed in state pounding and short

customers.

I'm going to give you something to help you relax, General.

I tried to tell you I don't need psychiatry and drugs. I don't need it.

Don't need it. The problem is it's here. There's a pressure under the

plate.

Pressure.

We've been through something like this once before with the bath.

I'm sorry, sir.

You helped me to make them understand.

You explain to them.

Explain what, sir?

Blast that man, you know.

I suppose you find it pleasant surrounded by fawning shave tails, hmm?

done fairly well for insubordinate reserve, Colonel.

I was in command of that field hospital, sir.

Only time I've ever been shouted down.

Don't suppose you have the... You. You don't have the guts to shout down,

Superior.

Well, sir, I've always worked with people who weren't impressed by lung

I won't be answered like that.

You're a boy.

A stupid, ignorant, clouted boy.

Merely because you have a young body and you're still straight.

There's a man in this old tide. Ten times man you are. Never allow anyone to

forget that.

I wanted... I need help badly, Leonard. But if that young man ever enters this

room again, I leave.

I understand, sir.

Do you?

There's a picture here, age 27.

I think you might find it rather revealing. There it is.

Ah, Lieutenant Kildare. Won't you join us at the staff table, sir? Very funny,

yes.

Hi.

Is he still mad about the bath?

He thinks me more than just that.

Anyone he can buttonhole gets a lecture on you.

Oh. Well, I'm sorry. That must be very boring.

Oh, Doctor, how can you say that?

Kildare, bring your coffee over here if you have a minute.

I see what you mean.

The general at your age.

There are certain similarities, probably even more that only the general can

see, the way he holds his head, a gesture, an expression.

Are you suggesting that he identifies himself with me?

No, it's not too uncommon in agitated depression cases.

But he's so hostile toward me. Which only indicates an unusual preoccupation

with you.

When you first met him, was anything said that might have started him in this

direction? I mean, try to remember any words he might have heard.

Oh, I was, um...

Talking with one of the nurses.

She was describing me in terms like high -minded and dedicated.

I'm glad to hear our nurses have such a high regard for you, Kildare. No, sir. I

was being a little rough on her at the time. She meant it as criticism.

That seems to fit.

Sparrow is remembered as being over -dedicated and arrogant as a second

lieutenant.

No offense, doctor.

Take the book along. Read it.

He led quite a life.

Drop by my office at three. Will that give you time for another interview?

Just. Doctor, when you read that, you'll find that this man always gained his

objective. He never missed on anything that he decided to do.

And I should guess that when the time comes and he decides that he's ready,

nothing is going to stop that man from committing suicide.

Having sort of a low period this afternoon, aren't you, General?

You know, it might help if we knew exactly how often this happens.

Get out.

This melancholia.

Well, actually, you feel it all the time, don't you, General?

The invective, the angry scenes with people, they're just your way of

it.

If I needed a witch doctor, I'd import an authentic one.

Shall we argue about it, General? Is that what you'd like?

Argument to keep your mind busy, away from that something which frightens you?

I want Leonard Gillespie to cut into my head.

Is that too difficult to understand?

This plate may be 20 years old.

Something's gone wrong. I can feel it. There's absolutely no indication of that

in any of the tests we've taken so far.

You saw me when I came in, Doctor. I was... I had difficulty talking. I was

dragging my limbs.

Which is quite normal for a man who has wandered the streets like a derelict,

very nearly starving himself to death.

By the way, when was the last meal you bothered to eat before you came here?

Personas infantilis kildare.

Kildare again?

I mention him simply because he personifies medical stupidity to me.

You say something sophomore, I think of him. Cause and effect.

Suppose we finish by making some tests.

Skull films, electroencephalogram.

If there are no abnormalities, will you let me help you then?

You've got to admit that this irritability... If I am irritable, it is

because I cannot abide the quaint notions you doctors seem to accumulate

monocles.

Any fears I have, sir, are the logical deductions of a rational intelligence.

And let me caution you against meddling in logic.

since it would undoubtedly bring the entire framework of psychiatry crashing

down about you.

General.

How'd you like to be 26 years old again?

I'd like you to come over on my private service for a while.

Sit down.

General Sparrow has resisted all cooperation with Dr. Miller or any of

staff.

But we believe it's possible that he may open up a little bit more with you.

Have you any objection?

No, sir, I have no objection. But the general won't even let me in his room.

The general doth protest too much, methinks.

Now, Doctor, assuming that you establish contact with the General, you simply

encourage him to talk as much as possible.

Then relay the information to me.

Are you asking me to function as a doctor, sir?

If it's the suicide risk that bothers you, remember that suicide is much more

predictable than is generally assumed.

For instance, in this case, the danger signal is almost certain to be a

sudden... Release from depression. As if he relaxed after finally reaching a

decision.

Now, I know how you feel, Doctor. We'd all be a lot happier if this man were in

a psychiatric ward. But if he even suspected that we know what he's

he'd walk right out of here.

We've taken the precaution of removing all obvious risk factors from the suite.

But we can only go so far.

We're taking the calculated risk of seeing the danger signals in time.

But am I being asked... To function as a doctor, sir.

Dr. Miller wishes it made quite clear that he's asking you to obtain

not to treat the patient.

Without questioning your professional abilities, doctor, this is a very

brilliant man in many ways.

You try to cope with him, he just might drag you into water over your head.

Well, yes, sir, but that doesn't change the fact that I'll be in there with him

alone. Now, I respectfully decline to endanger the well -being of any patient.

without the option of using my professional judgment.

I have no quarrel with what I think you're saying.

You will have the option, Doctor, of explaining your presence to the General

any way that your professional judgment dictates.

I'd like you to start immediately.

Dr. Gillespie, how nice of you to come.

I want to thank you and your staff for all that... for all that you...

General, I've been put on Dr. Gillespie's private service, so I will

in on you from time to time.

Well, I'm going to change plans.

I'm properly notified?

Well, I thought you might have some personal objection, sir.

That's the way I'm surrounded by gnats. The personal identity of any one of them

is totally unimportant.

I'll be looking in on you, sir.

Kill air.

I'd like... I'd like my mattress turned.

All right, sir. I'll notify one of the nurses. Well, are you in such a rush to

go somewhere that you... Because it seems that the inflated prices, I'm

the more service.

Where are you from?

Can't you answer a simple question?

Well, sir, I come from a small town named Flintwood.

To get there, you go south from here about... I didn't ask you for a lecture

rural geography, how you get there, or if, in fact, anyone ever gets there.

It's completely... You're not much of a conversationalist. How are you killed

there? You should learn to talk to people.

Your problem is quite obvious to me.

Unless something of importance is being said, you become impatient.

With so much to be done, you can't be bothered with the trivial and the

That probably accounts for much of your...

For your argumentative attitude.

That's a big mistake.

Big mistake. Because when you get old and... When you

get old and an ugly shell of a body... I'm trying to help you.

You understand that, don't you?

Yes, General.

Well, you should learn to deal with people before it's too late.

Someday you'll try to be...

Everything that you were and the words won't come out right.

And instead of being clever and strong, you're just a spiteful, slobbering old

fool.

You'll want... You'll want someone to help you and...

I know so much about you. So much.

So many great deeds to be done.

But are they great in any real sense? Or are they simply difficult?

They were difficult.

That's the joke, isn't it?

foolish mistake to be outflanked this way.

In what way, sir?

Yoo -hoo!

Anybody home in there?

Uh, Mrs. Lee, will you please come back in just a little while?

I won't take a moment. I said to myself, what would a military man enjoy?

The man at the store said that this is quite simple to put together and very

authentic. Here, read it yourself. Madam.

Scale model.

Minuteman rocket, authentic, as used by the United States Army. Madam, do you

have the faintest idea what a Minuteman rocket does? It kills. It bays men in

fire. It leaves those alive twisting and screaming.

You don't understand, General. This is one of our rockets.

Mrs. Lee.

Please leave. If you would prefer... Mrs. Lee, the General isn't feeling

Look.

General, I'm sorry. She doesn't... Get out.

I don't need you.

None of you.

Get out and stay out!

All right.

Who wet that?

That's Sparrow.

You realize how famous he actually is?

Medal of Honor winner, World War I. Threw the thick of it all in World War

Everything. Tanks, commandos, paratroopers. Hey, do you suppose that's

bothering him?

I mean, you know, in his racket, just one small goof and Bluey, maybe 5 ,000

guys. I don't know. That could be part of it.

Well, I have to get back.

So long, Maya.

What does she have to say? Will you please walk me there?

What are you talking about? She hates interns.

Would you rather I lied about it, General?

The tests show no physical basis for your condition whatsoever.

Now, I'm certain by this time that your reason must tell you as mine tells me.

But since it isn't that plate, probably some emotional disturbance exists.

Would you prefer to rest and talk about it later?

You'd better stay with him.

I'll take him.

General, Mrs. Laos has brought your supper.

General, do you hear me?

You know where you were the first time I saw you?

It was just down State Street at the tennis court.

I said to myself, that's the ugliest pair of tennis shorts I ever saw.

And then I realized that they were hospital whites cut off at the knee.

And I knew it could only be an intern.

I know the schedule gets tougher the longer you stay here, but... Well,

sees you anyplace anymore.

You like tennis? We'll play sometime.

I don't have to ask for a date, Doctor.

I'm not the one that's withdrawing from the human race.

Would you like your supper now, General?

Later, perhaps. Later.

Are you feeling much better, sir?

Oh, much, much. I think we've got this thing about Lick now. You know, we ruled

out the head and the problem's isolated. Quite simple.

And what is your solution, sir?

Now, I really feel sorry for this psychiatrist fellow, Doc Miller, isn't

They must feel cheated when a patient works it out for himself. But then,

this... Just where is my

razor?

Well, sir, I think they thought it would be easier for you to shave in bed with

an electric razor.

I use a straight blade, Kildare. I've always used one.

You get me back my razor or I'll walk out of this place.

Come on here, Kildare. Am I not entitled to fresh air either?

The building is fully air -conditioned, sir.

Look, I've devoted my life to the science of killing.

You think I need a window or a razor on a piece of string, a corner of the rug,

a coat hanger?

What I'm trying to say is you're behaving very childish.

Very childish.

What's my call button doing on the...

Didn't you just say you wanted to check out, sir?

Well, I think... I think I'll reconsider.

Yes, yes, I... I think I'll sleep on it and I'll talk to Gillespie in the

morning.

Good night, Kildare.

General.

I've been reading a book about you.

I was wondering if... Good night, Kildare.

I was wondering, sir.

In wars, when so many lives can be lost on one mistake or wrong decision,

how a battlefield commander must feel looking back?

I can't think of a single major tactical decision I would change, not even

today.

I know, the tortured old troop commander, it's much more dramatic,

It doesn't happen to be true in my case.

You... Are you actually trying to outthink me, young fellow?

Sir, you seem so relaxed.

Almost relieved.

Almost as if you'd made a decision of some sort.

If we must talk, let me suggest a subject.

How, by a coincidence of your walk, the way you speak, certain

other things, I saw you as myself some 40 -odd years ago.

That was why they put you here, wasn't it?

Take advantage of that.

Yes, sir.

I'm flattered that you identified with me, sir.

Flattered? At 26, I was an ass.

General, are you asleep yet?

I've been thinking about what you said, and I realize my mistake.

You are sick and tired of shop talk.

You want a change from all that.

So I thought perhaps this clever little jigsaw puzzle... Madam, you can take

your clever little jigsaw puzzle and... Bring it in by all means, Mrs. Lee. The

general is very fond of puzzles.

Tell her! And of course it embarrasses the general to admit it, but he's been

very lonely.

He's been secretly hoping you'd come back.

You naughty man, to be ashamed of wanting company.

I was just going up to visit Harold.

My husband, of course.

But many times he said, Amelia, if you're ever really needed, I certainly

understand.

Harold's a most understanding man.

I'm sure. I'm sure he must be. Now, I'm terribly, terribly sorry, Mrs.

Lee, isn't it? Yes, Lee. As in Robert E... Oh, I'm sorry. He was on the other

side, wasn't he?

I had two sons in the Air Force, not Army. But I wonder if you knew them,

and Charles. No, no, madam, I didn't know them. Now, if you will excuse me...

Most people knew Charles as Chipper.

Oh, he loved to build airplane models and... But, of course, you don't care

models.

Despite my advanced stage, I'm quite fond of models. Long -legged, shapely,

completely life -sized and proportioned liberally. And on the other hand, I'm

repulsed. By shapeless, middle -aged women who believe their gender will

them from their own stupidities.

Do I make myself clear, madam?

Of course you understand, Mrs. Lee, that General Sparrow isn't feeling well.

Shut up!

And I just say sticks and stones to that kind of talk.

I saw you were troubled when you first rolled past me in the corridor.

And I saw something in you too, madam. The most destructive power in this

Share colossal complacency and ignorance.

Because if you want to torment me, bring Satan in here. I can understand him.

No, no.

No blasphemy.

Blasphemy.

Blasphemy. The fact you exist is itself blasphemy incarnate.

And you, General.

Now, what about John Sparrow?

Don't you understand, you young fool, that whatever's true of me is going to

true of you, too?

Well, tell me, General, what is this truth we both share?

All right, Kildare.

All right.

I suppose your truth is that there's reason for everything, and so there's a

meaning to your own personal life.

I like to think that, yes.

What is that meaning?

What's the objective you're striving for, dedicated young doctor? He helps

people.

She's right. That's essentially what a good doctor does.

I suppose 20 years ago, I would have uttered the same pompous stupidities. A

young soldier, he protects his people. That's essentially what a soldier does.

Do you know my record?

It's a proud one.

Starting with the First World War, when 7 million human beings died in the

trenches.

But we won it.

In our holy dedication, we bled ourselves and a quarter of the globe,

wanted to stop Kaiser Bill, wasn't it?

What if we'd let all those humans live?

But then by defeating the Kaiser, we accomplished so much. We set the stage

Hitler's Third Reich and a chance to lose another 11 million lives.

Did I approve? Yes, yes, yes. Fight.

Fight torture.

Fight intolerance concentration camps and all those insanities. But...

Can't we stop somewhere?

Can't the next danger be less instead of greater?

Think, boy.

Are you going to sweat out a lifetime to save a miserable few hundred but ten,

twenty, thirty million human deaths?

What did it buy for us?

No, I won't have that.

I simply will not allow you to say that.

Why aren't you laughing? Don't you see the joke?

You and I, we labor so hard. Not her.

You and I, the doers, the dedicated ones, we labor so hard to fashion chaos.

Look at me, boy.

Look at me.

You give up.

Everything.

Everything. You can be a great man, like me.

There's something missing in what you say.

If I'm wrong, if my logic is bad, show me where, Doctor.

Help me.

Help me.

That's what you said a doctor does.

Well, I'd like to, General, but it isn't that simple.

Well, I have to agree with some of the facts you started out with.

As a person to do nothing, isn't that wrong, too?

Do two wrongs make a right?

Come on, Doctor.

Come on.

What is the meaning I gave my life for?

Well, if you can't help me, help yourself.

What single thing will you accomplish in your life that's worth all the effort?

If I save one life, just one, isn't that

worth it?

Sure, sure. Save a patient from pneumonia so he can die in the agony of

disease. Save more. Save them from this and from that.

Let them overpopulate the globe and they'll die from swollen belly hunger.

Or save them all. Let them breed so that they can be roasted to death by some

new weapon from some new enemy.

You just let me handle him, Doctor.

You're asking him to cross his bridges before he comes to them. All we can do

our best.

I did my best for what reason?

What was the point of even living?

Aren't you still living?

I know what's the matter with you.

You talk about Europe and Asia and people by the millions.

And I'm sure everything you say is fine and right.

But is it really what bothers you?

What about people one by one?

Haven't you ever had one single person you really cared for?

Haven't you ever loved?

Are you going to let that shapeless middle -aged woman you talk about ask a

question you can't answer?

Everyone needs love.

When we lost our boys in the war, I also felt life was hopeless.

But as long as I had Harold, just one person, just

one person to love gives meaning to all of it.

Don't you see it's ugly and scary and terrible only when you're alone?

Kildare.

Kildare, will you please, please get her out of here? Get her out of here.

You need just one person.

All the happiness and meaning in life is reaching past this prison we're all

born in, groping in the darkness for one hand that squeezes ours and says, you

are not alone.

Mrs. Lee?

Good.

No sleigh horse thought she saw you come in here.

I, uh... Is it Harold?

I think he'd like it if you came right up.

Mrs. Lee must have felt you needed a visit badly, General.

She knows her husband's failing fast.

Just one single person who needs me, she says. One single person.

One single person who cares.

Seriously, simply no woman. Spouting slogans as if she has a magic key to all

the universe.

Well, I've got a thousand answers for her. A thousand answers.

Where is she?

General, her husband is dying.

Can't you understand that?

Dr. Miller is very concerned about the patient's extreme agitation.

Now, to offset any possible criticism, I would like to have your word that you

were not in any way trying to treat the patient's condition.

I simply felt I had to distract General Sparrow, to shock him out of doing what

he had in mind.

I used Mrs. Lee solely as an irritant.

Just what did she say to him?

Well, actually, she started out sounding a little foolish.

Pat little sayings that I'd heard a thousand times.

But somehow they answered him.

It's like shorthand, Kildare.

Concise symbols that express things far more complex, like this lady's pat

bromides, can be the distillation of centuries of human experience.

How about Mrs. Lee?

She's under a terrible strain.

I'm worried that... Gillespie?

Yeah?

Huh?

All right.

Tell the police to check on the immediate neighborhood.

The general has slipped past the nurses, disappeared.

I'll give Dr. Miller a hand.

Miller has all the help he needs.

I'd much rather you went to Mrs. Lee.

See what you can do for her.

I'm Dr.

Edgerton, Nurse Midfield General.

Has Mrs. Lee been in?

She's been here for hours, Doctor.

One of the interns just took her down for some coffee.

But if you're going to wait for Mrs. Lee, I'll pick up some drugs for my

patient.

No, no, no, don't. Don't do that. That might be...

lie still and use this.

Amelia, she never had much sense of business.

You promise you'll help Amelia?

Yes. Yes, I will.

You and I, just alone like this, it's not the same, not

the same at all.

Don't what?

Amelia.

We just can't sit here as strangers.

Please.

Please. I want to know you.

I want to know you.

Just a few minutes. Just a few minutes will do.

What the hell are you doing?

You can let go of his hand now, Jenna.

He looks so peaceful.

Yes, he's... he's peaceful.

Yes, Kildare.

Well, sir, I've been looking for a chance to tell the general how much

around here appreciates what you've done for Mrs. Lee, sir.

Now, doctor, don't you think it's about time that you sent your spy back where

you got him? The general has agreed to work with Dr. Miller.

And in a short time, he'll be able to do so as an outpatient.

Not that I need any help.

Don't you, sir?

All right.

I do.

I do. Gives you a sense of power to make me say that, doesn't it?

I suppose you think I'm mad, too.

Oh, as a hatter, sir.

So are you if you don't take that young lady to dinner tonight.

Have you ever thought what an important factor love is in people's lives?

I mean, there's a time for work and a time... Well, that's synchronized our

watches. No, no, I'm being serious.

Why, doctor.

Oh, hey, Maya, about that basketball game Friday.

Get lost.

I'm being proposed to.

Oh. Oh, I'm sorry.

Maya, you do understand that there's more than one kind of love.

How shocking. No, no, I mean love for a mother, love for a brother.

At least we're not related.

Or for a friend.

I was afraid of that one.

No, I'm trying to be serious.

Believe me, I'm doing my best to help you. Maya, I am trying to explain.

Come on, let's love dinner.