Original subtitles

- Do you think a case like that would respond to penicillin?

- The bacteria maybe sensitive, or they may not.

You have to take a swab to know the sensitivity.

- What is the percentage of comparison?

- All right, you've made your diagnosis,

we'll assume it's correct.

What you going to do?

- Operate.

- Every time?

- I think so.

- Yes or no?

- Yes.

- He's an old man with a bad heart.

You're on a ship at sea.

He may die if you go in.

- He'd certainly die if I didn't.

- Don't you think it dangerous to be so certain of yourself?

- I think it's fatal to be undecided.

- What do you make of this?

All right, you may go.

- Pamela.

- I'm so sorry I'm late,

I couldn't get a taxi.

- You're here, that's the main thing.

- They haven't announced the results yet?

- No, not yet.

- The results of the examination for diploma

of Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

The candidates examined today were numbered from 55 to 90.

Only the numbers of the successful candidates,

will be called out.

- What's your number?

- 78.

- Ladies and gentlemen,

please pay attention to your numbers,

and then come forward to the examinations clerk.

The first number, 57.

- Mister Vain ya,

Congratulations, you've passed.

- Thank you.

- 62.

- Miss Patterson,

congratulations, you've passed.

- 77.

That's torn it.

Consecutive numbers never, never come up.

- 78.

- Darling, I shan't be very long.

78.

- I've only got to sign the register and that's all.

- Mister Selwood?

- Yes, sir.

- Congratulations, you've passed.

Thank you, sir.

- Personally, I think it would be a mistake

to commit ourselves on the point

till we get better information.

- Mister Chairman, if Sir Arthur has no objections,

do you think we could get on to the other business?

We've been discussing the sterilisation of blankets

for almost an hour.

I've got a consultation at six o'clock.

- That hardly concerns the board, Mister Isherwood.

- Between Sir Arthur arriving late, and the secretary

taking quarter of an hour to read the minutes,

one might almost think there was a deliberate attempt

to delay proceedings.

- You must watch these delusions of persecution, Isherwood,

there are psychiatrists present.

- Well now, the only remaining item on our agenda,

is the renewal of contract

for Sir Arthur Benson Gray's registrar.

- Well, that needn't detain us very long.

I understand his work has always been very satisfactory,

a very able man.

- Mister Chairman,

as this matter chiefly concerns Sir Arthur,

I think we should hear his views on the subject,

before any others.

- Thank you, Mister Froy, I quite agree.

- I hasten to endorse Mister Isherwood's

favourable opinion of my present assistant.

He's an excellent worker,

We've always got along splendidly.

There's nothing I should like better

than to keep him on for another couple of years.

- Good, that's all, then.

- Unfortunately, my views are not the only factors

we have to consider in the matter.

There's the question of hospital policy.

- Excuse me, Sir Arthur, you're wanted on the telephone.

It's a long distance call from London.

- I am sorry, gentlemen, if you'll excuse me for a minute.

- Philip, Father would like a word with you.

- Who, me?

All right.

Sir Arthur?

- Philip, my dear fellow,

Pamela has just told me the good news.

Congratulations.

- Thank you very much, sir.

I was one of the lucky ones.

- I'd never any real doubt about the results.

You're a very able young man.

Still, one can never be quite sure,

I'm very pleased indeed.

Splendid.

Well, will you put my daughter on for me again, please?

- Yes, yes, of course, here she is.

- Here I am.

No, no special plans, we're ready to leave now.

Well, I think that'd be lovely, I'll ask him.

Father wants to know if you'll come

to dinner tonight to celebrate.

- But darling, we shall be terribly late.

It takes three hours, even if we catch the first train.

Besides, darling, I'd booked-

- He'd love to.

Yes, of course, I will, goodbye.

I'm sorry.

You don't really mind, do you?

- No.

It's only that I thought we might celebrate alone.

- Isn't there anyone else you want to call

to tell your good news?

- No, you're the only one who really cares, except me.

Darling, don't go yet.

Darling, will you marry me?

- I was so terrified you would forget to ask.

- You know, I hadn't meant it to be like this at all.

- No?

- No.

I had pictured something far more romantic.

- Nevermind.

- Does that mean yes?

- Yes.

- When I asked you to the house this evening,

there was something I wanted to talk to you about,

but, well, naturally your news came first.

Well sir, you've got to consider very carefully

what you're going to do now.

This fellowship is only the beginning.

You want a good job and there are plenty of them,

but what you also need is the right job,

and that's not so easy to find.

I know that.

- Well, I have an idea that in the near future something

very suitable may be coming up at the Royal.

My registrar is thinking of a move.

Of course, nothing's certain yet,

but if he does go, well,

what I want to know is, would you be interested?

- Interested?

Well, that's an understatement.

- I'd like to have you working with me.

I've watched you for some time from a distance,

but it would take a certain amount of arranging,

there's going to be a good deal of competition.

Now, if at this stage you became officially engaged

to my daughter, It would be very difficult

to me to bring any influence to bear.

- So you think

we should delay the announcement until afterwards?

- Till some time afterwards,

but perhaps you don't agree?

- It isn't really cold enough yet, but.

Well you are you both looking very solemn.

- Your father's just told me that his registrar

may be leaving,

and he suggested that I might apply for the place.

- Oh, how wonderful!

- But darling, it would mean postponing the engagement.

- The announcement of the engagement.

I couldn't very well sponsor my daughter's fiance.

- What do you think?

- Could I just ask you of something?

This isn't just an attempt to put us off,

hoping that maybe I'll change my mind?

- Pamela hasn't been able to change her mind

since she was two years old,

I see no reason on earth why she should start now.

- I see though why you wanted to get this in

before we opened the champagne.

- Timing, that's always been my strong point.

- I don't get it, we all here for this one registrarship?

I was told there wouldn't be more than three applicants.

- But they've advertised for an anaesthetist as well.

- I would like somebody give us an anaesthetic,

for the waiting.

You are for the surgery I think?

- Yes.

- Did you train at this hospital?

- No, no I didn't train at the Royal,

but I went to the university here,

so I know the hospital pretty well.

- Ah, that's always a good advantage,

to belong to the pack.

If you know nobody, nobody knows you.

- Yes, I suppose that's true.

- It is so.

I tell you, in the last six months,

I am applying for 15 jobs, I am interviewed for four.

It is always the same,

everybody is nervous, everybody's worried,

except one man.

He sits in his corner by himself,

reading a magazine, he gets a job.

After all, it is not surprising.

There are so many of us,

to say, "Who is this man, Romek?"

What sort of name is that?

He's not English, where he is from?

M.D. Krakow.

Did they say Krakow?

That means nothing to us, and why should it, I ask you?

- You shouldn't be so gloomy.

This might be your lucky day.

- Which of you is Selwood?

- I am.

- It's your turn.

- What's it like?

- Pretty grim, it might be worse though.

If you ask me, they have made up their minds already.

- No frankly, it went even better than I'd expected.

- You wanted me, sir?

- Ah, Crabtree, yes, I want you to meet my new assistant,

Mister Selwood.

- How do you do?

- He'll be in a residence,

I thought you might like to show him around the place.

Don't let him worry you with his gossiping,

he knows far too much much about us all,

or thinks he does.

Well, I must go back to the boardroom,

those wretched anaesthetists still waiting to be interviewed.

I'll see you later, Selwood.

- Goodbye sir.

- You know the old boy?

- Yeah, I've been to his house a few times,

I know his daughter.

- Well, that's a good start.

- What's he like to work with?

- Not so bad, but like an old woman, jumpy sometimes,

but he's a wonderful man, as that always makes life easier.

- Have a fag?

- Oh, sorry there's only one left.

- Here, have one of mine.

- Thanks very much.

Perhaps we'd better have a look at the old mausoleum,

where would you like to start?

I can tell you one person who'll be glad you're living in.

- Who? - Me.

I may get some time off for a change.

- That's the new registrar, isn't it?

- News travels fast in the Royal.

Now, this is known as Isherwood's joy.

No, not her, she's nobody's joy.

How are you dear?

Sister Lucas, this is Mister Selwood,

he's joining our happy band as Sir Arthur's assistant.

- How do you do, Sister?

- Splendid, I hope you like it here.

- Thank you.

- Show the gentleman your magic eye.

- Oh yes, we're very proud of that,

our private television camera.

You see, it works like a periscope.

You can get a really close picture in that mirror.

Now this lens gives you a wider angle,

it goes out on a closed circuit, of course,

to the viewing room.

- What a wonderful thing for your students.

- Yes, not like sitting up in the gallery

where all you get is a view of the surgeon's behind.

- Are you ready for us, sister?

- I shall be ready Mister Maddox,

you're not due here for another half hour.

- Mister Maddox, Mister Selwood.

- How do you do?

- Yes, you'll be Sir Arthur's new registrar.

My boss, Neil Isherwood mentioned you the other day.

He said he thought Sir Arthur had his eye on you.

Why don't you hang around.

I've got rather a tricky abdominal coming up,

might be fun to watch.

Neil won't mind.

- Tricky abdominal, his master's voice,

he's even beginning to look like Isherwood.

And here we have Lord Roderick our patron saint.

The Royal hasn't been the same since he died.

Sir Arthur tries to run the place

in a high old fashioned

with frock coat, Havana cigars,

carnations in the buttonhole and all.

It's tough work with Isherwood

and the no nonsense boys snapping in his heels,

and yapping about science all the time.

- It's pretty much the same everywhere nowadays, isn't it?

- Hmm, a wall between the dodos and the spacemen.

Gets a bit hectic and there are times,

last term some of Isherwood's students

crowned Arnold Roderick with a jury.

Hence the glass case.

Poor old dodos it seems kind of symbolic.

- Tell me, is Maddox one of the spacemen?

- One of the first alone.

- Really?

- Personally, I'd advise you to stay neutral,

but I don't suppose you will,

you don't look the neutral type.

- Mister Crabtree, a Sister would like to see you

about those requisitions.

- Oh Greenwood, take over for me will you?

I was just showing Mister Selwood around.

He's Sir Arthur's new registrar.

- How do you do?

- Greenwood's one of our house surgeons,

he'll take you through the wards,

that should just plan finish it.

Thanks so much, thank you.

Nice to have you with us.

- Come on nurse.

- Thank you very much.

- Good morning doctor.

- Hello Missus Judson.

How's the work going?

- It's almost done.

Now we only have to pay for the chairs

and find a house to put them in.

- May I?

Did you do the design yourself?

- Oh goodness no, it's an old one.

I found it in a book.

- It's beautiful.

- By the way, this is Mister Selwood.

You'll be seeing a great deal of him.

He'll be working with Sir Arthur.

- Do you think he might speak to Sir Arthur,

put in a good word for me?

- Well I should think so,

after all, you'll be his patient as well you know.

- I'm glad.

- This way, Mister Selwood.

- What's the problem?

- She wants you to operate.

- And the diagnosis?

- Heart, septal defect.

Risky business.

But what's the alternative for a girl like that?

- There's a husband I gather, any kids?

- Hmm-mm, they've only been married a few months.

He's a teacher down at the grammar school, nice bloke.

- If Sir Arthur isn't keen to operate himself,

why doesn't he call in somebody else?

- There isn't anyone else on that level around here,

except Isherwood.

- Well what about him?

- Isherwood? - Hmm.

- Sir Arthur would just as soon call in the devil.

- Will you come inside please?

- Darling, I couldn't wait for you to ring, how did it go?

- How did it go?

- The interview!

- Oh yes, I got the job.

- You did!

- Oh by the way have you two met?

- Yes we have met, how are you Mister Greenwood?

- Fine thanks.

Well if you think you've had enough?

- Yes yes, I think I have thanks.

- Good, then I'll shove off, it's my half day.

Goodbye Miss Benson Grey.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye Mister Selwood.

- Goodbye, Greenwood.

- Darling what's the matter, didn't you want me to come?

- Yes, of course I wanted you to come.

Come on, let's get out of here.

- Mister Selwood, oh I'm sorry I interrupted.

- Oh no not at all, Mister?

- Romek.

- Romek, yes I'm sorry this is Miss Benson Grey.

- How do you do?

- Well, there's no need to ask how you got on.

- No, it's amazing, there I sit, I have no hope,

I think it's a wash out like usual.

But suddenly a door opens, a man comes in and says,

"Mister Romek?"

That's it, I got it.

- There you are, you see I told you were wrong

about your luck and everything else.

- Yes, that's true.

- Look, why don't you come

and have a drink with us, to celebrate?

- I'm so sorry, I would like that so much,

but I must catch the train to London.

You will not be offended, Miss Grey?

- No, of course not.

- Goodbye.

- What was the job he got?

- He's an anaesthetist, from Poland or somewhere.

- He cut himself shaving.

You let him answer.

- You did it shaving, just like I said, didn't you Duff?

- Just like my mate said.

I did it shaving.

- Funny place to be shaving wasn't it, up an alley?

- Well I'll grant you that mate,

the light was shocking.

- Will it leave much of a scar doc?

- With any luck, you'll be hem-stitched for life.

- Get the information you wanted.

How's it going?

- Fine.

I wish I could carve like that.

- Any sign of our new anaesthetist yet, Doctor Romek?

I wonder what's happened to him.

He should have arrived this morning.

- Well he won't last long.

The head of department is already gunning for him.

- McBain, why?

- He had the job lined up for a friend of his.

Sir Arthur had okayed it,

but then of course Isherwood wouldn't play.

- Yeah, you get any more blood on this shirt

and I'm gonna sue this hospital.

- Quiet.

In the end, the committee had to give it to this character,

Romek, who nobody wanted.

- Oh here he is.

- Good morning, Sir.

- Good morning.

Good morning, Selwood.

Good morning, Greenwood.

- Good morning, Sir.

- Well gentlemen, here we are again.

I can see you have your notebook

at the ready Mister Wittigrew.

- Yes sir.

- Last Thursday you spent so much time making notes,

that I doubt very much that you heard a word I was saying.

If you take my advice, you'll put the notebook away,

and that gentlemen goes for all of you.

Keep your eyes on the patients,

that's what the teaching round is for.

Well, who am I teaching on this morning?

- Gall bladder, a thoracic resection, a kidney, and-

- No patients?

- I'm sorry sir, I meant-

- I know what you meant.

But there are some people around here

who like to think of patients as living test tubes.

I may be old-fashioned,

but I prefer to think of them as human beings.

What a lovely day.

Seems a pity we should have to spend the

best part of it in the shades of ladder house.

And of course breathing exercises over

the period of convalescence.

You can put his pyjama jacket on now, nurse.

I don't think we need add to the young man's troubles,

by giving him pneumonia.

Well, I think that's about all for today gentlemen.

I won't detain you any longer.

- Good day Sir.

Thank you, Sister.

- Good day, Sir Arthur.

- All right, let's go and have

a cup of Sister's chlorinated coffee.

- You said you'd have a word with Missus Judson, Sir.

- Missus Judson?

Yes.

- Without the operation, can I have children?

- No, with your heart condition a pregnancy might be fatal.

- But if I had the operation, and it was a success?

- If it were a success.

- Well there's no question,

I want you to take the risk.

It's my life.

- Yes, but it's my responsibility.

After all, you're not the only person I have to consider.

- I know that.

Fred and I have only been together for a short while,

but it's too late now for the second best,

I want to be a real wife to him.

I want to keep house and have children,

even if Fred's willing

to settle with something less, I'm not.

Can you honestly tell me that I should?

- That's really not a very fair question

to put to your surgeon,

but I promise you,

I'll think it over, I'll weigh it in the balance

with all the other factors and then I'll give you

the only answer that I can give you, a clinical one.

As you see, the heart has enlarged appreciably

in the last six months.

Blood is leaking back

so that the auricle can't empty properly.

My original idea was to go in and sew it up.

- It seems the thing to do.

- You think so?

- If we leave her, what has she got?

- Ten years, perhaps more if she's careful and lucky.

- Ten good years?

- You're young Philip, you ask too much.

- I'd operate.

- Just like that,

without qualms?

- No, but I'd operate.

- It would mean emptying the heart, working dry.

- If we use one of the cooling techniques

that shouldn't bother us too much.

- Philip, the longer you practise surgery,

the more difficult these decisions become.

Your mind gets full of nightmares.

You begin remembering your mistakes

instead of forgetting them.

- Ah Selwood, they're calling you from the theatre,

about next week's list.

- What should I say, sir?

- Tell them I haven't made up my mind yet,

and I don't like to be hurried.

- Hope you left me some coffee.

- There's plenty left, it's poisonous.

- Ah, very interesting, one of yours I suppose?

- Yes.

- That's just my cup of tea.

You wouldn't like to arrange a swap?

I could offer you a very nice double varicose vein

in exchange for your heart.

- No thanks.

- You're gonna operate of course.

- Do you see any alternative?

- No, quite frankly I don't,

but then it's not my case is it?

- No, it's not your case.

- Oh there you are, I've just been up to your room.

- Well I'm not on till eight, what's wrong?

- Nothing's wrong.

The old man's been trying to get you on the blower.

He wants you to call him.

- What's it about, you know?

- He's decided to do it, he's taking the plunge.

- Missus Judson?

Marvellous.

Oh by the way Carl,

you'd better take this along with you.

It's our plan for the operation.

We'll have a chat about it when you've studied it.

- I wonder if I might speak to you now about another matter?

- Well yes, of course, go ahead.

- I wish to ask you a favour.

- Well, carry on.

- Well, I wish to borrow some money.

- Well I dare say it can be arranged.

How much do you want, a fiver?

- 50 pounds.

- 50?

- It is for nothing frivolous.

Believe me my whole life is at stake.

I need this money to pay a debt.

- Gambling?

- No, a debt to a woman.

- Oh, the lady you were trying to avoid

the night you arrived?

- Yes, Elizabeth.

- Your wife?

- Oh no, not my wife.

- Oh, I see.

- No, I don't think you see.

You don't know the circumstances.

I met this girl, she is not really a girl, of course,

when I was living in London.

She is not very pretty, but she's quite nice.

It was a couple of years ago.

- You mean now she is not so nice.

- No, it is very difficult, you understand.

I borrowed this money from her.

- The 50 quid?

- No, 200.

- 200, Carl?

- What could I do?

In England I can not work unless I am on the medical register.

And that costs money to study for the examination.

When I got a job, I start to pay her back.

- Then what went wrong?

- Before I come to the Royal was out of work

for six months, I couldn't pay.

- But surely Carl, if she cares for you.

- Oh she doesn't care for me anymore.

She wants to ruin me, she hates me.

- But why?

- She thinks I made love to her only for the money.

- Could that be true, by any chance?

- It is a little true.

- Have you spoken to her lately?

- Last night on the telephone.

She says she's coming here.

I don't know what to do.

- Pay the lady Carl.

It's the only thing you can do.

- You mean, you are going to give me the money?

- Lend it to you.

How much do you owe her all together?

- One hundred and twenty,

but it is only the 50 pounds that matter now,

if I give that back,

she would not make me any trouble.

- Well, I hope you're right Carl,

'cause that's my limit.

- I don't know how to thank you.

It's such a great thing.

- It's 50 quid.

- I'm afraid you will have to go now, Mister Judson.

- I ought to be going anyway.

I've got a class at nine.

Well,

be good.

- You be good.

I'm glad you'll be at school.

I didn't want you hanging around here worrying.

- I'll be back sweetheart,

just as soon as they let me.

- So will I.

- No more ice.

I think she should be sufficiently cool now.

- Good morning, Sir.

- Morning, good morning.

- You're looking very fit, Sir.

- Thank you, I always am.

Well, are we all set?

- Yes, Sir.

- They understand just what they have to do

about that ice I hope.

I've been over all the details with McBain and Romek.

They've got it taped.

- Good.

I'd rather you didn't smoke

that filthy pipe in here, Greenwood.

- I'm sorry, Sir.

- God knows they've had precise enough instructions.

It ought to go like clockwork.

- We'll find you a place near the screen.

- Well, I'd rather stay somewhere back here, just in case.

- Here?

Is this all right?

- Yes, thank you.

- I thought I'd like to watch, if you don't mind.

- Not at all.

- Would you care to scrub up, sir?

- Mister Isherwood is not assisting.

- I'll watch a master, won't I?

- It has a hole in it.

- Sorry, Sir.

- Ready for you, Sir.

- Thank you, Greenwood.

- On this operation,

we are obliged to stop the flow of blood

through the heart completely.

Now at normal body temperature,

circulation cannot be interrupted

for more than three to four minutes,

without causing fatal damage to the brain.

But, if the temperature is radically lowered,

the length of time in which the heart may be out of action,

can be extended up to 10 minutes.

And that should give us just about enough time,

when we have reached the heart,

to open it and mend the defect.

Doctor McBain, if you and Doctor Romek

are satisfied with the patient's condition,

we would like to proceed.

Would you please give us your readings.

- Temperature 28.1 degrees, blood pressure 116,

pulse rate 60.

I will now make my incision.

Mop.

We have now got a really wide exposure of the heart.

We are securing main vessels and shutting off now.

Veins.

In a few more seconds,

the heart will be empty and almost stopped beating.

For all intents, our patient will be dead.

Arteries.

From the moment the circulation is arrested,

we will have about 10 minutes

in which to complete the procedure.

Doctor McBain will keep check on the time.

We're through now, working right inside the heart.

I can see the hole in the wall of the chamber.

It's going to be a bit awkward to deal with such a-

Another.

- You've got five minutes now.

- Hurry up, Sister.

Damn it, the needle.

Not now, not now.

- Four minutes.

- I think it might be easier from this side, Sir.

- All right you take it.

- Suture.

- Three minutes.

- Go on, tell them what you're doing.

- We've got the hole almost closed.

It's come together very nicely.

Now, it's just a question

of stitching the outer wall.

Suture.

When we've done that,

we can set the blood circulation going again.

That's it.

Yes that's the one.

Another.

Another, quickly.

- You've got 30 seconds left.

- One more.

- You should be out now.

- Scissors.

I am out.

Take off the clamps.

- You can come back to the ward, now.

- How does she look?

- Wonderful, she's in terrific shape.

- Don't overdo it Greenwood.

You mean she's still alive?

- Well done, Selwood.

A very pretty job.

- It wasn't my operation.

- No, not officially, but you did the touchy part.

Did you know, Benson Grey was gonna hand over.

- He didn't hand over.

It just happened that I was in the best position to cope.

At that stage in the operation, it was convenient.

- Most convenient.

- Yes, I'm beginning to think that there is some point

in having a registrar after all.

- That's funny, they said he was home.

- Yes, who is it?

- All right, thank you.

- What time is it?

- The time you said.

- Oh darling, I'm terribly sorry.

I fell asleep.

- It doesn't matter.

So this is where you live, it's very nice.

- You like it?

- We'll you'd better get dressed,

hadn't you, if we're going the dance?

- Darling, we're not going to the dance.

That's what I'm sorry about.

I meant to telephone you,

but you see Missus Judson

hasn't come out of the anaesthetic yet,

and I don't like to leave the hospital until she does.

- Well, she's all right though?

- Oh yes, she's all right, there's nothing wrong.

- Philip?

What would have happened this morning

if you hadn't been there?

- Somebody would have been there.

That's what assistants are for.

Aren't you angry with me?

- Why should I be?

- Well it's usual in a case like this, isn't it?

I mean, here you are all dressed up and everything.

- I dress up for you, not for the dance.

- I don't believe it.

- It's true.

- I mean, I can't believe you're real.

Girls like you just don't exist anymore.

Aren't you afraid of losing the vote?

- No.

I think independence is rather like money.

When you've always had plenty, you're happy to give it away.

- Can I quote you five years from now?

- 50, I hope.

I thought this sort of thing

was forbidden in residents quarters?

- Strictly.

Hello?

Yes.

Oh, has she? Good.

How is she?

Splendid.

Yes, all right, I'll be right there.

That was ward Sister about Missus Judson.

She's awake now.

You won't go away, will you?

- Do I look as if I would?

- Are you pleased with me?

- If we'd known you were as tough as this,

we'd have operated weeks ago.

- How nice.

- You're practically surgeon-proof.

- Can I go home soon?

- Oh no, you mustn't be too impatient.

If you go on like this,

it shouldn't be too long.

Nurse, you can let Mister Judson

have another five minutes to say good night.

Sir Arthur will be around to see you in the morning.

I want you to have a good night's rest.

Good night.

- Thank you, very much.

- Congratulations.

There's no need for me to tell you how lucky you are.

Thank you.

- Thank you.

- Congratulations.

- Don't congratulate me, I'm a very selfish old man.

I'd have made them wait a long time, if I could.

- Nonsense, it was a masterstroke.

You had a registrar, and I now you have a son,

much more permanent,

and the succession is secured.

Well I'm sure you'll be happy Selwood,

if you do have father-in-law trouble,

well, you can come and work for me, eh?

- Oh, put those things down.

Come and sit over here, bring a couple of those glasses.

Look what I managed to salvage from the wreck.

- You know you've had your quota.

- No, champagne you won't hurt me.

Besides, this is a very special occasion.

Tell me darling,

are you really happy, about you and Philip, I mean?

- Hmm, yes very.

And what about you?

- Oh, I shall manage.

Besides, losing daughters is one

of the occupational hazards of being a father.

Now I only wanted to delay the engagement,

until Philip was settled in.

Now, I think you ought to get married as soon as you can.

- Aren't you afraid they'll accuse you

of wanting to found a dynasty?

- I'm quite sure that Isherwood will call it that.

All that doesn't matter now.

In fact,

let's drink to it.

To the dynasty.

- Carl, what are you doing down here this time of the night?

- I get something out of my locker.

- Pamela and I were very disappointed

you couldn't get there this evening.

It was a good party.

The old boy did us proud.

- I understand I have to congratulate you.

- My dear chap, you don't have to.

- But I want to.

You are a most fortunate man.

- What's the matter Carl? - Something's happened.

- It's Elizabeth, she's here, in the city.

She came to the hospital tonight, I just got rid of her.

I don't know what to do.

- You're wasting your time Mister Selwood.

I want my money, and I want it now.

- Miss Fallon, I can understand your impatience.

- Can you now, I wonder?

Before you go on, I'd like to get one or two things clear.

Where do you stand in all this, for instance?

How do you come into it?

Don't tell me that he owes you money, too.

So that's where he got the 50 pounds.

Perhaps you'd like to lend him some more.

- You don't seem to realise

how difficult things are in the medical profession.

- The medical profession?

What about me?

I'm not made of money either you know.

I lent Carl my savings out of the kindness of my heart.

When I first met him, he was down and out,

he couldn't even pay his rent.

I took pity on him, and this is what I get.

And it's just not good enough.

If he doesn't pay up straight away,

I'll not only have him thrown out of the hospital,

but out of the country as well.

- Are you sure you're being quite honest with yourself

about your motives in all this?

You put up a fine show of being aggrieved,

and wanting your rights and so on.

Perhaps you believe it.

But you know, to an outsider like me,

it looks rather like personal malice.

- Are you trying to suggest that I'm jealous or something?

Listen Mister Selwood, if I even thought

that I could be jealous of a man like that,

I'd put my head straight in the gas oven.

I can just see him with all those nurses.

He can fool around with as many as he likes,

and it won't worry me one little bit.

But I won't have him spending my money on them.

You can tell him that,

and tell him that the next time

he has anything to say to me, to come and say it himself,

and not send some stooge.

And if you want a piece of advice,

steer clear of Romek while you can.

I read the newspaper this morning.

You're a quite becoming young man,

marrying the boss's daughter and all that.

You can't afford to have friends like Romek.

He takes dope.

- It's not true, I swear to you.

- But Carl, she would hardly make up a thing like that.

Why should she?

- I tell you why, it's like all her lies.

There's just enough behind it to make it damaging.

- Then there is something in it.

- I tell you, and you have to believe me.

- God knows Carl, I want to believe you.

- All right, it was at the, in the camp.

We had to clear down woods.

I had an accident.

A tree fell on me, it jerked my back.

At first they made me go and work.

But even say so, it was impossible.

So because I was a qualified doctor,

to make me an orderly in the infirmary.

I was in pain, I couldn't sleep.

Can you imagine what it means

to lie awake night after night in a place like that?

So I start to steal the drugs,

not morphine, they are too careful with that.

But the ordinary sleeping drugs, the barbiturates.

I become to depend on it.

I'm not ashamed you know.

Without the drugs I could not have lived.

And I wanted to live.

- Carl, I'm not blaming you for what you did.

Nobody could.

But what about afterwards?

- I knew that I had to stop, if I was going to find a job.

You broke the habit?

- It was very hard at first,

but the army hospital I went was very good.

They were very kind to me.

- So you told the authorities?

- Yes in confidence, you understand.

I was there for three months,

then I was passed as fit.

They sent me away.

- Well, how did Elizabeth get to know?

- I was very foolish.

It was at a time and there was so much delay

about my registration.

I wondered if the authorities perhaps,

disclosed about the business

of the drugs to the medical council.

I discussed the possibility with her.

Has she ever threatened you like this before?

- Once or twice, but until now, she has not told anybody,

so far as I know.

Would you think she might?

- She told you.

- Yes, then she knows I'm your friend.

- She would not hesitate to tell an enemy.

- Two gentlemen callers.

I have to watch my reputation in this hotel.

You can come in for a moment.

Now, what was it that you wanted to say to me

that you felt you couldn't say in the restaurant?

- To know if we have to go on being bad friends,

just because I owe you money.

- There's always one way of changing that,

by paying up.

Can you think of any other way?

- No.

- I thought that you had some other idea in mind.

- No.

- Then why did you come back here?

Why did you take me out in the first place

and give me a lot to drink?

I'll tell you why.

Then you won't have to lie.

It was a last resort,

everything else had failed.

You thought that if you turned on the charm again,

and looked at me with those bedroom eyes,

I'd go all weak at the knees like I used to.

- That's not true, I only wanted-

- You wanted me to fall for the act.

The trouble is, it wasn't convincing enough or,

perhaps you've forgotten how.

Well, the next time you want to kiss and make up,

try holding my hand in the taxi and not flinching away

because I accidentally happened to touch your knee.

- Stop it, stop it Elizabeth.

- Don't touch me.

Don't dare to touch me now.

I dare say you would have proposed

before the evening was out.

Well, I'm not interested.

You hear that, I'm not interested.

I'm not ready to pay for a man yet,

and when I am it won't be one like you,

you dirty scrounger.

- Hello sister.

What's all this going on?

Looks like a civil defence exercise.

- You wouldn't think they were only two cars,

and they slap into each other.

It's a wonder no one was killed,

most of them only minor injuries.

- Well what's your worry then?

- The abdominal.

- The what sister?

- The woman in there.

Mister Greenwood thinks she has an abdominal injury.

- Oh well I'd better have a look at her then.

- You won't find her very cooperative.

- She'd been drinking.

- They all have.

Husbands driving all of the cars.

- How's he?

- He got away with a few bruises, typical.

That's him over there, talking to the policeman.

- Couldn't see a thing, he didn't dim his lights,

they were on full.

My wife will swear to that, you ask her.

- I'll talk to him later, I won't waste his time here.

Would you have her sent up to the ward?

Get her ready for an examination.

I think you'd better stay with her, nurse.

- Yes, Mister Selwood.

- Hello sister.

- What do you think it is?

- Well, I'm not sure, ruptured spleen, I should say.

Ruptured something anyway,

but I can't be absolutely certain until I've opened her up.

I should want the theatre in about 20 minutes.

- I'll tell theatre Sister right away.

- Fine, Mister Greenwood can set up the blood transfusion

in the anaesthetics room.

- Shall I call Doctor Romek?

- Will you?

Say I want to start about 1:30.

- Operator, give me Doctor Romek, please.

Doctor Romek?

- 107.

Good evening Mister Selwood.

- Good evening Sister,

or should I say good morning?

- Yes.

- We seem to be keeping you very busy these days.

- It's better than sitting up all night doing nothing.

- Is she under yet?

- Shouldn't be long now.

- I had a very tiresome interview with the husband.

- He was pickled wasn't he?

- About half and half.

He wanted me to tell the police

that he was completely sober.

- He's got a nerve.

- What on earth is Romek doing in there?

He ought to be able to get her under quicker than this.

- Perhaps I, perhaps I delayed him with the blood.

- What's the matter?

You two chaps been having a scrap?

- No, of course not.

Morning Doc,

sorry to get you out of bed this early.

Very well, if you don't want to talk, let's get on with it.

All right then.

- Knife Sister.

And that takes care of that.

- Neat, but not gaudy, a good diagnosis.

- My back feels as though it were broken,

must be old age creeping on.

Would you do the bandaging for me?

- Yes, of course.

- Thanks.

There's nothing else to worry about,

except to keep the transfusion going.

How's the pulse rate now, Romek?

- Steady and strong.

- The blood pressure?

- It will be all right.

- All right, then I'll leave it to you, gentlemen.

Thank you very much, everybody.

Good night.

- Good night. - Good night, sir.

- Good night. - Good night.

- See you tomorrow. - Okay.

- Hello. - Philip?

- Yes.

Greenwood here.

Could you come down to the surgery room right away?

- What's the matter?

- I can't tell you over the phone.

- Okay, I'll be right there.

- I haven't touched him except to make sure he's alive.

- Good job you called me and nobody else.

- If I hadn't left my cigarettes down here

I might not have found him.

What do you think happened?

- I haven't the faintest idea.

Get some stimulant, John.

- I thought it wouldn't have much effect.

He's too deep.

I found that in his pocket.

- Do you think he was trying to kill himself?

- No, he's too used to the stuff,

only this time he went just a little bit too far.

- Used to the stuff?

- Yeah.

That's neither here nor there.

Look Johnny, what we're gonna do now

is to get him out of here and get him back to his room

before the rest of the hospital finds out.

Go and get a trolley, will you, quick.

- Sorry to bother you, Sister.

But I think perhaps you should come

and have a look at Missus Weston.

- What's the matter with her?

She was well enough when they brought her up.

- Her breathing!

It's very shallow.

- Hello, operator, Yes Sister.

- Give me Mister Selwood please, 104.

There's no answer for Mister Selwood's number.

- Then ring Mister Greenwood in 118,

and put up a flash for Mister Selwood.

- Okay? - Yeah.

- Well, that's that.

Best thing we can do now is to leave him to sleep it off.

- I'll stay with him, if you like.

- No, there's no point.

He's out like a light,

and he'll be that way for about six hours.

- Wouldn't mind staying.

See I can't help feeling in a way, responsible.

- Responsible?

- I shouldn't have left him alone after the operation.

I knew something was wrong.

He was behaving rather oddly earlier on

in the anaesthetics room.

- Why didn't you tell me?

- I suppose I should have.

Then he seemed to settle down all right,

to the job I mean.

I didn't like to say anything.

Especially about a chap like Romek.

He's had it pretty tough you know, one way and another.

- Yes I know.

Of course you know we can't sit on this forever.

The consultants will have to be told,

and Romek will have to be taken off duty.

I'll talk to Sir Arthur, first thing in the morning.

In the meantime, it'd be better

if you don't say anything to anybody.

- No, of course not.

- There's one thing,

he will have a good night's rest.

Come on, let's get this thing out of here.

But if you do meet anybody pretend it was some sort of joke.

- Okay.

- And thanks old lad, you've been a bloody marvel.

- Mister Selwood!

Mister Selwood, thank goodness.

We've been trying to get you for 20 minutes,

we couldn't find Mister Greenwood either.

- Why nurse, what's the trouble?

- It's your operation case,

she's suddenly started to go down.

Sister thinks you ought to come along at once.

- Yes, who is it?

Night Sister, for you.

- Mister Selwood, is that you?

- Yes.

- I've been trying to reach you-

- Yes, I know, nurse is with me now.

She's told me about Missus Weston.

How is she?

- She's dead, Mister Selwood.

She died about five minutes ago.

- Well, one thing is certain,

since the woman never came round from the anaesthetic,

we can't avoid an inquest.

- I don't know what to say, except that I'm sorry.

I was so taken up with Romek,

that I completely forget to them where I was.

- Well that should have been automatic, a reflex.

- Yes I know.

I'm not trying to make excuses.

- Well, the circumstances are unusual I will admit.

Well with any luck we may pull you through.

If we play our cards properly.

Now we'd better go and see Froy.

- Froy?

- You may not like our secretary,

I'll admit he's no great charmer.

So, fortunately we're not required to love our allies,

only to recognise them.

- You realise what Weston's lawyers' will try to suggest?

- Certainly.

But if I'd been on hand when they first called for me,

she might have lived.

- Could that be true?

- That's impossible to say, Froy.

- Well, as far as I can see,

the only way to get through this inquest,

without having the whole matter thrashed out in open court,

is to promise an inquiry of our own.

At least it'll take the matter

out of the hands of the authorities.

- If someone has to be thrown to the lions,

the first thing to do is to make sure

that the lions are tame.

- Listen, listen.

After expressing his satisfaction

with a verdict of accidental death,

the coroner, Mister William Digby,

made the following comment.

"Though there is no reason to suppose

on the medical evidence that the life

of this unfortunate woman could have been saved,

it is extremely important

that the public should be reassured.

I consider the hospital well-advised

in deciding to hold an inquiry,

and I shall be interested to see the report

"as soon as it is available."

Old Froy's done it again,

out of the frying pan and out of the fire.

- I wouldn't be so sure of that.

- Why not?

- Well they were forced to promise

that the findings of the inquiry should be made public.

- A few lines on the back page of the West Midland Report

won't make all that difference.

- Yeah, it depends what they say.

- Considering somebody's head's got to fall,

you must be certain it's not going to be yours.

- That's a lousy thing to say.

- Let's face it, the profession's overcrowded.

We're like survivors in their raft,

too many for the biscuits.

When one of us falls in, it's got its bright side.

- Why should your refusal to resign

be an embarrassment to Sir Arthur?

- Because, since the postmortem and the inquest,

they cannot longer prove that the death of the woman

would be an anaesthetic case.

And now is to be an inquiry.

- I'm sorry Carl, but I don't see the connection.

- Don't you?

Don't you really?

Then I will tell you.

A mistake has been made, everybody knows it.

Somebody must be blamed, not you of course.

You are young, you are English,

you are going to marry Sir Arthur's daughter, who then?

I'm not so young,

I'm not going to marry someone's daughter.

I'm a bloody foreigner, nobody knows or cares about it.

It would suit everybody very nice,

if I would pack up and go away,

and they could blame me for everything.

- Listen Carl, I happen not to agree with you

about Sir Arthur, and the others,

but that's beside the point, I can't speak for them.

But I can speak for myself.

Carl, you've been taking those drugs again, regularly,

haven't you?

Carl, you won't be telling me anything

that I don't already know.

But I've got to have it from you,

otherwise I can't help you.

- You can't help me.

Nobody can.

Not anymore.

- Carl,

supposing I knew of a place that you could go to,

where you'd be looked after,

and they would cure you once and for all.

You know after all, you can't expect

to be allowed to practise at the Royal or anywhere else

for that matter, until you're cured.

- Where do you want to send me?

- Carl, I don't want to send you anywhere.

I can't make you go,

but I was thinking of Fartown Manor.

Have you heard of it?

- Yes,

I've have heard of it.

- It's the only way, Carl.

You know yourself, it must be.

And it won't be so bad.

After all you are a doctor.

- Yes, I understand.

So try to make it easy for me,

but I couldn't face that again.

- But what's the alternative?

If you go on like this,

you're bound to end up in the hands of the police.

In the long run you'll get caught pinching something,

or writing out a phoney prescription,

and then nobody can save you.

Oh for God's sake Carl,

you don't want to go to prison do you?

- All right,

I'll do whatever you say.

Come on.

- I'm really very sorry about this.

It's most unlike Sir Arthur.

He's never late.

- I gather he doesn't often have to travel by train.

- Gentlemen, forgive me, forgive me, forgive me.

I must apologise.

But you must blame British Railways.

- We guessed it was something like that.

Hope you're keeping well.

- Thank you, sir.

Not as well as one might be perhaps,

but one keeps going, that's the main thing.

I'm afraid some of my juniors

must think it rather inconsiderate of me.

- Sir Arthur, this is Colonel Langley.

- Ah, from the Ministry.

- How do you do, Sir Arthur?

- Mister Selwood, we're ready for you now.

- Well I'll see you afterwards.

- Good luck.

- Thanks.

- Mister Selwood, the committee's waiting.

- Now Mister Selwood, you know of course why we are here.

- I think so, sir.

- We've been asked by the Board of Governors

to investigate certain circumstances,

surrounding the death,

following an operation in this hospital of a Missus Weston.

Now, of course this isn't a court of law.

Nobody's on trial for anything.

Nobody's under oath.

We can't compel you to answer our question.

We're simply here to find out the truth,

and if anything wrong occurred,

we want to prevent it from happening again.

I quite understand, sir.

- Good, perhaps the the best way

would be for you to start,

by giving us your own account of what happened

on the night in question.

And from the beginning please.

- Doctor Romek was unconscious.

Mister Greenwood and I carried him back to his room,

and put him to bed.

The whole thing can't have lasted more than 20 minutes,

but by the time they finally got hold of me,

the patient had died.

- Mister Selwood, we want to ask you a few questions

to amplify this statement of yours.

But before we start, let me remind you

that it's vital that you tell us everything

as fully and as accurately as you can.

It would be very wrong of you if you only told us

what you thought we ought to know.

- I'll tell you any facts I know that are relevant.

- Very well, first of all about

this illness of Doctor Romek,

did you form any conclusions

as to its causes and its nature?

Well?

- I formed no conclusions.

- Well, some opinion then.

- I'm sorry sir, I'm not prepared to express opinions,

only to give you my answers when I can on questions of fact.

- Perhaps you'll tell us whether you subsequently

discovered that Doctor Romek was suffering

from a self-administered overdose of drugs?

- I consider that question irrelevant to the point of issue.

- Well, I repeat my question.

- Excuse me, Mister Chairman.

- Yes, Sir Arthur.

- I'm sure that none of us here

wishes to lose sight of human values.

Mister Selwood quite naturally does not want

to say anything that might

incriminate one of his colleagues.

Most of us, I think understand his feelings.

It is after all professional etiquette.

Surely we can avoid placing him in this awkward position.

- I don't see how.

- There is the confidential report.

- Your report.

- Signed, also by Doctor McBain.

- Well, yes of course, we do have the written report,

so perhaps as Sir Arthur says, there's really no need.

- I don't agree.

My view is that we should take our information

from as many sources as possible.

- I take it Colonel Langley feels

that the Ministry would prefer-

- A complete investigation.

- Well, in that case we better approach the problem

from another angle.

Would you mind Mister Selwood,

telling us something about the condition

of the patient when you first saw her.

- Before the operation, she was very ill.

- Well, would you say she was dying?

She would have died if we hadn't operated.

But afterwards, so when she left the theatre.

- I left her in the theatre.

Her pulse was fairly high, 110,

but it was steady and the volume was good.

Her blood pressure was only a little below normal,

and the transfusion was still running in.

- In other words the operation had gone well,

I mean you were happy about it?

Yes.

- And the anaesthetic, what about that?

- It was perfectly satisfactory.

- Do you think the death of this woman

could be attributed in any way to the anaesthetic,

or the way in which the anaesthetic was administered?

- That is impossible to say.

- Why do you think the patient died?

- I don't know.

The postmortem showed a failure of the heart.

But no one can say with any degree of certainty,

why the heart should have failed.

- Mister Chairman, my I ask one or two questions?

- Yes, yes, yes.

- There's been a great deal of talk, loose talk,

about Doctor Romek, and his indisposition.

Now, precisely what duties did he perform?

- He gave the anaesthetic,

and he helped Mister Greenwood put up the transfusion.

Nothing more?

- No sir.

- Now you've just told us

you were quite satisfied with the anaesthetic?

Yes, sir.

- Now, what about the blood transfusion?

- I was quite satisfied with that, too.

- Would you say that Doctor Romek's illness

had anything to do with the death of your patient?

- Mister Chairman?

- Yes.

- Surely, it would be quite improper for Mister Selwood

to answer that question.

The relevance, or otherwise, of Doctor Romek's illness

to the death of the patient

is something for the committee alone to decide.

- Yes, I agree.

Mister Selwood, you need not reply to that.

- Mister Chairman?

Yes, Colonel Langley.

- I think we should have Mister Selwood's answer.

If he can give his considered medical opinion

about Missus Weston, he can give it about Doctor Romek.

- I protest, Mister Chairman.

We might just as well not sit here, at all,

if we're going to ask the witness to give evidence

on anything but the one matter

which this board has met to decide.

I submit that Mister Isherwood's question

is entirely out of order.

- In that case, perhaps I might be permitted

to put a question of my own.

- Well, of course.

- Thank you.

Mister Selwood, this whole affair hinges on one point,

and we all know what that is.

Now we have a report before us, signed by Sir Arthur,

in which he states that this woman died

as the result of your anaesthetist, Doctor Romek,

being under the influence of drugs

when he gave the anaesthetic.

- I didn't know about the report.

- Well, you know now.

As the person best qualified

under the circumstances, to judge,

do you agree with Sir Arthur's report?

- No.

I do not agree.

- Thank you.

Now that seems to dispose of the main question.

- Excuse me, sir.

May I make a statement now on my own account?

- Well I'm not sure whether that would be in order,

as a witness.

- If Mister Selwood has anything further to say,

we should hear it.

- Thank you, sir.

I told the committee that I don't know

why Missus Weston died.

That is true.

Personally, I think it's impossible to say.

But I do know that I was the surgeon in charge of the case.

She was my patient, and my responsibility.

I won't say that I was actually to blame for her death,

but I wasn't there when I should have been.

And if prompt medical attention was not forthcoming,

it was entirely my fault.

It's quite clear that the result of this inquiry must be,

to censure me for neglect.

And that my continued presence at the Royal

can only be an embarrassment to the hospital.

I would therefore like to offer my resignation.

- Are there any further questions?

Sir Arthur?

- No questions.

- Colonel Langley?

- No questions.

- Mister Isherwood?

- No, no questions.

- Well, Mister Selwood,

I don't think we need to detain you any longer.

- Thank you, sir.

- You made him into a liar in front of the whole committee.

Philip, how could you do it?

How could you do such a thing?

- It wasn't fun, you know.

It is my career.

But when it came to the point,

I just couldn't sit there and let it happen.

It wasn't a question of logic or principles,

or loyalties or anything like that.

It was just instinct.

I couldn't do it.

- Well, that closes the case doesn't it?

You can't fight against instinct.

But what happens now?

- I don't know.

I haven't had time to think.

Oh Pamela, please.

- Philip.

I'm sorry.

It's just a shock.

Everything was so good for us, for you and father and me.

It's all changed so quickly.

When will you be leaving the hospital?

- I'm supposed to give a month's notice.

But I expect it'll be as soon as they can find somebody

to take over my work.

Your father won't want me hanging around

any longer than necessary.

- Where will you go?

You're pretty well finished in surgery

as far as this country's concerned, aren't you?

- Yes.

We'll have to cut loose and go abroad somewhere.

- You know I can't go.

- Why not?

- Oh because of father.

You don't really think I could leave him

at a time like this, do you?

- But you don't belong with him.

You've got your own life to live.

- It's not a question of right or loyalty,

or anything, it's just instinct, I couldn't do it.

- When I said that, I meant it.

- And so do I.

He hasn't anyone but me.

He's rich and successful and respected,

so you think he's secure, but he's not, you don't know him.

I don't blame you for that.

He doesn't want anyone to know him.

This affair might finish him completely,

but whether it does or not,

he'll need me more than he's ever done before.

- Have I been a very great disappointment to you?

- No.

What you did today, is you.

Or part of you, anyway.

So, I suppose I wouldn't want it changed.

- Come away with me.

Oh Pamela, Pamela, please listen.

- Good afternoon. - Good afternoon.

- Doctor Romek?

Would you mind waiting here?

I'll tell Doctor Ga"raith that you've arrived.

- Thank you.

- This is Doctor Galbraith.

- I'm sorry to keep you waiting,

I'm the senior registrar here.

You'll be Mister Selwood?

- Yes, and this is Doctor Romek.

- Yes, of course.

I understand Doctor Romek,

you've agreed to come to us as a voluntary patient.

That simplifies everything.

Sister, have you got the papers?

- Yes, they're waiting for Doctor Romek to sign.

- Of course, as far as you're concerned, it's pure red tape.

Of course, if you'd like to read them first?

- I'll sign.

- Go ahead, Sister.

Is there anything else I ought to know

about our unfortunate friend?

- No, I think it was all in my letter.

- Well, I'll go over it all with him, of course,

but it'll be interesting to compare the two versions.

Thank you.

- I would like to see my room now, please.

- It's quite ready.

- Would you like me to come up with you and have a look?

- No, thank you.

I'm sure it's a nice room.

- It's one of our best.

- With barred window?

- All the windows at Fartown have grills on them,

mine included.

- Lucas, will you show Doctor Romek his room, please?

- Yes, Sister.

Come.

- Best of luck.

- I haven't even said thank you.

- There's only one way you can thank me.

Get well.

- I shall try.

- Yes?

Ah, Mister Selwood.

- I understand you want to see me.

- Yes, Mister Selwood.

I presume you want to continue

the practise of surgery in this country.

- What I want to do, and what I can do,

are two different things.

There isn't a hospital in England who will have me now.

- Oh yes, there's one.

This one, the Royal.

You see, I've been talking things over with Mister Froy,

and he's worked out a formula,

which should make it quite possible

for you to stay on and continue your excellent work here.

- Formula?

But surely the findings of the inquiry were against me.

- Oh yes, the report will have to stand.

But the hospital board don't have to act on those findings

any more than they have to accept your resignation.

The fact is that when you were called to Missus Weston,

you were actually attending another patient.

And an emergency case at that.

No doctor is required to be

in two places at once, Mister Selwood.

- And that's our escape clause, and yours.

- Supposing I'm not looking for an escape clause.

- Now look, Selwood,

a couple of days ago I offered you a job.

Since then you've blotted your copy book pretty badly.

But I'm telling you, the offer still holds.

I'd like to have you on my unit.

But I'm also telling you, if you don't join me,

you may find there's nowhere else to go.

- Let me worry about that.

Of course, I want to go on doing surgery,

but not at a price.

Nor will I join any pack,

and I'm sick to death of these arrangements.

I should like to know

what Sir Arthur has to say about your plan.

Have you told him?

- We intend to consult him, of course.

But obviously that's impossible at the moment.

- Why impossible?

- I thought you knew.

He had a heart attack late this afternoon.

- How is he?

- He's much better now.

He was in a lot of pain, but they gave him some morphine,

and now the pain seems to have gone almost entirely.

- Who's looking after him?

- Hardwicke.

- It's nice of you to come, Selwood.

- I only just heard you were ill.

- It's my blessed heart.

Hardwicke seems to have it under control.

He says it could be a coronary but,

on the other hand it might be just a spasm.

- I'll be off, Sir Arthur.

I'll have a word with Pamela on my way out,

just to set her mind at rest.

Good night, Mister Selwood.

- Good night, doctor.

- If I'm going to die,

you think I believe that nonsense about a spasm?

You know for a time I almost did.

It's amazing what you can make yourself believe

if you really want to.

But then I

saw that look you gave to Hardwicke.

Really Philip,

thought I trained you better.

- Even if it is a coronary,

it doesn't mean to say you're gonna die.

Why if you take things easy,

you could go on for years.

- I don't think I'm the type to take things easy.

Not as easy as that, anyway.

- About the inquiry,

you see I felt,

I was so certain that what I was doing was right.

- Of course, we all thought we were doing right.

What we were doing is making a present of the Royal,

to Isherwood as his team of robots.

- He and Froy asked me to withdraw my resignation.

- You refused?

- Oh you don't think I'd work with Isherwood.

- Out of loyalty to me?

How very misguided.

Lord Roderick made the Royal into a hospital,

a place of healing.

If they're left alone,

the Isherwoods will turn it into a laboratory.

To a much smaller thing.

- Isherwood's not indestructible either.

- No, I suppose not.

However, that's all beside the point.

A waste of time like all postmortems.

You'd better go now.

I promised Hardwicke I would rest.

- Yes, of course.

- Come and see me again, won't you?

I want to hear all the gossip.

- The hospital was father's life,

he'd have done anything for it.

That's been the trouble, I suppose.

He just couldn't believe that anything he did

could possibly be bad for the Royal.

Now he's got to face the truth when he's least stable.

- What do you mean by the truth?

- That he's failed.

He's hurt the hospital, and he's hurt himself.

Even the good things he did won't last or be remembered.

- You're wrong, you know,

about most of it.

Your father made mistakes, as anyone does.

But he hasn't failed, and he won't be forgotten.

And as for Isherwood,

he won't have everything his own way, either.

- Who do you think's going to stop him?

Do you think Froy will stand up against him,

or Sir Oswood?

When father's gone there'll be nobody to say no.

- I can say no.

They offered me the chance to stay on,

because they wanted to use me.

Well all right, fair enough, I'll stay on.

I'll even work with Isherwood if I have to.

But on my own terms.

And in my own way.