Original subtitles

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

...where Western history comes alive.

Stories of the Old West

are stories of hardships and adventure,

of dreams and of courage.

Stories of the American pioneer

are all a part of our past, our heritage.

Back in the 1870s,

in the Genesee mountains of Colorado,

you couldn'’t run down to the corner drugstore if you cut your finger.

There were no corners and no drugstores.

In fact, the nearest medical man was 20 miles away in Denver.

That'’s why a lot of folks came to appreciate the help of...

Thanks for dropping by, Doc.Come on now. Come on.

I appreciate that, but...Open. Open.

Oh!

Ohhh!

You really shouldn'’t sleep out in this tent, Luke.

That'’s probably how you caught that cold.

Well, I don'’t think there's enough yellow in that wash

to be worth building a cabin, Doc.

Well, you rest a couple of days. The gold'’ll keep.

Yeah, but the rain won'’t.

Doc, I gotta keep digging before that dry bed fills up.

I'’ve told you, Luke. I'’m not really a doctor.

[ scoffs ]

You'’re the best we got in these parts, Miss Caldwell.

Well, I'’ll look in on you on Thursday,

see how ya are.

[ speaks in native language ]

[ whinnies ]

I welcome my red brother.

With a rifle?

What do you want?

The valley of the green mountains is sacred to my people.

The white eyes has no place here.

This is my land, my home.

Once this was all the land of my people.

As high as the eagle could fly.

As far as a buffalo could walk.

Before the white man came.

Your people signed a treaty giving up this land.

How many treaties has the white man signed and broken?

Your chief, Colorow, they say he'’s a man of honor.

Colorow is an old fool.

One day I, Tompah, will be chief,

and I will lead my people out of the dark forest,

into the sun once more.

Back to the lands of our fathers.

Know this, white man:

you are not welcome here.

It would be better to leave.

You can'’t scare me off.

And your woman?

You have no fear for her?

Hyah!

Whoa.

And where have you been this time?

I dropped by to see Luke Bermack. He has a cold.

What'’d they want?Our scalps.

What?

Amy, how many times do I have to tell ya

you'’re a housewife, not a doctor?

But, John, these people need me.

There'’s no one around for miles to look after the sick.

A month ago, you almost stepped on a rattler

climbing a hill to see that old miner.

Well, he was coming down with something. He had a fever.

Last week, a big mountain cat

spooked a horse, and you almost turned the wagon over

because you had to go pull Dan Hadley'’s tooth!

Well, he was in terrible pain. [ scoffs ]

You don'’t understand.

And now these redskins show up, and they mean business.

So that does it, Amy.Does what?

From now on, you'’re not leaving this ranch.

You'’re gonna stay home just like other women.

But, John--Now, I'’ve said it.

Well, looks like a bumper crop this harvest.

Might be able to add on that extra room you'’ve been pestering me about.

The mesoderm constitutes

a considerable pad of tissue on each side,

extending all the way from the most dorsal

to the most ventral part of the body wall.

The dorsal mesoderm--

I said, the old cow gave pure maple syrup this mornin'’.

That'’s nice, dear.

Unlike the ventral part--

Huh? And the chickens--

By gollies, those chickens are laying

the most beautiful gold bricks all over the yard.

Really? Um...

Mm-hmm.

The central core and structure of the epidermis--

And I might as well be talking a mule.

Make about as much sense!

John, what is the matter with you?

These books, medicine-- that'’s what's the matter.

I'’m sorry, John.

But there'’s just so much for me to learn yet.

I put up with it while your father was alive

because you had to help him.

But after he died and we moved out here,

I thought things would be different, but no.

No. If you'’re not off somewhere playing Florence Nightingale,

you got your nose stuck in those books of your father'’s!

I know I have neglected you. I don'’t mean to.

It'’s just that...

there'’ve been doctors in my family

for a hundred years.

When I was born, my father thought

it was the end of the tradition.

I went with him on all of his house calls

since I was ten years old.

I know he wanted me to continue his work.

He even tried to get me into four different medical schools,

but they refused because I was a woman.

If I'’d have been born a man,

I'’d be a doctor today.

I like you better this way.

Then be patient with me. You know I love you.

Show me.

MAN: Doctor woman!

[ gasps ]

Hey, now, wait a minute. You can'’t just barge in here and...

You'’re--Chief Colorow.

Horse sick. You fix, huh?

Where'’s your horse, Chief?

Uh...

[ coughs ]

I'’m sure this is gonna work wonders for your horse.

I'’m sure it's a touch of colic.

Get some oats to put in this brew.

Excuse me.

[ blows ]

[ shouts in native language ]

Good.

Salt sweet.

It'’s not salt, it'’s sugar.

Hmm?Su-gar.

[ together ] Sugar.

[ shouting in native language ]

Horse well! Horse very well!

Doctor woman fix good. Very good.

Oh, uh...

Colorow feel happy.

Very happy.

Doctor woman make Colorow feel happy.

Here. For you.

Uh, doctor woman

maybe give Colorow

more sugar?

Of course.

Oh. Su-gar.

Whew!

Sure appreciate your help, Mrs. Caldwell.

Well, you keep that hand quiet, Mr. Ostley, and come back in a week.

I'’d be right obliged if I could bring my missus over

for you to take a look at, Mrs. Caldwell.

My Eleanor is fixin'’ to have our fifth young'’un.

Already got four girls. [ chuckles ]

Anytime, Mr. Ostley.

Oh, sure, Will, anytime.

Mornin'’, noon, night, breakfast, dinner, supper.

Just drop on in.

Hey, bring a sick cow, if ya got one.

Sure, Mr. Caldwell.

Thanks.

That wasn'’t very nice, John.

Well, I don'’t feel very nice. I'’m hungry.

Well, I was just gonna start when poor Mr. Ostley rushed in here, and I--

Oh, now, Amy-- Amy,

I'’m not gonna eat sausage and beans again.

Well, it was an emergency, John.

Well, what about me? What do I have to do

to get your attention, break my leg?

I mean, it'’s not bad enough our house smells like a hospital,

and people waltzin'’ in and out at all hours,

and my clothes need mendin'’, and me workin'’ all day

with that wild-eyed Indian sitting perched up on top of that hill,

glarin'’ down at me, but I don'’t even get fed!

[ shovel clatters ]

[ door slams ]

Mmm.

[ grunts ]

[ exhales forcefully ]

[ sighs ]

Huh! Huh!

[ kissing sound ]

Whoa.

Howdy, Mr. Caldwell.Hi.

Just came to fetch my wife.

Doctor lady said she'’d take a look at her.

Oh, yeah. Well, I'’m afraid she had to wait her turn, Will.

Ya see, there were three or four ahead of her.

Oh, Will,

will you tell the doctor lady

that since I couldn'’t get an appointment for my empty stomach,

I went to Denver to eat!

Now, that should be all right in a day or so,

with a little more care and less liquor.

[ knock on door ]

[ knock on door ]That must be John.

I hope he isn'’t still angry with me.

Chief Colorow very sick.

Have much pain... here.

He sent me for doctor woman.

Wh-Where-- Where is he?

In woods.

Near river.

Not far from here.

In the woods?

Why isn'’t he at camp?

We were hunting.

When pain come, Colorow no can ride pony.

He moan very loud.

Tsk. I'’ll be right out.

Whoa.

Why are we stopping here? I don'’t see him.

There. In trees.

Whoa.

[ Colorow groaning ]

[ sighs ]

[ sniffs ] Ohh...

[ hoofbeats approaching ]

[ whinnies ]

Hyah! Come on!

[ footsteps approaching ]

Where'’s my wife?

Now, drink all of this, Chief, and the pain will go away.

Easy. Easy.

There.

[ breathing heavily ]There.

If it is stomach poisoning.

[ footsteps approaching ]

Amy, are you out of your mind?

Well, he seems to have some kind of stomach poisoning.

These berries look rancid to me.

But I think he'’ll be all right.You think?

Well, it could be his appendix.

Amy, if Colorow dies,

Tompah will blame you, the white woman.

He'’ll be chief, then, and there'’ll be no arguing

with that bloodthirsty savage.

[ Colorow yawning ]

Hmm?

[ grunting ]

[ chuckling ]

[ laughing ]

Pain all gone!

[ patting stomach ]Pain gone!

Chief Colorow feel good!

Pain all gone!

Doctor woman fix Colorow good.

[ breathing heavily ] Oh...

All right, Amy.

Now, last night was the end of your medical career.

And when I get home tonight from gathering firewood,

I wanna see a decent meal on the table.

I'’m fixin' a roast.

Ugh!

Whoa, whoa! Hey!

[ all whooping ]

Hey...

[ shouting ]

[ grunting ]

[ speaking in native language ]

[ continues in native language ]

[ grunting ]

Why? Why are you doing this?

[ grunts, stammers ]

I warned you.

This is our land!

[ speaking in native language ]

[ grunting ]

[ fire crackling ]

[ shouts in native language ]

[ grunts ]

I thought... maybe your appendix--

I mean, maybe you were dead,

and that'’s-- that's why they grabbed me.

No. Doctor woman make me feel good.

Colorow good now.

Well, then, why'’d they try to kill me?

That tree.

That tree?

Tree balsa wood.

Sacred to our people.

Very old.

Medicine tree of our tribe long time.

You hit with ax.

I'’m sorry. I-- I-I didn'’t know that.

Hey, you'’re pretty good.

There. It'’s not a bad burn.

And you'’ll be on your feet in a couple days.

Lucky for me the chief came by.

Colorow was on way to see woman doctor.

Maybe get more sugar?

[ both laugh ][ laughs ]

Give him the whole bag, Amy.

Go ahead, Chief. You know the way.[ laughing ]

I-- I hope your feet get well soon.

I-- I feel...

I know.

Thanks.

[ sputtering ]

[ sighs ] Are you comfortable?

Mm-hmm. I'’m a lucky man.

Now, the roast is almost done.

Oh, shut up and kiss me, Doc.

MR. OSTLEY: Mrs. Caldwell! Doc!

It-It'’s now, Doc! The baby!

He'’s on his way!

Better go ahead, Doc.

[ sighs ]

Ohh!

[ scoffs ]

Amy Caldwell brought many new babies into the world

and continued to administer to those who needed her.

She never really became an official physician.

But to her patients, she was always known

as "the lady doctor."