Original subtitles

[ theme music playing ]

♪♪

Chances are he won't be on it.

The wire said Monday or Tuesday,

and if those trains east of K.C. are anything like this one,

he couldn't have made connections.

Who is this fellow, Doc? Somebody you know?

No, I just wrote Dr. Keller,

the head man in my old medical school,

and asked him to recommend a bright, young graduate to work with me.

If this fellow's so bright, how come he wants to practice in Medicine Bow?

[ chuckles ] I guess I just did a good selling job

on the advantages of a small town over a big city.

And the opportunity to work with such a distinguished physician as yourself.

I'll remember that the next time you complain about my bill.

I never complain about it.No, he just doesn't pay it.

[ train whistle blows ]

♪♪

Are you sure we can't be of help?No, thank you.

Please go ahead. I have to arrange about my baggage.

I do hope we'll see you again.

Goodbye.

I guess he didn't make it.

Well, I've got to get out to the Crandall place.

We'll see you, Doc.

I'm leaving these here at the station till I know where I want them,

so just those now.

Just a minute, please.

I'm afraid this crate is mine.

I'm sorry.

I wasn't watching when they loaded it.

Where do you want it?I think you'd better...

What are you doing? Carrying gold in there?

Books are almost as heavy.

Is your hand all right?

Just squashed a little.Let me see.

Yes, I guess it is.

Sorry, Stacey. I loaded this on the wagon by mistake.

Now you tell me.

[ grunts ] I'll just keep this with the others.

I'm sorry to have troubled you.No trouble at all.

Who's your friend?

I don't know, but she sure reads a lot.

Really? Get started home as soon as you're finished here.

I've got some other things to do in town.

The hotel, please.

♪♪

[ cries out ]

Wait.

Well, what'd you do?

Did you break your arm? Huh?Ouch! Don't!

Now, try and move it.No, if his arm's broken it'll only make it worse.

Somebody get the doctor.I'm a doctor.

[ groans ]Let me see.

No, don't! That hurts!

Hey, you're hurting him!

Don't be afraid. There's no break.

[ groans ]

His shoulder's dislocated. I'll have to put it back in.

Hold on. Now, just hold on.

No doctor I never seen before in my life

is gonna fool with my son's arm.

And for darn sure no girl doctor.

Where's Doc Spalding? Didn't somebody go get him?

He's out at the Crandall's.Then we wait.

The longer we wait, the harder it's going to be to put back in,

and the more painful for him.That's what you say.

That's what I know.

Look, I am a doctor,

and I know what I'm talking about.

This ought to be taken care of before the tendons tighten up.

I don't know. I don't like it.

If it was my boy, Bates, I'd sure say go ahead.

She a friend of yours?No.

Mr. Bates, the point is, I know what should be done, and it should be done now.

All right.

Go ahead. But you'd better be right.

You'll have to rip his shirt off.

No, you go ahead and do what you have to do just as he is.

Will you help hold him?

Now, son, this is going to hurt a little, but only for a moment.

Hold him firmly.

No! Don't!

All right. All right, boy. All right.

Ow! That hurts! Don't!

Hold on. Hold... Hold on.

There.

You hurt me!

And it still hurts, Pa, something awful.

I ought to bind this up.Never mind.

Well, then, keep his arm immobilized and keep him quiet.

And I'd like to see him in a day or two.Doc Spalding will see him.

That might be better. Then you'd be sure.

All right, son. Can you stand up?

All right?

You're a brave boy.

You hurt me!

I'm sorry.

All right, now. Here we go.

All right?

Ha! Giddap!

Thank you for your help.

Glad to do it, Doctor...

O'Neill. Patricia O'Neill.

"O'Neill"?

Yes. Why are you looking so surprised?

Oh, I didn't know I was. Good luck, Doctor.

Thank you.

♪♪

Hey, do you know who that was?

Dr. Patricia O'Neill.

Well, I heard...

You don't mean...

Top man of the class.

Well, what do you know?

Whoa.

Well, good afternoon.

I hope you haven't been waiting long.Not very.

Please come in.

My name's Spalding.O'Neill.

How do you do? What can I do for you, Miss O'Neill?

Doctor, it's Patricia O'Neill.

Dr. O'Neill from the college.

Oh.

Then you did come on the noon train.

Yes. It's a good thing I did.

There was an accident.

A little boy fell from the wagon and dislocated his shoulder.

I reset it. I think it's all right.

At least I hope so, for both our sakes.

Yes. Uh...

Oh, incidentally, Doctor, I was thinking on the way out,

the arrangement Dr. Keller suggested-- well, it doesn't really seem fair.

To you, I mean.

I appreciate your offer of the guarantee,

but if I can't earn my proper share even from the start...

Dr. Spalding, is there anything the matter?

No, nothing at all.

Well, how would you plan we worked?

I'd, uh, counted on sharing the waiting room.

I'd keep my office and have my, uh,

my associate in here.

I'd meant to have it cleaned up.

Oh, that's no problem. I'll do it, of course.

It should work out rather well.

Yes, I guess it should.

Dr. Spalding...

do you have the letter that Dr. Keller sent recommending me?

Why, yes.May I see it?

"You ask if I have one outstanding student

to meet your needs out there.

Certainly, Pat O'Neill fills the bill.

Number one in this year's class,

thoroughly trained, and completely devoted to medicine.

That describes Pat to a tee.

My recommendation is unqualified.

As ever, James Keller, M.D."

Just one thing is missing, isn't it?

He doesn't mention that Pat O'Neill is a woman.

Dr. O'Neill, you have to understand.

Personally, it wouldn't make any difference to me at all.Are you sure about that?

I have to be honest. I don't know.

Let me think about it.

Well, let's both think about it.

I want this job very much.

It's what I've hoped for.

I guess it's what I've prayed for.

But I don't want it under false pretenses.

So until tomorrow morning,

at 9:00?

♪♪

[ people chattering ]

Good evening.Good evening.

Mind if I join you?Not at all.

Thank you.

I was just reading on the doings of my patients-to-be.

Anyway, I hope they're still that.

So you've seen Doc Spalding.Yes.

You knew, didn't you?I knew?

Evening.Oh, hi, Ellen.

Bring me a steak, rare.

Yes, I guess I knew.

You might have told me Dr. Spalding was expecting a man.

Well, I didn't want to spoil the pleasure of the surprise-- for him.

You, I must say, are a very gentlemanly liar.

[ chuckles ] What did he say?

What would you say?What do you mean?

You live here, work here. What would you say in Dr. Spalding's place?

Please tell me. I have a special reason for wanting to know.

Well, I'd say when you

helped the Bates boy this afternoon,

you acted very much like a doctor who knew his business.

I mean, her business.

You're still avoiding the question.

Maybe I am.

Some ideas take some getting used to, you know.

WOMAN: Good evening, Doctor.

Good evening.Doctor.

They were on the train with me. He's a mining man.

Oh.Where were we?

Oh, yes. You were avoiding the question.

All right, so this time I'll put it to you straight.

If you were sick, would you come to a woman doctor?

All right, I'll answer you straight.

I don't know. It might depend on how sick I was.

I'll give this to you-- You're honest.

Of course, if I were a woman and needed a doctor...

What does that have to do with it?

An illness is an illness, an injury an injury.

I'm sorry.

It's only, I have to make a decision by tomorrow morning.

Maybe I won't.

Maybe it already will be made

by Dr. Spalding.

Look at that letter yourself, the way he phrased it.

He couldn't have chosen better words to hide the truth.

That Dr. O'Neill was a woman?

I don't know what's got into the man.

I seem to remember you saying that Dr. James Keller

was the greatest teacher, the finest doctor,

the wisest man you'd ever met in your life.

Well, that was 12, 15 years ago.

In other words, now he must be in his dotage.

What?That's what you're implying.

The man who was Solomon when you graduated

is a conniving old fool 15 years later.

I didn't say that.

Carl, I'm not a radical crusader for the rights of women.

I'm not a bloomer girl, and I don't intend to be.

But if you decide to back out on your arrangement with this O'Neill woman

just because she is a woman,

I'd be ashamed of you.

That's not fair, Nora.

You asked my opinion. I gave it to you.

Ah, you're a big help.

♪♪

♪♪

Dr. Spalding?Yes. Come in.

Won't you sit down?

Is it necessary?

I thought about it overnight, and I--

So did I, Doctor,

and I think I can save you some time.

I believe you were right,

that Dr. Keller did intentionally fail to tell you

Pat O'Neill was a woman.

I think I know, too, why he did it--

because he felt I could succeed out here and be a valuable assistant for you.

But I think he also knew

that if he had told you, you wouldn't have wanted me.

So with no hard feelings, I'll make it easy for you.

I'm leaving on the noon train.

Good luck, Doctor. I hope you find the man you want.

Dr. O'Neill,

when you came in here, I asked you to sit down.

Please do.

I made a decision last night too.

We have a contract, Doctor.

Maybe not on paper,

and maybe there wasn't exactly a meeting of the minds,

as the lawyers say,

but we do have a contract, and I intend to honor it.

But there's no need--Frankly, I don't know whether it'll work.

This town's as fair as any other in this part of the country--

I'd say fairer than most-- but whether people here

are ready to accept a woman as a doctor, I don't know.

And to be honest, I doubt it.

But if you're willing to give it a try,

so am I.

You're sure?I'm sure.

[ door opens ]Well, thank you, Doctor.

Oh, am I interrupting?Oh, not at all.

Doctor, I'd like to have you meet my wife.

Dr. O'Neill is my new associate.

Welcome to Medicine Bow. I hope you like it here.

I already do.

Now all that has to happen is for Medicine Bow to like me.

I'm sure they will.

Well, uh,

if you'll excuse me,

I'll get started moving in.

I want you for dinner as soon as you're settled.

Thank you. I'd be delighted.

[ door shuts ]Satisfied now?

I don't know.What do you mean?

You didn't tell me while I was making

such an impassioned plea for her last night how pretty she was.

Well, I didn't think that mattered.

Fortunately, it doesn't.

Which shows you what a trusting, understanding wife you have.

Well, I always knew that.

While you're in that frame of mind, I'll go shopping.

♪♪

Now, what can I do for you? My name is Jensen.

I'm Charles Coulter.Mr. Coulter.

My wife, Marie.Mrs. Coulter. Won't you step in, please?

Thank you.

All right.

Well, first, I want to open up an account.

Well, fine.And beyond that,

I'd like to get some advice, Mister...Jensen.

Mr. Jensen.

Mr. Jensen, I'm new to this territory,

but from what I've heard about it, I intend to operate here from now on.

Well, we're always happy to have people feel that way.

Uh, what are you interested in? Ranching?

There are a few good spreads available.

No. Mining is my line.

Or I should say, mine management.

Now, what I'm really interested in is a good mine property

that's not paying out its full potential.

Something that my associates in Denver and myself

might buy cheap and turn into a profitable venture.

Mm-hmm. I take it you've had experience in that line.

Oh, indeed I have.

We've been operating in Mexico for the past few years.

Fact is, that's where I met my wife.

But there are too many political problems outside of this country.

And besides,

I feel that Wyoming is the coming place.

Well, we'll be very happy to help you, Mr. Coulter.

I know of one or two mines around here

that have had their problems,

and I'll check some of the other towns in the area through other banks.

I'd appreciate that.

So if you'll drop by in a day or so, I'll have a list.

Thank you very much.You're welcome.

It was nice to have met you, Mr. Jensen.Thank you.

♪♪

So it was in Mexico we met.

Interesting.

Last time it was New Orleans.

Who's there?

Oh, hello.

Hello.

This is a doctor? Any doctor I know

came at a patient looking like that, they'd run for the hills.

Including you?Well, I know better.

I've been working.Ah, I see you have.

Well, you're really in business, huh?

That's right.

Say, I, uh...

I stopped by to check on our patient-- the Bates boy.

Did his father bring him in?

Not yet. I was a little concerned.

I thought if he hadn't come in by Sunday,

I ought to go out and see him.

Does he live very far out?

As a matter of fact, it's sort of on the way to Shiloh.

I'm coming in Sunday. I could show you where it is on the way back.

That'd be fine. Say about 1:00?

Mm-hmm.

My appointment book and patient records.

It's a little bare, but give it time.

Bates boy,

Sunday at 1:00.

Thank you for coming by.

Yeah, well, I guess now that you're in business,

you might be able to use this.

Fellow here in town's pretty good at wood-burning.

Shall we see how it looks?

♪♪

Oh, thank you. That...

That was very thoughtful.

Well, that looks all right.

Glad you like it, Doc.

I was just showing him my office. It's almost ready.

Good.Well, I'll see you.

Take a look.

Office or library?

Every book I was ever assigned I tried to buy.

I could never bring myself to sell any.

Carlin on Circulation,huh?

Do you read German?

I had a year at the Institute in Vienna under Dr. Streck.

Have you seen this one? It's a new text at Hamilton.

And here's a fine treatise on histology by Morleau.

I'm afraid I haven't had time to keep up on my reading.

Well, I know. You've been so busy.

Well, maybe I'll be able to get caught up

now that you're here.

And what is this?

It's some new medicines.

I wasn't sure if you had them here yet.

Hmm.

A new specific for angina by inhalation.

Brunton of England--And digitalis?

Why, there's not a doctor I know

who hasn't given that up as being too dangerous.

I know. That was true.

But Collins' work has proven that it was over-dosage.

I have the report--Doctor...

We both had the same teacher, and apparently he's a man we both admire.

I distinctly remember Dr. Keller saying,

"Gentlemen, there are all kinds of nostrums

that may come and go,

but the wise ones of you will remember the indispensable six--

laudanum, calomel, quinine,

ipecac, antimony and camphor.

Remember them and use them.

We are doctors, not quack medicine men.

Yes, but even if he did say that--

If he said it?

I mean, uh, well, I'm sure he meant it at the time,

but that was 15 years ago.

I mean--I know what you mean, Doctor.

And of course, you will treat your patients

as your judgment dictates.

Now, if you'll excuse me, it's office hours.

♪♪

Mrs. Carey, how are you? Come right on in.

Who's next?

Well, I'm sure Dr. Spalding won't be long.

♪♪

[ knock at door ]

Yes?

I want you to have a look at this patient.

I'm pretty sure it's a tumor, but I'd like your opinion.

It won't be long, Steve.

Katy, this is Dr. O'Neill.

I just wanted her to have a look at you too.

She's a fine doctor, and she knows all about this kind of problem.

She can come out whenever you're through.

Yes, Doctor. Hello, Katy.

Have you been feeling uncomfortable long?

Oh, it's been awful, ma'am.

Well, you have a fine doctor in Dr. Spalding.

Now, let's see what the problem is.

That'd cost a terrible lot, wouldn't it, Doc?

I'm afraid it will be considerable, Steve,

counting travel and hospital costs.

You don't think it could just go away--

if we waited, I mean?

I wouldn't say that couldn't happen,

but, frankly, if it was my wife, I wouldn't take the risk.

I asked Dr. O'Neill to look at Katy just to confirm my opinion.

What she thinks don't mean nothin' to me.

It's what you say.

Then you'd better count on the trip, Steve, as soon as possible.

I don't know how I'm gonna manage.

You all right, hon?

I'm sure everything will work out just fine, Katy.

I'm sure it will.

Do you agree? A tumor?

Probably.

If the pain were localized a little higher, I'd suspect tiflitis.

The appendix?

That's possible, but I doubt it.

When are you operating?"Operating"?

On the girl that just left.I'm not. I'm sending her to Cheyenne.

Cheyenne? But why don't--

We're not equipped for that kind of surgery here.

Well, I just brought a new mask for chloroform.

Now, if we work together...

Katy Anderson will go to Cheyenne, Doctor.

Yes, Doctor.

Is there anything else you want me for?

No, thank you.

♪♪

♪♪

How are things going in town?

Oh, everything's going fine.

Dr. Spalding and his wife are very hospitable.

I meant professionally.

Well... Well, I knew it would take a long time.

In other words, nothing.

Everybody's very polite, but that's all.

They just don't want to be treated by a woman doctor.

♪♪

The Bates place is right up there.

You're sure I'm not taking you out of your way?

Frankly, I'm just as interested in seeing Bates again as you are.

Oh.

The father, not the son.

Looked to me like you did a fine job on his boy.

I want to hear Bates tell you so.

You ruined him, that's what you done!

He can't do his chores. He can't go to school.

Look at him. He can't even move his arm. That's your fault.

Timmy, let me see. Where does it hurt?No!

I won't hurt you.You said that before. You're a liar.

Now, wait a minute, son...

You keep out of this.

I thought you said she wasn't a friend of yours.

Now, look, Bates...DR. O'NEILL: Please.

I'll handle this.

Mr. Bates, whatever I did to your son

the other day was right.

But there could've been other complications.

That's why I asked you to bring him in.

Fine. Fine for you to say. Doctor visits cost money.

This time it won't.

Whatever Dr. Spalding's charges, I'll pay for them.

Now will you bring him in?

Please?

Tomorrow?

Could be I will, could be I won't.Well, I won't go.

Huh? You'll do what I tell you.

And you, miss, I'll tell you this--

If Timmy's arm don't get better, and soon,

you'll hear from me, all right.

Come on, Timmy.

Then we'll expect to see you tomorrow.

His shoulder can't be that bad, no matter what he says.

He's got to be exaggerating.

I wouldn't be surprised.Well, why should he--

He's got a good thing going for him.

No schoolwork, no chores-- It's a kid's dream.

You really think...

I've seen it happen a dozen times at Shiloh with grown men.

Only thing is, it's tough to prove.

All he's got to do is yell every time somebody touches him.

Think you can find your way back to town all right?

I'll manage. And thank you, Doctor.

For your diagnosis.

♪♪

Whoa.

Made to order. Do you think you can find it alone?

I'll remember.

There's a stage line between Elksburg and Silver Springs.

From there, it's just hours to the border, with no telegraph between.

With two days' start, we can make it easy.

Charles...Yes?

You promise you won't hurt him?

Why should I? All I have to do is tie him up.

By the time he gets loose, we'll be long gone.

♪♪

Good morning.

Good morning.Good morning.

If any of you are waiting for me, I'll be right with you.

[ knock at door ]Yes?

Bates and the boy are here.Oh, yes.

Oh, Doctor,

just a minute.

Before we see the boy...

Now, I want you to tell 'em just exactly where it hurts.

You tell 'em how you can't bear to move it.

Pa, I want to go.

You'll do nothing of the sort! Now, I want you to tell Doc Spaulding...

Good morning, Mr. Bates. Thank you for coming.

Now, Timmy, let's take a look.

Now, does that hurt?Y-Yeah.

No! Don't!

Now, does that hurt?

Oh, terrible.

Dr. O'Neill and I agree, Timmy.

This is gonna mean an operation.

A-An operation?

I'd say we go in from the front

and cut the scorpula redonda, wouldn't you, Doctor?

Mm. And then in from the back

to get to the pegrosa medullala.

Doc, just a minute.

On the other hand, if we cut clear up the arm

from the fibula minora to the calora meglata, we could--

No! It's okay!

All of a sudden, it don't hurt no more.

Look! I can move it. See?

Why, I'd consider that pretty near a miracle, wouldn't you, Doctor?

DR. O'NEILL: I've never seen anything like it.

A miracle, is it? You've been lying to me!

Why, you lazy, good-for-noth...

A whole week with no chores, huh?

Well, I've got just the medicine for you.DR. SPALDING: I agree with you.

But this isn't the place to administer it.

Haven't you got a woodshed?

I do indeed, and he's gonna know it today.

I'm sure sorry, ma'am.

That doesn't matter. I'm just relieved he's all right.

All right, Tim. Out.

Out!

Paul, wait a minute.

You've talked pretty freely around town.

It's all very well to apologize to Dr. O'Neill,

but just her hearing it isn't gonna mean very much.

Now, if you're man enough to say that to a few other people,

right out there, for instance...

People have said I was a hard man.

Nobody yet ever said I wasn't a fair one.

Folks, I got something to say

about this lady doctor here.

Now, I've been talking pretty free around town

about how she hurt my boy, how she didn't know her business.

Well, I was wrong.

She doctored my boy just fine.

Woman or no woman, she's all right.

I already told her that.

If anybody doubts it, you just tell 'em to ask me.

Thank you, Mr. Bates.

For what?

Telling the truth?

Ain't often I eat crow.

When I got it coming, I'll take my fair share.

Come on, Tim.

Come on. Oh, wait a minute.

Here.

Thank you. Mr. Bates,

I don't think the woodshed's necessary after all.

No, Pa.

I'm sorry too. Honest I am, miss.

Well,

we'll see...

how he does with them chores that've been piling up.

Mrs. Flynn, I believe you're next.

I'm next.

Eleanor, when you gonna learn to wait your turn?

I won't be long.

♪♪

Thank you very much. It was a fine supper.

It was our pleasure, Mr. Jensen.

Incidentally, I heard this morning

that the Golden G property was available.

What do you think about it?

Golden G...

Oh, that's the Stevens mine up near Kelford.

I was planning a trip up there. You wouldn't want to go with me, would you?

Well, I, uh...The fact is,

I've got a great deal of confidence in your judgment, Jensen.

I've come to realize you know this country much better than I ever will.

Oh, thank you very much.

But, uh, Kelford...

that might present a problem,

being gone from the bank so long.

When were you planning on leaving?

Well, I was thinking about Saturday.

If we left right after the bank closed,

we could easily get back by Monday.

And another thing-- This may involve

a lot more cash than my partners and I can handle.

I was hoping that you might know someone around here who might be interested,

that is, if the setup is right.

Could be.

You can count on me. I'll see you Saturday.

That's fine.

What is it?MAN: Hello, Charlie.

You two are hard to find.

Hello, Marie.What are you doing here?

I wasn't sure myself until just now.

Now it looks like I'll be busy on Saturday.

We don't need you for this, Roy.

I thought we agreed after Del Rio.Agreed? Who agreed?

You just cut out on me-- you and Marie.

You don't treat a brother like that, Charlie.

Not even a half-brother.

We can talk in my room.

♪♪

You have the lists on the house calls?I have.

And watch old Mr. Kinney. He'll try to tell you I prescribed whiskey.

I didn't.I'll remember.

Carl, if you're leaving her in charge, leave her in charge. Come on.

Good luck, Pat. You know where to reach me in Cheyenne.

Don't worry. And have a wonderful vacation.

I will, now that I have an associate.

♪♪

[ whistle blows ]

Whoa. Whoa.

Anybody home?Coming.

You know, I just can't think of you as a doctor

when you look like that.

I don't know how to take that.

It's a rather clumsy attempt at a compliment.

It wasn't clumsy at all. I knew exactly what you meant.

I was just trying to stretch it out.

I'll be with you in a minute.

Hungry?Starved.

I gather things are going better.

Ever since Mr. Bates

made his public apology.

Of course, they're not beating down my door,

but they're giving me a chance to prove myself.

Well, that's all you can ask for.

I must say, you show great restraint.

How do you mean?

You haven't yet asked why

a woman should want to become a doctor.

I figured I already knew.

Oh? Tell me.

Well, to begin with,

your father was probably a doctor.

I'd guess his name was Patrick.Go on.

He, uh, wanted a son to carry on. Instead he got a daughter.

All he could do about it was to

name her Patricia so he could call her Pat.

But she was a dutiful daughter,

and she tried to make up for her father's disappointment

by going to medical school. Am I close?

You left out one thing-- the most important reason.

What's that?I love being a doctor.

Help me.

I've got to see Dr.... Dr. Spalding.

He's in Cheyenne. Take her in there.

She's in terrible pain.

Get the other lamp.

My son's away.

I didn't know what to do, so I drove her in.

Please wait outside. I might need you.

Doctor, it's awful!

I know, Mrs. Anderson, but just try to tell me where it hurts worst.

There? There?

I can't tell. It...There?

[ cries out ] Yes.

Stay with her.

Doctor, I can't stand it!

I will need your help.

Come with me.

Wash up over there, and hurry.

Doctor, can you save her?

I think so.

But I want you to listen to me very carefully.

Your daughter-in-law has what's usually called tiflitis.

It's an inflammation inside, down here.

It's because a thing called the appendix is infected and swelled.

Now, if it burst, the odds are she will die.

But it may not have burst,

and there's a new operation to take it out.

I can do it if you just say the word.

Well, I don't know.

Steve ought to be the one.

Where is he?

I don't know.

I couldn't wait when she started hurting so.

You say she'll die if you don't?

She'll have much less chance.

All right, then.

Go ahead.

I guess.

You wait here.

Now I'll explain what I want you to do.

♪♪

No more chloroform.

What are the chances?

I don't know.

It already burst before she got here.

There's nothing more you could do now.

I'll wait outside.

♪♪

What's taking so long?

You've been out here for over...[ door opens ]

I'm sorry.

I did everything I could.

♪♪

♪♪

[ cattle mooing ]

A coroner's inquest? What are you talking about?

10:00 tomorrow morning in the courthouse.

But why? Pat did everything she could to save her.

Steve Anderson's demanding it.

Claims she's responsible for his wife's death.

What does he know about it? He wasn't even there.

I tell you--Look, I'm just doing my job.

I'm supposed to tell you to be there as a witness. Will you be there?

You're darn right I will.

All right.

♪♪

All ready, Mr. Coulter. Just locking up for the weekend.

Before we go, there's something I'd like to discuss.

Oh. Certainly.

Now, just hold it there.

What is this?

I'd guess you'd call it a holdup. Open the safe.

Do you really think you can get away with this?

That depends on whether you want to stay alive or not.

If you do, you're gonna go out of here with me,

and out of this town, without a word.

And remember, they'll be two guns on you at all times--

his and mine.

So for your own sake, play it smart.

Carry this.

Mr. Jensen,

you forgot to lock up.

Hyah!

[ knock at door ]

Who is it?

THE VIRGINIAN: It's me.

Hello, Pat.

I heard about the inquest. I thought I'd drop by tonight and--

Come in.

This doesn't seem like you. Why, Pat?

Why shouldn't I?

What difference can it make?

I know that jury will be reasonable.

They'll listen to what you have to say.

Suppose they do.

But whatever they decide,

don't you realize that the mere fact that they had such a hearing

will make people doubt?

Even the ones that already accepted me?

You don't know.

You fight so long to prove something, and then...

Maybe I'm tired of fighting.

All you'll prove this way is that they were right--

the ones who said a woman couldn't be a good doctor.

If she's gonna let her emotions rule over her common sense,

maybe it isn't the right kind of a job for a woman.

I tried. All those days

nobody set foot in my office, I hung on

because I felt once I got started, I could make a go of it.

But I can't fight this.

No matter how it comes out, there will always be doubt.

If you leave now, there won't be any doubt at all.

They'll take it as a clear sign you were wrong

and are afraid to face up to it.

Can't you leave me alone? Don't you think I feel bad enough as it is?

You know, you knew when you decided to be a doctor

that some patients would die.

And you're not the first doctor that's been called to account.

If you don't face up to them,

look them in the eye and defend yourself,

there won't be another woman practicing medicine

in this part of the country for a long time to come.

[ shudders ]

Please go.

I don't think I'm up to any character-building talks.

♪♪

[ knock at door ]MARIE: Doctor!

[ knocking continues ]

Doctor?

[ knocking continues ]

Doctor, there's been an accident. My husband.

Please come in. I'll be ready in a minute.

♪♪

Ho!

I still don't understand. This place...

Please!

Mr. Coulton. But your wife said--

She was excited. There's your patient.

He's got a bullet in him.

It was an accident.

Why not? She'll find out anyway.

Mr. Jensen!

Then you...

MARIE: You won't be hurt. Either of you.

We are what we are, but we're not murderers.

How did this happen?

Jensen reached for his gun. During the scuffle, it went off.

I'll have to probe for the bullet.

Are there no lamps?No.

Bring over that candle. I'll do the best I can.

♪♪

I heard voices real late last night,

and I looked out the window just in time to see a buggy driving away.

Could you see who was with her?It was too dark.

Well, could you tell which way they headed?North.

I thought probably somebody took sick in the night.

Well, thanks. Come up here.

[ whistle blowing ]

How are you, Mrs. Spalding? Doc.

What's this all about?Just what I said in the telegram.

I know, but why the urgency?

We've had coroner's inquests before.

Not like this one. Sorry to break up your vacation.

Well, at least we had a nice train ride.

We'd better get over there. The hearing starts in half an hour.

No. Nobody's sick at my place.

Well, did you hear a buggy go by during the night?

No, but that wouldn't mean anything.

I sleep pretty sound.

Well, thanks.

♪♪

She's not in the office.

Well, I can't believe she'd run away.

You go on inside. I'll keep looking.

That's the best I can do,

but I wouldn't advise you to ride for a while.

I'll take it from here.

You did a good job. How much do we owe you?

Not with stolen money.

My gun.You won't be needing it.

Give it to me.Don't be a fool. I'm running things now.

Well, then, what are you waiting for?

Tie her up.

♪♪

I'm sorry, Doctor.

We've gone this far. We have no choice.

Let the record show that waiting one hour

for the principal witness to appear,

this inquest was convened.

Now, the purpose of this hearing

is to ascertain the cause of Kate Anderson's death

and to find if there is just cause to hold anyone

for trial in connection with said death.

I'll call the first witness. Steve Anderson.

Just tell us what you know about it, Steve.

I know that woman killed my wife.

Just as sure if she'd have shot her with a gun.

♪♪

I'm sorry, Doctor.

You need any help?Give me a hand.

All right, Charlie. Now the other one-- the derringer.

Easy.

You would've done it, both of you-- just left them here.

Roy, you're crazy.

If we leave now, we can get away. We've got plenty of time.

Two witnesses that can identify the three of us? You've got it wrong.

You can't play this game with only half the chips.

You never did learn that, did you, brother?

You want it both ways.

Well, now I don't take a chance.

Go on. I'll handle it by myself.

Wait at the crossroads.

You can't do it.

Think you can stop me?

Drop it!

She'd better be all right.

She is.

All right, get down, both of you.

Go in first.

♪♪

Then you confirm Steve Anderson's testimony?

If Katy was to be operated on, it should have been in Cheyenne.

I said that, yes.

But an emergency can change the situation.

This operation that Dr. O'Neill performed,

has it been done before?Yes.

It's very new, but it has been done.

Always with success?No operation is always successful.

Doctor, would you have done it?

Well, I... I don't know.

But I do want to say this--

that if Dr. O'Neill in her judgment at that time...[ door opens ]

You'd better let me tell them.No.

The Coulter matter has nothing to do with this hearing.

[ people murmuring ]

Pat, where have you been?

I'm sorry.

I'm ready to testify, Mr. Collins.

Before you do, Doctor, you have the right to hear

the testimony that's already been given.

That won't be necessary.

Just a moment, sir.

Before she testifies, there's something I'd like to say.

Go right ahead.

I don't know what you men have heard here today

or what you already have in your minds,

but I can tell you this--

I was there when Dr. O'Neill

made the decision to operate on Mrs. Anderson.

She knew the risk she was taking,

and she took it.

The easy way

would've been to let her patient die in agony.

And now I want to ask you a question.

Would this hearing

ever have been held

if Pat O'Neill weren't a woman?

Doc Spalding has lost patients.

Every doctor has.

So let's just all of us

be sure exactly what it is that's on trial here today.

Is it the facts

or our prejudices?

That's all I've got to say.

Dr. O'Neill?

I'll be brief, Mr. Collins.

I understand the purpose of this hearing is to determine whether or not

if I was justified in operating on Katy Anderson.

I was.

Everything I learned as a doctor told me it should be done,

that it was the only chance to save her life.

True, it was a relatively new operation, but it was not unproved.

Medicine goes forward and thousands of lives are saved

because new methods are being discovered and because doctors,

sometimes at great risk to their own reputations,

do dare use them.

I know now that my whole future medical career lies

in the hands of this jury.

So be it.

But I must tell you this in all honesty--

If I had the same decision to make again, it would be the same.

I'm desperately sorry Mrs. Anderson is dead.

Every doctor dies a little himself

with every patient he fails to save.

But I'm not sorry I did what I know in my heart was right.

The rest is up to you.

[ people murmuring ]

I still hate to see you do this

after the coroner's jury gave you such a vote of confidence.

Could you have turned it down?

Dr. Keller's assistant for a year, working right beside him?

At your age, I guess I couldn't.

And don't worry about somebody to replace me.

I'll see that he sends you a good man. And I do mean a man.

Who says that matters?

If he has another woman doctor as good as you--

An older woman doctor, please.

Good luck, Pat.

Thank you... for everything.

You do understand?

No.

Well, yes, I guess I do.

There's another reason.

I think you know what that is.

Are you sure this is the solution?

I'm not sure of anything.

Except I know if I stayed here,

it wouldn't be long before my work came second.

I can't let that happen.

At least, not yet.

There's still too much to learn, too much to be done.

Don't forget me.

I won't.

[ train whistle blows ]

♪♪

She's quite a woman. But I still don't see why she--

Come along, Carl.

So long.

♪♪

[ theme music playing ]