Original subtitles

And we are going to do everything in our power legally,

and by influencing public opinion,

to have you expelled from the medical society of this city.

Once and for all, we are going to stop

this vile and horrendous practice

of transferring blood from one human being to another,

if we have to have proper laws enacted to do it!

Are you... Are you through, Dr. Simon?

We have repeatedly warned you.

Up until recently, you were one of the most respected physicians in San Francisco,

and a good doctor.

But you have totally disregarded

all accepted methods of medical practice.

They're right out of the Dark Ages.

And transferring blood from one person to another is right out of hell!

It saves lives. Does it?

Two of your patients have already died from your experiments.

And 24 are alive because of them.

Now, gentlemen, this is 1885. The world is progressing.

The new replaces the old.

Medical science cannot, and should not, stand still.

It's true we don't know a great deal about the blood,

but there are great men of science,

both in this country and in Europe,

who believe that bloodletting is dangerously detrimental,

and that the transferring of good, whole blood

is the answer in certain instances.

We will find a way to stop you!

You do that.

Dr. Richter, we have not excused you of this hearing.

I have. Now, you can all sit around

on your collective prognoses and call me witch doctor.

I have more important things to do.

Doc... Oh, Dr. Richter.

The king of Hassan has requested you. He's at the Palace Hotel.

The Princess Nassim is gravely ill, and they cannot stop the bleeding.

I'll go over right away. I forbid it.

Don't you dare go near such a personage.

Why, you could cause an international incident if you attempt...

Richter!

Richter?

Howdy, folks. I'm the Old Ranger.

Today, we recognize blood plasma

as one of the great lifesaving tools of medicine,

just as Dr. Max Richter predicted in 1885.

But when he set out to prove the values of blood transfusions,

the resulting furor erupted into violent events

which provide us with a most exciting story called...

And the court physician, Dr. Lee, spoke very highly of you, Dr. Richter.

He was most anxious to meet you again.

Yes. Dr. Lee and I were colleagues in Europe some years ago.

I was so sorry to hear that he died.

He told us that you, like himself, had carried out

a great deal of research on blood.

That's correct. Well, then,

you will understand the gravity of the situation

with regard to the Princess Nassim.

She is... Dr. Lee told us... a bleeder.

And she's pregnant? The child will be born within a month.

And even worse than that, yesterday the princess cut her hand,

and the bleeding has not stopped yet.

Now, of course, Dr. Lee

always traveled with the royal party wherever it went,

and we did not anticipate his death aboard ship.

May... May I see the princess, please?

Oh, yes. This way, please.

Ah. Prince Ari.

This is Dr. Richter.

His Royal Highness is Princess Nassim's husband.

Help her, Doctor. Nassim... she's desperately ill.

Sir, my name is Dr. Simon.

I wish to see the prime minister. I am the prime minister.

I am here on the matter of the utmost urgency.

Your Excellency, read this.

Doctor?

Now, I can hear the baby's heartbeat.

It's steady. But your wife is weak.

She's lost too much blood.

Yes? What is it?

Dr. Richter, I must speak to you immediately. Please.

You don't waste much time, do you?

Not when it is a matter of life or death.

Especially when the life is that of a princess.

This man says he represents a medical society.

Represents? He is the medical society.

Well, he has made some very grave accusations against you, documented in these newspapers.

Now you must explain.

Do you change the blood from one human to another?

He must not be allowed to attend the princess. All right. Listen to me.

Now, that young girl in there is hanging on to her life by a thread,

so I don't have time to stand here and haggle with this pompous pillar of authority.

How dare you! Because you and...

Gentlemen, please.

Now, do I, or do I not, attend the princess?

That is a decision only His Majesty can make.

I do not know what to believe.

Dr. Richter, you must understand.

I am not only duty bound in this matter,

but the Lady Nassim is my daughter.

The child she carries is my grandchild.

Your colleague, Dr. Simon, corroborated by the newspapers,

accuses you of unnatural acts of medicine.

Unnatural by whose standards, sir?

You do not consider transferring, uh, blood

from one soul to another unnatural?

No, sir, I do not. If it please Your Highness...

Yes, Dr. Simon.

This man has already taken the lives of two people with his barbaric practices.

Is this true, Dr. Richter?

I don't deny that two of my patients died

as a result of my blood injections.

You see, there are mysteries about blood type

that we don't understand as yet.

However, I'm sure that no mention was made of 24 other people

who are alive today because of my blood transferals.

Sir, all this is taking up precious time.

Now, the princess is near death.

If you are allowed to proceed, what would be your treatment?

I haven't had time to fully examine her yet.

All I know is she's terribly weak from loss of blood.

What would be your treatment, Dr. Simon?

Your Highness, I've had no opportunity to examine her either.

But from what I've been able to gather, it would seem proper

to bleed her of all poison.

You fool! Don't you know that would kill her?

Sir, now, doesn't it seem logical to you?

She's lost too much blood already.

Bleeding would drain her of the last ounce of life she has left.

Are you suggesting that we transfer more blood to her from another person?

I don't know. It depends.

But if the white corpuscles in her blood are not building up,

that would be her only chance.

Amir, she is my daughter, but she is also your wife.

Now, you have heard what has been said here, what is your wish?

Sire, I know only one thing:

I love Nassim with every fiber of my heart,

and I know she is dying.

But Dr. Lee spoke with the utmost respect of Dr. Richter.

And I remember once that Dr. Lee had remarked about the possibility

of a... a transfusion, he called it.

You are saying you would consent to Dr. Richter continuing?

Yes, Sire.

But, Your Highness, the Medical Society...

The Medical Society has no jurisdiction here.

Dr. Richter, the Princess Nassim is in your hands.

But if she dies,

I shall appeal... no, demand,

from the president of the United States,

an investigation into your unorthodox methods.

Now do you accept?

A woman and her unborn child are near death.

I'm a doctor. Of course I accept.

Then go.

Let 'em in.

Oh, the ice. Good. Come on. Put it here, on this table. Over here.

What is this? Incense.

Get rid of it. Hurry.

Prince. Yes, Doctor?

Now, I want these curtains down. I want those drapes down.

Anything in this room that can gather dust... out.

Tell the hotel to send up six charwomen.

I want the room scrubbed from top to bottom with a carbolic acid solution.

Acid?

Yes. When a room is scrubbed with a carbolic solution,

it lessens the chance of infection.

Now, does he speak English? Yes.

Take this list, go to this hospital,

and pick up this list of supplies.

Then I want you to go to this address and ask for Miss Anne Knight.

Don't volunteer any information,

but you get her here.

Look, don't just stand there. Go get those charwomen.

And tell them to send up a cot.

Come in.

I said, come in.

Miss Knight.

I'm glad you were available, Miss Knight.

You.

They didn't tell me. If I'd known you were the doctor on the case,

I would not have been available.

Oh? I'm sorry to hear you say that.

I thought that you, at least, would still have confidence in me.

There was a time when I was proud to work with you...

when I thought you were the best doctor in San Francisco.

But what you've become with your hideous experiments,

taking blood from one person, injecting it into another...

It's unholy? Unholy?

And who are you, God?

Your god must be a stranger to the Christian world, Miss Knight,

if he condemns the saving of human life.

And I've seen these blood transferals

do exactly that time and time again.

I didn't send for you to listen to a lesson on the Scriptures,

or to hear you tell me how to practice medicine.

You're here because you're an excellent nurse, and for no other reason.

Now get into your uniform.

Well, there's work to be done here, and it can't wait.

Why, she's only a child.

Yes, they marry young in her country.

What about the baby?

The heart rate is steady but weakening.

Premature birth is indicated. Prognosis: negative.

What are your instructions?

Release the tourniquet every seven to ten minutes

and continue with the ice poultices.

Ice?

Ice.

It thickens the blood. It makes it move more slowly through the body.

Now, if her blood carries the infection to the baby...

And I realize that it might.

But if I can delay it...

All right. Now, I'm going to need your help

to take a sample like this every three hours.

It's a relatively new technique.

I take a drop of blood from her wound,

place it on the slide, and put it under the microscope.

I can then tell the condition of her blood.

Come here. I'll show you exactly what I mean.

Take a look.

You see the crosshairs? Yes.

They make a pattern of squares, right? Right.

Let me look.

Now, by counting the white cells in a single square,

we can tell if the blood is building up the cells,

or if the infection is destroying them.

What is it?

Well, at the rate the infection is spreading, she'll be dead by tomorrow.

There must be something we can do.

There is. There's one thing.

Because of all the talk, all the time that's been wasted...

You know, I had really hoped

that this wouldn't be necessary.

She needs blood. Good, whole blood.

You wouldn't dare.

It's her only chance.

It might kill her.Might.

If you have no regard for life,

think of the international complications.

She's a princess.

I'm only interested in the medical complications.

The fact that she's a princess really doesn't interest me.

Don't be a fool.

Dr. Simon and the Medical Society are waiting for just one chance

to charge you with criminal negligence.

If she dies, you'll be giving it to them.

It'll mean the end of your career.

Maybe even prison.

All right. And where would my career be

if I allowed her to just slip away, huh?

You know, when a man loses respect for himself, no one can give it back to him.

Not even the mighty Medical Society.

If her system tolerates the healthy blood, at least she'll have a chance.

And if not?

Then we'll know that everything possible was done to save her.

I won't help you.

And you can't make me help you.

Anne.

I need more than your help.

I need your blood.

Well, you're out of your mind!

We were very close once, remember?

You said you had confidence in me.

You remember that little boy... the one with the terribly infected leg?

Jimmy.

Jimmy.

You remember when I told you his leg had to be amputated?

You didn't believe it. Neither did his parents.

So they wouldn't let me do it, and the little boy died.

You remember how you cried that night?

You believed in me once.

You'll believe in me again. You'll be crying for her.

She needs your blood, Anne.

You better hurry.

Prince Amir will be back in a minute.

I can't hurry.

You see, I don't know that temperature's a factor.

And since I don't know, I can't chance it.

See, the temperature of your blood is normal.

I can't bring hers down below 102. Even with the icepacks.

Not only that, as your blood flows through the tube,

it's going to lower even more in temperature.

All right. I think we're ready.

Now, this isn't going to hurt, so you have nothing to worry about.

But just think, your blood very well may save two human lives...

the princess and her unborn child.

All right?

Now, keep your arm straight.

You'll feel a little sting when the needle taps the vein.

That's all.

Now give me your other hand.

That's right. Now, I'm putting the tourniquet

between your thumb and forefinger, all right?

Now, when I tell you, I want you to pull that.

That'll release the knot and allow the blood to flow through the tube.

But it must be done gently. Under no circumstances are you to disturb this needle.

You'll be fine. All right.

Arm straight.

All right, Anne.

Pull. Now, gently.

Easy. Easy, little princess.

Is she all right?

The blood flow is good.

Why... Why, you're transferring blood? It was the only way.

How is she?

I won't know for a while.

Now, whoever that is, you keep them out. I don't want anybody in here.

It might be the king. I don't care. That's up to you.

Keep him out.

Gentlemen, please. Look!

Please! So, you went ahead.

I demand that you stop immediately.

You know, I'm about to forget that I'm a doctor

and use my hands for something other than holding a scalpel.

I thought you would resort to this savage technique.

I had the board meet and draw up a resolution to the district attorney.

If the princess dies, you will be charged with manslaughter.

Are you gonna get out, or do I throw you out?

May I stay?

Of course.

You're her husband.

She may feel your presence in the room, and it'll comfort her.

Are you all right? I'm fine.

Good.

Her system tolerated the new blood.

Thank God.

Yes, thank God. And than you.

You know, what you did was terribly courageous, and I know that.

Anne, I'm sorry,

but I'm gonna need you immediately.

Complications?

At the moment, her biggest complication is having a baby,

which I think she's about to do momentarily.

Prince, you'll have to leave now.

Princess.

Careful.

Prince Amir, may I present your son, the prince.

I'm sorry, gentlemen, but you'll have to leave.

Then, Dr. Richter, you think they will both live?

I said I thought they had a very good chance.

I see.

Dr. Richter, you are a man of considerable worldly knowledge.

You must have been aware of the, uh, sensitivity

of royal families to their bloodline.

Why did you not take Prince Amir's blood?

Or mine?

If I'd been convinced, of course.

Well, I understand that Prince Amir is Nassim's fourth cousin.

And even as remote a relationship as that

could tend to emphasize uncertain factors in the blood

that we're trying to overcome.

I need not remind the Crown

that it is duty bound to renounce the child's heritage

now that it has been tainted by commoner's blood.

Renounce?

It is the demand of my office

that I respect our country's tradition above my person.

Nevertheless, under any circumstances,

a newborn in the royal household must be presented to the Crown

within an hour of its birth.

Regardless of blood, he's still my grandson. Bring him.

Excellency, I have the honor

to present to the Crown my son,

heir apparent to the throne of Hassan.

Prince Amir, you are familiar with the tradition of our country.

This child's blood is...

Sire, I also wish to present to the court Miss Anne Knight.

Whose act of great courage saved the lives of two members of the royal household.

An act of heroism for which the Crown is duty bound

to confer an award of...

nobility.

That is true, Sire.

I think I understand.

Dr. Richter, will you sign affidavits

confirming Miss Knight's heroism and its value?

Well, there's no doubt that Miss Knight's act of great courage

saved both their lives.

Then by the power invested in me,

I do hereby grant one parcel of King's land in the province of Lu,

and bestow the title Princess of the Royal House

upon Miss Anne Knight.

Furthermore, I do hereby acknowledge

that the male child born to Prince Amir

is the rightful heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Hassan.

So be it ordered.

Dr. Richter,

forgive me for not having had enough confidence in you.

You are indeed a great physician.

Thank you, sir.

I shall have the honor to inform your president of your deed here today.

The world should know the importance of blood transference

as I do now.

Well, let's hope that someday they will, sir.

Bye.Good-bye.

Oh, Dr. Richter? Yes, sir?

You haven't mentioned a fee.

Oh, uh, I'll mail you a bill.

Whatever it is, I shall be delighted to triple it.

Good-bye, Doctor, and good luck. Thank you.

And to the newly created princess,

my deepest gratitude.

Dr. Max Richter continued to employ blood transfusions

at the risk of jeopardizing his own career.

And one day, the use of blood plasma

was to save thousands of lives

in wars and hospitals all over the world.