Arrowsmith Page #5

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You tell the papers

that I can cure all disease

when you know I can't even cure

whooping cough yet.

And you call that

"a slight overstatement."

- I can understand your surprise.

- My surprise?

My only surprise is that

I don't wring your fat neck.

- My husband's a violent man.

- I know your husband.

And I mean the world to know him

and appreciate him as I do.

After all. he's still

got his name to make.

You've done that for me.

You've made my name smell

from one end of this country to the other

as a quack and a faker

and a racketeer.

Call your reporters in

and tell them I'm through with you

and your front page publicity

and your cheapjack institute.

I'd much rather tell them

of the paper I've just signed.

Yes. Dr. Gottlieb.

We are busy at the moment.

Busy turning my friend Martin

into a megaphone.

- That's all right. Chief.

- Something has happened.

But it's something

not altogether bad.

Martin is not the discoverer

we thought he was.

But you don't mean that someone

has stolen...

Yes. A Frenchman. D'Herelle

of the Pasteur Institute of Paris.

He has published his report.

It is the same thing.

You have got into the newspapers

too soon. Dr. Tubbs.

Of course. there can be no talk

of the Head of Department now.

No raise of salary. either.

Well l... I've got to say something

to those reporters.

I am sorry. Martin.

Come to my office later.

I love that man Gottlieb.

He might have gloated.

Three stowaways

in the hold. sir. dead.

What is it?

Come on. Sondelius.

we have a look.

Where was your last port of call?

Blackwater. St. Hubert Isle.

Did you hear anything there

about bubonic plague?

- No.

- No.

These three men

died of bubonic plague.

I tell you. gentlemen.

in West India

is bubonic plague.

Are you certain of this.

Dr. Sondelius?

I have investigate.

If you don't believe me. call up

my good friend Captain Gunnersson

of the steamer Sverker.

He will tell you.

He live by the hotel... What the devil's

the name of that hotel in Hoboken?

My dear Dr. Sondelius.

I'm not questioning your authority.

but it's difficult to believe

that in the West Indies...

Nothing is difficult to believe

where rats are concerned.

I am no novice at rats neither.

Dr. Tubbs.

I am only novice

in scientific institutions

where. all day long. scientists

sit and look through microscopes

and see nothing.

But. my dear Dr. Sondelius!

- In common justice to a fine institution...

- Excuse me. Dr. Tubbs.

Yes. Miss Robbins?

A cable just came from London.

Doctor.

It's from the Colonial Office.

There. Dr. Sondelius.

is your confirmation.

I don't need none.

I should like the Institute

to have a part in this.

Miss Robbins. ask Dr. Arrowsmith if he

can receive Dr. Sondelius and myself.

Yes. Doctor.

Well. what does Dr. Arrowsmith...?

Only one year ago.

one little year. Dr. Tubbs.

you were so excited about

my friend Arrowsmith's discovery.

Oh. yes. to be sure!

But that was...

Only something that killed bacteria.

that is all?

Thank you. Dr. Gottlieb!

- I wonder...

- I think so.

Arrowsmith...

Don't I know that name?

Young fellow? Dark?

Mustache?

Sure! Didn't I got drunk with him

in Montreal?

No. no. Indianap...

Well. well. Arrowsmith.

it is the same.

How are you. my friend?

So. you are become great!

You hold the stuff of salvation

in your hands.

I'd like to believe that.

I can't quite believe it yet. though.

Martin is a very careful fellow.

Dr. Sondelius.

He has only worked

one year on this discovery.

After five years. he may be confident

that he is right.

Five years?

He cannot wait for five years.

In five years. the whole population

of the West Indies will be wiped out.

The bubonic plague

will be raging in New York.

I don't know anything

about bubonic plague.

But I know. I will teach you

what I learn in China and in India.

Give me blood germs.

give me rats.

rat fleas. little jumpy fleas.

I will teach you what I learned

in China and India.

I will show you.

Then I will go with you.

So. you are off

to the West Indies tomorrow.

That's right. sir.

We have called you in. Terry and I.

to give you your final instructions.

What are they. sir?

Can you be trusted. Martin. to conduct

an experiment where you are going?

What is the experiment?

It is agreed that it will be of value to know

what this stuff of yours is good for.

Why. yes. of course.

Well...

If you could give injections to. say...

only half your patients.

and sternly deprive

the other half of them...

then you would know.

I certainly would. yes.

That is the experiment. Martin.

I've done that sort of thing with cattle.

but. good Lord. these are human beings.

So. you're just

a country doctor. after all.

Country doctor be blowed.

I've got compassion in me.

These people are gonna be dying

and begging me for help.

It's up to you to stand up

and take it on the chin.

So many men are kind and neighborly.

so few ever add to human knowledge.

It's a good deal to ask. just the same.

Spare your pity

for generations not yet born. Martin.

and you may be

the man to end all plague.

I am an old man. Martin.

I have been an honest scientist

all my life.

I look to you to carry on

my work after me.

Are you going to fail me?

No. sir. no. I am not going to fail you.

I...

I knew.

For the old man's sake.

keep your notes complete down there.

And keep them in ink.

You sound as though

you thought I wasn't coming back.

Don't be silly.

All ashore who's going ashore!

I'm not much

of a seeing-off committee.

but good luck to you down there

and take care of yourself.

- Take care of Gottlieb.

- I will.

Good luck to you. Doctor.

We will drink your health

in good West Indian rum.

It's time. Lee.

Yes. Martin.

We won't say good-bye.

- Will you try not to be too lonely?

- I will.

That's a brave girl.

Excuse me. madam. but which cabin

does the trunk belong in?

- In Dr. Arrowsmith's. of course.

- Yes. madam.

- Wait. I haven't got a trunk.

- Don't confuse him. It's my trunk.

- What do you mean. your trunk?

- You had to find out sooner or later

that I'm going along with you.

- Lee. you're not.

- Yes. I am. in spite of everything.

You'll do no such thing.

Hold that gangplank!

On board?

- What is it. Doctor?

- Get her ashore.

- Have to step lively. madam.

- No. I won't step lively.

I told you I wouldn't let you go there

without me and I meant it.

And you can't put me off. Nobody

but the captain can. I've got a ticket.

- No. Lee. please!

- I love you.

- She stays.

- Step to the cabin. madam.

I shall divide my group into two halves.

To one. I shall give

injections of our serum.

I shall deprive the other half

of any injections whatsoever.

I shall then watch which half

resists the plague more successfully.

When I have done that.

I shall know what our serum is worth.

Good heavens!

The man's a lunatic.

Order. gentlemen. order. order.

I can handle this. Order.

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