Medicine Man

Goodbye. Enjoy your stay.

The foundation for whom I work

supports a botanist...

named Robert Campbell, once of some note.

But on separating from his wife

and long-time research partner...

he'd withdrawn his station

deeper into the bush.

And until last month's message,

no one had heard from him in three years.

He asked for an assistant

and a gas chromatograph...

and pointedly refused to say why.

I'm surprised they sent a woman.

For Dr. Campbell.

Please don't lose it.

Wait a minute. Aren't you coming with me?

I'm afraid he was adamant about that.

Tanaki will guide you from here.

Come on, you, go.

Come on.

Careful.

Are we here?

Okay, ready? Here you go.

Indian?

Oh, boy.

- Who are you?

- Who am I? Who are you?

I asked you first.

- You're Dr. Campbell, right?

- I know who the hell I am.

- I'm asking who you are.

- Crane.

No, toucan.

- No, that's my name.

- Toucan?

- How odd.

- Crane. Dr. Rae Crane.

I do wish you'd make up your mind.

Maybe it's best we talk

in the morning, Doctor.

This is from Ornega.

How about a place to sleep?

Ornega?

Are you from Aston?

- He sent you?

- I tell you. They sent a girl.

- They sent a girl?

- Yes.

- I'm not a girl.

- The hell you're not.

- I'm your research assistant.

- The hell you are.

- Where's your mask?

- I don't have one. I just got here.

No one comes in here

without a surgical mask.

God knows what bugs you're carrying.

Jahausa, get her a mask.

- Relax. This is as close as we get, Tonto!

- Not for me, you hussy!

- For the indians.

- Hussy?

One outsider with a common cold

can decimate an entire tribe.

- And what about your shots?

- What about a place to sleep, God damn it?

To sleep?

Sleep.

Yes, of course, please forgive me.

There's no need for you to leave

till tomorrow.

I must tell you how grateful I am.

I've been waiting for these.

They get lost in the forest, you see?

The forest is so vast

and they're just so very small.

Dr. Campbell?

No, Palala. Back to the boat.

You had no right to unpack that equipment.

Where are you going?

- No.

- That's all right. He's loading the boat.

- No boat.

- Palala, only those boxes are staying.

Come on, up.

Luggage down. Come on, put it down.

Would you do me a favor

and ask him to put my luggage down?

Sorry, I forget women

like to carry their own now.

I think I should introduce myself.

You're the so-called research

assistant from Aston.

- You don't remember last night?

- Do I appear senile?

Drunk.

- Intoxicated, yes.

- There's a difference?

The Peach Palm Festival

is a religious ceremony.

Are those bags too heavy?

Shall I call Palala back?

No. I'm not getting on a boat. No boat.

It's the only available transport,

and you certainly can't remain here.

- Why? Because I'm not a man?

- Because you're not one of three men.

I requested Dr. Alan Sealove.

If he was unavailable, Dr. Gregory Hoffman.

I'm published more extensively

than Dr. Sealove.

I hold degrees from CCNY,

Berkeley, and Cambridge.

I'm the recipient...

of the Thurman Award in '82 and '86.

The first and only time it's ever been given

to the same person twice.

Is there anything else

you'd like to know about me?

- Do those boots come with a manual?

- No.

I thought of snakes.

When was the last time

you did field research?

Or when was the first time?

I did a month in La Salva.

A whole month?

You didn't need me.

- You needed a caddie.

- Palala will carry your bags to the boat.

You send me back on the basis of

my gender, that's called sex discrimination.

Look, I understand your reservations.

I heard about your wife.

My wife? Good God, she left me.

I wish you'd follow her example.

Are we finished?

- You have a boat to catch.

- No boat.

- I want a meal and a bath.

- This isn't a hotel.

- I'll leave when I'm damn well ready.

- I know, after a meal and a bath.

I'm not a 19-year-old grad student

working up a resume.

And I don't expect to be

treated as if I were.

I'm hungry, I'm tired...

and I've been in these clothes

for more than one dance.

Palala will see that you get some breakfast.

I said, and a bath.

Unbutton your shirt.

Excuse me?

Do you want to bathe in their water supply?

You'll take a medical first.

Sit down. Here.

- Is he gonna watch?

- Don't you want a nurse present?

- I'll risk it.

- I won't.

Deep breath.

Now I understand why you've been

so secretive about your research here.

You found the cure

for the common hangover.

Look up.

Left.

Right.

- Open your mouth.

- There's nothing wrong...

Say "ah.' '"

Let me see your carnet.

- My what?

- It's in your passport.

Your vaccine card.

This is completely unnecessary.

The principal cause of death

among aboriginals is imported disease.

What do you see?

I thought we did the eye examination.

Come on, you won two Thurman Awards,

show off.

What am I analyzing?

Did you run a base line?

No.

Next time run a base line

to calibrate the machine.

There's a glucose solution

specifically for that.

Is that the substance you're analyzing?

Yes.

- What is it, a plant extract?

- Full marks. Continue.

Okay.

We're looking at...

49 compound.

Okay, what we've got here is...

Where was I? Okay, 49 compound.

No.

Nearly all of these are identifiable.

In short, nothing new.

Is this why you wanted the chromatograph?

You said "nearly all identifiable.' '"

Yeah.

Just this one, Peak 37.

Looks like an acid derivative.

Although those side...

You must have thought

you were onto something.

- I'm sorry.

- Can it be synthesized?

This one's mother nature's kitchen.

End of story.

Why?

- What is it you think you've got?

- I don't think.

- I know.

- Share it.

What's the problem?

Even as a child, I didn't like to share.

It was deep-seated, I suppose.

What is it, a secret?

I'll cross my heart and spit on the floor.

You said breakfast and a bath.

You saving it for Sealove?

Don't, he's not coming.

Then I'll settle for Robinson.

You were lucky you got me

and last year's chromatograph.

I give up.

I believe our deal was

bath, breakfast, and boat.

I didn't come here to make deals.

Then why did you come here?

I'll leave the chromatograph

for the time being.

I'm asking you a question.

You have no idea, have you?

Aston's considering pulling your funds

and shipping you out.

I'm your judge and jury.

- Winslow would never permit that.

- Winslow!

Winslow retired last year.

If you hadn't cut off incoming,

you would have known that.

- Who replaced him?

- Me.

You don't send progress reports.

You move your damn station

wherever and whenever you like.

You don't send in a record of expenses!

And you don't respond

to requests for information.

So here I am!

- Put this on. I want to show you something.

- I've seen it.

Put in on!

Please.

Follow me.

This is Kalana...

wife of Jahausa, mother of Imana.

Palpate her throat.

I'm not a medic.

Good God, woman, must everything

be a full-scale debate with you? Just do it.

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