The Outsider

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3

All right, nurse.

Well?

Congenital dislocation.

Too late for operation.

Quite hopeless, I'm afraid.

Well, Sir Montague? How---

I and my colleagues regret to say, madam, that

there is nothing that can be done.

I am afraid your child will always be a cripple.

And is that all that the greatest specialist

in London can say?

We're only doctors, madam!

We can't work miracles.

Then I'll go to someone who can.

Is there anyone?

Ragatzy.

But he's only a quack!

You don't need that anymore.

For fifteen years...

...I've wanted to do this. Ha.

You can use it for firewood, eh?

Thank you, Mr Ragatzy.

Oh, Mr Ragatzy.

- I'm Lady Will---

- There are no ladies here.

Only mothers with crippled children.

You must wait your turn.

- Feeling better, eh?

- Yes, thank you, sir.

- Well?

- Yeah!

Well, I must confess - I'm very

much impressed.

And I congratulate you, Ragatzy.

Thank you, Dr Ladd.

And you can tell Lord Pembury, that my fee

for curing his son is 350 pounds.

- Isn't that rather a lot?

- Well, isn't he rather rich?

Well...

Soon I'll be able to do the Lambeth Walk.

That's not what Mr Ragatzy cured you for!

I have done a good job, eh?

Ah, Mr Ragatzy - how can we ever thank you

or pay you for what you've done?

Now, when I took this case on I told you that all

I would want would be my expenses.

Now let me see, the boy has been with me eight

months. Oh, a hundred pounds.

A hundred pounds? And me a taxi driver!

People ain't as free with their tips as they used to be.

Never mind, my friend - you keep your tips.

Just tell your customers how clever I am.

Tell everyone!

A lot of important people go in taxis.

- Oh, thank you, sir.

- You leave it to me, sir.

Cor, strike me up the Monument

if I don't tell 'em!

Why, I'll put a blinkin' loudspeaker

on top of me cab.

Cor, strike me pink if I don't, sir!

Oh, er, by the way, Dr Ladd.

I've changed my mind about that fee.

I thought you would.

Yes, it's gone up a hundred.

450 now, not three.

Now, listen, Ragatzy - you can't

do things like that.

It's not ethical. It's not... English.

Well, I'm not ethical and I'm not English.

That's the whole trouble.

Oh, well.

Gentlemen. The plain truth is...

...Ragatzy has done some amazing cures.

Quacks always do do amazing cures.

Otherwise you'd never hear of 'em.

He certainly gets enough publicity.

Disgusting.

The papers are doing all they can to make

us recognise this outsider.

If we don't, there's going to be a

press campaign against us.

Why not meet him, and investigate his

claims for yourselves?

I suppose we shall have to.

Confound the fellow!

It's no point our seeing him

unless Sturdee does.

And he won't.

Sturdee's very open-minded about anything

that can benefit humanity.

Let me see if I can persuade

him to meet Ragatzy.

I can see "Lord Marble Arch" associating

with a charlatan!

- "Lord Marble Arch"?

- That's what the nurses used to call him.

You'll know why when you meet him.

Sir Israel Nathan has just telephoned, sir.

He's on his way to see you.

Oh. Where's Miss Sturdee?

She's in the drawing room, sir.

With some friends.

Good. Then I'll see her later.

Foundit

Off you go.

Well, Wendy. For an actress you

played almost like a lady.

Oh, actresses can do other things

besides that, you know?

Yes, most of them do other things

much better than act.

Oh, they do, do they?

Well, I must go and see how Lally's getting on.

Come on, everybody.

Now then, don't give yourself away.

I know - Robert Taylor.

Certainly not!

- My... darling Gary Cooper.

- Never.

- Tommy Farr.

- Ooh, no.

Oh, I give up. You'll have to

suggest some names.

The one and only Basil Owen,

in person.

I never would have guessed it.

Well, how's the great work going?

You may well ask.

A new song cycle by Lalage Sturdee.

Words by the one-and-only Basil Owen.

And he hasn't written a word for weeks.

And what's more, they're going into rehearsal

at the BBC on Tuesday.

Oh, darling, I am sorry, but I've been awfully

busy with the new musical comedy.

And the new blondes that go in it!

Well, they haven't picked them yet,

so I haven't had a chance.

Well, let's hear what you've done.

Oh, Lally - that's the loveliest tune.

Do people really like that dreary,

sentimental stuff nowadays?

Some people do.

But... if you like I'll change and play something

you can understand, Wendy?

Darling, all music is too, too

beautiful. Even yours.

Thank you.

Come on, Basil - let's dance.

Go, Lally! Swing it!

But you know Lally doesn't play swing.

Oh, yes she does!

Lally can swing it higher than you can kick!

Oh, good shot!

Well, Lally? Are you enjoying the sunshine?

Why, yes.

I'll never get used to it.

Isn't there anyone, anywhere?

No darling, there isn't anyone, anywhere.

- You talk as if I mustn't even hope.

- You mustn't even pray.

That seems to shut out God.

Oh, excuse me, sir.

Sir Nathan Israel to see you. I've

shown him into the study.

Thank you, Bridget.

Lally, dear - you must be brave.

Try to make the best of things.

People who make the best of things...

never make them any better.

Well, I mustn't keep Sir Nathan waiting.

And I've got to catch the six o'clock

train to Newcastle.

Darling, how long will you be gone?

Only until tomorrow evening. I've got a

big operation there in the morning.

What shall I bring you back?

Oh - the usual sack of coals.

All right.

How are you, Sturdee?

- I won't disturb you long.

- You never disturb me.

Well - what is it?

It's, uh---

- No, thanks.

- No.

It's about Ragatzy.

Ragatzy!

You want me to help you to get him

run out of the country?

With the greatest of pleasure.

No. I want you to meet him,

with the rest of us.

No.

But he has cured cases that we've

pronounced incurable.

He oughtn't to be allowed to.

Not allowed to cure people?

Not without the knowledge that'll give reasonable security

that he won't either kill or cripple them instead.

But, you're always the first to say we

have a duty to science.

This isn't science.

It's not like you to be so obstinate.

It isn't obstinacy.

I've a very personal reason, for not only

discouraging quacks like Ragatzy...

...but for running them out of business.

You know how Lally is.

But you don't know why.

Her mother was young and beautiful.

So young.

So... beautiful.

She died, giving birth to Lalage.

I felt I'd lost everything.

Well, after it was all over they brought

the child to me, but...

...l couldn't even look at it.

Instead of hating myself, as I should

have done, I hated the child.

So I sent her away, to my old

nurse in the country.

Well... after that I left England.

Travelled around a good deal.

I practised in the East...

...went to the States.

Then one day I received a letter.

It said the child was pretty, and

remarkably intelligent.

But, at nearly three years, couldn't walk.

Only crawl - dragging one little foot.

But there was no need to worry, because they were

having her treated by the local bone-setter.

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