Corridors of Blood (1958) - full transcript

Quiet!

We are ready for you now, sir.

- First patient.
- Come on.

For your information, gentlemen...

this is a straightforward amputation
of the lower extremity of the femur.

And to you students, again I emphasize
the absolute necessity...

for speed.

That was a good day's work,
Bolton, eh?

You're getting faster all the time.
Beats me how you do it.

No matter how fast I am,
I still can't save them that terrible agony.

Yes, most distressing,
but, alas, inevitable.



You can't have operations
without screams.

Pain and the knife are inseparable.

I beg to differ, Mr. Blount.

Someday surgery must
and will be made painless.

I've got to go. It's getting late.

- Go straight home. You've done enough work.
- I have patients waiting for me.

You're not still fooling with that
free dispensary of yours in Seven Dials.

I can't understand why
a distinguished surgeon of your ability...

can squander his valuable time
prescribing castor oil and stomach pills...

for a group of miserable wretches.

And how else will those miserable wretches,
as you call them...

get any kind of medical attention?

That's a matter for the authorities.

True, except that they repudiate
the obligation and do nothing.



I really think that setting aside
one afternoon a week...

is the very least that I can do.

You're spending more time
than that, Bolton.

On top of it all,
there are your chemical experiments.

If I were you,
I should tread a little carefully.

- People are beginning to talk.
- Well, let them talk.

In the meantime,
I'll do what I think is right.

- Good-bye, Father. I'll see you this evening.
- Oh, yes. Susan's expecting you.

Don't be late.

Pity your father's
so squeamish, Jonathan.

But perhaps he's not quite the same
with his, uh, charity patients.

Vegetables! Five baskets!

Buy, buy, buy!

Vegetables! Five baskets!

Buy 'em by the bulk!
Buy, buy, buy!

Buy, buy, buy!

Buy, buy, buy!

There's a pig with a curly tail!

There's a Yorkshire pig.
There's an Hampshire pig.

There's a pig without a tail.

There's a long-tailed pig.
There's a short-tailed pig.

There's a pig with a curly tail!

- Thank you, Doctor.
- Off with you.

Well, now, what's that?

It's my Addie's foot, sir.
She's cut it.

Well, now, Addie, we'll just have to
have a look at that, won't we?

You sit there, darling.

Now we'll see what's wrong.

Now, Addie.

That's not hurting too much, is it?

Now, there's a good girl.

How did she get a cut like this?

On a bit of glass outside the theater
where she sells fiowers.

It's a very bad cut.

There'll be no more fiower selling
for a week or two.

- No, sir. I'll keep her home.
- I mean what I say.

You keep this child off her feet...

or she'll be hopping around on a crutch
for the rest of her life.

I will, sir.
I swear I will.

There we are, Addie.

Safe and sound
in just a little bit.

Use this ointment.

See that she has
a clean bandage every day.

God bless you, sir.
I'll see she comes to no more harm.

It's hard enough
without the money she brings in.

Yes, I suppose it is.

If it doesn't heal, come see me in a week.

But don't wait any longer.

Here. Take that.

Oh, thank you, sir.

Good day to you, sir.
God bless you again, sir.

Bye, Addie.

It's a good thing
you're not gone, Doctor.

Oh, Ben, you're way past my time.
Now, what do you want?

It's a poor fellow
over in my lodging house, sir.

He's got a fever,
and he's coughing his heart up, sir.

- Can't your wife take care of him?
- She's doing that, sir.

But I'm telling you, Doctor, he's bad.
We thought he'd burst his lungs.

Oh, Doctor, you must come.

All right, I'll come.

I can cut through to Oxford Street
from your place. That's where my carriage is.

Go ahead.

Yes!

Get outta here!

Let's go.

Rachel. Rachel!

Rachel! He's coming.

Rosa! How often have I told you
to keep this door closed?

This place must breed
a hundred fevers.

You're right there, Doctor.

I furnished it cheap when they pulled down
the old smallpox hospital.

- Where's the patient?
- He's upstairs.

He's on my own bed.

This may not be much of a place, Doctor,
but we do have consideration for the sick.

What's the matter, Doctor?
Don't you recognize your own handiwork?

- Came out of the hospital only a week ago.

Frightened out ofhis wits, he was.

You fxed him up good, Doctor.

Half a leg and half a brain.
That's all you've left him with.

He's still in a state of shock.

They should never have discharged him
in this condition.

Come on, out of the way, Nick.

We got work up aloft.

Ben! Ben!

He's dead. He's dead.

Ah, easy now, Rachel. Easy.

It's no good, Doctor.

He couldn't hold on any longer.

The wife upsets very easy, Doctor.

We'd best go and see for ourselves.

Well, give me a light.

Closer, woman.
Let me see him.

What happened?

It was an awful coughing ft.

And then there was a sound
as if his ribs was rattlin' to pieces.

Terribly undernourished.
Consumptive, I'd say.

Strange.
No signs of a hemorrhage.

- Who is he?
- A beggin' letter-writer.

One of the best.
Name is Scrivener Sam.

As good a man with a pen
as you'd ever see.

Is there anyone to bury him?

It'll be a pauper's grave, Doctor,
but we'll see him to it.

But as you know, we got to have
a certifcate for the authorities.

This new act of parliament.
Very strict, you know.

We can't bury him
without a proper certifcate.

I'll make sure that he's laid out
nice and proper, Doctor.

Yes.

See that he gets a decent burial.

Needn't worry yourself
about that, Doctor.

It'll be all aboveboard.

- May I see you out, Doctor?
- Don't bother.

Ben, I warn you.

If any of your lodgers
are taken ill like that again...

get them to the hospital
before it's too late.

Yes, Doctor.

Take him to the hospital, he says!

He don't know how right he is!

joe!

I told you he'd sign.
No need to get scared.

Yeah.

If we can do it once,
we can do it twice.

And more!

Come on! Drink up!

To profit and no comeback?

- Did I do it right, governor?
- None better, Resurrection.

I told you chokin'
would look natural, didn't I?

- What do you want?
- Just looking.

I been hearing some strange talk.

Well, forget it.
Come on.

Get back to your room.

joe, you get the tea chest up here.

- Ned'll get the cart.
- Yeah.

The hospital'll pay us well for him.

The body's nice and fresh...

and we got evidence that shows
as he died all neat and tidy-like...

according to the law.

It's a nice body, governor.

You have the death certifcate?

Huh! Signed by Bolton.

That's right, governor.
One of his charity patients.

Uncle, you've hardly
touched your food.

I'm sorry, Susan.
I just don't feel like it tonight.

- You've been working too hard.
- Susan's right, Father.

That dispensary's too much on top of
your work in surgery. You can't do both.

Maybe I should give up surgery.

How can you say that?
You're the finest surgeon in the hospital.

Oh? What is a surgeon?

How do you judge his work?
It's to cure, isn't it?

- Sometimes I wonder.
- What are you getting at?

Today, in Seven Dials...

I came face-to-face with one
of my so-called successful operations.

There he was...

his mind destroyed
by shock and pain.

A fine tribute to my skill.

I tell you, Jonathan, I can't rest until we find
some way to rid surgery of such horrors.

But, Father, your dream of
lulling people into unconsciousness...

there's nothing new about that.

People have been trying
to find a way for centuries.

Even so, I am determined,
through my experiments, to find that way.

It just isn't possible.

Perhaps Blount was right.
Perhaps pain and the knife are inseparable.

Don't tell me you believe
such wicked nonsense!

But we only know of one way
to reduce the agony... operate quickly.

And, Father, you have a sureness
and a speed unmatched by anyone.

- Why waste time with foolish experiments?
- How dare you say I'm wasting my time!

Now, stop it, both of you!

Well, I don't understand
how two of you can be so stubborn.

I'm sorry, Father.

It's all right, Jonathan.

But I am making progress.

One of these days
I'm going to surprise you both.

And we're going to help you
in every way that we can.

Of course we are.

- I must get back to the hospital.
- Can't you stay for a little while?

No, I'm sorry, Susan, I can't.
I'm on call tonight.

Well, we won't delay you.
Don't be late.

I've asked Cook
to fx you a hamper.

Why? Don't you think
they feed me properly at the hospital?

I'm sure they don't. And I think it's a shame
they make you live on the hospital grounds.

Well, very soon I'll be qualifed as a surgeon.
Then I can live where I please.

- Good night, Father.
- Good night, Jonathan. Good night, my dear.

There's cold chicken
and one of Cook's game pies.

Do you really expect me to walk
through the streets carrying this thing?

Go on, you ungrateful wretch.

You know, Susan,
keeping house for my father suits you.

- You're looking very lovely.
- Thank you, sir.

- Good night.
- Good night.

This experiment will test the properties...

of a strange gas...

prepared with nitric acid
and granulated zinc.

Uncle. Uncle, what's happened?
What are you laughing at?

Uncle, what is it?
What is it?

Why are you laughing like that?
Stop it!

Uncle!

Get hold of yourself.
Get hold. Be still! Be still.

Uncle. Uncle, be calm.

Sit down.
Sit down quietly.

Uncle, what have you done to yourself?
You frighten me, laughing like that.

But, Susan, you're dreaming.

I've been working.

I'm not dreaming.
You've cut your hand. Look at it.

Look at it.
You slashed it on the glass.

- I was here. I saw you.
- What?

- Didn't you know? Didn't you feel it?
- No.

Uncle, you've done it.

You didn't feel it.
You've done it!

Uncle!
You didn't feel any pain.

But why shouldn't it succeed?

I've performed a dozen experiments
since the night I gashed my hand.

It's all here.
And it works, I tell you. It works.

Well, Tom, the idea's
certainly a novel one, but...

When can I give a demonstration?

Well, permission from the chairman...

and the house committee
would have to be obtained.

- Then there's the question of a patient.
- I have my man already picked out.

Uh-huh. I see.

- And he has agreed to take the risk?
- Risk?

There's no risk, providing the patient's
heart and lungs are sound.

Well, I'll put your request
before the committee.

Point out to them
what it would mean to the hospital...

to be able to say that
the first operation without pain...

was performed within these walls.

Now, look, Tom, are you sure
you're ready for a demonstration?

I know I am.

Charles, it'd be a crime to let that agony
go on a day, an hour longer than necessary.

Well, it's your reputation that's at stake
and not mine.

Let's hope your optimism is justifed.

Well, now,
if the committee agrees...

shall we say Monday week at 3:00?

Good. I'll be ready.

Ah, Mr. Donnevan.

May I present our chairman?

- Mr. Donnevan's from Guy's Hospital.
- How do you do?

- And this is Mr. Hammerton from the London.
- How do you do?

What?

Bolton's late.

Maybe
he's put himself to sleep.

Careful with it, Peter.

Uncle, I... I hope all goes well.

Of course it will, my dear.
Look how many times I've tested my patient.

- Good luck.
- Thank you, Susan.

Father, I have
some bad news for you.

- Your patient's dead.
- What?

What happened?

Sudden stroke.

You can't go through with this now, Father.
You'll have to cancel the demonstration.

Have people say I was afraid
to put my theory to the test?

Certainly not.
We must find another patient.

- But you can't possibly...
- We must!

You there.

Not you. You.
What's wrong with your arm?

Abscess, gov.
Hurts something terrible.

- Come with me.
- What are you gonna do, cut it?

It's all right. You won't feel a thing.
All right, Jonathan.

Come on.
You'll be all right.

- Where are we going?
- There.

Good afternoon, gentlemen.
I must apologize for being late.

Ah, Mr. Bolton. I understand
you have something new to show to us.

Be so good as to explain to these gentlemen
what it is you're going to demonstrate.

Thank you, sir.

Good luck, Tom.

All right, Jonathan.

Come on. In the chair.
Go on.

Well, now, gentlemen...

by using this special formula...

which contains nitrous oxide...

and which I will administer
through this inhalator...

I propose to render the patient
insensible.

Which one is the patient?

I will then operate upon his arm...

and he'll not feel the slightest pain.

No straps will be necessary.

I'll believe that when I see it.

It's all right.
It's all right. Now, here.

Hold that between your teeth.

Now breathe deeply.

Deeper.

Order, gentlemen, please!

Now let's try it again.

Deeply.

Again.

Deeper.

Again.

Laugh at me, will ya, ya dirty butchers?

I'll show ya!

Come here!

You can proceed with
your demonstration now, Mr. Bolton.

Your patient is unconscious.

Uncle, what happened?

Did it go badly?

The gas didn't put the man to sleep.
The whole thing was like a circus.

Thank you, Peter.

In spite of today's failure...

I am convinced that the answer
to painless surgery...

now lies within my grasp.

For a few vital seconds,
the patient was completely oblivious...

to the pain of the knife.

However, the formula
must be strengthened...

so that the patient
remains unconscious...

until the operation is completed.

Tonight I propose to conduct
a further experiment on myself...

this time using
a much stronger formula...

containing a tincture of opium.

Pain and the knife are inseparable.

Pain and the knife are inseparable.

No, no. You're wrong. You're wrong.

Fixed him up good, Doctor.
Half a leg and half a brain.

That's all you left him with.

Now, governor?

Nah. Wait a while.

He'll be easier to handle then.

There's another lad who'll never earn
an honest penny again.

By all that's holy, look at that!

Here, out of the way, Joe.

Well, Doctor!

This is an unexpected pleasure.

Where is he?
I must find him.

The hospital should have
let me know.

Now, now, Doctor,
take it easy there.

By the looks of it, you've been
makin' a night of it?

The one-legged man... where is he?
I must help him.

We sent him away
for a nice, long rest.

- Haven't we, Joe?
- That's right, governor.

He's nice and peaceful now.

Well, what are you all staring for?
Strike up there!

Come on, Doctor.

Come and sit down, eh?

Well, it's nice to see you
here again, Doctor.

Have a little drop of this.
It'll probably do you good.

No, no, I don't want anything.
Thanks.

The one-legged man, he's the one
I came to see. Where is he?

Where is he? L...
I'm not feeling quite myself.

Perhaps you're right. By the looks of things,
you have had a bit too much.

If I can't help him, I must get back.

I shouldn't be here.
I must get back.

Well, we'll see you home
safe and sound.

- Won't we, Ned?
- Don't worry, gov.

I'll take care of him, all right.

Come on, sir. Come on.

Yes. There. There.

Come here, you little rat!

Now, what have you got, eh?

That's the boy.

All right?
A nice lie-down.

There you go. Up with you.
You feelin'...

All right, Rosa,
I'll take care of him.

Ben wants you downstairs.

You'll be all right.

Nice and comfortable.

I had no idea you were down here.
Uncle, have you been up all night?

Six hours.

I've been trying a new formula.

It works.

But...

I seem to have had a dream,
a strange dream.

It's all so vague.

- You look so tired. Come have some breakfast.
- Later, Susan, later.

I must make some notes first.

That's odd.

Can't find my notebook.

- It was right here.
- It can't be far away.

Don't worry.
Ellen and I will find it after breakfast.

Uncle, do you really think
you should go to the hospital today?

Why, of course.

In any case, I have to arrange
for a further demonstration.

All right, but have your breakfast first.
Come on.

I thought there was
something funny going on.

He's been experimenting on himself,
taking gas.

It's all here. Experiment one
right up to experiment 53.

- Do you think he'll be back?
- Don't worry. He'll be back.

How can you be sure of it?

You mark my words.

When he finds his precious notebook
is missing, he'll come crawling.

And when he does, we'll be ready.

Come on, Rosa.

What are you doing?
Get out of here!

Served you right. You should know better
than to fool around with him.

Someday you'll wiggle that bottom of yours
just once too often.

Come on, Rachel.
We've got work to do.

Yesterday
we were privileged to witness...

the dismal failure
of Mr. Bolton's demonstration.

But let us not be
too disappointed, gentlemen.

It was bound to fail.

Ever since surgery began...

man's destiny has been to suffer...

in order that he might be cured.

And no one can change that,
gentlemen.

Not even Mr. Bolton.

Now let us get on with our work.
Mr. Williams.

Will you be so good as to demonstrate
upon this cadaver...

as to how you would propose
to cut through the radius and ulna?

Oh, Mr. Chairman.

- Good morning, Mr. Bolton.
- How fortunate.

The superintendent said I could have
a word with you before the committee meeting.

- Very well, Mr. Bolton.
- I've made startling progress.

I'm most anxious to set the date for another
and, this time, successful demonstration.

I'm sorry, Mr. Bolton.
That is a matter for the committee to decide.

Precisely what I wanted
to talk to you about.

I wonder if my request could be
put forward on today's agenda.

After what happened,
I do not think this is the proper time...

to broach the subject
either to me or to the committee.

- However, I suggest you speak to the secretary.
- Excuse me, gentlemen.

- Time to open the meeting, Mr. Chairman.
- Thank you, Mr. Hardcastle.

Oh, be so good
as to instruct Mr. Bolton...

when it'll be convenient for the committee
to discuss the advisability...

Advisability?

The advisability of his conducting
a further demonstration...

of his...
painless operation technique.

- But...
- Of course, Mr. Bolton. At your service.

- I thought perhaps this morning...
- Not today, Mr. Bolton. Please.

Perhaps if you were to come
into my offce tomorrow, or the next day.

- It's time that I join the others.
- I must insist that I get another hearing.

Thank you, Mr. Bolton.
Thank you.

This is a disaster.

That notebook contains the details
of every experiment I've ever made.

Without it I'm lost.

We've ransacked the house from top to bottom.
It's nowhere to be found.

But, Susan, the committee won't allow me
another demonstration without those records.

It must be somewhere.

Perhaps if you could get a good night's sleep,
you'd remember where you left it.

Perhaps. Perhaps.

Well, you go to bed. I'll deal with it.

Good night, Uncle.

What were those proportions?

Pain and the knife are inseparable.

Oh, no. You're wrong.

If I had my notebook,
I could prove it to you.

Notebook.

Ben!

In the tavern, just out of jail

An old lag sits with a pint of ale

He likes his food
He likes his song

He likes the women
to think he's strong

Blimey. There he is.

In the tavern in a perky hat

Sits a girl who holds a skinny brat

She looks at him when she feels sad

He reminds her
of good times she's had

But he never cries or makes a din

'Cause she fills his bottle
with lovely gin

Lookin' for this, Doctor?

That's my notebook.
It was stolen from me.

Not so fast, Doctor.

Please. Please!

- Now...
- No, no. Don't destroy it. I must have it back.

You hear that, Rachel?

The doctor wants his book back.

All right, Doctor.
You can have it back.

But you'll have to sign
a little bit of paper for it.

- Won't he, Joe?
- Sign?

Take him upstairs, Joe.

Give 'em a jig!
Let's have some life!

What are they gonna do to him?

You keep your nose out
of what doesn't concern you.

Go on. Get back to the customers.

This way, gov.

That's Jim Simmons, typesetter.

I treated him for his hand. That's all.

It's like I said, Doctor.

You can have your precious notebook.

All you have to do
is to sign this death certifcate.

It's already filled in neat and proper.

I can't sign that.

I don't know how he died.

You're gettin' too particular, Doctor.

It's a favor for a favor, Doctor.

You want your book,
the hospitals want bodies.

They pay us well, eh, Rachel?

He died peaceful, governor.

Come on, Doctor.
Sign the paper.

It's as Ben says...

a favor for a favor.

No harm done.

- Go ahead, governor.
- You'd better make up your mind, Doctor.

No certifcate, no notebook.

No notebook, Doctor.

In my last few experiments, as I inhale...

my whole being is stimulated
for a short time.

And then as I continue...

I experience the strangest
and most evil dreams.

But try as I may, upon awakening...

I cannot remember them.

And there are times
when my memory fails me completely.

This notebook,
which I thought that I had lost...

was actually in the pocket of my cape
all the time.

Uncle, your breakfast.
It'll be cold.

- Why, you've found your notebook.
- Yes, my dear.

It was in the pocket
of my jacket after all.

I must be getting absentminded.

- Now, that proves you're overworking.
- Nonsense. I'm all right.

You won't be able
to work this evening at any rate.

Why not?

Uncle, you are getting absentminded. You invited
Superintendent and Mrs. Matheson to dinner.

To tell you the truth,
I had forgotten.

Aren't you doing yourself
serious harm by inhaling these gases?

Oh, Susan, I'm so close to success.

You wouldn't want me to stop now,
would you?

- Morning, Baker.
- Morning, sir.

I'd like to collect this list of chemicals
after I've finished operating.

Yes, sir.

Twenty ounces tincture of opium.
Fifty ounces of vitriol.

A hundred grains laudanum?

I'm afraid I haven't got those quantities
on my shelves, Mr. Bolton.

Why not? You know my requirements are heavy.
You should keep your supply up.

I wish you'd explain that to the committee.
They've instructed me to economize.

Those chemicals are essential
for my experiments.

If there's any question, tell the committee
that I will accept full responsibility.

Very well, sir. If you say so.

Father, I know you've finished operating,
but there's a child here you ought to look at.

- What's wrong?
- It's her foot.

Her mother says you examined her
at the dispensary at the Seven Dials.

Doctor, all of a sudden
it seemed to get worse.

I thought I'd better
bring Addie straight here.

Why the devil didn't you
keep her off her feet? I warned you.

We needed the money real bad.
I brought her as soon as I could.

This child has been in agony for days.

The foot's badly infected.
We'll have to operate.

Of course.

Come on. Let me take her.

That's right.

If he doesn't hurry,
the child will bleed to death.

Father, no.

This one.

It was bound to take time.

And the girl has
a very good chance of recovering.

I know, I know. But speed has always
been the essence of your father's skill.

I wonder what can be keeping
your uncle.

It's unlike him to be so late.

Oh, I expect he's been delayed
at the glass foundry.

He's probably forgotten
all about the time.

Don't you think your father's becoming
too absorbed in those experiments ofhis?

Well, he has been working
much harder since his demonstration failed.

He was hoping
that would prove so much.

Well, maybe that accounts
for his not being himself.

Is he still carrying out
those experiments on himself?

Yes. Yes, I'm afraid he is.

Ah, but surely that must be
affecting his health.

Oh, my dear Mrs. Matheson.
How nice to see you.

- Oh, well, well, Tom.
- Charles, my dear fellow.

- I apologize for being late.
- Oh, well.

I must say, Mr. Bolton,
you missed an excellent dinner.

I went to the glass foundry
to pick up the new inhalator...

a much improved design that will def...

Jonathan, my dear fellow,
more brandy for Doctor Matheson.

What a poor host you are.

And here are those reports that you insisted
I make out for the committee.

Now, I want them in their hands
first thing in the morning.

Aye, well, uh...

Don't you think it might be a good idea
i-if you took a holiday...

before continuing your researches?

Nonsense. I'm perfectly well.
Never felt better in my life.

- Oh, but believe me, Thomas...
- But there's not that much time to waste.

Now, please prepare
a demonstration as soon as possible.

Oh, don't press me too hard, Thomas.

You'll destroy all you're trying to do
if you don't learn to control your impatience.

Please, Charles, don't bully Mr. Bolton.

Mr. Bolton, tell us something
of what it is that you're trying to do...

that is, if you think that
we're capable of understanding.

You doctors fill your conversation
with such technicalities...

that, of course, we do find it
rather diffiicult...

Such a delightful evening.
I always admire this house so much.

Well, good night, Susan, dear,
and thanks for a pleasant evening.

- Good night.
- And good night, Tom.

Good night, Charles.
Good of you to come.

Good night, my dear.

- I'll see you in the morning.
- Good night, Uncle.

- Sleep well.
- I will, my dear. I will.

I think your father's taking our advice.

It's the first time in weeks
he's gone to bed early.

Now, if we could only persuade him
to go away for a while.

I think you could persuade anybody
to do anything.

Father.

Father!

Father, I don't think
you should operate today.

I'll be all right
as soon as I start working.

I'm a little tired, of course.

If you could only see yourself.
You're a sick man, Father.

We're ready for you, Mr. Bolton.

- What's the matter with Bolton?
- Do you think he's ill?

jonathan, please continue.

He's handing over to his son.

It was almost murder.
I saw it with my own eyes.

The man's a danger to the public.
Nobody's safe while he has a knife in his hand.

- He's gone to pieces.
- Mr. Bolton has been overworking. That's obvious.

- He... He needs a holiday.
- Holiday? Why not suspend him altogether?

Yes, the chairman is right.

After today's exhibition, the whole of London
will know that Bolton is finished.

You know what hospital gossip is like.

News of this kind travels fast.

But you can't dismiss a man like Bolton
with a snap of the fingers.

Sir.

Please, will you let me handle this?

You sent for me, Mr. Chairman?

Eh, Tom...

We think you're ill.

We, uh, want you to give up
your duties at the hospital for a time.

Perhaps you're right.

It seems I can't control
my hands anymore.

Oh, Thomas, you're one of
the finest surgeons we have.

We don't want to lose you.

Now, why don't you take
that holiday we talked about?

Forget your experiments for a while.

Forget my experiments?
But that's impossible.

I'm ready for my next demonstration.

Mr. Bolton, the committee have decided
against holding any further demonstrations.

Well, Charles, have you
lost faith in me too?

The decision is for your own good.

I tell you, you can't stop me.

Operations without pain are possible...

and I'll not rest until I prove it to you...

to all of you.

Baker, I'm going away for a while,
and I'll need this list of chemicals.

Certainly, Mr. Bolton.
If you will be so good as to leave it with me...

I'll see that you have
your supplies as usual...

when you return from your holidays.

- But I must take them with me.
- I'm sorry, sir...

but those are
the committee's instructions.

Good day, Mr. Bolton.

- Where's Father?
- He's in the laboratory.

He's been there for hours.

- What's happened?
- He's been suspended from the hospital.

What?

I'll explain to you later.
I've got to talk to him.

Father.

Father, it's Jonathan.

The superintendent told me
what happened in the chairman's offce.

I'm sorry, Father.

- Is the patient all right?
- Yes.

Thank God.

Well, I'm finished as a surgeon.

Good thing you were there to carry on.

Father, don't talk like that.

Well, at least it sets me free
to concentrate on my work here.

I suppose it's no use trying to convince you that
these experiments can only lead to further disaster.

Oh, but you're so wrong, my boy.

Look. I'm convinced that I have here
the formula that will lead to painless surgery.

There.

jonathan, I...

I need your help.

The hospital won't give me
any more supplies.

Look. Look here.

There. That's all that I have left.

Father, can't you realize the hospital
stopped you for your own good?

But that's the only place
that has these chemicals.

Weeks ago I ordered them specially.

Why won't you face the truth?

Father...

you've become addicted
to these inhalations.

They're affecting your mind
and your body.

I never thought a son of mine
would turn against me.

- Father, I'm only...
- Get out!

I tell you,
I must have those chemicals.

A bargain's a bargain, eh, doctor?

You keep your end of it,
and I'll keep mine.

You just sign
these certifcates as they are.

We'll fill the rest in later.
Eh, Joe?

Are you sure you'll help me?

Come, come, Doctor.
Black Ben's a man of his word.

Like I said, a bargain's a bargain.

Mr. Bolton.

What are you doing here, sir?

There was no need for that.

Get on with it.

Come on, governor.
We'd best be getting out of here.

What are you doing here?

You're in Black Ben's, Doctor.

Morning, Doctor.
just in time for a bite to eat.

Go on, Doctor. Sit down.
I'll get you something.

Go ahead, Doctor. Sit down.

Why am I here?
What happened?

Did ya hear that, Rachel?

The doctor don't remember.

Go on, Doctor, help yourself.

Some hot food in your stomach
will do you good.

Maybe this'll refresh your memory.

Morning, governor.

Evans, the night porter...

Oh, no.

I must get to the hospital at once.

If I was in your shoes, Doctor,
I'd lie low for a bit.

- Ben.
- Huh?

The police were snooping around
the doctor's dispensary, askin' for him.

Like I said, Doctor,
you'd better keep out of sight.

You can rest easy here.

There's none better than Ned the Crow
for spotting the peelers.

After all, if you look after us,
we gotta look after you.

Eh, Joe?

As far as the police know, poor Evans
was knocked down from behind and then...

stabbed to death.

What kind of chemicals were stolen?

We won't know that until after
the dispenser checks his inventory.

But I fear the worst.

If we only knew where he was.

If... If we could just talk to him.

- I should never have left here last night.
- It can't be true.

It just can't be.

Begging your pardon, Miss Susan.

There's an Inspector Donovan here.
He'd like a word with you.

Show the inspector in, Ellen.

Thank you.

Forgive me if I intrude,
but I was hoping to talk to Mr. Bolton.

I'm afraid he's out.

I'm Jonathan Bolton.
I assist my father.

Can I help you, Inspector?

Yes, perhaps you can.

We wish to verify your father's signature
on this death certifcate.

Yes, that's his signature.

You will notice that the handwriting above
differs from the signature.

I wonder if you recognize it.

No, I'm... I'm afraid I don't.
I... I've never seen it before.

Can you tell us what
this is all about, Inspector?

We have reason to believe that
Mr. Bolton has somehow been tricked...

into signing false death certifcates.

- Are you sure of that?
- Quite sure.

Well, I've taken up enough of your time.

Please tell Mr. Bolton that it is essential
that we speak to him as soon as possible.

Thank you.

- Good day.
- I'll see you out, Inspector.

Ben.

Get out of here, will ya?

How's the doctor?

Having a bout
with his conscience, I'd guess.

He'll only give us trouble.
We ought to get rid of him.

And Jonathan was right.

I have become an addict.

And what I have imagined
as terrible dreams...

are in fact reality.

And even now, knowing that I've caused
the most terrible crimes...

I cannot resist the craving
for another inhalation.

Sir, I don't think we should wait
any longer to question Mr. Bolton.

- You say he hasn't returned home.
- There's no trace of him anywhere.

You realize, Donovan, without
corroborating information from Mr. Bolton...

we have very little evidence
to support this raid of yours.

But these people have disappeared
from the Seven Dials.

And Mr. Blount has practically admitted...

that he's none too careful about how
he gets his bodies for his anatomy classes.

Black Ben's our man, sir.
I'd stake my life on it!

Very well, Donovan.
But take along some good men.

You'll get little welcome
in the Seven Dials.

Thank you, sir.

Ah, there you are, my friend.

You look as if you could do
with a nice hot rum.

You know, you're just
on top of Black Ben's...

the best lodging house
in the Seven Dials.

Come on.

Good work, Thompson.

Now take your men through this alley
and around to the backyard.

- Keep well covered.
- Yes, sir.

He's outlived his welcome.

He needs looking after.

Only make certain that what's left of him
is found far enough away...

so as to have no connection
with this place.

No need to worry, governor.

It'll all be taken care of, nice and tidy.

No need to be frightened, governor.

It's the peelers! Every man for himself!

Come on. This way. All of you.

Go on. Go on. Get through that door.
Go on. Away you go.

Let me go!

What's the meaning of this?
Disturbing honest folk at this time of night!

The house is surrounded.
We've orders to search.

You'll find nothing in this house!

Stand aside, Ben.

Come on, Joe. Bolt it.

Come on. Up over the roof.

- It's best I finish 'im.
- Be quick!

Take him away.

It's Thomas Bolton!

We'll get you to a hospital, sir.

No time for that.

My son, Jonathan, and Susan...
get them quickly.

Yes, of course.
Fetch an ambulance.

Go on!

There he is.

You're finished, Ben.
Might as well come down.

Take the other men
round to the back entrance.

You can't escape that way, Ben.
We've got you surrounded.

Go and fetch Inspector Donovan.

Come on!

Put me down!

Let me go, you lousy copper!

Ben!

Father.

It's no use, Jonathan.

It's too late.

The inspector will tell you
the whole story.

Dear Susan...

forgive me for what I did.

I was too anxious
to prove my theories.

But, Jonathan...

somewhere within these pages...

lies the answer to painless surgery.

I beg of you to carry on.

Prove...

what I failed to prove...

that pain and the knife...

can be separated.

I will, Father.

I promise you.

I'll see that nothing stands in his way.