The Quiet Duel (1949) Movie Script

THE QUIET DUEL

Doctor.

Are you alright?

How many more?

Many more.

Patients keep coming.

Pretty bad.

- Miguel.

- Yes.

- Fan.

- Yes.

- Pulse?

- A bit fast.

Do something.

Take it off for me.

Are you alright?

Bring some Iodine.

He is getting weak.

- Camphor.

- Yes.

I want to see my wife.

I haven't seen her

for three years.

There are lots of women

everywhere.

My wife is to die for.

You know, I don't want to have

any weird disease here.

But because of a disease

you might be able to go home.

You...

- Private Nakata.

- Yes?

Do you have syphilis? Do you?

- Do you have it?!

- Yes.

- Horiguchi!

- Yes?

- Ah.

- About the soldier, Nakata...

- Yes?

- Do a blood test on him.

- Okay.

His cut doesn't close yet.

He seems to have a spirochete.

I can only test

for the blood reaction here.

- Yeah.

- Alright.

Do my blood test in a few days.

What? Your blood test, Doctor?

This cut was soaking

in his blood for an hour.

Horiguchi!

- Horiguchi!

- Yes!

Haven't you received the result

of the blood tests yet?

No.

It's been more than two weeks

since I sent my blood.

What did you receive

from the head office today?

Yes...

Why can't you say?

Since you are hiding it,

I know the result.

I tested positive, right?

- Doctor!

- I know.

Yes...

We don't have

Salvarsan here, do we?

I think we have a bit.

Antiphlogistic?

- You can go now.

- Yes.

SURGERY

OBSTETRICIAN AND GYNECOLOGIST

Hey.

- Where is the doctor?

- He is here.

I am terribly sick today.

Are you playing sick again?

Poor people should die early

for their own good.

Are you still mad I stopped you

from killing yourself?

As the doctor said, can't you start

your new life as a nurse?

What about the baby?

- What can I do with this tummy?

- I'll tell you...

- you'll be glad to have the baby.

- How does a man know it?!

You can't give birth to a baby.

The doctor here is the same.

If he wants to help me,

he should get rid of the baby.

He's at the operating room.

- Will it be long?

- I think so.

- It's an "appe."

- Okay.

- What's an "appe"?

- Appendicitis.

"Appe."

"Appe." You start to sound

like a nurse now.

By the way, she is the wife-to-be

of the young doctor here, right?

She was his fianc?.

- "Was"?

- Ms. Imai told me so.

He made her wait for six years.

Now he doesn't want to get married.

All men are like that.

Don't be ridiculous!

The doctor here is a fine man.

He is weird!

Ms. Imai was complaining...

that this hospital

used to be clean.

Miss Minegishi!

Miss Minegishi, help us!

I'm okay.

No need to worry.

Don't feed him for 24 hours.

Not even water.

- Can I take him back home?

- That's impossible.

- At least one week...

- You'll bankrupt me, idiot!

I can't pay 300

or 400 yen a day...

Dad, I'll cure it at home.

Could you buy me

a glove, though?

Doctor, can I go home?

What's your batting position?

- Third.

- Alright.

Sleep well

and dream of home runs.

If you get worse,

you can't play baseball. Alright?

Don't worry about the money.

We have extra rooms.

Hey, you look happy.

Hi.

I didn't know

you were coming today.

Wow, what beautiful flowers.

Thanks to you, this shed finally looks

like somebody lives here.

What were you looking at?

We were all young then.

Your house was very dirty.

What a rascal Kyoji looks here.

Can a war change

a person so much?

Miss Misao, about Kyoji...

Somehow...

I don't know what

he is thinking these days.

I am really sorry.

After making you

wait for six years...

he started to say he didn't want

to get married for a while.

I don't know what to say

to you and your parents...

Sir, please don't worry

about that.

I don't care about it...

I don't know what to say...

I don't know why...

but I feel like the time I spent

with Kyoji was an old fairy tale.

A fairy tale?

I am not a child any more.

I'll be fine.

I can... take care of myself...

- Kyoji, take her home.

- Ah.

- But I still have a patient.

- I'll do it. Take her home.

My father is getting

very weak these days.

My father seemed

to have given up our marriage...

a long time ago.

He started to say

he'll look for a man for me.

Then, is there a man for you?

- What do you think?

- If there is...

Should I marry him

if I like?

What if I say I'll wait for you

until I can marry you?

I think I told you

my thoughts about it...

But you haven't told me

why you can't marry me.

I'm scared to hear it.

But I'm prepared to hear

even a terrible thing.

Please tell me. Please.

Suppose... there is a man.

This is just an assumption.

It can be a man or a woman.

The person...

The body of the person...

is pure, but not pure.

It's dirty.

Have you ever imagined

those kinds of conditions?

Miss Minegishi! Miss Minegishi!

What?

It's weird. A box of Salvarsan

is gone again.

- Do you know about it?

- Salvarsan?

It's an injection for syphilis.

What?! What made you think

I know about the medicine?

Are you accusing me

of something?

I haven't fallen that much.

If I do things that can

give me syphilis, why I am so poor?

You said the body is pure,

but not pure.

I know you don't have

such a genetic disease.

Why can't you tell me the truth,

that you don't love me anymore?

I don't go to your place anymore.

Please give my best

to your father.

You... You can rest now.

You are working hard.

You must be tired.

I used to get that shot all the time.

It's vitamins, right?

"Salvarsan."

- Good morning.

Did you dream

about a home run?

No. I only dreamed

about clean water running.

Can I drink water?

It's been 24 hours.

Okay. But just a little bit.

- Tea is good.

- Okay.

See! I told you

it's been 24 hours already.

Mother, you aren't flexible at all.

Doctor, there is a flea

in my plaster cast.

- Everybody says that.

- It itches so much.

- Can I give him this much?

- Sure.

It's special. Go ahead.

What? That's it?

Doctor, when can I eat?

Huh? After you pass gas.

After an appendectomy,

you'll be fine if you pass gas.

- Gas is the best.

- What's "gas?"

- Farts.

- What? That's it?

I came here again somehow.

My legs were moving

toward your place without knowing.

Kyoji, you are unhappy,

aren't you?

Why? Please tell me why.

Why? You're suffering

from something. Why?

Why have you changed so much?

- I just got old. That's all.

- That's a lie!

Sometimes you seem

like you're from...

a different world,

somewhere far.

Oops. Did I interrupt you?

Are you studying for the test?

What? What test

are you talking about?

A test for nurses.

It's not fun

being a probationary nurse.

That test?

Sure, I'm studying for it.

But, I'm not sure

a one-time dancer like me...

can do such a sacred job.

Even a reliable person

like Ms. Imai...

says she'll quit soon.

I asked Ms. Imai to stay, but...

I can't force anything on anybody.

A nurse's job is tough.

The world

isn't that easy a place...

as a young lady thinks it is.

Right. It may not be.

I don't care

if you speak ill of me, but...

Oh, did I speak ill of you?

No, you didn't speak ill of me.

What I meant is...

You can criticize me...

but I think you should appreciate

what Kyoji did for you.

Of course I do.

I got pregnant... I couldn't eat...

I was abandoned by a man.

Then I tried to kill myself

and he saved me.

He even offered me to stay here.

But if I had money at that time...

I would've gotten rid

of the baby...

and lived happily ever after.

If you didn't want to have a baby,

why weren't you more careful?

The father is an asshole

who took a dancer to a hotel...

and can't take responsibilities

for his own baby...

You should ask him

for a certain responsibility.

- That's troublesome!

- You're a monster!

- Miss, are you running away?

- Miss Minegishi!

The baby you have

already has eyes and a nose.

You're such a humanitarian.

You're good at pretending.

But then, why are you

injecting Salvarsan?!

Life is funny, isn't it?

There are wheels within wheels.

I was surprised.

I thought there was no one

in the examining room...

and turned off the light.

They moved suddenly.

The doctors are still working.

They were talking

about something serious.

Their financial condition

must be pretty bad.

You are an innocent girl.

The father and the son may be

secretly doing something bad.

- No way.

- Then...

do you know who's been

stealing Salvarsan?

That's why you are so innocent.

- Where are you going?

- I'll eavesdrop on them.

When people speak secretly,

you can sometimes hear the truth.

I... will beat up...

the hypocrite!

He called me a monster!

He is the monster!

I shouldn't have asked.

I wanted you to tell me

that Minegishi was wrong.

I didn't want to believe

you've been injecting Salvarsan.

I can't believe... my son has...

How bad is it?

Wassermann reaction is 3 plus.

Kyoji! Aren't you

ashamed of yourself?

I can't forgive you! I can't!

I can't forgive you for Misao.

- Father, I was...

- I don't want to hear your excuse.

I cut my finger

while operating.

And I received this spirochete

from the patient.

When I realized the patient

had a horrible disease...

I... thought of the worst disease.

And... I was right.

Kyoji, I'm ashamed.

I imagined a foolish thing.

- That's okay.

- No.

Even if I'm your father, I have

to apologize to you when I have to.

Please forgive me.

But, Kyoji...

why didn't you tell me earlier?

I don't understand

the politics of the country.

Now I know

why you are refusing Misao.

I know why you are helping

unfortunate people, too.

I have experience, too...

but misfortune

makes people stubborn.

I'm talking about Misao, too.

You don't have to be

so meticulous to her.

I know. But...

it might take three

or five years to heal it.

I was sent to many places

during the war.

Without medicine,

my disease worsened.

How old is Misao?

- Twenty seven.

- Right.

But, Kyoji... I think...

you should tell Misao everything.

So that Misao

can forget about you.

I can't tell her that.

I thought of it a lot.

- But I can't tell her.

- Why?

If I tell her everything...

I know she'll say she'll wait for me

for five or ten years until I heal.

I can't do that to her.

I know Misao will wait.

- She is such a woman.

- Then, Kyoji...

I don't have the courage

to take away her life like that!

Mr. Kondo! Mr. Kondo!

Please be quiet.

It's after 11:00.

It came out!

What? What came out?

The kid's gas!

Quiet now or the doctor

will be mad at you.

How was it?

What did they talk about?

Do you want some?

Yesterday... your father

came to my house.

He came to decline

our engagement formally.

I asked him the reason

many times...

but I couldn't understand why

you are breaking off the engagement.

Half of my heart gave up.

But the other half of my heart...

doesn't give up and wants

to know the reason desperately.

I've been thinking...

I've been depending

on you too much.

You knew our house needed

a woman's hand.

So you came here

every day to help out.

I asked you

not to come anymore.

But I was still

depending on you.

I'm selfish, but please

don't come here anymore.

I'll come here tomorrow,

the next day... every day.

What do you want

for dinner tonight?

Come in.

The appendicitis kid

wants to say goodbye to you.

Okay.

Miss.

I decided to take the nurse test.

Really? Kyoji will be

happy to hear that.

I'll give birth to the baby, too.

What a change.

- Miss.

- What?

I have a favor to ask.

I think... the doctor is great.

Could you tell him

that I said that?

I realized

that I misunderstood him.

I know I should

apologize to him myself.

But it's kind of late.

But I at least told you that.

I feel good now.

Hey.

Are you studying?

I can't be

a probationary nurse forever.

You have changed.

How's your baby?

He's sleeping

in the nurses' room.

He is cute, isn't he?

Kids are troublesome.

That's all.

You still have a sharp tongue.

- You came here for treatment?

- Not today.

I want the doctor

to come to my office.

I have an injured guy.

It's a terrible story.

My colleague was inspecting cars...

and suddenly a passenger

attacked him.

He is quite a gentleman, though.

- He is a mad dog.

- That's right.

He suddenly raised his stick

and... Ouch!

I think I'd better

examine his head, then.

How's he doing?

He's investigating now.

- Come to see me when you can.

- Thank you.

- Thanks.

- Address.

- 1-11 Atano-cho, Minato-ku.

- Name?

- Susumu Nakata.

Oh, hi. Thank you very much

for coming. How is he?

He is fine. The injury

will be cured in one week.

- Can I come in?

- Yes. Come in.

Did you just say

you are Nakata?

Hey! It's you!

Thanks for taking care of me

at that time.

- How is it?

- Good. My wound adhered now.

Did you go to a doctor

about the disease?

I went to see the doctor

many times.

- But I'm healed now.

- The doctor said so?

I can't go through everything

the doctor said.

But a spirochete

is a very dangerous bacteria.

Yeah. But there is

nothing else I can do.

- Did your baby fall asleep?

- Yes.

The great doctor

was holding him.

I feel sorry for him.

He could've held

his own grandchild by now.

- Shall I give you an injection?

- Yes, please.

How's the result

of the blood test?

It was 2 plus.

How long do you have

to inject this medicine?

I inject it for three months

and rest for a month.

I need to continue doing that.

- Until the medicine is gone.

- Then...

how long does it take

to heal completely?

Well, I aggravated the disease.

So I don't know how long.

I hate him!

The guy who gave you this disease...

Is he alive?

I heard it.

- From my father?

- No.

I heard it when I was still pregnant.

You and your father were talking

about it here at night.

At that time, this place

was more lively. Don't you think?

Ms. Imai is gone.

Miss Misao

hasn't showed up since.

I heard she is getting married.

Doctor!

Don't you blame the guy?!

I'm talking about the guy

who gave you the disease!

I would curse him to death!

What a pest you are!

I'm not your patient anymore.

I think it is my duty as a doctor

to warn you.

I told you my disease is cured.

That's what you think.

That's unreliable.

Is the fluid of the spinal cord

minus now?

I don't think about

anything unpleasant.

But you have to think about

other people's happiness...

rather than your own.

What does that mean?!

Four years ago, on the day

you were sent back home...

I told you that...

- a spirochete...

- Infects even by saliva. Right?

But my wife is totally fine.

- Your wife?!

- That's right.

Our child is growing fine

in her tummy now.

In half a year...

I'll visit you

with my healthy baby.

See? Surprised, aren't you?

I am surprised...

by your reckless act.

I don't want to tell you this.

But I'll tell you because

I want you to be serious about it.

I got your spirochete in my body.

When I operated on you

at the field hospital...

I got it from this cut.

No way!

Just listen. It's not a lie.

Mr. Nakata,

my disease isn't cured yet.

And I'm still undergoing

the treatment.

Damn you!

It's none of your business!

Come to my hospital tomorrow

with your wife!

I'm not coming!

My father is a gynecologist.

He will try anything he can

to save your baby.

- Is the examination over?

- Yes.

What did he said?

He wants to talk to you.

It's a hard job.

Is that for the baby of a patient?

No. It's for my baby.

Really? When did you have him?

Just 50 days ago.

You're counting the days

since he was born.

- What?

- Well...

Because you answered me quickly.

Yeah. Without knowing it.

I mark the calendar,

so I count days without knowing it.

You're having a baby, aren't you?

Hey!

You asked me to come here

to humiliate me?!

That's ridiculous. That's why

I didn't tell your wife anything.

I'm sorry if we offend you.

But, as doctors,

we have to tell you everything.

If the mother is in serious condition,

I have to consider the worst.

What?! What does it mean?

Are you saying

my child will be retarded?!

That might happen.

If the baby gets early treatment,

he'll be fine.

But if it's too late, the baby

will be premature or stillborn.

There are many more

gynecologists out there.

Father, please let me talk to him.

Mr. Nakata,

let's talk about it calmly.

We have to think

how we can save your baby.

You are calm

because it's not about you.

But this is my first baby!

That's why...

That's why I warned you

not to do such a thing.

"Get treatment

when you get back home."

"Don't spread your disease."

"If you do,

you'll ruin people's lives."

This is nobody's fault,

but yours.

Please let me

join your conversation.

Were you listening

to our conversation?

Yes.

Sit down.

Mrs. Nakata.

I just wanted to tell Mr. Nakata

what I think.

I thought it better for the two of you

to talk quietly alone.

Akiko, it's already happened.

Alright?

I'll be careful from now on.

You're talking like

it's about someone else.

Men always talk like this.

But we think a lot.

Right, Dr. Fujisaki?

I won't ask you

to apologize to me deeply.

Because that

won't change anything.

Mrs. Nakata.

Can we talk about it calmly?

I'm single. So I don't know

what a husband and a wife is like.

But if you guys

talk calmly about it...

you might be able

to come to a good solution.

Maybe you are right.

Anyway, let's go home now.

You haven't come here

in a long time.

The wedding day was fixed, so...

Are you getting married?

My father is pretty weak now.

Women are no good

in those situations.

I think you are stronger

than most women.

I thought so, too.

But...

- Is Kyoji here?

- Yes.

Hi! Long time no see.

It's good to see you.

I've been busy

since the wedding date was set.

- How are your dinners?

- Don't worry.

Miss Minegishi

has been taking care of everything.

She is not good

at cooking, though.

I was worried.

Even when I was busy,

I was worried about it every evening.

And I thought of the kitchen here.

Do you want some tea?

Sure. I'll be a guest today.

Just like when I came here

for the first time.

Excuse me.

What are you thinking about?

- Nothing.

- Don't make me worry.

Please, sit down.

You're a guest.

If you love someone else...

and because of that

we have to say goodbye today...

I can give you up easier.

That must be true,

considering your personality.

Here.

I haven't understood

the reason yet.

I don't want

to say goodbye, but...

I'm sorry...

When is the wedding?

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow. That's very sudden.

They decided it suddenly.

- You'll be happy.

- Thank you.

Thanks for everything.

At what time is the wedding?

The wedding is at 2:00. We're leaving

for our honeymoon at 5:00.

The train will be crowded.

That's what I heard.

Kyoji... Promise you won't laugh.

What is it?

I want you to change your mind.

And I want you

to take me somewhere...

leaving your job and everything.

I... am going home.

I don't have much time today.

I'm sorry I can't

cook dinner for you.

I'll leave them here.

Please be happy.

I can't wish you that enough.

Maybe I'll be happy.

But I'm not sure

how you'll do.

You better go home.

Yes.

How's your father?

He is playing

with Miss Minegishi's baby.

Should I go

and say goodbye to him?

You'd better not.

My father isn't good at goodbyes.

Please give my best to him.

Good bye, then.

I won't take you home.

I don't want you

to take me home, either.

- Do you want your injection?

- Yeah.

Is it about Miss Misao?

She was a great lady.

Ms. Imai used to say to me...

she didn't understand

why you didn't act like other men.

She said that even if you weren't

getting married to her...

it was impossible to control

your desire forever.

Imai is a realistic person.

Tell me, doctor...

is it easy for men...

to control physical desire?

Why do you ask?

Because you are really calm.

There are two kinds

of patients, right?

Some scream in pain.

Others put up with pain

dripping with sweat.

Then you are

the dripping with sweat type?

Because I don't like losing...

and I am a doctor.

But doctors are human, too.

Right?

Right.

Today I found out she will be

the wife of some other guy.

I thought I could

give up everything.

I can't!

Now...

I am fighting

with my own desire.

If I think back...

my desire is such a poor thing.

Before the war...

I restrained the desire

to pretend to be a decent man.

During the war,

I kept telling myself...

that a peaceful marriage

was waiting for me.

Misao was waiting for me.

So I controlled my desire.

But one day...

because of the blood

of a shameless guy...

my body became dirty

without knowing any pleasure.

I sometimes think...

if I knew it would happen to me,

I would've done things differently!

If I'm being too honest, my physical

desire will never be granted.

Why do I have to suffer so much?!

I'm a syphilis patient.

But that's not my fault.

My desire has nothing

to do with it, either.

My desire doesn't know

anything yet.

It's still pure.

It sometimes screams.

But...

I have this conscience...

I have this moral conscience...

trying to kill all of my desire.

My conscience

is killing my desire!

I want to destroy this conscience

and live as my desire wishes.

That's honest

as a human, right?

I'm just a fool pretending

that I don't have a desire.

I'm just sentimental now.

Misao is a woman with a future.

She has a body with a future.

I've been longing to have

that body for six years!

Why do I have to see quietly

as she becomes someone else's!

It's not too late.

I can still get Misao.

Right, Miss Minegishi?

I'm right,

aren't I, Miss Minegishi?

I'm sorry I told you

embarrassing things.

I'm a doctor.

I have to live...

with a doctor's conscience

and a man's conscience.

It's very hard.

But, Doctor...

if somebody wants

to satisfy your desire...

If somebody put herself

in that position...

what would you do?

If there was a woman

who didn't care about your disease.

What does it mean?

I decided not to have

a husband at all.

I'm thinking of putting myself

in that position.

Are you trying

to be a hypocrite?

Don't say such a thing.

I think I love you.

A hospital is a funny place.

I wonder why I can't say anything

in a businesslike manner.

Where is the record of the man

who had the operation?

He has a high fever.

I'll check on him. Get ready.

I need disinfectant.

I received a postcard

from Misao.

Really? Does she sound happy?

Yeah. It says Hakone in snow

is very beautiful.

Well, Miss Misao doesn't like

to lose, either.

She can always find

her happiness by herself.

Dripping with sweat, right?

I didn't know you were here.

- The doctor?

- He is here.

Please come in.

I didn't hear you come in here.

Doctor! Doctor! Doctor!

Kyoji! Kyoji!

- Help me operate.

- Is she that bad?

- Yeah.

- But if it's an abortion...

It's not an abortion.

The fetus is dead already.

Ma'am, what is wrong with you?

I want to ride this car, too.

You can't play with it now.

Boy?

Hey, kid!

Doctor?

Mrs. Nakata, do you want to wait

for your husband to come?

I left him and don't mean

to go back to Nakata.

- But...

- Doctor?

Is Nakata...

causing you trouble

or something?

What kind?

Did he do something to you

during the war?

He said you were making up

the story about his disease.

But lately I started to believe...

the opposite

of whatever Nakata says.

We are a foolish couple.

- Kyoji, we'd better hurry.

- Yes.

Everything is done.

What happened to my baby?

I knew it.

Can I see the baby?

Just once?

No, you can't!

But I...

I don't think

you should see the baby.

Hey! Fujisaki!

Hey!

Please give me a hand!

Are you drunk?

What's wrong

with being drunk?!

Hey! Fujisaki!

Please be quiet.

This is a hospital.

Hey, Fujisaki! Hey!

Fujisaki! Fujisaki!

Hey! You!

How could you

destroy my family?!

Because of you,

my family is messed up.

- Because you told her that.

- I...

Shut up! The world

is not what you think it is!

A cold man like you

never gets the hardship of humans!

- You don't understand it!

- What?!

While you were drinking,

your wife...

went through a lot!

What?! I heard you say

you would operate on my wife!

You'll be sorry if you do that!

Where is Akiko?!

I can't let you see her

like this!

Shut up! I'll see my wife!

Your wife needs to rest!

- As a doctor...

- Shut up!

Why are you giving me

a hard time?!

- You're giving me a hard time!

- What?!

You are the one

who criticized my child!

You are the one who told me

you got my disease from your finger!

But you must be having

fun all the time.

What crap a doctor can tell!

You! You gave the disease

to the doctor!

What a bitch!

A bad doctor and a bad nurse!

- Jerk!

- Miss Minegishi!

Asshole! Because of you,

the doctor's suffering so much!

It's not only the doctor!

You make your wife suffer, too!

And your baby!

You should see

how your baby was born!

Stop it! Nakata!

You don't trust me?!

Then go to the examining room!

Let this jerk see

how his baby was born!

Mr. Nakata, don't!

Doctor, he...?

- He shouldn't have seen it.

- No. It was a matter of time.

The spirochete was already

eating up his brain.

Nakata. Nakata!

Hey!

How are you doing?

Okay. My body is doing fine.

But sometimes I feel

like I'm still having a baby.

- Tell me, Miss Minegishi.

- What?

Please tell me the truth.

Am I going to end up

like Nakata?

That's ridiculous!

Don't be afraid of even

the worst spirochete.

If you continue

the treatment calmly...

orderly, and patiently,

you'll be fine.

Take for example the doctor.

Is it true?

Then I still have hope?

Of course you do!

You don't have children.

Your life has just started.

I have a child, but I think

my life has just begun, too.

You can't walk looking down.

You have to walk proudly

with your chin up high.

Well, that's what the doctor says.

You like the doctor, don't you?

Ms. Akimoto! Ms. Akimoto!

Could you help me?

Okay.

I know.

She must be the new nurse.

Yes. Minegishi is pretty strict.

She is giving her a tough time.

She is doing

what Ms. Imai did to her.

Hey, hey.

Kid, your mom

is a great nurse now. Right?

- Here.

- By the way...

do you know what the chief

says about your son?

He says there is a saint

among doctors sometimes.

A saint? My son is a saint?

- Right.

- I don't know about that.

He is just trying

to give hope back...

by the people who are

unhappier than he is.

If he had been happy,

he might have become a snob.

Please help me, doctor.

I have four kids. Doctor...

will I be able

to go back to work someday?

Doctor.

THE END

The Quiet Duel (1949) - full transcript