THE QUIET DUEL
Doctor.
Are you alright?
How many more?
Many more. Patients keep coming .
Pretty bad .
- M iguel . - 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.
H is 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.
SU RGERY OBSTETRICIAN AN D GYN ECOLOGIST
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 fiancé.
- "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.
H i .
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?
M iss M isao, 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?
M iss M inegishi ! M iss M inegishi !
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 . - 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?
H uh? 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!
- M iss, are you running away? - M iss M inegishi !
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 M inegishi 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 M isao.
- 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 M isao.
I know why you are helping unfortunate people, too.
I have experience, too. . .
but misfortune makes people stubborn .
I'm talking about M isao, 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 M isao?
- Twenty seven . - Right.
But, Kyoji . . . I think. . .
you should tell M isao everything .
So that M isao 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 M isao will wait.
- She is such a woman . - Then, Kyoji . . .
I don't have the courage to take away her life like that!
M r. Kondo ! M r. Kondo !
Please be quiet. It's after 1 1 : 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.
M iss.
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.
- M iss. - 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- 1 1 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.
M iss M isao 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.
M r. 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 .
M r. 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 .
M rs. Nakata .
I just wanted to tell M r. 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 .
M rs. 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.
H i ! 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.
M iss M inegishi 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 M iss M inegishi'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 M iss M isao?
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.
M isao 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.
M isao 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 M isao.
Right, M iss M inegishi?
I'm right, aren't I, M iss M inegishi?
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 M isao.
Really? Does she sound happy?
Yeah . It says Hakone in snow is very beautiful .
Well, M iss M isao 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?
M rs. 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! - M iss M inegishi !
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 !
M r. 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. M inegishi 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.