I... am a fake.
I... have had my life saved twice by Aikawa-sensei.
She wants to be babied by you.
Your gentleness...
There isn't a doctor out there who is like that.
Say, Sensei. You aren't going to be on that island forever, are you?
Say, Papa. Couldn't we use him at our hospital?
Thank you very much for everything.
Ah, this gift contains my feelings.
Eh?
Please accept it.
Open it.
It'd be great if it suited your tastes, Sensei...
Such an expensive thing...
Of course I have to do this much for you, Aikawa-sensei.
I hope it looks good on you.
But...
Sensei, that island just doesn't suit you.
Take care.
Sir, good morning!
Yo, Aki-chan.
"I should never meet Tasaka Akiko ever again."
"A fake doctor like myself..."
"...should never meet the daughter of the Director of a major hospital again."
"At the time, I really thought that was..."
"...what you were likely thinking."
"But such was..."
"...the cunning of your unconscious."
Heiwa Fansubs Presents: "Kumo no Kaidan" "Staircase of Clouds"
Episode 3: "The Crisis of the Unlicensed Doctor When a Genuine Doctor Appears!"
Aikawa-san! Welcome back.
I didn't tell you the ship's return time.
There's only a few each day.
That's true, but...
More importantly...
I'm sorry.
Truth is, I should have told you right away.
What's the matter?
Ahh.. That's enough already, isn't it?
You've been drinking heavily every night, haven't you?
At last, the Young Doctor is scolding me, too.
That's right.
- Sorry about Yamanaka. - Eh?
The Mayor brought him in without discussing it with me.
What are you talking about?
Ah...
What's up? You're supposed to be off today.
- Um... - I'm sorry.
It is a little old somehow, isn't it?
The shadowless lamp in the operating room is quite the vintage, isn't it?
Office Manager, see about obtaining a replacement right away.
Um, this is our clerk, Aikawa-kun.
And, having come here as a transfer from Tokyo's Miyashita Memorial Hospital...
...this is the surgeon Yamanaka Takashi-sensei.
I'm Yamanaka. Nice to meet you.
I'm Aikawa. Very nice to meet you.
How are the outpatient medical charts being managed?
Um, on that table there and over on the top of that shelf.
Like I thought, you don't have a database set up.
Ehh...
You there, please have all the medical records input to a database by tomorrow.
Ah... yes.
The final ship to Satoe Island is at half past 4, isn't it?
Yes.
- Then I'll be going. - Thanks for your hard work!
Ah... I'll go with you! Yes.
That's how it is.
After this, you can't practice medicine anymore.
Please don't attempt to do anymore!
Yes.
Seems they prepared the largest apartment they could find on Satoe Island for him.
Unless it's an extreme circumstance, his duties don't include making house calls, either.
That seems to be in his contract.
I see...
Looks like they're also paying him a considerable annual salary.
Was it necessary for them to go that far to get him to come here?
Was it?
I guess...
...a real doctor is essential for the island.
Then...
...there's no meaning for you to be here on the island anymore, is there?
Still, well...
I do have my job as a clerk.
I'm going home.
"Saved"
"Tasaka Akiko"
Hello?
Sensei?
Ah... Good morning.
Could I see you now?
Eh? Ah, well...
I don't have today off from work...
And to go to Tokyo right now...
- Open your window. - Eh?
I came first thing this morning!
Ah...
Incredible! Sensei, these were all done by you?
Ah, well...
Ehh...
Ah! This one's cute!
This is kinda surprising.
That Aikawa-sensei would have such a cute hobby as this.
You're taking care of an extremely large number of patients, aren't you?
Ah...
I thought if I just called you, you'd turn me down...
Eh?
The wound from that operation...
Because it'll leave a scar due to the sutures...
...I wondered if it wouldn't be best to have it re-sutured.
I see...
That's true, isn't it? It was an emergency operation.
As that's the case...
...I thought I'd ask if Aikawa-sensei couldn't please redo it.
Well...
But it'd be better if you had that done in Tokyo...
I'm sure your Father...
I've booked a room at the Minshuku. (private home offering lodging for travelers)
The "Mimatsuya" place.
I'm very sorry you went to all the trouble of coming out here...
...just to follow this request, but...
Is that right?
Why does he make those of you with chronic diseases come in every day like this...?
Let's increase your prescription levels. This should stabilize you right away.
Because you'll have four types of drugs, be sure and take them without mixing them up.
Ah...
Um, Sensei.
What four types of drugs are they?
In addition to the conventional calcium and nitro given to her up until now...
...there's a diuretic and a beta blocker.
But Kinuyo-san and beta blockers don't get along well together...
She always just gets a vitamin injection.
Vitamins?
Please get this prescription filled.
So fast! And really readable!
Listen. You mustn't breathe a word about how you were examined by Aikawa-sensei...
...or that you were being taken care of by the Young Doctor...
- You know why, right? - We know that!
- Right? - Sa-chan, you mustn't shout.
"Surgery"
That database you made with the medical records...
...makes it very easy for me to scan through. Good job.
Have you gone to a medical technical school?
Ah... no.
I see. I'm impressed you were able to do this so well. Impressive.
Ehh...
Could I have some coffee?
Ah, yes.
He's pretty good, isn't he?
We're grateful for him.
Ah, thanks.
Here you go.
- Ehh... You there. - Yes?
Don't go giving me your opinion in front of the patients like that last one.
Saying such things only makes the patient uneasy.
Did you hear me?
I'm very sorry.
This is strong...
Like I thought, a doctor trained in the city is different.
His examination hours ended exactly on time.
Just what you'd expect.
- Where's Yamanaka-sensei? - He's gone home.
He's quick.
Both the Director and someone else...
...were always taking their sweet time chit-chatting with the patients.
Right?
Who was taking their sweet time?
- Director! - Are you okay in your condition?
Ala, what are you doing? Come in.
Ala!
Thank you all very much for the other day.
Ah, no.
It's because she was over at the port, so don't look so serious...
Saburo! After coming all this way to rely on you...
...you can't just turn her away, now can you?
Ah, no.
I came without contacting him in advance...
...so this was my fault.
What, um... is this about?
Seems she wants Saburo here to re-suture her wound.
Eh?!
Well, that... He can't do that.
Couldn't we ask Doctor Yamanaka to do it?
She says she came here because she wants Saburo to do it!
Even so, that's...
Excuse me! I'm sorry.
It's okay.
Excuse me.
No, um, wait...
- Director! - What is it?
That would be a problem.
Now that Yamanaka-sensei is here...
...please allow Aikawa-kun to devote himself to being a clerk.
That's right! That's right, isn't it?!
- Yes. - Saburo!
Come with me.
Ah...
- This is a test. - A test?
Do you know what this is?
There seems to be a shadow on this rib.
Here are the results of this patient's blood test.
A PSA of 68...
This is probably prostate cancer metastasizing to the bones.
Correct answer.
Is this patient from the island?
Well...
- Don't tell me it's... - Let's continue the test.
Director...
Did you read the scientific journal I gave you last month?
Ah... yes.
In a bone metastasis from prostate cancer...
...what is the simple characteristic an X-ray would show?
The image of a bone sclerosis.
Correct answer.
Briefly tell me the differences between a Bollman Magen Type II and a Type IV.
A Type II is a localized ulcer type...
...a form where the cancerous, ulcerated center rises and forms a cavity.
A Type IV is a pervasive, infiltrative type...
...and I believe where the boundary surrounding the mucosa and the cancer itself is ambiguous.
Correct answer.
Then, one last one.
What is the other name for the Bollman Type IV based on its endoscopic characteristics?
Its other name is Scirrhous. (a hard, slow-growing malignant tumor)
Its characteristic feature is that it is difficult...
...to diagnose in its early stages with an endoscope.
Correct answer.
All of the questions you answered just now...
...have been practical use questions asked in...
...the National Medical Practitioners Qualifying Examination in recent years.
National Medical Practitioners Qualifying Examination?
- Saburo. - Yes?
You are more of a genuine doctor...
...than you think you are.
More importantly, that X-ray earlier.
Could it be it's of you, Director?
That time when I went to a Tokyo hospital earlier...
...I asked them to verify the details.
What time was that?
When you told us a classmate of yours in Kumamoto had died...?
If I had told the truth then, everyone would have been worried, right?
I thought only you could understand this.
I have no family.
As long as you continue both your radiation and endocrine therapies properly...
...I've read the choice of having to turn to chemotherapy is rarely made.
You really have been studying well.
Director...
Ako's not picking up.
Saki. Is that true?
It's true.
Say, your Ako-neechan told you this?
She asked you to go with her to our villa in Kawaguchiko?
That's right.
"Both Papa and Mama are so busy..."
"...so they won't be able to come out and check, now will they?" she said.
Then why...
...did you break your promise with Ako and come back home?
Because this way it'll be far more interesting!
I see.
The drugs are making you full, huh?
I don't want to take any more than this.
Hurry! Before Yamanaka-sensei comes. Hurry.
There, that should do it.
Thank you, Young Doctor.
What are you doing?
What are your intentions?!
- Ah, well, this is... - Kinu-san, let's go.
I'm sorry.
An amateur without a license practicing medicine is a crime!
Yes.
Have you guys been doing such things on a daily basis?
Well, that's...
For those minor procedures until now, we've come to ask Aikawa-san to deal with them.
"Ask him"?
- This guy's nothing but a clerk! - But he's been diligently studying medicine...
- Unlicensed medicine? - The Director knows, too.
The Director has raised this man...
...to be a doctor for this island.
- Huh?! - That's enough already.
What on earth is going on here?!
I'm very sorry!
Because...
Because we thought you wouldn't be very understanding...
...we didn't say anything!
Look you...
Somehow...
Since the insane situation on this island wouldn't change...
...because that unreasonable Director wouldn't consent to it, we had to have you come!
As no other Senseis would even consider us anymore...
...that's why we agreed to those unreasonable, super-favorable conditions of yours.
We will never, ever again...
...allow anything like this to happen, Sensei! Yamanaka-sensei
Please, somehow, just let it go this time around!
Saburo-kun! Saburo-kun!
I am very sorry.
Keep in mind that you are a clerk and not a Doctor!
This isn't something that can be imitated by monkeys!
Monkeys...
Stop messing around!
Don't go misunderstanding this.
I didn't do this to protect you.
I did it to protect everyone but you.
What's the matter?
Are you on a break?
I just had nothing to do.
Me either.
Incredible!
There was such a place as this around!
I only recently found out about it myself.
Ehh...
From here, we're far out of the public eye, aren't we?
Well...
After I graduated from college...
...I was supposed to get married.
Eh?
The other person is a surgeon at our hospital...
...that my Mother, the Board Chairman, trusts very much.
He's young and seems to be incredibly excellent.
"Seems to be"?
Is he someone your parents decided upon?
Nothing I could do about it.
I've given up on him already.
That's why I hoped...
Could you listen to my final, selfish request?
Eh?
That Aikawa-sensei re-suture my wound.
Well...
That's, well...
Rather than me...
...I'm sure your Father could do it much nicer...
...so that the sutures don't leave a scar...
I would be fine even if there was still a scar left behind on my body.
It would be the scar Aikawa-sensei had put on me.
Your mark...
...one that wouldn't disappear my entire life.
Where did you go?
Yeah.
It was with Tasaka Akiko-san, right?
She said she's going back to Tokyo today.
Oh no. I got it right?
- You're unexpectedly honest about it. - "Unexpectedly..."
I see.
She's going back today, huh?
She asked me about re-suturing her operation wound again, but...
...I turned her down.
You should do it.
The Director would tell you to do it, too.
It's impossible.
After what happened with Kinuyo-obachan, everyone's in an uproar.
Even if I want to do it, I can't.
Hey! You DO want to do it after all!
Why do you have to put it that way?
Today's Saturday.
I'll help you.
"Mikotojima Medical Clinic"
Right after Yamanaka-sensei finishes his examinations...
...he heads back to Satoe Island on the 4:30 boat.
Everyone else leaves immediately afterwards...
...and won't be back again until Monday morning.
The operation will be you and me?
For the time being, there will be one other helping us out.
Everyone just left. You can go to the equipment room.
Okay. Thank you.
Though I'll cooperate, I do have a condition.
A condition?
Both you and Aki...
...may have intended to keep it well hidden, but...
You two are actually seeing one another, aren't you?
Look! Nailed it on the head!
Right?
She's worried because...
...you and Tasaka Akiko-san might get together somehow or other.
Eh?
There's nothing going on between you and that young woman, right?
There isn't.
In that case, you go ahead and do the re-suturing as she requests...
...and then make a clean break with her. Okay?
Yes.
Then, please do this.
Seriously...
Cateran needle.
- I'll disinfect it. - Yes.
Thank you very much.
Anything you want me to do after this?
Be on standby next door.
If needed, we may ask you to prepare some medications.
Roger.
You only need one nurse?
Ah... yes.
We're always understaffed.
But you'll be fine.
Please place your trust in Aikawa-sensei.
Of course I will.
Well then, I will begin the granulation resection.
- If you would please. - If you would please.
- Feel any pain? - I'm fine.
- Scalpel. - Yes.
- Hook pin. - Yes.
- Rinse it out. - Yes.
It's going well. Please don't worry.
She won't...
...be coming to this island any longer...
...will she?
Right?
Yeah.
"Your answer that wasn't an answer..."
"...scared me."
"At the time, you hadn't..."
"...realized that, either."
Although you can walk normally...
...you mustn't push yourself...
...and you absolutely can't do any running.
Yes.
You can have the stitches removed 10 days from now.
Make sure you do that at your Father's hospital.
Please promise me that.
You sewed it up neatly, didn't you?
Yes.
Very neatly.
I...
...am familiar with the work Sensei does.
Sensei.
Yes.
Would it be okay if I waited for you in Tokyo?
Please read this afterwards.
Though it's been forever since you last came here, you won't stay overnight?
Sorry.
I was at odds with the Chief Director over today's CT case.
You were fighting with your wife?
Well, that's how it is.
How can you be a married couple when you're like that?
Do you want to know the secret?
Definitely.
I only fight with the Board of Directors during the day, but at night...
...I only embrace you.
Would I believe such words?
Yes?
Yes...
It's for you.
Who is it?
Hello?
Papa?
Ako.
How do you know this number...?
I've known it for 2 years now.
Mama doesn't know yet about the other person you have there though.
- What's this about? - I have two favors to ask of you.
Two?
First...
...please have the engagement between me and Nogami-san dissolved.
But that's Nogami-kun's...
And the other favor is...
Akiko-san!
Nogami-san.
- Sorry for being late. - No, not at all.
I had some trouble with today's operation.
I see. It must've been tough for you.
Who were you talking to just now?
Dad. Ah, he was praising you to the moon, Nogami-san.
Ah, I'm happy about that.
"Greeting from the Chief Director"
"Greetings from the Director"
Why can't you bring out a suture set right away?
Ah, um, they were used up by the previous patients.
Don't you have any spares?
I'm sorry.
If this were Tokyo, such a thing would be impossible.
It's because the Director never used more than 2 or 3 needles for his sewing.
I don't want to hear about how the Director did things!
And moreover... You there, Rice Cracker!
- Huh? - What were you doing earlier?
It just can't be that there's no lidocane with Vitamin E in it around.
In a Tokyo hospital, it wouldn't be standard to have such a limited amount available!
When even one ship cancels its service, then we run out of things.
- We can't let things like this go on! - It happens.
Anyhow, this place is the pits.
There's neither equipment nor medicines nor even a skilled nurse among you bunch.
Those aren't the only things we've run out of here!
How can I provide proper treatments like this?!
Um...
What is it?
Even without a suture set...
...you could do it using the needle this way...
An unlicensed doctor shouldn't be shooting off his mouth!
- I'm sorry. - For pete's sake.
What is this place? A field hospital?! (Yasenbyouin)
It's "Mikotojima."
Oi, what was that, you?
What was with that way you spoke to me just now?
What are you laughing at, Rice Cracker?
I wonder if I shouldn't have a chat about you guys with the Village Head...
Excuse me! We were just in contact with the Village Head...
- Eh? - His granddaughter...
His granddaughter Naoko-chan is said to be suffering severe abdominal pains.
Get an ambulance!
We don't have one.
Will Naoko be okay?!
Village Head, calm down. Please calm down.
- You'll be okay. - It's okay!
- I'll prepare an IV. - The Sensei will be here real soon.
Out of the way!
Where? Where does it hurt?
Please answer me.
That's impossible for her.
Huh? What's the matter?
Her appendix... isn't it?
The clerk will keep his mouth shut!
Her appendix, huh... Thank goodness, thank goodness!
Um, we should have the surgery right away, right?
Ah, yes, yes. It's just an appendix. Just yank that guy out.
Ah, um...
It's dangerous to underestimate... an appendix.
Aikawa-kun.
I'm sorry.
If Yamanaka-sensei wasn't around...
...we might have had to let this unlicensed doctor do it again.
Well Saburo-kun, don't get me wrong.
I'm saying this is great for your sake.
Because you won't have to be committing any crimes.
Yes.
Don't worry, Naoko-chan.
You'll be fine, you'll be fine! Hurts, doesn't it?
Setsuko-san, this is peritonitis, isn't it? (inflammation of the inner wall of the abdomen)
Yukari-chan, tell Yamanaka-sensei to hurry up.
Yes.
The doctor is coming, Naoko-chan.
Just hold on for a little longer.
Hey Sensei! Please hurry it up already!
After giving it some thought, rather than having an operation...
...I could relieve her with antibiotics and a sedative...
She's got peritonitis!
Anyhow, hurry and open her stomach!
I know!
If you would please. She's ready for the anesthesia.
Yeah.
Then, we'll be giving you the anesthesia. Let's count up to 10 aloud.
Count with me... One...
Two...
Are you sure I can turn this invoice in to the government office?
Let's see... Yes, it's OK.
- Let's perform the surgery. - If you would please.
- Scalpel. - Yes.
- Pean. - Yes.
- Muscle hook. - Yes.
- Gauze, gauze. - Ga... Yes.
A hook pin and electric scalpel.
That's odd. It should be right around...
- Long tweezers. - Yes.
Sensei, what's the matter?
I can't find her appendix.
Eh?
Hey, move the bowels a little more!
Yes.
Ala? Ala...?
Aikawa-kun, bring me some staples.
Ah... yes.
Your hand is in the way!
Ah... yes.
What are her vitals?
86 over 48. Her blood pressure is dropping!
Why... Why isn't it here?
Here you are.
Just how long does it take you to find some staples?
They're still not finished, are they?
It'll have been an hour soon.
That's a little long, isn't it?
I wonder if he can't find her appendix?
Is there such a thing?
In rare cases, an appendix will migrate...
...and move off to the left hand side.
But Yamanaka-sensei should be aware of that.
Please do your work.
I guess we'll close her up at this point and send her to Tokyo.
Sensei! Don't say such carefree things!
Blood pressure is at 78 over 40!
- Sensei! - I know! I'm doing it right now!
I'm sorry!
- Get some gloves and a gown. - Ah, yes.
Let me take a little break.
You can't...
Sensei!
- Yamanaka-sensei. - I told you, just give me a minute!
Can we... let him do it?
Huh?
Aikawa... Saburo.
Does a real doctor like me...
...need the assistance of a fake doctor like him?!
This is a race against time. Her life is in a state of emergency.
That's why I should do it!
Given your state of mind, is it possible for you to perform a proper operation?
Just who are you mouthing off to?
If he succeeds, it'll fine if it is known that you performed the operation.
If it fails, it'll be fine if he's the one who did it without permission, right?
You didn't know...
...that he was an unlicensed doctor.
You could file a complaint with the police with that.
At this rate, you're going to murder that girl...
...but if you let Aikawa Saburo do it, you can claim the fame.
Which do you choose?
You're saying that guy can do it?
I'll call for him.
- Yes? - We need your help.
Me...
...to operate?
It's an emergency situation.
Hello?
Hello? Aikawa-san!
See... That guy hasn't the confidence to do it!
What are you doing?! If you don't hurry...
- I'll go get him. - Who?!
You...
Can you really do it?
I think... I can.
In that case, hurry and get prepped.
- Excuse me! - What is it?
Yamanaka-sensei, you're a specialist in surgeries.
As long as...
...you personally ask me to do it...
I will.
You!
Blood pressure at 70 and dropping!
- What should I do?! - Eh?
Sensei!
Please...
Very well.
"It was about that time that I wondered..."
"At that time..."
"...I didn't know just yet..."
"...who the Aikawa Saburo I had met was."
- Hook! - Yes. If you would please.
The inflammation extends into the Douglas cavum...
...in the worst case, her appendix may have burst...
Blood pressure at 60 and dropping!
This is a race against time! We can't waste a second!
- Fully open the IV! DOA, 6 gamma! - Yes!
- Ah, expand it more! - Yes!
Ah, this is no good. Bring a retractor!
- Please! - Yes!
- Setsuko-san, suction! - Yes!
It's gotten like this...
Where are you?!
The retractor has been prepared.
Why can't I find it?
When it's difficult to find an appendix...
...one possibility is that the appendix has migrated.
I think it may be that it has fallen into the Douglas cavum.
Either that or it has adhered itself to the small intestine...
...making it difficult to be found.
Or into the retroperitoneum... (the space in the abdominal cavity behind the peritoneum)
The retroperitoneum.
Ah! I've found it!
Like I thought, it had entered the retroperitoneum!
Okay!
- Removing the appendix! Pean! - Yes!
- 2-0 silk. - Yes.
- Cooper. - Yes.
Sensei, have you ever read an article about the placebo effect?
Among elderly patients, there seems to be a tendency...
...for them to wish that their doctors will give them an injection.
That seems to be because it provides them with far more psychological security...
...than being made to take this kind or that variety of drugs.
Are you talking about that old lady with the high blood pressure and angina earlier?
Hasebe... Kinuyo-san.
Last year her fisherman son...
...died in an accident at sea...
...and she's been living alone and lonely ever since.
Although I had written about those details in the comments column...
...of the medical chart I turned over to you.
Village Head, the operation ended safely.
She'll be just fine. Yes.
That outrageous... fake doctor.
Aikawa-kun. You don't need to stay here anymore.
Ah... yes.
So long, thanks for your hard work.
Too bad, isn't it?
If only you held...
...a doctor's license.
Yamanaka-sensei! Just what we expected of you.
I'm so truly happy that you've come here!
Thank you very much. Thank you so very much!
Seems this was an unexpectedly difficult operation, wasn't it?
Well, it's been a long time since I performed my last operation...
...so it did run a little long.
Ah... I'm so happy! Thank you so very much!
You're my grandchild's savior! You've saved her!
Thank you very much!
You worked hard.
Thank you.
Yes?
Saboru.
What's the matter?
We didn't get the chance to have a nice long talk the other day.
Yeah.
There's something that's been bothering me.
What's that?
It's about your current job.
You didn't tell me what it was. Are you okay?
I've...
...got this bad feeling about it somehow.
- Mom. - Yeah?
I'm no longer the me...
...I was before.
"Pregnancy Test"
- Good morning! - Good morning!
Aki-chan, have you heard anything?
Is something the matter?
Well, about Aikawa-kun. All his personal belongings are gone.
It's strange... All those medical books are gone, too.
- Any luck reaching him by phone? - Nope.
Hmm... Call him one more time.
Yes.
"Somehow I knew..."
"...what had happened."
"I knew... everything."
"If at that time..."
"...I had told you of the existence of this new life..."
"...would you have been pleased?"
"At that time..."
"...I was looking for where..."
"...you were."
"But that was also..."
"...just where..."
"...I was."
"Kumo no Kaidan To the Second Chapter of Destiny..."
"A New Life in Tokyo"
"Parting From the Woman Who Loves Him..."