Out of the Unknown (1965) s03e08 Episode Script
The Little Black Bag
1 [theme music plays.]
[restaurant hubbub, background music plays.]
A moment.
Don't run away.
My friend here, don't let him dry out, huh.
- Johnny.
- Angie! - How've you been keeping? - As if you didn't know.
Look, if you're planning to make trouble-- - You know me.
- That's just it.
Next time-- No, I had it coming to me, huh? - That's right.
- Teach me my place.
A woman, she should be in the home.
Now I am worried.
Itâs all right.
I learn my lesson.
- So, what do you want? - A home.
Say, a lease on a nice house and £100.
- You've got to be joking.
- Iâd settle for 500 in cash.
- What for? - Chance of a lifetime.
With that old soak? What's he got? - It matters? - No competition.
I told you.
I don't want no more razors.
Whoever fixed your face did a good job.
- Give me a start, huh? - I don't know.
What's the angle? Medical.
I pay back double in two months.
Hang around, Iâll see what I can do.
- Sorry.
- That's all right.
Some business.
They look after you, huh? - Um-hm.
- Another? - I wouldn't say no.
- Do you ever? - Itâs not that I want one.
- I know.
Itâs a disease, drink, you know physiological.
Stay with me.
I give you all the drink in the world.
Starting now.
Thanks.
- What's your name? - Angie Quiller.
Roger Full.
How do you do? - Iâve been thinking - What about? - This.
- Me also.
[clattering.]
Sit up and look good, huh? Don't you take that tone with me, young lady.
You're addressing a member of the professional classes.
Physicians have been respected members of the community for years.
- I am a physician.
- Once.
And shall be again.
With this.
Oh, yes, I most certainly shall.
One lapse.
They'll overlook that in a man - who brings this to the world.
- A useless drunk.
Physician heal thyself.
I shall cure myself, of course.
And after? Half a dozen spectacular cures-- Are you mad? You lay a finger on one patient, they'll have you behind bars.
- They won't know.
- Unless I tell them.
Why would you do that? Oh, for God's sake! Because Iâve got a better idea.
You want to prove something? All right.
Do it my way, you'll get results.
Iâll make money, and no trouble with police.
- What are you talking about? - Be quiet now, huh.
Itâs yours for a month.
Make sure it pays off.
And don't say that I don't look after you.
You're a lovely man.
- What's that? - Capital.
You and me, we do business.
We are about to found the Full-Quiller Clinic.
- I don't understand.
- You will.
Come, we got work to do.
- What's the angle? - Cosmetic surgery.
Can't say it sets me on fire.
Hardly touches the bulk of our readers.
That's how he started.
It seems he's been branching out of late.
He's treated at least one patient for a tumour.
- Malignant? - I don't know.
Anyway, the point is he was struck off ten years ago.
- What for? - Killing a patient.
- Really? - He was drunk at the time.
Yes, well, you may have something there, but these articles of yours are tailing off a bit.
Look at where you've been placing them.
Itâs a case of which comes first, ducky, isn't it? Itâs your enthusiasm that keeps me going.
All right, go ahead.
See how it works out.
But remember, we really need a strong finisher.
You find out he is pushing some phoney cancer cure and Iâll go to town for you.
You don't want much, do you? Increased circulation, that's all.
[electronic whirring.]
Hello Control, this is Supernormal 17-- [Control.]
Yes, Al? Iâm getting a rather odd signal from bag number 67 4101 .
That the one you lost to another timescale? - Yes, that's the one.
- Well? Well, last time I had anything like this, it was one of the kits being used for cosmetic purposes.
We took a dim view, didn't we? Yes, that's why Iâm querying it now.
Of course, it's not necessarily harmful.
Depends where it is on the ethical climate.
The signalâs intermittent, it's not very strong.
- This side of emergency? - Yes, Iâd have thought so.
All right, leave it on.
Watch it though.
Will do.
Not a mark! I don't think you'll have any further trouble.
That's wonderful.
Iâll tell you, Doctor, when I came to you I had a good many doubts.
Yes, people usually do.
You see, before I came here, this specialist, as a matter of fact, told my wife it was malignant.
I don't think he'll say that again.
Surprising how people can slip up, isn't it? Supposed to be a top man, too.
I can't thank you enough, Doctor.
You've done a wonderful job.
Very reasonably too, if I may say so.
Now if there's anything I can do, I mean, in the way of recommendation-- - Thank you.
- Not at all.
- Thank you, Doctor.
- Good day.
Thank you very much.
Goodbye, Doctor.
- Another satisfied customer.
- Yes.
What's the matter? - That growth.
It was malignant.
- Well? - There's not a trace of it now.
- Good for you.
Iâm beginning to wonder whether we've got our priorities right.
- How do you mean? - All this cosmetic work when we could be doing something that really matters.
You want to bite the hand that feeds you? We'd never have got started without cosmetic work.
You couldn't just put up a plate and go into general practice, could you? - Not then, but-- - Miss Flannery, please.
Look, I haven't got time to stand and argue.
There's a waiting room full of patients.
They're quite happy with us as we are.
But that's hardly the point.
Let's talk about it some other time, huh? Very well.
- Miss Flannery? - Doctor.
Please.
Now, then, Miss Flannery, what seems to be the trouble? Well, I have this sort of nagging backache.
- All the time.
- More or less.
But not just when you're tired or-- - No, no, all the time.
- I see.
And how long has this been going on for? Six months, I suppose.
You've consulted your own doctor, presumably? - Yes.
- And what did he do? She.
My doctor's a woman.
She gave me some liniment.
- No good? - No, none at all.
- Did you go back to her? - No.
Yes, that's the idea.
There's nothing to worry about.
Quite relaxed.
Twenty, 19.
Twenty, 20.
Twenty, 18.
Sixteen just a moment.
Yes, 16, 20.
You have a slightly over-active thyroid, Miss Flannery.
Also there seems to be something wrong with your left lung.
I don't think it's anything serious but Iâd like to take a closer look.
Would you mind removing your blouse and lying face-down on the couch? What are you going to do? [electric jingling.]
You won't mind if I blindfold you for the examination? - Well-- - Thank you.
That's it.
Thank you.
Yes Don't worry.
[high-pitched bleeping.]
Yes, there's an old tubercular scar down there.
I don't think it's doing any particular harm, but a person of your constitution needs all the oxygen she can get.
Now if you'd like to lie just perfectly still, yes, right.
Iâll fix it for you.
Instrument nine? Quite still.
Good.
- Now-- - I hope you know what-- Instrument 30.
After this I shall need three CCs of vascular glue.
Good girl.
Mmm-hm.
Yes.
There we are.
- No harm done.
- What? I took out your fibrosis.
A good friend it's been to you too.
Itâs walled off the infection, so you're still alive to tell the tale.
- You did that? Here? - Yes.
- But I didn't feel anything.
- And there's no scar either.
We may not be able to give you the security of conventional medicine, but there are advantages.
Iâve left your thyroid, you're used to it.
Besides, it will probably correct itself once you stop worrying about your job.
As for the backache, if you have any further trouble, I would be inclined to see your own doctor again.
She could be right, you know.
Doctor, there are a lot of questions I want to ask-- Yes, Iâm sure, but I don't give interviews.
I have a lot of patients waiting for me.
But what about my next appointment? You're cured.
There's nothing more I can do for you.
Well, how much do I owe you? Miss Quiller will take care of that.
This way, please.
- Oh, and Miss Flannery.
- Yes? Look out for quacks.
The woods are full of them.
- What were you trying to do? - An experiment.
Well, don't do it again.
You practically gave me heart failure, mucking about like that.
- You could have killed her.
- But I didn't.
- I cured her lung condition.
- More by luck than judgement.
Don't you see? If you follow the instructions and set the instruments correctly, you can't go wrong.
All right.
So we got away with it that time.
What's the point? Iâm beginning to think, with this, we can do anything.
- Cure anything.
- That's no reason - to chance your arm.
- But it is.
We must find out.
I need to find out.
- But to go and operate on her.
- She was sick.
You don't know who she is.
That's what I mean.
She could be anyone, a snooper or anything.
- She's a journalist.
- How do you know? Well, I read the papers.
She's a household name, specialises in 'dramatic exposures'.
- And you carved her up? - Why not? With your record? Here? You gone mad? Given enough publicity, we may be able to practice real medicine again.
What's the matter with you? We've got a nice little thing going-- But what possible harm could she do? She can put you in prison and me back in the gutter.
[Miss Flannery.]
And after that he put these discs all over me.
Made out he was getting readings from some dial.
- Wonderful! - You've never seen such hokum.
Then he blindfolded me.
Fiddled about for a bit with some equipment.
When he took the bandages off, he told me he'd removed the fibrosis you diagnosed.
- No! - And I hadn't felt a thing.
I mean, there wasn't even a trace of a scar.
And how much did this performance cost? Fifty guineas.
You asked for a receipt, I hope.
Oh yes, a detailed receipt.
Well, you've got to give them full marks for gall.
And yet in spite of all that mumbo-jumbo, there was something extraordinarily impressive about him.
Oh, these confidence tricksters can be very convincing.
That's how they make their living.
Oh, I know.
Iâve met enough since I started this series but-- Yes? This was the first time I got the feeling that, well, it was almost as if he believed what he was saying.
I don't doubt some of them fool themselves, too.
No, Iâm putting it very badly.
Itâs hard to explain.
He didn't seem to be trying to impress me, somehow.
Itâs very odd.
Well, let's judge by results, shall we? Ah, thank you.
If this shows what it must, I think you'll really be able to wax indignant - in your final article.
- And how! - Good God! - What is it? [nurse.]
Yes? Nurse, that plate you just brought in.
You're sure, it's the one we took of Miss Flannery? - Yes, why? - You couldn't possibly have confused it with another patient's? No.
I developed it myself, brought it straight in.
Is there something wrong? I just want to make sure.
That's all.
- Itâs not possible! - What's wrong? You remember my showing you the fibrosis on that first plate we took? - That's it, isn't it? - Yes, there.
Clear as a bell.
Now look at this new one.
- Itâs not there.
- Not a sign of it.
Spontaneous remission? ln the time? Or in a condition as advanced as that? Iâve never known it happen before.
Then what does it mean? There must be some logical explanation.
- What? - I haven't the faintest idea.
- Then, whatever he did-- - It just doesn't make sense.
It makes a hell of a story, doesn't it? You are sure? No question.
Your lung's clear.
Here for you.
Angie, we can't go on like this.
Like what? Running a beauty parlour, more or less.
What we've got here Iâm not even sure it should be in private hands.
Medicine belongs to the world.
Yes, I know, it may sound corny-- What has the world has ever done for us? But it happens to be what I believe.
You know what you are? Ungrateful.
- Squandering it like this.
- We're doing all right.
But we haven't even begun to explore its full potential.
Itâs ours.
Ours! We came on it by chance and we've cashed in on it for ages.
- And why not? - But we've no right to keep it to ourselves.
There are people who need it.
Really need it.
People who are sick.
- Don't give me that mush.
- We owe it to humanity.
And what about me? Don't you owe me anything? Well, yes, yes-- You just remember what you were when I met you.
Struck off.
A lush.
And look at you now.
Who have you got to thank for that? This cured me.
When I put a roof over your head! Cleaned you up.
Clothed you.
If it hadn't been for me you wouldn't be here.
You'd have lost that by now, if you hadn't pawned it.
- Well, wouldn't you? - Probably.
Who put you back on the map? Who showed you how to use that? - You did.
- That's right.
And you think Iâm going to let you throw all that away? Just because you want to be a 'proper' doctor? - Where did that ever get you? - All right, all right! Perhaps they won't allow me to use it.
No! If we could give it to the The BMA? The Royal College-- - They'll give you a medal.
- It could be of some real good.
And what I am supposed to do for a living while you walk around in a holy glow? I told you, we'll think of something.
- What? - I don't know.
You see? I tell you, let that out of our sight and we are done.
Finished! But if Edna Flannery gives us the right kind of publicity-- You can count that out for a start.
I cured her, didn't I? What does she say? - Nothing.
- But-- They shut her up.
Finished the series.
There's nothing.
Of course I don't know about 'of course'.
Itâs obvious, isn't it? A quack who kills or maims, well, ah, yes, that's news.
People want to read about that.
But one who actually heals people They don't want to know.
They don't want to read about it.
Itâs no story.
And a good job, too, if you ask me.
If she'd only just told the truth Yes, well, she didn't even get the chance, so let's forget it, huh.
Oh, come on.
Itâs not the end of the world.
We're not doing any harm are we? We're not doing so bad.
You're tired, that's what it is.
Tell you what, let's shut up shop for the day.
Have a drink, go and get a slap-up lunch somewhere.
Iâll pay.
And after we could Well, go back to my place, if you like.
And what do you say? We've earned ourselves a bit of fun, haven't we? Thank you.
Iâve got to see somebody.
- Who? - See you later.
[loudly.]
Who? [knocking.]
- Doctor Kelland? - Yes? Iâm terribly sorry but there's someone to see you.
- Tell them Iâm busy.
- I have.
He insists it's urgent.
He won't go away.
- Won't? - Itâs a Mr.
Full.
That rings a Yes, show him in.
Give me a minute.
Get rid of this, then show him in, will you? Yes.
All right.
Mr.
Full, sir.
- Mr.
Kelland.
- Yes? - Iâm Roger Full.
- Dr.
Full? Thank you.
I treated your patient, Miss Flannery.
- So I understand.
- I cured her.
- Possibly.
- Didn't I? Her condition appears to have improved since seeing you, certainly.
On the other hand you're no longer qualified.
- I came-- - As a former doctor, you must know that Iâm not allowed to consort with a doctor who has been struck off.
Even for the good of your patient? Under any circumstances.
Yes, well, as a matter of fact, that's why I came to see you.
I came into possession of a medical bag.
The instruments are different from the ones we are used to and - there's a date on the bag.
- What date? - It could be a patent number.
- No, July, 2160.
- How did you come by this bag? - I found it.
I don't understand, but it works.
Well, you've seen the results.
It has, well, miraculous properties.
How does it work? There's a sort of Diagnostic Card with instructions.
If you follow them, it works.
Well, you've seen for yourself.
- Where did it come from? - Well, I don't know.
It sort of materialized.
Perhaps some young inventor has found out how to break the timescale.
It all sounds a little far fetched-- Well, of course it does.
That's why I've got to demonstrate it.
You do realise that if it does work, we'll probably take it away from you? - Yes.
- You don't mind? Yes, I mind.
But it's too much, too great a responsibility for one man to keep to himself.
Too great a privilege.
All right.
Iâll see what I can do, talk to my colleagues.
I might be able to persuade them to allow you to carry out an experiment - under clinical conditions.
- Thank you.
I can't guarantee it, but I must insist on one proviso.
- But of course, anything.
- If Iâm to do this, you must undertake not to use the equipment meanwhile.
- Iâve got myself to think of.
- Of course.
Itâs one thing to arrange a demonstration for you.
I can't consort with an unqualified practitioner.
- Yes.
- So no more cosmetic surgery.
No more experiments of any kind, or I wash my hands of you.
- Agreed? - Agreed.
ln fact, you'd better hand over this this bag to the Royal College for safe keeping.
Then Iâll see what I can organise - and be in touch with you.
- Thank you.
- Welcome home.
- Thank you.
- About time.
- Iâve got some great news.
- It'll have to keep.
- Our troubles are almost over.
There's a patient waiting for you.
Cosmetic? - What else? - No, not now.
- Why? - Because it's an abuse.
Listen, she's loaded.
We have a chance to show what we can really do.
She's ready to part with good money to lose the bags under her eyes.
No, I can't.
It won't take you five minutes.
But don't you understand? There are people who are really suffering.
What makes you think she isn't? I tell you, Iâd be suffering if I looked like her.
Oh, now, Angie, Angie You can't disappoint a pathetic, old woman, can you? All right.
But this is the last time.
Understood? If you say so.
Mrs.
Coleman, please.
Mrs.
Coleman, Doctor.
Miss Quiller's told me so much about you.
Yes, Iâm sure.
Lie down, please.
Thank you.
I hope your system is permanent.
It is.
Right there.
Thank you very much.
Still.
Put the retractors in as I cut.
[Angie shushing.]
[spraying.]
- Itâs not going to hurt, is it? - No.
Lie back.
You know what to do.
[sonic humming.]
Right.
[equipment rattling.]
That's it.
And again.
Ready? That feels peculiar.
Are you sure you're rubbing it properly? Try not to talk during the massage.
[clinking.]
[spraying.]
- Get her out.
- There we are.
- Have you finished? - All done.
But you've hardly done anything, surely? Come and see.
There's a mirror out in the hall.
[Miss Coleman.]
Oh! But that's wonderful.
Simply wonderful! Two hundred guineas for that.
Not bad, is it? Money for old rope.
She wants her chins fixed tomorrow.
You realise we could go over her an inch at a time, at 200 guineas an inch.
Angie, we can't keep this up forever.
Let's talk about it some other time.
Iâm tired now.
I went to see Mr.
Kelland today.
- Who is he? - He's Edna Flannery's surgeon.
He's going to arrange a proper demonstration for us.
- So what? - But don't you see? We'll have a chance to show what it can do.
Find out how it works.
Perhaps be able to manufacture kits like it.
And what will we get out of it? The advantage of knowing that it's in proper hands.
That it's being used to its full potential.
- That will pay the rent? - Perhaps not, but-- And suppose they don't believe in it? - Well, why shouldn't they? - Lots of reasons.
Because they don't understand it, because it might make a lot of them redundant.
Oh, now, Angie.
Come on.
All right! Let them have a look at it, if you must.
That's no reason for us to stop using it.
If we don't they won't touch it.
And Iâve agreed.
You've what? Iâm not going on.
That's all.
Iâve had enough.
Quite decided.
You've got a gall.
We're partners, aren't we? Iâve got some say in it.
Just because you got all aerated - All my life Iâve had it rough.
- I know.
You know? What do you know about anything? You had it made, didn't you? Posh home, posh house.
Medical School.
Profession.
And what did you do with it? Me? I didn't have nothing.
Only this idea that And, my God, I had to fight for it.
And then, one day, I get this on a plate.
You You didn't know what to do with it.
I did.
I knew.
And Iâve got everything I ever wanted.
You think I'm going to stand by and let you just chuck that away? - Poor Angie.
- Don't say it.
Don't say it or you'll be sorry.
Angie, there was a family once.
They invented the OB forceps.
They were greedy too.
They kept them from the world for years.
They knew what they were doing.
And they were wrong.
My mind is made up.
Iâm going to hand these instruments over to the Royal College.
Angie.
[clattering, high-pitched ringing.]
Now look what you've done.
A stupid, selfish tantrum.
[gasps.]
[sonic ticking.]
[buzzer.]
This is Supernormal 17.
This is an emergency.
[Control.]
Let's have it, Al.
It looks as if there's been a murder committed with Bag Number 764101 .
Isn't that the one you were supposed - to keep under surveillance? - Yes.
Is Supernormal Number 18 there? Here.
Number 17 is suspended from duty forthwith.
You will be responsible for his appearance before the Tribunal.
Verify the timescale and kill that bag! Zero out.
Massage? My dear girl, what Dr.
Full did to me yesterday, not that Iâm complaining, you understand.
But whatever he did it was not massage.
- No, well, you-- - It neither felt like it-- - If you'll just-- - Cut.
I distinctly remember him using the word 'cut'.
With this? Why not? Look.
You see? It simply slips beneath the tissues, tightening and firming the muscles themselves.
So much easier than having to work through layers of skin and adipose tissue.
Itâs quite harmless.
Comfortable too.
[steady beeping.]
One murder, two murders.
What's the difference? For you.
That's no reason why I should let them discipline me for disobeying orders.
Let me see you do that with your neck.
[Control.]
Kill that bag! [echoing.]
[loud whirring.]
[screaming.]
[restaurant hubbub, background music plays.]
A moment.
Don't run away.
My friend here, don't let him dry out, huh.
- Johnny.
- Angie! - How've you been keeping? - As if you didn't know.
Look, if you're planning to make trouble-- - You know me.
- That's just it.
Next time-- No, I had it coming to me, huh? - That's right.
- Teach me my place.
A woman, she should be in the home.
Now I am worried.
Itâs all right.
I learn my lesson.
- So, what do you want? - A home.
Say, a lease on a nice house and £100.
- You've got to be joking.
- Iâd settle for 500 in cash.
- What for? - Chance of a lifetime.
With that old soak? What's he got? - It matters? - No competition.
I told you.
I don't want no more razors.
Whoever fixed your face did a good job.
- Give me a start, huh? - I don't know.
What's the angle? Medical.
I pay back double in two months.
Hang around, Iâll see what I can do.
- Sorry.
- That's all right.
Some business.
They look after you, huh? - Um-hm.
- Another? - I wouldn't say no.
- Do you ever? - Itâs not that I want one.
- I know.
Itâs a disease, drink, you know physiological.
Stay with me.
I give you all the drink in the world.
Starting now.
Thanks.
- What's your name? - Angie Quiller.
Roger Full.
How do you do? - Iâve been thinking - What about? - This.
- Me also.
[clattering.]
Sit up and look good, huh? Don't you take that tone with me, young lady.
You're addressing a member of the professional classes.
Physicians have been respected members of the community for years.
- I am a physician.
- Once.
And shall be again.
With this.
Oh, yes, I most certainly shall.
One lapse.
They'll overlook that in a man - who brings this to the world.
- A useless drunk.
Physician heal thyself.
I shall cure myself, of course.
And after? Half a dozen spectacular cures-- Are you mad? You lay a finger on one patient, they'll have you behind bars.
- They won't know.
- Unless I tell them.
Why would you do that? Oh, for God's sake! Because Iâve got a better idea.
You want to prove something? All right.
Do it my way, you'll get results.
Iâll make money, and no trouble with police.
- What are you talking about? - Be quiet now, huh.
Itâs yours for a month.
Make sure it pays off.
And don't say that I don't look after you.
You're a lovely man.
- What's that? - Capital.
You and me, we do business.
We are about to found the Full-Quiller Clinic.
- I don't understand.
- You will.
Come, we got work to do.
- What's the angle? - Cosmetic surgery.
Can't say it sets me on fire.
Hardly touches the bulk of our readers.
That's how he started.
It seems he's been branching out of late.
He's treated at least one patient for a tumour.
- Malignant? - I don't know.
Anyway, the point is he was struck off ten years ago.
- What for? - Killing a patient.
- Really? - He was drunk at the time.
Yes, well, you may have something there, but these articles of yours are tailing off a bit.
Look at where you've been placing them.
Itâs a case of which comes first, ducky, isn't it? Itâs your enthusiasm that keeps me going.
All right, go ahead.
See how it works out.
But remember, we really need a strong finisher.
You find out he is pushing some phoney cancer cure and Iâll go to town for you.
You don't want much, do you? Increased circulation, that's all.
[electronic whirring.]
Hello Control, this is Supernormal 17-- [Control.]
Yes, Al? Iâm getting a rather odd signal from bag number 67 4101 .
That the one you lost to another timescale? - Yes, that's the one.
- Well? Well, last time I had anything like this, it was one of the kits being used for cosmetic purposes.
We took a dim view, didn't we? Yes, that's why Iâm querying it now.
Of course, it's not necessarily harmful.
Depends where it is on the ethical climate.
The signalâs intermittent, it's not very strong.
- This side of emergency? - Yes, Iâd have thought so.
All right, leave it on.
Watch it though.
Will do.
Not a mark! I don't think you'll have any further trouble.
That's wonderful.
Iâll tell you, Doctor, when I came to you I had a good many doubts.
Yes, people usually do.
You see, before I came here, this specialist, as a matter of fact, told my wife it was malignant.
I don't think he'll say that again.
Surprising how people can slip up, isn't it? Supposed to be a top man, too.
I can't thank you enough, Doctor.
You've done a wonderful job.
Very reasonably too, if I may say so.
Now if there's anything I can do, I mean, in the way of recommendation-- - Thank you.
- Not at all.
- Thank you, Doctor.
- Good day.
Thank you very much.
Goodbye, Doctor.
- Another satisfied customer.
- Yes.
What's the matter? - That growth.
It was malignant.
- Well? - There's not a trace of it now.
- Good for you.
Iâm beginning to wonder whether we've got our priorities right.
- How do you mean? - All this cosmetic work when we could be doing something that really matters.
You want to bite the hand that feeds you? We'd never have got started without cosmetic work.
You couldn't just put up a plate and go into general practice, could you? - Not then, but-- - Miss Flannery, please.
Look, I haven't got time to stand and argue.
There's a waiting room full of patients.
They're quite happy with us as we are.
But that's hardly the point.
Let's talk about it some other time, huh? Very well.
- Miss Flannery? - Doctor.
Please.
Now, then, Miss Flannery, what seems to be the trouble? Well, I have this sort of nagging backache.
- All the time.
- More or less.
But not just when you're tired or-- - No, no, all the time.
- I see.
And how long has this been going on for? Six months, I suppose.
You've consulted your own doctor, presumably? - Yes.
- And what did he do? She.
My doctor's a woman.
She gave me some liniment.
- No good? - No, none at all.
- Did you go back to her? - No.
Yes, that's the idea.
There's nothing to worry about.
Quite relaxed.
Twenty, 19.
Twenty, 20.
Twenty, 18.
Sixteen just a moment.
Yes, 16, 20.
You have a slightly over-active thyroid, Miss Flannery.
Also there seems to be something wrong with your left lung.
I don't think it's anything serious but Iâd like to take a closer look.
Would you mind removing your blouse and lying face-down on the couch? What are you going to do? [electric jingling.]
You won't mind if I blindfold you for the examination? - Well-- - Thank you.
That's it.
Thank you.
Yes Don't worry.
[high-pitched bleeping.]
Yes, there's an old tubercular scar down there.
I don't think it's doing any particular harm, but a person of your constitution needs all the oxygen she can get.
Now if you'd like to lie just perfectly still, yes, right.
Iâll fix it for you.
Instrument nine? Quite still.
Good.
- Now-- - I hope you know what-- Instrument 30.
After this I shall need three CCs of vascular glue.
Good girl.
Mmm-hm.
Yes.
There we are.
- No harm done.
- What? I took out your fibrosis.
A good friend it's been to you too.
Itâs walled off the infection, so you're still alive to tell the tale.
- You did that? Here? - Yes.
- But I didn't feel anything.
- And there's no scar either.
We may not be able to give you the security of conventional medicine, but there are advantages.
Iâve left your thyroid, you're used to it.
Besides, it will probably correct itself once you stop worrying about your job.
As for the backache, if you have any further trouble, I would be inclined to see your own doctor again.
She could be right, you know.
Doctor, there are a lot of questions I want to ask-- Yes, Iâm sure, but I don't give interviews.
I have a lot of patients waiting for me.
But what about my next appointment? You're cured.
There's nothing more I can do for you.
Well, how much do I owe you? Miss Quiller will take care of that.
This way, please.
- Oh, and Miss Flannery.
- Yes? Look out for quacks.
The woods are full of them.
- What were you trying to do? - An experiment.
Well, don't do it again.
You practically gave me heart failure, mucking about like that.
- You could have killed her.
- But I didn't.
- I cured her lung condition.
- More by luck than judgement.
Don't you see? If you follow the instructions and set the instruments correctly, you can't go wrong.
All right.
So we got away with it that time.
What's the point? Iâm beginning to think, with this, we can do anything.
- Cure anything.
- That's no reason - to chance your arm.
- But it is.
We must find out.
I need to find out.
- But to go and operate on her.
- She was sick.
You don't know who she is.
That's what I mean.
She could be anyone, a snooper or anything.
- She's a journalist.
- How do you know? Well, I read the papers.
She's a household name, specialises in 'dramatic exposures'.
- And you carved her up? - Why not? With your record? Here? You gone mad? Given enough publicity, we may be able to practice real medicine again.
What's the matter with you? We've got a nice little thing going-- But what possible harm could she do? She can put you in prison and me back in the gutter.
[Miss Flannery.]
And after that he put these discs all over me.
Made out he was getting readings from some dial.
- Wonderful! - You've never seen such hokum.
Then he blindfolded me.
Fiddled about for a bit with some equipment.
When he took the bandages off, he told me he'd removed the fibrosis you diagnosed.
- No! - And I hadn't felt a thing.
I mean, there wasn't even a trace of a scar.
And how much did this performance cost? Fifty guineas.
You asked for a receipt, I hope.
Oh yes, a detailed receipt.
Well, you've got to give them full marks for gall.
And yet in spite of all that mumbo-jumbo, there was something extraordinarily impressive about him.
Oh, these confidence tricksters can be very convincing.
That's how they make their living.
Oh, I know.
Iâve met enough since I started this series but-- Yes? This was the first time I got the feeling that, well, it was almost as if he believed what he was saying.
I don't doubt some of them fool themselves, too.
No, Iâm putting it very badly.
Itâs hard to explain.
He didn't seem to be trying to impress me, somehow.
Itâs very odd.
Well, let's judge by results, shall we? Ah, thank you.
If this shows what it must, I think you'll really be able to wax indignant - in your final article.
- And how! - Good God! - What is it? [nurse.]
Yes? Nurse, that plate you just brought in.
You're sure, it's the one we took of Miss Flannery? - Yes, why? - You couldn't possibly have confused it with another patient's? No.
I developed it myself, brought it straight in.
Is there something wrong? I just want to make sure.
That's all.
- Itâs not possible! - What's wrong? You remember my showing you the fibrosis on that first plate we took? - That's it, isn't it? - Yes, there.
Clear as a bell.
Now look at this new one.
- Itâs not there.
- Not a sign of it.
Spontaneous remission? ln the time? Or in a condition as advanced as that? Iâve never known it happen before.
Then what does it mean? There must be some logical explanation.
- What? - I haven't the faintest idea.
- Then, whatever he did-- - It just doesn't make sense.
It makes a hell of a story, doesn't it? You are sure? No question.
Your lung's clear.
Here for you.
Angie, we can't go on like this.
Like what? Running a beauty parlour, more or less.
What we've got here Iâm not even sure it should be in private hands.
Medicine belongs to the world.
Yes, I know, it may sound corny-- What has the world has ever done for us? But it happens to be what I believe.
You know what you are? Ungrateful.
- Squandering it like this.
- We're doing all right.
But we haven't even begun to explore its full potential.
Itâs ours.
Ours! We came on it by chance and we've cashed in on it for ages.
- And why not? - But we've no right to keep it to ourselves.
There are people who need it.
Really need it.
People who are sick.
- Don't give me that mush.
- We owe it to humanity.
And what about me? Don't you owe me anything? Well, yes, yes-- You just remember what you were when I met you.
Struck off.
A lush.
And look at you now.
Who have you got to thank for that? This cured me.
When I put a roof over your head! Cleaned you up.
Clothed you.
If it hadn't been for me you wouldn't be here.
You'd have lost that by now, if you hadn't pawned it.
- Well, wouldn't you? - Probably.
Who put you back on the map? Who showed you how to use that? - You did.
- That's right.
And you think Iâm going to let you throw all that away? Just because you want to be a 'proper' doctor? - Where did that ever get you? - All right, all right! Perhaps they won't allow me to use it.
No! If we could give it to the The BMA? The Royal College-- - They'll give you a medal.
- It could be of some real good.
And what I am supposed to do for a living while you walk around in a holy glow? I told you, we'll think of something.
- What? - I don't know.
You see? I tell you, let that out of our sight and we are done.
Finished! But if Edna Flannery gives us the right kind of publicity-- You can count that out for a start.
I cured her, didn't I? What does she say? - Nothing.
- But-- They shut her up.
Finished the series.
There's nothing.
Of course I don't know about 'of course'.
Itâs obvious, isn't it? A quack who kills or maims, well, ah, yes, that's news.
People want to read about that.
But one who actually heals people They don't want to know.
They don't want to read about it.
Itâs no story.
And a good job, too, if you ask me.
If she'd only just told the truth Yes, well, she didn't even get the chance, so let's forget it, huh.
Oh, come on.
Itâs not the end of the world.
We're not doing any harm are we? We're not doing so bad.
You're tired, that's what it is.
Tell you what, let's shut up shop for the day.
Have a drink, go and get a slap-up lunch somewhere.
Iâll pay.
And after we could Well, go back to my place, if you like.
And what do you say? We've earned ourselves a bit of fun, haven't we? Thank you.
Iâve got to see somebody.
- Who? - See you later.
[loudly.]
Who? [knocking.]
- Doctor Kelland? - Yes? Iâm terribly sorry but there's someone to see you.
- Tell them Iâm busy.
- I have.
He insists it's urgent.
He won't go away.
- Won't? - Itâs a Mr.
Full.
That rings a Yes, show him in.
Give me a minute.
Get rid of this, then show him in, will you? Yes.
All right.
Mr.
Full, sir.
- Mr.
Kelland.
- Yes? - Iâm Roger Full.
- Dr.
Full? Thank you.
I treated your patient, Miss Flannery.
- So I understand.
- I cured her.
- Possibly.
- Didn't I? Her condition appears to have improved since seeing you, certainly.
On the other hand you're no longer qualified.
- I came-- - As a former doctor, you must know that Iâm not allowed to consort with a doctor who has been struck off.
Even for the good of your patient? Under any circumstances.
Yes, well, as a matter of fact, that's why I came to see you.
I came into possession of a medical bag.
The instruments are different from the ones we are used to and - there's a date on the bag.
- What date? - It could be a patent number.
- No, July, 2160.
- How did you come by this bag? - I found it.
I don't understand, but it works.
Well, you've seen the results.
It has, well, miraculous properties.
How does it work? There's a sort of Diagnostic Card with instructions.
If you follow them, it works.
Well, you've seen for yourself.
- Where did it come from? - Well, I don't know.
It sort of materialized.
Perhaps some young inventor has found out how to break the timescale.
It all sounds a little far fetched-- Well, of course it does.
That's why I've got to demonstrate it.
You do realise that if it does work, we'll probably take it away from you? - Yes.
- You don't mind? Yes, I mind.
But it's too much, too great a responsibility for one man to keep to himself.
Too great a privilege.
All right.
Iâll see what I can do, talk to my colleagues.
I might be able to persuade them to allow you to carry out an experiment - under clinical conditions.
- Thank you.
I can't guarantee it, but I must insist on one proviso.
- But of course, anything.
- If Iâm to do this, you must undertake not to use the equipment meanwhile.
- Iâve got myself to think of.
- Of course.
Itâs one thing to arrange a demonstration for you.
I can't consort with an unqualified practitioner.
- Yes.
- So no more cosmetic surgery.
No more experiments of any kind, or I wash my hands of you.
- Agreed? - Agreed.
ln fact, you'd better hand over this this bag to the Royal College for safe keeping.
Then Iâll see what I can organise - and be in touch with you.
- Thank you.
- Welcome home.
- Thank you.
- About time.
- Iâve got some great news.
- It'll have to keep.
- Our troubles are almost over.
There's a patient waiting for you.
Cosmetic? - What else? - No, not now.
- Why? - Because it's an abuse.
Listen, she's loaded.
We have a chance to show what we can really do.
She's ready to part with good money to lose the bags under her eyes.
No, I can't.
It won't take you five minutes.
But don't you understand? There are people who are really suffering.
What makes you think she isn't? I tell you, Iâd be suffering if I looked like her.
Oh, now, Angie, Angie You can't disappoint a pathetic, old woman, can you? All right.
But this is the last time.
Understood? If you say so.
Mrs.
Coleman, please.
Mrs.
Coleman, Doctor.
Miss Quiller's told me so much about you.
Yes, Iâm sure.
Lie down, please.
Thank you.
I hope your system is permanent.
It is.
Right there.
Thank you very much.
Still.
Put the retractors in as I cut.
[Angie shushing.]
[spraying.]
- Itâs not going to hurt, is it? - No.
Lie back.
You know what to do.
[sonic humming.]
Right.
[equipment rattling.]
That's it.
And again.
Ready? That feels peculiar.
Are you sure you're rubbing it properly? Try not to talk during the massage.
[clinking.]
[spraying.]
- Get her out.
- There we are.
- Have you finished? - All done.
But you've hardly done anything, surely? Come and see.
There's a mirror out in the hall.
[Miss Coleman.]
Oh! But that's wonderful.
Simply wonderful! Two hundred guineas for that.
Not bad, is it? Money for old rope.
She wants her chins fixed tomorrow.
You realise we could go over her an inch at a time, at 200 guineas an inch.
Angie, we can't keep this up forever.
Let's talk about it some other time.
Iâm tired now.
I went to see Mr.
Kelland today.
- Who is he? - He's Edna Flannery's surgeon.
He's going to arrange a proper demonstration for us.
- So what? - But don't you see? We'll have a chance to show what it can do.
Find out how it works.
Perhaps be able to manufacture kits like it.
And what will we get out of it? The advantage of knowing that it's in proper hands.
That it's being used to its full potential.
- That will pay the rent? - Perhaps not, but-- And suppose they don't believe in it? - Well, why shouldn't they? - Lots of reasons.
Because they don't understand it, because it might make a lot of them redundant.
Oh, now, Angie.
Come on.
All right! Let them have a look at it, if you must.
That's no reason for us to stop using it.
If we don't they won't touch it.
And Iâve agreed.
You've what? Iâm not going on.
That's all.
Iâve had enough.
Quite decided.
You've got a gall.
We're partners, aren't we? Iâve got some say in it.
Just because you got all aerated - All my life Iâve had it rough.
- I know.
You know? What do you know about anything? You had it made, didn't you? Posh home, posh house.
Medical School.
Profession.
And what did you do with it? Me? I didn't have nothing.
Only this idea that And, my God, I had to fight for it.
And then, one day, I get this on a plate.
You You didn't know what to do with it.
I did.
I knew.
And Iâve got everything I ever wanted.
You think I'm going to stand by and let you just chuck that away? - Poor Angie.
- Don't say it.
Don't say it or you'll be sorry.
Angie, there was a family once.
They invented the OB forceps.
They were greedy too.
They kept them from the world for years.
They knew what they were doing.
And they were wrong.
My mind is made up.
Iâm going to hand these instruments over to the Royal College.
Angie.
[clattering, high-pitched ringing.]
Now look what you've done.
A stupid, selfish tantrum.
[gasps.]
[sonic ticking.]
[buzzer.]
This is Supernormal 17.
This is an emergency.
[Control.]
Let's have it, Al.
It looks as if there's been a murder committed with Bag Number 764101 .
Isn't that the one you were supposed - to keep under surveillance? - Yes.
Is Supernormal Number 18 there? Here.
Number 17 is suspended from duty forthwith.
You will be responsible for his appearance before the Tribunal.
Verify the timescale and kill that bag! Zero out.
Massage? My dear girl, what Dr.
Full did to me yesterday, not that Iâm complaining, you understand.
But whatever he did it was not massage.
- No, well, you-- - It neither felt like it-- - If you'll just-- - Cut.
I distinctly remember him using the word 'cut'.
With this? Why not? Look.
You see? It simply slips beneath the tissues, tightening and firming the muscles themselves.
So much easier than having to work through layers of skin and adipose tissue.
Itâs quite harmless.
Comfortable too.
[steady beeping.]
One murder, two murders.
What's the difference? For you.
That's no reason why I should let them discipline me for disobeying orders.
Let me see you do that with your neck.
[Control.]
Kill that bag! [echoing.]
[loud whirring.]
[screaming.]