Suspense - S4E22: North of Shanghai
25min | Drama, Mystery, Thriller | TV Series (1949–1954)
American medical missionaries Dr. Paul Morgan and his wife are told to leave China as the Communists advance on the city. When he refuses, a Communist general kills his own wife who's under the doctor's care, then charges Morgan with murder and sentences him to death. The surgeon's execution is unexpectedly postponed when he's ordered to perform an emergency operation.
Stars: Rex Marshall, Robert Emhardt, John Baragrey
25min | Drama, Mystery, Thriller | TV Series (1949–1954)
American medical missionaries Dr. Paul Morgan and his wife are told to leave China as the Communists advance on the city. When he refuses, a Communist general kills his own wife who's under the doctor's care, then charges Morgan with murder and sentences him to death. The surgeon's execution is unexpectedly postponed when he's ordered to perform an emergency operation.
Stars: Rex Marshall, Robert Emhardt, John Baragrey
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00And now, Autolite presents... Suspense.
00:30America is a funny country, and Americans are funny people.
00:44They never know when they're late.
00:46This stubbornness, this dedication to an ideal, often wins for us the last seemingly hopeless
00:52round.
00:53This is the story of such an American, Paul Morgan.
00:58He came out of the Middle West, Rushville, Illinois.
01:01Stubborn and dedicated, he made the human race shine a little brighter, for he sang
01:06the Lord's Song in a strange land, China.
01:11In 1949, the Chinese Communist Army was sweeping down from the north, engulfing the whole of
01:16that wise and ancient land.
01:19In May 1949, they had not yet arrived in Chongqing, the city where Paul Morgan lived and worked.
01:27But enemy scouts were there, working in secret, waiting.
01:57Speak English.
02:06It must be done.
02:08Our army is moving in.
02:10And blood will run.
02:13Tell General Yong, I will clear the city of all westerners.
02:18Good.
02:19Good.
02:27No, no, children.
02:37You must learn to light the candles properly.
02:40Here, now look.
02:41Now let me show you.
02:42You see, you first put it up there, like that.
02:45Then, when you've lighted one, you move to another, then another, four.
02:54You see?
02:55And be awfully, awfully careful that you don't burn yourself.
02:59Now you take it and try it over there, huh?
03:01That's our girl.
03:03Dr. Morgan.
03:04Ah, yes, Ginger?
03:05The patient is in the operating room.
03:07Okay, thank you.
03:08I must get back to my work.
03:10Goodbye.
03:22Mrs. Morgan.
03:24Mr. Chu.
03:25Is Dr. Morgan here?
03:27Yes.
03:28Did you wish to see him?
03:29You'll know he's operating on someone very dear to me.
03:32I'd like to know how she is, Mrs. Morgan.
03:34My husband's been operating for a half hour.
03:42I hope these planes don't disturb her.
03:47My husband has nerves of steel.
03:49They will drop no bombs on Chunchi.
03:54They're Communist planes, aren't they?
03:56They are headed for Shanghai.
04:01How do you know?
04:04Oh.
04:05Oh, I know.
04:21Here, have the scalpel, please.
04:28Have that brow, please.
04:32I'm concerned about that bombing.
04:34See how the patients are taking it.
04:43Our nurse.
04:46Is it over?
04:47Is he through?
04:48Not yet.
04:54Mr. Chu, this is a hospital.
04:57You shouldn't litter it like that.
04:59Your Western notions of cleanliness amuse me, Mrs. Morgan.
05:04Our children are taught that cleanliness is next to godliness.
05:07Western ideas should remain in the West.
05:10If they had, this city would never have had this hospital.
05:14My husband has dedicated his life to it.
05:16Yes, I know.
05:22But when we came here, this place was a wilderness.
05:26We helped clear the land.
05:27We even built the chapel with our own hands and watched the hospital grow.
05:33Missionaries are wonderful people.
05:36Medical missionaries, most wonderful of all.
05:39Thank you, Mr. Chu.
05:41You're welcome.
05:45The nurse in charge says the patients are taking it very calmly, doctor.
05:49It's the building I'm worried about.
05:52Well, they won't drop in the hospital.
05:54The vibrations have loosened the old plaster.
05:56A large piece has already fallen from the ceiling in the chapel.
06:00Very light bandages and wet dressing.
06:02And I want her watched carefully for the next 24 hours.
06:05Yes, doctor.
06:06Go ahead.
06:08Mr. Chu.
06:11How is my wife, Dr. Morgan?
06:13She's going to be all right, Mr. Chu.
06:15Hello, dear.
06:16Oh, my dear, I was so worried about you.
06:19I don't see how you could operate with these planes over here.
06:22Oh, death in the sky is not nearly so terrifying as death from a shaking hand.
06:26That thought disciplines me.
06:28Your wife came through beautifully.
06:30There's nothing to worry about.
06:31I'm very grateful to you, Dr. Morgan.
06:33Hello.
06:34And now I have something to say to you.
06:36Oh, not now.
06:37I need it in the chapel.
06:38You'll excuse me.
06:52Oh, my dear.
07:06Well, we have no money to restore this.
07:13Put it back where it belongs, Mr. Perry.
07:15Oh, that's just too bad.
07:18Mr. Chu, you have contacts with the Communist army, haven't you?
07:21I?
07:22Oh, no.
07:23Well, I'm afraid you can trust me.
07:25I don't deal in politics.
07:27I've come here to serve the body and the soul of China.
07:31All China.
07:32Mr. Chu, all China.
07:34Oh, what is it you want with a Communist army, Dr. Morgan?
07:37Persuade them to stop flying their planes over the hospital.
07:41Oh, why, uh, why, certainly I shall try to use my influence.
07:48However, for your own safety, I advise you to leave the city at once.
07:56That bomb came very close.
07:58Oh, mistake, I'm sure.
07:59Mistake?
08:00I think that was a sign right over the hospital telling that it is a hospital.
08:18Fire!
08:26Mrs. Chu!
08:27Here.
08:28The ceiling collapsed when that bomb fell in the yard.
08:30Get these things off right away.
08:32Look out!
08:48Please.
08:49Oh.
08:50It's eight o'clock.
08:51Oh, dear.
08:53Oh.
08:54Thank you, darling.
08:56I've been up with Mrs. Chu all night.
08:59Look at her still.
09:00How is she?
09:01Well, she's alive at any rate.
09:05I think she pulled through those planes.
09:07She came out of the operation so successfully in those destiny planes.
09:12Here, drink your tea, dear.
09:14Thank you, darling.
09:15I don't need it.
09:16Thank you, darling.
09:17I don't know what I'd do without you.
09:20This came for you this morning.
09:39Leave the city at once, or you are lost.
09:44Quite frankly, my darling, I'm scared.
09:50I think you'd better leave.
09:53No.
09:54I told you, Paul.
09:56I won't leave.
09:58Not without you.
10:00Dr. Morgan, may I see you for a moment?
10:02Of course, Ginger.
10:05Soldiers are parachuting out of those airplanes.
10:07They're landing on the outskirts of the city.
10:09Communists?
10:10Yes, they're coming in from all sides.
10:12They'll fall at any moment.
10:14You and Mrs. Stuart Morgan, go now.
10:16Quick.
10:18No.
10:19No, I'm afraid we can't leave, Ginger.
10:21You must.
10:22You must.
10:23Communist cells are already doing their work.
10:25Look at this mess.
10:33A dangling window, you...
10:43Well, Dr. Morgan?
10:46Thanks for using your influence.
10:48Your communists were prompt and effective.
10:51It was less than 24 hours, Mr. Chu.
10:54General!
10:55You're here!
10:56General Chu!
10:59General Chu.
11:07You will pack your things and leave.
11:10You will pack your things and get out.
11:13I am taking this place over as my headquarters.
11:16You will leave the country immediately.
11:19And if I refuse?
11:21You will not be so foolish as to refuse.
11:28I'm a doctor and a surgeon, General Chu.
11:33What's more important, I'm a messenger.
11:36A messenger?
11:38I carry God's word.
11:41And I'll never leave China.
11:54And now, the second act of Suspense.
12:09General Chu, General Rong is asking when Dr. Morgan can be taken away.
12:15I know Dr. Morgan is a symbol of western democracy.
12:19But it's not so easy as I thought.
12:21The people admire him too much.
12:23I have to do it my own way.
12:27You will be removed unless you can get rid of him.
12:33Tell General Rong I will take care of Dr. Morgan's reputation first.
12:39Then I will take care of him.
12:41But how?
12:43I don't know.
12:45But surely that to me.
12:47Go now.
13:03Ah, how are you feeling, my dear?
13:09Leave us alone, Jinso.
13:13You will be happy to know that our army has taken over the city.
13:20Very soon you will not be able to find a single westerner here.
13:26And you, my dear, will go down in history as the one who made this possible.
13:33You will be remembered as the great hero woman of the Chinese People's Republic.
13:56Come on, come on.
14:15The prisoner is already here.
14:31My dear.
14:33Don't worry, darling.
14:35Stay strong and everything will be all right.
14:51You haven't been sleeping well, Dr. Morgan?
14:54I haven't prayed for your soul, my friend.
14:57Have you decided to leave China?
14:59I stand here a humble servant of God.
15:03I cannot, I will not fail him.
15:05We will proceed with the trial.
15:09Guixiang!
15:11For what crime are you going to try me?
15:14For saving your wife's life when your bombs poured plaster on her?
15:20Dr. Morgan, my wife is dead.
15:23Dead.
15:25I charge you with the murder of a citizen of the Chinese People's Republic.
15:32Are you ready to confess your crime?
15:34What crime?
15:35Do you deny that you murdered my wife?
15:39Answer me!
15:40Your question deserves no answer.
15:42He denies it.
15:43Of course he denies it.
15:44He did everything he could for your wife.
15:46Quiet!
15:49Nurse!
15:50Ginsel!
15:56I understand, Ginsel.
15:57Take the stand!
16:02You were the nurse in attendance when my wife was operated on by this doctor?
16:08Yes.
16:09Did he seem nervous?
16:11He was worried about his patient.
16:13Airplanes were flying low.
16:15You admit he was worried.
16:17But not nervous.
16:19Did he or did he not drop a scalpel in the midst of the operation?
16:28No.
16:30Dr. Morgan did not even complete the operation.
16:33You put the bandages on the patient, isn't that right?
16:36But that's a routine procedure in any operation.
16:40You deliberately neglected my wife because you knew she was the wife of an important general.
16:47She lied!
16:52I consider what you did murderous.
16:55I have no alternative but to sentence you to death.
17:00No!
17:01No!
17:06General June, you knew my husband would never do anything to harm another human being.
17:11His death will be a warning to all other Westerners to clear out of our country.
17:15You can't kill a man just because you need a warning.
17:18Oh, no?
17:20You'll see whether I can or not.
17:25He will be executed at five o'clock.
17:30No!
17:32May God have mercy on your soul.
17:45Goodbye, hon.
17:57You've been a good and a faithful servant.
18:05Zorba!
18:11Oh, well, Dr. Morgan, you were right.
18:14General June, your wife's death was not accidental.
18:21Autopsy proved she died of suffocation, and you were with her when she died.
18:28You murdered your wife, General June.
18:32A dead man is telling me that.
18:36Dr. Morgan, it's now ten minutes to five.
18:41I wish you a swift and happy journey.
18:46Enter the grave.
18:48Hi, men.
19:16Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
19:36Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.
19:39Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses,
19:44as we forgive those who trespass against us.
19:56Come on, let's go.
20:26Here.
20:40What's this?
20:41Where are you taking me?
20:42It's five o'clock.
20:43But...
20:44It's General June.
20:45I'm sorry.
20:46He's still conscious.
20:51Dr. Morgan.
20:52Yes?
20:53Dr. Morgan.
20:54If I live, you'll live.
20:56I'm sorry.
21:02I'm sorry.
21:09Yes?
21:11Dr. Morgan.
21:14If I live, you'll live.
21:28Don't trust him.
21:30Don't trust him.
21:31You're going to escape now.
21:50No.
21:53You can't make a deal with me.
21:55My job is to serve.
21:57Anyone.
21:59Anywhere.
22:00Anytime.
22:02Tear these clothes off of him.
22:04Give me your scissors.
22:28Well, General June will live.
22:41Excuse me, darling.
22:46You gave me a path of safety through all the enemy lines.
22:57Now...
23:02We'll stay here, darling, and we'll fight General June in all he stands for.
23:08Until this great ancient country has freedom again.
23:26Join us again next week for another story well-calculated to keep you in suspense.
23:33Also, be sure to listen to Suspense each Monday night on your radio.
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