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Clara and Paul catch up
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The Plot:
In South America for road races, Paul visits an old friend and client, Clara Mallory, who lives at a hotel there.
Comfortably off since her divorce, she says happily, but with a hint of untruth, that she has everything she wants. And when Paul says he found that she only dines in her room, her mood changes, and, referring to an earlier remark of his about racing cars, says, “I've learned to do a lot of things I never did before.”
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Allan tells Paul he thinks Dr. Raphael is a charlaton
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Socializing that evening with fellow driver Tony Bell, Paul meets Belle Frazer (who is confined to a wheelchair) and her brother Allan. She says that she's been following him on the track, and the next day, at the garage, her brother explains his sister had a skiing accident which left her unable to walk, and that doctors believe she's suffered nerve damage, but the only way to find out is via dangerous surgery. Meanwhile, she is seeing one quack after another in the belief they might make her able to walk again, the latest being Dr. Raphael here in Rio Santos
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Clara is in an irritable mood when Paul comes for her boat
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Allan says the treatments are costing a fortune, and that Dr. Raphael won't speak to him since he called him a quack.
Paul responds that there's nothing he can do to stop Belle or prove the man is a charlatan
Thinking it might prove enjoyable for Belle, Paul takes Clara up on the loan of her sailboat.
But when he tells why he wants it, in a testy mood, says she's not interested. Then she shows him her hands, which are twisted and apparently paralyzed.
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Paul and the Frazers enjoy a pleasant day of sailing
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When Paul and the Frazers go out in the boat, non-swimmer Allan falls overboard, and Paul jumps in to save him, leaving the boat out of control. Belle desperately tries to crawl to reach the tiller, and in the end, is successful.
Back at the hotel, confident that Dr. Raphael is making progress, Belle tells Paul that when he told her to grab for the tiller, she was able to move her legs and had feeling in her feet, even if all she did was to crawl.
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Paul goes to Dr. Raphael's hotel room
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So Paul goes to visit Dr. Raphael who is disarming and direct. Over a drink Paul asks him about his treatment method called psychedelic suggestion. Dr. Raphael replies that it's as old as ancient Indian medicine and mesmerism, but as modern as chemical therapy. He says that the drugs he uses enable him to treat the patient at the deepest subconscious level when ailments might be caused by the mind, or when the mind is inhibiting recovery. Then Paul produces a paper describing his own terminal illness, and asks if Dr. Raphael could cure this disease which a close friend of his has.
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Paul asks Dr. Raphael about his own disease
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But after studying the information, he replies that the condition is purely physiological, with no psychosomatic element he can treat.
Paul then questions whether there's anything more physiological than a spinal injury, but Dr. Raphael says he doesn't believe that Belle's nerves are damaged, and the cause is something he might be able to overcome. Paul questions the high fee, but Dr. Raphael says it's customary to charge what a patient can afford, but then says that he won't treat Belle any further, to avoid disappointment on anyone's part.
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Clara says Dr. Raphael could cure no one
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After a day of racing, Paul is socializing with fellow drivers when Belle rolls in and says that she wants to thank Paul, then gives him a huge slap in response to her treatments being cancelled. He tells Clara about it, and says that he should have stuck to his motto of minding his own business. Clara says Dr. Raphael is clearly a fake, and adds that she'd been all through the psychosomatic mumbo jumbo herself, gone through indicated treatment, and felt sure that her own condition was not a result of her mind. Nevertheless, Paul says, he's sure Belle won't forgive her missing the chance at recovery.
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Paul can't keep his mind on the racing
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Paul goes back to Dr. Raphael, and suggests treating Belle again, which he agrees to do - but then drops the bombshell that the fee will go up to $2500. Still concerned, Paul sends a telegram of inquiry to a friend with the San Francisco police. Having missed a set of race trials over his preoccupation with Belle's situation, he remains distracted when his team partner Tony tries to explain some route changes to Paul. But rather than being angry, Tony suggests getting together at another time, saying that Paul is like an expectant father, the way his mind is absorbed with the matter of Belle and Dr. Raphael.
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Dr. Raphael urges Belle to move her legs
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Then, all of a sudden Paul goes to Dr. Raphael's room where he has Belle under the influence of some deep South American drug, used for religious purposes, but which he says will give him the opportunity to communicate with her deepest level of consciousness. Paul appears to be extremely fascinated and absorbed as Dr. Raphael tells her to move her legs, but with no apparent effect.
After three days of treatment on the strong drug, Paul is even more concerned, and tells Clara that Belle's brother says she's lying in their hotel room like a vegetable.
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Clara accepts Paul's invitation
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Clara is astonished that Paul seems to be starting to believe in Dr. Raphael, a complete charlatan in her eyes, and he replies that he's actually waiting for a police report on the man.
Then he invites Clara to a race dinner that evening. Though she declines, he tells her how much he'd like to have her there, and she accepts the invitation.
It appears that, despite her reluctance to come along, Clara is enjoying herself very much in company, but she says that Paul should be with his friends, Allan and Belle.
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Belle walks dramatically into the room
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He replies that Belle is not there, and probably doesn't want to see anyone. Then, suddenly, his eye catches Allan and Belle entering the room, Belle walking.
She takes slow, uncertain steps, frequently requiring the support of her brother's arm as she walks up to Paul and Clara, greets them as if in a trance, and then departs, Clara and Paul in a similar state of mystification over the incredible development.
The endurance race takes place the following day, and with his daring driving, Paul is the winner.
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Paul congratulates Dr. Raphael
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At post-race festivities Dr. Raphael congratulates Paul who returns the compliment over Belle's astounding progress, but he replies that seeing her walking is all the congratulation and satisfaction he wants. Then he gives Paul Allan's check for $2500, and says that's it's now more than his expenses require, and one for only $1500 should be made out. As he gets up Dr. Raphael adds that he was only sorry not to be able to help Paul with the terminal illness. Paul questions the remark, but Dr. Raphael says that he knew it was Paul's disease when he saw him drive.
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Clara begs Dr. Raphael to treat her
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When Paul goes to Clara, disappointed that she hasn't come as promised to help him celebrate his victory, she is struggling over what has happened with Belle. Paul says that Dr. Raphael didn't cure her legs, only her mind. Sharply, but confused, Clara tells him not to start implying that her own problem is psychosomatic. He answers that all he wants is to see her well again, even if it took a miracle. She asks if Paul thinks she should see Dr. Raphael, and says that she always thought he was a quack …. But then, he had never approached her in all the time they were both at the hotel.
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Dr. Raphael says he cannot help her
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Clara asks Paul to take her to Dr. Raphael who asks sceptically why she never simply knocked on his door all the while he'd been there, adding that people are never moved by anything less than a miracle, and he can no longer help her now.
He says it has nothing to do with her case, but is a matter of a year's commitment to treat the son of a notable Arab leader in north Africa where he'll be living in a Muslim household, unable to treat any outside patients. Carried away, Clara says that she'll pay Dr. Raphael anything he wants
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Photos from the police show Dr. Raphael and Belle
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He answers that he wouldn't ask such a high fee of anyone, but implies that oil wealth is involved. When she says that she'll match the hundred thousand to get him to treat her immediately, he asks why she doesn't simply wait until he is back in 12 months. But Clara says she can't wait, as Paul listens with concern. A few days later Paul receives the report from San Francisco police. “Dr. Raphael” is indeed a con man operating under an alias, and “Belle” is his accomplice, the wife of Allan Frazer. When he rings them, having already received the money from Clara, all have already checked out of the hotel.
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They race to catch Raphael and Belle (now brunette)
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As he leaves his room, Paul runs into Tony who wants him to come out with the car. Learning it's ready to go, he uses its high speed to try and catch the culprits before their flight takes off, as the Frazers are waiting nervously at their private plane for Raphael to arrive (“Belle” now a brunette). They take off soon as he does, but the racing car blows a tire just within sight of the machine going into the air.
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Clara is astonished by Paul's news
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Dejected, Paul goes to Clara's room to tell her the news, saying he hadn't seen her for days.
She responds quietly that Dr. Raphael didn't want her to see anyone. When Paul asks if her check can be stopped, she replies in the negative, and Paul says that he got into trouble in the past weeks, meeting people who used him because they were smarter than he was. He tells her that if the computer of the San Francisco police had been one day quicker, they wouldn't have gotten away with their crime, but he learned the truth too late.
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Clara tears up the photos with healed hands
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He tells her they were crooks who kept him so busy worrying about one quack that he couldn't see three con men.
Paul says he's told his friend with the San Francisco police where the three are headed, but will need Clara's testimony to convict them.
She says she couldn't, and Paul sets the photos he received in front of her.
Then she picks up the pictures with her formerly paralysed hands, and tears them up.
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