55 Days at Peking Page #6

of our own weakness.

Ive been thinking

about the Chinese.

Prince Tuan persuaded

the Empress to commit her troops

in the hope

of an easy victory.

And he allowed Michaelson

through with Sydney's letter

hoping we d collapse.

The ultimatum

means he s promised

our immediate surrender.

Now,

if instead of collapsing

we show unexpected strength,

and not only hold out

but attack,

we may destroy

Tuan s influence

with the Empress

and force her to face reality.

This is a man of faith.

He thinks if we blow

our trumpets, the walls

of Peking will collapse.

How many trumpets do we have,

Major?

I dont know, Baron.

But Sir Arthur has

a good idea about the Empress...

About the Empress, understand

there must be

no attempt on her life.

I wouldnt even

know where to start.

I dont want her killed.

You don't want!

It would mean chaos.

Wed be fighting here

for the next 20 years.

Do you have a better idea?

I give you my word,

it would only enlarge the war.

You re the diplomat.

But let us

fight the battles.

Come on, Colonel.

- What do you think?

- Well...

Im thinking that

if you re thinking

what I think you re thinking,

then...

Im afraid

I must agree

with Sir Arthur.

They re using

the big guns.

The Empress

has committed her troops.

Get everybody

into the compound.

Here, take her.

Arthur,

Tommy s all right!

He just woke up

and spoke to me.

He s going to live!

- He s going to live!

- Live?

You wanted to avoid

a war and Weve got one.

You wanted

to wait for Sydney.

Sydney isnt coming.

You say we should attack.

Attack whom?

The Imperial Army?

And with what?

With 115 rusty guns?

Ive heard

Tuan is preparing

a victory celebration tonight

in the Imperial Courtyard.

I suppose

we're all invited?

Rather than surrender, we must

make Tuan lose face.

We could

blow up the palace.

The Chinese have an arsenal

near the Imperial City.

- We could...

- Ive heard of it.

- Blow it up during their party.

- It's behind their lines.

Then Well go

under their lines.

- How?

- Look at your map.

We could get to it

via the sewer

and blow it up when

Tuan s telling the Empress

we've been defeated.

- It's through here.

- Getting back is another matter.

We...

You dont need genius

to crawl up a sewer.

We can t get away.

Well be blown sky high.

Ive got to cut it.

It s too short.

If we light it

we won t get clear.

Get those

two ends joined.

I suppose you

have come to report

the destruction

of the Legations,

for the tenth time

since the last moon.

I have come to ask

Your Majesty s permission

to impeach

General Jung-Lu

as a friend

to the barbarians.

It s true he turned back

the foreign admiral,

but he has guns the Boxers

need yet refuses to lend them,

despite your commands.

Be silent.

General Jung-Lu.

Despite the empty

promises of the Boxers,

the foreign devils

grow stronger.

Even the Forbidden City

is no longer safe.

Underestimating the enemy

is a great calamity.

You will speak

to the foreigners, Jung-Lu.

Tell them peace

is a great blessing

and that no calamity is greater

than lightly engaging in war.

- Have they called off the war?

- Throw a line.

Here, what have we got?

A message for each

of the Ministers from Jung-Lu.

They want a truce.

We spoiled

the Empress s party.

She s just as likely

to decide to finish us off.

What does it say?

'We are disturbed by the

arrival of troops at Tientsin'.

Tientsin?

Unless they are withdrawn,

I must consider it

an act of war and will

commit the Imperial Forces. '

Allied troops in Tientsin.

- But they must think we re dead.

- Only 70 miles away.

Yes.

If we could

get word to them...

You mean if I

could get word to them.

Oh, no.

Old soldiers never volunteer.

Natalie.

Im going away.

- When?

- Right now.

Im waiting,

Baroness.

- Where are you going?

- To get help.

The patient is waiting!

This is not

a reception hall.

Will you come back?

Sure, if I can.

Natasha!

Listen...

What does he want?

Do you think

people can change?

That s something I can t

study under a microscope.

- You look wonderful. You shaved.

- You noticed.

Get me some

adhesive please.

Im going now.

You said that.

Yes, I know but...

So long.

Wait a minute.

We never did

get a chance to talk?

Look, I have

to go somewhere but...

Im coming back.

Like my father.

Im coming back.

We'll talk then.

All right?

Come on.

Where s that other

bottle of ether?

- You say that every day.

- There was one.

We used it over a week ago.

- And the morphine?

- It s all gone. You know it.

Well,

Well have to operate

on the Italian regardless.

He may faint

and feel nothing.

lodine.

Here.

This is empty!

Im sorry.

Dont stand there.

Get me another bottle.

This was the last bottle.

No alcohol,

no iodine, amateur nurses...

We re back

in the Dark Ages.

No ether

for anesthetics,

no morphine for pain.

We are in

the land of opium

and there are no opiates.

Look out!

Rogers, are you all right?

Major, Im hurt.

I'm hurt bad.

Ill get you back.

Death s about and yet

your door is open.

Open or closed it cannot

protect either of us.

Old man...

Life and death,

are they important?

Not to the gods.

There are many men dying.

In pain.

They need drugs.

I do not deal in opiates.

There are others who do.

The Chinese outside

can only help you now.

Even in war, old man,

a valuable gift

can work miracles.

I want the drugs today.

And a wagon full

of fruit for the children.

Come on, Charlie. Rest here.

Let s see

what s in here.

All right, open it up!

How did you do it?

To your positions.

The truce is over!

It s all right.

We made it.

Get him to hospital.

I didnt make it.

Major, I heard

you were back.

Off you go.

Major,

Major,

wake up! Wake up!

The railroad...

tracks are much closer.

Yes.

- How close are they?

- Almost to the wall.

All right.

Get me a shirt.

- Did you hear about the Baroness?

- No.

She was shot.

- What?

- She s in the hospital.

Major, we d better hurry.

Yes... Yes.

Dont...

Dont take it

so hard, doctor.

You must

let me try again.

Soon it will be too late.

Youve done

all you can do.

I must find

the focus of the infection.

You wont find it

with a knife, doctor.

Dont you want to live?

I...

I have lived.

Dont think of anything

except living.

Give yourself

a chance.

A chance?

A chance for what?

A chance to do

it all over again?

No, thank you, doctor.

If you die the light

will be gone from this place.

No.

You're...

the one who makes

all the light here.

Forgive me

when I say that

working with you

Ive learned

to care for You very much.

Im glad

you said that, Hans.

A woman likes to hear it.

Most men havent

the courage to say it.

They re closer

now than when I left.

If it was for a gun,

they wouldnt come so close.

Yes.

Get Father de Bearn.

Yes, sir.

What is it, Major?

Ever seen

anything like that?

I certainly have not.

You can t stop

that with rifles.

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