A Countess from Hong Kong Page #8

is money, having had no children.

- Am I to blame for that?

- No.

No, neither one of us is to blame.

The desire for happiness

fooled us both.

Happiness, eh?

I was going to say "love"...

but I don't think either one of us

knows what the word means.

In any case, what are you

gonna do about Washington?

Well...

I don't look forward to spending

the rest of my life in Saudi Arabia.

She has long, dark hair,

wears a sarong...

and looks like a Hawaiian.

A lot of dames look

like that around here.

She said she'd meet me

on the beach at Waikiki.

- I think she's kidding you.

- Maybe.

- Where's the beach at Waikiki?

- That's the Waikiki Hotel.

- Can I check this suitcase, please?

- Certainly, sir.

- What name?

- Harvey Crothers.

Check Mr Crothers' case

into the cloakroom.

- Is the Waikiki Beach near here?

- It's just outside, sir.

That's strange.

I can't stop!

Oh! All this jumping up and down

is like running ten miles.

It's so good

to see you again.

Let's sit down.

I didn't think I'd see you again

after that dive. It was perfect.

- What's happening on the boat?

- They're still waiting for you

in the lounge.

- And Ogden?

- He's with his wife.

Yes.

I bought you some clothes.

Oh, I know the other ones were too big.

These are smaller. There's a place

You can change next to the pool.

Meanwhile, I'll book you a room

at the hotel.

- They might be looking for Mrs Hudson.

- Not a chance.

I'll book them under my name.

For the time being,

you're Mrs Harvey Crothers.

- Remember me?

- Yes, sir.

- I'd like an outside suite.

- Certainly. For yourself?

- For my wife.

I'm leaving for the mainland.

- Very well.

- Do you wish to see the rooms now?

- No, I'll wait for my wife.

- Fine.

- Well, here she...

- Well!

- It doesn't fit. This is too tight.

I can't breathe.

You dropped your change.

Will you sign the register,

Mrs Crothers?

- C-R-O...

- T-H...

She's not here.

- Let's have some tea.

- Yeah.

Ah, there he is.

I'm sorry I'm late.

I had to leave Ogden with

the Immigration authorities.

- It seems they're still

looking for Hudson's wife.

- Ah, yes.

There she is.

Hudson, you haven't been

drinking before lunch?

The poor man is so distressed

since his wife went away.

That's the third person

he's mistaken for his wife.

Oh, I beg your pardon.

Martha, this is my wife, Mrs Crothers.

- Mrs Ogden Mears.

- How do you do?

How do you do?

You know, Harvey is so secretive.

He never told me a word

about his marriage.

Well, there's not much to tell.

We haven't been married long.

Have we?

As soon as something develops,

we'll let you know.

No, I mean,

when did you marry?

Ah-ha-ha!

That's the secret.

However, you must bring

your wife to Arabia...

once we've refurbished

the Embassy, but not before...

otherwise you'll have to sleep

in a tent like the rest of us.

- That depends with whom you share it.

- Hmm.

- Martha, would you like to dance?

- I'd love it.

It'll give me a chance to give

some advice to the lovelorn.

This is the first chance I've had

to speak to you alone.

There's very little time,

and I've a lot to tell you.

Harvey will be staying behind,

so I'll be in touch with you through him.

He'll be working on

a passport for you.

Martha's coming with me.

That's what I want

to talk to you about.

I got a letter from Washington saying

that Martha should go with me...

to Saudi Arabia

for appearances' sake.

Of course.

Please try to understand.

Of course.

For appearances' sake.

For the esteem of people

I don't give a damn about.

If I had the guts,

I'd rid myself of the whole thing:

Washington, Saudi Arabia and everything.

You can't do that.

Be careful.

We're being watched.

The legal eye is upon us.

You must believe me when I tell you this

is the first real happiness I've known.

I love you very much.

- Your wife looks sad.

- You think so?

What nonsense.

She's not your wife.

- Martha, you're being silly!

- Not as silly as you think.

I've been talking to someone

who knew her in Hong Kong.

The boat passes here at 11.00.

I'll be on deck imagining that

you're sitting here at this table.

Let's dance.

I can't.

I must go to my room

before your wife returns.

I can't say goodbye.

I can't trust myself.

Will you excuse me?

Well, goodbye.

Harvey will take care of everything.

All right. Thank you.

What's happened to Mrs Crothers?

She had a splitting headache

and asked to be excused.

- She won't be seeing us off?

- I don't think so.

- She's going straight to bed.

- Can't we go and see her for a moment?

- It'll be best to let her rest quietly.

- Pardon me, madam.

- It's time to leave for the boat.

- Oh, so soon?

Well.

Hudson, I will need these three closets

and Mr Mears can have the end one.

Very well, madam.

Your big trunks

I'm having put in the hold...

so there'll be more room

for madam's wardrobe.

Okay, Hudson.

Voil.

- Hudson, have you found your wife yet?

- Not yet, madam.

Surely you're not going

to leave without her.

Whatever happens, I shall deport myself

as a husband and a gentleman.

Maria.

Oh! What's this?

Hudson, does this

belong to your wife?

I haven't the faintest idea.

We haven't been married that long.

Oh!

Perhaps you might know something

about this, Your Excellency.

It looks like a two-ring circus.

Ogden, you must be losing

your sense of propriety.

You not only humiliate me

in front of people...

but you insult my intelligence

by introducing that woman

as Mrs Harvey Crothers...

and then again as Mrs Hudson

when she's sleeping here in your cabin.

As Ambassador to Saudi Arabia,

it is not exactly comme il faut...

to include in your entourage,

the mistress of a gangster.

A prostitute.

I wonder what your fate would have

been in similar circumstances.

Hello.

- Hello, Harvey? Ogden.

- Haven't you left yet?

- No, I got off with the pilot boat.

- What happened?

I don't know.

I just couldn't take it.

Aren't you going to Washington?

What about your career?

I'd rather be happy

than president.

Listen, where is everybody?

- You know who, your wife.

- I think you mean my wife.

Hudson's giving me

an argument here.

She came down

to the cabaret after you left...

and she's been by the window,

looking out at the sea ever since.

- Did you tell her the news?

- I told her there was nothing

to worry about.

The Immigration people have

given her the benefit of the doubt.

She's now Hudson's wife,

married to an American citizen.

Listen, don't tell her I'm here.

I want to surprise her.

Ogden!

- Well, buddy, I hope you're

doing the right thing.

- Where is she?

Right where you left her,

sitting by the window.

Yes, sir?

I'm looking for a young lady. I believe

she's sitting alone by the window.

Yes, sir.

Ogden!

See, you can't get rid of me.

May I have this dance?

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