Blood on the Sun Page #4

...but this is going too far!

It's alright, Mr Cassell...

perhaps Mr Condon can explain.

Telephone, Mr Cassell.

Excuse me.

Well?

I'm sorry.

I had kind of a rough night, last night...

I'm not quite myself today.

I read about it in this morning's paper.

Oh, that story?...

Not true.

I didn't think so.

Too much fun to be true.

May I have a cigarette?

I'd like to make a confession.

Well, we're alone.

You were right about Cassell.

He is crazy.

I insisted on coming over here.

Why?

I wanted to meet you.

You certainly know your judo, don't you?

You've had me off-balance

ever since you came in.

Good!

What you're saying is that...

...you're making a play for me.

Why?

Perhaps I like your looks.

No... not with this!

There are maybe things,

about that, I like.

What?

I've always liked red hair.

I grew it for you.

And the ears.

Two of those.

Isn't that good?

More would be vulgar.

Keep on! Keep on!

Pretty soon we'll level.

Alright Mr Condon...

Let's... to use your phrase... level.

I was told to meet you, by a friend.

Yes... but whose friend?

Yours... in Shanghai.

A very wonderful,

almost saintly old man.

Chang Po Ling!

Yes.

Yes... wonderful!

And he asked you

to look me up?

Yes.

He certainly hasn't forgotten me.

No... he remembers you very well...

As you were then.

He hoped you hadn't changed.

Just what does that mean?

First... we'll become better acquainted.

It was his desire.

His desire became mine...

5 minutes ago.

Come on, let's figure a way

to go about that.

About what?

How to get better acquainted

in the shortest possible time.

You see, I'm leaving in 10 days.

Oh, that's not bad...

Come on let's drink to them.

- To "them"?

- Yeah... 10 days.

"The 10 days that shook the world."

Iris... my dear!

Do you know Colonel Tojo?

Of course.

And Major Kazyoka?

- Tea?

- No thank you.

Have you anything to report?

I have made SOME progress.

What progress, please?

Mr Condon find me attractive.

The introduction I arranged

worked smoothly?

Excellently, thank you.

This adventure, Colonel Tojo, has many

ramifications which I find displeasing.

Perhaps we can eliminate the sordid details,

and learn exactly what has occurred, thus far.

Does this man possess the document?

I cannot say for certain.

I'm sure he does, Your Excellency...

It would appear so.

It is Mr Condon's ambition to leave Tokyo,

in good health, within one week.

He is relying upon his embassy

to protect him.

That means you must work swiftly.

Colonel Tojo... I do not need YOU,

to remind me of my duty.

As far as Mr Condon is concerned,

I have every hope for success.

Hope alone will not suffice.

Hey, Charlie... that fellow with

the top-hat just going out...

Isn't he the one from the Foreign Office,

who was over at my house the other day?

Hayoshi?

Yeah... why?

Oh... nothing...

Just checking... thanks.

Do you know a guy named Cassell?

A Joe Cassell?

Yeah... heard of him.

Well I just got a wire

from the States about him...

They say he's a good man.

I thought I'd try him out in YOUR

job after you go.

From what "States"?

You mean you just got an order from the

Japanese Foreign Office to put him on!

2 minutes ago.

That's an insult!

Nobody dictates to ME!

No... not even your own conscience.

You promised Charlie Sprague my job,

didn't you?

Well, I reconsidered...

They say Joe Cassell has got

a fine record in journalism.

Yeah... great... he ran a paper in China

that posed as "the friend of the people"...

And on the side, he set up

a patriotic organization...

...that collected nickels and dimes

from the poor Chinese in the States...

...to print anti-Japanese propaganda.

What of it?

Nothing much... but instead of

printing the leaflets...

...he lost the money in the stock market.

60,000 bucks!

His partner committed suicide...

and Cassell decided on a change of climate.

I don't suppose

you can prove that?

Alright... if that isn't enough...

I'll dig up something that'll make

even YOUR stomach crawl.

But if you've got any sense...

You'll stick to Charlie Sprague.

Will you stop trying to run my paper!

Yes... right now!

OK... OK... I'll give it some more thought.

Hey, Nick... where are you going?

What do the Japanese say?...

"If the flower is to be beautiful...

it must be cultivated."

Come on...

Do you know what this chase

has done for me?...

...Developed a ravenous appetite!

I've developed a few, myself.

- Must we really avoid him?

- No... Come on.

Thanks kiddy!

We are about to dine at Sato's.

Excellent restaurant.

We thought you'd like it.

Nothing too good for

the Imperial Secret Police!

Thank you.

You like it, eh?

Japan is lovely.

What I've seen of it in 3 days.

The scenery is alright...

but some of the inhabitants I object to.

The higher up you go,

the lower-grade people you meet.

But I'm lucky...

...that I don't have to meet

any highly-placed Japanese in my work.

- Work?

- Of course.

Namely?

I'm studying the problems

of Japanese women.

Why?

For a friend in Shanghai.

Now don't tell me that's why he told you

to get in touch with me.

Nick... you know so much...

and still you're so ignorant about women.

Ignorant... but awfully willing.

Do you know anything at all

about Japanese women?

Now, what kind of a question is that?

Academic or personal?

You won't be serious!

Oh, I'll be serious.

They're not considered human beings.

They're not even allowed to think.

It's against the law.

I imagine they "bootleg" a thought

now and then.

Yes... "bootleg" thinking...

that's not good enough.

And so... you've elected to help them.

Why not?

I'm a woman.

I've been aware of that

for some time.

The Chinese women

are just beginning to learn...

...what it could mean to be free.

If the Japanese women felt the same way...

You mean that might stop... Tanaka...

...Tojo... Yamoto, and all the rest?

It might help.

This Tanaka plan...

What do you know about it?

Why don't you tell ME?

I haven't published any articles

on the subject.

Why don't I just kill him off?

I think I know a less violent solution.

Wait a minute...

Watch!

Don't wait up for me, kiddy!

- Do you mind?

- No...

Very nice!

Somebody been expecting us?

Help yourself.

- You?

- Please.

How about one

for Hijakata out there?

Let him suffer.

You've got a pretty good notion there.

Do you understand Chinese?

I'm afraid she's hopelessly romantic.

She's not exactly my type, but...

On the other hand... with a few

alterations... you'd be...

What sort of alterations?

This is just kind of a game...

Rule 1...

Learn never to interrupt a conversation

when it begins to get interesting.

Rule 2...

Whenever you sit, always sit

with your chin tilted up like this...

Like this?

Perfect.

When did you leave China, Nick?

There goes Rule 1!

I left China 2 years ago...

Left Brooklyn 15 years ago...

Cleveland 10 years ago...

Kansas City in the summer of 1921.

Now would you like me to go all

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