Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing Page #3

Nonsense. You can't be two things at once.

And I advise you, pass for English

if you decide to go away.

Well, I'm considering going back to China.

It would be rather foolish to

pass for English, don't you think?

Well...

- Oh, I must fly away home.

- Oh, must you?

Yes. My new love wants me to be

in my flat when he drops by for tea.

We only have half an hour together

before he has to have tea with his wife.

It's ruining his digestion.

We must see each other soon.

- Call me at the hospital.

- I shall.

Give the waiter please the change.

I always see people as fish.

Separated from the rest of the world,

they become unfit to dwell together.

These, the fighting fish.

These, the peaceful.

These have sought safety in darkness.

They've lost their vision

and the light terrifies them.

What species am I, John?

You're the peaceful. I shouldn't

like to see you become like these,

swimming into deep water,

losing your vision.

Now, what do you mean by that?

I hear Mark Elliott's gone to Singapore.

Yes, his paper sent him on an assignment.

Very convenient for him.

Did you know that

his wife lives in Singapore?

There seems to be a conspiracy

to arouse my interest in Mark Elliott.

Be careful, lest you succeed.

They told me if I'd wait here

that you'd be out sooner or later.

- When did you get back?

- This morning.

Would you like to go swimming

this afternoon?

It's your afternoon off, so work is no excuse.

I'd sort of made plans to visit

friends of mine across the bay.

Well, it's a lovely day. Couldn't you do both?

Mark Elliott! What in the world

are you doing here?

Oh, I show up in strange places.

You promised to keep me

another week, Dr Han.

- I kept you as long as I could.

- I forgive you.

I hear you were in Singapore. Your wife

must've been delighted to see you.

Why don't you come up

for tea this afternoon?

Did you know that I was

bitten by a centipede?

Yes to the first question, no to the second,

can't to the third and no to the last.

Well, I was. If a handsome man like you

bit me, I wouldn't have minded a bit,

but a centipede...

- Do I expect you?

- Sorry, I'm working this afternoon.

Oh. Well, you'll hear from me.

Goodbye, Dr Han.

Are we going swimming?

Mark, going out with you once

was harmless enough.

I don't want my seeing you to be awkward.

Hong Kong has a peculiar code,

and malice is a pleasant pastime

for women with nothing to do.

Oh. Would it make any difference

if I told you that I didn't see my wife

when I was in Singapore?

Six years ago, she said she

never wanted to see me again.

She hasn't changed her mind,

and neither have I.

Now, will you go swimming with me?

- Well, I... I don't know.

- Take your time.

You're obviously a woman who's extremely

careful about making up her mind.

- (Mark) How's this?

- Oh, beautiful.

- (Mark) How's this?

- Oh, beautiful.

I'll change.

I, um...

I'd like to explain about my wife.

- You did.

- No.

I want you to know that

I tried to make a go of it.

I'd like you to believe that.

A great many mistakes are made

in the name of loneliness.

There's no need to discuss it, Mark.

All right, I won't bring it up again.

You're brown. You've been in the sun.

Yes, I've been playing a lot of tennis.

What am I going to do

if you go back to China?

Play more tennis.

You're not really going back

to Chungking, are you?

It wouldn't be good for you

to see too much of me anyhow.

Might even be harmful.

- Oh? Why?

- I'm Eurasian.

The word itself seems to suggest a certain

moral laxity in the minds of some people.

People never think of what words mean.

They feel them.

- You're talking about stupid people.

- Make no mistake, I'm proud to be Eurasian.

I like to think we combine

the best qualities of both races,

that we are the answer to race snobbery.

Well, you're certainly the answer

to a lot of things for me.

Mark, like everyone else in Hong Kong,

you're at loose ends.

I think you probably need a love affair,

but I'm not the answer.

I will make no mistakes

in the name of loneliness.

I have my work and an uncomplicated life.

I don't want to feel anything again, ever.

A moment ago you said

that words had no meanings.

That people have to feel.

Let's not tax the day with self-analysis.

The friends I was going to see

have a house across the bay.

- Shall we swim over and drop in on them?

- Why not?

- You tired?

- No.

I just want to drift

and feel the sun on my face.

You know, the last few weeks

I've come alive.

I like it.

You've been good for me, Mark.

I don't feel that the whole world

is sick any longer.

I'm glad.

Well, look!

(laughing) Oh!

Why do you look so surprised?

You expected me, didn't you?

Yes, but I didn't expect you

to come out of the ocean.

- Nora, this is Mark Elliott.

- How do you do?

- Robert and Ann.

- We've met before. I'll get some towels.

- Hi, Ann.

- Hi, Mark.

Suyin, I never thought of you

as Venus rising from the sea.

Suyin didn't have anything to wear

so I suggested we swim over.

Suyin didn't have anything to wear

so I suggested we swim over.

- I'll get you some dry things.

- And something wet in a glass for you.

- Run along. Use my room.

- Thanks.

Well, you're a sly one.

When did Mark Elliott discover medicine?

- I don't know what you mean.

- "I don't know what you mean." Oh, really?

Can't two intelligent people enjoy each

other's company and let it rest there?

Not if you're Mark Elliott and Han Suyin.

(Nora) Do you like him?

I didn't swim across the bay to escape him.

(Ann) I knew it. If ever I saw anyone looking

moonstruck in the sunshine, it's you.

Oh, nonsense. Truth is,

I have no intention of falling in love.

- Listen to her.

- (laughs)

He is a nice human being.

We are friends. I'm going to keep it that way.

With everything that's going on,

you think Hong Kong's safe?

- Well, is anyplace safe?

- Have you men been talking about us?

- No, China.

- Oh. Let's forget China.

Have some music.

(traditional Chinese)

You see, you can't escape. We forget

that China lies just across the hill.

("Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing"

instrumental)

I think that the relationship between

the East and the West should be closer.

Don't you, Doctor?

You taste of salt.

Mark...

There is an old Chinese proverb:

"Do not wake a sleeping tiger."

Certainly not in a small boat.

- I'm not being facetious.

- Nor am I.

I think I'm in love with you.

Mark, you don't know about me.

You kiss a girl and it doesn't

mean anything to you.

Just a kiss.

But it isn't so with me. I...

I feel...

- Not that I don't like you, for I do.

- I wouldn't do anything to upset you.

I have never known

any man but my husband.

I feel on the brink of something.

I don't want to feel this way. It frightens me.

You don't want to catch cold.

Suyin?

Suyin?

Sorry. I was in the midst of an argument.

An argument?

My Chinese side was debating

with my European side.

What about?

Sleeping tigers.

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