Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing Page #6

I locked the world out.

Oh, Mark, I... I don't know

what has happened to me.

I'm like a seed, sprouting up, clutching at life.

I can hear and... and smell the sun.

I am conscious of surfaces and their textures.

I have such an awareness.

Such an awareness.

Oh, pity the poor people

with their sad faces,

who have missed what we have.

You know, I was thinking last night

of that line in Thompson's poem:

"'Tis ye, 'tis your estranged faces

That miss the many-splendored thing."

I'm so happy, it frightens me.

I have a feeling that heaven is unfair

and is preparing for you

and for me a great sadness

because we have been given so much.

Darling, whatever happens,

always remember:

Nothing is fair nor unfair under heaven.

(traditional Chinese)

It's a funeral procession.

They make it seem so festive.

He was a good man... who had a good life.

Are you making that up?

No. The sign they carry says so.

I've always wondered why

the relatives walk in the enclosure.

They hide their grief.

Oh, how good it is to be alive.

Two men in the lift are former generals,

old friends of my family.

- They didn't speak to you.

- They realised I was here to see you.

It would have been not polite to speak.

- Good evening, seor .

- Table for two, please.

Did you book a reservation?

No.

This way, please.

(speaking Spanish)

Mr Elliott. You do not want this table.

I can get you a nicer one.

No, it's all right, Mr Vicente.

This is Dr Han. Mr Vicente is the proprietor.

A doctor? Business good?

I'm not in private practice.

Too bad. Ought to make money now. Woman

doctor - make your fortune in no time.

Men do not like their wives

to be seen by men doctors.

- You stay in Macao.

- I'll consider it. Thank you.

How long will we be in Macao?

Can you stay a week?

I can't... but I will.

Do you think we should be seen together?

I want all of my friends to say

"Who is that beautiful Chinese girl

Mark Elliott's out with?"

Eurasian.

The gentleman would like champagne?

No. Two very dry martinis. Very dry.

Trust me. The driest.

- Do you know what I'd like to do after?

- What?

I should like to go to a Chinese fortune-teller

and listen to his gorgeous lies.

(Mark) The lady would like her fortune told.

Fortune written in sand.

I would like a lovely fortune, please.

Oh...

Oh, you very lucky.

Going to own big house.

Well, not too big.

A-ha, many children.

How many?

Oh, ten children. Maybe 15.

How many?

Oh, too many. Look again.

Four children.

Will we have a long and lovely life together?

Oh... years very hard to tell.

Cost more.

I have a feeling he's the one that's

gonna wind up with the big house.

Inside box, blue beetle and white beetle.

White beetle, woman; blue beetle, man.

If both beetles go to far box,

mean long life together.

You watch.

You have long life together. 87 year.

Thank you. Thank you for a happy future.

And thank your blessed beetles, too.

There is a cable for you.

- Thank you.

- You're welcome.

Wait for me here, would you?

- What time is the next boat to Hong Kong?

- In about one hour and 50 minutes.

- Make reservations for me, please.

- Yes, sir.

But why Korea?

North Korea invaded the South,

crossing the 38th Parallel last night.

There isn't much time. We'll have to pack.

It's only a little war, isn't it?

It's hard to tell.

Will it last long?

Oh, I don't think very long.

Couple of weeks. Maybe three.

Could you possibly not go?

No, I could not possibly not go.

I thought not.

Our gorgeous lie did not even last the night.

I'm going to the news office.

I'll call you the moment I get any information.

Oh... Well, good morning, Dr Han.

Good morning, Mrs Palmer-Jones.

Did you enjoy your trip to Macao?

Yes, thank you.

We had an explosion in the harbour

while you were away.

You were badly needed here.

My husband was most

disturbed at your absence.

Well... it's nice that you're back.

- Good morning, Dr Han.

- Good morning, Dr Sen.

Did she tell you?

Yes. I'm sorry I wasn't here in the emergency.

Did she tell you that your residency

here is not being renewed?

No.

Well, that isn't too important.

But I should have been here.

Do you think that is the real reason

you're being dismissed?

No. It is because you are Eurasian.

Oh, no, I doubt that, Sen.

Anyway, this isn't the only

hospital in Hong Kong.

You will not be offered another residency.

Then I'll go into private practice.

Do you think the English will seek you out?

They turn to their own kind.

That should not be your concern, Sen.

Go back to China, Suyin. There you

will be given a hospital of your own.

Go back to China.

I think she's put on a bit of weight.

Soap and affection

make a world of difference.

She's being discharged in my care.

Haven't you enough problems already?

This is Dr Han. I'm expecting a call.

When it comes, will you

ring me here, please?

Thank you.

Extension 3-1.

How do you say "Take a deep breath"?

Wouldn't it be better if she sang for you?

Yes, it would.

(speaks Cantonese)

(singing "Frere Jacques" in Cantonese)

(phone rings)

Dr Han here.

Suyin, I've just been notified

about transportation.

Can you meet me in a half an hour?

Yes. I'll meet you at the airport.

No, I don't want to say goodbye at the airport.

On the hill, in half an hour, darling.

Mm-hm.

How do you turn her off?

(speaks Cantonese)

Give me your hand.

Every woman in love

should have a secret garden.

And every man in love

should have a mountain.

Mark... do you remember

the man you wanted to interview?

The one you said was the first

richest person in the world.

- Well, he isn't.

- You are.

- How did you know?

- I've learned to read your mind, too.

In the next life, let us be birds.

According to the laws of reincarnation,

in the next life I will be a woman

and you will be a man.

Oh, no. I refuse to be a man.

You have reconciled me to being a woman.

All right, I'll take you as you are.

I'm sure I should go as limp at the sight

of you in the next life as I do in this one.

What sort of things will

you write about in Korea?

Oh, the same sort of things

I wrote about in Africa, Indonesia.

The cold facts of war.

The other things that tell of

men afraid, men suffering,

people caught up in events

they can't understand.

Mark, do correspondents ever get killed?

Mm-hm.

Friend of mine got killed by a bus in Tokyo.

If anything happens to you,

I shall give up medicine.

I would hate my fellow man

too much for having hurt you.

Then I would be the worst thing

that happened to you.

And I would know it.

- What time should you leave?

- Ten minutes ago.

War has strapped you to a watch.

Unfortunately, my plane leaves on schedule.

I wanted to bring you a present,

but there wasn't time.

You know I've never given you anything?

Oh, Mark, what a wrong

and dreadful thing to say.

What a nice thing to reply.

I have to go now,

and I don't want you to be sad.

I won't be sad. Sadness is so ungrateful.

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