Mao's Last Dancer Page #3

recognises international

marriage laws.

Are you in a relationship, Li?

Uh, do you have a girlfriend?

No, he doesn't.

Uh yes, I have, um,

American girlfriend.

- You what?

- How about that! Who is she?

Really?

Well, first of all

I would strongly advise against

a marriage of convenence,

unless of course it was

a serious relationshp you're in.

If there's one thing worse

than an immgration problem,

it's a marriage problem.

Is it a serious relationship, Li?

Is it serious,

Li?

On behalf of the Houston

Ballet Company

and all of us who've had

the privilege of

seeing you dance, Li,

I'd like to say how exciting

it's been having you here.

You came as a student

and leave here as a star.

Um... just...

Thank you, Ben.

And...

...thank the audience.

Thank you, America.

Mr Stevenson,

were ready for the photograph

with Consul Zhang.

Excuse me.

Of course.

I don't know.

Has anyone seen him?

I'll just ask you

to step in together.

Great.

Thank you.

Consul, Anita Jones.

Anita's the arts editor

for the 'Houston Chronicle'.

- I'm pleased to meet you.

- Pleased to meet you too, sir.

Mind if I get a few words

from you about Li

and what it means to China

to have had him here?

Of course.

- Excuse me.

- Sure.

I see it as another

postive step in...

He's not at the theatre.

- Did you try my place?

- Sure. No answer.

Sir, we're ready to serve.

Do you mind if we just wait...

just a little longer?

- Yes, sir.

- Thank you. Thank you.

- They're starting to wonder.

- Well, I know.

Maybe you should say something.

I don't know what

I'm going to say.

Mr Stevenson, it's for you.

What the hell is going on, Dilworth?

Where's Li?

Li, you can't stay here.

It's out of the question.

Ben, um... I'm married.

- You're what?

- I'm married.

I not go back to China.

No, you can't be married.

Don't be ridlculous.

I mean, who did you marry?

Elizabeth.

Elizabeth? Elizabeth who?

- Oh, you connving little b*tch.

- Stop!

Ben, I love her.

You are going back, Li.

If you love China, you go back.

I... I stay.

You are not married!

He's not married!

For God's sake, Ben,

calm down!

Li...

Li, Consul Zhang will think

it's all my doing,

just to keep you here.

Please, don't do this to me.

I- I not go back.

You have to. You have to.

Dont you understand,

it's gonna ruin everythng -

everything I've worked for.

I can't believe

you'd be so selfish.

Li, no-one is

making you do this.

Mr Foster, I want

no trouble for Ben.

I must tell Consul Zhang

I make decision, not Ben.

That's all very well

but the consulate

is Chinese territory

for all intents and purposes.

I explained that to him

already, Charles.

Please have a seat.

- Well, well.

- Mmm!

Right.

I don't know how you

coud be so foolish!

- Hi there, I'm Li's attorney.

- A lawyer?

And you should know better!

I had no idea Li was

gonna bring a lawyer.

Lets try to keep things

positive, shall we?

I couldn't agree more.

Thank you for coming.

So many of you.

Consul, how are you? I'm...

I know who you are, Mr Foster.

Pleased to meet you.

My staff tell me you are

a member of the US China

Friendship Association.

Yes, I am.

I was in China 18 months ago,

as a matter of fact.

Vice Consul Lan is happy

to discuss legal matters

if you would be so kind

as to go with him.

Mr Stevenson, perhaps

you could accompany them.

- Yes, Id be happy to.

- I'll be right back, Li.

Now, if you'd please allow me to speak

wth Cunxin alone.

No, I'm gonna stay with Li.

Well, don't you have balls!

Well, it seems like

I need them.

I'm staying too.

We have been

asked to leave.

Dilworth,

speak to Consul Zhang.

It's OK.

What did he say?

It's OK. We'll wait.

OK.

I'm interested to know

how and when, exactly, was it

that Li Cunxin arrived

at this decision?

With all due respect, sir, that is

not what we're here to discuss.

I'm only too happy to discuss it.

I think we should.

Woud you care for

some refreshments?

No, thanks. If you'll excuse me,

I'll get back to my client.

Please sit down, Mr Foster!

Uh...

No!

What's going on?

- Help! Someone help!

What's going on?

Now, I'm not gonna

put up with... Goddamn!

Li! Li!

Help! Li! Li!

Li! Li!

Open this door, goddamn it!

- Come back here!

LI! Li!

No! Help! Li!

Li!

- What do we do?

- For God's sake!

What's happened? Where's Li?

- ELZABETH They took him!

Upstairs!

There was

at least five of them.

What have you done with Li?

Please, I must ask

all of you to leave now.

Excuse me, Consul,

but I believe someone just

dragged my client out of here.

Mr Foster, you told us you're

a supporterof US-Slno reations,

and what is best

for US-Sino relations

is for Li Cunxin

to return to China.

Please let me

try and convince him.

Well, that's all

very well but for one thing, sir.

We may be on the territory

of the People's Republic

of China, sir,

but in this country,

what you're doing -

wherever you're doing it -

is called kidnapping,

and it's against the law.

Well, he's just walking...

You just drove him away.

- I think we shoud just leave.

- No!

How can you even say that

after what we just saw?

Li's a Chinese national.

I thnk we should just go

and let the Chinese deal with it.

Weren't you

even listening?

The course of Li's return to China

has most likely already

been mapped out.

A they need is for us to leave so they

can go through with it.

Go through with what, how?

What are you talking about?

Remove Li in the early hours,

heavily sedated I suspect,

and putting him on

the first plane back to China.

Who the hell is

calling me at this hour?

Uh-huh.

It's Charles Foster, Judge.

Sorry to wake you.

Ths better be good, Charles.

Yes, well,

the Consul General of China

is holding a ballet dancer

against his will.

I need to get

a restraining order.

Do I have the right to restrain

the Consul General of China?

Sir, I sincerely hope so.

There are

members of the press outside.

- Mm-hm.

- You're a lawyer.

Will you make them go away, please?

Consul, not even

the President of the United States

can make the press go away.

Did you call them, Mr Foster?

No.

I suspect they want to know

what's happened to Li.

My advice to you is,

they don't have to know.

What's happened

can be our secret.

But if you contnue

to hold Li here

you're gonna put our secret

on the front page of

every newspaper in the world

I'd like to use your phone again,

please.

Phone?

MAN Mark Gibson,

China desk officer.

Yes, this is Charles Foster.

There's been an incident

at the Chinese consulate

in Houston.

Please alert the ambassador

in Pekng immediately.

Mr Foster, there's no need

to make any more calls.

- Please hang up the phone.

- Wheres Li? I want to see him.

May I have your attention please?

I'm pleased to inform you

that Li Cunxin has decided

to return home to China.

You may all leave now.

If you don't mind,

I'd ke to hear that from Li.

Yeah,

he's just saying that.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes