Memoirs of a Geisha Page #6

in Miyako?

If a tree has no leaves or branches,

can you still call it a tree?

With nothing but rubble at my feet,

can I still call myself a businessman?

I should have taken

better care of you.

Please, you saved my life.

I owe you so much in return.

The Chairman and I

need American financing.

There is a man,

a certain Colonel Derricks...

...who has the power

to grant us a contract.

I showed him your picture.

He asked to meet you.

I am not a persuasive man, Sayuri.

But if you and a few geisha...

...would once again put on

your kimono and join us...

...we could show the Americans

how hospitable our country can be.

How I wish, Nobu-san.

But that was a long time ago.

I have no doubt, Sayuri...

...that you could still melt the heart

of any man.

No matter how resistant.

I am not accustomed to begging...

...but please know

that if you consent...

...the Chairman and I would be

most grateful.

One dollar. One dollar.

- What?

- One dollar.

The Chairman needed me.

But I was a far cry from the geisha

I had once been.

Hey, mama-san, let's step inside.

The secrets of our hidden world were

postcards now for girls back home.

Any streetwalker with a painted face

and silk kimono...

...could call herself a geisha.

I looked for the one person

who might help:

Mameha.

The war was written on her face.

Everything about her, not just

her home, was less than before.

Sayuri, when my poor Baron

filled his pockets with stones...

...I was desperate.

What could I do?

I sold my kimono,

I traded my jade combs for rations.

It was painful at first,

but I have made my peace.

Now, I make a small but tidy living

renting rooms.

I am not about to go

chasing the past.

It might do you good.

- How?

- To remind you that, once...

...with a single glance, you could bring

a man like the Baron to his knees.

Well...

...I did keep one kimono.

The Baron gave it to me

when he became my danna.

Thank you, Onei-san.

So tell me. What do we know

about entertaining Americans?

- Was she worth it?

- Hell, yeah.

- Come on.

- All right.

Chiyo-chan! Is that you?

I have no right to ask favors of you,

Pumpkin, I know that.

Guess what. I only smoke

Chesterfields now.

I have wanted to apologize to you

for so long about the okiya.

These soldiers, you know

who they've got me singing?

- It should have gone to you.

- Frank Sinatra and Dinah Shore.

If it is in your heart to forgive me...

Sayuri, don't.

The honest truth?

I'd rather chew sand

than go back to all that.

Then you are not angry with me?

Don't worry about me, chickadee.

I've got more clients

than I can handle.

You seem so at home

with these Americans.

They're bastards.

So who's this colonel?

Sounds like top brass.

He has the power to approve

American funding...

...for Nobu and the Chairman.

So is he willing to pay us

American dollars?

Cash?

Don't waste my time.

You think I'm a sucker?

I want 60 cases Lucky Strike...

...or I'm taking my business

to Sergeant MacPhee.

I had to become a geisha

once more.

Mother had reopened the okiya,

but my powder box was empty.

My charcoal had turned to dust.

And yet, it was my one chance

to see the Chairman again.

Would he notice

my weathered hands?

The threadbare silk?

See? You are yourself again.

The world had changed completely.

Had he?

And would I finally find the strength

to tell him all that I felt?

Just look at you, Sayuri.

It's as if the war did not happen.

I am so glad to see that

the Chairman is safe.

Accept my apologies

asking this of you...

No.

There is nothing I can do

to return your kindness.

- I've wanted to tell you that...

- Sayuri!

May I present Colonel Derricks.

My God, you're more stunning

in person.

This is my associate,

Lieutenant Hutchins.

It's an honor, ma'am.

Sayuri is one of the mysteries

of the Orient I told you about.

A mystery that perhaps

you can solve.

- Would you mind? Can we? Colonel.

- Yes, of course. Colonel.

Okay, sure.

Good.

All right, hold it. Beautiful.

Hey, who likes whiskey?

Look at this. We got a live one, sir.

Chairman, please don't tell me

you started the party without me.

May I present Pumpkin.

- Hello!

- Pumpkin! Over here.

One sec.

Okay! Gentlemen! Please.

- Oh, it's been a long time.

- Good to see you.

You haven't changed.

You look like a little boy.

This is a... My!

It's huge! Like an elephant.

Please, have a seat. Buckle up.

I'm excited, but I'm scared.

You're not going anywhere! Okay?

Good for him, not so good for us.

May we join you, gentlemen?

- Yes, please.

- Wow, I could get used to this.

Back home, a bath is nothing more

than a quick shower on cold tile...

...with a bar of lye soap, right?

But here, you make everything

a ritual, don't you?

That is the art of turning habit

into pleasure, colonel.

Spoken like a true geisha.

If we are in business together, then

perhaps we will visit you someday.

I'd like to see the United States.

I know a little game we can play.

It's called Truth and Lies.

I know this game.

Back home we call it "marriage. "

No, I'm serious. Now, listen closely.

- Sayuri know the rules.

- I never met a woman who didn't.

Each person says two things.

One is true, the other is not.

If you guess right,

the liar pays the price.

So it pays to lose.

There you go.

Okay, I'll go first. Let's see.

One day in Sapporo,

where I was born...

...a fisherman caught

a talking fish.

The other story is the true one.

And I haven't even heard it yet.

- How would you know?

- No, no. You drink. You drink.

- If I drown, it's all your fault.

- Nobu-san, your turn. Please.

I'm no match for these geisha.

They are experts in the art of deceit.

I'm an expert in one thing

and one thing only:

Sake.

Sayuri, the truest story you know.

Once, when I was a little girl...

...on the banks of the Sunagawa...

...a handsome stranger

was kind enough...

...to buy me a cup of sweet ice...

I think we have to stop the game.

If Pumpkin drinks any more sake,

she will pass out.

- That is a true story.

- Mameha. Sayuri. Everyone.

- I'm sorry.

- Okay.

So...

...what is the protocol?

Excuse me?

Suppose I wanted to see you

in private.

I beg your pardon, colonel,

that is not a geisha's custom.

Don't be coy. I mean,

if it's a question of price, I'm sure...

If there were a price,

you could never afford it.

I saw the two of you whispering.

You have arranged some kind

of tryst, haven't you?

- What did you promise him?

- Your company. Nothing more.

He seemed to expect a great deal!

If I had wanted a common whore,

I could have hired one.

What are you trying to say?

Just the idea of you with him,

with any man...

...you'd be dead to me!

Can't you see that I want you

for myself?

You have ruined me.

Before we met,

I was a disciplined man.

I should not have asked you

to come.

The Chairman was against it.

I should have listened to him.

I must beg your forgiveness,

Nobu-san.

Rate this script:4.0 / 1 vote