Shadow Magic Page #5

My camel! That's my camel!

Next should be me!

It is me!

Thrilling!

What do you see?

A man and a camel on a street.

What's so thrilling about that?

Shadow Magic is good for the eyes.

But you can only see it...

not hear it.

Your ears feel something's lacking.

Now that you mention it,

it does seem that way.

That's why you need us

talkative comedians.

We bring the pleasure to your ears.

Shadow Magic has no mercy.

Everything is magnified...

larger than life.

- The thin--

- The fat--

- The round--

- Wrinkle upon wrinkle!

- There's nowhere to hide!

- Nope!

Our people know how to be courteous.

- Can't you tell?

- Look!

How are you?

Have you eaten?

Thank you. My pleasure.

Why do we greet each other like this?

It means:

"I've had the pleasure of eating.

If you haven't,

come to my house."

- Have you eaten?

- My pleasure!

That's too much eating!

Of course! But eating is

the main talent of our civilization!

So true!

Ling! Come in. Please sit.

I want to try.

Here.

Now count evenly.

One, two, three.

My friend Raymond...

explained to me--

He said,

if we love each other...

it's all right to show affection.

I never knew I was so fast!

You're amazing!

That's incredible!

I can't believe my eyes.

Those mountains.

The river--

how it sings.

The horizon--

it seems to extend forever.

That's neat!

My son--

My son did all this!

Ding Jung Shan, the first

Chinese film ever made...

was produced at Feng Tai Studio in 1905

by Liu Jing Lun and Ren Jing Feng.

It starred Peking's legendary

opera singer Lord Tan Xinpei.

At the turn of the century...

a handful of foreigners brought

motion pictures to China.

The name of the first Shadow Magic

showman remains unknown.

Does your father know you're here?

No, he doesn't, and he needn't.

I would like my photograph taken.

But I can't take your photograph

without your father's permission.

You mean even you are afraid

the camera will steal my soul?

Then no woman

will come to your studio.

Please, come this way.

Liu, take her photograph.

Ladies.

Liu.

Don't worry. I won't tell my father

about your Shadow Magic.

Thank you, but...

I plan to tell him myself.

That you are the one

ruining his business?

Well, yes.

If you tell him that,

he'll never accept you.

Does that mean if I don't tell him,

I would be accepted?

Look right here.

Straight into the lens.

He's touching her!

A little smile.

You are captured forever.

I need another plate.

Excuse me.

Poor Liu.

He's unusually distracted.

He's been so busy...

preparing for his wedding.

His wedding?

Liu is engaged

to marry a widow.

I brought more plates.

- I must go.

- Wait!

I'll bring the prints

to you.

You needn't bother.

I'll send for them.

He's coming, he's coming.

What's going on?

You should know better.

Why humiliate yourself?

People like us...

we're born small...

and we die small.

That's our fate.

Master Ren...

my father is sick.

I need some time off.

You told me he was doing well.

Yes, but--

but now he is sick again.

I have to go.

We need new film.

Like this.

Claire?

She's in England.

No. No.

I say... Chinese film.

Local people, local scenes.

- You know?

- Chinese people.

- Chinese film.

- Film.

You're crazy.

Who'd want to see that?

They can walk outside their door

and see it anytime they want.

Bloody fantastic.

- We are in trouble.

- What kind of trouble?

Local people, local scenes.

Sure.

I can see you fine from here.

Why should I look in there?

Uncle...

when this machine looks at you...

your image is saved.

In a hundred years,

your image will still be there.

I'm 70 now.

That would make me 1 70!

- Right.

- How would I look then?

Exactly as you do now.

You won't have aged a bit.

Say no more. I'm ready.

If you please.

I feel better already. Your turn.

Look at the hole.

Good. Good.

Good.

Good, good, good.

Slow down, will you?

Beautiful. Huh?

- It's a good shot.

- Good.

Beautiful!

I'm overwhelmed.

Love China.

First emperor...

build this wall...

to defend against...

foreign invader.

Like me?

Less dangerous.

China doesn't need more walls.

It needs someone like you

to carry this...

this magnificence

to the outside world.

Just think of it.

You, me...

recording life before it changes...

show it to the whole world.

Might even go down in history.

Whole world? Huh?

Where?

Where is that?

Liu, leave that photo shop...

and become my partner.

The future belongs

to the moving picture.

Liu, what is this all about?

I've come...

to apologize.

I want to say...

I'm truly sorry, but...

I must continue with Shadow Magic.

I can't help it.

Without Shadow Magic...

I'm nobody.

I know our show hurts the opera.

I'm sorry.

You needn't concern yourself.

You're no competition for my father.

Western culture can't overshadow

our opera.

Even if there were

20 Shadow Magics in town...

there would be only one Lord Tan.

The people will always love him.

Of course. You are right.

Actually...

I came to see you.

You came to see me?

Why?

Don't you know by now?

You're the most beautiful girl

I've ever seen.

I love you and I think

you love me too.

You must not speak like this.

We cannot see each other.

But why?

You know why.

Wait!

Just wait and see.

I'm going to make a name for myself!.

Where is Liu?

He's absent again, Master.

Again?

Please, have a seat.

His father must be very ill.

Liu is a good son.

Tell me, why do Chinese people bow?

If I look at your shoes...

I know you're poor...

you're rich.

Oh, Liu.

If only all Chinese people

were as charming as you are.

All Chinese people

are charming like me.

Others as kind as you?

Well, they are

when you get to know them.

Good.

Raymond, I must go now.

Too late.

Master Ren will be upset.

- Hang on a sec.

- Huh?

Put a feather in my cap.

Look at this.

- It's from the British envoy.

- What?

"The envoy wishes to entertain

Her Royal Highness...

the Empress Dowager--"

Dou Fouai--

- Dou Fouai?

- Yeah.

"with a presentation of Shadow Magic,

the latest innovation from the West...

at the Royal Palace."

Hah!

How about that?

We're going to the Royal Palace!

Us!

Wait until Claire gets

a load of this, then, eh?

I told you I'd amount to something!

Hello, Fu Guan.

Master Ren knows you lied to him.

Your father was never sick.

You haven't been at home.

Wait, I can explain.

I should hope so.

Where have you been all this time?

I was--

No more lies!

I've been making films

with the foreigner.

- What did I tell you?

- Please, Master Ren!

I know I betrayed your trust.

I lied to you.

I was wrong.

I beg of you.

I'm not a bad person.

I'll prove to you

I have a loyal heart.

He's trying to sweet-talk you.

We have important work to do.

I don't have time for this.

I'll give you one last chance.

But you must come to your senses...

or I will cut you off.

Now, get up.

We have much to do before our visit

to the Royal Palace.

The Royal Palace?

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