The Children of Huang Shi Page #3

When a man's dying of gangrene,

he tends not to

check the letters after your name.

When there's no-one else,

you do what has to be done.

I'm not really a nurse, either.

Just like you.

You're not really a teacher.

We're all something different in China.

That's why we came.

I was supposed to be

an Army wife in Manila,

but I couldn't play bridge.

Funny how life works out.

What on earth?

It's my one treasure.

- Do you dance, George?

Oh, come on. Sure you do.

It's good to see you, Lee.

Are you going to stay?

Oh, I think so.

Awhile. And you?

I think so.

Yes.

You know nothing!

You stupid Gansu peasant.

Let's take a look at this.

Now let me see here...

That's horrible.

Brush your teeth every day.

Ching...

Oh, you can do it, just fine.

Just fine.

"Though I am old with wandering...

"Through hollow lands and hilly lands..."

Ho-Ke...

"I'll find out where she has gone..."

"And kiss her lips and take her hands"

"And walk among

the long dappled grass..."

Ching?

It's all right.

You're safe.

Nobody's going to hurt you, Ching.

How's Uncle Jing today?

His tumor is worse

- and he wants more pipe.

It'll kill him now.

Maybe that won't be such a bad thing.

I heard today,

the Nationalists have found

a solution to the 'opium problem'.

They're going to behead all the addicts.

I heard the same thing.

Addicts - and people who deal in opium.

The Japanese

behead you for being Chinese.

So, Miss Pearson.

What can I do for you?

I was hoping you might

have some sulfa powder.

Nobody's got sulfa powder.

Not even the Japanese.

It will be sad for your friend.

Nobody to talk to but those boys.

I think he will be lonely.

I think he'll be just fine.

You say that

because you are never lonely.

Well you should go visit him,

if you think he's so lonely.

I don't have time for the

problems of people with no problems.

What do you have in the way of morphine?

That's all you've got?

No. But you're not my only customer.

Take opium instead.

You know what they say about opium.

You still feel the pain,

but it doesn't hurt any more.

Six months ago they were filthy,

starving, diseased

- and of no value to anyone.

And now...

I'm very impressed.

I have to confess, Mr. Hogg.

I did not think you could do it.

I have to confess, Mrs. Wang,

neither did I.

I hope you will do me

the honor of accepting a small gift.

Good Lord, it's in English.

Where did you get it?

A Missionary gave it to me for

being a... very good girl.

'The Silk Road.'

It was the link between the East and West

for more than two thousand years.

It seemed appropriate.

Thank you.

May it seal our friendship.

Yes.

- Where have you come from?

- Lingbao.

Lingbao?

We've walked for two days.

I hate Japanese jet

Don't worry, they often fly over.

What's his name?

- Number Four.

- Lao Si.

And they are... let's see...

Number One.

Number Two.

Number Three.

Number Four!

Lie Down

They are turning back, who are they?

Try to sleep.

No. No.

Lao Si.

- Ching?

- He's too young.

Good night.

Not wounded!

Not wounded!

Get him out of here!

Get him something to eat!

We've had forty, no,

fifty guys in here today

who are nothing but piles of bones

held together by their uniforms.

They're dying of hunger,

not gunshots, Jack.

The Nationalists

are starving their own army.

What's the point of our being here?

None.

They are letting the Japs have Lingbao.

I've been ordered to evacuate.

Well my wounded

won't survive being moved.

Take the ones that will.

Why are you taking off your uniform?

I thought I'd stick

around a little longer...

...prepare a little welcome for the Japs.

Hurry.

Send the most injured first.

I'll make them as comfortable as I can.

You know that.

Be careful.

Leave right away.

You get on this car.

Jack!!

Leave him.

He's dying. Leave.

George...

My God. Chen!

Chen!

Have you pissed yourself?

Jesus. He's wet the bed!

How is she?

Exhausted.

Lingbao. It was pretty bad.

I was lucky.

She got our before the worst.

Will the Japanese get this far?

Maybe.

Maybe not.

The trouble is,

I've seen what happens when they do.

Can we come in?

Who's this?

Oh. Hello, Ching.

And this... is Lao Si.

I saw a wolf, but I didn't cry.

Oh, my goodness.

Coffee?

And steamed bread, with honey.

Honey?

Come on, Lao Si.

He'll have that bread off you,

if you as much as blink.

His main objective

in life is greater rotundity.

Is this all right with you?

It's fine.

Ching...

'Bye, 'bye.

'Bye, 'bye.

Lee...

Jack Chen is here.

He's been sick for the last week.

You're impossible, you know.

I thought you were dead as dirt.

It's malaria.

He's had it for years. They all have it.

He'll be on his feet in no time.

They've put a price on

your head, you know.

Oh yeah? How much?

Ten thousand yuan.

I say, Jack.

That's about thirty bucks U.S., George.

That hurts my feelings.

It's a fortune around here.

Six...

Qi. Seven.

Quiet

We've got Nationalist visitors.

Stall them if you can.

End of class. Quiet

The Japanese are

advancing and are very close.

If our Nationalist forces

withdraw from Xian...

we'll get orders to take over

this entire estate for military use.

Then may I conclude you

have not got the order yet.

Well, gentlemen,

if that's all, you may leave now.

I have many things to do.

Oh, one more thing.

Those labourers...

We have no labourers here.

Only children.

- Children?

- This is a school for orphans.

Is this true?

Are they boys?

If they decide to call me a Communist,

they'll close the school

and they'll conscript the children.

Of course.

And I'm afraid it will

only be a matter of days.

Stay here.

Get out of here!

Go. Just go!

What was all that about?

Bandits.

There's no-one to control them nowadays.

They claim they have opium to sell,

but the packages are full of dirt.

Maybe it would be

safer not to sell opium.

Safe?

Nothing is safe.

You neither.

You have all those strong soldier boys.

You are like a farmer with

too many fat, juicy sheep!

Stop. Turn back

So where do you propose we take them?

Up the Silk Road.

Through the mountains?

With snow and children,

at ten thousand feet?

That's insane.

Actually, I mean to take them further,

beyond Lanzhou.

Have you ever heard of Shandan?

Shandan's on the edge of the Gobi Desert.

It's about seven hundred miles from here.

Seven hundred miles.

Hogg, there's probably nothing there.

Exactly. There's nothing there.

Nothing anybody could possibly want.

Somewhere they'll be safe.

Chen will come with us

as far as the Yellow River.

Then he'll turn off and

join his Communist pals in Yenan.

What about you?

What about me?

Will you go with Jack,

or will you stay with us

and head for Shandan?

Is that what you're asking me?

He's got fire in his belly, that one.

I would like to take him with me

when I rejoin my unit.

No.

He's not a child.

You're right. He's not.

He hasn't been a child

for a very long time.

I believe in each of you.

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