The Keys of the Kingdom Page #11

"Some of the older girls

were already novices...

"and others were ready

to go into the world-

"this world that,

I will always maintain...

is closer to heaven than we think. "

Fresh honey today, my friends.

Fresh honey.

Ah, it's a pity

that none of you like it.

Joshua, tell me,

which would you rather do-

learn your catechism

or eat honey?

- Eat honey.

- [Giggling]

Eat honey?

Well, God loves you, Joshua,

for telling the truth.

- For that you shall have a double portion.

- [Chinese]

How can we restore discipline?

- They'll all be jealous ofJoshua.

- That's very simple.

Give them each a double portion

with Joshua's compliments.

- Has Joseph brought you the news?

- That he intends to marry?

Oh, he's the last to know. That girl's

had him helpless for over a year.

I was referring to something less joyous.

- Another mission has been opened in Pai Tan.

- Oh?

They've rented a fine house

and have a great deal of money.

Well. American, of course.

Yes.

It is their intention to build

an enormous establishment...

with schools for both

girls and boys, playgrounds...

and a hospital

with resident doctor.

Sounds extremely beneficial.

- What denomination is it?

- It's, uh, Protestant.

- The American Methodists.

- Hmm.

You know, I remember when I was

a little boy and used to go berry-picking.

I always resented the other little boys

who found the same bushes that I did...

and insisted on picking the berries.

I knew that they had just as much right

to them as I did. And yet-

And, uh, what are you going to do

about these little boys?

Do?

I shall put on my good suit,

take my umbrella and call upon them.

Good afternoon.

I'm Father Chisholm.

I took the liberty of calling

to welcome you to Pai Tan.

- Oh, won't you come in?

- Thank you.

You'll have to forgive the way things look.

We're not even unpacked yet.

- Dr. Fiske-That's my husband-

- [Man] Who is it, Agnes?

- He's in there. It's a caller, Wilbur.

- Well, have him or her come in.

- If you don't mind.

- It would be my pleasure.

- Well, how do you do?

- I'm Father Chisholm. Welcome to Pai Tan.

Thank you. I've heard a

good deal about you, Father.

I don't know whether I should return

your thanks for that or not.

Oh, you should. You can be well proud

of your reputation.

Frankly, I'm surprised

that I have any at all.

News travels

amazingly fast in China...

and reputations are made

and unmade just as quickly.

- Won't you sit down, Father?

- Thank you.

- May I?

- Thank you.

We're still all alone in the house,

but perhaps I could fix you some tea.

Don't bother, please. It was really

improper of me to call unannounced.

Why, you have a splendid

establishment here.

Well, we hope to make it one,

at any rate.

Tell me, Father Chisholm,

do you resent our coming here?

What justification could I possibly have

for such a feeling?

- None, of course. But we know, don't we, Agnes?

- Well, in a way.

You see, once we'd been upcountry

all by ourselves for nine years.

- And you've been here

a great deal longer than that.

- Then another missionary came.

Of course, he wasn't a Catholic,

but I'm afraid we did feel a little-

Frankly, we resented

his coming, Father.

You know, sometimes I wonder

how the Christian faith must appear...

to the Chinese mind...

with all the different sects

all crying at the same time...

"Come over here.

This is the one. This is the true one."

We've seen a great deal of it. We're

old campaigners- over 20 years in China.

- Over 20 years!

- Been a long time.

We're originally

New Englanders, from Maine.

Both of us born, reared,

married in the same town.

- Ever been to Maine, Father?

- No.

It doesn't sound like much-

little white wooden houses, birch trees...

huckleberries, lobster.

- [Sighs] It's a long way from here.

- This is our son, John.

It was taken when he was at Harvard just

before he went to Oxford as a Rhodes scholar.

He has a fine face.

Is he still in England?

Yes, he's doing settlement work.

Right now he's at a place called Tynecastle.

Tynecastle? Why, that's my home.

Have you ever been there?

Oh, yes, last year, for two weeks.

I have a family there, of sorts. That is,

an aunt and a daughter of an old friend.

While we were there, we had the pleasure

of meeting the rector ofTynecastle Cathedral...

Monsignor Mealey-

Angus Mealey. Do you know him?

Why, yes, very well.

We were boys together.

- Splendid man.

- Oh, splendid.

I thought him, um- um-

well, just a shade formal, would you say?

Not formal.

Uh, stuffy.

- Did you say "stuffy"?

- Decidedly stuffy.

Agnes, put that tea on the fire.

Father Chisholm and I are going

to settle down to a nice visit.

[Chuckling]

[Laughing]

It's been nice.

Well, thank you

for your hospitality...

and, once again,

welcome to Pai Tan.

I can't tell you how happy you've

made me by your friendliness.

And, uh, by the way,

I'm not a bad doctor.

- Let me be of some help to you.

- We'll help each other.

Right!

- [Chia] Shen-fu!

- Mr. Chia.

Happy to see you.

Am I right in assuming that

the father has just encountered...

the newly arrived holy man

and his woman?

Yes, they're American missionaries

of the Protestant sect.

Our city seems to attract

more than its share of goodness.

For myself, I cannot imagine any mission

garden more pleasant to walk in than yours.

Thank you, my friend.

I remember that when Father

came here many years ago...

he received much ill treatment.

It may be that I will look with

displeasure upon these new missioners.

Who knows, but that

a series of misfortunes...

will befall these worshippers

of the false god...

and force them,

regretfully, to depart.

They're not worshippers

of the false god, Mr. Chia.

- It's the same true God that I serve.

- Incredible.

I would like to discuss this

amazing doctrine in more detail.

My, uh, rickshaw has room only

for my own miserable body.

Will you lower yourself

to permit me to walk with you?

It'll be a great honor.

I have adopted your custom of

greeting people by the use of the hands.

Perhaps in time,

I will find walking equally bearable.

[Monsignor Reading] "It is only when I look

back upon the pages of this journal...

"that I realize how time

flashed across me...

"how the years tumbled into my lap...

"almost too fast for me

to tell one from the other.

"How many years?

"Ten? Twenty?

"Enough, at any rate, for me to know

that I had grown old in my exile.

"I was reminded of this

everywhere I looked.

"Joseph, for instance, with three sons

as old, almost, as he was...

"in that dark hour

when he came to me.

"Now that the time had come

for me to go home...

"I spent my days

in memorizing every face...

"every stone, every tree...

"of my beloved mission...

"as if, in this way,

I could carry them with me.

"Two priests had been sent to assist me

and to serve in my place after my departure.

"Father Chou was a gentle,

young Chinese from the College of Pekin.

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