The Lady, the Devil & the Dealer Page #4

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- Can I try something?

- What?

(indistinct chatter)

Sit.

Stand.

I wish to put a proposition to you.

It has been twelve days

since my wife has eaten,

and I must impress upon you

how very rapidly her health

is declining.

She is prepared

to abandon her hunger strike,

if you will offer her a firm assurance,

that her colleagues will be

well treated.

I cannot emphasize enough

the grave danger she is in.

She will not survive more

than a day or two.

I ask you to consider very carefully,

the public consequences

if you fail to act promptly.

(translates in Burmese)

(soft suspenseful instrumental music)

Madam. The authorities

wish to assure you that

no harm will come

to your colleagues.

All right?

(soft instrumental music)

(dog barking)

(soft instrumental music)

(soft classical piano music)

It's called music.

Well, this has been one of the most

bizarre few weeks of my entire life.

Thank you, for everything. I couldn't

have got through this without you.

- It's going to be quiet.

- I know.

I'll continue to play merry hell behind

the scenes.

Let's pray this limbo is short lived.

I'll be fine Mikey. Please don't worry.

- The boys must be your first concern now.

- I know. I know.

Go.

Go.

(soft instrumental music)

(female newscaster) Burmese authorities have

announced that elections will be held in May.

However, Aung San Suu Kyi has been

disqualified as an electoral candidate,

on the basis of an obscure law

prohibiting anyone married to a foreigner

from becoming president.

Yes. I understand.

Very well. Goodbye.

- That was the most off wand of calls.

- Who was it?

The Embassy.

They simply said the boys are no

longer eligible for Burmese citizenship.

They will therefore cancel

their passports with immediate effect.

It beggars belief, really it does.

They have obviously decided

keeping the children from Suu,

is the most effective way of breaking

her spirit.

At least they've finally

announced the elections.

Let's wait and see.

Hopefully everything is

about to be resolved.

Yes, hope.

How we all cling to hope.

(male newscaster) This is a day few

people in Burma ever expected to witness,

across the country, remarkable scenes,

as thousands of people excitedly

cue in order to cast their vote

in the first election for 40 years,

and here at Life we bring you

the first estimated tally.

Aung San Suu Kyi, 392 seats.

The Burmese Military 10 seats.

(cheers)

(dramatic instrumental music)

Oh, my goodness, boys.

What fabulous news.

(female newscaster) In Burma an

extraordinary victory for Aung San Suu Kyi,

and her party the National League

for Democracy.

In a country where public gatherings

of more than five people are banned,

The National League of Democracy

look set

to be celebrating until well

into the night.

(dramatic instrumental music)

(shouting in Burmese, cheers)

Ma Suu.

(crowd shouts) Aung San Suu Kyi!

(dramatic instrumental music)

(phone rings)

(crowd in the background)

Aung San Suu Kyi!

(speaking in Burmese)

(crowd shouting)

Aung San Suu Kyi!

Hey!

I just want to go and talk to them.

Don't be ridiculous.

You're not going to shoot anybody.

(speaks in Burmese)

(crowd screams)

(gun shots and screams)

(suspenseful instrumental music)

(shouting in the background)

(suspenseful instrumental music)

Take a seat, Dr. Aris.

Now that the elections

are out of the way,

I am pleased to say

I have some good news for you!

It seems the authorities are finally

willing to come to an arrangement.

If you were to write a letter

to your wife,

encouraging her to come home to Oxford

at her earliest convenience,

they would see no problem in allowing

you to y out.

I see.

Well, since I haven't

the slightest intention,

of ever making such a request

of my wife,

I shall bid you goodbye.

Those ruthless, conniving bastards.

If they think I'm going to take this lying

down, they've got another think coming.

Let's go.

(car starts)

(male newscaster) Despite their

resounding defeat at the polls,

there is still no sign that the Burmese

military will release Aung San Suu Kyi,

to take up her elected role as

the new Prime Minister. (shouts)

Instead she remains under lock and key,

while leading members of her party,

the National League of Democracy,

are arrested one by one.

Now the monks have taken

to the streets to protest,

and the monasteries are being stormed

by soldiers.

(giving orders in Burmese)

(Burmese)

(Burmese)

Let me assure you, Dr. Aris,

that behind the scenes

we are doing everything possible.

However, it is our point of view

that extending economic sanctions

against Burma, would only play

into the hands of Beijing.

They would seize this as an opportunity

to tighten their economic stranglehold.

Forgive me, I have a very

important meeting to get to,

and I wish you all the best of luck, sir.

(sighs)

(sound of rain,

ominous instrumental music)

(phone rings)

Hello.

Professor Finnie.

- How are you?

- I've known better days.

Well, I very much hope I am ringing

with news that will cheer you.

Oh?

The joy and pride I and our children

feel at this moment,

is marked by sadness

and continuing apprehension.

I am not sure if the Nobel Peace Prize

has ever been given

to someone in a situation of such

extreme isolation before.

It has certainly never been given

to a woman in that condition.

Suu is now in the third year

of her political detention,

at the hands of Burma's military rulers

and we her family,

are denied any contact with her,

and know nothing of her condition,

except that she is quite alone.

Selfishly I also hope,

that our family's situation

will be eased

somewhat as a result of this supreme

gesture of recognition

for her moral and physical courage,

and that we may at last be allowed

to pay her visits again.

We miss her very much.

(newscaster continues talking on radio)

I miss you too.

One of us is going

to have to make a speech

at the actual prize ceremony.

Any takers?

I think if your mother still has

access to a radio,

it would mean a great deal

to her if it was one of you.

I'll do it.

Good. Good man.

(soft instrumental music)

(applause)

(soft instrumental music)

Live from Oslo, the BBC World Sen/ice

brings you the Nobel Peace...

I now call upon Michael, Alexander

and Kim Aris,

to come forward to receive

the gold medal and the diploma,

on behalf of their wife and mother.

The Nobel Prize Laureate 1991,

Aung San Suu Kyi.

(applause

and elevated instrumental music)

(suspenseful instrumental music)

(voices on radio)

(male announcer)... to take to

the podium to make a speech.

(Alexander)

I stand before you here today,

to accept on behalf of my mother,

Aung San Suu Kyi,

this greatest of prizes,

the Nobel Prize for Peace.

Because circumstances do not permit

my mother to be here in person,

I will do my best to convey the

sentiments I believe she would express.

We must remember

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