The Painted Veil Page #2

I've got a meeting in an hour at the club.

What is it?

I have to go.

What are you doing home?

I'm sorry, there's something

I need to speak with you about.

Actually, I was just about

to take my bath.

I'm afraid it's rather important, darling.

Can't wait.

Sit down.

Do you know a place called Mei-tan-fu?

No.

Well, it-- It was in the papers

the other day.

It's a small town on a tributary

of the Yangtze River, in the interior.

They've had an outbreak

of cholera there.

It's the worst epidemic

anyone's seen in a long time.

The Chinese medical officer has died.

There's a convent of French nuns

trying to run the hospital.

They're doing the best they can,

but people are dropping like flies.

I have volunteered to go

and to take charge.

- Why?

- Because they need a doctor.

But you're not a doctor.

You're a bacteriologist.

I'm an M.D.

The fact that I'm foremost a scientist...

...is actually all to the good in this case.

Won't it be awfully dangerous?

I suppose it might, yes.

Now, Mei-tan-fu is a 10-day journey.

You can go by rail for the first part.

But after that it's carriage, and then

we'll have to take a sedan chair.

Who's we?

- Why, you and I, of course.

- You're not expecting me to come too.

I hoped that if I was going,

you would want to go.

Surely it's no place for a woman.

It would be madness for me to go.

- Why should I?

- To cheer and comfort me?

No. No, I won't go.

In fact, it's monstrous of you

to even ask me.

Fine. Then I shall file

my petition for divorce tomorrow.

I'm afraid that you have thought me

a bigger fool than I am.

I don't know what you're talking about.

Don't you?

I am divorcing you for adultery.

I am naming Charles Townsend

as your lover.

I'm sorry, Walter.

I realize this is very unpleasant.

But, please, let's not make this

uglier than it needs to be.

By all means. What is it that

you propose that we should do?

You could let me divorce you quietly.

You divorce me?

- On what grounds?

- That's what a gentleman would do.

Give me one reason to put myself

to an inconvenience on your account.

Please, Walter, don't be so hateful.

We didn't mean to hurt anyone.

But Charlie and I have fallen in love.

- He wants to marry me.

- Really?

I knew that you weren't

the cleverest girl...

...but I didn't know

you were actually a fool.

Yes. Well, if it makes you feel better

to hurt me, then go ahead.

But you might as well get used to it.

We love each other.

And we're sick to death of the secrecy

and compromise and the rest.

Now you curse the day

that you ever met me.

Stop mocking me.

There's no other response for

such pathetic behavior.

It's comic.

When I think about how hard

I have tried to make you happy.

Debasing myself, acting as though I was

as thrilled as you by the latest gossip.

- I don't have to listen to this.

- And as ignorant of the world as you are--

If you interrupt me again,

I'll strangle you.

Sit down.

I knew when I married you

that you were selfish and spoiled.

But I loved you.

I knew that you married me only to get

as far away from your mother as possible...

...and I hoped that one day

there'd be something more.

I was wrong.

You don't have it in you.

If a man hasn't what's necessary

to make a woman love him...

...then it's his fault, not hers.

Either way.

Tomorrow morning we are to leave

for Mei-tan-fu, or I shall file my petition.

You can't be serious about taking me

into the middle of a cholera epidemic.

Do you think that I'm not?

My God.

That's what you want, isn't it?

Do you really think

Charlie will let you do this?

I don't think Charlie has

very much to say about it.

Everything you said is true.

Everything.

I married you

even though I didn't love you.

But you knew that.

Aren't you as much to blame

for what's happened as I?

All right.

Here's what I'll do.

Gentlemen, we all have assets

to protect here.

Unfortunately, Mr. Nagata's actions

have created a rather urgent situation.

It was an unfortunate

but unavoidable incident.

- Your foreman shot a worker.

- He was an agitator.

He was a Chinese.

You may have suppressed

a very small strike...

...but in doing so, you have started

a very large demonstration.

I need to use your pen, please.

- Here you are, miss.

- Thank you.

What about support from Chiang Kai-shek?

Where does he stand?

He's a nationalist.

He will stand on the side of the Chinese.

That's why they

call themselves nationalists.

Excuse me.

Mr. Townsend.

I think you underestimated the situation.

I have three of my mills shut down

because of walkouts.

- There is talk about boycotts.

- What do you propose?

A handful of municipal soldiers is

hardly a show of force.

If you'll excuse me.

Mrs. Fane. What a pleasant surprise.

You've rescued me

from a pack of wild bores.

I wouldn't have come

if it wasn't necessary.

Are you all right?

I needed to see you. I'm sorry.

Kitty, this is not the most

opportune time for me to--

Charlie. He knows.

Right.

After you, Mrs. Fane.

- Hello, Charlie.

- Hello, George.

- Hello, Townsend.

- Pardon.

He wants a divorce.

You didn't commit yourself, did you?

- Acknowledge anything?

- No.

- Are you sure?

- Quite sure.

Well, this is a bloody scrape we're in.

He says he has proof.

We deny it. He can't prove anything.

Besides, it wouldn't do him any good

to create a scandal.

But there isn't going to be a scandal.

Walter's agreed to

let me divorce him quietly.

That's not so terrible, is it?

- Will you hold me?

- Of course I will.

Oh, God.

Charlie?

His offer comes with a condition.

- I'm not a rich man.

- He doesn't want your money.

He's agreed to let me divorce him

if Dorothy will agree to divorce you.

And if... .

What?

If you'll promise to marry me.

You know, darling, whatever happens,

we must try to keep Dorothy out of it.

What do you mean?

We can't only think of ourselves.

I know Dorothy. Nothing in the world

will induce her to divorce me.

You don't want to divorce her.

- It's not a question of my marriage.

- Then what is it?

Do you have any idea of the importance

of my station here? If I were--

Why are you laughing?

I don't think Walter intended

for one minute to divorce me.

He knew you'd let me down.

- Try to understand.

- I understand, all right.

Kitty. Kitty, please.

We'll work this out, I promise.

- I'm coming with you.

- Good. I thought you might.

I suppose I needn't take more than

a few summer things? And a shroud?

I've told Hassan what you'll need.

She's packing already.

I wouldn't touch that if I was you.

They may have died in that bed.

This can be your room.

You must be the doctor's wife.

I've just met your husband

and invited myself to dinner.

I've kept the Watsons' cook for you.

She's not bad.

She'll have to do as your amah as well.

We're a little short-handed here.

Sorry, my name is Waddington.

Oh, yes, of course. Kitty Fane.

- I'm the deputy commissioner.

- Please.

I believe you're one of our neighbors.

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