The Painted Veil Page #4

You must eat the madeleine.

Sister St. Joseph made them for you

herself this morning.

So tell me, Mrs. Fane...

...to which faith do you subscribe?

Excuse me.

We attended services.

Not religiously-- Regularly.

You could say I'm a member

of the Church of England.

Which is an inoffensive way of saying...

...you don't quite believe

in anything much.

You're very pretty.

And very young.

I assure you I'm not. I feel ancient.

If Mrs. Fane would like to see over

the convent and orphanage...

...I shall be glad to show her.

Alone.

We keep the older girls busy with sewing.

It keeps them occupied.

And earns money for the convent.

That one won't allow us to baptize her.

Our music room.

Sister Maryse.

Sister Dominique was our pianist.

She died last week. Cholera.

Through there is the infirmary.

It is not a sight one would wish to see.

Shall I call Dr. Fane out to see you?

No. You needn't disturb him.

Now, with the epidemic,

we have even more to care for.

This baby was brought in this morning.

Another orphan.

She says Dr. Fane loves babies.

He spends as much time as he can

helping them out in the nursery.

Mrs. Fane?

Mrs. Fane?

You all right?

Yes.

It's nothing, only foolishness.

What do you want?

Sorry.

- I brought you your supper.

- All right. Just leave it there.

Is there something else?

What's that you're doing?

I am testing the nitrate levels

of a local tomato.

Why?

Why?

Can't possibly interest you.

Well, enjoy your supper.

Walter.

What do you propose we should do

if we get through the epidemic?

I have no idea.

But I don't think any good will come of

talking about a situation we should forget.

- But you don't forget.

- Please. I really must work.

Won't you listen to what I have to say?

All right. If you insist.

It's just, today...

...having been at the convent,

with those nuns.

What have they done, converted you?

No. They spoke of you.

- And it made me feel--

- What?

It made you feel what?

- I think I've been afraid of you.

- Well, you should have been.

Excuse me.

If I can't work, I'm going to bed.

I know you're angry at me.

But if we could just try and talk about--

Honestly, I don't understand you.

What is it that you want from me?

Perhaps I just want us to be

a little less unhappy.

You're mistaken in thinking I am.

I have too much to do

to think of you very much.

That's exactly what I'm trying to say.

I feel useless.

What do you propose that I do

about that?

For God sakes,

will you stop punishing me?

Do you absolutely despise me?

- No. I despise myself.

- Why?

For allowing myself to love you once.

Hello.

I'm very well. And you?

For you. And you.

I hope I haven't come

at an inconvenient time.

Sister Maryse died last night.

I've just written to inform her parents.

I'm so sorry.

But it is sinful of me to grieve...

...when I know that her good and

simple soul has flown straight to heaven.

How can I help you?

Well, I'm sure that

with the sister's death...

...you must be even more short-handed.

You see, I was wondering if I could

come to the convent...

...and do anything, just--

Just to help out.

My dear child, don't you think

you've done enough...

...coming here with your husband?

I've been here a month...

...and, believe me, I have nothing to do

from morning till night.

Perhaps I could help with the sisters

in the hospital.

That is impossible.

Cholera is a terrible thing to see.

Besides, what would happen

if you should fall ill?

I'd be happy to scrub the floors.

Anything. Just something to feel useful.

That will not be necessary.

The orphans scrub the floors.

No, no, it is our business

and our privilege to do such things.

But there is always more to do each day.

Have you spoken to your husband

of your wish?

Yes.

I don't know what you're saying.

I also found traces in the river,

downstream from the burial grounds.

- You've checked these results?

- I tested it three times.

Well, that's it, then.

I would recommend barricading

the bathing area.

Cut off all access to the river.

How far do you expect people to walk

for water?

I've no idea. Upriver, at least a half-mile

above the burial ground.

- That's too far.

- Nevertheless.

I agree with Dr. Fane. It's necessary.

Also, I thought we'd agreed

to post a directive...

...to dispose of the corpses immediately.

We've done that already.

If you don't enforce it,

then it doesn't matter.

Families are hiding bodies for days.

- They bury them too close to the river.

- I understand.

You don't have to explain it twice.

Colonel, I respectfully request...

...that you order your soldiers

to enter these people's homes...

...and remove the bodies by force

if necessary.

It's all right.

Hello.

I understand.

The spirits need access to the water.

I understand that.

I just want to move a few of these

so they don't live in the water.

He said they're under the protection

of their warlord.

If he wants to move the bodies,

he will send his own soldiers.

It isn't the best time for a Western woman

to explore a Chinese town by herself.

Oh, do be quiet.

As if you care whether I'm killed

by nationalists or boredom.

Besides, I wasn't alone.

I was with my gallant protector,

Sung Ching.

By the way,

you might be happy to know...

...that I am just as useless to the nuns

as I am to you.

I shut off the town's

only water supply today.

What will you do?

I have no idea.

Then I suppose we're both useless.

At last, something in common.

Dr. Fane. We've both been

caught out in the weather.

Not now, sorry.

I beg your pardon?

- Counting.

- Counting?

We'll camp here tonight.

What makes you think

this warlord will cooperate?

I don't think he will.

So, what do you plan to say

to persuade him?

I don't know.

These men are like animals.

They have no vision.

They only have hunger and strength.

Men like this have held the real power

in China since I was young.

But that time is coming to an end.

There's no place for them

in the new China.

I don't think you like my being here

very much either, do you?

I think China belongs

to Chinese people...

...but the rest of the world

seems to disagree.

Yes, but that's got

nothing to do with me.

I didn't come here with a gun, you know.

I came with a microscope.

I believe you.

But it would be nice

to do this work together...

...without your country's guns

pointing at our people.

Our plan is to divert

the water to the town...

... from the fields upriver,

above the burial grounds.

With your permission

and the assistance of your troops...

... the graves will be moved away

from the water...

... and Colonel Yu and his men will

enforce the prompt burial of the dead.

Maintaining the integrity

of the water sources...

...and enforcing proper sanitation

over the next weeks...

...will make a difference between

a few more deaths and possibly thousands.

He said no.

He doesn't speak any English, does he?

Tell him that's the most ridiculous suit

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes