The White Countess Page #3

I kept it for you. Now you pay $5.

But you promised me I could have it for $3.

-I didn't promise you that, madam.

-I need it for my work.

Many people want this dress.

I have to come here every single day.

-I come in the morning at 4:30.

-And this is why I need this.

-And I go back at night, at 11:30 at night.

-And you told me yesterday....

I have to work very hard to feed my children.

You have the dress. It is beautiful.

It is very, very nice color.

-Are you going on the boat?

-Sure.

-Where will you go?

-Up to Soochow.

-You should go.

-We're going soon.

So long.

May I look?

Go ahead.

Katya.

Come, darlng. It's time to go.

Mama, you got the dress!

I got it.

Here you go.

You know which one's going win?

Most defnintely. I'm betting....

I thnik you're right.

You know, sir,

I was thinking of having a little flutter.

Good, good.

I'm glad to see a little recklessness

entering your spirit, Thomas.

this city is starting to work on you at last.

I'm glad to see you so cheerful.

As a matter of fact,

I was getting kind of anxnous...

because, you see, I've come here to....

I've come here to have a little flutter myself.

Are you thinking of placing a large bet?

Substantial enough. Thank you, Jimmy.

You know, Thomas,

there comes a day when you say there are...

some things that you want to do in life...

and you'll never do them

unless you take a risk.

Hold everything that you have in your hand

and just take a risk.

sir, are you intending to place

a very large bet?

There are some in this city

who would not consider it large...

but it's just about everything that I have.

But I think that--

No, we're not in Vermont, Thomas.

Don't cluck around me like an old hen.

Mr. Jackson? Mr. Jackson?

I'm Fu Chuan Fang. We met in Naiking.

A League of Nations conference.

I was sorry to hear about your misfortune.

Thank you.

this is my friend, Thomas Crane.

How do you do, Mr. Crane?

Gentlemen, may I introduce

General Shen Yinchu...

and General Ji Deng?

Ni men hao, gentlemen?

Although it's many years too late, let me

thank you from the bottom of my heart

for your dedication in finding

a just solution to our nation's problems.

Mr. Jackson has been a true friend

to all Chinese people.

A just solution to your nation's problems.

And where has it got us?

All that clever meddling

we diplomats got up to back then...

and now your nation in chaos...

and Japanese occupying the north...

and your people in civil war.

Excuse me, gentlemen.

I must go and place a bet.

Mr. Jackson.

Good afternoon, Mr. Jackson.

-Mr.... Mr....

-Matsuda.

Exactly. Good to see you again, sir.

And I'm particularly pleased

to run into you, Mr. Jackson.

Because I am leaving Shanghai tomorrow.

this gives me a chance to say goodbye.

Even though our acquaitance was brief...

I very much enjoyed our discussion

the other night.

So did l.

-Well, it's a pity you're leaving.

-I hope to be back in a year or so.

Perhaps we will have a chance

to continue our research then.

In fact, Mr. Matsuda, I had hope that

if you return to Shanghai in a year's time...

we can go one better

than just continuing our research.

Today, you see, I've had a little luck and....

My God!

-I've had a great deal of luck.

-I see, Mr. Jackson.

Mr. Matsuda,

I don't mind telling you right now...

that I feel more than a little frightened.

Let me say this to you today...

that if you return to Shanghan

one year from now...

you will be a most welcome guest

in my own establishment.

The bar of your dreams.

So I may have the pleasure, after all.

The bar of my dreams.

You're a very nice man,

but you know the rules.

You're breaking my heart.

Please, you need to get a ticket.

Next time you come.

Next time come and ask for me.

-Oh, hello.

-Excuse me.

You remember me?

You looked out for me the other night,

and I very much appreciated nt.

You're most welcome.

I see you took advice about shoes.

Shoes? Oh, no, I hadn't intended to.

I just think thnigs have got a little

worse for wear without my noticing.

So shall we dance?

Well, frankly, I was wondering

nf you might just sit and talk...

-for as long as the dance.

-Oh, certainly.

Shall we go here?

Excuse me one moment here.

I....

-ls this okay for you?

-this is good, nice here.

Good. Well, look...

I have a proposal to make.

Oh. I see.

Oh, no, no, no.

Not that kind of proposal. No.

It's just that, well...

I'm intending to open an establishment.

It's something that I've been planing

for some time...

and it wouldn't work without you.

It wouldn't work without me?

Whatever do you mean?

The place that I'm gonig to open...

it'll be a bar, you know,

a little dancing and a little music and....

But it won't be like this.

It'll be nothing like this.

My place will be

just the way that I've seen it...

up here, inside...

and I need you to be my centerpiece.

And I would do what for you, exactly?

Just be there and, I think,

dance with a few customers...

and talk with them and host them.

That's strictly all that I'd ask.

I'll see that you're well remunerated for it...

and you wouldn't have to earn money

in any other way.

You realize, don't you...

I'm not the only Russian Countess

in Shanghai reduced to this sort of lnfe.

I know that, I know.

But it's you.

You're perfect.

And you're what I need.

I'm perfect?

But how can you know what I'm like?

Well, we met the other night.

You take it from me,

I know what I'm looknig for.

-will you consider nt?

-Consider it?

I'd accept happily

nf I'm really so perfect for you...

but you can't even see me.

You should at least

try to feel what I look like.

Blind people do that, don't they?

No, no, no, no.

There's no need. There's no need.

I know exactly what you're like.

You...

the bar...

everything.

It's all up here...

inside.

But instead,

maybe we could have that dance.

You can dance all right?

Well, to be frank,

I've not tried it since I've lost my sight.

But I think that with you helping me,

I'll be all right.

So let's dance.

-Excuse me.

-Sorry.

-Sorry.

-What are you doing?

-Excuse me?

-Dance with a blind man?

You try and stop us.

Blind men have very good ears.

You can't dance here.

Even if you speak Chinese.

You will disturb the other guests.

If you have any objections, kindly go to hell.

You tell him.

-Okay, let's find these people in here.

-I don't need to worry about him anymore.

Thibaut de Passavant,

he's here in Shanghai.

Sister Anastasia told me yesterday

after church.

Thibaut de Passavant?

What a charming man.

Beautiful man.

-You certain he's here in Shanghai?

-Snster Anastasna was qunte sure.

He arrived at least four months ago.

He's posted to the French Consulate.

I wnsh we could see him,

but he can't come here.

Olga, dear, I've been thinking about this.

Things are so different.

Perhaps we should pay a call on Thibaut.

No, dear. No, no. I don't think so, no.

It would be for him to call on us.

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