The White Countess Page #4

That's the correct way.

Yes, yes, of course...

but it is all so different these days.

-So perhaps we could call on him instead.

-No, dear, no. That's not correct.

We can't call on him first,

and he can never call on us here.

-Peter, dear, what is your opinion?

-Dear, no. We can't see him.

That's an end to nt.

Please don't distress yourself, Aunt Vera.

Once we get to Hong Kong,

our friends will visit us again...

you'll give recitals, there'll be card parties,

everything as it used to be.

What's the matter?

The Oblomovs.

When they were here,

they were having to live just like us.

Now look at them,

living the life they used to live.

How do you know that?

They wrote to us.

Ania nicoleyava wrote to us.

You read her letter.

Do you want me to read it to you again?

Mama, where's Ania's letter?

Where did you put it?

She took the trouble to write to us

just to tell a pack of lies.

Don't you worry, Aunt Vera.

Once we get to Hong Kong,

thnigs will be the way they should be.

What a relief that will be.

To be rid of the shame

that's been brought on our family.

It's a mercy my son didn't live to see this.

Are you all right?

Yes, I'm fine. I just need a little air.

Is Katya all right?

She's enjoying herself.

Here.

sit down.

Relax.

Please excuse me.

I have to finish these jackets by 5:00.

Yes, of course.

right, it's open.

Mr. Matsuda.

The bartender.

I first came across him last summer

in a place off the Avenue Joffre.

And as for the strongarm boys,

the bouncers...

well, I spent a long time hand-picking them.

Different boys that I had seen

ni different places.

I'd always kept them in mind,

the ones that I knew I'd one day want to use.

I think that outright violence...

will destroy a perfectly blended mood

in seconds.

But a vague and ever-present

possibility of violence...

that's something else,

and that can be effective.

Wth a good strongarm team

you could do it.

I was always convinced of that.

You brng in the rougher elements,

but then you keep them under control.

The other important ingredient is,

well, what do you call it?

Sexuality?

The vague promise

of an intimate encounter?

You have to judge it finely, though.

You have to choose women with real care.

So that lady...

she's a Russian?

Perhaps an aristocratic lady

who chose to give up her homeland?

Chose?

No.

-That is why you named this establishment.

-Yeah, you got it.

She is the Countess Sofia

Alexeyevna Belinskya.

She has everything that I wanted

for this place.

She has the allure,

the tragedy, the weariness.

She knows that history has no place...

for her kind anymore.

She's perfect.

My centerpiece.

You must be a happy man, Mr. Jackson.

In a little over a year,

you've managed to realize your dream.

I thought for a while that I had...

that I had really achieved

what I'd always wanted...

but I was never quite happy.

For a long time,

I couldn't put my finger on it.

I just knew, I just knew that something....

There was something missing.

And just a few days ago,

I realized what it was.

There's no political tension in here.

You are saying

that without this political dimension...

-your establnishment--

-No, it'll never be more than a confection.

Just a pretty confection, you know.

A few Chinese Reds.

Some of their Nationalnst enemies

and maybe a few of your countrymen.

Maybe some of mine.

I can see it. I can see it all in here.

But right now, I just can't see a way forward.

How do you get such people in here

all at the same time?

I mean, a fellow can't just take a gun

and force them to come in.

Mr. Jackson, please be careful.

-No, no, no. Stop.

-All right.

How often do I have to tell you

I can get around fine?

Yes, but not this morning.

The men have moved everything.

-It's all different.

-Good, well, you've warned me.

Now sit down and carry on playing.

I just need something to sit on.

Watch out.

That woke me.

I'm sorry, I didn't know you were still here.

Why are you sleeping here again anyway?

You have a nice house to go to.

And you slept in your clothes again.

And what about you?

Why aren't you at home in your bed?

There's no bed for me till morning,

and my daughter....

Sorry, I was forgetting our agreement.

I've told you, there's no agreement.

I just sand once

I thought that we'd get on best...

if we confined our friendship

to within these walls.

And I'd say

that's worked out pretty well so far.

And for you to hear about my life

beyond this place...

I suppose it spoils your picture of me...

that perfect one you have inside your head.

I don't know what's gotten into you

this morning.

Playing the piano first thing,

and now all this talk.

I'm sorry. I didn't know you were upstairs.

Forget it.

Anyway, it's a nice way to be woken up.

What you were playing, it sounded pretty.

You know, I've known you a whole year,

and I had no idea you played so well.

My Aunt Vera taught me.

She was wonderful pianist.

I've forgotten so much.

Our friends used to send their children

to her for lessons.

I don't even know

if she could still play now.

She hasn't touched a piano for years.

I'm sorry. I should go.

My bed will be ready now,

and I need to sleep.

Well, then, till tonight.

I've known you for a whole year, and I still

don't know how you lost your sight.

I had an accident several years ago.

But as you see, I don't let it

inconvenience me too much.

What sort of accident?

Well, now that would be going against

our agreement.

Why do you have such heavy doors?

You think they'll keep out the world?

Well, that's my intention.

I'll see you tonight.

It's my intention.

Let me out!

Where's my family?

My family is in there.

Three years already.

In some ways it seems much longer.

Daddy, can I ask you something?

A promise?

As for the....

...give you the privilege

of taking t away, sir.

Lovely scarf...

Iovely coat...

120 pounds.

It's a lovely price.

Are you sure it would sell?

Tell me about your English teacher.

He was from England.

He was not as strict as Mrs. Henderson.

And you should work more on your reading.

Mary, what do you think?

And then she wouldn't be so cross with you.

I'd be locked up

if I told you what I was thinking.

Hello?

Hello? How do you do?

Katya.

Come on, Katya.

Katya, come on.

-That was him, wasn't it?

-Come on, Katya, we'll be late.

The blind man.

-That was our blind man, wasn't it?

-Yes.

Come on, Katya.

Why didn't he speak to us?

He just didn't.

You said he was a nice man.

He is a nice man.

Then why didn't he speak to us?

Come on, Katya. Mrs. Henderson's waiting.

Katya!

Katya!

Katya!

Hello?

And he looked at me again and said,

"Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. "

He said,

"You don't half look bad, you don't. "

I said, "Who do?"

He said, "You don't. " I said, "I do?"

He said, "Yes, you do, you don't. "

Katya!

Well, young lady. How are you?

Katya.

Mama says you are

sometimes bad-tempered.

Why...

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