The White Countess Page #5

I suppose she might be right.

Is that why you don't speak to us just now?

I guess it wasn't very good-mainered of me.

I'm sorry.

Mrs. Henderson is teaching me

to read and write English.

-One day I'll write you a letter.

-Write me a letter?

Can't be the only reason

you're learning English, can it?

But I must write you a letter.

It's very important.

Why is it so important

that you wrnte to me, my dear?

Because you must take us on a boat trip.

-Boat trip?

-Up the river.

-To Soochow.

-Katya, that's enough.

A boat trip to Soochow?

will you take us?

Me and Mama and Aunt Vera?

Come, we must go.

-Goodbye, blind man.

-I'll see you later.

Can I ask you something?

-Sure.

-A promise.

Well, depends what it is.

When I'm grown, and I'm married...

and I have children of my own...

promise you'll stay with us.

Promise you'll live with me forever.

Don't you think your husband

will have something to say about this?

No.

Please promise me.

All right.

If that's what you want.

He said, "Which ain't?" I said, "That ain't. "

He said, "That ain't?"

I said, "Yes, it is, it ain't. "

I said, "But be careful when you try her,

she's a flyer...

"f you buy her, you've a bargain.

You can take the tip from me. "

He said, "What makes you say so?"

I said, "Say so, I should say so. "

You know, Olga, dear,

I do wonder if we are making a mistake.

About what?

You know about what.

Thibaut de Passavant.

-After all, he is an ambassador now.

-No, just a consul, dear.

Peter, dearest, what is your view?

Should we not pay a little visit

to the French Embassy?

It's a consulate.

It's only a consulate, dear.

Olga, dear, there are large beans,

and there are small beans.

In my view, a bean is still a bean....

Sofia.

will you deal the hand, please, now?

I need to speak to you.

Last night, while you were out,

I found Katya playing with your rouge.

She put some on her face.

So? Children have to play.

Your rouge.

Aren't you horrified?

We've talked about this before.

You have to be more strict.

In the evening, when you are dressed

like that, you're not to let Katya near you.

-But how can I? She's my daughter.

-Don't you see where this is leading?

Do I have to spell it out?

If you love her,

you'll know what I'm saying is right.

What do you say?

I suppose you're right.

Then you have to do your part.

She's not to come near you

when you're like that.

Grusha, I'll do as you say.

You're right, I see it.

But you must promise me something.

If something happens to me,

will you love her?

I mean, treat her gently and kindly

at all times?

You swear to me now you will. Swear it.

Of course I will.

She's my brother's child.

She looks like him. his eyes--

Swear you'll love her and be gentle to her.

I swear it.

Thank you.

Thank you, Grushenka.

Papa!

You're late.

No, my darlings, this isn't so late.

Very good. Show it to your mama.

Mama? Mama?

Let me in!

Come here, Katya.

Let me in! I've made you a new painting.

-Why have you locked it?

-Katya.

Come here.

She's busy.

Let me see.

It's beautiful. Is it a soldier?

Is this one of our dear Czar's guards?

What a funny uniform he's wearing.

Come on.

You want me?

-No, no.

-Come back.

Well, you're very quiet tonight.

I was just wondering if,

when I'm too old to be here like this...

if my daughter will be here instead,

in my place.

I was just thinking, that's all.

-Well, I'm sure that she--

-But you don't want to hear this kind of talk.

We have our agreement after all...

and I'm sorry about what happened

at the cafe this afternoon...

disturbing you like that

when you're enjoying your radio.

You and your daughter,

do you walk that way often?

-Through Frenchtown?

-Yes.

I sit in that cafe a lot.

Not always outside like that but l....

I'm there a lot.

Fine.

Mr. Jackson?

Please excuse me.

But I was told I might find you here.

Mr. Matsuda, won't you join me for coffee?

No, thank you. But if you'll excuse me...

I shall impose myself on you

for just a moment.

Please, come and sit down.

Mr. Jackson.

I've been thinking about your establishment.

What you said that evening

I visited you there.

-About it missnig--

-Political tension, you called it.

How to bring political tension

to your establishment?

The idea struck me at the time

as a little eccentric.

But it has ntrigued me ever since.

I believe there is a way.

And what is that, Mr. Matsuda?

I'm in touch with a certain person...

a Chinese gentleman who exercnses

a degree of influence in Shanghai.

It is possible he might be able to assist.

How exactly would he do that?

My acquaintance is in a position...

to persuade many people

to do what he requests.

You mean that he's a hood?

You might say so.

And he can persuade the various factions

that I want to come into my place?

Snmply an idea.

Why would he want to help me?

Why? Because....

Because l, in turn,

have the means to persuade him.

What kind of work is it that you do,

Mr. Matsuda?

Please, I would very much like to help you.

Particularly now that I can see

what you might achieve.

It could be something quite wonderful.

I would suggest

you introduce first some communists.

Not, of course, known members of the Party.

This would be too much.

I can suggest certain people to you.

MagaZine editors, writers...

men suspected of communist links.

Then, after some time, when

our Red friends are comfortably installed...

you could then introduce certain individuals

associated with the Kuomintang.

Please give these two camps plenty of time

to get used to each other.

And only then you might add

some Chinese soldiers...

a few Japanese merchant sailors...

perhaps one or two Japanese businessmen.

But please be cautious.

This will be

a most difficult balance to achieve.

This room, these people,

they are your orchestra.

I wouldn't have succeeded

without your assistance.

No, I did nothing.

-Your help was everything.

-No.

I'll always be beholden to you.

This is a wonderful achievement,

Mr. Jackson.

-But I wonder if This will be enough.

-Enough?

I wondered if before long

you would wish to return...

-to a broader canvas?

-Broader canvas?

There's no broader canvas out there,

Mr. Matsuda.

I was told you were present at Versailles...

-at the time of the great treaty.

-That's right, I was.

I was very young, I was very junior,

but I was there, yes.

I, too, was just starting my career

at that time.

I dreamt of being allowed to go

with our delegation.

As a secretary, a servant, anything.

I dreamt of it.

Of course, I was not able to.

But even now I think about Versailles.

After the horrors of that terrible war...

the greatest leaders

from the greatest countries of the world...

gathered together...

Laying down the foundations

of our future civilization.

How fortunate you were, Mr. Jackson,

to have been there.

That's all behind me now.

Out there, what there is,

Mr. Matsuda, is chaos.

Mistrust, decent, hatred,

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