The World of Suzie Wong Page #7

Now, the man swore

on his grandmother's honor

that these had been

worn by an empress.

You're crazy, Robert.

Oh, I take back right away.

No, put on right away.

Now what's the matter?

You smoke cigarette.

I put on dress.

Oh, you.

- Hey, hurry up. It's raining.

- You can come in now.

Would an empress do that?

No.

Only Wan Chai girl in love.

A little hazardous for kissing.

Well, you tilt head to one side,

and I tilt head to other.

- Clever, these Chinese.

- Now I tilt to other side.

- Hi.

- Sorry, I wake you.

Go back to sleep.

I'll be back soon.

- Where you going?

- To visit Minni Ho.

Oh, come on, now. Minni Ho went

to Macao yesterday. Don't lie to me.

Why I lie? Just go for walk, Robert.

But where you going? Half the

time I don't know where you are.

Well, I'll be back soon.

- In that case, I'm going with you.

- No.

Suzie.

Suzie, I know you're in there.

Is my baby.

Yours?

My baby need me.

I see him every day.

Why didn't you tell me?

I was afraid. Afraid you not

want girl with baby.

Afraid police take my baby away.

Police?

Father very important man.

Work for government.

But he not want baby.

He say to police I blackmail him.

I not understand,

but nobody take my baby away.

I hide him with Amah.

You not make me

give baby up, Robert?

I not want to leave you, Robert.

You beat me up, please?

- You wanna take our picture?

- Oh, no, I was just admiring the baby.

- What's his name?

- Winston.

- Winston?

- He's named after Winston Churchill.

Yours?

- All mine.

- Wow.

Sorry I so long.

It's about time.

Robert, wait. What is today?

- Tuesday the first, isn't it?

- Second day of third moon.

I must have my fortune told.

- You mean he tells fortunes?

- He very wise old Tibetan monk.

What will he do? Tell your fortune

or give you a shampoo?

He wants to feel

if I have any new bumps.

Well, if he finds any, will you

tell him I didn't put them there?

Oh, he say I very lucky girl.

- He say I go to America.

- Oh, a travel agent, huh?

He say I be very happy there

and live long life.

He say I make trip to America

straight after rains.

He forecasts the weather too?

He mean big rain that come

every year to Hong Kong. Very bad.

You give him $1 now, please.

- You mean he gets paid for that?

- Oh, he very wise old monk.

- He take money.

- Yes, very wise.

You're doing better than I am.

- These are wonderful.

- Thank you.

- It's an adorable baby.

- Yes, he is.

It's amazing. You've managed

to make her look positively maternal.

You're right. Hong Kong

is not the place

- To sell paintings of Chinese babies.

- No.

- I thought they were commercial.

- Much better to send them to London.

We haven't had a reaction

from the first batch.

- Oh, you will.

- I hope so.

Need money?

Robert, why don't you...?

Why don't you let me

pay you in advance?

- I'm sure they'll sell.

- You're a darling,

but there's one kind of artist

I'm not going to be.

- If you were sick you'd let me help.

- I'm not that sick.

- About time.

- Oh, sorry I late.

You show pictures to English girl?

- She know somebody want to buy?

- No, but...

- Like this.

- Yes, yes, yes, yes, I know, like this.

She's gonna send them on to London.

But that'll take a long time.

- Well, we'll just have to wait.

- Robert, use this, please.

You too.

Is money I save for my baby,

so he won't grow up coolie boy.

But baby too little to use now.

Pretty soon you be big man.

Then you help him.

So now use money.

He said it was a personal matter.

A personal matter?

What could he mean?

You run a bank,

what else could it mean?

His money's gone,

he wants to borrow money?

He's very talented.

Darling, if you don't want

to support me

for the rest of your life,

you better help him.

Oh, I see. All right,

ask him to come in.

- You can come in now.

- Thanks.

- Hello, Robert.

- How are you?

- Good to see you. Sit down.

- I won't take much of your time.

What I want can be answered

with a quick yes or no.

No, I'm much

too garrulous for that.

Besides, bankers don't like

coming right down to the point.

I want you to help me get a job.

- Well, what about your painting?

- I have to earn a living.

But I thought you came with enough

money to see you through for a year.

I spent it.

Do you think you can work

and paint in your spare time?

No, sir, I don't.

- And you've made a choice?

- Yes, I've made a choice.

All right, I'll see what

I can do for you. Sit down.

- Where you go, for goodness' sake?

- I went to get a job.

What do you mean?

O'Neill is going to help me get a job.

- You mean, you not paint anymore?

- Look, if I were a prizefighter,

and I kept getting my brains knocked

out, I'd be foolish if I didn't quit, huh?

I'm not good enough to paint, and I'm

tired of getting my brains knocked out.

I've worked in an office before.

- Why you not tell me you do this?

- Why should I?

I didn't want your money,

and Ah Tong

tells me you paid the rent with it.

Robert, please not give up painting.

Without painting you'll die inside.

Robert, please not give up painting.

Without painting you'll die inside.

Then I die. But I not important.

Only important you be important.

What am I going to do?

Sit here and let us starve,

swallowing bits of my pride

until it chokes me?

- Why you not let me help?

- Just how do you propose to do that?

Go back to work?

I not mind.

No love, no feeling, just like

holding someone for a dance.

What do I do?

Walk around the block

while you bring sailors here?

You know what that makes me?

- Robert!

- Get out! Be a prostitute!

I shouldn't have touched you.

I can get ten like you in two minutes.

All I have to do is use the phone.

You want to see? Ah Tong.

- Sorry, Robert, not today.

- OK, thanks.

Oh, Gwenny,

has Suzie been around?

Suzie never come in bar

without you, Robert.

- Something wrong?

- No, no.

Maybe she go to see movie.

New picture just started,

very good. I see three times.

Yeah, maybe. I'll look for her.

I'm sorry.

A girl there, Wong.

- Is she a relation?

- A friend.

- Has she got any relations?

- Not that I know of.

- Where'd she work?

- Is that important?

- It is if we're going to ask questions.

- Nam Kok bar.

She's a Wan Chai girl, but at least

you people must have some records.

Very well, I'll see what I can do.

Understand that there are

3 million people in Hong Kong.

Over 2 million are refugees, who

live in anthills, sampans and streets.

Thousands more come in

from China every month.

Certainly, we have records,

but our hands are full 24 hours a day.

I know what the odds are,

but at least you can try.

Of course.

- Name?

- Suzie Wong.

I ask everybody where

Suzie went, Robert. Nobody see.

- She just disappear.

- I've got to find her, Gwenny.

- I know she needs me.

- Maybe she write nice letter.

You know she can't write.

I keep looking.

- Yeah. Thanks.

- Robert.

I knit socks for you.

I hope they fit.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote