Three Strangers

My name is-

You mustn't tell me.

Why mustn't I?

I mightn't like it.

Gay, wasn't it?

The crowd?

If you like crowds.

I don't.

Begging your pardon,

what were you doing

in it?

Looking for you.

Really?

I'm afraid I don't

quite understand.

Of course.

Delighted.

It's one flight up.

Sir.

I'm sorry I can't

introduce you.

You see, I don't know this

gentleman's name, either.

Won't you have

a chair?

It's only whiskey.

If you don't mind,

I think I'll go.

Oh, no,

you mustn't really.

After getting you

all the way up here?

I'm sorry,

it's rather late.

Oh, please don't,

please.

I ask you as a favor.

I played the same trick

on the other gentleman.

He doesn't seem to mind.

Oh, no.

On the contrary,

I'm having a very good time.

You don't know

each other?

No more than you and I.

I got him

off the street, too,

In much the same manner.

We're three strangers,

that's the point.

Point? What point?

Please sit down.

You can play.

Even the piano

must be astonished.

Please don't stop.

All right, I won't-

Unless it interferes with

more important things.

You're both being

very patient with me.

The reason that I

brought you up here

Was to meet Kwan yin.

She's a very ancient

personage.

The goddess of fortune

and destiny,

Of life and death.

She was given to me when my

husband and I were in the orient.

Very interesting. But what

has that to do with us?

There's a legend that

at midnight on Chinese new year,

Kwan Yin will open her eyes

and her heart to 3 strangers.

This happens to be

the night.

Yes?

Why to

three strangers?

That's perhaps because in the orient,

The 3 is the symbol

of the luck principle,

Like with us

the 7.

Indeed? How did you know that?

I've managed to collect here and there

Some useless bits of information.

Open its eyes?

How can it?

It's made of bronze.

You do not believe

in miracles, I see.

Hardly.

Pardon me, sir,

But then what do

you believe in?

Who, me?

I believe in what

I can see.

What I can get

my hands on.

And I believe that those

things are not at all real.

Who are we to

say that

The legend of

Kwan Yin

Is any less real

than the iron

You just tapped

with your ring?

What's

the matter?

Three

on a match?

you see?

Well, everyone has

some silly superstition.

Then you can afford

to humor mine,

Even if that's all

it is.

Very well.

I'll stay and witness

your miracle, as you call it.

If it's to happen at midnight,

we have only 5 minutes to go.

That gives us just time

to make our wish.

Wish?

Yes. I mentioned that Kwan Yin

would not only open her eyes,

But her heart as well.

Whatever we ask for

she will grant.

That's the kind

of lady I like.

The only difficulty is, it has to

be the same wish for all three of us.

What could that

possibly be?

I've been thinking

about it for several days.

You see, the wish that

I have my heart set on

Is one that I couldn't possibly

expect strangers to share.

But I found

the solution.

What one wish can make

all others come true?

It's very simple:

money.

Money? That's all right

with me.

Although I think that you

slightly overestimate its power.

No, I have no objections to money.

How much do you

suppose

The Chinese lady can be touched for?

A few thousand

pounds?

That's a very

trifling amount,

But, uh... I think

I can use it.

Look.

Do you think she would

answer a prayer like this?

A sweepstake

ticket.

Anything will do,

If we have

sufficient faith.

Well, now, that would

be a proper miracle.

You know where

I got it?

I bought it from

a girl in a cafe,

Paid my last

10 shillings for it.

She had the most

extraordinary blue eyes.

A strange look...

Well, that's

unimportant.

You know what?

I'll take you in

as my partners

For about 1/3 of

my original investment.

That's 3 shillings.

Huh?

This sounds like a

very elaborate way

Of recouping part

of your loss.

However, I've gone this

far. I'll take a chance.

How about you,

madam?

I'll agree on one

condition:

We must make a bargain

that if the ticket is drawn,

No part of it

shall be divided.

However much it is worth,

it must all go on the race.

Agreed.

I suggest you have good faith

toward Kwan Yin, I gather?

Yes.

Agreed. Now we'll put it in proper form.

I like to have

everything correct.

"We, the undersigned,

"Are mutual owners

of this ticket.

"And we agree to share and

share alike in its benefits,

If any. "

Would you please

sign?

All right, but we mustn't

see each other's signatures

Until after midnight.

Very well.

Now you,

if you please.

Now mine.

You shall be the nominal

owner of the ticket.

And our pseudonym

will be "Kwan Yin. "

Very well.

Her celestial

highness.

We now have exactly two

minutes and 20 seconds.

If it's no secret,

What would you do with

the money if you win?

Well, I'm not sure.

I never imagined

having that much money.

I'm a solicitor.

I hope someday to be invited

to join the barrister's club,

Which denotes a certain

standing in my profession.

I suppose if

I were that rich,

There'd be no question

about an invitation.

What am I dreaming about?

The chances of winning

a sweepstake ticket

Are about a million

to one.

Oh, you mean

mathematically speaking.

Yes, of course.

And you?

What is it you wish,

if I may ask?

My husband and I have been

separated for a long time.

Your husband?

He's in London?

No, no, he's quite

out of reach in Canada.

Oh.

One makes a mistake,

And suddenly one's

whole life is shattered.

But perhaps it isn't too late,

if our wish is granted.

I don't

understand.

A beautiful

woman like you,

It shouldn't

be necessary.

No, you misunderstand me.

It would be quite impossible

to buy him back,

Even if I were willing

to do such a thing.

Well, then...

I want enough money

to be independent,

Then there can be

no doubt in his mind.

Perhaps you've both heard

the Chinese proverb,

"You can trust love only when

there's nothing to be gained by it. "

And you?

What's yours?

Do you know the long bar at the royal?

Yes.

Well, I'd buy it

and move in.

How much time

have we left?

30 seconds.

Do you realize what you're

asking Kwan Yin to do?

We want her to

reshuffle a hand

That destiny has

already dealt us.

Why? Because, uh, we hope

to get higher cards.

A little presumptuous

on our part, isn't it?

I wouldn't worry about

it, if I were you.

I won't.

The lights! The matches!

The matches!

You just had them.

Where are they?

I think

I saw them over here.

I can't

find them!

I have the matches.

You know,

a moment ago,

I- I could have sworn

she was smiling at us.

No.

What more proof

do you want?

Can't you even

believe what you see?

But I can't say

I saw anything.

She opened her eyes.

Kwan Yin kept her promise.

Now the wish

- If one's come true, so will the other.

Yes, sir,

and then, uh,

even you

will believe.

Indeed I will.

If you'll excuse me,

I must be going along.

Wait, I'll come

with you.

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