Two Stage Sisters Page #2

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This isn't my kind of play.

Miss Zhu is out of touch with current

trends. What do you think?

She's out of touch.

Sister Chunhua doesn't want to sing it,

so let's drop it.

Fine. Let's talk about it

another time.

Today is your first payday.

Count it. I might have overpaid you.

Congratulations! You've been paid.

Uncle Ah Xin, here's the money you lent us.

We've sung for three years without salary.

This is our first paycheck.

Your paycheck isn't big enough.

Take mine. You can pay me back later.

No. This is your first paycheck.

What happened with the money

you borrowed?

Haven't I paid the interest

in the last few days?

It's New Year's. Can't you pay the principal

together with the interest?

Chunhua, this is a old friend.

He'd like to invite you two

to sing at his home.

It's almost New Year's.

We had a tough year

and want to enjoy ourselves.

This is a small trifle. Some extra income.

You know I don't sing at parties.

Don't you know I'm Ah Bing from Shaoxing?

I never take no for an answer.

We perform twice a day.

In between we do radio broadcasts,

and we're to do parties now?

We're not beasts of burden!

I'm telling you.

I'm Ah Bing from Shaoxing.

Matron Shen is here,

let's go.

Matron Shen has come especially

to see you.

Please sit down.

Fine. I've made up my mind.

Matron Shen would like to be your patroness.

These costumes are a gift to commemorate

your first meeting.

Come, thank the Matron.

I will thank her on behalf of

Sister Chunhua. Matron.

Good. Matron Shen. Please come

watch the opera.

You fool. It's not right to take these.

Give them to me to return.

We must have a patroness in Shanghai.

"Xing Yuehong

Zhu Chunhua"

"XING YUEHONG

Zhu Chunhua"

Miss Zhu, here's an article I wrote

about you.

Yuehong, the character is

a poor scholar.

Why change costumes for each act?

The audience likes it.

You make such a fuss.

The wind doesn't blow,

the water doesn't move.

It's our performance that matters.

Costumes must be changed regularly.

Look at you, for an entire year

wearing a few costumes

over and over again.

That's ridiculous.

It's really this way.

No wonder you despise me.

On stage I want many costumes.

Off stage I have lots of clothes.

I also have lots of friends.

It's because we sing in a big theatre.

It's so people don't look down on us.

What's wrong with that?

As for the billboard,

I asked for twin billings.

The current billing...

was Manager Tang's idea.

I'm not to blame.

You're jealous of me.

"Opera Facing Crisis"

Miss Xing will be a little late tonight.

Shang Shuihua, the manager phoned.

He asked you to open

with a solo.

Get made up.

Another price increase!

One month's income...

isn't enough to buy cosmetics!

Come! Manager Tang's treat!

Miss Xing, can I have your autograph?

Have you been drinking?

Yuehong, be honest with me.

Who have you been drinking with?

What have you been doing these days?

You need not ask.

I'm not going to sing anymore.

You're really drunk.

No. I'm sober.

I've decided to marry him.

Marry him?

Who will take care of us

when we're old?

That's why I've decided to marry

Manager Tang.

Yuehong, do you know his reputation?

He promised to marry me officially.

I'll finally have a real home.

You cannot do it!

Did you forget Master's last words?

Sister Chunhua, a horse

cannot die at the mill.

A person cannot die at the theatre.

We're helpless.

We're only actresses.

Chunhua... Yuehong...

Some people from the country

are here to see you.

We've finally found you sisters!

Our life in the countryside

has become unbearable.

- The Japanese army.

- Also the Nationalist army.

The terrible situation is getting worse.

The countryside now...

has become a living hell.

Don't talk like that.

Hurry and get ready!

Miss Xing, you're not made up yet?

Come...

Come... sit down here.

I forgot to congratulate you.

You've weathered adversity

as husband and wife.

You're faithful and true.

Prepare for the program to begin.

Sit and wait for me here.

Isn't that Miss Shang Shuihua,

the former Shaoxing Opera queen?

You really want to marry Xing Yuehong?

Yes, I want to reform.

This I have to see.

You won't let her sing anymore?

I mean what I say.

You're slick. You are never honest with me.

If you don't let Yuehong sing...

Chunhua will make all the money.

There will be no teamwork.

Aren't you deliberately cutting off

Chunhua from the stage?

But it will get her off her high horse,

and that's good.

On stage we have the same fate as

Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai.

But off stage we must part company.

Little Xiang, you said we are sisters.

Can I let us grow apart?

What are you saying?

Master, I haven't taken good care

of Yuehong.

What's the matter with Yuehong?

Yuehong, do you really love Manager Tang?

Why are you asking?

I'm already his.

Miss Chunhua, Shuihua has hanged

herself behind the stage! She's dead!

Look, Shuihua's suicide note.

"I slaved to make Tang

rich. He's a monster!"

"He deserves to die"

You can't use this note

to blame me.

Chunhua, even an upright official

finds it hard to settle a family quarrel.

You cannot blame Manager Tang for this.

She wanted to die.

I didn't mistreat her.

You didn't mistreat her!

Sister Shuihua earned lots of money for you.

You drank her blood,

exploited her body.

She sought death because of you.

He drove Sister Shuihua to her death.

For a short while, Shuihua took

things to heart...

and took the road to ruin.

I am also deeply grieved by her death.

You shouldn't hold me responsible

and make groundless accusations.

I must protect the living...

and avenge the dead.

I should do it all!

Return Shuihua's life to me!

Shuihua's is a tragic death.

What woman wouldn't be upset over this?

But a person can't be restored to life.

OK. Let me suggest something.

Manager Tang must arrange a good funeral.

She's right. A good funeral is important.

The dead must be buried properly.

She must be buried in a cedar coffin.

A cedar coffin!

I don't know if I could afford one

when I die.

Manager Tang, evil deeds

are hard to understand...

and good words are hard to find.

Although Shuihua killed herself,

she was a member of your theatre.

I will of course pay for her funeral.

He won't admit it.

Let's first bury the dead...

and settle our disputes later.

Good. I'll take care of the funeral

arrangements.

Come. Everyone pay attention.

The dead person must have five dresses

and three pairs of pants.

They must all be embroidered.

Sister Shuihua's soul must be released.

We can't do without cosmetics.

Let's go. Her body is still

at the undertaker's.

Come help me arrange the funeral.

Are you after the inside story?

Miss Zhu, what can our newspaper

write about this kind of situation?

I'd like to hear your feelings.

I have a lot of things I want to say.

I feel that a cedar coffin

cannot bury the truth

This isn't the time to talk.

I hope we'll have some time soon

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