[Siren]
[Boat Horn]
Dr Han
Dr Keith would like you
to come to the emergency ward
as soon as you can
[Groaning]
What's the trouble, john?
This child was hit by a motorcar
and is in shock
Who is she?
A refugee from China
one of 3,000 new ones
Has she a family?
She was alone at the time of the accident
Will you take her now, Dr Han?
I've given her 1/6 of a grain of pantopon
She may be injured internally
Boy, move her to X-ray immediately
You had better come along with me, Officer
for the report
Dr Han
I am Mei Loo You remember?
Oh, Mei Loo, I hardly knew you
Is this the little boy who was so ill?
But now it is my husband
Make him well, Dr Han
We have no money
but we will sell the boy
Our little one is intelligent
and well-made
We come from a good family
We will do what we can, Mei Loo
but don't you ever try to sell your little boy
You couldn't anyhow
I'll take care of him, Suyin
Anyway, Dr Sen is on his way down
I wish I were ten people
You need diversion
I'm ducking out
to the Palmer-Jones�s cocktail party this afternoon
Why don't you trot along with me?
Dr Sen will take over here
Why don't I?
A sense of balance
might restore my sense of humor
[Music Playing]
Why anyone would want to live anywhere but Hong Kong
I can't understand
Where else in the world could you get
ten servants for the price of one?
By next month, the ratio will be 12 to 1
Shanghai's fallen, you know
The Reds will have all of China pretty soon
Well, we must all keep our heads here
I hope you're going to write something dreadful
for your paper about those ungrateful...
Oh, john Keith
Now my party is a success
Adeline, this is Han Suyin
my friend and colleague
Han Suyin, I feel I've known you a long, long time
You're a great artist, I understand
I'm a doctor
Oh, well, doctors are artists in their way
I knew I'd heard something wonderful about you
Oh, john, you know everybody, don't you?
Suyin, I hardly expected
to find you here
Doctor's orders
Adeline's husband is one of the directors at the hospital
Oh, you must let me speak to him, Dr Han
There might be a place for you on the staff
[Suyin] Thank you, but I am already on the staff
Oh, how nice
Well, then we won't have to tell him, will we?
I want you to meet Father Low
He just escaped from China too
But I haven't just escaped from China
I've been studying medicine in England
I haven't been back to China for ten years
But you are Chinese
Eurasian
My father was Chinese My mother was English
I think of myself as Chinese, however
I know exactly how you feel
The minute I put on a Chinese frock, I feel Chinese
I tell you, if you have capital invested here
you can double your money in Hong Kong in three months
Oh, money, money, money It's so sordid, dear
I want you to meet Dr Han
This mercenary man is my husband
Delighted, Doctor
And this is Father Low
Mr. Rieger, Mr. Wong...
Bohannan, dear
Oh, yes, and Mrs. Wong
Madame Marnier, Mr. Denny
and Fiona Manton
Father Low is fresh out of North China
All the really nice people are getting out
I was thrown out
Rice converts That's what they were... rice converts
I loved them
I knew them as I know the back of my hand
but they turned me out
I'm sure I'll find China much changed
when I return
Going back, Doctor?
Don't tell us that you're a Communist, please
No, but I became a doctor to help my people
Like all Chinese
I'm spellbound by my own country
You'll be shot
I hope not
I'm neither a politician nor a missionary
Well, really, I must say...
You must say something to your other guests
We know I'll pilot Suyin around
Oh, thank you, john Thank you
Oh, dear I'm saying all the wrong things
Not at all
Getting your sense of balance back?
And my sense of humor
I'd heard that these parties were...
Oh, I left my fan
Where?
Well, l... I think I put it down
when I was handed a cocktail
I'll get it for you
Wait here
Dr Han, is this yours?
Thank you
And these
Thank you
I'm Mark Elliott
Kind of a dull party, isn't it?
No, thank you
Well, I'm a guest, Mr. Elliott
Well, I'm a guest too
That gives me the right to call it dull
You know, I was supposed to meet you
two weeks ago
Were you?
Fred Dixon wrote me, asked me to look you up
I didn't because I thought you might be
the intellectual type with glasses
And where is Mr. Dixon now?
Oh, he's still in Malaya
Would you have dinner with me tonight?
I'm a very pleasant man
Oh, I'm sure of that, but I'm on duty
When are you not on duty?
If we were in Chungking, Mr. Elliott
Third Uncle would consider it unpardonable to accept
No Chinese girl would dare dine alone
with an American she had just met
Yes, but we're not in Chungking
I am still Chinese
And half European I just heard you say so
Now, will your European side reconsider?
Why don't you call me at the hospital, Mr. Elliott?
I'll do that
Oh, I see you found it
Oh, this is Mr. Elliott Dr. John Keith
We've met before Nice to see you again
Nice to see you
I really can't believe that you're a doctor, Doctor
What a shame we haven't a scalpel with us
I could make a slight incision to convince you
Tell me about Mark Elliott
Don't know much He's a newspaperman
Been around a couple of months, a reporter
Why?
He's invited me to dinner
Accepting?
I haven't decided
He's married, Suyin
So are you, john, and I go out with you
I happen to be in love with my wife
He isn't
And how do you know so much?
Hong Kong is a small place
Well, I dislike being a small person
I'm not remotely interested in Mr. Elliott
I doubt if he'll call anyhow
[Telephone Ringing]
Dr Han here
Are you on duty Wednesday?
Well, I have Wednesday afternoons off
Good It's the Night of the Moon Festival
Will you have dinner with me?
Where can I pick you up?
Well, I'll meet you
at the staff entrance of the hospital at 6:00
[Boat Horn]
You're wearing European clothes
It is the European side of me
that is having dinner with you
I don't suppose you'd go back in and change
I certainly would not
I loved that dress you had on the other day
I'll make you a present of it
So you're a reporter?
Please A correspondent
What's the difference?
About $100 a week
[Speaking Chinese]
The sky is clear
It is a good omen for the Moon Festival
I arranged a full moon for you
Have you ever been in Peking?
Many times
Do you know that in Peking the moon is larger
than anyplace else in the world?
Now, that's very unscientific
It's the same size everywhere
Oh, no, the moon is larger in Peking
much larger than in Hong Kong and London
All right If you insist
When were you in Peking last?
I was studying at the University of Peking
in 1939
I'd left by then
I was in England in 1939
Where were you in 1940?
Italy
I was in Malaya
It seems that destiny never put us
anywhere together at the same time
Well, perhaps destiny
intends something for us at last
I don't think so
I don't think destiny intends anything for us
Of that I am quite sure
[Firecrackers Exploding]
[Shouting In Chinese]
What's all the noise about?
A cloud has threatened the moon
We must make a great noise
to frighten it away
or the year will be unfavorable
You don't really believe that, do you?
Of course
If we didn't believe the unbelievable
what would happen to faith?
[Ding Ding Ding]
You see? The cloud was frightened away
It is a good omen
I wonder if there are men on the moon
who celebrate an Earth festival
and shout to keep the clouds away from us
I should like to think so
That's Maxwell Luderman over there
the industrialist
He's just back from Beiping
I've been trying to get to him for a statement
Is he really the third-richest man in the world?
First
If you want an interview
why not ask him now?
Oh, I don't think he likes correspondents
Anyway, I'd like to finish up
our own little interview
Am I being interviewed?
I want to know why you're so sure
that destiny has nothing in store for us
Well, I'm interested only in one thing...
medicine...
and because I know myself
You sound secure
I doubt whether anyone is that secure
I have known but one man in my life...
my husband
He was a Nationalist general
captured and shot by the Communists
I believe in the human heart now
only as a doctor
I bet you're a good doctor
but I still think that destiny
just might have something
in store for us after all
Why?
Because you've retreated to a tower
and the only trouble with an ivory tower
is it's a temptation to lightning
Lightning will not strike me, Mr. Elliott
Your honorable fish, sir
Thank you for the moon
and the honorable fish
and the lovely evening
You're entirely welcome
I don't know when
I've enjoyed an evening as much
Good night
I want to tell you something
I'm married
I knew you were married
And you still went out with me?
I thought if you were happily married
there could be no danger
and if you weren't, it could make no difference
Will I see you again?
I I think not
I think so
I'll call you about next Wednesday
Good night, Suyin
Good night
Good morning, Dr Sen
Good morning, Dr Han
[Speaking Chinese]
You combine artistry with medicine, Dr Han
Just with love and sympathy
[Speaking Chinese]
It's a great privilege to watch you
[Speaking Chinese]
[Kiss]
Ten days ago, we didn't think she would live
Look at her now
She will be walking soon
Have her parents or family been located?
No, but the police are still searching
However, with a million refugees
from China in Hong Kong now
and more arriving each day
it is like looking for a needle in a haystack
Why do they leave China?
What can they expect to find here?
A home
Their home is China
Now we'll mend her bones
Make her well enough
to send back into the streets
to starve
Oh, no, not Oh-No
Someone will give her a home
Dr Han, Mr. Palmer-Jones
would like to speak with you
Thank you
Who will, in Hong Kong, give her a home
or any of the others like her?
Oh, you can't tell
I might adopt her myself
Good morning, Mr. Palmer-Jones
Dr Han, my wife tells me
that nobody has been near her this morning
Oh, I'm sorry
I suppose we are late
The wards are so crowded
We simply haven't caught up yet
Do you visit the wards first?
As a rule
I see
Would you, as a rule, be so kind
as to look in on my wife first?
Patience is not one of her virtues
I'll go in and see her now
Thank you
[Sigh]
Good morning, Mrs. Palmer-Jones
Oh, I certainly am glad
to see you, Dr Han
The person who brought my breakfast
didn't speak one word of English
Was it a nice breakfast?
The only thing that was hot
was the orange juice
Well, I'll have your tray removed
Oh, the arm looks better
It doesn't feel better
There's hardly any swelling left
Imagine being bitten by a centipede
in this day and age
It's so undignified
And painful
Well, I can give you one cheerful bit of news
Oh?
You may go home tomorrow
Oh, no, no, I can't I can't possibly
My living room is being painted
and it won't be dry for a week
Well, we'll make arrangements
Oh, thank you, Dr Han
You're a dear
I must do something for you
What would you like?
A bigger hospital
You mustn't bite people, Rosie Wu
I had to give the man an injection
It was quite painful
Come on Come on
Suyin, are you going to town this afternoon?
No It's my Wednesday off
I think I'm going to dinner Why?
I was going to ask you if you went near the pet shop
to buy me a couple of snails for my new goldfish
Dr Han, telephone
Won't the pet shop send them?
Hardly seems worth it for two snails
Dr Han here
Suyin, Mark I said I'd call about Wednesday
Uh, I was hoping we could have dinner together tonight
but I have to fly to Singapore on an assignment
I tried to postpone it
but the airline schedule wouldn't work out
Oh, yes, I understand
So if I'm back next week, we can have dinner then?
Well, we'll see
Say, when I called you earlier
they said you were doing a hysterectomy
What's a hysterectomy?
Nothing that would interest you
You don't mind if I call you when I get back?
No, no, I don't mind at all
Do call when you get back
Will two snails be enough, john?
Hmm? Oh, yes, yes Ample
Suyin
Are you not Suyin?
Oh, I know you You're Suzanne
We went to convent together
Yes
Oh, how nice
I was sure it was you
Come Sit with me
Another cup, please
You recognize me after all this time?
Well, you dyed your hair, but I know you
Well, that proves you remember me
Now tell me about yourself
It's been so long
yet it all comes swiftly back
I remember the morning you kicked
the mother superior in the shins
I did not kick Mother Superior
It was Sister Angela
And she limped into chapel
to pray for your soul
Well, I'm afraid she did not pray hard enough
What has happened to you since convent days?
Well, I went to a Chinese university for a while
I toured Europe I married
My husband was killed
I finished medicine in England
I am now a resident doctor here
at the Victoria Hospital
And you never married again?
No As a Chinese widow
I have become completely unfeeling
I'm afraid my heart is safely dead
Well, I have to be in love to go on living
At the moment, it's an important Englishman
I pass for English now
I hope you won't give me away
Oh, Suzanne, you should be proud to be Eurasian
and proud of your Chinese heritage
Nonsense You can't be two things at once
And I advise you...
pass for English if you decide to go away
I'm considering going back to China
It would be rather foolish to pass for English
don't you think?
Well, yes
Oh, I must fly away home
Oh, must you?
My new love wants me to be in my flat
when he drops by for tea
We only have half an hour together
before he has to have tea with his wife
It's ruining his digestion
We must see each other very soon now
Call me at the hospital
I shall
Give the waiter, please, the change
I always see people as fish
Separated from the rest of the world
they unfit themselves to dwell with each other
These... the fighting fish
These... the peaceful
These have sought safety in darkness
They've lost their vision
and the light terrifies them
What species am I, john?
You're the peaceful
And I shouldn't like to see you become like these
swimming into deep water, losing your vision
Now, what do you mean by that?
I hear Mark Elliott's gone to Singapore
Yes His paper sent him on an assignment
Very convenient for him
Did you know that his wife lives in Singapore?
There seems to be a conspiracy
to arouse my interest in Mark Elliott
Be careful, lest you succeed
They told me if I'd wait here
that you'd be out sooner or later
Well, when did you get back?
This morning
I thought you'd like to go swimming this afternoon
Now, I know it's your afternoon off
so work is no excuse
I'd sort of made plans
to visit friends of mine across the bay
Well, it's a lovely day Couldn't you do both?
Mark Elliott
What in the world are you doing here?
Oh, I show up in strange places
Ha ha
You promised to keep me another week, Dr Han
I kept you as long as I could
I forgive you
I hear you were in Singapore
Your wife must have been delighted to see you
Why don't you come up for tea this afternoon?
Did you know that I was bitten by a centipede?
Yes, to the first question
No, to the second Can't, to the third
and no, to the last
Well, I was
If a handsome man like you bit me
I wouldn't have minded a bit
but a centipede
Do I expect you?
Uh, sorry I'm working this afternoon
Oh, well, you'll hear from me
Goodbye, Dr Han
Are we going swimming?
Mark, going out with you once was harmless enough
I don't want my seeing you to be awkward
Hong Kong has a peculiar code
and malice is a pleasant pastime
for women with nothing to do
Oh
Would it make any difference if I told you
that I didn't see my wife
when I was in Singapore?
Six years ago
she said she never wanted to see me again
She hasn't changed her mind
Neither have I
Now, will you go swimming with me?
Well, I I don't know
Take your time
You're obviously a woman
who's extremely careful about making up her mind
How's this?
Oh, beautiful
I'll change
I, uh
I'd like to explain about my wife
You did
No
I want you to know
that I tried to make a go of it
I'd like you to believe that
A great many mistakes are made
in the name of loneliness
There's no need to discuss it, Mark
All right I won't bring it up again
You're brown
You've been in the sun
Yes I've been playing a lot of tennis
What am I going to do if you go back to China?
Play more tennis
You're not really going back to Chungking, are you?
It wouldn't be good for you
to see too much of me anyhow
Might even be harmful
Oh? Why?
I'm Eurasian
The word itself seems to suggest
a certain moral laxity in the minds of some people
People never think of the meaning of words
They only feel them
You're talking about stupid people
Make no mistake I'm proud to be Eurasian
I like to think we combine the best qualities
of both races
That we're the answer to race snobbery
Well, you're
certainly the answer to a lot of things for me
Mark, like everyone else in Hong Kong
you're at loose ends
I think you probably need a love affair
but I'm not the answer
I will make no mistakes
in the name of loneliness
I have my work and an uncomplicated life
I don't want to feel anything again, ever
A moment ago, you said that words had no meaning
that people have to feel
Let's not tax the day with self-analysis
The friends I was going to see
have a house over there, right across the bay
Would you like to swim over and drop in on them?
Why not?
Are you tired?
No, I just want to drift
and feel the sun on my face
You know, in the last few weeks
I've come alive
I like it
You've been good for me, Mark
I don't feel that the whole world is sick any longer
I'm glad
Well, look!
Oh! Ha ha!
Why do you look so surprised?
You expected me, didn't you?
I expected you, but I didn't expect you
to come out of the ocean
Nora, this is Mark Elliott
How do you do?
Robert?
We've met before
Hi, Ann
Hi, Mark Well, Suyin
I never thought of you as Venus rising from the sea
Well, Suyin didn't have anything to wear
so I suggested we swim over
Come inside I'll get you some dry things
And something wet in a glass for you
Come along Use my room
Thanks
Well, you're a sly one
Just when did Mark Elliott discover medicine?
I don't know what you mean
"I don't know what you mean"
Oh, really?
Isn't it possible for two intelligent human beings
to enjoy each other's company
and let it rest there?
Not if you're Mark Elliott and Han Suyin
[Nora] Do you like him?
Well, I didn't swim across the bay to escape him
[Ann] I knew it
If ever I saw anyone looking moonstruck in the sunshine
it's you
Oh, nonsense
Truth is, I have no intention of falling in love
Listen to her
He is a nice human being We are friends
I'm going to keep it that way
With everything that's going on
do you think Hong Kong's safe?
Well, is anyplace safe?
Have you men been talking about us?
No, China
Oh, let's forget China
Have some music
[Chinese Music Playing]
You see? You can't escape
We forget that China lies just across a hill
[Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing Playing]
I think that the relationship
between the East and the West should be closer
Don't you, Doctor?
You taste of salt
Mark
There's an old Chinese proverb:
"Do not wake a sleeping tiger"
Well, certainly not in a small boat
I'm not being facetious
Nor am I
I think I'm in love with you
Mark, you don't know about me
You kiss a girl
and it doesn't mean anything to you
Just a kiss
But it isn't so with me
I feel...
Not that I don't like you, for I do
I wouldn't do anything to upset you
I have never known any man but my husband
Ha
I feel on the brink of something
I don't want to feel this way
It frightens me
You don't want to catch cold
Suyin?
[Suyin] Sorry I was in the midst of an argument
An argument?
My Chinese side was debating with my European side
What about?
Sleeping tigers
Mark, could I have a cigarette?
I've never seen you smoke
I rarely do
You still think we have no destiny together?
I have decided one thing
That you must decide
For you are stronger than I am
No, I think you're the strong one
Then you are wrong
For you are gentle
and there is nothing stronger in the world than gentleness
You know what is going to happen
if we go on seeing each other
I know we're going to go on seeing each other
You'd better not take me on, you know
You better get away from me while you can
There's still time
One starts these things
pretending that it doesn't matter
Stop worrying, darling
Where can we meet tomorrow?
There's a tree at the top of the hill
behind the hospital
and a path leading up from the road
I will meet you there at 5:00
I'll be waiting
[Telephone Rings]
Dr Han here
Good night
I'm late
When I didn't see you
I was afraid you had gone
You're early
We're both early
Give me your hand
Time passes so quickly
I didn't want to be late
I wasn't thinking about time
Oh, how good it is to know a man
who doesn't live his life
measuring time in bits and pieces
I like it so much
Hong Kong: The hoard of a jewel thief
What incredible hands you have
They curve like a Balinese dancer's
I have always been afraid of hands
Men's hands
I am not afraid of yours
Please do not move
Stay very still
Why?
A butterfly has perched on your shoulder
It's a sign of good luck
Oh, you shouldn't have turned!
It was a good omen
Why, you're superstitious
And you, a doctor
But I was born to superstition
In China, when a peasant has a son
he dresses him in girls' clothes
and gives him a girl's name
because he's afraid that the jealous gods
may take him away
Or if the crop in the field is bountiful
he stands in the ditch
and shakes his head and cries aloud
"Bad rice! Bad rice!"
He does this to propitiate the gods
to deceive them
And so it is with me
I should like to deceive the gods
For if they notice me
they may be jealous
We mustn't let the angry gods notice us
Bad rice! Bad rice!
Be quiet
I am very serious
So am I
Dr Sen
This gentleman is looking for Dr Han
Dr Han is on duty
Yes, I know, but she left word at the office
for me to call her
Said it was urgent
Urgent?
Yes So, I came on over I'm Mark Elliott
I'm Dr Sen Will you come with me, please?
Thank you
[Speaks Chinese]
Dr Han, Mr. Elliott to see you
Thank you, Doctor
Mark, what are you doing here?
I got your message at the office
and when I called back, they said you were in surgery
so rather than wait, I came on over
It didn't mean that urgent
It's all right Thank you
What's happened?
Well, we can't talk here
I'm just going off duty
Would you like to see how I live?
Sure
Magnificent, isn't it?
The warm water pipes run under my floor
The cockroaches grow enormous
and fight great duels
They thrive on DDT, so I leave them alone
Now I can visualize your surroundings
when I'm not with you
You look sleepy
There are little finger marks of weariness
under your eyes
I do a lot of writing at night
so I can spend more time with you
Shall I make you some coffee?
Now, what upset you?
Why did you call me?
I'm going to Chungking in the morning
Why?
I received an urgent cable from my uncle
He is the head of my family
since my mother and father died
Something has happened at home
Something about Suchen
Who is Suchen?
A younger sister
I haven't seen her since... for several years
Can't you handle this without going to Chungking?
Mark, it isn't only Suchen
I
I want to see China again
to see if it is what I really want to go back to
And also I
I think I must get away from you for a while
Get away from me? Now, why?
To adjust to certain truths
and not let them bother me
That's foolish nonsense
unless you've changed your mind about me
No, Mark
But I can't help asking myself
what I will get out of this
except to become a cheap Hong Kong Eurasian
That could never be true
and I don't want you to say it
Well, I will say it
Then I've been wrong about you
I don't understand your thinking
How could you? You're not Eurasian
Your pride and sense of dignity are not involved
Of course they're involved!
You're not something I picked up off the street
and you're oversensitive about being Eurasian
I am trying to be sensible
You are an American
In my heart, I am Chinese
You are married I am a widow
You are a journalist, a front-row spectator, not directly involved
I am a doctor, deeply involved
with a duty toward my people
I don't want anything sordid to...
Sordid?
I'm in love with you
Don't you understand that, Suyin?
I love you
Oh, Mark
We both know that even the fat, ugly people of this world
believe that being in love makes them beautiful
and justifies everything
I want something a little better than that for us
While I stand around biting my fingers
until you've decided I'm worth the risk
Oh, Mark
Don't let your male vanity enter this
You don't have to go to Chungking
to rid your conscience of me
I'll get out now
Don't threaten me, Mark
That's not a threat
[Speaking Chinese]
Is this seat occupied?
Suyin, sit down
Suzanne, are you going to Chungking?
No, we're going to Guilin
We?
I'm not alone
We thought it would be better if we sat separately
He's one of the directors of the hospital
I'll get your salary raised
Should we seem so friendly?
He might suspect you're not English
Oh, he found out
He thought I was doing it for his sake
so he bought me this
Isn't that lovely?
It's beautiful
These are real diamonds
Lao Liu
Third Uncle
Suyin
Third Aunt
Cousin Lee Foo
Meiyin, Cousin Suyin
Cousin Lee Chin
Shafong, Cousin Suyin
Cousin Lee Won
Yen Fing, Cousin Suyin
We have waited for this moment
We hope that
you have not changed within you
I am the same
and you are as I remembered you
Your face is fuller
It was not yesterday
Some of the family
thought that you would be foreign to us
You do not seem strange
I feel like the locust
that has suddenly cast its shell
You are at home
We shall now have tea
and speak of absurdities
May we now speak of Suchen, Third Uncle?
Suchen has brought disgrace on us
She has gone to live
in the house of a foreigner
Not 50 yards from our home
she is living under the protection
of this alien
Why?
She fears that when the Communists take over Chungking
that she will be shot
She thinks they will not harm her
in the house of a foreigner
Our clan has never begged of foreigners
May I see her, Third Uncle?
It has grown dark
I will send a boy
to light the way for you
[Speaking Chinese]
It is I, Suyin, Elder Sister
I didn't think you'd come
Of course I'd come
Now tell me
What is this disgrace
you've brought on our family?
You accuse me?
You have become a foreigner yourself
You're free
You can return to Hong Kong
but Third Uncle will not secure a passport for me
so I must stay and be shot when the Communists come
And would you stand under the protection of the foreigner
and watch if your family were shot?
They could flee, but they will not
I am sick of Chungking
I want to be as free as you
to live my life and forget China
If I get you a passport
will you return to the family
and wipe out this obligation to the foreigner?
I want only to get away
You will have your passport
Oh
Yes?
[Speaking Chinese]
I couldn't risk letting you get away from me
so I came after you
Is there someplace
where we can go and talk for a moment?
Third Uncle, we would like to go
into the courtyard and talk privately
Will you graciously grant permission?
The night is cool
I shall have tea waiting to warm you
Suyin, will you marry me?
But you... You are not free, Mark
I'll get my freedom as soon as we return
I don't want to make you do anything that will hurt others
You... You won't like that, and you won't like me
I want to know if you'll marry me
I will always do what you want me to do
Then it's settled
It is settled
yet I should like permission of my uncle
It... It would hurt him
not to make this gesture
Sit here, Suyin
There, Mr. Elliott
Third Uncle
I respectfully ask your permission
to become the wife of Mark Elliott
Where would you live?
In Hong Kong with Mark
And will you now give up your vow to medicine
for devotion to Mr. Elliott?
I won't ask Suyin to give up being a doctor
to be my wife, sir
Suyin, you are a Chinese citizen
When your passport expires
you may not be granted the right
to practice in Hong Kong
Where would you go if this happened?
If Suyin wanted to practice medicine in China
I would live here
The new tapestry will be tightly woven, Mr. Elliott
You would not fit
into its hard pattern
We can always go to America
Ah, yes
We can begin in flight, pull up roots
and wither and die
Third Aunt, do you believe that this is wrong?
You have asked, and I must answer
He is a foreigner
Well, that I can't change
We are not strange to this problem
Mr. Elliott
Suyin's father left the land of his ancestors
for a European
He left part of his heart
I would rather face the future without hope
than the present without Mark
Then you must do what you have to do
We cannot stem the tide of change
Leave nothing behind with us, Suyin
Enter this marriage wholeheartedly
We believe that jade
if worn long enough
becomes the person who wears it
They have given me
something of themselves to take away
[Wheels Hit Runway]
Back to earth again
The sun is out
It is a good omen
We don't have to worry about omens
Fate isn't jealous of us
While we're in the airport
I'm going to make arrangements
to fly on to Singapore
At once?
This is something
I can't handle in a letter
I'll have to see her
Of course
I will test myself at missing you
You bite your nails
Yes, I know
If you ever stop
it will be because you are completely peaceful
and completely mine
Will passengers make sure, please
to take possessions as they leave the plane
That means you
You've changed since I last saw you
You're radiant, beautiful
It's Mark
Ha ha!
And you used to be
so shy and inhibited
It's Mark
Don't keep saying
"It's Mark It's Mark"
I suppose it's never happened
to anyone before
Not to me
When does Mark get back?
As soon as he's settled
about his divorce
Fat chance he has of getting it
Why do you say that?
I'm a realist I've met his wife
She's the kind who doesn't want him
but will hold on to him
until she finds someone she wants
Well, I think Mark will come back
free to marry Suyin
Ann, being Mark
would you give up so much to marry me?
No, I wouldn't
I consider it quite idiotic of him
and idiotic of you too
After all, you're quite happy as you are
Oh, well
why spoil everything anyhow?
All the fun goes out when you get serious
You must admit, Suyin, it's difficult for Mark
and your being Chinese
doesn't make it any easier for him
[Whispering]
You talk too much
You all talk too much
Suyin, it's the hospital
There's a cablegram for you
Dr Han here
Read the cablegram to me, please
Thank you
[Laughing And Crying]
Ha ha!
Well, what is it, darling?
It was from Mark
What did he say?
He said, "I am...
I have stopped biting my fingernails"
[Crying]
[Boat Horn Blowing]
Mark...
She won't release me
I guessed as much
when I saw your face
What are we going to do, Suyin?
I had prepared myself
for the possibility of failure
Nothing is different
I am as much to you
as the pleasure I bring you
When I sent you the cable
she had agreed to the divorce
Then later, she changed her mind
You're quite right
Nothing is different
We can still hope that she will change her mind again
Mark, go home and rest
I will see you tomorrow
You didn't get enough sleep, did you?
How can you tell?
Oh, I can tell each time I see you
whether you've had enough sleep
or worked too hard or had enough to eat
I found a cable waiting
I have to go to Macau on a story
Ah, of course
Then you must go
But I don't want to be away from you for a week
You won't be far
But a whole week, Suyin
Do you think you could join me in a few days?
Yes I'll arrange it
Now, darling, if you think it's unwise
I'll understand
To go on living
one must be occasionally unwise
Why are you smiling?
Oh, I don't know
The way you walk, the way you talk
Everything about you
Ha ha!
I love you, Suyin
[Telephone Rings]
Dr Han here
Oh, Dr Han?
This is Adeline Palmer-Jones here
Could you come over this morning?
Oh, would you mind
if Dr Sen came instead?
I'm going on holiday
I was just leaving
Well, it is important
I sprained my ankle
Very well
I'll stop by on my way to the boat
[Speaking Chinese]
Oh, it was nice of you to come, Dr Han
I don't understand
l-I thought you...
I didn't sprain my ankle
I wanted to talk to you
Won't you sit down?
I have a taxi waiting, Mrs. Palmer-Jones
I'm catching the boat for Macau
That's what I want to talk to you about
Sit down
Now, no one hates gossip more than I do
and nobody is more tolerant than I am
But there are certain conventions here
that must be observed
especially with this ticklish situation
in China
and there's been some ugly talk
about you and Mr. Elliott
May I ask, what sort of talk?
Oh, the usual kind
Mr. Elliott is married, you know
I've known that from the beginning
Oh
Well, Mr. Palmer-Jones
feels that the personnel at the hospital
should not be indiscreet
I thought I should warn you
my dear
Thank you
Please feel free to call me
if you do sprain your ankle
I'm Dr Han
Yes, Dr Han
Mr. Elliott telephoned
He will be delayed
Put the lady's things in their place
I hope you will be comfortable
Thank you
Ahh
I'm sorry to have kept you waiting
It isn't often that I do
You locked yourself in Why?
I locked the world out
Mark, l... I don't know what has happened to me
l... I'm like a seed, sprouting up
clutching at life
I can hear and and smell the sun
I'm...
I am conscious of surfaces and their textures
l... I have such an awareness
such an awareness
Oh, pity the poor people
with their sad faces
who have missed what we have
You know, I was thinking last night
of that line in Thompson's poem...
"Tis ye, "tis your estranged faces
that miss the many-splendored thing"
I'm so happy, it frightens me
I have a feeling that heaven is unfair
and is preparing for you and for me a great sadness
because we have been given so much
Darling, whatever happens, always remember
nothing is fair nor unfair under heaven
[Chinese Music Playing]
It's a funeral procession
They make it seem so festive
"There was a good man
who had a good life"
Are you making that up?
No The sign they carry says so
I've always wondered
why the relatives walk in the enclosure
They hide their grief
Oh! How good it is to be alive!
Two men in the lift are former generals
old friends of my family
They didn't speak to you
They realized I was here to see you
It would have been not polite to speak
Good evening, senor
Table for two, please
Did you book a reservation?
No
This way, please
[Speaking Foreign Language]
Mr. Elliott
If you do not want this table
I can get you a nicer one
No, it's quite all right, Mr. Vicenti
Uh, this is Dr Han
Mr. Vicenti is the proprietor
A doctor? Business good?
Well, I'm not in private practice
Too bad You ought to make money now
Woman doctor make her fortune in no time
Men do not like
their wives to be seen by men doctors
You stay in Macau
I'll consider it
Thank you
How long will we be in Macau?
Can you stay a week?
I can't, but I will
Do you think we should be seen together?
I want all of my friends to say
"Who is that beautiful Chinese girl
Mark Elliott's out with?"
Eurasian
The gentleman would like champagne?
No Two very dry Martinis... very dry
Trust me The driest
You know what
I should like to do after dinner?
What?
I should like to go
to a Chinese fortune-teller
and listen to his gorgeous lies
[Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing Playing]
The lady would like her fortune told
Fortune written in sand
I would like a lovely fortune, please
Oh, you very lucky
Going to own big house
Well, not too big
Ah, many children
How many?
Oh, ten children, maybe 15
Ha ha!
How many?
Oh, too many Look again
Four children
Will we have a long and lovely life together?
Oh, years very hard to tell
Cost more
I have a feeling that he's the one
that's going to wind up with the big house
Inside box, blue beetle and white beetle
White beetle, woman Blue beetle, man
If both beetles go to far box
mean long life together
You watch
You have long life together
87 year
Thank you
Thank you for our happy future
and thank your blessed beetles too
Think there's food in that box they go into?
Here is a cable for you, Mr. Elliott
Thank you
You're welcome
Wait for me here Will you?
What time is the next boat to Hong Kong?
In about one hour and 50 minutes
Make reservations for me Will you, please?
Yes, sir
But... But why Korea?
North Korea invaded the South
They crossed the 38th parallel last night
There isn't much time We have to pack
It's only a little war, isn't it?
That's hard to tell
Will it... Will it last long?
Oh, I don't think very long
A couple of weeks, maybe three
Could you possibly not go?
No, I could not possibly not go
I thought not
Our gorgeous lie did not even last the night
I'm going to the news office
I'll call you
the moment I get any information
Oh
Oh, good morning, Dr Han
Oh, good morning, Mrs. Palmer-Jones
Did you enjoy your trip to Macau?
Yes, thank you
We had an explosion in the harbor
while you were away
You were badly needed here
My husband was most disturbed at your absence
Well Well, it's nice that you're back
Good morning, Dr Han
Good morning, Dr Sen
Did she tell you?
Yes I'm sorry I wasn't here in the emergency
Did she tell you
that your residency here
is not being renewed?
No
Well, that isn't too important
but I should have been here
Do you think that is the real reason
you are being dismissed?
No
It is because you are Eurasian
Oh, no I doubt that, Sen
Anyway, this isn't the only hospital in Hong Kong
You will not be offered another residency
Then I'll go into private practice
Do you think the English will seek you out?
They turn to their own kind
That should not be your concern, Sen
Go back to China, Suyin
There you will be given a hospital of your own
Go back to China
I think she's put on a bit of weight
Soap and affection
make a world of difference
She's being discharged in my care
Haven't you enough problems already?
This is Dr Han
I'm expecting a call
When it comes
will you ring me here, please?
Thank you
Extension 31
How do you say, "Take a deep breath"?
Wouldn't it be better if she sang for you?
Yes, it would
[Speaking Chinese]
[Singing Frere Jacques In Chinese]
[Telephone Rings]
Dr Han here
Suyin, I've just been notified about transportation
Can you meet me in a half an hour?
Yes
I'll meet you at the airport
No I don't want to say good-bye at the airport
On the hill, in half an hour, darling
Mm-hmm
How do you turn her off?
[Speaking Chinese]
Give me your hand
Every woman in love
should have a secret garden
And every man in love should have a mountain
Mark, do you remember the man
you wanted to interview?
The one you said was the first
richest person in the world?
Well, he isn't
You are
How did you know?
I've learned to read your mind too
In the next life, let us be birds
According to the laws of reincarnation
in the next life
I will be a woman, and you will be a man
Oh, no I refuse to be a man
You have reconciled me to being a woman
All right I'll take you as you are
Well, I'm sure I shall go
as limp at the sight of you
in the next life
as I do in this one
What sort of things will you write about in Korea?
Oh, the same sort of things
I wrote about in Africa, Indonesia...
Cold facts of war
The other things that tell of men afraid
men suffering
People caught up in events
they can't understand
Mark Do correspondents ever get killed?
Mm-hmm
A friend of mine got killed by a bus in Tokyo
If anything happens to you
I shall give up medicine
I would hate my fellow man too much
for having hurt you
Then I would be
the worst thing that ever happened to you
and I would know it
What time should you leave?
Ten minutes ago
War has strapped you to a watch
Unfortunately, my plane leaves on schedule
I wanted to bring you a present
but there wasn't time
You know, I've never given you anything
Oh, Mark
What a wrong and dreadful thing to say
And what a nice thing to reply
I have to go now, and I don't want you to be sad
I won't be sad
Sadness is so ungrateful
And I don't want you to come down the path with me
I want to look back and see you here
I will be here when you come back to me
I promise
Remember the blue beetle?
It promised us a long and happy life
Nora?
This is Suyin
Mark has gone
and I've lost my position here at the hospital
Could I come over and stay with you for a while?
Oh, for goodness sakes, Suyin
Come and stay as long as you like
And could I bring my little Oh-No with me?
We both have a need for friends at the moment
You bring Oh-No, Third Uncle, Nine Aunt
Anyone you want
Thank you, Nora
It won't be for long
[Knock On Door]
Come in
Yes Thank you, dear
Good-bye
Can I talk to you for a moment?
Of course, Dr Sen
[Speaking Chinese]
When do you leave the hospital, Suyin?
Tomorrow
In a week, I'm returning to China
Have you thought about going back?
I must stay in Hong Kong
Because of Mr. Elliott?
Yes, as a matter of fact
So you're willing
to sacrifice your country and many men
for a romantic attachment to one man
a man who will not even marry you
Where's your pride, Suyin?
I will not allow you to make me feel small, selfish, or ashamed
Forget this man, Suyin
It is a weakness unworthy of you
There is no longer
any place in the world for weakness
Then there is no place for doctors
since our whole approach to weakness is sympathetic
But you feel as we do
I have watched you
You hate the poverty
and the pain you see here
I hate it everywhere
but that doesn't make me a Communist like you, Sen
It just makes me try to be a better doctor
China has been reborn, Suyin
Our people are free at last
Sen, refugees pour into Hong Kong
at the rate of 3,000 a day
As a man who believes in this new order
doesn't it disturb you
that so many flee from freedom?
You're no longer Chinese
You're not facing the truth
Look into the mirror and see yourself
Maybe that is the difference in our viewpoints, Sen
You look into the mirror and see truth reflected
but I think it is an illusion
For in the mirror, what is right is left
and what is left is right
[Door Closes]
Ha ha ha!
[Speaking Chinese]
We drove out to see you, and you weren't home
Where have you been?
Job hunting
Any luck?
Yes I was offered a job typing medical reports
Suyin, would you go and see Mr. Palmer-Jones
if I arrange it?
Well, I wouldn't have a month ago
but time has nibbled at my pride
I'll call him tomorrow
Oh-No
[Speaking Chinese]
Oh-No!
You read your letter
and we'll go in and fix tea
Oh
Is she taking care of herself?
She looks worried and tired
I think she looks wonderful
for someone with half a heart
[Mark] I have received your letters
number 8 and 11
but 9 and 10 are missing
Wonderful moon at night
each night a little bigger
rising a little farther to the left
taking a little longer
to reach the trees on the right
Twice, like a ritual
I read your letter by its light
Last night, wonder of wonders
I not only had a clean camp bed
but I was able to place it so it faced the open window
and our friend, the moon
[Speaking Chinese]
I'm driving in to pick up Robert
Would you like to come along?
No I'll stay
We could stop at a cake shop and have tea first
Stop worrying about me
It is difficult enough now
when I think of your kindness to me
I'm not kind I'm just practical
With a household full of children
I just wanted a doctor in the house
What on earth are you doing?
Making a good-luck prayer for Mark
Oh, Suyin
I know it is foolish
but I must feel I'm doing something to protect him
[Speaking Chinese]
[Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing Playing]
[Mark] Glory be
Numbers 9 and 10 finally arrived
old and worn, but mighty welcome
I expect to be in Seoul tomorrow
My bottom is worn to the bone
with bouncing about in jeeps on bumpy roads
I used to think I'd run out of things to write you
[Air Raid Siren]
[Child Crying]
Oh-No!
[Speaking Chinese]
It's no one's fault
These things happen
[Speaking Chinese]
[Man On Radio] The latest report is
that UN troops have withdrawn
to previously prepared positions at Pusan
The North Koreans...
Stop listening to that
A letter from Mark
Oh, thank you
You must have enough letters from him to start a bonfire
I wouldn't burn them
but they would make a lovely glow
Nora, you know, it...
It often seems that Mark
is with me more while he is away
than when he is here
Do you think that's strange?
Oh, no, I don't
Nora
Oh, here's Ann
[Door Closes]
Nora, come here a minute
What is it, Ann?
Hello, Ann
What in the world is the matter?
There's something in the paper
What?
Suyin, it's about Mark
What about Mark?
No, don't Don't, Suyin
Dead or a prisoner?
He's dead
Oh, Suyin
Oh, it's not true!
It's not true
Nora It's a lie
I won't believe it!
[Mark] I do not know
what is to happen, darling
but this I do know
Life's greatest tragedy is not to be loved
God has been good to us, Suyin
He is dead
But his letters will come, one by one
They will continue to come
one by one
[Mark] Suyin, there is nothing fair
nor unfair under heaven
God has been good to us, Suyin
It makes me very proud of you
to know that any unhappiness of your own
could never blind you to the pain of others
[Mark] Give me your hand
[Mark] I often think that healing
is man's salvation
and I envy your ability to help
You deal with suffering
but you can do something about it
I can only stand and watch
[Mark] We have not missed, you and I
We have not missed that many-splendored thing
(music)Love is a many-splendored thing
(music)It's the April glow that only grows in the early spring
(music)Love is Nature's way of giving a reason to be living
(music) The golden crown that makes a man a king
(music) Once, on a high and windy hill
(music)In the morning mist, two lovers kissed
(music)And the world stood still
(music) Then your fingers touched my silent heart
(music)And taught it how to sing
(music) Yes, true love's
(music)A many-splendored thing
{{{the end}}}