Original subtitles

[♪♪]

[PEOPLE CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY]

[GASPS]

[JULIA MOANING]

[GASPS, MOANING]

Get down!

JULIA: Oh, no...

[GUNSHOTS]

[CROWD SCREAMING]

[WAILING]

Mommy...

I hate you!

I hate you!

What the bloody--? [GASPING]

Oh, God. [SIGHS]

Another one of your nightmares?

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Go to sleep.

Sorry.

[BIRDS CALLING]

Good morning, Mrs. Gaitland. Good morning.

Good morning.

Good morning, Mrs. Gaitland.

Good morning, Madame. I'm sorry, Mrs. Gaitland,

but your father gave strict instructions not to bother him.

Well, well, well, well, well.

I actually thought you'd be here earlier.

Obviously, you're not as angry as I'd expected.

You'll be elated to know your lawyers moved in like sharks.

You had no right to do this. I have no contract with you.

The contract is in my will and in our blood.

Would you care for some tea? No!

What I don't understand

is why you've closed my San Francisco office,

just at the moment when Oriental antiques are going up market.

Now, now, now, now. Can you explain?

You know our understanding.

You're not to engage in any corporate enterprise

outside Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

You accepted the rules and you'll just have to ride it out.

I'm tired of riding it out. There isn't any out!

I'm a prisoner!

There's a whole world out here,

why don't you just let me have it?

Let me remind you, old girl,

everything we have came from here,

and England is never gonna see a penny of it

because none of my money or the power

is ever gonna leave here.

Yes, well, maybe it'll all change after you're dead!

[LAUGHS]

God's had plenty of opportunity to put me down,

and I'm still here.

He couldn't do it.

Perhaps you have someone better for the job.

But mind you, every man who ever came at me is dead.

Oh, well, that's very reassuring.

Maybe you'll live forever.

[LAUGHS]

Now, there's a thought. Well, come on.

Take your medicine.

[CHUCKLES]

What?

Oh, I don't know, that look, that pout.

Just like the time I wouldn't let you paint your pony gold.

Come on, give us a kiss.

Come on.

Come on, right here.

[♪♪]

Ow!

[MAN AND WOMAN SPEAKING IN CANTONESE]

[GREETS IN CANTONESE] ...Mr. Larry.

[GREETS IN CANTONESE] ...Song Lee.

Did you talk to the gardeners about the lawn?

Yes. I also told him about the peacocks.

I know, I heard you.

You're even louder than the peacocks.

[LAUGHS]

[KEYBOARD CLACKING]

Mr. Jansen. Here's that research

you asked for on tax credits in Malaysia.

Isn't your son having his tonsils out today?

I took him this morning.

Well, I should think you'd wanna be there

when he woke up, huh?

I know, but. Mr. Churit...

Don't you worry about Mr. Churit.

I will take care of him. Go on.

Do you have any idea where Mrs. Liu is going at this hour?

Uh, I'm having her go and do some research

on Malaysian investment tax credits.

Oh, good idea. Okay.

Hey now listen, don't forget about Saturday.

Saturday? You forgot!

What? My wife's tennis party.

The finance minister is coming.

You know he likes to have a strong partner.

Yes, strong but not too strong?

We need him.

[CROWS EXCLAIMS]

MINISTER: Very good, Mr. Jansen.

MAN: Bad luck on that.

Oh. What?

For God's sake, Leslie!

Mr. Gaitland. Don't you think

the ball was well within the service line.

I can see I'm going to have to go it alone on this one.

The ball was clearly well beyond the line.

All right, hold it, hold it, hold it.

I can serve it over again, okay?

Don't patronize me, Jansen.

You double faulted and you bloody well know it.

But Gaitland, I'd say it was a generous offer from him.

GAITLAND: Your magnanimous offer to replay the point, notwithstanding,

a double-fault forfeits the point.

Unless my partner would care to contest that one too?

Leslie, if you're gonna do the Romanian tennis star

after every serve,

I mean, we may as well cancel the lunch.

Please, not this lunch. I'm starving.

Leslie, be nice. Come on.

MAN: Come on, Leslie.

Ha, ha. Very bloody funny. Now, what are we doing here?

Are we playing tennis or are we standing around

swapping little pleasant gags.

If we're going to play tennis,

let's play bloody tennis!

[WOMAN 1 EXCLAIMS] WOMAN 2: Temper, temper.

Well, anyone for Ping-Pong?

[ALL LAUGHING]

[BIRD SQUAWKS]

LARRY: Careful, he bites.

Your second serve was perfectly good, by the way.

Yeah, I saw you watching us. Uh--

I was wondering whether you thought

your husband was wrong or...

if you thought I was a jerk.

I felt my husband was wrong,

and that you were a jerk.

I'm not impressed by people

with the good manners to give in to bullies.

Listen, I don't wanna be rude,

but does anyone in your family have eyes?

I don't know what you're talking about.

Your sunglasses.

You and your husband both wear sun--

Do the world a favor, please. Don't hide those things.

They're absolutely... What?

They're, um...

[SIGHS] I'm sorry.

Why?

Because you mistook me for just another colony wife?

Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry.

I already said that.

You look like you could use another drink.

Something a little stronger, perhaps. Huh?

Cultivating Julia Gaitland?

Don't turn around. She's still looking.

Boy, you must've made some impression.

LARRY [CHUCKLES]: Yeah, I'm afraid so.

You cut through to her and it might

unlock the door to the father.

Oh, God, to be the first Western bank

to start doing business with Albert Coskins.

We'd have to double the staff

to handle the accounts that would bring in.

The rumor mill has it he's got his feelers out for a loan.

Well, I wouldn't start hiring just yet.

Why the loan? He's not exactly on welfare.

Oil drilling in Malacca's got him stretched a little thin.

He's never gone to a Western bank. He hates the West.

He was practically a white coolie

when he came here from England.

Deck hand, just a kid.

Fell in with some pirates.

World War II, he went into the jungle with Malay guerillas,

came out with smuggling lines in the Orient.

Smuggling what? Oh, name it. Name it.

That's how he made his first fortune.

How long you been here? Three months.

You like the lifestyle here? Yeah, sure.

Julia could be your lifetime pass, you know that?

Nail the old man, my friend, and the Orient is yours.

Zulik.

[♪♪]

Careful, he bites.

[CHUCKLES]

Yeah.

Hello.

Uh...

I just came over to, uh...

To try a different approach?

[SIGHS] No. No.

To apologize.

Oh.

That's a different approach.

Mr. Jansen. Uh-huh.

Don't apologize. I was going to call you.

It's true, I did find your straightforward expression

of interest vaguely offensive,

but I also found it refreshingly honest.

Are you as direct in your business dealings?

Uh...

Yeah.

If I asked you to help me with a problem,

could I trust you not to tell anybody,

not even your people at the bank?

Sure.

Sure, you can trust me.

Good.

[CHUCKLES]

Do you know what this is?

LARRY: Uh, it looks like an oil drilling platform

in the Malacca Straits.

That's my life being poured into a hole in the ocean.

[WOMAN SPEAKING IN CANTONESE]

[SPEAKING IN CANTONESE]

Your Cantonese is quite impressive,

for being here such a short time.

[IN ENGLISH] Well, thank you.

A couple of years in Hong Kong have helped.

I'm concerned about my inheritance, Mr. Jansen.

I want to know what kind of loan exposure

my father's undertaken to support this oil exploration.

I want to know if the financial structure

of his other companies has been compromised

to keep him in this game.

I want to know if my inheritance is in jeopardy,

and if it is in jeopardy, I want to know how much time I have.

How much is salvageable.

You see, quite frankly,

my husband dragged my father into this adventure,

and I feel that whole thing may be very ill advised.

There's some geology out in those Straits

that's quite suspect

and now I even have engineers telling me

they think my father might be crazy.

But if he is,

I can assure you it does not run in the family.

So you see, I want to know

exactly how vulnerable my inheritance is.

I can't stress enough the importance and urgency

of this situation, Mr. Jansen.

And I want to tell you that I've paid

a hundred times over

for anything I'll ever get from him.

And I'll not let him steal it all from me by wasting it.

So, you see, I need help.

And from your credentials,

I think you might be the man I've been looking for.

[MUSICIANS PLAYING TRADITIONAL TUNE]

[MAN SPEAKING IN CANTONESE]

I've got it. Here they are.

Good. Everything we have...

Everything we have on Julia Coskins Gaitland.

If anybody found out I'm turning our newspaper files

into a lending library-- If anybody found out

about the financial news I pass to you for your column...

Not a complaint. Merely a caution.

There's a bit in there on her husband too.

Know what his problem is, don't you? Hmm?

Second son.

The second son winds up

with an attractive name, expensive tastes

and no way to support either one of them.

Of course, if old Coskins were to pass on,

and I have no idea whether he has any such intention,

Gaitland's wife will be the richest white woman

in South Asia.

Larry, I'd save my energy.

She doesn't play the game.

The tobacconist on Flower Street

knows your taste in Havana's, doesn't he?

No, no, I mean it.

There's easier prey.

Look, there's all the colony wives available to you.

I know. Like a bloody harem.

Fidelity means nothing.

Sanctity of marriage means everything.

Just-- Just maintain the polite appearance, huh?

By the way, multinationals is making a move

on Malay tin futures.

I'd check it out.

LARRY: Now, your father certainly is vulnerable,

but with the vast amount of resources,

the credit he commands, it's not really perilous.

Plug the dike with 5 or $6 million,

he should be all right.

So you feel the estate is safe?

Yeah, for the time being.

Let's just say that he's not gonna leave you

begging on street corners.

Have you heard any rumors about his smuggling activities?

Well, from what I hear, he's used it before

to cover this kind of exposure.

Of course, that's not like calling your broker.

A man can get killed, in more ways than one.

Why have you researched me at the newspapers?

I like to know who I'm working with.

So do I. Oh?

What have you found out?

That your transference

from the Hong Kong branch

was a step up for you.

That you speak several languages.

That you already cut quite a romantic swath through the...

[MUSICIANS PLAYING LOUDLY] Hold it, wait. Wait a minute.

Wait a minute. Wait. Hold it.

Hello.

Let's step over here, where we can hear ourselves think, huh?

Now, a romantic what?

They say you cut a romantic swath

through the expatriate community.

Though, those reputations do tend to be exaggerated.

That you live with a Chinese girl,

that you high tea and fast cars. It's nothing like that at all.

She's more like a little sister to me...

She's kept my house since her mother died so it's...

Watch out.

I want to know everything there is to know about you.

Whether you tip your soup spoon toward you or away,

what shoe you put on first, what side you sleep on.

Whether that cold blue flame goes right to the core.

Does it?

Julia!

Julia!

[♪♪]

[CHUCKLES]

May your next shot be as skilled as your last.

You offend me, Alsagoff.

Your presence offends me.

Your existence offends me.

Oh, this is terrible and surprising news.

What have I done, my friend?

What you have done, my friend,

is send me trekking into the Malayan jungle

for a sack of beads, my friend.

You told me they would be smuggling

the first quality Burmese rubies.

If I go to the trouble of staging a hijacking,

the trouble, the expense and the discomfort,

I expect more for my pains

than a handful of flawed red gravel.

Oh, but by dear Coskins.

One man died because of your incompetent information.

I was rather disappointed that it wasn't you.

My brother, I am shocked. Truly.

I was assured that those were very reliable thieves.

Very capable of discerning between good stones and bad.

I'm anguished, my dear Coskins.

[GROANS] Anguished.

No, you're not. But you will be.

Get your fingers off the table.

You promised me that those stones were gem quality.

I already had sales arranged.

You know how easily I could snuff you out in the Orient,

old friend. [CHUCKLES]

Well, yes, well, effendi,

my small candle burns only with your indulgence.

Get out.

[CHUCKLES]

If that would redeem me, gladly.

But I have a way to make it up to you.

A freighter will be in the Strait of Malacca

in four weeks.

Russian cargo, guns.

Automatic weapons. Great stuff.

May Allah be my witness. The very finest quality.

How much?

Twenty million dollars.

But I'm sure I can get them down to 18.

Ten. Ten?

[LAUGHS]

Seventeen, maybe, uh, with great persuasion.

Ten and get your fingers off the table.

[LAUGHS] Oh!

My dear Coskins, these guns are worth 15, at least.

I'm sure you have markets.

Ten.

[SIGHS] Ten, then.

Cash.

Cash?

LARRY: Is this your first affair?

JULIA [SCOFFS]: Why?

You don't seem to know the rules of the game.

The polite colony tradition is

you put caution on the bed stand,

but you don't toss it to the wind.

Ah. My father taught me never to be unnecessarily polite.

When do I get to see him?

Oh, that soon, huh? [CHUCKLES]

By the way, where are we heading?

Johor. There's a hotel at Mekata Beach.

Oh, great. That's just great.

That's where everyone goes for their affairs.

All you have to do is knock on the walls,

and then tell your spouse when you'll be home for dinner.

Would you like me to turn around?

No, not me, lady.

Must be somebody else.

[♪♪]

You happy?

Of course.

Even though?

Even though, what?

Even though

you didn't seem to be completely satisfied.

You're a wonderful lover. Ah.

And, oh, here. This gold star,

right in the middle of your forehead.

I'm not taking it under false pretenses, am I?

I'll never be completely satisfied, darling.

It's not in my nature.

Relax.

Oh.

[CHUCKLES]

You're just like the orchid.

Orchid? Yeah.

Beautiful, passionate...

complex.

Just like you.

Did you know there's 3000 varieties of orchids

in Singapore alone?

Three thousand...

and one.

You don't know anything about me.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY]

[CROWD EXCLAIMS, APPLAUDS]

GAITLAND: Come on, Derek!

No more donkey drops! Thank you.

Can't you do any better?

I see the crowd's getting nasty.

Good old Leslie's got good manners

in every game, hasn't he?

Oh, yes, every game. Oh, very good, Eleanor.

Very good indeed. You just knocked me out of the game.

You deserve it. I'll be at the bar.

Thank you, wifey, dear. Not too many, huh?

Well, well, well. You and Julia Gaitland.

That's the biggest news in the colony

since they raised the price of scotch.

Business, Eleanor.

So why didn't you ever try to do business with me?

You don't think Martin would've cared?

Grow up, Larry. This is Singapore.

Sex is a consolation prize.

I don't believe you, Larry.

You've had enough women.

That's why it really bugs me,

that just because my husband's your boss.

It's because he is, Eleanor.

Listen, tell me something.

He said you could help.

You seem to know the gossip on everybody.

Oh? You mean I'm good for something?

Yeah.

What kind of marriage do they have?

Julia and Leslie Gaitland.

It seems pretty solid.

Though God knows why.

You got your standard rumors about him,

concubines, mistresses.

About a year or so ago,

there was this Malay girl killed herself

when he dropped her. Such a cold fish, anyway.

Maybe that's why she married him.

Maybe he wasn't exactly

the answer to her father's prayers.

But it is solid, huh?

Maybe you'd better concentrate on one game at a time, huh?

GAITLAND: Jansen, a word with you.

Yeah? Good to see you.

Actually, there's a matter of a modest sum

I need transferred from a trust in London.

I think we can handle that. Oh, good man.

Oh, and, uh...

I was wondering if you completed your business with my wife.

Why don't we have lunch together sometime?

Mr. Jansen telephone call. Say who it is?

Mrs. Gaitland, returning your call.

Hi.

Yeah, I know. I just-- I just couldn't make it.

Uh... Tonight?

Well, I do have a lot to...

Julia, didn't Leslie mention our little chat?

Yeah, he'd asked me

if I'd completed my business with his wife.

That's colony code for enough is enough.

Well, "polite" is something

other people do have to live with, you know?

This is a very small place.

[SIGHS] No, I think it's just best

that both of us let it sit for a while.

That way we can... Julia?

Hello?

[♪♪]

[RAIN PATTERING, THUNDER RUMBLING]

Mr. Larry? Mr. Larry?

[♪♪]

JULIA: You know what?

LARRY: Hmm?

JULIA: My father said he's going to call you.

Wants to talk to you.

That could be good news.

What is it, darling?

Hmm?

Would you leave Leslie?

No.

No, not yet. I mean, we don't even know where we're headed.

We don't... It's so fast.

You can't tell me that you don't love me.

You can't tell me that. No, you're right.

I can't tell you that.

Anyway, I don't understand what the hell...

Don't worry. Don't worry.

Don't worry. It's just...

All we have to do is to feel as deeply as we can.

Everything will be all right. Did you feel that?

Hmm?

[CHUCKLES] I--

I am in over my head as it is.

Hello, sir.

LARRY: Holy cow!

Mr. Coskins' office, please.

End of the hall and turn left, sir.

Thank you.

Mr. Coskins.

Ah, come in, Mr. Jansen.

It's a pleasure to meet you, sir.

Thank you for making yourself available on such short notice.

That envelope contains a matter on which we will probably

be able to do some business.

Oh? Some specific area of finance?

We have experts in every--

No, I believe you're the expert on this matter.

That's a report prepared by my associate, Mr. Woo.

How do you do, sir? How do you do?

What the hell is this?

Oh, Mr. Woo's report

explains each of the photographs in some detail,

as well as the major circumstances

of your general existence.

Well, I hope Mr. Woo gives me high marks.

Mr. Woo advises me that you've acquired a working knowledge

of the Cantonese and Malay languages.

Look, I don't give a damn what Mr. Woo advises you!

What is this? Oh, come now.

Surely, I'm entitled to some background

on the man who's having an adulterous affair

with my daughter, my only daughter.

Don't you?

[♪♪]

If you would like any of the photographs,

I'm sure Mr. Woo would be happy to take your order.

Oh, relax, relax, relax, Mr. Jansen.

Some of Mr. Woo's report

impressed me quite a bit, actually.

The crucial element in building my own fortunes

was learning the tongues.

Also, you live somewhat differently

to the other Westerners.

I see you sinking down real roots here.

You'll find the soil quite rich.

You speak Asian, live Asian, even sleep Asian.

Well, this is Asia. Ah, yes.

But some of the expatriates don't understand that.

You could get by on English like them.

You could live in the tenth district

and pretend that it's a suburb of Los Angeles,

like they do.

My God, you don't even have a garbage disposal!

Now, that is impressive.

Just what does all this add up to, huh?

To the fact that I approve of you.

I think you're, by far, the most interesting young man

my daughter's chosen to associate with.

What a relief.

Oh, no, no, no, no. You don't understand.

This report wasn't merely prurient curiosity.

I believe we can do some business.

[HORN HONKS]

I can't figure him out any more than I can figure you.

You know what just happened? Probably. Get in.

Come on.

I think I just opened the most important door in the Orient

for U.S. Pacific Bank.

Find him charming?

Ha! About as charming as a bulldozer.

But he is fascinating.

It wears off.

You know, the one thing that excites me

the most about banking is that a great deal--

There's a great deal for everybody.

Nobody has to get killed. Somebody has to.

ANNOUNCER [OVER PA]: Singapore Airlines,

Flight number 1 to San Francisco

now arriving at Gate 24.

Uh-huh.

I don't know.

I don't see the actual cash flow statements here.

Now look, Lenny, Coskins is not the kind a guy

who's gonna roll over and play dead.

But on the other hand, those are pretty educated guesses.

And the whole thing is gonna be very highly collateralized.

We didn't come here just to rubber stamp this gamble.

The home office is very concerned.

My God, the man's reputation! The things we hear!

Why, he's just this side of a criminal!

Well, who isn't?

But I am telling you, in the Orient,

Coskins reputation is pure gold.

Smuggling or no, they all look up to him.

Yeah, Yeah. But wait just a minute now, Marty.

We don't just open our doors to foreign ventures.

That went down the drain with Brazil.

You know how many people lost their jobs

over the São Paulo loan? Brazil is Brazil.

I am talking about the whole Orient.

Gentlemen, there's absolutely no downside.

All right, all right, granted,

but we came here to take his investment, not make one.

You do any business with Albert Coskins,

you will open up every major investor in the Orient.

Absolutely.

I don't know what you're feeling so secure about.

As soon as my father signs that loan,

he belongs to California Pacific, not to you.

You don't climb the ladder by giving up your controls.

Well, maybe I can get your father to wrap me into the deal.

[SCOFFS] You don't seem to understand, do you?

He's not doing this out of the kindness of his heart.

He doesn't have any.

What, kindness? Heart.

You see, you have to leverage him.

For example:

He's counting on this arrangement,

so you have to show you have the means to derail it, see?

Derail it? How?

[CHUCKLES]

They're like dogs in heat on both sides.

Julia, I just made a deal that everybody likes.

Did you? Yes.

Do you have any idea what he plans to do with the money?

Uh, take the pressure off outstanding loans

on the oil drilling, that's my guess.

Not on your life.

No?

[ENGINE STARTS] No.

A Key Man clause? LARRY: Yes.

You want me to demand

that if you're ever fired by U.S. Pacific.

Or dissatisfied with my treatment there,

I have the power to revoke the agreement

and block it in perpetuity. Right.

But I can't demand that.

I'm securing the loan, not giving it.

There are no such things. They won't understand it,

but they'll give it.

This loan means a lot to U.S. Pacific Bank.

They'll think I'm nuts.

Or eccentric, wily, impenetrable.

It'll make them respect you more.

Just say there's one little provision that you forgot.

Not a chance. All right, pull the plug.

There's no plug to pull. Oh, if I were to tell them

that this money is to underwrite the illegal sale of guns?

If you what?

Well, they could go to jail for approving a loan

with that kind of advance knowledge.

Now you're beginning to think Asian.

MAN: You can't demand that!

You're the recipient of the loan.

Are you saying you want this contract to stipulate

that if Jansen here leaves U.S. Pacific,

that he Jansen, has the right

to nullify and void the loan? That's what I'm saying.

But you'd have to put the money back on the spot.

That doesn't make any sense for you.

What you mean to say is that

you can't figure out why it makes sense to me.

But I can, and that's all that matters.

This inscrutable stuff drives me nuts.

Gentlemen, let's get down to the nitty-gritty, shall we?

I don't know how you did it, sport,

or even exactly what you did,

but it better be for the good of the bank.

Among others.

JULIA: Well, this is a good list to start with,

but there are quite a few more major Asian investors

you should contact now.

The fact that you got Coskins to deal with your bank

will impress them.

[LAUGHING] His having written you in on that Key Man clause.

It's so lovely,

because they won't know what to make of that at all.

And they'll find that absolutely compelling.

It will infuriate my father to have been used like that,

even if it doesn't cost him a cent.

Is that why you did it? Hate him that much?

Do you realize this contract's

going to make you a banking superstar?

How does it feel to make love to a superstar?

[CHUCKLES]

Is there any difference, or have you had better lovers?

[SCOFFS] Dozens.

I'm serious.

All that matters is how it is between us when we're together.

Right now.

Larry?

[SCOFFS]

Larry.

[♪♪]

They're all coming to you now, aren't they?

All the Malay millionaires, the Chinese, all of them.

Well, our deal with you certainly did open their minds

to investment opportunities in the States.

You're starting to believe in yourself.

You're really thinking of yourself as a Key Man.

Yes, I'm gaining confidence. No, it's more than that.

You've got more than confidence. You've got belief.

Aren't they the same thing?

North and South are the same thing.

They're directions, but a world apart.

When you first came into my office,

what you believed in was your mediocrity.

You had confidence that you knew the right words,

but you believed you'd gone as far as was safe.

Now, you're willing to dare, and that makes you very useful

to some people and very dangerous to others.

What am I to you? Useful or dangerous?

I haven't decided yet.

But I need somebody who believes in himself.

This is what it was like when this was a colony.

They gave it gentility,

but they were pirates of another sort.

The English raped the place

and never even bothered to learn the language.

I did.

And I understood how the people felt.

Ah.

The usual, Palmee, and make it two.

I, uh...

I like to get in here and out before the lunch crowd.

The women chatter.

They drown the echoes of the past.

And they remind me of my family.

Well, apart from the fact you're involved with his wife,

what do you think of, as much as I detest the phrase,

my son-in-law Mr. Gaitland?

Uh...

I don't know what I feel about him.

Guilt. Pity.

The colony sees him as a buffoon.

I see something very dangerous in him.

What? Me.

I see too much of me there. Must be what attracts her.

The buffoon? No, don't you believe it.

I see him as a formidable opponent.

An opponent in what?

A struggle, for the only thing I care about.

I'm not going to allow him to influence Julia.

Are we, uh--?

Are we talking about the same Leslie Gaitland?

He's one of the weakest men I've ever met.

People can be strong and weak at the same time.

Strong...

and weak.

Palmee! Menus!

JULIA: Sounds like you two had quite a chat.

LARRY: Yeah, it was not bad.

Your father's very fond of the old traditions of this town,

what's left of them.

Oh, boy, I see he gave you the old:

"This is the way it used to be

when Singapore was a colony" speech, eh?

And he also seems to be very fond of you too.

Ah, yes, I'm sure he is.

What else did you two talk about?

Oh, nothing. But he wants me to leave the bank,

join his companies, Chief Financial Officer.

And what did you say? Oh, nothing yet.

But it would let me take care of your inheritance, wouldn't it?

I mean, help me keep it all together for you? Uh-huh.

It would give us something else in common.

What's that?

[SCOFFS] You'll see.

By the way, where are we heading?

[♪♪]

He what?

He just quit.

Quit. Resigned.

[SQUAWKING]

Hey, Song Lee!

Peacocks are sounding pretty hungry.

Song Lee?

All right, we're gonna have to--

You saw Churit? You quit?

My God!

Oh, my God!

[CRYING] Mr. Larry.

Oh.

You-- You had no right to impose this on her.

She's no more than a child.

COSKINS: Feudal lords, as you probably have read,

could claim the women of their subjects,

could claim their wives and their servants.

I wanted you to understand

the full depth of the commitment that you've made.

And you must also understand

that my power over you is total,

because that's the only way I can trust you.

I work for you and that's all.

Not quite all.

On the simplest level, yes, you're working for me.

I also hold all the keys to your future,

and even to your past.

Well, sit down. Sit down.

Don't just stand there, like a produce peddler.

Song Lee, tea.

Or, uh, something stronger?

[SNIFFLING] I'm sorry, Mr. Larry,

if I cause you dishonor.

[SCOFFS] Dishonor?

No, no dishonor.

Tea will do, child.

You dick!

[SONG LEE SCREAMS]

Mr. Larry! Mr. Larry! [COUGHING]

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

Mr. Larry! No!

No!

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

[SONG LEE SOBBING]

Your enthusiasm for my restructuring plans...

that was all part of this trap too, huh?

You obviously don't understand me at all.

I was impressed and very surprised.

It was promising, and I may even come to rely on you, in time.

But the first order of business

was eliminating that nasty little power

you held over me, that contract clause.

I was answerable to you.

Answerable to you.

They couldn't fire you, but by resigning,

you relinquished any control over the loan and over me.

And if I should appear now to withdraw my blessing,

there would be no reason for any bank to employ you,

and many reasons for them not to.

I hope I'm making it clear that your future

in the Orient lies right here.

So now that we understand the fine print

in our agreement...

welcome aboard.

Oh, come on, Jansen.

Things will work very nicely,

once you know not to fight the rope.

That's more like it.

[♪♪]

That's more like it!

LARRY: Is your husband going to be at the party tonight?

JULIA: Leslie, no, no, no.

He's staying in Hong Kong for a couple of days.

It's better that way.

Even my father wouldn't think of inviting Leslie

to a party in your honor.

What necklace should I wear? I'm lost.

Let's see. Um...

Oh.

These would be dramatic, huh?

No, no, not the rubies. What's wrong?

My dear father gave them to me,

after he smuggled them out of Burma, of course.

He likes to give me expensive things,

to remind him of the power he thinks he has over me.

No, definitely not the rubies.

This is the darkest red I've ever seen.

Yes, they're lovely, aren't they? It's a shame.

LARRY: You know what this color reminds me of?

JULIA: What?

LARRY: Revenge.

What are you driving at?

The thing that your father drives everyone to.

You wanna kill him.

[CHUCKLES]

Don't tell me it's never crossed your mind before.

Oh, no, no. It's never crossed my mind.

I think you're half serious.

More than half. A lot more than half.

Oh, well, come on. You're being ridiculous.

This is absurd. We have to get ready.

I mean, we can't keep him waiting, Mr. Punctuality.

What did it?

Song Lee?

His manipulating every breath you take?

His manipulating every breath we're ever going to take?

What?

All of that.

[♪♪]

Help me.

[DOG SNARLING, BARKING]

You gotta be kidding.

JULIA: Welcome to my childhood home.

You all right?

Yeah, I'm fine. What is it?

It's nothing. It's nothing. I...

Ahem, it's just gonna take some getting used to, that's all.

[SIGHS] Bloody well right.

Look, we can't deal with this now

or we're not gonna be able to get through the party.

Yeah, you're right.

[PIANO PLAYING SOFTLY]

Good evening, Mrs. Gaitland. Hello.

Hello, sport. Guest of honor, huh?

Thought you wouldn't make it.

How's your husband? At what?

Hello, Julia. Jansen.

You look especially beautiful tonight.

Oh, you like them? I always have.

Excuse us. Family obligations. Get yourself a drink, Jansen.

Enjoy yourself.

To the victor belong the spoils. And is she ever spoiled.

Hey, you know, my husband's no longer your boss.

He's still my friend, Eleanor.

Do you like these? Thank you.

Somehow, I find that insulting.

COSKINS: There's no such thing as impossible.

Some challenges simply require greater creativity.

But transfer $10 million

to Nasser Alkafah without any collateral?

Is this a joke or some sort of sanity test?

Nothing about the running of guns is very sane,

but then it's very exciting and very profitable.

Yeah, but as your chief financial officer,

I would have to advise you to find a better way.

And what would you advise if you were

senior vice president of investment and loans?

Senior vice president... Which, incidentally,

would make you one of the most influential men in the Orient.

You would have control over loan credibility, my boy,

of over $30 million within the next week.

[EXHALES SHARPLY]

Uh, I don't understand. What would I have to--?

There are a lot of highly funded people

just dying to arm other people

without drawing a great deal of notice to the matter.

That 10 million from the arms deal

can triple itself very quickly,

but we have to move it right away

in order to put those guns into our hands.

Now, Singapore banking laws being what they are,

Albert Coskins Enterprises cannot make that purchase,

but friend Alkafah can certainly front it for us.

[SIGHS] Yes, but-- Congratulations, Jansen.

You've just approved the first major loan

our company has ever made.

Mr. Alkafah will be so grateful.

[CLANGING]

Thank you. I'll let you get back

to your gossip momentarily,

but I wanted to share some happy news with you.

Albert Coskins Enterprises is fulfilling an old dream.

We're moving into the banking business.

And we'll soon be making loans to new business enterprises,

providing they are promising and judicious...

and show a high rate of interest.

[GUESTS LAUGH]

I should like to introduce you

to the very first senior vice president

for investment and loans for Albert Coskins Enterprises,

Mr. Lawrence Jansen.

[GUESTS EXCLAIM AND APPLAUD]

Hey, congratulations, sport.

Don't forget who got you started.

Congratulations.

Julia?

[WATER RUNNING]

Julia?

Close the door!

I know how much you hate him. I hate him too.

Leave and close the door after you!

Listen to me.

He's playing into our hands. Get out of here!

I don't want to talk to you! He's giving us the chance

to build the power... You understand him?

...we'll need to operate!

You wanted to kill him three hours ago!

You wanted to kill him! Yes! Sure, we'll kill him.

We'll kill him on our terms, not his!

We'll kill him when we're ready! I'm ready now!

Julia, look a month ago, I was--

I was nothing but a senior errand boy

for a bank in a forgotten branch in a corner of nowhere!

No past, no future-- Stop it! Just stop!

[SOBBING]

Julia.

We're so close.

We're so close.

[SIGHS]

[♪♪]

[ENGINE SHUTS OFF]

Mrs. Gaitland, please.

Mrs. Gaitland not home, thank you.

Oh, I see. Then maybe you can tell me when she might be--

Well, if it isn't the boy genius.

Sorry, but, uh, I don't need any loan today.

Where is she?

Oh, yes.

I understand Julia's been somewhat delinquent

in returning your calls.

Uh, sorry again,

but she happens to be in Hong Kong.

Oh, well, nobody told me.

Well, I didn't realize

we were obliged to.

Actually, I rather thought you might've got the message by now.

She's been avoiding you for a week.

Has that not conveyed something to you?

Oh, Jansen?

Terribly sorry about that shocking development

with Alkafah.

What are you talking about?

Oh, hadn't you heard?

Oh, dear. Well, Mr. Nasser Alkafah,

in whom you placed such high and admirable trust,

has filed for bankruptcy this morning.

Bankruptcy?

Mm. Your $10 million loan

is now a $10 million tax loss.

What is this, some kind of a joke?

[CHUCKLES] Oh, no. No joke.

Rather amusing, though, don't you think?

At least the people in the office seem to think so.

Coskins was certain that money was gonna triple in weeks.

Gun sales are already set. [LAUGHS]

Set and concluded.

The money's already gone straight back to Coskins

in cold, hard cash.

It's unrecorded,

unregulated, untaxed.

Our dear Albert is now the proud possessor

of a $10 million tax write-off.

He's $30 million richer,

and, of course, he's handsomely rewarded

Mr. Alkafah for any embarrassment

he may have incurred in the bankruptcy court.

Uh...

your only reward, I'm afraid,

will be the wisdom of your pain.

Thanks for calling.

Don't be a poor loser, Jansen.

Loser would be bad enough,

but, damn it, I won't be a victim.

Whose victim? Mine or your own?

It's not uncommon, you know.

People do get infected by self-belief.

It's frequently fatal.

With a little help from one's friends.

I didn't come here to listen to your philosophical tripe.

I want to know what the hell happened to--

You want to know what happened

to Coskins Enterprises' new banking division.

Well, simply put, it went belly-up.

I'll have to cut our losses, close down the operation

and, reluctantly, fire you.

Oh, really, Jansen.

An unsecured loan of that size

to a man of Alkafah's reputation.

What did you possibly have in mind? It's crazy.

Especially for a Key Man.

I don't imagine many pirates die of old age, do they?

What, in the world of business? Oh, yes, they do.

Don't worry. No one thinks you're a thief, only a fool.

Well, you're all through here in Singapore, Jansen.

Singapore, the entire Far East,

and, my boy, I just can't help you anymore.

Why'd you do this?

Because she loved me?

Loved you?

Actually, that never even occurred to me.

You'll never have her completely.

You know that.

[MAN SINGING PRAYER IN ARABIC]

ALBERT: Well, you certainly have a talent for picking your men.

Cut from the same cloth as your husband.

Have you heard from Jansen?

Let go of your hatred for me, Julia.

I understand things you couldn't without having lived my life.

I'm the only man you'll ever really be able to count on.

Your Oriental lady...

knows the complete happiness

of submitting to the will of a strong man.

Your mother knew it.

I'm only here to protect you.

You don't know how good that makes me feel.

[♪♪]

Julia? Julia?

She's not here, Mr. Jansen.

Julia? She just left, sir.

Julia!

[TIRES SCREECH]

Julia!

Julia!

Julia, you don't have to answer. Just listen to me.

And if it doesn't make any sense to you, I'll go.

Not just now, I'll go away.

Of all the things I've had to give up here,

the money, the power, the life here,

all the things I had right in my hands,

the one thing I cannot live without is your passion.

I know I didn't have your love,

but your passion, I know I had that.

Is that the big speech?

I can do it.

I can do it now!

I don't believe you!

You said that before!

I want him dead even more than you do!

Let me ask you something.

Has Leslie ever brought this up with you?

He certainly has the strongest motive.

Brought it up? He's obsessed with it.

But he's such a coward.

Do you think he has the will to act out anything?

Yeah, I suppose so.

Especially something like killing your father.

I think I know how we can do it.

I think I have the way.

How?

My father keeps a suite at the Shangri-La

for his sordid affairs.

We could do it there.

It's the one time he has no security at all.

Yeah, I understand that, but I am recognizable there.

Yes. Yes, you are. So is my husband.

What, Leslie? But you said he was--

Don't you see? No, no, no. It's all in one stroke.

I mean, we want my father dead, right?

Yes. We want each other.

It's the perfect solution.

Isn't it? Isn't it? Yes.

No, no. You said it yourself.

Leslie has the perfect motive.

I don't know how, but we have to establish clearly

that Leslie did it.

Maybe it isn't the right solution.

Maybe there's something better. Only one question.

What? How are we going to get Leslie

to do all this? [CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

That's a good question.

It's not difficult.

I'll call Leslie and tell him

that my father wants to see him in his suite right away.

That'll frighten him, but it'll frighten him more not to go.

I know him so well.

He won't be able to pass the bar on the way to the suite.

He'll have to have just one drink to fortify himself,

and then, of course, a few others to wash down the first.

And before you know it, he'll become loud and obnoxious...

and very visible to all of the people at the hotel.

I see where you're going with this.

Yeah.

It's good.

Darling, look, I'm shaking.

You know, it's strange.

I've fantasized about doing this for so many years.

I never thought we'd be doing it.

We're going to have to make each other strong.

Make me strong.

JULIA: I am concerned. It looks a bit tight to me.

I think it's small. No, no. It feels just right.

No, you know, you're right. It looks great.

Huh? It's wonderful.

I'll get Leslie to wear his cream-colored suit.

You'll have to part your hair on the left.

I don't know how you'll do it. Right, I will.

[CHUCKLING]

What? [LAUGHS]

I don't know. Just now, I just had this, uh,

overwhelming desire to play cricket.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

What's that?

It's Leslie's. Do you...? Do you think you could use it?

Do you know how?

Don't worry, it's not loaded.

It should be simple.

Yeah, I can use it.

You shouldn't have touched it. I...

I'll wipe it clean. I don't know how I'm going to do it,

but I'll get Leslie to put a new set of fingerprints on it.

No, no, don't worry. Don't worry. I'll, uh...

I'll use gloves when I do it.

Good idea.

It's amazing how much you look like Leslie in that suit.

Ah, Mr. Jansen. Madam. Welcome back.

Ah, it's good to be back, Peter. Certainly.

The champagne is already chilling in the bungalow.

Wonderful. Oh!

Please let me know if there's anything else you would like.

Actually, we wish to be left alone, if you don't mind.

Yes, ma'am, I understand.

Have a nice day, sir. Ma'am.

Thank you, Peter. We will.

Have a good day, sir. Thank you.

Oh!

Now we've made it. We're here.

And we've been seen by everybody.

It's all going perfectly, isn't it, darling?

Yeah.

Everything's fine.

Just... fine.

It's happening.

It's happening.

[♪♪]

[SIGHS]

Larry, you know...

No, I want to say something. Stop.

I want to tell you something.

What?

Do you know when you asked me

if I'd ever had a better lover than you?

Oh, that doesn't matter now. It matters. Now it matters.

Just now...

no one was ever better.

No one.

Oh, you...

You-- Let's not do it.

What are you talking about? I'm talking about

not going ahead with it.

You don't mean that. I mean it.

Then what do I do, just stay on in Singapore and be your lover?

Yes. Yes. Now, listen.

Darling, if I thought you really meant it,

yeah, sure, I could go on like this forever.

But someday we'll have to face it again,

and it is all set up now, right?

There isn't going to be a lot of crying at his funeral.

We've already decided that, haven't we?

Yeah.

[CHUCKLES]

It's gonna be sometime, isn't it?

Well, it's all falling into place now.

[CHUCKLES] You're right.

[BREATHES DEEPLY]

Let it be now.

I say, you. Uh, you!

Me, sir? Yes, you!

Let's pretend, just for a moment,

that you actually work here, shall we,

and resuscitate that now, if you wouldn't mind?

Right away, sir.

[CLEARS THROAT]

[WHISPERS INDISTINCTLY]

Yes, did you want something?

I am addressing you, sir!

Raymond, let's go. Oh, yes, Raymond,

by all means, let's go.

Raymond, you were staring at me, Raymond!

Mr. Gaitland? There's a call for you, sir.

Oh, dear. Just when Raymond and I were having a conversation.

Never mind, Raymond, sit down. Stop being so boring.

Yes?

Leslie, I'm down in the garage.

Julia.

What on earth? What--? Garage? What garage?

The hotel garage. I've come for you.

Let's go home. Home?

Yes, I don't want you to see him today. Not like this.

I can see absolutely no point in delaying it.

I mean, I'm quite ready for him. I'm well anesthetized.

[SIGHS] That's fairly obvious.

Look, he's breathing fire about the overruns

in the new oil platform. Are you listening to me?

Of course I'm bloody listening Will you stop yelling?

Fine.

The whole thing's ridiculous.

Are you all right? Yeah, he's on his way.

Look, um, I've gotten him to the house drunker than this before.

None of the servants are working today.

Okay, give me an hour, all right,

and I'll get back to Mekata Beach.

They'll never know we left. Darling.

What?

Remember why?

[DOOR OPENS]

LESLIE: Julia! Julia!

Julia! I'm here. I'm here.

Now, what on earth is all this nonsense about?

My-- Look at you! What?

You were going to see you in that condition?

Go upstairs for a quick drink. What am I going to do with you?

JULIA: You left your keys in the car.

You're not driving the car.

[♪♪]

[SOFTLY] Whoa.

Oh!

[CLEARS THROAT]

Hey! Sorry. Sorry. Yeah. Yeah, sure.

[GRUNTS]

ELEANOR: Yoo-hoo!

I don't have a lot of time, darling,

so let's put it all to good use.

You know, I had no idea these rooms were so expensive.

Don't worry, darling. Martin has an account here,

and we can bury it.

[EXHALES DEEPLY]

Excuse me, Mr. Gaitland. Huh? Huh?

You left some money on the bar.

[BRITISH ACCENT] Oh, did I?

Oh, damn silly of me, eh? [CHUCKLES]

Well, thank you very much for your troubles.

Thank you, sir. That's a good lad. Mm-hmm.

[SOFTLY] I'm sorry, Julia. It's no good. I can't do it.

I can't.

I just can't do it. I can't--

Coskins?

Mr. Coskins?

Mr. Coskins?

Mr. Cosk--

[♪♪]

A little...

late.

For God's sake, Coskins.

What?

Come on, get up.

[CHUCKLING SOFTLY]

You fool.

You still don't understand, do you?

The one way I couldn't control her.

You...

were my only hope.

Bizarre.

What if--?

[COUGHS, THEN WHEEZES]

Coskins?

[WHISPERS] Coskins?

[SIRENS WAILING DISTANTLY]

OFFICER: Squad one, come with me!

[♪♪]

We run to the other side!

OFFICER: Police! Coming through!

That's him!

Come on, let's go!

Come on, come on!

Look out! What was that?

He's getting back up. You there, stop!

There he is!

Sergeant Lim to Echo 1 and Echo 2.

The suspect's running towards the direction of Southeast Road.

[SIREN BLARING]

Hey, hey!

Out of the way! Out of the way!

[CHICKENS SQUAWK]

Julia, I-- [GASPS]

I beg your pardon. What are you doing here? Henry!

Look here. Can I help you? Yeah. This is my room.

As of an hour ago, it became our room.

If you'd like to check with reception,

I'm sure they'll confirm it.

[SIREN APPROACHING]

I'm very sorry, Mrs. Gaitland.

Sorry, Mrs. Gaitland.

I'm sorry, Mrs. Gaitland. I'm very sorry, Mrs. Gaitland.

We're all so terribly sorry about it, madam.

But we're sure you'll be able to take over very effectively.

If there's anything I... I'll let you know.

[♪♪]

Thank you.

[LAUGHING]

[BOTH LAUGHING]

[INTERCOM BUZZES]

[CLEARS THROAT]

Yes, Mrs. Gait--?

Mr. Gaitland? Make sure every division chief

has an analysis of his project, past, present and future,

on my desk in three days' time.

I'll need a board meeting on Friday, 3 p.m.

Absence will be interpreted as resignation.

Well?

Do you want that in Mandarin,

Tamil and Malay as well?

No, sir.

It's the truth, I'm telling you. The truth.

There is no truth except the truth we can prove in court.

Julia Gaitland and her husband have a perfect alibi

for the time of the murder.

They were seen fighting

in the lobby of the Mekata Beach Hotel in Malaysia.

Mekata Beach Hotel?

That's tight, Jansen.

You see, he drove down there

after learning that she registered with you.

And they had a big fight. In front of a lot of witnesses.

And I thought I was through being manipulated.

Look, there's gotta be a way to prove--

What about Gaitland's gun?

That was reported stolen from their house

about a month before the killing,

and your fingerprints were all over it.

[SCOFFS AND MUTTERS INDISTINCTLY]

She didn't wipe it clean. I beg your pardon?

Nothing.

That coincidence about the suit,

I mean, that doesn't help very much either.

It makes it seem as if you've been trying

to implicate Gaitland for some time.

I never bought that suit. A cream-color suit,

exactly like Gaitland's.

It was ordered from your tailor and charged to your account.

Now, listen to me. You gotta believe--

Look, Jansen, did you go to the hotel to kill Albert Coskins?

Yes.

But I didn't kill him.

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]

Hi.

How are you?

Oh, uh, fine. Just fine.

My tennis game has gotten kind of dull,

but who knows if it'll still be popular in 20 years

or whatever they give me.

And, uh-- Oh, guess what?

I'm doing crossword puzzles. Can you believe it? Huh?

[CHUCKLES]

And they're not bad, really.

The UCLA Alumnae Association of Singapore

will have to find themselves... Is there anything you want?

Yeah, as a matter of fact, just one thing.

I want you to acknowledge to yourself...

that you did love me.

For just one moment, you really loved me.

Just that little crack in time

when you wanted to give it up. Remember?

Is it coming back?

I can't believe you're doing this.

What? Why don't you hate me?

Don't romanticize me,

especially at this point. Hold on to it.

Besides it was the only moment in your life

when you weren't controlled by someone else.

You got rid of your father,

but you got him right back with Leslie, didn't you?

I think that one moment...

you loved me more than you've ever loved anyone.

You just didn't trust me to kill him.

No, that was Leslie.

He knew you couldn't.

He knew it all the time.

Nah. I just can't believe Leslie would wanna do it himself,

actually kill your father. Then you don't understand him.

That was the only thing he wouldn't share with you.

Killing my father meant more to him than loving me.

With you, it was just the opposite.

Then Leslie planned it all.

Us, the Key Man,

the cream suit, the killing. No. No, we planned it. Face it.

We planned it together.

Everything except what I felt for you.

Felt?

Past tense?

Here.

I know how much you love them.

Her husband planned it and her husband did it.

Now, what more do you need?

No, Jansen, they both planned it.

There's enough on that tape

to get a warrant for both their arrests.

Well, how does it feel to be a free man?

[♪♪]