Original subtitles

[gong ringing]

[dramatic orchestral music]

[upbeat music]

[whistle blowing]

[speaking in a foreign language]

Make up your mind,

either quit shoving or quit pulling.

This is the last stop.

Allah be praised for always providing new women.

[arguing in a foreign language]

I saw her first, let's not forget that.

Next time I go out with you I'll bring a telescope.

Next time you go out with me bring along another face.

Let's divide the work evenly,

you take on the armed forces of justice

and I'll tackle the girl.

That battle plan of yours

has never worked to my advantage yet.

[speaking in a foreign language]

All roads lead to Shanghai,

but not everyone is welcomed so officially.

Why are you heading this procession?

Did you spit in his eye, my little lotus?

Lotus my foot, they're taking me to the cooler.

I ran out of whatever they use 'round here for money.

That's serious.

What put you in hock?

I had to roost in his coop.

First class Chinese hotel

if you don't care what first class means.

And all of sudden they handed me a bill

with more seals on it than a marriage license.

It added up to 80 yin-yang

or two wheelbarrows full of copper cash.

I don't believe in carrying money with me,

but fortunately my fat friend

is an expert at squeeze.

Squeeze who?

I wouldn't like to squeezed by him.

I can see you're new to our shores.

Squeeze is an old Chinese tribute,

popular in your country under the name of graft.

Ever heard of it?

You're an American, aren't you?

Sure, if Brooklyn is still in America.

[chattering in foreign language]

Gentlemen,

excuse me,

I beg your pardon.

A wonderful fertilizer, money.

I want you to meet an old friend,

Uh, Dixie Pomeroy, Prospect Park.

Percival Montgomery Howe, Shanghai.

What do I do now?

Nothing my little pigeon,

but if you'll step into my magnificent hearse,

you might have enough to do before the evening is over.

[exciting music]

Sit down and sprawl until the boss looks you over.

I though the gentleman in the black nightgown

was the boss.

Old Moneybags?

He's an errand boy

like myself.

The real boss is a remarkable lady,

the most cold-blooded dragon you'll ever meet.

She'll devour you like a cat swallows a mouse.

Yeah?

That only makes me more hungry.

When do we eat?

I'll have the chef send you up

a brace of thousand year old eggs.

Do you like 'em soft or scrambled?

[crowd chattering]

[dramatic music]

Got a cigarette?

You?

I don't smoke.

[crowd grumbling]

[speaks in a foreign language]

Marcel.

Paste, bad, Rhine.

Unless you collect rhinestones.

Haven't you something of value, monsieur?

Only this.

[laughing]

[speaking in a foreign language]

What a gold mine.

Crawl catty plenty fish satee nice.

Makee money chop chop.

[laughing]

Oh, it's these pilferers, these crooks around here,

they only trust me for a moment.

I could show 'em an honest man

and skip Shanghai in a hurry.

It's things like these that can make a girl

move any day of the week and in any direction.

One piecee emerald, you likee?

One piecee paycheck.

Allah, Allah, Allah is great.

You are right, monsieur, you are.

What about this corner?

Well, Victoria, did I promise too much?

Isn't this place marvelous?

Look at those faces, half of them are Eurasians.

Who said never the twain shall meet?

Java, Sumatra, Indochinese,

Portuguese, Filipinos, Russians, Malayan,

what a witches sabbath.

If any of them saw us coming in here

I'd sit me here's plenty.

The other place is like kindergartens compared with this.

It smells so incredibly evil.

I didn't think such a place existed

except in my own imagination.

It has a ghastly familiarity,

like a half remembered dream.

Anything could happen here.

Any moment.

Look at that Arabian, or whatever he is.

I wonder,

does he sleep in his fez?

[crowd chattering]

Turn this into gold for me.

Who's that female over there?

What female?

I say he is marvelous.

Wouldn't he look wonderful falling off an Arabian charger?

He's not the type that falls from a horse.

What do you think he is?

What'll we drink?

Boy.

What do they drink here?

Brandy and sulfur, I wouldn't recommend it.

I wouldn't drink it if you did.

Can you make a Planter's Punch?

There isn't a bartender within 3000 miles

who can make one,

except myself.

How would you like it, a la Martinique?

Jamaica, Virgin Islands or Trinidad?

Jamaican, don't you think?

Where are you from?

Wherever I can get the passport from.

You sound Russian, that your country?

I have no country

and the more I see of countries, the better I like the idea.

Regardez.

Good evening commissioner, nice to see you again, sir.

I forgot to phone for our reservation,

can you find a quiet table for us.

In here, sir?

He means quiet for China.

This way, sir.

This is an unexpected pleasure, commissioner.

I've already notified the boss.

One piecee table, chop chop.

My name is Caesar Hawkins, in charge of the cash.

Alas, a frightful risk for the bonding company.

A little space, please,

no hurry, take your time.

That's right, take your time.

Jackson, this is Mr. Montgomery Howe,

connoisseur of jewelry and other lovely things.

This is Mr. Jackson, he specializes in music and law.

[laughing]

This is Dr. Omar, Mr. Jackson.

Spread your carpet, old boy, and slip me four aces.

I cheat at everything except cards.

Vin Chi, one piecee poker deck, chop chop.

Yes, Mr. Hawkins, any refreshments for your guests?

Yes, six whiskey soda, chop ice, chop chop.

These confounded Asiatics

insist on trying to speak English. [laughing]

[loud bang] [screaming]

What was that?

[crowd clamoring]

Boy, some water.

Water?

It'll kill him, he's not used to it, vodka.

Let's get out of here.

It's only someone trying to shoot himself,

it's Saturday night.

I say, this sort of thing isn't common, is it?

[gong rings]

[dramatic music]

That's not you, Boris,

I thought we were good friends.

Why do you chose my place as a springboard to the upper air?

Why don't you go home

and tend to your little formalities there?

Sorry, I lost my head for a moment.

You nearly lost it permanently.

Give him 5,000 and let him continue.

[speaks in a foreign language]

Phew.

Somebody give me a cigarette.

Be seated, gentlemen.

Excuse the slight disturbance, Commissioner.

Well you can't call that a slight disturbance.

You shouldn't have returned his gun to him.

Why not?

How can you stop a man from killing himself?

They're recommending vitamin B-1 this season.

This is Jackson, our new legal counsel,

and this is Monsieur Demichaud,

number one man of our bank.

I'm overwhelmed.

What are we playing, poker?

Anything wild?

Only the joker, Mother,

we don't feel very enterprising this evening.

[slow music]

Pass.

- Pass. - Pass.

Pass.

I open.

$200 mace or gold?

Gold, of course.

Odds, my fellow pilgrims?

Three ladies, if possible.

One would be too much for me.

Give me a king.

He's sure to get a queen.

Nuts always come to those who have no teeth.

[laughing]

Three please, I still prefer aces.

I'll play these.

$200 more.

Last time we played, Commissioner,

you lost quite a little.

I'd quite forgotten that,

it's so long ago.

But I didn't come here tonight to win it back.

Win or lose, my humble house is always yours.

It's too bad.

We came here to tell you

that you'll have to close your humble house.

You know how awkward we must feel about this,

but you'll either have to close

or move into the Chinese city.

In 200, I'm not leaving the international settlement,

you know that.

Not all Chinese are like me, there's some decent ones.

If I stepped that much across the line

they'd sell me for pork.

The idea is childish,

who would visit up in the Chinese city?

Look here, Madame,

we are nothing but messengers.

Rather than send you a formal notice canceling your lease,

I came here as a friend.

Don't make it more difficult than it is.

Tell me, for whom are you speaking?

Not for yourself.

I see no reason for concealing it,

it's the Indochina Trading Company.

Every so often Shanghai decides to clean itself,

like a swan in a muddy lake.

I shall not move and I certainly shall not close.

But you'll be forced to close.

This is not a moral crusade,

which might be easier for you to oppose than big business.

You must close.

Big business?

What do you call this?

By the way, an ordinance is being passed next week

outlawing this and similar establishments.

I have lived by my own ordinances for a long time now

and I intend to disregard all others.

Oh, you waiting to see my hand?

Small flush, jack high.

Here's another house no one can beat,

aces full.

One thing more,

we are appointing you police commissioner also.

Have you been instructed to make me move tonight?

We know you need five or six weeks

to make other arrangements.

Until about Chinese New Years then?

That's right, Chinese New Year.

You've delivered the message, gentlemen,

I promise to think it over.

Is there anything else I can do?

I told them you would be reasonable.

Now tell me, who is that

wonderful looking creature over there?

I'll be glad to introduce you.

Until Chinese New Year then?

That's right, Chinese New Year.

Wow, here comes the warlord of the Chinese underworld,

straight for us.

I am Mother Gin Sling.

This is my place,

I hope you will find in it everything you desire.

May I introduce Monsieur Demichaud?

Will you be kind enough to give me your name?

My name is Smith, Poppy Smith

and this is my brother.

Your name is not Smith and he is not your brother.

That's beastly clever of you.

I say, I've always wanted to meet you, Mother Gin Sling,

it's awfully nice of you to join us.

I've promised Miss Smith a thrill,

and by Jove, here it is.

What do you have?

Thank you, I don't drink.

You don't drink, Mother Gin Sling?

Is your name Chinese or English?

Indeed, Gin Sling is English.

It's a nickname as common in this part of the world

as the drink sold over the counter.

Why Gin Sling?

Why not Whiskey Soda?

There was a girl called Whiskey Soda too.

And another one called Miss Martini.

And one called Scotch Highball, another Benedictine.

In other places I might have been called Rose,

or Violet, or Lily, or even Poppy.

Excuse me, I have work to do.

Way to ask for it, Poppy.

Find out who that Smith girl is,

I like her, she has spirit.

Right-o.

I thought I knew everyone in Shanghai, Miss Poppy.

You must have arrived quite recently.

Just last week, monsieur.

I've heard so much about your wicked city,

I wanted to see it all my life.

I've lived here 27 years now.

If there is anything you want to do or see

I'm at your disposal.

Needless to say, with the greatest personal enthusiasm.

There's something you can do for me right now, monsieur.

I've always wanted to meet a Chinese gentleman,

that one at your table for instance.

Oh, he's no gentleman, he's a comprador.

You don't want to meet him.

What's wrong with that?

Don't you like yachts?

Not commodore, but comprador.

The go-between,

carries water on both shoulders without spilling any,

takes money from both sides,

it's trifle shady mademoiselle.

You'll protect me, monsieur.

I'd love to meet him.

[speaking in a foreign language]

What's that?

We'll speak French later.

[speaks in a foreign language]

What are you up to, Victoria?

I could've introduced you to a Chinese gentleman.

Run along and phone that I'll be late,

they might become uneasy.

I'm waiting to see the boss,

how long before she turns up?

Me no savee English.

You'll savee if you listen closely for a minute.

Big shot, number one man,

I mean number one woman.

You know what a woman is?

Woman.

Woman.

Woman.

[speaks in a foreign language]

Yeah, I guess you're right,

I better wait.

[uneasy music]

Miss Smith, this is Mr. Howe,

one of our more influential merchants.

I was influential, I was,

but I'm retired now, if you please, retired.

And I have five wives, also retired.

And I'm looking for number six.

We French have enough with one,

that is one at a time.

Speaking of wives, what is your first name Miss Smith?

My first name?

How do you like Poppy, Mr. Howe?

Poppy, that's a flower

that's caused my family a lot of trouble.

My unworthy great-grandfather, for instance,

in the opium war of 1842...

This is my very best friend, Omar.

Miss Poppy Smith.

And you, are you an Egyptian comprador?

No, I'm a doctor, Doctor Omar, of Shanghai

and Gommorah.

Any relation to the poet Omar?

A book of verses underneath the bough?

A loaf of bread, a jug of wine,

and thou beside me, singing in the wilderness.

You said Doctor Omar.

Doctor of what?

Doctor of nothing, Miss Smith.

It sounds important and hurts no one,

unlike most doctors.

And your burnoose, is it as real as your title?

Where were you born?

My birth took place under a full moon

on the sands near Damascus.

My father was an Armenian tobacco dealer who was far away

and my mother,

the less said about her the better.

She was half French

and the other half is lost to the dust of time.

In short, I'm a thoroughbred mongrel.

I'm related to all the earth

and nothing that's human is foreign to me.

Then perhaps you can explain

how our friends suddenly vanished.

We were alone since I first saw you.

You come here often?

From now on I'll be here every evening, waiting for you.

I'm afraid I won't come here again.

Then I'll have to take steps to wipe out your image.

What steps?

There are quite a few steps provided by the management.

There's one, for instance.

[speaks in a foreign language]

You're wanted

at your convenience.

The whole district has been sold.

They're going to call me back

and give me the name of the number one man.

That's what I thought,

some big speculation in land values is on

and they want us out.

[phone buzzes]

The name is Sir Guy Charteris.

Charteris, who's that?

Find out when he arrived, where he's from,

find his mistakes.

Every man makes them.

If he's successful he makes quite a few.

Should be easy to find a few things to stop him.

A bullet will stop him.

Call up the bank and find out what he's worth.

Oh, he's worth plenty,

I can tell you that without phoning.

Have a photographer in front of his house

to get his picture.

I want to see what he looks like.

See if there's anyone in Shanghai

who knows this Sir Guy Charteris.

I know 'im.

What are you doing here?

Who are you?

Your tall friend brought me here

and promised me some chow,

I haven't even seen the chopsticks yet,

let alone the rice.

Are you playing at being the caliph of Baghdad again?

Another one of your pickups?

Seems to be a useful one for a change.

Anyway she'd be in jail by now

had I not found her pleasing.

Wouldn't you, my little tulip?

If you're thinking of

putting your little tulip in your buttonhole,

you'd better get her something to eat.

Leave me alone with her.

Order some food.

Now then, sit down my child

and tell me what you know about this Charteris.

Well, before I had to beach comb in Shanghai

we had a swell little leg show in Singapore.

We really started out in Frisco

and some agent soft-soaped us

across the Atlantic to Marseilles.

We lost some of the kids there.

We then went to Cairo

and most of 'em are still walking up and down the pyramids.

How do you happen to know Charteris?

I met him in Singapore.

He sent his orderly back stage to make a date with me.

Orderly?

Is he a military man?

Oh no, you know what I mean, the flunkie,

the fellow does the dirty work.

Well he invites me out to dinner at one of the joints.

I brung a girlfriend along to referee

'cause you never know what you're up against that clinches.

Anyway, it wasn't necessary,

he turned out to be a gentleman.

Bought me pop and baby orchids.

How often did you see him?

Oh, couple of times, maybe five or six.

Of course, I had to see him on the QT,

we only went out in the dark.

Why?

Why?

He's a bigshot.

Man like that'd put us on the ice,

besides he's got a daughter.

Has he?

How old is the daughter?

'Bout my age, I guess.

That's why I couldn't see him anymore.

He said his daughter was joining him

from a finishing school in Switzerland.

So he gave me some money

and I invested it in a ruby which turned out to be phony.

What does he look like?

Well, he's okay.

Tallish, 'bout 50,

has a good line, knows what he wants,

and once in a while his arm

reaches for the ceiling for no reason at all,

just likes to stretch I guess.

Tell me, what color were his eyes?

Were they blue?

Yeah, I think they were.

Are you certain his name is Sir Guy Charteris?

Sure, his picture was in the paper once,

he's the real thing all right.

Wait a minute, maybe I can find the clipping,

I think I saved it.

No, I guess I threw it away.

[dramatic music]

And this beyond the river?

It used to be marshland,

full of tractors now, storehouses.

Most of that sector is now ours.

And as far as I can see

it's only a question of making it

nice and comfortable for the others before they sell.

There shouldn't be much delay

since our friend here suggests that the city

is not adverse to the elimination of this quarter.

[phone rings]

Look here, I told you we were not to be disturbed.

Personally I would recommend

that additional funds be added,

say 200,000-- [phone rings]

This is Charteris.

I don't wish to be interrupted again.

I'd like to have a new man

on the switchboard in the morning.

Very good, sir.

[phone rings]

There's a Mother Gin Sling who wishes to speak to you

and the person on the other end of the line

insists that the phone will ring until you answer.

And who is Mother Gin Sling?

She runs a casino in the district we're clearing out.

Quite an establishment and quite an income.

Some of these tenants we're dispossessing

seem to have a good deal of power.

Well, they'll have less when we're through with them.

Let's get on with this meeting.

Mother Gin Sling, quite a name.

Sounds like rather a hard character.

On the contrary, she's a very charming woman.

Is she?

[dramatic music]

[speaks in a foreign language]

Careful, you'll break the bank.

How much have you accumulated?

You'll know in a minute.

Let's have it cashed.

Aren't you proud of me, 'Mar?

Am I not a good pupil?

It's either that or beginners luck.

It's the beginning and the end.

I'm not gonna play anymore,

not tonight or any other night.

Otherwise I'd be here for good.

What's wrong with that?

You know a better way to spend your life?

There's something you don't know about me.

I can stop whenever I want to.

Let's go out for a ride.

I need some air.

Gracious, I didn't know I'd won so much.

[mid tempo music]

Sir Guy.

Where's my car?

We can't find your chauffer.

Your car's in the garage.

Well have someone else bring it.

I'm sorry sir, car won't move.

Get me a taxi.

I'm trying my best, sir,

but they're all taken.

How 'bout a rickshaw, a clean one?

[blows whistle]

[exciting music]

Big fella isn't he?

Too big to be Chinese.

Must be Chinese, no one else would do coolie's work, sir.

Bubbling Wild Road, corner of Gordon.

Get out, get out, one is enough.

Bubbling Wild Road, this way.

This way, this way.

[speaks in a foreign language]

That's Sir Guy all right, isn't he handsome?

I should've gone over and talked to him.

I'll tell you when I want you to talk to him.

So he calls himself Charteris.

Sure he calls himself Charteris,

why shouldn't he?

That's his name.

[speaks in a foreign language]

[dramatic music]

[speaks in a foreign language]

She reminds me of my first wife.

Money meant absolutely nothing to her

as long as I provided it.

Croupier, 17.

[speaks in a foreign language]

And black.

And red.

Odd.

Even, with your permission.

Boy, bottle of champagne.

[speaks in a foreign language]

That was the last of the Mohicans.

Now's the time to go after it,

my plucked bird of paradise.

What'll I use for chips?

What about that rope of stones around your neck?

I couldn't do that,

it's a present from my dad.

What do you care?

Buy it back when you've won.

Your luck's bound to change.

You mean bound to get worse.

I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever win.

I wonder, will I get a good price for it?

Your question insults the house.

We buy and sell everything in the most honorable manner.

You're a beautiful woman, Poppy.

This sparkle is artificial, you won't need it.

I wonder how you'd look with your hair down.

Misha.

45,000 mace.

What's that in pounds?

790 English pounds,

minus a few unavoidable deductions.

[chattering in foreign language]

Boy.

What's the ritziest drink you got, comrade?

Don't call me comrade.

What's Ritz to one is nix to another.

You can call me anything you like

as long as you give me something with a cherry in it.

I suppose you'd like to add me to your collection.

Which number do I remind you of?

Number two and number four,

except they talk less and weigh more.

Boy.

I am not a boy, I'm 49 years old

and my name is Vladimir Nikolaevich Kristovich Vyshinsky.

My name is Vulashen.

Sit down, Hawkins,

I want you to send out some invitations

for our New Years Eve dinner, formal.

Very good.

White tie chau.

But you're not going to close on New Years Eve are you?

I'm only closing a chapter of my life.

To begin with, to give the occasion some tone,

Lady Blessington.

Oh, she won't come,

it's easier to have the late Dowager Empress.

She'll come.

Very good, she'll come, that settles her.

See that Jackson, Van Elst and Demichaud are here.

Jackson, Van Elst, Demichaud, they'll kowtow.

Mondragonis.

Boy, oh boy, we'll have more fireworks at dinner

than in the streets.

Put down Sir Guy Charteris.

I say Mother,

aren't you putting me to a lot of unnecessary trouble?

You'll have an empty table.

It will not be empty.

We haven't been able even to approach him.

How're you going to get him to accept?

Kidnap him?

Stop behaving like a disabled flamingo

and put down Sir Guy Charteris.

Very well, but I tell you he won't come.

How much has she lost?

Over 50,000 mace in the last hour.

What about her references?

She won't give any, but I think she'll pay.

What makes you think so?

Omar thinks so too.

Omar should avoid thinking,

doesn't suit his personality.

I'll go out and see her.

[crowd chattering]

[speaking in a foreign language]

Good evening, Miss Smith.

I hope you're not going to ask for credentials too?

You asked for 50,000 dollars.

And why not?

I might have asked for more.

If your credit is good

any sum you wish is at your disposal.

My credit is at least as good as yours.

I'm sure it's better,

but unless you can furnish me with exact references,

I can't advance more than, say,

5,000.

5,000.

[dramatic music]

Rouge.

Black.

[speaks in a foreign language]

Fortune can't be forced,

you know there's such a thing as good fortune.

[speaks in a foreign language]

Can I have 200 more?

[speaks in a foreign language]

I'll see you again.

Coming, Doctor?

[Marcel] The game continues.

[speaks in a foreign language]

You look better today, Boris.

It's a pity she left.

Here is your 5,000.

Another couple of hours and I could have paid all my debts.

You're plotting your revenge like an engineer.

But the blueprints of your guests

could have been made more flattering.

Especially mine.

You'll be on my left.

And he'll sit there, opposite me.

What is it?

Miss Smith wishes more credit,

50,000 more.

I told them to give her whatever she wants,

no limits, anything she wants.

Thank you.

This remind me of a friend of mine,

a general.

His staff had planned the battle superbly.

He himself was to lead the central attack.

On paper it was perfect.

But it turned out differently.

He was promptly captured.

[unsettling music]

[speaks in a foreign language]

Do you wish some more,

would that be enough, mademoiselle?

I don't want any more, I've had enough.

[speaks in a foreign language]

Here comes your girlfriend.

Don't go away Miss, um,

Pomeroy, my name is Dixie Pomeroy.

Stay here and have another drink with me.

Thanks, but I gotta run along.

Business before pleasure.

Were you paying for the drinks

or was she paying for them?

I can say with pride

I've never paid for anything in my life.

You think you can keep up that enviable record?

Why not?

You're not going to make me jealous, are you?

Now don't make a scene.

How can you be jealous of a little chorus girl

who doesn't own the clothes on her back?

Don't play with me.

I won't stand for it.

Been watching you both for an hour.

That's why you lose,

why don't you watch the game?

I told you not to play with me.

Please forgive me, I didn't mean it.

Maybe I had too much to drink, I'm sorry.

Don't be angry with me.

What next?

An invitation, sir, to spend the Chinese New Year

at the house of this Gin Sling woman.

See that.

I dispossess her, throw her out of Shanghai,

she invites me to celebrate her departure.

In my younger days I shouldn't have refused,

too bad, send my regrets as politely as you know how.

Very good, sir.

[loud bang] [glass shattering]

[phone ringing]

Answer that phone.

Yes?

Nobody there, sir.

How 'bout call a priest?

Very good, sir.

I wouldn't go out there if I were you, sir,

it might be dangerous.

Well, that's the best way to find out

if they're aiming at me.

[glass tinkling]

Ryerson.

There's that rickshaw coolie again.

Looks to me like the first shot

of an intended 21 gun salute.

Give him a coin and tell him I'd like to see him.

Very good, sir.

I'm becoming fond of the fellow.

[exciting music]

[glass tinkling]

He's here, sir.

So, we meet again, eh?

You savee English?

You speakee Chinee, Cantonee?

Let me see that invitation.

You know anything about this?

You breakee window?

You didn't, by any chance here any shots, did you?

Boom, boom?

See here, if I find you in the vicinity of my house again

I'll have you put in jail.

I see you do speak English.

Wait.

Lock him up, that should take care of him.

I'll do my very best, sir.

[speaks in a foreign language]

That sounded slightly Russian, didn't it?

What'd he say?

I think he said that no Chinese jail

is strong enough to hold him, sir.

From what I hear of Chinese jails he might be right.

Yes, sir.

Well, let's get on with the rest of this correspondence.

I hope it'll be easier to dispose of.

I'm sure it will, sir.

Give me that invitation.

8:30, formal.

Mother Gin Sling requests

the pleasure of your company at dinner

on Chinese New Year.

Mother Gin Sling.

[dramatic music]

Hey.

[glass breaking]

Bring me some brandy and sulfur for a change,

chase away the evil spirits.

Where's Omar, the tent maker?

Where's that Persian poet?

Behave yourself, Poppy.

You're in China and you're white.

It's not good for us to see you like this.

You'll bring discredit to your race if you continue.

Don't preach to me!

And let my race take care of itself.

What's upsetting you?

What's the matter?

Didn't I lose enough tonight?

So far you've lost nothing

but pieces of paper with my endorsement on them.

You wouldn't endorse anything that wouldn't be paid.

I know it will be paid.

Come, get some sleep, then you can play some more.

Don't touch me!

Don't paw me.

I have enough money to buy this whole outfit

and everything that's in it.

All that counts here is money, anyway.

But this is the last time you'll see me,

you understand?

The last time.

[dramatic music]

[knocking]

Open up, you!

[knocking]

Open up, you!

[knocking]

Come on, honey, let me in.

Honey!

[sobbing]

[stomps foot]

[sobbing]

My ankle hurts, I hurt it!

Oh, I hurt my ankle!

Help!

[dramatic sobbing]

My ankle hurts!

[sobbing]

Did you hurt yourself, my little one?

I turned my ankle, I can't walk.

Why, that's too bad.

Omar, would you carry me in, please?

Does it hurt badly, my sweet?

[stomps foot]

Where is she?

Where is who, my little broken footed antelope?

You know exactly who I mean.

I knew it.

This very, very small powder puff

doesn't belong to you, does it?

Or maybe it's an illusion.

Come, quick, what does the poet say

when he sees a mirage?

I'm no authority on mirages or powder puffs.

This belongs to Dixie, doesn't it?

Since when has Dixie had a monopoly on powder puffs?

Omar, don't torture me like this.

[sobbing]

Victoria.

Sit down.

Tell me, Victoria,

has there any been any doubt in your mind

that I love you better than anything in the world?

I know, Dad.

Why do you ask?

We haven't been very close to each other

since we came to Shanghai and it's my fault.

You mustn't say that, Dad,

you've been busy, you've had other things to do.

What's the matter, something wrong?

How do you feel?

I'm fine, you know, Dad, I'm always fine.

Is everything all right?

Anything troubling you?

You sound awfully strange, why do you ask?

It's not unusual for me to be solicitous about you.

You're all I have, Victoria.

I've spent a good deal of my life trying to protect you

from anything that could possibly hurt you.

What's wrong, Dad?

Is there anything I can do?

Are you feeling happy?

Yes, I'm happy, what's the matter?

I'm sending you back to Singapore

and I'll join you in a week.

I've chartered a plane for you.

When do you want me to leave?

This morning.

This isn't much notice, but I make quick decisions.

Sometimes they're wrong, but mostly they're right.

That's impossible, I can't get ready.

Go as you are.

I'll have your things sent after you.

I won't do it.

Dear Victoria, you must do as I tell you.

I don't like saying this,

but you've overdrawn your bank account,

some of the trinkets I gave you are missing.

This morning a man offered to sell me this necklace.

I paid his price without asking any questions.

I don't know what you've been doing

with your money or with your time.

I've always had an instinct about bringing you here

and I'm not going to ignore my feelings any further.

I'll join you in Singapore in a little while

and we'll talk about it there

and probably laugh about it.

Sorry, Dad.

Let's forget about it.

Take care of yourself, Victoria.

Take care of yourself.

[drumming and fire crackers exploding]

No father, no money, no chow,

no father, no mother, no whiskey soda,

no father, no mother...

No father, no mother, no chow,

no father, no mother, no whiskey soda.

You likee Chinese New Year?

I likee.

[elegant piano music]

Why, Mr. Van Elst,

this is indeed a surprise.

This is the last place on earth

I would expect to find you!

Miss Lawrence, you are here,

Lady Blessing delights us with her presence,

can't be the last place.

You haven't told anyone I own this building?

Ahh, Mr. Howe!

So nice to see you again, Mr. Howe.

It's ages since we've met.

You adore European women, don't you?

I wonder why, you old rascal.

I love them because they're so intelligent,

they have such a sense of humor.

My name is Caesar Hawkins.

No relation to the Roman emperors. [Laughing]

May I help to acquaint you with the other guests?

Whom would you like to meet?

Good evening, I haven't seen you for many months,

since I had the fortune of selling you a fine piece of jade.

What piece of jade?

Oh, nothing, Mr. Howe

must be confusing me with someone else.

Sir Guy Charteris.

- Good evening, sir. - Good evening.

Doctor Omar.

I didn't expect to see you again so soon.

Oh, you work here, don't you?

Yes, I should have known that.

Anyway, I'm grateful that you made it possible

for me to repurchase the necklace.

I'm grateful to you for the price you paid.

Sir Guy.

Well.

Nice seeing you again.

It's, wait a minute, don't tell me.

Watch your step, Sir Guy.

Pomeroy.

That's right!

How did you happen to drift

into this cesspool of the Far East?

You said it.

I never thought I'd see you again, Sir Guy.

Are you in trouble?

Judging by appearances, I should say you've done very well.

By a couple of miracles

I broke into the best circles,

as you can plainly see.

Good evening.

It's a great pleasure to meet you socially, Sir Guy.

You know Miss Pomeroy, Mr. Van Elst.

Miss Pomeroy.

I don't want to disturb you gentlemen.

Quite a crowd.

Are you going to be in Shanghai long, Sir Guy?

Long enough to settle my affairs,

then I'm returning to Singapore.

[gong rings]

[dramatic music]

Well, what do you think?

Hmm.

I'm happy to see that no one has disappointed me.

You will please find your places at the table,

I had some figures made in your image.

I beg your pardon,

that's your place.

Where am I?

That may be you, Lady Blessington.

A broken doll?

That's not me.

Dear me, how clever.

Dear me.

Is this you or me?

My hair's white, your hair's still gray.

Head of the table.

I wonder why?

Oh, you deserve it, Sir Guy.

Chinese have for generations

specialized in stimulating dishes.

Birds nests from Pamosa,

seaweed from the inland sea,

and shark fins from Ghadar.

I've also not ignored an appetizer for our male guests.

[gong rings]

[fire crackers exploding]

We're going to auction off the girls to the junk men.

Once in a while they have to replenish their flower boats.

You understand, of course,

this is staged purely for the tourists.

Shanghai has to live up to its reputation.

[crowd clamoring]

I say, Mother Gin Sling,

are you sure those junk fellas down there

aren't the real thing?

They look awfully convincing.

Nevertheless, they are fake.

What about those poor little innocents up there?

They look really frightened.

They're fake too,

they're neither frightened nor innocent.

That's an idea,

putting my wives in cages,

never thought of that.

Did you tell her we had met in Singapore?

Sure, I'd tell the cockeyed world,

I'm so proud of it.

Perhaps I should've worn a white tie.

I never take any chances Chinese New Years.

Did you have to inspect them so closely?

[speaks in a foreign language]

Idiot.

Our little Chinese girls used to be sold like that

no so many years ago.

I'm glad such a thing can't take place again.

It couldn't have been so very pleasant.

Oh, I don't know.

[laughing]

[firecrackers exploding outside]

This is our New Years and we're happy today

as you can judge by the noise outside,

it's our most important festival.

It's a sacred day.

On this day we pay our debts

and I know of no Chinese who'd dare

incur the ill will of his gods or his creditors

by not starting the year with a clean slate.

Hawkins, why don't you take the occasion

to return the 200 mace I loaned you in a confused moment?

Sorry, old boy, but I'm still using them.

Well, there are other New Years.

[laughing]

Cigarette, Sir Guy?

[whistles] How long have you had that?

Thank you, I prefer my own.

Sir Guy, I'm particularly happy to see you here tonight.

You have, of course, been in China before

or are you new to our customs?

Indeed, I'm quite familiar with them.

I know the North,

In fact I like it better than the South.

It has more tradition, more poise,

more character and beauty.

You too come from the North, don't you?

My people were Manchus.

Do you prefer this climate?

Why did you leave the North?

I had little to do with it.

I was washed ashore here,

picked up on the Shanghai waterfront.

Mr. Howe then took me in tow.

He saw me stealing some food and he liked me.

Later he gave me enough to establish this gallery.

But that was long ago, wasn't it?

It was a good investment.

She paid back a hundredfold.

I always pay my debts,

a hundredfold.

There's the tiger for you,

and showing her claws.

Those claws can stand a bit of trimming.

Speaking of the waterfront,

you're so pretty Miss Pomeroy.

Are you one of the Pomeroys who have a villa near Nice?

She's a chorus girl out of work, your ladyship.

And but for the grace of Allah and Mother Gin Sling

she'd be floating down the river.

Aw, can the sentiment.

Pomeroys of Nice, Pomeroys of Flatbush,

we had a marvelous villa there and what a landlord.

From Nice to Flatbush is quite a swim.

It doesn't matter where we come from,

what matters is that we are here.

Miss Pomeroy, of course,

has never witnessed this charming holiday.

Yeah, it's like our 4th of July,

I adore noise, it's so refined.

[speaks in a foreign language]

Please excuse me, I feel sick and I wish to go home.

Sit down,

you might become more ill

if I should recall to your mind

a little incident that took place in Rio five years ago.

Don't disturb yourself your excellency,

your wife has a good constitution.

As questionable as her career has been,

it's no worse than yours.

Or do you wish me to amplify that statement?

[laughing]

Mother Gin Sling,

you've no idea how happy I am to be here.

I'm going into the casino later

and drop quite a bit of money.

I'm left so often with idle time on my hands

with nothing, nothing, nothing to do.

Do tell me, who's going to sit next to me?

I hope it's a man and,

by the way, who broke this

and why isn't it here?

That represents a very distinguished young lady

who is being sobered up

so that she can walk in and take her place at this table

to complete the list of my illustrious guests.

Another glass for Sir Guy.

Ah! Good gracious!

What is it Lady Blessington?

Someone has pinched you I hope?

Indeed not!

One, two, three, four, thirteen chairs.

I'm going home, you must excuse me.

Sit down!

Does anyone else wish to leave?

I take it, Mother Gin Sling,

that there's some reason which compels

each of your guests to stay.

There's none which can make me stay.

I came to see you out of sheer curiosity.

I can appreciate an invitation issued

to a man you've been trying to intimidate.

Without wishing to give offense I'll go.

Good night Miss Pomeroy.

Sir Van Elst.

Night, Sir Guy.

You act as if there were really nothing

to compel you to remain, Sir Guy.

I thought we might've had a longer chat,

but since, as you say, there's no way of detaining you

I'll say goodnight Mr. Dawson.

How do you know that name?

Mr. Dawson has decided to stay,

which, after all, is quite proper

considering this dinner was given in his honor.

Who are you?

What's behind this mask of yours?

Look at me.

Is my face so changed you no longer know me

or do all Chinese girls look alike to you?

Look at me closely.

The only mask I wear is the mask of time.

Surely you didn't expect shining faith

and blind love to remain in my face forever.

I never saw you in my life.

The honorable Sir Guy chooses not to recognize me,

but he chooses to drive me out of Shanghai.

What a joke,

I daresay he wasn't prepared to meet me again.

But we do meet again and on New Year's Eve

when we pay our debts, great and small.

[claps hands]

You've looked at me a long time now,

do you still say you don't know me?

Yes, why should I know you?

Wait a minute,

no,

that's impossible.

That girl's dead.

[mysterious music]

Yes, you're right, that girl is dead.

That weak girl who trusted you with her life,

she is dead.

But in her place stands Mother Gin Sling

who's strong and who now trades in the weaknesses of others

and who, because of that

has again as many boxes of silver

as you once stole from that stupid little fool,

now do you know me?

Look at me once more and tell them who I am

and why it is that you will leave Shanghai and not I.

Yes, I said stole.

Dawson was a thief, whatever you may be today.

That's not possible.

You're not--

Quickly, tell them the little name of love

you used to call a Manchu girl.

There were little love names we had for each other then.

I was Miss Ladybug and he was--

This is some sort of trap.

There was a woman once, yes, I admit it,

but it couldn't be you.

I beg you, let us have no more of this.

Be silent, Commissioner,

that man's name is Victor Dawson.

How he happens to be Sir Guy Charteris I don't know.

Perhaps he'll be kind enough to explain.

Yes,

yes I'll be kind enough to explain.

Since she's made a public issue of the past,

I think it's only fair to say that she's right.

I came to China as a youngster

and because I wanted to make my own way

I dropped my family name and assumed the name of Dawson.

And I did marry a Chinese girl.

I saw nothing dishonorable in that.

And he saw nothing dishonorable in leaving her.

He saw nothing dishonorable in taking her money.

I was that girl.

When I met this Mr. Dawson

I gave him my father's wealth to keep for me

and I gave myself with it

and I gave him a child, poor thing.

Then all at once he was gone.

I waited, the days were like years.

His friends came, I thought they were my friends too.

Then one day I found myself

like those caged animals out there,

only there was no fake about that sale.

Do you know what the China Sea looks like

from a boat filled with passengers without hope?

Told to laugh and be gay and kicked into not weeping?

A new port every few weeks,

Tianjin, Amoy,

Canton, Fuzhou,

and then Shanghai.

How could I dream that an hour would come

when I could pay him back in full

and how was I to know he would make it so easy?

The soles of my feet cut open

and pebbles sewn inside to keep me from running away.

I don't know what kept me alive

unless it was the hope of a nice,

social evening like this one,

perhaps now I can persuade you

to return to your seat, Sir Guy?

I'm not through with you yet.

[gong rings]

[tense music]

Well, Dad, I guess you didn't expect to see me here,

did you?

But planes can turn back too.

Or did I imagine that you put me on a plane, huh?

Are you surprised, Dad,

to see your daughter in this company?

Somebody give me a cigarette.

Go on, Omar, give me a cigarette.

You know him, Dad?

This I the poet laureate of Shanghai.

Someday I'm going to kill him.

Go on, Doctor, recite something for Dad.

Go on, go ahead,

hurry up!

The moving finger writes,

and having writ moves on.

Nor all your piety nor wit

shall lure it back to cancel half a line,

nor all your tears wash out a word of it.

How do you like him, Dad?

And how do you like this?

Want a cigarette, Dad?

Cost me thousands.

Cheap though, isn't it?

Like a lot of things around here.

Look like she means me, I guess.

You don't mind if I overstep my allowance once in a while

to make a few presents, do you Dad?

While we're on the subject of presents, Dad,

I owe Lady Shylock over there 20,000 English pounds.

And I haven't much to show for it

except that dressed up clown.

This whole thing reminds me of an argument I once had

with the mother of my second wife.

It also was a question of money.

What time is it anyway?

No tickee, no watchee.

[laughing]

I hope, ladies and gentlemen, you'll allow me

in my capacity as Counselor,

to point out that there are two sides to every question.

Save you breath, Jackson.

I require no defense.

Whatever I have done is done.

[claps hand]

Come, we're going,

you can't possibly have any reason

to detain either of us any longer,

we've served our purpose.

Don't bother me, I don't want to go yet.

Why don't you listen to your father,

he wants you to go with him.

We Chinese at least bring up our children

to respect their parents, to obey them.

Even when everything else goes that remains.

I want you to come home.

[upbeat music]

[transitions into somber music]

Van Elst, come over here a moment.

Can you come to my office in the morning

and pick up a check for 20,000 pounds,

bring it to her.

And tell her the funds she claims I took are,

and always have been, in the North China Bank

in her name in Tianjin.

I'm sorry, Sir Guy.

Anything else I can do?

Sins of the fathers.

Thanks and good night.

Why don't you wait a minute?

Wait outside, I have a few things I want to settle.

You have nothing to settle.

The money you owe will be paid.

I must say goodbye, I can't run away like this.

You're coming home with me.

Why do you treat me like this?

I'm old enough to know what I'm doing.

Once before you forced me to leave,

what good was that?

I came back, didn't I?

You've bossed me all my life

and now you know it hasn't done any good.

There were always other people

to tell me what to do and what to think,

you've had me on a chain all my life.

Now I want to think for myself!

The only trouble with that chain was

that it wasn't strong enough.

[drumming and firecrackers exploding]

Rickshaw!

Rickshaw!

Rickshaw!

I thought I'd be spared

the pleasure of seeing you again, Sir Guy.

There's no reason why you should remain in my house,

the slate is clean.

Let me get that girl in there before it's too late.

It's already too late.

Your daughter is no good for anything.

Wherever you take her she'd be no good.

I would have torn down the whole world to get at you,

but it wasn't necessary.

It was made easy for me

because her soul was hollow.

Her emotions were cheap.

She had no more control than her father had.

She had no more honor than he had.

Her blood is no good.

All right,

you're forcing me to something I wanted to avoid.

I didn't want to say this before the others.

I wanted to deal with it myself, but I can't now.

He blood isn't bad unless yours is bad.

Her emotions aren't cheap unless your emotions are cheap.

She's not my daughter, she's our daughter.

Why do you say such a stupid thing?

Our child was gone before it could babble mother.

Your daughter is in there.

Who would boast of a child being yours?

After you disappeared, as you claim,

she was picked up for dead and brought to a hospital.

I took her far away where the word China is never heard.

She doesn't know to this day that she was born in China.

Nor did she know nor did I know

that her mother was still alive.

[screaming and firecrackers exploding from outside]

If that's my daughter in there

then I think this should be left to me.

All right, see what you can do.

I'm not gonna hang around here any longer.

Don't either of you leave this room

before I'm through with you.

Say, don't make it tough for me,

I'm just workin' here, I'm takin' orders.

There's nothing between us.

Of course there's nothing between you,

I'm doing you a great injustice,

you're just friends, he's protecting you from evil,

educating you, teaching you how to convert

that cheap tongue of yours into spouting poetry.

Well, maybe I haven't had education,

but I know how to behave.

Makin' a holy show of yourself,

you oughta be ashamed.

Everybody goes through troubles,

I've had my share.

Just 'cause it's tough for us,

we don't have to make it tough for others.

You can have him as far as I'm concerned.

Won't do you any good.

Guy like that doesn't have to make life any better.

He'd never help you up, he'd only help you down.

I sent my soul through the invisible,

some letter of that afterlife to spell:

and by and by my Soul returned to me

and answered, "I myself am Heaven and Hell."

If you wanna you can listen to that Persian tripe,

I'm going.

Stay where you are.

You're not going.

[discordant piano notes]

Let me go!

Get out, Omar.

You too, Dixie.

Get out of here yourself!

They'll stay here.

This is my house and I want to be left alone with you.

I don't care whose house it is,

they'll stay here until I want them to go.

If you can still listen to anything

then listen now.

I've just been informed that I'm your mother.

What are you talking about?

You're crazy.

Dixie, get out.

[loud screams and firecrackers exploding from outside]

And Omar, you too, go.

Don't go, Omar.

Don't go, I didn't know what I was saying.

Let him go.

I have the right to command you.

Do you hear me, I'm your mother, let him go.

What right have you to command me?

I have no more connection with you

than with a toad out on the street.

Mother, why don't you forget that litany?

Somebody had to be my mother,

but I can tell you one thing,

if I had my choice you'd be the last one on Earth I'd pick,

Mother Gin Sling.

[gun firing]

[loud screams and firecrackers exploding]

[dramatic music]

What should we do now?

The police will be here.

This time we'll not bribe them, will we?

[firecrackers exploding]

Likee Chinese New Year?

[dramatic music]