Thousand Pieces of Gold

[traditional Chinese instrumental music]

Lalu: For three years the rain never came,

and the land dried up.

Bandits and soldiers were everywhere.

Every day, more and more of my family's sheep were dying.

When my father and I look for the live ones,

I was so hungry and my legs felt weak.

Lalu: We had nothing.

One piece of dried meat and a little milk two times a day.

As we got ready to move south to look for rain and grass,

my father got more and more silent.

But the thing I remember is,

until the soldiers came,

at least we had hope.

- [shouting in native language]

Shh.

Baba!

Baba!

Baba! Baba!

[overlapping chatter in native language]

All ashore!

[indistinct conversations in native language]

[indistinct conversations in native language]

[indistinct conversations in native language]

[indistinct chatter in native language]

[indistinct conversations in native language]

[traditional Chinese instrumental music]

Kiss these mules goodbye and live like a rich man.

You have to learn to act like a demon here

if you want to go home rich.

Learn English, carry a gun, start your own business,

and don't let anyone push you around.

[indistinct conversations in distance]

H-horse.

Trail.

Town. Town.

I live in the saloon.

- I belong to Hong King. Not for you.

- Hey, Jim. Where'd you find that?

- Looks like you got some competition.

China Polly.

Yeah, I heard he was bringing one in.

- Hey, look, there's Hong King's Chinese girl.

Well, well.

Looky what we have here.

Oh, ho, ho, ho.

You better watch yourself, Chinaman.

You don't want to lose your tail.

Git! - You show him, Jonas!

- Don't let him get away with anything, Jonas.

That's what I heard.

- Wouldn't have enough for that.

- Where did Jim find a girl like that?

Let's see those tiny feet.

- Hey, Jonas, did you get a good look

at her foot that time?

Li Po?

Li Po?

- Boy, you're a lucky man, King.

Jim.

Hong King.

Mm-hmm.

- Always a pleasure to see you, Jim.

Howdy, Charlie.

- Welcome to Warren's, ma'am.

Take her down off that horse.

- Whoo-whee! -

- Hope I'll be seeing more of you.

Hello, Polly.

Go ahead.

That's nice.

Mmm.

Oh.

Oh!

- He sure knows how to show a girl a good time.

[Lalu: sobbing, speaking native language]

Oh!

Okay.

Uh-oh, come on, yeah.

Mmm. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mmm.

You getting one for the road?

No.

Sounds like someone beat you to the punch, huh?

She's not the only whore around.

Okay.

Here we are.

Just like a China doll, huh?

Look at these hips.

Huh?

So what do you think?

I'll see you next trip, Jim.

Now where are you going?

Hey, you're supposed to take her back to the saloon!

Ach. These Mongolians.

Can never understand them.

I'll take her.

I bet you will.

Watch out for him, Polly.

He's a devil with the ladies.

Cold?

May I escort you home?

I mean, uh, your home.

Uh...

Hong King's?

I live at the saloon.

Yeah, yeah.

To the saloon.

Uh...

Yeah.

You don't have to walk six paces behind me.

You save that for Hong King.

Hmm?

Oh, boy.

Uh, that's the general store over there.

And, um, down that way is Chinatown.

That's Chinatown.

It's not New York City, but, uh,

there's no gold in New York City.

You know, you are the prettiest woman I've seen in a long time.

I hope you will allow me the pleasure of calling on you

from time to time, Miss Polly.

This looks pretty good.

No Polly.

Well, excuse me, ma'am.

- What do you reckon he's gonna want for her?

- When do you think she's coming out of there?

[indistinct conversations continue]

- Come on. - Give me a shot.

- That's right. - Mm-hmm.

My friends,

the moment I know you've all been waiting for!

The celestial angel,

the pearl of the Orient.

Pearl of the Orient?

- She is now prepared to show you

the pleasures of the East.

Now for the first $200.

Hey!

Anything less, I keep her for myself, huh?