55 Days at Peking

Peking. China.

The summer of the year 1900.

The rains are late,

the crops have failed,

a hundred million Chinese are hungry

and a violent wind of discontent

disturbs the land.

Within the foreign compound

a thousand foreigners live and work,

citizens of a dozen far-off nations.

What is this terrible noise?

Different nations saying the same thing, at the same time.

We want China.

Sha-shao!

Separated from the foreign compound

by only a wall and a gate,

is the Forbidden City.

Here, in untouchable isolation

lives the Dowager Empress, last of the Manchus.

Protected by an army of eunuchs,

she holds court and consults with her ministers,

mandarins and generals.

You will halt the execution.

But I have orders from Prince Tuan!

And now you have an order from me.

The nightingale will recover.

The arts of the Court physician will prevail.

Only yesterday I listened to its song.

Your Highness. The execution has been stopped.

- Who? - Yung-Lo.

Your Majesty,

I come to ask your displeasure, Divine One.

Take my life instead of the Colonel's.

We cannot spare you.

It was I who gave the orders for the troops to fire on the Boxers.

They were burning Christian missions, killing foreigners.

We have sad news.

The nightingale...

it was your gift.

Do you remember, Yung-Lo?

I have not forgotten.

I live only to serve Your Majesty.

And how does the General's attack on the Boxer patriots serve Her Highness?

If the Boxers remain unchecked, a dozen foreign armies will descend on China.

We are tens of millions. Let them come.

Does the Empress believe that where the imperial Army has failed,

the swords of the rebel will succeed?

Our Gods are with the Boxers.

The voice of the nightingale is still.

I hear only the sound of crows.

Your Majesty,

a violent wind does not last till morning.

The Boxers have arisen like the wind and the rain,

and like the wind and the rain, they will disappear.

May the Boxers be guided by the will of the gods.

About the Colonel, Your Majesty.

Let his end will be a sign, to the people

and a warning to the foreigners.

The Colonel's death is of no consequence.

But his life has set my Prince against my General

and this disturbs the tranquility of the morning.

Let him die for this offense.

You are concerned, Yung-Lo?

If the Boxers fail, I will give the foreigners

Prince Tuan's head.

Eyes front, soldier.

All right, Marines, eyes front!

We're almost in Peking, the capital city of China.

This is an ancient, and a highly cultured civilization,

so don't get the idea you're any better than these people

just because they can't speak English.

A few of words of Chinese will go a long way.

Repeat after me. The word for 'Yes' is 'shih'.

Shih.

- The word for 'No' is 'Bu shih". - Bu shih.

Remember, it's just the same here as anywhere else in the world,

everything has a price.

So pay your money and don't expect any free samples.

Yes, sir.

Right turn!

Column... Halt!

We going to break that up, Major?

You're gonna stay right here!

- Murphy! - Yes, sir?

Ni hao.

Please tell the Boxer chief I'd like to do business with him.

I want to buy that old man.

But he's Britain, you're American.

Twenty dollars.

Ching Ju!

Tell him I'll only do business if the old man's alive.

Nothing if he's dead.

Give me double the amount, do you want?

Forty dollars.

All right.

He's dead.

But he say you must pay anyway

because you have spoiled the ceremony.

Nothing doing.

Twenty dollars.

Tell your friend I'm still willing to do business.

I'll buy the dead Boxer.

Forty dollars.

Twenty dollars.

- Did you fire that shot? - Yes, sir.

Nice shooting, Sergeant.

Thank you, Major.

That'll cost you twenty bucks,

out of your pay. Fall in!

Alright... Fall in!

- Take them around to the barracks. - Yes, sir.

- Murphy! - Yo.

This is it.

Tell the Baroness, I'm still waiting.

As you know, your Excellency, I have already sent her a note.

You're the owner of this hotel, Barak Mont, tell her yourself.

Well, I'll see what there is, Count.

Excellency, please. Excuse me, Signor.

Barak Mont, in my capacity as Russian Minister to Peking,

I order you to get her down here.

As you wish, your Excellency.

But you must remember, she is still a guest. I cannot order her around.

Excuse me, your Excellency, but I think you could do with a cold drink.

- And so could I. - Champagne, your Excellency?

How are you?

It's been a long time. It's okay. You're beautiful.

Natasha!

Would you like to come with us to have fun?

Baroness Ivanoff!

Yes, Sergei?

Not enough that you keep me waiting, now you choose to ignore me.

You are a little nervous, Sergei.

I suggest something cool to drink

for all of us.

- Sorry. - It's okay. We'll go ourselves. Goodbye.

Natasha ... I

Thank you.

I try not to talk about the necklace.

But you are talking about it.

I'm talking to you as Russian Imperial Minister to Peking ...

Please, Sergei, just speak to me as my brother-in-law.

Natasha, I've told Mr Bergmann

that your visa has been revoked.

Consequently, you have no right to remain in this hotel,

Peking or for that matter anywhere in China.

- You're legally non-existent. - You're frightening me Sergei.

Where will you go?

To your Chinese friend?

You must hate me, Sergei.

You're wrong, Natasha.

I do not hate you.

Please leave!

You're a fool.

My conscience is clear,

but you have lost everything.

You will end up naked in the streets.

Not entirely naked.

I'll still have the necklace.

Today...

She must be out of here today.

Yes, your Excellency. I'll take care of it.

Good afternoon, Sir.

I hope I get one of the rooms with a bath this time.

I'm sorry sir. Did you have a reservation?

Well, hello there, Lewis.

- Hi. - Hi.

You're late.

When did you get in Colonel?

- This morning. - What kept you so long?

We had to walk the last 10 miles.

The railroad isn't running anymore.

Gentlemen, the railroad isn't anymore.

- Major Lewis! - Hey Bergmann.

- Haven't you got a room for me? - All rooms are taken.

- Alright, if you'll wait a short while. - Fine.

Ah, thanks, Chiang. Here you are.

Thanks Major, any time you need me.

That's half my life in here, Bergmann. Take good care of it for me.

And some more of your life here, Major.

Oh, yeah.

Let me use your waste basket.

Well, they're six months.

Open a letter, you have to read it.

Read it, you may have to answer it.

Lewis!

- Ah, Carlo! - I miss you!

- Ah Captain. - You're late.

What kept you so long?

I lost 2 men. Had to stop to bury them.

Come on Andy, let's get something to drink.

Alright.

Why don't you try to get a room here too, Andy.

I want to look up the kid. Maybe find a place closer to her.

Oh yeah, your little girl.

- How old is she now, anyway? -11.

No, I guess she's 12 already.

Too rough on her. No mother and practically no father.

What else can I do?

Now she's with a French mission and a bunch of Chinese orphans.

You re better than most fathers at least ...