The Painted Veil

THE PAINTED VEIL

CHINA 1925

LONDON TWO YEARS EARLIER

Hello.

Say, I was wondering…

What?

Sorry. I was wondering if you'd like to dance?

Why not?

Kitty, who was the young man you were dancing with last night?

Which one?

The quiet, serious-looking one.

Oh, him.

I suppose you invited him, Mother.

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

I invited him.

His name is Fane and he's a doctor.

He manages a government laboratory in Shanghai.

A civil servant?

In any case.

He called 'round last Sunday, we had a long chat.

I told him to come back anytime.

It's not often that you like any of my young men.

Well, do you like him?

Not really.

- What's wrong with him? - Is he in love with you?

I don't know.

I should have thought by now you'd know when a

young man was in love with you.

The point is whether or not I'm in love with him. And I'm not.

You'd better be careful, young lady.

Time can run out, you know.

Oh, stop it, Mother. Honestly.

The very idea that a woman should marry

any Tom, Dick, or Harry…

…regardless of her own feelings is simply prehistoric.

How much longer do you expect your father to go on supporting you?

Oh.

Hello.

Hello. I…

I was just coming…

Your father invited me.

I'm going out.

May I join you?

Right on time.

What is it exactly that you do?

I'm a bacteriologist.

That must be fascinating.

You have no idea what that is, do you?

No. I'm afraid not.

No, there's no reason you should.

I study the microorganisms that carry disease.

Charming.

No, it's not actually. It's the opposite.

Shall we step inside?

Do you like flowers?

Not particularly, no.

Well, I mean, yes.

But we don't really have them around the house.

Mother says,

"Why purchase something you can grow for free?"

But then we don't really grow them either.

It does seem silly, really.

To put all that effort into something that's just going to die.

I'd like to say something to you.

I came to see you to ask you if you'll marry me.

You could knock me down with a feather.

Could you not tell that I'm in love with you?

You never showed it.

Oh, I'd…

Well, I wanted to. It's difficult. I…

But there it is.

Right.

I'm not sure that's very well put.

No, it's not.

Do you see how clumsy I am? I…

I'm terrible at these sorts of things.

But the thing is

I've got to get back to China very soon.

I don't have time to be cautious.

I've never thought of you in that way.

I think I improve greatly upon acquaintance.

Oh, I'm sure you do…

I'd do anything in my power to make you happy.

Anything at all.

I think you'd like Shanghai.

It's quite exciting, it is.

Lots of dancing.

Surely you're not expecting me to answer this second?

I don't know you at all.

Yes! Well, we had the highest of hopes, but…

…no expectation that he'd ask her so soon.

Yes. A lovely late autumn wedding.

She's done very well for her herself, has my Doris.

At least one of them's made a success.

No, I gave up on Kitty ages ago.

Yes.

Yes.

Well, I know you understand. Yes.

Well?

Is it smaller than you imagined?

I'm not sure what I imagined.

Don't you have a piano?

No, I don't play the piano.

Who is it?

It's I.

Come in.

Just wanted to see.

So, then, you're comfortable, then?

Do you need anything?

No.

I'm fine.

Thank you.

Good. Good.

I'm so happy you're here.

Shall I shut the lamp?

What for?

I'll shut the lamp.

It's raining cats and dogs.

I said, it's raining cats and dogs.

Yes, I heard you.

You might have answered.

I'm sorry.

I've gotten used to not speaking…

…unless I have something to say.

If nobody spoke unless they had something to say…

…the human race would soon lose the power of speech.

Walter.

I'm sorry.

You're right.

What shall we do? Shall we…

…shall we play a game?

You don't like the games I play. They bore you.

Nonsense.

Let's play cards.

Do you think you'd enjoy a night out?

We have an invitation for Saturday night.

From whom?

The Townsends.

Dorothy Townsend.

Do you not like her?

Well, I've only met her once,

but there's no reason for her to put on such airs.

Does she?

Yes. I have no idea why.

She was what? Married to a vice consul?

Honestly, they're absurd, this Shanghai set.

Mother wouldn't dream of asking half of them to dinner.

I'm taking that black five.

Well, it's all right.

I thought you might enjoy it,

but we certainly don't have to go.

I don't care either way.

Go where?

- Kitty Fane? - Hello, Dorothy.

I'm so glad you could come.

This is Walter.

I'm pleased to meet you.

This is my husband.

Charlie, stop talking and greet our guests.

- You know Mr. Fane. - Charlie.

It's Dr. Fane, darling.

Oh, dear. I do beg your pardon, Dr. Fane.

Not at all.

And this is Dr. Fane's wife, Kitty.

Mrs. Fane.

Mr. Townsend.

I do apologize, Dr. Fane.

I assumed you worked with Charlie at the consulate.

Oh, no. Nothing so glamorous.

I'm at the Civil Laboratory.

The government lab? How fascinating.

Are you enjoying it?

I've never seen anything like it.

Every gesture has a meaning.

See how she covers her face with the cloth?

She is mourning her misfortune.

What happened to her?

She was sold into slavery.

Condemned to a life of drudgery and despair…

…in a strange land far from home.

See the chains?

They represent the heavy bondage of her poor trapped soul…

…from which there is no escape.

And so she weeps.

She weeps for the lively,

vivacious girl she once was…

…for the lonely woman she has become.

And most of all…

…she weeps for the love she'll never feel…

…for the love she'll never give.

Is that really what she's saying?

Actually, I haven't a clue what she's on about.

I don't speak Chinese.

What was that?

Perhaps it was the amah, or one of the…

They've gone.

He heard us.

Who?

Walter.

Walter. What if it was?