The Painted Veil Page #5

I've told Hassan what you'll need.

She's packing already.

I wouldn't touch that if I was you.

They may have died in that bed.

This can be your room.

You must be the doctor's wife.

I've just met your husband

and invited myself to dinner.

I've kept the Watsons' cook for you.

She's not bad.

She'll have to do as your amah as well.

We're a little short-handed here.

Sorry, my name is Waddington.

Oh, yes, of course. Kitty Fane.

- I'm the deputy commissioner.

- Please.

I believe you're one of our neighbors.

Only neighbor, I'm afraid.

Last one standing.

And Watson was the missionary

living here?

Yes. Nice fellow. American.

Lovely family.

I'll show you their graves tomorrow,

if you like.

How kind of you.

I hope your journey wasn't too arduous.

We've been traveling for two weeks.

Two weeks?

- What did you do, swim?

- No, we didn't come upriver.

- Came overland.

- Whatever for?

Well, we wanted to take in

a bit of the countryside.

Get a bit of sun. Didn't we, darling?

Anyone for a cocktail?

Here's luck.

I was told I might get some help

from the local army officer.

Colonel Yu, is it?

Good luck with him.

He's not fond of us British.

Listen, I'll warn you,

things are pretty dicey even out here.

I'm afraid that if the cholera doesn't get us,

the nationalists might.

Tried to get those nuns to go

but they refused.

They all want to be martyrs, damn them.

Well, why have you stayed?

I was posted here. Simple as that.

I was shocked to hear you'd volunteered.

Opportunity for research.

I couldn't pass it up.

Yes. And you?

I don't suppose you've come

to Mei-tan-fu for the research.

My husband's the scientist.

Indeed.

Did you have any reaction

to the inoculation?

- You have been inoculated?

- Yes, of course.

No guarantee.

The Watsons were inoculated...

...and it didn't do them much good.

Oh, have you brought

any gramophone records?

- No, unfortunately not.

- Pity.

I'm sick of all mine.

Listen. What's all that?

Across the river.

Trying to frighten off the spirit of death.

I'm going to town in the morning,

have a look around.

I expect you'll want to rest.

I can inoculate you in the evening.

- Will you be doing yourself?

- No, I don't think so.

- You needn't bother with me, then.

- Suit yourself.

Tell me, Walter...

...is it a long, drawn-out affair,

dying of cholera?

No. All of the fluid goes out of you

in the first 36 hours.

You die of dehydration, actually.

So it's messy and very painful.

But it is relatively quick.

Good night.

It's rather unfortunate.

I thought perhaps that you

and your wife...

...you'd like to take precautions

in case you'd have to leave this place.

Do you think all this is really necessary?

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