電影劇本：SHANGHAI JEWS （12）

(12)

EXT. STREETS -- HONGKOW -- DAY

Hans and the four musicians walk out of a bar and approach a public bathhouse.

FLUTIST

We're gonna a bath. Come with us?

TRUMPETER

We'll get you a change of clothes.

Hans follows them toward the public bathhouse.

INT. BATHHOUSE -- HONGKOW -- DAY

Hans and the four musicians are immersed in the water.

VIOLINIST

Your girlfriend is really wonderful. We met her and her parents on the ship. But we haven't seen her since we disembarked.

HANS

I'm at a dead end. I can't believe you remember her. I don't even have a picture of her to show you.

DRUMMER

We saw her father once in a casino, when we played music there.

FLUTIST

Next time, if we see her father again, we'll accost to get his address.

TRUMPETER

Don't worry, Hans. You'll find her, sooner or later.

DRUMMER

Where do you live now? How can we reach you?

HANS

I've just got here. I don't have a place to live yet.

VIOLINIST

Why don't you come live with us?

HANS

Will it bother you a lot?

FLUTIST

No, never, don't be silly. We have room and you can help cook and clean.

HANS

I'm so lucky to meet you guys.

INT. MUSICIANS' HOUSE -- HONGKOW -- NIGHT

Hans lies on a single bed. Violinist sit on another bed, reading newspaper. Hans falls asleep and snores. Violinist tucks the quilt around Hans and turns off the light.

EXT. LANE OF MUSICIANS' HOUSE -- DAY

Before dawn, the sky is dim. ROOSTERS CROW nearby and in the distance.

TENANTS take out full stools and buckets and set up them in lines. About half of the tenants are Jewish REFUGEES.

DRUMMER steps out of the door, carrying a full bucket of shit, followed by TRUMPETER who holds his hand over his nose to avoid the stink.

TRUMPETER

What the hell, no running water for toilets.

A CLEANING WORKER comes by with a wheelbarrow clattering down the narrow lane. He empties the stools and buckets one by one, pouring shit into his wheelbarrow,  

INT. COMMON KITCHEN -- MUSICIANS' HOUSE -- DAY

In a scruffy communal kitchen shared by a couple of Jewish FAMILIES, Drummer and a Jewish TENANT scour their stools and buckets in the kitchen sink, while OTHERS cook their breakfast.

Violinist squats by a stove and puts wood and coal briquettes into it. He ignites the fire and fans it to help the flames glow. Flutist, standing beside, chokes from the whiffs of smoke and clears his throat. Violinist wipes tears off his sore, smoke-stung eyes.

Hans washes chicken, fish and vegetables in the sink that has one faucet for cold water only. Trumpeter helps cut and chop beside cabinets for utensils, dishes, bowls and plates. 

EXT. PAWN SHOP -- HONGKOW -- DAY

Maria and a Jewish WOMAN look at the display window.

On display, with labels indicating manufacturer and price, are saxophones made in Austria, violins made in Italy, crystal utensils made in Poland and Czechoslovakia, clocks and watches made in Switzerland, kitchenware made in Germany and mink coats from Siberia.

MARIA

We used to have such gorgeous things in Europe.

JEWISH WOMAN

I can't believe, now, we have to barter our belongings for cash to pay for rent and basic food.

INT. PAWN SHOP -- DAY

Maria opens the door and enters. She takes her NECKLACE off and shows it to a PAWNBROKER.

MARIA

Excuse me, Sir, how much can I get for this?

The pawnbroker puts on his glasses and scrutinizes it.

PAWNBROKER

Hmm, gold, 24K.

The pawnbroker counts money and pays Maria.

MARIA

Can you pay me more?  I need to buy medicine for my sick father. That necklace is worth a lot.

PAWNBROKER

No more. Take it or leave it.

Maria takes the money and leaves.

EXT. PHARMACY -- DAY

Maria looks at the sign of the PHARMACY, hesitates, counts her money, and pushes open the door.

INT. PHARMACY -- DAY

Maria enters the pharmacy and heads to the counter. She shows her money to a SALESMAN.

MARIA

May I have penicillin?

The salesman looks at the money in Maria's hand.

SALESMAN

I'm sorry, Madam, you don't have enough money.

EXT. STREETS -- HONGKOW -- NIGHT

Brilliant neon signs light bars lined along Broadway. BAR GIRLS, of all ethnicities, lure foreign SAILORS into bars.

A couple of Gypsy and Russian GIRLS stand at a corner, smoking cigarettes. They are dressed in revealing clothes, their faces heavily made up with white powder, red lipstick and black eye shadow.

Maria approaches the girls and looks around the streets. A U.S. SAILOR approaches her and gestures her to go with him.

INT. BAR -- HONGKOW -- NIGHT

A couple of SAILORS and their GIRLS dance to the loud AMERICAN SWING MUSIC.

The U.S. sailor drinks and dances with Maria. Then he pays her and puts his arm around her shoulders. They enter a private room and slam the door behind them.

EXT. STREETS -- HONGKOW -- DAY

Early in the morning, some Chinese peddler greengrocers set up booths on the street corners and begin to sell fruits and vegetables to passers-by, most of them Chinese and Jewish refugees in the neighborhood.

MALE GREENGROCER

(yelling in Chinese)

Come on, buy, buy please. Look at these fruits and vegetables, so fresh, so beautiful.  

The greengrocers bargain and deal with foreigners by hand signs and gestures: counting with fingers, showing money and letting their customers sample merchandise.

FEMALE GREENGROCER

(yelling in Chinese)

Hurry up, it's on sale, lower prices. Buy a large quantity please, so you have onion sprouts or heads of garlic free.  

At a newsstand across the street, Hans is thumbing a copy of the SHANGHAI JEWISH CHRONICLE.

VENDOR

Hey, Sir, buy one please. It's a daily newspaper, written in German, your language, I guess, and run by Jewish refugees, about the news of your concern, I think.

Hans grabs the paper, tosses a coin to the vendor and leans against the counter.

HANS

I'm looking for a job, very urgently. Can you tell me how to get one?

VENDOR

Uh, it's not very easy to find a job, nowadays, during the wartime. You may do some small business, like those greengrocers at the street corners. But, more or less, you need money to start up.

HANS

No, I'm penniless, no money to start up.

A RICKSHAW PULLER passes by, stops, lets a old lady step into his little carriage fixed with cushioned seats, and trots away.

VENDOR

I've got an idea.

HANS

What?

VENDOR

I know a rickshaw leaser. You can ask him to lease you a rickshaw and pay the rent from the fare you're gonna earn.

HANS

It sounds interesting, without startup fee.

VENDOR

I saw some Jewish ladies, especially  senior people, need rickshaws as their means of transportation.

HANS

I see, I can help them.

VENDOR

Let me write you the leaser's address, just a block from here. You can say that I refer you to him.

HANS

Thanks.

The vendor writes down the address on a piece of paper and hands it to Hans. Hans shakes hands with the vendor and steps forward.

Anna approaches the newsstand where Hans has been just a moment ago. She buys a copy of the same newspaper, places a coin on the vendor's palm, and scurries.

(CONTINUING)