電影劇本：SHANGHAI JEWS（15）

(15)

 

EXT. MGM BALLROOM -- INTERNATIONAL SETTLEMENT -- NIGHT

Hans, a business card in his hand, stands in front of an impressive building with a shining neon sign: SHANGHAI MGM BALLROOM. Dragon Brother steps out to greet Hans.

DRAGON BROTHER

Welcome, welcome.

HANS

Thank you.

DRAGON BROTHER

Come on in. let's have dinner.

An INDIAN PAGE, wearing a turban, holds the door open for them. Dragon Brother's entourage line up to greet their boss' guest. Dragon Brother leads Hans inside.

INT. DANCE HALL -- MGM BALLROOM -- NIGHT

Under the crystal chandelier, the orchestra plays AN DER SCHONEN BLAUEN DONAU by JOHN STRAUSS. Chinese and foreign customers, gorgeously attired, dance gracefully to the music. WAITERS and WAITRESSES serve wine and hors d'oeuvres.

Dragon Brother greets his acquaintances on the way to his private compartment, followed by Hans.

INT. PRIVATE COMPARTMENT -- MGM BALLROOM -- NIGHT

Hans and Dragon Brother sit at a dinner table. A waiter serves lavish dishes and opens a bottle of champagne. Hans tries to use chopsticks. During enjoying their meal, they watch, through a large window pane, a line of BUNNY GIRLS performing Broadway-style dances on the stage.

DRAGON BROHTER

Hey, Hans, what can I do for you?

HANS

I need a job.

DRAGON BROTHER

What did you do in Germany?

HANS

I was a bartender.

DRAGON BROTHER

So, how about tending bar here?

HANS

It sounds great.

INT. KUNGFU GYM -- MGM BALLROOM -- NIGHT

Several members of Dragon Brother's entourage, athletic and muscular, energetically practise Chinese KUNGFU, whooping and hooting incessantly. Each man, with contentious temperament, challenges another to a duel, strives to wrestle down his opponent, but can hardly win in a locked tussle.

Two Chinese men, after turning head over heels in exciting moods, begin to perform a sword dance, skillfully parrying and thrusting in flashes of blade. Dragon Brother and Hans, among other bystanders, watch and cheer the performers on.  

DRAGON BROHTER

Hans, like to act kungfu?

HANS

Uh..., me?

DRAGON BROHTER

You can learn, if you'd like to.

HANS

I'd like to, but, can you, uh, can you show me a few basic kungfu actions?

DRAGON BROHTER

Sure, ready?

HANS

(hesitating)

Uh, yeah, ready.

Dragon Brother demonstrates a series of basic kungfu actions. Hans mimics, practises, and gradually masters a few skills.   

DRAGON BROHTER

Ha, ha, ha, well done.

HANS

Ha, ha, ha...

DRAGON BROHTER

Have fun?

HANS

Yep, a lot.

INT. DANCE HALL -- MGM BALLROOM -- DAY

Chinese SONGS, such as NIGHT OF SHANGHAI, JASMINE and ROSE, ROSE, I LOVE YOU, resonate in the dance hall.

While striding toward the bar, Hans is suddenly surrounded by a swarm of dance girls of varieties of ethnics, such as Russian, Gypsy, Chinese, French and American. One of them places her arms around Hans' neck, another adjusts Hans' tie, and some others touch Hans on his shoulder, chest, stomach and buttocks. Hans takes the hand off his rear end and races out of the dance hall.

The giggling girls, watching him go, motion for champagne from a passing waiter.  They trade their empty glasses for full ones and continue drinking and laughing.

INT. RESTROOM -- MGM BALLROOM -- DAY

Hans, tense, rinses his face with cold water, breathes deeply, and looks into the mirror.

INT. BAR -- MGM BALLROOM -- DAY

Hans, in his bartender's uniform, is finally in his element tending bar at ease, humming a JEWISH SONG. He hands a glass of wine to a customer and glimpses BAILIAN LIN, MGM's most sexy and stunning Chinese dancer.

Bailian, tall and slender, dressed in a tight silk qipao, a sort of Chinese traditional gown, approaches. The gown is slit all the way up her legs, which move gracefully as she walks. She sits on a bar stool and meets Hans' eyes with her smile of coquetry. Hans smiles back, his face flushing.

BAILIAN

Hello, Hans, brandy please.

HANS

Here, your wine.

While taking her brandy, she touches Hans' hand and slowly extends her fingers to his wrist.

BAILIAN

Your pulse throbs rapidly. Are you nervous?

Hans withdraws his hand.

HANS

How are you doing, Miss?

BAILIAN

I'm Bailian. In Chinese language, Bai means white, and Lian means a lotus. A white lotus is still so pure, even if it should sprout out of mud.

HANS

That's a beautiful name. I have yet to see a white pure lotus sprouting out of mud.

BAILIAN

Do you  have a girlfriend? An attractive man like you must have a lot of girlfriends.

HANS

Not a lot. Just one. Her name is Anna.

BAILIAN

Anna? Did she chase you all the way along from Europe to Shanghai?

HANS

Uh, actually, I followed her here, but haven't been able to find her.

BAILIAN

(sipping wine)

Clueless. No trace?

HANS

I saw her getting on a bus near the Broadway Mansion. I ran after the bus, but missed it.

BAILIAN

How romantic, like some scenes in Hollywood movies. Maybe, I can help you find her.

HANS

Really? How? Can you...

BAILIAN

I've been frequently invited to attend all sorts of parties, at which, some wealthy Jewish businessmen lingered.  Between me and them, we'd be able to find a Jewish woman in Shanghai, you bet.

HANS

It sounds helpful.

BAILIAN

Now, tell me something about her. What does she look like? What does she do? What's her hobby?

HANS

She loves to paint...

Their conversation blends into the crowd, as Hans talks animatedly about Anna.

(CONTINUING)