THE PAINTED VEIL 1.KITTY FANE: (KF): It's raining cats and dogs. … I said, it's raining cats and dogs. WALTER: Yes, I heard you. KF:- You might have answered. WALTER:- I'm sorry. I-I've gotten used to not speaking unless I have something to say. KF: If nobody spoke unless they had something to say......the human race would soon lose the power of speech. …Walter. WALTER:I'm sorry. You're right. What--? What shall we do? Shall we...? Shall we play a game? KF: You don't like the games I play. They bore you. WALTER: Nonsense. Let's play cards. …….. Do you think you'd enjoy a night out? We have an invitation for Saturday night. KF: - From whom? WALTER: The Townsends. KF: Dorothy Townsend. WALTER: Do you not like her? KF: I've only met her once, but there's no reason for her to put on such airs. WALTER: - Does she? KF: - Yes. I have no idea why. Because 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. WALTER: Well, it's all right. I thought you might enjoy it, but we certainly don't have to go. KF: I don't care either way. Go where? 2.KF: What are you doing home? WALTER: I'm sorry, there's something I need to speak with you about. KF: Actually, I was just about to take my bath. WALTER: I'm afraid it's rather important, darling. Can't wait. Sit down. Do you know a place called Mei-tan-fu? KF: No. WALTER:Well, it-- It was in the papers the other day. It's a small town on a tributary of the Yangtze River, in the interior. They've had an outbreak of cholera there. It's the worst epidemic anyone's seen in a long time. The Chinese medical officer has died. There's a convent of French nuns trying to run the hospital. They're doing the best they can, but people are dropping like flies. I have volunteered to go and to take charge. KF: Why? WALTER: Because they need a doctor. KF: But you're not a doctor. You're a bacteriologist. WALTER: I'm an M.D. The fact that I'm foremost a scientist... ...is actually all to the good in this case. KF: Won't it be awfully dangerous? WALTER: I suppose it might, yes. Now, Mei-tan-fu is a 10-day journey. You can go by rail for the first part. But after that it's carriage, and then we'll have to take a sedan chair. KF: Who's we? WALTER: - Why, you and I, of course. KF: - You're not expecting me to come too.

WALTER: I hoped that if I was going, you would want to go. KF: Surely it's no place for a woman. It would be madness for me to go. Why should I? WALTER: To cheer and comfort me? KF: No. No, I won't go. In fact, it's monstrous of you to even ask me. WALTER: Fine. Then I shall file my petition for divorce tomorrow. I'm afraid that you have thought me a bigger fool than I am. KF: I don't know what you're talking about. WALTER: Don't you? I am divorcing you for adultery. I am naming Charles Townsend as your lover. KF: I'm sorry, Walter. I realize this is very unpleasant. But, please, let's not make this uglier than it needs to be. WALTER: By all means. What is it that you propose that we should do? KF: You could let me divorce you quietly. WALTER: You divorce me? On what grounds? KF: That's what a gentleman would do. WALTER: Give me one reason to put myself to an inconvenience on your account. KF: Please, Walter, don't be so hateful. We didn't mean to hurt anyone. But Charlie and I have fallen in love. He wants to marry me. WALTER: Really? I knew that you weren't the cleverest girl......but I didn't know you were actually a fool. KF: Yes. Well, if it makes you feel better to hurt me, then go ahead. But you might as well get used to it. We love each other. And we're sick to death of the secrecy and compromise and the rest. Now you curse the day that you ever met me. Stop mocking me. WALTER:There's no other response for such pathetic behavior. It's comic. When I think about how hard I have tried to make you happy. Debasing myself, acting as though I was as thrilled as you by the latest gossip. KF: I don't have to listen to this. And as ignorant of the world as you are-WALTER: If you interrupt me again, I'll strangle you. Sit down. I knew when I married you that you were selfish and spoiled. But I loved you. I knew that you married me only to get as far away from your mother as possible......and I hoped that one day there'd be something more. I was wrong. You don't have it in you. KF: If a man hasn't what's necessary to make a woman love him.then it's his fault, not hers. WALTER: Either way. Tomorrow morning we are to leave for Mei-tan-fu, or I shall file my petition. KF: You can't be serious about taking me into the middle of a cholera epidemic. WALTER: Do you think that I'm not? KF: My God. That's what you want, isn't it? Do you really think Charlie will let you do this? WALTER: I don't think Charlie has very much to say about it. KF: Everything you said is true. Everything. I married you even though I didn't love you. But you knew that. Aren't you as much to blame for what's happened as I? WALTER: All right. Here's what I'll do.

3.KF: I hope I haven't come at an inconvenient time. NUN: Sister Maryse died last night. I've just written to inform her parents. KF: I'm so sorry. NUN: But it is sinful of me to grieve... .when I know that her good and simple soul has flown straight to heaven. How can I help you? KF: Well, I'm sure that with the sister's death......you must be even more short-handed. You see, I was wondering if I could come to the convent...and do anything, just..just to help out. NUN: My dear child, don't you think you've done enough..coming here with your husband? KF: I've been here a month......and, believe me, I have nothing to do from morning till night. Perhaps I could help with the sisters in the hospital. NUN: That is impossible. Cholera is a terrible thing to see. Besides, what would happen if you should fall ill? KF: I'd be happy to scrub the floors. Anything. Just something to feel useful. NUN: That will not be necessary. The orphans scrub the floors. No, no, it is our business and our privilege to do such things… But there is always more to do each day. Have you spoken to your husband of your wish? KF: Yes.