03x10 - China Girl

[bunniefuu]

[theme music]

[instrumental music]

[crowing]

[speaks in Chinese]

[rings gong]

[speaks in Chinese]

[rings gong]

[crowing]

[speaks in Chinese]

[rings gong]

[male narrator] Of all the immigrants for whom

America eventually became a permanent home

perhaps none were so manipulated

or suffered as many indignities as the Chinese.

Though 12,000 of them built the western half

of the transcontinental railroad

they were not permitted to become citizens

of this country

and they had no rights whatsoever.

They could not even testify against a white man in court.

And seven years after the Emancipation Proclamation

freed black sl*ves

naked Chinese girls were being sold at auction

to their own countrymen

on the streets of San Francisco.

But with famine sweeping China still

they came at their thousands seeking food for their bellies

and hope for the future.

In the beginning

they often labored 16 hours a day

for as little as 20 cents.

But they somehow survived these hardships

to become a vital part of a growing America

as one of the finest and proudest chronicles

in the history of the West.

Every year, there is the feast of Ching Ming

and we honor you ancestors

with offerings in yellow papers.

I honor you now.

But there are only stones in the papers

'and there is no food for a feast.'

'I must leave the Flowery Kingdom'

and take my family to a place far away

where there is plenty.

It is called America.

We can make our fortunes there and never be in want again

but I will return to China, to this shrine

and bring you gold coins and sweet cakes.

My spirit will not wander a foreign land.

[instrumental music]

Will you also take to the road?

Soon.

There will be no more food here.

I've heard the old speak of it.

The whole village is marching.

Eating even the grass along the way.

Eating even the mud from the rivers.

You know, if I could

I would marry you now

and keep you with me.

You must bring your family through this time.

If you had to feed me, it might mean all would die.

If not for them, I would go with you.

But they'd rather die in China than live elsewhere.

This time will not last forever.

I will never see you again.

Yes. I will follow you.

I promise.

So...you will not forget me.

It's too valuable.

It is the most valuable thing the Kees own.

Too valuable ever to let out of my family.

I will follow

and I will send your father a thousand cakes

to compensate for the loss of one so precious.

'And he will bring you to me for my wife.'

I will follow you.

[indistinct chatter]

- Now open. Aah. - Aah.

Move on up.

- Leong. Sam Yup. - Yeah.

All Leong? Sam Yup.

- Question, please. - Sam Yup.

- Please, a question. - Sam Yup.

Your contract with Sam Yup Company for five years.

You don't want five years?

Then you pay for women or leave them or sell them.

[Leong] 'I am taking all my family, but I feel unlucky today.'

'It is unlucky to leave today.'

[male #1] 'You are not leaving China forever.'

'You work your years, then you're brought back.'

This company guarantees it.

But what if I should die in the new land?

How would I enter the next life?

Your bones will be shipped back to China.

You will be buried with your ancestors.

It is in the contract.

Now move along!

To leave China, this is a sad thing.

- Where could it be worse? - Move!

[indistinct chatter]

Over there!

Come on, over there!

Hang on there.

Right over that way, pretty. Down the other ladder.

She is with me.

Get her right back good as new. Just some paperwork.

Now keep movin'. That's it.

[male #2] 'Straight along. We haven't got all day.'

Next here. Let's go. Move on, pretty.

[indistinct chatter]

- Go on, I told you. - Li Sin.

- Keep movin', pretty. - Li Sin!

That's it, pretty. Right up forward.

- Li Sin! - 'Down the ladder!'

[indistinct chatter]

Sit here, mother.

[dramatic music]

John Chinaman!

You get slops emptied twice a day.

[male #3] 'Aye aye.'

'Let's secure it.'

[dramatic music]

[male #4] 'Well, pretty.'

What, what do you want of me?

My, my.

I'll keep this for you.

The pigtails in the hole

will steal the teeth out of your mouth.

Please.

Please.

No trouble now.

'Trouble gets dumped over the side.'

[instrumental music]

[male #4] 'Right through this door, pretty. There you go.'

'Back safe and sound.'

Li Sin, the papers that he said, it's alright?

It's alright, yes.

[instrumental music]

[indistinct chatter]

[male #5] This way for Sam Yup. This way for Sam Yup.

Hello, pretty.

[indistinct shouting]

[speaking in Chinese]

You are now in America.

'You will all be very rich.'

Stay together. Follow me.

♪ ch*nk cheeky Chinaman choo chin chow ♪

♪ Pigtails pigtails bow wow wow ♪♪

[groans]

Boy, boy, boy. Please, no, no throw, no throw.

[speaking in Chinese]

No, no.

Hey, ch*nk!

[laughing]

Please excuse.

Follow me, follow me.

Come along.

Quick, follow me, come on. Stay together, stay together.

Please, excuse.

John Chinaman.

You see gentlemen..

...you steps aside.

[male #5] 'Follow me, quick, quick. Follow me.'

In China, they say American people welcome us.

It is good you know now.

'Yes, very good. It is important to understand.'

Here is where you are welcome.

'Here is where you will find friends.

'Here is where the Chinese are.'

[indistinct chatter]

You stay here until wagons come.

Stay here, stay together.

You have many questions, they will be answered in time.

You are going to a place called Wyoming.

To land called Macahan land to do mining work.

Gold mining.

'For now, if you are separated'

you got to remember Sam Yup Company.

You need help? Sam Yup Company.

Need lawyer? Sam Yup Company takes care of you.

- What company is this? - Sam Yup Company.

Sam Yup Company.

Going to Macahan land.

- Where? - Macahan land.

Welcome to America.

- Oh, Josh. - Oh, come on.

Will you let me explain this

before you say it's a crazy idea?

First off, rabbits are fast.

There's as many as five litters a year

and there's at least six to a litter.

'From one pair, you get 30 little ones in a year.'

'Two pair will give you 60.'

I cannot believe I'm hearing this.

Oh, you haven't heard anything yet, Laura.

- Best part's comin' up. - Oh.

Now horses, they take hay and oats.

But I figured we can get off feedin' those rabbits

on scraps from your vegetables garden.

Scraps? Oh, Lordie.

Now 60 rabbits in a year times 30 little ones

will give you about 1800 rabbits in just two years' time.

Oh, you're gonna feed over a thousand rabbits

some scraps from our garden?

No, you're gonna feed 'em.

'I'm just explainin' the principle of the idea to you.'

I know, we got a few things we gotta work out.

[gasps] Oh, Aunt Molly, you're just in time.

We were just discussing the Macahan's fortune.

Josh here is going to be the rabbit king of Wyoming.

[Molly] Oh, what does that mean?

Uh, means I got an idea no one around here

has ever heard of before, that's all.

Oh.

Josh here, he wants to raise rabbits

so we can eat 'em.

Why don't you just go out and bag what you want, Josh?

They're all over the place.

Well, I was thinkin' more in terms

of quantity, Aunt Molly.

Figured we could add maybe a side business to the ranching.

You know, supply rabbit meat to the railroads

or maybe the Chinese out at the leased lands.

Oh, that reminds me, Josh.

Stop by the mine on the way to town.

But keep up the thinking. You'll be a rich man yet.

[Josh] Well, somebody around here has to think.

[Molly] I still don't understand how those Chinese brokers

can find enough gold in that dry riverbed

to lease it from us, let alone pay their workers.

[Laura] Yeah, and Luke told me they brought in another dozen

from San Francisco last week.

There are even some women in this lot.

[instrumental music]

Chuk! Hey, you, Chuk!

All last night, I could not sleep.

Every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was this hand

reaching for me. It frightened me.

I thought it was reaching from the other world.

- This is most propitious. - There's more.

This eliminated all doubt.

At my first moment on the job

I fell on the watering cans and sliced my hand.

My hand, Chuk. I have the winner today.

'Today I win the chifa.'

[Chuk] Those are very strong signs.

Seven pennies. I bet them all on the hand.

[indistinct chatter]

[Chuk] Don't rush me. Don't rush me. One at a time.

[grunts]

[Molly] Hold up, Josh.

Whoa, whoa.

[sighs]

Are you alright, child?

Thank you. It is nothing.

Is it now?

What sort of a nothing would have you

sitting back down again?

It's just my ankle. A moment's rest and I'll be alright.

Oh, which one? It's alright, I won't bite.

- What's your name, dear? - Li Sin.

Li Sin, that's pretty.

We're from the Macahan Ranch.

- Macahan? - Mm-hmm.

I'm Molly and those three Silent Sams up there

'are Josh, Laura and Jessie.'

- Hello. - Missy.

Hello.

Well, it's nice to see your nothing isn't broken.

'The best possible medicine for a sprain'

is to go easy on it for a time.

- I must bring the water. - Oh, maybe later.

Come on now.

Now we'll take you back to your section.

That is, if chivalry isn't totally dead.

Oh, here.

We work. All work. You gamble.

'It is not fitting for the son of a Leong to gamble.'

Whole family works for a dollar a day.

I do my share and make another dollar besides.

But only if you win. You are gambling.

The men betting, they are gambling.

I own the board, I set the odds.

I'm a businessman.

I don't know how to talk to him anymore.

In this country, the children do not listen to their elders

as they do in China.

Your children give you all respect.

[Josh] Uh, uh, the Leong section.

- Which way? - Over there.

Wait.

My sister, where is she?

Li Sin.

On the wagon.

- Uh, Mr. Leong? - Yes.

[grunts]

Just givin' your daughter a hand.

My daughter? What happened to Li Sin?

Oh, she's fine. Just twisted her ankle.

I want to say thank you and to you also, thank you.

Oh, Li Sin, take some vegetables with you.

Have some of the corn for your family.

And, Li Sin, take care of yourself now, you hear me?

Alright. Everybody, come on, we have some vegetables here.

'Please come and help yourselves.'

'Vegetables. Come along.'

[indistinct chatter]

Such a kind woman. So gentle.

[instrumental music]

[dramatic music]

[male #6] 'Hey, cowboy, move along. This ain't no holiday.'

Come. Come here.

[indistinct chatter]

House of sleepless dreams and you gallop all the way.

[dramatic music]

Hey, boy, you go wrong way. Are you deaf?

Turn around or I'll shove that pigtail down your throat.

[intense music]

Why do you wear this?

Take it, you scheming scavengers

and quit your jabberin'.

There was a girl. Li Sin.

You took it from her.

What else did you do to her, huh?

Li Sin? Never heard of her.

I've never heard of her.

Release him.

I said release him.

Come on. I'll carve you all up for stew meat.

- It will be between only us. - Well, you come on then.

You come and meet this here pig sticker of mine.

'It's carved up lots of yellow in its day.'

Let go.

I said that it is only between myself and this man.

We, your friends, have decided his fate.

[dramatic music]

[intense music]

[grunts]

Mother, I must talk to you.

- There is ship sailing. - Ship?

Sailing for America.

Enough to keep you for a long time.

This money..

...you saved for your own passage.

But how will you find Li Sin?

There are other ways to go to America.

A promise to work for three years at half wages

for the Sam Yup Company when you get there.

Should I one day send for you, huh?

My time has..

...passed for that.

Keep..

...China...in your heart.

[instrumental music]

Go now.

May Buddha bless you.

[male #7] 'This land, America'

'do you think it is what they say?'

- I do not know. - Ah.

In my village, uh, this was posted.

It tells all about it.

What does it say?

"Americans are very rich people.

"They want the Chinaman to come

"and they will make him welcome.

"There will be big pay

'"and large houses and food and clothing'

"of the finest description.

"It is a nice country..

"...without mandarins

"or soldiers.

[indistinct chatter]

"China God is there

'"in the agents of this house.'

'Never fear and you will be lucky."'

I hope it is so.

It's hard to believe, but it is written.

The paper says it. It cannot be otherwise.

[indistinct chatter]

[Li Sin] I will never see you again.

[Kee] Yes. I will follow you.

I promise.

And I will send your father a thousand cakes

to compensate for the loss of one so precious.

And he will bring you to me for my wife.

I will follow you.

[instrumental music]

Chuk.

I need ten cents more.

I give you ten cents yesterday and the day before.

Can you not simply give me the money?

'Thank you, brother.'

Ah, Li Sin.

[speaks in Chinese]

Doctor.

I made it this morning

to give the powder time to blend.

Dry skin of toad

and serpent's teeth

and crab's eyes.

The strongest thing I know.

The last I have from China.

In this country

you cannot find as good as in China.

The Gods will mark your generosity.

Ah, Li Sin.

Have you considered the good fortune

to come to your child?

Do you mean he will be born on a lucky day?

Perhaps that too.

But your child will be American citizen.

He will have two homeland.

China, if he wished, and America.

My son will be an American citizen?

[speaks in Chinese]

It is the law of this country.

He will have vote.

Even a voice in affair of this land.

He could be a very important man.

Uh, I hesitate to mention, Li Sin..

...I must ask more money this time.

Only three cents more.

I have no other money.

You can pay me another time.

But it is difficult to get money.

My father collects all wages for whole family.

Always sends what is left to our village in China.

Then how did you get this money?

I can get no more.

[speaks in Chinese]

I'm here to use my gift for others.

Money, nah, it's nothing to me.

[speaking in Chinese]

Thank you.

[Chuk] 'Li Sin.'

I only want you to know I'm here whenever you need me.

You know.

I have guessed.

This charlatan you go to, he agrees to help?

He says his medicine will make the birth easier.

Birth easier? You want this child to be born?

Of course.

Chuk, we are not in China.

Here in America, a child may grow to be whatever he wishes.

It is a good land to have a child.

And I've just learned that he will be an American citizen

by the right of birth in this land.

Please, brother, understand me.

I thought at first of what was in your mind.

Strong medicine so I need not have a child.

But when I felt this..

...life stirring within me, I knew

'this innocent being'

was mine to protect, mine to love

'to delight in watching him become a man.'

You can assure that it will be a man-child.

You have, uh, spoken to our mother?

I think she also guesses by now.

You must speak to her soon.

'Thank you, Chuk.'

[thunder rumbling]

[instrumental music]

Our daughter would speak with you.

When could she not?

Li Sin.

I..

On the ship..

...it...happened.

I'm your father.

When I was..

...sent to the other part of the ship..

...this seaman said that..

...if I made trouble..

...he, he would have us all thrown off the ship.

Out at sea.

There was nothing you could do.

I am to have the child of this man.

[dramatic music]

The whites.

Devils!

I was so afraid.

I just did what he wanted

and hoped it would end.

It is his shame.

- She must begin to work less. - Yes.

When the time comes, you will be with her

to assure her health.

I will.

Then you will bring the child to me.

Of course, the child must die.

[thunder rumbling]

[thunder rumbling]

Woo-whee!

It ain't fit for ducks.

'A fella could drown going to the outhouse.'

Joshua.

Well, it's wet out there.

Boy, I don't envy Uncle Zeb and Luke one little bit

havin' that surveyin' job in this kind of weather.

Oh, they're used to bein' out in the open.

Besides, I don't think they've started out yet.

They're probably still at the fort.

That's right. They'll be stoppin' by here in the morning.

Well, that should remind us to prepare them an early breakfast.

[sighs]

[knock on door]

Good Lord, it's the little girl

from the mining camp, Li Sin.

She's soaked to the bone.

- Josh, up to my room quickly. - Oh, hurry, Josh.

Easy now, Josh. Set her down here on the edge of the bed.

Just on the edge. Don't wet the bedclothes.

We'll get her out of these wet things.

Look, go down and put a kettle on for some tea.

- Well, I'll get some towels. - Yes.

And there's a flannel nightgown in that chest too.

- Can you get those off for her? - Yes, I can.

Oh, look at her. Soaked to the bone, she is.

Oh.

What a night to be out.

Get her into bed there, Laura.

There we are.

Now, we'll get you all dried and warmed up.

Let's pull this..

[thunder rumbling]

Li Sin, when are you expecting a child?

It is seven months now.

Well, the girls will get you

all dried up now and put the nightdress on you.

I'm sure the girls will look after you there.

I'll go see to the tea and put these

in front of the stove.

[thunder rumbling]

Never has she been gone this long before.

And in such a storm.

Waiting up will not bring her home faster.

She will come only when she regains her senses.

Will she, husband?

I have never heard such words in our house

as passed between you and her this day.

It is a disease of this new country.

The young question their elders. They think they know better.

You know the sadness of burying a child

as we buried one.

That was our child.

This is the seed of the white devils who spit at us.

Would you allow the blood of Leong to be tainted?

Sadness was great. I carry it today.

I will not be questioned because my daughter cannot face

what must be done and runs away.

Did she only run away

or has life become so filled with sadness

so filled with shame that she decided to seek

a better place in the next life?

She will return.

[instrumental music]

[indistinct chatter]

Welcome to America.

You will all be very rich. You have many questions.

But all you got to remember now is Sam Yup Company.

You get lost, what company is this?

[all] Sam Yup Company.

Good. All you stay here. I make arrangements.

Or you all go away on another boat.

Go to Oregon.

- Where you go? - Oregon.

- Good. - Excuse, please.

Important you stay together or you be lost in strange city.

This place, Oregon

I don't know if that's where I must go.

Where you must go?

I came to this country to find someone. A girl.

A girl. There will be girls where you are going.

- Get back with the others. - You don't understand.

Her name is Li Sin of the Leong family.

Where they went must be in the records

at the Sam Yup office.

Sam Yup brings you to this country.

Gives you good wages. You should appreciate.

- I-- - It is not for you to question.

I will go anywhere.

But only, please, send me where I might find Li Sin.

That's why I came to America.

This is a country of law.

You want me to call the soldiers?

No.

You put your name on the paper.

Go back with the others.

Uh, please, honorable sir.

'Where find boat for Oregon?'

[male #8] 'Uh, it's over on pier 6.'

Thank you. Thank you very much.

Kee, where are you going? Get him. Get him!

- 'What's the matter?' - 'Someone, stop him.'

Sam Yup Company owns him.

- 'Don't let him escape.' - What are you doing here?

[male #5] 'Someone go after him.'

[indistinct shouting]

[dramatic music]

- You see him? - Maybe he drowned.

- More than likely. - Where is he?

[indistinct chatter]

[male #9] 'Write him off, Chinaman. He's food for the fishes.'

[indistinct chatter]

- Move along, man. Move along. - 'Let's get back to work.'

[male #10] 'Come on. Clear the gangway.'

[male #11] 'Make way to get on the sail, lads. Let's go.'

[instrumental music]

Zebulon, what are we going to do?

Molly, as near as I can tell, you're just gonna have to

send her back where she came from.

Send her back to whatever she ran away from?

Zebulon, that child is seven months pregnant

and she's frightened to death.

And she came here to us for help.

Now, you listen to me for a minute.

You know Mr. Song.

The headman in that Chinese quarter?

Remember, you told us you worked on the railroad with him?

Yes, Molly, but I can't go and talk to Mr. Song.

Those, those Chinese, they're a very close-knit group.

That don't want nobody from the outside

interfering in their affairs.

Not only that, but Luke and I, we got a survey party

waitin' for us on Rock Point.

We're-we're two hours late already.

Listen, that survey party

will be absolutely delighted to sit on their backsides

swappin' lies while they wait for you.

Molly, I'll tell you somethin'.

I swear you and Kate Macahan were twins.

I never saw two women could be so stubborn.

Zebulon.

Oh, alright.

I'll take Josh along with us

and he can come back and tell ya whatever it is

we learned down there by stickin' our noses in

where they wasn't supposed to be.

You know, the thing about you, Zebulon

is you concede favors with such grace.

You mean to say when a child's born

it has no right to live?

I don't understand you, Mr. Leong.

It is not of your affair to understand or not.

You bring him here to insult me?

Please forgive me, Leong.

I brought Mr. Macahan because he gave help to your daughter

and because he asked to see you.

You will not question me in my house.

I damn sure will. Your daughter's in my house.

- It gives me the right. - Then tell her to leave.

Tell her I forgive her for running away.

That she may return.

And what happens when the baby's born?

[Leong] 'I have told you what must be.'

I read it in your eyes.

This man is a barbarian, you are thinking.

The Chinese, they are all animals.

The whites think this.

You will not tell me how to live.

I will not accept your instruction.

Yeah, well, maybe you need a little instruction

on the value of human life.

Value of life?

No, you do not condemn me.

In this country, I work for half the wages of the whites.

Black sl*ves are free

but Chinese are sold like cattle in the cities.

If a white man should sh**t me to see if I bleed

do I have rights and protection and law?

Value of life.

Life is cheap here for the Chinese.

Cheaper than in China!

Well, I can see I'm not gonna change your mind.

You're not gonna change mine, Leong.

As long as your daughter's under my protection

I want a promise out of ya.

There's not gonna be any trouble when that child is born.

Now do I get it?

I would not bring the troubles of my house

to another man's door.

It would not be civilized.

I'm gonna take you as a man of your word.

There we are. Into bed now.

There you go. Oops-a-daisy.

You, you've been too kind.

[chuckles] Well, you can pay me back by telling me

what it was that brought you out to the ranch here.

That must be quite a story.

I, I only decided

to leave my home and go elsewhere

to another town.

Oh, yes, and what town would that be now?

Because as soon as you leave the road and cut across our land

there's no town, well, that's any possible distance to walk.

I became lost.

Hmm, and this town you were looking for

they must be very generous there for you have no possessions.

Did they get lost too?

Yes. In, in the storm.

[mellow music]

Tell me what it is, child. I might be able to help you.

Please, I don't mean to be a burden.

I will leave you. Thank you. I'm rested.

Tsk, tsk, tsk. Stay still.

'I doubt if you could make it to the front door.'

Anyway, there is no need.

Rest now.

We'll talk later.

[Laura] Well, who could even think of not permittin'

a child to live?

Well, what kind of man is this Mr. Leong?

Some sort of monster?

Apparently, he doesn't think so.

According to Uncle Zeb, there's about a thousand years

of Chinese history tied up in what he's thinkin'.

Well, what about Mrs. Leong?

Doesn't she have any feelings at all?

Again, according to Uncle Zeb, he's the head of the household.

His word's absolute law.

Josh.

What most concerns me is Mr. Leong's statement

that Li Sin and her child would be perfectly safe here.

He said he'd never interfere

as long as Li Sin's here on the ranch.

Ah.

Well, that relieves my mind somewhat.

Now, if Li Sin is right, it means that her baby

won't be born for, oh, quite a few weeks yet.

By that time, of course, your Uncle Zeb will be back

'and I'm sure he'll be able to straighten the whole thing out.'

And minds are often changed.

[intense music]

[instrumental music]

Sir, my name is Kee.

I will do any work for some food.

I have no work for you.

It would only go to waste.

I'm looking for someone. A girl.

It's very important I find her.

I have this place three years.

Everybody eats here.

Her name is Li Sin.

Family, Leong.

I do not know the name. What company brought her here?

Ning Yuen? Yeung Wo? Uh--

Sam Yup.

Sam Yup people go Oregon to cut timber.

Go lots of places for railroad.

To California for gold mines.

Little bit Wyoming.

Could be any kind of place.

The records in Sam Yup office..

...they could say where she is.

No record in the office.

Record kept secret from American politicians.

Only Sam Yup himself would have secret books

with all labor contracts.

I have seen Sam Yup at times.

At Jong's.

And if you need work

'Jong sometimes has more jobs to be done.'

'Jong is gone now, but he will be back tomorrow.'

Thank you.

And if he has work..

...I will pay you for this.

So the preacher said to my Uncle Pat

"I don't care what you say, Pat, that chicken's a turkey."

[all laughing]

Oh, listen to that gigglin'.

[sighs] You know, you ladies sure know how to put on a good hen party.

[clucking]

You're welcome to pull up a chair and listen, Josh.

I'll even lend you a needle and thread.

[laughing]

[groans]

Li Sin.

I'm sorry.

Sorry? Are you having pains?

Pains?

Merciful heavens. Did they just start?

Josh, run and fetch Doc Marvin. Laura, lots of linens.

Jessie, put on some hot water. We'll need plenty of it.

Now, easy now. Up the stairs.

Lots of hot water, Jessie.

- Hurry up, Laura, please. - I'm comin'.

[instrumental music]

Easy does it now. Easy does it.

I'm afraid it's too soon for the baby.

Seven months is too soon.

No, dear, it does happen.

In you go now. There we are.

There's nothing to be afraid of at all.

Nothing.

Aunt Molly, why didn't Li Sin tell us

that she was ready to give birth?

Well, it seems that she wasn't

even aware of it herself, Jessie.

Well, is the doctor going to be here in time?

Blankets, blankets.

Well, to town and back is an all day ride in itself.

With Josh traveling those dark roads at night

no, I'm afraid he won't be here in time, Jessie.

But, Aunt Molly--

Keep those pots boiling, will you, dear?

There's a good girl.

[Laura] Aunt Molly.

I-I think it's starting.

Well, our young visitor surely is the impatient one.

That's a good sign, Laura.

Now, Laura, what I want you to do is go down to the kitchen.

There's some laudanum in the kitchen closet.

Mix a few drops of it into a cup of tea, Laura.

Aunt Molly, have you ever done anything like this before?

Well, if I say no, do you have somebody to replace me?

Go on now like a good girl.

There. Now, everything's going to be fine.

Everything's going to be alright.

Would you look at me with the thimble still on my hand?

Just like my grandmother.

Now that's for luck.

You're so, so kind.

Not at all.

[gasps]

There now, child. There now.

Ah.

[instrumental music]

Rode ahead of the doctor.

He should be here in a couple of minutes.

Well, he'll just be in time for a cup of tea.

What happened?

It's a boy.

And mama's doing fine.

[cooing]

You know, I never seen a brand-spankin'-new baby before.

[Molly] 'Oh, but isn't he the handsome one?'

[Josh] 'Hey, you.'

Hey.

Welcome to Wyomin'.

[laughing]

Thank you for everything.

You know what I'm thinkin'?

This is the first baby born in the Macahan ranch.

Isn't that somethin'?

Well, now, that is something.

And even though he isn't a Macahan

I'm going to write his name in the family Bible, anyway.

His name.

His name will be Kee.

The man who gives me rice

he said you might have work.

I will do any kind of work.

No, not today.

You come back tomorrow. Maybe then there is work.

You buy a pipe?

- I have no money. - Oh.

I'm looking for someone.

A girl.

It is said Sam Yup would know of her.

He comes to the backroom on occasion.

[softly] Is he here tonight?

If he was here, I would have said so.

You come back tomorrow night.

You come back tomorrow night.

[Josh] 'Hey, you there. Stop!'

You hear me, mister?

You better stop or I'm gonna start shootin'!

You've been watchin' our house.

Watching house?

'That's right, and you're not the only one.'

'I saw two men up here yesterday.'

And there's footprints all over the ridge.

Now what are you doing?

Why on land?

Look for rocks.

Pretty.

For make jewelry.

Don't you ever come back here. You hear me?

Don't you ever come back on Macahan land.

So sorry. So humble to forgive.

You've been warned, mister.

Sit down, child. I have to talk to you.

Yes, Miss Molly?

Now, Li Sin.

What kind of a man is your father?

Oh, he's a wonderful man.

He brought the whole family from China at great cost.

My father is a man who deserves all respect

as head of the house.

Yes, dear, I know that

but I have a reason for needing to ask.

You see, some men, some Chinese men

have been seen prowling about our ranch.

I know.

I have seen them.

Well, do you know what these men want?

No.

Well, do you think your father perhaps

might send them to cause trouble?

He said he would not.

Yes.

Now, I don't know.

What about your brother, Li Sin?

My brother, Chuk?

None of this is his business.

It isn't?

[sighs] Well, bein' a brother myself

I'm, I'm gettin' just a little curious

as to why he's not makin' it his business.

Mr. Leong.

'You remember me?'

What is it you want?

I'm lookin' for your son, Chuk.

My son rises in the world.

He no longer labors with his hand.

He stays through the comforts of the town.

Could I talk with you then?

We are very busy.

[Mrs. Leong] 'Mr. Macahan sir, how is Li Sin?'

Fine.

Up and around real good now.

And the baby, he's real fine too.

Tell Li Sin her mother thinks of her.

I'll do that, ma'am.

[Chuk] 'Your family has become her family.'

It is appreciated.

It's all good and fine, Chuk

but, but what I'd really like to see

is her family become her family again.

You know nothing about this.

I know if my sister were in the same situation

I wouldn't permit what's goin' on.

And I'd just like to know why you're permitting it to happen.

It is hard.

What happened to Li Sin is hard.

Alright.

I think we're gettin' someplace here.

Chuk, I know that you and me, we're different..

...but I think we have a lot in common too.

Now I-I can't talk to your father.

I tried, it doesn't work.

But you can.

I figure maybe you could straighten this whole mess out

if you try.

There is a way of things which is accepted.

My father is old China.

He will not change his mind.

- Old China? - He's wedded to the old ways.

Lives only to return to China.

I separate myself from all that.

Well, fine, but where's this gonna leave Li Sin?

Understand.

This is a good country for me.

I will prosper here

as will many Chinese who will come and stay.

But nothing is easy.

Many will be casualties.

Li Sin is a casualty.

It is a price we pay to be in this new country.

Old China, new China.

It's a bunch of hogwash!

It all boils down to your sister needs help.

And I'm askin' you, Chuk.

I'm asking you to help your sister.

Try! Try to talk to your father.

It can change nothing.

I will not waste time trying.

You know I was wrong about you.

I guess we are different.

A lot different.

- For the house. - For the house.

Tomorrow we go to the company store

to send money to China.

Uh, will you be with us?

I have no extra money.

There is something we should talk of.

Li Sin.

We will not talk of Li Sin

but of money we send to China.

'You say you have no extra money.'

To own the chifa game, you have money.

To run the laundries you now own, you have money.

But for China, you have no money.

Money makes money.

Here I lend money out at 6% a month.

It does me no good in China.

You do not intend to return to China.

I really don't want to talk about this again.

- What I want-- - You're ashamed.

You should be ashamed.

I've got to go out. Some business.

Yes, business.

You are ashamed to discuss your duty to China.

My duty to China?

Which China do you want to talk about?

Your China?

'Flowery Kingdom where the Gods live'

or the China where you starve to death?

Where you can't get out of the dirt

because a mandarin has his foot on your neck

and the soldiers cut your tongue out if you dare protest!

Which China?

[mellow music]

[dramatic music]

It is time.

- Hmm? - It is time.

Oh.

Oh.

Here is the man who will work with you tonight.

What kind of work is this?

If you are hungry, what difference?

What work?

I take care of the hospital.

I'm looking for a girl. Li Sin.

The family is Leong.

No, I, I do not know this girl.

She came to America long time ago.

[laughs] She could be anywhere.

Yeah.

I just keep asking.

[male #12] 'Up here.'

[girl singing in Chinese]

- Come. - Make happy time?

Make happy time?

Doctor says no more happy time for you.

You must die now.

[dramatic music]

Here is rice.

Here is water.

[singing in Chinese]

When the oil is done..

...we will come for you.

[continues singing]

Many good dreams this night.

Happy time?

[mellow music]

Make happy time?

I know always to make very happy.

Make happy time?

Know always.

Happy time.

[continues singing]

You wait here.

In the morning, I will come back and then we can bury her.

Bury?

She's sick, she's not dying.

When the oil burns away, she will be dead.

And if she's not?

Then I will come back in the morning and look in on her.

After a while, I will call you

to help me carry the dead girl away.

Where are you going? She has disease.

She has no further use.

[intense music]

[screams]

[Molly] Whoa.

Mr. Leong.

Where is that child? I want him right now.

- Child? - Li Sin's son. Stolen.

Now don't you try to do-si-do me around this thing.

- Just give me that child. - I don't have the child.

The baby was taken from our ranch.

Don't try to pretend that you didn't put men up to doing that.

Men at ranch? Well, I--

But you're the one who wanted the baby harmed.

Who else would take it?

I know nothing of this. I will talk to you no further.

'The matter is ended.'

You do know.

All of you!

You, I'm told that you control many men.

Was it you who sent them to the ranch?

Did you?

You know where that baby is? You do know!

'What you have done is wrong. Terribly wrong.'

Kee, the man you are looking for, Sam Yup

be respectful when you speak to him.

- He is coming now. - Thank you.

Mr. Sam Yup.

Please, sir.

Please!

[grunting]

Enough. Do not hurt him.

I'm not a beggar!

I broke my bond to you.

I am bound to you for three years

but I ran away from your broker.

There is no security on me in China.

You boast that you violate a contract?

A word from me, they will break all of your bones.

I will give you six years.

I ran away from three

but I will give you six years of labor.

What is it you want?

There is a girl

your company brought over.

I want to go where she is.

You have records to know where.

Let us find out, then you can begin

your journey to her this very night.

It would please me.

Six years of your service pleases me.

[Molly] Whoa, whoa, whoa.

I'll take that for you, Aunt Molly.

Thank you, Josh.

Well, what did the sheriff say?

The sheriff's away

and his deputy says that whatever happens

in the Chinese quarter is their own business.

'How often am I going to have to listen'

to that expression, their own business?

The deputy's afraid that if he goes into the Chinese quarter

well, that something will happen to the child.

I'm sorry, Li Sin. There are no easy answers.

Does not matter.

My baby is not alive.

The baby is alive.

What do you mean, Aunt Molly?

That baby is alive.

And I know where it is.

[dramatic music]

Your daughter told me I might find you here.

'It took me quite a while to figure it out.'

I kept thinking it was your husband

who had taken the child.

He was the one who didn't want it to live.

Who else would steal it?

And I thought, "No. Someone who could save it."

You have the child.

I have placed him with people who will love him.

They have many children. Happy children.

Let Li Sin think the baby is no more.

'It will be better.'

I could not deceive her like that.

You are thinking

"To take a child's life is unthinkable.

It is unspeakable."

Yes.

My husband is not an unspeakable man.

There..

There are reasons.

I can think of no reasons.

There was another child.

Before Li Sin. Before Chuk.

'Another child was born to us.'

'He would have been the first son'

in the family of Leong.

But he was born in the time of the great famine.

So as soon as he was delivered..

...I pinched his nostrils

and told all the baby had been stillborn.

My husband knew.

He knew.

Many children were stillborn that year.

If they had not been, perhaps more families

would have starved to death.

Sometimes a thing must be..

[footsteps]

In the morning, you will bring Li Sin's child to me.

Oh.

Mrs. Leong.

In the end, it would all have been the same.

No, tell me where the child is and I'll take it away.

I could not oppose my husband's will.

You will bring Li Sin to our house in the morning.

Why, yes.

Tomorrow will not be a happy day.

My husband will not sleep tonight.

He will pray to the Gods..

...look deeply into his heart..

...ask blessings for what he must do.

[dramatic music]

[screams]

Go.

You are a guest in my house.

I had some of my people keep a watch over you.

[sighs]

You might inform a person.

I hope you were not frightened.

[chuckles] No, of course not.

I will walk with you.

You knew where the baby was, didn't you?

Once I heard my father say he did not do it, then I knew.

My mother gave me life and Li Sin life.

And in her way, we'll try to do the same for Li Sin's child.

I, too, wish for Li Sin's happiness.

I wish it could be.

But if and your mother could get together

and persuade your father--

What? Tell him he's not the head of his house?

That his word is subject to our approval?

Well, of course, I know your father is--

It would destroy him!

You understand nothing of my father.

He knows only the old ways.

He doesn't know how to deal in this new country.

For the first time in his life, he doesn't know what to do.

It took all his strength to get us this far

and now that new things are happening

he has no more strength to deal with it.

Suddenly he feels weak, he feels old..

...and ashamed.

His son does not follow his ways.

And now his daughter's lost to him

because with a child here, she's not returning to China.

My father came here with a family

in an attempt to save them.

He'll be lucky if he gets himself back to China.

But will the death of the baby change any of that?

Really?

Will it?

This is the way to your street.

[instrumental music]

[baby cooing]

I do this for you, my daughter.

Father, it is a new land.

It is your life which is precious to me.

Your life.

'The child is all that is between us.'

I can't believe this is happening.

Up until this moment, I never truly believed it would.

Mr. Leong. I'll take the child.

I'll adopt it. I'll raise it as a Macahan.

Li Sin's heart would always be where the child is

'and she could have no other life.'

I will go to be alone with the child and pray.

This life is not lucky for him.

The next may be--

- Li Sin. - ...better.

[Li Sin] Kee.

[instrumental music]

I said I would follow.

All that we talked of can never be.

I have a child.

I learned..

...from the house of Sam Yup..

...of this child

'and how it came to be.'

You say you have a child.

No.

We...have a child.

[instrumental music]

[baby cooing]

We have a child.

The child will be written

into the Book of Rites of the Kee family.

I will send you a thousand cakes

for the loss of one so precious as your daughter.

And you will bring Li Sin to me for my wife.

[instrumental music]

Aunt Molly. Oh, we had to come.

It's a fine day.

A real fine day.

[all laughing]

[Li Sin] 'We've stopped by before leaving'

my husband and I, to again express our gratitude.

Have you decided where you're goin' yet?

We have talked of farming in Montana

where life will be better for our son

than in crowded town streets.

Well, is there any help we can give you?

Anything we can do for you before you leave?

It is good of you to offer

but Li Sin's brother paid off our obligations

to the Sam Yup Company

and we are free to start a new life.

And such freedom makes us wealthy enough.

A new life.

We will take chances as pioneers.

[chuckles] Pioneers.

[all laughing]

Aye, they'll be taking their chances.

But all of us did. That's a part of it.

All a part of it.

[instrumental music]

[theme music]