Girl Singing From Earth's End

Excerpt from the screenplay of "Lust, Caution" - written by Wang Hui Ling and James Schamus. Based on a Short Story by Eileen Chang.

INT. JAPANESE TAVERN - SHANGHAI - EVENING

She snuggles up to him.

WANG CHIA-CHIH
I know why you brought me here.

YEE
Why?

WANG CHIA-CHIH
You want me to be your whore.

YEE
Whore?
(laughs)
It is I who was brought here ... So you see, I know better than you how to be a whore.

WANG CHIA-CHIH
(tenderly)
Will you let me sing for you? I am a much better singer than they!

YEE
Really? Hm.

Wang lowers her lashes and smiles. She takes a sip of sake, licks her lips and stands up.

She positions herself in front her him, posing like a classical sing-song girl. At first her voice is barely a whisper, but then we can make out what she is singing "Girl Singing From Earth's End."

WANG CHIA-CHIH
(singing)

From the end of the earth
To the farthest sea
I search and search
For my heart's companion
A young girl sings
While he plays his harp
Your heart is my heart
Looking north from my mountain nest
My tears fall and fall
Missing him she will not rest
Ah! My man, even in hard times
Love prevails.
Who in this life does not prize youth as much as gold?
A young girl to her man
Is like thread to its needle.
Ah! My beautiful man,
We're like thread tied together,
Never to be unwound.

As she sings, she closes her eyes, letting the sentiment take over.
Her body moves with the tune.

Yee is at first amused, then attentive, and then he himself, as she finishes closes his eyes, unaccountably moved, tears flowing.

Silence. He puts his hands together, applauds her, slowly at first, then faster and louder. She sits back down beside him.

He takes her in his arms. They kiss.