Curd Jürgens credited as playing...
Capt. Lin Nan
- Capt. Lin Nan: I believe in China as it can be.
- Jen-Ai: I love China the way it is.
- Capt. Lin Nan: Filthy? Ignorant? Backwards?
- Jen-Ai: No, but if your house is dirty you can clean it. One can make improvements, even in small quarters.
- Capt. Lin Nan: [after Jen-ai adopts a baby girl] Don't you see how stupid and pointless this is? What are you going to do with her?
- Jen-Ai: Call her Six-Pence I think. Do you like it?
- Capt. Lin Nan: I said what are you going to do with her? What do you know about babies?
- Jen-Ai: What is there to know? When they're dirty you wash them, when they're hungry you feed them.
- The Mandarin: What is a foreigner Captain? How would you describe yourself?
- Capt. Lin Nan: My heart and my mind are Chinese, only my blood is mixed.
- The Mandarin: If I have offended a guest in my house, I shall not forgive myself.
- Capt. Lin Nan: It is my own mixed blood which offends me. Since I believe China should be for the Chinese.
- The Mandarin: Those men who are not frightened by the job are disgusted by it. They say it is not man's work to inspect the feet of women.
- Capt. Lin Nan: Then appoint a woman. It's an interesting problem. I shall be happy to hear when you have solved it.
- The Mandarin: [after a moment's thought] Then be happy Captain, I just solved it!
- Capt. Lin Nan: [without emotion] I'm delighted.
- The Mandarin: How kind of you to rejoice.
- Jen-Ai: I am not attractive in that way.
- Capt. Lin Nan: Jen-Ai, don't you know you're beautiful?
- Jen-Ai: Once in her life, every woman should have that said to her. I thank you for being the one who said it to me.
- Capt. Lin Nan: It is his foot inspector who is beautiful
- Gladys Aylward: You're confusing me.
- The Mandarin: Many people are confused these days. Let us have dinner and wine and music and discuss it further.
- The Mandarin: Are you troubled, Colonel?
- Capt. Lin Nan: Confused.
- The Mandarin: A sign of growth. When first we met, you were not capable of confusion. You were sure of everything.
- Capt. Lin Nan: The Government is interested in the opinion of the local official: their functions, their efficiency, how they run their prisons, their modes of execution, and their *corruption* - or lack of corruption - the elimination of concubines, the management of government funds, even their manner of dress. Now, shall I make a formal protest about the foot-binding law in your name?
- The Mandarin: I think not, Captain. It is better to bend with the wind when it blows.
- Capt. Lin Nan: I'm instructed to tell you that in some remote areas of China, the laws concerning taxes, the registrations of births and deaths, and the prohibition against foot-binding of women are not being properly enforced.
- The Mandarin: But, foot-binding is a very old custom. Some of the people will never obey this law.
- Capt. Lin Nan: You must appoint a foot inspector who will see that they do. This is part of a program aimed at the equality of women.
- The Mandarin: The equality of women? That is amusing.
- Capt. Lin Nan: If I were really kind, I'd have you ordered out of Yangcheng. But, since I'm not obsessed with saving souls or lives, I wish you well.
- Capt. Lin Nan: China is going to be one country - not a grove of weak Provences left to their own devices.
- The Mandarin: You're an Intelligence Officer, Captain, according to your credentials. May one ask have you come to impart intelligence or to obtain it?
- Capt. Lin Nan: Both. Primarily I'm here to observe. The Government wishes to know more about this isolated region: its terrain, its population, its problems.
- The Mandarin: Its terrain is mountainous, the population is peasant, and the problem is, as always, to stay *alive*.
- The Mandarin: It seems possible, however, she will not go.
- Capt. Lin Nan: She'll go. They all go, the outsiders, the do-gooders, in time.
- Jen-Ai: A war? But, if this should happen, why should they attack this region? We're so poor, so isolated?
- Capt. Lin Nan: An innkeeper, foot inspector, prison reformer, and now a military expert.
- Capt. Lin Nan: When invaders come, they are not to be met peacefully as in the past. They're to be fought. Each man must fight. Each man must kill.
- Jen-Ai: I cannot take that message. To me killing is a mortal sin.
- Capt. Lin Nan: You're a citizen of China, you will obey its laws.
- Jen-Ai: When the laws of China conflict with the laws of my faith, I know which one to obey.
- Capt. Lin Nan: Surely that was a great opportunity for making converts. Aren't you neglecting your missionary work?
- Jen-Ai: Is that what you think it is? Collecting converts the way a child collects pretty stones?
- Capt. Lin Nan: Is it anything else?
- Jen-Ai: To me, it's making each man know that he counts, whether he believes in Christ or Buddha or nothing.
- Jen-Ai: I remembered you as a friend. I know we think differently about things; but, I can't understand why you are so hostile...
- Capt. Lin Nan: I'm not hostile to you personally. I have few personal feeling.
- Jen-Ai: Maybe Hok-A is right. I am like a man.
- Capt. Lin Nan: It's a warm night. Why don't you take a swim with me?
- [embarrassed, Jen-Ai starts to leave]
- Capt. Lin Nan: Hok-A was wrong, Jen-Ai. You're not like a man at all.
- Capt. Lin Nan: And so you lectured her on the difficulties of raising children? She thrives on difficulties. She's a very forceful woman.
- The Mandarin: Yes. Yes, she is. But, she's also gentle and trusting. She walks through a world full of evil and sees only children. Not complicated or cruel. Just untidy ones that need to be washed and fed and - loved.
