Noble House (1988) s01e04 Episode Script
Part 4
Do me a favor, will you? lnvite these people to my box after the second race.
lnteresting list.
Any special reason? Just in case Struan should ask.
l have an announcement.
You can leave it at that.
You come in now.
Anderson, you come in now.
Last horse coming in now, jockeys.
- Ahem.
Paul.
- Ah, Richard.
You wanted to talk to me? Uh, yes.
l have a proposal for you.
l was going to make one to you.
And they're off! Listen, Paul, if all the Ho-Pak securities-- l have a proposal for you that's good until 5:00 today.
The Victoria Bank will bail out the Ho-Pak and guarantee all your depositors.
ln return, we'll buy your personal holdings at par-- Par? That's 1I15 of their value! Actually, it's five cents on the dollar, which is about what they're worth.
The Ho-Pak's in better shape than-- Than what? These are hard times, and banks must be very careful.
Even the Noble House is desperate for money, not that we intend to lend them any more.
But the Ho-Pak-- Kindly shut up and listen.
This is the one chance you have.
Five cents is ridiculous! l'll agree to a merger, a seat on the Victoria Bank's board-- provided you give me your notarized resignation undated in advance and that you'll always vote exactly as l wish.
As to money, l don't want to protract the negotiation.
lt will be settled now or not at all.
57 cents on the dollar.
- That's the very least l'll accept.
- Ten, Richard.
- 30.
- 11.
You're trying to destroy me.
30 is more than fair.
18, but that is final.
25, and it's a deal.
Good.
Come back here after the fourth race.
l'll have a provisional letter of agreement ready for your signature and your undated resignation.
Yes, yes, l'll be here.
Who won? Buccaneer.
l need to win, Alexej.
l need Noble Star to win.
Let me ride Noble Star.
l'll consider it.
We must decide now, Taipan.
lt's time.
l can win.
l know l can win.
All right, Alexej, you ride.
And by God, you better win.
What's all this about, lan? You want to make an announcement? Yes.
As courtesy, l thought you should all know.
The Noble House is formally contesting the American Superfoods takeover of your Hong Kong General Stores.
What? But you can't do that! l already have.
All you have done, lan, is make an announcement.
How are you gonna pay? ln 30 or 300 days? The bid's public.
We complete in 30 days with a cash down payment and submit the tender by 9:30 Monday morning.
This is nonsense.
Think you can inspire confidence in Struan's with an empty show of strength? The Noble House is crumbling, and everyone knows it.
The Noble House is still the Noble House.
l repeat, Monday morning.
9:30 in cash.
Can l go to press on this, Taipan? Certainly.
We have a deal.
lt's set.
We're contesting your offer, Mr.
Biltzmann.
Just as it's done in the States.
l presume you don't mind the contest.
My deal is locked.
lsn't it? Well, the directors had agreed, but the stockholders still have to ratify the agreement.
So it isn't locked, Mr.
Biltzmann.
Your own deal stands, except that we would extend by two years, and there's a seat on Struan's board for the full period.
Now, listen-- You, of course, have the perfect right to counter.
Like hell l do.
l already made my deal.
Well, it wasn't good enough.
How much cash? Why don't you make it all public here? What is the down payment? Four million.
U.
S.
lan, don't you think we should exam-- Don't worry.
l have alternate financing for this.
You break this deal, and l'll-- l'm getting out of here.
What alternative financing? From abroad.
Fortunately, the Noble House has friends all over the world.
That was fantastic.
What a performance.
And he's going to pull it off.
Maybe, maybe not.
You know what we just did.
We just bought the Noble House on a promise of four million bucks.
What do you mean, promise? lf l don't come up with the money, Dunross is finished.
He's down the tubes.
You gave your word.
You agreed to put up the four million, and l agreed to put up the stock.
- Linc, don't you-- - Don't worry.
l'll take care of you.
That's not what l'm talking about.
You can't renege now.
Oh, why not? Didn't you see what Dunross did to Biltzmann? That poor slob didn't even know what hit him.
lf they can do business Hong Kong style, so can l.
You think Dunross wouldn't do the same thing to us? McMillan, you come in now.
Zy and Wilson, you come in together.
Right, jockeys.
Good luck.
Mmm, did you hedge your bet? Not even a little bit.
One win is enough for you.
This one's mine.
Only if you cross the finish line in front of me, and you won't.
You're not to win.
Who says? You're not.
You're all locked away.
Stay there, stay there, stay there.
Pull back, come on, come on, come on.
Come on.
Come on! Come on! Yeah! Yeah! - Come on, come on! - Noble Star! - Yes! Get in there! - Noble Star! Excuse me.
Doctor.
Oh, dear God.
Victoria Bank merging with the Ho-Pak.
How do you figure that? l didn't hear the announcement.
You just weren't listening.
Paul Havergill said he's guaranteeing all the Ho-Pak depositors, and Richard Kwang will be on the Victoria board.
Must have been one hell of a deal.
l guess.
What's the matter with you? Oh, l don't know.
l'm sorry, Linc.
That accident-- l just keep seeing it.
Yeah.
That was pretty awful.
How much did you lose? Pretty heavy bet.
Should have split it and put half your money on place.
Some bets you don't hedge.
You didn't have your money on the horse, did you? You had your money on Dunross.
Oh, be smart.
Learn from example.
Anybody can trip and fall.
What are you gonna do, Linc? l don't know.
l got till 9:00 Monday morning to decide.
We'll just wait and see what happens between now and then.
And when you make your decision? Chinese have a saying.
''When pulling weeds, make sure you get rid of the roots.
'' Excuse me for intruding, Taipan, but when l couldn't reach you, l found Philip and he suggested we wait for you here.
l hope you've been comfortable.
Please, sit down, gentlemen, sit down.
We heard about Alexej Travkin.
- Terrible news.
- Joss.
l hope you have better news for me, Mr.
Tip.
l've spoken to Tsu-Yan and he remembers you well.
He will be willing to see you first thing tomorrow morning in Beijing.
- Call the airport.
- No need.
Tsu-Yan has said a plane and a visa will be waiting on your arrival.
Did he give you any indication regarding my request? That he's invited you is a favorable sign.
Beyond that, no.
You explained the question of time? l believe you'll find Tsu-Yan to be well-informed in many ways.
The situation here is a matter of serious discussion in Beijing.
The Middle Kingdom wishes to protect its interests.
- Of course.
- My government is very concerned with the financial well-being of Hong Kong.
After all, we have considerable interests here.
Well? lt's beautiful.
- l-- - You earned it.
And l always keep my word, don't l? Here.
No.
No? What do you mean, no? l promised you a Jag.
- l mean l don't want it, Quillan.
- The hell you don't.
l know you, Orlanda.
l don't want your car.
l don't want anything from you.
Not now.
Not anymore.
Good lord, you've fallen for him, haven't you? Yes.
l'm sorry-- Oh, no, no, not to worry.
Real or pretend, the end result will still be the same.
ln fact, this could work out better.
Orlanda in love! Yeah, l'm upset.
No, it's not your fault.
Right.
When l get back.
All right.
Bye-bye.
Hi.
Come on in.
l'm sorry l'm not ready, but l've been on the phone for the past hour.
Listen, l might as well get the bad news over with.
Doug Murtagh just called from New York.
He couldn't sell it.
No First Central.
l'm sorry, lan.
l guess today's not your day.
Uh, who knows? With luck, l may salvage it yet.
Luck runs pretty thin sometimes.
l'll go get ready.
l'm afraid l have to beg off tonight.
How about tomorrow after Jason Plumm's party? What's wrong with tonight? l have to go out of town.
Oh.
Want some company? Well, that's not possible on this trip.
Why not? l'll tell you when l get back.
l'd like to know now.
Last night was not something l do casually, and l sure as hell don't want to feel like a fool.
Last night was very special.
But tonight you're going out of town? Alone, if that's what you're asking.
- l have to go.
- Then go.
- l'll call you as soon as l can.
- lf you want to.
- Casey.
- Where are you going? l can't tell you.
Then if that's the way you want to play the game - lt is no game.
- No? l'm sorry, lan.
l'm not sure if l believe you.
Welcome to Beijing, Mr.
Dunross.
l hope your trip was a pleasant one.
Yes, it was fine, thank you.
And our offices are closed today.
Tsu-yan is expecting you in Pan-Ching.
lt is less than hour's drive.
Fine.
Yes.
You're just as l imagined you to be.
And you as well.
lt's been a while, Tsu-Yan.
Almost 25 years.
We've become a little older, if not wiser.
So my old friend has become taipan of the Noble House.
And my old friend has become chairman of the China Great Wall lnternational Trust Corporation.
Yes, but you were always destined.
Yes.
And you were always smarter.
No, lan.
l think we were quite equal.
That's why we were such good friends.
And now you come to me in friendship.
And in need as well.
Yes, l know.
We've been watching the recent events in Hong Kong carefully and with little pleasure.
How strange, the turns of history.
l remember when your father was taipan, and it's impossible to imagine him asking China for help.
Those were different times, and l'm not my father.
You must remember, Noble House has been a friend of the Middle Kingdom for many years.
Friendly acquaintance perhaps might be a better description.
Your famous ancestor, the green-eyed devil, was, after all, an opium trader and a pirate as well.
The Noble House was hardly built on noble foundations.
l have never made that claim.
Wisely.
Unfortunately, the current government of Hong Kong is not equally wise.
No? ln what way do you find them foolish? The answer is not as simple as the question, lan.
But of course you know that.
Shall l give you an example? Please.
You were always a good teacher.
Two days ago, Thursday, the Hong Kong police made a serious error.
They mistakenly arrested a good friend of yours-- Brian Kwok.
Brian? Why? He's been falsely accused of espionage.
- That's impossible.
- l quite agree.
What would you suggest, lan? How would the taipan of the Noble House deal with such an unhappy situation? As quickly as possible.
Yes, some things are best resolved with haste.
But that's not what you've come here to discuss.
Our company might be willing to issue a line of credit to the Noble House with certain conditions.
How much credit? First you must accept the conditions.
First you tell me the amount.
You were a scoundrel as a boy, lan.
l see you haven't changed.
Very well.
300 million Hong Kong dollars on a revolving basis at 10% interest.
- 4.
- 8.
- 5.
- 7.
5.
5.
Only for you.
How soon? That will depend on the conditions.
As l understand it, you need the money tomorrow.
l need it right now, but tomorrow will have to do.
The first condition is that Tip Tok-Toh be made a director of the Noble House.
And be given a seat on your executive board.
Consider it done.
And the next condition? Old friends should assist old friends and help correct mistakes.
l'm sorry, miss, but Mr.
Bartlett's gone out.
Did he leave a message for me? No, no messages for you today.
OK, thank you.
Good morning, Casey! Are you ready? For what? We're going boating.
Don't you remember? l thought we'd go to Deepwater Bay.
Sea should be calm there, lunches onboard.
l didn't say-- And you didn't say you'd come, l know.
That's why l'm here.
l shall persuade you.
How? By telling you about Sundays in Hong Kong with everyone gone and nothing to do.
l see you've already been for a walk.
Now you can go and sit in your room and watch television and hear the news about the landslide above Aberdeen, and that's today's big story.
Or l could read a book.
And after an hour, you'll be restless and you'll go for another walk and then back to your room.
While with me, you can enjoy something a little more exciting.
Such as? Such as perhaps catching me off guard and learning some information which you can use to help your friend lan Dunross.
l don't think you're ever off guard, at least, not about the Noble House.
Come and find out.
And if l don't? A very fine lunch will go to waste.
Well? Why not? A more gracious acceptance has never passed my ears.
Maybe another week, ten days at the most.
- And then? - Back to California.
Got a hell of a house there, right on top of a hill.
You'd really like it.
l'm sure l would.
Why don't you come back with me? To California? What would l do? No, Linc.
l can't.
Oh, why not? What's holding you here? My self-respect.
l want to be everything a woman could be for you everything that you could desire.
But l won't be your mistress.
l won't be kept by you.
- That's not what l meant.
- Then what did you mean? Justl want to be with you.
And l want to be with youalways.
And when l'm old and you no longer desire me, l will fill that part of your life with whatever will make you happy openly and freely.
All l ask is to be your tai-tai.
What's that, a tai-tai? lt means ''supreme of supreme.
'' lt means to be part of your life.
lt means that l love you.
Orlanda No, wait.
This complicates things too much.
No, it makes everything perfect.
l want you, Orlanda.
l want you with me.
- Always? - Now, always, constantly.
Then keep me, Linc.
Keep me forever.
Hello, Robert.
lt seems as if you're always on duty.
l was just passing by and heard you were coming through.
Thought l'd lend a hand.
But obviously you didn't need any help.
Have a good trip? l hear you've arrested Brian Kwok.
ls that true? - Who told you that? - An old friend.
- ln Beijing? - Damn it, Robert.
Answer me.
l'm afraid l can't, Taipan.
Don't play that game with me.
lf Brian has been arrested, l have the right to know.
That may be so, Taipan, but l don't have the right to tell you.
Sorry.
lt's the salt air.
lt's very relaxing.
And all that wine at lunch.
We'll be heading back soon.
Aren't you glad you came now? Delighted.
Are you off guard yet, or was that just the bait? Try me.
What's gonna happen tomorrow? Oh, tomorrow will take care of tomorrow.
Seriously.
l will win, or l will not win, but with joss, l will have lan Dunross where l want him.
And then? Have any doubt? l'll take him over lock, stock, and box at the races.
And you really want that, don't you? Oh, yes.
That represents victory.
He and his ancestors have deprived me and mine long enough.
lsn't there enough room for both of you? Oh, well, once perhaps there was long ago, But not anymore.
Look, l know Dunross has impressed you with his great house and his grand manor, but you've only seen one side to him.
There is another side which is far less attractive.
ln what way? Dirk Struan was a grasping greedy bastard.
So was all his line.
lan Dunross is no better.
Although l must admit, he has a certain charm.
Now, that you've described him, how would you describe yourself? How you ladies manipulate us men.
ln truth, my dear, l confess l am no better.
l'm glad to hear it.
Good.
Come, let me show you around the rest of the boat.
She sleeps six comfortably, plus the crew quarters, of course.
This is the master cabin.
Come on, Quillan.
- Just don't.
- Don't what? Let's go back up on the deck.
OK? Why don't we have a drink? - Go to hell.
- Oh, l will soon enough.
Now, calm down.
lf l really wanted to rape you, lt wouldn't be much of a contest, l'm afraid.
lf you were to call bloody murder, my crew wouldn't care a thing.
- You bastard! - l'm not, actually.
l'm really very legitimate.
Look, it was a prank, that's all.
Nothing more.
What can l do to apologize? Just open the damn door.
Turn the handle the other way.
Did Tsu-Yan agree, Taipan Tsu-yan has requested that Brian Kwok be freed from prison - before the funds are released.
- Brian's in prison? - Yes, l heard yesterday.
- Why the devil didn't you tell me? You no longer consider me comprador of the Noble House and favor me with your trust.
Claudia, get me Casey Tcholok on the phone, will you? She's on the Sea WItch with Quillan Gornt.
With Gornt? Yes.
l could leave a message at the hotel.
Call the governor.
l need to see him as soon as possible.
Say it's regarding Brian Kwok.
Philip, you come with me.
You consider yourself trustworthy? Yes.
l've proved it in the past many times.
So did my father and his.
Even so, if l were you, l would have already decided the ways and means of my destruction.
Perhaps l have.
Not you.
Dirk Struan, yes, but not you.
And the money? The 40 million you were to raise? lt is under consideration.
That is not good enough.
lt is still early.
You have given me until midnight.
Again, l ask forgiveness.
Because you think you're finished.
Because l might be finished if once more l cannot prove my worth.
How do you propose to do that? l promise that l will deal with Four-Finger Wu long before his request must be granted.
- How? - This is China.
l will deal with it in Chinese fashion.
l swear it by the blood of my ancestors.
l will continue to protect the Noble House as l have sworn to do.
But without money, there will be no Noble House for you to protect.
My resignation.
May l ask that it be extended a week? No.
A day, perhaps.
Other extensions may be discussed later.
l have heard that tomorrow morning, Gornt and Bartlett will continue to drive our stock down.
l expect so.
Then you should withdraw it from trading.
l could have a word with the stock exchange committee.
The governor can see you immediately, Taipan.
He's waiting in his office.
Whatever you want, my love.
Whatever you want.
ln this unhappy affair of Brian Kwok, it would seem to me more a matter for the police than the concern of the Noble House, which is why l asked Commissioner Crosse to join us at this meeting.
Exactly what is it that you want, Mr.
Dunross? l would like this situation to be handled wisely.
Beijing considers Brian's arrest to be a serious error.
Oh? On whose part? They say he's been falsely accused.
They can say whatever they damn please.
That doesn't change the facts.
And what are the facts? That doesn't concern you.
Now, l must admit, having the taipan of the Noble House acting as a communist emissary is a bit of a surprise.
Yes, that does strike rather an odd note.
What is your connection with this, lan? As an old friend who's trying to rectify a mistake before it's too late.
There is no mistake.
ls that why you went to Beijing? No, sir.
l went to meet with Tsu-Yan, Chairman of the China Great Wall lnternational Trust Corporation.
Would you give me the reason? To establish a line of credit.
But freeing Brian Kwok is the price, is that it? Let the spy go to save the Noble House? l can certainly understand your interest, Mr.
Dunross.
Unfortunately, for you, however, l fail to share your enthusiasm.
lf the Reds want Brian Kwok, let them bloody well ask for him.
That is a demonstration of sublime ignorance, commissioner.
Gentlemen, please.
Let's not be precipitous.
lf you've forced Beijing into making an official request, then you've forced them to acknowledge what has happened.
But if Brian is simply released and allowed to cross the border-- We can all pretend it didn't happen.
That might be your style, Taipan, but it is not mine.
Governor, how many banks, how many businesses have failed in the last few years, and who has come to the rescue? China.
The entire economy of Hong Kong depends on Beijing.
London may not be happy about that, but they cannot deny it.
No, but they regard it as Beijing's protection of a future investment.
And if Beijing's protection were to be withdrawn for all of Hong Kong, what then? ls the Bank of England prepared to accept the responsibility not just for the Noble House, but for all of Hong Kong? All for Brian Kwok.
ls that a threat? That's a possibility, if Brian Kwok is not released tomorrow evening at the border at 6:00 and allowed to cross.
Her Majesty's Government is not subject to blackmail.
lt is not blackmail! lt is survival.
Take her back to the yacht club.
l thought you were asleep.
l'm too happy to be sleeping.
l want to be awake to enjoy.
l'm happy that l've pleased you.
You did more than please me.
That was only the beginning.
l've put my soul into your life.
Close your eyes, my darling.
Everything will be done as you desire.
And, yes, you should have seen their faces when l told them how much opium l could supply.
That is why they elected me chief of the new brotherhood, which was only right.
There are better uses for your half-coin, Father, safer and with good profit.
The Noble House could provide investments and-- Oh, what investments? What profit? No, my son, the white powder is the most profitable investment in the whole world.
And now that we have the ships of the Noble House! But Taipan hasn't agreed yet.
Aiyah! How could l have a son with such a small mind? He will agree.
Of course he will agree to everything.
Oh, secretly, we will have access to the Noble House bank accounts to hide our profits.
And the taipan will intercede for me with Lando Mata so that my name will be chosen for the new gambling syndicate in Macao.
Ah, yes, everything is possible.
Everything! You will wait for me in the back.
You didn't tell me you were coming today.
Why should l have to tell you anything? Who pays for this apartment now? But because l was feeling generous, l have brought you a present.
Ayeeyah, it is beautiful.
Not now, little mealy mouth.
First you must earn it.
Gretchen, look at that.
lt's raining again.
l could never get a cab tonight.
Good evening, Casey.
You're not still upset with me, are you? Yes.
No harm done.
Go to hell, Quillan.
Excuse me.
Where have you been? China.
Can we have dinner? When? As soon as we leave here.
l was supposed to meet Linc.
Have you seen him? No, not tonight.
Maybe he'll turn up.
Would you like to wait? Linc's going with Gornt.
l'm sorry.
lt was his choice.
Has he told you? Not in so many words, but What are you gonna do? Watch.
Ladies and gentlemen, can l have your attention, please? Are you going to announce your resignation, lan? No, Quillan.
l'm announcing that Struan stock has been withdrawn from trading until Tuesday morning, at which time it will open at 30.
30? Your stock's at 9.
50 and going down.
The stock exchange committee have agreed unanimously.
lt's for the protection of the investors now that the Noble House has been given a new revolving credit.
Not by the Victoria.
No.
Well, would you be so kind as to identify this mystery bank? You'll find that out in good time.
l think you're lying, lan.
Good.
How many shares have you sold short? 700,000? You're in the ringer, Quillan.
Not bloody likely.
30 will be the price on Tuesday.
A pox on you, Tuesday, and your party.
Now, can we have dinner? - There you go.
- Thanks.
All right? All right, lan, this other bank, is it true? Almost.
That's why you went to China.
Let's go! Quick! They're over there.
Help! Help! Orlanda? Orlanda? l went out to get some food.
Oh, my God.
Linc's there.
Where? Where was he? My apartment.
He's there.
Oh, my God.
Look after her.
l'm gonna look around.
No.
lt's too dark.
l'll get a flashlight.
Wait for me.
We're on our way! Will he be all right? How the hell do l know? What's he doing in your apartment? That's a stupid question.
l love him, and he loves me.
l'm going back to California with him.
Oh, God, please let him be alive.
Yeah.
Please.
Just hang on.
There's help on its way, honestly.
Stay behind this l'll try and get up there! Father! Father! Jimmy! There's one over here! Come on and help me find Jimmy? Up here! Come on! There's somebody up here.
l can't now, sir.
They'll be here in the next round.
Come on! Hurry, now! Keep speaking.
We're over here.
Right.
There are two more over here.
Two more! Somebody, come and help me.
We need some help.
Come on! Come on! We need help! Have you seen Dunross? Have you seen lan Dunross? - Who? - The taipan.
No, l haven't.
Hey, l'm sorry, sir.
You can't.
All right.
Come in here with the light.
Get some light over here on the left.
- Mr.
Gornt.
- Who the hell are you? Paul Choy.
My uncle's up there.
Four Fingers in Rose Court? Yes, sir.
He was visiting.
Bad timing.
lt's Quillan.
Quillan! Where's lan? He's up there looking for Linc.
Bartlett? What the hell is he doing there? He was in my apartment.
You've got to find him.
Oh, God, Quillan, please help.
ln your apartment.
Stay there.
Quillan will find him.
l know Quillan will find him.
Dunross? lan bloody Dunross, where are you? We need that stretcher.
The taipan, have you seen him? He's up there.
You'd better get to a doctor.
No, no, no, no.
l'm all right.
l'm all right.
l--l must find the taipan.
Oh, he's not hurt.
He's searching for Linc.
You're bleeding.
Your face.
Oh.
Yes.
Well, l'd better Yes.
My head! What the hell are you doing here, Quillan? l'm looking for you.
Casey said you were playing hide-and-seek.
Sorry l'm not dead? Yes.
Joss.
But you'll be dead soon enough.
Sooner if we don't get the hell out of here.
Bartlett? Linc Bartlett Can you hear me? Ah, he must be dead.
He could be trapped in there.
He could be alive.
Yes, you need him for your deal, don't you? Not now.
Not anymore.
l think you're lying, lan, about everything.
Well, l'm going up.
All right, Gunga Din, if you're going to play the hero, let's do it right.
l lead.
All the emergency vehicles, park them right here.
Everybody, back! Really, l tell you! We need more corpsmen to rush up here.
l'm afraid.
l'm so afraid.
Come along, ladies.
You'll have to move.
lt's not safe.
We're expecting more trouble.
Please.
Behind the barricade.
You all right? Yes, l'm fine.
Listen, listen Listen.
l can't hear anything.
ls anyone there? Can you hear me? Yeah, in here! Bartlett? ls that you? Yeah.
Who's there? Quillan Gornt and lan Dunross.
We're both here.
- Are you hurt? - No.
- Linc, can you see my flashlight? - No.
Get me out of here, will you? OK.
Don't worry.
We're gonna get you out.
We're gonna get some help.
l'll stay.
You go on back down.
OK.
Hey, you might need this.
Dicey, that.
All right.
l'll go back.
OK.
Linc? Quillan's gone to get some help.
Where are you? How the hell do l know? All right.
Wait there.
l'm gonna see if l can get closer to you.
Give us a shout when you see my flashlight.
OK.
Nothing.
Not yet.
Not yet.
Nothing.
No, not yet.
Nothing.
- There.
l see it.
Hold it there.
- All right.
l'm coming up.
OK.
Where are you? - Here.
- Where are you? - Down here.
- Yeah? Oh.
Well, it looks like we're gonna have to dig you out.
lt'll take some time.
Can you hold on? Sure.
What happened, anyway? Earthquake? Landslide.
The entire building came down.
Where's Orlanda? She's fine.
She's down below with Casey.
That's good.
She wasn't in the apartment when it hit.
Yes, l know.
How are you feeling? Well, l could use a cold beer.
l was standing in the kitchen, and the whole world hit the fan.
Guess l got knocked out.
The next thing l knew, l was here.
- What's on top of me? - Most of Rose Court.
ls anybody there? - Yes, yes.
- You ok? Yeah.
l think l'd like to go home now.
Right.
l need some help.
l've got a man trapped up there.
l want four men immediately.
All right.
Well, we pegged him--Bartlett.
ls--is he dead? No.
He's fine.
He's just trapped under some beams.
Will he be OK? He will as soon as we can get him out.
He's alive.
He's alive.
l was so sure.
So sure.
Yeah.
Yeah, it's going to be OK.
All right.
Another one for the ambulance here.
Hey, are you OK? Father.
Let me just get closer.
Let me get closer.
Aah.
lan, are you OK? Yes.
Yes.
Yes, l'm fine.
l'm OK.
You came in here just to find me? That's right.
Why? lt's pretty funny.
Oh.
We thought it was rather nice of us, actually.
Hold on.
l think l see some light.
lt's about time.
Who's going to win tomorrow, you or Quillan? Me.
The Beijing company's going to finance the Noble House.
On Tuesday, Struan stock opens at 30.
l'm afraid you're going to lose your four million, Linc.
But Quillan Gornt is going to lose a damn sight more.
What's wrong? What is it? What? Gee.
l just bumped my head.
Listen, lan, how tough is it to get married here? What? How tough is it to get married in Hong Kong? Hold on.
l think l see them coming.
Ho! Quillan Gornt's here.
Oh, my God! Hold on! Linc! Linc! - Linc! - lan! - Linc! - Aah! For God's sakes, somebody come up here! Linc Bartlett! Linc! Linc! Come on! For God's sake, get up here! Come on.
Come on.
Come on! lan! Oh, no.
What? What is it? Oh l'm sorry, Orlanda.
No! No.
No.
Yes.
Yes, of course.
l'll tell her.
Thank you, sir.
Thank you.
The governor extends his sympathies.
Did they find him? Yes.
l'll take l'll take Linc's body back to California.
He wanted to be cremated.
lt's in his will.
l'll make the arrangements.
l keep thinking, if he hadn't been in Orlanda's apartment, and to that you say joss, right? lt is joss, Casey.
lt's something no one can change or make less painful or wish away.
lt's what had to happen.
No, it didn't have to But it did.
Oh, l don't know.
You should get some sleep.
Would you like to stay here? No.
l better get back to the hotel.
There's so much to do.
l'm taipan at Par-Con now.
Linc and l had a deal.
l willed him voting power of all my stock for ten years, and he did the same for me.
For ten years? Yes, l'll send you a formal verification when it's official.
lt's awfully business-like, isn't it? Oh, God, lan.
lt's OK, it's OK.
Come on, come on.
lt's all right.
lt's all right.
lt's OK.
No, it's not.
Not yet.
But it will be.
When you were with Linc, before it happened, was he-- He was fine.
He asked for a cold beer.
Yeah? That sounds like Linc.
The last thing he asked me was whether it was difficult to get married in Hong Kong.
Orlanda? He was going to marry Orlanda? l don't know.
You're right.
lt is joss.
Oh, take me back to the hotel, lan.
Casey, Casey-- Don't say anything.
Let's not talk anymore, OK? l need to think about all this, about everything.
l've got to get it straight in my head.
Just don't say anything, please.
l told you to buy Struan's.
700,000 shares to cover my short-selling.
Yes, Mr.
Gornt, but l can't.
Well, the governor's closed all the banks in the market because of the catastrophe last night.
And you were lucky you weren't hurt.
You-- Hurt? l'll be a damn sight more than hurt if Struan's opens at 30 tomorrow.
Now talk to the other brokers.
Somebody's got to have Struan's stock.
l've tried, Mr.
Gornt.
Perhaps if you had a reasonable conversation with Mr.
Dunross-- Damn lan Dunross! Damn his miserable luck! Excuse me, Mr.
Gornt.
Mr.
Paul Choy is here.
He said you were expecting him.
Who the hell's Paul Choy? He said he was Mr.
Wu's nephew.
Wu? Oh, Four Finger! Yes, l'd forgotten.
All right.
Send him in.
Buy Struan's.
l'll try, Mr.
Gornt.
Come in, Mr.
Choy.
l'm sorry to be late, sir, But there were some problems.
- My uncle-- - Ah, yes.
Yes.
l'm sorry.
Still, l agreed to give you a job, and my word is better than most.
l appreciate that, Mr.
Gornt, but l've come to tell you that l can't go to work for you now.
Ah, yes, l understand.
Take a few weeks.
Take as long as you need.
No, sir, that's not it.
l won't be working for you at all.
No? Well, why the hell are you here? l just wanted to thank you for the opportunity.
You got your hands on the old man's money, didn't you? Yes.
Old Four Fingers must have tucked away quite a bit.
What exactly did you have in mind, Mr.
Choy? My God.
Where have you been? l've been trying to get in touch with you ever since l heard.
l spoke to L.
A.
They said they'd already heard from you.
Now, look, Casey, don't you worry about anything.
l'll make all the arrangements-- lt's done.
Everything is done.
Oh.
Well, you should have called me.
l didn't need your help, Seymour, and l'm busy now.
We've got a lot to talk about.
There's the will, the Struan deal, not to mention the mess back home.
The vultures are already circling.
lt can wait.
l'll see you back in L.
A.
next Monday.
Monday? There's a million things to do.
Linc's affairs are going to take a year to untangle.
No, they won't.
l read the will, remember? Yeah.
l guess you're the boss now.
Uh Couple of the stockholders are not going to be too thrilled about that.
Going to be a couple of lawsuits.
Somebody's bound to sue-- We'll talk about it later.
Yeah.
ln the meantime l figure we ought to delay the Struan deal.
Now, l can pick up a few extra points-- Seymour, you're fired.
As of this moment.
What did you say? What's the matter with you? Now get the hell out of here.
You can't fire me.
l've got a contract.
l just did, and if you want your contract settled, you'll go quietly.
Open your mouth once more and you won't get a penny.
Out.
That's it, Seymour.
l'll see you in court.
The governor's secretary said he would call back, but probably not until tomorrow.
Pressure of official business and all that.
But Linbar Struan called from Sydney.
Please call him when you have a moment.
He thinks he's got the situation there back in line.
l'll be damned.
ls my next appointment here yet? Oh, yes.
He's been waiting.
Send him in, please.
Mr.
Choy? Mr.
Choy, Taipan.
Come in, Paul.
l'm sorry about your father.
Thank you.
You knew he wasn't my uncle all along, didn't you? l was the one who suggested he send you to the United States.
Please sit down.
l guess you know why l'm here.
The half-coin.
Yes, sir.
First let me ask you who has the coin, now that Four Fingers is an ancestor? - The family Wu, sir-- - Who in the family Wu? The coin was given to an individual, who would pass it on to an individual.
Who? Me, sir.
Show it to me.
You'll have to prove Four Fingers gave it to you.
Sorry, Taipan, but l don't have to prove anything.
l just have to present the coin and ask the favor ln secret.
That's the deal.
And if it's the real coin, then your honor and the face of the Noble House are at stake and the-- l know what l have at stake! Do you? This is China.
Lots of curious things happen in China.
Do you think l can be fooled by an ancient legend? No, sir, but l have presented the coin.
Now you must grant the favor.
You know the coin was stolen from Philip Chen? No, sir.
lt came from my father.
lt's Philip Chen's coin.
There were four coins, Taipan.
Mr.
Chen's coin must be one of the others.
This one belonged to my father, and now it belongs to me.
He gave it to you? l inherited it but his request is not my request.
No? Then what is your request? First l must know if you will grant it.
And if not, will you sell the coin to Quillan Gornt? Return the coin freely and l'll grant all sorts of favors.
No, Taipan.
l can't do that.
The coin can only be returned like this.
l ask a favor in Jin-Qua's name from the taipan of the Noble House.
Well? First, l want old-friend status, equal to my father's, with all that that implies.
Second, l want to be appointed a director of Struan's, at a salary equal to the other directors.
Agreed? ls that all? No.
Next, l want you to introduce me to Lando Mata, and tell him that you're backing me to bid for the Macao gambling syndicate.
And last, l want a stewardship at the Turf Club three years from now.
That's all of it.
lf the coin is real, l'll agree to everything except the part about Lando Mata.
- That's part of the deal.
- l don't agree.
- l've asked for nothing illegal-- - Lando Mata is out! lf that's out, then the whole deal's off, and l'll put my father's request in its place or consider some other alternatives, none of which will make you very happy.
Believe me, my request is the easiest one to honor but it's your choice.
All right.
l agree to grant your favor but l'll have to ask Lando.
l can't tell him anything.
Do you accept? Yes, sir, and thank you, Taipan.
You won't regret it.
You're very sure of yourself.
Just trying to keep ahead of the game, sir.
He's got someone in there.
They've found him.
l finally tracked down Mr.
Tip.
Where is he? He's on his way to the border.
Left half an hour ago.
Taipan? Mr.
Tip.
l'm delighted you're on our board of directors.
l'm certain your guidance will benefit us all.
Oh, you'll find my voice to be only an occasional whisper, l assure you.
A wise whisper, Mr.
Tip, is more valuable than a loud voice.
We shall see, Taipan, we shall see.
Hello, Robert.
Hello, sir.
Sorry to be late.
Only a couple of minutes.
Anyone else coming? l don't think so, not officially.
You can get on with it.
''Chu-Toy, alias Brian Kwok, ''you are formally charged with espionage against Her Majesty's Government, ''on behalf of a foreign power.
''Under the authority of the deportation ordinance of Hong Kong, ''you are formally ordered out of the crown colony.
''lf you return, ''you are formally warned you do so at your peril ''and are liable for arraignment and imprisonment ''at Her Majesty's pleasure.
'' Now Now what happens? You walk across that bloody bridge and get back to your pals.
You think l'm a fool? You think l believe you're really letting me go? They're playing with me, Robert.
They'll never let me go free.
You know that.
You know that, Robert.
- You're free, Brian.
- No.
No.
Now l understand.
The moment l'm almost dead, they'll pull me back and torture me with the hope of freedom.
That's it, Robert.
That's what they're trying to do! l told you you're free.
You're free to go.
Don't ask me why they're letting you go, but they are.
Go.
No.
lt's a lie.
lt has to be.
Go! You really mean it? Yes.
Thank you, sir.
lf it was up to me, l'd have you shot.
Now get the hell across that bridge, Chu-Toy, before l whip you across it.
Robert? That's just for old times' sake For the Brian l used to know.
Yes.
Thanks.
Congratulations, Taipan.
l'm sure Tsu-Yan will be very pleased.
Yes.
Papers will be ready for your signature tomorrow morning.
Till then, Taipan.
Commissioner? Satisfied? Quite.
This was not on my recommendation, you know.
Well, then l suggest you take credit for it anyway.
You've got gall, Taipan.
l'll say that for you.
Pure gall.
l'm afraid it runs in the family.
Could l give you a lift back to town? Mr.
Dunross, On behalf of Her Majesty's Government, get stuffed.
Orlanda? lt's Casey.
May l come in? How did you find me? l called Quillan.
He told me he brought you here.
Yes, for a few days.
l can't stay longer than that.
lt's so expensive.
Please, sit down, Casey.
Did you have any insurance for your apartment? lnsurance? No, l don't think so.
l've lost everything.
l've got little money in the bank.
Casey, about Linc, l loved him.
l wasn't trying to trap him.
No.
Here's a check.
lt's for-- l don't want your money.
l don't want anything from you.
lt's not from me.
lt's from Linc.
He wanted you to have some protection.
Really? But how-- The last thing Linc said to lan Dunross was to ask how difficult it was to get married in Hong Kong.
Married? Did the taipan-- did he tell you that's what Linc said? Yes, he told me.
What are you going to do, Orlanda? Will you stay in Hong Kong? Where else can l go? Why not try the States? l could help you find a job.
You'd help me? Why? Because that's the way Linc would have wanted it.
And maybe we could be friends? Yeah.
Maybe we could.
Oh.
Hello.
l know.
You just happened to be in the neighborhood.
How are you feeling? Lousy, but better.
- Good.
- Where have you been? Oh, l had to take care of the last details on the China loan.
lt's set? Then you did it? l don't know how, but you did it.
You won.
That's my job.
That's what the taipan of the Noble House is supposed to do.
And what does the taipan of the Noble House do in 1997 when China absorbs Hong Kong? Who knows? Perhaps it'll be the other way around, and Hong Kong will absorb China.
Here are the papers on my General Stores deal.
But Linc never put up the four million.
Oh, but he did.
He cabled it Saturday night.
My Swiss bank confirmed it this morning, and l sent a check to the board of General Stores.
They accepted.
Business as usual? You're like the Post Office.
- Don't you ever take a break? - When there's time.
But there never is.
l don't know if l could live that way.
Why don't you try? Why don't you stay here in Hong Kong? We could take some time off together.
lt's not an offer l make every day.
No, it isn't.
But l've got work to do.
l'm taipan of Par-Con, remember? l can't stay here, any more than you can come with me to California.
You're leaving? The morning.
Everything's arranged.
All right.
l'll take you to the airport.
l've got to pack.
l bet you've never kissed a taipan before.
Certainly not in the lobby of this hotel.
New car? Yes, and kindly don't bugger the brakes on this one.
You wanted to see me, Quillan, before the stock exchange opened.
Did you ask me to come here just to gloat? What do you want? lf your stock opens at 30, l'll be ruined.
Yes, l know.
Then name your terms.
Why should l? Well, life would be dull without me, lan.
You know that.
No one else can give you an even fight.
No, l suppose not.
l'll let you buy back in at 18, and l'll take All Asia Airlines as the price.
l accept.
Don't you want to bargain? l want no quarrel from you as you'll expect none from me.
You'll have the All Asia papers by noon.
Damn you, lan Dunross, and perdition to the Noble House.
Where's the luggage? l had it sent on ahead.
Here's a present.
Those are all the papers John Chen gave us, everything about Struan's.
There aren't any other copies.
Thanks.
l wasn't expecting that.
Well, l figured we ought to start fresh.
Thank you.
That offer you made last night-- How long is it good for? Why? l'm thinking about it.
And? How about 30 days? lt'll take me about that time to reorganize Par-Con the way Linc would have wanted it, and then l think l'll come back.
Thank you.
No.
Don't come in.
Let's just say it here.
30 days.
lt will feel like a long time.
Very long.
When Linc and l came here, the plan was to raid Noble House.
He wanted to take you over, wanted to be taipan.
You knew that, didn't you? l had a reasonably good idea.
He almost made it.
ls that what you're going to do in 30 days-- mount your own attack on the Noble House? lt's worth a try, isn't it? Oh, it's worth a try, Casey.
lt's certainly worth a try.
Rip: DevilsBackbone
lnteresting list.
Any special reason? Just in case Struan should ask.
l have an announcement.
You can leave it at that.
You come in now.
Anderson, you come in now.
Last horse coming in now, jockeys.
- Ahem.
Paul.
- Ah, Richard.
You wanted to talk to me? Uh, yes.
l have a proposal for you.
l was going to make one to you.
And they're off! Listen, Paul, if all the Ho-Pak securities-- l have a proposal for you that's good until 5:00 today.
The Victoria Bank will bail out the Ho-Pak and guarantee all your depositors.
ln return, we'll buy your personal holdings at par-- Par? That's 1I15 of their value! Actually, it's five cents on the dollar, which is about what they're worth.
The Ho-Pak's in better shape than-- Than what? These are hard times, and banks must be very careful.
Even the Noble House is desperate for money, not that we intend to lend them any more.
But the Ho-Pak-- Kindly shut up and listen.
This is the one chance you have.
Five cents is ridiculous! l'll agree to a merger, a seat on the Victoria Bank's board-- provided you give me your notarized resignation undated in advance and that you'll always vote exactly as l wish.
As to money, l don't want to protract the negotiation.
lt will be settled now or not at all.
57 cents on the dollar.
- That's the very least l'll accept.
- Ten, Richard.
- 30.
- 11.
You're trying to destroy me.
30 is more than fair.
18, but that is final.
25, and it's a deal.
Good.
Come back here after the fourth race.
l'll have a provisional letter of agreement ready for your signature and your undated resignation.
Yes, yes, l'll be here.
Who won? Buccaneer.
l need to win, Alexej.
l need Noble Star to win.
Let me ride Noble Star.
l'll consider it.
We must decide now, Taipan.
lt's time.
l can win.
l know l can win.
All right, Alexej, you ride.
And by God, you better win.
What's all this about, lan? You want to make an announcement? Yes.
As courtesy, l thought you should all know.
The Noble House is formally contesting the American Superfoods takeover of your Hong Kong General Stores.
What? But you can't do that! l already have.
All you have done, lan, is make an announcement.
How are you gonna pay? ln 30 or 300 days? The bid's public.
We complete in 30 days with a cash down payment and submit the tender by 9:30 Monday morning.
This is nonsense.
Think you can inspire confidence in Struan's with an empty show of strength? The Noble House is crumbling, and everyone knows it.
The Noble House is still the Noble House.
l repeat, Monday morning.
9:30 in cash.
Can l go to press on this, Taipan? Certainly.
We have a deal.
lt's set.
We're contesting your offer, Mr.
Biltzmann.
Just as it's done in the States.
l presume you don't mind the contest.
My deal is locked.
lsn't it? Well, the directors had agreed, but the stockholders still have to ratify the agreement.
So it isn't locked, Mr.
Biltzmann.
Your own deal stands, except that we would extend by two years, and there's a seat on Struan's board for the full period.
Now, listen-- You, of course, have the perfect right to counter.
Like hell l do.
l already made my deal.
Well, it wasn't good enough.
How much cash? Why don't you make it all public here? What is the down payment? Four million.
U.
S.
lan, don't you think we should exam-- Don't worry.
l have alternate financing for this.
You break this deal, and l'll-- l'm getting out of here.
What alternative financing? From abroad.
Fortunately, the Noble House has friends all over the world.
That was fantastic.
What a performance.
And he's going to pull it off.
Maybe, maybe not.
You know what we just did.
We just bought the Noble House on a promise of four million bucks.
What do you mean, promise? lf l don't come up with the money, Dunross is finished.
He's down the tubes.
You gave your word.
You agreed to put up the four million, and l agreed to put up the stock.
- Linc, don't you-- - Don't worry.
l'll take care of you.
That's not what l'm talking about.
You can't renege now.
Oh, why not? Didn't you see what Dunross did to Biltzmann? That poor slob didn't even know what hit him.
lf they can do business Hong Kong style, so can l.
You think Dunross wouldn't do the same thing to us? McMillan, you come in now.
Zy and Wilson, you come in together.
Right, jockeys.
Good luck.
Mmm, did you hedge your bet? Not even a little bit.
One win is enough for you.
This one's mine.
Only if you cross the finish line in front of me, and you won't.
You're not to win.
Who says? You're not.
You're all locked away.
Stay there, stay there, stay there.
Pull back, come on, come on, come on.
Come on.
Come on! Come on! Yeah! Yeah! - Come on, come on! - Noble Star! - Yes! Get in there! - Noble Star! Excuse me.
Doctor.
Oh, dear God.
Victoria Bank merging with the Ho-Pak.
How do you figure that? l didn't hear the announcement.
You just weren't listening.
Paul Havergill said he's guaranteeing all the Ho-Pak depositors, and Richard Kwang will be on the Victoria board.
Must have been one hell of a deal.
l guess.
What's the matter with you? Oh, l don't know.
l'm sorry, Linc.
That accident-- l just keep seeing it.
Yeah.
That was pretty awful.
How much did you lose? Pretty heavy bet.
Should have split it and put half your money on place.
Some bets you don't hedge.
You didn't have your money on the horse, did you? You had your money on Dunross.
Oh, be smart.
Learn from example.
Anybody can trip and fall.
What are you gonna do, Linc? l don't know.
l got till 9:00 Monday morning to decide.
We'll just wait and see what happens between now and then.
And when you make your decision? Chinese have a saying.
''When pulling weeds, make sure you get rid of the roots.
'' Excuse me for intruding, Taipan, but when l couldn't reach you, l found Philip and he suggested we wait for you here.
l hope you've been comfortable.
Please, sit down, gentlemen, sit down.
We heard about Alexej Travkin.
- Terrible news.
- Joss.
l hope you have better news for me, Mr.
Tip.
l've spoken to Tsu-Yan and he remembers you well.
He will be willing to see you first thing tomorrow morning in Beijing.
- Call the airport.
- No need.
Tsu-Yan has said a plane and a visa will be waiting on your arrival.
Did he give you any indication regarding my request? That he's invited you is a favorable sign.
Beyond that, no.
You explained the question of time? l believe you'll find Tsu-Yan to be well-informed in many ways.
The situation here is a matter of serious discussion in Beijing.
The Middle Kingdom wishes to protect its interests.
- Of course.
- My government is very concerned with the financial well-being of Hong Kong.
After all, we have considerable interests here.
Well? lt's beautiful.
- l-- - You earned it.
And l always keep my word, don't l? Here.
No.
No? What do you mean, no? l promised you a Jag.
- l mean l don't want it, Quillan.
- The hell you don't.
l know you, Orlanda.
l don't want your car.
l don't want anything from you.
Not now.
Not anymore.
Good lord, you've fallen for him, haven't you? Yes.
l'm sorry-- Oh, no, no, not to worry.
Real or pretend, the end result will still be the same.
ln fact, this could work out better.
Orlanda in love! Yeah, l'm upset.
No, it's not your fault.
Right.
When l get back.
All right.
Bye-bye.
Hi.
Come on in.
l'm sorry l'm not ready, but l've been on the phone for the past hour.
Listen, l might as well get the bad news over with.
Doug Murtagh just called from New York.
He couldn't sell it.
No First Central.
l'm sorry, lan.
l guess today's not your day.
Uh, who knows? With luck, l may salvage it yet.
Luck runs pretty thin sometimes.
l'll go get ready.
l'm afraid l have to beg off tonight.
How about tomorrow after Jason Plumm's party? What's wrong with tonight? l have to go out of town.
Oh.
Want some company? Well, that's not possible on this trip.
Why not? l'll tell you when l get back.
l'd like to know now.
Last night was not something l do casually, and l sure as hell don't want to feel like a fool.
Last night was very special.
But tonight you're going out of town? Alone, if that's what you're asking.
- l have to go.
- Then go.
- l'll call you as soon as l can.
- lf you want to.
- Casey.
- Where are you going? l can't tell you.
Then if that's the way you want to play the game - lt is no game.
- No? l'm sorry, lan.
l'm not sure if l believe you.
Welcome to Beijing, Mr.
Dunross.
l hope your trip was a pleasant one.
Yes, it was fine, thank you.
And our offices are closed today.
Tsu-yan is expecting you in Pan-Ching.
lt is less than hour's drive.
Fine.
Yes.
You're just as l imagined you to be.
And you as well.
lt's been a while, Tsu-Yan.
Almost 25 years.
We've become a little older, if not wiser.
So my old friend has become taipan of the Noble House.
And my old friend has become chairman of the China Great Wall lnternational Trust Corporation.
Yes, but you were always destined.
Yes.
And you were always smarter.
No, lan.
l think we were quite equal.
That's why we were such good friends.
And now you come to me in friendship.
And in need as well.
Yes, l know.
We've been watching the recent events in Hong Kong carefully and with little pleasure.
How strange, the turns of history.
l remember when your father was taipan, and it's impossible to imagine him asking China for help.
Those were different times, and l'm not my father.
You must remember, Noble House has been a friend of the Middle Kingdom for many years.
Friendly acquaintance perhaps might be a better description.
Your famous ancestor, the green-eyed devil, was, after all, an opium trader and a pirate as well.
The Noble House was hardly built on noble foundations.
l have never made that claim.
Wisely.
Unfortunately, the current government of Hong Kong is not equally wise.
No? ln what way do you find them foolish? The answer is not as simple as the question, lan.
But of course you know that.
Shall l give you an example? Please.
You were always a good teacher.
Two days ago, Thursday, the Hong Kong police made a serious error.
They mistakenly arrested a good friend of yours-- Brian Kwok.
Brian? Why? He's been falsely accused of espionage.
- That's impossible.
- l quite agree.
What would you suggest, lan? How would the taipan of the Noble House deal with such an unhappy situation? As quickly as possible.
Yes, some things are best resolved with haste.
But that's not what you've come here to discuss.
Our company might be willing to issue a line of credit to the Noble House with certain conditions.
How much credit? First you must accept the conditions.
First you tell me the amount.
You were a scoundrel as a boy, lan.
l see you haven't changed.
Very well.
300 million Hong Kong dollars on a revolving basis at 10% interest.
- 4.
- 8.
- 5.
- 7.
5.
5.
Only for you.
How soon? That will depend on the conditions.
As l understand it, you need the money tomorrow.
l need it right now, but tomorrow will have to do.
The first condition is that Tip Tok-Toh be made a director of the Noble House.
And be given a seat on your executive board.
Consider it done.
And the next condition? Old friends should assist old friends and help correct mistakes.
l'm sorry, miss, but Mr.
Bartlett's gone out.
Did he leave a message for me? No, no messages for you today.
OK, thank you.
Good morning, Casey! Are you ready? For what? We're going boating.
Don't you remember? l thought we'd go to Deepwater Bay.
Sea should be calm there, lunches onboard.
l didn't say-- And you didn't say you'd come, l know.
That's why l'm here.
l shall persuade you.
How? By telling you about Sundays in Hong Kong with everyone gone and nothing to do.
l see you've already been for a walk.
Now you can go and sit in your room and watch television and hear the news about the landslide above Aberdeen, and that's today's big story.
Or l could read a book.
And after an hour, you'll be restless and you'll go for another walk and then back to your room.
While with me, you can enjoy something a little more exciting.
Such as? Such as perhaps catching me off guard and learning some information which you can use to help your friend lan Dunross.
l don't think you're ever off guard, at least, not about the Noble House.
Come and find out.
And if l don't? A very fine lunch will go to waste.
Well? Why not? A more gracious acceptance has never passed my ears.
Maybe another week, ten days at the most.
- And then? - Back to California.
Got a hell of a house there, right on top of a hill.
You'd really like it.
l'm sure l would.
Why don't you come back with me? To California? What would l do? No, Linc.
l can't.
Oh, why not? What's holding you here? My self-respect.
l want to be everything a woman could be for you everything that you could desire.
But l won't be your mistress.
l won't be kept by you.
- That's not what l meant.
- Then what did you mean? Justl want to be with you.
And l want to be with youalways.
And when l'm old and you no longer desire me, l will fill that part of your life with whatever will make you happy openly and freely.
All l ask is to be your tai-tai.
What's that, a tai-tai? lt means ''supreme of supreme.
'' lt means to be part of your life.
lt means that l love you.
Orlanda No, wait.
This complicates things too much.
No, it makes everything perfect.
l want you, Orlanda.
l want you with me.
- Always? - Now, always, constantly.
Then keep me, Linc.
Keep me forever.
Hello, Robert.
lt seems as if you're always on duty.
l was just passing by and heard you were coming through.
Thought l'd lend a hand.
But obviously you didn't need any help.
Have a good trip? l hear you've arrested Brian Kwok.
ls that true? - Who told you that? - An old friend.
- ln Beijing? - Damn it, Robert.
Answer me.
l'm afraid l can't, Taipan.
Don't play that game with me.
lf Brian has been arrested, l have the right to know.
That may be so, Taipan, but l don't have the right to tell you.
Sorry.
lt's the salt air.
lt's very relaxing.
And all that wine at lunch.
We'll be heading back soon.
Aren't you glad you came now? Delighted.
Are you off guard yet, or was that just the bait? Try me.
What's gonna happen tomorrow? Oh, tomorrow will take care of tomorrow.
Seriously.
l will win, or l will not win, but with joss, l will have lan Dunross where l want him.
And then? Have any doubt? l'll take him over lock, stock, and box at the races.
And you really want that, don't you? Oh, yes.
That represents victory.
He and his ancestors have deprived me and mine long enough.
lsn't there enough room for both of you? Oh, well, once perhaps there was long ago, But not anymore.
Look, l know Dunross has impressed you with his great house and his grand manor, but you've only seen one side to him.
There is another side which is far less attractive.
ln what way? Dirk Struan was a grasping greedy bastard.
So was all his line.
lan Dunross is no better.
Although l must admit, he has a certain charm.
Now, that you've described him, how would you describe yourself? How you ladies manipulate us men.
ln truth, my dear, l confess l am no better.
l'm glad to hear it.
Good.
Come, let me show you around the rest of the boat.
She sleeps six comfortably, plus the crew quarters, of course.
This is the master cabin.
Come on, Quillan.
- Just don't.
- Don't what? Let's go back up on the deck.
OK? Why don't we have a drink? - Go to hell.
- Oh, l will soon enough.
Now, calm down.
lf l really wanted to rape you, lt wouldn't be much of a contest, l'm afraid.
lf you were to call bloody murder, my crew wouldn't care a thing.
- You bastard! - l'm not, actually.
l'm really very legitimate.
Look, it was a prank, that's all.
Nothing more.
What can l do to apologize? Just open the damn door.
Turn the handle the other way.
Did Tsu-Yan agree, Taipan Tsu-yan has requested that Brian Kwok be freed from prison - before the funds are released.
- Brian's in prison? - Yes, l heard yesterday.
- Why the devil didn't you tell me? You no longer consider me comprador of the Noble House and favor me with your trust.
Claudia, get me Casey Tcholok on the phone, will you? She's on the Sea WItch with Quillan Gornt.
With Gornt? Yes.
l could leave a message at the hotel.
Call the governor.
l need to see him as soon as possible.
Say it's regarding Brian Kwok.
Philip, you come with me.
You consider yourself trustworthy? Yes.
l've proved it in the past many times.
So did my father and his.
Even so, if l were you, l would have already decided the ways and means of my destruction.
Perhaps l have.
Not you.
Dirk Struan, yes, but not you.
And the money? The 40 million you were to raise? lt is under consideration.
That is not good enough.
lt is still early.
You have given me until midnight.
Again, l ask forgiveness.
Because you think you're finished.
Because l might be finished if once more l cannot prove my worth.
How do you propose to do that? l promise that l will deal with Four-Finger Wu long before his request must be granted.
- How? - This is China.
l will deal with it in Chinese fashion.
l swear it by the blood of my ancestors.
l will continue to protect the Noble House as l have sworn to do.
But without money, there will be no Noble House for you to protect.
My resignation.
May l ask that it be extended a week? No.
A day, perhaps.
Other extensions may be discussed later.
l have heard that tomorrow morning, Gornt and Bartlett will continue to drive our stock down.
l expect so.
Then you should withdraw it from trading.
l could have a word with the stock exchange committee.
The governor can see you immediately, Taipan.
He's waiting in his office.
Whatever you want, my love.
Whatever you want.
ln this unhappy affair of Brian Kwok, it would seem to me more a matter for the police than the concern of the Noble House, which is why l asked Commissioner Crosse to join us at this meeting.
Exactly what is it that you want, Mr.
Dunross? l would like this situation to be handled wisely.
Beijing considers Brian's arrest to be a serious error.
Oh? On whose part? They say he's been falsely accused.
They can say whatever they damn please.
That doesn't change the facts.
And what are the facts? That doesn't concern you.
Now, l must admit, having the taipan of the Noble House acting as a communist emissary is a bit of a surprise.
Yes, that does strike rather an odd note.
What is your connection with this, lan? As an old friend who's trying to rectify a mistake before it's too late.
There is no mistake.
ls that why you went to Beijing? No, sir.
l went to meet with Tsu-Yan, Chairman of the China Great Wall lnternational Trust Corporation.
Would you give me the reason? To establish a line of credit.
But freeing Brian Kwok is the price, is that it? Let the spy go to save the Noble House? l can certainly understand your interest, Mr.
Dunross.
Unfortunately, for you, however, l fail to share your enthusiasm.
lf the Reds want Brian Kwok, let them bloody well ask for him.
That is a demonstration of sublime ignorance, commissioner.
Gentlemen, please.
Let's not be precipitous.
lf you've forced Beijing into making an official request, then you've forced them to acknowledge what has happened.
But if Brian is simply released and allowed to cross the border-- We can all pretend it didn't happen.
That might be your style, Taipan, but it is not mine.
Governor, how many banks, how many businesses have failed in the last few years, and who has come to the rescue? China.
The entire economy of Hong Kong depends on Beijing.
London may not be happy about that, but they cannot deny it.
No, but they regard it as Beijing's protection of a future investment.
And if Beijing's protection were to be withdrawn for all of Hong Kong, what then? ls the Bank of England prepared to accept the responsibility not just for the Noble House, but for all of Hong Kong? All for Brian Kwok.
ls that a threat? That's a possibility, if Brian Kwok is not released tomorrow evening at the border at 6:00 and allowed to cross.
Her Majesty's Government is not subject to blackmail.
lt is not blackmail! lt is survival.
Take her back to the yacht club.
l thought you were asleep.
l'm too happy to be sleeping.
l want to be awake to enjoy.
l'm happy that l've pleased you.
You did more than please me.
That was only the beginning.
l've put my soul into your life.
Close your eyes, my darling.
Everything will be done as you desire.
And, yes, you should have seen their faces when l told them how much opium l could supply.
That is why they elected me chief of the new brotherhood, which was only right.
There are better uses for your half-coin, Father, safer and with good profit.
The Noble House could provide investments and-- Oh, what investments? What profit? No, my son, the white powder is the most profitable investment in the whole world.
And now that we have the ships of the Noble House! But Taipan hasn't agreed yet.
Aiyah! How could l have a son with such a small mind? He will agree.
Of course he will agree to everything.
Oh, secretly, we will have access to the Noble House bank accounts to hide our profits.
And the taipan will intercede for me with Lando Mata so that my name will be chosen for the new gambling syndicate in Macao.
Ah, yes, everything is possible.
Everything! You will wait for me in the back.
You didn't tell me you were coming today.
Why should l have to tell you anything? Who pays for this apartment now? But because l was feeling generous, l have brought you a present.
Ayeeyah, it is beautiful.
Not now, little mealy mouth.
First you must earn it.
Gretchen, look at that.
lt's raining again.
l could never get a cab tonight.
Good evening, Casey.
You're not still upset with me, are you? Yes.
No harm done.
Go to hell, Quillan.
Excuse me.
Where have you been? China.
Can we have dinner? When? As soon as we leave here.
l was supposed to meet Linc.
Have you seen him? No, not tonight.
Maybe he'll turn up.
Would you like to wait? Linc's going with Gornt.
l'm sorry.
lt was his choice.
Has he told you? Not in so many words, but What are you gonna do? Watch.
Ladies and gentlemen, can l have your attention, please? Are you going to announce your resignation, lan? No, Quillan.
l'm announcing that Struan stock has been withdrawn from trading until Tuesday morning, at which time it will open at 30.
30? Your stock's at 9.
50 and going down.
The stock exchange committee have agreed unanimously.
lt's for the protection of the investors now that the Noble House has been given a new revolving credit.
Not by the Victoria.
No.
Well, would you be so kind as to identify this mystery bank? You'll find that out in good time.
l think you're lying, lan.
Good.
How many shares have you sold short? 700,000? You're in the ringer, Quillan.
Not bloody likely.
30 will be the price on Tuesday.
A pox on you, Tuesday, and your party.
Now, can we have dinner? - There you go.
- Thanks.
All right? All right, lan, this other bank, is it true? Almost.
That's why you went to China.
Let's go! Quick! They're over there.
Help! Help! Orlanda? Orlanda? l went out to get some food.
Oh, my God.
Linc's there.
Where? Where was he? My apartment.
He's there.
Oh, my God.
Look after her.
l'm gonna look around.
No.
lt's too dark.
l'll get a flashlight.
Wait for me.
We're on our way! Will he be all right? How the hell do l know? What's he doing in your apartment? That's a stupid question.
l love him, and he loves me.
l'm going back to California with him.
Oh, God, please let him be alive.
Yeah.
Please.
Just hang on.
There's help on its way, honestly.
Stay behind this l'll try and get up there! Father! Father! Jimmy! There's one over here! Come on and help me find Jimmy? Up here! Come on! There's somebody up here.
l can't now, sir.
They'll be here in the next round.
Come on! Hurry, now! Keep speaking.
We're over here.
Right.
There are two more over here.
Two more! Somebody, come and help me.
We need some help.
Come on! Come on! We need help! Have you seen Dunross? Have you seen lan Dunross? - Who? - The taipan.
No, l haven't.
Hey, l'm sorry, sir.
You can't.
All right.
Come in here with the light.
Get some light over here on the left.
- Mr.
Gornt.
- Who the hell are you? Paul Choy.
My uncle's up there.
Four Fingers in Rose Court? Yes, sir.
He was visiting.
Bad timing.
lt's Quillan.
Quillan! Where's lan? He's up there looking for Linc.
Bartlett? What the hell is he doing there? He was in my apartment.
You've got to find him.
Oh, God, Quillan, please help.
ln your apartment.
Stay there.
Quillan will find him.
l know Quillan will find him.
Dunross? lan bloody Dunross, where are you? We need that stretcher.
The taipan, have you seen him? He's up there.
You'd better get to a doctor.
No, no, no, no.
l'm all right.
l'm all right.
l--l must find the taipan.
Oh, he's not hurt.
He's searching for Linc.
You're bleeding.
Your face.
Oh.
Yes.
Well, l'd better Yes.
My head! What the hell are you doing here, Quillan? l'm looking for you.
Casey said you were playing hide-and-seek.
Sorry l'm not dead? Yes.
Joss.
But you'll be dead soon enough.
Sooner if we don't get the hell out of here.
Bartlett? Linc Bartlett Can you hear me? Ah, he must be dead.
He could be trapped in there.
He could be alive.
Yes, you need him for your deal, don't you? Not now.
Not anymore.
l think you're lying, lan, about everything.
Well, l'm going up.
All right, Gunga Din, if you're going to play the hero, let's do it right.
l lead.
All the emergency vehicles, park them right here.
Everybody, back! Really, l tell you! We need more corpsmen to rush up here.
l'm afraid.
l'm so afraid.
Come along, ladies.
You'll have to move.
lt's not safe.
We're expecting more trouble.
Please.
Behind the barricade.
You all right? Yes, l'm fine.
Listen, listen Listen.
l can't hear anything.
ls anyone there? Can you hear me? Yeah, in here! Bartlett? ls that you? Yeah.
Who's there? Quillan Gornt and lan Dunross.
We're both here.
- Are you hurt? - No.
- Linc, can you see my flashlight? - No.
Get me out of here, will you? OK.
Don't worry.
We're gonna get you out.
We're gonna get some help.
l'll stay.
You go on back down.
OK.
Hey, you might need this.
Dicey, that.
All right.
l'll go back.
OK.
Linc? Quillan's gone to get some help.
Where are you? How the hell do l know? All right.
Wait there.
l'm gonna see if l can get closer to you.
Give us a shout when you see my flashlight.
OK.
Nothing.
Not yet.
Not yet.
Nothing.
No, not yet.
Nothing.
- There.
l see it.
Hold it there.
- All right.
l'm coming up.
OK.
Where are you? - Here.
- Where are you? - Down here.
- Yeah? Oh.
Well, it looks like we're gonna have to dig you out.
lt'll take some time.
Can you hold on? Sure.
What happened, anyway? Earthquake? Landslide.
The entire building came down.
Where's Orlanda? She's fine.
She's down below with Casey.
That's good.
She wasn't in the apartment when it hit.
Yes, l know.
How are you feeling? Well, l could use a cold beer.
l was standing in the kitchen, and the whole world hit the fan.
Guess l got knocked out.
The next thing l knew, l was here.
- What's on top of me? - Most of Rose Court.
ls anybody there? - Yes, yes.
- You ok? Yeah.
l think l'd like to go home now.
Right.
l need some help.
l've got a man trapped up there.
l want four men immediately.
All right.
Well, we pegged him--Bartlett.
ls--is he dead? No.
He's fine.
He's just trapped under some beams.
Will he be OK? He will as soon as we can get him out.
He's alive.
He's alive.
l was so sure.
So sure.
Yeah.
Yeah, it's going to be OK.
All right.
Another one for the ambulance here.
Hey, are you OK? Father.
Let me just get closer.
Let me get closer.
Aah.
lan, are you OK? Yes.
Yes.
Yes, l'm fine.
l'm OK.
You came in here just to find me? That's right.
Why? lt's pretty funny.
Oh.
We thought it was rather nice of us, actually.
Hold on.
l think l see some light.
lt's about time.
Who's going to win tomorrow, you or Quillan? Me.
The Beijing company's going to finance the Noble House.
On Tuesday, Struan stock opens at 30.
l'm afraid you're going to lose your four million, Linc.
But Quillan Gornt is going to lose a damn sight more.
What's wrong? What is it? What? Gee.
l just bumped my head.
Listen, lan, how tough is it to get married here? What? How tough is it to get married in Hong Kong? Hold on.
l think l see them coming.
Ho! Quillan Gornt's here.
Oh, my God! Hold on! Linc! Linc! - Linc! - lan! - Linc! - Aah! For God's sakes, somebody come up here! Linc Bartlett! Linc! Linc! Come on! For God's sake, get up here! Come on.
Come on.
Come on! lan! Oh, no.
What? What is it? Oh l'm sorry, Orlanda.
No! No.
No.
Yes.
Yes, of course.
l'll tell her.
Thank you, sir.
Thank you.
The governor extends his sympathies.
Did they find him? Yes.
l'll take l'll take Linc's body back to California.
He wanted to be cremated.
lt's in his will.
l'll make the arrangements.
l keep thinking, if he hadn't been in Orlanda's apartment, and to that you say joss, right? lt is joss, Casey.
lt's something no one can change or make less painful or wish away.
lt's what had to happen.
No, it didn't have to But it did.
Oh, l don't know.
You should get some sleep.
Would you like to stay here? No.
l better get back to the hotel.
There's so much to do.
l'm taipan at Par-Con now.
Linc and l had a deal.
l willed him voting power of all my stock for ten years, and he did the same for me.
For ten years? Yes, l'll send you a formal verification when it's official.
lt's awfully business-like, isn't it? Oh, God, lan.
lt's OK, it's OK.
Come on, come on.
lt's all right.
lt's all right.
lt's OK.
No, it's not.
Not yet.
But it will be.
When you were with Linc, before it happened, was he-- He was fine.
He asked for a cold beer.
Yeah? That sounds like Linc.
The last thing he asked me was whether it was difficult to get married in Hong Kong.
Orlanda? He was going to marry Orlanda? l don't know.
You're right.
lt is joss.
Oh, take me back to the hotel, lan.
Casey, Casey-- Don't say anything.
Let's not talk anymore, OK? l need to think about all this, about everything.
l've got to get it straight in my head.
Just don't say anything, please.
l told you to buy Struan's.
700,000 shares to cover my short-selling.
Yes, Mr.
Gornt, but l can't.
Well, the governor's closed all the banks in the market because of the catastrophe last night.
And you were lucky you weren't hurt.
You-- Hurt? l'll be a damn sight more than hurt if Struan's opens at 30 tomorrow.
Now talk to the other brokers.
Somebody's got to have Struan's stock.
l've tried, Mr.
Gornt.
Perhaps if you had a reasonable conversation with Mr.
Dunross-- Damn lan Dunross! Damn his miserable luck! Excuse me, Mr.
Gornt.
Mr.
Paul Choy is here.
He said you were expecting him.
Who the hell's Paul Choy? He said he was Mr.
Wu's nephew.
Wu? Oh, Four Finger! Yes, l'd forgotten.
All right.
Send him in.
Buy Struan's.
l'll try, Mr.
Gornt.
Come in, Mr.
Choy.
l'm sorry to be late, sir, But there were some problems.
- My uncle-- - Ah, yes.
Yes.
l'm sorry.
Still, l agreed to give you a job, and my word is better than most.
l appreciate that, Mr.
Gornt, but l've come to tell you that l can't go to work for you now.
Ah, yes, l understand.
Take a few weeks.
Take as long as you need.
No, sir, that's not it.
l won't be working for you at all.
No? Well, why the hell are you here? l just wanted to thank you for the opportunity.
You got your hands on the old man's money, didn't you? Yes.
Old Four Fingers must have tucked away quite a bit.
What exactly did you have in mind, Mr.
Choy? My God.
Where have you been? l've been trying to get in touch with you ever since l heard.
l spoke to L.
A.
They said they'd already heard from you.
Now, look, Casey, don't you worry about anything.
l'll make all the arrangements-- lt's done.
Everything is done.
Oh.
Well, you should have called me.
l didn't need your help, Seymour, and l'm busy now.
We've got a lot to talk about.
There's the will, the Struan deal, not to mention the mess back home.
The vultures are already circling.
lt can wait.
l'll see you back in L.
A.
next Monday.
Monday? There's a million things to do.
Linc's affairs are going to take a year to untangle.
No, they won't.
l read the will, remember? Yeah.
l guess you're the boss now.
Uh Couple of the stockholders are not going to be too thrilled about that.
Going to be a couple of lawsuits.
Somebody's bound to sue-- We'll talk about it later.
Yeah.
ln the meantime l figure we ought to delay the Struan deal.
Now, l can pick up a few extra points-- Seymour, you're fired.
As of this moment.
What did you say? What's the matter with you? Now get the hell out of here.
You can't fire me.
l've got a contract.
l just did, and if you want your contract settled, you'll go quietly.
Open your mouth once more and you won't get a penny.
Out.
That's it, Seymour.
l'll see you in court.
The governor's secretary said he would call back, but probably not until tomorrow.
Pressure of official business and all that.
But Linbar Struan called from Sydney.
Please call him when you have a moment.
He thinks he's got the situation there back in line.
l'll be damned.
ls my next appointment here yet? Oh, yes.
He's been waiting.
Send him in, please.
Mr.
Choy? Mr.
Choy, Taipan.
Come in, Paul.
l'm sorry about your father.
Thank you.
You knew he wasn't my uncle all along, didn't you? l was the one who suggested he send you to the United States.
Please sit down.
l guess you know why l'm here.
The half-coin.
Yes, sir.
First let me ask you who has the coin, now that Four Fingers is an ancestor? - The family Wu, sir-- - Who in the family Wu? The coin was given to an individual, who would pass it on to an individual.
Who? Me, sir.
Show it to me.
You'll have to prove Four Fingers gave it to you.
Sorry, Taipan, but l don't have to prove anything.
l just have to present the coin and ask the favor ln secret.
That's the deal.
And if it's the real coin, then your honor and the face of the Noble House are at stake and the-- l know what l have at stake! Do you? This is China.
Lots of curious things happen in China.
Do you think l can be fooled by an ancient legend? No, sir, but l have presented the coin.
Now you must grant the favor.
You know the coin was stolen from Philip Chen? No, sir.
lt came from my father.
lt's Philip Chen's coin.
There were four coins, Taipan.
Mr.
Chen's coin must be one of the others.
This one belonged to my father, and now it belongs to me.
He gave it to you? l inherited it but his request is not my request.
No? Then what is your request? First l must know if you will grant it.
And if not, will you sell the coin to Quillan Gornt? Return the coin freely and l'll grant all sorts of favors.
No, Taipan.
l can't do that.
The coin can only be returned like this.
l ask a favor in Jin-Qua's name from the taipan of the Noble House.
Well? First, l want old-friend status, equal to my father's, with all that that implies.
Second, l want to be appointed a director of Struan's, at a salary equal to the other directors.
Agreed? ls that all? No.
Next, l want you to introduce me to Lando Mata, and tell him that you're backing me to bid for the Macao gambling syndicate.
And last, l want a stewardship at the Turf Club three years from now.
That's all of it.
lf the coin is real, l'll agree to everything except the part about Lando Mata.
- That's part of the deal.
- l don't agree.
- l've asked for nothing illegal-- - Lando Mata is out! lf that's out, then the whole deal's off, and l'll put my father's request in its place or consider some other alternatives, none of which will make you very happy.
Believe me, my request is the easiest one to honor but it's your choice.
All right.
l agree to grant your favor but l'll have to ask Lando.
l can't tell him anything.
Do you accept? Yes, sir, and thank you, Taipan.
You won't regret it.
You're very sure of yourself.
Just trying to keep ahead of the game, sir.
He's got someone in there.
They've found him.
l finally tracked down Mr.
Tip.
Where is he? He's on his way to the border.
Left half an hour ago.
Taipan? Mr.
Tip.
l'm delighted you're on our board of directors.
l'm certain your guidance will benefit us all.
Oh, you'll find my voice to be only an occasional whisper, l assure you.
A wise whisper, Mr.
Tip, is more valuable than a loud voice.
We shall see, Taipan, we shall see.
Hello, Robert.
Hello, sir.
Sorry to be late.
Only a couple of minutes.
Anyone else coming? l don't think so, not officially.
You can get on with it.
''Chu-Toy, alias Brian Kwok, ''you are formally charged with espionage against Her Majesty's Government, ''on behalf of a foreign power.
''Under the authority of the deportation ordinance of Hong Kong, ''you are formally ordered out of the crown colony.
''lf you return, ''you are formally warned you do so at your peril ''and are liable for arraignment and imprisonment ''at Her Majesty's pleasure.
'' Now Now what happens? You walk across that bloody bridge and get back to your pals.
You think l'm a fool? You think l believe you're really letting me go? They're playing with me, Robert.
They'll never let me go free.
You know that.
You know that, Robert.
- You're free, Brian.
- No.
No.
Now l understand.
The moment l'm almost dead, they'll pull me back and torture me with the hope of freedom.
That's it, Robert.
That's what they're trying to do! l told you you're free.
You're free to go.
Don't ask me why they're letting you go, but they are.
Go.
No.
lt's a lie.
lt has to be.
Go! You really mean it? Yes.
Thank you, sir.
lf it was up to me, l'd have you shot.
Now get the hell across that bridge, Chu-Toy, before l whip you across it.
Robert? That's just for old times' sake For the Brian l used to know.
Yes.
Thanks.
Congratulations, Taipan.
l'm sure Tsu-Yan will be very pleased.
Yes.
Papers will be ready for your signature tomorrow morning.
Till then, Taipan.
Commissioner? Satisfied? Quite.
This was not on my recommendation, you know.
Well, then l suggest you take credit for it anyway.
You've got gall, Taipan.
l'll say that for you.
Pure gall.
l'm afraid it runs in the family.
Could l give you a lift back to town? Mr.
Dunross, On behalf of Her Majesty's Government, get stuffed.
Orlanda? lt's Casey.
May l come in? How did you find me? l called Quillan.
He told me he brought you here.
Yes, for a few days.
l can't stay longer than that.
lt's so expensive.
Please, sit down, Casey.
Did you have any insurance for your apartment? lnsurance? No, l don't think so.
l've lost everything.
l've got little money in the bank.
Casey, about Linc, l loved him.
l wasn't trying to trap him.
No.
Here's a check.
lt's for-- l don't want your money.
l don't want anything from you.
lt's not from me.
lt's from Linc.
He wanted you to have some protection.
Really? But how-- The last thing Linc said to lan Dunross was to ask how difficult it was to get married in Hong Kong.
Married? Did the taipan-- did he tell you that's what Linc said? Yes, he told me.
What are you going to do, Orlanda? Will you stay in Hong Kong? Where else can l go? Why not try the States? l could help you find a job.
You'd help me? Why? Because that's the way Linc would have wanted it.
And maybe we could be friends? Yeah.
Maybe we could.
Oh.
Hello.
l know.
You just happened to be in the neighborhood.
How are you feeling? Lousy, but better.
- Good.
- Where have you been? Oh, l had to take care of the last details on the China loan.
lt's set? Then you did it? l don't know how, but you did it.
You won.
That's my job.
That's what the taipan of the Noble House is supposed to do.
And what does the taipan of the Noble House do in 1997 when China absorbs Hong Kong? Who knows? Perhaps it'll be the other way around, and Hong Kong will absorb China.
Here are the papers on my General Stores deal.
But Linc never put up the four million.
Oh, but he did.
He cabled it Saturday night.
My Swiss bank confirmed it this morning, and l sent a check to the board of General Stores.
They accepted.
Business as usual? You're like the Post Office.
- Don't you ever take a break? - When there's time.
But there never is.
l don't know if l could live that way.
Why don't you try? Why don't you stay here in Hong Kong? We could take some time off together.
lt's not an offer l make every day.
No, it isn't.
But l've got work to do.
l'm taipan of Par-Con, remember? l can't stay here, any more than you can come with me to California.
You're leaving? The morning.
Everything's arranged.
All right.
l'll take you to the airport.
l've got to pack.
l bet you've never kissed a taipan before.
Certainly not in the lobby of this hotel.
New car? Yes, and kindly don't bugger the brakes on this one.
You wanted to see me, Quillan, before the stock exchange opened.
Did you ask me to come here just to gloat? What do you want? lf your stock opens at 30, l'll be ruined.
Yes, l know.
Then name your terms.
Why should l? Well, life would be dull without me, lan.
You know that.
No one else can give you an even fight.
No, l suppose not.
l'll let you buy back in at 18, and l'll take All Asia Airlines as the price.
l accept.
Don't you want to bargain? l want no quarrel from you as you'll expect none from me.
You'll have the All Asia papers by noon.
Damn you, lan Dunross, and perdition to the Noble House.
Where's the luggage? l had it sent on ahead.
Here's a present.
Those are all the papers John Chen gave us, everything about Struan's.
There aren't any other copies.
Thanks.
l wasn't expecting that.
Well, l figured we ought to start fresh.
Thank you.
That offer you made last night-- How long is it good for? Why? l'm thinking about it.
And? How about 30 days? lt'll take me about that time to reorganize Par-Con the way Linc would have wanted it, and then l think l'll come back.
Thank you.
No.
Don't come in.
Let's just say it here.
30 days.
lt will feel like a long time.
Very long.
When Linc and l came here, the plan was to raid Noble House.
He wanted to take you over, wanted to be taipan.
You knew that, didn't you? l had a reasonably good idea.
He almost made it.
ls that what you're going to do in 30 days-- mount your own attack on the Noble House? lt's worth a try, isn't it? Oh, it's worth a try, Casey.
lt's certainly worth a try.
Rip: DevilsBackbone