Episode One - BLUE AMENDS - 17/10/12
3.
They are all watching Thomas as he takes a gold watch on a chain from his vest pocket and checks the time. His horse snorts steam into the cold air. At that moment, at the end of the street we see Mai and Zhang arrive. They turn into the courtyard and slow down when they see Thomas and the horse. Zhang takes Mai’s hand and leads her on to the rendezvous. Thomas takes out a fat Sweet Afton cigarette and lights it with a match. Zhang and Mai approach as if Thomas were a gunfighter in a Western street. All eyes are on them as they meet. Zhang speaks English with a heavy chinese accent. ZHANG Sir? This is her. THOMAS The girl who tells fortunes? Zhang bows confirmation. Thomas hardly glances at Mai before gesturing at Zhang to begin what is evidently a pre- arranged exchange. With shaking hands, Zhang pulls a small velvet bag from his inside pocket and holds it up for Thomas to see. There is a golden dragon woven into the velvet. Thomas reaches into the inside pocket of his jacket. As he reaches in, we see a long barreled Webley revolver hanging in a tan-leather army issue holster. Zhang and Mai see it too and shrink back. Thomas takes two pound notes out of his pocket which he holds up for Zhang to take (making sure everyone watching can see the transaction). Zhang takes the money then hands the velvet bag to Mai. He quickly gives her instructions in Chinese and she seems to be a little baffled. He urges her to do as she is told. Mai hesitantly opens the velvet bag and pours a palm full of red powder into her hand. Thomas half smiles and urges her to obey Zhang’s whispers. Mai puts her hand near to the horse’s nose and blows. A cloud of red dust hits the horse. The horse snorts and shies and we see Thomas’s face through the cloud of red dust. Children in the alleys stare with wonder and whisper to each other. We eavesdrop on one child explaining to her little sister... CHILD 1 They’re doing a magic spell to make it win a race. Mai blows some more red dust onto the horse’s nose and Thomas rubs it into the soft flesh around the nostrils.
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