The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958)

Curd Jürgens: Capt. Lin Nan

Photos 

Quotes 

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 : 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 : Mine will not be a long visit.

  The Mandarin : However long, it will be too short.

• 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.

• Capt. Lin Nan : You do your work, Jen-Ai, I do mine.

• 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.

• 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 : What I wanted to say to you, I tried not to say. I was afraid to say. But, I cannot leave with the words unsaid.

  Jen-Ai : There's nothing you can't say to me.

  Capt. Lin Nan : Would it offend you to be loved by a man of another race?

  Jen-Ai : It would honor me.

• Capt. Lin Nan : Jen-Ai, life was good to bring us together. Two people that thought they had to live without love.

• Jen-Ai : I don't love you any less for leaving.

  Capt. Lin Nan : You think I love you less for staying?

• Capt. Lin Nan : Whatever you decide, I'll love you. As long as I'm alive, I will love you.