Russian Countess Sofia Belinskya remembers old times of opulence and fancy dance parties, while she's living exiled in Shanghai, during the 1930s. Now, she has a poor life with her daughter Katya and her husband's family. The Countess works as a hostess and companion lady in a dance club, where she entertains all kinds of men, dancing with them and having a chat. There, she comes to know an American diplomat, Todd Jackson, a nice, kind man with whom she begins a friendship, despite the fact that Jackson is blind. Meanwhile, Jackson meets there a friendly Japanese diplomat, Matsuda, and they become friends. Years later, Jackson sets up a glamorous club, called "The White Countess", taking Sofia with him to work there as a companion lady. But Sofia doesn't want Katya to find out about her real work, protecting the girl from following in her foot steps in the future. Between Jackson and Sofia exists a special attraction, which could turn into love at any moment. But Jackson is being tortured by a traumatic event from the past, while Sofia is longing for leave the city. The Japanese invasion takes place and threatens their dreams and longings.

The racehorse scene uses stock footage taken from Seabiscuit (2003).

Sofia:
We all have to fall in love from time to time... To feed our daughters, and our mothers. And sisters.

Anachronisms: The story takes place in 1936, but a US 50-star flag is featured at the racetrack. This should have been a 48-star flag.

Written by Leo Tolstoy
Performed by Imogen Cooper
Recorded by Jonathan Summers
Courtesy of British Library Sound Archive