Original subtitles

There are two women in Zhen-bao's life.

One he calls White Rose.

The other, Red Rose.

White for his chaste wife,

Red for his passionate lover.

There were two more women

before the Roses.

Many years later, Zhen-bao recalls the past,

with a mixture of pleasure and sorrow.

The emotional confusion of the time

becomes a confusion of memory.

He can't remember the romance

but the frustrations still remain.

No matter how cheap she is,

you can buy only for a few hours at a time.

You can never own her.

He calls the two women after roses

because back in Edinburgh

his first love was called Rose.

She was a common girl.

Easy with men.

Her casual love affairs

would seem out of character to most Chinese,

but Zhen-bao thought her

innocently attractive.

Such girls are common in the West,

but unheard of in the orient.

His total self-control

mirrors his first love experience.

He had complete control of his feelings then,

and things are no different now.

He never discusses his past oves,

but all his friends

know he is a saint.

Ze-hong!

Here you are at last.

You've put on a few pounds since Edinburgh.

Really? The wife is fattening me up.

You haven't changed.

Is this your brother?

Yes, this is Tu-bao

Say hello to Mr. Wang.

Mr. Wang.

Leave your luggage here.

You'd better get out of the wet coat.

Darling!

Zhen-bao and his brother are here.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Zhen-ba, come.

Meet my wife.

Ze-hong.

Why don't you ask the coolies to rearrange the furniture

while they're here?

It's difficult to get things done around here.

We didn't hire any coolies.

We're travelling light.

Let me do the introductions.

This is Zhen-bao

And Tu-bao

This is my wife.

You meet after all this time.

Yes...

A pleasure.

Nice to meet you

I'm sorry to have interrupted you.

It's alright.

I won't be long.

Be quick!

Wu Ma, take their bags to their room.

Take a bath and relax,

then we shall talk.

Tu-bao, unpack the bags.

The hot water doesn't come on.

The pipes are misconnected.

One of the shortcomings in this apartment.

But my bathroom is all yours.

But your wife is washing her hair.

She must be done by now.

Let her finish in peace.

I'll just go and check.

Darling, are you done?

Yes.

It's all yours.

Open the window while you're runing the hot water.

We'll leave you to it.

Thanks.

Our pleasure.

Mrs. Wang eats so little.

She's on a diet!

Whatever for? She's perfect!

I lost 5 lbs just recently.

Really? Then what is this?

It must have rubbed off from you!

Little minx!

How old is your brother?

16 going on 17.

Of course, you're here to go to college.

Yes, the one attached to my brother's factory.

And have you made your mind up yet?

Will you be good, or bad?

You look too good.

He should really learn to be bad.

I didn't mention it earlier,

but I guess you'll know sooner or later.

I have to go to Singapore tomorrow on business.

Just treat this place as your own.

Now that you're here to look after her,

I won't need to worry anymore,

even if I have to leave.

Mrs. Wang seems to have everything.

I'm afraid she's more likely to have to look after us.

She's been spoiled rotten in London.

Been here for 3 years she's still not adapted to Shanghai.

Still unable to speak Shanghainese.

Is that milk of magnesia. Mrs. Wang?

I've tried it before, it tasts awful!

It's like eating plaster!

Mrs. Wang, you are certainly very forthright.

Mr. Tung, please drop all this Mrs. Wang business.

Now what's wrong with you?

I'm not well, I've got a pimple.

Where? Show me.

Show me.

Stop it. I'm trying to write.

There, that is my name.

People will laugh at your Chinese writing.

Look at it...

No, it's a beautiful name.

Overseas Chinese like her love tasteless names.

Overseas Chinese Like HER!

Don't you ever call me HER.

Oh, you've quit the diet then?

Sweets will make you fat.

She wouldn't care if they made her bald.

Overseas Chinese like her are just as bad as westerners.

She worries about her weight,

eats nothing.

Takes laxatives.

But can't resist sweets.

She has no grip on reality.

She'll give you a lecture...

on how rock sugar and walnut can cure her cough.

Chinese people always believe

whatever they like to eat is best for their health.

Really! Is that what you thought?

Such wisdom in such a young person.

Let's hope some of it rubs off on you.

Who lived here before?

There are all these cigarette burns marks on the carpet?

Will Mr. Wang think we did them?

Don't be silly.

Do you know the person who had the room before?

His name is Sun, graduated in England.

He teaches at the university.

Why would you ask?

While you were in the bathroom,

the servant brought our bags in

and said something like

will you be staying long?

She said that Mr. Wang would kick us out

if we were anything like the last tenant.

She said Mr. Wang should have gone to Singapore earlier.

But delayed his trip,

waiting till the last tenant moved out.

Don't gossip,

especially with their servant.

I don't want you causing trouble.

Mr. Sun please.

Timmy?

I won't be going out.

I'm waiting here for a boyfriend.

You're so funny sometimes.

It's none of your business.

You're not interested?

You're not interestd in yourself?

I plan to wait for him and have tea with him.

You'd best not come over.

Tu-bao asked me to tell you.

He's gone to try the old book stalls.

Thanks!

You're welcome.

Will you join me for tea?

With pleasure.

With milk?

No, thanks.

Of course.

You were saying you couldn't get

Chinese tea in Britain.

Good memory!

Normally, my memory is pathetic.

Chinese tea for two.

Wu Ma had better bring another cup,

for our guest.

What guest?

You're more interested in him!

Wu Ma, tell Mr. Sun I'm not here

and give him this.

Why have him make a pointless journey?

When he was invited I knew nothing

of my present circumstances.

A sudden change?

Haven't you heard?

Constant change is a woman's birthright.

I am without taste. I like vulgar food.

Food is also fillin. You'd better watch your figure.

I love doing the wrong thing.

Don't you?

No!

I will let you spread this on my bread.

I know you will be generous.

All your things are here.

Here's your money. Off you go.

You have made such a mess.

Go on, get out of here.

I allowed you the honour for a specil reason.

Why is that?

Because I'm more concerned

about my weight than you,

and I was sure you'd be more generous than me.

Poor man.

Don't you think you were a bit mean?

He has nothing to do, anyway.

He's idle just like me.

And I hate idle people.

I like to steal time

from busy people.

What do you think of that?

You like busy people?

Does it really matter?

My heart is just a hotel.

Any vacancy?

There's too many people just passing through.

I prefer a house to a hotel

Then start building one.

I think I'd better.

So a hotel's not good enough!

Hotels ar fine, when you're away from home.

Why don't you tell me about you?

What about me?

What about me!

All about you!

There's nothing to tell.

It would be more interesting

to hear about you.

Me!

My life is

straightforward and simple.

Then tell me.

My family sent me to England,

not for education,

but to find a husband.

I was so young then

and didn't want to get married.

Folling around ruined my reputation.

Finally I ended up with Ze Hong.

You're still fooling around?

Some habits are hard to break.

And others you don't

feel like breaking.

But here in China!

China has its own freedoms.

People are spitting everywhere.

She speaks her mind.

She is a housewife,

yet her mind is still naive and innocent.

That's what he likes about her.

Maybe...

maybe it's her body.

When a man sees a woman's body,

he thinks he's falling in love with her mind.

Only when he gets her body

will he forgt her mind.

It's the only way to keep from falling in love.

Maybe...

it's no big deal.

She's had so many lovers,

she won't mind one more.

Brother!

Damned mosquitoes,

you'd better move to the dormitory.

And you?

I'll look for another place.

Wu Ma.

Mr. Tung, you're not having breakfast?

No thanks!

Good-bye, Mrs. Wang!

I hope to see you again soon!

What number are you calling?

Wrong number.

Wrong number.

Where have you been hiding?

I thought you'd melted away like icing sugar.

Am I that sweet?

I don't know,

how could?

I thought your servant was coming back today?

She'll be back in a few days.

Aren't you scared to be on your own?

Scared of what?

Of me!

You! Should I be scared of a gentleman?

I have never pretended to be one.

A real gentleman doesn't need to pretend.

Zhen-bao, make it quick, we'll wait.

No need, you can go.

Miss Wang, let me tell you that

when Zhen-bao was in England.

A beautiful girl fell

madly in love for him.

Would you just mind your own business!

It's no big secret, we all know.

But he just left her.

He was such a saint.

I bet he's regretting it now!

Is it different

without love?

You must think of me as a whore.

I don't see it's different.

D'you find it different?

Yes, I do.

My God you weigh a ton.

How much peanut butter did you have?

If I break my back, then what?

No stop it.

I don't see a problem.

It'll put you at my mercy.

My God... could've started a fire with this cigarette end.

My God.

Wu Ma!

Yes madam.

Get me a cup of coffee.

Who'll get you coffee when the house burns down?

Be quiet.

Why?

Love should be out in the open!

You're crazy...

It's better than being scared.

You really are mad!

I am! What're you going to do about it?

Every time I hear the life

I don't know what happens to me.

My heart beats like a drum.

I think I can't take it-and my heart will burst.

Then it passes our floor.

And when the lift doesn't even reach our floor,

my heart stops.

The lift passes many floors.

That's what comes of being hotel.

Have you finished building your house?

I 've got one for you.

What am I going to tell him

When he returns?

We must be careful.

I'll talk to a lawyer friend of mine.

We must handle the situation carefully.

It's too late for the 5:15. Let's forget it.

Where would you like to go?

You're already dressed up.

You like me wearing Chinese dresses. It's a new one.

Maybe we can go for a stroll.

Let's have afternoon tea

and catch the 7:30

Why don't you watch where you're going?

Zhen-bao!

Zhen-bao!

Zhen-bao, it's really you!

I heard you've been back for some time.

Mrs. Shen, how are you?

Not bad at all apart from the weather.

And this is...

This Mrs. Wang,

wife of a friend

from Edinburgh.

Mrs. Wang lived in England for a long time.

I am staying at their place.

Mrs Shen, how's your son?

Don't mention him.

He upset me so much the other day.

Why was that?

What he did doesn't matter.

But his grandfather wanted him to kneel down

and apologize to me.

He refused, but the old man insisted.

And he eventually agreed.

But told him not to bother.

It would be too

embarrassing for him.

The neighbours told him to give me

a cup of tea and aplogize.

I burst into laughter when he did it seriously.

Is there anything in the paper?

We were looking for a movie to go to

but there's nothing worth seeing.

May be next time.

The cut of Mrs. Wang's dress is unusual.

It's lovely. Did you buy it at Wheelock's?

Her son was a classmate at Edinburgh.

Every time she sent packages to her son,

she always asked him to bring along things

such as chocolates and biscuits.

She had been very good to me.

She was so vicious just now.

What was she blabbling about?

You really didn't understand?

I thought with all that carry on

she must have been scolding her husband!

Her son!

She's a widow, just like my mother.

She relies a lot on her son. Just like my mother.

So you're a Mom's Boy.

Everybody has his duty towards society.

I try hard to become more important in my work.

So that I could do things

for my country,

such that I could do things for my country,

and factory for the poor.

I shall give her all the reward,

she deserves for bringing me up...

I can't give her anything else.

So you're also a Good Boy.

What's so good about me?

You're too good,

ambitious and kind.

Everyone will be trying to find you the perfect wife.

Instead of keeping you for themselves.

Really? And will you do the same?

Only stupid women think

good men are perfct husbands.

What are you getting at?

I think I'm getting stupid myself.

Don't worry.

It'll be alright.

Mr. Tung, how about some breakfast?

No, thanks.

Zhen-bao!

Got time this afternoon?

I'm very busy.

I've to talk to you.

Is it important?

He's coming back in a few days.

I thought he wouldn't be back for another month.

I sent him a letter by express mail.

What did you say?

I asked him for my freedom.

Zhen-bao!

Zhen-bao!

Zhen-bao...

What were you thinking of?

I... wanted him to give us our freedom.

I...

I want a divorce.

How could you?

Didn't you consider my future?

Don't you know how to drive? You knocked him down.

I didn't. He just collapsed.

Mrs. Wang, please talk some sense into him.

He never listens to me...

but his friends.

A grown man behaving so foolishly.

You should get yourself a wife

then I won't need to worry.

You are an educated man.

We all look upon you as a man

with a proper sense of dignity...

Mrs. Wang, please convince him.

Don't worry.

I've changed.

I won't get in your way.

I won't get in your way.