Original subtitles

Last Madame #9 TI4589 CaptionCube

I've just been given a shelling by our superiors

We already have all hands on deck finding the spy

We just need more time

Well, that's not good enough for them

And frankly, can we blame them?

After what happened to the HMS Rival?

They want to know where we're at with our investigation into the brothels

Perhaps the officers shouldn't have been frequenting places where they...

often think with the wrong head

Well,

all the officers have now been ordered to stop patronizing such establishments

They only need to stop patronizing one -

the House of Phoenix

What, you think the spy is possibly at the House of Phoenix?

All the high-ranking officers go there...

because everybody knows that's where the best girls are in town

But Madame Fung Lan hates the Japanese

She's well known for turning away Japanese patrons,

especially after what happened in Nanking

As a matter of fact, only last year,

she contributed over $10,000 to the China War Fund

What about the others in the house?

Are we so sure they share her sentiments?

Then maybe this will help

He's the only British officer...

who knew the whereabouts of the HMS Rival

And I know for a fact...

that he frequents the House of Phoenix

It's really pretty here

Thanks

Is this all you?

Yeah, it's...

my day job

So, not only do you trim hair,

but you also trim bushes as well?

I guess...

I'm a regular Edward Scissorhands

Who? -It's a movie character

Oh

I only watch Bloomberg and CNA

Do you want to have a look around?

Yes, please

Captain David Brown?

Well, you look official

Guess I've been expecting you then

Want one?

Straight to business then, eh?

I am not a traitor to my country

We definitely would not be having this conversation here...

if we thought you were

We just want to determine how someone could've stolen the intel from you

I'm very careful

I don't talk about my work with anyone, not even my wife

What about your work documents?

They're hardly out of my sight. I never even leave them at the office

Including those ones containing the whereabouts...

and the movement of the HMS Rival?

Of course!

I had them with me all the time

Even when you visited the House of Phoenix?

Look, I'm not interested in your dalliances

I just want to find the person who leaked the information to the Japanese

Is it possible that someone got hold of them over there?

Well, I don't see how

They were in my bag, which was with me in the room

I find it hard to believe...

you were able to keep your eyes on it the whole time

I can go and ask some questions

No

That won't be necessary

I think you've done quite enough

We need to talk

Alone

Actually, this bonsai is pretty cool...

because you can see that there's, like, mellow stuff on it...

that, I guess, guides it

We just came back from over there

And we'll go to the bonsai area in front

This is it

This is my favourite spot

What is it that you want to talk to me about?

Careful

I'm fine

Do you feel like you always have to put on a brave front for everyone?

I'm a simple woman

What you see is what you get

I doubt that

You rescue young girls,

you didn't think twice about saving my life,

and you contributed more than $10,000 to the China War Fund

I can't figure out if you're a hero...

or a murder suspect

Hell,

all that...

versus possibly ridding this world of a piece of scum,

I'm inclined to just drop the whole murder case against you

What does my contribution to the China War Fund...

have to do with anything?

Actually,

that's what I'm here to talk to you about

We have reasons to believe that...

military intel is being leaked to the Japanese...

through...

certain brothels

Not my house

We have strong evidence to suggest exactly that

Impossible

You know my stand against the Japanese

And I know my girls inside out

It can't be them

I know everything about them

Are you sure about that?

Do they know everything about you?

Look -

I don't suspect it's you,

but I will need your help

We have a spy to catch

Come in

You wanted to see me?

When are we leaving?

I've prepared everything that you asked for

We're ready to go

Change of plans

Something's come up

What?

What happened?

Inspector Mak - he's got other priorities

He needs our help

Like what?

He thinks there's a Japanese spy in our house

I don't believe it

We know the girls inside and out

Plus,

none of them would dare betray you

Watch them

Tell me if you see anything out of the ordinary

Muk Lei, are you done?

Who's next?

Yes! Finally!

Goodnight, girls

That's about it

You're really good with your hands

I mean, not that, you know, they're only good for gardening, but...

Do you want a drink?

Yes, please

No, thanks

I can clean the bottle first. It's not like anything got inside

I'm fine

So, what are you doing here anyway?

I bumped into Tony

And...

he said, well,

that you were upset

I love that old man,

but he really should mind his own business

Anyway, I thought I'd come and check in on you

I've been thinking about that night

Actually, I've been thinking a lot lately,

about my life and...

how I thought it was always supposed to be

But I'm not so sure anymore

That night when we...

I don't even know what came over me

It was rash...

but... not in a bad way

It's just...

everything in my life and everything that I do...

is perfectly planned and well curated

This is something very new to me

You're probably feeling all those emotions because of exactly that -

it's something new

What you're saying is...

is that what I'm feeling...

May not be real

Don't tell me what I feel is real or not

You don't know me

You're right

I don't

So that night...

Meant nothing to me

It can't be my girls

We've kept a close lookout, but there's just no one suspicious

We are now certain that the documents containing the leaked information...

were, in fact, at your establishment

How?

A British officer

He's one of your regulars,

and he had the documents with him when he was visiting

Well, that doesn't prove anything

But it gives us cause to suspect that the leak came from there

Does he have a favourite girl?

No

His exact words were,

"Variety is the spice of life"

Whatever keeps them coming, I guess

No pun intended

Fine

I want to clear my girls of any suspicion

So, tell me,

what can I do?

I'm glad to hear that

To find a rat,

we need the right bait

Am I to be this bait?

You can help me set a trap...

and see if anybody bites

We'll plant a Japanese newspaper at your establishment...

with an innocent bit of fake news

So if there is a spy,

and that's a big "if",

she will not resist taking a read at the papers

My girls can barely read,

let alone read Japanese

Fine

Bring it to me when you're ready

And then you'll find out, once and for all,

that the spy you're looking for isn't from the House of Phoenix

We shall see

So everything you said and did to get me interested in my family history...

was just a ploy to stop me from selling the house?

So you can save it and its precious belongings?

- Is that wrong? - You made me question myself!

Question my whole life and how I've been living it!

Sounds like I did you a favour

I don't understand why you're so upset

Wasn't I just a distraction for you while you're here all alone?

A toy for you to play with?

You're right

That night was just a one-night thing

I get carried away as well when there's a surge in the stock market

There you go

You came here to see if I was fine

Well, I am

I was only upset the other day...

because I let what happened happen the other night,

and it was totally unprofessional of me

We wouldn't want anyone to think that of you now, would we?

I'm really not looking forward to tonight

Do you ever?

Would you like to take Mr Talk-Too-Much for me?

"I hate my job!

"I hate my boss!

"Oh no! I forgot to buy my wife eggs!"

Girls

Inspector -Hi, Inspector

Ladies

How nice to see you, Inspector

What brings you here?

Enjoy these peaceful evenings for as long as you can, ladies

The bloody Japs are really keeping us on our toes

War... is probably coming

I see

Thank you for the information, Inspector

Shall I make you some tea?

Is that what they call it these days?

"Making tea"? -Oh!

Go wash up, Siu Lan

You look like a clown

That was quite a show you put on, Inspector

What was it you said?

"War is probably coming"

Well, that part may be true

What part isn't true in the newspaper?

That ships carrying goods from China are now targets of the Japanese,

to crush the trade between China and Southeast Asia,

hence crippling the economy

So you'll let me know if someone takes the bait?

Well, if there is indeed a Japanese spy living in the house,

she will have more things to worry about than being handed over to you

Are you in the habit of taking matters into your own hands?

That was meant to be a reassurance that I'd definitely turn the betrayer in

Well,

I'd certainly be in your debt

Not like I'm not already

So why did you do it?

Save my life?

Was I supposed to just let you get shot?

Why not?

You think too little of me

On the contrary

So...

How far do you want to take this pretence,

Inspector?

The girls are expecting us to be having...

hot sex right this moment

Aren't you tired of giving orders all the time?

Perhaps it's time someone else gave the orders

You don't have to play games,

not with me

I've wanted you from the moment I laid my eyes on you

But if this isn't what you want,

I'll stop right now with no ill feelings

Ah Tou

What's going on?

I don't understand

Don't worry

You will understand soon enough

Enjoy yourself

Come!

You're far away

Come back to me

I hope this lessens whatever debt owed to you

Is this what it was?

Payment?

What else would it be?

You forget where you are, Inspector

No

I know exactly where I am

This doesn't change anything

I won't stop the murder investigations

I never thought you would

You know the way out

Fung Lan

Is... everything okay?

Why do you ask?

What?

I saw Inspector Mak on his way out...

early this morning

Are we still leaving?

Not for now

But we should be prepared to go at the drop of a hat

Hey, Guo Wen!

You won't believe what I found

That pathetic look on your face is going to change

Come, let's go

What's that?

A collection of top 40 hits of blast from the past?

Funny

We found archival recordings...

of the first local chief police inspector in the 1930s

We think they were recorded sometime in 1987

The chief inspector must have been around... 87 years old

He talks about his life as a police officer

This one is particularly interesting

People think that these brothelsare nothing but merely places of vice

But during the course of my jobas a police officer,

I met some of the bravest women I knowat these so-called...

dirty places

One particular madame stood out

I resisted her...

Is he talking about the madame of the House of Phoenix?

I think so

But like a moth to a fiery desireI could not extinguish,

she became my lover

As fate would have it,

we weren't meant to be,

but we would forever be bound through...

through our child

By the time I found outshe had borne a child -

my child -

I had a family of my own

She was adamant...

that the child wasn't mine

But I knew

I knew, deep down,

I was the father

You do realize what this means, don't you?

- What else are in these tapes? - I'm not sure

I'm guessing there's around five hours' worth of recordings here

Five hours?

I need to find Chi Ling

But what do I even tell her?

You tell her that you might have possibly found her great-grandfather

I think we all need new cheongsam

Some of yours are looking quite drab

Well, it can't be mine

I keep mine in pristine condition

You don't have men who like you to leave your cheongsam on...

so they can pull at it...

from the back

All right, you can have two new ones

Thank you, Madame

Does anyone know the price of Chinese silk these days?

Oh, I can ask a friend

He has the most exquisite colours and the best silk from Shuntak

Fine

I think you'd better hold off, Madame

The Japanese are attacking the Chinese ships

Supply is low here

Silk will be expensive

Why are you eating so slowly? We have to work

Captions: CaptionCube