Original subtitles

Last Madame #12 TI4700 CaptionCube

There's a leak in the pipe from a while ago,

causing the foundation to rust...

and compromising the concrete

They're afraid that it could collapse at any moment

When is it scheduled to be demolished?

End of the month

But the Historical Board is meeting in two days

They meet bimonthly

- If we miss it... - We can't stop the demolishment of the house

What are our chances, Gerald?

The problem is that there isn't enough on the record...

to prove its historical importance

If the board knew your story, the story of the house,

they might intervene

We all know that story

Let's make sure they do too

Cold again,

left out there since last night

Why does she ask me to make it when she doesn't want to eat it?

It's only been a few weeks since you've been here

She's fussy with food

You'll soon learn how she likes it

I can't read minds

How do I know what she wants if she won't tell me?

Sometimes I feel like I'm talking to a stone!

This is too tough

You need to soak the bird's nest overnight

And she likes her porridge with more water

And talk less

She'll speak to you if she feels like talking

And I'm still sleeping badly

I'm on the floor at the back

When will she give me Ah Yoke's room?

Thank you. The board has reviewed your file and will decide shortly

Unless there's anything you want to add?

I'm Chan Chi Ling,

the great-granddaughter of Madame Fung Lan...

and the current owner of the house

Now, a few weeks ago,

I would have gladly razed the house to the ground myself...

and sold the land to the highest bidder

But that was before I knew Fung Lan

She was a prostitute,

a madame,

an entrepreneur,

a survivor,

one of many incredible women from our past...

whose stories have largely been ignored by historians

It is my belief...

that these stories now deserve to be heard

Leave me be

It's me

These were Ah Yoke's things?

I'm preparing it for the new domestic helper

What do you need?

British Intelligence finished interrogating Ah Yoke's Japanese contact

It's worse than we thought

They're actively preparing for war

You shouldn't be telling me this

I'm warning you

War is coming

If it's as they say,

there won't be a country in the world that stays untouched

You need to prepare

Prepare?

How?

I'm not a soldier

You know what the Japanese did in Nanking

You won't be safe here

If war is going to swallow the world,

I won't be safe anywhere

I won't leave the House of Phoenix

The House of Phoenix will not be here!

What do you mean?

The British are closing down the brothels in Chinatown

When?

A matter of weeks

Eventually, all the brothels will go

Perhaps for the better

Better?

Better for who?

The British visit the house more often than most

And now these hypocrites want to throw us out onto the streets?

- There are charities being set up... - We don't need charities!

We want a chance to choose our own fate!

Why is it that whatever a woman does or builds,

there's always a man who needs to tear it down?

Why does Churchill get to decide to close the brothels,

to order the countries to go to war?

Why does Ah Yoke have to die for an Emperor who doesn't even know her?

When is it our turn to make the orders?

I don't know

Maybe soon

In America and England,

women have the vote now

What good is a vote...

if we can't even exist without a man's permission?

You're right

You deserve better

Come with me

You won't need my permission for anything

We'll be equal in all things

Marry me, Fung Lan

Don't be a fool

A fool?

For wanting you as my wife?

You're the first Chinese Chief Inspector in Singapore

You're a rising star

You...

I don't care

I love... -No

Don't

Don't say it

I love you

The whole force has been to the house

They know what I am

You'll be a laughing stock,

your career finished

They won't be able to object without admitting they've been to the house

They'll have to accept us

They'll never accept a murderer!

Ah Yoke confessed...

to both murders

To protect me!

I wanted to kill Ah Yat

And I killed Ah Tou

The case is closed!

It will not be reopened!

You know the truth!

Mak

Do you really want to be the inspector...

who marries a murderer...

and...

and a whore?

Help!

Someone, help!

Fung Lan!

Here -Get her onto the sofa

She's been unwell since Sis Yoke died

It's taken its toll

I'll call the doctor -Sir

You're needed urgently at the station

Go

I'm fine

We'll call a doctor

You have to go

The station sent a message

They need you now

Go

Go, Inspector

She'll be fine

Sir

That was incredible

You were incredible

I hope it's enough

They ate it all up

They might be stiff public servants, but they love their history

What?

- Oh, Chi Ling, hi - What are you doing here?

Some of the developers that I contacted for you before?

They're still interested in the shophouse. You know...

You mean they hope to grab a bargain now that the house is about to be demolished

You were my agent

Yes

"Were"

We made a strong historical case,

and the board will pick that over money

Developer's money that can restore the shophouse to its former glory

Unless you've got a couple of millions lying around for its repairs?

How is she doing, doctor?

Some herbs to make you feel better

Drink up

She'll need more than tea, or she'll be fainting again

Feed her more

She's eating for two now

Please, doctor

Be discreet

No one else must know

Thank you

Murder me. That's wonderful news!

Did you hear what I said, Mak?

Late night, was it?

Mak!

I beg your pardon, sir?

I said, you're about to be the first Chinese Superintendent in Singapore

Hell, probably in all the colonies!

Congratulations, man

It's wonderful news, sir. Well done!

Very, very well done

Your catching of that spy and her helper was huge for this branch

Your name was given to Churchill himself

The Churchill?

What other Churchill is there?

Well, Mak?

What's wrong with you, man?

You look like I've just told you you're about to be executed

Yes, my apologies

You know him, Inspector

Never giving away his true feelings

Well, be sure to prepare a more positive reaction for the Governor

Oh!

And... tell him you're planning to marry

Higher-ups love a family man

And you'll get promoted quicker

He will, sir

Thank you, sir

Are you all right, sir?

It's big news!

I'll have to turn it down

The board said they've never seen...

such a strong and passionate case

And this is...

good?

Harry,

I need you to expedite my exit package...

and also release my stock in the firm so that I can sell them

What?

I need to raise $3 million...

in order to show that I can cover the repair of the house

Otherwise, they're gonna demolish it...

and then sell the land in order to recoup the costs

Honestly, Chi Ling,

it's one thing to break up with me,

but this is everything you have in the world

You understand that? -Yeah

But at least I found something worth sacrificing it for,

just like Fung Lan did with her house,

for her daughter and her granddaughter

Even if I help you sell everything, you still don't have enough money

What did Mak want earlier?

He asked me to marry him

And he doesn't even know about the child!

You could have a real life!

What life?

It will destroy him, his career

He can never marry me

And I will never leave the House of Phoenix

We'll be fine

You need to start thinking of yourself

You need to start thinking of the...

Sorry

I couldn't see anyone in the kitchen,

so I...

Inspector Mak can't come back again today,

but...

he told me to check that you were well

You see,

he's been promoted to Superintendent

Well,

that's wonderful

Congratulations

Couldn't have happened to a better man

Of course, he'll have to play politics now -

move in the right circles,

find a nice wife, you know

It'll be good for him

Yes,

it will be good for him

Thank you for coming, Constable

He'll handle the paperwork today,

and he'll be back again tomorrow to settle the matter that you've discussed

You can tell him tomorrow

I need you to do something for me

She dares break free from fear

She dares retake power when all power was taken away from her

She dares take control of her destiny

I've been running calculations all night

And I'm willing to give up everything to try and save it

But Harry's right

I just don't have enough

I tried my best

I just can't save it

Her legacy,

everything that she's built -

it'll just be reduced to rubble!

Chi Ling,

I'm sorry

It's not your fault

It's not that

This nursery?

I don't work here

I own it

What?

And I've been running calculations too

I might not have enough on my own,

but maybe together...?

You'd be willing to do that for the house?

Yes, for the house...

and you

Though I'd have to become part-owner and oversee the preservation

Yes, of course!

Thank you!

Inspector Mak!

Welcome

Please, come in

They're upstairs

Inspector

Or should I say "Superintendent"?

Congratulations

Thank you

But I'm turning it down

I'm looking for...

She's... busy, unfortunately

Busy?

Is she still unwell?

No, she's with a client

But she never entertains clients

Not usually, but Mr Tan is special

Inspector

Hey!

Thank you

Inspector Mak

Oh

You must be the famous inspect...

Inspector Mak

Excuse me, Mr Tan

Mak

Where are you taking me?

Let go. You're hurting me

What was that?

I asked you to marry me yesterday

You asked, and I declined

For what?

That old fat lecher?

Mr Tan is a tin tycoon

His family owns half the mines in Malaya and Thailand

So you'd rather be his whore than my wife?

You said so yourself, Mak

The Japanese are coming

I need to make plans for myself

A man like Tan offers protection, riches and 100 places in the East for me to hide

He asked me to be his third wife

It's true

It's true I can't offer you riches or grand estates

But you wouldn't be a lowly third wife

You'd be my whole world

But you won't be mine

Sorry

It's not enough

You are not enough

You're lying

Why?

Why can't you just truly admit how you feel?

We're not idealists

You and I...

This love...

is not for us

Inspector Mak

May I show you out?

Thank you for your help, Mr Tan

You saved my daughter,

found her a home

That's something I couldn't do for her

I would happily take you as my number three,

and no one would dare object

Oh, Mr Tan

I'm afraid I know your tastes too well

I'll grow jealous

You're so humorous.

Well,

if you change your mind,

I will be waiting

Well done, Sir. Congratulations

Ms Chow, I'd like to introduce you to Inspector Mak

Inspector Mak, Ms Chow

Hi

Nice to meet you -Nice to meet you

All right, get ready, guys

3, 2, 1, smile

They're going to end the rationing soon

Might be able to get some sugar

Maybe even some butter

Good

She's grown so thin during the war

We might be able to make her a cake for her birthday

Mummy, look! It's a dragon

Oh, a dragon? Let's see

Well, good

Now it can protect us

In case the soldiers come back

The soldiers won't come back, my love

We're going to make sure of it

Then who's that?

It's all right, Mummy

My dragon can scare him away

He's not a soldier

He's... -An old friend

I'll...

Let me clear this

Hello

I'm Mak

What's your name?

Hui Lee

And how old are you, Hui Lee?

It's been... years,

Superintendent

How are you?

We lost our house in the war

We had to flee the country

But my wife and son are alive and well

We're the lucky ones, really

And please,

you always call me "Mak"

Well,

that was a long time ago

It's good to see you

When we got back,

I had to make sure you were all right

I thought they were closing down all the houses on this street

Phoenix is the last

We'll be shut by the end of the month

Then you don't have to worry about us anymore

I'll always worry

Where will you take her?

Hong Kong

Soh Fan and I will keep her safe...

and bring her up well

But maybe one day, we'll come back

I really hope you do

If there's anything,

anything you need...

I know

Thank you

Can you show me how this works?

Like that

Like a dragon, right?

Yes

Hey

You didn't find a historical rock, did you?

Just dropped my keys

Because I'm still broke after your historical conquest

All I have is this house

Hey, you know what? I'm broke too

But at least I have you

Hey

Stop kissing

Come and help me with these

Lovebirds

Come on, we have a lot of work to do

Captions: CaptionCube