Original subtitles

Fires are mostly out.

There's nothing left to salvage.

I'll take a wagon into town, get some supplies.

No.

We go...

back to Chinatown.

What are you talking about?

We no belong here.

I promise you, Strickland will not get away with this.

He already did.

No, Ah Toy, wait!

You cannot take these girls back to the brothel.

We worked so hard to get them out of that life!

You no protect them.

You no protect them here.

In Chinatown, I can.

They were happy here.

Happy mean nothing if you dead.

You have a cop problem.

Bad enough you have one living in here.

Now there's another outside.

Multiplying like fucking rabbits.

The Secret Service isn't interested in us.

A badge is a badge.

Look, I don't like it either, but--

Everything all right?

Yeah.

Jack and I were just catching up.

I got to restock the bar.

- You good? - Mm.

Hey, cop.

Let me ask you something.

You really care about her?

I do.

Not that it's any of your business.

You are standing in my business--

you and that smiley fuck outside.

Now, if you care about her like you say you do,

you will take that piece of tin...

and your lily-white ass and get back where you belong.

And where's that?

Anywhere but here.

You take longer to put on your face

than my third ex-wife.

What's our next move?

Well, most counterfeiters,

ones that aren't outright idiots,

spend small at first,

check to see if their bills pass muster

before they make any big moves.

So we sweep Chinatown,

check for any phony papers in the local shops.

By the way...

let's meet at the station from here on out.

Sure, though I will sorely miss

your neighborhood's charming aroma.

Well, thank God you came by.

Otherwise Bernard would still be going on

about that new horse of his.

If you saw Apollo, you'd understand my enthusiasm.

His sire set a record at the Preakness back in '76.

You see what I'm dealing with?

Darling, you're going to bore Mai Ling to tears.

Actually, I'm quite fond of horses.

My father used to take me to the Mongolian horse markets

when I was a girl.

God, they had these gorgeous white stallions.

I made him promise to buy me one someday.

Connoisseur and a businesswoman...

you are full of surprises.

Well, then I hope you'll forgive my boldness,

but, well, I was wondering if you'd given any thought

to our conversation at the gallery.

Actually, I have.

I'll admit, diversifying your assets outside of Chinatown

will be tricky, but it can be done.

There's no reason

why you shouldn't be able to conduct business

- like other Americans. - I agree.

The rules barring Chinese ownership

are nothing but rank political posturing.

If only more people here shared your sentiments.

Bernard will find a way.

He's brilliant at that sort of thing.

If I were to hold your money in a proprietary account

at the bank as part of my personal portfolio,

I could gradually take positions for you

across various industries-- with your approval, of course.

And what kind of industries are we talking about?

Railroads, construction, agriculture.

The possibilities are countless,

assuming you've got the stomach for some risk.

I think you'll find I've got the stomach for it.

When can we start?

Do you feel that, when the rhythm changes?

That's when you go harder, okay?

Okay. I'm not going to be able to get this right.

You know, you spin those sticks around your head

with absolute precision, but ask a man to turn a crank...

Your father taught you this?

He didn't teach me anything,

not while there was a son to teach.

I taught myself, watched him work.

I'd practice on the press at night after we closed shop,

and it's a good thing I did,

'cause my brother turned out to be an idiot.

And if I hadn't stepped in, we would have lost the shop,

which he's going to inherit anyway.

So why learn, then?

A Chinese woman in America without a skill

is either going to be a prostitute

or ends up being labeled one and deported.

You ever think about going back?

To China?

No.

Why? Do you?

Not anymore.

You know, my father isn't perfect...

but he sacrificed everything to bring us here to America.

And in spite of how awful it's been,

I still really think it's the land of opportunity.

People like us just need to try a little bit harder

to find it, that's all.

I guess San Francisco has its charms...

aside from all the people who want us dead.

I don't plan on staying here forever.

My father's sick, and--and when he's gone,

there isn't going to be anything left keeping me here.

So no China,

no Chinatown.

Where will you go?

Maybe north, I think.

I hear there's a lot of open spaces out there.

Maybe I'll find something I like

and make something of my own.

With this, I have to confiscate it.

I'm sorry.

It's official.

I will not be eating in Chinatown.

Those are actually pretty good.

Any luck with him?

He only had one ten in the till.

Came back queer.

Wasn't too pleased about parting with it neither.

No, I imagine he wasn't.

I figure we split up, work the rest of this block,

then expand our grid.

Pattern will emerge.

You can hang your hat on that.

I can see why the other cops didn't like you.

You actually work for a living.

I saw an interesting article in the "Register" today,

about Thayer's brother-in-law being an opium addict.

I suppose every family has their skeletons.

If you know where to dig.

You know, Miss Archer, it's surprising

to find a woman of your intelligence and background

who isn't married.

You're wondering what skeletons

might be lurking in my closet.

- Is that it? - No, of course not.

I meant no offense.

Relax, Mr. Buckley.

My skin is thicker than it looks.

Of course, my family expected me

to be married up years ago,

but I was more interested in traveling the world

- than being tied down. - And now?

I would think a woman like you would have her pick of suitors.

And you would be wrong.

I'm suddenly a woman of a certain age,

and as such, I'm expected to entertain

a parade of sad widowers,

fading bachelors, and pitiful eccentrics--

the price I paid for my independence,

and well worth it.

I cherish my freedom...

which is why it takes a special kind of man

to make an impression on me.

Oh, dear.

Have I stunned you into silence, Mr. Buckley?

Call me Walter.

Walter.

Don't mind the looky-loos.

Seeing you out with a woman is good for your campaign.

Perhaps.

But I wonder what you will think of me

if I lose the election.

I would think no less of you.

But I'm not going to let you lose.

I heard about Sonoma.

I'll go after them.

It's too late for that.

What are you talking about, Ah Toy?

Come on, talk to me.

I have a business to run.

Wait.

I'm fine.

Ah Toy!

Maybe take a few days.

Let Chao handle things till you're feeling up to it.

Do you have any idea how long it took to put this dress on?

Cheers. Cheers.

Good to see you.

Did we take a wrong turn somewhere?

Trust me.

We're exactly where we're meant to be.

What the fuck is this place?

It's a private club

for people who share a certain joie de vivre,

a place without boundaries, where everyone is welcome.

- Ah, Monsieur Marcel. - Oh.

Welcome back.

Would you prefer the blue or the green?

Oh, excellent choice.

Enjoy your evening, gentlemen.

That was disgusting.

Mm, I promise you're going to love it when it kicks in.

Come on.

Hey...

there's more.

I think I'm going to like it here.

Yuxian.

- Whoa! - Sorry.

Watch the suit, you clumsy bitch.

Well, you can make it up to me. Come on, let's have some fun.

- Hey! - Come on, let's go upstairs.

Stop! Let go!

Stop it!

Lai.

Go upstairs...

Now.

Ah Toy, long time no see.

Respect my girls or you're out. Get me?

Sure. No problem.

- Sergeant O'Hara. - Everything all right?

Things seem a little tense in here.

Was just small disagreement.

I take care of it.

For last week, extra, when I not in town.

You may wish you hadn't come back.

The new police chief is, uh...

coming down hard on Chinatown.

That what red envelope for.

Well, you've always done right by me, but...

things are changing.

I may not be able to keep trouble from your door forever.

In Chinatown...

no one think about forever...

only today, maybe tomorrow.

Thank you all for coming.

I've called this press conference

to address a salacious article

the "Register" saw fit to publish about my family,

specifically...

my brother-in-law's unfortunate opium habit.

First and foremost, it's important to acknowledge

that this isn't news, strictly speaking,

but a hit piece planted by my opponent

without corroboration in a desperate attempt

to bolster a faltering campaign.

- There is no reason-- - Do you deny the report, then?

No.

I do not.

I'm only sorry that Howard's private struggle

has been made public because of my candidacy.

My brother-in-law was wounded in battle

in the service of his country.

Like so many others,

his pain did not end when the fighting stopped.

And it is the intention of my family...

to love and support him...

however we can.

As with so many things, compassion,

not judgment, must be our guiding light.

You're unfocused today.

Too slow.

Sloppy.

So...

you want to talk about it?

It's Mai Ling.

She's spending more and more time in the pond.

You must have known her ambitions

would reach beyond the confines of Chinatown.

This feels different.

Are you worried about her...

or the tong?

She isn't safe out there.

She won't let me protect her.

Mai Ling is very smart...

but sometimes it's the smartest ones who forget to be wise.

Good thing she has you to remind her.

Now...

We going to fight or what?

Regardless, the state of California

is well within its rights to assert eminent domain.

It has offered just compensation to Miss Davenport

and has clearly demonstrated its public use as a route--

A privately owned and managed railroad

does not constitute public use.

Might I remind the court that we have proffered

multiple witnesses who will testify

that Miss Davenport was housing prostitutes

on her so-called vineyard.

That is outrageous, Judge Hopkins.

Miss Davenport has a long and well-documented history

of liberating young women from bondage.

- These girls were her employees. - I've heard enough.

My ruling is that the state has just grounds

to exercise its constitutional powers.

Eminent domain stands.

Wait.

Your Honor, please!

You can't let him get away with this.

Wha--

- Charles, I don't understand. - I did what I could.

No. Miss Davenport.

This isn't over.

I'm sorry, Nellie.

I know you were hoping for a different outcome.

If there's anything I can do--

I always knew you were a shit, Douglas.

You just hid it better than my husband.

But I didn't know you were a monster.

Please understand that all I want, all I've ever wanted,

was to see you taken care of, however I could.

You just couldn't stand

not having something that you wanted,

so you took it, like a-- like a petulant child!

I can see you're upset,

but I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about.

You killed them.

You murdered my girls, and for what?

For more money, as if you didn't have enough.

You are sick, Douglas.

You are a twisted, despicable creature.

No, this man, this man is a murderer.

Bernard and his friends are obsessed with the game.

Personally, I don't see what's so thrilling

about knocking little balls around.

Well, there is a little bit more

to it than that, darling, but, uh...

admittedly, it is more fun when there's money at stake.

But the real appeal is escaping their nagging wives.

Oh, I seem to have run dry. I'll go get us a fresh bottle.

That sounds delightful.

Oh, I, uh-- I meant to tell you--

I'm looking at providing high-interest bridge loans

using the capital you provided.

They'll, uh, bring in a substantial return,

but we--we have to move slowly

to avoid any unwanted attention.

And your fee?

Well, given our personal relationship,

I'll keep it modest-- say, uh, 5%.

Let's make it 10%.

I intend for this to be a long and fruitful arrangement

for the both of us.

You, um...

really are...

Quite beautiful.

Wait. Stop. What are you doing?

- You must have misunderstood. - Oh, I'm sorry.

I hope I haven't spoiled things.

Not at all.

We all make mistakes.

No need to let it affect our partnership.

Oh, good. You're here.

Yeah, I-I think I found something.

They say the state of a man's office

is a reflection of his state of mind.

The thing is this is my office.

I've been through every territory in Chinatown,

testing bills,

and most of them came back clear,

except for the ones in this pile.

Where did you find them?

I pulled a few off a highbinder in a Hop Wei suit

and a few more in shops here, here...

- And here. - All in Hop Wei territory.

It makes sense.

With the increased police presence and enforcement,

cash must be tight.

So where are my plates?

My best guess...

Hop Wei headquarters.

It's the most fortified spot.

And here I was, wondering what we were going to do today.

Now, we're going to need some backup.

- I'll go tell Bill. - Well, I'll tell Atwood.

Why should you have all the fun?

You're pretty handy with that blade.

- Care for a turn? - I prefer using my hands.

Speaking of hands...

I hear Mr. Pierce has some new holes in his.

The man insulted me in me own bar.

Then I admire your restraint.

I took care of your problem, Mr. Strickland,

but now I'm left with one of my own.

Pierce promised to hire 40 of my men.

Look, you want me to hire 40 Irishmen,

I'll hire 40 Irishmen.

But you'll still be precisely where you are right now--

fighting to gain every sad little inch.

I've got hungry men banging down my door.

They'll take every inch they can get.

As long as you keep begging wealthy men for scraps,

that's all they'll receive.

You have things people want, Mr. Leary--

votes, workers, influence.

Yeah, so I'm told.

But it hasn't put my people back to work.

Because Buckley takes your votes for granted

and Thayer supports Chinese labor.

Put it this way--

you can't beat this problem with your fists.

You can't outspend the industrialists.

If you're telling me the game's rigged,

it's not fucking news.

How much do you think this ring is worth?

No idea.

But based on the finger that's wearing it,

I'd say a lot.

I don't think it's worth $2,

but I value it more than anything I own

because of who I took it from.

Money isn't everything, Mr. Leary.

Power comes to those who are willing to seize it.

I don't know what we're talking about here.

Talking about an alliance.

Work with me,

and I'll show you how you win this game.

What do you get out of it?

I have big plans for California,

but I can't realize them without government approval,

without laws, workers.

You can help me get them.

How do you figure that?

The details can wait.

Come on, let's have another drink.

Tomorrow you can tell your working men

you did as you promised.

40 jobs, right?

Judge Milton Hopkins...

Mr. Dylan Leary, my guest of honor this evening.

Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Leary.

Who are they?

Do you really need to know their names?

- Stone. - Mm-hmm.

Take three men, set up a perimeter around the corner.

- Anderson, Cartwright. - Yes, boss.

Cut off passage to the west.

If you see any black suits running, shoot to kill.

Yes, sir.

The rest of you gentlemen are with me.

Now, that is how you win--

beautiful hand, not that chicken shit hand

that Hong keeps winning with.

You know, we're letting you win, right, boss?

Letting me win? Get the fuck out of here, Hong.

Hey, come on, we'll be here all night. Let's go.

Up against the wall!

Secret Service. Nobody move.

Nice and easy.

Nobody do shit.

Right, line them up. Let's go, boys.

Come on! Come over here!

- You fuck. - You, get over there.

You two take the hallway. I'll have a gander upstairs.

So this is the Hop Wei tong...

the most terrifying band of highbinders in Chinatown.

They're certainly the best dressed.

You know what I see?

Fear...

Weakness...

Subhuman excrement

wrapped in silk.

Gentlemen, show them what we're about!

You really think these guys are stupid enough

to print counterfeits in their own backyard?

I reckon I won't know till I look.

Ready?

Fuck, no.

That look like a secret door to you?

Don't gloat. It doesn't suit you.

Looks like you want to say something, boy.

Go on, out with it.

Sorry. I...

I-I didn't catch that.

Fuck your mother's smelly pussy.

With stones like those...

I gather you're in charge.

So you want to be the big man, huh?

Now's your chance.

Do it, princess.

Come on, make a fucking move.

- There's nothing here. - I can see that, Bill.

They moved something, something heavy.

Someone must have warned them we were coming.

Fuck.

San Francisco Police Department!

- Get up against the wall! - Whoa, whoa.

- Come here. - What?

Come here.

Okay, the bulls-- they've got us boxed in.

We can't go back.

Let's just leave it here. They might not check the cart.

No, if they do, the tong is screwed.

I need to get these plates out of here.

Look at me. Look at me.

Hey! Hey!

This isn't your problem. Just go home.

They won't stop you.

Well, what are you going to do?

I'll figure something out.

- That is so stupid. - Yeah.

- You need a plan. - I like to improvise.

Hey, take off your jacket.

They're looking for Hop Wei, right?

- Yeah. - Okay.

Hey, let's go.

Whoa.

This is not your house.

- Hey! - Lee, no.

This is not your tong.

Chief, he's had enough.

- You have nothing. - Chief.

- You are nothing. - Chief, he's had enough.

Chief, he's done.

Don't you ever...

lay a finger on me again.

Arrest this man.

He assaulted an officer.

- Shit. - Hey.

- There's more cops to the right. - Then go the other way.

- Excuse me! - Aw, shit.

- You there! - Keep going.

Don't look at him.

San Francisco Police.

I need to check that wagon.

- What do we do now? - I'm working on it.

You, stop!

Turn left.

Come on, boys.

It's a dead end. We can't get out.

Neither can they.

Wait, what?

Fuck is your problem, lady?

Didn't you hear us?

Where's the other one?

Your fucking friend...

where is he?

This bitch doesn't understand a word you're saying.

Talking slower ain't going to make a shit bit of difference.

There's only one language these people understand.

Let's take a look.

What the fuck?

Stone! Harrison!

What the hell is going on?

Up you go, you piece of shit.

Get in there!

- Come on, come on! Let's go! - Right, let's move it out!

Chao tipped them off.

It's the only thing that makes sense.

You must have known he would.

I thought we'd be faster.

Your new boss is a real charmer.

He's a fucking lunatic is what he is.

You should have been chief, Bill.

Serves me right.

I should never have trusted a snake like Buckley.

I knew better!

What about your case?

Hop Wei will go underground now.

Back to square one.

Don't beat yourself up over this.

That round-headed cunt had us going through the front door,

guns blazing.

It was never going to work.

Idiot.

- Jesus Christ. - Bill.

Stone! What the hell happened?

We got jumped by a couple of slants

in an alley up the road.

- Hop Wei? - Oh, maybe.

He wasn't wearing a suit.

He who? Give us something!

Well, I don't fucking know!

He was fast, though.

Cut through the five of us like we were nothing.

He had a girl with him, too.

They were hauling something on a wagon.

You think you'd recognize him if you saw him again?

I don't fucking know.

It was dark. They were chinks.

What the fuck you want from me?

Fucking hell.

Okay, I need you to watch over the plates

for a little while till I figure out what to do.

You just beat up a bunch of cops.

Yeah, well, they had it coming.

And what--you think that they're just

going to forget about that?

- Okay. - They saw our faces.

I didn't have a choice.

That is not true. We could have run.

We could have done anything, and I hit a cop.

Okay.

And I have never done that before.

- Listen to me. - Don't you get it?

They could have killed us!

They didn't, and they don't know anything.

- You don't know that. - Yes, I do.

I didn't sign up for this.

- I know. - This isn't what I wanted.

You okay?

Eliza.

Where are Franny and the others?

Is something wrong?

Is this the woman, Mrs. Pendleton?

Yes, Officer.

I don't understand. What's going on?

You're under arrest for criminal solicitation.

What? Of who?

Eliza, what is this?

I saw you yesterday with Bernard.

He told me everything.

He touched me.

I swear, I would never do this to you.

Ma'am?

I took pity on you.

- I let you into my home. - I didn't do anything.

We were discussing business, and he just reached out and--

Eliza, please, you have to believe me!

I hope they send you back to China.

Eliza! Please!

- Eliza, stop them! - Come on.

- Eliza! - Let's go.