Original subtitles

A HOU HSIAO-HSIEN FILM

FROM THE 1892 DIALECT NOVEL BY HAN ZIYUN

AS TRANSLATED INTO MANDARIN BY EILEEN CHANG

THE MOST ELITE PLEASURE QUARTERS IN LATE 19TH-CENTURY SHANGHAI

LAY HIDDEN IN THE CITY'S BRITISH CONCESSION

THESE ENCLAVES WERE KNOWN AS "FLOWER HOUSES"

- All Fortunes! - Three Great Fortunes!

Why do I keep losing today?

If you lose, you have to drink!

I won't accept defeat!

What? Empty your cup!

- Five Champions! - Two Together!

- Five Champions! - Five Champions!

- Five Champions! - It's a tie!

- Neither of you won! - Then they should both drain their cups!

It's only fair that both of you have to drink.

- Good! - Everybody drink!

This is very enjoyable!

Who's next?

- Who's next? - Me!

All right, Luo!

Let's use the chicken-pattern cups.

Yufu...

- Two Together. - Two Together.

- Eight Immortals! - Eight Immortals!

- Eight Immortals! - Eight Immortals!

- Two Together! - Three Great Fortunes!

Three Great Fortunes!

Drink up!

My young brother Yufu is new here,

but look how many girls will drink for him!

Impressive!

- Two Together. - Two Together.

- Five Champions! - Five Champions!

All right. Eight Immortals!

Pour wine for him.

Your brother's rather good at this game.

He's learned from experts!

- Two Together. - Two Together.

- Four Joys! - Two Together!

- Three Great Fortunes! - Eight Immortals!

Four Joys!

Pour the wine for him.

You have to drink!

Please, not too much!

Young people always have a way!

Yufu, who is she?

Crystal's younger sister!

Don't you know?

Crystal is always feeling ill. Her sister is here in her place.

Thank you, miss.

We should let Yufu go.

We can go on playing.

The women all think he should stop because Crystal is waiting for him.

Have some more wine!

Come on, drink up!

He and Crystal are really serious about each other!

I've seen besotted couples in my time, but none like them!

It's as if they're stuck together like toffee!

Stuck to each other!

They go out together, come in together.

If a day goes by without their meeting, it's the end of the world!

Crystal asks the women to track him everywhere.

And if they lose him?

Then she bursts into tears!

She's so whiny.

I tell you, I've never seen the like.

That's what love is all about, isn't it?

What happens when they're together?

I'll tell you!

I visited him one morning

and found them gazing into each other's eyes.

Just sitting there gazing at each other!

- Not saying anything? - Not a word! Hopelessly lovestruck.

You know what that's called?

- What? - Tell us!

"Mental telepathy"!

Let's drink!

Fate has brought them together.

- Luo calls it fate. - I believe in it!

- Really? I call it bad karma. - What?

Notice how pale Yufu is?

He's caught in her trap!

He looks so pale, doesn't he?

One time, I suggested a visit to the opera.

- You know what Crystal said? - What?

"The opera's just a lot of noise.

Why go?"

Going to the opera is so enjoyable.

So I suggested going for a ride in a horse-drawn carriage instead.

I thought they'd enjoy looking around.

You know what Crystal said?

"Who wants to bump around in a horse-drawn carriage?"

A horse-drawn carriage ride is very pleasant.

And it didn't even end there!

My next suggestion was to go and be photographed.

Nice idea, for a souvenir. You know what Crystal said?

"But the camera will capture the beams from your eyes!"

The camera will capture them!

Next morning, I saw her licking his eyes.

Licking his eyes?

With her tongue!

Actually licking his eyes!

This has been going on for half a month or more!

She licks his eyes to help restore his vision.

What a story!

Let's have some more wine!

And the food's getting cold.

Your next dish!

What is it?

A delicacy!

Bean-curd soup!

Bean-curd soup in a sand pot.

What's wrong with Master Wang?

Master Wang has been calling on Jasmin.

And so today, Crimson sent her maids to the Ming Garden to beat Jasmin.

I didn't know Crimson was so vicious!

So brutal.

That wasn't vicious!

I think she was silly to go to so much trouble.

If they'd damaged her jewelry,

Master Wang would have paid for it anyway.

And if you'd been Crimson?

Me?

I'm not inclined to tell you.

They're quarreling!

Why don't you call on Cinnamon and see how I react?

You think I wouldn't dare?

I'd have Cinnamon come out and give you a beating!

He's full of hot air.

You're saying this to impress Master Hong?

- All of your talk is ridiculous. - Why?

As a flower girl, you have many callers.

So you have to accept that your callers will see other flower girls!

- What do you mean? - It's simple enough.

We're in business, so there's no other way.

If you buy my exclusive services for three seasons, then I'll see no one else.

Isn't that right?

You mean you want to leech off me?

If not you, then who else? Right?

Right. We don't care if they have more than one.

Drink! Drink!

Master Zhu, I challenge you.

This is what I call a party!

- Two Together! - Seven Joys!

- Five Champions! - One Win!

- Two Together! - Five Champions!

FLOWERS OF SHANGHAI

CRIMSON, OF THE HUIFANG ENCLAVE

Master Wang, it was your mistake.

If you'd been frank about it,

you could call on as many other girls as you like.

But you weren't frank!

When Crimson found out, she wailed,

"Master Wang has abandoned me for Jasmin!"

Master Wang simply called on Jasmin for a cup of wine last night.

And now he's here as usual.

Master Hong!

Don't blame our mistress for being upset!

When Master Wang began calling on her, she had many other callers.

But they stopped coming when Master Wang became her patron.

We invited them to come back, but Master Wang said,

"Never mind if they come or not. I'll support you myself!"

Master Wang, those were your exact words!

Our mistress has been very content with Master Wang.

She takes no other gentlemen callers.

You also said you'd take care of all our mistress's debts.

Master Hong,

how can you blame our mistress for being upset?

There's nothing more to say about this.

Put Jasmin out of your mind.

Master Wang is here now.

Crimson, you have not lost face. Let's put this behind us.

Master Wang will buy you clothes and jewelry,

and he'll clear whatever debts you have.

That settles everything, doesn't it?

I don't mind him calling on Jasmin.

What I mind is the secrecy.

And he's with her almost all the time.

Master Tang, I've been with Master Wang for two-and-a-half years.

What you see in this room is all that he's ever given me.

He's been calling on Jasmin for only ten days,

and she already has an entire new wardrobe.

Seeing what's going on,

his friends have rushed to buy furniture for her.

Master Tang, you have no idea.

This is nonsense.

Flower girls are recompensed for their services.

Their callers have no responsibility for their debts.

You're asking too much!

No flower girl relies on just one caller,

and no gentleman limits himself to one flower girl.

We can go wherever we please!

It's tedious to even discuss this!

You're right, Master Hong.

No flower girl relies on just one caller. Our mistress has plenty of other callers.

Why should she rely only on Master Wang?

But Master Wang made her a promise.

If he'd kept his promise, our mistress would have no complaint.

Now he's calling on Jasmin.

As you say, no gentleman has to limit himself to one flower girl.

Our mistress can say nothing.

But while he is calling on Jasmin, our debts remain unpaid.

Consider, Master Wang, which of us is being "tedious" —

you or our mistress?

All right. None of this properly concerns us.

Let's go.

- Are you leaving now, Master Wang? - Jingda!

Master Wang, you can leave if you want to.

No one will detain you.

But let's make one thing clear.

Jingda and I were up all night comforting our mistress.

We didn't sleep at all.

Tonight we will sleep.

Women like us are never responsible

if our luck turns bad and we are left penniless.

Master Wang, you cannot blame us for this situation.

We should leave now.

Stay as long as you like.

I'm sorry you were troubled.

Tomorrow we'll set up two banquet tables as an apology to you.

No need for that.

Were you too scared of us to come alone?

Did you think I would bully you?

You turn up today with two friends. For what reason?

What they said just made me angrier!

Very clever of you!

Master Wang is not at fault. Those friends led him astray.

Maybe they were the ones who led him to call on Jasmin.

He needed no help! His friends didn't push him.

He found that little chicken all by himself!

Jasmin is no chicken these days.

She even hires opera troupes for entertainment!

Master Wang, how much have you spent on her?

- Thousands? - Nonsense.

Really?

Well, Master Wang needn't bother his head about it.

Smoke some opium.

Ginseng soup for you, Master Wang.

Azhu, why is Crimson so upset?

What do you mean?

I've promised to pay her debts, but she still says I'm cheating her.

Master Wang understands very well.

No, that's why I'm asking.

Master Wang, an intelligent man like you should understand.

Our mistress has always treated you well. Why didn't you clear her debts before now?

Now you say you'll clear them, but you sound grudging.

How can she accept if you begrudge her for holding you to your promise?

But she's the one holding a grudge.

Our mistress has nothing to be angry about.

Sooner or later, Master Wang will clear her debts for her.

It's all up to you.

But should your relationship with Crimson depend on such trivial details?

Well, should it?

If I don't clear her debts, she calls me bad.

And if I do clear them, she still calls me bad.

What does she really want?

Master Wang, do I really need to explain?

Don't get angry.

Just don't get angry, all right?

I'll follow your advice.

All you can say is, "Don't get angry"?

If you were me, wouldn't you get angry?

If I were you, I'd be over it by morning.

Don't get angry.

Don't cry!

Come on.

Don't cry!

PEARL, OF THE GONGYANG ENCLAVE

Master Hong is here!

Where were you last night?

I called on Jasmin, then went home.

Why is your mother hitting Treasure?

It's nothing.

Treasure should mind what she says.

She wants more than she can have.

Alongside Jade, she's nothing.

There's always trouble when she tries to compete.

What did Treasure say?

Treasure said, "Jade doesn't have her own hookah,

so Auntie took mine for her.

She goes out in my old dresses too."

Jade overheard this and refused to wear the dress again.

This morning, she stayed in bed saying she felt ill.

That's why Mother is scolding Treasure.

She's asked me to talk to Jade.

What are you supposed to say to her?

It's difficult for me.

Just seeing her makes me angry.

She gets a few bookings and she's so full of herself,

while Treasure gets beaten as if she'd only just entered the house.

But Jade is a real asset.

If you weren't the daughter of the house, she might look down on you too.

Don't say that. She and I are quite close.

She pays more attention to me than to Mother.

A booking for Mistress Jade!

Coming.

I just told her, if she refused to go,

then your mother would have to send Treasure instead.

She rushed off the moment she heard that.

Well done.

Eat something.

You should eat before we go out.

And you should eat before you go drinking.

I'm not hungry, and I should go now.

Then send for me later. I'll eat, have a wash and join you.

All right.

Mistress Pearl, food's ready.

Ask Jade if she's hungry. We could eat together.

Sister.

- Feeling better? - Better.

Have some more.

Treasure opens her mouth without thinking.

She says whatever comes into her head.

Anyway, you're not like her.

You get many bookings. Mother likes you.

You needn't be so sensitive.

If Treasure upsets you, tell me.

Don't tell Mother.

Does it seem like I'm taking Treasure's side?

I'm not really.

After all, we're just flower girls, all working in this one house.

A few years from now, we'll all be married.

Even the most popular of flower girls has only a fleeting period of fame.

Try to look at it that way.

Sister, you think too much.

I'm too ignorant to know what's true and what isn't.

I'll never blame you for setting me right.

I just hope you really understand.

Let's eat.

EMERALD, OF THE SHANGREN ENCLAVE

- Do you have any money? - Yes.

Just look at you, at your age!

You still want to keep lovers?

Don't you care about face?

Here's some spending money for them.

I won't take it.

I'm tired of reminding you.

Who else can you borrow from?

Don't worry, this is the last time.

Thank you, Master Luo. This is so embarrassing.

At least you realize that.

Why does she need the money?

She irritates me so much.

Look at her.

When she has money, her men take it.

When she doesn't, she borrows from me.

Scold her about it and she pretends not to understand.

A few days later, she's forgotten all about it.

A booking for Mistress Emerald!

What can I do about her?

Where is it?

Houma Street.

All right.

Who is she seeing?

There are several men.

Some new.

As well as the old ones.

Carrying on like that at her age!

I saw an old man in the outer room. Is he one of them?

That's Zhang, her tailor.

How could he be her lover?

That money was to pay his bill.

Where in Houma Street?

The Qian residence again.

It's a mahjong party.

They'll want me to play in someone's place.

If no one else books me, I'll be stuck there.

Sometimes I just sit there for two or three hours.

It's such a bore.

Then why not turn them down?

I can't refuse a booking.

Auntie would be furious.

She'd scold you?

Definitely.

If I do nothing wrong, she never says a word.

But one small mistake, and I never hear the end of it.

Make yourself comfortable.

- I'll be back as soon as I can. - All right.

Sister.

What is it?

Look.

Your auntie beat you again?

I've told you, learn how to flatter.

If you won't listen to me, you'll get beaten.

But my auntie isn't like yours.

She beats me whether I flatter or not.

One man called on me several times, I was accused of flattering him too much!

That's why she beat me this time!

Didn't you follow my advice?

I said exactly what you told me to say.

"If you want me to entertain callers, don't beat me."

That made her lock me in and tie me to the bed.

She asked me if I dared to refuse a booking.

So tell her you do, and let them beat you.

I couldn't stand the pain.

I had to give in to her to get away.

If you're afraid of pain,

you should be an official's wife or daughter,

not a flower girl.

Is there any opium?

There's a chestful over there.

How can anyone swallow it?

It's so bitter!

Some people take it raw. It must ruin their stomachs.

So painful!

You're so stupid.

I don't think she'll ever learn.

You know, last month, Master Chen threw a banquet for her.

But that was one whole month ago.

Then she had a caller who ordered some food and wine for her.

But he turned out to be an old friend of hers, a freeloader!

The clerk from the foreign goods store,

he came after dinner and stayed past midnight.

So you see why Third Sister beats her?

No tips from serving wine and no outside bookings?

That one banquet was the lot. No more in prospect.

So her total earning for the month was one foreign dollar!

You expect your auntie to live on the northwest wind?

Well, do you? Do you want us to live on the northwest wind?

You want to have outside affairs and treat nonpaying callers?

You're wasting your breath.

You're useless!

You deserve to be beaten to death!

Otherwise, you'll go on losing money!

Stop it.

Get her out! She makes me so angry!

Where is all this bad luck coming from?

JASMIN, OF THE EAST HEXING ENCLAVE

Is 16 foreign dollars too much?

Too much. Ten is about right.

Give him ten. Twelve at most.

The best-value emeralds are in Temple Market.

Then I'll trouble Master Hong for the emerald jewelry.

That's fine with me.

Qiao!

Coming.

Bring hot towels and clear the table.

Yes.

You have some too.

I don't want to.

It's addictive, I won't be able to work!

It's not addictive.

Crimson smokes it, and she's no addict.

Crimson has many callers.

Why should she care?

Even if she gets addicted, she'll be fine.

Actually, she has very few callers now.

How do you know?

I saw the books.

Aside from me, she's had only 20 or 30 bookings, all from old callers.

That's enough, considering that she has you.

You don't understand.

She supports her whole family. She needs a lot.

How much can they need if the whole family shares one small room?

Unless she spends a lot on herself.

She doesn't spend much.

She takes a horse-drawn carriage every few days.

That's not so expensive.

So where does the money go?

How should I know?

You suggested she spends a lot! Tell me what she spends it on.

I have no idea how Crimson spends her money.

Don't call on her and tell her I said this.

If you do, she'll think I'm talking about her behind her back.

Don't worry, I won't say anything.

You and Crimson have been together for three, four years now.

What can I tell you about her that you don't know?

You're so naïve.

Crimson is always vilifying you,

and here you are helping to cover up her problems.

When I began calling on Crimson, she told me...

"A really good gentleman caller is every flower girl's dream.

Now that we have met,

I need no other caller."

I told her she could stop being a flower girl and marry me.

And she was quick to agree...

but she was just humoring me.

She said we could marry if I paid all her debts.

I paid them, and then she said her parents didn't approve of the match.

Master Wang is kind to come when he's asked.

It proves our banquet table still has legs!

Mistress, you have me to thank.

It seems she doesn't want to marry me.

I can't tell what she's thinking.

Master Wang, please smoke.

It's such a trial for you to come here!

Not one of our stupid servants prepares your pipe for you.

I don't need anyone for that.

Have some tea, Master Wang.

The jeweler gave you this to look at?

Yes, 16 foreign dollars for a hairpin!

It must be cheaper at Temple Market.

You already have hairpins like this.

If you can buy them for someone else, why can't I buy a pair for myself?

Of course you can, but you already have several pairs.

You could buy something else.

I will buy something else.

Frankly, I don't need another hairpin.

But I'm angry, so I want to buy a pair

just to waste 16 more of your foreign dollars.

Then take 16 foreign dollars and buy something else!

There's nothing special about these hairpins.

Nothing special about me either, so they suit me.

You're not serious!

Mistress Crimson is known throughout Shanghai!

Am I still a mistress?

I'm less than a wild chicken!

I can't be addressed as "Mistress."

Sister, Jade and I must have been enemies in a previous lifetime!

We've just quarreled again!

She's still saying bad things about me. I can't stand it!

- She wasn't talking about you. - Of course she was.

That's why Auntie threw me out.

All right, I give in.

I'll never say another word when we're in Auntie's room.

Satisfied?

What is the matter with you two? Stop it!

Treasure, go to your room.

Jade, sit over here.

I've told you many times not to argue with her.

You know she isn't too bright.

Pearl.

Master Hong.

Luo has set up a banquet table in Emerald's rooms.

Let's go there later.

All right.

Jade, please leave us.

Honest flower girls are so devious these days!

You all drink together. You must know what I mean.

Which girl are you talking about?

You all sit around a table drinking.

But Young Master Zhu slips an emerald pendant to Jade under the table,

and then Jade asks me not to tell you.

So why are you telling me now?

I advised her to tell you!

I said it would make you more eager to help

if she ever needs a favor.

Jade is doing very well now,

so maybe it's time she got married.

You can be her matchmaker.

You can do it. I'll help you.

Master Hong, your invitation.

Mistress, Master Wang is here.

Mistress.

I heard!

Am I wrong to call you?

You have no callers, and you're brimming with jealousy.

Don't you want to eat, Mistress?

Azhu.

We haven't eaten either. Order some dishes and we can eat together.

But you've been drinking. You must have eaten.

We really haven't.

Mistress, shall I order for you too?

I don't want to eat.

Master Wang, if you're hungry, order for yourself.

Mistress hasn't even had a sip of tea.

I'll get her some congee later.

Liang, bring some tea.

Master Hong.

I'll leave first.

Master Hong, are you going?

Bye.

What's wrong with you?

Nothing!

I want to talk to you. Come over here.

If you want to talk, then talk.

I don't want to see you unhappy all day.

Every time I come, you're unhappy.

You know how upsetting it is to see you like this?

Don't be like this, if only for my sake.

I'm unhappy, that's a fact! What do you want me to do?

If you don't like it, go somewhere where you can be happy.

I'm being patient with you, and you're being so rude to me.

I said nothing when you came,

not a word to offend you.

And all you say is that I look unhappy.

Now you say I'm being rude.

I think you're the one who's being insensitive.

How can I be happy?

I see, it's always my fault.

If I behave like this again, you might as well beat me.

But don't be like this.

Come here. I have something to discuss with you.

Thank you.

Ham congee.

Don't wait for me.

Master Ge, time for a drinking game.

Let's play.

Two Together!

- Two Together! - Five Champions!

- Five Champions! - Eight Immortals!

- Four Joys! - Four Joys!

- Two Together! - Four Joys!

You lost!

Have something to eat!

Let's play again.

Come on now.

Two Together.

- Two Together! - Four Joys!

- Two Together! - Five Champions!

Five Champions.

Drink up.

- Your next dish. - Good!

Mistress Pearl and Mistress Jade from Gongyang Enclave are here!

Spring rolls. Bring more spring rolls.

Master Wang, please eat more!

Jade, Young Master Zhu is asking for you.

Shuren!

Please.

Who is that?

Shuren. He's Zhu Airen's nephew.

I've brought him here to have fun.

Master Hong, have a game with me.

All right, come on.

You two are well matched.

I'm not so sure about that.

Here's the wine.

- Two Together. - Two Together.

- Two Together! - Five Champions!

Got you!

I lost.

A rare occurrence!

Shuren.

Shuren, let's play.

- I don't know how. - What is there to know?

Come on. Good.

All Fortunes.

- Eight Immortals! - One Win!

- An easy win! - Two Together!

- Three Great Fortunes! - One Win!

- Lost again! - Shuren.

Come on, one more time.

All Fortunes.

- One Win! - One Win!

- One Win! - One Win!

One Win!

Drink up.

Once again!

- Five Champions! - Two Together!

- Five Champions! - One Win!

Lost again!

- Master Luo lost two in a row! - Not in form tonight!

Come on, come on.

- One more time. - He can't bear to lose. Play once more.

All Fortunes.

- Three Big Fortunes! - Three Big Fortunes!

Let me drink for him.

Sorry, I've spilt it.

Never mind, wipe it up.

What's that?

Take a look, Master Luo.

You know what it shows?

Yes, it's the 'wine rack.'

Don't discuss it with him. He's immoral.

You're wrong. It's not the 'wine rack'!

What's amusing all of you?

Put that away, or you'll be scolded.

Master Luo. Did Emerald tell you she wants to buy her freedom?

Yes, but it seems she can't.

Not really.

No girl who wants to buy her freedom announces the fact.

She announces it when she has it.

I'm fine with it.

Frankly, what I want is the business she brings, not her person.

If I don't let her go, she'll be in no mood for business.

So I may as well let her go.

So why did she tell me she can't do it?

I don't want to criticize her, but...

As you know, Emerald is a mischievous girl.

In this business, I buy in girls when they are seven or eight.

And I bring them up until they're old enough to work.

I pay for their food and clothes.

I teach them everything.

But not all of them make the grade as flower girls.

Emerald is clever, and she's helped a lot.

Now she wants her freedom.

She recalls that I originally paid 100 silver taels for her.

Now, ten times 100 is only 1,000 silver taels.

Master Luo, really.

There's no comparison between the original price and her value now!

So she says 1,000. What do you say?

I'm guided by my conscience.

Go to the teahouse and see what other people think about this.

Her bookings alone amount to 1,000 silver taels per season,

not counting her tips or the gifts she receives.

Master Luo, even if you paid me 3,000 silver taels,

it would balance only one year's earnings.

And she could still earn a lot as a flower girl.

Isn't that so, Master Luo?

Look at Silver Phoenix here, for example.

Girl! Where is your mind wandering now?

Just look at her.

A girl like Silver Phoenix gets no business.

Should I pay for her meals?

I should just pay her 100 silver taels and let her go.

A Shanghai flower girl can be worth 3,000 or 1,000.

There's no fixed value.

If you don't ask for too much, I'll make it worth your while.

We can be partners, and both of us can do well.

Master Luo is quite right!

I'm not demanding 3,000.

I'm sure that we can come to a satisfactory arrangement.

You're back!

Think it over, Master Luo.

I will.

Is Silver Phoenix asleep?

You look dead on your feet!

No! I was listening to Auntie.

Did she really drop off?

Auntie hit her. Don't mind her.

Leave us alone.

Auntie was discussing the fee for your freedom.

She wants 3,000.

I urged her to reduce it, and I'll help you with some of it.

We can sort this out together. It will be fine.

Who asked you to pay?

I have plans of my own.

You needn't be involved.

We'll see.

All aunties are calculating by nature.

My auntie is a self-made woman.

She bought herself a few girls.

We didn't cost her much!

Take me, I've been working here for five years.

She's gotten nearly 20,000 just from me.

And my dresses and furniture are worth at least 10,000.

She'll keep all of it, but she still demands 3,000!

Fine, 3,000.

If she deserves it, she'll get it!

Emerald, Master Luo thinks that your value is 2,000 silver taels.

He'll pay half of it.

Does that seem fair?

Give me a light.

I didn't realize you were so wealthy!

You are so wealthy.

If I'm worth 2,000, bring me 5,000 first.

Where do you think I'd find so much money?

Come, this is no time for false modesty.

I thought you were serious about this!

If my freedom is bought,

I'll need 3,000 for clothes and accessories to start afresh.

You think 1,000 from you will be enough?

You want me to starve once I leave this house?

So you don't want my help?

Of course I welcome your help!

Take care of my clothes and accessories,

and I'll be grateful for any further help you can give me.

Fine.

Mrs. Huang.

Forget what we discussed.

Her freedom is no concern of mine.

Where is your conscience?

Just reflect for a moment.

You were orphaned at seven and came to this flower house.

I sympathized and treated you like my own child.

I combed your hair, bound your feet — everything.

Now you treat me like an enemy! How have I offended you?

You want your freedom so that you can rise above us.

I wished you success so that you could reciprocate my favors,

and now you treat me like this!

So young and yet so cruel.

You'll come to a bad end!

Auntie, do stop crying. What does this matter?

I'm in your house.

You can decide whether to free me or not. I don't want to buy my freedom.

And if we go on arguing like this, they'll hear us next door.

I can make no sense of this.

Miss Zhao, come and tell me what you think.

A flower girl wants to buy her freedom.

Her patron wants to help.

If Master Luo had other ideas, he could discuss them with me.

But now you reject his help.

I see, you want all of his money for yourself!

Let's drink.

- Three Great Fortunes! - Four Joys!

Let's drink!

Let me drink for him.

Losers drink their own penalties.

All right, agreed.

That's good.

Haven't seen you for a long while, Master Ke. Take a seat.

I don't want to see anyone without a cup in his hand!

Keep the wine coming!

Let me drink with you.

Let's drink.

Come on, let's empty these cups!

Good!

Master Zhu is a fine drinker.

Let's play the drinking game.

- Come on. - Shall we play as a team?

Fine, you two together!

Master Wang, let's play!

Let me beat him first.

Ready.

Let's begin with "All Fortunes."

- All Fortunes! - Five Champions!

- Five Champions! - All Fortunes!

- Five Champions! - Two Together!

- Five Champions! - Five Champions!

Five Champions! Drink!

Come on, your turn.

You have to drink!

Let's play.

Your turn. All Fortunes.

- All Fortunes. - All Fortunes.

- Two Together! - Two Together!

Two Together! Drink!

He lost!

He lost!

Empty the cup!

Master Luo, you should be drinking too!

Come, have something to eat.

The food is getting cold!

This fish is straight from the Huangpu River.

It's very fresh. Come and eat.

Hurry up! There is someone outside.

What's going on outside?

What's happening?

I don't know. Go and see.

Go and see!

Something's happened!

Let's play another round.

- All Fortunes! - Two Together!

- Two Together! - A Pair of Treasures!

- Four Joys! - Two Together!

- A Pair of Treasures! - Four Joys!

- Two Together! - Five Champions!

- A Pair of Treasures! - Two Together!

- A Pair of Treasures! - Four Joys!

- Four Joys! - Four Joys!

Sorry, I'll drink!

It's nothing.

Drink!

What happened?

Nothing.

It's a mess.

Drink!

They're just checking on gambling in the alley.

Nothing to worry about.

Just checking on gambling.

No need to worry.

There's been an accident in the alley!

- What? - Someone has taken a bad fall. That's all.

Someone's had an accident!

What? Fell down?

Go and see! Someone had a bad fall.

We should go and see.

Master Wang, please slow down!

You scared me. You could have fallen!

- Where's the mistress? - Downstairs, I think.

Master Wang, you've drunk too much!

Liang, bring a hot towel.

Master Wang!

Master Wang!

Master Wang has dozed off.

Master Wang, what are you doing?

Master Wang!

Master Wang!

Please calm down!

Master Wang!

Master Wang, don't be angry!

Don't be angry, Master Wang!

Master Wang!

Take care of these matters for me.

What is it?

Congratulations, Jasmin!

It's good that you marry Jasmin now.

But you do still have some obligations to Crimson.

What obligations?

You are Crimson's only caller.

She relies on you completely.

If you don't call, she'll have no one.

Bills are served at this time of year. She'll have many expenses.

Her parents, her brother — they all have to eat.

What can she do?

If you punish her too much, it may kill her.

You may now consider Crimson's life worthless,

but we started out calling on her for pleasure

and it shouldn't now come to this.

Pleasure shouldn't just turn into vindictiveness.

You're on their side, are you?

Don't be silly. Why should I side with them?

Then why should I call on her?

I warned you when you first called on her that it had no meaning.

You didn't listen, and you let the relationship grow.

Now you're furious with her and you accuse me of being on her side.

What can I say?

So why should I call on her?

I'm not asking you to call on her again.

Just put in an appearance!

Why?

I'm thinking of you!

What if something happens to her?

They'll be relieved if you just show your face

just to see how they're coping.

You've been calling on her for four or five years...

spending so many foreign dollars.

You can't leave them facing those small seasonal bills now.

If you help her settle those bills, she'll survive.

You need never call on her again if you don't want to.

Master Wang and Master Hong are here!

We never expected to see you here again.

Our mistress has been so anxious. She'll be so relieved.

Master Hong.

The downstairs staff are all worried

that Master Wang has turned against our mistress.

I told them not to talk such nonsense.

Master Wang was furious.

That's the only reason he's been blaming our mistress.

Deep inside, he knew our mistress wouldn't have an affair with an actor.

I don't care if there was an affair or not. It's not important.

Crimson...

If Master Wang weren't here, you'd be complaining.

Now he is here, and you're silent.

Liang, bring hot towels.

Azhu, bring hot towels.

Immediately!

Mistress, shall I have the table cleared?

Jingda, clear the table!

I've never seen you so angry in all the years I've known you.

A prosperous flower girl might have an affair with an opera actor.

But am I prosperous?

How could you imagine I was having an affair?

You could torture me to death with accusations...

but I'd die with a clear conscience.

If you say you didn't, then you didn't.

It doesn't matter.

My parents gave me this body,

but everything else in these rooms came from your generosity.

Even if you broke all of it, it wouldn't matter.

If you want to abandon me,

my only option will be...

death.

One blue crystal bracelet.

One pair of cloud-pattern earrings.

One pair of blue chrysanthemum pearl earrings.

One pair of inlaid-gold jade earrings.

One jade bat-pattern pendant.

One embroidered silk blouse, maroon, with phoenix pattern.

One embroidered silk skirt, black, with flower pattern.

One embroidered silk blouse, black, with cloud pattern.

Zhao.

Woolen items in total: two large trunks, two medium and two small.

Cotton items, with or without linings: Ten trunks, all accounted for.

Emerald, this has been a long day for you.

Auntie, please sit down.

I'm leaving your house,

but you will always be my Auntie.

I'll always be Auntie Huang's girl.

Our fortunes will always be entwined.

We'll both do well.

You're right.

You are capable in business, widely respected,

and you treat the flower girls right,

but you should choose better male friends.

This is my last word on this subject.

Have more respect for yourself.

You're over 50.

Don't make a fool of yourself with young men.

If you buy a new flower girl for 1,000,

you won't need to buy her clothes or jewelry.

Golden Phoenix will be very popular two years from now,

at least as popular as I am,

and so you'll prosper.

That's right.

Silver Phoenix is useless.

If anyone wants her, let her go.

But Golden Phoenix will be a great success.

Take my advice, Auntie, and you'll do well.

Right, that's absolutely true.

The other things I said weren't true?

Of course not!

At my age, I know good advice when I hear it.

I can hear them arriving. I'll go down.

Master Luo, don't trouble yourself.

She is shameless.

This is the last time I waste words on her!

If she wants to be sad and lonely, so be it!

It's not easy to run a flower house.

And you've always criticized her openly.

None of the seven flower-house owners in her group are any good.

If I made any mistake, she'd beat me.

Surely not.

You don't believe me?

Look at Golden Flower.

I've met three of those flower-house owners.

Golden Flower's auntie is kinder than ours.

She doesn't beat her girls so often.

The girls in this house beg to be put out of their misery.

Tell me one flower-house owner who's any good.

Good people wouldn't be in this profession.

Madam, I'll read it to you.

"This contract of employment is hereby rendered null and void

by Miss Zhang, known as Emerald.

- She has paid 1,000 taels of silver. - That is correct.

No voice of objection has been raised."

- All right? - Yes.

"On this day of October 6, 1884."

October 6.

Please give your fingerprint.

Yes!

I'm next.

Here, see?

Correct.

You too, madam.

Fine. Where?

Here, please.

I'm going to see Emerald. I'll be right back.

You can eat. Take your time.

- Please come back soon. - Have more.

Emerald, here's the agreement and the receipt.

Please check them for any mistakes.

Master Luo, at your leisure.

Please check them for me.

Terrible calligraphy.

It's a standard agreement. No mistakes.

- It's all right? - Yes.

"Dragon"? Is that someone's nickname?

He's one of her boyfriends.

Looks kind enough,

but he's always really devious!

He never fooled me.

Please check once more.

Splendid!

Well sung!

Everybody must drink!

Master Wang is being promoted!

He'll be moving to Guangdong.

Let's all drink to Master Wang!

Congratulations, Master Wang!

May you enjoy continued success!

Let's drink. Let's drink.

Please let me be your host tomorrow evening.

We'll come!

It'll be in the Qingyun Enclave.

Your flower girl is Laurel?

None of us know her.

- I never heard of her. - She's new to me too.

A friend of mine introduced us, so I call on her.

So you call on her!

Let's play.

No penalty limits when we play tonight.

Master Zhou, let's make a team.

Two Together.

- All Fortunes! - All Fortunes!

All Fortunes!

- Two Together! - Two Together!

It's a tie.

Drink up. Drink up.

Everybody, drink up!

Now you and me. Two Together.

One man, one cup. That's right!

It's going to be a great night!

It's a happy night.

Master Wang, happy tonight? Yes? Yes!

If Master Wang is happy, so are we all!

Master Luo puts it well!

The best thing is his promotion!

It's the most significant.

Where's the wine?

Good dishes, good alcohol, good friends.

Let's all toast Master Wang again!

Together!

Good fortune, Master Wang!

Come back to see your old friends in Shanghai!

Don't forget us!

You must come back!

I'm most grateful to Master Wang for introducing me to this position.

It was nothing.

Master Wang, you need a fresh pipe.

Have some tea.

Have some tea.

- Liu, bring a hot towel. - Right away.

Master Wang, these will take away the bitter taste.

Clean the pipe.

Master Wang, your towel.

Master Wang, Crimson's mother is the only one attending her now?

Jingda left her and hasn't been replaced?

And she's moved to a smaller house. Is that true?

I don't know.

Please smoke.

Master Wang has left?

Yes.

Master Hong, why did Master Wang seem so depressed?

It's not Master Wang's fault!

He's going back to Guangdong.

He got promoted. He should be happy.

Why should he be depressed?

Master Wang liked Crimson.

When Crimson proved untrue,

he married Jasmin.

But Jasmin wasn't true to him either,

and so he went back to Crimson.

His heart has been in turmoil.

How was Jasmin untrue?

Just take my word that she was.

Is it true that Master Wang beat Jasmin?

Yes.

He beat her hard and abandoned her.

She took raw opium after that,

but we saved her life.

Master Wang's nephew was sent away.

The whole affair was hushed up.

Jasmin was too audacious.

Crimson would be so amused if she knew about it!

A booking for Mistress Jade!

A booking for Jade. I must get back to work.

Please stay, Master Hong.

Jasmin was well off with Master Wang.

Why have an affair with his nephew?

If Master Wang weren't leaving,

he could start calling on Jade.

That reminds me,

Mother asked me to discuss something with you.

What is it?

Jade started refusing callers when she returned from Shanjia Gardens.

We asked why,

and she said Young Master Zhu had promised to marry her.

We couldn't bear to disillusion her.

Can you ask Young Master Zhu

if he really wants to take her as a second wife?

If not, please tell Jade so that she can return to work.

Jade is such an ambitious girl.

Both of them must be dreaming!

Even if Young Master Zhu weren't engaged already,

how could Jade expect to be his first wife?

Do you agree with me?

What's that about being a first wife?

Why do so many flower girls want to be first wives?

Crystal thought of nothing else, and she died.

And then there was Celandine, and she failed.

And now there's another one!

Have you finished?

You've forgotten the lesson of the hookah.

You'll never be a match for Jade.

Young Master Zhu, take some rest.

I want to talk to you.

What about?

In July, at the Shanjia Gardens, we were talking, just like now.

Remember?

I remember.

You remember what we said?

Tell me!

We vowed to be man and wife, didn't we?

We said we'd die together if we couldn't live together.

I knew you wouldn't forget.

I've brought something.

What is it?

One cup for you and one for me.

Drink it.

What's in it?

Drink it.

Help! Help!

Somebody! Help!

Help!

What's happened?

What's the matter?

Calm down.

What's wrong?

Jade, what's happened?

Did you argue?

What happened?

Quick! You drank this?

What is it? Opium?

Quick! Qiaonan, come here!

You cruel and terrible man!

You vowed to die with me!

I'm taking you to hell!

What happened?

Did you drink any of it?

Quick, rinse your mouth with water!

You believe what callers tell you?

You're so naïve!

It's always nonsense! Rinse your mouth!

Even if Young Master Zhu weren't engaged, he'd never take you as his first wife!

First wife?

He vowed to die with me.

My uncle arranged the engagement, not me!

I had no say!

You pig! You're already engaged by your uncle!

- Why don't you die? - Which medicine?

Quick!

Drink this!

Let go of me.

Why did you do this?

Why?

Quick, drink it!

Quick, take the medicine!

Put it there, I'll help myself.

If he doesn't die, why should I?

I won't die before he does!

Such nonsense! Take the medicine!

Help her take it.

Are you all right?

Uncle.

Shuren, sit down.

I told Jade that Master Zhu arranged the engagement.

The young master was not to blame.

And I told her it doesn't matter if she's first or second wife.

She can marry the young master anyway. I'll be matchmaker.

But she refused. Get it right.

What on earth is she thinking?

Who has she been listening to?

Certainly not us.

Our advice would be to work hard, not create scenes like that one.

I think that what Jade did

was half because of Young Master Zhu

and half aimed at Treasure!

You may be right!

Shuren, did you once say

that you'd give Jade whatever she wanted?

Yes.

Then let me help you resolve this problem.

It will cost you at least 8,000, at most 10,000.

- Can you agree? - Yes.

Good, then bear with me a moment.

I'll think of a solution.

How, Uncle?

Don't ask.

If it works, I'll tell you.

Be patient.

Pearl, please tell Jade he'll pay 5,000 for her freedom

and 5,000 for her dowry.

Everyone can agree to that. What do you think?

It might not work.

I think it will!

The Zhu family is very rich.

Young Master Zhu, please stay for dinner.

Azhu, order some dishes.

Young Master and I will dine here.

Yes.

Put it to her and see what she says.

All right, I'll try.

What did she say?

Everything's settled, as you predicted.

5,000 for her freedom and 5,000 for her dowry.

Jade is afraid of looking ridiculous if things don't work out as agreed.

Never mind!

I'll take all the responsibility in this matter.

Then I'm sure all will be well.

Reassure her again.

Shuren, everything's settled.

5,000 to pay for her freedom and 5,000 for her dowry.

Jade's 'face' stays intact.

Your side spends a bit of money.

Everyone's happy.

Who will she marry, Uncle?

Don't ask.

Nothing's harder than arranging a marriage.

Anyway, you can leave it to me.

Uncle. Uncle, who will she marry?

I told you, marriages are hard to arrange!

Be grateful that we've found a solution!

Be patient!

Executive Producer HOU HSIAO-HSIEN

Producers YANG DENGGUI, ICHIYAMA SHOZO

Starring

TONY LEUNG CHIU WAI HADA MICHIKO

MICHELLE REIS, CARINA LAU JACK KAO

REBECCA PAN, WEI HSIAO-HUI FANG HSUAN

ANNIE SHIZUKA INOH HSU MING

ZHANG RUICHE, JIANG WEIGUO XIE YAN

Screenplay by CHU TIEN-WEN

Supervised by ZHONG ACHENG

Director of Photography MARK LEE

Production Design by HWARNG WERN-YING

Music by HANNO YOSHIHIRO

Sound Design by TU DUU-CHIH

Edited by LIAO CHING-SUNG

Associate Producers TSUKINOKI TAKASHI, OSAKA FUMIKO

Directed by HOU HSIAO-HSIEN