Original subtitles

The Terrorizers

It's almost daybreak!

I'll be done soon.

Did I bother you?

Take this to the wash.

It's gotten warm.

What's wrong? Can't sleep again?

I want to rewrite it.

The closer the dead line the less inspired I get.

Another rewrite?

I've never seen you this distressed.

Relax.

Writing a novel shouldn't be this life-consuming.

Thought it was a small gambling den.

But they are armed with guns.

- How many pieces do they have? - Not sure.

Should've called the Assault squad.

I did. Should be there soon.

Who blew the whistle?

It was the landlord.

Freeze!

Spread 'em out!

Don't move!

It happened on the first day of spring.

If you truly feel for the seasons,

you'll discover that changes are merely endless rebirths of the past.

This spring, it is not different.

To this married couple

their most serious problem was...

Chief died of a heart attack last night.

We heard.

We were just talking about it.

What a surprise.

Well, I sort of suspected something would come up.

But I didn't expect it to be a heart attack though.

Didn't you notice he was kind of maniac lately?

His life was so boring.

Small incidents would turn into big troubles for him.

I heard he had an affair with another woman

and his wife found out.

It's all hearsay though.

Well, I doubt it.

You can never tell.

He really smoked too much.

A carton only lasted him 2 or 3 days.

What I'm concerned about is his family.

Like his children's educational funds, the funeral, etc...

Well, I feel the late Chief had made great contributions to the hospital...

and I feel from now on...

We do have our policies regarding all these.

We'll get the most that we can.

Yes, yes. I see...

By the way, who has seniority between you and Jing?

Well, we started at the same time.

After graduation,

we job-hunted together and joined this hospital at the same time.

I was like him: No family connections, totally on our own.

I like my job. It's stable...

I had an offer elsewhere with much higher pay...

But I felt it was less secure,

so I turned it down.

I'm used to this job

and I deeply believe if I work hard

I'll be rewarded with career advancements.

Sir, are you saying that...

Oh, nothing I just wondering.

Anything else?

No, nothing.

Thank you, Sir.

Sir, there's this one thing...

Since the Chief has passed away...

I felt obliged to let you know...

about the scandal of cheating at the last open bidding.

The late Chief shouldn't be held responsible.

It was Jing.

Why didn't your late Chief tell me?

Jing's my good friend.

I shouldn't have said anything.

Ridiculous!

One shouldn't protect a friend...

when a dead man has to shoulder the blame to his grave.

That's exactly how I feel.

I'll look into this right away.

Oh... please take care of the late Chief's workload.

You'll be the acting Chief or no?

Yes... of course.

Thank you, sir.

Do you need someone to teach you a lesson?

Why don't you leave? Just like your father!

And don't come back!

You've changed...

A lot.

No. I'm not sure about that.

Why don't you come work for me?

Am I qualified?

Qualified or not, I want you.

I still remember how good you were.

If not you, then who?

That was a long time ago.

I haven't worked for years.

You've been writing since then?

After 3 years, this is all I've got to show for it.

I know this book.

I also know that I was in one of your short stories.

Shiao Shen got divorced.

He left his old job

and came out on his own.

I went to his new office today.

He asked me to go work for him.

He even said it's really a waste

to have someone like me at home.

It might not be a bad idea.

It's always nice to have jobs come to you for a change.

I'm about to become Section Chief.

What about Jing?

He got himself in trouble.

Some big, big trouble.

Fucking bitch!

What the...? You're still alive?

You're the only one that got away?

Heard it was the landlord who snitched.

Old Y's too much running tables without giving the landlord a piece.

Didn't even pay rent!

Of course you can't find them.

They've all skipped town.

Some have gone down south.

Shun? Shun's in the slammer.

Old Y's put away for life.

Are you looking to hideout?

Come over here then.

Crowded places are the best.

Let me tell you:

The more crowded a place is the safer it is.

Don't you get it, dummy?

It is now 11:31 and 10 seconds.

It is now 11:31 and 20 seconds.

It is now...

-

No, you made a mistake!

Well, this is the right address.

The girl on the phone ordered 50 lunches and said you're filming a movie here.

Does it look to you like we are filming a movie?

Take them away!

Get out of here!

Movies my ass...

Young man, looking for a flat?

Come, I'll let you rent it cheap.

No.

What do you mean, no? Then what are you here for?

Checking the meters?

Fuck, ever since the shoot out

no one wanted to rent this flat.

Damn.

People even started playing jokes on me.

3 fire trucks came last night, said this place is on fire.

When will this end, goddammit!

"Don't look for me. I'm leaving for good."

It's too late.

You're the only one that cared.

I'm so hurt, so very hurt...

I don't want to live anymore!

I've already taken a bottle of sleeping pills.

I am not joking, I don't want to live.

There's no sense in living.

There's no point.

Thank you... Good bye.

Hello, give me Dick!

Don't give me shit.

If you don't get him I'll break your arms and legs!

I don't know what to do anymore.

You know, at first,

I counted on some writing skills,

some real-life experiences,

whether they happened to me, to my friends.

Characters, plots, that I heard about...

I jotted them down in my notebook.

But it's become so meaningless to write this way:

I feel I've used up my emotions.

My past 30 years...

I've used up it all so quickly.

Now I only know how to write about things between man and wife.

I can't think of anything else...

because my world has become smaller and smaller.

Do you understand?

I don't know how others see your work.

When I read your stories...

I see you...

of the past.

We become youthful again.

These things do not fade with time.

I've always had faith in you.

What are you thinking about?

Nothing.

Does Li Jong know about our past?

You've never mentioned to him about your past relationships?

He has never asked me.

Then he really trusts you.

Yes.

No, that's not it.

What I mean is... That's not trust...

He never seemed to have cared.

You've got me all confused.

Your ex-wife, what was she like?

I didn't realize how hard it was for you to take my sudden wedding announcement...

until I read that story of yours.

It gave me a deep sense of guilt.

Novels are novels. Don't take it too seriously.

No need to confuse it with reality.

Don't see me out.

Better find someone else to work for you.

Don't waste your time on me.

I have nothing to do with the open bidding.

Listen, I've been to Personnel Office yesterday.

The director has told me all about it!

He just told me that...

Keep your mouth shut!

Listen to me.

You, be careful! I...

Shit, I quit!

I'm leaving today.

They put me under investigation.

They said I cheated on the last open bidding.

I don't even know the date when the bids are opened.

Now that the Chief's dead who knows what actually happened?

It must be that punk kid who framed me.

Besides you, he's the only one that knows the details of it.

You think so?

Director is holding me responsible.

Shit. Just because the Chief died...

doesn't mean he was perfect.

I'm not going to be the scapegoat!

What?

You're smoking again?

Didn't you quit?

It's OK.

Take it easy...

You can always rewrite it tomorrow.

You haven't been drafted yet?

So where have you been hiding?

The whole world's been here looking for you.

Your girlfriend was here.

Your old man was asking for you too.

Well, not bad, huh?

I told you it was worth the trip.

My stuff is the best in town.

I've no money, bill my old man.

Come on, your old man told me he's not going to pay your bills.

Hello.

He's gone to work. Who's this?

Yes, I'm his wife...

Who are you?

So he's not home.

I have something urgent to talk to him about.

Actually maybe it's better if I talk to you directly.

There's something to be settled.

Could we... could we meet?

Name a place, and I'll be there.

Hello.

Hello.

Oh... it's you.

How come the study is so messy?

Where's Li-Jong?

I haven't seen him for 2 or 3 days.

He might have taken leave.

Sir, someone's here to see you.

You piece of shit. Where have you been hiding?

How long has it been?

My wife hasn't been home for 3 days.

Have you asked her friends?

I don't want people to know.

Not even her family.

What can I do?

Unless it's a kidnapping or something how can I be of help?

Has there been anything unusual about her recently?

For instance...

Besides being unhappy with her writing...

nothing really unusual.

Editor's not in until 6 or 7. There's no one at the newspaper.

It was the editor.

He said he talked to her.

Said she may be somewhere finishing her novel,

maybe she needs quiet to concentrate.

I feel much better now.

She'll be back in a few days.

Awhile back, she wanted a child:

It didn't work out.

She was quite depressed...

and started writing all day.

I went along with it.

Lately, she seems to have grown a bit restless again.

No one believed she'd marry you.

I guess it must be my fault.

I knew she likes fancy things...

and a more comfortable lifestyle.

Luckily, I'm about to be promoted to Section Chief.

Maybe it will help the situation.

We'll see.

Buddy, you need to call more often.

Come by only when you need help. What am I to you?

You're home.

How come you left without a word,

not even a phone number.

Did you finish it?

Just at the deadline.

What are your chances of winning?

I'm happy enough

just to have finished it.

We can clean up this mess finally...

I wouldn't dare touch it while you weren't here.

No need to bother. All I need is a few books.

Doesn't it bother you, looking at this mess?

I'm moving out.

I've already found a place.

I'm moving out tonight.

I need new surroundings.

A change of lifestyle.

I've already started working.

I've given up writing.

I'm not the type to begin with.

If it was going to be like this, why bother giving up such a good job...

to stay home and write in the first place.

What have I done wrong?

I have always gone along with your decisions.

Look at this house. Every bit and piece you chose.

Say something!

Talk to me!

What is the matter with you lately?

If you know it was going to end up like this...

why did you bother?

When we got married you promised to give up writing.

Who knows what got in to you.

First you quit your job,

then locked yourself into writing.

It was driving me up the wall!

I'll tell you, I wouldn't even dare to take one step inside that study of yours!

You know,

if it wasn't for the baby,

this would have happened long ago.

I was so sick and tired of my job.

I was afraid that my whole life would pass by like that.

You know, when I locked myself in the study,

thinking up those pretty lines,

it was to forget those painful memories,

to forget about the lost baby.

If you don't understand by now...

You'll never understand!

Every time, you misunderstand me or blame me.

Maybe I wasn't fair to you...

but I know what kind of life I need.

When we got married...

I thought it would be a new start.

To try and have a baby

was also a new start.

To try writing again

was yet another new start.

Leaving you now

is also a new start.

What good is all this?

Do you understand?

All you know are those routines.

Repetitions, day in, day out.

Do you know why I lock myself in there all day?

It's the only way to hide from those repetitions!

Do you understand? You don't.

This is the biggest difference between you and me.

This is why...

Remember that day when cops were busting up this place?

I saw you leap from the balcony.

I called the ambulance for you.

Later, when I went to the hospital, you had already left.

So you were the one

who sent those firetrucks, lunches...

And the young housewife...

Is it really fun to play tricks on others like this?

Is it really fun to take pictures of others?

Hey, what I do is serious stuff!

The guy at the physical said I have perfect eyesight.

Once I serve the army, I'd make a top grade marksman.

I've a friend who was a loud mouth.

Later, he became popular singer.

I suppose I'll become a photographer one day.

This is a darkroom.

How many days have I been here?

I've no idea.

Is it day or night out there?

I don't know.

I bet it must be daytime.

Want to bet?

- You lost. - You lost.

I'll bring your pictures with me to the army,

I'll write you every day.

Stay with me. Wait for me.

Going to Kaohsiung? What are you going to do there?

3,000 dollars.

Take it or leave it.

3,000 dollars, take it or leave it?

It's plenty for you to spend in Kaohsiung.

It's plenty for you to spend in Kaohsiung.

You want to play tough? If you play tough, it's 2,000!

If you play tough, it's 2,000.

Say something!

Don't just stare!

Don't try to play tough. Big Shun is now locked up!

Say something. Don't forget, Big Shun is now...

I heard Shun got out of jail.

Young master, you've come back.

I'm broke. Where else can I go?

This came a few days ago.

DRAFT NOTICE

I've heard you're having troubles at home lately... is that true?

No, it was nothing...

Really?

I also heard your wife left you. Is that true?

No,

she needs a lot of peace and quiet.

She needs concentration for her work.

She's a writer... a female writer.

What does she usually write about?

I'm not sure.

I never read novels.

Hello?

The editor was just on the phone.

Said the Writer's Award has been announced.

I've won First Prize.

Gee, does this mean you'll switch professions again?

First I thought for me

to become a good novelist was impossible.

I was almost going to give up.

The story is about an ordinary couple,

then there is a crank call.

The wife only hears the voice of this woman

without being able to see her in person.

I was trying hard to explore some new approach.

I guess I was influenced by Japanese suspense literature.

Try to write in a honest and sincere way.

I've seen this face before, I know I have!

Oh, her! She won First Prize with this novel.

Not bad.

So... she's a writer.

"Notes from a Marriage." What's it about?

It's about a couple.

They have some problems,

not that happy together.

Then the wife gets a call from a woman...

it gets painful... Everything changes...

The husband can't figure out what happened...

He's under a lot of pressure

goes nuts and murders his wife

before killing himself.

Ends everyone's torture.

One member of the jury said,

"The story is so real" and suspenseful

"that it sends chills up your spine."

It was completely unexpected.

So... now... Do you think you'll move home?

I just can't figure this out.

We now both are doing well in our careers.

Why is...

I've said all I had to say...

and you still don't understand.

Let's not waste each other's time anymore.

I don't mean to hurt you.

This you must understand.

It's only a novel!

And you're letting it consume you!

It's terrible!

And I'm the only one on earth that knows what actually happened!

Novels are fiction. They aren't real!

So now you know novels aren't real.

So, what do you think you can do?

OK...

No one's at the newspaper.

They don't open till 6 or 7.

Still no answer.

Let's go.

Don't get involved.

Hello?

She's not in.

Who is this?

Who are you?

Name a place, I'll be there.

Are you tied up?

What's up? Excuse me a minute.

Have you been seen these two before?

Sure, I know him well. They call him Shun in the streets.

And this here Eurasian girl is his woman...

They call her the White Chick.

What about them? Where did you get these?

A young man called up,

said we should meet immediately.

He said the White Chick had something to do with my wife leaving me.

He said it's all in this novel.

Novel? What novel?

This one here it just won First Prize.

I haven't read it.

No kidding.

Let me finish with the novel first.

You go ahead.

Have a seat.

Do you know where to find these two then?

Mr. So-and-so... Exports Manager.

What is this?

What is this?

Don't you understand?

She's my sister! What were you going to do with her?

You better wise up, man!

She's under-aged.

She's only 14! Go ahead, call the cops!

You didn't tell me.

How would I know?

Things like this don't happen.

It's that girl who played the joke on you.

I've even found her for you.

Here she is. Look at her!

Long time no see.

I'm here to have a talk with her to discuss a few things.

Come in.

Wait for me in the conference room.

Maybe that phone call made me suspect you,

but that's not the point! Don't you understand?

Novels are novels.

Can't you tell fiction from reality.

Shut up!

You're coming back with me!

Hey, cool it!

Sorry, I'm late.

Got tied up on the way over.

The director has just announced his decision this morning.

He picked me to be the new section chief.

The director's not in.

I'll page you once he returns, OK?

No, I'll just wait for him.

He refuses to leave. He insists to stay and wait.

What are we going to do?

When did you get here?

I'm here to let you know:

The director made his decision

on who's going to be the new Section Chief.

He picked me.

From now on, I'm officially the Section Chief!

That's great! You've been waiting for this a long time.

It calls for a celebration. Let's have a drink.

Boy, finally, you're in a good mood.

I was real fortunate. My superiors appreciated my hard work,

especially the director.

From now on, I'll work ever harder.

For a man, a successful career is the most important thing,

all the rest is meaningless.

So my wife left me...

To hell with her. Who gives a shit?

For this, I was real lucky...

or I would have lost everything.

Less talk... Drink up.

Sir, about the wife's boyfriend...

he's in stable condition

after emergency surgery.

The wife is also at the hospital.

She's still in a state of shock.

You better cover the hospital.

I bet he's bound to show up.

Have we met somewhere before?

You think so?

Damn.

What's wrong?