Original subtitles

Created & Directed by WONG KAR WAI

EPISODE 11

KING OF NANJING ROAD

Mr. Bao sure knows how to keep us on our toes.

No one would bat an eye if he came with ten people.

But coming by himself?

Now people are watching.

A large party just means dinner.

A single person?

Who knows what it means?

I know what it means.

SHENZHEN, 1992

Leave this place.

Remember the mistakes,

and forget everything else.

I won't...

I won't.

All there is to remember,

I'll remember.

I have a story to tell, of course,

but it's not really suitable, being my own secret.

Welcome in.

Welcome.

A special visit needs a special reason.

What would you like to eat?

Beef Chow Fun?

I'm not here to eat.

I'm here to ask a question.

Ask away.

Do you know Mr. A?

Who's that?

December 1st, 1990.

"Shenzhen"

The Shenzhen Stock Exchange was established,

"Time is money. Efficiency is life."

sparking a trading craze in Shenzhen,

and drawing the government's attention.

"Shenzhen Stock Exchange"

At the time, Shenzhen attracted the finance world's top talents.

Chief among them was a man whose leveraged trades moved markets.

His followers called him Mr. A.

"New Stock Subscription Lottery Form"

When new stocks flooded Shenzhen,

Mr. A and his private equity fund

suffered heavy losses.

I bought a portion of the stocks that Mr. A had to undersell.

No one knew what became of him.

"Shenzhen"

Mr. Bao has millions he clawed out of Shenzhen traders' hands.

They are enemies for life.

In the stock market,

proper revenge is all about returning you to nothing.

Li Li came from Shenzhen,

with mysterious ties to the traders there.

To know her relationship with Mr. A

is to know her ambitions.

Anything else?

That's all I wanted to know.

¥300,000

to ask this question?

Worth it.

I'm certain she knows Mr. A.

So what?

He's gone.

Don't flatter yourself.

The Shenzhen traders are after the whole Shanghai market, not you.

Focus on the export business.

Whatever they're up to

has nothing to do with you.

Stay focused.

She is coming for your soul.

My soul

is in Uncle Ye's safe.

You've seen their hand.

You can't afford to lose this game.

Go to Nanjing Road more.

Huanghe Road less.

Within six months,

I want to see that ¥300,000 you gave away

back on the books.

Or else,

I'm retiring.

It'll only take three months.

You're that confident?

There is a shipment of San Yang coming tonight.

By tomorrow it'll be all over Shanghai.

Tell Auntie Chub and her apprentice to come help out for a bit.

And do what?

Count money.

-Mr. Zhang. -Mr. Fan.

-Mr. Zhang. -Mr. Fan.

Like an answer to my prayers, you're here.

Along with 20,000 shirts.

-And the rest? -On their way.

Let's unload!

Unload!

Let's go.

I've reserved an advertisement for you on Friday's Shenmin Evening News.

We're also giving you 30 more counters.

Don't worry.

San Yang will definitely become an iconic Shanghai brand.

-Wonderful. -Here, sit.

Our friends from San Yang will eat first. We will do the unloading.

Okay!

Please eat.

Mr. Zhang.

I'll speak from the heart.

At first, when the launch was assigned to you,

I was worried.

But now I see how capable you are.

You're too kind. The best is still yet to come.

I never could've imagined this.

Truly.

There are so many clothing businesses in this region.

For me to have met Mr. Bao

and then Mr. Xu,

and now work alongside you?

This must be destiny.

You never know who or when,

but one chance encounter can change the course of your life.

February 20th, 1993.

With Nanjing Road's top three retailers,

"Hulian Department Store"

Hulian,

Shanghai No. 1,

"Shanghai Stock Exchange"

and Shanghai New World, all going public on the same day,

400,000 San Yang shirts

flooded Shanghai's top business districts.

Nanjing Road,

Huaihai Road

Xujiahui,

Sichuan North Road, and Wujiaochang.

All across Shanghai.

From Hangzhou to Shanghai is not even 200 km.

But San Yang has come a long way

just to get here.

Westlake Knitwear started out as a pair of scissors and a sewing machine.

From muddy streets to Nanjing Road,

we had just one goal.

Establish our own brand.

A homegrown brand that Chinese people

can all afford and be proud of.

San Yang will keep marching on and on!

Don't rush. One at a time.

Got it.

¥10 million!

"10 million yuan surpassed"

From that day on,

Montagut no longer monopolized Nanjing Road.

More people started wearing San Yang.

The importing of foreign brands

ignited a competitive drive in our own companies.

We wouldn't stop until we caught up to the rest of the world.

For a hundred years,

one of the signs on Nanjing Road

has always said,

"The customer is always right." [English idiom]

Without people,

"Top-selling Brand"

there are no roads.

This was Nanjing Road's ideology.

"San Yang Brand"

Congratulations, Mr. Fan.

Back then, in the clothing industry, there was a saying,

"the one who wins Beijing and Shanghai wins the country."

San Yang's success drew distributors

from all over the country.

Of course, where there is profit, there is war.

Mr. Bao,

let's keep the ball rolling

with these next shipments.

The government is pushing retail.

I'm afraid Mr. Fan will want to handle the distribution himself.

You need to be careful.

He should know there's a balance

of when to share the glory, and when to share the hardship.

Don't worry about it.

I'm in charge of these next shipments.

I'll make sure it goes well.

Do you want any cake?

I'm okay. You have it.

Goodbye.

Chocolates.

This many?

There's more.

One's enough.

Miss Wang,

let's get Mr. Bao and take more photos together.

You can ask him yourself in a bit.

Okay.

I'm worried the reporters will leave soon.

Miss Wang,

to be honest,

the two years I've been in Shanghai,

I can count on one hand the people I can call friends.

Would you believe it?

It's just you and Mr. Bao.

Do you know what I like about Mr. Bao?

What?

His elegance.

Shanghai is full of opportunities.

When people scramble for them,

many start to look unseemly.

Only Mr. Bao...

He always maintains his grace and poise.

I could never be like him.

You.

If you were a woman,

you'd already be trying to marry him.

You're kidding.

Everyone in Shanghai knows

the one person Mr. Bao can't live without is you,

Miss Wang.

Nonsense.

There's no one he can't live without.

It's always others chasing after him.

You're different.

¥10 million is just the beginning.

Thank you.

With a vision, with our two hands,

we can achieve our dreams.

We'll make Hulian, Nanjing Road, and Shanghai even better.

Goodbye.

-Say a few more words, Mr. Bao. -A few more words.

We must be thankful for this golden age!

Walking on Nanjing Road in 1993,

you would feel like the world itself would take flight.

We were blessed to live in

the right place at the right time.

Nothing was set.

Anything was possible.

Okay.

-Don't push. -Back up a bit.

Listen, everyone. I don't decide distribution rights.

-Talk to Uncle Ye, okay? -Where is Uncle Ye?

In the back.

Third floor.

Let's go.

-Let's go. -Don't run so fast.

I'm not even running. Excuse me.

Why are you running so fast?

You want to race?

What are you doing?

Modeling for San Yang?

Didn't you eat at the banquet?

Ten dishes at that place Can't compare to this bowl of porridge.

Ten dishes? Even 80 dishes couldn't compare.

The Tokyo Nights porridge

is a special order for a special guest.

On Nanjing Road, they may sell San Yang their way,

but on Jinxian Road, I sell them my way.

You want to sell San Yang here?

Well it doesn't have to be here.

But you come every day saying, "San Yang this, San Yang that."

You know how attentive I am.

I've already done all the prep work.

I even thought of slogans.

Make me a deputy sales manager,

and I can train sales staff for you right away. Sound good?

Just keep on managing Tokyo Nights. Don't worry about San Yang.

Don't you handle stocks and exports at the same time?

You don't think I can do it? I'm not capable?

You're more capable than me, okay?

Be a general manager.

Deputy manager is beneath you.

Don't eat so fast, you'll choke.

I've got your interests at heart.

Why hire and pay someone else?

Let's just keep the money to ourselves.

Delicious.

You don't even have to make me a manager.

I have to go.

I've already taken pre-orders.

How could you?

What?

You can't just take money from people.

Give it back.

You can help Miss Wang, but not me?

It's work.

What work?

-What work do you have at midnight? -I meant helping Miss Wang is work.

Don't run away. Come back here.

Don't you feel guilty?

Why not work with me too?

Don't we already have Tokyo Nights?

This isn't over!

Jerk.

Tao Tao.

Tao Tao.

Slow down.

I have to go.

It's too late.

I'm usually home by midnight.

Are you Cinderella?

You'll change back at midnight?

I won't change.

My wife will.

Fang Mei.

I have to quit Mahjong for a bit.

Just for a bit.

After that I'll be back. Okay? I'll see you.

What?

Be careful with that.

Ah Sao's key was a hand grenade.

The fuse was a bundle of hairy crabs.

THREE WEEKS AGO

What's so urgent?

I haven't even done my hair.

I have a good reason.

What?

Amazing mitten crabs came in today, I saved them for you.

Crabs?

What do I always say?

For women, looking good is important,

but eating good is essential.

Here, take these.

Eat one male and one female at the same time. Delicious.

Why didn't you bring more?

Everyone could eat together, it'd be fun.

I can pay.

Nonsense.

I gift you crabs then take your money?

I'm not that low class.

The issue is all the crabs are gone.

-Gone? -Gone.

The Grand Lisbon bought them all.

-I saved these four just for you. -They're that precious?

Not only that,

these aren't just crabs.

You know what they really are?

What?

They represent my feelings for you.

Idiot.

What shampoo did you use? It smells so good.

Excuse me.

Take them, quick.

Eating crabs alone is something special.

I'll be waiting.

"Yanqing RD. NO. 7 SAT 9:30 P.M."

What are you doing?

Where is No. 7?

This is No. 7.

This is No. 7?

-I'm looking for a friend. -Why don't you go in?

I'm just about to. Thank you.

I'm going in.

What's the time?

We need a fourth. We're just waiting on him.

I heard something.

Oh, there you are.

-Here I am. -Come on in.

Okay.

TWO WEEKS LATER

Once you clean up, go get some rest.

What the hell are you still here for?

I'm closing.

I barely was able to slip out.

I can't go back, Fang Mei's still up.

She'll be all over me. "Honey this, honey that." I can't take it.

I'd rather stay here.

You already drank all my tea.

Are you going to stay here after I leave?

What do you mean?

Are you kicking me out?

It's okay. You can leave.

I'll stay and enjoy my alone time.

I've come to realize

everyone needs a little alone time.

After a full day's work, you need to reflect on the past

and plan for the future.

I read a book recently. Carnegie's "Success".

-Have you read it? -Who?

Car...

Car-something.

Who is it?

Ah Sao?

Why are you here?

It's a little late.

Everyone was just here.

But now it's just me. What a coincidence.

Tao Tao,

you don't have to pretend with Ling Zi.

He asked me to come.

He said being alone was boring

and asked me to come chat.

Really?

Didn't you just say you wanted to be on your own?

What happened to alone time?

You women are so cruel,

humiliating me like this.

Oh it's just a chat right? Nothing wrong with that.

That's right. It's just a chat.

You're closing?

Yes, but that's okay.

You're welcome to stay. I'm alone anyway.

The girls went to bed.

I'm alone at opening, alone at closing...

I'm always alone.

You poor thing.

There are two of us at home,

but Fang Mei is as loud as five people.

It's like six people in one tiny house, and it's exhausting.

So I'll let her keep her own company.

Have some snacks.

Tao Tao, come give me a hand.

She's asking for you.

Ignore her.

Eat this.

This is really good.

Are you deaf?

Coming.

Don't go. I'll be right back.

Get inside.

How many times have I told you, you should--

Stay away from Ah Sao. I know.

You've told me three times, and I've answered three times.

There's nothing going on with us and that's as clear as water.

We only--

Keep each other company when nights are long?

Yeah, I know too.

Good.

You want company? Go home.

You already said Fang Mei is like five people. That's plenty of company.

It's too much.

Three,

two,

one.

See you tomorrow.

My bag!

-Can I at least say goodbye? -No.

It's too bad.

Tao Tao got called home by Fang Mei.

What's so urgent?

It's his wife. What else could it be?

Don't worry about him.

I'll keep you company.

Here.

Tao Tao said, 'When night falls, Fang Mei becomes restless.'

How silly!

I'll crash you.

Did you drink?

Dragon tail!

Still up, honey?

You tired?

I'm very tired.

Why? I'm not tired.

Come wash your feet.

Why don't we call it a night?

Call it?

I'm sorry,

really sorry.

Come here.

Come.

Honey.

Come here.

I'm really too tired today.

Come over here.

Why don't we wait till tomorrow?

Baby.

-Honey. -Baby.

-I didn't wash my feet. -So what? You won't use them!

Three spirits gather!

Could you please not laugh like that?

1986

Tao Tao and Fang Mei met at the market.

A man and a woman, who started chatting as they worked.

Tao Tao worked his magic

and brought their stalls together.

Not long after,

he married into Fang Mei's family.

1988

GULING ROAD

It was a shotgun wedding,

and tragedy struck the same day.

She had a miscarriage.

Afterward, Fang Mei always wanted a child,

while all Tao Tao wanted, was to fly free like a bird.

Get some rest.

Tao Tao thought meeting Ah Sao was like a second spring.

But instead of admiring the fresh flowers,

he had to tend the garden back home.

Tao Tao felt like a shell of a person, like a dead crab.

Look at you!

You're like a movie star.

There are six people waiting in the lobby.

All trying to get an in with you.

I've done the math.

Keep Mr. Fan in line.

Don't let him get ahead of himself.

When the next shipments come, we'll make money with our eyes closed.

Mr. Fan's head is in the clouds now.

There's only one person

who can keep him in line.

-What? -A lot of people are looking for you.

They're fighting to pay your bill.

Tell them to stop, I'll pay my own bill.

Got it.

Here she is.

Excuse me. Make way.

Excuse me.

I'll say this one more time.

Mr. Bao is San Yang's official dealer.

Please speak to him for all matters regarding distribution, thanks.

Miss Wang, Mr. Bao told us to talk to you.

He said you're in charge of distribution rights.

Just give us a chance.

Xiao Wang.

Mei Ping. Excuse me.

Excuse me.

-Miss Wang. -Why are there so many people?

The room at the end. I'll be there soon.

Okay.

First,

San Yang's export quota

all depends on Miss Wang.

Second,

she always follows the rules.

Sure, she likes the attention sometimes,

but she'll keep Mr. Fan in line.

Liking attention is a big weakness.

Do you know

how many Miss Wangs there are at No. 27?

They just aren't as lucky as she was,

meeting a Mr. Bao.

At first, when Mr. Fan brought San Yang,

he came to you.

I'm just here for lunch with my friends.

-For anything work related... -I'm just not so fortunate.

...come find me at No. 27 later.

One more thing.

I'm a public servant, so I don't take bribes.

If any of you try to pay my bill again, don't bother coming to No. 27.

Miss Wang.

Who wouldn't want this project?

Who wouldn't be jealous?

She has a target on her back.

What's this for? Take it back!

What happened?

I heard that anyone who tries to bring gifts to No. 27

Gets thrown out.

I had to try it.

Turns out it's true.

Can I help you?

I'm here to apologize

for any harm I caused you.

What are you doing?

You must let me buy you dinner.

I think we can join forces.

If some T-shirts can sell this well...

Look what I have.

Fur.

Feel it.

Fur?

Yes.

This is an animal product. Go to that department.

Miss Wang.

Right here. Talk to them.

Miss Wang.

Miss Wang.

Miss Wang.

We are coming up on the 21st century.

The 21st century doesn't lack products.

We lack concepts.

Miss Wang.

Miss Wang.

What?

Mr. Wei, it's cold. Put it on.

Cold? We're indoors.

Miss Wang.

Put it on.

Exactly. Let's keep it on.

Watch your step.

Mr. Wei.

Mr. Wei.

I'm sorry.

Mr. Wei, I'm sorry.

Miss Wang is always busy with Mr. Bao, so she has no time for Mr. Wei.

True.

We are both big clients after all.

I have some availability.

If Mr. Wei needs help,

I can get your project started for you.

What's your name?

Mei Ping.

Miss Mei, I have a rule.

"Go with the best, or don't go at all."

Miss Mei, good luck.

Okay.

Manager Pan,

I want to reserve every room.

I never accepted any of your offers.

Someone help me.

Someone help!

No need to double check.

There's so many people.

Is Li Li there?

Tell her to come to the phone.

I need to ask her when her Shenzhen friends are coming.

I'm so busy right now,

I'm worried I won't have time for them.

Taxi!

These people downstairs are all here for Mr. Fan,

They want distribution rights.

That's a lot of customers among these textile industry folks.

We won't get ahead

just going after such obvious money.

You're in charge of the Sky Room tonight.

From From now on, pay 120% attention.

Remember every word I say.

One small mistake

might cost us the whole restaurant.

Who are these guests tonight?

Number one,

don't ask things you don't need to know.

Anything you see or hear,

keep it secret no matter what.

Number two,

only guests escorted by Manager Pan are allowed in the Sky Room.

Beepers and mobile phones aren't allowed.

Understood.

Uncle Ye,

Li Li from The Grand Lisbon left this for Mr. Bao.

Goodbye, Uncle Ye.

That day, San Yang's parade

was rained on by a pair of fish.

Are you nuts?

-How could you accept a woman's key? -Why not?

Have you gone?

I feel as if my soul has.

I'm all sweaty.

Tao Tao.

Tao Tao, is that you?

Give it back to her.

I never actually went. I can't even think about it?

The universe pities me.

Fang Mei shut the door on me, but then a window opened.

Ah Sao's key is that window.

Be sensible.

You're digging your own grave.

You know me.

I'll never go. I don't have the nerve.

However,

I'll always have the key.

When I turn 50,

or 60,

or 100,

I can always look through that window

and feel happy.

You're a child.

How many keys do you have?

None.

What?

Impossible.

Where did you hide the key?

-Fang Mei will kill you if she finds it. -Don't jinx it.

Where did I hide it?

My hiding place can't--

Hey! Who told you to move it?

Where did it go?

Impossible.

Ah Si,

are these all my butterfish?

-Yes. -What? That's impossible.

Oh yeah, your wife took one today.

For dinner.

Whose key is this?

Why is there a key?

-Can I see? -Start talking!

What's going on today? I'm the only one here.

Where are Tao Tao and Mr. Ge?

Tao Tao gave away his soul playing Mahjong.

What about Mr. Ge?

He's not seeing anyone.

What if he had a heart attack?

He would have said something if he weren't coming.

Don't be ridiculous.

Xiao Qin,

go check on Mr. Ge.

Okay.

See?

You're here.

Are you having a heart attack?

What's going on?

Look at him.

What's wrong?

Fang Mei came by.

Looking for me?

TWO HOURS AGO

Do you all need tailoring?

Are you from Suzhou?

Yes. Are you from Suzhou too?

I'm here to beat the woman from Suzhou.

Beat her up!

-What's the matter? -Help, Mr. Ge. Help!

-Get back here. -Help, Mr. Ge!

You can't do this.

-You can't-- -Mr. Ge.

-Fang Mei! Goodbye. -Come back.

-Did you rent this room to her? -Yes.

Good. Here, tear his eyes out.

Come here.

I'll go get help.

I'll go get help.

-Where's Tao Tao? -Fang Mei is looking for him too.

No one knows where he's hiding.

-Enough is enough. -Running away?

-Don't make me the bad guy. -You aren't?

Of course not, I never touched her.

-Never? -Never.

-Come over here. Did you flirt with her? -No!

Have you done stuff with her?

-No. -No?

I don't believe you.

-Have you been to her room? -No!

-Have you thought about it? -Yes!

Yes?

What? I can't even think about it?

I'll skin you alive.

You thought about it?

Kneel.

Who started it?

Speak!

It must have been that witch.

She seduced you, didn't she?

Lift it.

-Lift it! -Enough?

I know you're an honest person, so there's no way you started it.

Say it and I'll forgive you.

It was me! It was all me! How about it?

It was you? I'll kill you!

God.

I can't live like this.

I want a divorce!

I have no doubt about it.

Even my ghost will haunt you.

I was wrong, honey.

Enough.

Everyone can hear you.

I'm going to kill myself.

Hello?

Something happened to Tao Tao.

Is he dead?

This is serious.

What?

I'm not dead yet.

What?

What are you looking at?

I've had enough.

What's wrong with you people?

Stop drinking!

What are you doing?

What am I doing? Look at yourself.

How many times did I tell you?

Steer clear of Ah Sao. Now look!

Let me tell you, I was lucky to escape unharmed.

Her friend was huge!

She was choking me like this.

What are you talking about?

I'm just saying.

I don't understand you.

You have a wife at home.

You won't divorce her.

Ah Sao's gone now, and you're here crying.

What do you want?

You want her to stick around and keep flirting with you?

-Are you stupid? Look at yourself. -You met at Tokyo Nights, right?

You had some fun and now it's over.

-Good riddance. -Exactly.

Enough.

Okay.

Stop crying.

Ah Sao moved out.

Forget about her.

There's a writer named Stendhal

who had these words on his tombstone

"Amo"?

It's French. You wouldn't get it.

"He lived,

wrote,

and loved."

You

have lived

a full life.

You're right.

Why are you drinking again?

What's wrong with you?

Don't just stay here.

If Fang Mei comes here, she may trash Tokyo Nights too.

M No offense,

neither you, nor Mr. Bao are careful with women's feelings.

I wouldn't want any of it.

Enough.

Ling Hong is right.

But Ah Bao has other things going for him.

Someone like me?

Worthless.

So if you ask me?

Better to be single.

I don't care if love is real or fake.

Chicken feet and liquor are real. That's enough for me.

What's the point

of wondering if something is real or not?

If it's in front of you, it's real.

If it left you, it's not.

Do you understand?

I understand.

You're right.

All of you were right, okay?

I was wrong.

I hurt people.

Hit me.

Life is short.

If it's not working, get a divorce.

Tao Tao is all talk.

He doesn't have the nerve to rebel.

He wouldn't dare leave Fang Mei.

You two are peas in a pod.

He's looking for a mother.

You need a Madame.

I need a Madame?

The Madames always come to me.

She's sending a message.

Most river fish eat grass.

But this catfish eats meat.

What's your plan?

I won't take it.

I'm giving it back.

Madame,

it's almost 8:00 p.m..

We still haven't heard from Mr. Bao.

Wait.

He'll come.

Mr. Fan was just asking for him too.

This way. Watch your step.

Mr. Fan.

Manager Pan.

Welcome.

Business looks good today.

Are you selling water heaters?

No.

China Macro is doing a promotion here.

Is Mr. Bao coming tonight?

I'm not sure.

Why not wait for him inside?

No. I'm not meeting him today.

I have an appointment. Across the street.

Mr. Zhang from Southern Investments is here.

He keeps asking what you're working on with Mr. Bao.

He sure is nosy.

How can I help you, Mr. Bao?

I'm returning something.

Madame.

I got it.

It was a gift.

I didn't mean to inconvenience you.

You even brought it back yourself.

You're not a fishmonger.

This fish

must have a deeper meaning.

Some discussions aren't for Huanghe Road.

Do you know why breeders raise salmon with catfish?

The catfish attacks the salmon,

and swimming away to escape makes the salmon fat.

I don't eat fish. Too many bones.

Mr. Bao, are you worried I'll be a second Golden Phoenix?

Who's that?

Ah Bao and Li Li shared a gaze.

Ah Bao said, "All can be solved.

There is plenty of time."