Original subtitles

Created & Directed by WONG KAR WAI

EPISODE 14

FLOWER OF ROUTE 13

1990

Ling Zi moved back to Shanghai in 1990.

She rented an attic apartment on the third floor on Jinxian Road.

On the day she finished moving in,

she invited me over for lunch.

Who are you looking for?

I may have the wrong place.

Are you looking for the new tenant?

Yes.

Ah Bao.

Over here.

That's her.

Are you done? Food is ready.

I'm replacing these tiles for you.

Just get someone to water-proof it later.

What's taking so long?

You need help?

I'm coming up.

Don't, it's dangerous.

Ling Zi, having mitten crabs?

-Have you eaten yet, Mrs. Zhang? -Not yet.

It's so loud.

Ever since I moved in, I've had to hear that singing everyday.

It sounds nice.

Probably an opera fan.

I hate songs about Lin Daiyu.

She doesn't keep her man, and she dies alone.

That'll never happen to you.

Of course not.

I'm telling you,

plenty of men are into me.

But if I'm into a man, he'll never escape.

Wipe your hands.

I meant I'll visit you on your deathbed,

so you won't die alone.

Save it.

You're not so special,

and your standards are too high.

I'll have to be the one to visit you.

What do you mean, "NOT SPECIAL"?

All I'm saying is,

men like you will still be alone at age 40.

You're one to talk.

Worry about yourself first.

What?

You trying to get on my nerves?

I won't live here forever.

One day, I'll meet my Prince Charming

and move into a mansion.

And if you don't?

If I don't, I'll just stay here with you.

I can handle a leaky roof.

I'm 37. Year of the Horse. I have three years until I'm 40.

Weren't you Year of the Sheep?

You remembered wrong.

Done.

Not bad.

You've fixed your girlfriend's roof before?

Don't be silly.

The view is nice.

You've enjoyed the view from your girlfriend's roof then.

Is she pretty?

Yes.

Prettier than me?

Of course.

Unlikely.

Where is she?

In Shanghai?

She turned into a goldfish

and swam away.

Nonsense.

Thinking about goldfish on a roof.

Unheard of.

When I was little,

I liked to climb to the roof with Betty

and sit on the warm tiles.

Here, we could see half of Luwan District.

Betty was my neighbor.

She liked to play the piano.

We were just kids,

but those afternoons became everlasting memories.

Time flows like water,

bringing people and memories, only to carry them away.

Over the years, I lost Betty, along with so much more.

It's a good thing.

She was a burden anyway.

Now that she left on her own,

let's hope she doesn't return.

We can sell Tokyo Nights or just close it down.

Cut our losses.

A person is not a stock,

to be sold off when convenient.

So you want keep losing money on Tokyo Nights for the rest of your life?

If it weren't for Ling Zi

and Tokyo Nights,

there'd be no Mr. Bao.

"There'd be no Mr. Bao without Ling Zi."

"There'd be no Mr. Bao without Miss Wang."

And no Mr. Bao without Uncle Ye.

Another personal debt of yours.

What is this?

The crybaby got reassigned.

She's in for some hard times.

A dockworker?

It's a test.

For how long?

Can she return to No. 27?

It's all up to her attitude.

That won't work.

She started at the Trade Office right out of college.

She's only held desk jobs.

She won't survive in the factory.

Is there any other way?

I've thought through every outcome.

Explained to her what needs to be done.

Best case scenario,

she's allowed back at No. 27.

Section chief's off the table,

but she can still work there.

What did she say?

She...

wants to know where you stand.

If they let me back at No. 27,

I won't be able to do anything associated with Mr. Bao.

That's how it should be.

If I want to keep our relationship,

I'd have to leave No. 27.

Miss Wang, what are you saying?

Uncle Ye,

I need to see him one more time.

Just once

I need to ask him.

Ask him what?

Does Mr. Bao still need Miss Wang by his side?

If he does, I can leave No. 27.

I'll go wherever he goes.

You can't be seen together.

Tomorrow night, 8:30.

The ribs and rice cakes shop.

If he comes and I see him,

that will be his answer.

7:30 P.M.

Mr. Bao, headed to Huanghe Road?

Not today.

Don't lose all your tip money on Mahjong.

I got it.

8:00 P.M.

What a surprise to see you here.

I'm not invited?

The food looks good.

What are you doing here?

Oh you're here. Explains the good food.

Oh stop it.

8:30 P.M.

No way!

What a way to lose.

9:30 P.M.

Hold it.

What?

I'm sorry.

What?

Pay up.

What kind of play is that?

What's wrong with you?

11:00 Р.М.

Leaving already?

Want to go bowling?

My treat. I won so much tonight.

Great.

Not great.

Time for bed.

It's so early.

I'll be going then.

You're so annoying.

I'll go with you.

Something's wrong with him.

How? He seemed to have a good time.

For as long as I've known him,

only once

have I seen him like this.

When?

1987.

Before I met Miss Wang,

I once loved someone completely.

1978

My first date with her

was at Hong Hot Pot in Caojiadu.

There was only one big pot.

Only ten could eat at a time,

and others had to wait in line.

Be patient.

No open seats.

It's full.

Who are you?

Do you know Big Sis?

I'm her friend, Ah Bao.

-Here, have this. -You can't bribe him.

-Thank you. -That's bribery!

Excuse me, is this seat open?

Sorry, it's for my girlfriend.

There's no one here.

She'll be here soon.

Xuezhi.

Xuezhi, here!

-You done yet? -She's here.

Sit.

Hungry?

I'll go order for us.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Here, you couldn't clearly see the other guests sitting around the pot.

Their faces would be shrouded in the steam.

I couldn't see her clearly then.

1987

Ten years later,

I still couldn't see her clearly,

but I clearly saw myself.

HONG HOT POT, CAOJIADU

She came back that year, newly divorced.

What is that look?

Don't recognize me anymore?

Don't be silly.

You look like a proper Hong Kong native.

It's been ten years after all.

How are you?

Not bad.

Still on your own?

I'm used to it.

I'm doing business now.

What kind of business?

Whatever makes money.

I started a company.

Here's my card.

You go by Betty now?

It's easier for business.

People would ask for my English name.

I've only ever known one English name.

Betty.

And it just felt right.

A different name for a different place.

Shanghai and Hong Kong

can remain separate.

To me,

Xuezhi is Xuezhi.

Betty is Betty.

How long are you back for?

I'm going to Suzhou tomorrow, and then Wuxi and Yangzhou.

I'll be back in a week,

but I'm going straight to the airport back to Hong Kong.

When will you be back again?

No clue.

I debated a long time before deciding to come back.

Why?

Because...

I knew I'd have to see you.

I hoped to see you doing well,

but not too well.

Not better than me.

I'd regret leaving.

I don't want any regrets.

I didn't know why

she'd say such hurtful things after so much time apart.

Only six years later would I learn the reason.

Always move forward.

That's what I thought back then.

That's still what I think now.

Coming back put me at ease.

Now I'm sure I was right ten years ago.

Give me another ten years.

I'll prove just how wrong you were.

Look.

Compare Xuezhi now with Xuezhi ten years ago.

The difference is all in this number.

This is what I make in a month.

What about you?

These next ten years,

I'll only make money faster and faster.

How will you catch up?

That's for me to figure out.

They say the moon is never as beautiful as its reflection in water.

I'd imagined our reunion countless times,

but I never once imagined this.

1978

CAOJIADU

From Tilanqiao to Caojiadu.

Watch out.

When I met Xuezhi,

she was only 20 years old.

She sold tickets on the Route 13 tram.

People called her the Flower of Route 13.

Back then, I was a worker at the Caoyang Clock Factory

living in company housing.

Every noon shift,

I specifically took this tram

just to catch a glimpse of Xuezhi.

The tram is moving.

-Please stand to the sides. -Have dinner with me.

Want to see a movie together?

In 1978, Route 13 went from Caojiadu to Tilanqiao.

A distance of 9.7 km across 16 stops.

A ticket cost ¥0.13,

and the round trip took an hour.

I would accompany her the whole way.

At night, her face glowed

like morning snow in the lamplight.

I finished the book.

Already?

-Yes. -Next shift!

Next shift!

Get on.

See you tomorrow.

See you tomorrow.

When she worked the front,

she'd be close to the driver,

so we couldn't talk freely.

We could only steal glances.

Later in the night, she worked the back,

and we could talk the whole way.

I didn't count the stops we passed.

I didn't notice the scenery changing.

But I remember

the stamps we collected,

the words she wrote,

the plum blossoms she liked,

and the scent of her hair.

Love.

L

O

V

E

Love.

Love.

Was that right?

I thought it would last forever.

But in the end,

I reached the destination, and found myself alone.

In 1978,

Xuezhi moved to Hong Kong with family.

Soon, she got married.

In another ten years, we'll see.

See you in ten years.

I finally understood.

Xuezhi's tram took me back to the past.

That night,

I got off Route 13,

and boarded an express train to a new age.

The ticket price was ten years.

MAY, 1993

YANGPU DISTRICT LOADING PORT

Good morning, sir.

Which of you is Miss Wang?

You sure raised your hand high.

High heels.

Long curls.

All morning,

I got multiple calls telling me

to take good care of you.

I'm confused here.

It's not like you're missing a limb.

Who is Mr. Bao?

Is he a big deal?

Whatever you did at No. 27. That won't fly here.

Here we work hard.

Why are you here?

Internal Affairs sent me here to learn.

Internal Affairs sent me here to learn?

Nothing better to do, huh?

Here.

Get to work!

You can "learn" in here.

By 9:00 a.m. tomorrow,

all the trash in here needs to be gone.

It better be spotless.

I'll come back to check.

Let's go.

I heard you like European pastries, so I brought a bunch from Kaisiling.

Whichever is your favorite, I'll get more of next time.

Please don't.

I appreciate the gesture, but take them back.

I don't want any rumors about us exchanging gifts.

Then you'll get in trouble too.

They're just pastries, Uncle Ye.

Is Mr. Bao out?

Yes.

I know Mr. Bao and Miss Wang are friends

and helped build San Yang from the ground up.

Now that I took over as the contact from No. 27,

I'm sure Mr. Bao will need time to adjust.

I understand.

At No. 27, I may not be the smartest,

but I'm the most eager to learn.

Uncle Ye, please teach me.

Don't be so modest.

You're on track for section chief now.

You need to act like one,

so others will follow your lead.

I'm not cut out for section chief.

You need to seize the day.

I've been around a long time, so I have an eye for these things.

Once San Yang gets brand certification, you'll be the only candidate.

Have some tea.

Uncle Ye, what do you think I can still improve on?

Please give me some pointers.

First, you need to dress stylishly.

Even in crowds, people should notice you at first glance.

Second,

act like the main character.

Uncle Ye, why are you so polite to someone like her?

I'm not polite to her.

I'm polite to the Trade Office.

Without Miss Wang,

we need someone else's help.

It doesn't matter who it is.

I have no beef with No. 27.

Let's ask for someone else. Anyone else is fine.

Business isn't personal.

You can't pick who you work with.

I can't pick who I work with.

Fine.

But I can at least pick who I'll never work with.

Have some.

I don't like sweets.

Excuse me,

where's Miss Wang?

Who?

Wang Mingzhu.

Oh, curly hair?

Curly hair? She has a name.

Anyone here?

-Hello, ma'am. -What do you want?

Where's Wang Mingzhu?

Miss Wang.

Miss Wang, is that you?

What are you doing here?

It's really you.

Poor thing. They put you here?

Fang Mei made chilled wontons and had me bring you some.

How does she know I like chilled wontons?

I told her.

Don't worry.

Mr. Bao doesn't know about this.

Then whose lunch box is this?

Lunch--

You think I wouldn't recognize it?

Damn. The lunchbox?

Is it engraved?

I knew you'd fall for it.

Who are you?

I don't know him.

What is it?

-Who let you in here? -Are you talking to me?

Who else would I be talking to?

Oh, you're the boss. Hello.

What?

I'm Tao Tao, I'm a friend of Miss Wang.

Cigarettes aren't allowed in here.

Who's Fang Mei?

Fang Mei's my wife.

Who's Mr. Bao?

Mr. Bao is my friend.

Say that again?

He's my best friend.

Is that so?

Now you've done it.

You dare hit me? Do you know who I am?

What?

Come by Guling Road, and I'll kill you.

What did you say?

What?

I'll kill you.

-You know where you are? -Where? Just a busted up warehouse.

Say that again.

-You think I'm scared of you all? -Say it again.

Say what?

-Say it again and I'll beat you up. -I'm not scared of you.

Go ahead!

I'm sorry!

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, okay?

Guling Road?

You haven't seen anything yet!

Lunatic.

I didn't ask him to come.

Stop right there.

So many people are asking after you.

First Weekly, then Mr. Bao.

Where are your other lovers?

If you know so many people,

how did you end up here?

Tell these guys to come and face me themselves.

Listen up,

Mr. Bao is one thing. Don't you dare bad mouth Weekly!

Do you know who he is?

-How should I know? -My dad.

-Why should I care? -Keep talking and I'll beat you up!

Beat me up? You?

By nine o'clock tomorrow, you better clean this all up!

I'll be checking!

Back to work!

How'd you get hurt delivering food?

You didn't see him. He was vicious.

He was going to kill me, but I bravely fought him off.

How's Xiao Wang?

You'd hardly recognize her.

Listen, I'm hurt.

I'm really hurt.

I hear you.

I'll think of something else.

Want any help?

No.

There's so much left. You sure?

If I say I can do it, I can do it.

Got it. Bye.

Come by tomorrow.

Don't worry, it's already settled.

Mr. Bao.

The new era charges ahead like a train,

showing us views we've never seen before,

and leaving behind old bonds.

Every generation has its calling.

No one can refuse to be part of things.

We stay busy to mask regret.

Tomorrow brings another day.

Love blooms when the stars align,

miss one thing

and you're left with "almost."