Original subtitles

Created & Directed by WONG KAR WAI

EPISODE 27

KINDNESS OF STRANGER

I had never thought my 1993 would end this way.

This--

I pour my heart out to help you cross the Huangpu River.

All you care about is the Suzhou Creek.

Everyone was trying to leave his mark in his limited time,

even just a few words, even if they would fizzle in the air.

What did you do that for, Miss Wang?!

For pride.

The night lights blossomed like flowers.

Blooming and withering at the same time.

Tonight, we'll have dinner with President Wang to celebrate!

Almost ¥10 million... Just to prove yourself?

Is it worth it?

It is.

At least my company will complete this order.

I'll be qualified to win better orders.

If I relied on Mr. Bao's help, it would be his accomplishment, not mine.

But what about the profitability?

I did the math. I just need to keep the unit cost below ¥25.

As long as Mr. Lu can deliver on time,

I'm confident I'll at least break even.

How is that possible?

The numbers are right here.

You'll magically turn ¥1 into ¥2?

It's 1994 now!

Times are changing. Anything is possible.

Let me ask you,

how much did you make from your first order?

Definitely more than this.

Just watch, I might just beat you.

I'm getting more. You want some?

Could I get some more?

-Happy New Year! -Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

I'm not happy.

We can do it!

Happy New Year!

We can do it!

That was December 31st, 1993.

Even as midnight struck,

I couldn't figure out why Miss Wang did this.

The truth was, I couldn't figure it out

because she was no longer the Miss Wang I once knew.

On January 1st, 1994,

the government unified exchange rates.

The RMB became pegged to the US dollar.

Devaluing China's currency from ¥5.80 per US dollar to ¥8.70 per US dollar.

Overnight, Miss Wang's order became profitable.

What she pulled off turned her into an industry legend.

Happy New Year!

-Happy New Year, Mr. Bao. -Happy New Year.

Happy New Year, my friends.

Happy New Year, Mr. Bao.

Mr. Bao, Happy New Year!

The lamb today is--

I'll get back to work.

What a coincidence.

What happened to your friend?

Couldn't make it.

I guess I'm not the only one who's alone today.

Little sis, take your time.

I'll be in the back.

-You too, Mr. Bao-- -Madame.

Utensils.

Oh, how could I forget. So sorry.

-Happy New Year. -Happy New Year!

Is your business taken care of?

Mm, how about you?

Are you ready for your IPO?

I've done everything I can.

Our dinners usually have an agenda.

Every drink, every word,

every ulterior motive is carefully planned out.

Let's make today an exception.

No business.

Just a relaxed first meal of the year.

Sure.

Relaxed it is. We'll drink as much as we want.

Madame,

two more lambs.

Right away!

Happy New Year.

Happy New Year...

Things are so different now.

How so?

Back then, for hot pot, we'd go to Hong Hot Pot in Caojiadu.

One big pot on a big round table shared by a dozen people.

If the table was full, everyone else had to wait in line.

And?

When you looked at the person __next to you,

you could only see his body.

The face was blurry,

covered in steam.

A section of the pot

was set out for me.

There were nets on each side.

But I had to be careful.

One slip-up, and the chopsticks next to mine

would take my lamb.

People who weren't strong enough

would pass out before they got a seat

from a lack of oxygen.

Did you go often?

Passed out a few times.

Mr. Bao is a nostalgic person.

I have nothing to be nostalgic about.

In the end, Xuezhi never made it to 1997.

She died in Hong Kong in November 1993,

only six months after I last saw her.

"Miss you forever, Ah Bao"

The person I saw the other day was Mr. Qiang.

When Mr. Jin died, his death reminded me

that hiding would only lead to one result.

Chen Zhen.

And Shenzhen.

They're my inescapable past.

"Li Li" and "Mr. Bao"...

it's all temporary.

"Li Li" will put The Grand Lisbon on the line for Mr. Bao, but Chen Zhen won't.

The check that bought The Grand Lisbon came from Mr. A.

All that is "Li Li" came from Mr. A.

He's gone.

I can't pay him back.

Chen Zhen did everything that Mr. A taught her.

"Li Li" gave you honest warnings.

But you didn't know when to quit.

That's the price of being "Mr. Bao."

The difference between Chen Zhen and "Li Li" is an ID card.

The difference between Ah Bao and "Mr. Bao" is The Grand Lisbon.

If you win, you'll still be "Mr. Bao."

We'll part as friends.

If I lose,

the next time we meet, I'll have become Ah Bao again.

You should be more like me.

Always make yourself a lifeboat.

Ah Bao is my lifeboat.

But you can't be Chen Zhen again.

Other than becoming Mr. A, you have no way out.

That's not a way out,

it's memory and faith.

Mr. Bao,

I have another piece of advice.

Never believe in a stranger's kindness.

You and I are not strangers.

Ah Bao.

Li Li.

For your rose at home.

My wife will be thrilled.

And some fruits. I put them in the trunk for you.

So much stuff?

I should be thanking you.

This whole time in Shenzhen,

you've been buying me food.

I haven't even treated you once.

Did you figure out your profits?

Yes.

Deducting travel cost,

and adding everything up, I'll make ¥80,000.

You beat my first order after all.

I only made ¥65,000.

-That's a lot for back then. -That's true!

Miss Wang,

for decades, generations of people have braved the storms

just for pride.

Your pride has rattled the earth.

I must learn from you.

From Shanghai to Shenzhen,

from No. 27 to Mingzhu Company,

you have helped me my whole way through.

What are you saying?

When I first arrived in Shanghai, you and Mr. Bao took care of me.

Miss Wang.

There's an old saying,

"When you eat rice, remember that crops are not easy to grow."

In reality,

I wasn't the only one helping you.

I know.

I'll stay until after the holidays,

-and go back once production is done. -Great.

Then I'll go home to spend the holidays with my wife.

Okay.

Thank you, Mr. Fan.

Don't be so polite.

-Take care of yourself. -I will. I'll see you.

-President Wang, could you come? -Coming!

-I'll get back to work then. -Okay.

Till we meet again.

No, Mr. Fan.

It's "see you around."

Okay.

See you around!

-Okay. -I'm going to go.

Mr. Fan!

Mr. Fan!

Out in the world!

Out in the world!

See you!

Come by for dinner sometime!

I will!

Until next time!

Until next time!

Miss Wang...

See you out in the world.

After Uncle Ye left, my life was the same.

I thought it would be a new beginning,

but the past had never left.

"TOKYO NIGHTS - General Ledger"

"General Ledger & Purchase Ledger"

"Account Name: Ling Zi"

Did you put this bankbook in my drawer?

Didn't you say I had to pay for my insurance?

Where's Mr. Gu? I haven't seen him in a while.

Mr. Bao.

Sorry. Let me take that.

My grandfather?He retired.

He deserves the rest. What's your name?

Little Gu.

My grandfather told me to learn from you.

Learn what?

He told me you know magic tricks.

You turn ¥1 into ¥10, ¥10 into ¥10,000.

You need to make the ¥1 first.

This way.

-How much in tips today? -None yet.

Your grandfather can say "welcome" and "good night" in 26 languages.

He made every guest feel at home.

Welcome back. You look beautiful.

-You look refreshed. -Thank you.

-So how was your day? -Oh, very nice.

Good. So where did you go?

-[In Russian] This is your floor. -[In Russian] Thank you.

Good night.

This is your first ¥1 of the day.

From now on,

for every language you learn, I'll add another ¥1.

for every language you learn, I'll add another ¥1.

Okay.

[In Russian] Please come again.

[In Russian] Please come again.

-[In Russian] Thank you. -[In Russian] You're welcome.

[In Russian] Thank you, my friend.

-[In Russian] Please come again. -Goodbye.

You're back, Mr. Bao?

Not bad. Russian?

Thank you, Mr. Bao.

Want a chocolate?

[In Italian] Perfect.

You know Italian now?

I guess not.

Where's your grandfather?

He retired.

Mr. Bao, this way.

Forgetting means you don't know it.

Give me ¥4 back.

We'll continue tomorrow.

Here's a gift for you.

Didn't you want to learn magic?

This is magic.

It will teach you all the languages of the world.

I'm fine.

I finally understood the benefit of living in a hotel.

Everyone here was just passing through.

Someone you see today might be gone tomorrow.

You could greet people with just a nod, and leave without saying goodbye.

Not a care in the world. Rise alone, fall alone.

The three rooms upstairs are all reserved. Or rather, rented. For three months.

And the deposits?

They've agreed to pay for three months up front when they arrive tonight.

-All stock brokers? -Looks like it.

The Huanghe Road Madames want to have dinner here tonight.

I'd like to reserve a room if one's available.

Let me call and ask, okay?

Okay.

Are they coming to mess with us again?

-Come with us! -Don't feel like it.

-Why not? -Just come.

-Come on-- -For what?!

You guys can go, but I won't.

I can't convince her. You try.

Fine.

Appetizers are on the house.

Take your time.

Meilin, she's right next door.

Sure, we were just jealous before.

But now, think about it,

The Grand Lisbon and Mei Lin Garden aren't in the same league anymore.

If we can't beat her, then we should play nice, no?

I, Lu Meilin, was born stubborn.

I've never known how to play nice.

My restaurant had its heyday too.

She just didn't see it.

Right.

The pendulum swings in both directions.

Nobody knows what will happen in the future.

You've known me for a long time.

When have you ever seen me kiss up to anyone?

You're too stubborn.

Make way.

Should we still go if the Big Sis won't?

Li Li is our Big Sis now.

Come another time? We're running special deals.

Oh, Mrs. Chen! It's been a while. Is that your daughter?

She's so pretty.

Special deal today.

Discount on seafood.

Come eat at Mei Lin Garden. Come on.

-Next time. I have a reservation. -Okay, I'll be waiting.

I won't take part in your gang.

I came to Shanghai only to do business and make money.

I have no interest in anything else.

If you have a profitable proposal, my door is always open.

If you get in my way making money,

I won't be polite or soft.

-What does that mean? -Shut it.

It means...

We focus on our own businesses.

With harmony comes prosperity.

"Mei Lin Garden"

Mister, why not eat here tonight?

Mister!

I wish I had the money to move Daily Fresh here.

It's the best location on Huanghe Road.

Money isn't the problem.

Being next to The Grand Lisbon has pros and cons.

The key is how to play a smart neighbor.

Any problem money can solve is no real problem.

That's right.

On Huanghe Road, the new is always better than the old.

I'm going to renovate.

The restaurant can be renovated, but the person can't.

An old person is an old person.

I did ask everyone else first before coming to you.

I know you don't like me, but you should help me.

Why?

You're on a winning streak now, but so was I once.

I don't gamble.

You think I gambled my way to where I am?

No.

It's just our shared fate on Huanghe Road.

Look.

The day you first lit that neon sign, you boarded this ship.

There's not a lifeboat in sight.

The waves are so high you can't even see the top.

Either someone catches you at the bottom,

or you crash and die,

to make space for the next person.

You still haven't given me a reason to help you.

Right now, the wind's in your sails.

Help me past this storm. I'll pay back every cent.

And if you run into trouble one day, I'll definitely return the favor...

even if I'm no longer on Huanghe Road.

If the other Madames see your goodwill, they'll also help you in the future.

Just think of it as an insurance premium.

What if you can't get the money?

It's not a big deal.

Life goes on no matter what.

If I leave, someone new will take over the shop

and open it right next to you.

Mr. Landlord, how much is the rent?

A lot of people are interested.

The price--

Don't show it to anyone else.

This place is mine.

We abandon the old for the new.

Huanghe Road especially... prefers the new and flashy.

The day a new restaurant opens, is the day you start to sink,

One day, you'll suddenly notice your restaurant is quieter.

Then you'll see a sea of people next door

Cars parked bumper to bumper.

More lively than ever.

Is this a threat?

It's a reminder.

I'm tight on money right now. Sorry, I can't help you.

Out there, everyone says Li Li is ruthless.

They weren't wrong.

How'd it go?

Madame.

Hello, Madame.

Hello, Madame.

Did the doctor discharge you?

It was too expensive to stay.

I'm fine now.

I need to find a new job.

Who would hire you when you look like this?

I knew when I came here

that we'd be the supporting cast, not the stars.

Why can't we be the stars?

Who's to say those stars are better than us?

If you have what it takes, then why not open your place?

Why do this to yourself?

What did I do? I didn't break any laws.

Your broke the rule of the heart.

The way you are now, you'll have to give up on Huanghe Road.

We can look elsewhere.

I have friends who run restaurants in Yangpu and Hongkou.

They're smaller, but--

I'll think of a way.

Do you have any money on you?

-I'll go get more. -No.

-Me too. I'll go get more. -No.

However much you have will do.

Take this ¥300.

Jiangxi!

You're all alone out there.

Take care of yourself.

Even though we should aim high,

when it's time to accept our fate, we should.

Why?

Why should I accept my fate?

Neither should you.

We are only in our 20s.

It's too early to say that.

Min Min,

I owe you some money, but I can't pay it back yet.

-This should be worth something. -I don't want it.

-I don't want it. Take it-- -Keep it as a lesson learned.

Huanghe Road is an opera stage where we all perform.

Everyone waits his turn, and gets off the stage when he's done.

The parts are different, but the process is the same.

As they say, "Better to watch than to perform."

"Every entrance is followed by an exit."