Original subtitles

Created & Directed by WONG KAR WAI

EPISODE 8

NO. 27 ON THE BUND

I suspect this power outage

was the other Madames' doing.

Nobody hire this woman.

Jiangxi.

Now that you're on her bad side,

it'll be hard for you to keep a job here.

I know.

But it's always been hard.

There are thousands of roads in Shanghai.

You don't have to wait tables on Huanghe Road.

But you don't make as much money anywhere else.

Because this is the Huanghe Road.

I made it here.

I'm not leaving empty-handed.

Jiangxi.

No one is born a Madame.

Li Li's bold.

She's an outsider,

taking business from the locals.

These Madames will eat her alive.

They gave Golden Phoenix

the same exact treatment.

Even made up a story to blame me.

I'm telling you,

I'm going to put them in their place.

Or else they'll really think they're in charge of Huanghe Road.

What are you going to do?

Go home. Wait for my call.

I have something for you to do.

Wait, call my wife for me, or I can't go home.

-No. -Please, brother.

No.

Please, Sir.

I'll get on my knees.

Please.

I beg you.

Sir will only do this for you once.

Do you know what to say?

Should I say you won or lost money?

Help me out here, say I won.

Fang Mei.

We're playing Mahjong.

Him?

He just bet away his pants.

Sir.

Tell Ling Zi I'm leaving.

Thank you.

See you.

Oh, it's almost breakfast time.

I'm heading out of town.

If The Grand Lisbon asks for your help, give them a hand.

Where are you going?

-Zhuji. -For what?

You'll know when I come back.

THREE HOURS AGO

Mr. Bao,

have you ever been to Zhuji?

Nope.

I really want to.

If you can come, see my factory, you'll understand.

-When are you going back, Mr. Ma? -Tomorrow.

I'll come tomorrow then.

Mr. Bao,

How many are coming?

Just me.

Impressive.

We're here, Miss Wang.

Thank you, Mr. Gu.

Zhuji?

By himself?

He was going to go with you,

but worried it might not be safe,

so he went by himself.

We'll be in Zhuji soon.

"Zhuji 10km"

Let me come with you.

You don't know this place.

In Shanghai, you're Mr. Bao.

But these Zhuji guys are street thugs.

Your name means nothing.

We used to be street thugs too.

Why be scared?

It's too dangerous.

I know the Zhuji group.

They're reckless.

What if they try something?

There's no one here?

No, they're here.

Soon as you leave, they'll show themselves.

Be careful.

When you're in there,

absolutely do not ask for their names.

They don't let anyone walk out knowing their names.

That's their rule.

It's alright.

But here's the deal

if you don't hear from me by 8:00 p.m.,

contact Uncle Ye.

Got it.

-Ning Bo, are you in Zhuji yet? -I dropped off Mr. Bao and left.

You left?

How could you leave?

So he's there all by himself?

Miss Wang, someone's here for you.

Miss Wang, do you still want the car?

Could you wait a minute? Thank you.

Hello?

He said to wait until 8:00 p.m..

It will be too late.

That's what he said.

It's not going to work.

Wait.

I know some people at the Zhuji Commerce Office.

I'll come with you to find Mr. Bao.

He'll get in trouble if he's alone.

I'll see you.

Hey!

Hey, car! Wait a minute!

Move the car.

Do you want the car or not?

If you don't trust me,

go to someone else, okay?

How much did you say?

¥25,000.

Is the gas tank full?

Three-quarters full.

Give me the keys.

Give me the money first.

Let me use your phone.

Hey, calls are expensive.

Hello?

Hello, Mei Ping?

Do me a favor and bring me the paper bag in my drawer?

First drawer on the right?

Yes. There's money inside.

He told me to give you this.

I don't want it.

It was to pay him back.

The earrings were too expensive. I'll get in trouble if I accept them.

Mr. Bao said,

Ling Hong's shop doesn't sell expensive things.

You got lied to.

So how much are these?

¥500, at most.

¥500?

Uncle Ye, please give the ¥500 to him.

I'll sort out the rest with him later.

Thank you.

Here's ¥25,000 here.

Give her the extra ¥500.

Got it.

Where did you get all this money?

Mr. Bao paid me back.

By the way, tell the Chief I'm out for the day?

Thank you.

Young miss,

you officials are rich here.

Tens of thousands paid in cash.

Next time you want to buy a car, call me, okay?

Sure.

"Mei Lin Garden"

As you may already know, Jiangxi had to leave us

because of recent affairs.

She had to learn a lesson.

But I've always valued her capabilities.

So as of today, she's back at Mei Lin Garden

as supervisor.

Thank you, Madame.

Thank you, my sisters.

Mei Lin Garden is one of the top restaurants here.

Under Madame's lead,

I will guide us all

to a better future.

Having tea?

Congratulations.

So you kept the necklace and got a promotion.

How impressive.

Lu Meilin needs help.

Her old supervisor was useless,

so she hired me back.

Quite the coincidence.

Right after The Grand Lisbon lost power?

don't know.

Neither does the police, but I do.

You took the necklace and got kicked out.

Came to The Grand Lisbon and got rejected.

Got rejected everywhere else.

So you had to go back with your tail between your legs.

You had to do something, something big

to prove your loyalty to Lu Meilin.

Let me put it this way.

It wasn't me who wanted

to cut the wire.

It wasn't Lu Meilin either.

It's was every single Madame on Huanghe Road.

Here, try mine.

Thank you, Madame.

I hear Daily Fresh is trying to poach you.

I told Daily Fresh

that The Grand Lisbon needs me right now,

but they offered me and my guys 1.5 times what we make now.

Chef,

we have a contract.

My body just can't handle it.

I've been holding on to the doctor's note.

Haven't found the time to give it to you.

Okay.

-Fine. Starting from next month-- -This month.

You've already been paid this month.

Pay again.

Fine.

Thank you, Madame.

How do you know it's Daily Fresh?

The cigarettes.

He used to smoke Shanghai Gold.

Now he smokes Yellow Crane,

a brand from Hubei.

Only the Madame of Daily Fresh is from Hubei.

And she smokes Yellow Crane too.

The chef's under a three-year contract!

He can walk out anytime.

If he says he's sick, what can we do?

The chef from Guangzhou called-- He can't be here until next month.

That's not soon enough. We need him tomorrow.

He's banking on us

not being able to replace him and his team within a day.

Not bad.

Identical to San Yang shirts.

Mr. Ma.

Mr. Bao.

You've seen the product?

Yes. Very good.

Well then,

let's talk real business.

For everyone's safety

and for the shirts' safety,

Mr. Bao,

you're going to buy all these shirts.

Or else,

you'll have to stay with us and drink until morning.

The shirts I will buy.

The drinks I will have.

How generous.

Bravo, Mr. Bao.

¥1.4 million?

Way too light.

Are you trying to fool me?

Is this a joke?

There's nothing I hate more than jokes.

We are all businessmen.

A restaurant you pay.

A hotel you pay.

You've seen the product.

You're happy with it,

but you won't pay.

That's disrespectful.

We have nothing to lose.

We may be nobodies, but our families still depend on us, right?

Right!

You're Mr. Bao.

You're a big deal in Shanghai.

My god.

If someone like you went against us,

we wouldn't make it in this business.

I'll grant you a wish today.

What are you doing?

You can die knowing our names.

If you want revenge in your next life, you'll know who to look for.

Out of my way.

What do you want?

You're a gangster, huh?

Got sick of talking, huh? You want to hit me?

Hit me here.

Do it!

Hurry.

It's already 8:15 p.m.

What do we do? Call the police?

Should we call the police?

Let me call Uncle Ye first.

Answer the phone.

Answer it!

Hello? Go ahead.

What is it?

Be quiet!

Where are you?

It's here.

Go inside.

Who are you people?

What's going on?

Make way.

Make way.

Crazy.

-Sorry. -Lunatic.

Ning Bo!

It's all right.

Here!

Part of it is fate,

Hard work makes great,

Where's Mr. Bao?

Fight on...

-Don't you know how to knock? -Where's Mr. Bao?

What the--

-I'll kill you! -Where is Bao?

Where's Bao?

Mr. Bao!

I'm here.

Bao.

These guys are all lightweights.

Nonsense. Drink!

Drink one for me.

-Where's the shipment? -Still at the factory.

We need them to sober up first.

Mr. Ma,

another one?

You think I'm done? Drink!

Come on.

You've had enough to drink.

Mr. Ma.

Yes.

I'll see you in Shanghai.

Okay. Let's go.

Mr. Bao,

you can't go.

Why not?

Sing for us.

Let's sing together.

Come on.

You really like to sing.

Part of it is fate,

Hard work makes great,

Fight on to victory.

Okay.

Time to go.

There's more. Two more lines.

Two more lines.

Excuse me.

Let's go.

Two more lines, Mr. Bao.

Mr. Bao.

I'll see you at Hulian Retail.

Fight on to victory.

More booze.

I'll tell you all our names.

If you want revenge in your next life, you'll know who to look for.

Get out of the way.

What do you want?

You want to hit me?

Do it!

What are we doing here?

I came here to talk business with you.

Look at yourselves.

Good equipment, and a great team.

You're not nobodies.

You were able to make 100,000 counterfeits in almost no time at all.

You should make a much larger order.

I have an order for 400,000 shirts.

You have three months.

Nanjing Road's shops have never stocked Zhuji's products.

You have a high quality product, so why not give it a shot?

Is it true?

Come here.

Look at this

This is an order from Hulian Retail.

Starting in June, they're working with me, dedicating an entire floor

to new products from this region, starting with San Yang.

Would you rather

make counterfeits,

make a few quick bucks,

or make 400,000 legitimate shirts,

with your own logo,

and establish your very own Shanghai Name Brand.

Shanghai Name Brand...

What does that mean?

That means exports. U.S. dollars.

No capped quota. Exciting?

U.S. dollars?

Shanghai Name Brand, for real?

Is that real?

Really?

-Why should we believe you? -Yeah, why?

Why?

I'm telling you,

If I can make San Yang a Name Brand,

I can make your brand just the same.

U.S. dollars.

No cap. Ain't that nice?

That's nice. U.S. dollars.

Big profits, Boss.

Boss.

Do you believe me?

Boss, let's do it.

That's real money.

U.S. dollars, boss.

Shanghai Name Brand!

Why are all these people here?

This is nothing.

The real boss is coming.

The big boss, who?

Let's go. Get in the car.

Let's go get something to eat.

What are you doing here?

To save you.

You're something else. Save me?

You think I need you to save me?

They could have killed you!

-You're being silly. -And what?

Alright.

Why the tears?

What happened to you? What happened?

Just now on the way here, I almost flew off the road in this car!

If I died, I'd never see you again!

Don't cry.

I'm here.

And I'm fine.

I have nine lives, like a cat.

What are you laughing at?

I'm laughing because you look like my friend.

Who? Do I know her?

You do.

She's very pretty.

It's not you, why are you smiling?

Say it!

Say what?

Who is it?

Tell me.

The crybaby!

Idiot.

Why're you hitting me?

Because.

Don't underestimate these factories.

They may not look like much, but the quality is good.

400,000 shirts

plus Mr. Fan's 800,000.

1.2 million shirts. We bought them all.

Keep your voice down.

She's sleeping.

Let her sleep. It's been a long day.

I'm happy just thinking about it.

We'll scale up in Shanghai first,

and then

expand to overseas.

I met Miss Wang at the end of 1988.

END OF 1988

Hello.

That year, my brother in Hong Kong

helped me get my first export order.

The nation hadn't fully authorized foreign trade rights.

Every export had to go through

the Foreign Trade Office located at No. 27 on the Bund.

The top graduates in foreign studies got to come here.

Wave after wave of ambitious youngsters

enlisted in the nation's efforts

to establish export-fueled foreign trade.

Miss Wang was not yet Miss Wang.

She was "crybaby. "

-Good morning, Mr. Gao. -You're late again.

Good morning, Chief.

How can you be late everyday?

What's wrong with you?

Good morning, Chief.

Oh no.

Good morning, Chief.

Chief Jin.

My office, Xiao Wang.

I can see myself out.

Don't worry.

Let me walk you out.

-Call me if anything comes up. -Of course. All right.

-Don't worry. -Thank you.

What are you doing?

I'm looking for my friend Xiao Wang.

She's in the tea room.

Thank you.

How can I be so stupid?

Who is it?

Are you Xiao Wang?

Who are you?

Uncle Ye referred me.

We have an order from Hong Kong. We would like to work with you.

Who let you up here?

Can't we talk?

I waited downstairs for two hours.

Can't you see I'm busy here? Leave.

Are you collecting stamps?

What?

Who asked you? Leave.

-Okay. I won't look. -No peeking, I'm telling you.

These are top secret. You would get sued.

Top Secret information needs better protection.

How do you get the stamp off of the envelope?

You need to put it over some steam.

Not too long.

You have to be gentle.

Start with the corner.

Stamps are flimsy.

The glue all melted, see?

Impressive, right?

Your boss collects stamps?

No prying.

Listen, I don't care who introduced you.

Any visit to No. 27 is considered a foreign contact.

All foreign contacts must be reported.

I understand.

I'll put this right here.

And here.

Do me a favor.

My name is Ah Bao. Please introduce me.

No.

Among textiles...

What's wrong with her?

...there are standard, silk, garment, knit, and home textiles.

In the industry, we call these the Five Textile Sisters.

Also known as the Five Jin Hua.

The Chief you're looking for is Chief Jin of our department.

Yes. Uncle Ye told me.

She's the ace here.

Well, she's my mentor.

Then you must be quite the student.

Of course.

-Excuse me. -Okay. Don't just stand there.

Sit down somewhere.

There are a lot of people waiting.

Someone will come find you later.

Thank you.

Give me your business card.

There are a lot of people here.

Yes.

-Next! -Hey!

What are you looking at?

Make way.

Move.

Excuse me.

On Protracted War? I've read it too.

You have?

I have.

Uncle Ye gave it to me.

He says it's a good book.

Great book.

I just started reading it.

Inflation was sky-high in 1988.

1987's global stock market crash

caused most oversea orders to be canceled.

The top brass at No. 27 was worried about the future.

Who had time for a no-name sales rep like me?

I am leaving.

-Send this out before you leave. -Will do.

Hello, Chief Jin.

What do you want?

Hello, Chief Jin. My name is Ah Bao.

I represent a Hong Kong company.

This is a $5 million order from Hong Kong.

We want to work with you.

It's not that simple, is it?

How much money is it, really?

The first order is a trial. $150,000.

If that's successful, the next order is $5 million.

You know the rules.

First floor for small orders.

Over a million? Come to floor three.

Please go to the first floor.

Chief, please take a look.

It's a very good project.

We're done today. Come back again.

Remember, first floor.

Chief.

This is a French brand, as good as Montagut.

What are you doing?

Didn't you say someone will come get me?

I've been sitting here, freezing--

That guy.

It's time.

Pack up.

We're closed.

See you tomorrow.

Foreign trade is just like dating.

You need an elder in your family

to introduce you before you can officially meet.

Then it's right and proper.

A guy like you with no background?

Jin Hua will not agree to meet.

Is your referral not enough?

You know where she comes from?

She was the prettiest girl at Fudan University.

Married her professor at age 23.

No. 27 hired her in 1979, and she's been there ever since.

This order of yours

will be buried in red tape.

Price checks, counteroffers,

sample checks, and approvals.

You won't get anywhere with the clerks on the first floor.

Only Jin Hua.

Only someone with her experience can call the shots.

Don't rush. Back off.

Stay in line.

No pushing. Go back.

You'll get your turn.

What are you looking at?

-Is Xiao Wang here? -Who?

-Xiao Wang. -She's inside, busy.

Don't be a crybaby. You'll find it.

We'll look together, don't worry.

Please and quickly! What about down here?

Okay.

I've already looked. It's not there.

It probably got stuck to someone's shoe.

Oh no.

I'm going to die.

Xiao Yun.

Xiao Yun, have you seen a stamp?

-What stamp? -It's small. Has a foreign lady on it.

Chief Jin gave it to me with instructions but now I can't find it.

Oh, that one.

You're screwed.

Hey, Xiao Wang.

Who are you?

I'm Ah Bao. We had an appointment.

No we didn't.

Please let us in.

-Meeting time. -Have you seen it?

-No. -Is it here?

-Forget it. -Uncle Ye referred me here.

Go away.

Did you forget?

-Go away. -Xiao Wang, let's go to the meeting first.

Let me keep looking for it!

-We're coming. -No rush.

I'll wait right here!

What was that?

Why the panic?

Good grief, what a mess.

That year, Ah Bao frequently went to look at stamps

at the Wei Min Stamp Company on Huaihai Road.

One by one.

What are you doing?

Nothing.

I lost my pen cap.

Why would your pen cap be here?

Do you know where this is?

Isn't this the tea room?

Not just any tea room,

the tea room of the Foreign Trade Office.

You can't just waltz in. Get out of here.

What's wrong with her...

Where's your pen cap?

I lost it,

but I did find a stamp.

This is the one!

Where did you find it?

It got stuck behind your rice ball.

No wonder I'm so hungry.

I haven't eaten my breakfast yet.

Let me tell you,

this is not just any stamp.

Clara Schumann, from Germany.

They used to make a set every year, but they stopped.

This one was made recently.

And it's an edge piece. Extra rare.

What's an edge piece?

It's connected to this paper, like so.

Just the stamp is not worth much.

But with this piece of paper,

it's worth quite a lot.

You're well versed in this.

Of course. I've been collecting since I was little.

Stamps of monkeys, pandas, flowers, Peony Pavillion Set, and souvenir sets.

Even stamps from before 1979. I have quite the collection.

If you like any, let me know. I can give you a couple.

What do you mean?

Not much.

Collecting stamps is culture.

Nothing to be nervous about.

-Is Chief Jin available? -You're trying to get to her through me?

-No. -People are lined up outside.

Can't you see?

Go outside. Get in line.

No need to be so mean.

-Hurry. -Don't rush.

We are all lined up here.

I am leaving.

This yours?

You're taking up two seats.

Careful.

The foreign vendors still haven't sent their letters of credit.

It's the end of the year. Tell everyone.

Bring the contracts from Guangzhou Expo to my office tomorrow.

I need to go through each one.

Okay.

Take care of these envelopes.

Understood.

You found the German stamp?

That new guy helped me find it.

He explained that it's a Clara Schumann edge piece.

I told him to go to the first floor,

What is he still doing here?

What's his background?

Referred by Uncle Ye, who used to work in textiles.

He can stop waiting.

The factories are busy before Christmas.

Tell him to come back in six months.

Xiao Wang.

It's getting late, and they still haven't called us.

Public Radio Calisthenics, start.

Stretch exercise.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

Quite the energy, buddy.

-When did you get here? -I've been here since morning.

They still haven't called me.

Four, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

Rotation exercise.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

Xiao Wang.

Come out.

need to talk to you.

-Why are you here? -Okay.

Four, two, three, four, five, six, seven.

Back exercise.

When will you be done?

It's urgent.

It will only take a minute.

-I've thought it through-- -Why are you so annoying? Go away.

Three, two, three, four, five, six, seven.

Jumping exercise.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

Two, two, three, four, five, six, seven.

Recovery.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

What are you doing? Stop following me.

What's wrong with you? It's creepy.

Please listen to me.

Why are you here again?

Didn't I tell you to come back in six months?

I thought of a way.

Our company will import equipment from Japan through a trade swap.

We deduct the cost from our commission. Then rent the equipment to the factories.

This solves everything.

It's not a bad idea.

-What about the factory? -Factory? That's easy--

I don't want this anymore.

I'm going to jump in the river! You don't think I will?

Who is he?

A factory manager from Ningbo.

He booked an entire order of textiles.

But then...

the order got cancelled.

He's got 300 workers waiting for him to pay their wages.

What? 300?

That's a lot of manpower.

Hey, pal. Move aside.

I'm going to jump right now.

Why are you getting involved?

Don't run!

My friend.

What are you doing?

-Don't do something you'll regret! -Don't come near me.

Okay.

Here I come.

You still have a 300-man factory!