Original subtitles

~ First Movement ~ YAU MUK-YAN (Nomad)

'Tom Lee Piano' tuner.

I'm busy. Come another day.

- Come in. - I said I'm busy.

Go away! Go away!

He has a job to do. Don't hassle him.

Come in. The piano's upstairs.

Be good, stop crying.

Shh, stop crying. Please stop.

Will you stay?

Your folks are back in two days. It looks bad if I stay.

But I told them about you.

Find a better excuse if you want to dump me.

Don't be silly.

Be good. I'll get you water.

Have some water.

But you're broke.

I'm used to it. I won't die.

Be good. Go wash your face.

You'll sneak out!

I won't. Promise.

Go on. Go wash your face.

Eh? I thought you caught a cab.

I got in, felt my pocket, it's nearly empty!

All that time, she was crying.

Damn!

My Sunkist suitcase is breaking.

You carry packing tape? Cool.

Part-time burglar?

I wish I were.

Damn!

I left my undies in her dryer.

It's my own fault.

I was packing my books and forgot.

What more do you need?

You know, you don't need useless things.

Throw them out. Buy more when you have money.

So you're into literature.

I'm a writer.

What? Don't believe me?

"Love in an Orange Box"

- Yau Muk-Yan (Nomad). - My nom de plume.

My real name's embarrassing: Yau Wing-Fu.

- I'm Chan Kar-Fu. - You're Fu too?

Are you impressed?

They're in here.

They're unpublished, but it won't be long.

Is that your trick to pick up chicks?

Me pick up chicks? You don't know me.

I'm going now.

Well...Look! A betting centre!

Come with me. Hurry.

Aren't you broke?

All the more reason to bet.

Hey, how about race 3?

How'd I know?

You never played the ponies?

Great. Give me $20.

It's only $20.

Beginner's luck wins.

Come on. Lend me some luck.

Hurry up.

This one! $20!

Mind my suitcase!

Pass him, pass him...! Right on!

Really?

A winner by a mile. Beautiful!

Any left?

- What? - Noodles.

Winning makes me hungry.

No more left.

Let's go and get our money.

Dinner's on me.

You go. I'll watch TV.

What if I run off with the money?

I'll chuck your stuff out.

Relax. I'll clean when I'm back.

You live alone in this big space?

It's nice.

Here, we won $1654. $800 each.

We ate the rest.

Still some in it.

What's this paper underwear?

I move around. How'd I wash undies?

I want to shower.

I won't look.

I'd rather you leave first.

Alright. Let me make a call.

I can never get hold of these guys.

Page them.

- Hey. - So?

Take it easy. Come on, relax!

I'm not one of your chicks.

Don't waste your charm.

Sleep with you, no!

Sleep here, yes! One night, please?

~ Second Movement ~ MOK MAN-YEE

You're early today.

No work. Yesterday was my last day.

Why'd you refuse a key?

Oh, don't bother.

First, I'll lose it. Second, I don't live here.

Truly? You don't live here?

Not many guys have principles.

Did you see someone moving in?

Yeah. Monopolizing the lift.

Check out the red sky.

Yeah, it's beautiful.

It'll rain. The turf may be soft tomorrow.

Shut up!

Driving me nuts!

One, people are asleep. Two, your playing sucks!

Twisted minds come in all kinds.

She qualifies for one.

Listen. She's doing it on purpose.

What can we do? Nothing!

You should be awake.

You have a novel to write.

How can I, with that noise?

Bitch!

That twisted woman thinks she's hot shit.

She meets a weirdo in a raincoat...

The two are trapped in a lift.

I'll call it "Love in an Orange Box", S & M edition.

Fine, get on with it.

Quit messing around, okay?

This is your key.

Small world!

Why didn't you return my call?

They disconnected me.

Miss Leung, please try it.

Your hand is nice and large. You're fortunate.

Really?

You have strong passions.

And a long career line.

I'll be tuning pianos at 100.

- How's Mr. Yu? - He retired.

He tuned my piano. We got on well.

He wanted his granddaughter to study with me.

Really?

Yes, many bigwigs studied with me.

Do you know the tune that begins...

J.S. Bach was romancing his young wife.

He wrote her 20 songs. This Minuet in G is famous.

Straightlaced Bach wrote love songs.

- Do you play piano? - I don't.

I first played this song at 7, 60 years ago.

J.S BACH Selections from the NOTEBOOK FOR ANNA MAGDALENA BACH

Look, she'll accept an apology, and not press charges.

What more do you want, mate?

Skip it.

I'll come to the station.

Up to you. But it's final if I book you.

Criminal vandalism. You'll be jailed.

Apologize? No way!

Get the car. Let's go.

Get the car? Is this fun?

Are you going on a joy ride?

Officer, what's up?

Is it your business?

[ Bitch ]

Miss, sorry. May I apologize for my friend?

Is he dumb?

No, just stupid.

Talk to the cops, and quit ringing my bell.

My friend got laid off. He's upset.

He's a goner if you press charges.

How about I repaint your grille?

There's one condition.

polite symbol for 'bastard'

Leave the tortoise there for three months.

Bitch! Three months!

I'll do it.

Please. You'll make more trouble.

Go and play ponies.

Ponies, my foot!

That bitch tortures me with those tones.

I'm just starting my novel. My inspiration's gone!

Go shower. You stink.

I got you into this.

Isn't she better off dead?

Close the windows, turn on the air-con. You won't hear it.

Go. You're a pest.

Going.

You're the only one good to me.

Save it for the chicks.

My name's Chan Kar-Fu.

What's yours?

Good morning, Uncle Wong.

Fu, Fu? It is you.

The night watchman said two cops visited you last night.

- Just a friend. - Friend?

Uncle.

Recently a girl moved in above me.

5B. Big eyes, big attitude.

Hard luck, boy. She's right above you.

Avoid her. She's scary.

The day she moved in, I saw her quarrel with the movers.

She wouldn't tip them. She said they scratched her piano.

They were big guys, but she wasn't afraid.

She's too tough for you.

But, Fu, I have the girl for you.

Know Mrs Cheng from 8A?

Her daughter...her personality...

and her looks...

Another day. I gotta go.

So what do you say? I need to introduce you.

Morning, Uncle Wong.

Hi, Mrs. Cheng!

It's a quiet night.

That bitch!

Maybe she got run over by a car.

You're so mean.

You like her!

I what?

There was antagonism at the start.

You wanted to kill each other, but in the middle...

You read too much cheap fiction.

It mushed your brain.

People actually buy these? What can I say?

Women actually fall for you.

What can you say?

Did I send them flowers, phone them, or pick them up from work?

It's a twisted world.

Not a bad paint job on the grille.

Nice shot.

I'm going home to play piano.

If you can't stand it, stay away.

Bye bye.

I have to find another place.

Scared?

She's baiting me, but I won't bite.

Hey, Fatty.

My name's Faye, as in Faye Wong.

Does it matter?

I'm looking for a restaurant

with a good mood, inexpensive.

What do you recommend?

Sun Chiu Kee.

Sun Chiu Kee?

The one in Causeway Bay.

It has a Venus statue fountain, great lighting,

and French toast is only $18.

So? Wanna take me out?

Are you gay?

Just because I won't date you?

- He's got a nice one. - Huh?

His jacket is Armani.

You have sharp eyes.

You look at others, others look at you.

What is it this time?

Don't blame me. It's her.

Miss...

Don't shower and cook at the same time.

People may die.

Luckily we didn't douse your apartment.

It could've been ruined.

Go and open the windows for air.

It'll be okay.

Air the apartment, understand?

It's lucky I found out in time.

I thought 'shit, she's trying to kill me'.

That's taking it a bit far.

Miss, ID card, please?

How could she get it in that smoke?

She had no time to put on undies.

Stay away from those people.

Mr. Chan? I'm Mrs Cheng from 8A. This is my daughter.

Uncle Wong said the 4B guys are nice.

Visit us when you have time...

and make yourself at home.

It'll take ages to clean up.

Charcoal black looks cool.

It stinks.

Ah, instant noodles. I'm starving!

How can we cook them?

- Come to my place. - I don't know you well.

After all we went through?

Oh, new jacket...Oh, damn!

It's okay. I'll wash it for you.

Chan Kar-Fu.

Mok Man-Yee.

~ Third Movement ~ YAU MUK-YAN & MOK MAN-YEE

Kar-Fu.

Kar-Fu.

Hey, wake up.

Don't you have work?

Are you sick? Got a fever?

Shut up.

Want me to call in sick for you?

There's a sore throat epidemic. Let's see.

Go to a doctor.

Want congee? What kind?

You asshole! I'll kill you.

Look at you. So violent.

The fever made you demonic.

Look, see here.

People will think it's a hickey.

Lions are into SM (sado masochism)?

They're just like you.

I'm getting cigarettes.

Why are you so violent?

Now you know what noise pollution is.

Go away.

Your piano's wacky, like you.

It never sounds right.

Chan Kar-Fu tunes pianos.

Your flatmate?

- He's a professional. - That priss?

He's cute. You don't know him.

He's better than you. He has a job.

Novelist by profession, punter by night.

I'm very busy.

Leave. You're bothering me.

I don't want to. Your piano is making eyes at me.

Oh really?

Piano is 'she' in French. So it's a woman.

All women eye me off.

Don't patronize me. Piano is 'he' in French.

- Je suis tres occupe! - Is that French?

Oui. It means I'm very busy.

I say it all the time.

Then get lost.

Hey, relax. Let's do a duet.

Are you too sick to eat?

Don't waste food.

Why're you hungry so early? What'd you do last night?

That's for me to know.

I picked Race 3 quinella. It paid over $3000.

How unjust! This world is twisted!

Shit. Guys like me make guys like you look good.

So you won't get a job?

After racing season.

So you won't work today?

Give me a break.

A lot of struggling artists have patrons.

Van Gogh had his brother; I have you.

When I'm a famous novelist...

I'll save you a room in my Red Hill Peninsula mansion.

You, a novelist?

You haven't produced a single page.

Nag, nag. You're like my mother.

Talk, talk. Your saliva could make tea.

Hey, that bitch upstairs asked me out this weekend.

That bitch upstairs?

Sure. She's the bitch upstairs,

you're the bastard downstairs.

- You didn't like her. - Not so fast.

We're only going out.

For how long?

I'll call it quits when I tire of it.

I meant every time you pick up a new babe,

how long does it last?

"Pick up"and "babe" don't exist in my lexicon.

So, wanna come too?

- No. - No?

Mok Man-Yee, I kiss you!

Yau Muk-Yan, watch your mouth!

Let's kiss Chan Kar-Fu!

Yay!

Chan Kar-Fu, kissing you!

- Bye bye. - Bye bye.

I'm hoarse from shouting.

Got a throat lozenge?

No.

- Any cough syrup? - No.

- Ginseng? - No.

Chinese flu medicine?

No.

You're so cruel.

I'll pass you my sore throat.

Remember me?

Mo-...

M-m-..Demi Moore!

You're so nasty!

What? I'm Bruce Wills.

A minute ago there were no customers. Look now.

That's groupie behaviour.

Have you known him long?

Not much longer than you.

Tell me about him. No, better not.

I don't want him to think I want him.

So you do want him.

Anyway, the guys I want are all the same.

I better avoid hurt.

When do you figure he'll get a real job?

Would you prefer him with a briefcase and being ordered around?

I knew a guy from Form 3.

He was a lot like Yau.

He acted tough, skipped classes,

didn't do his homework.

But every time after class...

the girls would lend him their homework.

The next year, the guy just quit.

I don't know if he went to another school.

The girls turned gloomy.

So did the teacher. He lost the butt of his jokes.

Do you envy him?

Go get some change.

The great wanna-be novelist will need it.

Know what? You're starting to sound like him.

No, I can't!

Of course you don't know me.

After Cindy ran into you at the cafe that morning...

Hey, mate, it's all over between us.

I really love Cindy.

I never loved anyone like I love her.

I thought she loved me too.

But after that morning,

she went home and cried for two days.

I think she never loved me.

I was just her rebound refuge.

Why'd you treat Cindy like that?

What's so good about you?

Mok Man-Yee!

Open the door!

Open the door, Mok Man-Yee.

Open up! Mok Man-Yee.

Got a bandaid? Or panadol?

We're done playing and sleeping together. Time for a U-turn.

Can't U-turn without a roundabout.

Maybe you've never been dumped.

But there's a first for everything.

Yau Muk-Yan, we're over.

[ Goodbye ]

You're looking for him?

He hasn't been back in days.

C'mon. That's not him.

In the last few days, I was too daring.

It's always like this.

I tell myself to stay clear,

then I throw myself at a guy.

I try playing smart but fall harder.

It's been years...

yet I haven't learned...

except for one thing.

Don't let him dump you. Take the initiative.

What difference is there?

Wonder how many betting centres in Hong Kong?

Let's head back.

Giving up looking?

Who said I was looking?

I shouldn't have moved in.

The first time I saw him...

I knew I was a goner, damnit.

Was it the morning he banged on your door?

It was the day I inspected the apartment.

From the window, I saw him on roller-skates.

He doused himself with mineral water.

And I said to the agent, "I'll take it".

May I try the piano?

He never asked. He just played it.

I found a job, to start in two days.

I've fallen in love.

But she wanted to dump me.

No girl ever closed a door in my face.

Mok Man-Yee, you're the first.

It's okay. I can do it.

Is the job permanent or temporary?

Permanent, I guess.

Work hard.

- And no hollering... - Got it.

It's something I like.

Morning training, talking to trainers...

writing. Easy enough.

I'll lend you an alarm clock.

You have to get up early.

Thanks for putting me up.

It's okay.

- One day when... - Yep, Red Hill Peninsula.

~ Fourth Movement Variations ~

[ Lingnam Publishing House ]

Hey, just now, a tall man dropped that in.

The spelling is incorrect.

It's meant to be a novel. Close enough.

("The Editor")

"The Additor" Lingnam Publishing House

Let's see if he went to school.

"The X O Pair" by Chan Kar-Fu

He's got nerve. And he wants to be a writer?

Trash it. You have things to do.

Are you still here?

- I'm almost ready to go. - Bye.

Friend, are you feeling lonely?

My name is Chan Kar-Fu.

Would you like me to tell you a story?

Once upon a time...

in a faraway place called Town H...

was a very old cathedral.

One night...

two uninvited guests appeared unexpectedly.

Orphans could only rise in life by studying hard.

But these two kids liked to daydream in class.

In tests, he got a big nought.

She got a big cross.

So she got called Cross...

and he was Nought.

(Noughts and Crosses = ancient British game)

It's a children's story.

Why'd you say it's a love story?

Can you read?

Finish it first. He doesn't write well, but...

But you want me to finish it?

If I read everything we get, I'd be here forever everlasting.

This writer has one good point.

He avoids cliches like "forever everlasting."

Look at me when you talk to me.

It's weird you keep your head down.

If you want weird, this one's pretty weird.

Dear listeners...

Is your work boring?

Would you like excitement?

Why not visit the famous Haunted Ruins to look for gold?

Those scary ruins made 100 people insane.

No wonder treasure is said to be buried inside.

So is there really gold in the Haunted Ruins?

The answer is a riddle.

So, if you're interested in being the 101st...

Hey, Mr. Mask.

Who called me?

- Who is it? - Who called me?

- Who is it?

Hey, Mr. Mask. You're a dollar short.

Here.

- Who is...? - Who...?

- Wh....? - Wh...?

- What'd you say? - I asked what you said.

Cross?

Nought?

Did you make your costume?

Yours isn't bad.

Hey, I'm here first.

But I opened the lock.

I'm here. Come in.

What?

- There... - What?

Cockroaches!

You need more than a torch on an evening jaunt.

Let's leave. All the treasure would be gone.

Wait.

- Wow, gold! - We're rich!

Bingo! Congratulations!

Finally someone can claim my gold.

Now you can live happily ever after.

Take it, go on. Don't fear.

Take it all.

You're so lucky. What's your hurry?

I said nothing's for free.

For all my gold, I want a small favour.

It's not too much to ask, is it?

See that music box?

Take it, find Mok Man-Yee, and tell her I love her.

Don't fail me!

Or I'll haunt you to the world's end.

So we're done playing Santa Claus.

What do we do with this?

It's your gift, so it's up to you.

You own a share.

Be my guest.

It's better with you.

You have it.

I don't want it!.

No. I mean to say...

We gave away his gold. We should do the task for him.

He shouldn't ask people to say corny things for him.

Town H has so many Mok Man-Yee's.

Calling them all will take forever.

There are only addresses, no phone numbers.

You don't say.

Pick any one.

- Say it, and call it quits. - That's right.

He's back again!

Just kidding.

We'll search one by one, okay?

You needn't scare us.

Poor chivalrous pair...

Their first time out in the world,

they met such a fate.

Tutu, I beg you. My son cried all night and I didn't sleep.

It's not a good time for me to read stupid stories.

Love stories are always stupid.

Do you think our readers will fall for this?

Some stupid spook sent those two

to find that...

Mok Man-Yee.

Maybe I'm out of touch with romance.

To me, the greatest love story will always be...

Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities".

Well, everyone has his own self-expression.

I think this Chan Kar-Fu

is like Dickens in "A Tale of Two Cities."

Maybe he's indirectly

expressing his feelings for a certain person.

Alright. I'll finish it.

But promise one thing.

Never again tell me it's "A Tale of Two Cities".

Is there a Mok Man-Yee here?

That's me.

The owner of this music box wants to tell you "I love you".

Is he rich?

Go! Go! Go!

That's me.

I don't think so.

We're looking for a woman.

I was a woman, but now I'm a man.

Got a problem with that?

We'll never find her.

Where on earth is the real Mok Man-Yee?

That guy is twisted.

Alive, he played cool. Dead, he put the load on us.

Come to think of it, "I love you" is corny.

Imagine. A big man braving embarrassment

and getting no response.

How humiliating.

Obviously those three words were invented for men.

What about women?

If she loves a man, what's she tell him?

She says nothing.

She lets the guy talk, then she says...

"Hmm, me too". That's it.

Hey, remember this place?

This song sounds familiar.

Haven't we heard it before?

Over there!

30 62 47 00

We got it! We got it!

Mok Man-Yee is my aunt.

When I was young, she used to play me a song...

the same song over and over.

She never married.

She was waiting for someone for years.

When I started making music,

she was quite old.

Since she'd waited so long,

I wrote a song

with our phone number in the lyrics.

"30 62 47 00"

If they were destined for each other, maybe...

Where's your aunt now?

She passed away.

Didn't even wait for us.

My aunt's one no longer works.

[ I love you, Mok Man-Yee ]

[ I've known it all the time ]

I'm going.

Me too.

In this world every second, someone's

waiting to tell someone those three words, right?

That's why florists do good business.

Right! I know a business

perfect for us two, Nought and Cross.

Us two?

[ L-O-V-E Express ]

Mr Romeo wants to tell you

he loves you very much!

Get out of here!

She's marrying me tomorrow!

Mr Casanova sent us to tell you

he loves you madly!

Go to hell!

~ how gentle is the rain ~

~ that falls softly on the meadow ~

~ birds high up on the trees ~

~ serenade the clouds with their melody ~

~ oh, see there beyond the hills ~

~ the bright colours of the rainbow ~

~ some magic from above ~

~ made this day for us ~

~ just to fall in love ~

~ you hold me in your arms ~

~ and say once again you love me ~

~ and if your love is true ~

~ everything will be just as wonderful ~

~ now I belong to you ~

~ from this day until forever ~

~ just love me tenderly ~

~ and I'll give to you every part of me ~

~ oh, don't ever make me cry ~

~ through long lonely nights without love ~

~ be always true to me ~

~ keep this day in your heart eternally ~

~ you hold me in your arms ~

~ and say once again you love me ~

~ and if your love is true ~

~ everything will be just as wonderful ~

I want to tell you...

You don't have to. I've known it all along.

Some people find their Mok Man-Yee,

some people don't.

That's just the way it is.

It reads better now you edited it.

Not going home?

You resigned and still work hard.

I don't want to leave a mess.

Will they pay you well there?

That's not the issue.

That's right.

We're too conservative here.

A smart woman like you should stretch your wings.

I hate to see you go.

Everyone here will miss you

so maybe in future...

Yes, I hope to work with you again.

Fine then.

Good luck in your work.

I'm going.

It's raining outside.

It's okay. My car's parked...

I know. You always get into your car in the rain.

Please take my spare umbrella.

Fine. Don't stay too late.

- What's up, big-time writer? - What's up?

How could you never say you loved her?

What good would it do?

I think it's stupid you didn't.

We travel on different roads.

Well, you may want to go on your road forever.

I'm moving on.

I'm moving.

I'll be on my own, paying rent.

To Chai Wan, not far from Red Hill Peninsula.

"A Tale of Two Cities"

Nothing is guaranteed. Luck prevails.

Somewhere someone finds his Mok Man-Yee, others don't. That's life.

Excerpt from "The X O Pair" by Chan Kar-Fu