Original subtitles

Production Company: Scholar Multimedia Co.

Executive Producers: Cai Songlin, Wang Yingjie

Presented by: Lu Wenren

One time, when I was 15,

he came home after midnight

and gave me a red Walkman.

The Walkman had just come out.

Very expensive.

He often worked late like that.

Of course, that meant going out stealing.

He always called it "work".

When I was little, I remember,

Dad would use handcuffs

to lock his feet together

so that he couldn't leave the house.

But he managed to get out anyway,

hopping one step at a time.

The only one who scared him was our big brother.

If our brother hadn't died in a car crash,

things wouldn't have turned out this way.

Big brother used to drag him home

and beat him with a wooden sword.

But after big brother died,

no-one could control him any more.

Dad was in Chiayi back then.

One year later,

Ma passed away.

Cancer.

In the month before she died,

he helped with her injections every day.

Painkiller shots.

She was in so much pain.

"The time is three millennia ago.

"A spell has brought me, Carol, to this ancient world.

"I've fallen in love with Memphis, the young pharaoh.

"But since my disappearance

"from the 20th century

"my brother, my boyfriend Jimmy, and others

"have been desperately searching for me."

Daughter of the Nile: Crest of the Royal Family

Dear listeners,

that's all we have for you today.

Thank you for listening.

Goodnight.

Sis, 1kg of cotton or 1kg of iron,

which is heavier?

They're the same!

If the national flag has three colours,

how many colours on 100 national flags?

300.

It's still just 3, idiot!

Xiaoyang, dinner time!

Xiaowei, get ready for dinner!

Would you like anything else?

Hello?

I know, I've been expecting your call.

Look at it this way:

what's happened has happened.

Later today, I'll take my sister

to her classmate's house to apologise.

I'll take care of the medical bills.

My sister...

has a short fuse.

Rather hot-tempered.

I'll talk to her about it.

As for the school's position,

please help her out for me.

Let's co-operate.

It wouldn't look good

if she was expelled.

We'd lose face.

Besides,

she's already changed schools twice.

She needs to complete her education.

So I hope

the school can do us a favour.

Let her off this time.

This phrase continues the one before.

"Respect the wise and deploy the capable."

"Respect" and "deploy" both imply making use.

We must respect people with talent,

and make use of their abilities.

Put them in a position

where their talents can thrive.

That's how the philosopher Mencius saw it.

But people no longer think that way.

Today it's all about "the system".

See?

You have to be dumb and obedient.

Ah! It stinks!

Fatso, did you just fart?

No, I didn't!

- Sitting there, it must be you. - Don't put the blame on me!

You even look like a fartface!

- Did you fart? - Who the hell farted?

- Who was it? - Must've been you!

Me?

Be quiet!

Pay attention!

You're always farting.

It stinks! It's so bad I can't focus.

"There are four types of fart.

"A mute tries to speak - Ahh!

"A slow-burning flame - Psst!

"A pretty girl

"acting coy -

"Mmm!

"A snake slithers into the grass -

"Pfft"

That's exactly right!

Re-enactment!

Check out the live footage!

Just walking along like this...

Exactly like that!

Nice!

Ming!

And then the news report...

Ming!

Your brother's calling you.

What?!

I didn't take your 2000!

Don't lie!

Why the hell would I take your money?

Look for it yourself.

I didn't take it, stop shouting!

I didn't take it!

How would I know?

I wasn't the only one there!

You're pathetic.

How dare you rat on me?

It was my dad, I had nothing to do with it.

Listen...

If you pull anything like that again...

Just watch out.

Whatever... we'll see.

What's going on?

This is the girls' washroom.

What are you doing here?

Get out of here!

Both of you!

It's none of your business.

The flowing River Nile

Gently calls me

My brother never liked school.

After junior high,

he worked in a restaurant.

Times were hard back then.

Then he started hanging out with San.

Meng, Sun and Zai Zai too.

They hung out in bars all day.

He worked as a bouncer or bartender.

That's how he learned his English.

Ladies and gentlemen, we're delighted to have

Xiaoyang and Xiaofen here

for their 20th birthday celebrations.

Happy birthday to you.

Happy birthday to you.

I'll make a wish!

Make a wish!

Eventually, they opened a restaurant.

It was called 'Friday'.

He taught the others

to look cool, be suave

and never commit to a woman.

Before very long,

the place closed down.

At the time, San had a girlfriend.

They went off to America together.

I heard it didn't end well.

He kept wanting to come back.

In the end,

my brother paid for his flight.

The day he got back...

I remember he came by the house.

He was very thin,

but his eyes were still bright.

Like the pharaoh, Memphis.

Come on, sing!

It's so pretty!

What a nice watch!

Where did you get it?

Mimi brought it back from Japan.

Thief! Thief!

Thief!

There's so much blood.

Pour it.

I daren't.

You shouldn't smoke so much.

I saw this cowboy on TV.

He'd done cigarette commercials.

Then he got cancer from smoking too much.

He had tubes in his nostrils when he died.

Deposit this money when you have time.

Xiaowei's stealing again.

Bought a bunch of "Little Twin Stars" stuff.

She lied and said Grandpa gave her the money.

How could Grandpa have any money?

He was asking me for money just the other day.

This is what she bought.

"Little Twin Stars".

Put that money somewhere safe.

Tell her if it happens again,

I'll punish her.

I think she needs a maths tutor.

Her maths is terrible.

She gets up very early every morning.

It's the same every day.

She's always in a great hurry.

I wondered what could be so urgent.

Finally she told me she leaves early

to open the classroom door for her teacher.

It's all about sucking up.

Sis, where are my glasses?

Sis, hurry up, my skirt needs fixing.

It's the same every morning.

Looking for glasses, socks, textbooks.

Why don't you do it the night before?

You're no better!

My skirt hook fell off a week ago

and you still haven't fixed it.

I'm sick of your attitude!

Xiaoyang!

It's late, Xiaowei should be up by now.

Oh, Xiaowei is already up.

Good girl.

Grandpa!

Don't look at my grades!

I'm not! Don't worry.

I just want to see if your maths is better.

Stop it! You bring me bad luck!

Grandpa cares about your grades.

You shouldn't snatch it away like that.

Tell you what...

Grandpa's been playing the "Happy Lottery".

You shouldn't! Teacher says it's illegal.

Nonsense!

Let Grandpa tell you...

if Grandpa wins, you win too.

Grandpa will buy you pretty clothes.

How could you snatch it away?

You're Grandpa's lucky charm.

Grandpa just wants some of your luck.

Tell Grandpa a number.

Silly fool!

Sixty-four?

6...4...

Fatso...

why are you dressed up?

What about it?

Hot!

Snazzy!

And you're wearing Madonna earrings.

Don't you have a silver pair?

My brother borrowed them.

They're not bad.

Crazy! You're not built for this look.

Stop it!

What are you doing here?

Seeing her.

Freeloading again!

I'm protecting her.

He's my bodyguard.

Sure, you need protection!

I was asked to give you these...

movie tickets!

- What movie? - A Room with a View.

I've got to go!

Jie! Keep your trousers up!

What's that? Throw it up to me.

Come down and you can have some.

I can't! Why don't you just throw it?

Let's go dancing at Touch tonight.

Touch?

It's on Zhonghua Road.

How come I haven't heard of it?

Forget about class!

Let's go, it's free!

For real?

Really? Seriously?

You trying to trick us or what?

Even if it's not free, I'll pay!

Good evening, sir.

Sir, don't you have other clothes?

Let's get started.

Anyone late with their homework will be EXECUTED.

One of you has reported me to the Disciplinary Board.

Accused me of teaching black, yellow, and red ideologies.

Well, let me tell you

They're all old-fashioned.

The new trend is "green".

Understand? Green!

Who did it?

Never mind.

The more reports, the better.

Whoever did it, stand up!

Have the guts to admit what you did!

Who says it was someone in our class?

Where's the proof?

What proof do you need?

Teacher's word doesn't count?

Stop sucking up to Teacher.

Sucking up?

I'm warning you! Cut it out!

The report's been made, hasn't it?

Who do you think you are?

Don't gang up on people, OK?

Let's work this out calmly.

Stop arguing!

Enough! Sit down!

I reckon it was Seiko.

That's enough!

Attention!

Students cleaning the toilets

should aim to conserve water

and use brushes to scrub...

Dad.

What happened to your hand?

I fell. I was drinking with friends.

I hear you opened a restaurant?

My friends and I chipped in.

We sold it before New Year.

What kind of restaurant was it?

Just a regular one.

A regular one?

What do you take me for?

I may not be in Taipei, but I keep tabs on you.

Just look at your clothes, your greasy hair.

Dad! Dad!

You're like this every time you come home!

There's no bond stronger than father and son.

Whenever you come home from the south,

you end up trying to hit Xiaofang.

He's not a child any more!

Naughty kids should be disciplined.

But he's all grown up!

Since you've been away,

he and his friends ran a restaurant

to make some money.

And he looks after his sisters well.

And he's always respectful to me too.

It's about time he got married.

Don't be like this, he's your son.

Fighting all the time, it's embarrassing.

Forget what gang he's from, let's just do it.

Will this place be dragged into it?

Let's find out what happened first.

San is always screwing things up.

Where the hell is he?

With the woman.

So what's the next move?

Let's find out what happened first.

Should we make some calls?

Go ahead.

Where are you?

I heard Whitey say...

Mimi's husband wants to teach you a lesson.

Anyhow, don't drop your guard.

Yeah, she's here.

What?

Xiaoyang!

Stay out of this mess.

Step aside if you can.

It's not worth it.

What?

Why are you borrowing San's car?

Nothing, just going to the beach.

Keep your distance, he's got enough problems.

Where are you? I've been waiting all day.

Where's that?

Hi.

Here are the keys.

The car's there.

Which lock?

They both work.

Thanks!

Drive carefully.

Sure.

Call me.

OK.

Registration's in the car

Wow! This car is great!

Right, Fatso?

Right.

Memphis and Isis are quarrelling.

She married some guy for his money.

My brother says

her husband is close to some triads.

You two, come and eat.

I'm coming too.

There's only enough for two.

Cook more.

Hey, where are you going?

He'll jump over the fire!

Fire-jumping!

- I need chopsticks. - One, two, three.

One, two, three.

I hate three things about leaving our gang.

The first is that I have to do military service.

The second is that...

we can't be young like this forever.

The last thing I hate is that...

life always forces us to keep moving forwards.

I'll miss you all so much.

If I could do it all again

I think I'd cherish it a lot more.

Seriously! I'll miss you all.

Ah Jie went off to do his military service.

Yu is off to Japan next month.

Our little gang is splitting up.

When we had our first group meeting last year

at the Temple of 18 Deities,

my brother and San were there.

They'd been drinking.

San was drunk.

Went on and on about his time in America.

How strange it felt.

How miserable he was.

l feel like Carol in Daughter of the Nile.

She was taken away from the 20th century,

from her family and classmates,

into the ancient Egypt of the pharaoh, Memphis.

She is happy there, but lonely.

Memphis is destined to die at the age of 22,

and there's nothing she can do to stop it.

Call me any time you need to.

OK?

I'm so sad.

That's it.

Xiaowei,

where's your sister?

- Inside. - Inside?

Your aunt cooked dinner.

Go over and eat.

Here's NT$1OO in winnings.

Grandpa, you won?

Was it the number I gave you last time?

No.

A friend came from Hong Kong.

He gave Grandpa a pack of "777" cigarettes.

So I bought two "77" lotto tickets.

And that was the winning number.

Grandpa won NT$20,000.

Hello?

Sis, phone!

Hello?

Outside my house?

OK, when will you be here?

OK, see you later.

Grandpa, you won again?

Grandpa won the "Happy Lottery".

How much?

NT$20,000.

Really? You must share the winnings.

Just 100? I chip in every time.

OK, here's 100 more.

Thanks!

Dad, come home for dinner.

What for?

Dinner at home is like torture.

You should tell that wife of yours,

an old man like me has no hobbies.

Is playing the lottery such a big deal?

Not only does she scold me,

she won't stop yapping all day.

Yaps about you going to clubs every day.

I tell her you're a businessman.

You have to go out with clients.

Grandpa,

Xiaoyang says you won the "Happy Lottery".

I want a share too.

Xiaoyang got some, so I should too.

OK.

Grandpa will give you 100.

Thanks, Grandpa!

I told her

she's like a rooster at the crack of dawn.

She wakes up and starts crowing.

And it goes on all day.

She only shuts up when she sleeps.

Tell her the neighbours think she's ridiculous.

They say, "A peaceful family prospers".

I'm used to it, it's like she's chanting.

Chanting scriptures is her daily ritual.

It's a real problem for the family.

You need to tell her to cut it out.

San!

How was the car?

Great!

It's open.

Did you break anything?

Of course not! Relax.

Where to?

School.

School?

Bye-bye.

Coming in for a while?

I've got a class.

Come on.

Fuck!

Piece of shit.

Fuck!

Shit! Fuck!

Piece of shit.

Get out here!

Come out! Fuck!

Come out! Fuck!

Mimi!

San!

San!

Is he OK?

Is he OK?

Call an ambulance!

I'll get the car.

San, you need to control yourself.

We set out to make some money in Taipei.

Sol hope you can stay out of trouble.

Take a step back and think.

You know,

we've been through a lot of hard times.

We've got this far,

and made a bit of a name for ourselves.

I hope you can

show some restraint.

You know me.

Don't worry.

I didn't want any of this.

They've forced my hand.

Here they come.

Ah Fa! Quick!

Ah Fa!

How many times have I told you?

Don't get involved in San's mess.

Now the shit has really hit the fan.

It's OK to hurt yourself.

But this hurts all of us, and this place.

How can we do business?

This could have been avoided.

Freeze! Freeze!

Freeze!

Where's the owner?

Who's the accountant?

Where's your boss?

Please sit down.

Sit down, OK? Sit down.

Sorry, I need to check.

Please take out your IDs.

We need to check everyone's ID.

Sorry.

Take out your ID if you have it.

Show your ID.

The flowing River Nile

Gently calls me

Distant memories of my own time

A slumber of a thousand years

Silently lingering

Slowly tempting

Your golden smile

Our promise of three lifetimes together

Sis!

Can the river of time

Sis!

Stop flowing for me?

Sis!

Lost in time and space

Sis!

Searching for love

Come here! How do I draw this?

What is it?

Look! How do I write this?

Why did you box it all up?

Pretend the sunlight comes from here.

Then you just have to draw the shadows.

Like this.

Isn't that more three-dimensional?

Yeah.

What is this?

I can't draw!

Just do it like that.

OK!

Hello?

What?

Where is he now?

How can I reach him?

All right.

I'll go right now... NT$100,000, right?

Oh, OK.

Xiaoyang-

I withdrew the money.

100,000 NT dollars.

Thank you.

Something to drink?

Orange juice.

Orange juice?

One orange juice.

What are you going to do?

Probably head south for a while.

Your brother is a great guy.

I actually do understand what he says to me.

But I can't change who I am.

Isn't your mother in Japan?

You could go to Japan.

I thought about that.

But I can't right now.

If I turn up at the airport,

they'll arrest me.

How could I make it to Japan?

I have to make a call.

Hello? Just a second.

Xiaofang, it's for you.

Xiaofen, take it for me.

Hello? Who is it?

Just a moment.

It's San, he says it's urgent.

Hello?

OK.

OK.

Where?

OK, got it.

I'll contact you when I get there.

My friends in Kaohsiung will help.

Maybe I'll go to the Philippines first.

Then try to find a way to Japan.

OK.

Hello?

Is that Xiaoyang?

Yes.

This is Uncle Fung.

Hi, Uncle Fung.

Your father was shot on duty this morning.

How is he?

He's stable.

But it'd be best if you came.

Which hospital?

Taichung Veterans Hospital.

It's best if you can come now.

OK, thanks.

Hi, please page 767 for me.

It's his sister.

Tell him there's an urgent family matter.

Ask him to call home.

OK, thanks.

Summer's really here.

You can pack away the winter clothes.

Xiaoyang, we're out of soy sauce.

Xiaowei! Go and buy some soy sauce.

OK.

Grandpa! What were you doing outside?

Grandpa went out for a fart.

The Wind's blowing it in!

You just can't hold back a good fart.

Back home,

the kids all loved to hear Grandpa fart.

Brother!

Where are you going?

Buying soy sauce.

Put it in the middle.

Aunty, come and eat with us.

No, I have to cook back home too.

Where's Xiaofen from?

Tainan.

She seems like a very nice person.

I had a bad dream the other day.

Brother had been shot in the neck.

He just kept staring at me.

I was so scared I woke up.

Right after that,

I heard about Dad's accident.

Maybe it's all for the good.

They usually argue whenever they meet.

It seems a lot better now.

You know they're both very stubborn.

I've never seen either of them cry.

Not even the day Ma died.

But there was that one time

when Dad did cry.

A letter came from Hong Kong

saying my grandmother had passed away.

I'd just come home from school.

Did you hear that San is dead?

Didn't he move down south?

Your brother said he was killed in Tamshui.

The flowing River Nile

Gently calls me

Distant memories of my own time

A slumber of a thousand years

Silently lingering

Slowly tempting

Your golden smile

Hello, KFC.

She can't take calls during her shift.

OK then, please hold.

Hello?

Xiaoyang-

Withdraw all the cash in your account.

Yes, all of it.

Let me know when you have it.

Nothing.

I said it's nothing.

I said it's nothing!

Teacher's coming.

What's he writing?

- Summer break? - "The last class"!

An early break?

What's going on?

Sorry.

This is my last day at this school.

- Why? - Is it closing down?

From tomorrow, I won't be here.

Sir, what's wrong?

Sir, where are you going?

Sir, are you getting married?

To be more specific,

I'll be on my own from tomorrow.

Understand?

Sir, please don't go.

But since I've paid up to today,

please take out your textbooks.

We'll do Lesson 7 today

The Legend of Jin Ke.

You should come home more often.

Sure.

How's Dad?

He's in pain again.

You withdrew the cash?

Yes.

This is the present

that San got you for your birthday.

I found it when I was cleaning out the bar.

Take it.

The bar's closed?

Yeah.

So what's next?

We'll see.

Your brother's been gambling a lot lately.

He lost a lot of money.

He didn't come back last night.

I haven't been able to find him.

Did you call his pager?

He left the pager at home, he doesn't have it.

I even went looking for him at the gambling hall.

Don't be upset, I think...

he's been kind of low recently.

He's been acting strange.

He gets angry very easily.

I'm worried somethings going to happen.

The night before last a burglar entered

the home of a sports teacher in Da-an district.

Caught in the act, he attacked the owner with a metal wrench.

Xiaowei,

tell your dad it's time for dinner.

Dad! Dinner!

Your aunt has cooked, it's time to come.

At around 2:30 am...

Put your schoolbooks away.

...he was going to the bathroom and saw the thief.

He was struck with the wrench,

and heard the thief call his gang members for help.

In panic, he grabbed a baseball bat...

Xiaoyang-

Xiaoyang-

Your aunt has cooked, dinner's ready!

I'm not hungry.

Come on, how can kids not be hungry?

It's hot.

Is your arm any better?

A little.

Eat slowly.

Xiaoyang-

Get the phone!

Hello?

Xiaoyang?

Did you hear the radio?

The news broadcast?

I did, but they haven't identified anyone yet.

I have a feeling it's Xiaofang.

The news said when the guy was caught,

he called for his 'brothers' to help.

I remember one time in Yonghe.

He was caught then, too.

He shouted to Chen and Xiong to have guns ready.

He said they'd shoot anyone who moved.

No-one did move.

$0 I have a feeling it could be your brother.

Of course I can't be sure.

We'll have to find out.

I'll call you when I know more.

Hello?

Xiaoyang, are you listening?

Hello?

Sis! My safety pin isn't here!

Sis!

Go and help her.

Sis, what's wrong?

Go to school.

Oh...

Then you have to feed the bunny for me.

That day,

when the police came to notify us,

Dad just sat there, staring into space.

Later we went to identify the body.

The skull was cracked open.

He looked peaceful.

Dad tried to hit the corpse,

but they held him back.

He just kept screaming at him.

"In the Bible, the prophet Jeremiah

"prophesied that this city

"would become desolate.

"A dry desert, a savage wilderness

"with no inhabitants.

"No people.

"The mysterious capital, Babylon."

Starring: Yang Lin

Yang Fan, Hsin Shu-fen

Jack Kao, You An-shun

Li Tian-lu, Tsui Fu-Sheng

Producers: Lee Hsien-chang, Chang Hwa-kun

Director: Hou Hsiao-hsien

Screenplay: Chu Tien-wen

Cinematography: Chen Huai-en

Lighting: Li Ya-tung, Wang Sen

Production design: Liu Chih-hwa, Lin Chu

Music: Chen Chih-yuan, Chang Hung-yi

Editing: Liao Ching-song

Additional dialogue recording: Tu Duu-chih

Subtitles: Stan Lai, Tony Rayns