Original subtitles

I grew up in northern Minnesota.

And I remember snowdrifts that would bury whole parking lots,

icicles longer than a hockey stick,

and being stuck with three layers of clothing.

My favourite, though, was when they announced

exposed flesh warnings on the radio to prevent frostbite.

When I came to California, I found out it's really a small world.

They had exposed flesh warnings, too, called "beach parties. "

The type of party that did away with frostbite

did away with most of the clothing too.

But the beach isn't the only place for a party.

And I had some friends who really knew how to party down.

You know,

it took me a while to perfect the basket trick.

But there is absolutely no defence.

I can read your body. You're telegraphing your moves.

- Too much tension. - I think it's the mask.

It's just to help you forget I'm a woman.

Fat chance.

A mask isn't gonna do it.

Tent, maybe.

Hello.

It's yours.

Lisa Chan. Hello.

Sure, I'm still interested.

Um, I could fly up right away.

I'II be there by noon.

- Ha! - Bad news?

That was a guy up in San Francisco interested

in financing my karate studio.

He wants me to catch a 10:30 flight.

That's terrific. You need a ride to the airport?

No, I'm okay.

- But I could use a small favour. - Name it.

Uh, Paul, he's at a birthday party, and somebody's gotta pick him up.

- No problem. - Mac,

he's changed since Iast year.

He's a grown man of 14, and I'm his mean big sister.

Well, now, that's just because he's a teenager.

Mac, he's started talking about our parents' death again.

And that was seven years ago.

I don't know what he's thinking anymore,

what he's doing, who his friends are.

- I can't get through to him anymore! - AII right. Whoa. Relax a Iittle, will you?

I'II talk to him. Where's this party?

Well, here's the address.

But Paul's changed Iike crazy since you Iast saw him.

Yeah? Does he still have that patch of white in his hair?

Yeah.

I'II recognize him.

She gave me an address,

but what I really needed was a road map.

In Chinatown it helps to have some guidance from a local expert.

I first saw him a month ago, and I believe he is the Wish Child.

Perhaps.

We are honoured, Dr. Shen.

The Iegend is 1200 years old, and I have Iived to see his return.

I sense the spirit of disbelief.

We have never met.

- No. - Yet you are a man of history.

A cultural historian, yes.

And you have brought me a test.

This is the Rock of Shin Tze from the dynasty of the Wish Child.

The Iegend states that the true Wish Child

will bring a sign from the rock.

I think you will know this.

The sign of the Wish Child.

Hi, how are you?

Can't go in there. Private party.

Yeah, I know. Um, I'm meeting one of the kids here, Paul Chan.

His sister, Lisa, can't pick him up.

Neither can you.

No problem.

I remember the age when it was cool to be bad.

Dumb age.

Somehow I didn't think they were serving ice cream and cake

at this birthday party.

But it'd be rude not to bring a present.

Now it just needed some gift-wrapping.

Perfect.

Yeah, I was right.

Dumb age.

Oh, between my Iegs.

Oh, there it goes.

Whose is this?

Teenage party?

Whatever happened to Spin the Bottle?

Hey, Paul.

- What's going on? MacGyver?

- Who is he? - Name's MacGyver.

- The sign of the Wish Child. - Dr. Shen, we must go.

Nice quiet neighbourhood.

But not as loud as the ringing in my ears.

I had no idea how I got here,

or even where here was. But I had definitely run into some party animals.

It's funny,

gunpowder smells the same no matter how you write it.

I was sitting on a pile of fireworks,

and some joker is outside playing shake, rattle and roll.

I'd had enough of this party.

It was definitely time to leave.

So I figured a small directional explosive would make a door.

Hopefully without blowing up the whole box.

Anyway, it'd just be a matter of seconds before light became a match,

and I'd either blow out...

... or up.

No one told me the party had moved upstairs.

Excuse me! Uh...

Down, please!

That's it!

I changed my mind.

I'm not taking that cruise.

It'd just take me forever to get the police

to believe a story about being shanghaied in Chinatown.

And that was too long to wait

when I had to find a kid who was in real trouble.

Mr. Lee, Dr. Shen is here.

Have him wait.

Mr. Lee, I have news.

Not here.

Ot-Su, no one is to enter this area.

Mr. Lee,

your collection brings honour to our ancestors.

Thank you, Dr. Shen.

I have spent 40 years and some wealth

to preserve the truth of the Wish Child,

to make the Iegend reality.

Did you see this boy, Paul Chan?

- Yes, I did. - And?

The boy...

...drew this out of the Rock of Shin Tze.

But how?

You x-rayed the stone and found no markings,

- nothing inside. - The Iegend states

that the Wish Child shall find the soul of the stone.

That is correct.

Then perhaps finally,

finally he has returned.

Lisa was out of touch. Paul was out of reach.

And the only place to start looking for him was where I'd lost him.

As agreed, Dr. Shen.

I feel...

...that I must mention one thing.

This man, Stone...

Is a petty criminal. Dishonest by preference,

a thief and swindler by trade.

- With several murders to his credit. - Then you know.

I always know, Dr. Shen,

and I'm always prepared.

I have found a most useful friend among Stone's people.

Your research has been most helpful.

Thank you, Dr. Shen.

Our Iives...

...shall soon be joined.

Guess the party was over.

Pretty neat.

When the guests went home, they took the furniture with them.

Sometimes you gotta read between the lines.

Whatever Paul was into had something to do

with this Wish Child business.

And this impression in the floor was the only lead I had.

And, of course, it was in Chinese.

So I had two choices:

I could bring the interpreter to the floor or take the floor to the interpreter.

Problem is, how do you move a floor?

First thing you need is a chisel.

And a chisel's no good without a hammer.

Well, I got the message.

Ah, this I think you'II really Iike.

Oh, see the natural grain there. Yeah, it's $30.

Oh, an honourable gift all the way from China.

Brought it right from the dock. Uh, a real collector's item.

See you.

Hey, Sam.

- Hey, MacGyver. What do you know? - Good to see you, guy.

Hey, Iook, no more painted parrots, huh?

These are authentic fakes all the way from Taiwan.

Straight off the boat? - Cheap too.

Not in the market, Sammy. Thank you.

I'm Iooking for anything you can tell me about this.

- Oh, wow. It's the Wish Child. - The what?

A Iot of noise on the street about this kid doing the Wish Child hustle.

So I am currently offering these real, genuine copies

of a certified replica in the Golden Era Museum.

You can't get more honest than that.

Hey, Mac, the museum's doing a heavy research thing...

...on the Wish Child Iegend.

Mucho hot item. Hey, on me.

Thank you.

I'm Iooking for the kid who's playing this Wish Child.

Right. That's his symbol.

See, a Iot of people are fighting to put good money down on the kid.

It's a great gig.

- You mean hustle? - Well...

...most people don't buy it, but enough do.

We're talking old-time Chinese Iegends here.

I mean, ancient.

A Iot of people believe that 400 years ago,

the Wish Child was reborn as a warlord's son.

And after a battle the whole family's knocked off,

while the Wish Child is just wandering around the mountains,

totally zonked out, with no memory of the attack

except that a patch of his hair has turned white.

- A white patch? - Yeah, snow white.

And no memory.

Then a bandit nabs him, recognizes him as the Wish Child,

- tries to sell him. - Sell him because he grants wishes?

Better. Heavier.

The Iegend says, you Iink your soul to his,

you got immortality.

Oh, if I could only bottle it, I'd be rich.

Sammy, I'm talking about a 14-year-old kid from Santa Monica,

not the mists of antiquity. Who's bottling him?

Guy named Stone, half Chinese, half sewer rat out of Hong Kong.

He tries to play Iegit. Owns a restaurant in the Iower district.

This, um, hustler type,

about six feet, real fashion plate?

Yeah.

But, MacGyver, Stone comes on Iike Mr. CIean,

but he's really down and dirty.

There's a Iot of people that still believe the Iegend,

so Stone will keep selling the kid as Iong as he can.

But when it's over, so is the kid. You know what I mean?

Yeah.

The kid's my responsibility.

He's also my friend.

You know what I mean?

Good Iuck, pal.

You were quite a pro, kid. Did a hell of a job on Shen Wei today.

It was easy switching those rocks.

I wonder if this rock of his is real.

Who knows, maybe I really am the Wish Child.

Yeah, maybe you are at that.

Just gotta keep it going a Iittle while Ionger. Sit tight.

How did you handle that MacGyver guy?

He shipped out to New Zealand.

Hmm. Nice touch.

No body, no cops, no noise. Diplomatic.

Make contact with Mr. Lee.

Now Dr. Shen will confirm for us.

Did the old man, Dr. Shen, buy the scam?

Lock, stock and phoney rock.

The kid was great.

Mr. Lee made contact. He's interested.

I'II meet him, set up the deal, we'II have the money and be rid of the kid.

- How? - He won't be coming back.

- Got something special for you, kid. - Whoa!

I told you, good things are coming. Rich things.

Yeah! Wait till Lisa sees the karate studio I'm gonna buy her.

She'II stop thinking I'm some kind of Ioser.

Hey, everybody's gonna respect you, Paul. Everybody.

You are the Wish Child.

You know, sometimes I think, maybe,

- what if I was? - We both know you're special, Paul.

That's why it's gonna be great from now on, right?

- Right. - See you a minute?

Go to the back room and start rehearsing. I'II be right there.

Okay.

MacGyver- - Paul, I need to talk to you

just for a few minutes, away from here, okay?

Okay. AII right, come on.

What are you sneaking around Iike this for?

So your friends back there don't cream me again.

Stone? He wouldn't do that.

He would, he did, and he will again if I give him half a chance.

Ji, the kid's missing.

Find him!

Aw, You're just saying that just to get me to go home.

Well, I'm not. You can just tell Lisa that too.

I've got a big appointment today, and you're not gonna blow it for me.

Paul, if that appointment is with Stone, it's dangerous to you. He's bad news.

Mac, that man is my friend.

You never spent time with him, of course you don't trust him.

Hey, he really watches out for me.

Look, Iook. He gave me this.

Ooh, neat. Is that how you measure friendship?

Stone talks to me about my future.

He understands me better than Lisa or you.

Your future as part of a scam? Terrific.

We're not hurting anybody.

People really believe I'm this Wish Child, and it makes them happy.

They even give me money.

It's a rip-off, Paul, and you know it.

Or do you really believe you're this Wish Child?

Look, that car accident killed my mom and dad,

and I wasn't even touched.

Except for this.

Just Iike in the Iegend.

You don't believe it, do you?

Believe this, Paul.

I care about you.

I consider us friends.

I'm not a kid anymore.

AII right, Iet's talk, man to man.

Let's get out of here first, what do you say, huh?

Mac, what are you doing?

They're hunting for us. The only way out is over that wall.

With an umbrella? No, a grappling hook.

Paul, get that rope.

Attaboy.

AII right, come on! Paul!

Come on! Paul!

They won't hurt me, Mac. They work for Stone.

Yeah, right.

Don't worry about it, Mac. I know what I'm doing.

Paul! - Don't worry.

You heard what he said, be nice.

Well, there went Paul,

on his way to that important appointment.

And all I had for a road map was a postcard I didn't understand

in a language I couldn't read.

But I remembered one thing:

Sammy had lifted this from the Golden Era Museum,

where I might find something more about the Wish Child.

I used to love museums when I was a kid.

You never knew what you'd find inside.

I liked mysteries back then.

Surprising...

...to find a Caucasian scholar of the Wish Child Iegend.

Well, the name's MacGyver, and I was Iooking for a...

Didn't I see you at a ceremony with Paul Chan?

The Wish Child, yes. I am Dr. Shen Wei.

Yeah. I am here because of the Iegend, and because of Paul.

His family asked me to Iook after him.

Look after the Wish Child?

Let me show you something, Mr. MacGyver.

It was a violent time, 400 years ago.

The child was attacked.

But while his protectors were killed,

he survived, miraculously.

And wandered into the mountains.

- You know? - I've heard.

And you have doubts.

Understandable. But we have records four centuries old.

He was taken by a bandit chieftain and sold for a fortune in gold.

- Paul. - He is the Wish Child.

He is a 14-year-old kid from Santa Monica who's in a Iot of trouble.

Now, what does this Stone wanna do with Paul?

Good to have you back, kid.

MacGyver just doesn't understand, that's all.

I mean, we're not really cheating this Mr. Lee, are we?

Paul, Mr. Lee asked to meet us.

And he's a very rich man.

If it makes him happy to see the Wish Child, that's great.

And if it's worth money to him, that's up to him, isn't it?

We're not really twisting his arms.

You know, I feel Iike it's real.

Paul, it's one million dollars worth of real.

- For you and me. Right.

Mr. Stone.

Welcome.

I do not know Mr. Stone's business. I'm a scholar, Mr. MacGyver.

Whose?

Come on, Dr. Shen, who's paying for all this?

Who's the money source so hooked on the Wish Child, huh?

His name is Lee Wenying.

But he is only interested in the Wish Child as a scholar,

as the Iegend come alive.

I have always felt...

...special.

AIways?

Or since the day of your parents' tragic death?

Tell me.

I don't want to bring back an old pain, but it is necessary.

We were going to visit Lisa,

my sister, at her college.

It was a mountain road, real twisty.

There were rocks on the road.

And the car...

...slipped.

And Dad yelled.

And the car hit the fence, and it went over and down.

And I heard Mom.

- I heard- - Child.

I don't remember.

I was crying and running all night. I just don't remember.

That's all right.

Neither did the Wish Child.

He wandered into the mountains,

becoming what he was to be.

You see, I was paid to verify a possibility

that the Iegend, the Wish Child, had reappeared.

Mr. Lee contacted Stone so he could talk to Paul.

- Where do I find him? - I'm sorry.

Dr. Shen, I have been slugged,

dumped, shanghaied and shot at.

And I think the reason is because of Paul.

Now, why?

What does Mr. Lee want with him?

Some believe that a man can achieve immortality

by Iinking his soul with that of the child.

And Mr. Lee Wenying is old.

He will cherish the boy, protect him.

As Iong as the child is alive, Mr. Lee will Iive.

Protect him?

Don't you mean keep him?

You helped sell a 14-year-old boy into slavery for Iife.

- No. - Oh, yeah.

The Iegend says a bandit sold the child for gold.

Now, Stone may have done the selling, but you okayed the sale.

Nobody but you.

Now, where's Paul?

Paul. Paul is-

Dr. Shen?

Mr. Lee did not believe me.

Dr. Shen, you must tell me where Paul is. PIease.

Uh...

In the freighter.

Pier...

...K-63.

Forward hold.

Steel door.

Child inside that door.

I felt this in the stone.

Proof, Mr. Lee. He is the child.

Proof?

Come. I will test you.

The handprint of the child.

Four hundred years ago

in the temple wall.

PIace your hand in the impression.

You are the child.

You are.

Come.

- How did you do that? - I don't know. It just fit.

This was the child, as you are the child.

It Iooks just Iike me.

Of course. Mr. Stone.

The money is yours. The child is mine.

Stone, what's he talking about?

- Sorry, kid. Goodbye. Stone! Stone!

Hey, Iet me out!

I'm not this Wish Child. It was a fake. Stone!

Stone.

Mr. Lee's boat ran about 50,000 tons.

A little bit smaller than Fort Knox, but about as hard to bust into.

I could make an official complaint,

and something might happen,

about six days after the ship sailed.

So I'll just have to put something together.

- You did a fine job, Mr. Stone. - Thank you.

Now, if you Ieave over this side of the ship, no one will see you.

Good.

As agreed, one million dollars in gold.

Is that satisfactory, Mr. Stone?

- Yes, indeed. - Good.

Teng?

An honourable bargain, Mr. Stone.

The gold is yours forever.

Old Minnesota wisdom:

Ifyou don't wanna be touched, look downright untouchable.

I will set the course once we're at sea, captain.

Yes, sir. - I expect to cast off in 37 minutes.

Okay, stand clear, mate!

I just got this fixed.

Heads up.

You there! Where are you going?

- Nobody allowed in this section. - Oh, yeah?

You wanna tell Mr. Lee he's not getting his auxiliary fixed, huh?

I didn't think so.

Don't touch that, it's important.

Hey, what are you doing here?

- This is the forward hold, isn't it? - Yeah.

I got work to do down here. Hold that, will you?

Let go of me! Let go of me!

Wait a minute! What are you doing?

- Give me back my gun. - I'II just hold this for you, all right?

Let me down! I said, get me down!

Get me down! Get me down!

Get back here! Get me down!

Ah...

Try to shoot the lock out of a steel door

and bullets will just bounce off.

Besides, I hate guns.

Teng, call me when we cast off. I'II be below.

Now, if you get the gunpowder inside the lock...

...and rig a cartridge as kind of a fuse...

...then use the gun the right way,

bingo.

Mac! Am I glad to see you. You were right about Stone.

- They were gonna- - AII right, tell me along the way.

What are you doing?

Hold that up.

Mr. Lee...

Child.

Is that you?

Paul, Iet's move!

Child, come back!

Come back, child! Come back!

Hold it. Child!

Let's try this way.

Guards! Guards!

Guards!

Let me out!

The child escaped. He must not Ieave the ship!

Up the Iadder. Come on.

Aaarggh!

Mac!

Child!

Come back!

Child! Child!

No! Come back!

You must stay with me!

Our Iives are one!

But how?

Maybe he believed in the Iegend too much.

Come on.

Mm. Good.

Come in. - Hi.

- Oh, hi, Lisa. How was San Francisco?

Ugh, don't ask.

Oh, yeah? Well, you're just in time for pizza ?Ia MacGyver.

- I need it. I had a day Iike a curse. - That good, huh?

Anyway, I see you found him.

- No problem. - So was the birthday party fun?

Outstanding.