Original subtitles

Jesus, oh!

Oh God

No Metal in the microwave

No metal!

Martha, it's Robert

Just to let you know to keep an eye peeled

for the first reviews of your breathlessly awaited first novel

Word is, the Times is going to rave...

Talk later

Thanks

You look like shit

Where's Grandpa?

He's so cute with the headphones on

Hi Grandpa!

Do you think he remembers me?

Come on, it's a steal You've got to see it

You'll have your own room to write in

Grandpa can be out in the back chopping bricks or whatever he does out there

You'd never even know he existed

I wish he didn't

God, he's really getting you down

From the way Alex has acted for the last 7 years

you'd have thought he didn't have a father

And then boom, a month ago this showed up on the doorstep

I haven't written a word since

Well, Alex has got to get him out of here

It's not that simple with Alex

and frankly we can't afford to buy another place

let alone a mansion

Of course you can

especially if your mother's offer is still good

Alex will never accept money from her you know that

Work on Him!

For God sakes, Martha you have a lot to learn about men

And you have a lot to learn about husbands

Sorry

It's okay. I'm getting a dog

Hi Alex!

Smells good Good Jimmy

Grandpa, I'm home

How's my boy!

What's that?

It's a book I made for you

Animals that change

One day

I saw the most weird thing

It was a turtle, a fish and a rat

They were in a puddle of potion

They grew

They destroy the universe. The end

Jeremy gets some ideas

Come on. Let's clean up for dinner

Dad, you shouldn't eat so much fat at your age

How are you today?

Did you watch those tapes I rented for you?

Terrible!

I'll get you some Taiwanese tapes

They'll be just as bad

Well, what about some Hong Kong kung-fu movies?

The worst!

Their kung-fu's a joke

Dad! They're only acting

You're a Tai Chi professor They can't compare

Damn, I can't learn English

It's a disgrace to go back

My life is going nowhere

Dad

it hasn't even been a month since you retired and came to America

Give yourself some time

Jeremy come here come here you little rascal

Come here

Come here, Jeremy. Get off the couch

I don't have time for this, come here

Whoa!

My precious young man running bare naked!

Let me see!

The future of the Chu family is depending on your little treasure

What does he think he's doing?

That's all right

Chinese elders must always reassure themselves

that their family name will go on

Come on Jeremy, upstairs with you!

She's afraid he'll catch cold

Kids aren't made out of paper

Thanks

Thanks

No, thanks

Why does this American woman only eat vegetables?

She's afraid of getting fat

Why am I not fat?

On this Earth there are two kinds of food

Cereal and vegetables are 'yin'

and meat is 'yang'

You must eat both to be balanced

and to be healthy

Alex, Linda came over today

Great

What's that supposed to mean?

Just great

What exactly do you have against her anyway?

So what if she was a Maoist in college?

From Maoist revolutionary to real estate baron

If there's one thing worse than a communist

it's an ex-communist who has become a capitalist

Well, she's ready to do us quite a big favor

Oh no. She's trying to sell us a house again

What's she mumbling about? Nothing

Something about cigarette butts?

What?

Mommy said she wants to move out

Quiet!

Alex, I'm talking to you

Mommy, can I watch cartoons?

Here

put some meat on your bones!

I don't want it, thank you

Jeremy, finish your milk and you can watch TV

What did she say?

If he finishes his milk, he can watch TV

American people teach children

everything's a deal, like doing business

You should at least take a look at the photos

It's apparently a real steal If children can't concentrate on eating

what else can they concentrate on?

Yes, father

And, these American cartoons

are only adding weirdness and violence

to this messed up world

for children? It's just a mess

Our sages said... Dad, eat!

Don't get upset. I'm just afraid your dinner's getting cold

What has he been babbling about?

The violence in cartoons

How can he complain he's martial arts expert himself

Isn't that violent enough?

Would you cut it out? Both of you!

Just eat

You finish up. I'm going out for a smoke

In America, you're so polite to kids You think so?

You don't treat kids as kids

It's not so simple

It's called democracy

No big and no little

I see, you understand America better than me

Chinese Time

Jeremy, stop playing

Come on, time for homework

Alex

The teachers' Putonghua is poor

Is his Chinese school any good?

Don't be too picky!

We only have one Chinese school around here

Every weekend Jeremy learns some Chinese

I can play basketball

and you get to teach Tai Chi

Thanks God for it!

Let's follow what they teach

Eh! Not like that

Dad, I've got some things to take care of

Jeremy, come on

Grandpa will teach you an old Chinese rhyme

On East West Street, North South Go

Outside the gate, a man bites a dog!

Grab the dog to hit a brick

Watch out that brick might bite the hand

Follow Grandpa

On East West Street

North South Go

Outside the gate a man bites a dog

Outside the gate a dog bites a man

a man bites a dog!

a man bites a dog!

Shit

Just one more sentence

Okay

How's your computer virus?

Almost killed

and when can I start reading your new book?

There is no new book, can't you tell?

Shit Alex, are as out of it as your father?

You don't know my father

I have spent every single day

in the same room with that man since he showed up here a month ago

Alex, it's impossible

He's taken over my work room

I just don't have the space to think

Not enough space?

In China, this house is big enough for four families

Sure, but they'd speak the same language so they could talk to each other

Alex he hasn't learned one word of English

And what about you?

What have you done but make fun of him treating him with disrespect?

Alex, I tried

I'm his only son What do you want me to do?

You could at least consider moving into a bigger place. We can afford it

No

I don't see why we have to pay for his insurance

Let him eat us out of house and home

when we can't accept a little loan from my mother

It's not a little loan, it's a bride a big bride and you know it

You look a little freaked out here

Come on, let's go to bed

Good night Alex

Honestly Linda I don't know why we're here

Come on, let's explore

Father-and-son

Father

Sweep

Step back

Collect

Hook

Step out

Single whip

Play guitar

Lean

White crane spreads its wing

Left hand ward off

Right hand attack

Excuse me, are you the instructor here?

I teach the cooking class

My name is Chen and you?

What's your name?

Chu

Master Chu

Please, we're all friends here

Don't call me master

Mr. Chu, I don't know what our headmaster's thinking

my class is making dumplings, half-done

Some workmen just came in to do some repairs

we have to leave

I see you have plenty of space here

could we move in

just this once?

Dumplings can be moved in

but they can't be moved out

We've also got scallion pancakes and spring rolls!

Come on, let's help!

Thank you

Sink your chest

Stretch your back

Imagine a string pulling up your head

Sink lower your body

Master Chu

don't torture the child!

Look at all his weight

How can he 'sink his chest'?

Let him help me knead the dough

Oh, it's so difficult

Mrs. Chen, next week I'll help you make dumplings

Can I enroll?

Next week, no dumplings

but General Tso's Special Chicken

Master Chu, would you please demonstrate

how to emit force with Pushing Hands?

Okay, let's try Thank you

My God, would that hurt?

Hey, Mr. Chu, try me

You're too heavy

So your kung-fu can only go so far!

Okay

Mr. Chu, can you take the fighting away?

Don't you see these burners

and the boiling water!

It's alright if Heavyweight gets burned but the dumplings!

If you smash them what're we going to eat?

We'll eat roast pigging!

Oh, okay!

Far enough? I'm ready Master!

What! Haven't you any eyes to see!

Sorry...!

I don't mean you!

It's your Master who wasn't looking

of all the directions!

Why did you throw Heavyweight right smack on the dumplings!

Excellent aim!

Okay! No dumplings today!

Instead, we'll have sandy crab scalded noodle lump soup!

I'm sorry

It wasn't on purpose!

It was on purpose

Are you okay? It was on purpose!

Got mad

In front of all these people sooner or later

I knew you'd show off!

Sorry...!

Okay! Don't stand there with a red face!

Let's clean up!

Everyone helps!

No more Tai Chi Chuan! We'll make dumplings!

Come... Did you hear that?

Master says no more Tai Chi!

Let's move

Oh my, what's this shape?

Hold on. Let me see your hands. Filthy!

Men, all of you wash your hands

Use soap! No dirty hands on my dumplings

Is that clear? Quick...

Mr. Chu, sit!

Let the young people stand

Come and sit

Not bad

Thin skin, plump stuffing, nice twist

It's nothing

Northerners like making things from dough

Are you from Peking? Yes

How long have you been here?

Just over a month

Are you used to it here?

If I was would I be here messing around?

Watch what you're saying, I'm here too

I don't mean that

America is a world for young people

Are you also from Peking?

Do I seem like I am?

By your accent, yes; the way you look, no

That's right

1949, I went with my husband to Taiwan to escape the Communists

And Mr. Chen is... He's dead

His name wasn't Chen

Not long after we arrived in Taiwan he got liver cancer and passed away

I'm called Mrs. Chen

because of my second husband

Oh

and Mr. Chen?

He's dead too, just last year

Life and death, it's fate

Riches and rags are given by the gods You just accept it. Everything is destiny

Sure...

Earlier this year, I left Taiwan came to live with my daughter

Every Saturday, I bring my granddaughter here to study Chinese

Are you used to it here?

How did you put it just now?

If I wasn't so bored at home

how could your Heavyweight have smashed my dumplings?

A computer couldn't have aimed more accurately

Destiny, it's all destiny

That's right!

What kung-fu!

What's the matter?

Since last year sometimes my right arm just gives out

when I pick up something a little heavy

It's helpless

Have you seen a doctor? Yes

Chinese doctors, western doctors

acupressure, acupuncture herbal remedies, shots, medicine

I've tried everything but getting a spell cast on me

I'm just old

Mrs. Chen, I don't want to sound like a self-promoter

but practicing Tai Chi will heal your arm

Okay, spare me!

Haven't I suffered enough in this life?

Practice? I won't be that stupid enough

No, when you practice Tai Chi your circulation and energy will flow

I've let go, I'm not holding on

Energy must be released to me

When it's released there's no tension and one feels at ease

What's up?

The review, I can't find it

When you arrive at old age everything is quiet

There the gentle wind passes through the pine forest

15 minutes to practice Okay

When the moon is rising and shining on the mountain

I only want to go to the familiar forest I reply with a simple fisherman's song

Alex

Yes?

Does New York have a place to mat Chinese calligraphy?

Who's the present for?

You know, last week I smashed Mrs. Chen's dumplings

I was so embarrassed I want to give her this

I'm just afraid she'll laugh at my calligraphy

Come on Dad

we know you're good

What's the matter?

They've ignored the book

Just pretended it doesn't exist

It'll be in next week

What's a matter with her?

There's no review of her book

Years from now we'll all be lying peacefully underground

What's the big deal?

Dad, when're we going? Coming

What is it?

A stomach cramp or something Nothing important

Do you want to lie down on the couch?

What's wrong with her?

A stomach cramp

Let me take a look. Make her lie down

Dad said he wants to take a look at it

He knows this kind of thing He does?

He's an expert

She's too tense something's wrong with her stomach

You're too tight Thanks for letting me know

T ell her to relax

Just relax

What happened? Mom!

Oh my god! Get away from me! Relax!

What did you do to her?

Her stomach's bleeding! Quick get her to the hospital!

I want to go too Jeremy, be good

You broke Mama

Jeremy wants a goldfish, right?

Here's a big tail

Big eyes and thick lips

And wings

What's Martha's condition?

Her stomach was bleeding She has to stay in the hospital

How's Mommy?

Oh

Mommy is all right She just needs a little rest, okay?

I didn't do anything to her

Her tension caused her stomach to bleed

I know that

Can I go to the hospital with you?

Dad

Is this the calligraphy you want matted?

Go take care of Martha

Don't bother about me

Can I have some macaroni and cheese please?

Wait until Sunday when your mother comes home, all right?

Master Chu Hello everybody!

Master Chu, they tell me your kung-fu is great

Last week, you barely touched Mr. Sung and you sent him flying

And you threw Heavyweight right on the dumplings

Nah, where's Mrs. Chen then?

I don't know. She's not coming anymore I'm the new teacher

Not teach? Yes

Why? I don't know

You can ask them

Her family's going to that other school north of here

If you want to contact her, you can ask the principal about her telephone number

Okay, I'll go for my class

Is this General Tso's Special Chicken?

No, we aren't making chicken This is to make 'eoly ice'

'Eoly ice'? Yes

Oily rice. Oh yes, OILY RICE!

Hey, do you want us to bring the oily rice over so you can throw Heavyweight in?

Alex, will you make a call for me?

Mrs. Chen's family doesn't come here anymore

I still have to

give her the calligraphy

No one's home. It's their machine

Yici Chen. This is Alex Chu

My Dad has a present to give your mother

Give us a call

at 287-0425. Thanks

How can you talk like that?

Like what?

I'm not going to the hospital with you to see Martha

Take me home to wait for the call

Relax Dad, they're not going anywhere

I can't communicate with Martha

You'll be there for hours and all I can do is stare into space

Okay

Hey mister, don't kid me

I never kid anybody

Hello... It's me

Mrs. Chen?

Why weren't you at school?

Yes...

Don't listen to my kid. What nonsense!

It's not a present

I'm still embarrassed

about what I did to your class last week

Okay. How about this?

Tomorrow at 11:00, my son's going to get his wife at the hospital

We'll come by at 10:30

Okay...

It's nothing

She's a small stomach problem

Right, then

see you tomorrow

Hello, Uncle Chu!

Not at all, welcome!

Mother, they come!

How are you, Yici?

Hi! Hi, Jeremy Hi, auntie

Why are you all guarding the door?

Come in, sit down!

Sorry, we've got to get to the hospital to pick up my wife

Oh, you can't be late then

Is your wife, all right?

What am I talking about!

She's getting out of the hospital

Mr. Chu, how are you?

Good, Mrs. Chen, at your new school

is there a cooking class?

Not until I showed up

There's a kung-fu class too

But it's only Karate

They don't have grace

Better than Tai Chi Chuan

they sound much tougher

but they can't throw anywhere near as far as you!

Dad, we'd better get going

I planned for you to stay for lunch

but you've got to get to the hospital

I won't keep you

for dinner

Next time Thanks and bye

Uh, you stopped by today to?

Ah! I forget

You shouldn't have. Thank you

I'm going to hang it up right away

It's nothing

Drive carefully!

Bye

Good bye!

Bye!

What's the rush! We didn't even get the scroll open!

Thanks!

Toothache?

There isn't much you can do But you sure have a lot of problems

Mr. Philips called

Jeremy received the lowest reading scores in the gifted class again

That school is too distracting for him

No Alex, we're too distracting for him

He's only responding to the situation at home

Then change it

What's your problem?

What's your problem?

I ain't got any problem

Get back in the car, Alex!

Shut up!

Great

Martha

What do you want? I go for a walk

A walk? I don't know

I don't want to see you getting lost

Smoking

You know, in a way I'm kind of baby sitting you

I'll just hang around, won't go far Do you understand what I'm saying to you?

All right. Go ahead

What do I care?

Oh Jeremy, where'd you get those?

T eddy gave them to me

Well go put them away

Go on. Go get yourself cleaned up

Dad

What're you looking for? Dad

Where's he?

Oh

Where's he?

Is he back? No

Did you check with the police?

Alex, I'm sorry I should've been more careful

But I'm... uh... with the book

In some ways, your father is more and more like a child cooped up here with me

And I can't talk to him

I was trying to write

I had a feeling that he was gonna get himself lost

just like a kid trying to get some attention

I grew up believing you should care for your parents

the way they care for you

My father is a part of me

Why can't you accept that?

I know. I tried

Just leave me alone

Oh my god. You've found him Thanks God he's safe

We're looking for Mr. Alex Chu

Alex is still out looking for his father. I'm his wife

Okay. Mr. Chu, you take care of yourself All right?

Thank you very much officers

Alex is still out looking for you Are you hungry?

Thirsty?

You really should eat something

I'm sorry too. Alex is furious

Jesus How did you get so drunk?

Where did you go?

I was just walking around

and I lost sight of the church steeple my landmark

Policemen brought him back two hours ago

You're back, that's good

What are you doing?... What're you doing, Alex?

Nothing

I know this wall, it isn't thick

What are you doing?...

Mommy

Calm down...

Jeremy, Dad isn't feeling well

he'll be all right

Let me talk to him

Dad banged his head by accident

Do you need a band aid?

Okay

Jeremy... is the good one

who knows better than Mommy and Grandpa how to care for Daddy

I haven't seen you that drunk since the night we got married

That drunk? Yeah

Well, my head is clear now

What're you mumbling about?

I've made up my mind already

About what?

The old man has got to go

I'll send him to an old people's apartment

Are you sure?

I really don't have too much choice

I'll go tell him right now

Come in

Dad, why didn't you get up and exercise today?

Aren't you feeling well?

What's wrong?

I probably caught cold from being outside too long last night

I'm going to call a doctor

You've got important business at work

Don't waste your time on me

Come on Dad, cut it out! You're never sick

if you don't feel well it must be serious

I'll find a doctor for you

Why get sick now? The vital organs aren't in harmony

The circulation's blocked That's why I'm sick

Dad, Ma's been gone for so many years

and you've never wanted to look at her picture

I couldn't face her

Do you remember this scar!?

The day when the red guards came to our house

they knew they couldn't hurt me

so they took it out on you and your mother

I only had this one body!

In protecting you I couldn't protect your mother

When they finally stopped their beating she was too gravely injured to survive

In this one life I can never face your mother again

but I can face you!

It's been so many years

why talk about it now?

I feel stifled

Let me tell you something

compared to loneliness persecution is easy

Look at how much hardship

and injustice I've endured

in the last 40 years

Their tortures only inspired me to perfect my kung-fu

To study the Soft internal Style of Strength

we pursue more refined states of being

with the loss of tension we attain concentration

And from that one we achieve carefree nothingness

but this is nearly impossible to attain

Yes, it's easy to have physical strength but inner strength is harder to practice

Go on, don't bullshit me!

Okay, I'll go call a doctor

Do me a favor and call the Chinese school principal

tell him I can't teach the class on Saturday

Okay. You'll go when you're better

I'm not going anymore

Why?

The students always want me to show off I hate that

Then what will you do on the weekends?

Why don't we change to that school north of here

You mean with Mrs. Chen?

No! They say it'll be good for Jeremy's studies

I heard they're much stricter

How about it?

So did you tell him?

He's sick. Caught a cold from last night

I couldn't tell him

I hope it's not serious

No, I don't think so

But I'd better take him to the doctor's

I've got a great idea

about what to do with him without hurting anyone's feelings

What's that?

Just be patient

Promise me, you'll be nice to him for the time being

Okay? Go on!

What? Nothing

Then why do you keep looking at your watch?

Nothing

Hello... yes, I am. Yici

How's the picnic? Thanks

Sorry for bothering you again

Yes, it's great weather

and great for a picnic

Unfortunately he doesn't have much energy now

If he got sick again, it'll be trouble

Take a break

Say thank you to Chen Mama for me

Okay

Don't hang up Hold on

Who said I'm sick?

I didn't say sick, I said energy

No energy - means you need to get out!

My father says he's fine

he'd like to get some exercises

Let's use our plan then Okay

Okay, that's settled then

Bye

Right

How can it be healthy

to stay home all the time!

Ma, I've already had two

Have more

Here Yi-yi Thank you

Kids should eat more

Jeremy

No, thanks

Have more!

Help yourself, don't worry about him

Have another piece No...

There's lots of meat

no point is saving it

I have to leave some room for tonight

It's the middle of the day

You're a big man!

Come on!

I haven't eaten since yesterday morning

I'm preparing for the dinner you're cooking tonight

You stupid one

Nonsense! Here

He's reaching middle age

he's afraid of fat

cholesterol, and high blood pressure Give it to me

Ma, again?

Yes, damn it

Can you give me a little massage?

Let me take a look

How can I let you do that?

It's okay

Did you find the spot?

This is trouble

If it's trouble, leave it alone No

There's too little flow and too much blood

This kind of problem is called Mid-Spring Paralysis

Now try to move the pinky toe on your left foot

Did you feel that subtle pain?

So, I was right

When this illness gets serious

you'll get a spasm under your knee sore waist

you back will give out your neck will tense up

you won't be able to lift your arm

and your muscles will be stretched between your armpits in one tight knot

Enough! In a minute

you'll be looking right through at all my internal organs!

Let me see

It's her right shoulder that's stiff

He knows!

He was rubbing your left hand

Shush!

It's burning Burning?

Your meat, on the barbeque

Why don't you pay attention to your own business

Mr. Chu, thank you

I've just begun

You've got a complicated problem

It would take over a year of treatment to get results

What a bother! Okay, don't break me apart

Jeremy, let's go play frisbee

Oh goody, goody

I would like looking

Don't go too far, you hear me? Okay

Mr. Chu, your kung-fu is so powerful

how do you manage to have such elegant calligraphy?

I'm ashamed to talk about it

My grandfather was a Ching Dynasty Scholar

my father was one of the founders

of the Nationalist government

My son is a Ph D in computer science

In the middle of this line

there's worthless me

Fate and circumstances

pushed me to spend my life

practicing martial arts

You shouldn't say that

I had bad health when I was a kid

I'm an only son

My family was worried

They took one of the doctor's advice

which is, and made me practice kung-fu

I couldn't take the rough styles

I could only take the gentle styles like Tai Chi Chuan

Who would have thought that a couple years later

I was completely vigorous and healthy

At 30

I won a national Tai Chi Pushing Hands Championship

Exercising the body and teaching students

That's a relatively simple trouble-free life

What's good?

Since the communist liberation I've been persecuted in every movement

Let's not talk about it

Teaching students has hurt me so much

Yes

Have you gone back to see your old home and relatives since Taiwan loosened up?

Last year

I went back but I don't have any close relative just a few nieces

and nephews

Still, a reunion with your family

it must have been a happy time

Not really

When I left, they weren't born

I felt like Santa Claus

giving so many gifts

None of them were born when I left!

Peking seemed to have

lost its flavor

the old warmth was gone

But I was very young when I left 40 years ago

maybe my memories are mistaken

Anyway

I don't know what it was

everything seemed unreal. I couldn't put my old and new impression together

Your impressions are not mistaken

Peking has changed a lot

Is that so?

When I talk with you, I feel closer to you than with my neighbors in Peking

Really?

Relax, don't move

Ma, you're still in one piece

You child!

We're going to take the kids up the hill

Don't go too far Okay

Don't leave us here!

I'm going with you

Ma, it's a steep climb

You won't make it

I'll take it slow

Come on! Let's get everything cleaned up

and put in the car

Let the young folks go ahead

You take it slow

No, I'm fine

How come your son-in-law didn't come today?

Gone... gone... a... way on bus...

business

If he weren't away we wouldn't have you over for dinner

Don't mention him

He makes me angry

What about your daughter-in-law?

Ah... Let's go

Chen Mama, it's too much for you Let's go down

Nonsense! Let's go!

Don't run so fast, wait for me

Hey!

The young are so energetic

They can't slow down. Let them go ahead

I'll climb slowly with you. Why not sit down and rest a bit

I'm old, useless

No one wants me

We're out for fun Why get mad at the kids?

How can you be so developed in kung-fu and not have any insight?

They set us up

Set us up?

Your precious son came to our house last week

and arranged for my daughter

to call and invite you

They thought I was taking a nap

but I heard everything

Can't be?

How come

at our age

we don't have any self-respect?

Letting two children manipulate us!

What is this?

I'm old and useless

Son, thank you for your good will

trying to fix me up with Mrs. Chen

But we still have our pride No need to drive me out

I have the sense to leave on my own

You know the saying 'It's easier to struggle together

than to pass happy days together'

I never imagined

this would apply to us

In China

we managed to stay happily together through so many bitter times

but here in America with so many fine material things

it seems there's no place in your home for me

Comparing the two

I can't help but recall the days when you were a small lovely boy

Don't look for me

Enjoy your life with your family

I wish you all the best

If you have time

send my regards to Mrs. Chen and her daughter

The world is so big I'll find a little room

where I can spend my worthless old age

Life passes before one's eyes like smoke nothing but emptiness

One shouldn't set one's heart on anything

Father

Thank you, come again

Bye-bye

Please, faster

if I can't put out the soup my other dishes can't go out

I'll wash you a bowl

Sorry

Thanks

Old Chu, I beg you please, faster

Coming...

Why do you keep sending out the take-out orders?

There's guests at the tables with nothing to eat!

And a line around the block!

We can't put out the food

without dishes!

Yesterday at the employment agency you said you had experience!

More or less

I'm running a business to make money

not to invite you for dinner

What do you mean more or less This is less!

Yeah... don't get mad, I'm hurrying

You have to soak the honey banana ball plates in hot water

Don't just scrape them!

You break the plate, you pay for it! Yes...

Hey, Boss

Do us a favor, let's quit selling those dick-haired honey banana balls?

It's hard for us to make and hard for him to wash. It's not worth it

I'll decide if it's worth it

If you don't like making them go work somewhere else

Just a good hearted suggestion

Thanks!

What are you three guys stuck here for?

Waiting for bowls

Can't you do something else while you wait?

Are your brain dead?

There's nothing else to do?!

Are the Mu Shu Pork pancakes steamed?

In the steamer

The pickled cabbage is out

The wontons are boiling

the forks are cleaned

the tables are cleared the checks are paid

Chu

here's today's pay

Thank you

This isn't working out

Don't come tomorrow

I'll find someone else

Boss he's going okay now

Enough

No Problem

there were enough dishes

What do mean enough dishes, no problem?

It was only after the dinner rush hour

that thing returned to normal

Don't be pleading for him because he's old

Lots of young guys would fight for the chance

to make 700 dollars a month washing dishes

Why should I have an old man?

I'm not running an old folks home

Boss, please give me another chance

We all have to start somewhere. Right?

Okay... One more chance

Thank you

Is Sergeant Warren there?

It's Alex Chu... yes

No?

Thanks Sergeant. Bye bye

Linda. It's Alex

Let's have a talk... about the house

Hey, congratulations on your review: A bold new voice in women's fiction

Better late then never

I'm really proud of you, although

it makes me feel like I should quit my job and become a painter

In the meantime, all I do is eat

Maybe you're pregnant

Sure, if you believe in immaculate conception

I'm even thinking of going to my high school reunion to see

if there are any aging jocks still available

Linda

Well at least I have my work How's yours going?

Two chapters this week

Oh, more travails of study pioneer women

Actually I've written in a Chinese family

The father brought over to work on the railroads

Don't tell me you miss the old geezer?

Of course not

Runaway Grandpa

I'm gonna have nightmares for the rest of my life

imagining his face on the side of my milk cartons

It's sad

And Alex...

He blames you, does he?

No, he's just anxious. I blame myself

How can I let you do this?

You'd better do your own work

Don't worry about me

Once I get busy I won't be able to help you anyway

Wu, thanks a lot

but everyone's got work to do

Don't treat me special. I'll manage

Chu, this is for you, I got someone

Boss, I've been doing all right

Eight bowls, five plates

it's only 6:30 p.m.

You need those two to help you

What happens at 7:30

when the guests are lined up outside the door?

He didn't ask for help we volunteered

You volunteered, fine! He asked for help, fine!

I don't care I can't take any risks tonight

Liu go downstairs and get yourself an apron

Here's ten dollars take it or leave it

Boss, why do you have to treat an old man this way?

I'll wash faster

Not just faster but clean too!

Come on, cut the crap, go!

This is money

Have you heard that before?

Probably not, being from the mainland

I know everything's shared there working more gets you nothing

Four decades of such thinking produced

all you lazy bums

Who are you calling a lazy bums?

Eh? What's wrong? You don't accept that?

Then go back to China and live off your relatives. Go on!

No one's stopping you

I'm telling you, this is America

There's no communal property

You have to earn everything

yourself!

If you want to be American then why don't you go all the way

and buy dishwasher

It'll wash faster and cleaner

Yeh! I'm offering you ten dollars

because I respect your age

I'm saving face for you

if you don't want that

I'll throw you out!

See if you can

Don't think I won't touch you because you're old

Come try me!

If you can move me half a step I won't say another word

I'll turn and leave

Don't

So the old geezer knows kung-fu

No wonder you dared be so arrogant with me!

Oww! Li, Wu, help me!

I'm not getting involved in this

Cooks, Chang, Chien, get over here!

Boss, this is none of our business

Do you want to keep working here?

Quick

Old Chu, don't get angry

but we've all got families to take care of

We'll just move you half a step, okay?

Then the business will keep going Everyone, thank you

Come on, careful now

Get him!

Liu, help out!

Wu, help!

Go and help

Chu, you're a hero. We can't move you

We brothers apologize

Boss Huang, we quit

Go find yourself some of those thick skinned types with big muscles

I can't take this

Hey, you can't all leave!

Okay! I'm calling every employment agency!

Don't think you'll work in New York again!

Fuck you You

All right tough guy! The business is closed tonight

But I'm calling the cops on you!

I don't have a green card You hired me illegally

They'll find you three thousand dollars

I'm telling you

I'll move you without the cops!

Thank you, come again

Grab him! He's like an eel

He's like a slimy fish

Yeah, I've seen this kind before

Ten police officers from the Fifth Precinct

were injured earlier this evening in a brawl inside a Chinatown restaurant

Helen Wong reports

Shirley I'm standing in front of the Lai Fu restaurant

The owner Frankie Huang

tried to fire his 70-year old dishwasher here earlier this evening

But Huang got more than he bargained for

Because the man he tried to fire Mr. Chu refused to leave the restaurant

Alex

Police said that Mr. Chu is a Tai Chi master

and he let lose a 130 pounds of martial arts fury

And hurt over a dozen of New York's finest

Now it appears that Mr. Chu's being led out of the restaurant by the police

and is being put into a squad car and taken to the precinct and be arrested

Reporting live, Helen Wong now back to you at the studio

He's been like this ever since he came in

The entire time he has been here

he hasn't said anything nor has he eaten or drunk anything

I tell you I don't know if he's meditating or sleeping

If you don't mind me saying so Mr. Chu

it's... kind of depressing

I'll let you go in and talk to him

Thank you officer

Any time

Dad

Ah, attaining nothingness isn't easy

Dad, we've bought a new house

it's much bigger than the old one

What for?

I'm here to take you home

Home? Whose home?

My home is your home!

Forget it. I see clearly now

the only thing that matters is that you have a happy life

If you want to show me some filial respect

get me

an apartment in Chinatown

Let me peacefully pass my days there disciplining my spirit

In your free time bring the boy to see me

This way when we get together

there'll still be some good feelings

Dad

all these years I've studied and worked hard

and built my family

in order that one day I could bring you to America

so you could have some good days in your life

Dad!

Alex, can you give a hand up here?

Okay, coming up

Is this straight?

Lower in the left

Yeah, it's fine

Do you think he'll ever spend a night here?

Oh, yes. As long as Jeremy is here Grandpa will visit

Jeremy wants to be a Tai Chi master

Why didn't you ever learn any Tai Chi from your father?

You know, for Dad Tai Chi was a way to escape from reality

Even when he did pushing hands, for him

it was a way to avoid other people

Pushing hands?

Yeah, it's like Tai Chi for two

A way of keeping your balance

while unbalancing your opponent

Like marriage... only kidding

Okay, you stand like this...

Balanced? Yup

If you try to unbalance me

I simply avoid your energy

and turn it back on you

Relax

Don't resist and don't break contact

Feel it?

Step out and collect

Moving up on left

Collect and moving up

Turn to right

Hugging your back

Hand down

Turn back and attack

Get back

Spread your legs

Get in

Squat down

Collect

Swing hands and step forward

Moving forward

Get in and spread your fingers

Step back and collect

Hook

Get in

Sweep

Turn hands

Single whip

Very good...

Relax, relax your whole body

Relax your hip and lower down

Relax...

Good, raise your arms up

Relax little and eyes looking in the distance

Mrs. Chen, long time no see

You've come a long way to buy groceries

No, not far. I live in the area

Your daughter moved?

No, I moved

That's great! Living on your own, you're free

You can do whatever you want

I just finished shopping

saw it was early and decided to stop by your class

How did you know I was teaching here?

Wow! Who doesn't know about the hero old Mr. Chu

famous all over Chinatown

The TV news showed that you knocked flat

a gang of American police and Chinese hoodlums

From what I can see if

Tai Chi Chuan could be practiced upside down

the ceiling of this old age centre

would be packed with your students

You're making fun of me!

I'm speaking the truth

did you make a fortune?

No way

Every morning I come here and pass the time with the students

Anyway we old folks

have nothing but time to kill

I earn my own money

and don't take anybody's flack

That's why I always say

you can't hold everything inside

Sometimes you've got to lose your temper to straighten things out

The kids are grown up

If we old folks don't take care of ourselves

who will?

You're right

Is your shoulder better?

Better?

At my age, I just thank the heavens

that it doesn't get worse

I don't know kung-fu like you

But is it convenient living alone?

It's all right

My daughter comes to see me every two or three weeks

when she goes shopping around here

she cooks and eats with me

Uhhhh. That's good. Alex and his family do the same

You'd better take care of your students I'm leaving now

When you're free, stop by

We're neighbors now

Well, take care

You too

Mrs. Chen!

Why did you come out?

T o see if you had left

The sun is so pleasant today

I was thinking, I'm just one person

I could go home or stay out both would be good

Anyway, standing here I got lost in thought

Where do you live?

I live in that building, number 1068

I live in that building, number 20101

Stop by for a visit sometime

Do you have anything to do this afternoon?

Uh... Nothing