All language subtitles for 2046.2004.KOR.Bluray.1080p.DTS-HD.x264-Grym-English

In the year 2046
a vast rail network spans the globe.

Every once in a while
a mysterious train leaves for 2046.

Every passenger going there
has the same intention:

They want to
recapture lost memories

because
nothing ever changes in 2046.

Nobody
really knows if that's true

because
nobody's ever come back

except me.

998.

997.

If someone
wants to leave 2046

how long will it take?

Some people
get away fairly easily.

Others find
it takes them much longer.

I forget
how long I've been on this train.

I'm starting to
feel very lonely.

As I recall,
many have gone to 2046.

You're
the first to come back.

May I ask
why you left 2046.

Whenever
anyone asked why I left 2046

I gave them some vague answer.

Before

when people had
secrets they didn't want to share

they'd climb a mountain

find a tree,
carve a hole in it

and whisper
the secret into the hole

then
cover it over with mud.

That way,
nobody else would ever discover it.

I once
fell in love with someone.

After a while
she wasn't there.

I went to 2046.

I thought
she might be waiting for me there

but I couldn't find her.

I can't stop
wondering if she loved me or not

but I never found out.

Maybe her answer
was like a secret

that no one else
would ever know.

ALL MEMORIES
ARE TRACES OF TEARS

Didn't you promise
not to come back?

I came to see you.

Why?

I have
no prospects here

so I'll see
how things are in Hong Kong.

When are you leaving?

The boat sails in 2 days.

Why are you telling me?

I thought
we might go together.

You know nothing
about my past, do you?

If you'd rather
not tell me, I don't mind.

If you win,
I'll join you.

She found
an indirect way of rejecting me.

As I recall

that was the very last time
we saw each other.

Right after that
I left Singapore.

I got back to Hong Kong
at the end of 1966.

It was
the time of the riots.

I wasn't sure
how long I'd be staying

so I took
a room in a small hotel in Wanchai.

I wrote
columns for newspapers.

They paid
10 Hong Kong dollars per thousand words.

It was pretty tough at first.

As long as
I could make ends meet

it made no difference
what kind of stuff I wrote.

Diary of the Bazooka Hero.

The new star
at Club Luk Kwok is Fei Fei

a knockout beauty
with amazing bazookas

a smash hit with tit lovers

Hang on. I'm exaggerating, of course.
I can't say her tits are fake, can I?

I soon got
used to this kind of life.

I became
an expert ladies' man:

lots of one-night stands

but nothing
lasts forever anyway.

24-DEC-66

Is that really true?

Why would I lie to you?

Do you really know me?

Weren't you
in a show in Singapore in '64?

Yes.

You're Lulu.

I was then

but not anymore.

What's your name now?

Why should I tell you?

On Christmas Eve, 1966

I ran into a friend from Singapore
in a nightclub.

We'd been rather close

but that night

she seemed to have
forgotten me.

Have we really met before?

How could you forget?

You said
I looked like your late boyfriend.

You taught me the cha-cha.

Go on.

You were always
dragging me to the casino.

You'd hit a losing streak.

You owed a fortune.

My friends and I
paid for your passage to Hong Kong.

You talked a lot
about your late boyfriend

a Chinese Filipino
from a rich family.

You'd been
planning to marry him

but he'd died young.

You said
he was the love of your life.

I shouldn't
bring back sad memories

at this time of year

but do you
remember that Christmas night

how we went drinking?

We talked a lot.

Was she just
pretending she'd forgotten me?

I took her
back to her hotel.

She was
dead to the world.

She'd had
too much to drink

so I left quickly.

2046

On my way out
I noticed a very familiar number.

If I hadn't run into her that night,
I wouldn't have seen that number

and I wouldn't
have written "2046".

Can I help you?

Is Miss Lulu in?

Lulu?
There's no Miss Lulu here.

There was
a Mimi but she moved out.

But I was here two days ago.
Do you know where she's gone?

No.
What do you want with her?

Nothing really.

I have her key.
I wanted to return it.

- You can give it to me.
- Thanks.

Do you want to
rent the room?

I'm just back from abroad.
I don't have my own place yet.

If the room's vacant
I could take a look.

This is just
a small hotel

but our residents
are all decent people.

- What's your line of work?
- I write for newspapers.

Great. A fellow artist.

I haven't always done this.
I used to be an artist too.

Really?

I took
singing lessons, in Harbin.

Back then I was a tenor.

It'll be
a pleasure to have you here.

- When will you move in?
- As soon as possible.

But 2046
has to be redecorated.

2047 is vacant.

Take a look at it.

Never mind.
I'll come back when it's ready.

Why that particular room?

Maybe it's the number.

It has
some significance for you?

I'm joking.

I'll tell you what...

Take a quick look at 2047.
If it's OK, you can move in.

Then switch to
2046 when it's ready. How about that?

- Can I see the room?
- Of course. Please.

Once I moved in

I found out
what had happened the night before.

Lulu had been
stabbed by a jealous boyfriend

a drummer from the club.

She'd really liked him

and compared him
to a bird that could never land.

All these years

she's been
looking for her "legless bird."

Most of her affairs ended badly
but she didn't mind sad endings.

No matter what happened

at least
she was always the leading lady.

Good.

Sure.

Go.

Let's go.

Let's go.

I'll go with you.

Good.
I'll go with you.

Sure.

I understand.

Do you know what I mean?
I know. I understand.

I've got it.

Can I go?

I can go.

Sure.

I understand.

Got it.

It didn't take long
to finish redecorating 2046

but by then
I was used to 2047.

Sure.

I started hearing
a strange voice through the wall.

I thought
someone had moved in

but it was
the daughter of Mr. Wang, the hotel owner.

Please take me with you.

Certainly.

I'm definitely going.

OK. Let's go.

I had no idea
what she was saying.

The bellhop
told me it was Japanese.

It seems
she had a Japanese boyfriend.

Tell the driver,
220 Granville Road.

- Granville
- 220 Granville Road.

Turn from
Humphreys Avenue, near Kimberley Road.

Can you say that again?

- Don't turn down Salisbury Road.
- Slowly, please.

- I'll draw you a map.
- That's my pen.

I'll repeat it once more.

Turn from
Humphreys Avenue, near Kimberley Road

but don't
turn down Salisbury Road.

Understand?

I'll draw you a map.

Granville Road.

Turn from Humphreys Avenue.
Don't turn down Salisbury Road.

Remember:
Don't turn down Salisbury Road.

His company in Japan
had sent him to Hong Kong.

When he got here
he checked into this hotel.

The world's full of men.

Why do you have to
choose a Japanese?

Get rid of him.

I'll never meet him.

Do you want my blessing?

Not while I'm alive.

It had been
going on for ages.

Their family
suffered under the Japanese in the war

so they had to break up.

Can you tell me what you feel?

Do you like me

or not?

I'm scared to hear your answer

but I have to ask anyway.

Leave with me.

Goodbye.

The man
finally went back to Japan.

That's when
Miss Wang started talking to herself.

Hey. Ask your boss
to turn it down a bit.

Mr. Chow,
you'd better ask him yourself.

Mr. Chow.

Hasn't he left already?

Why is he back?

I won't see him.

If you won't give him up

Get out.
Take him away.

I assumed
Mr. Wang played it so loud

because he loved his opera.

Actually he didn't want
anyone to overhear the family row.

What are you doing?

Come back for me
when you're a little older.

Wait till you grow up.

I like it.

Mr. Wang thought about
very little but his two daughters.

The elder one
was crazy about her Japanese man.

The younger one
was precocious.

She always
came into my room for drinks.

Then
she ran off with some man

another drummer
from a club band, I heard.

After she left,
her elder sister got into trouble too.

Have a word with your boss for me.
I'm a bit late with the rent.

Anyway he has my deposit.

Mr. Chow, tell him yourself.
He's in a foul mood these days.

What's eating him?

First one daughter ran away.
Now the other one's in hospital.

- That's why he's so angry.
- Why is she in hospital?

He wouldn't say.
He was quite strange. Keep clear of him.

So that's it?

Anyhow, give him my invitation.
It's my father's birthday banquet.

He can deduct his gift
from the rent I owe.

On May 22, 1967
they imposed a curfew in Hong Kong.

Homemade bombs caused panic.

The economy stopped dead.

I stopped going out.

Some thought
I was a reformed character.

Actually I was writing:

a story called "2046"

all about
men and women looking for love

risking everything
to get to a place called 2046.

What's that?

Let's go to 2046.

I made it bizarre and erotic
without crossing the line.

The readers liked it.

Some didn't
take to the science-fiction angle

but all "2046" meant to me
was the number of a hotel room.

I made the whole thing up

but some of my own experiences
found their way into it.

People I ran into in the
normal course of things turned up in my stories.

I felt more and more
at ease in my fictional world.

Around that time
Mr. Wang's music got louder again:

more trouble
with his two daughters.

But also, because of
the bad state of the economy

lots of the rooms were empty.

Then
in September the rioting ended.

Life went back to normal.

Soon
someone moved into 2046.

Have you nearly finished?
It's too early in the day for that.

Some of us are trying to sleep.

Peeking?

The woman next door's
quite a dish. What are my chances?

You're off your head.
A father-to-be shouldn't have that on his mind.

Now she's pregnant,
my wife won't let me touch her.

Come on. Put a word in for me.

OK.

How much?

How much have you got?

- Only $100.
- Wait for my call.

Mr. Chow

Mr. Chow

Mr. Chow, a call for you.

Bright and early, huh?

She's not up yet.

Why come over?
I told you: It has to be arranged.

She's not some streetwalker.

A fellow artist like you...
Show her a little respect, will you?

Yes, I'll tell you right away.

Miss Bai, your key.

You're back, Miss Bai.

Who is it?

- Who are you looking for?
- Mr. Chow suggested I come by.

You're back, Mr. Chow.

- Did you win on the dogs?
- I lost.

I won a little.

Looking for me?

I think
you know this person.

- What are you doing in that room?
- You said you'd arrange it.

- I paid you!
- I said that room.

- I said this one.
- Your girl's in that room!

How embarrassing.
Please excuse him.

- I told you, the room on the left.
- I said I wanted that one!

Shut up.

Who is it?

Oh, you again.

I just wanted to
apologize for last night.

Forget it.
Go away.

Ping, my editor, was out of line
but he's not really so bad

just a bit stingy.
He never pays his way.

He always says he's broke
when the check arrives.

Sol played a trick on him.

At my expense?
Didn't you go a bit far?

He only fell for it
because you're so beautiful.

You're quite a flirt.

I'm just
stating the fact:

a small token of apology.

Please accept it.

I don't want it.

You're
still cross, aren't you?

- Please accept it.
- No.

- Come on. It's just a token
- No.

Don't make fun of me.

I mean what I say!
Now get out.

That's good.
Let it all out.

Slap me again if you want.

You think I wouldn't dare?
Come closer.

Bastard!

Don't be so petty.

That's enough.

I'm courteous enough
not to slap you again.

That doesn't mean
you can take advantage of me.

This time
I'll give you face.

If there's ever a next time,
I'll be less polite.

It won't happen again.

My face is still numb.

Accept it.

They're
just a token of my regard.

I chose them myself.

See if you like them.

If you don't,
just throw them away.

Good.

I'll leave now.

Calm down.

It's none of your business
who I dated last night.

Who?

Dabao?

Which Dabao?

The fat one
or the skinny one?

From Shanghai
or from Shandong?

The trouble is

I know
so many men named Dabao.

How should I know
which one you mean?

Yes, I did.

What are you
going to do about it?

Fine.

I'll be waiting.

Let me just say

Get out!

Do you think
I can accept this?

Her or me.

You'd better choose.

Now get out.

24-DEC-67

You're back early.

It's Christmas.

Shouldn't you be
having dinner with your boyfriend?

What boyfriend?

Then let's have supper.

Come on.

You have so many girlfriends.
Do you need company?

Go out with them.

They all want to
be with me, but I can't choose.

The fairest thing
is to see none of them.

Come on. There's no point in
staying cooped up in your room.

I'm not in a good mood tonight.

I might get drunk

and slap you again.

That's OK.

I'm used to it.

If slapping me would make you happy,
take that as my Christmas present.

Come on.

Come with me.

Let go.

I didn't expect to
spend Christmas like this.

What did you expect?

We'd made plans.

He was taking me to Singapore.

He says
it's warm there at Christmas

so I didn't even
pack winter clothes.

What I'm wearing now

is for summer.

Have you been to Singapore?

I worked there for several years.

What kind of work?

On a newspaper.

Is it fun there?

It's OK.

Tell me more.

I won't be going

so I'll
just have to imagine it.

What do you want to know?

How's the climate?

Pretty warm

all year round.

Sometimes you can't tell
what season it is.

The food stalls are great.

Ping and I ate there after work.

We'd eat and drink till dawn.

Our landlord was a funny man:

short and fat
and he always wore a skirt

what the Malays call a sarong

but when
you're away from home

it gets boring sometimes.

That was a dull meal.

Another drink somewhere else?

You really like to drink?

It makes things easy.

When I'm drunk
I have no worries.

Won't your girlfriends
be missing you tonight?

They're not stuck to me.

They see other men too.

We just have fun together.

They
still need to make a living.

I don't get it.

Where does
all that fun get you?

If you find the right person,
why waste time on the others?

If I find the right person?

A man like me
has nothing much except free time.

That's why I need company.

So people
are just time-fillers to you?

I wouldn't say that.

Other people
can borrow my time too.

And tonight?

Are you borrowing me,
or am I borrowing you?

There's no difference.

Maybe
I borrowed you earlier

- and now you're borrowing me.
- That's ridiculous.

Don't get me wrong.

I don't mean to
take advantage of you.

If that was what I wanted,
I've had plenty of opportunities.

I just
want us to be drinking pals.

Is that OK?

It's hard
but I'll give it a try.

OK.

Let's try.

- Where to?
- Let's drink.

Mr. Chow,
you seem happy tonight.

I certainly am.
My friends are buying me dinner.

This way, please.

Ping!
Is it someone's birthday?

Better than that:
Chow has a new girlfriend.

Definitely worth celebrating.

What would you
like to eat tonight?

Something expensive.

- Snake?
- Yes, snake would be good.

- Snake isn't cheap. Can you afford it?
- Are you sure you'll win the bet?

Shut up.
Don't mind him.

- What'll it be, Mr. Chow?
- Snake

and a lamb casserole too

and bring Hoi's whiskey.

I can't let this
go to waste. It's delicious.

Where's your girl, Chow?
It's already 2 a.m. Is she coming?

She can't be coming.

I don't think she's coming.

It's all your fault.

You're why this happened.

Why blame me?
You brought this on yourself.

You said she was
gentle and obedient. Now we know the truth.

I said
she was obedient sometimes

and gentle sometimes

but she's full of surprises.
That's part of the fun.

- So what next?
- Yes, what now?

Whatever
you feel like doing.

And then what happened?

Tell me.

How are you going to thank me?

Pervert!

Open up!

- Who is it?
- Open the door!

It's late.

You played
a fine joke on me tonight.

I finished work late:

too late to get there

so I didn't come.

- What's this?
- That's your fault too.

How could I know
you'd stand me up?

I thought
I'd win a few hundred.

Instead,
I lost my moustache.

This is all your fault.

You deserved it.

Who pushed you into the bet?

I'll tell you something.

Ping asked me
not to show up.

Anyhow

I wasn't
that fond of the moustache.

You look younger now.

Don't you like it?

You're making fun of me.
You tricked me. I'll get you for this.

How will you
make it up to me?

At least give me a kiss.

You bit me.

Come and get me.

You're in for it
when I catch you.

Don't touch me there.

Bastard!

You've bruised me.

Think
you were any better?

Look. I'm bleeding.

Maybe
it's because winter's coming.

See
what happens when I eat lamb?

It brings out the beast in me.

- What?
- Don't move.

- What are you doing?
- Shaving you.

Don't!

Who knows
where that shaver's been!

It could
bring me bad luck.

Let's go for round two.

No way!

Why are you dressed?

I'm going
back to my room. I'm exhausted.

This is all I have,
aside from loose change for the bus.

Here's $200.

- Please take it.
- I don't want it.

I wasn't selling.

That's not
how I meant it.

I want to
pay for your torn dress.

Please take it.

I see.

You're afraid
I'll cling to you. Is that it?

Fine.

I'll take $10.

Think of it
as a discount rate.

If you ever want to
come over again, I'll charge the same.

I'm going
back to my room.

Come here.

Not tonight.

Why not?

Not in the mood?

I can't
take the strain tonight.

Anyhow
I'm a bit short of cash.

Never mind.

You can owe me.

I don't like being in debt.

The reception's at 6 p.m.,
dinner at 8 p.m.

I don't mind if you can't make it.
Just send your gift.

No more than you do.

You hold banquets all year round.
You've had 4 birthdays this year.

I'll send
some more invitation cards over later.

Think of people with money.
Write down their names and send them invitations.

Holding another banquet, Mr. Chow?

You know we have
birthdays in different calendars?

- Another one of mine's come up.
- No doubt.

- Here's one for your boss.
- All right.

Tell him,
since we're so close

he can deduct his gift
from the rent I owe.

- Make sure he gets it.
- OK.

It's late.
What's so urgent?

I just got back from Macao.
Chow asked me to bring you a present.

You two went to Macao?

Yes. We had some days off
so we went to the casino.

Oh. It's beautiful.

He says
he found some money in his pocket

so before
losing it all at the tables

he bought you a present.

Where is he?

Not back yet.
You know what he's like:

extravagant at the start of the month
and broke well before the end.

He made several thousand,
holding that party

so now
he's really enjoying himself.

Is he there alone?

Of course not.
There's a gang of them. He likes company.

Was he always like this?

Let's not talk about him.
Let's have a drink.

But I should warn you:

I know you like Chow a lot.
Don't waste your time on him.

He's not serious.

Guess who.

There's
only one possibility.

Let me have a bite first.

What are you doing here?

What am I doing here?

What do you think?

I thought
I was pretty wild

but you're much wilder.

Pay LIP.

I haven't seen you for ages.

I've been busy.

Liar.

Tell me the truth.

I am.

Who was
that woman the other day?

What woman?

Don't pretend.

I saw her
leaving your room.

Who is she?

- A friend.
- A friend?

What was she
doing in your room?

Don't be nosy, all right?

Go back to your room.
I have work to do.

I won't.

I'm sleeping here tonight.

- An overnight stay's expensive.
- No problem.

Name your price.

I'd pay
anything to be with you, every day.

Retail's fine.
Wholesale's out of the question.

Why?

I just don't like it.

Could you
make an exception for me?

No.

Do you
treat all women like this?

- Except one.
- Who?

- My mother.
- I'm serious.

I don't mind
you having other women

but I won't be
treated the same as them.

I don't care
if you love me or not.

I'll love you anyway.

Since we got together,
I haven't brought other men back.

I hoped
you'd think the same way.

- Will you promise me that?
- No.

I see.

Then we're through.

I'll never bother you.

And I never
want you in my room again.

Here: $10.

Tonight I'm paying.

Thank you.

If you're ever in the mood,
feel free to come over.

I'll charge you the same.

Having fun?

What do you care?

You were
rather loud last night.

I meant to be.

You bring back women.
Why shouldn't I have men?

I want to
see if you really don't mind.

I won't go.
Why don't you come here instead.

Forget it.
Don't come.

After Bai Ling moved out,
she started dating Dabao

and I saw other women too.

If our paths ever crossed
we'd pretend not to see each other.

Rather pathetic, I know

but it was
better for us to end it this way.

I've never seen her since

but
sometimes she pops up in my stories.

Your change.
Please check it.

Thank you.

- Are you going out later?
- Why?

Could you
post this letter for me.

Sure.

Then Miss Wang came back.

I knew from
the familiar sound through the wall.

Please take me with you.

Good.

What are you doing?

Wasn't I clear?
Don't contact that Japanese man.

Why are you writing to him in secret?
Aren't you ashamed?

Return his letter.

No?

What are you reading?

A martial arts novel.

You like them?

If your friend
wants to send you more letters

and you don't
want your dad to know

tell him to send them to my room.
I'll pass them on to you.

She looked happier
when she came back this time.

We talked more often.

Mr. Chow,
another letter for you.

Another.

Those Japanese girls
get so carried away.

Let's see each other again.

Then

if you still
think we shouldn't be together

tell me so frankly.

That day, six years ago

a rainbow
appeared in my heart.

It's still there

like a flame
burning inside me.

But what are
your real feelings for me?

Are they like
a rainbow after the rain

or did that rainbow

fade away long ago?

I'm waiting for your answer.

Why do you write
all that stuff about sex?

So that I won't starve.

Don't you
worry about your reputation?

Maybe
I'm not such a nice guy.

- Why not try writing something else?
- Who'd read it?

How about a martial arts novel?
People love them.

That's too hard.

I tried once,
co-writing it with someone.

We locked ourselves away
for months

and just got sore heads.

Those were good times.

I like writing too.

It's hard
to make a living by writing.

I just do it for fun.

- I'll show you some of my stuff.
- Please do.

Here you are.
Read this first.

Wow. You're prolific.

When you've read it
tell me what you think.

- And don't forget to return it.
- Sure.

- Have you read my story yet?
- I have.

What did you think?

I think you should
never write another word.

Why not?

You're so good,
you could put me out of work.

The Spider Sage thrusts out his fist.
Two chopsticks take off like rockets.

They land with explosive force.

The mountain splits apart.

Slow down.
I can't keep up.

Come on.
They're waiting for it.

All right.

Caught up?

Go on.

Where was I?

"The mountain splits apart."

Right.
The mountain splits apart

smashing
Iron Abacus to the ground.

Iron Abacus?

Isn't he dead?

Is he?
Then make it Iron Head.

Where did Iron Head
come from all of a sudden?

Hey! Anything goes
in martial arts novels.

Why don't you get some rest.
I'll finish it for you.

OK.

It felt like
having an assistant.

When I was late with my copy
I asked her to ghost it for me.

She was just a girl

but she could write
as raunchily as the best of us.

We got along very well.

That was
my happiest summer ever

but it didn't last.

I encouraged her
to face up to her father

but she didn't dare.

She wanted to
pay her own way

so I got her
a job in the cloakroom at a club.

Thanks.

She told her father

she was
going out with me.

Sometimes I found an excuse
to pick her up after work.

- You're here late.
- If you're ready to go

I have a taxi waiting.
I can give you a lift back.

No, thanks.

Then I won't wait.

Feelings
can creep up on you unawares.

I knew that, but did she?

She was always asking if there was
anything at all that never changed.

I could see
what was on her mind.

I promised to write
a story for her, based on my observation:

something to show her
what her boyfriend was thinking.

As a joke

we thought of calling it 2047

but maybe
I was being too oblique.

I'd begun to feel
it wasn't about her boyfriend at all.

Rather,
it was more about me.

So I began
imagining myself as a Japanese man

on a train for 2046

falling for
an android with delayed reaction.

If someone wants to leave 2046,
how long will it take?

No one can say.

Some people
get away fairly easily.

Others find
it takes them much longer.

It takes great strength
and it can hurt terribly.

I forget
how long I've been on this train.

I'm starting to
feel very lonely.

It's rather boring at first
but slowly you get used to it.

We have
a range of cabin attendants.

They can
satisfy your every need.

They'll serve you devotedly,
like an intimate friend

but you must never

fall in love with them.

Who'd ever
fall for an android?

Who can say?

Events can creep up on you
without you ever noticing.

It can happen to anyone.

Paragraph 201
in the Passengers' Guide

warns that Area 1224-1225

is especially cold.

The train heating
won't be strong enough.

Passengers are advised to
hug each other to keep warm.

Since I'm the only passenger

I hug
my android cabin attendant.

I wonder if it's
her mechanism or just my imagination

but I sense some responsive warmth
in her artificial body.

Why do you want to leave 2046?

Do you know

what people did in the old days
when they had secrets

they didn't want to share?

They'd climb a mountain

find a tree

carve a hole in it

whisper the secret

into the hole

and cover it up with mud.

That way

nobody else
would ever learn the secret.

I'll be your tree.

Tell me,
and nobody else will ever know.

I always

I always

I always

Very funny.
I always

I always

Whenever anyone asked
why I left 2046

I gave them
some vague answer.

I always

I once
fell in love with someone.

I couldn't stop wondering
whether she loved me or not.

I found an android
that looked just like her.

I thought
the android might give me the answer.

10 HOURS LATER

I have a secret to tell you.

Leave with me.

I have a secret to tell you.

Leave with me.

I kept on asking

but she never answered.

I began dreaming up
excuses for her silence.

Do you know
the Buddhist canon?

The five decays
of celestial beings?

The five decays
of celestial beings.

It's all about the gods

and how
they go through this process too.

Our cabin attendants
are superbly designed

but there's one problem:

When they've served
on so many long journeys

fatigue begins to set in.

For example

they might want to laugh,
but the smile would be slow to come.

They might want to cry

but the tear wouldn't well up
till the next day.

This one's failing fast.

I think
you'd better give up.

I grew desperate.

I felt like giving up

but I was
soon trying again.

I have a secret to tell you.

Will you leave with me?

I have a secret to tell you.

Will you leave with me?

Do you know
what people did in the old days

when they had secrets?

They'd climb a mountain,
find a tree

carve a hole in it

and whisper the secret
into the hole.

990.

991.

992.

993.

994.

995.

I slowly
began to doubt myself.

Maybe
the reason she didn't answer

was not
that her reactions were delayed

but simply
that she didn't love me.

So at last, I got it.

It's
entirely beyond my control.

The only thing left for me

was to give up.

24-DEC-68

Why are you
inviting me to Christmas dinner?

You know how much
I'll lose in tips by not working?

Wouldn't it be
awful to be alone tonight?

I need company.

That means me?

Your boyfriend
hasn't written in a while.

I told him not to.

Anyway it's hopeless.

There's
no point waiting for me.

Why is it hopeless?
Go and look for him.

If you don't,
it really will be hopeless.

My dad
will never give his consent.

If you were him

what
would you be doing tonight?

Why don't you ask him.

Have you
got his phone number?

I can't hear you!

Can you speak louder?

I'm already shouting!

I felt like
Santa Claus that night.

I took her
to the newspaper office

and let her make
a long-distance call to her boyfriend.

I was happy
to see her so happy.

In fact, Zone 1224-1225

meant
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

On the night before Christmas

many people
need more warmth than usual.

That night
I didn't get that.

Maybe
that was for the best.

10 HOURS LATER

I realized

the reason
the android didn't answer

had nothing to do with
her mechanism wearing out

nor that
she didn't like him.

More likely

she already
loved someone else.

Soon after that
she went to Japan.

I gave her
a copy of my story, 2047.

I hope she read it.

100 HOURS LATER

1000 HOURS LATER

Love is
all a matter of timing.

It's no good
meeting the right person

too soon or too late.

If I'd lived
in another time or place

my story might have had
a very different ending.

- I have to tell you.
- Yes?

I'll be away for a couple of days.
Pay my daughter this month's rent.

- Is she back?
- Not Jing Wen.

I mean,
pay my younger girl, Jie Wen.

So your worries are over.
Going on holiday?

No. I have to go to Japan.

But you hate the Japanese.
Why go to Japan?

Jing Wen's getting married.

Congratulations.

I wasn't sure
whether to go or not.

Now I've decided

I just
want her to be happy.

When do you leave?
Can you help me choose a present?

There's no need for that.

- She wanted me to ask you something.
- What is it?

She read your story, 2047.
She likes it a lot

but she finds
the ending too sad.

She wonders
if you can change it.

I'll see what I can do.

AN HOUR LATER

10 HOURS LATER

100 HOURS LATER

Taxi!

I'd also like
the story to have a happy ending

but I don't know
how to write it.

Some years back
I had a happy ending in my grasp

but I let it slip away.

Don't turn your back on me.

- Has he been here?
- What's it to you?

While I was depressed, I ran into
Lulu again. She hadn't changed.

Still intensely jealous.

You think he's yours?
I thought you knew him well.

That's the way he is.

We've just been amusing ourselves
so control yourself, missy!

Watching her
taught me something.

When you
don't take no for an answer

there's still
a chance you'll get what you want.

18 MONTHS LATER

Hello.
Is Mr. Chow there?

I know
I have no right to ask

but they say
I need a guarantor.

The man who recruits
girls for the nightclub says he knows you.

Can you talk to him for me?

No problem.

I know the man you mean.

I'll see him in a day or two.

Why did you choose Singapore?

I don't want to
stay here any longer.

I've been
thinking about it for some time.

I want to
take a look at the place.

Don't drink too much.

You don't look well.

Don't worry.
It won't kill me.

Do you know what?

I came by here
at Christmas.

I thought
I might run into you.

Why didn't you
call me first?

I don't know.

I came on impulse.

I don't know why.

That night
I suddenly missed you so much.

We're drinking pals.
Of course you'll miss me.

You're right.

"We're drinking pals."

Let's go.

- Waiter.
- Yes?

- The check.
- Yes.

Where are you staying?

In a hotel,
a rather small room

but it's not too bad.

I'll see you back.

No, thanks.

I've just moved in.
It's a mess.

I'll invite you
once it's cleaned up.

I'll go first.

Seeing
how much Bai Ling had changed

I was suddenly
overcome by a feeling of grief.

Indeed, last Christmas

I was not in Hong Kong.

24-DEC-69

Have you seen Miss Su?

Miss Su? Not for some time.

Any idea
where she might be?

Probably
back in Phnom Penh.

I didn't want to
spend Christmas 1969 in Hong Kong

so I visited Singapore
and went back to the casino.

I waited for several days
but Black Spider never turned up.

No one knew where she was.

Some thought
she'd gone back to Phnom Penh.

Others thought she was dead.

Ping and I
began working in Singapore in 1963.

When my life
lost most of its meaning

I started
gambling every day.

Those were hard times for me.
Only one person came to my rescue:

a professional gambler.

Some said she was a cheat.

She always wore black.
They called her Black Spider.

She kept her black glove on
365 days a year.

Nobody knew why for sure.

Had her hand
been chopped off for cheating?

Did the glove
cover up a fake hand?

Nobody really knew.

Why do you
wear that black glove?

It's a habit.

You're not from here?

I'm from Phnom Penh.

What a coincidence.
I was just in Cambodia.

It's in chaos.
Why were you there?

The newspaper sent me.

You're a journalist?

Not anymore.

Why's that?

They made some changes
and I'm now a consultant

on half pay
with next to nothing to do.

So why are you
spending your time in the casino?

I tried to win
enough to pay my way back to Hong Kong.

You lost a lot?

A few thousand.

You should never
set foot in a casino in a bad mood.

You won't win.

I didn't expect to win.
I just hoped to get back my stake.

If you have
any money left

I can help you

on one condition:

When you've
got your money back

stop gambling.

Why are you helping me?

I take a commission:

10 percent
of whatever I win for you.

Think it over.

What good to her
were her tiny commissions on my winnings?

After that we went
back to the casino night after night.

We'd eat at the stall
next to the railway station.

She won back
all the money I'd lost.

Thank you.

Don't thank me.
It's yours.

If you need me
again tomorrow

I'll be waiting
here after dinner.

I still
don't know your name.

It's Su:
Su Li Zhen.

A few years ago I fell in love
with another man's wife.

Her name
was Su Li Zhen too.

It was because of her
I moved to Singapore.

I never dreamed
I'd meet another Su Li Zhen.

I told her
a lot about the other Su Li Zhen.

At first we kept it secret

but gossip soon spread.

Later
we moved into a hotel.

We had room 2046.

When I think back,
the whole thing was like a dream.

You loved her deeply?

It's history.

Let's change the subject.

You, what did you do before?

You want to
know about me?

Come on.
We'll play high-low.

If you win
I'll tell you everything.

It struck me that her past
was like the hand she always kept gloved:

a mystery with no solution.

Of all the men I've met

you've been
the best to me.

I'm already missing you.

Why won't you
come with me?

Didn't you

promise not to ask?

Hold me.

It may be years
before we meet again.

The last time we saw each other,
I told her:

"Take care."

"Maybe one day
you'll escape your past."

"If you do
look for me."

Now it strikes me

that what I told her
was actually meant for myself.

In love
you can't bring on a substitute.

I was looking for what I'd felt
with the other Su Li Zhen.

I didn't realize that myself

but I'm sure she did.

WHEN THE PEONY BLOOMS

SHE STANDS TALL
AND THEN GOES AWAY.

DOES SHE MEAN "NO" OR "YES"?

All for me?
Do you want to get me drunk?

I know
you're a good drinker.

Let's drink
as much as we can.

If there's
any left over

finish it
next time you're here.

There's one small thing
I have to ask you:

Here's some money.
Please take it.

What for?

I know you borrowed from a friend
for my plane ticket.

Pay him back.

If there's any left,
pay my rent for me.

Where did you get
so much money?

An old customer.

He's always been fond of me.

He treats me well

but he's too old for me,
so I never paid him much attention.

I ran into him
yesterday while I was shopping.

He insisted on
buying me dinner.

I needed money,
so I went.

After dinner
I told him I needed money.

He said
I could have as much as I wanted.

I told him I needed $5,000.

At first
I planned to save it for Singapore

but I'm using it now.

Don't be silly.

You're still young.
You have great prospects.

I borrowed the money
from my friends.

They don't need it back yet

so keep this for yourself.

Pay me back later.
There's no rush.

Why are you
so kind to me?

Perhaps it's fate.

Too bad
it didn't last.

I wish
it could have gone on longer.

Don't be like this.

Let me
buy you dinner tonight.

- Waiter, the check.
- Coming.

No. Let me.

You're too kind.

You've spent
enough time and money on me already.

I don't want to
owe you too much.

I need to
make a phone call.

Please settle the check.
I'll be outside.

Will you come in?

No, thanks.

Get some rest.

I'll see you to
the airport tomorrow.

Please don't.

I'll be
terribly sad if you're there.

Take good care of yourself.

Why can't it be
like it was before?

Please don't go.

Stay with me tonight.

Let me borrow you.

Do you remember?

You once asked me

if there was
anything I wouldn't lend.

I've given it
a lot of thought

and now I know

there is one thing

I'll never lend to anyone.

As I recall, that was
the very last time we saw each other.

I haven't seen her
since that night.

Why can't it be
like it was before?

HE DIDN'T TURN BACK.

IT WAS AS IF
HE'D BOARDED A VERY LONG TRAIN

HEADING FOR
A DROWSY FUTURE

THROUGH
THE UNFATHOMABLE NIGHT.

Everyone who goes to 2046
has the same intention:

They want to
recapture lost memories

because in 2046

nothing ever changes

but nobody really knows
if that's true or not

because
nobody has ever come back.