Original subtitles

Grandma, l want eggs

Don't touch it

What a gluton of a child, who gave you permission to touch it

Kids don't know better, please don't take offense

Don't throw, let's go home

Quick

Let's go

< Hungry ghost ritual >

All the folks from around here came over to our place

Yin Cao is really something

Are you hungry?

Want me to buy some food for you?

lt's okay

l can't do somersaults with a full stomach

Have some tea, troupe master

Alright, Yin Cao

- I should get going now - Okay

"Never brand women as weaklings"

"Look at me"

"How l shine"

"l am a hero"

"Fear not even a thousand men"

"For one's courage soar with one's ability"

"Yet to meet a match in a hundred miles"

"The heroine of Shandong shall be revered"

"Moved not by riches but ambitions"

"Her name echoes in all corners of the land"

"With ambitions equally as vast"

"The lady warrior is the embodiment of war"

"Fearful of neither storms or waves"

"They say love is a match made by the Heavens"

"So why worry too much"

"Who could bear the sin of disobeying a father's command"

"Not when the enemy is at our doorstep"

"We need to fight"

Jing Jing

Can you please focus on the stage?

"Fear not the enemy's impetus. For with my Dragon Slaying Staff"

"The enemy will be vanquished"

"Fighting for the one I'm loyal to. . ."

Hold on

You've come back finally. That's great

ls my room, still around?

Of course it is

Nothing in there has been moved

You should've notified us of your return in advance

ls that your brother, Jing Jing?

He's not fit to be

l'm sure he couldn't make it out there

That's why he came back

Useless piece of crap

- I'm going to my room - Okay

lt's okay, l got this

Go get some rest

Uncle Qun

Put some good food on the table tonight

l'm in the mood for a feast

Got it, troupe master

l'll go get more supplies

Good

Time to eat

Jing Jing

Have you asked your brother to join us?

l did, but you can go again if you want to

And he's not really my brother

We don't share the same mother

Zong Hua, come sit here

Here's your seat

Thanks to you, we're having a feast today

There's even duck and fish

Are you done talking?

Take a look at yourself first

You're not good with your studies, and yet refuse to act

That's right, I'm not an academic person

Unlike some people who operates a publishing firm

Don't bother her, Zong Hua

Have a chat with me after dinner

Tell me all the things

that you've done in the past decade or so outside

ls that necessary? Of course he couldn't make it

l remember someone said before

That he won't come back if he didn't strike gold

Don't worry

l won't take even a penny from the inheritance

l'm done eating, l'm going out for a walk

Zong Hua

You should stop eating too

You are already said so much, go back to your room

Zhi Kwan

We broke up because we're incompatible

There's nothing to do with

our publishing business getting swindled

lf you're able to recoup those money, keep it

Thanks for looking after me all the while

Take care

Ling, pass me a bottle of medicine oil

Yes, Yin Cao

Leave us

How serious exactly is your injury?

l've seen the doctor, I can still hold up

Hold up? How?

From the day you sprained your leg

lt's been one incident after another

Haven't you heard the voices calling for your blood?

lf we keep this up, I'll be broke soon from all the compensation

We have a few more shows left

You tell me what should l do?

Sao Ling, this is your chance

Take her place from tomorrow night onward

Thank you, troupe master

Troupe master

We have but three shows left

Let me finish them, will you?

The stage is mine

Save your breath, it has been decided

Get someone to help her back for some rest

Thank what?

Did anyone give you the permission to speak?

You're not even fit to carry my shoes

Hey, Gwong Zai

Zong Hua's here

Hey, Zong Hua, aren't you in mainland China?

You still remember my number. Where are you now?

l came back yesterday

Do you have time tonight?

Let's have some drinks together

Sure, you've made it big in China right?

You wouldn't have came back if you didn't

Nah l screwed up big time

That's why I'm calling you, to see if you have any leads for me

You're kidding right, Zong Hua?

Your father is the troupe master of a big opera troupe

And you need my help?

His achievements have got nothing to do with me

Sorry, my wife's calling

Let's talk some other time

Hello

Hello, it's me, Zong Hua

Hi , is that Zhi Kwan?

Can we

Can you come back? Let's talk

Have you seen them?

What?

Those two kids just now

"Our love for poetry. Leaves us singing together forever"

"Just like our undivided love"

Hold on, Master

Ah Man

This verse shouldn't be like this, nor should the previous one

l've taught you many times, look at me

Master, please

"My heart races with your love"

Like that

Let's do that again

"My heart races with your love"

"You and I , in love forever"

"Our love for poetry. Leaves us singing together forever"

"Just like our undivided love"

This woke you up?

No

Let's take five

Since we're all here today

Let me introduce some of them to you

Hold it right there

You little scoundrel

You're out with bad companions again, aren't you?

Coming home at this hour

My friends are not bad companions

They are all from the upper class

lt's just that you choose to look down on them

Go easy on her, troupe master

She's a big girl now, she knows what's best

Does she? She's already in her 20s

She won't learn anything nor do anything

Just idling about every day

l said hold it right there

Yes, I'm not moving

You

- Father - Troupe master

Troupe master

- Troupe master - Hey, help me call 999

Troupe master

Zong Hua, keep an eye on the show

l'm going to the hospital, you guys come later

So how's it, doctor?

He's no longer in a critical state

But he'll be very weak these few day. Let him rest up

Don't worry, we'll take care of him

Thank you, doctor

Let's give Jing Jing and the troupe master some time together

Are you free now?

l'd like to bring you somewhere

Father, l'm sorry

l hope you don't mind

We can't be sure when your father will be discharged

But the show's starting soon

We can't be without a troupe master

l think you should take your father's place for the time being

And take care of matters of the opera troupe

But I know nothing about that

Besides, l

Excuse me

Sir

Please don't mind me saying this

But I'm doing this for your own good

What's the matter?

This seventh month of the Lunar Calendar

Don't go wandering around

Why?

lf you do, certain things

l'm afraid you won't live to see them

You guys leave first

ln the 7th month of the Lunar Calendar

the traditional cantonese opera is performed for the spirits

Your father does it every year

This is this year's chosen venue

By then, no humans will be allowed to sit in this row

lt's reserved for the spirits

Why do we need to put on a show for the spirits every year?

We hope they will watch it

rather than looking for a host to possess

lf our performance were to be affected by your father's illness

Compensation is the least of our worries

Our reputation will be severely tarnished

So if you could come back and help

But I don't know anything

lt's okay, l'll help you

Do you know

Your father really wanted you to come back and take over

What happened between you two,

l'm really not sure

But all these years, he missed you a lot

When I came back and saw him

l can see he has aged a lot

But I don't want to talk about the past

Okay, let's not talk about it

Let's go back and l'll introduce you to the crew

Guys, attention please

Our troupe master is no longer in a critical state

But he can't be discharged for the time being

So what will happen to our opening?

Our rival had opened a few days ago

Don't worry

The troupe master's son will take over from now on

Him? Can he?

lt's the troupe master's decision

You are all my seniors, so please show me the way

And please, just call me Zong Hua

We'll be looking up to your leaderhsip

Let's not waste any time, carry on with our practice

Let's continue

Among those people

l think Uncle Qun and Brother Kwai don't really like me

Don't read too much into it, Uncle Qun isn't that complex

As for Brother Kwai , that's his normal demeanour

And because of that, we broke up

l heard you came back because your business went bust there

That's right

l was running a publishing business there

But I misplaced my trust

Coupled with the fact that l'm an outsider

l got cheated by a middle man, lost my whole company

l came from a very poor family

l joined the opera troupe since young, and am still here now

That's not true, at least you're the main cast now

Even though I'm no expert

But seems to me you're very good at what you do

At least it sounds that way to me

That shows you do know a thing or two about the opera

Shouldn't be a problem for you to take over

Are you alright?

Good night

Xiu Yin, are you okay?

Sorry, have you seen Xiu Yin around?

Haven't seen her come back

Anything l can help?

Help me finish this "Ji " character

Sure

Hey, he'll get scolded

Hey, what are you doing?

Can you please show some respect to the troupe's property?

What's with the leg?

Kit Zai, come help me with this

Who sealed the "mouth" of the character "Ji "?

Does he meant for us to have difficulties singing even with a mouth?

Speak up

lt was written by the stand-in troupe master

This is the unwritten rule of the industry

What you did undermined traditional customs

l'm sorry

Sorry for this, l'll slowly fill you in on all these

Come, the dishes are here, let's eat

Before that, I'd like to say something

What happened just now. I don't ever want to see it happening again

l understand that it's tough to accept

An outsider as your troupe master

But I'll give it my all

Once my father has been discharged

l'll hand everything back to him

And you can act as if we've never met before

l'm just here to work

Let's begin our meal

Brother

You have my support

Still awake?

What brought you here at this hour?

l really cannot bear to leave the stage

Give me another chance, will you?

Come on in first

Alright

The rite of breaking in to the stage is done

Everyone can work in peace now

There really are a lot of traditional regulations in Cantonese opera

l've told you

When we're in the middle of the rite of breaking in to the stage

no looking around and talking

Sorry

Have a seat

The act that you've seen just now

"The White Tiger and the Dark-faced General"

ls for "breaking in to the stage"

lt keeps evil spirits away, and ensures everything that we do is smooth-sailing

Did you notice the idol on the stage

when you came in?

He's the guardian angel of our Garden of Pears

Grandmaster Wah Kwong

To banish the evil and its associated spirits, according to customs

The idol should be placed on the left

l won't be able to tell you everything at once

But never mind, you will get used to it in time

Xiu Yin

l've bought movie tickets for tonight

Let's go together, shall we?

l think you have misunderstood

l just wanted to help you

lt's better if you wait outside. l want to focus on my make up

l'm free the day after, though

Maybe we can make another arrangement by then

l've boiled some porridge for father, brother

Want to go visit him at the hospital with me?

Sure

Zong Hua

Did the old guard give you a tough time?

Not really

Rome isn't built in a day

But if you stick at it, they will eventually accept you

Not all of my words may be true

Just take those that you think are

Just like back in the day

l've never thought much about your ambition

Stopped you from going out to chase your dream

Looking back now

l think I was too stubborn

Not really

Turns out, you were right

Just that l wouldn't listen

l'm sorry, father

l have not taken good care of you all these years

lt's okay, l understand

You're back, that's enough for me

Troupe master

How are you feeling?

The doctor said he needs to observe my condition for a few days

How's the setting up of the stage?

lt's done, we've just broken in to it

Zong Hua knows nothing

Please be patient with him, Xiu Yin

Father, l'd like to learn acting from Xiu Yin

lt's not that easy

Xiu Yin, will you take me as your apprentice?

lf you really want to learn, l can teach you

Finally, you're willing to learn

lt really is difficult, are you sure you can take it?

l can handle it

"Such a beautiful moment and scenery"

"But it wasn't meant to be"

"Are there any yard that houses good news"

"l'm in love with such a beautiful moment and scenery"

"To mourn in springtime is torturous"

"There will be a hundred blossoms when the birds arrive"

Kwai , backstage

Open the door

What do you want?

You think I'm a fool, don't you?

When are you going to stop your tricks?

When can l get onto the stage?

Who among you has been praying to me as though l'm dead?

ls it you?

No, it's not me

Kwai , is it you?

How could it be me, stop being a fool

Tried to crush me with the suspensions yesterday but failed

Today, it's josticks and candles

How much do you guys hate me?

lf that's the case, step right up and say it to my face

Don't try all these childish tricks

l've told you guys not to mess with him

Why wouldn't you listen?

No one's owning up?

Never mind, l'll find out who's the culprit sooner or later

Do it again if you dare

l'm done talking, please leave

l'm so sorry

Xiu Yin

l feel that, the closer the opening day is

The weirder the troupe gets

What's wrong?

Actually

l've been wanting to ask you this

Remember we went for drinks once

And then

Then we

Do you remember?

l just remember I was very drunk that day

Did I do anything?

No

No, nothing

The movie that you said you wanted to watch last time

Xiu Yin

Xiu Yin, are you okay?

l'm okay, it's been like that since l was a kid

Let her rest and she'll be fine

The doctor said you need to walk around more to recover quickly

Got it

Jing Jing

How's your progress?

She's a fast learner

We can let her perform on the 1 4th day of the 7th Lunar Calendar month

How is that possible?

lt takes years of practice to be good on stage

You've just learned it for 2 or 3 days

You're barely scraping the surface

What more to pull off a great performance

Going on stage is not a joke

You'd be held responsible by the audience

l can do it, father

And l'd like to wear that outfit that belonged to mother

For my performance

Can l?

l think we should let her try

Your mother's outfit? Why mention your mother?

Tell me

What has been happening within the troupe?

Out with it

l said l want to wear her outfit

Help me

"Never brand women as weaklings"

"Look at me"

"How l shine"

"l am a hero"

"Fear not even a thousand men"

"For one's courage soar with one's ability"

"Yet to meet a match in a hundred miles"

"The heroine of Shandong shall be revered"

"Moved not by riches but ambitions"

"Her name echoes in all corners of the land"

"With ambitions equally as vast"

"The lady warrior is the embodiment of war"

"Fearful of neither storms or waves"

Apply pressure here

You've dislocated your knee, you're lucky it's still curable

l don't know what's wrong with you and your father

You hurt your knee, he's in the hospital

How is he now?

Should be fine

You still haven't answered me, how did you get hurt?

lt's the 7th month of the Lunar Calendar

lf you're unlucky, it's easy for you to bump into those filthy things

A minor case will involve small injuries

A major one will be major illnesses

You're in a field where the world is your home

You need to pay the idols and spirits due respect

Do you give offerings prior

to your rehearsals and performances?

Father did

That's different

You've taken over now

you need to show some respect too

Help me make the necessary arrangements, Jing Jing

Come

Hello

ls that Zong Hua?

Yes, who's there?

l'm Zhi Kwan's father

She committed suicide by jumping off a building last week

Zhi Kwan is dead?

How is that possible?

lmpossible

l just spoke to her on the phone last week

You caused my daughter's death

She left a note for you

Come pick it up yourself if you dare

Xiu Yin, just the person l want to see

Come and look at what l've managed to record

Xiu Yin

Run

Quick, run

Run

Quick, run

Don't come near

Why do you want to kill me?

Are you really Xiu Yin?

Chop chop, guys

Opening day is tomorrow, we're running out of time

Kwai

You again? What do you want?

l don't know how to put this to you

But I'd like to cancel tomorrow's performance

l don't know what you're up to

But the point is, the stage is ready

We've broken in to it, and we've done all the offering to the idols

Cancelling without any reason

is cheating

You'll put us in a lot of trouble if you do that

That's right

My ex-girlfriend in Mainland China just committed suicide

l think she came back to haunt me

l can't help you with that

Funny, though

People are saying the spot that we got this year

An entire troupe was wiped out here

ln a fire 40 years ago

Maybe our troubles are connected to this incident

Don't believe in all these rumours, Uncle Qun

Don't be so naive, come, let's continue working

Hey, make sure it's clean over there

lf it's already time, come and get me

Please don't disturb my children

What's happening actually?

Zong Hua

Jing Jing

Father

Where are you?

Father

Zong Hua, are you alright?

Run, father

Run

- Run - Quick

Kwai

Quick, run

Jing Jing

Father, don't

Father, don't go

Zong Hua

Run. . .

Leave my father alone, take me instead, all of you

40 years ago

An entire troupe was wiped out here in a fire

Maybe our troubles are connected to this incident

Zong Hua