Original subtitles

I grew up in northern Minnesota, and I remember snowdrifts that would bury a

whole parking lot, bicycles longer than a hockey stick, and being stuck with

three layers of clothing.

My favorite, though, was when they announced exposed flesh warnings on the

radio to prevent frostbite.

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

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

The type of party that did away with frostbite did away with most of the

clothing, too.

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

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

Took me a while to perfect the basket trick, but there is absolutely no

defense. I can read your body. You're telegraphing your mood. Too much

tension. I think it's the mask.

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

Fat chance.

Mask isn't going to do it.

Tent, maybe.

Hello.

It's yours.

Lisa Chan, hello.

Sure, I'm still interested.

Um, I could fly up right away.

I'll be there by noon.

Bad news?

That was a guy up in San Francisco interested in financing my karate

studio. He wants me to catch a 10.30 flight.

That's terrific.

You need a ride to the airport?

No, I'm okay.

But I could use a small favor.

Name it.

Uh... Paul, he's at a birthday party and somebody's got to pick him up. No

problem. Mac, he's changed since last year.

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

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

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

And that was seven years ago.

I don't know what he's thinking anymore, what he's doing, who his friends are. I

just can't get through to him anymore. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Relax a little, will

you? I'll talk to him.

Where's his party?

Well, here's the address, but Paul's changed like crazy since you last saw

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

Yeah.

I'll recognize him.

She gave me an address, but what I really needed was a roadmap.

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

I first saw him a month ago, and I believe he is the wish child.

Perhaps.

We are honored, Dr. Shen.

The legend is 1,200 years old, and I have lived to see his return.

I sense the spirit of disbelief.

We have never met.

No. Yet you are a man of history.

A cultural historian, yes.

And you have brought me a test.

This is the Rock of Shinse from the Dynasty of the Wish Child.

The legend states that the true Wish Child will bring a sign from the Rock.

I think you will know this.

The sign of the wish child.

Hi, how are you?

Can't go in there.

Private party?

Yeah, I know.

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

His sister, Lisa, can't pick him up. Neither can you.

No problem.

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

Dumb age.

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

party, but it'd be rude not to bring a present

Now

just needed some gift wrapping

Perfect.

Yeah, I was right.

Dumb age.

Teenage party.

Whatever happened to spin the bottle?

Hey, Paul.

What's going on?

MacGyver? Who is he?

Name's MacGyver.

End of the wish child.

Dr. Shen, we must go.

Nice, quiet neighborhood.

But not as loud as the ringing in my ears.

I had no idea how I got here.

Or even where here was, but I had definitely run into some party animals.

It's funny.

Gunpowder smells the same no matter how you write it.

I was sitting on a pile of fireworks and some jokers outside playing shake,

rattle, and roll.

I'd had enough of this party.

It was definitely time to leave.

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

Hopefully without blowing up the whole box.

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

either blow out or up.

No one told me the party'd moved upstairs.

Ah!

I changed my mind.

I'm not taking that cruise.

It'd just take me forever to get the police to believe a story about being

shanghaied in Chinatown.

And that was too long to wait when I had to find a kid who was in real trouble.

Have him wait.

Mr. Lee, I have news.

No one is to enter this area.

Mr. Lee, your collection brings honor to our ancestors.

Thank you, Dr. Shen.

I have spent 40 years and some wealth to preserve the truth of the wish child,

to make the legend reality.

Did you see this boy, Paul Chan?

Yes, I did. And the boy drew

this.

out of the rock of Shinsei.

But how?

You x-rayed that stone and found no markings.

Nothing inside.

The legend states that the witch child shall find the soul of the stone.

That is correct.

Then perhaps finally, finally he has returned.

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

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

As agreed, Dr. Shen.

I feel that I must mention one thing.

This man, Stone, is a petty criminal.

Dishonest by preference, a thief and swindler by trade.

With several murders to his credit. Then you know.

I always know, Dr. Shen.

And I'm always prepared.

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

Your research has been most helpful.

Thank you, Dr. Shen.

我知道 我的地就在今年了。 Our lives shall soon be joined.

Guess the party was over.

Pretty neat.

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

Sometimes you gotta read between the lines.

Whatever Paul was into had something to do with this wish child business.

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

And, of course, it was in Chinese.

So I had two choices.

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

interpreter.

Problem is, how do you move a floor?

First thing you need is a chisel.

And a chisel's no good without a hammer.

I got the message.

Ah, this I think you really like. Oh, see the natural grain there.

Yeah, it's $30.

Oh, an honorable gift all the way from China.

Brought it right from the dock.

A real collector's item.

See ya.

Hey, Sam.

Hey, MacGyver, what do you know?

Good to see you, guy.

So, hey, look. No more painted parents, huh?

These are authentic fakes all the way from Taiwan.

Straight off the boat? Cheap, too. Not in the market, Sammy. Thank you. I'm

looking for anything you can tell me about this.

Oh, wow.

It's the wish child.

What? A lot of noise in the street about this kid doing the wish child hustle.

So, I'm currently offering these real, genuine copies of a certified replica in

the Golden Era Museum.

You can't get more honest than that.

Hey, Mac, the museum's doing a heavy research thing on the Wish Child legend.

Mucho hot item. Hey, on me.

Thank you.

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

Right. That's his symbol.

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

It's a great gig.

You mean hustle?

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

We're talking old-time Chinese legends here.

I mean ancient.

A lot of people believe that 400 years ago, the wish child was reborn as a

warlord's son.

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

While the wish child is just wandering around in the mountains, totally zonked

out with no memory of the attack.

Except that a patch of his hair has turned white.

A white patch?

Yeah, snow white.

And no memory.

Then a bandit nabs him, recognizes him as the wish child, tries to sell him.

Sell him because he grants wishes.

Better.

Heavier. The legend says you link your soul to his, you got immortality.

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

Sammy, I'm talking about a 14-year-old kid from Santa Monica, not the myth of

antiquity.

Who's bottling it? Guy named Stone, half Chinese, half sewer rat out of Hong

Kong.

He tries to play legit, owns a restaurant in the lower district.

This, um...

Hustler type, about six feet, real fashion plate.

Yeah.

But MacGyver, Stone comes on like Mr. Clean, but he's really down and dirty.

There's a lot of people here that still believe the legend, so Stone will keep

selling the kid as long as he can. But when it's over, so's the kid.

You know what I mean?

Yeah.

The kid's my responsibility.

He's also my friend.

You know what I mean?

Good luck, pal.

Quite a pro kid.

Did a hell of a job on Shenway today.

It was easy switching those rocks.

I wonder if this rock of his is real.

Who knows? Maybe I really am the witch child.

Yeah, maybe you are that.

Just got to keep it going a little while longer.

Sit tight.

How did you handle that MacGyver guy?

He shipped out to New Zealand.

Nice touch.

No body, no cop, no noise.

Diplomatic. Make contact with Mr. Lee.

No. Now Dr.

Shen will come to him for it.

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

Lock, dock, and phony rock.

Kid was great.

Mr. Lee made contact.

He's interested.

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

How? He won't be coming back.

Got something special for you, kid?

Whoa! I told you. Good things are coming.

Rich things. Yeah.

Wait till Lisa sees the karate studio I'm gonna buy her. She'll stop thinking

I'm some kind of loser.

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

You are the wish child.

You know, sometimes I think, maybe what if I was?

We both know you're special, Paul.

That's why it's gonna be great from now on.

Right? Right.

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

Okay.

I need to talk to you for a few minutes away from here, okay?

Okay.

What are you sneaking around like this for?

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

Don't? He wouldn't do that.

He would.

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

Gee, the kid's missing.

Find him.

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

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

I've got a real big appointment today, MacGyver, and you're not going to blow

it for me. Paul, if that appointment is withdrawn, it's dangerous to you. He's

bad news.

Mac, that man is my friend.

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

Hey, he really watches out for me. Look, look, he gave me this.

Ooh, neat.

Is that how you measure friendship?

Stone talks to me about my future.

He understands me better than Lisa or you.

Your future is part of a scam?

Terrific.

We're not hurting anybody.

People really believe I'm this wish child, and it makes them happy.

They even give me money.

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

Or do you really believe you're this wish child?

Look, that car accident killed my mom and dad.

And I wasn't even touched.

Except for this.

Just like in the legend.

Don't believe it, do you?

Believe this, Paul.

I care about you.

I consider us friends.

I'm not a kid anymore.

All right?

Talk, man to man.

Let's get out of here first. What do you say?

Come

on.

Come on.

Come back.

What are you doing?

Paul, they're hunting for us. The only way out is over that wall.

With an umbrella?

No, a grappling hook.

Paul,

get that rope.

All right, come on.

Paul.

Come on.

Paul.

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

Yeah, right.

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

Paul! Don't worry.

You heard what he said.

Be nice.

Well, there went Paul on his way to that important appointment.

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

language I couldn't read.

But I remembered one thing.

Sammy had lifted this from the Golden Era Museum, where I might find something

more about the wish child.

I used to love museums when I was a kid.

You never knew what you'd find inside.

I liked mysteries back then.

Surprising.

We find a Caucasian scholar of the Wischild legend.

Well, the name's MacGyver, and I was looking for a... Didn't I see you at a

ceremony with Paul Chan?

The Wischild, yes.

I'm Dr. Shinway. Yeah.

I'm here because of a legend and because of Paul.

His family asked me to look after him. Look after the Wischild. Let me show you

something, Mr.

MacGyver.

It was a violent time 400 years ago.

The child was attacked.

But while his protectors were killed, he survived miraculously. And

wandered into the mountains.

You know.

I've heard. And you have doubts.

Understandable, but we have records four centuries old.

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

Paul. He is the witch child. He is a 14-year-old kid from Santa Monica who's

in a lot of trouble.

Now, what does this stone want to do with Paul?

Good to have you back, kid.

MacGyver just doesn't understand, that's all. I mean, we're not really cheating

with Mr. Lee, are we?

Paul, Mr. Lee asked to meet us, and he's a very rich man.

If it makes him happy to see the witch child, that's great.

And if it's worth money to him.

That's up to him, isn't it? We're not really twisting his arms.

You know, I feel like it's real.

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

For you and me.

Right. Don't.

Welcome.

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

Mr. MacGyver?

Whose?

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

Who's the money source so hooked on the wish child, huh?

His name is Li Wenying.

But he is only interested in the wish child as a scholar, as a legend come

alive. I have always felt special.

Always?

Or since the day of your parents tragic death

Tell me I

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

We

were going to visit Lisa

my sister At our college.

It was a mountain road. Real twisty.

There were rocks on the road.

And the car... Flipped.

And dad yelled.

And... The car hit the fence. And it went over. And down.

And... And I heard mom. I heard... Child.

I don't remember.

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

That's all right.

He did it to wish child.

He wandered into the mountains, becoming what he was to be.

See, I was paid to verify a possibility that the legend, the wish child, had

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

Where do I find him?

I'm sorry.

Dr. Chen, I have been slugged, dumped, shanghaied, and shot at.

I think the reason is because of Paul.

Now, why?

What does Mr. Lee want with him?

Some believe that a man can achieve immortality.

By linking his soul with that of the child.

And Mr. Li Wenying is old.

He will cherish the boy, protect him. As long as the child is alive, Mr. Li will

live. Protect him?

Don't you mean keep him?

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

No. Oh, yeah.

The legend says a bandit sold the child for gold.

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

Nobody but you.

Now, where's Paul?

Paul.

Holy... Fuck, kid.

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

In the brig.

Here.

K-63.

Board hold.

Theodore.

Child.

Inside that door.

I felt this in the stone.

Prove, Mr. Lee, he is the child.

Proof?

Come, I will test.

The handprint of the child, 400 years ago, in the temple wall. Place your hand

in the impression.

You are.

Come.

How did you do that?

I don't know. It just fits.

This was the child, as you are the child.

It looks just like me.

Of course, Mr. Stone.

The money is yours, the child is mine.

Stone, what's he talking about?

Sorry, kid.

Goodbye. Stone!

Stone! Hey, let me out! I'm not the Swiss child, it was a fake!

Stone!

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

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

I could make an official complaint, and something might happen about six days

after the ship sailed.

So I'll just have to put something together.

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

Now, if you'll leave over this side of the ship, no one will see you.

Good.

As agreed, one million dollars in gold.

Is that satisfactory, Mr Stone?

Yes, indeed.

Good.

An honorable bargain, Mr. Stone.

The gold is yours forever.

Old Minnesota wisdom.

If you don't want to be touched, look downright untouchable.

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

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

Just got to pick.

Where are you going?

Nobody allowed in this section. Oh, yeah?

You want to tell Mr.

Lee he's not getting his auxiliary fixed, huh?

I didn't think so.

Don't touch that. It's important.

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

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

Let go of me!

Let go of me!

Wait a minute! What are you doing?

Give me back my gun!

I'll just hold it for you, all right? Get me down!

I said get me down!

Get me down!

Get me down!

Try to shoot the lock out of a steel door and bullets would just bounce off.

Besides, I hate guns.

Call me when we cast off. I'll be below.

Now if you get the gun powder inside the lock, and rig

a cartridge as kind of a fuse, then use the gun the right way,

and go.

along the way.

Mr. Lee?

Child?

Taya?

Let's try this one.

Oh, God!

The

child

escaped. He must not be the ship.

Up Aladdin, come on.

Maybe he believed in the legend too much.

Come on.

Mmm,

good. Come in.

Hi. Oh, hi, Lisa. Hey, Lisa, how's San Francisco?

Oh, don't ask.

Oh, yeah? Well, you're just in time for pizza a la Maguire.

I need it. I had a day like a curse.

Not good, huh?

Anyway, I see you found him.

No problem.

So was the birthday party fun?