Original subtitles

Shot 1 take 1! Mark!

Now that we've finished shooting the film,

I want to ask Ms. Lee wai-wai

how she feels about it.

Don't be shy!

It's kind of like falling in love for the first time.

Oh my god!

We all know about sleazy directors and innocent actresses.

Just look into wai-wai's eyes and see the awful truth!

This all started in 1996 when wong kar wai

began talking to Eric kot about directing a film.

A director should look like this, right?

Shades, bouffant hair, a puzzled frown.

Ready to solve all the problems.

Fuck off!

They say love is like peeling an apple.

A peeled apple quickly starts to rot.

It turns into worm-ridden mush.

You wouldn't know it was ever an apple.

So I want to peel all kinds of things.

Pears, watermelons, pineapples, oranges, durians, bananas.

Pork chops, make-up artists, pheasants, pipes, grenades.

Strip away their surfaces

and what do they become?

Things we've never seen before!

Interesting, no?

So this documentary first love is an exercise in peeling.

Christopher Doyle, tainted witness he was harder to work with this time.

He tweaked my nipples more often!

Took his tension out on me!

It's like he's driven to express something.

And everything is channeled through the film.

Only later can he see if he did well or not.

Vincent kok - director's friend one time during the filming, I watched him on set,

glued to the monitor, very intense.

His face twitching in sync with the actors.

I gave him a friendly kick and he greeted me quite politely.

But I could tell he was thinking,

"don't bother me, I have too much on my mind."

This jerk loves showing things from different angles.

But there's never space to move the camera around.

First love' isn't just falling in love for the first time.

I'll tell you what I think it means.

It's the agony of missing and waiting for a loved one.

I adore that feeling.

I miss her so much, long to see her face.

At 17, you see your school friend dating someone.

You want to try it yourself.

You find out it isn't something you can plan.

Finally the right person comes along. Amazing!

You could be 40, 60 or even 70.

It could last 30 seconds, or 40 or 50.

This brings me to the story of av girl and little steel Cannon.

Little steel Cannon

Eric kot as the boring nerd

Lee wai-wai as the av girl

it's a story about an inner voice which drives you forward.

But nobody else can hear it.

Wanna see it? You got it!

Is this really her hair?

It's the story of a desk clerk, a boring nerd.

Little steel Cannon is his inner voice.

It activates his feelings of love and desire.

He idolises this av girl

and desperately wants to meet her.

But that means a trip to Japan.

What if he's married with kids?

Anyhow, he blows his savings on the air ticket.

His first time in Japan, all on his own.

He heads for shinjuku's kabuki-Cho district.

Body-massage joints, girls, sexy videos everywhere.

Little steel Cannon has no doubts:

"Go for it!"

"Why deny yourself?"

"Do it, do it, do it!"

Little steel Cannon stands on a rooftop, scarf blowing in the wind.

That's how cool little steel Cannon is!

Here comes little steel Cannon.

"You want to kiss her? Do it!"

"You want to hold her hand? Do it!"

Fool! How do you get to shinjuku?

Where's the money for the air ticket?

So, in early 1996, the story gets rewritten.

The bonesetter on the no. 5 bus

now there's this Japanese guy

who works for a bonesetter in Hong Kong.

He's won an air ticket in a company raffle.

It turns out to be a round-trip to Beijing.

He doesn't want to go, so he gives it to the doctor.

In Beijing, the doctor meets a young woman on the no. 5 bus

and accidentally saves her life. It's a memorable encounter.

He goes home, leaving only his name card and a handkerchief.

Back in Hong Kong, he misses the girl.

He tells the Japanese guy what happened.

The Japanese guy thinks,

"it could have been me!"

One afternoon the doorbell rings.

He finds the beljing girl on the doorstep.

She's come to see the doctor.

Chan's bonesetting clinic, 1970, afternoon

kaneshiro takeshi as the Japanese guy

Hello, this is the hashimoto company.

Yes, I'm in charge here.

The sample will be ready today.

I'll put it on the Guangzhou train tomorrow.

It will get there in the afternoon.

No problem, we're very reliable.

Bang on time, right?

I'm in charge here!

Is Mr. chan here?

I'm from Beijing.

Lee wai-wai as the girl from the no. 5 bus

Mr. chan isn't here.

I've come from Beijing.

Oh Peking, from Beijing?

Will you come in?

Uh oh, something's happening.

Alone together, sneaking glances.

If this was now, they'd be all over each other!

The lady's shy!

The guy suddenly notices.

He wants to make the best impression.

So he hides away potential embarrassments.

By chance, these two spend a quiet afternoon together.

Excuse me, please give this to Mr. chan.

It's late. I have to go now.

I'll come by again another time.

Mr. chan, okay. I'll give it.

Thanks.

Spending the afternoon with her while the doctor is out,

the Japanese guy falls for the Chinese girl.

The thought rankled.

He should have met her in Beijing himself!

What could he do?

Chan's bonesetting clinic, 1970, evening

Eric kot as the kowloon city bonesetter

what's my handkerchief doing here?

A mainland China girl came to see you.

Where is she? She left.

Why is it wet?

I was sweating, so I used it.

You opened up my package, didn't you?

No, not me.

- Then who did? - Dunno.

Who?

Don't play innocent, you opened it!

Only to wipe my sweat.

What's the big deal?

You've got some nerve.

Of course, this story gets rejected.

So Eric kot writes another one.

This time, there's a Japanese yakuza gangster.

I bring back the thing with the av girl.

She's now the guy's girlfriend in Japan.

For some reason, she goes to Hong Kong.

Av-Okubo

he quits the yakuza gang and looks for her in Hong Kong.

Things go wrong for him.

He's left wounded by a fight with triad gangsters.

And he can't find the av girl.

Eric kot as Okubo

A man who always waits for his lover

mortally wounded, he's found by a garbage collector.

Kaneshiro takeshi as the garbage man

sweeping up garbage at night, the man finds this 'thing'.

He brings it home to his junk yard

as a piece of furniture.

You could say he saves Okubo's life.

But in his mind, Okubo is just one more piece of junk.

A friendship Springs up between them.

Okubo thinks he's been saved.

The garbage man thinks he's found some junk which talks.

A dialogue begins. It's a wonder!

Two sick men thrown together by chance

under love's distant horizon

the garbage man's home

I have no grudge against you.

Why treat me this way?

Pull yourself together. Get a grip.

Maybe you're not hungry, but at least give me water!

Mister, pull yourself together.

This leads to another story.

The garbage man has a girlfriend.

A fierce, bad girl called zhao meina.

The following scene may be distressing we apologise for any incovenience caused

what kind of girl is zhao meina?

She carries cigarettes, paints her fingernails in different colours.

Doesn't work but lives well.

In a game arcade, she lights a cig and puts a dollar in the slot.

Playing each game, she gets through one cigarette.

Never drops the ash.

She flips away the butt in slow motion.

Karen mok can't make it today,

so zhao meina is temporarily played by the director.

Not bad! Just what I wanted!

Back in the junk yard, a new scent hits the room.

Zhao meina is here!

The bitch is back

She has murder on her mind.

These two guys...

Zhao meina will show them no mercy!

The garbage man lies in bed groaning. He's right out of it.

She's back? He murmurs,

"what have I done to deserve this?"

"Spare me!"

He doesn't realise how much danger he's in.

Man-killer zhao meina is back!

Inside the wardrobe, Okubo watches in agony.

Gagging on his saline drip, he uses his last breath

to beg zhao to spare the garbage man.

With his one good eye,

he sees his friend at death's door.

"Don't hurt him!"

"Let him go!"

Will the garbage man die?

Of course not!

Suddenly zhao meina seems to hear Okubo's voice.

As she bears down on him,

he changes his tune.

"No! Hurt him if you must, but don't hurt me!"

Will she kill me?

How will it end?

Will Batman save catwoman?

Please stay tuned!

There are four alternate versions of this story,

and a fifth, which is a little different.

There's no zhao meina or Okubo in it.

Instead, a young girl sleepwalking.

It's an amazing, engrossing story.

The garbage man spots the sleepwalking girl.

Every night she comes and rings a doorbell. No answer!

Failing to find her boyfriend,

she takes a tram home.

The garbage man watches her every night.

He begins following her and looks for the boyfriend.

But he doesn't really exist!

The garbage man enters the girl's world.

He takes the same tram as her, talks to her.

But they know each other only when she's sleepwalking.

By day, he's a stranger.

Not a bad story, right? Quite groovy.

How can the boy get through to her?

How can love blossom?

So I got to work on this story.

First entanglement: The world of a sleepwalker and a screwed... up guy

This girl is a sleepwalker.

Sleepwalking may not sound too alarming.

But if you didn't know where you'd been

or what you'd been doing at night,

you'd be scared stiff too.

You'd dread nightfall!

My name is wai... wai. I'm from Taiwan,

but my parents were from Hong Kong.

My cantonese is quite bad.

I walk in my sleep.

I tried many ways to stop myself sleepwalking.

None of them worked.

What worries me most about sleepwalking

is the fear that I'll do something bad.

Something really awful.

I tried to stay awake one night.

It was terrible when I woke up.

I'd painted cat whiskers on my colleagues' faces.

Stay away from me!

This young guy is seriously screwed-up.

Three months ago, my company

transferred me from wanchai to causeway bay.

Since then, I've seen this girl sleepwalking every night.

I meet this sleepwalker every night.

She was always there,

in all weathers,

wandering alone on the streets.

No one could say why.

Don't ask me how she got this way.

But I sometimes feel she's quite awake.

Sometimes she looks awake.

What does it all mean?

I can't stand it anymore.

I can't stand to see her that way.

I felt the need to help her.

I feel like helping her.

I should help her.

Nothing worked.

It's strange,

nothing at all wakes her.

I tried locking her in, but she found a way out.

My efforts were wasted.

You know what? It seems hopeless.

Nothing helps.

Don't ask me why.

She goes somewhere different every night.

She carries an empty soft drink bottle.

Don't know where she gets it, but before going home,

she leaves it neatly on the sidewalk.

Dear viewers,

please ignore what kaneshiro takeshi is saying.

Remember, he's playing a very screwed-up guy.

Fellow students, no need to take notes on this part of the film.

On the left, wai-wai's father.

On the right, wai-wai's grandmother.

Try this!

My daughter used to bring home

roadwork signs and junk like that.

Now she's started shooting home video too.

Ma, wai... wai's started shooting video!

Punish her!

No, she only does it at night.

You're too old to be drinking!

I'll give you some candy.

I really want to know where I go at night.

So I bought myself a digital videocam.

I strap it on before I go to sleep.

It records everything when I sleepwalk!

So I can know where I've been and what happened.

There's no cure for sleepwalking.

So doing this cheers me up a bit.

Ma, she went out with a bag of stuff.

This is the Hong Kong side.

There's the tunnel entrance.

Is he the boy?

He even takes his dog for a walk with you!

I think so.

I wish I was sure.

Recently, I've seen this guy on the tape.

He's with me every night, goes everywhere with me.

It's ages since I've been on a swing.

One night, we went on swings together.

Normally, I never dare to stand on a swing.

I always sit down.

But this guy is tops,

he could be a trapeze artist.

I have only a vague impression of this guy.

I want to know what he looks like.

You went to see a sex film?

I don't know.

Are you okay?

Mind your head.

First close your eyes. Now look!

That's my car! The director's car!

Careful, you'll scratch it!

Don't touch my darling! Don't steal her!

Don't touch my darling!

Don't break in!

Steal someone else's car! Please! They haven't found my gtr vet!

The cops have no leads. Don't steal this one too!

How about this one?

Don't mind me, force the lock!

You shouldn't show my licence plate!

Are you going to compensate me for this?

What a job!

On a film like this, the director provides everything.

Even his car!

Hands off!

Look, she's driving illegally!

She doesn't even have a licence!

Stop her, but let her off this time.

You can drive?

I guess so. How's my driving?

I think I'm a bit abnormal.

These exploits with him every night don't seem to worry me.

Must be a bit abnormal.

I can't hear what you're saying.

I'm definitely a bit abnormal.

My sleepwalking has stopped now that

I have insomnia!

One sheep, two sheep, three sheep.

Four sheep, five sheep, six sheep, seven sheep.

I have this uneasy feeling that I'm a bit odd

because when I shot this insomnia scene I used the counting of sheep.

Why would an insomniac count sheep?

It could just as well be flowers.

Counting's old-fashioned. Just take a pill.

Ma, wai... wai's awake now.

Wai-wai, will you join the game?

She hasn't sleepwalked for three nights!

- What day is it? - The 18th.

So I've been asleep for three days?

What's up, boss?

Wai-wai asked for two days off.

That's good!

That's really great!

Ma! Wai-wai's begun sleepwalking again.

Cheers!

Drink to this.

She's no longer sleepwalking, just pretending.

"Will you help me shoot something? Please?"

This is east.

This is west.

What was he shooting?

Whatever was there.

Looks cool.

Shall we take a bus to kowloon tonight?

Can you shoot something for me?

Our bus journey.

Sure! Great!

You're on the bus.

I'm on the bus.

This is kowloon.

You're on the bus. I'm on the bus.

Both of us on the bus.

We can call this a beginning.

A beginning can equal an ending.

Not knowing can be better than knowing.

Being screwed... up can be happier than thinking straight.

The crazy director wishes the citizens of Hong Kong

a happy new year!

Kung hei fat choy!

Are your eyes so beautiful?

Why does he focus so much on your eyes?

It may have nothing to do with sending flowers.

A friend's chance remark may be enough.

Just one glance can mean more than the world.

Sweet talking a girl is pretty simple really.

What's different about you tonight?

You're lovely tonight.

You're lovely, can I take you to dinner?

Let's go.

I'm told that 'dating' means shopping, movies and dinners.

Tonight we're having dinner together.

In the whole sleepwalking girl story, this is my favourite shot.

It does exactly what I wanted.

It's like a mini-documentary.

It records a seed sprouting, blooming, bearing fruit

and beginning to die.

Nancy!

That night, the girl forgot about shooting video.

The garbage man picked up her camcorder.

More trouble!

I'm lam, lam kar=tung.

24 years old.

Am I doing this right?

Shut up, Nancy!

Now you're on the soundtrack!

Start again!

I'm lam kar-=tung.

This may seem strange, but before we can really...

I'm worn out! Can we do it some other time?

Nancy, come on, try once more! You can do it.

I'll rock the camera for you, okay?

Okay? Come on!

I'm lam...

Isn't Chris Doyle amazing?

See, even this screwed-up garbage man

is knocked out by his stylish, hand-held camerawork!

The whole universe looks crazy!

Invade planet earth!

Nancy has her work cut out tonight.

Go, Chris, go!

Rock!

Wow, get that Chris Doyle look!

I feel dizzy. Got anything for a headache?

I grow all these plants and flowers.

Keep rocking!

My plants, they all have names.

I water them every day. It's hard work.

I've had these goldfish for three years. I've lost count how many there are.

Ain't it always the way?

When a man wants to confess something, he lapses into this kind of childish idiocy.

If he could, he'd break down completely,

like a river flood or tangled tree roots.

What am I saying?

You're not taking notes, are you?

William!

Bye bye, Nancy.

Nancy! Come back!

I know this is a bit odd,

but before we can...

Before we can...

We meet every night, but I still need to introduce myself.

I'm lam kar... tung. 24 years old.

Year of the ox, star sign Leo.

Hobbies? I collect stamps and...

Garbage.

I'm now looking at my stamps.

This is my godmother!

Can you see?

My godmother!

Pretty, huh?

This is my right leg.

As you see, very hairy.

This is my right toe.

And my left toe.

The left foot's hairier than the right.

Can that be right?

They're about the same.

More or less the same. What do you think?

How about...

Marry me!

Will you?

I like this character, the garbage man.

He's so impulsive and direct.

Sometimes the best way to beat a goalkeeper

is a sudden, frontal attack.

One... nil!

But could you get away with recycling

someone else's wedding invitations?

That would be incredible...

If it really works.

That's nine in all.

Wai-wali, are you getting married?

You should have told your dad about it!

Me? Marry?

It's time you did! I'd like to have great-grandchildren!

Your fiance sent the stuffed animal and this thing.

My fiance?

Wai-wali, who is this lam kar-tung?

Your husband-to... be? Why haven't I met him?

What does he do?

Cheers!

Sir, is everyone here? Can we start serving?

Hold on just a bit.

Wedding of the century

ma, let's go.

Is it all over?

It's the wrong place.

Mr lam, can we start serving? Will any guests come?

Very soon, wait a bit longer.

Sorry, we have to close now.

We need the suit back for cleaning.

Just a moment.

Okay.

It'll be okay soon

ma, we're leaving.

Is the banquet over?

Is wai-wai married?

Not vet, maybe it's all a joke.

Ma, I'm starving, let's eat the cakes.

All right.

Wai-wai, want some cake?

Wait.

Don't wait.

Wait.

Don't wait.

Don't wait.

For you!

Let's eat.

- Not bad! - Go!

13 seconds! Your fastest yet!

Great, let's celebrate!

Although I created this character,

sometimes I'm not sure myself

whether the garbage man really knows the answers or not.

Or if he's just pretending not to know.

Have you gone crazy or what?

He's been acting up lately.

Very hard to act and direct at the same time.

I'm no Frankie chan.

I'm not Raymond wong.

I didn't want to write a role for myself,

but I had to.

To escape from wong kar wai's clutches,

I ended up writing the story "after love"

about Karen mok and a store owner.

He lives in his shop. He's married with a kid.

The shop's quite big. He's lucky.

But why is he always velling out?

Why does he keep getting nightmares?

What's bugging him? It's weird.

In fact, he was once Karen mok's boyfriend.

They were set to marry ten years ago.

Karen had made all the preparations for the wedding.

He hadn't a care in the world. Wish I had his luck.

This lovely girl even bought the ring and booked the banquet.

She came from a rich family, so no money worries.

All she wanted was to marry him.

But Eric kot wanted to get out of it.

He was sure it wasn't going to work.

Maybe she wasn't really his type.

Or maybe she smothered him.

Anyhow, he was irresponsible. He jilted her.

He ran off with the ring and hid.

Later he realised what a terrible thing he did.

He became paranoid

that Karen would come and kill him.

Or demand that he marry her, or take back the ring.

During the time he hid,

he got married and had kids.

He even gave the ring to his wife Nancy.

Shit!

One afternoon, by chance...

Maybe it was fated!

No way out!

Karen has seen him in a photo

and tracked him down!

It's a story of paranoia.

His ex-qgirlfriend reappears!

How will he react?

After love: The world after the break-up of Lee yat... ping and zhao meina

Excuse me!

With these words, Satan returns!

Give me a coke.

I haven't seen her for ten years, and the first thing she says is,

"give me a coke."

Why is she here? How did she find me?

Her eyes look the same.

Satan's eyes!

The second Wednesday of December 1996...

At exactly 9.17 pm...

52 Lockhart road, wanchai, ground floor...

The hip hing grocery store on the corner...

At this precise moment, the distance between them is just 13 mm.

That's 1.3 cm, since we're talking metric here.

Just over half an inch.

I can feel the god of death at hand.

I know I have to repay this debt.

The butcher's knife seems to be mocking me.

"I'm not a butcher's knife. I'm for cutting watermelon."

"Sorry, can't help you this time."

The god of death sounds louder and louder.

He's calling.

Does that feel better?

Since we're being frank about this, I'll go on.

Right now I feel legless, like a shark

swimming non-stop but never reaching the sea.

Trapped! Can't fly, can't scream, can't stop!

- How much? - Four dollars

at least I can still speak!

Four bucks is cheap for this area.

She's leaving?

What should I say now?

Now it feels like drinking 'oblivion wine...

The one with no emotion leaves.

Neither of us has disturbed the other.

Can it be this easy?

Satan returns, asking for a coke.

I feel I'm under surveillance.

Ever since that coke, I've lost interest in the store.

If I'd put oblivion wine in that coke bottle,

would she have noticed?

Wish I knew where to buy it!

If she really drank it, would I be off the hook?

Things are rarely so neat.

I have a sinking feeling about this.

Maybe I could substitute tonic wine for oblivion wine.

Actually, the problem Springs from that photo of Lee yat-ping.

Worse, a photo of Lee yat-ping with his family.

Yat... ping, are you trying to scare me?

I really did see her last night.

So should we go into hiding?

I don't know, what do you think?

How did she find you anyway? Did someone rat on you?

- Maybe you betrayed me, - Yat-ping,

- told her my address? - I wouldn't dare!

This is very serious! She might even come after me!

How could I betray my childhood soul mate?

- Yat... ping, come and clean up! - The one who let me copy his homework?

- I have to go. I'll call you later. - Be careful.

Yat... ping, what are you doing up there?

I'm sorting out the biscuits.

Nonsense, come down now!

I have one more round to play.

I love you, my dear.

For ten years, I've had the same dream every night.

I see my wife's finger being cut off

and the wedding ring removed.

It used to terrify me.

Now I wish it would come true.

Why did I choose her as my wife?

Oh no! I lost the game!

Why are you holding my hand?

It's okay, go back to sleep.

Why is her finger still there?

See, dad, this isn't bad.

Look, who's this handsome boy?

I've waited ten years, but he's already married!

Don't get the photo dirty!

Excuse me!

Give me a coke.

Maybe because it's so hot

or because it's so dry,

I really don't know why she's so thirsty.

Tonight she's back in my store,

buys a coke and drinks it on the spot.

In a restaurant, you'd call it "eat in".

But this is a grocery store, we don't say that.

You can see "hatred" written in her eyes!

How much?

She turns and leaves, obviously furious.

Is she planning an ambush?

My mother-in-law!

My wife!

The ring!

Honey, finish your dinner!

No, finish now and go home!

We'll eat some other time!

Leave now!

Taxi!

Lock your door!

What are you doing?

Eating!

Nobody else caught the death sentence.

They were thinking with their stomachs.

Tonight I got an ultimatum from the god of death.

But why hasn't she attacked yet?

You think I've forgotten what you did to me?

You think I came here just for a coke?

My heart's in turmoil!

I'm gentler now, but don't think I'm bluffing.

I gave you that ring.

You could have given it back, but you gave it to someone else.

Watch out, you made me lose face!

Your family! Just watch out!

- No. 5833. - Please call no. 7374.

The account holder is away from Hong Kong. Any message?

No message, thanks.

Chicken, the Japanese restaurant wants two more honeydews.

Two honeydews. Got it.

Did someone leave their empties here?

Of course, what do you think?

Was it a woman?

You want a woman? They're not hard to find!

Where's our son?

He went to eat with my parents.

But they're still here!

Then he's probably playing.

Pa, where's my son?

Went out to play.

Ma, where's our grandson?

No idea! I'm working.

Shit!

Son!

Death

how's the ice-cream?

Good.

Tell dad where you've just been!

Restaurant.

With whom?

Auntie!

Auntie?

Why did that 'auntie' take my boy to tai wah restaurant

and tell him to bring back a coconut tart for me?

Take your old seat!

That's okay. A hot ovaltine, please.

Wouldn't you like a coconut tart?

It's been ten years since I came here.

He still remembers how I love coconut tarts.

He remembers my favourite seat!

More comfortable there, isn't it?

This seat was the centre of our world.

Every time we came, I'd order a hot ovaltine and a coconut tart.

She'd have horlicks and a coconut tart.

Who doesn't love coconut tarts?

The down-to-earth surface, the glace cherry on top.

Can't say what makes them so attractive.

Maybe it's the redness, not too bright or too faint.

The cherry is never eaten.

Better to admire it from a distance.

Meina and ping

Ma, did Nancy call back?

Are the others there?

Don't go out! Keep the door locked!

If Nancy calls you, tell her to wait for my call.

Stay home!

I told you to keep an eye on Nancy!

She's an adult, I can't tie her up!

Get the phone!

I'm back.

Where have you been?

To pick up the photo. Isn't it great?

The girl gave me a 40% discount!

What's this? You've taken up knitting?

No, she took me to buy it. Half price!

She said this colour would look good on a man.

So I'll knit one for you.

You like this sharp colour?

The seat at tai wah restaurant, the coconut tarts,

and now a vellow sweater.

I don't think yellow suits a man, but she did.

This "girl" must be her.

Only the bravest warriors can face the god of death.

Of course, no one knows for sure.

Would a brave warrior fear what I fear now?

Anyhow, my heart is not only racing.

It's about to explode.

I can't be certain that the girl is Satan.

But what I'm doing now is like committing suicide.

Maybe I'm tired of life.

What do you think, Mr. lau?

It's so painful to sit waiting for death to show up.

But worse is when you want to die and death doesn't show up,

like now.

Hasn't there been a cut? Am I still in shot?

This pain is killing me.

There's a typhoon on the way, I know it.

I must fight it, but I don't know how.

Chicken, who bought a coke?

I need your okay to sell a bottle of coke?

That particular bottle!

This one? Your friend.

She came to see you.

She watched you sleeping there for quite a while.

She's only just left.

Sorry, not mine!

She sat right there?

Stop that! Wash the floor! It's a mess!

Can we meet at tai wah restaurant at 7:30 pm?

You're back at last! I've tried many times.

I was in China. What's the matter?

Do you have time tonight?

I need to talk something over with you.

Okay, where?

Our old place, 7:30 pm.

Ten years' friendship, and he treats me like this!

You smoke too?

A date with death

it's ten years since I last asked him out.

He can't still be avoiding me!

Kok, I'm sorry!

I had no choice, don't blame me!

Go in peace to heaven!

I'll burn the best things for you every ching ming festival!

Kok, don't blame me!

Are you calling me?

Please forgive me!

What's wrong? I'm fine!

You're still alive?

I'm okay!

Okay?

I met her, and she's okay too.

Really?

She asks you not to worry.

I have to go. Don't worry!

Don't worry!

Kok!

Chicken, clear the table.

I still don't know if I really saw kok that night

or an evil spirit disguised as him.

I've tried to page him, but no response.

I asked a psychic, but got no answers.

I know I must repay the debt, but I don't know how.

I don't want to become like kok.

That night was something out of "a Chinese ghost story".

His face was so spooky. I don't want to be like that.

Is the camera still running? I've finished!

You're so kind to come to collect it yourself!

Don't mention it.

Thank you.

Where's your husband?

Says he's sick, but he can still eat and drink!

That's a pretty wedding ring.

Nothing special really.

I'll be along later for the photos, after work.

It's really kind of you to come here yourself.

Take care!

Don't cry, madam!

Would you recognise the thief?

How could I?

He covered my face while I was asleep!

How could I have taken my wife's good luck ring by mistake?

You need to go to the hospital?

She's still wearing the wedding ring, damn it!

I'm sending your lady boss for a check-up.

I must think of something,

but this music is really spooky.

Is this place haunted?

Madam, did you see the thief this time?

You missed his face again?

Could anyone have a grudge against you?

Is this the ring you lost yesterday?

Does this weapon belong to you or the thief?

It's heavy. That's why her forehead is so bruised.

Excuse me, can I have a coke please?

Give me a Perrier.

How much?

12 dollars, please.

I remember that night rained heavily.

I suddenly found the courage to approach her.

It had been ten years.

Beside her once again, I said something meaningful.

I have an umbrella. Let me see you to a taxi.

I've replayed that sentence many times.

It must be important, but it seems kind of silly.

I know the legends of the oblivion wine and the legless bird by heart.

But I couldn't recall one word of them at that moment.

I'm sorry.

In ten years, I've never shed a single tear over him.

No exception this evening.

Ninety thousand! Right on!

East! Two in a row.

Honey, this new ring you got me is loose!

Am I losing weight?

Not really. It looks nice.

Does it?

That night, I shot a whole roll of self-portraits.

Since then, I've stopped screaming for no reason.

I've stopped having nightmares about being chased.

Those are all in the past.

When I was a kid, old people used to say

photos can steal your soul.

I don't know if it's true, but I do know

since that night, I'm cured.

Now I go out to the jazz club when I'm free.

I go skiing or sunbathing.

Or I read a book. That famous Japanese writer, murakami haruki.

Or is it muraharu kamiki?

The main thing is to be happy.

Like drinking red wine with ice through a straw.

Sorry, I mean grape soda.

Recently a friend introduced a new drink, cop-shop tea.

It's not bad.

I think everything can be controlled in this world.

When to start, when to end?

Get how many, love how much?

But there's one thing which can't be controlled.

It always comes back, and there's no end to it.

Can you guess what it is?

Sexy, erotic things?

Wrong!

In these two years,

from when wong kar wai approached me

to the completion of the film today,

the whole thing has been a nightmare.

Before, I took a lot for granted. Everything was so simple.

Now it's complicated.

I know myself much better.

I hate writing!

I now insist on things I feel positive about.

I won't settle for second best any more.

"It's good enough, won't it do?"

It just makes me blow my top.

It's like meeting a new girl.

You're looking for a perfect first love.

Your expectations are high.

After directing all these first love stories,

I realise that I'm the wrong man for this job.

What did this film bring me?

Aside from tears,

the main thing was the process itself.

Getting through it was pretty tough.

It's been like a relationship, so it's hard to end it now.

This experience may be unique to the movie world.

How does it feel? Highly enjoyable!

Nothing I've ever done before has been this memorable.

I hope I can do it again some time.

I hope when I complete my next film,

I'll have this same unforgettable, bittersweet feeling,

the feeling of first love.

Producer wong kar wai

Shot 1 take 1