Original subtitles

[Scraping]

Nicky. Nicky? Nicky!

[Nicky gasps] Evan: What happened?

Evan? Oh.

Oh, god. I saw you leave.

When you didn't come back, I went looking.

Who did this to you?

Zhilan. [Sniffles]

Zhilan? She was here? How...

I was tracking one of the weapons.

It was in the museum basement.

That's why you were here tonight.

Yeah.

We need to get you checked out.

Nicky: No. I'll be ok.

- Evan: We're going to the hospital. - Nicky: No.

At least let me call Ryan.

No. He can't see me like this.

No one can.

Nicky, you are hurt.

It wasn't supposed to happen this way.

I was supposed to beat her. [Sniffles]

I failed.

Please just get me out of here.

Henry: Nicky?

[Tires screech]

Nicky!

[Phone rings]

[Tires screech]

Zhilan: Pei-ling murdered our father.

You believe you are the only one

with a difficult family.

Zhilan said pei-ling killed their father.

Evan: Do you believe her? Nicky: I don't know.

But pei-ling had her secrets.

I feel like...

Maybe she wasn't who I thought she was.

Maybe I didn't know her at all.

[Siren wailing in distance]

Are you taking me to the...

Yeah.

Put a lot of work into it since you left.

Good place to rest and heal.

Wow.

I remember when that wall

still had a tree growing through it.

Roots shot through the pipes.

Had to rip them out, start from scratch. Here.

Ok. Let me get you some ice.

You can stay here as long as you want.

There's a mountain of old clothes.

There's plenty of food. It's mostly canned stuff.

You don't need to sell me

on the hartley family cabin.

Seems to be the only place

we could ever get away from my parents.

Ha. Mine, too. They had no idea

how many times we snuck out here.

Ok. Here we go.

[Nicky winces] Evan: Sorry.

I just need some time.

I'll text althea to cover for me

so my parents don't worry and...

I'll see Ryan tomorrow.

I promise.

You haven't replaced the bed.

Still squeaky as hell?

Oh, yeah.

I should, uh, get back to sabine.

Yeah. Is she still at the museum?

Um, no. She, um, left early.

I got it.

Um... I'll check on you later.

Hey, thank you. For letting me crash.

Uh, no worries. Good night.

Good night.

[Door closes]

Pei-ling: Doubt is a poison, Nicky.

No, shifu.

Do not succumb to doubt.

You're still on the right path.

Please, just... I can't hear it right now.

Not from you.

All I want are answers.

Answers you can't give me.

Why not, my child?

Because you're not real!

Is what zhilan said true?

Did you murder your father?

For 3 years, I trusted you.

I confided in you. I believed you.

Even now, I'm fighting your battles,

trying to track these weapons

to stop zhilan.

I'm not doing it anymore.

Zhilan, the sword... I'm done.

You're in pain.

I wish I could help you.

You can.

Leave me alone.

*KUNG FU (2021)* Season 01 Episode 07

Episode Title: "The Ventrexian" Aired on: May 23, 2021.

Speaking Mandarin...

Speaking Mandarin...

Speaking Mandarin...

[Blows raspberry]

Ryan: Ok. Good news.

Your ribs aren't broken.

Bad news... they're bruised, like, hella bad.

Is "hella" a medical term?

Nicky, don't joke.

Is she gonna be ok?

You'll need to restrict movement for a week,

maybe two.

No exercises, no training,

- no kung fu. - Mm.

If you do that, she'll be fully healed

in a month. I mean, physically.

So, what's that supposed to mean?

It means I'm worried.

We both are.

- Nicky, everything that - I told you...

- Nicky: I'm fine. - Althea: Well, if you're not gonna

open up to family, you should at least talk to Henry.

He's been asking about you.

I know.

He cares about you.

You haven't talked to him since last night.

- Henry: Nicky. - Nicky: Hey.

You're hurt.

It... it's fine. I'm fine. Um.

I mean, it feels like I got

hit by a truck, and I lost us the dagger, but...

I'm just glad you're alive.

I've been worried.

I know. I should've called.

It's ok.

We've got a lot to talk about.

Zhilan, what happened, but, um...

I've gotta meet someone right now.

Oh... yeah... we'll just talk later.

Actually, I was thinking you could come along.

An old friend of mine. He's got a problem.

He could use our help.

The guy on the flyer, that's master Drake.

My sister Phoebe joined his new American school last year.

She sold everything she had. Cashed out her bank account.

Two months ago, she moved into

the training center full-time.

Last week, she cut ties with my family.

Won't even answer my calls.

Phoebe's always had a tough relationship

with our parents, but...

We were always close.

Did she say why?

Apparently, Drake wants his disciples

to put kung fu above all else.

Last time I saw her, she looked roughed up.

Big bruise on her cheek.

Henry: I've been asking around the local

martial arts communities.

Rumor is, Drake's students

have been ending up in the E.R...

Concussions, broken bones.

Whatever's going on at that school,

he's driving his students hard.

It's like Phoebe takes whatever Drake says as law.

He's filling her head with lies.

I mean, he's her shifu.

She trusts him completely,

no matter how dangerous things get.

There's an open training session at the school tonight.

We were thinking you'd be a good person to feel her out,

try to get through to her,

but if you're not feeling up to it...

I'll do it. It's a Shaolin school.

It should be me.

Zhilan? Zhilan!

It's been too long, uncle.

I saw your car outside.

I couldn't believe you took time

from your busy Hong Kong life.

What brings you back home?

Well, I've been thinking about father,

and... I missed this place.

Well, we will catch up. [Sniffles]

You will tell me everything about

your big, fancy life. Now, sit!

It's cold in here. I'll start a fire.

[Pei-ling speaking mandarin]

[Father speaking mandarin]

Pei-ling: Aah! Father: Uhh!

[Both gasping]

[Gasp]

[Father gasping] [Pei-ling whimpering]

Pei-ling.

[Thud] Pei-ling: Oh!

[Father gasping]

[Pei-ling gasping]

Speaking Mandarin...

[Door opens and closes]

Baba!

Baba.

Mama, hey.

Hey. Where'd you go last night?

Didn't althea tell you I crashed at her place?

- Mei-ling: What's that? - Nicky: Nothing.

Mei-ling: No... no...

Face-planted in althea's heels last night.

She insisted I try on

outfits for the rehearsal dinner.

Nicky, that is not nothing.

Mama, please, it's fine. I'm fine.

But I'm running late.

Althea needs me to pick up party favors.

So, I'll talk to you later.

[Upbeat music playing] [Indistinct chatter]

[Grunting]

Nicky: Hey, if you turn your hips,

you'll have more power.

You try.

Uhh!

[Laughs]

Woman: Thanks for the tip.

- Nicky: Yeah. - Woman: You're new here.

Where do you normally train?

China. I spent 3 years

at a Shaolin Monastery in Yunnan.

- Nicky: I'm Nicky. - Woman: Phoebe.

Are you looking for a place to train or instruct?

Actually, i'm here to see you.

Your brother's worried about you.

My brother needs to mind his own business.

He said you cut off

all connection with him, your family.

Yeah, my family's made clear they don't

support my training.

It seems intense.

How'd you get that bruise on your face?

You lose focus, you come unprepared,

you get knocked down.

Heard that happens a lot here.

People getting hurt.

Training's intense, but it's legit.

Master Drake saved me.

After I was discharged from the army,

I... had nothing.

I was lost.

He gave me a second chance.

Ok, look, I'm not here to pass judgment.

But kung fu should be about

following your own path, not someone else's,

even if that person is your shifu.

Sometimes I wish I would've asked more questions

instead of blindly following my teacher.

For me, there is only one path.

If I don't stay focused,

I will never master tsoi-hung.

Tsoi-hung?

Once a student completes the trials,

they attain tsoi-hung.

It's the highest tier of master Drake's training.

Few students make it but... I'm close.

Reaching this tier... How much does it cost?

It's worth it.

Where is master Drake?

I'd love to speak with him.

Phoebe: Master Drake, this is Nicky shen.

She trained with the shaolins in China.

Welcome to the new American school, Nicky shen.

Thanks.

She's interested in learning about tsoi-hung.

Yeah. 3 years at a Shaolin monastery

and I've never heard of it.

The source of my wisdom

is a secret not for the uninitiated.

No freebies, huh?

What can I say? Tsoi-hung is the culmination

of a series of trials

to prepare the students

for the deepest secrets of kung fu.

Each one of my students determines

what steps and sacrifices

are necessary to attain their goals.

Phoebe is one of my strongest students.

Her focus, her discipline,

and the rapid development of her gifts

is a testament to the choices

that she has made.

Well, call me impressed.

Um, I'm willing to keep an open mind

if you're willing to show me.

I'd love to learn more.

As an experienced Shaolin,

I'll waive your initiation fee

and you can participate in the first trial.

That way, you will get to experience directly

just how hard my disciples train.

It would be my honor.

Perfect.

We'll see you tomorrow night at 8.

I missed you.

Last time you were home,

you left in such a hurry.

I apologize, uncle.

After I saw you at the festival,

I came back here and I had

an unexpected visitor.

Speaking Mandarin...

Speaking Mandarin...

Nicky: Any luck? Henry said it's the only reference

to tsoi-hung he could find online.

Do you know how many laws I'm breaking right now?

No backseat driving.

So, you talked to Henry.

How'd he feel about you sleeping over

at Evan's last night?

It didn't come up.

We're both kind of busy right now,

trying to help this girl.

The perfect distraction.

Oh! Found it.

It's some sort of livestream site.

Let's see.

There's over 50,000 subscribers.

Pay to view.

Site goes live a few times a week.

What are those?

Links to old streams.

Althea: Ok. [Beep]

[Fighters grunting, spectators cheering]

Nicky: That's a ring at the school.

Drake's profiting off these fights.

No protection, no refs, no rules.

That's why his students get hurt.

Uhh. From the angle, I guess they don't even

know they're being filmed.

[Fighters grunting]

They want to impress him, achieve some

made-up reward he calls tsoi-hung.

Wait, that's Phoebe.

[Fighters grunting]

Ohh.

We gotta get her outta there

before it's too late.

The tsoi-hung trials are a scam.

They're just bait to get bodies in the ring.

Looks like they're making huge profits.

Guess there's a real market on the dark web

for watching people beat the crap out of each other.

That's illegal, right?

I mean, there have got to be laws.

About a dozen.

California has some of the strictest

fight regulations in the country,

not to mention the illegal gambling aspect.

The video source code is mega encrypted.

Oh, and no way the school has

the bandwidth to run things from there.

There's gotta be some sort of remote hq.

The trials happen at the school, but

it's being broadcast from another location?

Yup. Someone's running this thing

from some sort of off-site server.

Drake's keeping his hands clean.

We want to bring this guy down,

that's where we hit him... In the server, the site.

There's a case to be built.

I could kick it up the chain in my office.

No. Drake's got Phoebe

and the rest of his students under his thumb.

Phoebe, any of the others,

could get hurt, or worse.

- Nicky: We're not waiting. - Evan: Ok.

Then althea's gonna have to trace the servers,

in real time, while the site is live.

That's your smoking gun.

You said the source code was mega encrypted,

but mega doesn't mean impossible.

Those hidden cameras are connected

to local Wi-Fi, so, in theory,

I could hack into the network

and backtrace the location of the servers.

Sick. Do that.

Althea: Only catch,

someone needs to be close enough to the router

so I can use their phone to hack it

during the transmission.

Is ringside close enough?

Got a standing invite from master Drake himself.

An invite? To participate in the trial?

He's gonna throw you in the ring.

Whoa. Wait. You're gonna fight?

Nicky, your injuries. I've told you.

I know, but hopefully,

althea can do her little Wi-Fi thingie

before I even have to fight.

Althea: Judging by the encryption,

I'll need about 10 minutes to trace it.

Guys, it's ok. I got this.

Master Drake's been lying to his students,

exploiting them.

That ends tomorrow.

One more drink. [Chuckles]

Ha! No, no, no. Uncle...

Uncle, please, please.

I came here for a reason.

I'm looking for something.

Before he died,

father kept a notebook

and a scroll written in some ancient text.

Do you know where it is?

Let's not speak of such silly things.

[Glass clatters]

Why not?

Uncle.

You're usually so chatty.

Why so quiet now?

I made a promise years ago

to protect you from all that.

A promise? A promise to whom?

Your sister.

The night pei-ling ran away,

she called me,

pleaded with me to take you in.

To look after you.

I was still angry about yibo's death, but...

I couldn't say no to her.

She's family, too.

You... you betrayed me.

All those years behind my back,

speaking to her.

Not often.

She sent money sometimes.

She wanted you to have a good life.

Lies! She used you!

She used you to clear her guilty conscience.

- Uncle: What are you doing? - Zhilan: You want to protect me

from all this? You're far too late!

- Uncle: Zhilan. - Zhilan: I killed Pei-ling.

And if I have to, I will kill you, too.

Zhilan, what have you become? Ooh!

Where are they?

Under the floorboard.

What is it?

The scroll belonged to your mother.

Some sort of guide

for the sword's guardian.

The notebook...

Your father was trying to translate it.

He didn't get far, but

he believed the scroll held secrets

to all 8 weapons.

Where is the scroll?

[Slaps floor] Where is it?

The night yibo died, I sold it...

To Mr. Tan.

Nicky: Meet me outside the school.

Drake's not expecting you, so,

we should walk in together.

Thanks, Henry.

Nicky, where are you going?

Althea. More errands. Bye!

[Indistinct chatter]

Nicky: There she is. Come on.

Drake: Welcome, Nicky shen.

Are you ready to put your skills to the test?

Tsoi-hung is a cage fight?

No better way to take stock of one's abilities

than in true combat.

- Nicky: Who am I fighting? - Phoebe: Master Drake,

it would be my honor

to face a true Shaolin fighter.

Phoebe, I admire your commitment

and your determination.

Phoebe has the true heart of a warrior,

but Nicky shen has trained with the Shaolin

and I believe she deserves an opponent

worthy of that rank.

So, let us see how she fares

against a full tsoi-hung warrior.

Tonight, you... will fight me.

[Grunting]

I don't get it.

What the hell's Drake's play here?

I threatened his authority over his star pupil.

He thinks he can reclaim it by

crushing me in the ring.

Yeah, well, he might be a bad teacher

and an awful person, but that doesn't mean

he's not a powerful fighter.

How are we on time?

At least another 8 minutes or so,

give or take.

Drake: Nicky shen, please

take your position.

You know, as much as I'd love to see you

wipe the floor with that jackass,

are you sure you're in any condition

to take him on right now?

- Henry: I mean, Ryan said... - Nicky: Look, I'm fine.

I can do this. The only way to

stop Drake's hold on Phoebe,

on everyone,

is to expose him as the fraud he is.

How's it going over there?

Going as fast as I can.

Ryan: What the... Evan: What's she doing?

Isn't that master Drake?

She's going to get herself killed.

Nicky Shen.

Master Drake.

[Both grunting]

Uhh! The ribs, Nicky, come on!

[Panting]

Are you ready to quit now?

Few people can stand

the full force of tsoi-hung.

Nicky speaking Mandarin...

They say masters need to be

an example of peace and virtue

in the eyes of their students.

I have tried to be that for you.

But I am like anyone else.

I have made mistakes. I have deep regrets.

I hope those mistakes do not prevent me

from providing the training and guidance

to those who count on me.

Shifu, you're a great teacher.

You've taught me so much.

To determine whether or not

I am a good teacher,

do not look to my teachings.

Or to my skill.

Then what?

Look to yourself.

Have you grown past the young girl

who climbed into my truck?

Are you still running,

or are you facing your fears?

That is how I wish to be judged...

How you grow, who you become.

All I can do... Is hope

I have taught you well.

♪ If you play with fire

♪ then you're gonna get hurt

Althea, how much longer?

Got it. They're running the servers

out of a residence near the airport.

- Evan: I'll call it in. - Ryan: I'll call Henry,

tell him to get out there.

♪ Don't get in my way

♪ 'cause I'm running wild

♪ and I'm not afraid

♪ 'cause I'm a lioness, don't mess with this... ♪

[Both grunting]

♪ I'm the queen of the jungle

♪ I'm the queen of the jungle

♪ I'm the queen of the jungle

♪ I'm the queen of the jungle

♪ I'm the queen of the jungle

You should call your brother.

Althea says the cops just raided the server.

New American school's going down.

Only a matter of time before the law

brings Drake in.

Good.

Kevin's taking Phoebe home.

Told me to say thanks.

I hope she finds her way.

What is it?

I've been struggling.

What zhilan said, it got to me.

There's still so much I don't know

about pei-ling.

About her past.

It made me start doubting everything.

And maybe I won't ever know the whole truth,

but I... I know pei-ling taught me well.

I know she was a good shifu.

She had her secrets, but...

Her mission is still my mission.

And I think I'm ready to start again,

if you are.

Yeah, of course.

How about now? I mean,

ribs still hurt, but I'm feeling pretty good

after this fight.

Could be just you and me.

Nicky... I'm here for you.

I am, but, uh...

What?

I saw you

leave the gala with Evan.

I know it was a crazy situation.

You were hurt. He was there.

But you didn't even tell me where you went,

and I've been starting to think that

maybe... you're not completely over him.

If you have feelings for him...

Any feelings at all,

that's ok, but...

I'm just gonna have to put a pause on... this.

Yeah. Ok.

Good night, Nicky.

Night.

[Shoes hit ground]

Mei-li: Nicky.

Hey, mama.

Althea ran me ragged,

so, I'm just gonna

head upstairs and crash.

Is everything ok?

I saw you.

At the new American school.

Fighting that man.

How did you...

I knew you were hiding something.

I just had to make sure.

So you followed me.

I shouldn't have been so surprised.

I've seen glimpses of it,

ever since you've come home, but

tonight, that fight.

- Mama, you know I've been training. - No.

There is a difference between

training and what I saw.

You are a warrior, Nicky.

A warrior by birth.

I've been trying to shield you from it

your whole life,

trying to change your destiny.

My destiny?

It was the last thing I wanted for you.

I suppose I was a fool

to think I could stop it.

It's in your blood.

What are you saying?

You are a descendant of liang daiyu.

The first woman warrior.

Oh. Hello.

I think you're in the wrong car.

Not that i'd ask you to leave.

Well, that's very generous of you,

kerwin tan.

If you're here to make a pitch to the tans,

you're better off speaking to my father.

And what if I want to be friends?

Friends. What a charmingly

middle-class concept.

What's your angle?

Biange.

I assume you've heard of it.

It is your father's lifelong goal,

his animating passion.

In the past few years, it has become mine, too.

Your family has something I want...

An ancient scroll,

purchased from my family decades ago.

Your father, I imagine he has had

no luck in translating it.

It's probably collecting dust on one of your

many estates as we speak.

I need it.

And luckily for you,

I have the means to translate it.

So... you need me.

So, why come to me?

Why, indeed?

I am perfectly happy approaching

one of your siblings

if you're not interested in

what I have to offer.

Let's get out of here.

We know the lineage is real. Traceable.

But only a few believed

in what that really meant.

Our family's legacy.

Legacy?

As descendants of liang daiyu,

we are the rightful owners of her sword.

It's been lost for generations,

held by a guardian,

but it is said that when the time is right,

it would be ours to reclaim.

Our birthright.

It was said that one member of

every generation... A woman...

Would be chosen to wield the sword.

And you believed this growing up?

That's why you kept it from us?

I... I never really understood any of it,

but my sister, she did.

She believed the stories.

Auntie Mei-xue?

You said she died

when she was a teenager. Tuberculosis.

Lied. It's less painful than the truth.

She believed she had the right to wield the sword,

that she was the chosen one

of our generation.

That it was calling out to her.

And she was obsessed.

I begged her to stay

but she ran away,

abandoning me, our family.

We haven't seen her since.

All these years... You lied.

I wanted to shield my family

from all of this.

To not feel the pain I felt,

to forget about our bloodline.

But then I had you.

I kept seeing it in you...

Flashes of Mei-xue.

You would scrape your knee... no tears.

Always standing up to the bullies in school,

fighting for what is right.

Althea would choose ballet, you... karate.

And you stopped me.

That's where it started.

You controlling me.

Steering me towards what you want me to be.

Yes.

I have tried my whole life

to understand

what my true path is,

and you've known this all along?

My whole life,

you've kept me in the dark.

You lied to me. Manipulated me.

I wanted to keep you safe.

I wanted to stop you from making

the same mistakes Mei-xue...

That was my choice to make.

And you stole it from me.

Nicky.

Nicky.

Baba, the car keys.

I need to get out of here.

Here.

[Door closes] What have you done?

Sync corrections by srjanapala

Man: Greg, move your head.