Original subtitles

-Over there. -What's going on?

What's going on?

-What happened? -Right here.

-What's going on? -You coward! You called the police!

Blair, I didn't call the police.

Shut up!

You won't be so lucky next time.

Listen, Blair. If I can't beat you, my name's not Bruce Lee.

Bruce, you always act like this.

Blair, I'm warning you.

Let's go dancing.

Why'd you call the police? Nothing's wrong here.

Let's go.

Don't call the police if there's nothing to report.

Let's go.

Bruce, go and make your bed.

Why's your room so messy?

Don't you have your finals soon?

I haven't seen you study.

Mom, I don't wanna go to school anymore.

It's so boring.

You don't want to study?

It's boring?

That's a crazy thought.

Well, what do you want to do?

What can you do if you don't study, Son?

Become a laborer?

Load cargo at the docks?

Become a hotel security guard?

I feel that the money Dad has spent on sending me to school...

has been a waste.

So what do you want to do? What can you do?

I want to learn martial arts.

Haven't you been learning it?

No one's taught me anything since Uncle Shao moved to the US.

Mom, can you find me a teacher?

No. Absolutely not.

I don't agree, and your dad won't allow it.

If Uncle Shao finds out you want to drop out of school to learn martial arts,

he won't agree to it either.

Why not?

Uncle Shao's coming back to Hong Kong.

Really?

If Uncle Shao finds out, he won't agree with you.

Mom. Mom!

When's he coming back?

I'll go meet him. I'll go meet him!

Sir, here is the newspaper you requested.

-Thank you. -You're welcome, sir.

BRUCE LEE & QIN XIAOMAN CHAMPIONS

Waiter.

Sir.

-Can I send a telegraph? -Of course, sir.

Please write it down.

Dad, Uncle Shao will be arriving tomorrow morning.

-Really? -Look.

Really? Let me have a look!

Bruce looks happy.

Dad, Uncle Shao also congratulated Bruce on being crowned cha-cha champion.

Really?

Uncle Shao heard the news from overseas.

I'm not happy that he congratulated me.

I don't want to continue dancing cha-cha.

Now that Uncle Shao's back, I can learn kung fu again!

Quickly.

Hey, over here!

Come on. Hurry.

Ruhai!

-Haiquan. -Ruhai, I missed you!

Bruce.

Uncle Shao!

-Where's your luggage? -Luggage? I have no luggage.

-I'll help you. -Bruce has really grown up.

Tell me, how are you doing at school?

I'm good at everything, except getting good grades.

I didn't want to bother you guys,

but I got the news on the ship...

that Bruce won the cha-cha championship.

-He's a really talented kid. -You can praise him.

But do you know how much trouble he's given us?

No, I haven't.

Uncle Shao, what are you doing?

Tidying up.

It's so messy here. Let's sit over there.

Bruce, are you done with your chores?

Why are you cleaning the house?

You're not staying here?

My wife's very sick. I must go back to America to be with her.

This house will be of no use to me.

I see.

So you won't be staying in Hong Kong?

I just wanna learn

Hung Ga, Long Fist, and Praying Mantis Fist from you.

Bruce, this time I came to Hong Kong via Taiwan.

I saw the news about...

your championship win in a Taiwanese newspaper.

That's great!

Cha-cha's becoming popular. Not just in Hong Kong, but also in Taiwan.

It's even fashionable in the US.

I guess I'll have to learn it from you.

Maybe... I could make a living from it.

But I don't want to do cha-cha anymore.

Why not?

I wanna learn kung fu from you.

Bruce, your dad has spent so much money

to send you to a private school.

He wanted you to learn good English,

to learn something useful.

Why are you so fixated on learning kung fu?

What's the use of cha-cha?

I won the cha-cha championship, but they still look down on me.

Why bother learning English?

I can write essays in English,

but they call me a "yellow skin."

Imitating their noble language...

What's the point?

I just want to learn kung fu.

You want to learn kung fu... to fight?

Yes. I wanna make the foreigners respect me.

And show them how powerful my fists are.

Bruce...

Since you were little,

you've caused so much trouble for your dad.

If that's your reason, then you should never learn kung fu.

Uncle Shao, you must teach me kung fu.

Your fighting technique is the best in Hong Kong.

What good is that?

Haven't you seen?

I've been running around trying to make a living.

And...

my wife's so sick that I have to sell this house.

Uncle Shao, I just want to conquer him.

Not just for myself,

but for all my classmates who've been bullied.

So you want to learn kung fu for that purpose alone?

Uncle Shao, tell me.

Are we any less Chinese than those blue-eyed Westerners?

-Why do they call us-- -Why are you asking me this?

You don't even know, kid.

I do.

What do you know?

Tell me.

The British deceived us.

They shipped opium and sold it to China.

Lin Zexu burned their opium,

so they divided our land.

How did Hong Kong become a British colony?

I know how.

If we Chinese had had a backbone,

would the foreigners have dared to invade us?

Bruce, I know what you mean.

But who do you think you are?

Can you change any of this?

Uncle Shao, I just want to be stronger.

I'm even thinking of leaving school to learn from you.

If you don't believe me, let me take you somewhere.

Even though I'm the Hong Kong cha-cha champion,

I'm still not allowed to go inside...

a cha-cha dance hall.

Okay. Let's eat, Bruce.

After dinner,

I'll go with you.

I want to see if I'm able to enter with my US passport.

Yeah. Bring your dancing partner with you.

-Really? -I'll take you both.

-You mean it? -I do!

All right, I'll call her.

CHA-CHA DANCE HALL

-Hurry up! -What's up?

Go over there.

Hey!

-Bruce. -What do you want?

You guys dance well. I'd like to learn from you.

Bruce, let's go. I don't feel like dancing any more.

Why leave? We're here, let's just enjoy ourselves.

Bruce Lee, if you knew what's good for you,

you'd leave now and take your China Girl with you.

Oh? And what if I don't go?

-Bruce, let's go somewhere else. -Wait for me over there.

You said you wouldn't fight.

-I didn't provoke them. They started it. -Be careful!

Wait for me.

I'll show you.

Be careful, Bruce!

Xiaoman, don't go over there.

Grab him!

Let go! Don't touch me!

Stay here. Don't move. Bruce is too sure of himself.

Bruce!

Who are you? Mind your own business!

This is my business.

Take me on one by one if you've got the guts.

How can you pick on someone younger than you?

You guys leave me no choice but to teach you a lesson.

Get ready!

Bruce, take your girlfriend and go!

Hurry up!

Uncle Shao, watch out for the knife!

-What's going on? -That was awesome, Uncle Shao!

Shao, is that you?

I haven't seen you in years.

It's an honor

to see you here.

Bring your friends to have tea in our private room.

That's strange.

You don't even look like a foreigner's son.

How could you open a dance hall but not allow Chinese people inside?

Mr. Shao, that's a good point.

But I had no choice.

Cha-cha's actually a foreign dance form.

We Chinese don't know how to dance it.

Besides, most of our shareholders are foreigners,

-so... -So what?

Are you blind?

Don't you read the papers?

These two standing here,

Bruce Lee and Qin Xiaoman,

are the Hong Kong high-school cha-cha champions.

Can they come in here then?

-Can they? -Sure, sure...

I'll talk to the Chairman.

-Please. -Thanks.

Come in.

Please have a seat.

Can I get you something to drink?

-Coffee, please. -All right.

Three coffees, please.

Have some coffee and relax.

Without you, Bruce would've been hurt.

I just happened to catch this fight.

Bruce, why don't you introduce us?

Oh, yeah. Xiaoman,

This is Uncle Shao. I've often talked about him.

Master Shao Ruhai.

He's my dad's friend,

and my first martial arts teacher.

Nice to meet you, Uncle Shao.

There's no need. Please sit.

Why didn't you tell me sooner?

-Sir. -Uncle Shao, since you're here,

please teach me those moves you just used.

-Teach you what? -This.

Bruce, listen.

I never really taught you much before.

I didn't even want to teach you martial arts.

Why not? He loves martial arts.

I didn't want him to be led astray.

Uncle Shao,

you've been living overseas all these years.

Your visits are often short.

When you arrived, I told you

that I was being bullied. But you didn't believe me.

I told you I'm a cha-cha champion but still can't go inside a dance hall.

Did you see what happened today?

I saw it.

Those bastards decided to pick on you.

Right.

If I had your kung fu skills,

they wouldn't dare insult me again.

Bruce,

it hasn't been easy for your dad.

Listen.

He wants you to get a good education,

to become a gentleman, someone who's respected more than him.

So your dad didn't want you to learn martial arts.

Uncle Shao.

I've known since I was little that I'm no scholar.

I love martial arts.

I've even lost interest in cha-cha.

Why?

Why do you want to study martial arts?

There's no future in it.

I've been studying martial arts my whole life,

and I'm still struggling to make a living.

Listen, in today's world,

martial arts won't guarantee you wealth nor health.

Most martial artists

have been hurt physically and emotionally.

You probably don't get it.

But I still want to learn martial arts.

Just to fight?

You could say that.

Uncle Shao, if he'd put his heart into it,

he could have been top of the class. Take cha-cha, for example.

He won the championship after less than a year.

Okay, Xiaoman.

No more talking about cha-cha.

Don't mention school, either.

I don't like it.

Be polite when you're talking to a lady.

I understand how he feels.

He's been feeling frustrated for a while.

He's been bullied ever since he was accepted into the private school.

The day we won the cha-cha competition,

Blair and some of the other foreign students beat him up.

Our foreign teacher didn't tell them off. She just called Bruce...

a troublemaker.

She called him a piece of mouse shit, and other unpleasant names.

That's right. There are so many people in Hong Kong

who feel a burning anger

in their hearts.

But what can we do about it?

Now that you've grown up and become a young man,

I can tell you that there are many things in this world that you cannot change.

You must learn to tolerate this.

I can't do it.

The people of Hong Kong are like orphans.

Cut off from their roots.

You say you're Chinese,

but China cannot take care of you.

You say you're British,

but the British have taken your land

and treat you like a slave.

I can't accept that.

Whether you teach me or not,

I'm determined to learn kung fu.

Okay. Take a rest. What time is it? Let's go.

Come on. You're all sweaty. Dry yourself up.

-Dad, Mom. -Dry yourself up.

-You're back. -You're still up?

Shao, thank you for escorting Bruce back.

It's all right.

I took Bruce out to have fun,

so of course I had to take care of him!

Have you eaten? I'll get you some food.

-No need. -We've already eaten.

We just got back from a café.

We had some snacks.

We took Xiaoman back home first, then came here.

Sit down, please. Have a seat.

You may leave. I have something to tell your dad and mom.

Okay. I'm off to bed then.

Have a seat, please.

I'll get you some tea.

Sit.

I just want to tell you that Bruce...

has made a decision

to study martial arts.

Is that so?

Haiquan, you didn't want him to study martial arts before,

and I agreed with you.

We can't deny

that since you're an actor and I'm a kung fu master,

we've struggled to make a living.

So what's the point of him learning kung fu?

But tonight I talked with him.

This kid only has martial arts on his mind.

This time,

I'm afraid I can't change his mind.

Ruhai,

if Bruce could just focus on his studies,

with that brain of his...

I'm not saying it because he's my son,

but I wouldn't be surprised if he won a Nobel Prize.

-Nobel Prize? -Yeah!

Aren't you exaggerating a bit?

No, I'm not.

But this kid just doesn't want to study at all.

He comes home every day all bruised and bloody.

It makes me so angry.

They say a father knows his son.

Let me ask you, do you really know your son?

He's my son. Of course I do.

No, you don't.

To be frank, Bruce is a smart kid.

Once his heart's set on something, he gives it his all.

He learns fast, faster than anyone else.

Right! Take cha-cha for example.

Why do you think he wanted to learn it?

Haiquan, you don't know, do you?

I'll tell you. It was because his foreign classmates looked down on him.

So he wanted to show them how good he could be.

But Bruce doesn't remain committed to one thing.

You see, he won that championship.

-Right? -Right.

Now he doesn't want to dance anymore.

This is what you don't understand about him.

Do you know where we went tonight?

I witnessed a fight.

See, Bruce got into a fight again.

Come on.

He wasn't the one who started that fight.

It was the foreign students from the private school.

They humiliated him, treated him like dirt.

Haiquan.

I feel that...

we should seriously consider getting

a proper kung fu master to train him.

-What? -Wait a second.

Ruhai.

If Bruce is to pursue his study of the martial arts,

you should be the one to train him.

To be honest...

if Bruce really wants to get into kung fu,

then I can't train him.

I have things to take care of in the US.

Besides, my wife's sick. I need to care for her.

Secondly, I'm not a top kung fu master in Hong Kong.

So I must introduce him to the best Wing Chun master, Master Ip.

Uncle Shao.

You're up early today!

Aren't you going back to the US soon?

While you're still here, I'd like to learn a few moves from you.

Okay, go and practice standing meditation.

All right.

You need to practice it every morning.

Don't ever skip a day.

I know.

But I want to learn something more practical.

Like what you did at the cha-cha hall.

You dealt with a whole group of guys so easily.

You're too anxious. Relax.

Anxiety is a big mistake when practicing kung fu.

I am anxious.

Who will teach me when you're gone?

Uncle Shao, if I'm attacked from both left and right,

how should I retaliate?

Okay. In actual combat,

when the opponent is kicking you with his right leg,

you should block it with your left hand.

At the same time,

you should kick his ankle with your right leg.

That's it.

Your opponent will fall down or stumble.

Bruce,

if you really want to master this technique,

a few days isn't enough. Not even a year or two.

Besides a deep understanding...

of kung fu,

you need outstanding willpower.

If you don't,

all your efforts to learn kung fu will be futile.

Uncle Shao, I swear,

if I don't work hard to learn kung fu, I'll--

You mustn't make a pledge like that.

In kung fu, there's the saying: Teachers teach, and students learn.

It's entirely up to you

whether you'll succeed in the future.

Blair, did you know that Bruce Lee got loads of 'F's in his finals?

Ms. Ingrid said he should consider transferring or dropping out.

Even so, I'll teach him a lesson in front of all the teachers and students.

Qin Xiaoman said his martial arts teacher was back from the US.

I guess you're going to lose.

I can ask my boxing coach to return.

I really admire you, but I don't want to see you waste your time on this.

-Not until Bruce bows to me. -Blair, promise me.

You're about to graduate.

After graduation, I want to go with you to the US or UK.

We won't lower ourselves to that Chink's level again, okay?

This isn't about that. It's about honor.

Okay. Let's go. Get in the car.

Be careful.

Don't be like this.

We'll think of a way.

At this point,

what else can I do?

Bruce is failing his classes.

Ms. Ingrid talked about him at the parents' meeting today.

What can we do about Bruce?

Just keep letting him keep fail?

We can't.

We have to think of something.

What can we do?

Can't you see I'm thinking?

We're just preparing

for the final strike.

Uncle Shao, you're incredible!

Your strike is powerful.

Yes, that's the way it should be.

Learn it little by little, from the beginning.

It's 1:30 a.m. and he's still practicing?

It's after midnight. What the hell is he doing?

Let's go.

It was this great man

who led his country

to withstand Hitler's bombing at this crucial period in Britain's history.

We should remember his name.

His name was...

Winston Churchill.

Winston Churchill.

Is class dismissed?

Not yet. Sit down.

Ms. Ingrid, Bruce Lee is sleepwalking.

My God!

What is this?

Enough! You're not educated!

You can't even respect our national hero, and...

This is outrageous!

I hate the smell of tobacco.

It makes me sick.

Stop!

Haiquan.

Get up! Get up!

Go and tell your son to come back.

What time is it? Two o'clock! He's still practicing?

Bring him home. Don't let him practice any more.

Come on. You know what Bruce's temper is like.

If he doesn't want to do something, he won't.

Even if you hold a knife to his neck.

But when he wants to do something, you can't stop him.

-Even if you put a gun to his head. -It's 2:00 a.m. and he's still up.

He's still the cha-cha champion.

As long as he graduates from high-school, I'm happy.

You'll be happy so long as he graduates from high-school?

No, he has to go to college.

My dear,

Bruce is not made to be a government official.

He's made to pull carts.

Even if he goes to college, that's his destiny.

-Listen. -Let me fasten it.

We have four children.

If three of them can go to college, I'll be satisfied.

Not good enough. They all have to go.

You're hopeless.

Listen. I was thinking about it at the park today.

You know, Bruce won't understand our pain.

He'll never understand it.

Let's sleep.

Mr Shao, are we leaving right now?

We've still got time. Please take my luggage to the car.

Okay.

Uncle Shao, are you really leaving?

-Yes, I am. -You can't stay?

What's up?

We still have time.

How's your Hung Ga coming along?

I'm okay.

Show me.

Okay. Please begin.

Uncle Shao, I really don't want you to go.

You're a grown man.

Can't you even control your tears?

Hurry up. Let me see.

Do you know it takes at least half a year for the average guy to learn Hung Ga?

Do you remember all 36 styles?

-Begin. -Okay.

You've made amazing progress.

You'll be a success if you continue like this.

Uncle Shao!

QUEEN'S PIER

I don't think Bruce had bad intentions.

He knows tobacco is bad for one's health.

He was just drawing it for fun.

-What do you think, Superintendent? -That's right.

That's the boy.

Bruce Lee, stop!

What's wrong?

The Principal and Superintendent want to know

why you insulted such a great statesman.

I don't know what you mean.

Didn't you draw this cartoon while I was giving the class

-about Winston Churchill? -I did.

Explain to the Principal

why you drew such an insulting cartoon

of this great leader during our British History class.

How could you think like that?

Ms. Ingrid, do you know the dangers of tobacco? You taught us about it.

-I hope you'll explain to us again. -You're twisting my words!

I respect you.

Jump. Jump!

That's great!

Keep going. Left.

Left. Left. Right. Again. Slide. That's right.

All right. Come over here.

-That's boring. -Let's go.

You guys practice in pairs.

Warriors, our goal to conquer David Koffer

-will be on your shoulders. Got it? -Yes, sir!

-Okay, let's begin! -Come on.

Focus.

Oh? Do you want to learn?

-Yes. -Okay.

Then kiss my ass and I'll teach you.

You know what, Bruce? You're good at kicking,

but that's not allowed in boxing.

I can still beat you even if I don't use my feet.

Okay. Get him some gloves.

Blair, we've agreed that this isn't a real fight. It's just practice.

Okay. You stand over there.

-Come on. -Come on, Bruce.

-Start! -Come on!

-Come. -Come on.

Come on, Bruce.

Teach him a lesson.

-Hurry up. -Show him what you got.

Come on! Blair.

-Hurry up! -Go!

-Hit him with your best shot. -Hurry up!

You've got three seconds.

-You're clueless, aren't you? -This works too.

Great!

He's so stupid.

-Do that again. -Come on. Attack.

Get him.

Come on, Bruce!

Come over here!

-Let's go. -Do that again.

-Come. -Attack.

Attack!

Come over!

Come on!

-All right. Come on. -Bruce.

-Come on! -Come on!

-Go. -Come on!

-Come! -Come on!

-Go. -Come on!

-Go. -Come on!

Get lost!

Get lost!

Dinner's ready.

Bruce has locked himself in his room for two days

without eating or drinking.

We should check on him.

Bruce,

you've been in here for two days without eating or drinking.

Your mom said you were sick.

She's so worried that she hasn't eaten for two days either.

I know.

You're not sick. You're depressed.

-I just need a master! -Bruce, why are you acting like this?

We're not letting you pursue this path. It's for your own good.

Why are you so serious about fighting?

I don't approve of it. You just fight all day and neglect your studies.

Bruce, you're on school vacation now.

Ask your brother or sister to tutor you.

You must catch up with your studies.

If I can't learn kung fu, then I won't do anything.

There's an old saying: Studying is the noblest of all human pursuits.

Only education can promise you a future.

What's the use of learning kung fu?

All right, all right...

All right, all right.

You're saying all this but he's not listening.

Come downstairs with me.

-What are you doing? -What are we doing?

We're going to fight.

You're crazy.

I'm not!

Your son, he's dead.

I'm not dead!

Bruce!

Dad.

Bruce, put your clothes on and follow me.

I'm taking you to meet someone.

-Who? -Master Ip.

-Really? -Really!

Didn't you keep asking me to introduce you to Master Ip,

to learn kung fu?

Uncle Shao met with him before he left.

But...

Master Ip doesn't accept apprentices so easily.

I'm not worried.

I'll do anything as long as you let me learn kung fu!

Subtitle translation by Vicky Wang