Original subtitles

You don't look well.

George, did something happen?

Me? Nothing at all.

You don't look so well.

It’s nothing. I'm fine.

All right then.

George, I've revised a few parts of The Silent Flute,

I was just about to call you and you came. Take a look. Tell me what you think.

Bruce, let's not talk about this now.

Let's go practice some kung fu in your garden.

I'd love to practice as well.

Okay, let's go.

Please.

-George, you don't look good. -Hold this. I'll go first.

Okay, come on.

Let's practice here.

Okay, I go first.

How was it? Not bad, huh?

Your action won't be useful if you don't focus.

Try again. Okay, come on.

George, let's try again.

Okay, here I go.

George, there must be something bothering you.

Did the boss break his promise again?

Bruce, you said you revised the script, right?

Yes, I need your opinion.

But let me tell you this, Bruce.

I came to tell you that you can change anything,

except one thing.

What is it?

Let me tell you what cannot be changed.

The Silent Flute must be filmed in India.

-You must be joking. -No, I'm serious.

But why?

You know well that it's impossible to film it in India.

India, only India. Why must our Chinese story

be filmed in India? I don't understand.

Well, let me ask you, Bruce.

Do you want to seize this opportunity or not?

Of course I do. I wouldn't want to lose this chance,

but I won't give up on my principle.

What's your principle?

The Silent Flute can absolutely not be filmed in India.

This is my principle.

I’ll not change my mind.

All right, let me tell you this now.

Either we film it in India,

or filming will be cancelled.

There's no other choice.

George, tell me why did the big boss make such a foolish decision?

Bruce. Oh, Bruce.

Give up your so-called principle.

For your dreams,

for our mutual goal, there is always room for concession.

We must film it in India.

George, instead of filming a failed movie,

I’d rather give up this opportunity.

Bruce, seems to me you’re more stubborn that I thought.

It seems to me you don't know me well enough.

I am a perfectionist.

I can't convince you, am I right?

You should convince your boss.

I tried.

But it's impossible to convince William.

He's a very stubborn person.

You and I don't stand a chance.

We can only obey, no other choice.

Bruce, you know it well.

Perhaps I can convince him. I believe that,

he's not an outsider who knows nothing about the background of the story.

It's a stupid decision to want us to film this in India.

You’re just so naive but adorable.

Well, if this is the case, all right.

I'll tell you the reason why the big boss insisted

that we film it in India.

He wanted to turn a big amount of money,

about $800,000 worth of Indian rupees into a film.

He wants to test the water.

The money is not convertible to dollars. It has to be spent in India.

Bruce, now that I have told you the big boss's secret.

Do you understand my pain now?

Oh, I see.

I got it.

Thank you, George. Thanks for telling me the truth.

I didn't want to tell you. I'm afraid you'd be hurt.

But you made me say it.

Bruce, don't be sad. This is Hollywood.

You have to face reality.

Seriously, Bruce. You just have to face reality.

Face the reality?

This is a darned discriminatory scam.

With the money that's not convertible to dollars,

I'd be sent to India as his experiment.

If I succeed, you guys make money. If I fail, you have nothing to lose.

I won't do something stupid like this.

I wonder why this Chinese kung fu film must be filmed in India.

So, he's just fooling around with my kung fu.

That bastard William lied to me again.

Bruce, listen to me.

No matter what,

this is an opportunity for you. You should understand.

Opportunity? Bullshit!

Who do you think of Bruce Lee? Am I a beggar?

I don't need this. I don't need this kind of opportunity.

Go to hell, Hollywood!

That fool William should go to hell too!

I've had enough. Get out.

Get out! Out!

CONTRACT GOLDEN HARVEST FILM PRODUCTION

George,

it's done between us. Look at this.

I'll agree to work with this Hong Kong company.

Bruce, wait. Please wait.

It is still negotiable.

We have nothing to discuss.

Look at this contract.

It's stated in here, Golden Harvest in Hong Kong

agreed to all of my harsh demands.

They sincerely invited me to play the leading role of their first film.

All of a sudden, I realized that

my best choice is to sign my name here.

Bruce, you have lost your mind, you know.

No, I have never been this sober.

Bruce, you can't sign a contract with people in Hong Kong.

In order to be an international star, you must stay in Hollywood.

If you choose Hong Kong,

you'll only be a mediocre actor your whole life,

do you understand?

George, I overheard your argument.

Would you listen to me?

Of course.

I know Bruce has a Hollywood dream.

And George, you've always wanted to help him fulfill this dream.

But ever since the film, Kung Fu,

Bruce has dedicated a lot of efforts toward his dream.

But...

what has Hollywood given to Bruce?

They changed the protagonist in Kung Fu . The Green Hornet succeeded...

but they canceled the sequel which Bruce looked forward to.

Right now,

The Silent Flute is just another discriminating joke.

No one understands my husband better than I do.

If Hollywood's willing to give him a decent chance,

I believe

he can do better than any Caucasian actor.

The Green Hornet is the proof.

And now, I understand

my husband's feeling more than ever.

I support his decision absolutely.

Bruce, let Hollywood go to hell.

I’ll return to Hong Kong with you.

Darling, what's wrong?

Our baby, Bruce.

Hello, Mr. Xu.

Yes, I have spoken to Bruce.

I think he's very interested in working with us.

Meanwhile he really appreciates our sincerity.

But unfortunately,

he's working on a Hollywood film right now.

Has the filming started yet?

Seems like they haven't confirmed the date yet.

Okay.

Don't rush back to Hong Kong yet.

Keep an eye on their schedule.

Anything could happen to a movie before the camera starts rolling.

If they change their plan,

we might have a chance.

Okay, I got it.

Minzhi, I think, I must tell you this.

If we can't make it this time,

you just postpone the contract for 6 months.

What I mean is...

The Big Boss must star Bruce Lee

in order to start filming.

Even if we wait for another half a year, it's still worthwhile.

The opening movie of Golden Harvest Production...

must be a hit!

I got it.

Hello, boss. Do you have any other instructions for me?

Bruce, it's you.

I thought it was our boss.

What? Really?

Okay. I'll be right over.

Okay, see you later.

Refused? He actually refused?

Why do you keep quiet? Who does Bruce Lee think he is?

He dared to refuse me? He’ll regret this.

I’ll make him regret this forever.

He’ll never be able to come back to Hollywood.

Never!

This arrogant Chinese guy.

He's too arrogant! He's too naive! What a jerk!

How dare he refuse me?

Boss, perhaps, Bruce will not be the one who regrets this.

We could have created a brand new genre of films.

But now, Bruce won't work with us.

Can't you find someone to replace Bruce Lee?

William, it's impossible to find another Bruce Lee.

Ever since I started this company,

no one has ever rejected me.

He just ruined his future. He’ll regret sooner or later. Get out!

Wait...

Who does Bruce Lee think he is?

Go get him.

It's impossible now, William.

-Why? -Why? What do you think?

Bruce Lee is a man full of character.

But you’re just a businessman who's after profits.

You can never be able to tell him what to do.

Because you don't understand him at all.

He's not just a tool. He is not!

-Hi. -Hi. Linda!

Ms. Shen,

you’re quick.

Yes. I didn't waste any time. After I hung up the phone I rushed over.

-Bruce's waiting for you. Please come in. -Okay.

-Please. -Thank you.

How do you feel now? Be careful.

I'm fine.

Bruce,

Minzhi is here.

-Minzhi. -Hello.

Come in. I have gone through the contract carefully.

I agree to most of the items.

There's only one more thing.

I need to see the script first.

I brought the script.

Great. If the script is good,

I’ll sign the contract right away.

Bruce, to be honest with you,

I just talked to my boss on the phone.

He's willing to postpone the production for another 6 months

if only you agree to play the leading role of our company's first movie.

What kind of story is The Big Boss?

You can tell me in general.

This is actually based on a true story.

The main character is named Zheng Chaoan.

He's from mainland China.

He is the Chinese leader who lived in Thailand

from the end of the last century until early this century.

He led the Chinese workers to fight against the local powerful corrupt force

and became a hero back then.

Those Chinese workers in Thailand call him The Big Boss.

There's a statue of him in a garden in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand.

Good!

Someone like me who lives aboard

would definitely understand

the difficulties

of overseas Chinese.

I can fully understand the feelings of the hero

for I have the same experience.

So, no one else could play this role better than me.

-Well, this contract-- -Okay, I like this story.

I’ll sign this contract.

Bruce,

I don't know what to say. I'm so happy.

If you can work with our company,

it's such a great privilege for us.

Thank you.

You shouldn't get busy...

-since it's inconvenient for you. -It's okay. I should move around often.

Bruce, should you wait until your baby is born

before going to Hong Kong?

No, just sign the contract. I can take care of myself.

Bruce, don't worry about me.

They are here.

-Xiaoman. -Minzhi.

She is here.

Hello,

welcome.

Welcome.

Look. It's for me.

Why are you here too?

She’s the main actress of this movie.

We'll be working together this time.

I've never imagined this.

Mr. Xu, I read the script in the plane.

I dare say that a worldwide greatest action film will be born.

Good! I believe with you in the team,

our film The Big Boss will be a great success.

Okay, let's go. Please.

-Come, Bruce, please. -Please.

Mr. Xu, it's not easy to have Bruce here in Hong Kong.

Not only did he leave his pregnant wife home,

he also rejected a Hollywood film.

Thank you very much, Mr. Lee.

Golden Harvest Production Company was founded not long ago.

We're extra careful since it's still in an early phase.

That Mr. Lee rejected a Hollywood contract,

left his pregnant wife at home,

and came here to help our small company,

-we truly appreciate it. -Please have some tea.

I’m very thankful.

Actually, as soon as we knew you'd agreed to return to Hong Kong for our film,

director Huang Li gathered the crew and went to Thailand.

Now, our whole crew

are not wasting any second.

Thank you.

Don't mention it.

I hear that the kung fu films

are doing very well in the Southeast Asia in recent years.

Would you please recommend to me some recent good kung fu films?

-No problem. I'll take care of it now. -No problem. Good.

Mr. Lee.

Mr. Xu,

I requested for good kung fu films.

But these are really bad.

To be honest, these are...

-the best in recent years. -Yeah.

No wonder Hollywood despise Hong Kong films.

I'd like to hear your opinion.

These movies we watched today

follow the same pattern. Mostly fighting back and forth,

the good guys, the bad guys,

male and female, southern style, northern style,

all of them fight in the same style.

Furthermore, they fight as soon as they meet, kill anyone in sight.

This is not Chinese martial arts spirit.

The greatest masters in Chinese martial arts,

such as Wang Wu, Huo Yuanjia, Sun Yufeng and more,

which of them actually slaughtered people randomly?

Kung fu masters in these movies showed us fighting skills

without showing any sense of justice.

Kung fu films should be more about the art of kung fu,

not about brutal killings.

To be honest,

I don't think the script writer,

director and actors,

know nothing about martial heroes,

and Tao of kung fu.

These look like street fighting

with the actor's overacting, it looks faked.

How do I say it?

It's like fights between children.

How could these films compete with Hollywood's?

Yeah, Minzhi,

you must relay Mr. Lee's incisive comment

to everyone in the production team.

Yes, sir.

We will have the best kung fu films

starting from now.

Oh, by the way,

the production team has gone to Thailand, am I right?

When will I go there?

Well...

The filming in Thailand is rather tough.

I want you to stay in Hong Kong

-and rest a few more days. -Yeah.

I didn't come here to enjoy myself.

I want to go there right away.

Okay...

Minzhi, please reserve three air tickets to Thailand.

-Okay, I'll do it now. -Okay.

Also, Mr. Xu,

I did not come here just to make some money.

Neither did I come here

to produce a terrible movie like what we saw earlier.

I want to shoot a film that not only has good story

but could also give the audience

an unforgettable

and memorable impression.

This is also the goal of our company.

Great! In order to achieve this goal,

I have a condition that might sound unreasonable.

Please tell me.

I hope that during filming,

I'd have the same authority as the director.

Okay, let's talk about it inside.

Please.

THAILAND

It's okay. Don't worry. Contraction is normal.

I'm going to call Bruce.

No, don't bother him.

Okay, you should stop talking.

Hurry. Move that over here.

Bruce, please go in.

Bruce, this is our filming location.

Where's Director Huang?

Bruce, welcome.

Everything is ready and we lack only one element,

which is your arrival to begin filming.

I dislike people patting my shoulder.

Director Huang, I thought about it on my way here.

Several parts on the script need to be modified.

Come.

Let's go.

-Bruce, please. -Thank you.

Bruce.

Let's get some rest in the hotel before we start working.

I've arranged a room for you.

We've reserved a dinner to welcome your arrival tonight.

Thank you, but I’d rather stay with the team.

The most important thing now

is to discuss the matter of script.

Come here. We need to talk.

-What is it? -Let's go. Come here.

-Come here. Hurry. -What?

Mr. Xu,

I want to discuss the script with everyone.

Okay, sure.

What's the matter?

-Have you taken medicine? -Yeah.

You’re lying.

I got this for you from America.

Take it after meal. Remember.

By the way, there's something I need to tell you.

What is it?

Actually, it's not a big deal.

Mr. Xu hopes that you and Bruce could work together.

That's not a problem.

Bruce Lee is a superstar.

I’m also a famous director in Hong Kong.

Yes, you’re famous.

As the saying goes "one mountain cannot hide two tigers".

Now that two tigers are together here.

Bruce Lee, after all, is someone I invited from Hollywood.

Please show tolerance for him and show some respect, okay?

Don't give Mr. Xu a hard time, okay?

All right!

I know.

-Okay. -Let's go.

Everyone, first of all, I must say that this is a great script

but it's not perfect.

You guys may not know about this.

10 years ago,

I was a well-known bully on the streets of Kowloon.

Do you want to tell everyone your unsavory past?

Xiaoman, don't tease me.

You should know me well.

I was young back then.

But then,

I got into trouble with some gangsters

and I had to move to America.

Before I left,

what worried my mother the most was...

I’d keep making trouble and fight with people.

My mother gave me a piece of jade

engraved with the Chinese word "Endure".

Every time before I was about to burst out,

I’d take it out.

Whenever I see this piece of jade, I wouldn't dare to fight.

But there were two times I still did.

The first time was

when I saw

several white guys

trying to push a black taxi driver onto a chainsaw,

I couldn't bear to see this,

so I gave them a sound beating.

The second time

happened when I was in the school.

A Japanese karate fighter

publicly called us

the sick man of east Asia.

I beat him up

and taught him a lesson.

But...

both incidents

happened under situations

that I can no longer tolerate.

I understand.

You mean...

you want to include your personal experience

in the script of The Big Boss.

-Is that right? -Yes, that's right.

In the first half of the film,

the protagonist of The Big Boss, Zheng Chaoan,

is a man who suffers from being bullied

and swallows his anger without complaint.

Before he left home, his mother gave him a piece of jade

and he hangs it around his neck.

That piece of jade reminds him

he should not fight without a second thought.

The first half of the movie is paved by the story of endurance,

with Zheng Chaoan who bears and forbears.

When the bad guys break that piece of jade in front of his chest,

his emotions

have finally been pushed to the limit.

He broke his promise and fought back

and that's where the climax of the movie begins.

He himself alone,

fights against several guys with weapons.

He beats all of them,

and becomes the pride of all Chinese.

-That's great! -Yeah.

That's great.

I think with this change,

the story's more touching and substantial in content.

It'll be an interesting and awesome movie.

Won't it?

But the team is already at the location.

If we change it now, it'll delay our schedule.

The loss will be huge.

Even if we want to change it, the scriptwriter is not here.

Who's going to do it?

Mr. Lee...

is indeed a super star from Hollywood.

My suggestion has nothing to do with Hollywood.

I hate Hollywood.

My suggestion

is purely for the good of The Big Boss.

If that's the case, Mr. Lee,

you see, all these people in our production team

are at the filming location.

If we modify the script too much,

I'm afraid we don't have enough time.

On the other hand,

who'd rewrite the script?

I'll do it.

You?

Is it possible?

Yes, I can do it.

Cut.

Okay.

Prepare for the next scene.

Director, wait.

What happened?

I think we should re-take the last scene.

Why?

The actor's performance looks fake and overacted.

If we film it like this,

there's no difference compared to the other Hong Kong films.

But I think it's fine.

Okay, just leave it.

Prepare for the next scene.

Mr. Xu.

I requested the same authority as the director.

You promised me this

before I came here.

-Are you joking? -Okay.

An actor has the same authority as the director?

How will the director work?

Wenhuai, did you really promise that?

Director Huang,

what he meant is during filming, he has the right

to give reasonable suggestions to the director.

This is for the good of the movie.

So, do you think there's a problem with that scene?

I think it's fine.

If he wants to retake, we'll retake?

Who'll be responsible for the increased cost of the film?

Actually, Bruce's suggestion is right.

Since we're going to produce an unprecedented film in Hong Kong,

it's worthwhile to spend more on production.

-Just retake. -Tell me.

What kind of acting is considered as not overacting?

That's your problem, because you’re the director.

My words don't mean a thing!

Am I really the director?

Director Huang, don't be mad.

It's for the interests of the whole.

-Let's retake. -Okay.

Actors!

Come here.

In that last scene

your acting went too far.

What's "not overacting" like?

Bruce, would you show us?

Sure!

Listen to me.

In this scene, the owner of the ice making factory

who killed his worker is trying to pretend nothing happened

in front of the workers.

But what you did earlier

acting totally like a bad guy

and your facial expression

obviously shows that you are the murderer.

You can't do that.

When you enter the scene,

you need to pretend you know nothing in front of the workers.

You know nothing about what happened here.

Your task here is

to make the workers think you have no idea about it at all.

You’re totally innocent.

You don't know a thing.

Do you understand?

I understand now.

Okay, let's do it again.

-Okay. -Go get ready.

Okay.

Actually, what Bruce said is the same as you command.

You’re indeed a famous director in Hong Kong.

Go now.

Director, we are ready.

-Go, retake it. -Keep going.

Okay, okay, everyone, get ready.

We'll start all over.

See, this shot is great.

-Huang Li, are you angry? Come... -He thinks he's a superstar!

I hate this the most!

-Look. -No!

Listen to me.

Where did you hire this actor?

Is he an actor?

He's like a living ancestor!

All right, enough.

I, Huang Li, spent many years

in Hong Kong's film industry.

In terms of fame, I'm a very famous film director.

I know.

Bruce Lee...

dares to command me in my territory. Guess what?

If he embarrasses me again in front of everyone,

I...

I...

I'm telling you...

What do you want to say?

I’ll be like Zheng Chaoan.

I'd be wearied of patience. I'd tolerate no more!

-Darn it. -All right, all right.

Let me tell you this.

You've complained all night.

Didn't I tell you?

We have to do this for Mr. Xu.

We have to take Mr. Xu's pride into account.

Enough.

If it wasn't for Wenhuai, if it wasn't because he's my classmate,

I’d have exploded long ago.

So what if he's a superstar? He should at least respect the director.

What are you yelling for?

Boss Xu is here.

Minzhi, why call me Boss Xu? Don't call me that.

-We're good friends. -You are the boss.

Okay, okay. Don't call me brother.

Wenhuai, I'm not happy about you.

All right... Just tell me if you’re not happy with me.

But listen...

-Listen to me. -No...

you listen to me first.

We have been working together for a long time.

We are good friends, right?

From what happened today,

I don't think I really knew you well enough before.

What do you mean?

As for what happened today, any other director

would have argued with Bruce Lee already.

Yes.

But you, such a famous director,

you take the public interests into account

and listen to other's suggestions,

I must say, your generosity can never be found in any other director in Hong Kong.

I can say that because of it, The Big Boss

will be successful for sure.

-What do you think? -Huang Li, it's true.

You did a great job at the filming site today.

-Right. -Yes.

-For real. -Yes.

-Both of you are trying to fool me. -I meant what I said.

No, I truly respect your generosity.

And I think you should keep it up.

Only by doing this, our team can work together.

Am I right?

Didn't you say you weren't happy with me?

Okay, go ahead and tell me.

Look at this guy here.

-Why? -You made it clear enough.

What else can I say?

Let's...

be serious.

I must remind you this. Don't mess things up.

Don't get involved.

My brother, sometimes, just let it go.

Sometimes, letting go will work very well.

Huang Li, take your medicine. Here.

I don't want to. Go make some tea.

Oh, yes, Mr. Xu, come in and have some tea.

We're brothers. Don't be so polite.

Let's go.

Good. That's it. Keep going.

Come on, Bruce.

This is an important scene which expresses

how Zheng Chaoan's anger finally exploded.

Since this is the exciting part of the movie,

in the fighting scene,

it's better if you use Chinese Shaolin kung fu.

Why Shaolin kung fu?

No, I want to use my Jeet Kune Do.

I understand.

You’re the founder of Jeet Kune Do.

But we are making a movie here.

This movie must attract the audience.

Because of that, we should use Shaolin kung fu.

Jeet Kune Do is nothing less.

Okay.

Okay.

Look, Ren Ze is a Thai boxing fighter.

You punched him a couple times like this.

He's not hurt at all. And then...

If I use my Jeet Kune Do, he won't be standing here.

Who's that?

Sounds like someone's talking big.

What did you say?

If you use Jeet Kune Do, I won't be standing here?

Is that right?

Come on.

Let's try it.

See if I'd be standing here or not.

You want to try?

I haven't practiced for a while.

I'll show you what Thai boxing is.

Please.

Who cares about that in this movie?

Okay, get ready.

-Everyone! -Get ready.

Check everything.

Is everything ready?

Brother! Brother!

Are you okay?

Oh, my God!

This is amazing! He's unbelievable!

Subtitle translation by Loretta Kok