I thought I was pretty wild
But you're much wilder!
Pay up!
I haven't seen you for ages
I've been busy
Liar
Tell me the truth
I am!
Who was that woman the other day?
What woman?
Don't pretend
I saw her leaving your room
Who is she?
A friend
A friend?
What was she doing in your room?
Don't be nosy, alright?
Go back to your room
I have work to do
I won't!
I'm sleeping here tonight
An overnight stay is expensive
No problem
Name your price
I'd pay anything to be with you Every day
Retail is fine
Wholesale is out of the question
Why?
I just don't like it
Could you make an exception for me?
No
You treat all women like this?
Except one
Who?
My mother
I'm serious
I don't mind you having other women
But I won't be treated the same as them
I don't care if you love me or not
I'll love you anyway
Since we got together I haven't brought other men back
I hoped you'd think the same way
Will you promise me that?
No
I see...
Then we're through
I'll never bother you
And I don't ever want you in my room again
Here, $10!
Tonight, I'm paying
Thank you!
If you're ever in the mood feel free to come over
I'll charge you the same
Having fun?
What do you care?
You were rather loud last night
I meant to be
You bring back women why shouldn't I have men?
I want to see if you really don't mind
I won't go why don't you come here instead?
Forget it! Don't come!
After Bai Ling moved out...
...she started dating Dabao
And I saw other women too
If our paths ever crossed we'd pretend not to see each other
Rather pathetic, I know
But it was better for us to end it this way
We haven't kept in touch for long
Despite the fact that...
she pops up in my stories
Your change, please check it
Thank you
Are you going out later?
Why?
Could you post this letter for me?
Sure
Then Miss Wang came back
I knew from the familiar sound coming through the wall
Please take me with you!
Good!
What are you doing?
Wasn't I clear?
Don't contact that Japanese man!
Why are you writing to him in secret?
Aren't you ashamed?
Return his letter!
No?
What are you reading?
A martial-arts novel
You like them?
If your friend wants to send you more letters
and you don't want your dad to know
tell him to send them to my room
I'll pass them on to you
She looked happier when she came back this time
We talked more often
Mr. Chow, another letter for you
Another!
Those Japanese girls are so passionate
Let's see each other again
Then
if you still think we shouldn't be together...
...tell me so, frankly
That day, six years ago...
...a rainbow appeared in my heart
It's still there
Like a flame burning inside me
But what are your real feelings for me?
Are they like a rainbow after the rain?
Or...
...did that rainbow fade away long ago?
I'm waiting for your answer
Why do you write all that stuff about sex?
So I won't starve!
Don't you worry about your reputation?
Maybe I'm not such a nice guy
Why not try writing something else?
Who'd read it?
How about a martial-arts novel?
People love them
That's too hard
I tried once co-writing it with someone
We locked ourselves away for months
Just got sore heads
Those were good times...
I like writing too
It's hard to make a living by writing
I just do it for fun
I'll show you some of my stuff
Please do
Here you are, read this first
Wow, you're prolific!
When you've read it tell me what you think
Don't forget to give it back!
Sure!
Have you read my story yet?
I have
What did you think?
I think you should never write another word
Why not?
You're so good
You could put me out of work
The Spider Saga thrusts out his right fist!
Two chopsticks take off like rockets!
They land with explosive force!
Kaboom! The mountain splits apart!
Slow down, I can't keep up
Come on, they' re waiting for it
Alright...
Caught up?
Go on
Where was I?
The mountain splits apart...
Right... The mountain splits apart...
...smashing Iron Abacus to the ground!
Iron Abacus?
Isn't he dead?
Is he?
Then make it Iron Head
Where did Iron Head come from all of a sudden?
Hey, anything goes in martial-arts novels!
Why don't you get some rest?
I'll finish it for you
Okay
It felt like having an assistant
When I was late with my copy I asked her to ghost it for me
She was just a girl...
...but she could write as realistic as the best of us
We got along very well
That was my happiest summer ever
But it didn't last...
I encouraged her to face up to her father
But she didn't dare
She wanted to pay her own way
So I got her a job in the cloakroom at a club
Thanks!
She told her father...
...she was going out with me
Sometimes I found an excuse to pick her up after work
You're here late
If you're ready to go
I have a taxi waiting I can give you a lift back
No thanks
Then I won't wait
Feelings can creep up on you unawares
I knew that, but did she?
She was always asking...
...if there was anything at all that never changed
I could see what was on her mind
I promised to write a story for her based on my observation
Something to show her what her boyfriend was thinking
As a joke...
we thought of calling it '2047'
But maybe I was being too oblique
I'd begun to feel that it wasn't about her boyfriend at all
Rather it was more about me
So I began imagining myself as a Japanese man...
...on a train for 2046...
...falling for an android with delayed reaction
If someone wants to leave 2046 how long will it take?
No one can say
Some people get away very easily
Others find that...
...it takes them much longer
It takes great strength
And it can hurt terribly
I forget how long I've been on this train
I start to feel very lonely
It's rather boring at first
But you slowly get used to it
We have a range of cabin attendants
They can satisfy your every need
They will serve you devotedly
Like an intimate friend
But you must never fall in love with them
Who'd ever fall for an android?
Who can say?
Events can creep up on you...
...without you even noticing
It happens all the time
Paragraph 201 in the Passengers' Guide...
...warns that Area 1224-1225...
...is especially cold
The train heating won't be strong enough
Passengers are advised to hug each other to keep warm
Since I'm the only passenger...
...I hug my android cabin attendant
I wonder if it's her mechanism or just my imagination...
But I sense some responsive warmth in her artificial body
It hurts...
Why do you want to leave 2046?
Do you know...
...what people did in the old days...
...when they had secrets they didn't want to share?
They'd climb a mountain...
Find a tree...
Carve a hole in it...
Whisper the secret into the hole...
And cover it up with mud
That way...
...nobody else would ever learn the secret
I'll be your tree!
Tell me, and nobody else will ever know
I always...
I...
I always...
Very funny! I...
I always...
Whenever anyone asked why I left 2046...
I always...
...I gave them some vague answer
I always...
I once fall in love with someone
I couldn't stop wondering whether she loved me or not
I found an android which looked just like her
I thought the android might give me the answer
10 hours later
I have a secret to tell you
Leave with me
I have a secret to tell you
Leave with me
I kept on asking
But she never answered
I began dreaming up excuses for her silence
Do you know the Buddhist canon?
'The 5 Decays of Celestial Beings'?
The 5 Decays of Celestial Beings
It's all about the gods...
and how they go through this process too
Our cabin attendants
are superbly designed
But there's one problem
When they've served on so many long journeys...
...fatigue begins to satin
They might want to laugh...
...but the smile would be slow to come
They might want to cry...
...but the tear wouldn't weep till next day!
This one is falling fast
I think you'd better give up
I grew desperate
I felt like giving up
But I was soon trying again
I have a secret to tell you
Will you leave with me?
I have a secret to tell you
Will you leave with me?
Do you know what people did in the old days...
...when they had secrets?
They'd climb a mountain, find a tree
Carve a hole in it...
I slowly began to doubt myself
The reason she didn't answer...
...was not simply that her reactions were delayed
It's simply that she didn't love me
So at last I got it
It's entirely beyond my control
The only thing left for me...
...was to give up
24-Dec-68
Why are you inviting me to Christmas dinner?
You know how much I'll lose in tips by not working?
Wouldn't it be awful to be alone tonight?
I need company
That means me?
Your boyfriend hasn't written in a while
I told him not to
Anyway, it's hopeless
No point waiting for me
Why is it hopeless? Go and look for him!
If you don't, it really will be hopeless
My dad will never give his consent
If you were him...
...what would you be doing tonight?
Why don't you ask him?
Have you got his phone number?
I can't hear you
Can you speak louder?
I'm already shouting!
I felt like Santa Claus that night
I took her to the newspaper office...
and let her make a long-distance call to her boyfriend
I was happy...
...to see her so happy
In fact, Area 1224-1225...
...meant Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
On the night before Christmas...
...many people need a bit more warmth than usual
I didn't get that
Maybe that was for the best
10 hours later
I realized...
...the reason the android didn't answer...
...had nothing to do with her mechanism wearing out
Nor that she didn't like him
More likely...
...she already loved someone else
Soon after that, she went to Japan
I gave her a copy of my story 2047
I hope she read it
100 hours later
1000 hours later
Love is all a matter of timing
It's no good meeting the right person...
...too soon or too late
If I'd lived in another time or place...
...my story might have had a very different ending
I have to tell you...
Yes?
I'll be away for a couple of days
Please pay my daughter this month's rent
She's back?
Not Jingwen? I mean pay my younger girl, Jiewen
So your worries are over! Going on holiday?
No, I have to go to Japan
But you hate Japanese!
Why go to Japan?
Jingwen is getting married
Congratulations
I wasn't sure whether to go or not
Now I've decided... I just want her to be happy
When do you leave? Can you help me choose a present?
No need for that
She wanted me to ask you something
What is it?
She read your story '2047' She likes it a lot
But she finds the ending too sad
She wonders if you can change it?
I'll see what I can do
An hour later
10 hours later
100 hours later
Taxi!
I also like the story to have a happy ending
But I don't know how to write it
Some years back I had a happy ending in my grasp
But I let it slip away
Don't turn your back on me!
Has he been here? What's it to you?
While I was depressed I ran into Lu-lu again
She hadn't changed still intensively jealous
You think he's yours?
I thought you knew him well!
That's the way he is!
We've just been amusing ourselves
So control yourself, Missy!
Watching her taught me something
When you don't take 'no' for an answer...
...there is still a chance you'll get what you want
18 months later
Hello, is Mr. Chow there?
I know I have no right to ask...
...but they say I need a guarantor
The man who recruits girls
for the nightclub...
...says he knows you
Can you talk to him for me?
No problem
I know the man you mean
I'll see him in a day or two
Why did you choose Singapore?
I don't want to stay here any longer
I've been thinking about it for some time
I went to take a look at the place
Don't drink too much
You don't look well
Don't worry, it won't kill me
You know what?
I came by here at Christmas
I thought I might run into you
Why didn't you call me first?
I don't know
I came on impulse
I don't know why
That night I suddenly missed you so much
Of course, we're drinking pals
Of course you'll miss me
You're right
We're drinking pals
Let's go
Waiter Yes
The check Okay
Where are you staying?
In a hotel, a rather small room
But it's not too bad
I'll see you back
No, thanks
I've just moved in, it's a mess
I'll invite you once it's cleaned up
I'll go first
Seeing how much Bai Ling had changed...
...I was suddenly overcome by a feeling of grief
Indeed, last Christmas...
...I was not in Hong Kong
24-Dec-69
Have you seen Miss Su?
Miss Su... not for some time
Any idea where she might be?
Probably back in Phnom Penh
I didn't want to spend Christmas 1969 in Hong Kong
So I visited Singapore and went back to the casino
I waited for several days but Black Spider never turned up
No one knew where she was
Some thought she'd gone back to Phnom Penh
Others thought she was dead
Ping and I began working in Singapore in 1963
When my life lost most of its meaning...
...I started gambling every day
Those were hard times for me
And only one person came to my rescue
A professional gambler
Some said she was a cheat
She always wore black
They called her Black Spider
She kept her black glove on for 365 days of the year
Nobody knew why for sure
Had her hand been chopped off for cheating?
Did the glove cover up a fake hand?
Nobody really knew
Why do you wear that black glove?
It's a habit
You're not from here?
I am from Phnom Penh
What a coincidence! I was just in Cambodia
The place is in chaos what were you doing there?
The newspaper sent me
You're a journalist?
Not anymore
Why's that?
They made some changes and I'm now a 'consultant'
On half-pay, with next to nothing to do
So why are you spending your time in the casino?
I tried to win enough to pay my way back to Hong Kong
You lost a lot?
A few thousand
You should never sat foot in a casino in a bad mood
You won't win
I didn't expect to win
I just hoped to get back my stake
If you have any left...
...I can help you
on one condition
When you've got your money back stop gambling
Why are you helping me?
I take a commission
10% of whatever I win for you
Think it over
What good to her... were her tiny commissions on my winnings
After that, we went back to the casino night after night
We'd eat at the stall next to the railway station
She won back all the money I'd lost!
Thank you
Don't thank me. It's yours
If you need me again tomorrow...
...I'll be waiting here after dinner
I still don't know your name
It's Su, Su Lizhen
A few years ago I fall in love with another man's wife
Her name was also Su Lizhen
It was because of her that I moved to Singapore
I never dreamed I'd meet another Su Lizhen
I told her a lot about the other Su Lizhen
At first, we kept it secret
But gossip soon spread
Later we moved into a hotel
We had Room 2046
When I think back the whole thing was like a dream
You loved her deeply?
It's history
Let's change the subject
You, what did you do before?
You want to know about me?
Come on, we'll play high-low
If you win, I'll tell you everything
It struck me that her past...
...was like the hand she always kept gloved
A mystery with no solution
Of all the men I've met...
...you've been the best to me
I'm already missing you
Why won't you come with me?
Didn't you...
...promise not to ask?
Hold me
It may be years before we meet again
The night we last saw each other for the last time...
I told her...
take care
Maybe one day you'll escape your past
If you do, look for me
Now it strikes me
that what I told her was actually meant for myself
In love, you can't bring on a substitute
I was looking for what I'd felt with the other Su Lizhen
I didn't realize that myself
But I'm sure she did
When the peony blooms
She stands tall
And then goes away
Does she mean 'No' or 'Yes'?
All for me? You want to get me drunk?
I know you're a good drinker
Let's drink!
As much as we can!
If there's any left over...
...finish it next time you're here
One small thing I have to ask you
Here's some money, please take it
What for?
I know you borrowed from a friend for my plane ticket
Pay him back
If there's any left, pay my rent for me
Where did you get so much money?
An old customer
He's always been fond of me
He treats me well
But he's too old for me so I never paid him much attention
I ran into him yesterday while I was shopping
He insisted on buying me dinner
I needed money
So I went
After dinner, I told him I needed money
He said I could have as much as I wanted
I told him I needed $5,000
At first I planned to save it for Singapore
But I'm using it now
Don't be silly
You're still young You have great prospects
I borrowed the money from my friends
They don't need it back yet
So keep this for yourself
Pay me back later, there's no rush
Why are you so kind to me?
Perhaps it's fate
Too bad it didn't last
I wish it could have gone on longer
Don't be like this
Let me buy you dinner tonight
Waiter, the check! Coming
No, let me
You're too kind
You've spent enough time and money on me already
I don't want to owe you too much
I need to make a phone call
Please settle the check, I'll be outside
Will you come in?
No, thanks
Get some rest
I'll see you to the airport tomorrow
Please don't
I'll be terribly sad if you're there
Take good care of yourself
Why can't it be like, it was before?
Please don't go
Stay with me tonight
Let me borrow you
Do you remember?
You once asked me...
...if there was anything I wouldn't lend
I've given it a lot of thought
And now I know...
there is one thing
I'll never land to anyone
As I recall...
...that was the very last time we saw each other
I haven't seen her since that night
Why can't it be like it was before?
He didn't turn back
It was as if he'd boarded a very long train
Heading for a drowsy future
Through the unfathomable night
Everyone who goes to 2046 has the same intention
They want to recapture lost memories
Because in 2046...
...nothing ever changes
But nobody really knows if that's true or not
Because nobody has ever come back