We've read Yu Qiuyu's "The Messenger" last week
Let's read his
"Weight of Thirty Years" today
Please turn to page 431
Among the unending phone calls
I suddenly hear the voice of an old man
It's my Chinese teacher
...from high school 30 years ago Mr. Mu Ni
It was lost during the Cultural Revolution
The old man said Can you draw me another one?
For my collection when I am old?
Memories of the early sixties appear
High school life was tough but happy
The children knew by instinct
these teachers
...were under political pressure
We couldn't afford New Year greeting cards
We could only draw our own on blank paper
No matter what we wrote or what we drew
it was no better than any other student
We've already forgotten the way we used to draw
We can only use the hands of two middle-aged men
to roll up 30 years of sweetness and bitterness
to let you feel the great love that lasts
Yu Qiuyu's "The Weight of Thirty Years"
Think of the time
when you feel the weight
This is the topic for this week's assignment
Good-bye. Good-bye
Miss, what are you doing?
You haven't paid yet
I'm sorry
She's my sister. I'm paying for her
Hello. Yes, I'll pick her up later
I got some things to do now. Thanks
My name is Yip. I'm out of a job and I've 2 dogs
They would be starving without me
You ran away from home?
Rosa kicked me out
We had a fight yesterday
Ive no choice cause I was living under her roof
You can't steal stuff even if you're penniless
Do you have any friends here?
Who cares?
All I want to do is eat!
One coffee, please
(Did others say you look lovely when you're sleeping? Jin)
Don't you have anything you want to do?
Why does everyone ask me the same question?
Rosa does it too
She says I'm wasting my time
And that she'll look down on me too one day
She kicked me out because of the fight
Actually, she cherishes me
But she was too nosy and always babbling
You are different You are so soft and gentle
Sorry, I'm treating you like my students
So, tell me one of your secrets and we'll call it even?
Call it even?
I've never left school for 30 years
From high school to university to being a teacher
I just go from one school to another
That's not a secret
I used to visit a friend a lot in Macau
She was my best friend
... who became a nun at 23
It'll be hard at times
Just tell me about it no one would blame you
(Did others say you look lovely when you're sleeping? Jin)
Cry to me whenever you want to
just treat me to dinner
You can cry as loud as you want
Thank you
The company is nearby
I'll go by myself. No need to wait for me
Bye
How did you find me?
There're only a few girls' school
in this area
You have to read it
Hurry up! Come on, hurry up!
Wait for me
It's raining
Really?
Look
I don't feel it. I'm not a lamp post
That tastes sour
I'm back at Rosa's place I wanted to return your money
But then I decided to make you dinner instead
How about this Saturday?
You can bring Ting Ting along
And yes, you asked me what I wanted to do?
There are two things I wanted to do
Find a girl
and a suitable job
I don't think I have to tell anyone about this
And I'm not sure when I can succeed
I dreamt about you that night
If you want to know about my dream
you'll have to come on Saturday
Come on, hurry up
You live here alone?
Get up! Hurry, I want you to see this
Get up!
I'm very tired
Hurry up!
Hello, Hello
Rosa, who is it?
I don't know
I'm having dinner with my friends from university on Saturday
I'll bring Ting Ting along and be back a bit late
Great, go and have fun
Go and do some shopping
You haven't bought yourself anything for some time
What? Eat
When butterflies fly away
So does the heart
In the long night who shall come
To dry a face full of tears
Yearning for a little dependence
Yearning for a little love
An old acquaintance is too hard to end
Resulting in a heart full of grief
How can one endure
The guessing here, the blaming there
When I was thirteen I slept with a girl one day
She smelled so good
...and was holding me all along
Then
I put my hand inside her body
And she started to cry
That's the only thing I know how to do
I thought about it for a long time
And I'm still afraid to tell you
Because I don't want you to be angry
You only treat me as a good friend
And now I'm totally lost
I've hinted at it many times already
I had no idea Nobody ever treated me like this
What is it?
A birthmark
You were here all along
What?
You've been acting strange lately
Is it because I was always working and neglected you?
Bye-bye, Miss Wu Bye-bye
Bye-bye, see you tomorrow
Deedee. Mocha
This is Deedee and this is Mocha
They just look fierce but are actually very timid
I found them in the streets
I prepared a lot of food
Didn't you say this is Rosa's home?
Where is she?
That's what you've been worrying about?
Rosa is busy right now at her boutique
And I told her you'll be coming
Someone will bring us a cake later
Didn't I mention it's my birthday today?
You only said that you'd tell me about
about my dream
I just want to see you on my birthday
Do you always become nervous so easily?
Deedee! Mocha! Go inside!
Ting Ting is turning one, right?
Yes. She's learning to walk
She likes music a lot Especially Nirvana
"Smells like Teen Spirits"
Cool
Ming says babies can't tell the difference
But I know she can
I believe you
I recognize some words by three
My father didn't believe me. But my mother knew
She bought me a lot of books
When others were learning words in primary school
I was already reading Gu Long's novels
Classes were so boring I started to daydream
I knew nothing about Math and my schoolwork was terrible
I wanted to kiss you when I first saw you
I was afraid you'd be mad at me
That's why I've come up with so many excuses
I
I've never been so afraid
I'm married and I have a kid
But I keep thinking about you
It's ok. I won't force you
Let's eat
or I won't be able to control myself
Gosh, you guys are having a feast without me
You pretty thing! You must be Flavia, right?
You nasty girl
you dish me right away when you see pretty woman
I'd better go and feed the baby
Oh she didn't tell me you were a
Well, she's always liked older woman
You left the boutique alone what are you doing here?
What did I do? I got you a birthday cake
Today's my birthday Can you just leave me alone?
OK, fine. I'll leave you guys alone
Just don't take advantage of married women
Don't mind Rosa
This cake looks good!
But she was very angry How can you treat her like that?
You silly girl. She's not my girlfriend
Every time I bring a girl home she'll make fun of her
Don't let her bother you
Do you really like older woman?
Did I say I like you?
I've never seen anyone over 30 who's so shy
You're the second one The first one became a nun
Jin, I'm coming
Give me a hand, Jin
Were we not having loved ones? Though only once in a while
Were we not having food for our mouths? Though it's not enough
Were we not having a place to live in? Though it smells
Were we not always better than somebody else?
Tell me when you want to stop
Sorry
It's ok
She's fine
Find a job and forget about me
I don't know what I was doing just now
Just pretend that we never met
We've met and that's a fact I won't pretend
You can always re-take the exam if you work hard
I can't do this any longer
I don't want to give up either
Time to wake up! I'm making you breakfast
How come you seldom talk about your family?
I talk about them all the time
Flavia, keep this for me
Don't run around with your wedding dress
Let's give grandpa a kiss
Just like that. I proposed
And she accepted. That's the whole story
Why don't you go to Canada?
I didn't say I won't go
"Since 9 am this morning people started approaching"
"Tiananmen Square from every direction"
(70th Anniversary of May 4th)
"The parade is filled with happiness."
"As if everyone found a common language..."
"...and a common belief"
"The crowd is soaking up the atmosphere."
I don't want to work like this anymore
Please stay a little longer
How do you pay the money back?
This is not my business
I am a singer only, not a clown
Are you naive or what? It's your job
Please
Fuck off
Li Bai was more sensitive and romantic
He liked drinking
Du Fu's poems were more patriotic
...and socially oriented
Mrs. Lam
Sorry! Samantha and Muriel
I'm sorry, Miss Wu
I didn't know they were not at school
Muriel's parents came to scold us this morning
Muriel was beaten by her father and was bleeding
So I let her stay at my place
I told them to go to school everyday I did
This is Samantha I can't take your call right now
Please leave a message
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing the song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start when tomorrow comes!
Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Beyond the barricade is there a world you long to see?
We all have our rights
If people lose their human rights
then what is the point of being human?
Hello? Mom?
Don't cry! Tell me what happened
It's fine
Have you found them?
Not yet
If there's no news of them by tomorrow we'll have to call the police
Flavia
What?
Where have you been? Why didn't you go to school?
You got your parents very worried
Are you alright?
Miss Wu, you must help us
I don't want to be separated from Muriel
Come over first
Go back home, it'll be alright
They scolded us
A lot of people are like us actually
What can I do?
My Dad wants me to go back to Canada
Please help us
We can't go home. My dad'll kill me
Money! Can you lend us money to run away?
I'll pay you back when I can earn some money
Stay here tonight
I'll take you home tomorrow
There're a lot of things you can't rush
You'll only hurt yourself if you're too impatient
You shouldn't do this
The students are becoming les... and running away from home
Instead of calling their parents
you let them stay at your place
They're kids but you're a grown up
You don't know what it feels like to be separated
This song is called "Never" It was written 9 years ago
The song says he never went anywhere
He could only afford meals at 8 dollars But he was happy
Have you heard this before? No
Never been to U.S..
Never been to England
Never been to Japan
Never been to Russia
I've never been to never been to C-H-I-N-A!
Never own a mobile
Never own a house
Never own much anything
Never travel far
I never fly, I never fly in the a-i-r!
They've been here last night
Shall I drive you to see Muriel's parents?
It's alright. I think they'll be fine
I
Please hold, just a second
Hello?
Samantha?
"Ladies and Gentlemen..."
"we'll soon be arriving at New Macau Marinetime Ferry Terminal"
"For your own safety..."
"please remain seated until the vassal is properly berthed"
Hello? Yes, Mrs. Lam
I'm in Macau now
Oh...they went home already?
It's ok. Bye
Hey, here
Fabulous
What are you thinking?
A lot
Like what?
Sometimes I feel that I am not myself
As if there's a mismatch
I think I've seen this image before
Actually everything has happened before
It has all been scripted
Scripted?
Some people believe they can change their lives
And they try their best to do it
But no matter what, their lives have already been scripted
Their choices and the results are all pre-destined
You should say they're all pre-meditative
Pre-meditative...right
Yeah, you lose. Punishment
Hi! Are you from Hong Kong?
Yes
My name is Carl
What's yours?
Do you really love me?
One hundred percent
How can you prove it?
Now is the proof
How long will you love me?
What does that mean?
Isn't it scripted already?
Yes. But we don't know what's in the script
Right! How smart we are!
At least we know it's all a conspiracy
Pre-meditative! Conspiracy?
In fact I'm not interested in politics
But politics is something we must deal with
As a human being, I cannot ignore it
I'm talking about resistance
Resisting the confines our society gave us
You can only do this. You cannot do that
You must go through life
...under these circumstances
There's too much prejudice here
We're only asking for the life we want to lead
Without being invaded
Without being manipulated
Sorry
Mom...how are you feeling?
Dizzy?
I'm at the studying room
Just now
Remember to turn off the pager next time
I'm going to my mother's place
Can you help me send the film to the shop?
Miss Wu
Sorry, I've given you a lot of trouble
Silly girl
I'll go in first
"Heaven-Cleansed Sands"
Orioles and swallows announce the spring
Flowers and willows reveal the truth
All things have style and rhythm
Shy and delicate;
that's prim and proper people
Flowers and willows reveal...Jin
"Raising my cup I ask the bright moon"
"Bring me my shadow and make us three"
In Li Bai's "Drinking Alone With the Moon"
"Bring me my shadow and make us three" means
Li Bai, Li Bai's shadow and the moon
No! Samantha! No
Leave me alone!
Samantha! Calm down
Monitor! Go and call an ambulance
How're the students?
2803...1234
Any calls from Flavia?
"...made the strongest speech in years..."
"...directed to the unrest of recent weeks"
Come and look! They're forcing them to leave!
"After the army took control"
"the people and the students used vehicles"
"to block the path of the army
"...at major entrances to the city"
"Some people simply sat on the road"
"and used their own bodies..."
"to stop the army vehicles from moving"
"The troops made way"
"to Tiananmen Square"
"in military vehicles and tanks..."
"...from last night to this morning"
"People gathered and stopped the army from moving"
"The army did not retreat this time"
"At 4 am..."
Pre-meditative
"the troops are arriving at Tiananmen Square"
"A lot of gun shots were heard"
"Many people were injured Some of them were killed"
"Only flare bombs were flashing People were forced..."
"...to leave under heavy arms"
Miss Wu
Muriel was sent to live with her sister
in Vancouver yesterday
It was Muriel's father
who dragged them back from Macau
Muriel
Samantha
Miss, why didn't you help us?
Why didn't you lend us money to leave?
We thank you a lot! Please go!
Leave
I'll go first, bye-bye
Bye
Thank you!
You look so thin and tired
I'm tired. I want to sleep
This place is huge. Great for dogs
I work very hard nowadays
3 shows a night Over 200 dollars an hour
As I decorate this place,
I picture how you'll look in it
I picked up the furniture from the streets
Except for Ting Ting's new crib
I didn't know you did all this
And you sing for the bar
You don't know a lot of things
In fact, I'm 23, not 18
I've been singing for 3 years before I met Rosa and quit
I don't know why I always fell for girls
I can't even help my students
I always give up when I'm half way through doing something
If I go on like this, I'll hurt a lot of people
Why do you blame yourself for everything?
You've tried your best. That's good enough
No one will blame you
I want to make love to you You can say no
But don't tell me you're not prepared
Or you need to think it through
You can just do what you want when you're with me
No one will laugh at you
I don't want to waste my time on a guessing game
Don't you know you look very beautiful now?
I know you're scared
But it's time for you to go back and face reality
I'll be here all the time
I won't kill myself And I won't suddenly become a nun
You just want to have an affair with me?
I'm just more patient than other people
I don't want you to do anything you'll regret
It's hope that got me through the hard times
Didn't you see me work hard? I bought the crib
I don't just want to sleep eat and drink with you
Everyone has to pay
for what they want in their own way
My situation is simpler
That's why I have the energy to give you confidence
I'm home
Flavia, I want a divorce
Flavia
What's going on?
Please convince her
She is not young anymore
Mom
Dad, can you calm her down?
I didn't say a word
when she was fooling around
And now she asks for a divorce
I don't need your comfort I want a divorce
Yes! I am with somebody else
I want to get out of here
Mom
What do you two want actually?
Aren't you ashamed talking like that in front of your children?
Aren't you ashamed fooling around with women
in front of Flavia in the past?
I thought you have a perfect family
Never thought your have so many secrets with them
What's wrong with you?
When someone punches you you should fight, right?
You missed your exams and your make up exams
You've been expelled
I'm the one who's being expelled not you
Patriotism is not a crime
Release the people of the pro-democracy campaign
Release Wang Dan
Release Wei Jingsheng
You are engaged in an illegal gathering
This is the last warning from the police
Please leave in peace and stop using loudspeakers
Release the people of the pro-democracy campaign
Release Wang Dan
Release Wei Jingsheng
The police have unlimited power Human rights have been betrayed
Have you ever heard of "Dog Year"?
What?
Dog Year
The years two women can be together
should be counted in dog years
Really?
It seems that you're afraid of nothing
Aren't you afraid that all this would be a waste?
Why don't you ask about Ming and me?
Not asking doesn't mean I'm not jealous
I fell in love with a singer
at the age of 17
I left home and followed her
Three months later, she ran away with a Japanese man
Leaving without a word. We stil I owed the hotel one month's rent
She even took the 1,000 dollars I had on me
You want to ask me if I hate them?
My father had a stroke because I ran away
I can't even tell who was crueler
I never care about these things
Two years ago, I met a woman
She stole all my money and kicked me out
Then I met Rosa
She was nice to me but I couldn't love her
I'd bring other girls home, including you
Then she'll be mad and kick me out
You're contradicting yourself
At least I managed to earn some money at the bar
And I met you
You'll lose a lot if you stay with me
But still you came
If we can make it quick
we can still 'make a little love' before going to the bar
Aren't you afraid I'll steal your money and run?
I want to stay here tonight
There's no class tomorrow. Let's go to Macau to see Jin
You're being silly again
When everything's settled I won't let you go even if you want to
Leaving without a word is the worst thing to do
No one would want that to happen
Thank you
(You are...)
(very beautiful today.)
Jin! Flavia! I'm back
Are you inside?
Why are you so scared?
Can anyone tell me what's happening here?
We're together
Mom, It's not like that
Just tell her
Hold it
Flavia, is that true?
Now what can you say?
We've been together for three years
Flavia, go home with me!
Aren't you just escaping from your husband's affairs?
Jin
Who do you think you are?
Flavia cannot live without me
Flavia
tell her we are serious
I can't live without her either
Come with me
If you want to leave, leave alone This is my home
Flavia, stay
Flavia
you will never see me again
Mom
Jin doesn't mean it
This is just between us
Can you stop pushing her?
Jin. I'll be back. Wait for me
Let me go! I'll be back
"Lenny Kwok founded Black Bird twenty years ago"
"This avant-garde musician uses his music..."
"to fight against those in power"
"Black Bird broke up three years ago"
"But Lenny didn't stop his fight"
"I'm old and penniless"
"But why can't I do it?"
"There must be something I can still do"
You seem troubled
You don't look happy lately
I'm worried
Something has happened to me I don't know how to tell you
Too much has happened
Forget about what happened in the past
It's good that you're back
I can't be the same anymore
Do you understand?
How can you pretend that nothing has happened?
I've changed. Can't you see?
It's because I care about you
You knew about it, right?
I can't give you what you want
I'm not the kind of woman you want
Are you in love with someone else?
Is there anything in this home
that you still care?
Of course there is. I
I'm in love with a girl
I know it
She's the one that you went to visit in Macau
I checked
It doesn't matter She's your friend in high school, right?
I saw her a few days ago She knows that you're fine
I know that
something happened to you in the past
I know about it
But you're all right now It's not a problem anymore
I've never changed
I'm a lesbian. I still am
You shouldn't check on me
And you shouldn't bother my friend
She's not the one. It's another girl
Why did you say that?
I went to see her for your own good
Don't blame yourself for what she did
She didn't become a nun because of you
I've asked her. She said
she didn't like studying anymore
And that her destiny is with Buddha
It has nothing to do with you
I did it because of you
You had boyfriends before
Don't insist that you're a lesbian
You are certainly not! Why
How did you know so much?
I was doing it for
For me?
Leave me alone
Ah Wu, here's you bun
You still remember?
The surface won't fall off
You taught me when I was young
You take this one
I'll get another one
Afraid of getting fat?
Your mother never tried this
It's been so many years
You are 30 already
Just give it to me if you don't want it
You are back
Ming
I want to talk to you
I took Ting Ting to Mom's place
She said she could take care of her tonight
There's something I really need to discuss
There was cheese and lemon flavor at the shop
I know you like both It was a hard decision
I finally picked the cheese
Isn't it beautiful?
Ming
I really want to say
It doesn't matter what I do
You won't care
You bring your daughter to meet your lover everyday
What does this mean?
In fact, today is our
You're a good man. I don't want to lie to you
You shouldn't lie to yourself either
Let's
Let's get a div
I won't let you mention that word
Never
This won't do either of us any good
Who am I? What do you take me for?
I can't compare to a woman?
As long as you don't mention divorce
you can do whatever you want
I won't interfere
I remember. Today is our anniversary
But that's no use
I'm sorry
"Over 800 staff and students"
"from the Hong Kong University"
"asked the ISU"
"and Human Rights Watch"
"to condemn the China Government for allowing military action"
"against the students"
Ting Ting, be a good girl
Ting Ting, be a good girl. Finish this
I want you to look at the title of this unit
and with another student
I would like you to tell me what you think it means
I want you to think about the following
What are the responsibilities of a journalist?
Something wrong?
How are you?
I must've gotten a cold
from fooling around with a girl naked
I just need some sleep
You fool! How can you still joke about it?
I got all the lyrics wrong this afternoon
But someone still gave me 200 dollars tips
It's a pity I didn't sing tonight
Maybe there are scouts looking for singers
Silly
Who are you?
I'm Yip
I'm Ming
Ho Yuk Ming
Hello
Is Ming at the office today?
I'm sorry
I'm not sure
Thank you. Bye
Hello? Jin
Haven't seen you for a long time, Flavia
Jin. I'll be back
It's me who can't live without you
Let me go! I'll be back
Do you want more?
Full already?
There's a lot left. Take some more
I know Ming has come to see you. I'm sorry
It doesn't matter. He came because he cares about you
It takes a lot of courage
I fell in love with a girl
But I need to know one thing
I'm afraid I may make the same mistake again
I know you would ask
I just didn't think it'll take you this long
to find your courage
It's better for me to explain it So that I can clear my mind
Everyone thought I became a nun to escape or for revenge
You must've thought the same
That's why you've been blaming yourself and can't forgive yourself
And coming to see me all the time
to see if I am living well
I was out of line that time
I moved out suddenly and had a boyfriend
I was so desperate when you left
But I knew you were doing it for your mother
She was forcing you. I didn't want to do the same thing to you
Jin, so why did you become a nun?
I moved back to the school residence afterwards
I've been trying to find you
I finally found your brother after graduation
He told me you're in Macau
When I got here, you were already a nun
I left not just because of you
I was so confused
I couldn't stay in Hong Kong any longer
I went to Paris alone that year
I found some friends who shared the same ideals
and took part in their commune
But then I discovered that ideal and reality don't mix
I'd no choice but to leave
Then I wandered Europe on my own
I've been beaten and robbed
Even
I was suffering from all kinds of diseases
Ever since I was small
I've never been able to attain inner peace
Not even when I was with you
Then I met a nun in London
She saved me
For the first time
I felt peaceful
She brought me back to Macau later
And I knew immediately this is my path
So it's all scripted?
You don't blame me?
Only you can untie your own knot
Go back. Don't come here again
I know you'll never do anything to hurt me
Where have you been these few days?
One cannot retract what one has said
I'm giving you one last chance
Do you want a divorce? Or do you want Ting Ting?
I want both
Okay. Divorce!
But I'll never give up Ting Ting
Me too
You've got that woman Isn't that enough?
You'd better leave
It was my fault
But I'll not give up
We'll go see a lawyer after you recover
Is it really worth it?
Let me show you something
There's a kiss that I've not tasted
There are candles waiting to be lit
If love is too bitter, add some sugar
It's alright even if the guitar is broken
To hug someone
To kiss someone
The best is yet to come
You can't avoid a mistake
To have doesn't mean to hold
Even if happiness can end
Pain will not last forever
If loneliness is unbearable
Then life will never be easy
There's a time for laughter and a time for tears
To hug someone
To kiss someone
The best is yet to come
Flavia is a kind of butterfly
You're not a butterfly if you can't fly
If you don't want to get involved
If you keep holding up a fist
There's no way we can hold hands
For the sake of peace and quiet
Isolate your emotion and numb your feelings
Cause it's unbearable
There'll always be uncompromising wounds
Some regrets you'll never let go
The harder you try to forget
The longer the rift will stay
(Were not we having tears in our eyes)
(through the passing of time?)
To kiss someone
The best is yet to come
Why did you throw away my slippers?
Hey! How's your fever?
Don't change the subject
I'm asking you, why did you throw away my slippers?
I accidentally lost one of them
So I simply threw out the other one as well