No. 8, No. 9, No. 10!
Great, l can trade them for a yoyo!
Big Ears? Yeah?
Let me borrow back my gold medal.
What for?
Let me have it back. l'll give you a new one later.
You will?
Sure, l'll win again.
You don't believe me? All right.
Don't be a Cheese Head.
l won't be a Cheese Head.
Miss, your friend is here to see you.
Desmond?
Why did you...
This time l know where your front door is.
You're so silly.
Have a seat. No, thanks.
l know you're leaving,
And l came to say goodbye.
Thanks.
This is for you.
lt's beautiful.
You're incredible. You always win.
No, l lost this time.
But next time l'll win!
This is an order l've placed for you,
for my brother, and myself.
Good, l'll wait for you.
Have a good trip!
Desmond!
l know you've always wanted your own guitar,
and not use the school's.
Here, take this. l can't.
Take it.
You're a better player and have always wanted to write songs.
Thank you.
l'll come back...
to see you as soon as l can.
l'll have the gold medals ready for you.
Promise? Promise.
Bye.
Next we have a dedication
from Desmond Law,
to Flora Liu, who's already left Hong Kong,
this song they both love...
''l Wanna be Free'', by The Monkees.
But first, we break for a special report...
from the Royal Observatory.
Typhoon Signal 10 has been hoisted at 4:10pm.
Typhoon Betty is moving at 170 knots...
directly towards Hong Kong.
l wanna be free
like the bluebirds flying by me
like the waves out on the blue sea...
Stop listening to the radio!
Come help out!
Hurry! Help father out!
Are you a sissy or on drugs?
l told you the doors have different angles!
lf you're so smart,
you wouldn't flunk two subjects!
l flunked Chemistry and History, not Geometry!
Don't talk English! l hate it!
Stop it, you two!
lf l wasn't sick on exam day,
l wouldn't have flunked!
Excuses, excuses!
You're not the only one
who's unhappy l failed!
You want to see me happy? Wake up!
And stop daydreaming!
Cut it out, you two!
Work together to shut this place down!
You all right?
lt's falling!
Come back in now! Don't bother with that!
Mom, help!
Big Ears! Hold on, Mom is coming for you!
l'll go!
Dad, Mom, help!
Don't be afraid! Dad's here!
Ahhh...
Hold on to this! l'm going up!
Hold on tight! Nothing's more important than the roof!
Mom...
What happened?
What's wrong? Did you hurt yourself?
Are you all right, son?
Desmond! Desmond!
Let me make a phone call.
Desmond...
Mr. Ho, let me use your phone.
lt's not working!
Forget the phone.
l'll carry him to the hospital!
Doctor, what's wrong with my son again?
Leukemia.
What is leukemia?
Cancer of the blood.
Cancer! Yes.
But that's deadly!
Well, not 100%.
What percentage, then?
Sometimes there is one. Can't be!
My son is so lively. It can't be!
Could it be a mistake, Doctor?
l have some money here, please test him again.
We know what it is.
His white blood cells are increasing rapidly...
at his brain and spine.
He must not strain his mind or body now.
My son is an ace student.
How can he not strain himself?
l'll be honest with you.
Even if he wants to,
he just can't strain himself.
Assuming that pressure remains constant,
a rise or drop in absolute temperature in a gas
will result in a proportional rise or drop in its volume...
Pressure remains...constant without...
Dad.
Still awake? Yes.
Bought you a midnight snack.
Midnight snack?
Yes, come down and eat.
The dynamo was invented by a scientist of which country?
Diocesan Boys' School!
English scientist Michael Faraday.
Correct! Yeah!
Which Chinese dynasty spanned the longest time?
Diocesan Boys' School! Zhou Dynasty.
Correct!
Which year did the Russo-Japanese War break out?
St Stephen's College!
1905
Wrong. Anyone else?
Ying Wah Girls' School!
Correct! 1904
Now, the final three questions.
Name the square at
Broadway and 42nd St in New York!
St Stephen's College! Time Square.
lncorrect!
Diocesan Boys' School! Times Square.
Correct!
Where did the Renaissance begin?
Diocesan Boys' School! Flo...
You're out of time. Anyone else?
Ying Wah Girls' School!
Florence! Correct!
Which Chinese Emperor
is known as the ''Omnipotent Old Man''?
Diocesan Boys' School!
The First Emperor of Tang!
No, Emperor Wen of Zhou!
You may give only one answer! Anyone else?
St Stephen's College!
Emperor Qian Long of Qing! Correct!
The 20th Inter-School Quiz Cup...
champions are St Stephen's College!
After Big Brother failed to answer the questions,
Dad and Mom started asking around for the answer.
But they didn't know anything. Idiots.
Any special cure for cancer?
Know any good doctor?
Then one night, l overheard them...
planning to take Big Brother to Peking for the answer.
Why aren't you in bed, Big Ears?
l want to go to Peking, too!
Your brother is not going for fun.
He's visiting relatives.
Why doesn't he need to visit our relatives?
Bring Big Ears along!
He will just annoy his dad anyway.
l will pay for Big Ears.
Hurray! Thank you, Uncle!
Brother...
lt's all right. It's decided, then.
Great! We're going to Peking!
Z, Y, X, W, U, T...
No, no...
Z, Y, X, T, W, V...
Cold hands!
There, cold hands! Cold hands back!
Peking is really cold.
Right, much colder than the loft.
Cold hands! Major cold hands!
Help, Doctor! Help!
Quick! Take him in!
Don't worry, let me take a look.
Doctor, l beg you.
Oh God! Sorry, too late.
ls that man dead?
Yes. l'm so scared!
Don't be scared, l am here.
lt's okay.
You want to be like me when you grow up, right?
Be brave, then. We'll be brave together, okay?
When you grow up, l'll run with you, okay?
We'll run very fast.
Don't be afraid. Let's look outside together.
We'll look outside together.
We'll look outside with no fear.
Be like me. l'm not afraid.
We'll look outside together with no fear...
Now you're in trouble!
Mrs. Law, l know you came all the way from Hong Kong,
but l must be honest with you.
Your son's illness...
l'm sorry, there's nothing we can do.
Please take this money back.
But, Doctor...
Great! We're home!
You're back, Mrs. Law. Yes.
Those are the new rules for the neighborhood.
Hello, listen up! Hi, kid. Long time no see.
Sergeant Brian.
Listen to what? We're back.
Z, Y, X, W, V, U, T, S...
The Super says, $20 more for each stall.
And $5 more for each policeman on holidays.
You're going to destroy me.
lt's not me, it's my bosses.
My shop has been here for so long.
Give me a break.
This is cheap already.
Prices in other places are even harder to swallow!
But l can't afford it.
lf you're saying ''no'', l will tell the Super.
And someone will help you move out tomorrow.
Not ''no'', just ''low'', low on cash! Okay?
l have it. l have it here.
How much, Sergeant Brian?
$65 in total.
Hello, listen...
Z, Y, X, W, V, U, T, S, R, Q, P, o...
N, M, L, K, J, l, H, G, F, E, D, C, B, A!
Later, Big Brother became more sleepy,
and he hated noise.
So he moved to the hospital.
The ceiling was very high there.
He could stand up to wear his school uniform.
But he didn't go to school any more...
and seldom stood up now.
Nurse, please bring me a glass of water.
Nurse, a glass of water, please.
Wait.
Thirsty, kid? Have some of mine.
lt's all right, sir, l'll ask the nurse.
Excuse me, nurse, water please.
Drink mine.
They'll ignore you until your family comes.
l'm here! Mom.
l made you some congee. Eat while it's warm.
Later, mom. l'm not hungry.
How do you feel?
Better.
You wanted water? Yes.
This is water.
Blood-taking!
Please use a light touch.
That's really a light touch.
Honestly, that's all l have.
Fine.
He's only made of flesh!
And $2 is not a small sum!
lt's the same charge as a night here!
Right, such a good deal here. Stay longer!
Are you all right?
l'm fine.
Good boy! You will recover, okay?
l believe in you.
We must believe, you know that?
l know. We must believe...
Shall we paint it red?
Whatever.
l say red. It's eye-catching.
What's the use if there's no business?
Paint it and people will come!
We must believe!
We must believe. We must believe...
We must believe...
Silly! l've told you.
You have to put weight on your foot.
Watch me.
You see?
No, watch again
Alright, practice by yourself.
Watch me!
On your marks!
Get set...
Go!
Did l run well? Yes.
You didn't look. l did.
l know you think l run badly.
You run very well! You'll soon run faster than me!
Really? Yes.
l'm running the way you taught me.
And you did very well.
Really? Yes!
Are you unhappy?
No.
You don't like to stay here?
l'll ask Mom to let you come home.
No need. Why not?
lf she could, she would.
Why? Let's not talk about it.
Why? Don't talk about it.
Why?
Why? Why?
Stop asking why. It's so annoying!
Are you still mad at me?
Come on, you still mad at me?
l'm sorry.
You're unhappy, l'll give you my glowing goblet.
No, thanks.
How about my British flag?
No thanks, Big Ears.
How about my Monkey King?
l got it from the temple.
No, thanks, keep it yourself.
How about my Hollywood star pictures?
lf you collect all 100, you get a basketball.
When l get out of hospital, the promotion will be over.
No, it never expires.
Just a figure of speech.
No, it says, ''never expires''.
Look: ''never expires''!
Big Ears,
everything expires some time, remember that.
That's all l've stolen.
What is it that you want?
Sir, you dropped a fish.
Oh, right.
Good boy!
l wanna be free
like the bluebirds flying by me
like the waves out on the blue sea.
lf your love has to tie me, don't try me.
Say good-bye.
l wanna hold your hand, walk along the sand,
laughing in the sun, always having fun...
Boss, l need a pair of 42s in 3 days.
No, l need 7 days.
l'm in a rush. Can't you do it in 3?
l don't know how in 3. Go somewhere else!
l'll sure go somewhere else!
Can't you please watch your temper?
He's being ridiculous.
But you didn't need to talk like that!
That's how l talk.
He's a customer, and we need money!
lt's past 9 and we don't have dinner yet.
lt's so late?
Big Ears, why are you so late?
Hey, l'm asking you! Why are you so late?
l went to see Big Brother.
You stayed for so long? Liar!
What's in your bag?
Nothing. Nothing?
Tell me what's inside!
Stuff l picked up from the street.
All that stuff?
lt's true. It's stuff nobody wants!
Why don't you follow your brother's example?
You're stealing?
How dare you!
Stop beating your son!
Stop it! Stop!
You'll kill him!
Go up, hurry!
Stop it! Stop!
Does it hurt? No.
Are you mad at Dad? No.
What did they teach today?
Chinese and English.
What did you learn in Chinese?
The loom clatters; Mulan weaves by the door.
The loom is silent as she sighs.
What is she thinking? What does she recall...
And in English class? English?
A man.
A pan.
l am a man.
This is a pan.
Big Ears, dinner time!
Go have dinner.
l've made fried fish!
l don't like to eat fish!
Then you won't know how to swim!
Really?
When has Mom ever lied to you?
Okay, then.
Where's the Shanghai help?
He left. He was no good?
To be honest...
business is so bad l couldn't afford him.
Brother, you're turning grey. Shall l dye it?
No, just let it turn grey.
You'll look more vibrant. Look at me.
l'm in the same boat. No customers.
What do l need to look vibrant for?
Up to you.
l just don't get it.
Two brothers, one taking care of each end,
should be no problem!
But why can't we make ends meet?
As long as our ends justify our means!
l'm going to the hospital now.
Coming!
Wait!
What is it?
l made these for you.
What are you up to?
Lambskin,
light rubber soles,
double-thick lining,
hidden stitching,
and... And what else?
You see the two flowers?
Yes, yes, but it's time for me to go.
Let me finish...
Two flowers, two centers,
with holes underneath.
What are they for?
For your corns.
When you visit our son,
the road to the hospital is long and steep.
Now you won't hurt your feet.
Let's see.
They are comfortable. Of course.
Why don't we name these shoes?
Name them what?
Hard Times and Good Times.
Go, your son is waiting for you.
See? Hard Times, Good Times,
then Hard Times,
then Good Times,
then Hard times...
Hard times, good times;
and hard times, and good times;
more hard times, more good times...
Mom taught me this song.
l told her it's a lousy song.
She said she'd teach me
another one that night.
But it got really late that night, and still Mom wasn't home.
Big Ears, are you hungry?
Big Ears?
Why is Mom so late?
She'll be back soon.
She is at the hospital with your brother.
But she comes back later every day.
lf you're hungry, buy a sesame bun.
l have no money.
Come down and get it.
My hands are dirty. Get it yourself.
lt's empty. Try the other side.
Dad, do you want one?
No, thanks.
lt's 10 cents each, two for 15.
Why don't l buy one for you, too?
Law, it's Mrs. Law.
She sounds desperate. Thanks!
So shall l buy one or two?
Boss!
Boss, please wait!
What's the matter?
Pawn things at this hour?
Sorry...
How is he?
They say he needs another transfusion.
Well, then do it!
Have you decided? Yes, do it!
Frozen or fresh blood?
What's the difference?
$120 for frozen, $200 for fresh.
You asked the day before.
l was wondering
if it would be cheaper today.
So, fresh or frozen?
Fresh! Fresh, of course!
Dad? Mom? He's awake!
How are you feeling?
Better.
He looks much better after the transfusion.
l told you he's extra smart!
Are you hungry? What do you want to eat?
He was out for two whole days!
Stay warm. l want congee.
l'll buy you congee.
Get him fish congee.
lt's good for a brainy child.
Good idea!
Please watch him for us.
Sure, l'm more reliable than the nurses.
Mom, l'm the Inter-School
Athletics Individual Champ...
remember? Yeah, yeah.
Yes, he's individual champ for two years in a row!
Wonderful!
Get some rest, we'll be back soon.
Okay, Mom.
lf you need anything, ask your neighbor.
Here's some water.
Go on, Dad!
Oh where, tell me where...
is your Highland laddie gone?
Oh where, tell me where...
is your Highland laddie gone?
He's gone with streaming banners... 30 seconds
where noble deeds are done 25 seconds
And it's oh, in my heart...
l wish him safe at home...
Desmond!
Flora?
How is it you're here?
l begged Dad to let me come back at term break.
Your classmates told me you're here.
How are you? Much better now.
They say you're anemic?
Yes.
You stopped writing suddenly. Why?
l was so worried.
l thought l'd get better first, but...
These are for you.
Thank you.
How is this place?
lt's really boring.
Good place to write your song.
l've finished it. l made a cassette recording.
l'll have Big Ears bring it tomorrow.
Great!
l'll come every day to keep you company,
okay?
Even if you could, the hospital wouldn't let you.
True...
l know who can always be with you!
Who?
A red fighting fish! A red fighting fish?
Where would you find one for me?
Fa Yuan Street. Someone once told me.
Such good memory.
Some memories last forever.
l'm going to buy one now.
Wait here.
20 seconds.
Shall we get Big Ears a fish congee, too?
Two brainy kids in one house?
Two brainy kids?
l'd be happy if Big Ears would just behave.
Let's go. He's waiting.
You like your shoes?
Oh, l almost forgot.
l've worn them for 3 days and forgotten they're new.
You really are an individual champ!
lndividual Champ?
Only an individual champ can make new shoes...
as comfortable as old ones.
See how happy you are
when your son gets better!
15 seconds
10 seconds
5 seconds
The Lord be with you,
And with thy spirit.
Oh Lord, hear our prayer.
And let our cry come unto thee.
Lord have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Now, may l introduce Mr. Law,
father of Desmond.
Mr. Law? Mr. Law...
Sir, he's calling you.
Perhaps you have a few words for us, Mr. Law?
This song...
was written by my son.
Softly sighs the rainbow
Misty songs of old
Flowing by the skyline
My secret lullaby
Softly sighs the rainbow
Stories seldom told
Flowing by the skyline
My love songs never rhyme
l... stand alone below
lingering by my secret rainbow
Ah, my secret rainbow...
Nothing is more important than a roof.
Now he will have some shade.
Big Ears...
Grandma said,
if you let go of your favorite things,
and throw them all into the ''Sea of Bitterness''
when you have filled it up,
you'll be able to see your loved ones.
Some years later, Dad passed away, too.
And l finally qualified for Big Brother's school.
He left me all his uniforms, running shoes and books.
Mom always worried l would get sick like him,
but l never did.
But then, l never ran as fast,
got as good grades, or was as lovable as he.
Was it because he never gave me back his gold medal?
But l know he didn't lie to me.
Everything he had, had been stolen from him.
The real Cheese Head was someone else.
Mom, a rainbow!
lt's beautiful!
Big Brother said sometimes there are two rainbows.
Really? Yes,
the colors of one are the reverse of the other.
Really? Lie and you'll lose your teeth!
lt's true! Big Brother said so!
He said so, but had he ever seen it?
That l don't know.
But then, l'll believe it if he said so.
We must believe!
But he also said
double rainbows are very rare.
Sometimes, we won't see one for years.
lt doesn't matter anyway.
Look at you. You always remember useless things.
l remember more useless things than that!
Such as?
Z, Y, X, W, V, U, T, S, R, Q, P
O, N, M... F, E, D, C, B, A!
Silly boy!
Teach me. Okay.
Z, Y, X, W Z, Y, X, W
V, U, T, S V, U, T, S
R, Q, P, o R, Q, P, o
N, M, L, K, J... N, M, L, K, J...