Five!
Four!
Three!
Two!
One! Fire!
We'll be dancing on the moon!
lt's gonna happen very soon!
Down in the middle of a big moon crater
Oh, we'll be doing the mashed potato!
Mashed potato, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
We'll be dancing on the moon!
lts' gonna happen very soon!
We'll do the twist and the madison
And limbo till the day is done
We'll do the mashed potato, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
Dad, l'm home!
What did they teach today, Big Ears?
Chinese and English!
What did you learn in Chinese? Chinese!
And in English? English!
l see.
This is my dad. He's very busy.
Always working behind a pile of shoes.
Sometimes with rush orders, l don't see him for days.
But don't worry.
Every time l see dad, he still looks the same.
My surname is Yu.
Ha, my father's surname is also Yu.
l want this pair!
Hello, l want to buy shoes.
Customers!
Coming! Faster than a rabbit!
Sir, which would you like?
Let's see those pairs. Of course!
Great choices! These are our best shoes.
Don't these shoes look good on you, boys?
Try them on. Dad, they're huge!
Right, there's room for rent.
But sir, it's ''loose shoes, tight socks''.
''Loose shoes, tight socks''?
Right! These are a good fit!
He won't need new shoes for a long while.
And you, young man? Dad, my feet hurt!
Yes, these seem too tight.
They will loosen.
These are finest pigskin. They grow with your feet!
Trust me, they fit. You're sure?
Sure! They're a good fit, too.
And they'll fit even better next year!
And Little Boy? l don't know if they fit...
Not too big, not too small...
These really are a good fit!
You say they fit when they're too big...
too small, orjust right.
Yes, one size fits all! You'll take all three, yes?
That will be $18.50. For you, l'll make it $18 even.
You're such good boys, you get extra laces!
This is my mom. She sure can talk.
Whether it's jumping the line for anything...
or haggling for bus tickets...
she'll make it a ''good fit''.
Little wonder her nickname is...
''Madam Out-Law''!
Big Ears!
Hi, Uncle. Come to my place.
Come on.
This is dad's brother, and his opposite.
Dad makes shoes on this end of the street,
uncle cuts hair on that end.
Try to make a pouf.
But Uncle's evil.
Every time he hires a new barber, l'm the guinea pig.
Sit still!
Boss, are you happy with this?
Yes...But make the pouf higher!
Higher pouf? Coming up!
Big Ears!
Don't fidget! Sit still...
Ah, l almost forgot Grandma.
Grandma was born in the Qing Dynasty,
when China and Britain
were fighting the ''AMIPM War''.
Every week Grandma asks what l want to be.
, l tell her, ''astronaut''
but she never remembers.
or you'll never be a Police Station Master!
lt hurts!
Madam, your grandson?
Yes, he's only 8.
The older one is 16,
he's at school.
Two grandsons! You are blessed!
l'm lucky.
When l brought my two sons
from Canton,
it was chaos here in Hong Kong.
Then l saw this empty street,
and l told them to take over both ends,
one to cut hair,
the other to make shoes,
and life began from there.
Boss, your family is smart!
Well, we just thought,
if we brothers handled both head and feet,
in a new society like Hong Kong,
we couldn't go wrong.
Sit still!
Big Ears has a pee-pee head!
Wave-head! Wave-head!
Big Ears has a pee-pee head!
Wave-head! Ugly head!
l'll beat you! l'll poke you!
Big Ears has a pee-pee head!
When my Big Brother comes home, you'll be sorry!
Big Brother can beat you all!
He is the smartest kid around!
Smarter than all of Hong Kong's movie stars,
and even Steve Mc... King!
Everyone loves my brother.
But my school...
has only two teachers.
One doesn't like me, and the other doesn't either.
l don't know why.
What's that? Let me see.
Here are your report cards.
For Chinese, English and Maths,
l have graded you from A to F.
Come out when l call your name.
Chan So-nui.
B, D, D. What is it?
You're faking star autographs!
C, D, C. Thanks, Madam.
Great! l passed everything.
Law Chun-two!
What are you doing? Nothing.
Stand up!
Do you know you did very poorly?
No. Come out here!
Read them out loud!
F! F! F!
No laughing!
Your brother Law Chun-one was a great student,
aced every subject and got two scholarships.
You fail all subjects and must repeat grades!
Aren't you ashamed to be such a bad brother?
F! F! F!
Class, don't follow his example!
Cha Cha Cha...
What are you doing? Nothing.
Get over there!
Tell the time...
Every 5 seconds!
Align!
On your marks!
Timers!
And write ''l will be a good boy''...
300 times, by tomorrow!
5 seconds.
Sargent! Sargent! Arthur! Arthur!
10 seconds.
Sykes! Sykes! Goodban! Goodban!
15 seconds.
Goodban! Goodban! Sargent! Sargent!
20 seconds.
A new record for the 110m Hurdles has been set...
by Desmond Law of Goodban House!
And l'm very pleased to announce
this year's champion:
Desmond Law, Form 5A, of Goodban House!
Goodban! Goodban!
Well done, Desmond. Keep up the good work!
Thank you, sir. l will, sir.
Hurray, Big Brother!
Here. My gift to you.
Wow! Let's go.
Good to see you! Hi, Mrs Chan!
Big Brother, l can't get them out.
You're even hungrier than l am.
Of course, those steps to your school
almost killed me!
lt's easy. Look!
Oh, yeah!
Hello. Hi, you're here.
This is Flora.
Big Brother really likes her. So do l.
l was going to let her wear
Big Brother's gold medal briefly,
but she thought about it...
and said she wanted a bronze one...
because Big Brother says...
he always gets a gold, rarely a bronze.
Women are a pain. l prefer men.
The most important fact of life is...
to have a roof...
to keep out the sun and the rain.
Hello, uncle. Hello, kids.
Dad.
Mom, Dad, l'm home!
What did they teach today, Big Ears?
Chinese and English.
What did you learn in Chinese?
English! And in English class?
Chinese! l see.
Bad boy!
Lie and you'll lose your teeth!
They're all here! Lucky me!
Leave my red fighting fish alone!
lt's a stupid fish.
Can't even tell his own face.
Leave it alone! It's my favorite fish.
District-wide champion!
But he's so stupid! Look...
l said, leave it alone!
How dare you!
Give me back my popsicle stick!
No! Why did you mess with my fish?
lt's a high-class popsicle stick!
Serves you right for messing with my fish!
Here they go again!
Dinner time! Stop, both of you!
Give me back my popsicle stick! No!
Stop it! The food's getting cold.
Give me back my popsicle stick! No!
Stop! Law Chun-one! Law Chun-two!
You've stopped?
Fight some more. Go on.
Wash your hands for dinner!
How dare you!
Play with water and you'll wet your bed!
ls that true?
Yes, you pee all night long!
Set the table! Let's stop, then.
The worst of enemies...
and best of friends.
Dinner time!
Big Ears, l made steamed eggs tonight.
Have some.
Come here, Desmond.
Read this English letter, tell me what it says.
Sure.
Smart boy!
He can even read those curly, uneven English words.
So smart! He sure is.
Have some soup.
l made fish head soup tonight.
Thanks
Law, you're lucky.
When Desmond starts to work,
you wouldn't have to worry even if you broke both legs!
lf l broke both legs,
l wouldn't have to buy shoes.
You never have to buy shoes anyway.
Desmond is so smart you have nothing to worry about.
l'm worried about our young one.
Big Ears is so naughty.
That's enough!
He'll follow his brother to study at the famous DBS.
Or be removed by UPS.
Let's go back! Ah, telephone!
Eat your vegetables, Big Ears.
Desmond, it's foryou! Thanks!
The govt is charging you with running a gambling den.
Court date is the 8th. Oh, that's no big deal.
Hello, Flora?
You said you'd take me to the tropical fish market.
Yeah, let's go on Saturday. Where is it?
Fa Yuan Street. They have all kinds of fish there.
How do you know? Of course l do.
Who knows tropical fish better than me?
The fish there are the best.
Okay, see you! Bye!
You going to the tropical fish market?
Yes. l'm going with you!
lt's not foryou. l want to go!
lt's for adults; no kids.
l'll tell Dad you spend all your lunch money...
on tropical fish!
Don't you dare! l'm telling!
All right, all right.
You've promised. Don't be a Cheese Head!
l won't be a Cheese Head.
Be careful! One rung at a time!
Make sure Big Ears does his homework.
Yes, Dad.
Hurray! Peking, here we come!
This is our bedroom.
Every night...
we come up here to do our homework, and play.
Big brother calls downstairs Canton, and upstairs Peking,
but he's never been to either place.
Who punished you this time? Lovely Miss Lee.
Double pencil is child's play. l used to use both hands!
l can do that, too! See?
This song by the Monkees, ''l Wanna Be Free''.
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 be free.
Don't say you love me, say you like me...
Don't listen to the radio when you do your homework!
Big Brother says that's killing two birds with one stone.
Writing with both hands...
will make your pee stream split!
ls that true? Silly.
l wanna hold your hand, walk along the sand
laughing in the sun, always having fun
doing all those things without any strings to tie me down...
These are kissing fish. Aren't they pretty?
Very pretty!
Look, they really are kissing!
They're not kissing, they're fighting.
Really? Yes.
l read it in a book from the British Council Library.
And l thought it was so romantic...
lf you think it's romantic, then it is.
Look, these are Pompadour Fish.
They are the prettiest.
They are!
But they're very expensive.
We're just looking.
What are these?
They're so happy, swimming like ''bloop, bloop''.
All fish are happy. You know why?
Fish have memory spans of only 3 seconds.
So when they get to the end of the tank and turn,
they've forgotten they were just there,
and think it's a new place.
Really? Yes!
Serious? Yes!
15 more minutes until the boys come home.
Half of ''shoe'' stands for ''woe'': hard times!
So you say, but the other half of ''shoe'',
stands for ''shine'': good times!
Good times or hard times, we live the same way.
Soon it will be Mid-Autumn Festival.
Only one more payment for the moon cake layaway plan.
Those hungry boys will be thrilled.
See? Good times come after hard times.
And after that, hard times again.
You drive me crazy.
Let me get the laundry.
What's wrong?
These corns keep coming back.
They hurt! Let's see.
Here, one on each foot.
Talk about the match girl who lives in the dark,
you are the shoe girl who has corns.
Me? Still a girl?
Of course.
You're the prettiest girl around.
Come play with me! Great!
l can't do it.
You're so clumsy. Watch.
Mrs. Law Hi!
Mom is home!
Mom! So many moon cakes! Yes!
Let's go home first!
l'll eat one whole box of double yolk, all by myself.
Child, you can't do that.
We have 1, 2, 3, 4
5, 6, 7, 8 of them,
why not?
We have to give some away.
To whom?
This box goes to Sergeant Brian.
Who's Sergeant Brian?
The gweilo with the hook nose,
the policeman, red badge on his shoulder.
And the other box?
lt's for Hung, the guy who always curses.
Why should we give them anything?
They help Dad.
How?
They help him keep his shop here.
But we still have two boxes here.
This box of single yolks,
two are for First Uncle,
two for Second Uncle,
two for Auntie...
Look! Here...we get two whole ones!
That's not enough!
The four of us get half each!
That's just good fit!
No!
Be a good boy. No!
Silly, lotus mash costs more
and tastes better than yolks.
l don't believe you! Take my half, then.
No! Nononono!
No...
l'll take you to Tiger Balm Gardens.
No!
How about an escalator ride in Man Yee Building?
No!
l'll take you to the movies. No!
Come on, we'll see first-run movies.
What movies?
There are ''Ben Hur'', ''633 Squadron''
and ''The Longest Day''!
l want to watch ''The Glowing Goblet''!
''The Glowing Goblet''?
Yes, l like Bobo Fung!
l will marry her when l grow up!
Dear me!
Come along.
Stay with us.
You need more tickets, Mrs Law.
Why? We are 5 adults and 8 children.
5 tickets are a good fit.
No, Mrs Law, he's too big. Get 6 tickets.
We're 5 and 8! You're 6 and 7!
5 and 8! No, 6 and 7!
Don't keep talking numbers.
Listen to me, 5 and 8 is right!
That's right! We're neighbors!
Desmond looks tall but he's only 13.
How can that be? l watched him grow up.
And still you demand a ticket from him?
But... But what?
l watched you grow up, you watched him grow up,
we don't need tickets!
Let's go in. Mrs Law...
Bobo Fung!
Big Ears. What?
Why does your weenie glow?
l just need to pee.
Your weenie glows when you need to pee?
Big Ears, what are you doing?
Why are you fidgeting? You need to pee?
Yes. Go pee over there.
What are you doing, kid? Peeing.
Pee at your own seat! You son of your old man!
Go!
Dad? What now?
Who is ''the son of your old man''?
Back to your seat. Is it me?
Yes, my brother is a silly runt.
So, what is ''the son of your daddy''?
lt's ''the son of your old man''.
So, who is the son of your old man?
The son of your old man is no one.
But what a strange saying.
Ah, l know who he is.
Who? A gweilo.
A gweilo? Who?
Son of a gun! You cursed!
l didn't! You did!
No, l didn't! l just said son of a...
Aren't those headstones beautiful?
l wonder what l'll have on my headstone.
That's too far into the future.
Just wondering.
Look, a rainbow!
Oh, yeah. It's beautiful!
Did you know
sometimes two rainbows will appear?
You mean a double rainbow?
So smart!
The colors of one are the reverse of the other.
There you go again.
lt's true! One is the reflection of the other.
So one is...
red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue and violet
and the other is violet, blue, cyan, green...
l'll confirm that when l see one.
But they are very rare.
Sometimes it takes years to see one.
Don't worry, we'll see one.
Foryou, Sergeant. You're too kind.
Not at all.
Thank you, then.
Will you stay for dinner? No, thanks.
lt's just an extra pair of chopsticks.
For me, it's a knife and fork!
Make yourself at home.
l'll start dinner.
Kid, have you done your homework?
Why do you know Chinese?
Smart kid! Let Uncle Brian tell you:
ln Hong Kong, you'll do well...
to know both Chinese and English.
Your brother is smart to get into an English school.
Dad, we're out of
size 6 and 6.5 in black scouts.
But in Hong Kong, English is more important.
You need to be fluent in English to make it big.
What is ''make it big''?
What your father can't do.
Your family name is translated as Law.
But what law? There is no law here.
Translate it as Low, so you stay below the law!
My brother translated that.
Then he can't make it big, either.
My brother's English is really good!
Kid, let me tell you. Good English is...
when you can recite the 26 alphabets...
backwards.
X, Y... X, W...
No... See?
Let me practice a little.
Try again.
Z, Y, X... U... T, S... V... U...
l told you you can't.
You didn't give me time.
You'rejust bad at this. l can...
You'rejust no good. l can...
See, you're so stupid! l can...
How does it fit?
Excuse me, Mr. Ho. May l use your phone?
Sure, go ahead.
Hello, Flora? It's Desmond.
Oh, hi.
l want to take you to the Botanical Gardens tomorrow.
l... shouldn't. Why not?
l'm not feeling well. l caught a cold.
You caught a cold?
But it's not even cold outside.
lt is, inside my house. How come?
Really, it's cold in my house.
l'd better stay in.
Well... May l come to visit you?
At my house? Please don't, it's too far.
That's okay, l want to see you.
lt's not necessary.
Come on, it's settled.
Well, it's up to you.
Bye. Bye.
Pussy-willows, cat-tails, soft winds and roses
Rain pools in the woodland, water to my knees
Shivering, quivering, the warm breath of spring
Pussy-willows, cat-tails, soft winds and roses
Catbirds and cornfields, daydreams together
Riding on the roadside, the dust gets in your eyes
Reveling, disheveling, the summer nights can bring
Pussy-willows, cat-tails, soft winds and roses
Can l help you?
Excuse me, l'm looking for Flora.
Second Miss is not feeling well.
She is resting.
Well...
Why don't you have a seat inside?
Please. Thanks.
Desmond, you really came!
Yes. Are you feeling better?
Not much.
Let's sit inside.
Come.
My mom.
Mom, this is Desmond.
Hello, Mrs. Liu. Welcome.
Come in here.
Your mother plays very well.
What kind of music...
does your mother like?
She's too busy for that.
This is your aquarium? Yes.
lt's huge! It's okay.
Your fish are beautiful.
Not really.
Even your water is beautiful.
Don't be silly, come here.
Oh, l brought you a fish.
This is the undefeated champion
you keep talking about?
Yes.
Oh, no! It needs air. Put it in the tank!
Wait, Desmond! Why?
You can't just put a new fish in the aquarium.
The water is different, and the new fish may carry diseases.
lt must acclimate for two days.
Who taught you that? My dad.
Oh, your dad...
Wait, you told me that.
l never did.
You did. No, it was your daddy.
But he's right.
Quarantine it for two days and see.
All right...
Foon, please bring a small tank.
Coming, Miss.
l wonder if the fish will remember where it came from.
Of course it will.
But you said fish only have...
3 seconds of memory.
l was just talking.
Some memories last forever.
You're not feeling well, l should go.
Desmond... Please stay.
No, thanks.
Keep the fish.
This way, Desmond.
Not here? No.
Strange, it's different.
What's different?
When l came in, it all looked different.
Because... you came in through the back door.
Slanted rays and colored days, stark blue horizons
Naked limbs and wheat bins, hazy afternoons
Voicing, rejoicing, the wine cups do bring
Pussy-willows, cat-tails, soft winds and roses...
lf you've never been kissed by a woman of Paris,
then you've never been truly kissed at all.
Autographed movie star pictures!
Here comes movie star Connie Chan!
Ten cents each, fifteen for two!
Pictures of Connie Chan, Josephine Siao, Bobo Fung!
Bless my family with good health and wealth.
Thank you, Bodhisattva. Good health...
Bless my family with good health.
Goodbye, uncle! Bye!
Come, Big Ears, this is delicious.
That's mine. You can't eat it.
Listen, that's bad manners.
Come, Big Ears.
Don't think l don't know
how poorly you did.
l can't read those scribbles, but l can see colors.
Look!
7 blue, 2 red!
What are these two subjects?
Chemistry...
Chemistry and history.
lt's only two subjects.
Let's eat first...
We'll talk about it later.
Only two? What do you mean?
You want to wait till they all turn red?
Mr. Law, eat first.
Or your food goes cold.
Right, he likes to scold at dinner.
So embarrassing.
Only at dinner will everyone be here.
Exactly. Since everyone is here,
we should eat dinner...
What dinner?
You grow worse with age!
Forget school! Take an iron last and work for me!
Or some scissors and learn...
to cut hair from Uncle!
l've been scraping by each month...
so you can pay your expensive school fees,
putting money aside so you won't be embarrassed...
if you can't pay on time.
Do you know that?
Stop making a fuss and eat dinner.
No appetite!
Have some soup, then...
Eat a little.
Come on...
Mrs. Law? Hi, still on deliveries?
Mrs Law, you missed two payments...
on the half portion
of layaway moon cakes.
Boss lady wants me to follow up.
Half portion?
We signed up for a full portion.
Not your portion, Ma'am, it's your son's.
You signed up for a moon cake plan?
No, l didn't.
Admit it. The creditor is at the door!
l really didn't, Dad.
How dare you!
Big Ears?
Big Ears, come out!
Come here!
Big Ears, you signed up for a moon cake plan?
Just a half portion.
This is ridiculous!
You two are going from bad to worse!
Why did you want your own moon cake plan?
l want to eat a whole box of double yolk all by myself.
Where did you get the money?
l sold movie star pictures.
What movie star pictures?
Connie Chan, Josephine Siao and Bobo Fung, too.
You're selling Bobo Fung?
Didn't you say you will marry her?
You're useless!
l should slap you!
You're spineless!
Useless kid!
All you can do is cry!
Cry! Cry all you want!
Good boy! Don't cry.
Don't cry, Big Ears.
See, l'm not crying. Good boy...
l want to eat a whole box of double yolk all by myself!
l know... Big Ears, l know
KGV! KGV!
SSC! SSC!
We are the best of the best!
So, give me a D! D!
B! B!
S! S!
Give me a D! D!
B! B!
S! S!
What do we have? DBS!
l can't hearyou! DBS!
l still can't hearyou! DBS!
DBS Glory! DBS Glory!
Give me a D! D!
B! B!
S! S!
What do we have? DBS!
Louder! DBS!
On your Marks!
Get set!
Go!
SSC! SSC!
DBS! DBS!
KGV! KGV!
Big Brother!
DBS! DBS!
Are you feeling better?
Yeah, l just tried too hard.
Don't tell Dad. l won't.
You were clearly ahead of them.
Don't talk about it.
But third place is good.
You said it's harder to get a bronze.
Big Ears, listen to me.
Third place is not winning. Nor second place.
ln any race, only first place wins.
Get it?
Never mind. Desmond.
Great you're back. The girl's on the phone.
Thanks, Mr. Ho, but l can't talk.
lt's the girl who usually calls.
She's called several times today.
l have a lot of homework today.
l can't talk on the phone.
Thank you.
She said to call her soon.
She's moving to America with her family soon.
Thank you, Mr. Ho. You're welcome.
Flora is going away?
l'm not surprised.
Hong Kong is so chaotic now...
those who can are all leaving.
Everyone says they are going away.
First Flora, and now Grandma.
l asked Grandma where she was going.
She said she was ''getting close'',
and was crossing the ''Sea of Bitterness'' to see Grandpa.
l asked her where that Sea is,
but l couldn't understand what she said.
Don't leave, Grandma.
l might go anytime.
Someday l'll be gone...
ln life, frankly, ''the Sea of Bitterness is boundless''.
Don't leave, Grandma.
No, l must go.
Will you miss me?
Yes. Don't go, Grandma.
Silly boy! One of these days, l have to go.
lf l want to see you again, what can l do?
That would be hard.
But l'll tell you a story.
My Grandma once told me,
if you want to see your parted loved ones,
gather all your favorite things, and throw them all...
into the ''Sea of Bitterness''.
When you have filled it up,
you'll see your loved ones again.
Really? Lucky coins!
So much money!
Here, l found 10 cents!
Here's a coin, too!
No. 5, No. 6, No. 7...
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!
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...