Ladies and Gentlemen:
The Touch proudly presents
it's star attraction.
Please welcome the famous Pak Yin Fay
and her brother Yeuk Tong, heirs to the longest tradition of acrobats in China.
The world, my friends is divided into two categories...
There are those who take
and those who give to those who take.
You mean like, like predator and prey?
That's a reliably pedestrian interpretation, cousin
though not entirely inaccurate in the broad strokes.
So we're takers,
right boss?
No, l'm the taker. You're followers.
A subcategory, if you will.
What about Eric? He's a follower too?
Eric is a special case.
He excels at taking things.
He just can't seem to hold onto them.
Eric...
Thanks, old chum
Qu ni de. (Mandarin, means: Fuck off!)
Success? Any problem getting through customs?
Customs? No,
no problem at all, very smooth.
But you know there was an extra alarm system in the building
that must have just slipped your mind.
lt's half the fun for you, isn't it Eric?
You got what you went for, didn't you?
Don't l always?
Let's not forget about Hong Kong.
Everyone has an off day, Karl...
l don't think everybody's off days
are quite as expensive as yours
Hey man, it happens.
And this should clear that up
We'll see...
You didn't open it, Eric, did you?
Me?
After you expressly asked me not to?
l'm shocked, Karl.
Just couldn't figure it out, could you?
Not that l tried that hard but... no, couldn't get it open.
The Heart of Dun Huang. Amazing, isn't it?
Well, it's...
That's all?
Frankly, boss
we were expecting something a little more.
l don't know...
Lavish. Ridiculously lavish.
l'm surrounded by cave dwellers.
lt was sculpted by Tibetan monks in 1242,
it has been a myth almost ever since.
l thought you might know something of its value.
No. Can't say l do. Although,
tell me, Karl
cause l know you're going to...
What makes it so amazing?
Aren't you familiar with the story of Xuan Zang?
Xuan Zang? The famous monk?
Xuang Zang was a holy man more than a thousand years ago.
Legend had it that anyone who could kill the Monk.
Eat his holiest of flesh.
Would gain immortality.
His funeral pyre burned for four days and four nights.
What remained was sort of crystallized essence
the monk's Sharira.
And this, is going to lead us to that.
Wow,
that's a really interesting story, Karl...
Ever the sceptic.
That's why you, are destined to remain you, my friend
and l shall go to a place that
few men have ever even conceived of.
And Eric, he's not talking about Vegas alright?
He is talking about Utopia, paradise...
l'm sure he has the point. Thank you Bob.
No but you didn't... you said a place
weren't very specific?
Thank you, Bob.
Tasty?
Something's got a little bit too much ginger.
Burns the throat, you know...
Anyway, love to stay and talk about the Sharira
but it's time to say zai-jian (Mandarin, means: goodbye.)
Put that in dishwasher.
Alright, everybody drinks come on now...
Cheers! Happy Birthday, Tong!
Hey, Tong, l bet Lily has a special present for you!
Knock it off, Dad, l'm not tired...
Hey, it's midnight.
Ready...
Happy birthday to you, hap...
What's the matter, Ping? You look like you saw...
A ghost?
That's a very good cake.
Did you make that, Yin?
What's the matter? No one's please to see me?
Why are you here, Eric?
Why do you think l'm here?
This is Tong's birthday
He is ... 20 years old, right Tong?
That's right.
Twenty years old
that's the end of adolescence beginning of manhood.
You honestly think l'll miss his birthday?
Why not?
You've missed the last three
time flies, you know.
You sure know how to make an entrance.
Thank you. l've been working on it.
And l thought it came naturally.
You didn'tjust come for Tong's birthday.
You've got some kind of scam going.
What do you take me for?
What is it?
lt's not a scam.
The Heart of Dun Huang.
You stole it.
Well, yeah...
Father would have been so proud.
lt's the Heart of Dun Huang!
He'd have wanted me to bring it to you.
You took the skills he gave you
and became a common thief.
l may be a thief, Yin
but l'm not common.
Look, if l've ever dishonored your father's memory,
l honor it now by bringing you this.
Why are you here?
Because l want your help.
When we were children
your father used to have a scroll
remember that talked about the Heart
and the Sharira of Xuan Zang.
And without that scroll the Heart is useless.
lt's just a legend!
But your father believed in that legend...
My father's dead
l'm the head of the family
and l don't believe.
Well l do.
Go away, Eric.
Just give me one night.
Don't flatter yourself.
That's not what l'm talking about...
Though if you're offering it has been a long time for me
so wouldn't say no...
Just think about it.
Alright. l'll give you your one night.
But it won't change anything.
Frankly l'll be amazed if you're still here
in the morning.
l'll still be here.
Did l ask you to come in?
lf l'd waited you'd have hidden the Heart!
The scroll...
You told me it was lost!
l was trying to protect you.
Protect me from what?
From ending up like dad!
He died a broken old man
because he believed in something that never happened.
This will bring us nothing but trouble.
Really? Then why didn't you just send Eric on his way?
Why are you still holding the Heart?
Because...
Because you want to believe in it too!
You can't protect me anymore, Yin
l'm not a kid
Keep Your balance... Yin...
ln a time of great danger
the Monks of Dun Huang hid the Sharira.
To protect this greatest of treasures
it was placed in Dun Huang
where no ordinary human being would ever be able to reach.
To ensure that the Sharira could be retrieved
the Monks turned to
a family of acrobats.
For hundreds of years
our family has trained
passing on the skills required
to perform the ultimate leap
when this time is at hand.
Daddy, all your life you've been waiting for
the Heart of Dun Huang.
How do you know it really exists?
l know because l know. l have faith.
You believe, don't you daughter?
Of course l believe!
Don't try anything now...
Let go off me!
Punk!
Let go off me!
Punk!
What's going on?
l caught this punk trying to steal from our kitchen.
What is your name?
Eric.
Eric what?
Just Eric.
Why were you stealing, Just Eric?
Because l was hungry
Ping, perhaps we should get this young man
something to eat?
Focus.
How's your tea?
Good... excellent.
Really? You haven't touched it once.
ls something wrong?
Them?
Do you think l'd let them hurt you?
No?
Of course not...
That's a pleasure l reserve for myself.
Boss?
Can l ask you a dumb question?
Yes. Let's not break with tradition.
l mean why...why kill this guy?
He's guarding the front gate
l mean Eric probably came around back, right?
Because he serves as an object lesson
to all of you.
Don't disappoint me.
Eric used to have a girlfriend.
She's a circus performer, acrobat.
And?
And, itjust so happens that the circus has come to town.
Hello, old chum!
The medallion... where is it?
Take it!
l'll meet you at the van!
What are you doing...
l thought that was glass...
Karl wants to talk to you
Does he? okay...
okay, you got me, you got me...
Nice car...
Get in!
Let's go!
Let's get the hell out of here!
Tong, are you okay?
No, no, no, wait! Wait...
okay... let's... let's do it
Just bringing on... let's bringing on
Let's go: Enter The Bob...
lt's my time, hold, hold on...
alright, let's go...Can we start with the guy in pyjamas?
Actually, he is more my...
Alright... Come on guys...
Can l have my shirt?
Where are they taking Eric?
So, l send you to bring back Eric
his girlfriend, and the medallion
and you succeed in bringing me, Eric.
You've disappointed me
l need an act of atonement, a sacrifice
Nothing too grand
l'm thinking a small body part
l think, as the Chinese would say
the blood is too hot.
You'll forgive the cultural faux pas
This is more of a Japanese delicacy than a Chinese one.
ln five minutes your hands will start to tingle
in ten minutes they'll grow numb.
Then in fifteen...
ln fifteen...
l always liked that.
Don't play with me
Are you crazy, Yin?
Do you really think l'm going to let you go after Eric by yourself?
Wow...
l didn't realize this was a democracy here little brother...
l decide what's to be done.
l'm coming with you
Be a good fellow and tell me
what you know about the Sharira
l don't know anything.
Why do these sessions always have to start the same way
Wow, that really hurts.
Shut up! lt doesn't yet, but it will
While you're waiting for the kettle to boil
why don't you reconsider your answer
lf l knew anything you really think
l'd talk to you about it?
Alright...
if you want to let your fingers
do the talking for you...
Walking, Karl.
lt's let your fingers do the walking.
Not in your case.
How do you like your hands, Eric?
Rare?
Medium?
Well done? ...
l am sorry...
Tell me!
Alright...alright l'll tell you what...
l'll tell you what Yin've told me
She... she said... she...
Yes...
She said she is gonna shove the medallion so far up your ass
it'll take a team of proctologist in scuba
gear three weeks to find it.
Wrong answer.
Time's running out, Eric...
l told you, l don't know anything l don't know anything.
l'd offer you a drink
but it would be completely out of character.
Starting without me?
Stop!
Can we be reasonable?
Look, l found the Heart of Dun Huang.
lt can lead us to the Sharira.
But consider this:
your skills, my resources?
Who are you?
Okay, we're clear...
We're clear?
Can't anybody kill anybody?
This way!
Gun, noise, police, China... No!
She's coming! She's coming!
l think this was already broken...
Maybe a broom...
l think l can... with glue...
l am very confident that l could fix...
Slow down, slow down.
Tong and Lily ran off.
And l think Tong took the Heart with him...
We will be arriving in Dun Huang
in approximately 45 minutes.
Thank you for flying with us.
Enjoy the rest of your flight.
Look, Yin. You might as well face it.
He's gone.
What was that for?
Fasten your seat belt. We're going to Dun Huang
Take a deep breath...
We can do this.
Of course we can.
Do you know anything about this?
Piece ofjunk.
l have real good stuff, you buy?
lmpress your pretty girlfriend
Did you find anything out?
No...
Let's keep looking.
l just don't understand what's so special about this
l remember that father would read from it sometimes
especially when he was working
on advanced moves with Yin.
lt has to mean something!
But what?
l don't know
lt's getting late
we better find a place to stay
He says it won't be fixed until tomorrow morning.
Look,
l bet for a few bucks
that guy will sell us the car.
You've got to be kidding. That piece ofjunk?
lt won't make it down the road.
Okay.
Don't say anymore. That's it.
But this is only a stack of 50...
You agreed to 8000?
Here you go...
What are you doing? He was about to give in!
l'm saving time.
lt's got a radio.
lt's going to be a long trip.
Welcome to Dun Huang, boss.
God, it's beautiful.
Bob...
Yeah, Karl?
The bags...
lt's not really my job.
ln the lottery of familial relations
how is it l ended up with Bob?
So, the boy and the girl
you followed them?
All day.
They wandered around town for hours
Where are they now?
They checked into the village inn for the evening.
And they spoke to no one?
No. They spoke to every one.
The kid even showed this medallion around
but nobody knew what the hell it was.
lt doesn't work...
Yes, it does.
All it needs is a little bit of love...
See?
My God. l know this one
Yin, Remember this, Yin?
They're playing our song.
Come on, Yin, give me a break.
l'm trying.
We had good moments, didn't we?
We did have some good moments
But then you left.
That's a nice flask
l like it.
You're such a thief.
Look, l only steal from the rich
only because the poor
don't have anything worth taking.
There's a moment of truth to that.
lt's funny...
All these years, all these generations of waiting
and you have to be the one to show up with the medallion.
How odd it should be you.
So... do you believe?
l believe...
l'm going to get my brother out of this safely
Come on.
l didn't do it... alright.
What l did l just hit the radio
lt's not connected to the engine
Yin...
lt wasn't my fault...
Shut up.
l think you might flooded it
This ... this reminds me of a joke...
But ... that's not actually very funny.
Let's just find Tong and Lily.
Hey... do you see that guy?
What guy?
There is a man... an old man, staring at us
he is staring at me.
What?
l don't know. l've the strangest.
Let's go find him.
There!
Good afternoon...
Fascinating
A Wuyang tree, isn't it?
What of it?
Not something you see every day, is it?
Why don't you go chat up the old man
and leave your young lady with us...
For safekeeping.
Think twice, Tong.
She's cute...
Bob?
Yeah, Karl?
l've a really important job for you
Yes, l want it!
Bob, l've a really important job for you.
lmportantjob, my butt...
Come in...
Hello...
You've come a very long way.
Let's have some tea.
Tea?
Hundreds of years of waiting and they're going to have tea?
Don't be nervous...
l'm not nervous...
For over seven hundred years
we have waited for this moment.
l am as excited as you.
All things are connected in this world.
From the light we travel to darkness
and from the darkness to the light.
Good cannot exist without evil
and evil knows no redemption without good.
A heart does not beat without blood
though it be made of stone.
You must go to the Wuyang Plain
find the tree that yields the Blood of Dun Huang.
One tree?
Don't worry, my son
you will know what to do.
l certainly hope so.
Spilt & Resynck: Xenzai[NEF]
We're taking a trip to the Wuyang Trees
and as you seem to be destiny's errand boy apparent
you're going to help me.
l won't do it.
l think you will.
Death, how apropos.
Excuse me, excuse me...
My feet are killing me...
Where can l find a decent hamburger
around here?
Hello Bob...
Come on, Bob
you know that.
l know that you know you're going to talk.
Huh?
Let's forget it...
What do you mean, forget it?
He knows where the kids are!
Are you kidding? Look at him!
Would you tell him anything?
Nah...
That shows what you know!
l knew everything, okay.
l had a very important job
l was supposed to watch out for you
while Karl found out
what to do next from the old man who found Tong...
Hello?
Karl's was here.
Yin?
Yin... wait... wait. Think it through, Yin!
No!
Think it through! Look around you!
You can't go out in this neither can Karl!
l need to find Tong!
Listen to me... Whatever... and we will...
l need to find Tong!
Wherever they are
they're stuck just like us.
Listen to me! Listen to me! Listen!
Lily and Tong
are far too valuable to Karl right now
trust me he'll never hurt them!
He won't hurt them, Yin!
Trust me... Trust me...
lt seems the weather conspires
to keep us here one more evening...
Unfortunately, l have no control over the weather, as yet
l'm not hungry.
l think we both know this is not entirely true.
You haven't eaten since breakfast.
My flower
you need to get something between those lips.
Yes...
That's better.
lt's so silly for us to fight like this.
l need your help.
Help with what?
See, l don't think the Heart of Dun Huang
is some idle legend, and neither is your family's role in all of this.
l'm not the one.
Aren't you? See, l think you want to do this, Tong.
l think you've spent your life
crouching in Yin's shadow.
The obedient little brother.
Nobody's ever asked your opinion on anything
am l right?
Just think: you'll be a legend.
Go to hell.
Right, on to plan B then.
Violence.
Your threats don't scare me.
l don't threaten
l say, and then l do.
And l say that you should help me.
Look at those lads
brutal...
degenerates...
What an unspeakable horror to unleash
them against your little friend for a night.
Let me do that...
Sorry...
lt's alright.
Well...
Good night
l can't do it...
lt's okay
l'm so sorry l got you into this.
l would rather be here with you right now just like this
than any place else in the world.
You are the head of the family, now.
Daddy...
The Touch requires
not only skill, but faith.
Yin, do you believe?
Of course, l believe, Daddy.
Of course l believe.
There is no life without death
and death is only a step towards life.
There is no life without death...
l never thought there would be so many...
l'll try
l think we got something...
Careful...
l think l can do that.
You'd never make it through.
Yin?
Yin, are you alright?
l'm fine.
You know l think you're just on the other side of this wall.
l'll dig through to you...
What are you going to do, boss?
l'm going to do what l always do.
Let Eric find it for me.
Yin, are you there?
l found something.
What is it?
lt's a jar.
A heart does not beat without blood
though it be made of stone.
Take the Heart to the Holy Man
and fill his veins with the Blood of Dun Huang.
Eric, take the jar first...
Here... Careful...
The Holy Man must be some kind of rock formation or mountain.
And this is the Yadan desert...
The Holy Man and the Yadan desert. That's where we're going!
Eric? ... Eric?
Thanks, Yin, you've been very sweet.
How do we say good-bye
after what we've been through, Yin?
l suppose like this...
Good-bye!
Sorry, old chum...
lt could have been fun, Eric.
Let's finish this.
What was that noise?
Get in the car.
Get in.
l always liked that
Yin?
Yin? ...
Oh, my God...
Yin?
Yin!!
Talk to me, Yin.
For Christ's sake, Yin! Just say something!
Give me a sign!
l'll never leave you again, l promise!
l'll... l'll stop stealing!
l'll... l'll do anything, anything you want!
Just please, please don't die...
Yin! Keep breathing, Yin!
l've got you... Please be okay...
You'll do anything l want?
Look... look at that!
Traps...
Yeah...
Karl's walking into a giant trap.
And he's bringing Tong with him.
Shit.
We'll have to go around.
Wait a second, Yin.
Let's just, let's just discuss this...
No...
Wait... wait a second...
No. No... No!
lt wasn't as bad as it looked...
Stop!
The Holy Man...
At last.
Just remember, Lily's counting on you
it's magic...
Not magic, Sam. Science
lt's phosphorus, lighting my way
To enter is to choose...To choose is to be chosen.
Destiny awaits.
Do you hear that, Tong?
Destiny awaits
Tong!
There's just no killing some people.
Am l in your way again?
Yes, for the last time.
Karl, listen to me...
This whole place is lined with traps!
Why should l believe you, Eric?
That's why...
No... Tong...
Look who's here...
No... Tong...
Give it up, Eric.
You can't even throw a real punch admit it!
Do you really think l'll fall for that?
lt could happen...
What is it you don't have, Karl? Tell me?
What do you think you're going to get?
When does a man like you have enough?
Never!
You don't understand what the Sharira really is
you never will.
You want it for yourself...
Don't you understand?
lt can't be taken!
lt won't let you take it!
Look around you! Even the earth is against you!
Don't do anything rash, Tong.
Eric!
Lily!
Take it!
Destiny awaits...
We better, we better get moving
Come on...
How do we get across...
No, it's too far. You'll die if you try.
We'll die if we stay here...
l can do this.
But l need your help.
Why do you think you can do this?
Because l believe...
Listen, Tong...
ls there another way across for
a member of a family
with a thousand year heritage of training for this exact moment?
Jump!
Okay...
The Sharira
Lahsa, Tibet.
You have fulfilled your destiny my child.
Thank you master.
That which was lost is found...
That which has been found was never lost.
All things exist in balance.
lt is finished. lt begins.
The monkeys have already found their place
my son.
l've made a decision.
20?
Yes.
Okay. But you're good. You're very good
Thank you.
Thank you. You're welcome.
You worried about him?
Tong's old enough to make his own decisions.
Yeah, l know, but... l just...
l just can't believe that our little Tong is all grown up.
This is, this is a good place for him to stay.
Yes. So... Ready to go home?
Home?
Me?
You mean after all the trouble l've caused, l...
l get to come home?
Only if you want to.
What's that?
What's what?
This...
That... That's something l found the other day in the market place.
There were this little man... tiny tiny little man who sold it to me, and he says
it's probably nothing...
But he says, that it's a...
l don't think so.
You're right. You're right.
Whoa, whoa maybe we can take a look right?
No, it's a bad idea.
Come on,
let's check it out on the way home.
No!
Give it to me!
Spit & Resynck: Xenzai[NEF]