In the late 19th century...
Shanghai's most elegant brothels...
were found in the city's English Concession.
They were called "Flower Houses."
"All Fortunes! Three Great Fortunes!"
Why do I keep losing today?
If you lose, you have to drink!
I won't accept defeat!
What? Empty your cup!
"All Fortunes! Two Together! Five Champions!
"Five Champions!" It's a tie!
Neither of you won.
Then they should both drain their cups!
Good!
Everybody, drink!
This is very enjoyable!
Who's next?
Me.
All right, Luo!
Let's use the chicken-pattern cups.
Yufu...
"Two Together! Eight Immortals! Four Joys!
"Two Together! Three Great Fortunes!
"Three Great Fortunes!" Drink up!
My young brother Yufu is new here...
but look how many girls will drink for him!
Impressive!
"Two Together!" An easy win!
"Five Champions!"
All right..."Eight Immortals!"
Pour wine for him.
Your brother's rather good at this game.
He's learned from experts!
"Two Together! Four Joys! Two Together!
"Three Great Fortunes! Eight Immortals!
"Four Joys!"
Pour wine for him.
You have to drink!
Please, not too much!
Young people always have a way!
Yufu, who is she?
Crystal's younger sister.
Don't you know? Crystal is always feeling ill.
Her sister is here in her place.
Thank you, miss.
We should let Yufu go.
We can go on playing.
The women all think he should stop...
because Crystal is waiting for him.
Have some more wine!
Come on, drink up!
He and Crystal are really serious about each other!
I've seen besotted couples in my time...
but none like them!
It's as if they're stuck together like toffee!
They go out together, come in together.
If a day goes by without a meeting...
it's the end of the world!
Crystal asks the women to track him everywhere.
And if they lose him?
Then she bursts into tears!
I tell you, I've never seen the like!
That's what love is all about, isn't it?
What happens when they're together?
I'll tell you! I visited him one morning...
and found them gazing into each other's eyes.
Just sitting there, gazing at each other!
Not saying anything?
Not a word! Hopelessly lovestruck!
You know what that's called?
What?
Tell us!
"Mental telepathy"! Let's drink!
Fate has brought them together.
Luo calls it "fate."
I believe in it!
Really? I call it "bad karma."
What?
Notice how pale Yufu is?
He's caught in her trap!
He looks so pale, doesn't he?
One time I suggested a visit to the opera.
You know what Crystal said?
What?
"The opera's just a lot of noise. Why go?"
So I suggested to go out in a horse-carriage instead.
I thought they'd enjoy looking around.
You know what Crystal said?
"Who wants to bump around in a horse-carriage?"
And it didn't even end there!
My next suggestion was to go and be photographed.
Nice idea.
For a souvenir! You know what Crystal said?
"But the camera will capture the beams from your eyes!"
Next morning, I saw her licking his eyes!
Licking his eyes?
With her tongue!
Actually licking his eyes!
This has been going on for half a month or more!
What a story!
Let's have some more wine!
And the food's getting cold.
Your next dish!
What is it?
A delicacy!
Bean-curd soup!
Bean-curd soup in a sandpot.
What's wrong with Master Wang?
Master Wang has been calling on Jasmin.
And so today, Crimson sent her maids...
to beat Jasmin at the Ming Garden.
I didn't know Crimson was so vicious!
That wasn't vicious!
I think she was silly to go to so much trouble.
If they'd damaged her jewelry...
Master Wang would have paid for it anyway.
And if you'd been Crimson?
Me?
I'm not inclined to tell you.
They're quarreling!
Why don't you call on Cinnamon and see how I react?
You think I wouldn't dare?
I'd have Cinnamon come out to give you a beating!
You're saying this to impress Master Hong?
All of your talk is ridiculous.
Why?
As a flower girl, you have many callers.
So you must accept that your callers...
will see other flower girls!
What do you mean?
It's simple enough.
We're in business, so there's no other way.
If you buy my exclusive services for three seasons...
then I'll see no one else. Isn't that right?
You mean you want to leech off me?
If not you, then who else?
Drink! Drink!
Master Zhu, I challenge you!
That is what I call a party!
FLOWERS OF SHANGHAI
Huifang Enclave CRIMSON
Master Wang, it was your mistake.
If you'd been frank about it...
you could call on as many other girls as you like.
But you weren't frank!
When Crimson found out, she wailed...
"Master Wang has abandoned me for Jasmin!"
Master Wang simply called on Jasmin...
for a cup of wine last night.
And now he's here, as usual.
Master Hong!
Don't blame our mistress for being upset!
When Master Wang began calling on her...
she had many other callers.
But they stopped coming...
when Master Wang became her patron.
We invited them back, but Master Wang said...
"Never mind if they come or not, I'll support you myself!"
Master Wang...
those were your exact words!
Our mistress has been very contented with Master Wang.
She takes no other gentlemen callers.
You also said...
you'd take care of all our mistress' debts.
Master Hong...
how can you blame our mistress for being upset?
There's nothing more to say about this.
Put Jasmin out of your mind.
Master Wang is here now.
Crimson, you have not lost face.
Let's put this behind us.
Master Wang will buy you clothes and jewelry...
and he'll clear whatever debts you have.
That settles everything, doesn't it?
I don't mind him calling on Jasmin.
What I mind is the secrecy!
And he's with her almost all of the time!
Master Tang, I've been with Master Wang for 2 1/2 years...
and what you see in this room is all that he's ever given me.
He's been calling on Jasmin for only ten days...
and she already has an entire new wardrobe.
Seeing what's going on...
his friends have rushed to buy furniture for her.
Master Tang, you have no idea.
This is nonsense!
Flower girls are recompensed for their services.
Their callers have no responsibility...
for their other debts.
You're asking too much!
No flower girl relies on just one caller...
and no gentleman limits himself to one flower girl.
We can go wherever we please!
It's tedious to even discuss this!
You're right, Master Hong.
No flower girl relies on just one caller.
Our mistress has plenty of other callers.
Why should she rely only on Master Wang?
But Master Wang made her a promise.
If he'd kept her promise...
our mistress would have no complaint.
Now he's calling on Jasmin.
As you say, no gentleman has to limit himself...
to one flower girl. Our mistress can say nothing.
But while he is calling on Jasmin...
our debts remain unpaid.
Consider, Master Wang...
which of us is being "tedious"?
You or our mistress?
All right.
None of this properly concerns us.
Let's go.
Are you leaving now, Master Wang?
Jingda!
Master Wang, you can leave if you want to.
No one will detain you...
but let's make one thing clear.
Jingda and I were up all night comforting our mistress.
We didn't sleep at all.
Tonight we will sleep.
Women like us are never responsible...
if our luck turns bad and we are left penniless.
Master Wang, you cannot blame us for this situation.
We should leave now.
Stay as long as you like.
I'm sorry you were troubled.
Tomorrow we'll set two banquet tables to apologize to you.
No need for that.
You were too scared of us to come alone?
You turn up today with two friends.
For what reason?
What they said just made me angrier!
Very clever of you!
Master Wang is not at fault. Those friends led him astray.
Maybe they were the ones who led him to call on Jasmin.
He needed no help!
His friends didn't push him.
He found that little chicken all by himself!
Jasmin is no chicken these days.
She even hires opera troupes for entertainment!
Master Wang...
how much have you spent on her? Thousands?
Nonsense.
Really?
Well, Master Wang needn't bother his head about it.
Smoke some opium.
Ginseng soup for you, Master Wang.
Azhu, why is Crimson so upset?
What do you mean?
I've promised to pay her debts...
but she still says I'm cheating her.
Master Wang understands very well.
No, that's why I'm asking.
Master Wang, an intelligent man like you should understand.
Our mistress has always treated you well.
Why didn't you clear her debts before now?
Now you say you'll clear them. But you sound grudging.
How can she accept if you begrudge her...
for holding you to your promise?
But she's the one holding a grudge!
Our mistress has nothing to be angry about.
Sooner or later, Master Wang will clear her debts for her.
It's all up to you.
But should your relationship with her...
depend on such trivial details? Well, should it?
If I don't clear her debts, she calls me bad.
And if I clear them, she still calls me bad.
What does she really want?
Master Wang, do I really need to explain?
Don't get angry.
Just don't get angry, all right?
I'll follow your advice.
All you can say is, "Don't get angry"?
If you were me, wouldn't you get angry?
If I were you, I'd be over it by morning.
Don't cry.
Don't cry!
Gongyang Enclave PEARL
Master Hong is here.
Where were you last night?
I called on Jasmin, then went home.
Why is your mother hitting Treasure?
It's nothing.
Treasure should mind what she says.
She wants more than she can have.
Alongside Jade, she's nothing.
There's always trouble when she tries to compete.
What did Treasure say?
Treasure said...
"Jade doesn't have her own hookah...
"so Auntie took mine for her.
"She goes out in my old dresses, too."
Jade overheard this, and refused to wear the dress again.
This morning she stayed in bed, saying she felt ill.
That's why Mother is scolding Treasure.
She's asked me to talk to Jade.
What are you supposed to say to her?
It's difficult for me.
Just seeing her makes me angry.
She gets a few bookings and she's so full of herself.
While Treasure gets beaten...
as if she'd only just entered the house.
But Jade is a real asset.
If you weren't the daughter of the house...
she might look down on you, too.
Don't say that. She and I are quite close.
She pays more attention to me than to Mother.
A booking for Mistress Jade.
Coming.
I just told her...
if she refused to go, then your mother...
would have to send Treasure instead.
She rushed off the moment she heard that.
Well done!
Eat something. You should eat before we go out.
And you should eat before you go drinking.
Not hungry, and I should go now.
Then send for me later.
I'll eat, have a wash, and join you.
All right.
Mistress Pearl, food's ready.
Ask Jade if she's hungry, we could eat together.
Sister.
Feeling better?
Have some more.
Treasure opens her mouth without thinking.
She says whatever comes into her head.
She upsets me, too, you know.
Anyway, you're not like her.
You get many bookings. Mother likes you.
You needn't be so sensitive.
If Treasure upsets you, tell me... don't tell Mother.
Does it seem like I'm taking Treasure's side?
I'm not really.
After all, we're just flower girls.
All working in this one house.
Some years from now, we'll all be married.
Even the most popular of flower girls...
has only a fleeting period of fame.
Try to look at it that way.
Sister, you think too much.
I'm too ignorant to know what's true and what isn't.
I'll never blame you for setting me right.
I just hope you really understand.
Let's eat.
Shangren Enclave EMERALD
Do you have any money?
Yes.
Just look at you, at your age!
You still want to keep lovers?
Don't care about face?
Here's some spending money for them.
I won't take it.
Who else can you borrow from?
Don't worry. This is the last time.
Thank you, Master Luo. This is so embarrassing.
At least you realize that.
Why does she need money?
She irritates me so much. Look at her.
When she has money, her men take it.
When she doesn't, she borrows from me.
Scold her about it, and she pretends not to understand.
A few days later, she's forgotten all about it.
A booking for Mistress Emerald!
What can I do about her?
Where is it?
Houma Street.
All right.
Who is she seeing?
There are several men.
Some new, as well as the old ones.
Carrying on like that at her age!
I saw an old man in the outer room. Is he one of them?
That's her tailor, Zhang. How could he be her lover?
That money was to pay his bill.
Where in Houma Street?
The Qian residence again.
It's a mahjong party. They'll want me to play for someone.
If no one else books me, I'll be stuck there.
Sometimes I just sit for two or three hours. It's such a bore.
Then why not turn them down?
I can't refuse a booking. Auntie would be furious.
She'd scold you?
Definitely.
If I do nothing wrong, she never says a word.
But one small mistake, and I never hear the end of it.
Make yourself comfortable. I'll be back as soon as I can.
Sister.
What is it?
Look.
Your Auntie beat you again.
I've told you, learn how to flatter!
If you won't listen to me, you'll get beaten.
But my Auntie isn't like yours.
She beats me whether I flatter or not.
One man called me several times...
and I was accused of flattering him too much.
That's why she beat me this time!
Didn't you follow my advice?
I said exactly what you told me to say.
"If you want me to entertain callers, don't beat me!"
That made her lock me in and tie me to the bed.
She asked me if I dared to refuse a booking.
So tell her you do, and let them beat you.
I couldn't stand the pain.
I had to give in to her to get away.
If you're afraid of pain, you should be...
an official's wife or daughter, not a flower girl.
Is there any opium?
There's a chestful over there.
How can anyone swallow it? It's so bitter!
Some people take it raw. It must ruin their stomachs!
So painful!
You're so stupid!
I don't think she'll ever learn.
You know, last month Master Chen...
threw a banquet for her.
But that was one whole month ago.
Then she had a caller...
who ordered some food and wine for her...
but he turned out to be an old friend of hers, a freeloader!
The clerk from the foreign goods store.
He came after dinner and stayed past midnight!
You see why Third Sister beats her?
No tips from serving wine, and no outside bookings?
That one banquet was the lot! No more in prospect.
So her total earning for the month was one foreign dollar!
You expect your Auntie to live on the northwest wind?
Well, do you?
You want to have outside affairs and treat nonpaying callers?
You're wasting your breath.
You're useless!
You deserve to be beaten to death!
Otherwise you'll go on losing money!
Stop it.
Get her out. She makes me so angry!
Where is all this bad luck coming from?
East Hexing Enclave JASMIN
Sixteen foreign dollars is too much?
Too much. Ten is about right.
Give him ten, or twelve at most.
The best-value emeralds are in Temple Market.
Then I'll trouble Master Hong for the emerald jewelry.
That's fine with me.
Qiao!
Coming.
Bring hot towels, clear the table.
Yes.
You have some, too.
I don't want to.
It's addictive. I won't be able to work!
It's not addictive.
Crimson smokes it, and she's no addict.
Crimson has many callers, why would she care?
Even if she gets addicted, she'll be fine.
Actually, she has very few callers now.
How do you know?
I saw the books.
Aside from me, she's had only twenty or thirty bookings...
all from old callers.
That's enough, considering that she has you.
You don't understand.
She supports her whole family. She needs a lot.
How much do they need...
if the whole family shares one small room?
Unless she spends a lot on herself.
She doesn't spend much.
She takes a horse-carriage every few days.
That's not so expensive.
So where does the money go?
How should I know?
You suggested she spends a lot! Tell me what she spends it on.
I have no idea how Crimson spends money.
Don't call on her and tell her I said this.
If you do, she'll think I'm talking behind her back.
Don't worry. I won't say anything.
You and Crimson have been together for 3 or 4 years now.
What can I tell you about her that you don't know?
You're so naive!
Crimson is always vilifying you.
And here you are, helping to cover up her problems!
When I began calling on Crimson, she told me...
"A really good gentleman caller is every flower girl's dream."
"Now that we have met, I need no other caller."
I told her she could stop being a flower girl...
and marry me if she wanted.
And she was quick to agree.
But she was just humoring me.
She said we could marry if I paid all her debts.
So I paid them...
and then she said her parents didn't approve of the match.
Master Wang is kind to come when he's asked to.
It proves our banquet table still has legs!
Mistress, you have me to thank.
It seems she doesn't want to marry me.
I can't tell what she's thinking.
Master Wang, please smoke.
It's such a trial for you to come here!
Not one of our stupid servants prepares your pipe for you.
I don't need anyone to.
Have some tea, Master Wang.
The jeweler gave you this to look at?
Yes. Sixteen foreign dollars for a hairpin!
It must be cheaper at Temple Market.
You already have hairpins like this.
You can buy them for someone else...
why can't I buy a pair for myself?
Of course you can, but you already have several pairs.
You could buy something else.
I will buy something else.
Frankly, I don't need another hairpin.
But I'm angry, so I want to buy a pair...
just to waste sixteen more of your foreign dollars.
Then take sixteen foreign dollars and buy something else!
There's nothing special about these hairpins.
Nothing special about me, either, so they suit me.
You're not serious!
Mistress Crimson is known throughout Shanghai!
Am I still a mistress?
I'm less than a wild chicken! I can't be called "Mistress."
Sister, Jade and I must have been enemies...
in a previous lifetime!
We've just quarreled again!
She's still saying bad things about me.
I can't stand it!
She wasn't talking about you.
Of course she was!
That's why Auntie threw me out!
All right, I give in.
I'll never say another word when we're in Auntie's room.
Satisfied?
What is the matter with you two? Stop it!
Treasure, go to your room.
Jade, sit over here.
I've told you many times not to argue with her.
You know she isn't too bright.
Pearl.
Master Hong.
Luo has set a banquet table in Emerald's rooms.
Let's go there later.
All right.
Jade, please leave us.
Honest flower girls are so devious these days!
You all drink together. You must know what I mean.
Which girl are you talking about?
You all sit around a table drinking...
but Young Master Zhu slips an emerald pendant to Jade...
under the table.
And then Jade asks me not to tell you.
So why are you telling me now?
I advised her to tell you!
I said it would make you more eager to help...
if she ever needs a favor.
Jade is doing very well now.
So maybe it's time she got married.
You can be her matchmaker.
You can do it. I'll help you.
Master Hong, your invitation.
Mistress, Master Wang is here.
Mistress.
I heard!
Am I wrong to call you?
You have no callers and you're brimming with jealousy.
Don't you want to eat, Mistress?
Azhu.
We haven't eaten, either.
Order some dishes. We can eat together.
But you've been drinking, you must have eaten.
We really haven't.
Mistress, shall I order for you, too?
I don't want to eat.
Master Wang, if you're hungry, order for yourself.
Mistress hasn't even had a sip of tea.
I'll get her some congee later.
Liang, bring some tea.
Master Hong.
I'll leave first.
Master Hong, are you going?
What's wrong with you?
Nothing!
I want to talk to you. Come over here.
If you want to talk, then talk.
I don't want to see you unhappy all day.
Every time I come, you're unhappy.
You know how upsetting it is to see you like this?
Don't be like this, if only for my sake.
I'm unhappy, that's a fact! What do you want me to do?
If you don't like it...
go somewhere that you can be happy!
I'm being patient with you, and you're so rude to me.
I said nothing when you came.
Not a word to offend you.
And all you can say is that I look unhappy.
Now you say I'm being rude.
I think you're the one who's being insensitive.
How can I be happy?
I see, it's always my fault.
If I behave like this again, you might as well beat me.
But don't be like this.
Come here, I have something to discuss with you.
Thank you.
Ham congee.
Don't wait for me.
Master Ge, time for a drinking game.
Let's play.
"Two Together, Two Together.
"Five Champions.
"Four Joys, Four Joys."
You lost!
Have something to eat!
Let's play again.
Come on, now.
"Two Together, Two Together, Five Champions!"
Drink up!
Your next dish...
Good!
Mistress Pearl and Mistress Jade from Gongyang Enclave are here.
Spring rolls, bring more spring rolls.
Master Wang, please eat more!
Jade, Young Master Zhu is asking for you.
Shuren!
Please.
Who is that?
Shuren... he's Zhu Airen's nephew.
Master Hong, have a game with me.
All right, come on.
You two are well matched.
I'm not so sure about that.
Here's the wine.
"Two Together, Two Together, Five Champions!"
Got you!
I lost.
A rare occurrence!
Shuren, let's play.
I don't know how.
What is there to know?
Come on. Good.
"All Fortunes! Eight Immortals!"
Lost again! Shuren...
Come on, one more time.
"All Fortunes!"
"One Win! One Win!"
Drink up.
Once again!
"Five Champions! Five Champions!"
Lost again!
Master Luo lost two in a row! Not in form tonight!
Come on, come on.
One more time. He can't bear to lose, play once more.
"All Fortunes! Three Big Fortunes!"
Let me drink for him.
Sorry, I've spilled it.
Never mind, wipe it up.
What's that?
Take a look, Master Luo.
You know what it shows?
Yes, it's the "wine rack" (a scene from "Golden Lotus").
Don't discuss it with him! He's immoral!
You're wrong. It's not the "wine rack"!
What's amusing all of you?
Put that away, or you'll be scolded.
Master Luo.
Did Emerald tell you she wants to buy her freedom?
Yes, but it seems she can't.
No girl who wants to buy her freedom announces the fact.
She announces it when she has it.
Frankly, what I want is the business she brings...
not her person.
If I don't let her go, she'll be in no mood for business.
So I may as well let her go.
So why did she tell me she can't do it?
I wouldn't want to criticize her, but...
as you know, Emerald is a mischievous girl.
In this business, I buy in girls when they are seven or eight.
And I bring them up until they're old enough to work.
I pay for their food and clothes.
I teach them everything.
But not all of them make the grade as flower girls.
Emerald is clever, and she's helped a lot.
She recalls that I originally paid 100 dollars for her.
Now, 10 times 100 is only $1,000.
Master Luo, really...
there's no comparison between the original price...
and her value now!
So she says 1,000. What do you say?
I'm guided by my conscience.
Go to the teahouse and see what other people think about this.
Her bookings alone amount to $1,000 per season.
Not counting her tips or the gifts she receives.
Master Luo, even if you paid me $3,000...
it would balance only one year's earnings.
And she could still earn a lot as a flower girl.
Isn't that so, Master Luo?
Look at Silver Phoenix here, for example...
Girl! Where is your mind wandering now?