[English subtitles are available.]
Winter Begonia.
Episode 43
At ordinary times,
we practice singing near the water.
Today, we’d make some changes.
Zhouzi.
You go first.
You were all right while being on the stage.
Why doesn’t it work here?
The stage is too high
and too large.
The sound
may
be heard by everyone in Peking.
Don’t be nervous.
Relax.
Even you sing wrongly.
Today, I won’t beat any of you.
Louder.
Just do
as you usually do.
Since Peking operas first appeared,
only male characters have been respected.
Female characters are inferior.
They're always been the foil.
It’s like
the relationship of ruler and ruled, husband and wife.
The officials
are obedient.
The wives
blindly follow the husbands.
People say
that it’s the common sense or a matter of course.
But Ning Jiulang
raised the status of the female characters
on his own.
From the palace
to the people,
it becomes very popular.
Since then,
those perform as female characters
have their heads raised.
Many famous actors acting an old gentleman
beg for acting Ning Jiulang’s operas.
At Shuiyun Theater,
it’s extraordinary.
A female character
can play the leading role
and support the entire theater.
So,
no matter it’s in operas
or in real life,
no matter it’s male
or female,
the one gains the people’s support wins the world.
Anybody be supported by the people
can become the industry leader.
People look down upon the opera industry.
Operas are unreal in their eyes.
In my opinion,
those out of operas
are not always real.
They are obsessed
while watching off stage.
They cry for Madam Chun Heung-lin.
They hate Chan Sai-mei.
Some people
are grieved to death
because of Du Liniang.
Some people
even dare not walk outside during night
after watching Infernal Judgment.
Can they tell apart reality and fiction?
Standing on the stage,
you are the ruler.
They are the ruled.
If you want them to cry,
they cry.
If you want them to laugh,
they laugh.
Besides the real emperor,
nobody else
can control the will of people like actors do.
It’s of the greatest honor.
Louder.
Don’t worry others may hear you.
They are looking forward
to your singing.
Take it.
Have some.
Hello. Hello.
Take it.
Will you have it or not?
I will eat it if you don’t.
Well.
Get yourselves ready.
We will have dinner soon.
Leader!
Miao,
what we have today?
Steamed grain bread.
You are still recovering from the injury.
Why are you going out for a walk?
It’s just a small injury.
Why are you talking nineteen to the dozen?
Why can’t you tell good from bad?
Talking nineteen
to the dozen.
Even you are against me?
Will you say that again?
Will you?
Hey. Don't poke it.
You will hurt it.
You ungrateful guy.
I give all of you food and drink.
But,
I’m even not better than a bird.
Mr. Cheng.
Master took us to practice singing.
Look at you.
Going out
brings you energy.
Stand still.
Leader!
Here.
Raise your arms higher.
Leader!
I’d like to tell you one thing.
You will certainly be happy
after listening.
You look so happy.
Say it.
When I was on the street,
I saw Sixi'er.
Guess what?
What’s going on?
He’s insane.
Sixi'er is insane?
How did he become insane?
He has syphilis.
At first he used penicillin to control it.
But now it is a banned substance.
It takes a bar of gold in the black market.
He is not that rich.
Even selling his house,
he can’t afford it.
At last, the syphilis spreads.
And he goes insane.
He is crying and shouting,
running on the street naked.
Nobody can stop him.
He has a family
and some students, right?
They just let him go insane?
Nobody knows.
His wives
were sold by him for money.
And his students
left
after seeing it.
Nobody cares for him.
Where is he?
He
is outside at the gate.
I attracted him here with a steamed bun.
Let everyone see
what the retribution is for the evil persons.
-Leader! -Leader!
You nasty guy.
Here you are.
You want to bite me?
Here.
Stay away.
You deserve it. Sixi'er.
You finally got punished.
You deserve it.
It’s all because you did harm to others.
It serves you right.
You totally deserve it.
You finally got punished. It serves you right.
Listen,
it’s your punishment, you know?
Beat him, Zhouzi.
Come on.
Beat him.
Remember how he bullied you?
Right.
Beat him, Zhouzi.
Beat him.
Hit him.
Zhouzi.
What a coward!
Sixi'er.
How many rumors have you started
about Mr. Shang?
One rumor for one piece of bread.
Come on. Tell us.
Say it.
Ning Jiulang lost his voice that year.
People said you poisoned him.
Is it really?
Where did you get the poison?
We are asking you.
Tell us.
Come on.
Leader. Look.
It’s called
“what goes around comes around”.
Yeah.
He deserves it.
Leader!
Leader. Don't touch him.
Sixi'er.
What happened to you?
Leader!
What are you doing?
Is it interesting to bully the insane?
You are the insane.
Leader!
Enough.
Don't touch him.
They said
I hurt you.
How can I hurt you?
They...
They don’t know
how much I respect and love you.
What are you doing, Sixi'er?
Jiulang.
My benefactor.
What’s he doing?
What are you doing?
What are you doing, Sixi'er?
Don't touch leader.
Forget it.
Mr. Cheng.
Sixi'er called Jiulang.
They had a story?
You are a man.
Why are you fond of gossips that much?
Everyone likes the stories about famous actors.
It’s human nature.
It’s been several decades.
My dad mentioned it.
It's said that Sixi'er
envied Ning Jiulang
and poisoned him.
It almost destroyed his throat.
Because of this matter,
Jiulang met Duke Qi.
According to what Sixi'er said just now,
it seemed not like that.
Nobody is allowed to mention this thing later on.
Sixi'er isn’t qualified to be a friend of Jiulang.
You look down upon Sixi'er that much.
But you gave him food and clothes.
Yes. Leader.
I am thinking
if one day
something bad happens to me,
and I suffer the same with Sixi'er,
I hope I have a peer
who will forgive me
and give me clothes
and food.
Then I will be satisfied.
What nonsense are you talking?
How can it be someone else?
I won't let it be,
unless I die.
-Mr. Cheng. -Mr. Cheng.
What nonsense were you talking?
-Why did you say all that? -Stay out of the way.
-Leader! -Leader!
Take it back.
[Here is the modern famous star Shang Xirui!]
Where are Mr. Shang’s costumes
and paraphernalia?
Will he just sing it plainly?
I’m really pleased that
you are all here to support me.
I, Shang Xirui,
sincerely show my gratitude.
Mr. Shang.
You provide us good performances.
We should thank you.
We are the one to say thank you.
Yes.
Thank you.
-Thank you, Mr. Shang. -Thank you.
You all know that
sometime ago,
there’s an accident in Shuiyun Theater.
It’s said on the newspaper
that I was Japanolatry.
Someone believed that
and got my ears injured.
I don’t blame them.
Over time,
they will know
what kind of person I am.
We are different from them.
We believe you.
Yes.
We remember
all your good behaviors.
Yes. That’s right.
We remember it. Mr. Shang.
We believe you.
Yes.
Great.
-We believe you. -Good.
Thank you for your trust.
My ears
are still recovering.
Therefore,
I can’t use it too much.
Today I won’t use
the costumes and paraphernalia.
I will perform
in a different way.
No matter it is good
or bad,
please just consider it a fresh performance.
Please excuse me.
Great. Great.
Mr. Shang. Great.
Did master perform it plainly before?
Often in the parties of gentlemen.
It’s said to make it simple.
Actually, it tests the skills more.
However,
gentlemen often gather
for literary pursuits.
But ordinary people
come here for joy.
Yes. Right.
I’ve never seen
plain performances could earn money.
Undoubtedly,
people will blame him in tomorrow’s news.
Even this kind of matter makes us blamed?
For simplifying matters and saving costs.
For earning black-money.
You got it.
They will certainly talk about us.
Great. Great.
The Great Enthronement
has the following lines showing skills the most.
I would like to have a good actor
to cooperate with me.
Zhou Xiangyun.
Zhouzi.
He’s calling you. Zhouzi.
Leader is calling you.
Go. Hurry.
Go. Go.
♫ Kowtow to express appreciation for the King’s favor ♫
♫ You are the principal, but I am from the wing ♫
♫ Say no more about principal or wing ♫
♫ I got married before you ♫
♫ We three will manage the house together ♫
♫ Be a pair of yiyayiya hulahuhai ♫
♫ Phoenix yahulahai ♫
♫ And accompany the emperor yiyahuhai ♫
♫ Yiyayiya hula yiyayiya hulahai ♫
♫ Huhaihuhai ♫
♫ Huhai hula hayiya ♫
♫ Ahlahuhai ♫
♫ Yiyayiya hula huhai ♫
♫ Hulahula ♫
♫ Huhai hula huhai hai ♫
Great. Great.
Everyone,
Zhou Xiangyun
is one of my students
who's very talented
and willing to work hard.
In the future,
he will certainly be better than me.
But he’s a bit shy
and needs to experience more.
His fans
like to call him
Mr. Zhouzi.
Later on,
when he finishes his study,
I will let him sing
the last but one opera.
At that time, would you please
support him more?
OK. OK.
Mr. Shang. Take it easy.
We will surely do it.
Rest assured.
-Zhouzi. -Zhouzi.
What’s going on?
How’s it, Zhouzi?
How do you feel?
Tell us.
We are asking you.
I don’t know.
When,
when master was introducing me,
I felt
I was standing on the cloud.
-I became light. -Everyone.
Next,
I’d like to introduce you another actor.
Shijiu.
He is calling you.
Shijiu. He is calling you.
Why?
Just go.
What for?
Go. Hurry.
Go.
Great.
This is
Shijiu.
She’s my senior
and has often cooperated with me.
I believe you all know her.
Yes. We do.
-It’s Miss Shijiu. -Yes.
Hello, Miss Shijiu.
Miss Shijiu
is very skillful.
When I was a child,
she taught me
many operas.
Miss Shijiu is a good actress.
Everyone,
please offer more support.
No problem.
OK. OK.
We will surely do it.
We will support her.
OK. OK.
We will surely do it.
We will support her.
OK. OK.
Mr. Cheng.
I want to make a film.
What do you want?
I mean not a film.
I just want to film
my operas
that I am good at.
Just shoot them in front of the stage.
No need to have the sceneries.
You were even not willing to make a disc before.
Why do you want to make a film in a sudden?
Why?
After suffering the two difficulties,
I am now worrying.
Luocheng told me
the Japanese
has no friendship with China after the Tang Dynasty.
I am thinking
they have Noh
and Kabuki.
Peking operas
use Chinese lyrics
to express Chinese meanings.
Of course they won't like it.
If the day really comes,
one nation can’t have two queens.
Our Mr. Shang
is of more and more great mastership.
I will get everything settled.
The only thing for you is singing it well.
I just see
the stage in the camera
is upturned.
You haven’t seen it until now?
What else have you seen?
I’m a man,
but I perform a female character.
It’s called gender reversal.
The stage
is steady,
but it turns and rolls
in the camera.
It’s called perversion of places.
The performances on the stage
are not real.
If we film it,
it’s not real person.
That’ll be more unreal.
Is it called
world reversal?
There are countless absurd things, right?
You are dressing in ancient Chinese style
and saying words of the ancients.
You even make it a film.
It’s more ridiculous.
Seeing me in the films
is really absurd.
Xirui,
you really are the one preferred by Ning Jiulang.
You can say such kind of meaningful words.
Of course.
Our Mr. Shang is very smart.
He can perform the operas
only by listening once without reading it.
He can talk of everything
with many literary giants in Peking.
He is full of knowledges
in his mind.
I was too busy to think it over.
Since I’ve been deaf for a while,
I have myself calmed down.
I can understand it on my own
without being taught by others.
It’s just like this camera.
Before,
I have really disliked it.
But now, I feel
it’s really useful.
Having just a little remained
is also good for the unique skills
that cannot spread.
Ready to go.
[Commission]
My son
is dead.
What’s for?
I have lost my son.
Dengbao.
Excuse me, Mr. Shang.
Mr. Jiang said
no condolence is needed.
Is it Mr. Shang?
Yes, it’s me.
Come in.
I’m afraid Dengbao didn’t expect
that he would have your worship.
What do you want?
Are you here to see what a fool I am?
I’m here today
to ask you for help.
For help?
I have a bad reputation now.
May I ask you,
Mr. Shang,
is there anything
I can do for you?
I went to Shanghai a few months ago.
I performed Kunqu operas.
Everyone stopped me.
They told me nobody would watch them.
I didn’t listen.
However, I tried my best
to perform it.
Still only few of them liked it.
Failed?
Yeah.
I was then willing to admit
that I thought highly of myself
and looked down upon time.
No matter how good the operas are,
nobody would like it
after a long time.
Peking operas have a history of over 100 years.
It’s really a long time.
Maybe it will be replaced
by something else one day.
We two are both members of the Opera Association.
Just like two fruits from one tree.
Why will we
hate and fight against
each other?
I am here today is because I want
to have your unique skill Sage’s Footwork
filmed by a camera
so that we can have something remained
for Peking operas.
China has been steadily losing ground.
If it is all conquered
by the Japanese,
I’m afraid Peking operas
will be destroyed by the Japanese
before it declines.
You think
Sage’s Footwork is worth
being recorded?
I don’t mind my resentment against you.
Your unique skill
is always classic.
I admire you.
Good.
You are younger but smarter than me.
What are we
fighting for?
Without Opera Association,
I am just an
alone old man losing his son.
But you are late
for 20 years.
Today, I can’t perform
Sage’s Footwork anymore.
Great master.
You,
you call me great master?
I can teach you
and you film it.
Kowtow to me.
From now on,
you are a successor to Sage’s Footwork.
Come with me to the military camp.
Don't tell anyone else.
If someone asks,
tell them that I am delivering goods.
Don’t say anything else.
OK.
I will get it ready.
Fengtai,
where are you going?
Get out.
OK.
Why didn’t you go to school?
Many students in our class left.
Some to Chungking and Hongkong.
Some even migrated abroad.
The rest are not enough
for a class.
It’s OK.
After returning to Shanghai,
I will send you
to McTyeire School.
People said Japanese only want China’s territory
but not the ordinary people.
They are appeasing public feeling now.
But they will kill all of us sooner or later.
People said?
Who are those people?
Don’t listen to them talking nonsense.
That’s for threatening children.
Moreover,
I will protect you.
You can’t let others be killed
just to protect us.
Whom I let be killed?
In the car on that day,
I heard your conversation with Mr. Ge.
You are delivering goods for the Japanese.
Not exactly.
I won’t do that kind of thing.
I have my excuse.
So,
are you really working for the Japanese?
Hey, you little girl.
Why are you so stubborn?
I will explain everything
to you later on.
How long will it be?
Fengtai,
can you
stop fooling me as a child?
I’ve been 16 years old.
I know everything.
Unless it’s because you make no sense.
16? So what?
Everyone has the age of 16.
It’s an age
of innocence.
You think you know everything
and speak in a harsh way.
But the truth is you can just acknowledge
right and wrong.
You always think in a clear and simple way.
Chacha'er.
I don’t want to quarrel with you today.
You have to understand me.
I have my reason.
Only if you are a Chinese,
you can’t do anything for the Japanese
no matter what the reason is.
I don’t have such a brother.
You planned it for a long time
to judge me, right?
I didn’t expect
the first one scolding me
would be my sister.
If you said this a few years ago,
I wouldn’t take the burden
of support the family.
You don’t have a brother like me?
That’s great.
What are you doing?
You are finally back.
Why are you scolding your sister?
What did she do?
Don't cry.
What happened to you?
You don’t like her?
You didn’t hear what she just said.
She is just a little girl.
Stop crying.
Come with me.
Just ignore him.
Let’s go.
Come on.
Come.
How is she?
She is no longer crying,
and already falls asleep.
Listen.
What’s the rush?
Talk nicely.
Let me ask you.
Is it what Chacha'er said true?
Half.
I do deliver goods for the Japanese.
But it’s not like what she thought.
I can’t say more now.
You really have something to do with the Japanese?
Xiang’er.
You have to trust me.
I’ve always remembered what you said.
I won’t do anything bad.
I believe it or not. It’s not important.
Will you stop if I say not?
You are always determined.
Only if the family won’t get involved,
I won’t say
more.
What an annoying night!
They are crying one by one.
It gives me a headache.
I go to take a look at the child.
Our leader’s film
is really great.
Now,
Shang’s Guide of Stick and Sage’s Footwork
are recorded into one tape.
What will the old leader think if he knows it?
My dad was dead.
He can’t think of anything.
Sir, please let me in.
Please go back.
-Leader is not here. -Who’s that?
I know he’s in.
Shang.
This gentleman...
Shang.
I will have a long journey.
Is Chacha'er still angry?
She even doesn’t come to say goodbye.
I’ve told you
Chacha'er
is disobliging.
You disappointed her.
So she hates you.
You make me frightened.
Xiang’er.
You brought her up.
You have to help me.
I can’t help you this time.
You agreed to let her study.
I objected you.
But now, she
was affected by the foreigners.
So she changes her mind.
And she has her own ideas.
If you want to change her,
it’s too late.
After leaving this time,
I can’t feel relieved about her.
It’s on holiday now.
I will watch her
at home.
The child is growing up.
Nobody can control her.
Chacha'er.
Good kid.
Don't cry.
Where are you going?
I will visit Childe Cao.
You still remember?
Cao Guixiu, who's always in uniform and boots.
Is there anything do you want?
I will take for you.
OK?
Fengtai,
you are lying.
Are you going to deliver goods for the Japanese?
No, I am not.
I always delivered goods secretly.
I won’t let everyone know.
Those in the cases
are books for Childe Cao.
If you don’t trust me,
I can open it for you.
No need.
I don’t believe.
All right.
I will tell you the details after getting back.
Please wait for ten days.
What’s wrong?
No.
Only eight days.
It’s been a long time after you were back.
But you didn't explain,
let alone the eight days.
Don't cry. Good girl.
Fengtai,
I can’t see you make mistakes.
I’m not making a mistake.
You will see.
Miss Cheng.
Fengtai.
Miss Cheng.
All of you, don’t move.
Hurry.
Fengtai.
Please stop.
It comes to no good being a traitor.
China will win.
They won’t stay long.
Fengtai.
Turn back.
Miss Cheng.
What are you doing?
Hurry.
Chacha'er.
Take her back.
Stop her talking nonsense.
Fengtai,
all Chinese are fighting against the Japanese.
Japanese won’t win.
Fengtai.
Believe me. Don’t go.
Give me the gun.
Don't go.
Hurry. Give me the gun.
Give me the gun.
Give it to me.
Mr. Han.
Give her the gun.
Mr. Cheng.
Give her the gun.
I...
Miss Cheng.
Fengtai.
Please don’t go.