A City Called Macau (媽閣是座城)

(On 20th of Dec. 1999, Macau is officially handover to PR China.)

Lower the flags of the Republic of Portugal and Macau.

Raise the flags of the People's Republic of China and Macau SAR.

Lower the flags of the Republic of Portugal and Macau.

Raise the flags of the People's Republic of China and Macau SAR.

That day, I shivered in the sunlight.

The eye of the typhoon was about to pass.

His flight was 5 hours late.

Lucky it landed before the eye passed,

or I would have had an even longer wait.

Be sure to call him Kevin.

Mr. Duan likes the ladies to call him Kevin.

He's a wealthy real-estate developer

with one project in downtown Beijing,

and a new one in the suburbs.

Here he comes.

I realized I'd met this "Kevin Duan" before.

This wasn't our first encounter.

I think of everyone I meet as "clients."

I make a point of ignoring their names,

so that I won't get emotionally involved.

There's no room for emotion in my line of work.

Not that I dare think much about what I really do.

Zero.

Odds are it won't land on zero again.

What exactly are the odds?

Depends on your luck.

Don't bet on zero again, Mr. Duan.

Macau hasn't had a war in 400 years.

Nor famine or plagues. It's blessed with luck.

Zero!

Nice one, Mr. Duan!

Amazing. You're on a roll, Mr. Duan!

Share it with the others.

Thanks, Mr. Duan!

You brought me luck. Buy yourself something nice.

- Let's go. - Yes, sir.

- Liu. - Mr. Duan.

This is Kevin.

Hello, Mr. Duan.

- This is Ms. Mei. - Hello, Ms. Mei.

Here in Macau, "Mei" also means bad luck.

Best call her Xiao-Ou.

Sorry to keep you waiting, Ms. Ou.

After that stiff introduction, the ice between us melted.

I wasn't sure if the change came from him, or from me.

And I wasn't sure if he didn't recognize me, or simply didn't want to.

He wasn't at all like Liu described,

but he was still the same man

I'd once struck up a conversation with.

I didn't mind.

Ms. Ou... that's a nice-sounding name.

Thank you, Mr. Duan.

You're from Beijing, Ms. Ou?

Yes, but I've lived down south for years.

Have I picked up the accent? Or not?

Mr. Duan. Mr. Liu. This way, please.

Don't go too far.

I won't be long.

Would you like a drink?

Gambling and drinking don't mix.

One vice per night is enough.

That night, I found myself alone with Kevin Duan.

I felt uncomfortable after Liu left us,

like we'd suddenly lost our chaperone.

Turns out Kevin Duan had better luck than I'd expected.

Can we switch dealers?

Yes. Good luck, sir.

Your cards, sir.

Show them.

Player wins.

Your winnings, sir.

What's that about?

Just exchanging chips.

Place your bets.

Player wins.

Cheers, Mr. Duan!

What does that mean?

It means that you should tip Zhuan.

This is fun. Who came up with this?

If there were a Nobel Prize for math,

he'd win it.

Excuse me, I have to make a call.

Zhuan will look after you.

Don't go.

You're my good luck charm.

That's baccarat. He's about to win three in a row.

He's hardcore. That's how to play.

Player wins.

If you want to play, just drop my name to get chips.

Thanks, Uncle Hua.

Don't mention it.

Good afternoon, Mr. Duan.

We'll arrange a private car for you next time.

That's excellent service.

You played so well, you earned it.

Kevin Duan never talked about himself.

Each visit, before he left, we'd stroll by the beach,

enjoying the pristine beauty of a place

that didn't belong to us.

But I was labouring under a delusion.

Macau was just the stage on which we acted out

an impossible ideal of platonic male-female friendship.

an impossible ideal of platonic male-female friendship.

Not long after that, I went to Beijing to collect Liu's debt.

Not long after that, I went to Beijing to collect Liu's debt.

While there, I made some enquiries about Duan.

Seems he'd used a recent windfall to buy a tract of land.

He was rumored to be well-connected.

I didn't give it much thought.

When I cornered Liu at an art exhibition,

I met another person who would shape my life: Shi Qilan.

Mr. Liu.

How'd you find me here?

It wasn't easy.

About your debt, we've...

Listen, Xiao-Ou...

Now's not the time.

Don't embarrass me.

I already gave you three month's grace.

We settle this today, or I post

your name to our debtor website.

Don't do that...

Liu? Let's talk another day.

Wait! Actually, this is the friend I'm buying your artworks for.

Wait! Actually, this is the friend I'm buying your artworks for.

Wait! Actually, this is the friend I'm buying your artworks for.

Let me introduce you two.

His works are very valuable.

And they'll appreciate.

Take a few as collateral.

Allow me to introduce Ms. Ou from Macau.

What's so good about these?

They're not as good as the ones over there.

Why's that?

What do you mean?

Those are my early works.

I want to know why you like them.

I don't know.

It's just a feeling.

Ms. Ou has quite an eye for art.

Say, why don't you invite her to your studio?

Say, why don't you invite her to your studio?

Walking into his studio,

I felt like I understood him.

He was unlike anyone I'd met.

He was unlike anyone I'd met.

He was unlike anyone I'd met.

There was a mingled scent of plaster and metal, wood and plants.

He seemed more artisan than artist,

a master craftsman.

I couldn't guess his age,

or that he was married,

with a baby on the way...

We have a guest?

Hi. I'm Mei Xiao-Ou.

I'm Xiao-Xiao.

You're pregnant.

That's right.

When's the due date?

June 17th.

You two talk. I'll make some tea.

What are you doing?

Sculpting you. Do you mind?

What's interesting about me?

My husband's like a madman when inspiration strikes.

Don't mind him, Ms. Mei.

Call me Xiao-Ou.

My surname isn't very lucky.

You haven't told me what a casino broker does.

Does that have something to do with the sculpture?

Sure it does.

Sculpting someone is a process of getting to know them.

Knowing about your profession, life and personality

helps me bring it to life.

Well, basically... I work in customer service.

What kind of service?

Depends what the client wants.

If a client wants chips, he can buy them in cash from the casino,

or get a line of credit with us,

then pay back the credit line with cash.

I'm like a middleman.

Or a walking credit card.

You could say that.

Isn't it more convenient to buy chips with cash?

We provide anonymity.

That's great if your clients win,

but what if they lose?

We make them pay back the debt.

Sounds risky.

If a few clients renege, you could go bankrupt.

That rarely happens.

Look me up if you come to Macau.

I'll show you around.

Great.

Let's go after the baby's born.

You can show us around then.

Sure thing.

Have some tea.

Liu paid his debt in full.