The Heirloom (宅變)

Hsiao Guei :

A folk practice prevalent in Chinese societies,

whereby dead fetuses are worshipped in urns,

and fed with the blood of their master.

Child ghosts possess great power to bring their master fortune.

Some are so powerful they can even be used to kill.

But for such dark arts, a price must be paid...

Mr. Yang,

the total land area measures 7000 square feet.

The house itself is 2600 squarefeet.

It's all in the document.

Do you want to double-check?

How old is this house?

Seventy to eighty years.

Sounds about right,

from the Japanese occupation period?

You research buildings?

I'm an architect.

I never heard anything about this house.

Mr. Yang,

you spent most of your life in England

so you don't know about your distant relatives here.

What is their relationship to me?

Why would they leave me this house?

Uh...your family history is complicated.

I'll have to check the records.

Young people aren't used to old houses.

The best thing to do is to sell it.

I rather like old houses.

You don't see these carvings

in modern architecture anymore.

The Department of Culture maybe interested in the house.

Besides, it's too big for one person to live in.

I strongly suggest you sell it.

Don't worry, I won't live alone.

You have a wife?

Soon.

Congratulations then.

Five shows in three days, I'm exhausted.

Now l can finally rest.

Don't they want you back for the next show?

I don't want to do it.

I have enough problems to deal with.

I have to think about it.

What problems?

Like where to live, my rent's up.

Just move in with James, he just inherited a house.

So it's real?

When you phoned me, I thought you just

made up an excuse to come see my performance.

Of course I'm here for you, but also to inherit the house.

Where is the house? In Taipei?

No, just outside the city, not too far.

You're not going to sell it?

Not for now.

What's next?

A car, a house,

Do I hear wedding bells?

I'm thinking about it.

Don't kid around,

I'm planning to study abroad.

You want to go abroad again?

Yeah,

I'm seriously considering.

I just returned, and you're leaving.

What's going to happen to us?

Didn't we agree not to talk about this?

Why are you bringing it up now?

Before you go abroad,

Shouldn't we make a decision?

What decision?

Why are you asking me again?

What if something happens while I'm away?

I just want your commitment.

I'm leaving.

Don't take it too seriously.

No, I am serious.

Yo

Yo

I'm not trying to limit you.

I just want your promise,

just one word.

Thanks.

Are you all right?

I'm fine.

Put that upstairs, thanks.

What time is your flight?

Do you want me to accompany you?

Have you packed your things?

I brought everything here.

Let me take you to the airport then.

You don't have to.

It's ok, I can drive you.

We won't see each other again for some time.

It's really not necessary.

I've decided to do the next show.

I'll stay in Taiwan for a while.

Should I move your things over tomorrow?

Uh, all right.

This house is so big,

what are you going to do with it?

I don't know yet.

Let's just move in for now.

Yeah, it's a little bit messy.

But don't worry, we'll clean it up slowly.

What's on this floor?

Looks like a family shrine.

It's so high up.

What's up there?

I don't know, should betheattic.

Can we go up there?

Better not, it looks dangerous.

Things look fine between you two again.

Not really, she hasn't made up her mind yet.

The boys are drinking too much, eh?

It's a special night, as long as they're happy.

Your house is really enormous.

Yeah, I guess I'll get used to it.

So you're really going to settle here?

It's hard to say.

Your house is so antique.

I'll doa news article on it.

Ok, I don't mind.

How long have you stopped dancing?

So long.

What's upstairs?

I don't know, we don't use it anyway.

Let's go take a look?

No, it's scary.

Then I must see for sure.

What's inside here?

The old family shrine.

The style is so different from downstairs.

Let's go

Just let me take a look.

There's nothing to see.

Don'tworry.

You know?

I'm working on a story about unnatural feng shui

but I've never seen a shrine with this many photos before.

Don't do that.

Don't worry.

Are you done?

So strange.

All right, let's go.

Come over here.

What?

Haveyou guys been here recently?

What's this?

You're freaking me out, let's go.

Let's go, hurry

Ok, let's start from the top, ready

and seven, eight, one two three, turn right...

Ok, hold.

Good.

Still waiting for your friend? Bye bye.

Hi, this is Yi-Chen's mobile, please leave a message.

Did youfind her?

She's never stood me up before.

I'm worried something happened to her.

Don't be silly.

Maybe something came up and she couldn't reach you

Why don't you rest...

Impossible, she'salways punctual.

She used to be a dancer.

I've known her for so many years. She'd call me if something came up.

People change

Like Cheng, he never used to smoke and drink,

but the year he left Taiwan, he changed

James, could you get my clothes.

James!

James!

James...

The foot prints have gone.

Yi-Chen!

What are you doing?

Yo

Why are you here?

I was... I've been looking for you.

Where did you go all night?

I was...

Let her sit down first, I'll get some water.

What happened,

tell me.

What happened to you?

I was at...

What?

Cheng!

You don't remember what happened in between?

I really don't remember...

I just remember,

I was already late when I left.

Then I got on the taxi,

and then I lost all memory...

How did you get here?

I don't know

As soon as I opened my eyes, I was here.

Cheng, how did you get in my house last night?

What is going on?

Your turn, man.