Human Lanterns (Ren pi deng long) (人皮燈籠)

SHAW BROS (HONG KONG) COMPANY LIMITED PRESENTS

A SHAW BROTHERS WIDESCREEN PRESENTATION

SIU YAM-YAM, AI FEI, SUN CHIEN, LO MENG

YUEN BUN, YUEN WAH, SEK GONG, LAM CHI-TAI,

ERIC CHAN, HUANG PEI-CHIH, HON LAI-FAN, SHUM LO,

WONG CHING-HO, CHING MIAO, TERESA HA, WONG MEI-MEI

CHIU CHEUK-MAN, MA CHUNG-YIU, SIU FUNG

CHAN FEN CHO ON-SUN

PENG YEN-LIEN LAU GAI-SING, WU HSU-CHING

LAI YU LIU CHI-YU

LI YI-CHIH SO JAN-HAU, STEPHEN SHING

POON CHI-HUNG

LEUNG CHI-HUNG, YIP YUE-SAN, HOH KEI-SHING

CHAN KING-SAM

WONG HON-CHUNG CHAN YIM-KUEN

SWORD GALLERY

SPARKLING SWORD BEAMING TO THE STARS

Master, it is time to go.

- The sedan is ready. - Send for Madam.

Master, Third Master T'an has always disliked you.

You must be careful.

Don't worry. I heard he has something new to show off.

No matter what, let's see.

T'AN MANSION

Everyone…!

My dear friends and family,

I have two announcements to make at this banquet tonight.

First,

the lantern in front of you all

was made by a famous craftsman in Peking.

It took him half a year to make it.

Although there is still a long time

before the Lantern Festival for the Chinese New Year,

I'm still willing to let everyone see it in advance,

so that you're ready for it.

Everyone!

I feel it's really strange that Third Master T'an has such poor taste.

So satisfied with what are actually second- and third-rate goods.

Third Master T'an, you needn't be cheerful.

I'll be the one who wins at the Lantern Festival this year.

If you don't believe me, wait and see.

I will!

When the time comes,

Master Lung will be bowing down to me.

Third Master T'an and Master Lung are really fascinating;

sniping back at each other as soon as they meet!

Brother!

Everyone's still waiting for you to talk about the second thing. Hurry up!

Understood.

Sister, go and tell the housekeeper to light the lantern.

All right!

Everyone!

The second announcement is…

that I'd like to introduce someone to you.

Everyone's here. Who else is there?

Master Lung, pay attention. See if you recognise her.

Madam Lung, do you know who she is?

She's a prostitute from Yen Hung brothel!

I've heard that she and Lung—

Never mind!

Third Master T'an, will you tell me how to get up there?

I'll come to greet you, of course!

Third Master T'an.

Miss Yen Chu, your willingness to appear at my humble place really gives me face.

I have the worst habit.

It is that I must get what I want!

Those who are unconvinced by me I will convince all the more!

Lung Shuai!

We are respectable people! Demeanour matters.

T'an Fu, I get it.

Tonight you deliberately arranged to have me lose face in this setting.

Do you mean to say I have made myself look good?

Thank you for that.

- You…! - Master!

Master, you're fighting one another.

Do you want everyone to see you make a fool of yourself? What's the point?

Let's go back.

Madam Lung.

Third Master T'an.

We just had a minor verbal misunderstanding.

It was nothing.

Please don't take it to heart, Madam Lung.

I'd like to toast Master Lung to apologise.

Allow me.

I'll go first.

Master Lung, if you please.

Such a mellow glass of wine…

has been sullied by your dirty hands.

- You— - What do you mean?

T'an Fu, you're both one of a kind.

Only you should drink this wine.

- You…! - Because…

only you could taste its foulness.

See the guest out!

Here…!

I propose to everyone…!

T'AN MANSION

Master! Wait a moment…!

Master…! Listen to me!

I've something important with Old Ts'ui in Lantern Street.

Housekeeper, escort Madam home!

- Yes! - Master!

Master!

WEST GATE

Master Lung!

- Constable P'an. - Nice to see you…!

Isn't Third Master T'an having a banquet? How have you ended up in Lantern Street?

I've been there. I came to discuss something with Old Ts'ui.

As you please…!

Grandpa, don't drink! Master Lung's here.

Master Lung!

- Master Lung— - All right…

Old Ts'ui, listen.

No matter the price you insist, I'll pay it!

As long as you can make me win at the Lantern Festival this year.

Master Lung, the Lantern Festival is some time away.

There are still a few months. Let's talk about it again…

Master Lung, I won't keep the truth from you,

I can't make good lanterns myself.

Who makes them for you?

This— I can't—

I can't tell. I can't…

Didn't say it well…

Well, you're putting me in a difficult position.

This— How can it work?

All right.

Don't tell anyone I told you this.

- Fine. - Come on…

Lives in the back.

So it's you!

I hadn't realised it was you who made all the lanterns for me

in the past two years.

Ch'un-Fang, you enabled me to steal the limelight.

Lung Shuai, we competed for Lady Chin seven years ago.

You forced me to fight at Eagle Beach and wounded me.

That sword mark rendered me unable to look up.

My hatred is as deep as the sea. I'll make you lose everything someday!

You must have paid Old Ts'ui.

Otherwise, you wouldn't have found me. What have you to say?

I want to give you a chance.

I want to spread your mastery of lantern-making throughout the city.

I also want you to move out of this dirty and vile place,

to a life of prosperity and wealth.

Ch'un-Fang, listen to me!

I want you to make me a beautiful lantern.

In this year's Lantern Festival, I have to win against T'an Fu!

I live here to forget the past.

- I just make lanterns for a living. - Ch'un-Fang—

Master Lung, don't use fame and fortune to lure me,

and I won't be used as a tool to deal with others.

Ch'un-Fang, you know my personality very well.

I know Third Master T'an's even better. You can't beat him.

You're kidding!

With my wealth and your craft, you can't beat him?

Ch'un-Fang, forget the past.

As of now, everything begins from scratch.

When the lanterns are ready later, I'll be prosperous

and you'll win both fame and fortune, killing two birds with one stone.

What do you think?

What do you think?

All right. I promise to try. But you must promise me one condition first.

Don't come to me until my lantern is ready.

When done, I will obviously inform you.

All right! That's very simple. I promise you.

Ch'un-Fang, for our reunion, let's go and have fun.

- I don't want to go to such a place. - No, you must go! Let's go!

SWEET-SMELLING YEN HUNG

Master Lung, here you are!

- Mei Yü! Ch'un Hsiang! - Come on…!

Ladies, this is my good friend.

You must treat him nicely, I have a great reward.

- Go inside… - Go in…!

You come in, too.

Ch'un-Fang, let's go in! Hey—

Master Lung's been waiting for you half the day!

Master Lung.

You must have had fun, making your way back this late.

Yen Chu!

Yen Chu, I say, don't be like this!

Yen Chu!

Yen Chu!

You must know.

My reputation is very important to me.

You brought me shame in front of the public.

Nothing to do with you!

Ridiculous!

Why isn't it to do with me?

I spent a lot of money on you!

Also, the friends who come to the brothel know that you belong to me!

Belong to you? That could work.

So are you willing to redeem me as your concubine?

Lung Shuai.

What do you say? How will you redeem me?

Since you can't do it, don't interfere in my affairs from now on.

Yen Chu!

Third Master T'an is different from you.

He said he is willing to marry me as his concubine.

You can't!

You absolutely cannot!

I warn you now!