Center Stage (1991) Movie Script

These are movie stills

from when she was 16

Some of the prints are

no longer available

Most of the film genres were

folklore, romances

supernatural or martial arts

They say she was mostly

given casual roles

or wallflowers, as we call them now

Only after joining Lienhua in 1929

did she have a chance to be

in serious films

We share similar fates then?

Ruan killed herself

over half a century ago

but people still remember her

as a movie star

Maggie, would you wish to be

remembered half a century later?

That's not

so important to me

But, if people do remember me

it'll be in a different light from Ruan

As she halted her career

when she was at her most glorious

at the age of 25

She is now a legend

Miss Ruan played bad woman

to perfection

Yet I agree with Sun Yu that

she adds a fascinating flavour

the roles of noble ladies

I can't explain the fascination

Let's try

Min-wei, Lienhua is to start a new film

"Reminiscences of Peking"

Ruan should have no problem

playing a prostitute

Then we push her in

"Wayside Flowers"

with a complete role change

She's a chaste songstress

It'd be terrific if we succeed

It means we have another

superstar like Hu Tie

She must be better than Hu Tie

Lienhua aims to revive China's

movie industry with good films

But the box office is important

We must have good stars and directors

We've got good directors - Pu and Sun

We'll go to Peking to film snow scenes

for "Reminiscences of Peking"

plus the opening scenes

of "Wayside Flowers"

I'd like to have Ruan Ling-yu

as the female lead

and as her own mother

in a double role

In this scene she plays a

woman fleeing the famine

In the snow

her little one has nothing to eat

She bites her own finger and

feeds him with her own blood

Can Ruan Ling-yu make the grade?

It's a good film

I'll play it if she can't

You'd better try your luck

outside, good for you

Director Sun

Director, I'll go and

take it up with them

"Reminiscences of Peking", 1930

Directed by Sun Yu. Film no longer available

You're all ingrates

I can be nasty too

Chu Chia-chieh, how dare you?

How dare you? How dare you?

Yen-yen

I'm cursing Ying, not you

Wang Hui-lan,

you have gone too far

I'm a concubine, but I can

support this family

or I can ruin it single handedly

Not good enough, once more

OK... Once more

Chu-chu

does childbirth really hurt?

Yes

I remember I kept screaming

during my first birth

I don't want to give birth!

Why? You want to have children?

No, I just want to know how it feels

Did you buy this baby piano

for Hsiao-yu?

Yes

How's it going with Ta-min?

Nothing special

I wrote him yesterday

Asking him to stop dating club hostesses

I still get jealous

I've been trying prove something

Something I heard

Go on

Did you get intimate with him

when your mother was their maid?

I met him then. It happened later

I was only 16

It's been four years!

Ever thought of getting married?

His family objected to our marriage

After the death of his parents

we didn't raise the subject again

What on earth does he want?

He kept many horses

when we first met

He took me riding every morning

One day I stared at him riding away

and I realized

he wants a free and easy life

He won't get married and have children

So I adopted her as a safeguard

I'll leave the rest to fate

Chu-chu, maybe because

childbirth is painful

a mother loves her children more

You adore Hsiao-yu too

I wonder if I'd love her even more

if she were my own daughter

I believe you would

"Wayside Flowers", 1930

Directed by Sun Yu. Film no longer available

Ruan favourite expressions:

Looking up to the Heaven

in forlorn wordlessness

I didn't think much of her

when I saw a few of her movies

But after having seen all her 6 movies

she struck me as outstanding

and life-like

They had silent movies then

It all came down to

expressions and motion

I found in her something special

something sexy

Not superficially sexy

It exuded from within

She could be all wrapped up

up to here

but you could feel her coquettish charm

I don't know how to put it exactly

The way she smiled was most enchanting

Remember that village girl in

"Weeping Peach Blossoms"?

Yes

It really is soul-consuming

What was it really like between

Ruan and Chang Ta-min?

Somehow I feel Chang was immature

in life and feelings

He needed her care in this respect

especially after Ruan

became a movie star

with Chang gambling and

his family's dwindling fortune

I mean not just financially

Spiritually she looked after

him like a child

A woman could get tired

under such circumstances

and turn to others to care for her

So Tang Chi-shan came along

a mature man, considerate

to the fair sex

He readily won her favour

Thank you

Don't mention it

Hsiao-yu, don't get dirty

you've just taken a bath

Mummy's peeping at us

Hsiao-yu, are you nice?

Yes

Did you miss mummy?

Mummy, come in

It's cold outside, come in

Isn't this scarf beautiful?

Yes

Louder!

It's beautiful!

You only speak Shanghai dialect now

No Cantonese?

You really are silly

sending me a mahjong set

I'm more than silly; I'm crazy

Chicken brewed with swallow's nest

Take it hot

Thank you, mummy

I brewed something for

Ta-min a few days ago

I threw it away

after waiting for him for 2 days

You could have taken it yourself

I wouldn't have wasted it

if it suited me

Power failure!

Impossible, there's light

in the kitchen

The bulb must've been out of order

They insisted on

Chinese goods

Japanese goods are better

Mummy, let me

Mummy, let me hold you

You hold me?

Been back long?

I knew you'd be back today

I wanted to get you something

to cheer you up

You didn't buy it?

I bought it

Chu-chu and I talked about you

Then I thought of buying

something for you

So I bought a ring through Mr Lo

It cost $80 only and

they said I was lucky

Let me put it on for you

It's too tight

It doesn't look good

Why is your right finger thinner?

You like it?

It's too dear

Who says you're lucky?

My change of role went well

they said I was a good protagonist

I must do better than Hu Tie

I must give you something now

for the gifts you sent me

Give me a few horses then

I still can't afford that

Give me money then

but in several instalments

Otherwise, I may spend it all at once

Miss Ruan

Miss Ruan, be ready for filming

when you finish

Okay

Liu Chiung, shoot!

Liu Chiung, pass!

Liu Chiung

Miss Ruan, you don't know me,

I'm Chen Yen-yen

I played a minor role

when you filmed

"Reminiscences of Peking"

I remember you've recently signed

a contract with the company

Yes, but I've had no important role

Miss Ruan, they say it takes you

one hour to paint your brow

Where did you hear it?

In Peking

I took two hours to paint

a brow in Harbin

Yung-kang, Liu Chiung

come here and be introduced

How do you do?

They represent Fu Tang University's

student body

Japan took Manchuria

in the "Sept 18 Incident"

Students in Shanghai are parading today

to call for a city-wide strike

to boycott Japanese goods

Hope you people at Lienhua can join us

Yung-kang, Liu Chiung

let's follow Nieh Erh

Okay

Mr Li, you're a revolutionary, you lead

When I followed Dr Sun

in the North Expedition

I carried a camera, instead of a gun

But I know when the moment comes

I must carry a gun

But the time is not yet now

Let me call the Nanking Government now

Nanking?

Think about it

They won't let Japan war with us

We can't wait, can we?

Today we must have a chance

to study it

We can't shoot today

Still can't shoot?

How can we shoot for

this kind of audience?

Nieh Erh

we must go on with filming today, right?

But we must show our concern

Min-wei, send some men

to help Nieh and the students

Okay

Back to work

Let's have a discussion

It's settled

Back to work

"Weeping Peach Blossoms", 1931

Directed by Pu Wan-chang From original print

Kwan, how old is Lily Li this year?

76. She's 5 years younger than Ruan

What will I look like at 76?

I was going to ask you

Yesterday I asked Maggie Cheung

Do you hope to be remembered

decades later?

I absolutely do

I hope people would talk about

movie stars in the 90's

with me included, whatever the number

You hope to be remembered

Yes

I feel that had Ruan not killed herself

and kept her most brilliant moment

we wouldn't be filming

"Ruan Ling-yu" now

We may be interviewing her

and filming another biography

Should a movie star vanish

at the peak of her brilliance?

Don't waste time on such silly questions

I decided...

If I were to be famous...

If I were to be a legend

I had to die when I was most beautiful

I kept that memory in mind

(Lily Li, 1990. Actress of the 30's)

When Ruan died and was

lying in the coffin

I kept staring and staring at her

till her hair fluttered up

Then I gripped it with my hairpin

Then Hsiao-yu tugged at me saying:

Auntie, why don't you cry?

She wanted me to cry. I couldn't then

The first production between Lily Li

and Ruan was "Little Toys"

In our casual chat with her

she emphasized how

Ruan taught her to act in that movie

And they became good friends as a result

Ruan didn't speak Mandarin well

and Lily taught her

Lily also stressed on the affair

between Ruan and Tsai

She did overhear her

hum that "Blue Angle" tune

I think Lily Li saw many things

That was positive

In the course of our extensive research

Not only did Lily Li

mention the relationship

between Ruan and Tsai

A writer wrote about it after her death

Had Ruan and Tsai broken that barrier

and put away the mental burden

Ruan wouldn't have died

Sun Yu, 1990

Director of the 30's

We visited him in Shanghai last year

He suffered strokes

before his death

His speech and hearing was bad

He retired a long time ago

He suffered a lot during

the Cultural Revolution

He made no films at all after that

When we went to Shanghai for research

this was the only book we had

And we took it back when we left

How many days did he have the book?

No, we showed him the book

on the day of the interview

to jog his memories

to tell us about affairs of the 30's

But he could not put it in words

After the interview, we returned to HK

And he died in less than a month

He was then 91

We regret not having let him

keep the album as a souvenir

Chen Yen-yen, 1991

Actress of the 30's

Ruan had said to me:

Sun, you'd better tell...

Li Min-wei the then Production Manager

who was in Peking too

You'd better tell him

not to take this child to Shanghai

Sun answered:

"What difference does it make?

The Company needs someone anyway"

She said "The child would take away

half of my territory some day."

At least she had a period of

brilliant days

She was most popular in the 40's

Is Chen Yen-yen more famous than Ruan?

They were about the same

I heard my mummy say...

she was very young then

Everyone only heard of Chen Yen-yen

and Ruan Ling-yu

but seldom of Lily Li and Lin Chu-chu

Try to get Chu-chu to

play a Ruan Ling-yusque role

Don't turn round

Your loved one is here too

Who have you brought along?

A club hostess. Never mind her

Don't forget we're going to HK tomorrow

I must return to pack up in a minute

Chu-chu, please take me to Hong Kong

Chang Chih-yun is here

Miss Ruan, I admire you

I've seen all your pictures

I don't like Hu Tie

You're more sophisticated

I like Chang Chih-yun. She's decadent

Who's Chang Chih-yun?

She's a veteran. She was a big

movie star 10 years ago

I know

She's Tea King Tang's mistress

They say he kept her home

smoking opium

while he went around womanizing

I really can't stand that

Is that true?

Impossible

It's true he likes womanising

He's on good terms with us

He has a wife in Canton

but they don't get along

He wooed Li Cho-cho too

Take it easy

it was only a power failure

not air raid

Keep cool!

Don't panic

Power's back

Power failure, not air raid

Power failure, again?

Hong Kong, 1932

I want an ice-cream Alaska

Good, good

Queen's Road is no match to

4th Street in Shanghai

You compare the Queen

with whores in a Shanghai street?

I've been in Hong Kong

for nearly 10 days

Now Shanghai's fallen

and Hong Kong's thriving

It's the cycle

I really can't live in

such backward places

I'm so bored in a hotel

Ruan, are you okay?

Chu-chu, so Sir Robert Hotung

knows my dad

He promised to make me manager

of the SS Shui An

I must really thank you and Min-wei

The Shui An only plies between

Macau and Hong Kong

I like Macau

I wouldn't want to go to Africa

If the Japs keep bombing

Lienhua has to move to HK

We should be safe in

the French Concession

Bombs have no eyes

Don't be afraid

Ruan, Mr Tang's here

Miss Ruan

Ruan, are you all right?

Yes

Want to go up for a rest?

No, I was thinking of Shanghai

Shanghai's going to be OK

Your mom and daughter are there?

The government dare not wage a

full war against the Japs

If the 19th Army loses

talks are the only way out

This may go down as

interludes in history

You must embark at 6am tomorrow

Go to bed early

Keep accounts

Nothing to keep?

Enter $80 for Ta-min

his roulette winnings in Macau

Pay me the sum and I'll do it

You're greedy

What have you done today?

Tang Chi-shan took us

yachting around HK Island

Min-wei finally talked him into

joining Lienhua as a partner

When Shanghai calms down

he'll return to sign the contract

To revive the Chinese

movie industry again?

Did Chang Chih-yun go with you?

He confined her home to smoke opium

That's a rumour only

Did the rumour say that I control you?

I don't control you either

Don't!

Control me

What are you doing?

In fact, I'm not interested

We must create images for the cast

The image is important

The moment I face the camera, I freeze

Consider it acting

Haven't got a way to end it

Nieh Erh, insisted on completing it

A good start

I must make a film about this song

Good

Ruan, you're back?

Ruan, you're back

Director Sun

You're a deserter

Mind your words

Director Pu

Ruan, are you leaving him behind in HK?

He's found work over there

This means he made some contribution

to the Movement

Sorry

I didn't take part in your Movement

Never mind, there are lots

of chances in future

These Japs won't leave

Then it's no longer a matter

of singing for the Army

or nursing the wounded

soldiers in hospital

Right. This time we've

decided to fight them

Right, we must fight

Let's sing together

Now cheer up

Tien Han is Tien Han

It's the 1st progressive movie

of Lienhua

You mustn't use the name Tien Han

Why?

He's a subversive

The modern girl in this film

isn't the type who's into

cosmetics and cars

She must be independent, rational and brave

A girl of the times should be

concerned about people's welfare

Li Cho-cho, you represent romance

Yen-yen, your role signals purity

But you flee when hit by

the revolutionary waves

Yen-yen, you kill yourself because

your boyfriend jilts you

Director Pu

Ruan, how are you?

Director Pu, how do I die?

I'll tell you in a minute

What if she comes?

Shall I go and find Tien Han?

He's only a script-writer

Director Pu, do you have a minute?

Sure

let's go out for a chat

Ruan, what's the matter?

They say you haven't found the girl

for the Chou role

How about letting me have a go?

Ruan, it's unsuitable for you

You've been playing a tragic figure

or a romantic girl

You have a noble personality

That role is neither noble

nor romantic

She's a labourer

and not suitable for you

I can play it well

If I fail, I'll make good your loss

Ruan, she's a stubborn girl, rebellious

She's the revolutionary type

In previous interviews, you mentioned

(Shen Chi, 1991. Playwright-novelist)

Ruan was in many progressive movies

(Author of "Ruan Ling-yu,

in the later stage

Movie Star of the Decade")

Did she volunteer or feel compelled

to take these roles?

Many Chinese movies projected

a social background

and the image of modern girls

Having played mostly

downtrodden, helpless females

She wanted to play a modern role

for a change

to meet the needs of the audience

So she offered to act

in "Three Modern Women" herself

She went after that role herself?

She did, and pressed Director Pu for it

Let's dance

I can't resist people being

so nice to me

Whoever does

I'll madly reciprocate

Thank you

Why?

You've shown me your weak point

I still have Chang Ta-min

Do I have to be nice

to Chang Ta-min too?

You still have Chang Chih-yun

and a wife

What about Li Cho-cho?

I broke with Chang Chih-yun in HK

It'll be harder with my wife

If I dump her just like that

you'd be scared of me

Give me time

"Three Modern Women" Directed by

Pu Wan-chang. Film no longer available

Stop!

Is the camera moving

at the right speed?

Seems it has to be a bit slower

It'll make the film much longer then

Thanks for the hard work

Rush for another take

Thank you

Chin Yen, you play a playboy

in this movie

But not a so called new youth

Look scared when Chou takes you

to see the poor

I was scared

when she took me to the slum

This time I want to show I'm moved

What do you think?

You'll make it then

Ruan, well done, carry on

Director, Boss Tang is here

Mr Tang, how are you?

One more take

Mr Tang's here

Let's strive to get it right this time

Good, ready

Lights, props

Ready. Camera!

Master Shen

Many analysts found out that

Ruan's later

progressive roles

contrasted sharply with her real life

What do you think?

Her union with Tang Chi-shan had

everything to do with

how she fared then

The circumstances were

beyond her control

She saw through him and then

it was a matter of one year

from cohabitation to suicide

There was nothing

she could do

when she found out

he had a previous marriage

It was never in her to fight or resist

She considered

the relationship tolerable

That's Chang Ta-min

That's Tang Chi-shan

It was difficult getting these photos

One of them is barely visible

Tang later sank very low in Taiwan

They say he was a cigarette vendor

And he died of old age there

After the suicide many plays

and operas in Shanghai

featured the triangular relationship

between Ruan, Chang and Tang

calling them "Death of Ruan Ling-yu"

or "Fall of A Movie Star"

Chang was invited to appear in person

He later co-operated

with a HK movie company

to film "Who's to Blame"

He played himself

I felt then he was hopeless

Family might partly account for it

but he was himself irresponsible

He was only 36

when he died of pneumonia in HK

Ladies and gentlemen

movie critics describe

"Three Modern Women"

as a great film heralding

a bright future

Let's take photos together

for a souvenir

Pink Director, come over quick!

Shall I leave you behind?

Sorry, sorry

Who's he?

He's Tsai Chu-sheng

He's just directed a movie

titled "A Rosy Dream"

Then Nieh Erh called him

Pink Director

Now they're good friends

Sorry

From now on, all our productions

will be blockbusters

It features Fei Mu, Sun Yu

Wu Yung-kang, Tsai Chu-sheng

Fei Mu's films are more profound

Like depth charges

Miss Ruan, a photo of you two stars

What do you mean?

Ta-min has agreed to separate from me

on an alimony of $300 each month

That's not too much

It represents one-third of my salary

I'll pay him

That's good news for me

It means he has no more

feelings for you

Money alone makes things easier

Shame on a man asking

for separation money

It makes talks easier

I'm sure if I gave him $100

he'd take it

I'll sign a contract with

him through my lawyer

Director Fei

I'll translate all the acting theory

of Stanislavski

You should read William Archer's

"Face and Mask"

The Japs are the enemy and

the enemy is the Japs

Who's the Nationalist Government

trying to fool?

Ruan, the reporters outside told me that

The Government has banned

anti-Japanese movies

In our "Little Toys" the Japs are

invariably called the enemy

Is that so?

The enemy's coming, wake up!

Well, Lily, go on

Go now

Miss Ruan, I'm Tsai Chu-sheng

I'll make a new movie

after finishing "The Fisherman's Song"

In any case, I'll cast you

in the female lead

Tsai Chu-sheng, aren't you ashamed?

No one will hire you

if your present movie doesn't sell

Don't dream of getting Ruan Ling-yu

as your leading lady

Ruan, don't commit yourself

So you can speak Cantonese

I'm a Cantonese too

No

I didn't do well, let's do it again

Hold a moment

Wu Yung-kang, stop the rain

Stop the rain!

Add water

Hurry up!

Ming

How many times have we shot?

Five times. The last two is good

Ruan, we got two good shots

Don't shower anymore, it's too cold

What's she doing?

Her father died this way

when she was six

You deliberately arranged this shot

Yung-kang, again

Ready

Rain

Costume, go away

Ruan, back to position

Ready. Shoot

Camera!

Dad

"Night in the City", 1933

Directed by Fei Mu. Film no longer available

Cut!

Prepare smoke

OK, take a breather

"Little Toys", 1933

Directed by Sun Yu

Lily, again

Director, what's wrong with me?

Try one more time

More smoke

Ready

Camera. Action!

Cut!

How's it, director?

Something seems wrong

but I can't put my finger on it

Lily, this show is coming to the end

Chu wipes off her mummy's

tears with her hand

Then flicks the teardrops away

with her little finger

You can't do this well

with your pain

I'm dying after being bombed by the Japs

I should feel great pain

Right, but not completely

Let me think

Make up these

two wounded women

Get the costumes changed

Theirs is next on the program

Get ready

I don't get him

Imagine

Chu plays a nice, clever girl

considerate to her mummy

so it's best for her

to mask her pain now

You may try smiling at mummy

to comfort her

and lighten her sorrow

Lily, I know how you should act

Me, too

You shouldn't just show your own anguish

I know what I should do now

and what you want

"Mummy, only foolish people cry!"

"Little Toys", 1933

From original print

"Oh, war is here! The enemy comes!

...Cannons! Bombs! Landmines!"

"The enemy comes!

Cannons! Bombs! Planes!"

Miss Ruan

I feel you're the best actress in China

Miss Ruan, you're Party A

Mr Chang is Party B

In clause 3, if Party A can't

maintain her livelihood

Party B shouldn't...

Don't worry

Ruan will get on better and better

There won't be one cent less for you

on the $100 monthly for 2 years

Mr Wu

the Ceylon Studio has asked if

you want to change your seal ink

Stop bothering us!

If you've no more questions

please affix your chop

You really have a way to

extort money out of Yuan

What are you doing?

You're the hostess here

Please rehearse how to open it

Mummy

When we're really married

Don't dance, your clothes are

creased and you're sweaty

Hsiao-yu, let me take you

to see your room

Let's have a family session to see

how to put the furniture

Mummy, come on, go upstairs for a look

Are there many rumours

about Ai Hsia's suicide?

It was not suicide

She was killed

She was killed by the society

not 1 or 2 persons

The obscene tabloid reporters

I feel Wei Ming's role

is a mirror of her life

I have seen her several times

in Star Studio

I have seen her "Spring Silkworm"

and "Bumper Crop"

And "A Modern Woman"

She wrote the script herself

Tsai calls his film "New Women"

because of her death

Were you on good terms with her?

You were on good terms with her?

Yes

She was independent

a good actress and script-writer

She was a modern female

People considered her a bad woman

and criticized her over minor affairs

They wouldn't let her go even at death

This show is designed to expose

the true colours of these people

Wei Ming in the script

ended up being a whore

Was Ai Hsia...

People can sometimes be very weak

But we hope to see strong people

Did I bother you?

I think so

Do you enjoy squatting?

Two-thirds of people in China

are used to that

They can't help doing it

They squat to wait for the mandarins

and landlords to slap them from behind

They squat to get insulted or for help

They squat for a rest too

I remember

when mummy was tired of work

she squatted too

and I squatted beside her

How long have you not squat?

After becoming a movie star

I used to squat the whole day

waiting for shooting

don't sit on high

Squat and show me

May I use your toilet?

It's behind the sitting room

I stood long outside and saw Hsiao-yu

going to school

mummy going to the market

and him going to work

That's meaningful

Anything else?

Your house is beautifully decorated

Show me around

The kitchen's there

You've already seen the toilet

Mummy and Hsiao-yu in a room

This room is mine and Chu-shan's

All your furniture have been

newly bought, right?

Yes

What about those at the old house?

All sold for a total of $93

and donated to the

Bubbling Well Buddhist Society

None left that belonged to us?

No

These were gifts from you

but there's no more

Am I no longer in your heart?

Sometimes

But it's not longer vital

Ruan, I'm thinking of

doing some business

Could you advance the remaining

few months' allowances to me?

Copying Marlene Dietrich again?

Does it look like her?

Marlene Dietrich

she's a born decadent star

You look healthier than her

I can't imagine how

she'd look as a housewife

a factory worker or a woman in distress

But why's everybody saying

you look like her?

Let me tell you why

Because I'm sexy

playing a woman in distress

Don't be too sexy playing

my "New Women"

Fei Mu doesn't mind

my playing a sexy nun for him

Fei Mu is too capitalist

Don't compare me with him

You were a village woman

You made wishes to Buddha

that you'd become a nun

for the safety of your sick son

and husband at war

Now your son's recovered and

your husband's safety back

and they're begging you to return

Are you going back or not?

You worried only about your family

husband and son

But now in this ethereal world

you experience peace and quiet you

never had before

Are you going back or not?

All that I need is your

peaceful expression

"The Sea of Fragrant Snow", 1934

Directed by Fei Mu. Film no longer available

Cut. OK

I'm crying! OK?

You weep peacefully without emotion

Great

360, make up quickly

Okay

Lily

You should said Lily Li

If you're keen to learn Mandarin

speak it from now on

Okay, Lily Li

Right

Everybody at Lienhua said

during yesterday's shoot

you really broke down in tears

They nearly cried with you

in sympathy, did they?

Were you preoccupied?

Never

Acting is like madness

Actors are madmen. I'm one of them

I'm not a madman

Director Tsai

Where's Ruan?

Inside

My script's ready

Ruan, hold back your tears

Keep some for me

What for?

Tsai, when will "New Women" be shot?

Soon

Splendid

Hurry up!

I win!

Now don't keep me company

Go up to accompany my daughter

Mummy, I promised to take your loss

And the losses of Sai-chen

Sai-san and Mrs Chou too

I've one principle

I won't let girls suffer

You're a good fellow

What are you doing?

That's your true face, isn't it?

If both Sai-chen and I were courtesans

which one would you take? Say it

What did you say?

You saved this prostitute

from the police

and are threatening her now

Smiling obscenely you say

"How are you going to repay me?

Don't go away."

How are you going to repay me?

Don't go away

Ruan, you know you can't

get out of this rascal's clutches

Sad in heart, you put on an icy face

You walk from here to the table

and sit on it

You tell Chang Chih-chih

to pass you a cigarette

You flick it once with a finger

and Chang lights it for you

Chang

you light it for her insinuatingly

A minor favour

It is a man's common trick

to seduce a girl

Director, one more time

I can't do it

"The Goddess" 1934

Directed by Wu Yung-kang

Ruan

sitting on the table means resistance

and so does smoking

The whole posture is resistance

But you're too weak-willed

and you know it

This should be visible from your eyes

How's it?

Got any cigarettes?

"How are you going to repay me?

Don't go away"

"I want to retaliate. Help me!"

Cut!

Ruan, not good enough

Listen to me once more

You were forced into prostitution

to save your own daughter

but those tabloid reporters

didn't pity you

They even scandalized you

You thought of killing yourself

but you want to live now

You want to accuse, to hit back

Show all this in your face, understand?

Just do as you've just done

Again

Ready

Camera

Action!

I want to live, I want to retaliate

Cut!

Not enough, not enough

I want you to get stronger

Remember what you said to me

You have much in common with

this role of Wei Ming

Imagine the unfairness

surrounding your livelihood

Vent all your sad feelings

like volcanic eruptions

I'll run the subtitles in your

face: "I want to live..."

One word bigger than the other

I want to see your expressions

one stronger than the other

There should be no reservations

Can you do it?

Just do as you've just done

One more time

Back to position

"New Women" 1935

Directed by Tsai Chu-sheng

Ready

Ready, shoot

Ready

Ready, shoot

Camera

Action!

I want revenge!

Help me! I want to live!

I want to live!

Sister

Cut!

OK, pack up

Pack up

Ruan

Cut!

Keep this

Tony, you forgot to lift up

the bed sheet to see Maggie

"Help me!"

"I want to live!"

Did reporters drive her to her death?

What is this?

That's too much. That's an

insult to us. Let's go

That's unacceptable!

The Shanghai Press Union

is making a final plea

or the ultimatum, to your studio

Your studio's "New Women"

is libelling our reporters

You must issue a notice in newspapers

to apologize to all the press

and ensure it won't happen again

Some shots insulting reporters

should be deleted

Cut, cut, cut the whole part of it!

After the cut, no one will see

them sponging in ballrooms

History will give an account of it

Miss Ruan

Do you really want to cut it?

The show will be banned if we don't

Don't cut it!

About that segment

Miss Ruan, we must lobby

through various channels

The film can't be released without cuts

But the cuts may arouse public opinion

which would surely be on our side

The final victory belongs to us

I heard the Kuomintang was

behind the whole thing

behind Reporters' Union as well as Chang

The Kuomintang didn't come out

into the open

It was handled through the Association

through its Kuomintang members

The movie "New Women"

was not complimentary to the press

The press wanted

to attack the movie

But it could not find

a good excuse

They turned to Ruan Ling-yu

who was notorious for her private life

They said Ruan was unsuitable to play

the role of a new woman

Did the Association

urge Chang to sue Ruan?

The two events proceeded

at the same time

Eat bread, be nice

What's up?

See for yourself

"Chang Ta-min sues Ruan & Tang For"

"Love and Cohabitation"

"Crime of Adultery"

You're late. Speak now

This is a matter of life and death

You won't die betting on one race less

Why do I mean so much to you now?

Ta-min, why are you doing that?

I'll sleep over here

I now sleep alone

now bring a hostess back

They bothered me with

questions about you

and about things between you and me

Aren't things good for us now?

When everything is known

I can save my breath

I never do anything bad behind you

When you were in Foochow

I only danced and ate with Tang Chi-shan

Enough

Ta-min, have I done

anything unfair to you?

We made everything clear in

the solicitor's office

I even advanced

all the money you asked

Did someone instigate you to hurt me?

Who could've done that?

Money could!

Look, I'm still in love with you

I don't love you

Who knows I'd have come here?

Who did you tell this to?

Who did you conspire with to hurt me?

I'll take you out through the back door

Coming

What do you think of this court case?

They say her mummy was

a maid at the Changs

Before she was a maid?

"The Goddess" is all

about her mother

I see

Miss Ruan

Hello, Miss Ruan, what would you have?

Wait

Okay

You made it too loose

I only want to ask you one thing

Would you take me away?

Let's go together to Hong Kong

We still have to come back

Yes

We'll return only after getting married

If only you don't mind leaving

your wife and mistress

You said you'd ask me one thing only

I still have something to do here

This is OK. Let's watch the next reel

Okay

Get the next one

Do you think Tsai Chu-sheng

had to stay in Shanghai because

he was timid or because

he was a Communist?

Personally, I think he had

no courage or guts

He dared not love or hate

Was it true love between him and Ruan?

I'd like to ask her about it

In fact, many have raised this question

When researching, Lily Li told us

she often saw Ruan in the makeup room

when filming "New Women" and

heard her hum that "Blue Angel" tune

But she realized the delicate affair

between Tsai and Ruan only

after her death

I feel Ruan Ling-yu's death was

linked with romantic news

about Chang Ta-min and Tang Chi-shan

If she and Tsai dared to go

on with their affair

would she have taken another course?

I think not

Why didn't they have the courage to?

Because of their romantic news

They were having enough bad press

Right, if another rumour spread

So the problem is she was a movie star

To an ordinary girl

a love triangle was common place

Even a quadrangular one

wouldn't have raised a ripple

You keep your tears and joy private

and to the extent of suicide

But she was a movie star and a public figure

The pressure in that era was

especially heavy

Yes

As an artist, I hate to be maligned

Rumours are as horrible in any age

It's still just as scary now

A movie star doesn't need to make

her private life public

What an ordeal

if the public twists the facts

and turn black into white

When your private life

spills into public domain

you feel you're being stripped

of everything bit by bit

that's the most traumatic experience

So I fully understand how Ruan felt then

I'm very happy

She killed herself under

such circumstances

Would you do the same if

you experienced it today?

I think my first reaction...

People may think I try to play it cool

I may be sad but it's my business

But I won't let them know it

I wouldn't take my own life

If I died, it would be for myself

not because of other people

What would you wear day after tomorrow?

Day after tomorrow?

It's the hearing

I won't attend it

I'll wear a black coat and

a dark green necktie

to match your new gown

Damn, I mean to show to

the Shanghai people

that we're a pair of noble adulterers

We're adulterers

You've a wife and have an affair

with Chang Chih-yun and me

You're an adulterer

I'm an adulteress, because

I followed you knowing you're married

To get dressed beautifully

makes no difference

We must part if we don't get married

If we don't part you're

still an adulterer

even though we win over Ta-min

Shut up!

Mummy, what's the matter?

A young lady claiming to be your

ex-classmate wants to see you

Did he hit you?

No

Did he hit you?

No

Jui-chen, why stand outside?

Come in quick!

Sorry, I'm already late

for an appointment

Tomorrow's Women's Day

You promised to lecture

in my school

Don't back out anymore

I know you must be in court

day after tomorrow

You can stand out

and pour out all your grievances

as a warning to young female students

I'm also to blame

Pour it all out

our weak points and pride

and desire to eke out an existence

I'll pick you up with a car

at 10am tomorrow

That won't be necessary

I'll go by myself

Good, be sure to attend

don't let the youth down

I'm also a youth

But you're Ruan Ling-yu

See you tomorrow

Goodbye

Auntie, goodbye

Hello, who's it?

Chu-chu, hang on please

It's Chu-chu

Hello, Chu-chu

A party? I would never forget that

Chi-shan's beside me. Let me tell him

Chu-chu wants us to attend

her farewell party for Skiner

Chu-chu, we won't fail

Will they all attend?

I must look as beautiful

as possible then

Only then can I bewitch them

Is that so?

Good

Just as the microphone

is adjusted perfectly

Her boss walks in

he sees her cord

pulls it and she falls off her chair

Just as the microphone

is adjusted perfectly

Her boss walks in

he sees her cord

pulls it and she falls off her chair

I'm going to the USA to

see them shoot talkies

They started with that not long ago

So they often make slips

Thank you, Mr Skiner

Let's all thank Mr Skiner for

installing this microphone for us

Next time I can talk on the screen

I can speak Mandarin

Miss Ruan thanks you

on our behalf

for establishing the sound

synchronizing department

She should be the first star to speak

on screen in Mandarin in the next movie

She just studied Mandarin

for more than 8 months

But please keep it to yourself

It's a secret

Tomorrow is Women's Day

My ex-classmate is now

the headmistress of a girls' school

She's invited me to lecture

I have the lecture ready

I'll speak in Mandarin

Lily, listen

Okay

Classmates

let's celebrate Women's Day today

What's the idea of this Festival?

To celebrate us girls for rising up

from a centuries-old

men-dominated history

No, no, we'd better speak Shanghaiese

You women are standing up

and we men are falling down

When women stand up

it doesn't necessarily mean

men are falling down

We can stand up together

in this large world

You're right, Director Fei

Fei Mu, you really are a nice guy

What about me? Can I be called good?

She asked me if she's good

I told her, "all your friends

believe you're good regardless

of what others say"

I'm mainly of the opinion

you're too nice

He's the director who

taught me how to resist

Drinking means resistance

Resist!

Come up for a smoke and drink

I forgive you for not casting

me in "The Road"

Ten days ago I wanted her to inscribe

something on a friend's souvenir album

and she promised to

come up with something good

It's now too late

She only embroidered "sun" on my hat

when she was filming "Little Toys"

Ruan, you've kissed every one of them?

Not with the girls though

Director Pu

You transformed me twice

making me a movie star

and making me a female revolutionary

If I could change you once more...

I kissed him the longest

because he's the most shy

I was too excited when filming the

last scene in "New Women"

I broke up sobbing

He was so shy that he dared not take

off my blanket to see me

They're all looking at us

I've learnt one thing

since coming to society

If you're rich and powerful

none dare say anything bad

about you in your presence

When not in your presence?

You can't hear it

People will say I committed

suicide out of guilt

But I was guilty of nothing

This is my woman

Death means nothing to me

Still I'm afraid of malicious gossip

Chi-shan, without me

you can do anything you like

I'm very happy

Chi-shan, I'm sorry to

have made you suffer

May my spirit, if any

bless you forever

Chi-shan, after my death

people may say

you were a devil toying with females

and I was a girl without a soul

But I wouldn't be around then

You have to bear the burden

Mummy

After taking the congee

go to bed. It's late

Please take care of mummy and darling

Please use the $2,050 Lienhua owed me

as living expense for them

Please take good care of them

Go to bed early

I love you more than my own child

It's all right

Mummy, sleep

If I died now

people would think I was

dreading punishment

What guilt do I have?

I didn't do anything wrong

to Chang Ta-min

but he returned evil for good

People might even think

I did him a wrong turn

What else can I do

except to die?

I'm not afraid of death

My only fear is the malicious gossip

Ruan Ling-yu

March 7, 1935, midnight

Chi-shan

I never thought we'd part so soon

but please don't be sad

I am sorry to make you suffer

May my spirit, if any, bless you forever

Lienhua owes $2050 in wages

Chang Ta-min, you've forced me to death

Don't try to cry or repent

now that things have

reached such a stage

Yet I do regret having become

the prize sought by both of you

But it's too late now

Chi-shan, I'm your second Chang Chih-yun

Only you can tell who'll be me tomorrow

Without me, you can do anything you like

I'm at peace. Ling-yu

Chi-shan

Do you love me?

What's the time? Sleeping like a dog

What did you ask me?

Cut. OK

Now, in this shot of Fei Mu's

Director, I don't seem

to have said to Ruan

"Get up and smoke, get up and drink"

It's for the show at Li Min-wei's party

not this

We don't know if Wu Yung-kang

had said this

We wrote this

This is our only photo

Her private life and hardship

are hardly known

None of her colleagues

helped her in her lawsuit

A sentimental girl like her must've

taken a pessimistic view of life

She never turned herself into a cold

and shrewd woman

She took a serious view of life

When she got half-drunk

she'd ask her friends:

"Can I be considered good?"

Come on, everybody, ready

Ready

Be serious

Ready

Take 3

Action

Auntie Li, why don't you cry?

Site of Lienhua Studio, 1991

(United Chinese Photoplay Ltd.)

Cut

Maggie's breathing, breathing

Maggie, one more time

Take a breath first

Again

Ready

Roll

Action

Cut

OK

Ruan Ling-yu (1910 - 1935)

Original name: Yu-ying; pet name: Feng-keng

Family from Chunshan prefecture, Kwangtung

Born in Shanghai; age 25

Center Stage (1991) - full transcript