To Kill with Intrigue (1977) - full transcript

The two masters
of the Ti Hu Fortress.

We bring to the Lords
of the great Lai palace...

greetings from all our men
at our fortress...

today on your 60th birthday.

Thank you. Very kind. Very kind.

We hope you enjoy prosperity
and a long life.

Thank you.

The palace maidens
will pay their respects.

Thank you. Thank you.
All enjoy yourselves.

Thank you.

Off you go.



Hey, I managed to get
some wine from the kitchen.

Let's have a drink. Plenty here.

Come on. Have a seat.

Chin-Chin. Chin-Chin.

Where are you going to?
Stay for a drink.

She's a strange girl.

So what? Let her go.

She always thinks
she's too good for us.

So just forget her
and have a drink.

Here. I'll pour for you.

Sau Lai!

Nobody knows where
you go, Young Master...

except me.

I knew he'd be waiting for me.



Why so quiet?

What's the matter?

Why are you staring?

Get out!

Out of my sight.

- You're angry because I'm late?
- Who cares?

I'm sorry. Don't be mad.

Is this blood?

Have you been fighting?

I've had bloodstains before. There was
even some of your blood there once.

- You've slept with someone else?
- So? Why do you care?

You're only some maid.

I can take you
when I feel like, without asking.

But you do know, though,
I'm pregnant, and it's your child.

Who says that it's mine? You?

You any proof? Leave!

Yes, I should leave.

You're a beast!

My Lord Lai,
you're a righteous man.

Everyone here has the greatest respect
for the Lai Clan.

Oh, look, your son's here.

Sau Lai, where have you been?

It is your father's birthday.
Or have you forgotten?

What? You still here?

Still guzzling wine
and free food?

- Sau Lai, you mad?
- No, I'm not.

I'm just fed up with parasites.

Gone.

It's all right. Don't get angry.

It's late. We'll go now. Listen.

It's late now
and it's time that we went.

Our host needs his rest.

Yes, that's right. Let's all get off
to our homes now, shall we? All right.

And what are you waiting for?
Just get out.

How dare you.

Disgracing me. Out! Get out!

You should go, not me.

You're my only son.

But I'd rather have none
than one like you.

Out! Out of this house!

Everyone should get
out of this house...

except for me.

And Why?

Because if they don't,
they'll all die.

And why die with you,
except in my case?

And why will they die
if they stay?

Because someone is coming here.

Who?

Fifteen years.

It's exactly fifteen years.

Now they've come.

Those Killer Bees
are a deadly bunch.

Where they go, no one survives.
I got the word yesterday.

- You didn't tell me?
- I told Mother.

We decided you should enjoy
your 60th birthday feast.

And I was certain
that they'd wait until tonight.

That's right.

Fifteen years.

It was on this very same date.

That was when I destroyed them.

I just regret
I didn't wipe the lot out.

And now I shall have to pay
for that mistake.

You have to leave. You can't stay.
They will kill you.

I'll stay.

Dad, listen. I am your son.
I'll stay.

Dad, listen. I am your son.

That's why you must go. We can't let
them wipe out the Lai family name.

Don't you worry about that.

A girlfriend of mine
is pregnant.

- Who's that?
- It's Chin-Chin.

- Chin-Chin. Where is she?
- She's left here.

But bearing your child.
She wouldn't leave.

But I didn't give her
any choice, though.

My God.

You thought of everything,
including the family name.

I hurt her terribly, though.

But I'd no choice.

But how will she
take care of herself?

I asked Chen Chun to help her.

I know you regard him
as a good friend...

but you haven't known him long.

But real friendship
doesn't just depend on time.

It depends on trust.

Right.

And I believe...

Chen Chun is a real
trustworthy friend.

And I'm proud...

that our only child is so filial,
you're such a good son.

Mother.

I should have known.
You should have told me.

Let's get ready.

Sau Lai and I are not
going to leave you.

You're willing to die?

You remember...

what we said
at our wedding altar...

thirty years ago?

I do.

We swore by the gods...

that we would stay together
till death do us part.

And we now have
to fulfill our promise.

But even in the next life
we'll still be joined.

Good.

With such a wife and a son
as I have here...

I am proud to die.

Tell everyone, gather their things.
Leave immediately.

My Lord, we realize
something bad is coming...

or you wouldn't ask us to leave.

You've always been
most kind to us...

so we don't want to leave you
when you're in trouble.

That would be wrong.

You're right. There is trouble,
and it will happen soon.

But it's not your problem.

My Lord, what is this?
We're all your good friends.

We'll help
in any way that we can.

Now, look,
the people coming here...

are a bunch
of determined killers...

and none of you
would have a chance.

Right. Listen to me.

I'm grateful to you for offering.
Please go now.

My Lord, please allow us,
your friends, to help you.

My Lord, it'll be a great honor.

- Please, my Lord.
- Get up. Get up. Get up.

Right.

If a man does have to die,
and with such friends, it's an honor.

Look.

Dad, look.

- They're here.
- My Lord, who are they?

They're the Killer Bee Gang.

- Return my hand!
- Dad...

Return my hand!

Return my hand.

Return my hand!

It's mine.

Dad, look.

Return our lights!

Hold it.

We've got to keep calm.

Ignore all the tricks.

I never believed in witchcraft.

Lai Tifone, a debt
you've owed fifteen years.

Tonight we'll be paid off.

Sau Lai!

Kill them all.

So many...

and they're all dead.

But still, though,
who will pay for them?

You.

I see you're alive,
but your parents are both dead.

Why don't you die?

Because I have to kill you.

Right.

Push it in,
then you'll have killed me.

- That's what you want.
- You're right. It is.

Just to avenge my parents.

You feel that way too?
Well, then you know why I came here.

But your parents deserved it.

Deserved it? Why?

Because they were bandits.
You know that. Murderers.

Oh, they were murderers?
And your father?

My father was a kind man.

You can ask anyone.
They'll all tell you.

Someone who tries to kill
a five-year-old girl...

would you call him kind?

If so, then that's
a strange kindness.

Five-year-old girl?

Look here.

That scar was a present
from your kind father.

If you still think
your father was a good, kindly man...

then you just push
that sword in.

Why are you staring at me?
Kill me.

I'm not Chin-Chin.
Take a good look. It's me.

It's you.

Sure, it's me.
Who do you think brought you here?

- Why didn't you kill me?
- Well, you didn't kill my family.

You spared me. I spared you.

- What do you want?
- I want you to live...

and suffer a long time.

Because your parents are both dead,
you'll want revenge...

but can't get it
because you can't match me.

I could kill you anytime.

So you can suffer all the time,
awake, asleep...

always afraid of me...

worrying that I'll come.

- You are vicious?
- Vicious?

You'd be too
if you'd suffered like me.

But now you're going to learn
what it's like.

Hey, miss.

Well, now, where you going to?

Let me go!

Let's go!

I'm not Sau Lai. I'm Chen Chun.

What are you doing here?
You must be his girlfriend, Chin-Chin.

What's wrong?

- Where's Sau Lai?
- Please don't mention his name.

Had a fight?

Don't cry. Tell me about it.

Come.

I just don't understand it.

How he could have
treated you like this.

I'd have never thought
he could do that.

I'm going to take you back,
make him explain.

I won't go. I'll never go back.

Well, no matter what,
you'll be taken care of.

Now, get some rest.

I shall go out and get you
some new clothes and some food.

I don't want to stay
in this place.

I want to forget the past.

Please let's leave.

Leave? But where to?

I don't care where.

Anywhere.

Evening, sir. A room?

We have very nice rooms.
Very clean.

- I'll need two rooms.
- Yes, of course. This way.

I'll take the horse.

This way, sir.

You may be planning
to spend your life here?

- If I am, so what?
- You needn't.

Your Chin-Chin has gone off
with your good friend.

- You lie.
- You lost your home and your parents.

So if I were you, I wouldn't waste time
on a girl. Not worth it.

You're not me. I'm a man.

- Oh, no. You're no man.
- What am I?

You're a beast.

- You're a beast.
- I'm a beast?

I'm a beast.

Where have you been?

I'll never let you go.

All you think of
is your Chin-Chin.

I don't know you three men,
so what do you want?

We've been paid 500 gold bars.

That's why we're here.

BY Whom?

By a very good friend of yours,
but one whom you betrayed.

Well, now,
let's see you get away now.

Well, you got him?

Of course.

When you hire the Bloody Rain Gang,
the job gets done.

I've never had to hire
paid killers before.

I still don't like the idea.
This time I had no choice.

You bastard,
where's our goods you stole?

I ought to cut
your treacherous heart out.

God, not him.

Not him?

My God, you got the wrong man.

Wrong man?

Who are you? Why are you
in Chen Chun's house?

Talk, or I'm going to kill you.

You made the mistake,
so why kill me?

Let him go. Not his fault.

Pay us.

- Pay what?
- Five hundred bars.

For your mistake we should pay?

But it wasn't our fault.

You wanted the man
in this house...

and this man was
the only one in there.

You wanted him alive,
we did just that. He's alive.

Pay them.

Hey, he's not the one you want?

- Of course not.
- Then we'll take him.

But Why?

Because he killed
a Bloody Rain man.

So by our rules,
the man has to die and die slow.

And I shall see that happens.

Hold it.

Well, I don't give a damn
what your clan rules are...

but you're not killing
this man here.

- Who says so?
- Me.

You mean to tell me
that for some stranger...

you'd oppose our clan?

I won't have an innocent man killed
through my fault.

What if we insist on taking him?

Well, then you'll have to get
the permission of my spear first.

It'll be our pleasure.

Right. So you've
opposed our clan.

You'll have to pay for this
with your life.

Right.

Let's go.

Hey, Master Lu,
they've left our gold behind.

Brother, what about him?

We'll take him.

Your major hurts
have been cured now...

and your minor injuries,
they'll soon clear up.

I am the master
of the Dragon Escorts.

I've heard of you.

The man that we wanted
was Chen Chun, not you.

- I know that.
- Five months passed.

We had a big order
to escort some rare valuables...

the property
of the Governor here.

Chen Chun was traveling with us.

Suddenly he disappeared.

And with him the valuables.
And you assumed the obvious.

Those valuables
were quite priceless.

If I sold everything that I have,
I couldn't pay it.

Maybe a coincidence.

Maybe it was somebody else
stole them.

I treated him as a good friend.

When a man has been betrayed
by a good friend...

you've no idea how it hurts you.

- There's something you ought to know.
- Right. Tell me.

The wounds I had
weren't by those men.

So though I owe you a favor,
we need have no further relations.

We weren't friends before,
and we aren't now.

What about the future?
I mean, do you think...

No, I don't.
I don't have any future.

Even if we're not friends, you can
still stay here for a few days, though.

What's the point? I'll go now.

Now, wait. You're leaving?
Just like that?

What do you want? You want
to have these clothes back?

Hold it. Let him go.

Brother, that fella has really
got a nerve talking like that.

Some people are born stubborn.

There's no way
we can make him stay here.

Sayonara then, my friend.

I wronged you.

I wronged you.

I'm just a beast.

Just a lousy beast!

Well, now, so a beast can cry.

- You again?
- I am your shadow.

- What do you want?
- My God, you're really a coward.

We'll bury your parents
or look for your betrayer.

All you do is sit around
and say you're a beast.

Well, you flatter yourself.
You're lower than a beast.

If I do, it's my business.

You're supposed to be a man,
so why not act like one?

Learn to tell good from bad.

I've always known that.

Well, let me tell you.
Your parents are buried.

- A friend of yours did it?
- Who?

Someone whose friendship
you've just refused.

- Fourth Dragon?
- The hand you spurned.

Since you know everything,
do you know where Chin-Chin is?

Sure I know.
But why should I tell you?

- You...
- Me what?

You want me to beg?

Try it. You just try it.

I've never begged you
before in my life.

I tell you, no matter where she is now,
I am going to find her.

You only think of her,
never look at me.

I'm a girl!
You don't ever ask my name!

I'm Ting Chan Yen!
Ting Chan Yen!

Good ginseng.
It's hard to find here.

I cooked this myself.
So you drink it up.

I'm not hungry.

You brood too much, and that
isn't very good for your health.

Right. Drink it up.

Hey, Brother,
what are you doing?

This is going to be our last trip.
May as well take the flag down now.

There will be no more
Dragon Escort Company.

The Fourth Dragon is the last.

Hey, don't give up hope.
You never know.

- Something may happen.
- Sure.

Look, Boss, there's time.

It's two weeks
before you have to see the Governor.

We may find Chen Chun
before that.

Sooner than disgrace the Dragon name,
I would rather die.

Right. But there's still time.
Come on. Let's have a drink.

Hey, Master, look there.
It's him.

Brother Lai, we're here.
Come on in. Come.

Brother Lai, have a seat.

I'm glad I found you.

So am I, because I like you.

Want to have you as a friend.
I think we two can get on.

I owed you one favor,
but now I hear I owe you another.

Ask what you want.
I shall do it.

- So what I ask you, you'll do?
- Sure.

Right. Sit down.

Have a drink.

Well done.

Here. Drink again.

What are you laughing at?

- Oh, I just thought of something.
- What's that?

I just know wherever he is...

he's drinking too.

Good. Very good. Great.

Hey, you can really drink,
I must admit.

Let's all have a few more.
Hey, here's to you.

Drink up then. Very good.

Come on.
Let's fill 'em again, right?

Good day, sir.
I'm sorry. We're full.

- Sit outside, sir?
- Yes.

Now, sir, what would you like?

- Bring some wine.
- Oh, right away, sir.

Hey, that's finished.
Let's have some more.

Hey, Brother,
this one's finished too.

Get some more. We must
drink farewell to our friend here.

No. I won't go.

- You won't go?
- I'm staying with you.

You're staying with us? Really?

Really.

You're a strange fella.
You refuse to stay when we ask you.

Then when we say good-bye,
you say you won't go.

I guess that I'm just a mule.

You mustn't compare yourself
with that animal.

What's wrong with them?
At least mules are faithful.

And when you're in trouble, even
if you whip them, they won't leave.

Fine.

Stop there.

Come on.

Move it.

Up.

- Master, shall we rest here?
- All right.

Take care of them.
All right, take a rest here.

All right.

Hey, Brother, look.

Brother, that old man was outside
the tea house when we left...

and was still drinking.

Now he's here. How'd he do it?

Hey, I'll ask him.

Hey, old man.

You... Why are you here?

Matter of fact,
was waiting for you.

Well, then, what do you want?
I mean, you must want something.

I've come to deliver a present
to the Fourth Dragon.

You've got a present for the boss,
right? Come with me.

Here. Come on.

Well, Master, this old man
has a gift for you.

How did you know we'd be here?

It's a good place to rest.
I just assumed that you would.

I was right too.

What's this gift then?

This scroll painting.

What's this supposed to mean?

You mean you don't know?

It's the death of a dragon.

- All by yourself?
- Of course I've not come alone.

I've never seen
any of you men before.

So in what way
have I offended you?

Cut out the talk.

Give your life to me
and the rest can go.

Well, at least tell me who you are
and in what way I've wronged you.

Wronged us?

Didn't I warn you opposing my clan
would mean the death of you?

That's right. Today we collect.

So it's the Bloody Rain Clan.
Right.

- I could do with a bit of practice.
- Hold it!

As a favor, let me do this.

It's my affair.
You stay out of this.

The reason I'm here
is to repay my debts to you.

- Just who are you?
- The Fifth Dragon.

Fifth Dragon?

Good. Good.

It seems that today
we'll kill two Dragons.

Here! Brother, take it!

- I'll pull it out.
- No, leave it.

Brother. Brother!

How is he?

Brother.

- Then I still owe you.
- You owe me absolutely nothing.

I do. I do!

Even if you had owed me
something once, it's repaid.

That's good to know.

Well, then,
can we be friends now?

Afraid we can't.

Remember...

I'm the Fifth Dragon.

Right. We're not just friends.

We are brothers.

We are good brothers.

Brother! Brother!

He's only fainted.

- I'm indebted to you.
- Well, don't be. It wasn't for you.

Even if it wasn't for me,
you still have my gratitude.

Well, now I want
to take him with me.

Master Lai was wounded
on my account.

And even though you
may have saved his life...

I cannot give him
to a complete stranger.

If I wanted to insist, do you think
that you could stop me?

All right. You'll regret this.

Of that I promise you.

- Who is that girl?
- I have no idea.

- Come on. Let's take him.
- Right.

- Yes?
- It's Chen Chun.

Come in.

Have you still got a headache?

I must've drunk too much.

You're a true gentlemen.

I wouldn't want to do anything
that I'd regret.

Besides, Sau Lai is my friend.

Don't mention Sau Lai!
I want to forget him!

Well, I'm afraid that I have
some bad news for you.

The Lai palace is completely destroyed
and Sau Lai's surely dead.

I've an important appointment
I must keep now.

But still, I don't know what
arrangements I should make for you.

How can you leave me
all by myself?

If I take you,
I'm afraid you'll regret it.

No, I won't.

Right. Come with me.

When I see him lying there...

dying on account of me,
I can't stand it.

Brother, now come on.
He's not dead yet.

We've had the best doctors
in the region to see him.

They can do nothing.

- I know who can cure him.
- Who?

Chin-Chin.
He keeps saying her name.

We just have to find her,
then he'll be saved.

But who is she, and where?

- I don't know.
- We're no further then.

Just forget Chin-Chin.
Why don't you ask me to help him?

Please, miss, just who are you?

I'm the only one
who can save him.

Come on down.

Come in.

Listen, if you can save this boy's life,
I'll give you anything that you want.

And if you want my head as your price,
I'll give it, and gladly too.

Your head means nothing to me.

Besides, it isn't yours to give.

- What do you mean?
- You forget.

You haven't found Chin-Chin yet.

And soon,
then the Governor will kill you.

How do you know about that?

There is nothing
that I don't know or won't do.

That's why I could save his life.

But on what condition?

That he goes with me
to my place.

- After that?
- It's my business and not yours.

- No way.
- You won't?

Well, then you'd better
get ready to bury him.

- Why, you...
- Now, wait.

Now, miss, would you be willing
to tell us just who you are?

It's difficult for us just to hand him
over to a complete stranger.

Stranger?

You don't know
just what a stranger I am.

Well, all right.
Will you let me take him then?

- I won't.
- You won't?

What, going?

- No reason for me to stay.
- Now, wait!

You're staying here to heal him.

Do you think
that you can make me?

Stop it! Please!

You have no sense
of what's right.

He is the sickest of men, but you'd
rather he died than I should take him.

Why should I harm him?

We know what's right or wrong,
but we're just worried for him.

But I do accept your argument,
so I shall let you take him.

Put him in. Gently.

Listen, he's in your hands.

I beg you,
take good care of him.

You are a good man,
and you deserve to live.

I just hope that you make it.

Brother, what did she mean
by that? Did you understand?

No matter. It's all fated.

But we have clean
consciences, don't we?

Mistress, can you save him?

I don't know. I'm not sure.

Then why did you take him away?

If he dies, I want to be there.

I want to be by his side.

- Let's go.
- Sure. Right. Go on.

All right, come in.

- Your Lordship, they're here.
- Bring them in.

Sir.

Your Excellency,
I pay my respects.

Your humble servant,
Lu Yang Chi.

Good. I must say,
you're very punctual.

Have you been successful
in getting back all my valuables?

I have failed.
You may take my life.

So you think that life of yours
is worth all that much?

Two lives then!

Although your lives are
useless to me, I'll take them.

- After all, we are friends.
- We're friends?

I've never seen you before,
so how can we be friends?

It's you.

So you are the Governor?

That's right. Guess you're surprised.
You never suspected it.

You used the Governor's name
to hire us...

then used Chen's name to rob us,
but why?

I am both persons.

I'm the commoner Chen Chun,
and I'm also Governor as well.

But I'm someone else.
A third person. Who do you think?

- Who?
- Who are you?

You're the secret leader
of the Bloody Rain Clan.

- What?
- Right.

I want the Clan to rule this place.

That's why I had to get rid of
the Lais and your Dragon escorts.

Now you know why you must die.

Brother!

I'm gonna catch you!

I can hear you!

Say, I caught you.

- Your Lordship.
- Your Lordship.

- Get Chin-Chin.
- Oh, sure.

Oh, Miss Chin-Chin,
His Lordship's here.

Your Lordship.

I'm sorry, but I have bad news.

Sau Lai is definitely dead.

I am very sorry.

But still,
these things do happen.

So you must think very carefully
about the future.

You must know how I feel
about you, don't you?

I think that we should
get married.

I don't see any real harm in the idea
now that Sau Lai is dead. You agree?

Really?

Chin-Chin, don't worry.
I'll be good to you.

Please announce that the Governor
is to marry Miss Chin-Chin.

Congratulations, sir.

Sau Lai, forgive me.

It's for the sake of our child
I have no choice.

- Tinna.
- Oh, miss, you're back.

It took me two whole days
to find these herbs.

So you haven't slept
for two days?

Sau Lai, how is he?

Just look.

You see?

He doesn't talk and won't eat
and just sits there.

You know, even if you got the best herbs
in the world, they wouldn't help him.

- Why not?
- Because he's lost the will to live.

How do you know?

He only thinks of his Chin-Chin.
Nothing else exists.

Tell me, who is Chin-Chin?
Did you ever meet her?

If you're not dead,
then you're able to listen.

I've got lots of bad news for you,
and I feel you should know it.

If you can hear, nod your head.

Right. Firstly...

First Dragon's dead,
killed by the Bloody Rain leader.

Chin-Chin's getting married to
a high official, the Governor of Hunan.

Something else.

The Clan leader and the Governor
are one and the same.

- Who's that?
- Your very good friend Chen Chun.

With your poor skills,
you'll get nowhere.

You can't leave
till you've beaten me.

One day I will.

I said that I'd beat you.

- What happens if you lose?
- Up to you.

Right.

You'll do what I say?

Anything.

Swallow this.

You have improved,
but still not good enough.

You underestimate how good I am.

This time I'm going to scar you.

What do you want now?
To try again?

Right. For the last time.

What happens now?

Like before. Up to you.

Tinna.

The poisoned wine,
bring it here.

Right.

Well, now, you're going
to have to stay here forever...

unless you now try to drink up
that bowl of poisoned wine.

What else can I say?

Since you're not
scared of death, right...

I'll help you to get revenge.

But you should know,
all I've done had a motive.

That wasn't poison in that bowl.

It was my blood.

I have these special skills...

and anyone who drinks
my blood acquires them.

I'll give you a plan,
and you just follow it.

Mistress, why do you help him?
I don't get it.

Silly girl, don't you see?

I love the man.

Right now I can never pay you
for all you've done...

but I'll never forget you.

Hold it. What do you want?

Delivering rice.

- Back way. Go on.
- Right.

- You there, who are you?
- Delivering rice.

What happened
to the other feller?

He got sick. Fever.

In you go.

- Hey, does this look all right?
- A bit to the left.

- Right. Is that better?
- Yeah, that's good. That's good.

- All ready?
- Yes, my Lord, everything's ready now.

- And Chin-Chin?
- Oh, she's in the pavilion now.

Well, tomorrow's
the happy occasion.

Are you happy as I am then?

Oh, my Lord.

What are you thinking?

Nothing.

What's past
is much better forgotten.

In future, I'll look after you.

Don't worry.
I'm sure you'll be happy.

- What a good man.
- Who are you? Where are you from?

You've forgotten?

We used to be good friends.

I asked you to look after her...

and explain to her
why I had to send her away.

I thought you were my friend,
but you've betrayed me.

Sau Lai,
you shouldn't have come.

She will be my wife in this house,
and you won't leave alive.

I knew that when I came here.

But there's something I must do
that's avenge Fourth Dragon.

So that's it
His head is his weak point.

Take me!

I know I can never repay you
for all that you've done

but I'll never forget you