Miss S (2020–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - Mysterious Drugs Part 1 - full transcript

Hu Residence

I don't expect much

for this charity dinner

I'd be happy if we could raise 80,000 yuan.

80,000 yuan? No worries then.

Wenli's returning from France today.

She'll come up with some ideas for you.

- It's not a problem. -Don't worry.

I've made the necessary arrangements.

She'll come here once she disembarks.

Qiaomei.



Qiaomei.

Li Qiaomei

Qiaomei, take care.

I'll wait for you to come back.

Taozi.

Take good care of yourself.

Taozi, go have a look.

OK.

Hu Yunlang

Mysterious Drugs

If you ask me, find a chubby tourist

with a kid in tow.

They'll definitely need a taxi.

Wrong. Never mind their weight



go for someone with a lot of luggage. Get it?

Ruqing!

Wenli!

Welcome back to Shanghai.

Thank you.

How was it? Was it fun in Paris?

It was awesome. But I still miss Shanghai.

I missed the smell of scallion pancakes

wafting in the air.

Look over there.

So much luggage?

You're a spendthrift like always...

That looks like a promising customer.

- You'll never change. -I'll go ask them.

I did a bit of shopping before coming back.

Could you tip them for me?

Here.

Here you are. Thank you for your help.

That's quite a fanfare.

She has so much luggage.

What do you want to eat later?

Hello, miss. Do you need a taxi?

Well... load up the luggage first.

OK.

Look to the left.

Look ahead.

Sir, the police squad is ready.

We await your order.

This drug deal

between Haiyan Gang and Ningcheng Gang

is meticulously planned.

But yours truly have received reliable intel.

During the autumnal equinox

which is at 9.45am today

members of the Haiyan Gang

will come here to retrieve the drugs

that are hidden in the observatory tower.

So, our job here is to seize the drugs

and obtain evidence of their criminal doings

before they get here.

Follow my orders.

Search the observatory tower.

Xiao-an, you go. I'm not doing it.

- Shen Xiao-an. -Yes.

Didn't you tell me

as a kid, you'd climb trees

looking for bird nests and cicadas?

This is your chance to prove yourself.

- You do it. -Come on.

- I... -Go on.

Go on.

Well... go on...

What's going on? Why is he climbing that?

Shiliupu Marina

What sort of illegal goods

could possibly be stashed

at such an unlikely place?

Cocaine.

In broad daylight? Don't be crazy.

The autumnal equinox.

On the observatory tower of the Bund?

I saw it in black and white. Can't be wrong.

What a fool.

Who are you?

And who are you?

Inspector Luo Qiuheng

of the Central Police Station.

I'm Su Wenli.

I've just returned from Paris.

and disembarked at Shiliupu Marina.

I'm a born and bred Shanghainese.

Inspector Luo.

What are you doing here?

Did you receive the intel too?

Inspector Wang, drug deals are

carried out in secrecy.

No way the drugs would be hidden up there.

They can't be climbing up the observatory tower

in broad daylight to get the goods.

You're making a lot of assumptions.

We'll know for sure once he gets up there.

Yes, sir. I found something.

I found a pigeon.

Forget the pigeon!

Do a proper search.

Don't come down until you find something!

Illegal goods wouldn't be hidden

somewhere so conspicuous.

My tip-off came from a reliable source.

The autumnal equinox.

Observatory tower of the Bund.

Generally speaking

when you're meeting someone

or picking up something from someone

you'd set a specific date.

Say, today's date. The 24th of September

the 23rd year of the Republic of China

Or you'd say Monday, not equinoxes.

But it is the autumnal equinox today.

That's right, it is.

But why did he say the autumnal equinox

instead of 24 September or Monday?

OK. Tell me why.

It's mentioned in The Luxuriant Dew

of the Spring and Autumn Annals

that the autumnal equinox

is half yin and half yang.

The day and night are of equal length

and so are the cold and hot weather.

The word "equinox" means "half"

meaning the length of day and night are equal.

You've lost me.

3,000 years ago

the Duke of Zhou erected a gnomon in Luoyi

to measure the depth of the earth

the length of the shadow of mid-day sun

to find the centre of the earth

and to document the change of seasons.

When he found the centre of the earth

he named it Middle Earth

where he placed an eight-feet-long pole.

During the summer solstice

the pole's shadow was five inches.

During the winter solstice, it was 13.5 feet.

In autumn, it was 9.3 feet.

The tower is 18.8m high.

Based on the length of its shadow

cast on the ground

what we're looking for is right there.

Inspector.

We found drugs hidden in the warehouse.

Very good.

Cordon off the warehouse.

- Conduct a thorough search. -Yes, sir.

Let's go.

Miss Su.

You're not allowed past the cordon.

This will interfere with our investigation.

But, Inspector Luo

I came up with the analysis

and we solved the case together.

Really?

Inspector Wang is the one you helped.

I thank you on his behalf.

How ungrateful of you.

Did I ask you for your help?

You're not the only one

who knows investigative reasoning.

Two heads are better than one

when solving a case. Don't you think?

No, thanks.

The police department has strict regulations.

Civilians are not allowed

to participate in police investigations.

Thank you.

But I have to say, I am impressed with

your knowledge in astronomy and geography.

We shall part here.

Wenli, where have you been?

Well, I met a decent looking man

who thinks way too highly of himself.

Where's my luggage?

Your luggage's in the taxi.

We're at your service.

Clever lads.

Tips.

- Come on... -Su Wenli!

Just give it all to me.

- Here. -It's too much, miss.

Not really. You're taking me to

Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant tomorrow.

- Got it, miss. -Open the door.

Please get in.

- Thank you. -Watch your step.

Hu Jiang Hotel

Fusion dining. What a good idea.

I knew you'd like something unique

but they don't provide chopsticks.

Fried buns can be eaten

using a knife and fork too.

Cheers.

A 20-year-old Australian red wine.

Wenli, now that you're back

what are your plans?

Frankly, I've been mulling over that

during my month-long voyage

back to Shanghai.

I still don't have an answer.

We grew up together. I know you too well.

You can't bring the dead back to life.

You still can't get over your sister's incident?

In my heart, Wenfei is not dead.

In my heart, she's growing up every day

into a fine young lady.

We never did find Wenfei.

And we couldn't find the evidence

to prove that it was Ding Rushan who killed her.

That's why he escaped the death penalty.

He's been in prison all this while.

I've asked around.

He seemed to have applied for

early release from the prison.

That's his wishful thinking.

I'm back now and I'll make him plead guilty

and disclose Wenfei's whereabouts.

Otherwise, I'll send him to hell myself.

Wenli!

I don't know how to get through to you.

I just want you to be happy.

You can't change what has already happened.

Let's drop this depressing talk.

There's nothing the French abhor more

than letting good food go to waste.

All right. Leave some room in your stomach.

Aunt Hanrong has invited you

to Ma Minlan's house for lunch.

Ma Minlan.

May I know if this is Ma Minlan's house?

I'm sorry, miss. The lunch has been cancelled.

We have a family emergency.

This is...

Master Hu Yunlang, the head of the household.

Minlan.

Wenli.

Wenli.

I had wanted to give you a good welcome...

It's OK... my condolences.

My husband collapsed and just died

while he was washing up earlier this morning.

OK... don't be sad.

You look so frail. Take good care of yourself.

Madam Hu, the police would like to ask you

a few questions.

- Go ahead. -My apologies.

- Please excuse me. -It's OK.

You're finally back.

I missed you so much.

Me too.

You're all grown up now.

Well, Aunt, you haven't aged one bit.

Look at you. You're such a sweet talker.

Let me make the introductions.

This is Aunt Xue.

- Hello. -This is Madam Mei.

- Hello. -Hello.

The four of us often get together to play...

- Mahjong? -Yes, mahjong.

But we're not here to play mahjong today.

We came to discuss tonight's charity dinner.

Yes.

Who knew we'd end up with

a death on our hands?

Did any of you see Mr Hu this morning?

- No. -Not me.

Their room is upstairs.

I reckon Mr Hu had just gotten out of bed.

- Right? -I'm going to take a look.

What? What's there to look at? Hey...

Miss.

You dropped your handkerchief.

Thank you.

Miss, you can't go upstairs.

Officer Shen.

We meet again. What a coincidence.

Miss Su.

Miss, the police have sealed off the scene.

You really can't go upstairs.

I'm going to the bathroom.

I...

It's been cordoned off.

I'm just following orders. Please understand.

I do understand, but my bladder can't.

Miss Su.

All right, let me check with the inspector.

Just stay put.

Don't go anywhere.

I'll be quick.

Open the door.

Wait a moment.

Police. Miss, please open the door.

Not you again.

We meet again, Inspector.

Don't tell me you're here

to investigate your cocaine case?

You can't stay here, miss.

I needed to use the bathroom.

The breakfast I had didn't agree with me.

I needed to use the bathroom.

Let me remind you. This is a crime scene.

I'm wearing gloves.

Inspector, I don't think we've officially met.

I'm Su Wenli.

Are you friends of the family?

Do you know the deceased?

I didn't get to meet him when he was alive.

He was wheeled out just when I got here.

His wife, Ma Minlan, was my senior in school.

I heard she married a wealthy man

but it's too late to make his acquaintance now.

Her husband Hu Yunlang

was a merchant in Shanghai.

The boss of Rong Chang Corporation.

Do you think he was poisoned too?

- We do think... -Nothing's certain yet.

Miss Su, please leave.

Us womenfolk can't get by

without a bit of juicy gossip.

It's the police's duty to investigate a crime.

Please go.

Please.

I don't see any bloodstains at the scene

so I assume his death wasn't a violent one.

Or at least, no knives or guns were involved.

But he could have been strangled to death

or have had a heart attack.

I can't conclude without seeing the body.

But the deceased was found dead

in a foetal position, so I gather

he suffered serious abdominal pain

prior to his death.

According to Ma Minlan

her husband's time of death

was after breakfast.

He probably ate something he shouldn't have.

- I'm just making a wild guess. -Makes sense.

The scene here can only provide

a basis for a preliminary investigation.

The medical examiner will confirm

the cause of his death.

I noticed shards of a broken coffee cup

over there.

Could it be the coffee?

The shards have been handed over

to the forensic laboratory.

Miss Su, I appreciate your concern

but you may go.

Inspector, do you have a name card?

Maybe, one day, the police will come to me.

Or maybe, I'll need your help someday.

I'm all alone and new to Shanghai.

I don't feel safe.

My job is to ensure the safety

of the people of Shanghai, Miss Su.

I like men who are ambitious.

Central Police Station.

Luo Qiuheng.

That's me.

Taozi, hurry up and pick up the phone.

Madam, the phone has stopped ringing.

Are you OK?

I'm fine.

What are you looking for?

Why so flustered?

- I'm looking for the bathroom. -The bathroom?

Didn't you just go?

Miss Su, it's on the second floor.

Thank you.

Mrs Hu, we're done with

the on-site investigation.

We'll go back and confirm the cause of death.

Our condolences to you. We're leaving.

Sorry to trouble you.

Minlan, I'm sorry.

- I'm late. -Jingyu.

I just heard the bad news.

This is terrible.

I don't want to talk about it...

Mrs Qiu, I'm sorry.

I should have greeted you first.

It's OK.

As you can see, everyone is flustered

because of this incident.

Oh, yes. Fan, I forgot to introduce you

to my niece. She just returned from France.

- Miss Su Wenli. -Hello.

You look familiar.

You must've watched my performance before.

I thought of coming here early

to help you prepare for the charity dinner.

I didn't expect this to happen.

I think we should call it off.

Director Chen was telling me

the day before yesterday

the poor folks in the recent Anhui disaster

are suffering from oedema.

I need to raise funds for their treatment.

Yunlang had hoped to make this happen

before he died. I want to fulfil his wish.

But he was the backbone of this project

and now he's gone

leaving a helpless woman like me behind

who knows nothing about numbers.

You're a capable woman.

I saw how you single-handedly

put this fundraiser together.

If not for you

we won't be able to raise a single cent.

We'll go ahead with the charity dinner.

We'll handle what needs to be done.

Yes. That's a good idea.

Don't worry, just leave it all to us.

We'll hold the charity dinner in your name.

Hu Yunlang was the boss of

Rong Chang Corporation.

His interpersonal relationships were complicated.

Question every single person

who was in his house this morning.

Those ladies were probably

Ma Minlan's mahjong friends.

And their marriage seemed fine.

She woke up and went to the living room.

She didn't see her husband during this time.

Don't listen to just one side of the story.

Their testimonies can only be used

as a reference.

See if any of them have a grudge with the Hu's.

- OK. -Question the maid again.

Thank you.

Taozi? That sweet, harmless girl?

- It can't be her. -Are you a police officer

or a face reader?

Taozi's not the only maid in the Hu residence.

There should be one more.

One more?

There were two uniforms hanging in the kitchen.

Two beds in the servants' quarters

and two pairs of slippers.

You're very observant.

I thought you were looking for the bathroom.

Miss Su was the one looking for the bathroom

not me.

Taxi. Over here.

Hurry... come lend me a hand.

She's drunk. Hurry. Come on.

Easy, easy...

Easy now.

Take her luggage.

Where do I send her?

Three copper coins should suffice, right?

She'll tell you where to go.

- Take her home safely. -No, wait...

Brother Liu, it's settled.

OK. Good.

Let's go.

Miss, wake up. Where do you want to go?

Miss? Miss?

She's not drunk.

- We need to get to the hospital. -Let's go.

Analyse the contents for me.

You think there's more than just sugar in here?

Ma Minlan drank the coffee too.

She experienced palpitations, dizziness

nausea and vomiting.

It looks like a powder we prescribe

for neural issues.

It's usually given to those

suffering from epilepsy, neurasthenia

or women with prolapsed uterus.

Prolapsed uterus?

Uterus...

Dr Liu, we have an emergency patient.

She's bleeding profusely.

We've wheeled her into the operating theatre.

Same condition as the girl last week?

Yes.

Another abortion. How terrible.

- Miss. -Oh, it's you again.

- Miss. -You sent the girl here?

- Yes, we did. -You did the right thing.

A code of honour is what a man lives by.

Will she be OK?

Doctor Liu Ruqing is tending to her.

She was a top student who graduated

from the University of Tokyo School of Medicine.

Have faith in her. She'll be all right.

I wonder who did that to the poor girl.

Could it be that guy who stood at the corner?

Remember?

- Who is that? -This tall, thin man

with a mole on his face.

He looks to be in his thirties.

He looked shifty.

Oh yes, how should I address you?

You're being too formal. Just call me Song.

I'm Tan.

- Song and Tan. -Yes.

I'm Su Wenli.

Pleased to meet you.

- Keep her under observation. -OK.

Operating Theatre

How is she?

She's lucky. No serious complications.

I heard the nurse say

she was bleeding profusely.

I'm guessing she went to

a quack doctor for an abortion.

He botched it up and she almost died.

A quack doctor?

Why didn't she do it at a proper hospital?

This is not Paris.

If she did it at a hospital and word gets out

she can forget about ever getting married.

We had a similar case last week.

That lady reached us too late.

She had lost too much blood

and we couldn't save her.

Young girls going for illegal abortions?

In broad daylight?

What are the police doing?

Where are you going?

To the Central Police Station.

Miss, we'll take you there.

In the past six months, we've received

several reports of botched abortions

done by an unlicensed practitioner

but we haven't been able to arrest him.

You haven't been able to identify him

or arrest him?

We can't arrest him. He's a cunning fellow.

He never lets his patients know

his exact location.

Which means you know who this quack doctor is.

Inspector Wang.

Explain it to this lady.

I can tell you this much.

This quack doctor is Ge Laoliu.

He used to be a butcher.

Now he's helping wealthy folks

cover up their scandalous deeds

by carrying out illegal abortions.

It's terrible. He has already caused

the deaths of several girls.

Why haven't you arrested that vile maggot?

And what do we arrest him for?

Did you see him cut open his victims' bellies?

Or did the dead victims tell you

they were killed by Ge Laoliu?

We're up to our necks

dealing with the problems of the living.

Who has the time to care about the dead?

Is this what a police officer should say?

Is it your place to tell me what to do?

We have protocols in place for investigations.

We must have evidence to prove that

he caused those deaths

before we can arrest him.

Otherwise, there's nothing we can do.

So you're saying

you're letting him get away with it?

It's not like that.

It's just that within the confines of law

our hands are tied. Get it?

Fine, I'll work within the confines of law

and track down that quack doctor myself.

Let's go.

Just as I expected.

The police are a bunch of dimwits.

That's not very fair.

That's really rude of you!

Mr Gu.

- Hang this up. Thank you. -Hello.

Aunt, I'll go upstairs and take a look.

That's my niece. She just returned from Paris.

Minlan.

Good evening, Miss Su.

I got this red wine from downstairs.

Have a sip.

He'll never be here

asking me to drink with him again.

You have more than one maid, don't you?

Yes, we had another maid.

Her name is Li Qiaomei.

Where is she now?

I dismissed her.

Why?

Yunlang said she stole our silverware.

Yunlang and I

gave her a tongue-lashing last night

and sent her packing this morning.

She left and within hours

your husband is dead?

Don't you find the timing odd?

You think she had something to do with it?

Surely it can't be.

Li Qiaomei is a timid girl.

I doubt she's capable of anything

bigger than petty theft.

She couldn't even kill a cockroach.

Doesn't mean she isn't capable

of hurting a man.

Now, don't let your imagination run wild.

Have a good rest. I'm heading down.

Wenli, you look so beautiful today.

Good looks run in our family, doesn't it?

You know what?

We may not have noble bloodlines

but your mum and I

were born into a wealthy family.

I married a wealthy man in Shanghai

and settled into a comfortable life

while your mum fell in love with

the free spirit that is your father

and followed him halfway across the world.

I hardly get to see her now.

All right, stop complaining, Aunt.

Miss Su, nice to see you again.

I was just talking to my aunt about you.

I heard you run a big business in Shanghai.

Oh, that's not true. You jest.

It's just a brothel on Sima Road.

Pity, not a place for us ladies then.

But I've also recently opened

a Turkish bath behind the brothel.

- Here. This is it. -Take a look at this.

For ladies only.

I'm not sure if you'll be interested.

I like it.

Come with your aunt someday.

What kind of business did Mr Hu do?

All sorts.

Rong Chang Corporation specialises in

imported goods from Southeast Asia.

Mr Hu had neither the time nor interest

to attend Minlan's social activities

or get to know her friends

from all walks of life.

What friends from all walks of life?

For example, the charming Mr Fan Jingyu.

He was here last night having tea with Minlan.

- Last night? -Yes.

Allow me to introduce Mr Zhu.

- He's a great dancer. -Pleased to meet you.

Good evening.

Mr Fan, I remember now.

I was at the Moulin Rouge in Paris

three years ago

and I saw him dancing with his sister.

They're such splendid dancers.

Well, my sister died half a year ago.

I'm so sorry to hear that.

She was an excellent dancer. What a pity.

Miss Su, would you like to dance?

My pleasure.

We tried calling. Why didn't anyone pick up?

I'm sorry. This way, please.

Madam Hanrong.

The police are here again

To talk to Madam Hu.

Bravo!

I'm sorry, everyone

for interrupting your festivities.

Party's over. We're the police.

What?

He was poisoned?

Traces of poison were found in Mr Hu's body.

We have confirmed his death to be a homicide.

Someone poisoned him.

No wonder I've been feeling nauseated.

You're experiencing symptoms of mild poisoning?

Do you know what kind of poison it is?

I believe arsenic was mixed

into the breakfast sugar bowl.

Yunlang liked his coffee really sweet.

Thank goodness I didn't finish my coffee

this morning as you ladies got here.

Was she the one who prepared breakfast?

Of course.

Madam, I didn't kill Master Hu.

I didn't even know there was...

We have to take her back for questioning.

I think you've got the wrong person.

We're not arresting her, Miss Su.

We're just taking her back for questioning.

- Madam... I... -Let's go.

Please.

- Goodbye, Mrs Hu. -Why is this happening?

Inspector!

You wouldn't be so stupid as to think that

she's the murderer, would you?

Do you think all police officers are stupid?

I hope you're an exception.

Taozi, if you need any help

please come to this place to look for me.

I believe you're no killer.

Instead of wasting time on this innocent girl

I'd advise you to look for the missing servant.

OK. Thanks for that.

We're already looking for Li Qiaomei.

Now if you'll excuse me.

Miss Su, let me tuck that lock of hair in place.

You're an exceptional dancer.

I'd have thought you're a professional.

Were Hu Yunlang and his wife

longtime fans of yours?

Minlan and I are close

but I didn't know her husband that well.

See you, Mrs Qiu.

- Bye. -Bye.

Where are you going?

The driver will be here soon.

The real murderer

acts under the cover of the night.

It's time for me to get busy.

It's dark outside

and there are crooks out there.

What would you do if you run into one?

- What if... -I'm armed, Aunt.

My goodness. How did your mother

give birth to a fearless hoyden like you?

Are you the one who prepares breakfast

at Hu residence every day?

Yes.

Where did Hu Yunlang usually eat?

It depends.

Sometimes he'd eat in the living room

and sometimes in the bedroom.

What about today?

He had his breakfast in the bedroom today.

I made them fried eggs, wonton and coffee.

Master Hu had it in the bedroom.

Madam Hu only managed a few bites

before her guests came

and she had to go downstairs.

Among the guests, could any of them

have gone into Hu Yunlang's bedroom?

I'm not too sure about that.

We're to stay out of sight

when Madam Hu has guests over.

But someone might've gone upstairs

to use the bathroom

because I heard someone going upstairs.

Rong Chang Corporation

Sir, how may I help you?

Was there anyone else

in the house this morning?

No.

What was Li Qiaomei doing?

She... she was in the bedroom...

She left early this morning.

From what we've gathered

Hu Yunlang was still alive

when Li Qiaomei left.

No. Qiaomei couldn't have done it

She wouldn't even dare to step on a cockroach.

Then, tell me.

Why did Li Qiaomei leave the Hu residence

in such a hurry?

- What's up? -He's here for the goods.

That's not what he's really here for.

For all we know, he's a spy for the police.