Miss S (2020–…): Season 1, Episode 25 - The Strange Circus Part 1 - full transcript

The Strange Circus

Ladies and gentlemen

welcome to the Rare Circus!

We're here in the heart of Shanghai.

Today, you'll get to see

something you've never seen before.

A hermaphrodite!

What's a hermaphrodite?

Our young friend here asks

what is a hermaphrodite?

You may say she's a woman



but she looks like a man.

You may say he's a man

but he looks like a woman

This gentleman is asking

"So it is a man or a woman?"

And this lady says

"Just take off the pants and we'll know."

What cheek!

You may look upon the face

but the trousers stays on!

What's the matter? Sulking again?

A hermaphrodite is still a person.

Boss is helping you make a name for yourself.

You'll get used to it.



Patience, my dear audience.

Before we witness

the miracle of the hermaphrodite

we have a special performance.

The Vanishing Act!

Our beautiful Miss Chen Zixin

will now enter this cabinet.

Our magician, Mr Xie Jiajun

only has to wave his magic wand

and this beautiful lady

will vanish without a trace.

- Someone's dead! -What's going on?

Xie Jiajun, what's wrong?

Oh my goodness!

They're done.

I can smell them from here.

One more tray done!

Why are you making so many crab shell pies?

Because Suyun loves them.

I thought I'd bake some and bring it to her.

Who wants to come and see me?

- I'm here! -Suyun, give me a hug!

What are you doing here? Where's your mother?

She's going to stay with her aunt

in the countryside for a while.

Does that mean you can stay here then?

I'll stay for the whole summer vacation.

We get to have you for the whole summer vacation!

Oh, yes!

Look at the crab shell pies

Taozi baked for you. Come and see.

- Taozi, you know what? -There's more here.

I miss the pastries you make.

- Miss Su. -I even dream of them.

This man says he's an old friend of yours.

- He wants to see you. -Deng Siyuan?

Yes, it's me!

You've changed so much.

I almost couldn't recognise you.

Let's go and sit down outside.

Sure. After you.

I heard that you're the boss of

Miss S Detective Agency?

That's true.

You've changed so much.

I remember when you were little

you were as scrawny as a matchstick.

That was then.

Now I'm a circus muscle man.

Unlimited strength, right here.

So you followed in your father's footsteps.

Yes. I'm in the circus too.

It's the only thing I know how to do really.

Congratulations.

In any case

I came to see you because

there has been a murder in our circus.

I heard that you're a famous detective

in Shanghai, so I'd like to ask for your help

in investigating the case.

Someone in the circus was murdered?

She was a performer in the circus.

Her name's Qiu Aiping.

During the vanishing act

she was found dead in the magician's cabinet.

Her hands and feet were bound.

There were throwing knives lodged in her chest

and there was a python wound around her neck.

Where is the circus?

What's this about a hermaphrodite?

I haven't been to a circus in years.

It's just a circus gimmick.

You'll understand when you see it.

Where exactly are we going?

You're being all secretive.

We're almost there. You'll see in a minute.

Stop the car!

Wenli...

I had no idea you were going to bring me here.

I'm sorry, Wenli. Please, stay calm.

I know this is where

your sister went missing all those years ago.

This place will bring up painful memories

but this is where the murder happened.

Even when I was in Paris

I'd dream of Wenfei in the dead of the night.

This building would appear in my nightmares

and I'd be jolted awake in a cold sweat.

I can't be here, all right?

- This is my nightmare. -I'm sorry.

Speaking of which

was your sister's case ever solved?

The police arrested a man called Ding Rushan.

He had kidnapped other girls her age

using a similar modus operandi.

He's in jail but the police

never found any direct evidence

to prove it was him who killed Wenfei.

It's my fault. I shouldn't have stirred up

these painful memories.

I'm sorry. I really can't come back here.

I understand.

How about I find someone else to help you?

OK.

Let's go.

Inspector Luo, please investigate this case

personally and give it your full attention.

I've already assigned someone to handle it.

You mean Inspector Wang Kaicheng?

Here's the thing, Inspector.

A while back, some gangsters

came to the circus to stir up trouble.

Our boss went to him for help.

He told us to give the gangsters some money

and they'll go away.

If we do that, what is the police for then?

This time, someone has been killed.

He was just as sloppy and careless as before.

He even contaminated the crime scene.

Inspector Wang doesn't sound professional.

The case is under their jurisdiction.

I have to give him a chance to do his job.

It wouldn't be appropriate for me

to interfere without good reason.

I don't care whether it's appropriate.

Isn't the police supposed to

uphold virtue and condemn evil?

To ensure that crime doesn't go unpunished

and to help victims obtain justice?

Well said.

But in reality, that's not always possible.

There'll always be murders victims

criminals who get away scot-free

and cases that remain unsolved.

Regrets is very much a part of life.

In every case you came across

you were always leading the charge.

So why aren't you handling this case yourself?

If we have to rely on Inspector Wang

we may as well forget about it.

Besides eating on other people's dime

and taking bribes, he's no good for anything.

Although Inspector Luo didn't say yes

I have faith that he'll help.

What hope do ordinary citizens like us have

of ever getting any help

from hotshot police inspectors?

Wenli.

I really hope you can help us.

I really want to, you know.

But that place...

it's just too hard for me.

I understand.

Although we call her a hermaphrodite

Qiu Aiping was just an ordinary person

like all of us.

She had a family and a child.

Perhaps Inspector Luo was right.

In this world, there'll always be

cases that remain unsolved.

Like your sister's case, for instance.

It's been ten years

and all it has left behind are regrets.

He was right about that.

Regrets is very much a part of life.

In any case, thank you.

See you around, Wenli.

See you.

All right, I'll talk to you later.

Inspector Luo, what is it?

I saw you talking with Miss Su just now.

She came to ask about the circus case.

How is it coming along?

How is this any of Miss Su's business?

It's not a particularly complicated case.

I'll solve it.

As the police, we aim to uphold justice

for every victim

and allow no crime to go unpunished.

You're right. Well said.

Here's what we'll do.

I'll assign Xiao'an to be your assistant.

Do your best to help Inspector Wang.

- But... -If Miss Su asks about this case

tell me at once.

- OK, Inspector. -I'll leave you to it then.

Inspector Luo...

Good day, Inspector.

Since Inspector Luo entrusted you to me

I'll strive to be a good mentor to you.

Thank you, Inspector.

Have a seat.

I think I should stand.

Sit.

Thank you.

Yes, sir.

This case is an unusual one.

- Indeed. -Do you know who died?

Someone from the circus.

A hermaphrodite.

What?

Do you want to know

what a hermaphrodite looks like?

Yes.

This one's too plain.

This won't do.

It'll make me look like an old lady.

- What about this? -This one?

This one's pretty, but it's too classy.

It's not gaudy enough, you know?

This one...

My goodness. Is this meant for a princess?

- No good. None of these work. -Miss Su.

We've gone through just about all your clothes.

Which do you prefer?

None of them. They're not flashy enough.

I want something with lace.

Something bold and sexy.

- Bold and sexy? -Something showy. Showy.

But none of your clothes are showy.

I'm quite sure I have a dress like that.

I know!

There's that one dress I can't stand.

- Where... where is it? -Hold on a minute.

- I hid it. -You hid it?

Here...

- Is this it? -That's it!

This is the one I was looking for.

But it's so ugly.

Taozi, you don't understand.

Circus performers are a close-knit group

who are wary of outsiders.

If you don't dress like one of them

they won't be honest with you.

This is just perfect.

Let alone confide in you.

This is it. I'll change into it now.

Miss Su, why don't you change in there?

All right.

Chen Zixin, let me make this clear.

I've just lost my best act, Qiu Aiping.

So don't you create any problems for me

But Boss, Xie Jiajun and I have never

practised the knife-throwing act together.

Now you want me to just go onstage and do it?

I... I'm scared.

What's there to be scared of?

What's the matter?

I asked her to partner with Xie Jiajun

for the knife-throwing act.

She's scared she'll get hit by a knife.

She's too afraid to do it.

Boss, Zixin has a point.

It's too risky to perform this act

without any practice.

You're scared you'd die?

All right, then you can do the belly dance.

I don't know how.

I'm not asking you to put on a genuine

Turkish belly dance show.

You think anyone knows how to do that?

But I'd have to bare my body...

You can't do this and you won't do that...

Shall I arrange a whole new act for you?

Who do you think you are?

If you don't want to do it

pack up your things and leave.

Why don't I give it a try?

Who are you?

You look quite familiar.

I get that all the time.

I think I have a common face.

What's your name?

Bai Lili. I've heard of Mr Jiang

and his legendary Rare Circus

so I came all the way here.

I heard you needed performers

so I was wondering if I could get a job here.

It's not an easy job.

I know.

So what can you do?

I can do whatever you want me to.

Good, good...

Give us a spin. Let's see how you look.

Boss, I'll do it.

Chen Zixin.

Are you doing the belly dance or not?

I'll do it.

She thinks she can be picky at my circus?

Lili, here's what I'm thinking.

I have a magician here named Xie Jiajun.

His assistant, Qiu Aiping, died.

I'm thinking of making you his assistant

or he won't be able to put on his act.

You got it. Thank you, Boss.

Learn from him and be a good partner.

Sure.

This is my assistant. Deng Siyuan.

- Nice to meet you. -Likewise.

- Show Lili around the place. -Sure.

So she can familiarise herself with it.

I have business to attend to.

I'll see you around, Boss.

What are you staring at? Get back to practice!

- Miss Bai Lili? -Go practise!

What brings you here?

I'm hoping to rid my life of regrets.

Bending steel is a lot easier than

getting you to change your mind.

Why don't you show me around?

Let's go. This way.

The folks here seem pretty wary of newcomers.

Especially now that we've had a murder.

Are you OK, Wenli?

Please call me Miss Bai Lili.

All right, Miss Bai Lili.

This was Qiu Aiping's room.

She did belly dancing too?

Qiu Aiping used to play the young male lead

in a run-down opera troupe.

She was beaten to within an inch of her life

by her creditors. Mr Jiang saved her

and brought her back to our circus.

Since she could look and sound masculine

our boss had her pretend to be

a hermaphrodite.

Her act was very well-received

and she became our main attraction.

Some of the customers were even willing to pay

to meet with her alone after the performance.

Mr Jiang certainly knows how to make money.

Mr Jiang isn't a bad person.

It's just hard making a living.

We do what we can to get by.

What is this?

Could it be that Qiu Aiping

was making more money than the rest of you

so someone got jealous

and stuffed her into the prop cabinet

wound a python around her

and stabbed her with four throwing knives?

Just over a bit of money? Surely not.

Besides, she didn't earn that much money.

If I'm not wrong, this is her account book.

How's the pay here at the circus?

According to Mr Jiang's rules

we all get the same pay

All right. Look at this.

In the first few pages, it's just copper coins

but then starting from here

she was earning silver yuan. See?

Was the boss secretly giving her bonuses?

But even if he were, surely no one would

get jealous over this paltry sum and kill her.

You never know.

The more one makes, the more one spends.

Look. What's this?

"Payment made to Tonghan Chuntang Medical Hall".

This is a large sum of money.

What's this about?

I have no idea.

We didn't interact much offstage.

She kept to herself.

The people who had more interactions with her

were the magician, Xie Jiajun

the unhappy lady you met earlier

and the Snake Lady, Feng Yingxia.

The Snake Lady, Feng Yingxia?

Well, then. As a newcomer

I should go over and introduce myself.

Are you new here?

Did I scare you?

Does it bite?

Bite?

I raised my baby from a hatchling.

It obeys me and no one else.

- It only bites other people. -Like who?

Did it bite the hermaphrodite Qiu Aiping?

What nonsense are you spouting?

She didn't die because my baby bit her.

I have no idea how

my baby got into the magician's cabinet

and wound itself around Qiu Aiping.

She was stabbed to death with throwing knives.

Throwing knives?

My baby must have been so scared.

Qiu Aiping was a woman

but she had to make herself

look like a hermaphrodite.

It must have been hard for her.

Well, if life is hard, it's because of

the bad things you've done in your past lives.

So what's there to complain about? Right?

Who complained to Xie Jiajun?

Who else? Qiu Aiping.

She was always whining. What a pain.

Xiao'an, this way.

City God Temple is this way.

Why are you in such a hurry?

Listen.

There's a nice little pub around the corner.

Let's grab a drink first. My treat.

No, Inspector Wang.

But it's the middle of the day

and we're on duty.

What are you afraid of?

Inspector Luo isn't here.

I know he's not here

but the circus case is quite urgent.

Let me tell you something.

In our line of work

we need some liquid courage.

There's a saying that goes

"A drink a day keeps the crooks away."

He's got a point.

Missing Girl At Rare Circus

Su Wenfei, ten years old

The circus...

Hand it over.

I said I don't have it!

- Hey, old man. -You don't have it?

Hand it over or you'll be sorry.

Where is it?

- I don't have it! -You don't have it?

- I don't have it! -You won't talk, huh?

- Stop! -Help!

Are you attacking the police? On your knees!

You, come over here!

Get over there.

I...

Mr Hu

Hu, it's you again?

Why are you always giving me trouble?

These two ruffians ransacked my house.

They even chased after me and beat me up.

You must punish them.

You're no saint yourself, old man.

We both know that.

Listen up.

I know what you were looking for.

Even if you were to turn my house upside down

you won't find it!

Enough. Stop making a racket.

You sly old fox.

Who started this?

Inspector Wang...

Did he say you could stand up?

You even had the nerve to attack the police!

You sly old fox!

What are you looking at?

Qiu Aiping had to play a hermaphrodite.

She must have been very unhappy.

Of course.

She got to make extra cash from it

but she was a woman after all.

She must have felt humiliated.

She got into a big fight with our boss last week.

She wanted to quit.

She was a cash cow.

Mr Jiang definitely wouldn't let her go.

Did the fight get out of control?

Are you suspecting our boss?

He wouldn't do that.

He may love money

but he's not a bad person.

He took me in when I was down and out.

Everyone here in the circus

is indebted to him in one way or another.

He's the father figure of our big family.

If you don't want to do it, get lost!

Didn't you say you'd do the belly dance?

- You won't even bare your belly? -I...

Well... he sure is kind and compassionate.

This way...

Who was that old man?

An old drunkard from Yongdeli.

His son is no better.

Another troublemaker that boy is.

That old man sure runs fast.

I can't believe I lost him.

And why do you think that is?

I can't run fast in this.

Got to learn to hold your liquor, huh?

It has nothing to do with that.

- But this... -Buddy.

Do you feel relaxed working with me?

- I do. -Right?

I've never been so relaxed on the job.

The more relaxed you are

the better you'll close cases.

- Understand? -Really?

Let's do some work.

This is the list of everyone in the circus.

While you're feeling relaxed

see if you can find us some leads.

I'm feeling motivated. I'll do it right now.

- Been drinking, have we? -Who's there?

I haven't been drinking.

Just one small drink. It won't affect my work.

So how many drinks would it take

before your work is affected?

Well, Inspector Wang said

"A drink a day keeps the crooks away."

This tea is cold.

Nonsense!

If I ever catch you drinking on duty again

you can take off your uniform and get lost!

Yes, Inspector.

Who was that meant for?

Lucky for me, I'm not wearing a uniform.

Don't worry, when we're doing the actual show

I won't be throwing so many knives.

How many will you be throwing?

Mr Jiang will read the numbers

called out by the audience.

I throw a knife for every number.

This won't go wrong, will it?

I rarely miss.

How rare is "rarely"?

One miss is all it takes.

Miss Bai Lili, I can promise you that

as long as you stay still

I won't harm a hair on your head.

How did you hurt your forehead?

I passed out and scraped my forehead

when we found Qiu Aiping dead.

I see. If it were me

I'd have fainted too

seeing my friend so brutally killed.

Qiu Aiping was no friend of mine.

She was always in a foul mood recently.

Two days before she died

she was in a quarrel with someone.

Who did she quarrel with?

Chen Zixin. They were quite loud.

I don't know what it was about.

Someone told me

Qiu Aiping confided in you.

Perhaps when she was confiding in you

she said something that got you upset.

Or perhaps...

she unwittingly offended you.

In any case, she died with your knives

plunged in her chest

What are you trying to say?

There's no way I would kill her!

My knives are kept on a rack by the entrance.

Anyone could have taken them.

This dress should do.

Are you crying because I took your job?

- No. -I didn't mean to take your job.

I'm just trying to make a living.

Besides, being a knife-thrower's assistant

is a dangerous job.

If you really want to do it

you can have it.

It has nothing to do with that.

Then you must be crying over Qiu Aiping.

You were close friends.

You must be grieving her death.

You're still in mourning.

I'm not fit to be her friend.

The last time I saw her

we got in a huge row.

If I'd known this would happen

I wouldn't have argued with her.

I would've helped her.

When was this row?

What did she want your help with?

It was two days before she was killed.

Aiping said

she had something to discuss with me

and she asked me to go to her room.

I got there and she told me

she needed to borrow money

for...

She wouldn't tell me what it was for.

Just that she was short by ten silver yuan.

I heard that she had told Boss

she wanted to quit and leave.

I was afraid she wouldn't pay me back

so I came up with some excuse

to not lend her the money.

That's understandable.

I regretted it the moment

I stepped out of her room.

We'd been friends for so many years.

She wouldn't have asked me for money

unless she really needed help.

So I went back to look for her.

- And I saw... -What did you see?

I saw her in Xie Jiajun's arms.

- Were they lovers? -I don't know.

I had no idea they were together.

I felt so betrayed when I saw them.

Was it because you liked Xie Jiajun too?

No, it wasn't like that.

I was upset because

Aiping and I had been friends for years

but she'd kept this a secret from me.

I felt like she didn't regard me as a friend.

I was really upset with her

and we got into a row.

I said some really mean things to her.

Inspector Wang.

I've run a background check

on everyone in the circus.

One of them has a criminal record.

What kind of a criminal record?

For fighting? Or gambling?

Murder.

According to the folks at the circus

this person had a huge row

with the victim before she died.

See?

The answer fell right into our laps.

Let's go. We're going to make an arrest.

Here, let's eat.

What is this slop?

Potatoes? Yam?

Quit your grumbling. Just eat it.

Here, I'll feed you.

I'm not eating it.

Hey, newbie.

What are you looking at?

He just joined us recently.

He's Ah Jie, the circus clown.

He has taken up with the Snake Lady?

We're always on the road.

That sort of thing happens all the time

Today's food is really bad

and the sight of you made me lose

what little appetite I had.

I've given you ample warning.

Don't go looking for trouble.

Come on. Hurry up and make the arrest

so we can close the case.

Inspector Wang, I think we got the wrong person.

No, we didn't. Listen.

You solved the case. You'll make the arrest.

The credit is all yours, OK?

It's not about the credit. She doesn't even...

She's there. Right there.

Sorry to disturb you. Are you Chen Zixin?

I knew the police would come for me.

You're not even denying it?

I actually thought you were innocent.

See? This is what we call a confession.

Look at her.

You can tell this isn't her first time.

Officers, what's going on here?

Why are you putting her in handcuffs?

Are you the ringmaster?

Someone here was murdered.

You reported the case yourself.

So why are you asking silly questions?

Chen Zixin?

How could Chen Zixin be the killer?

Who's the cop here, you or me?

She has confessed. What more is there to say?

Take her away.

After you, Miss Chen.

No need to be so polite.

She's a woman, be a gentleman!

Ridiculous!

- What was that about? -You didn't know?

It was in the newspapers.

What's this?

Read that article.

"Trapeze Artist Murders Fiancé".

Where did you get this old newspaper?

From the utility room in the circus.

The news report says Chen Zixin failed

to catch her fiancé on the trapeze

due to a slip of the hand

and he died in the fall.

Right before the incident, she had found out

that her fiancé was seeing another woman

and they had a huge fight.

Because of that she was arrested

as the prime suspect.

This is the follow-up report.

During the trial, it came out that

Chen Zixin had an epileptic seizure

during the trapeze act.

She had no control over her motor skills

and that was why she didn't catch her fiancé.

Prior to the incident, she didn't know

she was epileptic.

The fiancé's death was ruled an accident.

She was acquitted and released by the court.

Only a doctor can determine

whether she has epilepsy.

It doesn't rule her out as a suspect.

Sure.

But for the sake of closing the case quickly

certain irresponsible police officers

have used this old case as justification

to pin Qiu Aiping's murder on Chen Zixin.

Think about it. Can you imagine

Chen Zixin tying Qiu Aiping up

stabbing her with four throwing knives

and then winding a python around her neck?

Do you think a frail woman like her

could have done all that?

It sounds like

you already have a suspect in mind.

I have two suspects in mind at the moment.

The first is the magician, Xie Jiajun

because from what I found out

Qiu Aiping and Xie Jiajun were lovers.

More importantly, he wasn't willing to

make their relationship public.

Don't worry, I'll figure something out.

So you're saying Qiu Aiping wanted to

bring their relationship out into the open

and so he killed her to silence her?

Isn't that a bit far-fetched?

It's possible he didn't do it himself.

He fainted when he saw Qiu Aiping's body.

Based on his reaction

I'd say he didn't know about it.

He could have been faking it.

He fainted at too opportune a time.

He could've done it

to cast suspicion off himself.

Isn't he a circus performer?

He must be a good actor.

My second suspect is the Snake Lady

Feng Yingxia.

Her behaviour is very suspicious.

She has warned me several times

not to go poking around.

Also, I can see that she harbours

an unrequited affection for Xie Jiajun.

So, she killed Qiu Aiping out of jealousy.

I have a third suspect.

The circus owner, Jiang Weimiao.

Qiu Aiping was going to quit the circus.

She told Jiang Weimiao she wanted to leave.

Jiang Weimiao didn't want to lose

such a profitable performer

and the two of them had a huge row.

Excellent detective work, Miss Su.

I think you should come back

when you've narrowed down the suspect list.

Fine. Let's talk about something else then.

- What is it? -I want to see Chen Zixin.

- Who? -Chen Zixin.

She's being held in detention.

According to the rules

no visitors except family are allowed.

She doesn't even have a husband anymore.

What family does she have?

As her closest friend in the circus

I should have visitation rights.

"Her closest friend in the circus"?

Oh, I forgot to tell you.

I took over Qiu Aiping's job.

I'm now in the knife-throwing act

with the magician, Xie Jiajun.

You've joined the circus?

Do you want to come watch my act?

Do I get a free ticket?

Of course. I'll sneak you in.

I'll consider it.

Eat something. Don't starve yourself.

What does it matter?

Someone like me have no right to live.

Your husband's death was an accident.

You're not to blame. It wasn't your fault.

I don't even remember much

about the trapeze accident.

It's something I rather not think about.

I heard from Siyuan that

you'd been taking medicine for epilepsy.

I wanted to get my epilepsy treated

but after I started taking the medicine

I didn't even have the energy to talk.

So, you stopped taking the medicine.

Yes.

That night, after I went to look for Aiping

I could feel my epilepsy coming on

because I was so worked up

so I took some medicine.

When I came to, I was in my own tent.

I have no recollection of what had happened.

I'm afraid that I might have...

You're afraid that you acted like

someone who was sleepwalking.

Don't worry.

Those suffering from epileptic seizures

don't have the ability to hurt anyone.

Do you know why Qiu Aiping asked you

to lend her money?

I...

I shouldn't let her secret out.

Zixin, this is a very critical piece

of information that can help the police

solve the case.

Aiping had a lover

and they had a son together.

But the child was born

with a congenital heart defect.

When the man found out about it

he walked out on them.

Aiping borrowed money wherever she could

and was almost beaten to death by her creditors.

She joined the circus

and worked really hard to make money.

She was saving up to bring her son

to Hong Kong for surgery.

I've seen her account book.

Besides her salary

she had other sources of income.

Do you know about that?

Yes.

I've asked her about it several times

but she wouldn't tell me.

She even told me to stay out of it.

I felt really hurt.

I thought she'd found

some other way to make money

but she didn't want to tell me.

Maybe she was trying to protect you.

I've wronged her. Our lives were hard.

We'd helped each other for so many years

but in the end, I doubted her

instead of lending her a hand.

Inspector Luo!

Inspector Luo!

Inspector Luo?

You sly old fox. What are you doing here?

- What do you want? -It's you.

It's no use telling you.

Hurry up and get Inspector Luo for me.

Inspector Luo isn't here. Don't...

- Don't wander around! -Inspector Luo!

You can't hang around here, old man.

- Go on, get out. -What's going on here?

- It's fine... -Inspector Luo!

- Stop shouting. -I'm telling you.

I have something to report

and it's a matter of life and death.

That's enough out of you...

- It's you, Hu. -Inspector.

Qiuheng, my boy.

You're looking better than ever.

You really must learn from Inspector Luo.

In the whole of Shanghai, he's...

In the whole of Shanghai

he's the best police officer.

Qiuheng, my boy.

You arrested me on your second day of work.

Let me tell you this. I'm the first criminal

that Inspector Luo personally arrested.

And you're proud of it?

You remember, don't you?

Of course. I chased you for three streets.

But you can't outrun me now.

Tell me.

Why are you looking for me?

Listen.

Green Gang is coming after me.

Look, Inspector. Inspector Wang and I

were out for a drink...

I mean, we were out on patrol

when we saw Green Gang harassing Hu.

So I stopped them.

Stopped them? You?

You think you can stop them?

I'm telling you, it's not me they are after.

It's Haoxuan.

They were looking for Haoxuan's loot.

They can dream on!

- Who's that? -Hu Haoxuan, his son.

He was given five years for robbing a bank.

He's innocent.

That's what you say. The court disagreed.

If your son really were innocent

why would he have a loot?

And why would Green Gang be after him?

Look at me. I'm so drunk

I'm getting a bit loose-lipped.

I'm old and useless now.

Did you come here to seek help from the police?

I don't need your help.

Those ruffians are no match for me.

He's drunk. Xiao'an?

Escort him home.

You're asking me to escort him?

Fine.

Why don't you go and question Chen Zixin then?

Sure. But I don't think it's time yet.

Inspector Wang told me she's a nervous wreck.

I'm to question her after she breaks down.

What?

He said people confess when they're nervous.

Are you waiting for her to have a seizure

to question her? Take him home now!

And check for any suspicious activity nearby.

Forget it. I don't need an escort.

What use is he?

I can manage on my own.

Wait up.

- Are you done questioning her? -Yes.

How did it go? Any new leads?

Do you really want to know?

Let's do a trade.

I want to see the deceased.

Morgue

Tell me you aren't here because you're curious

what a hermaphrodite looks like too.

There's no such thing as a hermaphrodite.

She was a woman.

She lived through so much humiliation.

She was a mother.

She worked so hard to make money

because she was saving up

to bring her son who has

a congenital heart defect for surgery.

Look at her neck and chest.

That bruising doesn't look like a python's doing.

Looks more like ligature marks left by a rope.

You're right.

The victim was strangled to death with a rope.

The python and the throwing knives

were all added afterwards.

Presumably to scare everyone

and to mislead the investigation.

Inflicting such excessive injuries...

Could the killer be sending out a warning?

But a warning to whom?

Look at me. I'm fine.

I told you I don't need an escort.

But Inspector Luo insisted...

insisted you... escort me.

Come in and sit for a bit.

I'll get you a drink.

Here, this is where I live.

Those ruffians must have

broken into my house again.

- Be careful. -Freeze!

- Are you OK? -I've been shot.

You really are a greenhorn.

- Let me have a look. -Don't touch it!

It's nothing. The bullet just grazed you.

Let me check my house

and I'll bring you back to the police station.

Hang in there for a bit.