Miss S (2020–…): Season 1, Episode 26 - The Strange Circus Part 2 - full transcript

- 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 it.

Let me go in the house and have a look

before I walk you back to the police station.

Hang in there for a bit.

Hutuxian Wine

Haoxuan?

What? Which number?

I can't hear you!



16?

Yes!

16 it is!

Bravo!

Not bad, Miss Lili.

How did I do compared to Miss Qiu?

Why must you bring her up?

Because I know you and her were lovers.

What has that got to do with you?

Mind your own business!

If you ask me

you must have a plant in the audience.

- Yeah! -He's right!

This gentleman suspects we have a plant.



Very well. You pick a number!

- All right? -Yes!

Which number?

- 24! -24!

24...

24?

- 24 it is! -Yes!

Bravo!

Bravo!

Bravo... bravo!

Mr Xie, you wanted me dead just because

I know about you and Qiu Aiping?

I'm sorry about just now.

That knife nearly hit you.

But if you hadn't mentioned her

I wouldn't have gotten worked up.

I understand how you feel.

It is a painful experience

to see someone you love die before you.

I've been through it myself.

How did you find out about us?

I went to the police station

and talked to Chen Zixin.

She was the one who told me

about you and Qiu Aiping.

I know why you wanted

to keep your relationship a secret.

Everyone thought she was a hermaphrodite.

Someone neither male nor female.

If you and Qiu Aiping got found out

not only would it anger your boss

it would also tarnish your reputation, right?

I loved her. And she loved me.

But we had to keep our relationship a secret

because of who we are.

I'm heartsick over her death.

There's no way I could have hurt her.

Chen Zixin said someone was secretly

giving Qiu Aiping money.

Do you know who it was?

I'm sorry, I have nothing to say.

Because you're afraid

you'll end up like Qiu Aiping

and meet an untimely death?

Are you all right?

Inspector Luo? Inspector Luo!

I've brought your trusted subordinate back.

What happened?

I got grazed by a bullet.

- Go and get the first-aid kit. -Yes, sir.

There was someone in Hu's house.

He probably saw that I was a police officer...

so we got into a scuffle.

He's no better than this baton.

Dense and wooden.

He was completely useless.

It's just a graze.

You're fine.

What's this?

It must have come from the thief.

- I didn't notice it. -Listen.

That man wasn't a thief.

It was my son. He came home to get some things.

Your son?

- Hu Haoxuan? -Yes.

Wasn't he put in prison three years ago

for committing a robbery?

Think about it. Who else but Haoxuan

would have brought me Hutuxian wine?

He took our family photo too.

His sentence isn't up yet. How did he get out?

That's a question for the police.

So it was your son who shot me?

Hey, you shot yourself in the scuffle.

Don't blame it on him.

You couldn't even stay on your feet in a fight.

You're the most feeble police officer I've met.

I stayed on my feet!

Whatever you say.

I really did stay on my feet!

Hello?

What?

When did this happen?

OK... I'm coming over right now.

Xiao'an... Xiao'an!

Taozi.

- What happened? -I'm fine.

Who shot you?

I did.

Are you hurt?

Where are you hurt? Your leg?

- Don't touch him! -You did that on purpose!

- Toughen up. -How could the police do this?

How could you assign an inexperienced rookie

to such a dangerous task?

If anything happens to Xiao'an's leg

I'll never forgive you!

My, aren't you articulate.

Who are you?

My girlfriend.

Her name is Taozi.

Miss Taozi.

Don't you worry.

Even if he ended up crippled

he'd still be in one piece, isn't that right?

Your girlfriend's quite impressive.

She talks like a lawyer.

Remove your hand.

- Whoa, lawyer. -I'm not a lawyer.

I'm assistant to the great detective

Miss Su Wenli.

I should have known.

Like master, like servant.

Please get your facts straight.

I didn't assign your boyfriend to this task.

It was me. I assigned him the task.

I asked him to escort me home.

He bumped into my son.

He got shot because of my son.

You drink like a fish. And you talk too much.

All right, Inspector Luo.

Which one of us is taking him home?

Forget it. His house isn't safe.

He can stay here for now.

Here? At the police station?

In the holding cell.

Not like it's his first time here.

He's a regular.

I'm fine.

The cell is full.

Here comes another old man.

All of Shanghai's heroes are here tonight.

You're putting him in a cell with her?

- What if... -What if what?

You're worried he might harass her

when he sobers up?

She's no ordinary woman.

- She's a murderer! -A murderer?

I'm more worried for him than I am for her.

Who's a murderer?

Hey, old man.

It's not every day

you're in holding with a woman.

Make the most of it.

- Shut up! -Quiet!

Sit down!

- Buddy. -Who are you calling buddy?

Isn't she the bar wench?

You're the bar wench, aren't you?

Sit down!

I'm still here.

Don't worry. This old man only likes liquor

not women.

But watch out. He might vomit.

Liquor is nice.

Bring me some liquor!

Liquor...

Liquor is good.

It's good.

You're a grown man.

Why were you so careless?

I'm fine.

You can't bear seeing me injured?

What's wrong? Does it hurt?

Just kidding.

That really does hurt.

That'll teach you not to be rash.

It doesn't hurt anymore.

It's much better now.

Are you staying here tonight?

I'll be staying in the duty-room.

I... I'll be off then.

Yes, you'd better get home.

Turn in early, all right?

What's that on your face?

- Let me see. -Where?

What time will you be done today?

My last act is at 3.00pm.

I'll be waiting for you in your room then.

I have to go.

What are you looking at?

Nothing.

I thought you were sweet on Xie Jiajun.

You think I'm seeing Ah Jie?

We were talking about money.

In our line of work

you won't earn much without connections.

As the saying goes

there's no life without money.

Sometimes

money is even more important than life.

Understand?

Boss is taking his afternoon nap.

If we don't wake him up

how do we make our move?

All right. I'll go wake him up.

Boss? Boss?

Wake up.

Your monkeys won't ride their bicycles again.

Can you go and train them?

Not only do I have to train people

now I have to train animals too?

Hurry...

Bring this out.

Hold on.

I've got it.

It's a combination lock.

We can't open it without the combination.

We don't have the time to crack the combination.

Siyuan, put your muscles to use.

Leave it to me.

Marvellous!

What's this?

I think it's an animal sedative.

It keeps the tiger calm onstage

during the tiger-taming act.

It's a whole roll of silver coins.

And it's brand new.

What's wrong with it?

Most people get silver coins

through their wages or from trading goods.

So it's usually an assortment of coins

minted in different years.

There are only two explanations

for a whole roll of identical silver coins.

Either he's extremely wealthy

or he got them robbing a bank.

I think my boss has his ways.

His ways might not be legal.

Bring this to Inspector Luo

at the Central Police Station.

What about you?

I have something else to do.

OK.

Jici Hospital

This is a strong sedative.

Just this amount

is enough to knock out a black bear.

What if it were used on a person?

He'll probably die

but that also depends on the dosage.

At the right dosage...

What will happen?

Hello. I'm looking for Inspector Luo.

Miss Su has important physical evidence for him.

Come with me.

The 21st year of the Republic of China...

There's a Hengtong Bank stamp on it.

So it must be from Hengtong Bank.

It fits with the robbery case.

The silver coins minted

in the 21st year of the Republic of China

had linking strokes in one of

the Chinese characters on the coin.

Coins minted after that year

have no linking strokes.

I see the linking strokes. It's minted

in the 21st year of the Republic of China.

These silver coins should have been

in circulation three years ago

yet these are brand new.

They've been tucked away all this time.

I believe this is part of the loot

from the robbery Hu Haoxuan committed.

But how did it end up with Jiang Weimiao?

Although the bank robbery case was solved

a portion of the money was never found.

For some reason

it fell into Jiang Weimiao's hands.

Even so, Hu Haoxuan is still in prison.

Where did this money come from?

The man you saw last night at Hu's house

was most probably Hu Haoxuan.

You mean he broke out of prison?

Transfer me to Tilanqiao Prison.

I'm Luo Qiuheng from the Central Police Station.

I want to inquire about

the status of a prisoner named Hu Haoxuan.

All right. Thank you.

What did they say, sir?

Hu Haoxuan is dead.

Dead?

Come and see the show!

A tantalising performance

by enchanting long-haired beauties!

How much is a ticket?

Five copper coins for a ticket.

Five copper coins?

That's a bit pricey.

Five coins to see six lovely ladies.

You call that pricey?

There's also a special show.

- You know what I mean. -All right.

Here.

Inspector Wang.

You're not here to make trouble, are you?

I'm here to support the show.

Why would I make trouble?

Unless your show corrupts public morals

or violates the law.

You're the one who decides

if our show corrupts public morals.

- Two tickets, please. -Here.

Just this once.

Smart girl.

Enjoy the show.

The show's about to begin.

You've magicked yourself into the circus now.

Inspector Wang, what are you doing here?

Can't I be here?

I'd like to know what you're doing here, Miss Su.

Dressed in this outfit, no less.

This kind of place isn't suitable

for a fine lady such as yourself.

Miss Su does not hesitate

to appear in a den of iniquity

to unmask a killer and uphold justice.

And without seeking money or gain either.

Brilliant. Well said.

Unfortunately, I've stolen your thunder.

I've already caught the killer.

It's Chen Zixin.

You've arrested the wrong person.

Qiu Aiping wasn't killed by the throwing knives

nor was she strangled to death by the python.

She was strangled to death with a rope. Right?

I'm sorry, but we've also found the rope.

- Where was it? -At Chen Zixin's house.

All that means is someone's trying to frame her.

Evidence is evidence.

One question, Inspector Wang.

You believe Chen Zixin is the killer.

So what's her motive?

You'll have to ask her that.

My job is to make the arrest.

So you just arrest someone at whim

wait for them to confess their motive

and meanwhile you get to continue

your drinking and merry-making?

You...

Inspector Wang.

Are you assaulting a police officer?

You'll be sorry if you act impetuously.

Does your family own the police station?

You already have one inspector

bowing to your every whim.

- Is that not enough for you? -Not at all.

Inspector Luo, there you are.

So? Any news about Haoxuan?

That boy is smart and capable.

Has he really escaped from prison?

Take a seat.

I have something to tell you.

You'd better steel yourself.

About a month ago, your son got into a fight

with another inmate. He was seriously injured

and the hospital couldn't save him.

- He's dead. -Impossible.

That's impossible.

The prison sent you a death notice

but the address you gave

was three years out of date.

You probably didn't receive it.

So they buried him.

First, they said my son robbed a bank.

Now, they're saying my son is dead.

They're all framing my son.

Inspector Luo, I'm begging you!

I'm begging you, Inspector Luo!

I'm telling you, my son isn't dead!

He's still...

He... He even brought me liquor last night.

They're all framing my son.

Inspector Luo, please...

Stand up.

Look. He's such a good boy.

Does he look like a robber?

He's a good boy.

This is your son?

Yes. Look...

- Stand up. -He's a good boy.

Excuse me, Inspector Luo.

I'd like to speak with you in private.

Inspector Luo, you may not believe me

but I'm sure I've seen the man in Hu's photo.

- Where did you see him? -At the circus.

The boss took him on not long ago.

He plays the clown. His name is Ah Jie.

I saw him right before I was arrested.

- Are you sure? -I'm sure.

Although he's always dressed up as a clown

I once walked in on him when he was

removing his make-up in the dressing room.

I'm certain he's the person in the photo.

Inspector Luo, I was just heading out

for my act at the circus.

Let's talk when I get back.

Don't rush off just yet. Look at this.

That's Ah Jie. I've met him.

What are you looking at?

He's an oddball. At the circus

even when he's not performing

his face is always covered

in a thick layer of white greasepaint.

He's always with the Snake Lady, Feng Yingxia.

He's also very paranoid.

The marks Xiao'an got on his hands at Hu's

last night must've been white greasepaint.

What is this?

It must have come from the thief.

I didn't notice it.

That thief was most likely Hu's son

Hu Haoxuan.

But Tilanqiao Prison has declared him dead.

They even buried the body.

How did he escape to the circus?

How, indeed?

Why don't we continue this when I get back?

I need to leave for my act now.

I'm about to be late, Inspector.

You head back to the police station.

- Don't act on your own. -I won't.

"Don't act on your own".

"Don't act on your own".

Please don't come back to haunt us.

We have no choice, O' Revered Spirits.

We have no choice...

What are you mumbling about?

I'm nervous.

Slowly.

There was no body. The coffin was empty.

The muscle man, Deng, said the coffin was

a modified version of the magician's cabinet.

It has a mechanism

for whomever is inside to get out.

Looks like Hu Haoxuan really is alive.

He pulled off a vanishing act.

But how did he fool the prison authorities?

I found a whole box of sedatives

in Mr Jiang's safe.

I've asked Liu Ruqing to test them for me.

These are animal sedatives.

At high dosage, it's fatal

for both animals and humans.

However, at the right dosage

it has a peculiar effect.

What sort of effect?

It temporarily halts the breathing

and the heartbeat of the subject.

Take a bottle with you

and go to the police station.

Tell Inspector Luo about this sedative.

- OK. -OK.

- Where are you going, Miss Su? -To the circus.

The show is about to begin. I'm running late.

Tell Inspector Luo I'll see him at the circus.

The show is about to begin. Where's Lili?

I haven't seen hide nor hair of her.

I don't know.

Look at this. What's becoming of this circus?

Your last two assistants...

one's dead and the other's detained by the police.

I hired Lili to be your new assistant

and now it turns out she's not reliable either.

So much for our vanishing act.

We may as well call it the Dying Act.

Boss.

I can be Jiajun's assistant.

- Can you manage? -Of course!

This scene has already played out in my mind

thousands of times.

Fine, fine. You do it then.

We have no choice. You're all we've got.

A sedative?

Inspector.

The inmate who got into the fight

with Hu Haoxuan is dead too.

- What's his name? -Ding Rushan.

What?

Ding Rushan.

Miss Su thinks it was Ding Rushan

who kidnapped and killed her sister.

Ding Rushan is dead?

Has he been buried?

Yes.

Let's go. We're going to the circus.

Ladies and gentlemen

let's welcome our magician

to bring you the highlight of tonight's show.

The Vanishing Act!

- All right! -Bravo!

What's going on?

What is she doing in there?

I'm sure you must all be wondering

how I appeared in that cabinet.

I'm Xie Jiajun's assistant, Bai Lili.

But who I really am is a detective.

Today, I shall reveal to you

the secret of the vanishing act.

Lili, what are you doing?

I'm sure you all remember

that a few days ago

the body of the hermaphrodite, Qiu Aiping

appeared in this cabinet.

With a python wound around her

and four knives plunged into her chest.

The police's autopsy report indicated

that Miss Qiu was choked to death.

She was strangled with a rope.

You're right.

The victim was strangled to death with a rope.

The python and the throwing knives

were all added afterwards.

Miss Qiu was strangled to death with a rope.

It wasn't the python

or the knives that killed her.

Which means the python and knives

were added by the killer afterwards.

Why did the killer do this?

I think he wanted to send out a warning

to certain individuals to toe the line.

Otherwise, they would end up like Miss Qiu

and die a violent death.

So, who is the killer?

In this circus

only one person has a criminal record.

And that is Miss Chen Zixin.

A few years ago, due to her epilepsy

Miss Chen failed to catch her husband

on the trapeze and he plunged to his death.

Because of this, our sloppy police inspector

concluded that since Miss Chen

has a criminal record

she must have killed Miss Qiu.

In reality, however, Miss Chen and Miss Qiu

were close friends.

She had no motive to kill her.

Moreover, during the time of Miss Qiu's death

Miss Chen Zixin was suffering

from an epileptic seizure

and wasn't capable of killing anyone.

Nevertheless, the sloppy police inspector

insists that he found the murder weapon

in Miss Chen's room.

I've already caught the killer.

It's Chen Zixin.

Qiu Aiping wasn't killed by the throwing knives

nor was she strangled to death by the python.

She was strangled to death with a rope, right?

I'm sorry, but we've also found the rope.

Obviously, Miss Chen was framed.

But who was it that framed her?

Was it you?

Because you fancy Xie Jiajun

and you knew Xie Jiajun and Qiu Aiping

were lovers

so you killed her out of jealousy?

Or perhaps it was the boss, Mr Jiang?

Because Qiu Aiping didn't want to play

the role of the hermaphrodite anymore.

She also refused to be a stripper

and wanted to leave the circus.

You were at risk of losing your cash cow

so you killed her out of anger?

It wasn't me.

Or it could also be someone

who had no relationship with Qiu Aiping.

For instance, the newcomer, Ah Jie.

Or should I call you Hu Haoxuan?

Mr Jiang, I'm sure you must have noticed

that your safe was broken into.

I apologise. Please forgive my curiosity.

That said, I discovered a lot of secrets

in your safe.

You're the mastermind

behind the Hengtong Bank robbery...

Hu Haoxuan.

You should be in prison right now.

How are you here at the circus instead?

Nonsense!

I believe the key to it is right here.

This is a strong sedative.

Just this amount

is enough to knock out a black bear.

What if it were used on a person?

At the right dosage

it'd stop his breathing and pulse temporarily

creating an illusion of death.

At the right dosage

it'll cause a person's breathing and pulse

to stop for three to five minutes.

The effect is only temporary.

The phenomenon is known as

suspended animation.

Someone stole this bottle of sedative

and smuggled it to you in prison.

You feigned a fight with your cellmate

to get yourself injured

so you could use the sedative to fake your death.

You were put in a coffin

that was a modified magician's cabinet.

You escaped the coffin and used

a gunny sack of sand to take your place.

And that's how you got out of prison

with everyone none the wiser.

Ladies and gentlemen.

Have you seen a more mind-blowing act?

As for why the bank robbery loot

was in Mr Jiang's safe

I presume it was payment for

this brilliant vanishing act from prison.

You can't escape this time, Hu Haoxuan.

- It wasn't my idea. -No need to be modest.

Someone else planned the escape.

He was also the one who got

the animal sedative from the circus.

He's an expert on drugs

and he knows the right dose to administer.

He got the magician to make that coffin.

Tell me who this brilliant criminal is.

He was my cellmate.

His name is Ding Rushan.

Ding Rushan.

You were in this with him?

Did he escape from prison too?

I don't know.

He said he'd meet me at the circus

but he never showed up.

Where is he?

Where is he!

Miss Su.

Why are you so worked up?

Put your gun down.

I knew he couldn't pull off a prison break

without at least one police officer

helping him on the inside.

So, it was you, Inspector Wang.

Sometimes

being too smart isn't a good thing.

Be a good girl.

Come with me and don't put up a fight.

Inspector Wang, why are you doing this?

You don't have to do this.

Shut up.

We're all in trouble here.

You still want to play Mr Good Guy?

Move!

Mr Jiang, come with us.

Come on, let's go!

Inspector Wang, I really don't think

we have to take it this far.

Miss Bai may have exposed what we did

but to err is human, to forgive divine.

Besides, murder is punishable by death!

Shut up.

I've already killed once.

It makes no difference how many more I kill.

If Qiu Aiping had played by the rules

our activities wouldn't have come to light.

It's all because you coddle them!

Then... just give her a warning.

Is it really necessary to kill her?

Killing her sends a warning to everyone.

Those who disobey me will die.

What did Qiu Aiping do?

Why did you have to kill her?

Stop there.

Hu Haoxuan.

Go and dig a hole under the tree.

We'll need to bury her body.

Qiu Aiping got too greedy.

She was asking for trouble.

I shouldn't have dragged her into this.

Think about it.

She helped us out just once

but she used it to blackmail me.

I had to pay her off again and again.

She must have taken me for a fool.

I shouldn't have listened to you.

Qiu Aiping would still be alive then.

Having regrets, are we?

Very well.

Then once we're done burying her

we'll bury you too.

I won't say anything.

Where is Ding Rushan?

You're about to die.

Why are you still asking so many questions?

At least let me die knowing the truth.

You're right.

I can do that.

I'll tell you the truth.

This is all Ding Rushan's idea.

Hu Haoxuan worked on the inside

and I worked from the outside.

We were partners.

He paid me, and I did my part.

As for where he is, I really have no idea.

Ding Rushan escaped the death sentence

because the police couldn't provide solid evidence

to prove that he's a murderer.

After seeing all that's happened today

I have reason to believe that Ding Rushan

was the one who murdered my sister.

I'm not going to let him off for what he did.

All right. You may be right.

But I'm certainly not going to let you off.

You know too much.

Whatever you have against him

you'll just have to settle it with him

in the underworld.

Are you ready to die, Miss Su?

Freeze!

Inspector Luo.

We're colleagues.

Surely you wouldn't shoot me?

How dare you hurt my woman!

Arrest him.

Come on!

I'm sorry, Inspector...

- My hands are still bound... -Shush.

Just let me hold you for a while.

Inspector, I've called the station.

A backup team will be here shortly.

Take them back to the station first.

Yes, sir.

- Let's go. -Don't touch me.

I can walk on my own.

Siyuan, are you all right?

It's nothing serious, Boss.

I'm sorry.

My boss won't be sentenced to death, will he?

No.

He wasn't the mastermind

but this circus definitely won't survive.

You'll have to find another job.

It's been so many years.

This circus has been my home for so long.

Now it's all gone, just like that.

Miss Chen, you're free to go.

We've arrested the real killer.

Thank you, Inspector Luo.

There's someone here to see you.

Haoxuan?

Dad.

Thank God you're alive...

Dad.

Repent and be saved

Have you found any leads?

Where's Ding Rushan?

Sit down.

Ding Rushan is dead.

I've checked with Tilanqiao Prison.

When an inmate dies in prison

and no one claims the body

it will be buried in a public cemetery.

Hu Haoxuan made use of this loophole to escape.

But after Ding Rushan died

one of his distant cousins claimed his body

and had him cremated.

He's dead?

I'm afraid your sister's case

will remain unsolved.

In truth...

I've known for a long time, deep down.

All these years, I have never given up.

I put all my energy into

investigating her disappearance.

But for all the investigation I've done

I knew the truth all along.

All those years ago

I was so absorbed watching the circus act

I didn't notice my sister had wandered off.

By the time I noticed

she was nowhere to be found.

Ladies and gentlemen

let us all witness the thrill of teleportation.

Is the girl still here in this cabinet?

Or has she vanished

into the dark of the night?