Noble House (1988) s01e02 Episode Script
Part 2
- Hello, Taipan.
- Good evening.
- You're right on time.
- How has your day been? - Up and down.
How was yours? - lt's busy, but we're getting there.
Our head counsel and tax attorney, Seymour Steigler, is coming on Thursday.
We went over some of the details on the phone.
He doesn't think there'll be any problem closing it.
Good.
What type of food would you like for dinner? - How about Chinese? - Sorry? You've got to be more specific.
That's like saying you want European food.
Well, egg roll, sweet and sour, chop suey, fried rice.
Just no snake or dog or anything like that.
Snake is very good in season, especially the bile mixed with tea, and a little young chow dog stewed in oyster sauce.
Oh, no.
Have you eaten-- They tell me it was true.
But don't worry.
Tonight it'll be egg rolls and chop suey, if we can find someone who knows how to make it.
Would you like to see something first-- something l think may stimulate your appetite? What's that? Gold.
99.
99% pure in the regulation 35-ounce bars.
25 bars per crate.
Six crates times You're looking at almost two and a half million bucks.
Yes.
ln the old days, gold in Hong Kong was mostly in what they called smuggler bars.
They weighed just a little over six ounces, and a good courier could carry over 200 of them, or so they tell me.
Seems that everything here has a story attached to it.
Well, Hong Kong may not have a very long history compared to Europe or the States, but it's all quite colorful.
Quite wonderful, too.
The charm of Hong Kong must be getting to you.
- Everything about it.
- OK if l pick it up? Help yourself.
Real money.
Yes.
Gold does have quality of permanence.
This yours? No.
All of this belongs to Lando Mata's Macao gambling concession.
He's shifting it from here to Victoria Bank.
Does that mean Ho-Pak's going belly up? Gold gets moved around all the time.
l don't suppose Struan's has much money tied up here.
There are many banks in Hong Kong.
We deal with quite a few of them.
l could use a bottle of beer.
This much money makes me real thirsty.
But you promised you'd take me.
My wife changed her mind.
Now she's going, so l can't.
But everyone will be at the party.
l have to go.
Tell your wife to be sick.
Oh, my little flower heart-- You promised.
l'll see you afterwards.
Afterwards l'll be tired.
First you promise me a mink coat and you never gave it to me, and now you won't take me to Tsu Chu Te's party? You don't love me anymore.
Of course l love you.
Don't l pay for this apartment, your clothes? l'll accept Four Finger Wu's invitation.
That's what l'll do.
What? That foul old man? Has he been-- At least he doesn't break his promises.
And he invited me to Tsu Chu Te's party.
You won't go with him.
l forbid it.
Where's my mink coat? Probably on your wife's back.
l told you.
lt'll be ready Friday.
Promise on all the gods? l promise! There.
Oh, now you've given me a headache.
Oh, you poor man.
l'll make it better for you.
Oh You're getting to like it here.
Anything in particular change your mind? Why? You're starting to make me nervous, Casey.
How? Just for the way you look at lan Dunross.
You could keep your eyes on him all night.
What are you, my father all of a sudden? No, your boss.
You work for me, remember? And l do a damn good job.
And that's the way l want to keep it.
This is a business trip.
lt's not a romantic holiday.
l don't want your emotions interfering with my plans.
Kind of overreacting, aren't you? Yeah.
Maybe l am.
But no romance, especially not with lan Dunross.
Pick another guy, another time, another place.
You're the boss.
You bet l am.
How's my investment this morning? She's a fine horse, Mr.
Gornt.
Yeah.
What's so bloody important? Did you see the way Noble Star charged the wire? lt's 6:30 in the morning, Brian.
l've been up all night, Robert, working for both of us, so l thought you could buy me some dim sum for breakfast.
Working? When? At the taipan's party? l heard you were there the other night.
lt's all work, isn't it, whatever we do? Besides, lan's a friend.
Oh, you and your bloody friends.
All right, let's have it.
What did you hear? There's a $100,000 reward waiting for whoever finds John Chen.
Offered by whom? That's the part l didn't get, but $100,000, Robert.
There's got to be something special about John, Or John's got something that's very special to someone else.
lf it's true.
And you woke me up for that.
l woke you up because l was hungry and it's your turn to buy.
Oh, you're a terrible man.
She's a trier.
Noble Star is a real trier.
What about Saturday? l'll be very unhappy if Noble Star loses to Pilot Fish.
Mr.
Gornt has a good horse there-- a serious threat.
l want Noble Star to win, Alexej.
ln that case, l suggest you ride Noble Star yourself, Taipan.
l'm considering it.
l would not advise it.
l know.
l'll see you tomorrow.
Come on, girl.
You called this meeting, Mr.
Bartlett.
You convinced me, Mr.
Gornt.
l'm not quite sure how you pulled it off, but the Ho-Pak is looking very dead.
And the Noble House is still alive, thanks to you.
Yes, l heard you closed your deal with Dunross.
ln principle.
But not in fact? What are you saying, Mr.
Bartlett? How's your cash flow? l've already told you.
l'm 20 times stronger than Struan's.
lf you were 20 times stronger, Mr.
Gornt, you'd be the Noble House.
l asked you a serious question.
Either give me a serious answer, or drop me off at the next corner.
All right.
What exactly do you want to know? And if Victoria Bank went against him and there was nowhere else that Dunross could get credit, it would only be a question of timing.
The right moment, and Noble House would be wide open for a takeover.
Where the hell did you get all this information? l got Struan's balance sheets for the last seven years.
That's impossible.
You want to bet? No.
No, l don't.
Where is your executive vice president? Shouldn't-- Casey's not in on this, not yet.
Besides, l'm the boss of Par-Con.
l never doubted that, Mr.
Bartlett.
What do you have in mind? A raid on the Noble House.
- lt's been tried before.
- Not by me.
What do you want me to do? The same thing you did with Ho-Pak.
l want you to start rumors.
As soon as the market opens, you sell Struan's short.
Let everybody know that the price of the Noble House stock is gonna drop like a supermarket sale.
lt'll make Struan's the special of the day, marked down $10 a share.
And what will you do? Nothing.
Simple as that.
For you, perhaps.
l'll be the one that'll be exposed.
lt'll be my money at risk.
Now, l may despise lan Dunross, but l don't think he's a fool, and l'd never underestimate him.
lf l sell Struan's short and Dunross can keep the stock from falling, then l'm the one that's vulnerable.
Not if l cover all your losses.
All? l pay all the losses and take half the profit for today, tomorrow, and Friday.
lf we don't have him on the run by close of business Friday, we've failed, but if Dunross is ready to go, l'll pull the rug out from under the Noble House on Monday, and it'll fall.
lf you're willing to do this to Dunross, how do l know you won't do it to me? l'll put four million in any Swiss bank you name by 10:00 this morning.
That's 31 million Hong Kong, which sure as hell is enough to cover any losses.
Four million.
No strings, no paper, no promissory note.
Just your word.
My word? lt sounds too good to be true, Mr.
Bartlett.
Where's the catch? First you do a deal with Dunross.
Now you give me the chance to destroy him.
ls it something personal? Just business, Mr.
Gornt.
l don't owe Dunross anything, and he doesn't owe me.
l'll think over your proposition and give you an answer by noon.
Now, Mr.
Gornt.
Right now or not at all.
The Bank of Switzerland and Zurich.
Account number 181819.
l'll write that down for you.
No need.
The four million will be there by 10:00.
And if we fail? l'll lose my money.
A rig's always a gamble.
But the odds are right, and so is the timing, and l've seen enough of Hong Kong to know it has its own special rules, and there's no way l'm gonna learn those in a week.
But why should l, when l got you? Look over there, inspector.
The old woman.
The old amah.
What do you make of that, sergeant? l don't know, sir.
But it's the third time.
The old amah points to someone who's just come out of the bank, and he goes off.
Then he comes back again and slips her something.
l think it's money.
Keep your eye on the old woman.
- What are you doing here? - Nothing.
Nothing at all.
Why are you giving this man money? ls he accosting you? ls he trying to squeeze you? He--he's my cousin, and l owe him $500, and l paid him.
You have a lot of cousins, don't you? - Turn out your pocket.
- Why? l haven't done anything wrong.
You can't search me without a warrant.
l know the law.
Then we'll search you down at the station.
Come on.
l only get some money from the bank.
l saw the old man run down the alley, inspector.
lf l'd gone after him, this one would have run away.
That's a lie.
Why would l run? l have done nothing.
Let me see your l.
D.
card, please.
Why? You think l am an illegal? l lived here for three years.
You see? Where are you from, Ah Tam? My village was Ning-Tok.
That's near Canton, sir.
My family lived there ten years ago.
My father owned the pharmacy.
l know the pharmacy.
l remember when your family moved away.
You see? Ning-Tok was a wonderful village, not like this foul place.
Why did you leave? Because your son wanted to come here? My son? l have no son.
Then who was that young man you were talking to? A friend.
A very important person.
Why is he important? Oh, he knows important people.
Who does he know, elder sister? He knows The Werewolf.
You are making this up.
Would l lie to someone from our own village, huh? Where the hell have you been? You told Dunross you'd meet him at the stock exchange 45 minutes ago.
l had an early meeting.
Ran a little late.
Meeting with who? Quillan Gornt.
Your coffee's cold.
Gornt.
What for? lnsurance.
Against what? The Struan deal is closed.
Yeah, but it's not signed.
We know the Noble House has no cash reserves, and Dunross may not have the money flow to come up with his half of the deal.
And Gornt will? What is it, both ends against the middle time? lt's much better than that.
Gornt is gonna start selling Struan short.
l've backed him for four million.
He's feeling very brave.
$4 million? lt's a bargain.
They go to war.
We own the battlefield.
All we got to do is wait till Monday.
lf Gornt wins, we win.
lf Dunross wins, we win.
l mean, either way, we become the Noble House.
Ah, my old friend.
lt is a sad time.
lf the son of Noble House Chen can be kidnapped, then who of us is safe? l must find John.
Of course.
You have a father's heart.
Come.
When did you receive this new letter? This morning.
lt was postmarked Aberdeen.
lt insults my honor that this Werewolf would even come here to mail his filthy letter.
What did it say? Tonight.
He wants the money tonight.
500,000.
Where? Man Mo Temple.
l'm to take a taxi, then walk across the street and go down the steps.
The Werewolf will be watching me.
So will my men, to protect you.
This Werewolf could take the money and kidnap you as well, but my men will make sure that does not happen.
- What time? - 9:00.
My men will be waiting.
Don't worry.
How can l repay you for your kindness? Between us, old friend, there are no debts.
Good God.
Look at that.
Struan's are off three and a half points in one day.
Yes.
lt looks as if the rumors were right again.
Yes, but everyone's heard about the Par-Con deal.
lt's going to fall through.
Sell 100,000 Struan's.
Mr.
Gornt, don't you think that your-- No.
Now please do what l ask.
You were right about selling Ho-Pak short, but Ho-Pak's not the Noble House.
Richard Kwang was without resources.
But the taipan will get all the support he needs.
Times change.
People change.
lf Struan's have extended themselves and can't pay, Well, my dear fellow, this is Hong Kong, and l hope the buggers go to the wall.
Make it 200,000.
You're wrong this time.
Then go to hell.
l'm British.
l'm going to heaven, didn't you know? But if you say sell, then l sell.
- Sorry we're late, Taipan.
- My fault.
Somebody's selling you short.
And guess who.
Quillan Gornt seems to be adventurous today.
- What are you going to do? - Play the game.
Are you going to go to that party tonight, the one at the floating restaurant? The Floating Dragon, yes.
lt's Shi-teh T'Chung's annual charity bash.
Would you like to go? - We've been invited.
- Then why don't l send a car for you? We can have a drink at the Great House and then go down to Aberdeen together.
They look pretty friendly.
Suppose the Struan- Par-Con deal doesn't fall through.
l said it will.
You could get badly burned, Mr.
Gornt.
lf the price of the stock doesn't drop, it'll cost you a fortune.
Buy or sell, the broker makes a quarter of 1%.
Yes, Mr.
Gornt, if the client pays.
Are you suggesting my credit isn't good enough? No.
No, of course not.
Good.
Then kindly sell another 300,000 Struan's.
Now, Mr.
Stern.
l want to see it on the board today.
lf Struan's gets brought down, the whole market could fall.
There would be an adjustment, that's all.
Adjustment? lt'll be a bloodbath.
Thousands of investors will be wiped out-- Look, l really don't want a lecture on Hong Kong economics.
Now, if you won't carry out my instructions, l will take my business elsewhere.
lt's your money, Mr.
Gornt.
But there's never been 500,000 Noble House shares on offer in the history of the exchange.
They could suspend trading.
Then l suggest that you hurry up.
l have 300,000 Struan's.
We buy! All my shares? Yes.
Yours and all the rest.
With what? lt's almost $18 million cash.
The Noble House is good for that and millions more.
Has anyone ever doubted it? l doubt it.
l'll sell short again tomorrow.
lt's a bad day for the Noble House, Taipan.
There have been worse.
Thank you for coming.
You think my boat has too many ears? lt's beautiful here.
You will help Philip tonight when he delivers the ransom? We will make sure that he receives what he pays for.
But you did not ask me here to talk of John Chen.
No.
Listen, old friend.
l have never sought a favor from you before.
Oh, a long line of your taipan ancestors have sought plenty favors and made great profits from my ancestors.
l want to borrow $40 million.
Then you are speaking to the wrong man, Taipan.
40 million? How could a poor old fisherman like me have such cash? More came out of the Ho-Pak yesterday, old friend.
Aiyah! Curse on all those who whisper false information.
At what interest? Highest interest.
l will ask among my friends.
Perhaps they can help.
Perhaps we can help together, but perhaps my friends will seek a favor in return.
- What kind of favor? - The Noble House has many ships.
My friends have cargo that needs to be carried privately.
Not the white powder.
Perhaps they could even raise 100 million if Taipan agreed.
The white powder is terrible joss.
All drugs are terrible joss.
My ancestors, old green-eyed devil and the terrible Hag, both put a curse on those who deal in the white powder.
l don't fear curses, even from them.
Ships of the Noble House will never carry narcotics, old friend.
There can be no bargain for that.
Then, Taipan, do not expect water from an empty well.
There's nothing to worry about.
- Gornt's up to his tricks, that's all.
- lt's not just Gornt, lan.
lt's the Ho-Pak and the way the whole market is reacting.
l've started transferring my accounts to New York.
What else have you heard? You know me.
l'm just more cautious than you, Taipan.
The cost of my money comes very high.
No more than mine.
Have you heard something? Another 600,000 Noble House shares will be on offer tomorrow.
- The price will fall.
- Who's selling? The Chinese.
They're very nervous here.
You should be prepared.
- Prepared? ln what way? - What would Dirk Struan do? He's perpetual.
l'm temporary.
What about your shares? You've got 300,000.
Plus.
And they're not on offer.
l bought at 16, remember? When you first went on the market.
So l'm not worried yet.
Perhaps Alastair Struan was right when he advised against going public.
Noble House is only vulnerable because of that.
Without going public, we could never have survived the disasters l inherited.
We shall never know that, shall we? Never know if your decision was the only one possible.
But if you resign, it will no longer be your problem.
- No.
l can't.
- Come now, Taipan.
Be sensible.
Even if the Noble House survives this attack, there will be others.
Your predecessors resigned when they were in less trouble.
l'm sorry, that's not possible.
Why? Because you swore an oath to an unknown, unknowable God in whom you don't believe? On behalf of a murdering pirate who's been dead over 100 years? For whatever the reason, the answer is thank youNo.
- You could lose the whole company.
- No.
That is not going to happen.
lf joss is against you and you fail, my offer to head the new syndicate stands, but only for the next two weeks.
l shall have to sell my stock at 21.
Below 20, not 21.
lt will go that low? 20 is better than 21.
Yes.
We shall see what tomorrow brings.
- Hello, Taipan.
- Casey.
- Mr.
Mata.
- Ms Casey.
l wish you good joss, lan.
Take care.
Where's Linc? Oh, he's tied up on the phone, talking to the States.
Said he'd meet us later at the Bloody Dragon.
l hope your offer still stands.
There's a modest bottle of champagne waiting on ice.
Lead me to it.
While l think of it, Lim Chu, if l want some foreign devil's car interfered with, - l will order it.
- Yes, Taipan Boss.
That means now, tomorrow, and every tomorrow after that.
The Noble House has always survived by holding greater honor than its enemies.
OK, that's enough.
Kill the mic.
That was great, whatever you were talking about.
- What a nice surprise.
- For both of us.
Been on the phone for hours, just came out for a walk and let my ears cool off.
Who was that you were interviewing? Sir Shi-teh T'Chung.
He's giving his annual charity party at the Floating Dragon in Aberdeen tonight.
Aren't you going? l don't know.
Casey's going with lan Dunross, which leaves me without a date.
Unless, uhYou wouldn't happen to be free this evening? l'm going to the party.
But l don't have a date either.
l knew something wonderful was going to happen today.
Well? Tell me the rest of it.
Oh, it's a long story.
Besides, Lim Chu shouldn't have told you the story.
Oh, it was my fault.
There was a picture of you when you were a teenager with an old Chinese man, and l just asked who he was.
Lim Chu started grinning and said to ask you about Uncle Chen-Chen.
Who was he and what's so funny about him? lt was a long time ago, Casey.
Hong Kong was different then.
Who is Uncle Chen-Chen? A family retainer.
- He sold me.
- What? He sold me when l was 14.
Sold your what? My virginity.
To who? Well, it was sort of an auction.
Every pleasure house in Hong Kong bid for the privilege of servicing the first pillow time of a future taipan, the great-great-great-grandson of the green-eyed devil himself.
You've got to be kidding.
Uncle Chen-Chen made 20,000 Hong Kong on the deal.
What about you? l didn't find out what had happened for ten years.
What was her name, the lucky girl? She was called Elegant Jade.
Why? Just wanted to know if you remembered.
Give me the bag.
What? Who are you? l'm the Werewolf.
Now give me the bag.
Here.
Now, where is my son? Just keep walking.
Don't look around.
But my son! You promised! Hey, hey, where's the bag? They--they took it! Open it.
lt worked, Father.
Chen Pay.
You should have seen his face.
He was so frightened.
Did you look inside the bag? ls the money there? There was no time.
We come back here fast as we could.
ln one step, we have reached heaven.
Where's number one son Chen? We don't know any number one son Chen.
Where is number one son Chen? He's dead.
We buried him.
l swear.
Where? Where? Near the old Sha Tin Road.
Listen, we'll split the money with you.
Just answer the question, you son of a whore, or l'll slit your tongue.
Where is number one son Chen's things? Things he had with him? We sent everything to Noble House Chen.
Everything except for the money he had, l swear.
lt's true.
Everything he told you is true! Who killed him? Who killed number one son Chen? He did.
He killed him! Hit him with a shovel.
lt wasn't our fault.
What else did you take from number one son? His watch.
My father stole his watch.
There! There it is! Nothing else? Nothing! Shall we cut these ones, too? No.
Not yet.
Here, you take this one.
''This number one son Chen ''had the stupidity to try to escape.
''No one can escape the Werewolf.
''All Hong Kong beware.
My eyes are everywhere.
'' What is this? My father was gonna make us dig number one son up and put that on his chest, and put his body beside the old Sha Tin Road.
Sounds like a good idea.
And when you start to dig, make sure you find him quickly or your eyes won't be anywhere.
What do you make of that, Taipan? Four Finger Wu and his new crumpet.
l'd say there was hope for all of us.
She's incredibly beautiful.
Venus Poon.
She's what l guess you would call a TV starlet.
Casey, let me introduce you to Richard Pugmire of Hong Kong General Stores and Charles Biltzmann of American Super Foods.
Gentlemen, Casey Tcholok.
Par-Con, nice to meet you.
l've heard a lot about you and Linc Bartlett back home.
All good, l hope.
ls it true what l've heard, Richard, that General Stores and Super Foods are merging? There are no secrets in this bloody town.
Should be finalized by the end of the month.
How do you think your horses are gonna do this Saturday? Think your Noble Star can catch Quillan Gornt's horse? We'll certainly be trying.
l thought all the races here were fixed.
lf you can prove that, l'm sure the stewards would like to know.
Until you can prove it, Mr.
Biltzmann, l'd advise you to be somewhat more cautious about making such comments.
Charles was only joking, Taipan.
Yes, l'm sure he was.
You weren't very friendly.
You don't have to be friendly to everyone.
And tomorrow, everything will settle down, l guarantee you.
The Ho-Pak's as solid today as it's always been.
Just certain foul people spreading rumors.
Oh, there are a lot of foul people around.
And if you wouldn't quote an article explaining that in the next issue of the ChIna GuardIan-- Oh, there will be an article, Richard, you can count on that.
Favorable, l hope.
Accurate.
Or at least as accurate as l can make it.
Of course, we cannot ignore what's been happening at your Aberdeen branch.
A few noisy, impatient people, that's all.
More than a few.
l drove out there this morning.
There must have been at least 500.
Well, l wasn't there.
And at the other branches? Sha Tin? Bangkok? Well, l haven't got the exact figures, but you know how these things get exaggerated.
Well, l heard there were still hundreds of people waiting at closing.
Richard, have you spoken with Victoria about assistance? l can assure you there is no need.
The Ho-Pak can handle Yes, the Ho-Pak can handle what, Richard? A positive article in the GuardIan would be most helpful, Christian.
lf there's anything l can do to persuade you-- You can tell me the truth.
These people are out to ruin me.
Which people exactly? l don't know.
God, do you think they'll ever feed us? Last year was a bore, but l think Sir Shi-teh is gonna break his own record.
l hear that you and Dunross went on a buying and selling spree.
Pity l missed it.
Well, you'll get another chance tomorrow.
Mmm.
500,000 of his own stock.
Can the Taipan pay for it? Don't ask me.
Ask his banker.
You know better than that, Quillan.
Bankers are pledged to secrecy.
Did you see that darling Four Finger Wu had on his arm? Wasn't that Richard Kwang's plaything? Looks like Richard's losing more than his bank.
Oh, God, if they don't feed us soon, l'm leaving.
You must learn to be more patient, Jason.
That's quite a dress.
l'm glad you like it.
lt's new.
For the occasion? You might say that.
Mr.
Tip, it seems to be your week for parties.
l thought that is your responsibility, Mr.
Dunross.
Tip Top-Toh represents the Bank of China here in Hong Kong.
How do you do? l'm Casey Tcholok.
Very interesting name.
Tcholok? Originally it was Tcholokian.
My grandparents came from Romania.
Did you say the Bank of China? Mm-hmm.
Does that surprise you? Why, l didn't realize-- that the People's Republic of China had a bank? Here, l mean.
ln Hong Kong.
We have for many years.
A bank and much more.
After all, Hong Kong is China, too.
l was troubled to learn of your difficulties today, Taipan.
Oh, a temporary storm.
l'm sure the Noble House will weather it.
Hope so.
lf the Noble House totters, the whole economy of Hong Kong will be strained.
Really? Why should that worry you? Oh, it does, Ms.
Tcholok.
lt worries us very much.
Just as a parent worries about an absent child.
They should have a lottery Guess what time dinner is finally served against the whole bundle.
Where is your spirit of charity, Bruce? After all, this is a charitable event.
Yes.
This year, dinner seems to be turning into breakfast.
Some people aren't waiting.
There's Linc.
And Orlanda Ramos.
- Do you know her? - Only by reputation.
Good or bad? That depends on your point of view.
Orlanda was Quillan Gornt's friend for quite a few years.
You mean his mistress? Yes, l suppose that's a word, but it was all very discreet.
Does the taipan know? Ha ha! My dear, this is Hong Kong.
Everybody knows.
l wouldn't be too sure of that.
Excuse me.
Hello, Orlanda.
Fantastic dress.
Running a little late tonight, Boss? Orlanda said there was no point in getting here early.
Shi-teh's parties are famous for starving guests.
lt's nice to see you again, Casey.
Are you enjoying Hong Kong? l'm afraid l haven't seen much of it yet.
Well, l'd love to show you around, and if you want to go shopping Casey doesn't have a lot of free time.
l keep her pretty busy.
Now that you mention it, l could do with some time off.
- Not on this trip.
- Oh, that's not fair, Linc.
At least let me have Casey for an afternoon.
We'll see how things go.
l'm starving.
l warned him to eat something before we came.
Aah! No, my arm! Good night.
Take care of yourself.
Good night.
Say hello to Chong for me.
Taipan, if you don't mind, l think l'll forego the meal.
No, no, l'll see you in the morning.
l think a little intervention might be in order.
Americans are dreadfully susceptible to temptation.
Yes, l'll see to that.
- Good night, Jacques.
- Good night.
Hello, Taipan.
Are you going to wait it out? Orlanda's been telling us about this fish restaurant here in Aberdeen.
You want to join us? - No.
l'm afraid l'm here for the duration.
- NobIesse obIIge? - ls that your motto, Taipan? - Well - What is it? - French.
Oh, it means, ''At any cost, l will do my duty.
'' l've always wanted to learn French, but then, English, Portuguese, Mandarin, and Cantonese are all l can manage.
Well, that's pretty good.
l can only speak-- Fire! Fire! Get out! Hold on, everyone! Please! Don't panic! There's plenty of time! Don't push! There's no danger yet! Look for another way out of here.
OK, there may be a door to the half deck down the back.
RemaIn where you are.
A boat wIII take you off.
We have room for everyone! Do not push! We'll be all right, Orlanda.
l don't give a damn! Just get a photographer here right now! Then call for the fire department! Stupid sod.
There's nothing out there.
Not a damn thing.
No roofs, no ladders, nothing.
- We can jump if we have to.
- Jump? Yeah.
No sweat, kid.
l can't swim.
Stay put.
Cut off! No way down! Whew.
Fine time, my friend, to get the hell out of here! l should rather think so.
Quillan! - How you doing, Casey? - OK.
- Out you go.
- When you go.
Take Orlanda.
Come on.
Everyone, this way.
Come on.
l've lost my purse.
You can get another one.
Let's go.
All on the top deck, abandon ship! Now! Those last explosions could have blown our bottom out! Come on! After you, Taipan.
Passengers on the bottom deck, we wIII come aIongsIde.
Do not jump.
We're gonna have to jump, Christian.
lnto Aberdeen? You must be bloody joking, old chap.
lf you don't bounce off all that bloody efluvia, you're sure to catch the bloody plague.
There's no choice.
How deep's the water here? Must be 20 feet or more.
That's enough.
This lady is with child.
- Hi.
Can you swim? - No.
We're out of time.
Casey, you go first.
Wait below.
OK, ready.
Just hold your breath, honey.
l don't know where my husband is.
Well, when everyone started running Honey, why don't we just go-- Why don't we just go see if we can find him? Say, did you see the way that Casey zipped out of her dress? Not a bad figure.
Not bad at all.
Quillan! Come on, get up, quick! Come on, lad.
Come on.
- Are you OK? - Yeah.
Yeah, l'm all right.
You could have left me there.
But since you didn't, l sell again tomorrow.
By next week, you should be finished.
Jolly good luck.
The idea of burning to death or drowning with you fills me with equal dismay.
What else did number one son Chen have with him, huh? Nothing.
We tell everything we know, How Chen wrote first letter.
All of it! Two motherless liars! Which one of you helped the old man kill him, huh? - We're innocent! - He did it! Do you believe these two, huh? You, get in the hole.
Put your face in the dirt.
l spit on all your generations.
And you On my mother's head, l'm innocent.
You wouldn't know your mother if you-- What is that string around your neck, huh? Aiyah All gods belch in Tsao Tsao's face.
Look what we have found.
- Morning, superintendent.
- Morning.
Are you sure it's him? Oh, yes, sir.
lt is John Chen.
Apparently the body was left here sometime during the night.
There's a note on his chest from the Werewolf.
Nothing has been touched.
Have your men sweep the area 100 yards either side.
And get some men over to these farms.
Maybe someone saw something and-- Get him the hell out of here.
And we have the Par-Con deal.
Perhaps after last night, Gornt won't continue to sell.
Hmm.
He'll sell.
What do we do? Unless we can buy every share of Noble House stock, we're in very great trouble.
You're almost two minutes late.
Oh? Sorry.
l don't seem to be able to get through to you about punctuality.
lt's impossible to run this company without executive responsibility.
lf you're late one more time, you lose your yearly bonus.
Sorry.
l want you to take over our Australian branch from Bill Foster.
Yes, certainly.
l'd like that.
Good.
Be on a flight tomorrow.
Tomorrow? That's impossible l realize that, but l want you to go tomorrow.
Stay two weeks, then report back to me.
- Do you understand? - Yes, l understand, But what about Saturday? l wanted to see Noble Star run.
l want you in Australia.
Tomorrow.
Foster's failed to get possession of Woolara Properties.
Without Woolara, we've no charterer for our ships.
Without the charterer of our ships, our present banking arrangements are null and void.
You have two weeks to correct that fiasco and report back to me.
And if l don't? lf you're not on that flight tomorrow, you're out of Struan's as long as l'm taipan.
Good.
lf you succeed with Woolara, your salary's doubled.
Anything else, sir? Yes.
Don't be late for the plane.
Everyone's so happy you weren't hurt last night, Taipan.
Thank you, Mary.
l'd say it was good joss.
But Mr.
Gornt wasn't hurt, either.
The draft of the Par-Con contract is on top, plus the most pressing letters and a list of your appointments for today, at least, the appointments l know about.
Call Tip Tok-Toh's office at the Bank of China and ask if l can meet him first thing tomorrow morning.
He can name the place.
Say it's urgent.
Use a favor if you have to.
Were you expecting Superintendent Kwok this morning? No.
- Brian.
- Can l talk to you for a moment, Taipan? - Privately.
- ln my office.
John Chen's dead.
They found him early this morning at Sha Tin.
Head bashed in.
Oh, dear God.
Oh.
Poor John.
Werewolf left a note saying he was killed because he tried to escape.
Not that that means anything.
Have you told Philip and Dianne? Right before l came here.
Do you know, he paid the ransom last night.
500,000.
Yes.
Yes, l knew he was going to.
And still they killed John? ls there any information? l mean, do you have any ideas? Of who this Werewolf is? No.
Nothing.
lf he takes the money and hides, we'll probably never find him.
No.
No, l suppose you won't.
Sorry to bring bad news, but l thought you should know.
Yes.
Thanks, chum.
Why don't you meet me for a drink tonight? l think we both could use a little time off.
A good idea.
But it'd have to be late.
- How about the Regent at 10:30? - You're on.
- And thanks again.
- OK.
Poor John Chen.
What a bloody waste.
Here you go.
Thanks.
Come in, Linc.
My house is yours.
You sure? Old Portuguese custom.
Please.
This is very nice.
l like it.
And quite a view.
You could see all of Kowloon before Sinclair Towers was built.
That's the block straight ahead.
We had the best view in Hong Kong.
Did you know Struan's owns Sinclair Towers? No.
l think he and Dunross had it built just to spite Quillan.
He used to own the penthouse here.
Gornt? That's a pretty expensive gesture, even for Dunross.
He probably made a profit on it.
The taipan usually does.
l'm glad you called.
l'm glad you invited me over.
l won't be a minute.
Do you live here alone? l live with my maid.
She's out shopping.
How do you like your coffee? Black.
You look happy.
We were.
Do you leave this out for any particular reason? Left it out because there was no reason to hide it.
Quillan was the first man in my life.
You don't have to explain.
l know l don't, but l'd rather tell you about it than have you wonder.
l was in love with him for five years from the time l was 17.
Now? Now l'm 25.
We've been apart for three years.
l don't love him anymore, but he's still my friend.
Quillan pays for this apartment.
He's a generous friend.
Yes.
Generous and caring and all the things a friend should be.
Look, l--l want to be honest with you, Linc.
l'm--l'm not ashamed about my relationship with Quillan, and there are no regrets, but this is Hong Kong.
l'd rather you heard it from me instead of whatever gossip you're bound to hear.
That's fair enough.
lt's even better than fair.
Besides l'm your responsibility now.
How so? According to Chinese custom, you've interfered with joss, with fate.
You interfered with the gods last night by saving my life.
Without you, l could've died, but that would've been up to the gods to decide.
But by saving me, you took over their responsibility, so now you have to look after me forever.
That's good, wise, Chinese custom.
OK.
You're on.
Except now l formally release you.
My Chinese half releases you.
Perhaps l don't want to be released.
Linc, wait.
- Please.
Not now.
- Why? Because--because l don't want an affair.
Orlanda.
lt's the first kiss l've had in three years.
Sorry you didn't enjoy it.
l did.
That's the problem.
But an Asia girl, especially a Eurasian girl, finds out very quickly that men want her pillow, and that's all they really want.
And l can't do that.
l have to be in love.
And l'm not in love with you, Linc.
l'm not in love with anyone.
l think you're a very attractive man.
l--l like you.
Abject apologies.
Refused.
You have nothing to apologize for.
Maybe l do.
Also refused.
Good.
How about dinner tonight? - lt's best if-- - l'll be here at 8.
You pick the restaurant.
No.
Let--let's just say good-bye now.
Yeah.
You just said hello.
l'll see you at 8.
lt's best not.
Maybe.
But why don't we let the gods decide? Sorry to be so long.
Bloody traffic's jammed for bloody miles.
That's all right, sir.
l've sent Sergeant Mark over to watch her flat.
- The old woman is still there.
- Ah, she'd better be.
She's the only lead we've got.
Lucky you found her.
Yes, if you happen to think there's a grain of truth in what she said.
You don't think so.
You know the Chinese, sir, especially the old amahs.
Not the most truthful people in the world l've had the privilege to meet.
How long you been out here, inspector? Four and a half years, sir.
Long enough to make you an expert on Chinese veracity.
Come on.
We'll take my car.
l take it my lady's still inside, sir.
Yes, inspector.
That's the only entrance to the building.
- Has she gone out at all? - Yes, sir.
She walked over to the Ho-Pak Bank and waited for about 20 minutes but the Werewolf suspect didn't arrive so she walked back here.
Very good, sergeant.
Carry on.
That's one, sir.
Sorry to interrupt, madam, but we have a search warrant.
Search? Search what? lf you are looking for the gambling den on the fourth floor, it's got nothing to do with me.
Enough.
ls this the woman? Yes, superintendent.
Ah Tam, you are under arrest.
Me? l've done nothing.
l'm not illegal.
l--l'm a law-abiding citizen.
l have papers.
Quiet, or we'll take you to our headquarters, and surely the judge will want you kept in custody.
NowWhat do you know about the Werewolf? Me? Werewolf? Nothing.
Why should l know about the foul kidnappers? And what has he to do with me? Nothing.
Nothing at all.
l want the truth.
Now.
l'm just a respectable amah who does her work and nothing else.
How could this old, poor Elder sister, l suggest you talk quickly and openly.
We know everything already.
- What do you want with me? - The truth.
Take her to the station.
- She'll talk there.
- Torture? You want to torture - Come along.
- No.
Please.
Then when will the Werewolf come back? This afternoon? You went to the bank to meet him again this morning.
- No.
- l saw you, elder sister.
l followed you.
People of the same village should stick together, aiyah? People from the same village should not tell each other lies.
Tell me the truth, elder sister.
Tell me the truth or we'll take you to the station.
l don't know anything.
He was just someone l met.
And he said the Werewolf was his friend.
- But l knew he was lying.
- How did you know? A friend of the Werewolf would be very rich.
A friend of the Werewolf would wear silk clothes and have a gold watch.
She doesn't know anything, sir.
She knows more than she'll ever tell us.
What are you looking for? You won't find Werewolf there.
Hey.
You can't.
We have a search warrant.
Now be quiet.
Where'd you get this purse? Did you steal it? No.
lt was a gift from my mistress in Ning-Tok.
She gave it to me the day before she died.
Ning-Tok? Where is that? Outside Canton, sir.
Her family came from the same village many years ago.
Outside Canton.
This purse looks too expensive to have come from a small village ln mainland China.
But it's true.
You can just open it and see.
Where were these photos taken? ln Ning-Tok? Outside Canton, in China? Yes, yes.
ln my village.
ln Ning-Tok.
Brian? Casey, are you up? Up and ready.
How are you? l'm terrific.
Let's go over that paperwork.
Steigler's plane gets in around noon.
l wanted to get those contracts nice and legal by tomorrow morning.
lt's going to be late.
l already checked with the airline.
Should be here around four.
You don't leave anything to chance, do you? l'll just get my notes.
Our names are in the paper.
l know.
l read it earlier.
lan called.
Said he tried to reach you, but there was no answer.
Yeah? What'd he have to say? Just wanted to know if we were all right.
Where have you been? Woke up early, so l called Orlanda to see how she was and she invited me to breakfast.
- Oh.
l take it she's fine.
- Yeah.
Did you know she used to be Quillan Gornt's mistress? Orlanda told me all about it.
- And? - What? First you show up with her last night, and now a breakfast.
What's that got to do with you, Casey? You're the one who said this was a business trip, not a romantic holiday, remember? No emotions interfering with your plans.
Another time, another place.
Ring a bell? l know exactly what l'm doing.
Famous last words.
Linc - Casey, enough.
- She was Gornt's mistress.
Don't you think that's a little too convenient? Should've seen the way he was watching the two of you last night.
So what? Relax.
lf l play the music, Gornt'll dance.
lt's nothing to be worried about.
No, l can think of a whole list of things.
Suppose lan finds out about the four million you wired to Gornt's Swiss bank and pulls out of the deal.
Right now, Dunross can't afford to pull out anything.
The taipan's all gift-wrapped and waiting to be delivered.
To you or to Gornt? Either way, it's the same thing.
ln the endwe're gonna be the Noble House and l'm gonna be the taipan.
Taipan Linc Bartlett.
How about that? And when were these photographs taken? l told you.
Six years ago in Ning-Tok.
The lady in the photograph? My mistress.
She gave me the purse on her deathbed.
Last night, you said it was the day before she died.
Now, which is the truth? l--l don't remember.
And the man? Who is the man standing beside her? Her son.
Her son who lives across the sea, in the north.
The north of the land of the golden mountains.
You're lying again.
No.
That is her son Chu-Toy.
He was born in Ning-Tok.
l helped deliver him with my own hands.
l remember when they send him away from Ning-Tok to this foul place when he was just a boy.
Why? Why was he sent here? To go to school.
The government send him.
Chu-Toy was very smart.
We didn't see him again for, oh, many, many years.
Until his father was dying.
Chu-Toy had become a man.
But l still recognized him.
Yes.
Six years ago.
Was that the only time Chu-Toy returned? Yes, it was only once.
The once of the photograph.
His mother insisted.
She wept and begged him to have the picture taken.
So Chu-Toy let her have her way as a dutiful son should.
And after that? After the photograph? Oh, he went away in a big car and we never saw him again.
Not even when his mother died and gave me her purse.
Are you sure the man in the photograph is the same Chu-Toy who was sent away to school in Hong Kong? Of course l'm sure.
Please, can l go home now? l've told you everything.
17.
50? Struan's have never been below 25 since they went public.
You were right, Mr.
Gornt.
Absolutely dead-on right.
Yes.
And look at that.
Another 300,000 shares on offer.
What a day.
Yes? - Are you sure? - Yes The Ho-Pak's finished.
- They closed their doors.
- Yes, l know.
The head office in Central is still open, but they'll have to liquidate.
God.
Poor Richard Kwang.
Yes.
Pity.
Are you going to buy, lan, or just let your stock plummet? Oh, Quillan.
How'd you do on the day? Oh, very well, thank you, lan.
Very well.
Yes.
My partners and l are quite satisfied.
Oh, you have partners? Oh, yes.
One doesn't mount a raid on Struan's lightly.
One needs very substantial financial backing.
- And you do? - Well, fortunately, Struan's is roundly detested by a lot of good people.
Well, yes, lan, my backing is impressive.
l'm sure if you knew who it was, you would agree with me.
You're finished.
A man can get burned by selling short in such a volatile market, Quillan.
Don't you think so? Well, it sure as hell isn't like the New York stock exchange.
Are you selling short, Mr.
Bartlett? Not personally.
Not yet.
Well, you should.
A lot of money to be made in a falling market.
So l hear.
And a great deal of money will change hands with control of the Noble House.
What do you think of a raid, Hong Kong style? A raid is a raid wherever, but you never know until you've won and all the votes are counted.
As lan said, sometimes you can get burned.
So what are you gonna do about Gornt? l'm going to wait.
lt's an old Chinese custom.
Patience.
But if Gornt wins, we have no deal.
l understand that quite clearly.
Could he? l mean, can Gornt really get control of the Noble House? No, not actually.
But with enough stock, he can force his way onto the board and appoint other directors to help him disrupt and destroy.
And his only purpose is to destroy.
Because of the past? Partially.
The stakes are high.
Face is involved.
Huge face.
And this is Hong Kong.
Here, the strong survive and the weak perish.
But you have come for profit, and profit you will have, - one way or the other.
- Yeah.
l have another appointment.
We'll talk to you later.
Bye.
Can't tell how much he knows.
Or doesn't know.
Nope.
What's the point of playing games, the way you and Gornt were doing? - lsn't that a little-- - A little what? Tacky.
l never said l had a lot of class.
Robert.
What are you doing here? Oh, l feel rotten.
Drinking on duty.
l just had them sent up.
Here.
What's the problem? l did a white room interrogation of an old amah.
Give me the creeps.
Cheers.
lt's as if you're thirsty.
What old amah? Oh, there was something about her knowing our friend the Werewolf.
lt was all a pack of lies at first.
And then? Come on.
Drink up and we'll go and have a whiskey.
Bad.
All right.
Let's go.
The old amah, she finally told the truth.
You know how it is.
You catch the lies eventually if you're patient.
l'm fed up with lies.
She's from Ning-Tok.
That's a village outside Canton in mainland China.
You ever hear of it? There are lots of villages in mainland China.
What's so special about that one? Ning-Tok? Oh, that's a name l'll always remember.
ln a bad way, old chum.
Come on.
l'll buy.
Oh, just a minute.
l've got to make a call.
Look at you, in such a bloody hurry.
You did very well, Superintendent.
Did l, Commissioner? Yes.
Very well.
No.
No, l don't think so.
You must be very tired.
Very tired of these sort of things.
l think about it and it still seems impossible.
Brian a communist mole? lt doesn't make sense.
Except for the evidence.
Theoretically, Brian Kwok was born in Hong Kong.
His passport has no visa to mainland China, nor was he ever in Ning-Tok, yet here he is.
But Brian's been my friend.
There is no Brian Kwok.
There is only Chu-Toy.
You must realize that.
Yes, l know you believed he was your friend, but the Chinese are the most patient and secretive people on earth.
Aren't they? Brian would've become assistant commissioner in a few years.
Precisely, and think what that would have done to us.
l know how betrayed you feel, Robert.
Personally betrayed.
And l'm delighted to tell you that you have the honor of beginning the interrogation.
No.
l can't.
We'll set him up for you, but you're the one for the coup de grâce.
l want to know everything.
- Get someone else.
- Don't be so bloody boring, Robert.
Chu-Toy, alias Brian Kwok, is an enemy agent who has eluded us for years, and that is all.
No, no, l can't interrogate.
Dear fellow, you can and you will.
You're the only one who can.
After all, you know him well, and Brian is far too smart to be caught like an amateur.
Break him, Robert.
Break him and do it very quickly.
There are a couple of clauses l want in just to protect us.
l don't want this deal renegotiated, Seymour.
l want it wrapped by Tuesday.
No complications.
What about Rothwell-Gornt? Best l should feel him out, huh? What'd l just say? OK.
OK.
You leave Gornt and Dunross alone, Seymour.
Hong Kong's more complicated than we thought.
Leave Gornt and Dunross to Casey and me.
You just deal with their attorneys.
You'll see Struan's attorneys in the morning.
The taipans told them it's top priority.
l should be.
My down payment gets Dunross off the money hook.
lf he survives.
Here today, gone tomorrow.
Hey, that must've been some scare on that burning boat.
Story made the New York papers.
Anything else for me? - That's it for now.
- OK.
l'm gonna take a shower.
Wash some of the airplane off.
Sure.
Go ahead.
- lf you're not doing anything for dinner-- - l'm busy.
Why don't you give Casey a call later? OK.
Thanks a lot.
Oh, come on.
Take Seymour out and show him around.
He can show himself around.
lt's up to you.
l gotta change.
- Where are you going? - l think l may have a date.
Oh? Have a swell time.
Damn tramp.
l should've drowned her while l had the chance.
- TaIpan's offIce.
- ls he in, please? - This is Casey Tcholok.
- One moment.
- HeIIo, Casey.
- Hello, lan.
- Is there a probIem? - Oh, no, no, no.
l was just wondering if you wanted to have dinner tonight.
I'd Iove to.
It wouId have to be Iate.
Oh, late would be fine for me.
I'II send a car.
l'll wait for the car.
- I'II see you then.
- Bye.
Well, the client's in fine shape, Superintendent.
Physically.
His blood pressure and heartbeat are nicely up, but That's what's to be expected.
- A two-hour cycle? - Yes, on the half-hour.
Wake, sleep, wake, sleep.
By this time tomorrow, he'll think he's been ln there for 12 days.
lf he can stand it.
Who'd have imagined Brian would've turned out to be a spy? He was always so smart.
Let's hope the poor bugger's not too smart.
The sooner he talks, the better.
Are you doing the interview yourself? lt's on the damn door.
Can't you bloody read? Yes, sir.
l'm sorry.
l just--well, l knew he was your friend and-- Yes, it's time for his shot anyway.
Damn you to hell, Brian Kwok.
Damn you to hell.
Listen, Werewolf Dung.
l want to know where you got the coin from.
The half coin.
l told you.
My father gave it to me.
l'm tired of his lies.
Cut off his ears.
lt was number one son Chen.
l took it from him.
Who killed number one son Chen? l did.
l hit him with a shovel.
Please.
Don't hurt me anymore.
Disgusting coward.
Silence him.
What should we do with this worthless dog? He's told the truth at last.
Call my son.
Young Choy does not enjoy this matter.
lt's time he grow up.
Time he knew how to treat enemies.
Time he knew real values, not ill-omened, stink-wind, golden mountain values.
My son has forgotten who he is.
Call him.
Seventh son, your father wants you.
ls he dead? Not yet.
What a dirty, motherless whore.
To kill number one son Chen and then take the ransom.
Disgusting.
More terrible to get caught, aiyah? Give Goodweather Poon a hand.
What? You have vomit in your ears? Give him a hand! What do you want me to do? Take his legs.
Put him overboard.
Father, he's not dead.
Put him over the side! Rip: DevilsBackbone
- Good evening.
- You're right on time.
- How has your day been? - Up and down.
How was yours? - lt's busy, but we're getting there.
Our head counsel and tax attorney, Seymour Steigler, is coming on Thursday.
We went over some of the details on the phone.
He doesn't think there'll be any problem closing it.
Good.
What type of food would you like for dinner? - How about Chinese? - Sorry? You've got to be more specific.
That's like saying you want European food.
Well, egg roll, sweet and sour, chop suey, fried rice.
Just no snake or dog or anything like that.
Snake is very good in season, especially the bile mixed with tea, and a little young chow dog stewed in oyster sauce.
Oh, no.
Have you eaten-- They tell me it was true.
But don't worry.
Tonight it'll be egg rolls and chop suey, if we can find someone who knows how to make it.
Would you like to see something first-- something l think may stimulate your appetite? What's that? Gold.
99.
99% pure in the regulation 35-ounce bars.
25 bars per crate.
Six crates times You're looking at almost two and a half million bucks.
Yes.
ln the old days, gold in Hong Kong was mostly in what they called smuggler bars.
They weighed just a little over six ounces, and a good courier could carry over 200 of them, or so they tell me.
Seems that everything here has a story attached to it.
Well, Hong Kong may not have a very long history compared to Europe or the States, but it's all quite colorful.
Quite wonderful, too.
The charm of Hong Kong must be getting to you.
- Everything about it.
- OK if l pick it up? Help yourself.
Real money.
Yes.
Gold does have quality of permanence.
This yours? No.
All of this belongs to Lando Mata's Macao gambling concession.
He's shifting it from here to Victoria Bank.
Does that mean Ho-Pak's going belly up? Gold gets moved around all the time.
l don't suppose Struan's has much money tied up here.
There are many banks in Hong Kong.
We deal with quite a few of them.
l could use a bottle of beer.
This much money makes me real thirsty.
But you promised you'd take me.
My wife changed her mind.
Now she's going, so l can't.
But everyone will be at the party.
l have to go.
Tell your wife to be sick.
Oh, my little flower heart-- You promised.
l'll see you afterwards.
Afterwards l'll be tired.
First you promise me a mink coat and you never gave it to me, and now you won't take me to Tsu Chu Te's party? You don't love me anymore.
Of course l love you.
Don't l pay for this apartment, your clothes? l'll accept Four Finger Wu's invitation.
That's what l'll do.
What? That foul old man? Has he been-- At least he doesn't break his promises.
And he invited me to Tsu Chu Te's party.
You won't go with him.
l forbid it.
Where's my mink coat? Probably on your wife's back.
l told you.
lt'll be ready Friday.
Promise on all the gods? l promise! There.
Oh, now you've given me a headache.
Oh, you poor man.
l'll make it better for you.
Oh You're getting to like it here.
Anything in particular change your mind? Why? You're starting to make me nervous, Casey.
How? Just for the way you look at lan Dunross.
You could keep your eyes on him all night.
What are you, my father all of a sudden? No, your boss.
You work for me, remember? And l do a damn good job.
And that's the way l want to keep it.
This is a business trip.
lt's not a romantic holiday.
l don't want your emotions interfering with my plans.
Kind of overreacting, aren't you? Yeah.
Maybe l am.
But no romance, especially not with lan Dunross.
Pick another guy, another time, another place.
You're the boss.
You bet l am.
How's my investment this morning? She's a fine horse, Mr.
Gornt.
Yeah.
What's so bloody important? Did you see the way Noble Star charged the wire? lt's 6:30 in the morning, Brian.
l've been up all night, Robert, working for both of us, so l thought you could buy me some dim sum for breakfast.
Working? When? At the taipan's party? l heard you were there the other night.
lt's all work, isn't it, whatever we do? Besides, lan's a friend.
Oh, you and your bloody friends.
All right, let's have it.
What did you hear? There's a $100,000 reward waiting for whoever finds John Chen.
Offered by whom? That's the part l didn't get, but $100,000, Robert.
There's got to be something special about John, Or John's got something that's very special to someone else.
lf it's true.
And you woke me up for that.
l woke you up because l was hungry and it's your turn to buy.
Oh, you're a terrible man.
She's a trier.
Noble Star is a real trier.
What about Saturday? l'll be very unhappy if Noble Star loses to Pilot Fish.
Mr.
Gornt has a good horse there-- a serious threat.
l want Noble Star to win, Alexej.
ln that case, l suggest you ride Noble Star yourself, Taipan.
l'm considering it.
l would not advise it.
l know.
l'll see you tomorrow.
Come on, girl.
You called this meeting, Mr.
Bartlett.
You convinced me, Mr.
Gornt.
l'm not quite sure how you pulled it off, but the Ho-Pak is looking very dead.
And the Noble House is still alive, thanks to you.
Yes, l heard you closed your deal with Dunross.
ln principle.
But not in fact? What are you saying, Mr.
Bartlett? How's your cash flow? l've already told you.
l'm 20 times stronger than Struan's.
lf you were 20 times stronger, Mr.
Gornt, you'd be the Noble House.
l asked you a serious question.
Either give me a serious answer, or drop me off at the next corner.
All right.
What exactly do you want to know? And if Victoria Bank went against him and there was nowhere else that Dunross could get credit, it would only be a question of timing.
The right moment, and Noble House would be wide open for a takeover.
Where the hell did you get all this information? l got Struan's balance sheets for the last seven years.
That's impossible.
You want to bet? No.
No, l don't.
Where is your executive vice president? Shouldn't-- Casey's not in on this, not yet.
Besides, l'm the boss of Par-Con.
l never doubted that, Mr.
Bartlett.
What do you have in mind? A raid on the Noble House.
- lt's been tried before.
- Not by me.
What do you want me to do? The same thing you did with Ho-Pak.
l want you to start rumors.
As soon as the market opens, you sell Struan's short.
Let everybody know that the price of the Noble House stock is gonna drop like a supermarket sale.
lt'll make Struan's the special of the day, marked down $10 a share.
And what will you do? Nothing.
Simple as that.
For you, perhaps.
l'll be the one that'll be exposed.
lt'll be my money at risk.
Now, l may despise lan Dunross, but l don't think he's a fool, and l'd never underestimate him.
lf l sell Struan's short and Dunross can keep the stock from falling, then l'm the one that's vulnerable.
Not if l cover all your losses.
All? l pay all the losses and take half the profit for today, tomorrow, and Friday.
lf we don't have him on the run by close of business Friday, we've failed, but if Dunross is ready to go, l'll pull the rug out from under the Noble House on Monday, and it'll fall.
lf you're willing to do this to Dunross, how do l know you won't do it to me? l'll put four million in any Swiss bank you name by 10:00 this morning.
That's 31 million Hong Kong, which sure as hell is enough to cover any losses.
Four million.
No strings, no paper, no promissory note.
Just your word.
My word? lt sounds too good to be true, Mr.
Bartlett.
Where's the catch? First you do a deal with Dunross.
Now you give me the chance to destroy him.
ls it something personal? Just business, Mr.
Gornt.
l don't owe Dunross anything, and he doesn't owe me.
l'll think over your proposition and give you an answer by noon.
Now, Mr.
Gornt.
Right now or not at all.
The Bank of Switzerland and Zurich.
Account number 181819.
l'll write that down for you.
No need.
The four million will be there by 10:00.
And if we fail? l'll lose my money.
A rig's always a gamble.
But the odds are right, and so is the timing, and l've seen enough of Hong Kong to know it has its own special rules, and there's no way l'm gonna learn those in a week.
But why should l, when l got you? Look over there, inspector.
The old woman.
The old amah.
What do you make of that, sergeant? l don't know, sir.
But it's the third time.
The old amah points to someone who's just come out of the bank, and he goes off.
Then he comes back again and slips her something.
l think it's money.
Keep your eye on the old woman.
- What are you doing here? - Nothing.
Nothing at all.
Why are you giving this man money? ls he accosting you? ls he trying to squeeze you? He--he's my cousin, and l owe him $500, and l paid him.
You have a lot of cousins, don't you? - Turn out your pocket.
- Why? l haven't done anything wrong.
You can't search me without a warrant.
l know the law.
Then we'll search you down at the station.
Come on.
l only get some money from the bank.
l saw the old man run down the alley, inspector.
lf l'd gone after him, this one would have run away.
That's a lie.
Why would l run? l have done nothing.
Let me see your l.
D.
card, please.
Why? You think l am an illegal? l lived here for three years.
You see? Where are you from, Ah Tam? My village was Ning-Tok.
That's near Canton, sir.
My family lived there ten years ago.
My father owned the pharmacy.
l know the pharmacy.
l remember when your family moved away.
You see? Ning-Tok was a wonderful village, not like this foul place.
Why did you leave? Because your son wanted to come here? My son? l have no son.
Then who was that young man you were talking to? A friend.
A very important person.
Why is he important? Oh, he knows important people.
Who does he know, elder sister? He knows The Werewolf.
You are making this up.
Would l lie to someone from our own village, huh? Where the hell have you been? You told Dunross you'd meet him at the stock exchange 45 minutes ago.
l had an early meeting.
Ran a little late.
Meeting with who? Quillan Gornt.
Your coffee's cold.
Gornt.
What for? lnsurance.
Against what? The Struan deal is closed.
Yeah, but it's not signed.
We know the Noble House has no cash reserves, and Dunross may not have the money flow to come up with his half of the deal.
And Gornt will? What is it, both ends against the middle time? lt's much better than that.
Gornt is gonna start selling Struan short.
l've backed him for four million.
He's feeling very brave.
$4 million? lt's a bargain.
They go to war.
We own the battlefield.
All we got to do is wait till Monday.
lf Gornt wins, we win.
lf Dunross wins, we win.
l mean, either way, we become the Noble House.
Ah, my old friend.
lt is a sad time.
lf the son of Noble House Chen can be kidnapped, then who of us is safe? l must find John.
Of course.
You have a father's heart.
Come.
When did you receive this new letter? This morning.
lt was postmarked Aberdeen.
lt insults my honor that this Werewolf would even come here to mail his filthy letter.
What did it say? Tonight.
He wants the money tonight.
500,000.
Where? Man Mo Temple.
l'm to take a taxi, then walk across the street and go down the steps.
The Werewolf will be watching me.
So will my men, to protect you.
This Werewolf could take the money and kidnap you as well, but my men will make sure that does not happen.
- What time? - 9:00.
My men will be waiting.
Don't worry.
How can l repay you for your kindness? Between us, old friend, there are no debts.
Good God.
Look at that.
Struan's are off three and a half points in one day.
Yes.
lt looks as if the rumors were right again.
Yes, but everyone's heard about the Par-Con deal.
lt's going to fall through.
Sell 100,000 Struan's.
Mr.
Gornt, don't you think that your-- No.
Now please do what l ask.
You were right about selling Ho-Pak short, but Ho-Pak's not the Noble House.
Richard Kwang was without resources.
But the taipan will get all the support he needs.
Times change.
People change.
lf Struan's have extended themselves and can't pay, Well, my dear fellow, this is Hong Kong, and l hope the buggers go to the wall.
Make it 200,000.
You're wrong this time.
Then go to hell.
l'm British.
l'm going to heaven, didn't you know? But if you say sell, then l sell.
- Sorry we're late, Taipan.
- My fault.
Somebody's selling you short.
And guess who.
Quillan Gornt seems to be adventurous today.
- What are you going to do? - Play the game.
Are you going to go to that party tonight, the one at the floating restaurant? The Floating Dragon, yes.
lt's Shi-teh T'Chung's annual charity bash.
Would you like to go? - We've been invited.
- Then why don't l send a car for you? We can have a drink at the Great House and then go down to Aberdeen together.
They look pretty friendly.
Suppose the Struan- Par-Con deal doesn't fall through.
l said it will.
You could get badly burned, Mr.
Gornt.
lf the price of the stock doesn't drop, it'll cost you a fortune.
Buy or sell, the broker makes a quarter of 1%.
Yes, Mr.
Gornt, if the client pays.
Are you suggesting my credit isn't good enough? No.
No, of course not.
Good.
Then kindly sell another 300,000 Struan's.
Now, Mr.
Stern.
l want to see it on the board today.
lf Struan's gets brought down, the whole market could fall.
There would be an adjustment, that's all.
Adjustment? lt'll be a bloodbath.
Thousands of investors will be wiped out-- Look, l really don't want a lecture on Hong Kong economics.
Now, if you won't carry out my instructions, l will take my business elsewhere.
lt's your money, Mr.
Gornt.
But there's never been 500,000 Noble House shares on offer in the history of the exchange.
They could suspend trading.
Then l suggest that you hurry up.
l have 300,000 Struan's.
We buy! All my shares? Yes.
Yours and all the rest.
With what? lt's almost $18 million cash.
The Noble House is good for that and millions more.
Has anyone ever doubted it? l doubt it.
l'll sell short again tomorrow.
lt's a bad day for the Noble House, Taipan.
There have been worse.
Thank you for coming.
You think my boat has too many ears? lt's beautiful here.
You will help Philip tonight when he delivers the ransom? We will make sure that he receives what he pays for.
But you did not ask me here to talk of John Chen.
No.
Listen, old friend.
l have never sought a favor from you before.
Oh, a long line of your taipan ancestors have sought plenty favors and made great profits from my ancestors.
l want to borrow $40 million.
Then you are speaking to the wrong man, Taipan.
40 million? How could a poor old fisherman like me have such cash? More came out of the Ho-Pak yesterday, old friend.
Aiyah! Curse on all those who whisper false information.
At what interest? Highest interest.
l will ask among my friends.
Perhaps they can help.
Perhaps we can help together, but perhaps my friends will seek a favor in return.
- What kind of favor? - The Noble House has many ships.
My friends have cargo that needs to be carried privately.
Not the white powder.
Perhaps they could even raise 100 million if Taipan agreed.
The white powder is terrible joss.
All drugs are terrible joss.
My ancestors, old green-eyed devil and the terrible Hag, both put a curse on those who deal in the white powder.
l don't fear curses, even from them.
Ships of the Noble House will never carry narcotics, old friend.
There can be no bargain for that.
Then, Taipan, do not expect water from an empty well.
There's nothing to worry about.
- Gornt's up to his tricks, that's all.
- lt's not just Gornt, lan.
lt's the Ho-Pak and the way the whole market is reacting.
l've started transferring my accounts to New York.
What else have you heard? You know me.
l'm just more cautious than you, Taipan.
The cost of my money comes very high.
No more than mine.
Have you heard something? Another 600,000 Noble House shares will be on offer tomorrow.
- The price will fall.
- Who's selling? The Chinese.
They're very nervous here.
You should be prepared.
- Prepared? ln what way? - What would Dirk Struan do? He's perpetual.
l'm temporary.
What about your shares? You've got 300,000.
Plus.
And they're not on offer.
l bought at 16, remember? When you first went on the market.
So l'm not worried yet.
Perhaps Alastair Struan was right when he advised against going public.
Noble House is only vulnerable because of that.
Without going public, we could never have survived the disasters l inherited.
We shall never know that, shall we? Never know if your decision was the only one possible.
But if you resign, it will no longer be your problem.
- No.
l can't.
- Come now, Taipan.
Be sensible.
Even if the Noble House survives this attack, there will be others.
Your predecessors resigned when they were in less trouble.
l'm sorry, that's not possible.
Why? Because you swore an oath to an unknown, unknowable God in whom you don't believe? On behalf of a murdering pirate who's been dead over 100 years? For whatever the reason, the answer is thank youNo.
- You could lose the whole company.
- No.
That is not going to happen.
lf joss is against you and you fail, my offer to head the new syndicate stands, but only for the next two weeks.
l shall have to sell my stock at 21.
Below 20, not 21.
lt will go that low? 20 is better than 21.
Yes.
We shall see what tomorrow brings.
- Hello, Taipan.
- Casey.
- Mr.
Mata.
- Ms Casey.
l wish you good joss, lan.
Take care.
Where's Linc? Oh, he's tied up on the phone, talking to the States.
Said he'd meet us later at the Bloody Dragon.
l hope your offer still stands.
There's a modest bottle of champagne waiting on ice.
Lead me to it.
While l think of it, Lim Chu, if l want some foreign devil's car interfered with, - l will order it.
- Yes, Taipan Boss.
That means now, tomorrow, and every tomorrow after that.
The Noble House has always survived by holding greater honor than its enemies.
OK, that's enough.
Kill the mic.
That was great, whatever you were talking about.
- What a nice surprise.
- For both of us.
Been on the phone for hours, just came out for a walk and let my ears cool off.
Who was that you were interviewing? Sir Shi-teh T'Chung.
He's giving his annual charity party at the Floating Dragon in Aberdeen tonight.
Aren't you going? l don't know.
Casey's going with lan Dunross, which leaves me without a date.
Unless, uhYou wouldn't happen to be free this evening? l'm going to the party.
But l don't have a date either.
l knew something wonderful was going to happen today.
Well? Tell me the rest of it.
Oh, it's a long story.
Besides, Lim Chu shouldn't have told you the story.
Oh, it was my fault.
There was a picture of you when you were a teenager with an old Chinese man, and l just asked who he was.
Lim Chu started grinning and said to ask you about Uncle Chen-Chen.
Who was he and what's so funny about him? lt was a long time ago, Casey.
Hong Kong was different then.
Who is Uncle Chen-Chen? A family retainer.
- He sold me.
- What? He sold me when l was 14.
Sold your what? My virginity.
To who? Well, it was sort of an auction.
Every pleasure house in Hong Kong bid for the privilege of servicing the first pillow time of a future taipan, the great-great-great-grandson of the green-eyed devil himself.
You've got to be kidding.
Uncle Chen-Chen made 20,000 Hong Kong on the deal.
What about you? l didn't find out what had happened for ten years.
What was her name, the lucky girl? She was called Elegant Jade.
Why? Just wanted to know if you remembered.
Give me the bag.
What? Who are you? l'm the Werewolf.
Now give me the bag.
Here.
Now, where is my son? Just keep walking.
Don't look around.
But my son! You promised! Hey, hey, where's the bag? They--they took it! Open it.
lt worked, Father.
Chen Pay.
You should have seen his face.
He was so frightened.
Did you look inside the bag? ls the money there? There was no time.
We come back here fast as we could.
ln one step, we have reached heaven.
Where's number one son Chen? We don't know any number one son Chen.
Where is number one son Chen? He's dead.
We buried him.
l swear.
Where? Where? Near the old Sha Tin Road.
Listen, we'll split the money with you.
Just answer the question, you son of a whore, or l'll slit your tongue.
Where is number one son Chen's things? Things he had with him? We sent everything to Noble House Chen.
Everything except for the money he had, l swear.
lt's true.
Everything he told you is true! Who killed him? Who killed number one son Chen? He did.
He killed him! Hit him with a shovel.
lt wasn't our fault.
What else did you take from number one son? His watch.
My father stole his watch.
There! There it is! Nothing else? Nothing! Shall we cut these ones, too? No.
Not yet.
Here, you take this one.
''This number one son Chen ''had the stupidity to try to escape.
''No one can escape the Werewolf.
''All Hong Kong beware.
My eyes are everywhere.
'' What is this? My father was gonna make us dig number one son up and put that on his chest, and put his body beside the old Sha Tin Road.
Sounds like a good idea.
And when you start to dig, make sure you find him quickly or your eyes won't be anywhere.
What do you make of that, Taipan? Four Finger Wu and his new crumpet.
l'd say there was hope for all of us.
She's incredibly beautiful.
Venus Poon.
She's what l guess you would call a TV starlet.
Casey, let me introduce you to Richard Pugmire of Hong Kong General Stores and Charles Biltzmann of American Super Foods.
Gentlemen, Casey Tcholok.
Par-Con, nice to meet you.
l've heard a lot about you and Linc Bartlett back home.
All good, l hope.
ls it true what l've heard, Richard, that General Stores and Super Foods are merging? There are no secrets in this bloody town.
Should be finalized by the end of the month.
How do you think your horses are gonna do this Saturday? Think your Noble Star can catch Quillan Gornt's horse? We'll certainly be trying.
l thought all the races here were fixed.
lf you can prove that, l'm sure the stewards would like to know.
Until you can prove it, Mr.
Biltzmann, l'd advise you to be somewhat more cautious about making such comments.
Charles was only joking, Taipan.
Yes, l'm sure he was.
You weren't very friendly.
You don't have to be friendly to everyone.
And tomorrow, everything will settle down, l guarantee you.
The Ho-Pak's as solid today as it's always been.
Just certain foul people spreading rumors.
Oh, there are a lot of foul people around.
And if you wouldn't quote an article explaining that in the next issue of the ChIna GuardIan-- Oh, there will be an article, Richard, you can count on that.
Favorable, l hope.
Accurate.
Or at least as accurate as l can make it.
Of course, we cannot ignore what's been happening at your Aberdeen branch.
A few noisy, impatient people, that's all.
More than a few.
l drove out there this morning.
There must have been at least 500.
Well, l wasn't there.
And at the other branches? Sha Tin? Bangkok? Well, l haven't got the exact figures, but you know how these things get exaggerated.
Well, l heard there were still hundreds of people waiting at closing.
Richard, have you spoken with Victoria about assistance? l can assure you there is no need.
The Ho-Pak can handle Yes, the Ho-Pak can handle what, Richard? A positive article in the GuardIan would be most helpful, Christian.
lf there's anything l can do to persuade you-- You can tell me the truth.
These people are out to ruin me.
Which people exactly? l don't know.
God, do you think they'll ever feed us? Last year was a bore, but l think Sir Shi-teh is gonna break his own record.
l hear that you and Dunross went on a buying and selling spree.
Pity l missed it.
Well, you'll get another chance tomorrow.
Mmm.
500,000 of his own stock.
Can the Taipan pay for it? Don't ask me.
Ask his banker.
You know better than that, Quillan.
Bankers are pledged to secrecy.
Did you see that darling Four Finger Wu had on his arm? Wasn't that Richard Kwang's plaything? Looks like Richard's losing more than his bank.
Oh, God, if they don't feed us soon, l'm leaving.
You must learn to be more patient, Jason.
That's quite a dress.
l'm glad you like it.
lt's new.
For the occasion? You might say that.
Mr.
Tip, it seems to be your week for parties.
l thought that is your responsibility, Mr.
Dunross.
Tip Top-Toh represents the Bank of China here in Hong Kong.
How do you do? l'm Casey Tcholok.
Very interesting name.
Tcholok? Originally it was Tcholokian.
My grandparents came from Romania.
Did you say the Bank of China? Mm-hmm.
Does that surprise you? Why, l didn't realize-- that the People's Republic of China had a bank? Here, l mean.
ln Hong Kong.
We have for many years.
A bank and much more.
After all, Hong Kong is China, too.
l was troubled to learn of your difficulties today, Taipan.
Oh, a temporary storm.
l'm sure the Noble House will weather it.
Hope so.
lf the Noble House totters, the whole economy of Hong Kong will be strained.
Really? Why should that worry you? Oh, it does, Ms.
Tcholok.
lt worries us very much.
Just as a parent worries about an absent child.
They should have a lottery Guess what time dinner is finally served against the whole bundle.
Where is your spirit of charity, Bruce? After all, this is a charitable event.
Yes.
This year, dinner seems to be turning into breakfast.
Some people aren't waiting.
There's Linc.
And Orlanda Ramos.
- Do you know her? - Only by reputation.
Good or bad? That depends on your point of view.
Orlanda was Quillan Gornt's friend for quite a few years.
You mean his mistress? Yes, l suppose that's a word, but it was all very discreet.
Does the taipan know? Ha ha! My dear, this is Hong Kong.
Everybody knows.
l wouldn't be too sure of that.
Excuse me.
Hello, Orlanda.
Fantastic dress.
Running a little late tonight, Boss? Orlanda said there was no point in getting here early.
Shi-teh's parties are famous for starving guests.
lt's nice to see you again, Casey.
Are you enjoying Hong Kong? l'm afraid l haven't seen much of it yet.
Well, l'd love to show you around, and if you want to go shopping Casey doesn't have a lot of free time.
l keep her pretty busy.
Now that you mention it, l could do with some time off.
- Not on this trip.
- Oh, that's not fair, Linc.
At least let me have Casey for an afternoon.
We'll see how things go.
l'm starving.
l warned him to eat something before we came.
Aah! No, my arm! Good night.
Take care of yourself.
Good night.
Say hello to Chong for me.
Taipan, if you don't mind, l think l'll forego the meal.
No, no, l'll see you in the morning.
l think a little intervention might be in order.
Americans are dreadfully susceptible to temptation.
Yes, l'll see to that.
- Good night, Jacques.
- Good night.
Hello, Taipan.
Are you going to wait it out? Orlanda's been telling us about this fish restaurant here in Aberdeen.
You want to join us? - No.
l'm afraid l'm here for the duration.
- NobIesse obIIge? - ls that your motto, Taipan? - Well - What is it? - French.
Oh, it means, ''At any cost, l will do my duty.
'' l've always wanted to learn French, but then, English, Portuguese, Mandarin, and Cantonese are all l can manage.
Well, that's pretty good.
l can only speak-- Fire! Fire! Get out! Hold on, everyone! Please! Don't panic! There's plenty of time! Don't push! There's no danger yet! Look for another way out of here.
OK, there may be a door to the half deck down the back.
RemaIn where you are.
A boat wIII take you off.
We have room for everyone! Do not push! We'll be all right, Orlanda.
l don't give a damn! Just get a photographer here right now! Then call for the fire department! Stupid sod.
There's nothing out there.
Not a damn thing.
No roofs, no ladders, nothing.
- We can jump if we have to.
- Jump? Yeah.
No sweat, kid.
l can't swim.
Stay put.
Cut off! No way down! Whew.
Fine time, my friend, to get the hell out of here! l should rather think so.
Quillan! - How you doing, Casey? - OK.
- Out you go.
- When you go.
Take Orlanda.
Come on.
Everyone, this way.
Come on.
l've lost my purse.
You can get another one.
Let's go.
All on the top deck, abandon ship! Now! Those last explosions could have blown our bottom out! Come on! After you, Taipan.
Passengers on the bottom deck, we wIII come aIongsIde.
Do not jump.
We're gonna have to jump, Christian.
lnto Aberdeen? You must be bloody joking, old chap.
lf you don't bounce off all that bloody efluvia, you're sure to catch the bloody plague.
There's no choice.
How deep's the water here? Must be 20 feet or more.
That's enough.
This lady is with child.
- Hi.
Can you swim? - No.
We're out of time.
Casey, you go first.
Wait below.
OK, ready.
Just hold your breath, honey.
l don't know where my husband is.
Well, when everyone started running Honey, why don't we just go-- Why don't we just go see if we can find him? Say, did you see the way that Casey zipped out of her dress? Not a bad figure.
Not bad at all.
Quillan! Come on, get up, quick! Come on, lad.
Come on.
- Are you OK? - Yeah.
Yeah, l'm all right.
You could have left me there.
But since you didn't, l sell again tomorrow.
By next week, you should be finished.
Jolly good luck.
The idea of burning to death or drowning with you fills me with equal dismay.
What else did number one son Chen have with him, huh? Nothing.
We tell everything we know, How Chen wrote first letter.
All of it! Two motherless liars! Which one of you helped the old man kill him, huh? - We're innocent! - He did it! Do you believe these two, huh? You, get in the hole.
Put your face in the dirt.
l spit on all your generations.
And you On my mother's head, l'm innocent.
You wouldn't know your mother if you-- What is that string around your neck, huh? Aiyah All gods belch in Tsao Tsao's face.
Look what we have found.
- Morning, superintendent.
- Morning.
Are you sure it's him? Oh, yes, sir.
lt is John Chen.
Apparently the body was left here sometime during the night.
There's a note on his chest from the Werewolf.
Nothing has been touched.
Have your men sweep the area 100 yards either side.
And get some men over to these farms.
Maybe someone saw something and-- Get him the hell out of here.
And we have the Par-Con deal.
Perhaps after last night, Gornt won't continue to sell.
Hmm.
He'll sell.
What do we do? Unless we can buy every share of Noble House stock, we're in very great trouble.
You're almost two minutes late.
Oh? Sorry.
l don't seem to be able to get through to you about punctuality.
lt's impossible to run this company without executive responsibility.
lf you're late one more time, you lose your yearly bonus.
Sorry.
l want you to take over our Australian branch from Bill Foster.
Yes, certainly.
l'd like that.
Good.
Be on a flight tomorrow.
Tomorrow? That's impossible l realize that, but l want you to go tomorrow.
Stay two weeks, then report back to me.
- Do you understand? - Yes, l understand, But what about Saturday? l wanted to see Noble Star run.
l want you in Australia.
Tomorrow.
Foster's failed to get possession of Woolara Properties.
Without Woolara, we've no charterer for our ships.
Without the charterer of our ships, our present banking arrangements are null and void.
You have two weeks to correct that fiasco and report back to me.
And if l don't? lf you're not on that flight tomorrow, you're out of Struan's as long as l'm taipan.
Good.
lf you succeed with Woolara, your salary's doubled.
Anything else, sir? Yes.
Don't be late for the plane.
Everyone's so happy you weren't hurt last night, Taipan.
Thank you, Mary.
l'd say it was good joss.
But Mr.
Gornt wasn't hurt, either.
The draft of the Par-Con contract is on top, plus the most pressing letters and a list of your appointments for today, at least, the appointments l know about.
Call Tip Tok-Toh's office at the Bank of China and ask if l can meet him first thing tomorrow morning.
He can name the place.
Say it's urgent.
Use a favor if you have to.
Were you expecting Superintendent Kwok this morning? No.
- Brian.
- Can l talk to you for a moment, Taipan? - Privately.
- ln my office.
John Chen's dead.
They found him early this morning at Sha Tin.
Head bashed in.
Oh, dear God.
Oh.
Poor John.
Werewolf left a note saying he was killed because he tried to escape.
Not that that means anything.
Have you told Philip and Dianne? Right before l came here.
Do you know, he paid the ransom last night.
500,000.
Yes.
Yes, l knew he was going to.
And still they killed John? ls there any information? l mean, do you have any ideas? Of who this Werewolf is? No.
Nothing.
lf he takes the money and hides, we'll probably never find him.
No.
No, l suppose you won't.
Sorry to bring bad news, but l thought you should know.
Yes.
Thanks, chum.
Why don't you meet me for a drink tonight? l think we both could use a little time off.
A good idea.
But it'd have to be late.
- How about the Regent at 10:30? - You're on.
- And thanks again.
- OK.
Poor John Chen.
What a bloody waste.
Here you go.
Thanks.
Come in, Linc.
My house is yours.
You sure? Old Portuguese custom.
Please.
This is very nice.
l like it.
And quite a view.
You could see all of Kowloon before Sinclair Towers was built.
That's the block straight ahead.
We had the best view in Hong Kong.
Did you know Struan's owns Sinclair Towers? No.
l think he and Dunross had it built just to spite Quillan.
He used to own the penthouse here.
Gornt? That's a pretty expensive gesture, even for Dunross.
He probably made a profit on it.
The taipan usually does.
l'm glad you called.
l'm glad you invited me over.
l won't be a minute.
Do you live here alone? l live with my maid.
She's out shopping.
How do you like your coffee? Black.
You look happy.
We were.
Do you leave this out for any particular reason? Left it out because there was no reason to hide it.
Quillan was the first man in my life.
You don't have to explain.
l know l don't, but l'd rather tell you about it than have you wonder.
l was in love with him for five years from the time l was 17.
Now? Now l'm 25.
We've been apart for three years.
l don't love him anymore, but he's still my friend.
Quillan pays for this apartment.
He's a generous friend.
Yes.
Generous and caring and all the things a friend should be.
Look, l--l want to be honest with you, Linc.
l'm--l'm not ashamed about my relationship with Quillan, and there are no regrets, but this is Hong Kong.
l'd rather you heard it from me instead of whatever gossip you're bound to hear.
That's fair enough.
lt's even better than fair.
Besides l'm your responsibility now.
How so? According to Chinese custom, you've interfered with joss, with fate.
You interfered with the gods last night by saving my life.
Without you, l could've died, but that would've been up to the gods to decide.
But by saving me, you took over their responsibility, so now you have to look after me forever.
That's good, wise, Chinese custom.
OK.
You're on.
Except now l formally release you.
My Chinese half releases you.
Perhaps l don't want to be released.
Linc, wait.
- Please.
Not now.
- Why? Because--because l don't want an affair.
Orlanda.
lt's the first kiss l've had in three years.
Sorry you didn't enjoy it.
l did.
That's the problem.
But an Asia girl, especially a Eurasian girl, finds out very quickly that men want her pillow, and that's all they really want.
And l can't do that.
l have to be in love.
And l'm not in love with you, Linc.
l'm not in love with anyone.
l think you're a very attractive man.
l--l like you.
Abject apologies.
Refused.
You have nothing to apologize for.
Maybe l do.
Also refused.
Good.
How about dinner tonight? - lt's best if-- - l'll be here at 8.
You pick the restaurant.
No.
Let--let's just say good-bye now.
Yeah.
You just said hello.
l'll see you at 8.
lt's best not.
Maybe.
But why don't we let the gods decide? Sorry to be so long.
Bloody traffic's jammed for bloody miles.
That's all right, sir.
l've sent Sergeant Mark over to watch her flat.
- The old woman is still there.
- Ah, she'd better be.
She's the only lead we've got.
Lucky you found her.
Yes, if you happen to think there's a grain of truth in what she said.
You don't think so.
You know the Chinese, sir, especially the old amahs.
Not the most truthful people in the world l've had the privilege to meet.
How long you been out here, inspector? Four and a half years, sir.
Long enough to make you an expert on Chinese veracity.
Come on.
We'll take my car.
l take it my lady's still inside, sir.
Yes, inspector.
That's the only entrance to the building.
- Has she gone out at all? - Yes, sir.
She walked over to the Ho-Pak Bank and waited for about 20 minutes but the Werewolf suspect didn't arrive so she walked back here.
Very good, sergeant.
Carry on.
That's one, sir.
Sorry to interrupt, madam, but we have a search warrant.
Search? Search what? lf you are looking for the gambling den on the fourth floor, it's got nothing to do with me.
Enough.
ls this the woman? Yes, superintendent.
Ah Tam, you are under arrest.
Me? l've done nothing.
l'm not illegal.
l--l'm a law-abiding citizen.
l have papers.
Quiet, or we'll take you to our headquarters, and surely the judge will want you kept in custody.
NowWhat do you know about the Werewolf? Me? Werewolf? Nothing.
Why should l know about the foul kidnappers? And what has he to do with me? Nothing.
Nothing at all.
l want the truth.
Now.
l'm just a respectable amah who does her work and nothing else.
How could this old, poor Elder sister, l suggest you talk quickly and openly.
We know everything already.
- What do you want with me? - The truth.
Take her to the station.
- She'll talk there.
- Torture? You want to torture - Come along.
- No.
Please.
Then when will the Werewolf come back? This afternoon? You went to the bank to meet him again this morning.
- No.
- l saw you, elder sister.
l followed you.
People of the same village should stick together, aiyah? People from the same village should not tell each other lies.
Tell me the truth, elder sister.
Tell me the truth or we'll take you to the station.
l don't know anything.
He was just someone l met.
And he said the Werewolf was his friend.
- But l knew he was lying.
- How did you know? A friend of the Werewolf would be very rich.
A friend of the Werewolf would wear silk clothes and have a gold watch.
She doesn't know anything, sir.
She knows more than she'll ever tell us.
What are you looking for? You won't find Werewolf there.
Hey.
You can't.
We have a search warrant.
Now be quiet.
Where'd you get this purse? Did you steal it? No.
lt was a gift from my mistress in Ning-Tok.
She gave it to me the day before she died.
Ning-Tok? Where is that? Outside Canton, sir.
Her family came from the same village many years ago.
Outside Canton.
This purse looks too expensive to have come from a small village ln mainland China.
But it's true.
You can just open it and see.
Where were these photos taken? ln Ning-Tok? Outside Canton, in China? Yes, yes.
ln my village.
ln Ning-Tok.
Brian? Casey, are you up? Up and ready.
How are you? l'm terrific.
Let's go over that paperwork.
Steigler's plane gets in around noon.
l wanted to get those contracts nice and legal by tomorrow morning.
lt's going to be late.
l already checked with the airline.
Should be here around four.
You don't leave anything to chance, do you? l'll just get my notes.
Our names are in the paper.
l know.
l read it earlier.
lan called.
Said he tried to reach you, but there was no answer.
Yeah? What'd he have to say? Just wanted to know if we were all right.
Where have you been? Woke up early, so l called Orlanda to see how she was and she invited me to breakfast.
- Oh.
l take it she's fine.
- Yeah.
Did you know she used to be Quillan Gornt's mistress? Orlanda told me all about it.
- And? - What? First you show up with her last night, and now a breakfast.
What's that got to do with you, Casey? You're the one who said this was a business trip, not a romantic holiday, remember? No emotions interfering with your plans.
Another time, another place.
Ring a bell? l know exactly what l'm doing.
Famous last words.
Linc - Casey, enough.
- She was Gornt's mistress.
Don't you think that's a little too convenient? Should've seen the way he was watching the two of you last night.
So what? Relax.
lf l play the music, Gornt'll dance.
lt's nothing to be worried about.
No, l can think of a whole list of things.
Suppose lan finds out about the four million you wired to Gornt's Swiss bank and pulls out of the deal.
Right now, Dunross can't afford to pull out anything.
The taipan's all gift-wrapped and waiting to be delivered.
To you or to Gornt? Either way, it's the same thing.
ln the endwe're gonna be the Noble House and l'm gonna be the taipan.
Taipan Linc Bartlett.
How about that? And when were these photographs taken? l told you.
Six years ago in Ning-Tok.
The lady in the photograph? My mistress.
She gave me the purse on her deathbed.
Last night, you said it was the day before she died.
Now, which is the truth? l--l don't remember.
And the man? Who is the man standing beside her? Her son.
Her son who lives across the sea, in the north.
The north of the land of the golden mountains.
You're lying again.
No.
That is her son Chu-Toy.
He was born in Ning-Tok.
l helped deliver him with my own hands.
l remember when they send him away from Ning-Tok to this foul place when he was just a boy.
Why? Why was he sent here? To go to school.
The government send him.
Chu-Toy was very smart.
We didn't see him again for, oh, many, many years.
Until his father was dying.
Chu-Toy had become a man.
But l still recognized him.
Yes.
Six years ago.
Was that the only time Chu-Toy returned? Yes, it was only once.
The once of the photograph.
His mother insisted.
She wept and begged him to have the picture taken.
So Chu-Toy let her have her way as a dutiful son should.
And after that? After the photograph? Oh, he went away in a big car and we never saw him again.
Not even when his mother died and gave me her purse.
Are you sure the man in the photograph is the same Chu-Toy who was sent away to school in Hong Kong? Of course l'm sure.
Please, can l go home now? l've told you everything.
17.
50? Struan's have never been below 25 since they went public.
You were right, Mr.
Gornt.
Absolutely dead-on right.
Yes.
And look at that.
Another 300,000 shares on offer.
What a day.
Yes? - Are you sure? - Yes The Ho-Pak's finished.
- They closed their doors.
- Yes, l know.
The head office in Central is still open, but they'll have to liquidate.
God.
Poor Richard Kwang.
Yes.
Pity.
Are you going to buy, lan, or just let your stock plummet? Oh, Quillan.
How'd you do on the day? Oh, very well, thank you, lan.
Very well.
Yes.
My partners and l are quite satisfied.
Oh, you have partners? Oh, yes.
One doesn't mount a raid on Struan's lightly.
One needs very substantial financial backing.
- And you do? - Well, fortunately, Struan's is roundly detested by a lot of good people.
Well, yes, lan, my backing is impressive.
l'm sure if you knew who it was, you would agree with me.
You're finished.
A man can get burned by selling short in such a volatile market, Quillan.
Don't you think so? Well, it sure as hell isn't like the New York stock exchange.
Are you selling short, Mr.
Bartlett? Not personally.
Not yet.
Well, you should.
A lot of money to be made in a falling market.
So l hear.
And a great deal of money will change hands with control of the Noble House.
What do you think of a raid, Hong Kong style? A raid is a raid wherever, but you never know until you've won and all the votes are counted.
As lan said, sometimes you can get burned.
So what are you gonna do about Gornt? l'm going to wait.
lt's an old Chinese custom.
Patience.
But if Gornt wins, we have no deal.
l understand that quite clearly.
Could he? l mean, can Gornt really get control of the Noble House? No, not actually.
But with enough stock, he can force his way onto the board and appoint other directors to help him disrupt and destroy.
And his only purpose is to destroy.
Because of the past? Partially.
The stakes are high.
Face is involved.
Huge face.
And this is Hong Kong.
Here, the strong survive and the weak perish.
But you have come for profit, and profit you will have, - one way or the other.
- Yeah.
l have another appointment.
We'll talk to you later.
Bye.
Can't tell how much he knows.
Or doesn't know.
Nope.
What's the point of playing games, the way you and Gornt were doing? - lsn't that a little-- - A little what? Tacky.
l never said l had a lot of class.
Robert.
What are you doing here? Oh, l feel rotten.
Drinking on duty.
l just had them sent up.
Here.
What's the problem? l did a white room interrogation of an old amah.
Give me the creeps.
Cheers.
lt's as if you're thirsty.
What old amah? Oh, there was something about her knowing our friend the Werewolf.
lt was all a pack of lies at first.
And then? Come on.
Drink up and we'll go and have a whiskey.
Bad.
All right.
Let's go.
The old amah, she finally told the truth.
You know how it is.
You catch the lies eventually if you're patient.
l'm fed up with lies.
She's from Ning-Tok.
That's a village outside Canton in mainland China.
You ever hear of it? There are lots of villages in mainland China.
What's so special about that one? Ning-Tok? Oh, that's a name l'll always remember.
ln a bad way, old chum.
Come on.
l'll buy.
Oh, just a minute.
l've got to make a call.
Look at you, in such a bloody hurry.
You did very well, Superintendent.
Did l, Commissioner? Yes.
Very well.
No.
No, l don't think so.
You must be very tired.
Very tired of these sort of things.
l think about it and it still seems impossible.
Brian a communist mole? lt doesn't make sense.
Except for the evidence.
Theoretically, Brian Kwok was born in Hong Kong.
His passport has no visa to mainland China, nor was he ever in Ning-Tok, yet here he is.
But Brian's been my friend.
There is no Brian Kwok.
There is only Chu-Toy.
You must realize that.
Yes, l know you believed he was your friend, but the Chinese are the most patient and secretive people on earth.
Aren't they? Brian would've become assistant commissioner in a few years.
Precisely, and think what that would have done to us.
l know how betrayed you feel, Robert.
Personally betrayed.
And l'm delighted to tell you that you have the honor of beginning the interrogation.
No.
l can't.
We'll set him up for you, but you're the one for the coup de grâce.
l want to know everything.
- Get someone else.
- Don't be so bloody boring, Robert.
Chu-Toy, alias Brian Kwok, is an enemy agent who has eluded us for years, and that is all.
No, no, l can't interrogate.
Dear fellow, you can and you will.
You're the only one who can.
After all, you know him well, and Brian is far too smart to be caught like an amateur.
Break him, Robert.
Break him and do it very quickly.
There are a couple of clauses l want in just to protect us.
l don't want this deal renegotiated, Seymour.
l want it wrapped by Tuesday.
No complications.
What about Rothwell-Gornt? Best l should feel him out, huh? What'd l just say? OK.
OK.
You leave Gornt and Dunross alone, Seymour.
Hong Kong's more complicated than we thought.
Leave Gornt and Dunross to Casey and me.
You just deal with their attorneys.
You'll see Struan's attorneys in the morning.
The taipans told them it's top priority.
l should be.
My down payment gets Dunross off the money hook.
lf he survives.
Here today, gone tomorrow.
Hey, that must've been some scare on that burning boat.
Story made the New York papers.
Anything else for me? - That's it for now.
- OK.
l'm gonna take a shower.
Wash some of the airplane off.
Sure.
Go ahead.
- lf you're not doing anything for dinner-- - l'm busy.
Why don't you give Casey a call later? OK.
Thanks a lot.
Oh, come on.
Take Seymour out and show him around.
He can show himself around.
lt's up to you.
l gotta change.
- Where are you going? - l think l may have a date.
Oh? Have a swell time.
Damn tramp.
l should've drowned her while l had the chance.
- TaIpan's offIce.
- ls he in, please? - This is Casey Tcholok.
- One moment.
- HeIIo, Casey.
- Hello, lan.
- Is there a probIem? - Oh, no, no, no.
l was just wondering if you wanted to have dinner tonight.
I'd Iove to.
It wouId have to be Iate.
Oh, late would be fine for me.
I'II send a car.
l'll wait for the car.
- I'II see you then.
- Bye.
Well, the client's in fine shape, Superintendent.
Physically.
His blood pressure and heartbeat are nicely up, but That's what's to be expected.
- A two-hour cycle? - Yes, on the half-hour.
Wake, sleep, wake, sleep.
By this time tomorrow, he'll think he's been ln there for 12 days.
lf he can stand it.
Who'd have imagined Brian would've turned out to be a spy? He was always so smart.
Let's hope the poor bugger's not too smart.
The sooner he talks, the better.
Are you doing the interview yourself? lt's on the damn door.
Can't you bloody read? Yes, sir.
l'm sorry.
l just--well, l knew he was your friend and-- Yes, it's time for his shot anyway.
Damn you to hell, Brian Kwok.
Damn you to hell.
Listen, Werewolf Dung.
l want to know where you got the coin from.
The half coin.
l told you.
My father gave it to me.
l'm tired of his lies.
Cut off his ears.
lt was number one son Chen.
l took it from him.
Who killed number one son Chen? l did.
l hit him with a shovel.
Please.
Don't hurt me anymore.
Disgusting coward.
Silence him.
What should we do with this worthless dog? He's told the truth at last.
Call my son.
Young Choy does not enjoy this matter.
lt's time he grow up.
Time he knew how to treat enemies.
Time he knew real values, not ill-omened, stink-wind, golden mountain values.
My son has forgotten who he is.
Call him.
Seventh son, your father wants you.
ls he dead? Not yet.
What a dirty, motherless whore.
To kill number one son Chen and then take the ransom.
Disgusting.
More terrible to get caught, aiyah? Give Goodweather Poon a hand.
What? You have vomit in your ears? Give him a hand! What do you want me to do? Take his legs.
Put him overboard.
Father, he's not dead.
Put him over the side! Rip: DevilsBackbone