A JET TONE FILMS PRODUCTION
CHUNGKING EXPRESS
We rub elbows with a lot of people every day.
You may not know anything about them.
But they might become your friends or even confidants one day.
I'm a cop — No. 223. My name's Ho Chi Moo.
Freeze!
This was the closest we ever got.
Just 0. 01 centimeters between us.
But 57 hours later, I fell in love with this woman.
Mrs. Chen? This is Chi Moo.
Oh, it's not May I'm looking for. It's you I'm calling.
How are you?
I'm okay. Yes, I'll give her time to get over it.
I'm sure she'll call me when she's ready.
Please don't tell her I called.
You're going to a movie?
I won't keep you. Is Mr. Chen there?
Mr. Chen? This is Chi Moo.
No, don't get May! It's you I'm calling.
How's your cough?
You're going to the movie with your wife?
I won't keep you then.
Is her sister there?
No? Is her older sister there? Please pass on my regards.
We all have our habits.
Mine is to wait here for May to get off work.
The boss here says May looks like a Japanese star.
I split up with her recently.
She complained I no longer looked like the Japanese star Miura Tomokazu.
Any messages for Account 368?
Password is "Undying Love."
Ming called? Do you mean "May"?
Spell it.
M-I-N-G or M-A-Y?
You sure you got it right?
Yes? Don't you know English?
Ming? I guess May asked you to call.
Tell her not to worry. I'm fine.
I'm taking good care of myself.
She can call me anytime she wants.
No need to trouble you.
She didn't?
So why are you paging me?
Jogging?
Are you heartbroken again? No?
Then why go jogging?
A race? You're crazy!
Jogging is something private. You don't jog with an audience.
Forget it. Bye.
We 're all unlucky in love at times.
When I am, I go jogging.
The body loses water when you jog, so you have none left for tears.
Me shed tears?
May always thought of me as Mr. Cool.
Still no go will your girlfriend?
It's been a month.
Get another one.
How about May here? She's not bad.
She's off early tonight. Give it a go.
She likes you.
Not tonight. I have a date.
Miss, is this okay?
Give me a bigger one, but nothing fancy.
Check, please.
I spent the night at May's from time to time.
In order to keep it from her parents,
I'd always climb down from the balcony.
Will I ever get to do that again?
- Do you have a bigger one? - How about that one?
- How much? - $2,500.
To the checkout.
Put these in the bag as well.
The date on the can tells me I don't have much time left.
If l don't find those Indians, I'll be in deep trouble.
I've become very cautious somehow.
When I put on a raincoat, I put on sunglasses too.
Who knows when it will rain
or when the sun will come out?
Any messages for Account 368?
Password, please.
Undying Love.
Any messages?
No, there aren't any today.
Thanks anyway.
As we split up on April Fool's Day,
I decided to let the joke run for a month.
Every day, I bought a can of pineapples with a sell-by date of May 1st.
May loves pineapples,
and May 1st is my birthday.
If May doesn't change her mind by the time I've bought 30 cans,
our love will expire.
Sir, this can's going to expire tomorrow.
Why don't you get another one?
No, thanks.
When is the earliest flight tomorrow morning?
I want to make a reservation.
Just one.
- Have you seen these people? - No.
Look carefully. They're with their kids.
Can't help you.
- You really don't know? - I've no idea where he is.
But he's a friend of yours.
My daughter!
What do you want?
If you don't tell me within the hour,
you'll never see your daughter again.
An ice cream for her, please.
Some men might sacrifice a kid to save their own skin,
but he wasn't one of them.
An hour later, I set out.
Police!
Freeze!
It's been six months since I've nabbed anyone.
I finally caught a wanted man today.
Whenever I made an arrest,
I wanted May to be the first to know.
Hello?
Miura Tomokazu! I will kill you!
Do you have any canned pineapple that expires on May 1st?
You know what day it is today?
April 30th.
Right.
You think we sell outdated stock?
There are still two hours to go.
Nobody would buy it. Get a fresh one.
People like you are hung up on freshness.
You realize what goes into a can of pineapples?
The fruit has be grown, harvested, sliced.
And you just throw it away.
How do you think the can feels about that?
Buddy, I only work here.
Who cares what the can feels?
What about how I feel?
Loading, more loading, unloading.
I too wish cans wouldn't expire.
It would save me loads of work.
You like expired cans? Help yourself.
Take as many as you like. On the house.
Somehow everything comes with an expiration date.
Swordfish expires.
Meat sauce expires.
Even plastic wrap expires.
Is there anything in the world that doesn't?
Want some mackerel?
It's expired. I don't want it.
You sure?
I finally found my 30th can.
As May 1st begins, I come to realize...
in May's eyes, I am no different from this can of pineapples.
Come on, try it.
People say dogs are man's best friend.
How come mine won't share my grief when I most need it?
This must be some kind of record.
I ate all 30 cans that evening.
It’s just as well May wasn't into durian.
I'd love to go out to celebrate.
May should have been in bed by now.
But what about the other May?
Back again?
I'm thinking of going to a late show.
May's gone.
Gone?
You thought she'd wait around? No way.
Waiting makes women nervous.
Drives them crazy.
She went out with Richard.
Next time, get in quick.
I never thought I could get dumped by two Mays in one night.
To get over it, I promised myself never to go out with another girl called May.
Lulu? This is Chi Moo.
Want to go out for a drink?
You're in bed already? This early?
You were asleep?
Never mind. Bye.
Hey. Guess who?
That's right.
Want to go out for a drink?
Your husband? When did you get married?
Five years already?
Has it been that long?
And you have two kids.
You're happy. That's great.
Okay, never mind.
Is Kong Siu Wai there?
This is Ho Chi Moo.
We were classmates in the fourth grade. I sat next to you. Do you remember?
You don't remember?
Okay, forget it. Bye.
All those pineapples gave me a stomachache.
I went to a bar.
I thought alcohol would settle my stomach.
Are you okay?
I'm okay.
Another double.
There's a song called "Love Dies at Dawn. "
That's how I feel now.
How can I forget May?
I promise myself l'll fall in love with the first woman who walks in here.
What can I get you, Miss?
Whiskey, please.
I have a feeling she'll like me.
And I know the perfect ice-breaker.
Excuse me, Miss, do you like pineapple?
Bet she's not a native speaker.
Excuse me, do you like pineapple?
May I ask if you like pineapple?
You speak good Mandarin.
I grew up in Taiwan. And you?
I'm not in the mood to talk. Leave me alone.
We don't have to talk.
Can I just sit here?
There are plenty of seats. Why sit here?
I can feel that you're lonely.
- Really? - Yes.
Why would a woman be wearing shades this late?
She's either blind
or she's a poseur
or she doesn't want people to see she's been crying.
So, which reason applies to me?
The last one.
It's okay. There's no need to cry.
I've fallen out of love too.
I usually go jogging to get sweaty
so that I have no more water for tears.
Want to go jogging?
I've been racing around all evening. I'm tired.
If you want to talk,
find someone else.
I don't particularly want to talk.
I just want to keep you company.
I know how it feels to have a broken heart.
A woman needs a man to lean on.
You can treat me as your boyfriend.
I don't have a boyfriend.
And I don't have a girlfriend.
How old are you?
Two hours ago, I was still 24.
Now I'm 25.
I wouldn't like you.
Don't be so sure.
We might hit it off.
Do you like pineapple?
None of your business.
I'm just trying to learn more about you.
I was in love with a girl for five years.
We've just split up.
She says that I don't understand her.
So I want to find out more about you.
You'll find out nothing.
Just give me a chance to...
Okay, you can find out more about me.
What kind of man do you like?
Knowing a person does not mean much.
People change.
A person may like pineapple today and something else tomorrow.
Sir.
Sir. We're closing.
They're closing.
Want to jog?
I just want a place to rest.
When she said "rest, "she meant it.
I watched two old movies on TV that night
and had four chef's salads.
I knew it was time to go when the sun came up.
I took her shoes off before I left.
My mother said a woman's feet swell up when she sleeps in high heels.
She must have walked a lot that night.
Such a pretty woman should have clean shoes.
I was actually born at 6:00 a.m.
I'll really be 25 in two minutes.
A quarter of a century.
To celebrate this historical moment, I’m jogging.
Getting rid of my body's excess water.
It feels pretty good.
Leaving the sports ground, I decide to ditch my pager.
After all, no one's gonna call me.
Account 368.
Password, please.
Undying Love.
Your friend in Room 702 says "Happy Birthday. "
Thank you.
On May 1, 1994,
a woman wishes me a happy birthday.
For this, I'll remember her all my life.
If memory could be canned,
would they also have expiration dates?
If so, I hope they last for centuries.
A coke, please.
Jogging again?
Save your energy. You should find another way to cope with it.
Hey, try Faye. She's not bad either.
Who's Faye?
She started here today.
Get in quick. Beat Richard to it.
- Thanks, but I don't go for boys. - Boys?
Excuse me.
This was the closest we ever got.
Just 0. 01 centimeters between us.
I knew nothing about her.
But six hours later, she fell in love with another man.
A chef's salad, please.
Takeout or for here?
Takeout.
Are you new here? I've never seen you before.
You like noisy music?
Yes, the louder the better.
Stops me from thinking.
You don't like to think?
What do you like?
Never thought about that. I'll tell you when I find out.
How about you?
Chef's salad.
A chef's salad, please.
Chef's salad again?
Aren't you tired of it?
- It's not for me. - Your girlfriend?
Is it her favorite?
I don't know. She never said it wasn't.
Maybe she'd like something different for once?
Try fish-and-chips. That's good.
What if she doesn't like it?
Get both and let her choose.
Can't go wrong.
- Won't that be costly? - Doesn't cost much.
Come on, give her a choice.
Okay, a chef's salad and a fish-and-chips.
Okay.
Thank you.
Fish-and-chips, please.
See? I told you she'd like it.
She should have said she didn't like chef's salad.
You —
You never gave her any choices.
If you had, she might have said so.
Speaking of choices, try pizza tonight.
I don't know if she'll like that.
Then try the same trick. Get both.
Won't break the bank.
- All right. - Okay.
Want to try something different again?
The hot dog is good.
No, thanks. Just a black coffee.
Nothing for your girlfriend?
- She's gone. - Why?
"To try something else," she said.
I guess she's right.
Plenty of choices in men, just like food.
I guess I should've stuck with the chef's salad.
That's not a big deal.
She'll try someone else and find out you're better.
And she'll come running back.
Don't worry.
Thanks.
On board every flight,
there's always a stewardess you want to seduce.
This time last year,
at 25, 000 feet, I actually seduced one.
I thought we'd stay together for the long haul,
flying like a jumbo jet on a full tank.
But we changed course.
A black coffee, please.
It's been a week and she's not back yet?
Excuse me.
Maybe she does have plenty of choices.
Then get her out of your mind.
You have other choices too.
You can't go on drinking black coffee like that.
It takes time to change. We'll see.
I'll be okay.
If you say so.
Excuse me. The policeman who buys a chef's salad here every night...
Oh, you mean No. 633?
He's off duty today.
Isn't he off on Saturdays?
He changed shifts. Didn't he tell you?
Could you give this to him the next time he comes?
No problem.
Thank you.
- Thank you. - Thanks.
I'll be back soon.
What?
I'll be right back.
Okay.
We're taking a break.
What?
A short break.
- Where are you off to? - I have to go out too.
Just you here tonight?
What?
Just you here tonight?
They were all here just now.
They rushed off as you came in.
What's wrong with me?
Nothing.
Black coffee.
Thanks.
Last night...
a girl...
What?
Last night, a girl...
Would you turn it down a bit?
A girl was waiting for you here last night.
She left a letter for you.
Really?
Yes, a stewardess.
- Don't you want to read it? - After my coffee.
Hey, your letter.
Keep it for me. I'll get it next time.
Hi, boss.
- What are you doing here? - I'm on duty.
- Where's No. 633? - He's on leave.
Really?
He said he was wounded by a pin. He's convalescing at home.
Wounded by a pin?
That's a weird excuse.
Everything in the apartment is sad since she left.
They all need lulling to sleep.
You've lost a lot of weight, you know.
You used to be so chubby.
Look at you now. You've shrunken.
Have more confidence in yourself.
You have to stop crying, you know.
You have to be strong.
Look at you. You're so shabby these days.
I'll help you.
Isn't that better?
Say something.
Don't blame her.
We all have moments of doubt.
Give her a chance.
Okay?
Lonely?
You look a real mess.
Cold? I'll warm you up.
Boss.
- Had your lunch yet? - Yep.
It's all ready for you.
Need any help?
It's okay, I'll manage.
Excuse me!
Excuse me.
Hey, what are you doing here?
Are you feeling better?
Better?
They said you were wounded by a pin.
Nonsense.
Haven't seen you around lately.
I changed shifts. I'm on this beat now.
Really?
- Need some help? - Yes, please.
I'll be going.
This is heavy.
It's worse some days.
Must be hard for you.
That's work.
Why did you take this job?
The boss is my cousin.
He asked me to help out.
What did you do before?
Lots of things.
I'm saving up.
To study?
Never thought of that.
I just want to enjoy life.
How? Where?
Anywhere.
Maybe California.
California? Why?
I said maybe. I can move on if it's no fun.
You like to travel?
Don't you?
I don't really mind one way or the other.
You can come with me. I almost have enough.
We'll see.
Are you always like this?
I still have that letter.
Haven't had time to pick it up.
Give me your address. I'll mail it to you.
Or it'll get lost.
Okay.
You live near here.
Yeah, it's over there. Drop by sometime.
Sure.
Well, let's move.
You're sweating. Are you okay?
I'm okay.
Stop daydreaming, will you?
You want to be a star?
You didn't do your work. Leave the carrots alone.
Who's going to eat that now?
Use a toilet roll.
And you...
I'm not daydreaming.
Right, you're not daydreaming. You're sleepwalking.
Sure, sleepwalking.
Whatever you say.
Sleepwalking...
I had a dream that afternoon.
It seemed I was in his apartment.
I thought I'd wake up when I left.
Apparently, you never wake up from some dreams.
I go home for lunch every once in a while.
There's always a chance she 'll be back.
I know you're in there.
Come on out.
I'll count to three.
One, two, three.
She used to leap out of the closet to scare me.
She hadn't been doing that lately.
I guess the game palled after a while.
Can she be hiding in the toilet?
Hello.
Hello!
Silly.
Barbecue pork with rice.
Thank you.
Excuse me!
- Hi. - Hello.
- It's you again. - Yes.
Will you be here for a while?
Why?
Nothing.
Where are you going?
I forgot something.
Oh, I still haven't mailed you your letter.
No hurry.
I'll get around to it.
Why are you back?
I have to pay the electricity bill.
Can I leave this here?
Hello! I'm still at the market!
It's pouring rain.
It's pouring. Can you hear it?
What are you talking about? It's sunny here.
Must be a local shower.
I'll be back when it stops.
Don't forget the electricity bill.
I won't.
I'm leaving now.
Okay, I'll see you again soon. I will.
Got this for you.
Why so many lychee nuts?
They're for a friend.
I'm paying the electricity bill.
You've been gone for hours.
It's packed here. I can hardly get inside the shop.
This is going to take a while.
How come it's always so crowded?
Who knows?
Shall I try again tomorrow?
Try another shop.
Another shop?
Okay, I'll try.
Are you sure?
Hey.
Been shopping?
A friend is redecorating his place.
You sure are busy.
I certainly am.
Black coffee again. It's bad for you.
Drink water if you can't sleep at night.
Hi. It's me.
The plane has returned to Hong Kong.
You want to make a booking?
Call me. Same number. Bye.
Wow.
How long did it take to grow it like this?
None of your business.
A bit of a tease, isn't she?
Guess so.
- Why? - Well...
Do you know her well?
Nope.
I had this sudden feeling one day that she was back.
Did I leave the tap running,
or is the apartment getting more tearful?
I always thought it would cope okay.
I didn't expect it to cry so much.
When people cry, they can dry their eyes with tissues.
But when an apartment does, it takes a lot more to mop up.
What are you doing here?
I live here.
- You live here? - Why are you here?
I'm here to buy goldfish.
- Nobody sells goldfish around here. - No?
- You came to buy goldfish? - Yes.
Are you buying or selling?
What do you mean? Yes, I bought some goldfish.
Stop it. I forget everything when I'm scared.
Why are you scared?
I don't know. You're scaring me.
I'm going now.
Are you stuck?
Don't push me. I'd go If I could.
You have a cramp?
I don't know. It's never happened before.
You'd better come in.
Whenever she came back from a flight, I'd massage her legs for her.
Being a stewardess is tough on the legs.
I've always found women's legs sexy.
I haven't touched any since she left.
Is that better?
Yes. Can I go now?
Stay a bit longer.
I'll put on some music.
You like this song too?
I'm not really into music.
My girlfriend liked it.
She liked this song?
Yes.
Sure, his girlfriend liked it.
That's my CD. I left it here a few days ago.
Could sleepwalking be infectious?
I guess I've been too nervous.
I fall asleep after a while.
The girl fell asleep in my place that afternoon.
I thought about waking her up, but, for some reason, I didn't.
Shit!
Don't set fire to anything.
Watch those candles.
Don't get burned.
This is your fault. What's gotten into you lately?
Why didn't you pay the electricity bill?
What have you been up to every day?
I went to see the doctor.
Really? You haven't been taking any medicine.
Of course I have. You just didn't notice.
Yeah, right. So when did he say you'd get better?
Sometime soon.
Crazy.
I don't know if it's the weather...
but I've changed a lot lately.
I've become more observant.
I notice things I used to take for granted.
Even the sardines taste different.
You mustn't let yourself go.
You've gained so much weight.
She may have gone, but life goes on.
Don't give up on yourself. You have to keep fit.
You're a real disappointment to me.
You've changed so much.
You can't just switch personalities like this.
Her walking out is no excuse.
You have to pull yourself together.
It was such a relief when I saw it cry.
It may look different,
but it's still true to itself.
It's still an emotionally charged towel.
Have you noticed I'm more optimistic these days?
Things are starting to look up.
You used to look really dumb...
but you've become quite cute lately.
You mustn't get yourself so dirty though.
You used to be cleaner.
Look at these dirty stripes.
Have you been fighting?
So that's where you've been hiding. I've been looking for you.
It's time to stop running away.
You got moldy.
We'll go out in the sun tomorrow, okay?
What are you doing in my apartment?
You asked me to drop by.
Open the door! Or I'll break it in!
Someone's looking for you.
- Me? - Yes.
- What do you want? - I'm here for my letter.
What letter? Ask the boss.
Me? You were keeping it.
He says you have it.
Me?
Where?
Oh, yes.
I was afraid it would get lost.
I promise I haven't read it.
Thanks.
Are you free tomorrow evening?
Why do you ask?
- I want to go out on a date with you. - A date?
The boss says you're off tomorrow.
So I have to go on a date?
Think about it.
I'll meet you at the California Restaurant at 8:00.
That song's not right for you. Try this one.
I'm doomed!
Doomed, doomed, doomed!
Doomed.
Hey, No. 633 is good with girls.
Boss, it's No. 663.
Who cares?
Wait, wait.
More chili sauce.
What?
Hey, I'm out of cups.
Mutton?
I cleaned up my place that afternoon.
It was like cleaning the runway for another flight.
I got to the California a little early.
I half expected a flight delay, so I got some loose change.
Coins, please.
Half an hour later, I broke another ten-dollar bill.
Had the flight been canceled?
She isn't coming.
She asked me to give you this.
Don't let it get you down though.
Try another girl.
May's nice. She's coming back tomorrow.
Where is she?
She quit. Said she was going to California.
Okay then?
Thanks.
I didn't open the letter.
Some things need time to sink in.
Once the snack bar manager had gone...
I started talking to the beer bottles.
Disappointed?
Not really.
Go home and sleep. She's not coming.
Actually, she did go to California that evening.
But it was the other one.
We were in different Californias,
with a 15-hour time difference between us.
It must be 1 1:00 a.m. in California, USA.
I wonder if she 'll remember our 8:00 p.m. date.
Hey.
What a coincidence.
Are you off duty tonight?
Yes.
How are you?
- Fine, and you? - Not bad.
Alone?
No, I'm with a friend.
He's your type.
You still have stuff at my place.
Pick it up some time.
I don't want them anymore. Throw them away.
Okay.
I have to rush.
I still think you look better in uniform.
So do you.
Hey, you haven't paid.
You pay for me.
How much is it?
Thanks.
The letter turned out to be a boarding pass
postdated a year later.
I couldn't make out the destination.
I did go to the restaurant that evening.
I knew it would get crowded, so I was there at 7: 15 p.m.
It was pouring rain.
Through the window, I watched the rain come down.
All of a sudden, I had the urge to find out
if the other California was sunny and warm.
I decided to give myself one year.
Tonight, it's raining as hard as it was then.
Looking out this window, I have only one person in my thoughts.
I wonder if he ever opened my letter.
What are you doing here?
Hey! What are you doing here?
Can that be you?
What are you doing here?
Renovating.
Renovating?
Where's my cousin?
He's opened a karaoke bar.
He said he needed a change.
So I took over here. Didn't he tell you?
Nope. I haven't seen him.
He has great business sense.
First he sold me fish-and-chips,
then the whole shop.
What?
I said he has great business sense.
When did you get into this music?
It takes time to get used to things.
Did you go to California? Was it fun?
What?
Did you go to California? Was it fun?
California. There's nothing special about it.
You look good in uniform.
You look nice like that too.
Want a bite?
No, I fly out very early tomorrow.
When will you get back?
My grand opening is in two days.
I don't know. This might be a long trip.
Write to me when you reach wherever it is.
Would you read it if I did?
One thing I have to ask you.
Would you let a person on board with a boarding pass like this?
It's dated today, but it got blurred in the rain.
I don't know where it's taking me. Do you?
No idea.
But I'll give you another one.
Great.
Where do you want to go?
Wherever you want to take me.