Weeds on Fire (2016) Movie Script

1
Lung, this is Keung.
Remember me?
Next month is
Shatin Martins' 30th anniversary.
We all want to see you.
The principal said to make sure
you're coming.
Where are you?
Like everyone here,
I didn't want to lose.
I've almost forgotten how
it feels to not want to lose.
Thirty years ago, I played a match
not many knew about
in a field no one knew about.
Salute!
- Salute!
- I resign myself to your guidance.
Lung! Lung!
Lung! Lung!
Lung! Lung!
Lung!
I am Lung.
This is my story.
WO CHE ESTATE, SHATIN
This was my best friend, Wai.
Not only were we neighbors,
we were classmates since kindergarten.
Charge!
Perhaps because
he can run faster than me,
I only ever saw his back.
Tse Chi Lung, faster!
Stop dragging your feet!
Go to hell!
Still throwing? Come down!
Did you get them?
I got the old guy.
Don't run, you little bastards!
I was always
the target of bullies.
But he always stood up for me.
To me, he was a big tree.
Big trees give good shade.
Steal from my bro?
Want your ass kicked?
So, you wanna a puff?
Piece of shit!
It's Ken Choi.
Must be that scoundrel's.
Are you stupid?
Who wants to listen to Ken Choi?
Ditch it!
This is Shatin's lowest-tier school,
Kei Kok College.
Damn!
Reading Touch again?
Man up, for God's sake!
No matter how unruly we were,
we still feared someone.
That's Principal Lu,
AKA the Chalk Principal.
He never missed a shot.
Is that how you behave in class?
You are right, Principal Lu,
that's how we roll!
But when it came to sports,
we gave our all.
Wai always told me sports
are the male animal's battleground.
You can lose in anything in life...
Except for sports!
I prayed that the ball
would never land in my hands.
The District Council
is giving its HK$630,000 surplus
to schools for sports promotion.
I'd like to know
what you principals think.
Here!
Lung!
Lung, shoot!
Don't waver!
Mr. Tsang, this HK$630,000,
I want it all.
I want to use the money
to set up a baseball team.
Baseball? What's that?
It'll be Hong Kong's
first ever youth baseball team.
- That was easy.
- Since the opponent's a moron.
Thanks. Bye.
He pitched like he was convulsing.
Why are we always
playing with losers?
Beat him up!
So, HK$630,000.
Good for a 1,000-square-foot
apartment in City One!
Talk about fair allocation!
Principal Lu, don't kid yourself
about the quality of your students.
They'll just fight each other
with baseball bats.
Money should be spent
on bad students!
I always bring this ball with me.
I believe this ball
will change my students!
We're... in deep shit.
Have a seat.
So...
are you interested
in playing baseball?
Do you think it was a trap?
I think there are daggers
in his smile!
Are you chickening out?
- A little.
- But why?
It's just extracurricular stuff.
Hurry home and have dinner.
There were no secrets
in a public housing estate.
I knew Dad conned Mom
into coming to Hong Kong.
That's why
she's always despised him.
But somehow,
I felt more sorry for him.
From now on,
not only am I your principal,
but your coach as well.
Sorry, sir,
the class went overtime.
We're all here.
I'll be taking you to matches.
Your opponents will not
come from local schools.
They'll be Americans,
Australians,
and Japanese.
You mean the World Cup!
Shut up, will you?
Next, we will be training
six days a week.
What?
Six days? I got stuff to do!
Principal, you might as well
kick me out of school!
Wai and Lung, five minutes late,
an extra 25 laps.
Fifty laps for everyone.
But I was on time, sir!
You want me to run with you?
Remember!
Win as a team! Lose as a team!
Those morons are playing ball.
Baseball consists of pitching,
batting, catching and running.
Hit the ball,
run around the four bases,
return to home plate,
and that's one point!
What the hell?
I have no idea what's going on.
Did I hear someone curse?
Are you a gangster?
Everyone, 100 push-ups.
Now!
Serves you right! I told you!
But you were lazy!
Seriously, they're such losers.
Listen!
Once you're on the team,
it's not about you,
it's about the team.
No matter
what happens on the field,
do not curse!
One hundred!
Baseball is a defense-led sport.
The pitcher is crucial.
That's where the defense begins.
Spectators will have
their eyes on the pitcher,
and they will often
overlook the catcher.
Attack begins
when the hitter hits the ball.
To get to a base,
you need to be faster than the ball.
You gain one point
after covering all four bases.
Eyes on the ball!
They say only fools
were forced to join the team
by their principal.
But for myself, a first-timer,
it was the proudest thing I'd ever done.
My teammate Keung's family
ran a food stall.
He loved to talk.
He'd fire off like a machine gun
until he was stopped.
Brother, did you
apply for public housing?
I did!
This is Dung.
Some years ago,
he and his dad stole into Hong Kong
before the Touch Base Policy
was abolished.
Not all Mainlanders have accents.
Some speak better Cantonese
than we do.
All right! Stop yelling!
Water's boiling!
Got it!
Monitor is our school's only bookworm.
Looking wimpy gets you bullied.
Stop messing!
Stop messing around! Move it!
Oh, my God!
She dropped her goods.
Hey, you guys took too long.
Are you guys done
washing your face yet? Let's go!
Hi, I'm Wai.
I saw that kill you made...
She ignored you,
now she's in the toilet.
Keep an eye out for me.
Hey. What's your name?
This is the ladies room!
I know, so?
Why are you here?
You're my eye candy.
Let's be friends.
Pal, aren't you a few years
younger than me?
It shouldn't be a problem
for friendship.
I'm going to scream,
if you don't leave!
Tell me your name, and I'll go.
- Let's go! Spittoon's here!
- Wait!
Let's go!
- You go first!
- I go first?
Wai.
You two come out right now!
Was it fun
going to the ladies room?
If the cops were called,
you could end up in jail!
Stand and contemplate your deeds!
I WILL NEVER ENTER
THE LADIES ROOM AGAIN
It's all your fault!
What? You've never seen
someone get punished?
I read Touch
because of this girl.
I had noticed her for a long time.
I wanted to get to know her,
but never got the courage.
If she knew I played baseball,
would she be my friend?
Boss!
Long time no see.
What've you been up to?
I got dragged into baseball
by our principal.
Great. Those bats
could smash some heads!
Frankly, I envied him.
He was well-connected.
And he was bold with girls.
I was so awkward.
- Save your breath, Keung.
- Three Fingers.
Hurry up!
Now watch me!
No way! Just look at you!
Let me show you.
Genius pitcher? Save your breath.
I'm the only one fit to pitch.
Lung, you be the catcher.
You will catch the balls I pitch.
Think you're the boss?
Good idea.
Why don't you pitch and catch,
and be the spectators too?
Got it, Mr. Tsang.
Don't worry.
I won't let you down.
Would you set up the team
without the money?
Soon, we had a name.
The Shatin Martins.
Bring your stuff,
come to the field with me.
We're playing our first game.
With Japanese
or Caucasian chicks?
Most of Hong Kong's baseball fields
were built on service reservoirs.
This is the Japanese team's field.
Shut up!
Coach Choya, this is Coach Lu,
from Hong Kong.
See you later.
Gosh! Not with them!
We're doomed.
Today, you're playing
with this team here.
Shatin Martins
against Taichung Little League.
And the game begins!
One, two, three...
Ho, first batter.
Dung's here. You're doomed.
Oh, shit! Oh, shit! Oh, shit!
Strike!
Monitor, second batter.
Strike out!
Keung, third batter.
- Yes!
- Go for it, Keung!
And the hero saves the day.
Just watch me!
You motherfucker!
I told you to keep
a firm grip on the bat!
You could've killed someone!
Let me show you how it's done!
Bro, three outs.
Next inning! You didn't listen
when I read the rules, did you?
- Come back, Wai!
- You're only good at bluffing.
Get some brains, dumbass.
The ball!
You got finger cramps?
You come and pitch then,
smart guy!
Is it a homerun?
Match results are...
Taichung Little League, 39.
Shatin Martins, 0.
Taichung Little League wins!
Hey.
Don't tell anyone
what happened today.
You're worried they'll know
you're physically challenged?
Replace the pitcher,
and we would have won.
Tell them that kids
kicked our asses?
- You cramp our style!
- Stop that!
- We'll win next time, alright?
- Nonsense.
What do you expect
when kids kicked our asses?
Let's go.
It's no fun.
The whole field's yours,
smart guy!
I already told you
not to waste your time.
You can't change
those delinquents.
Lu, you took the money,
and you lost the game.
What a boss!
It was a friendly match.
If you had won,
it'd be like your team
was picking on little boys.
Yeah.
It's my fault.
I'm the one to blame.
I owe you an apology.
I am sorry.
Come, have some more.
Come get some more.
I paid for it with my own money,
not with the HK$630,000.
-You're poor
-So, hang in there!
Watch out!
-You're poor
-So, hang in there!
Who's poor?
I did so much to get the money
so we could form a team.
Poor?
If you don't even respect yourself,
there's only one word
to describe your life.
Loser!
Is it my turn now?
Maria said it's she and Elsa's birthday...
Lung! Time for practice!
- That game made me lose face.
- Wait! I am recording a song.
I need to beat the Japanese.
Remember?
Wait! Let me push the button.
What are you doing? Jacking off?
- The gate is falling apart!
- Okay. Wait, wait, wait!
- You were just lucky! Now watch!
- Lucky?
Charge!
Faster, Lung!
Tired? I told you not
to play with yourself!
After first base,
you go for the second base!
Steal first base!
Go for it!
I want to pitch.
Tsingtao! No problem, I got it.
Shit, what did the first guy order?
Monitor! Where are you off to?
How dare you bully our Monitor!
Remember this.
We're the Shatin Martins.
- We're here for you.
- Thank you.
We got allocated an apartment!
We got it!
Bro, we got allocated an apartment!
An apartment! Yay!
- Show them a homerun!
- Yes!
Finally an apartment!
Ant!
I made second base. You?
Gosh, you're strolling!
Ant, you bust a tire?
You'll never catch up to me!
And I repeat,
you'll never catch up to me!
Hey! Hey!
Stop it!
If you don't even
respect yourself,
there's only one word
to describe your life,
and thats "loser!"
Are you okay?
Let go, Lung!
Lung! Stop!
Wai! Let go!
You want more?
Sweetheart, where do you live?
How come I've never seen you?
Scared? Don't be scared.
What's your number?
Let me call you.
What are you looking at?
Hey, why are you sprawled out here?
Don't be such a sissy.
I was just playing around.
Man, I still need it.
- Hey.
- What?
Take a wild guess.
Which of us
will leave this ghetto first?
How would I know? What a question.
That year, Shatin
became increasingly busy.
New Town Plaza was built,
Yaohan opened its doors,
Dragon boats raced on Shing Mun River
for the first time.
Many people moved here.
Many people moved away.
For ghetto boys like us,
success meant being able
to leave public housing.
I think we need a slogan.
How about "Shatin Martins, strike"?
- "Shine"?
- "Strike" is an English word
that means "good shot".
- In a match...
- Shut up!
- Just use Shatin Martin...
- Shine!
Nope. You know what
you're doing wrong?
The leg!
What about the knee?
The knee should be higher.
- Not high enough?
- It's okay to lean backwards.
Very good! Very good!
Again, again.
Face me. Ready?
- Higher, right?
- Yeah. Ready?
One, two, three... Higher!
You peeked under my skirt!
What the hell? You hit me with a ball,
and now you're still at it?
- It hurts.
- You peeked under my skirt!
Sorry.
She slept with me.
- What?
- That volleyball chick!
I had wanted to apologize
when I saw her again.
But when I did see her...
Lung! Why don't you just kill yourself?
Look at him, acting all cool.
Brilliant!
He got killed twice in a row.
Just forget it,
I can do better than him.
His hands are convulsing.
Look at him!
My hand slipped,
I couldn't help it.
- What kind of pitch is that, genius?
- What did you say?
I'm talking about you, genius!
Son of a bitch!
Stop it!
Stop! Are you insane?
Stop!
Why are you fighting?
Did someone swear?
He did!
- He said, "pump up and pitch."
- Yes, "pump up and pitch."
Explain "pump up and pitch" to me!
What is "pump up and pitch"?
Explain it!
I think it means... pump up... and pitch.
- Dung, fourth batter.
- Got it!
- Lik Wong, fifth batter.
- Yes!
Wai, pitcher.
That's it for today.
Lung, come to my office after packing up.
I want to have a word with you.
What's going on?
Principal?
- You can go now.
- What?
You can go. Go home.
What happened?
Why did it take so long?
- Nothing. He didn't say a word.
- He didn't say a word?
That can't be.
Are you lying to me?
It's true, he didn't say a word.
No way.
Was it about
the ladies room incident?
- He really didn't.
- Really?
LITTLE LEAGUE CUP
FIRST ROUND
GRIZZLIES VS SHATIN MARTINS
Get out of the way, guys!
Don't worry, Asians rule!
We'll kick their asses!
Move it.
- He cussed.
- What's that?
He said hello.
- I heard it.
- So?
- Shatin Martins...
- Shine!
Get it, line draft guy!
Move it back and over!
Watch the ball!
Monitor! What are you doing?
I can't believe you missed!
Outfielder! Third base!
Loser, are you done daydreaming?
Loser!
Move it, will you?
You're dragging me down!
- Go! Go for it!
- Stop! Stop!
Back! Back! Back!
Go back!
I asked him to come back,
he wouldn't listen.
Well done, man.
- What a waste of good playing.
- He thinks he's a fast runner.
Go out and get ready, quick!
What was that?
What's going wrong with you, man?
- Sorry.
- You think it's funny, huh?
- It's English. Don't you understand?
- Is that funny?
- Hey! Hey!
- What's your problem, huh?
Stop!
Stop!
Are you playing or fighting?
Are you delinquents?
Sorry.
Back to your original positions!
Time!
Lung, take off your gear.
Take off your gear!
Swap places with Wai.
What are you afraid of?
Everyone's waiting for you.
Get going!
Principal... asked us to swap places.
You two, plotting against me?
No wonder he only
asked you to stay that day.
I didn't lie to you.
You didn't lie.
If I quit now, would you quit?
You're all jealous of me!
It's your show now!
Watch me make a fool of myself!
You want me over there?
Just say so!
Why send someone
physically challenged over here?
You think I give a shit?
What did you just say?
This team is a joke, seriously.
We lost 16 to 8 in that match.
It was the first time
I took off my mask.
Being the center of attention
did not feel good.
Hey.
Do you have a minute?
It's the old guy's doing.
I had nothing to do with it.
So what?
Are you that small-minded?
You shamed me in public,
and you call me small-minded?
Did the old geezer
put a gun to your head?
When he told you to do it,
you could've said no.
I quit, you quit. That's brotherhood!
And now we're nothing!
I did it on purpose.
I wanted you
to stop hiding behind him
and losing your identity.
Have you seen him?
Lung!
Shift your weight down!
No need to pitch too high.
Ball!
I said ball!
Monitor!
What?
What do you think this is?
That you could come and go as you please?
Who said you could come back?
Continue.
How about this?
If you could finish 100 laps
before sundown,
I'll forget about
what happened in my office.
Monitor, count his laps!
Yes, sir!
What're you looking at?
Concentrate!
You got someone who
can barely coordinate his limbs!
You think I give a shit?
What are you afraid of?
I quit, you quit. That's brotherhood!
And now we're nothing!
Fall in!
Monitor, lap count.
He's run 50 laps.
That's it for today.
Principal!
You said so yourself,
win as a team, lose as a team!
Sir, does that still apply now?
Shatin shine! Shatin shine! Shatin shine!
What shine?
Save your breath and run!
Charge!
- Thanks for the hard work, Monitor.
- Welcome back, Lung!
When you find something
that proves your worth,
it stays with you for life.
A lot of things happened
in Hong Kong that year.
Many people said
Hong Kong was changing.
The Shatin Martins
changed a lot too.
Shatin Martins! Shine!
Shatin Martins! Shine!
Principal Lu said
no one's indispensable to a team.
I didn't buy that.
But my team's performance showed that
Wai's absence had taught them
how to play well.
Shatin Martins finally took off.
We won five games in a row
and made it to the semi-finals.
I missed again.
Did you confirm the results?
There must've been a mistake.
Are you sure it's mine?
How can you prove that it's mine?
Because
I've only done it with you!
I didn't say anything
during this meal
for I knew a lot of things
would change
once I put them into words.
Stronger steps!
Have you forgotten?
Use the lower back!
It's the finals, after this match.
Deal with your thoughts
and feelings now.
During the game,
once you're on the pitching mound,
you need to focus.
There's no turning back
once you step on.
It's all about taking that half step.
Continue!
LITTLE LEAGUE CUP
SEMI-FINALS
SHATIN MARTINS VS ROCKETS
BUFFALOES VS TIGERS
Go!
Strike!
SEMI-FINALS
BUFFALOES
SHATIN MARTINS
LITTLE LEAGUE CUP
FINALS
BUFFALOES VS SHATIN MARTINS
Boss.
Keep it.
What's up? You don't look so good.
Nothing, just family stuff.
Can I borrow $3,000
for an emergency?
Come here.
I'm wondering if you
have the balls for a job.
Boss, call.
NEW TERRITORIES' FIRST YOUTH BASEBALL
TEAM TAKES ON JAPAN'S BUFFALOES
Anyone got soap?
Yes!
So many?
Monitor showers
in his underpants!
I'm doing my laundry as well.
Over his head!
Monitor,
- are your underpants torn?
- Go to hell!
There are races on the river
during the Dragon Boat Festival.
We're playing the Japs that day.
As if I didn't know.
Did I ever say I was going?
Nine months gone
in the blink of an eye.
Hey, let's not talk about this.
Better think about how to beat the Japs.
He's damn right.
Given Lung's pitching skills,
he'll conquer the Japs.
Guys and chicks alike.
You shut up!
Hey, Lung,
how's Wai these days?
I heard that Wai
got into trouble recently.
How can you play the Japs
pitching like that?
Believe in yourself.
This is the only thing
you're better at than me.
Pitch with all your might!
Who's the catcher now?
Dung!
Dung is really crap!
Can he do it?
If you stop,
if you stop here, you lose.
Relax your shoulder and reach out.
You bastard,
you've really improved.
Are you coming back
for tomorrow's match?
Don't worry,
I'll come to support you.
Here's some dough for my girl.
Pass it to her. I'm kinda tied up.
Working for your boss?
Didn't we come here to practice?
Let's throw some more while I'm here,
or you'll have to play against the wall.
Come on.
Wai told me to give you this.
Does he want me
to keep it or not?
I had a fight with my parents.
I can't face them.
Can you not leave me, please?
A lot has happened
in the run-up to the finals.
I don't want tomorrow
to come too quickly.
I even prayed that it'd rain,
storm or whatever,
so it'd stop the match from happening.
I hated this useless side of me.
Give it your all.
Wai?
Wai, time to work.
Wai?
Open up, Wai!
LITTLE LEAGUE CUP FINALS
SHATIN MARTIN VS BUFFALOES
Buffaloes versus Shatin Martins!
- I trust in God.
- I trust in God.
- I love my country.
- I love my country.
- And will respect its laws.
- And will respect its laws.
- And strive to win.
- And strive to win.
- But win or lose.
- But win or lose.
- I will always do my best.
- I will always do my best.
- Salute!
- We resign ourselves to your guidance.
- Salute!
- We resign ourselves to your guidance.
Go for it, Shatin Martins!
Go for it, bro!
Most honored.
- Here's to a great game.
- Thank you.
Get it together!
Yes!
Strike!
Strike!
Strike out!
Strike out!
Strike out!
They pitched too fast for us
in the first three innings.
We'll try to catch up in the fourth.
Fight!
Go!
Back! Back! Back!
Go!
Safe!
Dung! Go for it!
Bro, show me a homerun!
Shatin Martins! Hit!
Go! Go! Go!
Out!
Change!
Well done!
Look at the scoreboard.
It's only the fourth inning!
Isn't it too soon
to give up?
I never said we had to win.
But I did say,
"Never give up!"
Play a good game for yourself.
Show me a good match, will you?
- Can you do it?
- Yes.
Can you do it?
Yes!
- Shatin Martin...
- Shine!
Hey! Hey!
Good!
Lung! Lung!
- Lung! Lung!
- Lung!
Are you alright?
Get help!
Lung!
You can never catch up to me!
Don't you pretend to black out.
I'm not pulling you up.
Can't you get up by yourself?
Pick yourself up where you fell.
Always rely on yourself.
Hang in there!
Go for it, Lung!
We're hanging in there for you!
SECOND HALF, 9TH INNING
SHATIN MARTINS 13
BUFFALOES 12
I thought that if I kept quiet,
everything would stay the same.
For all eternity,
as I hoped it would.
But the truth was, things changed
despite what I had hoped for.
I did try to change.
But when I had summoned
enough courage,
it was already too late.
I thought I would never grow up,
that I could always
be willful and irreverent.
But reality is like
the current situation.
I suddenly find myself
in the last inning.
Lung!
Hang in there!
Show them what we've got!
Last pitch!
Shatin Martins!
Shine!
I don't want to be passive anymore.
I want to be in control
of one thing in my life.
Shatin Martins! You guys
blazed a trail in Hong Kong baseball!
Thank you, Principal!
Thank you all!
Principal!
We didn't just
overcome the Japanese!
Right!
You guys overcame me!
Right!
More importantly,
you guys overcame yourselves!
Yes!
- Shatin...
- Martins!
- Shatin...
- Martins!
- Shatin...
- Martins!
MR. LU, WE WISH YOU
GOOD HEALTH AND PROSPERITY.
NEW TERRITORIES' FIRST YOUTH BASEBALL
TEAM SHATIN MARTINS HAS BEEN FOUNDED
Principal Lu never got married.
He spent all his time
on education and baseball.
He helped build schools
for children in rural villages.
We even gave him a nickname.
The "Mad Dog" Principal.
As a gesture of recognition,
the colonial government named a bridge
on the Shing Mun River
Sand Martin Bridge.
In the face of change,
some learn to adapt.
And others choose
to take it by the horns.
For me, the greatest change was
the tree I grew up with
is not beside me anymore.
This is the city where I grew up.
It's become
increasingly unfamiliar.
The 80s were Hong Kong's golden era,
and it's the era I miss the most.
That year, I won a match
no one knew about.
I also lost something
very dear to me.
EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE DISAPPOINTED,
DO NOT LOOSE HOPE
But I learnt one thing.
Winning or losing
wasn't that important.
The most important thing
is having the courage
to take that half a step.
PRINCIPAL LU KWONG FAI FOUNDED
THE FIRST CHINESE YOUTH BASEBALL TEAM,
SHATIN MARTINS,
IN KEI KOK SCHOOL.
THE SHATIN MARTINS DEFEATED
THE POWERFUL JAPANESE BUFFALOES
AND WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
THEN SHATIN DISTRICT OFFICER
DONALD TSANG SAID THE TEAM'S FOUNDING
WAS THE MOST MEMORABLE EVENIN HIS POLITICAL CAREER.
THE TEAM'S FOUNDING MEMBERS
ARE INDEBTED TO PRINCIPAL LU
FOR CHANGING THEIR LIVES.
DISTRICT YOUTH BASEBALL TEAMS
FOR VARYING AGES
SUBSEQUENTLY APPEARED.
THE FOUNDING MEMBERS AND PRINCIPAL LU
BECAME THE BEST OF FRIENDS.