《冰山》ICEBERG｜完整演出影像（4K·中英字幕）

Want to sit in the red chair?

Sit in that red chair

Sit in that chair

Sit on that chair

Give us your...

Someone has to step up as the...

Xiaojiang, think it over

Isn't that still director-centered?

Give it more thought

No idea which one of us draws

Mine

It's not totally director-centered

But there's bound to be someone

who plays the director role

Hate the role or not, someone does the job

Still takes someone with a title to do it

Didn't we agree on this before?

that the director exists only when needed

I need him there every single moment

Really?

Really

Why?

Because that's how the show was rehearsed

It's starting

Each of us should tell a joke about this

Tell a joke

Then let us perform first in a bit

You do the first part

Mid-scene, when the camera comes

just talk right at the camera

Go pai wu

Go pai wu

Go pai wu

Go pai wu

Go pai wu

Go pai wu

It's all on you

Who's going?

You. Yes you. Go pai wu

You go pai wu

You go pai wu

You go pai wu

You go pai wu

You go pai wu

You go pai wu

You go pai wu

You go pai wu

You go pai wu

You go pai wu

You go pai wu

Right at that line, he just shows up

That's your proof

Don't sleep too deep tonight

And no stumbling over your lines

Because this is one take

Don't sleep too deep tonight

The cut I watched left me kind of wistful

I can't put it well

But it really got to me

I feel like in it

all these different characters

the ties between character and character

that kind of bond

You're tied to him

He's tied to him

All kinds of ties, just...

Kind of wistful

Kind of meaningful

But the visuals, though...

every single frame means something

Shut up. Show's over

Show's over

I love you all

So that's the whole show

OK, curtain call

OK, thanks

So?

Time for Act Two

Act Two people, get out here!

Whose mic? Hand it over

Mid-scene, say a line or two to camera

Whose mic?

Come on, start your performance

Whose mic?

Did you talk to the camera?

Whose mic?

Did you talk to the camera?

Yes, you have to talk to the camera

We did

Said what?

We're saying it right now, aren't we?

What are you doing?

I'm acting

Why did you come here?

I don't know either

Hard for me to say

Fuck

He told me to come here

Line!

Um...

Now you give him some photo or other

That could be me

I hate you

There's that sour face

Honestly

it felt pretty good to me

It didn't make me uncomfortable

Watching as audience, I felt just fine

I found it really smooth

The acting was silky smooth

It made me...

If you mean genuinely uncomfortable

Actually

If it were really like this, for real

it's that you stalled

Heads or tails?

I can never tell them apart

Even the lines won't flow that well

Then the whole exchange takes effort

That's just crude

You say I—

I'm telling you now

I need to think it over

And then I—

This is—

This is ten kinds of cheap

Do I have a problem?

My acting—

I wasn't good because I never truly felt it

I didn't put in the work, lost my craft

The problems are all on me

I deserve to be cursed out

No one even bothers to curse me out

Right, was that about your performance?

I just wanna ask why it turned out this way

Like, once he's dead

The work would finally be presentable

And we'd be famous

Wait, he hasn't even named us yet

In the script my name is Number One

I'm Number Two

Hope you treat your own life this way too

Just hurry up and die

Just hurry up and die

Just hurry up and die

Just hurry up and die

Just hurry up and die

Just hurry up and die

Just hurry up and die

Just hurry up and die

What caused this?

I got lazy

What's behind the laziness?

I got lazy with the performance

Too much going on, I had to face front

Then why'd you even come?

Huh?

Then why come here to play him?

He asked me to come

He asks and you just come?

He asks and you just come?

Yeah

I love him

You're so—

I love him

I love him

You love him because he's like you?

I'd say he's nothing like me

I just love him, no reason needed

That was Teacher Shi's performance

Talk about total realism

But acting too lifelike isn't good either

Mainly a bit above real life

Acting that's too lifelike is no good

I mean, a bit higher than life

If it's a bit more... you know

It's still stylized, poeticized acting

It's very pleasing to watch

When I was little

You wanna go to KTV, don't you?

Want me to call you a momo-chang?

Get you a momo-chang

Give it a try, how about it?

The Big One is coming

Spread the word

Why?

Because the Big One is coming

What does the Big One stand for?

What?

Go eat a fish

The Big One is coming

Ah

Just wait

What's this?

Where's a school around here?

You don't know?

Where's a school around here?

You look like a city type

Haven't seen any students

Left or right, go the left way

It's already bad enough

Have you ever eaten human flesh?

You said it

A gut cleanse, how about it?

Right is the road, right is the way

I only know two roads: left and right

The thing is

The Big One should be here by now

Have you ever eaten human flesh?

No

No, never

Where'd yesterday's confidence go?

You weren't like this yesterday

You pointed to the corner: help yourself

I'll wait until he comes, no matter what

But the smokes I want are on your counter

Sorry, sorry, I failed at my job

I'll do better next time

Some people think they control everything

Yet never even tasted human flesh

Have you eaten human flesh? Have you?

I haven't either

But do you get to mock me?

You don't get to mock me

Because I dare to tell you

I want to eat human flesh

And someday

You won't even dare to think it

You won't dare say what you think

You weren't like this when I came yesterday

Excuses

You just came to do your own thing

I can't bring myself to laugh

Pointed at the corner: go help yourself

Was my joke not funny?

Your smokes are right there on the counter

I'm sorry

This is my failure

I'll do better from now on

Is it really that funny?

You're in control of everything

Don't shoot

The money's all right there

What I said isn't funny

Everything you asked me to do

I've done it all

I put the money there for you too

So you can go now, right?

You think I'm a robber

You actually think I'm a robber

You talking to me?

You talking to me?

I can't quite hear you

Come on

Sorry

Being understood is just so hard

Because, you know

I go so far out of my way to come here

Only ever when you're here

I've seen you before

But you don't know what smokes I buy

I...

You don't know me at all, do you?

I...

All my love is right here

And you never even knew

I know

I don't have the energy left to...

Only like this

would you take me seriously

Being taken seriously is just so hard

Funny, isn't it

My dignity is in my hand

My thoughts are in the bullet

Have you ever thought

we're actually the same kind of people

When I took the money from the register

you didn't even blink

Because you know it's not your money

Every day you go to work, get off work

Punch the clock

Show up later than the Boss

and you're on edge all day

I'm not living like that anymore

Work is your life

and your life is in the Boss's hands

We're the same species

yet some became our gods

You know what I mean?

Then that's a real shame

All I can do is take my thoughts

and shoot them into your brain

Next life

Next life, you'll understand

I want to say

if our roles were reversed

I'd beg you to shoot, no hesitation

Goodbye

And then I died

Next scene

Anything else you want to say?

Not now — there'll be a chance later

Then hurry up and go

Save it for the next act

Come on, do the bit with the Boss

Weren't we talking to the actors?

Say whatever, just say whatever

Let him untie it

I...

Are you watching me?

Do I look pretty on camera right now?

But actually

this is a completely fake face

I could take all my makeup off

and just sing along with you

It's always me who finds the time

It's not like I'm after something

You come out and it just isn't there

Get all fired up, then come back out

I've bought out all these

people trying to talk me into leaving

Mic

Iceberg, Act One

No music

Improvised performance

I know you're home

Pay up or I'm telling your neighbors

I'll go to your workplace

and let all your coworkers know

You hear me?

Unbelievable, it's just three grand

and you keep stalling

You'll never amount to anything

You're finished, fuck your mother

That's way too blinding

What's going through your head here?

Is there music playing in your head?

Which tune?

Indescribable

In this part

I feel like a puddle of water

just rotting away right here

Turned to mist

Water? That's still too clean

Go a few steps further

All see-through

A Ditto

Just to mention

I mean

It's in this

muddy kind of state

A state where you can't even die properly

Every day we can fantasize

about us and the brutal Boss

The Boss is like a

how do I put it

It's a slave-and-master relationship

Say the Boss is the master

whipping you all day

That's not the kind...

Rather, it's through certain

subtle, unnoticed things

that he reshapes your perception

He just thinks your perception is wrong

That's the state he's in

But the Male Lead feels

on one hand, the people around him

treat him decently enough

so why does he always feel, deep down,

there's something strange

something a little off?

And that wrongness

keeps itching, scratching, picking at him

Everything the Male Lead does on stage

as long as it's set in his own home

anything set in his own home

is his inner world acted outward

Meaning if you saw him there in person

he'd really just be sitting here

Just like this

It's too fucking dark

Heads or tails — I can never tell

Everyone loves to watch heads

The day the heads people slip up

the tails people start to revel

When the tails side errs, the heads side

what do they get to see?

It's like one group of people is here

one person is here

and another one over here

It's even like, you know

it simply can't find

one tone that holds from start to finish

That's the most fatal problem

Before I went on stage

I didn't even dare to perform

Honestly speaking

Two days before going on

I told playwright Shi I shouldn't go on

because I felt this thing

was the worst I've ever acted in

the shittiest, trashiest thing ever

Really?

I mean

Really

Anyway, with my own performance

I'm deeply unsatisfied

How I wish they were like you

with only one side

only able to see themselves

Scraping by in the concrete jungle

has stunted people's thinking

A person has ten units of energy a day

Work burns five

dealing with people takes three

the last two get wasted on fun

I've spared myself all that pondering

I even plan to quit this hypocritical job

Let me ask you a question

Would you get a reaction on stage?

What do you think?

Just guessing

You think getting a reaction on stage

is something that can happen?

I think it can

One look at you and it goes soft

Are you talking to me?

Being understood is just too hard

I thought you knew

I go the long way to you every day

always right when you're on shift

Yet you don't even know

what cigarettes I smoke

I...

You don't know me at all, do you?

All my love is right here

and you never even knew

Only this way would you notice me

Being noticed is just too hard

It's just too hard

He's the playwright

His head is full of water

Hey, you upstairs

Play something else, will you?

Can you do Bach?

Enough with Chopin

Romanticism is dead

Hey, do you hear me?

Sha sha yi

No — fuck

Not in sync

Three, two, one

Sha sha yi

These artists are always like this

Won't face reality, won't die either

It makes things hard for me

Romanticism won't put food on the table

If it could

we might as well die at fantasy's climax

But hey, it's artistic creation

can't really fault it

Too bad I just don't care for it

Out of smokes

Here you go

Thanks

A free pack of smokes

Got cigarettes now

But I can't smoke now

No smoking in the theatre

There's even a lighter

Now the smokes are in your hands

To smoke or not — that's up to you

I get to see him again

I really like him

Though I've never spoken to him

I just know he must be lovely

Every day when I look out the window

he's right there, busy at work

In winter

he wears a bright red scarf

Her hair tucked into her scarf

Makes her look so docile

In summer

Her sweat dampens her bangs

She's too busy to even fix them

But that's her truest, most beautiful self

I really like her

I believe this is my love

I don't like the one who used to like me

You know?

She's always grinning

Never takes what I say to heart

I said, Sally

I'm a sociologist now

I've seen the ugly side of this society

Look, isn't my dress pretty?

But we're all living in lies

Let's go shopping tomorrow

I'll buy more, even prettier dresses

Sally

Do you really know my heart?

Of course I do. So, you going or not?

Sally, you're such a fucking idiot

Look, if I slept with someone like her

Uh, I mean, spent my life with her

It'd be a tragedy for sure

Calling you a fucking idiot

Are you free tomorrow afternoon?

I hear there's a good movie out

You seen the movie? No?

No, too abrupt

Let me think

Can I ask your name?

Oh, what a lovely name

No good

Haven't we met somewhere?

You look so familiar

Too cliché

I'd better just improvise

I don't want these lines tying me down

Iceberg, Act Two

No lights, no sound

Nothing at all

All improvised

Now that's interesting

No thermal underwear

It's freezing

I'm not in the deep sea

I'm in the glacier

I feel out of place in this theatre

As if drifting through the deep sea

Funny thing

The deep sea has neon lights too

Sea creatures hunt with light

The ocean is just like this theatre

The deeper you go

The fewer people there are

This is, this is, this is—

I... I'll take a pack of cigarettes

Um, can I ask your name?

No. Why?

Just wanted to ask if you're free tomorrow

I'm not free

Then... then when are you free?

Huh? Never

You're my friend

Hey

How can you talk to a customer like that?

The customer is your God

Now God wants to know your name

You dare not tell him?

Do you dare?

I just want to know your name

Is that so hard?

What are you hiding down there for?

I'm a robber

You think I'm a robber?

You talking to me?

The lighter's gone

Kecheng

What's it to you?

You rat playwright

An eight-yuan pack of smokes

And he only gave me one yuan change

Dignity's worth one yuan

Maybe he's long known his soul's price

If I were like him

I'd go report him

But I won't

The best venue for this play is—

It shouldn't be in a theatre like this

It should be in some sewer

With rats scurrying around

Everyone sitting in a row

Just watching it

Watching this shitty play

Other than that, it's...

This, this script is way too cutesy

Written way too cutesy

Too young

Too cute

Sometimes the words that come out

Make me feel it's not a...

It's just not a grown-up script

It's just this, this cutesy thing

Like stuff I scroll past on my phone

Like Qzone

Right

Like Qzone

That kind of, that kind of stuff

So it, it makes me laugh now and then

And it can't pull me in either

I just feel it's a kind of...

The playwright's head is full of

Things that are utterly baffling

And the playwright hits people too

He never knows how to say what he means

If you think this play is bad

Then go write and direct it yourself

Instead of just trashing it nonstop

He's losing it

Get it?

He's triggered

So triggered

He's mad

You can't say Chinese soccer sucks

You should go up and play

Can't say a thing about Chinese soccer

You chickened out

He raises his left hand

I can't even say what I think

This one, and another one

There's one here

Problem is, both are recording

You're scared even on record

Which one?

Where's the other mic?

Shit, they heard it all

We're done, I just said so much

It's over, over, over, over

Ruined, ruined, ruined

It's fine, keep acting

Think the show sucks? Then build it up

What are you adding?

He's mad

I won't add. I'm done talking

Think the show sucks? Then build it up

Not just run away from it

You got my cigarette on camera

No smoking in the theatre

Blur it, blur it, blur it out

You can't even smoke a prop one

Right, a prop

Right, if you wanna smoke

Just smoke the intention

No cigarette in your heart

None in your hand either

You get it?

Come join us on January 1st

Step into a

To do what?

Shabby little cyberpunk building

And watch our show

Wishing us all a lovely…

His mic

Our pass, our pass

Honestly, this show's completion level

To me falls short of a passing grade

But polish comes from many factors

Acting, lighting, dance, transitions

Since it's a so-called collective creation

No director, no stage manager

Countless slip-ups at every step

You probably don't know—can we try again?

Quick, quick, take over

Quick, quick, quick

No—we're at Act Three now

Not mine, my co-worker's

I'm in it

Three

Right, one and two

I'm in it

Right, I'm in it

So go ahead, criticize as you see fit

No one acts or rehearses this way

This play

The actors arrived not knowing each other

Then rehearsed for 21 days

How can 21 days' work go on stage?

Sincerity alone won't cut it

In the end we

I think 21 days is long enough

We

Know what I delivered today?

Lingerie

So what?

You snuck a peek inside

Not afraid of a complaint?

Saw the label, so I opened it

Besides

Damaged-parcel stuff like this

Nobody can prove a thing

Don't be like that

You're acting like his girlfriend

I'm even closer to them

They'll get it

They'll think we've got minorities here

So what of it?

You're actually a minority

I'm no minority

What are you doing?

Just getting a laugh

Disgusting

Some want to cover our eyes

Some want to shut our mouths

Are you minorities?

But I speak out for minorities

I'll fight for it all my life

World peace

People like you make me furious

What use are you to minorities?

Why'd you feel so floaty today?

I'm telling you, I was floating

Floaty how?

My whole soul just scattered

Like my mind was miles away

That's on me

Because I was

First, when I read the script

Co-worker One—I didn't really like him

Sure, Co-worker Two I don't like either

And I never dug deep into it

And I didn't rehearse much either

And I slacked off in rehearsal

Still holding the script—I was shocked

No no, that was my design

A little design—I own the energy

It's a little design, not me—no no no

My lines aren't down yet

That was my little trick to mislead you

But Piao, I do think the acting was off

Because back when I was doing that shop bit

Please, come on down

The actor's prep just wasn't there

My feeling is you just acted badly

Saw this play on Bilibili

You love your own scenes

But this play you look down on, guys

Piao

No no no no, not at all

Hahaha

No no no no, no way

Haha, it's just... it's that thing

This—I just didn't do my homework

It's on me... is it my fault?

I didn't—I just didn't play it well

I never truly, truly felt it

I didn't—didn't put in the work

I lost the business

My fault, it's all my fault

I just deserve a cussing-out

Nobody yells at me

Grade-A, Grade-A stuff

Right—was that about your performance?

I just want to ask why it was like that

Like, what caused it?

What's behind the laziness?

When I acted, I couldn't be bothered

I had a lot going on

I had to face dead front

Then why'd you even come?

Then why come here to play him?

He asked me to come

He asks and you just come?

He tells you to come and you come?

Yeah

I love him

You're so...

I love him

You love him 'cause he's like you?

He is like me

I just love him—and pretty girls

I am an idealist

I am a romantic

Don't shout slogans

White-left lords of the seven stars

Don't shout slogans

Keep going—where were we?

Stuff like damaged parcels

I held that underwear up and sniffed it

Like it had already been worn

I try to leave my scent on it

So next time the girl wears it

She'll think of me

And when we meet, she'll fall for me

Fuck!

That is so fucking gross

Two years single now

Just cut me some slack, okay?

Besides

Just cut me some slack

Besides

What was I supposed to say?

Besides

That measly salary of yours

Besides

This measly salary of mine

Isn't enough to buy a girl a drink

'Cause you drink it all yourself

I'm not kidding you

Let me do the math for you

Taking a girl out on a date

You can't make her pay, can you?

You date, you hit it off

Then you move in together, right?

Moving in means renting bigger, right?

Hit it off

Move in

Then what?

Marriage

Right

Marriage takes a bride price, right?

Right

And after the wedding?

A house

A car

A hukou

Tuition: primary, middle, high, college

It'd wear the both of us out

A burial plot

Whoa, hold on

You're not even at the dating stage

And you jump straight to the burial plot?

I hadn't thought of that

True, though

You've been single two years

You're getting antsy

What would I be antsy about?

There's another one right here

A 27-year-old virgin, right?

He's not even antsy yet

Still single to this very day

Time for the afternoon run, right?

Just about

Yeah, true

Oh, right

From that stock of yours

Pick out a few girls for me

I'll deliver them for you

Call it setting me up

And if it works out

You're off the hook for the gift money

Don't go slipping me a ladyboy

Relax

Like I'd ever do you wrong

Xiaoshui

Xiaoshui

We're heading out

Let's go

Go, go, go

Xiaoshui

Coming!

It fell apart, fell apart

It's not you who fell apart

it's our camera crew that did

Yeah, the camera side collapsed

What's wrong? Didn't it record?

The first cameraman wasn't there

And this close it still wasn't recorded

So the next scene

that one's us, right?

But this scene didn't get filmed

Do we still shoot it?

Shoot it again?

Shoot it again?

This scene didn't get filmed

No surprise there

That whole last scene wasn't shot at all

Half of it was shot

The second half just...

Wow, what perfect timing

Just do it over

Then it just cut out

Next one

I still...

He won't use everything in the edit anyway

So you just want the footage, right?

Right

So we wait for Hefa before continuing?

Yeah

Wait a bit

Let's wait a bit

Fine, let's wait for him

I've got one speech left to cry through

Then it's on to the Boss's part

We only want the extra stuff

Not the play itself

Then what are we even acting for?

So we don't do the play?

Why wouldn't we?

No, no — didn't you want the extra parts?

You didn't think we'd release the full play, did you?

The edit mostly keeps just a bit of the play

Then just the offstage stuff in between

But you have to be in the play

Right, like I said — the parts you acted

How about this

I actually think

we can shorten it

Yeah, just pick a few segments

Don't run it start to finish

There's no time

Just pick a few segments

Every actor gets one go

Everyone's on camera once

and says a few lines

That way we get it all shot

Us two

How about it?

Shoot the inside bits you think are classic

Say you pick a few segments

Maybe some that touch the play

A bit from the play

And some offstage stuff too

What?

All of it from the play

Right?

I want it all

All of it

All of it — keep going then

Keep moving, fast — after we raced through rehearsal

One at most, right? Come on — my car, my car

Such a shame. If I lived like him, I'd...

Alrighty

Alrighty

The audience is about this close

The audience, this close

The audience is just this close

Right in my face

In this perfunctory way

No — what's the line?

You threw me off my lines

Sneaking around like this

to build a relationship is an insult to love

Constant run-ins

a half-hearted confession

even marrying over an accident

just so the accident could be born

He ought to be locked up

I'm telling you

But I'm not like him

A thing like snitching —

How are you any different?

only someone like him would do it

I can't stand people touching my shoulder

It's over

They're bullying me

I can't stand people touching my shoulder

Why isn't he back yet?

Here he comes

No idea

Hey, you there

You

The Boss

wants you to come by

I'm off to see the Boss

The script really has its logic problems

Including some of the lines

When I first got the script

lots of lines made no sense to me

Two, three days ago I still didn't get them

What on earth did you mean by writing that?

Then slowly you rationalize it to yourself

and create from there

Uh, I think us actors were all pretty serious

Well then actually do it!

Is he sick in the head here or what?

Like, mentally ill?

Not really

But he's got a bit of it in him

A guy like him

Say he's 100% a menace to society

that might be unfair to him

But say 90% odds he'd do wrong

that's definitely underselling it

Two mics held up to you

An interview

Say something

What a shit play

Who the fuck wrote this

I'd better not say

Come say a few words

The Boss is here

My turn

Hurry up

Come on

The Boss is here

Let me introduce

This is my Boss

I'm his employee

The exploited one

Exploited how?

I'd fucking love to know, exploited how

Go on, tell me

Right?

I pay you

Gave you a job, gave you money

How did I exploit you?

Don't you earn what you work for?

Boss

Exploited what?

Right? Exploited what?

Whining over nothing

Yeah, whining over nothing

Right? How have I ever exploited him?

You get paid, don't you?

Since you joined, how's he exploited you?

You get paid? You have a job?

How does that song go again?

What?

How does The Internationale go?

Arise, ye who refuse to be slaves

Don't dare sing that, really don't

Come on, from the top

Arise, ye who refuse to be slaves

Arise, ye hungry and cold

Arise, ye hungry and cold

I'll lead, you sing along

Arise, ye slaves of cold and hunger

Arise, ye wretched of the earth

Waiting for the slaughter

I even think

I'm worse off than a pig

A pig eats, then sleeps

sleeps, then eats, thinks of nothing

But me

me, I let myself be exploited

When I didn't know I was that pig

I ate just like the pigs

Slept

Worked

Thought about nothing

Once I know my final fate

I should fight back

No grand ideals

Rebel purely for my own interests

Oh

The blood in our chests is boiling

We will fight for the truth

Hi, I want to talk to these three

Smash the old world to smithereens

Just sing, it's fine

We did sing

I love Beijing's Tiananmen...

...where the sun rises

I hear

your attitude's been a bit off lately

Is something messing with your mood?

It's fine, just say it

I hope you'll accept my help

After all, you're new here

Fitting in takes some time

Save it. Cards on the table

You make us grind this rote work daily

till we can't think for ourselves

Work this endlessly repetitive

why not just let machines do it?

Nothing I can do about that

Machines can't do everything, can they?

Boss

I've been here since graduation

Why?

Because I think you can still be saved

Money has rotted all the others

Boss, you know what?

10% of people hold 90% of the resources

By the time it reaches us, just scraps

And you still make excuses for them

People have to eat, don't they?

Look

Back then you farmed for your grain

Now you're spared all that toil

Sacrifice a little dignity, eat your fill

Why won't you just bow your head?

Know why I can't fit in?

That crowd

hooked daily on bite-size cheap thrills

Off work, they dive into short videos

Hooked, feeding capitalists their traffic

Funnier still, they can't even

tell whether they're drowning in

They can't even see they're hooked on trash

I mean, if you've never tasted good food

you don't know your own food is swill

So what do you want?

If I were in your seat

I'd run a great purge

I'd screen an obscure art film in a meeting

Whoever pees, checks phones, or dozes off

Fire them all

Then I'd have no employees left

Look me in the eyes and say it

Understood

Look me in the eyes and say it. Hear me?

Understood

My eyes. Say it. Do you hear me?

I'm talking to you. Do you hear me?

I'm talking to you! Do you hear me?

I'm talking to you! Do you hear me?

I'm talking to you! Do you hear me?

Quit messing around

I hear you, I hear you

Sorry, Boss

What's going on with you lately?

Why the sour face every day?

I didn't do anything to you, did I?

They didn't either, right?

Say something!

Fine, don't talk then

You've been here a whole week

Say something!

And you still can't fit in with them

I'll take it to HR

Boss, I didn't mean it like that

It's the same mechanical work every day

It gets a bit boring

I feel like a machine

Might as well have a machine replace me

What a fucking great idea he's got

Then why not swap you for a machine?

What do I need you for?

You know why I hired you?

Because you're cheaper than a machine

I hired you fresh out of school

Why?

Because I thought you could still be saved

Most young people are way too cocky

All ambition, zero ability

You are the foundation of this society

If you lot won't take responsibility

this society will collapse

And you want to sink to their level?

You know why you can't fit in?

Look at them

Watching short videos all day

After work

they mess around with all kinds of junk

A little chat

a little tea

You must learn to fit into the collective

But I won't drown in this cheap entertainment

You haven't even looked, and it's "cheap"?

Just how noble are you?

Have him lay his cards on the table

Is he in or out?

Say something

Speak up!

Are you in or not?

I'm in

From now on, when you talk to me

look me in the eyes

Let me know you're talking to me

Understood?

Understood

Here it comes

Here

Thanks

Looking good

Almost didn't recognize you

Don't you bully him

If he acts up, hit him

I wouldn't dare

Playing twenty-somethings

for so many years now

I've picked up some bad habits

First: sweep only my own doorstep

leave the rest alone

That's how it is in film and TV

Quick in, quick out

Actors rarely meddle in others' acting

So I mostly mind my own business

And how did you do?

I won't say much, maybe half of it

It steps out of the Male Lead's thoughts, or a hallucination, or...

It's a...

Someone brought it up — who was it? — saying

actors aren't on the same level — I don't know

But in every scene of mine, he and I are in sync

So I can accept the play having no director

That shouldn't be — no one takes charge

no one keeps the balance

I don't know why it's like this either

Also, I've done a lot of CCTV dramas

Scripts where you can't change a single word

Because historical figures said the lines

When we act, we treat them all as Shakespeare

No matter what garbage they wrote

you make sure not one word changes

So the script's logic is flawed

the characters' motives are flawed

the lines don't connect

But I don't care

because he's Shakespeare

so it must be my fault

So I do everything I can

to make all his lines

and all the logic hold together

That much I will do

And today there were real slip-ups

I adjusted those mistakes on the spot

You played him into his sixties

I was a secretary, a restaurant secretary

A soldier first, then Provincial Party Secretary

All the way up to Provincial Party Secretary

You dumped me and went abroad

Then I came back and won you back

So fucking impressive — the roles you've played

When I joined they said the company is everyone's

We're all one family

In the end, isn't it all his anyway?

They've forgotten how to walk

They have to point at the sky every day and say

Today I want Brecht

Today I want Stanislavski

Today I'm this

Today I'm that

Today I'm that

Problem is, those people are all dead

So why won't you act it my way?

Because I'm still alive

Ask me, then

All that talk about the place you live off

It's your company

The company is whatever you are

If you think the company's bad

Then work your way up and become the boss

Lead — don't just gripe your whole life, or run

Report it or not, no one uses our courier anymore

Fewer and fewer parcels

Less and less pay

So I went and secretly opened people's parcels

And then

So he's just

Isn't this space too clean for what happens here?

I'd imagine

If this is where the Rat lives

Then the place should reek

It should be foul and filthy

And none of us should look so polished

And I remember

Yesterday, say, when people bought tickets

It asked: are you proletariat?

Wait, which act is it?

No — Act Four

Act Four

Qunhao, which act are we on?

So I went and opened people's parcels

I can't hold it together

It's over

Forgot how to play the whole act

I'm done acting

Disband. Disband

Stop filming. Disband

What kind of crew is this unprofessional?

Disband

Don't you have the script?

Right — what kind of actors are you?

Act Four already

Hurry up

Whose turn?

Has Momo-chang been done yet?

Go do it

Momo-chang

Hey

I'll go disband them

Oh

I'll go disband them

Let me take my papers off you

Let me take the papers

Number Two

Fine

Keep it on you

I can cue you in

If you forget your lines

It's fine

I'll feed you your lines

Just wing it

Sit

What do you mean

What do you mean, filler scene?

What do you mean, filler?

This is the main event

This is singing it

What? Get lost

This is the real play

You know nothing

We're the leads, okay?

The first classic piece

We're the soul of this

Curtain up

One time I went to a KTV

My friend called me a momo-chang girl

A normal one

One time I went to a KTV

Realism

One time I went to a KTV

My friend called me a momo-chang girl

I was nervous as hell

My whole body went stiff

They were playing dice

I didn't know how

So she played blackjack with me

And told her girlfriends

We're playing blackjack

And snickered behind her hand

I felt my dignity

Had been trampled by a hostess

I was furious

They were all groping freely

But my hand

I only dared rest it on her waist

I didn't dare move

So what then?

But

For a man's dignity

My hand

I started inching upward too

She gave my hand a light slap

And I chickened out

A while later I tried again

She grabbed my hand

She leaned in to my ear

And she said to me

She said to me

Be good for me, okay?

Hearing that

I nearly knelt down and called her Mom

Really

No one had ever said anything so tender to me

I disguise myself as wanting nothing

Cold-hearted by nature

Plus, with a height like mine

Not tall

Everyone thinks I'm strong

But after she said that

I felt a mother's love

Dumbass

If only she weren't a hostess girl

How nice that would be

Dumbass

It's fine

Come on, camera

Point it at me

I've got a complaint

No

No, not a complaint

Let me share what happened this morning

I went to the dentist this morning

Everyone, look at my mouth

It hurts when I talk

A rubber band links my top and bottom teeth

My mouth feels sewn shut

So life is so hard for me

Life is so hard

Whose turn is it?

The Act Four actors

Act Four actors, on stage

Not two, right? There's one more

Who's in Act Four?

Act Four has three actors

Buy, buy, buy

Act Four is Hunhun

I can sing

Here we go

Here comes the entrance scene

Goddess

Goddess

In this scene I'm a different person

I'm the Pimp

Don't ask me why

I don't know either

You can't see a pimp's face

That's why I wear a mask

A rat!

Did you kill it?

Help!

Look at my greasy clothes

Thanks

Oh

My cigarette

I'm the Pimp

A smoke

Lend me a cigarette

Damn it

Bumming smokes off the Boss?

Piss off

No props, all mime

Want a light?

Not lighting it

We're in a theatre, no lighting up

Lighting it would be too pro

You can't force me to do what I hate

You can't turn down this money

How can you go back on your word?

Let me tell you

The client asked for you by name

I can't afford to cross him

If you won't go

I'll drag you into the car

It'll be ugly for both of us

How about this

This time

You're coming with me

You're hurting me

Let go

Aren't you scared at all?

You'll never dare again

You'll never dare again

You'll never dare again

You'll never dare again

You'll never dare again

You'll never dare again

What, you'll call the cops?

Cops!

This guy's peddling tarts

What are you doing?

Not peddling, she's saved for Boss Wang

Not the street, your place then?

You're nuts

Fuck you

Holy shit

Motherfucker

Fuck, he's a pimp

Get him

Fucking hell

Dog catching rats, huh?

Playing hot shit, huh?

You don't even rate as a dog

You're just a rat

What, you can't fight?

You idiot

Steal from you?

Where you going? I'll beat you

You okay?

No, I'm not

Just piss off already

Good insult!

Go, let's go

What's wrong, baby?

Move it, clients waiting

Let go

Sorry about that

How many clients have you done?

What's wrong?

You exit on your own here

I still have a scene

You haven't said your line yet

I'm out of lines

You do. 'Move it, baby' is your line

Ugh, stop it

You know what happens if you grab me, right?

Worst case, I'll do last time all over again

I still don't know what happened last time

What happened last time?

Driving

Last time you were hauling a truckload

And he didn't want to go

But you made him go

He beat the guy up

Holy fuck

Really?

Forget it then

Let me tell you

I'll go get Lisa

Don't think you're such hot shit

With wigs on I can't even tell who you are

So tacky

Daughter

Don't let me see you again

Look at the state of you

Lisa

Daddy's here

Daddy

Wait, you're Lisa?

The moment it comes off

Turns out you're still you

Props! Is there even a props team?

No props at all

Miming now? Props? What a crew, seriously

Done acting, I'm pulling a diva

There is a result — Beifeng isn't like the usual theatre

The result is... the result is

The result is this thing has to pass the bar

But clearly we haven't gotten there yet

And we need to keep creating

Or my own character itself

Even two or three days before rehearsals

We were still finding the hooker character

We were still discussing

Still searching inside the character

Searching right up until tonight's stage

But I think it's still not enough

We have to keep searching

My part alone is three roles

Right from the entrance

It's the Robber forcing his way in

And a hostage, that state

So I think

Everyone needs more time

To create together

To find our groove together

The result matters too

But the most important meaning, I think

This play existing means a lot to Beifeng

Beifeng truly exists now, it's real

So really, thank you, thank you

There's one thing I find interesting

Like three actors all said they never found

That spot

I don't know how Beifeng defines that now

Instead of searching or talking about finding it

Just go try being that person

Or rather

Just because

I mean, right now Beifeng is still

Like

It's still

So-called play-acting

I mean

That is, or rather

You can leap right into it

And I really didn't like the playwright's

Opening line just now

Saying we made a lot of mistakes

Like the lighting problems

That, uh

The transitions were bad

Well, for example

Right

One, in itself

Take film, for example

Sound comes in first too

Then the picture opens

Or some jump-cut techniques

That's all totally normal

There's no fixed standard template

And then

My way is just fine

The way I played it

Right

I played it wrong

Or you think your way of playing it is right

Then who gave you that template of legitimacy?

Me, myself

Myself

I myself think I played it wrong

He seems to have some kind of glow

Warm and pure

He was meant to be pure

He doesn't belong on this filthy street

Shouldn't be in my sight

He shouldn't be doing this kind of work

If he weren't here, he'd be a star

He should be smiling at flashbulbs on a red carpet

But now no one cherishes his smile

I wish a real rain would wash this street clean

Or one day

When they all gather

I mean

Everyone packed together out on the street

I'll drive a cement truck

And crush them all to death

Twice

Three times

Till their bones are mashed together

Till the screaming stops for good

God, I'd love to do that

I might need a piece

For when I run into them

I can do it

Sleep now, my beloved

This is where you rave too, right?

Sleep, sleep

Lao Song

laughing over here

Shh

No, I mean, we're on stage here

Once he's asleep

he even sleeps with flair

Sleep

Hurry up and sleep

I'm sleeping

Your chest can't hold a bed

Hurry up and fall asleep

You've lost track of the night

Nice

No more sorrow

No more hunger

No more empty meal tickets

You'll hit the jackpot

Hurry up and fall asleep

The ones you love will remember

Bravo, what a poem

Bravo

Li Bai wrote that, right?

Hurry up and sleep

Never mind what the heart wants

Hurry up and fall asleep

No need to wallow in self-pity

Hurry up and fall asleep

The dream within the dream

can learn the creativity of our world

can go back to before it went wrong

back into the amniotic fluid, back

to before conception

Great show, great show

Someone

Someone wants to cover our eyes

gag our mouths

pin down our hands

pretend all is normal, nothing happened

I've seen it

I know what this place was like when he fled

Now look what you've turned it into

He's down

My back's given out

Call an ambulance, I can't move

Which act are we on?

That's it?

That's it?

Nope

The part where the Boss gets shot

No, no, no

My bit

Ugh, this is so annoying

Is there more?

Mine, mine

Who made the rules?

Those who profit sit closest to the rules

This must be just what they wanted

And they succeeded

They cut people like me out of society

I should head back

This is my return ticket

I mean, we all rejoin society someday

Either buy a few friends with money

or make a few enemies with brute force

I just checked my bank balance

Enough to last a lifetime if I never work

But there's one condition

I'd have to die tomorrow

Not one day more

Ring ring. The phone's ringing

The poor can't afford one of these

Hello?

Listen, I've got no money to pay you back

Worst case, come kill me

Or I'll jump off this building

Happy now?

He swore at me

So much in this world I've yet to try

I do this today, that tomorrow

In my heart, what makes me happy is right

What I loathe becomes wrong. And yet

people keep telling me my joys are wrong

I can't tell anymore, it's all displaced

Someone has to stand up

Even just not joining their filth counts

No sound effect

I just won't live penned up like a pig

waiting to be slaughtered

I'm not even as good as a pig

A pig eats, sleeps, eats

never has to think

And me? I just finished my PhD

Before I knew which pig I was

I could live like a pig

eat, sleep, work

think about nothing

But all I know is my final fate

so I have to fight back

Not for some ideal

just purely

fighting for my own interests

How do we shout it?

Is this me?

This must be who I was meant to become

They call this

the birth pangs of the times

a necessary sacrifice

the road that must be walked

Why is he stripping?

Isn't this the last act?

But my whole life...

He stripped once midway too

who would even know

Call it publicity, a selling point

That's called exhibitionism

So where were we?

Right?

Where'd the feelings get to?

Come on, next scene

Where were we?

I didn't sell it

Sealed off

The Big One is coming

The Big One is coming

No, no, the big-big one

This is Act Six already, right?

The Big One comes later, right?

Where are we?

Act Six, I think

Act Six

Yeah

Give it to me

Still mine

Honestly speaking

I still hope this time of ours

won't be the last

I've figured it out

Big dreams, weak hands—it got to me

The road you chose, you walk step by step

Why didn't you show this attitude sooner?

They all got raises this month

All except you

Because of your attitude problem

I didn't give you one

But my numbers match theirs this month

So why, at the last second,

do you dock my wages?

I'm not docking your wages

You're just not one with the collective yet

So no raise for you this month

My point is to make you see

numbers don't come first

Attitude is what matters most

Once you're sitting where I sit

you'll understand

When your company runs like a machine

the last thing you want to see

is one of the gears

turning the wrong way

You get it?

Show me your attitude next month

Let me see you change

and I'll make it up to you

Generous enough, right?

If you show me your attitude

let me see you—

Get to work

Everyone's about to head out

You get ready too

Put your cap on

Get to work

Don't just stand there

Everyone's about to head out

Come back

Come

Come here

Come here

Here, a pack of smokes for you

And here's a mug

Someone gave it to me

Haven't even had time to use it

You take it

Off you go

Sir, there's something I should report

There's something I should report

Gimme a light

I've got something to report to you

Go ahead

Take it, take it

Can't help parcels getting lost or damaged

We got complaints—parcels lost or damaged, right?

Can't be helped

I know

There really were complaints

But there's nothing to be done

I know a guy who keeps opening parcels

and harassing people too

Oh, him?

Fire him

That behavior is pretty vile

And he keeps bragging about it

It's a really rotten vibe for the company

But— I'll think it over

Think it over?

Shouldn't he just be fired?

You talked about seeing the other side

I even looked at it from your side

You stressed that yourself

He's the gear turning backwards, right?

I'll think it over

But he delivers more parcels than you

Right

Mm

Why not just fire him?

He never asked for more pay either

You talked about seeing the other side

I looked at it from your angle

He's corrupted the company's culture

Then it doesn't hold up

I think

for a man who sells his labor

what he believes in is fairness

This sort of thing is a necessity

Some things stay inside the company

Don't spread it around

Isn't that just an inside job?

If I spill it, so much for your company service

Go tell whoever you want—see who

believes who

Don't spread it around

Who'd believe who?

Got it

And if I do tell

thanks for your work for the company

I am the truth

How happy the comrades are

Go ahead, say whatever you want

See who believes whom

Think statements go by your terms?

Who's got more resources, me or you?

One last piece of advice, kid

Keep your head down and work

Skip the stretch from suing to losing

Better for the both of us

I'd hate to see the news say one day

some company's ex-employee

fabricated facts out of revenge

and has now been arrested

You're a young man

If you go out talking nonsense

your justice becomes a joke

Don't, don't, don't!

That's fake, right?

Don't!

Let's talk this out!

Put the gun down first

My good employee

I never gave him special treatment

He's kind of related to me

He's from my wife's side

He's my father-in-law's man

I admit it

I can't fire him

You compromise for family, right?

I can't fire him

You have to compromise

He's from my wife's side

He's my father-in-law's man

I'll fire him tomorrow

I had to compromise for my family

Right? I had to compromise

We still have to go on living

We still have to stay alive

I'll fire him tomorrow

Maybe

We still have to go on living

We still have to stay alive

Maybe

It's strange, really

Only then do they

respect me — my dignity's in my hand

Really?

I respect you

I do

I won't breathe a word of this

And you won't either, right?

I trust you

Just put down that thing in your hand

What don't I get?

Maybe I should pour my thoughts

straight into your brain

And you won't either, right?

My life is so boring

I trust you

Just put down that thing in your hand

What don't I get?

I'll walk away

Sing out my thoughts

No, no, don't!

You still have a life ahead

You'll be okay

I'll help you

I'll share all my resources with you

I'll teach you things

You'll—

I'll what?

You still have a life ahead

You'll get better

I'll help you

I'll help you

I'll teach you

I'll take everything I've got

and share it all with you

The good days are still ahead

I'll teach you things

What do you even know?

I'll take the money—

I'd become someone like you

I still wouldn't pity you

There are no poor people

How are you poor?

Life's best days are still ahead

Economy's booming — what poor people?

What poor people?

Give the money back

Share it with the poor

There are no poor people

How are you poor?

What poor people?

What poor people?

Economy's booming — what poor people?

Economy's booming — what poor people?

What poor people?

Here it comes

How do we play this?

There's no rave in this bit

Are we supposed to rave now?

Does the rave go in the show?

No. Fine, I'm doing it

I can't move

Just dry-bounce it

Come on, count it inside, let it flow

Fine, fine, let's go

The rave is our best material

Then we put it in

We don't

This one's risky — risky

You're in the middle, the middle

I know, the middle

Go in through the middle

Our favorite new one's coming

It's already started

Not this one — wait for it

Two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight

Two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight

Three — two, three, four

Seven, eight, four

Ah, I'm beat

Nobody move

Nobody move

Seems like it

What are you looking at? What?

A sky-piercing head

On the left, a patch and a strip

Right, right, right

The left

The left

Half a dragon

Right hand

Half of one

How does the bug part go?

No idea how it goes

Don't sleep too deep tonight

Why not?

Why?

What dragon's the right half?

The Big One is coming

What does the Big One stand for?

It's so dark

I can't really say

Fuck

All I know is we're waiting for the Big One

Ah, let me find a line

You sure you want to wait here?

He told me to wait here

When is the Big One coming?

What?

Where is this place?

An office or a school?

A school where?

Maybe one in the city

I don't see any students

This place looks like a school

What do you mean by that?

Why do you say 'looks like'?

Did we go the wrong way?

Let's not talk politics

This play is shitty enough already

All this talk of directions and roads

I only know two roads

Left or right. The thing is

The Big One should be here by now

He never said for sure he'd come

What if he doesn't come?

Then we come back tomorrow

And the day after that

He's always like this. The thing is

I will wait until he comes, no matter what

This transition scene of ours

Acting like a diva

That cigarette

Come on, next mic

Who gets the mic?

The smoke went to what's-his-name

Give what's-his-name a cigarette

Well...

I just thought of a shameless bit

That, uh...

A lighter

Lighter

Lighter

Lighter

Lighter

Hey, I just thought of a... what was it

That, uh...

Got a lighter?

Oh

I think it's out

Quick, someone give me a smoke

Oh

OK, OK, we've got one

Just thought of that guy, what's-his-name

That Showmaker expression

Ah

We pull back backstage

The chairs

Come on, mic

The guy's champion face

Hahaha, champion face

Oh man

Dim it down, dim it down

One more. Both mics are back now

You—scoot over

I thought you might cost more

I've always thought you're

a rare kind of woman

Because the way I see it

if an agent packaged you up

you could make a lot more money

Trust me

I mean, I'd rather you not discount for me

I want you to treat me like anyone else

Really

Coming out to chat costs extra

It's not the same as the usual service

At first I worried it might be dangerous

But I figured you're not that kind of person

So I came

Normally I shouldn't tell a client this much

You're cold

I mean, girls in your trade have fawning eyes

But I have a feeling

you're above wallowing in money

You're after something else

After what?

Like a diamond sealed inside rock

Like a pearl buried in the silt

You sink low, run wild, unleash desire

maybe just to wait for someone

Someone willing to dig you out

Someone willing to tear through the filth

and carry you out of the bitter sea

No

What I do is my own freedom

Xu Hao

What?

Fire!

It's on fire!

You thirsty?

You started a fire

You went right at the curtains

You firebug, go get a taste of it

Small hiccup. Keep going

It's fine

I forgot my lines

Quit freaking out

I lost hope long ago

Before I grow old, I just want

to earn enough toast money to last my days

I think not going hungry

is what most people wish for these days

Let me cover your toast money for life

As long as I'm alive

I'll never let you go hungry

Here—I actually wrote a character bio here

I wrote him a whole character bio

Go ahead

Don't tell me

Say it to the camera

I wrote a whole character bio for this

Let me read it off my phone

Go

Wait, how did the dance go again?

While rehearsing

I found this moment

Right here

He's just a tired, penniless man

But in my eyes he's lovable

Tired and penniless

As long as I'm alive

I'll never let you go hungry

I longed so much to hear those words

Yet of all the men I've met in this world

not one ever said them to me

For the first time I felt my heart

stirring with a soft, hopeful strength

Nothing like falling asleep in the arms

of those smug, self-righteous men

Completely different

Just like that

Wait, what—

Just like that, I changed my mind

How so?

I thought it over

I wanted to go through with it

But then I had second thoughts

They say hitmen keep their first shell casing

Do you have one too?

Sure do

Huh?

Did we skip a few bits?

That...

The reckless kid bit is just gone

Let me be your toast guy for life

As long as I'm alive

I'll never let you go hungry

Just a figure of speech

You make promises to women that easily?

I don't want to wake up one day

and find the vows you made me were all lies

and we part on bad terms

By then you and I couldn't even

smoke together like this

I think I'd probably like a man

who's full of courage

not some lying,

reckless little boy

But it's fine, keep going

Keep going

I don't even have a gun here

They say hitmen keep their first shell casing

Do you have one too?

Sure do

Must've used one by now

One, two, three... nine. Who killed them?

One, two, three, four, five

The gunpowder smell after a shot

never really fades

This is a brand-new gun

I've definitely used one before

Have you ever actually shot a gun?

Where's the gun?

No gun

There's just no gun

Next is that bit with you two

Right?

Xu Hehe

Hold onto this for me

I think we'll need it later

Just now my cigarette butt

burned a hole in my own sock

Burned a hole right through

When did you burn it?

Just now, ashing my cigarette

That's exactly the feel we want

That street vibe

It really fits

Give me more

Take this off

Oh

Your turn

Want it?

Here

I do

I do

How did you use to confess your love?

I mean

with all those exes of yours

I think

as long as you don't just talk at her

all smug

most girls won't bother exposing your lies

So?

So certain someones

love taking those bland, smug sweet nothings

and dumping them all on a girl

Like pounding a pipe

Like a horny poodle, it's fucking great

But you remember the last time, right?

That girl who smelled amazing all over

Oh

We went from strangers to close

in just two hours

I couldn't wait to get a room with her

But then I found out

I couldn't do it

That's what booze does

I wasn't drunk

I was stone-cold sober

I watched her lying there on the bed

Mine for the taking

But I just couldn't get it up

You mean

with her right in front of you

you felt the urge, right?

No

My desire was burning like fire

I was like a dog

that got its balls cut off

I stayed in the bathroom forever

But it just wouldn't get hard

So I ran

Never looked back

Some people

This play... how do I put it

I mean

if this were a proper production

Things do move fast these days

When someone called 21 days plenty

I was honestly surprised

A decade ago, when we talked theatre

it started at three months

And six months

was perfectly reasonable

So clearly it's a fast-paced era now

Which means

three days, even 21, works for everyone

Then my thinking really has fallen behind

As for the standard of this play

The standard of this play

This production still needs lots of work

If you treat this play as Shakespeare

you could do that too

It wasn't like this early on

But after we thought it through

that's why so much changed

With more time to think it over

and to unify all the actors' styles

Some people always seize the moment

But not me

It's decided at birth

Decided by what?

By where you come from

Some people are born without that luck

Chances vanish in a blink

And that's your ceiling

So

So

I'm getting a new job

Why keep working here anyway?

What have I been doing my whole life?

What have I been doing all my life?

What have I been doing all my life?

I'm done working here

Congratulations

Not even treating us to KTV?

KTV? Yeah right

Singing with you is no fun

Honestly

I hate this job

I mean, I do exist, you know

yet I get bossed around all day

And you know what

it's so damn annoying

Let me tell you

the Boss here

used to work in our factory

Couldn't make it back home

so he came to the city

If my uncle hadn't gotten him this job

he'd still be on the assembly line

He'd end up marrying a factory girl

living a happy, steady life

Shame he'd never get to touch a fancy car

I know a guy

who touches them every day

He washes cars

Anyway, we'll never see each other again

Hope you won't miss me

I won't miss you

But your beef? I'll miss it to death

Honestly I've never gotten many numbers

I'm just like a dog

chasing after things

Chasing what exactly?

No idea

Why chase at all?

No idea

What the fuck was it again?

Pretend there's a pair of handcuffs

Pretend I'm wearing what?

I pretend I spot the handcuffs

And then

I pretend

to pick them up

and cuff myself

Then

Then I walk over here

And then

I wait for him to stand up

Once he's up

we lock eyes for three seconds

Then I raise my handcuffs

smiling at the Male Lead

I've won

And then I say bye-bye

Time to grab my boxed meal

I told you ages ago

He's got sticky fingers

See? He got arrested

He even said he wants to go back

Well, prison's not bad either

Rid all womankind of a menace

Not bad

Ah

I thought you two were close

Hey

I'm talking to you, man

Hey

Can't get up

Hello, Sally

I knew it was you

I never changed my number

Didn't think you'd keep yours either

Been a little disappointed lately

I didn't become who I wanted to be

And I shut myself away

You've pulled this one before

I don't have many friends, you know

No, you know I told you before

Then you simply forgot

Laugh at me if you want

You're the one closest to my heart

See, you're still laughing at me

So be it

Like anyone truly knows another's heart

There's so much I want to tell you

I used to gripe you never let me take it back

I used to gripe you'd never take it back

Now I understand

I always used to complain

You wouldn't let me take it back

Wouldn't give me the time of day

Now I understand

I regret it

If your boyfriend asks who called

You won't get it tomorrow afternoon

I'll talk to him

Won't get it tomorrow afternoon

What is this?

If your boyfriend asks who called

Hand him the phone, I'll talk to him

Beep, beep

A busy tone came from the other end

The higher-ups treat me alright

The higher-ups treat me alright

Said they'd hold my position for me

Told me to stay home and clear my head

And come back once I've figured it out

He said, the day I finally figure it out

He'll give me a call

And forget about making headlines

I don't think I'll ever make it big

My name will never appear on TV

Those interview lines and speeches are useless now

I want to be a sociologist

So my thinking can be put to use

I don't want my job to be mindless repetition

Didn't I drop ash during the scene just now?

I did so much, yet it's like nothing happened

Back to the same jobless drifting days

And what even is this feeling?

The Boss keeps on sucking up capital

That smug look on his face

Even his white shirt disgusts me

If the justice I fought to uphold

And the truth I chased all turn to nothing

Then what in this world can ever change?

Got a light?

How did you find my place?

I thought no one could find me

It's so quiet in the hallway

I don't want anyone disturbing me

I came to catch up with you

If you mind

I can leave right now

We've met twice, what's to catch up on?

Maybe once isn't enough to know each other

But by the third time, nothing's off-limits

I like letting boys know me through my body

Is that how you treat your clients too?

If this is one of your services, you can go

We never actually made a deal

You can go home now

So you're still a virgin

I don't like love made in bed

Is lust really the answer to love?

But I have done it before

If you're trying to mock me with that

Just go

Will you leave with me?

So you're leaving this place

You're right

I mean you're tired of the way you live

You're right

Maybe I've had enough of cheap love

And of being used as an outlet

Maybe you've fulfilled your ideal here

Even giving it up doesn't matter

As long as you want to leave

I hope you'll come away with me

I... I still have things to settle

A man either dies where his ideal ends

Or dies on the road to reaching it

You're a romantic

No, I hate Romanticism

They think feelings alone solve problems

I'm not like that

I pursue the absolute truth of this world

And I wish everyone were like me

Seeing how false this world is

But they should discover the truth themselves

Only then do their lives have meaning

Let them expose the lies themselves

Then fight and cry out for the truth

Instead of coldly looking on

You're right

Except you're a realist

If escaping reality

Is what you call idealism

Then where will you go?

I am a lone island

Where does the ocean flow?

What?

There's an unclaimed little house in the country

And an abandoned field

I'd live with a man who treats me as his whole world

I need to put myself back together

Will you wait for me?

Did I ever say that?

Is that you?

Sorry — broke character laughing

What are you laughing at?

This scene is too long

It's good, it's good

You did say it

Is that you?

Cut this scene

Right, this scene can't leave this room

If it leaks, the price goes up

So which part next?

Oh, my turn — the police partners

Go on

Okay

Hey, what's wrong?

Why did the mood suddenly get heavy?

Come on

What time is it?

Ten past ten

So this case is closed

Remember to get me the report

All for this gun

Sorry to drag you out here

Is that kid really possessed?

He's pretty normal

It's just that nobody else is an idealist

That's what makes him look ridiculous

He reminds me of you

Me?

I'm nothing like him

My door doesn't have that many locks

And I only have two keys

One of them is still with you

That time you finally came over

I opened the door

Walked into the bedroom

And there you were with your chick

Just standing on the bed

I wanted to gouge my own eyes out

Anyway

We shouldn't have dragged the audience into this

Even if we investigate him

It should wait until the operation is over

Your first year on the force

Your uniform was covered in snot

You were a greenhorn

Yes

The bureau was a mess back then

If the chief hadn't gone down

Who knows how it would've ended

In the end it was you who reported him

That's how you made squad leader

And waded into this muddy water of yours

That's right

If it were her

She would never have done that

She'd stand at the prosecutor's gate

Soaking the files with the sweat of her hands

And then turn around and go home

And what does that tell you?

You both want to protect something

Whether your own interests or justice

You're a doer

You act first

She thinks first

You're mocking me for being reckless

I can hear it

You grew up in a stable family

Went to the police academy

Elite of the elite

While he's like a rat

Living in the sewer

So terrified by the vast sewage system

He can't climb out

Still cursing

Which bastard dug this thing so deep

That's him

He doesn't deserve to see this world

Then does he count as human?

Put tonight on my tab

Go home and get some rest

Rest

I want your report first thing tomorrow

Not coming to my place tonight?

No

I've sensed it too

Your recent tastes

Have changed a little

It's rather sad to say

He suffers from ED

He can't get it up

To protect himself

From being hurt by reality

His brain triggers a defense mechanism

To fill in his own night of passion

His brain auto-triggers that defense

To complete his night of passion

He's truly terrifying

No

He might be an anti-revisionist

A restless creed in his heart

But he has nothing

No gift, no talent

And only a scrap of courage

In this world full of injustice

What is he supposed to do?

Did you think the play was good?

It was awful

What a piece of junk

But I kind of loved it

I like bad plays

Because I'm a bad person

What's a good play anyway?

There are none. I've never seen one

Bad people watch bad plays

Good people watch good plays

It was wonderful. I loved it

My god, I saw a world of ice

It was like seeing my mother

So warm

My favorite play of my whole life

A few questions for you

Go ahead

Would you give everything for your ideals?

Yes

Talking money is vulgar

That's not something I can reveal

Been doing any of that lately?

It's alright

Alright, huh?

If you went to a hooker, what kind would you pick?

What kind?

A good figure

And what kind of service?

Are you an idealist?

I think I am

I absolutely am

I am

Which one do I face?

Film him, film him, film him

Watching Iceberg

Film him!

Say it to both cameras

I... I think I

Yu Haoran

You tell me

I... I think

Zhang Yuming

What... what do I even say?

Chu Yixu

I am

Li Junjiang

Zhang Naizhu

I think I am

Good

And our two behind-the-scenes creators

Li Zuchang

We're a short-film collective

Press it again

Yep, it didn't record

Oh, the west

Again, again, again

Exactly right — come on

I

Are you an idealist?

I think I am

I think I am

Now we move into

The backstage meeting

Everyone can share their thoughts

If you dare to be blunt, that works too

Let's just start talking

Are you going to strip now?

I'm too old. I don't want to strip

Besides, this part stays in the script

Otherwise the trailer loses its surprise

Fine

Save it for January 1st then

Fine

About whether to strip or not

I think

On January 1st

Play it by ear

You can strip or not strip

And both of you will be there together

So

Will you strip now or not?

Strip or not?

Strip or not?

Strip or not?

Strip or not?

Strip or not?

Strip or not?

Strip or not?

And Lao Lian will be there too

And my brother Tiandi will be there

If the mood feels right

I can consider it

If necessary

Sure, of course

There won't be any problem

No

Actually, it's not impossible

Because everyone

Has come into this space

They can see something different

Right — they have to see something different

Sure

If I feel the mood is right

And I'm really in the zone

More power to you

Sure

Show a little

And if it doesn't feel right

Just go by the moment

If it feels right, go for it

No wait — I think you had a full outfit on

It wasn't on

But by your own feeling

Not as formal as this

Can I strip myself?

Sure, no problem

Someone else strips

That's the key act