Hurry up!
It's not here.
Look over there.
No, my feet. Do my toes.
What do you know?
That's my least favorite.
Sit down. And no peeking.
I put on the one you picked.
Guess what this is.
A birthday cake.
What's written on it?
Happy birthday?
Wrong!
He was born at 8:05 p.m. Original, huh?
The cell phone you've reached is unavailable at this time.
Forget it.
Play. I'm listening.
What's your name?
Liu Xiaochun.
I'm Lili.
Two little honeybees gather pollen in the breeze...
Dad!
Who's that woman?
A friend.
Not so fast, comrade.
Miss, you're mistaken.
You a burglar? I may be female...
but I'm not helpless. What do you want?
How shall I put it?
Let's have it.
I'll tell you the whole story.
Somehow, the other day my son made 50 yuan.
Yesterday, the woman in there left lipstick on his cheek.
I heard a violin being played in this apartment.
You're Xiaochun's father?
I'm the one who gave him the money.
I live here. The lipstick traces were mine.
You object?
Xiaochun reporting!
I found two sweaters in a basin under the bed.
They're disgusting.
All moth-eaten and faded.
Why did you cage them up?
You fascist.
Easy.
You put dirty clothes on the piano...
of all places!
Your father pays me to teach you the violin.
Not to clean or do my household chores.
Go on. Play.
I'm unhappy.
Therefore, I can't play. You said so yourself.
Why are you unhappy?
You rearrange all my stuff.
I can't find a thing.
I've barely objected so far, but you're unhappy.
I don't like playing in a pigsty.
You never change your clothes.
You live to pick fights.
You smell worse than your house pets.
They're not "house pets."
I rescued all my cats from the street.
Without me, they'd have starved or frozen to death.
Liu Xiaochun, you're not so special.
Why, you...
You're just...
a stray cat I took in. You know that?
A cat who happens to play a violin. Big deal.
You're nothing exceptional.
And you say I smell like my animals.
Stop tapping. Sit up straight.
You never admit your mistakes.
If you'd been less proud...
your classmate wouldn't have married your rival.
Get out.
You hear me?
That's right, clear out!
If you leave now, you needn't return.
Chun, where you going?
Back home.
Why the long face?
Let's go out. My treat.
Your dad came by. I thought he was a burglar.
I pulled this out.
He was so scared, he almost passed out.
I could use it for self-defense.
The curse of a pretty face.
All Beijing knows it's a cigarette lighter.
Your dad's a country bumpkin.
His red hat screamed "peasant."
He hid his money in it...
and got himself robbed. Great strategy, huh?
Big sister, are you very rich?
I work hard for my dough and blow it on clothes.
You never mention your mother.
She left when I was two.
She left me this violin.
No wonder you play so well.
So your dad raised you.
Must have been hard. The peasant did okay.
Am I too "peasant"?
No, you're cool.
Over here.
I'm beat.
Coffee now. We'll eat later.
What will it be? Ice cream?
What are you staring at?
How about pastry?
That's your phone.
- Be right back. - Answer it here.
Don't mind me.
Who's calling?
Hello?
Hello there.
What's with "hello there"?
Where are you?
I'm talking business.
Who with?
A promising contact.
Male or female?
Like me.
Say you love me.
Say it in Chinese.
Yes, that's right.
Hello?
I can't hear you.
Dad!
Darling.
So, you're talking business?
Nice female client.
Ever so attractive.
Pricey jewelry she's got there.
She's the one you hope will cough up some money.
Sit!
Keep chatting.
Honey, I'll go home and start dinner.
You still here?
All men are jerks! Get lost.
Goodbye. Come again.
Come on.
Straight ahead.
Excuse me, is this the way in?
Thank you all.
I'd like to introduce my esteemed teacher.
I am here thanks to him.
I owe him everything. Professor Yu Shifeng.
How many big-ticket concerts in 12 months?
Sure, they applaud.
The welcome is warm.
But it's not for your playing.
It's for your reputation.
And now I'm part of your show, too.
You're a big boy now.
I can't scold you anymore.
Or give you a good kick.
Where will it all lead?
I sense the danger in too much, too soon.
To truly succeed as a musician...
Forget it. I'll shut up.
I've said too much already.
Let's not keep the press waiting.
Go ahead.
Your dad wants me to teach you violin...
He paid you to.
How rude!
You're a very rude boy.
Liu Cheng.
Professor Jiang.
Is class over?
What's all this?
Chun offended you, didn't he?
It's a token gesture.
Chun.
Go down the street and buy us a bottle.
If we finish this one, that's a start.
Have a seat!
How good a musician is Chun?
He's not bad.
Does he have a future or not?
That depends.
Do you seek fame and fortune...
or consummate musicianship?
Fame and fortune.
I can't guarantee it.
In that case, we quit.
Suit yourself.
Professor Jiang...
you're very understanding.
- How so? - You're a fine man.
I was afraid you'd be insulted.
Your open mind disarms me.
True, such a trifling matter couldn't affect...
What are you insinuating?
Come clean. What's this about?
Are you firing me?
Liu Cheng, you're a regular bastard.
You set out to trick me, didn't you?
Drop this nonsense.
Is this about money?
I don't want money. Not anymore.
In that case...
Professor Jiang...
I'll tell you the truth.
I want Xiaochun...
to change teachers.
Out of my sight!
Sulk all you want.
But it's settled. You're changing teachers.
Uh, Mister...
- Professor Yu! - Who?
Professor Yu!
What is it?
Hello, Professor.
- Ever hear of a doorbell? - What bell?
Professor, I was at Mr. Tang Rong's recital.
Do you remember me?
- You have company? - No.
That's my pupil I'm teaching.
Please forgive my intrusion.
But I have something vital to tell you.
May I see you alone?
Of course, Mrs. Yu may stay.
Okay, I'm all ears.
I wish to tell you...
about a violin prodigy.
This genius...
is my son.
A strange path led him to the violin.
So, your son's a genius?
Well, that's a secret.
I'll tell you the whole story.
Well...
Come in!
We've got some catching up to do...
you and I.
Let's begin.
Take care. Bring him to us soon.
See you, Professor.
Goodbye.
He really got to you.
We often see folks like him.
A touching tale!
You truly play well.
Liu Xiaochun...
our lessons together...
end here.
The first time I saw you, I figured...
you'd never make it.
I saw your potential...
but doubted...
that destiny would smile upon...
a country boy with no connections.
Your father's right.
I can teach you violin...
but not lead you to acclaim.
Study hard with Professor Yu.
He's a good teacher.
Return this money to your dad.
I've written my phone number.
Call me sometime.
DONGDAN STRINGED INSTRUMENTS
Well, well. You!
If it isn't my son.
Little devil. You put me in a real bind last time.
Is Lili home?
She's not here.
Two guys seek Lili. I, however, have a key.
Why are you here?
And you?
Give her that.
Hey, kid!
You're pleased with yourself. What gives?
Take off my glasses and get out.
Nice hairdo.
Darling.
Hands off.
Open it.
How did you know I tried it on?
Top secret. I can't say.
You followed me?
Followed?
Glasses off!
Look me in the eye.
Answer me!
Nothing elaborate.
You really followed me?
Yes.
All right, then.
That woman at the caf?..
you told her your dirty jokes? Who was she?
Out with it!
My new policy...
is to talk business...
only with men.
I was eyeing her shop.
But I'm low on funds.
Don't be angry.
Help me put it on.
Like it?
Obviously.
Sell it!
It stirs up bad memories.
You just said you need money.
How much?
27,000.
That's what it cost. Go return it.
Professor Yu.
I kept my shoes on last time.
I felt foolish as I left.
Come in.
- So you're Liu Xiaochun? - Yes.
Play a piece you like.
Xiaochun, play the Wieniawsky concerto for the professor.
Where's the violin?
I sold it.
Don't joke!
It's true.
Where's the money?
I spent it.
What is this?
Professor Yu.
I don't know what's going on.
Where is the violin?
Professor, I wouldn't dare lie to you.
Truly, he does play the violin.
And rather well.
Perhaps you could loan him one...
and he'll show you.
Sit down.
Lin Yu!
Bring us your violin.
Play something.
I don't know how.
Oh, yes, you do.
I can see by your hands.
Lin Yu, loan him yours.
I won't play here.
Where did you sell it?
Speak up! Where?
Dongdan's shop.
Who told you to sell it?
See what you've done?
Look here. You call this sheet music?
You think I'm an idiot?
It's full of pictures of bad women!
And this stuff. What have you glued in here?
Who said to sell it?
Sell everything! Why don't you?
The first prize...
and all the rest. You're unworthy.
They said you were the best.
All these prizes!
Worthless boy.
And here. You've put up a picture of the bitch upstairs.
What were you thinking?
A violin, sir?
It's an ordinary one.
And you want 50,000? Somebody cheated you.
We didn't pay that.
We add a profit margin to earn a living.
- Who's banging? - Me.
- Who? - Something's happened.
Why, it's Xiaochun's dad.
Am I your type?
Come out here!
Why should I? Tell me.
Come out here, then I'll tell you. Something serious has happened.
I wouldn't make this up.
Stop shouting and listen.
If Chun bought the coat, I'll pay you back.
Tell her about the coat.
Tell your big sister everything. Is it true?
The number you've dialed is out-of-service.
It wasn't easy to find him a teacher.
Mr. Yu of the Conservatory.
What an insult...
to show up with an empty case.
The way things are going...
Xiaochun's future is shot.
The violin. How much?
50,000.
Fanny?
It's me.
How much cash you got?
I'll fill you in later. A rotten break.
Help me out, it's urgent.
I'll repay you fast.
10,000 yuan?
I'll take it. Thanks.
For tomorrow. I'll have to find the rest.
Mr. Han? It's Lili.
Lili! You have some nerve phoning me.
You found a guy richer than me?
You stood me up. I waited three hours.
If an employee is three minutes late...
I fire him on the spot.
I'm not your employee.
Don't take that tone with me!
Your money is no excuse!
I was 14 the first time I heard this.
I was in high school.
Phonographs were rare.
I had a classmate whose father went abroad.
He brought back Vivaldi's Four Seasons.
We were young.
We hid in order to listen.
Outside it rained. We were entranced.
It was like...
How shall I put it?
A sort of secret.
A pact between us and the music.
Music was our first love.
It was a magnificent feeling.
You, there!
I can't talk, Fanny. I'll call you back.
Out!
Get out!