"Every day webrushpast somanyotherpeople." "People wemaynevermeet... orpeople whomaybecome close friends." "I'm a cop, No. 223." "Myname's He Qiwu." "Freeze!" "This was the closest we evergot." "Just0.01 ofa centimeterbetween us." "But57hours later..." "Ifellin love with this woman." "Mrs. Chen?" "This is Qwu." "Don't fetch May." "it's you I'm calling!" "It's been a while. how areyou?" "I'm okay." "Yes. give May time to get over it." "I'm sure she'll call me when she's ready." "Please don't tell her I called." "You're going to a movie?" "I won't keepyou." "Is Mr. Chen there?" "Mr. Chen?" "This is Qwu." "No. don't call May!" "How's your cough?" "You're going to the movie with yourwife?" "I won't keepyou then." "Don't tell May I called!" "Is her sister there?" "No?" "Pass on my regards." "Weallhave ourhabits." "Mineis to waithere forMayafter work." "Thebossheresays Maylooks like aJapanesestar." "SheandIjustsplitup." "May wishes I weremore like aJapanesestarmyself." "Message for account 368?" "Call Ming?" "You mean May?" "Spell it!" ""M-I-N-G" or "M-A-Y"?" "Sure there's no mistake?" "Don'tyou know English?" "Ming?" "I guess May asked you to call." "Tell her not to worry." "I'm fline." "I'm taking good care ofmyself." "She can call me anytime she wants." "You don't need to mediate." "She didn't?" "So why areyou paging me?" "Jogging?" "Areyou heartbroken again?" "Then why gojogging?" "A race?" "You're crazy!" "Jogging is something private." "not something you do with an audience." "Forget it!" "We'reall unluckyin lovesometimes." "When Iam, Igojogging." "Thebodyloses water whenyoujog... soyouhavenoneleftfortears." "Me, shedtears?" "Mayalways thoughtofmeas "Mr. Cool. "" "Still no go with your girlfriend?" "It's been a month!" "Get another!" "How about May here?" "She's not bad." "She's offearly tonight." "Give it a go." "She fancies you." "Not tonight." "I have a date." "A bigger one. but nothing fancy." "Give them some beers." "How much?" "When Ispent thenight with May... soherparents wouldn'tfiindout..." "I'dclimb down from thebalcony." "WillIeverget to do thatagain?" "How much?" "The date on the can tellsme... thatIdon'thavemuch timeleft." "IfIdon'tfiindthose Indians..." "I'llbein deep trouble." "SomehowI'vebecome very cautious." "When Iputonaraincoat..." "Iputonsunglasses too." "Whoknows whenit willrain... or whenit willturn outsunny?" "Anymessages foraccount368?" "Password, please." ""UndyingLove"" "Nomessages?" "Sorry, no." "Thanksanyway." "We splitup onApril Fool's Day." "So Idecidedtolet thejokerun foramonth." "Every dayIbuya can ofpineapple withasell-by date ofMay 1." "Maylovespineapple... andMay 1 is mybirthday." "IfMayhasn'tchangedhermind by the time I'vebought30 cans... then ourlove willalso expire." "Sir. this can's life will expire tomorrow." "I'll getyou another one." "No need." "The earliest flight tomorrow morning?" "I want to make a reservation." "Just one." "Haveyou seen these people?" "No." "Look carefully." "they're with their kids." "Can't helpyou." " You really don't know?" " I've no idea where he is." "But he's a friend ofyours!" "No..." "My daughter!" "What doyou want?" "You have one hour to tell me." "Otherwiseyou'll never see your daughter again." "Please. an ice cream for her." "Somemenmightsacrifiiceakid tosave theirownskin... buthe wasn'tone ofthem." "Onehourlater, Isetout." "Police!" "Freeze!" "It'ssixmonthssince Inabbedanyone." "ButIraninto this wantedman today." "WheneverImadeanarrest..." "I wantedMaytobe the fiirst toknow." "Hello?" "Hello?" "Any canned pineapple that expires on May 1 ?" "You know what day it is today?" "April 30?" "Right!" "You thinkwe sell outdated stock?" "There's still two hours to go." "Nobodywould buy it!" "Get a fresh one." "People likeyou are hung up on freshness." "You realize what goes into a can ofpineapple?" "The fruit must be grown. harvested." "sliced... and youjust throw it away!" "How doyou think the can feels about that?" "Buddy." "I onlywork here." "Who cares about how the cans feel?" "What about how I feel?" "Loading. more loading. unloading..." "How I wish cans wouldn't expire!" "It'd save me loads ofwork." "You like expired cans?" "Helpyourself!" "." "As many as you like!" "On the house!" "Somehoweverythingcomes withan expiry date." "Swordfiish expires." "Meatsauce expires." "Even cling-fiilm expires." "Is thereanything in the world which doesn't?" "It's expired!" "Don't want it!" "You sure?" "Ifiinally foundmy30th can." "As May 1 begins, realization dawns." "In May's eyes..." "I'm no different from a can ofpineapple." "Come on. try it!" "Everyonesays dogsare aman'sbestfriend." "Sohowcomemine won'tshare mygrief?" "." "Thismustbesomekindofrecord." "Iateall30 cans this evening." "Justas well May wasn'tintogarlic." "I'djustlove togo outon the townnow." "May'llbeinbednow." "But whatabout thatotherMay?" "Back again!" "I'm thinking ofgoing to a late show." "May's gone!" "Gone?" "You thought she'd wait around?" "No way!" "Waiting makes women nervous." "Drives them crazy." "She went out with Richard." "Next time. get in quick." "Ineverdreamed... two Mays coulddumpmein onenight." "Togetoverit, Ipromisemyself... nevertogo out withanothergirl namedMay." "Lulu?" "This is Qwu." "Want to come out for a drink?" "You're in bed already?" "This early?" "You were asleep?" "Never mind. bye." "Chieko-san?" "Guess who?" "This is Qwu!" "That's right!" "Want to come out for a drink?" "Your husband?" "When did you get married?" "Fiveyears!" "Has it been that long?" "You have two kids!" "You're happy. that's great!" "Okay. never mind." "Is Kong Siu-Wai there?" "This is He Qwu." "We were classmates in grade four." "You don't remember?" "Nothing. good-bye." "All thosepineapples gaveme astomachache." "So I went toabar." "I thoughtalcohol wouldsettle mystomach." "Areyou okay?" "Yes...another double." "There'sasong "Love DiesatDawn. "" "That'showIfeelnow." "Howcan IforgetMay?" "Ipromisemyself..." "I'll falling love... with the fiirst woman who walks inhere." "What can I getyou." "Miss?" "Whiskey. please." "Ihavea feelingshe'lllikeme." "AndIknowtheperfecticebreaker." "Excuse me." "Miss. doyou like pineapple?" "Maybeshe'snot Cantonese." "Excuse me." "Miss. doyou like pineapple?" "May I askyou ifyou like pineapple?" "You speak good Mandarin." "I grew up in Taiwan. and you?" "I'm not in the mood to talk." "Leave me alone." "We don't have to talk." "Can I just sit here?" "Plenty ofseats. why sit here?" "I can feel thatyou're lonely." "Really?" "Yes." "Whywould a woman be wearing shades this late?" "Either she's blind... or she's a poseur... or she doesn't want people to see she's been crying." "So which reason applies?" "The last one!" "It's okay. no need to cry." "I've fallen out oflove too." "I usually gojogging to get sweaty... so that I have no more water for tears." "Wanna gojogging?" "I've been racing around all evening." "I'm tired." "Ifyou want to talk... fiind someone else." "I don't particularlywant to talk." "I just want to keepyou company." "I know how it feels to be brokenhearted." "A woman needs a boyfriend to lean on." "I don't have a boyfriend." "And I don't have a girlfriend." "How old areyou?" "Two hours ago." "I was still 24." "Now I'm 25." "I won't likeyou." "Don't be so sure." "We might hit it off!" "." "Doyou like pineapple?" "None ofyour business." "I'm just trying to learn more aboutyou." "I was in love with a girl for fiiveyears." "We'vejust split up." "She says I don't understand her." "So I want to fiind out more aboutyou." "You'll fiind out nothing." "Just give me a chance to!" "Okay. fiind out more about me." "What kind ofman doyou like?" "Knowingsomeone doesn'tmean keeping them." "People change." "Apersonmaylikepineapple today... andsomethingelse tomorrow." "Sir!" "Sir!" "We're closing." "Closing?" "Wannajog?" "I just want a place to rest." "Whenshesaid "rest, "shemeantit." "I watchedtwo oldmovies on TVthatnight... andhadfour chef"ssalads." "When thesun rose, IknewIhadtogo." "ButI tookhershoes offbefore Ileft." "Mymothersays a woman's feetswell up... ifshesleeps inhighheels." "Shemusthave walkedalot thatnight." "Suchapretty womanshouldhave cleanshoes." "I wasactuallybornat 6:00a.m." "So I'llreallybe25 twominutes from now." "A quarterofa century!" "To celebrate thishistoricmoment, I'mjogging." "Getting ridofmybody's excess water." "Itfeelsprettygood." "Leaving thesports ground, Idecide to ditch mypager." "Afterall, no one'sgonna callme." "Account 368." "Password, please." ""Undying Love"" "Your friending room 702says, "Happy Birthday. "" "Thankyou." "On May 1, 1994... a woman wishesmeahappybirthday." "NowI'llrememberherallmylife." "Ifmemories couldbe canned... would theyalsohave expiry dates?" "Ifso, Ihope theylastforcenturies." "Coke. please." "Jogging again?" "Saveyour energy!" "Hey. try Faye!" "She's not bad either." "Who's Faye?" "She started here today." "Get in quick!" "Beat Richard to it!" "Thanks. but I don't go for boys." "Boys?" "Excuse me!" "This was the closest we evergot." "Just0.01 ofa centimeterbetween us." "Iknewnothingabouther." "Butsixhours later... she felling love withanotherman." "Chef's salad. please." "Take out?" "New here?" "You like noisy music?" "Yes. the louder the better." "Stops me from thinking." "You don't like to think?" "What doyou like?" "Never thought about it." "I'll tell you when I know myself." "How aboutyou?" "What doyou like?" "A chef's salad." "One chef's salad. please." "Chef's salad again?" "Aren'tyou tired ofit?" "It's not for me." "Girlfriend?" "It's her favorite?" "I dunno. she never said it wasn't." "Maybe she'd like something different for once?" "Try fiish and chips." "That's good." "What ifshe doesn't like it?" "Get both and let her choose." "You can't go wrong." "Won't that be a waste?" "Doesn't cost much." "Come on. give her a choice!" "Okay. one chef's salad." "one fiish and chips." "Coming up!" "Fish and chips. please." "See." "I told you she'd like it." "She should have said she didn't like chef's salad." "You never gave her any choice!" "Ifyou had. she might have said." "Speaking ofchoice... try pizza tonight." "Dunno ifshe'll like that." "Then do the same trick:" "get both." "Won't break the bank." "Okay!" "Want to try something different again?" "The hot dog is good." "No thanks.just a black coffee." "Nothing foryour girlfriend?" "She's gone." "Why?" "To try something else. she said." "I guess she's right." "Plenty ofchoice in men." "just like food." "I guess I should've stuck with the chef's salad." "Never mind!" "She'll try someone else and fiind out you're better." "And she'll come running back." "Thanks." "Onboardevery flight... there's onestewardess youlong toseduce." "This timelastyear, at25,000 feet..." "Iactuallyseducedone." "I thought we'dstaytogether forthelonghaul." "Flying likeajumbojetona full tank." "But we changedcourse." "Black coffee. please." "A week and she's not back?" "Excuse me!" "Maybe she does have plenty ofchoices." "Then get her out ofyour mind!" "You can't go on drinking black coffee like that." "Takes time to change." "I'll take things easy." "I'll be okay." "Ifyou say so." "Excuse me." "The policeman who buys a chef's salad here every night..." "Oh. you mean No. 633." "He's offduty today." "Isn't he offon Saturdays?" "He changed shifts." "Didn't he tell you?" "Can you give him this when he next comes?" "No problem." "Thankyou." " I'll be back soon." " What?" "I'll be right back!" "Oh." "We're taking a break." "Where to?" "I have to go out too." "Justyou here tonight?" "Justyou here tonight?" "Theywere all herejust now." "Rushed offas you came up." "What's wrong with me?" "Nothing." "Black coffee?" "Last night... a girl..." "Last night a girl" "Can you turn it down a bit?" "A girl waited foryou here last night." "She left a letter foryou." "Really?" "Yes. an air hostess." " Don'tyou want to read it?" " After my coffee." "Hey. your letter!" "Keep it for me." "Next time." "Boss." "What areyou doing here?" "I'm on duty." "Where's No. 633?" " Annual leave." " Really?" "Said he was wounded by a pin." "He's convalescing at home." "Wounded by a pin?" "Sincesheleft, everything in the flatissad." "Everythingneeded lulling tosleep." "You've lost a lot ofweight." "you know." "You used to be so chubby." "Have more confiidence in yourself." "You have to stop crying." "you know." "Where's your strength and absorbency?" "You're so shabby these days." "Look atyou." "I'll helpyou." "Isn't that better?" "Say something." "Don't blame her." "We all have moments ofdoubt." "Give her a chance. okay?" "Lonely?" "Youlookarealmess." "Cold?" "I'll warmyouup." "Boss!" " Had your lunch?" " Yup!" "It's all ready foryou." "Need any help?" "It's okay." "I'll manage." "Excuse me." "Hey. what areyou doing here?" " Areyou better?" " Better?" "They said you were wounded by a pin." "Nonsense." "Haven't seen you around lately." "I changed shifts." "I'm on this beat now." "Really?" " Need some help?" " Yes. please." "I'll be going." "This is heavy." "It's worse some days." "Must be hard foryou." "That's work foryou." "Why'd you take thisjob?" "The boss is my cousin." "He asked me to help out." "What did you do before?" "Lots ofthings." "I'm saving up." "To study?" "Never thought ofthat." "I just want to enjoy life." "How?" "Where?" "Anywhere." "Maybe California." "California?" "Why?" "I said maybe." "I can move on ifit's no fun." "You like to travel?" "Don'tyou?" "I'm happy staying in one place." "You can come with me." "I almost have enough." "We'll see." "Areyou always like this?" "I still have that letter." "Haven't had time to pick it up." "Give meyour address." "I'll mail it." "Or it'll get lost." "Okay." "You live near here!" "Yeah. drop in on me sometime." "Sure." "Well. let's move." "You're sweating." "Areyou okay?" "I'm okay." "Stop daydreaming. will you?" "You want to be a star?" "And leave the carrots alone!" "Who's going to eat that now?" "Use a toilet roll or something!" "And you." "I'm not daydreaming." "Right. you're not daydreaming." "You're sleepwalking!" "Sure. sleepwalking." "Whateveryou say." "Ihada dream thatafternoon." "ItseemedI was inhis apartment." "AndI'd wake up only when Ileftit." "Ididn'tknowyounever wake up fromsome dreams." "Some days Igohome forlunch." "There'salways the chance she'llbeback." "I knowyou're in there." "Come on out." "I'll count to three." "One... two. three!" "She usedtoleap out ofthe closet toscareme." "Butshe'sstoppeddoingit." "Iguess thegamepalled aftera while." "Canshebehiding in the toilet?" "Hello." "Hello!" "Charsiu with rice." "Excuse me." " It's you again!" " Yes." "Will you be here for a while?" "Why?" "Nothing." "Where areyou going?" "I forgot something." "Oh." "I still haven't mailed your letter." "No hurry." "I'll get around to it." "Why areyou back?" "I have to pay the electricity bill." "Can I leave this here?" "Cousin?" "I'm still at the market." "What?" "Why?" "It's pouring with rain." "Can you hear?" "What areyou talking about?" "It's sunny!" "Really?" "Must be a local shower." "I'll be backwhen it stops." "Don't forget the electricity bill." "I won't." "I'm leaving now." "Okay." "I'll seeyou again soon." "I will." "Got this foryou." "Why so many lychees?" "They're for a friend." "Where areyou?" "Paying the electricity bill." "You've been gone for hours!" "It's packed here." "I can hardly get in the shop." "I'll just have to queue." "How come it's always so crowded?" "Search me." "Shall I try again tomorrow?" "Try another shop." "Another shop?" "Okay." "I'll try." "I'll try." "Been shopping?" "A friend is redecorating his place." " You sure are busy." " I certainly am." "Black coffee again." "It's bad foryou." "Ifyou can't sleep. drinkwater." "Hi. it's me." "The plane has returned to Hong Kong." "You want to make a booking?" "Call me." "Same number." "Wow." "How long did it take to grow it like this?" "None ofyour business." "A bit flirty. isn't she?" "Guess so." "Why?" "Well." "Doyou know herwell?" "Nope." "One dayIhadthis sudden feelingshe wasback." "DidIleave the tap running... oris theapartment gettingmore tearful?" "Ialways thought it wouldcope okay." "Didn'texpectit to crysomuch." "Whenpeople cry... they can dry their eyes with tissues." "But whenanapartmentcries... it takesalot tomopitup." "What areyou doing here?" "I live here." "You live here?" "Why areyou here?" "Buying goldfiish." " No one here sells goldfiish." " No?" " You came to buy goldfiish?" " Yes." "Buy them or sell them?" "What doyou mean?" "Stop it!" "I forget everything when I'm scared." "Why areyou scared?" "I don't know!" "You scare me." "I'm going now." "Areyou stuck?" "Don't push me." "I'd go ifI could." "You have a cramp?" "I don't know." "It's never happened before." "You'd better come in." "Whenshe'dreturn from along flightI'dmassageherlegs." "Beingastewardess is tough on thelegs." "I'vealways found women's legssexy." "Haven't touchedany sincesheleft." "Is that better?" "Yes." "Can I go now?" "Stay a bit longer." "I'll put on some music." "You like this song too?" "I'm not really into music." "My ex-girlfriend chose this." "She liked this song?" "Yes." "Sure, his girlfriendlikedit." "That's my CD." "Ileftitherea fewdays ago." "Can dreamsbe catching?" "Iguess I'vebeen toonervous." "Aftera while, Ifallasleep." "Thegirl fellasleep in myplace thatafternoon." "I thoughtabout wakingherup... butforsomereason Ididn't." "Shit!" "Don't set fiire to anything." "Watch those candles." "This is your fault." "What's gotten intoyou lately?" "Why didn'tyou pay the electricity bill?" "Where haveyou been getting to every day?" "I went to see the doctor." "Really?" "You haven't been taking medicine." "Ofcourse I have." "Youjust didn't notice." "And did the doctor tell you when you'd get better?" "Anytime now." "Crazy!" "Idon'tknow ifit's the weather... butlatelyI've changedalot." "I'vebecomemore observant." "Inotice things Iusedto take forgranted." "Even thesardines taste different." "You mustn't letyourselfgo." "You've gained weight so fast." "She may have gone but life goes on." "You must stop indulging yourself." "You're a real disappointment to me." "You've changed so much." "You can'tjust switch personality like this." "Herwalking out is no excuse." "Pull yourselftogether." "It wassucharelief when Isawitcrying." "Itmaylook different... butit'sstill true toitself." "It'sstill an emotionally chargedtowel." "I'm more optimistic these days." "Haven'tyou noticed?" "Things are starting to look up." "You used to look really dumb... butyou've become quite cute." "Butyou mustn't getyourselfso dirty." "You used to be cleaner." "Look at these dirty stripes." "Haveyou been fiighting?" "Oh. that's where you've been hiding." "Time to stop running away." "You don't smell too good." "either." "Out in the sun tomorrow. okay?" "What areyou doing in my apartment?" "You asked me to visit." "Come on. open up!" "Someone's looking foryou." " Me?" " Yes." "What doyou want?" "I've come for my letter." "What letter?" "Ask the boss." "You were keeping it." "He says you have it." "Me?" "Where?" "Oh. yes." "I was afraid it would get lost." "I promise I haven't read it." "Thanks." "Areyou free tomorrow evening?" "Why doyou ask?" "I want to dateyou." "A date?" "The boss says you're offtomorrow." "So I have to go on a date?" "Think it over." "I'll meetyou in California Restaurant at 8:00." "That song's not right foryou." "Try this one." "I'm doomed!" "Doomed!" "Hey." "No. 633 is good with girls." "Boss. he's No. 633." "Who cares?" "Boy." "I'm out ofcups." "Icleanedup myplace thatafternoon." "It was like cleaning therunway foranewflight." "Igot to therestaurant alittle early." "Ihalfexpecteda flightdelay." "So Igotsomeloose change." "Coins. please." "Halfanhourlater, Ibrokeanother$10note." "Hadthe flightbeen cancelled?" "She isn't coming." "She asked me to giveyou this." "Don't let it getyou down." "though." "Try another girl." "May's nice." "She's coming back tomorrow." "Where is she?" "She quit." "Said she was going to California." "Nothing else." "Thanks." "Ididn'topen theletter." "Some thingsneedtime tosinkin." "Once thesnackbarmanager hadgone..." "Istartedtalking to thebeerbottles." "Disappointed?" "Notreally." "Gohomeandsleep." "She'snotcoming." "Actually, she didgo to California thatevening." "Butit was the otherone." "We were in different Californias... witha 15-hour time difference between us." "Itmustbe 1 1:00a.m. in California, USA." "I wonderifshe'llremember our 8:00p.m. datehere." "What a coincidence." "Areyou offduty tonight?" "Yes." "How areyou?" "No change." "And you?" "Not bad." "Alone?" "No. my friend's waiting." "Your type." "I still have some ofyour stuff." "Will you pick it up sometime?" "Wouldn't want it anymore." "Throw it away." "Okay." "I have to rush." "I still think you look better in uniform." "So doyou." "Hey. you haven't paid!" "You pay for me!" " How much is it?" " $262. please." "Theletterturnedout tobe aboardingpass... postdatedoneyearlater." "Icouldn'tmake out the destination." "Ididgo to therestaurant thatevening." "Iknewit wouldgetcrowded so I was thereat 7:15." "Itpouredwith rain outside." "I watcheditfall through the window." "AndIurgentlyneededtoknow ifthe otherCalifornia... was warm andsunny." "Idecidedtogive myself oneyear." "Tonightit's raining ashardasit was then." "Lookingout this window..." "Ihave onlyoneperson in my thoughts." "I wonderifhe ever openedmyletter." "What areyou doing here?" "What areyou doing here?" "Can that beyou?" "What areyou doing here?" "Renovating." "Renovating?" "Where's my cousin?" "He opened a karaoke bar." "Said he needed a change." "So I took over here." "Didn't he tell you?" "I haven't seen him." "He has great business sense." "First he sold me fiish and chips... then the whole thing." "What?" "I said. he has great business sense!" "When did you get into this music?" "It takes time to get used to things." "Did you go to California?" "Was it fun?" "Nothing special." "You look good in uniform." "You look nice like that too." "Fancy a bite to eat?" "No." "I fly out very early tomorrow." "When will you get back?" "My grand opening is two days away." "Don't know." "This might be a long trip." "Write to me when you reach wherever it is." "Would you read it ifI did?" "One thing I must askyou." "Would you let a person on board... with a boarding pass like this?" "It's dated today." "but it got blurred in the rain." "I don't know where it's taking me." "Doyou?" "No idea." "but I'll giveyou another." "Great." "Where doyou want to go?" "Whereveryou want to take me."