The Last Dance (破·地獄)

["Breaking hell's gates" is a Taoist funeral ritual.]

[A Taoist priest waves his flaming sword and smashes tiles, ]

[He leads the dead out of the underworld through a trail by fire, ]

[ultimately helping the dead achieve reincarnation.]

[Today, "breaking hell's gates" is considered a mainstream ritual in Hong Kong funerals.]

[It is listed on the First Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong.]

After the pandemic, Hong Kong suffered a massive hit to the economy.

The F&B industry, tourism, and wedding industry are the greatest victims of this.

Many F&B brands and wedding companies have been forced to end their services.

Economist Cheng Rong Liang predicts that

Hong Kong's economy will struggle to recover quickly.

- Uncle Ming! - Hey, guys...

- Uncle Ming? - Yeah, have a seat.

You're Jade's husband?

Her boyfriend.

You're not married yet?

My name's Dominic.

Jade told me that you were a wedding planner.

If serving the living doesn't pay

come make money off the dead.

I'm ready to learn.

The job's not that hard.

It's all trivial tasks.

Anyone with a pulse and a breath can do it.

Any tips for a newcomer?

Don't have a glass heart, right?

Nah, I'm tough.

That's good.

Then you won't take the insults personally.

I understand.

Good. Let's go.

Where to?

To work.

Keep the change!

It's not for you.

It's for the family.

How many each?

Three each.

Everyone...

Bow three times, then call your ancestor to wake up.

- Wake up, Grandpa... - Dad, wake up...

Everything is accounted for.

Thank you, sir.

Please check.

Family, please turn away.

Pardon us. No harm, no ill will.

I know the stench is unbearable.

But you'll get used to it.

I'm fine. The most unbearable thing of all

is poverty.

The funeral service is a combination of brain and brawn.

Agents are the brain. That's us.

The brawn is the Taoist priest.

My partner is Hello Man.

He's the best Taoist priest around.

You'll meet him in a bit.

Hello Man? He sounds like an agreeable man.

Hello and all.

Other professionals named him that out of respect.

You'll see once you get to know him.

- Here's your share. - It's okay. I didn't do much.

Take it.

Thank you.

Look...

I'm passing my business to you

because my niece Jade vouched for you.

I'll waive the assignment fee.

Just pass me the rent every month.

If you have business, split it evenly with Man.

But remember this.

Do right by the clients and your staff, understand?

I understand.

Have some tea.

Cheers.

Your tea, Master.

Listen up.

We're Taoist priests.

To put it nicely, we live on people's faith.

To put it bluntly, we feed off the dead.

If we want their respect,

we have to respect ourselves first.

- Get it? - Yes.

- Get it? - I get it.

- Get it? - Yes.

- Get it?! - Yes, sir!

What's all the fuss?

Uncle Ming.

- Have some tea. - Thanks.

What's the matter?

Don't get me started on that punk.

Let's get a smoke.

Excuse us, Uncle Ming.

By the way...

Count it.

It's all right.

How's the new kid?

He's no spring chicken.

But he has an advantage.

He needs money.

Honestly, I doubt he'll last long.

Watch that short fuse of yours.

He's going to be your partner.

Don't use the "p" word.

You're my only partner in this life.

Just lend the kid a hand.

Don't be such a boomer.

I'm in my eighties! What else am I? You tell me.

All right. Drink up, boomer.

Boomer...

Mark my words.

When you're in Vancouver, you'll freeze to death.

It's no joke over there.

Hello?

Where are you?

I'm stuck in traffic, just entered the tunnel.

I won't take long.

You stole the funeral offering?

It's my salary.

Only a half-day's pay.

Dominic...

Money may be important,

but you shouldn't force yourself.

Weddings and funerals aren't that different.

Weddings have newlyweds.

Funerals have the newly dead.

Weddings have gifts. Funerals have offerings.

It's all the same.

Cake cutting is nothing like breaking hell's gates.

Both involve a blade.

They're both performances.

Weddings are shows and so are funerals.

Where does this go?

- Suey. - Yes?

Toss this. It's decayed.

Okay. Boss, let's toss these coffin boards, too.

They're fossils.

These boards are a century old!

They're worth more than four of you!

They're the store's gems.

- All right. - Boss!

How about this chair?

That's so old. What if it's haunted?

- Y-man! - Yeah?

Toss this chair first.

Sure thing.

- Suey! - Yeah?

It's an unfinished game. It may be Hello Man's game.

- Snap a photo. - All right.

I can try moving the pawn.

It's checkmate any which way.

Oh, Hello Man! Welcome!

Hello what?

Where are your manners?

Pardon me. Master Man.

Uncle Ming arranged for us to be partners.

Sorry. Co-owners.

I'm Dominic.

You must be Master Ben.

Just call me Ben.

Nice to meet you.

Come here...

Y-man, Kit, Suey.

My employees, they're very capable.

Ask them for whatever you need.

He's always like that.

You guys really tidied up.

I figured cleanliness will bring more business.

Are these for sale?

The funeral industry is very competitive.

Selling merchandise will give us a leg up.

I'll have what others have,

and I'll have what others don't, too.

This is a nice bracelet.

Let me have one for my wife.

Master Ben...

That's for holding ashes.

Really?

Well, she wouldn't know.

How much is it?

It's all right.

Where's my bamboo chair?

Where's my bamboo chair?

In the trash.

What's your name again?

Dominic.

Dominic...

Are your parents still around?

They passed a long time ago.

You should join them.

His late wife gave him that chair.

It's his throne.

If you don't find it, you're screwed.

Find that chair!

Can I help you?

I'm looking for Master Man.

Shoes off.

Got it.

Master Man... We've found the chair.

It's back in the shop now.

Is it disinfected?