BACK IN BUSINESS [198 a 199]

Pag.198

BACK IN BUSINESS

Saying good-bye to my parents again was hard. My mom cried, even though she knew it was I wanted. My father gave me an ultimatum: two years. If in two years I hadn’t succeeded, I’d come back—and this time, I’d stay for good. 

Two years wasn’t very long time to prove that I could succeed, but it was plenty of time to prove I was a failure. Reluctantly, I agreed. 

Anyway, if I couldn’t make my fortune in two years, I didn’t deserve to make it at all. 

I arrived at Kai Tak Airport with my head held up and my spirits high. I’d spent a lot of time in airports over the past few years, coming and going. This was the first time I was landing on Hong Kong soil—my home turf—with a bold and bright new future ahead of me. 

I had a job, even if it didn’t pay much, and a chance at the big time. And I was going to be the lead in a movie directed by one of the top names in the business. Willie even said that they’d send a car out to the airport to pick me up. I’d never experienced that kind of luxury before. 

Leaving the gate with my duffel bag over my shoulder, I looked for the driver from Lo Wei Productions. 

“Jackie! Over here!”

Turning my head, I was surprised to see Willie himself, standing on the other side of the security rope. He was smoking a cigarette, despite the annoyed stares of the airport personnel, and dressed in one of his trademark flamboyant outfits—a fantastic silk shirt printed in a jarring rainbow of colors, a three-button white jacket with lapels wide enough to land an airplane on, and bell-bottom polyester slacks. 

Well, it was the ’70s.

Of course, twenty-five years later, Willie still dresses the same way, so I guess that’s not really an excuse. 

Willie blew a plume of smoke and smiled at me a little sheepishly. “I told you we were a small operation,” he said. “Besides, I wanted to welcome you personally! We have very big plans for you.”

A little dazed, I followed Willie to his car, a small but serviceable coupe with a shocking purple paint job.

“How was your flight?” said Willie, as I put my bag into the trunk. 

Pag.199

“It wasn’t so bad,” I said, examining my new friend out of the corner of my eye. His wardrobe was wild, and he was a real showbiz type, but unlike most of the people I’d dealt with in my years in the film industry, he seemed kind and open and honest. 

Maybe a bit too open and honest. 

“New Fist of Fury will be very big. Enormous,” said Willie. “Bruce is a legend, of course, but it’s time for a new generation to take charge. ‘Youth will rule the world,’ eh? And we have a good deal of faith in you. When I suggested to Lo that you’d be perfect for the role, I said to him, ‘Lo, okay, so he’s not what you’d call good-looking, but he can really throw a punch.’”

He narrowed his eyes and scanned my face. “Hmm… I hope we can do something with that nose in makeup. Anyway, with Bruce gone, the industry’s in the toilet, and everyone’s running around like chickens, looking for a new star to pin their hopes on. And that, my young friend, is you.”

All I heard was the word “star.” A star! My mother was right all along; I was destined for greatness. Someday, the world would put my name up there right next to Bruce’s or—did I dare imagine it?—maybe even slightly above Bruce’s. Yes, definitely above Bruce’s! I felt my old confidence returning and settled back into the passenger seat of the car. It was going to be a very good year. 

And then the car jolted forward, nearly sending me through the windshield. 

“Er, excuse me,” said Willie. “The motor’s a little bit balky. Watch your head.” 

Stardom could wait. 

Putting on my seat belt and gripping the armrest tightly, I concentrated on surviving the drive to the studio.