Ah...
Dad, mom, don't leave me behind. Don't die on me.
[Bride's Pool Road]
A Brief Introduction of the Department of Folklore.
Hello, I'm the Department of Folklore's Assistant Professor Poon Doh-lai.
So you find the pamphlet incomprehensible, right?
Folklore study? What's that?
The study of traditional culture, religion, customs, thoughts and behavior.
How's that different from the Department of History then?
Emily, please read aloud the first paragraph for me.
Hong Kong International University School of Humanities Department of Folklore
was founded by Dr. Ho Wan-sze in 1990.
It's the first Department of Folklore in Hong Kong.
Okay. That's it. Thank you, Emily.
This is history.
There's official and written records. Historians study that. But for folklore...
...we don't study that.
What a folklorist cares about is this.
What ghost stories are there in the university?
Is the traditional orientation ragging rough?
Which subject is the easiest to pass?
Such undocumented folk legends are what folkloristics studies.
Customs changes over time.
But they are still closely related to our lives today.
In other words, folklorists pay greater attention...
...to the things right here and now than historians do.
It's a science in the present continuous tense. Any questions?
What's the use of this subject? Will it help me find a job easily?
You're so young. But your consideration is so practical?
I didn't think so much before. I chose it simply because I liked it.
You hadn't studied it before when you chose it.
How could you be sure you'd like it?
I became interested in folklore study all in an instant.
Back then I had no idea at all like you guys.
I didn't know what subjects I liked
till one day I went hiking with an uncle who watched me grow up.
He's the folklorist Fu Tung-ming, Professor Fu.
Come on. Sit down.
Look at the rock.
Mr. Fu, it's a rock only. What's there to look at?
You know the story of Amah Rock?
It's about a couple. The husband went to a faraway place to work.
The wife carried the son there every day waiting for her husband to come home.
But he never did. In the end she turned into a rock.
That's my answer too back then.
Your story has omitted the beginning.
Beginning? What's that?
There's a couple.
The wife died on the night their daughter was born.
There's no milk to feed the baby girl.
It happened that the widow next door gave birth to a baby boy earlier.
She's still feeding the boy with her milk.
The baby girl cried and cried. So she fed her too.
The two babies grew up together and became the couple in this Amah Rock story.
The beginning of the story's so funny?
Why recount what happened to the prior generation?
Seems that it's irrelevant to the Amah Rock story.
What a coincidence? I asked the same question too back then.
The beginning is so different?
It seems that it isn't related to the Amah Rock story.
The apparently irrelevant things are usually the key.
What's left out of a story is usually hiding some facts.
The widow and the widower became wife and husband.
Their kids became step-brother and step-sister.
So the step-brothers and sisters got together?
Their union was contradictory to morals. It's in violation of the taboos.
The neighbors gossiped.
The man got no choice but to leave his wife and kid behind.
He went to a faraway place. That's the real cause.
Oh...
A seemingly simple tale. Actually all of them are intriguing.
Tales are often used to cover up some unspeakable truth.
The truth often involves taboos, ethics and thoughts...
...that teeter around the brink of morality.
It's unspeakable.
The only way to express it is turn it into a tale.
Then pass it on vaguely.
What's hidden is more important than what's revealed.
This is a motto for folklorists.
They are like detectives.
Through investigation and analysis,
they expose the taboos layer by layer to reveal the truth hidden in the tales.
That's what captures my attention...
...and makes me feel interested in folklore study.
Do you find it interesting, too?
Anymore questions?
You are really a young man with questions.
Professor Fu Tung-ming's so awesome.
Does he teach here? Can I enroll in his class?
Good morning.
Dr. Poon, it's about time. We may begin.
Wait...Wait...
You went to our 0-day.
Yes. Hello. My name's Ching-sun.
You will join the search team?
Yes. I searched Professor Fu online. I learned that he had gone missing.
Then I saw your search team's web-page. Today's the call-out. All are welcome.
I came in full gear. Look, maps...
It's Okay. Sit down.
Okay.
It's been seven years since it happened.
Some are here the first time. Some joined midway.
Some have spent seven years with me searching.
I'm his student. I must thank all of you once again here.
No matter what the outcome is, today's search will be the last one.
If we still can't find Mr. Fu, he'll be presumed dead by the law.
But like all the previous times, this time we still search with hope.
We hope miracles will happen in the next minute or second.
Our route today is Bridal Pool's Nature Trail.
We go all the way to Plover Cove Reservoir's country trail.
The focus of the search today is the place...
...where Professor Fu Tung-ming said he would visit before he went missing.
That is, the Bride's Pool.
Laud Daily.
Are you in a hurry, Big Brother Pok?
We do breaking news.
No requirements on education or experience. Never mind even if you're illiterate.
What's the most important? You must be able to drive fast.
Kid.
HEY-
Get down to business.
Last night someone burned joss money here. The mountain almost got burned down.
Take a few shots quickly and get the job done for the newspaper, okay?
Just bossing around. He lies there without lifting a finger.
Sloppy guy.
I'm on fire! Help!
How are you? How serious is the burn? You need to go to Emergency?
No. Thank you, Big Brother Pok. How come you reacted so fast?
Not that fast. I came over after you had caught fire for some time.
My bad. You are a rookie. I should have warned you.
Warned me of what?
It's spooky here in Bride's Pool.
You know why people burn so many things here?
It's because many people died here.
Ten people died on this road in seven years.
What do drivers call this place? The Fatal Bend.
Cars crash without cause. Heads cut off from the bodies.
Cars are burned. Scary, eh?
You do breaking news. There are things scarier and more disgusting.
Sorry...I'm ignorant. I'll leave after I've finished my job.
What's wrong with you guys throwing joss notes around?
We almost crashed our car because of that.
What's wrong with you guys? You hit and damaged my car.
I haven't asked you to pay compensation yet.
Where?
Don't come over. It's to your disadvantage only.
We threw joss notes around to keep people safe. Otherwise?
Cars will crash without cause. Heads will be cut off from the bodies.
Cars will be burned.
You two are reporters from Laud Daily?
What's your name? I'll file a complaint against you.
You want to play games?
Chak, get down to work. Shoot her. Put her on trial online.
See what the netizens will say about you.
You want to make a scene, right? I'm photogenic. I'm not afraid of it.
Want a public trial? Come on. Join me...
Come on. I'm not afraid of you. Shoot her.
Let it go...
Shoot her...
Dr. Poon, don't quarrel with him anymore. We got a job to do.
Let's go.
What? Want to use foul language?
Okay. Take a break here for three minutes. Then we'll search again in the woods.
Bride's Pool Mirror Pool.
Bride's Pool? Captain, are we passing by the Bride's Pool Waterfall later?
I've never been there before.
Why don't you go read that?
The Bride's Pool is located underneath this section of trail.
Due to the potential danger of flooding, this Department does not provide paths
for accessing the Bride's Pool and the Bride's Pool Waterfall.
Seriously? You took me a long way here to look at that only?
This is for preventing accidents from happening to visitors.
But how will people give up so readily without seeing the pool and the waterfall?
So they often try to find a path to go there themselves.
They then get hurt as a result.
No wonder so many people fell into the pool before.
Dr. Poon, you've solved the puzzle for me.
There's a story of incest behind the Amah Rock story.
What's the story about the Bride's Pool?
Can't you read?
It's said that a bride passed by this rough part of the trail...
...in a wedding sedan chair on her wedding day.
In adverse weather, one bearer slipped and dropped the sedan.
The wedding sedan chair fell into the pool.
The bride was drowned? So spooky?
Are you taking scenic photos? Make the shots as horrible as can be.
It looks gloomy and creepy there. Why aren't you shooting that?
Go. Otherwise who will read it? Go.
I'm going.
Shoot that. Shoot some more. Do I have to tell you that?
Shoot till you're spooked.
I run into you everywhere. So spooky.
If you find it so spooky, why are you still shooting here?
Aren't you afraid of shooting something you shouldn't shoot?
I find this place a bit cold, too.
What do you guys know?
People often get drowned in the Bride's Pool here.
It happened just last month. There are really lots of ghosts here.
Ghost bride!
Yes, Miss Wong.
What ghost bride?
That's a real bride...
Right, Miss Wong. Look this way...
Good. Okay. Another pose.
Big Yuk?
It's really been such a long time.
Right. We work in the same news agency. Still we don't see each other.
We work breaking news. We work irregular hours. Can't help it.
You aren't free every time I ask you to go to tea, mentor.
That's fate. Can't help it. Well, where's the groom?
He hasn't come yet.
You two are taking wedding photos. Didn't you leave home together?
I need to put on makeup and set my hair. So I came earlier.
I haven't seen you for so long. You're much more mature now.
You look so beautiful in the wedding gown.
Hey, why don't I take several shots for you?
Okay.
So beautiful...
Hey, did you get hurt?
Did you get the wedding gown dirty?
You'd better check your camera.
The camera is a physical object only.
You're shooting wedding photos today. You must look beautiful.
I'm fine. You said before a camera isn't just a tool. It's a reporter's life.
Right.
Once a reporter's holding a camera, he's like possessed.
He must shoot even if it's the end of the world.
Good memory.
Mentor, I remember everything you said...
...from day one when I started working as an intern.
Why talk about the past?
Mentor, after I've get married... I will quit.
Why? You love the job so much.
You want me to stay?
I'm not saying so. You're a girl.
Of course your family is more important than your career after you're married.
Are you supposed to go to the battlefield with your baby?
Miss Wong, the camera's set. The groom isn't here yet.
As your friend's here, why don't we make a test run first in order to save time?
Right. Get closer to Miss Wong. Right.
Sir, put your hand at Miss Wong's waist. Right. Face to face. Right. Act natural.
I'm acting so natural already.
Well, just talk about anything.
Well, there are so many places for taking wedding photos. Why the Bride's Pool?
Why? It's because this place means something special to me.
Laud Daily.
Good morning. Are you Big Brother Pok?
Who are you?
Hey!
I'm a new intern. From today on, I will work under you for three months.
So troublesome. What a liability.
My name's Topaz.
What "plus"?
My name's Wong Yuk, Topaz.
What a weird name. Yuk's good enough.
Yuk's so commonplace.
Commonplace? Something special for you then.
I'll call you Big Yuk, okay?
You still have face cards?
Three Dukes...
I win.
Deal.
Ah...
What's going on?
Big. you on
Sneak shots?
Don't let her get away...
Over there...
Sorry. I've lost all the photos.
Give me your hand.
You've got a mini camera?
Heed your mentor's advice. You need a Plan B for everything.
Mentor? So I'm your pupil?
Whatever. Hey, let's do it again.
Mentor.
Big Yuk? Why are you here?
I come to work here. I've graduated. Chief offered me a permanent job.
The boss didn't mention that.
Wanted to give you a surprise.
There's trouble again.
I'll talk to Chief. See you later.
Hey, there's a serious earthquake in Japan.
What's going on?
It's said that the rookie knows Japanese. The boss will send her to Japan.
I'm off the hook. Someone's thrown out by the Chief once she came here.
Hey, just kidding. What time is your flight tonight?
The Chief said the sooner the better.
Of course. You need to grab first-hand info there.
Why don't I ask him to send someone else?
You scared?
Not scared. But I'm a rookie.
Everyone knows you're dumb. But this is big.
Everyone in the news agency wants to go there. Listen to me.
If you back off now, you may regret it your whole life.
Mentor.
No more complaints. Come back soon.
Be careful. Don't be a disgrace to your mentor.
Okay, mentor.
The winner of this year's Best Rookie Award...
...took part in the report on the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
She's Miss Wong Yuk.
Thank you.
I'm so hungry. The hotel's catering was so yucky just now.
You're so lucky to come home alive. You still complain?
By the way, did you worry about me every moment while I was in Japan?
Yes. I worried that you wouldn't call me mentor again after you got the award.
You shoot others all the time. Now you're shot.
What?
Fukushima beauty falls for Three have-nots guy.
Look at what they wrote.
Grassroots of the press. A three have-nots man.
No money, no property. A pauper covets the princess.
The magazines are making up stories only.
By the way, did you make out with her?
You're so dumb. Put it away.
Hey!
Hello.
Mentor, I've booked a table at last in the restaurant last time.
Tomorrow evening why don't we...?
I can't make it tomorrow night.
How about day after tomorrow?
I'm busy. I don't have time. Can't talk anymore.
Mentor...Mentor...
Topaz, I haven't congratulated you on your wedding yet.
So you can pronounce my name? But I'd rather you call me Big Yuk.
Yuk.
He's your husband?
No. They are my fiance's grandma and uncle.
Grandma, uncle?
You two...
You came here to shoot photos without telling me?
Mom didn't allow Kin-fung to leave home once she had learned about it.
I told Kin-fung long ago not to marry you the unlucky person.
There are so many other places for taking photos.
But you came to the Bride's Pool though it's so spooky here.
Never mind you're unlucky. Don't jinx my grandson.
Only stupid guys say it's spooky.
Big Brother Pok.
Oh, no. We've crossed those dirty things.
Grandma, don't be afraid.
Ghost hand!
Ghost hand?
Ghost hand! There's a ghost here. Oh, no!
Hey, watch out.
Be careful.
Save him.
Ah...
Save him.
No.
Calm down.Stand there.
No... there's a ghost.
You're fine.
Be more careful in future. It's easy to get hurt in an accident here.
It isn't an accident. It isn't for sure.
A ghost hand pulled me into the water. Then another hand pulled me under.
Did the drowned bride's ghost try to find a substitute?
That's a tale only.
But I did feel something grabbing my leg when I was in the water just now.
When I took a look, there's nothing.
Dr. Poon, did Professor Fu go missing because a ghost pulled his legs?
A ghost pulling a person's legs...
...came from an old tale about a ghost in water looking for a substitute.
It's said that when someone gets drowned by accident...
...he'll become a ghost in the water.
He must find a substitute to replace him before he gets reincarnated.
Folklore study calls that a cautionary tale.
It serves to warn people not to swim in brooks or pools lest accidents might happen.
Ghost is one of the elements in those tales.
Why suddenly talk about folkloristics?
Not suddenly. She's Dr. Poon Doh-lai of...
...Hong Kong International University Department of Folklore.
She's the disciple of Professor Fu Tung-ming...
...the folkloristics authority in Hong Kong.
Don't ever think you can get away with this.
You're bringing those dirty things home. I'll tell Kin-fung's mom when I get home.
Jinx.
Let's go home.
Okay.
Thank you.
Mei King Floriculture.
You were tough and strong before.
When we worked breaking news together...
...you wanted to go into the mortuary while I was there.
When there's a disaster, you were always the first person arriving at the scene.
You weren't afraid of the nuclear explosion and radiation in Fukushima.
How come you...?
Mentor, are you talking to me?
Yes...I mean how come you look so pale. You're even trembling.
You aren't like how you were before.
Mentor, pull over.
Okay.
Mentor, do you know why this is called the Fatal Bend?
You asked me why I chose to shoot my wedding photos at the Bride's Pool.
I lived here when I was little. Wu Kau Tang Village. This is my home.
You seldom talk about your family.
There are so many things. I don't know where to start.
My dad and mom were killed here.
Ah...
Dad, mom, wake up. Don't leave me behind. Dad, mom, don't die. Dad, mom...
Eighteen years ago, I left home on my own. Dad and mom drove here to look for me.
Another car hit them head-on.
If that driver didn't hit-and-run, perhaps they could be saved.
How about the cops? Did they catch that driver?
That's why I wanted to become a reporter.
I want so much to find the man who got my parents killed.
But I feel it's my fate. After I get married, I'll quit.
It's predestined that I can't find that man.
It's because he wasn't the culprit at all. I am. Grandma's right. I'm a jinx.
Supernatural 101.
Hello, everybody. I'm the host Dali Swami. Welcome to our program Supernatural 101.
Sitting next to me are the two beautiful girls Bili and Bala.
Hello, everybody.
Tonight we shall carry on exploring the supernatural world...
...and discovering the truth in the vast universe.
It's phone-in time.
Okay. The first audience is ready. Hello.
Hello, Dali Swami. My name's Ching-sun.
You don't need to say it.
Your voice tells me you feel so scared, right?
Yes. I saw a ghost hand at the Bride's Pool today.
Swami...
Shush...
My net friend, you may open wide the door to your memory...
...and carry on sharing your supernatural experience with everyone.
Today I went with my friends in the university to Bride's Pool...
...to conduct a search.
The water in the pool suddenly turned into blood.
The fish were all dead, too.
A ghost hand appeared in the stream.
Ah...
What's the matter?
You scared your mom this way?
Don't watch that swindler.
This program's so popular. Of course there's a reason for that.
Sis, you went to the Bride's Pool today to look for Professor Fu, right?
My hands got wrinkles putting on the mask...
You still watch that?
Don't watch those scams. That guy in particular.
The grudge of a dead bride. A piece of cursed land.
The legend is tainted by you completely.
It's put through.
My net friend, what do you think of a bride seeing a ghost at the Bride's Pool?
I'm that bride.
What?
It seems that the ghost bride is still following me.
Ah...
Just now when we get home...
...we'll take the things upstairs.
Okay. Go ahead.
Watch the news report.
We've bought so many things.
Wow.
Ah...
What's the matter?
What's happened?
The room...
Are you unwell?
Fung, what's the matter?
What's happened?
What's the matter with the room?
Go check it out.
What's the matter?
What's in the room?
Right.
What's in the room? Take a look.
There's nothing.
This is impossible.
There's nothing. Why did you yell?
Nothing. I'm too tired. I made a mistake.
Poon Tak-lei.
You scared me.
You cheat people again?
Wrong, Poon Doh-lai.
From my standpoint, this is called alternative counselling.
You're a fraud.
My dear sis, have you forgotten...
...your older brother took psychology in university?
Your grades were poor.
So you failed to become a proper psychologist.
I didn't study psychology on purpose. I studied occultism so as to save people.
Occultism is also known as parapsychology.
It's knowledge that can't be deducted by logic...
...or explained by physical science.
It's more profound than science and psychology.
I heard that you will perform a cleansing ceremony...
...for an audience at the Bride's Pool.
You watch my performance, too?
Hold it. I just think you shouldn't deceive people.
I'll ignore her then.
Let her feel perturbed. Let her fret and worry every day.
She will get in trouble sooner or later.
Do you know the best cure is finding the truth for her?
Fine. You're so smart.
Can you explain in a non-supernatural way where the ghost hand came from?
You can't, right?
It isn't that I can't explain it. I haven't figured it out yet.
Get out of my way if you are incompetent.
I need to meditate now to suck in the supernatural air.
I need to keep her safe tomorrow. Close the door on your way out.
Hello. May the universe be with you. May you be safe and fine.
Well...
You don't need to say it.
I can feel you're the groom. You must be the groom.
I'm not the groom. I'm her friend.
Friend... A man must look cool.
You need two companions. I have more than that. I've got three.
They aren't standing behind me. They went to the bathroom.
They're on their way back. This is Bili. Behind her is Bala.
The last person is...
It's you? Aren't you a folklorist? You practice arcane lore, too?
You two know each other? She's my younger sis.
Your younger sis?
Siblings may not look alike.
Both occultism and folkloristics involve religion.
They provide references for each other.
Absolutely.
You've got it wrong. I find you two look so much alike.
To protect the client's privacy, we do LA only this time.
What's LA?
Live audio.
Now I'll try to communicate with the ghost bride...
...through a supernatural pendulum.
Ghost bride... if you're around please turn clockwise.
Hey, it doesn't move at all. The ghost bride wants to say yes or no?
Shush... I feel her presence. She refuses to communicate with us.
This is Peruvian holy wood.
Light it to remove the negative energy here and cleanse the air.
Then the ghost bride's grudges will dissipate. Hold it, Yuk.
Okay.
Oh, no. You're carrying negative energy.
Don't worry. Take this sage up there. Burn it. Then wash your hands.
Then come back. There.
Okay.
Watch out or you would fall into it like that what's-his-name professor.
You'll become a missing person, too.
What what's-his-name professor? You know Professor Fu?
No one knows where he's gone.
So many people are making so much effort looking for him.
It's a waste of social resources.
We don't know if he's alive or dead. Be considerate.
I'm telling you guys the folklorists not to get people hurt though you're nosy.
You look blank holding something slimy.
I know you guys love supernatural things the most.
I'm not being superstitious.
I believe there are secrets behind each and every weird incident.
You're all talk. You aren't practical at all.
Look, red algae. They cause red tides in large quantity.
When viewed from above, it's like there's blood.
I see. I knew there wasn't any ghost.
But this is sea weed. They grow in the sea only.
Why are they here?
That means...
Someone put them here in large quantity.
This cage trapper is found under the water. There are scales on it. The cage is broken.
Put a big piece of ice in it beforehand. Then submerge it in the water.
The piece of ice is bigger than the hole in the cage.
It's caught inside the cage at first. Then it melts gradually.
All the dead fish went to the surface then.
So it's a simple trap.
But there's one thing we can't explain yet.
The ghost hand.
I haven't figured out why.
Even if I can, I still don't know who did this and why.
Where have you guys been?
Swami is almost ready.
Shush... Don't worry, dear audience. The ceremony will be performed very soon.
Where's the bride?
What takes her so long washing her hands?
Women take a month or so each time they go to the bathroom.
Ask them. They know the best.
Right.
Let's go look for her.
Okay.
Be careful.
Not here.
The holy wood can't be lighted.
The ghost will pull your legs sooner or later.
The ghost bride's hate is too venomous. Perhaps it's too late now.
Swami...
Well?
Can't find her in the male, female or disabled washrooms.
Can't find her.
Found this only.
The bride's gone.
The trail is rough. I worry she might trip.
No one answers. Don't keep talking. Let's go look for her.
Okay.
Yuk...
Yuk.
Wong Yuk.
Yuk...
Guys, we're now going to the most haunted Mirror Pool.
Be careful...
Okay.
Yuk! Hello. Hello, Yuk. Where are you?
I guess I'm at the waterfall.
Waterfall? Which one? Hello, Yuk. You hear me? Talk to me. Hello.
Ah...
Yuk.
The Bride's Pool's right ahead. Let's keep going. I'll call Dali.
Wait.
Hello...Yuk's at the waterfall? Mirror Waterfall's just round the corner.
Wong Yuk.
Yuk... Yuk...
Wong Yuk...
Yuk...
Swami, look.
There's a word in blood on the water?
We went to both waterfalls but couldn't find her.
Now we're back on the road. When will your colleagues be here?
I see the missing person. Call an ambulance please.
Yuk.
Yuk... Wake up, Yuk.
They lost the bride, but then they found her on the road.
She's all wet.
Is she drowned?
I know CPR. Move over.
Go to hell...
Thank God CPR's performed in time. You're fine now.
You have some allergic reaction only. What are you allergic to?
Pollen only. Nothing else.
Get some rest then.
When the reports are available later, you may leave if everything's fine.
Thank you.
Thank you, doc.
You okay?
Better.
Sorry for troubling you guys the whole day.
You remember why you're lying on the road?
You're all wet. What happened?
Then... I lost consciousness.
At last you answered my call.
I heard the phone ring. I regained some consciousness.
It's wet and slimy around.
I tried hard to open my eyes. But my vision's all blurry.
Then I followed the ring-tone to find my phone.
The waterfall was so noisy that I didn't hear all you said.
You asked me where I was.
Once I answered that, I felt a strange force pulling me forward.
Then I fell into the water.
I couldn't breathe. I couldn't breathe all along.
When we were talking to you on the phone...
...we went in two teams to the two waterfalls to look for you.
There are two waterfalls only. There isn't a third one.
Where were you back then?