The Dance of Passion

The draught had been going on for three months already on the Loess Plateau. Village girl KAR Chun-fun knelt beside a parched well and prayed for rain. Up on the hills, at the YIMs, SUNG Tung-sing and his mistress MAU SIU-CHEUK were being punished by the elders and brethrens of the YIMs and the SUNGs for committing adultery. They were put to suffer the cruelest punishment, the Penalty of Torching. SING defended his innocence and angered YIM MAN-HEI, the Superintendent of the YIMs. While poor CHEUK was scorched to death, SING, badly burnt, was saved by the sudden but timely rain. FUN came across SING when she was carrying water back home. Despite the rain, she helped him pick up the remains of CHEUK at the punishment site. When FUN arrived home, she was shocked to learn that her fiancee had called off their engagement – she was even more shocked to know that her fiancee turned out to be SING! Two years have gone by.… ...

When the YIMs see SING, they chase him away. Luckily, SING’s good friend and also the eldest son of the SUNGs, SUNG TUNG-YEUNG, rescues him. SING is determined to place his father’s nameplate in the ancestral hall. CHIU Yuk, the Superintendent of the SUNGs, who is also the stepmother of YEUNG, asks YEUNG to divorce his wife SHU LONG-YUET since she is unable to bear a child with him after ten years’ of marriage. YEUT faints when she hears the news. She is stunned to know she is diagnosed to be pregnant when she wakes up. YEUNG is worried that the YIMs would not share their wealth with the SUNGs, as instructed by their ancestors. The two clans are on the warpath. YEUNG confront YUET when he learns that she is pregnant – he needs to know with whom she has betrayed him. YUET swears that she is faithful to him. YUK is angry when she knows the doctor has wrongly diagnosed YUET. She suspects YEUNG is impotent.… ...

YEUNG refuses to marry FUN, saying that she is not born on a good date. YUK, however, argues that they are meant to be a couple and forces them to get married. YEUNG discloses to SING that he is impotent and SING believes that YUK makes use of FUN to unveil this secret. He suggests helping YEUNG by making YUET pregnant. YEUNG gets drunk and tells YUET about this plan. YUET is appalled. When YUK learns about the plan, she decides to let him go ahead so she can catch him red-handed. However, YEUNG finally gives up the idea, since he does not want to hurt YUET. SING blames YEUNG for his cowardice, but YEUNG reasons that he can still become the Superintendent even without having a son. FUNG and FUN are scheduled to get married the same day, but one is dreading it while the other is exhilarated about it. When they are on the way to their husbands’ house, a sandstorm breaks and they are snatched away by the bandits.… ...

FUNG and FUN return to the YIMs safely. TIN ask about her getting lost and she blames him for his distrust. FUN injures herself so that YUK will not suspect the blood on her leg. HEI and Commander CHO discuss the fighting against the bandits and CHO proposes again to manufacture firearms with HEI. HEI politely declines. The bandits rob and kill FUN’s family and FUN has to mourn her parents’ death for a year. YEUNG, therefore, postpones the marriage and YUK can do nothing. FUN stares hopelessly at her torn-down home and suddenly remembers her mother’s words. FUNG’s maid CHING is worried that FUNG is possessed by the ghost of HEI’s dead wife, as FUNG falls ill and faints. CHING suggests seeking help from the exorcist. FUNG slowly recovers and HEI’s father, YIP, tells FUNG about the story of HEI’s previous wife, who is snatched away by the bandits.… ...

FUNG marches into HEI’s study and demands a divorce so that she can have her freedom and dignity back. HEI is furious and tells her he controls her life and death. YUK asks FUN to take lunch to YEUNG, who is working in the field. YUET is upset. YUET refuses to let FUN help her prepare lunch and faints. FUN is disappointed when she sees YEUNG serve YUET with her medicine. She is further upset when she discovers a rat had bitten her wedding gown. YEUNG intends to make way for his stepbrother HIU to become the Superintendent, for he is tough and strong. SING is taken aback. CHEUK’s sister, KAM, goes to buy gunpowder, but is refused. SING buys her the gunpowder and helps her father dig a well. FUN meets SING when she is delivering lunch to YEUNG. SING then realizes that she is YEUNG’s second wife. HIU disappears and YUK suspects SING is involved.… ...

CHO rescues HIU, but HEI keeps him imprisoned in his home. YIP is upset about that. HEI believes it is a good opportunity to get rid of YEUNG. FUNG runs into HEI’s study and releases HIU. She challenges HEI that, if he refuses to divorce her, she will continue acting against him. Enraged, HEI slaps her. YUK and YEUNG are delighted to know that HIU is safe in an elder’s home at the SUNGs. YIP sighs as he recalls being the same tyrant as HEI when he was young. He finally learned his lesson 15 years ago when his sister was injured and became paralyzed. YIP persuades FUNG to be patient. FUN finally recovers from her illness. When she learns that she is exiled from the SUNGs, she begs YUK for forgiveness. However, YUK is not moved. YUK visits HEI to apologies to him, and FUNG is instructs to greet her. She mocks YUK but is humiliated in return. She then realizes HEI has used YUK to disgrace her.… ...

HEI learns that TIN has given FUNG a silver locket as a gift of love and decides to force TIN to get married. He asks TIN where he has put the silver locket, as it is a gift passed down by their ancestors. Intimidated, TIN asks FUNG to give him back the locket. FUNG is disappointed by his cowardice. SING takes the liberty to dig a well for TO, but the well collapses. SING falls into the quicksand and is nearly killed. YUK provokes HEI and KWAI takes the opportunity to seize her power. YUK can do nothing. FUNG is determined to leave the YIMs. She bids farewell to FUN, who is in a coma. She whispers into her ears, encouraging her to take the future into her own hands. FUNG is caught before she has a chance to step out of the house. TO saves SING. SING tells him that he comes back for revenge. TO points out that he is too kind-hearted and that he won’t succeed, and convinces him to leave the YIMs to start anew.… ...

FUNG seizes HEI’s gun and shoots at him. Suddenly, a group of bandits appear. HEI pulls FUNG away and hides in a cave. HEI is badly hurt and passes out. FUNG drags him along as she goes. HEI is delirious and the memories of his ex-wife being kidnapped by the bandits are brought back. Then they come across the bandits again and HEI fights for FUNG. Afterwards, HEI agrees to divorce FUNG and gives her a large sum of money. FUNG is puzzled. TIN is surprised to find that FUNG knows HEI is deaf. He tells FUNG that HEI tries to hide this secret to protect his name. He asks FUNG to leave with him, but she refuses. TIN tells HEI that he wants to leave the YIMs and takes FUNG with him. HEI is infuriated. CHO visits the YIMs and brings up the issue of manufacturing firearms. HEI cannot see CHO’s face, thus fails to read his lips. He cannot guess what he is talking about. Suddenly, FUNG appears and comes to his rescue.… ...