Hand Rolled Cigarette 2021

In 1996, a group of British Hong Kong soldiers, who had been denied British citizenship, embarked on divergent paths following the disbandment of the Hong Kong Military Service Corps. One such individual, Kwan Chiu (actor name), persuaded his friend Winston to take a calculated risk by investing in the stock market. However, the devastating 1997 Asian financial crisis ravaged Winston’s wealth, leaving him bankrupt and ultimately leading to his tragic demise. In the aftermath, Winston’s comrades-in-arms turned against Kwan, severing ties with him due to perceived betrayal. Yet, unbeknownst to them, Kwan had secretly assumed Winston’s debt in lieu of his widow.

Over time, Kwan became entrenched within the triad underworld, striking a deal between Taiwanese turtle smuggler Pickle and local crime lord Big Mouth Tai in 2019. The arrangement proved lucrative for Kwan, but it also drew the attention of Chook, Tai’s top enforcer. When Mani, a young South Asian thief, sought refuge in Kwan’s Chungking Mansions apartment from Chook’s relentless pursuit, Kwan agreed to harbor him for five days in exchange for a substantial sum of HK$1 million.

Initially, the two men maintained a frosty demeanor towards each other; however, their mutual interests began to forge an unlikely bond. Mani’s discovery of Kwan’s military service record sparked a newfound respect and empathy between them. As Kwan demonstrated his paternal care for Mani’s brother Mansu, the seeds of trust were sown.

The situation took a dark turn when Tai discovered that Pickle had delivered dead turtles, prompting him to summon Kwan and exact revenge by killing Pickle. This gruesome event left Kwan shaken, particularly in light of the brutal punishment meted out to Kapil, Mani’s cousin, for pilfering drugs from Tai.

As Kwan struggled to cope with these events, Mani entrusted him with a bag of contraband as payment for his debt and received a pack of hand-rolled cigarettes as a symbol of their budding friendship. Tragedy struck once more when Mani was abducted by Tai’s henchmen, leaving behind only the faint scent of Kwan’s iconic cigarette.

Pickle’s fellow smuggler Bamboo tracked down Kwan, leading him to Tai’s hideout where Mani was being held captive. With Chook severely injured and at gunpoint, Tai shifted blame onto his subordinate and struck a new deal with Bamboo. Kwan valiantly fought off Tai’s henchmen but ultimately found himself at the mercy of Tai, who prepared to deliver a fatal blow.

In a stunning twist, Chook intervened, killing Tai in a fit of betrayal. As Kwan lay dying, Mani took up his friend’s iconic habit and rolled a cigarette for him, becoming the first person to do so.

Months later, Mani returned to Kwan’s former comrades-in-arms, delivering a note that repaid Winston’s long-standing debt in full.