Hong Kong on Fire

Hong Kong on Fire

Literal translation: Loyalty in Dangered City

Theme:
Hong Kong on Fire is a serious gunplay film in the vein of City on Fire and Hard Boiled.

The film is the story of five cops, and the conflicts they go through trying to fulfill their duty. The line between corruption and unquestioning loyalty is a stream of lead.

This scenario uses Hong Kong Action Theatre! 1st Edition rules.

Roles:
Strict Mainland Cop (Lam Kui Kong)
Ambitious Hong Kong Cop (Carmen Hsu)
Maverick Hong Kong Cop (Wilson Lau)
Indulgent Undercover Cop (Diamond Koo)
Corrupt Cop - non player character, dead (Sonny Chu)

Synopsis:
Carmen, Wilson, Sonny and Diamond went through police training together. Carmen, Wilson and Sonny joined the regular service. Diamond became an undercover and infiltrated Uncle Leung's operation, so successfully that he is in line to take over, much to the chagrin of Crazy Ball, the current big brother.

Sonny became corrupt, but was so charming that Wilson and Carmen did not notice. He was good at playing people. However, he put the bite on Diamond, threatening to reveal his identity. Diamond may or may not have killed him - this plot point is for the player to decide. Sonny is dead before the film starts.

The Chow Triad boys are muscling in on Uncle Leung's territory. Leung sends Crazy Ball to Mainland China to secure some AK-47s. A show of strength should get things under control, although Uncle Leung does plan to use the guns. Crazy Ball does.

The Chinese army nearly apprehend the gun shipment. They fax details and a description through to HK, but Carmen and Wilson arrest the wrong boat. The PRC send Lam Kui Kong across to take charge of the operation.

Now that the PRC are involved, it is time to bust Uncle Leung's operation. Diamond Koo must decide which side of the line he wants to be on. The death of Sonny is brought into focus, and the blood may be on someone's hands.

These elements are the fuel. You light the match.

Extras:

Uncle Leung - Ageing Triad Boss

Importance: Major

Uncle Leung is the leader of the Triad that Diamond Koo has infiltrated. His gang has interests in gambling dens, prostitution and protection. However, rival triads are edging into his territory. A show of strength is needed, and its coming in the form of a shipment of automatic weapons from China. Leung does not intend to use the guns - just having them should show that his buddies mean business. Lately Leung has been worried that his head man Crazy Ball has his eye on the top spot, so he is setting up Diamond Koo as an heir to deflect Crazy Ball's attention from himself.
Uncle Leung is a suave old guy. He is everyone's buddy. He dresses well, and acts as though he owns the world. He is always on top of things.
Uncle Leung prefers not to mix it up - that's what his buddies are for. But, if shooting is the only way out, he's still a dead-eye shot. (Note that unlike a standard HKAT big boss, Uncle Leung is not of Extreme importance, and his stats are relatively low. When the heat is turned on, he is likely to die pretty soon, unless Diamond or Crazy Ball protects him. This is exactly what is intended. A good opening tactic for any combat is to have him load his pistol as a Reload action - this will give him lethal amounts of extra damage in the following round to deal out against those who oppose or even betray him.)

Skill: 20 Form: Focus:

Muscle: 11 Bruised: 24 Staggered: 24

Toughness: 12 Battered: 48 Shaken: 48

Speed: 12 Bloody: 72 Stunned: 72

Brains: 20 Broken: 96 Shattered: 96

Cool: 18

Chi: 12 Recovery Pool: 36

Specialties:
Physical - Boating 2
Mental - Area (HK) 3, Business 5, Crime 3, Law 3, Streetwise 2
Social - Bargain 4, Connections 3, Gambling 2, Popular 5

Martial Arts Maneuvers:
Punch 5, Block 5, Dodge 5, Kick 3, Disarm 3 Grapple 3

Weapons:
.45 Revolver (SPD: +0, DAM: 60)
AK-47 (SPD: +3, DAM: 60)

Crazy Ball - Triad Big Brother, Undercover Cop's Rival

Importance: Major

Crazy Ball is one of Leung's oldest followers, and sees himself as stepping up to the top role. Diamond Koo seems set to usurp him from that position. It would be disrespectful to Uncle to speak against Koo, but Crazy Ball makes his disdain clear.
Crazy Ball is as bald as a cue ball. He habitually wears dark glasses.

Skill: 20 Form: Focus:

Muscle: 20 Bruised: 40 Staggered: 30

Toughness: 20 Battered: 80 Shaken: 60

Speed: 17 Bloody: 120 Stunned: 90

Brains: 10 Broken: 160 Shattered: 120

Cool: 15

Chi: 15 Recovery Pool: 30

Specialties:
Physical - Boating 5, Climbing 5, Driving 5, Stealth 1
Mental - Crime 2, Streetwise 4
Social - Gambling 3

Martial Arts Maneuvers:
Punch 5 (DAM 40), Nerve Strike 5 (DAM 40 + special), Break 5 (DAM 100), Block 3,
Dodge 3, Kick 3 (DAM 60), Head Butt 3 (DAM 60), Throw 3 (DAM 40)

Weapons:
.45 Revolver (SPD: +0, DAM: 60)
AK-47 (SPD: +3, DAM: 60)
Machete (SPD: +0, MSC x4 = 80)

Triads - Uncle Leung's gang

Importance: Minor

Skill: 12 Form: Focus:

Muscle: 10 Bruised: 10 Staggered: 10

Toughness: 5 Battered: 20 Shaken: 20

Speed: 8 Bloody: 30 Stunned: 30

Brains: 4 Broken: 40 Shattered: 40

Cool: 9

Chi: 5

Martial Arts Maneuvers:
Punch 2, Block 2, Dodge 2, Kick 2, Head Butt 2

Weapons:
.45 Revolver (SPD: +0, DAM: 60) - Not all members have guns.
AK-47 (SPD: +3, DAM: 60) - Only available when arms shipment is in.
Machete (SPD: +0, MSC x4 = 40)

Before the game:

Discuss the nature of Hong Kong Action Theatre:

The system rewards excess.

The intent is to recreate a film together.

Not all scenes will involve all characters.

Racists will be beaten with a plank.

Run through the rules and the character sheets.

When everyone is ready, cue the opening scene.

Key Scenes:

Mainland China, Harbour at Night: Establishing scene for Lam Kui Kong. He is part of a group of Chinese army who are swooping on a gang loading a speedboat with crates of illegal weapons. The soldiers arrive in trucks. It's raining heavily, like the night Kong's father died. (See Flashback, below. Introduce it at some point in this scene - a good moment is when Kong gets shot at for the first time.)

Crazy Ball is on the boat. When the army open fire, the gang grab guns and fire back. Crazy Ball doesn't wait around, he fires up the speedboat and casts off. Six buddies are on the boat with him, the rest are left behind to fight for their lives.

Random crates on the dock can contain AK-47s or high explosives. Blow up a few trucks. If Kong gets onto the speedboat, the gang arms up with boat hooks (SPD -1, MSC x4), spare oars (SPD 0, MSC x3) and the outboard motor (SPD -3, DAM 80). Crazy Ball's attacks are aimed at getting Kong off the boat and into the drink.

The intent of the scene is that Crazy Ball gets away with the guns. If Lam Kui Kong manages to kill or arrest him, you'll have to quickly invent his brother, or bring him back from the dead, or otherwise do what's needed to keep the plot rolling.

Make this scene exciting, but quick. The other players are waiting.

Flashback, Rainy Street: Twenty years ago, on another rainy night. Kong is a little boy in the street. Kong's father arches backwards, blood blossoming from his chest as bullets strike him. The killer screams "Bastard! Are you looking for death?" as he continues to fire at Kong's father.

(The killer is Uncle Leung, back when he was a petty Mainland thug. Kong will recognise his voice when he hears it later in the film.)

CUT to Hong Kong: From the wooden docks of the mainland to the glitzy neon of the city that does not sleep.

Pool Hall, Hong Kong: Establishing scene for Diamond Koo. He and some triad buddies are playing pool in this joint which is right on the border between territories. Ten or more wiseguys from the rival Chow Triad come in and bust the place for protection. We're talking pool cues (SPD +1, MSC x3), billiard balls (SPD 0, MSC x3), fluorescent tubes (SPD +2, MSC x3). Make it quick and violent, with one routing the other in short order. "They won't dare to mess up here again when we get our AKs" says one of Koo's buddies in the aftermath.

Police Station, Hong Kong: Establishing scene for Carmen Hsu and Wilson Lau. A fax comes through from Lam Kui Kong with a sketch of Crazy Ball and information about the speedboat. The chief wets himself when he sees it, and orders Carmen to work with the Coast Guard and arrest the boat when it arrives. Wilson is assigned to help her.

As they go out, they pass the black and white photo of their dead police comrade Sonny. Three incense sticks burn in front of it.

Hong Kong Docks, Night: Wilson and Carmen are in their car at the docks. There's a Snoopy doll with a sombero blue-tacked to the dashboard. They get the tip that a boat is arriving on a distant beach. Cue exciting car scene as they must speed along the waterfront dodging huge containers to get there on time.

Beach, Night: The beach is deserted. The speedboat is coming in with no lights. There is one guy waiting with a van. Six guys jump off the boat and start unloading stuff into a waiting van. Cue action scene as the cops move to make the arrest. The players will be looking for the bald guy from the previous scene, but he's not here. A continuity error? No, these are just chumps bringing in a load of pirate VCDs. They resist arrest to a point, but give up when it gets serious.

Another Beach, Night: A scene for Koo as he waits for the real speedboat, with the real van, and some of his buddies to load up. The boat arrives. A good chance for some tension between Koo and Crazy Ball. In slow motion, Crazy Ball picks up an AK from the box and aims it at Koo's guts and works the action and pulls the trigger - click. "Good workmanship." Together they watch their buddies load the van.

Police Station, Day: Carmen and Wilson get chewed out by the chief. The Chinese government are not pleased, and are sending an officer out to take charge. The must go and collect him from the airport. The Chief makes it clear to Carmen that they must crack this case or the HK Police will lose face. The gang responsible must be busted.

China, Police Headquarters, Day: Lam Kui Kong gets his briefing. The head criminal of the arms operation must be arrested and extradited for trial in China. He is to go to Hong Kong to ensure that this job is done right.

Poolside, Day: This is Uncle Leung's introduction. He greets Diamond Koo and Crazy Ball at his luxury mansion. Uncle Leung congratulates Crazy Ball on the operation, but obviously favours Koo more. Leung explains that the guns are strongest when they are not used. He asks Koo to assemble all of the buddies tonight at "the usual place".

Airport, Day: Carmen and Wilson meet Lam Kui Kong as he arrives in Hong Kong.

Flashback, Mid-Ocean: Carmen realises she and Kong have already met, before the Handover. She was on a Coastguard vessel, he was on a PRC Gunboat. Between them on the sea was a ship of people trying to defect from China. A teenage girl dives off the boat, and swms towards the HK ship.

Kong has a rifle in his hands. What does he do?

If the teenager makes it, she should be handed back. What does Carmen do?

Police Station, Day: The chief welcomes Lam Kui Kong and promises him every possible assistance. Carmen and Wilson are assigned to help him in every regard.

If the players have not already thought of it, the chief suggests that they contact all known undercovers and find out if anyone knows anything. If it transpires that the police have a plant in the gang who have imported the arms, then Carmen is to co-ordinate a fullscale sting to shut them down, even if this involves breaking the undercover's identity.

Once again, they pass the shrine to Sonny on the way out.

Flashback, Police Car at Night: Wilson gets back to the patrol car and finds Sonny dead. Burgers and fries hit the road in slow-motion.

Montage, Meetings with Undercovers: No-one knows anything, but the word is there's a war brewing between Uncle Leung's triad and the Chow Triad boys. The players know that they have an undercover in the Leung triad - their old partner Diamond Koo.

First Meeting with Diamond Koo: Diamond Koo should name the time and place of the meeting, and describe the scene. The characters are together for the first time in ages. The players will run this scene for you - Carmen should be instructing Diamond to break his cover.

At some point in the conversation, the death of Sonny should be mentioned.

Flashback, Police Training Camp: Diamond, Wilson, Carmen and Sonny training together back at police academy. They're on the obstacle course. A younger, red-faced version of the chief is there too, with a whistle and a starter's pistol. Go go go! Up the ropes (Climb, Moderate 20), across the beams (Acrobatics, Difficult 25), over the tyres on the water (Hard 30, and an embarassing dunk if failed).

Who wins? Who helps who? Sonny is out for himself, but he's a charmer. This is a great scene for a melancholy cantopop song by Carmen, if she's inclined. There is strong potential for love triangle action here if the players initiate it.

Flashbacks, Scenes with Sonny: Each character gets a quick scene with Sonny in their early days on the force together, extending the emotions that the player have exhibited toward him so far during the training sequence.

Flashback, Patrol Car: Sonny and Wilson in the patrol car. Sonny sends Wilson for burgers, and tells him to queue for the special Mexican sombrero Snoopy doll they are giving away that day. They'll be a collector's item.

Flashback, Karaoke Bar: Sonny walks into a hostess bar where Diamond is at. Both are out of uniform. Sonny drops a photocopy of Diamond's police license on the table. Boy, that's a dangerous thing to leave lying around. What's it worth to Koo to make sure it doesn't get pasted on every wall in Temple Street? He better pay up $50,000 before midnight.

Does Diamond follow and kill Sonny?

If he doesn't, who does? Crazy Ball is a good candidate. Either way, Sonny has to die.

Flashback, Patrol Car: Wilson gets back to the car and finds Sonny dead. Burgers and fries and Snoopy doll hit the road in slow-motion.

Flashback, Sonny's Funeral: Police in their formal uniforms line up in the rain and salute him as he goes past. His photo is on the coffin. Wilson is probably one of the pallbearers. In the background, the quiet sobbing of a dozen heartbroken young women.

How does Carmen feel?

Does Diamond Koo show up?

Back to the First Meeting with Diamond Koo: The flashbacks should have solidified the relation between the characters.

The pressure should now be on Diamond to name the place where Uncle Leung's triad will gather to receive their AKs. If he refuses, the other characters must tail him, or find other means to get the information.

Prep Scenes: Each character should be seen getting ready for the big night.

Carmen is given a central role in organising the cops.

How does Lam Kui Kong prepare?

What about Wilson?

Uncle Leung thanks Diamond Koo for getting all the buddies together, and says that he expects Diamond will take over when he retires. He takes off Diamond's watch and drops it, giving him a new Gold Rolex as a replacement. As the two move away, Crazy Ball follows at a distance, pausing to grind Koo's original watch under his feet.

The Stakeout, Night: The time and location of this scene is up to Diamond Koo, who organised it. Let Diamond Koo describe how the triads arrive. Let Carmen describe how the police arrive, and what their tactics will be. Meanwhile, Uncle Leung gives a short speech, emphasising that the guns mean strength, but that strength need only be shown, not used. If the Chow Triad wishes to start a war, then Uncle Leung will finish it. Just point your gun at them and ask "Bastard. Are you looking for death?" When Kong hears this, he knows that Uncle Leung killed his father. Will he take revenge and kill him, or do his duty and catch him alive?

On Carmen's signal (unless Kong has already gone crazy), the police bust the joint. The triads dive for the crate to get the AKs. Crazy Ball goes apeshit. Hell breaks loose.

Flashback, McDonald's: Wilson remembers passing someone on the way out of the McDonald's as he was going in. He got a glimpse of their back as the door swung shut.

It was the killer - was it Diamond Koo? Crazy Ball? Who was it?

Finale: Whatever the players make of it.

Closure: Surviving characters farewell each other.

Credits with highlights from the film: Let each player to choose a favourite scene from the film to play over the credits. (And I don't mean bloopers or out-takes, dammit!)

Thanks:

Written by: Mark Morrison
Directed by: Liam, Mark, Nick & The Duckmaster
Chinese title: Ryan Law (Hong Kong Movie DataBase).
GMs: Liam, Mark, Nick & The Duckmaster
Playtested by: Darren, Dean, Judy, Liam, Nick, Penny & The Duckmaster.
Sponsorship: Event Horizon Publishing, Chinatown Video, Chinatown Cinema.
Photos: Jet Li Australian Dedication, Anita Mui Internet, Hong Kong Movie Picture Library, Star Entertainment.
Conquest 99 staff: Janice, Lisa, Garry & Lynn.
NPC name: I poached the name "Crazy Ball" from A True Mob Story.
Film name: There is a real film called Hong Kong on Fire. This scenario bears no relation.

Scenario copyright (c) 1999 Mark Morrison. Downloaded from http://www.heroic-cinema.com

Hong Kong on Fire index page